Conformation of apolipoprotein B-100 in the low density lipoproteins of tangier disease. Identification of localized conformational response to triglyceride content.

The low density lipoproteins (LDL) from patients with Tangier disease are enriched in triglycerides, 27% of LDL mass versus 7% for normal LDL. To study whether this unique LDL core lipid composition affects the surface disposition of apolipoprotein (apo) B-100, we analyzed the LDL by protease digestion and in competitive radioimmunoassays. Limited proteolytic digestion of Tangier LDL by Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease generated a prominent fragment of 120 kDa (cleavage site at residue 1076), which was not visible in similarly digested normal LDL. In competitive radioimmunoassay, Tangier LDL bound weakly to the apoB-specific monoclonal antibody MB20, compared with control LDL. We localized the MB20 epitope between residues 1031 and 1084 of apoB-100, probably very near residue 1076. DNA sequencing of exon 21 of apoB genomic clones (coding for residues 1014-1084) from a Tangier patient revealed no difference from the normal DNA sequence, thus eliminating a protein polymorphism as a basis for the altered protease sensitivity and antibody binding. When the triglyceride contents of Tangier LDL were reduced to 10% of mass by incubation with normal high density lipoproteins, production of the 120-kDa fragment by proteolysis decreased and MB20 binding increased in affinity, implying a change toward normal conformation of apoB-100. Thus, using two independent techniques, proteolytic digestion and binding of monoclonal antibodies, we have demonstrated an alternative conformation of apoB-100 in the vicinity of residue 1076, which reflects the content of triglycerides in the LDL particle.     

Use of bacterial expression cloning to localize the epitopes for a series of monoclonal antibodies against apolipoprotein B100.

Bacterial expression of apolipoprotein (apo) B cDNA constructs has been used to map a series of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to apoB by immunoblotting. In some cases assignments have been confirmed and refined by (i) semipurification of expressed protein, CNBr digestion, and assignment of the immunoreactive fragments; (ii) controlled digestion of the cDNA with the exonuclease Bal31 and bacterial expression of the truncated proteins that result; or (iii) expression of specific segments of cDNA amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. Forty mAbs were mapped to a minimum of 17 separate determinants on apoB. Tryptic fragments have been used to confirm the epitope assignments. In addition, this approach in conjunction with immunoassay, enables some deductions to be made about the trypsin-accessible regions in low density lipoprotein (LDL). The cleavage pattern obtained predicts retention of structure in the cysteine-rich domain of the amino terminus and also in the LDL receptor binding region. Trypsinized LDL was shown to bind to the LDL receptor by an authentic process, using monoclonal antibodies as competing ligands. In conjunction with the previous paper (Milne, R. W., Theolis, R., Maurice, R., Pease, R. J., Weech, P. K., Rassart, E., Fruchart, J.-C., Scott, J., and Marcel, Y. L. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 19754-19760) the mapped mAbs have been used to define the receptor-binding domain of apoB100 in LDL.     

Degradation of endocytosed insulin in rat liver is mediated by low-density vesicles.

Uptake of 125I-insulin by the liver of intact rats is followed by rapid translocation of label to low-density vesicles. Subcellular-fractionation studies indicate that, although the 125I associated with these vesicles is predominantly trichloroacetic acid-precipitable, there is an acid-soluble component arising from processing of the hormone in vivo. H.p.l.c. analysis indicates that the acid-precipitable 125I is not intact iodoinsulin, but may correspond to 'clipped insulin'. Isolated low-density vesicles degrade the acid-precipitable iodopeptide intravesicularly when incubated at 37 degrees C in iso-osmotic medium at pH7. The rate constant for intravesicular degradation is consistent with the rate of insulin clearance by the liver in vivo. Pretreatment of the rats with chloroquine resulted in a decrease in proteolysis of the iodopeptide within the isolated vesicles.     

Role of T cell receptor V beta genes in Theiler's virus-induced demyelination of mice.

