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[Scintigraphic detection of osteoblast activity after implantation of BAS-0 bioactive glass-ceramic material into long bone defects].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to demonstrate, by three-phase bone scintigraphy, radionuclide uptake at the site of defects in long bones filled with the non-resorbable bioactive glass-ceramic material BAS-0 at a long follow-up. MATERIAL: Twenty patients, 14 men and 6 women, operated on between 1990 and 2000 for benign bone tumors or tumor-like lesions localized in the femur, tibia or humerus were comprised in the study. Their average age at the time of operation was 14 years (range, 8 to 24). The diagnoses based on histological examination included juvenile bone cysts in 11, aneurysmal bone cyst in five, non-ossifying fibroma in two, and fibrous dysplasia in two patients. The lesions were localized in the femur, humerus and tibia in 11, five and four patients, respectively. The metaphysis was affected in eight and the diaphysis in 12 patients. METHODS: Clinical, radiological and scintigraphic examinations were carried out at 2 to 12 years (7 years on average) after surgery. The clinical evaluation included subjective complaints and objective findings. Radiographs were made in standard projections and the osteo-integration of glass-ceramic material was investigated. Three-phase bone scans were made and the healthy and the affected limbs in each patient were compared by means of an index. Radionuclide uptake was considered normal when the index value was equal to 1.0, mildly increased at an index value of 1.2, moderately increased at 1.2-1.5 and markedly increased at an index value higher than 1.5. RESULTS: The clinical evaluation showed that, in the patients with glass-ceramic filling of metaphyses, six had no subjective complaints and two reported transient pain. In the patients with implants in diaphyses, subjective complaints were recorded in nine and no complaints in three patients. No inflammatory changes in soft tissues were found. No restriction in weightbearing of the limb treated was reported by any of the patients. On radiography, 18 patients were free from any disease residue or recurrence. Two patients had a residual defect. The bioactive glass-ceramic material BAS-0 was completely incorporated in all patients. On three-phase bone scans, radionuclide distribution on the flow phase and soft tissue phase was symmetrical in both limbs of all patients. For the metaphyseal location of implants, the delayed images demonstrated physiological radionuclide distribution in one patient, mildly increased distribution (index up to 1.2) in four, increased uptake (index up to 1.5) in two patients, and highly increased uptake (index above 1.5) in one patient. For the diaphyseal location of implants, the delayed scans demonstrated slightly increased radionuclide distribution in two, markedly increased in two and highly increased uptake in eight patients. DISCUSSION: The tissue during incorporation of a non-resorbable synthetic material is influenced by stress-shielding. This changes local mechanical signals, which has a negative effect on the adjacent bone tissue. Stress accumulating at the interface of a rigid implant and bone tissue may result in pain, and is detected by scintigraphy as an increased nucleotide uptake, particularly in diaphyseal grafts. CONCLUSIONS: This paper presents problems associated with implantation of the non-resorbable bioactive glass-ceramic material BAS-0 in the treatment of diaphyseal defects of long bones. The results show that, for filling of the defects described herein, non-resorbable glass-ceramic materials are not suitable.

Adolescent↗

[Research development of chemistry and bioactive activity of plant peptides].

As the technologies of separation, purification and determination develop rapidly, more and more peptide compounds, which have special bioactive and medical value, have been separated from natural plants, such as oligopeptides and cyclopeptides. The chemical structures and function of these plant peptides have been researched profoundly. This paper mainly reviews the composition, structure, bioactive function and medicine value of representative plant peptides in recent years, and can give some references about research and application of plant bioactive peptides.

Animals↗

Glutathione-dependent bioactivation of xenobiotics: implications for mutagenicity and carcinogenicity.

