RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Onychomycosis is a common disease. Topical treatment is usually not effective due to limitation of trans-nail delivery of antifungal drugs. Successful treatment of deep-seated nail infections remains elusive as the delivery of efficacious levels of antifungal drug to the site of action is very difficult. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of several parameters including; the effect of low electrical current, incubation time and the presence of electrolyte (NaCl or KCl) on the penetration of terbinafine through the nail plate into the nail bed, using various formulations and concentrations of terbinafine HCl. METHODS: Iontophoresis was applied across porcine and human nail in vitro to assess its efficiency in enhancing delivery of terbinafine HCl. RESULTS: In this study, we have demonstrated that an optimal electrolyte concentration (1% NaCl or KCl) is required for an effective delivery. There is a significant increase in drug delivery into the nail and into the receiving compartment in the presence of 3% DMSO. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the efficacy of iontophoresis in enhancing the trans-nail delivery of terbinafine. Clinical studies are needed to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and safety of iontophoresis of terbinafine in onychomycosis in human.
Asunto(s)
Antifúngicos/administración & dosificación , Iontoforesis/métodos , Uñas , Naftalenos/administración & dosificación , Onicomicosis/tratamiento farmacológico , Animales , Dimetilsulfóxido/administración & dosificación , Pezuñas y Garras , Humanos , Permeabilidad , Porcinos , TerbinafinaRESUMEN
We describe a novel, potent peptide substrate mimetic inhibitor of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt). The compound selectively kills prostate cancer cells, in which PKB is highly activated, but not normal cells, or cancer cells in which PKB is not activated. The inhibitor induces apoptosis and inhibits the phosphorylation of PKB substrates in prostate cancer cell lines and significantly increases the efficacy of chemotherapy agents to induce prostate cancer cell death, when given in combination. In vivo, the inhibitor exhibits a strong antitumor effect in two prostate cancer mouse models. Moreover, treated animals develop significantly less lung metastases compared to untreated ones, and the effect is accompanied by a significant decrease in blood PSA [prostate-specific antigen] levels in treated animals. This compound and its potential analogues may be developed into novel, potent, and safe anticancer agents, both as stand-alone treatment and in combination with other chemotherapy agents.
Asunto(s)
Ésteres del Colesterol/uso terapéutico , Inhibidores Enzimáticos/uso terapéutico , Oligopéptidos/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias de la Próstata/tratamiento farmacológico , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-akt/antagonistas & inhibidores , Animales , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Línea Celular , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Masculino , Ratones , Mitoxantrona/farmacología , Modelos Moleculares , Antígeno Prostático Específico/sangre , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
Antigen processing and presentation by class I MHC molecules generally require assembly with peptide epitopes generated by the proteasome and transported into the ER by the transporters associated with antigen presentation (TAP). Recently, TAP-independent pathways supporting class I MHC-mediated presentation of exogenous antigens, as well as of endogenously synthesized viral antigens, were described. We now characterize a TAP-independent pathway that is operative in both TAP1- and TAP2-deficient Adenovirus (Ad)-transformed fibroblast cell lines. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the existence of such a pathway has been described in non-infected cells that do not belong to the hematopoietic lineage. We show that this pathway is proteasome-independent and chloroquine-sensitive. Cell surface expression of these TAP-independent class I complexes is modulated by tapasin levels and is enhanced by IFN-gamma. The data imply that IFN-gamma increases the relative level of TAP-independent high affinity class I complexes that exit the ER on their way to the cell surface and to vacuolar compartments where peptide cleavage/exchange might take place before recycling to the cell surface. Since both TAP and tapasin expression are altered in numerous tumors and in virus-infected cells, TAP-independent class I complexes may be a valuable target source for immune responses.