Frequency-encoding Thr17 phospholamban phosphorylation is independent of Ser16 phosphorylation in cardiac myocytes

Both Ser(16) and Thr(17) of phospholamban (PLB) are phosphorylated, respectively, by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). PLB phosphorylation relieves cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pump from inhibition by PLB. Previous studies have suggested that phosphorylation of Ser(16) by PKA is a prerequisite for Thr(17) phosphorylation by CaMKII and is essential to the relaxant effect of beta-adrenergic stimulation. To determine the role of Thr(17) PLB phosphorylation, we investigated the dual-site phosphorylation of PLB in isolated adult rat cardiac myocytes in response to beta(1)-adrenergic stimulation or electrical field stimulation (0. 1-3 Hz) or both. A beta(1)-adrenergic agonist, norepinephrine (10(-9)-10(-6) m), in the presence of an alpha(1)-adrenergic antagonist, prazosin (10(-6) m), selectively increases the PKA-dependent phosphorylation of PLB at Ser(16) in quiescent myocytes. In contrast, electrical pacing induces an opposite phosphorylation pattern, selectively enhancing the CaMKII-mediated Thr(17) PLB phosphorylation in a frequency-dependent manner. When combined, electric stimulation (2 Hz) and beta(1)-adrenergic stimulation lead to dual phosphorylation of PLB and exert a synergistic effect on phosphorylation of Thr(17) but not Ser(16). Frequency-dependent Thr(17) phosphorylation is closely correlated with a decrease in 50% relaxation time (t(50)) of cell contraction, which is independent of, but additive to, the relaxant effect of Ser(16) phosphorylation, resulting in hastened contractile relaxation at high stimulation frequencies. Thus, we conclude that in intact cardiac myocytes, phosphorylation of PLB at Thr(17) occurs in the absence of prior Ser(16) phosphorylation, and that frequencydependent Thr(17) PLB phosphorylation may provide an intrinsic mechanism for cardiac myocytes to adapt to a sudden change of heart rate.

Engineered antibody Fc variant with selectively enhanced FcγRIIb binding over both FcγRIIa(R131) and FcγRIIa(H131)

Engaging inhibitory FcγRIIb by Fc region has been recently reported to be an attractive approach for improving the efficacy of antibody therapeutics. However, the previously reported S267E/L328F variant with enhanced binding affinity to FcγRIIb, also enhances binding affinity to FcγRIIa(R131) allotype to a similar degree because FcγRIIb and FcγRIIa(R131) are structurally similar. In this study, we applied comprehensive mutagenesis and structure-guided design based on the crystal structure of the Fc/FcγRIIb complex to identify a novel Fc variant with selectively enhanced FcγRIIb binding over both FcγRIIa(R131) and FcγRIIa(H131). This novel variant has more than 200-fold stronger binding affinity to FcγRIIb than wild-type IgG1, while binding affinity to FcγRIIa(R131) and FcγRIIa(H131) is comparable with or lower than wild-type IgG1. This selectivity was achieved by conformational change of the C(H)2 domain by mutating Pro to Asp at position 238. Fc variant with increased binding to both FcγRIIb and FcγRIIa induced platelet aggregation and activation in an immune complex form in vitro while our novel variant did not. When applied to agonistic anti-CD137 IgG1 antibody, our variant greatly enhanced the agonistic activity. Thus, the selective enhancement of FcγRIIb binding achieved by our Fc variant provides a novel tool for improving the efficacy of antibody therapeutics.

Mutant presenilin 2 transgenic mouse: effect on an age-dependent increase of amyloid beta-protein 42 in the brain

The N141I missense mutation in presenilin (PS) 2 is tightly linked with a form of autosomal dominant familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the Volga German families. We have generated transgenic mouse lines overexpressing human wild-type or mutant PS2 under transcriptional control of the chicken beta-actin promoter. In the brains of transgenic mice, the levels of human PS2 mRNA were found to be five- to 15-fold higher than that of endogenous mouse PS2 mRNA. The amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) 42 levels in the brains of mutant PS2 transgenic mice were higher than those in wild-type PS2 transgenic mice at the age of 2, 5, or 8 months. In addition, the Abeta42 levels appeared to increase steadily in the mutant PS2 transgenic mouse brains from 2 to 8 months of age, whereas there was only a small increase in wild-type transgenic mice between the ages of 5 and 8 months. There was no definite difference in the levels of N-terminal and C-terminal fragments between wild-type and mutant PS2 transgenic mice at the age of 2, 5, or 8 months. These data show a definite effect of the PS2 mutation on an age-dependent increase of Abeta42 content in the brain.