Glutathione conjugate formation is now recognized as an important bioactivation mechanism for several classes of mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds. For example, dihalomethanes, 1,2-dihaloethanes, and 1,2,3-trihalopropanes are metabolized to glutathione conjugates that are direct-acting, i.e., that require no further enzymatic processing, and that are cytotoxic or mutagenic, or both. Nephrotoxic and nephrocarcinogenic haloalkenes are metabolized by a multistep pathway that involves hepatic glutathione S-conjugate formation, conversion of the glutathione S-conjugates to cysteine S-conjugates, translocation of the cysteine S-conjugates to the kidney, and bioactivation by renal cysteine conjugate beta-lyase. Fluoroalkene-derived conjugates are cytotoxic, whereas chloroalkene-derived conjugates are both cytotoxic and mutagenic. Beta-Lyase-dependent bioactivation may account for the observed nephrocarcinogenicity of hexachlorobutadiene, tetrachloroethylene, and trichloroethylene. Finally, glutathione conjugate formation has been implicated in the mutagenicity of Trp-P-2 and N-OH-Trp-P-2 and in the DNA damage produced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-5-nitroimidazole. Glutathione may also play a role in the toxicity or action of several cancer chemotherapeutic agents, including N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), N-methylformamide, cyclophosphamide, neocarzinostatin, and bleomycin.

Animals↗

Biphasic modulation of acetaminophen bioactivation and hepatotoxicity by pretreatment with the interferon inducer polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid.

Interferons and interferon induction can inhibit cytochromes P-450 and reduce the bioactivation and hepatotoxicity of acetaminophen. However, since P-450 inhibition often is followed by P-450 induction, which would enhance acetaminophen hepatotoxicity, the possibility of a biphasic modulation of acetaminophen hepatotoxicity by interferons was investigated. Outbred male CD-1 mice of various ages, and young inbred male C57BL/6 mice were given the interferon inducer, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly I-C), 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally, followed 1 to 48 days later by a single dose of acetaminophen, 300 to 450 mg/kg intraperitoneally. Hepatotoxicity was assessed by the peak plasma concentration of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) occurring between 0 and 48 hr after acetaminophen treatment. Poly I-C inhibited the hepatotoxicity of acetaminophen given within 8 days, with maximal inhibition between 1 and 4 days. Conversely, a maximal 7-fold enhancement of ALT concentration was observed in CD-1 mice when 300 mg/kg of acetaminophen was given 32 days after Poly I-C (P less than 0.05). In the C57BL/6 strain, Poly I-C inhibited the hepatotoxicity of acetaminophen when given within 16 days, whereas a maximal 20-fold enhancement of ALT concentration was observed when 300 mg/kg of acetaminophen was given 24 days after Poly I-C (P less than 0.05). The mechanism of toxicologic enhancement was examined in male C57BL/6 mice using the same treatment regimen. Biochemical assessment of hepatotoxicity was confirmed by detailed histologic evaluation. Plasma concentrations of acetaminophen and metabolites were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Acetaminophen bioactivation was quantified by production of the glutathione-derived cysteine and mercapturic acid conjugates of acetaminophen. Poly I-C pretreatment produced a 5-fold increase in acetaminophen-induced ALT release (P less than 0.05), which correlated with histologic evidence of centrilobular necrosis. Poly I-C pretreatment produced respective 3-fold and 1.3-fold increases in the production of cysteine and mercapturic acid conjugates (P less than 0.05), which correlated with peak ALT concentrations (cysteine, r = 0.92, P less than 0.001; mercapturic acid, r = 0.75, P = 0.006). Thus, the hepatotoxicity of acetaminophen can be inhibited when given within days after interferon induction, and conversely enhanced when given after several weeks. The toxicologic enhancement appears to be due to increased P-450-catalyzed bioactivation of acetaminophen.

Acetaminophen↗

Human liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 enzymes involved in the bioactivation of procarcinogens detected by umu gene response in Salmonella typhimurium TA 1535/pSK1002.

A total of 57 procarcinogens was examined for induction of umu gene response in the chimeric plasmid pSK1002, carried in Salmonella typhimurium TA 1535, after incubation with a series of human liver microsomal preparations which had been selected on the basis of characteristic levels of individual cytochrome P-450 (P-450) enzymes. The 18 most active compounds were selected and further analyzed using the umu gene response and correlative studies with a larger number of microsomal preparations, enzyme reconstitution studies involving purified enzymes, immunochemical inhibition, and patterns of stimulation and inhibition of catalytic activity by 7,8-benzoflavone. The results collectively indicate that 16 of these 18 most potent genotoxins examined are activated primarily either by P-450NF (the nifedipine oxidase) or P-450PA (the phenacetin O-deethylase). P-450NF appears to be the major enzyme involved in the bioactivation of aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin G1, sterigmatocystin, trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo(a)pyrene, 6-aminochrysene, and tris-(2,3-dibromopropyl)phosphate in human liver. P-450PA appears to be the major enzyme involved in the bioactivation of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, 2-amino-3,5-dimethylimidazo[4, 5-f]quinoline, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline, 2-aminoanthracene, 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole, 2-aminofluorene, 2-acetylaminofluorene, 4-aminobiphenyl, 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b] indole, and 2-aminodipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole. More than one enzyme appears to contribute significantly to the bioactivation of the other two compounds examined, 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b] indole and 6-nitrochrysene. The literature suggests that the two human liver P-450s involved in activation of these 16 procarcinogens are highly inducible by barbiturates, macrolide antibodies, and certain steroids (P-450NF) and by smoking and ingestion of charcoal-containing food (P-450PA); noninvasive assays are available to monitor the function of both P-450NF and P-450PA.

