C-reactive protein as a predictor of infarct expansion and cardiac rupture after a first Q-wave acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Pump failure after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can be predicted by several indices that estimate infarct size. However, there are few indices that predict infarct expansion and cardiac rupture. We focused on the prognostic significance of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) after AMI.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Serum CRP levels were measured every 24 hours in 220 patients with a first Q-wave AMI. In-hospital complications, predischarge left ventriculographic findings, and long-term prognosis were assessed in relation to peak CRP levels. Peak levels of both CRP and creatine kinase (CK) were higher in patients with pump failure than in those without pump failure. In patients with cardiac rupture, peak CRP levels were higher than in those without rupture (P=.001); peak CK levels were not predictive. Higher CRP levels were found in patients with left ventricular aneurysm (P=.001 versus those without), aggravated heart failure (P=.03 versus those without), and cardiac death (P<.0001 versus survivors) during the first year after AMI. Multivariate analysis confirmed that an elevation of the peak CRP level > or = 20 mg/dL was an independent predictor of cardiac rupture (relative risk, 4.72; P=.004), left ventricular aneurysmal formation (relative risk, 2.11; P=.03), and 1-year cardiac death (relative risk, 3.44; P<.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac rupture, left ventricular aneurysmal formation, and 1-year cardiac death were associated with an elevation of serum CRP early after AMI, suggesting that elevation of CRP levels after AMI may predict infarct expansion.

Subcellular localization of the MEN, MLL/MEN and truncated MLL proteins expressed in leukemic cells carrying the t(11;19)(q23;p13.1) translocation

The t(11;19)(q23;p13.1) translocation is exclusively associated with myeloid leukemias. Previously, we cloned several species of MLL/MEN chimeric cDNAs in a patient with myeloid leukemia carrying the t(11;19)(q23;p13.1) translocation. The MEN sequence directly followed the 5' region of MLL cDNA in some species and otherwise there presented an inserted sequence of 120 bp between the MLL and MEN sequences in others. Because the insertion sequence contained an in-frame termination codon, they coded only for the NH2-terminal part of MLL (truncated MLL). We also cloned the normal MEN cDNA in full-length with a cDNA library derived from K562 cells. We expressed the normal MEN, MLL/MEN chimeric and truncated MLL proteins in COS7 cells with the corresponding cDNAs and detected them with antibodies raised against the MEN and MLL peptides. Immunostaining and subcellular fractionation showed nuclear localization of all these proteins. These findings suggested that MLL/MEN chimeric cDNAs were actually translated into both MLL/MEN fusion and truncated MLL proteins and that they were localized in the nucleus of leukemic cells. Recently, Conaway et al. reported that MEN is an RNA polymerase II elongation factor. The leukemogenesis by the t(11;19)(q23;p13.1) translocation may have resulted from the alteration of transcription regulation induced by the MLL/MEN fusion protein and/or the truncated MLL protein.

Characterization of energy metabolism and blood flow distribution in myocardial ischemia in hemorrhagic shock

To characterize the mechanisms for myocardial ischemia induced by hemorrhagic shock, 29 dogs were subjected to hemorrhage at a mean aortic pressure (MAoP) of 30-60 mmHg. After 10 min of hemorrhage, the beating hearts were rapidly cross sectioned and freeze clamped to visualize the two-dimensional distribution of myocardial ischemia with NADH fluorescence (NADH-F) in 22 dogs. NADH-F was developed at an MAoP of 40 mmHg or less and involved both the subendocardial half and the subepicardial half of the left ventricle [34 +/- 14 vs. 20 +/- 14% (P < 0.05) and 65 +/- 16 vs. 52 +/- 15% (not significant) of the cross-sectional area of the left ventricular slice at MAoP levels of 40 and 30 mmHg, respectively]. Magnified NADH-F photography demonstrated heterogeneously distributed microischemic lesions with a columnar shape (mode of short-axis length, 60-80 microns). NADH-F-guided microsamplings revealed higher NADH and lactate concentrations in a positive NADH-F area than those in a negative NADH-F area. The ratio of endocardial to epicardial blood flow was maintained at a relatively high level (1.07 +/- 0.07 and 0.88 +/- 0.07 at MAoP levels of 40 and 30 mmHg, respectively; n = 7 dogs), and the reactive hyperemia was preserved as well. In conclusion, myocardial ischemia in early hemorrhagic shock was characterized by minimal transmural heterogeneity and marked heterogeneity between contiguous small regions.

