PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

P A Janssen

Publications and source records attributed to P A Janssen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Ridogrel: a selective inhibitor of the cytochrome P450-dependent thromboxane synthesis.

Ridogrel [(E)-5-[[[(3-pyridinyl)[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] methylene]amino]oxy] pentanoic acid] is a potent inhibitor of the P450-dependent human platelet thromboxane A2 (TxA2) synthase. Fifty percent inhibition is already achieved at 5.0 +/- 0.37 nM. This IC50 value is close to half the P450 concentration used, i.e. 10.7 nM. Ridogrel binds to human platelet microsomal P450 as proven by the type II spectral changes induced by the addition of increasing concentrations of ridogrel to solubilized microsomes. The calculated half-maximal spectral change (SC50 value) is 3.78 +/- 1.79 nM. These results indicate that ridogrel binds stoichiometrically and suggest that inhibition of thromboxane synthesis may originate from liganding of its basic nitrogen to the haem-iron of P450 and from the attachment of the hydrophobic carboxylic side chain to or near the substrate binding place. Ridogrel is a selective inhibitor of the TxA2 synthase. At a high concentration (10 microM), ridogrel has a slight, if any, effect on the P450-mediated cholesterol synthesis in human liver and hepatoma cells and androgen synthesis from 17 alpha-hydroxy-20-dihydroprogesterone or pregnenolone in subcellular fractions from rat testes. These results indicate that ridogrel is a poor inhibitor of the P450-dependent 14 alpha-demethylase, 17 alpha-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase. It has, up to 10 microM, no effect on the adrenal mitochondrial 11 beta-hydroxylase and cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme and does not inhibit aromatase activity in human placental microsomes. Ridogrel has no significant effect on the regio- and stereoselective P450-dependent oxidations of testosterone in liver microsomes from unpretreated or from 5-pregnen-3 beta-ol-20-one-16 alpha-carbonitrile-, phenobarbital- or 3-methylcholanthrene-pretreated male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. It does not interfere with the reduction of testosterone into 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone and 5 alpha androstane 3 beta, 17 beta-diol.

Androgens

Levocabastine: pharmacological profile of a highly effective inhibitor of allergic reactions.

Levocabastine, selected from a series of cyclohexylpiperidine derivatives protects rats from compound 48/80-induced anaphylactic shock for at least 16 h at the oral dose of 0.0015 mg/kg. At the same dose histamine skin reactions and at slightly higher doses passive cutaneous anaphylactic reactions are inhibited. Blockade of passive cutaneous anaphylactic reactions is obtained with levocabastine, despite absence of peripheral serotonin antagonism and any other known non-specific action that may facilitate inhibition of passive anaphylaxis. In dogs allergic reactions are inhibited at oral doses 40 times lower than ketotifen. In guinea-pigs orally and topically administered levocabastine are remarkably effective against allergic conjunctivitis.

Anaphylaxis

Sabeluzole, a memory-enhancing molecule, increases fast axonal transport in neuronal cell cultures.

Morphological rearrangements, such as synapse number changes, have been observed in the adult mammalian brain after various experimental paradigms of learning and behavioral experience. The role of axonal transport in the physical translocation of material during this form of brain plasticity has not been fully appreciated. We show here by quantitative video microscopy that sabeluzole (R58735), a new memory-enhancing drug in humans, effectively increases fast axonal transport in rat neuronal cell cultures. Long-term incubation (24 hr) with sabeluzole in the concentration range between 0.1 and 1 microM increases both velocity and jump length of saltatory movements maximally by 20-30% in embryonic hippocampal neurons. Acute treatment only increases the velocity by 15-20%. Furthermore, the inhibition of axonal transport by 0.1 mM vanadate in N4 neuroblastoma cells is reversed by 1 microM sabeluzole. Observations on the kinesin-induced microtubule mobility in a reconstituted system show a 10% enhancement by sabeluzole at an optimal concentration of 2 microM, but no increase in kinesin ATPase activity. To our knowledge, this is the first pharmacological compound shown to increase fast axonal transport. The mechanism of fast axonal transport enhancement is discussed as a rationale for new therapeutic treatment in neuropathology.

