105Changes in Nitric Oxide Levels After Deep Dermal injury in the Female,Red Duroc Pig (FRDP)

Introduction : Hypertrophic scar is a devastating sequel to burns and other tangential skin injuries. It follows deep dermal injuries and does not occur after superficial injuries. Nitric oxide (NO) plays many important roles in wound healing from inflammation to scar remodeling. Studies have shown that expression of nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide production are decreased in human hypertrophic scar. However little is known about NO involvement in the early stages of hypertrophic scarring, because of the lack of an animal model. It was recently reported that the female red Duroc pig (FRDP) makes thick scar, which is similar to human hypertrophic scar. We hypothesized that NO production in wounds on the female, red Duroc pig is similar to that of human hypertrophic scar and that NO involvement in deep wounds is different from that in superficial wounds. Methods : Superficial (0.015” to 0.030”) and deep (0.045” to 0.060”) wounds were created on the backs of four FRDPs. Biopsies were collected at weeks 1.5, 4, 8 and 21 post wounding including samples of uninjured skin. Nitric oxide levels were measured with the Griess reaction assay and normalized with tissue protein level. Results : Superficial wounds healed with an invisible scar whereas the deep wounds healed with scar resembling mild hypertrophic scar. The thickness of the scars from the deep wounds was significantly greater than uninjured skin and healed superficial wounds (p < 0.01). NO levels were increased at 1.5 weeks in deep wounds compared to superficial wounds and uninjured skin (p < 0.05). At 8 weeks, NO levels in deep wounds had returned to the level of uninjured tissue and superficial wounds. By 21 weeks, NO levels had decreased significantly when compared to superficial wounds (p < 0.01). There were no differences in NO levels between uninjured skin and superficial wounds at any time point (p > 0.05). Conclusions : NO production is similar in late, deep wounds on the female, red Duroc pig to that reported in the literature for human hypertrophic scar further validating this animal model. NO production is quite different after deep wounds as compared to superficial wounds in the FRDP. Early elevation in nitric oxide production might account for excessive inflammation in deep wounds that become thick scars in the FRDP. Nitric oxide regulators and effects at early stages of scar formation should be elucidated further and the FRDP appears to be a useful model.     

Mechanism of Intestinal Absorption of Ranitidine and Ondansetron: Transport Across Caco-2 Cell Monolayers

We have investigated the transport of ranitidine and ondansetron across the Caco-2 cell monolayers. The apparent permeability coefficients (P _app) were unchanged throughout the concentration range studied, indicating a passive diffusion pathway across intestinal mucosa. No metabolism was observed for ranitidine and ondansetron during the incubation with Caco-2 cell monolayers. P _app values for ranitidine and ondansetron (bioavailability of 50 and 100% in humans, respectively) were 1.03 ± 0.17 × 10^–7 and 1.83 ± 0.055 × 10^–5 cm/sec, respectively. The P _app value for ranitidine was increased by 15- to 20-fold in a calcium-free medium or in the transport medium containing EDTA, whereas no significant change occurred with ondansetron, indicating that paracellular passive diffusion is not rate determining for ondansetron. Uptake of ondansetron by Caco-2 cell monolayers was 20- and 5-fold higher than that of ranitidine when the uptake study was carried out under sink conditions and at steady state. These results suggest that ranitidine and ondansetron are transported across Caco-2 cell monolayers predominantly via paracellular and transcellular pathways, respectively.     

Cellular Delivery of Nucleoside Diphosphates: A Prodrug Approach

Purpose. This study is concerned with cellular delivery/generation of 2′-azido-2′-deoxyuridine and -deoxycytidine diphosphate (N₃UDP or N₃CDP), potent inhibitors of ribonucleotide reductase. It characterizes the phosphorylation steps involved in the conversion of 2′-azido-2′-deoxyuridine (N₃Urd) and 2′-azido-2′-deoxycytidine (N₃Cyd) to the corresponding diphosphates and explores a prodrug approach in cellular delivery of the inhibitor which circumvents the requirement of deoxynucleoside kinases. Methods. Cell growth of CHO and 3T6 cells of known deoxycytidine kinase level was determined in the presence of N₃Urd and N₃Cyd. Activity of ribonucleotide reductase was determined in the presence of the azidonucleosides as well as their mono- or di-phosphates in a Tween 80-containing permeabilizing buffer. A prodrug of 5′-monophosphate of N₃Urd was prepared and its biological activity was evaluated with CHO cells as well as with cells transfected with deoxycytidine kinase. Results. N₃Urd failed to inhibit the growth of both cell lines, while N₃Cyd was active against 3T6 cells and moderately active against CHO cells. These results correlate with the deoxycytidine kinase levels found in the cells. Importance of the kinase was further established with the finding that the nucleoside analogs were inactive as reductase inhibitors in a permeabilized cell assay system while their mono- and di-phosphates were equally active. The prodrug was active in cell growth inhibition regardless of the deoxycytidine kinase level. Conclusions. The azidonucleosides become potent inhibitors of the reductase by two sequential phosphorylation steps. The present study indicates that the first step to monophosphate is rate-limiting, justifying a prodrug approach with the monophosphate.     

Isolated hypercalciuria with mutation in CLCN5: relevance to idiopathic hypercalciuria

Isolated hypercalciuria with mutation in CLCN5: Relevance to idiopathic hypercalciuria. BACKGROUND: Idiopathic hypercalciuria (IH) is the most common risk factor for kidney stones and often has a genetic component. Dent's disease (X-linked nephrolithiasis) is associated with mutations in the CLCN5 chloride channel gene, and low molecular weight (LMW) proteinuria was universally observed in affected males. We sought to identify mutations in CLCN5 or abnormalities in LMW protein excretion in a large group of patients with IH and in a rat model of genetic hypercalciuria. METHODS: One hundred and seven patients with IH (82 adults and 25 children) and one asymptomatic hypercalciuric man with a known inactivating mutation in CLCN5 were studied. Secondary causes of hypercalciuria were excluded in all. The excretion of retinol-binding protein and beta2-microglobulin was measured by immunoassay in 101 patients with IH. Mutation analysis of the CLCN5 gene was performed in 32 patients with IH and in the genetic hypercalciuric stone-forming (GHS) rat strain. RESULTS: LMW protein excretion was normal in 92 patients with IH, and only slight abnormalities were found in the other nine, none of whom had a mutation in CLCN5. One 27-year-old man who had a CLCN5 mutation was found to have isolated hypercalciuria without LMW proteinuria, renal failure, or other evidence of renal disease. Mutation analysis was normal in 32 patients with IH. The CLCN5 sequence was normal in the GHS rat. CONCLUSIONS: Inactivation of CLCN5 can be found in the setting of hypercalciuria without other features of X-linked nephrolithiasis. However, mutations in CLCN5 do not represent a common cause of IH.