Mechanism of formation of the complex between transferrin and bismuth, and interaction with transferrin receptor 1

The kinetics and thermodynamics of Bi(III) exchange between bismuth mononitrilotriacetate (BiL) and human serum transferrin as well as those of the interaction between bismuth-loaded transferrin and transferrin receptor 1 (TFR) were investigated at pH 7.4-8.9. Bismuth is rapidly exchanged between BiL and the C-site of human serum apotransferrin in interaction with bicarbonate to yield an intermediate complex with an effective equilibrium constant K(1) of 6 +/- 4, a direct second-order rate constant k(1) of (2.45 +/- 0.20) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1), and a reverse second-order rate constant k(-1) of (1.5 +/- 0.5) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). The intermediate complex loses a single proton with a proton dissociation constant K(1a) of 2.4 +/- 1 nM to yield a first kinetic product. This product then undergoes a modification in its conformation followed by two proton losses with a first-order rate constant k(2) = 25 +/- 1.5 s(-1) to produce a second kinetic intermediate, which in turn undergoes a last modification in the conformation to yield the bismuth-saturated transferrin in its final state. This last process rate-controls Bi(III) uptake by the N-site of the protein and is independent of the experimental parameters with a constant reciprocal relaxation time tau(3)(-1) of (3 +/- 1) x 10(-2) s(-1). The mechanism of bismuth uptake differs from that of iron and probably does not involve the same transition in conformation from open to closed upon iron uptake. The interaction of bismuth-loaded transferrin with TFR occurs in a single very fast kinetic step with a dissociation constant K(d) of 4 +/- 0.4 microM, a second-order rate constant k(d) of (2.2 +/- 1.5) x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1), and a first-order rate constant k(-d) of 900 +/- 400 s(-1). This mechanism is different from that observed with the ferric holotransferrin and implies that the interaction between TFR and bismuth-loaded transferrin probably takes place on the helical domain of the receptor which is specific for the C-site of transferrin and HFE. The relevance of bismuth incorporation by the transferrin receptor-mediated iron acquisition pathway is discussed.     

RNA-based drug screening using automated RNA purification and real-time RT-PCR1

A new system has been developed for RNA-based drug screening, and the feasibility of this approach has been demonstrated by the identification of new immunomodulating compounds. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were chosen as the cellular assay system. Cells were either stimulated by TPA/ionomycin to produce T cell cytokines as asthma targets or stimulated by lipopolysaccharide to produce proinflammatory cytokines as targets for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The authors developed a new fully automated system for RNA purification from cells grown in 96-well plates. Gene expression was determined in 384-well plates using real-time quantitative one-tube RT-PCR. Small interdonor variation could be demonstrated. The assay system was validated with known immunosuppressants cyclosporine and dexamethasone. Screening of 800 compounds resulted in 9.5% compounds inhibiting the induction of at least 1 T cell derived cytokine and 6.8% compounds inhibiting at least 1 cytokine relevant for COPD. All these compounds were retested by analyzing remaining RNA from the 1st round of screening. The reproducibility of hits was between 56% and 74% for different cytokines. One compound selectively inhibited TNF, which was confirmed by IC(50) determination. Analyzing its effect on cells from different donors revealed little interdonor variation. In conclusion, the authors established fully automated RNA isolation and precise gene expression profiling using real-time RT-PCR for drug screening.     

Immobilization of alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein for chromatographic studies of drug-protein binding

A new method for preparing immobilized alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) for use in drug-protein binding studies was developed and optimized. In this approach, periodate was used under mild conditions to oxidize the carbohydrate chains in AGP for attachment to a hydrazide-activated support. The final conditions chosen for this oxidation involved the reaction of 5.0 mg/mL AGP at 4 degrees C and pH 7.0 with 5-20 mM periodic acid for 10 min. These conditions helped maximize the immobilization of AGP without significantly affecting its activity. This method was evaluated by using it to attach AGP to silica for use in high-performance affinity chromatography and self-competition zonal elution studies. In work with R- and S-propranolol, only one type of binding site was observed for both enantiomers on the immobilized AGP, in agreement with previous studies using soluble AGP. The association equilibrium constants measured for the immobilized AGP with R- and S-propranolol at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C were 2.7 x 10(6) and 4.2 x 10(6) M(-1), respectively, with linear van't Hoff plots being obtained between 5 and 37 degrees C. Work performed with other drugs also gave good agreement between the behavior seen for immobilized AGP and that for soluble AGP. The same immobilization method described in this work could be used to attach AGP to other materials, such as those used for surface plasmon resonance or alternative biosensors.     

