The structure of the major urinary metabolite of prostaglandin E2 in man

This letter reports the structure of the major urinary metabolite formed from prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in humans. Radiolabeled PGE2 was injected intravenously into male subjects. 50% of the radioactivity was recovered in urine during the first 5 hours and less than 3% during the following 12 hours. The urine was acidified, and this extract was subjected to reversed-phase partition chromatography. Formation of the major metabolite (depicted stereochemically in the text) from PGE2 involved 4 steps of reactions: 1) dehydrogenation of the alcohol group in the side chain; 2) reduction of the trans double bond; 3) 2 steps of beta oxidation; and 4) delta oxidation.     

Asymmetric synthesis of a prostaglandin D2 receptor antagonist

An asymmetric synthesis was developed for the production of a prostaglandin D(2) receptor antagonist for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. The stereogenic center was set using asymmetric allylic alkylation chemistry, and the core of the structure was constructed via Pd-catalyzed N-cyclization/Heck methodology. The synthesis relies on a late stage indoline oxidation which does not racemize the product.     

The structure of a urinary metabolite of prostaglandin F2a in man

Studies on metabolism of prostaglandin E2 in man have led to the identification of a dicarboxylic acid as a major urinary metabolite. This study examiens the structure of urinary metabolites of PGF2 alpha in man. Female subjects were injected intravenously with radioactive PGF2 alpha (35 mcg, 200 mcCi/mcmole) and unlabeled PGF2 alpha. Urine samples were collected and processed as described. Gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to analyze the C values of the derivatives. The structures of the different derivatives are described. A metabolite of the PGF2 alpha is shown to correspond to a metabolite formed from PGE2. The metabolites were found to differ only in the functional group at C-5. Further studies on the structure of the remaining urinary metabolites of PGF2 alpha are being conducted in the authors' laboratory.     

Mass fragmentographic determination of prostaglandin F2 alpha in human and rabbit urine

Analysis of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) in urine is a useful indicator of renal prostaglandin synthesis. A mass fragmentographic method for PGF2 alpha analysis in human urine was developed using [3,3,4,4-2H4]PGF2 alpha as an internal standard and carrier. PGF2 alpha was extracted from urine (20 ml) with chloroform, purified by preparative thin-layer chromatography and converted to the methyl ester trimethylsilyl ether before analysis by gas chromatography--mass spectrometry. The specificity of the urine analysis was demonstrated by retention time and the use of two pairs of fragments m/e 494/498 and 513/517 with the same results. The coefficient of variation for duplicate analysis averaged 12.6%, n = 17. Urine from recumbent women contained 4.9 +/- 2.6 (S.D.) ng/ml or 4.1 +/- 1.0 ng PGF2 alpha per mg creatinine (n = 10) with little diurnal variation. Male urine contained 5.0 +/- 2.7 (S.D.) ng/ml or 3.7 +/- 2.1 ng/mg creatinine (n = 10). Similar concentrations were found in boys and in girls. These observations indicate that urinary PGF2 alpha originates from the kidneys with little contribution from the male accessory sexual glands. This method can also be applied to analysis of PGF2 alpha in rabbit urine.     

Stability studies of a prostaglandin derivative of the subgroup E2 in pharmaceutical preparations

Summary Stability studies of a PGE₂-descendant as pure substance, in solid, liquid and semisolid preparations is performed using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).The extraction of the active ingredient from the pharmaceutical preparations is performed in a fully automated, electronically controlled extraction apparatus within 2–10 min.Using TLC the PGE₂-descendant = UV-inactive substance must be converted (KOH solution, heat) into PGB₂-descendant so that it can be measured at _max=280 nm. TLC was carried out on silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ and the spot was directly measured on the plates by a chromatogram spectrophotometer using the reflection method. For HPLC a column of lichrosorb RP18 or Bondaback C₁₈ was used. Mobile phases used were methanol-water-tetrabutylammonium-perchlorate for the first column and methanol-n-butanol-glacial acetic acid-water for the second column. The stability of PGE₂-descendant was investigated in pure substance, vaginal tablets, powder mixtures, alcoholic aqueous solution, vaginal suppository and in freeze-dried ampoules. The examined preparations were stored at temperatures between 4°C and 60°C and were investigated within certain periods. It was found that the described analytical methods are suitable for the stability studies of this drug as they enable the separation of PGA₂-descendant and PGB₂-descendant, which occur as degradation products from PGE₂-descendant.The prediction of the stability studies of PGE₂-descendant indicated that this drug is unstable as well in pure substance as in pharmaceutical preparations. It was decomposed after short time even at room temperature to PGA₂-descendant and PGB₂-descendant.

