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Metabolic relationships between pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and serine biosynthesis in Escherichia coli K-12.

We propose a pathway leading from erythrose-4-phosphate and glutamate to nitrogen 1 and carbons 5,5', and 6 of the pyridoxine ring. This pathway, which parallels the phosphorylated pathway of serine biosynthesis, is predicted on the homology between PdxB and SerA, the structural similarity between serine and 4-hydroxythreonine, and the possible involvement of SerC in pyridoxine biosynthesis. Several predictions of this hypothetical scheme were tested. Consistent with the proposed pathway, supplement inhibition patterns strongly suggest that SerA enzyme acts in a an alternate pathway of pyridoxine biosynthesis in pdxB mutants. Direct enzyme assays detected erythrose-4-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in crude extracts, which again supports the proposed pathway. Chromosomal insertions in serC caused a requirement for pyridoxine, serine, and aromatic compounds, which directly verified that SerC functions in the pyridoxine biosynthetic pathway. Complementation analysis showed that pdxF and pdxC mutations reported previously are most likely alleles of serC. Growth of serC chromosomal insertion mutants on glycoalaldehyde was found to occur without acquisition of second-site mutations and confirmed that pdxB and serC, but not pdxA, function in the same branch of the pyridoxine pathway. In addition, serC::mini-Mu d insertions revealed that the complex serC-aroA operon lacks internal promoters, that the amino terminus of SerC is not strictly essential for activity, and that antisense transcription occurs in the serC-aroA operon. Growth responses of pdxA, pdxB, and serC mutants to beta-hydroxypyruvate, D-alanine, and glycolate could also be reconciled with the proposed pathway. Finally, the proposed scheme is consistent with previous isotope labeling data and accounts for several other observations about pyridoxine biosynthesis. Together, these physiological and biochemical analyses support the proposed pathway and an evolutionary scenario in which this branch of the pyridoxine pathway evolved from the serine pathway by gene recruitment.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗

A carrier-mediated mechanism for pyridoxine uptake by human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells: regulation by a PKA-mediated pathway.

Vitamin B6 is essential for cellular functions and growth due to its involvement in important metabolic reactions. Humans and other mammals cannot synthesize vitamin B6 and thus must obtain this micronutrient from exogenous sources via intestinal absorption. The intestine, therefore, plays a central role in maintaining and regulating normal vitamin B6 homeostasis. Due to the water-soluble nature of vitamin B6 and the demonstration that transport of other water-soluble vitamins in intestinal epithelial cells involves specialized carrier-mediated mechanisms, we hypothesized that transport of vitamin B6 in these cells is also carrier mediated in nature. To test this hypothesis, we examined pyridoxine transport in a model system for human enterocytes, the human-derived intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells. The results showed pyridoxine uptake to be 1) linear with time for up to 10 min of incubation and to occur with minimal metabolic alteration in the transported substrate, 2) temperature and energy dependent but Na+ independent, 3) pH dependent with higher uptake at acidic compared with alkaline pHs, 4) saturable as a function of concentration (at buffer pH 5.5 but not 7.4) with an apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) of 11.99 +/- 1.41 microM and a maximal velocity (Vmax) of 67.63 +/- 3.87 pmol. mg protein-1. 3 min-1, 5) inhibited by pyridoxine structural analogs (at buffer pH 5.5 but not 7.4) but not by unrelated compounds, and 6) inhibited in a competitive manner by amiloride with an apparent inhibitor constant (Ki) of 0.39 mM. We also examined the possible regulation of pyridoxine uptake by specific intracellular regulatory pathways. The results showed that whereas modulators of PKC, Ca+2/calmodulin (CaM), and nitric oxide (NO)-mediated pathways had no effect on pyridoxine uptake, modulators of PKA-mediated pathway were found to cause significant reduction in pyridoxine uptake. This reduction was mediated via a significant inhibition in the Vmax, but not the apparent Km, of the pyridoxine uptake process. These results demonstrate, for the first time, the involvement of a specialized carrier-mediated mechanism for pyridoxine uptake by intestinal epithelial cells. This system is pH dependent and amiloride sensitive and appears to be under the regulation of an intracellular PKA-mediated pathway.

Caco-2 Cells↗

Hydrolysis of pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside by a broad-specificity beta-glucosidase from mammalian tissues.

