Susan Pav

INACTIVATION OF CELL SURFACE RECEPTORS BY PHEOPHORBIDE a, A GREEN PIGMENT ISOLATED FROM Psychotria acuminata

Abstract— The inhibition of cytokine and monoclonal antibody binding to cell surfaces caused by an extract of Psychotria acuminata, a medicinal plant used in the traditional medicine of the people of Belize (Central America), was attributed to the presence of pheophorbide a and pyropheophorbide a Since the binding of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha, interleukin‐8, complement factor 5a as well as epidermal growth factor to target cells was dramatically reduced, the inhibition was not receptor or cytokine specific. In addition, the respective binding of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies CL203 and R15.7 to the cell surface antigens intracellular cell adhesion molecule‐1 and lymphocyte function‐associated antigen‐1 ß‐chain was decreased by pretreatment of cells with pheophorbide a as well. In all cases, the inhibition by pheophorbides was dependent on the simultaneous presence of light, indicating causative involvement of a photodynamic process. These observations are not unique to pheophorbides and can be extended to porphyrins as well as to other photodynamic agents. Cytotoxicity resulting from photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been documented by many studies. Our investigations suggest that the inactivation of cell surface receptors contributes not only to the antitumor effect of PDT but also to the systemic immunosuppression, a serious side effect of PDT.

Inhibition of Dipeptidyl Peptidase iv (CD26) by Peptide Boronic Acid Dipeptides

Peptide boronic acid dipeptide compounds were analyzed for their ability to inhibit recombinant human dipeptidylpeptidase IV (CD26, DPPIV). Rate constants for the peptide boronates are difficult to obtain because the active boronic acid dipeptide exists in equilibrium with a cyclic inactive species in aqueous solution. Rate constants were determined for the inhibition of DPPIV using several peptide boronates at different pH values. Val-boroPro forms the most tightly bound complex with DPPIV; the first order half life for dissociation of the inactive enzyme-inhibitor complex at 23 degrees C is approximately 27 days.