ABSTRACT
A new class of chymase inhibitor featuring a benzimidazolone core with an acid side chain and a P(1) hydrophobic moiety is described. Incubation of the lead compound with GSH resulted in the formation of a GSH conjugate on the benzothiophene P(1) moiety. Replacement of the benzothiophene with different heterocyclic systems such as indoles and benzoisothiazole is feasible. Among the P(1) replacements, benzoisothiazole prevents the formation of GSH conjugate and an in silico analysis of oxidative potentials agreed with the experimental outcome.
Subject(s)
Benzimidazoles/chemistry , Chymases/antagonists & inhibitors , Protease Inhibitors/chemistry , Benzimidazoles/metabolism , Benzimidazoles/pharmacology , Binding Sites , Chymases/metabolism , Crystallography, X-Ray , Humans , Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions , Oxidation-Reduction , Protease Inhibitors/chemical synthesis , Protease Inhibitors/pharmacology , Protein Structure, Tertiary , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
In this report we describe development and characterization of four human cell lines that are able to secrete insulin and C-peptide in response to higher concentrations of glucose. These cell lines have been developed by stably and constitutively expressing human proinsulin with a furin-cleavable site, whereas expression of furin is regulated by glucose concentration. These cell lines have been cloned and, therefore, the transgene in each cell is located in an identical location of the genome leading to a uniform expression. Cloning has also allowed us to identify cell lines with more desirable properties such as higher basal insulin secretion and/or better glucose responsiveness. We have further shown that the insulin produced by these cells is biologically active and induces normoglycemia when injected in diabetic animals. Our objective in initiating these studies was to identify a cell line that could serve as a surrogate beta cell line for therapeutic intervention in type I diabetic patients.
