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A novel site of erythropoietin production. Oxygen-dependent production in cultured rat astrocytes.

It has been shown that neurons express erythropoietin (Epo) receptor, but the production of Epo protein in neural tissues has not been demonstrated. Cerebral cells of rat fetuses were cultured, and Epo in the spent medium was measured with an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Production of the immunoreactive Epo was dependent on O2 tension for cell culture; hypoxia enhanced the production. The immunoreactive Epo purified from the spent medium stimulated the growth of Epo-dependent myeloid cells and formation of fetal liver erythroid colonies. These biological activities were completely inhibited by the anti-Epo antiserum and the extracellular domain of the Epo receptor capable of binding with Epo. When brain Epo was compared with serum Epo, brain Epo was smaller in size and more active in vitro at low ligand concentrations. These differences appear to be caused by the different extent of sialylation. Analyses with the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method indicated that the regulation of Epo production by oxygen operates at the level of its mRNA. Immunochemical staining of the immortalized clonal cells revealed that astrocytes produced brain Epo. These results provide a novel site of Epo production and suggest that Epo acts on neurons in a paracrine fashion.

Animals↗

Interferon-gamma enhances monocyte cytotoxicity via enhanced reactive oxygen intermediate production. Absence of an effect on macrophage cytotoxicity is due to failure to enhance reactive nitrogen intermediate production.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) enhanced the cytotoxic capability of freshly isolated human blood monocytes but failed to enhance the tumoricidal competence of monocyte-derived macrophages. Treatment of monocytes with IFN-gamma (100 U/ml) caused a significant increase (P < 0.001) in lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence and O2- production stimulated by N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (FMLP) during the first few days in culture but IFN-gamma was unable to prevent the decline to negligible levels of chemiluminescence and O2- production which occurred during the later days in vitro. Culture of monocytes in the presence of IFN-gamma had no effect on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated O2- production. However, IFN-gamma decreased PMA-stimulated lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence during the first 24 hr in vitro but then significantly enhanced (P < 0.001) chemiluminescence after 2-4 days in culture. IFN-gamma was unable to prevent the eventual decline to undetectable levels in PMA-stimulated chemiluminescence during the later days in vitro. Nitrite production by macrophages was unaffected by IFN-gamma treatment. It is concluded therefore, that IFN-gamma enhanced the cytotoxicity of freshly isolated human blood monocytes by increasing reactive oxygen intermediate generation but was unable to enhance the tumoricidal competence of macrophages as reactive nitrogen intermediate production was unaffected.

Acridines↗

Effect of P-450 inducers on biliary excretion of glutathione and its hydrolysis products. Correlation between hepatic gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity and the proportion of glutathione hydrolysis products in bile.

This study was designed to determine if a relationship exists between hepatic gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT) activity and the biliary excretion of glutathione (GSH) and its hydrolysis products. Rats were pretreated with the following microsomal enzyme inducers: pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN), dexamethasone (DEX), 3-methylcholanthrene, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), phenobarbital (PB), ethanol (ETOH), trans-stilbene oxide (TSO), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), isosafrole (ISF), clofibrate, and benzo(a)pyrene. Hepatic gamma-GT activity was quantitated spectrophotometrically; bile and liver samples were analyzed by HPLC for reduced and oxidized GSH and their hydrolysis products (cysteine, cysteinylglycine, and cysteinylglycine disulfide). Administration of the inducers had only minor effects on hepatic GSH concentration, as BHA was the only agent to increase GSH concentration. However, these inducers had a pronounced effect on the biliary excretion of total thiol-derived sulfur as PCN, PB, and ISF produced an increase, whereas TCDD, ETOH, and TSO caused a decrease. The relative amount of the GSH hydrolysis products in bile was highly dependent on gamma-GT activity. For example, hepatic gamma-GT activity was increased by PCN, DEX, BHA, TSO, and ISF. They also increased the GSH hydrolysis products to total thiol-derived sulfur ratio in bile. In conclusion, the ratio of GSH hydrolysis products to total thiol-derived sulfur excreted in rat bile reflects the hepatic gamma-GT activity.

