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Biomedical subjects

G Balboni

Publications and source records attributed to G Balboni.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Structure-activity relationships of peptide T-related pentapeptides.

Fifteen pentapeptide analogs of C-terminal fragment of peptide T, H-Ala-Ser-Thr-Thr-Thr-Asn-Tyr-Thr-OH, were prepared and tested for human monocyte chemotaxis. Structure-activity studies suggest that the potent chemotactic activity of H-Thr-Thr-Asn-Tyr-Thr-OH is mediated through the polar properties of the C-terminal carboxyl group and Thr side chains at the critical positions 5 and 8, while the hydroxyl group of N-terminal Thr and its free amino function are not essential requirements for CD4 receptor interactions.

CD4 Antigens↗
PubMed1987

A new reconstituted connective tissue matrix: preparation, biochemical, structural and mechanical studies.

A fibrinogen derivative generated by thrombin was reacted with elastin to yield a new addition product or adduct between the two proteins. Addition of fibronectin, and then of collagen, did not interfere with the basic elastin-fibrinogen reaction and conferred the qualities of an artificial connective tissue to the product. Biochemical, structural and biomechanical aspects of the new matrix were studied. Aprotinin, heparin, thiomersal, and thiourea did not inhibit the main reaction; indeed, some of these ingredients improved the matrix cohesion. Scanning electron microscopy showed the genesis of a true network whose meshes were more reticulated by the addition of thiourea. Biomechanical studies, i.e., strength and elasticity showed the thiourea matrix to be the strongest. These intrinsic properties suggest the product could have biological and clinical applications.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed1987

Synthesis and activity profiles of new dermorphin-(1-4) peptide analogues.

A new series of 12 dermorphin tetrapeptides, W-Tyr-D-MetO-Phe-Xaa-Y (W = H, H2NC = (NH); Xaa = Gly, Sar, D-Ala; Y = OH, OCH3, NH2) were prepared by traditional methods in solution and tested for opioid activity. In binding studies based on displacement of mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptor selective radiolabels from guinea pig brain membranes, the new analogues showed a negligible affinity for the kappa binding site and a preference for mu- over delta-receptors with an evident dependence on N- and/or C-terminal modifications; H-Tyr-D-MetO-Phe-Gly-OCH3 was shown to be one of the most selective mu-receptor ligands reported to date. All these tetrapeptides display dose-related naloxone-reversible antinociceptive effects following intracerebroventricular (icv) or subcutaneous (sc) administrations in mice. In comparison to morphine, H-Tyr-D-MetO-Phe-Sar-NH2 and the guanidino derivative H2NC = (NH)-Tyr-D-MetO-Phe-Gly-NH2 showed lower affinity for mu, delta, and kappa sites but exceptionally stronger analgesia: respectively they are 560 and 1550 times as potent an analgesic as morphine. Among analogues tested after sc administration, H-Tyr-D-MetO-Phe-Sar-NH2 and H-Tyr-D-MetO-Phe-D-Ala-OH displayed the highest activities; they were respectively 22 and 30 times more potent than morphine on a molar basis. These results indicate that N- or C-terminal modifications and substitution at position 2 or 4 of dermorphin-(1-4) peptide do not only influence the affinity of the resulting analogues to opioid receptors but also may favorably alter their pharmacokinetic properties.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed1987

A slow wave frequency complex of the canine small intestine during the fasting state.

The electrical activity of the duodenum and proximal jejunum was studied in conscious healthy dogs implanted with unipolar silver electrodes. A computerized method was used for the calculation of the mean frequency of the slow wave for each consecutive minute of the electromyographic signal. A "slow wave frequency complex" was identified in the fasted animals. It was characterized by an increase of the mean frequency of the slow wave which ranged, from one dog to another, between 1 and 3 cycles/min. The complex lasted about 30 min. It consisted of two distinct phases: a phase of increasing frequency of the slow wave which lasted about one-third of the total duration of the complex and a phase of progressive return of the frequency to its precomplex value. Each phase III of the migrating myoelectric complex occurring in both the duodenum and the jejunum was associated with one slow wave frequency complex. The phase III began a few minutes before the start of the slow wave frequency complex and ended a few minutes before the slow wave frequency reached its maximum. Ectopic phase IIIs which occurred in the jejunum but not in the duodenum were not associated with slow wave frequency complexes. The slow wave frequency complex was never seen in the fed dogs.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Opioid peptides. Synthesis and binding assays of desamino-Tyr1 dermorphin analogues. XII.