Research was conducted to evaluate the ability of a broad-specificity beta-glucosidase in mammalian tissues to catalyze the hydrolytic release of free pyridoxine from pyridoxine-5'-beta-D-glucoside, a naturally occurring form of vitamin B6 in plant-derived foods. Activity was detected in liver and intestinal mucosa using tritiated pyridoxine glucoside as a substrate. In the rat and guinea pig, enzyme activity was greater in intestine than in liver or kidney while even greater activity was detected in human intestinal tissue. Reaction rates were, however, low in all tissues. Hydrolysis of the synthetic substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucoside was also greatest in intestinal tissue. The characteristics of the enzymatic hydrolysis of pyridoxine glucoside to pyridoxine included: (i) most activity in the soluble tissue fraction, (ii) a pH optimum of approximately 6.0, and (iii) inhibition caused by the addition of sodium taurocholate. These characteristics are very similar to those of the broad-specificity beta-glucosidase in mammalian tissues with respect to the hydrolysis of a variety of naturally occurring and synthetic substrates. The apparent Km was greater than 2 mM for pyridoxine glucoside hydrolysis by intestinal preparations of each species, which is much greater than expected intestinal concentrations derived from dietary sources. In vivo studies have indicated that the intestine is involved in the metabolic utilization of dietary pyridoxine glucoside. The results observed here suggest that an alternate process, possibly involving intestinal microorganisms, may also be involved in the in vivo hydrolysis of pyridoxine glucoside.

Animals↗

Interrelationship between dietary pyridoxine and free plasma amino acids in chicks.

The interrelationships between dietary pyridoxine and free plasma amino acids in young chicks were studied with two different diets. Chicks fed isolated soybean protein supplemented with less than 1.0 mg pyridoxine-HCl/kg diet had reduced body weight gain and feed consumption and a higher mortality rate (19%) than those fed 1 or 5 mg pyridoxine-HCl/kg. A casein diet required greater supplementation (2.0 mg pyridoxine/kg) to prevent reduced body weight gain and depressed feed intake. The concentrations of free plasma taurine, threonine, and serine were significantly lower in chicks fed the isolated soybean protein diet supplemented with less than 1.0 mg pyridoxine-HCl/kg, while those of isoleucine, valine, glycine, and ornithine were significantly higher than in chicks fed greater levels of pyridoxine. Supplementation of casein diets with less than 2.0 mg resulted in a significant accumulation of threonine, glycine, cystathionine, and ornithine. Valine was significant higher in chicks fed casein supplemented with only .6 mg pyridoxine-HCl/kg. Feeding isolated soybean protein or casein diets without any pyridoxine supplementation resulted in the dealth of 95% and 100% of the chicks, respectively. Pair feeding a group fed the isolated soybean protein diet supplemented with 1.0 mg to a group receiving .5 mg pyridoxine-HCl/kg resulted in a similar body weight gain and concentration of amino acids in the plasma.

Amino Acids↗

Clinical trial of pyridoxine to reduce vincristine neurotoxicity.

In a murine model system, pyridoxine has demonstrated protective properties during administration of lethal doses of vincristine (VCR). Subsequently, pyridoxine has been evaluated in patients receiving VCR during an adjuvant chemotherapy program for stage II carcinoma of the breast. The toxicities, cumulative VCR dosage, and percentage of ideal dosage observed in 24 patients receiving pyridoxine have been compared to those observed in 88 patients who previously received VCR without pyridoxine in the same chemotherapy program. All patients ideally were to receive VCR 1.0 mg/m2 weekly for 6-weeks with dose modification for neurotoxicity. Treatment patients received pyridoxine 1.5 grams p.o. daily in three divided doses during the 6-week course. The degree of neurotoxic manifestations of VCR was similar in the treatment and comparison patients. Absent to mild neurotoxicity was observed in approximately 70% of patients in both groups; moderate or greater neurotoxicity occurred in about 30% of patients in both groups. Full dosage (6.0 mg/m2) was attained in 8 (33%) treatment patients and 18 (24%) comparison patients (p = 0.28). The mean percentage of ideal dosage of VCR was 84.6 +/- 10.8 in patients receiving pyridoxine and 81.9 +/- 21.6 in those given only VCR (p = 0.59). Gastrointestinal and hematologic toxicities were similar in both groups. Pyridoxine in this dose and schedule afforded no protection from the neurotoxic side effects of VCR.

Adult↗

Pipecolic acid concentrations in brain tissue of nutritionally pyridoxine-deficient rats.

