A sandwich transfer enzyme immunoassay for salmon calcitonin: determination of the bioavailability of intranasal salmon calcitonin in human

A sandwich transfer enzyme immunoassay for salmon calcitonin (SCT) and its usability for the pharmacokinetic study are described. The assay procedure consisted of the reaction of SCT with 2,4-dinitrophenyl biotinyl anti-SCT IgG and anti-SCT Fab'-beta-galactosidase conjugate, trapping onto (anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl bovine serum albumin) IgG-coated polystyrene balls, eluting with epsilon N-2,4-dinitrophenyl-L-lysine and transferring to streptavidin-coated polystyrene balls and fluorometric detection of beta-D-galactosidase activity. The practical detection limit of SCT was 0.05 pg (15 amol)/50 microliters of sample and 1 pg/ml as the concentration. The application of this method has enabled us to directly estimate the bioavailability of SCT dosed intranasally at the therapeutic level (160 IU, 31 micrograms) for its anti-osteoporotic effect as compared to an intramuscular dose (10 IU, 1.9 micrograms). The pharmacokinetic parameters of the intranasal SCT (n = 6) thus estimated were as follows: the area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC) 9400 +/- 5400 (SD) pg.h/ml, and the mean residence time (MRT) = 42 +/- 14 (SD) min, when the AUC for the intramuscular SCT (n = 3) = 5600 +/- 2000 (SD) pg.h/ml and the MRT = 39 +/- 19 (SD) min.

Plasma level monitoring of nasal salmon calcitonin in the rat by a heterogeneous two-site enzyme immunoassay

The experimental and clinical effectiveness of nasal salmon calcitonin (SCT) for treatment of osteoporosis in humans has been well established, but none is known yet about the pharmacokinetic property in relation to therapeutic efficacy, especially when used in a therapeutic dose range. This preclinical study was designed to evaluate such a property, first of all in rats, using a novel heterogeneous two-site enzyme immunoassay that has allowed us to evaluate the pharmacokinetic property of parenteral SCT in rats due to the high sensitivity (the detection limit = 2 pg of SCT/ml of plasma). It was found that as early as 10 min after the nasal dosing of 1.25, 5, or 20 U/rat, the SCT immunoactivity became detectable in plasma and thereafter it waned rapidly with time. Hypocalcemia developed in a dose-dependent manner, but with a delay of approximately 20 min from the peak of the immunoactivity and lasted hours. The pharmacokinetic parameters measured for the doses (1.25, 5, and 20 U/rat) were as follows; the AUCs (pg.hr/ml) = 20.8, 89.0, and 189, and the MRTs (min) = 52, 54, and 45, respectively. The results appear to suggest: (1) the unexpected quick transfer of nasal SCT into and from the circulation, (2) a delayed onset of hypocalcemia and possibly its anti-osteopenic action, both of which may last longer, (3) that keeping the plasma SCT above the in vitro anti-osteoclastic level (approximately 1 pM) only for a few hours per 2 days would be enough for inducing the distinct anti-osteopenic effect in rats, and (4) the feasibility of designing the clinical study as to the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nasal SCT on humans.

Regenerative process after experimental injury of hypoglossal nerves in guinea pigs

The nerve regenerative process has been investigated by many studies. However, the quantification of the degree of crush of peripheral nerves has not yet been performed. The aim of this study was to determine and standardize the ligature intensity and crush level of the hypoglossal nerve of guinea pigs. The compound action potentials evoked by electric stimulation were used as an index of the degree of nerve crush. To demonstrate nerve regeneration after ligating and crushing of the right hypoglossal nerve, fluorescein isothiocynate conjugated cholera toxin-B subunit (CTb-FITC) was injected into the intact fiber of the left hypoglossal nerve, and the central side from the crushed region of the right hypoglossal nerve fiber. The total cross sectional area of the retrograde-labeled hypoglossal motoneurons was investigated under a confocal laser scanning microscope. The results of the evaluation using CTb-FITC indicated that the nerve regeneration occurred from two weeks after crush and recovered in six weeks.

