Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome: relationship between pathogenesis and cellular immunity

After phenotype analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels in plasma or sera from patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) were measured. The results showed the ratio of activated antigen (CD25, TLiSA1, CD71, and Ia)-positive lymphocytes of PBMC in the acute phase of HFRS was higher than that in convalescent phase. Moreover, there was much higher expression of heteromorphologic lymphocytes than of small lymphocytes. Decreases in T lymphocytes and CD4:CD8 ratios were seen with increases in B lymphocyte ratios and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) expression on PBMC surfaces in the acute phase of HFRS. IFN-gamma-positive lymphocytes included CD4, CD8, and CD56 subsets. sIL-2R levels were much higher in sera and plasma in the acute phase, especially the oliguric phase. These findings suggest that patients with HFRS are in a state of high-level cellular immune response, which may be involved in the development of inflammation and pathologic lesions.

Effect of acupuncture and point-injection treatment on immunologic function in rheumatoid arthritis

The results of treatment of 54 cases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by warm needling (WN) and point-injection (PI) with Zhuifengsu are reported. Good clinical results were observed with an effective rate of 100%. At the same time, changes in cellular and humoral immunity and other parameters in peripheral blood were noted before and after treatment. The NK activity and IL-2 value in RA patients were found to be lower than those of normal individuals; both increased after treatment (P < 0.01). This suggests that the WN and PI with Zhuifengsu exert a regulatory effect on the cellular immunological function.

Rational design of potent sialidase-based inhibitors of influenza virus replication

Two potent inhibitors based on the crystal structure of influenza virus sialidase have been designed. These compounds are effective inhibitors not only of the enzyme, but also of the virus in cell culture and in animal models. The results provide an example of the power of rational, computer-assisted drug design, as well as indicating significant progress in the development of a new therapeutic or prophylactic treatment for influenza infection.

[Detective efficacy of abnormality during mechanical ventilation]

The sensitivity of expired oxygen concentration (FeO2), oxygen concentration difference between inspiration and expiration (FiO2-FeO2), end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) and pulse oxymetry (SpO2) in monitoring of several abnormal states during mechanical ventilation were compared in 10 patients. FiO2-FeO2 and FeO2 were found as sensitive as ETCO2 in monitoring hypoventilation. Oxygen analyzer located at the expiratory limb provided more information than at the inspiratory one. SpO2 was a rather insensitive detector for hypoventilation or even interruption of ventilation if FiO2 values was higher than that in ambient air. ETCO2 was a valuable estimate of adequate ventilation and CO2 elimination.

Inhibition of sialidases from viral, bacterial and mammalian sources by analogues of 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid modified at the C-4 position

The inhibition of sialidase activity from influenza viruses A and B, parainfluenza 2 virus, Vibrio cholerae, Arthrobacter ureafaciens, Clostridium perfringens, and sheep liver by a range of 2-deoxy-2,3-didehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid analogues modified at the C-4 position has been studied. All substitutions tested resulted in a decrease in the degree of inhibition of the bacterial and mammalian sialidases. For sialidases from influenza viruses A and B, on the other hand, most of the substitutions tested either had no significant effect on binding or, in the case of the basic amino and guanidino substituents, resulted in significantly stronger inhibition. The results for parainfluenza 2 virus sialidase were mostly intermediate, in that inhibition was neither significantly increased nor decreased by most of the modifications. We conclude that only the influenza A and B sialidase active sites possess acid groups correctly positioned to participate in charge-charge interactions in the region of C-4 of bound substrate, and that the C-4 binding pockets of the bacterial and mammalian sialidases examined are considerably smaller than is observed for either the influenza virus or parainfluenza virus sialidases.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of some 5-[[[(dialkylamino)alkyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-10,11-dihydro-5H- benzo[b,e][1,4]diazepin-11-ones as M2-selective antimuscarinics

A series of 5-[[[(dialkylamino)alkyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]- 10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]-diazepin-11-ones were prepared as potential M2-selective ligands. The compounds were evaluated for their affinity and selectivity for the muscarinic cholinergic receptor. The best M2-selective antimuscarinic agent studied is 5-[[4-[4-diethylamino)butyl]-1- piperidinyl]acetyl]-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[b,e][1,4]diazepin-11- one, which is approximately 10 times more potent at M2 receptors than previously known compounds such as 11-[[4-[4-(diethylamino)butyl]- 1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-5,11-dihydro-6H- pyrido[2,3-b][1,4]benzodiazepin-6-one (AQ-RA 741).