Elevated concentrations of pipecolic acid have been reported in plasma and CSF of patients with pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy, but its molecular background is unclear. To investigate any further association of pyridoxine and pipecolic acid metabolism, we have performed an animal trial and have measured the concentration of pipecolic acid in brain tissue of rats with nutritional pyridoxine deficiency and in control littermates. Concentrations of pyridoxal phosphate were significantly reduced in brain tissue of pyridoxine-deficient rats (p < 0.001), while concentrations of pipecolic acid were not significantly different from the normally nourished control group (p = 0.3). These data indicate that a direct association of pyridoxine and pipecolic acid metabolism is unlikely. We therefore assume that the characteristic elevation of pipecolic acid in pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy could rather be a secondary phenomenon with the primary defect of pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy being located outside the pipecolic acid pathway.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

Metabolism of pyridoxine in the liver of vitamin B-6-deficient rats.

The metabolism of [6-3H]pyridoxine - HCl was investigated in the liver of vitamin B-6-deficient rats. Rats were made vitamin B-6 deficient by feeding ad libitum for 42 days a diet lacking pyridoxine but otherwise optimal. Animals were each injected intraperitoneally with 33 muCi of [6-3H] pyridoxine - HCl and killed at different time intervals afterwards up to 7 days. Radioactively labeled hepatic B-6 compounds were extracted with acid and chromatographically separated on Dowex-X8 (H+) columns and the percent radioactivity for each vitamin compound was then calculated. Maximal uptake in control and deficient animals was observed 30 and 60 min, respectively, after administration of label. Radioactivity was not retained by the control animals but decreased steadily in a linear fashion after 30 min, reaching a low level after 3 h. On the other hand, vitamin deficient animals accumulated almost twice as much radioactivity in their liver as the controls and retained it through 7 days. In vitamin B-6 deficient animals 93% of the injected radioactivity was metabolized within 2 min at which time pyridoxine 5'-P and pyridoxal 5'-P reached 36 and 44% levels, respectively. Pyridoxine 5'-P dropped to minimal values (3%) within 15 min and remained unchanged for 7 days while pyridoxal 5'-P reached a peak (79%) level at 15 min and then began to drop linearly reaching a plateau (29%) at 5 days. Further, as the level of pyridoxal 5-P was falling, pyridoxamine 5'-P was linearly synthesized reaching a platuau low level (3%). The specific activity level of pyridoxal kinase decreased 3.2 times and that of pyridoxine 5'-phosphate oxidase increased 1.5 times in the state of deficiency. The results presented show that metabolism of [3H]pyridoxine in deficiency is characterized by (a) a delayed, two-fold increase in label uptake as well as an extended label retention period, (b) a rapid pyridoxal 5'-P synthesis, and (c) a continuous synthesis (and accumulation) of pyridoxamine 5'-P which is not utilized or further metabolized.

Aging↗

Pyridoxine acts in the brain to reduce ethanol toxicity in rats.

Although for many years it has been proposed that megadoses of pyridoxine protect from ethanol toxicity, this issue remains unclear. In the present report the interaction between ethanol and pyridoxine was tested. Pyridoxine was administered intramuscularly or intracerebroventricularly to rats. Intramuscular administration of 187.2 mg/kg of pyridoxine displaced the ethanol-lethality dose curve significantly toward the right (p < 0.005) and increased the LD50 of ethanol from 4.46 to 5.19 g/kg (p < 0.005). Intracerebroventricular administration of pyridoxine (1.1 mg) completely suppressed the mortality due to a LD100 of ethanol and the effect was dose dependent. We conclude that pyridoxine is an effective treatment for ethanol intoxication. The results are discussed in terms of an interaction of ethanol and pyridoxine on the GABAergic system.

Animals↗

Randomized, controlled trial of high-dose intravenous pyridoxine in the treatment of recurrent seizures in children.

To determine the efficacy of pyridoxine in treating seizures, 90 infants and children with recurrent convulsions primarily due to acute infectious diseases were enrolled in the present study. Forty patients were treated with high-dose pyridoxine (30 or 50 mg/kg/day) by intravenous infusion, and 50 subjects served as controls. Antiepileptic drugs and other therapies were similar in the two groups except for pyridoxine. Clinical efficacy criteria were based on the frequency of convulsions per day and on the duration of individual seizures after therapy was initiated. The results indicated that total response rates in the pyridoxine group and control group were 92.5% and 64%, respectively (chi-square = 14.68, P < .001). After initiation of therapy, seizures resolved after 2.4 +/- 1.4 days in the pyridoxine group and after 3.7 +/- 2.0 days in the control group (t = 3.67, P < .001). No adverse effects of pyridoxine were apparent during the observation period. We conclude that pyridoxine is an effective, safe, well-tolerated, and relatively inexpensive adjunct to routine antiepileptic drugs for treatment of recurrent seizures in children.

