Comparison of 1-Year Colectomy Risk Between the US and Korean Patients with Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Colectomy risk after acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) has not been compared between Eastern and Western countries. We compared the 1-year colectomy risk after ASUC between Korea and the USA. METHODS: Data on patients admitted for ASUC to five tertiary referral hospitals in Korea and Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, the USA, between January 2015 and January 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. For comparability between groups, a 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed. The primary outcome was colectomy, and secondary outcomes were mortality, readmission, and venous thromboembolism (VTE) within 1-year of the index admission for ASUC. The risk of each outcome was compared using Cox proportional hazards model in pre-matched cohort and Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank test in post-matched cohort. RESULTS: 290 ASUC patients were included in the study (121 Korea, 169 the USA). After PSM, 56 patients were selected in each group with no significant differences in baseline variables. At 1 year after ASUC, colectomy was less common in Korea than in the USA [3 (5.4%) vs. 24 (42.9%), p < 0.001]. The cumulative colectomy risk was significantly higher in the USA than in Korea in pre-matched cohort [adjusted hazard ratio 7.89, 95% confidence interval 3.23 to 19.22] and in post-matched cohort (log-rank p < 0.001), while there was no difference in cumulative risk of mortality, readmission, and VTE. CONCLUSION: Colectomy risk within 1 year of ASUC is significantly higher in the USA than in Korea. We observed no differences in mortality, readmission, and VTE between the two groups.

Low Bone Mineral Density in Young Patients Newly Diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and risk factors of low bone mineral density (BMD) in Asian patients newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have not been fully suggested. AIMS: We aimed to examine the prevalence and risk factors of low BMD in young Korean patients newly diagnosed with IBD. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 132 patients aged less than 50 years and newly diagnosed with IBD from six tertiary referral centers in Korea between November 2014 and April 2017. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and then the Z-score was determined. We defined low BMD as a Z-score ≤ - 1.0. RESULTS: Of 68 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 22 (32.4%) had low BMD. Also, of 64 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), 24 (37.5%) showed low BMD. Results from multivariate regression analysis identified the risk factors for low BMD as a high level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (≥ 140 U/L) (P = 0.010) in UC patients, and being underweight (body mass index ≤ 18.5 kg/m2) (P = 0.017) in CD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that about one-third of newly diagnosed IBD Asian patients had low BMD. The clinical factors associated with low BMD were a high level of ALP in UC patients, and being underweight, in CD patients. Therefore, measurements of BMD in young patients should be considered at the diagnosis of IBD.

Online Registry for Nationwide Database of Current Trend of Helicobacter pylori Eradication in Korea: Interim Analysis.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori using first-line therapy is becoming less effective. Subjects who had been treated for H. pylori infection were prospectively enrolled through an on-line database registry from October 2010 to December 2012. Demographic data, detection methods, treatment indication, regimens, durations, compliance, adverse events, and eradication results for H. pylori infection were collected. Data of 3,700 patients from 34 hospitals were analyzed. The overall eradication rate of the first-line therapy was 73.0%. Eradication failure was significantly associated with old age, concomitant medication, and comorbidity. Regional differences in eradication rates were observed. The most common first-line therapy was proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy (standard triple therapy, STT) for 7 days (86.8%). The eradication rates varied with regimens, being 73% in STT, 81.8% in bismuth-based quadruple therapy, 100% in sequential therapy, and 90.3% in concomitant therapy. The eradication rate in treatment-naïve patients was higher than that in patients previously treated for H. pylori infection (73.8% vs. 58.5%, P < 0.001). The overall eradication rate for second-line therapy was 84.3%. There was no statistical difference in eradication rates among various regimens. H. pylori eradication rate using STT is decreasing in Korea and has become sub-optimal, suggesting the need for alternative regimens to improve the efficacy of first-line therapy for H. pylori infection.

HIF overexpression correlates with biallelic loss of fumarate hydratase in renal cancer: novel role of fumarate in regulation of HIF stability.

