Determination of the amino acid sequence of adreno-ferredoxin from sheep adrenocortical mitochondria

1. An adreno-ferredoxin was purified from sheep adrenocortical mitochondria. 2. Its amino acid composition and amino acid sequence were determined chemically. 3. It was found to be composed of 127 amino acid residues, including two tyrosyl residues. 4. The amino acid sequences of various ferredoxins of the two iron and two sulfur type were compared with respect to amino acid homology.

Rat prostatic growth factors: purification and characterization of high and low molecular weight epidermal growth factors from rat dorsolateral prostate

Growth factors which possibly participate in androgen-induced proliferation of rat prostate epithelial cells have been purified and characterized. Four distinct forms of growth factor were found in the extract of rat dorsolateral prostate. One of the factors was a member of heparin-binding growth factor (HBGF) family judging from its high affinity for heparin-Sepharose. The other three factors were capable of competing with [125I]epidermal growth factor (EGF) for the cell surface receptor, and recognized by anti-rat EGF antiserum. These EGF-like factors (EGF1-EGF3) were purified by ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration and reverse phase HPLC. EGF1 showed microheterogeneity on chromatographic and electrophoretic separation and N-terminal sequence analysis. EGF1 showed an average molecular weight of about 35,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing conditions. These results indicated that EGF1 was a mixture of high molecular weight forms of EGF. The molecular weights of EGF2 and EGF3 were similar to that of rat submaxillary gland EGF (Mr = 5400). The amino acid sequence of EGF2 was identical with that of rat EGF except for the N- and C-terminal amino acids: aspartic acid instead of asparagine was found at the N-terminal position and C-terminal arginine was missing in EGF2. Although the N-terminal sequence of EGF3 (1-19) was identical with that of EGF2, the two factors were completely separated by gel filtration indicating a difference in the C-terminal structure. EGF1, EGF2 and EGF3 but not HBGF stimulated proliferation of primary cultured rat dorsolateral prostate epithelial cells.

19F-MRI of stomach and intestine using 50% FTPA emulsion under 2 T MRI system

1H-MRI is of clinical value in many lesions, but imaging of gastrointestinal lesions is still difficult by 1H-MRI. To overcome this weak point of 1H-MRI, rabbit stomachs were examined by 19F-MRI using 50% FTPA emulsion. We also examined the stability of 50% FTPA emulsion in the stomach and its absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. We found that 50% FTPA emulsion was very stable at pH 1.5, and only a very small amount was absorbed. A rabbit (weighing 2 kg) was anesthetized, and 100 ml of 50% FTPA emulsion was infused into the stomach by catheter. 19F-MRI was performed in this rabbit using a 2 T superconducting MRI system designed for human use, and clear pictures of the stomach were obtained. From our results we conclude that 19F-MRI of the stomach using 50% FTPA emulsion is of practical value.

Neutralizing effect of sodium thiosulfate on antitumor efficacy of cisplatin for human carcinoma xenografts in nude mice

The present study was designed to examine the antitumor efficacy of combination chemotherapy with sodium thiosulfate (STS) and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) using a murine model. Xenograft tumors of the endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line responded well to intraperitoneal chemotherapy with CDDP in nude mice. However, addition of STS to CDDP treatment canceled the antitumor effect of CDDP. Such a finding was obtained in mice injected subcutaneously with STS even 72 hr after treatment with CDDP. On the other hand, alleviation of CDDP-induced side effects by administration of STS was not observed in mice treated by several modalities of combination chemotherapy with STS and CDDP. Thus, addition of STS to CDDP treatment reduced CDDP's antitumor efficacy with only minimal alleviation of side effects, suggesting that it would provide no benefit in patients treated with CDDP.

Neuraminic acid and related compounds. V. Syntheses of biologically active sialosyl-glycerol derivatives and galactosyl-glycerol derivative

New 1-acyl-sialosyl-glycerol derivatives (1a--d alpha, 1a--d beta, 2 alpha, 2 beta, which mimic the structure of the capsular polysaccharide of group C meningococcal were synthesized by the use of a chiral glycerol derivative, and were found to have phospholipases A2 and C inhibitory activities. Furthermore, synthesis of 2-palmitoyl-sialosyl-glycerol derivative (4 alpha, 4 beta, 5 alpha, 5 beta), galactosyl-glycerol derivative (6), and sialosyl-galactosyl-glycerol derivative (7) were carried out to examine the difference between these activities. Among these sialosyl derivatives, 3-palmitoyl-sialosyl-glycerol derivatives (1--3 alpha, 1--3 beta) demonstrated the most potent inhibitory activities.

