Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of benzetimide derivatives as human CXCR3 antagonists

The synthesis and evaluation of benzetimide derivatives showing potent CXCR3 antagonism are described. Optimization of the screening hits led to the identification of more potent CXCR3 antagonists devoid of anti-cholinergic activity and identification of the key pharmacophore moieties of the series.     

Baseline Data from a Belgium-Wide Survey of Campylobacter Species Contamination in Chicken Meat Preparations and Considerations for a Reliable Monitoring Program

From February to November 2007, chicken meat preparations (n = 656) were sampled at 11 processing companies across Belgium. All samples were tested for Campylobacter by enrichment culture and by direct plating according to standard methods. Almost half (48.02%) of the samples were positive for Campylobacter spp. The mean Campylobacter count was 1.68 log₁₀ CFU/g with a standard deviation of ± 0.64 log₁₀ CFU/g. The study revealed a statistically significant variation in Campylobacter contamination levels between companies; processors with a wider frequency distribution range of Campylobacter counts provided chicken meat preparations with higher Campylobacter incidences and concentrations. There was no significant difference between the counts of Campylobacter spp. in various preparation types. However, the Campylobacter counts and incidences in chicken wings were the highest and portioned-form products (legs, wings, and breasts) showed a higher probability of being Campylobacter positive compared to minced-form products (sausages, burgers, and minced meat). The proportion of Campylobacter-positive samples was significantly higher in July than in other months. Recovery of Campylobacter spp. recovery by direct plating was higher (41.0%) compared to detection after enrichment (24.2%). Statistical modeling of the survey data showed that the likelihood of obtaining a positive result by enrichment culture increases with an increase in the Campylobacter concentration in the sample. In the present study, we provide the first enumeration data on Campylobacter contamination in Belgian chicken meat preparations and address proposals for improving Campylobacter monitoring programs.     

Bacillus thuringiensis Delta-Endotoxin Cry1 Hybrid Proteins with Increased Activity against the Colorado Potato Beetle

Cry1 delta-endotoxins of Bacillus thuringiensis are generally active against lepidopteran insects, but Cry1Ba and Cry1Ia have additional, though low, levels of activity against coleopterans such as the Colorado potato beetle. Here we report the construction of Cry1Ba/Cry1Ia hybrid toxins which have increased activities against this insect species.     

Bmx Tyrosine Kinase Has a Redundant Function Downstream of Angiopoietin and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptors in Arterial Endothelium

The Bmx gene, a member of the Tec tyrosine kinase gene family, is known to be expressed in subsets of hematopoietic and endothelial cells. In this study, mice were generated in which the first coding exon of the Bmx gene was replaced with the lacZ reporter gene by a knock-in strategy. The homozygous mice lacking Bmx activity were fertile and had a normal life span without an obvious phenotype. Staining of their tissues using beta-galactosidase substrate to assess the sites of Bmx expression revealed strong signals in the endothelial cells of large arteries and in the endocardium starting between days 10.5 and 12.5 of embryogenesis and continuing in adult mice, while the venular endothelium showed a weak signal only in the superior and inferior venae cavae. Of the five known endothelial receptor tyrosine kinases tested, activated Tie-2 induced tyrosyl phosphorylation of the Bmx protein and both Tie-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR-1) stimulated Bmx tyrosine kinase activity. Thus, the Bmx tyrosine kinase has a redundant role in arterial endothelial signal transduction downstream of the Tie-2 and VEGFR-1 growth factor receptors.     

Water-conducting properties of lipids during pollen hydration

Based on the authors’ previous work an attempt has been made to study water flow in the lipid matrix during pollen hydration. The present study has demonstrated that in the presence of small amounts of water, the type of lipids used defined the time of hydration of pollen in vivo on the stigma and in vitro. Several approaches were used including cryo‐scanning electron microscopy, magnetic resonance imaging and Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopic imaging, with the purpose of detecting very small amounts of water. The results show that no water is detectable in the lipid matrix. It was observed and concluded that the water for pollen hydration accumulates as a thin layer at the contact side between pollen and stigma, during the normal process of pollination in plant species with a wet stigma. However, using the same species deprived of the stigma by cell ablation, it was shown that the layer of water observed in wild‐type plants is not necessary for pollen hydration.     

