Apoptosis: a new mechanism of endothelial and Kupffer cell killing

Kupffer cells (KC) become activated in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and produce a variety of mediators. Among them, TNF alpha is known to injure the liver. Here we report that TNF alpha mediates apoptosis in KC and sinusoidal endothelial cells. After stimulation for 24 h with LPS (0-10 micrograms/mL), apoptosis in KC detected by TUNEL TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) increased in a concentration-dependent manner (0 micrograms/mL, 12 +/- 4%; 0.1 microgram/mL, 36 +/- 11%; 1.0 micrograms/mL, 65 +/- 9%; 10 micrograms/mL, 78 +/- 15%). In contrast, co-incubation of endothelial cells with LPS-stimulated KC resulted in a marked increase in TUNEL-positive endothelial cells. TNF alpha antibody blocked apoptosis in both KC and endothelial cells. Apoptosis was observed in cells adjacent to or in contact with KC. Reducing transmembrane TNF alpha expressed on KC also led to a decrease in endothelial cell apoptosis, suggesting that transmembrane TNF alpha is implicated in the cell-to-cell contact mechanism of induction of apoptosis. Thus, TNF alpha mediates apoptosis in KC and endothelial cells.

Direct in vivo observation of subendocardial arteriolar response during reactive hyperemia

To study the vasodilatory capacity of subendocardial (ENDO) arterioles, we evaluated the reactive hyperemic responses of ENDO as well as subepicardial (EPI) arterioles in 40 dogs by our needle-probe intravital microscope. We also examined the individual and combined effects of an ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker (glibenclamide, 200 micrograms/kg), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NG-monomethyl-L-arginine [L-NMMA], 2 mumol/min, 20 minutes), and an adenosine-receptor antagonist (8-phenyltheophylline [8PT], 0.75 mumol/min, 15 minutes). The percent increase in end-diastolic diameter of ENDO arterioles was larger (P < .01) than that of EPI arterioles during reactive hyperemia, especially for the arterioles larger than 120 microns (P < .01). The diastolic-to-systolic vascular pulsation amplitude at the peak flow was greater in ENDO than EPI arterioles (25% versus 6%, P < .05). Compared with control conditions, the presence of both glibenclamide and L-NMMA suppressed the vasodilation responses of ENDO arterioles (P < .01 for both) and EPI arterioles (P < .05 for both). The effect of L-NMMA was greater in ENDO arterioles (P < .01), but that of glibenclamide was not different between ENDO and EPI arterioles. 8PT influenced the hyperemic response, although statistical significance was found only in the flow response. The effect of combined infusion of L-NMMA and glibenclamide with or without 8PT was greater than that of individual infusions in both ENDO and EPI arterioles. Conclusions are as follows: (1) The vasodilatory response of ENDO arterioles was even larger than that of EPI arterioles. Thus, the smaller flow reserve of ENDO arterioles may be caused by other factors, including the greater effects of myocardial compression and nitric oxide on the ENDO arterioles. (2) The vascular responses of ENDO and EPI arterioles were modulated by both endothelium-independent and -dependent vasodilative factors, and the effect of each factor including adenosine was associated with the effects of others.

Transient inhibition of glucose uptake mimics ischemic preconditioning by salvaging ischemic myocardium in the rabbit heart

The aim of this study was to test whether transient inhibition of glucose uptake could precondition the rabbit heart. Rabbit hearts experienced 30 min regional ischemia followed by either 120 min (isolated heart protocol) or 180 min (in situ protocol) reperfusion. Infarct size was determined by tetrazolium staining. In isolated heart experiments, 15 min perfusion with glucose-free Krebs buffer starting 30 min prior to ischemia significantly limited infarct size to 9.9 +/- 2.6% of the risk zone as compared with 29.4 +/- 1.7% infarction in controls. This protection could be blocked (30.8 +/- 3.4%) by polymyxin B (50 microM), a protein kinase C inhibitor, but not by 8-(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline, an adenosine receptor inhibitor, suggesting the mechanism was similar to that of ischemic preconditioning but without involvement of adenosine receptors. Pyruvate and acetate inhibit glucose uptake without incurring a metabolic deficit. When 20 mM pyruvate or 1 mM acetate was added to the glucose-containing buffer for 15 min prior to ischemia, protection was evident (12.0 +/- 3.0% and 10.0 +/- 3.7% infarction, respectively). However, when acetate (1 mM) was present in the perfusate throughout the experiment, neither omission of glucose nor addition of pyruvate caused protection (26.1 +/- 2.2% and 28.9 +/- 4.7% infarction, respectively). Furthermore, when in situ hearts which preferably utilize lipid substrates were treated with pyruvate (2 g/kg i.v. 20 min before ischemia), infarct size was 40.3 +/- 3.0%, which did not differ from that in untreated hearts (38.6 +/- 3.2%). Hence transient inhibition of glucose uptake can precondition the heart, but only if other substrates which are utilized in preference to glucose are absent.