Individuals with hemizygous germline fumarate hydratase (FH) mutations are predisposed to renal cancer. These tumors predominantly exhibit functional inactivation of the remaining wild-type allele, implicating FH inactivation as a tumor-promoting event. Hypoxia-inducible factors are expressed in many cancers and are increased in clear cell renal carcinomas. Under normoxia, the HIFs are labile due to VHL-dependent proteasomal degradation, but stabilization occurs under hypoxia due to inactivation of HIF prolyl hydroxylase (HPH), which prevents HIF hydroxylation and VHL recognition. We demonstrate that FH inhibition, together with elevated intracellular fumarate, coincides with HIF upregulation. Further, we show that fumarate acts as a competitive inhibitor of HPH. These data delineate a novel fumarate-dependent pathway for regulating HPH activity and HIF protein levels.

Emetine promotes von Hippel-Lindau-independent degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor-2α in clear cell renal carcinoma.

Inactivating mutations of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene are associated with inherited VHL syndrome, which is characterized by susceptibility to a variety of neoplasms, including central nervous system hemangioblastoma and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). Mutations in the VHL gene are also found in the majority of sporadic clear cell renal carcinoma, the most common malignant neoplasm of the human kidney. Inactivation of VHL ubiquitin ligase is associated with normoxic stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and 2-α (HIF-1α and HIF-2α), transcriptional regulators of tumor angiogenesis, invasion, survival, and glucose utilization. HIF-2α has been particularly implicated in the development of CCRCC. Although several inhibitors of HIF-1α have been described, these drugs typically have a minimal affect on HIF-2α. 786-O is a VHL-deficient CCRCC cell line that constitutively expresses only HIF-2α and is therefore suitable for the screening of novel HIF-2α inhibitors. Using this cell line, we have identified emetine as a specific inhibitor of HIF-2α protein stability and transcriptional activity. Without altering HIF-2α mRNA level, emetine rapidly and dramatically down-regulated HIF-2α protein expression in 786-O cells. HIF-2α down-regulation was accompanied by HIF-2α ubiquitination and was reversed by proteasome inhibition. Emetine-induced HIF-2α down-regulation was confirmed in three additional VHL-renal cancer cell lines, was insensitive to the prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor dimethyloxaloyl glycine, and did not require neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated-8, suggesting that emetine accesses a previously undescribed cullin-independent proteasome degradation pathway for HIF-2α. These data support the use of emetine or structurally related compounds as useful leads for the identification of novel HIF-2α inhibitors.

Safety and Optimal Timing of BCG Vaccination in Infants Born to Mothers Receiving Anti-TNF Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUNDS AND AIMS: We aimed to evaluate the safety of Bacille Calmette-Guérin [BCG] vaccination in infants born to mothers receiving anti-tumour necrosis factor [anti-TNF] therapy for inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: Adverse events of BCG vaccination were evaluated in 90 infants who were last exposed to anti-TNF agents at a median of gestational week 30. RESULTS: After receiving BCG vaccination at a median age of 6 months [range, 0.25-11 months], three infants [3.3%] showed injection site swelling, two of whom also showed axillar lymphadenopathy. The rates of adverse events were similar between infants who were last exposed to anti-TNF agents before the third trimester [n = 35] and those who were last exposed in the third trimester [n = 55] [2.9% vs 3.6%; p = 1.00]. All adverse events were spontaneously resolved and there were no serious adverse events such as active tuberculosis infection or death. CONCLUSIONS: BCG vaccination after 6 months of age is of low risk in infants exposed to anti-TNF agents in utero.

Nonimmunity against hepatitis B virus infection in patients newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to elucidate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) serologic markers in Korean patients newly diagnosed with, but not yet treated for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 210 patients newly diagnosed with IBD (109 with ulcerative colitis and 101 with Crohn's disease). Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) levels were measured and compared with those of 1,100 sex- and age-matched controls. RESULTS: The prevalence of chronic HBV infection (positive HBsAg, positive anti-HBc, and negative anti-HBs results) and past infection (negative HBsAg, positive anti-HBc, and positive or negative anti-HBs results) were not significantly different between the patients and controls (chronic HBV infection: IBD, 3.8% vs. control, 4.9%, P=0.596; past infection: IBD, 26.2% vs. control, 28.8%, P=0.625). The patients with IBD aged <20 years were at a higher susceptibility risk (nonimmune) for HBV infection than the controls (IBD, 41.5% vs. control, 22.4%; P=0.018). In the multivariate analysis, an age of <20 years (P=0.024) and symptom duration of ≥12 months before diagnosis (P=0.027) were identified as independent risk factors for nonimmunity against HBV infection. CONCLUSIONS: The patients newly diagnosed with IBD were susceptible to HBV infection. The frequency of nonimmunity was high, especially in the patients aged <20 years and those with a longer duration of symptoms before diagnosis. Therefore, it is necessary to screen for HBV serologic markers and generate a detailed vaccination plan for patients newly diagnosed with IBD.

