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Biomedical subjects

J V Castell

Publications and source records attributed to J V Castell.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Human hepatocyte growth factor down-regulates the expression of cytochrome P450 isozymes in human hepatocytes in primary culture.

This study examines the effects of recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a potent mitogen for hepatocytes, on the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system and conjugating reactions in cultured human hepatocytes. The time course of HGF effects on CYP1A1/2 (7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase) activity revealed that maximal inhibition was observed at 96 hr of culture. HGF produced a general decrease in the activity of all the CYP isozymes studied, namely CYP1A1/2 (7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase), CYP2B6 (7-benzoxyresorufin O-debenzylase), CYP2A6 (coumarin 7-hydroxylase), CYP2E1 (p-nitrophenol hydroxylase) and CYP3A4 (testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase). In contrast, UDP-glucuronyltransferase and glutathione S-transferase activities and reduced glutathione levels were not modified significantly by the factor. When hepatocytes were treated with inducers, marked increases in the specific activities of CYP1A1/2 by 3-methylcholanthrene and CYP3A4 by rifampicin were observed, and these inductive effects were greatly reduced in the presence of HGF. Furthermore, CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 protein levels also dropped in the presence of HGF both in control and induced hepatocytes. The observed changes in the activity and protein levels of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 correlated with a reduction in the specific messenger RNA levels both in control, 3-methylcholanthrene-treated (for CYP1A2) and rifampicin-treated (for CYP3A4) hepatocytes, which thus suggested that HGF could down-regulate CYP expression at a pretranslational level.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1998

Oncostatin M down-regulates basal and induced cytochromes P450 in human hepatocytes.

The effects of oncostatin M on the expression of different cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes has been investigated in human hepatocytes. The dose-response and time-course analyses of effects on CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 isozymes revealed that maximal inhibition was reached after 48 hr of exposure of human hepatocytes to 25 units/ml oncostatin M. Reductions in CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 activity produced by oncostatin M correlated with decreases in protein content, de novo protein synthesis and specific mRNA levels, thus suggesting that oncostatin M could down-regulate CYP expression at the transcriptional level. The inhibitory potency of oncostatin M on CYP expression was compared with that of other cytokines belonging to the interleukin-6 receptor family (interleukin-6, interleukin-11 and leukemia inhibitory factor), and interferon-gamma, which is recognized to inhibit human CYP expression, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, a cytokine that shares structural homology with the interleukin-6 family but has a different transduction signal. Maximal reductions in CYP1A2 activity were reached after 48 hr of treatment with cytokines. At that time, oncostatin M showed the highest inhibitory effects on CYP1A2 activity (38% of control), followed by interferon (49% of control) and interleukin-6 (60% of control), whereas minor effects were produced by the other cytokines (74-80%). Comparable decreases were observed for CYP2A6, CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 activities. Enzymatic activity and de novo protein synthesis of 3-methylcholanthrene-induced CYP1A2 and dexamethasone-induced CYP3A4 were also reduced to a much greater extent by oncostatin M than by other cytokines. The results show that oncostatin M is the most effective cytokine in down-regulating CYP isozymes in human hepatocytes, and its effects were evident even after removal of the cytokine from the culture medium.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Release of inflammatory mediators (PGE2, IL-6) by fenofibric acid-photosensitized human keratinocytes and fibroblasts.

Ultraviolet-A radiation has weak effects on the release of inflammatory mediators by skin cells due to the poor overlap between UVA wavelengths and the absorption spectra of the relevant chromophores of key biomolecules. However, this situation could be very different in the presence of a photosensitizing drug. To investigate this issue, we have irradiated human skin cells (keratinocytes and fibroblasts) in the presence of fenofibric acid (the active phototoxic metabolite of fenofibrate). The results of this research show a dual effect on the production/release of inflammatory mediators: the synthesis of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 becomes strongly inhibited at photosensitizer concentrations that clearly stimulate the production of prostaglandins (PGE2) by skin cells. We have found evidences showing that the de novo synthesis of cytokines is inhibited in photosensitized cells due to the fact that cellular mRNA is degraded. Interestingly, when the medium taken from irradiated cultures is added to nonexposed cells, a significant stimulation of cytokine synthesis is observed that can be inhibited by anti-PGE2 antibodies. These observations may be relevant in vivo, where prostaglandins released by photosensitized skin cells could stimulate cytokine synthesis by underlying, nonirradiated cells.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1998

Allergic hepatitis: a drug-mediated organ-specific immune reaction.

