We reported earlier that the levels of Ca2+-dependent metalloproteinases are increased in Alzheimer's disease (AD) specimens, relative to control specimens. Here we show that these enzymes are forms of the matrix metalloproteinase MMP-9 (EC3.4.24. 35) and are expressed in the human hippocampus. Affinity-purified antibodies to MMP-9 labeled pyramidal neurons, but not granular neurons or glial cells. MMP-9 mRNA is expressed in pyramidal neurons, as determined with digoxigenin-labeled MMP-9 riboprobes, and the presence of this mRNA is confirmed with reverse transcriptase PCR. The cellular distribution of MMP-9 is altered in AD because 76% of the total 100 kDa enzyme activity is found in the soluble fraction of control specimens, whereas only 51% is detectable in the same fraction from AD specimens. The accumulated 100 kDa enzyme from AD brain is latent and can be converted to an active form with aminophenylmercuric acetate. MMP-9 also is detected in close proximity to extracellular amyloid plaques. Because a major constituent of plaques is the 4 kDa beta-amyloid peptide, synthetic Abeta1-40 was incubated with activated MMP-9. The enzyme cleaves the peptide at several sites, predominantly at Leu34-Met35 within the membrane-spanning domain. These results establish that neurons have the capacity to synthesize MMP-9, which, on activation, may degrade extracellular substrates such as beta-amyloid. Because the latent form of MMP-9 accumulates in AD brain, it is hypothesized that the lack of enzyme activation contributes to the accumulation of insoluble beta-amyloid peptides in plaques.

Thirty Schiff bases of hydroxysemicarbazide (Ar-CH=NNHCONHOH) have been synthesized and tested against L1210 murine leukemia cells. The IC(50) values were found to be in a range from 2.7 x 10(-6) to 9.4 x 10(-4) M. A total of 17 out of the 30 compounds had higher inhibitory activities than hydroxyurea (an anticancer drug currently used for the treatment of melanoma, leukemia, and ovarian cancer) against L1210 cells. Six compounds with IC(50) values in micromolar range were 11- to 30-fold more potent than hydroxyurea (IC(50) = 8.2 x 10(-5) M). The partition coefficient (log P) and ionization constants (pK(a)) of a model compound [1-(3-trifluoromethylbenzylidene)-4-hydroxysemicarbazide, 1] were measured by the shake-flask method, and the measured log P was used to derive Hansch-Fujita pi constant of -CH=NNHCONHOH. On the basis of the newly derived pi and those of other moieties, the partition coefficients (SlogP) of the other 29 compounds were calculated by the summation of pi values. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis showed that, besides the essential pharmacophore (-NHCONHOH), hydrophobicity (SlogP), molecular size/polarizability (calculated molar refractivity), and the presence of an oxygen-containing group at the ortho position (I) were important determinants for the antitumor activities. In conclusion, the results obtained in this study show that several Schiff bases of hydroxysemicarbazide are potent inhibitors of tumor cells and warrant further investigation as cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

Three neutral proteinases from human hippocampal tissue have been identified and partially characterized using substrate gel electrophoresis. The proteinases showed activity when gelatin was used as the substrate, but had no detectable activity against casein. Based on the results of inhibition studies and the calcium requirements, it was concluded that the activities were due to calcium-dependent metalloproteinases. The apparent molecular weights were 130,000 (MP-130), 100,000 (MP-100), and 70,000 (MP-70). Half-maximal activities were observed with 20 microM Ca2+ for MP-130, 40 microM Ca2+ for MP-100, and 800 microM Ca2+ for MP-70. In the presence of Ca2+, Zn2+ reestablished the activities of the three metalloproteinases at a lower concentration than did either Co2+ or Mn2+. One millimolar Al3+ inhibited 67% of the MP-70 activity, but did not affect the MP-100 and MP-130 activities. An analysis of Alzheimer-affected hippocampal and control samples showed that the specific activity (in units per milligram of sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble protein) of MP-70 varied less than the activities of MP-100 and MP-130 between the two groups. Although p-amino-phenylmercuric acetate (p-APMA) increased the activities of MP-70 by 70% in both groups of specimens, the resulting activities from Alzheimer samples were greater than those from control samples (p less than 0.01). A wide range of MP-100 specific activity was observed in both groups, and its mean activity was higher in Alzheimer-affected samples (p less than 0.05). Treatment with p-APMA increased the activity of MP-100 only 25% in both groups of tissue samples. MP-130 activity was detected predominantly in Alzheimer-affected hippocampal specimens, and treatment with p-APMA failed to increase its activity in both the control and the Alzheimer-affected specimens. The results demonstrate an elevated level of metalloproteinase activities, capable of degrading tissue matrix components, in the hippocampus from postmortem Alzheimer patients.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and zymography in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and control brain and spinal cord specimens. Three major bands of enzyme activity (70, 100, and 130 kDa) were consistently observed and were subsequently identified as MMP-2 (70 kDa; also known as EC 3.4.24.24 or gelatinase A) and MMP-9 (100 and 130 kDa; also known as EC 3.4.24.35 or gelatinase B). Immunohistochemical studies established the presence of MMP-2 in astrocytes and MMP-9 in pyramidal neurons in the motor cortex and motor neurons in the spinal cord of ALS patients. Although a significant decrease in MMP-2 activity was noticed in the ALS motor cortex, statistically significant increases in MMP-9 (100-kDa) activity were observed in ALS frontal and occipital cortices (BA1O and 17) and all three spinal cord regions when compared with control specimens. The highest MMP-9 (100-kDa) activities in ALS were found in the motor cortex and thoracic and lumbar cord specimens. The abnormally high amount of MMP-9 and its possible release at the synapse may destroy the structural integrity of the surrounding matrix, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of ALS. Key Words: Matrix metalloproteinase-CNS-Amyotrophic lateral sclerosisa 1 -Antichymotrypsin -Astrocyte-Motor neuron.

Anionic liposomes containing doxorubicin were evaluated in mice for therapeutic potential in reducing the risks of chronic cardiotoxicity characteristic of long-term high-dose anthracycline therapy. Doxorubicin first was complexed to phosphatidylcholine and then entrapped in anionic vesicles. Quantitation of myocardial injury was accomplished through examination of thin sections of cardac tissue by light microscopy. At treatment levels of either 20 or 40 mg/kg (total dose), mice receiving liposomal doxorubicin had toxicity scores indistinguishable from or only slightly greater than those of saline-treated controls. Similar total doses of free drug produced moderate to severe myocardial damage and yielded much higher toxicity scores. Mixture of free doxorubicin with empty liposomes did not alleviate cardiac toxicity, indicating that the drug must be entrapped within phospholipid vesicles for reduction in toxicity. The inhibition of body growth produced by free doxorubicin at both dose levels was also completely eliminated by encapsulation in liposomes. Doxorubicin liposomes were also tested for chemotherapeutic potential against L-1210 and P-388 murine leukemias. In al cases, treatment with liposomal doxorubicin produced increases in life-span greater than that observed for free drug. We conclude that anionic liposomes can function as efficacious carriers of doxorubicin. These vesicles possess improved therapeutic action as reflected by their ability to reduce cardiac toxicity, overcome growth inhibition, and increase antileukemic activity.