Ability of okadaic acid and other protein phosphatase inhibitors to mimic the stimulatory effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on hydroperoxide production in mouse epidermis in vivo

The non-12-O-tetadecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-type tumor promoters, okadaic acid (OA) and calyculin-A (CAL-A), which neither interact with the phorbol ester receptor nor directly activate protein kinase C, mimic the stimulatory effects of and thapsigargin on hydroperoxide (HPx) production in mouse epidermis in vivo. The time course and dose dependency for the stimulation of HPx production by O and TPA are similar. HPx production is maximally stimulated 16 h after two applications of 2 nmol of OA at a 48-h interval. However CAL-A is a stimulator of HPx production about 4 times more potent than OA or TPA. Combinations of TPA and OA or CAL-A have subadditive effects on HPx production. The discrepancies between the abilities of various serine/threonine protein phosphatase (PP) inhibitors to stimulate HPx production suggest that PP inhibition alone is not sufficient for this response. Cycloheximide, Ca2+ antagonists, oxypurinol, diphenyliodonium, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, bromophenacyl bromide, antiinflammatory agents, and antihistamines block or decrease OA-stimulated HPx production. Although most of these inhibitors may have more than one action, their effects suggest that protein synthesis, Ca2+, xanthine oxidase and NADPH oxidase activities, the lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism, and vascular permeability may be involved in the inflammatory and HPx responses that occur after tumor promoter treatment. The increased HPx-producing activity of the epidermis, therefore, may be a common event resulting from the inflammatory and tumor-promoting actions of diverse TPA- and non-TPA-type agents.

Carbamazepine inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate-evoked calcium influx in rat cerebellar granule cells

The effect of carbamazepine (CBZ) on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-stimulated CA++ influx in rat cerebellar granule cells was studied by use of fura-2 microfluorometry. CBZ inhibited the rise in intracellular free Ca++ concentration ([Ca++]i) induced by NMDA and glycine in a rapid reversible and concentration-dependent manner. CBZ's inhibition of the [Ca++]i increase was noncompetitive with respect to NMDA, glycine and the facilitatory neurosteroid pregnenolone sulfate. The degree of inhibition of the NMDA response produced by CBZ increased with increasing concentrations of extracellular KCl. Excluding non-NMDA receptor-mediated contributions to Ca++ influx, depolarization by 50 mM KCl resulted in a 20-fold decrease (from 723 to 33 microM) in the IC50 for CBZ blockade of the NMDA response. Thus, significant blockade of NMDA receptor responses in cerebellar granule cells can occur at concentrations of CBZ within the therapeutic range under conditions believed to accompany seizures. Moreover, the common toxic side effects of CBZ, which include signs of cerebellar dysfunction, may occur as a result of CBZ blockade of the NMDA receptors of cerebellar granule cells.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for murine type II collagen do not trigger arthritis in B10 mice

To investigate the role of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in arthritis, we set out to induce CTL specific for murine type II collagen (mCII) in a mouse model. The primary protein sequence of the murine pro-alpha 1(II) was screened for fragments bearing H-2 Db or Kb binding motifs. Six fragments were identified and the corresponding peptides synthesized. One of these peptides, peptide P201 (amino acid 199-208 in the C-propeptide of the murine pro-alpha 1(II), was found to be a strong binder to H-2 Db. When used to treat RMA-S cells at 26 degrees C, peptide P201 induced a four-fold increase of surface expression of H-2 Db. Administration of the P201-treated RMA-S cells into B10 mice (H-2b) induced strong CTL responses against the immunizing collagen peptide. Despite the high frequencies of mCII-specific CTL precursors in the periphery, however, the immunized mice showed no sign of arthritis up to 16 weeks after immunization. Implications of these data for autoimmunity and arthritis are discussed.

