Salicylate metabolism in twins. Evidence suggesting a genetic influence and induction of salicylurate formation

To evaluate the contribution of genetic influences on the individual variation in plateau serum salicylate levels, salicylate metabolism was studied in seven pairs of identical and six pairs of fraternal twins.Under the conditions of this study, after a single i.v. dose (40 mg/kg) of sodium salicylate, the serum salicylate concentration versus time curve approximated a straight line on linear coordinates (appeared approximately zero order). The slopes of the decay curves ranged between 0.64 and 1.02. The intrapair variation for identical twin pairs was significantly less than for fraternal twin pairs (P = 0.044). Likewise pleateau serum salicylic acid concentrations (milligrams/deciliter) and total salicylic acid excretion rate after multiple doses demonstrated significantly less intrapair variation for identical twins than for fraternal twins (P = 0.043 and 0.006). Plateau salicylurate excretion (milligram/kilogram per hour) differences after multiple dosing had a P = 0.067. Michaelis-Menton constant for salicylurate formation and hours to 50% excretion after the i.v. dose were not different when comparing identical and nonidentical twins. Salicylurate formation rates were increased after 3 days of oral therapy, and this induction phenomenon may account for much of the apparent discrepancy between genetic influences on salicylurate formation rates observed after single and multiple dose salicylate administration. This study suggests that the plateau concentration of serum salicylate varies among individuals given the same weight-adjusted dose in part because of genetically determined variations in their metabolism of salicylate.

The effects of added purines on urate and purine synthesis de novo by isolated chick liver, kidney and lymphoid cells

1. Isolated chick lymphoid cells, together with isolated chick liver and kidney cells, incorporate [1-14C]glycine or [14C]formate into urate. 2. Of the cell types used, bursal cells incorporate 14C into urate at the fastest rate, although the output of total urate by bursal cells is only 10% that of liver cells. 3. When suspended in Eagle's medium the incorporation of 14C into urate is inhibited by adenine and guanine up to 1 mM. In contrast, the addition of 1 mM-AMP or -GMP results in a relatively large stimulation of this incorporation. 4. Added adenine is rapidly taken up by liver cells and then released in an unmetabolized form; AMP is taken up more slowly and is rapidly metabolized. The metabolites (possibly including adenine) are then released. 5. Intracellular liver 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate is approx. 0.7mM and remains constant or falls slightly during a 3 h incubation of the cells. 6. The addition of adenine or guanine, AMP or GMP, does not alter liver intracellular 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate concentrations. Added 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate is not taken up by liver cells. 7. The results are discussed in the context of the control of urate and purine synthesis de novo in the chick.

The purine nucleotide cycle. A pathway for ammonia production in the rat kidney

Particle-free extracts prepared from kidney cortex of rat catalyze the formation of ammonia via the purine nucleotide cycle. The cycle generates ammonia and fumarate from aspartate, using catalytic amounts of inosine monophosphate, adenylosuccinate, and adenosine monophosphate. The specific activities of the enzymes of the cycle are 1.27+/-0.27 nmol/mg protein per min (SE) for adenoylosuccinate synthetase, 1.38+/-0.16 for adenylosuccinase, and 44.0+/-3.3 for AMP deaminase. Compared with controls, extracts prepared from kidneys of rats fed ammonium chloride for 2 days show a 60% increase in adenylosuccinate synthetase and a threefold increase in adenylosuccinase activity, and a greater and more rapid synthesis of ammonia and adenine nucleotide from aspartate and inosine monophosphate. Extracts prepared from kidneys of rats fed a potassium-deficient diet show a twofold increase in adenylosuccinate synthetase and a threefold increase in adenylosuccinase activity. In such extracts the rate of synthesis of ammonia and adenine nucleotide from aspartate and inosine monophosphate is also increased. These results show that the reactions of the purine nucleotide cycle are present and can operate in extracts of kidney cortex. The operational capacity of the cycle is accelerated by ammonium chloride feeding and potassium depletion, conditions known to increase renal ammonia excretion. Extracts of kidney cortex convert inosine monophosphate to uric acid. This is prevented by addition of allopurinol of 1-pyrophosphoryl ribose 5-phosphate to the reaction mixture.

Glycine-serine interrelations in the chick

Glycine and serine are involved in numerous important functions in the body in addition to protein synthesis. Glycine is synthesized by higher animals; however, the rate is not adequate to support maximal growth of the chick. Studies indicate that chicks fed a glycine-serine free crystalline amino acid diet grow at approximately 80% the rate of chicks fed the same diet supplemented with glycine. An equimolar quantity of L-serine has been shown to support equal chick performance as glycine, thus indicating that serine conversion is adequate to meet the dietary need for glycine. The serine-glycine interconversion is catalyzed by the folic acid containing enzyme sering hydroxymethyltransferase, and a deficiency of this vitamin decreases the effectiveness of serine in meeting the chick's dietary need for glycine. Studies with chicks fed normal and high levels of a crystalline amino acid mixture devoid of glycine and serine indicate that the chick has the metabolic potential to synthesize more of these two amino acids than should be required for normal growth. The observed dietary response to glycine or serine or both indicates, however, that this synthetic potential is not being utilized.

[Influence of parenteral fructose or glucose administration on uric acid formation and phosphate uptake of the human liver]

15 min. after intravenous administration of fructose (10 g/5 min, 0,5 g/kg/h) the hepatic uric acid production in healthy volunteers increased from 0,07 mg/100 g X min to 0,52 mg/100 g X min. After one hour the enhanced uric acid production was 0,3 mg 100 g X min. The enhanced uric acid production was accompanied by an increased hepatic phosphate uptake. The highest value was 13 mumol/100 g X min. During the control period the liver released small amounts of phosphate into the hepatic vein. The increased hepatic uric acid output correlated with an enhanced renal clearance, therefore the peripheral venous uric acid concentrations remained unchanged.

[Diet in hyperuricemia (author's transl)]

The idea that, in view of potent drugs, the dietary treatment of a metabolic disease must be reserved for a small group of particularly susceptible patients or even for a minority of neurotically structured patients who would alone be capable of bearing the hardship of a consequent change of accustomed feeding habits needs correction. Considerably greater importance must be attached to dietetics in disorders of uric acid metabolism than formerly, particularly with a view to the status already gained by the dietary treatment of diabetes mellitus a long time ago. Dietetic therapy of familial hyperuricemia and its later clinical manifestation, gout, is a basic therapy of a preventive character. Because today, superiority is increasingly conceded to prophylaxis rather than to the treatment of late sequelae.

[The metabolism of monosaccharides and polyoles]

The metabolism and the various metabolic effects of the sugar substitutes fructose, sorbitol and xylitol have been studied and compared to those of glucose. Fructose, sorbitol, and xylitol were found to be metabolized almost completely in the liver, whereas glucose was metabolized only 20-30% by this organ. The sugars and polyols exhibit a number of common effects characteristic of carbohydrate metabolism. Some of them are for example increase in lactate concentration, increase in lactate-pyruvate ratio, decrease in the concentration of free fatty acids, and decrease in phosphate concentration. The only effect that is restricted to fructose, sorbitol, and xylitol, is the stimulation of uric acid biosynthesis. Though sugar substitutes may be regarded as precursors of glucose, they have only little effect on the increase of blood glucose concentration in normal subjects. This may be due to the glucose - fatty acid cycle. It is to be expected that the use of fructose, sorbitol, and xylitol in diabetes mellitus and under stress situations has certain advantages over glucose.

The effects of adenine nucleotides and guanine nucleotides on urate synthesis de novo by isolated chick liver and kidney cells

Isolated chick liver and kidney cells produce urate de novo from glycine, and this is partially inhibited by 1 mm-AMP and by 1 mm-GMP in liver cells but not in kidney cells. Azaserine fully inhibits this synthesis de novo, but attempts to isolate formylglycine amide ribonucleotide from azaserine-blocked cells were unsuccessful.