Factor XII-dependent contact activation on endothelial cells and binding proteins gC1qR and cytokeratin 1

Although proteins of the kinin-forming pathway are bound along the surface of endothelial cells, the mechanism of activation of this proteolytic cascade is unclear. Endothelial cell surface proteins, gC1qR and cytokeratin 1, are capable of binding Factor XII and high molecular weight kininogen (HK) in a zinc-dependent reaction thus we considered the possibility that these proteins might catalyze initiation of the cascade. Incubation of Factor XII, prekallikrein, and HK with gC1qR or cytokeratin 1 leads to a zinc-dependent and Factor XII-dependent conversion of prekallikrein to kallikrein. We also demonstrate that normal plasma is capable of activating upon interaction with the cells whereas plasma deficient in Factor XII, prekallikrein and HK do not activate. Normal plasma activation was inhibitable by antibody to gC1qR and cytokeratin 1. Thus, gC1qR and cytokeratin 1, represent potential initiating surfaces for activation of the plasma kinin-forming cascade and may do so as a result of their expression along cell surfaces.

Disordered magnetism at the metal-insulator threshold in nano-graphite-based carbon materials

The magnetism of activated carbon fibers composed of a disorder network of nanographites was investigated, where each nanographite has about 1 edge-inherited localized spin. The susceptibility, for samples situated around the metal-insulator threshold, shows a cusp around 4-7 K in addition to the presence of a field-cooling effect. These behaviors are explained in terms of disordered magnetism caused by random strengths of inter-nano-graphite antiferromagnetic interactions mediated by pi-conduction carriers.

Unfavorable effect of knee immobilization on Achilles tendon healing in rabbits

This study was undertaken to assess the effect of knee immobilization on the treatment of Achilles tendon rupture. After their Achilles tendons were severed, rabbits were divided into 2 groups. In Group A, only the ankle joint was immobilized. In Group B, both the knee and ankle joints were immobilized. At 4 weeks after surgery, both the ultimate tensile force and stiffness of the severed tendons were significantly greater in Group A than in Group B. In Group A, dense collagen fibers were seen in the repaired tendons, and the bundles of collagen fibers were parallel to one another along the axis of the tendons. In contrast, in Group B, dilated veins and capillaries were seen in the repaired tendons, and the proliferation of connective tissue containing collagen fibers was severely reduced around these veins and capillaries and was in general irregular and uneven. These results suggest that knee immobilization retards the healing of a ruptured Achilles tendon without suture, due to congestion and tension deprivation produced by keeping the tendon static.

Interaction of factor XII and high molecular weight kininogen with cytokeratin 1 and gC1qR of vascular endothelial cells and with aggregated Abeta protein of Alzheimer's disease

High molecular weight kininogen (HK) attaches to endothelial cells at separate sites on the heavy and light chains by a process which requires 15-50 microM zinc. Previously identified binding proteins include gClqR, cytokeratin 1, and the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (U-par), however, their relative contribution to binding are not yet clarified. We have purified the binding proteins by affinity chromatography, in the presence of zinc ion, and identified cytokeratin 1 and gC1qR by amino acid sequencing of an internal peptide and by immunoblot as heavy chain and light chain binding proteins, respectively. Antibody to cytokeratin 1 inhibited HK binding to endothelial cells by 30%, antibody to gClqR inhibited HK binding to endothelial cells by 72%, and a mixture of both inhibited binding by 86%. The binding and activation of the proteins of the kinin-forming cascade along the cell surface is zinc-dependent. Similarly, proteins of the plasma kinin-forming cascade can be activated by binding to aggregated A(beta) protein of Alzheimer's disease. Activation of the cascade using purified proteins or upon addition of Abeta to plasma requires aggregation of A(beta) and the reactions are zinc-dependent. In plasma, HK is cleaved and bradykinin is liberated. The data demonstrate that aggregated A(beta) can bind and activate proenzymes of the plasma kinin-forming cascade to release bradykinin and these reactions are dependent on zinc ion.