C-ABI3, the carrot homologue of the Arabidopsis ABI3, is expressed during both zygotic and somatic embryogenesis and functions in the regulation of embryo-specific ABA-inducible genes

A carrot gene homologous to the ABI3 gene of Arabidopsis was isolated from a carrot somatic embryo cDNA library and designated C-ABI3. The sequence of C-ABI3 was very similar to those of ABI3 of Arabidopsis and VP1 of maize in certain conserved regions. The expression of C-ABI3 was detected specifically in embryogenic cells, somatic embryos and developing seeds. Thus, expression of C-ABI3 was limited to tissues that acquired desiccation tolerance in response to endogenous or exogenous abscisic acid (ABA). Endogenous levels of ABA in seeds increased transiently and then desiccation of seeds started. The expression of C-ABI3 in developing seeds was observed prior to the increase in levels of endogenous ABA that was followed by desiccation of seeds. In transgenic mature leaves in which C-ABI3 was ectopically expressed, expression of ECP31, ECP63 and ECP40 was induced by treatment with ABA, which indicates that the expression of ECP genes was controlled by the pathway(s) that involved C-ABI3 and ABA. This suggests that C-ABI3 has the same function as VP1/ABI3 factor in carrot somatic embryos.

Human chromosome 16 suppresses metastasis but not tumorigenesis in rat prostatic tumor cells

Genomic aberrations at the chromosome 16q arm are one of the most consistent abnormalities observed by loss of heterozygosity and comparative genomic hybridization analyses in human prostate cancer, suggesting that there are tumor suppressor or metastasis suppressor genes encoded by this chromosomal region. To functionally identify such suppressor genes, we have conducted microcell-mediated chromosome transfer to introduce human chromosome 16 into the highly metastatic Dunning rat prostatic cancer cell line, AT6.1. The metastatic ability of the resultant microcell hybrid clones was then tested in a standard spontaneous metastasis assay using SCID mice. When the microcell-mediated chromosome transfer hybrid cells containing whole human chromosome 16 were injected, the number of metastatic lesions in the lung was significantly reduced as much as 99% on average. Therefore, chromosome 16 has a strong activity to suppress the metastatic ability of AT6.1 cells while it did not affect the tumorigenesis and tumor growth rate. A PCR analysis of various microcell hybrid clones with sequence-tagged site markers indicates that the metastasis suppressor activity is located in the q24.2 region of chromosome 16. Our results are consistent with the previous finding that the region of human chromosome 16q has frequent loss of heterozygosity in prostate cancer patients and suggest that there is a metastasis suppressor gene in this region that may play an important role in the progression of prostate cancer.

Cloning of a novel gene yrbB, encoding a protein located in the spore integument of Bacillus subtilis

A DNA fragment (2.7 kbp) containing three deduced open reading frames, orf1, orf2 and orf3 (partial sequence), was isolated from the genomic library of Bacillus subtilis using an antiserum raised against spore integument, and was sequenced. orf2 was 519 nucleotides long and encoded a protein of 172 amino acids with a predicted molecular size of 19,552, corresponding to the protein which reacted with the antiserum. Immunoelectron microscopic observation indicated that YrbB, the product of orf2, was located within the spore integument, mainly in the cortex layer with a part in the inner region of the coat layer.

The expression of the KAI1 gene, a tumor metastasis suppressor, is directly activated by p53

KAI1 is a tumor metastasis suppressor gene that is capable of inhibiting the metastatic process in animals. The expression of the KAI1 gene also is found to be down-regulated during the tumor progression of prostate, breast, lung, bladder, and pancreatic cancers in humans, and this down-regulation appears to be at or posttranscription level. We have found that the tumor suppressor gene p53 can directly activate the KAI1 gene by interacting with the 5' upstream region. The p53 responding region is located at approximately 860 bases upstream of the transcriptional initiation site, and it contains a typical tandem repeat of the p53 consensus-binding sequence. A gel-shift mobility analysis showed that this sequence indeed had the ability to bind to the purified p53 protein. Mutations of this sequence abolished the responsiveness to p53 and also the binding ability to the p53 protein. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis of 177 samples of human prostate tumors revealed that the expression of the KAI1 gene was correlated strongly to that of the p53 gene and that the loss of these two markers resulted in poor survivals of patients. Our data indicate a direct relationship between p53 and KAI1 genes and suggest that the loss of p53 function, which is commonly observed in many types of cancer, leads to the down-regulation of the KAI1 gene, which may result in the progression of metastasis.

