Effects of 2-methoxyethanol on fetal development, postnatal behavior, and embryonic intracellular pH of rats

The industrial solvent 2-methoxyethanol (2ME) is a reproductive and developmental toxicant when administered by inhalation, gavage, and IP injection. The present research established that this solvent can produce teratogenicity in rats when administered in liquid diet. Groups of 10 Sprague-Dawley rats were given various percentages of 2ME in liquid diet on gestation days 7-18. Day 20 fetuses were examined for visceral or skeletal malformations. Concentrations above 0.025% 2ME (approximately 73 mg/kg/day) produced total embryo-mortality. Cardiovascular malformations were produced at lower levels. The teratogenic no-effect level was 0.006% 2ME (16 mg/kg). In a second experiment, groups of 12 Sprague-Dawley rats were given 0, 0.006 and 0.012% of 2ME as above. Litters were culled to 8 pups, and tested for auditory and tactile startle and conditioned lick suppression, and for performance in figure-8 activity and the Cincinnati water maze on postnatal days 48-65. The high dose of 2ME produced approximately 50% mortality in the offspring and increased the number of errors in the Cincinnati maze. No other behavioral effects were observed at either dose. An interaction study was conducted to determine if simultaneous exposure to 2ME and ethanol would reduce the teratogenicity of 2ME, but no reduction was observed. The hypothesis that 2ME acts by altering embryonic intracellular pH was tested by injecting 0.33 ml/kg of 2ME into rats on gestation day 13, and determining embryonic intracellular pH at 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours thereafter. There was an increase in pH at 4 hours, but not at later time points. Another group of rats was given 2ME along with amiloride, which blocks the sodium/hydrogen antiporter. The combined 2ME-amiloride exposure produced an incidence of cardiovascular malformations in fetuses twice that of 2ME alone. These studies confirmed the structural teratogenicity of 2ME even when given in liquid diet, as it was given for the first time in the present study. At nonteratogenic doses, developmental toxicity (e.g., postnatal deaths) persisted, but only limited evidence of behavioral teratogenicity was observed. The pH data are consistent with the concept that 2ME may alter embryonic intracellular pH at critical stages of organogenesis.     

Decrease of intracellular pH as possible mechanism of embryotoxicity of glycol ether alkoxyacetic acid metabolites

Embryotoxicity of glycol ethers is caused by their alkoxyacetic acid metabolites, but the mechanism underlying the embryotoxicity of these acid metabolites is so far not known. The present study investigates a possible mechanism underlying the embryotoxicity of glycol ether alkoxyacetic acid metabolites using the methoxyacetic acid (MAA) metabolite of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether as the model compound. The results obtained demonstrate an MAA-induced decrease of the intracellular pH (pH_i) of embryonic BALB/c-3T3 cells as well as of embryonic stem (ES)-D3 cells, at concentrations that affect ES-D3 cell differentiation. These results suggest a mechanism for MAA-mediated embryotoxicity similar to the mechanism of embryotoxicity of the drugs valproic acid and acetazolamide (ACZ), known to decrease the pH_iin vivo, and therefore used as positive controls. The embryotoxic alkoxyacetic acid metabolites ethoxyacetic acid, butoxyacetic acid and phenoxyacetic acid also caused an intracellular acidification of BALB/c-3T3 cells at concentrations that are known to inhibit ES-D3 cell differentiation. Two other embryotoxic compounds, all-trans-retinoic acid and 5-fluorouracil, did not decrease the pH_i of embryonic cells at concentrations that affect ES-D3 cell differentiation, pointing at a different mechanism of embryotoxicity of these compounds. MAA and ACZ induced a concentration-dependent inhibition of ES-D3 cell differentiation, which was enhanced by amiloride, an inhibitor of the Na⁺/H⁺-antiporter, corroborating an important role of the pH_i in the embryotoxic mechanism of both compounds. Together, the results presented indicate that a decrease of the pH_i may be the mechanism of embryotoxicity of the alkoxyacetic acid metabolites of the glycol ethers.     