[Acute myelocytic leukemia and plasmacytoma secondary to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in a long-term survivor of small cell lung cancer]

A 68-year-old man was given a diagnosis of lung cancer of the right upper lobe (small cell carcinoma, T 4 N 2 M 0, stage IIIB) in February 1991. The tumor diminished after chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In February 1992, a partial resection of the lower lobe of the right lung was performed because of the appearance of a metastatic tumor. In September 1994, squamous cell carcinoma developed in the lower part of the esophagus, but disappeared after radiotherapy. In February 1998, a diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome was made. Two months later, the patient had an attack of acute myelocytic leukemia and died of cardiac tamponade. An autopsy determined that both the lung cancer and esophageal cancer had disappeared. Acute myelocytic leukemia and plasmacytoma of lymph nodes in the irradiated area were confirmed. These were regarded as secondary malignancies induced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Zinc-dependent activation of the plasma kinin-forming cascade by aggregated beta amyloid protein

Beta Amyloid proteins (Abeta) of 38, 40, and 42 amino acids long were assessed for their ability to activate the plasma kinin-forming cascade in vitro. Incubation with a mixture of Factor XII (Hageman Factor), prekallikrein, and high-molecular-weight kininogen (HK) led to conversion of prekallikrein to kallikrein that was dependent on zinc ion. No activation occurred if Factor XII was omitted. There was rapid generation of bradykinin equal to the molar HK input indicating complete cleavage. Incubation of aggregated Abeta with diluted human plasma also led to prekallikrein activation and HK cleavage. Activation of the cascade by Abeta (1-38) was dependent upon its preincubation time in buffer, suggesting that aggregation of Abeta is required, and studies with Abeta (1-40) revealed time-dependent aggregation by microscopy and augmented zinc-dependent binding of both Factor XII and HK to aggregated Abeta. These data demonstrate that aggregated Abeta can bind and activate proenzymes of the plasma kinin-forming cascade in a zinc-dependent reaction to release bradykinin and is of sufficient potency to do so at physiologic concentrations of each protein and in the presence of naturally occurring protease inhibitors.

Species variation in pharmacokinetics and opsonization of palmitoyl rhizoxin (RS-1541) incorporated in lipid emulsions

Highly lipophilic antitumor agent, palmitoyl rhizoxin (RS-1541), was incorporated into stable lipid emulsions about 100-1000nm in mean diameter consisting of triglyceride ODO and surfactant HCO-60. The pharmacokinetics of RS-1541 were studied after i.v. injection in mice, rats, rabbits, and dogs. Dog showed characteristic pharmacokinetics of RS-1541, compared with other species. RS-1541 was much more rapidly eliminated from plasma with emulsion particles in dogs than in mice, rats, and rabbits. Most amounts of injected RS-1541 were recovered in the liver six hours after administration to dogs, while less than 20% recoveries were observed for mice and rats. To clarify this species variation, opsonization of emulsion particles were evaluated. When emulsions (about 200nm in size) were opsonized by dog plasma, and intravenously injected to rats, total clearance and liver uptake of RS-1541 were increased to 1.8 fold and 2.7 fold of control values, respectively. In contrasts, emulsions opsonized by mouse, rabbit and human plasma did not show such drastic changes in pharmacokinetics of RS-1541 in rats. Furthermore, total clearance of RS-1541 for emulsions opsonized by dog plasma was increased to 1.9 fold of controls after injection to rabbits. These results indicate that opsonizing activities of dog plasma for RS-1541 emulsions are high, compared with other species. This species variation in opsonizing process probably caused the species variation in the pharmacokinetics of RS-1541 incorporated in lipid emulsions.

Morphogenesis of vertebral deformities in involutional osteoporosis. Age-related, three-dimensional trabecular structure

STUDY DESIGN

The relation between the semiquantitative data of alteration in three-dimensional trabecular structure and deformities of the vertebral body was analyzed to clarify the morphogenesis of vertebral deformities in involutional osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate semiquantitatively the age-related alterations of the three-dimensional structure of trabeculae of the vertebral body and to clarify their relation to vertebral deformities in involutional osteoporosis.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Recent studies have shown that bone fractures and deformities in osteoporosis do not depend only on a reduced amount of bone tissue. There is no previous study on the relation between bone deformity and the alterations of the three-dimensional structure of trabeculae.

METHODS

The second lumbar vertebrae were removed at autopsy from 25 patients who had no disease predisposing them to secondary osteoporosis and no severe vertebral deformities. The sections of the vertebral body were immersed in sodium hypochlorite solution to corrode the bone marrow. Atrophy of trabeculae and increased spacing between trabeculae were evaluated semiquantitatively under stereoscopic microscopy. The authors examined the relation between the semiquantitative data found in the autopsy vertebrae and the patterns and frequencies of each deformity of the second lumbar vertebrae in 99 patients with involutional osteoporosis.

