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ABSTRACT: Abstract— Pharmacokinetic characteristics of the new xanthine bronchodilators, enprofylline and 1-methyl-3-propylxanthine (MPX), were investigated in mice, rats, guinea-pigs, rabbits and dogs. The possibility of an interspecies pharmacokinetic scale was also evaluated. The concentration of these two drugs in plasma and urine was determined by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using model-independent methods. The disappearance curves of the two drugs from plasma varied markedly among animal species. Interspecies differences in the plasma protein binding of each drug were observed for all animals in the study. Differences in the biotransformation of enprofylline and MPX were also confirmed among the various animal species: enprofylline is mainly excreted in an unchanged form in urine while MPX follows a non-renal route of elimination. In all animals, the renal clearance for enprofylline was greater than the glomerular filtration rate, indicating active tubular secretion. Significant allometric relationships were seen between the values of total body clearance and steady state volume of distribution for both total and unbound enprofylline and species body weight, but similar correlations could not be recognized for MPX. Renal clearance of enprofylline was also closely correlated with species body weight, suggesting no interspecies difference with relation to affinity and/or capacity for the active tubular secretion mechanism of enprofylline. Our findings suggest that xanthine derivatives, including enprofylline, are mainly eliminated via the kidney, and an estimate of the basic pharmacokinetics in man can be obtained from data in experimental animals.
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 04/2011; 44(7):594 - 599.
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ABSTRACT: Abstract— Inhibition by staurosporine derivatives of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) and protein kinase C (C-kinase), and drug resistance has been investigated. The substitution of an acetyl or an ethoxycarbonyl group for the amine N-ethoxycarbonyl-7-oxostaurosporine moiety on the tetrahydropyran ring of staurosporine decreased inhibition of both protein kinases, but increased selectivity for C-kinase by further modification of the lactam moiety to the imide (NA-382). The activities of SF-2370 on protein kinases were decreased by decarboxylation and hydroxyalkylation. These staurosporine derivatives enhanced accumulation of vinblastine in adriamycin-resistant P388 (P388/ADR) cells in a dose-dependent manner. The potency for the drug accumulation of these compounds was correlated with their inhibitory activity on the drug efflux, but was not correlated with their activity on protein kinases. Staurosporine and NA-382, with high potency for vinblastine accumulation, inhibited the photolabelling of [3H]azidopine on 140 kDa P-glycoprotein in the plasma membrane. The tetrahydrofuran compounds and NA-357, which had low potency for the drug accumulation, hardly interacted with azidopine on P-glycoprotein. Most of these compounds were highly cytotoxic by themselves, and only NA-382 was less cytotoxic among them and completely reversed the vinblastine-resistance of P388/ADR cells at a non-cytotoxic concentration. These results suggest that staurosporine derivatives can enhance drug accumulation and inhibit drug resistance through their direct action on the P-glycoprotein.
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 04/2011; 45(1):43 - 47.
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ABSTRACT: Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand of the type 1a growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR1a) that regulates energy balance. Ghrelin and obestatin, derived from the post-translational processing of preproghrelin, are involved in a diverse range of biological activities, yet their effect on the immune system is not fully understood. In the present study, we investigated the roles of ghrelin and obestatin on mast cell degranulation and found that both ghrelin and obestatin induce the release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells. This induced histamine release was inhibited by the pertussis toxin, an inhibitor of Gα(i) protein, and extracellular Ca(2+). Rat peritoneal mast cells and rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells did not express the ghrelin receptor GHSR1a, suggesting that histamine release induced by ghrelin occurs via a receptor-independent mechanism. We report here that ghrelin and obestatin, belonging to the family of basic secretagogues, stimulate mast cells independent of a receptor, and this may play a crucial role at the site of allergy or inflammation.
