格尔德霉素抑制高致病性禽流感病毒增殖及其所介导炎性反应研究

对高致病性禽流感病毒感染最为有效的治疗应采用抗病毒和抗炎症的联合治疗．本试验用流感病毒H5N1感染不同细胞株(A549细胞和MDCK细胞),采用不同浓度格尔德霉素对病毒感染细胞培养物作用不同时长,检测流感病毒滴度;ELISA检测格尔德霉素作用于流感病毒H5N1感染A549细胞12 h、24 h促炎性细胞因子IFN-α、TNF-α和IL-6水平．结果显示,流感病毒H5N1感染A549细胞和MDCK细胞,格尔德霉素极显著地抑制了流感病毒H5N1在细胞培养物的增殖(P < 0.01),而在病毒感染36 h和48 h,格尔德霉素并没有显著抑制流感病毒在MDCK细胞上的增殖(P > 0.05)．促炎性细胞因子分析结果显示,格尔德霉素在流感病毒感染A549细胞12 h和24 h均显著降低了促炎性细胞因子IFN-α、TNF-α和IL-6的分泌(P < 0.05)．上述实验结果显示,格尔德霉素具有抑制流感病毒H5N1增殖及其所介导的炎性反应的双重效应,为格尔德霉素成为应对流感病毒流行的备选药物提供基础科学依据．     

Extended rat liver slice survival and stability monitored using clinical biomarkers

Precision-cut liver slices are reportedly limited as toxicity models by their short half-life in culture. We used traditional clinical chemistry biomarkers and histology to assess a newer procedure for improved liver slice maintenance. Slices from Sprague-Dawley rat livers were well maintained in a roller culture system for up to 10 days based on protein content (60-70% or higher of initial values) and biomarker retention and verified by histological examination of the tissues showing morphological integrity and viability of hepatocyte and biliary regions. Exposure of the slices to geldanamycin (GEL) resulted in loss of slice LDH and transaminase content, with associated depression in ALP and GGT levels and elevated bilirubin, indicating that GEL affects both cell types as occurs in vivo with this hepatobiliary toxicant. Thus, we conclude that liver slices merit further investigation as a general model for chronic as well as acute toxicity studies.     

A systematic protocol for the characterization of Hsp90 modulators

Several Hsp90 modulators have been identified including the N-terminal ligand geldanamycin (GDA), the C-terminal ligand novobiocin (NB), and the co-chaperone disruptor celastrol. Other Hsp90 modulators elicit a mechanism of action that remains unknown. For example, the natural product gedunin and the synthetic anti-spermatogenic agent H2-gamendazole, recently identified Hsp90 modulators, manifest biological activity through undefined mechanisms. Herein, we report a series of biochemical techniques used to classify such modulators into identifiable categories. Such studies provided evidence that gedunin and H2-gamendazole both modulate Hsp90 via a mechanism similar to celastrol, and unlike NB or GDA.     

Geldanamycin-induced degradation of Chk1 is mediated by proteasome

Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) is a cell cycle regulator and a heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) client. It is essential for cell proliferation and survival. In this report, we analyzed the mechanisms of Chk1 regulation in U87MG glioblastoma cells using Geldanamycin (GA), which interferes with the function of Hsp90. GA reduced Chk1 protein level but not its mRNA level in glioblastoma cells. Co-treatment with GA and cycloheximide (CHX), a protein synthesis inhibitor, induced a decrease of half-life of the Chk1 protein to 3h and resulted in Chk1 down-regulation. CHX alone induced only 32% reduction of Chk1 protein even after 24h. These findings indicated that reduction of Chk1 by GA was due to destabilization and degradation of the protein. In addition, GA-induced down-regulation of Chk1 was reversed by MG132, a specific proteasome inhibitor. And it was revealed that Chk1 was ubiquitinated by GA. These results have indicated that degradation of Chk1 by GA was mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in U87MG glioblastoma cells.     

Generation of a novel anti-geldanamycin antibody

Geldanamycin (GA) and herbimycin A are benzoquinone ansamycins (BAs) that inhibit the molecular chaperone HSP90. The central role of HSP90 in maintaining the conformation, stability, and function of key oncogenic proteins involved in signal transduction pathways renders BAs attractive candidates for clinical development. Two GA derivatives, 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin and 17-demethoxy-17-N,N-dimethylaminoethylamino-geldanamycin are currently evaluated in clinical trials. The present study demonstrates generation of a polyclonal antibody elicited against GA that was conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin via its 17 position. The anti-GA antibody recognizes GA as well as other BAs, suggesting its possible application for monitoring plasma levels of GA derivatives. The specificity of the antibody towards BAs is demonstrated by its inability to recognize radicicol, an HSP90 inhibitor not related to BAs. This antibody thus presents a novel research tool as well as a possible alternative approach for monitoring drug levels in patients.     

High-throughput screening assay for inhibitors of heat-shock protein 90 ATPase activity

The molecular chaperone heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90) plays a key role in the cell by stabilizing a number of client proteins, many of which are oncogenic. The intrinsic ATPase activity of HSP90 is essential to this activity. HSP90 is a new cancer drug target as inhibition results in simultaneous disruption of several key signaling pathways, leading to a combinatorial approach to the treatment of malignancy. Inhibitors of HSP90 ATPase activity including the benzoquinone ansamycins, geldanamycin and 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin, and radicicol have been described. A high-throughput screen has been developed to identify small-molecule inhibitors that could be developed as therapeutic agents with improved pharmacological properties. A colorimetric assay for inorganic phosphate, based on the formation of a phosphomolybdate complex and subsequent reaction with malachite green, was used to measure the ATPase activity of yeast HSP90. The Km for ATP determined in the assay was 510+/-70 microM. The known HSP90 inhibitors geldanamycin and radicicol gave IC(50) values of 4.8 and 0.9 microM respectively, which compare with values found using the conventional coupled-enzyme assay. The assay was robust and reproducible (2-8% CV) and used to screen a compound collection of approximately 56,000 compounds in 384-well format with Z' factors between 0.6 and 0.8.