Optimization of 2-piperidin-4-yl-acetamides as melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCH-R1) antagonists: Designing out hERG inhibition

Herein, we disclose the discovery and optimization of 2-piperidin-4-yl-acetamide derivatives as MCH-R1 antagonists. Structural investigation of piperidin-4-yl-amide and piperidin-4-yl-ureas identified 2-piperidin-4-yl-acetamide-based MCH-R1 antagonists with outstanding in vivo efficacy but flawed with high affinity towards the hERG potassium channel. While existing hERG SAR information was employed to discover highly potent MCH-R1 antagonists with minimized hERG inhibition, additional hurdles prevented their subsequent clinical exploration.     

Plasma FA composition in familial LCAT deficiency indicates SOAT2-derived cholesteryl ester formation in humans

Mutations in the LCAT gene cause familial LCAT deficiency (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man ID: #245900), a very rare metabolic disorder. LCAT is the only enzyme able to esterify cholesterol in plasma, whereas sterol O-acyltransferases 1 and 2 are the enzymes esterifying cellular cholesterol in cells. Despite the complete lack of LCAT activity, patients with familial LCAT deficiency exhibit circulating cholesteryl esters (CEs) in apoB-containing lipoproteins. To analyze the origin of these CEs, we investigated 24 carriers of LCAT deficiency in this observational study. We found that CE plasma levels were significantly reduced and highly variable among carriers of two mutant LCAT alleles (22.5 [4.0–37.8] mg/dl) and slightly reduced in heterozygotes (218 [153–234] mg/dl). FA distribution in CE (CEFA) was evaluated in whole plasma and VLDL in a subgroup of the enrolled subjects. We found enrichment of C16:0, C18:0, and C18:1 species and a depletion in C18:2 and C20:4 species in the plasma of carriers of two mutant LCAT alleles. No changes were observed in heterozygotes. Furthermore, plasma triglyceride-FA distribution was remarkably similar between carriers of LCAT deficiency and controls. CEFA distribution in VLDL essentially recapitulated that of plasma, being mainly enriched in C16:0 and C18:1, while depleted in C18:2 and C20:4. Finally, after fat loading, chylomicrons of carriers of two mutant LCAT alleles showed CEs containing mainly saturated FAs. This study of CEFA composition in a large cohort of carriers of LCAT deficiency shows that in the absence of LCAT-derived CEs, CEs present in apoB-containing lipoproteins are derived from hepatic and intestinal sterol O-acyltransferase 2.     

Expression of the K-fgf proto-oncogene is controlled by 3'' regulatory elements which are specific for embryonal carcinoma cells.

Expression of the K-fgf/hst proto-oncogene appears to be restricted to cells in the early stages of development, such as embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells. When EC cells are induced to differentiate, K-fgf expression is drastically repressed. To identify cis-acting DNA elements responsible for this type of regulation, we constructed a plasmid in which cat gene expression was driven by about 1 kilobase of upstream K-fgf human DNA sequences, including the putative promoter, and transfected it into undifferentiated F9 EC cells or HeLa cells as prototypes of cells which express or do not express, respectively, the K-fgf proto-oncogene. This plasmid was essentially inactive in both cell types, and the addition of more than 8 kilobases of DNA sequences upstream of the K-fgf promoter did not lead to any increase in chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) expression. On the other hand, when we inserted in this plasmid DNA sequences which are 3' of the human K-fgf coding sequences, we could detect a significant stimulation of CAT activity. Analysis of these sequences led to the identification of enhancerlike DNA elements which are part of the 3' noncoding region of K-fgf exon 3 and promote CAT expression only in undifferentiated mouse F9 or human NT2/D1 EC cells, but not in HeLa, 3T3, or differentiated F9 cells, therefore mimicking the physiological expression of the K-fgf proto-oncogene. Similar elements are also present in the 3' region of the murine K-fgf proto-oncogene, in a region showing high homology to the human K-fgf sequences. These regulatory elements can promote CAT expression from heterologous promoters in an EC-specific manner, suggesting that they interact with a specific cellular transacting protein(s) whose expression is developmentally regulated.     

