A man in his sixties with life-threatening febrile illness after travel abroad

Background

African sleeping sickness is a neglected tropical disease seldom seen in European travellers.

Case presentation

While working in Eastern Africa, a Norwegian man in his sixties developed weakness and fever. He was prescribed doxycycline after a negative malaria rapid test. On the third day of illness he returned to Norway and was admitted to the hospital upon arrival. On admission he was somnolent with fever, tachypnoea, tachycardia, jaundice, a hyperaemic rash, oliguria and haematuria. Blood tests revealed leukopenia, thrombocytopaenia, renal failure and liver dysfunction. Rapid tests were negative for malaria and dengue. Blood microscopy revealed high parasitaemia with trypanosomes indicating human African sleeping-sickness. He had been bitten by a tsetse fly 11 days prior in an area endemic for Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. However, the clinical picture was consistent with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense infection (East African sleeping sickness). Four days after starting treatment with suramin, spinal fluid examination revealed mild mononuclear pleocytosis but no visible parasites. Melarsoprol treatment for possible encephalitis was considered but suramin treatment was continued alone. He improved and remains healthy seven years later. PCR on blood was positive for T. b. rhodesiense.

Interpretation

African sleeping sickness can also affect tourists to endemic areas. Onset can be acute, life-threatening and requires treatment with antiparasitic drugs not generally available in Norwegian hospitals.

Analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 nsp12 P323L/A529V mutations: coeffect in the transiently peaking lineage C.36.3 on protein structure and response to treatment in Egyptian records

SARS-CoV-2 nsp12, the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase plays a crucial role in virus replication. Monitoring the effect of its emerging mutants on viral replication and response to antiviral drugs is important. Nsp12 of two Egyptian isolates circulating in 2020 and 2021 were sequenced. Both isolates included P323L, one included the A529V. Tracking A529V mutant frequency, it relates to the transience peaked C.36.3 variant and its parent C.36, both peaked worldwide on February-August 2021, enlisted as high transmissible variants under investigation (VUI) on May 2021. Both Mutants were reported to originate from Egypt and showed an abrupt low frequency upon screening, we analyzed all 1104 nsp12 Egyptian sequences. A529V mutation was in 36 records with an abrupt low frequency on June 2021. As its possible reappearance might obligate actions for a candidate VUI, we analyzed the predicted co-effect of P323L and A529V mutations on protein stability and dynamics through protein structure simulations. Three available structures for drug-nsp12 interaction were used representing remdesivir, suramin and favipiravir drugs. Remdesivir and suramin showed an increase in structure stability and considerable change in flexibility while favipiravir showed an extreme interaction. Results predict a favored efficiency of the drugs except for favipiravir in case of the reported mutations.

Chronic nicotine, but not suramin or resveratrol, partially remediates the mania-like profile of dopamine transporter knockdown mice

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental illness affecting 2% of the global population. Current pharmacotherapies provide incomplete symptom remediation, highlighting the need for novel therapeutics. BD is characterized by fluctuations between mania and depression, likely driven by shifts between hyperdopaminergia and hypercholinergia, respectively. Hyperdopaminergia may result from insufficient activity of the dopamine transporter (DAT), the primary mediator of synaptic dopamine clearance. The DAT knockdown (DAT KD) mouse recreates this mechanism and exhibits a highly reproducible hyperexploratory profile in the cross-species translatable Behavioral Pattern Monitor (BPM) that is: (a) consistent with that observed in BD mania patients; and (b) partially normalized by chronic lithium and valproate treatment. The DAT KD/BPM model of mania therefore exhibits high levels of face-, construct-, and predictive-validity for the pre-clinical assessment of putative anti-mania drugs. Three different drug regimens - chronic nicotine (nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist; 40 mg/kg/d, 26 d), subchronic suramin (anti-purinergic; 20 mg/kg, 1 × /wk, 4 wks), and subchronic resveratrol (striatal DAT upregulator; 20 mg/kg/d, 4 d) - were administered to separate cohorts of male and female DAT KD- and wildtype (WT) littermate mice, and exploration was assessed in the BPM. Throughout, DAT KD mice exhibited robust hyperexploratory profiles relative to WTs. Nicotine partially normalized this behavior. Resveratrol modestly upregulated DAT expression but did not normalize DAT KD behavior. These results support the mania-like profile of DAT KD mice, which may be partially remediated by nAChR agonists via restoration of disrupted catecholaminergic/cholinergic equilibrium. Delineating the precise mechanism of action of nicotine could identify more selective therapeutic targets.

