Monosubstituted Coumarins Inhibit Epinephrine-induced Platelet Aggregation.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effect of coumarin and 15 monosubstituted derivatives on the inhibition of human platelet aggregation induced by various proaggregatory agonists, particularly by epinephrine. BACKGROUND: The emergence of residual platelet reactivity during the use of conventional antiplatelet agents (acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel) is one of the main causes of double therapy´s therapeutic failure. Platelet adrenoceptors participate in residual platelet reactivity. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new antiplatelet agents that inhibit epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation as a new therapeutic strategy. Information on the antiplatelet activity of coumarins in inhibiting epinephrine-induced aggregation is limited. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to establish the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of coumarin derivatives with hydroxy, methoxy, and acetoxy groups in different positions of the coumarin nucleus to identify the most active molecules. Moreover, this study aimed to use in silico studies to suggest potential drug targets to which the molecules bind to produce antiplatelet effects. METHODS: The platelet aggregation was performed using a Lumi-aggregometer; the inhibitory activity of 16 compounds were evaluated by inducing the aggregation of human platelets (250 × 103/µl) with epinephrine (10 µM), collagen (2 µg/ml) or ADP (10 µM). The aggregation of control platelets was considered 100% of the response for each pro-aggregatory agonist. RESULTS: Eleven molecules inhibited epinephrine-induced aggregation, with 3-acetoxycoumarin and 7-methoxycoumarin being the most active. Only coumarin inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation, but no molecule showed activity when using ADP as an inducer. CONCLUSIONS: In silico studies suggest that most active molecules might have antagonistic interactions in the α2 and ß2 adrenoceptors. The antiplatelet actions of these coumarins have the potential to reduce residual platelet reactivity and thus contribute to the development of future treatments for patients who do not respond adequately to conventional agents.

Oxidative stress response in an endangered goodeid fish (Girardinichthys viviparus) by exposure to water from its extant localities.

The oxidative stress response in Girardinichthys viviparus after exposure to water from its extant habitants was evaluated. The distribution range of this endangered species is currently restricted to a single lake, which receives domestic and industrial wastewater treated to a secondary level, but this is also contaminated with PCBs. Fish were exposed to water from Lake Texcoco, its extant habitat or another one, the Lake Zumpango proposed as a candidate to re-introduction. To predict the damage induced by sublethal increases in PCBs, assessment is also made of fish response to water from these localities enriched with PCB mixtures. Adult fish born in the laboratory were exposed to filtered surface water or to the PCB-enriched water for 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 days. An assessment of the oxidative stress response in G. viviparus revealed four characteristic response patterns that were frequently observed: (1) increased lipid-peroxidation (LPOX), depressed SOD and increased CAT; (2) an increase in all three biomarkers; (3) reduced LPOX, unchanged SOD and increased CAT; (4) increased LPOX and depressed SOD and CAT. Our results demonstrate the complexity stress response of this endangered species while indicating that preventive measures are urgent to control the discharge of pro-oxidants in its environment.

[Molecular biology of adenoviral vectors]. / Biología molecular de los vectores adenovirales.

Gene therapy is based on the use of DNA as a therapeutic material as an alternative therapeutic tool for treatment of human diseases. All proteins are codified into the DNA and several diseases result from the absence or aberrant expression of one or related genes, absence of expression of functional proteins, and alterations for regulation process in transport and degradation mechanisms. In this regard, several diseases could be potentially treated through the expression of the normal form of the involved protein. However, the main objective is to achieve a successful genetic material delivery into the target site and avoid the destruction of DNA or the selected vehicle before arrival at the final destination. Several efficient viral gene transfer systems have been developed. Viral-mediated gene delivery for experimental models has been designed from herpes virus (HV), adenovirus (adenovirous), adeno-associated virus (AAV) and retroviruses (lentiviral vectors). In this review we will discuss the specific biological and cloning properties of adenoviral vectors as a gene transfer tool and potential medical implications for gene therapy.

Hormone multifunctionalities: a theory of endocrine signaling, command and control.

A theory is presented outlining how organisms can function and benefit from multifunctionality of hormones in order to enhance greatly the information-carrying potential of endocrine signaling. Hormones are produced continuously as micropulses, and intermittently as larger pulses. It is generally believed that micropulses generate fluctuating basal hormone concentrations, which may consistently elicit particular responses among diverse variables. Evidence is discussed suggesting that in contrast to the hormone micropulses, the larger endogenous hormone pulses may elicit responses which may differ from one pulse to another and may therefore serve different physiological functions. In this paper we postulate that an endogenous hormone pulse is a specific form of a multisignal message that serves a certain physiological function. Different pulses of a hormone may be signals of diverse multisignal messages that serve different functions. A multisignal message may elicit congruous responses by selectively enhancing some actions and suppressing other actions of the component signals. Various roles of signals of multisignal messages are discussed, as well as processes that may be involved in the diversity and selectivity of actions of different pulses of a hormone. Hormones also are converted into other hormones; we analyze how precursor and derived hormones may function independently of each other, and how precursor hormones may give rise to permissive effects. Mechanisms involved in therapeutic and adverse effects of hormone administrations are analyzed, and a strategy is suggested for developing more selective hormonal therapies.

