Molecules 2009, 14(12), 5017-5026; doi:10.3390/molecules14125017
Article

Effects of α-Melanocortin Enantiomers on Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in CBA Mice

Petra Turčić 1 email, Mirna Bradamante 2 email, Karlo Houra 3 email, Nikola Štambuk 4,* email, Tomislav Kelava 5 email, Paško Konjevoda 4 email, Saša Kazazić 4 email, Dražen Vikić-Topić 4 email and Biserka Pokrić 4 email
1 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Domagojeva 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia 2 Department of Dermatology and Venerology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Šalata 4, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia 3 Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital “Sestre Milosrdnice”, Vinogradska 29, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia 4 Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10002 Zagreb, Croatia 5 Department of Physiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University od Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 30 September 2009; in revised form: 22 November 2009 / Accepted: 30 November 2009 / Published: 2 December 2009
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prodrugs)
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Abstract: Proteins and peptides in mammals are based exclusively on L-amino acids. Recent investigations show that D-amino acids exhibit physiological effects in vivo, despite of their very small quantities. We have investigated the hepatoprotective effects of the Land D-enantiomers of α-melanocortin peptide (α-MSH). The results showed that peptideenantiomerism is related to the protective effects of melanocortin peptides in vivo. L-α-MSH exhibited potent hepatoprotective effect in the experimental model of acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in male CBA mice, while its D-mirror image was inefficient. Furthermore, the antibody to the L-peptide did not recognize the D-structure. The results indicate that the opposite peptide configuration may be used to modulate its function and metabolism in vivo and in vitro.
Keywords: enantiomer; α-MSH; hepatoprotection; hepatotoxicity; antibody; CD spectroscopy

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Turčić, P.; Bradamante, M.; Houra, K.; Štambuk, N.; Kelava, T.; Konjevoda, P.; Kazazić, S.; Vikić-Topić, D.; Pokrić, B. Effects of α-Melanocortin Enantiomers on Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in CBA Mice. Molecules 2009, 14, 5017-5026.

AMA Style

Turčić P, Bradamante M, Houra K, Štambuk N, Kelava T, Konjevoda P, Kazazić S, Vikić-Topić D, Pokrić B. Effects of α-Melanocortin Enantiomers on Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in CBA Mice. Molecules. 2009; 14(12):5017-5026.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Turčić, Petra; Bradamante, Mirna; Houra, Karlo; Štambuk, Nikola; Kelava, Tomislav; Konjevoda, Paško; Kazazić, Saša; Vikić-Topić, Dražen; Pokrić, Biserka. 2009. "Effects of α-Melanocortin Enantiomers on Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in CBA Mice." Molecules 14, no. 12: 5017-5026.

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