RESULTS

The most frequent vertebral deformity was wedge-shaped vertebrae with compression of the anterosuperior portion, and the alterations of the trabecular structure of the anterosuperior portion were severe and closely related to aging. Severe trabecular alterations with no relation to aging did not necessarily cause vertebral deformity.

CONCLUSIONS

Trabecular abnormality, which is significantly correlated with aging, may be the necessary and sufficient condition for vertebral deformities in involutional osteoporosis.

Effect of neurotropin on the binding of high molecular weight kininogen and Hageman factor to human umbilical vein endothelial cells and the autoactivation of bound Hageman factor

Bradykinin is generated by activation of the plasma kallikrein-kinin (K-K) cascade and contributes to the symptoms of allergic reactions and the perception of pain. Neurotropin is a biological material obtained from inflamed rabbit skin inoculated with vaccinia virus, which is widely used clinically in Japan as an effective agent for these disorders. Factor XII (FXII) and high molecular weight kininogen (HK), two critical constituents of the plasma K-K cascade, bind to endothelial cells, and bound FXII is autoactivated in the presence of zinc ions. We have investigated the effects of Neurotropin on the interactions of FXII and HK with endothelial cells. Neurotropin inhibited the binding of both proteins to cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and inhibited autoactivation of FXII upon HUVEC in a concentration-dependent manner. These data suggest that the ameliorating effects of Neurotropin in allergic disorders and pain syndromes may be related to this ability to inhibit activation of the K-K cascade and, consequently, the formation of bradykinin.

Laser printer optics with use of slant scanning of multiple beams

Simultaneous scanning of multiple beams in an array is an effective method to realize high-speed and high-resolution printers. The arrayed multiple beams can be generated by devices such as grating, Wollaston prism, fiber array, and laser diode array. In any of these devices, the focused spots in an array have a period several tens of times larger than the spot diameter. We propose a simultaneous scanning method suitable for these devices in which the arrayed multiple beams are arranged in a slant angle to the scanning direction to produce consecutive scan lines. Laser print experiments with two or four beams were carried out, and high-performance printing of a 431.8-mm print width, 23.6 dot/mm (i.e., 600 dot/in.) resolution, and of 541-mm/s speed were realized.

Mast cell derived heparin activates the contact system: a link to kinin generation in allergic reactions

Contact activation occurs when plasma comes in contact with negatively charged manmade surfaces but no substance that initiates contact activation in vivo has been identified. We have isolated a mast cell heparin proteoglycan (MC-HepPG) from a Furth mouse mastocytoma-derived cell line that is analogous to human tissue-type mast cell HepPG. This material and other glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were tested for their ability to accelerate the reciprocal activation of factor XII and prekallikrein and the autoactivation of factor XII. Quantitative analysis showed the MC-HepPG to be as active as dextran sulfate on a weight basis; hog intestine heparin, dermatan sulfate, keratan polysulfate and chondroitin sulfate C were less active, other sulfated polysaccharides were essentially inactive. Incubation of MC-HepPG in 1:4 diluted plasma resulted in complete cleavage of high molecular weight kininogen in a factor XII-dependent reaction. All of the MC-HepPG dependent reactions described above were inhibited by preincubation of MC-HepPG with heparinase I and II but not by pretreatment with heparitinase, chondroitinase ABC or the serine protease inhibitor aPMSF thus indicating that heparin proteoglycan is indeed acting as an initiating 'surface'. We analysed the proteoglycan preparation by HPLC gel filtration. Fractions spanning a molecular weight range of > 400000-8000 were active initiators. Comparison of the chromatograms obtained before and after cleavage of GAG side chains from the protein core suggested that dissociated GAGs in the MW range 69000-17000 are the most active species rather than the complete proteoglycan. MC-HepPG GAGs therefore represent a physiologic macromolecule with activity comparable to non-physiological surfaces in a purified system and with the capability to induce activation of the contact system in diluted plasma. Its ability to promote kinin generation links cellular and humoral inflammatory responses in the perivasculature and provides a possible explanation for the elevated kinin levels observed after allergen exposure.

