Small molecular CD4 mimics as HIV entry inhibitors

Derivatives of CD4 mimics were designed and synthesized to interact with the conserved residues of the Phe43 cavity in gp120 to investigate their anti-HIV activity, cytotoxicity, and CD4 mimicry effects on conformational changes of gp120. Significant potency gains were made by installation of bulky hydrophobic groups into the piperidine moiety, resulting in discovery of a potent compound with a higher selective index and CD4 mimicry. The current study identified a novel lead compound 11 with significant anti-HIV activity and lower cytotoxicity than those of known CD4 mimics.     

Discovery of 4-[4-({(3R)-1-butyl-3-[(R)-cyclohexyl(hydroxy)methyl]-2,5-dioxo-1,4,9-triazaspiro[5.5]undec-9-yl}methyl)phenoxy]benzoic acid hydrochloride: a highly potent orally available CCR5 selective antagonist

Based on the original spirodiketopiperazine design framework, further optimization of an orally available CCR5 antagonist was undertaken. Structural hybridization of the hydroxylated analog 4 derived from one of the oxidative metabolites and the new orally available non-hydroxylated benzoic acid analog 5 resulted in another potent orally available CCR5 antagonist 6a as a clinical candidate. Full details of a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study and ADME properties are presented.     

Fluorescent-responsive synthetic C1b domains of protein kinase Cδ as reporters of specific high-affinity ligand binding

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a critical cell signaling pathway involved in many disorders such as cancer and Alzheimer-type dementia. To date, evaluation of PKC ligand binding affinity has been performed by competitive studies against radiolabeled probes that are problematic for high-throughput screening. In the present study, we have developed a fluorescent-based binding assay system for identifying ligands that target the PKC ligand binding domain (C1 domain). An environmentally sensitive fluorescent dye (solvatochromic fluorophore), which has been used in multiple applications to assess protein-binding interactions, was inserted in proximity to the binding pocket of a novel PKCδ C1b domain. These resultant fluorescent-labeled δC1b domain analogues underwent a significant change in fluorescent intensity upon ligand binding, and we further demonstrate that the fluorescent δC1b domain analogues can be used to evaluate ligand binding affinity.     

Ultrasensitive human prion detection in cerebrospinal fluid by real-time quaking-induced conversion

The development of technologies for the in vitro amplification of abnormal conformations of prion protein (PrP(Sc)) has generated the potential for sensitive detection of prions. Here we developed a new PrP(Sc) amplification assay, called real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QUIC), which allows the detection of ≥1 fg of PrP(Sc) in diluted Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) brain homogenate. Moreover, we assessed the technique first in a series of Japanese subjects and then in a blind study of 30 cerebrospinal fluid specimens from Australia, which achieved greater than 80% sensitivity and 100% specificity. These findings indicate the promising enhanced diagnostic capacity of RT-QUIC in the antemortem evaluation of suspected CJD.     

Mamld1 knockdown reduces testosterone production and Cyp17a1 expression in mouse Leydig tumor cells

Background

MAMLD1 is known to be a causative gene for hypospadias. Although previous studies have indicated that MAMLD1 mutations result in hypospadias primarily because of compromised testosterone production around the critical period for fetal sex development, the underlying mechanism(s) remains to be clarified. Furthermore, although functional studies have indicated a transactivation function of MAMLD1 for the non-canonical Notch target Hes3, its relevance to testosterone production remains unknown. To examine these matters, we performed Mamld1 knockdown experiments.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Mamld1 knockdown was performed with two siRNAs, using mouse Leydig tumor cells (MLTCs). Mamld1 knockdown did not influence the concentrations of pregnenolone and progesterone but significantly reduced those of 17-OH pregnenolone, 17-OH progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, and testosterone in the culture media. Furthermore, Mamld1 knockdown significantly decreased Cyp17a1 expression, but did not affect expressions of other genes involved in testosterone biosynthesis as well as in insulin-like 3 production. Hes3 expression was not significantly altered. In addition, while 47 genes were significantly up-regulated (fold change >2.0×) and 38 genes were significantly down-regulated (fold change <0.5×), none of them was known to be involved in testosterone production. Cell proliferation analysis revealed no evidence for compromised proliferation of siRNA-transfected MLTCs.

Conclusions/Significance

The results, in conjunction with the previous data, imply that Mamld1 enhances Cyp17a1 expression primarily in Leydig cells and permit to produce a sufficient amount of testosterone for male sex development, independently of the Hes3-related non-canonical Notch signaling.     

Glucose and fatty acids synergize to promote B-cell apoptosis through activation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β independent of JNK activation

Background

The combination of elevated glucose and free-fatty acids (FFA), prevalent in diabetes, has been suggested to be a major contributor to pancreatic β-cell death. This study examines the synergistic effects of glucose and FFA on β-cell apoptosis and the molecular mechanisms involved. Mouse insulinoma cells and primary islets were treated with palmitate at increasing glucose and effects on apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and insulin receptor substrate (IRS) signaling were examined.