Agonistic effect of tamoxifen is dependent on cell type, ERE-promoter context, and estrogen receptor subtype: functional difference between estrogen receptors alpha and beta

To investigate the functional differences between estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and beta subtypes, we studied the expression and the transcription stimulating activities of these receptors. RT-PCR has demonstrated that ER alpha is expressed at a high level in MCF-7 cells derived from human breast cancer. Both ER alpha and ER beta were expressed at a lower level in HOS-TE85 and Saos2 cells derived from human osteosarcoma. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter assay detected the transcriptional activation by the endogenous receptor only in MCF-7 cells. Agonistic effect of tamoxifen was observed as strong as that of 17beta-estradiol on ERE activation in MCF-7 cells at the concentration of 10(-7) M when ERE-containing reporter is constructed with beta-globin promoter. The effect of tamoxifen was not apparent when the reporter was constructed with thymidine kinase promoter, suggesting that the differential gene activation between tamoxifen and estrogen may take place depending upon ERE-promoter context. Agonistic activity of tamoxifen was also detected in COS-7 and Saos-2 cells, but not in HEC-1 cells derived from human endometrial carcinoma via exogenously expressed ER. Interestingly, this effect was ER alpha specific. Thus, we demonstrate that agonistic effect of tamoxifen depends on the cell type, ERE-promoter context, and ER subtype. These parameters would explain at least a part of the tissue specific effects of antiestrogens in vivo.

[Effect of barnidipine hydrochloride on the autonomic nervous system: difference between short- and long-acting components of calcium antagonist]

Short-acting calcium antagonists have a deleterious effect on the prognosis for patients with myocardial ischemia, possibly caused by overactivation of sympathetic nerves due to vasodilatation, negative inotropism, or coronary steal. However, there is considerable debate about whether long-acting calcium antagonists as well as the short-acting calcium antagonists have the same effect. Barnidipine-HCl is a newly-developed calcium antagonist with 1:2 short- and long-acting particles. This study evaluated the changes of autonomic tone due to barnidipine. Both the short- and long-acting effect of the calcium antagonist was evaluated. Eleven patients with primary hypertension underwent 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram and blood pressure monitoring before and after the treatment with barnidipine. Heart rate and blood pressure were compared before and after the medication. Heart rate variability was analyzed with a Marquette 8000/T. High frequency power (HF), as a parameter of vagal tone, and the ratio to low frequency power (LF), as a parameter of sympathetic tone, were obtained. Twenty-four-hour average blood pressure decreased significantly during the day, but nocturnal hypotension was not observed. Heart rate did not increase. HF decreased at the peak of the short- and long-acting components. LF/HF increased at the peak of the short-acting component. Short-acting particles of barnidipine had a deleterious effect on the autonomic tone, that is overactivation of sympathetic tone and suppression of vagal tone. Long-acting particles of barnidipine suppressed the vagal tone. These findings suggest that short-acting calcium antagonists may cause arrhythmia or deterioration of coronary ischemia.

Estrogen regulation of mu-opioid receptor mRNA in the forebrain of female rats

Previous studies have suggested that opioids play a role in the regulation of reproductive behaviors in the female rat. The present study examined whether estrogen treatment alters mu-opioid receptor mRNA levels in different areas of the forebrain of ovariectomized (OVX) female rats using the in situ hybridization technique. We observed an increase in mu-opioid receptor mRNA levels in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) and arcuate nucleus (ARN) after 48 h of 10 microg of 17-beta-estradiol-3-benzoate treatment when compared to OVX females. No effects of estrogen were observed on mu-opioid receptor mRNA levels in the posterior medial nucleus of the amygdala (MeAmyg), hippocampus, caudate-putamen (CPu) or the medial habenula. Our result suggests that the estrogenic regulation of mu-opioid receptor in the CNS may in part be mediated by de novo synthesis and/or stability of the mu-opioid receptor message.

