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Biomedical subjects

Stefan Laufer

Publications and source records attributed to Stefan Laufer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Profile and molecular modeling of 3-(indole-3-yl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1 H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (1) as a highly selective VEGF-R2/3 inhibitor.

We report on selectivity profiling of 1 in a panel of 20 protein kinases and molecular modeling indicating 1 to be highly active and selective for VEGF-R2/3. Sequence alignment analysis and detailed insights into the ATP binding pockets of targeted protein kinases from the panel result in a unique structural architecture of VEGF-R2 mainly caused by the hydrophobic pocket I, determining the molecular basis for activity and selectivity of 1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Development of a microsphere-based p38alpha MAP kinase no-wash assay.

A nonradioactive, microsphere-based, no-wash assay for the measurement of p38alpha mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity was established. In this assay, a glutathione-S-transferase activating transcription factor 2 (amino acids 19-96) fusion protein (GST-ATF-2) was used as substrate for p38alpha MAP kinase. The assay involves immobilization of GST-ATF-2 on glutathione-microspheres (GSH-microspheres), addition of test solution containing p38alpha MAP kinase and test compounds, and measurement of the respective substrate phosphorylation with the aid of a bi-phospho-specific antibody. The optimization of test conditions is described in this article. With an optimized standard protocol, p38alpha MAP kinase inhibitors were investigated and IC50 values were compared to those derived using known assays. This assay might be useful in testing drug candidates.

Activating Transcription Factor 2↗
PubMed2006

Licofelone reduces progression of structural changes in a canine model of osteoarthritis under curative conditions: effect on protease expression and activity.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effectiveness of licofelone, a combined 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitor, on structural changes in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) experimental dog model of osteoarthritis (OA) under therapeutic conditions. The effect of drug treatment on the expression and activity of metalloproteases in the OA cartilage was also studied. METHODS: The cranial cruciate ligament of the right stifle joint was surgically sectioned in 14 dogs to create OA lesions. Of these dogs, 7 received placebo treatment and served as OA controls, while 7 were treated with licofelone 2.5 mg/kg twice daily for an 8-week period, starting 4 weeks after surgery. At necropsy, macroscopic evaluations were made of the size of osteophytes and the severity of cartilage lesions on femoral condyles and tibial plateaus. Collagenase and other metalloprotease activity levels in cartilage were measured. Levels of gene expression of matrix metalloprotease (MMP-1), MMP-13, cathepsin K, and ADAMTS-5 were quantified by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Licofelone treatment reduced the development of osteophytes and size of cartilage lesions on the femoral condyles and on the tibial plateaus (p < 0.04). Drug treatment also significantly decreased collagenase (p < 0.02) and metalloprotease (p < 0.04) activities, as well as the levels of gene expression of MMP-1 (p < 0.01), MMP-13 (p < 0.05), cathepsin K, and ADAMTS-5 (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Under therapeutic conditions licofelone showed the ability to reduce the progression of structural changes in experimental dog OA. This beneficial effect is likely mediated through decrease in the synthesis of a number of catabolic factors, including proteolytic enzymes, involved in cartilage breakdown.

Acetates↗
PubMed2006

Small molecular anti-cytokine agents.

The recent successful introduction of the anti-cytokine biologicals Etanercept, Infliximab, Adalimumab, and Anakinra has stimulated the search for anti-cytokine small-molecules. A number of molecular targets have been identified for the development of such small molecular anti-cytokine agents. The focus of this review will be on those inhibitors of cytokine production, which target either p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase, TNF-alpha converting enzyme (TACE), or IL-1beta converting enzyme (ICE). P38 MAP kinase occupies a central role in the signaling network responsible for the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines like interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and TNF-alpha, and regulates their biosynthesis at both the transcriptional and translational level. TACE and ICE are two proteases required for the processing of proTNF-alpha and proIL-1beta, respectively into their mature, proinflammatory form. Since the mid-1990s, a plethora of inhibitors of p38 MAP kinase, TACE, and ICE has been characterized in vitro, and individual representatives from all three inhibitor classes have in the meantime been advanced into clinical trials. This review will highlight the correlation between effective inhibition at the molecular target and cellular activity in functional assays of cytokine, particularly TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, production. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) will be discussed regarding activity at the respective enzyme target, but also with regard to properties required for efficient in vitro and in vivo cellular activity (e.g., oral availability, solubility, cell penetration, etc.).