Occurrence of bilirubin-IX beta in the gallbladder bile of eel, Anguilla japonica

Bilirubin-IX beta isomer was detected in the bile of eel, Anguilla japonica, as evidenced by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of free acid and its ethyl anthranilate diazo derivatives. Bilirubin-IX beta accounted for 16.7 +/- 6.0 (mean +/- S.D.) percent of the total bilirubins in the bile of 40 eels analysed, and the percentage was much higher than that reported in the biles of mammals.

An immunohistochemical study of colon-ovarian tumor antigen and colon-specific antigen in gynecologic tumors

The distribution of colon--ovarian tumor antigen (COTA) and colon-specific antigen (CSA) was studied immunohistochemically in gynecologic tumors. The antigens were absent in the serous benign tumors of the ovary and in the normal ovarian tissues, whereas they were detected in some of the mucinous benign tumors. COTA and CSA were present and similarly distributed in most malignant epithelial tumors of the ovary, with their expression increasing with malignancy. Both antigens were almost completely absent in normal glands of the endometrium, but were expressed in many of the endometrial adenocarcinomas. Adenocarcinomas of the cervix were strongly positive for both antigens, and they were also detected in some of the normal cervical glands. However, no relationship was found between the expression of the two antigens and that of argyrophilia, an intestinal metaplasia.

Syntheses of biologically active sialosylglycerol derivatives

New sialosylglycerol derivatives were synthesized and found to inhibit the phospholipase A2 and C activities.

An immunohistochemical study of small-cell and poorly differentiated carcinomas of the cervix using neuroendocrine markers

Small-cell and poorly differentiated carcinomas of the cervix were studied immunohistochemically for several neuroendocrine and epithelial markers. Neuroendocrine markers were frequently expressed in small-cell carcinomas with argyrophilia; of the seven such tumors, four were immunoreactive with anti-chromogranin, seven with antineuroendocrine, five with anti-Leu 7, and seven with anti-neuron-specific enolase. Only neuron-specific enolase, however, was expressed in two of the three small-cell carcinomas without argyrophilia. On the other hand, one of the epithelial markers, epithelial membrane antigen, was strongly positive in all three small-cell carcinomas without argyrophilia and all seven poorly differentiated carcinomas, while it was expressed only weakly and focally in all small-cell carcinomas with argyrophilia except in one case. In conclusion, it is suggested that the immunohistochemical demonstration of several neuroendocrine markers may be helpful in diagnosing neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix as a supplement to conventional light microscopy, silver staining, and electron microscopy.

[The clinical evaluation of sialyl Lewis Xi antigen in patients with gynecologic tumors]

In order to estimate the clinical significance of sialyl Lewis Xi (SLXi) antigen, the antigen was measured with an "FH-6" Otsuka Kit in sera from patients with various gynecologic tumors and healthy women. The antigen in ovarian cyst fluids was also determined. Furthermore, serum SLXi antigen levels were serially followed up in the patients with elevated serum SLXi levels to evaluate the correlation between serum SLXi levels and the response to treatment. Results obtained were as follows. 1) Among the patients with uterine myoma, uterine malignancies and benign ovarian tumors, the incidence of elevated serum SLXi antigen levels was very low. 2) Among the patients with ovarian malignancies, serum SLXi antigen levels was significantly increased in the following order: clinical stage I (38%), stage II (50%) and stage III (65%). 3) The high SLXi value was observed in the cyst fluid from all ovarian mucinous adenomas and all ovarian cancers. In addition SLXi antigen level was significantly higher in the cyst fluid of mucinous adenocarcinomas than that of serous cystadenocarcinomas. 4) Serum SLXi values were correlated with the effect of treatment. Interestingly, the elevation of serum SLXi levels preceded the clinical detection of recurrence by 3 month in a case. Thus SLXi antigen appears to be a useful marker for monitoring of ovarian malignancies, especially of mucinous adenocarcinomas.

