Utility of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived small intestinal epithelial cells for pharmacokinetic, toxicological, and immunological studies

The small intestine, which plays a crucial role in the absorption and metabolism of drugs and foods, serves as a target organ for drug-induced toxicity and immune interactions with functional foods and intestinal bacteria. Current alternative models of the human small intestine, such as Caco-2 cells and experimental animals, have limitations due to variations in the expression levels of metabolic enzymes, transporters, and receptors. This study presents investigations into the utility of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived small intestinal epithelial cells (hiSIECs) for pharmacokinetic, toxicological, and immunological studies, respectively. While hiSIECs displayed small intestinal epithelial cell characteristics and barrier function, they demonstrated pharmacokinetic properties such as cytochrome P450 3A4/5 activity equivalent to human primary enterocytes and stable P-glycoprotein activity. These cells also demonstrated potential for assessing two forms of intestinal toxicity caused by anticancer drugs and gamma-secretase inhibitors, displaying immune responses mediated by toll-like and fatty acid receptors while serving as an inflammatory gut model through the addition of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma. Overall, hiSIECs hold promise as an in vitro model for assessing pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and effects on the intestinal immunity of pharmaceuticals, functional foods, supplements, and intestinal bacteria.

A Kinetic Pump Integrated Microfluidic Plate (KIM-Plate) with High Usability for Cell Culture-Based Multiorgan Microphysiological Systems

Microphysiological systems (MPSs), including organ-on-a-chip (OoC), have attracted attention as a novel method for estimating the effects and side effects of drugs in drug discovery. To reproduce the dynamic in vivo environment, previous MPSs were connected to pump systems to perfuse culture medium. Therefore, most MPSs are not user-friendly and have poor throughput. We aimed to develop a kinetic pump integrated microfluidic plate (KIM-Plate) by applying the stirrer-based micropump to an open access culture plate to improve the usability of MPSs. The KIM-Plate integrates six multiorgan MPS (MO-MPS) units and meets the ANSI/SBS microplate standards. We evaluated the perfusion function of the kinetic pump and found that the KIM-Plate had sufficient agitation effect. Coculture experiments with PXB cells and hiPS intestinal cells showed that the TEER of hiPS intestinal cells and gene expression levels related to the metabolism of PXB cells were increased. Hence, the KIM-Plate is an innovative tool for the easy coculture of highly conditioned cells that is expected to facilitate cell-based assays in the fields of drug discovery and biology because of its usability and high throughput nature.

Pharmacokinetic functions of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived small intestinal epithelial cells

To develop a novel intestinal drug absorption system using intestinal epithelial cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, the cells must possess sufficient pharmacokinetic functions. However, the CYP3A4/5 activities of human iPS cell-derived small intestinal epithelial cells prepared using conventional differentiation methods is low. Further, studies of the CYP3A4/5 activities of human iPS-derived and primary small intestinal cells are not available. To fill this gap in our knowledge, here we used forskolin to develop a new differentiation protocol that activates adenosine monophosphate signaling. mRNA expressions of human iPS cell-derived small intestinal epithelial cells, such as small intestine markers, drug-metabolizing enzymes, and drug transporters, were comparable to or greater than those of the adult small intestine. The activities of CYP3A4/5 in the differentiated cells were equal to those of human primary small intestinal cells. The differentiated cells had P-glycoprotein and PEPT1 activities equivalent to those of Caco-2 cells. Differentiated cells were superior to Caco-2 cells for predicting the membrane permeability of drugs that were absorbed through a paracellular pathway and via drug transporters. In summary, here we produced human iPS cell-derived small intestinal epithelial cells with CYP3A4/5 activities equivalent to those of human primary small intestinal cells.

Rational Design of [13 C,D14 ]Tert-butylbenzene as a Scaffold Structure for Designing Long-lived Hyperpolarized 13 C Probes

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is a technique to polarize the nuclear spin population. As a result of the hyperpolarization, the NMR sensitivity of the nuclei in molecules can be dramatically enhanced. Recent application of the hyperpolarization technique has led to advances in biochemical and molecular studies. A major problem is the short lifetime of the polarized nuclear spin state. Generally, in solution, the polarized nuclear spin state decays to a thermal spin equilibrium, resulting in loss of the enhanced NMR signal. This decay is correlated directly with the spin-lattice relaxation time T1 . Here we report [13 C,D14 ]tert-butylbenzene as a new scaffold structure for designing hyperpolarized 13 C probes. Thanks to the minimized spin-lattice relaxation (T1 ) pathways, its water-soluble derivative showed a remarkably long 13 C T1 value and long retention of the hyperpolarized spin state.

