Stimulation of hair growth by topical application of FK506, a potent immunosuppressive agent

FK506, a macrolide antibiotic produced by Streptomyces tsukubaensis, is known as a potent T cell-specific immunosuppressant, and is effective against graft rejection after organ transplantation. Topical application of FK506 (0.03-1 mumol) to dorsal skin of CD-1 mice stimulated hair growth in a dose-dependent manner. Unlike topical application, oral administration of 30 mg/kg of FK506, a dose that induces marked immunosuppression, did not stimulate significant hair growth. Topical application of FK506 also stimulated hair growth of rats and Syrian golden hamsters. FK506 stimulated hair growth even in SCID mice that lack both B- and T-cell immunity. Therefore, it is unlikely that the hair growth-stimulatory effect of FK506 results from its immunosuppressive effect. FK506 (0.01-1 microM) stimulated both [3H]thymidine and [3H]glycine uptakes to cultured mouse vibrissae follicles in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, when the follicles were treated with FK506 (1 microM) for 16 d, the size of the follicles (length of hair plus follicle) increased slightly but significantly. On the other hand, the size of the non-treated follicles did not increase significantly. These results indicate that FK506 directly stimulates hair follicles. Long-term treatment of mice with FK506, i.e., topical application of 1 mumol FK506 twice a week for 6 months, did not affect body weight gain of mice, and the FK506-treated mice looked healthy. FK506 may be useful as a stimulant of hair growth.

Mutually exclusive exon use and reactive center diversity in insect serpins

We have isolated 38 cDNA clones for serpins from a lepidopteran insect, Manduca sexta, and have found that they are identical in sequence, except for a region encoding the carboxyl-terminal 40-45 residues, which includes the reactive center. Among these clones, there are 11 variants of the reactive center region, each encoded by a different version of the ninth exon in the serpin gene. Thus, evolution of this insect serpin gene has resulted from duplication and sequence divergence of only the exon encoding the reactive site. Alternative pre-mRNA splicing then generates inhibitor diversity and the potential to regulate a variety of proteinases, using the same protein framework joined to different reactive site region cassettes.

A modified force-velocity equation for smooth muscle contraction

It has been suggested that in skeletal muscle the force-velocity relationship may not be a simple hyperbolic one, as defined by Hill's equation. To determine whether smooth muscle demonstrated the same properties, quick-release force-velocity curves were obtained from canine tracheal smooth muscle. The results showed that the observed data points for tracheal smooth muscle systematically deviated from a hyperbola. Such deviation occurred at values of force (P) approaching maximum isometric force (Po) for curves elicited by quick release at 2 and 10 s in the course of isometric contractions. Shortening velocities under a given afterload were overestimated at the high-force end (P > 75% Po) by Hill's equation; this implied that a relationship more complex than a simple hyperbola was involved at high loads. We next focused on finding an equation to also fit those directly measured data points that did not conform to a hyperbola. Our rationale in developing the equation was that a plot of the linearized transform of Hill's equation should yield a straight line over the entire range of loads at which velocities were measured. The plot demonstrated that, in the low-load high-velocity portion of the curve, a peak value was reached at 70-80% Po, which decreased as load increased in the high-load low-velocity portion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sensory modality distribution in the anterior ectosylvian cortex (AEC) of cats

Modality specificity of neuronal responses to visual, somesthetic and auditory stimuli was investigated in the anterior ectosylvian cortex (AEC) of cats, using single-unit recording techniques. Seven classes of neurons were found, and according to their responsiveness to sensory stimuli regrouped into three categories: unimodal, bimodal and trimodal. Unimodal cells that responded to only one of the three stimulus modalities formed 59% of the units; 30.2% were bimodal, in that they showed a clear increase of neuronal discharges to two of the three stimulus types; 10.8% were defined as trimodal because they responded to all three stimulus modalities. Although the different categories of cells were intermingled within the AEC, indicating a certain degree of overlap between sensory modalities, some clustering of cell types was nonetheless evident. Thus, the somatosensory responsive cells were mainly located in the anterior two-thirds of the dorsal bank of the anterior ectosylvian sulcus. Visually responsive cells were concentrated on the ventral bank of the sulcus, whereas neurons with an auditory response occupied the banks and fundus of the posterior three-quarters of the sulcus. The histological distribution and physiological properties of AEC neurons suggest that this cortical region is a higher-order associative area whose function may be to integrate information from different sensory modalities.