Synthesis and properties of N-nicotinoyl-2-(5-fluorouracil-1-yl)-D,L-glycine ester as a prodrug of 5-fluorouracil for rectal administration.

N-Nicotinoyl-2-(5-fluorouracil-1-yl)-D,L-glycine (NFG) methyl-(NFGM), ethyl-(NFGE) and isopropyl esters (NFGIp) were synthesized and their potential as a prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for rectal administration was investigated. Chemical conversion proceeded either by elimination of (5-FU) or by hydrolysis of ester group. 5-FU was released from NFGIp, NFGE and NFGM 90.5%, 71.3% and 48.5% of the dose, respectively, in 80% human plasma and 79.8%, 56.3% and 31.6%, respectively, in pH 7.4 buffer solution after 48 h of incubation at 37 degrees C. Release of 5-FU occurred mainly from NFG esters but very slightly from NFG, which suggested that release of 5-FU was greatly dependent on the stability of the ester group against hydrolysis. Solubility (M) in pH 7.4 buffer solution was 0.13, 0.09 and 0.04 and apparent partition coefficient in 1-octanol/pH 7.4 buffer solution was 0.76, 1.61 and 4.2, respectively, for NFGM, NFGE and NFGIp, which were in the ranges suitable for rectal absorption. Plasma concentration (microg/mL) of NFGM, NFGE and NFGIp at 50 min after rectal administration to rats was 1.9, 4.6 and 6.7, respectively, and that for 5-FU was below the limit of detection. Their potential as prodrugs of 5-FU for rectal administration is suggested.

Curcumin is an inhibitor of p300 histone acetylatransferase.

Histone acetyltransferases (HATs), and p300/CBP in particular, have been implicated in cancer cell growth and survival, and as such, HATs represent novel, therapeutically relevant molecular targets for drug development. In this study, we demonstrate that the small molecule natural product curcumin, whose medicinal properties have long been recognized in India and Southeast Asia, is a selective HAT inhibitor. Furthermore the data indicate that alpha, beta unsaturated carbonyl groups in the curcumin side chain function as Michael reaction sites and that the Michael reaction acceptor functionality of curcumin is required for its HAT-inhibitory activity. In cells, curcumin promoted proteasome-dependent degradation of p300 and the closely related CBP protein without affecting the HATs PCAF or GCN5. In addition to inducing p300 degradation curcumin inhibited the acetyltransferase activity of purified p300 as assessed using either histone H3 or p53 as substrate. Radiolabeled curcumin formed a covalent association with p300, and tetrahydrocurcumin displayed no p300 inhibitory activity, consistent with a Michael reaction-dependent mechanism. Finally, curcumin was able to effectively block histone hyperacetylation in both PC3-M prostate cancer cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes induced by the histone deacetylase inhibitor MS-275. These data thus identify the medicinal natural product curcumin as a novel lead compound for development of possibly therapeutic, p300/CBP-specific HAT inhibitors.

The heat shock protein 90 inhibitor geldanamycin and the ErbB inhibitor ZD1839 promote rapid PP1 phosphatase-dependent inactivation of AKT in ErbB2 overexpressing breast cancer cells.

