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Antiviral activity and ocular kinetics of antisense oligonucleotides designed to inhibit CMV replication.

PURPOSE: To compare the antiviral activity and ocular distribution of first- and second-generation antisense oligonucleotides intended for the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. METHODS: The antiviral activity of ISIS 13312 and ISIS 2922 (Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA) against 10 clinical CMV isolates was compared with a plaque-reduction assay. The ocular pharmacokinetics were compared after intravitreal injection in rabbits (36-90 microg) and monkeys (125-500 microg). Vitreous and/or retina were collected after single and multiple injections to characterize ocular distribution, clearance, and accumulation. Oligonucleotide concentrations were measured by capillary gel electrophoresis and immunohistochemical techniques. RESULTS: ISIS 13312 and ISIS 2922 demonstrated comparable antiviral activity that was consistent among the 10 clinical isolates examined (50% inhibitory concentration [IC(50)], <1 microM). Activity was independent of the resistance of CMV isolates to DNA polymerase inhibitors. After intravitreal injection, the kinetics of ISIS 2922 and ISIS 13312 were characterized by clearance from vitreous and distribution to the retina; however, ISIS 2922 was cleared more quickly from the retina than ISIS 13312. The half-life of ISIS 13312 in the monkey retina was approximately 2 months. Retinal concentrations of ISIS 13312 were dose dependent, with approximately a twofold increase in concentration after once-monthly doses compared with single-dose concentrations. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that both oligonucleotides were efficiently distributed to numerous ocular tissues, including retina, ciliary body, and optic nerve. CONCLUSIONS: ISIS 13312 possesses antiviral activity and pharmacokinetic properties that favor its use as a therapeutic agent in treatment of CMV retinitis. The half-life of ISIS 13312 in retina is longer than that of ISIS 2922, potentially allowing for less frequent administration.

Animals↗

Antiproliferative and leishmanicidal effect of ajoene on various Leishmania species: ultrastructural study.

Ajoene [(E,Z)-4,5,9 trithiadodeca 1,6,11 triene 9-oxide], the major bioactive compound derived from garlic, shows a potent trypanolytic and antimicotic activity. In this paper we evaluate its effect on Leishmania mexicana(Lm:MHOM/VE/80/NR), L eishmania mexicana venezuelensis (Lmv: MHOM/VE/80/H16), L eishmania mexicana amazonensis (Lma: M112, IFLA/BR/67/PH8) and L eishmania donovani chagasi (Ldch: MHOM/BR/74/PP75). Ajoene showed a potent leishmanicidal activity in vitro against all species studied. Concentrations higher than 0.3 microM led to total inhibition of growth, and 10 microM induced 100% lysis of Leishmaniaafter 96 h of incubation in a chemically defined culture medium. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) for lysis, for all species, was about to 2 microM. The effect was dose-dependent and a threefold increase in concentration (30 microM) produced 100% lysis of cultured forms after 72 h. Ultrastructural studies showed a time- and dose-dependent morphological alteration of the mitochondrial membrane and nuclear envelope, as well as the formation of large autophagic vacuoles.

Animals↗

Penetration of foscarnet into cerebrospinal fluid of AIDS patients.

The diffusion of foscarnet into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was studied in 27 patients with AIDS. Foscarnet was administered intravenously at various dosages at 12-h intervals. Concentrations in plasma and CSF at the end of foscarnet infusion or 1, 3, 5, 6, and 12 h after infusion were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Thirty-seven samples were obtained. The median concentration of foscarnet in CSF was 80 mumol/liter (range, 0 to 500 mumol/liter). The CSF foscarnet concentration was greater than the 50% inhibitory concentration for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and was equal to or greater than the 50% inhibitory concentration for cytomegalovirus in most cases. The penetration of foscarnet into CSF, as expressed by the ratio of the concentration in CSF to the simultaneous concentration in plasma, ranged from 0 to 3.4 (median, 0.27) and was highly correlated with the presence of cells within CSF and the length of foscarnet therapy. Good diffusion of foscarnet in CSF allows evaluation of this drug in central nervous system cytomegalovirus and human immunodeficiency virus infections in patients with AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Reversal of Vinca alkaloid resistance but not multiple drug resistance in human leukemic cells by verapamil.

