Noriko Shimura

Localization of glutathione and induction of glutathione synthesis- related proteins in mouse brain by low doses of γ-rays

First, we determined the cerebral localization of reduced glutathione (GSH) in normal mice by means of autoradiography using 99mTc-meso-hexamethyl propylene oxime. A highly specific localization of GSH in the cerebellum and hippocampus was observed. Secondly, we measured the elevation of GSH level in the brain after low-dose gamma-irradiation. The cerebral GSH levels increased soon after irradiation with 50 cGy of gamma-rays, reaching a maximum at 3 h post-treatment, then remaining significantly higher than that of the non-irradiated control until 12 h and returning to the control level by 24 h. Thirdly, we examined the induction of the activities and the mRNAs of proteins involved in the synthesis and regeneration of GSH in the brain of mice subjected to low-dose gamma-ray irradiation. The level of mRNA for gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase was significantly increased at 0.5 h, and remained high until 2 h post-irradiation (50 cGy). The level was transiently lowered to the non-irradiated control level at 3 h and slightly increased again after 6 h post-irradiation. gamma-Glutamylcysteine synthetase activity was significantly increased 3 h after irradiation, and remained high up to 24 h post-irradiation. As for glutathione reductase, the mRNA level was increased at 0.5 h, and peaked strongly at 2 h, while the enzyme activity was significantly increased at 6 h after irradiation, and continued to increase up to 24 h. The level of mRNA for thioredoxin, which contributes to GSH biosynthesis by supplying cysteine to the de novo pathway, peaked between 0.5 h and 2 h post-irradiation, and rapidly declined thereafter. The content of thioredoxin showed a transient decrease immediately after irradiation, but was then remarkably elevated, reaching a maximum at 3 h, and thereafter declining sharply. These results indicate that the increase in endogenous GSH in mouse brain soon after low-dose gamma-ray irradiation is a consequence of the induction of GSH synthesis-related proteins and occurs via both the de novo synthesis and the regeneration pathways.

Usefulness of 99mTc-d,l-HMPAO for estimation of GSH content in tumor tissues

To investigate whether [(99m)Tc]-hexamethyl propyleneamine oxime ([(99m)Tc]-HMPAO) is applicable for evaluating glutathione (GSH) localization in tumor, the difference of distribution between [(99m)Tc]-d,l- and meso-HMPAO was studied using a mouse tumor model. Biodistribution of [(99m)Tc]-d,l- or meso-HMPAO was studied in GSH-depleted and control Ehrlich tumor-bearing mice. GSH levels in tumors in GSH-depleted and control mice were measured in another set of mice. The uptake of [(99m)Tc]-d,l-HMPAO in tumor was significantly decreased by the diethyl maleate (DEM) treatment. On the other hand, the DEM treatment increased the accumulation of [(99m)Tc]-meso-HMPAO in tumor. Meanwhile, the content of GSH was lowest in tumor among the tissues tested and decreased in a manner similar to other tissues on preloading of DEM. [(99m)Tc]-d,l-HMPAO may be useful for estimating the GSH status in a certain tumor and thereby contribute to the diagnosis of anticancer therapy.

Radioiodination of glycoprotein-conjugated liposomes by using the Bolton-Hunter reagent and biodistribution in tumor-bearing mice.