In vitro and in vivo characterization of the dopamine D4 receptor, serotonin 5-HT2A receptor and alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonist (R)-(+)-2-amino-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-[1-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutyl] pyrrolidin-3-yl]thiazole (NRA0045)

(R)-(+)-2-Amino-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-[1-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutyl]+ ++pyrrolidin-3-yl]thiazole (NRA0045), a novel thiazole derivative, has high affinities for the human cloned dopamine D4.2, D4.4 and D4.7 receptors, with Ki values of 2.54, 0.55 and 0.54 nM, respectively. NRA0045 is approximately 91-fold more potent at the dopamine D4.2 receptor, compared with human cloned dopamine D2L receptor. NRA0045 also has high affinities for the serotonin (5-HT)2A receptor (Ki = 1.92 nM) and alpha-1 adrenoceptor (Ki = 1.40 nM) but weak affinities (IC50 values are approximately 1 microM) for six other neurotransmitter receptors (adenosine1, 5-HT1A, 5-HT1C, dopamine transporter, alpha2A and alpha2A) and negligible affinities (IC50 values are over 10(-5) M) for 42 other receptors, including neurotransmitters and hormones, ion channels and second messenger systems. Locomotor hyperactivity induced by methamphetamine (1 mg/kg i.p.) in mice was dose-dependently antagonized by NRA0045 (ED50 = 0.5 mg/kg i.p. and 1.9 mg/kg p.o., respectively). Methamphetamine (10 mg/kg i.p.)-induced stereotyped behavior in mice was dose-dependently antagonized by NRA0045, whereas NRA0045 did not exceed 50% inhibition even at the highest dose given (30 mg/kg i.p.). Catalepsy was dose-dependently and significantly induced by NRA0045 in rats, whereas NRA0045 did not exceed 50% induction even at the highest dose given (30 mg/kg i.p.). Thus NRA0045 blocks behaviors associated with activation of the mesolimbic/mesocortical dopaminergic neurons more selectively than behaviors associated with nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. In rats, tryptamine-induced clonic seizure, a 5-HT2 receptor-mediated behavior, was also dose-dependently inhibited by NRA0045 (ED50 = 1.7 mg/kg i.p.). Norepinephrine-induced lethality is regarded as being induced through the alpha-1 adrenoceptor. NRA0045 dose-dependently antagonized norepinephrine-induced lethality in rats (ED50 = 0.2 mg/kg i.p.). Thus NRA0045 may have a unique antipsychotic activity with regard to dopamine D4 and 5-HT2A receptors and alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonistic activities, without producing the extrapyramidal side effects.

Requirements for localization of p130cas to focal adhesions

p130cas (Cas) is an adapter protein that has an SH3 domain followed by multiple SH2 binding motifs in the substrate domain. It also contains a tyrosine residue and a proline-rich sequence near the C terminus, which are the binding sites for the SH2 and SH3 domains of Src kinase, respectively. Cas was originally identified as a major tyrosine-phosphorylated protein in v-Crk- and v-Src-transformed cells. Subsequently, Cas was shown to be inducibly tyrosine phosphorylated upon integrin stimulation; it is therefore regarded as one of the focal adhesion proteins. Using an immunofluorescence study, we examined the subcellular localization of Cas and determined the regions required for its localization to focal adhesions. In nontransformed cells, Cas was localized predominantly to the cytoplasm and partially to focal adhesions. However, in 527F-c-Src-transformed cells, Cas was localized mainly to podosomes, where the focal adhesion proteins are assembled. The localization of Cas to focal adhesions was also observed in cells expressing the kinase-negative 527F/295M-c-Src. A series of analyses with deletion mutants expressed in various cells revealed that the SH3 domain of Cas is necessary for its localization to focal adhesions in nontransformed cells while both the SH3 domain and the C-terminal Src binding domain of Cas are required in 527F-c-Src-transformed cells and fibronectin-stimulated cells. In addition, the localization of Cas to focal adhesions was abolished in Src-negative cells. These results demonstrate that the SH3 domain of Cas and the association of Cas with Src kinase play a pivotal role in the localization of Cas to focal adhesions.

Association of a deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene with left-ventricular hypertrophy in Japanese women with essential hypertension; multicenter study of 1,919 subjects

The relationship of an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene to left-ventricular hypertrophy in individuals with essential hypertension (EH) was investigated in a large population of Japanese men and women. The ACE genotype of 762 subjects with EH (425 men and 337 women) and 1,157 healthy controls (604 men and 553 women) was determined by polymerase chain reaction analysis. The distribution of ACE genotypes did not differ significantly between patients with EH and control in both men and women. For women with EH, the DD genotype was positively associated with the thickness of the interventricular septum and inversely associated with the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, both determined by echocardiography. In contrast, the DD genotype was not associated with any echocardiographic parameter in men with EH. These results indicate that the DD genotype is a risk factor for left-ventricular hypertrophy in Japanese women with EH, but not for Japanese men.

Increase in heart rate after radiofrequency catheter ablation is mediated by parasympathetic nervous withdrawal and related to site of ablation

To assess the mechanism for the increased sinus rate after radiofrequency catheter ablation performed for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), we studied heart rate variability before and after radiofrequency catheter ablation in 17 patients with AVNRT and in 38 patients with an accessory pathway. The accessory pathway was located at the left ventricular free wall, the right ventricular free wall, or the posterior interventricular septum. An increased sinus rate was observed in patients with AVNRT or with the accessory pathway at the posterior septum or left free wall after radiofrequency ablation. In these groups, high-frequency power, root mean square of successive difference and percent of adjacent cycles that were more than 50 ms apart, all of which are indices reflecting parasympathetic nervous activity, were decreased. The ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency power reflecting sympathovagal balance, was increased in patients with AVNRT or with an accessory pathway at the posterior septum or left free wall. Increases in sinus rate were correlated with decreases in high-frequency power, and percent of adjacent cycles more than 50 ms apart that the increase in heart rate was due to parasympathetic nervous withdrawal.

Cloning of a putative vesicle transport-related protein, RA410, from cultured rat astrocytes and its expression in ischemic rat brain

To elucidate the role of astrocytes in the stress response of the central nervous system to ischemia, early gene expression was evaluated in cultured rat astrocytes subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation. Using differential display, a novel putative vesicle transport-related factor (RA410) was cloned from reoxygenated astrocytes. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence showed RA410 to be composed of domains common to vesicle transport-related proteins of the Sec1/Unc18 family, including Sly1p and Sec1p (yeast), Rop (Drosophila), Unc18 (Caenorhabditis elegans), and Munc18 (mammalian), suggesting its possible role in vesicular transport. Northern analysis of normal rat tissues showed the highest expression of RA410 transcripts in testis. When astrocyte cultures were subjected to a period of hypoxia followed by reoxygenation, induction of RA410 mRNA was observed within 15 min of reoxygenation, reaching a maximum by 60 min. At the start of reoxygenation, the addition of diphenyl iodonium, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, blocked in parallel astrocyte generation of reactive oxygen intermediates and expression of RA410 message. In contrast, cycloheximide did not affect RA410 mRNA levels, indicating that RA410 is an immediate-early gene in the setting of reoxygenation. Using polyclonal antibody raised against an RA410-derived synthetic peptide, Western blotting of lysates from reoxygenated astrocytes displayed an immunoreactive band of approximately 70 kDa, the expression of which followed induction of the mRNA. Fractionation of astrocyte lysates on sucrose gradients showed RA410 antigen to be predominantly in the plasma membrane. Immunoelectron microscopic analysis demonstrated RA410 in large vesicles associated with the Golgi, but not in the Golgi apparatus itself, consistent with its participation in post-Golgi transport. Consistent with these in vitro data, RA410 expression was observed in rat brain astrocytes following transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. These data provide insight into a new protein (RA410) that participates in the ischemia-related stress response in astrocytes.

