We investigated the interaction between nitric oxide and the renin angiotensin system in regulating isolated pulmonary arterial tension and pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) in renal hypertensive rats (RHR) made by complete ligation of left renal artery. Losartan induced a depressor response that was smaller in RHR than in normotensive rats (NR) (3.3 and 7.0 mmHg, respectively, at 3.0 mg/kg, p<0.05), and the response was significantly reduced by $N^{G}$-nitro-Larginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Angiotensin II elevated the PAP (7.6 and 10.8 mmHg at $0.1 {\mu}g/kg$; 20.3 and 23.6 mmHg at $1.0{\mu}g/kg$, respectively) and contracted the isolated pulmonary artery ($pD_2$: 8.79 and 8.71, respectively) from both NR and RHR with similar magnitude, and these effects were significantly enhanced by L-NAME in NR, but not in RHR. Acetylcholine lowered the PAP slightly less effectively in RHR than in NR (3.8 and 6.0 mmHg at 10 .mu.g/kg, respectively) and relaxed the pulmonary artery precontracted with norepinephrine in both rats with similar magnitude ($E_max$: 60.8 and 63.6%, respectively), and the effect being completely abolished after pretreatment.with L-NAME or removal of endothelial cells. These results suggest that nitric oxide interacts with renin angiotensin system to control the pulmonary vascular tension and pulmonary arterial circulation of RHR.R.

In order to direct the form of the immune response in an antigen-specific manner, we constructed a fusion protein (OVA/IL12) that contained the T cell-dependent antigen, ovalbumin (OVA), covalently linked to murine interleukin-12 (IL-12). The OVA/IL12 protein was produced in a baculovirus expression system and was purified by anti-OVA immunoaffinity chromatography. The purified OVA/ILI2 protein displayed potent IL-12 bioactivity in an IL-12 proliferation assay. BALB/c mice immunized with the OVA/IL12 protein produced increased quantities of anti-OVA IgG2a antibody compared with mice immunized with recombinant OVA alone. Lymph node cells from the immunized mice with the OVA/IL12 protein produced large amounts of IFN-,Y when restimulated in vitro with OVA, while those from mice immunized with the OVA protein produced little or no IFN-.gamma.. In contrast, immunization with a mixture of OVA and free recombinant IL-12 also induced IFN-.gamma. production, which was not OVA-specific. These studies indicate that the OVA/IL12 fusion protein can induce OVA-specific, Th1-dominated immune responses, and that the covalent linkage of OVA and IL-12 confines the effect of IL-12 to OVA-specific cells.

Trout CYP1A-CAT expression construct was generated by cloning -3.5 Kb $5^I$ flanking DNA of trout liver CYP1A gene in front of CAT gene at pCAT-basic vector. Hepa 1 cells, which are known to contain a functional arylhydrbcarbon $receptor^I$ were transfected with trout CYP1A-CAT using lipofectin. 3-Methylcholanthrene (1 nM) was added into hepa 1 cells in culture in order to examine if $5^I$ flanking DNA of trout CYP1A gene could interact with mouse transactivating factors to bring about transcription of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase(CAT) reporter gene. The level of CAT protein was measured by CAT ELISA and the level of CAT mRNA was determined by RTPCR. The treatment of 1 nM 3-methylcholanthrene resulted in two fold increases in CAT protein as well as CAT mRNA compared to untreated control hepa 1 cells. These data indicate that arylhydrocarbon receptors of mouse hepa 1 cells are functional to activate exogenously transfected trout CYP1A-CAT construct in terms of both transcription and translation of CAT. We also examined the effect of 3-methylcholanthrene on endogenous cyplal activity in hepa 1 cell. 3-Methylcholanthrene (1 nM) treatment to hepa 1 cells trahsfected with trout CYP1A-CAT construct stimulated the level of cyp1a1 mRNA by two folds and the activity of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase by two fold compared to that of control cells. In this study we reported that trout CYP1A-CAT reporter gene expression construct could be expressed by 3-methylcholanthrene treatment in mouse hepa 1 cells. Thus trout CYP1A-CAT could serve as a good model to study the mechanism of regulation of CYP1A1 gene expression.

In the course of screening synthetic compounds to inhibit tumor cell growth, pyrrolo[1,2-.alpha.] benzimidazole (PBI), an intermediate of azamitosene, was found to inhibit a proliferation of gastric cancer cell lines. Despite a potential cytotoxic activity against solid tumor cells as opposed to that against rapidly-doubled leukemic cells, there has been no report on the inhibition of gastric cancer cell line by PBI and its' derivatives. The present experiment was designed to determine if PBI derivatives can effectively inhibit the cellular proliferation of gastric cancer cells by using in vitro as well as in vivo chemosensitivity system (MTT assay, clonogenic assay and human tumor xenografted assay). Of the tested PBI derivatives, PBI (18) and PBI (20), displayed the effective growth inhibition of cultured gastric cancer cells or even in the xenografted nude mouse model.