Chronic levodopa administration alters cerebral mitochondrial respiratory chain activity

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized mainly by a loss of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons. Thus far, the actual physiopathology of PD remains uncertain, although recent studies have found decreased activity of complex I, one of the enzymatic units of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, in various tissues of PD patients. Because most, if not all, of PD patients are treated chronically with levodopa, the precursor of dopamine, and because we have shown previously that catecholamines may alter mitochondrial respiration, we assessed the effects of chronic administration of levodopa on complex I activity in rat brain. We found that chronic administration of levodopa, at a dose used in PD patients, caused a significant reduction in complex I activity while it did not affect the activities of complex II, complex IV, and citrate synthase. Reduction in complex I activity correlated well with catecholamine innervation as the reduction was observed mainly in the striatum and substantia nigra and to a lesser extent in the frontal cortex but not in the cerebellum. Moreover, the levodopa-induced decrease of complex I activity was reversible since activities at 1, 3, and 7 days after the last injection showed a progressive return to control values. Incubation of whole brain mitochondria in vitro showed that both levodopa and dopamine inhibit complex I activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In contrast, other compounds such as homovanillic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and 3-O-methyl-dopa were minimally effective. Reduced glutathione, ascorbate, superoxide dismutase, and catalase prevented the effect of levodopa and dopamine on complex I. Various inhibitors of monoamine oxidase also prevented the effect of dopamine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Organization, sequence, and expression of the murine S100 beta gene. Transcriptional regulation by cell type-specific cis-acting regulatory elements

The organization, sequence, and transcriptional regulation of expression of the murine S100 beta gene are reported. The gene is approximately 9 kilobase pairs in length and is composed of three exons and two introns. The deduced murine S100 beta protein sequence differs from the human S100 beta protein by only 1 amino acid. The murine S100 beta gene contains a TATA box (AATAA) and a reverse CCAAT box (ATTGG) located at 30 nucleotides and 92 nucleotides upstream of the cap site, respectively. A 149-base pair DNA fragment (-157/-9) spanning the TATA box and the reverse CCAAT box functions as a promoter. The murine S100 beta promoter drives a 4-fold higher level of transcription in glial (C6) than in non-glial (3T3) cells, suggesting the existence of a potential cell type-specific regulatory element within the promoter region. The 5'-flanking region suppresses transcription from the homologous S100 beta as well as the heterologous SV40 promoters in an orientation-independent fashion. However, the 5'-flanking region exhibits cell type specificity when suppressing the S100 beta promoter-dependent transcription, indicating its involvement in the cell type-specific expression of S100 beta gene. In order to map cell type-specific regulatory elements, transcription analyses of various deletions of the 5'-region were carried out in C6 and 3T3 cells. Two cell type-specific negative regulatory elements, one active in non-glial cells and another active in glial cells, were mapped to the regions -1552/-1234 and -1234/-551, respectively. A strong negative regulatory element and a relatively weak negative element were located in the regions -551/-157 and -1669/-1552, respectively. The murine S100 beta gene is under complex transcriptional regulation involving tonic negative control exerted by combination of multiple cis-acting regulatory elements including cell type-specific elements.

The transforming activity of activated G alpha 12

Heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins transduce receptor-mediated extracellular signals to their effectors. Several activated mutations of Gs alpha and Gi alpha have been shown to be associated with endocrine tumors. In this report, we have evaluated the transforming activity of an putative activated form of G alpha 12 subunit. We found that transient expression in NIH3T3 cells of the G alpha 12 mutant with substitution of glutamine-229 for leucine could lead to focus formation and that stably transfected NIH3T3 cells could form colonies in soft agar and tumors in nude mice.

