Some pharmacological properties of tiopronin

Multifunctional Biomedical Applications of Nitrogen and Sulfur Co-Doped Carbon Dots

Multifunctional carbon dots have drawn considerable attention due to their potential biomedical application value. We report the preparation of blue-green fluorescence-emitting, multifunctional, nitrogen-and-sulfur co-doped carbon dots (N, S-CDs) synthesized via a one-step process using 1-thioglycerol as a sulfur source, glucose and citric acid as carbon sources, and polyethyleneimine as a nitrogen source. Because of abundant amino and sulfur content, the CDs exhibited high sensibility and selectivity for detecting Cu₂₊ (detection limit: 0.01 μM, linear range: 0.025 to 50 μM). Fast and sensitive detection of tiopronin was also achieved on the basis of the fluorescence "off-on" mode considering the strong affinity between tiopronin and Cu₂₊. The N, S-CDs exhibited good biocompatibility as determined by fluorescence imaging using onion epidermal cells and gram-positive bacteria. The CDs also exhibited excellent antimicrobial ability against the gram-positive bacteria. Our results indicate that these novel N, S-CDs could be ideal candidates for several biochemical applications such as antibacterial treatment and detection of small biomolecules.

Prospective analysis of tiopronin in prevention of sorafenib and antiviral therapy inducing liver toxicity in advanced hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatotoxicity induced by sorafenib and antiviral therapy is a limitation for its continuation treatment for patients with advanced hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This prospective study determined the efficacy of tiopronin in hepatotoxicity prevention of HBV-related HCC treatment. Eighty-two patients (median age, 50 years; 71 % male) of advanced HCC treated with sorafenib and antiviral therapy were included, of whom 40 were given the supplementation of tiopronin. The primary endpoint was liver function which was checked before the treatment and every week during the therapy. Besides, course discontinuations, dose reductions, HBV DNA levels and treatment efficacy were evaluated. Patient characteristics and liver function were comparable (p > 0.05). The proportion of abnormal liver function was significantly lower in tiopronin group than in control group including alanine transaminase (ALT, p = 0.035), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, p = 0.041), total bilirubin (TBIL, p = 0.021) and albumin (ALB, p = 0.001). Rates of course discontinuations (p = 0.024) and dose reductions (p = 0.046) were significantly lower in tiopronin groups, and disease control rate (p = 0.036) was higher. No difference was found in HBV DNA level. Multivariate regression analysis showed that sorafenib (OR 7.837; 95 % CI 3.845-15.333; p = 0.004), antiviral therapy (OR 3.871; 95 % CI 1.572-9.569; p = 0.044) and hepatoprotective drug (OR 3.007; 95 % CI 1.321-6.308; p = 0.046) played important roles in clinical outcome. Tiopronin tends to prevent the HCC patients from the treatment-induced hepatotoxicity, enhance patients' tolerance to sorafenib and antiviral therapy and even improve the cancer treatment efficacy.

Tiopronin (2-mercaptopropionylglycine) has chemokinetic and chemotactic properties for polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Tiopronin enhances migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). The enhancing effect consists partly of a chemokinetic, and partly of a chemotactic effect. Intact sulfhydryl groups on the outer surface of the PMN plasma membrane are required for the enhanced locomotion: pretreatment of cells with the non-penetrating sulfhydryl reagent (5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) completely abolishes the activating effect of tiopronin, but has only a moderate effect on activation by fMet-Leu-Phe. Pretreatment of PMNs with pertussis toxin inhibits tiopronin-induced enhancement of migration, suggesting that a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein is involved in the enhancing effect of tiopronin on PMN migration.

Stimulatory effects of anti-rheumatic drugs on human neutrophil functions

Auranofin (AF), D-penicillamine (D-pen) and thiola are prescribed as disease-modifying drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We have shown here that auranofin, 10(-8) to 10(-6) M, D-penicillamine, 10(-6) to 10(-3) M, thiola, 10(-7) to 10(-3) M, and the tripeptide thiol, glutathione, 10(-6) to 10(-3) M, enhanced f-met-leu-phe-induced lysosomal enzyme release and the phagocytic uptake of bacteria by up to 40%. The previously reported inhibitory effects of AF were only observed at concentrations in excess of those likely to be available to effector cells in vivo. The stimulatory effects of thiola and D-pen occurred at concentrations likely to be available to effector cells in vivo and, therefore, may be of greater clinical relevance. There is evidence that the drugs used in this study exert their effects via a thiol moiety and their therapeutic effect is preceded by an elevation of intracellular thiol levels.

The effect of an aqueous extract of Tanacetum parthenium L. on arachidonic acid metabolism by rat peritoneal leucocytes

The effect of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L., Schultz Bip.) as a whole plant on an aqueous extract equivalent to 20 mg dried plant per ml, has been examined on both cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase activity in rat leucocytes in-vitro. At 10-25 micrograms ml-1 feverfew had no effect on the formation of arachidonate metabolites while at highest concentrations (50-200 micrograms ml-1) it inhibited both cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolic products.