Detection of dysplastic lesions by fluorescence in a model of chronic colitis in rats after local application of 5-aminolevulinic acid and its esterified derivatives

5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and ALA ester-induced protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) fluorescence are used for photodynamic diagnosis and therapy with promising results. The aim of the present study was to investigate the detection of dysplastic lesions by fluorescence after topical application of ALA and different esterified derivatives in a model of chronic colitis in rats. In female CD rats chronic colitis was induced by oral application of 5% dextrane sulfate sodium. ALA was used at different concentrations (0.072 and 0.036 mol/L). ALA-methylester (m-ALA), ALA-hexylester (h-ALA) and ALA-benzylester (b-ALA) were used at a concentration of 0.003, 0.002 and 0.002 mol/L, respectively. Fluorescence was examined under blue light, and histological findings of fluorescent and nonfluorescent biopsy specimens were recorded. Using ALA at a concentration of 0.072 mol/L, all dysplastic lesions (8/8) showed fluorescence (sensitivity 100%). Specificity was low at 57%. Reducing the concentration to 0.036 mol/L resulted in a sensitivity of only 56% (5/9) with an increase in specificity to 76%. On using h-ALA, sensitivity was 60% (3/5) with a specificity of 51%. Using m-ALA and b-ALA, sensitivity values were 25% and 33%, and values for specificity were 62% and 63%, respectively. Despite a low number of dysplastic lesions, the results of this study indicate that ALA ester-induced PPIX fluorescence has the potential for the detection of premaligant lesions but was not superior to ALA. ALA esters were used in 18- to 36-fold lower concentrations compared with ALA.     

One-electron oxidation of mitomycin C and its corresponding peroxyl radicals. A steady-state and pulse radiolysis study

The one-electron oxidation of Mitomycin C (MMC) as well as the formation of the corresponding peroxyl radicals were investigated by both steady-state and pulse radiolysis. The steady-state MMC-radiolysis by OH-attack followed at both absorption bands showed different yields: at 218 nm G_i (-MMC) = 3.0 and at 364 nm G_i (-MMC) = 3.9, indicating the formation of various not yet identified products, among which ammonia was determined, G(NH₃) = 0.81. By means of pulse radiolysis it was established a total κ (OH + MMC) = (5.8 ± 0.2) × 10⁹ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. The transient absorption spectrum from the one-electron oxidized MMC showed absorption maxima at 295 nm (ε = 9950 dm³ mol⁻¹ cm^t-1), 410 nm (ε = 1450 dm³ mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹) and 505 nm ( ε = 5420 dm³ mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹). At 280–320 and 505 nm and above they exhibit in the first 150 μs a first order decay, κ₁ = (0.85 ± 0.1) × 10³ s⁻¹, and followed upto ms time range, by a second order decay, 2κ = (1.3 ± 0.3) × 10⁸ dm³ mol^-1 s⁻¹. Around 410 nm the kinetics are rather mixed and could not be resolved.

The steady-state MMC-radiolysis in the presence of oxygen featured a proportionality towards the absorbed dose for both MMC-absorption bands, resulting in a G_i (-MMC) = 1.5. Among several products ammonia-yield was determined G(NH₃) = 0.52. The formation of MMC-peroxyl radicals was studied by pulse radiolysis, likewise in neutral aqueous solution, but saturated with a gas mixture of 80% N₂O and 20% O₂. The maxima of the observed transient spectrum are slightly shifted compared to that of the one-electron oxidized MMC-species, namely: 290 nm (ε = 10100 dm³ mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹), 410 nm (ε = 2900 dm³ mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹) and 520 nm (ε = 5500 dm³ mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹). The O₂-addition to the MMC-one-electron oxidized transients was found to be at 290 to 410 nm gk(MMC·OH + O₂) = 5 × 10⁷ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹, around 480 nm κ = 1.6 × 10⁸ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ and at 510 nm and above, κ = 3 × 10⁸ dm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. The decay kinetics of the MMC-peroxyl radicals were also found to be different at the various absorption bands, but predominantly of first order; at 290–420 nm κ₁ = 1.5 × 10³ s⁻¹ and at 500 nm and above, κ = 7.0 × 10³ s⁻¹.

The presented results are of interest for the radiation behaviour of MMC as well as for its application as an antitumor drug in the combined radiation-chemotherapy of patients.     

Investigation of the steric mass action formalism in the simulation of breakthrough curves on a monolithic and a packed bed column

The simulation of the behaviour of two proteins (cytochrom c and alpha-chymotrypsinogen) on two types of stationary phases (monolithic and porous particle-based) was attempted for non-linear (simulation of breakthrough curves) and linear (simulation of elution peaks) cation exchange chromatography. It was found that the combination of a stoichiometric model (steric mass action, SMA) with the lumped pore diffusion (POR) model allows a simulation of high predictive value. Using one set of SMA and transport parameters for a given column morphology and/or protein, breakthrough curves and peaks could be simulated that agreed well with the experimental data while no dependency on either the protein load or the mobile phase composition (salt content) was observed. One of the SMA parameters, namely the characteristic charge needed some slight adjustment (within the error of the experimental determination of this parameter) in order to optimise the fit.     

