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Biomedical subjects

R S Chang

Publications and source records attributed to R S Chang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

AT1 receptors mediate the release of prostaglandins in porcine smooth muscle cells and rat astrocytes.

Angiotensin II (AII) can release arachidonic acid metabolites such as prostacyclin (PGI2) and PGE2 from cells in cultures. It has recently been reported that the AT1 selective nonpeptide AII receptor antagonist losartan had similar effects. The present study was undertaken to further evaluate the effects of AII and losartan on cells which synthesize prostaglandins, including vascular smooth muscle, endothelial, and glial cells. Inhibition of specific [125I]AII binding was demonstrated in porcine smooth muscle cell (PSMC) suspensions with unlabeled AII and losartan. The IC50 values were 1.3 x 10(-9) mol/L and 7.7 x 10(-9) mol/L, respectively. PD123177 (an AT2 selective antagonist) had no effect on binding. AII produced a concentration-related increase in calcium mobilization (fura-2 fluorescence) which was blocked by losartan (IC50 = 8.4 x 10(-8) mol/L) but not by PD123177 (10(-6) mol/L). AII (10(-7) to 10(-5) mol/L) stimulated the basal release of PGI2 by 100%. This response was blocked by losartan (10(-6) to 10(-5) mol/L) but not by PD123177 (10(-6) to 10(-5) mol/L) and neither agent stimulated basal release in PSMC. Similar effects of AII and antagonists were observed upon receptor binding and PGE2 release in primary rat astrocyte (RA) cultures. AII did not release PGI2 from porcine endothelial cells, bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cells, or rat C6 glioma cells. Losartan had no significant effect at 10(-5) mol/L. By contrast, bradykinin or the calcium ionophore A23187 dramatically increased PGI2 release in each of these cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiotensin II

Apolipoprotein levels in normolipidemic non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The purpose of this study was to examine the change in apolipoprotein and lipoprotein levels in patients with normolipidemic untreated non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Fifteen untreated, non-obese male NIDDM patients without hyperlipidemia were chosen, and 15 healthy subjects, matched for age, sex, body weight, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking served as the control group. We observed that the concentrations of plasma total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) were identical in both NIDDM and control groups. The levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were slightly increased in the diabetic group, but the difference did not reach statistical significance in our study. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was lower in the NIDDM group than in the controls. Significantly increased TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were found in NIDDM patients compared with controls. The apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) and apolipoprotein A-II (apo A-II) levels were decreased in NIDDM patients, while the apolipoprotein B (apo B) level remained similar to that of the control subjects. The ratio of apo A-I/apo B was decreased significantly in the NIDDM group. Our results suggest that NIDDM patients are at higher risk of coronary heart disease, even if they remain normolipidemic.

Adult

Characterization of the binding of [3H]L-158,809: a new potent and selective nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor (AT1) antagonist radioligand.

[3H]L-158,809, a new potent and AT1-selective nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor antagonist, bound saturably and reversibly to rat adrenal membranes. Scatchard and Hill plot analyses indicated a single class of high affinity (Kd = 0.66 nM) binding sites. The relative potencies of various angiotensin II-related peptide and nonpeptide antagonists in displacing [3H]L-158,809 binding correlated with their potencies in displacing the binding of 125I-Sar1,Ile8-angiotensin II to adrenal AT1 receptors. [3H]L-158,809 binding to adrenal membranes was not affected by addition of guanosine-5'-(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate or various pharmacological agents known to interact with other common peptide and nonpeptide receptor systems. The potencies of angiotensin II receptor agonists, but not antagonists, in inhibiting specific [3H]L-158,809 binding were decreased in the presence of guanosine-5'-(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate. Specific [3H]L-158,809 binding was also observed in rat liver and kidney. Collectively, the data indicate that [3H]L-158,809 represents a new, potent, nonpeptide, antagonist radioligand suitable for the study of angiotensin II AT1 receptors.

Adrenal Glands

Cardiac angiotensin receptors: effects of selective angiotensin II receptor antagonists, DUP 753 and PD 121981, in rabbit heart.

