Functional participation of the IL-2 receptor gamma chain in IL-7 receptor complexes

The gamma chain of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor is shared with the functional IL-4 receptor and is causatively related to X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID), which is ascribed to a profound T cell defect. Studies with monoclonal antibodies specific for the IL-2 receptor gamma chain showed that the gamma chain participates in the functional high-affinity receptor complexes for IL-7 that are involved in the differentiation of T and B cells. Participation of the gamma subunit in more than one receptor may enable the elucidation of the mechanisms of XSCID development and lymphocyte differentiation.

Supra- and juxtatrigeminal inhibitory premotor neurons with bifurcating axons projecting to masseter motoneurons on both sides

Inhibitory neurons participating in the bilateral disynaptic inhibition of jaw-closing motoneurons by stimulation of unilateral trigeminal sensory branches were searched for in the reticular formation around the trigeminal motor nucleus in cats anaesthetized with pentobarbital. Extracellular recordings were made from neurons which responded orthodromically after a monosynaptic latency to single shock stimulation of the ipsilateral infraorbital and/or inferior alveolar nerves. Direct inhibitory connection with contralateral masseter motoneurons was demonstrated in reticular neurons by the spike-triggered averaging technique, i.e., by averaging the intracellular potentials of a contralateral masseter motoneuron with respect to spontaneously occurring spikes of a reticular interneuron. By intraaxonal injection of neurobiotin, electrophysiologically identified inhibitory premotor reticular neurons were found to project to and to terminate in the trigeminal motor nuclei on both sides. Termination in the contralateral motor nucleus was demonstrated for four neurons that showed the peripheral input pattern stated above. The results provide hard evidence for contralaterally projecting interneurons in the reticular formation, participating in peripherally evoked disynaptic inhibition of masseter motoneurons on the contralateral side. Given the previously reported findings that the supratrigeminal region contains neurons which project to the ipsilateral motor nucleus and mediate disynaptic inhibition of masseter motoneurons, it is suggested that the supratrigeminal region contains bilaterally projecting interneurons, mediating peripherally evoked disynaptic inhibition of masseter motoneurons on both sides.

New teleocidin-related metabolites, (-)-7-geranylindolactam V and blastmycetin F, from Streptoverticillium blastmyceticum

Two new teleocidin-related metabolites, (-)-7-geranylindolactam-V [2] and blastmycetin F [3], were isolated from fermentation broths of the actinomycete Streptoverticillium blastmyceticum NA34-17, and their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. Compound 2 bound strongly to phorbol ester receptors in a mouse epidermal particulate fraction, suggesting that it is a potent in vivo tumor promoter comparable to teleocidins A-1 [4] and B-4 [5].

Antioxidant properties of bromocriptine, a dopamine agonist

It has been suggested that free radicals may adversely influence the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. We conducted this study to determine whether bromocriptine, an agent widely used for treating parkinsonism, possesses antioxidant effects. Bromocriptine scavenged superoxide produced from a superoxide generating system (hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase) by the spin-trapping method using electron spin resonance. Bromocriptine had a strong scavenging effect on the 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide hydroxide signal produced from Fenton's reaction. Bromocriptine also attenuated the stable free radical diphenyl-p-picrylhydrazyl signal. This drug inhibited the autooxidation of rat brain homogenates in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Autooxidation of brain homogenates collected from rats treated with bromocriptine (2.5 mg/kg, i.p., daily for 3 days) was significantly reduced as compared with values in untreated rat homogenates. These observations suggest that bromocriptine is a free radical scavenger and a potent antioxidant.

Effect of platelet-activating factor on intracellular free calcium in cow tracheal epithelium

The effect of platelet activating factor (PAF) on the intracellular cytosolic levels of free calcium ([Ca2+]i) was studied in cultured epithelium from cow trachea. In fura-2-loaded cells, PAF (10(-9) to 10(-5) M), but not lyso-PAF, increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner, from 106 +/- 15 to 270 +/- 40 nM (P < 0.05). This [Ca2+]i response consisted of a transient increase that peaked within 15 s after addition and a subsequent sustained elevation that reached a plateau after 1 min. The potency for the sustained response was greater by approximately 1 log U than that for the transient response. Preincubation of the cells with the PAF receptor antagonist CV6209 (10(-6) M) inhibited the increase in [Ca2+]i. Ca(2+)-free medium (2 mM EGTA) totally abolished the sustained response to PAF, but it only partially inhibited the transient response. Verapamil (10(-5) M) also largely inhibited the sustained response. Moreover, PAF transiently increased inositol triphosphate (IP3) levels, peaking 10 s after addition. These data suggest that (1) a PAF-induced increase in [Ca2+]i is mediated via PAF receptors, (2) PAF causes both transient [Ca2+]i release from intracellular stores through IP3 production and sustained [Ca2+]i influx from extracellular solution, and (3) Ca2+ influx may be a major pathway of PAF-induced increase in [Ca2+]i in cow tracheal epithelium.

Effects of aldehyde-modified proteins on mesangial cell-matrix interaction

We examined the effect of aldehyde-modified matrix macromolecules on mesangial cell function in vitro, using incubated rat glomerular mesangial cells. Laminin and fibronectin were modified by incubation for 24 h with 50 mM glycolaldehyde (GA), a highly reactive cross-linking glycation product, with or without equimolar aminoguanidine. GA-modified laminin and fibronectin caused marked inhibition of cell adhesion. Cell spreading was reduced on the GA-modified laminin. In contrast, the GA-modified fibronectin had no effect on cell spreading. The study of thymidine incorporation by mesangial cells showed that the GA-modified fibronectin had a diminished mitogenic activity against cells. The content of advanced glycation end-product (AGE), which was determined by fluorescence at 370 nm excitation and 440 nm emission wavelength, increased and intermolecular cross-links appeared in the GA-modified proteins. To a large extent, aminoguanidine restored the structural alterations and functional deteriorations described above. We conclude that GA-modified matrix proteins diminish their functional properties against mesangial cells and affect cellular functions.

Analysis of longitudinal distribution of pulmonary vascular resistance by use of a five element lumped model

To analyze longitudinal distribution of pulmonary vascular resistance, we proposed a five element lumped model which partitioned pulmonary circulation into pulmonary arterial, middle and pulmonary venous segment. The validity and anatomical correlation of the model were tested in an isolated, perfused, canine lung lobe preparation with inflow/outflow occlusion techniques. With arterial occlusion, pulmonary arterial pressure fell rapidly and then exponentially. With venous occlusion, pulmonary venous pressure rose suddenly and then exponentially. Theoretical pressure profiles produced by computer simulation of the model well approximated the general characteristics of the experimental traces. Serotonin increased the pressure gradient across the pulmonary arterial segment (delta Pa), whereas histamine increased the gradient across the pulmonary venous segment (delta Pv). Neither drug altered the gradient across the middle segment (delta Pm). The results suggest that the lumped model is a useful concept to understand the longitudinal distribution of pulmonary vascular resistance, and that delta Pa, delta Pm and delta Pv reflect the resistance distribution of anatomical pulmonary arteries, alveolar vessels and pulmonary veins, respectively.

Creatol, a creatinine metabolite, as a useful determinant of renal function

Analysis of creatol (CTL, 5-hydroxycreatinine), an oxidative creatinine (Cr) metabolite, in serum and urine of human subjects has indicated that CTL is a useful determinant of renal function. The existence itself of serum CTL (s-CTL) could be a diagnostic sign for chronic renal failure (CRF): in all normal subjects, s-CTL was undetectable, but s-CTL was detectable in sera of all patients with CRF (s-Cr: > 2.0 mg/dl). And the s-CTL values increased in proportion to the severity of CRF in such patients. Furthermore, the molar ratio (CTL/Cr) in both urine and serum increased significantly in proportion to the severity of CRF. Our results indicated not only hyperproduction of CTL but also higher oxygen stress in patients according to the progression of CRF. The diagnostic importance of the CTL value and the CTL/Cr ratio are discussed.

Changes in tissue antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxides in endotoxin-induced multiple organ failure