Automated Tracking of Quantitative Assessments of Tumor Burden in Clinical Trials

There are two key challenges hindering effective use of quantitative assessment of imaging in cancer response assessment: 1) Radiologists usually describe the cancer lesions in imaging studies subjectively and sometimes ambiguously, and 2) it is difficult to repurpose imaging data, because lesion measurements are not recorded in a format that permits machine interpretation and interoperability. We have developed a freely available software platform on the basis of open standards, the electronic Physician Annotation Device (ePAD), to tackle these challenges in two ways. First, ePAD facilitates the radiologist in carrying out cancer lesion measurements as part of routine clinical trial image interpretation workflow. Second, ePAD records all image measurements and annotations in a data format that permits repurposing image data for analyses of alternative imaging biomarkers of treatment response. To determine the impact of ePAD on radiologist efficiency in quantitative assessment of imaging studies, a radiologist evaluated computed tomography (CT) imaging studies from 20 subjects having one baseline and three consecutive follow-up imaging studies with and without ePAD. The radiologist made measurements of target lesions in each imaging study using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1 criteria, initially with the aid of ePAD, and then after a 30-day washout period, the exams were reread without ePAD. The mean total time required to review the images and summarize measurements of target lesions was 15% (P < .039) shorter using ePAD than without using this tool. In addition, it was possible to rapidly reanalyze the images to explore lesion cross-sectional area as an alternative imaging biomarker to linear measure.We conclude that ePAD appears promising to potentially improve reader efficiency for quantitative assessment of CT examinations, and it may enable discovery of future novel image-based biomarkers of cancer treatment response.     

Cyclooxygenase products sensitize muscle mechanoreceptors in humans with heart failure

Prior work in animals and humans suggests that muscle mechanoreceptor control of sympathetic activation [muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA)] during exercise in heart failure (HF) patients is heightened compared with that of healthy humans and that muscle mechanoreceptors are sensitized by metabolic by-products. We sought to determine whether cyclooxygenase products and/or endogenous adenosine, two metabolites of ischemic exercise, sensitize muscle mechanoreceptors during rhythmic handgrip (RHG) exercise in HF patients. Indomethacin, which inhibits the production of prostaglandins, and saline control were infused in 12 HF patients. In a different protocol, aminophylline, which inhibits adenosine receptors, and saline control were infused in 12 different HF patients. MSNA was recorded (microneurography). During exercise following saline, MSNA increased in the first minute of exercise, consistent with baseline heightened mechanoreceptor sensitivity. MSNA continued to increase during 3 min of RHG, indicative that muscle mechanoreceptors are sensitized by ischemia metabolites. Indomethacin, but not aminophylline, markedly attenuated the increase in MSNA during the entire 3 min of low-level rhythmic exercise, consistent with the sensitization of muscle mechanoreceptors by cyclooxygenase products. Interestingly, even the early increase in MSNA was abolished by indomethacin infusion, indicative of the very early generation of cyclooxygenase products after the onset of exercise in HF patients. In conclusion, muscle mechanoreceptors mediate the increase in MSNA during low-level RHG exercise in HF. Cyclooxygenase products, but not endogenous adenosine, play a central role in muscle mechanoreceptor sensitization. Finally, muscle mechanoreceptors in patients with HF have heightened basal sensitivity to mechanical stimuli, which also appears to be mediated by the early generation of cyclooxygenase products, resulting in exaggerated early increases in MSNA.