Carbamazepine induction of apoptosis in cultured cerebellar neurons: effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate, aurintricarboxylic acid and cycloheximide

We have previously demonstrated that carbamazepine (CBZ) at concentrations above the therapeutic range is toxic to cultured cerebellar granule cells. Here, we ask whether the effect of CBZ involves neuronal apoptosis or necrosis. Treatment of cultured cerebellar granule cells with CBZ for 3 days resulted in a concentration-dependent fragmentation of DNA revealed as a laddered pattern in agarose gel electrophoresis, a phenomenon characteristic of apoptosis. Pretreatment of cells with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) blocked CBZ-induced DNA fragmentation and neurotoxicity as assayed by loss of mitochondrial activity with MTT or by [3H]ouabain binding to Na+/K(+)-ATPase. Aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA), a polyanionic dye, also markedly suppressed DNA fragmentation and cell death detected by morphological examination. A considerable level of DNA ladder formation was detected in untreated cells and this basal DNA fragmentation was also blocked by NMDA and ATA. Moreover, NMDA and ATA prevented CBZ-induced chromatin condensation as revealed by DNA binding with the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33258. Pretreatment of cells with cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, prevented CBZ-induced cell death detected morphologically and attenuated CBZ-induced neurotoxicity assessed by mitochondrial activity and [3H]ouabain binding assays. Taken together, our results suggest that CBZ-induces death of cerebellar granule cells by an apoptotic process that is sensitive to NMDA, ATA and cycloheximide.

Glutamate pharmacology and the treatment of schizophrenia: current status and future directions

Glutamate-containing neuronal terminals are ubiquitous in the central nervous system and their functional importance in mental activity is considerable. Therefore, the involvement of this neurotransmitter in the pathology of schizophrenia is being studied. Biochemical evidence has suggested that glutamatergic transmission may be regionally reduced in schizophrenia, although this evidence has never been completely consistent nor fully replicable. More striking has been the behavioral effects in humans of the antiglutamatergic drugs phencyclidine (PCP) and its congener ketamine. By historical report, PCP produces a 'schizophrenia-like' psychosis in normal humans and aggravates the psychosis in schizophrenics. More recently, ketamine has been shown to produce a mild psychotomimetic effect in normal volunteers, which has some schizophrenia-like features. We have studied the effects of ketamine in schizophrenic patients. Here, ketamine intensified each patient's specific underlying psychosis, an effect not blocked by haloperidol. Moreover, ketamine selectively increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the anterior cingulate cortex and reduced CBF in hippocampus and lingual gyrus. These data may be pertinent to the subject's psychosis exacerbation, especially because both cingulate and hippocampus have been previously implicated in schizophrenic psychosis. In addition, ketamine produced a distinctive dynamic time-course of regional CBF changes in different anatomic regions, with immediate (5-10 min) changes in cingulate, but somewhat more delayed changes (20-40 min) in the thalamus and cerebellum. Our immediate early gene (IEG) time-course data with c-fos and zif268 in rats following PCP suggest that a single dose of this antiglutamatergic compound can have an effect in some brain areas which lasts beyond 48 h, an effect which is distinct by IEG and by region. Together, these data suggest that glutamate-mediated neurotransmission has a strong influence in schizophrenia, although the specifics of this involvement have yet to be articulated.

L-lysine is a barbiturate-like anticonvulsant and modulator of the benzodiazepine receptor

Our earlier observations showed that L-lysine enhanced the activity of diazepam against seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), and increased the affinity of benzodiazepine receptor binding in a manner additive to that caused by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The present paper provides additional evidence to show that L-lysine has central nervous system depressant-like characteristics. L-lysine enhanced [3H]flunitrazepam (FTZ) binding in brain membranes was dose-dependent and stimulated by chloride, bromide and iodide, but not fluoride. Enhancement of [3H]FTZ binding by L-lysine at a fixed concentration was increased by GABA but inhibited by pentobarbital between 10(-7) to 10(-3)M. While GABA enhancement of [3H]FTZ binding was inhibited by the GABA mimetics imidazole acetic acid and tetrahydroisoxazol pyridinol, the enhancement by pentobarbital and L-lysine of [3H]FTZ binding was dose-dependently increased by these two GABA mimetics. The above results suggest that L-lysine and pentobarbital acted at the same site of the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor complex which was different from the GABA binding site. The benzodiazepine receptor antagonist imidazodiazepine Ro15-1788 blocked the antiseizure activity of diazepam against PTZ. Similar to pentobarbital, the anti-PTZ effect of L-lysine was not blocked by Ro15-1788. Picrotoxinin and the GABA, receptor antagonist bicuculline partially inhibited L-lysine's enhancement of [3H]FTZ binding with the IC50s of 2 microM and 0.1 microM, respectively. The convulsant benzodiazepine Ro5-3663 dose-dependently inhibited the enhancement of [3H]FTZ binding by L-lysine. This article shows the basic amino acid L-lysine to have a central nervous system depressant characteristics with an anti-PTZ seizure activity and an enhancement of [3H]FTZ binding similar to that of barbiturates but different from GABA.

