The role of alpha(5)beta(1)-integrin in the IGF-I-induced migration of extravillous trophoblast cells during the process of implantation

The role of integrins in the processes of adhesion and migration makes them attractive potential participants in the complex events of embryo implantation and placentation. Recently, the role of the alpha(v)beta(3)-integrin pathway was shown in the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)-stimulated migration of extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cells. This study was designed to investigate the role of alpha(5)beta(1)-integrin in this respect. Using cultured EVT cells, migration assays were carried out for IGF-I-treated or untreated cells in the presence or absence of the GRGDSP and GRGESP hexapeptides, alphaIR3, and a blocking antibody against alpha(5)beta(1)-integrin. Immuno-electron microscopy and immunofluorescent staining were performed to localize the distribution of alpha(5)beta(1)- and alpha(v)beta(3)-integrins, Rab5a, paxillin, phospho-FAK (pFAK), and vinculin. The results showed that IGF-I-induced migration of EVT cells was abolished following treatment with GRGDSP hexapeptide, alphaIR3, and a blocking antibody against alpha(5)beta(1)-integrin. Further, statistical analysis showed that the area-related numerical density of the alpha(5)beta(1)-integrin in the perinuclear regions was significantly higher than in the cell extensions. Immunocytochemical experiments demonstrated an up-regulation in internalization rate of alpha(5)beta(1)-integrin in IGF-I-stimulated EVT cells. Furthermore, alpha(5)beta(1)-integrin exhibited co-localization with Rab5a, but not with alpha(v)beta(3)-integrin, pFAK, paxillin, and vinculin at the focal adhesions of the EVT cells. Taken together, these findings suggest an essential role for alpha(5)beta(1)-integrin in IGF-I-promoted migration of EVT cells. It is possible therefore that IGF-I-induced internalization of alpha(5)beta(1)-integrin may be an important event during the migration of EVT cells in the complex processes of implantation and placentation.     

Effects of a selective inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase, ONO-1714, on experimental hemodialysis-related hypotension in renal dysfunctional dogs

The effect of a selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, ONO-1714 ((1S,5S,6R,7R)-7-chloro-3-imino-5-methyl-2-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane hydrochloride), on hemodialysis-related hypotension was investigated using a canine model of renal dysfunction. Renal dysfunction was induced in dogs by complete bilateral ligation of renal arteries. On performing hemodialysis with ultrafiltration, the blood pressure of the renal dysfunction dogs gradually decreased and persisted at reduced levels until completion. ONO-1714 ameliorated the hemodialysis-induced hypotension in the renal dysfunction dogs at a dose that did not influence blood pressure in non-hemodialysis dogs with normal renal function. The above findings indicated that ONO-1714 may elicit beneficial effects on hemodialysis-related hypotension.     

Effects of lithium and valproate on agonist-induced platelet intracellular calcium mobilization: relevance to myosin light chain kinase

Serotonin (5-HT)- or thrombin-stimulated platelet intracellular calcium (Ca) mobilization has been reported to be enhanced in patients with bipolar disorders. However, the mechanism of this enhancement is unknown. As a preliminary study, the authors examined the effects of a myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) inhibitor, 1-(5-chloronaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1H-hexahydro-1,4-diazepine hydrochloride (ML-9), and two drugs that are mainstays of treatment for bipolar disorder, lithium and valproate, on 5-HT- or thrombin-induced Ca increase in the platelets of normal subjects. When preincubated with 30 microM ML-9, Ca responses to both agonists were enhanced. Valproate showed a dose-dependent attenuation of agonist-induced intracellular Ca rise, both in the absence and presence of ML-9. Although lithium alone had no significant effect on the Ca increase, a high concentration of lithium significantly decreased Ca mobilization only in the presence of ML-9. These results suggest that the enhanced Ca response observed in bipolar disorder might be relevant to decreased function of MLCK and that the mechanism of action of lithium may include a compensatory effect on MLCK modulation.     

