ALOX12 polymorphisms are associated with fat mass but not peak bone mineral density in Chinese nuclear families

OBJECTIVE

Arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase (ALOX12) is a member of the lipoxygenase superfamily, which catalyzes the incorporation of molecular oxygen into polyunsaturated fatty acids. The products of ALOX12 reactions serve as endogenous ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARG). The activation of the PPARG pathway in marrow-derived mesenchymal progenitors stimulates adipogenesis and inhibits osteoblastogenesis. Our objective was to determine whether polymorphisms in the ALOX12 gene were associated with variations in peak bone mineral density (BMD) and obesity phenotypes in young Chinese men.

METHODS

All six tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ALOX12 gene were genotyped in a total of 1215 subjects from 400 Chinese nuclear families by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. The BMD at the lumbar spine and hip, total fat mass (TFM) and total lean mass (TLM) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The pairwise linkage disequilibrium among SNPs was measured, and the haplotype blocks were inferred. Both the individual SNP markers and the haplotypes were tested for an association with the peak BMD, body mass index, TFM, TLM and percentage fat mass (PFM) using the quantitative transmission disequilibrium test (QTDT).

RESULTS

Using the QTDT, significant within-family association was found between the rs2073438 polymorphism in the ALOX12 gene and the TFM and PFM (P=0.007 and 0.012, respectively). Haplotype analyses were combined with our individual SNP results and remained significant even after correction for multiple testing. However, we failed to find significant within-family associations between ALOX12 SNPs and the BMD at any bone site in young Chinese men.

CONCLUSIONS

Our present results suggest that the rs2073438 polymorphism of ALOX12 contributes to the variation of obesity phenotypes in young Chinese men, although we failed to replicate the association with the peak BMD variation in this sample. Further independent studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Kinetic analysis of oxytetracycline residues in Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, muscle following intramuscular administration

Crab culture is a very important economic industry in China. An epidemic of tremor disease of Chinese mitten crabs, Eriocheir sinensis, has become a serious problem in recent years. A spiroplasm has been proved to be the causative agent of this disease. Oxytetracycline (OTC) is used widely in aquaculture and was confirmed to be very effective against this pathogen. In this study, the distribution and depletion patterns of OTC in crab muscle were evaluated following single intramuscular doses of 2, 8 and 40 mg kg(-1) body weight. OTC was detected with a validated HPLC method. Concentration-time profiles were well described by a three-compartment model with first-order absorption after a single dose of 8 and 40 mg kg(-1). For comparison, a non-compartment model was employed. A withdrawal time of 48.29 and 55.92 days was suggested prior to consumption after receiving 8 and 40 mg kg(-1). A recommended therapeutic dose of OTC in theory was calculated to be 36.37 mg kg(-1). OTC was distributed well throughout the body. The elimination of OTC in muscle was slower compared with fish and other crustaceans. A dose of 40 mg kg(-1) is suggested for practical use.

Simultaneous Estimation of Relative Permeability and Porosity/Permeability Fields by History Matching Production Data

Abstract

This paper presents a procedure to estimate relative permeability curves together with gridblock porosities and permeabilities by automatic history matching three-phase flow production data using the LBFGS algorithm for optimization and the adjoint method for generating sensitivity coefficients. Both power law and B-splines are considered for the representation of relative permeability curves. Power law functions provide a simple representation; however, B-splines have the advantage of being able to accurately represent any set of relative permeability curves. In the B-spline representation, we provide a simple procedure based on a transformation of parameters (control points) defining the B-splines to ensure that monotonic curves are obtained. Without this transformation, the automatic history-matching process fails. If endpoint saturations are included as parameters, we show how to modify the adjoint procedure to account for the fact that initial conditions are sensitive to endpoint saturations. While the history-matching process is inherently non-unique, we show that reasonable estimates of relative permeability curves and porosity/ permeability fields can be obtained for a synthetic reservoir example. We also provide a quantification of the uncertainty in model parameters and reservoir performance prediction using the randomized maximum likelihood (RML) method.

Introduction

Usually, the relative permeability curves are obtained from labs through coreflood tests. However, they can also be incorporated into the history matching procedure as model parameters. Archer and Wong(1) and Yang and Watson(2) were among the early researchers to consider the estimation of relative permeability curves by history matching laboratory coreflood data. A detailed literature review is given in Reynolds et al.(3). Reynolds et al.(3) also discussed the estimation of three-phase relative permeabilities by history matching production data.

The current work is a natural extension of Reynolds et al.(3). In this paper, we provide an alternative method for relative permeability estimation based on B-spline approximation. Compared to power law representation, B-splines have the advantage of being able to accurately represent any set of relative permeability curves.

Bacterial and archaeal assemblages in sediments of a large shallow freshwater lake, Lake Taihu, as revealed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

AIMS

To explore the association of microbial community structure with the development of eutrophication in a large shallow freshwater lake, Lake Taihu.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The bacterial and archaeal assemblages in sediments of different lake areas were analysed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of amplified 16S rDNA fragments. The bacterial DGGE profiles showed that eutrophied sites, grass-bottom areas and relatively clean sites with a eutrophic (albeit dredged) site are three respective clusters. Fifty-one dominant bacterial DGGE bands were detected and 92 corresponding clones were sequenced, most of which were affiliated with bacterial phylotypes commonly found in freshwater ecosystems. Actinobacteria were detected in the centre of the lake and not at eutrophied sites whereas the opposite was found with respect to Verrucomicrobiales. Twenty-five dominant archaeal DGGE bands were detected and 31 corresponding clones were sequenced, most of which were affiliated with freshwater archaeal phylotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

The bacterial community structures in the sediments of different areas with similar water quality and situation tend to be similar in Taihu Lake.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study may expand our knowledge on the relationship between the overall microbial assemblages and the development of eutrophication in the shallow freshwater lake.

