CB1 receptors mediate the analgesic effects of cannabinoids on colorectal distension-induced visceral pain in rodents.

Activation of cannabinoid receptors (CB(1), CB(2) and GPR(55)) produces analgesic effects in several experimental pain models, including visceral pain arising from the gastrointestinal tract. We assessed the role of CB(1), CB(2), and GPR(55) receptors and the endogenous cannabinoid system on basal pain responses and acute mechanical hyperalgesia during colorectal distension (CRD) in rodents. The effects of cannabinoid receptor agonists and antagonists on pain-related responses to CRD were assessed in rats and in wild-type and CB(1) receptor knock-out mice. The dual CB(1/2) agonist, WIN55,212-2, and the peripherally acting CB(1)-selective agonist, SAB-378, inhibited pain-related responses to repetitive noxious CRD (80 mmHg) in a dose-related manner in rats. The analgesic effects of WIN55,212-2 and SAB-378 were blocked by the selective CB(1) antagonist SR141716, but were not affected by the selective CB(2) antagonist SR144528. SR141716, per se, increased the responses to repetitive noxious CRD, indicative of hyperalgesia, and induced pain-related responses during non-noxious CRD (20 mmHg), indicative of allodynia. The cannabinoid receptor agonists anandamide, virodhamine and O-1602 had no effect. At analgesic doses, WIN55,212-2 did not affect colonic compliance. In accordance to the rat data, WIN55,212-2 produced analgesia, whereas SR141716 induced hyperalgesia, during noxious CRD (55 mmHg) in wild-type but not in CB(1)-knock-out mice. These data indicate that peripheral CB(1) receptors mediate the analgesic effects of cannabinoids on visceral pain from the gastrointestinal tract. The allodynic and hyperalgesic responses induced by SR141716 suggest the existence of an endogenous cannabinoid tone and the activation of CB(1) receptors during noxious CRD.

The development and characterization of a long acting anti-thrombotic von Willebrand factor (VWF) aptamer.

BACKGROUND: Thrombus formation involves coagulation proteins and platelets. The latter, referred to as platelet-mediated thrombogenesis, is predominant in arterial circulation. Platelet thrombogenesis follows vascular injury when extracellular von Willebrand factor (VWF) binds via its A3 domain to exposed collagen, and the free VWF A1 domain binds to platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb). OBJECTIVES: To characterize the antiplatelet/antithrombotic activity of the pegylated VWF antagonist aptamer BT200 and identify the aptamer VWF binding site. METHODS: BT100 is an optimized aptamer synthesized by solid-phase chemistry and pegylated (BT200) by standard conjugation chemistry. The affinity of BT200 for purified human VWF was evaluated as was VWF inhibition in monkey and human plasma. Efficacy of BT200 was assessed in the monkey FeCl3 femoral artery thrombosis model. RESULTS: BT200 bound human VWF at an EC50 of 5.0 nmol/L and inhibited VWF A1 domain activity in monkey and human plasma with mean IC50 values of 183 and 70 nmol/L. BT200 administration to cynomolgus monkeys caused a time-dependent and dose-dependent effect on VWF A1 domain activity and inhibited platelet function as measured by collagen adenosine diphosphate closure time in the platelet function analyzer. BT200 demonstrated a bioavailability of ≥77% and exhibited a half-life of >100 hours after subcutaneous injection. The treatment effectively prevented arterial occlusion in an FeCl3 -induced thrombosis model in monkeys. CONCLUSIONS: BT200 has shown promising inhibition of human VWF in vitro and prevented arterial occlusion in non-human primates. These data including a long half-life after subcutaneous injections provide a strong rationale for ongoing clinical development of BT200.

Potent and rapid reversal of the von Willebrand factor inhibitor aptamer BT200.

BACKGROUND: BT200, a pegylated form of the aptamer BT100, inhibits binding of von Willebrand factor (VWF) to platelet glycoprotein GPIb, preventing arterial thrombosis in cynomolgus monkeys. It is being developed for secondary prevention of arterial thrombosis such as stroke or myocardial infarction. Inhibition of thrombogenesis by BT200 is expected to provide a therapeutic benefit. However, there may be unexpected bleeding (eg, incidental trauma) in which a reversal agent is required. To address this need, BT101, a complementary aptamer, has been developed to specifically inhibit BT100 and BT200 function. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the effects of BT101 both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The direct interaction between BT101 and the core aptamer BT100 was evaluated using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The binding of BT200 to purified human VWF and inhibition of VWF activity was further characterized using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. VWF-dependent platelet function was measured by the platelet function analyzer and aggregometry in whole blood. In addition, both the in vivo pharmacokinetic profile of BT101 as well as its ability to reverse BT200 activity, were evaluated in cynomolgus monkeys. RESULTS: BT101 bound to the core aptamer BT100 at a 1:1 ratio, inhibited BT200 binding to purified human VWF, and reversed BT200-induced inhibition of both VWF activity and VWF-dependent platelet function in vitro. After intravenous injection to monkeys, BT101 reversed BT200-induced effects on VWF activity and platelet function within minutes, without causing any adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that BT101 is an effective reversal agent for BT200.