Animals

In vivo studies on the mechanism of action of the broad spectrum anticonvulsant loreclezole.

In animal models of epilepsy the anticonvulsant profile of loreclezole resembles that of barbiturates and benzodiazepines. We examined whether the increase in seizure threshold to pentylenetetrazole infusion produced by 10 mg/kg of loreclezole, pentobarbital or diazepam could be reversed by a spectrum of benzodiazepine partial inverse to full inverse agonists (FG-7142 beta-carboline carboxylate, CGS-8216, Ro-15-4513 and DMCM) or by a benzodiazepine neutral antagonist (Ro-15-1788). The doses of the benzodiazepine inverse agonists were chosen to produce a 20-40% decrease in seizure threshold. The seizure threshold increase produced by loreclezole and pentobarbital was reduced by all the benzodiazepine inverse agonists and potentiated by Ro-15-1788. Diazepam was antagonized by the benzodiazepine inverse agonists and by the neutral antagonist. The generality of this finding was examined in amygdala-kindled rats. The decrease in the duration of forepaw clonus and the reduction in behavioural stage34 produced by loreclezole, pentobarbital and diazepam was reversed by CGS-8216. Ro-15-1788, which itself showed anticonvulsant effects in this model, antagonized the effects of diazepam, but not loreclezole or pentobarbital. Thus loreclezole behaves more like a barbiturate than a benzodiazepine in these two in vivo models. This suggests a possible mechanism of action of loreclezole at a neuromodulatory site within the GABAA receptor complex, which is unlikely to be a benzodiazepine receptor.

Animals

Levamisole plus 5-fluorouracil inhibits the growth of human colorectal xenografts in nude mice.

Fragments of human colorectal adenocarcinomas were inserted under the renal capsule of nude mice. The growth of these tumour grafts was significantly inhibited by the combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and levamisole. An alternating regimen of levamisole 2.5 mg/kg and 5-FU 20 mg/kg decreased the size of tumour implants by 33-59% and/or increased the number of macroscopically disappeared fragments in the combined group compared with ineffective monotherapy with saline, levamisole or 5-FU. This model could be valuable for investigating the mechanism of action of levamisole and to evaluate the effects of this adjuvant therapy in other oncological settings.

Adenocarcinoma

Prevention of catecholamine-induced cardiac damage and death with a nucleoside transport inhibitor.

The effect of a potent and specific nucleoside transport inhibitor, R 75,231, on catecholamine-induced cardiac toxicity has been studied in rabbits. Epinephrine (1 mg/kg) or norepinephrine (2.5 mg/kg) subcutaneously were lethal in 25 (42%) of 60 control animals, while survivors showed major myocardial damage, as judged from high plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and its myocardial isoenzyme (LDH1) after 24 h. When a low dose of R 75,231 (0.1 mg/kg) was given intravenously either 1 h before or 1 h after the catecholamine insult, only 1 of 60 animals died. The plasma total LDH and the LDH1 myocardial isoenzyme were low in these animals compared with untreated survivors. Studies ex vivo on isolated perfused hearts confirmed that with treatment using R 75,231, there was both left ventricular nucleoside retention and functional preservation after in vivo exposure of the animals to epinephrine. R 75,231 did not affect the peripheral venous hyperglycemic response to epinephrine. Nucleoside transport inhibition offers a new approach to the prevention and treatment of several cardiac disorders characterized by a pathogenic effect of catecholamines.

Animals

In vitro activity of pirodavir (R 77975), a substituted phenoxy-pyridazinamine with broad-spectrum antipicornaviral activity.