ANTIBODIES TO UV IRRADIATED DNA: THE MONITORING OF DNA DAMAGE BY ELISA AND INDIRECT IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE

Abstract The enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) was modified to (1) characterize antibodies raised in rabbits against UV-irradiated single-stranded DNA (UVssDNA) complexed with methylated BSA and (2) directly detect pyrimidine dimers in irradiated DNA. The antisera specifically bound to UVssDNA, UVpoly(dT) and to a limited extent to UVdsDNA and UVpoly(dC) immobilized on protamine sulfate coated microliter wells. Fifty percent of the maximum antibody binding was observed at a 1-5000 dilution against UVssDNA. Binding to ssDNA and poly(dT) was observed only at much higher concentrations of antibody (1:500 dilution), whereas no binding to double stranded DNA (dsDNA) was observed. The extent of binding of the antibody was dependent on the dose of UV radiation to DNA, as well as, to the concentration of antigen immobilized on the plate. Specific binding to DNA irradiated with 5.0 J/m² was detected with as little as 10 ng of DNA. The sensitivity was further extended to less than 1 J/m² by using higher concentrations (100 ng) of UVssDNA. The ability of various irradiated molecules, DNA, homopolymers and linkers to act as inhibitors of antibody binding establish that the antigenic determinants are mainly thymine homodimers with lower affinity for cytosine dimers. Potential usefulness of the antibodies to directly quantitate pyrimidine dimers in cells exposed to UV radiation was determined by indirect immunofluorescence. Flow cytometric analysis of immunostained human lymphocytes irradiated with 254 nm radiation indicated that greater than 50% of the population had significantly higher fluorescent intensity than unirradiated control cells.     

Low-resolution accurate mass measurement in self-chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Low-resolution (2000, 10% valley definition) accurate mass measurements using self-chemical ionization (self-CI) have been evaluated as an alternative to the conventional chemical ionization (CI) method. In conventional CI experiments a high pressure of reagent gas is required to induce ionization while in self-CI no reagent gas is used and the self-CI is produced presumably by molecular/fragment ion–molecule reactions. Nine compounds ranging in mass from 50–500 daltons were examined. Results obtained by the self-CI method indicate that the elemental composition assignment can be obtained simultaneously for the protonated molecule and/or molecular ion. It is also shown that perfluorokerosene can be used routinely in self-CI as an internal reference standard over a broad mass range (50–500 daltons). It is sometimes difficult to use a single reference standard in conventional low-resolution CI accurate mass spectrometry over a similar mass range.     

L-Phenylalanine Cyclohexylamide: A simple and convenient auxiliary for the synthesis of optically pure α,α-disubstituted (R)- and (S)-amino acids

This work describes L -phenylalanine cyclohexylamide ( 5c ) as a simple, cheap, and powerful chiral auxiliary for the synthesis of a series of optically pure α,α-disubstituted (R)- and (S)-amino acids of type 1 , such as (R)- and (S)-2-methyl-phenylalanine ( 1a ), (R)- and (S)-2-methyl-2-phenylglycine ( 1b ), and (R)- and (S)-2-methylvaline ( 1c ; Scheme 3). These amino acids were efficiently transformed into the suitably protected and activated amino acid building blocks (R)- and (S)- 12b and (R)- and (S)- 12c (Scheme 4) which are ready for incorporation into peptides by solution or solid-phase techniques. Based on the crystal structures of 6b, 6c , and 7a belonging to the diastereoisomeric peptides series 6 and 7 , the absolute configurations of each member of the series were determined. β-Turn geometries of type II′ and I were observed for 6b and 7a , respectively, whereas 6c crystallized in an extended conformation. The impacts of side-chain variation on conformation and crystal packing of these triamides are discussed.     

Rapid detection of hydroxyl groups on solid-phase

A rapid method for the qualitative detection of hydroxyl groups on solid-phase has been developed. The method employs N-methylisatoic anhydride to derivatise resin-bound substrates possessing free hydroxyl functionality. The resultant fluorescent ester can be detected by visualisation under a standard laboratory UV lamp at 365 nm excitation.     

CELLULAR FLUORESCENCE OF THE ENDOGENOUS PHOTOSENSITIZER PROTOPORPHYRIN IX FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO 5-AMINOLEVULINIC ACID

Abstract— Supplying 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a precursor in the biosynthetic pathway to heme from an external source leads to an accumulation of the endogenous fluorescent photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PPIX). Following instillation of ALA in the urinary bladder neoplastic tissue can be discerned by fluorescence cystoscopy or treated by illumination with light of an appropriate wavelength. In order to provide a biological rationale for the clinical findings, we have analyzed the capacity of three different cell lines to accumulate PPIX by flow cytometry. Three different urothelial cell lines, normal fibroblasts and endothelial cells were exposed to ALA under varying conditions. Urothelial cell lines J82 and RT4, derived from malignancies of the bladder displayed fluorescence intensities 9- and 16-fold, respectively, above the fluorescence level of the normal urothelial cell line HCV29. Human umbilical cord endothelial cells fluoresced moderately while the fibroblast cell line Nl exhibited a fluorescence level comparable to those of the cancer cells. Fluoresence increased with increasing cell density and was also dependent on the growth of cells as monolayers or multicellular spheroids. Increasing ALA concentrations led to saturation of fluorescence after 4 h of incubation at cell type-specific fluorescence levels obtained at different ALA concentrations. Continuous incubation in medium containing serum resulted in a linear rise of fluorescence during the first 4 h, which was followed by a saturation period (8–24 h) and a renewed rise. In the case of serum depletion, fluorescence intensities were significantly higher and increased linearly during the entire 48 h incubation period. By replacing serum with albumin, it could be shown that the emission of PPIX into the medium in the presence of serum is mainly caused by this protein. The ALA-induced fluorescence was predominantly perinuclear after 4 h of incubation and relocated toward the cell membrane after prolonged incubation. This study demonstrated the complexity of factors influencing the ALA-induced fluorescence and should stimulate further research in this field.