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Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor-induced proliferation of primary adult T-cell leukaemia cells.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is known to induce proliferation and differentiation of granulocyte progenitors, and is widely used to treat neutropenia induced by intensive chemotherapy for malignant lymphoma or adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL). G-CSF is thought not to stimulate malignant lymphoid cells. In the present study we examined the ability of G-CSF to induce in vitro growth of primary ATL cells from 14 patients (nine acute-type, two chronic-type and three lymphoma-type), and we analysed the in vivo counts of ATL cells in patients who received G-CSF for neutropenia. FACS analysis using phycoerythrin-labelled recombinant G-CSF demonstrated that ATL cells from 11/14 patients express some G-CSF receptor (G-CSFR), with a range between 5.4% and 87.3%. Cells expressing G-CSFR also expressed CD4. Reverse polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis demonstrated expression of G-CSFR messenger RNA in G-CSFR expressing cells. Leukaemic cells derived from seven (four acute-type, one chronic-type and two lymphoma-type) of the 14 patients proliferated in vitro in response to G-CSF, as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation; maximum responses were at G-CSF concentrations of 10-100 ng/ml. Nine of 14 patients receiving rG-CSF for neutropenia were analysed retrospectively for ATL cell numbers. Four patients whose primary tumour cells proliferated in response to rG-CSF in vitro showed a significant increase in ATL cell count after administration of rG-CSF (P = 0.038), whereas five patients whose leukaemic cells did not proliferate in vitro showed no significant increase in ATL cell count. G-CSF can stimulate proliferation of ATL cells which may complicate therapy for this disease.

Aged↗

Significance of HTLV-1 proviral load quantification by real-time PCR as a surrogate marker for HTLV-1-infected cell count.

We developed a real-time (RT) PCR quantitative assay to measure the level of the integrated viral genome of HTLV-1 in host peripheral blood-mononuclear cells (PB-MNC) from healthy carriers and patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). All of the clinical specimens were serologically and molecularly characterized by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Southern blot hybridization (SBH) analyses. The assay system for quantifying the proviral copy level was sensitive, accurate, and reproducible over a wide range of density from 100 to 0.1% with a coefficient of variation (%) of 4.5 to 9.6. The proviral load of the healthy carriers and patients with ATL was 301 +/- 339 copies per 10(4) MNC (3 +/- 3.4%) on average and varied depending on the ATL cell number and the SBH band-status of single or multiple bands. In ATL cases with multiple bands detected by SBH analysis, their ATL cells were shown to harbor multiple copies within one ATL cell, so that the corrected copy number interpolated by the band number in SBH was closely equivalent to the expected ATL cell number in PB, corresponding to the virus-infected cell burden. The proviral load in healthy carriers ranged from 0.1 to 15% of PB-MNC, and, in combination with the fraction (%) of ATL-like flower cells defined by PB smear morphology, enabled carriers to be subgrouped into three categories. This result indicates that the detection of proviral load by(RT) PCR is sufficient and relevant to monitor the infected cell number in the PB and to evaluate the HTLV-1 pathologic status.

Biomarkers↗

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma not associated with human T-cell leukemia virus type I.

We describe five patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) with neither integration of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) into their leukemia cells nor anti-HTLV-I antibody in their sera. These findings indicate that HTLV-I may not have been involved in leukemogenesis in these patients. The clinicohematological, cytopathological, and immunological features of HTLV-I-negative ATL were exactly the same as those of HTLV-I-associated ATL. Leukemia cells with pleomorphic nuclei, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, skin lesions, hypercalcemia, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels, all of which are characteristic features of typical ATL, were also seen in these patients with HTLV-I-negative ATL. Leukemia cells expressed T3, T4, and pan-T-cell antigens in three cases, and T3 and pan-T-cell antigens in two. All five patients had lived in ATL-nonendemic areas. The finding of HTLV-I-negative ATL suggests that factor(s) other than HTLV-I infection may be involved in ATL leukemogenesis.

Adult↗

Survivin an important determinant for prognosis in adult T-cell leukemia: a novel biomarker in practical hemato-oncology.

