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A twin study of human red blood cell catechol-o-methyl transferase.

Significant sibling-sibling and within-family correlations of human red blood cell catechol-o-methyl transferase activity have suggested a high degree of genetic control over levels of activity of this catecholamine-related enzyme. However, family studies do not disentangle genetic from environmental similarities as causative of within-family correlations. We therefore undertook a human twin study using the monozygotic-dizygotic comparison method. Twelve pairs of monozygotic twins had an intraclass correlation of 90 in red blood cell catechol-o-methyl transferase activity, and seven pairs of dizygotic twins had an intraclass correlations of 37. Heritability of the enzyme activity was estimated by different methods as between 68-100 per cent.

Adolescent↗

Catechol estrogen formation by brain tissue: characterization of a direct product isolation assay for estrogen-2- and 4-hydroxylase activity and its application to studies of 2- and 4-hydroxyestradiol formation by rabbit hypothalamus.

A direct product isolation assay for quantifying the formation of 2- and 4-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2 and 4-OHE2) from [6,7-3H]estradiol by rabbit hypothalami in vitro was developed, and the assay was used to characterize some properties of estrogen-2- and 4-hydroxylase activity in this tissue. The reaction was carried out under conditions that minimized further metabolism of enzymatically formed catechol estrogens. A simple two-step separation procedure, involving the use of a neutral alumina column, followed by thin layer chromatography, was developed to isolate the enzymatically formed catechol estrogens in a radiochemically homogeneous form. The detergent, Tween-80, was found to activate the enzyme and was used routinely at a concentration of 0.1% in the assay. The formation of 2-OHE2 was linear up to 10 min and with increasing protein concentrations up to 150 micrograms/incubation. Similar values were obtained for 4-OHE2. Maximum velocities (Vmax) for the formation of 2- and 4-OHE2 were 190 and 270 pmol/mg protein . 10 min, respectively. The apparent Km values with respect to estradiol for 2-OHE2 and 4-OHE2 were 125 and 150 microM, respectively. The highest specific activity for the enzyme was present in the 100,000 X g supernatant (S3), while the activity in the microsomal fraction (P3) was less than that in the original homogenate. Enzyme activity depended on the presence of NADPH and oxygen and was inhibited by CO as well as by high concentrations of SKF-525A. Estrogen-2- and 4-hydroxylase activity in rabbit hypothalamus differed from that in rat liver in two respects. In the liver, enzyme activity was localized in the microsomal fraction and was virtually abolished by Tween-80. In contrast, enzyme activity in rabbit hypothalamus was maximal in the soluble fraction (100,000 X g supernatant)and was stimulated by the detergent.

Animals↗

The catechol estrogen, 2-hydroxyestradiol-17 alpha, is formed from estradiol-17 alpha by hypothalamic tissue in vitro and inhibits tyrosine hydroxylase.

The ability of estradiol-17 alpha to serve as a substrate for estrogen-2/4-hydroxylase in rabbit hypothalamic tissue was determined and compared to that of estradiol-17 beta. Both 2- and 4-hydroxy metabolites of estradiol-17 alpha were formed by the hypothalamic tissue in vitro. The rates of formation of 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2)-17 alpha and -17 beta were similar as were their kinetic constants (Km and Vmax). In addition, 2-OHE2-17 alpha was shown to inhibit purified rat adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase with a potency comparable to that of 2-OHE2-17 beta, a finding similar to that reported by others with respect to catechol-o-methyltransferase. Since estradiol-17 alpha has a markedly reduced affinity for estrogen receptors compared with extradiol-17 beta, this steroid could be useful in studies designed to distinguish between receptor mediated effects of estrogens and effects that locally formed catechol estrogens may have through their direct interaction with catecholaminergic system in neural tissue.

Animals↗

Metabolic clearance rates of catechol estrogens in rats.