Gastrointestinal irritation is the most frequent adverse effect in patients chronically taking nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the treatment of arthritic conditions. Gastroprotective effect of DA-9601, a new antiulcer agent from Artemisiae Herba extract, against NSAID was evaluated in a rat model of arthritis that is similar in many aspects to human rheumatoid arthritis. Daily oral dosing of naproxen (30 mg/kg), one of the most commonly used NSAID, induced apparent gastric lesions as well as a significant decrease in mucosal prostagiandin $E_2;(PGE_2)$ and prostagiandin F_${1{\alpha}}$$(PGF_{1{\alpha}})$ levels. Coadministration of DA-9601 prevents naproxen-induced mucosal injury and depletion of prostaglandins, in a dose-related manner. DA-9601 did not alter the antiinflammatory or analgesic effect of naproxen. The present results suggest that DA-9601 may be useful as a mucoprotectant against NSAIDs in clinical practice.

By human intestinal bacteria, saikosaponin c was transformed to four metabolites, prosaikogenin E1 (E1) prosaikogenin E2 (E2), prosaikogenin E3 (E3) and saikogenin E. Metabolic time course of saikosaponin c was as follows; in early time, saikosaponin c was converted to E1 and E2, and then these were transformed to saikogenin E via E3. Also, this metabolic pathway was similar to the metabolism of saikosaponin c by rat intestinal bacteria. Bacteroides JY-6 and Bacteroides YK-4, the bacteria isolated from human intestinal bacteria, could transform saikosaponin c to E via E1 (or E2) and E3. However, these bacteria were not able to directly transform El and E2 to saikogenin E. Naringin was mainly transformed to naringenin by human intestinal bacteria. The minor metabolic pathway transformed naringin to naringenin via prunin. By JY-6 or YK-4, naringin was metabolized to naringenin only via prunin.

To examine components of Ganoderma lucidum for anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity, the aqueous extracts of its basidiocarps were separated into high-molecular-weight (HMF) and low-molecular-weight (LMF) fractions. These fractions were used in XTT [2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino) carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide] antiviral assay which can quantitatively measure cytopathic effects of HIV-1 on CEM, human T lymphoblastoid cell line. The CEM cell line added with serial diluted HMF or LMF was cultured in the absence or presence of HIV-1. The results showed that the LMF of the aqueous extract strongly inhibited cytopathic effect of the target cell induced by HIV-1. When two-fold serially diluted LMF ranging from $40.97{\mu}g/ml$4 to 125.00 .mu.g/ml was added to the virus-free culture system, no toxicity on the target cells was detected in all the concentrations tested. However, when it was added to the HIV-infected culture system, the viabilities of the target cell reached a plateau recovering its viabilities to 71.7% and 82.5% in experiment-1 and -2 at 15.60 .mu.g/ml, respectively. The cell viabilities were then gradually decreased but maintained at more than 50% above 31.20 .mu.g/ml concentration. On the contrary, HMF did not prevent any HIV-induced cytopathic effect at any concentrations tested on this cell line. From these results, negligible toxicities were observed by both HMF and LMF of G. luciolum, and recovery of cell viability in HIV infected target cell was induced only by LMF of the carpophores.

We used a herbal medicine, roots of Rhodiola sachalinensis (RS) to assess whether RS extract can decrease blood ethanol concentrations in rats fed ethanol and if so, to elucidate the mechanism by which RS extract reduces blood ethanol levels. Rats were fed ethanol orally 1 hr after the oral administration of various doses of RS extract. In another experiment, rats were injected intraperitoneally with ethanol following the intake of RS extract via gastric catheter to eliminate possible inhibition of ethanol absorption in the gastrointestine by RS extract. The administration of RS extract remarkably lowered blood ethanol levels in a dose-dependent manner in rats given ethanol orally. However, the intake of RS extract did not reduce ethanol levels in rats injected with ethanol intraperitoneally. The activities of two main hepatic enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), involved in ethanol metabolism, were not affected by the administration of RS extract in rats fed ethanol. In addition, the intake of RS extract reduced serum triglyceride levels elevated by ethanol to the normal level. We conclude that the administration of RS extract lowers blood ethanol concentrations by inhibition of ethanol absorption in the gastrointestinal tracts of ethanol-fed animals.