We examined the ability of verapamil, a Ca2+ channel blocker, to overcome Vinca alkaloid and multiple drug resistance in our CEM/VLB100 and CEM/DOX human leukemic lymphoblasts. Compared with the parent CCRF-CEM cells, CEM/VLB100 cells are approximately equal to 200- to 800-fold resistant to vinblastine and express cross-resistance to vincristine, doxorubicin, and other "natural product" drugs, as determined by comparing 50% inhibitory concentrations in a 48-h growth inhibition assay. Verapamil (10 microM) decreased the 50% inhibitory concentrations for Vinca alkaloids in CEM/VLB100 cells by approximately equal to 75- to 85-fold but caused only slight (approximately equal to 2- to 5-fold) decreases in 50% inhibitory concentrations for anthracyclines, epipodophyllotoxins, and other tubulin-binding drugs (colchicine and podophyllotoxin). Qualitatively similar results were obtained with doxorubicin-resistant cells, termed CEM/DOX; verapamil caused a 19-fold increase in doxorubicin toxicity but 67- and 3500-fold increases in the toxicities of vinblastine and vincristine, respectively. These results indicate that the effect of verapamil is relatively greater for Vinca alkaloids, with less pronounced effects for the other natural product drugs against which these cells express multiple drug resistance. In flow cytometric studies, individually nontoxic or minimally toxic concentrations of vinblastine plus verapamil caused measurable accumulation in the G2 + M phase as early as 4 h after the drug combination was added to cultures of CEM/VLB100 cells; this finding correlated with a comparable increase in the number of cells in mitosis and measurable decreases in the total number of cells. Since similar effects on cell cycle distribution, percentage of cells in mitosis, and cell number were seen when CEM/VLB100 cells were treated with toxic concentrations of vinblastine alone, we conclude that the primary toxicity of the vinblastine-verapamil combination stems from the alkaloid. Further, the rapid lytic effect of the drug combination was associated with cellular vacuolization. The vacuoles did not stain for lipids, and increases in their number were evident within 2 to 4 h after drug treatment. We suggest that verapamil enhances Vinca alkaloid cytotoxicity by altering "cryptic" cytotoxic targets, possibly related to these vacuoles, through some as yet undefined membrane effect.

Cell Cycle↗

Effects of chlorella on activities of protein tyrosine phosphatases, matrix metalloproteinases, caspases, cytokine release, B and T cell proliferations, and phorbol ester receptor binding.

A Chlorella powder was screened using 52 in vitro assay systems for enzyme activity, receptor binding, cellular cytokine release, and B and T cell proliferation. The screening revealed a very potent inhibition of human protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activity of CD45 and PTP1C with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values of 0.678 and 1.56 microg/mL, respectively. It also showed a moderate inhibition of other PTPs, including PTP1B (IC(50) = 65.3 microg/mL) and T-cell-PTP (114 microg/mL). Other inhibitory activities and their IC(50) values included inhibition of the human matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP-1 (127 microg/mL), MMP-3 (185 microg/mL), MMP-7 (18.1 microg/mL), and MMP-9 (237 microg/mL) and the human peptidase caspases caspase 1 (300 microg/mL), caspase 3 (203 microg/mL), caspase 6 (301 microg/mL), caspase 7 (291 microg/mL), and caspase 8 (261 microg/mL), as well as release of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-1 (44.9 microg/mL), IL-2 (14.8 microg/mL), IL-4 (49.2 microg/mL), IL-6 (34.7 microg/mL), interferon-gamma (31.6 microg/mL), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (11 microg/mL) from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Chlorella also inhibited B cell proliferation (16.6 microg/mL) in mouse splenocytes and T cell proliferation (54.2 microg/mL) in mouse thymocytes. The binding of a phorbol ester, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, to its receptors was also inhibited by Chlorella with an IC(50) of 152 microg/mL. These results reveal potential pharmacological activities that, if confirmed by in vivo studies, might be exploited for the prevention or treatment of several serious pathologies, including inflammatory disease and cancer.

Animals↗

Inhibition of human cytomegalovirus replication in a human retinal epithelial cell model by antisense oligonucleotides.