Induction of RAR-beta 2 gene expression in embryos and RAR-beta 2 transactivation by the synthetic retinoid Ro 13-6307 correlates with its high teratogenic potency

Vitamin A (retinol), its metabolite all-trans retinoic acid (RA), and many synthetic analogs (retinoids) express variable potencies as teratogens. Although biological activities of retinoids are mediated by nuclear RA receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs), it is not known if any of these receptors mediate teratogenicity, and if the potency also depends on the nature of the ligand-receptor interactions. Previous evidence has implicated that one specific isoform, RAR-beta 2, does play a role in mediating retinoid teratogenicity. Here, we employed an aromatic retinoid with a triene side chain, Ro 13-6307, to study its interactions with RAR-beta 2 since its teratogenicity is much higher and its accessibility to the embryo is much lower than RA. A fully teratogenic dose of Ro 13-6307 (10 mg-kg) given to pregnant mice preferentially elevated the level of RAR-beta 2 mRNA in susceptible embryonic regions (maximal induction, 10- to 12-fold above control in limb buds) in a manner comparable to a fully teratogenic dose of all-trans RA (100 mg-kg). Using the RAR-beta 2 promoter linked to a reporter gene in cotransfection experiments, the efficacy of Ro 13-6307 and RAR-beta 2 in transcription transactivation was found to be 30-40 times greater than all-trans RA. Since the teratogenic potency of Ro 13-6307 is estimated from a previous study to be 44-fold greater than all-trans RA, we suggest that the teratogenicity of this synthetic retinoid is generally proportional to its ability to enhance receptor function.

Adenosine receptor antagonists potentiate dopamine receptor agonist-induced rotational behavior in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats

Adenosine receptor antagonists, DMPX, PACPX and theophylline, produce contralateral rotations in unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats. DMPX and theophylline markedly increase rotations produced by bromocriptine (a dopamine D2 receptor agonist) and/or SKF38393A (a dopamine D1 receptor agonist). All of these effects are inhibited by CGS21680C (an adenosine A2 receptor agonist). These findings suggest synergistic interactions among D1, D2 and A2 receptors that may be relevant to the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Use of a new index to study relaxation in a vascular model of anaphylactic shock

We have reported increased smooth muscle shortening ability in ragweed pollen-sensitized saphenous vein (SSV). This may account for the vascular hyperreactivity of anaphylactic shock. We have now investigated relaxation in SSV. Because isotonic relaxation is load and initial contractile element length dependent, we developed an adjusted half-relaxation time index, which was independent of these variables. Muscle activation state was monitored by measuring maximum unloaded velocity. The relaxation index showed no difference between SSV and control saphenous vein after 2.5, 10, and 15 s of electrical stimulation; however, after 1 s of stimulation it was prolonged significantly in SSV. We concluded that the cross bridges activating early in contraction demonstrated prolonged relaxation. Activation state during muscle relaxation spontaneously increased toward the end of relaxation, coincident with a slowing in isotonic re-elongation rate. This was seen only in muscles relaxing from 15 s of stimulation. Our results indicate that 1) the relaxation properties of early cycling (1 s) cross bridges are altered after sensitization; and 2) toward the end of isotonic relaxation, cross-bridge cycling rate increases spontaneously, a phenomenon not previously reported. We speculate that the rapid re-elongation in late relaxation may reactivate muscle.

Mechanistic differences between migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and IFN-gamma for macrophage activation. MIF and IFN-gamma synergize with lipid A to mediate migration inhibition but only IFN-gamma induces production of TNF-alpha and nitric oxide

Previously we found that murine macrophage migration inhibition (MMI) was mediated by IFN-gamma-priming and lipid A triggering. With the recent availability of human recombinant migration inhibitory factor (MIF), which is distinctly different from IFN-gamma and other cytokines, we have now attempted to explore possible mechanistic differences between IFN-gamma and MIF to mediate MMI. Neither MIF not IFN-gamma were active alone, but effectively primed murine inflammatory macrophages for subsequent triggering by lipid A to mediate MMI. A specific neutralizing antibody for rMIF abrogated MMI mediated only by MIF and not by IFN-gamma-primed macrophages. Distinct differences were also found between the mechanisms by which MIF and IFN-gamma synergized with lipid A for activation in that IFN-gamma-primed and lipid A triggered macrophages produced TNF and nitric oxide (NO), whereas MIF-primed cells did not. Macrophages primed with IFN-gamma and triggered by rTNF were inhibited in their migration, whereas MIF failed to synergize with rTNF for MMI. An inhibitor of NO production NG-monomethyl-L-arginine inhibited MMI mediated by higher activating concentrations of lipid A and by IFN-gamma-primed and lipid A triggered macrophages, but had no effect on MIF-primed cells in concert with lipid A for increased expression of both TNF-alpha mRNA and NO synthase mRNA. Taken together, our results indicate that both MIF and IFN-gamma prime macrophages to synergize with lipid A to mediate MMI but by different mechanisms. The activation process by IFN-gamma to mediate migration inhibition appears to resemble requirements for rendering macrophages tumor cytotoxic in the production of TNF for autocrine-mediated NO generation by primed macrophages. In contrast, MIF-mediated MMI was independent of requirements for either TNF or NO production.

