Sensitive detection and structural characterization of trimethyl(p-aminophenyl)-ammonium-derivatized oligosaccharides by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometric methodologies which use electrospray ionization (ESI) for oligosaccharide structural determination and which are linked to classical procedures, such as reductive amination, have been established. Several derivatives of a model oligosaccharide were prepared and their ionization efficiencies in electrospray ionization (ESI) and fast-atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry were investigated. The trimethyl-(p-aminophenyl)ammonium (TMAPA) derivatives showed extremely high sensitivity in positive-ion ESI-MS and gave Y- and Z-series sequence ions by ESI tandem mass spectromety (MS/MS). This study suggests that TMAPA-derivatized oligosaccharides used in ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS would be effective for structural characterization of oligosaccharides that are available only in limited quantities.

Tardy ulnar nerve palsy caused by cubitus varus deformity

Fifteen patients with tardy ulnar nerve palsy caused by cubitus varus deformity were studied. All patients had a history of previous fracture of the humerus during childhood. The mean interval between fracture and onset of symptoms was 15 years. The severity of the palsy was classified as McGowan's grade I in 12 patients, grade II in 2 patients, and grade III in 1 patient. The mean carrying angle was -2 degrees before surgery. X-ray films showed a shallow ulnar nerve groove, a dysplastic humeral trochlea, medial shift of the ulna, and deformity of the medial epicondyle. The ulnar nerve was explored in all but one patient. Operative findings suggested that the main cause of the palsy was compression by a fibrous band running between the two heads of flexor carpi ulnaris. Surgical steps included release of the fibrous band in 14 patients with anterior subcutaneous transposition of the ulnar nerve in 5 of those patients. A corrective osteotomy was done in 11 patients who requested correction of the varus deformity. Traumatic cubitus varus deformity should be recognized as another cause of cubital tunnel syndrome.

Phylogenetic relationships within Taenia taeniaeformis variants and other taeniid cestodes inferred from the nucleotide sequence of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene

Nucleotide sequence variations in a region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene (391 bp) were examined within seven species of the genus Taenia and two species of the genus Echinococcus, including ten isolates of T. taeniaeformis and six isolates of E. multilocularis. More than a 12% rate of nucleotide differences between taeniid species was found, allowing the species to be distinguished. In E. multilocularis, no sequence variation was observed among isolates, regardless of the host (gray red-backed vole, tundra vole, pig, Norway rat) or area (Japan, Alaska) from which each metacestode had been isolated. In contrast, six distinct sequences were detected among the ten T. taeniaeformis isolates examined. The level of nucleotide variation in the COI gene within T. taeniaeformis isolates except for one isolate from the gray red-backed vole (TtACR), which has been proposed as a distinct strain or a different species, was about 0.3%-4.1%, whereas the COI gene sequence for TtACR differed from those of the other isolates, with levels being 9.0%-9.5%. Phylogenetic trees were then inferred from these sequence data using two different algorithms.

FR901451, a novel inhibitor of human leukocyte elastase from Flexibacter sp. I. Producing organism, fermentation, isolation, physico-chemical and biological properties

A novel human leukocyte elastase (HLE) inhibitor, FR901451 was discovered in the fermentation broth of a bacteria. The bacteria was identified as Flexibacter sp. No. 758. FR901451 has a molecular weight of 1269 and a molecular formula of C60H79N13O18. The mode of inhibition against HLE is competitive, with a Ki value of 9.8 x 10(-9) M.

FR901451, a novel inhibitor of human leukocyte elastase from Flexibacter sp. II. Pharmacological effect of FR901451

Intratracheal (i.t.) or intravenous (i.v.) administration of FR901451, a potent inhibitor of human leukocyte elastase (HLE) prevented HLE-induced lung hemorrhage in hamsters with ED50 values of 10.5 micrograms/site and 8.1 mg/kg, respectively. alpha 1-Antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) also showed inhibitory effect in this model. However, the ED50 value by i.t. injection of FR901451 was 20-fold lower than that of alpha 1-AT. Moreover, FR901451 i.t. significantly modulated porcine pancreas elastase (PPE)-induced changes of the respiratory mechanics in hamsters. The ED50 values were 529 micrograms/site and 244 micrograms/site, which were expressed by static lung compliance (Cst) and vital capacity (VC) of the lungs, respectively. These results suggest that FR901451 could be clinically useful agent for the treatment of the destructive lung disease such as pulmonary emphysema.

