Proteome analysis of myocardial tissue following ischemia and reperfusion--effects of complement inhibition.

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury can be related to complement activation with generation of chemotactic mediators, release of cytokines, leukocyte accumulation, and subsequent severe tissue injury. In this regard, activation of transcription factors (i.e., NFkappaB) and de novo protein synthesis or inflammatory protein degradation seems to play an important role. In the present study, we analyzed the cardiac protein expression following myocardial ischemia (60 min) and reperfusion (180 min) in a rabbit model utilizing two-dimensional electrophoresis and nanoHPLC/ESI-MS/MS for biochemical protein identification. To achieve cardioprotective effects, we used a novel highly selective small molecule C1s inhibitor administered 5 min prior to reperfusion. The reduction of myocardial injury was observed as diminished plasma creatine kinase activity in C1s-INH-248-treated animals (65.2+/-3 vs. 38.5+/-3 U/g protein after 3 h of reperfusion, P<0.05). With proteome analysis we were able to detect 509+/-21 protein spots on the gels of the 3 groups. A pattern of 480 spots with identical positions was found on every gel of myocardial tissue of sham animals, vehicle and C1s-INH-248-treated animals. We analyzed 11 spots, which were identified by mass spectrometry: Superoxide dismutase, alpha-crystallin-chain-B, mitochondrial stress protein, Mn SOD, ATP synthase A chain heart isoform, creatine kinase, and troponin T. All of these proteins were significantly decreased in the vehicle group when we compared to sham-treated animals. Treatment with C1s-INH-248 preserved levels of these proteins. Thus, blocking the classical complement pathway with a highly specific and potent synthetic inhibitor of the activated C1 complex archives cardio-protection by altering and preserving different anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective cascades.

High-sensitivity capillary electrophoresis determination of inorganic anions in serum and urine using on-line preconcentration by transient isotachophoresis.

Concentrations of inorganic anions, both as individual species and biotransformation products, in physiological fluids are of strong concern in clinical studies. To date, analytical methodologies have either required different analytical procedures to determine these analytes in plasma and urine, or extensive sample preparation, or unconventional and often expensive detection schemes, or both. A simple and sensitive capillary electrophoresis (CE) method with direct UV detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of iodide, bromide and nitrate in human plasma and urine, with a special focus on reliable quantification of the trace serum iodide. With the latter objective, the method incorporates a transient isotachophoresis (tITP) procedure enabling an efficient on-line preconcentration of iodide (limit of detection, 1.4 microg l(-1)) as well as other moderately mobile analytes that fall into the tITP range. The analyses of both types of biofluids were performed using an acidic electrolyte system composed of 0.25 mol l(-1) sodium chloride and 7.5 mmol l(-1) cetyltrimethylammonium chloride at pH 2.2 and 0.5 mol l(-1) 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonate (pH 6.0) as terminating electrolyte. Relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) below 3.0% and 9.2% were obtained for within-day and between-day precision, respectively. Resolution and quantification of oxalic acid was also feasible under optimized tITP-CE conditions. Sample preparation required only ultrafiltration (serum) and dilution (urine). A number of plasma and urine samples were evaluated with this assay and the iodide, bromide and nitrate concentrations were in the expected clinical concentration ranges.

Separation and identification of zaleplon metabolites in human urine using capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection for the determination of the hypnotic drug zaleplon and its metabolites in human urine could be developed using carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin as a charged carrier. By the help of a complementary HPLC method coupled to mass spectrometry, three metabolites present in human urine could be identified as 5-oxozaleplon, 5-oxo-N-deethylzaleplon and 5-oxozaleplon glucuronide. N-Deethylzaleplon, a previously described zaleplon metabolite, as well as zaleplon itself could not be detected in human urine by the CE-LIF assay. The results were confirmed by spiking with reference compounds of the phase I metabolites. The metabolites differed very much concerning their fluorescence intensities, thus the 5-oxo metabolites present as lactam tautomer fluoresced tenfold lower than the unchanged drug zaleplon and its N-deethylated metabolite. The glucuronide of the 5-oxozaleplon, however, showed high fluorescence due to its lactim structure. Limits of quantification yielded by the CE-LIF assay including a ten-fold preconcentration step by solid-phase extraction were 10 ng/ml for zaleplon and N-deethylzaleplon and 100 ng/ml for 5-oxozaleplon and 5-oxo-N-deethylzaleplon.

