Inter-relation between variables determining constitutional UV sensitivity in Caucasian children.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) light is associated with phenotypic variables like iris or hair colour or freckling, which are all strongly inter-related. We assessed the pattern of association among these factors to construct a summary measure reflecting constitutional UV sensitivity in a simple one-dimensional score with sufficient discriminating power. METHODS: Information on iris and hair colour (3 and 4 categories, respectively), freckling (none vs. any) and the reaction to mid-day summer sunlight as an outcome (dichotomized into 'burn' and 'tan') was collected in a cross-sectional study among children at school enrollment in 1999 and 2000 in Göttingen, Germany (n=3765 with complete data). Chi-squared automatic interaction detector (CHAID) analysis and log-linear modelling was used to assess the pattern of mutual inter-relations. RESULTS: Hair colour turned out to be the factor most strongly associated with UV sensitivity. In case of blonde or brown hair (the most common phenotypes in our sample), the consideration of freckling further refined the classification system, whereas iris colour did not contribute additional information. The results of the CHAID and log-linear analyses suggest a simple five-point score capturing constitutional UV sensitivity. The discriminating power of this score was high in our sample, with the proportion of persons who burned ranging from 7.7 (lowest category) to 73% (highest category). CONCLUSION: The new scoring system summarized efficiently relevant information on individual constitutional UV sensitivity in our sample. Its further validation in independent studies comprising Caucasian children or adults is necessary to assess objectively its properties for future applications.

Separable binding sites for the natural agonist endothelin-1 and the non-peptide antagonist bosentan on human endothelin-A receptors.

A three-dimensional model for the transmembrane domains of human endothelin-A receptor was built using structural information from bacteriorhodopsin and sequence alignment to other guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory(G) protein-coupled receptors. Based on this model, 18 amino acids located at the inside of the receptor were mutated and analyzed for binding of the natural ligand endothelin-1 and bosentan, a recently described potent orally active endothelin antagonist [Clozel, M., Breu, V., Gray, G., Kalina, B., Löffler, B.-M., Burri, K., Cassal, J.-M., Hirth, G., Müller, M., Neidhart, W. & Ramuz, H. (1994) Pharmacological characterization of bosentan, a new potent orally active nonpeptide endothelin receptor antagonist, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 270, 228-235]. Mutation of Gly97, Lys140, Lys159, Gln165 and Phe315, located in transmembrane region 1, 2, 3, 3, and 6, respectively, caused reduced specific binding of 125I-labelled endothelin-1, despite an expression level similar to wild-type endothelin-A receptor. Mutation of Tyr263, Arg326 and Asp351 preserved endothelin-1 binding but caused reduced binding of bosentan. These amino acids, located on transmembrane regions 5, 6 and 7, respectively, are conserved among endothelin-A and endothelin-B receptors but not in other G-protein-coupled receptors. These observations demonstrate a dissociation of the binding site for the peptidic natural agonist endothelin-1 and the synthetic non-peptide antagonist bosentan. They provide the molecular basis for bosentan being a specific antagonist for both, endothelin-A as well as endothelin-B receptors and may in combination with studies on structure/activity relationship support the design of novel and more potent endothelin receptor antagonists.

Pharmacological characterization of bosentan, a new potent orally active nonpeptide endothelin receptor antagonist.

The authors describe here the pharmacological properties of bosentan, a new nonpeptide mixed antagonist of endothelin (ET) receptors, obtained by structural optimization of the less potent Ro 46-2005 [Ro 46-2005 (4-tert-butyl-N-[6-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-5-(3-methoxy-phenoxy)-4-pyrimidinyl ]-benzenesulfonamide]. Bosentan (Ro 47-0203, 4-tert-butyl-N-[6-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)-5-(2-methoxy-phenoxy)-2,2'-bipyr imidin-4-yl]-benzenesulfonamide) competitively antagonized the specific binding of [125I]-labeled ET-1 on human smooth muscle cells (ETA receptors) with a Ki of 4.7 nM and on human placenta (ETB receptors) with a Ki of 95 nM. It also inhibited the binding of selective ETB ligands on porcine trachea. Contractions induced by ET-1 in isolated rat aorta (ETA) and by the selective ETB agonist sarafotoxin S6C in rat trachea were competitively inhibited by bosentan (pA2 = 7.2 and 6.0, respectively), as was the endothelium-dependent relaxation to sarafotoxin S6C in rabbit superior mesenteric artery (pA2 = 6.7). The binding of 40 other peptides, prostaglandins, ions and neurotransmitters was not significantly affected by bosentan, which shows its specificity for ET receptors. In vivo, bosentan inhibited the pressor response to big ET-1 both after i.v. and oral administration, with a long duration of action and no intrinsic agonist activity. It also inhibited the depressor and pressor effect of ET-1 and sarafotoxin S6C. Thus, bosentan is the most potent orally active antagonist of ET receptors described so far. Its pharmacological profile makes bosentan a potentially useful drug in the management of clinical disorders associated with vasoconstriction.

