Dipeptidase activities in rat brain synaptosomes can be distinguished on the basis of inhibition by bestatin and amastatin: identification of a kyotorphin (Tyr-Arg)-degrading enzyme

Pharmacological Potential of the Endogenous Dipeptide Kyotorphin and Selected Derivatives

The endogenous peptide kyotorphin (KTP) has been extensively studied since it was discovered in 1979. The dipeptide is distributed unevenly over the brain but the majority is concentrated in the cerebral cortex. The putative KTP receptor has not been identified yet. As many other neuropeptides, KTP clearance is mediated by extracellular peptidases and peptide transporters. From the wide spectrum of biological activity of KTP, analgesia was by far the most studied. The mechanism of action is still unclear, but researchers agree that KTP induces Met-enkephalins release. More recently, KTP was proposed as biomarker of Alzheimer disease. Despite all that, KTP limited pharmacological value prompted researchers to develop derivatives more lipophilic and therefore more prone to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB), and also more resistant to enzymatic degradation. Conjugation of KTP with functional molecules, such as ibuprofen, generated a new class of compounds with additional biological properties. Moreover, the safety profile of these derivatives compared to opioids and their efficacy as neuroprotective agents greatly increases their pharmacological value.

The Analgesic Activity of Bestatin as a Potent APN Inhibitor

Bestatin, a small molecular weight dipeptide, is a potent inhibitor of various aminopeptidases as well as LTA4 hydrolase. Various physiological functions of Bestatin have been identified, viz.: (1) an immunomodifier for enhancing the proliferation of normal human bone marrow granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells to form CFU-GM colonies; Bestatin exerts a direct stimulating effect on lymphocytes via its fixation on the cell surface and an indirect effect on monocytes via aminopeptidase B inhibition of tuftsin catabolism; (2) an immunorestorator and curative or preventive agent for spontaneous tumor; Bestatin alone or its combination with chemicals can prolongate the disease-free interval and survival period in adult acute or chronic leukemia, therefore, it was primarily marketed in 1987 in Japan as an anticancer drug and servers as the only marketed inhibitor of Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13) to cure leukemia to date; (3) a pan-hematopoietic stimulator and restorator; Bestatin promotes granulocytopoiesis and thrombocytopoiesis in vitro and restores them in myelo-hypoplastic men; (4) an inhibitor of several natural opioid peptides. Based on the knowledge that APN can cleave several bioactive neuropeptides such as Met-enkaphalins, Leu-enkaphalins, beta-Endorphin, and so on, the anti-aminopeptidase action of Bestatin also allows it to protect endopeptides against their catabolism, exhibiting analgesic activity. Although many scientific studies and great accomplishments have been achieved in this field, a large amount of problems are unsolved. This article reviews the promising results obtained for future development of the analgesic activity of Bestatin that can be of vital interest in a number of severe and chronic pain syndromes.

Kyotorphin transport and metabolism in rat and mouse neonatal astrocytes

Neuropeptide inactivation is generally thought to occur via peptidase-mediated degradation. However, a recent study found increased analgesia after L-kyotorphin (L-Tyr-L-Arg; L-KTP) administration in mice lacking an oligopeptide transporter, PEPT2. The current study examines the role of PEPT2 in L-KTP uptake by astrocytes and compares it to astrocytic L-KTP degradation. L-[(3)H]KTP uptake was measured in primary cultures of neonatal astrocytes from rats and from Pept2(+/+) and Pept2(-/-) mice. Uptake was further characterized using potential inhibitors. L-[(3)H]KTP degradation was examined in primary astrocyte cultures from Pept2(-/-) mice by following the formation of L-[(3)H]tyrosine. The uptake of L-[(3)H]KTP in both rat and Pept2(+/+) mouse neonatal astrocytes was inhibited by known PEPT2 inhibitors. L-[(3)H]KTP uptake was also reduced in Pept2(-/-) astrocytes as compared to those from Pept2(+/+) mice. Kinetic analysis indicated the presence of a high affinity (K(m) approximately 50 microM) transporter for L-[(3)H]KTP, identified as Pept2, and a low affinity transporter (K(m) approximately 3-4 mM), inhibited by amastatin, bestatin and tyrosine. Astrocytes also degraded L-KTP through a low affinity peptidase (K(m) approximately 2 mM). Astrocytic clearance of L-KTP occurs via both peptidase activity and transport. These processes occur at similar rates and may be linked. This supports the contention that oligopeptide transport may have an impact on the extracellular clearance (and potentially activity) of certain neuropeptides.

