Expression of thymidine kinase messenger RNA and a related transcript is modulated by radioprotector WR1065. (49/53)

Previous studies have shown that the radioprotector WR1065 protects against mutagenesis across a wide concentration range (i.e., 40 microM to 4 mM) but protects against cell killing by ionizing radiation at concentrations greater than 1 mM. Other work has demonstrated that many genes are induced or repressed after exposure of cells in culture to ionizing radiation, but the actual inducing agents for this gene modulation response are unknown. In these experiments, we set out to identify genes that would be modulated in response to two different concentrations of WR1065 (i.e., a lower dose that is incapable of protecting against cell killing but effective in protecting against mutation induction, and a high dose that is effective in protecting against both end points). Using differential display reverse transcription-PCR, we compared genes expressed in untreated cells to those expressed in cells treated with different concentrations of WR1065 (4 mM or 40 microM) with or without radiation exposure (7.5 Gy). One band, which showed a differential response, was sequenced and found to have homology in the 3'-untranslated region of the mouse thymidine kinase (tk) gene but not identity to the Chinese hamster ovary tk gene. Dot blot and Northern blot analyses confirmed the differential display results and also determined that regulation of the tk-like gene is similar to that of tk itself. These experiments established that in Chinese hamster ovary cells, radiation causes a repression in accumulation of tk mRNA and a related tk-like transcript. This repression is made less dramatic by the presence of 40 microM WR1065, and, in fact, expression becomes enhanced when cells are pretreated with 4 mM WR1065. This suggests a role for regulation of tk and its related gene in the survival response of cells after exposure to ionizing radiation.  (+info)

Bifunctional NHS-BAT ester for antibody conjugation and stable technetium-99m labeling: conjugation chemistry, immunoreactivity and kit formulation. (50/53)

Conjugation chemistry and kit formulated binding of the NHS ester of 6-(4'-(4"-carboxyphenoxy)butyl)-2, 10-dimercapto-2,10-dimethyl-4,8-diazaundecane (NHS-BAT ester) to monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was investigated. The functionalities of the resulting BAT conjugated and 99mTc-labeled MAbs BW 431/26, MAb 425 and bispecific MDX210 (fragment construct) were tested by immunoreactivity and immunoscintigraphy. METHODS: The kinetics and chemistry of the conjugation reaction were monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography, size-exclusion chromatography and positive fast-atom-bombardment mass spectra (FAB-MS). The 99mTc BAT-MAbs were tested with various immunoreactivity assays. The biodistribution of 99mTc-BAT-BW 431/26 in rats was compared with directly labeled BW 431/26. RESULTS: At pH 8.5 and 25 degrees C, the reactivity of the NHS-BAT ester was high with 90% completion after 30 min. The conjugation yield of 19 microM MAb and 228 microM NHS-BAT ester amounted to 30%. Higher NHS-BAT ester concentrations afforded higher BAT-to-MAb ratios. According to FAB-MS, the conjugation competing hydrolysis surprisingly occurred at the NHS ring. Almost quantitative 99mTc labeling was achieved after 5 min at 25 degrees C. Immunoreactivity of the 99mTc-BAT antibodies showed > 90% recovery and proved to be insensitive to BAT-to-MAb ratios of up to 10. The 99mTc-BAT-BW 431/26 showed similar organ distribution but revealed less urinary excretion compared with the directly labeled BW 431/26. Immunoscintigraphy with 99mTc-labeled and BAT-BW 431/26 and BAT-MAb 425 showed the respective biological function in vivo. CONCLUSION: According to straightforward conjugation chemistry, the ease of 99mTc labeling and the application of a simple ultrafiltration technique, the NHS-BAT ester represents a nondestructive, universally applicable biofunctional ligand to introduce stable 99mTc protein binding sites. Kit formulated conjugation/labeling can be performed with little time requirements and laboratory experience.  (+info)

Hprt mutations in human T-lymphocytes reflect radioprotective effects of the aminothiol, WR-1065. (51/53)