[The different contraction between rat gastric longitudinal and circular smooth muscle induced by extracellular nucleotides]

OBJECTIVE

To test the different contrctile responses of extracellular nucleotides, such as ATP, UTP and nucleotide uridine adenosine tetraphosphate (Up4A) in gastric longitudinal muscle (LM) and circular muscle (CM). Examined the effect of P2X and P2Y receptor antagonists (in this study, we used IP5I and suramin) and cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin) on Up4A induced contractile responses in LM and CM.

METHODS

The rats were sacrificed and the stomachs were opened to gain LM and CM. Using organ bath system to assess contrctile responses of smooth muscle.

RESULTS

Up4A could induce contractile responses in both CM and LM, which were similar with ATP and UTP. IP5 did not attenuate Up4A could induce contractions in both LM and CM, but suramin and indomethacin significantly inhibited Up4A contraction in CM, but not in LM.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that extracellular nucleosides and their inhibitors induce different responses between LM and CM.

High vascular tone of mouse femoral arteries in vivo is determined by sympathetic nerve activity via α1A- and α1D-adrenoceptor subtypes

Background and purpose

Determining the role of vascular receptors in vivo is difficult and not readily accomplished by systemic application of antagonists or genetic manipulations. Here we used intravital microscopy to measure the contributions of sympathetic receptors, particularly α₁-adrenoceptor subtypes, to contractile activation of femoral artery in vivo.

Experimental approach

Diameter and intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺]_i) in femoral arteries were determined by intravital fluorescence microscopy in mice expressing a Myosin Light Chain Kinase (MLCK) based calcium-calmodulin biosensor. Pharmacological agents were applied locally to the femoral artery to determine the contributions of vascular receptors to tonic contraction and [Ca²⁺]_i,.

Key results

In the anesthetized animal, femoral arteries were constricted to a diameter equal to 54% of their passive diameter (i.e. tone = 46%). Of this total basal tone, 16% was blocked by RS79948 (0.1 µM) and thus attributable to α₂-adrenoceptors. A further 46% was blocked by prazosin (0.1 µM) and thus attributable to α₁-adrenoceptors. Blockade of P_2X and NPY₁ receptors with suramin (0.5 mM) and BIBP3226 (1.0 µM) respectively, reduced tone by a further 22%, leaving 16% of basal tone unaffected at these concentrations of antagonists. Application of RS100329 (α_1A-selective antagonist) and BMY7378 (α_1D-selective) decreased tone by 29% and 26%, respectively, and reduced [Ca²⁺]_i. Chloroethylclonidine (1 µM preferential for α_1B-) had no effect. Abolition of sympathetic nerve activity (hexamethonium, i.p.) reduced basal tone by 90%.

Conclusion and Implications

Tone of mouse femoral arteries in vivo is almost entirely sympathetic in origin. Activation of α_1A- and α_1D-adrenoceptors elevates [Ca²⁺]_i and accounts for at least 55% of the tone.

Characterization of functional P2X(1) receptors in mouse megakaryocytes

INTRODUCTION

Although accumulating evidence within the past 5 years strongly supports the importance of platelet P2X(1) receptors in hemostasis and thrombosis, P2X(1) receptors of platelet and/or its progenitor cell, megakaryocyte, have not been fully characterized. The aim of this study was to electrophysiologically and pharmacologically characterize the functional P2X(1) receptors on mouse megakaryocytes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The currents in response to nucleotides were examined using the patch-clamp whole-cell recording.

RESULTS

The agonist profile of megakaryocyte P2X(1) receptors was ATP>alpha,beta-methylene ATP>beta,gamma-methylene ATP. The P2X(1) receptors exhibited substantial monovalent as well as divalent cation permeability and the ratios of Na(+) to Cs(+) and Ca(2+) to Cs(+) permeability were 1 and 2.5, respectively. P2X receptor antagonists except suramin significantly inhibited the P2X(1) responses with an IC(50) values of 0.4 microM for pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonate (PPADS), 0.3 microM for 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitophenyl)-adenosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-ATP), 20 microM for reactive blue 2 (RB2), or 160 microM for 8,8'-(carbonylbis(imino-3,1-phenylene carbonylimino)bis(1,3,5-naphthalenetrisulfonic acid) (NF023), respectively. Suramin had no significant effect on the P2X(1) responses. In rat megakaryocytes, suramin similarly had no significant effect on the P2X(1) responses, but abolished the P2Y receptor-mediated responses, indicating that the suramin was active under present experimental condition.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide the basic properties of mouse megakaryocyte P2X(1) receptors and would be helpful to examine the P2 receptor signaling in platelets and megakaryocytes.