Mechanistic differences between migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and IFN-gamma for macrophage activation. MIF and IFN-gamma synergize with lipid A to mediate migration inhibition but only IFN-gamma induces production of TNF-alpha and nitric oxide

Previously we found that murine macrophage migration inhibition (MMI) was mediated by IFN-gamma-priming and lipid A triggering. With the recent availability of human recombinant migration inhibitory factor (MIF), which is distinctly different from IFN-gamma and other cytokines, we have now attempted to explore possible mechanistic differences between IFN-gamma and MIF to mediate MMI. Neither MIF not IFN-gamma were active alone, but effectively primed murine inflammatory macrophages for subsequent triggering by lipid A to mediate MMI. A specific neutralizing antibody for rMIF abrogated MMI mediated only by MIF and not by IFN-gamma-primed macrophages. Distinct differences were also found between the mechanisms by which MIF and IFN-gamma synergized with lipid A for activation in that IFN-gamma-primed and lipid A triggered macrophages produced TNF and nitric oxide (NO), whereas MIF-primed cells did not. Macrophages primed with IFN-gamma and triggered by rTNF were inhibited in their migration, whereas MIF failed to synergize with rTNF for MMI. An inhibitor of NO production NG-monomethyl-L-arginine inhibited MMI mediated by higher activating concentrations of lipid A and by IFN-gamma-primed and lipid A triggered macrophages, but had no effect on MIF-primed cells in concert with lipid A for increased expression of both TNF-alpha mRNA and NO synthase mRNA. Taken together, our results indicate that both MIF and IFN-gamma prime macrophages to synergize with lipid A to mediate MMI but by different mechanisms. The activation process by IFN-gamma to mediate migration inhibition appears to resemble requirements for rendering macrophages tumor cytotoxic in the production of TNF for autocrine-mediated NO generation by primed macrophages. In contrast, MIF-mediated MMI was independent of requirements for either TNF or NO production.

Role of airway smooth muscle in asthma: possible relation to the neuroendocrine system

Though not yet firmly established, it appears likely that the neuroendocrine system (NES) regulates airway smooth muscle function. As it is the latter which is altered in asthma, the importance of the role of the NES in this disease is clear. The fact that transmitters from the NE cells are released from their basal aspect, and are in close proximity to the subjacent airway smooth muscle, further indicates an interaction. The question then arises as to what are the experimental desiderata for conducting studies of the ASM. These should constitute what Sergei Sorokin has called the "Koch's postulates of airway smooth muscle research." As human tissues from asthmatics are difficult to obtain, animal models have been developed. The requirements are that, in these animals, the allergy be IgE based, that a congenital or familial factor be operative, that a noncholinergic nonadrenergic inhibitory system be a component of the neural regulatory system, and that the antigen for immunization be of a type commonly found in human asthmatics. Ideally, evidence of clinical asthma and exercise-induced asthma and nocturnal attacks should also be present. Unfortunately, no ideal animal models exist and one cannot talk about asthmatic animals, but only of animals with allergic bronchospasm. If in vitro research is to be conducted, there are additional requirements. The tissue should be from a relevant location. The tracheal smooth muscle which has been the favorite, purely because of its convenience, is not a good model. For the early asthmatic attack, central bronchi (3-5 mm diameter) should be used. Muscle strips obtained from them should be parallel-fibred and the cartilage plaques should be carefully dissected away, otherwise they contribute unwanted frictional forces when velocity is measured. Care should be taken to ensure that the epithelial cell layer is intact, as evidence indicates that it may regulate airway muscle function, though this has not been established for all the animal species used in asthma research. The isolated muscle strip should be in a steady state, particularly with respect to the functional variable under study, before definitive data are collected. Most importantly, it is shortening capacity that must be studied, as this is the in vitro analogue to in vivo narrowing of airways. Isometric force development provides information about wall stiffness and is of very little relevance to the elucidation of the mechanism of bronchospasm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The role of protein-protein interactions in the assembly of the presynaptic filament for T4 homologous recombination