Transgenic mice expressing Cre-recombinase specifically in M- or S-cone photoreceptors

PURPOSE: To establish lines of transgenic mice that express Cre-recombinase in M- or S-cone photoreceptors for generating cone photoreceptor-specific (conditional) mutants. METHODS: Five kilobases of 5' upstream sequence of the mouse red-green (M) opsin gene or 0.5 kb of the mouse blue (S) opsin gene was cloned into a Cre-expression plasmid. Transgenic mice were generated and characterized, and appropriate lines were established. The Cre-transgenic mice were crossed with ROSA26-lacZ mice (containing floxed beta-galactosidase gene) and analyzed to determine Cre-recombinase activity. RESULTS: Immunofluorescence study showed successful targeting of Cre-recombinase expression to cone photoreceptors. Double staining with anti-Cre antibody and anti-M- or anti-S-opsin antibody revealed specificity of Cre expression in M-opsin- and/or S-opsin-positive photoreceptors. Mating with ROSA26-lacZ mice demonstrated that Cre-recombinase was functionally active in M- or S-cones. CONCLUSIONS: Lines of transgenic mice that specifically express functional Cre-recombinase in M- or S-cones were established in this study. Because mutations in several widely expressed genes lead to photoreceptor degeneration, these transgenic mice should be valuable in generating conditional mutants to investigate the function of various genes specifically in cone photoreceptors.     

Behavior of HO-1-N-1, buccal mucosa carcinoma derived cells,on [Ca2+]i responses to stimulants

Buccal mucosa carcinoma-derived cell line, HO-1-N-1, epithelial-like cells, was obtained in order to investigate the characteristics of oral cancer cells and examine the [Ca2+]i responses to stimulants, such as bradykinin (BK), histamine (HIST), thapsigargin (TG), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha ). Intracellular Ca2+ influx was observed by all stimulants that enhanced the [Ca2+]i response. However, intracellular Ca2+ release was not observed in response to growth factors. The [Ca2+]i response of BK (100 nM) was inhibited by 10 micro M of the BKB2 antagonist, D-Arg-[Hyp3, Thi5,8, D-Phe7]-BK, and HIST (1 mM) was completely inhibited by 100 nM of the H1 antagonist, (+)-chlorpheniramine, in the presence and absence of extracellular Ca2+ (1.5 mM).     

Symptomatic de novo arteriovenous malformation appearing 17 years after the resection of two other arteriovenous malformations in childhood: case report

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: This report describes the first case of symptomatic de novo arteriovenous malformation (AVM) appearing ectopically after total resection of other AVMs. We discuss the growth phenomenon and the nature of AVMs. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 27-year-old woman with sudden headache and right-sided numbness was admitted to our hospital. Computed tomographic scans revealed a hemorrhage of the corpus callosum and the bilateral lateral ventricles. A cerebral angiogram demonstrated an AVM that was fed by the bilateral pericallosal arteries and drained into the inferior sagittal sinus. Seventeen years earlier, at the age of 10 years, the patient had undergone resection of two other AVMs. At that time, the newly presented AVM was not detected. This AVM had grown markedly and caused hemorrhage after 17 years. INTERVENTION: The AVM, which was located in the bilateral cingulate gyrus and the corpus callosum, was totally removed through a right frontal craniotomy. The patient was discharged without neurological deficits. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that patients who undergo complete resection of AVMs may sustain other de novo AVMs some years later. The growth of an AVM seems to be related to the patient's age at onset and the duration of the posttreatment period. We emphasize the importance of long-term follow-up in patients with cerebral AVMs treated during childhood.     

Trigeminal neuralgia: evaluation of neuralgic manifestation and site of neurovascular compression with 3D CISS MR imaging and MR angiography