AKT, a serine/threonine kinase that promotes cell survival, can be activated by overexpression of the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB2. Conversely, down-regulation of ErbB2 inhibits AKT activation. Here, we identify PP1 as a serine/threonine phosphatase that associates with and dephosphorylates AKT in breast cancer cells, and we show that ErbB2 inhibits PP1-dependent dephosphorylation of AKT. Inhibition of ErbB2 by either the HSP (heat shock protein) 90 inhibitor geldanamycin or the ErbB inhibitor ZD1839 in SKBR3 cells, a human breast cancer cell line overexpressing ErbB2 protein, induces a rapid and dramatic decrease in AKT activity. Decreased AKT activity occurs many hours before the HSP90-dependent decline of AKT protein but is correlated with loss of AKT phosphorylation. Decreased AKT phosphorylation is not due to blockade of AKT activation or to preferential HSP90-mediated degradation of phosphorylated AKT. Instead, it is caused by increased AKT dephosphorylation. Sensitivity to a panel of phosphatase inhibitors suggests involvement of the phosphatase PP1 in this process. In vitro phosphatase assay (using PP1 immunoprecipitated from COS7 cells transiently transfected with the wild-type protein, as well as purified PP1) confirmed that AKT is a substrate of PP1. Furthermore, endogenous PP1 and AKT associate with each other in SKBR3. However, the phosphatase is phosphorylated and its activity is suppressed (determined by in vitro assay). In contrast, ErbB2 inhibition abrogates PP1 phosphorylation and restores its activity (measured by its ability to dephosphorylate AKT in vitro). Finally, transient overexpression of constitutively active PP1 in SKBR3 cells promotes marked dephosphorylation of endogenous AKT protein. These data indicate that ErbB2 acts to preserve the phosphorylation, and hence to prolong the activation, of AKT kinase by repressing the activity of the phosphatase PP1. ErbB2 thus functions to regulate AKT kinase by simultaneously promoting its activation while inhibiting its inactivation.

IL-1beta-mediated up-regulation of HIF-1alpha via an NFkappaB/COX-2 pathway identifies HIF-1 as a critical link between inflammation and oncogenesis.

Growing evidence indicates that inflammation is a contributing factor leading to cancer development. However, pathways involved in this progression are not well understood. To examine whether HIF-1alpha is a factor linking inflammation and tumorigenesis, we investigated whether the HIF-1 signaling pathway was stimulated by the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in A549 cells. We find that IL-1beta up-regulated HIF-1alpha protein under normoxia and activated the HIF-1-responsive gene vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) via a pathway dependent on nuclear factor kappaB (NFkB). Interestingly, although this pathway is stimulated by upstream signaling via AKT and mTOR and requires new transcription, IL-1 mediated HIF-1alpha induction also utilizes a post-transcriptional mechanism that involves antagonism of VHL-dependent HIF-1alpha degradation, which results in increased HIF-1alpha protein stability. IL-1 mediated NFkB-dependent cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2) expression served as a positive effector for HIF-1alpha induction. Although COX-2 inhibitors attenuated IL-1 mediated HIF-1alpha induction, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a physiological product of COX-2, induced HIF-1alpha protein in a dose-dependent manner. Our data, therefore, demonstrate that IL-1beta up-regulates functional HIF-1alpha protein through a classical inflammatory signaling pathway involving NFkB and COX-2, culminating in up-regulation of VEGF, a potent angiogenic factor required for tumor growth and metastasis. Thus, HIF-1 is identified as a pivotal transcription factor linking the inflammatory and oncogenic pathways.

Clinical Characteristics and Mortality of Life-Threatening Events Requiring Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Units.

Little is known about life-threatening events during gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of emergency conditions requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in GIE units and to assess the risk factors for mortality in these cases.We retrospectively collected life-threatening cases that occurred in the GIE units of 6 tertiary hospitals from January 2012 to June 2014. Cases were defined as alert calls for resuscitation teams in emergency situations of respiratory failure or cardiac arrest. Demographic data, clinical features, and probable causes were assessed. Factors associated with mortality were elucidated using logistic regression analysis.Among 263,426 endoscopies, 40 cases of CPR (0.015%) occurred during the period (male 67.5%, median age 62 yr). Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), such as hematemesis or melena, was the most common indication for endoscopy (55%). The types of clinical situations encountered were as follows: respiratory insufficiency (47.5%), decreased blood pressure (25%), and cardiac arrhythmia (25%). Although most of these conditions were detected during endoscopy (67.5%), one-third of cases (32.5%) were found before or after procedures. The most frequent probable cause of cases was aggravation of underlying diseases (57.5%), such as uncontrolled bleeding or exacerbation of lung disease. Despite efforts to resuscitate, 18 patients (45%) died. GIB was the single independent risk factor for mortality (odds ratio 28.45, 95% confidence interval 1.55-523.33, P = 0.024).Life-threatening situations requiring CPR can occur during endoscopy, even before or after the procedure. Greater attention should be paid while endoscopy is performed for GIB.

p53-Independent induction of Fas and apoptosis in leukemic cells by an adenosine derivative, Cl-IB-MECA.

