The relationship between hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptor activity and serum cholesterol level in the human fetus

We found that the binding of 125I-low-density lipoprotein to fetal liver low-density lipoprotein receptor rose progressively with the increase in fetal age. During this period, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in fetal serum declined significantly. The correlation coefficients between fetal age and concentration of serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were -0.80 (p less than 0.001) and -0.77 (p less than 0.001), respectively. A significant inverse correlation also existed between the liver low-density lipoprotein receptor activity and the serum total cholesterol (r = -0.96, p less than 0.001) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = -0.95, p less than 0.001) but not high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. It is suggested that the low-density lipoprotein receptors in human fetal liver may play a key role in the regulation of the serum cholesterol levels during gestation.

[Effects of SC1001-sodium on hippocampal kindled seizures by coriaria lactone in rabbits]

Healthy rabbits weighing 1.7-2.4 kg were used. According to Sawyer's atlas the stainless steel cannula and recording electrode were implanted into the left hippocampus of each animal. The kindling experiments were started one week after the surgical operation. For kindling, all animals received injection of 2 microliters of diluted solution containing 0.55 or 0.32 microgram of coriaria lactone (CL) every second day, through the single stainless steel cannula previously implanted in the hippocampus. Hippocampal EEG of all the animals was recorded by telemetric method and the behavior of them was observed at the same time. Eighteen fully kindled rabbits were separated into three groups. The SC1001 Na group of six rabbits was treated with SC1001 Na (100 mg/kg, i.m.), the PB Na group (six rabbits) received phenobarbital Na (30 mg/kg, i.m.), and the control group of six was treated with placebo (normal saline, i.m., in the same volume as that of the SC1001 Na injection); injections were administered once a day for two courses of treatment (one course of treatment was 1 week). The results of the experiment indicated that SC1001 Na (100 mg/kg) had certain effects on hippocampal kindled seizures induced by CL, but its curative effects were not more notable than those of PB Na (30 mg/kg).

Histopathological, cytogenetic, and molecular characterization of renal cortical tumors

We used cytogenetic and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis methods to define genetic alterations and also correlate the changes with histopathology in renal cortical tumors. The study series is comprised of 50 renal tumors in 4 histological categories: (a) clear cell, nonpapillary, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) (n = 32); (b) nonclear cell, nonpapillary RCC (n = 10); (c) papillary RCC (n = 3); and (d) oncocytic tumors (n = 5). Successful karyotypes were obtained from 28 tumors (56%), of which 17 (61%) were abnormal. Abnormalities of chromosome 3p were seen in 9 tumors, which included unbalanced translocations and terminal or interstitial deletions. Abnormalities of chromosome 5 were identified in 11 tumors, 8 of which were due to unbalanced translocations between 3p and 5q, resulting in an extra copy for the region 5q22----ter. In addition, trisomy or tetrasomy of chromosome 17 was seen in 6 (5 with normal chromosome 3 and one with 3p deletion), trisomy or more copies of chromosome 7 in 8 (4 with 3p deletion, 2 with trisomy or tetrasomy 17, and 2 with trisomy alone), and trisomy 12 in 3 (all with trisomy 17) tumors. Furthermore, relative deficiency of chromosome 17p was seen in 3 (all with deletion 3p) and chromosome 18 in 4 (all with deletion 3p) tumors. RFLP analysis with four chromosome 3 specific probes detected 3p deletions in 19 tumors with the most common breakpoint located between 3p14-21. The 19 3p deletions detected by RFLP included tumors that also showed rearrangement of 3p by cytogenetics (n = 4) and those that showed normal karyotypes (n = 3) in addition to cytogenetic failures (n = 12). Deletions of 17p were seen in 5 of 31 informative cases. Thus, deletions of 3p were seen in a total of 24 tumors by cytogenetic and/or RFLP analysis, 21 of which were clear cell, nonpapillary RCC, whereas 3 had a minor clear-cell component. Oncocytic and nonclear, nonpapillary tumors, on the other hand, did not demonstrate 3p deletions by either technique, whereas trisomy 17 was seen in 3 of the 3 papillary tumors. The loss of alleles from chromosome 17p and 18 and an increased dosage of gene or genes on chromosomes 5q and 7 as seen in high-stage tumors of various histological subtypes may be associated with progression of disease.

