Analysis of glycoproteins from nasal polyps and papillomas by affinity chromatography

Glycoproteins were isolated from the particulate fraction of four nasal polyps and three nasal papillomas by affinity chromatography on lectins conjugated with agarose (Concanavalin A [Con A], wheat germ agglutinin [WGA], Ricinus communis agglutinin [RCA], peanut agglutinin [PNA], and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin [DBA]). The glycoprotein mixtures so isolated were then analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. Glycoprotein profiles of nasal polyps were similar to each other, but were distinctively different from those of nasal papillomas. Binding sites for Con A, WGA, and RCA isolated from nasal papillomas contained intense bands with a molecular weight less than 15,000 daltons, which were absent in nasal polyps. The major component of PNA-binding sites of nasal polyps is of a molecular weight of 65,000 daltons, which was not detected in nasal papillomas.

Anion transport activity in the human erythrocyte membrane modulated by proteolytic digestion of the 38,000-dalton fragment in Band 3

Extracellular treatment of human erythrocytes with papain completely converted the chymotryptic 38,000-dalton fragment of Band 3 to the 29,000-dalton fragment and inhibited the transport of inorganic phosphate in the cells. The inhibition, however, was not complete, indicating the presence of two components in the anion-transport system: the one resistant to papain digestion and the other sensitive to the digestion. The latter activity is well correlated with the degradation of the 38,000-dalton fragment. The activity remaining in the cells treated with papain was markedly different from that of the control cells. The remaining activity was not inhibited by pyridoxal phosphate and dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, potent inhibitors to the anion transport, whereas phenyl phosphate inhibited the activities of both papain-treated and control cells. The results indicate that the anion-transport system consists of multiple anion-binding sites and a part of the system which is sensitive to pyridoxal phosphate and dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid was located in the papain-sensitive portion of 38,000-dalton fragment. A possible model of the anion-transport system was presented.

Characterization of phosphoenolpyruvate transport across the erythrocyte membrane. Evidence for involvement of band 3 in the transport system

Phosphoenolpyruvate was found to be transported across the erythrocyte membrane by a carrier-mediated transport system. The transport of phosphoenolpyruvate was competitively inhibited by inorganic phosphate (Ki = 24 mM) and pyridoxal 5-phosphate (Ki = 0.2 mM), whereas the transport was noncompetitively inhibited by L(+)-lactate (Ki = 37 mM). Specific inhibitors for the inorganic anion transport system such as 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid and 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid strongly inhibited the phosphoenolpyruvate transport. The transport was irreversibly inhibited by treating erythrocytes with pyridoxal 5-phosphate and NaBH4. Transport activities of phosphoenolpyruvate and inorganic phosphate in the treated cells were similarly inhibited by pyridoxal 5-phosphate depending on its concentrations. 4,4'-Dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid protected both transport activities against the pyridoxal 5-phosphate/NaBH4 treatment. The major integral membrane protein, band 3, was preferentially labelled by treating erythrocytes with pyridoxal 5-phosphate and NaB[3H]H4. The radioactive incorporation into band 3 was confirmed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis combining isoelectric focusing in the first dimension and sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the second dimension. Taken together, these results suggest that band 3 mediates the transport of phosphoenolpyruvate as well as inorganic phosphate.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: a case with extensive white matter degeneration and optic atrophy

A 52-year-old woman is described, whose clinical features were typical of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease except for the presence of optic atrophy. Serial CT scans showed rapid development of brain atrophy early in the course. Postmortem examination revealed extensive degeneration of the cerebral and cerebellar white matter and of the optic nerves in addition to the classic findings of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. It is suggested that both the grey and white matter may undergo a severe destructive process early in the course of the disease, and the possibility is discussed that the white matter involvement is not a result of neuronal loss.

Neuritogenic determinant of bovine P2 protein in peripheral nerve myelin

Experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) is an experimentally produced demyelinating disease of peripheral nervous system. Several peptides of bovine P2 protein were tested for neuritogenic activity in Lewis rats. The hexacosapeptide CiT4 (residues 53--78 of bovine P2 protein) showed the highest neuritogenic activity among the peptides tested. The nonapeptide (residues 70--78) and the tridecapeptide (residues 66--78) were synthesized using the liquid phase peptide synthesis technique. The tridecapeptide showed mild, but definite activity in inducing EAN in the rats, while the nonapeptide was inactive. The localization of the neuritogenic determinant of bovine P2 protein in Lewis rats is discussed.