[Thyroid hormones in patients with acute exacerbations of pneumoconiosis]

Thyroid hormone levels in serum were measured in 34 patients with acute exacerbations of pneumoconiosis. Levels of free T3 were below the normal range in 26 patients, and 12 of those patients (46.2%) died. Levels of free T3 were within the normal range in 8 patients, and only of those patients died. Having a T3 level within the normal range was associated with a good outcome. Levels of free T3 measured during acute exacerbations were significantly lower than those measured when the disease was clinically stable. Patients who died tended to have lower levels of free T3 than did those who survived. These results suggest that levels of free T3 in serum samples taken during an acute exacerbation can helpful in predicting the outcome of pneumoconiosis.

Functional analysis of the threonine- and serine-rich Gp-I domain of glucoamylase I from Aspergillus awamori var. kawachi

Glucoamylase I (GAI) from Aspergillus awamori var. kawachi hydrolyzes raw starch efficiently and is composed of three functional domains: the amino-terminal catalytic GAI' domain (A-1 to V-469), the threonine- and serine-rich O-glycosylated Gp-I domain (A-470 to V-514), and the carboxy-terminal raw starch-binding Cp domain (A-515 to R-615). In order to investigate the role of the Gp-I domain, an additional repeat of Gp-I and internal deletions of the entire Gp-I sequence or parts of the Gp-I sequence were introduced within Gp-I. All mutant genes as well as the wild-type gene were inserted into a yeast-secretion vector, YEUp3H alpha, and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Wild-type GAI expressed in yeast cells (GAY), GAGpI, having an extra Gp-I, and GA delta 470-493, lacking the A-470-to-T-493 sequences of Gp-I, were successfully secreted into the culture medium. On the other hand, GA delta 470-507, lacking A-470 to S-507, and GA delta GpI, lacking the entire Gp-I (A-470-to-V-514) sequence, failed to be secreted and remained in the yeast cells. The carbohydrate content of GAGpI was 1.2 times higher than that of GAY and 2.4 times higher than that of the original GAI. The raw starch digestibility of GAGpI was almost the same as that of GAY but was 1.5 times faster than that of GAI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hypoxia preconditions rabbit myocardium via adenosine and catecholamine release

It has been proposed that brief hypoxia can substitute for ischemia in the preconditioning of cardiac tissue and salvage of ischemic myocardium. To elucidate a possible mechanism isolated rabbit hearts were subjected to a 30-min period of regional ischemia by occluding a previously snared coronary artery. Following 2 h of reperfusion infarct size was measured by staining left ventricular slices with triphenyltetrazolium chloride. In control hearts infarction averaged 28.7 +/- 1.9% of the risk zone. If the hearts were preconditioned with 5 min global ischemia/10 min reperfusion prior to the regional ischemia, then infarction was significantly reduced to 7.2 +/- 2.0% (P < 0.01). When global hypoxia (pO2 of perfusate 42.0 +/- 2.1 mmHg) for ten min substituted for the five min period of global ischemia, protection was comparable to that observed after ischemic preconditioning (10.2 +/- 1.5% infarction, P< 0.01 v control). During hypoxic perfusion adenosine release increased 16-fold over baseline levels. This protection could not be blocked by adding levels either the adenosine antagonist 8-(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline or the alpha 1-adrenergic blocker phenoxybenzamine to the hypoxic perfusate. However, co-administration of both agents to the hypoxic perfusate successfully aborted protection (22.6 +/- 2.9% infarction, P N.S. v control). Therefore, 10 min of hypoxia releases both norepinephrine and adenosine in sufficient quantities such that either can completely precondition the heart.

Comparison of casual blood pressure and twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure in high school students

OBJECTIVE

To perform ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in high school students and to compare the 24-hour values with casual blood pressure (BP).

METHODS

Ambulatory BP monitoring was carried out in 190 high school students, 15 or 16 years of age, with elevated casual BP during the first examination at school for hypertension; 66 had elevated casual BP at both the first and the second examinations (group H1), and 124 students were normotensive at the second examination (group H2). Sixty-two students who were consistently normotensive served as control subjects (group N). Average BPs for the 24-hour period, the awake period (10 AM to 10 PM), and the sleeping period (1 AM to 6 AM) were calculated.

