Pharmacokinetics of bestatin and oral activity for treatment of experimental metastases

Summary Bestatin is a low molecular weight aminopeptidase inhibitor originally isolated from culture filtrates of Streptomyces olivoreticuli. The serum pharmacokinetics in mice are dependent on route of administration, with a short t1/2 (1.69 min t1/2 and 12.8 min t1/2), but a high initial serum level following i.v. administration. When administered via the i.p., s.c., i.m., or p.o. routes of administration, bestatin had serum t1/2s of 8.56, 16.91, 19.25, or 15.4 min, respectively. The maximum area under the curve (concentration×time) occurred following i.v. and i.m. administration, with a lower level following p.o. or i.p. administration. Bestatin had therapeutic activity for experimental metastases, not only following i.v., i.p., and i.m. routes of administration but also following oral administration. Because of its brief serum t1/2, bestatin's therapeutic activity depends on aggressive (either daily or twice daily injection, especially following p.o. administration) and high-dose administration. Thus, the rate-limiting aspect of bestatin's therapeutic activity appears to be associated with its pharmacokinetics.This research was supported by the National Cancer Institute, DHHS, under contract No. N01-23910 with Program Resources, Inc. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government     

Induction of gene expression for immunomodulating cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to orally administered PSK,an immunomodulating protein-bound polysaccharide

The protein-bound polysaccharide extracted from a fungus, PSK, has been used as a biological response modifier in the treatment of cancer patients in Japan for over 16 years. The administration of PSK to tumor-bearing rodents inhibited tumor growth and modulated immune responses. Recently, an in vitro study has revealed that PSK is a strong inducer of cytokine gene expression and production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). To establish whether PSK has cytokine-inducing activities in vivo, we have orally administered PSK (1 g, the clinical dose) to 12 healthy volunteers and 9 gastric cancer patients who had undergone gastrectomy, and assessed the gene expression for cytokines in PBMC of each subject. As determined by the reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction method, the induction of gene expression for both tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-8 (IL-8) was detected in PBMC from 5 of the 12 healthy volunteers (42%) and 4 of the 9 patients (44%). Furthermore, the concentration of serum IL-8 was elevated in 5 healthy volunteers given PSK orally, who had shown induction of IL-8 gene expression, as detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These findings indicate that responsiveness of PBMC to PSK, in terms of gene expression and production of cytokines, varies among individuals. Thus, when using PSK to treat cancer patients, it seems advisable to select patients on the basis of their responsiveness to PSK. We speculate that the cytokines induced by PSK might mediate the immunoenhancing action of this agent in vivo.     

Biscoclaurine alkaloids in callus tissues of Stephania cepharantha

Although callus tissues derived from tubers of Stephania cepharantha cannot synthesize the main alkaloids of the original plant, cepharanthine and isotetrandrine, they are able to synthesize biscoclaurine alkaloids, berbamine and aromorine, the latter not being found in the original plant. These results suggest that enzymes controlling specific methylation and methylenedioxy group formation are absent from the callus. The maximum content of total alkaloid in the callus tissues subcultured for 9 months was more than 3 times that of original plant. Alkaloid content was affected by addition of various auxins, IAA being most effective.     

Factors influencing the ability of Listeria monocytogenes to pass through a membrane filter by active infiltration

Listeria monocytogenes infiltrated the reticulate structure of a membrane filter and passed through a filter with pore sizes of 0.45 microm and 0.2 microm in 6 to 24 h and 5 to 6 days, respectively. Flagellar motility and expansive pressure generated by the growing bacterial population were indicated as the driving forces of infiltration.     

Rational design of dual-functional aptamers that inhibit the protease and helicase activities of HCV NS3

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-structural protein 3 (NS3) is a multifunctional enzyme with protease and helicase activities. It is essential for HCV proliferation and is therefore a target for anti-HCV drugs. Previously, we obtained RNA aptamers that inhibit either the protease or helicase activity of NS3. During the present study, these aptamers were used to create advanced dual-functional (ADD) aptamers that were potentially more effective inhibitors of NS3 activity. The structural domain of the helicase aptamer, #5Delta, was conjugated via an oligo(U) tract to the 3'-end of the dual functional aptamer NEO-III-14U or the protease aptamer G9-II. The spacer length was optimized to obtain two ADD aptamers, NEO-35-s41 and G925-s50; both were more effective inhibitors of NS3 protease/helicase activity in vitro, especially the helicase, with a four- to five-fold increase in inhibition compared with #5 and NEO-III-14U. Furthermore, G925-s50 effectively inhibited NS3 protease activity in living cells and HCV replication in vitro. Overall, we have demonstrated rational RNA aptamer design based on features of both aptamer and target molecules, as well as successfully combining aptamer function and increasing NS3 inhibition.     

A low-density cDNA microarray with a unique reference RNA: pattern recognition analysis for IFN efficacy prediction to HCV as a model

We have designed and established a low-density (295 genes) cDNA microarray for the prediction of IFN efficacy in hepatitis C patients. To obtain a precise and consistent microarray data, we collected a data set from three spots for each gene (mRNA) and using three different scanning conditions. We also established an artificial reference RNA representing pseudo-inflammatory conditions from established hepatocyte cell lines supplemented with synthetic RNAs to 48 inflammatory genes. We also developed a novel algorithm that replaces the standard hierarchical-clustering method and allows handling of the large data set with ease. This algorithm utilizes a standard space database (SSDB) as a key scale to calculate the Mahalanobis distance (MD) from the center of gravity in the SSDB. We further utilized sMD (divided by parameter k: MD/k) to reduce MD number as a predictive value. The efficacy prediction of conventional IFN mono-therapy was 100% for non-responder (NR) vs. transient responder (TR)/sustained responder (SR) (P < 0.0005). Finally, we show that this method is acceptable for clinical application.     

Human ABCA3, a product of a responsible gene for abca3 for fatal surfactant deficiency in newborns, exhibits unique ATP hydrolysis activity and generates intracellular multilamellar vesicles

ABCA3 is highly expressed at the membrane of lamellar bodies in alveolar type II cells, in which pulmonary surfactant is stored. ABCA3 gene mutations cause fatal surfactant deficiency in newborns. We established HEK293 cells stably expressing human ABCA3 and analyzed the function. Exogenously expressed ABCA3 is glycosylated and localized at the intracellular vesicle membrane. ABCA3 is efficiently photoaffinity labeled by 8-azido-[alpha(32)P]ATP, but not by 8-azido-[gamma(32)P]ATP, when the membrane fraction is incubated in the presence of orthovanadate. Photoaffinity labeling of ABCA3 shows unique metal ion-dependence and is largely reduced by membrane pretreatment with 5% methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, which depletes cholesterol. Electron micrographs show that HEK293/hABCA3 cells contain multivesicular, lamellar body-like structures, which do not exist in HEK293 host cells. Some fuzzy components such as lipids accumulate in the vesicles. These results suggest that ABCA3 shows ATPase activity, which is induced by lipids, and may be involved in the biogenesis of lamellar body-like structures.