Lifestyle and gastric cancer: a case-control study

In Hokkaido, Japan, in order to investigate the etiological relation between gastric cancer and lifestyle, a case-control study was conducted, employing 242 cases with this cancer and 484 controls matched for sex, age, and place of residence. Eating meals within a short time, eating until full, irregularity in the time for supper, having dentures, and lack of teeth showed high odds ratios. Putting an excess digestive burden on the stomach by insufficient chewing promotes the development of this cancer. Stress, long working time, irregularity in sleeping time, and gray hair in males showed high odds ratios. A stressful life may be promotive for this cancer through depressed immunoresistance. Logistic regression analysis showed that those who ate meals rapidly, had strong stress and had lost many teeth were at high risk. The linear trend of the dose-response relationship between the number of teeth lost and the odds ratio was highly significant. To avoid stress, to chew foods sufficiently, and to maintain the health of the oral cavity can help to prevent gastric cancer.

Identification of a novel metastasis-suppressor region on human chromosome 12

There is a critical need for markers that can be used to predict accurately the malignant potential of histological prostate cancers (J. T. Isaacs. Am. J. Pathol., 150: 1511-1521, 1997). Metastasis-suppressor genes are attractive candidates for marker development because, by definition, their loss should be associated with the acquisition of metastatic ability. In an effort to identify such genes, a single copy of human chromosome 12, tagged with the neomycin resistance gene, was introduced into highly metastatic Dunning AT6.1 prostate cancer cells by microcell-mediated chromosomal transfer. Thirty-two AT6.1-12 clonal cell lines were established and the region(s) of chromosome 12 retained was determined by sequence tagged site-based PCR analysis. Representative AT6.1-12 clones containing overlapping regions of chromosome 12 were characterized cytogenetically and were shown to have a normal complement of parental AT6.1 rat chromosomes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization, performed on representative AT6.1-12 hybrids, demonstrated a single human chromosome 12-specific signal. The metastatic ability of six representative clones was tested in immunodeficient mice. All of the AT6.1-12 clones showed the same in vivo growth rates as the control AT6.1-neo cells. Clonal cell lines that contained a conserved approximately 70-cM portion of chromosome 12 (e.g., AT6.1-12-8, -8-1, and -8-3), showed a >30-fold suppression in the number of macroscopic surface lung metastases. Mice that received injections of these cells developed a mean number 4 lung metastases whereas mice that received injections of other AT6.1-12 hybrids (lacking the approximately 70-cM region) or AT6.1-neo control cells, developed a mean number of 140 metastases. Interestingly, histological examination of the lungs of the mice that received injections of AT6.1-12-8 cells showed essentially no microscopic metastases. These findings suggest that a gene(s) encoded by the approximately 70-cM portion of human chromosome 12 suppresses an early step in the metastatic cascade.

A spore coat protein, CotS, of Bacillus subtilis is synthesized under the regulation of sigmaK and GerE during development and is located in the inner coat layer of spores

The spore coat of Bacillus subtilis has a unique morphology and consists of polypeptides of different sizes, whose synthesis and assembly are precisely regulated by a cascade of transcription factors and regulatory proteins. We examined the factors that regulate cotS gene expression and CotS assembly into the coat layer of B. subtilis by Northern blot and Western blot analysis. Transcription of cotS mRNA was not detected in sporulating cells of sigmaK and gerE mutants by Northern blot analysis. By Western blot analysis using anti-CotS antibody, CotS was first detected in protein samples solubilized from wild-type cells at 5 h after the start of sporulation. CotS was not detected in the vegetative cells and spores of a gerE mutant or in the spores of mutants deficient in sigmaE, sigmaF, sigmaG, or sigmaK. CotS was detected in the sporangium but not in the spores of a cotE mutant. The sequence of the promoter region of cotS was similar to the consensus sequences for binding of sigmaK and GerE. These results demonstrate that sigmaK and GerE are required for cotS expression and that CotE is essential for the assembly of CotS in the coat. Immunoelectron microscopic observation using anti-CotS antibody revealed that CotS is located within the spore coat, in particular in the inner coats of dormant spores.