Intravenous administration of bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide: LPS) induces shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation in rats. Our report here shows that LPS-administered rats (10 mg/100 g) develop tissue injuries and functional disorders in multiple vital organs. In the present study, we investigated changes in tissue antioxidant enzyme activities, neutrophil sequestration, and lipid peroxides in multiple organs (lung, stomach, small intestine for antioxidant enzyme activities and neutrophil sequestration; lung, stomach, small intestine, liver, abdominal aorta for lipid peroxides) of LPS-treated rats. LPS-treated animals morphologically revealed pulmonary interstitial edema, alveolar hemorrhage, and mucosal hemorrhage in the small intestine 45 min after LPS administration. Blood samples withdrawn from LPS-treated animals exhibited increases in serum amylase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and transaminase levels up to 180 min post-LPS infusion. LPS-treated animals showed a significant increase in tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities of the lung, but not of the small intestine and stomach 45 min after LPS infusion. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the lung, small intestine, stomach, liver, and abdominal aorta significantly increased at 45 min post-LPS-infusion. Tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of the LPS-treated animals demonstrated a significant decrease in the lung, which suffered from severe insults and neutrophil sequestration; no significant change in the small intestine, which suffered from morphological insults without neutrophil sequestration, and a significant increase in the stomach, which showed no histological impairment, at 180 min post-LPS administration. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activities of the lung and small intestine showed no significant change in LPS-treated rats, while those of the stomach revealed a marked increase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor augments cytotoxicity of OK-432-induced polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) recovered from the peritoneal cavity of mice treated with the streptococcal preparation OK-432, exhibited strong cytotoxicity after the in vitro addition of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (N-CWS). In this study, we investigated whether recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) could augment the cytotoxicity of OK-432-induced PMNs after the addition of N-CWS in vitro. PMNs recovered from the peritoneal cavity of 8- to 10-week-old, male C3H/He mice induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 50 KE/kg (1 KE = 0.1 mg) of OK-432 were used in a 51Cr release assay against MM46 mammary carcinoma cells. While addition of rhG-CSF in vitro did not augment the cytotoxicity of OK-432-induced PMNs, marked augmentation of the cytotoxicity of OK-432-induced PMNs was observed following a single subcutaneous (s.c.) or i.p. injection of 125 micrograms/kg of rhG-CSF. The effect of in vivo administered rhG-CSF was dependent on the timing of the injection with respect to OK-432 administration and differed from s.c. or i.p. injections. Interestingly, the cytotoxicity of OK-432-induced PMNs was rather weak following consecutive s.c. or i.p. administration of rhG-CSF for 7-14 days. H2O2 is likely involved in mediating the cytotoxicity of OK-432-induced PMNs since activity was significantly reduced by the in vitro addition of low concentration of catalase. Generation of H2O2 by the PMNs correlated with cytotoxicity. These results suggest that in vivo administration of rhG-CSF augments the cytotoxicity of OK-432-induced PMNs in a time dependent fashion and that H2O2 plays an important role in mediating their cytotoxicity.

Effect of nicotine on sympathetic nervous system activity of mice subjected to immobilization stress

We tested the hypothesis that nicotine possesses an antistress action by measuring the turnover of norepinephrine (NE), a reliable indicator of sympathetic nervous system activity, in the interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) and heart of mice treated with nicotine injections, immobilization stress, or nicotine + immobilization stress, vs. untreated controls. Nicotine enhanced the sympathetic activity in the IBAT and heart, and induced a loss of body weight. Immobilization-related stress accelerated sympathetic activity in the IBAT and heart more strongly than did nicotine loading alone. Pretreatment with nicotine suppressed the sympathetic activity induced by immobilization stress to the same extent as that observed after administering nicotine alone. Thus, these results appeared to support our hypothesis.

Survey of fluctuating fetal body weights in Sprague-Dawley rats

During the past 9 years of reproductive and developmental toxicity studies in Sprague-Dawley rat, we noticed that the average fetal body weight on day 20 of gestation in 81 control groups fluctuated significantly from study to study. The other parameters such as number of implants, resorption rats and number of live fetuses were relatively stable. With information cooperatively given by the animal supplier, we could pin down the possibility of the fluctuation. The animal supplier introduced Sprague-Dawley rats into Japan from the U. S. twice in the past. The documents we analyzed indicated that the fluctuation in fetal body weight was caused by different two colonies which were introduced into Japan at the different times.