Measurement of intracellular Ca2+ in cultured rat embryonic hippocampal neurons using a fluorescence microplate reader: potential application to biomolecular screening

Introduction: Fluorescence microplate readers for the measurement of cytosolic free Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) are used as a drug screening tool, particularly for immortal cell lines. However, wider application of this methodological approach to more differentiated cells such as neurons would also be useful for the screening of compounds that modulate synaptic transmission. Such an approach has the potential to identify lead compounds for the development of novel drugs for the treatment of epilepsy, pathological pain states, Parkinson's disease, or other neurological disorders. Methods: In this paper, we describe the development of a microplate reader assay for the assessment of [Ca(2+)](i) in a primary culture of rat hippocampal neurons maintained in Neurobasal medium using the fluorescent calcium indicator, fluo-3. Results: The assay was appropriate for the screening of glutamate receptor agonists and antagonists. Furthermore, lowering the extracellular Mg(2+) concentration ([Mg(2+)](O)) produced consistent oscillations in neuronal [Ca(2+)](i) detected using the fluorescence microplate reader. These oscillations were inhibited by the GABA(B) agonist, baclofen, and the NMDA receptor antagonist, LY274614. Discussion: Our results indicate that assessment of the inhibitory effects of agents on spontaneous [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations in neurons may be useful for the identification of agents that act on targets for which specific screening methods are not currently available, or those which act via a previously unknown pathway to inhibit synaptic transmission. This technique also has the potential to increase the productivity of experiments designed to characterize changes in [Ca(2+)](i) (including calcium oscillations) in cultured neurons.     

Functional characterization of transmembrane intracellular pH regulators and mechanism of alcohol-induced intracellular acidosis in human umbilical cord blood stem cell-like cells

Changing intracellular pH (pHi) exerts considerable influence on many cellular functions. Different pHi regulators, such as the Na-H exchanger (NHE), Na/(Equation is included in full-text article.)symporter, and Cl/OH exchanger (CHE), have been identified in mature mammalian cells. The aims of the present study were to investigate the physiological mechanisms of pHi recovery and to further explore the effects of alcohol on the pHi in human umbilical cord blood CD34 stem cell-like cells (HUCB-CD34STs). HUCB-CD34STs were loaded with the pH-sensitive dye, 2',7'-bis(2-carboxethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein, to examine pHi. In isolated HUCB-CD34STs, we found that (1) the resting pHi is 7.03 ± 0.02; (2) 2 Na-dependent acid extruders and a Cl-dependent acid loading carrier exist and are functional; (3) alcohol functions in a concentration-dependent manner to reduce pHi and increase NHE activity, but it does not affect CHE activity; and (4) fomepizole, a specific alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor, does not change the intracellular acidosis and NHE activity-induced by alcohol, whereas 3-amino-1, 2,4-trizole, a specific catalase inhibitor, entirely abolishes these effects. In conclusion, we demonstrate that 2 acid extruders and 1 acid loader (most likely NHE, NBC, and CHE, respectively) functionally existed in HUCB-CD34STs. Additionally, the intracellular acidosis is mainly caused by catalase-mediated alcohol metabolites, which provoke the activity of NHE.     

pH modulation: a mechanism to obtain pH-independent drug release

Importance of the field: In formulation development, weakly acidic or basic drugs pose a major challenge as the solubility depends significantly on pH of the dissolution media. This gives rise to pH-dependent drug release, as the formulation is exposed to different pH ranges in the gastrointestinal tract. This indicates a need to carry out formulation optimization for such drugs while developing them into a dosage form.

Areas covered in this review: For overcoming pH-dependent behavior of drugs, pH-modifying excipients (which alter the microenvironment pH inside the formulation) are most commonly used. A combination of enteric and sustained release polymers can be used for weakly basic drugs. Other strategies include conversion of crystalline drug to amorphous form, enhancement of partitioning of unionized fraction of drug from the formulation, and using a combination of pH modifier and enteric polymer, micellar solubilization and inclusion complexation.

What the reader will gain: Readers will gain an insight into various formulation techniques for obtaining pH-independent drug release for weakly acidic and basic drugs.

Take home message: Readers will be able to evaluate the different formulation strategies in terms of their applicability and best use of the available strategies when designing their own research work for such drugs.     

Microarray analysis of Leflunomide-induced limb malformations in CD-1 mice

The immuno-suppressant Leflunomide, a potent inhibitor of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) and tyrosine kinases, is teratogenic in laboratory animals. To better understand its teratogenic mechanism, pregnant mice (CD-1) received a single dose of 70 mg/kg Leflunomide, or vehicle control, by gastric intubation on gestation day 10. Gene expression was evaluated in the pooled fore- and hindlimb buds of embryos 4 and 24 h post-treatment. The down-regulation of cholesterol biosynthesis-related genes was observed but could not be correlated with teratogenicity, since Leflunomide did not alter cholesterol concentration in limb bud. Leflunomide inhibited the mitosis of limb mesenchymal cells, which may be linked to DHODH inhibition as well as a potential effect on tyrosine kinases that mediate cytokine and growth factor signaling and that may be responsible for the Leflunomide's teratogenicity.     

