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Showing papers on "Xanthine published in 1996"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Evidence is provided that hydroxy-flavones exhibit interesting antioxidant properties expressed either by the capacity to scavenge free radicals or to competitively inhibit xanthine oxidase (for 7-hydroxy-Flavones), which may be drug candidates for treating pathologies related to free radical oxidation.

675 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The ability of caffeine to inhibit oxidative damage induced by these reactive species in membranes suggest one more positive attribute of caffeine, whose daily intake as coffee may be considerable in most populations.

288 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The crystal structure of the xanthine oxidase-related molybdenum-iron protein aldehyde oxido-reductase from the sulfate reducing anaerobic Gram-negative bacterium Desulfovibrio gigas (Mop) was analyzed in its desulfo-, sulfo-, oxidized, reduced, and alcohol-bound forms at 1.8-A resolution as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The crystal structure of the xanthine oxidase-related molybdenum-iron protein aldehyde oxido-reductase from the sulfate reducing anaerobic Gram-negative bacterium Desulfovibrio gigas (Mop) was analyzed in its desulfo-, sulfo-, oxidized, reduced, and alcohol-bound forms at 1.8-A resolution. In the sulfo-form the molybdenum molybdopterin cytosine dinucleotide cofactor has a dithiolene-bound fac-[Mo, = O, = S, ---(OH2)] substructure. Bound inhibitory isopropanol in the inner compartment of the substrate binding tunnel is a model for the Michaelis complex of the reaction with aldehydes (H-C = O,-R). The reaction is proposed to proceed by transfer of the molybdenum-bound water molecule as OH- after proton transfer to Glu-869 to the carbonyl carbon of the substrate in concert with hydride transfer to the sulfido group to generate [MoIV, = O, -SH, ---(O-C = O, -R)). Dissociation of the carboxylic acid product may be facilitated by transient binding of Glu-869 to the molybdenum. The metal-bound water is replenished from a chain of internal water molecules. A second alcohol binding site in the spacious outer compartment may cause the strong substrate inhibition observed. This compartment is the putative binding site of large inhibitors of xanthine oxidase.

212 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Preeclampsia is characterized by hyperuricemia and signs of increased formation of reactive oxygen species and decreased levels of antioxidants and several factors can increase the holoenzyme activity and the conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase to its oxidase form.

191 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Large increases in xanthine and hypoxanthine, possible deamination products of guanine and adenine, respectively, and in 8-nitroguanine were observed, which suggests that hydroxyl radicals were not major contributors to base modification caused by peroxynitrite, as OH is known to cause multiple oxidative modifications to all four DNA bases.
Abstract: Exposure of isolated calf thymus DNA and human skin epidermal keratinocytes to peroxynitrite or the peroxynitrite generator, 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), led to extensive DNA base modification. Large increases in xanthine and hypoxanthine, possible deamination products of guanine and adenine, respectively, and in 8-nitroguanine were observed, but only small changes in some oxidized base products were seen. This pattern of damage suggests that hydroxyl radicals were not major contributors to base modification caused by peroxynitrite, as OH• is known to cause multiple oxidative modifications to all four DNA bases. Instead, it seems that reactive nitrogen species play a much greater role in the mechanism of base damage, producing both nitration and deamination of purine bases when DNA or whole cells are exposed to peroxynitrite. If this pattern of damage is unique to peroxynitrite, it might act as a marker of cellular damage by this species in vivo.