PURPOSE: To evaluate three-dimensional (3D) constructive interference in steady-state (CISS) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR angiography with multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) for detection of neurovascular compression (NVC) in patients with trigeminal neuralgia and to evaluate the relationship between clinical symptoms related to trigeminal branches and those related to the site of trigeminal nerve compression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-four consecutive patients with trigeminal neuralgia were examined at 3D CISS imaging and MR angiography with a 1.5-T MR system. Original transverse and four reformatted images were used for image interpretation. Vascular contact with the trigeminal nerve at the root entry zone (REZ) was determined, and the nature of the involved vessels was identified. The position of the blood vessel compressing the nerve was classified into cranial, caudal, medial, or lateral sites. Statistical analysis was performed with the chi2 test or the Fisher exact test between two groups and with the chi2 test among more than two groups. RESULTS: In 12 of 15 patients who underwent surgery, the artery that was considered a responsible vessel at 3D CISS imaging and MR angiography was confirmed as such. In the other three patients, the vein was the responsible vessel, which was detected only at 3D CISS imaging. Sixteen (89%) of 18 patients with symptoms related to the maxillary division had NVC at the medial site of the REZ, while 16 (76%) of 21 patients with symptoms related to the mandibular division had NVC at the lateral site (P <.001, chi2 test). CONCLUSION: 3D CISS MR imaging with MPR is useful in the detection of NVC in patients with trigeminal neuralgia, compared with MR angiography. A close relationship was found between the region of neuralgic manifestation and the site of trigeminal nerve compression.     

CYP isoforms involved in the metabolism of clarithromycin in vitro: comparison between the identification from disappearance rate and that from formation rate of metabolites

To clarify whether CYP2C19 is involved in the overall metabolism of clarithromycin (CAM) or not, in vitro studies using human liver microsomes and recombinant CYPs were performed by an approach based on the disappearance rate of parent compound from the incubation mixture. In addition, the results of disappearance rate were compared with those obtained from the formation rates of the major metabolites of CAM, 14-(R)-hydroxy-CAM and N-demethyl-CAM.The intrinsic clearance (CL(int)) values determined from the disappearance of CAM in nine different human liver microsomes were highly correlated with the testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation activity (r=0.957, p<0.001). The CL(int) of CAM was markedly reduced by selective inhibitors of CYP3A4 (ketoconazole and troleandomycin) and by polyclonal antibodies raised against CYP3A4/5 in human liver microsomes. Among the 11 isoforms of recombinant human CYP, only CYP3A4 revealed the metabolic activity for the disappearance of CAM. These results were fairly consistent with those obtained from the conventional approach based on the formation of major metabolites of CAM. Comparison of the kinetic parameters estimated from the disappearance rate of CAM and the formation rates of 14-(R)-hydroxy-CAM and N-demethyl-CAM indicates that N-demethylation and 14-(R)-hydroxylation account for 65% of CL(int) derived from the disappearance of CAM in human liver microsomes.The findings suggest that CYP3A4 plays a predominant role in the overall metabolic clearance of CAM as well as in the formation of 14-(R)-hydroxy-CAM and N-demethyl-CAM. CYP2C19 does not appear to be involved in the overall metabolism of CAM at least in human liver microsomes. A combination of the disappearance rate of a parent compound and the formation rate of metabolites appears to be a useful approach for estimating the percentage contribution of the formation of metabolites to the overall metabolic clearance of a parent compound in vitro.     