Increased group II phospholipase A2 in colonic mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

The immunochemical protein content of group II phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and PLA2 enzymatic activity were measured for colonic mucosal biopsy samples obtained from patients with either Crohn's disease of the colon or ulcerative colitis, and control patients without inflammatory bowel disease. Immunoreactive group II PLA2 (IR-PLA2 II) content and PLA2 activity in actively inflamed colonic mucosa of Crohn's disease patients were significantly higher than those in inactively inflamed mucosa of Crohn's disease patients and the colonic mucosa of controls. IR-PLA2 II content and PLA2 activity in severely inflamed mucosa of ulcerative colitis patients were significantly higher than those in the colonic mucosa of the controls. Mucosal PLA2 enzymatic activity was closely correlated with mucosal IR-PLA2 II content in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. These results suggest that an increase in PLA2 enzymatic activity in inflamed colonic mucosa of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis was mainly attributed to increased protein content of group II PLA2, and that an increase in mucosal group II PLA2 may be involved in the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

[Pathogenesis of spontaneous nephrosis in mice--urinary protein in nephrotic mice]

There is a paucity of model animals for naturally occurring nephrosis. The nephrotic mouse strain (ICGN) found from ICR mouse colony at National Institute of Health could be one of the most suitable model for nephrosis. We maintained the strain of mice which was originated from the hybrid between the nephrotic ICGN mice and ICR mice. Nephrosis is diagnosed with the presence of albumin band on SDS-PAGE of the urine. The detection of urinary albumin using SDS-PAGE could be valuable for early diagnosis of nephrosis in the mice. The total urinary protein concentration was determined on the course of nephrosis. The nephrotic mice showed slightly higher protein concentration between 2 and 6 days old as compared to control mice. Until 16 day old, it was maintained relatively low level. Thereafter, the total urinary protein increased gradually. However the diagnosis of nephrosis with total urinary protein alone may be limited due to the major urinary protein which can be detected even in normal rodents.

A novel substrate for insulin-sensitive serine/threonine kinase in intact cells

We have studied insulin-stimulated threonine phosphorylation of cellular proteins by immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation using antiphosphothreonine antibody (anti-P-Thr). A 50-kilodalton protein (p50) was found to be greatly phosphorylated on threonine residues upon insulin stimulation in intact rat hepatoma cells (Fao) and Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing human insulin receptor (CHO-HIR). Insulin induced threonine phosphorylation of this protein in a dose-dependent manner, with an ED50 of 3-6 x 10(-9) M. The 50-kilodalton phosphoprotein (pp50) was detectable 20 min after exposure of the cells to insulin, and phosphorylation reached a maximum after 90 min. Immunoprecipitation of pp50 with anti-P-Thr required extraction of the cellular proteins with sodium dodecyl sulfate and dithiothreitol, and subcellular fractionation of the cells revealed that pp50 is present in the membrane fraction, implying that pp50 is a protein integrated into the membrane component in the cells. Tryptic phosphopeptide mapping of the pp50 was distinct from that of the insulin receptor beta-subunit. Phosphoamino acid analysis of the pp50 demonstrated that insulin increased phosphorylation, mainly of threonine and moderately of serine, whereas pp50 did not contain phosphotyrosine. Cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, did not affect the insulin-induced appearance of pp50 in the cells. pp50 was not detectable in A431 cells and KB cells stimulated by epidermal growth factor. These data suggest that p50 is a novel endogenous substrate for insulin-sensitive serine/threonine kinase in intact cells.

Host resistance to an intragastric infection with Listeria monocytogenes in mice depends on cellular immunity and intestinal bacterial flora

Suckling and adult mice were infected intragastrically with different doses of viable Listeria monocytogenes. The 50% lethal dose for the intragastric infection was 10(3.7) CFU for suckling mice, while adult mice were highly resistant and the 50% lethal dose was more than 10(9.3) CFU. When adult mice were infected intragastrically with 5 x 10(8) CFU of L. monocytogenes, no mice died. However, 35% of adult mice died when they were treated with cyclosporin A 1 day before infection. Although mice did not die when treated with an L. monocytogenes-resistant broad-spectrum cephalosporin, sodium cefbuperazone, before and during infection, the number of L. monocytogenes bacteria increased in the feces. The sodium cefbuperazone treatment of mice resulted in superinfection, i.e., a marked decrease of Escherichia coli and an increase of Enterococcus spp. in the intestines. Furthermore, host resistance against the intragastric infection markedly decreased when the mice were treated with both drugs. The growth of L. monocytogenes was augmented in the spleens, mesenteric lymph nodes, Peyer's patches, and feces, and the mortality of the mice was 65%. These results suggest that both cellular immunity and the intestinal bacterial flora are required for host resistance against oral L. monocytogenes infection.