Intestinal transport and metabolism of glucose-conjugated kyotorphin and cyclic kyotorphin: metabolic degradation is crucial to intestinal absorption of peptide drugs

Intestinal transport and metabolism of modified kyotorphin (KTP) were studied in rats. Modified KTPs studied were C-terminally modified KTP with p-aminophenyl-beta-D-glucoside (KTP-pAPbeta glc), N-terminally modified KTP-pAPbeta glc with t-butyloxycarbonyl group (Boc-KTP-pAPbeta glc) and the N- and C-terminally modified KTP by cyclization (cyclic KTP). KTP-pAPbeta glc was metabolized at a similar rate to that of KTP, and did not appear on the serosal side. Although Boc-KTP-pAPbeta glc was also metabolized, it was more stable than KTP and appeared on the serosal side. Cyclic KTP was also quite stable and appeared on the serosal side. The modified KTPs were evaluated kinetically for absorption consisting of membrane transport and metabolism. Absorption clearance (CL(abs)) of cyclic KTP, Boc-KTP-pAPbeta glc and Boc-KTP was higher than that of KTP (0.247 microl/min/cm) (Mizuma et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1335 (1997) 111-119), which is the theoretical maximum by complete inhibition of peptidase activity, indicating that derivatization of KTP increases the membrane permeability. Furthermore, the data clearly showed that the greater the metabolic clearance (CL(met)) of KTP and the KTP derivatives, the lower the absorption clearance (CL(abs)). These results and further simulation study led to the conclusion that metabolic degradation in the intestinal tissues is more critical than membrane permeability (transport) for oral delivery of peptide drugs. Based on the stability of cyclic KTP in serum, this appears to be a good candidate analgesic peptide drug.

The Metabolic Inhibition Model Which Predicts the Intestinal Absorbability and Metabolizability of Drug: Theory and Experiment

The intestinal absorption of analgesic peptides (leucine enkephalin and kyotorphin) and modified peptides in rat were studied. Although these peptides were not absorbed, the absorbability (absorption clearance) of these peptides were increased in the presence of peptidase inhibitors. In order to kinetically analyze these phenomena, we proposed the metabolic inhibition model, which incorporated the metabolic clearance (metabolizability) with the absorption clearance. Metabolic activity was determined with intestinal homogenates. The higher the metabolic clearance was, the lower was the absorption clearance. The relationships between the absorption clearance and the metabolic clearance of the experimental data as well as of the theoretical values were hyperbolic. This model predicted the maximum absorption clearances of cellobiose-coupled leucine enkephalin (0.654 &mgr;l/min/cm) and kyotorphin (0.247 &mgr;l/min/cm). Details of the experimental methods are described.

Effects of central injection of kyotorphin and L-arginine on oxytocin and vasopressin release and blood pressure in conscious rats

Intracerebroventricular (I.C.V.) administration of an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) increases oxytocin but not vasopressin secretion, in dehydrated rats [38]. Surprisingly, central injection of L-arginine, the substrate for NOS, caused a similar effect. Kyotorphin (L-tyrosyl-L-arginine), a dipeptide formed from L-arginine by kyotorphin synthetase in the brain may mediate this magnocellular response. Therefore, the dose and time responses of hormone release were compared following I.C.V. injection of kyotorphin and L-arginine to conscious rats that were normally hydrated or deprived of water for 24 h. In water-sated rats, both L-arginine and kyotorphin increased blood pressure and plasma glucose levels coincident with elevating circulating levels of oxytocin, but not vasopressin. In dehydrated animals, both L-arginine and kyotorphin increased plasma oxytocin levels with a similar time course but only kyotorphin decreased vasopressin release. D-arginine, like L-arginine, stimulated secretion of oxytocin, indicating a nonstereospecific effect. A kyotorphin receptor antagonist (L-leucyl-L-arginine) given I.C.V. to dehydrated animals elevated plasma oxytocin and prevented the decrease in vasopressin levels after kyotorphin. Thus, kyotorphin, but not L-arginine, appears to attenuate release of vasopressin either directly from magnocellular neurons or indirectly via modulating compensatory reflexes activated by the pressor response. On the other hand, an excess of L-arginine and kyotorphin within the CNS may mimic the stress response by augmenting release of oxytocin and activating the sympathetic nervous system to increase blood pressure and plasma glucose levels.

