Role for enhanced faecal excretion of bile acid in hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase-mediated protection against lithocholic acid-induced liver toxicity

The efficient clearance of toxic bile acids such as lithocholic acid (LCA) requires drug-metabolizing enzymes. We therefore assessed the influence of pregnenolone 16alpha-carbonitrile (PCN) treatment on LCA-induced hepatotoxicity and disposition of LCA metabolites using female farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-null and wild-type mice. Marked decreases in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, and hepatic tauroLCA (TLCA) concentrations were found in LCA-fed wild-type mice co-treated with PCN. Whereas induction of Cyp3a and hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase (Sult2a) proteins was observed in FXR-null and wild-type mice, clear increases in biliary 3alpha-sulfated TLCA but not total 6alpha-hydroxy LCA (taurohyodeoxycholic acid and hyodeoxycholic acid) were only observed in PCN-treated wild-type mice. Biliary 3alpha-sulfated TLCA output rate was increased 7.2-fold, but accounts for only 4.2% of total bile acid output rate in LCA and PCN-co-treated wild-type mice. Total 3alpha-sulfated LCA (LCA and TLCA) was, however, the most abundant bile acid component in faeces suggesting that efficient faecal excretion of biliary 3alpha-sulfated TLCA through escape from enterohepatic circulation. FXR-null mice, which have constitutively high levels of the Sult2a protein, were fed a diet supplemented with 1% LCA and 0.4% dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a typical Sult2a substrate/inhibitor. The faecal total 3alpha-sulfated bile acid excretion was reduced to 62% of FXR-null mice fed only the LCA diet. Hepatic TLCA concentration and serum AST activity were significantly higher in FXR-null mice fed DHEA and LCA diet than in FXR-null mice fed the LCA diet or DHEA diet. These results suggest that hepatic formation of 3alpha-sulfated TLCA is a crucial factor for protection against LCA-induced hepatotoxicity.

Inhibition of RXR and PPARgamma ameliorates diet-induced obesity and type 2 diabetes

PPARgamma is a ligand-activated transcription factor and functions as a heterodimer with a retinoid X receptor (RXR). Supraphysiological activation of PPARgamma by thiazolidinediones can reduce insulin resistance and hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes, but these drugs can also cause weight gain. Quite unexpectedly, a moderate reduction of PPARgamma activity observed in heterozygous PPARgamma-deficient mice or the Pro12Ala polymorphism in human PPARgamma, has been shown to prevent insulin resistance and obesity induced by a high-fat diet. In this study, we investigated whether functional antagonism toward PPARgamma/RXR could be used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. We show herein that an RXR antagonist and a PPARgamma antagonist decrease triglyceride (TG) content in white adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and liver. These inhibitors potentiated leptin's effects and increased fatty acid combustion and energy dissipation, thereby ameliorating HF diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. Paradoxically, treatment of heterozygous PPARgamma-deficient mice with an RXR antagonist or a PPARgamma antagonist depletes white adipose tissue and markedly decreases leptin levels and energy dissipation, which increases TG content in skeletal muscle and the liver, thereby leading to the re-emergence of insulin resistance. Our data suggested that appropriate functional antagonism of PPARgamma/RXR may be a logical approach to protection against obesity and related diseases such as type 2 diabetes.

[Invasive amebiasis at an institution for the mentally retarded in Shizuoka Prefecture]

Amebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica at an institution for mentally retarded in Shizuoka Prefecture is reported. Five of the 50 patients showed E. histolytica cysts in their stools and 4 were positive serologically. The polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism revealed that the isolates were pathogenic-type E. histolytica. Epidemiological analysis revealed that the amebic infection was caused by the abnormal behavior of mentally retarded patients. Administration of diloxanide furoate and metronidazole for cyst-carriers eliminated cysts from the stool and lowered the antibody titer.

Pharmacokinetics of the new antiplatelet agent 2-methyl-3-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydronicotinoyl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine in laboratory animals

KC-764 (2-methyl-3-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydronicotinoyl)pyrazolo [1,5-a]pyridine CAS 94457-09-7) and its metabolites in serum and urine were determined after intravenous and oral administration in mice, rats, rabbits and dogs at a dose of 5 mg/kg. KC-764 was rapidly eliminated from serum in all species. The biological half-lives of unchanged KC-764 after intravenous administration in mice, rats, rabbits and dogs were 1.31, 0.29, 1.94 and 1.20 h, respectively. 2-Methyl-3-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-6-oxonicotinoyl)pyrazolo-[1,5-a]pyr idine was a common major metabolite in serum of all species, although 6,7-dihydro-6,7-dihydroxy-2-methyl-3-(1,4,5,6- tetrahydro-6-oxonicotinoyl) pyrazolo-[1,5-a]pyridine (M-8) was more abundant in rabbits. Urinary recovery of unchanged KC-764 was as low as 0.4-2.2% in all species. The major urinary metabolite was 2-methyl-3-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-6-ureidonicotinoyl)pyrazolo-[1,5-a] pyridine in mice, rats and dogs, but M-8 was in rabbits. KC-764 was rapidly and well absorbed by oral administration, and extensively metabolized in all species tested.