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Biomedical subjects

P Soucek

Publications and source records attributed to P Soucek.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Role of single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes in BRCA1 in breast cancer: Czech case-control study.

We aimed at determining whether any association exists between six single nucleotide polymorphisms in breast cancer associated gene (BRCA1) and the risk of breast cancer. We constructed haplotypes and analyzed their importance as well. Clinico-pathological characteristics of breast cancer patients were included in the study to evaluate the prognostic impact of BRCA1 polymorphisms and haplotypes. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism-based genotyping assays were used to determine the frequency of polymorphisms in codons 356, 871, 1038, 1183, 1436, and 1613 of BRCA1 in a group of 306 incident breast cancer patients and 313 unaffected controls of Czech origin. Statistical analyses revealed that the BRCA1 Arg356 allele may play a protective role in breast cancer (age-adjusted OR = 0.61, CI = 0.39-0.94, p = 0.026). We also observed a significant correlation between polymorphism Gln356Arg and stage (p = 0.026) in premenopausal cases suggesting that carriers of the wild Gln356Gln allele are at significantly higher risk of advanced disease. The most common haplotypes of BRCA1 did not play a significant role in breast cancer either as risk factors or as prognostic factors. The study on rare BRCA1 haplotypes however should be repeated using larger groups. In conclusion, the BRCA1-Gln356 allele presents risk factor in the onset and progression of breast cancer in Czech population and its use as a possible screening tool should be considered.

Adult↗

Metabolism of new-generation taxanes in human, pig, minipig and rat liver microsomes.

The novel taxanes SB-T-1102, SB-T-1214 and SB-T-1216 are up to 1000-fold more cytotoxic for resistant tumour cells than clinically used paclitaxel and docetaxel, and the current study has examined the metabolism of these new taxanes in human, rat, pig and minipig liver microsomes. Metabolites were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis. Metabolic pathways derived from their structures were confirmed by investigating subsequent metabolism of purified metabolites. SB-T-1102, SB-T-1214 and SB-T-1216 were metabolized to 14, 10 and 11 products, respectively. In contrast to docetaxel, side-chain hydroxylation did not occur at their tert-butyl group, but on the isobutyl (SB-T-1102) or isobutenyl (SB-T-1214 and SB-T-1216) chains. Species differences in their metabolism were observed. For example, human and untreated rat microsomes hydroxylated SB-T-1216 preferentially at the side-chain, whereas pig and minipig microsomes preferentially metabolized more at the taxane core. The increased formation of secondary and tertiary metabolites in rat microsomes with high expression of CYP3A1/2 compared with uninduced rats confirmed the role of CYP3A in taxane metabolism. All major products were formed by human cDNA-expressed CYP3A4 and none by CYP1A2, 1B1, 2A6, 2C9 and 2E1, indicating the principal role of CYP3A orthologues in SB-T metabolism. The knowledge of metabolic pathways of the examined agents and of their rates of formation is important due to possible metabolic inactivation of these three novel drugs with a great potential for the therapy of taxane-resistant tumours. The relatively slow metabolism of SB-T-1102 could be favourable for its antitumour efficiency in vivo.

Adolescent↗

[Optical coherence tomography in pars plana vitrectomy for idiopathic macular hole].

26 eyes of 25 patients after macular hole surgery were followed-up for 6 months in average (range of 2-25 months). The overall anatomic success rate was 77 %. The internal limiting membrane was peeled after its staining with trypan blue in all closed macular holes. The macular hole surgery resulted in anatomic success of stage Ib or II in 11 (100 %) eyes, of stage III in 7 (64 %) eyes and in stage IV in 2 (50 %) eyes. There was an improvement or a stabilisation of the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in 85 %. BCVA improved from 4/20 to 4/12 in average. 45 % of patients with closed macular hole attained BCVA 4/10 or better, 5 (25 %) of them with the best visual acuity at presentation improved to 4/8 in average. In 23 % cases of clinically normal fellow eyes, optical coherence tomography (OCT) detected an abnormality of the vitreoretinal surface. OCT is essential for evaluation of anatomical success after macular hole surgery. It is necessary to perform it also in a fellow eye to exclude clinically silent abnormality of the vitreoretinal surface.

Aged↗

Association of NQO1 polymorphism with spontaneous breast cancer in two independent populations.

Eight different single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in six different genes were investigated for possible association with breast cancer. We used a case-control study design in two Caucasian populations, one from Tyrol, Austria, and the other from Prague, Czech Republic. Two SNPs showed an association with breast cancer: R72P inTP53 and P187S in NQO1. Six SNPs, Q356R and P871L in BRCA1, N372H in BRCA2, C112R (E4) and R158C (E2) in ApoE and C825T in GNB3, did not show any sign of association. The P187S polymorphism in NQO1 was associated with breast cancer in both populations from Tyrol and Prague with a higher risk for carriers of the 187S allele. Combining the results of the two populations, we observed a highly significant difference (P=0.0004) of genotype and allele frequencies (odds ratio (OR)=1.46; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16-1.85; P=0.001) and of the homozygote ratio (OR=3.8; 95% CI 1.73-8.34; P=0.0001). Combining the two 'candidate' SNPs (P187S and R72P) revealed an increased risk for breast cancer of double heterozygotes (P187S/R72P) of the NQO1 and TP53 genes (OR=1.88; 95% CI 1.13-3.15; P=0.011), suggesting a possible interaction of these two loci.

Adult↗

Sequence similarities of protein kinase substrates and inhibitors with immunoglobulins and model immunoglobulin homologue: cell adhesion molecule from the living fossil sponge Geodia cydonium. Mapping of coherent database similarities and implications for evolution of CDR1 and hypermutation.

Sequences of immunoglobulin (Ig) domains of adhesive molecule GSAMS from the living fossil sponge Geodia cydonium were compared with the important motif of peptide protein kinase substrates and inhibitors (PKSI), detail PKSI sequences, and a common template sequence, derived from structures determined previously. We found the site-restricted sequence similarities to these peptide sequences predominantly in the GSAM Ig1 domain of GSAMS in the domain region related to corresponding Ig similarities detected earlier. Additional sequence block-related analysis revealed the presence of CDR1-like segments within PKSI-related regions and resulted in the detection of increased numbers of hypermutation motifs just in the CDR1-like segment of GSAM Ig1 (GSAM(cdrl.1)). In the following database searches with PKSI-related regions and GSAM(cdr1.1) we looked for: (i) peptide similarities present in the context of Ig domains or related structures in a large range of species from Archaea to Vertebrata, and (ii) some special nucleotide similarities.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Comparison of in vitro activities of biotransformation enzymes in pig, cattle, goat and sheep.

In vitro activities of cytochromes P450 (7-alkyl/aryloxyresorufin dealkyl(aryl)ases, testosterone hydroxylase/oxidase, 6-chlorzoxazone hydroxylase, 7-methoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-coumarin demethylase, and lauric acid hydroxylases), reductases of carbonyl group (toward metyrapone, daunorubicin, glyceraldehyde, and 4-pyridine-carboxaldehyde) and conjugation enzymes (p-nitrophenol-UDP-glucuronosyl transferase, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene glutathione-S-tranferase) in young adults, males, non-castrated (N=6) farm animals were studied and compared. Presence of proteins cross-reacting with anti-human CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2E1 IgG was detected in all farm species. Bovine microsomes differed from other microsomes of farm species in very high 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity (CYP1A1/2). Significantly higher 7-methoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-coumarin demethylase (2-3 times) and 12-lauric acid hydroxylases (4-10 times) activities (probably corresponding to CYP2C and CYP4A, respectively) were found in ovine microsomes. The highest 6beta-testosterone hydroxylase activity, which is usually considered to be a CYP3A activity marker, was found in pig. Reductases of all farm animals display considerable ability to reduce carbonyl group of xenobiotics. Significant differences in level and activity of many biotransformation enzymes tested suggest that extrapolation of pharmacokinetic data obtained in one species to another (even related) could be misleading.

Animals↗

The role of various biomarkers in the evaluation of styrene genotoxicity.

