Prostaglandin E2 stimulates osteoclast formation via endogenous IL-1 beta expressed through protein kinase A

The present study was conducted to determine whether endogenous IL-1 is involved as a potent mediator of PGE2-stimulated osteoclast formation in 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3)-primed calvarial cells from mouse embryos. PGE2 induced IL-1 beta gene expression in the primed calvarial cells. IL-1 beta gene expression was also induced in a dose-dependent manner by forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP. PGE2-induced IL-1 beta gene expression was markedly inhibited by H-89, a potent inhibitor of protein kinase A. On the other hand, osteoclast formation in 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3-primed calvarial cells was also stimulated by forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP, and their stimulatory effects were dose dependent. H-89 also inhibited PGE2-stimulated osteoclast formation. The presence of the IL-1 beta gene product in the conditioned medium of 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3-primed calvarial cells treated with PGE2 was proved by the results of an immunoprecipitation assay using anti-mouse IL-1 beta Ab. The addition of anti-mouse IL-1 beta Ab to 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 primed calvarial cell cultures markedly inhibited PGE2-stimulated osteoclast formation. The stimulatory effect of conditioned medium of primed calvarial cells treated with PGE2 on osteoclast formation was also inhibited by anti-IL-1 beta Ab pretreatment. Furthermore, we found that endogenous IL-6 is partially involved in PGE2-stimulated osteoclast formation.

UCN-01, 7-hydroxyl-staurosporine, inhibits kinase activity of cyclin-dependent kinases and reduces the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product in A549 human lung cancer cell line

UCN-01 (7-hydroxyl-staurosporine), which was initially developed as a selective protein kinase C inhibitor, has an anti-tumor effect on several human cancer cell lines in vivo. In this study, we examined whether this compound has an inhibitory effect on cell cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks) in vitro and in vivo using A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cell line. UCN-01 inhibited the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product (pRB) kinase activity of three types of cdks (cdk 2, 4 and 6) with 50% inhibitory concentration values of 42, 32, and 58 nM, respectively, in vitro. Moreover, the amount of phosphorylated pRB was reduced by UCN-01 at a concentration of 100 nM in the living cells. Flow cytometric analysis showed that UCN-01 inhibited cell cycle progression at G1 to S transition in A549 cells at the concentration of 100 nM. These results suggest that inhibition of pRB phosphorylation by UCN-01 might lead to inhibition of the cell cycle and thereby contribute to antitumor activity of this compound.

[Post-therapeutic changes in body composition of patients with Graves' disease]

Changes in patients' body composition following therapy for Graves' disease were assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The subjects were 21 patients (6 males, 15 females) who were treated with 131I. Their ages ranged from 24 to 75 years (median 51.2 years). Changes in body composition were analyzed by evaluating the fat mass (FM) and lean mass (LM). Both FM and LM were significantly increased after therapy. The increase in LM was greater in the males, whereas in females, no significant difference was noted between the changes in FM and LM. The distributions of FM and LM were examined in the arms, legs and trunk after therapy, and FM was significantly increased in the trunk, while LM was increased in the legs. DXA is useful for the assessment of body composition as well as bone mineral content in follow-up study of Graves' disease.

A case of Kabuki make-up syndrome with EBV+Burkitt's lymphoma

Kabuki make-up syndrome was first reported in 1981 and is characterized by peculiar facies with post natal growth deficiency and mental retardation. Since the first report, approximately 100 cases have been reported, but there have been no reports of tumor development. A case is reported of a patient with Kabuki make-up syndrome who developed malignant lymphoma in his abdomen at the age of 3 years. The tumor was histologically diagnosed as Burkitt's lymphoma and Epstein-Barr virus was detected by in situ hybridization.

Contribution of interferon-gamma in protecting mice during pulmonary and disseminated infection with Cryptococcus neoformans

In the present study, the role of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the host resistance against Cryptococcus neoformans was examined using a murine model of pulmonary and disseminated infection. In this model, mice were infected intratracheally with live yeast cells, and the histological changes in the lungs and the number of microorganisms in the lung and brain were compared in mice treated and untreated with anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody (mAb) to define the contribution of endogenously synthesized IFN-gamma in the natural course of infection. Administration of this mAb reduced the accumulation of inflammatory cells in the alveolar septa, peribronchial and perivascular areas, and promoted the expansive growth of microorganisms in the alveoli and destruction of alveolar structure. The neutralization of endogenous IFN-gamma by mAb increased the number of microorganisms in the lung and brain, and significantly shortened the survival time of infected mice. On the other hand, administration of IFN-gamma decreased the number of microorganisms in these organs, and significantly extended their survival time. Considered together, our results suggest that endogenous IFN-gamma protects mice from infection with C. neoformans by inducing a cellular inflammatory response, potentiating the clearance of microorganism from the lungs and preventing its dissemination into the central nervous system.

