Unique excitation–contraction characteristics of mouse myocardium as revealed by SEA0400, a specific inhibitor of Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>–Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> exchanger

The functional role of the sodium–calcium exchanger in mouse ventricular myocardium was evaluated with a newly developed specific inhibitor, SEA0400. Contractile force and action potential configuration were measured in isolated ventricular tissue preparations, and cell shortening and Ca²⁺ transients were measured in indo-1-loaded isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes. SEA0400 increased the contractile force, cell shortening and Ca²⁺ transient amplitude, and shortened the late plateau phase of the action potential. -adrenergic stimulation by phenylephrine produced a sustained decrease in contractile force, cell shortening and Ca²⁺ transient amplitude, which were all inhibited by SEA0400. Increasing the contraction frequency resulted in a decrease in contractile force in the absence of drugs (negative staircase phenomenon). This frequency-dependent decrease was attenuated by SEA0400 and enhanced by phenylephrine. Phenylephrine increased the Ca²⁺ sensitivity of contractile proteins in isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes, while SEA0400 had no effect. These results provide the first pharmacological evidence in the mouse ventricular myocardium that inward current generated by Ca²⁺ extrusion through the sodium–calcium exchanger during the Ca²⁺ transient contributes to the action potential late plateau, that -adrenoceptor-mediated negative inotropy is produced by enhanced Ca²⁺ extrusion through the sodium–calcium exchanger, and that the negative staircase phenomenon can be explained by increased Ca²⁺ extrusion through the sodium–calcium exchanger at higher contraction frequencies.     

Adrenomedullin causes coronary vasodilation in humans: effects of inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis

Experimental studies have shown that adrenomedullin (AM) causes vasodilation, in part, mediated by endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO). However, it remains to be clarified how NO is involved in AM-induced coronary vasoreactivity in humans. We examined whether NO contributes to the vasodilatory effects of adrenomedullin on human coronary arteries. In 10 patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries, adrenomedullin (low dose: 1 ng/kg/min; high dose: 10 ng/kg/min) was infused into the left coronary ostium before and after an infusion of N-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 40 micromol/min for 5 min), an NO synthase inhibitor. Coronary diameter and coronary blood flow (CBF) were evaluated by quantitative angiography and Doppler flow velocity measurements. Changes in these parameters in response to adrenomedullin were expressed as percent changes from baseline values. Adrenomedullin at a high dose dilated coronary arteries (3.7+/-0.5%, P<0.001). Adrenomedullin increased the coronary blood flow at both doses (low: 55.7+/-13.9%, P<0.01; high: 48.8+/-9.8%, P<0.001). After the infusion of L-NMMA, adrenomedullin-induced coronary vasodilation and increase in coronary blood flow were attenuated. These findings suggest that adrenomedullin dilates human coronary arteries through an increase in NO production, at least in part.     

Selective allosteric ligand activation of the retinoid X receptor heterodimers of NGFI-B and Nurr1

NGFI-B, an orphan member of the NR4A subfamily of the nuclear receptors, recognizes specific sequences in the promoters of neuronal target genes as a monomer. Although NGFI-B also forms a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor (RXR), a receptor for 9-cis retinoic acid (9CRA), endogenous targets of the heterodimer have not been identified. We investigated the role of RXR ligand binding in NGFI-B/RXR activation and found that dibenzodiazepine-derived ligands, such as the weak RXR agonist HX600, selectively activate NGFI-B/RXR heterodimers. HX600 also activated the heterodimer formed by RXR and Nurr1, another NR4A subfamily receptor. In an assembly assay that detects ligand-dependent reconstruction of the ligand-binding domain, HX600 and not 9CRA induced an allosteric ligand effect on NGFI-B through RXRalpha binding. The data indicate that the RXR heterodimers of NGFI-B and Nurr1 are selectively activated by the RXR ligand HX600, and that compounds such as HX600 will be valuable tools in investigating NGFI-B and Nurr1 function.     

