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E1224 is a prodrug of ravuconazole (RVZ), an antifungal drug with promising anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity, the causative organism of Chagas disease (CD). This study was designed to assess the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety interactions of benznidazole (BNZ), the drug of choice for treatment of CD, and E1224 in healthy volunteers., E1224 is a prodrug of ravuconazole (RVZ), an antifungal drug with promising anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity, the causative organism of Chagas disease (CD). This study was designed to assess the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety interactions of benznidazole (BNZ), the drug of choice for treatment of CD, and E1224 in healthy volunteers. This open-label, single-center, sequential, single- and multiple-oral-dose study enrolled 28 healthy male subjects. These subjects received BNZ (2.5 mg/kg) once daily on days 1 and 9 and twice daily from day 12 to day 15 and E1224 once daily from day 4 to day 15 (loading dose of 400 mg for 3 days and maintenance dose of 100 mg for 9 days). The maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration curve from zero to infinity for BNZ were comparable, whether BNZ was given alone or with E1224 at steady state, with ratios of geometric means for BNZ-RVZ to BNZ of 0.96 and 0.83 and corresponding 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of 0.91 to 1.10 and 0.80 to 0.87, respectively. However, RVZ Cmax and area under the concentration curve from zero to 24 h increased by about 35% when concomitantly administered with BNZ at steady state (ratio of geometric means for RVZ-BNZ/RVZ of 1.31 and 1.36 and corresponding 90% CIs of 1.23 to 1.39 and 1.31 to 1.41, respectively). Both compounds were well tolerated. There were no clinically relevant safety interactions between E1224 and BZN. Given these results, coadministration of RVZ and BNZ should not require any adaptation of E1224 dosing.

Current treatment for Chagas disease with the only available drugs, benznidazole or nifurtimox, has substantial limitations, including long treatment duration and safety and tolerability concerns. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of new benznidazole monotherapy regimens and combinations with fosravuconazole, in the treatment of Chagas disease.We did a double-blind, double-dummy, phase 2, multicentre, randomised trial in three outpatient units in Bolivia. Adults aged 18-50 years with chronic indeterminate Chagas disease, confirmed by serological testing and positive qualitative PCR results, were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1:1:1:1) to one of seven treatment groups using a balanced block randomisation scheme with an interactive response system. Participants were assigned to benznidazole 300 mg daily for 8 weeks, 4 weeks, or 2 weeks, benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks, benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks plus fosravuconazole, benznidazole 300 mg once per week for 8 weeks plus fosravuconazole, or placebo, with a 12-month follow-up period. The primary endpoints were sustained parasitological clearance at 6 months, defined as persistent negative qualitative PCR results from end of treatment, and incidence and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events, serious adverse events, and adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation. Primary efficacy analysis was based on the intention-to-treat and per-protocol populations and secondary efficacy analyses on the per-protocol population. Safety analyses were based on the as-treated population. Recruitment is now closed. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03378661.Between Nov 30, 2016, and July 27, 2017, we screened 518 patients, and 210 were enrolled and randomised. 30 patients (14%) were assigned to each treatment group. All 210 randomised patients were included in the intention-to-treat population, and 190 (90%) were included in the per-protocol population. In the intention-to-treat analysis, only one (3%) of 30 patients in the placebo group had sustained parasitological clearance at 6 months of follow-up. Sustained parasitological clearance at 6 months was observed in 25 (89%) of 28 patients receiving benznidazole 300 mg daily for 8 weeks (rate difference vs placebo 86% [95% CI 73-99]), 25 (89%) of 28 receiving benznidazole 300 mg daily for 4 weeks (86% [73-99]), 24 (83%) of 29 receiving benznidazole 300 mg daily for 2 weeks (79% [64-95]), 25 (83%) of 30 receiving benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks (80% [65-95]), 23 (85%) of 28 receiving benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks plus fosravuconazole (82% [67-97]), and 24 (83%) of 29 receiving benznidazole 300 mg weekly for 8 weeks plus fosravuconazole (79% [64-95]; p0·0001 for all group comparisons with placebo). Six patients (3%) had ten serious adverse events (leukopenia [n=3], neutropenia [n=2], pyrexia, maculopapular rash, acute cholecystitis, biliary polyp, and breast cancer), eight had 12 severe adverse events (defined as interfering substantially with the patient's usual functions; elevated alanine aminotransferase [n=4], elevated gamma-glutamyltransferase [n=2], elevated aspartate aminotransferase [n=1], neutropenia [n=3], leukopenia [n=1], and breast cancer [n=1]), and 15 (7%) had adverse events that led to treatment discontinuation (most of these were in the groups who received benznidazole 300 mg daily for 8 weeks, benznidazole 300 mg once per week for 8 weeks plus fosravuconazole, and benznidazole 150 mg daily for 4 weeks plus fosravuconazole). No adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation were observed in patients treated with benznidazole 300 mg daily for 2 weeks or placebo. There were no treatment-related deaths.Benznidazole induced effective antiparasitic response, regardless of treatment duration, dose, or combination with fosravuconazole, and was well tolerated in adult patients with chronic Chagas disease. Shorter or reduced regimens of benznidazole could substantially improve treatment tolerability and accessibility, but further studies are needed to confirm these results.Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi).For the Spanish translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Background: Chagas disease is a major neglected vector-borne disease. In this study, we investigated the safety and efficacy of three oral E1224 (a water-soluble ravuconazole prodrug) regimens and benznidazole versus placebo in adult chronic indeterminate Chagas disease. Method: In this proof-of-concept, double-blind, randomised phase 2 clinical trial, we recruited adults (18–50 years) with confirmed diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection from two outpatient units in Bolivia. Patients were randomised with a computer-generated randomisation list, which was stratified by centre and used a block size of ten. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1:1) to five oral treatment groups: high-dose E1224 (duration 8 weeks, total dose 4000 mg), low-dose E1224 (8 weeks, 2000 mg), short-dose E1224 (4 weeks + 4 weeks placebo, 2400 mg), benznidazole (60 days, 5 mg/kg per day), or placebo (8 weeks, E1224-matched tablets). Double-blinding was limited to the E1224 and placebo arms, and assessors were masked to all treatment allocations. The primary efficacy endpoint was parasitological response to E1224 at the end of treatment, assessed by PCR. The secondary efficacy endpoints were parasitological response to benznidazole at end of treatment, assessed by PCR; sustainability of parasitological response until 12 months; parasite clearance and changes in parasite load; incidence of conversion to negative response in conventional and non-conventional (antigen trypomastigote chemiluminescent ELISA [AT CL-ELISA]) serological response; changes in levels of biomarkers; and complete response. The primary analysis population consisted of all randomised patients by their assigned treatment arms. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01489228. Findings: Between July 19, 2011, and July 26, 2012, we screened 560 participants with confirmed Chagas disease, of whom 231 were enrolled and assigned to high-dose E1224 (n=45), low-dose E1224 (n=48), short-dose E1224 (n=46), benznidazole (n=45), or placebo (n=47). Parasite clearance was observed with E1224 during the treatment phase, but no sustained response was seen with low-dose and short-dose regimens, whereas 13 patients (29%, 95% CI 16·4–44·3) had sustained response with the high-dose regimen compared with four (9%, 2·4–20·4) in the placebo group (p