Simultaneous enantioselective separation of azelastine and three of its metabolites for the investigation of the enantiomeric metabolism in rats. I. Liquid chromatography-ionspray tandem mass spectrometry and electrokinetic capillary chromatography.

Enantioselective separation methods and the enantioselective determination of the anti-allergic drug azelastine and of three of its main phase I metabolites in a biological matrix underwent chromatographic and electrophoretic investigations. An enantioselective assay of a coupling of HPLC using a beta-cyclodextrin chiral stationary phase to ionspray tandem mass spectrometry is presented. Additionally, this assay is compared to another enantioselective assay using electrokinetic capillary chromatography with beta-cyclodextrin and carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin in polyacrylamide-coated capillaries. For capillary electrophoresis (CE) the importance of polyacrylamide coating for the validation of this separation method is highlighted. Extracted rat plasma samples of enantioselective metabolism studies were measured by both validated assays. Differences in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics were evaluated for the main substance azelastine and its main metabolite demethylazelastine. So, a first hint about the enantioselectivity of biotransformation of azelastine in rats was seen after oral application of either enantiomer or the racemate to rats.

Determination of L-hyoscyamine in atropine and D-hyoscyamine in L-hyoscyamine by chiral capillary electrophoresis as an alternative to polarimetry.

A method for the separation of atropine enantiomers, D- and L-hyoscyamine by capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been developed and validated. The advantages of the CE method compared with polarimetry include smaller amounts of analytes and a lower limit of detection of the unwanted enantiomer. Moreover, the present method enables a baseline separation of the analytes and tropic acid, one of the typical impurities of atropine. The developed enantioseparation of atropine was performed using a commercially available sulfated beta-cyclodextrin and was validated for the determination of L-hyoscyamine in atropine as well as for the enantiomeric purity of L-hyoscyamine.

Enantioseparation of erythro-mefloquine and its analogues in capillary electrophoresis.

The enantioseparations of the chiral antimalaria drug (R,S)-erythro-alpha-(2-piperidyl)-2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)4-quinolinemethanol (erythro-mefloquine, erythro-MQ) and its analogues were studied by capillary electrophoresis (CE) using cyclodextrins (CDs) as chiral selectors. The emphasis was put on the enantiomer affinity pattern of MQ towards different CDs as well as on simultaneous enantioseparations of erythro-MQ and its structural analogues. All three native CDs resolved the enantiomers of erythro-MQ and the enantiomer affinity pattern was the same, i.e. (+)-erythro-MQ was the more tightly bond enantiomer. However, the affinity pattern of erythro-MQ enantiomers was opposite in the case of heptakis-(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-CD (TM-beta-CD), heptakis-(2,3-di-O-methyl-6-sulfo)-beta-CD (HDMS-beta-CD), heptakis-(3-O-methyl-2,6-di-O-sulfo)-beta-CD (HMdiSu-beta-CD) and randomly sulfated beta-CD (SU-beta-CD). Randomly hydroxyalkylated and acetylated derivatives of CDs appeared to be suitable chiral selectors for simultaneous enantioseparation of erythro-MQ and its analogues.

Comparative enantioseparations with native beta-cyclodextrin, randomly acetylated beta-cyclodextrin and heptakis-(2,3-di-O-acetyl)-beta-cyclodextrin in capillary electrophoresis.