Peptides 11/2010; 31(11):2109-13. · 2.43 Impact Factor
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Motoshi Ichikawa,
Ryujiro Suzuki,
Kensuke Kataoka,
Yasunobu Noda,
Joe Shindoh,
Syuichi Matsumoto,
Yoshimasa Tanikawa,
Kiyoshi Suzuki,
Kenji Baba,
Yuichiro Shindo,
Masashi Kondo,
Kazuyoshi Imaizumi,
Hiroaki Kume,
Yoshinori Hasegawa, Kenzo Takagi,
Hiroyuki Taniguchi
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ABSTRACT: We conducted a phase II trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of weekly paclitaxel in patients with resistant or relapsed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with docetaxel and carboplatin. Thirty-two NSCLC patients at a median age of 58.0 years (range 33-75) were enrolled. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status scores (0/1/2) were 18/9/5, respectively. The majority of patients had adenocarcinoma (84%) and stage IV disease (81%). The response rate for the first-line chemotherapy was 28%. Paclitaxel was administered at a dose of 80 mg/m(2) as an intravenous infusion 60 min weekly for 6 consecutive weeks of an 8-week cycle. All patients were assessable for response and toxicity. The median number of cycles administered was two (range 1-8), and the overall response rate was 15.6%. The median survival time (MST) was 10.6 months (95% CI=8.2-12.5), while the 1-year survival rate was 37.5%, and the median progression-free survival was 4.9 months (95% CI=3.0-7.1). Hematological toxicities (grade 3 or 4) were observed in 15 patients (46.9%) with leukopenia, and in 4 (12.5%) with anemia. Non-hematological toxicity was generally mild, though grade 3 anorexia was observed in 3 patients (9.3%). No treatment-related deaths were observed. In conclusion, second-line weekly paclitaxel is effective in NSCLC patients treated with docetaxel plus carboplatin and is associated with a tolerable toxicity profile.
Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands) 09/2010; 69(3):319-22. · 3.14 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We investigated the involvement of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in the anti-allergic action of quercetin against degranulation of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells, rat peritoneal mast cells, and mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells.
The strength of allergic reaction was evaluated by the extent of degranulation in mast cells sensitized with various stimulants. The levels of HO-1, HO-2, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expressions were determined by quantitative RT-PCR, western blotting, or immunocytochemistry.
Heme oxygenase activity was upregulated after short exposure to quercetin, followed by the induction of HO-1 expression after long exposure to quercetin. The inhibition of degranulation by quercetin was reversed using tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), an HO-1 inhibitor. HO-1 metabolites, bilirubin and CO, led to inhibit degranulation, and quercetin translocated Nrf2 from cytoplasm into nucleus in RBL-2H3 cells.
These results strongly suggest that quercetin exerted anti-allergic actions via activation of Nrf2-HO-1 pathway.
Agents and Actions 05/2009; 58(10):705-15. · 1.59 Impact Factor
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Etsuko Hirose,
Miyoko Matsushima, Kenzo Takagi,
Yui Ota,
Keiko Ishigami,
Tatsuya Hirayama,
Yuta Hayashi,
Toshinobu Nakamura,
Naozumi Hashimoto,
Kazuyoshi Imaizumi,
Kenji Baba,
Yoshinori Hasegawa,
Tsutomu Kawabe
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ABSTRACT: Kaempferol is one of the most commonly found dietary flavonoids. The exposure to kaempferol is known to inhibit degranulation from mast cells, but the inhibitory mechanism of degranulation has not been clarified yet. In this study, we investigated the involvement of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in the anti-allergic action of kaempferol against degranulation in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. Our results demonstrate upregulation of HO enzymatic activity after short (15 min) exposure to kaempferol, followed by the induction of HO-1 expression in protein. The involvement of HO-1 in the kaempferol-induced inhibition of degranulation was confirmed using tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), a HO-1 inhibitor. These findings strongly suggest that kaempferol exerts anti-allergic actions via activation of the HO-1.
