Selective Recognition of Myoglobin in Biological Samples Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Affinity Traps

The current work demonstrates the design, characterization, and preparation of molecularly imprinted microspheres for the selective detection of myoglobin in serum samples. The suspension polymerization approach was applied for the preparation of myoglobin imprinted microspheres. For this purpose, N-methacryloylamino folic acid-Nd3+(MAFol- Nd3+) was chosen as the complex functional monomer. The optimization studies were performed changing the medium pH, temperature, and myoglobin concentration. pH 7.0 was determined as the optimum value where the prepared imprinted microspheres displayed maximum binding for myoglobin. The maximum binding capacity was achieved as 623 mgg−1. In addition, the selectivity studies were conducted. The results confirmed that the imprinted microspheres showed great selectivity towards myoglobin in the existence of hemoglobin, cytochrome c, and lysozyme which were chosen as potentially competing proteins.

Acceleration of Dabigatran Elimination by Activated Charcoal Perfusion and Hemodialysis in a Pig Model.

Abstract 2272 Background and Aim: Dialysis based approaches can provide rapid removal of dabigatran in cases of emergency due to its low protein binding of ∼35%. However the in vitro properties of these filtration devices have not yet been characterized in detail. This study in the porcine system (both in vitro and in vivo) was performed to evaluate dabigatran elimination by hemodialysis and activated charcoal perfusion as compared to normal renal elimination. Methods: Porcine blood (5L) was supplemented with 1000 ng/mL dabigatran and circulated through an circuit of tubing allowing attached to an activated charcoal filter (Absorba 300 C, Gambro). Further supplementation of dabigatran allowed the determination of maximum binding capacity of the filter. A similar set up was used to also test dialysis (Polyflux 140H, Gambro) and determine the dependence of the flow rate on dabigatran removal. Dialysate flow rates were increased up to 500 ml/min. Anesthetized pigs (Domestic swine, female, ∼60 kg) were attached to an activated charcoal column or a High-Flux hemodialysis filter with a blood flow rate of 200 ml/min. Animals were given an initial i.v. infusion of dabigatran (7.5 mg in 15 min) and then reduced to 5 mg/hr to achieve steady state dabigatran over 1hr. Infusion was then stopped and elimination methods were applied over 4 hrs. An observation time of 1 hr followed. Dabigatran plasma levels were quantitated with diluted thrombin time. Preliminary settings/flow rates were obtained in vitro using 5L citrated porcine whole blood exposed to different AC or HD conditions. Results: Activated charcoal completely removed dabigatran within 1 hr from the 5L whole blood supplemented with 1000 ng/mL dabigatran, with a clearance rate of 100%. By repeatedly reapplying dabigatran, it was shown the active charcoal filter had a maximum binding capacity of ∼30 mg drug. Upon saturation there was no further clearance of dabigatran. Hemodialysis removed dabigatran with increasing clearance rates depending on dialysate flow rates (100 ml/min-35%, 200 ml/min-60%, 300 ml/min-65%) reaching a plateau of ∼65%. Further increases of dialysate flow to 500 ml/min had no further effect on drug clearance. Initial plasma levels of dabigatran ranged between 200–450 ng/mL after 60 min infusion in pigs. Exposure to activated charcoal or hemodialysis (dialysate flow 300 ml/min) resulted in 75–80% reduction in circulating dabigatran after 1 hr as compared to ∼25% reduction untreated controls after 1 hr. After 2 hrs dabigatran levels were below the detection limit using both elimination methods. Conclusions: Dabigatran can effectively be removed from the circulation in this in vivo porcine model using dialysis based approaches, which results in a restoration of blood coagulation. Active charcoal perfusion was fast and effectively removed dabigatran, but may be saturated if dabigatran plasma levels are too high (human body load for 150 mg dose in steady state is ∼14g). Stationary hemodialysis with sufficiently high dialysate flows achieves similar results in this model without saturation limitations; however, the set up for dialysis is much more specialized than the simpler approach of activated charcoal filtration. Disclosures: Formella: Boehringer Ingelheim: Employment. Clemens:Boehringer Ingelheim (Anticoagulant Therapy): Employment. van Ryn:Boehringer Ingelheim: Employment. Schenk:Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding.