A subject-specific technique for respiratory motion correction in image-guided cardiac catheterisation procedures

We describe a system for respiratory motion correction of MRI-derived roadmaps for use in X-ray guided cardiac catheterisation procedures. The technique uses a subject-specific affine motion model that is quickly constructed from a short pre-procedure MRI scan. We test a dynamic MRI sequence that acquires a small number of high resolution slices, rather than a single low resolution volume. Additionally, we use prior knowledge of the nature of cardiac respiratory motion by constraining the model to use only the dominant modes of motion. During the procedure the motion of the diaphragm is tracked in X-ray fluoroscopy images, allowing the roadmap to be updated using the motion model. X-ray image acquisition is cardiac gated. Validation is performed on four volunteer datasets and three patient datasets. The accuracy of the model in 3D was within 5mm in 97.6% of volunteer validations. For the patients, 2D accuracy was improved from 5 to 13mm before applying the model to 2-4mm afterwards. For the dynamic MRI sequence comparison, the highest errors were found when using the low resolution volume sequence with an unconstrained model.

Effects of denosumab treatment in breast cancer patients with bone metastases and elevated bone resorption levels after therapy with intravenous bisphosphonates: results of a phase 2 randomized trial

Abstract #1155

Background: Patients with breast cancer-induced bone disease and elevated urine-N-telopeptide (uNTx), a marker of bone resorption, are at increased risk for skeletal complications, disease progression, and death. Receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) mediates osteoclastic bone resorption. Denosumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody, inhibits bone destruction by binding and neutralizing RANKL. Denosumab efficacy and safety were assessed in a phase 2, randomized, open-label, active-controlled trial in patients with bone metastases and elevated levels of uNTx after at least 8 weeks of intravenous (IV) bisphosphonate (BP) therapy. We report results in a subset of patients with breast cancer.
 Methods: Cancer patients with bone metastases and uNTx >50 nM/mM creatinine [Cr] following at least 8 weeks of IV BP therapy were randomized to continue IV BP therapy every 4 weeks (Q4W) or switch to subcutaneous (SC) denosumab injection (180 mg) Q4W or every 12 weeks (Q12W). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved uNTx <50 nM/mM at week 13. Safety was also assessed.
 Results: The study population (N = 111) included 46 patients (41%) with breast cancer; the median time since diagnosis of bone metastases was approximately 1 year in both groups. At week 13, 76% of denosumab-treated patients and 33% of IV BP-treated patients had uNTx < 50 nM/mM. Denosumab-induced suppression of uNTx was rapid (as early as 2 weeks after initial treatment), sustained through week 25, and unaffected by baseline uNTx (Table). In the total study population, adverse events of grade 3, 4, or 5 were reported in 25 (71%) IV BP-treated patients and 40 (55%) denosumab-treated patients.
 
 Discussion: Denosumab reduced bone turnover in breast cancer patients with bone metastases and elevated uNTx despite prior IV BP therapy. Phase 3 trials of denosumab in cancer patients with bone metastases are in progress.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 1155.

Deterministic Dynamics in Neuronal Discharge from Pallidotomy Targets

The non-linear dynamic specificity of the firing pattern discharged from neurons of the internal globus pallidus (GPi) was investigated by recording their spontaneous firing using a microelectrode during posteroventral pallidotomy in eight patients with Parkinson's disease. Raw data from the cells were processed to extract spiking events (discharges above a selected threshold) and the interspike interval was measured. Using the unstable periodic orbits extraction method, significant period-1, −2 and −3 orbits were identified in burst firing discharged from the GPi cells in all eight patients, suggesting that deterministic dynamics exist in the timing of the discharges. As well as providing a useful peri-operative technique for locating posteroventral pallidotomy targets in Parkinson's disease, this method also provides a promising basis for investigating characteristic neuronal discharges in other regions of the brain and for various other neurological disorders.

The Nucleus Accumbens Core has a More Important Role in Resisting Reactivation of Extinguished Conditioned Place Preference in Morphine-addicted Rats

We investigated the roles of the core and shell subfields of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) in drug- or foot-shock-induced reactivation of extinguished conditioned place preference (CPP) in morphine-addicted rats. Rats were given electrolytic lesions to either the core or shell after CPP was established. After surgery, a reduction of CPP scores to morphine was observed in all groups. During the reacquisition of morphine-seeking behaviour, rats in the shell and sham lesion groups regained their CPP, while the CPP in core lesion rats remained severely impaired. Similarly, foot-shock-induced reactivation of CPP in the core lesion group was significantly lower than that of the shell and sham lesion groups, and there was no significant difference between these latter groups. Our results demonstrate that NAc core and shell lesions elicited dissociable effects on reactivation of extinguished CPP in rats, suggesting that the NAc core might play a more important role in resisting reactivation of extinguished CPP in morphine-addicted rats.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide based therapeutics

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), generally considered a key component involved in redox reactions, has been found to participate in an increasingly diverse range of cellular processes, including signal transduction, DNA repair, and post-translational protein modifications. In recent years, medicinal chemists have become interested in the therapeutic potential of molecules affecting interactions of NAD with NAD-dependent enzymes. Also, enzymes involved in de novo biosynthesis, salvage pathways, and down-stream utilization of NAD have been extensively investigated and implicated in a wide variety of diseases. These studies have bolstered NAD-based therapeutics as a new avenue for the discovery and development of novel treatments for medical conditions ranging from cancer to aging. Industrial and academic groups have produced structurally diverse molecules which target NAD metabolic pathways, with some candidates advancing into clinical trials. However, further intensive structural, biological, and medical studies are needed to facilitate the design and evaluation of new generations of NAD-based therapeutics. At this time, the field of NAD-therapeutics is most likely at a stage similar to that of the early successful development of protein kinase inhibitors, where analogs of ATP (a more widely utilized metabolite than NAD) began to show selectivity against target enzymes. This review focuses on key representative opportunities for research in this area, which extends beyond the scope of this article.