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Stabilitätsuntersuchungen eines Prostaglandin-Derivats der Untergruppe E₂ in pharmazeutischen Zubereitungen

     

Effect of the ionic strength and prostaglandin E2 on the free Ca2+ concentration and the Ca2+ influx in human red blood cells

Human red blood cells (RBCs) were loaded with the Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2 to investigate the effects of media ionic strength and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). [Ca2+]i of intact RBCs in a Ca(2+)-containing physiological (high) ionic strength (HIS) solution was 75.1 +/- 8.3 nM after 5 min incubation, increasing to 114.9 +/- 9.6 nM after 1 h. In Ca(2+)-containing low ionic strength (LIS) solutions, [Ca2+]i was significantly lower than in the Ca(2+)-containing HIS solution (p = 0.041 or 0.0385 for LIS solutions containing 200 or 250 mM sucrose, respectively), but, as in HIS solution, an increase of [Ca2+]i was seen after 1 h. In Ca(2+)-free (0 Ca2+ plus 15 microM EGTA) media, [Ca2+]i decreased (ranging from 15 to 21 nM), but were not significantly different in HIS or LIS, and did not change following 1 h incubation. The effect of the ionic strength and PGE2 on passive Ca2+ influx was investigated on ATP-depleted RBCs. Ca2+ influx was faster during the initial 10 min in comparison with the subsequent time period (10-45 min), both in HIS and LIS media, decreasing from 20.3 +/- 1.9 to 12.9 +/- 1.3 micromol/(lcells x h) in HIS, and from 36.7 +/- 5.3 to 8.6 +/- 1.2 micromol/(lcells x h) in LIS. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2; 10(-7)-10(-11) M), dissolved in deionised water or in ethanol, did not affect [Ca2+]i in either normal or in ATP-depleted RBCs suspended in Ca(2+)-containing HIS medium. Finally, the addition of carbachol (100 microM) did not affect [Ca2+]i. The present findings suggest that stimulation of the Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel by PGE2, reported in [J. Biol. Chem. 271 (1996) 18651], cannot be mediated via increased [Ca2+]i.     

Total synthesis of the ethyl ester of the major urinary metabolite of prostaglandin E(2)

The preparation of the ethyl ester of the major urinary metabolite of prostaglandin E(2) 3 is described. The key step is the kinetic opening of the TBS-protected bicyclic ketone 7 with thiophenol.     

Usnea barbata extract prevents ultraviolet-B induced prostaglandin E2 synthesis and COX-2 expression in HaCaT keratinocytes

Usnea barbata and its major constituent usnic acid are potent antimicrobial agents. Here, we have investigated anti-inflammatory properties of an U. barbata extract (UBE) containing 4% usnic acid in an ultraviolet-B (UVB) model with HaCaT keratinocytes. UVB irradiation induced PGE(2) production and COX-2 expression in a time and dose-dependent manner. UBE inhibited PGE(2) production at a half-maximal concentration of 60 microg/ml (2.4 microg/ml usnic acid) that did not affect the UVB-induced upregulation of COX-2, suggesting an effect on enzyme activity rather than on protein expression. The inhibition of PGE(2) production by UBE was not due to cytotoxicity. Besides its known antimicrobial properties, UBE displays specific UVB protective effects that might be useful in the topical treatment of UVB-mediated inflammatory skin conditions.     

Computational analysis of ligand recognition mechanisms by prostaglandin E2 (subtype 2) and D2 receptors

The eight members of the prostanoid receptor family belong to the class A G protein-coupled receptors. We investigated the evolutionary relationship of the eight members by a molecular phylogenetic analysis and found that prostaglandin E₂ receptor subtype 2 (EP₂) and prostaglandin D₂ receptor (DP) were closely related. The structures of the ligands for the two receptors are similar to each other but are distinguished by the exchanged locations of the carbonyl oxygen and the hydroxy group in the cyclopentane ring. The ligand recognition mechanisms of the receptors were examined by an integrated approach using several computational methods, such as amino acid sequence comparison, homology modeling, docking simulation, and molecular dynamics simulation. The results revealed the similar location of the ligand between the two receptors. The common carboxy group of the ligands interacts with the Arg residue on the seventh transmembrane (TM) helix, which is invariant among the prostanoid receptors. EP₂ uses a Ser on TM1 to recognize the carbonyl oxygen in the cyclopentane ring of the ligand. The Ser is specifically conserved within EP₂. On the other hand, DP uses a Lys on TM2 to recognize the hydroxy group of the ?? chain of the ligand. The Lys is also specifically conserved within DP. The interaction network between the D(E)RY motif and TM6 was found in EP₂. However, DP lacked this network, due to the mutation in the D(E)RY motif. Based on these observations and the previously published mutational studies on the motif, the possibility of another activation mechanism that does not involve the interaction between the D(E)RY motif and TM6 will be discussed.