Role of protein kinase C, G-protein coupled receptors, and calcium flux during metamorphosis of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

Artificial inducers have been used to study signal-transduction pathways involved in metamorphosis of some marine invertebrates. However, the transduction mechanisms for echinoderms have been less explored. In the present study, participation of protein kinase C (PKC), G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), and calcium has been investigated during metamorphosis of the sea urchin Stronglylocentrotus purpuratus. Competent larvae were induced with different drugs that activate (PKC and GP activators, Ca2+ ionophores, and inhibitors of Ca2+ ATPase) or inhibit (PKC, G-protein, and Ca2+ flux inhibitors) metamorphosis. Six of the compounds were effective: the PKC activators TPA and indolactam; the G-protein inhibitors suramin and guanosine; the calcium ionophore A23187, and the calcium ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin. TPA was effective at 0.001 microM; indolactam was effective at 0.001 microM. In the presence of KCl as inducer, the G-protein inhibitor suramin was effective at 10 microM and guanosine at 0.001 microM. In the presence of a bacterial film as inducer, suramin was effective at 50 microM, and guanosine inhibited metamorphosis at 1 microM. A23187 was effective at 5 and 10 microM and thapsigargin at 50 and 100 microM. Our results indicate that GPCRs, protein kinase C, and calcium participate in the metamorphosis of S. purpuratus. These elements of the transduction pathways triggered during metamorphosis may be part of a cascade of signal transduction routes that interact from induction to the end of the morphogenetic events that shape the postlarval form. In addition, according to the results obtained with G-protein inhibitors, the GPCRs may be shared between the artificial (KCl) and natural (biofilm) inducers.

Effect of ATP on preadipocyte migration and adipocyte differentiation by activating P2Y receptors in 3T3-L1 cells

The effect of extracellular ATP on adipogenesis was investigated using the mouse 3T3-L1 cell line. Incubation of cells with ATP (1-100 microM) for 5 min induced actin filament reorganization and membrane ruffling mediated through P2Y receptors. Enhancement of preadipocyte migration into fat cell clusters is one of the essential processes of adipose tissue development in vivo and cell migration assays revealed that stimulation of P2Y receptors enhanced chemokinesis (migration) in a concentration dependent manner. In this cell line, growth arrest is required before initiation of differentiation and growth-arrested post-confluent cells can be converted into adipocytes by the presence of the adipogenic hormones dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and insulin. On the other hand, those hormones alone do not trigger differentiation in proliferating cells. ATP did not induce differentiation when applied alone to either proliferating or postconfluent cells. By contrast, proliferating cells (density <50%) preincubated with ATP for 5 min and subsequently given the adipogenic hormones in the continued presence of ATP, underwent adipocyte differentiation mediated through phospholipase C-coupled P2Y receptors. These adipocytes were found to show very similar characteristics, including morphology and intracellular triacylglycerol accumulation compared with adipocytes differentiated from post-confluent preadipocytes with those adipogenic hormones. When proliferating cells were preincubated with ATP before the addition of the adipogenic hormones, gene expression of aP2 (adipose protein 2) was markedly increased within 6 days, whereas without ATP pretreatment the expression level stayed very low. These results suggest that extracellular ATP renders preadipocytes responsive to adipogenic hormones during the growth phase.

Extracellular ATP-stimulated current in wild-type and P2X4 receptor transgenic mouse ventricular myocytes: implications for a cardiac physiologic role of P2X4 receptors

P2X receptors, activated by extracellular ATP, may be important in regulating cardiac function. The objective of the present study was to characterize the electrophysiologic actions of P2X4 receptors in cardiac myocytes and to determine whether they are involved in mediating the effect of extracellular ATP. Membrane currents under voltage clamp were determined in myocytes from both wild-type (WT) and P2X4 receptor-overexpressing transgenic (TG) mice. The P2X agonist 2-meSATP induced an inward current at -100 mV that was greater in magnitude (2-fold) in TG than in WT ventricular cells. In the presence of the P2X4 receptor-selective allosteric enhancer ivermectin (3 microM), the 2-meSATP-stimulated current increased significantly in both WT and TG ventricular cells, consistent with an important role of P2X4 receptors in mediating the ATP current not only in TG but also WT myocytes. That the current in both WT and TG cells showed similar voltage-dependence and reverse potential (approximately 0 mV) further suggests a role for this receptor in the normal electrophysiological action of ATP in WT murine cardiac myocytes. The P2X antagonist suramin was only able to block partially the 2-meSATP-stimulated current in WT cells, implying that both P2X4 receptor and another yet-to-be-identified P2X receptor mediate this current.