Predictors of outcome and treatment decisions of older patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer

19574

Background: In treating Stage III non-small cell lung cancer in the elderly, oncologists often empirically adjust treatment without clear guidelines. Identifying patient characteristics that impact prognosis will aid in creating better treatment algorithms in this patient population. Methods: A retrospective analysis was done on older patients (age > 70) treated for Stage III NSCLC (excluding “wet” IIIB) at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer. Cox multivariate analysis identified variables impacting progression free survival, overall survival, treatment chosen, treatment interruptions, and hospitalizations. Correlation and regression tree analysis (CART) was performed to create potential decision making models. Results: 213 patients were evaluable. Multivariate analysis identified ECOG performance status (hazard ratio = 1.52, p = 0.005) and nodal status (HR = 1.36, p = 0.001) as negatively associated with PFS while BMI (HR = 0.96, p = 0.02) was positively associated. ECOG performance status (HR = 2.26, p < 0.0001), nodal status (HR = 1.18, p = 0.08), and CIRS3 (having a comorbidity classified as severity 3; HR = 1.33, p = 0.02) were negatively associated with OS. BMI (HR = 0.95, p = 0.002) and CIRSmean (mean CIRS-G severity score; HR 0.61, p = 0.01) were positively associated with OS. These variables were also identified as the most significant splitters, along with smoking status and pulmonary function, in CART analyses. Trees using PFS and OS as outcomes were created with receiver operating curves (ROC) ranging from 0.64–0.75. A CART analysis targeting treatment modality chosen had ROCs ranging from 0.49–0.78. Conclusions: Our multivariate analysis found ECOG performance status, nodal status, and severe medical comorbidity as negatively associated with survival. Unexpectedly, BMI (at initial treatment), independent of weight loss, was found to be positively associated. Also, the splitter variables identified by CART analysis were very similar to the general multivariate model, but the weights differed in the various analyses and subgroups of patients. The CART analyses suggest that we can create decision making models with a range of applicability comparable to those commonly considered useful for clinical guidelines, i.e. about 60% of straightforward application.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Periprocedural complications associated with endovascular embolisation of intracranial ruptured aneurysms with matrix coils

INTRODUCTION

Matrix is a type of bioactive coil expected to produce healing of cerebral aneurysms. We reviewed periprocedural complications associated with endovascular embolisation of ruptured intracranial aneurysms with matrix coils and evaluated the effects of matrix coils.

METHODS

From October 2003 to September 2005, a total of 102 patients with 102 ruptured aneurysms and ten unruptured aneurysms underwent embolisations with matrix coils. We reviewed the medical records, radiographical studies and endovascular procedures to evaluate the morbidity and mortality related to ruptured aneurysm coiling.

RESULTS

16 complications (15.7 percent) occurred, of which 14 were in the anterior circulation and two in the posterior circulation. Complications included nine intraprocedural ruptures (8.8 percent), three thromboembolism (2.9 percent), one coil migration (1.0 percent) and three parent vessel occlusions (2.9 percent). Six complications had no neurological consequences, three were with transient deficits, six resulted in persistent neurological deficits, and one caused the patient to die. No complication was associated with balloon remodelling technique, and coil migration occurred during one of the neuroform-assisted embolisations. Procedural-related neurological morbidity and mortality for all 102 embolisations of ruptured aneurysms were 5.9 percent and 1.0 percent, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Endovascular treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms with matrix coils is as safe as with bare platinum coils. Matrix coil does not increase the risk of thromboembolism. However, we must be cautious when we embolise small aneurysms with matrix coils, especially when the aneurysms are less than 5 mm in diameter.

Multifunctional role of choline binding protein G in pneumococcal pathogenesis

Members of the choline binding protein (Cbp) family are noncovalently bound to phosphorylcholine residues on the surface of Streptococcus pneumoniae. It has been suggested that CbpG plays a role in adherence and increase virulence both at the mucosal surface and in the bloodstream, but the function of this protein has been unclear. A new sequence analysis indicated that CbpG is a possible member of the S1 family of multifunctional surface-associated serine proteases. Clinical isolates contained two alleles of cbpG, and one-third of the strains expressed a truncated protein lacking the C-terminal, cell wall-anchoring choline binding domain. CbpG on the surface of pneumococci (full length) or released into the supernatant (truncated) showed proteolytic activity for fibronectin and casein, as did CbpG expressed on lactobacilli or as a purified full-length or truncated recombinant protein. Recombinant CbpG (rCbpG)-coated beads adhered to eukaryotic cells, and TIGR4 mutants lacking CbpG or having a truncated CbpG protein showed decreased adherence in vitro and attenuation of disease in mouse challenge models of colonization, pneumonia, and bacteremia. Immunization with rCbpG was protective in an animal model of colonization and sepsis. We propose that CbpG is a multifunctional surface protein that in the cell-attached or secreted form cleaves host extracellular matrix and in the cell-attached form participates in bacterial adherence. This is the first example of distinct functions in virulence that are dependent on natural variation in expression of a choline binding domain.

Analysis of ADAMTS4 and MT4-MMP indicates that both are involved in aggrecanolysis in interleukin-1-treated bovine cartilage

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the mechanism of aggrecanolysis in interleukin-1 (IL-1)-treated cartilage tissue by examining the time course of aggrecan cleavages and the tissue and medium content of membrane type 4-matrix metalloproteinases (MT4-MMP) and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type I motifs (ADAMTS)4.

METHODS

Articular cartilage explants were harvested from newborn bovine femoropatellar groove. The effects of IL-1 treatment with or without aggrecanase blockade were investigated by Western analysis of aggrecan fragment generation, ADAMTS4 species (p68 and p53), and MT4-MMP, as well as by realtime PCR (polymerase chain reaction) for ADAMTS4 and 5. Aggrecanase was blocked with mannosamine (ManN), an inhibitor of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor synthesis, and esculetin (EST), an inhibitor of MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 gene expression.

RESULTS

IL-1 treatment caused a major increase in MT4-MMP abundance in the tissue and medium. ADAMTS4 (p68) was abundant in fresh cartilage and this was retained in the tissue in untreated cartilage. IL-1 treatment for 6 days caused a marked loss of p68 from the cartilage and the appearance of p53 in the medium. Addition of either 1.35 mM ManN or 31-500 microM EST blocked IL-1-mediated aggrecanolysis and this was accompanied by nearly complete inhibition of the MT4-MMP increase, the p68 loss and the formation of p53. IL-1 treatment increased mRNA abundance for ADAMTS4 ( approximately 3-fold) and ADAMTS5 ( approximately 10-fold) but this was not accompanied by a marked change in enzyme protein abundance.