We evaluated our data on the occupational exposure to styrene in lamination workers. The battery of parameters included markers of external and internal exposure and biomarkers of biological effects and susceptibility. DNA repair capacities have been determined in both exposed and control groups. Styrene workplace concentration significantly correlated with styrene concentration in blood, exhaled air and urinary mandelic acid. Haemoglobin and O(6)-styrene oxide (SO)-guanine DNA adducts were significantly higher in exposed subjects as compared to controls and correlated with exposure parameters. In styrene-exposed workers 1-SO-adenine DNA adducts were detected (2.6 per 10(9) dNp), while in controls these adducts were below the detection limit. 1-SO-adenine adduct levels were affected by both acute and cumulative exposure (P=0.001, F=86.0 and P=0.017, F=59.0, respectively) and associated with cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) polymorphisms (R(2)=0.442). Mutant frequencies (MF) at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) locus appeared to accumulate with exposure over time and were associated with glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) polymorphism. DNA repair capacity increased with the exposure, except for the group exposed to the highest styrene concentration. In this particular group, increased DNA repair capacity to remove oxidative DNA damage was found.

Adult↗

[ Findings on optical coherence tomography in patients with macular degeneration treated with photodynamic therapy using Visudyne].

Findings on Optical Coherence Tomography in Macular Degeneration with Predominantly Classic Subfoveal Choroidal Neovascularization Treated by Photodynamic Therapy with Visudyne. We determined findings on optical coherence tomography (OCT) in macular degeneration with predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization treated by photodynamic therapy (PDT) with Visudyne. We performed 21 correlations of central retinal thickness (CRT) on OCT2 with findings on fluorescein angiography (FA) in our study. We quantified CRT on OCT2 in 14 cases before, during and after the end of the treatment. The control group was composed from patients, who were not able to undergo the treatment and therefore it was postponed. CRT on OCT correlated with FA in 95% of cases in our study. Maximal decreasee of CRT is demonstrated during the first three months of treatment. Values of CRT on OCT are in patients after repeated sessions of PDT lower than before the first session. These values can grow up a little for some time due to increase of amount of intraretinal fluid during the first week after the session of PDT. During next follow-up there are no big differences between values of CRT. In the control group CRT on OCT increases progressively during the follow-up.

Adult↗

Genetic polymorphisms of biotransformation enzymes in patients with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

OBJECTIVE: Considering the role in the metabolism of chemicals played by biotransformation enzymes, we aimed at determining whether any association exists between genetic polymorphisms in cytochromes p450 (CYP1A1 and CYP2E1), epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1), NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), glutathione S-transferases (GSTs M1/P1/T1) and individual susceptibility to lymphomas. METHODS: Genotyping assays based on polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) were used to determine the frequency of polymorphisms in CYP1A1 (3'-flanking region), CYP2E1 (5'-flanking region and intron 6), EPHX1 (exon 3 and exon 4), NQO1 (exon 6), GSTM1 (deletion), GSTP1 (exon 5), and GSTT1 (deletion) in a case-control study composed of 219 patients with morbus Hodgkin (MH) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) and 455 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. RESULTS: Grading of NHL seemed to be associated with polymorphism in CYP2E1-intron 6 ( P=0.041). The EPHX1-exon 3 genotype distribution was significantly different between male controls and male patients with both kinds of lymphomas ( P=0.01) or with NHL ( P=0.019). The genotype GSTP1*2/*2 was prevalent in all MH (odds ratio (OR) =2.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) =1.05-4.14, P=0.035) and this difference was particularly evident in female subjects (OR=2.97, 95% CI=1.16-7.61, P=0.023). A significant difference in the distribution of GSTP1-exon 5 genotypes was found between NHL tumors larger vs. smaller than 5 cm ( P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that genetic polymorphisms of biotransformation enzymes may play a significant role in the development and progression of lymphoid malignancies.

Case-Control Studies↗

[Breast cancer: an overview of factors affecting the onset and development of the disease].

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. The number of affected individuals is raising and the age at the onset has shifted towards younger age groups. Therefore, it is of great importance to improve primary and secondary prevention of breast cancer. New techniques of molecular biology significantly increased our understanding about the onset and progression of especially familial breast cancer. Further research in areas of molecular genetics and epidemiology is needed to find reliable diagnostic tools for screening of population groups to identify individuals at high risk of breast cancer. The follow up of interaction of various predisposing genes and environmental factors in breast cancer pathogenesis is of considerable public health importance as well. Some of risk factors covering areas of lifestyle and genetics are listed in this review as well as a survey of screening approaches and future prospects.

