Constitutive and NF-kappa B-like proteins in the regulation of the serum amyloid A gene by interleukin 1

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a major acute-phase protein whose chronic production by the liver can lead to the fatal disorder of secondary amyloidosis. Control of SAA is mediated by several inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 1 (IL-1). To study the cis-acting regulatory elements responsible for constitutive and IL-1-induced expression, DNA constructs containing varying lengths of the promoter region from the human SAA2 beta gene 5' to the bacterial reporter gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), were generated and transfected into human hepatoma cells, HepG2. Both positive and negative regulatory elements were found in the 5' flanking region of the human SAA2 beta gene. The more proximal region contains an IL-1 enhancer sequence GGGACTTTCC (SAA kappa B1; between -82 and -91), the binding site for the ubiquitous transcription factor NF-kappa B. IL-1 induction of the binding of nuclear factor to this sequence is maximal between 5 min and 30 min after incubation with IL-1 and negative in cells incubated for 60 min or longer. Mutation of the SAA kappa B1 sequence to a nonbinding form of NF-kappa B (CTCACTTTCC) abolishes the IL-1 effect. The SAA 5' region also contained an upstream repressor element, shown by transfection experiments. Within this element, a second NF-kappa B binding site (SAA kappa B2; -626 to -635) was found, and mutation of SAA kappa B2 to a non-NF-kappa B-binding form results in an increase in both constitutive + IL-1 stimulated SAA transcription.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Observation of curative effect of refined interferon-alpha on viral pneumonia in infants]

Fifteen cases of viral pneumonia in infants were treated with refined interferon-alpha and antibiotics. Clinical symptoms of the cases with IFN-alpha were relieved in 1.40-2.79 days, earlier than those of the control. Clinical recovery time was on the average shorter than that of the control by 1.9 days, and complete recovery by 1.5 days. The difference is statistically significant. It suggested that the clinical effect of IFN-alpha together with antibiotics is better than that of antibiotics alone. There was no significant change between the experimental and control groups in absolute lymphocyte count Ig and T-cell, but OKT3 increased and OKT8 decreased slightly. The study shows that IFN is an effective and safe administration for viral pneumonia.

Autoantibodies to GM1 ganglioside: different reactivity to GM1-liposomes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and lower motor neuron disorders

We studied the ability of anti-GM1 ganglioside antibodies to bind to GM1 in a lipid, "membrane-like" environment. Liposomes containing GM1 were synthesized to simulate this environment. We then compared the binding of anti-GM1 a autoantibodies to GM-1-liposomes and to purified GM1. Antibody binding was quantitated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methodology. Our results showed a 250-fold variation in the ability of anti-GM1 antibodies to bind to GM1-liposomes. There was no correlation between GM-1-liposome binding and the carbohydrate specificities of the anti-GM1 antibodies. However, anti-GM1 antibodies from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) showed a 4 fold greater binding to GM1-liposomes than antibodies from patients with lower motor neuron (LMN) syndromes. We conclude that a lipid, presumably "membrane-like", environment may greatly influence the degree of anti-GM1 antibody binding to GM1. The low levels of anti-GM1 antibody binding to GM1-liposomes in patients with LMN syndromes may provide a diagnostic means for distinguishing these patients from those with ALS. Anti-GM1 antibodies from patients with ALS may bind especially well to neuronal membranes containing GM1 in vivo.

