Molecular characterization of a multi-promoter gene encoding a chicken filamin protein

We report the cloning and sequencing of cDNA encoding a chicken filamin protein. The 2,567 amino acid protein contains an NH2-terminal 267 amino acid actin-binding domain followed by a series of 24 repeating units that are each approximately 95 amino acids in length. The overall primary structure of filamin closely resembles that of human actin-binding protein (ABP). However, filamin lacks a 24-amino-acid insertion prior to repeat 16 that is contained within ABP. This region of human ABP is a site of calpain cleavage and is thought to confer flexibility on the molecule. Hence, it is possible that the properties of actin gels formed with either human ABP or filamin reflect the presence or absence of this insertion. Filamin is encoded within a multi-promoter transcription unit. A downstream filamin promoter (Fil1) resembles those of certain housekeeping genes and has a putative binding site for the transcription factor E2F. Thus, transcription from this promoter may be linked to the cell cycle. A second filamin promoter (Fil2) is located at least 8 kilobases upstream from the Fil1 promoter. This structural arrangement suggests that regulation of filamin gene expression is likely to be complex.

[A cephalometric study on determining the orientation of occlusal plane]

A study of the parallel relationship between the occlusal plane and the line connecting nasal alar and tragus was made in 90 dentulous cases by using cephalometry. The results show that the line connecting the inferior point of nasal alar and the mid-point of tragus runs much more parallel with the occlusal plane. The regression equation reveals a "line of closest fitting". It was used in the prosthetic treatment for 50 edentulous patients with good clinical results. The line connecting the inferior point of nasal alar and the mid-point of tragus therefore represents a proper reference plane for determining occlusal plane and hence should be still a valuable index in clinical dentistry.

Tumor necrosis factor inhibits stimulated but not basal release of nitric oxide

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) increases nitric oxide (NO) synthase in vascular endothelium, but it inhibits endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) of vascular smooth muscle. We tested whether TNF alpha inhibits the response to, or release of, NO in bovine pulmonary artery (BPA) using the technique of perfusion-superfusion bioassay and ozone chemiluminescence. Effluent from the perfused BPA with endothelium (donor)-relaxed endothelium-rubbed bovine coronary artery (BCA) (detector). Moreover, effluent from the donor stimulated with acetylcholine (ACh) or bradykinin (BK) (0.001 to 100 nmol) relaxed the detector. Direct application of these agonists to the detector failed to produce relaxation. Basal and agonist-stimulated effluent from the donor treated with L-NG-monomethylarginine (LNMMA) (100 microM) suppressed effluent-mediated relaxation of the detector. ACh and BK released LNMMA-inhibitable nitrite and nitrate from the BPA. Thus, the effluent contained NO. Exposure of the donor to TNF alpha (1.25 micrograms/ml) for 60 min did not affect basal release of NO, but it attenuated bioassayable and chemiluminescence-detectable NO release by ACh and BK. The inhibition of NO release was directly related to the magnitude of inhibition of EDR by ACh and BK. Thus, TNF alpha selectively inhibits receptor-mediated release of NO without affecting basal release of NO. This effect differs from that of L-arginine-based inhibitors of NO and represents a unique physiologic mechanism of regulation of NO in the endothelium.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibits contractions to sympathetic nerve stimulation by a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism

Gram-negative sepsis and administration of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) are associated with hypotension and peripheral neuropathies suggestive of impaired sympathetic neurotransmission. We examined the effect of TNF alpha on the responses of the bovine pulmonary artery (BPA) to transmural sympathetic nerve stimulation (SNS). BPA contracted to SNS (0.5-32 Hz, 5-10 V, 2-msec duration, 2-msec delay) in a frequency-dependent manner. The contractions of the BPA to SNS were mediated by norepinephrine and activation of postsynaptic alpha 1-adrenoceptors, since they were attenuated by prazosin. Maximum contraction of the BPA to SNS was significantly enhanced (148 +/- 37% increase, n = 6) after inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with L-NG-monomethylarginine (LNMMA, 500 microM), an effect abrogated by L-arginine (1 mM). TNF alpha (0.0042, 0.042, and 0.42 micrograms/ml) selectively inhibited contractions of the BPA to SNS without affecting the contraction of the BPA to exogenous norepinephrine. In BPA incubated with LNMMA (5-500 microM), TNF alpha facilitated rather than inhibited SNS. TNF alpha increased the formation of amperiometrically measured free nitric oxide in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells in primary culture. The data show that in the absence of LNMMA, TNF alpha releases free nitric oxide from a sympathetic neuron and selectively inhibits the contractions of the BPA to SNS. In BPA in which nitric oxide synthase I is inhibited by LNMMA, TNF alpha amplifies the contractions to SNS, even in the absence of endothelium. Thus, TNF alpha can modify vascular smooth muscle tone by affecting SNS. TNF alpha inhibits SNS at the level of the neuron by a mechanism involving the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway. TNF alpha-induced suppression of SNS and neurotransmission may contribute to the hypotension and peripheral neuropathy of sepsis.