Protection by dexamethasone from a lethal infection with Listeria monocytogenes in mice

The effects of dexamethasone (DEX) on a lethal infection with Listeria monocytogenes were studied in mice. Mice were completely protected against the lethal infection when treated with 3.3 mg per kg of DEX. The effect was observed only when DEX was injected before infection. The control mice died from day 3 to day 5 of infection, whereas DEX-treated mice could eliminate L. monocytogenes cells from the organs by day 11 of infection. High titres of endogenous tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) were induced in the bloodstreams and organs of the drug-free mice. DEX suppressed IL-6 production, but augmented TNF and IFN-gamma production within 24 h of infection, whereas production of all three endogenous cytokines was suppressed in the DEX-treated mice on day 3 of infection when the control mice began to die. These results suggest that DEX shows a protective effect on a lethal infection with L. monocytogenes in mice and that regulation of production of endogenous cytokines might be involved in the effect of DEX.

Effects of aging on acute toxicity of nicotine in rats

Acute toxicity of nicotine was examined in old (24 months) and young (6 weeks) Wistar rats. There were no significant age differences in the mortality and convulsive responses induced by an intraperitoneal injection of nicotine (24.5 mg/kg). The lethal nicotine levels in blood and cortex and the latent period to death in old rats were larger than those in young rats. Cortical and blood nicotine levels 15 min. after the nicotine injection in old rats were also higher than those in young rats. Nicotine significantly increased dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid levels in striatum and hippocampus in young rats, but not those in old rats. Moreover, nicotine-induced elevations in blood levels of corticosterone in old rats were also less than those in young rats. On the other hand, the cytochrome P-450 content, the nicotine oxidase activity and the flavin-containing monooxygenase activity in liver showed age-related decreases in the young, the middle-aged (12 months) and the old rats. These results indicate that the acute toxicity of nicotine in old rats reflects the decreases in hepatic nicotine metabolism and in brain sensitivity to nicotine.

[Host defense and endogenous interferon-gamma in the intestines during an oral infection with Listeria monocytogenes]

It is well known that IFN-gamma is crucial in the host defense against an intravenous infection with Listeria monocytogenes in mice. Recent studies have shown that listeriosis is caused by a food-born infection. Therefore, the production and role of IFN-gamma in the small intestines of intragastric infected-mice were investigated. On day 1 of infection, the number of bacteria cells in the feces peaked and endogenous IFN-gamma was detected in the small intestines by the immunohistochemical method, suggesting that host responses involving IFN-gamma production might occur in the early phase of infection in the small intestines. By FACS analysis, intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) were mainly CD3+CD8+ T cells and TCR-gamma delta+ cells were observed frequently in IEL. IFN-gamma producing cells could be detected in intestinal IEL of mice by ELISPOT assay. The analysis by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that IFN-gamma mRNA was detected in IEL of the infected mice, whereas the expression of IFN-gamma mRNA was suppressed in IEL of the mice treated with anti-CD8 mAb or anti-Thy1.2 mAb. These results suggested that Thy-1+CD+TCR-gamma delta+ T cells might be the principal source of IFN-gamma production in IEL of the infected mice. Administration of anti-IFN-gamma mAb resulted in suppression of anti-listerial resistance in the intestines. Furthermore, administration of anti-CD 8 mAb resulted in suppression of the local anti-listerial resistance on day 1 of infection. These results suggest that IFN-gamma is produced in IEL and might play a protective role in Listeria monocytogenes in the small intestines.

