Functions of characteristic Cys-Gly-His-Cys (CGHC) and Gln-Glu-Asp-Leu (QEDL) motifs of microsomal ER-60 protease

The human ER-60 protease cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells using the pET-20b(+) T7 promoter. The recombinant ER-60 protease was obtained in a water-soluble form and purified through four sequential chromatographies. The ER-60 protease contains two CGHC motifs. When an alanine residue was substituted for the N-terminal cysteine residue in both motifs, the protease activity was not lost. However, when the C-terminal cysteine residue in both motifs was replaced by a serine residue, the cysteine protease activity, which was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoic acid (pCMB) but not by diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), changed to serine protease activity, which was inhibited by DFP but not by pCMB. These results indicate that the C-terminal cysteine residue(s) of the CGHC motifs may constitute the active site(s) of ER-60 protease. The ER-60 protease has a C-terminal QEDL sequence, which was proved to serve as an ER-retention signal by deletion of the QEDL sequence. However, because QEDL could not serve as the ER-retention signal for protein disulfide isomerase or ERp72, it is suggested that amino acid residue(s) of ER-60 protease, other than the QEDL sequence itself, is complimentarily responsible for the ER retention of this protein.

Impaired induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes by antagonism of a weak agonist borne by a variant hepatitis C virus epitope

An epitope that acted as a weak agonist in the cytotoxicity assay was identified as part of the capsid protein of a hepatitis C virus (HCV) variant. In a low concentration, the variant epitope also had a weak antagonistic effect. When a minute amount of this variant epitope was added to the culture for induction, it selectively attenuated the expansion of major cytotoxic T cell populations and drastically reduced the cytotoxic responses against the wild-type epitope. Thus, antagonism to induction suppressed immune responses against both the wild type and the variant, thereby helping the persistence of not only variant itself but also the wild-type HCV. Because this variant was a weak agonist, most cytotoxic T cells induced with the wild-type epitope were cross-reactive with the variant and susceptible to the antagonism to induction. Only the T cells which were not cross-reactive with the variant and not susceptible to the antagonism survived the antagonism in induction. This implied that the specificity of the remaining immune response, if any, was directed exclusively to the wild-type epitope after the emergence of the variant. For viruses like HCV, being heterogeneous itself may contribute significantly toward persistent infection through antagonism to induction.

Perforin, Fas/Fas ligand, and TNF-alpha pathways as specific and bystander killing mechanisms of hepatitis C virus-specific human CTL

In chronic hepatitis C, Fas expression is up-regulated in the hepatocytes, especially near liver-infiltrating lymphocytes, and Fas ligand is expressed on the lymphocytes. The presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CTLs has been demonstrated both in peripheral blood and among liver-infiltrating lymphocytes of patients with chronic hepatitis C. We studied the killing mechanisms of HCV-specific human CTLs using target cells that were sensitive or resistant to agonistic anti-Fas Abs and TNF-alpha. We show that HCV-specific CTL clones kill non-Ag-bearing bystander cells as well as Ag-bearing cells, although the bystander killing is less efficient than the specific target cell killing, and the efficacy of the bystander killing of anti-Fas- and soluble TNF-alpha-sensitive cells is greater than that of resistant cells. We also show that the killing of Ag-presenting, sensitive cells is mediated by Fas ligand and TNF-alpha as well as perforin, although the latter plays a major role in the killing at a low E:T ratio, and that the killing of sensitive bystander cells is primarily mediated by Fas ligand and TNF-alpha on CTLs expressed upon specific Ag stimulation, which may be relevant to the bystander lysis by HCV-specific CTLs of uninfected hepatocytes, in which Fas expression is up-regulated. Activated CTLs also kill bystander cells by the perforin-based mechanism, although it requires a high E:T ratio. The effective bystander killing requires a close intercellular contact between CTLs and target cells, although TNF-alpha released from the CTLs mediates lysis of the bystander cells without a close cell-cell contact.

Perforin, Fas/Fas ligand, and TNF-alpha pathways as specific and bystander killing mechanisms of hepatitis C virus-specific human CTL

In chronic hepatitis C, Fas expression is up-regulated in the hepatocytes, especially near liver-infiltrating lymphocytes, and Fas ligand is expressed on the lymphocytes. The presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CTLs has been demonstrated both in peripheral blood and among liver-infiltrating lymphocytes of patients with chronic hepatitis C. We studied the killing mechanisms of HCV-specific human CTLs using target cells that were sensitive or resistant to agonistic anti-Fas Abs and TNF-alpha. We show that HCV-specific CTL clones kill non-Ag-bearing bystander cells as well as Ag-bearing cells, although the bystander killing is less efficient than the specific target cell killing, and the efficacy of the bystander killing of anti-Fas- and soluble TNF-alpha-sensitive cells is greater than that of resistant cells. We also show that the killing of Ag-presenting, sensitive cells is mediated by Fas ligand and TNF-alpha as well as perforin, although the latter plays a major role in the killing at a low E:T ratio, and that the killing of sensitive bystander cells is primarily mediated by Fas ligand and TNF-alpha on CTLs expressed upon specific Ag stimulation, which may be relevant to the bystander lysis by HCV-specific CTLs of uninfected hepatocytes, in which Fas expression is up-regulated. Activated CTLs also kill bystander cells by the perforin-based mechanism, although it requires a high E:T ratio. The effective bystander killing requires a close intercellular contact between CTLs and target cells, although TNF-alpha released from the CTLs mediates lysis of the bystander cells without a close cell-cell contact.

Transcriptional activation of a hybrid promoter composed of cytomegalovirus enhancer and beta-actin/beta-globin gene in glomerular epithelial cells in vivo

The aim of this study was to seek a promoter, transactivated selectively in renal cells in vivo by using transgenic (tg) mouse technology. We generated two kinds of tg mouse lines carrying a green fluorescence protein (GFP) cDNA driven either by cytomegalovirus enhancer and beta-actin/beta-globin promoter (CX-GFP) or by elongation factor 1alpha promoter (EF-GFP), and investigated the expression of GFP in the kidney. Microscopic examination of the renal tissues in CX-GFP-tg mice revealed that GFP was expressed only in glomeruli, mainly epithelial cells, but not in tubules, arteries and interstitium. Moreover, in situ hybridization demonstrated that GFP mRNA expression was localized in the glomerular cells. In contrast, GFP was not detectable in the kidney in any of the lines of EF-GFP-tg mouse. To exclude the possible involvement of the GFP cDNA as an enhancer, we constructed tg mice carrying the CX promoter driving a human CD4 cDNA. It was confirmed that the expression patterns of human CD4 in the kidney were quite similar to those of GFP in the kidney of CX-GFP-tg mice. These results strongly suggest that CX promoter could be transactivated in glomerular epithelial cells in vivo.

