Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.1.1.8 (cholinesterase)
12,691 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Exposure to the nerve agent soman, an irreversible cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitor, results in changes in blood-brain barrier permeability attributed to its seizure-induced activity. However, smaller BBB changes may be independent of convulsions. Such minor injury may escape detection. A nonneuroinvasive neurovirulent Sindbis virus strain (SVN) was used as a marker for BBB permeability. Peripheral inoculation of mice with 2 x 10(3) plaque forming units (PFU) caused up to 10(5) PFU/ml viremia after 24 hours with no signs of central nervous system (CNS) infection and with no virus detected in brain tissue. Intra-cerebral injection of as low as 1-5 PFU of the same virus caused CNS infection, exhibited 5-7 days later as hind limb paralysis and death. Soman (0.1-0.7 of the LD50) was administered at peak viremia (1 day following peripheral inoculation). Sublethal soman exposure at as low as 0.1 LD50 resulted in CNS infection 6-8 days following inoculation in 30-40% of the mice. High virus titer were recorded in brain tissue of sick mice while no virus was detected in healthy mice subjected to the same treatment. No changes in the level of viremia or changes in viral traits were observed in the infected mice. The reversible anticholinesterases physostigmine (0.2 mg/kg, s.c.) and pyridostigmine (0.4 mg/kg, i.m.) injected at a dose equal to 0.1 LD50, induced similar results. Thus, both central and peripheral anticholinesterases (anti-ChEs) induce changes in BBB permeability sufficient to allow, at least in some of the mice, the invasion of this otherwise noninvasive but highly neurovirulent virus. This BBB change is probably due to the presence of cholinesterases in the capillary wall. SVN brain invasion served here as a highly sensitive and reliable marker for BBB integrity.
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PMID:Viral neuroinvasion as a marker for BBB integrity following exposure to cholinesterase inhibitors. 1121 73

The role of PET and SPECT brain imaging in the initial assessment and differential diagnosis of dementia is beginning to evolve rapidly. Numerous studies confirm the value of functional brain imaging, particularly with FDG-PET imaging, as a potentially cost-effective means of establishing an earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Such an approach should allow for a more objective means of establishing which patients will benefit from treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors. In the future, neuroreceptor and plaque burden imaging studies should further enhance the sensitivity and specificity of dementia detection and patient management.
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PMID:Positron emission tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography brain imaging in the evaluation of dementia. 1260 58

The identification of biochemical markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may help in the diagnosis of the disease. Previous studies have shown that Abeta(1-42) is decreased, and tau and phospho-tau are increased in AD cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Our own studies have identified glycosylated isoforms of acetylcholinesterase (Glyc-AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (Glyc-BuChE) that are increased in AD CSF. Glyc-AChE is increased in APP (SW) Tg2576 transgenic mice prior to amyloid plaque deposition, which suggests that Glyc-AChE may be an early marker of AD. The aim of this study was to determine whether Glyc-AChE or Glyc-BuChE is increased in CSF at early stages of AD and to compare the levels of these markers with those of Abeta(1-42), tau and phospho-tau. Lumbar CSF was obtained ante mortem from 106 non-AD patients, including 15 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 102 patients with probable AD. Glyc-AChE, tau and phospho-tau were significantly increased in the CSF of AD patients compared to non-neurological disease (NND) controls. Abeta(1-42) was lower in the AD patients than in NND controls. A positive correlation was found between the levels of Glyc-AChE or Glyc-BuChE and disease duration. However, there was no clear correlation between the levels of tau, phospho-tau or Abeta(1-42) and disease duration. The results suggest that Glyc-AChE and Glyc-BuChE are unlikely to be early markers of AD, although they may have value as markers of disease progression.
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PMID:Glycosylation of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase changes as a function of the duration of Alzheimer's disease. 1270 13

A 75-years-old man with Alzheimer's disease, treated with the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil for 14 months, was scheduled for left colectomy under general anesthesia. During the procedure, succinylcholine-induced relaxation was prolonged and the effect of atracurium besylate was inadequate even at higher doses than those indicated for the patient's weight. Cholinesterase blood tests performed 10 months, 1 month and 10 days before surgery had demonstrated a gradual decrease in the duration of activity of the enzyme. Such an effect, which has been described for cholinesterase inhibitors like neostigmine and donepezil, would explain the prolonged effect of succinylcholine. After ruling out other causes for resistance to atracurium, we conclude that donepezil or its metabolites acted on muscle plaque, blocking acetylcholine hydrolysis and antagonizing atracurium.
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PMID:[Interaction of donepezil and muscular blockers in Alzheimer's disease]. 1271 72