Mutant presenilin 2 transgenic mice. A large increase in the levels of Abeta 42 is presumably associated with the low density membrane domain that contains decreased levels of glycerophospholipids and sphingomyelin

The N141I mutation in presenilin (PS) 2 is tightly linked with a form of autosomal dominant familial Alzheimer's disease in the Volga German families. We previously reported that mouse brains harboring mutant PS2 contained increased levels of amyloid beta protein (Abeta) 42 in the Tris-saline-soluble fraction (Oyama, F., Sawamura, N., Kobayashi, K., Morishima-Kawashima, M., Kuramochi, T., Ito, M., Tomita, T., Maruyama, K., Saido, T. C., Iwatsubo, T., Capell, A., Walter, J., Grünberg, J., Ueyama, Y., Haass, C. and Ihara, Y. (1998) J. Neurochem. 71, 313-322). Here, using a new extraction protocol, we quantitated the Abeta40 and Abeta42 levels in the Tris-saline-insoluble fraction. The insoluble Abeta levels were found to be higher than the soluble Abeta levels, and the insoluble Abeta42 levels were markedly increased in mutant PS2 transgenic mice. To investigate the origin of the insoluble Abeta42, we prepared the detergent-insoluble, low density membrane fraction. This fraction from two independent lines of mutant PS2 transgenic mice contained remarkably increased levels of Abeta42 and significantly low levels of glycerophospholipids and sphingomyelin. This unexpected finding suggests that a large increase in the levels of Abeta42 in mutant PS2 mice is presumably induced through alterations of the lipid composition in the low density membrane domain in the brain.

Prominent inhibitory effects of tranilast on migration and proliferation of and collagen synthesis by vascular smooth muscle cells

To obtain some ideas about prevention of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), we examined the effects of transilast (anti-allergic agent) on migration and proliferation of, and collagen synthesis by, cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from the thoracic aorta of WKY rats. Tranilast was added to culture medium containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). The cultures were pulse-labeled with 3H-thymidine (TdR) or 3H-proline (Pro). TdR and Pro uptake into VSMC were measured. The effect of tranilast on migration of VSMC was examined by using culture dishes of an original design. We also examined the inhibitory effects of various drugs, such as a Ca antagonist, an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, elastase, colchicine, and mitomycin C, on proliferation and migration of VSMC. Our data showed that the inhibitory effects of tranilast on migration and proliferation of, and collagen synthesis by, VSMC were prominent. Maximal percentage inhibition of proliferation, migration and collagen synthesis was 60.8 +/- 2.3%, 52.7 +/- 14.7% and 62.1 +/- 8.1%, respectively. On the other hand, the inhibitory effects of other drugs, with the exception of colchicine and mitomycin C, on proliferation and/or migration of VSMC were not very strong. Although the inhibitory effects of colchicine and mitomycin C were strong in vitro, their clinical usefulness may be limited by systemic side-effects. These results indicate the potential usefulness of tranilast for prevention of restenosis of coronary arteries after PTCA.

Stage-specific isoforms of complex II (succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase) in mitochondria from the parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum

Complex II from mitochondria of the adult parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum, exhibits high fumarate reductase activity and plays a key role in the anaerobic electron transport observed in these organelles. In contrast, mitochondria isolated from free living second stage larvae (L2) of A. suum show much lower fumarate reductase activity than those from adults, whereas succinate dehydrogenase activities of mitochondria in both stages are comparable. In the present study, biochemical and antigenic properties of the partially purified enzymes from both larval and adult mitochondria were compared. Larval complex II eluted from the DEAE-Cellulofine column chromatography at a lower salt concentration than adult enzyme, whereas the apparent molecular size of both enzyme complexes estimated by gel permeation column chromatography was the same. The fumarate reductase activity of larval complex II was less than 3% of that of adult enzyme, and the Km values for substrates were significantly different between the two complexes. The flavoprotein subunit of larval complex II could be distinguished from that of adult complex II by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and peptide mapping. The antibody against the smallest subunit (small subunit of cytochrome b558) of the adult enzyme did not cross-react with that of the larval enzyme. These results suggest that larval complex II differs from adult enzyme and is more similar to aerobic mammalian enzymes with low fumarate reductase activity. This is the first direct indication of the two different stage-specific forms of mitochondrial complex II.