Osmotic regulation of amino acids and system A transport in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

The effects of hypertonicity on the intracellular amino acid content and system A transport activity were studied in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Total content of 20 amino acids increased from 274 to 689 nmol/mg protein after 8 h of hypertonicity (500 mosmol/ kg), remaining almost constant until after 6 days of hypertonicity. The content of neutral amino acids increased from 77 to 307 and 395 nmol/mg protein after 8 h and 6 days of hypertonicity, respectively, accounting for 73% of the increased amount of total amino acids. In the hypertonic MDCK cells, system A transport activity, measured by Na+-dependent 2-(methylamino)isobutyric acid (MeAIB) uptake, increased approximately 60-fold relative to the uptake in isotonic cells. MeAIB was taken up primarily on the basal side in the isotonic MDCK cells cultured on permeable supports. Extracellular hypertonicity stimulated the MeAIB uptake predominantly on the basal side. These results indicated that amino acids, especially neutral amino acids, can function as volume-regulating osmolytes and that the stimulation of system A activity appears to contribute to the accumulation of neutral amino acids in hypertonic MDCK cells.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte response and viral load in hepatitis C virus infection

A cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) nucleoprotein residues 88-96 that are the minimal and optimal epitope for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B44-restricted CTLs was assessed in 27 HLA B44-positive patients with chronic HCV infection. Serum HCV RNA concentration and the amino acid sequence of the residues 81-100 were also determined. Three patients were infected with HCV with uncommon amino acid substitutions within the epitope. One was infected with HCV with an amino acid substitution in the flanking residues of the epitope. To stimulate CTLs in the peripheral blood, 9-mer peptides that corresponded to the residues 88-96 of the individual patients were synthesized and used. Seven of the 27 patients demonstrated a CTL response to the residues 88-96 with specific cytotoxic activities higher than 20%. The CTL activities were significantly higher in patients with a low titer of serum HCV RNA than in those with a high titer of serum HCV RNA (P = .0006). Some of the patients that demonstrated a CTL response to the residues 88-96 also demonstrated a CTL response to a newly identified HLA B44-restricted CTL epitope or a known HLA A11-restricted CTL epitope or both. No apparent association was observed between the CTL response and the stage of disease, or between the CTL response and the grade of necroinflammatory activity. The results suggest that the HLA B44-restricted CTLs together with other HCV-specific CTLs may inhibit the outgrowth of HCV and that high-titer infection with HCV may suppress the CTL responses.

Establishment and characterization of a new human glioblastoma cell line (MGM-1) with highly motile phenotype

A new cell line MGM-1 was established from a primary tumor of the left temporal lobe with histological diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme, removed from a 64-year-old Japanese male. The patient died of recurrence and unusual extracranial metastases of the tumor 7 months after the surgery. The cultured MGM-1 cells are spindle or polygonal in shape. After serial passages, glial fibrillary acidic protein became negative immunocytochemically in vitro. The modal chromosome number was 61-64. Doubling time and soft agar colony forming efficiency were 42.9h and 0.4%, respectively (at 25th passage). MGM-1 is a highly motile cell line in vitro and its serum-free conditioned medium is chemotactic and chemokinetic for other glioma cells. Secretion of gelatinases (probably MMP-2/72-kDa type i.v. collagenase) and MMP-9/92-kDa type i.v. collagenase) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator were also investigated. MGM-1 would therefore be useful for studying the mechanisms regulating glioma-cell motility and invasion. The MGM-1 cell line has been propagated continuously by serial passages (more than 100 passages) during the past 4 years.

Effects of inhibition of myo-inositol transport on MDCK cells under hypertonic environment

To investigate the role of myo-inositol under hypertonic conditions, we examined the effects of inhibition of myo-inositol transport in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells using an analog of myo-inositol, 2-O,C-methylene-myo-inositol (MMI). We first characterized the inhibitory effects of MMI on myo-inositol transport in MDCK cells. The Na+-dependent component of [3H] myo-inositol uptake was inhibited by MMI in a concentration-dependent manner, although MMI did not inhibit the activities of the betaine transporter and system A neutral amino acid transporter. We found decreased affinity for myo-inositol in the presence of MMI, whereas the maximal velocity (Vmax) of the transporter did not change. Thus MMI behaves as a competitive inhibitor of myo-inositol transport with a relatively high inhibition constant (K(i)) value (1.6 mM). Myo-inositol content in hypertonic MDCK cells was markedly reduced in the presence of 5 mM MMI, but MMI itself did not accumulate in these cells. The hypertonic cells began to detach in the presence of MMI 3 days after increasing medium osmolality, whereas MMI did not affect the cells in isotonic medium. We also examined the effects of MMI on colony-forming efficiency of MDCK cells. MMI decreased colony-forming efficiency in a concentration-dependent manner, and addition of myo-inositol returned the efficiency to the value without MMI. Addition of betaine also increased colony-forming efficiency in the presence of MMI. These results indicate that myo-inositol plays an important role in survival and growth under hypertonic environment.

Exogenous phosphatidic acid with saturated short-chain fatty acyl groups induces superoxide anion release from guinea pig peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes by three different mechanisms

Treatment of suspensions of guinea pig peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) with four species of phosphatidate (PA) containing short-chain fatty acids induced sustained superoxide anion (O2-) production after a lag time. The rank order of efficiency of these PAs in triggering O2- production was PA8:0 [1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate (GP)] > PA10:0 (1,2-didecanoyl-GP) > PA6:0 (1,2-dicaproyl-GP) > > PA12:0 (1,2-dilauroyl-GP). The O2- release from PMN stimulated with PA10:0 or PA12:0, but not with PA6:0 or PA8:0, was lowered by the addition of 1 mM extracellular Ca2+. Studies with various inhibitors showed that the mechanism of multiphasic O2- production induced by PA8:0 depended on its concentration: 1 and 3 microM PA8:0 induced O2- production constantly after a lag time through a protein kinase-dependent mechanism that was inhibited by 100 nM staurosporine. With concentrations of PA of 10 microM or more, an additional mechanism that was independent of protein kinase became operative and predominant over the protein kinase-dependent one. This protein kinase-independent mechanism was inhibited selectively by 80 microM TMB-8. Concentrations of 30, 60 and 100 microM PA first elicited transient O2- production via another protein kinase-dependent mechanism that was more sensitive to H-7 than to staurosporine, and then sustained O2- production, mainly driven by the protein kinase-independent mechanism. Metabolism of exogenously added [14C]PA8:0 in intact PMN was examined in the presence and absence of propranolol. Results suggest that PA itself is more important rather than its degradation products such as diacylglycerol, in inducing O2- production via three different mechanisms described above.

Responses of bat inferior collicular neurons to recorded echolocation pulse trains

Under free field stimulation conditions, we studied the responses of inferior collicular neurons of the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus, to echolocation pulse trains which were recorded during the entire process of hunting. The entire series of recorded echolocation pulse trains was edited in different sequences according to echolocation pulses of different hunting phases. When stimulated with all edited sequences of echolocation pulse trains, the temporal characteristics and the relative position of the echolocation pulses of a specific hunting phase affect the number of impulses of each inferior collicular neuron studied. When stimulated with two different intensities, more than 59% of inferior collicular neurons studied discharged selectively to the echolocation pulses of a specific hunting phase such that the number of impulses discharged to the echolocation pulses of the most and least preferred hunting phases differed by at least 50%. Passible mechanisms for this selective response are discussed.

Effects of dietary nucleoside-nucleotide mixture on memory in aged and young memory deficient mice

Intestinal mucosa, bone marrow hematopoietic cells and brain have limited capacity for the de novo synthesis of nucleosides (NSs) and nucleotides (NTs). Whereas the role of dietary NS and NT in the former two tissues is known, it is not known in the brain. Therefore we studied the effect of dietary NS and NT mixture on memory in aged mice (Experiment 1) and young memory deficient mice (Experiment 2). Memory retention was studied by step-through type passive avoidance performance (maximum 180 seconds). In Experiment 1 aged (7 month old) senescence accelerated mice (SAM) were fed 20% casein diet (control) or this diet supplemented with 0.5% NS/NT mixture for 12 weeks. Memory was studied 1, 2 and 3 days after the electric shock (punishment). In Experiment 2, young (1 month old) memory deficient mice (Dull mice) and normal mice (ddY mice) were fed the same diets as those in Experiment 1 for 12 weeks. Memory retention was studied 1 and 3 days after the punishment. In the aged SAM the average time of avoidance and also the percentages of successful memory 2 and 3 days after the punishment were significantly higher in the NS/NT diet group than the control diet group (P < 0.05). In the Dull mice percentage of successful memory was higher in the NS/NT diet group than in the control group 3 days after the punishment, however, such an effect was not observed in the normal mice. These results suggest that insufficient endogenous supply of NSs and NTs may be responsible for the factor of memory deficiency with aging or of genetical memory deficiency, which can be improved by the dietary administration of NSs and NTs.

Hydrolases acting on glycosidic bonds: chromatographic and electrophoretic separations

We describe analyses of unusual human alpha-amylase, performed in our laboratory and review available methods for amylase study. Electrophoretic and chromatographic methods provide an effective means for the analysis of amylase isoenzymes and unusual amylase. The recent identification of a selective inhibitor and a monoclonal antibody to amylase isoenzyme contributes to rapid routine clinical assays of amylase isoenzymes. However unusual amylases such as variants, macroamylasemia and sialyl salivary-type amylasemia cannot be detected by those conventional methods. The unusual amylases can only be detected by electrophoresis and can be easily characterized by combination study with chromatographic methods. Electrophoretic and chromatographic methods are universal means to validate unusual amylases found in patient sera. Further basal studies are needed to define the roles of salivary amylase in exocrine fluids using those separation techniques.

Expression of betaine transporter mRNA: its unique localization and rapid regulation in rat kidney

Betaine is a major compatible osmolyte in the renal medulla. It is taken up into cells via the betaine gamma-amino-n-butyric acid transporter (BGT-1). We investigated the localization of BGT-1 mRNA and its acute regulation by NaCl and furosemide administration. In situ hybridization revealed that BGT-1 mRNA is predominantly present in the outer medulla and papilla. Less intense signals were seen in the inner medulla and no signals were found in the cortex. Microscopic examination suggested that intense signals were present in the medullary thick ascending limbs of Henle's loop (MTAL) and the inner medullary collecting ducts (IMCD). A reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction assay of individual microdissected segments along the nephron confirmed its localization. Intraperitoneal administration of NaCl rapidly increased the signal in the MTAL, and furosemide prevented the increase in BGT-1 mRNA by NaCl loading. In contrast, BGT-1 mRNA in the IMCD is less sensitive to these kinds of acute regulation. These results suggest that BGT-1 expression in the MTAL is rapidly regulated in response to the magnitude of NaCl absorption, as suggested for the expression of Na+/myo-inositol cotransporter.

Inhibition of TGF-beta 1 expression by antisense oligonucleotides suppressed extracellular matrix accumulation in experimental glomerulonephritis

Overproduction of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases. TGF-beta 1 plays a crucial role in the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in human and experimental glomerular diseases. However, it remains unclear whether inhibition of TGF-beta 1 overproduction would suppress TGF-beta 1-induced ECM accumulation. To inhibit the overproduction of TGF-beta 1 in experimental glomerulonephritis induced by anti-Thy 1.1 antibody, we introduced antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) for TGF-beta 1 into the nephritic kidney by the HVJ-liposome-mediated gene transfer method. Sense, scrambled or reverse ODN were also introduced as controls. Transfected ODN accumulated mainly in the nuclei of mesangial cells in the glomeruli of transfected kidneys. In the antisense ODN-transfected rats, a marked decrease in expression of TGF-beta 1 mRNA was confirmed by Northern analysis. Consequently, the expression of TGF-beta 1 protein in the glomerulus was markedly reduced in the antisense ODN-transfected kidney with a comparable effect in preventing glomerular ECM expansion in experimental glomerulonephritis. In contrast, sense, scrambled and reverse ODNs failed to suppress TGF-beta 1 expression and ECM accumulation. Thus, these results suggested that inhibition of TGF-beta 1 overproduction could suppress progression to glomerulosclerosis.

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism: potential significance in nephrology

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular homeostasis and by activating angiotensin I into angiotensin II and inactivating bradykinin. These two peptides play antagonistic roles on the cardiovascular system by regulating vascular tone and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. Identification of the ACE gene as a genetic marker for various forms of cardiovascular disease is a recent result of the progress made in molecular biology and genetics. The insertion/deletion (ID) polymorphism of the ACE gene defined by the presence or absence of the 287 base pair Alu sequence situated in intron 16 has been investigated as a possible genetic marker for a variety of cardiovascular disease including myocardial infarction, essential hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and diabetic vascular complications. This paper reviews prior reports and briefly describes our recent study on the association of the ACE I/D polymorphism and antiproteinuric effect of ACE inhibitors in patients with proteinuria.