ADAM Proteins↗
PubMed2006

Quantitative determination of piritramide in human plasma and urine by off- and on-line solid-phase extraction liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.

A method for the liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) quantification of piritramide, a synthetic opioid, in plasma after conventional off-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) and in urine by on-line SPE-LC/MS/MS in positive electrospray mode was developed and validated. Applicability of the on-line approach for plasma samples was also tested. Deuterated piritramide served as internal standard. For the off-line SPE plasma method mixed cation-exchange SPE cartridges and a 150 x 2 mm C18 column with isocratic elution were used. For the on-line SPE method, a Waters Oasis HLB extraction column and the same C18 analytical column in a column-switching set-up with gradient elution were utilized. All assays were linear within a range of 0.5-100 ng/mL with a limit of detection of 0.05 ng/mL. The intra- and interday coefficients of variance ranged from 1.3 to 6.1% for plasma and 0.5 to 6.4% for urine, respectively. The extraction recovery for the off-line plasma assay was between 90.7 and 100.0%. Influence of matrix effects, and freeze/thaw and long-term stability were validated for both approaches; influence of urine pH additionally for quantification in urine.

Blood Chemical Analysis↗
PubMed2006

Stimulation of suicidal erythrocyte death by lipoxygenase inhibitor Bay-Y5884.

The prostaglandin PGE(2), a metabolite of the cyclooxygenase pathway, activates Ca(2+)-permeable cation channels in erythrocyte cell membranes leading to entry of Ca(2+) with subsequent eryptosis, i.e. cell shrinkage, breakdown of phosphatidylserine (PS) asymmetry and membrane blebbing, all features typical for apoptosis in nucleated cells. PS exposing cells are recognized by macrophages, engulfed, degraded and thus cleared from circulating blood. The present study explored whether the specific lipoxygenase inhibitor Bay-Y5884 influences eryptosis. As determined by competitive ELISA, Bay-Y5884 (20 microM) enhanced the release of PGE(2) from human erythrocytes. According to whole-cell patch-clamp, Bay-Y5884 (20 microM) activated nonselective cation channels. The effect of Bay-Y5884 on cation channels was abolished by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor diclophenac (10 microM). Bay-Y5884 (30-40 microM) significantly increased erythrocyte free Ca(2+) concentration and PS exposure as analyzed in flow cytometry by Fluo3 fluorescence and annexin-V binding, respectively. PS exposure triggered by 20 microM (but not by 40 microM) Bay-Y5884 was blunted by cyclooxygenase inhibitors acetylsalicylic acid (50 microM) and diclophenac (10 microM). In conclusion, the lipoxygenase inhibitor Bay-Y5884 enhances erythrocyte PGE(2) formation with subsequent activation of non-selective cation channels, Ca(2+) entry and phospholipid scrambling.

Aspirin↗
PubMed2006

Development and optimization of a non-radioactive JNK3 assay.

In light of emerging interest in the relevance of c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase 3 (JNK3) as a promising drug target, we describe here an advanced non-radioactive immunosorbent JNK3 activity assay that is applicable for routine screening of small molecule ATP-competitive enzyme inhibitors. We modified and established a JNK3/ATF-2 protocol based on our previously described p38 MAPK method [1] for a substrate-bound non-radioactive procedure that represents a convenient alternative to conventional radioactive protein kinase assays. The objective of the present study was to validate these conditions by using the reference compounds SP600125 and SB203580 to achieve comparable IC(50) results to published data. Furthermore, an IC(50) for staurosporine was determined. The protocol we describe here represents an accessible and robust screening assay for JNK3 inhibitors.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2006

New approaches to the treatment of inflammatory disorders small molecule inhibitors of p38 MAP kinase.