Query-handling in MLM-based decision support systems

Arden Syntax for Medical Logic Modules is a standard specification for creation and sharing of knowledge bases. The standard specification focuses on knowledge that can be represented as a set of independent Medical Logic Modules (MLMs) such as rules, formulas and protocols. The basic functions of an MLM are to retrieve patient data, manipulate the data, come to some decision, and possibly perform an action. All connections to the world outside an MLM are collected in the data-slot of the MLM. The institution specific parts of these connections are inside the notation of curly brackets ([]) to facilitate sharing of MLM between institutions. This paper focuses on some of the problems that occur in relation to Arden Syntax and connections to a patient database such as database queries. Problems related to possibilities of moving one or several module(s) are also discussed, with emphasis on database connections. As an example, an MLM based Decision Support System (DSS) developed at Linköping University is described.

Ultrastructural correlates of haloperidol-induced oral dyskinesias in rat striatum

Neuroleptics given chronically to rats induce behavioral sequelae which mimic tardive dyskinesia in some respects. The intent of this study was to investigate the ultrastructural correlates of oral dyskinesias (vacuous chewing movements [VCMs]), induced by chronic haloperidol treatment. After 6 months of treatment, rats were divided into low or high VCM groups. Rats in the high VCM group were either sacrificed on drug or were withdrawn from drug for 4 weeks. Ultrastructural analyses of the striatum indicated that synaptic density: 1) was significantly decreased in both the low and high VCM groups compared to normal controls; 2) was more profoundly decreased in the high VCM group as compared to the low VCM group; and 3) recovered to normal following drug withdrawal. Compared to controls, the density of asymmetric synapses was reduced by a similar magnitude in both the low and high VCM groups, suggesting that this change is a result of haloperidol treatment and independent of VCMs. Conversely, the density of symmetric synapses was reduced compared to normal, only in the high VCM group, suggesting that this change is specifically related to the expression of VCMs. In addition, mitochondrial profiles were hypertrophied and less frequent in the high VCM group in comparison to controls; size, but not number, recovered following drug withdrawal. These results identify distinct ultrastructural correlates of chronic haloperidol treatment that are unique to rats that develop VCMs and suggest that these ultrastructural features may play a role in the pathophysiology of oral dyskinesias in rats.

Ability of m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid to induce the ornithine decarboxylase marker of skin tumor promotion and inhibition of this response by gallotannins, oligomeric proanthocyanidins, and their monomeric units in mouse epidermis in vivo

m-Chloroperoxybenzoic acid (CPBA) was tested for its ability to induce the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) marker of skin tumor promotion. In contrast to benzoyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, and 2-butanol peroxide, 5 mg of CPBA applied twice at a 72-h interval induce ODC activity at least as much as 3 micrograms of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). ODC induction peaks 36 h after a single CPBA treatment but is maximal 5 h after two applications of CPBA at a 48-h interval. The ODC-inducing activity of CPBA is dose dependent and sustained after chronic treatment. In contrast to TPA, two CPBA treatments at 12-24 h intervals produce no refractory state against ODC induction. The mechanism of ODC induction by CPBA is iron dependent. Various hydrolyzable tannins, condensed tannins (CTs) and their monomeric units remarkably inhibit the ODC response to multiple CPBA treatments. At 12 mg, gallic acid, Aleppo gall tannic acid (TA), catechin, and loblolly pine bark CT inhibit the most CPBA-induced ODC activity. Aleppo gall TA is even effective when applied several hours before CPBA. The tumor-promoting activity of CPBA and its inhibition by plant tannins remain to be evaluated.

