New insights on mu/delta selectivity of opioid peptides: conformational analysis of deltorphin analogues

The message domain of dermorphin (Tyr-D-Ala-Phe), a natural mu-opioid heptapeptide, has long been considered the main cause of the high mu selectivity of this peptide and of its analogues. The recent discovery, in the skin of Phyllomedusa sauvagei (i.e., the same natural source of dermorphin) and of Phyllomedusa bicolor of deltorphins, challenges this belief. Deltorphins, in fact, are three heptapeptides characterized by a message domain typical of mu-selective peptides, but endowed of an extremely high delta selectivity, the highest of all natural opioid peptides. A conformational analysis of dermorphin and deltorphins, based on nmr studies in DMSO and cryoprotective mixtures and internal energy calculations, showed that the enormous differences in receptor selectivity can be interpreted on the basis of receptor models for mu and delta opioids that recognize the same beta-turn in the N-terminal part, but discriminate for the conformation and polarity of the C-terminal part. Here we present the synthesis, biological activity, and conformational analysis in solution of three deltorphin analogues with very similar constitution, but with different net charge, different location of negative residues, or even without negative residues, which confirm these hypotheses and show that His4 can play a specific structural role.     

δ-Opioid Receptor Activation Modified MicroRNA Expression in the Rat Kidney under Prolonged Hypoxia

Hypoxic/ischemic injury to kidney is a frequently encountered clinical problem with limited therapeutic options. Since microRNAs are differentially involved in hypoxic/ischemic events and δ-opioid receptor (DOR) activation is known to protect against hypoxic/ischemic injury, we speculated on the involvement of DOR activation in altering the microRNA (miRNA) expression in kidney under hypoxic condition. We selected 31 miRNAs based on microarray data for quantitative PCR analysis. Among them, 14 miRNAs were significantly altered after prolonged hypoxia, DOR activation or a combination of both. We found that 1) DOR activation alters miRNA expression profiles in normoxic conditions; 2) hypoxia differentially alters miRNA expression depending on the duration of hypoxia; and 3) DOR activation can modify hypoxia-induced changes in miRNA expression. For example, 10-day hypoxia reduced the level of miR-212 by over 70%, while DOR activation could mimic such reduction even in normoxic kidney. In contrast, the same stress increased miR-29a by >100%, which was reversed following DOR activation. These first data suggest that hypoxia comprehensively modifies the miRNA profile within the kidney, which can be mimicked or modified by DOR activation. Ascertaining the targeted pathways that regulate the diverse cellular and molecular functions of miRNA may provide new insights into potential therapies for hypoxic/ischemic injury of the kidney.     

Unusual presentation of choriocarcinoma

Background  

Choriocarcinoma is an aggressive neoplasm arising in the body of the uterus. The disease normally spreads to lung and brain.     

Effect of lysine residues on the deamidation reaction of asparagine side chains

The effect of lysine residues on the deamidation reaction of the asparagine side chain has been studied on the peptide and on its lysine-acetylated derivative in a wide range of pH values. The amino acid sequence of these peptides is similar to the local sequence flanking the labile Asn-67 in RNAse A. The experimental data show that Lys influences both the deamidation rate and the relative yield of the two reaction products, i.e., the aspartic acid and beta-aspartic acid containing peptide. These effects are pH dependent and can be rationalized based on the mechanism previously proposed for the deamidation reaction via succinimide derivative.     

Differential expression level of cytokeratin 8 in cells of the bovine nucleus pulposus complicates the search for specific intervertebral disc cell markers

Introduction  

Development of cell therapies for repairing the intervertebral disc is limited by the lack of a source of healthy human disc cells. Stem cells, particularly mesenchymal stem cells, are seen as a potential source but differentiation strategies are limited by the lack of specific markers that can distinguish disc cells from articular chondrocytes.     

Molecular analysis of cell cycle-related gene expression in anti-HLA class I monoclonal antibody (01.65) treated PHA-activated human T-lymphocytes.

HLA class I antigens seem to be involved in the proliferative response of PHA-activated human T-lymphocytes. We have previously reported that the treatment of PHA-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with an anti-HLA class I monoclonal antibody, 01.65, (i) inhibits the tritiated thymidine incorporation, (ii) inactivates cytosolic protein kinase C (PKC) and (iii) causes an increase in the duration of the cell cycle. Northern Blot kinetic analysis of c-fos, c-myc, cdc2, IL-2R, c-myb, ODC, TK and H3, from 10 minutes to 120 hours, was performed in MAb 01.65 treated cultures. We found that the expression of four genes (c-myc, IL-2R, cdc2 and TK) was depressed 24 hours after PHA stimulation.     