Influence of congestive heart failure on endothelin levels and receptors in rabbits.

Congestive heart failure, both in man and in animals is associated with an increased plasma level of endothelin. To investigate further the potential role of the endothelin system, we designed a study to determine the effect of experimental congestive heart failure (CHF) on plasma and tissue immunoreactive-endothelin (irET) and on the density and affinity of endothelin-1 receptors in the heart and kidney. For this purpose, CHF was induced in rabbits by combined aortic valvular insufficiency and stenosis. When CHF was established, plasma and tissue irET levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and density and affinity of endothelin-1 receptors were measured by binding assay on tissue homogenates. Compared to control rabbits, plasma irET was significantly elevated in rabbits with CHF [1.04 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.04 +/- 0.01 fmol/ml, P < 0.001]. Tissue irET concentrations in ventricles and kidney were roughly 4 orders of magnitude higher than plasma concentrations. CHF decreased the tissue irET levels in left ventricle and kidney by 32 and 46%, respectively (P < 0.01), whereas CHF increased it by 58% in the right ventricle (P < 0.005). The density of ET-1 receptors was decreased in the right and left ventricles and in kidneys by 26, 36, and 61%, respectively (P < 0.05). Receptor affinity remained unchanged in response to CHF in both ventricles, whereas it increased in kidney [Kd (pM); 154 +/- 17 vs. 99 +/- 9, P < 0.01]. Thus, this study demonstrates that experimental CHF is not only characterized by elevated plasma irET levels but also by a decrease in tissue irET concentrations in the left ventricle and kidney, and by a down-regulation of ET-1 receptors both in the heart and kidney. Functional consequences of these changes need to be determined.

Crosslinking analysis of an endothelin receptor protein from human placenta.

Crosslinking of [125I]ET-1 to human placental membrane preparations in the absence of divalent cations revealed a [125I]ET-1.ET-1-receptor complex of 49 kDa and of 205 kDa on SDS-PAGE. In the presence of 20 mM MnCl2, however, only a complex of 205 kDa was observed. About 64% of the radioactively labeled receptor.ligand complex could be solubilised by digitonin and CHAPS. Size exclusion chromatography of the solubilised placental membranes, prelabeled with [125I]ET-1 in the presence of MnCl2, revealed two binding proteins of 200 and 33 kDa. In the absence of MnCl2, however, only a binding protein of 50 kDa was observed. Binding of [125I]ET-1 to the 200 kDa and 50 kDa but not to the 33 kDa protein was suppressed by unlabeled ET-1. Moreover the ET-1-receptor density in placental membranes (Bmax) increased significantly in the presence of MnCl2, whereas the dissociation constant (Kd) decreased. Thus, divalent cations exhibit marked and possibly physiologically important effects on molecular mass, Bmax and Kd of the [125I]ET-1.ET-1-receptor complex. The potential mechanism of action of Mn2+ ions on the ET-1-receptor is discussed.

Partial characterisation and subcellular distribution patterns of endothelin-1, -2 and -3 binding sites in human liver.

For the first time, endothelin-1, -2 and -3 (ET-1, -2, -3) binding sites were characterized in human liver and shown to differ significantly in their respective dissociation constants and densities. In addition, subcellular distribution patterns of these binding sites in biochemically analysed fractions obtained after differential centrifugation were shown to be heterogeneous. Thus, the bulk of ET-1 and ET-3 binding sites seemed to be present in plasma membranes, although their partial presence in a compartment sedimenting together with the endoplasmic reticulum cannot be excluded. In contrast, a major proportion of the ET-2 binding sites appeared to be associated with a compartment sedimenting together with mitochondria, suggesting a special accumulation of ET-2 binding sites in human liver. A significant portion of ET-1, -2 and -3 binding sites seems to be localized also in lysosomes, presumably indicating their participation in the internalisation process.