Animals↗

Stimulation by localized tumor hyperthermia of reductive bioactivation of 2-nitroimidazole benznidazole in mice.

We have investigated the effects of localized tumor hyperthermia (LTH; 43.5 degrees C x 30 min) on the reductive bioactivation of the 2-nitroimidazole benznidazole in C3H mouse normal tissues and KHT tumors. Mice were allocated to one of three treatment groups: (a) unrestrained controls, (b) sham tumor treatment, and (c) LTH. Concentrations of benznidazole and its amine metabolite were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Conscious mice were given LTH or sham treatment 2.5 h after 2.5 mmol/kg benznidazole i.p. This gave steady-state plasma benznidazole concentrations of 120-170 micrograms/ml at 2-5 h in all three groups. Plasma amine concentrations were very low at 0.1-1 micrograms/ml in all cases. Liver benznidazole concentrations were similar to plasma but amine concentrations were 30-40-fold greater at 20-40 micrograms/g in all three groups, implicating the liver as a major site of reductive metabolism. Benznidazole concentrations in tumors from unrestrained mice were comparable to those in plasma and liver, with tumor/plasma ratios of 85-113%. Tumor amine concentrations were intermediate at about 2-3 micrograms/g, indicating reductive bioactivation had occurred. Sham treatment decreased tumor benznidazole concentrations by 25-50%, particularly at later times, and amine concentrations were correspondingly increased. This may be a result of sham tumor treatment at 37 degrees C, a temperature 3-4 degrees C higher than in unrestrained controls. More importantly, LTH further decreased tumor benznidazole concentrations over sham treatment, e.g., by 59% from 114 to 47 micrograms/g (P less than 0.01) immediately after heating. Amine concentrations were correspondingly elevated, e.g., by 40% from 5.1 to 8.4 micrograms/g (P less than 0.01). These results clearly show that LTH can selectively enhance the reductive bioactivation of benznidazole in KHT tumors in mice, and support a particular role for the use of bioreductive agents with heat.

Amines↗

Bioactivation of quinones by DT-diaphorase, molecular, biochemical, and chemical studies.

Because of the elevated DT-diaphorase (DTD) activity in certain tumors such as human nonsmall cell lung cancer (NCSLC), DTD is a potential target on which to base the development of new antitumor compounds. Mitomycin C is the most effective single agent used for the therapy of NSCLC and is metabolized and bioactivated by DTD. Mitomycin C is a poor substrate for DTD, however, and its metabolism is pH-dependent. We have therefore focused on identifying more efficient substrates for DTD. We have developed a metabolic and cytotoxicity screen that identifies compounds which are efficiently bioactivated by DTD. This screen utilizes both aerobic and hypoxic conditions and cell lines with both elevated and deficient DTD activity as an index of selectivity. Using the screen described above, we have identified [3-hydroxy-5-aziridinyl-1-methyl-2-(1H-indole-4,7-indione)-prop-be ta-en- alpha-ol] (E09), 2,5-diaziridinyl-1,4-benzoquinone (MeDZQ), and streptonigrin as compounds that are most efficiently bioactivated by DTD and exert selective cytotoxicity. Although certain tumors such as NSCLC have elevated DTD activity, we have characterized a point mutation at position 609 in the DTD cDNA, which codes for a proline to serine change in the protein and leads to a loss of enzyme activity. We have characterized this mutation in both BE human colon carcinoma cells and H596 human NSCLC cells. This mutation and resulting lack of DTD activity complicates the use of agents designed to target DTD in tumors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Pulmonary CYP2E1 bioactivates 1,1-dichloroethylene in male and female mice.