The therapy of chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has recently been enriched by the successful launch of the anti-cytokine biologicals Etanercept (tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-p75 Fc fusion protein), Infliximab (chimeric anti-human TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody), Adalimumab (recombinant human anti-human TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody) and Anakinra (recombinant form of human interleukin 1beta (IL-1) receptor antagonist). The success of these novel treatments has impressively demonstrated the clinical benefit that can be gained from therapeutic intervention in cytokine signalling, highlighting the central role of proinflammatory cytokine systems like IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha to be validated targets. However, all of the anti-cytokine biologicals available to date are proteins, and therefore suffering to a varying degree from the general disadvantages associated with protein drugs. Therefore, small molecular, orally active anti-cytokine agents, which target specific pathways of proinflammatory cytokines, would offer an attractive alternative to anti-cytokine biologicals. A number of molecular targets have been identified for the development of such small molecular agents but p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase occupies a central role in the regulation of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha signalling network at both the transcriptional and translational level. Since the mid-1990s, an immense number of inhibitors of p38 MAP kinase has been characterised in vitro, and to date several compounds have been advanced into clinical trials. This review will highlight the correlation between effective inhibition of p38 MAP kinase at the molecular target and cellular activity in functional assays of cytokine, particularly TNF-alpha and IL-1beta production. SAR will be discussed regarding activity at the enzyme target, but also with regard to properties required for efficient in vitro and in vivo activity.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Sesquiterpene lactones as inhibitors of IL-8 expression in HeLa cells.

Twenty-four structurally different SLs were studied for their inhibition on IL-8 production in HeLa229 cells and different IC50-values were obtained. QSAR analyses revealed that the alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone and the presence and reactivity of a second reaction center, expressed by LUMO2, are the most important descriptors for IL-8. Using two SLs as examples, we demonstrated that SLs prevent DNA binding of AP-1, which has binding sites in the IL-8 promoter together with NF-kappaB and C/EBP, and that this is probably due to directly targeting AP-1. p38 MAPK, which plays a role in AP-1 activation as well as in IL-8 regulation, was not influenced by SLs. These data show that NF-kappaB and AP-1, and consequently IL-8 may be interesting targets in antiinflammation research and that the small molecules of SLs may be powerful candidates with promising properties for therapeutic modulation of the inflammatory response.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Stereospecific pharmacokinetic characterisation of phenprocoumon metabolites, and mass-spectrometric identification of two novel metabolites in human plasma and liver microsomes.

Phenprocoumon belongs to the group of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), for example warfarin and acenocoumarol. It is widely used for therapeutic anticoagulation and clinically administered as a racemate. Both enantiomers are partially metabolized by the polymorphic CYP2C9 enzyme. The pharmacokinetics are, however, substantially less dependent on CYP2C9 activity or genotype than for other CYP2C9-metabolised VKAs, and pharmacokinetic differences for the enantiomers are only minor. We have investigated the stereospecific pharmacokinetics of the monohydroxylated phenprocoumon metabolites in human plasma by achiral-chiral LC-LC-MS-MS coupling. In addition to the known metabolites, 4'-, 6-, and 7-hydroxyphenprocoumon, two other monohydroxylated metabolites (M1 and M2) were detected in plasma and human liver microsomal incubations. One of these was identified as 2'-hydroxyphenprocoumon by comparison with synthetic standards; the other seemed to be a side-chain-hydroxylated derivative. Analysis of enantiomeric metabolite ratios after a single oral dose of phenprocoumon revealed changes over time with an overall preponderance of the respective (R) enantiomers. The minor role of CYP2C9 in 4'-hydroxy-PPC formation and the effect of CYP2C9 genotype for (S)-6- and (S)-7-hydroxy-PPC were confirmed. M1 and M2 are formed highly stereoselectively, without dependence on CYP2C9 genotype. These may be interpreted as alternative metabolic pathways that render phenprocoumon less dependent on CYP2C9 activity or genotype.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed2005

The protective effect of licofelone on experimental osteoarthritis is correlated with the downregulation of gene expression and protein synthesis of several major cartilage catabolic factors: MMP-13, cathepsin K and aggrecanases.