Angiotensin II (AII) elicits a positive inotropic response in cardiac muscle preparations from several species including humans. The purpose of this study was to characterize the AII binding sites and inotropic responses in rabbit ventricle using the selective AII receptor antagonists/ligands, DuP 753 (AT1) and PD 121981 (AT2). Biphasic displacement of specific 125I-Sar1,Ile8-AII binding was observed with both DuP 753 and PD 121981, suggesting the presence of two AII binding sites. The high affinity site for DuP 753 (29 nM) was a low affinity site for PD 121981 (91 microM), and the high affinity site for PD 121981 (78 nM) was a low affinity site for DuP 753 (81 microM). Of the specific AII binding, 70% was DuP 753 (AT1)-sensitive sites. Positive inotropic responses to AII in isolated papillary muscles from rabbit heart were antagonized competitively by both DuP 753 and PD 121981. The potencies of DuP 753 (pA2 = 7.99) and PD 121981 (pA2 = 4.28) to antagonize AII inotropic responses were similar to their potencies to displace 125I-Sar1,Ile8-AII from AT1 sites. There was no apparent functional consequence of AII interaction with AT2 site. Inotropic responses to isoproterenol were unaffected by DuP 753 and PD 121981. Therefore, there are two binding sites for AII in rabbit ventricle; however, only one site, AT1, participates in the inotropic response to AII. The roles of these receptor subtypes in other cardiac responses to AII have yet to be determined. Also, DuP 753 and PD 121981 are useful tools to study these two AII binding sites in cardiac preparations.

Angiotensin II

In vitro pharmacology of L-158,809, a new highly potent and selective angiotensin II receptor antagonist.

L-158,809 interacted in a competitive manner with rabbit aortic angiotensin II (AII) receptors as determined by Scatchard analysis of the specific binding of [125I]Sar1Ile8-AII. The affinity of L-158,809 (IC50 = 0.3 nM) for AII receptors in this tissue was appreciably greater than that of other reported nonpeptide AII antagonists such as DuP-753 (IC50 = 54 nM) and EXP3174 (IC50 = 6 nM) and similar to the natural ligand, AII. L-158,809 also exhibited a high potency at AII receptors in several other tissues from different animal species (IC50 = 0.2-0.8 nM). In vitro functional assays utilizing AII-induced aldosterone release in rat adrenal cortical cells demonstrated further that L-158,809 acts as a competitive, high affinity antagonist of AII (pA2 = 10.5) and lacks agonist activity. L-158,809 also potently inhibited AII-induced inositol phosphate accumulation in vascular smooth muscle cells and contractile responses to AII in isolated blood vessels. The specificity of L-158,809 for AII receptors was demonstrated by its lack of activity (IC50 greater than 1 microM) in several other receptor binding assays and its inability to affect in vitro functional responses produced by other agonists. L-158,809 demonstrated a very high selectivity for the AT1 compared to the AT2 receptor subtype (AT2 IC50 greater than or equal to 10 microM). The high affinity and selectivity makes L-158,809 a valuable new tool for investigating the physiological and pharmacological actions of AII.

Aldosterone

In vivo pharmacology of L-158,809, a new highly potent and selective nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor antagonist.

L-158,809 (5,7-dimethyl-2-ethyl-3-[[2'-(1H-tetrazol-5yl)[1,1']-bi- phenyl-4-yl]-methyl]-3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine) is a potent, competitive and specific antagonist of AT1 subtype of angiotensin II (AII) receptors in in vitro radioligand binding and functional isolated tissue assays. The present study was carried out to characterize the in vivo pharmacology of this potent AII receptor antagonist. In conscious, normotensive and anesthetized pithed rats, L-158,809 inhibits AII (0.1 microgram/kg i.v.) elevations in blood pressure without altering pressor responses to methoxamine or arginine vasopressin. In conscious rats, the relative potencies (ED50) were 29 micrograms/kg i.v. and 23 micrograms/kg p.o. Duration of action with single i.v. or p.o. doses exceeded 6 hr in rats. In similar experiments using rhesus monkeys, the potencies of L-158,809 were 10 micrograms/kg i.v. and approximately 100 micrograms/kg p.o. In these rats and monkeys, L-158,809 was 10 to 100 times more potent than DuP-753 (losartan) and approximately 3 times more potent than the metabolite, EXP3174. AII-induced elevation of plasma aldosterone in rats was also inhibited by L-158,809. Unlike angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, L-158,809 did not potentiate the hypotensive responses to i.v. bradykinin. L-158,809 was antihypertensive in high renin hypertensive rats (aortic coarction) and volume-depleted rhesus monkeys. The maximum hypotensive responses with acute doses of L-158,809 were equal to those with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor in these renin-dependent animal models. From these in vivo data, L-158,809 is a selective AII receptor antagonist with high potency, good p.o. absorption, long duration and antihypertensive efficacy equal to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition after single doses.

