Immunological mechanisms involved in the human response to a dog dander allergoid.

BACKGROUND: Dog allergens are a common cause of allergic sensitisation and trigger respiratory symptoms worldwide. However, clinical evidence regarding dog immunotherapy is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the immunomodulatory properties of a new allergoid from dog dander, thereby deepening the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the reestablishment of the tolerogenic response. METHODS: Three independent batches of dog dander native and allergoid allergen extracts were manufactured and characterised. Allergenic profiles were analysed by the identification of all dog allergens and quantification of the major allergens Can f 1 and Can f 5. The allergenicity profile of the allergoid was studied using biological potency and basophil activation tests. In vitro immunomodulatory parameters was evaluated as the capacity of the allergoid to induce IgG antibodies that block IgE binding to the allergen and cytokine promotion (IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, and TNF-α) in PBMCs from allergic donors. RESULTS: The presence of all dog allergens, including Can f 1 and Can f 5, was confirmed in both types of extracts. The new allergoid showed a low IgE binding capacity, which significantly affected the activation of effector cells, such as basophils. The IgG antibodies induced by the allergoid in rabbits blocked human IgE binding epitopes on the dog native extract and induced Th1 and Treg responses by increasing IFN-γ and IL-10 levels in PBMCs from allergic donors. CONCLUSION: This new dog dander allergoid containing Can f 1 and Can f 5 showed a low capacity to bind IgE and to activate basophils in dog allergic patients. Furthermore, it showed potent activation of Th1 mediators and induction of tolerance through Treg activation. This allergoid could offer a safer profile than the native extract and could be an effective immunotherapy treatment for dog allergic patients.

The intestinal anti-inflammatory effect of dersalazine sodium is related to a down-regulation in IL-17 production in experimental models of rodent colitis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dersalazine sodium (DS) is a new chemical entity formed by combining, through an azo bond, a potent platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist (UR-12715) with 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). DS has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory effects on trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats and recently in UC patients in phase II PoC. There is Increasing evidence that Th17 cells have an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to further characterize the anti-inflammatory effects of DS. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Effect of DS (10 or 30 mg·kg(-1) b.i.d.) on TNBS-induced colitis in rats was studied after 2 and 7 days with special focus on inflammatory mediators. Additionally, its anti-inflammatory properties were analysed in two different models of dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis, BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, the latter being dependent on IL-17. KEY RESULTS: DS, when administered for 7 days, showed intestinal anti-inflammatory effects in TNBS-induced colitis; these effects were observed both macroscopically and through the profile of inflammatory mediators (TNF, IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-17). Although the 2 day treatment with DS did not induce intestinal anti-inflammatory effects, it was sufficient to reduce the enhanced IL-17 expression. DS showed beneficial effects on DSS-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice and reduced colonic pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-17. In contrast, it did not exert intestinal anti-inflammatory effects on DSS-induced colitis in BALB/c mice. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: DS exerts intestinal anti-inflammatory activity in different rodent models of colitis through down-regulation of IL-17 expression.

In vivo and in vitro pharmacological characterization of SVT-40776, a novel M3 muscarinic receptor antagonist, for the treatment of overactive bladder.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Highly selective M(3) muscarinic receptor antagonists may represent a better treatment for overactive bladder syndrome, diminishing side effects. Cardiac side effects of non-selective antimuscarinics have been associated with activity at M(2) receptors as these receptors are mainly responsible for muscarinic receptor-dependent bradycardia. We have investigated a novel antimuscarinic, SVT-40776, highly selective for M(3) over M(2) receptors (Ki = 0.19 nmol.L(-1) for M(3) receptor affinity). This study reports the functional activity of SVT-40776 in the bladder, relative to its activity in atria. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In vitro and ex vivo (oral dosing) inhibition of mouse detrusor and atrial contractile responses to carbachol were used to study the functional activity of SVT-40776. The in vivo efficacy of SVT-40776 was characterized by suppression of isovolumetric spontaneous bladder contractions in anaesthetized guinea pigs after intravenous administration. KEY RESULTS: SVT-40776 was the most potent in inhibiting carbachol-induced bladder contractions of the anti-cholinergic agents tested, without affecting atrial contractions over the same range of concentrations. SVT-40776 exhibited the highest urinary versus cardiac selectivity (199-fold). In the guinea pig in vivo model, SVT-40776 inhibited 25% of spontaneous bladder contractions at a very low dose (6.97 microg.kg(-1) i.v), without affecting arterial blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: SVT-40776 is a potent inhibitor of M(3) receptor-related detrusor contractile activity. The absence of effects on isolated atria preparations represents an interesting characteristic and suggests that SVT-40776 may lack unwanted cardiac effects; a feature especially relevant in a compound intended to treat mainly elderly patients.