MCRs of the catechol estrogens 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OHE2) and 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2) and of the parent estrogen 17 beta-estradiol (E2) were determined in rats. Long term ovariectomized Wistar rats were infused with the steroids at a constant rate for 3 days via a catheter placed in the abdominal aorta. Blood samples were drawn discontinually by retroorbital puncture, and the serum concentrations of E2, 4-OHE2, and 2-OHE2 were measured by RIA. Steady state was reached within 24 h of infusion. Mean serum MCRs were calculated to be 740 +/- 117 ml/h for E2, 2700 +/- 1000 ml/h for 4-OHE2, and 8300 +/- 1700 ml/h for 2-OHE2. Thus, the MCRs of the catechol estrogens were definitely higher than the MCR of E2 resulting in an apparent ratio of 1:4:11 (E2:4-OHE2:2-OHE2).

Animals↗

Normal and recombinant human growth hormone administered by constant infusion feminize catechol estrogen formation by rat liver microsomes.

Human GH or recombinant DNA-derived human GH administered to normal mature male rats by constant infusion decreased hepatic 2-hydroxylation of estradiol to female levels, as measured by 3H2O release and isolation of the catechol estrogen product. PRL had no effect under the same conditions. The maximum response to GH was attained at an infusion rate of 0.02 IU/h . kg after 5-7 days, and a significant change was observed within 1-2 days. The effect of GH was primarily on hydroxylation of C-2 of the estrogen, as demonstrated by comparative studies with estradiol labeled with 3H at C-4 or C-6,7, and appeared to be mediated by the cytochrome P-450 system of the liver microsomes. Ascorbic acid at 1 mM did not affect 2-hydroxylation significantly while protecting the catechol estrogen produced from further oxidation. The results indicate that GH has the potential to regulate estrogen metabolism in the liver and provide evidence for another component in the hypothalamic-pituitary-liver axis.

Animals↗

Metabolism of catechol estrogen by human erythrocytes.

In a study designed to evaluate the kinetics of catechol estrogen formation from plasma estrone in vivo, we obtained evidence that the red blood cell (RBC) enzyme, catechol-O-methyl transferase, catalyzes the transformation of 2-hydroxyestrone to 2-methoxyestrone. Under in vitro conditions, the rate of conversion of 2-hydroxyestrone to 2-methoxyestrone by human RBC's was such that 7 nmol of 2-methoxyestrone were formed per h per ml of RBC.

Catechol O-Methyltransferase↗

Effects of catechol estrogen infusions upon gonadotropin and prolactin concentrations in men.

To study the effects of catechol estrogens upon gonadotropin secretion, 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE1) and 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE2) were administered iv to young adult men in a range of doses for 4 days. Blood samples were obtained for plasma LH, FSH, and PRL at 20-min intervals for 6 h before and at the end of the infusion period. 2-OHE1 had no effect upon gonadotropins or PRL in doses up to 1.6 mg/day; at 3.2 and 6.6 mg/day, it produced a slight suppression of LH and FSH, with no change in PRL. 2-OHE2 was generally ineffective at 100 micrograms/day, but doses from 200-800 micrograms/day suppressed gonadotropins, without changes in PRL. These infusions elevated 2-OHE1 and 2-OHE2 plasma levels to values comparable to those measured in late pregnancy. There were no associated effects upon blood pressure and only minimal changes in urinary catecholamine excretion. No effects that could be interpreted as antiestrogenic were observed. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that circulating catechol estrogens behave as weak estrogens in men.

Adult↗

Erythrocyte catechol-O-methyltransferase, platelet monoamine oxidase, and platelet phenol sulfotransferase activities in patients with prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas.