Pulmonary cytotoxicity induced by 1,1-dichloroethylene (DCE) has been linked to the generation of reactive intermediates through a cytochrome P450-dependent pathway. In the present studies, our objectives were to investigate and compare cytochrome P450 isozyme-selective bioactivation of DCE in vitro in the lungs of male and female mice. Our results showed that CYP2E1-dependent p-nitrophenol hydroxylation was significantly higher in microsomes from female (0.45 +/- 0.01 nmol/mg protein/min) than from male (0.38 +/- 0.02 nmol/mg protein/min) mice. Lung microsomes from male mice incubated in the presence of an NADPH-generating system and increasing amounts of DCE (5-20 mM) exhibited corresponding decreases in p-nitrophenol hydroxylase activity (19%-50%); however, greater decreases (26%-70%) were observed in lung microsomes from female mice incubated under the same conditions. In contrast, alterations in CYP2B1-dependent 7-pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylation and CYP1A1-dependent 7-ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylation were not detected in any microsomal preparation incubated with DCE. Reaction with an anti-CYP2E1 antibody abolished the inhibition of p-nitrophenol hydroxylation by DCE. Protein immunoblotting revealed significant decreases in the intensity of the bands of microsomal samples incubated previously with DCE; in contrast, alterations in heme content were not evoked by reaction with DCE. Our results have demonstrated that CYP2E1, and not CYP2B1 or CYP1A1, mediated the bioactivation of DCE. Furthermore, this bioactivation occurred to a greater extent in lung microsomes from female than from male mice, which suggests that females may be at slightly greater risk for DCE-induced pneumotoxicity.

Animals↗

Contribution of oxidation and deacetylation to the bioactivation of acetaminophen in vitro in liver and kidney from male and female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Young adult female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats are more susceptible to acetaminophen (APAP)-induced nephrotoxicity than are age-matched male SD rats. Mechanisms contributing to sex-dependent APAP nephrotoxicity may involve differences in APAP bioactivation via cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism to N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine and/or deacetylation to para-amino-phenol. APAP bioactivation by oxidation and deacetylation was assessed by examining the effects of 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT), a suicide substrate inhibitor of cytochrome P450, and bis-(para-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP), a reversible carboxyesterase inhibitor, on covalent binding of APAP-derived radiolabel. Hepatic and renal S9 fractions prepared from naive male and female rats were incubated with [14C-ring]-APAP in the presence and absence of NADPH. There were no sex-related differences in covalent binding of APAP-derived radiolabel in hepatic or renal S9 fractions from male and female rats. In both sexes, incubation of hepatic or renal S9 fractions with 10 mM ABT significantly reduced covalent binding of APAP-derived radiolabel as compared with covalent binding in the absence of ABT. In contrast, incubation of renal and hepatic S9 fractions with 10 mM BNPP did not alter covalent binding of radiolabel derived from APAP in either males or females. Thus, at least in vitro, differences in bioactivation of APAP in liver and kidney from male and female SD rats do not seem to contribute to sex-dependent APAP toxicity. Carboxyesterases inhibited by BNPP do not seem to contribute to covalent binding of APAP-derived radiolabel in vitro in either liver or kidney.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetaminophen↗

Characterization of diethyldithiocarbamate methyl ester sulfine as an intermediate in the bioactivation of disulfiram.

Disulfiram is bioactivated through a series of intermediates, ultimately forming S-methyl-N,N-diethylthiolcarbamate sulfoxide (DETC-Me sulfoxide), the metabolite proposed to be responsible for the in vivo inhibition of rat liver mitochondrial low Km aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2). Diethyldithiocarbamate methyl ester sulfine (DDTC-Me sulfine) also has been recently identified as a possible metabolite of disulfiram (Madan and Faiman, 1994). In the present studies, DDTC-Me sulfine was characterized and was found to inhibit ALDH2 in vivo (ID50 = 57 mumol/kg) but not in vitro. Maximum inhibition of ALDH2 in rats was observed 1 hr after the i.p. administration of DDTC-Me sulfine. Pretreatment of rats with 1-benzylimidazole, a cytochrome P450 inhibitor, blocked the DDTC-Me sulfine-mediated inhibition of ALDH2. This suggested that DDTC-Me sulfine was further bioactivated by a cytochrome P450-dependent mechanism. DDTC-Me sulfine could not be detected in rat plasma after the i.p. administration of disulfiram (75 mg/kg), DDTC-Me (122 mg/kg) or DDTC-Me sulfine (22.6 mg/kg). However, S-methyl N,N-diethylthiolcarbamate (DETC-Me), the desulfurated form of DDTC-Me, was detected as a major metabolite of DDTC-Me sulfine in rat plasma after DDTC-Me sulfine administration. Also, a disulfiram-like-ethanol reaction was observed in rats treated with DDTC-Me sulfine and challenged with ethanol. These data provided additional support for the idea that DDTC-Me sulfine is an intermediate formed after DDTC-Me metabolism and is probably a precursor to DETC-Me in the overall bioactivation of disulfiram to DETC-Me sulfoxide.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗

Metabolism and bioactivation of clozapine by human liver in vitro.

The metabolism of clozapine by human liver has been investigated in vitro. Irreversible protein-binding and conjunction with model nucleophiles have been used as markers for bioactivation of clozapine, while stable metabolite formation has been assessed using radiometric HPLC. In all nine liver microsomal preparations investigated, clozapine was extensively metabolized to the stable products desmethylclozapine (range 19%-27.2%), N-oxide (1.5-20.5%) and three polar metabolites (0-20.8%), and was bioactivated to a protein-reactive metabolite (0.6-2.1%). The CYP2D6 genotype did not influence the capacity of the livers to form these metabolites. All metabolic pathways were inhibited by ketoconazole, indicating the involvement of the cytochrome P450 enzymes. Isozyme-selective inhibitor studies demonstrated that whereas demethylation was performed by CYP1A2, N-oxidation and chemically reactive metabolite formation were dependent upon multiple forms of P450. The N-oxide was readily reduced back to clozapine in the presence of NADPH, this conversion being inhibited by ascorbic acid. Glutathione (1 mM) decreased covalent binding by 70%. The amount of putative adduct formed in the presence of glutathione (13.4 +/- 0.9%) was much greater than the covalent binding (mean 1.1 +/- 0.2%). The bioactivation of clozapine was, like the N-oxidation of clozapine, a reversible process. In summary, our results indicate clozapine undergoes extensive metabolism by human liver to both stable and chemically reactive metabolites, the formation of which is catalyzed by the cytochrome P450 enzymes. The role of the reactive metabolite, which may be a free radical, in the pathogenesis of clozapine agranulocytosis and hepatotoxicity requires further study.

Adult↗

The effects of native LDL and oxidized LDL on EDRF bioactivity and nitric oxide production in vascular endothelium.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxyLDL) have previously been shown to inhibit vasorelaxation caused by endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). The purpose of the present study was to directly determine the effects of LDL and OxyLDL on EDRF bioactivity and nitric oxide (NO) production in vascular endothelium to further understand the mechanism whereby lipoprotein alters vascular reactivity. Cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells were incubated with either LDL or OxyLDL for 1 hour. After washing the cells free of lipoprotein, agonist-stimulated (bradykinin; BK) EDRF bioactivity and NO content of the effluent were quantitated. These results were compared with control cells not exposed to lipoprotein. In a second series of experiments, the effects of LDL and OxyLDL on EDRF-mediated increases in cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in a reporter fibroblast cell line were determined. Last, the direct effects of LDL on NO-induced vasodilation of isolated coronary artery rings were determined by using standard in vitro isometric recording methods. LDL and OxyLDL significantly decreased EDRF bioactivity but not NO production by endothelial cells. When expressed as percent relaxation of the biodetector per mole of NO produced, both LDL and OxyLDL resulted in the release of a significantly less-potent vasodilator than that derived from control cells. In the reporter fibroblast experiments, there was no significant difference in the amount of cGMP generated by fibroblasts in response to medium from control and lipoprotein-treated cells. In isolated ring experiments, LDL did not directly alter NO vasorelaxation. We conclude that both LDL and OxyLDL inhibit EDRF-induced vasorelaxation by complex mechanisms other than the direct inhibition of NO synthesis by endothelial cells or extracellular inactivation of EDRF. LDL and OxyLDL may result in the release of a less potent NO-containing relaxing factor by altering the metabolism of an endogenous nitrosovasodilator.