Anticonvulsants↗

EFFECT OF PYRIDOXINE DEFICIENCY ON NUCLEIC ACID METABOLISM IN THE RAT.

1. The nucleic acid metabolism in the pyridoxine-deficient rat has been investigated through studies on the incorporation of radioactivity from various isotopically labelled compounds into liver and spleen DNA and RNA. 2. In pyridoxine deficiency, the incorporation of radioactivity from sodium [(14)C]formate was apparently increased. The magnitude of this effect on incorporation into liver RNA and DNA and spleen RNA was approximately the same. The incorporation into spleen DNA was enhanced to a much greater degree. Administration of pyridoxine 24hr. before the rats were killed reversed the changes in incorporation of radioactivity from [(14)C]formate. 3. In pyridoxine deficiency, the incorporation of radioactivity from dl-[3-(14)C]serine, [8-(14)C]adenine, [Me-(3)H]thymidine and [2-(14)C]deoxyuridine was decreased. The incorporation of radioactivity from l-[Me-(14)C]methionine was not affected. No noteworthy differences in the effect of pyridoxine deficiency on the incorporation of radioactivity from dl-[3-(14)C]serine into DNA and RNA were observed, whereas the effect of the deficiency on the incorporation of radioactivity from [8-(14)C]adenine into spleen DNA was somewhat greater than that into spleen RNA. Administration of pyridoxine 24hr. before the rats were killed reversed the changes in incorporation of radioactivity from [3-(14)C]serine and [8-(14)C]adenine. 4. The adverse effects of pyridoxine deficiency on the biosynthesis of nucleic acids and cell multiplication are discussed in relation to the role of pyridoxal phosphate in the production of C(1) units via the serine-hydroxymethylase reaction.

Adenine↗

Response to a physiologic dose of pyridoxine in type I primary hyperoxaluria.

We measured urinary oxalate and glycolate excretion before and during pyridoxine administration (2 to 200 mg per day) in four patients with primary hyperoxaluria. In two patients with type I primary hyperoxaluria, urinary oxalate and glycolate excretion fell markedly in response to a physiologic dose of pyridoxine of 2 mg per day and became completely normal when the dose was increased to 25 mg per day. In the other two patients, who had a different type of primary hyperoxaluria (normal urinary glycolate excretion), there was no response to 2 mg of pyridoxine per day. In one of these patients, doses of 25 and 50 mg per day were also ineffective, but a moderate reduction in oxalate excretion took place with 200 mg per day; in the other patient there was a moderate reduction in oxalate excretion with 25 mg of pyridoxine per day. Our findings suggest that the degree of hyperoxaluria in this disorder may be only slight or moderate if the patient has been ingesting a pyridoxine-rich diet or multivitamin tablets containing small amounts of pyridoxine. Our results also suggest that smaller doses of pyridoxine than those heretofore employed should be tried in patients with primary hyperoxaluria.

Child↗

Postnatal patterns of brain lipids in progeny of vitamin B-6 deficient rats before and after pyridoxine supplementation.

The influence of deficient and adequate maternal intakes of pyridoxine on lipid profiles in brains of progeny at 5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 days of age was studied. The effects of supplementing deficient dams at two different times with pyridoxine on the brain development of progeny were also examined. Three groups of weanling, female rats were fed diets deficient in pyridoxine (1.2 mg pyridoxine-HC1/kg diet) and another group received a control diet (30.0 mg pyridoxine-HC1/kg diet). One deficient group and the control group were fed their diets throughout growth, gestation and lactation. Two groups of dams were fed the deficient diet through growth, gestation and until 5 or 10 days postpartum when pyridoxine was supplemented by feeding the control diet. Body and brain weights were significantly lower in 15, 25 and 50 day-old progeny of deficient dams and deficient dams supplemented at 10 days postpartum. Cerebroside content at 15 days and ganglioside content at 15 and 25 days were significantly lower in brains of pups from unsupplemented deficient dams and deficient dams supplemented at 10 days postpartum. The postnatal development of cerebroside and ganglioside levels in brain was delayed or retarded in brain of pups from unsupplemented deficient dams. Supplementation of dams fed a low level of pyridoxine (1.2 mg/kg diet) with the vitamin beginning at 5 days postpartum reversed all observed effects of the low vitamin intake on brain lipids in progeny.