CONCLUSION

These studies support a central role for MT4-MMP in IL-1-induced cartilage aggrecanolysis and are consistent with the identification of p68 as the aggrecanase that cleaves within the CS2 domain, and of p53 as the aggrecanase that generates G1-NITEGE. Since the induction by IL-1 was not accompanied by marked changes in total ADAMTS4 protein, but rather in partial conversion of p68 to p53 and release of both from the tissue, we conclude that aggrecanolysis in this model system results from MT4-MMP-mediated processing of a resident pool of ADAMTS4 and release of the p68 and p53 from their normal association with the cell surface.

Evaluation of toxicity from high-dose systemic administration of recombinant adenovirus vector in vector-naïve and pre-immunized mice

Toxicity associated with in vivo administration of adenovirus (Ad) vectors has been linked to activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. Pre-existing immunity to the prevalent Ad serotypes, acquired by the majority of the human population as a result of natural infections, has the potential to modulate vector efficacy and safety. Previously, we evaluated some aspects of toxicity from systemic Ad vector in vector-naive and pre-immunized rhesus monkeys. In this report, we summarize data from several studies analyzing toxic effects from systemically administered E1/E3-deleted Ad vector in vector-naive and pre-immunized C57BL/6 mice. Our results indicate that pre-immunization can be associated with increased mortality shortly after systemic administration of Ad. Transient leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were observed early post vector infusion in both vector-naive and pre-immunized animals. Pre-exposure to the vector did not prevent induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines; however, pre-immunized mice showed less tissue toxicity. Growth of bone marrow myeloid and erythroid progenitors was transiently inhibited in pre-immunized animals, but only the myeloid progenitors were affected in vector-naive animals. In summary, pre-existing immunity to Ad vector substantially modifies host immune responses to systemic Ad vector.

The minimum number of clones necessary to sequence in order to obtain the maximum information about hepatitis C virus quasispecies: a comparison of subjects with and without liver cancer

Most studies of hepatitis C virus (HCV) quasispecies have reported the results of sequencing only three to five clones per sample. The possibility that sequencing so few clones might not provide a representative picture of the quasispecies present in a sample has never been evaluated. The present study was conducted to evaluate whether sequencing greater numbers of clones results in better information about the HCV quasispecies number and distribution, and to compare the HCV quasispecies in liver cancer cases and controls. RNA was extracted from serial serum samples from six subjects with HCV-associated liver cancer and 11 age- and sex-matched HCV-infected controls without liver cancer. The hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of the HCV genome was amplified, cloned, and sequenced. For further studies of 12 serum samples from two liver cancer cases and two matched controls, successive groups of 10 additional clones were sequenced up to a total of 50 clones per serum sample. When only 10 clones were sequenced from each specimen, no consistent differences were seen between the number of HCV quasispecies in the six liver cancer cases and the 11 controls. However, sequencing 40 clones from each of 12 samples from two liver cancer cases and two controls revealed a greater number of quasispecies in liver cancer cases than in controls. Testing an additional 10 clones (50 clones per sample) did not significantly increase the number of quasispecies detected.

Plasminogen kringle 5 reduces vascular leakage in the retina in rat models of oxygen-induced retinopathy and diabetes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Retinal vascular leakage is an early pathological feature in diabetic retinopathy and can lead to macular oedema and loss of vision. Previously we have shown that plasminogen kringle 5 (K5), an angiogenic inhibitor, inhibits retinal neovascularisation in the rat model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of K5 on vascular leakage in the retina.

METHODS

Neonatal rats were exposed to hyperoxia to induce OIR. Diabetes was induced in adult rats by injecting streptozotocin. Vascular permeability was measured by Evans blue method. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Rats with OIR and diabetes showed abnormal vascular hyperpermeability in the retina and iris. Intravitreal injection of K5, reduced vascular permeability in both animal models, but did not affect permeability in normal rats. K5 reduced vascular permeability at doses substantially lower than that required for inhibition of retinal neovascularisation. The K5-induced reduction in vascular permeability correlated with its down-regulation of VEGF expression in the retina. Moreover, K5 inhibited IGF-1-induced hyperpermeability, which is known to arise through up-regulation of endogenous VEGF expression. However, K5 had no effect on the hyperpermeability induced by injection of exogenous VEGF.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Very low doses of K5 reduce pathological vascular leakage in the retina. K5 thus has therapeutic potential in the treatment of diabetic macular oedema. This effect can be ascribed, at least in part, to the down-regulation of endogenous VEGF expression.

High throughput creation of recombinant adenovirus vectors by direct cloning, green-white selection and I-Sce I-mediated rescue of circular adenovirus plasmids in 293 cells

Ability of replication-defective adenovirus vectors to achieve efficient gene transfer in most of the mammalian cell types makes them useful vehicles for many gene transfer applications, including their use in assessing gene function. High throughput creation of recombinant adenovirus becomes a critical path to the expanding utility of adenovirus vector technology. Here, we report a process in which recombinant adenovirus vectors are isolated as single molecular clones through a convenient direct cloning and green-white selection procedure, and directly transfected into 293 cells where virus is rescued through an enzymatic reaction mediated by an intron-encoding rare endonuclease I-Sce I. This process of enzymatic rescue of circular molecular clones was at least 10-fold more efficient than that using linearized clones for transfection. This method will facilitate a high throughput creation of vectors as required for screening gene function.

Kallikrein-binding protein inhibits retinal neovascularization and decreases vascular leakage

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Kallikrein-binding protein (KBP) is a serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin). It specifically binds to tissue kallikrein and inhibits kallikrein activity. Our study was designed to test its effects on retinal neovascularization and vascular permeability.

METHODS

Endothelial cell proliferation was determined by [(3)H] thymidine incorporation assay and apoptosis quantified by Annexin V staining and flow cytometry. Effect on retinal neovascularization was determined by fluorescein angiography and count of pre-retinal vascular cells in an oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model. Vascular permeability was assayed by the Evans blue method. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was measured by Western blot analysis and ELISA.

RESULTS

Kallikrein-binding protein specifically inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in retinal capillary endothelial cells. Intravitreal injection of KBP inhibited retinal neovascularization in an OIR model. Moreover, KBP decreased vascular leakage in the retina, iris and choroid in rats with OIR. Blockade of kinin receptors by specific antagonists showed significantly weaker inhibition of endothelial cells, when compared to that of KBP, suggesting that the anti-angiogenic activity of KBP is not through inhibiting kallikrein activity or kinin production. KBP competed with (125)I-VEGF for binding to endothelial cells and down-regulated VEGF production in endothelial cells and in the retina of the OIR rat model.

CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION

Kallikrein-binding protein is a multi-functional serpin, and its vascular activities are independent of its interactions with the kallikrein-kinin system. Inhibition of VEGF binding to its receptors and down-regulation of VEGF expression could represent a mechanism for the vascular activities of KBP.

Testosterone and sexual experience alter levels of plasma membrane binding sites for progesterone in the male rat brain

Physiological levels of progesterone act in conjunction with androgens to facilitate copulatory behavior in male rats, mice, and lizards. Radiolabeled progesterone conjugated to bovine serum albumin measured specific binding sites in membrane fractions from male rats that were gonadectomized and testosterone treated, or remained gonadally intact, to determine the role of gonadal steroids on mPR binding. To determine whether behavioral experience could alter binding levels, males either remained sexually naïve or became sexually experienced. In sexually naïve males, the highest levels of specific binding occurred in the dorsal portions of the medial preoptic area, with only moderate levels of binding in ventral portions of the medial preoptic area and the dorsal and ventral medial hypothalamus. However, conjugated progesterone binding in these brain regions did not change as a function of testosterone or behavioral manipulations. In contrast, the amygdala responded to behavioral experience with significantly (4-fold) increased binding in gonadectomized, T-treated males with sexual experience. These data indicate that the neuronal plasticity for membrane-associated progesterone binding is regionally specific, being regulated by sexual experience following the reinstatement of testosterone levels, thus suggesting a functional role for plasma membrane activity of progesterone in male rat reproduction.

Novel PDGFbetaR antisense encapsulated in polymeric nanospheres for the treatment of restenosis

Nanospheres composed of the biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, poly-DL-lactide/glycolide and containing platelet-derived growth factor beta-receptor antisense (PDGFbetaR-AS) have been formulated and examined in vitro and in vivo in balloon-injured rat restenosis model. The nanospheres (approximately 300 nm) of homogenous size distribution exhibited high encapsulation efficiency (81%), and a sustained release of PDGFbetaR-AS (phosphorothioated). Cell internalization was visualized, and the inhibitory effect on SMC was observed. Partially phosphorothioated antisense sequences were found to be more specific than the fully phosphorothioated analogs. A significant antirestenotic effect of the naked AS sequence and the AS-NP (nanoparticles) was observed in the rat carotid in vivo model. The extent of mean neointimal formation 14 days after injection of AS-NP, measured as a percentage of luminal stenosis, was 32.21 +/- 4.75% in comparison to 54.89 +/- 8.84 and 53.84 +/- 5.58% in the blank-NP and SC-NP groups, respectively. It is concluded that PLGA nanospheres containing phosphorothioated oligodeoxynucleotide antisense could serve as an effective gene delivery systems for the treatment of restenosis.

High-throughput identification, database storage and analysis of SNPs in EST sequences

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most frequent form of DNA variation and disease-causing mutations in many genes. Due to their abundance and slow mutation rate within generations, they are thought to be the next generation of genetic markers that can be used in a myriad of important biological, genetic, pharmacological, and medical applications. There are several strategies both experimental, and in-silico for SNP discovery and mapping. Experimental SNP discovery consists of a number of labourious steps that make this process complex and expensive. In-silico discovery has been proposed as an alternative discovery method that makes use and takes advantage of large data sets with potential SNP information that have been generated with other purposes and have not been used as a SNP information source yet. However, in order to successfully apply the in-silico method to large data sets, the following challenges need to be addressed: First it is necessary to build an integrated SNP pipeline that handles data processing steps smoothly from the beginning (collecting sequence information) to end (SNPs in the database). Also, SNP detection tool parameters have to be optimized to satisfy specific goals of the project. Finally, SNP data could not be fully used until the in-silico method is validated experimentally. In this paper we present a design and implementation of an in-silico SNP detection software pipeline that exploits the existence of large EST (expressed sequence tag) data sets and effectively addresses the above challenges. First, the pipeline allows for smooth data transition between its different components by implementing data interfaces that translate the data formats of the different tools in the different stages. Second, we optimized PolyBayes parameters for SNP detection in maize EST. Finally, we implemented a user interface that along with the database structure created allows the scientist to perform preliminary analysis of the data and to perform basic statistics on the SNP data prior to experimental validation. The pipeline works with two different types of sequence assemblers (PHRAP (http://www.phrap.org/) and CAT from DoubleTwist (http://www.doubletwist.com/). It uses a Bayesian engine for SNP detection (PolyBayes), selects relevant polymorphism information which is then uploaded into a database. We detected 2439 SNPs and 822 insertion deletions (INDELs) with a PolyBayes probability higher than 0.99 on the public set of 68,000 maize ESTs. The user interface allowed us analyzing the polymorphism information right after discovery in several ways that allowed us to gain insight into the distribution and significance of the newly acquired data.

[Determination of flavonoids and quality evaluation of Chinese traditional drug "puhuang"]

This paper deals with the determination of flavonoids and quality evaluation of Chinese Typha. Four species, viz. Typha angustata, T. angustifolia, T. davidiana and T. latifolia and eight commercial samples of Chinese traditional drug "Puhuang" were collected. Five flavonoids in pollen, filaments, female flowers and leaves were determined by HPLC using mu-Bondapak C18 column, water--isopropanol--tetrahydrofuran = 83.5:14:2.5, as mokile phase and detected at 287 nm). The qualities of different Typha species and commercial "Puhuang" samples have been compared, and the criteria for their quality control were also discussed.

Palladium-catalyzed coupling of two alkynes and an alkenyl iodide: formation of pentasubstituted fulvenes

[reaction: see text]. Disubstituted alkynes reacted with alkenyl iodide in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)2 and Ag2CO3 to give pentasubstituted fulvene derivatives in excellent yields. Other Ag salts such as AgNO3, AgBF4, and AgOTf are not effective, whereas a combination of AgNO3 and K2CO3 has a remarkable effect on the formation of fulvene.

Guide RNAs of the recently isolated LEM125 strain of Leishmania tarentolae: an unexpected complexity

Guide RNAs (gRNAs) are encoded both in the maxicircle and minicircle components of the mitochondrial DNA of trypanosomatid protozoa. These RNAs mediate the precise insertion and deletion of U residues in transcripts of the maxicircle DNA. We showed previously that the old UC laboratory strain of Leishmania tarentolae apparently lost more than 40 minicircle-encoded gRNAs that are present in the recently isolated LEM125 strain (Thiemann et al., EMBO J, 1994, 13:5689-5700]. We have further analyzed the population of minicircle-encoded gRNAs in the LEM125 strain. Sau3AI and MspI minicircle libraries were constructed and screened for novel gRNAs by negative colony hybridization. This search yielded 20 minicircles encoding new gRNAs that covered most of the remaining gaps in the editing cascades of the ND8, ND9, G4, and G5 genes, and in addition, more than 30 minicircles containing either unassigned or undetectable gRNA genes. We also completely sequenced 34 of the 45 minicircle sequence classes encoding previously identified gRNAs. A total of 19 pairs of redundant gRNAs, which are gRNAs of different sequences covering the same editing blocks, were identified. The gRNAs in each redundant pair generally had different relative abundances and different extents of mismatches with edited sequences. Alignments of the minicircles encoding redundant gRNAs yielded 59 to 93% matching nucleotides, suggesting an origin from duplication of ancestral minicircles and subsequent genetic drift. We propose a functional explanation for the existence of redundant gRNAs in this strain.

Inhibition of v-Abl transformation in 3T3 cells overexpressing different forms of the Abelson interactor protein Abi-1

The abi-1 gene encodes a protein that binds and is phosphorylated by the Abelson protein tyrosine kinase. Constructs expressing a full-length abi-1 cDNA, and a smaller cDNA arising from an alternatively spliced form, were generated and tested for their effect on transformation of NIH3T3 cells by the Abelson murine leukemia virus. Overexpression of both forms of the protein strongly inhibited transformation by the wild-type P160 strain of the virus, but not by the non-interacting mutant P90A strain. The inhibition required the SH3 domain of Abi-1, suggesting that a direct interaction was required for the effect. Rare breakthrough P160 transformants of the Abi-1 overexpressing lines were found to have downregulated Abi-1 protein levels by a post-transcriptional mechanism.

[A study on polymorphism of salivary esterase in personal identification]

OBJECTIVE

To research the value of polymorphism of salivary esterase(Set) in paternity and personal identification.

METHODS

Phenotype and genotype of human salivary esterase were detected in 114 liquid saliva samples from the Chinese population by disc electrophoresis and fast blue RR staining assay.

RESULTS

The frequency of Set type was F 22.81%, FS 50.88%, S2 6.31%. The estimated gene frequency of SetF was 0.4825 and SetS was 0.5175. The PE was 0.1875 and the DP was 0.6199.

CONCLUSION

Polymorphism of salivary esterase (Set) was practical in paternity and personal identification.

The effect of magnetic stent on coronary restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in dogs

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of magnetic stents on coronary restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).

METHODS

Twenty dogs were randomly divided into the control and experimental groups, each with 10 dogs. The control group was given common Palmaz-stents in the 6-8 segment of left anterior descending coronary artery or in the 11-14 segment of the left circumflexus. The experimental group was given magnetic stents in the same parts of the coronary arteries. The dogs were not given antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs before or after the operation. Six months later, the 20 dogs were subjected to coronary angiographies, and then were sacrificed. Three centimeter long segments of the target vessels were cut for pathological examination.

RESULTS

The degree of restenosis in 3 dogs of the control group was more than 50%, but none in the experimental group experienced restenosis. The average thickness of the tunica intima of the target artery was 2.98 +/- 0.56 mm in the control and 1.13 +/- 0.41 mm in the experimental group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Magnetic stents could have a significant preventive effect on coronary restenosis.

Hybrid vectors based on adeno-associated virus serotypes 2 and 5 for muscle-directed gene transfer

Vectors based on hybrids consisting of adeno-associated virus types 2 (ITRs and Rep) and 5 (Cap) were evaluated for muscle-directed gene transfer (called AAV2/5). Evaluation in immune-competent mice revealed greater transduction efficacy with AAV2/5 than with AAV2 and no cross-neutralization between AAV2/5 and AAV2. Interestingly, we saw no immunologic evidence of previous exposure to AAV5 capsids in a large population of healthy human subjects.

Toward high-throughput genotyping: dynamic and automatic software for manipulating large-scale genotype data using fluorescently labeled dinucleotide markers

To efficiently manipulate large amounts of genotype data generated with fluorescently labeled dinucleotide markers, we developed a Microsoft database management system, named. offers several advantages. First, it accommodates the dynamic nature of the accumulations of genotype data during the genotyping process; some data need to be confirmed or replaced by repeat lab procedures. By using, the raw genotype data can be imported easily and continuously and incorporated into the database during the genotyping process that may continue over an extended period of time in large projects. Second, almost all of the procedures are automatic, including autocomparison of the raw data read by different technicians from the same gel, autoadjustment among the allele fragment-size data from cross-runs or cross-platforms, autobinning of alleles, and autocompilation of genotype data for suitable programs to perform inheritance check in pedigrees. Third, provides functions to track electrophoresis gel files to locate gel or sample sources for any resultant genotype data, which is extremely helpful for double-checking consistency of raw and final data and for directing repeat experiments. In addition, the user-friendly graphic interface of renders processing of large amounts of data much less labor-intensive. Furthermore, has built-in mechanisms to detect some genotyping errors and to assess the quality of genotype data that then are summarized in the statistic reports automatically generated by. The can easily handle >500,000 genotype data entries, a number more than sufficient for typical whole-genome linkage studies. The modules and programs we developed for the can be extended to other database platforms, such as Microsoft SQL server, if the capability to handle still greater quantities of genotype data simultaneously is desired.

Intravitreal injection of plasminogen kringle 5, an endogenous angiogenic inhibitor, arrests retinal neovascularization in rats

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Plasminogen kringle 5 is an endogenous angiogenic inhibitor. The purpose of the present study was to explore the potential application of kringle 5 in the treatment of retinal neovascularization.