Gou-teng (from Uncaria rhynchophylla Miquel)-induced endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations in the isolated rat aorta

Gou-teng is a drug used for treatment of hypertension in Chinese medicine. Its antihypertensive action has been previously confirmed in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Here, its vasorelaxing effect and the mechanisms of actions were studied in vitro. Gou-teng extract (GTE) relaxed the norepinephrine (NE)-precontracted aortic ring preparations isolated from Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) with and without intact endothelium; the latter was significantly less sensitive than the former. The GTE-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly inhibited by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA) in a dose-dependent manner while indomethacin did not affect the relaxation. Atropine inhibited the acetylcholine (ACh)-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation but did not the GTE-induced one. Furthermore, once GTE was applied, the following NE-induced contraction was significantly reduced even after repeated washout. NMMA effectively reduced and rather reversed this residual effect of GTE. From these results, it is concluded that GTE relaxes the NE-precontracted rat aorta through endothelium-dependent and, to lesser extent, -independent mechanisms. The endothelium-dependent component would be mediated by EDRF/NO pathway in which the muscarinic cholinoceptors were not involved. Thus, GTE appears to be a potent and long-lasting vasodilator mainly through EDRF/NO release.

Phylogenetic identification of Sparganum proliferum as a pseudophyllidean cestode by the sequence analyses on mitochondrial COI and nuclear sdhB genes

Sparganum proliferum is a larval cestode for which the adult stage is unknown. It is characterized by the continuous branching and budding when parasitized to humans, and causes fatal human sparganosis. However, the biological features of S. proliferum, including its taxonomic status, still remain obscure. Our previous investigation suggested that S. proliferum might be phylogenetically distinct from Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, by the analysis on mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3 (ND3) gene. However, mitochondrial DNA sequence in Platyhelminth is known to have heteroplasmy within a species. Therefore, in the present study, we have investigated the complete nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and the partial nucleotide sequences of nuclear coded succinate dehydrogenase iron-sulfur protein subunit gene (sdhB). The results clearly demonstrated that S. proliferum is a distinct species from S. erinaceieuropaei, and that S. proliferum belongs to the order Pseudophyllidea.

Prophylactic effect of FK463, a novel antifungal lipopeptide, against Pneumocystis carinii infection in mice

The prophylactic effect of FK463, a new water-soluble echinocandin-like lipopeptide with inhibitory activity against 1, 3-beta-D-glucan synthase, against Pneumocystis carinii infection was investigated with the severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse model. Treatment with FK463, pentamidine, and saline only was performed for 6 weeks from the day after the SCID mice were inoculated intranasally with infected lung homogenates. FK463 at 0.2 or 1.0 mg/kg of body weight, pentamidine at 4 mg/kg, or saline was subcutaneously administered daily into the backs of the SCID mice. The effects of the drugs were evaluated by detection of P. carinii cysts in mouse lung homogenates by toluidine blue O staining, lung histology, and PCR amplification of a P. carinii-specific DNA fragment from the lungs. P. carinii cysts were detected in the lungs of all mice administered saline. In contrast, no cysts were detected in mice administered both doses of FK463 and pentamidine. A specific DNA fragment was amplified from all mice administered saline and at least half or more of the mice administered FK463 and pentamidine. These results indicate that FK463 acts on cyst wall formation but not on trophozoite proliferation and is extremely effective in preventing P. carinii-associated pneumonia. These results suggest that FK463 is potentially useful as a prophylactic agent against P. carinii infection.

Enhancement of RNA cleavage activity of 10-23 DNAzyme by covalently introduced intercalator

By introducing an intercalator through D-threoninol to the 10-23 DNAzyme at the junction between its catalytic loop and the binding arm, the RNA cleavage activity was greatly improved.

