[Lymphocyte adenylate cyclase activity in alcoholics]

Lymphocyte adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in alcoholics was examined. Gpp(NH)p-stimulated AC activity was not altered in lymphocyte membranes from alcoholics in acute withdrawal state. In the case of long-term abstinent alcoholics, who maintained abstinence from alcohol for at least one year, lymphocyte Gpp(NH)p-stimulated AC activity was slightly reduced but not significantly. However, the extent of AC activity induced by 250 mM ethanol in vitro, in the presence of Gpp(NH)p, was significantly reduced in lymphocyte membrane from long-term abstinent alcoholics. These results indicate that lymphocyte AC activity is a biological marker for alcoholics.

Anticipation in myotonic dystrophy. I. Statistical verification based on clinical and haplotype findings

To determine whether anticipation in myotonic dystrophy (DM) is a true biologic phenomenon or an artifact of ascertainment bias, we studied 201 members of nine DM kindreds, including 67 individuals with the clinical diagnosis of DM. Of 49 parent-child pairs in which both the parents and the children were clinically affected, the onset of DM occurred in an earlier decade of life in the child than the parent in 44 pairs and in the same decade in five pairs (p < 0.001). To eliminate direct ascertainment bias, we excluded nine pairs involving the index patients. Indirect ascertainment bias due to incomplete penetrance was unlikely, since 55% of the children of DM parents had DM. However, by haplotype analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms, we diagnosed DM in one of the 42 asymptomatic children of affected parents and excluded DM in twenty-eight. We estimated that patients with early-onset DM would have produced an additional 25 DM children if they had normal fertility and nuptiality. Assuming that the expected age-of-onset distribution occurs without anticipation in these 25, only seven would have had the onset of DM earlier than their parents. With the corrected result, the child would have been affected earlier than the parent in 53 pairs, and the parent would have been affected at the same age as or earlier than the child in 13 pairs (p < 0.001). Thus, the observed anticipation is unlikely to be totally attributable to ascertainment bias, suggesting the potential importance of biologic mechanisms.

cDNA surveying of specific tissue expression of human chromosome 19 sequences

cDNA surveying is a straightforward approach for identifying sequences in genomic clones expressed in specific tissues. It has been applied to a subchromosomal region of human chromosome 19 (19q13.2-q13.4), a region that contains several known expressed sequences including the locus for myotonic dystrophy (DM). Genomic clones were selected from this region by probing a human placental cosmid library with a chromosome 19q-specific minisatellite sequence, or human genomic clones were isolated from a cosmid library constructed from a human chromosome 19q13.2-q13.3 hamster hybrid cell line using human repetitive DNA as probe. Pooled cDNAs synthesized from RNA of specific tissues characteristically affected in DM were depleted in repetitive sequences and used as hybridization probes against gridded cosmid arrays. DNA from the cDNA-positive cosmid clones was transferred to nylon filters and reprobed with cDNAs to identify restriction fragments that were expressed in these tissues. Hybridizing restriction fragments were subcloned, sequenced, and demonstrated to be nonrepetitive. Primer pairs complementary to subcloned sequences were constructed and used for PCR amplification of cDNA synthesized from RNA of tissues affected in myotonic dystrophy. PCR products were sequenced to verify the identity of expressed genomic DNA and its corresponding cDNA.

Phenotypic expression of the myotonic dystrophy gene in monozygotic twins

Phenotypic expression of the myotonic dystrophy (DM) gene is highly variable even within the same family. To investigate the importance of genetic and nongenetic factors on phenotypic variability, we studied phenotypic expression in two DM twin sets with monozygosity confirmed by DNA polymorphism analysis. Our observations suggest that genetic factors are primarily responsible for modulating pleiotropic expression of the DM gene.

New potent mitomycin derivatives: synthesis and antitumor activity of 7,7-(ethylenedioxy)mitomycins

A series of 6,7-dihydro-7,7-(ethylenedioxy)mitomycins was synthesized and evaluated for antitumor and anticellular activities. These compounds were prepared by basic treatment of 7-methoxymitomycins with ethylene glycol, and were structurally novel mitomycin derivatives containing a masked quinone moiety. 5,6-Enol or 6-chloro derivatives of 6,7-dihydro-7,7-(ethylenedioxy)mitomycins were also prepared and the (allyloxy)carbonyl group at the aziridine nitrogen has proved to be an efficient protecting group in chemical modification of mitomycins. Most of these mitomycin derivatives displayed potent antitumor activity against P388 leukemia in mice and anticellular activity against HeLa S3 cells.

Characterization of a YAC and cosmid contig containing markers tightly linked to the myotonic dystrophy locus on chromosome 19

Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is caused by a defect in an unknown gene that maps to 19q13.3, flanked by the tightly linked markers ERCC1 on the proximal side and D19S51 on the distal side. We report the isolation and characterization of overlapping YAC and cosmid clones around D19S51 for the construction of a physical map around this locus. The resulting contig contains the markers D19S51 and D19S62 (another new marker tightly linked to the DM locus) and the distal breakpoint of a radiation hybrid cell line used in the physical mapping of the DM region. We have compared the restriction maps of the YACs and cosmids with that of the genome to investigate the fidelity of these clones.

Epitope-specific suppression of antibody response in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by a monomethoxypolyethylene glycol conjugate of a myasthenogenic synthetic peptide

A synthetic peptide corresponding to a myasthenogenic region of Torpedo californica acetylcholine (AcCho) receptor (AcChoR) alpha subunit, AcChoR alpha-(125-148), was conjugated to monomethoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG). Injection of mice with the mPEG-AcChoR alpha-(125-148) conjugate and subsequent immunization with whole Torpedo AcChoR suppressed the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) by electrophysiological criteria. In anti-AcChoR sera from these animals, the antibody response against unconjugated AcChoR alpha-(125-148) was decreased, while the antibody responses against whole AcChoR and other epitopes were not altered. There were no detectable changes in T-cell proliferation responses to AcChoR alpha-(125-148) or to whole AcChoR in these animals. Prior injections with a "nonsense" peptide-mPEG conjugate had no effect on responses to the subsequent immunization with whole Torpedo AcChoR. The results indicate that the mPEG-AcChoR alpha-(125-148) conjugate has epitope-specific tolerogenicity for antibody responses in EAMG and that the AcChoR alpha-subunit region comprising residues 125-148 plays an important pathophysiological role in EAMG. The epitope-directed tolerogenic conjugates may be useful for future immunotherapies of human myasthenia gravis. The strategy of specific suppression of the antibody response to a predetermined epitope by using a synthetic mPEG-peptide conjugate may prove useful in manipulation and suppression of unwanted immune responses such as autoimmunity and allergy.

Antitumor quinolones with mammalian topoisomerase II mediated DNA cleavage activity

Ninety quinolones were evaluated to determine whether their ability to induce mammalian topoisomerase II mediated DNA cleavage in vitro correlated with their antitumor activity in vivo. Ten quinolones generated linear DNA at a yield of more than 10% of substrate supercoiled DNA in the mammalian topoisomerase II mediated DNA cleavage assay. All of these compounds showed a significant increase in life span (greater than 20%) in the murine leukemia P388 model. These antitumor quinolones have closely related structures: two halogens at C-6 and C-8; and cyclopropyl at N-1 of quinolone skeleton. In contrast, many analogues of the above quinolones, as well as new quinolones used clinically as an antibacterial drug, did not induce the cleavable complex in vitro or show antitumor activity in vivo. These findings indicate that quinolone derivatives can be a promising new class of antitumor agent targeting mammalian topoisomerase II.

An unstable triplet repeat in a gene related to myotonic muscular dystrophy

Synthetic oligonucleotides containing GC-rich triplet sequences were used in a scanning strategy to identify unstable genetic sequences at the myotonic dystrophy (DM) locus. A highly polymorphic GCT repeat was identified and found to be unstable, with an increased number of repeats occurring in DM patients. In the case of severe congenital DM, the paternal triplet allele was inherited unaltered while the maternal, DM-associated allele was unstable. These studies suggest that the mutational mechanism leading to DM is triplet amplification, similar to that occurring in the fragile X syndrome. The triplet repeat sequence is within a gene (to be referred to as myotonin-protein kinase), which has a sequence similar to protein kinases.

Properties of nine continuous B-cell lines established from enzootic bovine leukosis tumors

We established 9 cell lines from 63 tumor cases of enzootic bovine leukosis and studied their properties. Cells of all lines formed small clumps and floated in culture medium, indicating growth. Four of the 9 cell lines were surface immunoglobulin (SIg)-positive, but the remaining 5 line cells were negative for SIg or, if SIg was detected, the percentage of SIg-positive cells was very low. Tests for the properties of the cells with monoclonal antibodies to lymphocytes revealed that the established line cells are B-lymphocytes. Morphological observation also revealed that they had the morphology of B-lymphoblastic cell. The results of E and EAC rosette assay were negative, but 6 of 8 cell lines were positive for EA rosetting. All the 9 cell lines reacted with MoAb C-143, which recognizes the tumor-associated antigen (TAA) of the EBL tumor cell. All 9 cell lines produced bovine leukosis virus (BLV). These results suggest that the 9 cell lines are tumor cells derived from B-lymphocytes of EBL.

Clinical features of Todd's post-epileptic paralysis

Two hundred and twenty nine patients with generalised tonic-clonic seizures were prospectively evaluated. Fourteen were identified who had transient focal neurological deficits thought to be Todd's post-epileptic paralysis (PEP). Eight of these 14 patients had underlying focal brain lesions associated with the postictal deficits. All patients with PEP were weak, but there was wide variation in the pattern (any combination of face, arm, leg), severity (plegia to mild), tone (spastic, flaccid, or normal), and reflexes (increased, decreased, or normal). Significant sensory loss occurred in only one patient. The only other signs of PEP were aphasia (in five patients all with underlying lesions) and gaze palsy (in four patients). Post-epileptic paralysis persisted from half an hour to 36 hours (mean of 15 hours). Post-epileptic paralysis may occur with the first seizure or after many years of seizures and does not appear after every seizure. The clinical features of PEP are thus heterogeneous.

Antitumor effect of KT6124, a novel derivative of protein kinase inhibitor K-252a, and its mechanism of action

Novel derivatives of K-252a, (8R*,9S*,11S*)-(-)-9-hydroxy-9-methoxycarbonyl- 8-methyl-2,3,9,10-tetrahydro-8,11-epoxy-1H,8H,11H-2,7b,11a-triazadibe nzo[a,g]-cycloocta[cde]trinden-1-one, an inhibitor of protein kinases and calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase, were synthesized and evaluated for their antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. Of ten derivatives tested, four were active against the P388 murine leukemia i.p.-i.p. system, although K-252a was inactive. Among these derivatives, KT6124 was selected for further biological evaluation studies because its efficacy was the highest. KT6124 was also active against sarcoma 180 and B16 melanoma. It exerted a relatively broad spectrum of antiproliferative activity against 20 human tumor cell lines in vitro. To determine the mechanism(s) of action underlying the antitumor activity of KT6124, we tested the drug for inhibition of protein kinases, including Ca(2+)- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (PKC), in intact A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells in comparison with the PKC-inhibitory activity of K-252a. KT6124 did not antagonize the action of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in A431 cells, whereas K-252a did, suggesting that KT6124 may not act on protein kinases in the cells. The interaction of KT6124 with DNA in living cells was examined by the alkaline elution method. KT6124 apparently exhibited DNA scission both dose- and time-dependently in the target cells. The DNA breakage was dependent on proteinase K treatment, suggesting its possible interaction with DNA-related enzyme(s). These results indicate that KT6124 exerts antitumor activity by acting on DNA or on DNA-related enzyme(s) in tumor cells rather than via the inhibition of protein kinases.

Diagnostic value of ophthalmologic findings in myotonic dystrophy: Comparison with risks calculated by haplotype analysis of closely linked restriction fragment length polymorphisms

To determine diagnostic value of lens opacities in myotonic dystrophy (DM), we examined 98 at-risk members of 9 DM kindreds. Haplotype analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) using ApoC2, CKMM, and pEFD4.2 supported the diagnosis of DM in 33 and excluded the diagnosis in 51 members. The sensitivities of bilateral iridescent lens opacities, posterior cortical lens opacities, orbicularis oculi weakness, low intraocular pressure, ptosis, and ocular myotonia were 46.7, 50.0, 60.6, 59.3, 51.5, and 3.0%, while their specificities were 100.0, 100.0, 98.0, 94.1, 96.1, and 100.0%, respectively. A peripheral pigmentary degeneration and central macular lesions of retina were not found on indirect fundoscopy. In 86.2% of DM patients, bilateral iridescent lens opacities, posterior cortical lens opacities, or both were present. Unilateral iridescent lens opacities occurred in only 3 of our DM patients, and 2 of non-DM relatives showed a few unilateral iridescent particles. Posterior cortical lens opacities in DM patients always affected both eyes in this series. We conclude that 1) bilateral iridescent lens opacities and posterior cortical lens opacities are highly specific for DM and useful for establishing clinical diagnosis of DM, 2) unilateral iridescent lens opacities are infrequent in DM and are seen in some non-DM members, and 3) ocular myotonia and clinical retinopathies are rare in DM.

Anticellular and antitumor activity of duocarmycins, novel antitumor antibiotics

The anticellular and antitumor activities of novel antitumor antibiotics, duocarmycins (DUMs), were examined against human and murine tumor cells. DUMs consist of five compounds, A, B1, B2, C1 and C2, which possess a pharmacophore similar to that of CC-1065, a previously isolated antibiotic. Among them, DUMA exhibited ultrapotent growth-inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 6 pM against human uterine cervix carcinoma HeLa S3 cells. DUMA and DUMB1 also inhibited the growth of adriamycin (ADM)-resistant lines of human nasopharynx carcinoma KB cells and breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells as well as their sensitive lines. DUMs inhibited the growth of s.c.-inoculated murine tumors such as B16 melanoma, sarcoma 180, M5076 sarcoma and colon 26. DUMs were also significantly effective in increasing the lifespan of i.p.-inoculated B16 melanoma-bearing mice, although their effect was marginal against other i.p.-inoculated tumors. As a whole, DUMB1 exhibited superior activity to the other four compounds. DUMB1 rapidly inhibited the incorporation of [3H]-TdR into macromolecules of HeLa S3 cells as compared with that of [3H]UR or [3H]leucine. DNA strand breaks were detected in DUMB1-treated HeLa S3 cells by agarose gel electrophoresis with a contour-clamped homogeneous electric field apparatus. These results indicate that DUMs possess interesting biological activities as DNA-targeting antitumor antibiotics.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of quinocarcin derivatives: thioalkyl-substituted quinones and hydroquinones

Varieties of thioalkyl-containing quinone and hydroquinone analogues of quinocarcin (1a) were prepared effectively, by addition of mercaptan to 3a-c, which were derived from 1a via DX-52-1 (1b). Antitumor activities of these analogues were preliminarily evaluated by growth inhibition of HeLa S3 cells (in vitro) and increased life span of P388 implanted mice (in vivo). Bis(alkylthio)quinones 4a-d and 5a-d, and corresponding hydroquinones 9b-d exhibited high activities both in vitro and in vivo. They were superior to 1a especially in single administration. Selected compounds 4a, 4d, 5a, 5d, and 9b were subjected to further evaluation, and bis(methylthio)quinone 5a was revealed to possess broad-spectrum activity toward human xenographted carcinomas MX-1, Co-3, St-4, and LC-06.

Antitumor activity of 7-N-[[2-[[2-(gamma-L-glutamylamino)ethyl]dithio]ethyl]]-mitomycin C

Through the extensive investigation of new mitomycin C (MMC) derivatives, several compounds with disulfide at N-7 were found to show activities superior to MMC against murine Sarcoma 180 solid tumor. Among them, 7-N-[[2-[[2-(gamma-L-glutamylamino)ethyl]dithio]ethyl]]- mitomycin C (KW-2149) was selected for further evaluation of antitumor activity and toxicity in mice. KW-2149 exhibited activity superior to MMC in increasing survival of i.p. inoculated P388 leukemia-, M5076 sarcoma-, and B16 melanoma-bearing mice. KW-2149 administered i.v. also exhibited superior activity in inhibiting the growth of s.c. inoculated P388 leukemia, M5076 sarcoma, and colon 26 adenocarcinoma and in increasing survival of i.v. inoculated P388 leukemia- and M5076 sarcoma-bearing mice. Furthermore, KW-2149 remarkably increased the life span of MMC-resistant P388 leukemia- and L1210 leukemia-bearing mice. KW-2149 and MMC inhibited the growth of human tumors inoculated into nude mice. The activity of KW-2149 was prominent in human lung carcinoma Lu-65 and Lu-99, bladder carcinoma T24, and epidermoid carcinoma A431. KW-2149 was comparable to MMC in decreasing the number of WBC in the peripheral blood, and the thrombopenia induced by KW-2149 was mild and recovery was rapid. The in vitro anticellular spectrum of KW-2149 against 23 human tumor cell lines was similar to that of MMC. However, KW-2149 inhibited the growth of the cell lines at concentrations of 10- to 100-fold lower than MMC and showed efficient cytotoxicity against MMC-insensitive tumor cell lines. These included lung epidermoid carcinoma Calu-1, stomach carcinoma MKN-28, colon adenocarcinoma DLD-1, colon adenocarcinoma LoVo, bladder carcinoma HT-1197, sarcoma G-292, and melanoma SK-MEL-28 cells. These results indicate that KW-2149 bears interesting characteristics as a new anticancer drug and warrants further development.

Sapurimycin, new antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces. Producing organism, fermentation, isolation and biological properties

In screening actinomycetes for antitumor compounds, Streptomyces sp. DO-116 was found to produce a new antitumor antibiotic sapurimycin. It is structurally related to, but distinct from, kapurimycins. The antibiotic was produced in a fermentation medium supplemented with high porous polymer resin which adsorbs antibiotic in the culture and results in an increase of titer. Active material was separated from the polymer resin by a solvent extraction procedure and isolated by repeated solvent extraction, adsorption chromatography and HPLC. Sapurimycin was active against bacteria, particularly Gram-positive organisms. It exhibited antitumor activity against leukemia P388 and sarcoma 180 in mice. Sapurimycin caused single strand breaks in supercoiled plasmid DNA in vitro. These results are discussed in comparison with data for kapurimycins.

Synthesis of quinone derivatives of quinocarcin

O-Demethyl-DX-52-1 (3a) was prepared from quinocarcin (1) in two steps (cyanation and O-demethylation). Upon treatment with Fremy's salt, 3a and its esters 3b, 3c afforded the desired quinone 4-6 in good yields. Various substituted quinones 12-37, 47-50 were prepared from 4-6 by Thiele acetylation followed by hydrolysis of acetates and halogenation, by direct addition of amine, alcohol and mercaptan, and by epoxidation and subsequent opening of the epoxide ring with aniline. The quinonemonoketals 39b and 40 were obtained from the corresponding methoxyphenols 7b and 38b. Addition of hydroxylamine gave the quinoneoxime 44 regiospecifically. The antitumor activity of the bis-methylthioquinone (37) among the various derivatives was the most promising.

Autoimmune T cell recognition of human acetylcholine receptor: the sites of T cell recognition in myasthenia gravis on the extracellular part of the alpha subunit

Autoimmune T cell lines were prepared from peripheral blood lymphocytes of five myasthenia gravis patients by passage in vitro with an equimolar mixture of 18 overlapping synthetic peptides corresponding to the entire extracellular region (residues alpha 1-210) of the alpha subunit of human acetylcholine receptor (AChR). The proliferative responses of the human AChR-specific T cell lines to each of the individual peptides were determined. It was found that the profiles of the peptides recognized by the T cells were different among the five T cell lines, consistent with genetic control operating at the recognition site level. However, other regulatory influences may play important roles in the triggering of the autoimmune responses. These results suggest that the pathogenesis of this autoimmune disease is variable at the cellular-molecular level.

[Effects of ethanol on GTP binding protein function in rat cerebral cortex: strain difference between Wistar and Fischer 344 rats]

The effect of ethanol on GTP-binding protein of cortical adenylate cyclase (AC) system in the Wistar and Fischer 344 rats was examined. In both Wistar and Fischer 344 rats, ethanol (100mM) potentiated Gpp (NH) p-stimulated AC activity and decreased EC50 for Gpp (NH)p in the cerebral cortical membrane (CCM). Ethanol treatment also augmented Mn-stimulated AC activity in Wistar CCM, whereas there was no significant change in Fischer 344 CCM. IC50 calculated from the Gpp (NH)p (0.01-0.3 microM) inhibition of forskolin-stimulated AC was decreased by ethanol treatment in Wistar CCM, but this was not the case in Fischer 344 CCM. There was no appreciable change in ADP-ribosylation of Gs and Gi in CCM with pertussis or cholera toxin. These results suggest that ethanol in vitro enhances the Gi function as well as affecting the Gs function in Wistar rat cortical AC system, and the effect of ethanol on Gi protein are different in Wistar and Fischer 344 CCM.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of quinocarcin derivatives

Cyanation of quinocarcin readily opened the oxazolidine ring to provide DX-52-1 (2), which was a key compound in the synthesis of quinocarcin derivatives. Various electrophilic reactions toward aromatic ring of DX-52-1 were examined, and 10-substituted (e.g., halogen, nitro, formyl, cyano, hydroxy, etc.) analogs were prepared. Dehydrocyanation of the derivatives could be achieved to reproduce the oxazolidine ring upon treatment with HCl or AgNO3. 10-Chloride 10 and 10-bromide 11 were the most promising among the derivatives prepared. Antitumor activity of 10 was extended to B-16 melanoma.

[Various methods of catheter placement in hepatic arterial infusion--technique of catheter placement via a femoral artery]

A comparative analysis of the individual techniques was performed on a total of 106 cases undergoing various methods of catheter placement in hepatic infusion. The comparison of laparatomy (n = 44) with a percutaneous method (n = 62) disclosed a higher incidence of peptic ulcer in the latter. When two modes of percutaneous approach, including a trans-left subclavian arterial method (n = 36) and a trans-femoral arterial method (n = 26), were compared, a shorter average catheterization time (approximately 70 minutes) and a higher selective insertion rate (92.3%) were noted in the trans-femoral approach. For these reasons, our department adopts the trans-femoral method as the percutaneous method of choice. It is advisable for further studies to be made in order to clarify indications for the individual techniques and for anti-complication measures.