159 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Co-treatment of the ethanol-exposed NCCs with free radical scavengers including 300 units/ml of superoxide dismutase, catalase, or alpha-tocopherol significantly improved NCC viability and suggest that free radicals play a significant role in ethanol-induced NCC death.
Abstract: Associations between ethanol-induced cranial neural crest cell (NCC) damage in mammalian embryos and subsequent malformations as observed in human fetal alcohol syndrome have previously been illustrated. The vulnerability of NCCs to this teratogen may result, at least in part, from their sensitivity to free radical damage. To examine relationships between free radical generation and NCC cytotoxicity, primary culture of mouse NCCs was used. NCC viability was determined in both dose- and time-response studies involving ethanol exposure. After 48 hr of culture, cell viability was significantly diminished at all doses tested (i.e., 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM ethanol). At 100 mM ethanol (a dosage that is teratogenic in vivo and in whole embryo culture), cell viability decreased to approximately 50% of control values over the first 12 hr of culture, and decreased further, to approximately 20% by 48 hr. Using nitroblue tetrazolium as a probe, it was observed that exposure of NCCs to ethanol stimulated the production of superoxide anion radicals. Co-treatment of the ethanol-exposed NCCs with free radical scavengers including 300 units/ml of superoxide dismutase, catalase (500 units/ml), or alpha-tocopherol (300 microM) significantly improved NCC viability. These results suggest that the ethanol-induced NCC injury is mediated, at least in part, through the generation of free radicals. To test this hypothesis further, NCCs were exposed in culture to xanthine/xanthine oxidase. Exogenous free radicals generated by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system resulted in reduced NCC viability, the severity of which increased in a time and enzyme concentration-related manner. Superoxide dismutase (300 units/ml) and catalase (500 units/ml) significantly reduced the effects of the xanthine/xanthine oxidase-generated free radicals on NCC viability. The similarity between the susceptibility of NCCs to ethanol and their susceptibility to exogenous free radicals in concert with the free radical scavenger-mediated amelioration of ethanol and exogenous free radical-induced NCC death strongly suggest that free radicals play a significant role in ethanol-induced NCC death.

145 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Data indicate that exogenously or endogenously-derived ROS can increase ET-1 production by human mesangial cells, while superoxide anion reducesET-1 levels, H2O2 leads to enhanced production of the peptide.

128 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that ROS produced in the dermis may contribute to biological changes in the connective tissue matrix observed in photoaging skin by accelerating the MMP-2-related matrix degradation system.
Abstract: The effects of ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation and reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated with a xanthine and xanthine oxidase (XOD) system, on collagen enzymatic degradation involving the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and its tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) were investigated using cultured human dermal fibroblasts. Total RNA was isolated and subjected to Northern blot analysis using cDNA clones for human interstitial collagenase (MMP-1), 72-kDa type IV collagenase (MMP-2) and TIMP-2. UVA irradiation resulted in an increase in MMP-1 mRNA up to 2.3-fold, but did not stimulate MMP-2 or TIMP-2 mRNA expression. In contrast, ROS induced by the xanthine and XOD system resulted in a dose-related increase in the level of MMP-2 mRNA up to 2.1-fold and a decrease in the level of TIMP-2 mRNA by 49% in the same fibroblasts. Catalase, used as scavenger, essentially prevented the ROS-induced alterations in MMP-2 and TIMP-2 mRNA levels. These results suggest that ROS produced in the dermis may contribute to biological changes in the connective tissue matrix observed in photoaging skin by accelerating the MMP-2-related matrix degradation system.