Fatigue and recovery of phosphorus metabolites and pH during stimulation of rat skeletal muscle: an evoked electromyography and in vivo 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

31P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and evoked electromyography were applied to rat skeletal muscle to examine the mechanism of muscle fatigue and the recovery of muscle phosphorus metabolites and pH during fatigue. When the sciatic nerve was electrically stimulated at 1 Hz, the contraction force of the gastrocnemius muscle decreased gradually to 46% of the maximal force, accompanied by a decrease in phosphocreatine (PCr) and a corresponding increase in inorganic phosphate (P(i)) and diprotonated inorganic phosphate (H2PO4-). Neither the amplitudes of compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) nor muscle pH changed significantly. At 10-Hz stimulation, contraction force rapidly decreased to 26% of maximal force, accompanied by a decrease in PCr and increases in P(i) and H2PO4-. Muscle pH decreased for a few minutes, then gradually recovered during continued stimulation. The amplitude of the CMAP also decreased for a few minutes and then reached steady values. At 100-Hz stimulation, the contraction force decreased to 6% of the maximal force and there was a decrease in the amplitude of the CMAP. However, the changes in the phosphorus metabolites and pH were transient and recovered to the control value during the stimulation. These results indicated that fatigue at 1 and 100-Hz stimulation was mainly caused by the change in phosphorus metabolite concentrations and electrical failure, respectively, and that fatigue at 10-Hz stimulation might have been due to both of these factors. These results also indicated that electrical failure might have been the cause of the recovery of the phosphorus metabolites and pH during 100-Hz stimulation and of pH during 10-Hz stimulation.

Anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects of CL 316,243, a highly specific beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist, in yellow KK mice

The anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects of CL 316,243, a highly specific beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist (beta 1: beta 2: beta 3 = 0:1:100,000), were evaluated in obese diabetic yellow KK mice and C57Bl control mice. The study compound was fed through a gastric tube at a rate of 0.1 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. The following parameters were compared in the treated and control animals given distilled water: brown adipose tissue thermogenesis, resting metabolic rate, insulin receptors in adipocytes, and blood glucose and serum insulin levels during a glucose overloading test. CL 316,243 significantly increased brown adipose tissue thermogenesis and resting metabolic rate in both yellow KK mice and C57Bl controls. The amount of white adipose tissue decreased, although food intake was not affected. The effects contributed to the mitigation of obesity in yellow KK mice. CL 316,243 also increased the concentration of insulin receptors and decreased the levels of serum insulin and blood glucose during the glucose overloading test in yellow KK mice. These observations suggest that CL 316,243 possesses anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects and consequently may be useful for treating obesity as well as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in obese persons, without causing excessive side effects.

Sharing of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor gamma chain between receptors for IL-2 and IL-4

The gamma chain of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor is an indispensable subunit for IL-2 binding and intracellular signal transduction. A monoclonal antibody to the gamma chain, TUGm2, inhibited IL-2 binding to the functional IL-2 receptors and also inhibited IL-4-induced cell growth and the high-affinity binding of IL-4 to the CTLL-2 mouse T cell line. Another monoclonal antibody, TUGm3, which reacted with the gamma chain cross-linked with IL-2, also immunoprecipitated the gamma chain when cross-linked with IL-4. These results suggest that the IL-2 receptor gamma chain is functionally involved in the IL-4 receptor complex.

Cloning and sequence analysis of cDNA encoding the bovine testis-derived male-enhanced antigen (Mea)

A full-length cDNA encoding the bovine male enhanced antigen (Mea) has been cloned from a bovine testicular cDNA library and sequenced. The primary structure of the bovine Mea peptide deduced from this nucleotide sequence has 174 amino acid residues and is highly homologous to human (95.9%, 165/172) and mouse (92.5%, 161/174) Mea gene products. It is located on an autosome, and is expressed highly in the testes.

Effect of rebamipide on lipid peroxidation and gastric mucosal injury induced by indometacin in rats

The protective effect of rebamipide (CAS 11911-87-6), a novel anti-ulcer agent, was investigated in rats with hemorrhagic erosions on the glandular stomach induced by intragastric administration of 25 mg/kg of indometacin. Pretreatment with 100 mg/kg of rebamipide significantly inhibited the increase in total area of erosions in the stomach and the increase in lipid peroxides in the gastric mucosa. Rebamipide also inhibited the in vitro increase of lipid peroxides in the gastric mucosal homogenates induced by free radical initiators. These results indicate that rebamipide's protective effect against indometacin-induced gastric mucosal injury may result, in part, from its antioxidant effect, which inhibits lipid peroxidation.