This study sought to evaluate the levels of mRNA expression and protein synthesis of MMP-13, cathepsin K, aggrecanase-1 (ADAMTS-4), aggrecanase-2 (ADAMTS-5) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) in cartilage in the experimental anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) dog model of osteoarthritis (OA), and to examine the effects of treatment with licofelone, a 5-lipoxygenase (LOX)/cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, on the levels of these catabolic factors. Sectioning of the ACL of the right knee was performed in three experimental groups: group 1 received no active treatment (placebo group); and groups 2 and 3 received therapeutic concentrations of licofelone (2.5 or 5.0 mg/kg/day orally, respectively) for 8 weeks, beginning the day following surgery. A fourth group consisted of untreated dogs that were used as normal controls. Specimens of cartilage were selected from lesional areas of OA femoral condyles and tibial plateaus, and were processed for real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical analyses. The levels of MMP-13, cathepsin K, ADAMTS-4, ADAMTS-5 and 5-LOX were found to be significantly increased in OA cartilage. Licofelone treatment decreased the levels of both mRNA expression and protein synthesis of the factors studied. Of note was the marked reduction in the level of 5-LOX gene expression. The effects of the drug were about the same at both tested dosages. In vivo treatment with therapeutic dosages of licofelone has been found to reduce the degradation of OA cartilage in experimental OA. This, coupled with the results of the present study, indicates that the effects of licofelone are mediated by the inhibition of the major cartilage catabolic pathways involved in the destruction of cartilage matrix macromolecules. Moreover, our findings also indicate the possible auto-regulation of 5-LOX gene expression by licofelone in OA cartilage.

ADAM Proteins↗
PubMed2005

Mass spectrometric identification of modified urinary nucleosides used as potential biomedical markers by LC-ITMS coupling.

In diseases accompanied by strong metabolic disorders, like cancer and AIDS, modifying enzymes are up- or down-regulated. As a result, many different types of metabolic end-products, including abnormal amounts of modified nucleosides, are found in urine. These nucleosides are degradation products of an impaired ribonucleic acid (RNA) metabolism, which affects the nucleoside pattern in urine. In several basic experiments we elucidated the fragmentation pathways of 16 characteristic nucleosides and six corresponding nucleic bases that occur in urine using electrospray ionization ion trap MS(5) (ESI-ITMS) experiments operated in positive ionization mode. For urinary nucleoside analysis, we developed an auto-LC-MS3 method based on prepurification via boronate gel affinity chromatography followed by reversed phase chromatography. For this purpose, an endcapped LiChroCART Superspher RP 18 column with a gradient of ammonium formate and a methanol-water mixture was used. This method gives a limit of detection of between 0.1 and 9.6 pmol for 15 standard nucleosides, depending on the basicity of the nucleoside. Overall, the detection of 36 nucleosides from urine was feasible. It was shown that this auto-LC-MS3 method is a valuable tool for assigning nucleosides from complex biological matrices, and it may be utilized in the diagnosis of diseases associated with disorders in RNA metabolism.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2005

MALDI-TOF MS analysis of urinary nucleosides.

As RNA turnover seems to be impaired in cancer patients, modified nucleosides have been evaluated as potential tumor markers. Modified nucleosides are mainly formed post-transcriptionally in tRNA, set free during RNA metabolism, and excreted in urine. Especially methylated nucleosides play an important role, as their levels are higher in urine from cancer patients. For structural elucidation of known and unknown nucleosides from urine samples of cancer patients, MALDI-TOF MS and MALDI-PSD were used for the first time. This technique generally ensures high sensitivity, mass resolution, and accuracy. In our analytical approach we prepurified nucleosides from urine by affinity chromatography and subsequently separated them by semipreparative high performance liquid chromatography. The different fractions were collected separately and analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS and PSD-MALDI using a mixture of six low molecular weight calibrants for internal or external calibration. The molecular totals formulas based on a mass accuracy of 10 ppm and below were calculated and a systematic data base search was performed. The inherent problem of the MALDI-technique, the reduced sensitivity for low molecular weight substances caused by matrix suppression effects, was reduced by our technique. We identified several nucleosides in urine, which were previously identified via retention times and UV spectra of standards after HPLC analysis. Eight further nucleosides were observed. This work demonstrates for the first time the potential of MALDI-TOF and PSD-MALDI in combination with semipreparative HPLC for assignment of nucleosides in urine. The particularly high mass accuracy of this mass spectrometric method provides opportunities for identifying unknown compounds.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Achiral-chiral LC/LC-MS/MS coupling for determination of chiral discrimination effects in phenprocoumon metabolism.

