α-Keto acid metabolism by hepatocytes cultured in a hybrid liver support bioreactor

Isolated pig liver cells cultured using a perfusion technique were analyzed over 39 days to test their ability to change the perfusate α-keto acid profile. While the pyruvate concentration in the culture medium decreased as of the first day, the α-ketoglutarate (KG), α-ketoisocaproate (KIC), α-ketoisovalerate (KIV) and α-ketoβ-methyl-n-valerate (KMV) were synthesized immediately and released by the liver cells. The metabolic capacity of the cell culture system increased up to day 10, decreased during the following 5 days and reached a steady state beyond day 15, which was maintained for at least 30 days. The branched chain α-keto acid release, in particular α-ketoisocaproate, reflects an effective transamination capacity of the newly developed culture system and shows an intact protein biosynthesis for at least 30 days in vitro.

Amino acid and alpha-keto acid metabolism depends on oxygen availability in chronic hemodialysis patients

Amino acid and alpha-keto acid metabolism depends on oxygen availability in chronic hemodialysis patients. Malnutrition in hemodialysis (HD) patients with renal anemia is reflected in an abnormal plasma amino acid profile. We wished to determine the extent to which malnutrition can be improved by correcting anemia with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) and supplemental iron. As specific parameters we measured and compared the plasma concentrations of the branched-chain amino acids valine, leucine and isoleucine and their transamination products - major participants in proteolysis and protein biosynthesis - using HPLC with fluorescence detection in 45 severely anemic HD patients (group A: Hb 7.2 +/- 0.8 g/dl), 34 patients with partially corrected anemia (group B: Hb 10.3 +/- 0.6 g/dl) and 35 HD patients with totally corrected anemia (group C: Hb 13.5 +/- 0.7 g/dl). Sixty healthy subjects (group N: Hb 14.2 +/- 1.1 g/dl) served as controls. Correlating with the degree of correction (A/B/C/N), a significant shift to anabolic metabolism was observed in the plasma levels of valine: 130/146/155/205 micromol/l; leucine: 73/71/80/110 micromol/l and alpha-ketoisocaproate (KIC): 11.4/11.8/15.1/ 30.4 micromol/l. It is concluded that energy metabolism becomes increasingly anabolic as hemoglobin levels are normalized.

Low density lipoproteins as drug carriers in the therapy of macrophage-associated diseases

Low density lipoproteins (LDL) are internalised by the LDL receptor, which is expressed on the surface of eucaryotic cells. Metabolisation and chemical modification of LDLs lead to a shift in receptor affinity: modified LDLs are internalised through scavenger receptors, which are expressed on cells of the monocyte/ macrophage lineage. Coupling of substances with pharmacological activity, such as azidothymidine, to LDL results in a cell specific uptake of these drugs into macrophages by the scavenger receptor. Thus, drug-LDL derivatives might work as tools for macrophage specific drug targeting. In this context, it is essential to know the drug binding capacity, the optimal derivatization conditions, and the amount of drug molecules covalently bound to the LDL particle. In this study, we compared methods for optimal derivatisation and estimation of coupling efficiency, such as semi-quantitative lipoprotein gel electrophoresis, ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry, radiometric quantification, and specific protein hydrolysis.

alpha-Ketoglutarate application in hemodialysis patients improves amino acid metabolism

In hemodialysis patients, free amino acids and alpha-ketoacids in plasma were determined by fluorescence HPLC to assess the effect of alpha-ketoglutarate administration in combination with the phosphate binder calcium carbonate on the amino acid metabolism. During 1 year of therapy in parallel to inorganic phosphate, urea in plasma decreased significantly, histidine, arginine and proline as well as branched chain alpha-ketoacids, in particular alpha-ketoisocaproate, a regulator of protein metabolism, increased. Thus, administration of alpha-ketoglutarate with calcium carbonate effectively improves amino acid metabolism in hemodialysis patients as it decreases hyperphosphatemia.