Preparation and Recognized Characteristic of Histamine Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

HA MIP was prepared in acetonitrile-ethylene glycol mixed solvent ( 20:1，v/v), HA was used as the template, methacrylic acid (MAA) as the functional monomer, azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator and ethylene glycol dimethaerylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker. The UV spectrophotometry was used to demonstrate the interaction between HA and MAA. The adsorption characteristics of MIP to HA have been studied by equilibrium binding experiment and Scatchard analysis. The data obtained show that MIP reached equilibrium within 6 h. It is found that within the studied concentration range one HA molecule is entrapped by two MAA molecules The Scatchard chart shows the apparent maximum binding capacity (Bmax) and the dissociation contents (KD) of MIP are 170.5 μmol/g and 0.18 mmol/L, respctively. The MIP synthesized by this method have better binding ability to histamine and can be applied on the separation and detection of histamine.

Isoproterenol Improves Secretion of Transplanted Submandibular Glands

Autotransplantation of the submandibular gland is effective for severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca. However, most transplants show decreased secretion shortly after the operation, which leads to obstruction of Wharton’s duct. The hypothesis that decreased catecholamine release due to denervation contributes to hypofunction in the early phase was tested in transplanted glands in rabbits. We found that salivary flow, expression of β1- and β2-adrenoceptor, and the maximum binding capacity were markedly decreased in the transplanted glands. Isoproterenol significantly reversed the decreased secretion, enhanced the expressions of β1- and β2-adrenoceptor, and ameliorated the atrophy of acinar cells. The contents of cAMP and phospho-ERK 1/2 were increased after isoproterenol treatment. These results indicate that lack of β-adrenoceptor stimulation is involved in early dysfunction of the transplanted gland. Isoproterenol treatment moderates structural injury and improves secretory function in the transplanted submandibular gland through up-regulating β1- and β2-adrenoceptor expression and post-receptor signal transduction.

Muscle Na+-K+-ATPase response during 16 h of heavy intermittent cycle exercise

This study investigated the effects of a 16-h protocol of heavy intermittent exercise on the intrinsic activity and protein and isoform content of skeletal muscle Na+-K+-ATPase. The protocol consisted of 6 min of exercise performed once per hour at ∼91% peak aerobic power (V̇o2 peak) with tissue sampling from vastus lateralis before (B) and immediately after repetitions 1 (R1), 2 (R2), 9 (R9), and 16 (R16). Eleven untrained volunteers with a V̇o2 peak of 44.3 ± 2.3 ml·kg−1·min−1 participated in the study. Maximal Na+-K+-ATPase activity ( Vmax, in nmol·mg protein−1·h−1) as measured by the 3- O-methylfluorescein K+-stimulated phosphatase assay was reduced ( P < 0.05) by ∼15% with exercise regardless of the number of repetitions performed. In addition, Vmax at R9 and R16 was lower ( P < 0.05) than at R1 and R2. Vanadate-facilitated [3H]ouabain determination of Na+-K+-ATPase content (maximum binding capacity, pmol/g wet wt), although unaltered by exercise, increased ( P < 0.05) 8.3% by R9 with no further increase observed at R16. Assessment of relative changes in isoform abundance measured at B as determined by quantitative immunoblotting showed a 26% increase ( P < 0.05) in the α2-isoform by R2 and a 29% increase in α3 by R9. At R16, β3 was lower ( P < 0.05) than at R2 and R9. No changes were observed in α1, β1, or β2. It is concluded that repeated sessions of heavy exercise, although resulting in increases in the α2- and α3-isoforms and decreases in β3-isoform, also result in depression in maximal catalytic activity.