Modulation of the cell-mediated immune function by interferon α, β or γ can partially reverse the immunosuppression induced by human T-cell leukemia virus I in human cord blood cultures

Summary Infection with human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is associated in vitro and in vivo with a remarkable depression of cell-mediated immune functions. In the present report it is shown that early events following virus-induced suppression of the cell-mediated immune response of freshly isolated cord blood mononuclear cells (CBL) infected with HTLV-I can be partially counteracted by treatment with interferons , or (IFN). All three types of IFN exerted a protective effect on CBL cultures exposed to the virus. This resulted in: (a) a reduced number of virus-positive cells until 4 weeks of culture; (b) delay in the clonal expansion of infected cells (IFN and ); (c) increased natural killer cell activity of CBL, 1 week post-infection (p.i.), mediated by IFN; (d) increase of allospecific recognition of infecting and priming HTLV-I donor MT-2 cells by CBL in a cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-like response, mediated by IFN and particularly by IFN; (e) phenotype distribution of CBL subpopulations, tested 4 days p.i., more similar to that of non-infected CBL cultures.In contrast, the overall CBL proliferation, that is profoundly depressed during the first week p.i., was not restored by IFN treatments, suggesting that boosting of the cell-mediated killing induced by IFN might involve the maturation of undifferentiated precursor cells rather than stimulation of their proliferation. The improvement of the efficiency of the antiviral immune response induced by treatment with IFN is likely to contribute to the clearance of virus-positive cells during the early phase of infection. This would provide experimental evidence to support an immunopharmacological approach contributing to the conversion of HTLV-I carriers from positive to negative.     

Processing, secretion, and biological properties of a novel growth factor of the fibroblast growth factor family with oncogenic potential.

We recently reported that the protein encoded in a novel human oncogene isolated from Kaposi sarcoma DNA was a growth factor with significant homology to basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). To study the properties of this growth factor (referred to as K-FGF) and the mechanism by which the K-fgf oncogene transforms cells, we have studied the production and processing of K-FGF in COS-1 cells transfected with a plasmid encoding the K-fgf cDNA. The results show that, unlike basic and acidic FGFs, the K-FGF protein is cleaved after a signal peptide, glycosylated, and efficiently secreted as a mature protein of 176 or 175 amino acids. Inhibition of glycosylation impaired secretion, and the stability of the secreted K-FGF was greatly enhanced by the presence of heparin in the cultured medium. We have used the conditioned medium from transfected COS-1 cells to test K-FGF biological activity. Similar to basic FGF, the K-FGF protein was mitogenic for fibroblasts and endothelial cells and induced the growth of NIH 3T3 mouse cells in serum-free medium. Accordingly, K-fgf-transformed NIH 3T3 cells grew in serum-free medium, consistent with an autocrine mechanism of growth. We have also expressed the protein encoded in the K-fgf protooncogene in COS-1 cells, and it was indistinguishable in its molecular weight, glycosylation, secretion, and biological activity from K-FGF. Taken together, these results suggest that the mechanism of activation of this oncogene is due to overexpression rather than to mutations in the coding sequences.     

A mite survey in the dumpsters for urban solid rubbish

Summary The presence of house dust mites and storage mites in dumpsters was investigated in 3 different areas of Venice hinterland. The aim of this study was to find a relationship between some reported respiratory symptoms among 6 workers who were responsible for moving the dumpsters to the truck and the bio-aerosol released from such operation. These symptoms were closely related to the work and after allergological evaluation we found sensitisation to house dust mites in all 6 employees. The mine exposure in the workplace was assessed by a standardized sampling and analysis of dust obtained after brushing the inside surfaces of dumpsters. In 50% of the specimens (10/20) we found mites belonging to the following families: Pyroglyphidae (Dermatophagoides spp.), Acaridae (Acarus siro) and a lower amount of Cheyletidae (Cheyletus spp.). An indirect test (guanine test) was also performed and gave positivity in 16 dust samples (80%). The insides of dumpsters showed to be an optimal environment for mites survival and reproduction because of cracks and grooves on the walls, the high humidity level and the presence of mould. These mites probably come from dwelling places and other environments (markets, slaughters-houses, farms, etc.). This suggests that mites allergens can be released during rubbish discharging from the dumpsters and represent a possible risk for the employees.     