The Pharmaceutical Industry is expected to play a proactive global role in combatting neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and other tropical diseases affecting low-income countries. Such a role would include novel medicine R&D, manufacturing and distribution. In order to succeed in this role, several challenges need to be overcome: a) the economic challenge or cost benefit balance for the development of these medicines, and b) sparse in-house experience with these diseases within the Industry. During the last decade, the Product Development Partnership (PDP) model has become an effective strategy to address such challenges. Organizations such as the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), TB alliance, PATH (formerly the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health), and others have linked pharmaceutical companies, funding organizations, academic researchers and others, and have thus been able to successfully populate treatment pipelines directed at NTDs, Malaria, tuberculosis (TB), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS. In this paper, our experience working with one of these organizations, DNDi, is described. We have been collaborating with DNDi in evaluating the actions of Eisai's antifungal compound, E1224, in a clinical study for treating Chagas Disease. In addition, other Eisai initiatives directed at NTDs and improving patients' access to medicines are introduced.

E1210 is a first-in-class, broad-spectrum antifungal with a novel mechanism of action—inhibition of fungal glycosylphosphatidylinositol biosynthesis. In this study, the efficacies of E1210 and reference antifungals were evaluated in murine models of oropharyngeal and disseminated candidiasis, pulmonary aspergillosis, and disseminated fusariosis. Oral E1210 demonstrated dose-dependent efficacy in infections caused by Candida species, Aspergillus spp., and Fusarium solani . In the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis, E1210 and fluconazole each caused a significantly greater reduction in the number of oral CFU than the control treatment ( P < 0.05). In the disseminated candidiasis model, mice treated with E1210, fluconazole, caspofungin, or liposomal amphotericin B showed significantly higher survival rates than the control mice ( P < 0.05). E1210 was also highly effective in treating disseminated candidiasis caused by azole-resistant Candida albicans or Candida tropicalis . A 24-h delay in treatment onset minimally affected the efficacy outcome of E1210 in the treatment of disseminated candidiasis. In the Aspergillus flavus pulmonary aspergillosis model, mice treated with E1210, voriconazole, or caspofungin showed significantly higher survival rates than the control mice ( P < 0.05). E1210 was also effective in the treatment of Aspergillus fumigatus pulmonary aspergillosis. In contrast to many antifungals, E1210 was also effective against disseminated fusariosis caused by F. solani . In conclusion, E1210 demonstrated consistent efficacy in murine models of oropharyngeal and disseminated candidiasis, pulmonary aspergillosis, and disseminated fusariosis. These data suggest that further studies to determine E1210's potential for the treatment of disseminated fungal infections are indicated.

We reported previously that an angiogenesis inhibitor, E7820, inhibits in vitro tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cell through the suppression of integrin α2 expression. Here we describe the antiangiogenic and antitumor effects of E7820 in mice and discuss the feasibility of using platelet integrin α2 expression on platelets as a biological marker of the efficacy of E7820. Oral administration of E7820 significantly inhibited basic fibroblast growth factor-induced angiogenesis in Matrigel implants and human colon WiDr tumor-induced angiogenesis in a dorsal air sac model. Twice-daily treatment with E7820 clearly inhibited the s.c. tumor growth of seven tumor cell lines derived from human colon, breast, pancreas, and kidney, and completely suppressed the growth of human pancreatic KP-1 and human colon LoVo cell lines. Moreover, E7820 significantly inhibited the growth of KP-1 and human colon tumor Colo320DM cells orthotopically implanted in the pancreas and cecum, respectively. The efficacy of E7820 was comparable in the s.c. and orthotopic transplantation models. Immunohistochemical analyses using anti-CD31 antibody showed that E7820 significantly reduced microvessel density in orthotopically implanted KP-1 tumor. E7820 reduced integrin α2 expression on a megakaryocytic cell line, Dami cells, induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment. It also decreased the expression level of integrin α2 on platelets withdrawn from mice bearing s.c. KP-1 tumor at a dosage close to that affording antitumor activity. These data demonstrate that E7820 showed a broad-spectrum antitumor effect in mice through inhibition of angiogenesis and indicate that the decrease of integrin α2 on platelets might serve as a biological marker for the antitumor efficacy of E7820.

We have discovered seven novel 12-membered macrolides, pladienolides A to G, from Streptomyces platensis Mer-11107, with pladienolide B the most potently inhibiting hypoxia induced-VEGF expression and proliferation of the U251 cancer cell line. A growth inhibitory study using a 39-cell line drug-screening panel demonstrated that pladienolide B has strong antitumor activities in vitro. A COMPARE analysis reveals that it has a unique antitumor spectrum that sets it apart from anticancer drugs currently in clinical use. This result suggests that pladienolide B has a novel mechanism of action. A series of xenograft studies were conducted to evaluate the in vivo potency of pladienolides. Pladienolide B extensively inhibited tumor growth in xenograft models. In the most sensitive model, using BSY-1 xenografts, tumors were completely regressed by administration of pladienolide B. For the reason of their novel mechanism of action and excellent in vivo efficacy, pladienolides appear to have major potential for use in cancer treatment.