Optics for modulating multiple beams using an asymmetric multilevel phase grating and a multichannel acousto-optic modulator

Asymmetric multilevel phase gratings for generating even numbered beams have been designed, assuming that their phase patterns are formed by overlapping plural binary-phase patterns, each of which has an arbitrary phase height. The grating for four beams, which produces uniform and high intense diffraction orders of the minus first to the plus second order, is fabricated. The efficiency is 75.5%, although the theoretical efficiency is 79.9%. It is also demonstrated that the optics in which the beams from the grating are fed into a multichannel acousto-optic modulator through a Fourier-transform lens makes their successful modulation possible for pulse signals of 20-ns pulse duration.

Pathogenesis of focal and random hepatocellular necrosis in endotoxemia: microscopic observation in vivo

The present study was undertaken in rats to clarify the role of sinusoidal circulatory disturbances due to fibrin thrombi in the development of focal and random hepatocellular necrosis in endotoxemia. Sinusoidal circulation was examined microscopically in vivo in rats injected with endotoxin or heparin, or both. The sinusoids in places were occluded by adherent fibrin and neutrophils soon after endotoxin injection, and subsequently the sinusoidal blood flow stagnated, reversed, or detoured. Most of these sinusoidal circulatory disturbances recovered in a few hours. However, when the sinusoidal occlusion developed simultaneously in clusters of adjacent sinusoids, the sinusoidal circulatory disturbance persisted and induced ischemic foci and then hepatocellular coagulative necrosis. Pretreatment with heparin definitely prevented the adherence of fibrin and neutrophils to the sinusoidal walls, and focal hepatocellular necrosis did not appear. These results suggest that focal and random hepatocellular necrosis in endotoxemia is caused by circulatory disturbances due to fibrin thrombi in clusters of adjacent sinusoids.

Lipid emulsions of palmitoylrhizoxin: effects of particle size on blood dispositions of emulsion lipid and incorporated compound in rats

Emulsion formulations of various particle sizes for the highly lipophilic antitumour agent, RS-1541 (13-O-palmitoylrhizoxin), were prepared using dioctanoyldecanoylglycerol (ODO) as lipids and polyoxyethylene-(60)-hydrogenated castor oil (HCO-60) as a surfactant. These emulsions were evaluated as injectable drug carriers and compared with a colloidal solution. Both in vitro and in vivo after i.v. administration, RS-1541 was distributed into lipoproteins from the colloidal solution. When applied as emulsions of various particle sizes (124-419 nm) in vitro, RS-1541 was retained and stabilized within the emulsions. In the in vivo study, however, retention of RS-1541 in the emulsions after i.v. injection depended on their size. The small-particle emulsions (94-112 nm) resulted in long retention, and the large-particle emulsions (415-474 nm) led to short retention. Lipolysis rates of emulsion particles by lipoprotein lipase also depended on their size, indicating rapid lipolysis for small-particle emulsions (133 nm). However, the lipolysis was not such an extensive one, showing 10-30% release of capric acid from ODO within 6 h. Blood dispositions of capric acids approximately paralleled those of RS-1541 after i.v. injection of various particle size emulsions (130-368 nm) to rats, although relatively rapid eliminations of capric acids compared with RS-1541 were observed for the small-particle size emulsions (130 nm). These results suggest that when injected as emulsion formulations, the highly lipophilic antitumour agent, RS-1541, has behaviour similar to that of the emulsion particles in the body, which is dependent on the size of the latter. Thus, by properly selecting the particle size, lipid emulsions consisting of ODO and HCO-60 are expected to be effective and useful DDS carriers for RS-1541.

Lipid emulsions of palmitoylrhizoxin: effects of composition on lipolysis and biodistribution