Presence of D4 dopamine receptors in human prefrontal cortex: a postmortem study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to explore the presence and the distribution of D4 dopamine receptors in postmortem human prefrontal cortex, by means of the binding of [³H]YM-09151-2, an antagonist that has equal affinity for D2, D3 and D4 receptors. It was therefore necessary to devise a unique assay method in order to distinguish and detect the D4 component. METHOD: Frontal cortex samples were harvested postmortem, during autopsy sessions, from 5 subjects. In the first assay, tissue homogenates were incubated with increasing concentrations of [³H]YM-09151-2, whereas L-745870, which has a high affinity for D4 and a low affinity for D2/D3 receptors, was used as the displacer. In the second assay, raclopride, which has a high affinity for D2/D3 receptors and a low affinity for D4 receptors, was used to block D2/D3. The L-745870 (500 nM) was added to both assays in order to determine the nonspecific binding. RESULTS: Our experiments revealed the presence of specific and saturable binding of [³H]YM-09151-2. The blockade of D2 and D3 receptors with raclopride ensured that the D4 receptors were labeled. The mean maximum binding capacity was 88 ± 25 fmol/mg protein, and the dissociation constant was 0.8 ± 0.4 nM. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our findings, although not conclusive, suggest that the density of D4 receptors is low in the human prefrontal cortex.

Putative L-Triiodothyronine Receptors in the Liver Nuclei of Mature Tropical Toad, Bufo melanostictus

Thyroid hormones exert a major role in growth and differentiation of almost all types of tissues in animals, particularly in amphibian metamorphosis, through its specific nuclear receptor activation followed by gene expression. However, its function in mature tropical amphibians is less studied. The present study revealed the existence of a single class of specific nuclear receptor(s) in the liver nuclei of mature tropical toad, Bufo melanostictus, with a dissociation constant of (3.7 ± 0.9) × 10-10 molar and maximum binding capacity of 0.074 d 0.013 pmol/mg DNA. The percentage of relative binding affinities for the specific nuclear l-T3 binding site in the liver nuclei of toad were l-triiodothyronine (l-T3) > triiodothyroacetic acid (TRIAC) > l-thyroxine (l-T4) = tetraiodothyroacetic acid (TETRAC) > 3,3′,5′- triiodothyronine (r-T3) > Diiodothyrtonine (l-T2) (100 > 75 > 19.4 = 19.4 > 3.7 > 0.39) and the relative ED50 values (in nanomolar) were 0.33 < 0.44 < 1.7 = 1.7 < 9 < 83.

Expression, pharmacological, and functional evidence for PACAP/VIP receptors in human lung

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) type 1 (PAC1) and common PACAP/vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) type 1 and 2 (VPAC1 and VPAC2, respectively) receptors were detected in the human lung by RT-PCR. The proteins were identified by immunoblotting at 72, 67, and 68 kDa, respectively. One class of PACAP receptors was defined from125I-labeled PACAP-27 binding experiments (dissociation constant = 5.2 nM; maximum binding capacity = 5.2 pmol/mg protein) with a specificity: PACAP-27 ≈ VIP > helodermin ≈ peptide histidine-methionine (PHM) ≫ secretin. Two classes of VIP receptors were established with 125I-VIP (dissociation constants of 5.4 and 197 nM) with a specificity: VIP ≈ helodermin ≈ PACAP-27 ≫ PHM ≫ secretin. PACAP-27 and VIP were equipotent on adenylyl cyclase stimulation (EC50 = 1.6 nM), whereas other peptides showed lower potency (helodermin > PHM ≫ secretin). PACAP/VIP antagonists supported that PACAP-27 acts in the human lung through either specific receptors or common PACAP/VIP receptors. The present results are the first demonstration of the presence of PAC1 receptors and extend our knowledge of common PACAP/VIP receptors in the human lung.