Reproductive, developmental, and genetic toxicology of ioversol

The authors examined the reproductive, developmental, and genetic toxicity of ioversol in several in vivo and in vitro systems. In Segments I, II, and III reproductive toxicity studies, ioversol did not produce teratogenic effects in either rats or rabbits at daily intravenous dose levels of up to 3.2 g I/kg/day. Daily intravenous injections in male and female rats did not adversely affect fertility or reproductive function. Offspring derived from dams treated with ioversol also developed and reproduced in a normal fashion. Four genetic toxicity studies employing bacterial and mammalian assay systems, and using both in vitro and in vivo methods, indicated that ioversol did not possess mutagenic or clastogenic activity.

Modulation of erythrocyte Ca2+-ATPase by selective calpain cleavage of the calmodulin-binding domain

The activity of the membrane-bound and the purified erythrocyte Ca2+-ATPase in the absence of calmodulin was stimulated by calpain digestion but could be further increased to maximal levels by calmodulin (CaM). Thus, CaM sensitivity was retained by the digested ATPase, at least at short times of incubation. In membranes digested at higher temperatures and in the purified ATPase digested at higher calpain/ATPase ratios, the ATPase became fully activated. The membrane-bound and the purified 138-kDa ATPase were converted by calpain to a fragment of approximately 124 kDa which still bound CaM and could be isolated on CaM columns when proteolysis occurred slowly but not when it occurred rapidly. Carboxypeptidase digestion of the purified enzyme and of its fragment of about 124 kDa has shown that calpain attacked the CaM-binding domain near the C terminus of the ATPase. This has also been supported by digestion of the purified enzyme and of its fragment of about 124 kDa. A first cut occurred in the middle of the domain producing a fragment of about 14 kDa and a (CaM-binding) fragment of about 124 kDa. A second cut closer to the N terminus of the domain also produced a fragment of about 124 kDa and accounted for the loss of CaM binding at prolonged times of incubation of the ATPase with calpain.

Hydrophobic binding of the ectodomain of influenza hemagglutinin to membranes occurs through the "fusion peptide"

Toward elucidating molecular details of virus-induced membrane fusion, we have studied the low pH-triggered interaction of the bromelain-solubilized ectodomain of influenza hemagglutinin with liposomes. Polypeptide segments which insert into the apolar phase of the lipid bilayer were first labeled specifically using either of the two membrane-restricted carbene-generating reagents, 3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-([125I]iodophenyl)diazirine and 1-palmitoyl-2-[11-[4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)diazirinyl]phenyl] undecanoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine, and were then identified on the basis of cyanogen bromide and 2-(2-nitrophenylsulfenyl)-3-methyl-3'-bromoindolenine-skatole fragment analysis and Edman degradations. Here, we demonstrate that the hydrophobic interaction is mediated solely by the so-called "fusion peptide" which corresponds to the NH2-terminal segment of the BHA2 subunit of nature influenza hemagglutinin. Predominant sites of labeling within that segment were Phe-3, Ile-6, Phe-9, Trp-14, Met-17, and Trp-21. The average 3-4 residue spacing between consecutive labeled amino acid side chains suggests a helical structure of that segment with an amphiphilic character.

Isolation and NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of rat serum carrier proteins for insulin-like growth factors

Three N-glycosylated carrier proteins (CP) for insulin-like growth factors (apparent molecular weights 30-32, 42 and 45 kDa) were isolated from adult rat serum. They share the same amino terminus (up to amino acid 31) and are constituents of the growth hormone-dependent native 150-200 kDa IGF carrier complex. Residues 12-31 display 60 and 50% sequence homology, respectively, to residues 2-21 of fetal rat and to residues 4-22 of a human amniotic fluid IGF carrier protein. No homology exists with the type I or II IGF receptors. Adult rat serum also contains a fourth IGF CP (24 kDa) whose 9 NH2-terminal amino acids are identical to those of the fetal form. Our findings suggest that the three N-glycosylated components originate from the same IGF carrier protein (adult form) and that the 24 kDa protein is a separate (fetal) species.