Sesquiterpene alkaloids from Tripterygium hypoglaucum and Tripterygium wilfordii: a new class of potent anti-HIV agents

Five new sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids [triptonines A (1) and B (2), and wilfordinines A (3), B (4), and C (5)] and two known compounds (peritassine A and hypoglaunine C) were isolated from Tripterygium hypoglaucum and a clinically used extract of Tripterygium wilfordii. The structures of 1-5 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The anti-HIV activity of 1, 2, and several related compounds was evaluated. Triptonine B (2) demonstrated potent anti-HIV activity with an EC(50) value of <0.10 microg/mL and an in vitro therapeutic index value of >1000.

Binding affinity of Cu(II)-VP-16 (etoposide) complex and its analogues to DNA and hydroxyl radical generation during DNA strand breaks

Conformational effects and affinities of VP-16 (etoposide) and its derivatives to DNA in the presence of Cu(II) ion were examined by circular dichroic (CD) spectra. The Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox kinetics and the hydroxyl radical (.OH) generation from the Cu(II)-complexes were estimated by the stopped-flow kinetics. Based on the results, DNA-cleaving activity of Cu(II)-complexes of VP-16 has been shown to be related with binding affinity of the complex to DNA, Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox and .OH generation, emphasising the mechanism of generated .OH attack to DNA.

Breaks in double-strand DNA by Cu(II) complexes of etoposide (VP-16) and its derivatives, as evaluated by S1 nuclease treatment

Single-strand breaks (ssb) in double-strand (ds) DNA produced by hydroxyl radicals (.OH) generated by Cu(II) complexes of podophyllotoxin (PD)-related compounds were evaluated using S1 nuclease digestion. Cu(II) complexes of VP-16 (etoposide, 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin-9-(4,6-O-ethylidene-beta-D-glucopyra noside)), 4'-demethylepi-PD (DEPD), and syringic acid (SA) exhibited both ssb and ds breaks (dsb) in ColE1-HaeII and pBR322-BglI DNA fragments, in which the number of ssb was found to be more than three times and four times greater than that of dsb, respectively. Cytosine (C)-methylation of cytosine-guanine doublet (CpG) in pBR322-BglI DNA inhibited both ssb and dsb within DNA segments by .OH generated by the Cu(II) complexes.

Site-specific DNA cleavage by Cu(II) complexes of podophyllotoxin derivatives

Site-specific DNA cleavage in the presence of Cu(II) complexes of podophyllotoxin derivatives was investigated with a modified Sanger sequencing method. Cu(II) complexes of 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin (DEPD) and syringic acid (SA) cleaved M13mp18 single-strand DNA site-specifically at both cytosine (C) and guanine (G) positions in the GC rich regions and C position, respectively, at pH 7.8. The apparent binding constants of calf thymus DNA-Cu(II) complexes estimated by the differential UV-absorption spectra revealed that both Cu(II)-VP-16 and -DEPD complexes bind to DNA more strongly than does the Cu(II)-SA complex.

Regioselective cleavage reaction of the aromatic methylenedioxy ring. VI. Synthesis of phenothiazine analogues by using the cleavage reaction with sodium methoxide-thiols in dimethyl sulfoxide and evaluation of their biological activities

The reactions of aromatic methylenedioxy compounds containing electron-withdrawing groups with sodium methoxide-thiols in dimethyl sulfoxide gave 3- and 4-hydroxybenzene derivatives in good yield by regioselective attack of the thiolate ions on the methylenedioxy ring. The formation mechanism and the reactivity of thiolate ions in the cleavage reaction of the methylenedioxy ring are discussed. Various biologically active compounds, 32a, 32d, 36b, 38b, 41b and 44-47, were prepared from the 4-hydroxybenzene derivatives and their Ca2+ antagonistic activities were evaluated. Among these compounds, 2-(2-bromophenylthiomethoxy)-10-(2-diethylaminoacetyl)-3- methoxyphenothiazine (46) showed the most potent Ca2+ antagonistic activity. Biological activity could be conveniently evaluated by measurement of the peak height of the vanadyl ion (+4 oxidation ion) signal produced by redox reaction between the phenothiazine derivatives and vanadate ion +5 oxidation ion) with ESR spectroscopy.