A(3) adenosine receptor (A(3)AR) agonists have been reported to influence cell death and survival. The effects of an A(3)AR agonist, 1-[2-chloro-6-[[(3-iodophenyl)methyl]amino]-9H-purin-9-yl]-1-deoxy-N-methyl-beta-D-ribofuranonamide (Cl-IB-MECA), on apoptosis in two human leukemia cell lines, HL-60 and MOLT-4, were investigated. Cl-IB-MECA (> or =30 microM) increased the apoptotic fractions, as determined using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, and activated caspase 3 and poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase. Known messengers coupled to A(3)AR (phospholipase C and intracellular calcium) did not seem to play a role in the induction of apoptosis. Neither dantrolene nor BAPTA-AM affected the Cl-IB-MECA-induced apoptosis. Cl-IB-MECA failed to activate phospholipase C in HL-60 cells, while UTP activated it through endogenous P2Y(2) receptors. Induction of apoptosis during a 48hr exposure to Cl-IB-MECA was not prevented by the A(3)AR antagonists [5-propyl-2-ethyl-4-propyl-3-(ethylsulfanylcarbonyl)-6-phenylpyridine-5-carboxylate] (MRS 1220) or N-[9-chloro-2-(2-furanyl)[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-c]quinazolin-5-yl]benzeneacetamide (MRS 1523). Furthermore, higher concentrations of MRS 1220, which would also antagonize A(1) and A(2A) receptors, were ineffective in preventing the apoptosis. Although Cl-IB-MECA has been shown in other systems to cause apoptosis through an A(3)AR-mediated mechanism, in these cells it appeared to be an adenosine receptor-independent effect, which required prolonged incubation. In both HL-60 and MOLT-4 cells, Cl-IB-MECA induced the expression of Fas, a death receptor. This induction of Fas was not dependent upon p53, because p53 is not expressed in an active form in either HL-60 or MOLT-4 cells. Cl-IB-MECA-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells was augmented by an agonistic Fas antibody, CH-11, and this increase was suppressed by the antagonistic anti-Fas antibody ZB-4. Therefore, Cl-IB-MECA induced apoptosis via a novel, p53-independent up-regulation of Fas.

Prednisolone 21-sulfate sodium: a colon-specific pro-drug of prednisolone.

Prednisolone 21-sulfate sodium (PDS) was synthesized as a colon-specific pro-drug of prednisolone with the expectation that it would be stable and non-absorbable in the upper intestine and release prednisolone by the action of sulfatase once it was delivered to the colon. In-vitro/in-vivo properties were investigated using rats as test animals. PDS was chemically stable at pH 1.2, 4.5, 6.8 and 8.0, and the apparent partition coefficient was 0.11 in 1-octanol/pH 6.8 buffer solution at 37 degrees C. PDS was stable on incubation with the contents of the stomach or small intestine. When PDS (0.1 mg equiv. of prednisolone) was incubated with the caecal contents (0.05 g), prednisolone was produced to a maximum 54% of the dose in 6 h and decreased thereafter, which suggested that reduction of the A ring took place in addition to the hydrolysis by sulfatase. After oral administration of PDS, a small portion of prednisolone was recovered from the cecal contents but not from the small intestine. Neither PDS nor prednisolone was detected in the plasma, suggesting that absorption of PDS is limited. The data demonstrate that the sulfate ester can serve as a novel colon-specific pro-moiety by limiting the absorption of the pro-drug in the upper intestine and releasing the active compound by the action of microbial sulfatase in the colon.

Synthesis and in vitro properties of prednisolone 21-sulfate sodium as a colon-specific prodrug of prednisolone.