Most non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) harboring activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are initially responsive to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs); however, they invariably develop resistance to these drugs. E7820 is an angiogenesis inhibitor that decreases integrin-α2 expression and is currently undergoing clinical trials. We investigated whether E7820 in combination with erlotinib, an EGFR-TKI, could overcome EGFR-TKI-resistance in the NSCLC cell lines A549 (KRAS; G12S), H1975 (EGFR; L858R/T790M), and H1650 (PTEN; loss, EGFR; exon 19 deletion), which are resistant to erlotinib. Immunohistochemical analysis was carried out in xenografted tumors to investigate anti-angiogenesis activity and endothelial cell apoptosis levels by endothelial cell marker CD31 and TUNEL staining, respectively. Treatment with E7820 (50 mg/kg) with erlotinib (60 mg/kg) showed a synergistic antitumor effect in three xenograft models. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that combined treatment with E7820 and erlotinib significantly decreased microvessel density and increased apoptosis of tumor-associated endothelial cells compared with use of only one of the agents. This combination increased apoptosis in HUVECs through activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways in vitro. The combination of E7820 with erlotinib is an alternative strategy to overcome erlotinib resistance in NSCLC by enhancement of the anti-angiogenic activity of E7820.

We described a rare example of an effective isoxazole synthesis via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition using ZnCl2, which allowed us to synthesize novel (2-aminopyridin-3-yl)isoxazole derivatives effectiv...

Quinoline amide, azaindole amide and pyridine amides were synthesized and tested for in vitro antifungal activity against fungi. These synthesized amides have potent antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. Our results suggest that hetero ring amides may be potent antifungal agents that operate by inhibiting the function of Gwt1 protein in the GPI biosynthetic pathway.

Alkylamines inhibit NADPH oxidase both in intact neutrophils and in a cell-free system. The aim of this study was to examine the mechanism underlying this inhibitory effect. Among alkylamines with different chain lengths, the C12 compound (laurylamine) showed the greatest inhibitory effect on the cell-free NADPH oxidase activity induced by arachidonic acid (AA) in the presence of GTPgammaS. The inhibition was overcome by further addition of AA, and it was observed irrespective of whether laurylamine was added before or after the enzyme activation by AA. When added prior to the enzyme activation, laurylamine blocked translocation to the membrane of all three cytosolic components (p47-phox, p67-phox and rac) in a cell-free translocation assay. When added after the activation, laurylamine released only rac from the membrane. Laurylamine did not inhibit the reduction of cytochrome c by xanthine oxidase, suggesting that it does not have superoxide-scavenging activity. These results indicate that laurylamine inhibits both the activation process of NADPH oxidase and the activated enzyme itself by blocking the assembly of the oxidase components.

Racemic 2-amino-3-(heteroaryl)propanoic acids (1), mostly with a furan or thiophene nucleus as a heteroaryl group, were synthesized in 48-94% yield by the reduction of 3-(heteroaryl)-2-(hydroxyimino)propanoic acids (5) with zinc dust and formic acid in the presence of a catalytic amount of iron dust at 60 degrees C for 2 h. Under these conditions, unfavorable hydrogenolysis of bromine on the thiophene nucleus does not occur. Traditional N-formylation of the prepared 3-(heteroaryl)alanine (1) with a mixture of formic acid and acetic anhydride afforded 2-(formylamino)-3-(heteroaryl)propanoic acids (6) in 51-95% yield.

Various chiral stationary phases were immobilized on supports using suitable alkyl spacers. Aminopropylsilica, which is aminopropylsilylated silica gel, is a typical spacer-carrying support for immobilization. Silanol and aminopropyl groups left unreacted on the support surface disturb the separation of enantiomers through a non-chiral inteaction. The following three types of chiral stationary phases were prepared using different preparation methods and the effect of the total structure on the chiral separation was studied: (1) a chiral group was immobilized on aminopropylsilica; (2) a chiral group connected with a spacer was immobilized on silica gel; and (3) a chiral group connected with a spacer was immobilized on dimethylchlorosilane-treated silica gel. It was shown for (1) that when the amount of chiral groups immobilized was lower, free silanol groups and unreacted amino groups would preferentially interact with sample molecules. When the amount immobilized was increased, its interaction with samples became effective, and also aminopropyl groups left unreacted were thought to enhance the interaction. Too many chiral groups, however, resulted in lower separatility. In case (2), a similar tendency to that with (1) but lower separabilities were obtained. A more effective performance was found with (3), with lower immobilization. For the preparation of an effective chiral stationary phase, the amount of chiral groups on the support and the structural and topographical conditions of the support material should be assessed.

Indisulam (N-(-3-chloro-7-indolyl)-1,4-benzenedisulfonamide; E7070) is an experimental anticancer agent. Microarray analysis indicates that indisulam downregulates several genes involved in drug resistance, and this finding led us to test the effect of combining indisulam with other anticancer drugs. We investigated the antitumor effect and mechanism of synergism when indisulam was administered in combination with CPT-11. In vitro cytotoxic activity was examined using a cell counter kit, and the combination effect was determined by isobologram analysis. The level of topoisomerase IIα was measured by Western blotting. The in vivo antitumor effect was assessed in mice inoculated with human colorectal cancer SW620 cells. Isobologram analysis indicated that a 24-h exposure to indisulam and SN-38, an active metabolite of CPT-11, had a synergistic effect in HCT116 and SW620 cells and an additive effect in HCT15 and WiDr cells. Prolongation of exposure to 48 h resulted in a synergistic effect in HCT15 and WiDr cells. Treatment with SN-38 alone increased the amount of intracellular topoisomerase IIα in all cell lines tested. Co-treatment with indisulam suppressed the SN-38-induced upregulation of topoisomerase IIα after 24 h of exposure in HCT116 and SW620 cells and after 48 h of exposure in HCT15 and WiDr cells. This apparent association between a synergistic effect and suppression of SN-38-mediated upregulation of topoisomerase IIα suggests that indisulam enhances SN-38 cytotoxicity by suppressing topoisomerase IIα upregulation to compensate for topoisomerase I inhibition by SN-38. Synergy was also observed in xenografted tumors and was accompanied by complete suppression of topoisomerase IIα upregulation induced by CPT-11 treatment. These observations prompted the clinical evaluation of indisulam and CPT-11 combination therapy.