Variations in activity and inhibition with pH: the protonated amine is the substrate for monoamine oxidase, but uncharged inhibitors bind better.

It has been accepted that, as required mechanistically, the neutral form of the amine is the substrate for monoamine oxidase, despite the amine pK (a) of above 9.5. The pH dependence of the kinetic parameters for kynuramine oxidation by purified human MAO-A and for phenylethylamine oxidation by MAO-B in granulocytes at pH values from 5 to 10 was consistent with the protonated amine being used. Deprotonation of a group of pK (a) = 7.1 in MAO-B and pK (a) = 7.5 +/- 0.1 (n = 4) in MAO-A was important for efficient catalysis. The K(i) values for two oxazolidinone inhibitors of MAO-A gave opposite pH-dependence indicating that the uncharged form of each inhibitor bound better than the charged form. Decreased pH induced a blue shift in the spectral maximum of MAO-A indicative of a more hydrophobic environment around the flavin, and also influenced the redox properties of the flavin.

Effect of endotoxin and platelet-activating factor on rat vascular permeability: role of vasoactive mediators.

The contribution of several vasoactive mediators such as histamine, serotonin, bradykinin, arachidonic acid metabolites and PAF to vascular permeability changes was determined in a rat model of acute endotoxemia. Lipopolysaccharide (10-40 mg/kg, i.v.) from E. coli 0127:B8 (LPS) elicited an increase in Evans blue extravasation in trachea, thymus, seminal vesicle and stomach, whereas other organs remained unaffected. LPS (25 mg/kg)-induced extravasation was not inhibited by intravenous pretreatment with histamine (H1) antagonist mepyramine (5 mg/kg) or bradykinin (B2) antagonist HOE-140 (0.1 mg/kg), whereas other standard drugs selectively inhibited leakage in particular tissues, e.g. the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (5 mg/kg) in trachea (78%) and seminal vesicle (64%), the serotonin and H1 antagonists cyproheptadine (2 mg/kg) in trachea (88%) and stomach (56%) and the dual cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitor phenidone (10 mg/kg) in seminal vesicle (87%). PAF antagonists lexipafant and UR-12460 (10 mg/kg), but not apafant, potently inhibited extravasation in trachea (59, 84%) and seminal vesicle (81, 78%) and in stomach only UR-12460 (52%), whereas all of them were ineffective in thymus. When extravasation was induced by PAF (4 micrograms/kg) a low dose (0.1 mg/kg) of the three PAF antagonists strongly reduced extravasation in thymus and seminal vesicle, whereas lexipafant and UR-12460 did so in trachea (82, 100%) and only lexipafant in stomach (100%). Mepyramine, cyproheptadine, HOE-140 and indomethacin did not inhibit the effect of PAF, whereas phenidone inhibited it by 58% in trachea. These results suggest that most of the LPS-induced increase in vascular permeability is mediated by secondary vasoactive mediators among which PAF plays a pivotal role, although their relative contribution may vary from tissue to tissue.

Rupatadine, a new potent, orally active dual antagonist of histamine and platelet-activating factor (PAF).