Prevention of cerebral vasospasm by vasodilatory peptide maxadilan following subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits

Maxadilan is a vasodilatory peptide isolated from the blood-feeding sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis. Its vasodilatory activity, estimated by the formation of erythema on rabbit skin, is greater than those of calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP). We have recently demonstrated that maxadilan is a specific agonist for the PACAP type I receptor, which is widely distributed in brain. Therefore, we were interested in the vasodilatory effect of maxadilan on cerebral arteries and the possibility of its clinical use for the delayed cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid (SAH). In the first experiment, 10(-10) mol/kg of maxadilan (in sterile water) was injected into the cisterna magna three days after the induction of experimental SAH in rabbits (n = 6). Maxadilan dilated spastic basilar arteries within 30 min of the injection, but not at 6 h. In the second experiment, to prolong the vasodilatory effect of maxadilan, tablets containing stearic acid, hydrogenated oil, lactose, hydroxypropylcellulose and 15 mg of maxadilan were prepared. In vitro testing showed that 60% of maxadilan could be released slowly within the initial five days. In vivo experiments were performed to implant the maxadilan tablet (n = 7) and the placebo tablet (n = 6) into the cisterna magna after the induction of experimental SAH in rabbits. The spastic response of the basilar artery was maximum on day three in the placebo-treated groups. In contrast, we observed no significant change in the arterial diameter until day five in the rabbits treated with maxadilan tablet. These data suggest that maxadilan may have therapeutic potency in treating cerebral vasospasm.

Prostate cancer metastasis-suppressor genes: a current perspective

Prostate cancers account for 43% of all cancers diagnosed in American men. It is estimated that in 1996, 317,000 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed and 41,000 men died of the disease. The challenge of treating prostate cancer lies in accurately distinguishing those histologically-localized cancers which will complete metastatic progression from those that will remain indolent. At this time, we lack appropriate histological markers to make such distinctions, therefore, it is often difficult to accurately predict the clinical course of an individual patient's disease. There is growing evidence that a critical event in the progression of a tumor cell from a non-metastatic to metastatic phenotype is the loss of function of metastasis-suppressor genes. These genes specifically suppress the ability of a cell to metastasize. Work from several groups has demonstrated that human chromosomes 8, 10, 11 and 17 encode prostate cancer metastasis suppressor activities. As a result of these efforts the first prostate cancer metastasis-suppressor gene, KAI1, was identified and mapped to the p11-2 region of chromosome 11. In subsequent studies, an additional gene encoded by the same region, CD44 was also determined to have metastasis-suppressor activity. Recent studies have shown a correlation between decreased expression of KAI1 and CD44 and an increased malignant potential of prostate cancers. It is anticipated that the identification of other metastasis suppressor genes may allow for the development of diagnostic markers useful in the clinical substaging of individual tumors. This manuscript is intended to present our perspective on the importance of these genes in the understanding of prostate cancer progression. More importantly, we present new findings from our laboratory's effort to identify the metastasis-suppressor genes encoded by human chromosome 17. Specifically we report the strategy currently being used to evaluate a series of candidate genes and the approach being utilized to pinpoint the metastasis-suppressor region on human chromosome 17.

Adenovirus-mediated transduction with human glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor gene prevents 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced dopamine depletion in striatum of mouse brain

As a novel trial of neuroprotective therapy of neurodegenerative diseases, we have constructed a recombinant adenovirus vector (rAdv) bearing a neurotrophic factor gene to deliver the factor to rescue neurons in vivo. In the present study, human glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (hGDNF) was chosen to examine the applicability of our strategy to a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. During the construction of the rAdv, we found that the strong constitutive hGDNF expression unit somehow inhibited the appearance of the rAdv. Therefore we adopted a self-contained tetracycline-regulated expression system to acquire an rAdv expressing hGDNF. By analyzing the condition medium of SH-SY5Y cells infected with our constructed virus vector, we confirmed that biologically active GDNF was successfully expressed in vitro. For an animal study, we delivered this virus vector directly to the C57 black mouse brain and then exposed the animal to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to injure the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. One week after the MPTP exposure, the neuroprotective effect of the virus vector was estimated by measurement of the dopamine content in the striatum of the mouse brain. The mice that had received our constructed virus had significantly higher dopamine levels in their striatum, demonstrating that our rAdv expressing hGDNF has therapeutic potential to protect the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in vivo.