MK801 induces late regional increases in NMDA and kainate receptor binding in rat brain

We have previously shown that a single dose of PCP produces a dose-related increase in NMDA-sensitive 3H-glutamate binding in CA1 of hippocampus 24 hours later, and some regional changes in kainate binding. Here we report that dizocilpine (MK 801) (0.1 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg), a selective agonist at the PCP receptor and a noncompetitive antagonist of NMDA, produces a similar increase in NMDA-sensitive glutamate and kainate receptor binding in hippocampus 24 hours after a dose. These observations support the conclusion that blockade of glutamate-mediated transmission at the NMDA receptor selectively increases NMDA-sensitive glutamate receptor binding in CA1 of hippocampus and kainate binding in CA3 and dentate gyrus at putatively delayed time points. Several additional areas outside of hippocampus also showed receptor changes at 24 hours after MK801.

Drug-induced oral dyskinesias in rats after traditional and new neuroleptics

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a serious human side effect of neuroleptic treatment in psychotic disorders. Although the etiology is clear (i.e. chronic neuroleptic drugs), its pathophysiology has not yet been satisfactorily explained. This is important not only theoretically but also to inform drug development, allowing the introduction of antipsychotic compounds without TD liability. The development of an animal condition which putatively models these delayed onset dyskinesias, has provided a technique to differentiate between neuroleptic drug effect and dyskinesia correlates. We report here the development of oral dyskinesias in rats in response to a number of different neuroleptics, which have a range of neurochemical and clinical characteristics. Traditional neuroleptics (e.g. haloperidol) produced rat oral dyskinesias, in an open-cage environment. Clozapine, while it produced an increased rate of oral movements, showed a significantly decreased potency in this model. SCH23390 (D1 antagonist) neither produced the oral movements nor modified their onset by coadministration with raclopride. These data replicate and extend other similar studies in the literature. They suggest that clozapine differs from traditional neuroleptics with respect to motor side effects.

Clozapine in tardive dyskinesia: observations from human and animal model studies

Clozapine has long been considered a useful treatment in patients who have schizophrenia with the neuroleptic-induced delayed-onset side effect tardive dyskinesia. We present data in support of the clinical impression using both an animal model of the disorder and dyskinetic patients themselves. Clozapine produces a lower rate of oral dyskinesia in laboratory rats after 6 months of chronic treatment than does haloperidol (8.6 +/- 1.3 vs. 13.6 +/- 1.4 vacuous chewing movements every 5 minutes, respectively), suggesting a lower propensity to cause tardive dyskinesia. In the human, when clozapine was compared with haloperidol in the treatment of patients with tardive dyskinesia, clozapine produced significantly greater benefit for motor symptoms after 12 months of treatment than did haloperidol (p < .001). Moreover, the dyskinesia rebound, which occurred equally in both drug groups at the beginning of the study, was sustained in the haloperidol group but lost in the clozapine-treated patients. These data suggest that dyskinetic patients lose their symptoms of tardive dyskinesia, along with dopaminergic hypersensitivity, with long-term clozapine treatment.

Collagen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and reactive arthritis

Both ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and reactive arthritis (ReA) are strongly associated with HLA-B27 although the mechanism for this association is still unknown. Here we examine the hypothesis that B27-restricted, joint antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) may be the driving force of AS and ReA. Type II and type XI procollagens (CII and CXI, respectively), expressed almost exclusively in the articular cartilage of the joints, were chosen as the possible targets of autoimmune CTL. Type I procollagen (CI), expressed in many different tissues, was also included as control. Nineteen nonamer peptides bearing appropriate HLA-B27 binding motifs from human CI, CII and CXI were identified and synthesized. When analyzed for binding affinity to HLA-B27 in assembly assays, four (two from CII, two from CXI) were found capable of binding to HLA-B27 with high affinity. These B27-binding collagen peptides were then used to stimulate peripheral blood lymphocytes from eight B27-positive AS and three ReA patients for identification of possible B27-restricted autoimmune CTL. HLA-B27-restricted CTL specific for one of the CII peptides, P109 were found in one of the ReA patients, but in none of the others.