Functional evaluation of a fluorescent schweinfurthin: mechanism of cytotoxicity and intracellular quantification

Schweinfurthins are potent inhibitors of cancer cell growth, especially against human central nervous system tumor lines such as SF-295 cells. However, the mechanisms through which these compounds impede cell growth are not fully understood. In an effort to understand the basis for the effects of schweinfurthins, we present a fluorescent schweinfurthin, 3-deoxyschweinfurthin B-like p-nitro-bis-stilbene (3dSB-PNBS), which displays biological activity similar to that of 3-deoxyschweinfurthin B (3dSB). These two schweinfurthins retain the unique differential activity of the natural schweinfurthins, as evidenced by the spindle-like morphological changes induced in SF-295 cells and the unaltered appearance of human lung carcinoma A549 cells. We demonstrate that incubation with 3dSB or 3dSB-PNBS results in cleavage of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and caspase-9, both markers of apoptosis. Coincubation of 3dSB or 3dSB-PNBS with the caspase-9 inhibitor (Z)-Leu-Glu(O-methyl)-His-Asp(O-methyl)-fluoromethylketone prevents PARP cleavage. Therapeutic agents that induce apoptosis often activate cellular stress pathways. A marker for multiple stress pathways is the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α, which is phosphorylated in response to 3dSB and 3dSB-PNBS treatment. Glucose-regulated protein 78 and protein disulfide isomerase, both endoplasmic reticulum chaperones, are up-regulated with schweinfurthin exposure. Using the fluorescent properties of 3dSB-PNBS and dimethoxyphenyl-p-nitro-bis-stilbene (DMP-PNBS), a control compound, we show that the intracellular levels of 3dSB-PNBS are higher than those of Rhodamine 123 or DMP-PNBS in SF-295 and A549 cells.     

Induction of skeletal malformations in organ cultures of mammalian embryonic tissues

Summary Abnormalities of the cartilaginous limb bone anlagen resembling syndactyly and phocomelia can be mimicked entirely in vitro, using an organ culture system which allows the differentiation of mouse limb buds from the blastema stage (day 11.0 of gestation) to well recognizable cartilaginous anlagen of the long bones and the hand (or foot) skeleton (metacarpal anlagen) within 6 to 7 days. As reported here such malformations as triggered in vitro by 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) should be distinguished from less specific effects, such as failure of the explant to develop typically in a proximodistal direction and to grow or form cartilage, which are produced by a variety of drugs or by altering the medium composition or other culture conditions. When culturing limb buds from embryos exposed in utero to 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdr) in a normal medium it was possible to obtain polydactyly in about 30% of the explants. The test system used provides another way of elucidating the mode of action of teratogenic agents, and of mechanisms involved in an abnormal mammalian development.     

Oral pyridoxine during pregnancy : potential protective effect for cardiovascular malformations

OBJECTIVE: To study the human risk and benefit of oral pyridoxine (vitamin B6) treatment during pregnancy. DESIGN AND SETTING: The analysis of cases with 25 congenital abnormality (CA) groups and their all-matched controls without CAs in the population-based dataset of the large Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities, 1980-1996. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: 22,843 cases of pregnant women who had newborns or fetuses with CAs and 38,151 pregnant women who had newborn infants without any CAs (control group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of pyridoxine use in early pregnancy among mothers of cases with different CAs and control mothers with infants without any CA. RESULTS: 2013 (8.8%) case mothers and 4086 (10.7%) control mothers were treated with pyridoxine (adjusted prevalence odds ratio [POR] 0.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7, 0.9). The analysis of cases with different defects and their all-matched controls did not indicate any obvious teratogenic potential of pyridoxine use during the second and third months of gestation, i.e. in the critical period for the development of most major CAs. However, some protective effect was found for cardiovascular malformations (adjusted POR 0.8; 95% CI 0.7, 0.9). CONCLUSION: Treatment with pyridoxine during pregnancy does not indicate a teratogenic risk to the fetus, but may provide some protective effect for cardiovascular malformations.     

Hemospan: a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier for potential use as a blood substitute and for the potential treatment of critical limb ischemia

Hemospan, a novel hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier and plasma expander, is being developed by Sangart Inc for use as a blood substitute and for the treatment of critical limb ischemia. Hemospan is currently undergoing phase III clinical trials in Europe and phase II clinical trials in the US for use as a blood substitute, and phase II clinical trials in Sweden for critical limb ischemia.     

Pharmacological potential of embryonic stem cells.