Structure, function and expression of a murine homeobox protein AREC3, a homologue of Drosophila sine oculis gene product, and implication in development

The cDNA clones encoding ARE(Na,K-ATPase alpha1 subunit gene regulatory element) binding protein AREC3 were isolated from myoblast C2C12 cells and mouse skeletal muscle cDNA library. At least four alternatively spliced forms of AREC3 cDNA were identified. Sequence analysis indicates that AREC3 has an extensive homology with the Drosophila sine oculis gene product required for development of the entire visual system [Cheyette et al.(1994) Neuron 12, 977-996]. The homologous region including a homeodomain is required for specific DNA binding to ARE. A transactivation domain was identified in the C-terminal part of the AREC3 by reporter gene assays using GAL4-AREC3 fusion protein constructs. Immunohistochemistry revealed that AREC3 localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm of myoblast C2C12 cells, and the production of AREC3 is augmented during muscle differentiation. Western blot analysis indicated that the 115 kDa form of AREC3 protein is increased in the cytoplasmic extract, and the 67kDa form is increased both in nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts of C2C12 cells during muscle differentiation.

[Successful combination chemotherapy including deoxycoformycin in a case of cutaneous T cell lymphoma]

A 44-year-old woman was admitted to our department because of fever and skin eruptions on August, 1991. Physical examination revealed superficial lymph node swelling, hepatosplenomegaly and generalized erythroderma. Laboratory findings were as follows; WBC 21,490/microliters with 67% lymphocytes including flower cells. The surface phenotype of lymphocytes was positive for CD2, CD4, CD25, CD29 suggesting helper-inducer T cell. Skin and lymph node biopsies revealed the infiltration of T cells with indented nuclei. Anti-HTLV-1 antibodies in the serum and HTLV-1 proviral DNA analysis by PCR method were negative. She was diagnosed as CTCL, and she was treated with prednisolone. However, her erythroderma deteriorated gradually, in spite of well-controlled lymphocyte counts. Combination chemotherapy, utilizing vincristine, etoposide and cyclophosphamide, was effective against organomegaly but not against generalized erythroderma. After DCF was initiated at a weekly dose of 7.5 mg, her erythroderma improved rapidly and markedly with the disappearance of severe itching, and she achieved complete remission. Our results suggest that DCF is beneficial for chemotherapy-resistant generalized erythroderma in CTCL.

An immunohistochemical analysis of implanted woven Dacron and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts in humans

An immunohistochemical analysis was performed to clarify the healing process in implanted vascular grafts in human. Eight woven Dacron grafts and 6 expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts were obtained following redo surgery, limb amputation, and autopsy. The implantation periods ranged from 5 days to 148 months. The antibodies used for the analysis were specific to alpha-actin (smooth muscle cells), macrophages, von Willebrand factor (endothelial cells), fibrin, elastin, collagen types 1-5, CD3 (T cells), and CD20 (B cells). At 5 and 24 days after implantation, thrombi containing red blood cells and fibrin covered the anastomotic lines and some of the luminal surfaces of the grafts. Macrophages were scattered throughout the thrombi. At 11-148 months after implantation, either a single layer of endothelial cells or a thin layer of fibrin covered the anastomotic segments of the grafts, and smooth muscle cells and collagen fiber were seen forming anastomotic intimal hyperplasia (AIH). The AIH in the grafts at 94 and 148 months after implantation was almost the same thickness and length a that in the grafts at 11-36 months after implantation Apart from the anastomotic segments, a connective tissue matrix containing collagen fibers covered the luminal surfaces, and some thrombi were noted. Most of the collagen present was type 3, in addition to some type 1, 4, and 5 collagen. No type 2 collagen was noted. Some elastin was also detected in the AIH but not in the midportion of the grafts. Some macrophages and T cells were noted in the perigraft tissues.