In vitro bond strength of two adhesives to enamel and dentin under normal and contaminated conditions

In vitro bond strengths of human enamel and dentin treated with five contaminants were measured with air, water and damp conditions as controls. Two commercial bonding agents (a lower-viscosity, solvent-containing type, AB, and a higher-viscosity, hydrophilic monomer type, SB) and their composites were applied to tooth structure under two conditions (contaminated and re-etched). Samples were debonded in tension after 24 h using an inverted, truncated cone test. Among the controls, the highest bond strengths were obtained with damp conditions for AB (24 MPa) and damp conditions or air for SB (22 MPa) with small differences between enamel and dentin. Most contaminants lowered the bond strength. Re-etching without additional mechanical preparation resulted in bond strengths similar to controls. Bond strengths to tooth structure with the bonding agents tested may be less sensitive to common forms of contamination than typically assumed.

Immune regulation within human tumors - contribution of different components of the tumor microenvironment

We have examined the ability of various components of breast, colorectal and ovarian tumours to regulate the activation and function of LAK cells and TILs, immune effectors which have been used as anti-tumour therapies. Tumour cell or supernatants derived from their short-term in vitro culture, inhibited the activation of PBMC by IL-2 but supported the continued proliferation of LAK or TIL cells which had already been activated. Despite being able to enhance or suppress growth of a range of cell lines, a cell-free, soluble preparation (TDS) from primary tumours was uniformly inhibitory to IL-2 activated cells, suggesting that it reflected the immunoregulatory nature of human tumours more accurately than cell-cultures or their supernatants.

[The multiplication of Sindbis virus in BHK-21 cell]

One step growth curve of Sindbis virus (SbV) in BHK-21 cells showed that a lot of progeny viruses could be observed at 2 hr. after infection. The titer of virus reached the highest about 10(9)TCID50/ml at 6hr. post infection. The viral morphological characters and morphogenetic process in BHK-21 cells were examined by electron microscopic techniques. The dynamics of viral proteins synthesis and the effect on host cell were studied and discussed in this paper.

New mechanism-based inactivators of trypsin-like proteinases. Selective inactivation of urokinase by functionalized cyclopeptides incorporating a sulfoniomethyl-substituted m-aminobenzoic acid residue

In order to obtain selective suicide substrates of trypsin-like proteases including plasminogen activators, plasmin, and thrombin, a series of cyclopeptides cyclo[Arg or Lys-aB(CH2X)-Gly4], in which a substituted o- or m-aminobenzoyl group constitutes a latent electrophile, have been prepared. Treatment of the corresponding phenyl ethers cyclo[P1-aB(CH2OC6H5)-Gly4] with HBr/HOAc or R1R2S/TFA gives the bromides (X = Br) or the sulfonium salts (X = +SR1R2 with R1 = R2 = Me or R1 = Me and R2 = C6H5), respectively. These water-soluble cyclopeptides behave as time-dependent inhibitors of bovine trypsin and human urokinase (u-PA) but have no effect on tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and no or poor effect on plasmin and thrombin. The compounds containing a m-aminobenzoic acid residue are more efficient inactivators than their anthranilic analogues. The kinetic criteria expected for a suicide inhibition are met. A mechanism of inhibition involving the formation of a quinonimmonium methide intermediate is proposed. The activity of the inhibitors is very sensitive to the nature of the X benzylic substituent. An increased efficiency for the inactivation of human urokinase is observed with the sulfonium salts. The selectivity of the inactivation of u-PA compared to t-PA could be of therapeutical significance in controlling cell proliferation and invasion.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibits endothelium-dependent relaxation