PURPOSE: The antiviral activity of first and second generation antisense oligonucleotides on human cytomegalovirus (CMV) replication was evaluated in two cell systems, the traditional system on human fibroblasts and on human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) cell culture system. METHODS: To evaluate CMV replication strategies within the retina, an HRPE cell system permissive to CMV replication was developed. In this study, the antiviral activity of the antisense oligonucleotides, ISIS 2922 (Vitraven) and ISIS 13312, was evaluated in the traditional fibroblast antiviral assay and in the HRPE cell system. Antiviral activity was measured by evaluating inhibition of virus induced cytopathic effect, virus plaque formation, and virus gene expression. RESULTS: Both oligonucleotides produced concentration-dependent inhibition of CMV cytopathic effect and CMV plaque formation in both human RPE cells and a human fibroblast cell line, MRC-5. The oligonucleotide, ISIS 2922, demonstrated a mean 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of 0.04 and 0.24 microM in HRPE and MRC-5 cells, respectively. The second-generation oligonucleotide, ISIS 13312, yielded similar results with IC(50) levels of 0.05 and 0.3 microM in HRPE and MRC-5 cells, respectively. Similar findings were obtained with a CMV clinical isolate. In addition, initiation of effective oligonucleotide treatment could be introduced 6 days after CMV infection in HRPE cells, whereas, in the fibroblast cell line, oligonucleotide treatment was only effective up to 3 days after infection. Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated significant inhibition of CMV intermediate early and late mRNAs by both oligonucleotides. CONCLUSIONS: These studies demonstrate that HRPE cells were significantly more sensitive than fibroblasts to the antiviral actions of ISIS 2922 and ISIS 13312. Moreover, the data indicate that the anti-CMV potency of the two oligonucleotides was similar. The enhanced potency of these oligonucleotides in HRPE cells may be associated with a delay in viral gene transcription and slow viral replication and spread in these cells.

Antiviral Agents↗

[Correlation of antitumor effect of recombinant sea snake basic phospholipase A2 to its enzymatic activity].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Snake venom phospolipase A2 (PLA(2)), a large family of homologous (14 ku) soluble proteins, exerts diverse pharmacologic activities as well as enzymatic activities. So far, the structure and function of terrestrial snake PLA(2), especially the relationship of its enzymatic and pharmacologic activities have been studied extensively, but the investigation of sea snake PLA(2) are limited. This study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of recombinant sea snake basic PLA(2) (rSSBPLA(2)) and its mutants rN48 and rK4 from sea snake Lapemis hardwickii venom, and to explore the influence of 2 residues related with the enzymatic activity on the antitumor effects. METHODS: Site-directed mutagenesis of the 2 conserved residues related with enzymatic activity (His48 mutated to Asn and Asp49 mutated to Lys) was performed. The inhibitory effects of rSSBPLA(2), rN48 and rK49 on proliferation of human myeloid leukemia cell line HL-60, human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH, human gastric cancer cell line MGC-803, and human liver cancer cell line HepG2 were assessed by MTT assay. Their antitumor effects on sarcoma cell line S180 xenograft and EAC ascites cancer model in mice were detected. RESULTS: The relative enzymatic activities of rN48 and rK49 were 0 and 5% of that of rSSBPLA(2). The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of rSSBPLA(2) for HL60, SK-N-SH, and MGC-803 cells were (45.28+/-0.09) microg/ml, (57.07+/-0.12) microg/ml, and (69.34+/-0.35) microg/ml, respectively, but it had no inhibitory effect on proliferation of HepG2 cells. rSSBPLA(2) obviously inhibited growth of S180 xenograft in miceû the inhibitory rates were 50.8%, 43.2%, 38.2%, and 55.5%, respectively, under the dose of 2 mg/kg (qd x 10), 2 mg/kg (q2d x 5), 4 mg/kg (qd x 1) and 4 mg/kg (q5d x 2). The inhibitory rate of EAC model was 33.5% under the dose of 4 mg/kg (q5d x 2). The inhibitory rates were significantly higher in test groups than in control groups (P<0.01). rN48 and rK49 had no inhibitory effect on proliferation of the 4 tumor cell lines and on growth of the xenograft tumors. CONCLUSION: The antitumor effect of rSSBPLA(2) may be closely related with its enzymatic activity.