Pirodavir (R 77975) is the prototype of a novel class of broad-spectrum antipicornavirus compounds. Although its predecessor, R 61837, a substituted phenyl-pyridazinamine, was effective in inhibiting 80% of 100 serotypes tested (EC80) at concentrations above 32 micrograms/ml, pirodavir inhibits the same percentage of viruses at 0.064 micrograms/ml. Whereas R 61837 was active almost exclusively against rhinovirus serotypes of antiviral group B, pirodavir is broad spectrum in that it is highly active against both group A and group B rhinovirus serotypes. Pirodavir is also effective in inhibiting 16 enteroviruses, with an EC80 of 1.3 micrograms/ml. Susceptible rhinovirus serotypes were rendered noninfectious by direct contact with the antiviral compound. Their infectivity was not restored by dilution of virus-drug complexes, but was regained by organic solvent extraction of the compound for most serotypes. Neutralized viruses became stabilized to acid and heat, strongly suggesting a direct interaction of the compounds with viral capsid proteins. Mutants resistant to R 61837 (up to 85 times the MIC) were shown to bear some cross-resistance (up to 23 times the MIC) to the new compound, indicating that pirodavir also binds into the hydrophobic pocket beneath the canyon floor of rhinoviruses. Pirodavir acts at an early stage of the viral replication cycle (up to 40 min after infection) and reduces the yield of selected rhinoviruses 1,000- to 100,000-fold in a single round of replication. The mode of action appears to be serotype specific, since pirodavir was able to inhibit the adsorption of human rhinovirus 9 but not that of human rhinovirus 1A. Pirodavir is a novel capsid-binding antipicornavirus agent with potent in vitro activity against both group A and group B rhinovirus serotypes.

Antiviral Agents

Safety and efficacy of intranasal pirodavir (R77975) in experimental rhinovirus infection.

Pirodavir (R77975) is a capsid-binding, antipicornaviral agent with in vitro activity against most rhinovirus (RV) serotypes. We conducted four double-blind, controlled trials to assess the efficacy of intranasal pirodavir in experimentally induced RV infection of susceptible volunteers. Intranasal pirodavir (2 mg per dose) or the hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin vehicle as a placebo was given by metered pump spray. In three prophylaxis trials, subjects were inoculated with RV within 10 min of the second and third doses. When sprays were given six times per day for a total of 25 doses, infection, detected by either virus shedding or seroconversion, developed in 100% of the 13 placebo-treated subjects and 58% of the 12 pirodavir-treated subjects (P = 0.015). Clinical colds developed in 54% of placebo-treated subjects and 8% of pirodavir-treated subjects during drug administration (efficacy = 85%, P = 0.03), although late-developing colds developed in several subjects in both groups. Significant reductions in morning symptom scores and in the frequency of abnormal middle-ear pressures were also found in the pirodavir group. In contrast, in two prophylaxis studies using three doses daily, no significant antiviral or clinical benefits were observed. When frequent sprays were initiated at 24 h after RV challenge, significant reductions in virus shedding but no clinical benefits were found. Intranasal pirodavir was generally well tolerated but was associated with an excess rate of transient unpleasant taste. The findings indicated that frequent intranasal sprays of pirodavir were effective in preventing experimentally induced RV illness.

Administration, Intranasal

Itraconazole compared with griseofulvin in the treatment of tinea corporis/cruris and tinea pedis/manus: an interpretation of the clinical results of all completed double-blind studies with respect to the pharmacokinetic profile.

Itraconazole is an orally active triazole antifungal which has been compared to griseofulvin in a number of double-blind trials. In dermatophytosis with a non-fixed treatment regimen for a maximum of 3 months, itraconazole 100 mg o.d. has produced a 100% mycological cure rate as compared with a 67% rate with griseofulvin 500 mg o.d. (p less than 0.01). Based on the pharmacokinetic profile, 100 mg itraconazole daily was then compared with 500 mg ultramicronized griseofulvin daily using a fixed treatment schedule of 15 days in tinea corporis and/or cruris and 30 days in tinea pedis and/or manus. In all studies in tinea corporis/cruris (n = 277), the superiority of itraconazole was shown for the clinical outcome at the last follow-up visit 2 weeks post-therapy (88 vs. 69%, p less than 0.01) and in the mycological outcome at the last follow-up visit (81 vs. 65%, p less than 0.05). In tinea pedis/manus (n = 210), the clinical response was virtually the same for the two treatment groups, but the most important finding was the mycological outcome with a significantly better result in favor of itraconazole at the end of treatment (77 vs. 61%, p less than 0.05) even more pronounced at the follow-up visit (85 vs. 48%, p less than 0.01). We conclude that itraconazole 100 mg daily in the treatment of tinea corporis/cruris and in tinea pedis/manus is significantly more effective than 500 mg griseofulvin daily when fixed treatment regimens are used. Furthermore, the best results are obtained with itraconazole 2-3 weeks after the end of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent

Inhibition of human cardiac cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterases by R 80122, a new selective cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterase III inhibitor: a comparison with other cardiotonic compounds.