A survey of Salmonella enteritidis in spent hens and its relation to farming style in Hokkaido, Japan

In order to estimate the distribution of Salmonella including Salmonella enteritidis (SE) and SE-antibodies in commercial layer hen flocks in Hokkaido, the northern prefecture of Japan, a survey of spent layer hens was performed, from August 1996 to January 1997. From the three spent hen processing plants, samples of intestines and sera were collected from 740 birds presented for slaughter from 37 flocks of 22 layer hen farms. Intestines from each birds were cultured for Salmonella including Salmonella enteritidis. Serum from each bird was examined for SE-antibody with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Salmonella (any serotype) and Salmonella enteritidis were isolated from 50 (6.8%) and three (0.4%) of 740 birds, respectively, and SE-antibody positive values were recorded from seven birds (0.9%). SE-antibody positive birds did not always indicate isolation of Salmonella enteritidis, however SE-antibody positive hens were demonstrated only from Salmonella enteritidis positive flocks. Salmonellae were isolated from the birds of ten layer hen farms, all of these hens were raised in houses without windows and with automatic feeders. No isolations of salmonella were made from birds raised in houses with windows. From the windowless houses, Salmonellae were isolated from 46 (21.8%) of 260 birds in houses with four to six cages piled up vertically, and from six (2.5%) of 240 samples from the houses with four to five cages piled in a slanting manner.

Identification of a region required for binding to presecretory protein in Bacillus subtilis Ffh, a homologue of the 54-kDa subunit of mammalian signal recognition particle

Bacillus subtilis Ffh protein is a homologue of the 54-kDa subunit of mammalian signal recognition particle (SRP54). It contains three highly hydrophobic regions (h1, h2, and h3) in the C-terminal methionine-rich domain (M-domain). Two of the hydrophobic regions, h2 and h3, are essential for small cytoplasmic RNA (scRNA) binding [Kurita, K., Honda, K., Suzuma, S., Takamatsu, H., Nakamura, K., & Yamane, K. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 13,140-13,146]. Using purified presecretory proteins and mutant Ffh proteins, we identified a region required for presecretory protein binding in B. subtilis Ffh. Deletion of this region, which consisted of residues Ser311-Gly362 of B. subtilis Ffh, including a hydrophobic sequence (h1), reduced precursor binding activity. In contrast, deletions of residues Leu121-Lys279, Lys364-Met446, or Leu338-Ser397 of B. subtilis Ffh did not. We also analyzed the mutant B. subtilis Ffh proteins, FfhQQQR and FfhQQQQ having wild-type residues 398-401 (Arg-Arg-Lys-Arg) replaced with Gln3Arg and Gln4, respectively. FfhQQQR bound to both scRNA and presecretory protein. Although the FfhQQQQ mutation prevented binding to scRNA, binding to the precursor was not affected. FfhQQQR restored the growth of B. subtilis DF46 strain in which ffh gene expression is regulated by an inducible promoter in the absence of an inducer, whereas FfhQQQQ did not. These results indicate that the region including h1 is required for B. subtilis Ffh to bind to presecretory protein. The results also suggest that scRNA is required for the complete function of the B. subtilis SRP-like particle in vivo, although this protein is intrinsically capable of binding a signal peptide free from scRNA.

Enhancing effect of nonionic surfactant on the inactivation of lipopolysaccharide by steam-heat treatment II

n-alkylpolyoxyethylene surfactants (CnH2n+1O(CH2CH2O)mH; CnEm) showed a strong enhancing effect on the inactivation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by heat treatment over a wide range of temperatures. The effect of CnE8 (n = 10-16) was observed above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and above the cloud point, and was influenced by the length of the alkyl chains. The efficacy of the surfactants was in the order C10E8 < C12E8, C16E8 < C14E8. However, the hydrophilic moiety seemed to have no influence. An 80-95% solution of n-butanol showed a similar effect, indicating that LPS was more effectively inactivated in the oily phase of the surfactants than in water. The effect of surfactant on the hydrodynamic diameter of LPS was the same before and after steam-heat treatment for 20 minutes at 121 degrees C. Each surfactant disaggregated LPS without alteration of the activity of LPS before the heat treatment. We consider that the surfactants interact with LPS in the region of lipid A in a manner that favors loss of the activities of LPS during heating.

Detection of p53 gene mutations in fine-needle aspiration biopsied breast cancer specimens: correlations with nuclear p53 accumulations and tumor DNA aneuploidy patterns

