| 1. |
- Almquist, Joachim, 1980, et al.
(author)
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Overexpressing cell systems are a competitive option to primary adipocytes when predicting in vivo potency of dual GPR81/GPR109A agonists
- 2018
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In: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. - : Elsevier BV. - 0928-0987 .- 1879-0720. ; 114, s. 155-165
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mathematical models predicting in vivo pharmacodynamic effects from in vitro data can accelerate drug discovery, and reduce costs and animal use. However, data integration and modeling is non-trivial when more than one drug-target receptor is involved in the biological response. We modeled the inhibition of non-esterified fatty acid release by dual G-protein-coupled receptor 81/109A (GPR81/GPR109A) agonists in vivo in the rat, to estimate the in vivo EC50 values for 12 different compounds. We subsequently predicted those potency estimates using EC 50 values obtained from concentration-response data in isolated primary adipocytes and cell systems overexpressing GPR81 or GPR109A in vitro. A simple linear regression model based on data from primary adipocytes predicted the in vivo EC50 better than simple linear regression models based on in vitro data from either of the cell systems. Three models combining the data from the overexpressing cell systems were also evaluated: two piecewise linear models defining logical OR- and AND-circuits, and a multivariate linear regression model. All three models performed better than the simple linear regression model based on data from primary adipocytes. The OR-model was favored since it is likely that activation of either GPR81 or GPR109A is sufficient to deactivate the cAMP pathway, and thereby inhibit non-esterified fatty acid release. The OR-model was also able to predict the in vivo selectivity between the two receptors. Finally, the OR-model was used to predict the in vivo potency of 1651 new compounds. This work suggests that data from the overexpressing cell systems are sufficient to predict in vivo potency of GPR81/GPR109A agonists, an approach contributing to faster and leaner drug discovery.
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| 2. |
- Aoki, Yasunori, 1982-, et al.
(author)
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PopED lite : an optimal design software for preclinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Optimal experimental design approaches are seldom used in pre-clinical drug discovery. Main reasons for this lack of use are that available software tools require relatively high insight in optimal design theory, and that the design-execution cycle of in vivo experiments is short, making time-consuming optimizations infeasible. We present the publicly available software PopED lite in order to increase the use of optimal design in pre-clinical drug discovery. PopED lite is designed to be simple, fast and intuitive. Simple, to give many users access to basic optimal design calculations. Fast, to fit the short design-execution cycle and allow interactive experimental design (test one design, discuss proposed design, test another design, etc). Intuitive, so that the input to and output from the software can easily be understood by users without knowledge of the theory of optimal design. In this way, PopED lite is highly useful in practice and complements existing tools. Key functionality of PopED lite is demonstrated by three case studies from real drug discovery projects.
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| 3. |
- Aoki, Yasunori, et al.
(author)
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PopED lite: an optimal design software for preclinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies
- 2016
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In: Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-2607 .- 1872-7565. ; 127, s. 126-143
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and ObjectiveOptimal experimental design approaches are seldom used in preclinical drug discovery. The objective is to develop an optimal design software tool specifically designed for preclinical applications in order to increase the efficiency of drug discovery in vivo studies.MethodsSeveral realistic experimental design case studies were collected and many preclinical experimental teams were consulted to determine the design goal of the software tool. The tool obtains an optimized experimental design by solving a constrained optimization problem, where each experimental design is evaluated using some function of the Fisher Information Matrix. The software was implemented in C++ using the Qt framework to assure a responsive user-software interaction through a rich graphical user interface, and at the same time, achieving the desired computational speed. In addition, a discrete global optimization algorithm was developed and implemented.ResultsThe software design goals were simplicity, speed and intuition. Based on these design goals, we have developed the publicly available software PopED lite (http://www.bluetree.me/PopED_lite). Optimization computation was on average, over 14 test problems, 30 times faster in PopED lite compared to an already existing optimal design software tool. PopED lite is now used in real drug discovery projects and a few of these case studies are presented in this paper.ConclusionsPopED lite is designed to be simple, fast and intuitive. Simple, to give many users access to basic optimal design calculations. Fast, to fit a short design-execution cycle and allow interactive experimental design (test one design, discuss proposed design, test another design, etc). Intuitive, so that the input to and output from the software tool can easily be understood by users without knowledge of the theory of optimal design. In this way, PopED lite is highly useful in practice and complements existing tools.