Three new cytotoxic T cell epitopes identified within the hepatitis C virus nucleoprotein

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) may play a role in host defence against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and HCV-specific CTL epitopes may be included in vaccines to induce protective CTLs. We identified three new epitopes within the HCV nucleoprotein recognized by CTLs. HCV nucleoprotein residues 28-37 are the minimal epitope recognized by CTLs in association with the class I human leukocyte antigen B60, and epitopes in HCV nucleoprotein residues 111-130 and 161-180 are both recognized by CTLs in association with the class II human leukocyte antigen DRBI*08032.

Effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on human glioma cells in vitro: HGF acts as a motility factor in glioma cells

Expression of c-Met, the receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and the biological roles of HGF were examined in cultured human glioma cells. All of the 5 glioma cell lines examined expressed c-Met protein as well as the c-met gene. Expression of the c-met gene was also confirmed in a glioblastoma tissue. Three cell lines (MGM-3, U251, KG-1-C) demonstrated chemotactic response to HGF in a dose-dependent manner. The response was not only chemotactic but also chemokinetic as judged by a checkerboard analysis. The amounts of c-Met mRNA and protein were abundant in the cell lines which showed a migratory response to HGF. Moreover, c-Met protein expression was highest in U251 with the highest migratory response to HGF. Among the cell lines, KG-1-C produced notable amounts of HGF protein as well as of c-Met, suggesting that HGF may act in an autocrine fashion in this case. HGF did not act as an apparent growth factor in the glioma cell lines examined. Furthermore, HGF stimulated the production of metalloproteinase, probably gelatinase A, in U251 cells.

CCK-4-induced calcium mobilization in T cells is enhanced in panic disorder

We investigated the effects of brain cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors on the intracellular calcium concentration and protein kinase C in human T cells. CCK-4 produced a transient increase in calcium in the absence of extracellular calcium. CCK-B agonists stimulated calcium mobilization in a dose-dependent manner in T cells. CCK-B antagonists suppressed CCK-4-induced calcium mobilization more potently than CCK-A antagonist. The recovery of desensitization of the CCK-4-induced response was delayed by phosphoserine/phosphothreonine phosphatase inhibitor, calyculin A. The responsiveness to CCK-4 was also reduced by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), and this effect of PDBu was abolished completely by preincubation with staurosporine. CCK-4-induced calcium mobilization was too small to attribute the desensitization to the protein kinase C transduction pathway. T cells from patients with untreated panic disorder exhibited significantly higher cholecystokinin-4-induced calcium mobilization than those from healthy controls or patients with treated panic disorder. These results suggest that cholecystokinin-B receptor function in T cells of patients with panic disorder is enhanced. Cholecystokinin-4-induced calcium mobilization in T cells may be state dependent and useful as a biological marker of panic disorder.

[Results of radiotherapy combined with CDDP (BAI) plus VP-16 in the treatment of inoperable non-small cell lung cancer]

Twenty-six patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer were treated by chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy from June 1988 to May 1990. CDDP (80 mg/m2) was given by bronchial arterial infusion (BAI) on day 1 in each course, VP-16 (80 mg/body) was given by drip intravenous infusion on days 1 and 2, and VP-16 (150 mg/body) was given orally on days 3 and 5. The patients were irradiated after this regimen with a single dose of 1.8-2.0 Gy, five times each week, to a volume which encompassed only the primary tumor. A total dose of 60 Gy or more was delivered. There were 10 squamous cell carcinomas, nine adenocarcinomas, five large cell carcinomas, one adenosquamous cell carcinoma and one poorly differentiated carcinoma. Median survival time (MST) was 354 days in stage III B patients and 280 days in stage IV patients. MST was 155 days in adenocarcinoma and 310 days in squamous cell carcinoma. MST was 372 days in PS 0 to 1 patients and 140 days in PS 2 patients. With chemo-radiotherapy in 17 cases resulted in no complete remissions and 10 partial remissions. The overall response rate was 58.8%. It is concluded that CDDP via BAI combined with VP-16 administration and sequential irradiation is useful to acquire a high response rate in non-small cell lung cancer. However, further studies on this modality are required.

Effects of dietary phosphatidylcholine on memory in memory deficient mice with low brain acetylcholine concentration

Data concerning the effect of phosphatidylcholine (PCh) administration on the improvement of memory in senile dementia of Alzheimer type are inconsistent, probably due to the different conditions under which studies were conducted. Animal studies provide a good model, but data on this is limited. We studied the effect of PCh on memory in memory deficient mice (Dull mice) with low brain acetylcholine (ACh) concentration and normal mice. Mice were fed 24% casein diet (control) or this diet supplemented with 2 or 8% egg yolk PCh from gestation (Experiment 1) and after weaning (Experiment 2). Memory acquisition and retention were studied by step-down type passive avoidance performance at 8 and 10 weeks old, respectively. Control group of Dull mice had poorer memories than that of the normal mice in Experiments 1 and 2. On the 2% PCh diet, Dull mice improved memory acquisition and retention in Experiment 1 and retention in Experiment 2. On the 8% PCh diet in Dull mice there was improvement of memory and retention in Experiment 1, but no effect was observed in Experiment 2 (P > 0.05). In the normal mice, the 2% PCh diet did not affect memory acquisition and retention, however on the 8% PCh diet, there was no or adverse effect. These results suggest that dietary supplementation of egg yolk PCh improves memory of Dull mice, particularly when given from gestation and that the 2% PCh diet elicits better response than the 8% PCh diet.

Association of angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene polymorphism with susceptibility to antiproteinuric effect of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with proteinuria

The antiproteinuric effect of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in patients with renal diseases of various origins has been well recognized. However, individual responses regarding the degree of decrease in urinary protein excretion appear to vary considerably. The mechanism underlying this variable response to ACE inhibitors has not been clarified yet. A possible role of ACE gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the responsiveness to antiproteinuric effect of ACE inhibitors is examined. Thirty-six patients with proteinuria (23 men and 13 woman; mean age, 47 +/- 13 yr) were studied. These patients were classified into two groups on the basis of the percent decrease in their urinary protein excretion: the effective group, those with a decrease in proteinuria (18 patients, -64 +/- 19%) and the noneffective group (18 patients, +13 +/- 40%). A 287-base pair (bp) I/D polymorphism in the ACE gene was examined by polymerase chain reaction. The allelic frequencies of the ACE gene were I/D = 0.53/0.47 in the effective group and I/D = 0.81/0.19 in the noneffective group. The difference in the allelic frequencies between the two groups was significant (chi 2 = 6.25, P = 0.0114 < 0.05). Furthermore, the difference in the responsiveness of proteinuria to ACE inhibition between genotype II versus genotype ID + DD was statistically significant (chi 2 = 4.05, P = 0.0442 < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to initial urinary protein level, blood pressure, renal function, and daily sodium intake. The genetic susceptibility to the antihypertensive effect of ACE inhibitors was also studied, but no significant relation was observed. This study suggests the association of ACE gene I/D polymorphism with the antiproteinuric efficacy of ACE inhibitors in patients with proteinuria.