Four cyclic AMP (cAMP)-phosphodiesterases (PDE) belonging to families I, II, III and IV were identified in homogenates from human failing hearts. On fractionation of cardiac membranes, the cyclic GMP (cGMP)-inhibitable cAMP-PDE III copurified with the sarcoplasmic reticulum. cAMP-PDE activities were separated from the soluble fraction by DEAE-ion exchange chromatography and identified as belonging to the four different families of cAMP-PDEs. Various cAMP-PDE inhibitors, mostly cardiotonic compounds, were tested for their inhibitory potency on the different cAMP-PDEs and their selectivity for the type III isoenzyme was determined. Isobutylmethylxanthine, papaverine, theophylline and dipyridamole inhibited PDE activity in a weak and nonselective manner. Milrinone, enoximone, adibendan, pimobendan, bemoridan and the newly synthesized 1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-2-oxoimidazo[2,1-b]quinazoline derivatives, R 81267 and R 80122 were selective PDE III inhibitors. However, the IC50 values on this enzyme varied from 10 microM for enoximone to 0.036 microM for R 80122. The selectivity of the drugs for PDE III was calculated by division of the IC50 value for PDE I, II or IV by the IC50 value for PDE III. PDE I/PDE III ratio ranged from 95 for enoximone to near 28,000 for R 80122; the PDE II/PDE III ratios ranged from 95 for enoximone to 3,500 for R 80122. Although there was strong variation between the drugs, most of them showed a high selectivity for PDE III in comparison to PDE I and to PDE II. In contrast, PDE IV appeared to be more sensitive to these substances.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases

Pharmacological profile of the new potent neuroleptic ocaperidone (R 79,598).

Ocaperidone, a new benzisoxazolyl piperidine neuroleptic, was compared with haloperidol, risperidone and ritanserin in a large series of pharmacological tests. Ocaperidone inhibited dopamine agonist (apomorphine, amphetamine or cocaine)-induced behavioral effects at low doses (0.014-0.042 mg/kg) and was, thereby, equipotent with haloperidol (0.016-0.024 mg/kg) and 2.0 to 8.3 times more potent than risperidone. Ocaperidone completely blocked the dopamine agonist behavior at slightly higher doses (0.064 mg/kg) and was, thereby, more potent and efficacious than haloperidol (0.097-0.13 mg/kg) and risperidone (0.59-1.17 mg/kg). The dissociation between inhibition of apomorphine behavior and induction of catalepsy was as high for ocaperidone (22) as for risperidone (20) and higher than for haloperidol (8), suggesting risperidone-like low extrapyramidal side effect liability. Ocaperidone also antagonized serotonin agonist (tryptamine, mescaline or 5-hydroxytryptophan)-induced behavioral effects (0.011-0.064 mg/kg) and was, thereby, equipotent with risperidone (0.014-0.056 mg/kg) and at least as potent as ritanserin (0.037-0.13 mg/kg). Ocaperidone displayed its serotonin and dopamine antagonism at the same dose levels, in contrast to risperidone, which was a predominant serotonin antagonist. Apart from protection from compound 48/80 lethality (0.042 mg/kg) and norepinephrine lethality (0.097 mg/kg), which were not considered to hinder its clinical application, no additional secondary effects were observed at low doses of ocaperidone. In the apomorphine test in dogs, ocaperidone was very potent (i.v., s.c. and p.o. ED50 values: less than 1.0 micrograms/kg) and showed a rapid onset (less than 0.5 h) and long duration of action (24 h) after p.o. administration. Ocaperidone is concluded to be a highly potent and efficacious dopamine-D2 antagonist with concomitant, equivalent serotonin 5-HT2 antagonism. Ocaperidone is expected to exert pronounced haloperidol-like effects on the positive symptoms of schizophrenic patients but with risperidone-like low extrapyramidal side effect liability and improved patient compliance.

