Mode Of Drug Action Research Articles

There's more than one way to skin a cat: Yet another way to assess mitotic index by cytometry

There's more than one way to skin a cat: Yet another way to assess mitotic index by cytometry

SELDI‐TOF‐MS analysis of chloroquine resistant and sensitive Plasmodium falciparum strains

The resistance of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine represents an emerging problem since neither mode of drug action nor mechanisms of resistance are fully elucidated. We describe a protein expression profiling approach by SELDI-TOF-MS as a useful tool for studying the proteome of malarial parasites. Reproducible and complex protein profiles of the P. falciparum strains K1, Dd2, HB3 and 3D7 were measured on four array types. Hierarchical clustering led to a clear separation of the two major subgroups "resistant" and "sensitive" as well as of the four parasite strains. Our study delivers sets of regulated proteins derived from extensive comparative analyses of 64 P. falciparum protein profiles. A group of 12 peaks reflecting proteome changes under chloroquine treatment and a set of 10 potential chloroquine resistance markers were defined. Three of these regulated peaks were preparatively enriched, purified and identified. They were shown to represent the plasmodial EXP-1 protein, also called circumsporozoite-related antigen, as well as the alpha- and beta- (delta-) chains of human hemoglobin.

NMDA Receptors, Glial Cells, and Clinical Medicine

Recent reports have overturned a series of dogmas that have been well entrenched in the neuroscience literature concerning NMDA-type glutamate receptors (NMDARs). The new data show that NMDARs exist on the myelin sheath formed by oligodendrocytes, that an uncompetitive NMDAR antagonist has successfully passed human clinical trials, and that NMDARs trigger multiple deleterious cascades to inflict cellular damage on both neurons and glia during cerebral ischemia (stroke). These recent findings bode well for clinical intervention with NMDAR antagonists in more neurological disorders than previously thought, including multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy (periventricular leukomalacia), and spinal cord injury.

The scientific study of herbal wound healing therapies: Current state of play

Acute wound healing occurs in four stages, namely, haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and remodelling. Underlying metabolic disturbances and/or disease may disrupt the regenerative process, causing delayed healing. This has imposed a huge financial burden in both the developed and undeveloped world. As a result, the possibility of deriving alternative, cost effective therapies from traditional plant-based medicines has been explored. The majority of such investigations take the form of in vitro assays based on cell culture models of the various phases of healing. Although insightful in terms of possible modes of drug action, it is conceded that in vitro assessments are insufficient to demonstrate efficacy and both animal testing and human trials are required for global scientific acceptance. Aloe vera is the only herbal medicine to be subjected to all three forms of assessment and is an appropriate example of the scientific methodologies to which herbal medicines are currently subjected. A discussion of the virtues and drawbacks of the in vivo and in vitro approach is given, together with an indication of the information which may be derived from each. It is concluded that in vitro models based on cells derived from diseased tissues are superior to other in vitro models and, in some respects, to animal studies. The investigation of wound healing herbal therapies should be directed toward clinical trials. For the purpose of the joint demonstration of efficacy and elucidation of drug mechanisms, such trials should, where possible, be performed with attendant tissue culture of cells derived from participants.

Effects of cannabinoid treatment on Chagas disease pathogenesis: balancing inhibition of parasite invasion and immunosuppression

Trypanosoma cruzi invades heart cells via a calcium-dependent, G protein-mediated mechanism, leading to severe cardiac inflammation considered by some to be autoimmune in nature. Cannabinoids inhibit calcium flux and G protein signalling; as potent immunosuppressive agents, they are effective in the treatment of autoimmune disease but contraindicated for the treatment of infections. We compared the action of the synthetic cannabinoid R(+)WIN55,212 and its inactive isomer S(-)WIN55,212 on cardiac myoblast invasion: R(+)WIN55,212 inhibited invasion by over 85%. We then tested for efficacy in modulating pathogenesis in mice by assaying parasite burden in heart and blood, cellular and humoral immunity to parasite and self antigens, and mortality. R(+)WIN55,212 significantly reduced cardiac inflammation but led to considerably increased parasitaemia. Cardiac parasitosis and mortality were not significantly different in treatment and control groups. We conclude that cannabinoids can block cardiac cell puncture repair mechanisms, thereby inhibiting trypanosome invasion as predicted by the mode of drug action, but, also inhibit immune cell effector functions, offsetting the benefit of inhibition parasite cell invasion. Refined use of cannabinoids may prove therapeutic in the future, but our results raise concern about the effect of cannabis use on those chronically infected by T. cruzi and on heart cell homeostasis generally.