Using the polymerase chain reaction and a single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis, p53 gene mutations have been examined preoperatively in aspirated biopsy specimens from 22 breast cancers. In eight (36%) of the studied cases, abnormal bands indicating mutations were detected and were more frequently present in common invasive breast carcinomas. Eight of the breast cancer cases were found to be positive for mutations: direct DNA sequencing confirmed eight mutations and revealed G to A and A to G nucleotide changes in five (63%) and two (25%) cases, respectively. The mutations that were localized at the CpG site of the gene were seen in three cases. Additionally, an immunohistochemical investigation of the presence of the p53 protein and a DNA flow-cytometrical analysis of the 22 resected breast cancers were also performed. Nuclear p53 protein accumulations and a DNA aneuploidy pattern were detected in 11 (50%) cases and in 16 (73%) cases, respectively, and both significantly correlated with p53 gene mutations (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively; Fisher's exact test). In contrast, in five cases of a breast cancer with a lower histologic grade, no p53 gene mutations, nuclear p53 protein accumulations, or DNA aneuploidy patterns were detected. These results thus suggest that p53 gene mutations, nuclear accumulations of the p53 protein, and a DNA aneuploidy pattern are events that occur with close relationship in the progression of a breast cancer, and that p53 abnormalities appear to correlate with a high grade of the malignancy. Therefore, the detection of p53 gene mutations in aspirated biopsy specimens of breast cancers may be helpful for an accurate and rapid cytological diagnosis, which reflects the prognosis.

Sequence and functional analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the mouse growth inhibitory factor gene

1. The growth inhibitory factor (GIF) is a 68-amino acid protein which is capable of inhibiting the growth of neuronal cells in vitro. 2. We have cloned and sequenced the 5'-flanking region of the mouse GIF gene, which spans from the transcriptional initiation site to the -1854 nucleotide. 3. This region contains sequences homologous to hgcs, SPE, and the JCV silencer domain that functions in a glial cell specific manner. This region also contains two metal responding elements and putative binding sites for AP-1, AP-2, Sp-1, SP-2, NF-1, and CREB. 4. An analysis of the reporter plasmids containing the various regions of the 5'-flanking sequence revealed that the region indeed functioned in a tissue-specific manner in glial cells and that the region between -328 and 175 is responsible for suppression, while the region between -175 and -49 is involved in the activation of gene expression.

Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer and expression of human beta-glucuronidase gene in the liver, spleen, and central nervous system in mucopolysaccharidosis type VII mice

Mucopolysaccharidosis type VII (Sly syndrome) is a lysosomal storage disease caused by inherited deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme beta-glucuronidase. A murine model of this disorder has been well characterized and used to study a number of forms of experimental therapies, including gene therapy. We produced recombinant adenovirus that expresses human beta-glucuronidase and administered this recombinant adenovirus to beta-glucuronidase-deficient mice intravenously. The beta-glucuronidase activities in liver and spleen were elevated to 40% and 20%, respectively, of the heterozygote enzymatic level at day 16. Expression persisted for at least 35 days. Pathological abnormalities of these tissues were also improved, and the elevated levels of urinary glycosaminoglycans were reduced in treated mice. However, the beta-glucuronidase activity in kidney and brain was not significantly increased. After administration of the recombinant adenovirus directly into the lateral ventricles of mutant mice, the beta-glucuronidase activity in crude brain homogenates increased to 30% of heterozygote activity. Histochemical demonstration of beta-glucuronidase activity in brain revealed that the enzymatic activity was mainly in ependymal cells and choroid. However, in some regions, the adenovirus-mediated gene expression was also evident in brain parenchyma associated with vessels and in the meninges. These results suggest that adenovirus-mediated gene delivery might improve the central nervous system pathology of mucopolysaccharidosis in addition to correcting visceral pathology.

A case of renal amyloidosis associated with hepatic adenoma: the pathogenetic role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha

We report a case of a 35-year-old man with secondary amyloidosis chiefly involving the kidney and heart. The patient showed severe proteinuria and ischemic heart damage and had hepatic adenoma at the age of 33. Biopsy specimens from the kidney, heart, stomach and rectum showed extensive deposition of amyloid. After the surgical resection of a 300-gram hepatic adenoma, highly elevated c-reactive protein (CRP) levels decreased and the serum amyloid A (SAA) level was completely normalized. Normal liver cells were immunostained with rabbit anti-SAA antibody, but the cells in adenoma tissue and kidney were not. Electron microscopic examination revealed extracellular deposition of amyloid fibrils in the hepatic adenoma and kidney tissue. The concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) (312 pg/mg tissue protein) was 7-fold higher in adenoma tissue than in normal liver tissue. Moreover, SAA (2.8 ng/mg tissue protein) was 2-fold higher in normal liver tissue than in adenoma tissue. Since TNF-alpha has been known to induce SAA production in target cells, the present results suggest that the hepatic adenoma produced TNF-alpha, which then caused mainly secondary amyloidosis in the kidney and heart. Currently, 2 years after surgical resection, urinary excretion of protein has been markedly reduced (from 3.5 to 0.8 g/day) and renal and cardiac functions are normal without specific medical treatment.

