Studies on Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP-2, -9 and -14) and β2 Integrin Targeting as Potential Anticancer Therapeutics

Proteolytic enzymes, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), are associated to the progression of several cancers. They degrade extracellular components, which helps tumors to expand and cancer cells to escape from the primary site. Of all MMPs, gelatinases (MMP-2 and -9) and membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, MMP-14), in particular, are often associated to more aggressive types of head and neck carcinomas as well as to a poorer outcome in patient survival. Although therapies during the last decades have advanced, the mortality of the disease is still rather high and adjuvant therapies are searched for continuously. MMP-9 and MT1-MMP are also involved in neo-angiogenesis, which is necessary for tumor expansion. For this reason, we have identified synthetic peptides-targeting gelatinases and MT1-MMP, and have also evaluated their anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo. Antigelatinolytic peptides effectively inhibited tongue-carcinoma cell invasion and reduced the growth of xenografted tumors. In tumor samples of mice that were treated with antigelatinolytic peptides, the micro-vessel density was significantly reduced. We also identified a novel MT1-MMP targeting peptide and demonstrated that it exerted anticancer effects against several malignant cell lines in vitro. The effects of MT1-MMP inhibition on tongue-squamous cell carcinomas were evaluated by using xenograft tumors, which it effectively inhibited. Tranexamic acid was also demonstrated to inhibit tongue-squamous cell carcinoma invasion, most probably due to its ability to prevent the plasmin-mediated activation of proMMP-9. Leukocyte β2 integrins are another interesting option when evaluating targets for the therapeutic intervention of inflammatory conditions or malignancies of hematopoietic origin, since β2 integrins are expressed mainly by leukocytes. We identified a novel technique for screening small-molecule libraries against β2 integrins, and by using this technique we identified a novel αMβ2 integrin-binding chemical (IMB-10). IMB-10 significantly enhances leukocyte adhesion and inhibits their motility. We also demonstrated that IMB-10 can be used to inhibit inflammation and lymphoma growth in vivo. Interestingly, IMB-10 also reduced leukocyte tumor infiltration and inhibited tumor invasion.

Analysis of aromatic amines by high-performance liquid chromatography with pre-column derivatization by 2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl-chloroformate

2-(9-Carbazole)-ethyl-chloroformate (CEOC), a novel pre-column fluorescence derivatization reagent, has been developed for the analysis of aromatic amines. Taking five monocyclic aromatic amines (o-toluidine, aniline, 3,4-dimethylaniline, N-ethyl-p-toluidine, and p-phenylenediamine) as testing compounds, derivatization conditions such as pH of borate buffer, reaction time and fluorescent tagging reagent concentration have been investigated. By a one-step procedure, CEOC reacts readily with the aromatic amines to form stable derivatives with excitation and emission wavelengths, respectively, at 293 and 360 nm. This derivatization reaction could be finished within 20 min even at room temperature. The peak shapes of the derivatized aromatic amines can be improved greatly without any addition of competition amines into the mobile phase. Furthermore, this method can offer excellent quantitative precision with high tolerance of the matrix of samples. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Determination of peptides and amino acids from wool and beer with sensitive fluorescent reagent 2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl chloroformate by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromotography and liquid chromotography mass spectrometry

A new method for the sensitive determination of amino acids and peptides using the tagging reagent 2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl chloroformate (CEOC) with fluorescence (FL) detection has been developed. Identification of derivatives was carried out by liquid chromotography mass spectrometry. The chromophore in the 2-(9-fluorenyl)-ethyl chloroformate (FMOC) reagent was replaced by carbazole, which resulted in a sensitive fluorescence lerivatizing agent CEOC. CEOC can easily and quickly label peptides and amino acids. Derivatives are stable enough to be efficiently analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Studies on derivatization demonstrate excellent derivative yields over the pH range 8.8-10.0. Maximal yields close to 100% are observed with three- to fourfold molar reagent excess. Derivatives exhibit strong fluorescence and allow direct injection of the reaction mixture with no significant disturbance from the major fluorescent reagent degradation by-products, such as 2(9-carbazole)-ethanol and bis-(2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl) carbonate. In addition, the detection responses for CEOC derivatives are compared to those obtained with FMOC. The ratios AC(CEOC)/AC(FMOC) = 1.00-1.82 for fluorescence (FL) response and AC'(CEOC)/AC'(FMOC) = 1.00-1.21 for ultraviolet (UV) response are observed (here, AC and AC' are, respectively, FL and UV F response). Separation of the derivatized peptides and amino acids has been optimized on a Hypersil BDS C18 column. Excellent linear responses are observed. This method was used successfully to analyze protein hydrolysates from wool and from direct-derivatized beer. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