An increase in NMDA-sensitive [3H]glutamate and [3H]kainate binding in hippocampus 24 hours after PCP

Considerable research has identified a variety of acute PCP-induced biochemical changes in brain; but, little study has been devoted to characterizing delayed PCP-induced actions. These could potentially be associated with the prolonged psychotomimetic effects of the drug in humans. Here we studied delayed PCP-induced alterations in glutamate receptor subtype binding across a range of PCP doses, based on our previous findings of delayed regional cerebral metabolism changes with PCP. We report that 24 h after a single dose, PCP increases N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-sensitive [3H]glutamate binding in hippocampus (CA1) in an apparent dose-sensitive manner; no other dose-sensitive regional changes in NMDA binding sites were apparent in a sampling of 19 brain regions. [3H]kainate binding sites were increased in CA3 and dentate gyrus, but only at the high drug dose. Moreover, PCP appeared to have a general delayed effect in upregulating NMDA receptor binding in limbic-associated brain areas at its middle dose, and in upregulating [3H]kainate binding in neocortical and limbic areas at its high dose. No PCP effects were noted on AMPA receptor binding. These delayed actions of PCP may be informative about the mechanism of PCP psychosis.

Comparison of the inhibitory effects of monomeric, dimeric, and trimeric procyanidins on the biochemical markers of skin tumor promotion in mouse epidermis in vivo

Several procyanidin dimers and an epicatechin trimer purified from Douglas fir bark tannins were compared with their monomer components (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin for their abilities to inhibit the biochemical effects of the potent tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) in mouse epidermis in vivo. Topical applications of the procyanidins, 15 min before the tumor promoter, inhibit TPA-induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and this inhibition increases with the degree of polymerization (trimer > dimer > monomer). At a dose of 10 mumol, all procyanidin dimers inhibit the ODC response to TPA to a greater degree than 20 mumol of epicatechin and 10 mumol of epicatechin and/or catechin. Under similar conditions, catechin and epicatechin fail to inhibit the hydroperoxide (HPx) response to TPA whereas the procyanidin dimers inhibit this response by almost 40%. At a dose of 10 mumol, the epicatechin trimer also inhibits TPA-induced ODC activity and HPx production to a greater degree than 10-30 mumol of epicatechin. However, these various treatments with monomeric, dimeric, and trimeric procyanidins do not differ significantly in their abilities to inhibit TPA-stimulated DNA synthesis. These results suggest that some of the antitumor-promoting effects of procyanidins might increase at the biflavanoid and triflavanoid levels.

Tiagabine inhibits haloperidol-induced oral dyskinesias in rats

Chronic administration of haloperidol to male Sprague Dawley rats for 6 months at a dosage of 1.5 mg/kg/day produces oral dyskinesias in a significant percent of the treated group. This has been used as an animal model of tardive dyskinesia in several laboratories, because the rat movements display characteristics reminiscent of the human dyskinetic condition. Previously, we have reported a reduction in these haloperidol-induced oral dyskinesias with the coadministration of a direct acting GABA agonist progabide. Here, we have tested an indirect acting GABA agonist, tiagabine, coadministered with haloperidol, for its effect on the oral dyskinesias. At a dosage of 75 mg/kg/day tiagabine significantly inhibited the onset of vacuous chewing movements (VCMs), decreasing the average movement severity from 11.2 +/- 2.0 to 4.4 +/- 1.4, compared with a placebo rate of 1.3 +/- 0.5 (VCMs/5 min). These data support the proposition that an effective, potent GABAmimetic coadministered with haloperidol, will block the onset of rat oral dyskinesias. This conclusion has important implications for the treatment and prevention of tardive dyskinesia in humans.

Ability of the non-phorbol ester-type tumor-promoter thapsigargin to mimic the stimulatory effects of 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate on ornithine decarboxylase activity, hydroperoxide production, and macromolecule synthesis in mouse epidermis in vivo