Antitumor-Active Cobalt−Alkyne Complexes Derived from Acetylsalicylic Acid: Studies on the Mode of Drug Action

Cobalt-alkyne complexes are drugs with remarkable cytotoxicity. From the complexes tested up to now we selected the aspirin derivative [2-acetoxy-(2-propynyl)benzoate]hexacarbonyldicobalt (Co-ASS) as the lead compound. To get more insight into the mode of action, we systematically modified the alkyne ligand and determined the cytotoxic properties of the resulting cobalt complexes. Further investigations were performed on the drug lipophilicity, the cellular uptake into MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells, the DNA-binding efficacy, and the nuclear drug content. The ability to inhibit glutathione reductase and cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, the binding to the estrogen receptor, and the induction of apoptotic processes were examined for selected compounds. Interestingly, the most antitumor active compounds were potent COX inhibitors (COX-1 and COX-2). The presented results indicate that cobalt-alkyne complexes of the Co-ASS type, represent a new class of organometallic cytostatics with a mode of drug action in which COX inhibition probably plays a major role.

Antidepressant-induced Switch of β1-Adrenoceptor Trafficking as a Mechanism for Drug Action

Reduction in surface beta(1)-adrenoceptor (beta1AR) density is thought to play a critical role in mediating the therapeutic long term effects of antidepressants. Since antidepressants are neither agonists nor antagonists for G protein-coupled receptors, receptor density must be regulated through processes independent of direct receptor activation. Endocytosis and recycling of the beta1AR fused to green fluorescent protein at its carboxyl-terminus (beta1AR-GFP) were analyzed by confocal fluorescence microscopy of live cells and complementary ligand binding studies. In stably transfected C6 glioblastoma cells, beta1AR-GFP displayed identical ligand-binding isotherms and adenylyl cyclase activation as native beta1AR. Upon exposure to isoproterenol, a fraction of beta1AR-GFP (10-15%) internalized rapidly and colocalized with endocytosed transferrin receptors in an early endosomal compartment in the perinuclear region. Chronic treatment with the tricyclic antidepressant desipramine (DMI) did not affect internalization characteristics of beta1AR-GFP when challenged with isoproterenol. However, internalized receptors were not able to recycle back to the cell surface in DMI-treated cells, whereas recycling of transferrin receptors was not affected. Endocytosed receptors were absent from structures that stained with fluorescently labeled dextran, and inhibition of lysosomal protease activity did not restore receptor recycling, indicating that beta1AR-GFP did not immediately enter the lysosomal compartment. The data suggest a new mode of drug action causing a "switch" of receptor fate from a fast recycling pathway to a slowly exchanging perinuclear compartment. Antidepressant-induced reduction of receptor surface expression may thus be caused by modulation of receptor trafficking routes.

Mechanism of Human Telomerase Inhibition by BIBR1532, a Synthetic, Non-nucleosidic Drug Candidate

Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein acting as a reverse transcriptase, has been identified as a target for cancer drug discovery. The synthetic, non-nucleosidic compound, BIBR1532, is a potent and selective telomerase inhibitor capable of inducing senescence in human cancer cells (). In the present study, the mode of drug action was characterized. BIBR1532 inhibits the native and recombinant human telomerase, comprising the human telomerase reverse transcriptase and human telomerase RNA components, with similar potency primarily by interfering with the processivity of the enzyme. Enzyme-kinetic experiments show that BIBR1532 is a mixed-type non-competitive inhibitor and suggest a drug binding site distinct from the sites for deoxyribonucleotides and the DNA primer, respectively. Thus, BIBR1532 defines a novel class of telomerase inhibitor with mechanistic similarities to non-nucleosidic inhibitors of HIV1 reverse transcriptase.