125 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggest that myofibrillar CK was inhibited by ROS, probably by the oxidation of its essential sulfhydryl groups, and the effects of ROS on active tension development may take part in the overall process of myocardial stunning after cardiac ischemia and reperfusion.
Abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been reported to alter cardiac myofibrillar function as well as myofibrillar enzymes such as myosin ATPase and creatine kinase (CK). To understand their precise mode and site of action in myofibrils, the effects of the xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO) system or of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) have been studied in the presence and in the absence of phosphocreatine (PCr) in Triton X-100-treated cardiac fibers. We found that xanthine oxidase (XO), with or without xanthine, induced a decrease in maximal Ca(2+)-activated tension. We attributed this effect to the high contaminating proteolytic activity in commercial XO preparations, since it could be prevented a protease inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), and it could be mimicked by trypsin. In further experiments, XO was pre-treated with 1 mmo1/L PMSF. Superoxide anion production by the X/XO system, characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance spin-trapping technique, was not altered by PMSF. A slight increase in maximal force was then observed either with X/XO (100 mumol/L per 30 mIU/mL) or H2O2. pMgATP-rigor tension relationships have been established in the presence and in the absence of PCr to separate the effects of ROS on myosin ATPase and myofibrillar-bound CK. In the absence of PCr, pMgATP50, the pMgATP necessary to induce half-maximal rigor tension, was reduced from 5.03 +/- 0.17 (n = 21) to 4.22 +/- 0.22 (n = 4) after 25 minutes of incubation in the presence one of 30 mIU/mL. XO and 100 mumol/L xanthine or to 4.04 +/- 0.1 (n = 11) after incubation in the presence of 2.5 mmol/L H2O2. The ROS effects were partially prevented or antagonized by 1 mmol/L dithiothreitol. No effect was observed on pMgATP50 when PCr was absent. pCa-tension relationships have been evaluated to assess the effects of ROS on active tension development. Incubations with H2O2 induced on increase in Ca2+ sensitivity and resting tension when MgATP was provided through myofibrillar CK (PCr and MgADP as substrates) but not when MgATP was added directly. These results suggest that myofibrillar CK was inhibited by ROS. Active stiffness and the time constant of tension changes after quick stretches applied to the fibers were dose-dependently increased by H2O2 only in the presence of PCr. In addition, myofibrillar CK but not myosin ATPase enzymatic activity was depressed after incubation with either ROS. These results suggest that ROS mainly alters CK in myofibrils, probably by the oxidation of its essential sulfhydryl groups. Such CK inactivation results in a decrease in the intramyofibrillar ATP-to-ADP ratio. The effects of ROS on cytosolic and bound CKs may take part in the overall process of myocardial stunning after cardiac ischemia and reperfusion.

125 citations


01 Jan 1996
TL;DR: A plasmid containing a transcriptional fusion of the Escherichia coli katG promoter to a truncated Vibrio fischeri lux operon (luxCDABE) was constructed and it is suggested that this construction may be used as a tool for assaying oxidant and antioxidant properties of chemicals, as a biosensor for environmental monitoring and as atool for studying cellular responses to oxidative hazards.
Abstract: A plasmid containing a transcriptional fusion of the Escherichia coli katG promoter to a truncated Vibrio fischeri lux operon (luxCDABE) was constructed. An E. coli strain bearing this plasmid (strain DPD2511) exhibited low basal levels of luminescence, which increased up to 1,000-fold in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, organic peroxides, redox-cycling agents (methyl viologen and menadione), a hydrogen peroxideproducing enzyme system (xanthine and xanthine oxidase), and cigarette smoke. AnoxyR deletion abolished hydrogen peroxide-dependent induction, confirming thatoxyRcontrolledkatG*::luxluminescence. Light emission was also induced by ethanol by an unexplained mechanism. A marked synergistic response was observed when cells were exposed to both ethanol and hydrogen peroxide; the level of luminescence measured in the presence of both inducers was much higher than the sum of the level of luminescence observed with ethanol andthelevelofluminescenceobservedwithhydrogenperoxide.Itissuggestedthatthisconstructionorsimilar constructions may be used as a tool for assaying oxidant and antioxidant properties of chemicals, as a biosensor for environmental monitoring, and as a tool for studying cellular responses to oxidative hazards.