HLA B44-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses to the peptides of HCV nucleoprotein residues 81-100 in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Human leukocyte antigen B44-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) recognize an epitope in hepatitis C virus (HCV) nucleoprotein residues 81-100. CTLs that recognize two wild-type peptides 81-100 of HCV genotypes 1b/II and 2a/III were generated from peripheral blood lymphocytes of each of three patients studied. Although CTLs that recognize a wild-type peptide 81-100 of HCV genotypes 1a/I and 2b/IV were not generated from any patient, CTLs that recognize peptide 81-100 of a rare HCV isolate of type 1a/I were generated from two patients. The results suggest that HLA B44-restricted CTLs recognize most, if not all, HCV isolates of types 1b/II and 2a/III and rare variants of type 1a/I and that the wild-type HCV isolates of genotypes 1a/I and 2b/IV may be less immunogenic for HLA B44-restricted CTLs.

A minimal and optimal cytotoxic T cell epitope within hepatitis C virus nucleoprotein

Amino acid residues 81-100 of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) nucleoprotein contain a cytotoxic T cell epitope that is recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in association with human leukocyte antigen B44. With panels of truncated and overlapping peptides, the minimal and optimal epitope recognized by CTLs was shown to be a 9-mer peptide (residues 88-96). The peptide can stimulate effectively CTLs that are able to recognize endogenously synthesized and processed HCV nucleoprotein.

Ultrastructural study of TPA-induced cell motility: human well-differentiated rectal adenocarcinoma cells move as coherent sheets via localized modulation of cell-cell adhesion

We previously found that 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-enhanced invasion of Matrigel was associated with augmentation of cell motility but not with metalloproteinase activity in a highly metastatic variant (L-10) of human rectal adenocarcinoma cell line RCM-1. In a two-dimensional cell motility assay, TPA induced active L-10 cell locomotion with characteristic morphology; the cells moved outwards from the cell islands mainly as a localized coherent sheet of cells. The leading cells showed locomotor morphologies with fan-shaped leading lamellae while the following cells had cell contacts on all sides and appeared to lack leading lamellae. In the present ultrastructural study, the following cells frequently showed tapering cytoplasmic protrusions and leading lamella-like processes underlapping a preceding cell, indicating that the locomotion mechanism is almost the same for both the leading and following cells. For this type of locomotion as a coherent sheet we propose that localized modulation of cell-cell adhesion was induced such that wide intercellular gaps occurred at the lower portion of the cells to allow the cells to extend the tapering cytoplasmic processes and leading lamellae while close cell-cell contacts remained at the upper portion of the cells. These TPA-induced changes took place predominantly in the cells at the periphery of the cell islands, while the cells in the middle of the cell islands maintained close cell-cell contacts including complex interdigitation all around the cells, suggesting the modulation of TPA action by cell-cell interaction. Additionally, consistent with the evidence for junctional complexes between the cells moving outwards, the Lucifer-yellow dye transfer studies showed some, limited cell-cell coupling, suggesting the presence of at least some gap junctional intercellular communication in the moving cell sheets.

Concomitant expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), HGF activator and c-met genes in human glioma cells in vitro

Three new cell lines of human glioblastoma have been established. These cells co-expressed hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor, c-Met, genes in vitro. Reverse-transcriptase/polymerase-chain reaction study revealed that the cells also expressed gene for HGF activator, a recently cloned serine proteinase, suggesting that HGF might have a role in glioma cells in vitro as an autocrine factor. The activator mRNA was also detected in other well-established glioma cell lines, glioma tissues and normal brain. The concomitant expression of HGF, HGF activator and c-met was also detected in one glioblastoma case in vivo out of five tested.

A case of pulmonary pseudolymphoma: five years' roentgenographic observation

A patient with pulmonary pseudolymphoma whose chest X-ray shadows could be observed for over five years is reported. A 73-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in March 1993, because of abnormal shadows on a chest X-ray film. There was a solitary mass in the left upper lung field and infiltrate in the right middle and lower lung fields. These shadows had been observed on a chest X-ray film in 1988, and had been gradually growing for more than five years. Transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) of the left upper lobe mass resulted in a histological diagnosis of pulmonary pseudolymphoma. The shadows showed no change during the next nine months after his discharge. These findings are suggestive of the natural history of pulmonary pseudolymphoma. It seems that the process involved in this case was benign rather than malignant.

Immune response to hepatitis C virus core protein in mice

To analyse the immune response to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein, we immunized mice with the protein. BALB/c (H-2d) and C3H/He (H-2k) mice were high responders, while C57BL/6 (H-2b) mice were low responders in terms of Th cell proliferative responses. All the strains showed comparable levels of antibody responses to the HCV core protein. The Th cell lines recognized residues 61-90 of the HCV core protein in the context of I-Ad (BALB/c) and residues 11-30 in the context of I-Ek (C3H/He), respectively. The Th cell lines were restricted by I-Ab in C57BL/6 mice but recognized no synthetic peptide that spanned the region, although derivative clones from the line recognized residues 1-20 and 91-110 of the HCV core protein, respectively. The Th cell lines were Th 1 subset in all three strains based on the profile of lymphokine secretion. The major B cell epitope of the protein was found to be within residues 21-40 of the HCV core protein in all three strains. These observations should be useful for better understanding of the immune response to the HCV core protein in vivo.

Angiotensin II stimulates interleukin-6 release from cultured mouse mesangial cells

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine exerting a wide variety of biologic responses, including cell proliferation. Recently, IL-6 has been known to play a role in the pathogenesis of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. IL-6 is now recognized as an autocrine growth factor for glomerular mesangial cells, and various inflammatory mediators have been shown to promote IL-6 release from mesangial cells. However, little is known about the noninflammatory stimuli of IL-6 release from mesangial cells. In this study, it was hypothesized that angiotensin II (AngII) is one of the noninflammatory mediators of IL-6 release in mesangial cells, and the effects of AngII on IL-6 release and mRNA expression in cultured mouse mesangial cells (CMMC) were investigated. It was demonstrated that AngII (10(-7) M or higher) caused IL-6 release and mRNA accumulation in CMMC. IL-6 release was detected at 4 h and reached a plateau at 8 h after the addition of AngII, whereas IL-6 mRNA expression peaked at 4 h. The effects of AngII on IL-6 release and gene expression were completely blocked by the AngII receptor type 1 (AT1 receptor) antagonist CV-11974. AngII and IL-6 were both shown to stimulate DNA synthesis in CMMC, and the blockade of IL-6 signaling with anti-IL-6 receptor antibody abolished the enhanced DNA synthesis induced by AngII. These results raise a possibility that the growth-promoting effect of AngII on mesangial cells is at least partially mediated by IL-6 released from mesangial cells.