Administration, Oral

Angiotensin receptor subtypes in rat, rabbit and monkey tissues: relative distribution and species dependency.

The displacement of [125I]Sar1, Ile8 angiotensin II binding by the receptor subtype selective angiotensin II antagonists, DuP-753 and WL-19 (PD121981) was used to define the relative proportion of angiotensin subtype AT1 and subtype AT2 receptors, respectively in various tissues (aorta, heart, adrenal cortex, kidney cortex and brain) of the rat, rabbit and monkey. The relative abundance of these receptor subtypes varied greatly not only among different tissues of the same species but also within the same tissue of different species. The relative affinity of the DuP-753 and WL-19 for the angiotensin receptor subtypes did not vary markedly suggesting that the two angiotensin receptor subtypes in these tissues and species are similar.

Adrenal Cortex

Epstein-Barr virus in oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal secretions of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and control subjects.

The frequency of oropharyngeal excreters of the Epstein-Barr virus among patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Hong Kong was compared with those of healthy adults in Hong Kong and California. 6 (3%) of 177 patients, 11 (12%) of 92 Hong Kong residents, and 20 (15%) of 132 Californians were excreters. The virus was detected in the nasopharyngeal secretion of only 1 of 67 patients and in 2 of 73 healthy adults. No convincing evidence for neutralizing antibody in the throat wash and nasopharyngeal secretions of the patients could be obtained. Epstein-Barr viral gene sequencing could not be detected in the throat washes from 27 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, 8 patients with infectious mononucleosis, and 15 healthy adults and in the nasopharyngeal secretions of 35 patients and 17 controls. We conclude that patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma are no more likely to be oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal excreters of the Epstein-Barr virus than healthy adults. One possible explanation for this unexpected finding is that the virus infections in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells are predominantly nonproductive.

Adolescent

Dehydroandrographolide succinic acid monoester as an inhibitor against the human immunodeficiency virus.

Dehydroandrographolide succinic acid monoester (DASM) is the dehydroandrographolyl ester of succinic acid; and andrographolide, from which DASM is made, is the major diterpenoid lactone found in the Chinese medicinal herb, Andrographis paniculata. DASM has been found to be an inhibitor against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vitro. It was nontoxic to the H9 cell at the concentrations of 50-200 (average, 108) micrograms/ml and was inhibitory to the HIV-1 (IIIB) at the minimal concentration of 1.6-3.1 (average 2.0) micrograms/ml. It was also inhibitory to two other strains of HIV-1 and a strain of HIV-2. This inhibitory effect could also be demonstrated in cultures of activated human blood mononuclear cells; the 50% toxic dose and the 50% HIV inhibitory dose were about 200-greater than or equal to 400 and 0.8-2 micrograms/ml, respectively. At the subtoxic concentration, DASM partially interfered with HIV-induced cell fusion and with the binding of HIV to the H9 cell. Presumably, it also interfered with HIV replication at another unidentified step(s).

Antiviral Agents

Novel and potent gastrin and brain cholecystokinin antagonists from Streptomyces olivaceus. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, chemical conversions, and physico-chemical and biochemical properties.

The discovery and physico-chemical characterization of three novel and minor virginiamycin M1 analogs as potent gastrin antagonists from a culture of a strain of Streptomyces olivaceus are described. These analogs are L-156,586, L-156,587 and L-156,588. They are, respectively, 15-dihydro-13,14-anhydro-, 13,14-anhydro- and 13-desoxy-analogs of virginiamycin M1. We also chemically converted virginiamycin M1 (via L-156,587) to L-156,586 and its unnatural epimer, L-156,906. These analogs are competitive and selective antagonists of gastrin and brain cholecystokinin binding at nanomolar concentrations. These are the most potent gastrin/brain cholecystokinin antagonists from natural products. The same compounds showed poor Gram-positive antibiotic activity versus virginiamycin M1. Structurally related Gram-positive antibiotics, griseoviridin and madumycin I, were inactive in gastrin and brain cholecystokinin binding at up to 100 microM.

