Evidence for platelet-activating factor receptors in several B lymphoblastoid cell lines

Previous studies have shown that Raji, an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-immortalized Burkitt lymphoma B cell line, contains functional platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptors. Twelve other lymphoid cell lines, including Burkitt and non-Burkitt B cell lines, T cell lines, and a non B, non T cell line were tested for the presence of PAF receptors. Radioligand binding studies conducted at 4 degrees C revealed that six lymphoid cell lines of B cell origin (Raji, P3HR-1, BJAB, BJA/HR-1, Dakiki and PB-1) could specifically bind [3H]PAF. Treatment of four (Raji, P3HR-1, Dakiki and PB-1) of the above lymphoid cell lines with PAF resulted in an increase in free intracellular calcium, indicating that these specific PAF binding sites were functional PAF receptors. Other B cell lines (Daudi, B95-8, sfBT, CB-1), T cell lines (MOLT-4, CCRF-CEM) and a non B, non T cell line (NALM-6) had no PAF binding sites and showed no PAF-induced increase in intracellular calcium levels. These studies demonstrate evidence for the presence of PAF receptors on several B lymphocyte cell lines.

[Electrophysiological effects of berbamine on ischemic ventricular tachyarrhythmia]

The effects of berbamine (Ber, 10 mg.kg-1 iv) on ischemic ventricular tachyarrhythmia and electrophysiologic consequences in both normal and ischemic myocardia were studied in the open-chest dogs subjected to programmed electrical stimulation (PES) on 5-8 d after acute myocardial infarction. Its effects were compared with procainamide's (PA). Both drugs distinctly lengthened the QTc interval and the effective refractory period (ERP) of normal and infarct ventricular myocardium, decreased the dispersion of ERP in infarct myocardium (IDR) and the dispersion of ERP in left ventricle (VDR), and increased the diastolic excitability threshold (DET) of normal and infarct ventricular myocardium remarkably. The PES-induced ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) was prevented in 5 out of 6 dogs treated with berbamine and procainamide respectively. (Normal saline did not prevent PES-induced VT or VF). The results suggest that berbamine may be effective in preventing the onset of reentrant ventricular tachyarrhythmia after myocardial ischemic damage.

Role of sulphation in post-translational processing of rat salivary mucins

Segments of rat submandibular salivary gland were incubated in MEM supplemented with 10-800 microM sulphate in the presence of [3H]-glucosamine, [3H]-proline and [35S]-Na2SO4, with 0-8 mM chlorate, an inhibitor of 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulphate formation. Incorporation of glucosamine and sulphate depended upon the sulphate content of the medium and reached a maximum at 400 microM sulphate. The introduction of chlorate into the medium, while having no effect on the protein synthesis as shown by [3H]-proline incorporation, caused, at its optimal concentration of 4 mM, a 90% decrease in mucin sulphation and a 29% drop in mucin glycosylation. At low sulphate content in the medium and in the presence of chlorate the incorporation of sulphate and glucosamine was mainly into the low molecular-weight form of mucin. An increase in sulphate in the medium caused an increase in the high molecular-weight form of mucin and in the extent of sulphation in its carbohydrate chain. This effect of sulphate was, however, inhibited by chlorate. The results suggest that sulphation takes place at an early stage of mucin assembly and that sulphate availability is essential for the formation of the high molecular-weight mucin.

An assay procedure for solubilized thyroid hormone receptor: use of Lipidex

A method using Lipidex-1000 is reported for the assay of thyroid hormone receptor activity. The receptor was extracted from rat liver nuclei, incubated with [125I]T3, and applied to 1-ml disposable pipet tip columns containing a small volume of Lipidex. The resin absorbed the free hormone, and the receptor-bound hormone was recovered in the eluate. The method allowed accurate assay of the receptor activity, satisfying a linear relationship between the activity and the receptor protein concentration. The usefulness of this method was demonstrated by determining the pH optimum and the Kd and Bmax of T3 binding by the receptor. The Lipidex column can be used for the preparation of an unoccupied receptor after dissociation of the endogenously bound hormone.

[The preparation and properties of catechol-1,2-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida]

Catechol-1,2-dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.1) catalyzes the degradation of catechol to cis, cis-muconic acid. The biochemical properties of catechol-1,2-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida 84103 were investigated. The optimum pH and temperature is 7.5-8.0 and 25-30 degrees C, respectively. Cu2+, Zn2+ inhibit the enzyme activity. The paper chromatograph and UV absorption spectrum of enzymatic reaction product are accordance with those of the standard muconic acid.

Immunological abnormalities in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy: spontaneous release of interleukin-2 and interleukin-2 receptor by peripheral blood lymphocytes

Ten patients with human T lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy (HAM), 5 asymptomatic HTLV-I carriers and 11 healthy normal volunteers were studied to determine if peripheral blood lymphocytes spontaneously release IL-2 and soluble IL-2 receptors. Peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from HAM patients proliferated spontaneously when cultured for 5 days in vitro. Proliferating cells were CD3+ lymphocytes and both CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells as shown by morphologic and immunohistochemical observations. These T cell responses were also found in asymptomatic carriers, but the responses were not as marked as those of HAM patients. IL-2 activity in the culture supernatants was much higher in HAM patients than in asymptomatic carriers; IL-2 activity correlated well with the intensity of spontaneous proliferation of lymphocytes. Furthermore, soluble IL-2 receptors in the cell-free supernatants from HAM patients were markedly increased compared to those from asymptomatic carriers. These results indicate that spontaneous proliferation of T cells is intimately related to HTLV-I infection and is probably due to autocrine or paracrine pathways which involve IL-2 and IL-2 receptor system.

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is a bifunctional immune regulator for mucosal IgA responses

Porcine transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) exerts a unique bifunctional immunoregulatory effect on IgA responses in murine mesenteric and Peyer's patches lymphocyte cultures. TGF-beta 1 is a potent costimulator of LPS-induced IgA responses. The enhancement was observed at TGF-beta 1 at 0.1 to 10 ng/ml in both early and late phases of IgA responses from Day 5 to Day 14 in cultures. On the contrary, TGF-beta 1 exerts a profound immunosuppressive effect on IL-5-induced IgA synthesis. TGF-beta 1 is a natural cytokine produced by intestinal epithelial cells and may account for the polyclonal production and secretion of IgA at the mucosal surface and ensure the integrity of the primary host defense by mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALT).

[The changes of beta-glucuronidase in rabbit model with calcium bilirubinate stone]

The aim of the present study is to determine the beta-glucuronidase changes in bile and hepatobiliary tissue of rabbit model having pigment gallstone by means of biochemical and enzymehistochemical assay methods. The result showed both of the bacterial and non-bacterial beta-glucuronidase take part in the course of pigment gallstone formation. The bacterial beta-glucuronidase level increased quickly before the formation of gallstone, then decreased with control of bacterial infection. Non-bacterial beta-glucuronidase increased slowly in pro-formation stage of gallstone, then kept high level for long period of time. The relationship between beta-glucuronidase and pigment gallstone formation is also discussed.

Motoneurons innervating the external anal and urethral sphincters of the female cat have different patterns of dendritic arborization

The locations and dendritic arbors of sacral motoneurons (MNs) innervating the striated external anal and urethral sphincters (EAS and EUS, respectively) of the cat were investigated using muscle injections of cholera toxin-conjugated HRP (CT-HRP). Serial reconstructions showed that all cells labelled after EAS injections were located in the dorsomedial (DM) subdivision of Onuf's nucleus, whereas all cells labelled from the EUS were located in the ventrolateral (VL) subdivision. The dendritic arbors of EAS and EUS MNs were very different, suggesting differences in afferent control. In addition, prominent bundles of dendrites extended preferentially into the regions occupied by functionally appropriate preganglionic neurons (PGNs) in the sacral parasympathetic nucleus (SPN) which innervate the colon and bladder.

[Diterpenoid constituents in bulbs of Fritillaria anhuiensis S.C. Chen et S.F. Yin]

The bulb of Fritillaria anhuiensis, a substitute for the traditional Chinese medicine Beimu, has been used as antibechic and expectorant. From the either soluble part of the bulb, four constituents were isolated and identified by spectral analysis (IR, MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR) as beta-sitosterol, daucosterol, ent-kaur-15-en-17-ol and ent-kauran-16 beta, 17-diol.

[Influence of iron deficiency anemia on development of thymus and spleen and adenosine deaminase activity in rats]

Models of rats with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) were established, and changes in development of the thymus and spleen and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in them studied. The size and weight of the thymus in IDA rats were decreased, which suggested that the development of the thymus was lowered; but the size and weight of the spleen in IDA group were increased. ADA activities of the thymus and the spleen in IDA rats were significantly decreased by 32.98% and 25.89%, respectively. One week after iron supplement, the weight of the thymus and spleen in IDS group returned to normal level (P greater than 0.05), and their ADA activity also significantly increased, but ADA activity of the thymus tissue did not return to the normal. The results suggested that the changes in ADA activity of the thymus and spleen tissues were related to iron deficiency. Stepwise regression analysis suggested that there was a negative correlation between ADA activity of the thymus tissue and FEP/Hb ratio.