Paul D. Jones

Complex population structure in African village dogs and its implications for inferring dog domestication history

High genetic diversity of East Asian village dogs has recently been used to argue for an East Asian origin of the domestic dog. However, global village dog genetic diversity and the extent to which semiferal village dogs represent distinct, indigenous populations instead of admixtures of various dog breeds has not been quantified. Understanding these issues is critical to properly reconstructing the timing, number, and locations of dog domestication. To address these questions, we sampled 318 village dogs from 7 regions in Egypt, Uganda, and Namibia, measuring genetic diversity >680 bp of the mitochondrial D-loop, 300 SNPs, and 89 microsatellite markers. We also analyzed breed dogs, including putatively African breeds (Afghan hounds, Basenjis, Pharaoh hounds, Rhodesian ridgebacks, and Salukis), Puerto Rican street dogs, and mixed breed dogs from the United States. Village dogs from most African regions appear genetically distinct from non-native breed and mixed-breed dogs, although some individuals cluster genetically with Puerto Rican dogs or United States breed mixes instead of with neighboring village dogs. Thus, African village dogs are a mosaic of indigenous dogs descended from early migrants to Africa, and non-native, breed-admixed individuals. Among putatively African breeds, Pharaoh hounds, and Rhodesian ridgebacks clustered with non-native rather than indigenous African dogs, suggesting they have predominantly non-African origins. Surprisingly, we find similar mtDNA haplotype diversity in African and East Asian village dogs, potentially calling into question the hypothesis of an East Asian origin for dog domestication.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids modulate two distinct analgesic pathways

During inflammation, a large amount of arachidonic acid (AA) is released into the cellular milieu and cyclooxygenase enzymes convert this AA to prostaglandins that in turn sensitize pain pathways. However, AA is also converted to natural epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) by cytochrome P450 enzymes. EET levels are typically regulated by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), the major enzyme degrading EETs. Here we demonstrate that EETs or inhibition of sEH lead to antihyperalgesia by at least 2 spinal mechanisms, first by repressing the induction of the COX2 gene and second by rapidly up-regulating an acute neurosteroid-producing gene, StARD1, which requires the synchronized presence of elevated cAMP and EET levels. The analgesic activities of neurosteroids are well known; however, here we describe a clear course toward augmenting the levels of these molecules. Redirecting the flow of pronociceptive intracellular cAMP toward up-regulation of StARD1 mRNA by concomitantly elevating EETs is a novel path to accomplish pain relief in both inflammatory and neuropathic pain states.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase plays an essential role in angiotensin II-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Pathophysiological cardiac hypertrophy is one of the most common causes of heart failure. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, hydrolyzed and degraded by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), can function as endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factors to induce dilation of coronary arteries and thus are cardioprotective. In this study, we investigated the role of sEH in two rodent models of angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced cardiac hypertrophy. The protein level of sEH was elevated in the heart of both spontaneously hypertensive rats and Ang II-infused Wistar rats. Blocking the Ang II type 1 receptor with losartan could abolish this induction. Administration of a potent sEH inhibitor (sEHI) prevented the pathogenesis of the Ang II-induced hypertrophy, as demonstrated by decreased left-ventricular hypertrophy assessed by echocardiography, reduced cardiomyocyte size, and attenuated expression of hypertrophy markers, including atrial natriuretic factor and β-myosin heavy chain. Because sEH elevation was not observed in exercise- or norepinephrine-induced hypertrophy, the sEH induction was closely associated with Ang II-induced hypertrophy. In vitro, Ang II upregulated sEH and hypertrophy markers in neonatal cardiomyocytes isolated from rat and mouse. Expression of these marker genes was elevated with adenovirus-mediated sEH overexpression but decreased with sEHI treatment. These results were supported by studies in neonatal cardiomyocytes from sEH−/− mice. Our results suggest that sEH is specifically upregulated by Ang II, which directly mediates Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Thus, pharmacological inhibition of sEH would be a useful approach to prevent and treat Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

1-Aryl-3-(1-acylpiperidin-4-yl)urea Inhibitors of Human and Murine Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase: Structure-Activity Relationships, Pharmacokinetics and Reduction of Inflammatory Pain

1,3-Disubstituted ureas possessing a piperidyl moiety have been synthesized to investigate their structure-activity relationships as inhibitors of the human and murine soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). Oral administration of 13 1-aryl-3-(1-acylpiperidin-4-yl)urea inhibitors in mice revealed substantial improvements in pharmacokinetic parameters over previously reported 1-adamantylurea based inhibitors. For example, 1-(1-(cyclopropanecarbonyl)piperidin-4-yl)-3-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)urea (52) showed a 7-fold increase in potency, a 65-fold increase in C(max), and a 3300-fold increase in AUC over its adamantane analogue 1-(1-adamantyl)-3-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl)urea (2). This novel sEH inhibitor showed a 1000-fold increase in potency when compared to morphine by reducing hyperalgesia as measured by mechanical withdrawal threshold using the in vivo carrageenan induced inflammatory pain model.

1-(1-acetyl-piperidin-4-yl)-3-adamantan-1-yl-urea (AR9281) as a potent, selective, and orally available soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor with efficacy in rodent models of hypertension and dysglycemia.