Antisense oligonucleotide represents an interesting tool for selective inhibition of gene expression. However, their low efficiency of introduction within intact cells remains to be overcome. Antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ (25 mer) and antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ (18 mer) were used to study the cellular transport and biological function of antisense oligonucleotide in vitro. Since TGF and TNF play on important role in regulating the nitric oxide production from macrophages, the action of the above antisense oligonucleotides was easily monitored by the determination of nitrite. Poly-L-lysine, benzalkonium chloride and tetraphenylphosphonium chloride were used as polycations, which neutralize the negative charge of antisense oligonucleotide. The production of nitric oxide mediated by .gamma.-IFN in mouse peritoneal macrophage was increased by antisense-TGF.betha. in a dose-dependent manner. Antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ reduced the nitric oxide release from activated RAW 264.7 cells. Significant enhancement in the nitric oxide production was investigated by the cotreatment of poly-L-lysine with antisense-$TGF{\beta}$On the meanwhile, inhibition effect of antisense-$TGF{\beta}$ is not changed by the addition of poly-L-lysine. These results demonstrate that control of expression of $TGF{\beta}$ and TNF.alpha. gene is achieved using antisense technology and the cellular uptake of antisense oligonucleotide could be enhanced by ion-pairing.

As the growth factor of lactic acid bacteria, LD (trehalose) was isolated from Lentinus edode5 by using silica gel column chromatography. LD induced the growth of Bifidobacteria breve and Lactobacillus brevis, which were isolated from human feces. LD selectively induced the growth of lactic acid bacteria among total microflora. When total intestinal microflora were cultured in the medium containing LD, it stimulated the growth of lactic acid bacteria and inhibited harmful enzymes, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-glucuronidase, and tryptophanase, of intestinal bacteria. LM, which was a monosaccharide from L. edooles, induced the growth of lactic acid bacteria but it seems to be invaluable in vivo. LH isolated from L. edodes by Sephadex G-100 column chromatography was not effective for the growth of lactic acid bacteria.

Protoplast fusion between isoleucine-, argihine- and thymidine-requiring auxotroph $(Ile^{-}, Arg^{-}, Thy^{-})$ of Lentinula edodes and arginine-requiring auxotroph $(Arg^-)$ of Coriolus versicolor has been achieved using 30% polyethylene glycol (M.W.4000) in 10 mM $CaCl_2$-glycine solution (pH 8.0). Fusion hybrids were selected in the 0.6 M sucrose supplemented minimal media on the basis of nutritional complementation with fusion frequency of $7.4{\times}10{-6}$ The hybrids included both parental and non-parental types in colony morphology, growth rate and isozyme patterns. We succeeded inter-order protoplast fusion between the auxotrophs of Lentinula edodes and Coriolus versicolor overcoming the natural barriers of incompatibility. We examined the characteristics of the hybrids and clarified the fusion rocess using electron microscopy.

Two human liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferase cDNA clones, HLUG25 and UDPGTh2 were previously shown to encode isozymes active in the glucuronidation of hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA) and certain estrogen derivatives (e.g., estriol and 3,4-catechol estrogens), respectively. in this study we have found that the UDPGTh2-encoded isoform (UDPGTh2) and HLUG25-encoded isoform (UDPGThl) have parallel aglycone specificities. When expressed in COS 1 cells, each isoform metabolized three types of dihydroxy- or trihydroxy-substituted ring structures, including the 3,4-catechol estrogen (4-hydroxyestrone), estriol, 17-epiestriol, and HDCA, but the UDPGTh2 isozyme was 100-fold more efficient than UDPGTh1. UDPGTh1 and UDPGTh2 were 86% identical overall (76 differences out of 528 amino acids), including 55 differences in the first 300 amino acids of the amino terminus, a domain which conferred the substrate specificity. The data indicated that a high level of conservation in the amino terminus was not required for the preservation of substrate selectivity. Analysis of glucuronidation activity encoded by UDPGTh1/UDPGTh2 chimeric cDNA constructed at their common restriction sites, Sac I (codon 297), Nco I (codon 385), and Hha I (codon 469), showed that nine amino acids between residues 385 and 469 were important for catalytic efficiency, suggesting that this region represented a domain which was critical for the catalysis but distinct from that responsible for aglycone-selection. These data indicate that UDPGTh2 is a primary isoform responsible for the detoxification of the bile salt intermediate as well as the active estrogen intermediates.