[Salvage chemotherapy for relapsed/refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with a combination of dexamethasone, etoposide, ifosfamide and carboplatin]

Seventeen patients with refractory or relapsed, intermediate or high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were treated with the combination of dexamethasone (40 mg/body x 3d, iv) (DeVIC) between January and December 1992. The treatments were repeated every three weeks for a minimum of two courses unless the patient had PD. G-CSF (2 micrograms/kg, sc) was given during leukopenia in most cases. Of 16 evaluable patients 6 (38%) achieved a complete remission (CR) and 4 showed a partial remission. With median follow up of 15 (7-26) months (mos.) all CR patients were alive in CR, except for 1 patient who died of secondary AML. The actuarial 50% survival duration after DeVIC was 15+ mos. One patient died of sepsis but myelosuppression was generally moderate and no other serious toxicity was observed. Although this is a preliminary study, DeVIC regimen seems to be an effective salvage therapy for patients with refractory or relapsed NHL with acceptable toxicity.

[Effects of platelet activating factor on release of thromboxane B2 from human granulocytes and platelets]

We investigated the effects of platelet activating factor (PAF) on the release of thromboxane (Tx) B2 from human granulocytes and platelets. Stimulation of human peripheral whole blood cells by PAF (10(-5) M) resulted in the production of TxB2 (p < 0.05). When human granulocyte suspensions (2.0 x 10(6)/ml) were stimulated by calcium ionophore A23187 (10(-5) M), TxB2 levels in the supernatant fluid increased significantly (p < 0.01). However PAF (10(-5) M) did not increase the levels of TxB2 in granulocyte suspensions. In the presence of cytochalasin B (5 micrograms/ml), PAF (10(-8) M, 10(-7) M, 10(-6) M) did not induce any significant release of TxB2 from granulocytes. The levels of TxB2 in human platelet suspensions were significantly increased by PAF (10(-5) M) stimulation (p < 0.05). These results suggest that PAF induces TxB2 release from human platelets, but it may not stimulate the production of TxB2 in human granulocytes.

Oral administration of lipopolysaccharides activates B-1 cells in the peritoneal cavity and lamina propria of the gut and induces autoimmune symptoms in an autoantibody transgenic mouse

About a half of the antierythrocyte autoantibody transgenic (autoAb Tg) mice, in which almost all B cells are detected in the spleen, lymph nodes, and Peyer's patches, but not in the peritoneal cavity, suffer from autoimmune hemolytic anemia. The occurrence of this disease is strongly linked to production of autoAb by activated peritoneal B-1 cells in the Tg mice. In this study, we have shown that oral administration of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) activated B-1 cells in the lamina propria of the gut as well as the peritoneal cavity in the healthy Tg mice and induced the autoimmune symptoms in all the Tg mice. The activation of peritoneal and lamina propria B-1 cells by enteric LPS is found not only in the anti-RBC autoAb Tg mice and normal mice but also in the aly mice which congenitally lack lymph nodes and Peyer's patches. These results suggest that B-1 cells in the two locations may form a common pool independent of Peyer's patches and lymph nodes, and can be activated by enteric thymus-independent antigens or polyclonal activators such as LPS. The induction of autoimmune hemolytic anemia in the Tg mice by enteric LPS through the activation of B-1 cells in the lamina propria of gut and in the peritoneal cavity suggests that B-1 cells and bacterial infection may play a pathogenic role in the onset of autoimmune diseases.

Developmental and morphological characteristics of Taenia taeniaeformis (Batsch, 1786) in Clethrionomys rufocanus bedfordiae and Rattus norvegicus from different geographical locations

Developmental and morphological characteristics of 3 isolates of Taenia taeniaeformis isolated from Clethrionomys rufocanus bedfordiae in Abuta (70 km southwest of Sapporo), Japan (isolate ACR), and from Rattus norvegicus in Sapporo, Japan (isolate SRN) and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (isolate KRN) were compared. Eggs of 3 isolates were administered to several species of rodents. Isolate ACR infected C. rufocanus bedfordiae, Apodemus speciosus, and Apodemus argenteus, but not rats or mice, whereas isolate SRN and isolate KRN were infective to rats, mice, A. speciosus, and A. argenteus, but not to C. rufocanus bedfordiae. The increase in cyst size of isolate ACR continued during the experimental period, whereas that of the other 2 isolates had ceased growing after 30 days postinfection. However, significant differences were observed in the length of the small rostellar hooks, number and distribution of testes, and the length of the cirrus sac between isolate ACR and the other 2 isolates. Thus it is suggested that isolate ACR is a distinct strain or even a new species.