Effects of the synthetic trypsin inhibitor camostate on the development of N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine-induced pancreatic lesions in hamsters

Biologically valuable components, antioxidant activity and proteinase inhibition activity of leaf and callus extracts of Salvia sp

Sage is medicinal plant, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Eight extract samples were tested in this study: extract from Salvia officinalis L. varieties from two different geographical localities (Jaslovské Bohunice and Pobedim, Slovakia), Salvia officinalis L., variety “bicolor”, Salvia officinalis L., variety “purpurescens”, Salvia apiana, Salvia divinorum, and two callus cultures of Salvia sclarea L. and Salvia aethiopis L. The highest values for composite parameters were observed for extract from Salvia apiana. It can be concluded that prepared sage extract samples are rich on polyphenolic acids (2 950±265 μg.mL−1 GAeq.) and amines (197±5.50 μg.mL−1 TRPeq.). HPLC analysis confirmed the dominant content of rosmarinic acid in the extracts; the highest content was detected in the Salvia apiana extract (1 120±15 μg.mL−1). Extract from Salvia apiana expressed too the highest antioxidant activity (1 710 – 4 669 μg.mL−1TEAC). Similarly, the highest inhibition activity was observed for this extract on thrombin (57±3.3 %) and on other proteinases (over 80 %). Spearman correlation analysis and PCA analyses revealed a coherence between antioxidant activity of samples and their content of rosmarinic acid as well as inhibitory activity towards particular proteases, and revealed the significance of thiol based secondary metabolites. Cluster analysis demonstrates the differences of Salvia apiana extract from extracts of S. officinalis L., the group of S. divinorum extract and from callus cultures.

Effects of cholecystokinin octapeptide on a pancreatic acinar carcinoma in the rat

PURPOSE

To investigate the effects of increasing concentrations of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) on a pancreatic acinar adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Growth of the tumour was estimated in vivo on rats bearing a subcutaneous pancreatic carcinoma, and in vitro on primary cultured tumour cells. CCK receptors were characterized by binding assays.

RESULTS

CCK-8, administered for 12 successive days, exerted a biphasic action on tumour growth: a dose-dependent stimulation with low doses (0.1 and 0.5 microg/kg) and inhibition with high doses (2 and 4 microg/ kg) as shown by respective increases and decreases in tumor volume, protein, RNA and amylase contents. In cell cultures, [3H]thymidine incorporation was dose-dependently increased with 10-(10) to 10(-8) M CCK-8 and inhibited with 10(-7) M. Both effects were completely suppressed by the CCK-receptor antagonists CR 1409 and L 364,718 (10(-4) M). Binding studies showed the overexpression of two classes of CCK-A receptors of low and high affinity when compared to the normal pancreas which was less sensitive to CCK-8.

CONCLUSIONS

CCK-8 exerts a biphasic growth response on the acinar pancreatic carcinoma, mediated by two classes of CCK-A receptors overexpressed in the tumour.

Adaptation of the human pancreas to inhibition of luminal proteolytic activity

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Feedback regulation of pancreatic enzyme secretion is well established in animals, and their pancreases are able to adapt to intraduodenal inhibition of pancreatic enzymes by proteinase inhibitors such as Camostate (FOY-305; Schwarz GmbH, Monheim, Germany). In this study, we addressed whether similar adaptive changes occur in the human pancreas after 4 weeks of 2 g/day Camostate application.

METHODS

Before, at the end of, and 2 weeks after 4-week Camostate treatment (four times 500 mg daily), pancreatic changes were analyzed with the use of a secretin-cerulein test, a test-meal stimulation, cholecystokinin plasma measurement, and standardized ultrasonographic investigations of the pancreas.

RESULTS

Duodenal trypsin output after secretion stimulation was significantly increased (+44%; P < 0.01) and duodenal bicarbonate output decreased 22% (P < 0.05) after 4 weeks of Camostate application. The size of the pancreatic head (vertical) increased 8% (P < 0.05) at week 4 and decreased to pretreatment values 2 weeks after treatment (week 6). The other three diameters measured (head oblique, body, and tail) showed a similar pattern. Stimulated cholecystokinin plasma levels 15 minutes after application of a standard test meal increased 62% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The human pancreas adapts to oral application of the proteinase inhibitor Camostate. These findings support the theory that feedback control of the exocrine pancreas operates in humans.

Effects of raw soya diet and cholecystokinin receptor blockade on pancreatic growth and tumor initiation in the hamster

Raw soya diet in the hamster had short-term trophic effects on the pancreas, causing significant increases in pancreatic weight, DNA, RNA, and protein. These changes appear to be mediated by cholecystokinin (CCK) because the increases were blocked by infusion of the CCKA receptor antagonist, MK329. Raw soya diet significantly increased plasma levels of CCK in both the short-term and long-term studies. However, raw soya did not potentiate pancreatic cancer in hamsters treated with N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP). Infusion of MK329 during the initiation period of carcinogenesis did not change tumor incidence or yield, suggesting that endogenous CCK does not influence tumor induction during the initiation period in the hamster.

Protease inhibitors in chemoprevention of cancer. An overview

In the search for chemopreventive agents for cancer many natural products have been identified. Among them extensive experimental studies have been made on protease inhibitors which not only occur naturally in many plant products, but have also been synthesized in the laboratory. Many of these studies revealed the fact that protease inhibitors are able to prevent carcinogenesis and tumour promotion. A review of the reports available to date suggests that protease inhibitors are potential chemopreventive agents although their biological role and mechanism of action are not very clear.

A decade of experiences with radioimmunoassays for cholecystokinin in The Netherlands

The radioimmunologic determination of cholecystokinin (CCK) has proved to be notoriously difficult. This is due to the specificity of antibodies, preparation of radiolabeled CCK and low CCK concentrations in human plasma. About 10 years ago we succeeded in developing two highly sensitive region-specific radioimmunoassays for CCK. Antibody T204 binds to the sulfated tyrosine region of CCK, while antibody 1703 reacts with biologically active molecular forms of CCK containing at least 14 amino acid residues. Both antibodies are devoid of significant cross-reaction with gastrin. By means of these two radio-immunoassays CCK concentrations were measured in both tissue and plasma of various species, including man. In addition, the molecular forms of CCK in tissue and plasma were characterized. These CCK assays were used to study the mechanism of CCK secretion. It appeared that digested rather than intact protein and fat stimulated CCK release from the small intestine. The physiologic and pathophysiologic role of CCK in humans was studied using CCK radioimmunoassays and specific CCK-receptor antagonists. CCK was found to play an important role in pancreatic enzyme secretion, gallbladder contraction, and gastrointestinal motility but possibly also in pancreatic carcinogenesis and regulation of satiety and satiation.