Idiosyncratic toxicity (i.e. adverse reactions to drugs that occur only in certain individuals) is a major concern in drug toxicity and drug development. This type of adverse reaction may appear during the clinical use of a drug, cannot easily be explained in terms of an exaggerated pharmacological side-effect of the compound, and is very difficult to anticipate from the preclinical studies. Hepatic idiosyncratic reactions fall within two categories: those that are the consequence of an unusual metabolism of the drug (metabolic idiosyncrasy) and those resulting from an immune-mediated cell injury to hepatocytes which have been in contact with the drug previously (allergic hepatitis). In the former case, the toxicity is dose-dependent, while in the latter, toxicity may appear after several asymptomatic administrations of the compound (sensitization period). The mechanisms that trigger the immune response have not yet been precisely defined. Current understanding of how drug allergy arises is based largely on the hapten hypothesis. Most drugs are not chemically reactive but can be activated metabolically to reactive species which, after binding to cellular macromolecules, become immunogenic and can elicit an effective immune response. Presentation of drug-protein adducts by professional cells to TH lymphocytes, and/or a direct association between the drug and MHC proteins of hepatocytes could be involved in the activation of the immune system. As a consequence of this, drug-directed antibodies and/or T-lymphocytes able to recognize drug-derived haptens arise which are responsible for the clinical manifestations of the hepatitis. Drug-directed antibodies can be detected in sera of allergic patients by solid-phase immunoassays. Sensitized T-lymphocytes can be shown by hapten-induced cell proliferation experiments and by the early expression of CD69 antigen.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Photobinding of tiaprofenic acid and suprofen to proteins and cells: a combined study using radiolabeling, antibodies and laser flash photolysis of model bichromophores.

Drug photoallergy is a matter of current concern. It involves the formation of drug-protein photoadducts (photoantigens) that may ultimately trigger an immunological response. Tyrosine residues appear to be key binding sites in proteins. The present work has investigated the photobinding of tiaprofenic and (TPA) and the closely related isomer suprofen (SUP) to proteins and cells by means of radioactive labelling and drug-directed antibodies. To ascertain whether preassociation with the protein may play a role in photoreactivity, two model bichromophoric compounds (TPA-Tyr and SUP-Tyr) have been prepared and studied by laser flash photolysis. The results of this work show that (a) TPA and SUP photobind to proteins with similar efficiencies, (b) both drugs form photoadducts that share a basic common structure, as they are recognized by the same antibody and (c) drug-protein preassociation must play a key role in photoreactivity, as indicated by the dramatic decrease in the triplet state lifetimes of the model bichromophores compared to the parent drugs.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1997

The use of cultured hepatocytes to investigate the mechanisms of drug hepatotoxicity.

In the course of biotransformation reactions catalyzed both by cytochrome P450 and by conjugating enzymes, drug-derived reactive metabolites and active oxygen species can appear that may escape the detoxification process, initiating radical chain reactions (e.g., lipid peroxidation), covalently binding to macromolecules (proteins, DNA), or impairing the energetic balance of cells. This is usually followed by alterations of ion homeostasis that precede irreversible biochemical changes and cell death. There are, however, cellular mechanisms of defense that prevent, or repair, the damage caused by these reactive intermediates. Ultimately it is the balance between bioactivation, detoxification, and defense mechanisms that determines whether a compound will or will not elicit a toxic effect. Cultures of hepatocytes, including those of human origin, can be used to elucidate the mechanisms of drug toxicity. This is illustrated in the study of the mechanism of hepatotoxicity by diclofenac. Much less cytotoxicity is observed in nonmetabolizing hepatomas than in hepatocytes. The observed cell dysfunction parallels the biotransformation of the drug, and particularly the formation of the minor metabolite N,5-dihydroxydiclofenac by hepatocytes. This compound is able to inhibit mitochondrial ATP synthesis in hepatocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer into human hepatocytes: analysis of the biochemical functionality of transduced cells.