Performance of 133 compounds in the lambda prophage induction endpoint of the Microscreen assay and a comparison with S. typhimurium mutagenicity and rodent carcinogenicity assays

The Microscreen assay was developed as a means of testing very small samples, as in complex mixture fractionation. It is a multi-endpoint assay which utilizes E. coli WP2s(lambda). Exposure takes place to serial dilutions of the test compound in microtitre wells (250 microliters) followed by sampling from wells in which growth has occurred ('non-toxic wells'). Although a number of different endpoints can be measured, only the prophage induction endpoint (the first one developed) has been extensively tested. Results with 133 compounds are presented. These include 111 compounds which have been tested in the S. typhimurium assay and 66 compounds for which both rodent bioassay and S. typhimurium assay data exists. The concordance for the Microscreen assay and the S. typhimurium assay was 71%. For this group of compounds, the sensitivity of the Microscreen assay in detecting carcinogens was 76% compared with 58% for the S. typhimurium assay. However, the S. typhimurium assay was somewhat more specific (69%) compared with the Microscreen (56%). The overall association between carcinogenicity and Microscreen results was statistically significant (p = 0.029), whereas for the S. typhimurium assay the association with carcinogenicity was non-significant (p = 0.086). The Microscreen assay was able to detect halogenated compounds better than the S. typhimurium assay. The Microscreen assay should prove useful in complex mixture fractionation, or in other situations where sample size is limiting.

Effects of nimodipine on l-glutamate-induced seizures and Ca2+ influx in hippocampus in freely moving rats

Seizure (EEG) was studied in rats unilaterally injected in the dorsal hippocampus with l-glutamate (Glu). Extracellular Ca2+ content [(Ca2+)e] in the injected area was assessed by brain microdialysis coupled to automatic atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In this experimental epileptic model, an inhibition of Glu-stimulated epileptic activity and a fall in (Ca2+)e by nimodipine (Nim, 100 micrograms.kg-1) were seen. The spike- and wave-burst frequency was reduced from 30 to 5 bursts.min-1 (P less than 0.01, n = 8). Nim 25 and 50 micrograms.kg-1, without anticonvulsant activity, did not prevent the drop in (Ca2+)e. These results indicate that Nim exerts an antiepileptic effect on Glu-induced epilepsy. The mechanisms may be involved in blocking Ca2+ influx into neurons.

Receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase gamma is a candidate tumor suppressor gene at human chromosome region 3p21

PTPG, the gene for protein-tyrosine phosphatase gamma (PTP gamma), maps to a region of human chromosome 3, 3p21, that is frequently deleted in renal cell carcinoma and lung carcinoma. One of the functions of protein-tyrosine phosphatases is to reverse the effect of protein-tyrosine kinases, many of which are oncogenes, suggesting that some protein-tyrosine phosphatase genes may act as tumor suppressor genes. A hallmark of tumor suppressor genes is that they are deleted in tumors in which their inactivation contributes to the malignant phenotype. In this study, one PTP gamma allele was lost in 3 of 5 renal carcinoma cell lines and 5 of 10 lung carcinoma tumor samples tested. Importantly, one PTP gamma allele was lost in three lung tumors that had not lost flanking loci. PTP gamma mRNA was expressed in kidney cell lines and lung cell lines but not expressed in several hematopoietic cell lines tested. Thus, the PTP gamma gene has characteristics that suggest it as a candidate tumor suppressor gene at 3p21.

A comparison of serum-free media for the support of in vitro mitogen-induced blastogenic expansion of cytolytic lymphocytes

The high cost and potential dangers of including human AB serum in incubation media used to expand lymphocyte populations in vitro for adoptive immunotherapy have stimulated efforts to develop defined media which can support both the expansion and induction of lymphocytes with tumor cytolytic activity in the absence of serum. Lymphocyte proliferation following exposure to either PHA or the combination of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) and the calcium ionophore, ionomycin, was evaluated. Although the media tested, X-Vivo 10, HB-104, AIM V, and HL-1, supported the generation of comparable levels of LAK activity after 3-5 days incubation with 10(3) U human recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2)/ml, there were striking differences in the ability of each medium to support mitogenically stimulated lymphocytes in the absence of serum, with cells in AIM V and X-Vivo 10 showing the highest levels of DNA synthesis. In long-term cultures (17 days) of blood MNC stimulated by PDBu and ionomycin, X-Vivo 10 and HB-104 yielded the greatest numbers of cells. The addition of 2% AB serum greatly enhanced the ability of each medium to support cell proliferation to equivalent maximum levels. The results indicate that while all four serum-free media were suitable for lymphocyte culture and support the development of LAK activity, they differ in their capacity to support expansion of lymphocyte populations in response to polyclonal mitogenic activation. This latter characteristic should be considered before choosing a particular serum-free formulation as its constituents may affect mechanistic interpretations regarding signal transduction events.