Association of glutathione-S-transferase omega haplotypes with susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Cigarette smoking is the main risk factor for developing the inflammatory lung disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Differences in susceptibility among smokers have been attributed to a genetic predisposition. A recent publication on the Framingham Heart Study found a strong association of the Asn142Asp SNP in Glutatthione-S-transferase Omega (GSTO) 2 with forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC). FEV₁ is the main parameter reflecting the degree of airflow limitation in patients with COPD. Therefore the present study was undertaken to investigate whether the Asn142Asp polymorphism in GSTO2 occurs more frequently in patients with COPD than healthy subjects and to replicate the finding that it strongly correlates with FEV₁. Furthermore, the Ala140Asp substitution in GSTO1 was examined. Genotyping was carried out in 195 healthy controls and 355 patients with COPD. The results demonstrate that the Asn142Asp polymorphism in GSTO2 and the GSTO1140Asp/GSTO2142Asp haplotype were associated with increased risk of COPD. However, single-marker and haplotype-based analyses failed to reveal an association between lung function parameters and investigated non-synonymous coding SNPs in the GSTO genes. In conclusion, GSTO2 is a candidate gene for COPD, but is not associated with FEV₁.     

Identification of a Novel, Putative Rho-specific GDP/GTP Exchange Factor and a RhoA-binding Protein: Control of Neuronal Morphology

The small GTP-binding protein Rho has been implicated in the control of neuronal morphology. In N1E-115 neuronal cells, the Rho-inactivating C3 toxin stimulates neurite outgrowth and prevents actomyosin-based neurite retraction and cell rounding induced by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), sphingosine-1-phosphate, or thrombin acting on their cognate G protein–coupled receptors. We have identified a novel putative GDP/GTP exchange factor, RhoGEF (190 kD), that interacts with both wild-type and activated RhoA, but not with Rac or Cdc42. RhoGEF, like activated RhoA, mimics receptor stimulation in inducing cell rounding and in preventing neurite outgrowth. Furthermore, we have identified a 116-kD protein, p116^Rip, that interacts with both the GDP- and GTP-bound forms of RhoA in N1E-115 cells. Overexpression of p116^Rip stimulates cell flattening and neurite outgrowth in a similar way to dominant-negative RhoA and C3 toxin. Cells overexpressing p116^Rip fail to change their shape in response to LPA, as is observed after Rho inactivation. Our results indicate that (a) RhoGEF may link G protein–coupled receptors to RhoA activation and ensuing neurite retraction and cell rounding; and (b) p116^Rip inhibits RhoA-stimulated contractility and promotes neurite outgrowth.     

Metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cultured human leukocytes under genetic control

Summary Metabolism of the polycyclic hydrocarbon benzo(a)pyrene(BP) to watersoluble products was measured in cultured human leukocytes from 35 healthy volunteers. The classification into 3 different groups with respect to degree of BP metabolism fits that obtained in a previous population and family study, where only the ratio of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity of 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) treated cultures to the activity of control cultures was measured. These data support previous observations that metabolism of polycyclic hydrocarbons is under genetic control.

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Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde der Metabolismus des carcinogenen Kohlen wasserstoffes Benzpyren zu wasserlöslichen Produkten in Leukocytenkulturen von 35 gesunden Individuen untersucht. Hinsichtlich der Geschwindigkeit im Benzpyrenmetabolismus können 3 Gruppen unterschieden werden. Diese Einteilung ist in völliger Übereinstimmung mit der einer Populations-und Familienstudie, wo das Verhältnis der Aryl-Hydrocarbon-Hydroxylase-Aktivität von 3-Methylcholanthren-behandelten Leukocytenkulturen zu der von Kontrollkulturen bestimmt wurde. Diese Ergebnisse stützen die Beobachtung, daß der Metabolismus von carcinogenen Kohlenwasserstoffen unter genetischer Kontrolle ist.

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This work was supported in part by NIH Research Grant GM 15597 and Grant Ke 217/1 Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).