Survivin is a 16.5-kDa protein that belongs to the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family. It is expressed at high levels in the G2/M phase and is rapidly down-regulated after cell-cycle arrest. It was suggested that survivin plays a pivotal role in linking cell death and cell proliferation. Although present during fetal development, survivin disappears in terminally differentiated adult tissues. Its expression is aberrantly enhanced in transformed cell lines, and in all the most common human cancers. Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), which is abundant with Fas (Apo-1/CD95), has the characteristic feature of high tumor burden, suggesting that ATL cells probably prolong their lives as a result of escape from apoptosis. Survivin is prominently and consistently expressed in all cases of ATL and ATL cell lines. Its mRNA expression levels among the subtypes of ATL and ATL cell lines are characteristic and informative, low in chronic type, low to high in acute type and extremely high in ATL cell lines. In addition, when the survivin mRNA expression is higher, the survival of the patient is shorter. Its overexpression may account for a growth advantage in vivo and subsequently the malignant behavior of ATL. So quantification of survivin mRNA is important for clinical laboratory examinations. Among all of the current clinical tests for survivin mRNA quantification, the real time PCR is desirable. Despite some technological problems of standardization, quantification of survivin mRNA was shown to be a biological marker for clinical stages or minimal residual disease (MRD).

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Regulatory T cell-like activity of Foxp3+ adult T cell leukemia cells.

Adult T cell leukemia (ATL) is an aggressive neoplastic disease, in which a quarter of the patients develop opportunistic infections due to cellular immunodeficiency. However, the underlying mechanism responsible for the immunosuppression has remained unclear. Recent studies have demonstrated that the leukemia cells from a subset of patients with ATL express Foxp3, a specific marker for CD25+CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells, which regulate the immune response by suppressing CD4+ T cell functions. However, whether there is a functional resemblance between ATL cells that have Foxp3 expression and Treg cells is still unknown. In this report, we confirmed the high expression of Foxp3 in leukemia cells from 5 of 12 ATL patients and demonstrated that ATL cells from 3 patients suppressed the proliferation of CD4+ T cells. Similarly, one of six HTLV-I-infected cell lines showed both high Foxp3 expression and suppressive activity. Like Treg cells, the suppression induced by the ATL cells from two patients and the HTLV-infected cell line appeared to be mediated by a cell-cell contact-dependent mechanism. Nevertheless, among the ATL cells that strongly expressed Foxp3, those from two of the five patients showed no apparent suppressive activity. Furthermore, retroviral transfection of Foxp3 did not confer any suppressive function on low Foxp3-expressing HTLV-I-infected cell lines. These results indicate that Foxp3 may be essential but is not sufficient for the Treg-cell-like suppressive activity of ATL cells and HTLV-I-infected cell lines.

Adult↗

General surgeons and the Advanced Trauma Life Support course: is it time to refocus?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) training status of general surgeons, its perceived utility, and its relation to clinical trauma practice. METHODS: A national sample of 1300 general surgeons was surveyed by mail about trauma training, ATLS status, trauma call, and confidence in clinical trauma care abilities. RESULTS: Response rate was 61%. Respondents most commonly (67%) felt they learned a great deal about trauma care in residency training; 13% responded similarly regarding ATLS. Course participation within 4 years of the survey was reported by 33% of respondents. Nearly 75% of those not taking the course cited primary reasons related to relevance (30%), redundancy (29%), and credentialing (15%). Inaccessibility, inconvenience, and cost were lesser factors. Of those expressing extreme confidence with trauma resuscitation, 40% had taken ATLS; 15% of those expressing a lesser degree of confidence had taken ATLS. CONCLUSIONS: The ATLS course represents a standard of initial trauma care education in which only one-third of surgeons report current participation. Many view ATLS as not relevant or useful, yet take trauma call. To ensure standard education and patient care, an ATLS course curriculum specifically geared to the general surgeon should be developed and made a mandatory component of residency training or a requirement for board certification and trauma call credentialing.

Clinical Competence↗

Comparison of performance of interns completing the old (1993) and new interactive (1997) Advanced Trauma Life Support courses.