Polyneuropathy syndromes associated with serum antibodies to sulfatide and myelin-associated glycoprotein

We studied a series of 64 patients with sensory +/- motor peripheral neuropathies by comparing clinical and physiologic features to serum antibody reactivity against compounds containing sulfated carbohydrate moieties. We determined antibody reactivity by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using purified glycolipids and glycoproteins as antigens, and we used high-performance thin-layer chromatography and Western blotting to test the specificity of results. Twelve patients with high titers of IgM antibodies directed against the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) had sensory-motor polyneuropathies with physiologic evidence of demyelination. IgM antibody reactivity to MAG was associated with an IgM serum M protein in five patients. Eight other patients, most with sensory greater than motor polyneuropathies, had high titers of antibody reactivity to sulfatide but not of IgM to MAG. Two had an associated IgM paraprotein. None of the patients with selective serum antisulfatide activity had predominantly demyelinating features on physiologic testing. We conclude that (1) high ELISA titers of antibodies to MAG may be more common than previously suspected in patients with chronic demyelinating sensory-motor neuropathies, and (2) the presence of high titers of antisulfatide antibodies in serum may provide clues to the pathogenesis of otherwise idiopathic, axonal, predominantly sensory neuropathies.

Treatment of essential hypertension with auriculoacupressure

Auriculoacupressure was used in the treatment of 291 cases of essential hypertension, in comparison with 51 similar cases treated with Fufang Jiangya (composite hypotensive) Tablets. Analysis of results showed that the therapeutic effects in the 2 groups were similar, while the rate of marked efficacy in the acupressure group was higher than that of the medication group, and the level of blood lipids also significantly dropped (P less than 0.01); there was only minor improvement in blood rheology. In addition, acupressure manifested biphasic regulatory effects on sinus arrythmia. The curative effect of acupressure on essential vascular hypertension was good.

[Aging-resistant function of soybean phospholipid paste]

Existing chiefly in biomembrane system, phospholipid is a fundamental component in the tissues of all organisms. The ageing of biomembrane is manifested mainly in the changing of phospholipid composition. Experiments have shown that soybean phospholipid paste is obviously helpful in decreasing blood lipids and retarding the ageing process of tissues, thus making a good natural agent for resisting ageing.

In vitro reactions of isopropyl methanesulfonate with DNA and with 2'-deoxyribonucleosides

Isopropyl methanesulfonate (IPMS), an SN1 alkylating agent, is a direct-acting mutagen in bacteria. We recently reported that s.c. and topical administration of IPMS to mice resulted in the rapid induction of thymic lymphomas. Thymic lymphoma induction was not observed following administration of the SN2 alkylating agents methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). We have studied the reactions of IPMS with dAdo, dCyd, dGuo and dThd at pH 6.5 to 7.5 and 37 degrees C for 3 h. IPMS formed the following isopropyl (IP) adducts: 7-IP-Gua (4% yield), O6-IP-Gua (8%), O2-IP-Cyt (1%), O2-IP-dThd (2%), 3-IP-dThd (1%), and O4-IP-dThd (0.4%). Adducts were characterized from UV and mass spectra. IPMS was reacted in vitro with calf thymus DNA (pH 6.5 to 7.5, 37 degrees C, 3 h) and yielded (nmol/mg DNA): 7-IP-Gua (22) O6-IP-dGuo (11), O2-IP-Cyt (9), O2-IP-dThd (2), O4-IP-dThd (2), 3-IP-Ade (0.2) and 3-IP-dThd (0.2). The relatively greater alkylation of exocyclic oxygen atoms in DNA by IPMS compared to values for MMS and EMS reported by others, may play a role in the induction of thymic lymphomas in mice by IPMS and the lack of such activity by MMS and EMS.

