Involvement of programmed cell death 4 in transforming growth factor-beta1-induced apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

The programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) gene was originally identified as a tumor-related gene in humans and acts as a tumor-suppressor in mouse epidermal carcinoma cells. However, its function and regulatory mechanisms of expression in human cancer remain to be elucidated. We therefore investigated the expression of PDCD4 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the role of PDCD4 in human HCC cells. Downregulation of PDCD4 protein was observed in all HCC tissues tested compared with corresponding noncancerous liver, as revealed by Western blotting or immunohistochemical staining. Human HCC cell line, Huh7, transfected with PDCD4 cDNA showed nuclear fragmentation and DNA laddering characteristic of apoptotic cells associated with mitochondrial changes and caspase activation. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) treatment of Huh7 cells resulted in increased PDCD4 expression and occurrence of apoptosis, also concomitant with mitochondrial events and caspase activation. Transfection of Smad7, a known antagonist to TGF-beta1 signaling, protected cells from TGF-beta1-mediated apoptosis and suppressed TGF-beta1-induced PDCD4 expression. Moreover, antisense PDCD4 transfectants were resistant to apoptosis induced by TGF-beta1. In conclusion, these data suggest that PDCD4 is a proapoptotic molecule involved in TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis in human HCC cells, and a possible tumor suppressor in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Synthesis of (1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octanyl)methyl-substituted aromatic heterocycles and their muscarinic activity.

In our development of drugs effective against Alzheimer's disease, we have researched a series of aromatic compounds having a characteristic cyclic amine, 1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane ring. In this report, we describe synthesis of a series of aromatic heterocycles with the 1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane ring and their pharmacological evaluation. 3-Amino-5-(1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-5-yl)methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole (2b) showed the highest M1 selectivity.

Synthesis and biological activity of the metabolites of N-[2-(1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-5-yl)ethyl]-2-nitroaniline fumarate (SK-946).

Three metabolites of N-[2-(1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-5-yl)ethyl]-2-nitroaniline fumarate (SK-946), a novel central muscarinic cholinergic receptor agonist, were prepared to confirm their proposed structures, and tested for muscarinic receptor affinity in vitro.

A convenient and efficient synthesis of sialyl Lewis X.

A convenient synthesis of the sialyl Lewis X (sLe(x)) tetrasaccharide, NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc (8), as a carbohydrate ligand for selectins is described. The key step is the reaction between NeuAc alpha 2-3GalSMe (5) as a glycosyl donor and the suitably protected Fuc alpha 1-3GlcNAc derivative (4) as the glycosyl acceptor by using dimethyl(methylthio)sulfonium triflate (DMTST) as the promoter.

Immunosuppression by a neutral thiol protease from parasitic helminth larvae in mice.

The composition and immunological suppression of a novel proteinaceous material, a neutral thiol protease (NTP), isolated from the metacercaria of the helminth Paragonimus westermani are reported. From cDNA cloning and sequencing, the protease was found to be composed of 215 amino acid residues and closely resembled the known cysteine proteases. Treatment of adult mice with the enzyme suppressed the delayed footpad reaction and haemagglutinin antibody production, and reduced expression of the major histocompatibility complex and interleukin 2 receptor on lymphocytes, and induced suppressor cells in the spleen. In addition, stable and long-term skin graft survival was achieved by concomitant administration of the enzyme at a low dose.

Singly-linked catenation and knotting of cisplatin-DNA adduct by DNA topoisomerase I.

We studied the topological interaction between topoisomerase I (topo I) and cisplatin-DNA adduct. The topoisomers of the cisplatinized DNA formed by topo I are different in none-, low- and high-cisplatin concentrations to bind to DNA. Two unique topologically distinct invariants, singly-linked catenane and torefoiled knot DNA generated from cisplatin adduct, by topological reaction but not from none cisplatinized DNA. The results are discussed in relation with a possible recombinational role of cisplatin on the topological reaction with DNA.

The cell content of peritoneal exudates following the injection of neutral thiol protease into guinea pigs.

The cell content of the peritoneal exudate was examined 4 days after an intraperitoneal injection of glycogen in uninfected and Paragonimus westermani-infected guinea pigs. In uninfected animals a reduction in macrophage count and an accumulation of granulocytes in the exudate were observed at 3 and 6 hr after an intraperitoneal injection of purified neutral thiol protease from P. westermani metacercariae. No such effect occurred after the enzyme was injected into infected animals. At 9 hr after enzyme injection, vacuoles were found in the cytoplasm of macrophages in uninfected animals.

Pyomelanin production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. I. Transformation of pyomelanin productivity.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa was successfully transformed from a pyomelanin-producing strain to a non-pyomelanin-producing strain by genetic transformation, with an average frequency of 1.17 X 10-3/recipient. Although the transformation frequency was not affected by doses of DNA between 17 and 51 microgram/ml, it was influenced by the growth phase of the recipient bacteria, i.e., it was highest in the late logarithmic phase. Biochemical functions of the transformants were the same as those of the recipient strain except for pyomelanin production. Some of them, however, showed an intermediate growth behavior and cell arrangement between the donor and recipient. The serological type of the donor strain was sometimes contransduced although a few transformants became nonagglutinable with either donor or recipient type antiserum. The pyomelanin producing activity and serological type gained of some transformants were eliminated by either subculturing in nutrient broth or acridine treatment. The results obtained suggested that the pyomelanin productivity of P. aeruginosa is controlled by a plasmid.