The biochemical effects of the non-12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-type tumor promoter thapsigargin (TG), which does not bind to the phorbol-ester receptor, or activate protein kinase C (PKC) or increase inositol polyphosphates, were characterized in mouse epidermis in vivo. The cold scraping method is required to detect the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity by TG, a response much smaller than that caused by TPA and with a different time course. TG pre-treatments do not alter or cause a refractory state against ODC induction by TPA. But TG stimulates hydroperoxide (HPx) production and RNA, protein, and DNA synthesis almost as much as TPA. Moreover, the sequential effects of TG and TPA on DNA synthesis are identical: early inhibition at 8 hr followed by maximal stimulation at 16-32 hr. TG-stimulated HPx production requires protein synthesis and xanthine oxidase, phospholipase A2, and lipoxygenase activities but not RNA and DNA synthesis, and cyclooxygenase and protease activities. The HPx response to TG is not mimicked by the PKC activator prostratin or inhibited by pre-treatments with prostratin or specific PKC inhibitors. However, the Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid and the Ca2+ ionophore and weak ODC inducer A23187 mimic remarkably the HPx responses to TG and TPA. Since TG and A23187 are known to be, respectively, weak and incomplete tumor promoters as compared with TPA, the present results suggest that the HPx responses common to Ca(2+)-mobilizing and TPA- or non-TPA-type agents are insufficient to achieve tumor promotion in the absence of major ODC induction.

Delayed regional metabolic actions of phencyclidine

Phencyclidine (PCP), a psychotomimetic drug of abuse, produces mental changes and manifestations in humans which are reminiscent of schizophrenia, though the mechanism of these actions remains unknown. We report here a biphasic time course of PCP action on regional cerebral glucose metabolism extending over 48 h. A single dose of PCP (8.6 mg/kg) produces an initial increase in glucose metabolism (at 3 h) and a later decrease in glucose metabolism (at 24 h) without a return to baseline until 48 h. A single lower dose of PCP (0.86 mg/kg), a dose which is considered selective for action at the NMDA-PCP receptor, produces no early metabolic change (at 3 h), but replicates the regional hypometabolism albeit less intense at 24 h. The delayed cerebral hypometabolism does not appear to be related to PCP-induced intracellular vacuolization, seen in the retrosplenial cortex. These metabolic changes may be associated with the psychotomimetic effects of PCP and thus may be relevant to psychosis in humans.

Inhibitory effects of semisynthetic flavonoid derivatives on the biochemical markers of tumor promotion in mouse epidermis in vivo

Two sets of flavonoid derivatives were synthesized from condensed tannins (CTs) or catechin, and compared with the procyanidin monomer models, (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin, for their abilities to inhibit the biochemical effects of the potent tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in mouse epidermis in vivo. Topical applications of the semisynthetic flavonoids, catechin dialkyl ketals and epicatechin-4-alkylsulphides inhibit TPA-induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity to a much greater degree than catechin or epicatechin. Moreover, they reduce TPA-stimulated hydroperoxide (HPx) production, a response that cannot be inhibited by catechin or epicatechin. These compounds also inhibit the sequential stimulations of protein and DNA synthesis linked to TPA promotion. The remarkable effectiveness of these synthetic compounds, especially against the ODC marker of skin tumor promotion, suggests that they may be effective anti-tumor promoters.

Antitumor-promoting effects of gallotannins extracted from various sources in mouse skin in vivo

Sumach leaf, Aleppo gall, Tara pod and commercial tannic acids (TAs) were tested topically for their ability to inhibit the biochemical and biological effects of 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in mouse epidermis in vivo. These TAs all inhibit to various degrees ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) induction, hydroperoxide (HPx) production and the sequential stimulation of RNA, protein and DNA synthesis linked to TPA promotion. When applied before each promotion treatment, these TAs all inhibit complete tumor promotion by TPA. Sumach leaf TA is the most effective. TAs applied 24h after TPA inhibit HPx production but not tumor promotion, since ODC activity and DNA synthesis have already been stimulated. However, these TA post-treatments enhance the antioxidant and antitumor-promoting effects of TA pretreatments. TAs inhibit the 2nd rather than the 1st stage of tumor promotion. Plant TAs, therefore, may be valuable against tumor propagation but their efficacy may vary considerably depending on their origin.