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| 4. |
- Kristensson, E, et al.
(author)
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Acute psychological stress raises plasma ghrelin in the rat.
- 2006
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In: Regulatory Peptides. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-0115 .- 1873-1686. ; 134:2-3, s. 114-117
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ghrelin is produced by the A-like cells of the stomach and mobilized by food deprivation. It was reported recently that acute psychological stress increases ghrelin gene expression in rat oxyntic mucosa. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of such stress on circulating ghrelin levels. To this end, we measured plasma ghrelin in Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats (a high-anxiety strain) and Sprague–Dawley (SPD) rats (a low-anxiety strain), exposed to water avoidance stress for 60 min. Blood was collected before and after the stress. Acute stress increased the plasma ACTH concentration not, vert, similar5-fold (p < 0.01) in both strains of rats, while plasma ghrelin increased by 85% (p < 0.01) in the SPD rats and by 40% (p < 0.001) in the WKY rats. Ghrelin levels after acute stress were higher (p < 0.05) in the SPD rats than in the WKY rats. Sham stress did not affect plasma ghrelin. We conclude that acute psychological stress mobilizes ghrelin and that the SPD rats respond with a higher plasma ghrelin concentration than the WKY rats.
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| 5. |
- Sand, Elin, et al.
(author)
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High gastrin cell activity and low ghrelin cell activity in high-anxiety Wistar Kyoto rats
- 2007
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In: Journal of Endocrinology. - 1479-6805. ; 193:2, s. 245-250
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ghrelin is produced by gastric A-like cells and released in response to food deprivation. Interestingly, psychological stress also raises circulating ghrelin levels. This study compared plasma ghrelin levels in Sprague-Dawley (SPD) rats and high-anxiety Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. The two strains were also compared with respect to plasma gastrin, a gastric hormone with a pre- and postprandial release pattern opposite to that of ghrelin, and to the activity of the gastrin-dependent, histamine-forming ECL cells in the gastric mucosa. The rats were killed after being freely fed or after an over-night fast. The stomachs were weighed and tissue samples were collected for histological and biochemical analysis. Plasma ghrelin and gastrin levels were determined by RIA. While fasted SPD rats had higher plasma ghrelin levels than fasted WKY rats (P<0 center dot 001), plasma ghrelin did not differ between freely fed rats of the two strains. Gastrin levels were higher in fed WKY rats than in fed SPD rats (P< 0 center dot 001). Despite the higher plasma gastrin level, the oxyntic mucosal histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity (a marker of ECL-cell activity) in fed rats and the mucosal thickness did not differ between the two strains. In a subsequent study, rats were subjected to water-avoidance stress for 60 min, causing plasma gastrin to increase in WKY rats (P<0 center dot 001) but not in SPD rats. In conclusion, high-anxiety WKY rats had lower circulating ghrelin and higher gastrin than SPD rats in both the fasted and fed state, while the ECL-cell activity (HDC activity) was only moderately affected.
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| 6. |
- Schmidt, P.T., et al.
(author)
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Circulating ghrelin levels after food intake during different phases of the migrating motor complex in man.
- 2006
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In: European Journal of Clinical Investigation. - : Wiley. - 0014-2972 .- 1365-2362. ; 36:7, s. 503-509
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background The timing of the migrating motor complexes (MMC) at food intake may influence gastric emptying and release of regulatory hormones. This report studies the relationships between phases I (motor quiescence) and II (intermediate frequency contractions) of MMC and prandial gut hormone response. Materials and methods Seven fasting volunteers ingested a meal during phase I or II of MMC verified by manometry, using paracetamol as a marker for gastric emptying. Blood was sampled before, during and 210 min after food intake for analysis of ghrelin, motilin, insulin and paracetamol. Results The basal level of ghrelin during phase I was 127·5 ± 25·4 pmol L-1 and during phase II was 132·4 ± 24·8 pmol L-1. After food intake during phase I, ghrelin fell to 77·2 ± 10 pmol L-1; in phase II it fell to 82·7 ± 17·8 pmol L-1 within 60 min and returned to baseline levels after 120 min. Baseline levels of motilin were 16 ± 2 pmol L-1 and 18 ± 3 pmol L-1 during phases I and II, respectively. After food, motilin decreased to 8·5 ± 0·7 pmol L-1 and 8·7 ± 1·0 pmol L-1 within 60 min and returned to baseline after 90 min. Insulin levels in phases I and II were 8·1 ± 1·2 mU L-1 and 8·6 ± 0·7 mU L-1, respectively, reaching 138·9 ± 35·6 mU L-1 and 167·4 ± 30·0 mU L-1 at 45 min postprandially. Conclusions The nutritional status of the gastrointestinal tract at food intake had only a limited impact on plasma ghrelin. After food intake, plasma ghrelin drops, similar to motilin, and resumes preprandial levels within 120 min.