Animals↗

Interleukin 12 primes macrophages for nitric oxide production in vivo and restores depressed nitric oxide production by macrophages from tumor-bearing mice: implications for the antitumor activity of interleukin 12 and/or interleukin 2.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a recently described immunoregulatory cytokine with potent therapeutic activity in various preclinical models of infectious or malignant disease. As part of our ongoing evaluation of potential mechanisms accounting for the potent antitumor activity of IL-12, we have investigated the influence of IL-12 administration on total serum nitrate/nitrite (NO(x)(-)) levels and the production of nitric oxide (NO) by peritoneal macrophages from normal and tumor-bearing mice. We report here that IL-12 administration to either normal or tumor-bearing mice for periods of time ranging from 7-19 days induced progressive increases in serum NO(x)(-) levels and primed peritoneal macrophages for NO production on subsequent exposure to lipopolysaccharide or IL-2 ex vivo. Treatment of resident peritoneal macrophages or the macrophage cell line ANA-1 with IL-12 alone or IL-12 in combination with various other stimuli failed to induce NO production, suggesting that the effects of IL-12 occurred via an indirect mechanism. Furthermore, we have shown that not only was the production of NO by macrophages from untreated long-term, tumor- bearing mice suppressed compared with control mice treated with vehicle or IL-12, but also that IL-12 administration overcame this suppression and delayed tumor growth. Lastly, we have shown that administration of weekly pulses of IL-2 in combination with IL-12 additively enhanced the priming of macrophages for NO production ex vivo and delayed tumor growth far more effectively than either agent alone. These observations and reports in the literature regarding the potential influence of NO on development of the immune response and on the regulation of tumor growth and vascularization suggest that NO may play a significant role in the antitumor activity of IL-12 and IL-2.

Animals↗

The natural product hymenialdisine inhibits interleukin-8 production in U937 cells by inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB.

The nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) family of transcription factors have been implicated in the inducible expression of genes involved in inflammatory and immune responses. As such, a specific inhibitor of NF-kappaB would be a useful therapeutic agent in a variety of inflammatory disorders. The marine natural product hymenialdisine was evaluated as an inhibitor of NF-kappaB in U937 cells. U937 cells were transfected with either a luciferase reporter plasmid containing the human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat or the interleukin-8 (IL-8) core promoter, both of which are activated by NF-kappaB. Hymenialdisine caused a concentration-dependent decrease in luciferase production from both reporters when the cells were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha, lipopolysaccharide or phorbol myristate acetate. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay confirmed its activity by inhibiting DNA binding of NF-kappaB. Hymenialdisine was shown to be a selective inhibitor of NF-kappaB in that it had no effect on the binding of other transcription factors to their DNA concensus motifs; these included activator protein-1, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein and Sp1. Functional studies showed hymenialdisine to be an inhibitor of IL-8 production and IL-8 mRNA formation in the U937 cell. Investigation into the mechanism of action of hymenialdisine showed that it was not due to inhibition of protein kinase C because the selective protein kinase C inhibitor RO 32-0432 was inactive against tumor necrosis factor-alpha-stimulated luciferase and IL-8 production. The compound also had no effect on IkappaB alpha or IkappaB beta phosphorylation and degradation. Thus, hymenialdisine is a potent inhibitor of NF-kappaB and IL-8 production in U937 cells.

Azepines↗

Ribavirin inhibits viral-induced macrophage production of TNF, IL-1, the procoagulant fgl2 prothrombinase and preserves Th1 cytokine production but inhibits Th2 cytokine response.

