L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase expressed in developing organ: isolation and characterisation of the enzyme from human fetal liver.

L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (MIPS; EC: 5.5.1.4) activity has been detected and partially purified for the first time from human fetal liver. Crude homogenate from the fetal liver was subjected to streptomycin sulphate precipitation and 0-60 % ammonium sulphate fractionation followed by successive chromatography through DEAE cellulose and BioGel A 0.5-m columns. After the final chromatography, the enzyme was purified 51-fold and 3.46 % of MIPS could be recovered. The human fetal liver MIPS specifically utilised D-glucose-6-phosphte and NAD(+) as its substrate and coenzyme, respectively. It shows pH optima between 7.0 and 7.5 while the temperature maximum was at 40 °C. The enzyme activity was remarkably stimulated by NH (4) (+) , slightly stimulated by K(+) and Ca(2+) and highly inhibited by Zn(2+), Cu(2+) and Hg(2+). The K (m) values of MIPS for D-glucose-6-phosphate and NAD(+) were found to be as 1.15 and 0.12 mM respectively while the V (max) values were 280 nM and 252 nM for D-glucose-6-phosphate and NAD(+) correspondingly. The apparent molecular weight of the native enzyme was determined to be 170 kDa.

A naphthalene exciplex based Al3+ selective on-type fluorescent probe for living cells at the physiological pH range: experimental and computational studies.

2-((Naphthalen-6-yl)methylthio)ethanol (HL) was prepared by one pot synthesis using 2-mercaptoethanol and 2-bromomethylnaphthalene. It was found to be a highly selective fluorescent sensor for Al(3+) in the physiological pH (pH 7.0-8.0). It could sense Al(3+) bound to cells through fluorescence microscopy. Metal ions like Mn(2+), Fe(3+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Ag(+), Cd(2+), Hg(2+), Cr(3+) and Pb(2+) did not interfere. No interference was also observed with anions like Cl(-), Br(-), F(-), SO(4)(2-), NO(3)(-), CO(3)(2-), HPO(4)(2-) and SCN(-). Experimentally observed structural and spectroscopic features of HL and its Al(3+) complex have been substantiated by computational calculations using density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT).

Miltefosine triggers a strong proinflammatory cytokine response during visceral leishmaniasis: role of TLR4 and TLR9.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by the protozoan parasite, Leishmania donovani, is associated with irregular fever, weight loss, hepatosplenomegaly and anemia. The therapeutic arsenal against VL is limited and the recent advent of a novel immunomodulatory drug, Miltefosine has shown promising results for effective treatment of VL but its dependence on Toll like receptors (TLR) has not been explored. In this study, we have shown that the non-cytotoxic dose (5 µM) of Miltefosine could render significant protection corresponding to 88% and 95% reduction in intracellular parasite load at 24 h and 48 h in L. donovani infected THP1 cells. This was accompanied by a strong proinflammatory cytokine response in the form of IFN-γ, IL-12 and TNF-α as evident by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real time PCR (RT-PCR). This Miltefosine induced proinflammatory cytokine response in infected THP1 cells was also accompanied by simultaneous 10- and 12-fold increase in TLR4 mRNA and TLR9 mRNA. These changes in cytokine response and TLR expression were also studied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of VL patients treated with Miltefosine by RT-PCR which showed similar results as in THP1 cells. Thereby, suggesting a probable dependence of Miltefosine on TLR4 and TLR9 in triggering a proinflammatory response.

A naphthalene-based Al3+ selective fluorescent sensor for living cell imaging.

An efficient fluorescent Al(3+) receptor, N-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthalene)-N'-(2-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthalene)amino-ethyl)-ethane-1,2-diamine (L) has been synthesized by the condensation reaction between 2-hydroxy naphthaldehyde and diethylenetriamine. High selectivity and affinity of L towards Al(3+) in ethanol (EtOH) as well as in HEPES buffer at pH 7.4, makes it suitable to detect intracellular Al(3+) with fluorescence microscopy. Metal ions, viz. Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Mn(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Ag(+), Cd(2+), Hg(2+) and Pb(2+) do not interfere. The lowest detection limit for Al(3+) is 3.0 × 10(-7) M and 1.0 × 10(-7) M in EtOH and HEPES buffer respectively.