The presynaptic filament is an obligatory intermediate in general genetic recombination. It is composed of a strand transferase protein polymerized along single-stranded DNA. In bacteriophage T4-infected cells, the presynaptic filament is composed of at least three proteins. In addition to the strand transferase (the uvsX protein), the uvsY (an accessory factor), and gene 32 (a helix-destabilizing factor), proteins also bind to the single-stranded DNA. In this report, we probe the assembly of the T4 presynaptic filament and the organization of the proteins in the complex. We find that interactions between the uvsY protein and the C terminus of the gene 32 protein are required to load UvsY onto gene 32 protein-covered DNA. Efficient binding of the uvsY protein to DNA is shown to be necessary for subsequent loading of the uvsX protein.

Wild-type adenovirus type 5 transforming genes function as transdominant suppressors of oncogenesis in mutant adenovirus type 5 transformed rat embryo fibroblast cells

Transformation of cloned rat embryo fibroblast (CREF) cells with the host-range adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) mutant, H5hr1, results in transformants with a fibroblastic morphology which displays a cold-sensitive transformation phenotype and oncogenic potential in both nude mice and syngeneic rats. In contrast, wild-type (wt) Ad5 transformed CREF cells are epithelioid in morphology, temperature independent for transformation, and nontumorigenic. The present studies were conducted to analyze the contribution of the mutated E1A and E1B regions of H5hr1 in regulating the biological properties of H5hr1-transformed CREF cells. CREF cells were constructed which contain the mutated E1A and E1B transforming regions of H5hr1 and either a wt Ad5 E1A gene, a wt Ad5 E1B gene, or both a wt Ad5 E1A and a wt E1B gene. A wt Ad5 E1A gene was sufficient in reversing the cold-sensitive transformation phenotype. By using a wt Ad5 E1A gene under the transcriptional control of a dexamethasone-inducible mouse mammary tumor virus promoter, a direct suppressive effect of wt Ad5 E1A on colony formation in monolayer culture and agar growth of H5hr1-transformed cells was demonstrated. Expression of a wt Ad5 E1A, a wt Ad5 E1B, or both wt transforming genes in H5hr1-transformed CREF cells also suppressed oncogenicity. The ability or inability to form tumors in animals was found not to correlate with sensitivity to natural killer cell-mediated lysis. These results indicate that both the wt Ad5 E1A and wt Ad5 E1B genes can function as dominant suppressors of the oncogenic process when coexpressed in H5hr1-transformed CREF cells. This effect does not require large quantities of wt Ad5 E1A or E1B transforming proteins, nor is it directly related to the acquisition of a natural killer cell cytolysis-susceptible phenotype.

Identification of critical regions on phospholipase C-beta 1 required for activation by G-proteins

In order to determine which portion of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC)-beta 1 is required for activation by G alpha q, a series of specific deletions and truncations of PLC-beta 1 cDNA were prepared. After transfection of COS-7 cells with these cDNA clones, the activity and localization of the expressed proteins were determined. Specific deletions in the C-terminal end of the protein did not lead to loss of intrinsic enzymatic activity but did result in loss of the ability to be activated by G alpha q. The region required for activation was localized to the amino acid sequence corresponding to residues 903-1142 of PLC-beta 1. This region was further subdivided into two sequences; one extending from residues Thr-903 to Gln-1030 that was required for particulate fraction association as well as for activation by G alpha q and the other extending from residues Gln-1030 to Leu-1142 that was required for interaction with G alpha subunits. These results were confirmed by the observation that the C-terminal portion of PLC-beta 1, when co-expressed with the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor type 1 or the alpha 1C-adrenergic receptor in COS-7 cells, markedly inhibited ligand-induced release of inositol phosphates. In an in vitro system, two peptides derived from the G-protein interaction region at the C terminus were found to inhibit the guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate-dependent activation of PLC-beta 1 by G alpha q. This further localized the sites on PLC-beta 1 which are involved in interaction with G-protein alpha subunits.