Metal- and photo-induced cleavage of DNA by podophyllotoxin, etoposide, and their related compounds

Podophyllotoxin (PD) and its derivative etoposide (VP-16), a clinically useful anticancer drug, exhibit different mechanisms of action. PD binds specifically to tubulin to prevent its polymerization, whereas VP-16 lacks this action. The DNA strand breakage caused by VP-16 is thought to be due to its interaction with topoisomerase II or to free radical formation by oxidation of its 4'-phenolic hydroxyl group to a semiquinone free radical. We have demonstrated that PD, VP-16, 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin (DEPD), and syringic acid (SA) exhibit no DNA-cleaving activity but, in the presence of metal ions such as Cu2+ and Fe3+, DEPD and SA form metal complexes, which in turn show high activity for DNA strand scission at pH 7.8 under air. Furthermore, it was found that DNA cleavage was greatly promoted by irradiation with UV light. The PD-Fe3+ system at pH 7.8 showed very low DNA-cleaving activity, but irradiation with UV light in the system induced almost complete DNA breakage. DNA cleavages were significantly inhibited in the presence of hydroxyl radical scavengers, such as sodium benzoate and dimethylurea, in the Cu(2+)-SA and Fe(3+)-PD systems, with or without UV irradiation. These reactions were investigated by optical and ESR spectra, coupled with ESR spin-trapping techniques, by which the formation of hydroxy radicals was clearly detected in all systems. These findings have led us to a new proposal of the metal- and photo-induced mechanism for understanding the antitumor action of PD, VP-16, and their related compounds.

Podophyllotoxin analogs: effects on DNA topoisomerase II, tubulin polymerization, human tumor KB cells, and their VP-16-resistant variants

Several derivatives of podophyllotoxin with modifications at the C-4 position of ring C, in addition to demethylation at the C-4' position of ring E, were examined for inhibitory activity against DNA topoisomerase II and tubulin polymerization, generation of protein-linked DNA breaks, and cytotoxicity against KB cells and VP-16-resistant KB variants. Substitution of podophyllotoxin with a group in the beta configuration at the C-4 position of ring C resulted in compounds with greater inhibitory activity against DNA topoisomerase II and lower inhibitory activity against tubulin polymerization than those with an alpha configuration. These active analogs exhibited the same mechanism of DNA topoisomerase II inhibition as the epipodophyllotoxin derivative VP-16, which causes protein-linked DNA breaks in vitro as well as in cells. Two analogs selectively inhibited DNA topoisomerases II to a greater extent than tubulin polymerization. These analogs were cytotoxic towards KB cells in addition to VP-16-resistant KB cell lines, which indicated limited cross-resistance with VP-16 in VP-16-resistant KB variants.

Antitumor agents. 100. Inhibition of human DNA topoisomerase II by cytotoxic ether and ester derivatives of podophyllotoxin and alpha-peltatin

A principal mechanism of action of the clinical antitumor drugs etoposide (1) and teniposide (2) is the inhibition of catalytic activity of type II DNA topoisomerase and concurrent enzyme-mediated production of lethal DNA strand breaks. Substitution of the glycosidic moiety of 1 or 2 by ester and ethers, as well as the esterification and etherification of alpha-peltatin (4) including its glucosidic ethylidene and thenylidene cyclic acetals (25 and 26), has afforded compounds of much less activity than that of 1. The in vitro cytotoxicity (KB) appears to have no correlation with the inhibitory activity of the human DNA topoisomerase II.

Effect of alkaloids isolated from Amaryllidaceae on herpes simplex virus

Studies were carried out on the effects of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids and their derivatives upon herpes simplex virus (type 1), the relationship between their structure and antiviral activity and the mechanism of this activity. All alkaloids used in these experiments were biosynthesized from N-benzylphenethylamine; the apogalanthamine group was synthesized in our laboratory; those which may eventually prove to be antiviral agents had a hexahydroindole ring with two functional hydroxyl groups. Benzazepine compounds were neither cytotoxic nor antiviral, but many structures containing dibenzazocine were toxic at low concentrations. It was established that the antiviral activity of alkaloids is due to the inhibition of multiplication and not to the direct inactivation of extracellular viruses. The mechanism of the antiviral effect could be partly explained as a blocking of viral DNA polymerase activity.

Anti-inflammatory agents III: Structure-activity relationships of brusatol and related quassinoids

A series of quassinoids were observed to be potent inhibitors of induced inflammation and arthritis in rodents. Brusatol afforded the most potent activity followed by brucein-D. A 3-hydroxy-delta 3-2-oxo moiety in brusatol or a 1-hydroxy-delta 3-2-oxo moiety in brucein-D, as well as a C-15 ester-bearing delta-lactone ring in brusatol and C-11 and C-12 free hydroxyl groups are required in both quassinoids for potent anti-inflammatory activity. Preliminary studies indicate that one of the modes of action of quassinoids as anti-inflammatory agents is to stabilize lysosomal membranes, reducing the release of hydrolytic enzymes that cause damage to surrounding tissues.

