De-Min Zhu

Targeting Janus kinase 3 in mast cells prevents immediate hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis.

Janus kinase 3 (JAK3), a member of the Janus family protein-tyrosine kinases, is expressed in mast cells, and its enzymatic activity is enhanced by IgE receptor/FcεRI cross-linking. Selective inhibition of JAK3 in mast cells with 4-(4′-hydroxylphenyl)-amino-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline) (WHI-P131) blocked the phospholipase C activation, calcium mobilization, and activation of microtubule-associated protein kinase after lgE receptor/FcεRI cross-linking. Treatment of IgE-sensitized rodent as well as human mast cells with WHI-P131 effectively inhibited the activation-associated morphological changes, degranulation, and proinflammatory mediator release after specific antigen challenge without affecting the functional integrity of the distal secretory machinery. In vivo administration of the JAK3 inhibitor WHI-P131 prevented mast cell degranulation and development of cutaneous as well as systemic fatal anaphylaxis in mice at nontoxic dose levels. Thus, JAK3 plays a pivotal role in IgE receptor/FcεRI-mediated mast cell responses, and targeting JAK3 with a specific inhibitor, such as WHI-P131, may provide the basis for new and effective treatment as well as prevention programs for mast cell-mediated allergic reactions.

Pharmacokinetic features and metabolism of calphostin C, a naturally occurring perylenequinone with antileukemic activity

AbstractPurpose. To examine the pharmacokinetic features and metabolism of calphostin C, a naturally occurring perylenequinone with potent antileukemic activity. Methods. HPLC-based quantitative detection methods were used to measure calphostin C levels in lysates of leukemic cells and in plasma of mice treated with calphostin C. The plasma concentration-time data were analyzed using the WinNonlin program. In vitro esterases and a microsome P450 preparation in conjunction with a LC-MS(API-EI) system were used to study the metabolism of calphostin C. Results. An intracellular exposure level (AUC0−6h) of 257 μM·h was achieved after in vitro treatment of NALM-6 cells with calphostin C at a 5 μM final concentration in culture medium. After intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of a 40 mg/kg nontoxic bolus dose of calphostin C, the estimated Cmax was 2.9 μM, which is higher than the effective in vitro concentration of calphostin C against leukemic cells. Drug absorption after i.p. administration was rapid with an absorption half-life of 24.2 min and the estimated tmax was 63.0 min. Calphostin C was cleared with an elimination half-life of 91.3 min. An inactive and smaller metabolite (calphostin B) was detected in plasma of calphostin C-treated mice with a tmax of 41.3 min. Esterase (but not P450) treatment of calphostin C in vitro yielded an inactive metabolite (calphostin B) of the same size and elution profile. Conclusions. Target plasma calphostin C concentrations of potent antileukemic activity can be reached in mice at nontoxic dose levels. This pilot pharmacokinetic study of calphostin C combined with the availability of the described quantitative HPLC method for its detection in cells and plasma provide the basis for future preclinical evaluation of calphostin C and its potential as an anti-leukemic drug.

Cathepsin Inhibition Induces Apoptotic Death in Human Leukemia and Lymphoma Cells

We examined the effects of cathepsin inhibitor I (CATI-I). a selective inhibitor of cysteine cathepsins, on human leukemia and lymphoma cells. CATI-I induced apoptosis in all 12 cell lines tested. Apoptosis of CATI-I-treated leukemia/lymphoma cells was caspase-independent, p53-independent, BAX-independent as well as MAP kinase-independent. Our findings provide unprecedented experimental evidence that cathepsins play a pivotal role for the survival of human leukemia/lymphoma cells. Therefore, cathepsin inhibitors may provide the basis for new treatment programs against leukemia and lymphoma.

SYK and LYN mediate B-cell receptor-independent calcium-induced apoptosis in DT-40 lymphoma B-cells.

Here, we report that the calcium ionophore ionomycin induces a massive Ca 2+ -dependent apoptosis in wildtype DT-40 chicken B lymphoma cells, as well as in BTK-deficient, PLC γ 2-deficient and IP3 receptor-deficient DT-40 cells, but not in LYN- or SYK-deficient DT-40 cells. Notably, the deficiency of CSK, a negative regulator of Src-family PTK, promoted ionomycin-induced apoptosis of DT-40 cells. Reconstitution of SYK-deficient cells with wild-type SYK restored the apoptotic response of the cells to ionomycin, but the expression of FYN or LCK in LYN-deficient cells did not restore the apoptotic response of LYN-deficient cells. Taken together, our data suggests that both LYN and SYK, but not BTK, FYN or LCK, are crucial mediators of BCR-independent Ca 2+ -induced apoptosis in DT-40 lymphoma B cells.

Quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography-based detection method for calphostin C, a naturally occurring perylenequinone with potent antileukemic activity

Calphostin C is a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C and can induce Ca2+-dependent apoptosis in human ALL cells. Further development of calphostin C will require detailed pharmacodynamic studies in preclinical animal models. Therefore, we established a sensitive and accurate high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based quantitative detection method for the measurement of calphostin C levels in plasma. Extraction of calphostin C from plasma was performed by precipitation of plasma protein using acetonitrile and an aliquot of extracted supernatant was injected onto a Hewlett-Packard HPLC system constituting a 250x4 mm LiChrospher 100, RP-18 (5 microm) in conjunction with a 4x4 mm LiChrospher 100, RP-18 guard column (5 microm). The eluted compounds were detected by diode array detection set at a wavelength of 479 nm. Acetonitrile-water containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid and 0.1% triethylamine (70:30, v/v) was used as the mobile phase. The average extraction recovery from plasma was 97.3%. Good linearity (r>0.999) was observed throughout the concentration range of 0.05-40 microM for calphostin C in 50 microl of plasma. Intra- and inter-assay variabilities were less than 6% in plasma. The lowest detection limit of calphostin C in 50 microl plasma was 0.02 microM at a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 3. The availability of this assay will now permit detailed pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic studies of calphostin C in vivo.