Coproporphyrinogen oxidase, protoporphyrinogen oxidase and ferrochelatase activities in iron-overloaded and ethanol-treated rats

The activities of coproporphyrinogen oxidase, protoporphyrinogen oxidase and ferrochelatase in liver homogenates of iron-overloaded and acutely or chronically ethanol-treated rats were assayed by high performance liquid chromatographic methods. Decreased coproporphyrinogen oxidase activity was found in chronically carbonyliron-fed rats while the activities of protoporphyrinogen oxidase and ferrochelatase remained unchanged. Coproporphyrinogen oxidase and protoporphyrinogen oxidase activities in both chronically and acutely ethanol-treated animals were not significantly different from controls. In chronically ethanol-fed rats normal ferrochelatase activity was found.

Effect of IgG for intravenous use on Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis by human monocytes

Polyspecific IgG given intravenously at high doses (IVIG) is used for immunomodulatory therapy in autoimmune diseases such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and myasthenia gravis. It is assumed that the clinical effect is brought about in part by a modulation of mononuclear phagocyte function, in particular by an inhibition of Fc receptor (FcR) mediated phagocytosis. In the present study, the effect of IVIG on FcR-mediated phagocytosis by monocytes was analysed in vitro. Since monocytes exposed to minute amounts of surface-bound IgG displayed impaired phagocytosis of IgG-coated erythrocytes (EA), the effect of IVIG was studied with mononuclear cells suspended in teflon bags in medium containing 10% autologous serum and IVIG (2-10 mg/ml). Monocytes pre-exposed to IVIG and then washed, displayed impaired ingestion of EA when compared with control cells cultured in 10% autologous serum only. The decrease in phagocytosis was observed with sheep erythrocytes treated with either rabbit IgG or bovine IgG1 and with anti-D-treated human erythrocytes. This suggests that phagocytosis via both FcR type I (FcRI) and type II (FcRII) was decreased. The impairment of phagocytosis was dependent on the presence of intact IgG and was mediated by IVIG from nulliparous donors and from multigravidae to the same extent, suggesting that alloantibodies contained in IVIG have a minor role in modulating FcR-mediated phagocytosis by monocytes. A flow cytometric analysis using anti-FcRI, FcRII and FcRII monoclonal antibodies showed that IVIG treatment upregulated FcRI expression but did not significantly alter the expression of FcRII and FcRIII.

Effects of the plant flavonoid baohuoside-1 on cancer cells in vitro

The novel plant flavonoid 3,5,7,-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyl-8'-prenylflavone-3-O-alpha-L-rham nopranoxide (designated baohuoside-1) was shown to have cytotoxic and cytostatic effects on 6 cancer cell-lines, by means of microscopy, 51Cr-release and growth inhibition. The IC50 on the cells tested ranged from 2.8 to 7.5 micrograms/ml. At tumouricidal concentrations, inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis, but not protein synthesis was observed.

Transient picosecond response of the photorefractive effect in InP:Fe

The time lag of the crossed-polarized part of the transmitted probe pulse, which is due to photorefractive energy transfer from the pump pulse, is measured with respect to the original transmitted probe pulse. The average photorefractive response time of the crystal is estimated through theoretical analysis.

Induction of F9 cell differentiation by transient exposure to retinoic acid

The F9 cell is a mouse embryonal teratocarcinoma which can be induced to differentiate into visceral endoderm by treatment with retinoic acid (RA). Treatment with RA in conventional studies was carried out in the constant presence of RA. Here we demonstrate that treatment with RA can be as short as 3 hrs to induce differentiation of F9 cells. Morphology, alpha-fetoprotein gene activity, and temporal patterns of F9 cell differentiation are the same with both short- and long-term treatment with RA.

