Effects of Smoking and Gender on Tetrahydroisoquinolines and Beta-Carbolines in a Healthy Population and During Alcohol Detoxification
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Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Scholars Compass Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2008 Effects of Smoking and Gender on Tetrahydroisoquinolines and Beta-Carbolines in a Healthy Population and During Alcohol Detoxification Satjit Singh Brar Virginia Commonwealth University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd Part of the Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons © The Author Downloaded from https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/902 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact [email protected]. © Satjit Singh Brar 2008 All Rights Reserved EFFECTS OF SMOKING AND GENDER ON TETRAHYDROISOQUINOLINES AND β–CARBOLINES IN A HEALTHY POPULATION AND DURING ALCOHOL DETOXIFICATION A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. by SATJIT SINGH BRAR B.S., University of California at Santa Barbara, 1998 Director: Jürgen Venitz, MD, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia May 2008 ii Acknowledgements Jürgen Venitz, first and foremost, for giving me the opportunity to pursue graduate studies under his guidance. His mentoring in academics and research has been truly motivating and inspirational. Members of my graduate committee, Drs. Jürgen Venitz, John Rosecrans, Patricia Slattum, Vijay Ramchandani, H. Thomas Karnes, and Hee-Yong Kim for their efforts, patience and time for serving on my committee. Patricia Slattum for her advice and encouragement. She has provided valuable aid over the years by giving guidance throughout my tenure in the Pharm.D./Ph.D. program. John Rosecrans for his charitable partial funding of my clinical study from his personal research monies. Moreover, his enthusiasm and interests for the projects we conducted was unwavering throughout all the years. Vijay Ramchandani for bringing my dissertation project to fruition. He has been implemental in the initiation and completion of a major part of this project. His scientific guidance, career advice and emotional support during my involvement with NIH have been priceless. Without his help, it would have been a much longer experience. Hee-Yong Kim for hosting me for a year in her lab and having patience during my training. Her support assuaged my frustrations during my experience at NIH. H. Thomas Karnes for his advice on assay methodology and validation. The academic discourse between him and I gave me a larger appreciation for bioanalytical quantification. John Clore for generously serving as the Medical Monitor for my study. In addition, the wonderful staff of the VCU-GCRC: Janet, Denise, Gloria, Yvonne, Glenda, Lou, and Pat, all of which, were of great help and support in the conduct of my clinical study. Performing my clinical study at the GCRC was a pleasurable experience. General Clinical Research Center Grant M01 RR00065, NCRR, NIH and GCRC staff support and supplies. All those at the Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Studies at NIH-NIAAA who were very helpful in gathering patient samples and subject information for this project. In particular, thanks to David Herion for serving as the Principal Investigator and Ted iii George for being the Medical Monitor on this project, Denise Gates-Nee for her timely data management skills and Monte Phillips for organization of the transfer of samples. I would like to thank all other research and technical laboratory staff for all of their help throughout the conduct of this study. All those at the Laboratory of Molecular Signaling at NIH-NIAAA who were very cooperative and accommodating. The scientific training received from Dr. Jeongrim Lee was immeasurable. Her willingness to help troubleshoot and to provide me with advice, scientific and personal, throughout my project was very helpful. She is an amazing person. The pre-doctoral NIH Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) Program that supplied me with the financial support during my stay at NIH. Jocelyn Leu for samples and data from her clinical study to include as part of this project. She was an important factor in my initial clinical training and has provided appreciable advice throughout my graduate schooling. The Deans Office and Department of Pharmaceutics Office, specifically, Mia, Laura, Keyetta, for their patience and management of all that is administrative throughout my experience here at VCU. All the members of the PK-PD Research Group, present and past, particularly Pankaj, David, Lokesh, Angela, Prajakta, and Taghreed for being very supportive throughout the years and running around for me when I needed the help (thanks Dave!). My dear and closest friends including Dan, Lans, Ali, Gregg, Aviva, Scott, Kim, Kate, Toby, Josh, Stephanie, Art and others who taught me that life is more than just work and helped me relax throughout this process. Their encouragement and support has established them as life-long friends in my book. To all my family members who have been very supportive and eager for me to finish. In particular, my sisters Anjum and Amrita for believing in me and providing me with love and emotional support throughout. My parents Balbir and Raminder Brar who have always unconditionally loved me and encouraged me in my life pursuits. Your love and support are among my most cherished memories. Last, but not least, a very extraordinary person who has been patient, understanding and stood beside me unconditionally, sometimes from a far distance, my soon-to-be wife and best friend, Heidi. iv Table of Contents Page Acknowledgements............................................................................................................. ii List of Tables ................................................................................................................... xiii List of Figures...................................................................................................................xxi List of Abbreviations .......................................................................................................xxx Abstract.........................................................................................................................xxxiv Chapter 1 Introduction and Background ........................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................1 1.2 Background.............................................................................................................2 1.2.1 Current Biomarkers for Smoking Dependence and Alcoholism ...................2 1.2.2 The “Reward” pathway..................................................................................5 1.2.3 Tetrahydroisoquinolines (TIQ’s: R/S-Salsolinol)..........................................8 1.2.3a Chemistry and biosynthesis .............................................................8 1.2.3b SAL in-vitro pharmacology...........................................................12 1.2.3c SAL in-vivo animal and human studies .........................................14 1.2.4 β-carbolines (harman and norharman).........................................................20 1.2.4a Chemistry and biosynthesis ...........................................................20 1.2.4b β-carbolines in-vitro pharmacology...............................................23 1.2.4c β-carbolines in-vivo animal and human studies.............................24 1.3 TIQ’s and β-carbolines summary ..........................................................................28 v 2 Research Hypothesis....................................................................................................31 2.1 Hypothesis ............................................................................................................31 2.1.1 Study #1 Hypothesis....................................................................................33 2.1.2 Study #2 Hypothesis....................................................................................34 2.2 Rationale and Significance ...................................................................................36 3 Assay development of the β-carbolines in human plasma...........................................39 3.1 Introduction – Selection of Analytical method.....................................................39 3.2 Physicochemical Characteristics of Harman and Norharman ..............................43 3.3 HPLC-Fluorescence Detection Method Development .........................................45 3.3.1 Fluorescence Detection (FD) Experiments..................................................45 3.3.1a Materials and Reagents..................................................................47 3.3.1b Equipment......................................................................................48 3.3.1c Preparation of Solutions and Standards .........................................48 3.3.1d Methods .........................................................................................50 3.3.1e Results............................................................................................51 3.3.1f Discussion ......................................................................................59