Antitumor agents LXIII: the effects of microlenin on nucleic acid and protein syntheses of Ehrlich ascites cells

Microlenin, a novel dimeric sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Texas Helenium microcephalum, was shown to inhibit Ehrlich ascites carcinoma growth. Metabolic studies demonstrated that DNA synthesis and protein synthesis were significantly inhibited by two doses of microlenin at 5 mg/kg/day. DNA synthesis appeared to be blocked at several sites including DNA polymerase, purine synthesis, and dihydrofolate reductase. Thymidine nucleotide pools were significantly reduced by microlenin. Protein synthesis inhibition by microlenin appeared to occur during the initiation step of polypeptide synthesis. The metabolic effects of microlenin were similar to other sesquiterpene lactones in the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. However, a lower dose of microlenin was required to bring about these metabolic effects when compared with other sesquiterpene lactones. Thus, microlenin may be a more likely therapeutic agent than helenalin which has demonstrated cellular toxicity.

Antitumor agents XLII: Comparison of antileukemic activity of helenalin, brusatol, and bruceantin and their esters on different strains of P-388 lymphocytic leukemic cells

Based on the fact that some known antineoplastic agents possess an ester moiety within their structure, the esters of helenalin, a sesquiterpene lactone, and of brusatol and bruceantin, quassinoids, were synthesized and tested for antileukemic activity in the P-388 screen. These agents gave different T/C% values dependent on the P-388 lymphocytic leukemia strain and the host strain of mice used. Later studies demonstrated that the agents caused different degrees of inhibition of nucleic acid and protein synthesis in the various P-388 strains. The higher the degree of inhibition of precursor incorporation into the nucleic acid or protein, the higher was the T/C% value obtained in a given P-388 strain. The study demonstrates the lack of consistency of P-388 lymphocytic leukemia cell lines used in various laboratories and indicates that the inbred strain of mice is a critical factor in the tolerance of drug toxicity and, thus, T/C% obtained.

Antitumor agents XXXVI: Structural elucidation of sesquiterpene lactones microhelenins-A, B, and C, microlenin acetate, and plenolin from Helenium microcephalum

The antitumor sesquiterpene lactones microhelenins-A, B, and C, microlenin acetate, and plenolin were isolated from Helenium microcephalum. The structures and stereochemistry of these lactones were determined by physical methods as well as by chemical transformations and correlations. Microlenin acetate appears to be the first novel dimeric sesquiterpene lactone demonstrated to have significant antileukemic activity.

Antitumor agents. XXXIV: Mechanism of action of bruceoside A and brusatol on nucleic acid metabolism of P-388 lymphocytic leukemia cells

The quassinoids bruceantin, brucein D, brucein E, bruceoside A, and brusatol significantly inhibited P-388 lymphocytic leukemic cell RNA and protein synthesis in tissue culture. However, DNA synthesis inhibition seemed to correlate more directly with the anti-neoplastic activity of these compounds in the in vivo P-338 survival system. In vitro, brusatol and bruceoside A marginally inhibited 10-day P-388 lymphocytic leukemia DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase, thymidylate synthetase, dihydrofolate reductase, phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate aminotransferase, and cathepsin protease activities. In vivo studies demonstrated similar inhibition and elevated cyclic AMP levels, correlating positively with the antineoplastic activity of individual compounds. Purine synthesis was inhibited drastically by brusatol in vivo, and one key inhibition site in purine synthesis was at phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate aminotransferase, the regulatory enzyme. Histone phosphorylation and ribonucleotide reductase activity also were inhibited marginally by brusatol.

Antitumor agents. XXXV: Effects of brusatol, bruceoside A, and bruceantin on P-388 lymphocytic leukemia cell respiration

Brusatol, a quassinoid with potent antineoplastic activity against P-388 lymphocytic leukemia cell proliferation, significantly inhibited P-388 cell hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, malic dehydrogenase, and succinic dehydrogenase. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, basal, and adenosine diphosphate-stimulated respiration, utilizing succinate and alpha-ketoglutarate as the substrate, was suppressed significantly by in vivo treatment with brusatol. However, brusatol treatment had no effect on liver oxidative phosphorylation. Brusatol greatly increased P-388 cyclic AMP levels but had no effect on liver cyclic nucleotides. Similar inhibitory effects on P-388 cell oxidative phosphorylation were found in vitro with brusatol, bruceoside A, and bruceantin. Brusatol had no effect on adenosine triphosphatase activity or on uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. Rather, brusatol appeared to increase the concentration of reduced mitochondrial electron-transport cofactors, thereby blocking aerobic respiration. A proposed mechanism of action is discussed.