Rupatadine (UR-12592, 8-chloro-6, 11-dihydro-11-[1-[(5-methyl3-pyridinyl) methyl]-4-piperidinylidene]-5H-benzo[5,6]-cyclohepta[1,2b]pyridine ) is a novel compound that inhibits both platelet-activating factor (PAF) and histamine (H1) effects through its interaction with specific receptors (Ki(app) values against [3H]WEB-2086 binding to rabbit platelet membranes and [3H]-pyrilamine binding to guinea pig cerebellum membranes were 0.55 and 0.10 microM, respectively). Rupatadine competitively inhibited histamine-induced guinea pig ileum contraction (pA2 = 9.29 +/- 0.06) without affecting contraction induced by ACh, serotonin or leukotriene D4 (LTD4). It also competitively inhibited PAF-induced platelet aggregation in washed rabbit platelets (WRP) (pA2 = 6.68 +/- 0.08) and in human platelet-rich plasma (HPRP) (IC50 = 0.68 microM), while not affecting ADP- or arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation. Rupatadine blocked histamine- and PAF-induced effects in vivo, such as hypotension in rats (ID50 = 1.4 and 0.44 mg/kg i.v., respectively) and bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs (ID50 = 113 and 9.6 micrograms/kg i.v.). Moreover, it potently inhibited PAF-induced mortality in mice (ID50 = 0.31 and 3.0 mg/kg i.v. and p.o., respectively) and endotoxin-induced mortality in mice and rats (ID50 = 1.6 and 0.66 mg/kg i.v.). Rupatadine's duration of action was long, as assessed by the histamine- and PAF-induced increase in vascular permeability test in dogs (42 and 34% inhibition at 26 h after 1 mg/kg p.o.). Rupatadine at a dose of 100 mg/kg p.o. neither modified spontaneous motor activity nor prolonged barbiturate-sleeping time in mice, which indicates a lack of sedative effects. Overall, rupatadine combines histamine and PAF antagonist activities in vivo with high potency, the antihistamine properties being similar to or higher than those of loratadine, whereas rupatadine's PAF antagonist effects were near those of WEB-2066. Rupatadine is therefore a good candidate for further development in the treatment of allergic and inflammatory conditions in which both PAF and histamine are implicated.

Effects of a new platelet-activating factor antagonist, UR-12670, on several endotoxic shock markers in rats.

UR-12670 is a novel and potent PAF antagonist, eg., it displaces [3H]WEB-2086 from PAF receptors in rabbit platelet membranes (Ki = 0.6 nM) and inhibits PAF-induced increase in vascular permeability in rat trachea (100%), thymus (44%), seminal vesicles (100%) and stomach (54%) at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg i.v. Since PAF is thought to be an important mediator in endotoxic shock, the effect of pretreatment with UR-12670 on changes in vascular permeability, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and plasma biochemical parameters were determined in a rat model of acute endotoxemia. UR-12670 and the reference PAF antagonist, lexipafant (10 mg/kg i.v.), strongly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 25 mg/kg i.v.)-induced plasma leakage in the trachea (49 and 100%, respectively) and seminal vesicles (81 and 100%), as assessed by the Evans blue extravasation method. Only lexipafant inhibited the increase in vascular permeability in the thymus (36%). Neither PAF antagonist was effective in the stomach. Both UR-12670 and lexipafant at 10 mg/kg i.v. attenuated the LPS-induced variation of some DIC markers, such as activated partial thromboplastin time increase (56 and 58%, respectively) and the fibrinogen concentration decrease (53 and 31%), whereas the increase in prothrombin time was not affected. Increased plasma acid phosphatase (ACP, a lysosomal activation marker) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, a tissue damage marker) activity elicited by LPS was attenuated by pretreatment with 10 mg/kg i.v. of either UR-12670 or lexipafant (ACP: 55 and 48%; LDH: 50 and 33%). LPS-induced hyperglycemia (46 and 37%) and hyperlactacidemia (100% both) were also inhibited. UR-12670 protected against several shock symptoms, confirming the role of PAF in the pathogenesis of rodent endotoxemia.

Characterization of [3H]apafant binding to PAF receptor on rabbit platelet membranes: a comparison of a microplate filtration system and a standard method.