Breast Neoplasms↗

[Photodynamic therapy with Visudyne in macular degeneration associated with subfoveal classical choroidal neovascularization].

Photodynamic therapy with the preparation Visudyne (PDT) is the only treatment which retards statistically significantly the decline of vision in patients with age related and myopic macular degeneration with a subfoveal, predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization. The authors present their own experience with the treatment of the first 12 patients. During 6-month treatment a loss of more than 3 lines of ETDRS optotypes was recorded in two patients (17%). The presented results of FTV are consistent with data published abroad. As the one-year therapeutic results in two patients are encouraging, it will be necessary in future to prolong the follow up time and increase the number of patients.

Adult↗

Minipig cytochrome P450 3A, 2A and 2C enzymes have similar properties to human analogs.

BACKGROUND: The search for an optimal experimental model in pharmacology is recently focused on (mini)pigs as they seem not only to be an alternative source of cells and tissues for xenotherapy but also an alternative species for studies on drug metabolism in man due to similarities between (mini) pig and human drug metabolizing systems. The purpose of this work is to characterize minipig liver microsomal cytochromes P450 (CYPs) by comparing their N-terminal sequences with corresponding human orthologs. RESULTS: The microsomal CYPs exhibit similar activities to their human orthologous enzymes (CYP3A4, nifedipine oxidation; 2A6, coumarin 7-hydroxylation; 2D6, bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation; 2E1, p-nitrophenol hydroxylation; and 2C9, tolbutamide hydroxylation). Specific minipig CYP (2A, 2C and 3A) enzymes were partially purified and proteins identified by immunostaining (using antibodies against the respective human CYPs) were used for N-terminal amino acid sequencing. From comparisons, it can be concluded that the sequence of the first 20 amino acids at the N-terminus of minipig CYP2A is highly similar to human CYP2A6 (70% identity). The N-terminal sequence of CYP2C shared about 50% similarity with human 2C9. The results on the minipig liver microsomal CYP3A yielded identical data with those obtained for amino acid sequences of the pig CYP3A29 showing 60% identity with human CYP3A4. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, our results further support the view that minipigs may serve as model animals in pharmacological/toxicological studies with substrates of human CYP enzymes, namely, of the CYP3A and CYP2A forms.

Animals↗

Association between genetic polymorphisms and biomarkers in styrene-exposed workers.

A comprehensive approach to evaluate genotoxic effects induced by styrene exposure was employed in 44 hand-lamination workers in comparison with 18 unexposed controls. The acquired data on single-strand breaks in DNA (SSBs), frequency of chromosomal aberrations and HPRT mutant frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes were compared to the results on genotyping of some of the xenobiotic-metabolising enzymes (CYP1A1, CYP2E1, epoxide hydrolase and GSTM1, GSTP1 and GSTT1). Multifactorial regression analysis indicated that SSB in DNA were significantly associated with styrene exposure and with heterozygosity in CYP2E1 (5'-flanking region and intron 6; r(2)=0.614). The frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CA), as analysed by linear multiple regression analysis, significantly correlated with years of employment (P=0.004) and with combinations of epoxide hydrolase (EPHX) genotypes (exon 3, Tyr/His and exon 4, His/Arg), where individuals with low and medium activity EPHX genotypes exhibited higher frequencies of CA than those with high activity genotypes (P=0.044, r(2)=0.563). Moderately higher HPRT mutant frequencies were detected in styrene-exposed individuals (20.2 +/- 25.8 x 10(-6)) as compared to controls (13.3 +/- 6.3 x 10(-6)), but this difference was not significant. ANOVA (in the whole set of data) revealed that mutant frequencies at the HPRT gene were significantly associated with years of employment (F=6.9, P=0.0001), styrene in blood (F=10.1, P=0.0001), and heterozygosity in CYP2E1 (intron 6; F=13.5, P=0.0008) and GSTP1 (exon 5; F=3.6, P=0.038). In conclusion, our present data suggest that analysed biomarkers of DNA damage may be modulated by polymorphic CYP2E1, EPHX and GSTP1. In our study, styrene-specific DNA and haemoglobin adducts are under investigation. Completing these data with the results of genotyping of metabolising enzymes may provide a useful tool for individual genotoxic risk assessment.