Treatment with IP-10 induces host-protective immune response by regulating the T regulatory cell functioning in Leishmania donovani-infected mice.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused by the protozoan parasite, Leishmania donovani, is characterized by an infection in the liver and spleen. The failure of the first-line drugs has led to the development of new strategies for combating VL. Recently, our group has shown that interferon-γ-inducible protein (IP)-10, a CXC chemokine, renders protection against VL. In the present study, we have elucidated the mechanism by which IP-10 renders protection in in vivo L. donovani infection. We observed that IP-10-treated parasitized BALB/c mice showed a strong host-protective T helper cell (Th) 1 immune response along with marked decrease in immunosuppressive cytokines, tumor growth factor (TGF)-ß, and interleukin (IL)-10 secreting CD4(+) T cells. This IP-10-mediated decrease in immunosuppressive cytokines was correlated with the reduction in the elevated frequency of CD4(+)CD25(+) T regulatory (Treg) cells along with the reduced TFG-ß production from these Treg cells in Leishmania-infected mice. This reduction in TGF-ß production was due to effective modulation of TGF-ß signaling by IP-10, which reduced the immunosuppressive activity of Treg cells. Thus, these findings put forward a detailed mechanistic insight into IP-10-mediated regulation of the Treg cell functioning during experimental VL, which might be helpful in combating Leishmania-induced pathogenesis.

Determination of individual proton affinities of ofloxacin from its UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence and charge-transfer spectra: effect of inclusion in beta-cyclodextrin on the proton affinities.

Individual proton affinities of the four dissociable functional groups of (+/-)-9-fluoro-2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-10-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-7-oxo-7H-pyrido[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazine-6-carboxylic acid (commonly called "ofloxacin" and to be denoted henceforth as OflH), have been determined from the pH-dependent variation of the UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectra of the compound itself and of its charge transfer complexes (CT) with p-bromanil and p-chloranil (in aqueous medium containing 0.1% ethanol, v/v). To utilize the CT spectra for determination of the proton affinity of the anilinic N, the CT absorption band of the ofloxacin-p-bromanil complex has been studied by changing the pH of the medium. Further, the effect of inclusion on the proton affinities of the four dissociable groups of OflH has been studied in presence of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). Two pK(a) values corresponding to anilinic and tertiary N atoms change, whereas those corresponding to phenolic -OH and aromatic -COOH groups remain unchanged by the addition of beta-CD, a fact that indicates partial inclusion of the ofloxacin molecule in beta-CD. Formation constant and related thermodynamic parameters for the OflH(2)(+).beta-CD inclusion complex in aqueous solution have been determined from absorption intensities. A general relation between pK(a) values of guests having proton-releasing functional groups and formation constants of the inclusion complexes of the protonated and deprotonated forms with a host molecule has been utilized for determination of the formation constant of the OflH(3)(+2).beta-CD complex from the pK(a) values of OflH(3)(+2) in the presence and absence of beta-CD, along with the formation constant of the OflH(2)(+).beta-CD complex. Results of the present study reveal that the N-methylpiperazinyl moiety of ofloxacin is included in beta-CD, and the remaining part of the guest molecule remains outside. Also, in molecular interaction with quinone-type electron acceptors, charge transfer occurs from the aromatic part of the ofloxacin molecule, which is conjugated with the anilinic N atom of ofloxacin.

Amphotericin B regulates the host immune response in visceral leishmaniasis: reciprocal regulation of protein kinase C isoforms.

OBJECTIVES: Treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is marked by the failure of pentavalent antimonials which has brought amphotericin B (AmpB) to the forefront. In this study we have focused on signaling pathway regulating AmpB triggered effector response. METHODS: AmpB triggered effector response in the form of free radicals and proinflammatory cytokines was determined by FACS, colorimetric estimation or Real-Time PCR (RT-PCR). Specific peptide inhibitors for classical and atypical protein kinase C (PKC) were used to investigate the role of PKC isoforms in the functioning of AmpB during VL. RESULTS: In vitro studies with THP1 cells showed that 2 microg/ml dose of AmpB could mediate effective parasite clearance due to strong induction of free radicals and proinflammatory cytokines. This induction of proinflammatory response paralleled with antagonistic regulation of classical and atypical PKC. Further confirmation was provided by RT-PCR of (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) PBMC isolated from VL infected patients undergoing AmpB treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results suggest that classical and atypical PKC signaling pathways are involved in the modulation of proinflammatory response triggered by AmpB against Leishmania donovani. These observations may contribute to the understanding of the mechanism responsible for the initiation of protective response induced by AmpB during VL.

Arabinosylated lipoarabinomannan-mediated protection in visceral leishmaniasis through up-regulation of toll-like receptor 2 signaling: an immunoprophylactic approach.

Visceral leishmaniasis is characterized by severe immunosuppression of the host cell, resulting in loss of the proinflammatory response. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is involved in myriad disease forms, including visceral leishmaniasis. During Leishmania donovani infection, the parasite modulates TLR2 to suppress interleukin 12 production, indicating the possible involvement of TLR2 in regulation of the immune response against L. donovani infection. Arabinosylated lipoarabinomannan (Ara-LAM) possesses immunomodulatory properties and induces proinflammatory responses via induction of TLR2-mediated signaling. Here, we found that pretreatment of L. donovani-infected macrophages with Ara-LAM caused a significant increase in TLR2 expression along with the activation of TLR2-mediated downstream signaling, facilitating active nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappaB. These events culminated in up-regulation of the proinflammatory response, which was abrogated by treatment with TLR2-specific small interfering RNA. In vivo experiments were also suggestive of Ara-LAM playing a long-term protective role. This study demonstrates that Ara-LAM confers protection against leishmanial pathogenesis via TLR2 signaling-mediated induction of the proinflammatory response.

CXC chemokine-mediated protection against visceral leishmaniasis: involvement of the proinflammatory response.

Visceral leishmaniasis, caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani, is characterized by the loss of ability of the host to generate an effective immune response. In the present study, the comparative potential of CXC chemokines, interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in restricting Leishmania donovani infection via the release of nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines was studied in an in vitro model. Nitric oxide, a crucial mediator for IP-10-mediated leishmanicidal activity, was found to be dependent on inducible nitric oxide synthase 2 (iNOS2) expression and was linked to the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway. Further, IP-10 was also able to abrogate the survival of Leishmania in an in vivo model of visceral leishmaniasis by restoration of Th1 cytokines and nitric oxide. Thus, this study strongly demonstrates that IP-10, like CC chemokines, is involved in rendering a protective response in visceral leishmaniasis via up-regulation of proinflammatory mediators.

Inclusion of riboflavin in beta-cyclodextrin: a fluorimetric and absorption spectrometric study.

Formation of inclusion complexes between riboflavin and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) with both 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometry has been established by fluorimetric titration. However, in absorption spectrometric experiment, spectral change of riboflavin in the visible range could be observed only by taking beta-CD at a much higher concentration (about 100 times) than riboflavin and under such condition only 1:2 complexes could be detected. Its formation constant (K) was determined by a multiple linear regression analysis of the absorption data. The reliability of the K value was confirmed by the consistency achieved on analyzing the data at two different wavelengths.

Fluorimetric study of water-ethanol interaction and its effect on the micellisation of sodium dodecyl sulphate in the presence of bovine serum albumin.

The model for self-association of ethanol in water which was established earlier by compressibility and infrared absorption measurements, has been further supported in the present work by monitoring fluorimetrically the variation of the solvatochromic Kamlet-Taft pi* parameter of ethanol-water mixtures over the entire mole fraction range. This model has been used to interpret the variation of the critical micellisation concentration (cmc) of sodium dodecyl sulphate in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in aqueous ethanol mixtures (as obtained from the tryptophan fluorescence intensity of BSA) in low ethanol mole fraction range.