Creating novel activated factor XI inhibitors through fragment based lead generation and structure aided drug design.

Activated factor XI (FXIa) inhibitors are anticipated to combine anticoagulant and profibrinolytic effects with a low bleeding risk. This motivated a structure aided fragment based lead generation campaign to create novel FXIa inhibitor leads. A virtual screen, based on docking experiments, was performed to generate a FXIa targeted fragment library for an NMR screen that resulted in the identification of fragments binding in the FXIa S1 binding pocket. The neutral 6-chloro-3,4-dihydro-1H-quinolin-2-one and the weakly basic quinolin-2-amine structures are novel FXIa P1 fragments. The expansion of these fragments towards the FXIa prime side binding sites was aided by solving the X-ray structures of reported FXIa inhibitors that we found to bind in the S1-S1'-S2' FXIa binding pockets. Combining the X-ray structure information from the identified S1 binding 6-chloro-3,4-dihydro-1H-quinolin-2-one fragment and the S1-S1'-S2' binding reference compounds enabled structure guided linking and expansion work to achieve one of the most potent and selective FXIa inhibitors reported to date, compound 13, with a FXIa IC50 of 1.0 nM. The hydrophilicity and large polar surface area of the potent S1-S1'-S2' binding FXIa inhibitors compromised permeability. Initial work to expand the 6-chloro-3,4-dihydro-1H-quinolin-2-one fragment towards the prime side to yield molecules with less hydrophilicity shows promise to afford potent, selective and orally bioavailable compounds.

An azurocidin-like protein is induced in Trichoplusia ni larval gut cells after bacterial challenge.

Trichoplusia ni immune genes up-regulated in response to bacterial infection have been isolated using differential display polymerase chain reaction. Here we report the cloning and characterisation of a gut-specific immune gene encoding an azurocidin-like protein. The deduced protein is 317 amino acid residues long with a hydrophobic C-terminus and a predicted 17-residue signal peptide. The mature T. ni protein shows 30% identity to human azurocidin, an antibacterial protein. Like azurocidin, the T. ni protein contains two amino acid substitutions in the active site triad normally present in serine proteases. The T. ni protein was synthesised with a six-histidine C-terminal extension using the baculovirus expression system. Sequencing of the recombinant azurocidin-like protein confirmed the predicted cleavage of the signal peptide. Northern blots show that T. ni azurocidin-like protein is expressed solely in the larval gut and that expression is up-regulated by injecting or feeding bacteria. Expression reaches its highest level at 10 h after bacteria injection.

Trichoplusia ni gloverin, an inducible immune gene encoding an antibacterial insect protein.

By using differential display PCR, we obtained a cDNA clone encoding a gloverin homologue from the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni. The expression of the gene was induced by bacterial infections. The gene codes for a 174 amino acid residue protein, including a signal sequence and a prosegment. The deduced mature protein is 14 kDa and shows 58% and 49% identity to P2 from Helicoverpa armigera and to Hyalophora gloveri gloverin, respectively. The protein was detected in hemolymph and hemocytes from bacteria-immunized animals. We expressed gloverin using the baculovirus expression system. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis showed that the purified protein contained a propart. This progloverin inhibited the growth of E. coli and the activity is comparable to that of H. gloveri mature gloverin. Processing of progloverin was possible in vitro, using human furin.

Role of TRPV1 in high-threshold rat colonic splanchnic afferents is revealed by inflammation.