Quantitation and typing of serum hepatitis C virus RNA in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-beta

We quantified serum hepatitis C virus RNA titers and determined hepatitis C virus subtypes in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon-beta to investigate relationships among serum ALT response, serum hepatitis C virus titer and hepatitis C virus subtype. Of 146 chronic hepatitis C patients who received interferon-beta therapy, 24 patients with sustained serum ALT normalization (complete responders) and 26 patients without serum ALT normalization (nonresponders) were randomly selected. Detection, typing and quantitation of hepatitis C virus were performed by means of the "single-tube" polymerase chain reaction method. Of the 24 complete responders, 21 (87.5%) became negative for hepatitis C virus RNA, whereas 21 (80.8%) of the 26 nonresponders remained positive. Hepatitis C virus infections with types I, II, III, IV, II + III and III + IV occurred in 0 (0%), 22 (51.2%), 10 (23.3%), 1 (2.3%), 7 (16.5%) and 3 (7.9%) patients, respectively. The mean pretreatment hepatitis C virus RNA titer of complete responders (0.4 +/- 2.0 x 10(4) CID50/ml) was significantly lower than that of nonresponders (3.8 +/- 4.5 x 10(4) CID50/ml) (p < 0.01). Regardless of HCV subtype, patients with more than 10(4) CID50/ml of HCV did not show serum ALT normalization, whereas complete serum ALT response was seen in most cases with less than 10(2) CID50/ml HCV. These results show that mixed infections with different hepatitis C virus subtypes appear to be more common than previously reported and that the pretreatment serum level of hepatitis C virus RNA is a more important predictor of outcome of interferon therapy than is virus genotype.

Sympathetic hyperinnervation protects vascular smooth muscle cells from necrosis in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Sympathetic nerve fiber distribution and vascular smooth muscle morphology were investigated in the ophthalmic artery of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and were compared with those of normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats at the age of 120 days. The distribution of fluorescent noradrenergic (NA) nerve fibers was examined by the glyoxylic acid method. The ophthalmic artery was divided into two portions according to the size of the outer diameter, that is into a proximal portion (above 100 microns) and a distal portion (30-70 microns). The distribution densities of noradrenergic nerve fibers were measured by quantitative image analysis using the Interactive Bild-Analyse System (IBAS). The distribution densities of NA nerve fibers in both portions of the ophthalmic artery were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in SHRSP than that in WKY rats. The difference in the density of NA fibers of the ophthalmic arteries between SHRSP and WKY rats was 1.9 times in the proximal portion and 1.5 times in the distal portion. The vascular smooth muscle cells of the ophthalmic arteries in SHRSP were observed by scanning electron microscope to examine the trophic effect of NA nerve fibers on the vascular smooth muscle cells. The smooth muscle cells of both portions of the ophthalmic arteries in SHRSP showed a smooth surface texture and no necrosis, and were very similar to those of WKY rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In vivo and in vitro study of the effects of chlorpromazine on tooth mineralization in rats and mice

The effects of chlorpromazine (CPZ) on tooth mineralization were examined using incisor dentine in adult rats and cultured tooth germs of mandibular first molars dissected from mouse embryos. CPZ (10, 50 and 250 mg/kg, s.c.) substantially inhibited dentine mineralization as evaluated by contact microradiographs. Plasma calcium and phosphorus concentrations were not decreased by CPZ (10 and 50 mg/kg). Physicochemical effects were not involved in the action of CPZ on the mineralization. In vitro experiments showed that CPZ (1 and 10 microM) inhibited mineralization and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in the tooth germs. As CPZ has the properties of a calmodulin antagonist, the calmodulin antagonists W-7 and W-5 were also examined. Both inhibited mineralization and ALP activity in tooth germs; W-5 had less effect than W-7. These in vivo and in vitro findings suggest that CPZ inhibited cell-mediated mineralization in dentine without affecting the calcium-regulating system and physicochemical mineral deposition. In addition, calmodulin could be involved in cell-mediated mineralization.

Effect of sofalcone on gastric mucosal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion and its antioxidant properties

The effect of sofalcone on gastric mucosal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury was studied in rats. I-R injury was produced in rat stomach by applying a small clamp to the celiac artery for 30 min and by removal of the clamp for 60 min. The increase in total area of erosions in the stomach after I-R and the increase in lipid peroxides in the gastric mucosa were significantly inhibited by intragastric administration of sofalcone. In addition, sofalcone significantly inhibited the lipid-soluble free radical initiator-induced increase in lipid peroxides of the gastric mucosal homogenate, and could show scavenging action of superoxide radicals in aprotic solvent. These results showed that the protective effect of sofalcone against I-R-induced gastric mucosal injury is attributable to its antioxidant activities in the lipophilic phase.