Chemico-biological interactions
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Chem. Biol. Interact. · Sep 2008
Comparative StudyAdvantages of the WRAIR whole blood cholinesterase assay: comparative analysis to the micro-Ellman, Test-mate ChE, and Michel (DeltapH) assays.
Red blood cell AChE (RBC-AChE) and plasma BChE can be used as sensitive biomarkers to detect exposure to OP nerve agents, pesticides, and cholinergic drugs. In a comparative study, RBC-AChE and serum BChE activities in whole blood was obtained from forty seven healthy male and female human volunteers, and then exposed separately ex vivo to three OP nerve agents (soman (GD), sarin (GB) and VX) to generate a wide range of inhibition of AChE and BChE activity (up to 90% of control). These samples were measured using four different ChE assays: (i) colorimetric microEllman (using DTNB at 412 nm), (ii) Test-mate ChE field kit (also based on the Ellman assay), (iii) Michel (delta pH), and (iv) the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Whole Blood (WRAIR WB) cholinesterase assay. ⋯ For example, a Bland and Altman plot of the ratio of the WRAIR whole blood AChE and Michel AChE (plotted on the y-axis) vs. the average of the two methods (x-axis) shows that the majority of the individual AChE values are within +/- 1.96 S. D. of the mean difference, indicating that the two methods may be used interchangeably with a high degree of confidence. The WRAIR ChE assay can be thus be used as a reliable inter-conversion assay when comparing results from laboratory-based (Michel) and field-based (Test-mate ChE kit), which use different methodology and report in different units of AChE activity.
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Chem. Biol. Interact. · Sep 2008
The promoter activity of proline-rich membrane anchor (PRiMA) of globular form acetylcholinesterase in muscle: suppressive roles of myogenesis and innervating nerve.
The tetrameric globular form of acetylcholinesterase (G(4) AChE) is present and precisely controlled in muscles. The assembly and membrane targeting of G(4) AChE are directed by a proline-rich membrane anchor (PRiMA). ⋯ In parallel with PRiMA mRNA, the PRiMA promoter activity was suppressed by both myogenic regulatory factor(s) (MRFs) and nerve-derived factor(s). These results suggest that the regulation of PRiMA mRNA expression in muscle by MRFs and nerve-derived factors is due to a control system at the transcriptional level.
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Chem. Biol. Interact. · Mar 2008
Metabolic context affects hemodynamic response to bupivacaine in the isolated rat heart.
Previous studies have demonstrated that the local anesthetic bupivacaine selectively inhibits oxidative metabolism of fatty acids in isolated cardiac mitochondria. In the present investigation, we compare the development of bupivacaine cardiotoxicity during fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism. Hearts from adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were excised and retrograde perfused with a solution containing fatty acid (oleate or octanoate) or carbohydrate substrates for cardiac metabolism. ⋯ Dose-response analysis revealed significantly increased sensitivity to bupivacaine toxicity during fatty acid metabolism, indicated by lower V50 doses for both heart rate (70.6+/-5.6 microg oleate and 122.3+/-6.2 octanoate versus 152.6+/-8.6) and rate-pressure product (63.4+/-5.1 microg and 133.7+/-7.9 versus 165.1+/-12.2). Time to recovery following bupivacaine exposure was elevated in the fatty acid group (24.3+/-2.0 s versus 15.8+/-3.1; P<0.04). Fatty acid metabolism was shown to predispose the isolated heart to bupivacaine toxicity, confirming that the local anesthetic exerts specific effects on lipid processes in cardiomyocytes.
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Chem. Biol. Interact. · Jan 2008
ReviewHarnessing genetically engineered mouse models for preclinical testing.
Recent studies cast doubt on the value of traditionally used models as tools for testing therapies for human cancer. Although the standard practice of xenografting tumors into immunocompromised mice generates reproducible tumors, drug testing in these models has low predictive power when compared to the clinical responses in Phase II trials. ⋯ In this review, we discuss the advantages and limitations of genetically engineered mice and plausible solutions for adapting these valuable tumors for wider use in preclinical testing by transplantation into naïve recipients. We also provide examples of comparative molecular analysis of mammary tumors from MMTV-Polyoma Middle-T antigen and MMTV-wnt1 models as tools for finding clinical correlates, validating existing models and guiding the development of new genetically engineered mouse models for cancer.
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Chem. Biol. Interact. · Sep 2007
Bupivacaine, but not lidocaine, disrupts cardiolipin-containing small biomimetic unilamellar liposomes.
Inadvertent intravenous administration of bupivacaine, unlike that of lidocaine, is associated with significant cardiotoxicity. However, the mechanism(s) underlying this phenomenon is uncertain. High concentrations of cardiolipin, an anionic phospholipid, are found in the mitochondria membrane of cardiomyocytes. ⋯ Both drugs had no significant effects on carboxyfluorescein release from liposomes devoid of cardiolipin (p>0.5). Collectively, these data indicate that bupivacaine, but not lidocaine, interacts avidly and selectively with biomimetic small unilamellar liposomes containing cardiolipin and disrupts their integrity. We suggest that these interactions underlie, in part, bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity.