Theoretical investigation of fructose 1,6-diphosphate production and simultaneous ATP regeneration by conjugated enzymes in an ultrafiltration hollow-fiber reactor

The performance of an ultrafiltration hollow-fiber reactor, in which enzymatic synthesis of fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP) from glucose and enzymatic ATP regeneration are performed simultaneously, was analyzed theoretically. The reaction system consists of three-step synthetic reactions catalyzed by glucokinase (GK), phosphoglucose isomerase and phosphofructokinase, and the ATP regeneration reaction catalyzed by acetate kinase. Based on a simple analytical model developed previously in which the liquid flowing in a tube was assumed to be plug flow and the radial concentration gradients in the tubes and shell side space were both neglected, a computer program was developed to calculate the concentration profiles of all the components along the flow direction in the tubes and shell side space of the reactor. From the FDP concentrations at the reactor outlet calculated under various operational conditions, reactor performances such as the FDP yield and the ATP recycle number were determined. The calculation showed the interesting phenomenon that under some conditions the FDP yield was higher when GK concentration was lower.

Peptide synthesis catalyzed by organic solvent-stable protease from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PST-01 in monophasic aqueous-organic solvent systems

The equilibrium yields of the peptide Cbz-Arg-Leu-NH2 synthesized from Cbz-Arg and Leu-NH2 using the PST-01 protease in the presence of organic solvents were investigated under various conditions. The equilibrium yields depended little on the concentration of the carboxyl component, but significantly on the concentration of the nucleophile. The optimum temperature and pH for a high equilibrium yield were 30 degrees C and greater than 5.0, respectively. Under optimum conditions the equilibrium yields were 71.6% and 87.7% in the presence of 50% (v/v) DMF and 60% (v/v) DMSO, respectively. Furthermore, the PST-01 protease also catalyzed the syntheses of the dipeptides Cbz-Lys-Leu-NH2, Cbz-Ala-Leu-NH2, Cbz-Ala-Phe-NH2, Cbz-Arg-Leu-NH2, and Cbz-Lys-Phe-NH2 with equilibrium yields of more than 60% in the presence of 50% (v/v) DMF and 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0).

Enzymatic production of fructose 1,6-diphosphate using crude cell extract of Bacillus stearothermophilus

The enzymatic production of fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP) from glucose was performed in a batch reactor and a semibatch reactor using the crude cell extract of Bacillus stearothermophilus which contains all four enzymes required for the synthesis. The experimental results of the yield and the time courses of FDP production obtained using various enzyme concentrations were in good agreement with the theoretical predictions calculated based on the differential equations including the rate equations of the four enzymes, which were determined using the purified enzymes of B. stearothermophilus.

Effects of Sho-saiko-to, a Japanese herbal medicine, on hepatic fibrosis in rats

It has been shown that lipid peroxidation is associated with hepatic fibrosis and stellate cell activation. Sho-saiko-to (TJ-9) is an herbal medicine, which is commonly used to treat chronic hepatitis in Japan, although the mechanism by which TJ-9 protects against hepatic fibrosis is not known. As a result, we assayed the preventive and therapeutic effects of TJ-9 on experimental hepatic fibrosis, induced in rats by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) or pig serum (PS), and on rat stellate cells and hepatocytes in primary culture, and assessed the antioxidative activities and the active components of TJ-9. Male Wistar rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg DMN or 0.5 mL PS twice weekly for 10 weeks. In each model, rats were fed a basal diet throughout, or the same diet, which also contained 1.5% TJ-9, for 2 weeks before treatment or for the last 2 weeks of treatment. TJ-9 suppressed the induction of hepatic fibrosis, increased hepatic retinoids, and reduced the hepatic levels of collagen and malondialdehyde (MDA), a production of lipid peroxidation. Immunohistochemical examination showed that TJ-9 reduced the deposition of type I collagen and the number of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) positive-stellate cells in the liver and inhibited, not only lipid peroxidation in cultured rat hepatocytes that were undergoing oxidative stress, but also the production of type I collagen, alpha-SMA expression, cell proliferation, and oxidative burst in cultured rat stellate cells. In addition, TJ-9 inhibited Fe2+/adenosine 5'-diphosphate-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver mitochondria in a dose-dependent manner and showed radical scavenging activity. Among the active components of TJ-9, baicalin and baicalein were found to be mainly responsible for the antioxidative activity. These findings suggest that Sho-saiko-to (TJ-9) functions as a potent antifibrosuppressant by inhibition of lipid peroxidation in hepatocytes and stellate cells in vivo.

Inhibitory effect of oestradiol on activation of rat hepatic stellate cells in vivo and in vitro

BACKGROUND

Hepatic stellate cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis.

AIMS

To examine the inhibitory effect of oestradiol on stellate cell activation.

METHODS

In vivo, hepatic fibrosis was induced in rats by dimethylnitrosamine or pig serum. In vitro, rat stellate cells were activated by contact with plastic dishes resulting in their transformation into myofibroblast-like cells.

RESULTS

In the dimethylnitrosamine and pig serum models, treatment with oestradiol at gestation related doses resulted in a dose dependent suppression of hepatic fibrosis with restored content of hepatic retinyl palmitate, reduced collagen content, lower areas of stellate cells which express alpha smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and desmin, and lower procollagen type I and III mRNA levels in the liver. In cultured stellate cells, oestradiol inhibited type I collagen production, alpha-SMA expression, and cell proliferation. These findings suggest that oestradiol is a potent inhibitor of stellate cell transformation.

CONCLUSION

The antifibrogenic role of oestradiol in the liver may contribute to the sex associated differences in the progression from hepatic fibrosis to cirrhosis

Purification and characterization of organic solvent-stable protease from organic solvent-tolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa PST-01

An organic solvent-stable protease (PST-01 protease) in a culture broth of organic solvent-tolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa PST-01 was purified by successive hydrophobic interaction chromatography using Butyl-Toyopearl gels. The purified enzyme was homogeneous as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. PST-01 protease had a molecular mass of 38 kDa. The optimum temperature and pH for casein hydrolysis were 55 degrees C and 8.5, respectively. PST-01 protease was stable at pH 8-12 and below 50 degrees C and was determined to be a metalloprotease which was inhibited by EDTA, 1,10-phenanthroline, and phosphoramidon. PST-01 protease inhibited by EDTA was reactivated completely by the addition of zinc or cobalt ions. The stability of PST-01 protease in solutions containing water-soluble organic solvents or alcohols was higher than that in the absence of organic solvent. Furthermore, in general, PST-01 protease was more stable than commercially available proteases, namely, subtilisin Carlsberg, thermolysin, and alpha-chymotrypsin, in the presence of water-soluble organic solvents or alcohols.

Purification and characterization of lipase from Rhizopus chinensis cells

Lipase from Rhizopus chinensis cells was purified and characterized. The molecular mass of purified lipase was 28.4 kDa and the optimal temperature and pH for its activity were 37 degrees C and 5.5, respectively. Purified lipase exhibited high hydrolytic activity against fatty acid methyl esters such as methyl caprylate, methyl laurate, and methyl palmitate. Freeze-dried lipase catalyzed the transesterification between olive oil and methyl laurate in n-hexane.

NO depletes cellular ATP contents via inactivation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in PC12 cells

Recently, we demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) reduces ATP generation via oxidative phosphorylation coupled with the mitochondrial respiratory chain in PC12 cells resulting in induction of apoptotic cell death. To further study the correlation between NO-induced ATP depletion and neuronal death, we examined the effect of NO on glycolytic ATP generation in PC12 cells, a neuronal model. When the oxidative phosphorylation was maximally suppressed by DNP and oligomycin, which are inhibitors of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, the cellular ATP contents were reduced by sodium nitroprusside (SNP). In addition, the cellular ATP contents were further decreased along with a decrease in the activity of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH), a key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. Benzamide, an inhibitor of poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase, could protect the depletion of NAD but had no effect on the depletion of ATP in PC12 cells induced by NO. These results suggest that the depletion of ATP in PC12 cells caused via the inhibition of G3PDH by NO is one of the mechanisms responsible for NO neurotoxicity.

Alteration in the GyrA subunit of DNA gyrase and the ParC subunit of DNA topoisomerase IV in quinolone-resistant clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis

We examined 22 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis to analyze the association of alterations in GyrA and ParC with fluoroquinolone resistance. The simultaneous presence of GyrA and ParC alterations was associated with a high level of fluoroquinolone resistance in the clinical isolates of S. epidermidis.

Retinyl palmitate reduces hepatic fibrosis in rats induced by dimethylnitrosamine or pig serum

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Lipid peroxidation has been found to be associated with Ito cell activation. Ito cells are the principal collagen-producing cells and the main storage sites of retinoids. However, the relationship between retinoids and hepatic fibrosis is complex. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of retinoids as a fibrosuppressant: the effects of retinoids on hepatic fibrosis induced in rats by dimethylnitrosamine or pig serum, as well as on rat Ito cells in primary culture, were examined in order to assess the antioxidant activity of retinoids.

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were given a single injection of 40 mg/kg dimethylnitrosamine or 0.5 ml PS twice weekly for 10 weeks. In each model, rats were treated with retinyl palmitate for 2 weeks before hepatotoxin treatments or for the last 2 weeks of the treatments. The cumulative amount of retinyl palmitate administered in each experiment was 2, 10, or 20x10(4) IU/rat.

RESULTS

Retinyl palmitate treatment before or after administration of dimethylnitrosamine or pig serum suppressed the induction of hepatic fibrosis, restored hepatic retinyl palmitate levels, prevented increases in hepatic levels of collagen and malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation, and prevented increases in deposition of type III collagen and the number of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) positive-Ito cells in the liver. Retinyl palmitate supplementation resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of alpha-SMA expression and an oxidative burst in cultured Ito cells. In addition, retinyl palmitate inhibited Fe2+/adenosine 5'-diphosphate-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver mitochondria and showed radical scavenging activity.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that retinyl palmitate may suppress the induction of hepatic fibrosis, at least in part, by the inhibition of Ito cell activation through its antioxidant activity.

[Dorso-ventral patterning of the vertebrate limb and dermatoglyphs with special reference to the pad pattern of mice]

The proximo-distal (P-D), antero-posterior (A-P) and dorso-ventral (D-V) axes are important for normal limb development in vertebrates. It has been reported that D-V axis is decided by Wnt-7a, Lmx-1 and Engrailed-1 (En-1) which are expressed in the limb bud along D-V axis. These factors are thought to be required for formation of the apical ectodermal ridge (AER) which is necessary for outgrowth of the limb. The results from spontaneous mutant mice meromelia (mem), which exhibits double-dorsality of the distal limb, suggested that other factors, not only En-1 and Wnt-7a are required for decision of AER, and mem was probed to be novel gene regulating En-1 and Wnt-7a directly or indirectly. The dorsalized ventral structures in meromelia were found by observation of the pad pattern. Pad pattern is always constant in normal mice, and each pad indicates particular part of the limb. So pad pattern is useful to detect and describe anomalies even in the limbs without skeletal defects. The process of pad development is associated with the limb patterning, and abnormal pad pattern may indicate pathogenesis of abnormal limb development. The mouse pad pattern is usable as the model for human dermatoglyphs, and it is also important to investigate mechanisms of human diseases.

Lack of association of apolipoprotein E epsilon4 allele dose with cerebral glucose metabolism in Alzheimer disease

Parietal cerebral glucose metabolism is reduced before substantial impairments appeared in subjects carrying the apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon4 allele, but the effect of the APOE epsilon4 allele on cerebral metabolism in Alzheimer disease (AD) is still undetermined. To investigate the effect of the APOE epsilon4 allele on cerebral metabolism in AD, we examined regional cerebral glucose metabolism in 83 patients with AD by using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose and positron emission tomography. Cerebral glucose metabolism in the fronto-parieto-temporal association and limbic cortices was significantly decreased in the AD patients compared with 26 age- and sex-matched normal controls. Regional cerebral glucose metabolic rate was not correlated significantly with the number of APOE epsilon4 alleles in any region, which was consistent even after controlling the effects of age, sex, and severity of dementia, and in a subgroup analysis of those aged between 60 and 75. These results supported the view that the APOE epsilon4 allele is not associated with specific deficits in brain metabolism in AD despite evidence of preclinical alterations.

