Optical Pretargeting of Tumor with Fluorescent MORF Oligomers

Objective Pretargeting with radioactivity has significantly improved tumor to normal tissue radioactivity ratios over conventional antibody imaging in both animal studies and clinical trials. This laboratory is investigating DNA analogues such as phosphorodiamidate morpholinos (MORFs) for pretargeting using technetium-99m (^99mTc) for detection. However, the unique properties of fluorescence activation and quenching combined with oligomers with their unique properties of hybridization may be particularly useful when used together for pretargeting with optical detection. The use of linear fluorophore-conjugated oligomer duplexes have been little used in animals, and to our knowledge, have not previously been considered for pretargeting applications. Methods A MORF/cDNA pair was selected such that when hybridized, the fluorescence of the Cy5.5-conjugated 25 mer MORF (Cy5.5–MORF25) is inhibited with a BHQ3-conjugated 18 mer complementary DNA (BHQ3–cDNA18). The short BHQ3–cDNA18 was selected to dissociate in the presence of a long cMORF25 in the pretargeted tumor, thus releasing the inhibitor from the Cy5.5 emitter. In this manner, the Cy5.5 fluorescence will be inhibited everywhere but in the target. The dissociation was first examined in vitro by adding the duplex to the cMORF25 both in solution and immobilized on polystyrene microspheres and by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Thereafter, biotinylated cMORF25 immobilized on streptavidin polystyrene microspheres were administered intramuscularly in one thigh of hairless SKH-1 mice as target while an identical weight of the identical microspheres but without the cMORF25 was administered in the contralateral thigh as control. The animals then received IV the Cy5.5–MORF25/BHQ3–cDNA18 duplex or equal molar dosage of single-chain Cy5.5–MORF25 and were imaged. Results The SPR studies showed that the immobilized cDNA18 rapidly captured the flowing MORF25 to provide a duplex with a slow dissociation rate constant. Furthermore, when cMORF25 was next allowed to flow over the now immobilized duplex, the cDNA18 was unable to prevent dissociation of the heteroduplex and the formation and release of the cMORF25-MORF25 homoduplex. Images of animals obtained soon after receiving the Cy5.5–MORF25 singlet showed intense whole body fluorescence obscuring the target thigh. However, only 5 minutes after receiving the Cy5.5–MORF25/BHQ3–cDNA18 duplex, the target thigh was clearly visible along with only the kidneys. Conclusions This first study of optical pretargeting provides a proof of concept that oligomer pretargeting found to be useful with radioactivity detection is applicable with fluorescent detection as well. In addition, our results demonstrate that by using linear oligomers for optical pretargeting, chain lengths (and base sequences) may be manipulated to provide duplexes with stabilities and fluorescence inhibition optimized for pretargeting and other in vivo applications of optical imaging.     

Effect of Renal Impairment on the Pharmacokinetics and Tolerability of Tiagabine

Summary: Purpose: We wished to determine the effect of renal impairment on the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of the new antiepileptic drug tiagabine (TGB).
Methods: We assessed TGB pharmacokinetics and tolerability in 25 subjects with various degrees of renal function (based on creatinine clearance, n = 4–6 per group) from healthy (group I) to requiring hemodialysis (group V) in a single and multiple dose (every 12h), one-period (groups I-IV) or a single dose, two-period (group V) study (4-mg oral doses of TGB · HCl). Blood samples were collected after the first dose (both periods for group V) and after the last dose on day 5 (groups I-IV). TGB plasma concentrations and plasma protein binding were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultrafiltration, respectively.
Results: TGB was well tolerated by all study subjects. The pharmacokinetics of TGB were similar in all subjects; no pharmacokinetic parameter (based on either total or unbound concentrations) was statistically correlated with creatinine clearance. For total TGB in plasma, single-dose mean values of the maximum plasma concentration, clearance, and half-life (t1/2) ranged from 52 to 108 ng/ml, from 7.14 to 11.02 I/h, and from 6.4 to 8.4 h, respectively.
Conclusions: TGB pharmacokinetics and tolerability were independent of renal function; therefore, dosage adjustment is unnecessary for epilepsy patients with renal impairment.     