Dopamine is metabolized by oxidative deamination catalyzed by monoamine oxidase, O-methylation catalyzed by catechol-O-methyltransferase, and sulfate conjugation catalyzed by phenol sulfotransferase. This study was performed to determine whether platelet monoamine oxidase, red blood cell catechol-O-methyltransferase and platelet phenol sulfotransferase enzymatic activities in patients with prolactinomas were quantitatively different from the same enzyme activities in blood samples from normal subjects. The mean enzyme activities in blood samples from 22 women with histologically proven prolactinomas were compared to the mean enzyme activities in blood samples from 32 normal women. The blood levels of these 3 enzymatic activities were not significantly different between the two groups (P greater than 0.4). If the regulation of these catecholamine-metabolizing enzyme activities in blood elements reflects the regulation of the enzymes in the hypothalamic-hypophyseal region, these results suggest that a defect in the regulation of dopamine-metabolizing enzymes is not associated with the pathogenesis of prolactinomas.

Adenoma↗

Plasma levels of catechols and metanephrines in neurogenic orthostatic hypotension.

BACKGROUND: Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH) usually results from deficient release of the sympathetic neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) when the patient stands up. In pure autonomic failure (PAF) and PD with NOH, sympathetic denervation can explain this deficiency, whereas in multiple-system atrophy (MSA), deficient baroreflex regulation of sympathetic traffic to intact terminals probably causes the NOH. From the concept of a unitary sympathoadrenomedullary system, one might predict parallel sympathoneural and adrenomedullary abnormalities in NOH. OBJECTIVE: To test the concept of parallel sympathoneural and adrenomedullary abnormalities in NOH by simultaneous measurements of plasma levels of catechols and metanephrines. METHODS: Antecubital venous blood drawn via an indwelling cannula with the subject supine was assayed for catecholamines (NE, epinephrine [EPI]), dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), and metanephrines (normetanephrine [NMN] and metanephrine [MN]) in patients with PAF, PD + NOH, or MSA + NOH. Control subjects had PD lacking NOH or were normal volunteers at least 35 years old. Cardiac sympathetic innervation was assessed by 6-[18F]fluorodopamine PET scanning. RESULTS: The three NOH groups differed clearly in patterns of plasma catechols and metanephrines. The PAF group had low NE, DHPG, NMN, EPI, and MN levels, the group with MSA + NOH had generally normal levels, and the PD + NOH group low NMN levels and low DHPG levels for given NE levels but normal mean NE, EPI, and MN levels. All patients with PAF or PD + NOH had markedly decreased 6-[18F]fluorodopamine-derived radioactivity throughout the left ventricular myocardium; all patients with MSA + NOH had normal radioactivity. CONCLUSIONS: PAF involves generalized loss of sympathoadrenomedullary cells, MSA + NOH intact sympathoadrenomedullary cells, and PD + NOH intact adrenomedullary cells but organ-selective sympathetic denervation, especially in the heart.

Adrenal Medulla↗

Catechol metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid as possible markers in the early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

This paper is a preliminary report of work aiming to elucidate the possible use of 5-S-cysteinyl metabolites of catechols in the cerebrospinal fluid as markers in the early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). The rationale for this approach is the hypothesis that this disorder is caused by a failure of antioxidative mechanisms to prevent the excessive autoxidation of dopamine and other catechols that yields highly reactive and cytotoxic semiquinones and quinones. 5-S-cysteinyl adducts of these quinones have been detected in human brains, analyzed postmortem, and appear to be formed at an increased rate in elderly individuals, who show an increased loss of dopaminergic neurons.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Inhibitory effects of catechol derivatives on arachidonic acid-induced aggregation of rabbit platelets.

Pyrocatechol and other non-substituted dihydric phenols, which have strong redox power, inhibited arachidonic acid-induced aggregation of rabbit platelets at much lower concentrations than those at which these phenols inhibited stable prostaglandin endoperoxide, U46619-induced aggregation. Among non-substituted dihydric phenols, pyrocatechol was most potent. In order to clarify the physicochemical properties of the phenolic compounds which control the inhibitory potencies of dihydric phenols, we observed the inhibitory effects of 3- and 4-substituents of pyrocatechol on arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation. Among seven derivatives tested, the inhibitory effect of 4-C6H5-substituent was strongest and 4-COOH-substituent was weakest. Inhibitory effects of the catechol derivatives were well correlated with the quotients of their hydrophobicities and oxidation-reduction potentials. Inhibitory effects of hydroquinone and resorcinol were also on the same correlation line. These results suggest that the inhibitory effects of catechol derivatives and other dihydric phenols are controlled by two physicochemical properties: oxidation-reduction potential and hydrophobicity.