[Characteristics of radiopharmaceutical delivered from 99mTc-DTPA in the technegas generator]

99mTc-DTPA aerosol permeates the alveolar membrane by an intercellular pathway. Measurement of the clearance rate of 99mTc-DTPA aerosol is useful for assessing injury of the lung epithelium. Pertechnegas (P-gas) is also used to assess epithelial permeability, but its clearance is too rapid to evaluate lung epithelial permeability. The aims of this study were first to generate 99mTc-DTPA fine aerosol (D-gas), second to characterize D-gas by radiochromatography and an in vivo study in the rat, and third to investigate the clinical significance of D-gas in comparison with 99mTc-DTPA aerosol and P-gas. We generated D-gas in a chamber with an atmosphere of 3% oxygen and 97% argon inside the Technegas Generator. The clearance half-time of D-gas was 19.8 +/- 4.0 min in eight normal non-smoker subjects, 12.0 +/- 2.8 min in four smoker subjects, and 31 +/- 11.2 min in three with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). In radiochromatography, the development of D-gas was the same as that of P-gas and different from that of 99mTc-DTPA solution. In the in vivo study using a rat, the distribution of intravenously injected D-gas solution was the same as that of 99mTcO4-, but different from that of 99mTc-DTPA solution. These results suggest that 99mTc-DTPA separates to free 99mTcO4- in the chamber of the Technegas Generator and that D-gas behaves in the same manner as P-gas. In conclusion, D-gas has no clinical significance for the assessment of epithelial permeability.

Activation of unusual Mac-1+CD4-CD8- T cells bearing (alpha)(beta) antigen receptor in murine lungs during infection with Mycobacterium bovis BCG: regulation by interferon-gamma

We have recently (Kawakami et al, Immunol. Lett. 1995;46: 143) demonstrated that unusual Mac-1+CD4-CD8- T cells bearing (alpha)(beta) antigen receptor (Mac-1+ (alpha)(beta) T cells) reside in a considerable proportion in murine lungs. The present study was performed to examine the dynamics of accumulation of these cells in the lungs following intravenous administration of Mycobacterium bovis BCG (BCG). Mac-1+ (alpha)(beta) T cells accumulated rapidly 24 hr after infection, followed by a gradual increase over the observation period of 15 days. Furthermore, the expression of Ia, ICAM-1 and FcgammaR II/III on their surface intensified dramatically after BCG infection. The kinetics of enhancement of Ia expression was slower than that of ICAM-1, with the maximum level attained in one day in the latter molecule but in two weeks in the former. Neutralization of endogenous IFN-gamma by specific mAb completely blocked the augmented expression of Ia on Mac-1+ (alpha)(beta) T cells after BCG infection, but did not have any significant effect on that of ICAM-1. In contrast, in vivo administration of IFN-gamma enhanced the expression of ICAM-1 as well as that of Ia. Our results indicate that accumulation of Mac-1+ (alpha)(beta) T cells within the lung is associated with a differential change in the expression of surface antigens, and suggest that these cells may play a role in the host defense against mycobacterial infection.

Long term effect of erythromycin therapy in patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection

BACKGROUND

Diffuse panbronchiolitis is a chronic infection of the lower respiratory tract common among the Japanese people, with a persistent Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in the late stage and sustained neutrophil retention in the airways. The long term effect of erythromycin was examined retrospectively in a group of patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis, with and without P aeruginosa infection, and the relationship between drug-induced bacterial clearance and clinical improvement was investigated.

METHODS

The history, daily volume of sputum, type of organisms in sputum cultures, pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gas tensions, and chest radiographs were compared in 16 patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis with P aeruginosa infection and 12 without. The total and differential cell counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were compared in 14 of the 28 patients (five of whom were infected with P aeruginosa) before and after 1-12 months of treatment with erythromycin (600 mg/day). The outcome of treatment in patients showing clearance of organisms on repeated sputum cultures was compared with that in those demonstrating persistence of bacteria in the sputum and patients with normal flora.

