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1. We have investigated the inhibitory effects of RP 73401 (piclamilast) and rolipram against human monocyte cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE4) in relation to their effects on prostaglandin (PG)E2-induced cyclic AMP accumulation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF alpha production and TNF alpha mRNA expression. 2. PDE4 was found to be the predominant PDE isoenzyme in the cytosolic fraction of human monocytes. Cyclic GMP-inhibited PDE (PDE3) was also detected in the cytosolic and particulate fractions. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of human monocyte poly (A+) mRNA revealed amplified products corresponding to PDE4 subtypes A and B of which the former was most highly expressed. A faint band corresponding in size to PDE4D was also observed. 3. RP 73401 was a potent inhibitor of cytosolic PDE4 (IC50: 1.5 +/- 0.6 nM,n = 3). (+/-)-Rolipram (IC50: 313 +/- 6.7 nM,n = 3) was at least 200 fold less potent than RP 73401. R-(-)-rolipram was approximately 3 fold more potent than S-(+)-rolipram against cytosolic PDE4. 4. RP 73401 (IC50: 9.2 +/- 2.1 nM,n = 6) was over 50 fold more potent than (+/-)-rolipram (IC50: 503 +/- 134 nM,n = 6) ) in potentiating PGE2-induced cyclic AMP accumulation. R-(-)-rolipram (IC50: 289 +/- 121 nM,n = 5) was 4.7 fold more potent than its S-(+)-enantiomer (IC50: 1356 +/- 314 nM,n = 5). A strong and highly-significant,linear correlation (r = 0.95,P textless 0.01,n = 13) was observed between the inhibitory potencies of a range of structurally distinct PDE4 inhibitors against monocyte PDE4 and their ED50 values in enhancing monocyte cyclic AMP accumulation. A poorer,though still significant,linear correlation (r = 0.67,P textless 0.01,n = 13) was observed between the potencies of the same compounds in potentiating PGE2-induced monocyte cyclic AMP accumulation and their abilities to displace [3H]-rolipram binding to brain membranes. 5. RP 73401 (IC50: 6.9 +/- 3.3 nM,n = 5) was 71 fold more potent than (+/-)-rolipram (IC50: 490 +/- 260 nM,n = 4) in inhibiting LPS-induced TNF alpha release from monocytes. R-(-)-rolipram (IC50: 397 +/- 178 nM,n = 3) was 5.2-fold more potent than its S-(+)- enantiomer (IC50: 2067 +/- 659 nM,n = 3). As with cyclic AMP,accumulation a closer,linear correlation existed between the potency of structurally distinct compounds in suppressing TNF alpha with PDE4 inhibition (r = 0.93,P textless 0.01,n = 13) than with displacement of [3H]-rolipram binding (r = 0.65,P textless 0.01,n = 13). 6. RP 73401 (IC50: 2 nM) was 180 fold more potent than rolipram (IC50: 360 nM) in suppressing LPS (10 ng ml-1)-induced TNF alpha mRNA. 7. The results demonstrate that RP 73401 is a very potent inhibitor of TNF alpha release from human monocytes suggesting that it may have therapeutic potential in the many pathological conditions associated with over-production of this pro-inflammatory cytokine. Furthermore,PDE inhibitor actions on functional responses are better correlated with inhibition of PDE4 catalytic activity than displacement of [3H]-rolipram from its high-affinity binding site,suggesting that the native PDE4 in human monocytes exists predominantly in a 'low-affinity' state. View Publication

Human bone marrow (BM) cells contain low levels of the DNA repair protein,O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase,which may explain their susceptibility to nitrosourea-induced cytotoxicity and the development of secondary leukemia after nitrosourea treatment. Isolated CD34+ myeloid progenitors were also found to have low levels of alkyltransferase activity. The level of alkyltransferase in CD34+ cells or in mononuclear BM cells did not increase after incubation with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor,interleukin-3,stem cell factor,the combination,or 5637 conditioned medium. BCNU sensitivity remained unchanged as well. In addition,O6-benzylguanine depleted alkyltransferase activity in BM cells at concentrations as low as 1.5 mumol/L after a 1-hour exposure. O6-benzylguanine pretreatment markedly sensitized hematopoietic progenitor colony-forming cells to BCNU,resulting in a reduction in the dose of drug (termed the dose-modification factor) required to inhibit 50% of the colony formation (IC50) of threefold to fivefold. Since,unlike many other cell types,proliferating early (CD34+) hematopoietic precursors do not induce alkyltransferase,myelosuppression may be the dose-limiting toxicity of the combination of O6-benzylguanine plus BCNU in clinical trials. View Publication