Inflammation 03/2009; 32(2):99-108. · 1.75 Impact Factor
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Masataka Shibasaki,
Katsunori Hashimoto,
Masakazu Okamoto,
Yuta Hayashi,
Kazuyoshi Imaizumi,
Naozumi Hashimoto,
Nobuaki Ozaki,
Toyoharu Yokoi, Kenzo Takagi,
Yoshinori Hasegawa,
Kaoru Shimokata,
Tsutomu Kawabe
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ABSTRACT: Although Pneumocystis infection might be one of the causes of secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP), the mechanism of its pathogenesis is uncertain. We analyzed a mouse model of secondary PAP resulting from Pneumocystis infection using mice deficient in CD40 (CD40KO), and evaluated the mechanism of the pathogenesis of secondary PAP from the viewpoint of surfactant-associated protein (SP) homeostasis, the overproduction of SP by type II alveolar epithelial cells, and the phagocytic function of alveolar macrophages (AMs). The effect of CD40 on SP production was also investigated in vitro using the H441 cell line, which has a phenotype similar to type II alveolar epithelial cells and primary alveolar epithelial cells. After long-term exposure to ovalbumin, CD40KO mice showed Pneumocystis infection and accumulation of surfactants in the alveoli (ApCD40KO). The amounts of SP production were up-regulated in ApCD40KO mice compared with wild-type mice treated using the same procedure. On the other hand, AMs from ApCD40KO mice did not show either phagocytic dysfunction or down-regulation of PU.1 expression. Furthermore, the stimulation of CD40-CD40 ligand (CD154) pathway regulated the production of SPs in H441 cells or primary alveolar epithelial cells. These results suggested that CD40KO mice could be one of the models useful for developing secondary PAP resulting from Pneumocystis infection. Surfactant accumulation was due to the overproduction in our model of secondary PAP. The CD40-CD154 interaction plays an important role in the regulation of surfactant-associated protein production.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology 11/2008; 40(5):536-42. · 5.13 Impact Factor
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Jun Ueyama,
Michihiro Kamijima,
Kazumi Asai,
Aiko Mochizuki,
Dong Wang,
Takaaki Kondo,
Toshiaki Suzuki,
Kenji Takagi, Kenzo Takagi,
Hiroaki Kanazawa,
Ken-ichi Miyamoto,
Shinya Wakusawa,
Takaaki Hasegawa
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ABSTRACT: We have reported that the toxicity of the organophosphorus pesticide diazinon (DZN) and its metabolites is increased in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (type 1 diabetic rats). In the present study, we have investigated the effect of DZN on glucose tolerance in genetic type 2 diabetic rats, Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (2g/(5 ml kg)) was assessed before, and 1 and 2 weeks after intraperitoneal injection of DZN (6.5 mg/kg) in Wistar and GK rats. DZN significantly increased the levels of glucose in plasma at designated blood sampling points in GK rats. The activity of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes and expression of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2, CYP3A2 and CYP2D1, which oxidize DZN to DZN-oxon, a potent ChE inhibitor, were measured before DZN injection. There were no significant differences in the activity and expression of CYPs between both rat groups, indicating that the ability of metabolic activation might be almost the same in Wistar and GK rats. DZN dramatically decreased the activity of cholinesterase (ChE) in plasma by approximately 40% in both Wistar and GK rats. However, no significant differences in the activity of ChE in plasma were observed between Wistar and GK rats for 5 days after DZN injection. No massive necrotic and apoptotic areas, leukocyte infiltration and immunoreactive insulin-positive cells (beta-cells) were observed in pancreas 2 weeks after DZN injection. Moreover, DZN might not affect plasma insulin levels in Wistar and GK rats. These results suggest that DZN deteriorates the glucose tolerance in GK rats. It is unlikely that this phenomenon is due to differences in ChE activity and/or DZN-oxon production levels between Wistar and GK rats.
Toxicology Letters 09/2008; 182(1-3):42-7. · 3.23 Impact Factor
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Jun Ueyama,
Masayuki Nadai,
Ying Lan Zhao,
Hiroaki Kanazawa,
Kenji Takagi,
Takaaki Kondo, Kenzo Takagi,
Shinya Wakusawa,
Fumie Abe,
Hiroko Saito,
Ken-Ichi Miyamoto,
Takaaki Hasegawa
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ABSTRACT: Thalidomide has been reported to inhibit the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nitric oxide (NO) that are involved in the down-regulation of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) induced by endotoxin. In the present study, we investigated the effects of thalidomide on endotoxin-induced decreases in the activity and expression of hepatic CYP3A2 in rats. Thalidomide (50 mg/kg) was administered orally 22 h and 2 h before intraperitoneal injection of endotoxin (1 mg/kg). Twenty-four hours after the injection of endotoxin, antipyrine clearance experiments were conducted, in which the rats were sacrificed and protein levels of hepatic CYP3A2 were measured. There were no significant differences in the histopathological changes in the liver between the endotoxin-treated and endotoxin plus thalidomide-treated rats. Thalidomide had no effect on the systemic clearance of antipyrine, which is a proper indicator for hepatic CYP3A2 activity, whereas it enhanced endotoxin-induced decrease in the systemic clearance of antipyrine. Western blot analysis revealed that thalidomide had no effect on the protein levels of hepatic CYP3A2, whereas it enhanced the down-regulation of hepatic CYP3A2 by endotoxin. However, there were no significant differences in the concentrations of TNF-alpha and NO in plasma between the endotoxin-treated and endotoxin plus thalidomide-treated rats. The present findings suggest that thalidomide enhances endotoxin-induced decreases in the activity and expression of hepatic CYP3A2.
Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin 09/2008; 31(8):1596-600. · 1.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Inflammatory response in pulmonary fibrosis closely resembles a T-helper (Th) 2 immune response. For recruitment to an inflammatory lesion, the majority of Th1 cells express CXC chemokine receptor 3, recognizing monokine induced by interferon-gamma (Mig), interferon gamma-inducible protein of 10 kD (IP-10), and interferon-inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant (I-TAC). Th2 cells express CC chemokine receptor 4, recognizing thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC). We investigated the Th1/Th2 chemokine production patterns by lung fibroblasts and their evaluation in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of interstitial lung disease.
The production pattern of Th1/Th2 chemokines by lung fibroblasts was examined in ELISA and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reactions. Th1/Th2 chemokine levels in BAL fluid of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) were examined to evaluate the clinical relevance of Th1/Th2 chemokines.
The lung fibroblasts were polarized to produce Th1-type chemokines by the pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and the anti-fibrotic cytokine, interferon (IFN)-gamma. However, the induction patterns of chemokines by these two cytokines were different, i.e., involving predominant induction of IP-10 and I-TAC by TNF-alpha and induction of Mig by IFN-gamma. Although Mig, IP-10, and I-TAC were produced within the BAL fluid of patients, TARC and MDC were at significantly low levels.
Our results suggest that lung fibroblasts tend to induce a Th1-type immune response under normal conditions, and that a Th2-type immune response does not play a significant role in smoldering inflammation around the established lesions in IPF and NSIP.
Archives of Medical Research 08/2008; 39(5):503-10. · 1.88 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Organic cation transporter-3 (OCT3) is expressed in several tissues including the brain. We have previously demonstrated that rats with behavioral sensitization to methamphetamine (METH) increased the brain penetration of METH with decreased expression of OCT3 in brain. Considering the earlier in vitro studies demonstrating that 1) OCT3 could transport dopamine (DA) and 2) the specific transport via OCT3 could be inhibited by METH, these results suggest that decreased OCT3 might decrease the efflux of METH and/or DA from brain, subsequently causing the development of behavioral sensitization. Thus, in the present study, behavioral task related to DA and pharmacokinetic experiment were performed using rats treated with antisense against OCT3 (OCT3-AS) since no specific ligands for OCT3 are still available. The continuous infusion of OCT3-AS into the third ventricle significantly decreased the expression of OCT3 in choroid plexus (CP) epithelial cells. Both METH-induced hyperlocomotion and METH-induced extracellular DA levels in nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex were significantly increased in OCT3-AS-treated rats. Moreover, the concentrations of METH were significantly increased in cerebrospinal fluid as well as extracellular areas at the nucleus accumbens in OCT3-AS-treated rats. These results suggested that decreased OCT3 elevated the concentration of METH and/or DA in brain, subsequently enhancing dopaminergic neuronal transmission and increasing METH-induced hyperlocomotion. In summary, OCT3 at the CP could regulate the effect of METH by controlling the levels of METH and/or DA in brain. Thus, these results suggest that OCT3 may be a new molecular target to treat METH-related disorders such as drug abuse and schizophrenia.
