Application of the direct peptide reactivity assay (DPRA) to inorganic compounds: a case study of platinum species.

The Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA) was developed as a non-animal, relatively high throughput, screening tool for skin sensitization potential. Although the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) for respiratory sensitization remains to be fully elucidated, it is recognized that the molecular initiation event for both skin and respiratory sensitization to low molecular weight chemicals involves haptenation with proteins. The DPRA examines the reactivity of a test compound to two model peptides (containing either cysteine or lysine) and consequently is able to screen for both skin and respiratory sensitization potential.

Dual inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway with cetuximab and erlotinib: a phase I study in patients with advanced solid malignancies.

Purpose: To determine the optimal dose of the antiepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody cetuximab that can be safely administered in combination with a standard daily dose of erlotinib in patients with advanced solid malignancies.

Patients And Methods: Patients with advanced solid malignancies who had failed standard chemotherapies received escalating doses of cetuximab without a loading dose (100, 200, 250 mg/m(2) i.v.

Cytokine-induced F-actin reorganization in endothelial cells involves RhoA activation.

Acute ischemic kidney injury results in marked increases in local and systemic cytokine levels. IL-1alpha, IL-6, and TNF-alpha orchestrate various inflammatory reactions influencing endothelial permeability by altering cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix attachments. To explore the role of actin and the regulatory proteins RhoA and cofilin in this process, microvascular endothelial cells (MS1) were exposed to individual cytokines or a cytokine cocktail.

Cofilin mediates ATP depletion-induced endothelial cell actin alterations.

Ischemia and sepsis lead to endothelial cell damage, resulting in compromised microvascular flow in many organs. Much remains to be determined regarding the intracellular structural events that lead to endothelial cell dysfunction. To investigate potential actin cytoskeletal-related mechanisms, ATP depletion was induced in mouse pancreatic microvascular endothelial cells (MS1).

Spermine participates in oxidative damage of guanosine and 8-oxoguanosine leading to deoxyribosylurea formation.

Oxidation of single- or double-stranded DNA containing a 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanosine lesion with the one-electron oxidant Na2IrCl6 in the presence of spermine led to formation of a covalent adduct that was analyzed by gel electrophoresis, HPLC, ESI-MS, and UV-vis. The adduct was labile to heat, exhibiting a t1/2 of 12 h at 37 degrees C, and the ultimate hydrolysis product was characterized as a deoxyribosylurea lesion. Data from model studies with 1,3-diaminopropane vs 1,4-diaminobutane are consistent with initial formation of a C5 spermine adduct from a dehydro-8-oxoguanosine intermediate, followed by rearrangement to a spiroaminal subject to slow hydrolysis at C4 of the purine.

Temozolomide in non-small-cell lung cancer: preliminary results of a phase II trial in previously treated patients.

Virtually all patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) relapse. Docetaxel has an established, Food and Drug Administration-approved role as salvage therapy in previously treated, platinum-exposed patients. However, the response rate in phase III studies is < 15%, and median survival is only 6-8 months.

Mechanism of actin polymerization in cellular ATP depletion.

Cellular ATP depletion in diverse cell types results in the net conversion of monomeric G-actin to polymeric F-actin and is an important aspect of cellular injury in tissue ischemia. We propose that this conversion results from altering the ratio of ATP-G-actin and ADP-G-actin, causing a net decrease in the concentration of thymosinactin complexes as a consequence of the differential affinity of thymosin beta4 for ATP- and ADP-G-actin. To test this hypothesis we examined the effect of ATP depletion induced by antimycin A and substrate depletion on actin polymerization, the nucleotide state of the monomer pool, and the association of actin monomers with thymosin and profilin in the kidney epithelial cell line LLC-PK1.

Characteristics of EYFP-actin and visualization of actin dynamics during ATP depletion and repletion.

Disruption of the actin cytoskeleton in proximal tubule cells is a key pathophysiological factor in acute renal failure. To investigate dynamic alterations of the actin cytoskeleton in live proximal tubule cells, LLC-PK(10) cells were transfected with an enhanced yellow fluorescence protein (EYFP)-actin construct, and a clone with stable EYFP-actin expression was established. Confluent live cells were studied by confocal microscopy under physiological conditions or during ATP depletion of up to 60 min.