Mechanism of stereospecific conversion of DL-5-substituted hydantoins to the corresponding L-amino acids by Pseudomonas sp. strain NS671

The mechanism of stereospecific conversion of DL-5-substituted hydantoins to the corresponding L-amino acids by Pseudomonas sp. strain NS671 was studied. The results indicated that the hydantoinase catalyzed the hydrolysis reaction of both D- and L-5-(2-methylthioethyl)hydantoin, and that the hydrolysis of the L-enantiomer proceeded preferentially compared with that of the D-enantiomer. On the basis of these findings, the mechanism was speculated to be as follows: DL-5-substituted hydantoins are converted exclusively to the L-forms of the corresponding N-carbamyl-amino acids by the hydantoinase in combination with hydantoin racemase. The N-carbamyl-L-amino acids are then converted to L-amino acids by N-carbamyl-L-amino acid amidohydrolase.

A synthetic form of tracheal antimicrobial peptide has both bactericidal and antifungal activities

We have chemically synthesized tracheal antimicrobial peptide (TAP) with 38 amino acids and examined efficacy of the peptide on various organisms. The synthetic peptide showed potent bactericidal effect on both gram positive and negative bacteria. The action of bactericidal effect was relatively quick and 99.9% of E. coli cells were killed within 90 minutes at a concentration of 2.5 micrograms/ml of TAP. The peptide also showed antifungal activity against both mycelia (Aspergillus fumigatus) and yeast (Candida albicans) forms of fungi. Our domain analysis with a series of synthetic peptides of various lengths indicates that 17 amino acid residues of the C-terminal end is the minimum functional domain of the bactericidal activity.

Prevention of cerebral vasospasm by calcitonin gene-related peptide slow-release tablet after subarachnoid hemorrhage in monkeys

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this work was to investigate the efficacy of a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) slow-release tablet (CGRP tablet) for the prevention of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

METHODS

Experimental SAH was produced in 10 cynomolgus monkeys by placing a clot around the internal carotid artery bifurcation (Day 0). In five animals, CGRP tablets (1200 micrograms of CGRP) were then placed in the cerebrospinal fluid space (CGRP group). In two animals, placebo tablets were similarly placed (placebo group). The remaining three animals were treated with no tablets after SAH (SAH group). A series of angiographic analyses were performed, before SAH and on Days 7 and 14, to examine changes in the diameters of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, and anterior cerebral artery. The CGRP concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid taken before each angiogram was also determined.

RESULTS

In the SAH and placebo groups, cerebral vasospasm developed on Day 7 (54.8% of the pre-SAH value at the internal carotid artery, 62.3% at the middle cerebral artery, 51.3% at the anterior cerebral artery, and 56.1% as an average of the three arteries). In the CGRP group, vasospasm was significantly ameliorated at the middle cerebral artery, at the anterior cerebral artery, and on average (81.7, 81.1, and 75.7%, P < 0.05, 0.03, and 0.02, respectively). The CGRP concentration was positive only on Day 7 for the CGRP group (6.5 nmol/L).

CONCLUSION

The CGRP tablet prevented cerebral vasospasm after SAH and may have significant potential for the treatment of patients with SAH.

Enhancing effect of non-ionic surfactant on the inactivation of lipopolysaccharide by steam-heat treatment I

Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan mono-fatty acid esters strongly enhanced the inactivation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by steam-heat treatment at 121 degrees C, as assayed by using the Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) and the pyrogen test. In an aqueous solution containing 0.1% surfactant, the decrease of LPS (1 microgram/ml) from E. coli 055:B5 at 121 degrees C followed first-order kinetics. Based on the LAL assay, 0.1% surfactant was essential to achieve 3-log cycle reduction of LPS with concomitant loss of pyrogenicity by steam-heat treatment for 20 min at 121 degrees C. Steam-heat treatment for 20 min at 121 degrees C in the absence of surfactant was insufficient to achieve depyrogenation. Polyoxyethylene (9) lauryl ether and decaglycerin mono-laurate similarly enhanced depyrogenation by steam-heat treatment. The effects of all the surfactants were concentration-dependent for all of the six kinds of LPS examined.