Pulsatile diastolic increase and systolic decrease in arterial blood pressure: their mechanism of production and physiological role.

The diastolic pulsatile increase in arterial blood pressure is shown to occur earlier in the aorta than in other arteries. It is thus not a reflection of the systolic pressure wave, as has been generally assumed, but an independent pressure wave produced by the sequential contraction of the arterial tree. Conversely, a systolic pulsatile decrease in the rate of blood pressure rise is also produced by an active relaxation of the arterial tree. Simultaneously with the pulsatile changes in arterial blood pressure, there are corresponding changes in arterial blood flow. All these cyclic changes are reflex responses to decreasing diastolic and increasing systolic baroreceptor firing rates, respectively. The two reflexes contribute, together with the known compliance of the large arteries and the great arteriolar blood flow resistance, to the steadiness of capillary blood flow throughout the systolic and the much longer-lasting diastolic phases of the cardiac cycle.

Differential effects of esculetin and daphnetin on in vitro cell proliferation and in vivo estrogenicity.

Esculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin) and daphnetin (7,8-dihydroxycoumarin) are secondary metabolites of plants used in folk medicine. These compounds have showed great antiproliferative activity in several tumor cell lines and have been proposed as potential anticancer agents. However, the estrogenic potential of these two compounds has to date not been reported. The present study compared esculetin and daphnetin on the inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle progression of the MCF-7 estrogen-responsive human carcinoma cell line. In vivo and in vitro estrogenic activity for both compounds was also evaluated. Esculetin inhibited cell proliferation after 72 h exposure (IC50=193 ± 6.6 µM), while daphnetin evidenced inhibiting effects starting at 24-h exposure (72 h, IC50=73 ± 4.1 µM). Both effects showed changes in cyclin D1 gene expression. In non-estrogenic conditions (E-screening assay), esculetin produced biphasic response on proliferation of the MCF-7 cells; at 10(-8)-10(-6)M, concentrations induced proliferative effects as EC50=4.07 × 10(-9)M (E(2)=2.91 × 10(-12)M); at higher concentrations (10(-5)-10(-4)M), cell proliferation was inhibited. Relative proliferative effect at E(2) was 52% (E(2)=100), relative proliferative potency was 0.072 (E(2)=100). Additionally, esculetin tested in vivo showed estrogenic effects at 50-100mg/kg doses; relative uterotrophic effect at E(2) was 37%, with relative uterotrophic potency registered at 0.003. In contrast, daphnetin did not induce estrogenic effects in vitro or with in vivo models. The low estrogenic activity of esculetin could prove useful in postmenopausal therapy but not as a safe antitumor agent in estrogen-dependent tumors. Daphnetin-based antiproliferative selectivity with MCF-7 cells showed that daphnetin is a promising antitumoral agent also acting on estrogen dependent tumors.

Reflections on the mode of functioning of endocrine systems.

The concept of hormones as chemical messengers that transmit information from one organ to other organs by way of circulating blood has implications that have not been made explicit. In this paper the concept is analyzed and is shown to be inconsistent with many observations. The previously proposed concepts of hormone multifunctionalities, hormonal multisignal messages, and the conversion of hormones into other hormones are shown to clarify conflicting observations as well as the congruous mode of functioning of endocrine systems with multifunctional hormones. A strategy is proposed for identifying the compositions and functions of the diverse multisignal messages conveyed by any hormone. The information so obtained could be useful for the development of more selective hormonal therapies.

Gender related differences in the oxidative stress response to PCB exposure in an endangered goodeid fish (Girardinichthys viviparus).

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent xenobiotics within aquatic environments, which elicit diverse toxic effects such as induction of oxidative stress. Despite numerous earlier studies, no detailed information exists on the toxic response by different sexes in fish. The aim of this study was to determine sex-linked differences in oxidative stress response and antioxidant defenses in Girardinichthys viviparus, an endangered fish endemic to Mexico, when exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of waterborne PCBs. The biological markers evaluated were lipid peroxidation (LPOX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity. Adult eight-month-old specimens born in the laboratory were exposed to (1/2) of the LC0 (0.92 mg PCBs/L) in semi-hard synthetic water and sacrificed on days 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 for biomarker assays. Sex-linked differences were observed in the control fish with respect to all three factors assayed. PCBs elicited significant (p<0.01) time- and sex-dependent LPOX levels which were higher in the case of males. In PCB-treated G. viviparus, SOD activity was depressed in both sexes and appears to return to pre-exposure levels after 16 days in males only. In contrast, CAT was significantly induced (p<0.01) in both sexes. This enzyme may be responsible for balancing oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses under experimental conditions. PCBs at sub-lethal concentrations are hazardous to both sexes of G. viviparus since these compounds are able to induce liver LPOX and changes in the antioxidant defense activities. The relationship between these biomarkers and cytochrome P450 and CYP1A induction is also discussed.

Biología molecular de los vectores adenovirales / Molecular biology of adenoviral vectors

La terapia con genes postula el uso terapéutico del DNA como una nueva alternativa de la biomedicina para el tratamiento de las enfermedades humanas. Todas las proteínas están codificadas en el DNA, y muchas enfermedades resultan de: a) la ausencia o expresión aberrante de uno o más genes; b) la ausencia de formas funcionales; c) alteraciones en su proceso de regulación, transporte o degradación. Por lo tanto, tales enfermedades pueden ser potencialmente tratadas, restableciendo la expresión de la proteína involucrada en las células afectadas. Sin embargo, para lograr una transferencia exitosa del material genético al sitio blanco y evitar la destrucción del DNA o del vehículo seleccionado antes de llegar al sitio de interés, se han desarrollado varios sistemas virales. Entre los virus más conocidos están: el virus del herpes simple, adenovirus tipo 5, virus adenoasociado y algunos retrovirus complejos (lentivirus). En este artículo se exponen las características biológicas, la manipulación genética y propiedades de los adenovirus, así como su empleo en la medicina actual como vectores para transferir genes y su potencial implicación en la terapia génica.

Gene therapy is based on the use of DNA as a therapeutic material as an alternative therapeutic tool for treatment of human diseases. All proteins are codified into the DNA and several diseases result from the absence or aberrant expression of one or related genes, absence of expression of functional proteins, and alterations for regulation process in transport and degradation mechanisms. In this regard, several diseases could be potentially treated through the expression of the normal form of the involved protein. However, the main objective is to achieve a successful genetic material delivery into the target site and avoid the destruction of DNA or the selected vehicle before arrival at the final destination. Several efficient viral gene transfer systems have been developed. Viral-mediated gene delivery for experimental models has been designed from herpes virus (HV), adenovirus (adenovirous), adeno-associated virus (AAV) and retroviruses (lentiviral vectors). In this review we will discuss the specific biological and cloning properties of adenoviral vectors as a gene transfer tool and potential medical implications for gene therapy.

Ciclo celular y sus anormalidades en el cáncer de pulmón / Cell cycle and its abnormalities in lung cancer

En esta revisión se describen los eventos celulares que ocurren normalmente en cada fase del ciclo celular. Se explica el papel de las proteínas que promueven la progresión del ciclo celular y las que lo detienen. En el cáncer de pulmón, los tipos de genes que presentan mutaciones con mayor frecuencia son: 1) los oncogenes c-ras y c-myc, 2) los genes supresores de tumores, RB y p53, y 3) el gen de la proteína inhibidora de Cdk p16. Las proteínas codificadas por estos genes mutados sufren cambios funcionales, lo que origina la pérdida del control del ciclo celular. La acumulación gradual de errores en genes conducen a tumores malignos

Expresión de moléculas de adhesión en el melanoma metastásico murino B16-F10 y su modificación farmacológica in vitro con el empleo de cumarina / Adhesion molecules expression in murine B16-F10 metastatic melanoma and its pharmacological modification in vitro by the use of coumarin

Recientemente se han demostrado correlaciones significativas entre la expresión de algunas moléculas de adhesión y la capacidad de células de producir metástasis. Por ejemplo, se ha observado una correlación entre la expresión de la integrina a6/ß1 en células cancerosas pulmonares y la producción de metástasis. También se ha observado correlación entre la expresión de algunas moléculas de adhesión en células de melanoma maligno y su capacidad de producir metástasis pulmonares. En este trabajo estudiamos la acción in vitro de la cumarina en el melanoma murino B16-F10, productor de metástasis pulmonares, sobre la expresión de dos moléculas de adhesión, ICAM-1 y LFA-1. No se observó disminución en la expresión de la molécula de adhesión LFA-1, y la expresión de ICAM-1 disminuyó de manera uniforme con todas las concentraciones de cumarina estudiadas. Estos resultados no explican los efectos antimetastásicos producidos por la cumarina en modelos animales de metástasis pulmonares experimentales y espontáneas, ni los efectos antimetastásicos en humanos. Es necesario, por tanto, estudiar el efecto de la cumarina en la expresión de otras integrinas. Este tipo de estudios permite el desarrollo de nuevas estrategias en la búsqueda de mejores agentes antineoplásicos que disminuyan en mayor grado el número y tamaño de metástasis, y retarden importantemente su producción; contribuye, adenomás, al conocimiento de la fisiopatogenia de estos tumores malignos