Intestinal transport and metabolism of analgesic dipeptide, kyotorphin: rate-limiting factor in intestinal absorption of peptide as drug

Intestinal transport and metabolism of kyotorphin (KTP) were studied in rat everted small intestine. KTP on the mucosal side was metabolized completely within 60 min, and any amounts of KTP were not detected on the serosal side. On the other hand, [D-Arg2]-KTP (D-KTP) was stable on the mucosal side to appear on the serosal side. However, N-t-butoxycarbonyl-KTP (Boc-KTP), which was metabolized on the mucosal side faster than KTP, appeared on the serosal side. In intestinal homogenate, KTP was metabolized, and the metabolic clearance (CL(met)) was decreased by peptidase inhibitors, bestatin, o-phenanthrolin and tryptophan hydroxamate. In the presence of these peptidase inhibitors, the absorption clearance (CL(abs)) of KTP was increased. The less the CL(met) of KTP was, the more the CL(abs) of KTP was. Meanwhile, Boc-KTP in intestinal homogenate was stable even in the absence of peptidase inhibitors. The CL(abs) of Boc-KTP was constant irrespective of the stability on the mucosal side. Kinetic analysis by the metabolic inhibition model indicated that the stabilization of KTP in the intestinal tissue could increase the CL(abs) up to 0.247 microl/min per cm, which was as much as the CL(abs) of stable D-KTP. These results led to the conclusion that rate-limiting process in intestinal absorption of KTP is metabolic degradation in intestinal tissue during the absorption.

Central antinociceptive effect of L-ornithine, a metabolite of L-arginine, in rats and mice

L-Arginine produces central antinociception by acting as a precursor of kyotorphin (L-tyrosyl-L-arginine), a [Met5]enkephalin releaser. This study investigated the antinociceptive activity of L-ornithine, a metabolite of L-arginine. L-Ornithine given s.c. at 300-1000 mg/kg suppressed carrageenin-induced hyperalgesia in rats in a naloxone-reversible manner. L-Ornithine and L-arginine, when given i.c.v. at 10-100 mu g/mouse, elicited antinociception even in intact mice, the effects being abolished by naloxone or naltrindole, and potentiated by bestatin, an inhibitor of aminopeptidase and kyotorphinase. The antinociception induced by i.c.v. L-ornithine was also inhibited by i.c.v. L-leucyl-L-arginine, a kyotorphin receptor antagonist, but was resistant to intracisternal anti-kyotorphin serum. L-Tyrosyl-L-ornithine, a synthetic dipeptide, (1-10 mu g/mouse, i.c.v.), exerted kyotorphin-like antinociception in mice. These findings suggest that L-ornithine produces L-arginine-like antinociception via kyotorphin receptors. However, this effect does not appear to be mediated by kyotorphin itself, but most likely by L-tyrosyl-L-ornithine, a putative dipeptide.

Kyotorphin synthetase activity in rat adrenal glands and spinal cord

Kyotorphin, an endogenous [Met5]enkephalin-releasing antinociceptive dipeptide (L-Tyr-L-Arg), is formed by kyotorphin synthetase from its constituent amino acids, L-Tyr and L-Arg, in the brain in an ATP-Mg(2+)-dependent manner. To elucidate the physiological role of kyotorphin in organs other than the brain, we examined the activity of kyotorphin synthetase in the rat adrenal glands and spinal cord. By Sephacryl S-300 gel-filtration chromatography of the soluble extracts from both the organs, the enzyme activity forming immunoreactive kyotorphin from L-Tyr and L-Arg in the presence of ATP and MgCl2 was detected in the fractions with the molecular mass of 200-300 kDa, being drastically reduced by the omission of ATP and MgCl2 from the reaction medium. The Km values of the partially purified adrenal and spinal kyotorphin synthetase for L-Tyr, L-Arg, ATP, and MgCl2 were close to those of the brain enzyme. The activity of adrenal kyotorphin synthetase was inhibited by some L-Arg analogues. NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, alpha-methyl-L-ornithine and D-Arg, but not by NG-nitro-L-arginine and N-iminoethyl-L-ornithine. In the crude soluble extracts from the adrenal glands and spinal cord, kyotorphin was formed by kyotorphin synthetase, and also by the enzymatic processing of the precursor proteins, in the presence of physiological concentrations of L-Tyr and L-Arg in addition to ATP and MgCl2. Thus, kyotorphin synthetase resembling that in the brain is present in the rat adrenal glands and spinal cord. The present findings may predict a functional role of the L-Arg-kyotorphin pathway in these organs.