Antibody-neutralizing activity against all urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis serovars in Chlamydia suis-infected pigs

It is known that neutralizing species-specific or serovar-specific antibodies are produced in response to chlamydial infection in humans and in some animal species. In a previous study, a strong in vitro neutralizing activity to Chlamydia suis in 80% of sera from C. suis-infected pigs had been observed. In view of the close relationship between C. suis and Chlamydia trachomatis, in the present study, the neutralizing activity against D-K C. trachomatis and C. suis purified elementary bodies (EBs) in sera collected from C. trachomatis-infected patients and C. suis-infected pigs was evaluated. A neutralizing activity of 50-70% was observed in the human sera against the homologous serovar and one to five heterologous C. trachomatis serovars. These sera were also able to neutralize C. suis EBs. The pig sera showed a strong neutralizing activity (70-100%) against C. suis EBs and all eight urogenital C. trachomatis serovars. These results suggested the presence of common immunogenic antigens in C. trachomatis and C. suis. Immunoblot analysis, performed to elucidate the target of this neutralizing activity, showed a clear reactivity in human and pig sera against two proteins of 150 and 40 kDa MW, when tested either with C. trachomatis or with C. suis EBs.     

Simultaneous liquid chromatographic determination of lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine monohydroxy derivative and felbamate in plasma of patients with epilepsy

A very simple and fast method has been developed and validated for simultaneous determination of the new generation antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) lamotrigine (LTG), oxcarbazepine's (OXC) main active metabolite monohydroxycarbamazepine and felbamate in plasma of patients with epilepsy using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with spectrophotometric detection. Plasma sample (500 microL) pre-treatment was based on simple deproteinization by acetonitrile. Liquid chromatographic analysis was carried out on a Synergi 4 microm Hydro-RP, 150 mm x 4 mm I.D. column, using a mixture of potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (50mM, pH 4.5) and acetonitrile/methanol (3/1) (65:35, v/v) as the mobile phase, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The UV detector was set at 210 nm. Calibration curves were linear (mean correlation coefficient >0.999 for all the three analytes) over a range of 1-20 mg/mL for lamotrigine, 2-40 microg/mL for monohydroxycarbamazepine and 10-120 microg/mL for felbamate. Both intra and interassay precision and accuracy were lower than 7.5% for all three analytes. Absolute recoveries ranged between 100 and 104%. The present procedure describes for the first time the simultaneous determination of these three new antiepileptic drugs. The simple sample pre-treatment, combined with the fast chromatographic run permit rapid processing of a large series of patient samples.     

Role of 2′,6′-dimethyl-l-tyrosine (Dmt) in some opioid lead compounds

Here we evaluated how the interchange of the amino acids 2′,6′-dimethyl-l-tyrosine (Dmt), 2′,6′-difluoro-l-tyrosine (Dft), and tyrosine in position 1 can affect the pharmacological characterization of some reference opioid peptides and pseudopeptides. Generally, Dft and Tyr provide analogues with a similar pharmacological profile, despite different pK_a values. Dmt/Tyr(Dft) replacement gives activity changes depending on the reference opioid in which the modification was made. Whereas, H-Dmt-Tic-Asp1-Bid is a potent and selective δ agonist (MVD, IC₅₀ = 0.12 nM); H-Dft-Tic-Asp1-Bid and H-Tyr-Tic-Asp1-Bid are potent and selective δ antagonists (pA₂ = 8.95 and 8.85, respectively). When these amino acids are employed in the synthesis of deltorphin B and its Dmt¹ and Dft¹ analogues, the three compounds maintain a very similar δ agonism (MVD, IC₅₀ 0.32–0.53 nM) with a decrease in selectivity relative to the Dmt¹ analogue. In the less selective H-Dmt-Tic-Gly1-Bid the replacement of Dmt with Dft and Tyr retains the δ agonism but with a decrease in potency. Antagonists containing the Dmt-Tic pharmacophore do not support the exchange of Dmt with Dft or Tyr.