金属离子及氨基糖对大鼠肾脏N－乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶Ⅲ活性测定的影响

采用反相ＨＰＬＣ荧光测定法对大鼠肾脏Ｎ－乙酰氨基葡萄糖转移酶（ＧｎＴ）Ⅲ活性测定时二价金属离子及氨基糖的影响进行了研究。结果表明：ＧｎＴⅢ必须有二价金属离子激活，最佳激活离子为Ｍｎ￣（２＋）离子，其次为Ｍｇ￣（２＋）离子；二协金属离子对ＧｎＴⅢ的激活作用依次为Ｍｎ￣（２＋）＞Ｍｇ（２＋）＞Ｃｏ（２＋）＞Ｃａ￣（２＋）＞Ｎｉ￣（２＋）＞Ｂａ￣（２＋）＞Ｚｎ￣（２＋）。四种氨基糖（Ｎ－乙酰氨基葡萄糖ＧｌｃＮＡｃ，Ｎ－乙酰氨基半轧糖ＧａＩＮＡｃ，氨基葡萄糖ＧｌｃＮ，氨基半乳糖ＧａｌＮ），除ＧｌｃＮ使ＧｎＴ活性增加外，其余三种对ＧｎＴⅢ均有不同程度的抑制作用。     

猪卵透明带单克隆抗体的研制

用热溶猪卵透明带抗原免疫BALB/C 小鼠,取其脾细胞和SP2/O 细胞融合产生的杂交瘤。用间接免疫荧光和ELISA 方法筛选,经四次克隆化后,获得三株分泌猪卵透明带单克隆抗体杂交瘤细胞株(LPD_8,LPC_4,LPD_2)。通过间接免疫荧光试验,其中二株单克隆抗体(LPD_8,LPC_4)与人卵透明带有交叉反应。但它们在猪与人卵透明带上呈现的荧光部位有明显的不同,LPD_8位于整个透明带上,而LPC_4只见于透明带外层。LPD_2荧光位于透明带内层且与人卵无交叉反应。我们认为这种差别是由于抗原决定簇的不同所致。     

二氧化硅活化巨噬细胞中早期生长反应因子-1及其信号转导通路的研究

目的 探讨早期生长反应因子(Egr-1)及其信号转导在矽肺发生发展中的作用。方法用细胞免疫荧光、原位杂交方法检测二氧化硅(SiO2)刺激后Egr-1的表达定位,用报道质粒及EMSA检测其活性改变;用激酶活性分析法检测si0：刺激巨噬细胞后ERK1／2活性改变,进一步用激酶抑制剂初步探讨SiO2活化Egr-1的信号转导通路。结果SiO2刺激RAW264．7细胞短时间Egr-1核蛋白表达及转录因子明显增加;且在处理后30～60min,Egr-1核蛋白结合活性明显升高(为未处理组的20倍);在刺激后15min ERK1／2活性开始升高,30min达高峰(活性为对照组的29倍)而后渐降至基础水平;进一步用激酶阻断发现,Egr-1 mRNA及蛋白表达均减少。结论SiO2能激活巨噬细胞中Egr-1,且此过程可能由ERK1／2、p38介导,提示SiO2-ERK1／2、p38-Egr-1通路可能在矽肺发生发展过程中起重要作用。     

金针菇子实体多糖提取物对人肝癌SMMC—7721细胞的抑增殖作用

金针菇子实体经热水提取，乙醇沉淀，胰蛋白酶水解，Ｓｅｖａｇ法去除蛋白质，乙醇分级沉淀等处理得金针菇子实体多糖。研究了该多糖对人肝部ＳＭＭＣ－７７２１细胞生长曲线，有丝分裂指数及线粒体活性的影响。结果表明该多糖对体外培养的人肝癌ＳＭＭＣ－７７２１细胞具一定抑制作用。