Animals

Allosteric inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase by tetrahydroimidazo[4,5,1-jk][1,4]benzodiazepin-2(1H)-one and -thione compounds.

The reverse transcriptase (RT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is present in virions and infected cells as an heterodimer (p66/p51). A new class of potent and selective HIV-1 inhibitors, the tetrahydroimidazo[4,5,1-jk][1,4]benzodiazepin-2(1H)-one and -thione (TIBO) derivatives, were found to exert their antiviral activity by interacting with monomeric HIV-1 RT (p66) in a way different from that of previously studied RT inhibitors such as azidothymidine 5'-triphosphate. Upon examination of the kinetic properties of the heterodimeric HIV-1 RT and its inhibition by TIBO compounds, a positive cooperativity between the subunits of the enzyme with regard to the 2'-deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphates and the template/primer was observed. The cooperativity with respect to the template/primer may result from a progressive dimerization in the presence of increasing concentrations of the template/primer, a process referred to as polysteric linkage. Because the cooperativity of p66/p51 was abolished in the presence of TIBO, these compounds behave as allosteric inhibitors.

Benzodiazepines

In vitro and in vivo receptor binding and effects on monoamine turnover in rat brain regions of the novel antipsychotics risperidone and ocaperidone.

Risperidone and ocaperidone are new benzisoxazol antipsychotics with particularly beneficial effects in schizophrenia. We report a comprehensive study on the in vitro and in vivo receptor binding profile of the new compounds, compared with haloperidol, and on the drug effects on monoamine and metabolite levels in various brain areas. The in vitro receptor binding and monoamine uptake inhibition profiles, comprising 29 receptors and four monoamine uptake systems, revealed that ocaperidone and risperidone bound primarily, and with the highest affinity thus far reported, to serotonin 5HT2 receptors (Ki values of 0.14 and 0.12 nM, respectively). Further, the drugs bound at nanomolar concentrations to the following receptors (Ki values, in nM, for ocaperidone and risperidone, respectively): alpha 1-adrenergic (0.46 and 0.81), dopamine D2 (0.75 and 3.0), histamine H1 (1.6 and 2.1), and alpha 2-adrenergic (5.4 and 7.3). In contrast, haloperidol showed nanomolar affinity for D2 receptors (1.55) and haloperidol-sensitive sigma sites (0.84) only. The in vitro binding affinity of ocaperidone, risperidone, and haloperidol for D2 receptors was exactly the same when measured in membranes from rat striatum, nucleus accumbens, tuberculum olfactorium, and human kidney cells expressing the cloned human D2 receptor (long form). In vivo binding in rats, using intravenous administration of [3H]spiperone, revealed very potent occupation by ocaperidone and risperidone of 5HT2 receptors in the frontal cortex (ED50 of 0.04-0.03 mg/kg); in this respect, they were 6, 30, and 100 times more potent than ritanserin, haloperidol, and clozapine, respectively. Ocaperidone occupied D2 receptors in the striatum and the nucleus accumbens with similar potency as did haloperidol (ED50 of 0.14-0.16 mg/kg). Risperidone revealed biphasic inhibition curves in the latter brain areas, indicating that [3H] spiperone labeled both 5HT2 receptors (occupied by risperidone at less than 0.04 mg/kg) and D2 receptors (risperidone ED50 of approximately 1 mg/kg). In the tuberculum olfactorium, 5HT2 and D2 receptors were also distinguished with risperidone. The ED50 values for occupation of the latter were for ocaperidone and risperidone 2 times lower and for haloperidol 2 times higher than in the striatum. Ocaperidone, risperidone, and haloperidol readily increased the levels of the dopamine metabolites 3,4-dihydroxybenzene acetic acid and homovanillic acid in the striatum, the nucleus accumbens, the tuberculum olfactorium, and, to some extent, the frontal cortex. Dose-response curve shapes were markedly different; with ocaperidone maximal levels were reached at 0.16 mg/kg and maintained to 10 mg/kg; with risperidone the levels tended to increase continuously up to 10 mg/kg. Haloperidol produced dome-shaped curves (maximum at 0.16-0.63 mg/kg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals

Liarozole, an inhibitor of retinoic acid metabolism, exerts retinoid-mimetic effects in vivo.