This article describes the application of a Microplate Filtration System (MFS) to a binding assay, with the results being compared to those obtained with a conventional 24-Well Filtration Manifold (24WFM). The data reported here characterize the PAF receptor on rabbit platelet membranes using [3H]apafant. The results showed that [3H]apafant labelled a homogenous population of high-affinity binding sites in a concentration-dependent manner. Binding was very specific, saturable, reversible, and proportional to receptor concentration. [3H]Apafant interacted with membranes in an apparently competitive manner, with pseudo-Hill coefficients not significantly different from unity, thus indicating that apafant did not interact cooperatively at these binding sites. A number of PAF antagonists (apafant, lexipafant, BN-52021, SCH-37370, SR-27417, UR-12670) inhibited [3H]apafant binding with slopes near unity and with a rank order of potency in good agreement with their ability to inhibit PAF-induced rabbit platelet aggregation, suggesting that the sites labelled are functional PAF receptors. C18-PAF also competed with [3H]apafant for the receptor, but yielded biphasic inhibition curves which could be resolved into high- and low-affinity components. No significant differences were found either in the equilibrium binding parameters or in the PAF antagonists affinities obtained with the 24WFM and the MFS. The use of the latter system improved sample handling efficiency and shortened overall labor time, thus representing a more suitable way to perform receptor binding assays.

Effects of UR-12633, a new antagonist of platelet-activating factor, in rodent models of endotoxic shock.

1. The effects of the selective and potent novel platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist, UR-12633 (1-(3,3-diphenylpropionyl)-4-(3-pyridylcyanomethyl)piperidin e) on several markers of endotoxic shock syndrome were evaluated in rats and mice. 2. UR-12633, administered 60 min after E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), reversed the LPS-induced sustained hypotension in rats at doses of 0.01 to 1 mg kg-1, i.v. The reference compound WEB-2086 (1 mg kg-1) also reversed the LPS-induced hypotension. UR-12633 (1 mg kg-1), administered 10 min before LPS, almost fully inhibited sustained hypotension. The immediate hypotension (within 1 min) caused by LPS was not prevented by either UR-12633 or WEB-2086. 3. Pretreatment with 10 mg kg-1, i.v. of either UR-12633 or WEB-2086 inhibited the increase in disseminated intravascular coagulation markers, such as activated partial thromboplastin time (55 and 74% inhibition, respectively), and prothrombin time (22 and 72% inhibition) and prevented the decrease in plasma fibrinogen content (100 and 29% inhibition). 4. Increases in acid phosphatase (ACP) plasma activity, a marker of lysosomal activation, and in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a marker of tissue damage, were inhibited by pretreatment with 10 mg kg-1, i.v. of either UR-12633 or WEB-2086 (100% and 69% inhibition, ACP; 62 and 48% inhibition, LDH). Hyperglycaemia (71 and 46%) and hyperlactacidaemia (92 and 56%) were also inhibited. 5. UR-12633, but not WEB-2086, inhibited the LPS-induced increase in vascular permeability in rats, as shown by prevention of haemoconcentration and, to a lesser degree, the increase in Evans blue dye extravasation. 6. In a series of nine reference compounds and UR-12633, we found a high correlation (P < 0.001) between PAF antagonist activity, measured as the inhibition of PAF-induced rabbit platelet aggregation or PAF-induced mortality in mice and the inhibition of LPS-induced mortality. 7. In spite of the multifactorial nature of endotoxic shock, in which many mediators may be involved, the new potent PAF antagonist, UR-12633, proved effective in protecting against changes in most shock markers. These data strongly suggest a key role for PAF in the pathogenesis of endotoxic shock in rodents.

Design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationship studies of novel 1-[(1-acyl-4-piperidyl)methyl]-1H-2- methylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridine derivatives as potent, orally active platelet-activating factor antagonists.

Replacement of the polar head of our previous series of 1-acyl-4-[(2-methyl-3-pyridyl)-cyanomethyl]piperazines with a 2-methylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridine group has led to the identification of a new series of 1-[(1-acyl-4- piperidyl)methyl]-1H-2-methylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridine derivatives as potent, orally active platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonists. On the basis of the general structure--activity relationship trends found for the acyl substituent in our earlier series, five groups of compounds were tested, diaryl- or alkylarylpropanoyl derivatives, their 3-hydroxy-substituted analogues, and urea, carbamate and amino acid derivatives. The optimal compound 19 UR-12670), bearing the 3,3-diphenylpropanoyl moiety, exhibited very high in vitro and in vivo potency IC50 = 0.0076 microM for the in vitro PAF-induced platelet aggregation assay, ID50 = 0.0086 mg/kg for the in vivo PAF-induced hypotension test in normotensive rats, and ID50 = 0.092 mg/kg po and 0.0008 mg/kg i.v. for the PAF-induced mortality test in mice). Compound 19 also showed long duration of activity. It gave 100% protection against PAF-induced mortality in mice 7 h after i.v. administration of a single dose of 1 mg/kg and also provided 100% inhibition of PAF-induced aggregation in dog whole blood 6 h after i.v. administration of the same dose. The lead structure 19 has been selected for in-depth pharmacological evaluation.