The human liver cDNA clone UDPGTh2, encoding a liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT) was isolated from a .gamma. gt 11 cDNA library by hybridization to mouse transferase cDNA clone, UDPGTm1. UDPGTh2 encoded a 529 amino acid protein with an amino terminus membrane-insertion signal peptide and a carboxyl terminus membrane-spanning region. There were three potential asparagine-linked glycosylation sites at residues 67, 68, and 315. In order to obtain UDPGTh2 protein encoded from cloned human liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferase cDNA, the clone was inserted into the pSVL vector (pUDPGTh2) and expressed in COS 1 cells. The presence of a transferase with Mr-52,000 in transfected cells cultured in the presence of $[^{35}S]$ methionine was shown by immunocomplexed products with goat antimouse transferase IgG and protein A-Sepharose and analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. The expressed UDPGT was a glycoprotein as indicated by electrophoretic mobility shift in Mr-3,000-4,000 when expressed in the presence of tunicamycin. The extent of glycosylation was difficult to assess, although one could assume that glycosyl structures incorporated at the level of endoplasmic reticulum were always the core oligosaccharides. Thus, it is likely that at least two moieties inserted can account for the shift of Mr-3,000-4,000. This study demonstrates the cDNA and deduced amino acid sequence of human liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferase cDNA, UDPGTh2.

The human cDNA clone UDPGTh2, encoding a liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT), was isolated from a .gamma.gt 11 cDNA library by hybridization to mouse transferase cDNA clone, UDPGTm1. The two clones had 74% nlicleotide sequence identities in the coding region. UDPGTh2 encoded a 529 amino acid protein with an amino terminus membrane-insertion signal peptide and a carboxyl terminus membrane-spanning region. In order to establish substrate specificity, the clone was inserted into the pSVL vector (pUDPGTh2) and expressed in COS 1 cells. Sixty potential substrates were tested using cells transfected with pUDPGTh2. The order of relative substrate activity was as follows: 4-hydroxyestrone > estriol >2-hydroxyestriol > 4-hydroxyestradiol > $6{\alpha}$-hydroxyestradiol >$5{\alpha}$-androstane-$3{\alpha}$, $11{\beta}$, $17{\beta}$-triol=5${\beta}$-androstane-$3{\alpha}$ ${\beta}$, $17{\beta}$-triol. There were only trace amounts of gulcuronidation of 2-hydroxyestradiol and 2-hydroxyestrone, and in contrast to other cloned transferase, no gulcuronidation of either the primary estrogens and androgens (estrone, $17{\beta}$estradiol/testosterone, androsterone) or any of the exogenous substrates tested was detected. A lineweaver-Burk plot of the effect of 4-hydroxystrone concentration on the velocity of glucuronidation showed an apparent Km of $13{\mu}M$. The unique specificity of this transferase might play an important role in regulating the level and activity of these potent and active estrogen metabolites.

Livers isolated from 18 hours fasted rats were subjected to N$_{2}$ hypoxia (for 45 min) followed by reoxygenation (for 45 min). The perfusion medium used was Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (KHBB, pH 7.4). Lactate and alanine were added as gluconeogenic and ureagenic substrates and Trolox C was also added to perfusate. Oxygen consumption, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine transaminase (ALT), total glutathione, oxidized glutathione, bile flow, glucose and urea were measured. After hypoxia oxygen consumption significantly dropped but Trolox C had no influence on this decrease. ALT and LDH were significantly increased by hypoxia/reoxygenation. This increase was markedly attenuated in the presence of Trolox C. The total glutathione and oxidized glutathione efflux increased following hypoxia, which were prevented by the treatment of Trolox C. Bile flow rate decreased following hypoxia/reoxygenation but did not continue to decrease in the reoxygenation phase by Trolox C. Following hypoxia/reoxygenation glucose and urea releases decreased. Trolox C had no influence on inhibition of glucose and urea production. These results suggest that Trolox C protected the liver cells against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, yielding further evidence for a causative role of oxidative stress in this model.

Three types of dihydroberberine derivatives such as spirobenzylisoquinoline, benzindenoazepine and cyclopropanated quinolizine species were synthesized from dihydroberberine for the investigation on their anti-tumor activity. Among them, cyclopropanated quinolizine species were more effective than spirobenzylisoquinoline and benzindenoazepine against P-388 and L-1210 leukemia cell.