Expression of transmembrane-type protein tyrosine phosphatase mRNA along rat nephron segments

Protein phosphorylation on tyrosine residues is one of the main cell signaling mechanisms. Cellular phosphotyrosyl levels are regulated by the activities of protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) and protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPase). We have previously reported cDNA cloning of several types of PTPase from rat kidney, including LRP (leukocyte common antigen-related protein; also known as the transmembrane-type tyrosine phosphatase, i.e., RPTP alpha). LRP mRNA was shown to be abundant in the kidney; however, our understanding of the functional role of LRP in the kidney is very limited. To gain keener insight into the function of LRP in the kidney, our first approach was to reveal its mRNA distribution along rat nephron segments. Large signals were found in inner medulla by Northern blot analysis. By using a reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction assay of individual microdissected tubule segments along the nephron [proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL), cortical collecting duct (CCD), outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD), and inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD)] and glomeruli, we revealed intrarenal localization of LRP mRNA. LRP mRNA was detected in all nephron segments tested but was relatively rich in the IMCD. Rank order of the signal intensity was IMCD > PCT = OMCD > CCD > MTAL = glomeruli. Immunohistochemistry also revealed that LRP was abundant in IMCD. This pattern of expression gives rise to an interesting possibility that LRP might be involved in the specific renal tubule function, such as urinary concentrating mechanism; however, further study is required to describe the function of LRP in more detail.

Administration of phosphatidylcholine increases brain acetylcholine concentration and improves memory in mice with dementia

Studies on the effect of phosphatidylcholine administration on memory are limited. We administered egg phosphatidylcholine to mice with dementia and to normal mice and compared the differences in memory and serum choline concentration, and choline and acetylcholine concentrations and choline acetyltransferase activities of three forebrain regions (cortex, hippocampus and the remaining forebrain). Mice with dementia were produced by mating sibling mice who had impaired memory for > 20 generations. These mice had poor memory and low brain acetylcholine concentration. We administered 100 mg of egg phosphatidylcholine (phosphatidylcholine group) or water (control group) by gavage to each mouse daily for about 45 d. Control mice with dementia had poorer memory in passive avoidance performance and lower brain choline (cortex and hippocampus) and acetylcholine (hippocampus and forebrain excluding cortex and hippocampus) concentrations and lower cortex choline acetyltransferase activity than the control normal mice (P < 0.05). The administration of phosphatidylcholine to mice with dementia improved memory and generally increased brain choline and acetylcholine concentrations to or above the levels of the control normal mice. In normal mice, phosphatidylcholine treatment did not affect memory or acetylcholine concentrations in spite of the great increase in choline concentrations in the three brain regions. Serum choline concentration in mice treated with phosphatidylcholine increased to a similar level in both strains of mice, indicating that the absorption of phosphatidylcholine was not impaired in mice with dementia. The results suggest that administration of egg phosphatidylcholine to mice with dementia increases brain acetylcholine concentration and improves memory.

A helper T-cell antigen enhances generation of hepatitis C virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vitro

A T-cell helper for generation of hepatitis C virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes was studied in three patients with chronic hepatitis C. In all three, human leukocyte antigen B44-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes recognizing an epitope in hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid protein residues 81-100 were generated from the peripheral blood lymphocytes by repeated stimulation with a synthetic hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid peptide. The proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphocytes to hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid protein residues 1-120 was observed in one patient, and was ascribed to CD4+ T cells. The helper T cells recognized a major epitope in residues 21-40 and a minor epitope(s) in residues 81-110. They produced interferon gamma, but interleukin 4 was not detectable in the T-helper cell culture supernatants. The hepatitis C virus nucleocapsid protein residues 1-120 and the major helper T-cell epitope enhanced generation of hepatitis C virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vitro, although the protein alone did not generate them. In the other two patients, the protein did not enhance generation of hepatitis C virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vitro. The results suggest that a hepatitis C virus-specific helper T-cell epitope is helpful for inducing a strong specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response.

Establishment and characterization of a human renal carcinoma cell line MRT-1, with special reference to the production of serine proteinase inhibitors

A new human cell line MRT-1 was established from a metastatic lymph node of renal cell carcinoma of a 47 years old Japanese male. The cultured MRT-1 cells exhibit an epithelial appearance and contain lipid vacuoles in their cytoplasm in vitro. The modal chromosome number was 70. Doubling time and plating efficiency were 32.5 h and 5%, respectively (at the 47th passage). Injection of 1X10(6) MRT-1 cells beneath the renal capsule of nude mice resulted in tumor formation resembling the original tumor. Serine proteinase inhibitors produced by the cell line were analyzed. The cultured cells produced alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAl-1) into the conditioned medium. Most of the MRT-1 derived alpha 1-AT had lost the affinity to Concanavalin A when compared to the normal plasma alpha 1-AT.

In vivo transfection of genes for renin and angiotensinogen into the glomerular cells induced phenotypic change of the mesangial cells and glomerular sclerosis

Locally activated renin angiotensin system plays an important role in the progression of the glomerular diseases. In order to understand the local effect of overexpressed angiotensin II in the glomerulus in situ, we introduced human genes for renin and angiotensinogen into the rat kidney by hemagglutinating virus of Japan-liposome procedure. Three days after transfection human renin was detected in the glomeruli by immunohistochemistry. Seven days after transfection, extracellular matrix was expanded in the glomeruli and alpha-smooth muscle actin was expressed in the mesangial cells. These results suggest that locally activated renin angiotensin system induces glomerular sclerosis and a phenotypic change in mesangial cells.

Reverse-zymographic analysis of protease nexin-II/amyloid beta protein precursor of human carcinoma cell lines, with special reference to the grade of differentiation and metastatic phenotype

Trypsin inhibitors in serum-free conditioned media (SFCM) of various human carcinoma cell lines were analyzed by reverse zymography. Most of the cells secreted high-molecular-weight trypsin inhibitors (HMTI) larger than 100 kDa. The cell lines of colorectal carcinoma origin had a tendency to secrete HMTI whose molecular weight was a little higher than that of the other cell lines. Analysis of SFCM of subclones with different histological differentiation and metastatic/invasive potentials derived from a single pancreatic carcinoma cell line SUIT-2 showed that the HMTI activity in SFCM was correlated to the degree of histological differentiation in vivo and tended to be inversely correlated to their metastatic/invasive capabilities. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that these HMTI were protease nexin-II/amyloid beta protein precursors (PN-II/APP). Semi-quantificative reverse-transcriptase/polymerase-chain reaction study for PN-II/APP mRNAs suggested that the differences in PN-II/APP activities in SFCM between the subclones might be post-transcriptional or post-secretional events. In addition, SFCM of a highly metastatic subclone contained 43-kDa protein which reacted to anti-APP monoclonal antibody (MAb) suggesting that the subclone may have APP-degrading activity.

