Calcium influx in a single rat basophilic leukemia cell as revealed with a digital imaging fluorescence microscope

Using a digital imaging fluorescence microscope, we have detected a rapid transient increase in the free cytosolic calcium concentration in a single rat basophilic leukemia cell (RBL-2H3) after antigen stimulation. Calcium ions were transported very rapidly (within 1 s) after a lag time (about 10 s at 37 degrees C) from the external environment into the cytoplasm. On the basis of the present experimental results we conclude that the gradual changes in the overall fluorescence intensity observed for a cell suspension are due to the distribution of different lag times shown by different cells as to the calcium influx through membrane calcium channels.

[Cytotoxicity of T-lymphocytes from a patient with choriocarcinoma to autologous tumor cultured cells--stimulation with the husband's lymphocytes]

The authors recently studied the histocompatibility between patients with choriocarcinoma and their husbands and did an in vitro experiment (in an autosystem) to establish whether choriocarcinoma can be treated with lymphocytes from the husband. The results were as follows. Seventeen pairs of trophoblastic diseases were analyzed for HLA antigens. The histocompatibility rate between the patient and husband was 60% in the choriocarcinoma group, which was larger than the rates for both the hydatidiform mole group (29%) and the invasive mole group (0%). We succeeded in establishing a cultured cell strain of choriocarcinoma. We named this strain SMT-cc 1 and used it in the subsequent autologous experiments. Peripheral T-lymphocytes of the patient with SMT-cc 1 were examined for their cytotoxicity against SMT-cc 1 using the 51Cr release assay. T-lymphocytes of the patient showed a cytotoxicity of 7.6% after independent culture (control experiment), while they showed a cytotoxicity of 19.7% after a 6-day mixed culture with the husband's lymphocytes. The latter figure was almost equal to the rate (22.2%) observed for T-lymphocytes after a similar stimulation procedure using SMT-cc 1. When anti-HLA-A, B antibody was added during the above mentioned cytotoxicity test, cytotoxicity was markedly reinforced. The results of this study indicate the effectiveness of specific immunotherapy which, making use of the fact that choriocarcinoma expresses the husband's genome, intravenously injects lymphocytes into the patient, after stimulation with antigens (husband's lymphocytes or choriocarcinoma cells).

Clinical evaluation of antithrombin III concentrate (BI 6.013) for disseminated intravascular coagulation in obstetrics. Well-controlled multicenter trial

Antithrombin III (AT III) is known to be the most important inhibitor of serine protease in the coagulation system. In the presence of heparin, AT III is converted from its progressive activity state to an immediate activity state. In disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in the field of obstetrics, the treatment has to be initiated very early. Heparin treatment, on the other hand, is critical since frequently postpartal or postoperative wound bleeding is present. We, therefore, established diagnostic criteria for the early diagnosis of DIC and investigated the clinical efficacy of a therapy with AT III in a well-controlled comparative study versus the injectable synthetic protease inhibitor FOY. The results of the trial showed that the AT III group (92%; n = 24) was significantly (p less than 0.001) superior in clinical efficacy to the FOY group (60%; n = 15). No side effects whatsoever were observed after treatment with AT III concentrate (Behring Institute). From these results, it could be concluded that a single therapy with AT III concentrate can sufficiently control the symptoms of DIC in the field of obstetrics without the risk of increased bleeding.

Preeclampsia as chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation. Study of two parameters: thrombin-antithrombin III complex and D-dimers

Determinations of coagulation/fibrinolysis parameters thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) and D-dimers (cross-linked fibrin degradation product) were carried out in order to prove that preeclampsia is a chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) state. Besides the parameters TAT and D-dimers, antithrombin III (ATIII), fibrin degradation products and platelets were measured as well. Even in normal pregnancy there is an activation of coagulation, reflected in a hypercoagulative state that is proceeding down to the formation of thrombin. This thrombin is, however, nearly completely inactivated by ATIII, so that no fibrin is formed. This inactivation is solely reflected by the increase of TAT in the blood. In preeclampsia, however, where no such rapid changes as in acute DIC occur, the increase of TAT is accompanied by a decrease of ATIII and platelet counts and an increase of D-dimers; this demonstrates much more clearly the chronic DIC nature of preeclampsia than the results from studies carried out so far.

