Postoperative pain management in paediatrics.

Pain is defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain as 'an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage'. It is now accepted that pain should be anticipated, and safely and effectively controlled, in all children, whatever their age, maturity or severity of illness (Fisher & Morton 1998).

Identification and cloning of a connective tissue growth factor-like cDNA from human osteoblasts encoding a novel regulator of osteoblast functions.

We have identified and cloned a novel connective tissue growth factor-like (CTGF-L) cDNA from primary human osteoblast cells encoding a 250-amino acid single chain polypeptide. Murine CTGF-L cDNA, encoding a polypeptide of 251 amino acids, was obtained from a murine lung cDNA library. CTGF-L protein bears significant identity ( approximately 60%) to the CCN (CTGF, Cef10/Cyr61, Nov) family of proteins. CTGF-L is composed of three distinct domains, an insulin-like growth factor binding domain, a von Willebrand Factor type C motif, and a thrombospondin type I repeat. However, unlike CTGF, CTGF-L lacks the C-terminal domain implicated in dimerization and heparin binding. CTGF-L mRNA ( approximately 1.3 kilobases) is expressed in primary human osteoblasts, fibroblasts, ovary, testes, and heart, and a approximately 26-kDa protein is secreted from primary human osteoblasts and fibroblasts. In situ hybridization indicates high expression in osteoblasts forming bone, discrete alkaline phosphatase positive bone marrow cells, and chondrocytes. Specific binding of 125I-labeled insulin-like growth factors to CTGF-L was demonstrated by ligand Western blotting and cross-linking experiments. Recombinant human CTGF-L promotes the adhesion of osteoblast cells and inhibits the binding of fibrinogen to integrin receptors. In addition, recombinant human CTGF-L inhibits osteocalcin production in rat osteoblast-like Ros 17/2.8 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that CTGF-L may play an important role in modulating bone turnover.

Screening for high-affinity ligands to the Src SH2 domain using capillary isoelectric focusing-electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry.

A solution-based microscale approach for determination of high-affinity noncovalent complexes from mixtures of compounds is presented, based on capillary isoelectric focusing coupled on-line with electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry. The studies are performed using the src homology 2 domain and tyrosine-phosphorylated peptide ligands as a model system. Tight complexes are formed in solution, preconcentrated up to 2 orders of magnitude and separated on the basis of their isoelectric points. The complexes are then dissociated in the mass spectrometer and the freed ligands identified. Picomole or less amounts of protein reagent are consumed per experiment. Structural information for the ligands involved in tight complex formation may be obtained using the MSn capabilities of the ion trap. The methodology can potentially be used to screen rapidly combinatorial mixtures of compounds for high-affinity ligands.

Deregulated expression of E2F1 induces hyperplasia and cooperates with ras in skin tumor development.

In cell culture studies, overexpression of the E2F1 transcription factor has been shown to stimulate proliferation, induce apoptosis, and cooperate with an activated ras gene to oncogenically transform primary rodent cells. To study the effect of increased E2F1 activity on epithelial growth and tumorigenesis in vivo, transgenic mice expressing E2F1 under the control of a keratin 5 (K5) promoter were generated. Expression of E2F1 in the epidermis results in hyperplasia but does not inhibit terminal differentiation. In a transgenic line expressing high levels of E2F1, mice have decreased hair growth likely as a result of aberrant apoptosis in developing hair follicles. Coexpression of a cyclin D1 transgene with E2F1 augments epidermal hyperplasia and further disrupts hair follicle development suggesting that hypophosphorylated Rb antagonizes the proliferative and apoptotic-promoting activities of E2F1. Finally, the E2F1 transgene is found to cooperate with a v-Ha-ras transgene to induce skin tumors in double transgenic animals. These findings confirm that many of the activities ascribed to E2F1 through in vitro studies can be reproduced in vivo and demonstrate for the first time that deregulated E2F activity can contribute to tumor development.

Molecular genetic analysis of a human neuropeptide Y receptor. The human homolog of the murine "Y5" receptor may be a pseudogene.