E1210 is a new antifungal compound with a novel mechanism of action and broad spectrum of antifungal activity. We investigated the in vitro antifungal activities of E1210 compared to those of fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B, and micafungin against clinical fungal isolates. E1210 showed potent activities against most Candida spp. (MIC 90 of ≤0.008 to 0.06 μg/ml), except for Candida krusei (MICs of 2 to >32 μg/ml). E1210 showed equally potent activities against fluconazole-resistant and fluconazole-susceptible Candida strains. E1210 also had potent activities against various filamentous fungi, including Aspergillus fumigatus (MIC 90 of 0.13 μg/ml). E1210 was also active against Fusarium solani and some black molds. Of note, E1210 showed the greatest activities against Pseudallescheria boydii (MICs of 0.03 to 0.13 μg/ml), Scedosporium prolificans (MIC of 0.03 μg/ml), and Paecilomyces lilacinus (MICs of 0.06 μg/ml) among the compounds tested. The antifungal action of E1210 was fungistatic, but E1210 showed no trailing growth of Candida albicans , which has often been observed with fluconazole. In a cytotoxicity assay using human HK-2 cells, E1210 showed toxicity as low as that of fluconazole. Based on these results, E1210 is likely to be a promising antifungal agent for the treatment of invasive fungal infections.

The superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase system in phagocytes consists of membrane-associated cytochrome b558 and three cytosolic components named p67-phox, p47-phox, and rac p21s. In a cell-free system consisting of membrane and cytosol, the oxidase can be activated with guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) and an unsaturated fatty acid such as arachidonic acid (AA). Incubation of cytosol and membrane with AA alone caused clear translocation of p47-phox and p67-phox to the membrane, but only slight translocation of rac p21s. GTP gamma S alone did not significantly induce the translocation of rac p21s. However, GTP gamma S in combination with AA markedly augmented rac p21s translocation to the membrane. The translocation of rac p21s is not induced by GDP or GDP beta S. These results indicate that the GTP-bound active form of rac p21s is the entity that is translocated to the membrane by the action of AA.

Practical and facile total syntheses of the remarkably unstable (R)-(+)-14-hydroxy-4, 14-retroretinol[(R)-14HRR] 1 and of its enantiomer 2 have been achieved via an acid-catalyzed dehydration reaction of the respective tetraeneol intermediates 10 and its enantiomer obtained from (R)-(+)-1,2-O-isopropylidene-butane-1,2,3-triol 3

c-Met is the cellular receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and is known to be dysregulated in various types of human cancers. Activation of the HGF/c-Met pathway causes tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is also known as a key molecule in tumor progression through the induction of tumor angiogenesis. Because of their key roles in tumor progression, these pathways provide attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. We have generated a novel, orally active, small molecule compound, E7050, which inhibits both c-Met and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-2. In vitro studies indicate that E7050 potently inhibits phosphorylation of both c-Met and VEGFR-2. E7050 also potently represses the growth of both c-met amplified tumor cells and endothelial cells stimulated with either HGF or VEGF. In vivo studies using E7050 showed inhibition of the phosphorylation of c-Met and VEGFR-2 in tumors, and strong inhibition of tumor growth and tumor angiogenesis in xenograft models. Treatment of some tumor lines containing c-met amplifications with high doses of E7050 (50-200 mg/kg) induced tumor regression and disappearance. In a peritoneal dissemination model, E7050 showed an antitumor effect against peritoneal tumors as well as a significant prolongation of lifespan in treated mice. Our results indicate that E7050 is a potent inhibitor of c-Met and VEGFR-2 and has therapeutic potential for the treatment of cancer.

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C/VEGF-receptor 3 (VEGF-R3) signal plays a significant role in lymphangiogenesis and tumor metastasis based on its effects on lymphatic vessels. However, little is known about the effect of inhibiting VEGF-R3 on lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastases using a small-molecule kinase inhibitor. Experimental Design: We evaluated the effect of E7080, a potent inhibitor of both VEGF-R2 and VEGF-R3 kinase, and bevacizumab on lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in a mammary fat pad xenograft model of human breast cancer using MDA-MB-231 cells that express excessive amounts of VEGF-C. Lymphangiogenesis was determined by lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and angiogenesis by microvessel density (MVD). Results: In contrast to MDA-MB-435 cells, which expressed a similar amount of VEGF to MDA-MB-231 cells with an undetectable amount of VEGF-C, only MDA-MB-231 exhibited lymphangiogenesis in the primary tumor. E7080 but not bevacizumab significantly decreased LVD within the MDA-MB-231 tumor. E7080 and bevacizumab decreased MVD in both the MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 models. E7080 significantly suppressed regional lymph nodes and distant lung metastases of MDA-MB-231, whereas bevacizumab significantly inhibited only lung metastases. E7080 also decreased both MVD and LVD within the metastatic nodules at lymph nodes after resection of the primary tumor. Conclusions: Inhibition of VEGF-R3 kinase with E7080 effectively decreased LVD within MDA-MB-231 tumors, which express VEGF-C. Simultaneous inhibition of both VEGF-R2 and VEGF-R3 kinases by E7080 may be a promising new strategy to control regional lymph node and distant lung metastases.

