Prevention of Collagen-Induced Arthritis by an Anti-Glycan Monoclonal Antibody Reactive with 6-Sulfo Sialyl Lewis x in DBA/1 Mice.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by synovial tissue inflammation, substantially impacting the quality of life of patients. The interaction between L-selectin and its glycoprotein ligands modified with 6-sulfo sialyl Lewis x (6-sulfo sLex) is known to mediate lymphocyte homing to initiate immune responses. Thus, this process could be a potential therapeutic target for RA. Herein, we explored the preventive effects of an anti-6-sulfo sLex monoclonal antibody (mAb), SF1, on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA/1 mice. Mice were administered SF1 from day 21 postfirst immunization with type II collagen (CII), and the effects of SF1 on both clinical and histopathological disease progression evoked by the second immunization were examined. SF1 significantly suppressed clinical features and histological levels associated with arthritis severity. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay consistently indicated that SF1 inhibited the production of CII-specific IgG2a. Based on the reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis, SF1 suppressed the expression of interferon-γ, a T helper 1 cytokine, as well as that of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1ß, in draining lymph nodes. Collectively, these results indicate that SF1, an anti-sulfated glycan mAb, could be beneficial in preventing CIA in mice and may afford as a novel agent to treat RA.

Therapeutic Effects of an Anti-Sialyl Lewis x Antibody in a Murine Model of Acute Lung Injury.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a life-threatening acute lung injury (ALI) characterized by the destruction of alveoli leading to pulmonary edema. The infiltration and activation of inflammatory cells and production of inflammatory cytokines are both involved in the pathogenesis of ALI. Here, we show that the infiltration of neutrophils, major inflammatory cells causing ALI, into the lung is mediated by sialyl Lewis x (sLex) glycans, which can be efficiently suppressed by a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against these glycans. In fucosyltransferase-IV and -VII double-deficient mice lacking sLex expression, neutrophil infiltration into the lung was significantly suppressed compared with that observed in wild-type mice in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI model. Administration of a highly specific anti-sLex mAb F2 3 hours after LPS administration significantly suppressed pulmonary neutrophil infiltration, accompanied by the reduced induction of inflammatory cytokines. It was consistently indicated from ex vivo cell rolling assay that mAb F2 blocked the rolling of mouse neutrophils on P-selectin-expressing cells. Overall, these results indicate that the sLex glycan could serve as a therapeutic target against ALI, and also that mAb F2 would be useful for specific targeting of this glycan.

Pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of a novel long-acting human insulin analogue - recombinant insulin LysArg in rats.

As a novel long-acting recombinant human insulin analogue, it is necessary to carry out the preclinical research for insulin LysArg. The purpose of this study was to characterise the pharmacokinetic, tissue distribution and excretion of insulin LysArg and provide a reference for its development. Three methods were used to measure the content of insulin LysArg in biological samples after a single subcutaneous administration in rats, including radioassay, radioassay after precipitation with TCA and separation by HPLC. After Subcutaneous administration of recombinant insulin LysArg 1, 2, 4 U/kg in rats, it showed both Cmax and AUC0-t were positively correlated with the dose. In the meanwhile, after a single subcutaneous administration of recombinant insulin LysArg at 2 U/kg in rats, the amount of radioactivity in most organs was highest at 1.5 h and then decreased gradually, no accumulation was found. The highest level of insulin LysArg was observed in the kidney. Like other macromolecules, insulin LysArg was mainly excreted from urine. The study fully illustrated the pharmacokinetic pattern of insulin LysArg, provided valuable informations to support its further development about safety and toxicology.

Potential synergic mechanism of Wutou-Gancao herb-pair by inhibiting efflux transporter P-glycoprotein.

Wutou-Gancao herb-pair is extensively used to attenuate the toxicity and enhance the efficacy of aconite. In this study, potential synergic mechanism of the herb pair was investigated by utilizing multiple approaches. In silico and in vitro Caco-2 cell models were applied to study the potential binding mode of bioactive ingredients existing in liquorice with P-glycoprotein (P-gp), as well as the inhibition effects on P-gp. Additionally, anti-inflammatory activity of aconitine (AC) combined with active ingredients of liquorice, as well as pharmacokinetic patterns of AC after co-administration was investigated. Anti-inflammatory effect of AC (1 mg/kg) in rats was enhanced in combination with bioactive ingredients of liquorice (10 mg/kg). In the meanwhile, the exposure of AC in vivo was altered, in terms of Cmax and AUC. For instance, the Cmax and AUC were increased to 1.9 and 1.3 folds, respectively, when used in combination with liquiritigenin. The in silico study revealed the potential binding mode with outward facing conformation of P-gp. The resulting data obtained from transport of rhodamine-123 (Rh-123) across Caco-2 cell monolayer further indicated that the function of P-gp was inhibited by chemicals in liquorice. The synergic effect was therefore proposed to be attributed to inhibition of P-gp by liquorice since AC has been demonstrated to be the substrate of P-gp. The resuls revealed that potential synergic mechanism of Wutou-Gancao herb-pair by inhibiting function of key efflux transporter P-gp to enhance the exposure of AC in systematic circulation, and further the anti-inflammatory effect, which helps clarify the compatibility rationale of these two herbs.

Effects of liquorice on pharmacokinetics of aconitine in rats.