[(3-Pyridylalkyl)piperidylidene]benzocycloheptapyridine derivatives as dual antagonists of PAF and histamine.

A series of [(3-pyridylalkyl)piperidylidene]- and (nicotinoylpiperidylidene)benzocycloheptapyridine derivatives, Ia,b, were prepared and evaluated for PAF antagonist and H1 antihistamine activity. PAF antagonist activity was investigated by the in vitro PAF-induced platelet aggregation assay (PPA) and the in vivo PAF-induced hypotension test in rats (PH) and mortality test in mice (PM). For the evaluation of H1 antihistamine activity, the in vitro histamine-induced contraction of the guinea-pig ileum assay (HC) and the in vivo histamine-induced hypotension test (HH) in normotensive rats were used. The potential antiallergic activity of the compounds was evaluated using the active anaphylactic shock test in mice. These compounds are structurally related to loratadine (1) and were generated by replacement of the ethoxycarbonyl group of 1 with substituted 3-pyridylmethyl and nicotinoyl moieties. Both anti-PAF and H1 antihistamine activities have shown a high dependence on the exact nature and position of the substituent in the pyridine ring. Optimum structure 19 (UR-12592) incorporating a (5-methyl-3-pyridyl)methyl radical displayed an unique dual activity inhibiting both PAF-induced effects (PPA, IC50 = 3.7 microM; PH, ID50 = 0.44 mg/kg iv; PM, ID50 = 1.9 mg/kg po) and histamine-induced effects (HC, IC50 = 3.9 nM; HH, ID50 = 1.4 mg/kg iv). Furthermore, 19 was highly active in the passive cutaneous anaphylactic shock in rats (ID50 = 1.2 mg/kg po) and strongly protected mice and rats from mortality induced by endotoxin (ID50 = 1.2 and 0.5 mg/kg iv, respectively). Compound 19 showed itself to be devoid of CNS depressant effects, neither modifying spontaneous motor activity nor prolonging barbiturate-sleeping time in mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg po, and is now under development.

Kinetic behaviour of some acetylenic indolalkylamine derivatives and their corresponding parent amines.

Different methoxy indolalkylamines based on a common structure, and differing in the side chain attached at the 2 position of the indole ring were studied as MAO A inhibitors. Some are acetylenic derivatives and consequently might behave as "suicide" MAO inhibitors (FA 42, FA 43, FA 45). The rest of compounds are the corresponding parent amines and they might behave as MAO substrates (FA 51, FA 52, FA 53, FA 54). The kinetic behaviour of the parent amines as MAO A and MAO B inhibitors and substrates was determined. In case of acetylenic derivatives, kinetic constants defining the non-covalent adduct formation and the covalent adduct formation were also calculated for the mechanism-based inhibition. These parameters will allow us to establish the correlation with structural features that predetermine one compound to be a good MAO substrate or a good MAO A and MAO B inhibitor.

Contribution of different amine oxidases to the metabolism of dopamine in bovine retina.

The contribution of monoamine oxidase (MAO) A, MAO B and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) to the metabolism of dopamine in the bovine retina was studied. These activities were present in the optic nerve, iris, choroid and bovine retina, but they were absent in the lens. SSAO activity towards dopamine was present in the choroid and the retina, but not in the iris or the optic nerve. The corresponding kinetic values for this substrate in the retina and the choroid showed higher affinity for MAO A (Km 271 and 197 microM, respectively) than for MAO B (Km 861 and 404 microM, respectively). This effect was counteracted by the higher Vmax value for MAO B resulting in the Vmax/Km ratio being similar for both cases. The absence of detectable SSAO activity towards dopamine in these last two tissues contrasts with the presence of that enzyme when benzylamine was studied as substrate. These results indicate that two different SSAO activities could be present in the bovine eye.