To explore membrane-permeable synthetic inhibitors that discriminate between endogenous calpain and proteasome in cells,we examined the inhibition of profiles against calpain and proteasome in vitro and in vivo of peptidyl aldehydes possessing di-leucine and tri-leucine. The tripeptide aldehyde benzyloxycarbonyl-leucyl-leucinal (ZLLLal) strongly inhibited calpain and proteasome activities in vitro. The concentration required for 50% inhibition (IC50) of the casein-degrading activity of calpain was 1.25 microM,and the IC50s for the succinyl-leucyl-leucyl-valyl-tyrosine-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (Suc-LLVY-MCA)- and benzyloxycarbonyl-leucyl-leucyl-leucine-4-methylcoumaryl -7-amide (ZLLL-MCA)-degrading activities of proteasome were 850 and 100 nM,respectively. On the other hand,the synthetic dipeptide aldehyde benzyloxycarbonyl-leucyl-leucinal (ZLLal) strongly inhibited the casein degrading activity of calpain (IC50 1.20 microM),but the inhibition of proteasome was weak (IC50S for SucLLVY-MCA- and ZLLL-MCA-degrading activities were 120 and 110 microM,respectively). Thus,while calpain was inhibited by similar concentrations of ZLLal and ZLLLal,the inhibitory potencies of ZLLLal against the ZLLL-MCA- and Suc-LLVY-MCA-degrading activities in proteasome were 1,100 and 140 times stronger than those of ZLLal,respectively. To evaluate the effectiveness of these inhibitors on intracellular proteasome,the induction of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells caused by proteasome inhibition was examined. ZLLLal and ZLLal initiated neurite outgrowth with optimal concentrations of 20 nM and 10 microM,respectively,again showing a big difference in the effective concentrations for the proteasome inhibition as in vitro. As for the effect on intracellular calpain,the concentration of ZLLLal and ZLLal required for the inhibition of the autolytic activation of calpain in rabbit erythrocytes were 100 and 100 microM or more,respectively. The almost equal inhibitory potencies of ZLLLal and ZLLal were in agreement with the inhibition of calpain in vitro. These differential effects of inhibitors against calpain and proteasome are potentially useful for identifying the functions of calpain and proteasome in cell physiology and pathology. View Publication

The mechanisms involved in the regulation of vasculogenesis still remain unclear in mammals. Totipotent embryonic stem (ES) cells may represent a suitable in vitro model to study molecular events involved in vascular development. In this study,we followed the expression kinetics of a relatively large set of endothelial-specific markers in ES-derived embryoid bodies (EBs). Results of both reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and/or immunofluorescence analysis show that a spontaneous endothelial differentiation occurs during EBs development. ES-derived endothelial cells express a full range of cell lineage-specific markers: platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM),Flk-1,tie-1,tie-2,vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin,MECA-32,and MEC-14.7. Analysis of the kinetics of endothelial marker expression allows the distinction of successive maturation steps. Flk-1 was the first to be detected; its mRNA is apparent from day 3 of differentiation. PECAM and tie-2 mRNAs were found to be expressed only from day 4,whereas VE-cadherin and tie-1 mRNAs cannot be detected before day 5. Immunofluorescence stainings of EBs with antibodies directed against Flk-1,PECAM,VE-cadherin,MECA-32,and MEC-14.7 confirmed that the expression of these antigens occurs at different steps of endothelial cell differentiation. The addition of an angiogenic growth factor mixture including erythropoietin,interleukin-6,fibroblast growth factor 2,and vascular endothelial growth factor in the EB culture medium significantly increased the development of primitive vascular-like structures within EBs. These results indicate that this in vitro system contains a large part of the endothelial cell differentiation program and constitutes a suitable model to study the molecular mechanisms involved in vasculogenesis. View Publication

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is thought to be maintained by a small population of leukemic progenitor cells. To define the phenotype of such cells with long-term proliferative capacity in vitro and in vivo,we have used the production of leukemic clonogenic cells (CFU) after 2 to 8 weeks in suspension culture as a measure of these cells in vitro and compared their phenotype with that of cells capable of engrafting nonobese diabetic severe combined immune deficient (NOD/SCID) mice. Leukemic blast peripheral blood cells were evaluated for expression of CD34 and Thy-1 (CD90) antigens. The majority of AML blast cells at diagnosis lacked expression of Thy-1. Most primary CFU-blast and the CFU detected at up to 8 weeks from suspension cultures were CD34+/Thy-1-. AML cells that were capable of engrafting NOD/SCID mice were also found to have the CD34+/Thy-1- phenotype. However,significant engraftment was achieved using both CD34+/Thy-1- and CD34- subfractions from one AML M5 patient. These results suggest that while heterogeneity exists between individual patients,the leukemic progenitor cells that are capable of maintaining the disease in vitro and in vivo differ from normal hematopoietic progenitor cells in their lack of expression of Thy-1. View Publication

A single entity,the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK),phosphorylates and regulates in vivo hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (key regulatory enzymes of sterol synthesis and fatty acid synthesis,respectively),and probably many additional targets. The kinase is activated by high AMP and low ATP via a complex mechanism,which involves allosteric regulation,promotion of phosphorylation by an upstream protein kinase (AMPK kinase),and inhibition of dephosphorylation. This protein-kinase cascade represents a sensitive system,which is activated by cellular stresses that deplete ATP,and thus acts like a cellular fuel gauge. Our central hypothesis is that,when it detects a 'low-fuel' situation,it protects the cell by switching off ATP-consuming pathways (e.g. fatty acid synthesis and sterol synthesis) and switching on alternative pathways for ATP generation (e.g. fatty acid oxidation). Native AMP-activated protein kinase is a heterotrimer consisting of a catalytic alpha subunit,and beta and gamma subunits,which are also essential for activity. All three subunits have homologues in budding yeast,which are components of the SNF1 protein-kinase complex. SNF1 is activated by glucose starvation (which in yeast leads to ATP depletion) and genetic studies have shown that it is involved in derepression of glucose-repressed genes. This raises the intriguing possibility that AMPK may regulate gene expression in mammals. AMPK/SNF1 homologues are found in higher plants,and this protein-kinase cascade appears to be an ancient system which evolved to protect cells against the effects of nutritional or environmental stress. View Publication

Analysis of the mitogenic activity of interleukin-3 (IL-3),Steel factor (SF),and flt-3 ligand (FL) on acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) blasts using the short-term endpoints of proliferation in 3H-thymidine (3H-Tdr) incorporation assays or methylcellulose cultures (colony assays) showed that greater than 90% of samples contained cells that were responsive to one or more of these cytokines. With this information,culture conditions that were known to support normal long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-IC) were tested,with or without supplements of one or more of these three growth factors,for their ability to support primitive progenitors from 10 cell samples from patients with AML. In all cases cytogenetically abnormal colony forming cells (CFC) were detected after 5 weeks when AML peripheral blood or marrow cells were cocultured on preestablished,normal human marrow feeders (HMF) and/or SI/SI mouse fibroblast feeders and the number of CFC detected in these 5-week-old LTC maintained a linear relationship to the number of input AML cells. Limiting dilution analysis,performed on 6 of the 10 samples,showed the frequency of AML cells initiating LTC (AML LTC-IC) to be 5- to 300-fold lower than the frequency of AML-CFC in the same cell sample,whereas the average number of CFC produced per LTC-IC varied from 1 to 13. Surprisingly,in each case the concentration of cytogenetically normal LTC-IC detected in AML patient blood was at least 10-fold higher than that previously observed in the blood of normal individuals. Mixed" mouse fibroblast feeders engineered to produce human G-CSF� View Publication

In human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells,diazepinylbenzoic acid derivatives can exhibit either antagonistic or synergistic effects on the differentiation-inducing activities of natural or synthetic retinoids,the activity depending largely on the nature of the substituents on the diazepine ring. Thus,a benzolog of the retinoid antagonist LE135 (6),4-(13H-10,11,12,13-tetrahydro-10,10,13,13,15-pentamethyldinaphtho[2,3-b][1,2-e]diazepin-7-yl) benzoic acid (LE540,17),exhibits a 1 order of magnitude higher antagonistic potential than the parental LE135 (6). In contrast,4-[5H-2,3-(2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexano)-5-methyldibenzo[b,e] [1,4]diazepin-11-yl]-benzoic acid (HX600,7),a structural isomer of the antagonistic LE135 (6),enhanced HL-60 cell differentiation induced by RAR agonists,such as Am80 (2). This synergistic effect was further increased for a thiazepine,HX630 (29),and an azepine derivative,HX640 (30); both synergized with Am80 (2) more potently than HX600 (7). Notably,the negative and positive effects of the azepine derivatives on retinoidal actions can be related to their RAR-antagonistic and RXR-agonistic properties,respectively,in the context of the RAR-RXR heterodimer. View Publication

A series of N-heteroaryl hydrazones derived from aryl N-heteroaryl or bis-N-heteroaryl methanones was prepared in search for potential novel antitumor agents. The stereochemistry of these compounds was established by means of NMR spectroscopy. Antiproliferative activity was determined in a panel of human tumor cell lines (CCRF-CEM,Burkitt's lymphoma,HeLa,ZR-75-1,HT-29,and MEXF 276L) in vitro. Generally,the new compounds were found to be more potent (IC50 = 0.011-0.436 microM) than the ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor hydroxyurea (IC50 = 140 microM). Most of the compounds exhibited the highest activity against Burkitt's lymphoma with an IC50 of 0.011-0.035 microM. [14C]Cytidine incorporation into DNA was quantitated for selected hydrazones (Z-A,E-1,Z-3,Z-4,E-5,Z-5,E-13,E-18,Z-19,Z-24,and E-26) as a measure of the inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase in Burkitt's lymphoma cells. The E-configurated compounds were found to inhibit [14C]cytidine incorporation to a greater extent (IC50 = 0.67-5.05 microM) than the Z-isomers (IC50 = 7.20 to textgreater 10 microM). Principal component analysis of the IC50 values obtained for inhibition of cell proliferation revealed that the cell lines tested can be grouped into three main families showing different sensitivities toward the compounds in our series [(i) CCRF-CEM,Burkitt's lymphoma,and Hela; (ii) HT-29; and (iii) MEXF 276 L]. View Publication

Butein,a plant polyphenol,was shown to be a specific protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor. This compound inhibited not only the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated auto-phosphotyrosine level of EGF receptor in HepG2 cells but also tyrosine-specific protein kinase activities of EGF receptor (IC50 = 65 microM) and p60c-src (IC50 = 65 microM) in vitro. The inhibition was competitive to ATP and non-competitive to the phosphate acceptor,poly (Glu,Ala,Tyr) 6:3:1 for EGF receptor tyrosine kinase. In contrast,butein non-significantly inhibited the activities of serine- and threonine-specific protein kinases,such as protein kinase C (PKC) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). View Publication

1. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) may contribute to the pathogenesis of acute coronary heart disease (CHD). 2. Epidemiological and laboratory evidence suggests that red wine,by virtue of its polyphenolic constituents,may be more effective than other alcoholic beverages in reducing the risk of CHD mortality. 3 The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of trans-resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene),a polyphenol present in most red wines,on functional and biochemical responses of PMN,upon in vitro activation. 4. trans-Resveratrol exerted a strong inhibitory effect on reactive oxygen species produced by PMN stimulated with 1 microM formyl methionyl leucyl phenylalamine (fMLP) (IC50 1.3+/-0.13 microM,mean+/-s.e.mean),as evaluated by luminol-amplified chemiluminescence. 5. trans-Resveratrol prevented the release of elastase and beta-glucuronidase by PMN stimulated with the receptor agonists fMLP (1 microM,IC50 18.4+/-1.8 and 31+/-1.8 microM),and C5a (0.1 microM,IC50 41.6+/-3.5 and 42+/-8.3 microM),and also inhibited elastase and beta-glucuronidase secretion (IC50 37.7+/-7 and 25.4+/-2.2 microM) and production of 5-lipoxygenase metabolites leukotriene B4 (LTB4),6-trans-LTB4 and 12-trans-epi-LTB4 (IC50 48+/-7 microM) by PMN stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187 (5 microM). 6. trans-Resveratrol significantly reduced the expression and activation of the beta2 integrin MAC-1 on PMN surface following stimulation,as revealed by FACS analysis of the binding of an anti-MAC-1 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) and of the CBRM1/5 MoAb,recognizing an activation-dependent epitope on MAC-1. Consistently,PMN homotypic aggregation and formation of mixed cell-conjugates between PMN and thrombin-stimulated fixed platelets in a dynamic system were also prevented by transresveratrol. 7. These results,indicating that trans-resveratrol interferes with the release of inflammatory mediators by activated PMN and down-regulates adhesion-dependent thrombogenic PMN functions,may provide some biological plausibility to the protective effect of red wine consumption against CHD. View Publication

This study sought to examine the relationship between MUC1 expression at the deepest invasive portion,invasive/metastatic potential,and prognosis of colorectal cancer in relation to cellular proliferation. MUC1 expression was detected immunohistochemically using KL-6 antibody (anti-MUC1 monoclonal antibody) in 100 surgically resected specimens of advanced colorectal cancer. Distinct staining of the luminal surfaces,defined as positive immunoreactive (IR)-MUC1 expression,was seen in more than 30% of the tumor cells at the deepest invasive portion. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index (PCNA-LI) was also examined in the same areas. IR-MUC1 expression was detected in 71 (71%) of 100 lesions. Lesions with lymphatic or venous invasion showed a significantly higher incidence of IR-MUC1 expression than those without lymphatic or venous invasion (80 vs. 42% and 82 vs. 61%,respectively). Lesions with lymph node metastasis showed a significantly higher incidence of IR-MUC1 expression than those without lymph node metastasis (88 vs. 53%). Lesions with liver metastasis showed a significantly higher incidence of IR-MUC1 expression than those without liver metastasis (92 vs. 59%). Dukes' stage was also significantly correlated with IR-MUC1 expression. The incidence of IR-MUC1 expression did not significantly differ with regard to histologic subclassification and depth of invasion. There was no significant correlation between IR-MUC1 expression and the PCNA-LI. IR-MUC1 expression at the deepest invasive portion revealed a significant correlation with prognosis; furthermore,in patients with better differentiated lesions,in those with lesions confined to muscularis propria or subserosa (subadventitial) invasion,in those with Dukes' B and C,or in those undergoing curative resection,IR-MUC1 expression significantly correlated with prognosis. Patients with high PCNA-LI lesions showed a significantly poorer prognosis than those with low PCNA-LI lesions. Only in patients undergoing curative resection,patients with IR-MUC1-positive and high PCNA-LI lesions showed a significantly poorer prognosis than those with IR-MUC1-negative and low PCNA-LI lesions. The significant risk factors in the order of poorer prognosis in patients undergoing curative resection by the multivariate analysis were the histologic grade (moderately-poorly,poorly or mucinous adenocarcinomas),IR-MUC1 expression,and lymph node metastasis. These results indicate that IR-MUC1 expression is an important predictor of the metastatic potential and the prognosis of colorectal cancer,independent of histologic grade,depth of invasion or cellular proliferative activity. Combined analysis of IR-MUC1 and histologic grade,and combined expression of IR-MUC1 and PCNA at the deepest invasive portion are especially useful in predicting colorectal cancer prognosis. View Publication