Cell specific uptake of antiretroviral drugs: AZT coupled to LDL inhibits HIV replication in human macrophages

Macrophages, besides helper T-lymphocytes, are target cells for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We report on a mechanism to deliver selectively antiretroviral drugs to cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. These cells and cells of the endothelium express scavenger receptors which mediate the transport of modified low density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL modified by covalently bound azidothymidine (AZT), a potent inhibitor of HIV replication, is internalized via this pathway into human macrophages. Treatment of HIV-1 infected human macrophages with AZT-LDL showed in vitro efficient inhibition of viral replication. In contrast, HIV replication in T-lymphocytes (Molt 4/8), which do not express scavenger receptors, is not inhibited by AZT-LDL but by free AZT.

Alpha-keto acid metabolism by hepatocytes cultured in a hybrid liver support bioreactor

Isolated pig liver cells cultured using a perfusion technique were analyzed over 39 days to test their ability to change the perfusate alpha-keto acid profile. While the pyruvate concentration in the culture medium decreased as of the first day, the alpha-ketoglutarate (KG), alpha-ketoisocaproate (KIC), alpha-ketoisovalerate (KIV) and alpha-keto-beta-methyl-n-valerate (KMV) were synthesized immediately and released by the liver cells. The metabolic capacity of the cell culture system increased up to day 10, decreased during the following 5 days and reached a steady state beyond day 15, which was maintained for at least 30 days. The branched chain alpha-keto acid release, in particular alpha-ketoisocaproate, reflects an effective transamination capacity of the newly developed culture system and shows an intact protein biosynthesis for at least 30 days in vitro.

Covalent coupling of nucleosides to low density lipoprotein (LDL) generates macrophage specific (drug)-carriers

Covalent coupling of thymidine and azidothymidine (ZIDOVUDINE) to epsilon-amino groups of lysine side chains of LDL-Apo B is described. This procedure generates LDL-nucleoside particles that exhibits affinity solely for the scavenger receptor pathway on macrophages which is demonstrated by cell culture experiments. Autoradiography shows that 3H-thymidine, as representative of nucleosides, is delivered to the cell nucleus. Hence internalization, lysosomal cleavage and triphosphorylation of thymidine evidently had occurred. The application of this new method of drug targeting is macrophage selective inhibition of HIV-reverse transcriptase in AIDS.

Essential branched-chain amino acids and alpha-ketoanalogues in haemodialysis patients

Homeostasis of essential amino acids and their transamination derivatives (ketoacids) is disturbed in haemodialysis (HD) patients. In long-term HD patients a hypercatabolic state is often paired with severe anaemia. To understand metabolic regulation mechanisms we measured with an improved fluorescence-HPLC method plasma concentrations of valine (Val), isoleucine (Ile), and leucine (Leu) and their corresponding ketoacids ketoisovaleric acid (KIV), ketomethylvaleric acid (KMV), and ketoisocaproic acid (KIC). The values of 18 modestly anaemic HD patients (group A: Hb greater than 11 g/dl) and of 16 severely anaemic HD patients (group B: Hb less than 8 g/dl) were compared with 19 healthy control persons (100%; significance of patient values vs controls P less than 0.05) and with each other (significantly different at P less than 0.05). Both branched chain amino acids and ketoacids are diminished in HD patients. This disturbance of protein metabolism is intensified with severe anaemia. The decrease of transamination products KIV and KMV parallels that of their corresponding Val and Ile, whereas KIC is reduced out of proportion to Leu. Leu has anabolic function and KIC antiproteolytic effects. Decreased Leu and KIC indicate catabolism. Reduced transamination of Leu and KIC suggests an endogenous protective mechanism against catabolism independent of anaemia. These differences should be considered with supplementation therapy of branched-chain compounds in HD patients.

