Nematocidal activity of 6-O-octanoyl- and 6-O-octyl-d-allose against larvae of Caenorhabditis elegans.

The nematocidal activities of the fatty acid esters of d-allose were examined using the larvae of C. elegans. Among the fatty acid esters, 6-O-octanoyl-d-allose (3) showed significant activity. 6-O-octanoyl-d-glucose (5) showed no activity, indicating that the D-allose moiety is essential for the nematocidal activity of 3. A nonhydrolyzable alkoxy analog 6-O-octyl-d-allose (6) also showed activity equivalent to that of 3.

DNA binding-dependent glucocorticoid receptor activity promotes adipogenesis via Krüppel-like factor 15 gene expression.

Glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone, have been used as in vitro inducers of adipogenesis. However, the roles of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in adipogenesis have not been well characterized yet. Here, we show that inhibition of GR activity using the GR antagonist RU486 prevents human mesenchymal stem cell and mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) differentiation into adipocytes. Moreover, in MEFs isolated from GR knockout (GR(null)) and GR(dim) mice deficient in GR DNA-binding activity, adipogenesis was blocked. We identified glucocorticoid response element sites in the first intron of KLF15 by bioinformatical promoter analysis and confirmed their functional relevance by demonstrating GR interaction by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Moreover, transfection of MEFs with siRNA for KLF15 significantly attenuated the expressions of adipogenic-marker genes and the lipid accumulation. Our results provide a new mechanism for understanding glucocorticoids-dependent adipogenesis and that GR promotes adipogenesis via KLF15 gene expression as a transcriptional direct target.

New approach for glyco- and lipidomics--molecular scanning of human brain gangliosides by TLC-Blot and MALDI-QIT-TOF MS.

We have developed a TLC-Blot system that makes possible the direct analysis of blotted glycosphingolipids on a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane from a high-performance TLC plate by immunological staining, chemical staining, enzymatic treatment and mass spectrometric (MS) analysis. An ion trap type matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-quadrupole ion trap-time of flight (MALDI-QIT-TOF) MS apparatus improved not only the molecular identification but also the analysis of molecular species of lipids on the polyvinylidene difluoride membrane. A new approach for glyco- and lipidomics, molecular scanning technology by a combination of TLC-Blot and MALDI-QIT-TOF MS, was developed and applied to human brain gangliosides separated from the tissues of patients with neural diseases and control patients. The results clearly showed a change of ganglioside composition, in addition to identifying individual ganglioside molecular species, in the hippocampus gray matter of patients with Alzheimer's disease. The results strongly suggested that metabolic changes of gangliosides played an important role in the progression of this disease. The present technology with molecular imaging should provide valuable information for elucidating the significance of molecular species in neuronal functions such as neural transmission, memory, and learning.

Nonclinical safety profile of tolvaptan.

PURPOSE: In the present study, the nonclinical safety profile of tolvaptan was evaluated. METHODS: A series of safety pharmacology and toxicology studies were performed in vitro and in mice, rats, dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs. RESULTS: In safety pharmacological studies, tolvaptan had no adverse effects on the central nervous, somatic nervous, autonomic nervous, smooth muscle, respiratory and cardiovascular, or digestive systems. In general toxicity studies, a single dose of tolvaptan up to 2,000 mg/kg was not lethal in rats and dogs. Tolvaptan did not cause any target organ toxicity in rats after treatment for 26 weeks or in dogs after treatment for 52 weeks at oral doses of up to 1,000 mg/kg/day. The toxicities observed in the present studies were generally attributable to the exaggerated pharmacological action of tolvaptan. In reproductive and developmental toxicity studies in rats, fertility was not affected. Suppressed viability or growth observed in the prenatal and postnatal progeny occurred at the maternally toxic dose of 1,000 mg/kg/day. In rabbits, tolvaptan showed teratogenicity at 1,000 mg/kg/day, a dose that was maternally toxic causing abortion. Tolvaptan was not genotoxic or carcinogenic, and did not induce phototoxicity, antigenicity or immunotoxicity. CONCLUSION: Nonclinical toxicity that precludes the safe administration of tolvaptan to humans was not observed. However, appropriate cautions should be taken in women of childbearing potential.

Direct inhibition of arginase attenuated airway allergic reactions and inflammation in a Dermatophagoides farinae-induced NC/Nga mouse model.