RESULTS

Average BP for each period was significantly higher in group H1 than in group N. Average BP in group H2 for these periods was intermediate between those of group H1 and of group N. The casual BP had a significant positive correlation with the average BP during the awake period (r = 0.55, p < 0.01 for systolic BP; r = 0.37, p < 0.01 for diastolic BP). In most subjects the casual BP readings were higher than BP during ABPM.

CONCLUSIONS

Casual BP measurements correlated with 24-hour BP, but they tended to be higher than the measurements obtained during 24-hour ABPM.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced up-regulation of interleukin-3 receptor mRNA expression in a CD34-positive hematopoietic cell line

Regulation of interleukin-3 receptor (IL-3R) gene expression by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) was investigated using an IL-3-dependent CD34-positive hematopoietic cell line (KMT2) and a human megakaryocytic cell line (CMK). KMT2 expressed IL-3R alpha-subunit mRNA, whereas the level of expression of IL-3R beta-subunit mRNA was low. CMK expressed IL-3R beta-subunit mRNA more strongly. The expression of IL-3R mRNA varied in the progenitor cells of different lineages. TNF alpha markedly enhanced expression of IL-3R beta-subunit mRNA in KMT2, whereas it only slightly augmented IL-3R alpha-subunit mRNA level. TNF alpha weakly augmented IL-3R mRNAs in CMK. However, the enhancement of IL-3R beta-subunit mRNA in CMK was hardly detectable. The effects of TNF alpha on IL-3R mRNA expression were completely different in a primitive and in a more committed hematopoietic cell line. Addition of TNF alpha to KMT2 resulted in increased numbers of IL-3R on the cell surface without increased IL-3R affinity. The combination of IL-3 with TNF alpha abolished TNF alpha-induced inhibition of proliferation of KMT2. These results indicate that TNF alpha modulates the IL-3-responsiveness of primitive hematopoietic cells through up-regulation of the expression of IL-3R mRNAs, especially that of IL-3R beta-subunit mRNA. Phorbol ester (TPA) enhanced the IL-3R mRNA expression in KMT2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A bioassay for bovine interleukin-1 by the A375 cell growth inhibition

Usefulness of a human melanoma cell line A375 was evaluated for detecting bovine interleukin-1 (IL-1). The A375 cell growth was inhibited by culture supernatant of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (LPSsup) in a dose dependent manner. A mixture of anti-human IL-1 alpha and beta antibodies suppressed 60% of this inhibitory activity and was confirmed to bind to about 23 k dalton peptides in the LPSsup by Western blotting. Although serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from a healthy cow showed a low inhibitory activity, those from pneumonic cows showed the higher activities. These activities were also suppressed by anti-human IL-1 antibodies. These findings show the A375 cell growth inhibition assay can be a useful bioassay for bovine IL-1 (like) activity.

Clinical evaluation of titration of hepatitis C virus core antibody and its subclasses

Titrations of anti-hepatitis C core (anti-HCc) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and its subclasses were studied in 90 patients with acute and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including 27 patients who underwent interferon (IFN) therapy. The positivity rates for each anti-HCc subclass were as follows: 95.2% for IgG1, 12.0% for IgG2, 69.9% for IgG3 and 19.3% for IgG4. The total anti-HCc IgG titre correlated well with the IgG1, titre, indicating that IgG1 was the main virus-specific IgG. Changes of IgG1 production mainly contributed to fluctuations of the anti-HCc IgG titre and corresponded well to positivity for HCV-RNA during and after IFN therapy. IgG3 was detected prior to IgG1 during the early phase of acute hepatitis in some cases and also appeared with relapse after IFN therapy. The serial assay of anti-HCc subclasses showed the patients' humoral immune response to HCV infection, and might be useful for evaluation of anti-viral immunity influenced by IFN therapy.

Characterization of hepatic allograft infiltrates in rats pretreated with donor-specific blood transfusion (DST)

A single intravenous injection of 1 ml freshly heparinized donor blood given 7 days prior to transplantation prolonged significantly the survival of subsequent hepatic allografts in fully allogeneic ACI(RT1a)-to-LEW(RT1(1)) rats. The cellular identity of allograft infiltrates was investigated at various times after transplantation using OX8 (CD8) and W3/25 (CD4) monoclonal antibodies. The number of CD8+ cells increased rapidly and reached a peak on Day 3 after transplantation of the untreated allografts. Similarly, the number of CD8+ cells in the allografts from DST-treated rats was maximum on Day 3 and decreased gradually thereafter. The maximum number of CD4+ cells was found on Day 3 in untreated allografts. In contrast, no significant infiltration of CD4+ cells occurred during the first 7 days after transplantation in DST-treated allografts. Thereafter, the number of CD4+ cells increased rapidly and reached a peak on Day 14. CD4+ cells remained persistently elevated in hepatic allografts of rats pretreated with DST, but did not become functionally competent or initiate rejection. These findings suggest that persistent infiltration by CD4+ cells is a characteristic feature of long-surviving hepatic allografts in rats pretreated with DST.