Age Factors↗

Plasma and urine riboflavin and pyridoxine concentrations in enterally fed very-low-birth-weight neonates.

Preterm infant formulas (PIFs) for very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants (birth weight, < 1,500 g) are augmented to provide daily riboflavin and pyridoxine at levels up to five-fold greater than in term infant formula and 18-fold greater than in human milk. We evaluated plasma riboflavin and pyridoxine concentrations in VLBW infants who received PIF during their first postnatal month. Eighty-eight plasma and 124 urine samples were collected for riboflavin- and pyridoxine-concentration measurements from 57 clinically healthy VLBW infants weekly during their first postnatal month. Concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. At the time of the sample, patients were receiving > or = 80% of their total calories via enteral feedings. Plasma riboflavin concentrations rose from 45.3 +/- 7.3 ng/ml at baseline (mean +/- SEM) to 173.5 +/- 20.3 ng/ml by 1 week of age and remained at 177.3-199.7 ng/ml during the following three weekly measurements; values were up to 14-fold above baseline concentration. Urine riboflavin concentration increased from 534 +/- 137 ng/ml at baseline to 3,521 +/- 423 ng/ml by 1 week of age and remained at 4,451-5,216 ng/ml during the next 3 weeks. In a similar pattern, baseline plasma (69.4 +/- 10.4 ng/ml) and urine (145 +/- 30 ng/ml) pyridoxine concentrations were significantly increased by 1 week postnatal age; they remained at 163-248 ng/ml (plasma) and 1,573-2,394 ng/ml (urine) through the first postnatal month. Plasma and urine riboflavin and pyridoxine concentrations in enterally fed VLBW infants increased from baseline concentrations by 1 week of postnatal age and remained elevated for the first postnatal month. High daily intake and immature renal development are probable contributing causes of the elevated plasma riboflavin and pyridoxine concentrations. We suggest that lower daily enteral administration of riboflavin and pyridoxine should maintain adequate blood concentrations and minimize potential toxicity.

Analysis of Variance↗

Pyridoxine toxicity to cultured fibroblasts caused by near-ultraviolet light.

Pyridoxine, like riboflavin, has absorption in the range of near ultraviolet (UVA; 320-400 nm) radiation and is known to decompose after long irradiation with germicidal lamps. Thus, the possibility of UVA-induced pyridoxine photosensitization was studied in cultured normal human, hydroa vacciniforme, and xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts. Cytotoxicity caused by the sensitization was measured by post-UVA colony formation. Pyridoxine showed strong cytotoxic effect after UVA radiation and the effect remained for at least 60 min after UVA radiation. Although the cytotoxicity decreased a little when pyridoxine was irradiated under anaerobic conditions, the amount of hydrogen peroxide produced by UVA radiation was hardly cytotoxic and the rate of photodecomposition of pyridoxine was slower under anaerobic conditions than aerobic ones. Thus, the toxicity seemed to depend mostly on the photoproducts of pyridoxine. The UVA-induced pyridoxine cytotoxicity was not due to DNA damage that is to be excision-repaired because group A and C xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts were killed as in the case of normal human fibroblasts.

Absorption↗

Effect of sustained pyridoxine treatment on seizure susceptibility and regional brain amino acid levels in genetically epilepsy-prone BALB/c mice.

Epilepsy-prone and epilepsy-resistant substrains were selectively bred from a strain of BALB/c mice; audiogenic-sensitive epilepsy-prone animals showed enhanced sensitivity to chemical convulsants. Treatment with pyridoxine (100 mg/L in drinking water) initiated at mating and continued throughout pregnancy and the life of the offspring abolished the enhanced sensitivity to chemical convulsants and reduced the severity of audiogenic seizures. Withdrawal of pyridoxine restored the enhanced seizure sensitivity. [1H] Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of perchloric acid extracts of tissue was used to determine the concentrations of several compounds [N-acetylaspartate (NAA), GABA, glutamate, aspartate, alanine, taurine, creatine, cholines, inositol] in the hippocampus, neocortex, brainstem, and cerebellum of untreated and pyridoxine-treated 6-week-old female animals. The ratios of the concentrations of excitatory to inhibitory putative neurotransmitter amino acids tended to be higher in epilepsy-prone animals, with the most pronounced difference being a significantly elevated glutamate/GABA ratio in every brain region examined. Pyridoxine treatment abolished this imbalance in the hippocampus, brainstem, and cerebellum, but not in the neocortex. Treatment of epilepsy-resistant animals with pyridoxine using the same protocol decreased the glutamate/GABA concentration ratio in the hippocampus, brainstem, and neocortex and resulted in impaired development of the animals. The amino acid imbalance and the accompanying seizure susceptibility in these genetically epilepsy prone mice may originate from an inborn error in pyridoxine metabolism or in a pyridoxine-dependent enzyme system.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Isolation of PDX2, a second novel gene in the pyridoxine biosynthesis pathway of eukaryotes, archaebacteria, and a subset of eubacteria.