The expression of arginase I has been a focus of research into the pathogenesis of experimental asthma, because arginase deprives nitric oxide synthase (NOS) of arginine and therefore participates in the attenuation of bronchodilators such as nitric oxide (NO). The present study used an intranasal mite-induced NC/Nga mouse model of asthma to investigate the contribution of arginase to the asthma pathogenesis, using an arginase inhibitor, N(omega)-hydroxy-nor-l-arginine (nor-NOHA). The treatment with nor-NOHA inhibited the increase in airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. NOx levels in the lung were elevated despite suppressed NOS2 mRNA expression. Accompanied by the attenuated activity of arginase, the expression of arginase I at both the mRNA and protein level was downregulated. The levels of mRNA for T helper 2 cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, and for chemotactants such as eotaxin-1 and eotaxin-2, were reduced. Moreover, the accumulation of inflammatory cells and the ratio of goblet cells in the bronchiole were decreased. The study concluded that the depletion of NO caused by arginase contributes to AHR and inflammation, and direct administration of an arginase inhibitor to the airway may be beneficial and could be of use in treating asthma due to its anti-inflammatory and airway-relaxing effects, although it is not clear whether the anti-inflammatory effect is direct or indirect.

Development of a d-allose-6-phosphate derivative with anti-proliferative activity against a human leukemia MOLT-4F cell line.

d-Allose, a C-3 epimer of d-glucose, is a naturally occurring rare monosaccharide that shows anti-proliferative activity against several human cancer cell lines. However, d-allose requires a relatively high concentration for the activity to be observed. Thus, developing more potent derivatives is needed for application. In cells, d-allose is converted to d-allose-6-phosphate (A6P), which is responsible for the anti-proliferative activity of d-allose. In this study, we synthesized A6P derivative 1 with biodegradable protecting groups, which showed higher anti-proliferative activity than A6P against a MOLT-4F human leukemia cell line. Similarly protected derivative of d-glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) (2) and tetraacetyl-A6P (3) showed weaker and less activity compared with 1, respectively, suggesting that both A6P moiety and the protecting group on the phosphate group are responsible for the activity. In addition, significantly weaker induction of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) expression by 1 compared with d-allose suggests that 1 exhibited cytotoxicity through the synergetic effect of inducing TXNIP expression and other mechanisms.

Evaluation of the Anti-Proliferative Activity of Rare Aldohexoses against MOLT-4F and DU-145 Human Cancer Cell Line and Structure-Activity Relationship of D-Idose.

D-Allose (D-All), a C-3 epimer of D-glucose (D-Glc), is a naturally rare monosaccharide, which shows anti-proliferative activity against several human cancer cell lines. Unlike conventional anticancer drugs, D-All targets glucose metabolism and is non-toxic to normal cells. Therefore, it has attracted attention as a unique "seed" compound for anticancer agents. However, the anti-proliferative activities of the other rare aldohexoses have not been examined yet. In this study, we evaluated the anti-proliferative activity of rare aldohexoses against human leukemia MOLT-4F and human prostate cancer DU-145 cell lines. We found that D-All and D-idose (D-Ido) at 5 mM inhibited cell proliferation of MOLT-4F cells by 46 % and 60 %, respectively. On the other hand, the rare aldohexoses at 5 mM did not show specific anti-proliferative activity against DU-145 cells. To explore the structure-activity relationship of D-Ido, we evaluated the anti-proliferative activity of D-sorbose (D-Sor), 6-deoxy-D-Ido, and L-xylose (L-Xyl) against MOLT-4F cells and found that D-Sor, 6-deoxy-D-Ido, and L-Xyl showed no inhibitory activity at 5 mM, suggesting that the aldose structure and the C-6 hydroxy group of D-Ido are important for its activity. Cellular glucose uptake assay and western blotting analysis of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) expression suggested that the anti-proliferative activity of D-Ido is induced by inhibition of glucose uptake via TXNIP-independent pathway.

KAP1 regulates type I interferon/STAT1-mediated IRF-1 gene expression.