Long-term biphasic effects of lithium treatment on phospholipase C-coupled M3-muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in cultured cerebellar granule cells

We have studied the long-term effects of lithium on neuronal morphology and the functional expression of phospholipase C-coupled m3-muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) in cerebellar granule cells. There was a biphasic dose-dependent effect on cell morphology following treatment with lithium for 7 days. At low concentrations (< or = 2 mM), this drug elicited an increase in the number and thickness of connecting nerve fibers, and the size of neuronal aggregates. At high concentrations (5-10 mM), lithium induced a severe deterioration of cell morphology, which ultimately resulted in neuronal death. Carbachol-induced phosphoinositide (PI) turnover was similarly affected by lithium treatment with a significant potentiation at concentrations up to 2 mM and a marked inhibition at doses higher than 5 mM due to lithium-induced neurotoxicity. The biphasic effect on mAChR-mediated PI hydrolysis was associated with corresponding changes in the maximal extent of carbachol-induced inositol phosphate accumulation, and was accompanied by similar changes in [3H]N-methyl-scopolamine binding to mAChRs and the levels of mRNAs for m3-mAChR and c-Fos. The up-regulation of m3-mAChR mRNA induced by low concentrations of lithium was associated with a down-regulation of m2-mAChR mRNA and no change in either total RNA or beta-actin mRNA. Lithium's effects on m2- and m3-mAChR mRNAs were time-dependent, requiring a pretreatment time of > or = 3 days. The biphasic effect was also demonstrated by the binding of [3H]ouabain to Na+, K(+)-ATPase, which was shown to be a convenient method for quantifying viable neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chronic L-lysine develops anti-pentylenetetrazol tolerance and reduces synaptic GABAergic sensitivity

L-Lysine 10 mmol/kg given to mice for 1 to 10 days significantly increased clonic and tonic seizure latencies caused by 60 mg/kg pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). On day 1 the clonic and tonic seizure latencies were increased from 160.4 +/- 26.3 and 828.6 +/- 230.8 s to 286.1 +/- 103.3 and 982.3 +/- 98.6 s, respectively. Both clonic and tonic seizure latencies increased steadily with additional L-lysine treatment without significant change in survival rate. On day 10, the anticonvulsant effect reached its highest level with a block of tonic seizures and a survival rate of 100% without tolerance developing. Acute L-lysine treatment significantly increased the mean clonic latency from 85.8 +/- 5.24 to 128.2 +/- 9.0 s and the mean tonic seizure latency from 287.2 +/- 58.7 to 313.5 +/- 42.2 s with 80 mg/kg PTZ. On the day 10 of treatment, the anticonvulsant effect of L-lysine was highest, with a significant increase of 155 and 184% in clonic and tonic latencies over the control, respectively. After 15- and 20-day treatment, clonic and tonic seizures latencies and survival rate decreased, suggesting development of tolerance. Brain membranes from tolerant mice showed decreased enhancement by gamma-aminobutyric acid of specific [3H]flunitrazepam binding from 210 +/- 8 to 169 +/- 5% with EC50 values of 4.1 +/- 1.4 and 7.8 +/- 1.5 microM, respectively. Scatchard analysis of [3H] flunitrazepam binding showed no significant change of apparent binding affinity (KD) or binding density (Bmax) after chronic L-lysine exposure. L-Lysine enhanced the specific [35S]tert-butyl bicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS) binding in brain membranes dose dependently.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Expression and function of HLA-B27 in lipid-linked form: implications for cytotoxic T lymphocyte-induced apoptosis signal transduction

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) kill their target cells not only by inducing irreversible membrane damage but also by triggering a programmed suicide cascade (apoptosis) in target cells. Recent evidence suggests that MHC class I antigens are involved in apoptosis signal transduction in T cells. Therefore, it is possible that MHC class I antigens are also responsible for CTL-induced signal transduction in target cells leading to apoptosis. To test this hypothesis, we have expressed HLA-B27 in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in a phosphatidyl inositol (PI) anchored form. The expressed Pl-anchored HLA-B27 (PI-B27), a 42-kDa molecule which can be cleaved off the cell surface by PI-specific phospholipase C, can function as an MHC restriction and antigen presentation element for specific CTL. Furthermore, PI-B27 transfectant CHO cells undergo rapid DNA fragmentation when pulsed with the appropriate peptide and treated with specific CTL, suggesting that the cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains of the heavy chain of class I MHC molecules are not required in CTL-induced apoptosis signal transduction in target cells.