Animals↗

Inhibitory effects of catechol derivatives on hydrophilic free radical initiator-induced hemolysis and their interaction with hemoglobin.

The effects of pyrocatechol and its monosubstituents on the hemolysis of bovine erythrocytes induced by the hydrophilic free radical initiator, 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane)dihydrochloride (AAPH), were investigated. Relatively hydrophilic derivatives such as the 4-COO- substituent (protocatechuic acid), which are almost completely ionized at physiological pH, have a more inhibitory effect than the more hydrophobic derivatives such as the 4-C(CH3)3 substituent. In the presence of relatively low concentrations of the latter derivatives, the onset of hemolysis was retarded, but the hemolysis then proceeded more rapidly and the time, at which almost complete hemolysis occurred, was almost the same as that in their absence. Regression analysis on the relationships between the inhibitory effects of the derivatives and their redox potentials and hydrophobic parameters revealed that the inhibitory activity of the catechol derivatives on AAPH-induced hemolysis was controlled by low hydrophobicity as well as electron donor activity. In the presence of relatively hydrophobic catechol derivatives, oxidation of hemoglobin was observed. These findings suggest that interaction of these derivatives with hemoglobin after their penetration erythrocytes reduced the scavenging activity against free radicals. Their interaction with membrane or cytoplasmic components may cause the increased hemolysis rate after the onset of hemolysis at relatively low concentrations.

Amidines↗

Breed differences in genotype and allele frequency of catechol O-methyltransferase gene polymorphic regions in dogs.

Catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) inactivates catecholamines and catechol-containing drugs such as L-DOPA. The common genetic polymorphism Val158Met in the human COMT gene is suspected to be associated with "persistence" or risk for schizophrenia. In this study, we attempted to identify the canine COMT gene fragment and to find a similar polymorphism and to reveal its genetic distribution among five representative canine breeds. We found that the amplified gene consisted of 663 bp nucleotides and was 84% homologous with the human COMT gene. The single nucleotide polymorphisms, guanine adenine substitution, were observed at the 39th, 216th and 482nd nucleotides. From the genotyping of the 216th polymorphism among 266 dogs by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method with restriction enzyme EagI, and that of the 482nd polymorphism with restriction enzyme SfcI, we found inter-breed variations of genotypes as well as of allelic frequencies for both of these polymorphic regions. These results suggest that the identified polymorphisms will be useful tools in elucidating the genetic background of canine behavioral traits.

Animals↗

Immunological studies of catechol methyltransferase from the yeast Candida tropicalis.

Immunization of rabbits with purified catechol methyltransferase from Candida tropicalis yielded a potent antiserum. Ouchterlony double diffusion analysis showed a single precipitin line. There was no cross reactivity with the catechol methyltransferase from rat and bovine liver. Specific antigen-antibody interaction was demonstrated by a potent inhibitory effect of the antibody on the yeast enzyme. Immunological titration and quantitative precipitin reaction of the enzyme showed that the maximum amount of precipitable complex occurred at the equivalence point where enzyme activity was completely inhibited.

Animals↗

Hypothalamic dopamine and catechol oestrogens in rats with spontaneous pituitary tumours.

Dopamine concentration within the hypothalamus and its depletion after the administration of alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine were measured in young rats and compared with values obtained in aged animals with and without spontaneously occurring pituitary tumours. Old rats had significantly reduced hypothalamic dopamine concentrations and there was less depletion of dopamine compared with young animals but there were no differences between tumorous and non-tumorous animals. Hyperprolactinaemia induced in young animals caused a much greater depletion of hypothalamic dopamine than in old tumorous rats with comparable plasma prolactin concentrations. The catechol oestrogen 2-hydroxyoestradiol inhibited the release of prolactin from normal rat pituitary glands in vitro but measurement of catechol oestrogens in the hypothalamus showed no differences between young and old tumorous or non-tumorous rats. It is concluded that reduced dopamine concentration and an impaired response to hyperprolactinaemia in old rats may facilitate the growth of prolactin-secreting tumours arising in the pituitary gland.

Adenoma↗

Are catechol oestrogens obligatory mediators of oestrogen action in the central nervous system? II. Potencies of natural and synthetic oestrogens for induction of gonadotrophin release and female sexual behaviour in the rat.

The role of catechol oestrogen formation in the mechanism by which circulating oestrogens facilitate gonadotrophin release and female sexual behaviour was explored in adult female rats. The effects of oestradiol-17 beta were compared with those of a group of oestrogens with either a reduced affinity for oestrogen receptors (oestradiol-17 alpha) or a reduced ability to act as substrates for catechol oestrogen formation (2-fluoro-oestradiol, 4-fluoro-oestradiol and moxestrol (11 beta-methoxy-17 alpha-ethynyloestradiol]. Rats were ovariectomized on the evening of dioestrus day 1 of the 4-day oestrous cycle and implanted s.c. 12 h later with infusion pumps containing either one of the test oestrogens or vehicle alone. Infusion rates for oestradiol-17 beta, moxestrol, 2-fluoro-oestradiol and 4-fluoro-oestradiol were adjusted to give concentrations of nuclear oestrogen receptors in the brain and pituitary gland within the range of those found in intact female rats during pro-oestrus. Oestradiol-17 alpha was infused at the same and at a tenfold higher rate than that of oestradiol-17 beta; neither of these treatments with oestradiol-17 alpha significantly increased brain or pituitary gland nuclear oestrogen receptor levels. On the day after the pump was implanted, samples of tail vein blood were withdrawn at 12.00, 14.00, 16.00 and 18.00 h for LH assay. All animals were then injected s.c. with 1 mg progesterone in propylene glycol, and tested for feminine sexual behaviour 5 h later. Oestradiol-17 beta, moxestrol, 2-fluoro-oestradiol and 4-fluoro-oestradiol all elicited pronounced LH surges and facilitated progesterone-triggered proceptive and lordosis behaviours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of a coupled compound of thiamin with catechol.

Equimolecular amounts of thiamin and catechol incubated under suitable conditions produced an unknown reaction product isolated as a light yellow powder from the reaction mixture by reverse-phase ODS column chromatography. Elemental analysis of the purified powder showed the molecular formula to be C18H22N4O4S X HCl X H2O in agreement with a molecular ion peak found at m/e 390 in the mass spectrum. These results together with the data of IR and NMR spectrometry possibly show that this material consists of an isomeric mixture of S-3,4- and S-2,3-dihydroxyphenylthiamin (I and II) which probably arise as a result of oxidative addition of the thiol group of thiamin to catechol.

Catechols↗

Semisynthetic beta-lactam antibiotics. III. Effect on antibacterial activity and comt-susceptibility of chlorine-introduction into the catechol nucleus of 6-[(R)-2-[3-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-3-(3-hydroxypropyl)-1-ureido]-2- phenylacetamido]penicillanic acid.

The resistance of 6-[(R)-2-[3-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-3-(3-hydroxypropyl)-1-ureido]-2- phenylacetamido]penicillanic acid (1a) to metabolism by catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT) was increased by introduction of the chlorine atom into the catechol moiety. Penicillins (1b-1d) having one or two chlorine atoms at the positions adjacent to the hydroxyl group were found to have greater stability to COMT. This resulted in greater efficiency in vivo in experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli infections. In vitro activities were essentially unchanged.

Animals↗