Inhibition of iodoacetamide and t-butylhydroperoxide toxicity in LLC-PK1 cells by antioxidants: a role for lipid peroxidation in alkylation induced cytotoxicity

Previously we reported that thiol depletion and lipid peroxidation were associated with the cytotoxicity of nephrotoxic cysteine S-conjugates, a group of toxins which kill LLC-PK1 cells after metabolic activation and covalent binding. To determine if this is a general mechanism of cytotoxicity in these cells, we compared the effect of antioxidants, an iron chelator, and a thiol reducing agent on the toxicity of an alkylating agent, iodoacetamide (IDAM), and an organic peroxidant, t-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP). IDAM or TBHP toxicity was concentration (0.01 to 1.0 mM) and time (1 to 6 h) dependent. Both toxins caused lipid peroxidation which occurred prior to cell death as determined by leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The alkylating agent IDAM bound to cellular macromolecules and depleted cellular non-protein thiols almost completely by 1 h, while LDH release occurred first at 2 to 3 h. The toxicity of IDAM and TBHP was inhibited by the antioxidants DPPD, BHA, BHQ, PGA, and BHT and the iron chelator deferoxamine. However, DPPD blocked TBHP- and IDAM-induced lipid peroxidation and toxicity without affecting binding and depletion of cellular nonprotein thiols. Furthermore, the thiol reducing agent dithiothreitol was able to block lipid peroxidation and toxicity. Therefore it is possible that with an alkylating agent, depletion of cellular nonprotein thiols cooperates with covalent binding and contributes to lipid peroxidation and cell death. There appear to be common elements in the toxicity of alkylating agents and organic peroxidants in LLC-PK1 cells.

Induction of synaptic development in cultured muscle cells by basic fibroblast growth factor

The role of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in signaling the development of the neuromuscular junction was examined. Beads coated with bFGF induced the formation of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters in cultured Xenopus myotomal muscle cells. Tyrphostin, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, abolished AChR clustering induced by bFGF beads, suggesting a role of tyrosine kinase activation in AChR clustering. Using specific antibodies, we demonstrated the presence of both bFGF and its receptor in the myotomal muscle in vivo during the period of neuromuscular connection. However, similar tissue from older animals with mature neuromuscular junctions showed an apparently truncated form of the bFGF receptor. These data suggest that bFGF may play a role in signaling synaptogenesis in skeletal muscle.

[Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field on orthodontic tooth movement through transmission electromicroscopy]

This experiment is to observe the effect of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on orthodontic tooth movement of guinea pigs through transmission electron microscope (TEM). 14-days observations indicate that PEMF could accelerate the rate of orthodontic tooth movement as a result of the increase in quantity of active cell without changing the ultrastructures of cells and have no unfavorable effects on periodontal tissues.

The mechanism of cysteine conjugate cytotoxicity in renal epithelial cells. Covalent binding leads to thiol depletion and lipid peroxidation