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) stimulates nitric oxide (NO) in vascular endothelium by induction of the enzyme NO synthase II (NOS II). We examined the effects of TNF-alpha on 1) endothelium-dependent (EDR) and endothelium-independent (EIR) relaxation and 2) contraction of bovine intralobar pulmonary arteries (BPA) and veins (BPV) in vitro. Acetylcholine (ACh), bradykinin (BK), histamine, and A23187 produced EDR of BPA contracted with a 50% effective concentration of U-46619 (15 nM), because relaxation was abolished by endothelium-rubbing and attenuated by L-NG-mono-methylarginine (L-NMMA; 300 microM). TNF-alpha (0.00417, 0.0417, 0.417, and 1.25 micrograms/ml) incubated with BPA for 60 min inhibited EDR of the BPA to ACh, BK, and histamine. The effects of TNF required 30 min for onset. Recovery of EDR occurred 3-4 h after washout of TNF-alpha. Pentoxifylline (1 microM) did not affect ACh-induced EDR but selectively reversed TNF-alpha-mediated inhibition of ACh-induced EDR. TNF-alpha-mediated inhibition of EDR was not reversible by L-NMMA, an inhibitor of NOS I and NOS II, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor ibuprofen, or CV-3908 (1 microM), a platelet-activating factor antagonist. The inhibitory effect of TNF-alpha on EDR was not mediated by nonspecific sensitization of the endothelium to human protein because recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (10, 50, and 500 x 10(3) U/ml) did not affect EDR of BPA. The effect of TNF-alpha was specific for release of NO from the endothelium of BPA because TNF-alpha did not affect 1) EDR of BPV to ACh, BK, or ATP; 2) EIR of BPA or BPV to nitroprusside; and 3) contraction of either BPA or BPV to KCl, U-46619, histamine, norepinephrine, or serotonin. Thus TNF-alpha appears to selectively inhibit receptor-mediated EDR and NO release in BPA. TNF-alpha-mediated inhibition of EDR differs from that of L-arginine-based inhibitors and may represent an endogenous physiological mechanism of regulation of NO in the endothelium.

Ouabain enhances basal release of nitric oxide from carotid artery

The authors tested the postulate that ouabain releases nitric oxide (NO) from the vascular endothelium of porcine carotid arteries (PCAs) with the technique of perfusion-superfusion bioassay, in which the perfused PCA with endothelium served as the source of NO and superfused left circumflex coronary artery (CMFX) rings with rubbed endothelium served as the bioassay tissue. Selective exposure of the PCA to ouabain (10 microM) enhanced the basal release of NO but did not affect bradykinin-stimulated (BK; 0.1-100 picomoles) release of NO. The effect of ouabain on basal release of NO from PCA persisted after pretreatment of either PCA or circumflex coronary artery with propranolol (1 microM); ibuprofen (1 microM); and hydrocortisone (10 microM). Finally, selective pretreatment of the PCA with L-NG-monomethylarginine (LNMMA; 100 microM) to inhibit 1-arginine-derived NO synthesis inhibited the relaxation of the circumflex coronary artery to basal, BK, and ouabain-stimulated effluent. Since a nonspecific increase in intracellular calcium ion will enhance both basal and agonist-induced release of NO, the authors conclude that a ouabain-sensitive ATPase is involved in basal release of NO from the endothelium of the PCA. Alternatively, ouabain may act on an isozyme of NO synthase in the vascular endothelium. Speculatively, ouabain-induced stimulation of NO release from vascular endothelium may contribute to the beneficial effect of ouabain in congestive heart failure.

Ethanol relaxes pulmonary artery by release of prostaglandin and nitric oxide

Acute-intake of ethanol is associated with vasodilation of vascular smooth muscle (VSM). Relaxation of VSM is dependent, in part, on the actions of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG) produced by endothelial cells (EC) lining the VSM. We examined the effects of endothelium rubbing and inhibition of EC synthesis of NO and PG on ethanol-induced relaxation of bovine pulmonary artery (BPA) and pulmonary vein (BPV) in vitro. Rings of isolated BPA and BPV were mounted in muscle chambers for the isometric recording of force development. Blood vessels were precontracted with an EC50 concentration of the thromboxane receptor mimetic U46619. Ethanol (0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.08, 0.16, 0.32, 0.64, and 1.28% (w/v) produced concentration-dependent relaxation of BPA and BPV. Ethanol-induced relaxation was attenuated in BPA with rubbed EC and by the NO synthase inhibitors, L-NG monomethylarginine (LNMMA, 50 microM) and L-nitroarginine (NOLA, 10 microM), and the prostaglandin cyclooxygenase inhibitor, ibuprofen (10 microM). In contrast, ethanol-induced relaxation of BPV was not affected by endothelium rubbing or by NOLA or LNMMA, but was partially attenuated by ibuprofen. Nitric oxide was measured with the chemiluminescence technique. Ethanol increased the content of NO released under basal conditions by the BPA but did not effect basal NO release from BPV. However, ethanol enhanced bradykinin-induced release of NO from BPA and BPV and, at low concentrations, augmented bradykinin-induced relaxation of both BPA and BPV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Co-stimulation with IL-2, but not via CD28, overcomes immunosuppression by breast tumour-derived factors on the in vitro stimulation of human T-cells

In order to investigate the mode of action of tumour-derived immunosuppressive factor from breast cancer (TDS) we examined its function on human T-cells stimulated via CD3 and co-stimulated via CD28 or the IL-2 receptor. When added at the initiation of culture, TDS inhibited anti-CD3 stimulation and co-stimulation by anti-CD28. In contrast, co-stimulation with IL-2 greatly diminished the TDS inhibition of anti-CD3 stimulated cells. Activation by IL-2 alone was also inhibited at the initiation of culture. When PBMC were activated with IL-2 or anti-CD3 for three days and then exposed to TDS for a further 3 days, only the proliferation of the cells pre-activated with IL-2 was inhibited; the cells pre-activated via CD3 were refractory to TDS inhibition. Pre-activation with anti-CD3 for 48 h was required for this to develop. The cytotoxicity of cells pre-activated with anti-CD3 was lower than that of cells exposed to IL-2, but killing obtained from cultures pre-activated with anti-CD3 plus IL-2 was equivalent to that obtained with IL-2 alone and additionally, these pre-activated cells were not subject to inhibition upon subsequent exposure to TDS.

Transforming growth factor-beta is not the major soluble immunosuppressor in the microenvironments of human breast tumours

The immunosuppressive nature of the human breast cancer microenvironment was investigated. The soluble fraction of individual tumours was tested for its ability to influence the activation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) by interleukin-2 (IL-2) and to effect the continued proliferation of cells which had been pre-activated with IL-2. In all cases, both assays were profoundly inhibited (90-100%). None of this inhibition was due to cell killing by the tumour-derived soluble material (TDS). Sixty-two percent of TDS tested contained measurable transforming-growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) activity; following acidification TGF-beta was present in all TDS. However, in neither case was this material present in sufficient amounts to account for the degree of inhibition observed. In addition, neutralisation experiments failed to demonstrate consistent relief of inhibition in the presence of excess anti-TGF-beta antisera. These results demonstrate that TGF-beta s are not the major soluble immunosuppressive materials within human breast tumours.

Effect of hypoxia on the pulmonary beta and alpha 1 adrenoceptors in rats

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of hypoxia on the pulmonary adrenoceptors in rats. The density and distribution of pulmonary adrenoceptors were studied by using radioligand binding techniques and autoradiography. The beta adrenoceptors in lung homogenates were found to decrease by 24 h of hypoxia, and to unexpectedly increase at 1 week of hypoxia. Exposure to hypoxia for 2 and 4 weeks led to another decrease in beta adrenoceptors. In contrast, the alpha 1 adrenoceptors were increased markedly at 24 h and 4 weeks of hypoxia. A somewhat higher density of alpha 1 adrenoceptors was also found at 1 week and 7 weeks of hypoxia. The affinity of beta and alpha 1 adrenoceptors did not change. Using a computer image analysis system, beta adrenoceptors were found to be present in higher density in bronchioles than in pulmonary blood vessels before and during hypoxia, while the reverse was true of alpha 1 adrenoceptors. Both beta and alpha 1 adrenoceptors were found in high densities in the parenchyma.

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells modulate the effects of IL-2 on a T cell-mediated immune response

The ability of LAK cells and/or IL-2 to affect the course of an established T cell response was examined in a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) model. IL-2 greatly increased the magnitude of the response at 24 h, while LAK cells alone had no effect. The administration of LAK cells and IL-2 together also had no effect on the magnitude of the DTH response, demonstrating that LAK cells were able to remove the enhancement seen with IL-2 alone. The presence of LAK cells reduced the serum half-life of IL-2 significantly, but not to an extent able to account for the observed loss of IL-2 induced DTH enhancement. IL-2 administration influenced cell phenotypes in the spleen and draining lymph nodes (DLN), as well as increasing splenic weight; the additional presence of LAK cells markedly altered these effects of IL-2 in the spleen (but not the DLN). Taken together, these results suggest that LAK cells interact with activated T-cells within the immune system and modulate their function.

The effect of thromboxane on contraction of canine mesenteric and lingual arteries

Thromboxane A2 (TXA2), a potent vasoconstrictor agent, is released from platelets and smooth muscle during inflammation and trauma. TXA2 may cause lingual artery (LA) contraction, leading to lingual paresthesia. The effects of U-46619, a TxA2 mimetic, on isolated rings of canine LA and mesenteric artery (MA) were examined. U-46619 (1 nmol/L to 1 mumol/L) caused a triphasic contraction of LA and MA; a rapid, phasic contraction; a slow, sustained contraction; and, upon washout of U-46619, a maintained contraction. The MA relaxed slowly, but the LA remained contracted for at least three h after washout. Decreasing extracellular calcium ion (Ca2+o) to less than 0.1 mumol/L with 2 mmol/L EGTA relaxed MA, but not LA. EGTA (4 mmol/L) partially relaxed the maintained contraction of LA. Inhibition of protein kinase C with amphotericin B or staurosporine inhibited the phasic and sustained contractions of LA, but did not affect the maintained contraction in the presence or absence of EGTA. Thus, CA2+o was required for the initial contraction of the LA by U-46619, but did not appear to be required for the maintained contraction following washout of U-46619. The data support the conclusion that following a brief exposure to U-46619, maintained contraction of LA persists by a unique mechanism that may be independent of Ca2+ and protein kinase C. Sustained LA contraction after exposure to endogenous TXA2 during inflammation and trauma may contribute to impaired lingual blood flow and orofacial tissue injury.

A cyclopeptidic suicide substrate preferentially inactivates urokinase-type plasminogen activator

c[Arg-aB-(CH2+SCH3 phi)-Gly4] was designed and studied as a mechanism-based inactivator (suicide substrate) for plasminogen activators (u-PA and t-PA) and plasmin. This compound inhibited u-PA and fulfills criteria expected for the involvement of an enzyme-activated inhibitor: first-order and irreversible process, saturation kinetics, protection by substrate. The limiting first-order rate constant kinact and the apparent enzyme-inhibitor dissociation constant KI were 0.021 s-1 and 9 microM, respectively at pH 7.5 and 25 degrees C. The activation of plasminogen by u-PA is compromised after this enzyme has been treated by the reagent. Plasmin and t-PA were inactivated 40- and 2330-fold less efficiently than u-PA, respectively.

Fabrication of holographic microlenses using a deep UV lithographed zone plate

Holographic microlens arrays and elliptical zone plates are fabricated on holographic plates and photoresists by interference between the first- and second-order diffracted waves from an ion etched Fresnel zone plate, which is made by electron-beam scanning and deep UV lithography. This method of fabrication is simple, and a holographic lens with a large numerical aperture and short focal length is obtained. Experimental results of focusing and imaging by a lens array and an elliptical zone plate are given. Two methods of fabricating holographic zone plates for an IR or UV wavelength are also proposed.

A new efficient synthetic method for 2- and 4-hydroxy-17 alpha-ethynylestradiol

The reaction of ethyl magnesium bromide and 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol with formaldehyde in the presence of triethyl phosphate or hexamethylphosphoramide gave the 2- and 4-formyl-17 alpha-ethynylestradiol in high yield. Treatment of the formyl derivatives with an alkaline solution of hydrogen peroxide in tetrahydrofuran afforded the corresponding catechols in almost quantitative yield. This new synthetic method was far superior to other methods, especially concerning simplicity, selectivity, and high yields.