Animals↗

[Antitumor effect and mechanism of shikonin derivative SYUNZ-7].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Natural shikonin compounds and their derivatives have cytotoxicity and antitumor effects. This study was to explore in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of SYUNZ-7 [2 or 3, 11-bis(phenylsulfanyl)-6-isohexenylnaphthazarin] and the mechanisms. METHODS: In vitro antiproliferation effects of SYUNZ-7 on human lung adenocarcinoma cell line GLC-82, human nasopharyngeal cancer cell line CNE2, human oral cavity cancer cell line KB, human gastric cancer cell line MGC-803 and human hepatocellular cancer cell line HepG2 were tested by MTT assay. In vivo antitumor effect of SYUNZ-7 was tested using ascitic cancer EAC xenograft in mice and CNE2 xenograft in nude mice models. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were assessed by flow cytometry. The in vivo effect of SYUNZ-7 on angiogenesis was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) of SYUNZ-7 to GLC-82, CNE2, KB, MGC-803, and HepG2 cells were (2.18+/-0.04) microg/ml, (4.17+/-0.09) microg/ml, (5.41+/-0.10) microg/ml, (6.41+/-0.14) microg/ml, and (9.99+/-0.21) microg/ml, respectively. Under the treatment of 1, 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg of SYUNZ-7, the inhibitory rates of EAC xenografts in mice were (40.5+/-0.14)%, (50.9+/-2.3)%, (61.7+/-1.8)%, and (65.6+/-7.4)%, respectively (P<0.01). Under the treatment of 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg of SYUNZ-7, the inhibitory rates of CNE2 xenografts in nude mice were 24.7%, 38.3%, and 41.2%, respectively (P<0.05). SYUNZ-7 induced apoptosis of CNE2 cells in time- and concentration-dependent manners, and blocked the transition of CNE2 cells from S to G(2)/M phase. SYUNZ-7 also inhibited the angiogenesis of CNE2 xenografts in nude mice in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: SYUNZ-7 has strong in vivo and in vitro antitumor effects which are related to inducing cell apoptosis, blocking cell cycle, and inhibiting angiogenesis of tumor.

Animals↗

Katanosin B and plusbacin A(3), inhibitors of peptidoglycan synthesis in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Both katanosin B and plusbacin A(3) are naturally occurring cyclic depsipeptide antibiotics containing a lactone linkage. They showed strong antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and VanA-type vancomycin-resistant enterococci, with MICs ranging from 0.39 to 3.13 microg/ml, as well as against other gram-positive bacteria. They inhibited the incorporation of N-acetylglucosamine, a precursor of cell wall synthesis, into peptidoglycan of S. aureus whole cells at concentrations close to their MICs. In vitro studies with a wall-membrane particulate fraction of S. aureus showed that katanosin B and plusbacin A(3) inhibited the formation of lipid intermediates, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)s) of 2.2 and 2.3 microg/ml, respectively, and inhibited the formation of nascent peptidoglycan, with IC(50)s of 0.8 and 0.4 microg/ml, respectively. Vancomycin, a well-known inhibitor of transglycosylation, did not inhibit the formation of lipid intermediates but did inhibit the formation of nascent peptidoglycan, with an IC(50) of 4.1 microg/ml. Acetyl-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala, an analog of the terminus of the lipid intermediates, effectively suppressed the inhibition of transglycosylation by vancomycin, but did not suppress those by katanosin B and plusbacin A(3). These results indicate that the antibacterial activity of katanosin B and plusbacin A(3) is due to blocking of transglycosylation and its foregoing steps of cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis via a mechanism differing from that of vancomycin.

Acetylglucosamine↗

Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 by purines and pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines does not correlate with antiviral activity.

We have previously shown that a series of nonnucleoside pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines selectively inhibit the replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). These compounds act at the immediate-early or early stage of HCMV replication and have antiviral properties somewhat similar to those of roscovitine and olomoucine, specific inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks). In the present study we examine the hypothesis that pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines exert their antiviral effects by inhibition of cellular cdks. Much higher concentrations of a panel of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleoside analogs with antiviral activity were required to inhibit recombinant cdk1/cyclin B compared to the submicromolar concentrations required to inhibit HCMV and HSV-1 replication. 4,6-Diamino-5-cyano-7-(2-phenylethyl)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (compound 1369) was the best inhibitor of cdk1 and cyclin B, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50); 14 microM) similar to that of roscovitine; it was competitive with respect to ATP (K(i) = 14 microM). The potency of compound 1369 against cdk1 and cyclin B was similar to its cytotoxicity (IC(50)s, 32 to 100 microM) but not its antiviral efficacy (IC(50)s, 0.02 to 0.3 microM). Thus, our results indicated the null hypothesis. In contrast, roscovitine was only weakly active against HSV-1 (IC(50), 38 microM) and HCMV (IC(50), 40 microM). These values were similar to those derived by cytotoxicity and cell growth inhibition assays, thereby suggesting that roscovitine is not a selective antiviral. Therefore, we propose that inhibition of cdk1 and cyclin B is not responsible for selective antiviral activity and that pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines constitute novel pharmacophores which compete with ATP to inhibit cdk1 and cyclin B.