122 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an electrode has been prepared based on xanthine oxidase adsorbed to colloidal gold and evaporated onto the surface of glassy carbon, which is used to detect other substrates for xanthines such as 4-hydroxypyrimidine.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The levels of endogenous caffeine and theobromine were much higher in buds and young leaves of Coffea arabica L. cv Kent than in fully developed leaves and the capacity for caffeine biosynthesis, especially from guanine and xanthosine, was reduced markedly.
Abstract: The levels of endogenous caffeine and theobromine were much higher in buds and young leaves of Coffea arabica L. cv Kent than in fully developed leaves. Biosynthesis of caffeine from 14C-labeled adenine, guanine, xanthosine, and theobromine was observed, whereas other studies (H. Ashihara, A.M. Monteiro, T. Moritz, F.M. Gillies, A. Crozier [1996] Planta 198: 334-339) have indicated that there is no detectable incorporation of label into caffeine when theophylline and xanthine are used as substrates for in vivo feeds with leaves of C. arabica. The capacity for caffeine biosynthesis, especially from guanine and xanthosine, was reduced markedly in both fully developed mature and aged leaves. Data obtained in pulse-chase experiments with young leaves indicate the operation of an AMP -> IMP -> xanthosine 5[prime]-monophosphate (or GMP -> guanosine) -> xanthosine -> 7-methylxanthosine -> 7-methylxanthine -> theobromine -> caffeine pathway. The data obtained provide strong evidence against proposals by G.M. Nazario and C.J. Lovatt ([1993] Plant Physiol 103: 1203-1210) concerning the independence of caffeine and theobromine biosynthesis pathways and the role of xanthine as a key intermediate in caffeine biosynthesis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that blockade of xanthine oxidase substrate formation by adenosine deaminase inhibition can prevent free radical generation and contractile dysfunction in the postischemic heart.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Tourniquet‐induced limb exsanguination for limb surgery may be a useful ischemia‐reperfusion model to investigate the presence of oxidants, particularly H2 O2 and xanthine oxidase activity.
Abstract: BACKGROUND Surgically induced ischemia and reperfusion is frequently accompanied by local and remote organ injury. It was hypothesized that this procedure may produce injurious oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which, if unscavenged, will generate the highly toxic hydroxyl radical (.OH). Accordingly, it was proposed that tourniquet-induced exsanguination for limb surgery may be a useful ischemia-reperfusion model to investigate the presence of oxidants, particularly H2O2. METHODS In ten patients undergoing knee surgery, catheters were placed in the femoral vein of the limb operated on for collection of local blood and in a vein of the arm for sampling of systemic blood. Tourniquet-induced limb exsanguination was induced for about 2 h. After tourniquet release (reperfusion), blood samples were collected during a 2-h period for measurement of H2O2, xanthine oxidase activity, xanthine, uric acid (UA), glutathione, and glutathione disulfide. RESULTS At 30 s of reperfusion, H2O2 concentrations increased (approximately 90%) from 133 +/- 5 to 248 +/- 8 nmol.ml-1 (P < 0.05) in local blood samples, but no change was evident in systemic blood. However, in both local and systemic blood, xanthine oxidase activity increased approximately 90% (1.91 +/- 0.07 to 3.93 +/- 0.41 and 2.19 +/- 0.07 to 3.57 +/- 0.12 nmol UA.ml-1.min-1, respectively) as did glutathione concentrations (1.27 +/- 0.04 to 2.69 +/- 0.14 and 1.27 +/- 0.03 to 2.43 +/- 0.13 mumol.ml-1, respectively). At 5 min reperfusion, in local blood, H2O2 concentrations and xanthine oxidase activity peaked at 796 +/- 38 nmol.ml-1 (approximately 500%) and 11.69 +/- 1.46 nmol UA.ml-1.min-1 (approximately 520%), respectively. In local blood, xanthine and UA increased from 1.49 +/- 0.07 to 8.36 +/- 0.33 nmol.ml-1 and 2.69 +/- 0.16 to 3.90 +/- 0.18 mumol.ml-1, respectively, whereas glutathione and glutathione disulfide increased to 5.13 +/- 0.36 mumol.ml-1 and 0.514 +/- 0.092 nmol.ml-1, respectively. In systemic blood, xanthine oxidase activity peaked at 4.75 +/- 0.20 UA nmol.ml-1.min-1. At 10 min reperfusion, local blood glutathione and UA peaked at 7.08 +/- 0.46 mumol.ml-1 and 4.67 +/- 0.26 mumol.ml-1, respectively, while the other metabolites decreased significantly toward pretourniquet levels. From 20 to 120 min, most metabolites returned to pretourniquet levels; however, local and systemic blood xanthine oxidase activity remained increased 3.76 +/- 0.29 and 3.57 +/- 0.37 nmol UA.ml-1.min-1, respectively. Systemic blood H2O2 was never increased during the study. During the burst period (approximately 5-10 min), local blood H2O2 concentrations and xanthine oxidase activities were highly correlated (r = 0.999). CONCLUSIONS These studies suggest that tourniquet-induced exsanguination for limb surgery is a significant source for toxic oxygen production in the form of H2O2 and that xanthine oxidase is probably the H2O2-generating enzyme that is formed during the ischemia-reperfusion event. In contrast to the reperfused leg, the absence of H2O2 in arm blood demonstrated a balanced oxidant scavenging in the systemic circulation, despite the persistent increase in systemic xanthine oxidase activity.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It seems that XO regulates EDRF/NO via production of O2 - through inhibition of xanthine oxidase in vitro by three types of pyrazolopyrimidine derivatives.
Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO), now almost synonymous with endothelium-derived relax- ing factor (EDRF), reacts with superoxide anion radical (O,-) and forms a potentially toxic molecular species, peroxynitrite (ONOO-). Because xanthine oxidase (XO) seems to be a major 0,--producing enzyme in the vascular system, it is important to clarify the mechanism of XO regulation of NO/EDRF. We first characterized the inhi- bition of XO in vitro by three types of pyrazolopyrimidine derivatives. Kinetic studies indicated that 4-amino-6-hydroxypyrazolo(3,4-d)pyrimidine (AHPP) and allopurinol competitively inhibited the conversion of xanthine to uric acid catalyzed by XO, with apparent K, values of 0.17 f 0.02 and 0.50 f 0.03 pM, respectively; alloxanthine inhibited this conversion in a noncompetitive manner with an apparent K, value of 3.54 2 1.12 pM. 0,- generation in the xanthine/XO system assayed by lucigenin- dependent chemiluminescence was suppressed most strongly by AHPP in a dose- dependent fashion; allopurinol itself appears to reduce the enzyme by transfer of an electron to 02, thus generating 0,-. AHPP significantly augmented EDRF-mediated relaxation of aortic rings from both rabbits and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) in a dose-dependent manner, whereas allopurinol did not affect the relaxation and only marginal potentiation of the vasorelaxation was observed with alloxanthine. Finally, iv injection of AHPP (50.4 mglkg; 100 pmo1/300 g rat) reduced the blood pressure of SHR rats to 70% of the initial pressure; this pressure is al- most the blood pressure of normal rats. Allopurinol (100 pmo1/300 g rat; iv) showed transient decrease in blood pressure and moderate reduction of hypertension of SHR (10%) was observed with iv injection of alloxanthine (100 pmo1/300 g rat). On the basis of these results, it seems that XO regulates EDRFINO via production of 0,-. (P.S.E.B.M. 1996, Vol 21 11