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| 7. |
- Sundqvist, Monika, 1976, et al.
(author)
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Changes in the control of gastric motor activity during metamorphosis in the amphibian Xenopus laevis, with special emphasis on purinergic mechanisms.
- 2008
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In: The Journal of experimental biology. - : The Company of Biologists. - 0022-0949 .- 1477-9145. ; 211:Pt 8, s. 1270-80
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The stomach of the amphibian Xenopus laevis is subject to extensive remodelling during metamorphosis. We investigated the changes in gastric activity control during this period using in vitro circular smooth muscle preparations mounted in organ baths. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME increased mean force in metamorphic and juvenile frogs but not in prometamorphic tadpoles. Serotonin (5-HT) relaxed stomach muscle prior to metamorphosis but elicited a biphasic response in juveniles consisting of contraction at low concentrations and relaxation at high concentrations. The effects of 5-HT were blocked by methysergide. In the prometamorphic tadpole, ATP elicited relaxation that was blocked by the ectonucleotidase inhibitor ARL67156 and the adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX), suggesting adenosine as the mediator. Exogenous adenosine and the A(1) receptor agonist N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) induced relaxation at all stages. After metamorphosis, the potency of ATP decreased and neither DPCPX nor ARL67156 could block ATP-induced relaxation. Uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP) induced relaxation prior to metamorphosis, but caused contraction of muscle strips from metamorphosing tadpoles. Single doses of UTP blocked phasic contractions in juveniles in a tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive manner while the simultaneous increase in muscle tension was TTX insensitive. The P2X(1)/P2X(3) receptor agonist alpha-beta-MeATP elicited pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulphonic acid (PPADS)-sensitive contractions at all stages investigated. These results indicate the development of an inhibitory nitrergic tonus during metamorphosis and a 5-HT receptor involved in muscle contraction. Also, the development of UTP receptors mediating increased tension and neural UTP receptors decreasing contraction frequency in juveniles is indicated. An adenosine A(1)-like receptor mediating relaxation and a P2X-like receptor mediating contraction is demonstrated at all stages.
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| 8. |
- Sundqvist, Monika, 1976
(author)
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Changes of purinergic control of intestinal motor activity during metamorphosis in the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis
- 2007
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In: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-REGULATORY INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY. - : American Physiological Society. - 0363-6119 .- 1522-1490. ; 292:5
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Little is known about the purinergic regulation of intestinal motor activity in amphibians. Purinergic control of intestinal motility is subject to changes during development in mammals. The aim of this study was to investigate purinergic control of intestinal smooth muscle in the amphibian Xenopus laevis and explore possible changes in this system during the developmental phase of metamorphosis. Effects of purinergic compounds on mean force and contraction frequency in intestinal circular muscle strips from prometamorphic, metamorphic, and juvenile animals were investigated. Before metamorphosis, low concentrations of ATP reduced motor activity, whereas the effects were reversed at higher concentrations. ATP-induced relaxation was not inhibited by the P2-receptor antagonist pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonic acid (PPADS) but was blocked by the ecto-nucleotidase inhibitor 6- N, N-diethyl-d-β,γ-dibromomethylene ATP ( ARL67256 ), indicating that an ATP-derived metabolite mediated the relaxation response at this stage. Adenosine induced relaxation before, during, and after metamorphosis, which was blocked by the A1-receptor antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX). The stable ATP-analog adenosine 5′-[γ-thio]-triphosphate (ATPγS) and 2-methylthioATP (2-MeSATP) elicited contractions in the circular muscle strips in prometamorphic tadpoles. However, in juvenile froglets, 2-MeSATP caused relaxation, as did ATPγS at low concentrations. The P2Y11/P2X1-receptor antagonist NF157 antagonized the ATPγS-induced relaxation. The P2X-preferring agonist α-β-methyleneadenosine 5′-triphosphate (α-β-MeATP) evoked PPADS-sensitive increases in mean force at all stages investigated. This study demonstrates the existence of an adenosine A1-like receptor mediating relaxation and a P2X-like receptor mediating contraction in the X. laevis gut before, during, and after metamorphosis. Furthermore, the development of a P2Y11-like receptor-mediated relaxation during metamorphosis is shown.