Sequence comparison between the flavoprotein subunit of the fumarate reductase (complex II) of the anaerobic parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum and the succinate dehydrogenase of the aerobic, free-living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans

Complex II in adult mitochondria of the parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum, exhibits high fumarate reductase activity and plays a key role in the anaerobic electron-transport observed in these organelles. In the present study, cDNAs for the flavoprotein (Fp) subunits of complex II have been isolated, cloned and sequenced from both A. suum and the aerobic, free-living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. Additional sequence at the 3' end of the mRNAs was determined by the Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE). Nucleotide sequence analysis of the A. suum cDNAs revealed a 22-nucleotide trans-spliced leader sequence characteristic of many nematode mRNAs, an open reading frame of 1935 nucleotides and a 3' untranslated region of 616 nucleotides including a poly (A) tail from a polyadenylation signal (AATAAA). The open reading frame encoded a 645 amino acid sequence, including a 30 amino acid mitochondrial presequence. The amino acid sequences for the Fp subunits from both organisms were very similar, even though the ascarid enzyme functions physiologically as a fumarate reductase and the C. elegans enzyme a succinate dehydrogenase. The ascarid sequence was much less similar to the Escherichia coli fumarate reductase. The sensitivity of other Fp subunits to sulfhydryl reagents appears to reside in a cysteine immediately preceding a conserved arginine in the putative active site. In both nematode sequences, this cysteine is replaced by serine even though the succinate dehydrogenase activity of both enzymes is still sensitive to sulfhydryl inhibition. A cysteine six residues upstream of the serine may be involved in the sulfhydryl sensitivity of the nematode enzymes. Surprisingly, in contrast to succinate dehydrogenase activity, the fumarate reductase activity of the ascarid enzyme was not sensitive to sulfhydryl inhibition, suggesting that the mechanism of the two reactions involves separate catalytic processes.

Endothelin induced collagen remodeling in experimental pulmonary hypertension

To investigate pathophysiological roles of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in collagen remodeling in pulmonary hypertension, we measured: (a) mRNA expression, concentration, localization of ET-1; (b) changes in types and content of collagen in the lung; (c) and confirmed direct effects of ET-1 on type V collagen metabolism in vascular smooth muscle cells. Monocrotaline-treated rats showed pulmonary hypertension with medial hypertrophy and perivascular fibrosis of pulmonary arteries. At the progressive stage of pulmonary hypertension, both ET-1 levels and its mRNA expression in the lung increased. Total collagen in the lung rose markedly with a higher rate of increase in type V collagen. ET-1, which exists in vascular smooth muscle cells, other perivascular cells and endothelium, stimulated type V collagen production. Our results suggest that local production of ET-1 in the lung contributes to progression of pulmonary hypertension through changes in phenotypes and content of collagen.

Doxorubicin cardiotoxicity: diastolic cardiac myocyte dysfunction as a result of impaired calcium handling in isolated cardiac myocytes

We examined intracellular calcium transients of isolated single cardiac myocytes from rats with doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy with simultaneous measurement of cell motion. DOX was administered i.p. to Sprague-Dawley rats at 2.5 mg/kg once a week for 10 weeks. Field-stimulated calcium transients and simultaneous cell motion in single myocytes were measured in the presence or absence of isoproterenol using fura-2/AM. Histopathologic examination revealed slight changes. The time courses of both calcium transients and cell motion were significantly prolonged by DOX. There was a slight but not significant reduction in parameters of contractility in both calcium transients and cell motion. The beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness of both calcium transients and cell motion was not significantly impaired compared with the controls. Our data indicated that, despite the slight histologic changes in the heart in DOX-induced cardiomyopathy, impaired sequestration of intracellular free calcium ions in individual myocytes may be one factor leading to diastolic dysfunction. Monitoring of diastolic function is important to detect early cardiotoxicity caused by DOX.