Cardiovascular effects of benidipine and amlodipine in isolated tissues and anesthetized dogs

Benidipine and amlodipine, 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium channel blocking drugs, are long-acting antihypertensive and antianginal drugs. In the present study, the vascular-selectivity and duration of action of benidipine were determined in vitro and in vivo, and compared with those of amlodipine. The relaxing effect of benidipine on the canine coronary artery precontracted by KCl (55 mM) was about 40 times that of amlodipine. The negative inotropic effect of benidipine in the electrically-stimulated canine right ventricular papillary muscle was about twice that of amlodipine. The potency ratios of the vasorelaxing effect in the coronary artery and the negative inotropic effect in papillary muscle were 1300 for benidipine and 67 for amlodipine, respectively. In anesthetized dogs, the maximum hypotensive effect and the duration of action of 3 micrograms/kg (i.v.) benidipine was almost the same as those of 500 micrograms/kg (i.v.) amlodipine. The duration of the hypotensive action of benidipine at 10 micrograms/kg (i.v.) was almost the same as that of amlodipine at 1500 micrograms/kg (i.v.). Amlodipine at 1500 micrograms/kg (i.v.) reduced mean blood pressure and left ventricular dp/dt max immediately after its administration, whereas such transient falls were not observed after the administration of benidipine at 10 micrograms/kg (i.v.). These results suggest that benidipine possesses a stronger vasodilating effect and a higher vascular-selectivity, compared with amlodipine.

cDNA cloning of a cytosolic protein tyrosine phosphatase (RKPTP) from rat kidney

A rat cDNA encoding a non-receptor type phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase; EC 3.1.3.48) was identified. The 1608 bp cDNA contains a single open reading frame that predicts a 382 amino acid protein with M(r) 44,438. The predicted protein has no apparent signal or transmembrane sequences, suggesting that it is a cytosolic protein. The C-terminal region has a PTPase catalytic domain that has 40-50% nucleic acid homology to other known PTPases. The N-terminal region has little amino acid sequence homology to any other known sequences. The recombinant protein of the cloned cDNA expressed in Escherichia coli was shown to possess PTPase activity using myelin basic protein, tyrosine phosphorylated by p43v-abl tyrosine kinase, as a substrate.

An S-alkylating reagent with positive charges as an efficient solubilizer of denatured disulfide-containing proteins

A novel S-alkylating reagent, N-(3-bromopropyl)-N,N,N',N',N'-pentamethyl-1,3-propanedi(ammonium bromide) (TAP2-Br) which carries two positive charges in the molecule, was prepared to increase the solubility or to decrease the hydrophobicity of cysteine-containing denatured proteins (or peptides). S-Alkylation with TAP2-Br introduces two positive charges per cysteine residue, which will effectively shift the net charge of a protein in the positive direction. Disulfide-containing proteins, such as hen egg-white lysozyme, RNase A, BSA, and soybean trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz type), were reduced and S-alkylated with TAP2-Br to evaluate the potential of this reagent compared with other S-alkylating reagents such as monoiodoacetic acid, bromosuccinic acid and (3-bromopropyl)trimethylammonium bromide. The solubilities of these denatured proteins in the pH range of 2-10 indicated that S-alkylation with TAP2-Br effectively solubilized not only basic proteins (lysozyme and RNase) but also an acidic protein containing a fairly large number of cysteine residues (BSA). Moreover, the retentions of cysteine-containing tryptic peptides derived from lysozyme on reversed-phase HPLC were greatly reduced by S-alkylation with TAP2-Br. These results indicate that TAP2-Br is very useful to increase the solubility of some cysteine-containing denatured proteins and to decrease the hydrophobicity of peptides containing cysteine residue(s).

Responses of inferior collicular neurons of the FM bat, Eptesicus fuscus, to pulse trains with varied pulse amplitudes

Under free field stimulation conditions, we studied the responses of inferior collicular neurons of the FM bat, Eptesicus fuscus, to pulse trains with varied pulse amplitudes. Each pulse train consisted of 7 pulses of 4 ms delivered at 24 ms interpulse-intervals (i.e. 42 pulses/s). For a control pulse train, all pulse amplitudes were equal to a neuron's best amplitude which, when delivered in single pulses, elicited maximal number of impulses from the neuron. The amplitudes of individual pulses of the remaining pulse trains were linearly increased or decreased at a slope of 0, 14, 28, 42, 56 and 69 dB/s. All 56 inferior collicular neurons discharged to pulse trains were of two main types. Type I (N43, 77%) neurons discharged to each pulse within a train while type II (N11, 20%) neurons discharged to the first pulse of a train stimulus only. Discharge patterns of the remaining (N2, 3%) neurons changed between type I and type II when stimulated with different pulse trains. The number of impulses discharged by a neuron varied with different pulse trains. In addition, the number of impulses discharged to each pulse by type I neurons also varied among individual pulses within the train. Only 14 neurons (25%) discharged maximally to the control pulse train. Responses of the remaining neurons to other pulse trains were either 30%-120% larger than (N17, 30%) or within 30% (N25, 45%) of the control pulse train response. Furthermore, half of 56 neurons selectively discharged to a most preferred pulse train with a response magnitude which was at least 50% larger than the response to the least preferred pulse train. Possible mechanisms underlying the different discharge patterns are discussed in terms of a neuron's recovery cycle, minimum threshold and inhibitory period relative to the temporal characteristics (pulse repetition rate and amplitude) of the pulse trains.

[Bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and its relation to biological and lifestyle factors in middle-aged and aged Japanese women (Part 1). Relationship of age and menopause to bone mineral density of the lumbar spine measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry]

Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine in 198 community-dwelling Japanese women aged 35 years and over was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to investigate the effects of aging and menopause on BMD. A highly significant negative correlation between age and BMD was observed in postmenopausal women as widely accepted. We found a weak but statistically significant negative correlation between age and BMD in even premenopausal women, suggesting that their bone loss had commenced before menopause. Marked decrement in BMD was seen during the first ten years after menopause. Menopause clearly accelerated bone loss in the lumbar spine. Two-way analysis of variance of BMD on age and menopausal status showed that these explanatory variables had a significantly decreasing effect on BMD independently of each other. Menopausal status had a greater sum of squares than age, which suggested that menopause played a greater role in bone loss than did aging. Early menopause has been implied as one of the risk factors for bone loss. The women aged 50 to 59 having encountered menopause before 49 years old exhibited significantly lower BMD than those of similar age who experienced menopause at age 49 and older. This difference in BMD was not observed in the women aged 60 and over. Early menopause was no more likely to be a risk factor for bone loss in the elderly women. We conclude that bone loss in the lumbar spine begins before menopause and is accelerated markedly by menopause for about ten years, and that menopause has a greater decreasing effect on the bone mass than does chronological age while each of them has an independent effect on the bone mass decrement.

Molecular organization of bacteriochlorophyll in chlorosomes of the green photosynthetic bacteriumChloroflexus aurantiacus: Studies of fluorescence depolarization accompanied by energy transfer processes

Examination was made of changes in fluorescence polarization plane by energy transfer in the chlorosomes of the green photosynthetic bacterium,Chloroflexus aurantiacus. Fluorescence anisotropy in the picosecond (ps) time region was analyzed using chlorosomes suspended in solution as well as those oriented in a polyacrylamide gel. When the main component of BChlc was preferentially excited, the decay of fluorescence anisotropy was found to depend on wavelength. In the chlorosome suspension, the anisotropy ratio of BChlc changed from 0.31 to 0.24 within 100 ps following excitation. In the baseplate BChla region, this ratio decreased to a negative value (-0.09) from the initial 0.14. In oriented samples, the degree of polarization remained at 0.68 for BChlc, and changed from 0.25 to -0.40 for the baseplate BChla by excitation light whose electric vector was parallel to the longest axis of chlorosomes. In the latter case, there was a shift from 0.30 to -0.55 by excitation perpendicular to the longest axis. Time-resolved fluorescence polarization spectra clearly indicated extensive changes in polarization plane accompanied by energy transfer. The directions of polarization plane of emission from oriented samples were mostly dependent on chlorosome orientation in the gel but not on that of the polarization plane of excitation light. Orientations of the dipole moment of fluorescence components was consistent with that of absorption components as determined by the linear dichroism (Matsuura et al. (1993) Photochem. Photobiol. 57: 92-97). A model for molecular organization of BChlc anda in chlorosomes is proposed based on anisotropic optical properties.

The effects of daily wear of rigid gas permeable contact lenses treated with contact lens care solutions containing preservatives on the rabbit cornea

We evaluated the effects on the rabbit cornea of daily wear of rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses treated with preserved care solutions by measuring concomitant tear lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity followed by in vivo tandem scanning confocal microscopy (TSCM). In vivo morphologic changes were confirmed by in vitro scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Two standard commercial RGP lens wetting and soaking solutions from the same manufacturer were tested: solution A with 0.004% benzalkonium chloride (BAK) and solution B with 0.003% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) and 0.002% thimerosal. Two experimental PBS-based wetting and soaking solutions were also tested: solution C with 0.005% BAK and 2% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and solution D with 0.005% BAK without HPMC. Instillation of solution A without contact lens wear caused significant (P < 0.01) increases in desquamation of the superficial corneal epithelium and tear LDH activity compared with control eyes. After 3 weeks of RGP contact lens daily wear (8 hours/day), modified Draize scores of ocular surface lesions on the eyes wearing RGP lenses treated with solution A increased according to the duration of lens wear. Solution B did not produce significant change. With daily wear for 4 days (8 hours/day), RGP lenses treated with solution C and solution D produced increased corneal epithelium desquamation and an increase of LDH activity in tears. These effects were greater with HPMC (solution C) than without HPMC (solution D).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A new testicular feminization mutation found in C57BL/6J mice

A new testicular feminization (Tfm) mutation found in the inbred strain of mice, C57BL/6JJms, was separated from the original line and established as a mutant strain. This line was named C57BL/6JJms-TfmJms. The process of discovery and breeding are described. Body weights were compared among male, normal virgin female and Tfm mice between 5 and 40 weeks of age. Tfm mice were generally intermediate in weight between male and virgin female mice. This result is different from that previously reported for the Tfm mouse strains and may be of interest in comparison between Tfm mice and their normal litter mates.

The effects of frequently rotating shiftwork on sleep and the family life of hospital nurses

The effects of three frequently rotating shifts in an irregular sequence on the daily activities of 239 Japanese female hospital nurses were studied by the time-budget method. The nurses recorded their daily activities for several consecutive days. The questionnaire was returned by 80.8% of the participants, and recordings of 1016 days were analysed. A two-way analysis of variance clarified that the shift combination influenced the daily activities. The most distinct result was that nurses spent significantly more time on free-time activities on the day when they worked the night shift followed by the evening shift than they did on the day when they worked any other shift combination. Nurses offset sleep deprivation either by sleeping during the day before and after working the night shift (82-100%) or by sleeping 2 to 4 h later in the morning after working the evening shift and on days off. There was a strong positive correlation between total sleep time (including day sleep) and the length of the interval between two consecutive shifts (r = 0.95, p < 0.001). This result suggests that more than 16 h between work shifts is required to allow more than 7 h of total sleep time. In an analysis by household status, nurses who had young children (average age, 2.8 years) slept less and spent less time on free-time activities than did other nurses.

[A case of multiple myeloma associated with a large subcutaneous mass in the frontal region]

A case of multiple myeloma having plasmacytoma in the frontal bone and clivus is reported. A 68-year-old female was referred to our hospital because of a subcutaneous mass in the frontal region. She was diagnosed as having multiple myeloma 7 years ago and had been treated with chemotherapy. On admission, severe anemia, hyperproteinemia and elevation of serum lambda type immunoglobulin G (IgG) were pointed out. Plain skull X-rays showed numerous punched out lesions with a large bone defect of the frontal bone. CT scan and MRI revealed a mass lesion in the clivus in addition to a large epidural tumor in the frontal region. The encapsulated frontal epidural tumor was totally resected and cranioplasty was performed with resin. Histological diagnosis was plasmacytoma of IgG lambda type. The postoperative course was uneventful, and chemotherapy was continued. There was no tumor recurrence in the frontal region and no neurological deterioration, but she died of DIC 15 months after the operation. Twenty seven cases in the literature of multiple myeloma forming cranial or intracranial plasmacytoma were briefly reviewed. Although the prognosis of such cases is poor, total resection of medullary plasmacytoma is warranted especially in multiple myeloma patients who don't have another extramedullary plasmacytoma or plasma cell leukemia.