The effects of hybridoma growth factor in conditioned media upon the growth, cloning, and antibody production of heterohybridoma cell lines

Interleukin 6 (IL-6)/hybridoma growth factor (HGF) has been shown to be the requirement for growth of murine hybridomas in vivo or in vitro. In this paper, two kinds of conditioned media (CM) from the culture supernatants of a human fibroblast cell line CRL1506 and a cloned Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformed human lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) N23 were found to have IL-6 activity by strongly promoting the growth, antibody secretion (increase of one- to three-fold), and cloning efficiencies of heterohybridomas secreting human monoclonal anti-hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome virus antibodies and LCL. Since these CM contained no detectable IL-2, and IL-4 had no effects on the growth of the cell lines, IL-6 was considered to be the main active component of the CM responsible for promoting hybridoma growth. This effect was further confirmed by IL-6-dependent cell line 7TD1 bioassay (IL-6 activity in the CM ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 units/ml). Moreover, we successfully established four EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines at single-cell level by adding an equal volume of CRL1506-CM to 10% FCS-RPMI1640 in limiting dilution. Finally, it is worth noting that the sensitivity of the heterohybridomas to the two kinds of CM was not the same and was not consistent with that of their parental myeloma cell lines. Thus, it suggests that the CM might contain more than one factor, and the choice of proper conditioned media should be very useful for human monoclonal antibody production.

A novel muscarinic receptor ligand which penetrates the blood brain barrier and displays in vivo selectivity for the m2 subtype

Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves selective loss of muscarinic m2, but not m1, subtype neuroreceptors in the posterior parietal cortex of the human brain. Emission tomographic study of the loss of m2 receptors in AD is limited by the fact that there is currently no available m2-selective radioligand which can penetrate the blood-brain barrier. In our efforts to prepare such a radioligand, we have used competition studies against currently existing muscarinic receptor radioligands to infer the in vitro and in vivo properties of a novel muscarinic receptor ligand, 5-[[4-[4-(diisobutylamino)butyl]-1-phenyl]acetyl]-10,11-dihydro-5H - -dibenzo [b,e][1,4]diazepin-11-one (DIBD). In vitro competition studies against [3H](R)-3-quinuclidinylbenzilate ([3H]QNB) and [3H]N-methylscopolamine ([3H]NMS), using membranes derived from transfected cells expressing only m1, m2, m3, or m4 receptor subtypes, indicate that DIBD is selective for m2/m4 over m1/m3. In vivo competition studies against (R,R)-[125I]IQNB indicate that DIBD crosses the blood brain barrier (BBB). The relationship of the regional percentage decrease in (R,R)-[125I]IQNB versus the percentage of each of the receptor subtypes indicates that DIBD competes more effectively in those brain regions which are known to be enriched in the m2, relative to the m1, m3, and m4, receptor subtype; however, analysis of the data using a mathematical model shows that caution is required when interpreting the in vivo results. We conclude that a suitably radiolabeled derivative of DIBD may be of potential use in emission tomographic study of changes in m2 receptors in the central nervous system.