Animals↗

Antiviral activity of platinum (II) and palladium (II) complexes of pyridine-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone.

A heterocyclic compound, pyridine-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (HFoTsc), and its six metal coordinated bound complexes, three with platinum (II) and three with palladium (II), were studied for their activity against herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection in cultured cells. According to their cytotoxicity the compounds were divided into two groups. Group I (cytotoxic compounds) included all three palladium complexes and [Pt(HFoTsc)2] Cl2, with maximum non-toxic concentration (MNC) of 1-10 micromol/l and a 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of 20-100 micromol/l. Group 2 (low cytotoxic compounds) with MNC of 100 micromol/l and CC50 of 548-5820 micromol/l included compounds in the following order: [Pt(HFoTsc)2] Cl2<HFoTsc<[PtC] FoTsc)]. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) and a selectivity index (SI) values determined during 24 hrs and 48 hrs of action were indicative of antiviral activity. IC50 and SI values of HFoTsc increased in parallel with the duration of action in HSV-1-infected cells. All three platinum complexes as well as [Pd(HFoTsc)2]Cl2 and [Pd(FoTsc)2] inhibited HSV- I infection following a structure-activity relationship but only [Pt(HFoTsc)2]Cl2 expressed a significant selectivity comparable to that of HFoTsc. However, [PdCl(FoTsc)] acting 48 hrs gave a higher infectious HSV-1 titer (170%) compared to control (100%, no compound).

Animals↗

Comparison of mutants of Toxoplasma gondii selected for resistance to azithromycin, spiramycin, or clindamycin.

Azithromycin and spiramycin markedly inhibited the growth of Toxoplasma gondii in cultured human fibroblasts. However, 3 days of treatment were required to reveal their full antitoxoplasma activity. This delayed onset of inhibition was similar to that previously reported for clindamycin. Mutants of T. gondii resistant to azithromycin (AziR-1) and spiramycin (SprR-1) were isolated and compared with a previously described mutant resistant to clindamycin (ClnR-2). Mutant ClnR-2 was cross-resistant to all three antibiotics, while AziR-1 was cross-resistant only to spiramycin and SprR-1 was cross-resistant only to azithromycin. In short-term studies of protein synthesis by freshly prepared extracellular parasites, clindamycin and azithromycin were effective only at concentrations much greater than their 50% inhibitory concentrations in infected cultures and the resistant mutants did not differ from the wild type in antibiotic sensitivity. Thus, protein synthesis on cytoplasmic ribosomes of the parasite did not seem to be the target of these antibiotics. To determine whether mitochondrial protein synthesis in T. gondii was inhibited by clindamycin or azithromycin, wild-type parasites were grown in cultured cells in the presence of antibiotic concentrations well above the 50% inhibitory concentrations. Mitochondrial function, measured by oxygen uptake per purified extracellular parasite, did not decrease substantially, after the parasites had multiplied 11-fold in the presence of antibiotic. Thus, mitochondrial protein synthesis did not seem to be the target of clindamycin or azithromycin. An alternative target is protein synthesis in the putative apicomplexan organelle that has a 35-kb genome.

Animals↗

A scintillation proximity assay amenable for screening and characterization of DNA gyrase B subunit inhibitors.

DNA gyrase is the target of coumarin and cyclothialidine antibacterials, which bind to the B subunit of the enzyme (GyrB). Currently available GyrB inhibitors have not been clinically successful, but their high in vitro potency against DNA gyrase has raised interest in the development of novel noncoumarin antibacterials acting at the same site. We report the development of a simple scintillation proximity assay (SPA) for the study of binding interactions between coumarin or noncoumarin antibacterials and GyrB, which prevents the needs of separation steps and can be run in microtiter plate formats. The assay is based on the detection of the binding of a radioligand, [3H]dihydronovobiocin, to a biotin-labeled 43-kDa fragment of GyrB (biotin-GyrB43), which is captured by streptavidin-coated SPA beads. The typical assay was conducted in 96-well microtiter plates, with final concentration of 10 nM for biotin-GyrB43, 20 nM for [3H]dihydronovobiocin, and 33 microg of SPA beads/well. From saturation experiments, an equilibrium dissociation constant (K(d)) for dihydronovobiocin of 8.10 nM was found. Displacement studies gave 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) of 42, 64, and 11 nM for novobiocin, dihydronovobiocin, and the cyclothialidine analogue GR122222X, respectively, consistent with previous findings. The assay was found to be robust to dimethyl sulfoxide up to 5% (v/v) and can be used for high-throughput screens of large chemical collections in the search of novel DNA gyrase inhibitors.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Inhibition of human telomerase by rubromycins: implication of spiroketal system of the compounds as an active moiety.