RESULTS

Erythromycin improved respiratory function and arterial blood gas tensions irrespective of the presence or absence of P aeruginosa in the sputum. Treatment also resulted in a reduction in the BAL fluid total cell count and the percentage of neutrophils in both groups of patients. There were no differences between patients in whom the bacteria cleared and those with persistent bacteria or patients with a normal flora with regard to the degree of improvement of respiratory function, arterial blood gas tensions, and BAL fluid cell composition.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that the efficacy of erythromycin in diffuse pan-bronchiolitis may be due to anti-inflammatory effect, independent of P aeruginosa infection or bacterial clearance.

Increased proliferation of eosinophil clusters in myelodysplastic syndromes

A patient with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) developed eosinophilia during treatment with recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF). To study the mechanism of this eosinophilia, we investigated the proliferation of eosinophil colony-forming units (CFU-Eo) in nine patients and four healthy controls. Eosinophil clusters increased significantly in the patients (P < 0.01) compared with controls, but eosinophil colonies were not different between controls and MDS patients. In addition, the eosinophil clusters were significantly increased with rhGM-CSF in MDS patients compared with controls, although serum GM-CSF concentrations were similar in both groups. These results suggest that eosinophil clusters are increased in MDS either through abnormal progenitor proliferation or hypersensitivity to GM-CSF.

Usual interstitial pneumonia associated with primary Sjögren's syndrome

We describe the first case, to our knowledge, of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) as the pulmonary manifestation in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SjS). A 45-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of a dry cough and an interstitial shadow on a chest roentgenogram. Labial biopsy and sialogram confirmed a diagnosis of SjS. BAL fluid analysis revealed lymphocytosis with a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio compatible with bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia or lymphoid interstitial pneumonia. Open-lung biopsy specimen, however, showed evidence of UIP. Open-lung biopsy was a useful and necessary examination to determine the nature of the pulmonary complication in primary SjS. Conservative treatment without corticosteroids maintained a stable condition for a follow-up period of 3 years.

Age-related changes in the static and dynamic mechanical properties of mouse lungs

To investigate the effects of aging on pulmonary mechanical properties in mice, we devised a new experimental apparatus to measure the respiratory impedance of excised lungs in mice and examined age-related changes in both static and dynamic properties. In an accelerated senescence-resistant strain of mice, SAMR1 (Takeda, T., Y. Fukuchi, Y. Uejima, K. Teramoto, T. Oka and H. Orino, J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 39: 911-919, 1991), ranging from 3 to 24 months of age, static compliance (Cst) as well as total lung capacity increased significantly with age, whereas specific compliance and the K value, as determined by exponential analysis, showed no significant change. In the dynamic study, dynamic compliance (Cdyn) increased significantly with age, whereas the frequency dependence of Cdyn (Cdyn/Cst) did not vary with age. From these results we concluded that lung elasticity, normalized to lung volume, remained constant with age and that the effects of aging on pulmonary mechanics might be solely derived from increases in lung volume in the SAMR1 strain of mice.

New design of N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) lung imaging in the patient with lung cancer

N-isopropyl-p-[123I]iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) was injected intravenously into primary non small cell lung carcinoma patients (n = 17). The average pixel count ratios of the cancerous area to the whole lung was measured in the initial and delayed images. In the initial image, this ratio was less than 1.0 for the entire group of patients, and was thought to reflect decreased blood flow in the cancerous tissues. The rate of counts within a ROI in the delayed image to counts in the same ROI in the initial image was also calculated and called the remain rate. The remain rate (delayed count/initial count) was significantly higher in the cancerous area than in the whole lung (0.65 +/- 0.30, median 0.62, 0.38 +/- 0.05, median 0.38, p < 0.01). This observation was thought to be due to a relative decrease in the blood flow and the accumulation of IMP, which forms pools within the alveolar spaces of the cancerous areas. The image prepared with the remain rate revealed a hot image in the cancerous regions, even when this was not apparent in the delayed image. The remain rate image may therefore be useful in the identification of cancerous areas in lung tissue if it is used in comparison with the initial image.

SSCP analysis of pig mitochondrial DNA D-loop region polymorphism

The sequence polymorphism that occurs in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) displacement (D)-loop region is useful as a cytoplasmic DNA marker. We cloned the mtDNA D-loop regions of five breeds of pig by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and determined their sequences. The sequence diversities in D-loop regions among five breeds of pig were located in the starting area of heavy-strand replication. From these sequences, we designed primers for PCR-mediated single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis that amplified the most polymorphic 227 bp fragment of the D-loop region. The results of PCR-SSCP analysis clearly showed that four types of polymorphism (A to D) are found in Landrace (A), Large White (A, B), Duroc (A), Göttingen miniature pig (B) and Meishan (C, D). The same polymorphisms were also detected from each porcine embryo by this method. Our results show that PCR-SSCP analysis is useful in detecting polymorphisms in the D-loop region of pigs and pig embryos.