Pyridostigmine bromide (PYR) is an anticholinesterase drug indicated for the treatment of myasthenia gravis and neuromuscular blockade reversal. It acts as a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor and was used as a pretreatment for soldiers during Operation Desert Storm to protect against possible nerve gas attacks. Since that time, PYR has been implicated as a possible causative agent contributing to Gulf War Illness. PYR's mechanism of action has been well-delineated with regards to its effects on the nervous system, yet little is known regarding potential effects on immunological function. To evaluate the effects of PYR on immunological function, adult female B6C3F1 mice were gavaged daily for 14 days with PYR (0, 1, 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg/day). Immune parameters assessed were lymphoproliferation, natural killer cell activity, the SRBC-specific antibody plaque-forming cell (PFC) response, thymus and spleen weight and cellularity, and thymic and splenic CD4/CD8 lymphocyte subpopulations. Exposure to PYR did not alter splenic and thymus weight or splenic cellularity. However, 20 mg PYR/kg/day decreased thymic cellularity with decreases in both CD4+/CD8+ (20 mg/kg/day) and CD4-/CD8- (10 and 20 mg/kg/day) cell types. Functional immune assays indicated that lymphocyte proliferative responses and natural killer cell activity were normal; whereas exposure to PYR significantly decreased primary IgM antibody responses to a T-cell dependent antigen at the 1, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg treatment levels for 14 days. This is the first study to examine the immunotoxicological effects of PYR and demonstrate that this compound selectively suppresses humoral antibody responses.
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PMID:Pyridostigmine bromide (PYR) alters immune function in B6C3F1 mice. 1510 28

We previously found that injection of a cocaine hydrolase (CocE) engineered from human butyrylcholinesterase will transiently accelerate cocaine metabolism in rats while reducing physiological and behavioral responses. To investigate more extended therapeutic effects, CocE cDNA was incorporated into a replication-incompetent type-5 adenoviral vector with a cytomegalovirus promoter. In rats dosed with this agent (2.2 x 10(9) plaque-forming units), the time course of expression was characterized by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for CocE mRNA and by radiometric assay for enzyme activity. Liver and plasma showed comparable expression, beginning 2 days after vector administration and peaking between 5 and 7 days. Plasma CocE content was up to 100 mU/ml, with total cocaine hydrolyzing activity 3000-fold greater than in "empty vector" or untreated controls. This level of expression approximated that found immediately after i.v. injection of purified hydrolase, 3 mg/kg, a dose that shortened cocaine halflife and blunted cardiovascular effects. Sucrose density gradient analysis showed that 96% of the circulating CocE activity was associated with tetrameric enzyme forms, expected to be stable in vivo. Consistent with this expectation, CocE from vector-treated rats showed a plasma t(1/2) of 33 h when reinjected into naive rats. Transduction of another mutant butyrylcholinesterase, Applied Molecular Evolution mutant 359 (AME(359)), caused plasma cocaine hydrolase activity to rise 50,000-fold. At the point of peak AME(359) expression, cocaine was cleared from the blood too rapidly for accurate measurement, and pressor responses to the injection of drug were greatly impaired.
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PMID:Gene transfer of cocaine hydrolase suppresses cardiovascular responses to cocaine in rats. 1546 21

Coagulation factor XIII is a transglutaminase catalysing the crosslinking of fibrin chains as well as the formation of covalent links between several extracellular matrix proteins such as fibronectin, vitronectin and collagen. By mediating the incorporation of alpha2 antiplasmin into the fibrin network, this factor also interferes with fibrinolysis. Increased plasma factor XIII activity was reported by our laboratory 30 years ago in hypertriglyceridemic subjects who also displayed increased activity of serum cholinesterase, a marker of hepatic protein synthesis, and a delayed diluted, blood clot lysis time. Recent data in the literature emphasize a relationship between insulin resistance (metabolic syndrome) and increased plasma levels of factor XIII, confirming our results. It was also reported that a faster activation of this factor related to the Val 34 leu polymorphism provides protective effect against myocardial infarction and stroke, this effect being however negated in patients with insulin resistance and high plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. The pathogenic role of factor XIII in atherothrombosis seems to be bivalent. On the one side, an increased activity would favor the persistence of fibrin depositions and increase plaque burden, while on the other side it would reduce plaque vulnerability and the risk of downstream embolization.
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PMID:Coagulation factor XIII and atherothrombosis. A mini-review. 1552 18

