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Breaking News | |
Study identifies transporter protein responsible for delivering carotenoids to RPE cells Retinal pigment epithelial cells appear to preferentially accumulate the xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin over beta-carotene by a process that is dependent on the protein SR-BI, according to a study. "These data provide new mechanistic information about the preferential accumulation of the xanthophylls in the human eye and strongly suggest the participation of the transporter SR-BI," the study authors said. "Further investigations will be necessary to confirm this suggestion, since the human ARPE-19 cells may not fully recapitulate the properties of the RPE in vivo." In order to examine the mechanisms through which carotenoids accumulate in RPE cells, Alexandrine During, PhD, and colleagues compared cellular uptakes after introducing lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene into the human RPE cell line ARPE-19. Once the ARPE-19 cells had fully differentiated, the investigators found that the RPE cells had absorbed approximately twice as much of the xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin than beta-carotene (P < .05). At 9 weeks, cellular uptakes were 1.6% for beta-carotene, 2.5% for lutein and 3.2% for zeaxanthin, they noted. When using specific, targeted antibodies against the lipid transporters cluster determinant 36 (CD36) and scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), RPE cellular uptake of beta-carotene and zeaxanthin was significantly decreased by between 40% and 60% in the presence of anti-SR-BI but not with anti-CD36. In addition, the investigators found that using small interfering RNA against SR-BI yielded a 90% inhibition of SR-BI protein expression, which resulted in a 51% reduction in beta-carotene and an 87% reduction in zeaxanthin, according to the study, published in the August issue of Journal of Lipid Research. Merck posts $6.1 billion in global sales in second quarter WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J — Merck reported $6.1 billion in worldwide sales for the second quarter, representing a 1% decline compared with sales from the same period in 2007, the company announced in a press release. Specifically, foreign exchange favorably affected global sales by 5% for the quarter, the release said. Net income totaled $1.77 billion, up 5% from $1.68 billion in the second quarter of 2007. Excluding restructuring charges, non-GAAP earnings per share totaled $0.86 for the second quarter; GAAP earnings per share for the second quarter were $0.82, according to the release. Canadian Bio Med Systems to acquire licensing rights for AMD, glaucoma drugs MONTREAL — Canadian Bio Med Systems has signed a preliminary agreement for the licensing rights to two new drugs with ophthalmic indications from Ocular Therapeutics., Canadian Bio Med Systems announced in a press release. Ocular Therapeutics owns the exclusive license to a patented small molecule called LD22-4 that targets abnormal cell migration for treating wet age-related macular degeneration. The company also owns the exclusive global license to a patent pending technology for a novel glaucoma treatment that uses specific monoclonal antibodies that reduce IOP and may slow retinal cell damage. Canadian Bio Med Systems, a subsidiary of ICBS Limited, plans to finance the ongoing research and development required to obtain necessary government approvals to bring these drugs to market as quickly as possible. The company estimates that the project will cost $10 million over the next 2 years. In exchange, Canadian Bio Med Systems will transfer 49% ownership in Canadian Bio Med Systems to Ocular Therapeutics, according to the release. Copyright ® 2008 SLACK Incorporated. All rights reserved. |