1-(1-Acetyl-piperidin-4-yl)-3-adamantan-1-yl-urea 14a (AR9281), a potent and selective soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor, was recently tested in a phase 2a clinical setting for its effectiveness in reducing blood pressure and improving insulin resistance in pre-diabetic patients. In a mouse model of diet induced obesity, AR9281 attenuated the enhanced glucose excursion following an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. AR9281 also attenuated the increase in blood pressure in angiotensin-II-induced hypertension in rats. These effects were dose-dependent and well correlated with inhibition of the sEH activity in whole blood, consistent with a role of sEH in the observed pharmacology in rodents.

Analysis of Mammalian Carboxylesterase Inhibition by Trifluoromethylketone-Containing Compounds

Carboxylesterases (CE) are ubiquitous enzymes that hydrolyze numerous ester-containing xenobiotics, including complex molecules, such as the anticancer drugs irinotecan (CPT-11) and capecitabine and the pyrethroid insecticides. Because of the role of CEs in the metabolism of many exogenous and endogenous ester-containing compounds, a number of studies have examined the inhibition of this class of enzymes. Trifluoromethylketone-containing (TFK) compounds have been identified as potent CE inhibitors. In this article, we present inhibition constants for 21 compounds, including a series of sulfanyl, sulfinyl, and sulfonyl TFKs with three mammalian CEs, as well as human acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase. To examine the nature of the slow tight-binding inhibitor/enzyme interaction, assays were performed using either a 5-min or a 24-h preincubation period. Results showed that the length of the preincubation interval significantly affects the inhibition constants on a structurally dependent basis. The TFK-containing compounds were generally potent inhibitors of mammalian CEs, with Ki values as low as 0.3 nM observed. In most cases, thioether-containing compounds were more potent inhibitors then their sulfinyl or sulfonyl analogs. QSAR analyses demonstrated excellent observed versus predicted values correlations (r2 ranging from 0.908–0.948), with cross-correlation coefficients (q2) of ∼0.9. In addition, pseudoreceptor models for the TKF analogs were very similar to structures and models previously obtained using benzil- or sulfonamide-based CE inhibitors. These studies indicate that more potent, selective CE inhibitors, containing long alkyl or aromatic groups attached to the thioether chemotype in TFKs, can be developed for use in in vivo enzyme inhibition.

Comparative efficacy of 3 soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors in rat neuropathic and inflammatory pain models

Epoxy-fatty acids have been recognized as important cell signaling molecules with multiple biological effects including anti-nociception. The main degradation pathway of these signaling molecules is via the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) enzyme. Inhibitors of sEH extend the anti-nociceptive effects of fatty acid epoxides. In this study two models of pain with different etiology, streptozocin induced type I diabetic neuropathic pain and lipopolysaccharide induced inflammatory pain were employed to test sEH inhibitors. A dose range of three sEH inhibitors with the same central pharmacophore but varying substituent moieties was used to investigate maximal anti-allodynic effects in these two models of pain. Inhibiting the sEH enzyme in these models successfully blocked pain related behavior in both models. The sEH inhibitors were more potent and more efficacious than celecoxib in reducing both diabetic neuropathic pain and lipopolysaccharide induced inflammatory pain. Because of their ability to block diabetic neuropathic pain sEH inhibition is a promising new approach to treat chronic pain conditions.

Pharmacokinetics and in vivo potency of soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors in cynomolgus monkeys.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors (sEHIs) possess anti‐inflammatory, antiatherosclerotic, antihypertensive and analgesic properties. The pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics in terms of inhibitory potency of sEHIs were assessed in non‐human primates (NHPs). Development of a sEHI for use in NHPs will facilitate investigations on the role of sEH in numerous chronic inflammatory conditions.

Identification of two epoxide hydrolases in Caenorhabditis elegans that metabolize mammalian lipid signaling molecules

We have identified two genes in the genomic database for Caenorhabditis elegans that code for proteins with significant sequence similarity to the mammalian soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). The respective transcripts were cloned from a mixed stage cDNA library from C. elegans. The corresponding proteins obtained after recombinant expression in insect cells hydrolyzed standard epoxide hydrolase substrates, including epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and leukotoxins (EpOMEs). The enzyme activity was inhibited by urea-based compounds originally designed to inhibit the mammalian sEH. In vivo inhibition of the enzymes using the most potent of these compounds resulted in elevated levels of the EpOMEs in the nematode. These results suggest that the hydrolases are involved in the metabolism of possible lipid signaling molecules in C. elegans.

Principal component analysis of canine hip dysplasia phenotypes and their statistical power for genome-wide association mapping

The aims of this study were to undertake principal component analysis (PCA) of hip dysplasia (HD) and to examine the power of the principal components (PCs) in genome-wide association studies. A cohort of 278 dogs for PCA and that of 369 dogs for genotyping were used. The distraction index (DI), the dorsolateral subluxation (DLS) score, the Norberg angle (NA), and the extended-hip radiographic (EHR) score were used for the PCA. One thousand single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (of 23,500) were used to simulate genetic locus sharing between the HD phenotypes and 1000 SNPs were used to calculate the genetic mapping power of the PCs. The DI and the DLS score (first group) reflected hip laxity and the NA and the EHR score (second group) reflected the congruency between the femoral head and acetabulum. The average hip measurements of the two groups reflected in the first PC captured 55% of total radiographic variation. The first four PCs captured 90% of the total variation. The PCs had higher statistical mapping power to detect pleiotropic quantitative trait loci (QTL) than the raw phenotypes. The PCA demonstrated for the first time that HD can be reduced mathematically into simpler components essential for its genetic dissection. Genes that contribute jointly to all four radiographic hip phenotypes can be detected by mapping their first four PCs, while those contributing to individual phenotypes can be mapped by association with the individual raw phenotype.