Brain Research 01/2008; 1184:260-9. · 2.73 Impact Factor
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Dong Wang,
Michihiro Kamijima,
Ryota Imai,
Takayoshi Suzuki,
Yohei Kameda,
Kazumi Asai,
Ai Okamura,
Hisao Naito,
Jun Ueyama,
Isao Saito,
Tamie Nakajima,
Masahiro Goto,
Eiji Shibata,
Takaaki Kondo,
Kenji Takagi, Kenzo Takagi,
Shinya Wakusawa
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ABSTRACT: Synthetic pyrethroids such as cypermethrin, deltamethrin and permethrin, which are usually used in pest control operations, are metabolized to 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) and excreted in urine. Though 3-PBA can be used to assess exposure to pyrethroids, there are few reports describing urinary 3-PBA levels in Japan. This study aimed to investigate the seasonal variation of the exposure levels of pyrethroids and the concentration of urinary 3-PBA among pest control operators (PCOs) in Japan. The study subjects were 78 and 66 PCOs who underwent a health examination in December 2004 and in August 2005, respectively. 3-PBA was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The geometric mean concentration of urinary 3-PBA in winter (3.9 microg/g creatinine) was significantly lower than in summer (12.2 microg/g creatinine) (p<0.05). Geometric mean concentrations of urinary 3-PBA in the spraying workers and the not-spraying workers within 2 d before the survey were 5.4 microg/g creatinine and 0.9 microg/g creatinine for winter with a significant difference between the groups (p<0.05), and 12.3 microg/g creatinine and 8.7 microg/g creatinine for summer (p>0.05), respectively. A significant association of 3-PBA levels and pyrethroid spraying was thus observed only in winter. In conclusion, the results of the present study show that the exposure level of pyrethroids among PCOs in Japan assessed by monitoring urinary 3-PBA was higher than that reported in the UK but comparable to that in Germany. Further research should be accumulated to establish an occupational reference value in Japan.
Journal of Occupational Health 12/2007; 49(6):509-14. · 1.55 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) is recognized as a T-helper (Th) 2-type chemokine. Both malignant and tuberculous pleural effusions are typically lymphocytic pleural effusions. Tuberculous pleural effusions have a more polarized Th1 reaction than malignant effusions, which are predominantly Th2 in nature. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of MDC in malignant pleural effusions with those in tuberculous pleural effusions to help delineate the role of MDC in Th2 versus Th1 effusions.
Forty-three patients with pleural effusions (32 malignant, 11 tuberculous) were studied. The concentration of MDC in the pleural effusion was measured by ELISA.
The median concentration of MDC was lower in malignant pleural effusions than in tuberculous pleural effusions (P < 0.005).
MDC has been reported to both promote and suppress antitumour immunity. The low concentration of MDC in malignant effusions is likely to minimise its antitumour activity but the precise role of MDC in malignant and tuberculous effusions needs to be investigated further.
Respirology 08/2007; 12(4):581-4. · 2.42 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: SUMMARY1. The in vitro biological activities and the effect of protein binding on the relaxant effects in vivo of N-3-alkylxanthine and N-3-alkyl-N-1-methylxanthine derivative were investigated in guinea-pigs.2. A significantly positive correlation was observed among the in vitro muscle relaxant activity, the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitory activity and the protein-binding potency of xanthine derivatives. However, there was a weak relationship between these activities and affinity for adenosine receptors.3. When theophylline, enprofylline and 1-methyl-3-propylxanthine (MPX) were injected intravenously in guinea-pigs, their ED50 values were 6.1, 3.3 and 1.0 mg/kg, respectively. Plasma concentrations of these drugs obtained following the intravenous injection of the ED50 approximated the theoretically effective concentration (EC50) predicted from both the relaxant effects in vitro and the protein binding parameters. A good linear correlation was observed between bodyweight in four species (rats, guinea-pigs, rabbits and humans) and certain pharmacokinetic parameters of enprofylline and theophylline.4. The present study indicates that differences in the relaxant effects of these drugs in vitro and in vivo can be explained in part by protein binding, and that the protein binding of these xanthine bronchodilators is an important determinant for their pharmacological activity. Guinea-pigs provide a useful model for studying pharmacodynamic-pharmacokinetic relationships of new bronchodilators.
Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology 06/2007; 19(6):447 - 456. · 1.85 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: SUMMARY1. In order to examine the mechanisms of cGMP-induced relaxation in airway smooth muscle, the effects of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and 8-brom cGMP on muscle tone were studied by measuring isometric tension, while the effects on cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations were studied by measuring the spectra of fura-2 loaded in guinea-pig tracheal strips.2. Atrial natriuretic peptide and 8-brom cGMP caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of spontaneous tone in the guinea-pig trachea. The relaxant effects of these agents on spontaneous tone were markedly suppressed in the presence of iberiotoxin (IbTX), a selective inhibitor of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKca) channels. Iberiotoxin (30 nmol/L) markedly affected the maximal effect induced by ANP and 8-brom cGMP and augmented EC70 values for ANP and EC50values for 8-brom cGMP approximately 27- and 17-fold, respectively. The inhibitory effects of IbTX on relaxation induced by these agents were diminished in the presence of 1 μmol/L nifedipine, an antagonist of voltage-operated Ca2+channels (VOCC).3. The inhibitory action of ANP and 8-brom cGMP on spontaneous tone was not affected by the presence of 10 μmol/L glibenclamide, an inhibitor of ATP-sensitive K+ channels, and 100 nmol/L apamin, an inhibitor of small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels. When these agents were applied to tissues precontracted by high (40mmol/L) K+, the relaxant effects of these agents markedly diminished.4. The extracellular Ca2+-dependent contraction was inhibited in the presence of 0.3 μmoI/L ANP or 0.1 mmol/L 8-brom cGMP. Concentration—response curves to extracellular Ca2+ (0.03—2.4 mmol/L) were markedly diminished by exposure to these agents. The maximal effect induced by extracellular Ca2+ was affected by these agents.5. Atrial natriuretic peptide caused an inhibition of spontaneous tone accompanied by a reduction in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. In the presence of IbTX, the elimination of both muscle tone and cytosolic Ca2+ by ANP was suppressed.6. We conclude that ANP and 8-brom cGMP activate BKca channels and that the inhibition of Ca2+ influx through VOCC, mediated by BKca channel activation, may be involved in cGMP-dependent bronchodilation.
Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology 06/2007; 24(2):175 - 181. · 1.85 Impact Factor
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Jun Ueyama,
Dong Wang,
Takaaki Kondo,
Isao Saito,
Kenji Takagi, Kenzo Takagi,
Michihiro Kamijima,
Tamie Nakajima,
Ken-Ichi Miyamoto,
Shinya Wakusawa,
Takaaki Hasegawa
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ABSTRACT: The effect of diazinon (DZN) on the activities of cholinesterase (ChE) in plasma and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in erythrocyte and brain was investigated in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme activity was also estimated by measuring the systemic clearance of antipyrine, and the expression of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A2 and CYP1A2, which is closely related to the metabolism from DZN to DZN-oxon, a strong inhibitor of both ChE and AChE. No significant differences in the activities of ChE in plasma and AChE in erythrocyte were observed between normal and diabetic rats. Treatment with DZN significantly decreased these activities in diabetic rats more than in normal rats 6h after injection (6.5 mg/kg). Treatment with DZN significantly decreased the activity of AChE in brain of diabetic rats than normal rats 3h after injection (65 mg/kg), although no significant difference in the activity was found between normal and diabetic rats. The urinary recovery of diethylphosphate (DEP), a metabolite of DZN-oxon, was significantly increased in diabetic rats, but that of diethylthiophosphate (DETP), a metabolite of DZN, was unchanged. Significant increases in the systemic clearance of antipyrine and protein levels of hepatic CYP1A2, not CYP3A2, were observed in diabetic rats. These results suggest the possibility that a metabolite of DZN, DZN-oxon, causes higher toxicity in diabetic rats due to the enhancement of hepatic CYP1A2-mediated metabolism of DZN.
Toxicology Letters 06/2007; 170(3):229-37. · 3.23 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Repeated treatment with methamphetamine (METH) causes long-term behavioral changes, so-called behavioral sensitization (BS), in humans as well as experimental animals. However, there are no reports as to whether repeated METH treatment can establish BS in stress-sensitive Long-Evans (LE) rats. Thus, we investigated the effect of repeated METH treatment (5 mg/kg x 5 days) on the establishment of BS in LE rats. Wistar (WIS) rats were used as a reference. In LE rats, repeated METH treatment failed to cause BS although it did enhance METH-induced hyperlocomotion in WIS rats. The levels of METH in brain dialysate and the ratio of the area under the concentration-time curve area in plasma to that in brain dialysate was increased in repeated METH-treated WIS rats as reported previously, but not in repeated METH-treated LE rats. METH increases plasma corticosterone (CORT) in both strains. However, the intensity of increment of CORT by repeated METH was lower in LE rats than that in WIS rats. Repeated METH treatment decreased the expression of METH-transposable and CORT-sensitive transporter, organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3), in the brain of WIS rats. However, the intensity of the decrement of OCT3 with repeated METH treatment was similar between both strains. Taken together, these results suggest that the lack of establishment of BS in LE rats might have been caused by the unchanged brain penetration of METH after repeated METH administration, and that the differential CORT response to METH is an important strain difference.