Search of ligands for the amyloidogenic protein beta2-microglobulin by capillary electrophoresis and other techniques

Beta2-microglobulin (beta2-m) is a small amyloidogenic protein normally present on the surface of most nucleated cells and responsible for dialysis-related amyloidosis, which represents a severe complication of long-term hemodialysis. A therapeutic approach for this amyloidosis could be based on the stabilization of beta2-m through the binding to a small molecule, and consequent inhibition of protein misfolding and amyloid fibril formation. A few compounds have been described to weakly bind beta2-m, including the drug suramin. The lack of a binding site for nonpolypeptidic ligands on the beta2-m structure makes it difficult for both the identification of functional groups responsible for the binding and the search of hits to be optimized. The characterization of the binding properties of suramin for beta2-m by using three different techniques (surface plasmon resonance, affinity CE (ACE), ultrafiltration) is here described and the results obtained are compared. The common features of the chemical structures of the compounds known to bind the protein led us to select 200 sulfonated/suramin-like molecules from a wider chemical library on the basis of similarity rules, so as to possibly single out some interesting hits and to gain more information on the functional groups involved in the binding. The development of screening methods to test the compounds by using ultrafiltration and ACE is described.

The membrane-anchored serine protease, TMPRSS2, activates PAR-2 in prostate cancer cells

TMPRSS2 is a type II transmembrane-bound serine protease that has gained interest owing to its highly localized expression in the prostate and its overexpression in neoplastic prostate epithelium. Once activated, the serine protease domain of TMPRSS2 is released from the cell surface into the extracellular space. PAR (protease-activated receptor)-2 belongs to a family of G-protein-coupled receptors (PAR-1-4) that are activated by specific serine proteases, which are expressed in many normal and malignant cell types. Previous in vitro studies on prostate cancer cells suggest a role for PAR-2 in prostate cancer metastasis. A polyclonal anti-human TMPRSS2 antibody was generated against the TMPRSS2 serine protease domain. The antibody showed specific reactivity with recombinant expressed TMPRSS2, and so was used to extract and purify the cleaved active TMPRSS2 protease from prostate cancer cells. Reverse transcriptase PCR and Western blot analysis were used to show the expression of both TMPRSS2 and PAR-2 in the androgen-dependent LNCaP prostate cancer cell line. Treatment of LNCaP cells with the cellular immunopurified TMPRSS2 protease induced a transient increase in intracellular calcium, which is indicative of G-protein-coupled-receptor activation. This calcium mobilization was inhibited by cellular pre-treatment with a specific PAR-2 antagonist, but not with a PAR-1 antagonist; inhibition of the protease activity also failed to mobilize calcium, suggesting that TMPRSS2 is capable of cleaving and thereby activating the PAR-2 receptor. The calcium mobilization was also inhibited by cellular pre-treatment with suramin or 2-APB (2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate), indicating that a G-protein pathway is involved and that subsequent calcium release is mainly from intracellular stores. The present study describes how TMPRSS2 may contribute to prostate tumour metastasis via the activation of PAR-2.

A chicken model to study the embryology of cloacal exstrophy

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The embryology of bladder and cloacal exstrophy is a mystery. Reasons for this are the lack of human embryos showing these malformations as well as the scarcity of appropriate animal models. Here, the authors present cases of cloacal exstrophies found in chick embryos subsequent to the application of suramin and trypan blue. This animal model might facilitate insight into the embryology of cloacal exstrophy.

METHODS

Fertilized chicken eggs were incubated at 38 degrees C and 75% humidity. Embryos were treated in ovo on incubation day 3. The egg shell was windowed, and solutions of suramin (stage 13, 2 x 40 microL/0.2%) or trypan blue (stage 14, 2 x 80 microL/0.03%) were injected into the coelomic cavity. The window was closed, and the embryos were reincubated until examination on incubation day 8. Fifty embryos were treated in each group.

RESULTS

Among the surviving embryos, cloacal exstrophy was found in 2 cases in the suramin-treated group (2 of 29, 6.9%) and in 4 cases in the trypan blue-treated group (4 of 20, 20%).

CONCLUSIONS

Suramin and trypan blue can induce cloacal exstrophy in chick embryos. The authors now are modifying their experimental protocols to increase the incidence of this malformation. This model might facilitate studies on the morphogenesis of cloacal exstrophy.