The use of replication-defective adenoviruses to deliver transgenes into hepatocytes seems to be a promising approach to human liver gene therapy. However, the effects that the adenovirus-mediated expression of a foreign gene could have on the expression of other hepatic characteristic genes have not yet been properly examined. We have investigated this problem by using human hepatocytes infected with a recombinant E-1 defective adenovirus that carried a modified lacZ gene. The analysis of the biochemical functionality of transduced cells showed that the use of adenovirus: (1) was a very efficient way to introduce a foreign gene into human hepatocytes (80% transduced cells after 1 h contact, at an MOI of 15; approximately 100% transduced cells at an MOI of 20); (2) allowed the expression of the transgene to levels that enabled cells effectively to use lactose as an energy source; (3) does not affect urea synthesis, plasma protein synthesis and xenobiotic biotransformation activities (1A2, 2A1, 2B6, 3A3/5). Glycolysis was moderately increased (approximately 20%), while gluconeogenesis decreased (approximately 20%) in transduced hepatocyte; moreover, (4) the expression of inducible genes (acute-phase plasma proteins, CYPs) was not impaired in transduced human hepatocytes upon stimulation with IL-6 or methylcholantrene. The results of this research support the idea that efficient expression of transgenes can be achieved in human hepatocytes by means of adenoviral transduction, without altering these characteristic hepatic biochemical functions.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1997

Photodegradation and photobinding of tiaprofenic acid: in vitro versus in vivo.

The photoreactivity of the photosensitizing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug tiaprofenic acid (TA) and its photoproduct decarboxytiaprofenic acid (DTA) was studied both in the presence and in the absence of bovine serum albumin (BSA). The photoproduct DTA was found to be photostable in buffered aqueous solution at pH 7.4, but photodecomposed when BSA was present in the reaction medium. Both TA and DTA underwent irreversible photobinding to BSA in an almost quantitative way, as evidenced by radioactivity measurements using labeled (3H) compounds. In the case of TA, it has been proven that photobinding is mainly attributable to the phototoreactivity of in situ-generated DTA. The photodegradation and photobinding of TA were also investigated in the epidermis in vivo. Rats were exposed to UVA after application of TA to their shaven dorsal skin. During the initial periods of irradiation, the amount of TA decreased sharply, and the yield of the corresponding photoproduct (DTA) reached a maximum. Prolonged irradiation led to photodegradation of DTA. In vivo photobinding was studied using 3H-TA. Photobinding took place slowly at the beginning, but its rate increased sharply after complete photoconversion of TA, when the photoproduct DTA reached the maximum concentration. Thereafter, the decrease of DTA was more pronounced than that of TA. This indicates that-also in vivo-DTA rather than TA is responsible for the photobinding to biomacromolecules in the viable layer of the epidermis. Overall, the above results suggest that irradiation of TA in buffered aqueous solution, in the presence of proteins, is a reasonable model system to study the photodegradation and photobinding behavior of this drug in vivo. From the qualitative point of view, the main conclusion is that DTA plays a key role both in vivo and in vitro: it is the major photoproduct, it undergoes further photodegradation upon prolonged irradiation, and it appears to be responsible for the photobinding process.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Intestinal absorption of undegraded proteins in men: presence of bromelain in plasma after oral intake.

The human adult intestinal epithelium has traditionally been described as nonpermeable to proteins. However, indirect evidence suggests that reduced absorption of undegraded proteins might take place under physiological conditions. Using bromelain (an enzyme obtained from pineapple stems) as a model protein, we studied the extent of this mucosal permeation in 19 healthy men. The protein was detected in plasma by immunoassay and by its proteolytic activity after oral administration. The estimated plasma half-life was 6-9 h. After oral multidosing (3 g/day), plasma concentration reached as much as 5,000 pg/ml by 48 h. From the plasma concentration curve, it could be estimated that an average of 10.8 micrograms of bromelain was present in plasma in the 3- to 51-h period. The presence of undegraded bromelain in plasma was shown unequivocally by immunoprecipitation of plasma samples with antibromelain antibodies, followed by gel electrophoresis and immunodetection. Moreover, the enzyme retained its biological activity, at least in part. Circulating bromelain was found associated with alpha 2-macroglobulin and alpha 1-antichymotrypain. The results of this work confirm the existence of a small but significant intestinal transport of undegraded proteins in healthy men.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Nitric oxide-mediated inhibition of cytochrome P450 by interferon-gamma in human hepatocytes.