Animals

Two angiotensin II binding sites in rat brain revealed using [125I]Sar1, Ile8-angiotensin II and selective nonpeptide antagonists.

[125I]Sar1, Ile8 angiotensin II labeled two distinct binding sites in rat brain. The displacement potencies of WL-19, a selective ligand for the angiotensin II subtype 2 receptor, angiotensin II and related peptides indicated that one binding site in the rat brain is the same as the adrenal angiotensin subtype 2 receptor. The second binding site in rat brain was displaced by the selective angiotensin II subtype 1 receptor antagonist DuP-753; however, the displacement potencies of angiotensin II, angiotensin III and Ile7-angiotensin III were significantly less than at the adrenal angiotensin subtype 1 receptor. The data suggests that this binding site in rat brain may represent an angiotensin II receptor subtype which shares some characteristics with the adrenal angiotensin subtype 1 receptor.

Adrenal Glands

Epstein-Barr virus genotypes associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in southern China.

We have used probes representing approximately two-thirds of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome to examine genetic polymorphism of wild-type EBV directly detected in 28 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissues from Southern China. In the hypervariable regions containing reiterated sequences, this analysis showed that while naturally occurring viruses are genetically diverse, only one genotype was detectable in each tumor specimen. Unique variants in NPC were detected in four regions of the EBV genome. Two of these appeared significant in their distribution. The type C variant resulting from loss of a BamHl site between the BamHl W1* and l1* regions was prevalent among isolates from Southern China, but not so common in the United States. An "f" variant having an extra BamHl site in the BamHl F region was almost exclusively detected in only Asian NPC biopsies.

Biopsy

Cholecystokinin-A receptor ligands based on the kappa-opioid agonist tifluadom.

Tifluadom, a kappa-opioid agonist and cholecystokinin-A (CCK-A) receptor antagonist, was utilized as a model to prepare a series of 2-(aminomethyl)- and 3-(aminomethyl)-1,4-benzodiazepines. These compounds were tested in vitro as inhibitors of the binding of [125I]CCK to rat pancreas and guinea pig brain receptors. All compounds with IC50's less than 100 microM proved to have greater affinity for the CCK-A receptor, with the most potent analogue, 6e, having an IC50 of 0.16 microM. The benzodiazepines described in this study are simultaneously CCK-A and opioid receptor ligands. The ramification of this dichotomy on current concepts of peptide hormone action are discussed. These results further demonstrate the versatility of the benzodiazepine core structure for designing nonpeptide ligands for peptide receptors and the ability to fine-tune the receptor interactions of these benzodiazepines by appropriate structure modifications.

Animals

Novel glutamic acid derived cholecystokinin receptor ligands.

Novel aryl amide analogues of glutamic acid dialkylamide have been synthesized to test for a possible structural analogy between glutamic acid and benzodiazepine CCK antagonists such as compounds 2 and 24 (lorglumide and MK-329, respectively). In support of the structural model, certain of these hybrid compounds are more potent in pancreas CCK radioligand binding assays than corresponding lorglumide-type reference compounds. Modifications previously found in the benzodiazepine antagonists to result in brain CCK/gastrin receptor selectivity were also incorporated to produce an aryl urea series of glutamic acid analogues. None of these compounds were brain CCK/gastrin selective; however, one was potent and selective in the pancreas binding assay. The model appears to be most useful in the design of selective ligands for the pancreas type CCK receptor.

Animals

A prospective study of primary Epstein-Barr virus infections among university students in Hong Kong.

In 1988 at the Chinese University of Hong Kong 1,039 entering freshmen were screened for antibody against the Epstein-Barr virus and 71 (6.8%) were negative. One year later, 16 (25.8%) of 62 negatives converted to positive with asymptomatic infections. There was seroconversion in 14 subjects who did not give histories of deep kissing. There was an association between antibody status of Epstein-Barr and cytomegaloviruses, but not between Epstein-Barr virus and human herpes virus type 6.

Adolescent