Animals↗

Nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity of 5,6-dichloro-4-thia-5-hexenoic acid: evidence for fatty acid beta-oxidation-dependent bioactivation.

5,6-Dichloro-4-thia-5-hexenoic acid (DCTH) is toxic to rat liver and kidney mitochondria and is cytotoxic to isolated rat hepatocytes. The object of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that DCTH is bioactivated in vivo by the enzymes of mitochondrial fatty acid beta oxidation and that the observed mitochondrial dysfunction is a consequence of this bioactivation. DCTH was a potent nephrotoxin and hepatotoxin in Long-Evans rats, whereas the odd-chain-length analog 6,7-dichloro-5-thia-6-heptenoic acid was not toxic. DCTH produced morphological changes in renal proximal convoluted tubules and the liver. The increases in urinary protein, glucose and blood urea nitrogen concentrations were consistent with the renal lesions. Hepatic lesions were associated with an increase in plasma glutamate-pyruvate transaminase activity, a marked infiltration of lipid and depletion of glycogen concentrations. A pronounced decrease in plasma glucose concentrations was also observed. DCTH decreased fatty acid beta oxidation by 75% and 40% in liver and kidney mitochondria, respectively, isolated from DCTH-treated rats. In addition, medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase activity was reduced by 25% in rat liver mitochondria incubated with DCTH. The data presented are consistent with the hypothesis that DCTH is bioactivated by the mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation system and that mitochondria are a critical cellular target in DCTH-induced toxicity.

2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗

Effect of bovine bone morphogenetic protein and bioactive glass on demineralized bone matrix grafts in the rat muscular pouch.

New bone formation induced by allogeneic demineralized bone matrix (DBM) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) combined with bioactive glass (BG) was studied in a rat abdominal muscle pouch model. At four weeks the amount of new bone was not influenced by DBM combined with BMP and/or bioactive glass. The mean proportional areas of new bone varied among different DBM test groups from 8.6% to 13.4%. New bone was induced in inactivated DBM samples containing BG, while no bone formation was seen in DBM samples without BG. The results indicate that bioactive glass favours bone induction in inactivated allogeneic bone matrix.

Animals↗

Cytochrome P450 2B isoenzymes are responsible for the pulmonary bioactivation and toxicity of butylated hydroxytoluene, O,O,S-trimethylphosphorothioate and methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl.

O,O,S-Trimethylphosphorothioate and methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl damage the type I pneumocytes of the alveolar epithelium in rats. Butylated hydroxytoluene causes similar damage in mice. The toxicity of these compounds is dependent on their bioactivation by the cytochrome P-450 (CYP) system. A range of compounds, that modifies the activity of specific CYP isoenzymes, has been used to establish those particular isoenzymes involved in bioactivation. Pulmonary toxicity was assessed by measurement of lung weight and changes in the activity of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and alkaline phosphatase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. O,O,S-Trimethylphosphorodithioate, bromophos, p-xylene and 2,4-dichloro-(6-phenyl-phenoxy)ethylamine all inhibited the dealkylation of pentoxyresorufin, an indicator of CYP2B1 activity, and also prevented pulmonary toxicity. There was a significant negative correlation between the level of pulmonary pentoxyresorufin dealkylation after pretreatment with O,O,S-trimethylphosphorodithioate and the severity of lung injury. This pretreatment also reduced the toxicity of butylated hydroxytoluene by a factor of 20 and methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl by a factor of 10. Modification of the activity of CYP1A1, CYP2E1 and CYP4B1 did not alter the toxicity of these compounds. These results indicate that pulmonary CYP2B1 is responsible for the bioactivation and toxicity of O,O,S-trimethylphosphorothioate and methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl in rats and the orthologous 2B isoenzyme in mice activates butylated hydroxytoluene.

Animals↗

Sperm immobilizing activity of a synthetic bioactive peptide 20-44 of 37-kDa cationic antimicrobial protein (CAP37) of human neutrophils.

