Synthesis and topical antiinflammatory and antiallergic activities of antioxidant o-aminophenol derivatives

In order to develop novel compounds for topical use possessing antiallergic as well as antiinflammatory activities, a series of o-aminophenol derivatives bearing H1-antihistaminic structures were synthesized and their effects were investigated on lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenates, antiinflammatory effection arachidonic acid- and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13- acetate-induced mouse ear edema and antiallergic effect on 48-h homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats. Furthermore, the effects of these compounds on delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction in mice were examined. Several N-monosubstituted amino-4-methylphenols were found to exert potent inhibitory activities in all of these assays. Of these compounds, 4m was chosen for further development as AD0261.

Carnitine determination by an enzymatic cycling method with carnitine dehydrogenase

We describe a highly sensitive and specific method for determining L-carnitine in serum by use of carnitine dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.108). The method involves a new enzymatic cycling technique with NADH, thio-NAD+, and carnitine dehydrogenase, and measures the increase of absorbance at 415 nm of thio-NADH produced at 37 degrees C during the reaction: [formula: see text] The calibration curve for L-carnitine in serum was linear between 5 and 250 mumol/L. Analytical recovery was 96.5-106%, and within-run and between-run imprecisions (CV) were 0.66-4.33% and 1.02-2.56%, respectively. This method was free from interference by bilirubin, hemoglobin, various acyl-DL-carnitines, and ascorbate. The procedure is simple, rapid, accurate, and automatable. The amount of free L-carnitine in serum (53.6 +/- 11.7 mumol/L, n = 200) was greater in men than in women (45.1 +/- 14.2 mumol/L, n = 200) (mean +/- SD).

Carnitine determination by an enzymatic cycling method with carnitine dehydrogenase

We describe a highly sensitive and specific method for determining L-carnitine in serum by use of carnitine dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.108). The method involves a new enzymatic cycling technique with NADH, thio-NAD+, and carnitine dehydrogenase, and measures the increase of absorbance at 415 nm of thio-NADH produced at 37 degrees C during the reaction: [formula: see text] The calibration curve for L-carnitine in serum was linear between 5 and 250 mumol/L. Analytical recovery was 96.5-106%, and within-run and between-run imprecisions (CV) were 0.66-4.33% and 1.02-2.56%, respectively. This method was free from interference by bilirubin, hemoglobin, various acyl-DL-carnitines, and ascorbate. The procedure is simple, rapid, accurate, and automatable. The amount of free L-carnitine in serum (53.6 +/- 11.7 mumol/L, n = 200) was greater in men than in women (45.1 +/- 14.2 mumol/L, n = 200) (mean +/- SD).

Monoclonal antibodies against human thrombomodulin whose epitope is located in epidermal growth factor-like domains

Thrombomodulin (TM) on endothelial cells is a glycoprotein that functions as a cofactor for thrombin-catalyzed activation of protein C. The structural requirement for thrombin binding and cofactor activity were investigated using monoclonal antibodies (moAbs) against TM and site-directed mutagenesis of recombinant human soluble TM (rsTM). Results showed that moAb 2A2 inhibited thrombin binding to rsTM and also abolished its functions as a cofactor in thrombin-catalyzed activation of protein C and as an anticoagulant by modifying thrombin-induced fibrinogen clotting and platelet aggregation, moAb 1F2 did not affect its activity as an anticoagulant, but inhibited its cofactor activity, and moAb 10A3 did not inhibit either activity. Epitope analysis was carried out by site directed mutagenesis of rsTM expressed in CHO cells. Some proteins with mutations within the second disulfide loop of the fourth EGF-like domain showed reduced affinity for moAb 1F2, but retained cofactor activity. These results suggest that the epitope of moAb 1F2 includes the second disulfide loop of the fourth EGF-like domain, which is close to a region required for cofactor activity. Mutant proteins of the third disulfide loop of the fifth EGF-like domain showed loss of interaction with moAb 2A2. Thus the epitope of moAb 2A2 may include the third disulfide loop of the fifth EGF-like domain. Furthermore, replacement of Asn-439 by Gln decreased the cofactor activity and anticoagulant activity, and resulted in low affinity for either moAb 1F2 or 2A2, suggesting that Asn-439, which is located in the second disulfide loop of the sixth EGF-like domain, is critical for determining the functional conformation of the EGF-like domains 4-6.

Synthesis of alpha-L-mannopyranosyl-containing disaccharides and phenols as substrates for the alpha-L-mannosidase activity of commercial naringinase

In order to clarify the substrate specificity of the alpha-L-mannosidase activity of naringinase (Sigma), the following disaccharides and phenol glycosides were freshly prepared: methyl 2-O-(alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucoside (1), methyl 3-O-(alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-glucoside (2), methyl 4-O-(alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-glucoside (3), methyl 5-O-(alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucoside (4), methyl 6-O-(alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-glucoside (5), 6-O-(alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-D-galactose (6), p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-mannoside (7), and 4-methyl umbelliferone alpha-L-mannoside (8). These compounds, except for 3 and 5 were hydrolyzed with naringinase.

Establishment of gastric surface mucous cell lines from transgenic mice harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene

We succeeded in establishing two gastric surface mucous cell lines (designated as GSM06 and GSM10), which produce periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)- and concanavalin A (Con A)-positive glycoproteins, from a primary culture of gastric fundic mucosal cells of adult transgenic mice harboring a temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene. At the permissive temperature (33 degrees C), GSM06 and GSM10 cells grew until confluent monolayers were formed and have now been in culture for more than 9 months with regular passaging. Con A-horseradish peroxidase- and PAS-positive staining indicated that these cells retain the characteristics of gastric surface mucous cells. GSM06 cells showed temperature-sensitive growth in culture and expressed SV40 large T-antigen at the permissive temperature but not at a nonpermissive temperature (39 degrees C). In contrast, GSM10 cells showed temperature-insensitive growth and expressed T-antigen at both permissive and nonpermissive temperatures. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the establishment of gastric surface mucous cell lines from animals. These immortalized cell lines with normal characteristics may serve as good experimental models for the basic and applied biology of gastric surface mucous cells.

Effect of and indication for tonsillectomy in IgA nephropathy

Although more than 20 years have passed since the initial report of IgA nephropathy, the etiology of this disease is still unclear. Some reports suggest that the tonsil is an important etiological factor. We performed tonsillectomy on 26 patients with IgA nephropathy associated with chronic tonsillitis, and followed up the patients for two years after the operation to evaluate its clinical effect on this disease. Twelve patients (efficacy rate 46%) showed distinct improvement in urinary findings after the operation, although the efficacy rate went down as renal injury advanced. Serum IgA levels decreased significantly after the operation both in patients who improved and in those who did not; the decrease was especially evident in patients who had high levels of serum IgA before tonsillectomy. In 4 patients who improved, the level of circulating immune complex (CIC) was extremely high before, and decreased significantly after, the operation. One patient suffered renal failure three years after tonsillectomy. When renal injury has advanced to the clinically apparent degree, as occurred in this patient, tonsillectomy is absolutely contraindicated. In reaching a decision as to whether tonsillectomy is indicated in mild cases, the change in the number of erythrocytes in urinary sediments may be a sensitive parameter of the tonsillar provocation test.

Clinicopathological study of the effectiveness of tonsillectomy in IgA nephropathy accompanied by chronic tonsillitis

Tonsillectomy is often effective in reducing proteinuria in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), which might otherwise lead to renal failure. Twenty-eight patients with IgAN accompanied by chronic tonsillitis were observed for more than 2 years after tonsillectomy and studied clinicopathologically. Tonsillectomy was effective in 17 patients (effective group), but not effective in 11 (noneffective group). Many patients in the effective group showed mild proteinuria, whereas proteinuria of 1 g/24 h or higher was found in a few cases. In comparison with the noneffective group, the levels of serum IgA, polymeric IgA and circulating immune complex (CIC) in the effective group were significantly higher prior to tonsillectomy. Histopathologically, there was only a slight increase in mesangial cells and matrixes in the effective group compared with the noneffective group, and global glomerular sclerosis, small glomerular crescents and interstitial scarring were seldom found. Rupture of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) occurred more frequently in the noneffective than in the effective group. In a study of IgA subclasses in the mesangial area of the glomerulus, IgA1 was predominantly stained in the effective group.

[Studies on genetic differentiation of Salmonella enteritidis isolates by plasmid profile]

Since 1989, the number of salmonellosis cases caused by S. Enteritidis has increased considerably in Japan. Genetic differentiation of 385 strains isolated from January 1982 to December 1988 and January 1989 to April 1991 were used for plasmid profiles. Plasmids were found in 377 out of 385 strains; therefore, only 8 strains carried no plasmid. Among 377 strains, 15 different plasmid profile types (OP-1 to OP-15) were classified. The most common plasmid profile types from 1982 to 1988 were OP-7 (70 kbp) and OP-8 (70 kbp and 2 kbp). On the other hand, the most common plasmid profile types from 1989 to 1991 were OP-1 (60 kbp) and OP-2 (60 kbp and 54 kbp). Serovar-specific virulence 60 kbp plasmids of S. Enteritidis were identified in 7 plasmid profile types (A total of 200 strains). In the other plasmid profile types, 70 kbp plasmids were found in 5 plasmid profile types (A total of 173 strains). In restriction enzyme analysis of 70 kbp plasmid DNAs obtained from 5 plasmid profile types of S. Enteritidis, we found that these plasmid DNAs shared both 60 kbp and 10 kbp fragments. These results indicate that these plasmid profile types also carried serovar-specific virulence plasmids of S. Enteritidis. The strains of plasmid profile type OP-2 were SA (sulfisoxazole) and SM (streptomycin) resistance, and the 54 kbp plasmids in the strains of OP-2 were transferred by bacterial conjugation into the E. coli strains. All transconjugants acquired SM resistance.

Immunohistochemical distribution of lipoprotein epitopes in xanthomata from patients with familial hypercholesterolemia

Human xanthomas derived from four subjects with familial hypercholesterolemia (3 homozygotes and 1 heterozygote) were studied by immunohistochemical methods to determine the presence and distribution of lipoproteins, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) epitopes detected with anti-OxLDL monoclonal antibodies, appeared to have a similar distribution in xanthomata to that of macrophages, detected by a cell-specific monoclonal antibody. Double antibody labeling with both an anti-macrophage antibody and an anti-OxLDL antibody demonstrated that OxLDL epitopes are associated with macrophages and occurred intracellularly. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) epitopes were detected extracellularly, with a distribution that was different from that of OxLDL. In addition, apo(a) epitopes detected by an apo(a) specific monoclonal antibody, had a distribution similar to that of LDL in the dermis and subcutaneous tissues. The observed epitope distribution of LDL, OxLDL, or apo(a) was the same regardless of the method of treatment of the patients from whom the xanthomas were obtained (probucol, simvastatin, LDL apheresis). These findings suggest that OxLDL is likely to play a pathogenetic role in the lipid accumulation by macrophages in xanthomas, and suggest that Lp(a) also may play a role in their pathogenesis.

Preparation and biological activity of 2-[4-(thiazol-2-yl)phenyl]propionic acid derivatives inhibiting cyclooxygenase

A series of 2-[4-(thiazol-2-yl)phenyl]propionic acids substituted at various positions were prepared by the reaction of diethyl 2-methyl-2-(4-thiocarbamoylphenyl)malonates with alpha-bromoaldehyde diethyl acetals or alpha-haloketones followed by hydrolysis of esters. The inhibition of prostaglandin H synthetase (cyclooxygenase) was assayed by use of an enzyme preparation from guinea pig polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Examination of the structure-activity relationship of these compounds indicated that the substitution pattern with halogens at position 3 (R1) of the benzene ring and a methyl group in position 4 (R2) and/or 5 (R3) of the thiazole ring were favorable for inhibitory activity. The compounds bearing bulky alkyl or polar functional groups at the R2 position were weak inhibitors. The potent inhibitors of cyclooxygenase were tested for their ability to reduce carrageenin-induced inflammation of rat paws. These derivatives had strong anti-inflammatory activity based on their strong inhibition of cyclooxygenase, with some exceptions, including those with a thiomethyl group at R1.