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) mediate cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival in immune responses, hematopoiesis, neurogenesis, and other biological processes. Recently, we showed that KAP1 is a novel STAT-binding partner that regulates STAT3-mediated transactivation. KAP1 is a universal co-repressor protein for the KRAB zinc finger protein superfamily of transcriptional repressors. In this study, we found KAP1-dependent repression of interferon (IFN)/STAT1-mediated signaling. We also demonstrated that endogenous KAP1 associates with endogenous STAT1 in vivo. Importantly, a small-interfering RNA-mediated reduction in KAP1 expression enhanced IFN-induced STAT1-dependent IRF-1 gene expression. These results indicate that KAP1 may act as an endogenous regulator of the IFN/STAT1 signaling pathway.

Intranasal mite allergen induces allergic asthma-like responses in NC/Nga mice.

Airway responses induced by intranasal administration of mite allergen without adjuvant were studied in NC/Nga mice. A crude extract of Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) was administered for 5 consecutive days and a single intranasal challenge booster dose was given 1 week after the last sensitization. 24 h after the single challenge, the airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) was measured and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was analyzed for numbers of eosinophils and neutrophils, and both cytokine and chemokine levels. There were marked increases in number of eosinophils in the BALF, AHR, Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13), and chemokine (eotaxin-1 and eotaxin-2) levels in the BALF following Df exposure. C57BL/6N, A/J, BALB/c, and CBA/JN mouse strains were also exposed to Df crude extract, but all of the measured responses were strongest in NC/Nga mice. Furthermore, Df-exposed NC/Nga mice showed the goblet cell hyperplasia, pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation, and increases in both total serum IgE and Df-specific IgG1. After intranasal exposure of NC/Nga mice to crude extract of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, the BALF eosinophilia and AHR were similar to responses induced by Df. None of the study parameters were increased in response to intranasal exposure to ovalbumin. These data demonstrated that NC/Nga mice developed allergic asthma-like responses after intranasal exposure to mite allergens.

Quantitative evaluation of blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier permeability in the rat with experimental meningitis using magnetic resonance imaging.

Disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and/or the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) is thought to be one of the major pathophysiological consequences of meningitis and contributes to the development of adverse neurological outcomes. In order to clarify this hypothesis further, we sequentially quantified the permeability of these barriers with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement using gadolinium-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) in rats with various experimentally-induced meningitis. Meningeal inflammation was elicited by an intracisternal injection of interleukin (IL)-1beta, prostaglandin (PG) E(2), or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Barrier permeability was calculated from the gadolinium-enhancement ratio (GER) in the subarachnoid space (SAS). The secretion of Gd-DTPA into the SAS was monitored by T1-weighted imaging after an intravenous injection of Gd-DTPA. As a significant linear correlation was observed between the GER and the standard solution, the concentration of the secreted Gd-DTPA were determined from the GER. The maximal intensity in SAS was detected at 5min after Gd-DTPA administration and it declined gradually. Among the inflammatory agents, IL-1beta was found to induce the most severe meningitis as determined from the GER. The concentration of Gd-DTPA in the SAS increased in a dose-dependent manner following IL-1beta intracisternal injection. On the other hand, no significant changes in signal intensity of the brain parenchymal areas due to IL-1beta injection were observed. The findings suggest that the permeability of the BCSFB can be evaluated quantitatively by calculating the GER. MRI with Gd-DTPA provides a useful method to monitor the change in the permeability to the brain barriers.

Transiently, paralleled upregulation of arginase and nitric oxide synthase and the effect of both enzymes on the pathology of asthma.

Changes in the expression of arginase and their association with nitrosative stress were investigated using an asthmatic model previously established in NC/Nga mice with mite extract. Mite crude extract (100 microg/day) from Dermatophagoides farinae was administered intranasally for 5 consecutive days (day 0-4), and a single challenge was performed on day 11. On day 12, upregulation of the mRNA expression of inducible types of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and increases in immunohistochemical staining for iNOS and nitrotyrosine were observed. However, the level of nitrite + nitrate was unchanged. An increase in enzymatic activity, upregulation of mRNA expression, and immunostaining for arginase I was detected in the lung tissue and serum. Moreover, increases in both arginase I and II were revealed by immunoblotting. Goblet cell hyperplasia in bronchial epithelial cells and increasing collagen synthesis around the bronchus were also observed. These results suggested that an increase in arginase may lead to decreased availability of arginine for nitric oxide synthase and may contribute to the remodeling of the lung.