We found that a group of rubromycins and their analogues, a class of quinone antibiotics that possesses benzofuran and benzodipyran rings to form a spiroketal system, strongly inhibited human telomerase as assessed with a modified telomeric repeat amplification protocol. beta- and gamma-Rubromycins and purpuromycin appeared to be the most potent telomerase inhibitors, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) of about 3 microM, and griseorhodins A and C also showed comparable potencies for the inhibition (IC(50) = 6-12 microM). In contrast, opening of the spiroketal system of beta-rubromycin, giving rise to alpha-rubromycin, substantially decreased its inhibitory potency toward telomerase (IC(50) > 200 microM), indicating the essential role of the spiroketal system in telomerase inhibition. A kinetic study of the inhibition by beta-rubromycin revealed a competitive interaction with respect to the telomerase substrate primer, with a K(i) of 0.74 microM, whereas a mixed type inhibition was observed with respect to the nucleotide substrate. beta-Rubromycin was also potent in inhibiting retroviral reverse transcriptases but had virtually no effect on other DNA/RNA-modifying enzymes including DNA and RNA polymerases, deoxyribonuclease, and topoisomerase. Although beta-rubromycin showed nonspecific cytotoxicities, reducing proliferation of cancer cells (IC(50) approximately 20 microM), we conclude that beta-rubromycin appears to be a lead structure for the development of more potent and selective inhibitors of human telomerase.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Methylated oligonucleotide inhibiting expression of human MRP2 and reversing multidrug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma Cell HepG2].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Accumulating evidences showed that the overexpression of multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) was the main cause of multidrug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); and the methylated cytosine at cytosine-guanine (CpG) dinucleotides might silence the gene expression. This study was to evaluate the inhibiting effect of methylated oligonucleotide (MON) on MRP2 gene transcription. METHODS: MON complementary to human MRP2 promoter region was designed. The non- methylated oligonucleotide (NON) carried same nucleotide acid sequence with MON, but the cytosines were not methylated. Cells from human HCC cell line HepG2 were divided into 3 groups: control group, NON group, and MON group. HepG2 cells were transfected with liposome-encapsulated oligonucleotide, cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry (FCM) were used to analyze the expression of MRP2. RESULTS: MON specifically inhibited MRP2 gene transcription and down-regulated the expression of MRP2 in a concentration- dependent manner in vitro, whereas NON had no effect. The positive rates of MRP2 protein were 18.0%, 9.15%, 5.73%, 3.73%, and 2.56% respectively after transfected with 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 micromol/L MON. It was 24.5% in NON group. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of epirubicin, hydroxyl- camptothecin, and carboplatin were reduced in MON group. CONCLUSIONS: MON can inhibit MRP2 gene transcription, enhance chemosensitivity, and reverse multidrug resistance of HCC cells,it may become a new gene therapeutic agent for HCC.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Inhibition of enterovirus 71-induced apoptosis by allophycocyanin isolated from a blue-green alga Spirulina platensis.

