Synthesis of N-substituted C-normorphinans and their pharmacological properties

Several N-substituted C-normorphinans (VIII and IX) were synthesized and tested for their analgetic and narcotic antagonist activities and physical dependence capacity. Treatment of N-formyl- octahydro-2-pyrindine (IIIc) with polyphosphoric acid readily gave N-formyl-C-normorphinan (IV). The N-nor bases (V and VII) obtained from IV were converted to VIII and IX. The N-methyl derivative (I), which was previously reported to be inactive by Haffner's method, exhibited potent analgetic activity by the hot plate method and the AcOH-induced writhing test. Compounds VIII and IX showed pharmacological properties similar to those of N-substituted morphinans and exhibited agonist (analgetic) and/or narcotic antagonist activities. The C-nor analogue (IXa) of cyclorphan (IIc) exhibited potent analgetic and antagonist activities with no physical dependence capacity in the single-dose suppression tests both in rats and monkeys.

[Intra-arterial chemotherapy with ACNU in the treatment of malignant gliomas]

Twelve patients with supratentorial gliomas were treated with intra-arterial ACNU followed by intravenous maintenance chemotherapy. Six of the patients, treated from February 1987 through May 1989, received doses of 120-200 mg/m2 (high dose treatment group); six patients, treated from June 1989 through October 1990, received doses of 80-100 mg/m2 (low dose treatment group). The drug was given via the supraophthalmic portion of the internal carotid artery or vertebral artery at a rate of 10 mg/min. The response rate (CR + PR) on CT scan was 50% (3/6) in the high dose treatment group and 17% (1/6) in the low dose treatment group. Survival periods from first operation, however, did not differ between the high and low dose treatment groups. Bone marrow suppression was dose-related and reversible at these doses. Severe neurotoxicities (hemiparesis and aphasia) developed in the patients who received 200 mg/m2 of ACNU; in one case, this was irreversible. High dose intra-arterial ACNU chemotherapy is effective in reducing tumor size on CT scan but the prognosis is not improved. The dose limiting factor of intra-arterial nitrosourea is neurotoxicity, and doses of more than 200 mg/m2 are considered to be dangerous.

[Evaluation of breath-hold multislice dynamic MRI of hepatocellular carcinomas]

The breath-hold multislice dynamic study (BMDS) in MRI, which can scan the entire liver during a single breath-holding, was applied to 16 patients with 30 focal lesions of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The BMDS was performed at 20 seconds and 3 minutes after the bolus injection of Gd-DTPA, by gradient echo pulse sequence (FLASH). 29 nodules were detected in the BMDS, showing rapid enhancement on early phase and decline on delayed phase images. The BMDS was more sensitive than conventional MR images. Therefore, the BMDS seems to be useful for the diagnosis of HCC with multiple as well as solitary nodules.

Possible differentiation treatment with aclacinomycin A in acute myelomonocytic leukemia refractory to conventional chemotherapy

A patient with acute myelomonocytic leukemia (M4 in FAB classification) refractory to various kinds of intensive chemotherapy was intravenously administered low doses (7 or 14 mg/m2) of aclacinomycin-A (ACM-A) daily. This increased mature neutrophils and monocytes and decreased leukemia cells in the peripheral blood. Pelger Huet-like nuclear anomaly, observed in the neutrophils, suggested the leukemic nature of these cells. The in vivo findings were clearly correlated with the in vitro results in which ACM-A could induce myelomonocytic differentiation of the leukemia cells. During the course of the treatment, the patient achieved and maintained good general condition for more than nine months after the initiation of the treatment. In clinical trials, nine patients, five with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and four with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), were treated with low doses of ACM-A. Five patients, three AML and two MDS, responded to the treatment. The results suggest that low doses of ACM-A may induce in vivo differentiation of leukemia cells, and may be a potential therapeutic strategy in the treatment of AML or MDS that is refractory to conventional chemotherapy.

Establishment of an enzyme release assay for cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity

In the present report, we describe the establishment of a cell line that can be used as the target for measuring the activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) by an enzyme release assay. We transfected P3/NS1-Ag4-1 (NS-1), a myeloma cell line derived from BALB/c mice with Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal) gene, and isolated a stable transformant designated as NS-1/Z that expressed a high level of the enzyme activity intracellularly. The effector cells showing cytotoxicity against NS-1/Z were induced when the spleen cells of AKR or C3H mice were cultured with mitomycin C-treated BALB/c spleen cells for 4 days. When 2 x 10(4) NS-1/Z cells were incubated with varying numbers of effector cells, beta-Gal activity was released from the target cells depending on the number of effector cells and the time of incubation for up to 8 h. A highly sensitive enzyme assay was performed by using a fluorescent substrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactoside. The cytotoxicity was specific for H-2 haplotype of the stimulator cells, and was abolished by treating the effector cells with anti-Lyt 2 plus complement. The sensitivity of the enzyme release assay was comparable to that of 51Cr release assay. These results indicate that NS-1/Z can be used as a target cell line for the non-radioactive measurement of CTL activity.

Identity of a differentiation inhibiting factor for mouse myeloid leukemia cells with NM23/nucleoside diphosphate kinase

Mouse myeloid leukemic line M1 cells can be induced to differentiate into the monocyte/macrophage pathway by various inducers. The induction of differentiation of M1 cells can be inhibited by protein inhibitors termed differentiation inhibiting factors (I-factors) in a cell lysate and conditioned medium of differentiation resistant M1 cells. Production of the I-factor activity in resistant M1 cells is well associated with development of resistance of M1 cells to differentiation inducers. We have now purified one of the I-factors from conditioned medium of differentiation resistant M1 cells. The purified I-factor has a relative molecular mass of approximately 16000-17000 Da (16K I-factor). The amino acid sequence of all fragments of the 16K I-factor we have found are identical with Nm23/nucleoside diphosphate kinase (EC2.7.4.6) protein involved in tumor metastasis. The findings indicate that the I-factor, a candidate suppressor protein for differentiation of leukemic cells, is Nm23/nucleoside diphosphate kinase protein.

Characterization of growth inhibitory factors for mouse monocytic leukemia cells

Growth inhibitory (GI) factors for mouse monocytic leukemia cells were previously found in conditioned medium (CM) of a clone of mouse myeloblastic leukemia Ml cells (R1-GI factor) and in CM of mouse lung tissue (L-GI factor). In the present study, the effects of these GI factors on the growth of variant cell lines (Mm-A, Mm-P and Mm-S2) of mouse monocytic line Mm-1 cells were examined. Mm-A are highly leukemogenic to syngeneic SL mice, Mm-P cells are moderately leukemogenic, while Mm-S2 cells have little or no leukemogenicity. The R1-GI factor markedly suppressed the growth of Mm-A cells, whereas it inhibited the growth of Mm-P and Mm-S2 cells only moderately. Recombinant mouse interferon beta (IFN beta) had similar target specificities to those of the R1-GI factor on these variant cells. Moreover, anti-mouse IFN beta antibody completely neutralized the GI activity of the R1-GI factor on Mm-A cells. These results show that the R1-GI factor and mouse IFN beta are very similar and probably identical proteins. The L-GI factor had different target specificities from the R1-GI factor: it showed strongest GI activity on Mm-P cells, moderate GI activity on Mm-S2 cells and weak GI activity on Mm-A cells. Recombinant human interleukin 6 (IL-6) had similar target specificities to the L-GI factor on these Mm-1 variant cells. Furthermore, the L-GI factor could support the proliferation of IL-6-dependent MH60.BSF2 cells. Anti-mouse IL-6 antiserum neutralized the GI activity of the L-GI factor on Mm-P cells. Thus the L-GI factor and mouse IL-6 seem to be closely related and possibly to be identical proteins.

Effects of herbimycin A derivatives on growth and differentiation of K562 human leukemic cells

Herbimycin A, a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, induced erythroid differentiation of human myelogenous leukemia K562 cells with a high level of bcr/abl tyrosine kinase. Several derivatives of herbimycin A were synthesized and their effects on cell proliferation and differentiation of K562 cells were examined. Of the compounds tested, 19-allylaminoherbimycin A was the most effective in inducing differentiation of K562 cells. However, the parent compound was the most potent growth inhibitor, suggesting that chemical modification of herbimycin A reduces the growth-inhibiting activity. The sensitivities of K562 cells to herbimycin derivatives were different from those of a rat kidney cell line infected with Rous sarcoma virus (v-src), suggesting that bcr/abl kinase may differ in sensitivity from other tyrosine kinases. These results indicate that a specific inhibitor of bcr/abl kinase could be an effective antitumor agent against chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Induction of differentiation of human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells by novel nonphosphorus alkyl ether lipids

We synthesized a new series of nonphosphorus alkyl ether glycerolipids, in which the 2-acetyl group of platelet-activating factor was replaced by a pyrimidin-2-yl group and the 3-phosphocholine portion by an omega-(substituted ammonio)ethoxyethyl side-chain including omega-thiazolio-, imidazolio- and pyridinio groups with or without a carboxyl substituent, respectively (compound I-XI). Their effects on cell proliferation and differentiation of human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells were examined. Incubation of HL-60 cells with these cationic and zwitterionic alkyl ether lipids inhibited proliferation of HL-60 cells with IC50 values ranging from 10 to 500 ng/mL. The cells were induced by the lipids to differentiate into morphologically and functionally mature granulocytes. Among the compounds we tested, 1-octadecyl-2-pyrimidinyl-3-[3-(5- carboxylatepentyl)imidazolioethoxyethyl]glycerol (compound I) was the most effective in inducing differentiation of HL-60 cells. Compound I showed on a molar basis, an inhibitory effect on the leukemic cells over 50 times greater than did 2-(2-dodecyloxyethoxy)ethyl 2-pyridinio-ethyl phosphate, the antileukemic alkyl ether phospholipid.

[Demonstration of the architecture of the tracheobronchial wall by MR imaging: an experimental study]

To study the potential of MRI to demonstrate the architecture of the tracheobronchial wall, resected tracheobronchi of rabbits were examined with MRI. As a result, epithelium and cartilage were demonstrated as relatively low intensity bands on T1- and T2-weighted images (T1WI and T2WI). The subepithelium was of intermediate-high intensity on T1WI and of markedly high intensity on T2WI and Gd-DTPA enhanced T1WI. Peritracheobronchial fat was of markedly high intensity on T1WI and of relatively low intensity on T2WI. In conclusion, MRI was found to have the potential to demonstrate the architecture of the tracheobronchial wall as 4 layers on each sequence.

Interleukin-4 inhibits the differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemia M1 cells induced by dexamethasone, D-factor/leukemia inhibitory factor and interleukin-6, but not by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3

The effects of interleukin-4(IL-4) on the growth and differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemia M1 cells induced by various differentiation inducers were investigated. IL-4 alone did not have any significant effect on the growth or differentiation of M1 cells, but inhibited their differentiation induced by dexamethasone, D-factor/leukemia inhibitory factor, or interleukin 6. IL-4 also restored the proliferation of M1 cells after growth inhibition during their induction of differentiation by inducers. In contrast, IL-4 enhanced inhibition of growth and induction of differentiation of M1 cells by 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. These results indicate that modulation of differentiation of M1 cells by IL-4 depends on the differentiation inducer.

Hemin enhances the sensitivity of erythroleukemia cells to 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine by both activation of deoxycytidine kinase and reduction of cytidine deaminase activity

The sensitivity of human myelogenous leukemia cells to 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) during induction of differentiation was examined. Treatment with hemin greatly increased the sensitivity of erythroid leukemia cells to ara-C. The enhancement of ara-C sensitivity by hemin was not as remarkable in nonerythroid leukemia cells. Hemin altered the metabolism of ara-C in human erythroleukemia K562 cells by reducing ara-C deaminase activity, increasing intracellular accumulation of ara-C, and activating the nucleoside kinases. These alterations may be involved in the enhancing effect of hemin on sensitivity of ara-C. These results suggest that some inducers of differentiation potentiate the antileukemic effect of ara-C on human erythroleukemia cells.

Induction by some protein kinase inhibitors of differentiation of a mouse megakaryoblastic cell line established by coinfection with Abelson murine leukemia virus and recombinant SV40 retrovirus

Mouse C1 line cells are megakaryoblastic cells established by coinfection of Abelson murine leukemia virus and recombinant simian virus 40. We examined the effects of various compounds on growth and differentiation of these cells. Megakaryocytic differentiation of C1 cells was not induced by cytokines that stimulate megakaryocytic maturation of normal progenitor cells, such as interleukin 3 and 6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. However, the cells were induced to differentiate into megakaryocytes by treatment with some protein kinase inhibitors. The inhibition of v-abl tyrosine kinase activity preceded induction of differentiation of the cells treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as genistein, herbimycin A, and erbstatin. Treatment of C1 cells with a v-abl antisense oligomer inhibited their proliferation and induced acetylcholinesterase activity, a typical marker of megakaryocytic differentiation. These results suggest that inhibition of v-abl function is associated with induction of megakaryocytic differentiation of C1 cells. Among the compounds tested, 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), a potent inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide-dependent and Ca(2+)-phospholipid-dependent (protein kinase C) protein kinases, was the most potent inducer of differentiation of C1 cells. However, the differentiation-inducing effect of H-7 was unlikely to be mediated through inhibition of protein kinase C or cyclic nucleotide-dependent kinases, because other types of inhibitors of these kinases were not effective, and a protein kinase activator (phorbol ester) induced differentiation of C1 cells. Moreover, neither v-abl mRNA expression nor v-abl kinase activity in C1 cells was affected by treatment with H-7. These findings indicate that induction of megakaryocytic differentiation by H-7 is not related to inhibition of v-abl kinase, but rather to some novel function of H-7.

[The assessment of 99mTc-HMPAO tumor scintigraphy using VX-2 tumors in rabbits]

Tumor scintigraphy using 99mTc-hexamethyl-propyleneamine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) was performed in VX-2 tumors implanted in the muscles of the lower limbs of rabbits to evaluate the possibility that this agent could be used to estimate the blood perfusion of the tumor. The distribution of 99mTc-HMPAO in the tumor immediately after the intravenous injection of this radiopharmaceutical exhibited almost the same distribution on the static image 1 hour after administration. Tumor time-activity curve for 99mTc-HMPAO revealed initial peak after the injection followed by fading of 99mTc-HMPAO activity and subsequent gradual decrease in activity over the next 1 hour. The ratio of 99mTc-HMPAO activity in the tumor to that in normal muscle tissue during this next 1 hour was high and independent of time. These findings indicate that static 99mTc-HMPAO scintigraphy can provide qualitative but not quantitative data useful in the estimation of tumor blood perfusion. Moreover, comparison of distribution of 99mTc-HMPAO on the static images and angiographic, histological findings also suggest that static 99mTc-HMPAO images accurately reflect tumor blood perfusion.

Induction of differentiation of human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells by novel pyrimidine nucleoside analogs

New pyrimidine nucleoside analogs (18 compounds) were synthesized and their growth-inhibiting and differentiation-inducing activities on human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells were examined. Some of the analogs were found to induce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reducing activity in the HL-60 cells. The inducing activities of these compounds were compared at their concentrations for 50% inhibition of cell growth. TI-79 (3-benzyl-5-methyl-3-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine- 2,4(1H,3H)-dione) was a very effective inducer of NBT-reduction and of differentiation of the cells into mature granulocytes. The induction of NBT-reducing activity by TI-79 was inhibited by high concentrations of the natural nucleoside, adenosine. Other differentiation inducers, such as retinoic acid, 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 and staurosporin markedly enhanced the induction of differentiation of HL-60 cells by TI-79. Nucleoside analogs such as TI-79 should be useful for differentiation therapy of some types of myelogenous leukemia.

Induction of differentiation of human leukemia cells by inhibitors of myosin light chain kinase

Inhibitors of myosin light chain kinase, 1-(5-chloronaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1H-hexahydro-1,4-diazepine hydrochloride (ML-9) and 1-(5-iodonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1H-hexahydro-1,4-diazepine hydrochloride (ML-7), induced Nitroblue tetrazolium reducing activity, lysozyme activity and morphological maturation of human monoblastic U937, THP-1 and promyelocytic HL-60 cells, but not of erythroblastic K562 cells. However, three analogs of ML-9, which are an inhibitor and an activator of protein kinase C, and a calmodulin antagonist, respectively, did not induce differentiation of the cells.

Immunocytochemical distribution of FMRFamide-like substance in the brain of the cloudy dogfish, Scyliorhinus torazame

The distribution of the molluscan cardioexcitatory tetrapeptide FMRFamide (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2) in the brain of the cloudy dogfish, Scyliorhinus torazame, was examined by immunocytochemistry. FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity was demonstrated to occur extensively in various regions of the dogfish brain, except for the corpus cerebelli. Immunoreactive neuronal perikarya were located in the ganglion of the nervus terminalis, the preoptic area, and the hypothalamic periventricular gray matter consisting of the nucleus medius hypothalamicus, the nucleus lateralis tuberis, and the nucleus lobi lateralis. Some of the immunoreactive cells in the hypothalamus were identified as cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons. The bulk of the immunostained fibers in the nervus terminalis penetrated into the midventral portion of the telencephalon and ran dorsocaudally toward the basal telencephalon and hypothalamus, showing radial projections or ramifications. The labeled fibers were abundant in the midbasal part of the telencephalon and in the hypothalamus, where some fibers were found in loose networks around the cell bodies of the nucleus septi and hypothalamic periventricular nuclei. The fibers demonstrated in the hypothalamus terminated around the vascular wall of the primary capillary plexus of the median eminence or penetrated deeply into the pars intermedia of the hypophysis. These results suggest that, in the dogfish, an FMRFamide-like substance participates in the regulation of adenohypophysial function. This molecule may have a role as a neurotransmitter and/or neuromodulator in the central nervous system.

Assessment of 99Tcm-HMPAO tumour scintigraphy using VX-2 tumours implanted in a lower limb muscle of rabbits

Tumour scintigraphy using 99Tcm-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (99Tcm-HMPAO) was investigated in VX-2 tumours implanted in the muscles of the lower legs of rabbits to assess the feasibility of using this agent clinically for this procedure. On the time-activity curves for 99Tcm-HMPAO in the tumour, an initial peak and a subsequent decrease of radioactivity immediately after the initial peak were observed, while there was a slow, gradual decrease of activity over the next hour. The tumour/normal muscle ratio of HMPAO activity during this period was high and constant, and was independent of time. Comparison of the static images of 99Tcm-HMPAO with angiography and histological findings suggests that the tumour image of 99Tcm-HMPAO reflects tumour blood perfusion. These findings indicate that the distribution of 99Tcm-HMPAO on static images can provide a qualitative assessment of the perfusion of the tumour, despite the limitations of this tracer for quantifying tumour blood flow due to its early efflux from the tumour.

Inhibition by erythroid differentiation factor (activin A) of P-glycoprotein expression in multidrug-resistant human K562 erythroleukemia cells

The K562/VCR cell line, exhibiting acquired multidrug resistance (MDR) with increased expression of a cell surface glycoprotein (P-glycoprotein), was isolated from human erythroleukemia K562 cells. Various compounds that induced erythroid differentiation of K562 cells were tested for their effects on growth and differentiation of these K562/VCR cells. Sodium butyrate, hemin, 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine, and erythroid differentiation factor (EDF) induced erythroid differentiation of K562/VCR cells as well as K562 cells. The MDR of K562/VCR cells was partly overcome by treatment with EDF but not with the other inducers. Expression of P-glycoprotein by K562/VCR cells was measured by radioimmunoassay using MRK16 monoclonal antibody. Results showed that EDF caused down-regulation of P-glycoprotein in K562/VCR cells, whereas the other inducers did not cause its down-regulation. Thus, in addition to inducing erythroid differentiation, EDF enhanced the sensitivity of K562/VCR cells to multidrugs and suppressed expression of P-glycoprotein. These results suggest that differentiation inducers may be useful in chemotherapy of leukemic MDR cells.

Exocytotic release of neurotransmitters from nerve fibers in the endocrine pancreas (Brockmann body) of the teleost, Takifugu niphobles

Exocytotic release of neurotransmitters was ultrastructurally investigated in the endocrine pancreas (Brockmann body) of the teleost, Takifugu niphobles. Exocytotic figures of large cored vesicles were found not only on the surface of nerve fibers facing the endocrine cells directly, but also on their surface facing the space of connective tissues including the blood capillaries. The results indicate that some 'neurotransmitters' are released non-synaptically in the endocrine pancreas and that some 'neurotransmitters' may enter the blood stream as 'neurosecretory hormones.'

[Influence of low level antibiotics on Pseudomonas aeruginosa]

Erythromycine (EM) and chrolamphenicol (CP), the inhibitors of protein synthesis, were quantitatively examined for the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa EA83 and its production of extracellular proteins. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of EM for the strain was higher than 100 micrograms/ml and that of CP was 100 micrograms/ml. The growth curve of EA83 was not influenced by adding 5 micrograms/ml of EM to the broth culture, but proteolytic activity and the total protein in the culture supernate went down to 60% of the control. Number of organisms in 20 hour culture was almost constant regardless of EM concentration ranging from 0 to 50 micrograms/ml, however, the suppression of proteolytic activity and total protein in the culture supernate was seen even at 1 micrograms/ml of EM concentration. The degree of suppression was inversely proportional to EM concentration. This phenomenon was also seen in the substitution of CP for EM. All extracellular proteins separated on SDS-PAGE decreased the amount as increasing EM in the culture media. These results suggested that EM inhibited the production of not only protease including elastase, but also any other extracellular proteins including well known pathogenic factors such as exotoxin A and phospholipase C.