Serum antibodies to defined carbohydrate antigens during the course of treated leprosy

Sequential monitoring of 724 sera for antibodies to a neoantigen based on phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I) and native lipoarabinomannan (LAM) in 90 leprosy patients undergoing therapy in San Francisco was conducted. Untreated lepromatous patients frequently (91%) had significant antibodies to both moieties. Antibodies were less frequently found in tuberculoid patients (74% to neoantigen and 37% to LAM). In the first 3 years of treatment, average serum antibodies to both moieties fell significantly. Antibodies to LAM fell during each of the first 4 years of therapy, but decreasing antibody levels to the PGL-I neoantigen did not appear to fall consistently after the third year of treatment. A wide variation in the rate of fall of serum antibodies was noted. Sequential changes in the amounts of serum antibodies to the neoantigen and LAM in general paralleled one another but were at times discrepant. Both in San Francisco and Malaysia, skin-smear negative, long-term treated, lepromatous leprosy patients frequently harbored significant antibodies to both PGL-I and LAM.

[Identification of an inhibitor in the aqueous extract of Fritillaria polliflora Schrek seeds]

It has been identified that there exists a certain inhibitor in the aqueous extract of Fritillaria pollidiflora seeds against embryonic development and germination of seeds. An improved method is thus proposed to guarantee better treatment of seeds.

A database of isoinertial trunk strength tests against three resistance levels in sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes in normal male subjects

Spatial joint complexes, such as the spine, require multiaxial systems to adequately assess their functional capacity. The B200 Isostation (Isotechnologies, Inc., Carrboro, North Carolina) is a triaxial system that has three hydraulic pumps under control of an IBM-XT. The transducers measure the torque, angular position, and velocity for all axes simultaneously. There is no isoinertial data base available for strength at different resistances in the sagittal, coronal, and transverse planes. A normal data base for dynamic performance against resistances equal to 30%, 50%, and 70% of the maximum isometric strength of trunk muscles in all three planes was established.

Coproporphyrinogen oxidase, protoporphyrinogen oxidase and ferrochelatase activities in human liver biopsies with special reference to alcoholic liver disease

The activities of coproporphyrinogen oxidase, protoporphyrinogen oxidase and ferrochelatase have been assayed in human liver biopsies using recently developed highly sensitive specific enzyme assays. The specific activities (nmol/min/mg protein) in controls were 0.010 +/- 0.003 (mean +/- S.D., n = 11), 0.18 +/- 0.07 (n = 9) and 0.062 +/- 0.022 (n = 8), respectively. The total activities (mumol/min/liver) were determined, using ultrasound to determine liver volumes, and were 2.6 +/- 0.6 (n = 5), 36.6 +/- 13.9 (n = 6) and 14.2 +/- 5.4 (n = 3), respectively. Both specific and total enzyme activities in alcoholics with fatty liver were not significantly different from normal controls. Decreased protoporphyrinogen oxidase activity (0.08 nmol/min/mg protein or 20.2 mumol/min/liver) was found in two patients with variegate porphyria. In a patient with erythrohepatic protoporphyria a reduction of the ferrochelatase activity (0.01 nmol/min/mg protein) was demonstrated.

[Studies on the relation of alkaloids in semen Strychni and its processing]

This paper reports the determination of strychnine and brucine in different parts of Semen Strychni (the seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica and S. pierriana), and makes a comparison of the contents between the crude forms and processed products of the two seeds. Based on the results, the authors have made some discussion about the relationship between the alkaloid distribution in Semen Strychni and its processing.

Changes in canine leukocyte glucocorticoid receptors during endotoxin shock

We studied changes in canine leukocyte glucocorticoid receptors during endotoxin shock. Blood samples for analysis were collected and leukocytes were isolated just prior to and 2 and 6 hours after endotoxin administration. Employing 3H-dexamethasone (3H-Dex) as a ligand, we studied 3H-Dex-specific binding of the leukocytes in dogs and their changes during endotoxin shock. Results from two groups (anesthetized and conscious) showed that the specific binding of the leukocytes decreased significantly 2 hours after endotoxin administration in both groups and 6 hours after endotoxin in anesthetized dogs. In conscious dogs, the specific binding returned to normal by 6 hours. No correlation was found between the changes of serum cortisol and 3H-Dex-specific binding. It may be suggested that perturbations in glucocorticoid hormone action at the receptor level might be involved in the pathogenesis of endotoxin shock.