Aconite alkaloids are the main bioactive ingredients existing in Aconitum, for instance aconitine (AC), which exhibit potent analgesic, antirheumatic and other pharmacological effects. In this study, effects of long-term treatment with liquorice on pharmacokinetics of AC in rats were investigated. Pharmacokinetics of AC after oral administration of AC at 1.5 mg/kg either with pre-treatment of liquorice water extracts at 0.433 or 1.299 g/kg (crude drug), respectively, for one week or not were studied. Additionally, LS-180 cells and human primary hepatocytes were utilized to explore the potential effects of bioactive ingredients of liquorice on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and Cytochromes P450 (CYPs), respectively. The results revealed that exposure of AC after pre-treatment with liquorice was altered remarkably. Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) decreased from 161 ± 37.8 to 58.8 ± 8.97 and 44.7 ± 8.20 ng/mL*h, respectively. Similarly, Cmax decreased from 26.2 ± 5.19 to 11.8 ± 1.15 and 6.86 ± 0.600 ng/mL, respectively. In addition, expressions of CYPs of human primary hepatocytes were enhanced to various contents after induction. Moreover, accumulation of AC and hypaconitine (HA), not mesaconitine (MA) inside of LS-180 cells were reduced after pre-treatment by comparison with control. In conclusion, the exposure of AC in vivo declined after pre-treatment with liquorice extract, which may be highly associated with upregulated expression and/or function of CYPs and P-gp.

Identification of key transporters mediating uptake of aconitum alkaloids into the liver and kidneys and the potential mechanism of detoxification by active ingredients of liquorice.

Aconite as a commonly used herb has been extensively applied in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, as pain relief, as well as for its cardiotonic actions. Aconitum alkaloids have been shown to be the most potent ingredients in aconite, in terms of efficacy against disease, but they are also highly toxic. Apart from neurological and cardiovascular toxicity exposed, the damage to hepatocytes and nephrocytes with long-term use of aconitum alkaloids should also be carefully considered. This study attempted to investigate the critical role of uptake transporters mediating the transport of aconitum alkaloids into the liver and the kidneys. The resulting data revealed that hOATP1B1, 1B3, hOCT1 and hOAT3 were mainly involved in the uptake of aconitum alkaloids. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of bioactive ingredients of liquorice on uptake transporters were screened and further confirmed by determining the IC50 values. The in vitro study suggested that liquorice might lower the toxicity of aconite by reducing its exposure in the liver and/or kidneys through inhibition of uptake transporters. Eventually, the in vivo study was indicative of detoxification of liquorice by decreasing the exposure of aconitine as representative compound in liver after co-administration, even though the exposure in kidney altered was less significant. In summary, hOATP1B1, 1B3, hOCT1 and hOCT3 were determined as the key uptake transporters mediating the transport process of aconitum alkaloids into the liver and/or kidneys, and liquorice may alleviate the toxicity caused by reduction of exposure through inhibition of those key uptake transporters.

Pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, and excretion of FGF-21 following subcutaneous administration in rats.

As one of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) superfamily, FGF-21 has been extensively investigated for its functions and roles since its discovery. It has been demonstrated to be one of the key regulators for glucose and lipid metabolism, and exhibits beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease. However, studies focusing on its pharmacokinetic behavior in vivo as a novel therapeutic agent have not been reported. In the present study, rapid and sensitive analytical approaches including radioactivity assay and assay after precipitation/separation by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were established to determine the content of FGF-21 tagged with 125 I in plasma, tissue, and excrement. The results indicated that FGF-21 were quickly absorbed into systematic circulation and slowly eliminated; Cmax and exposure increased in a dose-dependent manner, exhibiting a typical linear pharmacokinetic pattern. Tissue distribution also confirmed that the kidney is the primary organ for FGF-21 to be distributed, even though radioactivity of FGF-21 was recovered in all tissues examined. In addition, the results also supported that urinary excretion was the critical route for FGF-21 to be eliminated. The study fully clarifies the pharmacokinetic behavior of FGF-21 and can provide valuable information and support further safety and toxicology development.

Aspartate-modified doxorubicin on its N-terminal increases drug accumulation in LAT1-overexpressing tumors.

L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), overexpressed on the membrane of various tumor cells, is a potential target for tumor-targeting therapy. This study aimed to develop a LAT1-mediated chemotherapeutic agent. We screened doxorubicin modified by seven different large neutral amino acids. The aspartate-modified doxorubicin (Asp-DOX) showed the highest affinity (Km = 41.423 µmol/L) to LAT1. Aspartate was attached to the N-terminal of DOX by the amide bond with a free carboxyl and a free amino group on the α-carbon atom of the Asp residue. The product Asp-DOX was characterized by HPLC/MS. In vitro, Asp-DOX exerted stronger inhibition on the cancer cells overexpressing LAT1 and the uptake of Asp-DOX was approximately 3.5-fold higher than that of DOX in HepG2 cells. Pharmacokinetic data also showed that Asp-DOX was expressed over a longer circulation time (t1/2 = 49.14 min) in the blood compared to DOX alone (t1/2 = 15.12 min). In HepG2 and HCT116 tumor-bearing mice, Asp-DOX achieved 3.1-fold and 6.4-fold accumulation of drugs in tumor tissue, respectively, than those of the unmodified DOX. More importantly, treatment of tumor-bearing mice with Asp-DOX showed a significantly stronger inhibition of tumor growth than mice treated with free DOX in HepG2 tumor models. Furthermore, after Asp modification, Asp-DOX avoided MDR mediated by P-glycoprotein. These results suggested that the Asp-DOX modified drug may provide a new treatment strategy for tumors that overexpress LAT1 and MDR1.