Changes in the concentrations of hydroxyproline, glycine and serine in the plasma of haemodialysis patients undergoing erythropoietin therapy

The concentrations of proline, hydroxyproline, glycine and serine were determined in the plasma of 39 haemodialysis patients and 18 healthy subjects, using liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Plasma concentrations of the N-terminal immunoreactive parathyrin were also measured. In haemodialysis patients, the plasma concentrations of glycine (p less than 0.01), hydroxyproline (p less than 0.05) and proline (p less than 0.10) were significantly increased, whereas the serine concentrations (p less than 0.01) were decreased, compared with those of the healthy controls. Haemodialysis patients showed greatly elevated plasma N-terminal immunoreactive parathyrin values (greater than 30 pmol/l), which showed a significant correlation with the hydroxyproline values (r = 0.79). Fourteen haemodialysis patients received erythropoietin therapy. In these patients, changes in the concentrations of plasma amino acids were observed up to one year after the beginning of therapy. In the course of the erythropoietin therapy, the plasma concentrations of glycine (p less than 0.05) and hydroxyproline (p less than 0.10) of the haemodialysis patients decreased, whereas the concentration of serine increased (p less than 0.05) to approximately normal values. The results indicate that erythropoietin therapy leads to a normalization of amino acid metabolism.

Correction of amino acid metabolism by recombinant human erythropoietin therapy in hemodialysis patients

We assessed the effect of correction of anemia with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on plasma amino acid levels in maintenance hemodialysis patients. The plasma amino acid pattern was estimated by high performance liquid chromatography in 18 healthy persons and 14 hemodialysis patients before and up to 12 weeks after rhEPO therapy. There was a correction of the plasma serine values (67 +/- 16 to 87 +/- 22; P less than 0.05) and a corresponding decrease in the serine precursors, glycine (317 +/- 113 to 228 +/- 56; P less than 0.05) and hydroxyproline (26 +/- 21 to 15 +/- 13; P less than 0.10). The low plasma branched-chain amino acids, valine (137 +/- 33 to 154 +/- 50; P less than 0.10) and leucine (72 +/- 22 to 80 +/- 27; P less than 0.20), also were corrected. The elevated values of ornithine (78 +/- 16 to 62 +/- 19; P less than 0.1) and arginine (94 +/- 14 to 72 +/- 14; P less than 0.1) fell. The diminished glutamine values (470 +/- 125 to 563 +/- 115; P less than 0.1) and the decreased tyrosine/phenylalanine ratio (0.78 +/- 0.17 to 0.98 +/- 0.21; P less than 0.05) rose. Thus, the administration of rhEPO not only affects erythropoiesis, but also corrects the plasma amino acid pattern towards normal.

9,10-Dihydroergotalkaloids as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase

A kinetic analysis of the interaction of 9,10-dihydroergotalkaloids with electrophorus electricus acetylcholinesterase [E.3.1.1.7] and acetylthiocholine as substrate shows a mixed type of inhibition of this enzyme. The inhibitor constants Ki were found to be for 9,10-dihydroergokryptine 198 mumol, 9,10-dihydroergotamine 144 mumol, 9,10-dihydroergocristine 117 mumol. A more potent inhibitor is ergotamine with the inhibitor constant Ki = 15 mumol and a mixed type of inhibition.

An automatic counter for autoradiographed cells in Petri dishes

A simple automatic counting device for cells on Petri dishes is described. The device is tested up to 1 x 10(4) cells (0.01 m)-2 and counts linearly without coincidence error. The counting time for each dish is c. 3-4 min including the time required to place the dish in the apparatus.

The kinetics of contact inhibition in mammalian cells

To elucidate the process of contact inhibition in mammalian cells, we investigated the kinetics of growth arrest in [3H]thymidine labelled embryonic chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus L.) cells after the addition of various concentrations of unlabelled cells. It was observed that after the contact inhibition concentration had been reached, the cells grew undisturbed for one more generation. In the following 24 hr the concentration fell back to the level at the beginning of the experiment and stayed there.

An automatic apparatus for continuous suspension culture with a concentrating device

A chemostat in which mammalian cells can be raised in continuous suspension culture is described. It is constructed from commercially available parts. This apparatus has the advantage over earlier models in that the medium can be pumped off free of cells, thus suddenly increasing the cell concentration in the culture. The apparatus has been successfully used in studies on contact inhibition.