The role of nitric oxide in the inhibition of the cytochrome P450 system produced by interferon-gamma in human hepatocytes has been examined. Nitric oxide exogenously released from S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine produced a dose-dependent decrease in cytochrome P4501A2 activity, assessed as 7-ethoxy resorufin O-deethylation. After 24 hr of treatment with 300 U/ml interferon-gamma, a rise in nitric oxide release (200% over control cells) and a parallel inhibition in 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity (50% of control) were observed in human hepatocytes. This inhibition was concentration-dependently prevented by N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine, a competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide biosynthesis. Comparable results were observed for cytochrome P4502A6 (7-coumarin hydroxylation), 2B6 (7-benzoxyresorufin O-dealkylation) and 3A4 (testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation) activities. Decreases in CYP1A2 activity found after exposure of 3-methylcholanthrene-treated hepatocytes to interferon-gamma were also reversed in the presence of N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine. Down-regulation of cytochrome P4501A2 and 3A4 expression by interferon-gamma was observed in parallel. This study suggests that at least some of the interferon-gamma effects on human hepatocyte cytochrome P450 isoenzymes are mediated by nitric oxide biosynthesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

A microassay for measuring glycogen in 96-well-cultured cells.

This study describes a rapid, sensitive, and automated spectrophotometric enzymatic microassay that measures the intracellular glycogen of primary cultured hepatocytes and other cultured cells in 96-well plates and can be adapted for other samples that are transferred to these plates. The procedure involves in situ disruption of cells, followed by hydrolysis of glycogen into glucosyl units by fungal glucoamylase (exo-1.4-alpha-glucosidase, EC 3.2.1.3), and glucose determination with the glucose oxidase colorimetric method. The color intensity can be measured in conventional ELISA readers, and the data can be fed to an on-line computer for rapid processing. The advantages of this method are its simplicity and automation, the reduction in sample handling, and the small number of cells required compared to other conventional methods.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Cell cycle progression proteins (cyclins), oncogene expression, and signal transduction during the proliferative response of human hepatocytes to hepatocyte growth factor.

Human hepatocytes stimulated with human recombinant hepatocyte growth factor (h-rHGF) (10 ng/mL) displayed a characteristic lag period before entering into the S phase. The duration of this delay was dependent on the timing of h-rHGF addition to cultures. The highest peak of DNA synthesis was observed at 120 hours of culture when hepatocytes were stimulated with h-rHGF at 72 hours of culture. This was accompanied by an early peak of c-jun and c-fos synthesis (3 hours after addition of h-rHGF) followed by c-myc (6 hours) and increased expression of cyclins A, B, D, and E (12 hours after h-rHGF). A significant dose-dependent increase in inositol 1,4,5-P3 was observed within 45 seconds after stimulation with the factor. This was followed by an immediate increase in the cytosolic-free calcium. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels did not change after stimulation with the factor. Tyrosine phosphorylation seems to be an early event in the course of the stimulatory effect of h-rHGF on DNA synthesis of hepatocytes; genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, impaired the stimulatory effect of h-rHGF on DNA synthesis dose dependently. On the other hand, the action of the factor was negatively regulated by protein kinase C activation, as shown by the increased stimulatory effect of h-rHGF on DNA synthesis upon inhibition of protein kinase C by H7.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

The hepatocyte growth factor regulates the synthesis of acute-phase proteins in human hepatocytes: divergent effect on interleukin-6-stimulated genes.