We have developed a suitable radiolabeling method for our new type of glycoprotein-liposome conjugate (GCL), in order to investigate its potential utility as a drug carrier that can target the cellular functions of carbohydrate-binding proteins. In order to obtain radiolabeled GCL with high labeling efficiency, we introduced p-hydroxyphenylpropyl groups into the liposome membrane through the amine moiety of a constitutive phospholipid, dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE) by using Bolton-Hunter reagent (BHR). Radioiodination of the introduced tyrosyl groups was performed by the Chloramine-T method. The labeling efficiency of the BHR-treated liposome conjugate was high in comparison with that of the BHR-untreated liposome conjugate. An in vitro inhibition study showed that the binding affinity of 125I-labeled BHR-treated GCL (125I-F3S-BH) with lectin was twice as high as that of untreated conjugate (125I-F3S). The biodistribution of 125I-F3S-BH in mice was considerably different from that of 125I-F3S. 125I-F3S-BH was more rapidly taken up by the liver and was more rapidly excreted from the liver than 125I-F3S. Moreover, 125I-F3S-BH accumulated more rapidly into the kidneys, which resulted a lower radioactivity in the blood circulation at an earlier time point than in the case of 125I-F3S. The characteristics of tumor accumulation of 125I-F3S-BH and 125I-F3S were similar to those in blood. If F3S is to be employed as an in vivo targeting ligand in biodistribution studies, BHR would be a suitable tool for radiolabeling because it allows GCL to retain the biological activity and characteristics of the unmodified conjugate.

Radioimmunodetection of human colon cancer in nude mice by a new monoclonal antibody A7 against human colorectal cancer

The in vivo localization of a monoclonal antibody A7 against a human colorectal cancer was studied in nude mice bearing human solid carcinomas, to evaluate potential applications of this antibody for radioimmunodetection of cancer. The tissue distribution of 125I-labeled A7 MoAb at 3 days after i.v. injection into mice bearing five different kinds of human solid tumors revealed a high uptake ratio by colon cancer, mammary cancer, and glioblastoma. In contrast, the uptake ratio by murine colorectal cancer (Colon-38) was extremely low. In immunoscintigraphic studies, HCT-15, one of the human colon cancer, was clearly visualized with 111In-DTPA-A7 MoAb. Glioblastoma was also imaged with the same extent. These results suggest that A7 MoAb would be applicable to the in vivo radioimmunodetection of colon- and mammary-cancer, and of glioblastoma.

Treatment of Cancer and Inflammation With Low-Dose Ionizing Radiation: Three Case Reports

There is considerable evidence from experimental studies in animals, as well as from clinical reports, that low-dose radiation hormesis is effective for the treatment of cancer and ulcerative colitis. In this study, we present 3 case reports that support the clinical efficacy of low-dose radiation hormesis in patients with these diseases. First, a patient with prostate cancer who had undergone surgical resection showed a subsequent increase in prostate-specific antigen (PSA). His PSA value started decreasing immediately after the start of repeated low-dose X-ray irradiation treatment and remained low thereafter. Second, a patient with prostate cancer with bone metastasis was treated with repeated low-dose X-ray irradiation. His PSA level decreased to nearly normal within 3 months after starting the treatment and remained at the low level after the end of hormesis treatment. His bone metastasis almost completely disappeared. Third, a patient with ulcerative colitis showed a slow initial response to repeated low-dose irradiation treatment using various modalities, including drinking radon-containing water, but within 8 months, his swelling and bleeding had completely disappeared. After 1 year, the number of bowel movements had become normal. Interest in the use of radiation hormesis in clinical practice is increasing, and we hope that these case reports will encourage further clinical investigations.

Radioimmunodetection of human colon cancer using 99mTc-MDP-MoAb-A7 in mice

Radioimmunoscintigraphy (RIS) using 99mTc-labeled A7, a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) against a human colorectal cancer, was performed in nude mice bearing a human colon cancer, HCT-15. MoAb-A7 was labeled with 99mTc in the presence of methylene diphosphate (MDP). At 24 h post-injection of 99mTc-MDP-A7, colon cancer was clearly visualized, and the tumor-to-tissue ratio of 99mTc-MDP-A7 was higher than the ratio of 111In-DTPA-A7 which was described previously. These results suggest the possibility of the clinical application of 99mTc-MDP-A7 for RIS of a human colon cancer.