A model for left juxtaposition of the atrial appendages in the chick

The morphogenesis of most types of human congenital cardiac malformations is still obscure. The reasons for this are, first, the paucity of data from human embryos and fetuses and, second, the paucity of appropriate animal models. During the past few years, we have tested several chemicals for their teratogenic potential, hoping to find, particularly in the chick, substances that could be used for the development of models for specific cardiac malformations. We have now discovered that suramin, an antitrypanosomal drug, can induce a special type of congenital cardiac defect in which the two atrial appendages are positioned to the left of the great arteries. This situation resembles the situation found in humans and classified as left juxtaposition of the atrial appendages. In the present study, we have analysed the pathomorphological features of a series of our chicken hearts to assess precisely how accurately these cardiac malformations in the chick correspond to the situation seen in the human. We found that the cases observed in the chick did, indeed, have many features in common with the human cases described in the literature. This suggests that we have developed an animal model for human left juxtaposition. Our model could be used for two kinds of embryological studies: first, documentation of the morphogenesis of left juxtaposition; and second, studies on the mechanisms driving the normal positional changes between the atriums and outflow tract of the embryonic heart during the late phase of cardiac looping. The fact that left juxtaposition of the atrial appendages can be induced by suramin might help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this type of congenital cardiac malformation. Furthermore, the fact that suramin is used for the chemotherapy of frequent tropical diseases, such as African trypanosomiasis and onchocerciasis, poses the question as to whether this drug might play a role in the aetiology of left juxtaposition in some human populations.

Drug resistance in trapanososmes: cross-resitance analyses

Eight strains of Trypanosoma rhodesiense, made resistant respectively to atoxyl, butarsen, acriflavine, stilbamidine, Surfen C, suramin, and pontamine sky blue 5BX, have been examined for cross-resistance to representatives of nine structurally dissimilar groups of trypanocide. On the basis of their predominant ionic form at blood pH, these groups are considered in three main classes: (a) feebly ionized (neutral aromatic arsenicals), (b) ionized as cations (melaminyl arsenicals and antimonials, acridine derivatives, diguanidines and diamidines, 6-aminoquinoline and 6-aminocinnoline derivatives, phenanthridinium derivatives, triphenylmethane dyes), and (c) ionized as anions (carboxylated aromatic arsenicals and sulphonated naphthylamine derivatives). The results are discussed in relation to those of other workers and to possible modes of trypanocidal drug action. Cross-resistance behaviour is not wholly explicable on an ionic basis; the results suggest that stereospecific structural changes associated with initial drug uptake occur in resistant trypanosomes.

Increased expression of the secretory Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter with differentiation of a human intestinal cell line

We studied the expression of the secretory Na(+)-K(+)- 2Cl- cotransporter during epithelial differentiation using the clonal human adenocarcinoma cell line HT29-18. Differentiation of HT29-18 cells was accompanied by up to 7-fold increases in cotransporter protein levels, approximately 3-fold increases in cotransporter mRNA levels, and approximately 2.5-fold increases in cotransporter functional expression. No apparent change in cotransporter mRNA stability was observed with differentiation, suggesting that these effects may be due to differences in mRNA transcription rate. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy showed that undifferentiated cells grew in multilayers and exhibited a diffuse, apparently unlocalized membrane labeling by anti-Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporter antibody. In contrast, differentiated cells grew in monolayers with strong cotransporter labeling localized to the basal and lateral membranes. Taken together with previous studies demonstrating that expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator is also increased following HT29-18 cell differentiation, our results suggest that these cells provide a promising model for studying epithelial differentiation to a Cl- secretory phenotype.

Purinergic facilitation of ATP-sensitive potassium current in rat ventricular myocytes

1. The effects of different purinergic agonists on the cardiac adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium current (IK(ATP)), appearing during dialysis of rat isolated ventricular myocytes with a low-ATP (100 microM) internal solution under whole-cell patch-clamp conditions, were examined in the presence of a P1 purinoceptor antagonist. 2. The extracellular application of ATP in the micromolar range induced, besides known inward currents through cationic and chloride channels, the facilitation of IK(ATP) once IK(ATP) had already been partially activated during the low-ATP dialysis. 3. Analogues of ATP, alpha, beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate (alpha, beta meATP), 2-methylthioadenosine triphosphate (2MeSATP), adenosine 5'-O-3-thiotriphosphate (ATP gamma S) similarly facilitated IK(ATP). UTP and ADP were very weak agonists while AMP and adenosine had no detectable effect. 4. The half-maximal stimulating concentration (C50) of alpha, beta meATP, an analogue that did not elicite the interfering inward cationic current was 1.5 microM. Similar apparent C50 (1-2 microM) were observed for ATP and analogues tested with somewhat less maximal effect of ATP gamma S. 5. Suramin, a nonselective P2-purinoceptor antagonist, altered IK(ATP) at the relatively high concentration required to inhibit purinoceptors. Pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulphonic acid (PPADS), a supposedly predominantly P2x-purinoceptor antagonist, at micromolar concentration inhibited the transient inward current but did not block the facilitation of IK(ATP). 6. Our results demonstrate that ATP and its analogues facilitate IK(ATP) in rat ventricular myocytes by stimulation of non-P1-, non-P2x-purinoceptors.

A STUDY OF GRANULES AND OTHER CHANGES IN PHASE-CONTRAST APPEARANCE PRODUCED BY CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC AGENTS IN TRYPANOSOMES

The morphological changes produced by four series of organic trypanocidal drugs have been studied by quantitative and by qualitative methods using phase-contrast and fluorescence microscopy. Basic drugs were absorbed rapidly into the region of the kinetoplast; acidic drugs did not affect this region. Faint granules, which were present in some trypanosomes before the administration of drugs, absorbed the drugs and increased in contrast relative to the cytoplasm. Hydroxystilbamidine, quinapyramine, related compounds, and possibly also suramin produced additional granules which did not contain drug. These additional granules are similar to the granules (volutin granules) which occur in trypanosome infections (not treated with drugs) when trypanosomes are about to be cleared from the blood. Homidium did not produce additional granules.

The effect of vincristine-polyanion complexes in STEALTH liposomes on pharmacokinetics, toxicity and anti tumor activity

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-derivatized liposome vehicles improve antitumor effectiveness of entrapped anthracyclines and vinca alkaloids. However, the plasma clearance of entrapped vincristine is substantially faster than the lipid phase or other entrapped aqueous markers, suggesting leakage out of the liposome during transit in the blood compartment. We tested the effect of altering the drug's in vivo leakage rate on pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and antitumor activity of entrapped drug in rodent models. Suramin, heparin, and dextran sulfate were tested for their ability to produce a precipitable complex in vitro. PEG-derivatized liposomes were prepared with the complexing agent inside, and vincristine was driven inside using an ammonium gradient. The resulting preparations were found to have plasma distribution half-lives significantly longer than the formulation without a complex-forming agent. There was no increase in acute lethality, and in the case of the suramin-vincristine complex, the acute lethality was significantly reduced at the highest does level. Anti-tumor activity against the mouse mammary carcinoma MC2 was tested in a multiple-dose study. Free vincristine did not affect the tumor growth rate significantly, but at the same dose level all PEG-coated liposome formulations inhibited tumor growth markedly. The suramin containing formulation was as effective as the formulation lacking polyanion, but the heparin and dextran sulfate containing formulations were less effective. Thus, compounds which form insoluble complexes with vincristine alter in vivo plasma distribution phase pharmacokinetics without increasing acute lethality, but without a corresponding increase in anti-tumor activity.

Screening anti-HIV Chinese materia medica with HIV and equine infectious anemic virus reverse transcriptase

The inhibitory activities of human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase (HIV-RT) inhibitors PFA and Suramin against HIV-RT and equine infectious anemic virus reverse transcriptase (EIAV-RT) were studied in this paper. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of HIV-RT and EIAV-RT treated by PFA and Suramin were 0.2 mumol, 9.8 mumol and 17 mumol, 19.9 mumol, respectively. More than thirty Chinese medicines, including recipes, herbs, extracts of traditional materia medica and isolated compounds were tested using HIV-RT and EIAV-RT as target enzymes. It was found that 5 crude extracts such as Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati, and Radix Notoginseng, 7 isolated compounds like Flavone of Ramulus Visci, Flavone of Ajuga Decumbens Thumb, and Aristolochic acid, as well as the extract of the complex prescription Xiao Chai Hu Tang have shown various inhibitory actions on these two enzymes. The activities of the two enzymes were comparable, but HIV-RT was more sensitive, suggesting that HIV-RT can be used as index for the screening of anti-aids drugs.