Neuropeptide Y is a 36-amino-acid peptide amide with numerous biological activities. These functions are mediated through several pharmacologically distinct receptors. To date five receptor subtypes have been cloned. Here we report the isolation, by low stringency homology cloning from a hypothalamic library, of a cDNA encoding the human homolog of the murine neuropeptide Y receptor subsequently reported (). Translation of the human Y1-like receptor clone suggested that it encoded a receptor which is truncated in the third extracellular loop. Comparison of the human Y1-like sequence to that of the human Y1 receptor suggested that the truncated receptor could have resulted from a frameshift due to a single nucleotide deletion in the sixth transmembrane domain. Southern blot analysis suggested that the gene is single copy in the human genome. The gene is located on chromosome 5q. To test the hypothesis that allelic variation of nucleic acid length within the sixth transmembrane domain of the Y1-like receptor may exist to produce a functional receptor, genomic DNA from 192 individuals of various ages, ethnic backgrounds, and degrees of obesity were analyzed electrophoretically and by direct sequencing. No variation was detected in any of the subjects, indicating that this receptor subtype may be a transcribed pseudogene in humans.

Mutational analysis of the endothelin type A receptor (ETA): interactions and model of selective ETA antagonist BMS-182874 with putative ETA receptor binding cavity.

Endothelin (ET) receptor antagonism is a potential therapeutic intervention in the treatment of vascular diseases. To elucidate the mechanism of antagonist-ET receptor complex formation, the interactions of four chemically distinct antagonists were investigated using a combination of genetic and biochemical approaches. By site-specific mutagenesis we previously demonstrated that Tyr129 in the second transmembrane domain was critical for high-affinity, subtype-selective binding to the A subtype of ET (ETA) receptors [Krystek et al. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 12383-12386]. Affinities of the constrained cyclic pentapeptide BQ-123, the pyrimidinylbenzenesulfonamide bosentan, the indancarboxlic acid SB 209670, and the naphthalenesulfonamide BMS-182874 were decreased 20-1000-fold in Tyr129Ala, Tyr129Ser, and Tyr129His ETA receptor mutants. Substitution of Tyr129 with Phe or Trp did not alter the high-affinity binding of BQ-123, bosentan, or SB 209670. BMS-182874 binding affinity was decreased 10-fold in Tyr129Phe and Tyr129trp ET receptors. These data indicate a role of aromatic interactions in the binding of these antagonists to ETA receptors an, in the case of BMS-182874, also suggested a hydrogen bond with the tyrosine hydroxyl. This hypothesis was supported by structure-activity data with analogs of BMS-182874 that varied the C-5 dimethylamino substituent on the naphthalene ring. Mutation of Asp126 and Asp133 also altered binding of BMS-182874 and C-5 analogs. In all cases, naphthalenesulfonamide binding was more severely affected by mutation of Asp133 than by mutation of Asp126. Phosphoinositide hydrolysis and extracellular acidification rate studies demonstrated the importance of Tyr129 to ETA-mediated signal transduction. On the basis of these data, two plausible models of the docked conformation of BMS-182874 in the ETA receptor are proposed as a starting point for further delineation of interactions that underlie antagonist-ETA receptor complex formation.

Cloning and functional expression of a cDNA encoding a human type 2 neuropeptide Y receptor.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a 36-amino acid polypeptide that is widely distributed in the central nervous system and periphery. Pharmacological studies have suggested that there are at least three receptor subtypes, Y1, Y2, and Y3. Cloning of the Y1 subtype has been reported previously. Here we report the isolation by expression cloning of a cDNA encoding a human NPY receptor displaying a pharmacology typical of a Y2 receptor. COS-7 cells transfected with the cDNA express high affinity binding sites for NPY, peptide YY, and NPY13-36, whereas [Leu31,Pro34]NPY binds with lower affinity. The receptor is 381 amino acids in length and has seven putative transmembrane regions typical of G-protein-coupled receptors. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of this Y2 receptor to that of the human Y1 receptor indicates that the two receptors are 31% identical at the amino acid level. Northern blot analyses reveal a single 4-kilobase mRNA species and indicate that the messenger RNA is present in many areas of the central nervous system. NPY induced calcium mobilization and inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation in Chinese hamster ovary cells that stably express the Y2 receptor cDNA, indicating that the recombinant Y2 receptor is functionally coupled to second messenger systems.

Aspartate mutation distinguishes ETA but not ETB receptor subtype-selective ligand binding while abolishing phospholipase C activation in both receptors.