Principal Findings

Increasing glucose (5–25 mM) with palmitate (400 µM) had synergistic effects on apoptosis. Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activation peaked at the lowest glucose concentration, in contrast to a progressive reduction in IRS2 protein and impairment of insulin receptor substrate signaling. A synergistic effect was observed on activation of ER stress markers, along with recruitment of SREBP1 to the nucleus. These findings were confirmed in primary islets. The above effects associated with an increase in glycogen synthase kinase 3β (Gsk3β) activity and were reversed along with apoptosis by an adenovirus expressing a kinase dead Gsk3β.

Conclusions/Significance

Glucose in the presence of FFA results in synergistic effects on ER stress, impaired insulin receptor substrate signaling and Gsk3β activation. The data support the importance of controlling both hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in the management of Type 2 diabetes, and identify pancreatic islet β-cell Gsk3β as a potential therapeutic target.     

Investigation by imaging mass spectrometry of biomarker candidates for aging in the hair cortex

Background

Human hair is one of the essential components that define appearance and is a useful source of samples for non-invasive biomonitoring. We describe a novel application of imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) of hair biomolecules for advanced molecular characterization and a better understanding of hair aging. As a cosmetic and biomedical application, molecules whose levels in hair altered with aging were comprehensively investigated.

Methods

Human hair was collected from 15 young (20±5 years old) and 15 older (50±5 years old) volunteers. Matrix-free laser desorption/ionization IMS was used to visualize molecular distribution in the hair sections. Hair-specific ions displaying a significant difference in the intensities between the 2 age groups were extracted as candidate markers for aging. Tissue localization of the molecules and alterations in their levels in the cortex and medulla in the young and old groups were determined.

Results

Among the 31 molecules detected specifically in hair sections, 2—one at m/z 153.00, tentatively assigned to be dihydrouracil, and the other at m/z 207.04, identified to be 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid (DHMA)—exhibited a higher signal intensity in the young group than in the old, and 1 molecule at m/z 164.00, presumed to be O-phosphoethanolamine, displayed a higher intensity in the old group. Among the 3, putative O-phosphoethanolamine showed a cortex-specific distribution. The 3 molecules in cortex presented the same pattern of alteration in signal intensity with aging, whereas those in medulla did not exhibit significant alteration.

Conclusion

Three molecules whose levels in hair altered with age were extracted. While they are all possible markers for aging, putative dihydrouracil and DHMA, are also suspected to play a role in maintaining hair properties and could be targets for cosmetic supplementation. Mapping of ion localization in hair by IMS is a powerful method to extract biomolecules in specified regions and determine their tissue distribution.     

Dose-dependent effects of L-carnosine on the renal sympathetic nerve and blood pressure in urethane-anesthetized rats

The physiological function of L-carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) synthesized in mammalian muscles has been unclear. Previously, we observed that intravenous (i.v.) injection of L-carnosine suppressed renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in urethane-anesthetized rats, and L-carnosine administered via the diet inhibited the elevation of blood pressure (BP) in deoxycorticosterone acetate salt hypertensive rats. To identify the mechanism, we examined effects of i.v. or intralateral cerebral ventricular (l.c.v.) injection of various doses of L-carnosine on RSNA and BP in urethane-anesthetized rats. Lower doses (1 microg i.v.; 0.01 microg l.c.v.) of L-carnosine significantly suppressed RSNA and BP, whereas higher doses (100 microg i.v.; 10 microg l.c.v.) elevated RSNA and BP. Furthermore, we examined effects of antagonists of histaminergic (H1 and H3) receptors on L-carnosine-induced effects. When peripherally and centrally given, thioperamide, an H3 receptor antagonist, blocked RSNA and BP decreases induced by the lower doses of peripheral L-carnosine, whereas diphenhydramine, an H1 receptor antagonist, inhibited increases induced by the higher doses of peripheral L-carnosine. Moreover, bilateral lesions of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus eliminated both effects on RSNA and BP induced by the lower (1 microg) and higher (100 microg) doses of peripheral L-carnosine. These findings suggest that low-dose L-carnosine suppresses and high-dose L-carnosine stimulates RSNA and BP, that the suprachiasmatic nucleus and histaminergic nerve are involved in the activities, and that L-carnosine acts in the brain and possibly other organs.     

Functional role of PKC in contraction of cultured human prostatic stromal cells

The contractile activity of prostatic stromal cells contributes to symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, the mechanisms for this contraction have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in prostatic contraction by measuring the isometric tension development of cultured human prostatic stromal cells (CHPSCs) derived from BPH patients. Fresh human BPH tissue was used only in a Western blot analysis. A ring preparation made of CHPSCs and collagen gel could develop an isometric tension during activation with various agonists. Phorbol 12,13 dibutyrate (PDBu), a PKC activator, induced a relaxation. A Western blot analysis revealed the expression of PKC-potentiated protein phosphatase-1 inhibitory protein (CPI-17) in both CHPSCs and fresh human BPH tissue to be much lower than that in the rabbit aorta. When CPI-17 was over-expressed, PDBu induced a large contraction, but the agonist-induced contraction did not become larger than expected. In alpha-toxin permeabilized preparations, PDBu induced a relaxation in control CHPSCs, while it induced a contraction at a constant [Ca2+]i in CPI-17 over-expressing CHPSCs. These results indicated that the activation of PKC in CHPSCs induces a relaxation probably due to low expression level of CPI-17 and also that the PKC-CPI-17 pathway does not appear to play a major role in the agonist-induced contraction even when CPI-17 was over-expressed.