Carboxylesterase in the liver and small intestine of experimental animals and human

Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed carboxylesterase (CES) to be the most abundant hydrolase in the liver and small intestine of humans, monkeys, dogs, rabbits and rats. The liver contains both CES1 and CES2 enzymes in all these species. The small intestine contains only enzymes from the CES2 family in humans and rats, while in rabbits and monkeys, enzymes from both CES1 and CES2 families are present. Interestingly, no hydrolase activity at all was found in dog small intestine. Flurbiprofen derivatives were R-preferentially hydrolyzed in the liver microsomes of all species, but hardly hydrolyzed in the small intestine microsomes of any species except rabbit. Propranolol derivatives were hydrolyzed in the small intestine and liver microsomes of all species except dog small intestine. Monkeys and rabbits showed R-preferential and non-enantio-selective hydrolysis, respectively, for propranolol derivatives in both organs. Human and rat liver showed R- and S-preferential hydrolysis, respectively, in spite of non-enantio-selective hydrolysis in their small intestines. The proximal-to-distal gradient of CES activity in human small intestine (1.1-1.5) was less steep than that of CYP 3A4 and 2C9 activity (three-fold difference). These findings indicate that human small intestine and liver show extensive hydrolase activity attributed to CES, which is different from that in species commonly used as experimental animals.     

Lysophosphatidic acid receptor (LPAR) modulators: The current pharmacological toolbox

Lysophosphatidic acids (LPA) are key lipid-signalling molecules that regulate a remarkably diverse set of cellular events, such as motility, chemotaxis, cell cycle progression, viability, and wound healing. The physiological and pathophysiological consequences of LPA signalling are evident and misregulation of LPA signalling can lead to pathologies like cancer, atherosclerosis, ischaemia, and fibrosis. LPA exerts its biological actions mainly through several types of G protein-coupled receptors, some of which display opposing or redundant effects. For this reason, selective LPA receptor small-molecule ligands can shine light on LPA biology and present an exciting opportunity for drug discovery endeavours. This review provides insights into the detailed chemical nature and pharmacological profile of the small-molecules thus far developed as LPA receptor modulators, as well as information on the preparation of key pharmaceuticals. This summary will facilitate future research efforts and nurture collaboration between chemists and biologists working in this emerging field.     

Characteristics of Lipids Imbalance in Patients with Tick‐Borne Encephalitis

Using a novel approach, we have analyzed 30 parameters characterizing detailed spectrum and fractional content of LPs in plasma of patients with tick‐borne encephalitis (TBE). The blood plasma of all TBE patients (30 patients), as compared with that of healthy individuals (120 patients), is characterized by decreased concentrations of many LP subfractions and of the total concentration of all plasma LPs (hypolipoproteinemia). The observed difference in some parameters was statistically significant. Using computer‐assisted factor analysis, we have shown that according to these 30 parameters TBE patients are similar to patients with multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The results provide grounds for using data on blood plasma LPs as additional criteria for diagnosis of TBE.     

GABA(B)-receptor mediation of the inhibitory effect of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid on intestinal motility in mice

The effect of acutely administered gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and GHB receptor antagonist, NCS-382, on the propulsive activity in the mouse small intestine was assessed by measuring the transit of an orally administered, non absorbable marker. Both GHB (0, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg; i.p.) and NCS-382 (0, 25, 50 and 75 mg/kg; i.p.) induced a dose-dependent inhibition (up to 50-60%) of the marker transit. Pretreatment with the GABA(B) receptor antagonist, SCH 50911 (100 mg/kg; i.p.), resulted in the blockade of the inhibiting effect of both GHB and NCS-382. These results suggest that the constipating effect of GHB and NCS-382 are secondary to stimulation of the GABA(B) receptor.     

小肠细菌过生长综合征与肠易激综合征关系研究

目的：了解小肠细菌过生长是否和肠易激综合征（IBS)有关,益生素对肠易激综合征的疗效是否与控制小肠细菌过生长有关。方法：92例符合罗马Ⅱ标准的IBS病接受乳果糖氢呼气试验检测是否存在小肠细菌过菌过生长。阳性者予以微生态制剂酪酸梭菌口服治疗2周,停药1周后复诊。比较治疗前后呼气试验的结果和肠易激综合征8种症状的变化,包括腹胀、腹泻、腹痛、排便缓解,粘便不尽感、排便费力、便急。结果：在92例IBS病人中有63例存在小肠细菌过生长,占68．5％,有51例治疗后复查了呼气试验,其中26例转阴,25例仍阳性,转阴率为51．0％,转阴组病人腹痛、腹胀和腹泻3种症状明显改善,未转阴病人则无－症状显著性改变。结论：小肠细菌过生长与肠易激综合征有关;益生素对肠激综合征的疗效与控制小肠细菌过生长有关。     

Specific gene silencing using small interfering RNAs in fish embryos

Recently, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have been used for gene knockdown in mammalian cultured cells, but their utility in fish has remained unexplored. Here we demonstrate a siRNA-mediated gene silencing technique in rainbow trout embryos. We found that siRNAs effectively suppressed the transient expression of episomally located foreign GFP genes at an early developmental stage and inhibited the expression of GFP genes in stable transgenic trout embryos. Similar gene silencing was observed with an siRNA against the endogenous tyrosinase A gene. siRNAs interfered with the expression of maternally inherited mRNA. siRNAs did not affect non-relevant gene expression and siRNAs with a 4 base mismatch did not affect target gene expression. siRNA gene silencing is therefore highly sequence-specific. Our findings are the first evidence that siRNA-mediated gene silencing is effective in fish. This technique could be a powerful tool for studying gene function during embryonic development in aquacultural fish species, zebrafish, and medaka.