4,7-(氯磺酸基苯基)-1,10-菲啰啉-2,9-二羧酸-铕标记甲胎蛋白抗体

在合成BCPDA基础上 ,对甲胎蛋白抗体与BCPDA连接及与铕离子螯合条件进行了研究。BCPDA与甲胎蛋白抗体反应后 ,分离纯化最佳淋洗液为pH9.1的0.1mol/L碳酸盐缓冲溶液 ,BCPDA用量为甲胎蛋白抗体量 (mol)的120～160倍;反应时间为30min。讨论了Eu3+ BCPDA AFP抗体螯合物的荧光光谱 ,最佳温育时间为60min,体系pH值为7.8的Tris HCl溶液。当Eu3+ 浓度为10-6mol/L时,BCPDA的检出限为4.3×10-11mol/L。

A highly reduced polyoxoanion with phosphorus-centered alternate layers of Mo/V oxides, [(PMo2Mo6V4O40)-Mo-V-V-VI-O-IV((VO)-O-IV)(2)](9-)

An unusual polyoxometalate [H2N(C2H4)(2)NH2](4)(H3O)[(PMO2Mo6V4O40)-Mo-V-V-VI-O-IV((VO)-O-IV)(2)].H2O is hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by IR, UV-VIS, elemental analyses, X-ray photoelectron spectrum, ESR, TG and Single crystal X-ray diffraction. The title compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca with a = 15-227(5), b = 19.491(4), c = 18.737(3) Angstrom, V = 5123(2) Angstrom(3), Z = 4, and R-1 (wR(2)) = 0.0726(0.1416). The compound contains an unusual highly reduced pseudo-Keggin type polyoxoanion and exhibits an interesting phosphorus-centered alternate arrangement of layers of molybdenum and vanadium oxides.

BaCe_(0.8)Ln_(0.2)O_(2.9)(Ln=Gd,Sm,Eu)固体电解质的低温制备及其燃料电池性质

利用溶胶 凝胶法低温合成了BaCe0 .8Ln0 .2 O2 .9(Ln =Gd ,Sm ,Eu)固体电解质 ,X射线粉末衍射表明 90 0℃即形成正交钙钛矿结构 ,较高温固相反应合成温度降低了约 6 0 0℃ .测定了样品的阻抗谱和电导率 ,研究了其导电机理 ,溶胶 凝胶法合成可减小或消除固体电解质的晶界电阻 ,80 0℃时BaCe0 .8Gd0 .2 O2 .9的σ =7.87× 10 -2S·cm-1,以它为电解质的氢氧燃料电池开路电压接近 1V ,最大输出功率密度为 30mW·cm-2 .

CE determination of 2-(9-carbazole)ethyl chloroformate-labeled oligopeptides

A pre-column derivatization method for sensitive determination of oligopeptides, using the tagging reagent 2-(9-carbazole)ethyl chloroformate (CEOC-Cl) followed by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with diode-array detection, has been developed. Maximum yield close to 100% were observed when a three to fourfold molar excess of reagent was used at pH 9.0-10.0. Excess reagent was extracted with n-hexane-ethyl acetate 9:1-10:1 (v/v); this enabled direct analysis using CE with no significant disturbance from the major fluorescent reagent degradation by-products. The effects on the results of buffer pH and of SDS and organic modifier concentrations were examined. Good baseline resolution in the separation of five CEOC-peptides was achieved with a 48.5-cm total length (effective length 40 cm) 50-mu m inner diameter capillary column.

Analysis of phenols by high-performance liquid chromatography with pre-column derivatization by 2-(9-carbazole)-ethyl-chloroformate

2-(9-Carbazole)-ethyl-chloroformate (CEOC), a novel pre-column fluorescence labeling reagent, has been synthesized and applied for the derivatization of phenols. Taken phenol, p-chlorophenol, 2,5-dimethylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol and 1,4-dihydroxybenzene as testing standards, the effects of derivatization conditions, such as pH of borate buffer, reaction time and fluorescent tagging reagent concentration, have been systematically studied. Under the optimized conditions, CEOC reacts readily with the phenols to form stable derivatives with excitation and emission wavelengths, respectively, at 293 and 360 nm. The single step derivatization reaction could be finished within 20 min even at room temperature. Such a method has been successfully applied to the analysis of phenols in printing ink by high-performance liquid chromatography. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.