An immunohistochemical study of neuroendocrine cells in gynecologic tumors

Various gynecologic tumors with argyrophilia were studied immunohistochemically for chromogranin using two antibodies, antichromogranin and antineuroendocrine. Of seven small cell carcinomas of the cervix, four were immunoreactive with antichromogranin and seven with antineuroendocrine. Argyrophil cells of six cervical adenocarcinomas were all immunoractive with both antibodies. Type I argyrophil cells of 20 endometrial carcinomas were likewise stained positively. However, of the 30 endometrial carcinomas with type II argyrophil cells, 19 showed positive immunoreactivity for chromogranin and 22 for neuroendocrine. Of the ovarian tumors tested, argyrophil cells of 11 mucinous tumors, three carcinoid tumors, and the pancreatic tissue of a malignant mixed germ cell tumor were all chromogranin- and neuroendocrine-immunoreactive. Type I argyrophil cells of five endometrioid carcinomas of the ovary were also immunoreactive with both antibodies. Of the 13 endometrioid carcinomas with type II argyrophil cells, only four showed positive immunoreactivity for chromogranin and only five for neuroendocrine. In conclusion, both antichromogranin and antineuroendocrine detect the specific neuroendocrine markers in close association with argyrophilia in gynecologic tumors, the latter being more sensitive for small cell carcinoma of the cervix, and for type II argyrophil cells in adenocarcinoma of the endometrium and endometrioid carcinoma of the ovary.

A nonsialylated high-molecular-weight glycoprotein defined by a monoclonal antibody to adenocarcinoma of the uterine endometrium

A murine monoclonal antibody, MCA-97, was prepared against a human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line. In a cellular enzyme-linked immunospecific assay, the MCA-97 antibody reacted with all adenocarcinoma cell lines tested, including four endometrial adenocarcinoma lines. The antigen defined by MCA-97 was estimated to be a nonsialylated high-molecular-weight glycoprotein containing galactose and N-acetylglucosamine in its determinant. In immunoperoxidase staining of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections, MCA-97 reacted with most endometrial adenocarcinomas and ovarian endometrioid-type adenocarcinomas, and also reacted with normal glandular epithelium of the female genital and gastrointestinal tracts. However, it was mostly unreactive with squamous cell carcinoma and ovarian serous adenocarcinoma tissues. By the reversed passive hemagglutination method, the antigen defined by MCA-97 was detected in the sera of one-third of patients with endometrial adenocarcinomas, and in half of those with ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinomas. The antigen was not demonstrable in the sera of most normal female volunteers. Thus, MCA-97 monoclonal antibody has potential clinical applications in diagnostic serology and pathology.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor in gynecologic tumors

Pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) is a specific trypsin inhibitor secreted by the acinar cells of the pancreas. Serum levels of immunoreactive PSTI have been reported elevated in patients with various malignancies including gynecologic tumors. The immunohistochemical localization of PSTI is studied in the comparison with argyrophilia and amylase immunoreactivity on 100 ovarian tumors, 35 endometrial carcinomas, and 34 cervical carcinomas. PSTI was noted in 19 of 85 common epithelial tumors of the ovary, being most frequently in mucinous tumors and less in endometrioid, but only occurred in immature pancreatic tissue of 1 of 15 germ cell tumors tested. In the uterus, 5 of 19 adenocarcinomas of the endometrium and 3 of 10 adenocarcinomas of the cervix were positive for PSTI immunoreactivity. PSTI was found more frequently in the tumors with argyrophil cells, especially of type I, but was related to the intestinal metaplasia and exocrine secretion rather than argyrophilia itself, judging from the different localization of PSTI and argyrophilic granules. No relationship was observed between amylase and PSTI immunoreactivity.

Sialyl Lewis-Xi antigen in patients with gynecologic tumors

Sialyl Lewis-Xi antigen was measured by sandwich radioimmunoassay in sera from patients with various gynecologic tumors: 27 uterine myomas, 117 cervical cancers, 46 endometrial cancers, 54 benign ovarian cysts, and 47 ovarian cancers. Among the patients with uterine malignancies, only a few cases showed serum sialyl Lewis-Xi antigen values in excess of the cutoff limit. On the other hand, among the patients with ovarian cancers, serum sialyl Lewis-Xi antigen was elevated significantly in the following order: clinical stage I (44%), stage II (50%), and stage III (62%). The antigen level also correlated with the effect of treatment. However, serum sialyl Lewis-Xi antigen was elevated in 9% of patients with benign ovarian cysts and in 1.4% of normal volunteers. The lack of tumor specificity of sialyl Lewis-Xi antigen limits its diagnostic value for gynecologic malignancies, but serial measurement of this antigen may be useful in evaluating therapy and monitoring patients.

