Studies on hydralazine

Summary The bioavailability of orally administered hydralazine was assessed in 4 healthy subjects after separate administration of a single oral or intravenous dose (0.3 mg·kg^–1). Comparison of the areas under the serum concentration-time curves showed that 26 – 55 % of the oral dose was available to the systemic circulation as unchanged drug. The O - 24 h excretion of the drug in urine was rapid: 11.4 – 14.1 % of the dose after intravenous administration, and 2.0 – 3.6 % after an oral dose. Acetylation of hydralazine leads to formation of 3-methyl-s-triazolo-3,4,a-phthalazine (MTP) and a gas-liquid-chromatographic method for its measurement in urine was developed. After oral and intravenous administration, 0.8 – 1.2 % and 1.4 – 2.3 % of the dose, respectively, were recovered within 24 hours from urine as MTP. After oral administration there was a relative increase in the amount of MTP in every subject, which indicates route-dependent metabolism. The lower bioavailability of oral hydralazine could be explained in terms of first-pass metabolism.     

Tissue distribution of N-acetyltransferase 1 and 2 catalyzing the N-acetylation of 4-aminobiphenyl and O-acetylation of N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl in the congenic rapid and slow acetylator Syrian hamster

N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) and 2 (NAT2) enzymes catalyzing both deactivation (N-acetylation) and activation (O-acetylation) of arylamine carcinogens such as 4-aminobiphenyl (ABP) were investigated in a Syrian hamster model congenic at the NAT2 locus. NAT2 catalytic activities (measured with p-aminobenzoic acid) were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in rapid than slow acetylators in all tissues (except heart and prostate where activity was undetectable in slow acetylators). NAT1 catalytic activities (measured with sulfamethazine) were low but detectable in most tissues tested and did not differ significantly between rapid and slow acetylators. ABP N-acetyltransferase activity was detected in all tissues of rapid acetylators but was below the limit of detection in all tissues of slow acetylators except liver where it was about 15-fold lower than rapid acetylators. ABP N-acetyltransferase activities correlated with NAT2 activities (r2 = 0.871; P < 0.0001) but not with NAT1 activities (r2 = 0.132; P > 0.05). Levels of N-hydroxy-ABP O-acetyltransferase activities were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in rapid than slow acetylator cytosols for many but not all tissues. The N-hydroxy-ABP O-acetyltransferase activities correlated with ABP N-acetyltransferase activities (r2 = 0.695; P < 0.0001) and NAT2 activities (r2 = 0.521, P < 0.0001) but not with NAT1 activities (r2 = 0.115; P > 0.05). The results suggest widespread tissue distribution of both NAT1 and NAT2, which catalyzes both N- and O-acetylation. These conclusions are important for interpretation of molecular epidemiological investigations into the role of N-acetyltransferase polymorphisms in various diseases including cancer.     

The Effect of some Sympathomimetic Amines and their Acetyl Derivatives on the Isolated Bull Retractor Penis Muscle

Abstract The bull retractor penis muscle was used to compare the α–adrenergic effect of adrenaline, noradrenaline, methoxamine, phenylephrine, metaraminol, tyramine, amphetamine, ephedrine and orciprenaline with that of some of their O– and N–acetyl derivatives. The effect of cocaine on the responses to the drugs was also examined. Methoxamine exhibited the strongest stimulant potency on this smooth muscle. The ED₅₀ of the other parent compounds decreased in the following order: adrenaline, noradrenaline, phenylephrine, ephedrine, metaraminol, amphetamine, tyramine. N–acetylation decreased very clearly or even abolished the effect of the drugs. O–acetylation also decreased the effect but not as much as N–acetylation. The effects of the O–acetyl derivatives were probably at least partly due to the corresponding parent compounds released after deacetylation. The very weak effects of the N–acetyl derivatives suggest that little if any N–deacetylation occurred during the experiments.     

Effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms in human N-acetyltransferase 2 on metabolic activation (O-acetylation) of heterocyclic amine carcinogens

N-Acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) catalyzes the O-acetylation of N-hydroxy heterocyclic amines such as N-hydroxy-2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (N--OH--MeIQx) and N-hydroxy-2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b] pyridine (N--OH --PhIP) to DNA binding metabolites that initiate mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. NAT2 acetylator phenotype is associated with increased cancer risk. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified in the NAT2 coding region. Although the effects of these SNPs on N-acetyltransferase activity have been reported, very little is known regarding their effects on O-acetylation activity. To investigate the functional consequences of SNPs in the NAT2 coding region on the O-acetylation of N-hydroxy heterocyclic amines, reference NAT2*4 and NAT2 variant alleles possessing one were cloned and expressed in yeast (Schizosaccaromyces pombe). T111C, C282T, C481T, C759T, and A803G (K268R) SNPs did not significantly (p > 0.05) modify O-acetylation catalysis with N--OH--PhIP or N--OH--MeIQx. C190T (R64W), G191A (R64Q), T341C (I114T), A434C (E145P), G590A (R197Q) and A845C (K282T) significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the O-acetylation of both N--OH--PhIP and N--OH--MeIQx, whereas G857A (G286E) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased catalytic activity towards the O-acetylation of N--OH--MeIQx but not N--OH--PhIP. These results have important implications towards the interpretation of molecular epidemiological studies of NAT2 genotype and cancer risk.     

Allylglycine affects acetylation of putrescine and spermidine in mouse brain

Administration of allylglycine to mice (.8 nmole/kg, 1. p.) results in a depletion of GABA levels, and it is accompanied by a decrease in SAM-DC activity and spermidine and spermine levels (Pajunen et al., 1979). Here we describe a biphasic effect on the acetylation of putrescine and spermidine in mouse brain homogenate. There appears to be an inverse correlation between the initial decrease in spermidine levels at 2 hours and the increase in the acetylation of spermidine. This is suggestive of a conversion of spermidine, probably through N -acetylspermidine to putrescine. The peak of putrescine acetylation observed by us at 4 hours may also reflect a conversion of putrescine, via acetylputrescine to GABA. The inter conversion hypothesis is supported by the fact that putrescine levels remain essentially stable in spite of a significant depletion of spermidine and spermine. In addition, there is a decrease in putrescine and spermidine acetylation at 8 hours, which coincides with the increase in ODC activity and the increase towards control levels of GAD activity (Pajunen et al., 1979). Such inverse correlations suggest a mechanism for replenishment of polyamines once GAD activity returns to control levels.     

Genetic and metabolic studies in diabetic neuropathy

Summary Forty-one diabetic patients with symptomatic diabetic neuropathy were studied together with an equal number of matched diabetic subjects without neuropathy. The acetylator status was determined and HLA-A, B, C and DR antigens were investigated. Metabolic control was assessed by measurement of glycosylated haemoglobin and by the mean of multiple random clinic blood glucose values. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in the proportion of fast and slow acetylators. The distribution of HLA frequencies was similar in subjects with and without neuropathy for both Type 1 (insulin-dependent) and Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients. When compared with diabetic subjects without neuropathy, the neuropathy group had higher levels of both glycosylated haemoglobin (mean ± SEM: 50.1±1.4 versus 57.5±1.8 mmol hydroxymethylfurfural/mol haemoglobin (10.5±0.3 versus 12.0±0.4% haemoglobin A₁, p < 0.01) and mean blood glucose (9.3±0.4 versus 11.3±0.5 mmol/l, p < 0.005). This study provides no evidence that genetic factors increase the susceptibility of diabetic patients to develop neuropathy. In contrast, the elevated glycosylated haemoglobin and blood glucose levels strengthen the association between hyperglycaemia and diabetic neuropathy.     

Drug acetylation and expression of lupus erythematosus

Summary Acetylator phenotype was measured in 58 patients presenting to a skin clinic with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and in 51 normal healthy subjects. Twenty seven of the patients with DLE were found to have evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus (D+SLE). Frequency of slow acetylator phenotype was 58% in all DLE patients, 52% in those with D+SLE and was no different from the 57% in controls. The distribution of acetylator phenotypes within the groups with DLE and those with D+SLE was similar to controls.Severity of DLE was assessed as number of skin lesions and median lesion count was 11.5 in slow acetylators and 10 in fast acetylators but in D + SLE median lesion count was 22 in slow acetylators and 12 in fast acetylators, and there was a significant inverse relationship between lesion count and rate of acetylation; scores for systemic involvement showed no relationship. We conclude that there is no difference in the frequency or distribution of slow acetylator phenotype between normal subjects and patients with DLE with or without SLE but that actual rate of acetylation may determine severity of expression of the disease in slow acetylators.     

Aberrant promoter methylation of human DAB2 interactive protein (hDAB2IP) gene in lung cancers

The human DOC-2/DAB2 interactive protein gene (hDAB2IP) is a novel member of the Ras GTPase-activating gene family that is known to act as a tumor suppressor gene and is inactivated by methylation in prostate and breast cancers. We established previously a methylation-specific PCR (MSP) for the promoter region (m2a and m2b regions) of hDAB2IP and examined hDAB2IP methylation status in breast cancers. We analyzed the methylation and expression status of hDAB2IP in lung cancers. The methylation status of hDAB2IP was examined in lung cancer cell lines using bisulfite sequencing and MSP. Expression was examined using conventional and real-time RT-PCR, and methylation was found to be inversely correlated with expression, confirming that the MSP can also be used to examine hDAB2IP methylation status in lung cancers. Aberrant methylation was detected at the m2a region in 19 of 47 lung cancer cell lines (40%) and 26 of 70 primary tumors (37%) and at the m2b in 16 lines (34%) and 25 of 70 tumors (36%). Gene expression was restored in methylated cell lines supplemented with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, confirming that methylation was responsible for downregulation. We also examined the relationship between hDAB2IP methylation and clinico-pathological features of the lung cancers and found that hDAB2IP methylation was associated with advanced disease stage. Our results demonstrate that hDAB2IP methylation is frequently present in lung cancers and plays a key role in hDAB2IP silencing. hDAB2IP methylation could be used as a biomarker for disease stage, reflecting the degree of clinico-pathological malignancy of lung cancer.     

小鼠胚胎心脏发育过程中胰岛素基因增强子结合蛋白1的时序表达与组蛋白乙酰化酶p300的关系

目的观察小鼠胚胎心脏发育过程中转录因子胰岛素基因增强子结合蛋白1(Islet-1)的时序性表达规律,并探讨其与组蛋白乙酰化酶p300介导的组蛋白乙酰化调控网络中的关系。方法以健康6～8周龄昆明小鼠为研究对象,下午1700雄雌按12比例合笼,次日观察阴栓,观察到阴栓最早之日计为胎龄0.5 d(E0.5)。取胎龄为E11.5、E14.5、E17.5的胎鼠和新生鼠的心脏,利用Western blot方法定量分析Islet-1的时序性表达规律,并利用蛋白质免疫共沉淀(Co-IP)和串联质谱分析方法(MS)鉴定Islet-1与组蛋白乙酰化酶p300的关系,同时应用Western blot方法反验证实验结果。结果 1.在小鼠胚胎心脏发育过程中,Islet-1在E14.5时的表达水平(0.434±0.353)明显高于与其在E11.5(0.074±0.456)、E17.5(0.120±0.127)和新生鼠(0.049±0.083)的表达水平,差异均有统计学意义(Pa<0.05),而其他时间点(E11.5、E17.5和新生鼠)间的表达差异无统计学意义(Pa>0.05)。2.在胚胎心脏发育过程中,Islet-1与组蛋白乙酰化酶p300相互结合,以蛋白复合物的形式存在。结论在小鼠胚胎心脏发育过程中,Islet-1可能作为枢纽因子,募集组蛋白乙酰化酶p300参与组蛋白乙酰化修饰调控。     

Islet-1 在乙酰化调控网络中特异性辅助C3H10T1/2细胞向心肌样细胞分化

 目的 筛选并分析转染Islet-1慢病毒载体的C3H10T1/2细胞转化为心肌样细胞过程中与Islet-1 相互作用的组蛋白乙酰化酶（HATs）和组蛋白去乙酰化酶（HDACs）,明确Islet-1在C3H10T1/2细胞分化为心肌样细胞乙酰化调控网络中的关键枢纽作用。方法 培养转染Islet-1慢病毒载体的C3H10T1/2细胞,观察细胞形态。免疫荧光和免疫印迹检测Islet-1的表达部位和最高表达时间点。免疫共沉淀沉淀与Islet-1结合的蛋白。免疫印迹验证Islet-1 相互作用的HATs和HDACs。结果 诱导组细胞形态出现心肌样细胞改变。各组Islet-1主要在胞浆表达。诱导组Islet-1表达量在诱导后3周最高（0.782±0.015）。诱导组Islet-1表达量显著高于空白对照组和C3H10组（分别为0.819±0.026,0.127±0.006和0.126±0.001）（P<0.05）,免疫共沉淀技术可行。与Islet-1相互作用的HATs和HDACs有GCN5、P300/CBP和HDAC4。结论 Islet-1 与GCN5、P300/CBP和HDAC4相互作用特异性辅助C3H10T1/2细胞向心肌样细胞分化。