Complete primary structure of human and rabbit lactase-phlorizin hydrolase: implications for biosynthesis, membrane anchoring and evolution of the enzyme

We report the primary structures of human and rabbit brush border membrane beta-glycosidase complexes (pre-pro-lactase-phlorizin hydrolase, or pre-pro-LPH, EC 3.2.1.23-62), as deduced from cDNA sequences. The human and rabbit primary translation products contain 1927 and 1926 amino acids respectively. Based on the data, as well as on peptide sequences and further biochemical data, we conclude that the proteins comprise five domains: (i) a cleaved signal sequence of 19 amino acids; (ii) a large 'pro' portion of 847 amino acids (rabbit), none of which appears in mature, membrane-bound LPH; (iii) the mature LPH, which contains both the lactase and phlorizin hydrolase activities in a single polypeptide chain; (iv) a membrane-spanning hydrophobic segment near the carboxy terminus, which serves as membrane anchor; and (v) a short hydrophilic segment at the carboxy terminus, which must be cytosolic (i.e. the protein has an Nout-Cin orientation). The genes have a 4-fold internal homology, suggesting that they evolved by two cycles of partial gene duplication. This repetition also implies that parts of the 'pro' portion are very similar to parts of mature LPH, and hence that the 'pro' portion may be a water-soluble beta-glycosidase with another cellular location than LPH. Our results have implications for the decline of LPH after weaning and for human adult-type alactasia, and for the evolutionary history of LPH.

Elucidation of alloantibodies in autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

Forty-one patients with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA), who had free antibody in their sera, were investigated for the presence of alloimmune erythrocyte antibodies using the ZZAP autoabsorption technique. Patients were subdivided into three risk categories: (I) no prior pregnancy or transfusion; (II) history of pregnancy and/or one to five transfusions; and (III) greater than 5 transfusions. A total of 13 (32%) of the 41 patients exhibited significant alloantibodies. Of 11 category-I patients 2 (18%) had significant alloantibodies. Eight (31%) of the 26 category-II patients had significant alloantibodies and 3 (75%) of the 4 category-III patients had significant alloantibodies after absorption. The majority showed Rh specificity: anti-E(8), -C(3), -Cw(1). Anti-K was found in 6 samples and 1 had anti-Fya. Alloantibodies had not been suspected prior to autoabsorption in 10 (77%) of the 13 patients with alloantibodies. These findings underline the importance of performing autoabsorption in AIHA when free autoantibody is present in the serum. Additionally, Rh phenotyping performed on ZZAP-treated cells showed complete agreement with that ascertained using pure IgM Rh typing sera and untreated cells.

Continuous cisplatin (24-hour) and 5-fluorouracil (120-hour) infusion in recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been reported to be one of the most active chemotherapeutic regimens in recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, 21 patients with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma received a combination of cisplatin given as a 100 mg/m2 continuous infusion over 24 hours and 5-FU given as a 1000 mg/m2 24-hour continuous infusion for 120 hours. Toxicity was evaluated in all patients, and response and survival were evaluated 20 patients. There were two complete remissions (10%) and three partial remissions (15%) for a major response of 25%. Overall survival for the complete responders was 79+ and 61+ weeks, respectively. Median survival for all patients was 36 weeks. Toxicity consisted of moderate to severe nausea and vomiting in 14 patients (66%), mucositis in 14 patients (66%), granulocytopenia of less than 1000/microliter in 11 patients (52%), objective peripheral neuropathy in one patient (4.7%), and nephrotoxocity in one patient (4.7%). We conclude that the efficacy of 24-hour cisplatin infusion and 120-hour 5-FU infusion in the treatment of recurrent head and neck squamous carcinoma is not superior to the efficacy of single agent trials reported in the literature.

Identification and primary structure of a calmodulin binding domain of the Ca2+ pump of human erythrocytes

Exposure of the purified Ca2+ pump of human erythrocytes to chymotrypsin led to the rapid loss of calmodulin activation. A fragment of about 12 kDa was removed from the ATPase in 1-2 min. Blotting experiments with 125I-labeled calmodulin showed that this fragment contains the calmodulin binding region. The remainder of the ATPase molecule was degraded to a number of fragments ranging from 3 to 120 kDa; none of them bound calmodulin. To isolate the calmodulin binding domain, calmodulin which had been coupled to the Denny-Jaffe reagent (a cleavable radioactive photoaffinity cross-linker) was allowed to bind to the Ca2+ pump. After illumination to couple the cross-linker to the pump, the cleavable bond was split and the calmodulin removed, leaving the pump radioactively labeled. This pump was digested with chymotrypsin, and the products were separated by gel permeation chromatography. The only radioactive peak (migrating at about 12 kDa) was further purified on reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Amino acid analysis showed the fragment to have a minimal molecular mass of 12.4 kDa and to contain a single methionine. After attempts to sequence the peptide directly failed. CNBr digestion was carried out on the labeled ATPase, producing both soluble and insoluble labeled material. After reverse-phase HPLC purification of the soluble material, a single radioactive peak was collected. Its sequence was (Formula: see text). A portion of this peak was passed through a microcalmodulin column; it bound in the presence of Ca2+ and was eluted by EDTA, and by a mixture of EDTA and urea. Staphylococcal V8 protease digestion of the eluted peak produced the same sequence as shown above, but starting at Leu-2 and ending at Glu-32. Structural analysis of this peptide showed that it shares features with the calmodulin binding domains of other enzymes which are regulated by calmodulin.