Sucralfate and soluble sucrose octasulfate bind and stabilize acidic fibroblast growth factor

The actions of the anti-ulcer drug sucralfate have been proposed to be mediated through interaction with fibroblast growth factors (Folkman, J., Szabo, S., Strovroff, M., McNeil, P., Li, W. and Shing, Y. (1991) Ann. Surg. 214, 414-427). We show here that acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF; FGF-1) binds in vitro to both the soluble potassium salt and the insoluble aluminum salt of sucrose octasulfate, as demonstrated by a variety of biophysical techniques. Similar to the well-described interaction and stabilization of aFGF by heparin, soluble sucrose octasulfate (SOS) stabilizes aFGF against thermal, urea and acidic pH-induced unfolding as determined by a combination of circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, SOS also enhances the mitogenic activity of aFGF and partially protects the protein's three cysteine residues from copper-catalyzed oxidation. SOS competes with heparin and suramin for the aFGF polyanion binding site as measured by both fluorescence and light scattering based competitive binding assays. Front-face fluorescence measurements show that the native, folded form of aFGF binds to the insoluble aluminum salt of sucrose octasulfate (sucralfate). Moreover, sucralfate stabilizes aFGF against thermal and acidic pH-induced unfolding to the same extent as observed with SOS. Thus, due to their high charge density, SOS and sucralfate bind and stabilize aFGF via interaction with the aFGF polyanion binding site.

Small angle neutron scattering studies of C8 and C9 and their interactions in solution

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) results revealed that contrary to most reports C9 is not a globular protein. Its radius of gyration (Rg) at pH 8 and an ionic strength of 0.5 is 32.2 +/- 1.4 A increasing to 35 A at physiologic ionic strength. In contrast, C8, which has a 2.2-fold larger mass, has a similar Rg value [34.6 +/- 1.6 A]. Calibration plots of Rg vs. M(r) indicate that native C8 is a spherical protein whereas native C9 is elongated. From previous reports it was known that native C8 and C9 associate in solutions of low ionic strength. SANS results confirmed this observation but also demonstrated that C8-C9 heterodimers are already formed at physiologic ionic strength. The dimeric complex is globular [Rg = 40 +/- 0.8 A] indicating that the proteins associate side-by-side rather than end-to-end. In contrast, in presence of the drug Suramin, a potent inhibitor of the assembly of the C5b-9 complex, C9 forms a complex with twice the molecular mass that is still elongated (Rg = 48.8 +/- 0.8 A), suggesting that in this case the protein dimerizes end-to-end via a bridging Suramin molecule.

Quantitation of pinocytosis in human monocytes during in vitro maturation into macrophages

Methods are reported for the quantitative measurement of pinocytosis in human monocytes isolated from peripheral blood. The cells, in adherent culture in plastic wells, were exposed for periods of up to 48 h to culture medium containing 125I-labelled polyvinylpyrrolidone (50 micrograms/ml) and the pinocytosis enhancer suramin (500 micrograms/ml). Uptake of radiolabel was linear with time and was inhibited by colchicine (100 micrograms/ml), results that are consistent with uptake of radiolabelled substrate by pinocytosis but not with superficial adsorption of radiolabel. Similar results were obtained using a 125I-labelled vinylamine-vinyl-pyrrolidone copolymer as radiolabelled substrate. The rates of pinocytotic uptake of 125I-labelled polyvinylpyrrolidone (in the presence of suramin) and of 125I-labelled copolymer were measured at various stages of in vitro monocyte-to-macrophage maturation. In contrast to an earlier report, we found no consistent differences in pinocytotic activity between cells at different stages of differentiation.

ATP, alpha,beta-methylene ATP and suramin as tools for characterization of vascular P2x receptors in the pithed rat

1. In pithed rats, the blood pressure effects of ATP, alpha,beta-methylene ATP (mATP), alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists and of electrical stimulation of the thoracolumbar sympathetic outflow were studied in the absence and presence of mATP, suramin and adrenoreceptor antagonists. 2. ATP elicited an initial rise in mean blood pressure followed by a decrease and a second increase. mATP produced a short-lived increase in blood pressure, whereas equieffective doses of noradrenaline, methoxamine and B-HT 920 (6-allyl-2-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-thiazolo-(5,4-d)-azepine) produced a more prolonged, biphasic pressor response. 3. In the presence of high doses of prazosin, rauwolscine plus propranolol, the initial vasopressor and the vasodepressor effect to ATP were not affected, whereas the delayed vasopressor response to ATP, the vasopressor response to electrical stimulation and even more so that to noradrenaline were suppressed. 4. Suramin, which by itself produced a short-lived decrease, followed by a persistent increase in blood pressure, decreased the pressor responses to ATP (initial phase), to mATP and to electrical stimulation without affecting the fall and second rise in blood pressure elicited by ATP and the pressor response to noradrenaline. 5. Desensitization of P2x receptors by a low dose of mATP abolished the initial vasopressor response to ATP but failed to affect the subsequent blood pressure effects of ATP as well as the pressor responses to noradrenaline and electrical stimulation. A high dose of mATP, in addition, decreased the vasopressor responses to noradrenaline, methoxamine, B-HT 920 and electrical stimulation; the delayed effects of ATP on blood pressure were not changed. 6. The electrically induced increase in blood pressure subsequent to administration of high doses of prazosin, rauwolscine plus propranolol was diminished by suramin and by the low and high dose of mATP. 7. The present study suggests that under certain circumstances ATP, which, added exogenously, has a triphasic effect on mean blood pressure, contributes to the electrically induced vasopressor response by activation of P2x receptors.