Comparative enantioseparations were performed with three neutral cyclodextrins (CDs) in capillary electrophoresis (CE). In particular, native beta-CD was compared with single component heptakis(2,3-di-O-acetyl)-beta-CD (HDA-beta-CD) and randomly acetylated beta-CD (Ac-beta-CD) with the emphasis on the enantiomer migration order. The opposite affinity of the enantiomers of several chiral analytes was observed towards native beta-CD and its acetylated derivatives. The enantiomer affinity pattern of some chiral analytes was also opposite towards the two acetylated derivatives of beta-CD. In the case of the chiral drug clenbuterol (CL) an attempt was made to evaluate the possible structural reasons of the affinity reversal using one- and two-dimensional as well as transverse rotating frame nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (ROESY). Significant differences were observed between the structure of the CL complexes with beta-CD and HDA-beta-CD.

Achiral and chiral determination of benzophenanthridine alkaloids from methanol extracts of Hylomecon species by high performance liquid chromatography.

A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the qualitative and quantitative determination of benzophenanthridine alkaloids from the methanol extracts of Hylomecon hylomeconoides and H. vernale (Papaveraceae). Achiral and chiral methods were adapted for the separation of 6-methoxydihydrosanguinarine (1), 6-acetonyldihydrosanguinarine (2) and dihydrosanguinarine (3). The achiral reversed phase HPLC method made it possible the simultaneous separation and determination of 1, 2 and 3 within 20 min on ODS column using acetonitrile-phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 7.0) (50:50, v/v). The separation and determination of 1 and 2 enantiomers was available using chiral columns. The same amount of (+) and (-)-enantiomers of 1 was found from the methanol extract of specimen, indicated that 1 could be the artifact produced by the reaction of sanguinarine with methanol. H. hylomeconoides showed higher level of 1 and 3 in compared with H. vernale, especially in root samples permitting the possibility of chemical discrimination between two species.

Comparative study on the application of capillary liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography for investigation of enantiomeric purity of the contraceptive drug levonorgestrel.

In the last few years, it has been shown that capillary electrochromatography (CEC) is a promising technique for enantioseparations. However, to date almost no studies are published on a critical comparison of CEC and its pressure-driven counterpart, capillary liquid chromatography (CLC) for real samples. In this study, the goal was to compare CLC and CEC for the determination of the enantiomeric purity of the contraceptive drug levonorgestrel and its pharmaceutical formulation. The study prevailed that not all potential advantages of CEC over CLC can easily be transformed in a real gain of detection limit of the enantiomeric impurity. However, certain advantages of CEC over CLC have been unambiguously shown.

Determination of free and liposome-associated daunorubicin and daunorubicinol in plasma by capillary electrophoresis.

Liposomal daunorubicin (DaunoXome) is a formulation of the anticancer drug daunorubicin encapsulated into vesicles of about 45 nm diameter. To understand the pharmacodynamic relationships associated with the toxicity and efficacy of liposome-encapsulated daunorubicin in vivo and in vitro, it is essential to have a rapid method of separating the free and liposomal forms of the drug. We have developed and validated a method to quantify drug concentrations of liposomal daunorubicin, free daunorubicin and its main metabolite daunorubicinol that requires only 50 microl of plasma to conduct studies in children. The method involves the use of solid-phase extraction followed by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. With LIF detection a limit of quantification of 1 microg/l is obtained for the free form and the metabolite. Precision and accuracy are in accordance with the generally accepted criteria for bioanalytical methods. The method is rapid and allows for multiple samples to be processed simultaneously.

Comparative enantioseparations with native beta-cyclodextrin and heptakis-(2-O-methyl- 3,6-di-O-sulfo)-beta-cyclodextrin in capillary electrophoresis.

Twenty-three cationic chiral analytes were resolved in capillary electrophoresis using native beta-cyclodextrin and single isomer heptakis-(2-O-methyl-3,6-di-O-sulfo)-beta-cyclodextrin as chiral selectors. For 12 of 16 chiral analytes resolved with both chiral selectors the enantiomer migration order was opposite. In selected cases the structure of cyclodextrin-analyte complexes in aqueous solution was investigated using one-dimensional transverse rotating frame nuclear Overhauser and exchange spectroscopy. It was found that in contrast to mainly inclusion-type complexes between chiral analytes and beta-cyclodextrin, external complexes are formed between the chiral analytes and structurally crowded, highly charged heptakis-(2-O-methyl-3,6-di-O-sulfo)-beta-cyclodextrin.