METHODS

Plasminogen kringle 5 was expressed in E. coli and affinity-purified. Its anti-angiogenic activity was determined in cultured primary human capillary endothelial cells. Retinal neovascularization was induced in newborn rats by exposure to hyperoxia and then normoxia. Kringle 5 was intravitreally injected into the rat model. Retinal neovascularization was visualized by fluorescein angiography on flat-mounted retina and quantified by counting preretinal vascular cells.

RESULTS

Plasminogen kringle 5 inhibited primary endothelial cells but not retinal neuronal cells, suggesting cell type-specific inhibition. The oxygen-induced retinopathy rat model showed an over-expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, preretinal neovascularization and haemorrhage. Intravitreal injection of kringle 5 before the development of neovascularization resulted in fewer neovascular tufts and pre-retinal vascular cells than in control rats with PBS injection (p < 0.01). Moreover, injection of kringle 5 after the development of neovascularization inhibited the increase in the preretinal vascular cells (p < 0.05). These results suggest that kringle 5 both prevents the development and arrests the progression of retinal neovascularization. The injection of kringle 5 did not result in any detectable inflammatory response in the retina or histological toxicity to retina neurons and pre-existing vessels.

CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION

These observations suggest that intravitreal delivery of angiogenic inhibitors could have therapeutic benefits in neovascular diseases of the retina.

[Stratified 'capture-recaptured' methodology in the estimation on the number of cancer incidence cases]

OBJECTIVE

To develop a new method in estimating the number of cancer incidence in Yuexiu district in Guangzhou.

METHODS

Data of cancer incidence was collected through hospital records and death certificates to develop a stratified capture-recaptured model. Related procedures for the parameter estimation were given and implemented on SAS language.

RESULTS

Estimated numbers of both male and female cancer incidence in Yuexiu district were 610 and 520 respectively. The estimated miss-reporting rates on both male and female cancer incidence from hospital records and death certificates were 8.5% and 5.4% respectively.

CONCLUSION

The result of simulation studies showed that stratified "capture-recaptured" model proposed in this paper was reliable for the estimation of the number of cancer incidence cases.

[Biochemical remodeling of myocardial collagen and its relation to cardiac renin-angiotensin system in rats after myocardial infarction]

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed at the biochemical remodeling of myocardial collagen and its relation to cardiac renin-angiotensin system (RAS) after myocardial infarction(MI).

METHODS

The ventricular and plasma angiotensin II (Ang II) content, total collagen content, and collagen concentration in left ventricle(LV) and right ventricle(RV) of MI and sham-operated control(SOC) rats on 3, 15 and 42 days after operation were measured dynamically by means of radioimmunoassay etc.

RESULTS

The plasma Ang II content increased only in MI rats on day 3. The Ang II content in LV of the MI group increased markedly on day 3 after MI as compared with that of the SOC group. It sustained at this higher level on the 15th and 42th days, and the similar changes were observed in RV as well. The biochemical remodeling of collagen in LV and RV occurred after MI and the remodeling of collagen showed similar patterns with its Ang II content, except that collagen remodeling in RV was delayed than the change of Ang II content.

CONCLUSION

The cardiac RAS was obviously activated after MI. Ventricular Ang II might play an important role in the biochemical remodeling of myocardial collagen, and its role was independent of circulating RAS.

Unbalanced expression of VEGF and PEDF in ischemia-induced retinal neovascularization

Retinal levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), an angiogenic inhibitor, were measured and correlated with the ischemia-induced retinal neovascularization in rats. The retinas with neovascularization showed a 5-fold increase in VEGF while 2-fold decrease in PEDF, compared to the age-matched controls, resulting in an increased VEGF/PEDF ratio. The time course of the VEGF/PEDF ratio change correlated with the progression of retinal neovascularization. Changes in the VEGF and PEDF mRNAs preceded their protein level changes. These results suggest that an unbalance between angiogenic stimulators and inhibitors may contribute to retinal neovascularization.

N-terminal cleavage of bax by calpain generates a potent proapoptotic 18-kDa fragment that promotes bcl-2-independent cytochrome C release and apoptotic cell death

Upon apoptosis induction, the proapoptotic protein Bax is translocated from the cytosol to mitochondria, where it promotes release of cytochrome c, a caspase-activating protein. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Bax triggers cytochrome c release are unknown. Here we report that before the initiation of apoptotic execution by etoposide or staurosporin, an active calpain activity cleaves Bax at its N-terminus, generating a potent proapoptotic 18-kDa fragment (Bax/p18). Both the calpain-mediated Bax cleavage activity and the Bax/p18 fragment were found in the mitochondrial membrane-enriched fraction. Cleavage of Bax was followed by release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, activation of caspase-3, cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and fragmentation of DNA. Unlike the full-length Bax, Bax/p18 did not interact with the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein in the mitochondrial fraction of drug-treated cells. Pretreatment with a specific calpain inhibitor calpeptin inhibited etoposide-induced calpain activation, Bax cleavage, cytochrome c release, and caspase-3 activation. In contrast, transfection of a cloned Bax/p18 cDNA into multiple human cancer cell lines targeted Bax/p18 to mitochondria, which was accompanied by release of cytochrome c and induction of caspase-3-mediated apoptosis that was not blocked by overexpression of Bcl-2 protein. Therefore, Bax/p18 has a cytochrome c-releasing activity that promotes cell death independent of Bcl-2. Finally, Bcl-2 overexpression inhibited etoposide-induced calpain activation, Bax cleavage, cytochrome c release, and apoptosis. Our results suggest that the mitochondrial calpain plays an essential role in apoptotic commitment by cleaving Bax and generating the Bax/p18 fragment, which in turn mediates cytochrome c release and initiates the apoptotic execution.