Patent
01 Oct 1996
TL;DR: In this paper, a skin treatment composition that can prevent or alleviate lipedema by formulating inositol phosphate or an α-hydroxyacid and xanthine at a specific ratio is presented.
Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a skin treatment composition that can prevent or alleviate lipedema by formulating inositol phosphate or an α-hydroxyacid and xanthine at a specific ratio. SOLUTION: A xanthine (in an amount of 0.05-20 wt.%) and inositol phosphate (the weight ratio of inositol phosphate to xanthine is about 1/1,000-4/1) are combined and a vehicle that is acceptable as a cosmetic component to produce the objective skin treatment composition. In another embodiment, inositol phosphate may be added to the system containing xanthine and α- hydroxyacid. This composition is used to give a pharmaceutical preparation for treatment of lipedema.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Phenolic compounds isolated as antioxidative components from the leaves of Thymus vulgaris were shown to be effective to protect biological systems against various oxidative stresses.
Abstract: A biphenyl compound, 3,4,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-5,5'-diisopropyl-2,2'-dimethylbiphenyl (1), and a flavonoid, eriodicytol (2), were isolated as antioxidative components from the leaves of Thymus vulgaris by bioassay-directed fractionation. These compounds inhibited superoxide anion production in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. Mitochondrial and microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by Fe(III)-ADP/NADH or Fe(III)-ADP/NADPH were also inhibited by these compounds. Compound 1 is an extremely potent antioxidant; complete inhibition was observed at 1 microM against both microsomal and mitochondrial peroxidation. Furthermore, compound 1 protected red cells against oxidative hemolysis. These phenolic compounds were shown to be effective to protect biological systems against various oxidative stresses.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggest that in this strain of S. marcescens caffeine is degraded to theobromine and/or paraxanthine (1,7-dimethylxanthine), and subsequently to 7-methylxanthines and xanthine.
Abstract: A strain of Serratia marcescens showing the ability to degrade caffeine and other methylxanthines was isolated from soil under coffee cultivation. Growth was observed only with xanthines methylated at the 7 position (caffeine, 1,3,7-dimethylxanthine; paraxanthine, 1,7-dimethylxanthine; theobromine, 3,7-dimethylxanthine and 7-methylxanthine). Paraxanthine and theobromine were released in liquid medium when caffeine was used as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. When paraxanthine or theobromine were used, 3-methylxanthine, 7-methylxanthine, and xanthine were detected in the liquid medium. Serratia marcescens did not grow with theophylline (1,3-dimethylxanthine), 1-methylxanthine, and 3-methylxanthine, and poor growth was observed with xanthine. Methyluric acid formation from methylxanthines was tested in cell-free extracts by measuring dehydrogenase reduction of tetrazolium salt in native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gel. Activity was observed for all methylxanthines, even those with which no bacterial growth was observed. Our results suggest that in this strain of S. marcescens caffeine is degraded to theobromine (3,7-dimethylxanthine) and/or paraxanthine (1,7-dimethylxanthine), and subsequently to 7-methylxanthine and xanthine. Methyluric acid formation could not be confirmed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results indicate that reactive oxygen species induce apoptosis in cultured human mesangial cells and may contribute to the loss of such cells observed in glomerular disease.
Abstract: Apoptosis is a distinct form of cell death that is observed under various physiologic and pathologic conditions, and it is thought to be important in regulating the number of glomerular cells. This study investigated the possible role of reactive oxygen species in the induction of apoptosis in cultured human mesangial cells. Fragmented nuclei with condensed chromatin, a morphologic characteristic of apoptosis, were observed by electron microscopy in mesangial cells exposed to 0.02 mM hydrogen peroxide for 4 h. Nuclear DNA extracted from mesangial cells that had been incubated with hydrogen peroxide (2 to 20 mM) or with xanthine (0.05 mM) and xanthine oxidase (5 to 100 mU/mL) showed the ladder pattern on electrophoresis that is a biochemical marker for apoptosis. Hydrogen peroxide (0.02 to 20 mM) decreased the number of viable cells, as determined by trypan blue exclusion, in a dose-dependent manner. Hydrogen peroxide or xanthine and xanthine oxidase increased the lactate dehydrogenase release from mesangial cells in a dose- and time-dependent manners. The release of lactate dehydrogenase was prevented by treatment with a free radical scavenger, catalase. Hydrogen peroxide (2 mM) also significantly increased the number of mesangial cells with fragmented DNA as detected by in situ nick end-labeling Results indicate that reactive oxygen species induce apoptosis in cultured human mesangial cells. Furthermore, apoptosis of mesangial cells induced by reactive oxygen species may contribute to the loss of such cells observed in glomerular disease.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The beneficial effects of allopurinol in copper deficiency do not appear to be related to prevention of oxygen radicals, but rather, to the protection against the catabolic destruction of purines, which in turn, increases nucleotide pool.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This method is useful in analyzing the temporal effect of a prolonged period of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion upon interstitial adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid concentrations in an in vivo canine model.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that the differences in PD excretion betweenbuffaloes and cattle were probably due to the smaller proportion of plasma PD that was disposed of in the urine of buffaloes, and xanthine oxidase was practically absent from plasma and intestine of sheep.
Abstract: The urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD) was measured in six buffaloes (Bubalis bubalis) during fasting and in fourteen buffaloes given four restricted levels of roughage (2.548 kg DM/d). Only allantoin and uric acid, not xanthine and hypoxanthine, were present in the urine, the pattern of excretion being similar to that in cattle. The fasting PD excretion amounted to 0.20 (SD 0.06) mmol/kg metabolic weight (W0”*) per d, and the rate of PD excretion as a linear function of feed intake was 5.2 mmol/kg digestible organic matter intake. Both values were considerably lower than the values for cattle reported in the literature. Creatinine excretion values were 033 (SD 0.06) and 0.44 (SD 0.09) mmol/kg W075 per d determined in fasting and feeding periods respectively. Fasting N excretion was 257 (SD 49) mg N/kg Wo7’ per d. Both creatinine and fasting N excretions were also lower than in cattle. The activities of xanthine oxidase (EC 1.2.3.2) in plasma, liver and intestinal mucosa were determined in buffaloes, cattle and sheep. Xanthine oxidase activities in buffaloes were 245 (SD 2.7) unit/l plasma and 0.44 (SD 0.02) and 0.31 (SD 0.10) unit/g fresh tissue in liver and intestinal mucosa respectively. These activities were higher than those in cattle and sheep. Xanthine oxidase was practically absent from plasma and intestine of sheep. It is suggested that the differences in PD excretion between buffaloes and cattle were probably due to the smaller proportion of plasma PD that was disposed of in the urine of buffaloes. Buffalo : Purine derivatives: Xanthine oxidase