Human plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is essential for cocaine detoxification even though its catalytic efficiency for that substrate is relatively poor. Site-directed mutagenesis of this protein has recently been used to obtain much-improved cocaine esterases, one of which we designate CocE. We previously showed that adenoviral transduction of such esterases caused up to 50,000-fold increases in circulating cocaine hydrolase activity, led to drastically shortened cocaine half-life, and blunted the cardiovascular responses to cocaine in rats. In those experiments, gene transduction of cocaine esterase was sustained at high levels for up to 1 week but then declined steeply. Our eventual goal is to use long-term esterase expression as a means of reducing drug reward and extinguishing intake in models of cocaine-addiction. Therefore, we investigated the site of enzyme transduction for clues to the local reactions that may limit the duration of CocE expression. Histological and immunohistochemical observations demonstrated that hepatocytes were the primary focus for transduction of modified human BChE. Rats were administered 2.2 x 10(10) plaque forming units of a replication-incompetent, type-5 adenoviral vector incorporating CocE cDNA. Within days the livers showed intense thiocholine staining for BChE activity. Selective immunohistochemistry for human BChE proved that this activity represented CocE transgene. By 5 days, however, pockets of mononuclear cells had invaded the hepatic parenchyma, and a meshwork of IgM-like immunoreactivity had lined the hepatic sinusoids. These phenomena probably represent early responses of the immune system, either to the transduced CocE or to the hepatocytes producing this protein.
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PMID:Visualizing viral transduction of a cocaine-hydrolyzing, human butyrylcholinesterase in rats. 1624 2

An explosion in the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD), is predicted in coming decades. Hence, the need to devise and assess new treatment strategies has never been more acute. AD, although an irreversible and progressive disorder, is currently treated with palliative, symptomatic therapy: primarily with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors to amplify remaining cholinergic activity. New agents that, additionally, affect disease progression are sorely needed. Inhibition of brain butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) represents a new drug target for AD treatment. Therefore, hand-in-hand with the development of selective ligands to inhibit BuChE in brain, it is fundamental to optimize assay conditions for kinetic studies of human BuChE. Kinetic analysis of serum BuChE, which is structurally similar to brain enzyme, was performed at dual substrate (butyrylthiocholine iodide) concentration ranges: 3-80 microM (low) and 25-800 microM (optimal) by use of the Ellman technique. Interaction of BuChE with a novel experimental AD therapeutic, bisnorcymserine (BNC; 0.06-2.0 nM) was also studied ex vivo. The IC_{50} and other key kinetic constants were determined for human serum BuChE inhibition by BNC, which proved to be a highly potent inhibitor in comparison to its structural analogue, cymserine. BNC may, additionally, lower the amyloid plaque-associated protein, amyloid-beta peptide. In synopsis, the characterization of the kinetic parameters of BuChE and BNC, described herein, is both aiding in the design of novel agents and optimizing their translation toward clinical use.
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PMID:Kinetics of human serum butyrylcholinesterase and its inhibition by a novel experimental Alzheimer therapeutic, bisnorcymserine. 1698 81

A wide range of evidences show that cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors can interfere with the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The earliest known ChE inhibitors, namely, physostigmine and tacrine, showed modest improvement in the cognitive function of AD patients. However, clinical studies show that physostigmine has poor oral activity, brain penetration and pharmacokinetic parameters while tacrine has hepatotoxic liability. Studies were then focused on finding a new type of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor that would overcome the disadvantages of these two compounds. During the study, by chance we found a seed compound. We then conducted a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study of this compound. After four years of exploratory research, we found donepezil hydrochloride (donepezil). Recently, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) have been studied for other mechanisms of action, such as neuroprotective action and lowering of beta-amyloid (beta-amyloid). Donepezil also reduced beta-amyloid plaque in in vitro. The amyloid hypothesis is believed to be the most promising approach in the development of anti-AD drugs. We speculate the mechanism of lowering beta-amyloid by donepezil implicate alpha-secretase (alpha-secretase) enhancer.
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PMID:The new approach in development of anti-Alzheimer's disease drugs via the cholinergic hypothesis. 1857 77


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