Comparison of methods for freezing interleukin-dependent murine cell lines

Various methods for freezing several interleukin-dependent murine cell lines have been compared and were shown to differ in their efficacy from line to line. An interleukin-2-dependent cell line, T572.C5, which was more sensitive to dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) than the other cell lines, was the most difficult to freeze in a viable state. In order to define better conditions for freezing, the effects of the changes in freezing rates and concentrations of DMSO and of the addition of Ficoll were determined. The optimal freezing rates and DMSO concentrations varied from line to line. The addition of Ficoll increased the viability in some, but not all, cell lines, depending on the freezing conditions used. Thus, the optimal conditions for freezing interleukin-dependent cell lines varied from line to line. In general, the direct freezing procedure was better than the styrofoam-box freezing method. Although programmed freezing under direct temperature control was the most suitable among the freezing procedures examined, unprogrammed procedures also were of practical use.

The relationship between trypsin activity in amniotic fluid and premature rupture of membranes

Trypsin activity and concentration of alpha 1-antitrypsin in amniotic fluid were measured in patients with and without premature rupture of membranes. Trypsin activity in amniotic fluid with premature rupture of membranes (127 +/- 57 U/L) was found to be significantly higher than in cases without premature rupture of membranes (14 +/- 20 U/L) (p less than 0.01). The concentration of alpha 1-antitrypsin in amniotic fluid with premature rupture of membranes (6.8 +/- 5.5 mg/dl) was significantly lower than in cases without premature rupture (25.2 +/- 20.2 mg/dl) (p less than 0.01). Trypsin activity and concentration of alpha 1-antitrypsin in amniotic fluid were not influenced by rupture of membranes and labor. These studies suggest that high trypsin activity and low concentration of alpha 1-antitrypsin in amniotic fluid is one cause of premature rupture of membranes.

Morphine metabolism in isolated rat hepatocytes and its implications for hepatotoxicity

Isolated rat hepatocytes metabolized morphine to its glucuronide conjugate, morphinone-glutathione conjugate, normorphine and morphinone. Addition of morphine to the isolated hepatocytes induced a marked decrease in the level of glutathione in the cells and resulted in cell death. The formation of glutathione conjugate was correlated well with the loss of intracellular glutathione. The cytotoxicity of morphinone was higher than that of morphine. Naloxone and normorphine showed no cytotoxic effect on the cells. Naloxone inhibited the formation of morphinone-glutathione conjugate and prevented the morphine-induced cytotoxicity. Naloxone also blocked morphine-induced liver damage in vivo. In contrast, the morphinone-induced hepatotoxicity was not prevented by naloxone. It is concluded that morphine has a hepatotoxic effect, that the morphine-induced hepatotoxicity is due to its metabolic activation, and that naloxone acts as an inhibitor of an enzyme converting morphine to morphinone.

Comparison of the antigenicities of native human growth hormone (hGH) and three forms of recombinant hGHs using monoclonal antibodies

A panel of hybridomas producing antibodies specific for human growth hormone (hGH) were prepared by using a recombinant hGH [methionylsomatotropin (r-hGH)] as an immunogen. Thirteen representative monoclonal antibodies which showed different reactivity patterns were used to analyze the antigenicities of four different forms of hGHs by RIA inhibition studies. Native hGH and r-hGH showed almost the same antigenicities with these monoclonal antibodies. A Cys-substituted recombinant hGH (r-hGH-165) retained the epitopes recognized by 11 monoclonals but not those recognized by two monoclonals. All except one of the monoclonals showed little or no reactivity with a recombinant hGH fragment (r-hGH-AB). On the basis of these results, the differences in the structures and antigenicities of the recombinant hGH proteins were discussed.

Effects of glutathione and phenobarbital on the toxicity of codeinone

The ability of sulfhydryl compounds to provide protection against the acute toxicity of codeinone, a toxic metabolite of codeine, was investigated in mice. Subcutaneous administration of codeinone produced a slight reduction in hepatic glutathione concentration. Pretreatment of the mice with glutathione or cysteine significantly increased the survival rate for mice given a lethal dose of codeinone (10 mg/kg). The lethality of codeine was lowered by naloxone, whereas that of codeinone was not blocked by naloxone. The strychnine-like convulsant action of codeinone could be prevented by phenobarbital pretreatment. Glutathione pretreatment reduced the amounts of radioactivity in tissues of mice injected with [N-methyl-3-H]codeinone. A possible explanation for these observations is that glutathione reacts in vivo with codeinone and plays a role as a scavenger of this compound. This assumption is supported by the observation that codeinone reacts non-enzymatically with glutathione under physiological conditions.