Aminothiols such as WR-2721 and its active free thiol WR-1065 have previously been shown to reduce mutations resulting from ionizing radiation in exponentially growing cells. In this study, non-dividing human G0 T-lymphocytes were exposed to the aminothiol radioprotective agent, WR-1065, 30 min before or 3 h after external beam gamma-irradiation and subsequently assessed for survival and mutation induction at the hprt locus. Cytotoxicity due to gamma-irradiation was reduced only when the WR-1065 was present during irradiation. The frequency of hprt mutations, however, was reduced regardless of time of administration, although the reduction was statistically significant only when WR-1065 was added 30 min before irradiation (P < 0.01). This is the first study to demonstrate the protective effects of WR-1065 against radiation-induced mutation in a reporter gene using a human non-cycling cell. Hprt mutations arising in vivo in these cells may be useful for monitoring the radioprotective effect of aminothiols in human populations.  (+info)

The aminothiol WR-1065 protects T lymphocytes from ionizing radiation-induced deletions of the HPRT gene. (52/53)

Aminothiols, such as WR-2721 and its active free thiol, WR-1065, reduce mutations from ionizing radiation in exponentially growing cells. In this study, human noncycling G0 T lymphocytes were exposed in vitro to gamma-irradiation in the presence or absence of WR-1065. The five treatment groups were: (a) control; (b) treatment with 4 mM WR-1065; (c) treatment with 3 Gy of gamma-radiation, from a 137Cs source; and (d) and (e) treatment with WR-1065 30 min prior to or 3 h after 3 Gy of gamma-irradiaiton, respectively. A total of 224 cloned HPRT mutants representing 179 independent mutations were analyzed for genetic alterations using multiplex PCR. Ionizing radiation alone significantly increased the percentage of mutations with gross structural alterations compared to controls (P = 0.02). Although the frequency of such large structural mutations was not different from control cells treated with WR-1065 alone, this aminothiol significantly reduced their frequency among irradiated mutants (P = 0.01) when the radioprotector was present during the irradiation. Addition of WR-1065 3 h postirradiation also greatly reduced the percentage of gross structural alterations; however, due to small numbers, this was not statistically significant. This is the first demonstration that the antimutagenicity of WR-1065 in human cells specifically protects against these kinds of large-scale DNA alterations induced by ionizing radiation. WR-1065 and similar aminothiol compounds may afford protection against radiation-induced mutations through polyamine-like processes, e.g., stabilization of chromatin structure, inhibition of cell proliferation, and influences on DNA repair systems.  (+info)

Mammalian cell polyamine homeostasis is altered by the radioprotector WR1065. (53/53)

Mammalian cells become more susceptible to radiation-induced death and mutagenesis when restricted in their production of the natural polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine. The effects of polyamine deprivation are reversed by N-(2-mercaptoethyl)-1, 3-diaminopropane (WR1065), a simple aminothiol that has been extensively studied for its radioprotectant properties. Because this compound and its oxidized derivative WR33278 bear some resemblance to the polyamines, it was hypothesized that radioprotection by WR1065 or its metabolites is derived, at least in part, from their ability to supplement the natural polyamines. To evaluate the ability of these aminothiol compounds to emulate polyamine function in intact cells, rat liver hepatoma (HTC) cells were treated with radioprotective doses of WR1065; the ability of this compound to affect various aspects of normal polyamine metabolism was monitored. Although cellular WR1065 was maintained at levels exceeding those of the polyamines, this aminothiol did not have any polyamine-like effect on the initial polyamine biosynthetic enzyme, ornithine decarboxylase, or on polyamine degradative reactions. On the contrary, treatment with relatively low levels of WR1065 resulted in an unexpected increase in putrescine and spermidine synthesis. WR1065 treatment enhanced the stability, and consequently the activity, of ornithine decarboxylase. This stabilization seems to result from a WR1065-induced delay in the synthesis of antizyme, a critical regulatory protein required in the feedback modulation of polyamine synthesis and transport. The increase in cellular spermidine induced by WR1065 might explain its antimutagenic properties, but is probably not a factor in protection against cell killing by radiation. This is the first evidence that compounds can be designed to control polyamine levels by targeting the activity of the regulatory protein antizyme.  (+info)