Ribavirin, a synthetic guanosine analogue, possesses a broad spectrum of activity against DNA and RNA viruses. It has been previously shown to attenuate the course of fulminant hepatitis in mice produced by murine hepatitis virus strain 3. We therefore studied the effects of ribavirin on murine hepatitis virus strain 3 replication, macrophage production of proinflammatory mediators including TNF, IL-1, and the procoagulant activity (PCA), fgl2 prothrombinase; and Th1/Th2 cytokine production. Although ribavirin had inhibitory effects on viral replication (<1 log), even at high concentrations complete eradication of the virus was not seen. In contrast, at physiologic concentrations (up to 500 microg/ml), ribavirin markedly reduced viral-induced parameters of macrophage activation. With ribavirin treatment, the concentrations of PCA, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta all decreased to basal concentrations: PCA from 941 +/- 80 to 34 +/- 11 mU/10(6) cells; TNF-alpha from 10.73 +/- 2.15 to 2.74 +/- 0.93 ng/ml; and IL-1beta from 155.91 +/- 22.62 to 5.74 +/- 0.70 pg/ml. The inhibitory effects of ribavirin were at the level of gene transcription as evidenced by Northern analysis. Both in vitro and in vivo, ribavirin inhibited the production of IL-4 by Th2 cells, whereas it did not diminish the production of IFN-gamma in Th1 cells. In contrast, ribavirin had no inhibitory effect on TNF-alpha and IL-1beta production in LPS-stimulated macrophages. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of ribavirin are mediated by inhibition of induction of macrophage proinflammatory cytokines and Th2 cytokines while preserving Th1 cytokines.

Animals↗

LPS-stimulated SJL macrophages produce IL-12 and IL-18 that inhibit IgE production in vitro by induction of IFN-gamma production from CD3intIL-2R beta+ T cells.

SJL mice are known for their poor IgE production upon helminth infection. In this study, we have demonstrated that SJL standard B cells (85% IgM+ or B220+), prepared by complement-mediated T cell lysis, failed to proliferate and to produce IgE and IgG1 in response to LPS plus IL-4 in vitro. This diminished IgE production was restored by anti-IL-12 and enhanced by additional treatment with anti-IL-18, suggesting active suppression by the cells that produce IL-12 and IL-18. Indeed, SJL standard B cells were contaminated with Mac-1+ cells. Therefore, we removed macrophages by passing standard B cells through a Sephadex G-10 column (G10). Resultant cells (95% IgM+), designated as G10-B cells, responded to LPS and IL-4 by their proliferation and differentiation. G-10 treatment markedly diminished the proportion of B220- cells and Mac-1+ cells in SJL standard B cells. Furthermore, addition of SJL B220- cells dose dependently and MHC independently inhibited LPS plus IL-4-induced B cell growth and IgE production in SJL and BALB/c B cells. B220- cells in SJL standard B cells contained Mac-1+ cells (51%) and Fas ligand+ CD4-CD8- double-negative CD3intIL-2R beta+ T cells (26%). Thus, IL-12 and IL-18 produced by LPS-stimulated Mac-1+ cells stimulate this unique subpopulation of T cells to produce IFN-gamma, which in combination with Fas ligand, inhibits IgE production from the B cells. Our present results indicate that Mac-1+ cells and double-negative CD3intIL-2R beta+ T cells, uniquely abundant in the spleens of SJL mice, inhibit IgE production, indicating their new role in IgE response.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Bradykinin stimulates IL-8 production in cultured human airway smooth muscle cells: role of cyclooxygenase products.

IL-8 is an important neutrophil and eosinophil chemoattractant in asthma. A recent report has suggested that bradykinin (BK), an asthmatic mediator, induces the release of IL-8 in nonairway cells. We have recently reported that BK causes cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 induction and PGE2 release in human airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. In this study, we tested the ability of BK to induce IL-8 from these cells and explored the role of COX products and COX-2 induction in this process. Confluent serum-deprived human ASM cells were studied. IL-8 was assayed by specific ELISA. Unstimulated cells released low levels of IL-8. BK enhanced IL-8 release in a concentration- and time-dependent fashion (maximum 50-fold increase over basal). The nonselective COX inhibitor indomethacin and the selective COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 strongly inhibited BK-stimulated PGE2 and IL-8 production. The COX substrate arachidonic acid also caused PGE2 and IL-8 production, and its effect was inhibited by nonselective COX inhibitors but unaffected by NS-398. Both the BK- and arachidonic acid-induced IL-8 production was inhibited by the protein synthesis inhibitors cycloheximide and actinomycin D and by the steroid dexamethasone. Furthermore, exogenous PGE2 and calcium ionophore A23187 also stimulated IL-8 release. BK-induced IL-8 release was mimicked by the BK B2 receptor agonist (Tyr(Me)8)-BK and was potently inhibited by the selective B2 receptor antagonist HOE-140. These results suggest that human ASM can be a source of IL-8 and also that endogenous prostanoids, involving both COX-1 and COX-2, have a novel role in mediating BK-induced IL-8 production.