The endothelin receptors, ETA and ETB, are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) that show distinctively different binding profiles for the endothelin peptides and other ligands. We recently reported that Tyr129 in the second transmembrane region (TM2) of the ETA receptor was critical for subtype-specific ligand binding [Krystek, S.R. et al. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 12383-12386]. Receptor models indicated that aspartic acids located one helical turn above (Asp133) and below (Asp126) Tyr129 in ETA had their side chains directed toward the putative binding cavity. Similarly in ETB, Asp147 and Asp154 are located one turn below and above His150, the residue that corresponds to Tyr129. Asp126 in ETA and Asp147 in ETB correspond to the highly conserved aspartate present in TM2 of many GPCR that has frequently been shown to be crucial for agonist efficacy. Mutagenesis of Asp126 of the human ETA receptor to alanine resulted in an unaltered affinity for ET-1, a 160-fold increase in ET-3 affinity and a decrease in affinity for the ETA selective naphthalenesulfonamide, BMS-182874. ET-1 activation of phospholipase C was abolished. In addition, despite the gain in binding affinity, ET-3 failed to activate phospholipase C, suggesting that Asp126 is required for signal transduction. Mutagenesis of Asp133 to alanine indicated that it was critical only for the binding of BMS-182874. In the ETB receptor, mutation of His150 to alanine or tyrosine indicated that it plays a minor role in ETB subtype-selective ligand binding; mutation of the aspartates in TM2 of ETB did not alter ligand binding. As in the Asp126 Ala ETA variant, ET-1 and ET-3 failed to increase intracellular levels of inositol phosphates in the Asp147Ala ETB mutant. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that Asp126 and Asp133 flanking Tyr129 in TM2 of the ETA receptor play a role in defining ETA subtype-selective ligand binding but Asp147 and Asp154 that flank the His150 in TM2 of the ETB receptor do not. Furthermore, these data indicate that Asp126 in ETA and Asp147 in ETB are important for transmembrane signaling via phospholipase C.

A protein kinase involved in the regulation of inflammatory cytokine biosynthesis.

Production of interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor from stimulated human monocytes is inhibited by a new series of pyridinyl-imidazole compounds. Using radiolabelled and radio-photoaffinity-labelled chemical probes, the target of these compounds was identified as a pair of closely related mitogen-activated protein kinase homologues, termed CSBPs. Binding of the pyridinyl-imidazole compounds inhibited CSBP kinase activity and could be directly correlated with their ability to inhibit cytokine production, suggesting that the CSBPs are critical for cytokine production.

Rational design, synthesis, and crystallographic analysis of a hydroxyethylene-based HIV-1 protease inhibitor containing a heterocyclic P1'--P2' amide bond isostere.

The rational design and synthesis of a highly potent inhibitor of HIV-1 protease have been accomplished. The inhibitor, SB 206343, is based on a model derived from the structure of the MVT-101/HIV-1 protease complex and contains a 4(5)-acylimidazole ring as an isosteric replacement for the P1'--P2' amide bond. It is a competitive inhibitor with an apparent inhibition constant of 0.6 nM at pH 6.0. The three-dimensional structure of SB 206343 bound in the active site of HIV-1 protease has been determined at 2.3 A resolution by X-ray diffraction techniques and refined to a crystallographic discrepancy factor, R (= sigma parallel Fo magnitude of/Fc parallel/sigma magnitude of), of 0.194. The inhibitor is held in the enzyme by a set of hydrophobic and polar interactions. N-3 of the imidazole ring participates in a novel hydrogen-bonding interaction with the bound water molecule, demonstrating the effectiveness of the imidazole ring as an isosteric replacement for the P1'--P2' amide bond in hydroxyethylene-based HIV-1 protease inhibitors. Also present are hydrogen-bonding interactions between N-1 of the imidazole ring and the carbonyl of Gly-127 as well as between the imidazole acyl carbonyl oxygen and the amide nitrogen of Asp-129, exemplifying the peptidomimetic nature of the 4(5)-acylimidazole isostere. All of these interactions are in qualitative agreement with those predicted by the model.

Mutation of peptide binding site in transmembrane region of a G protein-coupled receptor accounts for endothelin receptor subtype selectivity.