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| 9. |
- Sundqvist, Monika, 1976, et al.
(author)
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Neurotrophin receptors and enteric neuronal development during metamorphosis in the amphibian Xenopus laevis
- 2004
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In: Cell and Tissue Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0302-766X .- 1432-0878. ; 316:1, s. 45-54
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- During metamorphosis, the frog intestine goes through a dramatic shortening with extensive apoptosis and regeneration in the epithelial layer and connective tissue. Our aim was to study changes in the enteric nervous system represented by one inhibitory (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide; VIP) and one excitatory (substance P, neurokinin A; SP/NKA) nerve population and concomitant changes in neurotrophin receptor occurrence during this development in the gut of Xenopus laevis adults and tadpoles at different stages of metamorphosis (NF stages 57-66). Sections were incubated with antibodies against the neurotrophin Trk receptors and p75(NTR), and the neurotransmitters VIP and SP/NKA. Trk-immunoreactive nerves increased dramatically but transiently in number during early metamorphic climax. Nerves immunoreactive for p75(NTR) were present throughout the gut, decreased in number in the middle intestine during climax, and increased in the large intestine during late metamorphosis. The percentage of VIP-immunoreactive nerves did not change during metamorphosis. SP/NKA-immunoreactive nerves were first apparent at NF stages 61-62 in the middle intestine and increased in the stomach and large intestine during metamorphosis. Endocrine cells expressing SP/NKA increased in number in stomach, proximal, and middle intestine during metamorphic climax. Thus, neurotrophin receptors are expressed transiently in neurons of the enteric nervous system during metamorphosis in Xenopus laevis and SP/NKA innervation is more abundant in the intestine of the postmetamorphic frog than in the tadpole.
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| 10. |
- Sundqvist, Monika, 1976, et al.
(author)
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Ontogeny of excitatory and inhibitory control of gastrointestinal motility in the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis
- 2006
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In: American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology. - : American Physiological Society. - 0363-6119 .- 1522-1490. ; 291:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The transparent body wall of Xenopus laevis larvae during the first developmental stages allows in vivo studies of gastrointestinal tract activity. The purpose of this study was to chart the ontogeny of gut motility in Xenopus larvae and to identify the most important control systems during the first developmental stages. Coordinated descending contraction waves first occurred in the gut at Nieuwkoop and Faber stage 43 [0.8 +/- 0.1 contractions/min (cpm)] and increased to 4.9 +/- 0.1 cpm at stage 47. The cholinergic receptor agonist carbachol (5 - 10 mu M) increased contraction frequency already at stage 43, as did neurokinin A (NKA, 0.3 - 1 mu M). The muscarinic antagonist atropine (100 mu M) first affected contraction frequency at stage 45, which coincides with the onset of feeding. The tachykinin antagonist MEN-10,376 (6 mu M) blocked NKA-induced contractions but not spontaneous motility. Both sodium nitroprusside [nitric oxide (NO) donor, 1 - 10 mu M] and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP, 0.1 - 1 mu M) inhibited contractions from the earliest stage onward. Blocking NO synthesis using N-G-nitroL- arginine methyl ester (100 mu M) had no effect per se, but antagonized VIP evoked inhibition at stage 47. We conclude that gastrointestinal motility is well developed in the Xenopus laevis larvae before the onset of feeding. Functional muscarinic and tachykinin receptors are present already at the onset of motility, whereas a cholinergic tone develops around the onset of feeding. No endogenous tachykinin tone was found. Functional VIP receptors mediate inhibition at the onset of motility. NO seems to mediate the VIP effect at later stages.
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