BACKGROUND: The 1997 edition of the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course emphasized interactivity as its major change. The impact of this change is assessed in this study. METHODS: We compared two matched groups of 16 interns completing either the old (group I) or new (group II) ATLS course. Cognitive skills (40 standard ATLS questions plus 10 additional questions on airway and shock) and clinical trauma management skills (four trauma objective structured clinical examinations [OSCEs] on simulated trauma patients) were tested. OSCE station scores (standardized to a maximum of 20), priority scores (graded 1-7), organized approach global passing grades (graded 1-5), and initial assessment test station scores (graded 1-5) were compared. RESULTS: Using ATLS criteria, three interns failed in each group. Post-ATLS examination question scores were similar (84.5+/-6.9 for group I, 85.9+/-7.1 for group II); scores for the airway and shock questions were higher but not different between the two groups. The four OSCE station mean scores varied between 13.9+/-2.0 and 15.4+/-2.1 for group I and were higher (p < 0.05) for group II (17.9+/-1.6 to 19.1+/-1.0). Priority scores were similar (group I, 6.3+/-1.1; group II, 6.4+/-1.2), but approach scores (3.9+/-0.1 for group I and 4.9+/-0.8 for group II) were lower in group I, as were the initial assessment test scores (2.9+/-0.2 for group I and 4.9+/-0.8 for group II). There were 8 honors grades in group I and 40 (p < 0.05) in group II. Interactive teaching, adult education principles, opportunities for discussion, provision of feedback, and stimulation of self-learning were rated more highly in the new course. CONCLUSION: Using standard ATLS pass criteria, performance after the new and old ATLS courses was similar. Superior performances were measured using OSCE methodology for clinical trauma management skills after the new compared with the old ATLS course in this population of interns.

Clinical Competence↗

Treatment with a combination of zidovudine and alpha-interferon in naive and pretreated adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma patients.

Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL) is an aggressive malignancy of mature activated T cells, associated with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1) infection. ATL has a poor prognosis, due mainly to its resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Recent important advances in the treatment of ATL were obtained in two independent phase II studies with the combination of an antiretroviral agent (zidovudine; AZT) and alpha-interferon (IFN). In our study, 10 previously untreated patients (8 acute ATL, 1 smoldering ATL, and 1 ATL lymphoma) received this combination. Eight responses were obtained, with two complete remissions, four very good partial remissions (PR) with a 95% reduction of the tumor burden, and two 50% PR. Six patients relapsed, with a median event-free survival of 12 months (range, 3-15 months). Seven patients are still alive, with a median follow-up of 15 months (range, 6 to 28 months). Toxicity was mild in all patients and was mainly hematological. In conclusion, the combination of AZT and IFN exhibits a high response rate in ATL patients and seems to prolong survival. However, a randomized international study versus the best induction polychemotherapy is warranted. The success of this potentially antiretroviral approach in the treatment of ATL suggests the existence of a possible late effect of HTLV-I replication in vivo.

Adult↗

Green tea polyphenols induce apoptosis in vitro in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of adult T-cell leukemia patients.

Green tea polyphenols (TEA) are known to exhibit antioxidative activity as well as tumor-suppressing activity. In order to examine the tumor-suppressing activity of TEA against adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), we cultivated peripheral blood T lymphocytes of ATL patients (ATL PBLs), an HTLV-I-infected T-cell line (KODV) and healthy controls (normal PBLs) for 3 days in the presence of TEA and its main constituent, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCg), to measure cell proliferation and apoptosis, and to quantitate mRNAs of HTLV-I pX and beta-actin genes of the cultured cells. Growth of ATL PBLs was significantly inhibited by 9-27 microg/ml of TEA and EGCg, in contrast to minimal growth inhibition of T cells of normal PBLs. Inhibition of KODV was intermediate between ATL PBLs and normal PBLs. The ATL PBLs and KODV treated with 27 microg/ml of either TEA or EGCg induced apoptotic DNA fragmentation, producing terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells, while the normal PBLs treated with the same concentration of TEA or EGCg produced a negligibly small number of TUNEL-positive cells, in which apoptotic DNA fragmentation was not detectable. Expression of HTLV-I pX mRNA was suppressed more than 90% in ATL PBLs by treatment with 3-27 microg/ml of either TEA or EGCg, while expression of beta-actin mRNA was much less suppressed by treatment with the same concentration of TEA or EGCg. These results indicate that TEA and EGCg inhibit growth of ATL PBLs, as well as HTLV-I-infected T-cells, by suppressing HTLV-I pX gene expression and inducing apoptotic cell death.