Nucleotide sequence of the fixABC region of Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571: similarity of the fixB product with eukaryotic flavoproteins, characterization of fixX, and identification of nifW.

Summary The nucleotide sequence of a 4.1 kb DNA fragment containing the fixABC region of Azorhizobium caulinodans was established. The three gene products were very similar to the corresponding polypeptides of Rhizobium meliloti. The C-terminal domains of both fixB products displayed a high degree of similarity with the -subunits of rat and human electron transfer flavoproteins, suggesting a role for the FixB protein in a redox reaction. Two open reading frames (ORF) were found downstream of fixC. The first ORF was identified as fixX on the basis of sequence homology with fixX from several Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium strains. The second ORF potentially encoded a 69 amino acid product and was found to be homologous to a DNA region in the Rhodobacter capsulatus nif cluster I. Insertion mutagenesis of the A. caulinodans fixX gene conferred a Nif^– phenotype to bacteria grown in the free-living state and a Fix^– phenotype in symbiotic association with the host plant Sesbania rostrata. A crude extract from the fixX mutant had no nitrogenase activity. Furthermore, data presented in this paper also indicate that the previously identified nifO gene located upstream of fixA was probably a homologue of the nifW gene of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Azotobacter vinelandii.     

The K-fgf/hst oncogene induces transformation through an autocrine mechanism that requires extracellular stimulation of the mitogenic pathway.

The K-fgf/hst oncogene encodes a secreted growth factor of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. The ability of K-fgf-transformed cells to grow in soft agar and in serum-free medium is inhibited by anti-K-FGF neutralizing antibodies, consistent with an autocrine mechanism of transformation. The transformed properties of clones that express high levels of K-FGF are, however, only partially affected. To better define the autocrine mechanism of transformation by K-fgf and to determine whether receptor activation could occur intracellularly, we constructed two mutants of the K-fgf cDNA. Deletion of the sequences encoding the signal peptide suppressed K-fgf ability to induce foci in NIH 3T3 cells. A few morphologically transformed colonies were observed in cotransfection experiments, and they were found to express high levels of cytoplasmic K-FGF. However, their ability to grow in serum-free medium and in soft agar was inhibited by anti-K-FGF antibodies. Addition of a sequence encoding the KDEL endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi retention signal to the K-fgf cDNA led to accumulation of the growth factor in intracellular compartments. The ability of the KDEL mutant to induce foci in NIH 3T3 cells was much lower than that of the wild-type cDNA, and also in this case the transformed phenotype was reverted by anti-K-FGF antibodies. These and other findings indicate that the transformed phenotype of cells expressing a nonsecretory K-FGF is due to the extracellular activation of the receptor by the small amounts of growth factor that these cells still release. Thus, transformation by K-fgf appears to be due to an autocrine growth mechanisms that requires activation of the mitogenic pathway at the cell surface.     

Origin of the Thymidine Kinase Induced by Polyoma Virus in Productively Infected Cells

Cells of the 3T3 mouse line efficiently supported the multiplication of polyoma virus, and the infectious process was accompanied by a marked increase in thymidine kinase (TK) activity. Two lines of 5-bromodeoxyuridine-resistant 3T3 cells have been isolated. As expected, these cells incorporated practically no exogenous thymidine into their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and contained negligible TK activity. Like the parental 3T3 cells, TK(-) lines were susceptible to productive infection by polyoma virus, but infection did not lead to an increase in TK activity. Since kinase activity did appear after infection with another virus (vaccinia) known to contain the gene(s) for that enzyme, it is concluded that TK is not one of the gene products of polyoma virus. As induction of cellular DNA synthesis by polyoma virus occurs normally when the TK(-) cells are infected in the stationary phase, TK cannot play a role in the determination of this phenomenon.