[Altered expression of Lewis antigens associated with malignant transformation in endometrial tissues]

Fetal, normal adult, and malignant tissues of the uterine endometrium were examined by immunoperoxidase staining for Lewis antigens. Pronounced expression of Lewis-a, Lewis-b, and Lewis-Y antigens in malignant tissues was observed, compared with that in normal adult tissues. Moreover, the amplified expression of Lewis-b antigen was considerably higher than that of Lewis-a and Lewis-Y antigens. On the other hand, Lewis-X antigen was less expressed in malignant tissues than in normal adult tissues. These results suggest that fucose-transferase activity might be increased in malignant tissues and that the type I carbohydrate chain may play a role in the malignant transformation. In addition, Lewis-b and Lewis-Y antigens can be considered to be oncofetal antigens since they were frequently expressed in fetal and malignant tissues, but not in normal adult tissues. However, the functional significance of these changes in the expression of Lewis antigens remains to be investigated.

[Expression of blood group antigens A, B, H, Lewis a, Lewis b, in malignant lesions of the uterine cervix]

The fetal, normal adult, and malignant squamous epitheliums of the cervix were immunohistochemically examined by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method with monoclonal antibodies for blood group antigens (BGAs) A, B, H, Lewis a, and Lewis b. The results were as follows. 1) ABH antigen compatible with ABO status was found in most normal squamous epithelium of fetal and adult cervix. 2) Compatible ABH and A antigen were abolished in small cell nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinomas (SNKCs) and large cell nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinomas (LNKCs), respectively. But no remarkable change in ABH antigen expression was observed in other types of cervical lesions. 3) Precursor H antigen was accumulated in all types of malignant lesions. 4) Incompatible expression of A or B antigen was observed in some cases of LNKCs and keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas. 5) Lewis antigens were abolished to various degrees in malignant lesions of the cervix. The present study showed the change in BGAs expression during carcinogenesis of the cervix, but further investigation is needed to elucidate the interaction between these changes in BGAs and the biological behavior of cancer cells.

Biological activities of chemically synthesized N-acetylneuraminic acid-(alpha 2----6)-monosaccharide analogs of lipid A

The mitogenicity and lethal toxicity of chemically synthesized lipid A analogs, in which 2,3-acyloxyacylglucosamine-4-phosphate linked to tetraacetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid (compound A-207) or to N-acetylneuraminic acid (compound A-307), were examined. Although the mitogenic activity of the synthetic compounds was weaker than that of bacterial LPS, doses of 10-50 micrograms/ml of A-207 and 5-10 micrograms/ml of A-307 were capable of increasing incorporation of [3H]thymidine into cultured spleen cells of C57BL/6 mice. Lethal toxicity of A-207 was observed at 10 micrograms/mouse in C57BL/6 mice sensitized with D-galactosamine hydrochloride. However, the attachment of tetraacetyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid or N-acetylneuraminic acid does not appear to enhance the biological activity of acyloxyacylglucosamine-4-phosphate.

Inhibitory effect of polymyxin B on catecholamine secretion from cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells

Incubation of cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), an activator of Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C), was associated with increased secretion of catecholamine (CA) from the cells. Polymyxin B (PMB, 30-300 microM), a preferential inhibitor of protein kinase C, inhibited the TPA-induced secretion of CA. PMB also inhibited CA secretion induced by other secretagogues, the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin (10 microM), 56 mM K+ or acetylcholine (ACh). Ionomycin, 56 mM K+ or ACh increased the concentration of intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) (measured using the fluorescent calcium indicator quin2), whereas TPA did not increase [Ca2+]i. PMB blocked the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by 56 mM K+ or ACh at concentrations similar to those inhibiting the secretion of CA. In contrast, PMB did not affect ionomycin-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. These results strongly suggest that CA secretion induced by TPA or ionomycin is mediated via activation of protein kinase C. The results further indicate that in 56 mM K+- or ACh-evoked CA secretion, PMB inhibits the secretion by blocking Ca2+ influx into the cells.