Liarozole is an imidazole-containing compound that inhibits the cytochrome P-450-dependent metabolism of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA). In vitro, liarozole (IC50, 2.2 microM) suppressed the P-450-mediated conversion of RA to more polar metabolites by hamster liver microsomes. In vivo, it enhanced the plasma level of RA from mostly undetectable values (less than 0.5 ng/ml) in control rats to 1.4 +/- 0.1 and 2.9 +/- 0.1 ng/ml in animals treated p.o. with 5 and 20 mg/kg of liarozole, respectively. Moreover, liarozole possessed antikeratinizing activity: when dosed subchronically (5-20 mg/kg, once daily for 3 days) to ovariectomized rats, the compound reversed the vaginal keratinization induced in these animals by estrogenic stimulation. Dose response experiments indicated that the antikeratinizating effect of liarozole was as potent as that of RA. One-dimensional electrophoresis and immunoblotting of extracted vaginal epithelia showed that liarozole shared with RA the ability to inhibit the synthesis of high molecular weight (57-60 kDa) keratin proteins, and to enhance the expression of the 45 to 47 kDa keratin polypeptides. Furthermore, we found that antikeratinizing doses of liarozole doubled the RA concentration in the vagina of ovariectomized rats: the mean amount of RA extracted from 200 mg of vaginal tissue was increased from 1.1 +/- 0.1 ng in vehicle-treated animals to 2.2 +/- 0.2 and 2.6 +/- 0.2 ng after treatment with 5 and 20 mg/kg of liarozole, respectively. These findings indicate that liarozole, an inhibitor of RA metabolism and RA produce similar morphologic and biochemical effects on the differentiation process of rat vaginal epithelium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Cardiac and hemodynamic effects of intravenous R80122, a new phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, in a canine model of myocardial ischemia and heart failure.

The cardiac and hemodynamic effects of R80122, a new specific phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, were studied in a closed-chest canine model of acute global left ventricular ischemia complicated by heart failure. The results obtained were compared with those obtained with milrinone. Intravenous infusion of the compounds (0.005 mg/kg/min for both) was started when stable heart failure had developed and was continued for 50 min followed by a washout period of 60 min. Both R80122 and milrinone improved the function of the acutely failing heart, as indicated by the increase in the values of the variables related to left ventricular function, but differences existed. The most striking differences were the normalization of the left ventricular external mechanical efficiency with R80122, but not with milrinone, and the maintenance of aortic blood pressure during infusion of R80122, which decreased during infusion of milrinone. Milrinone tends to induce ventricular tachycardia more frequently than R80122. It can be concluded that R80122 and milrinone improve the function of the acutely failing heart, but that the changes induced by R80122 are better balanced, i.e., enhancement of external mechanical efficiency with maintenance of aortic blood pressure.

Animals

In vivo evidence of partial agonist activity exerted by purported 5-hydroxytryptamine antagonists.

Using a food-reinforced two-lever operant method, rats (n = 9) were trained to discriminate 0.16 mg/kg LSD from saline. Tests for stimulus generalization in rats so trained indicated that the purported 5-HT antagonists cyproheptadine (1.25 and 10 mg/kg), methysergide (0.16 to 10 mg/kg) and mianserin (2.5 to 40 mg/kg) produced partial generalization with LSD. The hallucinogens mescaline (5 to 40 mg/kg) and quipazine (1.25 to 5 mg/kg) were also generalized with LSD. The data suggest that cyproheptadine, methysergide and mianserin may produce partial agonist effects in addition to their antagonist action at central 5-HT receptor sites.

Animals