Purification and properties of membrane-bound aminopeptidase P from rat lung

The membrane-bound form of aminopeptidase P (aminoacylprolyl-peptide hydrolase) (EC 3.4.11.9) was purified 670-fold to apparent homogeneity from rat lung microsomes. The enzyme was solubilized from the membranes using a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. The purification scheme also resulted in homogeneous preparations of dipeptidylpeptidase IV (EC 3.4.14.5) and membrane dipeptidase (EC 3.4.13.19). Aminopeptidase P had a subunit molecular weight of 90,000, which included at least 17% N-linked carbohydrate. The molecular weight by gel permeation chromatography varied from 220,000 to 340,000, depending on the conditions used. The amino acid composition was determined and the N-terminal sequence was found to be X1-Gly2-Pro3-Glu4-Ser5-Leu6-Gly7-Arg8-Glu9-As p10-Val11-Arg12-Asp13-X14-Ser15- Thr16-Asn17-Pro18-Pro19-Arg20-Leu21- X22-Val23-Thr24-Ala25-. Aminopeptidase P cleaved the Arg1-Pro2 bond of bradykinin with a kcat/Km of 5.7 x 10(5) s-1 M-1. N-Terminal fragments of bradykinin including Arg-Pro-Pro, but not Arg-Pro, were also cleaved. The enzyme was shown to have four binding subsites (S1, S1', S2'. S3'), the first three of which must be occupied for hydrolysis to occur. Neuropeptide Y and allatostatin I were hydrolyzed at the Tyr1-Pro2 bond and Ala1-Pro2 bond, respectively. The pH optimum for Arg-Pro-Pro cleavage was 6.8-7.5 in most buffers. The enzyme was most stable in the range of pH 7.0-10.5 in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol). NaCl inhibited activity completely at 2 M. Mn2+ had variable effects on activity, depending on its concentration and the substrate used. Various peptides having an N-terminal Pro-Pro sequence were inhibitory. The enzyme was also inhibited by EDTA, o-phenanthroline, 2-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, p-(chloromercuri)benzenesulfonic acid, apstatin, and captopril. The carboxyalkyl angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, ramiprilat and enalaprilat, inhibited activity in the micromolar range only in the presence of Mn2+.

Comparison of antinociception induced by supraspinally administered L-arginine and kyotorphin

1. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) or intracisternal (i.cist.) administration of kyotorphin (KTP), an endogenous Met-enkephalin releaser, at 5 micrograms per mouse, and L-arginine (L-Arg), a possible KTP precursor, at 30 micrograms per mouse, elicited antinociception in mice to a similar extent, as assessed by the tail-flick test. 2. Intracisternal preadministration of anti-KTP serum abolished the effect of i.cist. KTP and i.c.v. or i.cist. L-Arg, but not of i.c.v. KTP. 3. The antinociceptive effects of i.cist. KTP and of i.c.v. or i.cist. L-Arg disappeared in reserpinized mice, whereas the effect of i.c.v. KTP was unaffected by treatment of mice with reserpine. 4. Intrathecal (i.t.) phentolamine markedly reduced the antinociception induced by i.cist. KTP and by i.c.v. or i.cist. L-Arg, but not by i.c.v. KTP. 5. Intrathecal methysergide attenuated the antinociceptive effects of i.cist. KTP, but not of i.c.v. KTP and i.c.v. or i.cist. L-Arg. 6. These results suggest that the antinociception produced by i.cist. KTP, but not by i.c.v. KTP, is mediated by the brainstem-spinal noradrenergic and 5-hydroxytryptaminergic systems, and that L-Arg given i.c.v. or i.cist. increases KTP formation in the lower brain, possibly the brainstem, resulting in antinociception mediated by the descending noradrenergic system. Therefore, the regional distribution of KTP receptors and KTP synthetase in the brain does not appear to be common.