Heterogeneity of human erythrocyte band 3 analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Human erythrocyte membrane and purified band 3 were separated initially by isoelectric focusing and then examined in a second dimension by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Band 3 was segregated into three major bands whether the protein was contained within the membranes or was present in the isolated state. The isoelectric points of these major bands were 5.25, 5.35 and 5.70. Of chymotryptic fragments of band 3, the 60-kDa fragment was also separated into three major bands whose pI values were 4.75, 5.10 and 5.30. The multiplicity of band 3 appears to be due to different charges carried by the peptide(s) and is not ascribed to oxidation of band 3 during its preparation. Isoelectric points of the purified 60-kDa fragment were different from the pI values of the fragment coexisting with the complementary 35-kDa fragment, in which case the pI values were exactly the same as those of intact band 3. This suggests that these fragments interact tightly in situ even after being cleaved by chymotrypsin, and the tight interaction must still be present during electrophoresis in the first dimension.

Neuritogenic activity of peripheral nerve myelin proteins in Lewis rats

The neuritogenic activity of human peripheral nerve myelin proteins in Lewis rats was examined. Experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) was induced by human myelin fraction in all Lewis rats examined. Purified human P2 protein induced mild but definite EAN. None of purified P0 protein, total myelin lipids, gangliosides and cerebrosides induced EAN. Addition of total myelin lipids or gangliosides to the P2 protein did not enhance the neuritogenicity of the P2 protein. Bovine P2 protein, which was inactive in rabbits and guinea pigs, showed considerable neuritogenicity in Lewis rats. We postulate that induction of EAN depends both on the species of host animal and the source of antigen.

Intramedullary spinal cysticercosis

Intramedullary cysticercosis of the spinal cord is rare; there have been only 26 previous cases. We describe a patient with low back pain, paraparesis, lumbosacral sensory loss, and signs of meningeal irritation. The clinical diagnosis was spinal cord tumor, but at surgery there was a cysticercus cyst within the lumbosacral cord. Careful search did not reveal the parasite in any other part of the body. This is the first case of spinal cysticercosis reported in Japan.

Effect of pH and urine flow on urinary nicotine excretion after smoking cigarettes

Effects of pH and urine flow on urinary excretion of nicotine were examined in 11 smokers after they had smoked 3 cigarettes during water diuresis. Plasma nicotine showed a slight but nonsignificant rise after smoking. Urinary excretion of nicotine increased significantly from the pre-smoking levels of 258 +/- 76 and 252 +/- 147 (mean +/- SEM) ng/15 min to the peaks of 2,587 +/- 1,224 and 2.561 +/- 584 ng/15 min 30 and 45 min after the start of smoking. Thereafter, urinary nicotine tended to decrease and rise with changes in urinary flow. There was a correlation between urinary nicotine and urinary flow after smoking (r = 0.26, p less than 0.05). Eleven subjects were grouped based on the mean urinary pH throughout the experiment. No significant amount of nicotine was excreted in the group with pH above 7.5 while groups with pH below 7.4 excreted substantial nicotine after smoking. There was a negative correlation between urinary pH and nicotine excretion (r = -0.58, p less than 0.001). Urinary excretion of nicotine cannot be used as an index of smoking unless pH and urine flow are controlled.

Dermatoleukodystrophy with neuroaxonal spheroids

A Japanese brother and sister, the progeny of healthy parents, were born with thickened, wrinkled skin and died between the age of 2 and 3 years with a progressive cerebral disease characterized by generalized mental and motor impairment. Postmortem neuropathological studies disclosed a remarkable leukodystrophy in which multiple axonal spheroids were the outstanding feature. Ultrastructurally, the spheroids contained granules resembling ceroid-lipofuscin bodies. Similar granules were found in degenerating oligodendrocytes and in Schwann cells. The skin showed hypercellular and sclerotic features, suggestive of a genodermatosis. This combined neurologic and dermatologic syndrome, which, to our knowledge, has not hitherto been recognized, may well result from a genetically determined metabolic disorder, the nature of which still remains undisclosed.

[HCG proved by enzyme labelled antibody technique in a suprasellar tumour--an autopsy case report (author's transl)]

An 11-year-old female case of suprasellar tumour was reported. She presented consciousness disorder without precocious puberty. Microscopically, two cell pattern pinealoma and choriocarcinoma with no metastasis were revealed. By means of enzyme-labelled antibody technique, the authors proved HCG in syncytial cells of the tumour.