Determination of residues of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin in chicken muscle by capillary electrophoresis using laser-induced fluorescence detection.

A method for the residue analysis of the veterinary antimicrobial agent enrofloxacin and its active desethyl metabolite ciprofloxacin in chicken muscle tissue has been developed and validated. The detection of the analytes was performed by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection using a HeCd laser (lambda(ex) = 325 nm) providing an enhancement in sensitivity and selectivity compared to conventional UV detection. The assay has been validated with satisfying results. The limits of quantification for enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were 5 microg/kg and 20 microg/kg, respectively, with a fivefold preconcentration yielded by a sample clean-up with a simple liquid-liquid extraction procedure. Calibration graphs were linear from 5 to 1000 microg/kg for enrofloxacin and from 20 to 1000 microg/kg for ciprofloxacin. The assay allows the detection of contaminated muscle samples at the required maximum residue limit of the European Union, which is 100 microg/kg for the sum of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin.

Two-dimensional analysis of myocardial protein expression following myocardial ischemia and reperfusion in rabbits.

Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury (MI/R) can be related to leukocyte activation with subsequent release of cytokines and oxygen derived free radicals. Activation of the complement system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury. Inflammatory injury will subsequently result in cellular activation and protein synthesis. In the present study we analyzed the myocardial protein expression and its pattern following myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, with and without complement inhibition with the synthetic serine protease inhibitor Futhan/nafamstat mesilate (FUT-175) known to inhibit classical and alternative complement pathway in a rabbit model of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (60 min I+180 min R). FUT-175 significantly reduced myocardial necrosis, i.e. creatine kinase release which were analyzed for the three groups (p<0.05). Similarly, histological analysis demonstrated preservation of myocardial tissue injury and reduced leukocyte accumulation following FUT-175 treatment. Further, the myocardial protein expression was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis following MI/R in the different groups. The protein patterns were evaluated by means of MELANIE III, a computer assisted gel analysis system. The biochemical identification of the proteins of interest was, achieved using nanohigh-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. On average, 509 +/- 25 protein spots were found on the gels. A pattern of 480 spots with identical positions was found on every gel of five animals of each group. We analyzed ten spots which were significantly altered (i.e., in eight spots we observed decreased protein expression and in two spots we observed increased expression, vehicle vs. sham), by using mass spectrometry. Superoxide dismutase precursor and alphaB-crystallin were identified. We compared sham group vs. vehicle group and vehicle group vs. FUT-175 treated animals. Expression of the two identified proteins decreased by half the amount in the vehicle group when compared to sham treated animals. Treatment with FUT-175 preserved significantly superoxide dismutase precursor and alphaB-crystallin protein expression when compared to vehicle animals. The results present marked differences in myocardial protein expression after ischemia and reperfusion and following treatment with the complement inhibitor FUT-175. Our results illustrate the application of proteomics to discover possible new therapeutic targets or to detect unexpected effects of pharmacological inhibitors.

In vitro biotransformation of (R)- and (S)-thalidomide: application of circular dichroism spectroscopy to the stereochemical characterization of the hydroxylated metabolites.

Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy was successfully used for the stereochemical characterization of the hydroxylated metabolites formed during the in vitro biotransformation of (R)- and (S)-thalidomide. Incubation extracts of the individual enantiomers were analyzed by HPLC on an achiral stationary phase combined with CD detection. The CD data of the almost enantiopure eluates of the metabolites were compared with the CD spectra quantum chemically calculated for the respective structures. The results allowed us a reliable determination of the absolute stereostructure for all of the metabolites. The chiral center of thalidomide is unaffected by the stereoselective biotransformation process. (3'R,5'R)-trans-5'-hydroxythalidomide is the main metabolite of (R)-thalidomide, which epimerizes spontaneously to give the more stable (3'S,5'R)-cis isomer. On the contrary, (S)-thalidomide is preferentially metabolized by hydroxylation in the phthalimide moiety, resulting in the formation of (S)-5-hydroxythalidomide.