[Morphological studies on preputial gland of mice--1. Light and transmission electron microscopic observations of preputial gland in male mice]

Male BALB/c mice isolated after weaning were housed two mice per cage at the age of 10 weeks. After 1 week, each pair of mice was observed for social dominance, and compared with control mice kept in isolation. The preputial gland in the socially dominant animal was histologically examined. The preputial gland consisted of a congregation of branched simple tubuloacinar gland and typical holocrine secretion on morphological examination. Acinar cells in the dominant animals were large, multiplicative and hypertrophic compared with those of controls and subordinates. Dominant animals required copious secretion for attainment and maintenance of a dominant social position. Acinar cells of subordinates were very small, flattened and atrophied because fatty secretion particles filled the luminal duct. These accumulated secretion particles pressed the acinar cells and caused degeneration. Not only luminal acinar cells but also central acinar cells and some basal acinar cells were degenerated. Electron micrographs showed that basal acinar cells in dominant animals contained many mitochondria, agranular endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes in the cytoplasm, whereas those of subordinates contained myelin bodies and lipid droplets. Therefore, it is suggested that the synthesis of secretion particles in acinar cells of subordinates hardly occurred.

[Behavioral characteristics of open-field activities in NOD mice]

The open-field test was carried out on NOD mice of both sexes between the ages of 40 to 300 days. The behavior of both sexes of mouse was observed for 3-minute periods with an interval of 20 days. The mean scores of ambulation and rearing increased at the ages of 40-80 days old, and both scores decreased more than 100 days old. The onset of overt diabetes (DM) in female mice were observed after 120 days old. After the onset of DM with great loss of body weight, the scores of ambulation and rearing were dramatically decreased. Other parameters, urination, defecation, and preening were not changed with age of both sexes. These data suggest that conspicuous weight loss with the expression of overt diabetes in NOD female mouse might correlate to decrease of the ambulation and rearing scores.

DNA binding through distinct domains of zinc-finger-homeodomain protein AREB6 has different effects on gene transcription

Transcription factor AREB6 has a unique structure composed of two zinc-finger clusters in N- and C-terminal regions, and one homeodomain in the middle. AREB6 has been known to regulate the expression of the Na, K-ATPase alpha 1 subunit, interleukin 2 and delta-crystallin genes. We determined the optimal binding sites for the N-terminal zinc-finger cluster as GTCACCTGT or TGCACCTGT and for the C-terminal zinc-finger cluster as C/TACCTG/TT by the CASTing method (cyclic amplification and selection of targets). The additional consensus sequence GTTTC/G, in conjunction with the CACCTGT sequence, was selected by the second CASTing for the entire coding region. The N-terminal zinc-finger cluster binds to DNA strongly when the DNA has GTTTC/G in conjunction with the CACCTGT sequence. The homeodomain had no specific DNA binding activity but was found to interact with the N-terminal zinc-finger cluster. Analyses of zinc-finger mutation proteins revealed that the contribution to DNA binding of each N-terminal zinc-finger motif is altered depending on the presence of the additional consensus. Transient transfection assays showed that AREB6 repressed the human 70-kDa heat-shock gene promoter harboring the CACCTGT sequence together with the additional consensus, and that AREB6 activated the promoter harboring the CACCTGT sequence without the additional consensus. These results suggest that AREB6 has multiple conformational states, leading to positive and negative regulations of gene transcription.