Ischemic injury induces ADF relocalization to the apical domain of rat proximal tubule cells.

Breakdown of proximal tubule cell apical membrane microvilli is an early-occurring hallmark of ischemic acute renal failure. Intracellular mechanisms responsible for these apical membrane changes remain unknown, but it is known that actin cytoskeleton alterations play a critical role in this cellular process. Our laboratory previously demonstrated that ischemia-induced cell injury resulted in dephosphorylation and activation of the actin-binding protein, actin depolymerizing factor [(ADF); Schwartz, N, Hosford M, Sandoval RM, Wagner MC, Atkinson SJ, Bamburg J, and Molitoris BA.

Ischemia activates actin depolymerizing factor: role in proximal tubule microvillar actin alterations.

Apical membrane of renal proximal tubule cells is extremely sensitive to ischemia, with structural alterations occurring within 5 min. These changes are felt secondary to actin cytoskeletal disruption, yet the mechanism responsible is unknown. Actin depolymerizing factor (ADF), a 19-kDa actin-binding protein, has recently been shown to play an important role in regulation of actin filament dynamics.

Cellular ATP depletion induces disruption of the spectrin cytoskeletal network.

Ischemia in vivo or ATP depletion in vitro result in disruption and cellular redistribution of the cortical F-actin cytoskeleton in epithelial cells. However, little is known regarding the effect of these two maneuvers on other components of the actin cytoskeleton. Because the spectrin (fodrin in epithelial cells)-based network links the actin cytoskeleton to the surface membrane, we have utilized a reversible model of ATP depletion in LLC-PK1 cells to study the effect of ATP depletion on fodrin and ankyrin.

ATP-stimulated tetraethylammonium transport by rabbit renal brush border membrane vesicles.

These studies examined the ability of ATP to stimulate transport of the organic cation tetraethylammonium (TEA) into proximal tubular brush border membrane vesicles. ATP markedly enhanced TEA uptake for 1 h or more to values severalfold above those observed in the absence of ATP. The poorly hydrolyzable analogue of ATP, AMP-PNP (adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate), reduced the effect of ATP but alone did not stimulate TEA uptake.

Organic cation transport by rat hepatocyte basolateral membrane vesicles.

Hepatocyte basolateral membrane possesses transport systems for mediated uptake of organic cations, the first step in the subsequent biliary excretion and/or metabolism of these compounds. The purpose of these studies was to evaluate potential mechanisms for transport of this class of solutes across this membrane by measuring 3H-labeled tetraethylammonium ([3H]TEA) transport into rat hepatocyte basolateral membrane vesicles. [3H]TEA uptake was stimulated by an outwardly directed proton gradient consistent with TEA-proton exchange.

Basolateral transport of tetraethylammonium by a clone of LLC-PK1 cells.

In these studies, a clone of cells derived from the porcine renal epithelial line LLC-PK1 grown on porous filters was used to evaluate basolateral uptake of the organic cation tetraethylammonium (TEA). (3H) TEA (1 microM) entered cells in a saturable and time-dependent manner achieving a steady-state value at 2 to 2.5 h.

Tetraethylammonium transport by OK cells.

Mechanisms exist in renal proximal tubules for the mediated transepithelial secretion or reabsorption of endogenous and exogenous organic cations. In the studies presented here, the uptake of the organic cation tetraethylammonium (TEA) into confluent monolayers of opossum kidney cells was evaluated to determine if these cells might serve as an in vitro model of this transport pathway. 3H-TEA entered opossum kidney cells in a time-dependent manner.

Potassium depletion increases luminal Na+/H+ exchange and basolateral Na+:CO3=:HCO3- cotransport in rat renal cortex.

Most HCO3- reabsorption in proximal tubules occurs via electroneutral Na+/H+ exchange in brush border membranes (BBMS) and electrogenic Na+:CO3=:HCO3- cotransport in basolateral membranes (BLMS). Since potassium depletion (KD) increases HCO3- reabsorption in proximal tubules, we evaluated these transport systems using BBM and BLM vesicles, respectively, from control (C) and KD rats. Feeding rats a potassium deficient diet for 3-4 wk resulted in lower plasma [K+] (2.