Adult↗

Effect of ivermectin on activities of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes in mouflon (Ovis musimon) and fallow deer (Dama dama).

Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug widely used in veterinary and human medicine. We have found earlier that repeated treatments of rats with high doses of this drug led to significant increase of cytochrome P450-dependent 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD) and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activities in hepatic microsomes. In the present study, the effects of ivermectin on cytochrome P450 (CYP) activities were investigated in mouflon (Ovis musimon) and fallow deer (Dama dama). This study was conducted also to point out general lack of information on both basal levels of CYP enzymes and their inducibilities by veterinary drugs in wild ruminants. Liver microsomes were prepared from control animals, mouflons, after single or repeated (six doses in six consecutive days) treatments with therapeutic doses of ivermectin (0.5 mg kg(-1) of body weight), and fallow deer exposed to repeated doses of ivermectin under the same conditions. Alkyloxyresorufins, testosterone and chlorzoxazone were used as the specific substrate probes of activities of the CYP isoenzymes. A single therapeutic dose of ivermectin significantly induced (300-400% of the control group) the activities of all alkyloxyresorufin dealkylases tested in mouflon liver microsomes. Repeated doses of ivermectin also caused an increase of these activities, but due to fair inter-individual differences, this increase was not significant. The administration of ivermectin led to an induction (170-210% of the control) of the testosterone 6beta- and 16alpha-hydroxylase activities in mouflon liver but no significant modulation of chlorzoxazone hydroxylase (CZXOH) activity was found in mouflon liver. CYP-dependent activities in hepatic microsomes were generally higher in fallow deer than in mouflons. However, with the exception of slight increase in the 7-benzyloxyresorufin O-dealkylase (BROD) activities, no significant modulation of the other activities was observed. The induction of CYP3A-like isoenzyme was confirmed by immunoblotting only in the microsomes from mouflons administered with repeated doses of ivermectin; however, no significant increase of CYP1A isoenzymes was observed due to a weak cross-reactivity of anti-rat CYP1A1/2 polyclonal antibodies used in the study. The results indicate that ivermectin should be considered as an inducer of several cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, including CYP1A, 2B and 3A subfamilies, in mouflons. The comparison of induction effect of ivermectin in rat, mouflon and fallow deer also demonstrates the inter-species differences in inducibility of CYP enzymes.

Animals↗

Genetic polymorphisms of biotransformation enzymes in patients with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Considering the role in the metabolism of chemicals played by biotransformation enzymes, we aimed at determining whether any association exists between genetic polymorphisms in CYP1A1, CYP2E1, epoxide hydrolase (EPHX), glutathione S-transferases (GSTM1/P1/T1) and individual susceptibility to lymphomas. PCR-RFLP-based genotyping assays were used to determine the frequency of polymorphisms in CYP1A1 (3'-flanking region), CYP2E1 (5'-flanking region and intron 6), EPHX (exons 3 and 4), GSTM1 (deletion), GSTP1 (exon 5) and GSTT1 (deletion) in a case-control study comprised of 219 patients with morbus Hodgkin (MH) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) and 455 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. The distribution of genotypes in CYP2E1-intron 6 was significantly different between the control group and all lymphomas (P = 0.03), patients with NHL (P = 0.024), and especially aggressive diffuse NHL (P = 0.007). Grading of NHL seemed to be associated with this polymorphism as well (P = 0.041). The EPHX-exon 3 genotype distribution was significantly different between control males and males with all lymphomas (P = 0.01) or with NHL (P = 0.019). The Val/Val genotype of GSTP1-exon 5 was prevalent in all MH [odds ratio (OR) = 2.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05-4.14] and this difference was particularly evident in females (OR = 2.97, 95% CI = 1.16-7.61). A significant difference in the distribution of GSTP1-exon 5 genotypes was found between NHL tumors >5 cm and those <5 cm (P = 0.03). The results suggest that genetic polymorphisms of biotransformation enzymes may play a significant role in the development of lymphoid malignancies.

Alleles↗