The number of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-monophosphate binding sites and reduced folate pool in human colorectal carcinoma tissues: changes after tegafur and uracil treatment

Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a target enzyme of 5-fluorouracil and is inhibited by 5-fluoro-dUMP (FdUMP) to form an inactive ternary complex. We investigated the changes in the number of FdUMP binding sites in human colorectal carcinoma tissues after treatment with 5-fluorouracil derivatives and also examined the mechanisms underlying these changes. The number of FdUMP binding sites was significantly increased in patients who received tegafur and uracil preoperatively [UFT (+) group, n = 14] compared with those who did not [UFT (-) group, n = 36; P < 0.0001]. No amplification of the TS gene was observed in the carcinoma tissues in either group. The level of TS mRNA in the carcinoma tissues showed no significant difference between UFT (-) and UFT (+) groups. There was a significant correlation between the level of TS mRNA and TS in the UFT (-) group, as shown by simple linear regression analysis (P < 0.05). In the UFT (+) group, 9 of 12 cases showed TSf corresponding to their level of TS mRNA. It seemed that the augmentation of TStot is the result of accumulation of ternary complex. Thus, TS inhibition by FdUMP will be insufficient in the absence of methylenetetrahydrofolate in the cytosol, because translation of TS from TS mRNA has been shown to continue in the presence of FdUMP.

Type 1-like helper T cell lines responsive to autologous peripheral blood monocytes established from two patients with sarcoidosis

In the present study, T cell lines, designated TU/BAL and KC/LN, were established from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and an affected lymph node, respectively, obtained from patients with active sarcoidosis by cultivating in the presence of IL-2. These cell lines produced IL-2 and proliferated by stimulation with the patient's own peripheral blood mononuclear cells treated with mitomycin C, while three other T cell lines established from ConA-stimulated BAL cells of patients with non-sarcoid lung diseases did not show any proliferative responses. The proliferation was mediated by IL-2, because anti-IL-2R alpha-chain monoclonal antibody (mAb) inhibited this response in a dose-dependent fashion. The adherent cell was a main stimulator of the proliferation. Both CD4 and HLA-DR appeared to be involved, because mAbs against these molecules inhibited this response. These results suggest that T cells obtained from sarcoid patients respond to a certain unknown antigen associated with HLA-DR or some self antigen expressed on the monocytes. Furthermore, both TU/BAL and KN/LN represented a profile of Th1-like cells: they secreted IL-2 and IFN-gamma, but not IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6, when stimulated with PHA in the presence or absence of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Thus, Th1-like cells activated by some unknown antigen(s) might play roles in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

[In vitro antibacterial activity of balofloxacin (BLFX) against isolates from patients with bacterial enteritis]

In vitro antibacterial activity of balofloxacin (BLFX), a newly developed fluoroquinoline, was compared with that of norfloxacin (NFLX), ofloxacin (OFLX) and ciplofloxacin (CPFX). Bacterial strains used in this experiment were freshly isolated from patients with infectious enteritis just before BLFX therapy. The isolates were 43 strains of Vibrio cholerae O1, 1 strain of Campylobacter sp., 4 strains of Aeromonas spp., 3 strains of Plesiomonas shigelloides, 1 strain of Vibrio mimicus and 1 strain of Vibrio cholerae non-O1. MIC90 of BLFX against 43 strains of Shigella spp., 13 strains of Salmonella spp. and 9 strains of E. coli were 0.39, 0.39, 0.2 micrograms/ml, respectively. All strains of Aeromonas spp. and P. Shigelloides were inhibited by the concentrations under 0.39 and 0.05 micrograms/ml. MIC90 of BLFX, NFLX, OFLX and CPFX against a total of 79 strains were 0.39, 0.2, 0.2 and 0.05 micrograms/ml, respectively.

ATF-1CREB heterodimer is involved in constitutive expression of the housekeeping Na,K-ATPase alpha 1 subunit gene

Na,K-ATPase alpha 1 subunit is an essential protein for cell growth and homeostasis. The gene coding for the protein is expressed in various types of tissues. We previously demonstrated that the transcription regulatory element of the gene (ARE) is located in the position -102 to -61 from the transcription initiation site. To identify the minimal regions that are essential for the constitutive expression, the sequences of the ARE were analyzed in detail by in vitro transcription assays using nuclear extracts from rat kidney, brain and liver. The analyses of various mutations in the promoter demonstrated that the proximal region of the ARE is required for the efficient transcription in every nuclear extract. The factors binding to this region in these nuclear extracts exhibited identical mobility in gel retardation assays. The ATF/CRE core motif is indicated to be important for the factor binding and for the promoter function in all nuclear extracts. The common binding factor in the nuclear extracts was revealed to be an ATF-1/CREB heterodimer by gel retardation assays using specific antibodies. We conclude that the ATF-1/CREB heterodimer is involved in the constitutive expression of the Na,K-ATPase alpha 1 subunit gene.