Eight new dermorphin peptides, X-C6H4-CH2CH2CO-D-Ala-Phe-(L or D)-Yaa-NH2 [X = H, OH; Y = lysine, homoarginine (Har)], were prepared and tested by binding assays. They show negligible affinity for mu-, delta- and K-receptor sites. These findings indicate that the N-terminal ammonium group can not be replaced by the ammonium or guanidinium function located at the side-chain in Lys or Har derivatives.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed1987

Chronobiologic aspects of recurrent transient ischemic attack.

An epidemiologic study was conducted from 1979 through 1984 on subjects presenting transitory ischemic attacks (TIA) and admitted into our Institute. We investigated year, season, month, day, and hour of every attack on 80 patients aged between 51 and 88 years. Time-series analysis showed a seasonal pattern of disease onset in early spring. Peaks occurred in March-April, and isolated peaks were also detected in January and October. Concerning TIA-onset day, we observed a peak distribution in the last 10 days of the month. Data on the hour of onset, according to single cosinor (mesor +/- SE = 2.67 + 1.13; amplitude +/- SE = 2.57 + 1.13), yielded a significant (P less than 0.05) acrophase. The acrophase is at -135 degrees (-93 degrees, -245 degrees) for tau = 48 hr.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Synthesis and opioid activity of dermorphin tetrapeptides bearing D-methionine S-oxide at position 2.

Eight new dermorphin tetrapeptides, X-Tyr-D-MetO-Phe-aa-Y (X = H, H2N = C(NH); aa = Gly, 2-aminoethanol, sarcosine; Y = NH2, NH-alkyl), were prepared and tested for opioid activity. They show dose-related naloxone-reversible opioid effects in vitro and in vivo. H-Tyr-D-MetO-Phe-Gly-NH2 (I) (guinea pig ileum IC50 = 13.6 nM; tail-flick ED50 = 1.97 pmol/mouse, icv, and 0.65 mumol/kg, sc), though less effective in the periphery, has central activities higher than those of dermorphin H-Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH2. Following intracerebroventricular or subcutaneous administrations in mice, I is about respectively 1500 and 17 times as potent an analgesic as morphine.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed1986

Synthesis and biological activity of carboxyl terminally extended dermorphins.

Dermorphinoyl(DMR)-glycine, DMR-sarcosine and DMR-glycyl-arginine have been prepared in order to examine the effect of C-terminal extension of dermorphin (H-Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH2) on opioid activity. On GPI preparation the addition of Gly, Sar, or Gly-Arg to the carboxyl terminus of dermorphinoic acid was detrimental to mu activity: dermorphinoyl-derivatives, in fact, retain only 5-20% of dermorphin potency. Following intracerebroventricular administration (tail-flick test), whereas the analgesic activities of compounds showed the trend dermorphin greater than DMR-Sar greater than DMR-Gly-Arg greater than DMR-Gly greater than morphine, the nonapeptide displayed highest activity after subcutaneous injection in mice: DMR-Gly-Arg was 2.5 and 10 times more potent than dermorphin and morphine, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Dehydro-dermorphins. III. Circular dichroism investigation of conformation in solution.

Dehydropeptide analogs of dermorphin (H-Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH2) and N-terminal fragments containing one or two dehydrophenylalanine residues in the 3rd and/or 5th position, have been investigated by means of CD spectroscopy. The results indicate that the above dehydropeptides can adopt different conformations in alcohol and water solutions. In methanol and trifluoroethanol, the CD spectra are mainly consistent with the presence of folded structures, probably stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds. In water, conversely, CD data indicate disruption of ordered structures and formation of preferentially extended flexible conformations. Models of the involved folded structures are tentatively proposed, taking into account the geometric features of dehydro residues and their tendency to favor hydrogen-bonded 10-membered rings.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Dehydro-dermorphins. I. Influence of the stereo-orientation of aromatic groups in dermorphin-(1-5)-peptides to opioid activity.