Quassin alters the immunological patterns of murine macrophages through generation of nitric oxide to exert antileishmanial activity.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to characterize the in vitro antileishmanial activity of quassin, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. METHODS: The cytotoxic effect of quassin was studied in murine peritoneal macrophages at various concentrations using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide method. The role of quassin as an antileishmanial agent was evaluated by microscopic counting of intracellular amastigotes in macrophages stained with Giemsa. To understand the effector mechanism of quassin-treated macrophages against leishmanial parasites, western blot and real-time PCR analysis of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase 2 (iNOS2) were done followed by measurement of NO generation by Griess reaction. The effect of quassin on the production of Th1 cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-12 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and Th2 cytokines such as IL-10 and transforming growth factor-beta was measured by ELISA, and the mRNA expression of these cytokines was analysed by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Quassin at a dose of 25 microg/mL (64.36 microM) showed less cytotoxicity to the host murine peritoneal macrophages but at the same dose was effective enough to control the intracellular parasitic load compared with higher doses of quassin. Leishmania donovani is known to exert its pathogenic effects mainly by the suppression of NO generation and subversion of the cellular inflammatory responses in the macrophages. Quassin was found to induce a potent host-protective immune response by enhancing NO generation and iNOS2 expression both at a protein and mRNA level and by up-regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-12 in L. donovani-infected macrophages with concurrent inhibition of anti-inflammatory responses. CONCLUSIONS: These findings strongly support the effectiveness of quassin as a potent immunomodulatory tool for controlling the establishment of leishmanial parasite within the host macrophages.

Determination of individual proton affinities of reserpine from its UV-vis and charge-transfer spectra.

Proton affinities of the two N atoms of reserpine (methyl-11,17alpha-dimethoxy-18beta-[(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)oxy]-3beta,20alpha-yohimban-16beta-carboxylate) have been determined in two ways from the pH-dependent variation of the UV-vis absorption spectra (i) of reserpine itself and (ii) of the charge-transfer (CT) spectra of its complexes with o-chloranil, p-chloranil, and DDQ in aqueous medium (containing 0.1% ethanol v/v). For the second method, the CT absorption bands of the complexes were determined, their formation constants were estimated by a modified Benesi-Hildebrand equation, and variation of CT absorption spectra with a change in pH was noted. A necessary working formula for the second method was derived and utilized with the experimental data. The pKa values obtained by the two methods are well in agreement with each other within the limits of experimental error. To our knowledge, so far, this is the first report on determination of pKa from charge-transfer complex formation in aqueous solution using simple absorption spectroscopy in the UV-vis region. The results obtained were further checked by noting the variation of fluorescence intensity of reserpine upon addition of o-chloranil, acid, and base, and almost complete agreement with the absorption spectrometric result was observed.

Charge transfer interaction of 4-acetamidophenol (paracetamol) with 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone: a study in aqueous ethanol medium by UV-vis spectroscopic and DFT methods.

4-Acetamidophenol (paracetamol) is shown to form charge transfer complex with 2,3-dichloro1,4-naphthoquinone in aqueous ethanol media exhibiting the unusual 2:1 (paracetamol:quinone) stoichiometry. The complexation enthalpy and entropy have been estimated from the formation constant (K) determined spectrophotometrically at five different temperatures. In aqueous ethanol mixtures of varying composition K increases with increasing dielectric constant of the medium. This has been rationalized by calculating the electronic charge distribution in paracetamol molecule and its conjugate base at the DFT/B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level. The theoretically calculated vertical ionization potential of paracetamol also agrees with reported experimental value.

Spectroscopic and thermodynamic study of charge transfer interaction between vitamin B6 and p-chloranil in aqueous ethanol mixtures of varying composition.

Charge transfer complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry have been found to form between vitamin B(6) (pyridoxine hydrochloride) and a series of electron acceptors including p-chloranil. Since vitamin B(6) is soluble in water while the electron acceptors are insoluble in water but soluble in ethanol, the medium chosen for study is water-ethanol mixture. From the trends in the CT absorption bands the vertical ionization potential of vitamin B(6) has been determined to be 8.12 eV. The enthalpy and entropy of formation of the complex between p-chloranil and vitamin B(6) have been determined by estimating the formation constant (K) spectroscopically at four different temperatures in 75% ethanol-water mixture. Again, the magnitude of K has been found to decrease noticeably with decrease in dielectric constant of the medium (as the percentage of ethanol in the aqueous-ethanol mixture is increased). A plausible explanation for this has been given in terms of hydrolysis of pyridoxine hydrochloride.