The molecular basis for endothelin (ET) isopeptide selectivity between ETA and ETB receptors was studied by examining ligand binding to several site-specific mutants of the human ETA receptor. Based on a computer-built three-dimensional model of the ETA receptor, five non-conserved amino acids, clustered around the putative ligand binding site, were targeted for mutation to alanine. Expression of the wild-type and mutant ETA receptors in COS-7 cells revealed that the binding profile of one of the ETA mutants, Tyr129-->Ala, was characteristic of the ETB receptor. In the Tyr129-->Ala ETA receptor mutant the affinity of two ETB-selective agonists, endothelin-3 and sarafotoxin S6c, was increased 10-200-fold, whereas that for two ETA-selective antagonists, BQ-123 and BMS-182874, was reduced 350-2,000-fold. Thus, mutation of a single amino acid in the second transmembrane region of the wild-type ETA receptor results in subtype conversion. In addition, these data represent the first example of peptide interactions with a transmembrane region of a G protein-coupled receptor and indicate that Tyr129, located in the second transmembrane region of the ETA receptor, is a critical component for determination of endothelin receptor subtype-selective ligand binding.

Expression of endothelin receptor subtypes in rabbit saphenous vein.

Recent investigations have revealed the presence of vasoconstrictory endothelin (ET)-B receptors in several tissues, including the rabbit saphenous vein (RSV). To determine the nature of the ET binding sites in RSV, radioligand-receptor binding studies with selective ligands and Northern analyses with probes from the ET-A and ET-B receptor cDNAs were conducted. ET-1 inhibited 125I-ET-1 binding to RSV in a monophasic manner, with an inhibition constant (Ki) of 0.08 +/- 0.02 nM and a slope factor of 0.9 +/- 0.1. ET-3 inhibition of 125I-ET-1 binding was biphasic, with 68% of the 125I-ET-1 binding sites being displaceable with a Ki value of 31 +/- 4 nM. The remaining 32% of the sites displayed high affinity for ET-3 (Ki = 0.2 +/- 0.1 nM). The ET-A-selective peptide BQ-123 inhibited 125I-ET-1 binding in a biphasic manner, with Ki values of 10.4 +/- 1.9 nM and 3.2 +/- 0.9 microM. The high affinity BQ-123 site comprised 70% of the binding sites, whereas the low affinity site comprised 30%. The correspondence of high affinity binding sites for BQ-123 and low affinity binding sites for ET-3 is consistent with the suggestion that 70% of the 125I-ET-1 binding sites in this tissue are ET-A receptors. To further investigate the nature of the ET-B binding sites in RSV, 125I-ET-3 competition binding experiments were conducted. ET-1 and BQ-123 inhibited 125I-ET-3 binding in RSV with Ki values of 40 +/- 7 pM and 7.2 microM, respectively, whereas inhibition curves for ET-3 and the ET-B receptor-selective agonist sarafotoxin S6c (S6c) were best fit to two-site models. Resultant Ki values for ET-3 and S6c were 50 pM (71%)/4 pM (29%) and 0.7 nM (71%)/95 nM (29%), respectively. Binding in RSV differed from that in rat cerebellum, where ET-3 and S6c inhibition of 125I-ET-3 binding was monophasic (Ki values of 70 pM and 1.1 nM for ET-3 and S6c, respectively). The presence of the nonhydrolyzable guanine nucleotide analog guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate (200 microM) did not affect 125I-ET-3 binding. Low stringency Northern analysis of RSV RNA with [alpha-32P]dCTP-labeled fragments from the ET-A or ET-B receptor cDNAs revealed similar hybridization patterns with both probes, with two resolved RNA species migrating at 4.7 and 1.8 kilobases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Endothelin receptor B expression in the rat and rabbit lung as determined by in situ hybridization using nonisotopic probes.

Endothelins are a family of potent vasoactive peptides. Full-length cDNA clones to human endothelin receptor B (ETB) mRNA were random prime-labeled with nucleotides conjugated to digoxigenin for in situ hybridization. The labeled cDNA was used to probe frozen sections of rat and rabbit lung. Detection of the digoxigenin-labeled probe was accomplished by an antibody-enzyme conjugate, anti-digoxigenin alkaline phosphatase. The location of the antibody-antigen complex was visualized as an enzyme-linked color reaction. The hybridization, washings, and detection steps were performed under stringent conditions. The following cell types of the rat and rabbit lung had abundant positive reaction product to the ETB probe: bronchiolar and bronchial epithelium, endothelium of smooth-muscle--walled vessels, and bronchial and bronchiolar-associated lymphoid tissue. Abundant positive reaction product was also observed in cell populations in the lung parenchyma. Additional studies are being performed to identify those populations. The results of this study suggest that in addition to vasoactivity, endothelins play other important roles in the lung.