Adult↗

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13 enhance the effect of IL-1beta on production of IL-1 receptor antagonist by human primary hepatocytes and hepatoma HepG2 cells: differential effect on C-reactive protein production.

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is produced by hepatocytes with characteristics of an acute-phase protein. To examine the role of IL-4 and IL-13 in production of IL-1Ra, human primary hepatocytes and HepG2 human hepatoma cells were cultured in the presence of IL-4 or IL-13 in combination with IL-1beta and/or IL-6. The results indicated that both IL-4 and IL-13 amplified the stimulatory effect of IL-1beta on production of IL-1Ra protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) by both human primary hepatocytes and HepG2 cells. IL-1Ra refers to three different peptides, one secreted (sIL-1Ra) and two intracellular (icIL-1RaI and icIL-1RaII), derived from the same gene. sIL-1Ra and icIL-1RaI are the products of two different mRNA, whereas icIL-1RaII is synthesized by alternative translation initiation mainly from sIL-1Ra mRNA. Our results show that both sIL-1Ra and icIL-1RaII, but not icIL-1RaI, are produced by HepG2 cells and human hepatocytes. Transient transfection experiments as well as mRNA stability studies indicated that IL-4 stimulated sIL-1Ra production primarly at the level of transcription. Gel retardation assays showed that IL-4 induced the formation of a STAT6-DNA complex with a STAT6 binding element within the sIL-1Ra promoter, but had no effect on IL-1-induced NF-kappaB binding activity. In contrast to IL-1Ra, production of C-reactive protein by human primary hepatocytes was stimulated by IL-6 and decreased by the addition of IL-4.

C-Reactive Protein↗

Acid-stable fluorescent advanced glycation end products: vesperlysines A, B, and C are formed as crosslinked products in the Maillard reaction between lysine or proteins with glucose.

Vesperlysines A and B, 6-hydroxy-1,4-di{6-(L-norleucyl)}-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridinium and its 5-methyl derivative, respectively, and Vesperlysine C, 5-hydroxy-methyl-1,6-di{6-(L-norleucyl)}-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-b] pyridinium, are isolated as major fluorescent advanced glycation end products (AGEs) from hydrochloric acid hydrolysis of AGE-BSA, bovine serum albumin (BSA) modified by the Maillard reaction with glucose. These fluorophores are glycation products and not artifacts of hydrolysis, since they are also detected in the reaction mixture of lysine and glucose prior to hydrolysis. Vesperlysines are crosslinked products from two lysine side-chains in proteins and are considered to be generated from lysines and the oxidative degradation of glucose, because the six carbon skeleton of glucose in its original form was not incorporated into each structure. These compounds are most likely glycoxidation products like pentosidine. This reasoning is supported by the formation of the same compounds in the Maillard reactions in which ascorbic acid or other sugars with shorter carbon chains are used.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Pigment epithelium-derived factor prevents advanced glycation end products-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 production in microvascular endothelial cells by suppressing intracellular reactive oxygen species generation.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Monocytes and macrophages accumulate in the lesion of the diabetic retina, which are most likely involved in the progression of diabetic retinopathy. The levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in vitreous fluids were associated with the severity of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Recently, pigment epithelium-derived factor has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. However, a role of pigment epithelium-derived factor in monocyte recruitments in diabetic retinopathy remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated effects of purified pigment epithelium-derived factor on AGE-induced reactive oxygen species generation, MCP-1 mRNA up-regulation and protein production in human cultured microvascular endothelial cells. METHODS: The intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species was measured using the fluorescent probe CM-H(2)DCFDA. MCP-1 gene expression was analysed in quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 production by microvascular endothelial cells was measured with an ELISA system. RESULTS: AGE increased intracellular reactive oxygen species generation in microvascular endothelial cells. Pigment epithelium-derived factor inhibited the AGE-induced reactive oxygen species generation in a dose-dependent manner. An anti-oxidant, N-acetylcysteine, or pigment epithelium-derived factor completely prevented the AGE-induced up-regulation of MCP-1 mRNA contents as well as protein production in microvascular endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATIONS: Pigment epithelium-derived factor inhibits the AGE-induced reactive oxygen species generation and the subsequent increase in MCP-1 production in microvascular endothelial cells. Our study suggests that substitution of pigment epithelium-derived factor could prevent the progression of diabetic retinopathy by attenuating the deleterious effects of AGE.

Cells, Cultured↗

Analysis of enterotoxin production by Bacillus cereus from dairy products, food poisoning incidents and non-gastrointestinal infections.

Of 85 strains of Bacillus cereus isolated in Norway from dairy products, 59% were found to be enterotoxigenic, and 15% were psychrotrophic. Six of the isolates (7%) were identified as potential psychrotrophic food-poisoning strains as they were both enterotoxigenic and exhibited good growth at 6 degrees C. Enterotoxin production was detected using the Western immunoblot technique, and a commercially available reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) assay (Unipath BCET-RPLA TD950). Both methods gave essentially the same results. In a separate study, the Western immunoblot and RPLA assays were used in a conjunction with the in vivo vascular permeability reaction (VPR) assay to determine enterotoxin production among 25 isolates of Bacillus cereus referred to the PHLS Food Hygiene Laboratory from incidents of diarrhoeal- and emetic-syndrome food poisoning and non-gastrointestinal infections. Eighty-four percent of these isolates were found to be enterotoxigenic by the Western immunoblot and the RPLA assays, and these results were in good agreement with those obtained by the VPR assay. In both studies, the BCET-RPLA kit proved to be a simple and reliable means for determining enterotoxin production by strains of Bacillus cereus.

Animals↗

Efficient lactic acid production from high salt containing dairy by-products by Lactobacillus salivarius ssp. salicinius with pre-treatment by proteolytic microorganisms.

Lactic acid bacteria have an inefficient proteolytic system. Therefore, cultivation media which may have high protein content are usually supplemented with yeast extract or protein lysates (peptones). These additives might be conveniently replaced by in situ treatment of the cultivation medium with proteolytic enzymes or proteolytic microbes. Lactobacillus salivarius ssp. salicinius, a lactic acid bacterium species that can grow at high salt concentration, was used to ferment lactic acid in cheese whey (with 3 gl(-1) whey protein content) and lactose mother liquor (90 gl(-1) lactose, 9 gl(-1) proteins, 30 gl(-1) minerals). The contribution of protease enzymes or proteolytic microbes to acid production by lactobacilli was examined. Efficient conversion of lactose to lactic acid was obtained in the presence of additional proteolytic activity. Fastest acid production was obtained with the addition of protease enzymes. However, almost equally efficient acid production was obtained by treating the medium with Bacillus megaterium. The results show that fast and complete conversion of lactose to lactic acid can be obtained in dairy by-products without expensive additives.

Bacillus megaterium↗

An innovative model for regulating supplement products: natural health products in Canada.

On 1 January 2004, Health Canada officially added a new term to the global list of synonyms for dietary supplements: natural health products (NHP). Developed with the intent of providing Canadian consumers with ready access to NHP that are safe, effective, and of high quality, the Natural Health Products Regulations (the NHP regulations) are applicable to the sale, manufacture, packaging, labelling, importation, distribution, and storage of NHP, and are administered by the recently formed Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) within Health Canada. This paper provides an overview of the process for regulating supplement products in Canada.

Canada↗

Genome-scale overexpression screening identifies product tolerance and efflux transport as key determinants of high-level L-tryptophan production in Escherichia coli.