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A water-soluble fullerene derivative (C 60 -dimalonic acid, C 62 (COOH) 4 ) quenches superoxide radical (O 2 •− ), in the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system, and oxidizes reduced cyt. c in the presence of hydrogen peroxide as discussed by the authors.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Sep 1996-Planta
TL;DR: In a study of purine alkaloid catabolism pathways in coffee,14C-labelled theobromine, caffeine, theophylline and xanthine were incubated with leaves of Coffeeea arabica and the identity of 7-methylxanthine in these studies was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis.
Abstract: In a study of purine alkaloid catabolism pathways in coffee,14C-labelled theobromine, caffeine, theophylline and xanthine were incubated with leaves ofCoffea arabica. Incorporation of label into14CO2 was determined and methanol-soluble metabolites were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography-radiocounting. The data obtained demonstrate catabolism of caffeine → theophylline → 3-methylxanthine → xanthine. Xanthine is degraded further by the conventional purine catabolism pathway to CO2 and NH3 via uric acid, allantoin and allantoic acid. The conversion of caffeine to theophylline is the rate-limiting step in purine alkaloid catabolism and provides a ready explanation for the high concentration of endogenous caffeine found inC. arabica leaves. Although theobromine is converted primarily to caffeine, a small portion of the theobromine pool appears to be degraded to xanthine by a caffeine-independent pathway. In addition to being broken down to CO2, via the purine catabolism pathway, xanthine is metabolised to 7-methylxanthine. Metabolism of [2-14C]xanthine byC. arabica leaves in the presence of 5 mM allopurinol results in very large increases in incorporation of radioactivity into 7-methylxanthine as degradation of the substrate via the purine catabolism pathway is blocked. The identity of 7-methylxanthine in these studies was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggested that only capacitated spermatozoa themselves are able to generate O2- which stimulated their capacitation in turn, and it may be possible to utilize the inhibitory effect of SOD on sperm capacitation so as to regulate fertilization.
Abstract: Capacitation of spermatozoa is an essential procedure for fertilization. Capacitated spermatozoa have an in crease in the intracellular cAMP and acrosome reaction (AR) occurs immediately. The effect of exogenous superoxide anion (O−2) on the level of intracellular c AMP and the percentages of both spontaneous AR and lysophosphatidylcholine-induced AR (LPC-AR) were studied using semen samples collected from 10 healthy and fertile volunteers working or studying in Lanzhou Medical College. Spermatozoa were separated by Percoll and incubated at 37°C in Ham's F-10 medium with O−2 generation system: xanthine + xanthine oxidase + catalase + diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid + sodium formate. The intracellular cAMP was deter mined by (3H)— cAMP radioimmunoassay at 3 h of incubation, and the percentages of AR and LPC-AR were evaluated by the triple-stain technique at 3.5 h of incubation. The effects of SOD with different concentration were also determined. The results showed: the level of intracellular CAMP (pmol...

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results are discussed in the context of a specific reaction mechanism for the reductive half-reaction of xanthine oxidase, in which discrete ionizations associated with the molybdenum center of the active site play critical roles in determining the magnitude of the rate constants by which the Mo(IV)-P and Mo(V)-P intermediates form and decay.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It could be demonstrated that the intravenous administration of heparin or the oral administration of ethanol did not increase plasma xanthine oxidase activity in normal subjects, and also that plasmaxanthine oxidation activity was higher in patients with hepatitis C virus infection than in healthy subjects or patients with gout.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The slow bacterial catabolism of caffeine in sewage has implications for the effectiveness of wastewater purification, re-use and disposal.
Abstract: A strain of Pseudomonas putida (biotype A) capable of growing on caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) was isolated from a domestic wastewater processing operation. It used caffeine as the sole carbon source with a mean growth rate constant (k) of 0.049 h(-1) (approximately 20 h per generation), whereas k for glucose utilization under similar incubation conditions was 0.31 (3.3 h per generation). The isolate contained at least two plasmids, and the increased expression of a 40 kDa protein was attributable to growth on caffeine. Degradation byproducts of caffeine metabolism by the bacterial isolate included other xanthine derivatives. The slow bacterial catabolism of caffeine in sewage has implications for the effectiveness of wastewater purification, re-use and disposal.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that hydrogen peroxide could represent a specific inducer of the observed phenomenon and it may therefore be considered as an intracellular messenger involved in the regulation of some aspects of astroglial oxidative metabolism, particularly the defence against ROS.
Abstract: Cytosolic and mitochondrial alterations induced by exposure of rat astroglial primary cultures to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by a xanthine/ xanthine oxidase (X/XO) mixture or by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) have been investigated biochemically and irnmunochemically. In the presence of ROS generated by X/XO, a significant decrease in Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) and in glutamine synthetase (GS) activity was observed whereas mitochondrial Mn-SOD activity and enzyme protein levels were significantly enhanced. Similar effects on GS, Cu,Zn- and Mn-SOD activities were observed by glucose/glucose oxidase treatment of the cells. Addition of LPS to the cell growth medium also specifically induces Mn-SOD synthesis but was without effect on Cu,Zn-SOD. It is suggested that in all these tested situations, hydrogen peroxide could represent a specific inducer of the observed phenomenon and it may therefore be considered as an intracellular messenger involved in the regulation of some aspects of astroglial oxidative metabolism, particularly the defence against ROS.

Journal Article
TL;DR: WRC-0571 is a highly potent, highly selective antagonist of A1-adenosine receptors both in vitro and in vivo and is the most A1 vs. A3 selective compound yet described.
Abstract: Previous studies in our laboratory identified N6-endonorbornyl-9-methyladenine (N-0861) as a highly selective (100-fold) A1-adenosine receptor antagonist (KB = 500 nM). However, its moderate potency limits the degree of A1-receptor blockade that can be achieved by systemically administered N-0861. Structure activity studies were undertaken to invent a compound that had greater affinity for the A1-adenosine receptors than N-0861. C8-N-methylisopropylamino-N6-5'-endohydroxy-N-0861 (WRC-0571) inhibited [3H]-N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) binding to guinea pig A1-receptors with a Ki value of 1.1 nM. WRC-0571 was 200-fold less potent at inhibiting [3H]-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine binding to bovine A2a receptors (Ki = 234 nM). WRC-0571 also inhibited the binding of radioligands to cloned human A1, A2a and A3 adenosine receptors with affinities of 1.7, 105 and 7940 nM, respectively. Thus in human adenosine receptors, WRC-0571 is 62-fold selective for the A1 vs. A2a and 4670-fold selective for the A1 vs. A3 receptors; WRC-0571 is therefore the most A1 vs. A3 selective compound yet described. In guinea pig isolated atria, WRC-0571 antagonized the A1-mediated negative inotropic responses to 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) with a KB of 3.4 nM. WRC-0571 was more than 2500-fold less potent at antagonizing NECA-induced A2b-mediated relaxation in guinea pig aorta. In anesthetized rats WRC-0571 antagonized adenosine-induced bradycardia at concentrations as low as 1 nmol/kg but failed to antagonize A2-mediated hindquarter vasodilation at concentrations up to 10,000 nmol/kg. WRC-0571 is orally active at concentrations as low as 0.3 mumol/kg. WRC-0571 is therefore a highly potent, highly selective antagonist of A1-adenosine receptors both in vitro and in vivo.