Nephrotoxic cysteine conjugates kill cells after they are metabolized by the enzyme cysteine conjugate beta-lyase to reactive fragments which bind to cellular macromolecules. We have investigated the cellular events which occur after the binding and lead ultimately to cell death in renal epithelial cells. Using S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC) as a model conjugate, we found that the phenolic antioxidants N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD), butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, propyl galate, and butylated hydroxyquinone, and the iron chelator deferoxamine inhibited the cytotoxicity significantly. Among the five antioxidants, DPPD was most potent. DPPD blocked DCVC toxicity over an extended time period, and the rescued cells remained functional as measured by protein synthetic activity. DPPD was able to block the toxicity of two other toxic cysteine conjugates S-(2-chloro-1,1,2-trifluoroethyl)-L-cysteine and S-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl)-L-cysteine. In addition to LLC-PK1 cells, DPPD also protected freshly isolated rat kidney epithelial cells in suspension and in primary culture. In suspension cells, DPPD was effective at low doses of DCVC (25-50 microM) but not at high concentrations (250-500 microM). DPPD inhibition was not due to an inactivation of beta-lyase or a decrease in the binding of [35S]DCVC metabolites to cellular macromolecules and occurred at a step after the activation of the toxins. During DCVC treatment, lipid peroxidation products were detectable prior to cell death. DPPD blocked lipid peroxidation over the whole time course. Depletion of nonprotein thiols also occurred prior to cell death. DPPD did not prevent the loss of nonprotein thiols. However, the sulfhydryl-reducing agent DTT blocked lipid peroxidation and toxicity at a step after the activation of DCVC. Therefore, it appears that cysteine conjugates kill renal epithelial cells by a combination of covalent binding, depletion of nonprotein thiols, and lipid peroxidation.

Short-term treatment with cell wall degrading enzymes increases the activity of the inositol phospholipid kinases and the vanadate-sensitive ATPase of carrot cells

Treating carrot (Daucus carota L.) suspension culture cells with a mixture of cell wall degrading enzymes, Driselase, resulted in an increase in the percentage of [(3)H]phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate. Analysis of the lipid kinase activities in the isolated plasma membranes after whole cell treatment indicated that treatment with Driselase (2% weight/volume; the equivalent of 340 units per milliliter of hemicellulase and 400 units per milliliter of cellulase activity) or treatment with hemicellulase (31.7% weight/volume, 20.7 units per milliliter) resulted in an increase in the inositol phospholipid kinase activity. However, treatment with cellulase alone had no effect at 0.5% (weight/volume, 17.2 units per milliliter) or inhibited the kinase activity at 1% (weight/volume, 34.4 units per milliliter). The active stimulus in Driselase was heat sensitive. The plasma membrane vanadate-sensitive ATPase activity also increased when the cells were treated with Driselase. A time course study indicated that both the inositol phospholipid kinases and the plasma membrane vanadate-sensitive ATPase responded to as little as 5 seconds of treatment with 2% Driselase. However, at the lowest concentration of Driselase (0.04%, weight/volume) that resulted in an increase in inositol phospholipid kinase activity, the ATPase activity was not affected. Because inositol phospholipids have been shown to activate the vanadate-sensitive ATPase from plants (AR Memon, Q Chen, WF Boss [1989] Biochem Biophys Res Commun 162: 1295-1301), a stimulus-response pathway involving both the inositol phospholipid kinases and the plasma membrane vanadate-sensitive ATPase activity is discussed.

[Microsurgery to treat lesions in or near the eyeball wall]

Four sub-retinal cysticerci and 12 cases of nonmagnetic intraocular foreign bodies near the eyeball wall were first localized with indirect ophthalmoscopy and then removed successfully under surgical microscopy. Three layers, ie white sclera, black supra-choroid pigment and light brown choroidal tissue with white vascular pattern were encountered before reaching the sub-retinal larval. The ischemic appearance of the choroid probably was caused by compression of the larval underneath it. Intraocular foreign bodies usually appeared in the wound accompanied by liquified vitreous as soon as the incision was made. If intraocular inflammation exist, foreign body can be found within the pus or dense exudates.