Established embryonic stem (ES) cell lines have been at the forefront of approaches to understand gene function during embryogenesis and in adult vertebrate organisms, principally due to exploitation of two essential attributes; their pluripotency or ability to contribute to all three germinal layers and germ line in mice and their ease of genetic modification. Endeavours to routinely establish ES cells from species other than mice have met with limited success, although with rapid progress being made in our understanding of their basic cell biology, the regular derivation of lines from pre-implantation embryos will become easier for many species including humans. With a recent growing awareness of how these cells can be made to grow in an unlimited, but regulated manner plus how their fate can be directed or manipulated into diverse, mature phenotypes in culture, it has become clear that the biological resource offers additional attractive features applicable for future biomedical research and therapy. Advanced mouse ES-based technologies are being used in the industry for pharmaceutical discovery and development, while it is also anticipated that human ES cell reagents will revolutionise aspects of regenerative medicine. This review will summarise the advantages, potential and great hope for ES cell based systems in these contexts.     

Multidrug resistance protein functionality: no effect of intracellular or extracellular pH changes

A major problem in the treatment of cancer is cellular resistance to cytotoxic drugs. In tumor cells in vitro, the development of multidrug resistance is usually accompanied by increased expression of drug transporters, either P-glycoprotein (P-gp) or multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP(1)). Both proteins belong to the superfamily of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter proteins and mediate the transport of a broad range of drugs. Altenberg et al. (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA90: 9735-9738, 1993) have shown that changes in intra- or extracellular pH do not mediate P-gp-dependent multidrug resistance. Therefore, we similarly studied whether changes in intra- or extracellular pH could mediate MRP(1)-dependent multidrug resistance. In particular, we measured the MRP(1)-mediated efflux of hydroxyrubicin from GLC4/ADR cells. Since hydroxyrubicin is a fully neutral anthracycline derivative that has no deprotonable function at pH lower than 10 and so cannot accumulate in non-nuclear compartments under the influence of pH or transmembrane gradients, we hypothesized that any modifications of its kinetics of efflux as a function of pH can be assigned to a modification of the transporter efficiency. However, as our data show, modifications of extra- and/or intracellular pH yielded no modification of the MRP(1)-mediated efflux of hydroxyrubicin.     

Use of a pH-sensitive fluorescent probe for measuring intracellular pH of Caco-2 cells

This paper describes the application of a pH-sensitive fluorescent probe [2',7'-bis(2-carboxylethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein or BCECF] to measure intracellular pH (pH(i)) changes in Caco-2 cells. As a function of BCECF's ionization, the fluorescence was monitored at lambda(ex)=440 and 503nm, and lambda(em)=535nm. Time course studies were conducted with the addition of two weak acid delivery agents, one weak base delivery agent, oleic acid, or tetradecylamine. When applicable, 10microM bovine serum albumin or 10mM ammonium chloride was added into the cell suspension to hinder the pH gradient effect. Adding a weak acid at 2, 10, or 50mM to the cell suspension, the pH(i) dropped substantially from 7.4 to 7.1, 6.9, or 6.7, respectively. The pH(i) then increased gradually over a 10-min period but did not return to its initial value. Conversely, the pH(i) increased instantaneously after the addition of a weak base. When Caco-2 cells were placed in solutions with different bulk pH (7.0, 7.5, and 8.0), the lower the pH in which the cells were exposed, the larger the pH(i) drop occurred with the addition of an acid. The results suggest that these weak acids or bases are transported transcellularly across Caco-2 cells.     

Changes in intracellular pH play a secondary role in hydrogen sulfide-induced nasal cytotoxicity

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) is a naturally occurring gas that is also associated with several industries. The potential for widespread human inhalation exposure to this toxic gas is recognized as a public health concern. The nasal epithelium is particularly susceptible to H(2)S-induced pathology. Cytochrome oxidase inhibition is postulated as one mechanism of H(2)S toxicity. Another mechanism by which the weak acid H(2)S could cause nasal injury is intracellular acidification and cytotoxicity. To further understand the mechanism by which H(2)S damages the nasal epithelium, nasal respiratory and olfactory epithelial cell isolates and explants from naive rats were loaded with the pH-sensitive intracellular chromophore SNARF-1 and exposed to air or 10, 80, 200, or 400 ppm H(2)S for 90 min. Intracellular pH was measured using flow cytometry or confocal microscopy. Cell lysates were used to quantify total protein and cytochrome oxidase activity. A modest but statistically significant decrease in intracellular pH occurred following exposure of respiratory and olfactory epithelium to 400 ppm H(2)S. Decreased cytochrome oxidase activity was observed following exposure to >10 ppm H(2)S in both respiratory and olfactory epithelia. None of the treatments resulted in cytotoxicity. The intracellular acidification of nasal epithelial cells by high-dose H(2)S exposure and the inhibition of cytochrome oxidase at much lower H(2)S concentrations suggest that changes in intracellular pH play a secondary role in H(2)S-induced nasal injury.     

