Novel potential mechanism-based inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase and cathepsin G: derivatives of isothiazolidin-3-one

A series of heterocyclic compounds designed to function as mechanism-based inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase and cathepsin G has been synthesized and their inhibitory activity was investigated. These isothiazolidin-3-one derivatives were found to be effective inhibitors of cathepsin G.

Efficient inhibition of human leukocyte elastase and cathepsin G by saccharin derivatives

A series of saccharin derivatives I has been synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity toward human leukocyte elastase and cathepsin G. Most of the compounds were found to be efficient and time-dependent inhibitors of elastase. Inactivated elastase was found to regain its activity almost fully after 24 h (80-90% activity) and the half-lives of reactivation ranged between 12-15 h. Addition of hydroxylamine to fully-inactivated enzyme led to rapid and complete recovery of enzymatic activity. A tentative mechanism of action is proposed on the basis of biochemical and model studies.

Mechanism-based inhibitors of serine proteinases based on the Gabriel-Colman rearrangement

Neutrophil-derived mediators such as, for example, the serine proteinase elastase, cathepsin G and proteinase 3, play a critical role in inflammatory lung disease. This report describes the design, synthesis and in vitro inhibitory activity of some novel mechanism-based inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase and cathepsin G. The design of the inhibitors is based on the Gabriel-Colman rearrangement. The behavior of the synthesized compounds toward elastase and cathepsin G with respect to inhibitory prowess, mode of interaction, specificity, etc., has been found to be dependent on the recognition and reactivity elements present in each inhibitor.

3-(Alkylthio)-N-hydroxysuccinimide derivatives: potent inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase

A series of 3-(alkylthio)-N-hydroxysuccinimide derivatives was synthesized and their inhibitory activity towards human leukocyte elastase (HLE) was investigated. The interaction of the compounds having a 3-alkylthioether side chain (compounds 1 and 2) with HLE was found to involve rapid acylation of the enzyme, followed by total regain of enzymatic activity within 3 h. Interestingly, compounds 3-8, having an oxidized thioether side chain, were found to be highly effective, time-dependent, irreversible inhibitors of the enzyme. The k(obs)/I values for compounds 3-8 ranged between 890 and 24,000 M-1 s-1. These findings demonstrate that, unlike the physiological inhibitor of HLE (alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor), which is inactivated upon oxidation, low-molecular-weight compounds retain and/or show enhanced inhibitory activity towards HLE upon oxidation of the thioether side chain and lay the groundwork for the development of compounds that embody proteinase inhibitory and antioxidant activity.

Enantioselective inhibition of human leukocyte elastase

(RS)-Diethyl-2-benzyl-succinate was resolved using alpha-chymotrypsin. The two enantiomers were then elaborated to yield (S)-(+) and (R)-(-)-3-benzyl-N-[(methyl-sulfonyl)oxy]succinimide and the inhibitory activity of the two enantiomers toward human leukocyte elastase was subsequently determined. The k2/KI values for the R and S isomers were found to be 330 and 1500 M-1 s-1, respectively.

Inhibitors of human neutrophil cathepsin G: structural and biochemical studies

The interaction of a series of sulfonate and phosphate esters derived from N-hydroxysuccinimide with human leukocyte cathepsin G was investigated. The synthesized compounds were found to be time-dependent inhibitors of the enzyme. The composite interplay of steric and electronic effects leads to the formation of acyl enzymes of variable stability, ultimately resulting in partial or full recovery of enzymatic activity. Compounds acting via phosphorylation of the active site serine inactivated the enzyme rapidly and irreversibly.

Inhibition of human leukocyte elastase by phosphate esters of N-hydroxysuccinimide and its derivatives: direct observation of a phosphorylated enzyme by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

A series of phosphate esters derived from N-hydroxysuccinimide and 3-alkyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide have been synthesized and found to be potent time-dependent irreversible inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase (HLE). The observed inhibitory activity in this series of compounds correlated well with the known preference of HLE for substrates with small hydrophobic side chains. Maximum potency was reached when a favorable aromatic interaction involving a phenyl group present in the inhibitor and an aromatic residue located in the vicinity of the S2' subsite was operative. 31P NMR spectroscopy was used to probe the mechanism of action of these compounds. Direct evidence is presented in support of a mechanism involving phosphorylation of the active site serine. These compounds constitute a new class of hydrolytically stable phosphorylating agents.

Interaction of Fluid Movement and Particle Diffusion Across Capillary Walls

The rate of transcapillary exchange of substances delivered to or removed from the tissue by blood depends on the concentration difference across the capillary wall. This concentration difference results in an osmotic effect that can have considerable influence on capillary-tissue fluid exchange. However, fluid exchange also affects the plasma and tissue concentrations of the various substances. Therefore, the determination of substrate concentration profiles involves an interaction of many microcirculatory phenomena, including capillary-tissue fluid exchange. In this paper a general mathematical model is presented that describes the interaction of multiple exchangeable solutes. The resulting equations are solved to give the concentration profiles of different substances and their effect on fluid exchange for various normal and pathological situations of physiological interest.

Interaction of fluid movement and particle diffusion across capillary walls

The rate of transcapillary exchange of substances delivered to or removed from the tissue by blood depends on the concentration difference across the capillary wall. This concentration difference results in an osmotic effect that can have considerable influence on capillary-tissue fluid exchange. However, fluid exchange also affects the plasma and tissue concentrations of the various substances. Therefore, the determination of substrate concentration profiles involves an interaction of many microcirculatory phenomena, including capillary-tissue fluid exchange. In this paper a general mathematical model is presented that described the interaction of multiple exchangeable solutes. The resulting equations are solved to give the concentration profiles of different substances and their effect on fluid exchange for various normal and pathological situations of physiological interest.

Acute interstitial nephritis complicating Legionnaires' Disease

An acute interstitial nephritis was found in a patient with sudden renal failure and lung infection caused by Legionella pneumophilia. Our patient regained and maintained normal renal function after a short period of dialysis support. The diagnosis should be considered in any patient with a chest infection complicated by acute renal failure especially if confusion is disproportionate to the degree of uremia.

Role of extravascular protein in capillary-tissue fluid exchange

A mathematical model of capillary-tissue fluid exchange is presented. The effect of variation in plasma and interstitial osmotic pressure that occurs as a result of convection and diffusion of protein is examined. Analytic solutions to the resulting equations are obtained by using the methods of perturbation theory. It is found that fluid exchange can significantly alter the pericapillary interstitial osmotic pressure, reducing both filtration and reabsorption. Variation in plasma osmotic pressure is important only for certain pathological conditions in which excessive filtration occurs. Specific numerical examples are presented which show quantitatively the extent of these effects for various normal and pathological conditions of physiological interest.

Studies on the growth and flowering of a short-day plant, Wolffia microscopica : II. Role of metal ions and chelates

As found earlier, supply of EDTA was obligatory for both flowering and satisfactory vegetative growth in Wolffia microscopica. It is now shown that the metal affecting growth and flowering is most probably iron. Omission of Fe but not of Cu, Zn, Mn and B from the medium markedly affects vegetative growth. There exists also a strong interaction between EDTA and Fe, one being largely inactive in the absence of the other. When Fe-EDDHA is substituted for Fe-citrate and EDTA in the medium, no great effect is seen in vegetative growth, but flowering takes place even under continuous light. Studies with (59)Fe show that, in the medium containing Fe-EDDHA, Fe uptake is stimulated several-fold; this is apparently associated with the flowering condition.