Limitation of myocardial infarct size by adenosine A1 receptor activation is abolished by protein kinase C inhibitors in the rabbit

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to test whether infarct size limitation by adenosine A1 receptor activation is mediated by protein kinase C.

METHOD

In the first series of experiments, myocardial infarction was induced in rabbits under pentobarbitone anaesthesia by 30 min coronary artery occlusion and 3 h reperfusion. Rabbits were pretreated with no drugs (control). 1 mg.kg-1 of R(-)N6-2-phenylisopropyl adenosine (PIA), 50 micrograms.kg-1 of staurosporine (Stauro), 2.5 mg.kg-1 of polymyxin B (PolyB), and a combination of PIA and either Stauro or PolyB. Infarct size and the area at risk were determined by tetrazolium staining and fluorescent particles, respectively. In the second series of experiments, the inotropic response to 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) was assessed in rabbits with and without pretreatment using the same doses of Stauro and PolyB as those in the first series of experiments.

RESULTS

Infarct size expressed as percent of area at risk (%IS/AR) was significantly smaller in the PIA treated group than in the control: %IS/AR = 19.0(SEM 2.4)% v 37.7(4.0)%, P < 0.05. However, %IS/AR in the groups given Stauro [35.0(4.2)%], PolyB [37.9(3.2)%], PIA plus Stauro [34.9(3.9)%], and PIA plus PolyB [36.3(3.3)%] did not differ from the control value. PMA at the dose of 0.02 and 0.05 micrograms.kg-1 caused a dose dependent increase of the left ventricular dP/dtmax in the untreated rabbits. Such a positive inotropic response to PMA was not detected in rabbits pretreated with Stauro or PolyB, suggesting that the doses of the protein kinase C inhibitors were appropriate to block protein kinase C in the heart.

CONCLUSIONS

Infarct size limitation by A1 receptor stimulation is mediated by activation of protein kinase C in pentobarbitone anaesthetised rabbits.

[Comparison of amplified Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Direct Test (MTD), Amplicor Mycobacteria kit (Amplicor) and PCR method for detection Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical specimens]

Accuracy amplified Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Direct Test (MTD), Amplicor Mycobacteria kit (Amplicor) and PCR method routinely used in the University of Tokyo Hospital (J. Clin. Microbiol. 31: 446-450 1991) were evaluated and compared with the same samples. The detection limits of MTD, Amplicor and PCR method (University of Tokyo) were 0.01-0.1 CFU/tube, 0.625 CFU/tube and 0.2 CFU/tube respectively, which were almost the same. These were shown to be at least as sensitive as the conventional culture techniques. The Tokyo Univ. method using radioisotope, takes up to 3 days, on the other hand 2 kits take 4-5 hours. These kits become useful tools for the early and rapid detection of M. tuberculosis in uncultured clinical specimens. But the risk of laboratory contamination and false-positive results remain. These must be further improved.

Neuropathological analysis of dementia in a Japanese leprosarium

In a neuropathological study of consecutive autopsies, prevalence and cause of dementia in a Japanese leprosarium were investigated, where more than 95% of inpatients with a mean age of 70 years are now free from active leprosy. In 10 years (1983-1992), clinically overt dementia at death was 35/136 (25.7%) in the age group over 65 years (mean age 79.4). Autopsy was performed in 85 cases (mean age 81 years), and clinically overt dementia was seen in 25 subjects (29.4%). Neuropathologically, Alzheimer's disease (AD) was seen in 9 cases (10.6%), vascular dementia (VD) in 9 cases (10.6%), mixed type in 3 cases (3.5%) and unclassified in 4 cases (4.7%). In the age group of 65-84 years, AD was 5/58 (8.6%), VD was 4/58 (6.9%), mixed type was 2/58 (3.4%), and unclassified was 1/58 (1.7%). Compared with previous Japanese general population-based data, where VD was more frequent than AD, the rate of dementia in our leprosarium was high, and pathologically confirmed AD was as common as VD. Recently, a prophylactic effect of the antileprosy and anti-inflammatory drug DDS (dapsone, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone) has been suggested. Lepromatous patients take more DDS (51.9%) than tuberculoid patients (11.5%), however, as the dementia rate of tuberculoid leprosy (17.9%) in those 65-84 years old is similar to lepromatous leprosy (15.9%) in our study, we do not support their viewpoint.