E7080 is an orally active inhibitor of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases including VEGF, FGF and SCF receptors. In this study, we show the inhibitory activity of E7080 against SCF-induced angiogenesis in vitro and tumor growth of SCF-producing human small cell lung carcinoma H146 cells in vivo. E7080 inhibits SCF-driven tube formation of HUVEC, which express SCF receptor, KIT at the IC(50) value of 5.2 nM and it was almost identical for VEGF-driven one (IC(50) = 5.1 nM). To assess the role of SCF/KIT signaling in tumor angiogenesis, we evaluated the effect of imatinib, a selective KIT kinase inhibitor, on tumor growth of H146 cells in nude mice. Imatinib did not show the potent antitumor activity in vitro (IC(50) = 2,200 nM), because H146 cells did not express KIT. However, oral administration of imatinib at 160 mg/kg clearly slowed tumor growth of H146 cells in nude mice, accompanied by decreased microvessel density. Oral administration of E7080 inhibited tumor growth of H146 cells at doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg in a dose-dependent manner and caused tumor regression at 100 mg/kg. While anti-VEGF antibody also slowed tumor growth, it did not cause tumor regression. These results indicate that KIT signaling has a role in tumor angiogenesis of SCF-producing H146 cells, and E7080 causes regression of H146 tumors as a result of antiangiogenic activity mediated by inhibition of both KIT and VEGF receptor signaling. E7080 may provide therapeutic benefits in the treatment of SCF-producing tumors.

A series of N-substituted 2-(2-chloroacetamido)-3-(furan-2-yl)propanamides (16--18) was prepared through the reaction of chloroacetyl chloride with N-substituted 2-amino-3-(furan-2-yl)propanamides (15), which were obtained via condensation of 2-(tert-butoxycarbonylamido)-3-(furan-2-yl)propanoic acid (Boc-furylalanine) (8) with amines (9, 11, 13), followed by hydrolysis of the resultant N-substituted Boc-furylalanine acid amides (10, 12, 14) in the presence of HCl/dioxane. The biological activity of the prepared 16, 17 and 18 as root growth inhibitors was examined by germination assay using rape seed. At the concentration of 5.0 x10 (-5) M, the most active compound, 2-(2-chloroacetamido)-N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-3-(furan-2-yl)propanamide (16 n), showed potent root growth-inhibitory activity of 76% towards rape seedlings.

c-kit receptor tyrosine kinase is a marker of progenitor cells, which differentiate into blood and/or vascular endothelial cells, and has an important role in the amplification/mobilization of progenitor cells. c-kit is expressed in mature endothelial cells, but its role there is unclear. Stem cell factor, a c-kit ligand, dose-dependently promoted survival, migration, and capillary tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. These effects mimicked those of vascular endothelial growth factor, except that stem cell factor did not sufficiently support proliferation of these cells. After exposing cells to this factor, Akt, Erk1/2, and c-kit were immediately (/=5 min) and dose-dependently tyrosinephosphorylated. STI-571, a c-kit inhibitor, dose-dependently attenuated these phosphorylations and inhibited stem cell factor-promoted survival and capillary tube formation over the same dose range. Wortmannin and LY294002, inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK, abrogated survival and capillary tube formation, indicating that Akt and Erk1/2 should promote survival and capillary tube formation of these endothelial cells at a locus downstream to stem cell factor/c-kit signaling. Akt was more strongly phosphorylated, whereas Erk1/2 and p38 were more weakly phosphorylated with stem cell factor than with vascular endothelial growth factor. Phospholipase Cgamma was phosphorylated only with the latter, indicating that stem cell factor/c-kit signaling is somewhat different.

We reported previously that an angiogenesis inhibitor, E7820, inhibits in vitro tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cell through the suppression of integrin alpha2 expression. Here we describe the antiangiogenic and antitumor effects of E7820 in mice and discuss the feasibility of using platelet integrin alpha2 expression on platelets as a biological marker of the efficacy of E7820. Oral administration of E7820 significantly inhibited basic fibroblast growth factor-induced angiogenesis in Matrigel implants and human colon WiDr tumor-induced angiogenesis in a dorsal air sac model. Twice-daily treatment with E7820 clearly inhibited the s.c. tumor growth of seven tumor cell lines derived from human colon, breast, pancreas, and kidney, and completely suppressed the growth of human pancreatic KP-1 and human colon LoVo cell lines. Moreover, E7820 significantly inhibited the growth of KP-1 and human colon tumor Colo320DM cells orthotopically implanted in the pancreas and cecum, respectively. The efficacy of E7820 was comparable in the s.c. and orthotopic transplantation models. Immunohistochemical analyses using anti-CD31 antibody showed that E7820 significantly reduced microvessel density in orthotopically implanted KP-1 tumor. E7820 reduced integrin alpha2 expression on a megakaryocytic cell line, Dami cells, induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate treatment. It also decreased the expression level of integrin alpha2 on platelets withdrawn from mice bearing s.c. KP-1 tumor at a dosage close to that affording antitumor activity. These data demonstrate that E7820 showed a broad-spectrum antitumor effect in mice through inhibition of angiogenesis and indicate that the decrease of integrin alpha2 on platelets might serve as a biological marker for the antitumor efficacy of E7820.

ErbB2 and alpha6 integrin have been implicated in malignancy of breast cancer cells. Here we have determined the influence of alpha6beta1 integrin on erbB2 signaling in anchorage-independent growth, using MDA-MB435 breast cancer cells. Firstly, we transfected the cells with erbB2 cDNA, and isolated cells with high or low levels of alpha6beta1 integrin by cell sorting (alpha6H-ErbB and alpha6L-ErbB). We found that an erbB ligand, heregulin beta1, enhanced growth activity of alpha6L-ErbB cells, but not alpha6H-ErbB cells. Secondly, we established cells expressing a beta4 integrin deletion mutant (beta4-deltacyt), which selectively inhibited alpha6beta1 integrin expression and adhesion to laminin-1. Again, heregulin beta1 enhanced the growth of erbB2 cDNA-transfected beta4-deltacyt cells, but not mock cells. Western blot analysis revealed that heregulin beta1 stimulated phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream molecules, GSK3beta and p70S6kinase, and that the extent of phosphorylation was greater in ErbB2/beta4-deltacyt cells than ErbB2/mock cells. Furthermore, we found that the erbB2 cytoplasmic domain was truncated in ErbB2/mock cells, which was independent of ligand stimulation and adhesion, and was suppressed by proteasome inhibitors. These results suggest that alpha6beta1 integrin inhibits erbB2 signals by inducing proteasome-dependent proteolytic cleavage of the erbB2 cytoplasmic domain, and may thereby contribute to the regulation of tumor growth.