Binding of 125I-endothelin-1 and 125I-endothelin-3 in rabbit saphenous vein: evidence for an atypical ET binding component.

Recent investigations have confirmed the presence of vasoconstrictory endothelinB (ETB) receptors in several tissues, including the rabbit saphenous vein (RSV). To determine the molecular nature of the ET receptor subtypes in RSV, radioligand-receptor binding with selective ligands was conducted. ET-1 inhibited 125I-ET-1 binding to RSV in a monophasic manner with an inhibition constant (Ki) of 0.08 +/- 0.03 nM. Inhibition of 125I-ET-1 binding by ET-3 or the ETA-selective peptide BQ-123 resulted in markedly biphasic inhibition curves with Ki values of 0.4 +/- 0.1 nM (36% of total sites)/37 +/- 10 nM (64% of total sites) for ET-3 and 10.4 +/- 1.9 nM (70%)/3.2 +/- 0.9 microM (30%) for BQ-123. The correspondence of high-affinity binding sites for BQ-123 with low-affinity binding sites for ET-3 agrees with the suggestion that 70% of the 125I-ET-1 binding sites in this tissue are ETA receptors. To further investigate the nature of the ET-B (non-ET-A) binding sites in RSV, 125I-ET-3 competition binding was conducted. ET-1 and BQ-123 inhibited 125I-ET-3 binding in RSV with Ki values of 40 +/- 7 pM and 7.2 microM, respectively, while ET-3 and the ETB receptor-selective agonist sarafotoxin S6c (S6c) inhibition curves were best fit to two-site models. Resultant Ki values for ET-3 and S6c were 50 pM (71%)/4 pM (29%) and 0.3 nM (76%)/115 nM (24%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Lanomycin and glucolanomycin, antifungal agents produced by Pycnidiophora dispersa. I. Discovery, isolation and biological activity.

The antifungal agents lanomycin and glucolanomycin were isolated from Pycnidiophora dispersa. The compounds were active against species of Candida and dermatophytes but were inactive against Aspergillus fumigatus and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The compounds inhibited the cytochrome P-450 enzyme lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase, and are believed, therefore, to have a mode of action similar to the azole and bis-triazole class of antifungal agents.

Influence of caffeine on exercise performance in habitual caffeine users.

The effect of caffeine on the exercise responses of six women habituated to caffeine (greater than 600 mg/day) was examined during 1-h running at 75% VO2 max on a motorized treadmill. Each subject completed a placebo (PL) and a caffeine ingestion (CC) trial while maintaining normal caffeine intake. The subject then abstained from caffeine for 4 days and again ran after receiving caffeine (CW). Caffeine dosage for all trials was 5 mg/kg body weight. Ingestion of caffeine after withdrawal (CW) resulted in the greatest physiologic effects. Exercise oxygen uptake was significantly elevated by 0.17 l/min over the PL and CC trials (P less than 0.05). The CW trials resulted in an overall R value of 0.79 +/- 0.04 compared with 0.85 +/- 0.08 for the PL and 0.83 +/- 0.04 for the CC trials. Caffeine had its greatest effect on the resting free fatty acid levels after withdrawal: 1104 +/- 425 mu Eq/l compared with 543 +/- 288 for the PL and 839 +/- 526 for the CC. Postexercise lactates were similar for all trials. Post-exercise plasma norepinephrine and dopamine were the highest after the CW trials. The results suggest that habitually high caffeine users acquire a tolerance to caffeine which reduces its effects during prolonged exercise. Furthermore, to magnify the effect of caffeine, habitual users should withdraw from caffeine use for about 4 days.

Two new inhibitors of phospholipase A2 produced by Penicillium chermesinum. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, structure determination and biological properties.

Plastatin and the known fungal metabolite, luteosporin, have been isolated from fermentations of Penicillium chermesinum as inhibitors of porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Structure 1 for plastatin was deduced from its spectroscopic properties. Plastatin and luteosporin inhibited pancreatic PLA2 competitively with Ki values of 0.89 microM and 12.8 microM, respectively. PLA2 preparations from Naja naja and Crotalus adamanteus were not significantly inhibited by plastatin and luteosporin.