Dehydrophenylalanine having the Z-configuration (delta Phe) and D-Phe were incorporated in positions 3 and/or 5 into dermorphin-(1-5)-peptide amide (H-Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-NH2) in order to study the effect of structure or configurational changes. On GPI preparation, whereas the activity of [L-Phe5]-pentapeptide was fourfold higher than parent peptide and comparable to that of dermorphin, the substitution of Phe3 by its D-enantiomer was barely tolerated. The pentapeptides containing delta Phe in positions 3 and/or 5 displayed even lower potency: particularly the unsaturation at position 3 alone or at position 3 and 5 was very detrimental to mu activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Dehydro-dermorphins. II. Synthesis and biological activity of unsaturated dermorphin hexa and heptapeptides.

The Phe3 and/or Tyr5 residues in dermorphin (H-Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH2) and its N-terminal hexapeptide-amide were replaced by delta-Phe or by Phe5 in order to examine the effect on opioid activity. On GPI preparation, the substitution of Phe5 for Tyr5 was well tolerated, whereas the hexa and heptapeptides containing delta Phe in position 3 and/or 5 displayed low potency. The unsaturation at position 3 alone or at positions 3 and 5 was particularly detrimental to mu activity. In the tail flick test, the influence of unsaturation or substitution at positions 3 and 5 generally matched the results of the in vitro assay. Dehydropeptides showed comparatively low antinociceptive effects and [Phe5] analogues displayed about 50% of the analgesic potency of the original peptides.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Opioid peptides. VIII. Synthesis and preliminary biological activity of [D-Phe3]- or [alpha,beta-dehydro-Phe3]dermorphin tetrapeptides.

We describe the synthesis and preliminary in vitro pharmacological testing of two new tetrapeptide analogues of the opioid heptapeptide dermorphin H-Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH2. The replacement of Phe3 by its D-enantiomer was hardly if at all tolerated. The unsaturated analogue carrying the phenyl ring of the delta Phe3 residue in the Z-configuration, was almost inactive.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Synthetic tetrapeptides related to dermorphin: potent long lasting analgesic action following subcutaneous administration.

To examine the opioid properties of D-MetO2-dermorphin tetrapeptides, eight new analogues based on the following formula, X-Tyr-D-MetO-Phe-aa-Y, were prepared. All these peptides show dose-related naloxone-reversible opioid effects in vitro and in vivo. Substitution of Sar or Gly-ol for Gly4 were well tolerated by the isolated guinea pig-ileum preparation as well as in the tail-flick test, while alkyl-amidation of the C-terminal proved detrimental. The central activity of H-Tyr-D-MetO-Phe-Gly-NH2, the most potent compound in the series, was higher than that of dermorphin. Following intracerebroventricular or subcutaneous administrations in mice, H-Tyr-D-MetO-Phe-Gly-NH2 was about 1500 and 17 times as analgesic as morphine, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Synthesis and pharmacological activity of partially modified retro-inverso dermorphin tetrapeptides.

We studied the effect of partial retro-inverso modification of selected peptide bonds of N-terminal tetrapeptide analogues of dermorphin (H-Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH2). Among the 14 compounds synthesized and tested for opioid activity, some tetrapeptides have the C-terminus carrying different amide moieties; retromodifications concern the Phe-Gly bond (Ia-f) and/or the C-terminal carboxamide function (IIIa-d, IIa-d). All pseudotetrapeptide derivatives showed opioid activity in vitro and in vivo. The most potent compounds (II) have a biological potency comparable with that of the original tetrapeptides in the guinea pig ileum preparation and in the mouse tail-flick test after intracerebral or subcutaneous administration.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Synthesis and opioid activity of partial retro-inverso analogs of dermorphin.

We studied the effect of partial retro-inverso modification of selected peptide bonds of dermorphin (H-Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Ser-NH2. The modifications concern two consecutive peptide bonds (Phe3-Cly4-Tyr5, I) or a single one (Gly4-Tyr5-, II or Phe3-Gly4, III). All pseudoheptapeptides showed low opioid activity in the in vitro and in vivo tests. Compound III has a biological potency comparable to that of morphine but only 2-5% of original dermorphin when tested in guinea pig ileum preparation and in mice tail-flick assay after intracerebro or subcutaneous administration.

Analgesia↗