A specific and rapid method for determination of adenosine 3'-monophosphate (3'-AMP) content and 3'-AMP forming enzyme activity in rat liver mitochondria, using reversed-phase HPLC with fluorescence detection

To study the physiological significance of adenosine 3'-monophosphate (3'-AMP), an intracellular P-site inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, in rat liver mitochondria, a specific, rapid and reliable assay method for determination of 3'-AMP and the activity of its forming enzyme is required. 3'-AMP in rat liver was determined to be ca. 23+/-7 nmol/g wet weight, but no 2-deoxy-3'-AMP, another P-site inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, was detected, even when using a reversed-phase HPLC column with a fluorescent-reaction, as established in this study. By using the optimized assay method developed here, 3'-AMP forming enzyme activity in rat crude mitochondrial extract was found to be enhanced by EDTA and inhibited by p-chloromercurybenzoate. The optimum pH was ca. 5.8 and no divalent cation was required for activity. From these results, 3'-AMP forming enzyme(s) in rat liver mitochondria could be classified as acid exoribonuclease, which mainly existed in an active form. The results obtained in this study will help to gain more insight into the physiological roles of 3'-AMP in living systems.

Regulation of apoptosis by a Caenorhabditis elegans BNIP3 homolog

We have identified a C. elegans protein, ceBNIP3, homologous to the human BCL-2/EIB-19K interacting BCL-2 family pro-apoptotic protein BNIP3. In transiently transfected mammalian cells, ceBNIP3 complexes with CED-9, the worm homolog of BCL-2. CeBNIP3 also efficiently heterodimerizes with the cell death protease proCED-3 by direct binding via the prodomain. Transfection of ceBNIP3 and CED-3 results in enhanced proteolytic processing of the CED-3 zymogen and in cooperative induction of apoptosis. Coexpression of CED-9 suppresses the cooperative cell death induced by ceBNIP3 and CED-3. In cells coexpressing CED-9, ceBNIP3 and CED-3, all three proteins exist as a ternary complex suggesting that CED-9 may suppress cooperative apoptosis induced by CED-3 and ceBNIP3 by simultaneous complex formation with CED-3 and ceBNIP3. Our results suggest that ceBNIP3 may be a novel component of the C. elegans apoptosis paradigm and may initiate apoptosis by recruiting CED-3 to mitochondria and other cytoplasmic membranes.

Increase in odontoclast nuclei number by cell fusion: a three-dimensional reconstruction of cell fusion of human odontoclasts

Osteoclasts and odontoclasts are known to increase their nuclear number by fusion of mononuclear precursors. However, the pattern of fusion remains morphologically unclear. One lower right deciduous canine of an 8-year-old male was investigated. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity (TRAP) positive cells on the resorbing surface of the tooth were serially sectioned into 0.5 microm-thick semithin sections. The sections were photographed, and cells possessing a light microscopic brush border facing a resorptive lacuna were identified as odontoclasts. Fourteen odontoclasts appearing as a continuous figure of cellular membrane between cells on one section were three-dimensionally reconstructed using NIKON COSMOZONE 2SA. A criterion for fusion was established in this study, requiring that there must be two or more nucleated cells which contacted each other at one site only in the three-dimensional reconstruction. Among 14 reconstructed cells, 10 odontoclasts satisfied the criterion for fusion. The observations of the three-dimensional structures of these odontoclasts showed that mononuclear and multinucleated odontoclasts participated in fusion. Cell fusion occurred between resorbing odontoclasts and cells not forming lacunae, and between resorbing odontoclasts. A case of odontoclastic fusion among three cells was also observed. The results establish that fusion resulting in multinucleation occurred among various odontoclasts with different numbers of nuclei including mononuclear odontoclasts.

Response to head-up tilt testing in patients with situational syncope

The results of head-up tilt testing were compared between 24 patients with situational syncope and 44 age-matched patients with typical vasovagal syncope. Patients with situational syncope showed poor positive responses, especially in the passive tilt results (8.3% vs. 39%, p = 0.0078).