An immunological study of a Pb-thionein like protein in rat liver

Administration of a sublethal dose of lead acetate to rats induced the simultaneous synthesis of a Pb-thionein like protein (Pb-BP) and Zn-thionein in the liver. To determine of the Pb-BP is a species of metallothionein, immunological properties of this protein were investigated. The results indicate that the Pb-BP is cross-reactive with the antibody against rat Zn-thionein II, strongly suggesting that the Pb-BP is a metallothionein.

Possible involvement of phosphorylation of a 36,000-dalton protein of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cell membranes in serotonin release

Phosphorylation of a 36,000-dalton (36k-Da) protein of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cell membranes was investigated. This phosphoprotein has been suggested to be the beta-subunit protein of the immunogloblin E (IgE) receptor of RBL-2H3 cells [Teshima et al., Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 125, 867-874 (1984)]. Phospholipids such as phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidyl inositol and phosphatidyl ethanolamine, which are known to be activators of protein kinase C, enhanced the phosphorylation of the 36K-Da protein. In contrast, 1-(5-isoquinoline sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) which has been identified as a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C in vitro decreased incorporation of radioactive phosphate from [gamma-32P]ATP into this protein. These results indicate that the phosphorylation of the 36K-Da protein of RBL-2H3 cell membranes is catalyzed by protein kinase C. H-7 also inhibited the release of serotonin from RBL-2H3 cells stimulated with an antigen or calcium ionophore A23187 and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA). Treatment of the antigen-stimulated cells with TPA caused a synergistic effect on the serotonin release. A similar effect was obtained by treatment of A23187-stimulated cells with TPA or 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl glycerol.

Simultaneous induction of Pb-metallothionein-like protein and Zn-thionein in the liver of rats given lead acetate

Administration of a sublethal dose of lead acetate to rats induced the simultaneous synthesis of a Pb-metallothionein (Pb-MT)-like protein (Pb-BP) and Zn-thionein (Zn-BP) in the liver. The Pb-BP had an apparent molecule mass of 6900 Da and seemed to bind preferentially to lead in the liver cytosol. The Zn-BP was identified by comparison of the Mr, elution profiles from Sephadex G-75 and DEAE-Sephadex A-25 columns, and polyacrylamide-gel-electrophoretic mobility, with those of rat liver Zn-MT-II. The Pb-BP accumulated in the liver to a maximum 6 h after the intraperitoneal injection of lead acetate and accounted for about 60% of the lead in the liver cytosol at this stage. However, after that, it gradually decreased in the liver, until it was close to the basal amount 24 h after the induction. In contrast, the amount of Zn-MT increased gradually, reached a maximum 12 h after the administration of lead acetate and maintained a constant value until at least 24 h after the induction. Amino acid analysis of the Pb-BP indicated that it contained about 28% half-cysteine. These results strongly suggest that lead acetate induces the synthesis of Pb-MT as well as Zn-MT in rat liver.

[Studies on the immunohistochemical localization of coagulation fibrinolysis factors in the placenta, especially of placental plasminogen activator (PPA)]

We succeeded for the first time in extracting and purifying a coagulation fibrinolysis factor in the placenta, that is, a placental plasminogen activator (PPA). Using the enzyme-labeled antibody technique (indirect method), we investigated the localization of PPA, fibrinogen (FBG) and fibronectin (FN) in the placenta. And we tried to elucidate the physiological significance of the above three. The F(ab')2 fragments of their antibodies were produced by pepsin digestion, because there were various Fc receptors in the placenta. The results are summarized as follows: PPA was produced in the trophoblast, and was secreted out of the microvilli. FBG was located in the plasma. But, in the placenta, it was not in the cells and the connective tissue of which chorionic villi was composed. FN was located in the ground substances of connective tissue in the chorionic villi, and was associated with the cell structure. Because PPA, FBG and FN showed the same distribution on the fibrinoid material, it is expected that coagulation fibrinolysis activity proceeds in that fibrinoid material.