Attempts to characterize the mechanisms involved in mycobacterial growth inhibition by gamma-interferon-activated bone marrow macrophages

Bone marrow-derived murine macrophages are able to inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium bovis and of some strains of M. tuberculosis after stimulation with either recombinant gamma interferon (rIFN-gamma) or lymphokines from antigen-specific T-cell clones. To elucidate the mechanism(s) involved in antimycobacterial activity, macrophages were infected with M. bovis in the presence of agents thought to influence the antimicrobial effects of phagocytes. Scavengers of toxic oxygen metabolites failed to influence the capacity of IFN-gamma-activated bone marrow macrophages to inhibit the growth of M. bovis. Suramin slightly affected mycobacterial growth in IFN-gamma-activated macrophages, and chloroquine markedly induced growth inhibition of M. bovis in unstimulated macrophages. We conclude that growth inhibition of M. bovis by IFN-gamma-activated macrophages is an oxygen-independent process.

Morphological and enzymatic heterogeneity of suramin-induced lysosomal storage disease in some tissues of mice and rats

Suramin-induced lysosomal storage disease reproduced in the rat was extended to the mouse with the attempt to characterize enzymatically and morphologically heterogeneous responses of various organs to the drug. Suramin administration strikingly decreased (3-6 days afterward) the activity of beta-glucuronidase in all tissues studied (kidney, liver, heart, and skeletal muscle). The enzymatic responses were small in the activities of beta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase. The activity of arylsulfatase A decreased to a varying degree in mouse tissues, but in rats the activity increased in liver and skeletal muscle. The activity of cathepsin D increased in rat tissues. Suramin induced morphological changes characteristic to lysosomal storage diseases in kidney and liver but not in heart and skeletal muscle of both mice and rats. Kidney was appreciably more susceptible to suramin than liver. The occurrence of lysosomal accumulations, membranous lamellar inclusions, and granular material were most prominent in tubular cells of kidney and in Kupffer cells of liver. These cells also presented intensive Alcian blue staining. Interestingly, the enzymatic and morphological responses did not correlate with each other, which may reflect differences in the regulation of lysosomal functions in various cell types.

Suramin-induced storage disease. Mucopolysaccharidosis

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Spectroscopic studies on the complex formation of suramin with bovine and human serum albumin

The binding of suramin to bovine and human serum albumin was investigated by gel filtration and spectroscopic measurements. Besides some low-affinity binding sites suramin has, on the bovine serum albumin molecule one and on the human serum albumin molecule two, high-affinity binding sites. Spectroscopic measurements reveal that there are large differences between the albumins in the mechanism of binding to the high-affinity binding sites. Further, it is suggested that high concentrations of suramin provoke an unfolding of the albumin moleculse. In order to explain the unusual behaviour of suramin in connection with the displacement of other ligands from the albumin binding the fluorescence probe 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS) was employed as a reporter group molecule for fluorescence as well as circular dichroism measurements. By these measurements it could be shown that suramin greatly influences the microorganization of both albumin molecules. In the case of these measurements large differences between bovine and human serum albumin were also found.

ALTERATION OF THE ACETYLATION OF SULFONAMIDES BY PROTEIN BINDING, SULFINPYRAZONE, AND SURAMIN

The following observations resulted from the studies: (1) bovine albumin interfered with the acetylation of sulfamethoxypyridazine. Apparently this was due to the binding of the sulfonamide to the protein since a similar effect was not observed with bovine globulin to which this sulfonamide was not bound. Furthermore, neither protein affected the acetylation of sulfanilamide whose binding to albumin was much less than that of sulfamethoxypyridazine; (2) in the presence of albumin, but not globulin, 2–25 times more of sulfinpyrazone and suramin, respectively, was required to inhibit the acetylation of sulfanilamide to the same extent as in the absence of the protein; (3) there appeared to be no consistent correlation among a number of sulfonamides between their binding to protein, "lipid solubility," pKa, and acetylation.