No concomitant occurrence of the N-ras and p53 gene mutations in myelodysplastic syndromes

Mutations of the N-ras oncogene and p53 tumor suppressor gene were simultaneously investigated in bone marrow cells from 44 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or MDS-derived leukemia by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis followed by direct sequencing. The mutations of the N-ras gene were detected only in two cases with MDS-derived leukemia. Three patients with MDS-derived leukemia and one with refractory anemia with excess of blasts exhibited five mutations of the p53 gene. No concomitant mutations of both genes were observed in our study, suggesting that alterations of both genes could play an important role in the progression of MDS in a non-cooperative manner.

Effect of VA-045, a novel apovincaminic acid derivative, on closed head injury-induced neurological dysfunction in aged rats

Effects of VA-045, a novel apovincaminic acid derivative, on behavioral outcome following closed head injury (CHI) were examined in aged (21-28 months) rats. CHI was induced by dropping a 400 g weight through a tube from 150 cm above a steel helmet placed on the vertex. Beam balancing latency, neurological deficits and body weight were recorded before CHI and for up to 14 days after CHI. When compared with the sham group, all measurements of parameters of behavioral outcome in the CHI group were significantly worsened after CHI. Intraperitoneal administration of VA-045 (1 and 3 mg kg-1) or thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH, 10 mg kg-1) and vehicle was started 24 h after CHI, and continued once daily for 13 days. VA-045 but not TRH significantly overcame the CHI-induced neurological deficits, shortened the latency of beam balancing and decreased body weight loss. VA-045 may prove useful for treating aged patients with disturbances of consciousness or motor deficits after CHI.

The glycoproteins that occur in the colloids of senescent porcine pituitary glands are clusterin and glycosylated albumin fragments

Periodic acid-Schiff-positive colloids occur in the pituitary glands of many vertebrates. These colloids are surrounded by folliculo-stellate (FS) cells and increase dramatically in number and size with age. The characterization of these colloidal substances is necessary for the establishment of FS cell function. In a previous study we showed that these colloids in the senescent pituitary contain a number of glycoproteins; however, the characterization of these glycoproteins has not yet been carried out. To characterize the pituitary colloid, we purified the colloids by centrifugation and Percoll gradient. The isolated colloids were unable to be solubilized in a regular buffer since they were very dense. However, solubilization was accomplished in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) lysis buffer following treatment with exoglycosidase. Analysis using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the porcine pituitary colloids contain four proteins, CP26, CP40, CP48 and CP60, whose estimated molecular weights were 26 kD, 36-43 kD, 48 kD, and 60 kD, respectively. Staining with concanavalin A (ConA) showed that both CP26 and CP40 were glycoproteins. Moreover, N-terminal amino acid sequencing and Western blot analysis revealed CP26, CP48 and CP60 to be porcine albumin while CP40, the major protein in the colloids, proved to be clusterin. Therefore we report here that the glycoproteins that occur in senescent porcine pituitary colloids are of two types, namely, albumin fragments and clusterin.

A site-specific DNA endonuclease specified by one of two ORFs encoded by a group I intron in Dictyostelium discoideum mitochondrial DNA

The second intron (DdOX1/2.2) of Dictyostelium discoideum cytochrome oxidase subunit 1/2 fused gene has two free-standing ORF genes (Dd ai2a and Dd ai2b) in a loop, which have similar amino acid sequences and are homologous to aI4 DNA endonuclease (I-SceII) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To elucidate the functions of these ORFs, we cloned the ORFs into an expression vector and introduced the composite vectors into E. coli. The expression of Dd ai2a in E. coli caused growth inhibition and degradation of the E. coli genomic DNA. To determine whether Dd ai2a protein is a homing type DNA endonuclease, the ability to cleave the homing site of its intron in vivo was examined. Dd ai2a cleaved only one strand of intronless DNA sequence at the site which coincides with the I-SceII cleavage recognition site. We suppose that Dd ai2a functions actually as a homing type DNA endonuclease in D. discoideum mitochondria by virtue of other factors. To obtain further information about the relationship between the existence of introns and the mating system, we carried out in vitro self-splicing assay and polymerase chain reaction analysis using 13 strains of the cellular slime mold.

Ocular dominance in human V1 demonstrated by functional magnetic resonance imaging

Very high resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at a 4 Tesla (T) magnetic field was used to map ocular dominance regions in the human visual cortical layers using the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) contrast mechanism. The fMRI response from primary visual cortex (V1) exhibited a distribution of ocular dominance reminiscent of the single-cell recordings of Hubel and Wiesel. Pixels could be grouped into seven categories varying from left-only response to binocular-only response to right-only responses. Nonspecific responses were found in the MRI-visible draining veins as well as in the parenchyma. Although large vessel BOLD signals are easily detectable, regardless of field strength, they demonstrate a fMRI response to photic input that could not be used to distinguish ocular dominance. The difference in BOLD response between a region activated by one eye and that activated by the other is only 2.9% on average. This necessitates the use of a difference paradigm to visualize the regions of ocular dominance accurately. The data show that BOLD-based fMRI is sensitive to neuronal activity in cortical columns when using differential techniques, opening up the possibility of mapping specialized populations of neurons in humans that are not accessible to electrophysiological or other methods of invasive mapping.

The atypical antipsychotic profile of NRA0045, a novel dopamine D4 and 5-hydroxytryptamine2A receptor antagonist, in rats

1. The atypical antipsychotic profile of (R)-(+)-2-amino-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-[1-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutyl] pyrrolidin-3-yl] thiazole (NRA0045), a potent dopamine D4 and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)2A receptor antagonist, was examined in rats. 2. Spontaneous locomotor activity was decreased dose-dependently with i.p. administration of clozapine (ED50 3.7 mg kg-1), haloperidol (ED50 0.1 mg kg-1) and chlorpromazine (ED50 0.9 mg kg-1), whereas inhibition of this type of behaviour induced by i.p. administration of NRA0045, at doses up to 10 mg kg-1, did not exceed 50%. 3. Locomotor hyperactivity induced by methamphetamine (MAP, 2 mg kg-1, i.p.) in rats (a model of antipsychotic activity) was dose-dependently antagonized by NRA0045 (ED50 0.4 mg kg-1, i.p., and 0.3 mg kg-1, p.o., respectively), clozapine (ED50 0.3 mg kg-1, i.p. and 0.8 mg kg-1, p.o., respectively), haloperidol (ED50 0.02 mg kg-1, i.p. and 0.1 mg kg-1, p.o., respectively), chlorpromazine (ED50 0.3 mg kg-1, i.p. and 3.3 mg kg-1, p.o., respectively). In contrast, the MAP (3 mg kg-1, i.v.)-induced stereotyped behaviour in rats (a model of extrapyramidal symptoms) was not affected by NRA0045 or clozapine, at the highest dose given (30 mg kg-1, i.p.). Haloperidol (ED50 0.3 mg kg-1, i.p.) and chlorpromazine (ED50 4.8 mg kg-1, i.p.) strongly blocked the MAP-induced stereotyped behaviour. NRA0045 and clozapine selectively blocked behaviour associated with activation of the mesolimbic/mesocortical dopamine neurones rather than nigrostriatal dopamine neurones. 4. Extracellular single-unit recording studies demonstrated that MAP (1 mg kg-1, i.v.) decreased the firing rate in the substantia nigra (A9) and ventral tegmental area (A10) dopamine neurones in anaesthetized rats. NRA0045 completely reversed the inhibitory effects of MAP on A10 dopamine neurones (ED50 0.1 mg kg-1, i.v.), whereas the inhibitory effects of MAP on A9 dopamine neurones were not affected by NRA0045, in doses up to 1 mg kg-1 (i.v.). Clozapine completely reversed the inhibitory effects of MAP on A10 dopamine neurones (ED50 1.9 mg kg-1, i.v.) and on A9 dopamine neurones (ED50 2.5 mg kg-1, i.v.). Haloperidol completely reversed the inhibitory effects of MAP on A10 (ED50 0.03 mg kg-1, i.v.) and on A9 dopamine neurones (0.02 mg kg-1, i.v.). NRA0045, like clozapine, was more potent in reversing the effects of MAP on A10 than A9 dopamine neurones. 5. Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is impaired markedly in humans with schizophrenia. The disruption of PPI in rats by apomorphine (0.5 mg kg-1, s.c.) was reversed significantly by NRA0045 (3 mg kg-1, i.p.), clozapine (3 mg kg-1, i.p.) and haloperidol (0.3 mg kg-1, i.p.). 6. Phencyclidine (PCP) elicits predominantly psychotic symptoms in normal humans and in schizophrenics. NRA0045 (0.03-0.3 mg kg-1, i.p.) and clozapine (0.1-1 mg kg-1, i.p.) significantly and dose-dependently shortened the PCP(1.25 mg kg-1, i.p.)-induced prolonged swimming latency in rats in a water maze task, whereas haloperidol (0.01-0.1 mg kg-1, i.p.) did not significantly alter swimming latency. 7. These findings suggest that NRA0045 may have unique antipsychotic activities without the liability of motor side effects typical of classical antipsychotics.

Deletions of p15 and/or p16 genes as a poor-prognosis factor in adult T-cell leukemia

PURPOSE

To determine the frequency of the deletions of p15/p16 genes in adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cells and to evaluate their value in the diagnosis of clinical subtypes of ATL patients and the prediction of their clinical outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Peripheral-blood samples from 114 patients with ATL were examined by Southern blot analysis. In five chronic-type patients who showed disease progression to acute type, serial samples also were examined.

RESULTS

Among 114 patients, 28 (24.6%) showed the deletions of p15 and/or p16 genes. The results were well correlated with the clinical subtypes. Patients with deleted p15 and/or p16 genes had significantly shorter survival times than the patients in whom both genes were preserved (P < .0001). A similar decline in survival time was observed in the analyses within the same subtypes. In multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazard model, the deletions of p15 and/or p16 genes emerged as an independent prognostic indicator. Moreover, three of the five chronic-type patients who progressed to acute type lost the p16 gene alone or both the p15 and p16 genes at their exacerbation phase.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest the following: (1) that the deletions of p15 and/or p16 genes play a key role in the progression of ATL; and (2) that these deletions are reliable prognostic factors that predict shortened survival times.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of potent glycosidase inhibitors: N-phenyl cyclic isourea derivatives of 5-amino- and 5-amino-C-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,3,4-cyclopentanetetraols

Twenty-four stereoisomers of 5-amino- and 5-amino-C-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,3,4-cyclopentanetetraols and twenty-six of the corresponding N-phenyl cyclic isourea derivatives were assayed for inhibitory activity against six glycosidases. Among them, as has been expected for structure mimics of putative transition state glucopyranosyl cation for glycoside hydrolysis, 1L-(1,2,4,5/3)-5-amino-1-C-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,3,4-cyclopentanetetrao l L-4 and its N-phenyl cyclic isourea derivative S-19 were shown to have strong inhibitory activity, IC50 4 x 10(-7) and 7.6 x 10(-9) M, respectively, against baker's yeast alpha-glucosidase. It has been analogously explained that compounds R,S-22 and R,S-26 possessed high inhibitory potency against Escherichia coli and bovine liver beta-galactosidases, respectively.

The nature of spatiotemporal changes in cerebral hemodynamics as manifested in functional magnetic resonance imaging

The nature of changes in rapidly acquired magnetic resonance images of the brain was studied by using a denoising method and spectral techniques optimally suited to short time series. It was found that the stimulus related changes have a complex spatiotemporal structure even for simple visual stimuli. Apart from a low frequency window, the non-stimulus-related changes were found to correspond in detail to either breathing or heartbeat, although these two sources show different patterns of spatial coherence in the image. At low frequencies, oscillations with frequencies around 0.1 Hz were observed, also with nontrivial space-time structure, which are likely to be vasomotor in origin.

An acute myeloid leukemia gene, AML1, regulates transcriptional activation and hemopoietic myeloid cell differentiation antagonistically by two alternative spliced forms

The AML1 gene on chromosome 21 is disrupted in the (8;21)(q22;q22) and (3;21)(q26;q22) translocations associated with myelogenous leukemias and encodes a DNA-binding protein. From AML1 gene, two representative forms of proteins, AML1a and AML1b, are produced by an alternative splicing. Both forms have DNA-binding domain, but AML1a lacks a putative transcriptional activation domain which AML1b has. Here we demonstrate that AML1a, which solely has no effects as a transcriptional regulator, dominantly suppresses transcriptional activation by AML1b, and that AML1a exhibits the higher affinity for DNA-binding than AML1b. Furthermore a dominant negative form of AML1, AML1a, totally suppressed granulocytic differentiation otherwise induced by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor when AML1a was overexpressed in 32Dc13 murine myeloid cells. Such differentiation block by AML1a was canceled by the concomitant overexpression of AML1b. These data strongly suggest that a transcriptionally active form of AML1 is essential for the myeloid cell differentiation. In addition, we observed an altered expression level of AML1 along with the myeloid differentiation in several hemopoietic cell lines. In these cases, at least, the AML1 expression level is a potential regulator for myeloid cell differentiation.

Recent progress in molecular mechanisms of leukemogenesis: the cyclin-dependent kinase 4-inhibitor gene in human leukemias

In order to clarify the significance of p16 gene (CDKN2) inactivation and its disease specificity among hematopoietic tumors, configurations of the p16 gene as well as those of the adjacent p15 and interferon alpha (IFN alpha) genes were examined in primary hematopoietic tumors. Loss of the p16 gene is frequent in and highly specific to lymphoid tumors among hematopoietic tumors. Gene deletions but not minute mutations should be the predominant mechanism of p16 gene inactivation in these types of tumors. The p16 gene is most frequently deleted among the p16, p15 and IFN alpha genes and thus should be the target of deletions in this locus. Deletions of the p16 gene were frequently observed in tumors carrying chromosome 9p abnormalities while a significant number of cases showed loss of the p16 gene without chromosome 9p abnormalities. So far inactivation of p53 and Rb tumor suppressors have also been found in lymphoid tumors. In our study, we detected homozygous deletions of p16 gene in 20%, loss of Rb protein in 28%, and p53 gene alterations in 8% of lymphoid tumors. Notably, 44% of lymphoid tumors showed inactivation of at least one of the three tumor suppressors, suggesting these tumor suppressors are important for lymphoid tumorigenesis. Inactivations of these tumor suppressors should independently occur in development of lymphoid tumors.

Mutations and loss of expression of a mismatch repair gene, hMLH1, in leukemia and lymphoma cell lines

Defects in genes involved in DNA mismatch repair have been detected in both hereditary and sporadic tumors of colon, endometrium, and ovary and suggested to be associated with tumorigenesis. To investigate disruptions of the mismatch repair system in hematological malignancies, we examined alterations of the human mutL homologue 1 (hMLH1) gene, a member of the mismatch repair gene family, in a total of 43 human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines, by polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and sequencing analyses. Mutations of the hMLH1 gene were detected in three cell lines established from lymphoid leukemias. Moreover, Northern and Western blot analyses showed that expression of hMLH1 transcript or protein was abrogated in these three leukemia cell lines. Further studies for microsatellite loci showed that these cell lines without hMLH1 expression showed microsatellite instability. This is the first report that describes mutations and inactivation of the hMLH1 gene in human leukemia cells, suggesting that disruption of DNA mismatch repair system may play an important role in the development of human lymphoid leukemias.