Colon-specific delivery of glucocorticoids is highly desirable for the efficient treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. We synthesized prednisolone 21-sulfate sodium (PDS) as a colon-specific prodrug of prednisolone (PD) and investigated its properties using rats as test animals. We expected that introduction of sulfate ester as a sodium salt might increase the hydrophilicity and restrict the absorption in the GI tract. If PDS is stable and nonabsorbable in the upper intestine, it will be delivered to the colon as an intact form, where it hydrolyze by the sulfatase to release PD. Compared with PD, the solubility of PDS increased and the apparent partition coefficient decreased greatly. PDS was stable on incubation with pH 1.2 and 6.8 buffer solutions and with the contents of the stomach and small intestine. On incubation with the cecal contents, PDS decreased to 9.6% of the dose in 10 h producing PD. The amount of PD increased to give a maximum 54% of the dose and decreased. As a control, when PD was incubated with the cecal contents, it decreased to 29% of the dose in 8 h, which implied that reduction of PD proceeded under such conditions. These results suggested that hydrolysis of PDS took place to produce and accumulate PD, which decreased by reduction as the incubation period extended. Our results suggested that PDS can be a promising colon-specific prodrug of PD, and sulfate ester group might serve as a potential colon-specific promoiety, especially for the drugs which are resistant to reduction in the colon.

Synthesis and properties of 5-aminosalicyl-taurine as a colon-specific prodrug of 5-aminosalicylic acid.

5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is an active ingredient of therapeutic agents used for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Because it is absorbed rapidly and extensively in the upper intestine, delivery of the agent specifically to the colon is necessary. We selected taurine as a colon-specific promoiety and designed 5-aminosalicyltaurine (5-ASA-Tau) as a new colon-specific prodrug of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). It was expected that introduction of taurine would restrict the absorption of the prodrug and show additive effect to the anti-inflammatory action of 5-ASA after hydrolysis. 5-ASA-Tau was prepared in good yield by a simple synthetic route. The apparent partition coefficient of 5-ASA-Tau in 1-octanol/pH 6.8 phosphate buffer or CHCl3/pH 6.8 phosphate buffer was 0.10 or 0.18, respectively, at 37 degrees C. To determine the chemical and biochemical stability in the upper intestinal environment, 5-ASA-Tau was incubated in pH 1.2 and 6.8 buffer solutions, and with the homogenates of tissue and contents of stomach or small intestine of rats at 37 degrees C. 5-ASA was not detected from any of the incubation medium with no change in the concentration of 5-ASA-Tau. On incubation of 5-ASA-Tau with the cecal and colonic contents of rats, the fraction of the dose released as 5-ASA was 45% and 20%, respectively, in 8 h. Considering low partition coefficient and stability in the upper intestine, 5-ASA-Tau might be nonabsorbable and stable in the upper intestine. After oral administration, it would be delivered to the colon in intact form and release 5-ASA and taurine. These results suggested 5-ASA-Tau as a promising colon-specific prodrug of 5-ASA.

Improvement of the vitrification method suppressing the disturbance of meiotic spindle and chromosome systems in mature oocytes.

Vitrification method is widely used in oocyte cryopreservation for IVF but the birth rates are lower than that of the fresh oocyte. One of the known main reasons is structural instability of meiotic spindle and chromosome systems of mature oocyte. To get the best way for keeping competence of matured oocytes, we studied the best conditions for vitrification focused on equilibration times. The mature oocytes were underwent vitrification with current popular method and analyzed the survival rates, microtubule stability and DNA integrity. The survival rates of recovered oocyte are almost same between groups and are more than 93%. The structural configuration of meiotic spindle was well kept in 10 min equilibration group and the stability rate was almost same with that of control. The chromosomal breakdown was observed in all experimental groups, but the chromosomal stability was higher in 10 min equilibration group than the other groups. The 10 min equilibration group showed best condition compared with the other groups. Based on these results, the equilibration time is one of the key factors in successful keeping for competence of mature oocyte. Although, more fine analysis about the effects of physical stress on oocyte during vitrification is needed to define the optimal condition, it is suggested that the optimal equilibration time to get competent oocyte in mouse is 10 min. Information acquired this study may provide insight into intracellular structural events occurring in human oocytes after vitrification and application for cryopreservation of human oocyte.

Synthesis and in vitro properties of dexamethasone 21-sulfate sodium as a colon-specific prodrug of dexamethasone.