Our study addressed the role of the human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a potent mitogen for mature rat and human hepatocytes, in the regulation of specific hepatic genes. The experimental evidence obtained in primary cultured human hepatocytes indicates that HGF regulates the synthesis of plasma proteins in a dose-response fashion. It stimulates the synthesis of the negative acute-phase proteins albumin, transferrin, and fibronectin, decreases that of alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) and haptoglobin, and stimulates that of alpha2-macroglobulin (AMG), which in man is insensitive to inflammatory mediators. HGF had no effect on C-reactive protein (CRP) synthesis. These effects differ from those elicited by interleukin-6 (IL-6). The effects of HGF on fibrinogen and alpha1-antitrypsin were, however, similar to those induced by IL-6. The effects of HGF were also observed at the messenger RNA (mRNA) level. Time-course induction experiments showed that the effects of HGF on protein synthesis were delayed by about 48 to 72 hours, in contrast with the 12-hour lag found after IL-6 stimulation. Although the presence of glucocorticoids was not absolutely necessary for HGF to affect plasma protein synthesis, it moderately extended the effects. In pulse-chase experiments, it was found that the action of HGF was not due to an alteration of the rate of secretion of the proteins. The effects of HGF on the synthesis of albumin, transferrin, fibronectin, alpha1-antichymotrypsin, and haptoglobin could be counteracted by the simultaneous presence of IL-6 in the incubation media. A clear additive effect was observed only in the case of fibrinogen. No interaction was observed in the cases of CRP and AMG. The results of this study indicate that the effects of HGF on human hepatocytes may not simply be limited to its mitogenic activity, but that it also regulates hepatic-specific genes and antagonizes, in part, the action of IL-6.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1996

Evidence of antibodies to erythromycin in serum of a patient following an episode of acute drug-induced hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: A patient who had taken erythromycin orally developed mild signs of hepatocellular damage and appeared to became sensitized. After a fortuitous oral intake of the antibiotic, 18 months later, the patient developed an extensive intrahepatic cholestasis. OBJECTIVE: To confirm the allergic nature of this form of hepatitis by demonstrating the presence of serum antibodies directed at the drug. METHODS: Primary cultured human hepatocytes were used to investigate whether erythromycin can covalently bind to hepatocytes; and to demonstrate the presence of drug-directed immunoglobulins in the serum of the patient. RESULTS: As a consequence of its metabolism by hepatocytes, a small percentage of erythomycin remained bound to hepatocyte proteins. The extent of covalent binding varied among hepatocytes from different donors, and was not observed in metabolically inactive hepatocytes. Antibodies able to bind erythromycin were detected in the serum of the patient. When this serum was added to a human hepatocyte culture that had been previously incubated with the drug, binding of immunoglobulins was observed around the cell membrane and close to pseudo-bile canaliculi, thus indicating the presence of antibodies able to recognize erythromycin-labelled hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The existence of serum antibodies directed at erythromycin haptens in this patient strongly suggests an allergic mechanism for this drug-induced hepatitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Metabolism of aceclofenac in humans.

Metabolism of the new nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug aceclofenac ([2-(2',6'-dichlorophenylamino)phenyl]acetoxyacetic acid) was investigated both in the in vitro hepatic human models and in vivo. Aceclofenac is metabolized in human hepatocytes and human microsomes to form [2-(2',6'-dichloro-4'-hydroxy- phenylamino)phenyl]acetoxyacetic acid as the major metabolite, which is then further conjugated. Minor metabolites were [2-(2',6'-dichlorophenylamino)-5-hydroxyphenyl]acetoxyacetic acid and [2-(2',6'-dichlorophenylamino)phenyl]acetic acid, as well as the hydroxylated derivatives [2-(2',6'-dichloro-4'- hydroxyphenylamino)phenyl]acetic acid and [2-(2',6'-dichlorophenylamino)- 5-hydroxyphenyl]acetic acid. After oral administration to human volunteers (100 mg, single dose), aceclofenac reached a Cmax value of 7.6 +/- 1.3 micrograms/ml and a tmax of 2.6 +/- 1.8. The same metabolites as those detected in cell culture or microsome incubations were found in 12-hr urine after an oral administration of 100 mg aceclofenac to human volunteers. Cytochrome 2C9 is the enzyme responsible for the hydroxylation at position 4'. This could be demonstrated by: 1) selective inhibition by sulfaphenazole; 2) correlation between the formation of the hydroxylated metabolite and tolbutamide hydroxylase activity; and 3) formation of this metabolite only when incubated with microsomes obtained from cells expressing human cytochrome 2C9. However, no conclusive information could be obtained concerning the cytochrome catalyzing the hydroxylation at position 5. The comparison between human microsomes and human hepatocytes metabolism on one hand, and human in vivo metabolism on the other, supports human hepatocytes in primary culture as the model that best anticipated the metabolism of the drug in vivo.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1996

Comparative metabolism of the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, aceclofenac, in the rat, monkey, and human.

Aceclofenac ([2-(2',6'-dichlorophenylamino)phenyl]acetoxyacetic acid) is a novel nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, the pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism of which show species differences. After oral administration to the rat, circulating aceclofenac rapidly disappears yielding [2-(2',6'-dichlorophenylamino)phenyl]acetic acid (diclofenac), which is then further oxidized to [2-(2',6'-dichloro-4'-hydroxyphenylamino)phenyl[acetic acid (4'-hydroxydiclofenac) and [2-(2',6'-dichloro-4'-hydroxyphenylamino)phenyl]acetic acid (4'-hydroxydiclofenac) and [2-(2',6'-dichlorophenylamino)-5-hydroxyphenyl]acetic acid (5-hydroxydiclofenac). This is a minor route in humans, wherein aceclofenac is hydroxylated to [2-(2',6'-dichloro-4'-hydroxyphenylamino)phenyl]acetoxyacetic acid (4'-hydroxyaceclofenac), which becomes the major metabolite. In the monkey, the conversion of aceclofenac to diclofenac takes place, but to a much lesser extent than in the rat, and the 4'-hydroxylated metabolites from both compounds are found in monkeys' urine. The mechanistic basis for this species-dependent variations seems to be the different stability of the drug toward liver esterases. In the rat, the most efficient aceclofenac-hydrolyzing activity is found in hepatic microsomes (Vmax = 2113 +/- 177 pmol/min/mg protein and KM = 191 +/- 40 microM) and cytosol (Vmax = 479 +/- 37 pmol/min/mg protein and KM = 75 +/- 22 microM). Consequently, incubation of aceclofenac with cultured rat hepatocytes or in the rat in vivo results in a rapid hydrolysis of the drug, followed by oxidative metabolism of the resulting diclofenac, yielding 4'- and 5-hydroxylated derivatives as the major metabolites. In contrast, the aceclofenac ester bond is much more stable toward human hepatic microsomal (Vmax = 27 +/- 10 pmol/min/mg protein and KM = 792 +/- 498 microM) and cytosolic (Vmax = 87 +/- 5 pmol/min/mg protein and KM 218 +/- 30 microM) esterases, and 4'-hydroxyaceclofenac becomes the major metabolite in cultured human hepatocytes, as well as in human urine. The research presented herein also illustrates the suitability of cultured human hepatocytes for predicting aceclofenac metabolism in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Immunochemical detection of protein adducts in cultured human hepatocytes exposed to diclofenac.

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac is reported to cause, in rare cases, fulminant hepatic necrosis associated with chronic use of the drug. In order to investigate the possibility that covalent protein adducts of reactive metabolites of diclofenac might be responsible for the hepatotoxicity produced by this drug, we developed an antibody against a diclofenac-keyhole limpet hemocyanin adduct. The anti-diclofenac antibody did recognize diclofenac-protein adducts on Western blots of homogenates of cultured human hepatocytes exposed to diclofenac. The major detected adduct was a 60 kDa protein, which was present in both human and rat hepatocytes. These results suggest that binding of diclofenac to human hepatocytes is, like in rats, selective and that a 60 kDa protein appears to be the major target for alkylation. Immunoblots of homogenates of liver sinusoidal lining cells (LSLC) from rats treated with diclofenac also exhibited adducts with a 60 kDa protein. This fact suggest a role for LSLC in processing of chemically altered proteins in the liver.

Alkylation↗