Inhibition of DNA synthesis in primary cultures of hepatocytes by orotic acid

Orotic acid has been shown to promote carcinogenesis in the liver and the intestine of the rat. In an attempt to determine whether orotic acid promotes liver carcinogenesis by creating differential mitoinhibition, experiments were designed to study the effect of orotic acid on the labeling index of isolated hepatocytes in response to epidermal growth factor. The results indicated that orotic acid added in vitro inhibited epidermal-growth-factor-induced labeling index of isolated hepatocytes. In addition, isolated hepatocytes from rats exposed to orotic acid under promoting conditions also exhibited a decreased response to epidermal growth factor. These data suggest that orotic acid may exert its promoting effect by differentially inhibiting the response of normal hepatocytes to one or more endogenous growth stimuli while permitting the initiated hepatocytes to respond to such stimuli and grow to form hepatic nodules.

Alteration of human lymphokine-activated killer cell activity by manipulation of protein kinase C and cytosolic Ca2+

We have examined the effects of protein kinase C (PK-C) stimulation and cytosolic Ca2+ elevation on the in vitro induction of non-histocompatibility-restricted tumoricidal activity from human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The tumor cytolytic activity, as well as the number of cells recovered from interleukin 2 (IL-2)-stimulated cultures, was enhanced by the addition of the PK-C stimulator, phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu), but not non-PK-C-activating phorbol ester analogues while the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin, did not significantly alter development of IL-2-induced tumor cytolytic activity nor enhance cell yield. Neither PDBu nor ionomycin, alone or in combination, induced tumoricidal activity. The addition of both PDBu and ionomycin to recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2)-exposed cultures produced a strong mitogenic response and high cell yield, although Daudi cell killing measured at Day 5 was completely abolished. This abrogation of lymphokine-activated killer cell activity was seen as early as 24 h following exposure to PDBu and ionomycin, reaching 50% following 2 days of exposure. When lymphocytes mitogenically expanded by primary exposure to PDBu and ionomycin and then washed free of these agents were further cultured with rIL-2 alone, proliferation continued, and substantial cytolytic activity for Daudi cells was induced. The development of this postexpansion cytotoxic activity was not dependent on the addition of exogenous rIL-2 during the primary cultures. Fractionation of cells into large granular lymphocytes and small T-lymphocytes indicated that only the large granular lymphocytes proliferate in response to rIL-2 alone. Both large granular lymphocytes and small T-lymphocytes proliferate in response to the addition of PDBu and ionomycin, and both populations of cells developed tumor cytolytic activity following removal of PDBu and ionomycin and subsequent culture in rIL-2. These data suggest that PK-C and Ca2+ signals play key roles in the regulation and/or proliferation of tumor cytotoxic lymphocytes or their precursors and that manipulation of those signals can be utilized to produce substantially more tumoricidal activity from lymphocyte populations than can be achieved with rIL-2 alone.

Serotyping and subgrouping of some rotavirus strains in China

This article reports for the first time in China the results of serotyping and subgrouping of some rotavirus strains obtained from faecal fluids of cases with infant diarrhoea. Infant diarrhoea rotavirus serotype 1 (Wa strain)-specific and serotype 2 (KUN strain)-specific hyperimmune sera, and infant diarrhoea rotavirus serotype 3-specific, rotavirus subgroup I-specific and subgroup II-specific monoclonal antibodies were used in serotyping and subgrouping by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of 14 rotavirus strains which had been identified by electron microscopy. Results showed that three out of four Beijing strains in 1982 belonged to serotype 2 and subgroup I rotavirus, one belonged to serotype 3 and subgroup II rotavirus; one out of nine Beijing strains in 1984 belonged to serotype 1 and subgroup II rotavirus, seven belonged to serotype 2 and subgroup I rotavirus, one belonged to serotype 3 and subgroup II rotavirus; and one Kunming strain in 1984 belonged to serotype 3 and subgroup II rotavirus.

High-performance liquid chromatography of type-III heptocarboxylic porphyrinogen isomers

A reversed-phase h.p.l.c. system is described for the separation of the four type-III heptacarboxylic porphyrinogen isomers. The effects of buffer concentration, pH and type and proportion of organic modifier in the mobile phase on retention and resolution of isomers were studied. Optimum separation on an ODS-Hypersil column was by elution with a ternary mobile phase of acetonitrile, methanol and 1 M-ammonium acetate, pH 5.16 (7:3:90, by vol.). Isomer identification was based on a comparison of their retention times with those of authentic standards, and was further confirmed by h.p.l.c. analysis of the characteristic mixture of three pentacarboxylic porphyrins formed after partial decarboxylation of individual isomers in 0.3 M-HCl at 160 degrees C.

An h.p.l.c. assay for protoporphyrinogen oxidase activity in rat liver

An h.p.l.c. method is described for the assay of protoporphyrinogen oxidase activity in rat liver. A relatively pure protoporphyrinogen IX substrate was obtained by selectively removing any protoporphyrin IX unreduced by sodium amalgam on a small disposable cartridge packed with a strong anion-exchanger. The protoporphyrin IX formed was extracted with dimethyl sulphoxide/methanol (3:7, v/v) containing mesoporphyrin as the internal standard for separation and quantification by reversed-phase chromatography. The Km for protoporphyrinogen was 9.5 +/- 1.6 microM, and the enzyme activities were 0.59 +/- 0.11 nmol of protoporphyrin IX produced/min per mg of mitochondrial protein and 33.5 +/- 2.7 nmol protoporphyrin IX produced/min per g of liver tissue homogenate. The method is applicable to the determination of enzyme activity in small amounts of human liver biopsy.

Separation and characterization of pentacarboxylic porphyrinogen isomers by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

A reversed-phase h.p.l.c. system is described for the separation of all five naturally occurring pentacarboxylic porphyrinogen isomers. The compounds are detected electrochemically with high sensitivity. The peaks are positively identified by h.p.l.c. analysis of the pentacarboxylic porphyrinogens from reduction of pentacarboxylic porphyrins prepared by partial decarboxylation of hexa- and hepta-carboxylic porphyrin III of known structures. The resolution of pentacarboxylic porphyrinogens is superior to that of the porphyrins and the method is applicable to the small-scale preparative isolation of pure isomers.

Assaying erythrocyte haem biosynthetic enzyme activities by high-performance liquid chromatography with the advanced automated sample processor

The four cytosolic haem biosynthetic enzymes in erythrocytes were assayed with the Varian advanced automated sample processor (AASP) for rapid sample concentration and clean-up with fast and effective high-performance liquid chromatography systems for separation and quantitation. In the assay for 5-aminolaevulinic acid dehydrase, the porphobilinogen (PBG) formed was extracted on a C18 AASP cartridge and separated by reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography with 32% methanol in 0.05 M sodium acetate buffer (pH 3.5), containing 5.4 mM of 1-heptane-sulphonic acid as eluent. PBG was the substrate for the simultaneous assay of hydroxymethylbilane synthase and uroporphyrinogen III synthase. The uroporphyrinogen I and III isomers formed were oxidised to porphyrins, concentrated on a C2 or C8 cartridge, and separated by reversed-phase chromatography with 13% acetonitrile in 1 M ammonium acetate buffer (pH 5.16) as eluent. Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase was estimated with pentacarboxylic porphyrinogen III as substrate. The coproporphyrinogen formed was extracted on a C2 or C8 cartridge, oxidised to coproporphyrin and separated by reversed-phase chromatography with 30% acetonitrile in 1 M ammonium acetate buffer (pH 5.16) as mobile phase.