GABA receptor subtypes involved in the neuronal mechanisms of baroreceptor reflex in the nucleus tractus solitarii of rabbits

The role of GABAA and GABAB receptors in neuronal mechanisms of the baroreceptor reflex in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) of the anesthetized and immobilized rabbits were investigated using a microiontophoretic technique. Baroreceptive neurons (BRNs) activated or depressed by baroreceptor stimulation (phenylephrine, 10 micrograms/kg, i.v.) were identified in the NTS (activated BRN (A-BRN) and depressed BRN (D-BRN), respectively). The GABAA antagonist bicuculline (40-80 nA) increased spontaneous activities of these neurons, but the GABAB antagonist phaclofen (80-160 nA) did not. Evoked responses of A-BRNs were potentiated by bicuculline and phaclofen, while the responses of D-BRNs were not clearly affected by these drugs. These results suggest that most of A- and D-BRNs are tonically inhibited by endogenous GABA acting on GABAA receptors, but not on GABAB receptors, and that GABAergic mechanisms suppressively modulate the baroreceptor reflex acting on GABAA and GABAB receptors of A-BRNs, but not of D-BRNs.

Human complex II (succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase): cDNA cloning of the flavoprotein (Fp) subunit of liver mitochondria

Complex II (succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is an important enzyme complex in both the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and the aerobic respiratory chains of mitochondria in eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic organisms. In this study, homology probing with mixed primers for the polymerase chain reaction and subsequent sequence analysis were successfully applied to clone cDNA for the flavoprotein (Fp) subunit of human liver complex II. The isolated clone contains an open reading frame of 1,992 nucleotides and encodes a mature protein of 621 amino acids with a molecular weight of 68,011. The amino acid sequence was highly homologous with that of bovine heart Fp (93.2%) and was quite different from the partial sequence of human placental Fp reported previously [Malcovati et al. (1991) in Flavins and Flavoproteins 1990, pp. 727-730], which showed striking homology to that of Bacillus subtilis. To solve this discrepancy, the partial cDNA sequences of the stomach and placental Fp subunits of human complex II were determined in addition to the full length cDNA of liver. The sequence data, sensitivity to thiol reagents and antigenic properties indicated that the major from of FP subunit in human complex II is unique at least among the three tissues analyzed, and is more similar to the Fp subunit of bovine heart than to that of B. subtilis.

Can updated climate pledges limit warming well below 2°C?

[Figure: see text].

CD4(+) cells are indispensable for ulcer development in murine cutaneous leishmaniasis

One of the most characteristic clinical features in cutaneous leishmaniasis is the development of nodules followed by ulcerations at the site of infection. Leishmania amazonensis-infected mice show similar ulcerative lesions. Leishmania-infected severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice, however, have been shown to develop nonulcerative nodules. In the present study, the roles of T cells in ulceration were examined using SCID mice in cell reconstitution experiments. After development of nonulcerative nodules, SCID mice were inoculated with splenocytes from either Leishmania-infected or naive immunocompetent mice, resulting in ulceration in all mice. When naive splenocytes were depleted of CD4(+), CD8(+), or B220(+) cell populations and the remaining cells were injected into Leishmania-infected SCID mice after the development of nodules, only SCID mice inoculated with splenocytes depleted of CD4(+) cells did not show ulceration. The evidence obtained in this study clearly shows that the CD4(+) cell population is indispensable for ulceration in leishmaniasis lesions of SCID mice.

An angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor protects against doxorubicin-induced impairment of calcium handling in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes

1. The effects of doxorubicin (DOX) on intracellular calcium transients were examined in neonatal rat cultured cardiac myocytes, as were the cardioprotective effects of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor on DOX-induced impairment of calcium handling. 2. Cultured cardiac myocytes isolated from neonatal Wistar-Kyoto rats were treated with DOX for 24 h. Field-stimulated calcium transients in single myocytes were measured in the presence or in the absence of isoproterenol using fura-2/AM. Calcium transients were also measured after the addition of DOX to myocytes pretreated with M-I (an active metabolite of delapril HCL, an ACE inhibitor. 3. Doxorubicin reduced the amplitude and maximum velocity of increase and decrease of calcium transients, prolonged the time-course of calcium transients and impaired the beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness of calcium transients in a dose-dependent manner. The DOX-induced impairment of calcium transients and beta-adrenoceptor responsiveness was improved by M-I. 4. Doxorubicin impaired both the mobilization and sequestration of intracellular calcium ions in contraction-relaxation cycles and the response of calcium transients to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. The ACE inhibitor ameliorated DOX-induced impairment of calcium dynamics, suggesting ihat M-I, an active metabolite of delapril, protects against DOX-induced abnormal calcium handling leading to cardiac dysfunction.