Experimental Animals 05/2007; 56(2):119-29. · 0.92 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The MDR3 protein is a transporter of phosphatidylcholine on the canalicular membrane of human hepatocytes. Previously we showed that the expression of MDR3 mRNA was down-regulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in human Chang liver cells. In the present study, to elucidate the isoform of protein kinase C (PKC), which influences the level of MDR3 protein, we investigated the effects of PKC-specific inhibitors and antisense oligonucleotides. The level of protein decreased around 50% after treatment for 3-5 days using the dosage of PMA effective against the mRNA expression. The half-life of the MDR3 protein was estimated to be about 5 days. This decrease was antagonized by GF109203X, a non-selective inhibitor of PKCs, and Gö6976, a selective inhibitor for PKCalpha/beta. These inhibitors also suppressed the reduction in MDR3 protein. To specify the isoform of PKC, the cells were treated with antisense oligonucleotide of PKCalpha or PKCbeta. The suppressive effects on MDR3 mRNA of PMA were attenuated in antisense PKCbeta-treated cells, but those in antisense PKCalpha-treated cells were not attenuated. These suggested that PKCbeta plays a regulatory role in the expression of MDR3.
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 11/2006; 1760(10):1552-7. · 4.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The effect of dosage on the pharmacokinetics of the potent bronchodilator enprofylline (3-propylxanthine; PX) and its renal handling were investigated in rats. Enprofylline (PX) was administered iv in dosages of 2.5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg, and PX concentration in plasma and urine was determined by HPLC. The pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by model-independent methods. The disappearance of PX from plasma was delayed as dosage was increased. The corresponding pharmacokinetic parameters also showed dose dependency; increases in the volume of distribution (Vd) and mean residence time (MRT) and a decrease in total body clearance (CLT) were observed as dosage was increased from 2.5 to 40 mg/kg. Approximately 80% of the dose, however, was excreted in urine as unchanged PX. Plasma protein binding studies of PX showed concentration dependency and allowed determination of binding parameters, with an apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of 162.50 μM and a binding capacity (nP) of 565.23 μM. Some pharmacokinetic parameters for unbound PX calculated by total plasma concentration and binding parameters also showed dosedependent characteristics. However, no significant change in Vd for unbound PX was observed among administered doses, indicating that the distribution of PX into the body tissues is not changed by an increase in dosage. Renal clearance of unbound PX significantly increased as plasma concentration decreased. The maximum transport capacity (Vmax) and the Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) for tubular secretion were 60.53 μg/min and 2.27 μg/mL, respectively. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate that both saturable tubular secretion and concentration-dependent protein binding are responsible for the dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of PX in rats.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 09/2006; 80(7):648 - 652. · 3.06 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Disposition of diprophylline (DPP) and proxyphylline (PXP) and the effect of enoxacin on their disposition were investigated in rats. Concentrations of the two drugs in plasma and urine were measured by HPLC. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the two drugs were estimated by model-independent methods. Although the chemical structures of the two drugs are very similar, remarkable differences in the disposition of the two drugs were observed. Total body clearance (CLT) of DPP was 1.77 L/h/kg, which was sevenfold greater than that of PXP (0.26 L/h/kg). Diprophylline was excreted in an almost completely unchanged form in the urine, but only 50% of PXP was excreted. However, no binding of either drug to proteins in rat plasma was observed. The DPP renal clearance (CLR) was 1.75 L/h/kg, ∼ 13-fold the CLR for PXP (0.13 L/h/kg) and sevenfold the rat glomerular filtration rate. This study indicates that in rats, DPP is mainly excreted by active tubular secretion and that renal tubular reabsorption contributes to renal excretion of PXP with glomerular filtration. No significant changes in any pharmacokinetic parameters of the two drugs were observed when they were coadministered with enoxacin, compared with the drug administered alone, suggesting that enoxacin had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of either drug.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 09/2006; 80(10):962 - 965. · 3.06 Impact Factor