Intracerebral infection of certain strains of mice with Theiler's virus results in chronic immune-mediated demyelination in spinal cord. We used mouse mutants with deletion of the V beta class of TCR genes to examine the role of TCR genes in this demyelinating disease which is similar to multiple sclerosis. Quantitative analysis of spinal cord lesions demonstrated a markedly increased number and extent of demyelinated lesions in persistently infected RIII S/J mice which have a massive deletion of the TCR V beta-chain (V beta 5.2, V beta 8.3, V beta 5.1, V beta 8.2, V beta 5.3, V beta 8.1, V beta 13, V beta 12, V beta 11, V beta 9, V beta 6, V beta 15, V beta 17) compared with B10.RIII mice which are of identical MHC haplotype (H-2r) but have normal complement of V beta TCR genes. In contrast, infection of C57L (H-2b) or C57BR (H-2k) mice which have deletion of the V beta TCR genes (V beta 5.2, V beta 8.3, V beta 5.1, V beta 8.2, V beta 5.3, V beta 8.1, V beta 13, V beta 12, V beta 11, and V beta 9) resulted in few demyelinating lesions. Genetic segregation analysis of (B10.RIII x RIII S/J) x RIII S/J backcrossed mice and (B10.RIII x RIII S/J) F2 mice demonstrated correlation of increased susceptibility to demyelination with deletion of TCR V beta genes. The increase in number of demyelinating lesions correlated with increase in number of virus-Ag+ cells in spinal cord. These experiments provide strong evidence that the structural diversity at the TCR beta-complex can influence susceptibility to virus-induced demyelination.     

Heterologous expression of active manganese peroxidase from Phanerochaete chrysosporium using the baculovirus expression system

The cDNA encoding Mn peroxidase isozyme H4 from Phanerochaete chrysosporium was recombined into a baculovirus and heterologously expressed in Sf9 cells. The recombinant Mn peroxidase has the same molecular weight as the native enzyme as determined by SDS-PAGE and cross-reacts with a Mn peroxidase-specific antibody. The recombinant enzyme has a slightly lower pI than the native fungal isozyme H4 indicating some differences in post-translational modification. Phenol red, guaiacol, and vanillylacetone, substrates of the native Mn peroxidase, are oxidized by the recombinant enzyme. All of the activities are dependent on both Mn (II) and H2O2.     

Carboxyl-terminal truncation of apolipoprotein B results in gradual loss of the ability to form buoyant lipoproteins in cultured human and rat liver cell lines

Apolipoprotein B has an obligatory role in the production of chylomicrons, VLDL, and LDL. Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia is a codominant disorder characterized by reduced levels of apo B containing lipoproteins in plasma. We have previously described mutations of the apo B gene in persons with hypobetalipoproteinemia that predict truncated forms of apo B designated apo B29 (1305 amino acid residues) and apo B39 (1799 residues). Apo B39 was present in the VLDL and LDL fractions of plasma, but apo B29 was not detected in the lipoprotein or infranatant fractions of plasma. Here we have investigated the regions of apo B necessary for apo B containing lipoprotein secretion by expression of constructs designed to express truncated forms of apo B. Apo B13 (583 residues), apo B17 (784 residues), apo B23 (1084 residues), apo B29 (1306 residues), and apo B41 (1880 residues) were transiently expressed in HepG2 cells, and apo B23 and apo B41 were stably expressed in McArdle 7777 cells. Lipoprotein (d less than 1.25 g/mL) and infranatant (d greater than 1.25 g/mL) fractions of conditioned medium were analyzed by immunoprecipitation and SDS-PAGE. The distribution between lipoprotein and infranatant fractions varied: apo B41 was found solely in the lipoprotein fraction; apo B29, apo B23, and apo B17 were present in both fractions, but with stepwise truncation, progressively more apo B was recovered in the infranatant; apo B13 was only in the infranatant. These results demonstrate that deletion from the carboxyl terminal of apo B41 results in a gradual loss of the ability of the truncated proteins to form buoyant lipoprotein particles.     

Chemoimmunotherapeutic effect of cyclophosphamide on the highly metastatic MAT 13762 tumor

Summary We have observed that cyclophosphamide (CY) treatment of 13762 mammary adenocarcinoma tumor-bearing rats was found to cause tumor regression. Tumor-bearing animals cured with three low doses of CY were partially immune against IV and SC challenge with a high dose of 13762 cells. This immune protection mechanism in CY-cured animals appears to be a T (Ig^–) cell-mediated response. Irradiated rats reconstituted with CY-cured animal spleen cells were also partially protected against IV and SC challenge with 13762 cells, whereas irradiated rats reconstituted with CY-control animal spleen cells were not. In vitro primary and secondary cell-mediated cytotoxic activity of CY-cured spleen cells against target 13762 cells was low. The possible relevance of this tumor-model study is in the understanding of CY-induced tumor immune response and its role in preventing metastases or perhaps recurrent tumor growth.     

Generation of a Weakly Acidic Amorphous Solid Dispersion of the Weak Base Ritonavir with Equivalent <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vitro</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vivo</Emphasis> Performance to Norvir Tablet

Ritonavir is an anti-viral compound that has also been employed extensively as a CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein (Pgp) inhibitor to boost the pharmacokinetic performance of compounds that undergo first pass metabolism. For use in combination products, there is a desire to minimize the mass contribution of the ritonavir system to reduce patient pill burden in these combination products. In this study, KinetiSol® processing was utilized to produce an amorphous solid dispersion of ritonavir at two times the drug load of the commercially available form of ritonavir, and the composition was subsequently developed into a tablet dosage form. The amorphous intermediate was demonstrated to be amorphous by X-ray powder diffraction and ¹³C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and an intimately mixed single-phase system by modulated differential scanning calorimetry and ¹H T₁/¹H T_1ρ solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation. In vitro transmembrane flux analysis showed similar permeation rates for the KinetiSol-made tablet and the reference tablet dosage form, Norvir®. In vivo pharmacokinetic comparison between the two dosage forms resulted in equivalent exposure with approximately 20% Cmax reduction for the KinetiSol tablet. These performance gains were realized with a concurrent reduction in dosage form mass of 45%.     

Improved Vemurafenib Dissolution and Pharmacokinetics as an Amorphous Solid Dispersion Produced by KinetiSol® Processing

Vemurafenib is a poorly soluble, low permeability drug that has a demonstrated need for a solubility-enhanced formulation. However, conventional approaches for amorphous solid dispersion production are challenging due to the physiochemical properties of the compound. A suitable and novel method for creating an amorphous solid dispersion, known as solvent-controlled coprecipitation, was developed to make a material known as microprecipitated bulk powder (MBP). However, this approach has limitations in its processing and formulation space. In this study, it was hypothesized that vemurafenib can be processed by KinetiSol into the same amorphous formulation as MBP. The KinetiSol process utilizes high shear to rapidly process amorphous solid dispersions containing vemurafenib. Analysis of the material demonstrated that KinetiSol produced amorphous, single-phase material with acceptable chemical purity and stability. Values obtained were congruent to analysis conducted on the comparator material. However, the materials differed in particle morphology as the KinetiSol material was dense, smooth, and uniform while the MBP comparator was porous in structure and exhibited high surface area. The particles produced by KinetiSol had improved in-vitro dissolution and pharmacokinetic performance for vemurafenib compared to MBP due to slower drug nucleation and recrystallization which resulted in superior supersaturation maintenance during drug release. In the in-vivo rat pharmacokinetic study, both amorphous solid dispersions produced by KinetiSol exhibited mean AUC values at least two-fold that of MBP when dosed as a suspension. It was concluded that the KinetiSol process produced superior dosage forms containing vemurafenib with the potential for substantial reduction in patient pill burden.