Analytical Evaluation of the Accuracy and Retention of Compounding Skills Among PharmD Students.

Objective. To evaluate the accuracy and retention of compounding skills among students using analytical testing. Methods. Students compounded acetaminophen capsules from the same prescription at three time points (Exercise 1, 2, 3). The compounded products were analyzed (by HPLC) for acetaminophen content and the students' written reports were evaluated for accuracy of calculations and labeling. Results. During Exercise 1, 57.8% of the compounded capsule products were within the acceptable range, 92.2% during Exercise 2 and 75% during Exercise 3. The largest range in acetaminophen content was observed during Exercise 3 (76.08% to 135.2%) mainly due to calculation errors. Conclusion. While most students readily develop compounding skills during regular laboratory coursework, long-term competency depends on constant exposure to compounding activities and the retention of calculation skills.

Aspirin inhibits glucose­6­phosphate dehydrogenase activity in HCT 116 cells through acetylation: Identification of aspirin-acetylated sites.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) catalyzes the first reaction in the pentose phosphate pathway, and generates ribose sugars, which are required for nucleic acid synthesis, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), which is important for neutralization of oxidative stress. The expression of G6PD is elevated in several types of tumor, including colon, breast and lung cancer, and has been implicated in cancer cell growth. Our previous study demonstrated that exposure of HCT 116 human colorectal cancer cells to aspirin caused acetylation of G6PD, and this was associated with a decrease in its enzyme activity. In the present study, this observation was expanded to HT­29 colorectal cancer cells, in order to compare aspirin­mediated acetylation of G6PD and its activity between HCT 116 and HT­29 cells. In addition, the present study aimed to determine the acetylation targets of aspirin on recombinant G6PD to provide an insight into the mechanisms of inhibition. The results demonstrated that the extent of G6PD acetylation was significantly higher in HCT 116 cells compared with in HT­29 cells; accordingly, a greater reduction in G6PD enzyme activity was observed in the HCT 116 cells. Mass spectrometry analysis of aspirin­acetylated G6PD (isoform a) revealed that aspirin acetylated a total of 14 lysine residues, which were dispersed throughout the length of the G6PD protein. One of the important amino acid targets of aspirin included lysine 235 (K235, in isoform a) and this corresponds to K205 in isoform b, which has previously been identified as being important for catalysis. Acetylation of G6PD at several sites, including K235 (K205 in isoform b), may mediate inhibition of G6PD activity, which may contribute to the ability of aspirin to exert anticancer effects through decreased synthesis of ribose sugars and NADPH.

Aspirin acetylates wild type and mutant p53 in colon cancer cells: identification of aspirin acetylated sites on recombinant p53.

Aspirin's ability to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines is considered to be an important mechanism for its anti-cancer effects. We previously demonstrated that aspirin acetylated the tumor suppressor protein p53 at lysine 382 in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Here, we extended these observations to human colon cancer cells, HCT 116 harboring wild type p53, and HT-29 containing mutant p53. We demonstrate that aspirin induced acetylation of p53 in both cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner. Aspirin-acetylated p53 was localized to the nucleus. In both cell lines, aspirin induced p21(CIP1). Aspirin also acetylated recombinant p53 (rp53) in vitro suggesting that it occurs through a non-enzymatic chemical reaction. Mass spectrometry analysis and immunoblotting identified 10 acetylated lysines on rp53, and molecular modeling showed that all lysines targeted by aspirin are surface exposed. Five of these lysines are localized to the DNA-binding domain, four to the nuclear localization signal domain, and one to the C-terminal regulatory domain. Our results suggest that aspirin's anti-cancer effect may involve acetylation and activation of wild type and mutant p53 and induction of target gene expression. This is the first report attempting to characterize p53 acetylation sites targeted by aspirin.

Aspirin acetylates multiple cellular proteins in HCT-116 colon cancer cells: Identification of novel targets.

Epidemiological and clinical observations provide consistent evidence that regular intake of aspirin may effectively inhibit the occurrence of epithelial tumors; however, the molecular mechanisms are not completely understood. In the present study, we determined the ability of aspirin to acetylate and post-translationally modify cellular proteins in HCT-116 human colon cancer cells to understand the potential mechanisms by which it may exerts anti-cancer effects. Using anti-acetyl lysine antibodies, here we demonstrate that aspirin causes the acetylation of multiple proteins whose molecular weight ranged from 20 to 200 kDa. The identity of these proteins was determined, using immuno-affinity purification, mass spectrometry and immuno-blotting. A total of 33 cellular proteins were potential targets of aspirin-mediated acetylation, while 16 were identified as common to both the control and aspirin-treated samples. These include enzymes of glycolytic pathway, cytoskeleton proteins, histones, ribosomal and mitochondrial proteins. The glycolytic enzymes which were identified include aldolase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, enolase, pyruvate kinase M2, and lactate dehydrogenase A and B chains. Immunoblotting experiment showed that aspirin also acetylated glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and transketolase, both enzymes of pentose phosphate pathway involved in ribonucleotide biosynthesis. In vitro assays of these enzymes revealed that aspirin did not affect pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activity; however, it decreased glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase activity. Similar results were also observed in HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Selective inhibition of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase may represent an important mechanism by which aspirin may exert its anti-cancer effects through inhibition of ribonucleotide synthesis.

Aspirin inhibits camptothecin-induced p21CIP1 levels and potentiates apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.

The ability of aspirin to trigger apoptosis in cancer cells is well known and is consistent with the clinical and epidemiological evidence on its chemopreventive effects in curtailing epithelial cancers, including breast cancer. We hypothesized that the anticancer effects of aspirin may involve acetylation of the tumor suppressor protein p53, a known regulator of apoptosis. In the present study, we determined if aspirin at the physiologically achievable concentration of 100 microM acetylates p53 and modulates the expression of p21CIP1, a protein involved in cell cycle arrest, and Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein. Using MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, we demonstrate that aspirin at 100 microM concentration markedly acetylated the p53 protein, which was primarily localized to the nucleus. Aspirin induced p21CIP1 protein levels in a transient fashion in contrast to the sustained induction of Bax. The induction of p21CIP1 protein levels began at 3 h and was maximal at 6-8 h; however, it decreased to control levels by 30 h. In contrast, the anticancer drug, camptothecin (CPT) induced a steady accumulation of p21CIP1 protein. Remarkably, when cells were co-treated with aspirin and CPT, p21CIP1 levels were drastically downregulated, and this phenomenon was observed in many cancer cell lines. Incubation of recombinant p21 with cytoplasmic extracts from aspirin-treated cells caused its degradation suggesting the involvement of proteases in the disappearance of p21CIP1. Consistent with this data, aspirin decreased the survival of CPT-treated cells and greatly increased the extent of apoptosis. Our observation that aspirin has the ability to inhibit p21CIP1 after its initial induction has important implications in chemotherapy, and suggests its potential use to increase the efficacy of anticancer agents.

Does aspirin acetylate multiple cellular proteins? (Review).

Aspirin is a salicylate drug that is extensively used for its anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and anti-thrombotic effects. More recently, it has been shown to decrease the incidence of cancers of epithelial origin. In most cases, aspirin is relatively safe. However, it does cause a host of adverse effects and toxicities, including gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcerations, nephrotoxicity and hypersensitivity reactions. Although the inhibition of cyclooxygenases by aspirin, which leads to its anti-inflammatory/analgesic properties, has been well studied, the mechanisms involved in its chemopreventive effects as well as some of its adverse effects are as yet ill-defined. Studies over the past decades suggest that, besides cyclooxygenases, aspirin acetylates other cellular proteins. These studies used radiolabeled 3H or 14C aspirin, the only approach used to date for the detection of proteins acetylated by aspirin. In a recent study using protein-specific anti-acetyl lysine antibodies and immunological methods, we demonstrated the ability of aspirin to acetylate the tumor suppressor protein p53. In this review, we present current research from the literature on the aspirin-induced acetylation of proteins. We also describe an immunological approach to detecting acetylated proteins in aspirin-treated cells, and demonstrate that multiple proteins are acetylated. Since post-translational modification of proteins, such as acetylation, may lead to the alteration of their function, it is possible that some of the hitherto unexplained beneficial or adverse effects of aspirin could occur as a result of these modifications. The identification of these novel acetylation targets of aspirin represents a new area for investigation.

Angiotensin II induces phosphorylation of glucose-regulated protein-75 in WB rat liver cells.

Studies in vascular smooth muscle cells suggest that, angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated cellular response requires transactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), and involves tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin-1. Here we demonstrate that, exposure of WB rat liver cells to Ang II does not cause transactivation of EGF-R, but did rapidly activate p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases suggesting that it activates MAP kinases independent of EGF-R transactivation. We observed that the phospho-specific anti-caveolin-1 antibody detected a tyrosine phosphorylated, 75kDa protein in Ang II-treated cells which we identified as glucose regulated protein-75 (GRP-75). Phosphoamino acid analysis showed that Ang II induced its phosphorylation at tyrosine, serine and threonine residues and was localized to the cytoplasm. The ability of Ang-II to induce GRP-75 phosphorylation suggests that it may play a role in the protection of cytoplasmic proteins from the damaging effect of oxidative stress known to be produced during Ang-II induced signaling.