Study of quenching of anthracene fluorescence by [60]fullerene.

[60]Fullerene has been shown to have a very high quenching effect on the fluorescence of anthracene at room temperature in n-hexane, n-heptane and carbontetrachloride medium. The possibility that the quenching is due to ground state electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex formation between [60]fullerene and anthracene has been shown to be untanable in the concentration range used ( approximately 10(-5)moldm(-3) in both anthracene and C(60)). No exciplex formation under the present experimental conditions has been observed. In the non-quenching solvents n-hexane and n-heptane the Stern-Volmer constant follows the right trend with respect to change in solvent viscosity but in case of the quenching solvent CCl(4), the trend is opposite.

Aggregation of [70]fullerene in presence of acetonitrile: a chemical kinetic experiment.

[70]fullerene solutions in carbon tetrachloride and o-xylene exhibit a noteworthy spectral variation with time when acetonitrile is added. This has been ascribed to self-aggregation of [70]fullerene caused by the repulsion between polar acetonitrile and hydrophobic [70]fullerene, and the aggregation numbers have been determined from a kinetic scheme and also from a scanning electron microscopic study. The numbers thus obtained follow a cuboctahedral stacking pattern proposed recently and also agree with the magic formula n=55+3m (m=1 to 14) proposed by Branz et al. for [60]fullerene clusters [Phys. Rev. B. 66, 094107 (2002)].

Spectroscopic and thermodynamic study of charge transfer complex formation between cloxacillin sodium and riboflavin in aqueous ethanol media of varying composition.

Cloxacillin sodium has been shown to form a charge transfer complex of 2:1 stoichiometry with riboflavin (Vitamin B(2)) in aqueous ethanol medium. The enthalpy and entropy of formation of this complex have been determined by estimating the formation constant spectrophotometrically at five different temperatures in pure water medium. Pronounced effect of dielectric constant of the medium on the magnitude of K has been observed by determining K in aqueous ethanol mixtures of varying composition. This has been rationalized in terms of ionic dissociation of the cloxacillin sodium (D(-)Na(+)), hydrolysis of the anion D(-) and complexation of the free acid, DH with riboflavin.

A comparative study of molecular complexation of [60]- and [70]fullerenes with 1,3,5-tribromobenzene by UV-vis spectrophotometric method.

By UV-vis spectrophotometric method it has been shown that 1,3,5-tribromobenzene (TBB) forms molecular complexes of 1:2 stoichiometry with [60]- and [70]fullerenes. An isosbestic point could be detected in case of the [70]fullerene complex. The formation constant of the [60]fullerene complex is higher than that of the [70]fullerene complex at each of the four temperatures under study. This is in opposite order of the electron affinities of the two fullerenes; moreover, no charge transfer band was observed in the spectra of either complex in solution. This indicates that van der Waals forces, rather than CT interactions, are responsible for complexation. The results reveal that the C-atoms at the pentagon vertices of [60]fullerene have greater polarizing power than those in [70]fullerene.

Spectroscopic and thermodynamic study of charge transfer complexes of cloxacillin sodium in aqueous ethanol medium.

Cloxacillin sodium has been shown to form charge transfer (CT) complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry with a number of electron acceptors in 50% (v/v) aqueous ethanol medium. From the trends in the CT absorption bands, the vertical ionization potential of the drug molecule (cloxacillin sodium) has been estimated to be 7.89 eV. The enthalpies and entropies of formation of two such complexes have been determined by estimating the formation constants spectrophotometrically at five different temperatures. The oscillator strengths and transition dipole moments of these complexes have been determined. It has further been noted that the reduction of o-chloranil by aqueous ethanol is completely inhibited by cloxacillin sodium, a phenomenon that makes the present study of formation equilibrium possible.