A novel m2-selective muscarinic antagonist: binding characteristics and autoradiographic distribution in rat brain

Although several m2-selective muscarinic antagonists have been described, they are not particularly potent. Thus, the development of potent m2-selective compounds remains an important goal. We now report that a bio-isoster of AQ-RA 741 is both one order of magnitude more potent and slightly more selective than previously described compounds. DIBA, a di-benzo derivative of AQ-RA 741, in which the pyridine of the tricycle is replaced with a benzene ring, had Ki values of 4, 0.3, 11 and 2 nM at m1 through m4 receptors, respectively. These values were determined in competition studies with [3H]N-methylscopolamine ([3H]NMS) in membranes from transfected A9 L cells (m1 and m3), rat heart (m2) and NG108-15 cells (m4). AQ-RA 741 had Ki values of 34, 4, 86 and 15 nM at each of these receptors. The autoradiographic distribution of DIBA binding sites was determined by competition studies of [3H]NMS in rat brain. At low concentration, DIBA reduced [3H]NMS binding most significantly from superior colliculi, thalamus, hypothalamus, pontine nucleus, and interpeduncular nucleus, and not appreciably from caudate nucleus, cerebral cortical regions, or hippocampus, consistent with its binding to m2 receptors. These data indicate that DIBA is the most potent, m2-selective muscarinic antagonist yet described. DIBA should therefore become a useful probe in future studies of muscarinic function.

Characterization of a novel membrane glycoprotein involved in platelet activation

When platelets bind certain specific ligands they are induced to secrete the contents of their cytoplasmic granules and to aggregate. Studies of the molecular events accompanying this vital physiological response have led to a greater understanding of cell activation in general since the pathways involved are common to a number of cell types. By contrast most of the information about the cell surface molecules that initiate signal transduction has emerged from work on T lymphocyte activation, a process essential to the initiation of the immune response. We have described an activation antigen on T lymphocytes that is involved in the differentiation of these cells. In the present report it is demonstrated that the antigen is expressed on the platelet membrane with about 1,200 copies/platelet. A monoclonal antibody detecting this antigen stimulates platelet secretion and aggregation with a half-maximal response at approximately 10(-8) M. Characterization of the antigen, termed PTA1, reveals a glycoprotein of Mr 67,000 showing extensive N-linked carbohydrate, much of which appears to be heavily sialated. The amino-terminal sequence of PTA1, EEVLWHTSVPFAEXMSLEXVYPSM, indicates that the protein has not previously been characterized. Preliminary investigation of the mechanism by which PTA1 mediates platelet activation suggests involvement of protein kinase C and the 47-kDa protein of platelets is rapidly phosphorylated upon antibody-mediated activation. During this process PTA1 is also phosphorylated, as it is following platelet activation by the other agonists, collagen, thrombin, and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. These results provide the first example of a cell surface glycoprotein that is directly involved in both platelet and T lymphocyte activation.

TGF beta down-regulates TLiSA1 expression and inhibits the differentiation of precursor lymphocytes into CTL and LAK cells

This study analysed the regulatory effects of transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) on the expression of a 70,000 MW cell surface activation antigen, TLiSA1, involved in the differentiation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells from their precursor(s), and also examined the role of TGF beta in the generation of these functional cells. TGF beta was shown to suppress the expression of TLiSA1 and to inhibit, in a dose-dependent manner, the generation of both CTL and LAK cells when present from the beginning of mixed lymphocyte culture; the same inhibitory effect upon the development of cytotoxic effector cells was observed with a monoclonal antibody and with monospecific rabbit antibodies against the TLiSA1 protein. Antibody to TGF beta reversed the inhibitory effect of the cytokine on differentiation and on TLiSA1 expression. Exogenous IL-2 or, to a lesser extent, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) added to mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) augmented both TLiSA1 antigen expression and cytotoxic function by the resulting blast cells; the co-addition of TGF beta inhibited both of these cytokine-mediated effects. Similarly, it was shown that phytohaemagglutini (PHA)-induced lymphoblasts up-regulate their surface expression of TLiSA1 and exhibit increased LAK activity in response to IL-2, and TGF beta inhibited both of these events; this IL-2-induced increase in LAK cell function was also inhibited by antibodies to TLiSA1. It is suggested that TLiSA1 antigen expression is intimately linked to the differentiation of cytotoxic effector cells and that such differentiation may be a distinct process from IL-2-induced proliferation, although both events can be regulated by TGF-beta.