Differences between A7 antibody and anti-CEA antibody

The specificity of A7 monoclonal antibody (A7 MoAb), raised against a human colon cancer, was investigated in detail and compared with that of anti-CEA MoAb. Firstly, the biodistributions of radiolabeled A7 MoAb and anti-CEA MoAb were examined in human colon cancer (LS-174T)-, glioblastoma- and lung cancer (Lu-65)-bearing nude mice. 125I-A7 MoAb was highly concentrated into LS-174T and also, to a lesser extent, in glioblastoma, whereas 125I-anti-CEA MoAb was significantly taken up only by LS-174T. Both of these antibodies were taken up at only very low concentrations into Lu-65. Secondly, in vitro binding studies of 125I-A7 MoAb and 125I-anti-CEA MoAb with LS-174T cells and glioblastoma cells revealed high binding activity of these MoAbs to LS-174T cells, though A7 MoAb had a much higher affinity than that of anti-CEA MoAb. Neither of them showed high affinity for glioblastoma cells. Thirdly, competitive binding assay using A7 MoAb and anti-CEA MoAb to LS-174T cells showed that the binding of each 125I-MoAb was not inhibited by the other MoAb. Finally, in radioimmuno-imaging studies of LS-174T- and glioblastoma-bearing mice with 131I-A7 MoAb and -anti-CEA MoAb, both tumors were clearly visualized with the former, while the latter visualized only LS-174T. The A7 MoAb is clearly different from anti-CEA MoAb and may be useful for the in vivo radioimmunodetection and treatment of colon cancer.

Determination of estrogen 3-sulfates in biological fluids of mammary tumor-bearing rats by radioimmunoassay

Determination of estradiol 3-sulfate (E2 3-S) and estriol 3-sulfate (E3 3-S) in plasma, urine or tumor tissues of mammary tumor-bearing rats were performed using the superior radioimmunoassay (RIA) system. The plasma level of E2 3-S after tumorigenesis was found to be about one-third of the normal level. As to E3 3-S, the levels in urine were significantly high both before and after tumorigenesis. Before that, the average level was about 1.5 times, and after that, about 2.5 times as high as the normal level. In tumor tissues, an extremely high level of E3 3-S (399.6 +/- 113.9 pg/g tissue) was determined.

Mammary tumor immunoscintigraphy in rats: the use of 131I-anti-estriol 3-sulfate antibody

The scintigraphic imaging of mammary tumors with anti-estriol 3-sulfate (E3 3-S) antibody was studied in rats. A chemical carcinogen, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracine (DMBA), induced mammary tumors in Sprague-Dawley female rats. Highly specific anti-E3 3-S antibody was prepared and radioiodinated by [131I]NaI using the chloramine-T method. At 24 h after administration of 131I-anti-E3 3-S antibody, goat anti-guinea pig immunogloblin G (IgG) was injected as the second antibody (SA) and nuclear scintigraphy was performed. Mammary tumors were clearly visualized following SA injection.

Specific imaging of hormone-dependent mammary carcinoma in nude mice with [131I]-anti-estriol 3-sulfate antibody

We tried to put the estrogen metabolite to use in tumor imaging. The antibody against estriol 3-sulfate (E3 3-S), which was one of the major metabolites of estrogen in hormone-dependent mammary carcinoma, was prepared and the tissue distribution and imaging of human breast carcinoma with anti-E3 3-S antibody (Ab) were studied in nude mice. In hormone-dependent breast carcinoma, MCF-7,-bearing nude mice, [125I] anti-E3 3-S Ab localized in tumor with the percentage injected dose/g of 9.29 +/- 3.01 (mean +/- SD). This value was significantly high compared with that in hormone-independent breast carcinoma, MDA-MB-231,-bearing nude mice. At 72 h after the administration of [125I]anti-E3 3-S Ab to MCF-7 bearing mice, tumor/blood, tumor/liver and tumor/muscle ratios were 0.49, 5.02 and 6.83, respectively. These ratios were supposed to be enough for imaging. In radioimmunoscintigraphy, a MCF-7 tumor was clearly visualized at 120 or 168 h post-injection of [131I]anti-E3 3-S Ab.