Adult↗

Elevated levels of soluble factors in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with adult T-cell leukaemia complicated with meningeal infiltration.

We measured some soluble factors in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL) complicated with meningeal infiltration. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) was not detectable in the CSF of all cases with meningeal infiltration. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was detected in a few patients with ATL. Measurement of IL-4 and IL-6 in CSF had no diagnostic value for meningeal infiltration of ATL cells. Soluble CD4 (sCD4) was highly elevated in all ATL patients with meningeal infiltration. Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R; sCD25) in CSF was markedly elevated in 13/18 ATL patients (72.2%) with meningeal infiltration. Levels of sCD4 and sCD25 in the CSF of ATL patients with central nervous system (CNS) symptoms were significantly higher than those of non-ATL patients with CNS symptoms. These observations indicate that sCD4 and sCD25 in the CSF are probably associated with meningeal infiltration of leukaemia cells that expressed CD4 and CD25 on the surface membrane and new markers for the meningeal infiltration of ATL cells.

CD4 Antigens↗

Clinical significance of serum thymidine kinase in adult T-cell leukaemia and acute myeloid leukaemia.

To clarify the clinical and biological significance of serum thymidine kinase (TK) in adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL) associated with human lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I) and in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), TK was measured in 52 patients with ATL (acute ATL, 35 patients; lymphoma ATL, two patients; chronic ATL, 12 patients; smouldering ATL, three patients), and in 27 patients with AML (one FAB MO, one M1, 10 M2, seven M3, five M4, one M5, one M6, one MU). In ATL patients, statistical analysis disclosed a close correlation between TK level and the leucocyte count (P < 0.01), and absolute number of abnormal lymphocytes (P < 0.01). However, no correlation was observed between serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) level and these items. Concerning the therapeutic response, a statistical difference was present in TK between complete remission and no response (P < 0.05), but not in LDH. We also investigated a significant inverse correlation between TK level as well as LDH level and the length of survival after the initial diagnosis (P < 0.01). In AML patients a close correlation of TK level with the count of leucocytes (P < 0.01), percentage of blasts in the blood (P < 0.05), therapeutic response (P < 0.01) and the length of survival after the initial diagnosis (P < 0.05) was present. Therefore the TK level may indicate the aggressiveness of leukaemic cells and predict the response to the chemotherapy and the length of survival in ATL and AML.

Acute Disease↗

Characterization and regulation of interleukin-4 receptor in adult T-cell leukemia cells.

We studied the expression of the receptor of interleukin (IL-4), one of the T cell growth factors, on fresh peripheral blood leukemic cells from adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) patients. Flow cytofluorometric analysis with a monoclonal antibody to the IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) were used to investigate whether expression of IL-4R on ATL cells is different from that on normal lymphocytes and other types of leukemic cells. Leukemic cells from acute type ATL patients synthesize IL-4R without stimulation, at levels much higher than normal resting lymphocytes and other types of leukemic cells. Furthermore, leukemic cells from acute type ATL showed higher IL-4R expression than that of chronic type ATL or human T-cell leukemia virus type I carriers. In addition, there was correlation between expression of IL-4R on the cell surface and the proliferative response to IL-4. Both IL-4 and IL-2 induced upregulation of IL-4R on activated normal T cells but not on ATL cells. These results suggest that abnormal expression of IL-4R may display different biological activities in ATL compared with other types of leukemia. Furthermore, the high expression of IL-4R in ATL may be involved in the proliferation of leukemic cells and the leukemogenesis in this disease.

Adult↗

Adult T-cell leukemia predominantly involving exocrine glands.