Enantioseparation of glutethimide and its 5-OH-metabolite in capillary electrophoresis and study of selector-selectand interactions using one-dimensional rotating frame nuclear Overhauser and exchange spectroscopy.

Enantioseparation of glutethimide (GT) and its 5-hydroxy metabolite (5-OH-GT) has been studied with several charged cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives. The emphasis was made on the enantiomer migration order of GT and simultaneous enantioseparation of GT and 5-OH-GT. The possible structural differences of GT complexes with three different single isomer charged CD derivatives were studied using one-dimensional rotating frame nuclear Overhauser and exchange spectroscopy (1-D ROESY).

Determination of triamterene and its main metabolite hydroxytriamterene sulfate in human urine by capillary electrophoresis using ultraviolet absorbance and laser-induced fluorescence detection.

Two capillary electrophoresis methods have been developed for the direct determination of triamterene and its main metabolite hydroxytriamterene sulfate in human urine. Analytes were detected using conventional UV detection as well as laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection with an HeCd-laser operating at a wavelength of 325 nm. The results of both detection techniques were compared. Indeed, the limit of quantification was eightfold lower using LIF detection (50 ng/ml) in comparison to UV detection (400 ng/ml). As no interference due to endogenous urine compounds was observed, direct urine analysis was feasible. Analysis was very simple and fast-one run could be performed within less than 10 min (CE-UV method) and 2.5 min (CE-LIF method), respectively. Both assays were fully validated and applied to urine samples from a human volunteer. The results of the application of the CE-LIF method to human urine samples are presented in this publication.

Enantioseparations in nonaqueous capillary liquid chromatography and capillary electrochromatography using cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) as chiral stationary phase.

The potential of the widely used chiral stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) enantioseparations, cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (CDMPC, sold under the trade name Chiralcel OD) was evaluated under the conditions of nonaqueous capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The effect of the particle size of the silica gel, the loading of CDMPC on the silica gel and nature of the organic solvent, as well as electrolyte salts on the separation characteristics were investigated. This study illustrates the applicability of CDMPC for obtaining highly efficient enantioseparations under the conditions of nonaqueous CEC. Comparative study of enantioseparations in capillary liquid chromatography (CLC) and CEC indicated the significant advantages of CEC such as higher plate number at the similar linear flow rates of the mobile phase as well as better tolerance of higher linear flow rates.

Determination of ginsenosides from Panax ginseng using micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

A method for determination of ginsenosides in herbal medicinal products (HMPs) was developed using micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). Within 22 minutes 7 major ginsenosides were well separated. In order to demonstrate the accuracy, precision and robustness for the main target analyte the method was exemplarily validated for the determination of Rb1 according to ICH guidelines. Compared to chromatographic analysis, several benefits of capillary electrophoresis (CE) could be demonstrated such as high separation efficiency in an aqueous buffer without any organic solvent and shorter run time per assay.

Enantioseparation of chiral vasodilator drug isoxsuprine in high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis.

Two independent methods using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on polysaccharide type chiral stationary phase (CSP) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) with native and derivatised cyclodextrins (CD) have been proposed for the enantioseparation of chiral vasodilator drug isoxsuprine (ISP). The methods have been compared from the viewpoint of separation characteristics (efficiency, sensitivity, analysis time, costs, etc.).

Simultaneous enantioseparation of cis-diltiazem hydrochloride and its metabolite cis-desacetyldiltiazem using high-performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis.

Two alternative methods were developed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) for a simultaneous enantioselective determination of Ca(2+) blocking chiral drug cis-diltiazem hydrochloride (DLT) and its degradation product and metabolite cis-desacetyldiltiazem (Desac-DLT). The methods were compared from the viewpoint of analytical performance. The identification of HPLC peaks were performed using off-line electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. In addition, CE method was evaluated for quantitative determination of minor enantiomeric impurities in pharmacologically active (+)-cis-DLT.