Speciation of protein-binding zinc and copper in human blood serum by chelating resin pre-treatment and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

A method for the speciation of zinc and copper binding with proteins in human serum was explored by chelating resin (Chelex-100) pre-treatment and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). It was shown by a SEC (size-exclusion chromatography)-ICP-MS system that albumin-zinc and albumin-copper (loosely-bound species) could be selectively removed from serum by adsorption on the Chelex-100 resin after the chelating resin pre-treatment, while alpha 2-macroglobulin-zinc and ceruloplasmin-copper (firmly-bound species) remained in the serum. The zinc and copper bound with alpha 2-macroglobulin and ceruloplasmin, respectively, were then determined by ICP-MS after batch treatment of the serum samples with the Chelex-100 resin. In addition, the total concentrations of zinc and copper were also determined by ICP-MS after a 20-fold dilution with 0.1 M HNO3. The albumin-zinc and -copper were estimated as the differences between the concentrations of total and firmly-bound species. The present batch pre-treatment method was applied to the speciation analysis of zinc and copper binding with proteins in sera donated from 25 healthy volunteers as well as from a pregnant woman and a myelodysplastic syndrome patient. The observed concentrations of alpha 2-macroglobulin-zinc and ceruloplasmin-copper were in the ranges 109-202 ng ml-1 (12.4-31.3% of total zinc) and 513-880 ng ml-1 (90.6-99.7% of total copper), respectively. The present method is simple (only addition of the chelating resin and centrifugation is required) and reproducible (average RSD = 2% for alpha 2-macroglobulin-zinc and 1% for ceruloplasmin-copper in intra-assay measurements, and 5% for alpha 2-macroglobulin-zinc and 4% for ceruloplasmin-copper in inter-assay measurements), and there is less risk of contamination during separation.

Disposition of 125I-labeled recombinant human tumor necrosis factor in the tumor-bearing mouse.

Disposition of [125I]rHu-TNF was elucidated in BALB/c mice bearing Meth A fibrosarcoma 7 days after transplantation. After i.v. administration, [125I]rHu-TNF measured by radioactivity and immunoreactivity biphasically decreased in plasma. Tumor level of [125I]rHu-TNF was the maximum at 1 h, then decreased and finally remained essentially constant. After i.t. administration, plasma level reached the maximum at 1 h. Tumor level decreased quickly and then became essentially constant. [125I]rHu-TNF was suggested to be degraded to small fragments in the tumor. Significant distribution of [125I]rHu-TNF was found in the kidney, lung, liver and tumor. Most tissue levels decreased with time in parallel with plasma levels. [125I]rHu-TNF radioactivity was found in proximal convoluted tubules of kidney and in those areas of tumor consisting of degenerating cells with pyknotic nuclei. Urine contained most of administered radioactivity, which being neither immunoreactive nor protein-bound.

Influence of papaverine on cyclic nucleotide level and cellular metabolism in rat kidney cortex in terms of its inhibitory effect on p-aminohippurate transport.

We attempted to determine whether there is a possible link between the effect of papaverine on p-aminohippurate (PAH) accumulation, on cyclic nucleotide content and on certain other cellular functional parameters in rat kidney cortical slices in vitro. Papaverine at a concentration of 0.1 mM almost completely inhibited PAH accumulation in the slices. However, cyclic guanosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) and cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) levels in the slices were not significantly affected by papaverine at 0.1 mM, though papaverine at a concentration of 1 mM increased the cyclic GMP level without affecting the cyclic AMP level. Papaverine (0.1 mM) produced a decrease in the sodium gradient and in the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level in the slices. Calcium uptake by mitochondria, isolated from kidney cortex, was apparently decreased in the presence of 0.1 mM papaverine. These results suggest that the inhibition of phosphodiesterase probably does not explain the action of papaverine on PAH accumulation in the slices. The inhibition of PAH accumulation by papaverine is partly a reflection of the fall in the sodium gradient in the slices treated with papaverine. In addition, a depression of ATP level in the slices and an inhibition of mitochondrial calcium uptake may be related to a possible mechanism of action of papaverine on PAH accumulation.

Effect of papaverine on organic anion transport in rat kidney cortical slices.

The present studies were conducted to further investigate a role of cyclic nucleotides for organic anion transport in rat kidney cortical slices by using papaverine as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Papaverine was chosen for this study because this drug is an organic cation, a transport system of which is thought to be clearly separable from an organic anion transport system. Papaverine inhibited not only p-aminohippuric acid (PAH) accumulation in the slices but also urate one. Pretreatment of the slices with papaverine was effective for significant inhibition of PAH accumulation during subsequent incubation in the absence of papaverine. The present results suggest that a relationship may exist between cyclic nucleotides and organic anion transport in rat kidney cortical slices, although further work is necessary before the above evaluation can be given.