灵芝多糖对小鼠T细胞胞浆游离Ca~(2+)浓度和胞内pH的影响

目的通过考察灵芝多糖（ＧＬＰ）对免疫细胞信号转导过程的影响,探讨ＧＬＰ免疫调节作用机制。方法采用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜（ＬＳＣＭ）技术,动态监测ＧＬＰ均一体组分ＧＬＢ７对小鼠Ｔ细胞胞浆游离Ｃａ２＋浓度（［Ｃａ２＋）和胞内 ｐＨ（［ｐＨ］ｉ）的影响。结果 ＧＬＢ７（２０ｍｇ·Ｌ－１）引起小鼠 Ｔ细胞中［Ｃａ２＋］;和［ｐＨ］;明显升高,１ｍｉｎ即分别升高至３３４．７０％±１６,４％（ｎ＝３）、１７１．６％ ± １０．４％（ｎ＝３）,之后一直分别维持在该平台期,至 １０ ｍｉｎ仍维持高峰水平。加入ＥＣＴＡ和 ｖｅｒａｐａｍｉｌ处理后, １０ ｍｉｎ ＧＬＢ７ 引起 Ｔ细胞［Ｃａ２＋］;和［ｐＨ］;分别升高为 ２０２．４％± １３．６％（ｎ＝３）。１４０．２％±７．８％（ｎ＝３）,与正常对照组比较差异有显著性（Ｐ＜０．０1）。以 ＥＧＴＡ和 ｖｅｒａｐａｍｉｌ处理后,再分别以 ｈｅｐ－ｅｒｉｎ和 ｐrocaine处理细胞 １０ ｍｉｎ,之后以 ＧＬＢ７刺激Ｔ细胞,１０ｍｉｎ［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ值分别为１５１．５％±９．４％（ｎ＝３）、１４３．２％± ８．１ ％（ ｎ＝ ３）,与 ＥＧＴＡ和 ｖｅｒａｐａｍｉｌ处理组相比差异有显著性（ Ｐ＜ ０．０１）。同时以     

灵芝多糖对小鼠T细胞胞浆游离Ca2+浓度和胞内pH的影响

目的通过考察灵芝多糖(GLP)对免疫细胞信号转导过程的影响,探讨GLP免疫调节作用机制。方法采用激光扫描共聚焦显微镜(LSCM)技术,动态监测GLP均一体组分GLB7对小鼠T细胞胞浆游离Ca     

Boric acid inhibits embryonic histone deacetylases: a suggested mechanism to explain boric acid-related teratogenicity

Histone deacetylases (HDAC) control gene expression by changing histonic as well as non histonic protein conformation. HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) are considered to be among the most promising drugs for epigenetic treatment for cancer. Recently a strict relationship between histone hyperacetylation in specific tissues of mouse embryos exposed to two HDACi (valproic acid and trichostatin A) and specific axial skeleton malformations has been demonstrated. The aim of this study is to verify if boric acid (BA), that induces in rodents malformations similar to those valproic acid and trichostatin A-related, acts through similar mechanisms: HDAC inhibition and histone hyperacetylation. Pregnant mice were treated intraperitoneally with a teratogenic dose of BA (1000 mg/kg, day 8 of gestation). Western blot analysis and immunostaining were performed with anti hyperacetylated histone 4 (H4) antibody on embryos explanted 1, 3 or 4 h after treatment and revealed H4 hyperacetylation at the level of somites. HDAC enzyme assay was performed on embryonic nuclear extracts. A significant HDAC inhibition activity (compatible with a mixed type partial inhibition mechanism) was evident with BA. Kinetic analyses indicate that BA modifies substrate affinity by a factor alpha=0.51 and maximum velocity by a factor beta=0.70. This work provides the first evidence for HDAC inhibition by BA and suggests such a molecular mechanism for the induction of BA-related malformations.     

Blocking HIV-1 Vif restores a natural mechanism of intracellular antiviral defense

AIDS has become the greatest pandemic in the human history counting approximately 40 millions people worldwide. To purge HIV-1 infection, new therapeutic approaches need to be searched in alternative and/or in addition to the current pharmacological ones. Recently, several independent laboratories have unveiled a non-immune intracellular anti-HIV-1 defense strategy based on the cytidine deaminase APOBEC3G, which restricts HIV-1 production by directly mutating the proviral DNA in infected cells. To counteract this defense pathway, HIV-1 has developed an evasion strategy by acquiring the accessory protein Vif, which blocks the action of APOBEC3G by inducing its proteasome-mediated degradation.