The absorption profile of phenytoin Na emulsion were examined compared to that of phenytoin suspension after oral administration in the rat. The corn oil-in-water emulsion, particle size of $184{\pm}$57.8 nm, was prepared using a microfludizer, and phenytoin Na added by shaft homogenizer. The phenytoin emulsion or suspension, 100 mg/kg, were intubated intragastrically using oral dosing needle and blood samples were withdrawn via an indwelling cannula from the conscious rat. Plasma concentrations of phenytoin were measured with HPLC using phenacetin as an internal standard. The plasma concentration versus time data were fitted to a one compartment open model and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using the computer program, Boomer. The phenytoin plasma concentrations from the emulsion at each observed time were about 1.5-2 times higher than those from the suspension, significantly at time of 5, 6 and 7 hr after administration. The absorption $(k_a)$ and elimination rate constant $(k_e)$ were not altered significantly, however the AUC increased from 65.6 to $106.7{\mu}ghr/ml$ after phenytoin suspension or emulsion oral administration, respectively. From an equilibrium dialysis study, the diffusion rate constant $(k_{IE})$ was considerably higher from the phenytoin Na emulsion $(0.0439 hr{-1})$ than phenytoin suspension $(0.0014 hr{-1})$.

A stereospecific HPLC method has been developed for the resolution of the enantiomers of salbutamol in human urine. After solid-phase extraction and derivatization with (S)-(-)-${\alpha}$-methyl-benzyl isocyanate, the diastereomeric derivatives were resolved $(R_s=1.59)$ on $5{\mu}M$ octadecylsilan column using 47% methanol as a mobile phase with fluorescence detection. The detection limit of each enantiomer was 10 ng/ml (S/N=3).

All fifteen flavonoids (1-15) have been isolated from the roots of Sophora flavescens (Leguminosae) as active principles of the cytotoxic property toward human tumor cell lines such as A549, SK-OV-3, SK-Mel-2, XF498 and HCT15, in vitro. By means of spectral analyses, particularlyby the aid of various two dimensional NMR experiments, all $^1H-NMR$ ad $^{13}C$ -NMR signals of 1-15 were completely assigned, and thus the structures of 1-15 were established unambiguously.

A strong antioxidant activity, which was measured by the radical scavenging effect on 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) radical, was detected in the methanol extract of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Labiatae). By activity-directed fractionation, compounds 1 and 2 were isolated as antioxidant principles of S. miltiorrhiza. Compounds 1 and 2 were identified as dimethyl lithospermate and 3-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)lactamide, respectively, on the basis of spectral data. The radical scavenging effect of compounds 1 and 2 on DPPH radical exceeded that of L-ascorbic acid which is a well known antioxidant. These two compounds also showed prominent inhibitory activity against free radical generation in dichlorofluorescein (DCF) method and cytoprotective effect against t-BHP in cultured liver cell.

Novel 9-[2-fluoro-4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-2-butenyl]adenine and its related compounds were designed and synthesized as open-chain analogues of neplanocin A. Alkylation of adenine or pyrimidine bases with the mesylate 4 was chosen as a simple approach to the synthesis of 2-fluoro-2-butenylated nucleosides. Mesylate 4 was prepared from dihydroxyacetone dimer via four steps in 58% overall yield. The synthesized compounds were evaluated their antiviral activity against HSV, HIV and Polio viruses.

Several new spiro compounds were synthesized via one-pot ternary condensation of isatin, malononitrile and each of thiobarbituric acid, barbituric, 3-methyl-pyrazolin-5-one, 1-phenyl-3-methyl-pyrazolin-5-one, acetylacetone, benzoylacetone, ethyl acetoacetate, phenacyl cyanide or ethyl-cyanoacetate dimer. Structures and reaction mechanisms were reported and supported via a second synthetic route.

The effects of noscapine a phthalide isoquinoline alkaloid, on dopamine biosynthesis and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity in PC12 cells were investigated. Noscapine showed 74.6% inhibition on dopamine content in PC12 cells at a concentration of $20{\mu}M.$ $IC_{50}$ of noscapine was $6.8{\mu}M.$ TH activity was inhibited by the treatment of noscapine in PC12 cells (20.9% inhibition at 20 .mu.M). Therefore, the inhibition of TH activity by noscapine might be involved in at least one component of the reduction of dopamine biosynthesis in PC12 cells.

From the roasted seeds of Cassia tora L., a new naphthopyrone glycoside was isolated and characterized as 10-[${\beta}$-D-glucopyranosyl-$(1{\rightarrow}6)-O-{\beta}-D-$glucopyranosyl)oxy]-5-hydrox y-8-methoxy-2-methyl-4H-naphtho[1, 2-b]pyran-4-one(isorubrofusarin gentiobioside). Along with isorubrofusarin gentiobioside, alaternin and adenosine were isolated and identified.

In conclusion, biochemical analysis revealed that GTS inhibited the methamphetamine-induced DA increase and the methamphetamine-induced DOPAC decrease in the mouse striatum. These results indicate that GTS could modulate the methamphetamine-induced striatal dopaminergic neuronal systems.