Purification and characterization of Vibrio vulnificus protease

A protease was purified from a strain of Vibrio vulnificus isolated from the blood of a septicemic human. The vibrio was cultured in bacto peptone-yeast extract medium, and the protease was purified by a purification procedure including ultrafiltration of the culture supernatant with an Amicon YM 5 membrane, diethylaminoethyl-Sephacel column chromatography, Sephacryl S-200 column chromatography and fast protein liquid chromatography on Mono Q column. The protease preparation revealed homogeneity on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and about 30,000-fold purification was achieved, with a yield of about 30%. The isoelectric point of the purified V. vulnificus protease was about 5.80 and its molecular weight was ca. 45,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The optimum pH of the protease activity was 8.0. The V. vulnificus protease was inhibited by a metalloprotease inhibitor and zinc ion and/or ferrous ion were essential for its enzyme activity. No cysteine residue was detected in the V. vulnificus protease. The protease had caseinolytic, elastolytic and collagenolytic activities.

DNA strand scission by hemin-thiolate complexes as models of cytochrome P-450

Hemin-thiolate complexes, as chemical models for cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases, have been shown to cause strand scission of DNA. Circular super-coiled DNA was degraded to open-circular and linear forms by these complexes in 30 min at pH 7.8 under aerobic conditions, the degradation depending on the structure of the thiol ligand and the ratio of thiol ligand to hemin concentration. The relationship between the structure of the thiol ligand and DNA strand cleaving activity was examined. Complete cleavage of DNA was observed by complexes containing TGE and ME at 400-600 moles excess of thiol ligand to hemin, those containing Cys, CysMe, and CysEt at 50-200 moles excess, and those containing MPG, GSH, penta- and nona-peptides at 5-20 moles excess. Complexes containing NACys and MEA caused no cleavage of DNA. Inhibition experiments suggested the involvement of active oxygen species in the cleavage.

Effects of nicardipine and other Ca2+-antagonists on catecholamine transport into chromaffin granule membrane vesicles

Nicardipine (10(-7)-2 X 10(-5) M) inhibited the transport of noradrenaline into chromaffin granule membrane vesicles in a concentration-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect of nicardipine was found to be appreciably stronger than that of other Ca2+-antagonists(diltiazem, nifedipine and verapamil) and was not due to the blockade of Ca2+-channel in the granule membranes.

Carious change of dentin observed on longspan ultrathin sections

Ultramicroscopic carious changes were studied by using longspan ultrathin sections of dentin, which included a continuous piece of dentin from the pulp chamber wall up to the carious cavity floor. The changes observed in the inner carious dentin were gradual and continuous, with dissolution of crystals attached to the matrix fibers, whereas the changes observed in the outer carious dentin were rather abrupt and definite, with irregularly-scattered fine-granular crystals.

[Talampicillin hydrochloride: Comparison with amoxicillin and ampicillin in the antibacterial activity and pharmacokinetics (author's transl)]

The antibacterial activities, absorption and excretion of talampicillin hydrochloride were compared with those of amoxicillin and ampicillin. Talampicillin hydrochloride showed a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as seen in amoxicillin and ampicillin. The antibacterial activities of talampicillin hydrochloride, amoxicillin and ampicillin were quite similar. In experimental murine infection with Staphylococcus aureus, protective effect of talampicillin hydrochloride was superior to ampicillin. For Escherichia coli infection, protective effect of talampicillin hydrochloride was similar to that of amoxicillin, while ampicillin was less active than both talampicillin hydrochloride and amoxicillin. The absorption and excretion of 250 mg equivalent doses of talampicillin hydrochloride, amoxicillin and ampicillin were compared in nine fasting healthy volunteers after oral administration of these antibiotics in randomized triple crossover study. In order to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters, plasma levels were analyzed using an one-compartment open model, as well as area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC) and urinary excretion. Maximum plasma levels calculated were 2.8 times higher for talampicillin hydrochloride and 1.45 times higher for amoxicillin than for ampicillin. AUC was greater for talampicillin hydrochloride than for amoxicillin and lowest for ampicillin. Urinary excretion of talampicillin hydrochloride as penicillin determined in biological assay was comparable to that of amoxicillin and 1.55 times higher than that of ampicillin. Penicillins can be metabolized to penicilloic acids in the body. After taking into account the penicilloic acid contents in urine, total excretion in urine was 61% for talampicillin hydrochloride, 67% for amoxicillin and 42% for ampicillin during 6 hours after dosing. The absorption of the drugs was evaluated according to the plasma levels, the area under plasma concentration curve and the percentage of excretion in urine. The results obtained showed that talampicillin hydrochloride was well absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract.