Increased IL-6-production by cells isolated from the fibrous bone dysplasia tissues in patients with McCune-Albright syndrome

McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) is characterized by café-au-lait spot, multiple endocrine hyperfunction, and polyostotic fibrous dysplasia. A somatic point mutation of Gsalpha protein was reported to decrease GTPase activity, leading to increase in the GSalpha-associated hormone actions via cAMP. IL-6 is known to stimulate osteoclast formation and in the IL-6 promoter, a cAMP responsive element has been identified. In this paper, we investigated the role of IL-6 in the bone lesions of MAS, using the isolated fibrous cells from the polyostotic fibrous dysplasia tissues in bones of the two patients with MAS. Bone biopsy specimen revealed the increased osteoclast in number. In both patients, a GSalpha mutation (Arg201 -> His) was identified in the cultured fibrous cells. Intracellular cAMP content and IL-6 secretion by the patient cells were increased. Rp-8Br-cAMP significantly inhibited IL-6 production in the patient cells, while it had no effect on normal control. The addition of dibutyryl cAMP significantly increased the synthesis of IL-6 in normal control cells. In contrast, no effect of dibutyryl cAMP on IL-6 synthesis was observed in the cells from one of the MAS patients. These data suggest that IL-6 is, at least, one of the downstream effectors of cAMP and that the increased IL-6 synthesis has a pathogenic role in the bone lesions of MAS patients via increasing the number of osteoclasts. These results may provide a new strategy for the therapy of MAS patients.

Role of leukotriene B4 in the interleukin-4-induced human mononuclear phagocyte activation

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) induced a time- and dose-dependent production of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) by human resting monocytes indicating that IL-4 induced the activation of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in resting human monocytes. Maximal effect was observed in the presence of 10 ng/ml IL-4, and in kinetics experiments LTB4 production plateaued 40 min after the onset of stimulation. When stimulated for 48 hr with IL-4, resting human monocytes expressed and released the low-affinity receptor for IgE (CD23) and were partially inhibited in the presence of a highly non-redox 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor (BW B70C), suggesting that the production of LTB4 partially contributed to the IL-4-induced CD23 expression and release. This hypothesis was strengthened by the fact that exogenous LTB4 (10 nM) was found to increase the effect of a suboptimal dose of IL-4 (1 ng/ml). In addition to these phenotypical changes, IL-4 primed the phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced luminol-dependent chemiluminescence response (LDCL) by normal human monocytes, this priming effect being abrogated in the presence of BW B70C. Taken together, these data indicated that IL-4 induced the production of LTB4 by activation of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in human monocytes, and that the activation of this pathway could upregulate the expression and release of CD23 and the respiratory burst of these cells.

Corticobasal degeneration: widespread argentophilic threads and glia in addition to neurofibrillary tangles. Similarities of cytoskeletal abnormalities in corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy

A 57-year-old man had exhibited cortical sensory disturbance, rigidity, spasticity, dementia, alien hand, grasp reflex, supranuclear ophthalmoplegia, pseudobulbar palsy, and neck dystonia for 4 years. Histological examination of autopsied specimens revealed neuronal loss in the cerebral cortex, with ballooned neurons, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra, basal ganglia, midbrain tegmentum, and the thalamus. There were neurofibrillary tangles in the subthalamic nucleus and the substantia nigra. Gallyas-Braak silver impregnation demonstrated numerous argentophilic tangles, threads, and a few argentophilic glia in the cerebral cortex, subcortical white matter, particularly in the precentral gyrus, subcortical nuclei, and the brainstem. These argentophilic structures were largely positive for tau, and negative for ubiquitin, paired helical filaments, and phosphorylated neurofilament. Ultrastructurally, 15-nm-wide straight tubules were observed in the neurons of the substantia nigra, globus pallidus, and the precentral cortex, coexisting with a few twisted tubules periodically constricted at 160- to 230-nm intervals. It was conclusively shown that Gallyas- and tau-positive cytoskeletal abnormalities occurred widely in brain of corticobasal degeneration. Both distribution and morphology of abnormal phosphorylated tau protein in corticobasal degeneration appear to resemble these features in progressive supranuclear palsy. These findings suggest a common cytoskeletal etiopathological significance in corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy.

Moment analysis of stereoselective enterohepatic circulation and unidirectional chiral inversion of ketoprofen enantiomers in rat

The stereoselective enterohepatic circulation (EHC) and the synchronous chiral inversion of ketoprofen enantiomer in rat were evaluated by moment analysis based on the recirculatory concept. (R)-(-)- and (S)-(+)-ketoprofen were independently administered into rats, and the plasma and bile concentrations of both enantiomers were determined by a column-switching HPLC. (S)-Ketoprofen was generated by the chiral inversion from (R)-ketoprofen, whereas (R)-ketoprofen was not generated from (S)-ketoprofen. Within 30 min after intravenous administrations, the plasma time courses of R- and S-enantiomers were almost the same between rats with laparotomy and those with bile-duct cannula. After 30 min, the plasma concentrations in rats with laparotomy were significantly higher than those in rats with bile-duct cannula. The Laplace-transformed equations for stereoselective EHC and the synchronous chiral inversion were derived by means of the transfer function method on the basis of the recirculatory theory. The global moments (AUC and MRT) which were derived directly from the transformed equations were related to the local moments for the single EHC. The recirculation ratios of (R)- and (S)-ketoprofen for the single EHC were estimated to be 15.4% and 63.6%, respectively. The absorption ratios of (R)- and (S)-ketoprofen for the absorption process from the gastrointestinal tract into the systemic circulation were 87.0% and 83.8%, respectively. The biliary excretion rations of (R)- and (S)-ketoprofen for the disposition process through the systemic circulation into the bile were 17.7% and 75.8%, respectively. The chiral inversion ratio from (R)-ketoprofen into (S)-ketoprofen was 59.5%. The complicated disposition of ketoprofen, i.e., the simultaneous EHC and chiral inversion, was able to be analyzed by a moment method in a simple way.

Structural and functional characterization of a novel tumor-derived rat galectin-1 having transforming growth factor (TGF) activity: the relationship between intramolecular disulfide bridges and TGF activity

Previously we demonstrated that overexpression of a beta-galactoside binding protein, galectin-1, caused the transformation of BALB3T3 fibroblast cells [Yamaoka, K., Ohno, S., Kawasaki, H., and Suzuki, K. (1991) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 179, 272-279]. We have now studied the structure-function relationship between the sugar-binding activity and the mitogenic activity of galectin-1 purified from an avian sarcoma virus-transformed rat NRK cell line, 77N1. The purified galectin-1 (t-galectin-1) had potent mitogenic activity in BALB3T3 cells, but no sugar-binding activity. Treatment of t-galectin-1 with 2-mercaptoethanol decreased its mitogenic activity, but resulted in the appearance of a sugar binding activity. Chemical modification of sulfhydryl groups in purified t-galectin-1 with [14C]-iodoacetamide suggested the presence of intramolecular disulfide bonds. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric analysis of the native and reduced forms of the tryptic peptides from t-galectin-1 showed that t-galectin-1 has two intramolecular disulfide bonds (Cys2-Cys16 and Cys42-Cys60). These studies suggest that these intramolecular disulfide bonds of t-galectin-1 are essential for its mitogenic activity and that the different activities may be regulated by structural changes caused by intramolecular disulfide bond-breakage.

The Japanese National Registry data on pediatric CAPD patients: a ten-year experience. A report of the Study Group of Pediatric PD Conference

OBJECTIVE

Over the past 10 years, we have collected data on pediatric patients less than 16 years of age from the National Registry of CAPD (continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis). We present our experience with this population.

DESIGN

The database details the patient number, age, weight, height, outcome, cause of death, reason for terminating CAPD therapy, peritonitis, and catheter survival.

PATIENTS

Of the 434 patients (239 males, 195 females), 37 patients (8.5%) were under 1 year of age and 164 patients (37.8%) were under 6 years of age. About half of the patients were less than 20 kg in weight, clearly indicating that CAPD was the treatment of choice in young children. The duration on CAPD for these patients was less than 2 years for 233 patients (54%), and was 5 years or more in 48 patients (11%).

RESULTS

The outcome of the total patient population of 434 as of May, 1991, is as follows: 229 patients (52.8%) were being successfully treated with CAPD, 47 patients (10.8%) died, and 78 patients (18.0%) received a kidney transplantation. The patient survival rate was 85.6% at 3 years and 81.7% at 5 years. The technique survival rate was 74.9% at 3 years and 63.5% at 5 years. The rate of peritonitis was one episode over 28.6 patient-months. The mean catheter duration was 1.68 years. Peritonitis rate, catheter survival rate, and the rate of tunnel infection were worse in children less than 6 years of age than in older children.

CONCLUSION

The excellent patient and technique survival rates indicate that CAPD is an effective treatment for children with end-stage renal disease in Japan. The high infection rates in younger children indicate that extra careful management is needed for this young age group.

HLA-DQ-binding peptide motifs. 1. Comparative binding analysis of type II collagen-derived peptides to DR and DQ molecules of rheumatoid arthritis-susceptible and non-susceptible haplotypes

The frequency of the HLA-DR4-DQ4 haplotype (DRB1(*)0405-DQA1(*)0302-DQB1(*)0401) is significantly increased in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and DRB1(*)0405-binding peptide motifs were identified in our previous studies. To clarify the DQ4-binding peptide motifs, the primary structure of DQ4-binding peptides was determined by affinity-based selection of a phage random peptide library. Analog peptides of a high-affinity DQ4 binder revealed that two major anchors (VxxxxxxxR; where x is any amino acid) play an essential role in binding to DQ4. The affinity of synthetic VAAAAAAAR-based analog peptides showed that substituting V to W, G, L, I, M, P, F, Y or A and R to H, M, L, I or V allows binding. The involvement of the ninth residue of the peptides, especially Arg, was critical for high-affinity binding. In comparison with other class II-binding peptide motifs reported to date, peptide motifs for DQ4 were unique, in that Gly and Pro are allowed as low-affinity N-terminal anchors. Interestingly, 94 putative DQ4-binding motifs were detected in the human type II collagen molecule, since it is composed of (Gly-X1-X2)n and is rich in R and P at positions X2. However, no significant differences were observed between the affinities of the collagen-derived peptides with DR or DQ molecules of RA-susceptible DR4-DQ4 and with those of non-susceptible DR4-DQ8 (DRB1(*)0406-DQA1(*)0301-DQB1(*)0302) haplotypes, indicating that the susceptibility to RA is not a simple immune response gene phenomenon specific to collagen. The immunogenetic implications of the unique peptide motifs for DQ are discussed.

Effect of N-feruloyl tyramine (an analogue of tyramine) on inwardly rectifying potassium channel in frog ventricular myocytes

Electrophysiological effects of N-feruloyl tyramine (NFT), an analogue of tyramine, on potassium currents in frog ventricular myocytes were examined using single-channel recording and whole-cell voltage clamp technique. Extracellular application of NFT induced a concentration-dependent decrease of macroscopic inward rectifier potassium current (iK1) with ID50 of 198 microM, while tyramine (100 microM) was ineffective in producing an inhibitory effect on iK1. NFT reduced the mean open time of iK1 to 1.3 ms from 3.1 ms in control without affecting the amplitude of single-channel conductance. It is indicated that boi containing NFT produces a prolongation of the plateau phase caused by the suppression of inwardly rectifying K channel. Thus, this prolongation may induce an increase in the inflow of Ca ions, which in turn leads to a positive inotropic effect.

Local absorption kinetics into the portal system using the portal-venous concentration difference after an oral dose of diclofenac in the awakening rat. Accelerative effect of bile on intestinal absorption of diclofenac

The local absorption kinetics from the intestinal tract into the portal system was evaluated using the portal-venous concentration difference (P-V difference) after oral administration of diclofenac in conscious rats. The local absorption ratio (Fa), mean local absorption time (ta), and relative variance (sigma 2/ta2) from the intestinal tract into the portal system were estimated by simultaneously measuring the portal and venous concentrations, using diclofenac as a model drug. The effect of bile on diclofenac intestinal absorption was also investigated. The awakening rats simultaneously cannulated into the jugular and portal veins were divided into group A with intact enterohepatic circulation (EHC) and into another group with bile-duct cannulation to block EHC. The rats in the latter group were further divided into group B without the bile supply to the intestinal tract and into group C with the bile supply from the other rat. After oral administration of diclofenac to rats in groups A, B, and C, the portal and venous concentrations of diclofenac in each rat were simultaneously monitored by HPLC method at proper time intervals. The absorption time profile of diclofenac into the portal system was directly predicted from P-V difference. Plasma concentrations of diclofenac in the portal vein were constantly higher than those in the jugular vein after the oral administration. It was demonstrated that P-V difference was caused by absorption from the intestinal tract into the portal system. Fa in groups A, B, and C were estimated to be 91.5% for 8 hr, 33.8% for 3 hr, and 57.8% for 3 hr, respectively. ta in groups A, B, and C were estimated to be 2.26 hr, 0.65 hr, and 0.96 hr, respectively. sigma 2/ta2 in groups A, B, and C were 1.31, 0.48, and 0.55, respectively. Fa and ta of diclofenac extensively increased in the presence of the bile in the intestinal tract, whereas sigma 2/ta2 was unaffected by the bile. The mean absorption time (MAT) almost agreed with ta, which demonstrates that the mean transit time through the liver (tH) is negligible in MAT(= ta+tH).

Signal transduction pathway of interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 in human B cells derived from X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency patients

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13 are functionally similar cytokines. The functional IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) consists of the IL-4R alpha chain (IL-4R alpha) and the IL-2R gamma chain (gamma c), which is shared by the IL-2, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-15 receptors. The functional IL-13R is thought to involve the IL-4R alpha but not gamma c. In this study, we have analyzed activation of members of the Janus tyrosine kinase (Jak) family and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) 6 induced by IL-4 and IL-13 in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells derived from two patients of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency, who have mutations of the gamma c gene in the extracellular and intracellular domains. In these B cells, IL-4 failed to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of Jak3 and activation of STAT6, or activation of these molecules was significantly decreased compared with Epstein-Barr virus-transformed normal B cells. In contrast, IL-13 activated STAT6 in these cells as well as normal B cells. However, Jak3 was not activated by IL-13, even in normal B cells. These results clearly indicated that gamma c is essential for activation of Jak3 and STAT6 in the signal transduction pathway of IL-4 in human B cells and that IL-13 does not utilize gamma c but activates STAT6 through an alternative pathway, which is not impaired in B cells of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency patients.

Regulation of Ca channel by intracellular Ca2+ and Mg2+ in frog ventricular cells

The effects of changing the intracellular concentrations of Ca2+ or Mg2+ ([Ca2+]i, [Mg2+]i) on Ca current (ICa) was studied in frog ventricular myocytes using the whole-cell and cell-attached patch clamp techniques. In the physiological range of [Mg2+]i an increase in [Ca2+]i enhanced ICa whereas at lower [Mg2+]i ICa was suppressed. The increase in ICa caused by Ca2+ loading was not mediated by phosphorylation since the kinase inhibitors H-8 ¿N-[2-(methylamino)-ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide dihydrochloride¿, staurosporine and KN-62 ¿1-[N,O-bis(5-isoquinolinesulphonyl)-N-methyl-1-tyrosyl]-4- phenylpiperizine¿ and a non-hydrolysable adenosine 5'-triphosphate analogue beta,gamma-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate did not prevent the Ca2+-induced ICa increase. ICa was dramatically increased from 10+/-6 (n=4) to 71+/-7 nA/nF (n=4) when [Mg2+]i was lowered from 1.0 x 10(-3) to 1.0 x 10(-6) M at a [Ca2+]i of 10(-8) M. The concentration response relation for inhibition of Ca channels by [Mg2+]i is modulated by [Ca2+]i. To account for the experimental results it is postulated that competitive binding of Ca2+ or Mg2+ to the Ca channel accelerates the transition of the channel from an active to a silent mode. Single-channel recordings support this hypothesis. The regulation may have clinical relevance in cytoprotection during cardiac ischaemia.

Consideration on moments of outflow profile in liver perfusion system with change in perfusate flow rate using oxacillin as model drug

The effect of perfusate flow rate on hepatic structure and hepatic uptake kinetics was investigated using oxacillin as a model drug and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a reference substance in the liver perfusion system from the standpoint of a dispersion model and moment characteristics. The estimated recovery ratio (FH) of oxacillin was about 40% which was independent of the change in perfusate flow rate. The mean transit time (tH) of oxacillin decreased with an increase in flow rate, while the relative variance (sigma 2/t2H) of oxacillin was independent of the flow rate. The tH of BSA decreased with an increase in the flow rate to the same extent as that of oxacillin, while sigma 2/t2H of BSA was independent of flow rate. When the dispersion model is adopted as a model system to analyze hepatic perfusion data following the pulse input, the moment characteristics (FH, tH and sigma 2/t2H) are given in complicated equations. It is demonstrated by the present investigation that these moment equations can be extensively simplified for a drug with a medium extraction ratio (FH > 50%), i.e., FH is independent of the distribution, both FH and tH are independent of the dispersion process in the hepatic blood space, and both tH and sigma 2/t2H are independent of the elimination. Thus, it is shown that FH and tH are exactly the indices of elimination and distribution, respectively, and sigma 2/t2H is the index of dispersion in the blood space plus nonequilibrium in the hepatic distribution.

Moment analysis of stereoselective biliary excretion and chiral inversion of ketoprofen enantiomers in perfused rat liver

The stereoselective local disposition of ketoprofen was evaluated by the single-pass perfusion experiment following a bolus injection of R(-)- or S(+)-ketoprofen into the liver from the portal vein. The elution time profiles of enantiomers into the hepatic vein and the excretion time profiles into the bile were kinetically assessed by local moment analysis. The hepatic recovery ratios (FH) of both enantiomers were < 1%, and the mean hepatic transit times (tH) were approximately 7 s. After the injection of S-ketoprofen into the liver, the biliary excretion ratio (Fb) of total S-ketoprofen was 68% (15% S-ketoprofen and 53% glucuronide) and the mean biliary transit time (tb) of S-ketoprofen was 10 min. R-Ketoprofen inversion from S-ketoprofen was not observed in either the perfusate or in the bile. After the injection of R-ketoprofen, the Fb of total R-ketoprofen was 12% (3% R-ketoprofen and 9% glucuronide), and tb of R-ketoprofen was 8 min. The Fb of total S-ketoprofen inverted from R-ketoprofen was 24% (7% S-ketoprofen and 17% glucuronide), and the tb of inverted S-ketoprofen was 17 min. Forty-six percent of R-ketoprofen was inverted to S-ketoprofen during a single pass through the rat liver, and the mean inversion time was 7.5 min. It was concluded that the unidirectional chiral inversion of ketoprofen was stereospecific, and the hepatic uptake and biliary excretion were stereo-nonspecific.

Prevention of recurrent bleeding from gastric ulcer with a nonbleeding visible vessel by endoscopic injection of absolute ethanol: a prospective, controlled trial

We performed a prospective, randomized trial to assess the efficacy of endoscopic injection therapy with absolute ethanol in preventing recurrent bleeding in patients with nonbleeding visible vessels in gastric ulcers. During the period of 1990 to 1993, 62 patients who bled were found to have gastric ulcers with nonbleeding visible vessels; all of them were enrolled for this trial. The 62 patients were randomly divided into two groups, which were comparable at entry. In group I (33 patients), we performed endoscopic injection therapy with absolute ethanol. In group II (29 patients), we sprayed the ulcers with 0.1% epinephrine and thrombin. Endoscopic injection therapy with ethanol was performed at the second endoscopy in the patients in both groups who had recurrent bleeding. Among the 33 patients in group I, 4 patients (12.1%) rebled after the initial ethanol injection therapy, whereas 10 of 29 patients (34.5%) rebled in the control group (p < .05). No patients in group I required surgical intervention, and ultimate hemostasis was achieved in all 33 group I patients (100%), indicating that endoscopic ethanol injection therapy achieves ultimate hemostasis and prevents recurrent bleeding in patients with gastric ulcers and nonbleeding visible vessels.

Effect of liver intoxication by carbon tetrachloride on hepatic local disposition of oxacillin using moment characteristics as index

The effect of liver intoxication by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) on the hepatic local disposition using oxacillin as a test drug and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a reference substance was evaluated by single-pass bolus input method in the isolated perfused rat liver. Oxacillin and BSA were introduced into the liver from the portal vein, and the outflow concentration-time profiles of oxacillin and BSA from the rat liver into the hepatic vein were kinetically assessed by moment analysis. Liver damage was monitored by plasma SGOT, plasma SGPT, and bile flow rate. Hepatic recovery ratio FH of oxacillin increased from 50% to 80%, with an increase in liver intoxication by CCl4; whereas FH of BSA was naturally 100%. Mean transit time tH of oxacillin increased from 6 to 12 sec, with an increase in liver intoxication; whereas tH of BSA increased from 7 to 10 sec. The relative variance sigma 2/tH2 of oxacillin increased from 0.2 to 0.7, with an increase in liver intoxication; whereas sigma 2/tH2 of BSA took the value of approximately 0.4, independent of liver damage. In the relationship between the dispersion model and moments, it was shown that the blood space VB increased from 15 to 20%, the index for distribution (1 + k') of oxacillin from 1.0 to 1.5, the efficiency number RN of oxacillin decreased from 0.7 to 0.3 with the increase in liver damage, and the extent of eddy mixing was predicted to be unaffected by liver damage. The intensive increases in tH and sigma 2/tH2 of oxacillin with the liver intoxication by CCl4 were explained by increases in the extent of distribution and nonequilibrium distribution, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Gene diagnostics of gender verification test in competitive sports]

The gender verification test (GV) was carried out by gene diagnostics at the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima, 1994. Human genomic DNA samples were extracted from the hair root of female competitors. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to prove the absence of the sex determining region of Y-chromosome (SRY) in order to confirm the femininity, and detection of pseudo autosomal boundary region of Y-chromosome (PABY) in order to confirm that the DNA is extracted from the hair root and the femininity can again be confirmed. A total of 1,300 female competitors were screened. We conclude that this testing is useful for the GV, because hair sampling is easy, the method is simple and there is little contamination.

[A PCR method for examining diarrhea--Escherichia coli]

To identify diarrhea--Escherichia coli(E. coli), especially Enteroinvasive E. coli(EIEC), Verocytotoxin-producing E. coli(VTEC), and Enterotoxigenic E. coli(ETEC), confirmation of pathogenic factors is necessary. We developed a system using the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) that simultaneously confirms the pathogenic genes of these E. coli, and have used it in routine examination. This method is simple and does not require examination for each pathogenic factor. Multiple pathogenic genes could be rapidly detected.

Evidence for a role of Fc epsilon RII/CD23 in the IL-4-induced nitric oxide production by normal human mononuclear phagocytes

IL-4 stimulates NO production by human monocytes. After 6 days of culture with IL-4, human monocytes released detectable amounts of nitrite and L-citrulline that were inhibited in the presence of nitro-L-arginine (1 mM). Incubation with an anti-CD23 mAb Fab fragment that suppressed the biological effect of CD23 led to a strong reduction (50 to 70%) of the IL-4-induced nitrite and L-citrulline production. Ligation of membrane-associated CD23 or stimulation with recombinant soluble CD23 elicited monocytes to release nitrite and L-citrulline that was suppressed by nitro-L-arginine. Preactivation of human monocytes with IFN-gamma led to subsequent increased IL-4- and CD23-driven nitrite and L-citrulline productions that were also suppressed in the presence of either nitro-L-arginine or the anti-CD23 mAb Fab fragment. The CD23 molecule under its membrane or soluble form thus regulates NO generation by human monocytes. In addition, the IL-4-induced NO production could be mediated, at least in part, by CD23.

Effect of temperature in perfusate on local hepatic disposition of BOF-4272, a new xanthine oxidase inhibitor

The effect of temperature on the local hepatic disposition of BOF-4272 [(+/-)-8-(3-methoxy-4-phenylsulfinyl-phenyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5- triazine-4-olate], a new drug used to treat hyperuricemia, was investigated by means of a perfusion experiment following the pulse input into the portal vein of rat, in which the temperature of the perfusate was changed from 37 degrees C down to 4 degrees C. The same perfusion experiment was also attempted using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a reference substance to compare with the hepatic disposition of BOF-4272. The elution time profiles of BOF-4272 and BSA from the liver into the hepatic vein were evaluated by moment analysis. The recovery ratio (FH) and the mean transit time (tH) of BOF-4272 were 22.8 +/- 3.3% and 0.111 +/- 0.008 min at 37 degrees C, respectively. Both FH and tH significantly increased with the decrease in the temperature of the perfusate, 3 times and 2 times greater at 4 degrees C than at 37 degrees C, respectively. The FH and tH of BSA were 98.3 +/- 4.5% and 0.129 +/- 0.013 min at 37 degrees C, respectively. These parameters of BSA were independent of temperature, while those of BOF-4272 showed a definite dependency on temperature. A new estimation method for the elimination rate constant (kc) and the partition ratio (k') in the dispersion model was developed by rearranging the theoretical equations of FH and tH. The index for the elimination (ke) of BOF-4272 decreased with the decrease in temperature, while the index for the distribution (k') increased with the decrease in temperature. This result shows that the metabolism (or the biliary excretion) decreased and the distribution increased with a decrease in temperature, indicating that the hepatic metabolizing pathway which is presumably temperature-dependent is blocked, and the blocked portion of BOF-4272 thus returns back to the perfusate at the low temperature.

Evaluation of intestinal absorption into the portal system in enterohepatic circulation by measuring the difference in portal-venous blood concentrations of diclofenac

PURPOSE

We evaluated the first-pass effects in vivo by the intestine and liver during enterophepatic circulation (EHC) by simultaneously measuring the portal and venous plasma concentrations of the rat.

METHODS

The venous and upper portal blood vessels were cannulated through the jugular and the pyloric veins, respectively, to obtain simultaneously blood samples from both sites. After diclofenac was injected as a bolus through the jugular vein, the concentrations of diclofenac in the portal and jugular veins were measured at time intervals. The absorption rate from the intestinal tract into the portal system was determined using the portal-venous difference in plasma concentrations of diclofenac, considering 40% partitioning of diclofenac into erythrocytes.

RESULTS

After one hour, the plasma concentration in the portal vein was always higher than that in the jugular vein in awakening rats with intact EHC (portal-venous blood concentration difference). No portal-venous difference was observed in awakening rats with bile-duct cannulation. Therefore, it was concluded that this portal-venous concentration difference was not due to the hepatic clearance but to diclofenac reabsorption from the intestinal tract.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately 40% of the dose of diclofenac was reabsorbed over 8 hours from the intestinal tract into the portal system. By comparing the reabsorbed amounts in the portal system and in the systemic circulation, the hepatic extraction ratio in vivo (FH) of diclofenac was estimated to be 63%.

Expression of gap junction protein connexin 32 and E-cadherin in human hepatocellular carcinoma

The expression of connexin 32, a major gap junction protein, and E-cadherin, an intercellular adhesion molecule that is supposed to be involved in the regulation of gap junctional intercellular communications, was examined immunohistochemically in seven specimens of human hepatocellular carcinoma and surrounding non-carcinomatous tissues. We found that the number of connexin 32-positive spots per mm2 was significantly less in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues than in the surrounding non-carcinomatous cirrhotic tissues (4360 +/- 3390/mm2 vs 10,030 +/- 3690/mm2; p < 0.01). The number in the latter was also significantly less than that in normal controls (23,560 +/- 4170/mm2). E-cadherin was expressed in all non-carcinomatous hepatocytes as well as carcinomatous cells, except for one case of Edmondson's grade III hepatocellular carcinoma. These results suggest an impairment of cell-to-cell communications in human hepatocellular carcinomas.

New hepatocellular diffusion model for analysis of hepatobiliary transport processes of drugs

A new hepatocellular diffusion model was developed to kinetically evaluate the hepatobiliary transport processes of drugs in the perfusion system, based on the physiological structure of the liver. Since the equations describing the hepatocellular diffusion phenomena were derived as image forms in the Laplace domain, the fast inverse Laplace transform (FILT) was adopted to manipulate the image equations. Cefixime and cefpiramide were selected as model drugs. The concentrations in the perfusate and the excreted amounts into the bile were simultaneously measured at appropriate intervals after the rapid administration of each drug into the portal vein. The hepatocellular diffusion model was fitted to the biliary excretion profiles from rat livers, by means of a nonlinear least squares program, MULTI(FILT). According to this model, the hepatobiliary transport process of drug is kinetically separated into three steps, that is, the diffusion into and through the hepatocytes, the transfer from the hepatocytes into the bile canaliculi, and the movement through the bile canaliculi to the outlet of bile duct. These steps are characterized by the diffusion rate constant through hepatocytes (kdif), the permeability rate constant into the bile canaliculi (kbmc) and the transit time through the bile canaliculi to the outlet of bile duct (tcan), respectively. It was demonstrated that kdif of cefixime (0.023 min-1) was significantly smaller than that of cefpiramide (0.044 min-1), while the differences in kbmc and tcan were not obvious between cefixime and cefpiramide. kbmc and tcan of both drugs were about 1.2 min-1 and about 1.0 min, respectively. These parameters were correlated to the excretion ratio into the bile (Fbile) and the mean transit time from the sinusoid through the hepatocytes to the outlet of bile duct (tbile).