Novel azapeptide inhibitors of cathepsins B and K. Structural background to increased specificity for cathepsin B

Abstract: We have designed and synthesized a new series of azapeptides which act as potential inhibitors of cathepsin B and/or cathepsin K. Their structures are based upon the inhibitory sites of natural cysteine protease inhibitors, cystatins. For the synthesized azapeptides, the equilibrium constants for dissociation of inhibitor–enzyme complex, K_i, were determined. Comparison of these values indicated that all of the azainhibitors act much stronger toward cathepsin B. Z‐Arg‐Leu‐His‐Agly‐Ile‐Val‐OMe ( 7 ) proved to be approximately 500 times more potent for cathepsin B than for cathepsin K. To be able to explain the obtained experimental values we used the molecular dynamics procedures to analyze the interactions between cathepsin B and compound 7 . We also determined the structure of the most potent and selective cathepsin B azainhibitor by means of NMR studies and theoretical calculations. In this report, we describe SAR studies of azapeptide inhibitors indicating the influence of the conformational flexibility of the examined compounds on inhibition of cathepsins B and K.     

Immune reactivity towards insulin, its amyloid and protein S100B in blood sera of Parkinson's disease patients

Peripheral immune responses can be sensitive indicators of disease pathology. We evaluated the autoimmune reactions to endocrine (insulin) and astrocytical (S100B) biomarkers in the blood sera of 26 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients compared with controls by using ELISA. We found a statistically significant increase of the autoimmune responses to both antigens in PD patients compared with controls with a mean increase of 70% and 50% in the autoimmune reactions towards insulin and S100B, respectively. Heterogeneity of the immune responses observed in patients may reflect the modulating effect of multiple variables associated with neurodegeneration and also changes in the basic mechanisms of individual autoimmune reactivity. We did not detect any pronounced immune reactions towards insulin amyloid fibrils and oligomers in PD patients, indicating that an amyloid-specific conformational epitope is not involved in immune recognition of this amyloid type, while sequential epitope of native insulin is hidden within the amyloid structures. Immune reactions towards S100B and insulin may reflect the neurodegenerative brain damaging processes and impaired insulin homeostasis occurring in PD.     

复方丹参注射液干扰素治疗乙肝后肝纤维化

目的探讨复方丹参注射液联合干扰素治疗慢性乙肝患者的疗效。方法110例慢性乙肝患者，按随机方法分成①对照组30例，应用普通保肝药物治疗，疗程6个月；②丹参组30例，应用复方丹参注射液（每ml含丹参、降香各1g）30ml加入10％葡萄糖溶液300ml中静脉注射1个月；③IFN组30例，应用IFN—α 3MU，隔日一次肌内注射，3个月；④联合组20例，应用复方丹参注射液30ml加10％葡萄糖溶液300ml静脉注射1个月，IFN-α 3MU，隔日一次肌内注射，3个月。丹参组，IFN组和联合组保肝药物治疗同对照组。四组病例在性别、年龄、病程，治疗前肝功能等方面均无统计学差异。治疗前检测肝功能，肝炎病毒标志，血清HA、IV—C、PCI—Ⅱ，部分病例进行肝穿病理检查。治疗开始后每月检测肝功能，3个月（治疗后）和6个月（随访时）时检测血清HA、IV—C、PCⅢ及乙肝病毒标志，治疗后1年行肝穿病理检查。结果治疗前四组患者血清HA、PCⅢ、IV—C水平无统计学差异；治疗后丹参组、IFN组、联合组血清HA、FCⅢ、IV—C水平较治疗前及对照组有不同程度的降低。结论复方丹参注射液联合IFN治疗可使血清HA、PCⅢ、IV—C有明显下降，肝组织病理改变明显改善，为目前有效的慢性乙肝治疗措施。     