The oxidation of dopamine by the semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) from rat vas deferens.

The activities of monoamine oxidase A and B and the semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase from rat vas deferens were compared towards benzylamine and dopamine. The selective inhibitors (-)-deprenyl and clorgyline were used to allow the contributions of the A and B forms of monoamine oxidase to be determined separately. Comparison of the kinetic constants of the three enzymes towards dopamine indicated that, although each of them had activity towards this substrate, their relative contributions to the total oxidative deamination would depend on the substrate concentration. At all concentrations in the range 1 microM to 10 mM monoamine oxidase-B would contribute about 50% of the total activity. In the range 1 to 10 microM the contributions made by activities of monoamine oxidase-A and the semicarbazide-sensitive enzyme were similar but at higher concentrations the activity of the latter enzyme became more important, its contribution to the total activity rising to some 35% of the total at 500 microM dopamine. The activity of the semicarbazide-sensitive enzyme towards dopamine might thus be important under conditions where either or both the monoamine oxidases were inhibited in pharmacological studies. Its possible relevance to Norrie disease, in which both forms of the human enzyme are deficient, requires further examination.

Monoamine oxidase and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activities in bovine eye.

The activities of MAO-A, MAO-B and the semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) were determined in bovine lens, retina, optic nerve, iris and epithelium. No activities were detected in lens but the SSAO activity was found to be rather evenly distributed in the other tissues. The SSAO activities determined with 1 microM benzylamine were about half those determined for MAO-B. MAO-A activity, measured with 5-HT as substrate, was considerably greater than those of MAO-B and SSAO, determined with 2-phenylethylamine and benzylamine, respectively, in all the eye tissues.

Amine oxidase activities in bovine lung.

The subcellular distributions of amine oxidase activities MAO-A, MAO-B and SSAO, in bovine lung have been determined. MAO activities are largely confined to the mitochondria whereas SSAO activity is concentrated in the microsomal fraction. The contribution of different type of amine oxidase present in the microsomal fraction to the metabolism of the benzylamine, tyramine, phenylethylamine, tryptamine and dopamine were determined. The kinetic constants towards benzylamine showed SSAO to have a higher affinity than MAO-B, and the comparison of the Vmax/Km relationship for both enzymes indicated that benzylamine would be oxidised more efficiently by SSAO than by MAO-B.

Inhibition of MAO by substituted tryptamine analogues.

Three different acetylenic analogues of tryptamine, in which the side chain is attached at the 2 position of the heterocyclic ring, were studied as inhibitors of MAO-A and MAO-B. IC50 values were determined after 30 min preincubation of the enzyme and inhibitor, at 37 degrees C before assay. Irreversibility and time-dependence of the inhibition were also established in each case. The kinetic parameters defining non-covalent complex formation and covalent adduct formation were calculated for the mechanism-based inhibition of both MAO-A and MAO-B by these compounds.

A comparative study of some kinetic and molecular properties of microsomal and mitochondrial monoamine oxidase.

This experimental work tries to characterize the monoamine oxidase of microsomal origin through its kinetic and molecular properties, and to establish a comparative study with the enzyme present in rat liver mitochondria. The temperature effect upon this catalytic activity was examined and similar behaviour of MAO A and MAO B between both cellular fractions was found. The study of the pH dependence of initial velocity showed similar results both in mitochondria and in microsomes. The FAD cofactor is covalently attached to the MAO of microsomal origin. The FAD containing subunits corresponding to MAO A and MAO B, previous binding of the enzyme with [3H]pargyline and posterior SDS electrophoresis and fluorography, showed molecular weights of 65,900 and 62,400, respectively, in both cellular fractions. The inhibition curves with clorgyline, deprenyl, semicarbazide and KCN, measuring the remaining activity towards 1 microM of benzylamine, indicated that in mitochondria 5% of the total activity is due to the presence of SSAO activity whereas in microsomes this activity represents about 20%. From all these results it appears that mitochondrial and microsomal MAO are related enzymes, although further structural studies are necessary to confirm their possible identity.