Electrophysiological characteristics during slow pathway ablation of posterior atrioventricular junctional reentrant tachycardia

The purpose of this study was to compare the electrophysiological characteristics of posterior and anterior atrioventricular junctional reentrant tachycardia (AVJRT) during radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation of a slow pathway. Twenty-four patients with common AVJRT, including 4 posterior (P) and 20 anterior AVJRT (A) were studied. We analyzed the retrograde atrial activation sequence of junctional rhythm and the presence of transient HA block during slow pathway ablation. When HA block developed, the AH interval before ablation and immediately after the end of energy delivery was measured. Successful ablation sites were divided into three groups; high (H), middle (M), and low (L) from the His bundle to the floor of the coronary sinus orifice. The results were: (1) the number of successful ablation sites were H 0, M 1, L 3 in P and H 1, M 8, L 11 in A; (2) the HA interval during AVJRT in P was longer than that in A (109 +/- 48 ms vs 43 +/- 6 ms, P < 0.01); (3) the retrograde atrial activation sequence during junctional rhythm was strictly concordant with that during AVJRT in both groups, but HA block developed during slow pathway ablation more often in P than in A (100% vs 30%, P < 0.01); and (4) The AH interval did not lengthen after HA block developed in P. These data suggest that another pathway does exist from the AV node to the atrium in addition to anterograde fast pathway and slow pathway, and that this pathway is used as the retrograde limb of P.

Enhancement of tissue factor following ischemic-reperfusion injury in rats

To evaluate the involvement of tissue factor (TF) in blood coagulation reflecting injury of the blood vessels induced by reperfusion following ischemic treatment in rat abdominal blood vessels in vivo, both TF expression and prothrombin time (PTT), which is used as a marker of coagulation, were measured after ischemic-reperfusion treatment. TF expression was significantly increased at 0 and 5 min after reperfusion following a 30 min period of vessel ligation, while the PTT was significantly shortened at 5 and 10 min. On the other hand, the change of TF expression and PTT were not detected in the animals ligated vessel for 15 min. These results suggest that TF plays an important role in the injury after reperfusion following ischemia.

Effect of radiofrequency catheter ablation on parasympathetic denervation: a comparison of three different ablation sites

Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation of supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) has been shown to result in local parasympathetic denervation. The purpose of this study was to estimate the correlation between RF cumulative energy and parasympathetic denervation at three different ablation sites.

METHODS

45 patients who underwent RF ablation of 36 AV reentrant tachycardias and 9 AV nodal reentrant tachycardias were studied. Twenty patients had left free-wall accessory pathways (group L), 8 patients right free-wall accessory pathways (group R), and 17 patients septal accessory pathways (n = 8) or slow pathways (n = 9) (group S). Time and frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability on 24-hour ambulatory ECG recordings was performed before and after RF ablation. pNN50 and the high frequency (0.15 to 0.40 Hz, HF) component were measured to examine the effects on parasympathetic nerve activity. The values of delta pNN50 and delta HF were expressed as the percent change of pNN50 and HF that occurred after versus before RF ablation.

RESULTS

Both pNN50 and HF significantly decreased after RF ablation in all three groups. In group S, there was a significant correlation between RF cumulative energy and delta pNN50 (r = 0.66, P < 0.01) or delta HF (r = 0.58, P < 0.05). In contrast, there was no correlation between RF cumulative energy and delta pNN50 or delta HF in either group L or group R.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that RF ablation produces parasympathetic denervation at all three sites along the mitral or tricuspid annulus and that parasympathetic fibers may be located predominantly in the septal area.

