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Biomedical subjects

D B Norris

Publications and source records attributed to D B Norris.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Phase II study of recombinant human interferon gamma for treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Recombinant human interferon gamma (rIFN-gamma) was used for the treatment of 16 patients with various stages of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). All patients had been previously treated with standard topical and/or systemic therapies, and some had received experimental treatment with retinoids, recombinant human interferon alfa-2a (rIFN-alpha 2a), or radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies; most patients had an advanced stage of disease. Objective partial responses (PRs) were noted in five patients (31%) and lasted 3 months to greater than 32 months (median, 10 mo). One of these five patients had previously had disease progression after an initial PR with rIFN-alpha 2a. Six other patients (38%) showed minor or mixed responses. The most common side effects of rIFN-gamma included fever, weight loss, mild neutropenia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, and elevated hepatic transaminases. Additionally, one episode of nephrotic syndrome and one cutaneous allergic reaction were noted. None of the toxic effects were life threatening, and all were reversible. These results suggest that rIFN-gamma has efficacy in the treatment of CTCL refractory to rIFN-alpha 2a.

Antibodies↗

A study of the H2-receptor for histamine stimulating adenylate cyclase in homogenates of guinea-pig lung parenchyma.

The effect of forskolin and several H2-agonists was investigated on the activity of adenylate cyclase in homogenates of guinea-pig lung parenchyma. Histamine, 0.1 microM to 1 mM, dimaprit, 1 microM to 10 mM, 4-methyl histamine, 0.1 microM to 10 mM, impromidine, 10 nM to 10 microM and forskolin, 1 nM to 100 microM, all produced a dose-dependent stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity above the basal level. The histamine H1-receptor antagonist mepyramine, 10 microM, and beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol, 10 microM, had no effect on the stimulation by histamine of adenylate cyclase. The dose-response curve for stimulation by histamine of adenylate cyclase was shifted to the right in a dose-dependent manner by increasing concentrations of several H2-antagonists. Schild plots constructed for each H2-antagonist produced straight lines with slopes not significantly different from unity. The equilibrium dissociation constants obtained for the H2-antagonists in this study were similar to those previously reported for inhibition of dimaprit-induced relaxation of the pre-contracted lung strip, inhibition of [3H]-tiotidine binding to homogenates of guinea-pig lung parenchyma and inhibition of histamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase in guinea-pig gastric mucosa.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

In vitro histamine H2-antagonist activity of the novel compound HUK 978.

Histamine stimulated adenylate cyclase from guinea-pig fundic mucosa and 3H-tiotidine binding in guinea-pig cerebral cortex were used to assess the in-vitro histamine H2-activity of the novel H2-antagonist HUK 978. The results showed that HUK 978 was a more potent H2-antagonist than either cimetidine or ranitidine. HUK 978 was also shown to be devoid of activity at the histamine H1-receptor, the muscarinic receptor and the alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Anti-secretory activity of the novel H2-antagonist, HUK 978, in rat, guinea-pig and dog.

The anti-secretory activity of the competitive H2-antagonist HUK 978 was determined in rat, guinea-pig and dog. In all systems examined, HUK 978 was more potent than cimetidine and ranitidine both intravenously and orally. In addition, the compound at approximately equipotent doses as these established H2-antagonists exhibited a significantly longer inhibitory profile following oral and systemic administration. Data from these pharmacological studies and the in vitro investigations previously reported, suggest that HUK 978 is a highly specific H2-antagonist and inhibits acid secretion for longer periods than other competitive compounds.

Administration, Oral↗

The use of an in vitro binding assay to predict histamine H2-antagonist activity.

Thirty-seven compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit histamine stimulated adenylate cyclase and to inhibit 3H-tiotidine binding. The compounds examined included a number of known H2-antagonists and a number of potential H2-antagonists of diverse chemical structure. The correlation between the Ki values from the binding assay and from the inhibition of adenylate cyclase was calculated to be r = 0.99, p less than 0.001. Thus 3H-tiotidine binding in guinea-pig cerebral cortex can be used to give a valid assessment of histamine H2-receptor activity.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗

The binding of [3H]-tiotidine to homogenates of guinea-pig lung parenchyma.

By use of a rapid filtration assay, the binding of [3H]-tiotidine to homogenates of guinea-pig lung parenchyma was found to be saturable and of a high affinity. Mean values for the KD and Bmax were calculated as 8.5 +/- 1.5 nM and 28 +/- 5 fmol mg-1 protein respectively. The association and dissociation rate constants for [3H]-tiotidine binding at 4 degrees C were calculated to be 0.81 +/- 0.06 microM min-1 and 0.063 +/- 0.005 min-1 respectively, yielding a kinetically derived KD of 7.8 nM. A wide range of H2-receptor agonist and antagonists displaced [3H]-tiotidine binding from lung parenchyma homogenates in a biphasic manner. Examination of the first phase of the displacement of [3H]-tiotidine yielded Ki values for the antagonists tested similar to those found in other binding studies using this ligand and similar to KB values calculated for the antagonists in pharmacological studies.

Animals↗

Histamine H2-binding studies in the guinea-pig brain.

Using 3H-mepyramine and 3H-tiotidine to label, respectively, the histamine H1- and H2-receptors, we have assessed the distribution of these receptors in five distinct areas of guinea-pig brain. With regard to the H2-receptor, we could detect no binding in either the cerebellum or pons-medulla, whereas the distribution in the other brain areas was corpus striatum greater than cortex greater than hippocampus. This was in contrast to the distribution of the H1-receptor which was found to be in all areas studied but predominantly in the cerebellum.

Animals↗

3H-cimetidine and the H2-receptor.

The H2-antagonist cimetidine is widely employed in biochemical and pharmacological studies of the H2-receptor. These studies include the use of 3H-cimetidine in radioligand binding experiments. Confirming our previous finding as to the unsuitability of this ligand in these types of investigations, we now report data showing the lack of correlation between the displacement of specific 3H-cimetidine binding and histamine stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, and the displacement of specific binding by imidazoles devoid of H2-receptor activity. Results are also presented which question the use of copper ions in 3H-cimetidine binding studies. Our conclusions are discussed in relation to the work carried out by a number of laboratories where 3H-cimetidine is reported to label the H2-receptor.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

The purification and properties of cyclohexanone oxygenase from Nocardia globerula CL1 and Acinetobacter NCIB 9871.

1. Cyclohexanone oxygenases from Norcardia globerula CL1 and Acinetobacter NCIB 9871 have been purified 12-fold and 35-fold respectively and each gives a single symmetrical sedimentation peak in the ultracentrifuge and a single protein band on 2.25 nm average pore radius polyacrylamide gels. 2. The enzyme from N. globerula has a molecular weight of 53000 while that from Acinetobacter has a molecular weight of about 59000. Each is a single polypeptide chain with one mole of bound FAD per mole of protein that does not dissociate during purification. Acidification of the Acinetobacter enzyme in the presence of (NH4)2SO4 releases the bound FAD and yields native apoenzyme from which the active holoenzyme can be reconstituted. The apparent dissociation constant for the FAD is 40 nM.

Acinetobacter↗

Multiple forms of cyclohexanone oxygenase from Nocardia globerula CL1.

The cyclohexanone 1,2-monooxygenase of Nocardia globerula CL1 exists as two electrophoretically distinct forms. These are present in crude cell extracts and are not artifacts of enzyme purification or electrophoresis. They have been separated in mg amounts by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and shown to have essentially identical kinetic, spectral and physical characteristics. They do differ in pH-activity profile and temperature stability. Whether or not they are conformational isoenzymes or arise by gene duplication and divergent evolution has not been established. Cyclohexanone oxygenase constitutes 8% of the soluble protein of induced cells. This high level would correlate well with the presence of duplicate genes. It is proposed that the presence of a large amount of cyclohexanone oxygenase may confer an ecological advantage on the organism.

Drug Stability↗

The metabolism of cyclohexanol by Nocardia globerula CL1.

1. Nocardia globerula CL1, isolated by enrichment on cyclohexanol and grown with it as carbon source, oxidized it with a Q(o2) of 39mul/h per mg dry wt. and the overall consumption of 2.2mumol of oxygen/mol of substrate. Cyclohexanone, 2-hydroxycyclohexan-1-one dimer and cyclohexane-1,2-dione were oxidized with Q(o2) values similar to that for cyclohexanol whereas in-caprolactone and 6-hydroxycaproate were oxidized very slowly and adipate not all. 2. Disrupted cell suspensions could not be shown to catalyse the conversion of cyclohexanol into cyclohexanone. 3. A cyclohexanol-induced cyclohexanone oxygenase (specific activity 0.55mumol of NADPH oxidized/min per mg of protein) catalysed the consumption of 1mol of NADPH and 1mol of O(2) in the presence of 1mol of cyclohexanone. NADPH oxidation did not occur under anaerobic conditions. The only detected reaction product with 25000g supernatant was 6-hydroxycaproate. 4. Extracts of cyclohexanol-grown cells contained a lactone hydrolase (specific activity 15.6mumol hydrolysed/min per mg of protein), which converted in-caprolactone into 6-hydroxycaproate. 5. Incubation of 6-hydroxycaproate with 25000g supernatant in the presence of NAD(+) resulted in NAD(+) reduction under anaerobic conditions, oxygen consumption under aerobic conditions and the conversion of 6-hydroxycaproate into adipate. 6. Cyclohexanone oxygenase fractions devoid of in-caprolactone hydrolase catalysed the stoicheiometric formation of in-caprolactone from cyclohexanone in the presence of excess of NADPH. 7. The reaction sequence for the oxidation of cyclohexanone by N. globerula CL1 is: cyclohexanol --> cyclohexanone --> in-caprolactone --> 6-hydroxycaproate --> adipate. 8. It is suggested that the adipate may be further dissimilated by beta-oxidation.

Alcohols↗

Specific binding of 3H-tiotidine to histamine H2 receptors in guinea pig cerebral cortex.

Although the H2 subclass of histamine receptor has been revealed by classical pharmacological approaches, the direct identification of this adenylate cyclase-linked receptor has, despite much effort, remained elusive. Initial studies using 3H-metiamide and 3H-histamine and, subsequently, work from our own laboratory and others using 3H-cimetidine and 3H-ranitidine in various tissues, has shown the unsuitability of these ligands for labelling the H2 receptor. We report here our results using 3H-tiotidine, a more potent H2-antagonist than either cimetidine or ranitidine, and show that this ligand meets the criteria for labeling the H2 receptor in guinea pig cerebral cortex membranes.

Animals↗