Are advanced glycation end-products associated with amyloidosis in Alzheimer's disease?

Recent studies have suggested that advanced glycation end-products (AGE) of the Maillard reaction are associated with amyloidosis in Alzheimer's disease. To evaluate this possibility, the present immunohistochemical study was undertaken to locate AGE in cerebral cortices of Alzheimer's disease, using a monoclonal antibody specific for AGE-proteins. Deposits of beta-amyloid protein within cores of classic senile plaques and vascular walls in amyloid angiopathy showed no AGE-positive reaction, while primitive plaques, coronas of classic plaques and some glial cells were positive for AGE. These findings are inconsistent with the suggestion that AGE may be involved primarily in amyloidosis in Alzheimer's disease.

Hypercoagulable state indicates an additional risk factor for atherosclerosis in Werner's syndrome

To assess the risk factors for atherosclerosis in Werner's syndrome (WS), coagulation/fibrinolytic system parameters and lipid levels were investigated in 9 non-smoker patients with WS and compared with normal control values (N). The levels of thrombin antithrombin III complex (p < 0.05), D-dimer (p < 0.05), tissue plasminogen activator (p < 0.005) and PA inhibitor 1 (p < 0.01) were significantly increased, while the level of thrombomodulin (p < 0.005) in the fasting plasma was significantly decreased in the WS cases compared with N. Lipid profiles confirmed that 8 of the 9 patients were of hyperlipidemia type IIb, 7 had hyperinsulinemia and 5 fulfilled the criteria for clinical diabetes mellitus. The hypercoagulable condition suggested the existence of multiple risk factors for atherosclerosis in WS in addition to the previously reported hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia.

Transgalactosylation catalyzed by alpha-galactosidase from Candida guilliermondii H-404

The thermostable alpha-galactosidase from Candida guilliermondii H-404 synthesized self-transfer products in the absence of a suitable acceptor. The main self-transfer product, using melibiose as a donor substrate, was O-alpha-D-galactosyl-(1,6)-O-alpha-D-galactosyl-(1,6)-D-glucose. This enzyme had a wide acceptor specificity. D-Glucose, D-galactose, maltose, maltitol, and 1,4-butandiol were the most effective acceptors in the transgalactosylation catalyzed by this enzyme. The enzyme could also transfer alpha-galactosyl residues to pentoses (L-arabinose, D-xylose, and D-ribose) and methyl pentoses (D-fucose and L-rhamnose). The main transfer products to lactose, maltose, and sucrose as acceptors were identified as O-alpha-D-galactosyl-(1,6)-O-beta-D-galactosyl-(1,4)-D-glucose, O-alpha-D-galactosyl-(1,6)-O-alpha-D-glucosyl-(1,4)-D-glucose, and O-alpha-D-galactosyl-(1,6)-O-alpha-D-glucosyl-(1,2)-beta-D-fructoside (raffinose), respectively.

Glibenclamide, a blocker of ATP-sensitive potassium channels, abolishes infarct size limitation by preconditioning in rabbits anesthetized with xylazine/pentobarbital but not with pentobarbital alone

The role of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) in the mechanism of ischemic preconditioning (PC) is controversial, partly because descriptions of inhibition of PC by KATP blockers in the literature are inconsistent. We sought a reason for the discrepant findings regarding the effects of glibenclamide (Glib), a specific blocker of KATP, in preventing the reduction of infarct size (IS) induced by PC. The effect of Glib pretreatment (0.3 mg/kg i.v.) on PC was examined in three conditions: (a) when PC was performed with 3- and 5-min ischemia (i.e., potency of PC differs), (b) when rabbits were pretreated with prazosin and metoprolol (0.15 mg/kg i.v. each) to reduce myocardial O2 consumption, and (c) when xylazine was added to pentobarbital anesthesia. In rabbits under pentobarbital anesthesia, the left coronary artery was occluded for 30 min and then reperfused. The area at risk (AAR) and IS were determined 72 h after reperfusion in the first series of experiments and 3 h after reperfusion in the second and third series. IS as a percentage of AAR (%IS/AR) were 31.7 +/- 2.8 and 19.6 +/- 2.5% (SEM) after PC with 3- and 5-min ischemia, respectively, values significantly smaller than %IS/AR in the untreated control group (49.2 +/- 3.3%). The limitation of IS observed with 3- or 5-min PC was not prevented by Glib. Glib also failed to block %IS/AR reduction by PC, even when rate-pressure product (RPP) was reduced to approximately 65% by prazosin/metoprolol (Praz/Met) pretreatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)