Coding sequences of the tal-1 gene are disrupted by chromosome translocation in human T cell leukemia

The tal-1 proto-oncogene encodes a helix-loop-helix DNA-binding protein that has been implicated in the formation of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Patients with T-ALL harbor structural rearrangements of tal-1 that result from either local DNA deletion or t(1;14)(p34;q11) chromosome translocation. By analyzing t(1;14)(p34;q11) chromosomes from a series of patients, we have now identified a discrete region of tal-1 wherein most of the translocation breakpoints occur. Moreover, mapping of tal-1 genomic DNA revealed that coding exons are situated on both sides of the t(1;14)(p34;q11) major breakpoint region. Hence, the translocated allele of tal-1 is truncated in a manner that reduces its amino acid coding potential.

Chronic metabolic measurements of normal brain tissue response to photodynamic therapy

The metabolic response of normal rat brain to photodynamic therapy (PDT) was studied over a 1 week interval using in vivo 31P-NMR spectroscopy. Rats injected with 12.5 mg/kg Photofrin II were submitted to brain photoactivation 48 h after drug administration with either 140 or 70 J/cm2 light (630 +/- 1 nm) from an Argon dye laser. Control studies, animals not given drug or light, animals submitted only to brain illumination without drug, and animals given drug but no light, were also performed. The data revealed a transient metabolic degradation; a decrease in the ratio of beta-nucleotriphosphate to inorganic phosphate (P less than 0.001) at 24 h after PDT treatment was followed by a return to pretreatment spectral values. Brain tissue alkalosis was also noted, with significant (P less than 0.05) differences in brain tissue pH detected at 72 h post treatment between 70 J/cm2 PDT vs control studies and at 1 week post treatment between 140 J/cm2 vs 70 J/cm2, 140 J/cm2 vs no light-no drug and 140 J/cm2 vs drug only. The data suggest that there is no difinitive metabolic marker from 31P-NMR spectroscopy that can identify necrotic brain tissue caused by PDT. Phosphorus-31 NMR data are also presented which suggest that PDT damage to brain is not solely the result of microvascular occlusion causing ischemic necrosis.

Arachidonic acid absorption in human jejunum in organ culture: effects of ethanol

Human jejunal tissue obtained by peroral biopsy was cultured in control medium and in medium containing 100 mmol l-1 ethanol. Subsequently, the incorporation and metabolism of [3H]-arachidonic and [14C]-linoleic acid were evaluated. Of the two fatty acids a significantly higher amount of [3H]-arachidonic acid was incorporated into phospholipids and more [14C]-linoleic acid was incorporated into triacylglycerols. This preferential distribution of the labelled fatty acids was not affected by ethanol, but when ethanol was present in the tissue culture medium, there was a significant decrease in the incorporation of both fatty acids into tissue phospholipids. The study thus shows that ethanol in moderate concentrations can affect human jejunal absorption and metabolism of polyenoic fatty acids, contributing to a decrease in the amount of eicosanoid precursors available in jejunal tissue.

Site-specific recombination of the tal-1 gene is a common occurrence in human T cell leukemia

The tal-1 gene is altered as a consequence of the t(1;14) (p32;q11) chromosome translocation observed in 3% of patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). tal-1 encodes a helix-loop-helix (HLH) domain, a DNA binding and dimerization motif found in a number of proteins involved in cell growth and differentiation. We now report that an additional 25% of T-ALL patients bear tal-1 gene rearrangements that are not detected by karyotype analysis. These rearrangements result from a precise 90 kb deletion (designated tald) that arises independently in different patients by site-specific DNA recombination. Since the deletion junctions resemble the coding joints of assembled immunoglobulin genes, tald rearrangements are likely to be mediated by aberrant activity of the immunoglobulin recombinase. Moreover, t(1;14)(p32;q11) translocations and tald rearrangements disrupt the coding potential of tal-1 in an equivalent manner, and thereby generate a common genetic lesion shared by a significant proportion of T-ALL patients.