6-Benzoylheteratisine — a class-I antiarrhythmic substance from Aconitum tanguticum (Maxim.) Stapf

The antiarrhythmic action of 6-benzoylheteratisine (6-bh), a C(19) diterpenoid alkaloid from Aconitum tanguticum (Maxim.) Stapf was investigated in left and right guinea pig isolated atria. Furthermore, possible effects on transmembrane action potential of isolated papillary muscles were studied using microelectrode techniques. At concentrations of more than 6 × 10(-8) mol/1, preincubation with 6-bh suppressed arrhythmias induced by aconitine, veratridine and ouabain. Bradycardia of the right atria as a sign of toxicity occurred at 1 × 10(-6) mol/1. The alkaloid significantly reduced the maximum rate of rise of the action potential as well as the action potential amplitude, indicating inhibition of voltage-dependent sodium channels as a functional principle. Additionally, a use-dependent mode of drug-action could be demonstrated. We conclude therefore, that 6-bh is a naturally occurring class-I antiarrhythmic substance. The compound is a main alkaloid of Aconitum tanguticum, a plant used to prepare a poison antidote in Chinese and Tibetan folk medicine. It may be speculated that the poison antidote effect is at least partially based on the antiarrhythmic properties of 6-bh.

Monitoring of drug effects on cultivable mycobacteria and Mycobacterium leprae via the determination of their adenylate energy charges (AEC)

The adenylate energy charges (AEC) of M. smegmatis, M. tuberculosis and M. leprae were determined for untreated and drug-treated bacterial samples. AEC values of the cultivable mycobacteria ranged between 0.66–0.71 in exponentially growing cultures and decreased below 0.1 under the influence of various drugs and drug combinations depending on concentration. AEC values of M. leprae samples isolated from different armadillo tissues and from untreated multibacillary leprosy patients were significantly lower (0.32–0.52). For M. leprae isolated from patients after three months of effective multidrug therapy bacterial impairment could be monitored with this technique. For differently treated cultures of M. smegmatis and M. tuberculosis, a linear correlation between AEC and viability as derived from the mass spectrometric analysis of the intrabacterial sodium to potassium ratio of single bacterial organisms was established within a certain AEC range. The range in which AEC is linearly correlated with viability, however, was found to be dependent on the mode of drug action and the bacterial species.

Concept and progress in the development of RGD‐containmg peptide pharmaceuticals

AbstractThe cell adhesion domain, arginine‐glycine‐aspartic acid (RGD), has been incorporated into synthetic peptides to perform either of two modes of drug action, antagonist or agonist. Short, conformationally constrained peptides have been developed as antagonists for the platelet membrane glycoprotein complex, the integrin α11b, β3, using cell‐based and integrin‐based assays. In combination with a comparative molecular modeling study, these results have helped identify common conformotional elements in the pharmacophore of this class of molecules. Peptides are presented that are highly potent, integrin specific, and that possess reduced pharmacological side effects. Also presented is the development of a peptide that modifies, noncovalently, the surfaces of a wide variety of synthetic materials used in medical implants. The agonist activity of this molecule is evident from its ability to stimulate cell attachment on these surfaces. This is shown to translate into an in vivo activity of faster and more complete tissue integration, and a reduction in foreign body response. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Chemically modified cardiac Na+ channels and their sensitivity to antiarrhythmics: Is there a hidden drug receptor?

Elementary Na+ currents were recorded at 19 degrees C in inside-out patches from cultured neonatal rat cardiocytes. In analyzing the sensitivity of chemically modified Na+ channels to several class 1 antiarrhythmic drugs, the hypothesis was tested that removal of Na+ inactivation may be accompanied by a distinct responsiveness to these drugs, open channel blockade. Iodate-modified and trypsin-modified cardiac Na+ channels are noninactivating but strikingly differ from each other by their open state kinetics, a O1-O2 reaction (tau open(1) 1.4 +/- 0.3 msec; tau open(2) 5.4 +/- 1.1 msec; at -40 mV) in the former and a single open state (tau open 3.0 +/- 0.5 msec; at -40 mV) in the latter. Lidocaine (150 mumol/liter) like propafenone (10 mumol/liter), diprafenone (10 mumol/liter) and quinidine (20 mumol/liter) in cytoplasmic concentrations effective to depress NPo significantly can interact with both types of noninactivating Na+ channels to reduce the dwell time in the conducting configuration. Iodate-modified Na+ channels became drug sensitive during the O2 state. At -40 mV, for example, lidocaine reduced tau open(2) to 62 +/- 5% of the control without detectable changes in tau open(1). No evidence could be obtained that these inhibitory molecules would flicker-block the open Na+ pore. Drug-induced shortening of the open state, thus, is indicative for a distinct mode of drug action, namely interference with the gating process. Lidocaine proved less effective to reduce tau open(2) when compared with the action of diprafenone. Both drugs apparently interacted with individual association rate constants, a(lidocaine) was 0.64 x 10(6) mol-1 sec-1 and a(diprafenone) 13.6 x 10(6) mol-1 sec-1. Trypsin-modified Na+ channels also appear capable of discriminating among these antiarrhythmics, the ratio a(diprafenone)/a(lidocaine) even exceeded the value in iodate-modified Na+ channels. Obviously, this antiarrhythmic drug interaction with chemically modified Na+ channels is receptor mediated: drug occupation of such a hypothetical hidden receptor that is not available in normal Na+ channels may facilitate the exit from the open state.