In this paper we describe the isolation of a second gene in the newly identified pyridoxine biosynthesis pathway of archaebacteria, some eubacteria, fungi, and plants. Although pyridoxine biosynthesis has been thoroughly examined in Escherichia coli, recent characterization of the Cercospora nicotianae biosynthesis gene PDX1 led to the discovery that most organisms contain a pyridoxine synthesis gene not found in E. coli. PDX2 was isolated by a degenerate primer strategy based on conserved sequences of a gene specific to PDX1-containing organisms. The role of PDX2 in pyridoxine biosynthesis was confirmed by complementation of two C. nicotianae pyridoxine auxotrophs not mutant in PDX1. Also, targeted gene replacement of PDX2 in C. nicotianae results in pyridoxine auxotrophy. Comparable to PDX1, PDX2 homologues are not found in any of the organisms with homologues to the E. coli pyridoxine genes, but are found in the same archaebacteria, eubacteria, fungi, and plants that contain PDX1 homologues. PDX2 proteins are less well conserved than their PDX1 counterparts but contain several protein motifs that are conserved throughout all PDX2 proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Metabolism of pyridoxine in mild metabolic hyperoxaluria and primary hyperoxaluria (type 1).

Plasma pyridoxine metabolites in plasma and 4-pyridoxic acid excretions in urine were measured in normal subjects, in 7 patients with type-1 hyperoxaluria and in 8 patients with mild metabolic hyperoxaluria, while receiving various doses of pyridoxine. Compliance with ingestion of pyridoxine was verified by measuring urinary 4-pyridoxic acid. In the normal subjects the maximum level of pyridoxal phosphate was obtained after only 10 mg/day of pyridoxine. The patients were divided into nonresponders, good responders and poor responders to pyridoxine according to the fall in urinary oxalate and glycollate excretions. In patients taking pyridoxine, the plasma pyridoxal phosphate levels were as for normal subjects in primary hyperoxaluria, lower than for normal subjects in mild metabolic hyperoxaluria (p less than 0.01), and in the latter group lower in partial responders than in good responders (p = 0.04). Hence in mild metabolic hyperoxaluria there may be difficulty in converting pyridoxine to pyridoxal phosphate.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Homocystinuria due to cystathionine synthase deficiency: the effect of pyridoxine.

We investigated the effect of pyridoxine administration in three patients with homocystinuria due to cystathionine synthase deficiency. The drug decreased the plasma concentration and urinary excretion of methionine and homocystine and the urinary excretion of homolanthionine and the homocysteine-cysteine mixed disulfide. Urinary cystine rose somewhat. Oral methionine tolerance tests before and during the patients' response to pyridoxine indicated that during response they remained deficient in their capacity to convert the sulfur of methionine to inorganic sulfate, although this capacity increased somewhat. During pyridoxine response only, the methionine loads caused increased homocystinuria. There was no indication that pyridoxine stimulated an alternate pathway of metabolism. The values for specific activity of cystathionine synthase in liver biopsy specimens from two patients in pyridoxine response were 3 and 4% of the mean control value. When these patients were not receiving pyridoxine, comparable values were 2 and 1%, respectively. The hepatic enzyme activity of the mutant patients was similar to normal enzyme activity with respect to trypsin activation, heat inactivation, and stabilization by pyridoxal phosphate. Approximate estimates were made of the relation between total body capacity to metabolize methionine and hepatic cystathionine synthase activity. These estimates suggested that because of the large normal reserve capacity of cystathionine synthase, a few per cent residual activity is sufficient to metabolize the normal dietary load of methionine. Thus, small increases in residual capacity may be of major physiological importance. However, many liver biopsies would be required to establish unequivocally that such changes were due to the administration of a particular therapeutic agent rather than to biological variation. All the data in the present study are consistent with the interpretation that pyridoxine does act by causing an increase in residual cystathionine synthase activity.

Adult↗