The vanilloid-1 receptor TRPV1 is known to play a role in extrinsic gastrointestinal afferent function. We investigated the role of TRPV1 in mechanosensitivity in afferents from normal and inflamed tissue. Colonic mechanosensitivity was determined in an in vitro rat colon preparation by recording from attached splanchnic nerves. Recordings were made from serosal/mesenteric afferents responding only at high thresholds to graded mechanical stimulation with von Frey probes. Colonic inflammation was induced by adding 5% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) to the drinking water for 5 days, and was confirmed by histopathology. The selective TRPV1 antagonist, SB-750364 (10(-8) to 10(-6)M), was tested on mechanosensory stimulus response functions of afferents from normal and inflamed preparations (N=7 each). Mechanosensory responses had thresholds of 1-2g, and maximal responses were observed at 12 g. The stimulus response function was not affected by DSS-induced colitis. SB-750364 had no effect on stimulus response functions in normal preparations, but reduced (up to 60%) in a concentration-dependent manner those in inflammation (2-way ANOVA, p<0.05). Moreover, in inflamed tissue, spontaneous afferent activity showed a dose-dependent trend toward reduction with SB-750364. We conclude that mechanosensitivity of high-threshold serosal colonic splanchnic afferents to graded stimuli is unaffected during DSS colitis. However, there is a positive influence of TRPV1 in mechanosensitivity in inflammation, suggesting up-regulation of excitatory TRPV1-mediated mechanisms.

Involvement of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in the development of acute visceral hyperalgesia during colorectal distension in rats.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channels have been implicated in pain mechanisms and, particularly, in the development of hyperalgesia. We used selective TRPV1 antagonists (NGV-1, SB-750364 and JYL 1421) to assess the role of TRPV1 channels in repetitive noxious colorectal distension (CRD)-induced visceral pain responses in rats. Isobaric CRD (80 mmHg) induced a viscerosomatic response, indicative of visceral pain associated to the distension procedure. Repetition (12 consecutive distensions) of the CRD resulted in an increase in the response over time (119+/-23% increase at distension 12, P<0.05 vs response during the 1st distension) indicative of acute mechanical sensitization. NGV-1 (0.1, 0.3, 1 or 3 micromol/kg, i.v.) prevented in a dose-related manner the development of sensitization, without inducing hypoalgesic responses. SB-750364 (30 micromol/kg, i.v.) had a transitory effect, partially reducing the sensitization response, while JYL 1421 (4.7 micromol/kg, i.v.) was without effect. In the same conditions, the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB(1)) agonist, WIN55,212-2 (0.1 micromol/kg) reduced pain responses leading to a hypoalgesic state. At 3 micromol/kg, NGV-1, did not affect the pressure-volume relationship during CRD, indicating that TRPV1 channels do not modulate colonic compliance. These observations suggest that TRPV1 channels are involved in the development of acute mechanical colonic hyperalgesia during repetitive noxious CRD in rats. Antagonism of TRPV1 channels might result in antihyperalgesic effects without hypoalgesic activity and might be beneficial in the treatment of visceral pain disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome. These observations warrant the clinical assessment of TRPV1 antagonists for the treatment of visceral pain.

Identification of the human ApoAV gene as a novel RORalpha target gene.

Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-alpha (RORalpha) (NR1F1) is an orphan nuclear receptor with a potential role in metabolism. Previous studies have shown that RORalpha regulates transcription of the murine Apolipoprotein AI gene and human Apolipoprotein CIII genes. In the present study, we present evidence that RORalpha also induces transcription of the human Apolipoprotein AV gene, a recently identified apolipoprotein associated with triglyceride levels. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of RORalpha increased the endogenous expression of ApoAV in HepG2 cells and RORalpha also enhanced the activity of an ApoAV promoter construct in transiently transfected HepG2 cells. Deletion and mutation studies identified three AGGTCA motifs in the ApoAV promoter that mediate RORalpha transactivation, one of which overlaps with a previously identified binding site for PPARalpha. Together, these results suggest a novel mechanism whereby RORalpha modulates lipid metabolism and implies RORalpha as a potential target for the treatment of dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis.

Physical mapping of the Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and alesti chromosomes.

Two strains of the well-known insect pathogen and biopesticide, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), belonging to subspecies alesti (strain Bt5) and kurstaki (strain Bt213), were chosen for genetic characterization. The two strains belong to different serotypes and are currently classified into different subspecies, although their insecticidal activity is similar. Physical maps were constructed of Bt alesti and Bt kurstaki using Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoreses (PFGE), and the map positions of several genes were determined. The 5.5 Mb combined genetic and physical chromosome maps of the two strains were found to be indistinguishable, and the only differences detected between the strains were of extrachromosomal origin. A cryIA toxin gene probe hybridised to a chromosome fragment and to two extrachromosomal elements in both strains, migrating as 100 kb and 350 kb, respectively. In addition a cry hybridizing extrachromosomal element migrating as 80 kb was present only in Bt alesti. Both strains were also found to contain sequences hybridizing to an enterotoxin (hbla) gene probe. Such sequences were positioned on the 350 kb extrachromosomal element, as well as on the chromosome.