OBJECTIVES: We describe a rare case of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) presenting with dry mouth and swelling of bilateral parotid and submandibular glands. The unusual involvement of these exocrine glands by malignant cells prompted us to conduct a detail characterization of these infiltrating and circulating leukemic T cells, which may provide insight to the pathogenesis of exocrine involvement in ATL. METHODS: Immunophenotyping of peripheral ATL cells and microscopic examinations of various organs prepared by autopsy were performed. Analysis of the repertoire of T-cell receptor (TCR) of parotid gland-infiltrating ATL cells using molecular and immunohistochemical examinations were also performed. RESULTS: Microscopic examinations of various organs prepared by autopsy revealed the predominant and specific exocrine gland infiltration of ATL cells. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by both TCR spectratyping and complementary determining region (CDR)-3 sequencing analysis of TCR Vbeta of parotid gland-infiltrating T cells revealed a relatively restricted but not single usage of TCR Vbeta. Immunohistochemical analyses of parotid gland specimens detected only a small number of TCR Valphabeta-positive cells in parotid gland-infiltrating ATL cells. CONCLUSIONS: The predominant infiltration of ATL cells in exocrine glands implied that these T cells recognized exocrine gland-specific antigen. However, the absence of both TCR Vbeta mRNA transcripts and TCR Valphabeta protein expression in most ATL cells suggested that antigen recognition via TCR may not have played a major role in adhesion and subsequent infiltration into the exocrine glands in this patient. These results provide important background information to further elucidate the pathogenesis of exocrine gland-specific inflammation.

Aged↗

Adenosine deaminase isoenzyme levels in patients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infections.

In serum, the enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADA) is known to be divided into two isoenzymes, ADA1 and ADA2, which have different molecular weights and kinetic properties. The present study investigated ADA isoenzyme levels in the sera of patients infected with retroviruses associated with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy (HAM), and AIDS, ADA isoenzyme activities were found to be significantly (P < 0.001) higher in the sera of patients with ATL, HAM, and AIDS than in the sera of healthy controls. In the case of the ADA subtypes in the sera of patients with ATL, ADA1 activity was significantly (P < 0.001) elevated in patients with the acute and lymphoma types of ATL compared with that in patients with the chronic and smoldering types of ATL. ADA2 activity was significantly elevated in the sera of patients with the acute, lymphoma, and chronic types of ATL (P < 0.001) compared with that in patients with smoldering ATL and HTLV-1 carriers. In the case of patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, ADA1 and ADA2 activities in the sera of patients with AIDS and HIV-1 antibody-positive individuals were significantly (P < 0.001) higher than those in the sera of HIV-1 antibody-negative individuals. A significant elevation in ADA2 activity was also seen in the sera of AIDS patients (P < 0.01) compared with that in the sera of HIV-1 antibody-positive individuals. These results suggest that the magnitude of elevation of ADA isoenzyme levels in serum correlates well with the clinical conditions of the patients with these diseases. Measurement of the activities of ADA isoenzymes may therefore provide an additional parameter for distinguishing the subtypes of ATL and may prove to be useful as prognostic and therapeutic monitors in diseases associated with HTLV-1 and HIV-1 infections.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Aspirin, but not NO-releasing aspirin (NCX-4016), interacts with selective COX-2 inhibitors to aggravate gastric damage and inflammation.

Aceylation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 by aspirin can trigger the formation of 15(R)-epilipoxin A4, or aspirin-triggered lipoxin (ATL). ATL exerts protective effects in the stomach. Selective COX-2 inhibitors block ATL synthesis and exacerbate aspirin-induced gastric damage. Nitric oxide-releasing aspirins, including NCX-4016, have antiplatelet effects similar to aspirin but do not cause gastric damage. In the present study, we examined whether or not NCX-4016 triggers ATL synthesis and/or upregulates gastric COX-2 expression and the effects of coadministration of NCX-4016 with a selective COX-2 inhibitor on gastric mucosal injury and inflammation. Rats were given aspirin or NCX-4016 orally and either vehicle or a selective COX-2 inhibitor (celecoxib) intraperitoneally. Gastric damage was blindly scored, and granulocyte infiltration into gastric tissue was monitored through measurement of myeloperoxidase activity. Gastric PG and ATL synthesis was measured as was COX-2 expression. Whereas celecoxib inhibited gastric ATL synthesis and increased the severity of aspirin-induced gastric damage and inflammation, coadministration of celecoxib and NCX-4016 did not result in damage or inflammation. NCX-4016 did not upregulate gastric COX-2 expression nor did it trigger ATL synthesis (in contrast to aspirin). Daily administration of aspirin for 5 days resulted in significantly less gastric damage than that seen with a single dose, as well as augmented ATL synthesis. Celecoxib reversed this effect. In contrast, repeated administration of NCX-4016 failed to cause gastric damage, whether given alone or with celecoxib. These studies support the notion that NCX-4016 may be an attractive alternative to aspirin for indications such as cardioprotection, including in individuals also taking selective COX-2 inhibitors.