We synthesized dexamethasone 21-sulfate sodium (DS) as a colon-specific prodrug of dexamethasone and investigated its properties. Introduction of a sulfate group to dexamethasone lowered the apparent partition coefficient from 52.5 to 0.27 in 1-octanol/pH 6.8 phosphate buffer at 37 degrees C. DS was stable on incubation with buffer solutions of varied pH or with the upper intestinal contents of rats at 37 degrees C for 24 h. On incubation with the cecal contents, DS was hydrolyzed by producing dexamethasone over 80% of the dose at 10 h. When DS was incubated with the cecal contents collected from trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitic rats, the degree of prodrug hydrolysis and production of dexamethasone amounted to 70% of healthy rats. In comparison with prednisolone, hydrocortisone, and cortisone, dexamethasone was stable against bioinactivation by the cecal contents, a desirable property for the development of a colon-specific prodrug. These results demonstrated that DS might be delivered specifically to the colon as an intact form to produce dexamethasone in high yield, suggesting DS as a potential colon-specific prodrug of dexamethasone.

Aryl hydrocarbon nuclear translocator (ARNT) promotes oxygen-independent stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha by modulating an Hsp90-dependent regulatory pathway.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a potent cellular survival factor contributing to tumorigenesis in a broad range of cancers. The functional transcription factor exists as a heterodimeric complex consisting of HIF-1alpha and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT). Association of HIF-1 with ARNT is required for its activity; however, no other role has been ascribed to this interaction. We demonstrated previously that pharmacologic inhibition of Hsp90 by geldanamycin (GA) impairs HIF transcription and promotes VHL (Von Hippel-Lindau)-independent degradation of the protein, thus implicating Hsp90 as an essential interacting partner for HIF. In this study, we further explore the physiological role for Hsp90 in HIF function. We establish that the PAS (Per-ARNT-Sim) domain of HIF is required both to promote association with Hsp90 and confer sensitivity to GA. Coincidentally, this domain also associates with ARNT. Overexpression of ARNT in a VHL-deficient background resulted in substantially increased HIF-1 protein concomitant with increased protein stability. Conversely, down-regulation of endogenous ARNT protein by RNA interference decreased the steady-state HIF protein. ARNT-mediated stabilization of HIF is specific for the Hsp90-dependent pathway, as ARNT was unable to protect HIF from VHL-mediated degradation. We establish that the ability of ARNT to up-regulate HIF and diminish HIF sensitivity to GA is due to its ability to compete for the Hsp90 binding site on HIF. These data elucidate novel functions for ARNT and Hsp90 in regulating HIF function and further illustrate that cofactor association may significantly impact upon the sensitivity of Hsp90 clients to chaperone inhibitors.

Microtubule disruption utilizes an NFkappa B-dependent pathway to stabilize HIF-1alpha protein.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha levels are elevated in normoxic cells undergoing physiological processes involving large scale microtubule reorganization, such as embryonic development, wound healing, and tumor cell metastasis. Although alterations in microtubules affect numerous cellular responses, no data have yet implicated microtubule dynamics in HIF-1alpha regulation. To investigate the effect of microtubule change upon HIF-1alpha regulation, we treated cells with the microtubule-depolymerizing agents (MDAs) colchicine, vinblastine or nocodazole. We demonstrate that these agents are able to induce transcriptionally active HIF-1. MDA-mediated induction of HIF-1alpha required microtubule depolymerization, since HIF-1alpha levels were unchanged in cells treated with either the microtubule-stabilizing agent paclitaxel, or an inactive form of colchicine, or in colchicine-resistant cells. HIF-1 induction was dependent upon cellular transcription, as transcription inhibitors abrogated HIF-1alpha protein up-regulation. The ability of transcriptional inhibitors to interfere with HIF-1alpha accumulation was specific to the MDA-initiated pathway, as they were ineffective in preventing hypoxia-mediated HIF-1 induction, which occurs by a distinct post-translational pathway. Moreover, we provide evidence implicating a requirement for NFkappaB transcription in the HIF-1 induction mediated by MDAs. The ability of MDAs to induce HIF-1alpha is dependent upon activation of NFkappaB, since inhibition of NFkappaB either pharmacologically or by transfection of an NFkappaB super-repressor plasmid abrogated this induction. Collectively, these data support a model in which NFkappaB is a focal point for the convergence of MDA-mediated signaling events leading to HIF-1 induction, thus revealing a novel aspect of HIF-1alpha regulation and function.