Overview of the progress in drug dependence studies--mainly focussing on psychic dependence

The technical term 'drug dependence' was officially adopted by WHO's Expert Committee on Addiction in 1964. Until this, to describe a state of dependence, terms such as 'poisoning', 'habit', 'ism', and 'addiction' had been used from time to time. Until the 1950's, investigators were mainly focussed on the phenomena of physical dependence. However, once the concept of psychic dependence had been introduced, behavioral and neuropharmacological studies on the modes of drug action that produce psychic dependence were activated and have progressed in the last two decades, and among the points clarified by these studies are the following: 1. The critical drug properties that produce psychic dependence are those of rewarding subjective and reinforcing effects of drugs but these effects are not the properties that produce physical dependence, although the development of physical dependence on particular drugs such as opiates may substantially enhance craving for the drugs. 2. The mesolimbic and mesocortical dopamine systems in the brain and also the N. Accumbens play a primary or at least a partial role in producing the subjective and reinforcing effects of major dependence-producing drugs such as cocaine, opiates, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and ethanol. 3. Many drugs such as naltrexone, methadone, and some dopamine antagonists and serotonin reuptake inhibitors or antagonists were found to be effective in the pharmacotherapy of the dependence on opiates, cocaine, or ethanol.

Use of Isolated Tight Epithelia to Study the Site and Mode of Drug Action on Cell Membrane Transport: Effect of the Antipsychotic Agent Trifluoperazine

The aim of the present study was to investigate the site and mode of trifluoperazine (TFP) action on cell membrane transport by the use of isolated frog skin. This cellular system gives access to the apical (outer) and basolateral (inner) membranes of the polarised epithelial cells. Both apical and basolateral TFP addition induced a dose-dependent stimulation of Na transport, and depolarised the cellular potential. The data indicate that TFP acts by increasing the Na permeability of the apical membrane. However, the mechanisms localised in the apical and basolateral membranes are quite different. Basolateral TFP addition increased Na transport due to a stimulation of PGE2 synthesis, whereas apical TFP addition abolished Na inhibition of the apical Na channels, and thereby enhanced the Na transport. An acute toxic effect on the electrophysiological parameters was noted after addition of high apical TFP concentrations (50–100μM). This toxic effect was dependent on the presence of Na in the apical solution.

Ten years experience with a chemotherapy regime for ovarian cancer

In the period between January 1973 and September 1982, 57 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer were treated with a chemotherapy regime of methotrexate, thiotepa, and vincristine. A 5-year survival rate of 24.1% was obtained. The chemotherapy regime was based on the mode of drug action and information gained from experimental work on fresh explant cultures of human tumor. The regime was well tolerated and the survival rate is similar to results obtained from other regimes recently reported.

Inhibition of the RNA polymerase-catalyzed synthesis of RNA by marcellomycin. Preferential interference of the inhibitor with the stabilization of the ternary promoter-RNA polymerase-nascent RNA complex.

Marcellomycin is a strong inhibitor of the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase-catalyzed synthesis of RNA from the strong A promoters of bacteriophage T7 DNA. Marcellomycin inhibits preferentially the last phase of transcription initiation. During this phase a stabilized ternary complex is formed consisting of RNA polymerase, DNA template, and a nascent RNA oligonucleotide about 11 nucleotides long, resulting from the extension of the RNA dinucleotide component of the corresponding early ternary complex. Marcellomycin is also responsible for minor inhibition of the formation of the open binary RNA polymerase-template complex, which serves as the precursor of the ternary complex. These findings suggest that marcellomycin may be a potentially useful tool in the study of the late stages of transcription initiation. The present findings may also contribute to a better overall understanding of the mode of drug action at the level of individual genes.

The interactions between drugs and the parasite surface.