Four types of lipid emulsion for highly lipophilic antitumour agent RS-1541 (13-O-palmitoylrhizoxin) with mean particle diameters of 200-260 nm were prepared using soybean oil (SOY) or dioctanoyldecanoylglycerol (ODO) for the oil phase and lecithin (LEC) or polyoxyethylene-(60)-hydrogenated castor oil (HCO-60) for surfactants. The lipolysis rate of HCO-60-emulsified emulsions by lipoprotein lipase was much slower than that of LEC-emulsified emulsions. Particle sizes of emulsions incubated in plasma with the lipase for six hours were 75%, 79%, 101%, and 93% of initial values for SOY/LEC, ODO/LEC, SOY/HCO-60, and ODO/HCO-60 emulsions, respectively, showing an apparent size decrease for LEC-emulsified emulsions. In rats, uptake clearance values of SOY/LEC and ODO/LEC emulsions of RS-1541 in the reticuloendothelial system (RES) were 81.2 and 135.3 mL h(-1), respectively, and AUC values were 4.0 and 1.3 microg h mL(-1), respectively. In contrast, RES uptake clearances of HCO-60 emulsions of RS-1541 were considerably lower (4.2 mL h(-1) for SOY/HCO-60; 2.2 mL h(-1) for ODO/HCO-60), resulting in high AUC values (35.4 microg h mL(-1) for SOY/ HCO-60; 63.9 microg h mL(-1) for ODO/HCO-60). The concentrations of RS-1541 in tumour tissues after an intravenous administration of ODO/HCO-60 emulsions of RS-1541 to mice bearing solid tumour M5076 sarcoma were about ten times higher than those after the administration of SOY/LEC emulsions. These results indicate that HCO-60 emulsions, compared with conventional LEC emulsions, are more stable to lipoprotein lipase and show low uptakes by RES organs, long circulations in the plasma, and high distributions in tumours. Thus, these sterically stabilized emulsions could show potential as effective carriers for highly lipophilic antitumour agents to enhance the drug delivery in tumours.

Highly selective aldose reductase inhibitors. 1. 3-(Arylalkyl)-2,4,5-trioxoimidazolidine-1-acetic acids

A series of 3-(arylalkyl)-2,4,5-trioxoimidazolidine-1-acetic acids (1) was prepared and tested for aldose reductase (AR) and aldehyde reductase (ALR) inhibitory activities. These compounds showed strong inhibitory activity against AR without significant inhibitory activity for ALR. The ratio of IC50(ALR)/IC50(AR) was > 1000 in some compounds. On the basis of pharmacological tests such as the recovery of reduced motor nerve conduction velocity and toxicological profile, 3-(3-nitrobenzyl)-2,4,5-trioxoimidazolidine-1-acetic acid (NZ-314) was selected as the candidate for clinical development.

Interruption of pulmonary arterial flow with inadequate ventilation leads to pulmonary infection

We examined the effect of interruption of pulmonary arterial flow and inadequate ventilation on the development of pulmonary infarction in rats. Pulmonary arterial flow was blocked by the injection of agar into the inferior vena cava and inadequate ventilation was produced by obstructing the left main bronchus with a polypropylene tip. Histological and angiographic examination of the lung demonstrated that: pulmonary artery embolism alone does not induce pulmonary infarction; obstruction of a bronchus does not induce significant changes, but that pulmonary infarction develops when pulmonary artery embolism and obstruction of a bronchus occur simultaneously. It has been thought that pulmonary infarction is caused by acute obstruction of a pulmonary artery, however, the alveolar walls are supplied with oxygen by both the pulmonary circulation and by ventilation. Interruption of pulmonary arterial flow alone is probably not sufficient to induce pulmonary infarction, which is probably caused by deficiency of oxygen supply to the alveolar walls by a synergy between interruption of pulmonary arterial flow and inadequate ventilation.

Pattern of nasal secretions during experimental influenza virus infection

To define the pattern of secretion production during influenza virus infection, 28 adult subjects were inoculated with influenza-A virus (H1N1) and cloistered for a period of 8 days. On each day, symptoms associated with virus infection were scored, nasal secretions were collected and nasal lavages were performed. Recovered lavage fluids were submitted for virus culture and assayed for proteins, histamine, and bradykinin. Twenty-one subjects were infected with influenza-A virus and had significant increases in daily secretion weights and symptom scores extending from day 2 to 7, post-inoculation. Plasma-derived proteins in the nasal lavage fluids showed an early increase to peak at day 4 and then decreased. Glandular proteins showed a later increase to peak at day 5. Bradykinin but not histamine was significantly elevated and tracked the changes in the glandular proteins. In contrast, a shallow increase in symptoms confined to day 2 post-inoculation, but no increase in daily secretion weights was documented in the seven uninfected subjects. There, an increase in plasma proteins was observed on days 1 and 2, but no change in glandular proteins was obvious. These results support a biphasic secretory response during influenza-virus infection with transudation dominating the early period and glandular secretions contributing later.