Many physiological processes show a high degree of stereoselectivity, including the metabolism of xenobiotics as catalyzed by cytochrome P450 enzymes. An analysis of these chiral discrimination effects in drug metabolism is essential for an in-depth understanding of metabolic pathways that differ between enantiomers of a given chiral drug or metabolite thereof. Achiral chromatographic separation and structural identification followed by chiral analysis of metabolites from blood specimens usually requires a time-consuming multistage analytical technique. In an effort to optimize such a complicated analytical scheme, a novel two-dimensional online achiral-chiral liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/LC-MS/MS) coupling method was developed by using a peak parking technique in combination with a makeup flow system. Metabolites were separated in the first dimension using a C18 reversed-phase system. A makeup eluent of water/methanol (95/5) was split into the flow before storing the metabolites separately on chiral cartridges. Subsequently, the metabolite enantiomers were eluted backward onto the analytical chiral column and separated, and the ratio of enantiomers was determined. The method was successfully validated with respect to limit of detection, linearity, intra- and interday accuracy, and precision. In the course of a human volunteer study investigating the influence of CYP (cytochrome) 2C9 genetic polymorphism on phenprocoumon (PPC) metabolism, we used this new two-dimensional online analytical technique for the analysis of PPC metabolites in plasma. The enantiomeric forms of 4'-, 6-, and 7-hydroxy-PPC metabolites as well as two novel metabolites were identified, and the ratio of the enantiomers was calculated. We found that the enantiomeric ratio for the different metabolites in the plasma sample of each measured individual differs markedly from a nearly 100% chiral discrimination for the two new putative metabolites. This new analytical coupling method possesses general utility in the analysis of chiral discrimination effects, particularly as it relates to pharmacokinetics and dynamics, a scientific field that is rapidly becoming an area of concern and interest.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗
PubMed2005

Leukotriene and prostaglandin synthesis pathways in osteoarthritic synovial membranes: regulating factors for interleukin 1beta synthesis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanisms responsible for the cross-talk between lipoxygenase (LOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX) pathways in human osteoarthritic (OA) synovial explants, and to confirm the arachidonic acid (AA) shunting phenomenon and its influence on interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) synthesis. METHODS: Synovial membrane explants were cultured in the absence or presence of different drugs that inhibit COX and/or LOX activities. Concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), lipoxin A4 (LXA4), and IL-1beta were measured. RESULTS: When membrane explants were incubated with naproxen (COX inhibitor) under unstimulated conditions, the production of LTB4 was dose-dependently enhanced, reaching a 5-fold increase over the control. This shunt could be partially reversed by the addition of exogenous PGE2. Under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, both licofelone (COX/LOX inhibitor) at therapeutic concentrations and NDGA (LOX inhibitor) inhibited LTB4 production, whereas naproxen did not amplify the LPS-induced LTB4 production. Conversely, using NDGA, it was found that a shunt of AA from the LOX to the COX pathway did not occur. Under LPS conditions, both naproxen and licofelone inhibited LXA4, inducing an increase in the LTB4/LXA4 ratio with naproxen treatment but not with licofelone. Under these conditions, naproxen treatment induced a higher level of IL-1beta production. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated in OA synovium that a shunt from AA to the LOX pathway occurred and that treatment with a nonselective COX inhibitor could increase the production of LTB4 and secondarily the synthesis of IL-1beta. Therefore treatment with licofelone, which can act on both COX and LOX pathways, may have some interesting properties in the treatment of OA.

Acetates↗
PubMed2004

Mass spectrometric pathway monitoring of secondary metabolites: systematic analysis of culture extracts of Streptomyces species.

Streptomyces spheroides, Streptomyces rishiriensis, and Streptomyces roseochromogenes are producers of the aminocoumarin-type antibiotics novobiocin, coumermycin A(1), and clorobiocin, respectively, all of which are bacterial gyrase inhibitors. In an attempt to develop a general analytical method for pathway monitoring of secondary metabolites from culture extracts of these strains, we used superior mass spectrometric methods. The aim was to develop and apply a technique for the rapid analysis of Streptomyces culture extracts with respect to those substances, thereby providing a method for screening extracts of genetically modified strains for new pharmaceutically active antibiotics with improved pharmacological effects. The combination of full scan mass spectrometry (MS), parent ion scan MS, product ion scan MS, and in-source collision-induced fragmentation prior to product ion scans (pseudo-MS(3) scan), using characteristic fragmentation of the central aminocoumarin unit, was employed for the detection and structural interpretation of expected and new intermediates. We were able to show the applicability of this methodology to the three culture extracts, where the main intermediates could be found, and to demonstrate its use for interpretation of secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Some new compounds were discovered, including bis-carbamoylated novobiocin, hydroxylated clorobiocin, and several structurally and not yet fully elucidated coumermycin derivatives or precursors.

Aminocoumarins↗