Animals↗

Graft-versus-Tax response in adult T-cell leukemia patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) caused by human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is characterized by poor prognosis after chemotherapy. Recent clinical trials have indicated, however, that allogeneic but not autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for ATL can yield better clinical outcomes. In the present study, we investigated cellular immune responses of ATL patients who obtained complete remission after nonmyeloablative allogeneic peripheral blood HSCT from HLA-identical sibling donors. In the culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a post-HSCT but not pre-HSCT ATL patient, CD8(+) CTLs proliferated vigorously in response to stimulation with autologous HTLV-I-infected T cells that had been established before HSCT in vitro. These CTLs contained a large number of monospecific CTL population directed to a HLA-A2-restricted HTLV-I Tax 11-19 epitope. The frequency of Tax 11-19-specific CD8+ CTLs in this patient markedly increased also in vivo after HSCT, as determined by staining with HLA-A2/Tax 11-19 tetramers. Similar clonal expansion of HTLV-I Tax-specific CTLs exclusively directed to a HLA-A24-restricted Tax 301-309 epitope was observed in the PBMCs from another ATL patient after HSCT from a HTLV-I-negative donor. Among four post-HSCT ATL patients tested, HTLV-I-specific CTLs were induced in the PBMC culture from three patients but not from the remaining one who had later recurrence of ATL. These observations suggested that reconstituted immunity against antigen presentation in ATL patients after HSCT resulted in strong and selective graft-versus-HTLV-I response, which might contribute to graft-versus-leukemia effects.

Aged↗

Changes in amitriptyline distribution in rat brain during a 14-day continuous infusion.

The amitriptyline (ATL) distribution in 12 rat brain regions was examined during 2-, 7- and 14-day continuous ATL infusion, starting with 18 mg/kg/day on the first day. The concentration of nortriptyline, a demethylated metabolite of ATL, in brain and serum was very low in comparison with ATL. The brain/serum concentration ratio of ATL and absolute ATL concentration in the brain were lower on the 2nd day than on the other 2 days. On the other hand, the ATL serum level on the 2nd day was higher than on the other 2 days. The ATL distribution in brain was heterogeneous on each of the three days and there were changes with time in its distribution in two brain portions, the anterior basal ganglia and the medulla oblongata + pons.

Amitriptyline↗

Pharmacological stress myocardial perfusion imaging with the potent and selective A(2A) adenosine receptor agonists ATL193 and ATL146e administered by either intravenous infusion or bolus injection.

BACKGROUND: Adenosine (Ado) and dipyridamole are alternatives to exercise stress for myocardial perfusion imaging. Though generally safe, side effects frequently occur that cause patient discomfort and sometimes lead to premature termination of the study or require aminophylline administration. Recently, a new class of A(2A) Ado receptor agonists was synthesized. ATL193 and ATL146e are 2-propynylcyclohexyl-5'-N-ethylcarboxamido derivatives of Ado. The study goals were to evaluate the potency and selectivity of these new compounds on recombinant canine Ado receptors and to evaluate their hemodynamic properties in dogs to assess their usefulness as vasodilators for myocardial perfusion imaging. METHODS AND RESULTS: In assays of recombinant canine Ado receptors, ATL-193 and ATL-146e were highly selective for the A(2A) over the A(1) and A(3) receptors and were more potent than MRE-0470 and CGS-21680. In 16 anesthetized dogs, the agonists were administered by infusion (ATL-193; n=7 normal) or bolus injection (ATL-146e; n=9 critical left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis), and hemodynamic responses were compared with those of Ado. Both agonists produced dose-dependent coronary flow (CF) elevation without provoking the hypotension observed with Ado. After an ATL-146e bolus, the CF increase was sustained for several minutes, providing ample time for injection and myocardial uptake of (99m)Tc-sestamibi, and CF returned to baseline within 20 minutes. The CF increase was completely blocked by the selective A(2A) antagonist ZM241385 (3 microgram. kg(-1). min(-1)). CONCLUSIONS: ATL-193 and ATL-146e are highly potent and selective Ado A(2A) receptor agonists with excellent potential for use as vasodilators for myocardial perfusion imaging. An important advantage of ATL-146e is the ability to administer it by bolus injection.

Adenosine↗