Integrin and growth factor receptors play an important role in cell functions and their aberrant expressions are implicated in breast cancer malignancy. Recent studies have shown that integrins physically and functionally associate with growth factor receptors suggesting the cooperative regulation of these two signals. We studied the expression of integrin and erbB subunits by flow cytometer in human normal mammary epithelial (HME) cell, non-metastatic (MCF-7, ZR-75-1, MDA-MB453) and metastatic tumor cell lines (MDA-MB231, MDA-MB435). Compared with HME cells, all of non-metastatic and metastatic cell lines showed decreased expressions of alpha2 and beta4 integrin subunits. Two metastatic cell lines, but not three non-metastatic tumor cell lines, expressed alpha5 and alpha6 comparable to HME cells. There was no correlation of erbB2 expression with integrin expressions. We isolated MDA-MB435 subpopulations expressing lower amount of alpha6 integrin and found that alpha5, but not alpha2 and alphav integrins, was concomitantly decreased while erbB family was not affected. Then we transfected erbB2 gene into MDA-MB435 and found the induction of erbB3 expression but not erbB1 and erbB4. However, erbB2 transfection had no effect on the expression of alpha6 and beta4 integrin subunits. These data suggest that the expression of alpha5 and alpha6 integrins may contribute to metastasis, and that the regulation of erbB2 and alpha6 integrin expressions is independent in breast cancer cells.

Background Lenvatinib is an oral inhibitor of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR1-3), fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR1-4), platelet growth factor receptor α (PDGFR α), RET and KIT. Antiangiogenesis activity of lenvatinib in VEGF- and FGF-driven angiogenesis models in both in vitro and in vivo was determined. Roles of tumor vasculature (microvessel density (MVD) and pericyte coverage) as biomarkers for lenvatinib were also examined in this study. Method We evaluated antiangiogenesis activity of lenvatinib against VEGF- and FGF-driven proliferation and tube formation of HUVECs in vitro. Effects of lenvatinib on in vivo angiogenesis, which was enhanced by overexpressed VEGF or FGF in human pancreatic cancer KP-1 cells, were examined in the mouse dorsal air sac assay. We determined antitumor activity of lenvatinib in a broad panel of human tumor xenograft models to test if vascular score, which consisted of high MVD and low pericyte coverage, was associated with sensitivity to lenvatinib treatment. Vascular score was also analyzed using human tumor specimens with 18 different types of human primary tumors. Result Lenvatinib inhibited VEGF- and FGF-driven proliferation and tube formation of HUVECs in vitro. In vivo angiogenesis induced by overexpressed VEGF (KP-1/VEGF transfectants) or FGF (KP-1/FGF transfectants) was significantly suppressed with oral treatments of lenvatinib. Lenvatinib showed significant antitumor activity in KP-1/VEGF and five 5 of 7 different types of human tumor xenograft models at between 1 to 100 mg/kg. We divided 19 human tumor xenograft models into lenvatinib-sensitive (tumor-shrinkage) and relatively resistant (slow-growth) subgroups based on sensitivity to lenvatinib treatments at 100 mg/kg. IHC analysis showed that vascular score was significantly higher in sensitive subgroup than relatively resistant subgroup (p

Microarray-based gene expression analysis allows us to understand a comprehensive transcriptional profile as one of the fine cellular phenotypes after anticancer drug treatment. Analytical programs with bioinformatics are also useful to connect a gene expression fingerprint pattern with relevant cellular pathways to drug treatment. We have so far tested more than 40 anticancer small molecules, including standard drugs and investigational ones, with respect to their transcriptional profiles using a unified microarray assay condition. Interestingly, our pilot study to evaluate14 different anticancer agents simultaneously using Affymetrix GeneChip arrays illuminated that 6 sulfonamide derivatives had highly correlated transcriptional profiles with cosine coefficients being more than 0.70 in all pairwise combinations. By contrast, cosine coefficients were less than 0.30 in all combinations between one from the 6 sulfonamide derivatives and the other from the remaining 8 test compounds. These sulfonamide derivatives consist of chloroquinoxaline sulfonamide (CQS), LY186641 (sulofenur), LY295501, LY573636 (tasisulam), E7070 (indisulam) and E7820, all of which have been actively investigated in clinical trials. Among them, LY573636 is a most advanced agent, currently undergoing a phase III study in comparison with paclitaxel as second line treatment in patients with melanoma. E7820 is also being evaluated in a phase II study in combination with cetuximab in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. To examine whether these 6 sulfonamide derivatives truly share the same cellular target and mechanism of action (MOA), we further carried out 40 cancer cell line COMPARE analysis and cell-based cross-resistance assays. In the former experiment, these 6 sulfonamide derivatives demonstrated very similar antiproliferative meangraph profiles with Pearson's correlation coefficients being more than 0.82 in all pairwise combinations. The latter experiment revealed that two E7070-resistant sub-clonal colorectal cancer cell lines HCT116-C9C1 and -C9C4 were cross-resistant to the other 5 sulfonamide derivatives than E7070. Importantly, the drug resistance mechanism was considered irrelevant to P-gp overexpression. Despite long and intensive exploratory researches, the precise cellular target and MOA of this class of anticancer agents have yet to be fully elucidated. A piece of information has been reported on the production of reactive oxygen species and mitochondria-mediated cellular apoptosis with LY573636 and E7820, independently. Our chemical transcriptomic profiling and pathway analysis herein define a novel class of anticancer sulfonamide derivatives. The present data may provide some insight into their unique MOA based on the distinctive and profound down-regulation of sets of critical cellular metabolism genes. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 580. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-580

Six peaks of small GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) were separated by column chromatographies from the cytosol fraction of the differentiated HL-60 cells: two peaks of rho p21, one peak of smg/rap1 p21, two peaks of rac1 p21, and one peak of an unidentified small G protein with a Mr of about 20,000 (20 KG). smg GDS, previously thought to be a stimulatory GDP/GTP exchange protein for smg p21, Ki-ras p21, and rho p21, but not for Ha-ras p21 or smg p25A, was also active on rac1 p21. rho GDI, previously thought to be an inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange protein specific for rho p21, was also active on rac1 p21. These results indicate that both smg GDS and rho GDI are active on multiple small G proteins.