免疫组化法检测非甲-非庚型肝炎患者肝组织中输血传播病毒

目的　检测非甲-非庚型肝炎患者肝组织输血传播病毒(TTV)感染状况,TTV感染与肝组织炎症程度 及与血液学指标的相关性。方法　应用免疫组织化学法检测52例非甲-非庚型肝炎患者肝组织中TTV,并经原位 杂交证实;对TTV阳性和阴性组的血液学生化指标,诸如血清丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、血清天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)、血 清总胆红素(TBIL)、白蛋白(ALB)、γ 球蛋白(γ G)、凝血酶原活动度(PTA)及组织学活动指数(HAI)进行了比较。 结果　非甲-非庚型肝炎患者肝组织中TTV抗原(TTVAg)阳性15例,检出率为28.8%;阳性物质主要定位于肝细 胞浆内,呈棕黄色细小颗粒,偶见肝细胞核内有表达;TTV阳性表达细胞呈单个、散在或片簇状分布;TTVAg阳性的 组织切片经苏木素-伊红(HE)染色后,可观察到病毒性肝炎的一些病理变化,如肝细胞胞浆疏松化、气球样变、嗜酸 样变、灶性坏死、凋亡、小叶内及汇管区炎细胞浸润;从15例TTVAg阳性病例中任选10例进行TTV DNA原位杂交 检测,结果8例阳性,二者符合率80.0%;同时对5例免疫组化TTVAg阴性肝组织进行TTV DNA原位杂交检测,结 果5例均为阴性,二者符合率100%;TTVAg阳性组ALT、AST、TBIL、γ G均值均高于TTVAg阴性组,ALB、PTA 均值均低于TTVAg阴性组,但两组比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.0     

Bile-pancreatic juice exclusion promotes Akt/NF-kB activation and chemokine production in ligation-induced acute pancreatitis

Using a unique surgical model (the donor rat model), we showed previously that duodenal replacement of bile-pancreatic juice, obtained fresh from a donor rat, ameliorates ligation-induced acute pancreatitis. We hypothesize that bile-pancreatic juice exclusion from gut exacerbates Akt/nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) pathway activation and induces chemokine production in ligation-induced acute pancreatitis. We compared rats with bile-pancreatic duct ligation to those with duodenal bile-pancreatic juice replacement fresh from a donor rat beginning immediately before duct ligation. Sham control rats had ducts dissected but not ligated. Rats were killed 1 or 3 hours after operation (n=7/group). Akt activation (immunoblotting, immune-complex kinase assay, and ELISA), inhibitory protein I-kB (I-kB) activation (immunoblotting), and production of chemokines MCP-1 and RANTES (ELISA) were measured in pancreatic homogenates. NF-kB was quantitated in nuclear fractions using electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Duct ligation produced significant increases in pancreatic Akt, IkB, and NF-kB activation and production of MCP-1 and RANTES. Activation of the Akt/NF-kB pathway and increased MCP-1 and RANTES production in response to duct ligation were significantly reduced by bile-pancreatic juice replacement (ANOVA, P<0.05). Bile-pancreatic juice exclusion stimulates Akt/NF-kB pathway activation and increases chemokine production in ligation-induced acute pancreatitis. Presented at the annual meeting of The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Chicago, Illinois, May 16, 2005 (poster).     

Immunogenicity and safety of a novel yeast Hansenula polymorpha-derived recombinant Hepatitis B candidate vaccine in healthy adolescents and adults aged 10–45 years

The aim was to determine whether the immunogenicity of an investigational hepatitis B vaccine (spHB) is at least as high as that of a licensed control vaccine, Engerix B^®, and to evaluate its safety before inclusion in new pediatric combination vaccines. Two randomized, controlled, blind-observer, Phase 3 trials were performed: one in Argentina (344 participants aged 10–15 years, 10 μg HBsAg/dose) and one in Uruguay (344 participants aged 16–45 years, 20 μg HBsAg/dose). Both vaccines were given in a 0, 1, 6 month schedule to all participants with a baseline anti-Hep B antibody titer <0.6 mIU/mL. Antibody titers were measured pre-dose 1, 1 month after dose 2, pre-dose 3, and 1 month after dose 3. Statistical non-inferiority analyses were performed on seroprotection rates (SP) post-dose 3 (% with anti-Hep B titers ≥10 mIU/mL; delta non-inferiority limit of −10%). In both studies, SP for the spHB vaccine was 100% and the spHB vaccine was non-inferior in terms of SP to the licensed control vaccine. GMTs post-dose 3 were approximately 1.8- and 4.1-fold higher for spHB in the 10–15 year and 16–45 year age groups, respectively. Reactogenicity was low for each vaccine, after each dose. This highly immunogenic hepatitis B candidate vaccine was selected for further investigation as a component of new pediatric combination vaccines.     

慢性乙型肝炎患者病毒e系统状态与肝纤维化关系的研究

目的:观察慢性乙型肝炎患者乙型肝炎病毒e系统状态和复制指标在肝纤维化发生过程中的变化及其与血清纤维化标志的关系,探讨它们在肝纤维化发生过程中的作用及其可能的临床意义.方法:188例慢性乙型肝炎患者根据肝纤维化程度分为S0～S4期等5组,分别用定量PCR及放免法检测患者血清中HBV-DNA及肝纤维化标志透明质酸、Ⅳ型胶原、Ⅲ型前胶原和层粘连蛋白的含量;HBeAg和抗-HBe采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测,并观察其在不同肝病理纤维化分期时的变化.结果:随着肝纤维化程度加重,血清HBV-DNA含量逐渐升高,从S1期开始显著增加(P＜0.01);而HBeAg阳性率逐渐降低,S3、S4期较S0显著减少(P＜0.05和P＜0.01);抗-HBe阳性率呈相反的变化趋势,在S3和S4期的阳性率明显高于S0期(P＜0.05和P＜0.01).血清HBV-DNA( )HBeAg( )组血清纤维化标志最低,HBV-DNA(-)抗-HBe( )组最高,两者差异有显著性(P＜0.01).结论:HBV复制和e系统状态的改变与肝纤维化程度密切相关,肝内病毒复制标志与血清纤维化标志联合检测,对于判断肝纤维化程度和指导抗病毒治疗有重要的价值.     

Flavocoxid is as effective as naproxen for managing the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee in humans: a short-term randomized,double-blind pilot study

Flavocoxid (Limbrel), a proprietary mixture of flavonoid molecules (baicalin and catechin), was tested against a traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen, for the management of the signs and symptoms of moderate osteoarthritis (OA) in humans. Discomfort and global disease activity were used as the primary end points, and safety assessments were also taken for both treatments as a secondary endpoint. In this double-blind study, 103 subjects were randomly assigned to receive either flavocoxid [500 mg twice daily (BID)] or naproxen (500 mg BID) in a 1-month onset of action trial. Outcome measures included the short Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index, subject Visual Analogue Scale for discomfort and global response, and investigator Visual Analogue Scale for global response and fecal occult blood. Both flavocoxid and naproxen showed significant reduction in the signs and symptoms of knee OA (P ≤ .001). There were no statistically detectable differences between the flavocoxid and naproxen groups with respect to any of the outcome variables. Similarly, there were no statistically detectable differences between the groups with respect to any adverse event, although there was a trend toward a higher incidence of edema and nonspecific musculoskeletal discomfort in the naproxen group. In this short-term pilot study, flavocoxid was as effective as naproxen in controlling the signs and symptoms of OA of the knee and would present a safe and effective option for those individuals on traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. A low incidence of adverse events was reported for both groups.     

HBV转录激活蛋白HBx、MHBst78MHBst155真核重组载体构建

目的分别构建人乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)X蛋白、羧基端截断的中分子表面蛋白MHBst78、MHBst155编码基因的真核重组表达载体,以便进一步研究其转录激活功能及对宿主细胞信号传导通路的影响。方法设计合成3对寡核苷酸引物,以adr亚型HBV质粒pHBVDNA为模板,采用PCR法分别扩增HBVX基因、MHBst78与MHBst155编码基因片段;用HindⅢ,KpnⅠ双酶切HBVⅩ基因;用HindⅢ和BamHⅠ双酶切MHBst78与MHBst155编码基因片段后,分别定向插入到真核表达载体pcDNA3.1相应酶切位点,转化宿主菌JM109,提取质粒,分别用上述内切酶酶切及DNA测序鉴定重组质粒。结果酶切重组体显示所切下的片段大小均与预计相符,测序结果与文献报道序列及预计结果一致。结论成功构建了HBVX基因、羧基端截断的HBV中分子表面蛋白MHBst78、MHBst155编码基因的真核重组表达载体,为进一步研究HBV转录激活蛋白HBx、MHBst78MHBst155对宿主细胞信号转导通路的影响奠定基础。