L-tryptophan is a high-value aromatic amino acid widely used in the food, feed, and pharmaceutical industries. However, large-scale microbial production is constrained by insufficient precursor supply and limited strain tolerance to high product concentrations. In this study, modular metabolic engineering was first employed to enhance the availability of key precursors, including shikimate, serine, and glutamine, yielding strain TRPJ-13 with a 34.6% increase in L-tryptophan titer. To enhance strain tolerance, an indigo-based high-throughput reporter system was constructed and coupled with genome-scale overexpression library screening, leading to the identification of soxS as a tolerance-conferring target. Mechanistic analysis demonstrated that soxS upregulated lpxC to enhance lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, thereby reinforcing membrane integrity and improving L-tryptophan tolerance. Combinatorial engineering of soxS and lpxC generated strain TRPJ-23, which increased L-tryptophan tolerance by 74.8% and L-tryptophan titer by 10.3%. Furthermore, YicL was identified as a novel transmembrane protein involved in L-tryptophan transport that effectively promoted L-tryptophan efflux, further increasing the titer by 9.0%. After fermentation optimization, strain TRPJ-28 produced 74.3&#x202f;g/L L-tryptophan in a 5-L bioreactor, with a yield of 0.26&#x202f;g/g and a productivity of 1.24&#x202f;g/L/h. In a 1000-L pilot-scale bioreactor, TRPJ-28 reached a titer, yield, and productivity of 70.4&#x202f;g/L, 0.25&#x202f;g/g, and 1.17&#x202f;g/L/h, respectively. This study provides new engineering insights for developing industrially promising L-tryptophan-producing strains.

Genome-scale overexpression screening↗

The effect of commercial production and product formulation stresses on the heat resistance of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (NCTC 12900) in beef burgers.

The effects of commercial beef burger production and product formulation on the heat resistance of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (NCTC 12900) in beef burgers were investigated. Fresh beef trimmings were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 to approximately log10 7.0 cfu g(-1) and subjected to standard beef burger production processes, including freezing, frozen storage and tempering. The tempered trimmings were processed in line with commercial practice to produce burgers of two formulations, a 'Quality' burger containing 100% beef and an 'Economy' burger containing 70% beef and 30% other ingredients (salt, seasoning, soya, onion and water). The burgers were then frozen and stored. Control 'unprocessed' burgers were produced to each of the above formulations using fresh beef trimmings. All burger types were heat-treated at 55, 60 or 65 degrees C. Samples were examined by plating on Tryptone Soya Agar (TSA), incubated at 37 degrees C for 2 h, before overlaying with SMAC (TSA/SMAC) and incubation at 37 degrees C. The resultant counts were used to derive D-values for E. coli O1 57:H7. At each treatment temperature, the D-values from each burger formulation using frozen tempered trimmings were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than the D-values from that formulation using fresh trimmings. At each treatment temperature, the D-values from Economy burgers using processed trimmings were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the D-values from Quality burgers using processed trimmings. A similar trend of significantly higher (P<0.001) D-values for Economy burgers was observed using fresh trimmings. This study found that commercial processing and product formulation have profound effects on the heat resistance of E. coli O157:H7 in beef burgers.

Animals↗

Scaffold architecture and pharmacophoric properties of natural products and trade drugs: application in the design of natural product-based combinatorial libraries.

Natural products were analyzed to determine whether they contain appealing novel scaffold architectures for potential use in combinatorial chemistry. Ring systems were extracted and clustered on the basis of structural similarity. Several such potential scaffolds for combinatorial chemistry were identified that are not present in current trade drugs. For one of these scaffolds a virtual combinatorial library was generated. Pharmacophoric properties of natural products, trade drugs, and the virtual combinatorial library were assessed using a self-organizing map. Obviously, current trade drugs and natural products have several topological pharmacophore patterns in common. These features can be systematically explored with selected combinatorial libraries based on a combination of natural product-derived and synthetic molecular building blocks.

Algorithms↗

Natural products to drugs: natural product derived compounds in clinical trials.

Natural product and natural product-derived compounds that are being evaluated in clinical trials or in registration (current 31 December 2004) have been reviewed. Natural product derived drugs launched in the United States of America, Europe and Japan since 1998 and new natural product templates discovered since 1990 are discussed.

Biological Products↗