Enterovirus 71 infection causes significant morbidity and mortality in children, yet there is no effective treatment. In this study, a protein-bound pigment, allophycocyanin purified from blue-green algae is first reported to exhibit anti-enterovirus 71 activity. Allophycocyanin neutralized the enterovirus 71-induced cytopathic effect in both human rhabdomyosarcoma cells and African green monkey kidney cells. The 50% inhibitory concentration of allophycocyanin for neutralizing the enterovirus 71-induced cytopathic effect was approximately 0.045 +/- 0.012 microM in green monkey kidney cells. The cytotoxic concentrations of allophycocyanin for rhabdomyosarcoma cells and African green monkey kidney cells were 1.653 +/- 0.003 microM and 1.521 +/- 0.012 microM, respectively. A plaque reduction assay showed that the concentrations of allophycocyanin for reducing plaque formation by 50% were approximately 0.056 +/- 0.007 microM and 0.101 +/- 0.032 microM, when allophycocyanin were added at the state of viral adsorption and post-adsorption, respectively. Antiviral activity was more efficient in cultures treated with allophycocyanin before viral infection compared with that in the cultures treated after infection. Allophycocyanin was also able to delay viral RNA synthesis in the infected cells and to abate the apoptotic process in enterovirus 71-infected rhabdomyosarcoma cells with evidence of characteristic DNA fragmentation, decreasing membrane damage and declining cell sub-G1 phase. It is concluded that allophycocyanin possesses antiviral activity and has a potential for development as an anti-enterovirus 71 agent.

Antiviral Agents↗

Alteration of drug chemosensitivity caused by the adenovirus-mediated transfer of the wild-type p53 gene in human lung cancer cells.

The aim of the present study is to identify the optimal anticancer agents for use in combination with gene therapy using wild-type (wt) p53 gene transfer. We used adenoviral vectors expressing human wt p53 (AdCAp53) and investigated the effects of wt p53 gene transfer in combination with 12 anticancer agents on a human pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma cell line, NCI-H157, and a human pulmonary large cell carcinoma cell line, NCI-H1299. Solutions containing anticancer agents at various concentrations were added followed by the addition of recombinant adenovirus solutions; after a 5-day incubation period, the anticancer activity was then evaluated by a 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carbo xanilide assay. Each 50% inhibitory concentration was calculated based on the dose-response curves. The agents showing a high degree of effectiveness on NCI-H157 cells were cisplatin (CDDP), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), bleomycin, and 7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin (SN-38), an active metabolite of irinotecan (CPT-11); conversely, cyclophosphamide and paclitaxel showed a low degree of effectiveness. Based on these data, an isobologram was performed to investigate the interaction between AdCAp53 and some anticancer agents. A supra-additive effect was thus observed for 5-FU and SN-38 on NCI-H157 cells. An additive effect was also observed for CDDP, paclitaxel, bleomycin, and cyclophosphamide on NCI-H157 cells. CDDP, paclitaxel, 5-FU, and SN-38 had an additive effect on NCI-H1299 cells. No drug showed any subadditive or protective effects. These findings suggest that CPT-11 and 5-FU may thus be useful as possible anticancer agents for use in a combination therapy regimen using wt p53 gene transfer. CDDP and CPT-11 had a significant antitumoral effect on H157 cell xenografts of nude mice in vivo. These results indicate that CPT-11 as well as CDDP would be a candidate for the combination of chemotherapy and gene therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.

Adenoviridae↗

Inhibitory effects of small-molecule CCR5 antagonists on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope-mediated membrane fusion and viral replication.

We established a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope (Env)-mediated membrane fusion assay and examined the small-molecule CCR5 antagonist TAK-779 and its derivatives for their inhibitory effects on HIV-1 Env-mediated membrane fusion and viral replication. The membrane fusion assay is based on HIV-1 long terminal repeat-directed beta-D-galactosidase reporter gene expression in CD4- and CCR5-expressed HeLa (MAGI-CCR5) cells after cocultivation with effector 293T cells expressing HIV-1 Env. Inhibition of HIV-1 replication was also determined in MAGI-CCR5 cells infected with the corresponding cell-free HIV-1. TAK-779 effectively suppressed R5 HIV-1 (strain JR-FL) Env-mediated membrane fusion as well as viral replication. Its 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)s) for membrane fusion and viral replication were 0.87 +/- 0.11 and 1.4 +/- 0.1 nM, respectively. These values corresponded well to the IC(50) for (125)I-RANTES (regulated on activation, T cell expressed, and secreted) binding to CCR5 (1.4 nM). The inhibitory effects of 18 TAK-779 derivatives on membrane fusion differed from one compound to another. However, there was a close correlation among their inhibitory effects on membrane fusion, viral replication, and RANTES binding. The correlation coefficient between their IC(50)s for membrane fusion and viral replication was 0.881. Furthermore, since this assay depends on Env expressed in the effector cells, it is also applicable to the evaluation of CXCR4 antagonists. These results indicate that the HIV-1 Env-mediated membrane fusion assay is a useful tool for the evaluation of entry inhibitors.

Amides↗