Human lymphotoxin (hLT) and its mutant genes have been constructed by in vitro mutagenesis and expressed in Escherichia coli. A deletion of Lys84 to Lys89 in hLT remarkably enhanced both the cytotoxicity against human WiDr cells (colon adenocarcinoma cell line) and the prostaglandin E2-inducing activity toward human synovial cells by approximately 1000- and 50-fold, respectively. The enhanced biological potency coincided with an increase of receptor binding affinity. Circular dichroism studies and the heat and folding stabilities were similar to those of the native form. We propose that the region of Lys84 to Lys89 forms a loop structure at the hLT molecular surface and plays an important role in modulating the receptor binding and biological activities of hLT.

Studies were carried out to determine the heterogeneity of factors that affect macrophage functions using human hybridomas constructed by fusing PHA-activated human peripheral blood lymphocytes with emetine-actinomycin D-pretreated cloned human acute lymphatic leukemia cells (CEM). Three assay systems were used to investigate the activity of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor and of the macrophage activation factors for glucose consumption (MAF-G) and for O 2 − formation. In the culture supernatant of hybridomas and other cells, various combinations of these activities were detected. The results indicate that at least three molecules are concerned in each of these activities.

Various hydroxyl radical scavengers markedly inhibited phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced lymphotoxin (LT) production by a human T cell hybridoma, AC5-8. Among those we tested, tetramethylurea (TMU) was the most potent scavenger, and it was revealed that TMU must be added before 2 h have elapsed after PMA addition in order for LT production to be inhibited. In concordance with this fact, soluble NADPH dependent O2- forming enzyme(s) were activated several fold by PMA. PMA also induced DNA strand breaks, a process markedly inhibited by TMU. As expected, ADP-ribosyl transferase (ADPRT), which is well known to require DNA strand breaks for its enzymatic activity, was activated by PMA treatment. In addition, specific inhibitors for ADPRT, namely 3-amino-benzamide and nicotinamide, inhibited PMA-induced LT production. Taken together, these three successive events, activation of soluble NADPH dependent O2- forming enzyme(s), DNA strand breaks and activation of ADPRT, may be required for PMA-induced LT production by AC5-8.

Human lymphotoxin (LT)-producing T-cell hybridomas were constructed by fusing concanavalin A-activated human peripheral blood lymphocytes with emetine-actinomycin D-pretreated human acute lymphatic leukemia cells. LT secretion from these hybridomas was considerably enhanced by stimulation with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and concanavalin A or PMA alone. A study using cloned hybrid lines revealed that PMA/Con A acted directly on the LT-producing clones. Furthermore, PMA/Con A stimulated A-B9-24, one of the cloned hybridomas, and secreted fourfold larger amounts of LT under serum-free conditions than under serum-containing conditions. However, MIF MAF and LT-producing cloned hybrid line E10–20 secreted rather decreased amounts of MIF MAF when stimulated with PMA, while the LT secretion from the same hybridoma was enhanced with PMA.

The mode of polymerization of two species of flagellins, flagellin A and flagellin B, in polar flagella of Caulobacter crescentus was examined. By immunological staining we found that 1 to 1.2 μm of the portion of the flagellar filament proximal to the cell was composed of flagellin B, whereas about 5 μm of the distal portion was composed of flagellin A. This result, together with the previous observation that a flagellin B-less mutant cannot form normal flagella but instead forms stubs in spite of their high level of flagellin A synthesis, indicates that flagellin B is very important for the formation of complete flagella and/or for the initiation of filament formation from the hook.

We cloned human lymphotoxin (LT) cDNA from a cDNA library prepared from phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and Con A-stimulated human T cell hybridoma (AC5-8) cells, The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA insert in the plasmid, pLT13, was determined and compared with those of peripheral blood mononuclear cell derived LT cDNA and the LT gene. Four stretches, containing 14 nucleotides in total, were different among the three sequences. The differences included one base change from C to A in the coding region. Because this change was expected to result in a change in the amino acid at position 26 from Thr to Asn, we constructed an E. coli expression plasmid (pLT13tac6-8.2) and a mammalian cell expression plasmid (pSV2-LT) in order to confirm that pLT13 contains the coding sequence of human LT. Both plasmids were found to synthesize active LT molecules after transfection into JM105 and COS-1 cells, respectively, and their lytic activities were found to be completely neutralized by anti human LT serum. Using an insertion mutant and a deletion mutant, we examined the role of the C terminal domain in the LT activity. The results obtained strongly suggested that the intactness of the C terminal less than 10 residues is required for the LT activity.

Summary Serum and liver sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) activities were studied in rats after carbon tetrachloride (CCI 4 ) injections. An inverse relationship was observed between the increased serum and decreased liver SDH activities. The extent of hyperenzymemia was proportional to the dose of CCI 4 . Outside of the skeletal muscle mass SDH was found predominantly in the liver in animal and human autopsy material. As a rule there is no detectable SDH activity in the serum of patients who do not have liver disease or in normal volunteers. At the most they may have up to 3 units of activity per milliliter of serum. Elevated serum SDH activity has been detected in 26 of 30 determinations on 22 patients with acute viral hepatitis (87 per cent), in 21 of 48 studies with cirrhosis of the liver (44 per cent), and 3 of 8 patients with malignancy in the liver (37.5 per cent). In 6 patients with extrahepatic obstruction there was no significant serum SDH activity detectable although the patients were markedly jaundiced and although several of the other serum enzymes studied, such as SGOT, SGPT, and SLDH, were elevated. No elevation of serum SDH activity was found in 166 determinations on 102 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Of the 66 determinations on the patients with various clinical illness, the incidence of abnormal SDH serum activity was 4.6 per cent. A comparison was made of 8 "liver specific enzymes" as they were reported in the literature with our observations of serum SDH activity.