Nitric oxide synthase is induced in tumor promoter-sensitive, but not tumor promoter-resistant, JB6 mouse epidermal cells cocultured with interferon-gamma-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells: the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been reported to be involved in certain organs of potential tumorigenesis, including the stomach and colon. The mechanisms for iNOS expression in epithelial cells, however, are not fully understood. In the present study, we investigated the role of macrophages in epithelial iNOS expression by coculturing a stimulated murine macrophage-like cell line, RAW 264.7, with either tumor promoter-sensitive (P+) or promoter-resistant (P-) JB6 murine epidermal cells. After monoculture, treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with IFN-gamma for 24 h generated a large amount of nitrite (NO2-), as reported previously, whereas no increase in NO2- concentration was observed in the IFN-gamma-treated P+ or P-subclones. Interestingly, when IFN-gamma-treated RAW 264.7 cells were cocultured with P+ but not P- cells, we observed a marked increase in NO2- concentration (30.8+/-3.6 microM), which significantly exceeded (P < 0.01) the sum of the concentrations (20.0+/-2.3 microM) added from each cell line monoculture. Western blotting analysis revealed that, after coculture, iNOS protein was up-regulated 55-fold more than the control in JB6 P+ but not in P- cells. IFN-gamma-treated RAW 264.7 cells secreted proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta. The addition of IFN-gamma-treated RAW 264.7 cell-conditioned media to P+ subclones led to a significant enhancement of NO2- formation that was diminished by the TNF-alpha-specific but not IL-1beta-specific antibody. When combined with IFN-gamma, the recombinant TNF-alpha (1-100 ng/ml) enhanced NO2- formation in JB6 P+ cells, whereas IL-1beta (1-100 ng/ml) did not. These results led us to conclude that IFN-gamma-treated RAW 264.7 cells release TNF-alpha to induce iNOS expression in promoter-sensitive JB6 cells. Thus, we propose the hypothesis that macrophages stimulate neoplastic cells with TNF-alpha via a paracrine loop to induce epithelial iNOS protein expression.

Regulation of tumor cell apoptotic sensitivity during the cell cycle (Review)

Understanding how current chemotherapeutic modalities induce apoptosis is critical to designing better anti-cancer agents. This review is concerned with how pharmacological agents induce tumor cell apoptosis in a cell cycle-dependent manner. Recent experiments demonstrate that expression of several apoptotic regulatory proteins (such as Bcl-2, Bax, p53, and Survivin) are differentially regulated according to the phases of the cell cycle. This cell cycle-dependent regulation in turn contributes to increased drug sensitivity in different phases of the cell cycle. It is therefore likely that the cell cycle-dependent expression of cell death proteins plays a role in regulating chemosensitivity and apoptotic commitment of human tumor cells.

G(1) phase-dependent expression of bcl-2 mRNA and protein correlates with chemoresistance of human cancer cells

Recent experiments suggest an interconnection between cell proliferation and programmed cell death (apoptosis), although the detailed molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We have hypothesized that expression of some apoptosis regulators is cell cycle-dependent, which in turn influences tumor cell chemosensitivity in a cell cycle-dependent fashion. To test these hypotheses, we synchronized human leukemia Jurkat T, Neo (using aphidicolin), breast cancer MCF-7, normal fibroblast, and simian virus 40-transformed cells (by aphidicolin or serum starvation), and measured levels of several Bcl-2 family proteins. The highest expression of Bcl-2 protein was found in the G(1) phase of all the five cell lines tested. In contrast, levels of Bax protein remained relatively unchanged in four of the cell lines, and levels of Bcl-X(L), Bcl-X(S), and Bak proteins showed little or no cell cycle-dependent changes in Jurkat T cells. Similar to the changes in Bcl-2 protein levels, its mRNA expression was also G(1) phase-specific, whereas the level of a Bcl-2 cleavage activity remained constitutive. When treated with an anticancer drug (etoposide or cisplatin) or the kinase inhibitor staurosporin, the cells containing a high G(1) population and a high Bcl-2 protein level were much more resistant to the induced apoptosis than the cells containing a high S phase population and a low Bcl-2 protein level. Constitutive overexpression of Bcl-2 protein in Jurkat T cells completely blocked the S phase-associated sensitivity to these apoptosis stimuli. The cell cycle-dependent Bcl-2 protein expression seems to contribute to the regulation of chemosensitivity and apoptotic commitment of human tumor cells.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors suppress prostaglandin F(2alpha)-induced myosin-light chain phosphorylation and contraction in iris sphincter smooth muscle

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in contraction by monitoring MAP kinase phosphorylation (activation) and contraction during agonist stimulation of cat iris sphincter smooth muscle. Changes in tension in response to prostaglandin F(2alpha), latanoprost, a prostaglandin F(2alpha) analog used as an anti-glaucoma drug, and carbachol were recorded isometrically, and MAP kinase activation was monitored by Western blot using a phosphospecific p42/p44 MAP kinase antibody. We found that treatment of the muscle with 2'-Amino-3'-methoxyflavone (PD98059) (10 microM), a specific inhibitor of MAP kinase kinase (MEK), inhibited significantly prostaglandin F(2alpha)- and latanoprost-induced phosphorylation and contraction, but had little effect on those evoked by carbachol. Prostaglandin F(2alpha) increased MAP kinase phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner with EC(50) value of 1.1 x 10(-8) M and increased contraction with EC(50) of 0.92 x 10(-9) M. The MAP kinase inhibitors PD98059, Apigenin and 1,4-Diamino-2,3-dicyano-1, 4bis(2-aminophenylthio)butadiene (UO126) inhibited prostaglandin F(2alpha)-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner with IC(50) values of 2.4, 3.0 and 4.8 microM, respectively. PD98059 had no effect on prostaglandin F(2alpha)- or on carbachol-stimulated inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) production. In contrast, the MAP kinase inhibitor inhibited prostaglandin F(2alpha)-induced myosin-light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, but had no effect on that of carbachol. N-[2-(N-(4-Chloro-cinnamyl)-N-methylaminomethyl)phenyl]-N-[2- hydroxyethyl]-4-methoxybenzenesulfonamide (KN-93) (10 microM), a Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, and Wortmannin (10 microM), an MLC kinase inhibitor, inhibited significantly (by 80%) prostaglandin F(2alpha)- and carbachol-induced contraction. It can be concluded that in this smooth muscle p42/p44 MAP kinases are involved in the mechanism of prostaglandin F(2alpha)-, but not in that of carbachol, induced contraction. In addition, these data clearly indicate that the stimulation of the iris sphincter with prostaglandin F(2alpha) and carbachol activate two distinct pathways, the MAP kinase pathway and the Ca(2+) mobilization pathway.