Serum interleukin-2 receptor for the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

The value of measuring soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in the sera of patients with joint pain as a predicting parameter for the future development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was examined. sIL-2R was measured by the ELISA method. Sixty-four patients with joint pain (suspected RA: sus-RA) but no bone or joint destruction were enrolled over 2 years and 47 were selected for the study. Eleven patients whose diagnosis was sus-RA after a year of observation were successively followed-up for 5 years. Two-thirds of the patients whose sIL-2R levels were higher than those of normal healthy adults (< 82 pmol/l; mean +2SD) developed RA within a year. On the other hand, one-quarter of the patients with normal levels of sIL-2R also developed RA within a year. The presence of two or three of the following three items in patients with joint pain without any bone and joint destruction was thus indicated to be useful for the early diagnosis of RA: elevated CRP level (> or = 1.0 mg/dl), positive rheumatoid factor (RF) (> or = 30 IU/ml) and an elevated sIL-2R level (> or = 100 pmol/l). Sensitivity and specificity were 72.7% and 96.0%, respectively. The probability of development of RA is expressed as P = 1/[1 + exp(2.673 - 0.01784 x sIL-2R - 0.4398 x CRP - 0.004835 x RF)], with R2 = 0.3083 and p<0.0005. On the other hand, the sIL-2R levels did not correlate with any future bone or joint changes within a year of observation. The above criteria may therefore hopefully justify the early treatment of patients with joint pain using drugs that can modify the patients' immune function. However, the validity of these criteria still need to be examined more thoroughly in the future.

Model simulation of environmental profile transformation and fate of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans by the multimedia environmental fate model

Environmental profile transformation and fate of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) were studied using the fugacity-based multimedia environmental fate model. Mass fluxes between compartments were estimated by the steady-state modeling. From the model estimates, major mass fluxes coming from emission source were shown to go to the soil and water through wet/dry deposition, then go to degradation mainly in the soil and sediment. Simulation of homologue profile transformation was also performed and some controlling parameters were pointed out. Part of profile transformation phenomenon was simulated well at least qualitatively, which was the result of the difference in the physical/chemical properties of homologues. Long-term environmental fate of PCDD/PCDF was also studied using the non steady-state multimedia fate model.

Therapeutic usefulness of wild-type p53 gene introduction in a p53-null anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell line

Anaplastic thyroid carcinomas very often harbor the mutations in the tumor suppressor gene p53. We have previously shown that wild-type (wt) p53 gene introduction led to cell growth arrest, but not apoptosis, in p53-null anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells. The present studies were designed to evaluate other therapeutic effects of wt-p53 gene introduction on p53-null thyroid carcinoma cells, as chemo- and radiosensitization and inhibition of angiogenesis have also been described recently as additional therapeutic advantages of wt-p53 gene introduction in tumor cells with p53 mutations. A p53-null anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell line, FRO, and a FRO subline stably expressing a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of p53 (p53Val138), tsFRO, were used. ts-p53 functions as mutant and wt at nonpermissive (37 C) and permissive (32 C) temperatures, respectively. tsFRO showed a prolonged cell doubling time compared to parental FRO when cultured at 32 C, but the cell growth rate was similar between FRO and tsFRO at 37 C. The cytotoxic and clonogenic assays demonstrated that although the sensitivity to three different anticancer agents (cisplatin, 5-fluorocytosine, and doxorubicin) was unaltered, radiosensitivity was enhanced in tsFRO compared to FRO at 32 C. Unexpectedly, in studies on angiogenesis, expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (an angiogenic factor) messenger ribonucleic acid were similar between FRO and tsFRO, and thrombospondin-1 (an antiangiogenic factor) messenger ribonucleic acid and protein levels were about 2.5-fold lower in tsFRO than FRO at 32 C, although any difference could not be detected in their ability to inhibit in vitro angiogenesis with the culture medium conditioned by tsFRO and FRO at 32 C. These results suggest that p53-defective thyroid carcinomas may benefit from the combination of p53 gene therapy and radiotherapy. However, further study will be necessary to clarify the pathological significance of thrombospondin-1 in angiogenesis and thyroid tumor growth.

Two novel oleanolic acid saponins having a sialyl Lewis X mimetic structure from Achyranthes fauriei root

Two novel triterpene glycosides, achyranthosides E and F, were isolated as methyl esters from the root of Achyranthes fauriei, an antiinflammatory medicinal plant. Their structures were characterized as oleanolic acid glucuronides having unique substituents composed of C6H9O5 and C9H15O7, respectively, at the C-3 position of glucuronic acid. These compounds are active components which can inhibit the excess recruiting of neutrophiles to injured tissues 1,000 times more potently than sialyl Lewis X.