The amino acid sequence of the phosphorylation domain of the erythrocyte Ca2+ ATPase

The amino acid sequence of a peptide isolated from a CNBr digest of the erythrocyte Ca2+ ATPase has been determined. It contains a highly conserved phosphorylation site sequence common to all aspartyl-phosphate forming ion motive ATPases which have been sequenced so far.

Partial purification and characterization of porcine platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)

Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) has been partially purified from porcine platelets. Purification steps included heparin-agarose chromatography of the material released by thrombin-stimulated washed porcine platelets and Blue-Sepharose chromatography. Preparative isoelectric focusing showed that isoelectric point of porcine PDGF is at pH 10.0-11.0 and elution experiments from sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gels indicated that its molecular weight is close to 30 kD. The immunoglobulin fraction prepared from anti-human PDGF serum inhibited the mitogenic activity of porcine PDGF. These experiments suggest a homology of porcine and human PDGF. Porcine platelet factor 4 and porcine platelet basic protein were devoid of significant mitogenic activity.

Purification of two heparin-binding proteins from porcine platelets and their homology with human secreted platelet proteins

Two heparin-neutralizing proteins secreted by thrombin-stimulated platelets were purified to homogeneity by means of heparin-agarose affinity chromatography. These proteins, termed porcine platelet basic protein (PBP) and porcine platelet factor 4 (PF4), were eluted from a heparin-agarose column at 0.6-0.9 M NaCl and at 1-1.4 M NaCl, respectively. The molecular weight of porcine platelet basic protein was 7,000-7,700 daltons, as estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and amino acid analysis. The isoelectric point of this protein was at pH 9.0. The amino acid composition of porcine platelet basic protein resembled that of human low affinity platelet factor 4 (LA-PF4), except that the porcine protein did not contain tyrosine. The molecular weight of porcine platelet factor 4 ranged from 10,000 (estimated from amino acid analysis) to 14,000 (estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). The amino acid compositions of human platelet factor 4 and of porcine platelet factor 4 were similar. Monospecific antibodies against porcine platelet factor 4 and porcine platelet basic protein were raised in rabbits. Competitive radioimmunoassay demonstrated a low but significant immunologic cross-reactivity between human and porcine platelet factor 4, and between porcine platelet basic protein and a group of human secreted platelet proteins that bind to heparin with low affinity (beta-thromboglobulin [beta TG] and low affinity platelet factor 4). Experiments with direct immuno-precipitation of 125I-labeled antigens suggested that all four proteins investigated (human platelet factor 4, porcine platelet factor 4, human low affinity platelet factor 4 or human beta-thromboglobulin, and porcine platelet basic protein) share common antigenic determinants. However, there was a higher degree of immunologic cross-reactivity between heterologous antigens with similar heparin binding affinity (human platelet factor 4 and porcine platelet factor 4) than between heterologous antigens with different binding affinity (human platelet factor 4 and porcine platelet basic protein). In conclusion, our finding suggests a significant structural homology among the four proteins.

Effect of heparin on the in vivo release and clearance of human platelet factor 4

Intravenous injection of heparin (100 U/kg) into normal volunteers resulted in an increase of platelet factor 4 (PF4) level in platelet-poor plasma from a mean value of 18.1 +/- 6.6 ng/ml before the injection to 257.9 +/- 68.3 ng/ml at 5 min after injection. PF4 antigen isolated from "postheparin plasma" by adsorption on heparin-agarose and elution with 2.0 M NaCl and "authentic PF4" isolated from human platelets showed identical patterns of migration as determined by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Material released by washed human platelets was injected intravenously into rats. The clearance of PF4 followed a biphasic exponential pattern. The half-lives (T1/2) for the fast and slow components for control rats were 1.2 and 17.1 min. Heparin significantly extended the half-life of human PF4 in rat circulation. The clearance of PF4 injected together with heparin followed a single component model with a half-life of 27.6 min. Administration of heparin to rats that had been previously injected with human platelet releasate resulted in a 30-fold increase of plasma PF4 level in their circulation. The clearance of PF4 from the circulation of these rats (T1/2 = 45 min) fitted a single component model. We propose that PF4 is originally secreted by platelets into circulation and subsequently bound reversibly to vascular sites from which it can be released back into the circulation by heparin. The fast component of PF4 clearance that is abolished by heparin may reflect binding of this protein to the endothelial cells.