Effect of chymase on intraocular pressure in rabbits

Chymase is a chymotrypsin-like serine protease that is stored exclusively in the secretory granules of mast cells and converts big endothelins to endothelin-1 (1-31). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chymase on intraocular pressure in rabbits. Chymase injection (3 and 10 mU) resulted in a trend toward increased intraocular pressure and a significant increase in intraocular pressure at a dose of 10 mU compared with the control. A specific chymase inhibitor, Suc-Val-Pro-Phe(P)(OPh)(2), attenuated the ocular hypertension induced by chymase. Endothelin-1 (1-31) also caused ocular hypertension, which was inhibited by a selective endothelin ET(A) receptor antagonist, cyclo(D-Asp-Pro-D-Val-Leu-D-Trp) (BQ-123). Moreover, chymase-induced ocular hypertension was inhibited by BQ-123. These results suggest that chymase influences the regulation of intraocular pressure, and it is likely that the formation of endothelin-1 (1-31) and subsequent activation of endothelin ET(A) receptors are involved in the development of ocular hypertension induced by chymase.     

Mechanism of putative neo-antigen formation from N-propionyl-4-S-cysteaminylphenol, a tyrosinase substrate, in melanoma models

Metastatic melanoma is resistant to conventional therapies. N-propionyl-4-S-cysteaminylphenol (NPrCAP), an N-protected sulfur-amine analog of tyrosine, is a good substrate for tyrosinase and is selectively incorporated into melanoma cells, causing cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. We have recently shown that intratumoral injections of NPrCAP suppress not only the growth of primary B16F1 melanoma tumors but also of secondary, re-challenged tumors. The participation of CD8(+) T cells has been suggested for the NPrCAP-mediated anti-B16 melanoma immunity. In this study, the molecular mechanism of the NPrCAP cytotoxicity and immunogenicity was examined. The phenol NPrCAP was shown to be activated by mushroom tyrosinase to the ortho-quinone N-propionyl-4-S-cysteaminyl-1,2-benzoquinone (NPrCAQ), and the structure was confirmed by reducing it to the corresponding catechol. NPrCAQ reacted rapidly with biologically relevant sulfhydryl compounds such as cysteine, glutathione and bovine serum albumin. The NPrCAQ-thiol adduct formation was proven with a model thiol N-acetylcysteine by spectroscopic methods. The production and release of NPrCAQ-protein adducts was verified in B16F1 melanoma cells in vitro and in B16F1 melanoma-bearing mice in vivo through the detection of 5-S-cysteaminyl-3-S-cysteinylcatechol after acid hydrolysis of the protein fraction. These results suggest that the phenol NPrCAP, acting as a prohapten, can be activated in melanoma cells by tyrosinase to the quinone-hapten NPrCAQ, which binds to melanosomal proteins through their cysteine residues to form possible neo-antigens, thus triggering the immunological response. NPrCAP thus represents a potential new approach to immunotherapy against metastatic melanoma.     

Design and synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) dual inhibitors: exploration of novel back-pocket binders

To develop novel human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitors, we explored pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives bearing bicyclic fused rings designed to fit the back pocket of the HER2/EGFR proteins. Among them, the 1,2-benzisothiazole (42m) ring was selected as a suitable back pocket binder because of its potent HER2/EGFR binding and cell growth inhibitory (GI) activities and pseudoirreversibility (PI) profile as well as good bioavailability (BA). Ultimately, we arrived at our preclinical candidate 51m by optimization of the N-5 side chain to improve CYP inhibition and metabolic stability profiles without a loss of potency (HER2/EGFR inhibitory activity, IC(50), 0.98/2.5 nM; and GI activity BT-474 cells, GI(50), 2.0 nM). Reflecting the strong in vitro activities, 51m exhibited potent tumor regressive efficacy against both HER2- and EGFR-overexpressing tumor (4-1ST and CAL27) xenograft models in mice at oral doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg.     