The history of the development and changes of quinolone antibacterial agents

The quinolones, especially the new quinolones (the 6-fluoroquinolones), are the synthetic antibacterial agents to rival the Beta-lactam and the macrolide antibacterials for impact in clinical usage in the antibacterial therapeutic field. They have a broad antibacterial spectrum of activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative and mycobacterial pathogens as well as anaerobes. Further, they show good-to-moderate oral absorption and tissue penetration with favorable pharmacokinetics in humans resulting in high clinical efficacy in the treatment of many kinds of infections. They also exhibit excellent safety profiles as well as those of oral Beta-lactam antibiotics. The bacterial effects of quinolones inhibit the function of bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. The history of the development of the quinolones originated from nalidixic acid (NA), developed in 1962. In addition, the breakthrough in the drug design for the scaffold and the basic side chains have allowed improvements to be made to the first new quinolone, norfloxacin (NFLX), patented in 1978. Although currently more than 10,000 compounds have been already synthesized in the world, only two percent of them were developed and tested in clinical studies. Furthermore, out of all these compounds, only twenty have been successfully launched into the market. In this paper, the history of the development and changes of the quinolones are described from the first quinolone, NA, via, the first new quinolone (6-fluorinated quinolone) NFLX, to the latest extended-spectrum quinolone antibacterial agents against multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. NA has only modest activity against Gram-negative bacteria and low oral absorption, therefore a suitable candidate for treatment of systemic infections (UTIs) is required. Since the original discovery of NA, a series of quinolones, which are referred to as the old quinolones, have been developed leading to the first new quinolone, NFLX, with moderate improvements in over all properties starting in 1962 through and continuing throughout the 1970's. Especially, the drug design for pipemidic acid (PPA) indicated one of the important breakthroughs that lead to NFLX. The introduction of a piperazinyl group, which ia a basic moiety at the C7-position of the quinolone nuclei, improved activity against Gram-negative organisms broadening the spectrum to include Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PPA also showed soem activity against Gram-positive bac teria. The basic piperazine ring, which can form the zwitterionic natrure with the carboxylic acid at the C3-position, has subsequently been shown to increase the ability of the drugs to penetrate the bacterial cells resulting in enhanced activity. Further, the zwitterionic forms resulted in significant tissue penetration in the pharmacokinetics. On the other hand, the first compound with a fluorine atom at the C6-position of the related quinolone scaffold was flumequine and the compound indicated that activity against Gram-positive bacteria could be improved in the old quinolones. The addition of a flourine atom at the C6-position is essential for the inhibition of target enzymes. The results show the poten antibacterial activity and the penetration of the quinolone molecule into the bacterial cells and human tissue. The real breakthrough came with the combination of these two features in NFLX, a 6-fluorinated quinolone having a piperazinyl group at the C7-position, NFLX features significant differences from the old quinolones in the activities and pharmacokinetics in humans, resulting in high clinical efficacy in the treatment of many kinds of infections including RTIs.Consequently, those great discoveries are rapidly superseded by even better compounds and NFLX proved to be just the beginning of a highly successful period of research into the modifications of the new quinolone antibacterials. Simce the chemical structure and important features of NFLX had become apparent in 1978, many compounds were patented in the next three years, several of which reached the market. Among the drugs, ofloxacin (OFLX) and ciprofloxacin (CPFX) are recognized as superior in several respects to the oral beta-lactam antibiotics as an antibacterial agent. With a focus on OFLX and CPFX, numerous research groups entered the antibacterial therapeutic field, triggering intense competition in the search to find newer, more effective quinolones. After NFLX was introduced in the market, while resulting by the end of today, eleven kinds of other new quinolones launched in Japan. They are enoxacin (ENX), OFLX, CPFX, lomefloxacin (LFLX), fleroxacin (FRLX), tosufloxacin (TFLX), levofloxacin (LVFX), sparfloxacin (SPFX), gatifloxacin (GFLX), prulifloxacin (PULX) and also pazufloxacin (PZFX). The advantages of these compounds, e.g., LVFX, SPFX and GFLX, are that their spectrum includes Gram-positive bacteria species as well as Gram-negative bacteria and they improve bioavailability results when a daily dose is administered for systemic infections including RTIs. However, unexpected adverse reactions, such as the CNS reaction, the drug-drug interaction, phototoxicity, hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity such as the QTc interval prolongation of ECG, have been reported in the clinical evaluations or the post-marketing surveillance of several new quinolones. Moreover, the adverse reactions of arthropathy (the joint toxicity) predicated from studies in juvenile animals have never materialized in clinical use. Therefore, no drugs other than NFLX have yet been approved for pediatric use. Fortunately, the newer quinolones are being developed and tested to reduce these adverse reactions on the basis of recent studies. On the other hand, multi-drug resistant Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphycolocci (MRCNS), penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have been a serious problem in the medical community. Recently, the new quinolone antibacterials are highly successful class of antibacterial therapeutic field, however, the increased isolation of quinolone-resistant bacteria above them has become a normal outcome. These problems of multi-drug resistance have been the driving force for the development of newer quinolones. The next gereration of quinolone antibacterial agents will be potent against multi-drug resistant bacteria, such as MRSA, and provide a lower rate of emergence in resistance. Further, they should have favorable safety profiles to reduce the adverse reactions. The future of quinolones as the ultimate in pharmaceuticals must be handled cautiously if they are to realize their potential in the medical community.