We have previously reported that human sperm coincubated with human peripheral blood neutrophils in the presence of complement (C)-fixing antisperm antibody (ASA)-positive sera are rapidly internalized and degraded within the neutrophil phagolysosome. However, the mechanism by which motile sperm are processed within the phagolysosome is unknown. Various spermicidal/antimicrobial proteins contained in azurophilic granules that can be secreted into the phagolysosome may play a role in sperm disposal. In this study, we examined the expression of a 37-kDa cationic antimicrobial protein (CAP37) during sperm phagocytosis and the effect of its synthetic bioactive fragment, Peptide 20-44 (P20-44), on sperm motility, acrosomal integrity, and mitochondrial functionality. CAP37 expression by neutrophils undergoing ASA- and C-dependent sperm phagocytosis was increased as measured by flow cytometry. Exposure of motile sperm to a cationic P20-44, the bioactive antimicrobial fragment of CAP37, resulted in the loss of sperm motility without disruption of the acrosomal membrane. The sperm immobilizing activity (SIA) of P20-44 was modulated by the length of incubation, the concentration of the peptide, and the pH of the assay medium. SIA induced by P20-44 was partially reversible and was unaffected by the presence of anionic heparin or seminal plasma. Similar to the antimicrobial activity of P20-44, the SIA was also dependent on the presence of a disulfide bond between cysteine residues at positions 26 and 42 and was inhibited by Lipid A. However, the mechanism of action of P20-44 on sperm is not totally dependent on the molecule's cationicity, because five other cationic antimicrobial peptides had no detectable effect on sperm viability. Thus, the mechanism of action of P20-44 on human sperm is different from its cationic antibactericidal effect. These findings established that motile human sperm are sensitive to CAP37 or its synthetic bioactive peptide and suggested that this protein could play a role in neutrophil-mediated immune destruction of sperm in the female genital tract. P20-44 of CAP37 may be useful in investigating the regulation of human sperm motility and to construct "hybrid peptides" with enhanced potency as a component of vaginal contraceptive that could doubly be effective by killing infectious agents and inhibiting sperm transport.

Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides↗

Engineering human interleukin-6 to obtain variants with strongly enhanced bioactivity.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) triggers the formation of a high affinity receptor complex with the ligand binding subunit IL-6Ralpha and the signal transducing chain gp130. Since the intracytoplasmic region of the IL-6Ralpha does not contribute to signaling, soluble forms of the extracytoplasmic domain (sIL-6Ralpha), potentiate IL-6 bioactivity and induce a cytokine-responsive status in cells expressing gp130 only. This observation, together with the detection of high levels of circulating soluble human IL-6Ralpha (shIL-6Ralpha) in sera, suggests that the hIL-6-shIL-6Ralpha complex is an alternative form of the cytokine. Here we describe the generation of human IL-6 (hIL-6) variants with strongly enhanced shIL-6Ralpha binding activity and bioactivity. Homology modeling and site-directed mutagenesis of hIL-6 suggested that the binding interface for hIL-6Ralpha is constituted by the C-terminal portion of the D-helix and residues contained in the AB loop. Four libraries of hIL-6 mutants were generated by each time fully randomizing four different amino acids in the predicted AB loop. These libraries were displayed monovalently on filamentous phage surface and sorted separately for binding to immobilized shIL-6Ralpha. Mutants were selected which, when expressed as soluble proteins, showed a 10- to 40-fold improvement in shIL-6Ralpha binding; a further increase (up to 70-fold) was achieved by combining variants isolated from different libraries. Interestingly, high affinity hIL-6 variants show strongly enhanced bioactivity on cells expressing gp13O in the presence of shIL-6Ralpha at concentrations similar to those normally found in human sera.

Antigens, CD↗

[Cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cell produced and secreted epidermal growth factor: its bioactivity and clinical significance].

The epidermal growth factor bioactivity from cultured primary human and monkey retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell systems was detected by using the radioreceptor assay. We report that the cultured human and monkey RPE cells produce and secrete the EGF bioactively to the media as demonstrated by radioreceptor binding assay. The EGF bioactivities secreted by human and monkey RPE cells were at peak of 48 hours (human RPE cells secreted 2.11 +/- 0.46 ng/ml vs monkey RPE was 1.56 +/- 0.12 ng/ml) in the serum-free media. The results indicate that the RPE is one of important sources for EGF in the eye. The RPE cells may play much important roles in the development of proliferative retinal diseases through the autocrine or paracrine mechanism. This new discovery will be helpful to elucidate the pathogenesis of proliferative retinal diseases and also provide an important basis for the treatment of such diseases.

Animals↗