The interrelationships between drugs and parasite surfaces are considered under the headings of (a) effects on membrane transport, (b) drug uptake mechanisms and (c) effects on surface morphology and function: praziquantel is discussed under a separate heading. The range of chemotherapeutic compounds that cause permeability changes and concomitant morphological disruption is discussed in terms of mode of drug action. Interpretation of the available data renders it difficult to identify the primary mode of action in the drugs considered. Drug uptake mechanisms are known for relatively few compounds; drug resistance as a function of drug acquisition is discussed. The role of the parasite surface as a specific drug target is argued.

Colonic Azodisalicylate Metabolism Determined by In Vivo Dialysis in Healthy Volunteers and Patients With Ulcerative Colitis

Azodisalicylate, a second generation drug of sulfasalazine, delivers twice the amount of 5-aminosalicylic acid to the colonic lumen on a molar basis when split by bacterial azoreductases. In 6 patients with inactive ulcerative colitis, the colonic metabolism of sulfasalazine and azodisalicylate was studied by equilibrium in vivo dialysis of feces to measure the therapeutically relevant concentrations of their metabolites (5-aminosalicylic acid and N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid) in free fecal water. After oral intake of sulfasalazine (2 g/day) the total luminal concentrations of 5-aminosalicylic acid and N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid determined by high-performance liquid chromatography were higher (median 14 mmol/L) than previously reported and almost doubled (median 25 mmol/L, p less than 0.05) when sulfasalazine was replaced by the same dose of azodisalicylate. In contrast, the corresponding serum concentrations were negligible. After administration of azodisalicylate to 12 healthy volunteers, a similar distribution of the metabolites was found. In nearly all cases, the concentrations of azodisalicylate in fecal dialysates were below the detection limit (6 mumol/L). We conclude, therefore, that oral azodisalicylate is a highly effective means of delivery of 5-aminosalicylic acid to the colonic mucosa. In addition, determination of the active metabolites in free fecal water seems important for the interpretation of results obtained in vitro concerning the mode of drug action.

A quantitative approach to the design of antitumor drug dosage schedule via cell cycle kinetics and systems theory.

A discrete-time kinetic model for chemotherapy was developed to deal with the effects of antitumor drugs on the cell cycle and proliferation kinetics of experimental tumor cell populations in which cell kinetic responses of chemotherapy are represented in terms of perturbation of cell kinetic parameters—cell age, cell size and DNA content distributions. The time-course behavior of these cell kinetic parameters was predicted by solving the discrete-time state equations which characterize the dynamics of tumor-drug interactions. The amount of antitumor drug administered was expressed to be the control function of the state equations and the transition matrix representing two modes of drug action, namely, cell kill and progression delay or accumulation of cells due to drug, was derived. The performance of the model, assessed by examining the effects of cell cycle stage-specific agents such as cytosine arabinoside on spontaneous AKR leukemia, compared favorably with experimental data. Utilizing an optimization scheme in engineering systems studies, an analytical method is described for optimizing the regimen of drug administration so as to maximize the effectiveness of drug dosage schedules and minimize the use of toxic amounts of the drug. The superiority of the schedule designed by an optimization scheme was evident at the termination of therapy, although the schedule designed by experimental trials reduced the number of surviving tumor cells more effectively than the one designed by an optimization scheme during the earlier therapy period. In the model, the proposed schedule will function more effectively for the entire therapy period when additional parameters of drug characteristics, such as the toxicity to the host and drug resistance, are encompassed.

Chemotherapy of Experimental Schistosomiasis. I. Drug Activity and Mode of Action of a New Thioxanthone Derivative

In addition to the antimonials, only a few thioxanthone derivatives have been employed in the chemotherapy of schistosomiasis. Nevertheless, the results obtained with the drugs now available are relatively poor and there exists a great need for new schistosomicidal agents. Raison and Standen (1954, 1955) have recently reported marked schistosomicidal activity of symmetrical diaminodiphenoxyalkanes. Caldwell and Standen (1956) and Hill (1956) demonstrated that p-aminophenoxyalkane derivatives and some compounds of the homologous series of diphenoxyalkanes are also active against S. mansoni. Ring substituents of diphenoxyalkanes are less effective (Standen and Walls, 1956). Some rhodanines, hydantoins and N-(9-Xan thenyl) amides have been demonstrated by Luttermoser and Bond (1954) and Bond and Luttermoser (1954) to have therapeutic activity. The results obtained in mice experimentally infected with S. inansoni and treated with a new thioxanthone derivative are reported in this paper, along with some observations concerning the mode of drug action.