Mapping by chromosome sorting of several gene probes, including c-myc, to the derivative chromosomes of a 3;8 translocation associated with familial renal cancer

In eight members of a single family a constitutional translocation t(3;8) (p14.2;q24.1) is associated with the development of renal cancer. Chromosomes isolated from a cell line established from a subject with this translocation were analysed in flow with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS II). Nearly six million chromosomes from the flow karyotype region containing the der(8) and 5.5 million from the region containing the der(3) were sorted, the DNA extracted, digested with EcoRI, size fractionated by electrophoresis, and transferred to nitrocellulose. Hybridization with gene probes for c-mos, which has been localized to 8q11-q22 and somatostatin, which has been mapped to 3q28, confirmed that the sorted fractions contained, respectively, the der(8) and der(3) chromosomes. The cellular oncogenes c-raf-1 (3p25) and c-myc (8q24) were found to be translocated to the der(8) and der(3) chromosomes, respectively. The possible role that the relocation of c-myc might have on the development of renal carcinoma in carriers of this 3;8 translocation was further studied by analysis of the region surrounding the c-myc gene. By the use of cosmid cloning, no rearrangement 31 Kb 5'(or 19 Kb 3') of the translocated gene was found, indicating that the break-point is not immediately adjacent to c-myc. In an associated study, the DNA fragment D3S2 from chromosome 3 was found to map to 3p14.2-pter. This assignment in conjunction with published somatic cell hybrid data enabled D3S2 to be mapped more precisely to the interval 3p14.2-3p21.

A high-performance-liquid-chromatographic method for the assay of coproporphyrinogen oxidase activity in rat liver

An h.p.l.c. method was developed for the assay of coproporphyrinogen oxidase activity in rat liver. The protoporphyrinogen IX formed is completely oxidized to protoporphyrin IX for separation and quantification by reversed-phase chromatography with mesoporphyrin as the internal standard. The Km of coproporphrinogen oxidase is 1.01 +/- 0.23 microM. The activities are 4.07 +/- 0.40 nmol of protoporphyrin IX/h per mg of mitochondrial protein and 224 +/- 19 nmol of protoporphyrin IX/h per g of liver tissue homogenate. The method is sensitive enough for measuring enzyme activity in small amounts of human tissue from needle biopsy.

High-performance liquid chromatography of uroporphyrinogen and coproporphyrinogen isomers with amperometric detection

A reversed-phase h.p.l.c. system, with an ODS-Hypersil column with acetonitrile or methanol in ammonium acetate buffer as mobile phase, is described for the separation of uro-and copro-porphyrinogen isomers. The porphyrinogens are detected amperometrically with sensitivity comparable with that of the fluorescent detection of porphyrins. The effects of pH, buffer concentration and organic modifiers on retention and resolution were studied. The method is suitable for both analytical and preparative separation of porphyrinogens.

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of conjugated and unconjugated bilirubins in body fluids

A novel high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system is described for the separation of bilirubin and its conjugates in body fluids. Biliary bilirubin mono- and diglucuronide can be analysed directly on a C18 reversed-phase column with acetonitrile-dimethyl sulphoxide-0.1 M ammonium acetate (pH 5.16) (50:50:85, v/v/v) as mobile phase. However, the simultaneous determination of conjugated and unconjugated bilirubins in plasma required conversion of the conjugates into their methyl esters by alkaline methanolysis before HPLC separation of the C18 column eluted with acetonitrile-dimethyl sulphoxide-0.50 M ammonium acetate (pH 4.6) (50:50:40, v/v/v). The method is superior to, and more flexible than, previously described reversed-phase systems by allowing precise control of retention times by adjustment of pH, buffer concentration and the relative proportion of organic modifier in the mobile phase.