Summary After 15 hours of overnight fast, 0.5 ml. per kilogram of ethanol was administered intravenously to 42 patients with active hepatocellular injury and 22 patients without liver disease. One milliliter per kilogram of ethanol was given to an additional 8 patients. Glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) were determined 24, 17, and 0 hours pre- and 0, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours postinfusion. These were higher in patients with liver disease than in persons without liver injury; also the diurnal variation of the four enzymes was much higher in patients with liver disease than in those with normal liver. However, the intravenously administered ethanol had no significant effect either on the mean enzyme levels or on the variability of the enzyme activities in the serum of groups of patients with or without liver injury. When the effect of ethanol was analyzed for each case and for each enzyme separately, in 26 instances significant differences (at the 5 per cent level) were found in the postalcoholic serum enzyme activities; of these 7 showed an increase and 19 a decrease. If the above four enzyme activities in the serum are capable of reflecting acute hepatocellular injury, then our study failed to demonstrate such injury after the administration of this ethanol load in patients with active liver injury.

LDH activity of serous effusion was compared with LDH activity of serum obtained at the time of diagnostic tap. No significant elevation was found in 3 of 7 patients with effusions due to cancer, but the LDH activity was elevated in 5 of 25 patients with nonmalignant effusions. The diagnosis of cancer as the cause of the effusion may be suspected but cannot be established or excluded solely on the basis of the LDH activity in the effusion as compared with that in serum. GOT, GPT, and SDH activities of the effusion have no diagnostic significance.

T lymphocytes produce various physiologically active lymphokines upon stimulation with antigens or mitogens. These lymphokines can roughly be divided into two groups: cell regulatory lymphokines and inflammatory lymphokines. The lymphokines in the former group play roles in the effector mechanism of the immune response; interleukin 2, B-cell growth factor, and T-cell replacing factors belong to this group. Those in the latter group (Table I) react with macrophages and other inflammatory cells or with the vascular endothelium and are considered to be involved in the induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity. However, since activated lymphocytes produce a mixture of many inflammatory lymphokines in very tiny amounts (possibly ~1–10 ng from 106 activated lymphocytes), it has been very difficult to prove directly their participation in the development of various diseases related to delayed hypersensitivity, although some of these lymphokines have actually been detected in tissues or fluids of patients or lesion-bearing experimental animals (Honda and Hayashi, 1982; Cohen and Yoshida, 1983). Furthermore, this limited availability of inflammatory lymphokines has hampered their biochemical characterization and presented several controversial problems concerning the molecular identity between lymphokines. For example, migration-inhibitory factor (MIF) and macrophage-activating factor (MAF), and MAF and immune interferon (IFN-γ), have been assumed to represent identical molecular species, respectively, and skin-reactive factor has been considered to be not a single entity, but a mixture of various lymphokines, including MIF, macrophage chemotactic factor, and vascular permeability factor.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) phage phi CbK-resistant nonmotile mutants of Caulobacter crescentus CB15 were examined for their formation of polar surface structures (a stalk, a single flagellum, pili, and DNA phage receptors). These mutants were devoid of pili and DNA phage receptors and simultaneously defective either in both stalk formation and flagellar activity (stalk-defective type) or in the formation of normal flagella (flagella-defective type). DNA phage phi Cr30-mediated transductions revealed that stalk-defective mutants were of a single genetic type, whereas flagella-defective mutants were grouped into two different genetic types, I and II. To investigate how membrane proteins change in the above morphology mutants, cell envelopes pulse-labeled with L-[35S]methionine were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. No gross change of membrane proteins was observed in the stalk-defective mutant CB15 pdr-803, except a 49,000-molecular-weight (49K) protein which was found reduced. However, a 27K, two 28.5K, and a 70.5K protein were missing from the membrane of the flagella-defective type I mutant CB15 pdr-813. These proteins are most likely to be flagella-related protein, flagellins A and B, and hook protein, respectively. In another flagella-defective type II mutant, CB15 pdr-816, the 27K and two 28.5K proteins were similarly absent but the 70.5K protein was consistently present in the membrane. The synthesis of flagellin was next assayed radioimmunologically in the above 35S-labeled mutants. Stalk-defective CB15 pdr-803 synthesized flagellin normally, compared to the wild-type strain. Flagellins A (26K) and B (28K) formed multiple spots in isoelectric focusing. A 29K protein was also detected in the flagellin-specific radioactivity from the cytoplasm. Flagella-defective type I CB15 pdr-813 synthesized flagellin only at a basal level. Thus transcription or translation of flagellin appeared to be repressed in this mutant. Another flagella-defective type II strain, CB15 pdr-816, however, synthesized flagellin at an apparently enhanced rate compared with the wild type. Flagellin synthesized in CB15 pdr-816 was flagellin A and a smaller 22K flagellin. Flagellin B was not synthesized in the mutant. It then follows that flagellin B is not a precursor of flagellin A and the 22K flagellin. Flagella-defective type II CB15 pdr-816, without flagellin B, formed a stub structure with a hook attached to one end instead of normal flagella. In the wild-type membrane, flagellin B was the major flagellin, whereas flagellin A was major in the cytoplasm and the flagellar filament. It is suggested from these results that flagellin B is important in the assembly of normal flagella.

A Multi-Purpose Robot Controller has been developed. By this controller, considering economical merit, popular robots within 4 axes are controlled. In this paper, the structure of the system, the outline of the automated system, the total evaluation of robots applied to several typical processes, and the realized system are described. In the future, this controller will work with various machines and will release workers from heavy and monotonous work.

A small focal necrosis of the liver was produced without affecting the general condition of dogs by injecting 20 ml. 69% sodium and methylglucamine diatrizoates into a catheter wedged in a hepatic vein. This was associated with a decreased enzyme activity of the injured tissue as compared with normal liver and correspondingly increased levels of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) activities in both hepatic venous and peripheral arterial blood. By 72 hr. after injury, when regeneration was seen histologically, the enzyme activities, markedly depressed in the injured areas, were returning to normal. The increase of serum enzyme activity appears to be quite rapid during the first few minutes after hepatic injury and there is a slow secondary rise during the first hour thereafter. By 24 hr. the serum enzyme activities returned to near normal. The enzyme activities in the peripheral arterial blood were not significantly different from those in the hepatic venous blood. Transient elevations of serum enzyme activities were also noticed in human subjects who underwent diagnostic wedge hepatic venography.