Constituents of cultivated mulberry tree

From the ethyl acetate extract of the cultivated mulberry tree (Morus alba L.), two new flavonoid derivatives with a fused dihydrochalcone partial moiety were isolated, and named kuwanons K and L. The structures of kuwanons K and L were shown to be 1 and 2 respectively, on the basis of chemical and spectral data. Kuwanons K ( 1) and L ( 2) are regarded biogenetically as Diels-Alder adducts of a chalcone derivative and a dehydroprenylflavonoid derivative, and are the first example of a flavonoid derivative possessing a cyclohexene ring at a B ring of a flavonoid derivative.

The roles of preB cell receptor in early B cell development and its signal transduction

The preB cell receptor is expressed for a short period after mu heavy chain is produced, that is, at the large preB cell stage in B cell development. The severe impairment of B cell differentiation observed in mice deficient for the preB cell receptor clearly demonstrated the importance of the preB cell receptor in B cell development. Analyses of bone marrow precursor B cells in normal and B cell-deficient mutant mice indicated the preB cell receptor transduced signals to drive cell cycle and to induce allelic exclusion. The proliferation of the preB cell receptor-expressing cells leads to the selective expansion of cells which have succeeded in the productive rearrangement of mu heavy chain gene. This process builds up a preB cell pool large enough to generate sufficient numbers of mature B cells. The preB cell receptor appears to induce allelic exclusion by shutting off the expression of recombinase activation gene (RAG). In order to analyse the signal transduction pathway downstream of the preB cell receptor, we have developed a new system in which cross-linking of Ig beta expressed on bone marrow proB cells mimics the signalling through the preB cell receptor to induce differentiation from proB to small preB cells.

Calcium transients in single myocytes and membranous ultrastructures during the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in rats

1. We examined changes in intracellular calcium transients of separated single myocytes from the right ventricle (RV) of the rat heart during the change from adaptation to maladaptation in response to a pressure overload. 2. Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) secondary to pulmonary hypertension was induced by a subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline. Developed tensions of the RV-free wall were decreased as RVH progressed. Single myocytes were separated from the RV during different stages of RVH. Fura-2/AM-loaded cells were field stimulated, and changes in calcium transients were measured by Olympus OSP-3 system. We also examined membranous ultrastructures (sarcoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, surface caveolae) involved in calcium metabolism in the hearts using scanning electron microscopy. 3. We observed characteristic changes in calcium transients during the change from adaptation to maladaptation, and also found that one parameter (amplitude) of calcium transients appeared to be correlated with the changes in the number of sarcoplasmic reticulum. 4. These results provided some insights into the mechanism of calcium handling of hypertrophied heart in response to a pressure overload from adaptation to maladaptation especially when stimulatory frequency was high, and suggested that heart rate control is a very important factor for the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure.

Non-ulcerative cutaneous lesion in immunodeficient mice with Leishmania amazonensis infection

Cutaneous leishmaniasis begins as papules or nodules at the site of promastigote inoculation. The next key pathogenic event in this disease is the formation of an ulcer at this site. Leishmania infection in immunodeficient mice, however, showed non-ulcerative cutaneous lesions suggesting the involvement of the immune system in ulcer formation. Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID), recombination-activating gene 2 knockout (RAG-2-/-), and immunocompetent mice were inoculated subcutaneously with cultured L. amazonensis promastigotes. Macroscopic nodules appeared at the inoculation site within 2 weeks of infection in all the mice and gradually extended to the surrounding skin tissue. Although nodules of immunocompetent mice ulcerated within 6 weeks, immunodeficient mice did not form ulcers even after 25 weeks of inoculation. These results strongly suggest the importance of functional T and B cells in ulcer formation of cutaneous leishmaniasis and are consistent with clinical features of non-ulcerative cutaneous leishmaniasis in some AIDS patients. The present study also indicates that the L. amazonensis-infected immunodeficient mouse model might be suitable for studying the mechanisms of ulcer formation in cutaneous leishmaniasis.