Assessment of accuracy of immediate blood separation method: a novel blood analysis strategy

Objectives  

This study assesses the accuracy of the immediate blood separation method, a novel blood sampling strategy that enables blood analysis in any possible location.     

Comparative effects of two forms of gamma-oryzanol in different sterol compositions on hyperlipidemia induced by cholesterol diet in rats

Hypolipidemic effects of the usual gamma-oryzanol (gamma-OZ) and a new gamma-OZ (N-gamma-OZ) with a different sterol composition from gamma-OZ were investigated on the hyperlipidemia induced by ingestion of a high cholesterol diet (HCD) containing 1% cholesterol for 12 days in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Treatment with gamma-OZ for 6 days significantly inhibited the increase in serum total cholesterol (TC) and phospholipids (PL) induced by HCD, while the treatment with gamma-OZ for 12 days did not inhibit the increase of TC and PL. Treatment with N-gamma-OZ at 100 or 1000 mg/kg for 6 days slightly inhibited the increase of TC by HCD. The decrease of TC in high density lipoprotein (HDL-TC) was markedly inhibited by treatment with N-gamma-OZ for 12 days, but N-gamma-OZ for 6 days and gamma-OZ for 6 and 12 days did not inhibit the decrease of HDL-TC. Treatment with N-gamma-OZ for 12 days significantly inhibited the increase of PL and free cholesterol (FC) by HCD. gamma-OZ at 1000 mg/kg for 12 days also inhibited the increase of FC. N-gamma-OZ significantly reduced the atherogenic index using TC and HDL-TC by affecting the HDL-TC increase. gamma-OZ at 100 mg/kg and N-gamma-OZ at 100 mg/kg for 6 days reduced the atherogenic index using TC and HDL-TC by the inhibition of TC increase. The atherogenic index using PL and HDL-PL was only reduced by the treatment with N-gamma-OZ at 1000 mg/g for 12 days. The increase of triglyceride (TG) by HCD was inhibited by the treatment of N-gamma-OZ for 6 days (all doses) and 12 days (500, 1000 mg/kg), and gamma-OZ at 500 mg/kg for 6 and 12 days also inhibited the increase of TG by HCD. gamma-OZ and N-gamma-OZ had no effects on liver lipid contents. The hypolipidemic effect of N-gamma-OZ was slightly more potent than that of gamma-OZ.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of essential oils on erythrocytes and hepatocytes from rats and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine-liposomes

The effect of essential oils, eugenol, thymol and menthol, on erythrocytes, hepatocytes, dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC)-liposomes and surface tension were studied at various concentrations. Maximal inhibition of eugenol, thymol and menthol on the hypotonic hemolysis in rat erythrocytes were observed at a concentration of 2 mM, 1 mM and 1 mM, respectively. Eugenol at 4 mM and thymol at 2 mM caused an acceleration of hypotonic hemolysis. In isolated rat hepatocytes, thymol caused an increase in GOT leakage, but eugenol at 4 mM and menthol at 0.1 and 0.4 mM inhibited the GOT leakage. The leakage of GPT from hepatocytes was inhibited by eugenol at 0.1 mM and 0.4 to 4 mM and menthol at 0.1 to 0.6 mM. The inhibition of eugenol and menthol on the LDH leakage in hepatocytes were observed at a concentration of 0.001 to 4 mM and 0.1, 0.4 and 0.6 mM, respectively. Thymol caused no change in GPT and LDH leakage. Eugenol, thymol and menthol indicated a depression of surface tension at a concentration of 0.1 mM. The rank by order of surface activity was eugenol greater than thymol. Eugenol, thymol and menthol depressed the phase-transition temperature of DPPC-liposomes. The depression of phase-transition temperature by thymol was greater than that by eugenol and menthol. These results suggest the periapical tissue damage produced by essential oils may be related to membrane lysis and surface activity and that their tissue penetration may be related to membrane affinity and lipid solubility.