Imatinib produces significantly superior molecular responses compared to interferon alfa plus cytarabine in patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase

We analyzed molecular responses in 55 newly diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients enrolled in a phase 3 study (the IRIS trial) comparing imatinib to interferon-alfa plus cytarabine (IFN+AraC). BCR-ABL/BCR% levels were measured by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and were significantly lower for the imatinib-treated patients at all time points up to 18 months, P<0.0001. The median levels for imatinib-treated patients continued to decrease and had not reached a plateau by 24 months. A total of 24 IFN+AraC-treated patients crossed over to imatinib. Once imatinib commenced, the median BCR-ABL/BCR% levels in these patients were not significantly different to those on first-line imatinib for the equivalent number of months. The incidence of progression in imatinib-treated patients, defined by hematologic, cytogenetic or quantitative PCR criteria, was significantly higher in the patients who failed to achieve a 1 log reduction by 3 months or a 2 log reduction by 6 months, P=0.002. A total of 49 patients were screened for BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations. Mutations were detected in two imatinib-treated patients who crossed over from IFN+AraC and both lost their imatinib response. In conclusion, first-line imatinib-treated patients had profound reductions in BCR-ABL/BCR%, which significantly exceeded those of IFN+AraC-treated patients and early measurements were predictive of subsequent response.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel bifunctional chelating agents based on 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N",N"'-tetraacetic acid for radiolabeling proteins

Detailed synthesis of the bifunctional chelating agents 2-methyl-6-(p-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (1B4M-DOTA) and 2-(p-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-5, 6-cyclohexano-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraacetate (CHX-DOTA) are reported. These chelating agents were compared to 2-(p-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraacetic acid (C-DOTA) and 1, 4, 7, 10-Tetraaza-N-(1-carboxy-3-(4-nitrophenyl)propyl)-N', N", N"'-tris(acetic acid) cyclododecane (PA-DOTA) as their (177)Lu radiolabeled conjugates with Herceptin. In vitro stability of the immunoconjugates radiolabeled with (177)Lu was assessed by serum stability studies. The in vivo stability of the radiolabeled immunoconjugates and their targeting characteristics were determined by biodistribution studies in LS-174T xenograft tumor-bearing mice. Relative radiolabeling rates and efficiencies were determined for all four immunoconjugates. Insertion of the 1B4M moiety into the DOTA backbone increases radiometal chelation rate and provides complex stability comparable to C-DOTA and PA-DOTA while the CHX-DOTA appears to not form as stable a (177)Lu complex while exhibiting a substantial increase in formation rate. The 1B4M-DOTAmay have potential for radioimmunotherapy applications.

Neuroprotective and neurotoxic properties of the 'inert' gas, xenon

BACKGROUND

Antagonists of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptors have been shown not only to have neuroprotective effects but also to exhibit neurotoxic properties. In this study, we used c-Fos, a protein product of an immediate early gene, as a marker of neuronal injury to compare the neuroprotective effects of xenon and the neurotoxic properties of xenon, nitrous oxide, and ketamine, three anaesthetics with NMDA receptor antagonist properties.

METHODS

We used an in vivo rat model of brain injury in which N-methyl-DL-aspartic acid (NMA) is injected subcutaneously (s.c.) and c-Fos expression in the arcuate nucleus is used as a measure of injury. To examine the neurotoxic potential of each of the three anaesthetics with NMDA receptor antagonist properties, c-Fos expression in the posterior cingulate and retrosplenial (PC/RS) cortices was measured.

RESULTS

Xenon dose-dependently suppressed NMA-induced c-Fos expression in the arcuate nucleus with an IC(50) of 47 (2)% atm. At the highest concentration tested (75% atm) NMA-induced neuronal injury was decreased by as much as that observed with the prototypical NMDA antagonist MK801 (0.5 mg kg(-1) s.c.). Both nitrous oxide and ketamine dose-dependently increased c-Fos expression in PC/RS cortices; in contrast, xenon produced no significant effect. If the dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol was given before either nitrous oxide or ketamine, their neurotoxic effects were eliminated.

CONCLUSIONS

Uniquely amongst anaesthetics with known NMDA receptor antagonist action, xenon exhibits neuroprotective properties without co-existing neurotoxicity. The reason why ketamine and nitrous oxide, but not xenon, produce neurotoxicity may involve their actions on dopaminergic pathways.

ER transport signals and trafficking of potassium channels and receptors

Channels and receptors on the cell surface mediate neuronal signaling. It is therefore important to understand how their surface density is controlled. Recent studies on the trafficking of potassium channels and neurotransmitter receptors have revealed unexpected complexity in the regulation of transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus, raising the possibility that the surface composition of channels and receptors may be adjusted by controlling their export from the endoplasmic reticulum.

Applications of display technologies to proteomic analyses

With the rapid accumulation of genetic information, development of general experimental approach suitable for large scale annotation and profiling of the whole proteome have become one of the major challenges in postgenomic era. Biomolecular display technologies, which allow expressing of a large pool of modularly coded biomolecules, are extremely useful for accessing and analyzing protein diversity and interaction profile on a large scale. Recent advances in protein display technologies and their applications to proteomic analyses have been discussed.

Diverse trafficking patterns due to multiple traffic motifs in G protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium channels from brain and heart

G protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir3, GIRK) provide an important mechanism for neurotransmitter regulation of membrane excitability. GIRK channels are tetramers containing various combinations of Kir3 subunits (Kir3.1--Kir3.4). We find that different combinations of Kir3 subunits exhibit a surprisingly complex spectrum of trafficking phenotypes. Kir3.2 and Kir3.4, but not Kir3.1, contain ER export signals that are important for plasma membrane expression of Kir3.1/Kir3.2 and Kir3.1/Kir3.4 heterotetramers, the GIRK channels found in the brain and the heart, respectively. Additional motifs in Kir3.2 and Kir3.4 control the trafficking between endosome and plasma membrane. In contrast, the Kir3.3 subunit potently inhibits plasma membrane expression by diverting the heterotetrameric channels to lysosomes. Such rich trafficking behaviors provide a mechanism for dynamic regulation of GIRK channel density in the plasma membrane.

Applications of yeast in drug discovery

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is perhaps the best-studied eukaryotic organism. Its experimental tractability, combined with the remarkable conservation of gene function throughout evolution, makes yeast the ideal model genetic organism. Yeast is a non-pathogenic model of fungal pathogens used to identify antifungal targets suitable for drug development and to elucidate mechanisms of action of antifungal agents. As a model of fundamental cellular processes and metabolic pathways of the human, yeast has improved our understanding and facilitated the molecular analysis of many disease genes. The completion of the Saccharomyces genome sequence helped launch the post-genomic era, focusing on functional analyses of whole genomes. Yeast paved the way for the systematic analysis of large and complex genomes by serving as a test bed for novel experimental approaches and technologies, tools that are fast becoming the standard in drug discovery research

Enzyme-mediated free radical polymerization of styrene

Horseradish peroxidase-mediated polymerization of styrene at ambient temperature is reported. Molecular weight and yield of polystyrene were influenced by solvent, concentration of hydrogen peroxide, and initiator (beta-diketones, coumarin). THF:H2O (v/v) and hydrogen peroxide (0.082 mol/L) provided maximum yield of polymer (21.2% weight conversion of styrene to polystyrene) with 2,4-pentanedione as initiator. 1,3-Cyclopentanedione and dibenzoylmethane as initiators resulted in higher yield of polymer (approximately 60%) and a higher molecular weight (Mn = 96,504, polydispersity = 2.16), respectively. This enzymatic strategy was also used for the synthesis of polymers from styrene derivatives, 4-methylstyrene and 2-vinylnaphthalene, the latter resulting in a > 90% yield of polymer. The presence of the initiators in the polymer chains is reported.

Radioimmunotherapy for model B cell malignancies using 90Y-labeled anti-CD19 and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies

In recent years, radioimmunotherapy (RIT) with beta(-) particle emitting radionuclides targeting the CD20 antigen on B cells in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has provided the most compelling human clinical data for the success of RIT. CD19, like CD20, is an antigen expressed on the surface of cells of the B lineage, and CD19 may provide an alternative target for radioimmunotherapy of B cell neoplasms. CD19 has been largely overlooked as a target for conventional 131I RIT, because the antigen rapidly internalizes upon binding of antibody, resulting in catabolism and significant release of 131I. Such modulation may be an advantage to RIT with radiometals such as 90Y, 177Lu, 213Bi and 225Ac. Herein, we have compared beta(-) particle RIT with antibodies targeting either CD19 or CD20. The anti-CD19 and anti-CD20 antibodies, B4 or C2B8, respectively, were appended with the SCN-CHX-A''-DTPA bifunctional chelating agent and labeled with 90Y. In the tumor model used, there were three times as many CD20 target sites on lymphoma cells as compared to CD19 sites (62000 vs 20000 binding sites, respectively). We compared the efficacy of the 90Y-labeled antibodies to reduce lymphoma in a nude mouse xenograft solid tumor model, after measurable lymphoma appeared. Reduction in tumor size began at day 3 in all three 90Y-treated groups, but tumor began to recur in many animals 9 days after the treatments. There was one cure in each specific treatment group. In contrast, the tumor in the two control groups showed no regression. There was a significant prolongation of median survival time from xenograft (P < 0.0001) in all the 90Y-labeled antibody construct-treated groups (32 days for 0.15 mCi 90Y-B4; 26 days for 0.20 mCi 90Y-C2B8, and 23 days for 0.15 mCi 90Y-C2B8) in comparison to the two control groups (11 days for 0.02 mg of C2B8 and 9 days for untreated growth controls). Specificity of the radioimmunotherapy was also shown. In conclusion, 90Y-labeled anti-CD19 antibody has efficacy comparable to 90Y-labeled anti-CD20 antibody in the treatment of mice bearing human lymphoma xenografts. These data suggest that CD19-targeted RIT merits further study.

Nuclear translocation of PDCD5 (TFAR19): an early signal for apoptosis?

The programmed cell death 5 (PDCD5) protein is a novel protein related to regulation of cell apoptosis. In this report, we demonstrate that the level of PDCD5 protein expressed in cells undergoing apoptosis is significantly increased compared with normal cells, then the protein translocates rapidly from the cytoplasm to the nucleus of cells. The appearance of PDCD5 in the nuclei of apoptotic cells precedes the externalization of phosphatidylserine and fragmentation of chromosome DNA. This phenomenon is parallel to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, independent of the feature of apoptosis-inducing stimuli and also independent of the cell types and the apoptosis modality. In conclusion, the nuclear translocation of PDCD5 is a universal earlier event of the apoptotic process, and may be a novel early marker for apoptosis.

Effect of sarsasapogenin and its derivatives on the stimulus coupled responses of human neutrophils

METHODS

The effects of three sapogenins (sarsasapogenin, tigogenin and hecogenin) on the stimulus-induced superoxide generation and protein tyrosyl phosphorylation in human neutrophils were investigated.

RESULTS

When the cells were preincubated with sapogenin, three sapogenins dose-dependently suppressed the superoxide generations induced by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), respectively. In both cases, their effects were in the order: sarsasapogenin>tigogenin>hecogenin. While sarsasapogenin suppressed the superoxide generation induced by arachidonic acid (AA) as well, the superoxide generation was scarcely suppressed by tigogenin and significantly enhanced by hecogenin. In parallel to their effects on the superoxide generation, the three sapogenins dose-dependently suppressed the fMLP-induced and PMA-induced tyrosyl phosphorylations of 45 kDa protein in neutrophils, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Of the sapogenins tested, sarsasapogenin may have the most clinical use as it suppresses superoxide generation.

Two-component method to enantiopure quinolizidinones and Indolizidinones. Total synthesis of (-)-lasubine II

The reaction of iodides 1 and enantiopure beta-amino esters 2 mediated by potassium carbonate in acetonitrile at 65 degrees C provides quinolizidinones or indolizidinones 3, together with piperidines or pyrrolidines 4. Hydrolysis of 4 to the corresponding carboxylic acids followed by treatment of acetic anhydride/triethylamine gives 3 in high yields. Using 3a as a key intermediate, (-)-lasubine II is synthesized in four steps. [reaction: see text]

Tumor therapy with targeted atomic nanogenerators

A single, high linear energy transfer alpha particle can kill a target cell. We have developed methods to target molecular-sized generators of alpha-emitting isotope cascades to the inside of cancer cells using actinium-225 coupled to internalizing monoclonal antibodies. In vitro, these constructs specifically killed leukemia, lymphoma, breast, ovarian, neuroblastoma, and prostate cancer cells at becquerel (picocurie) levels. Injection of single doses of the constructs at kilobecquerel (nanocurie) levels into mice bearing solid prostate carcinoma or disseminated human lymphoma induced tumor regression and prolonged survival, without toxicity, in a substantial fraction of animals. Nanogenerators targeting a wide variety of cancers may be possible.

Breakthrough of 225Ac and its radionuclide daughters from an 225Ac/213Bi generator: development of new methods, quantitative characterization, and implications for clinical use

Bisumth-213, a short-lived alpha particle emitting radionuclide, is generated from the decay of 225Ac, which has a half-life of 10 days. The development of a clinical 225Ac/213Bi generator and the preparation of a 213Bi radiolabeled antibody for radioimmunotherapy of leukemia have been reported. The 225Ac decay scheme is complex; therefore a thorough understanding of the impact of both the parent 225Ac and its daughters on radiolabeling, purification, and quantification is necessary for optimal use of the generator system. This paper reports: (i) unique new methods to measure 221Fr, 213Bi, and 209Pb, the prominent daughters of 225Ac; and (ii) a quantitative evaluation of 225Ac/213Bi generator breakthrough and the radionuclidic purity of 213Bi labeled radiopharmaceutical dose formulations. A quantitative multi-dimensional proportional scanning method was employed to distinguish and measure specific daughter radionuclides. This method combines thin layer chromatography in two perpendicular directions with attenuated collimation as a function of time for data collection and analysis. Francium-221 and 213Bi eluted differentially from the generator, and 221Fr contributed minimally to unchelated 213Bi in the reaction and final products. Lead-209 was present in the reaction solution, but not strongly bound by the chelating moiety either (i) under the 213Bi labeling reaction conditions or (ii) following chelated 213Bi decay. As a consequence of incorporating several new procedures to the operation of the generator, 225Ac breakthrough in the final product was further reduced and represented a trivial contaminant in the final drug formulations.

[Clinical diagnosis and treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome complicated by tuberculosis]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the clinical characteristics and method of therapy of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients complicated by tuberculosis.

METHOD

10 cases suffered from AIDS complicated by tuberculosis from 1995 to 2000 were analyzed.

RESULTS

(1) Clinical type: of the 10 cases, hematogenous disseminated tuberculosis with cerebral tuberculosis in 3, tuberculous lymphadenitis in 4 (in which one was in mesentery, one in mediastinum and neck, 2 in neck), primary pulmonary tuberculosis in 3, with other opportunistic infections, such as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). (2) Immunological and tuberculin test: in all 10 cases, CD4+ cells were (2 - 87) x 10(6)/L, of them 7 cases CD4+ cells less than 50 x 10(6)/L, mean CD4+ (33 +/- 13) x 10(6)/L. Tuberculin tests were negative. (3) TREATMENT: 5 cases were treated with anti-tuberculosis and highly active anti-retrovirus treatment (HAART), the others were treated with anti-tuberculosis only. Six months later, comparing with anti-tuberculosis, CD4+ cells in patients of anti-tuberculosis with HAART increased significantly (P < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The decrease of CD4+ cell might be important in AIDS with tuberculosis. Tuberculin test is not a good way of diagnosing AIDS with tuberculosis. Among AIDS complicated by tuberculosis, hematogenous disseminated tuberculosis and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis are common and usually combined with other various opportunistic infections, clinical manifestations are complex and treatment should be prolonged. This combined treatment can shorten treating time and improve the prognosis of AIDS with tuberculosis.

A high coking-resistance catalyst for methane aromatization

Steaming-dealuminated HZSM-5-supported molybdenum catalysts have been found to be high coking-resistance catalysts for methane aromatization reactions; compared with conventional catalysts, they give a much higher selectivity towards aromatics.

Rapid preparation of short-lived alpha particle emitting radioimmunopharmaceuticals

Alpha emitting radionuclides are of considerable interest for targeted radioimmunotherapy. Generator supplied 213Bi emitting 8.5 MeV alpha particles with a 45.6 min half-life has been conjugated to a monoclonal antibody (HuM195-CHX-A-DTPA) for targeted therapy of leukemia in a clinical trial. The clinical dose preparation of pharmaceutical formulation by a pair of skilled radiochemists took 25 min, which corresponds, to an overall decay loss of 30% of the initial 213Bi activity eluted from the generator. In order to allow more widespread and practical clinical use of targeted 213Bi alpha particle therapy, we developed a new procedure that is simpler, more rapid and adaptable to a hospital pharmacy. The new 10 min process includes a tandem elution and labeling, and an anion exchange column purification method that can be reproducibly used.

Morphologic and molecular evidence for gap junctions and connexin 43 and 45 expression in annulus fibrosus cells from the human intervertebral disc

Data are presented which provide evidence for gap junction formation and connexin (Cx) 43 and 45 gene expression in human intervertebral disc cells in vivo and in vitro. These findings in cells from the annulus are important in conjunction with the well-recognized loss of disc cells during aging and disc degeneration. As a result of this loss of cells, cell-cell communication, which we propose is an important, but as yet poorly understood, mechanism which links and coordinates cellular function throughout the entire population of disc cells, is also disrupted. These studies provide additional information on the fundamental cell biology of the disc cell and provide an additional framework for understanding aging, degeneration and potential repair of the human disc.

Solution NMR determination of the seating(s) of meso-nitro-etioheme-1 in myoglobin: implications for steric constraints to meso position access in heme degradation by coupled oxidation

The highly stereoselective cleavage of hemin in myoglobin by coupled oxidation has been attributed to steric barriers that leave more space near the alpha- than the other meso-positions. The steric barriers near meso positions in myoglobin have been investigated by establishing the thermodynamics and dynamics of possible seatings in the pocket of horse myoglobin of a four-fold symmetric etioheme I modified with a bulky nitro group at a single meso position. The cyanomet complex of this reconstituted myoglobin exhibits three sets of (1)H NMR resonances that are linked dynamically and occur in approximate populations ratios of 0.82:0.10:0.08. Two dimensional (1)H NMR has been used to assign the hemin and heme pocket resonances in the major isomer in solution and to determine that the hemin is oriented with the nitro group at the canonical gamma-meso position of native hemin. The dominance of this isomer is attributed to the solvent exposure of this portion of the hemin which stabilizes the highly polar nitro group. Using a combination of magnetization transfer among methyl groups of the three isomers due to "hopping" of the hemin about its normal, the assigned resonances of an isoelectronic, bis-cyano complex of meso-nitro-etioheme I, and the known essentially constant rhombic perturbation of heme pocket sites on the hyperfine shifts of heme methyl (Kolczak, U.; Hauksson, J. B.; Davis, N. L.; Pande, U.; de Ropp, J. S.; Langry, K. C.; Smith, K. M.; LaMar, G. N. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 835-843); the two minor isomers are shown to place their bulky nitro group at the canonical delta-meso (8%) and alpha-meso positions (10%). The comparable population of the isomers with nitro groups at the hydrophobic alpha- and delta-meso positions dictates that, while the static crystal structure finds more room near the alpha-meso position, the deformation at minimal energetic expense near the alpha- and delta-meso positions is comparable. These results argue that factors other than simple steric influences control the selectivity of the ring cleavage in myoglobin.

CuI-catalyzed coupling reaction of beta-amino acids or esters with aryl halides at temperature lower than that employed in the normal Ullmann reaction. Facile synthesis of SB-214857

[reaction: see text] The CuI-catalyzed coupling reaction of aryl halides with beta-amino acids or beta-amino esters is completed at 100 degrees C in 48 h, which indicates that the structure of the beta-amino acid has an accelerating effect for the Ullmann-type aryl amination reaction. This coupling reaction can be used to prepare enantiopure N-aryl beta-amino acids. An efficient synthetic route to SB214857, a potent GPIIb/IIIa receptor antagonist, is developed using this method.

Antibodies to capsular polysaccharides of group B Streptococcus in pregnant Canadian women: relationship to colonization status and infection in the neonate

In a cohort study of 1207 pregnant women in Alberta, Canada, the serotype distributions of vaginal-rectal group B Streptococcus (GBS) isolates were compared with all isolates from neonates with invasive GBS disease identified by population-based surveillance. Serum concentrations of Ia, Ib, II, III, and V capsular polysaccharide (CPS)-specific IgG also were determined, according to serotype of the vaginal-rectal colonizing GBS strain. GBS colonization was detected in 19.5% (235 of 1207) of women. Serotype III accounted for 20.6% (48 of 233) of colonizing strains available for typing but for 37% (27 of 73) of invasive isolates from neonates (P<.01). Maternal colonization with type III was least likely to be associated with moderate concentrations of III CPS-specific IgG. Serotype III GBS is more invasive than other serotypes in this population; this may be due, at least in part, to poor maternal type III CPS-specific antibody response.