[A kindling model of epilepsy induced by intraperitoneal injection of coriaria lactone in rats]

Fifty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups. Intraperitoneal injections of various doses of coriaria lactone (CL, 0.75, 1.25, 1.75, and 2.0 mg/kg) and normal saline were given respectively per 2 days. The behavior of the rats was observed and the ECoG was recorded by telemetric method. The results of experiments show that a kindling model of epilepsy can be established by intraperitoneal injection of CL in rats. This chronic experimental model is of value for application because it is easily established and the rate of being kindled is relatively high, but the mortality is low, and the kindling effect can last well. The model can avert the pathological change caused by artificial injury to brain, so it is advantageous to the research on neurochemistry and ultrastructure. In our experimental condition, it is optimal to select 1.25 mg/kg or 1.75 mg/kg as the dosage of CL for establishing kindling model.

Indirect inactivation of rat brain cytosolic diacylglycerol kinase by nucleoside-5'-monophosphate

Cytosolic diacylglycerol kinase was inhibited drastically by nucleoside monophosphate. The inhibition was relatively specific for adenosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-AMP), although uridine-5'-monophosphate was also effective. The effect of 5'-AMP on diacylglycerol kinase appeared to be indirect since the degree of inhibition lessened with the dilution of the cytosol and the more purified enzyme failed to respond to 5'-AMP. A 5'-AMP-dependent mediator is proposed to be involved in the inactivation of diacylglycerol kinase.

Accumulation, stability, and localization of a major chloroplast heat-shock protein

Diverse higher plant species synthesize low molecular weight (LMW) heat shock proteins (HSPs) which localize to chloroplasts. These proteins are homologous to LMW HSPs found in the cytoplasm of all eukaryotes, a class of HSPs whose molecular mode of action is not understood. To obtain basic information concerning the role of chloroplast HSPs, we examined the accumulation, stability, tissue specificity, and intra-chloroplast localization of HSP21, the major LMW chloroplast HSP in pea. Intact pea plants were subjected to heat stress conditions which would be encountered in the natural environment and HSP21 mRNA and protein levels were measured in leaves and roots. HSP21 was not detected in leaves or roots before stress, but the mature, 21-kD protein accumulated in direct proportion to temperature and HSP21 mRNA levels in both tissues. All of the HSP21 in leaves was localized to chloroplasts; there was no evidence for its transport into other organelles. In chloroplast fractionation experiments, greater than 80% of HSP21 was recovered in the soluble chloroplast protein fraction. The half-life of HSP21 at control temperatures was 52 +/- 12 h, suggesting the protein's function is critical during recovery as well as during stress. We hypothesize that HSP21 functions in a catalytic fashion in both photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic plastids.

A protein homologous to the Torpedo postsynaptic 58K protein is present at the myotendinous junction

The 58K protein is a peripheral membrane protein enriched in the acetylcholine receptor (AChR)-rich postsynaptic membrane of Torpedo electric organ. Because of its coexistence with AChRs in the postsynaptic membrane in both electrocytes and skeletal muscle, it is thought to be involved in the formation and maintenance of AChR clusters. Using an mAb against the 58K protein of Torpedo electric organ, we have identified a single protein band in SDS-PAGE analysis of Xenopus myotomal muscle with an apparent molecular mass of 48 kD. With this antibody, the distribution of this protein was examined in the myotomal muscle fibers with immunofluorescence techniques. We found that the 48K protein is concentrated at the myotendinous junctions (MTJs) of these muscle fibers. The MTJ is also enriched in talin and vinculin. By double labeling muscle fibers with antibodies against talin and the 48K protein, these two proteins were found to colocalize at the membrane invaginations of the MTJ. In cultured myotomal muscle cells, the 48K protein and talin are also colocalized at sites of membrane-myofibril interaction. The 48K protein is, however, not found at focal adhesion sites in nonmuscle cells, which are enriched in talin. These data suggest that the 48K protein is specifically involved in the interaction of myofibrillar actin filaments with the plasma membrane at the MTJ. In addition to the MTJ localization, 48K protein is also present at AChR clusters both in vivo and in vitro. Thus, this protein is shared by both the MTJ and the neuromuscular junction.