Hemodynamic effects of the Fab fragment of digoxin antibody (digibind) in corticotropin (ACTH)-induced hypertension

To determine whether the immune Fab fragment of digoxin antibody (digibind) attenuates established corticotropin (ACTH) hypertension, rats were given ACTH sham control (0.1 mL normal saline, twice daily, subcutaneously, n = 18) or ACTH treatment (2.5 microg/kg in 0.1 mL normal saline, twice daily, subcutaneously; n = 27) for 10 days. Acute hemodynamic effects of digibind (30 mg/kg, intravenous bolus injection) were examined after 10 days of sham control or ACTH treatment. Rats were divided into 7 groups: digibind (30 mg/kg, in 1 mL 0.9% NaCl intravenous bolus injection) plus sham (n = 6) or ACTH (n = 8), sham digibind (1 mL 0.9% NaCl intravenous bolus) plus ACTH (n = 7), digibind vehicle (sorbitol 1.8 mg in 1 mL 0.9% NaCl, intravenous bolus) plus sham (n = 6), preimmune sheep IgG (30 mg/kg in 1 mL 0.9% NaCl intravenous bolus) plus sham (n = 6) or ACTH (n = 6) and preimmune sheep IgG (Fab)2 fragment (30 mg/kg in 1 mL 0.9% NaCl intravenous bolus) plus ACTH (n = 6). ACTH increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) from 118 +/- 2 to 132 +/- 3 mm Hg on treatment day 10. BP was unchanged in sham treated rats. The acute administration of digibind decreased MAP (-14 +/- 3 mm Hg, P <.001) in ACTH hypertensive rats, but not in ACTH sham control normotensive rats (+2 +/- 3 mm Hg). Blood pressure reached a minimum after 14 +/- 3 min and the effect lasted more than 30 min. No significant change of blood pressure was found in ACTH treated rats receiving sham (0.9% NaCl) digibind injection (+2 +/- 2 mm Hg). However, both preimmune sheep IgG and IgG (Fab)2 fragment caused a decrease of blood pressure in both sham or ACTH treated rats. Although these data that digibind decreases BP in ACTH but not sham treated rats are consistent with the notion that digitalis-like substances may play a role in ACTH induced hypertension, the evidence that both preimmune sheep IgG and IgG (Fab)2 fragments also decreased blood pressure in rats suggests caution in interpretation of studies that employ digibind preparations.

Fibronectin-fragment-induced cartilage chondrolysis is associated with release of catabolic cytokines

Fibronectin fragments have both catabolic and anabolic activities toward articular cartilage explants in vitro. Whereas a 1 nM concentration of an N-terminal 29 kDa fibronectin fragment (Fn-f) increases the proteoglycan (PG) content of cartilage without induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), 0.1-1 microM Fn-f temporarily suppresses PG synthesis and enhances MMP release. The higher concentrations cause an initially rapid PG depletion during the first week of culture, followed by much slower PG loss and gradually increasing rates of PG synthesis. To test for the involvement of mediators, human articular cartilage was cultured with Fn-f, and conditioned media were assayed for selected cytokines and factors. With 1 nM Fn-f, the release of the anabolic factors, insulin growth factor-I and transforming growth factor beta1, from cultured cartilage was enhanced by 50-100% during the entire 28-day culture period and this was associated with both supernormal rates of PG synthesis and PG content. However, the higher concentrations of Fn-f additionally enhanced release, by at least 10-fold, of the cytokines, tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1alpha, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-6 while causing depletion of cartilage PG. Release of tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1beta and interleukin 1alpha peaked at days 2, 3 and 9 during or slightly after the period of maximal PG depletion and decreased to control levels by days 7, 7 and 21 respectively, whereas release of interleukin 6 was enhanced throughout the culture period. Neutralizing antibodies to the catabolic cytokines reduced Fn-f-mediated MMP-3 release and suppression of PG synthesis. The temporal aspects of this interplay between catabolic and anabolic factors are consistent with the kinetics of Fn-f-mediated cartilage damage and attempted repair and may be relevant to cartilage damage and repair in vivo.

Fibronectin fragment mediated cartilage chondrolysis. I. Suppression by anti-oxidants

Fibronectin fragments damage cartilage in vitro by greatly enhancing metalloproteinases and suppressing proteoglycan (PG) synthesis which results in severe cartilage PG depletion. Since reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in catabolic cytokine action and preliminary data suggested that catabolic cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6 are responsible for fibronectin fragment mediated damage, selected anti-oxidants (AOs) were tested as inhibitors of cytokine. ROS and fibronectin fragment activity. Damage was measured by depletion of cartilage PG during tissue culture. The AO, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), decreased the extent of cartilage PG depletion caused by TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha and by the ROS, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion, confirming that the cytokines operate through ROS and that ROS can initiate cartilage PG depletion. NAC at 0.1 and 1 mM, totally suppressed PG depletion caused by a highly potent amino-terminal 29-kDa fibronectin fragment (Fn-f) for 14 days in culture. NAC at 10 mM totally blocked Fn-f mediated PG depletion for 21 days and increased the cartilage PG content by 30% above normal levels. Glutathione (10 microM) and DMSO (1%) were also totally effective while catalase and superoxide decreased Fn-f mediated damage only during the first week and superoxide dismutase alone caused damage after 1 wk. The AOs caused protection by reducing the major catabolic activities of the Fn-f: enhanced release of stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) and suppression of PG and protein synthesis. NAC also decreased normal rates of PG degradation and increased the half-lives of labeled PG in both control and Fn-f treated cartilage. We conclude that the Fn-f mediates cartilage chondrolysis through ROS, consistent with the involvement of catabolic cytokines in the Fn-f mechanism, and that AOs greatly reduce Fn-f mediated cartilage chondrolysis. In an accompanying manuscript we also report that AOs promote reparative responses in Fn-f and cytokine treated cartilage.

Fibronectin fragment mediated cartilage chondrolysis. II. Reparative effects of anti-oxidants

In an accompanying manuscript, it was shown that the cartilage chondrolytic activities of fibronectin fragments (Fn-f), which are mediated through catabolic cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1 and IL-6, could be suppressed by anti-oxidants (AOs). The AOs neutralized reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are known to mediate catabolic cytokine action. The objective in this work was to test whether AOs would promote restoration of proteoglycan (PG) in Fn-f treated cartilage, since under normal culturing conditions, PG is not restored after removal of the Fn-f. Cartilage was first cultured with an amino-terminal 29-kDa Fn-f to cause loss of about half of the total PG and then treated with NAC (1 and 10 mM) or glutathione (10 microM) or DMSO (0.1 or 1%). Treatment with NAC and glutathione maximally caused restoration of PG within 14 days to normal or supernormal levels, while DMSO was less effective. Catalase, but not superoxide dismutase, enhanced PG content to a small but significant extent. The restoration of PG in Fn-f treated cartilage occurred throughout the full depth of the cartilage slices as shown by histochemical analysis. However, removal of the AO allowed a subsequent decrease in PG content suggesting that the AOs had not blocked cytokine expression but had merely suppressed cytokine activities. Addition of NAC to IL-1 treated cartilage promoted a restoration of PG, while addition to chymopapain or trypsin treated cartilage was not very effective, suggesting that the effect of AOs requires a cytokine driven damage system. We conclude that the AOs promote a restoration of PG in the Fn-f treated cartilage by suppressing the effects of catabolic cytokines. The data suggest a potential for AOs in reversing tissue damage caused by cytokines.

Fibronectin fragments induce the expression of stromelysin-1 mRNA and protein in bovine chondrocytes in monolayer culture

Addition of proteolytically generated fibronectin fragments (Fn-f) to cultured cartilage tissue causes greatly enhanced release of metalloproteinases (MMPs), such as pro-stromelysin-1 (proSln-1), and suppression of proteoglycan (PG) synthesis, through release of catabolic cytokines, while native fibronectin is ineffective. We have investigated whether enhanced release of proSln-1 was due to up-regulation of pro-Sln-1 mRNA. We report the addition of a 29-kDa (amino-terminal heparin-binding Fn-f) or a 140-kDa (central cell-binding Fn-f) to bovine chondrocytes in monolayer culture causes a dose dependent increase in the expression of pro-Sln-1 mRNA and the greatly enhanced release of pro-Sln-1 protein into the culture media. Up to 700 nM pro-Sln-1 was found in the conditioned media and metabolic labeling showed that it constituted a major portion of newly synthesized protein. A potential activator of pro-Sln-1, urokinase (u-PA), was released at elevated levels in the presence of the Fn-f while other activators, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasmin activities were not detected. Addition of these activators to conditioned media did not allow conversion of pro-Sln-1 to active Sln-1. However, aminophenyl mercuric acid activated pro-Sln-1 to a 48-kDa Sln-1 form capable of degrading PG when added to cartilage suspensions. Gelatinase A mRNA was also enhanced, suggesting that the Fn-f may induce MMPs in general. However, the major regulator of Sln-1 activity, tissue inhibitor of MMPs form 1 (TIMP-1), was not induced at the gene level. Thus, a major effect of Fn-f on chondrocytes is to up-regulate pro-Sln-1 expression at the gene level, resulting in pro-Sln-1 as a major protein product.

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition and protein restriction in progression of experimental chronic renal failure

This study examined whether the effects of protein restriction and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition on the progression of renal failure are common or additive. Male Sprague Dawley rats (12 wks of age) underwent 5/6 nephrectomy and were randomized to 20% protein diet (PD) (n = 9), 20% PD+enalapril (5 mg/kg/day) (n = 10), 20% PD+felodipine (30 mg/kg/day) (n = 9), 6% PD (n = 9), 6% PD+enalapril (n = 9) or 6% PD+felodipine (n = 10). Protein restriction, enalapril or felodipine treatment all retarded progression of renal failure and development of glomerular lesions. Protein restriction and enalapril appeared to have additive effects in preventing glomerular sclerosis.

Dehydroepiandrosterone does not prevent adrenocorticotrophin-induced hypertension in conscious rats

1. We tested the hypothesis that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which prevents dexamethasone-induced hypertension in rats, may block adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) hypertension, which has been presumed due to corticosterone excess. The blood pressure and metabolic effects of DHEA (18 mg/kg per day) were examined in sham and ACTH-treated (0.5 mg/kg per day) conscious Sprague-Dawley rates (n = 20). 2. ACTH but not sham injection increased blood pressure, water intake and urine output and decreased bodyweight. 3. DHEA administration for 10 days did not alter blood pressure or metabolic effects in either sham or ACTH-treated rats. 4. DHEA, which is known to block dexamethasone-induced hypertension, did not modify ACTH-induced hypertension in the rat. This suggests either that ACTH-induced hypertension is not simply a consequence of glucocorticoid activity or that the action of DHEA in dexamethasone hypertension is not through blocking the glucocorticoid receptor.

Validation of transonic small animal flowmeter for measurement of cardiac output and regional blood flow in the rat

The objective of the present study was to validate a transonic flowmeter system with two probes (model 3SS for cardiac output (CO) and 1RB for organ flows) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats first by measuring blood flow through pump-infused isolated renal artery and ascending aorta, and then through measurements of CO and renal, mesenteric, and hindquarter blood flow (RBF, MBF, HBF) in vivo. We measured in vivo baseline flow and changes in flow induced by dopamine and propranolol for CO, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and angiotensin II (AII) for RBF and pentobarbital sodium for MBF and HBF. Correlations between meter and pump flow were linear (r = 0.999, p < 0.001) with close agreement both in ascending aorta and renal artery flow measurements. The baseline values were 15 +/- 0.7 ml/100 g/min for CO, 4 +/- 0.1 ml/100 g/min for RBF, 7 +/- 0.3 ml/100 g/min for MBF, and 6 +/- 0.3 ml/100 g/min for HBF, respectively. The system reliably detected increase and/or decrease in CO and regional blood flows. The transonic flowmeter system is accurate, highly reproducible, and compatible with other established techniques for measuring CO and regional blood flows in the rat.

L-arginine prevents corticotropin-induced increases in blood pressure in the rat

In this study we examined whether L-arginine treatment could prevent corticotropin (ACTH)-induced increases in blood pressure in the Sprague-Dawley rat. Sixty rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10): sham injection, ACTH injection (0.5 mg/kg per day in divided doses), L-arginine (0.6%) in food plus sham injection, L-arginine plus ACTH treatment, D-arginine (0.6%) in food plus sham injection, and D-arginine plus ACTH. Systolic pressure, water intake, urine volume, body weight, plasma and urinary electrolytes, and serum corticosterone concentrations were measured. ACTH increased systolic pressure (from 127 +/- 2 to 165 +/- 6 mm Hg, P < .001), water intake, and urine volume and decreased body weight body weight. L-Arginine reduced ACTH-induced blood pressure rises (130 +/- 3 mm Hg, P < .001) but had no effect on blood pressure in sham-treated rats. D-Arginine did not affect blood pressure in sham-treated rats, and systolic pressure in D-arginine+ACTH-treated rats was similar to that of ACTH-treated rats. L-Arginine decreased serum corticosterone concentrations in sham-treated rats (424 +/- 42 versus 238 +/- 25 ng/mL, P < .01), but D-arginine had no effect. However, both drugs decreased serum corticosterone concentrations in ACTH-treated rats (1071 +/- 117 versus 739 +/- 95 and 695 +/- 72 ng/mL for L- and D-arginine, respectively; both P < .05). As L-arginine but not D-arginine prevented ACTH-induced increases in blood pressure in Sprague-Dawley rats and both L- and D-arginine reduced serum corticosterone concentrations in ACTH-treated rats, the effects of L-arginine in preventing ACTH-induced hypertension were not simply a consequence of decreased corticosterone secretion.

Long-term ouabain administration does not alter blood pressure in conscious Sprague-Dawley rats

1. We tested the ability of ouabain to cause chronic hypertension by continuously infusing ouabain for 28 days (miniosmotic pump implantation; i.p.). The blood pressure and metabolic effects of sham (150 mmol/L NaCl; n = 12) or ouabain infusion (10 micrograms/kg per day; n = 14; 100 micrograms/kg per day; n = 14) were examined in conscious Sprague-Dawley rats. 2. Plasma ouabain concentrations measured after 28 days of ouabain infusion were as follows: sham, not detectable (n = 11); ouabain 10 micrograms/kg per day, 0.60 +/- 0.07 nmol/L (n = 14); and ouabain 100 micrograms/kg per day, 7.17 +/- 0.57 nmol/L (n = 14; P < 0.001). 3. Sham or ouabain infusion did not alter food intake, bodyweight, water intake or urine output in conscious rats. 4. Blood pressure was not altered by sham treatment. Ouabain at 10 micrograms/kg per day or 100 micrograms/kg per day did not produce consistent rises in blood pressure. Ouabain at 10 micrograms/kg per day increased blood pressure on treatment day 12 only (+6 mmHg; P < 0.05), while at 100 micrograms/kg per day blood pressure increased on treatment days 16 (+9 mmHg; P < 0.05) and day 18 (+8 mmHg; P < 0.05) only. There was no significant difference in blood pressure between sham and ouabain groups. 5. Renal blood flow was decreased in rats infused with ouabain at 10 micrograms/kg per day (2.0 +/- 0.3 mL/min per 100 g bodyweight; n = 5; P < 0.01) and 100 micrograms/kg per day (2.2 +/- 0.4 mL/min per 100 g bodyweight; n = 7; P < 0.05) compared with sham treatment (3.5 +/- 0.2 mL/min per 100 g bodyweight; n = 6). Renal vascular resistance was increased in rats treated with ouabain at 10 micrograms/kg per day (65.5 +/- 12.6 mmHg/mL per min per 100 g bodyweight; n = 5; P < 0.01) and 100 micrograms/kg per day (66.0 +/- 15.6 mmHg/mL per min per 100 g bodyweight; n = 7; P < 0.05) compared with sham treatment (32.6 +/- 2.5 mmHg/mL per min per 100 g bodyweight; n = 6). 6. High plasma concentrations of ouabain do not cause consistent increases in blood pressure in conscious Sprague-Dawley rats.

Characterization of the murine mu opioid receptor gene

The analgesic and addictive properties of morphine and other opioid drugs are thought to result from their interaction with mu opioid receptors. Using a delta opioid receptor cDNA as a probe, we have isolated a murine mu opioid receptor cDNA clone (mMOR). Stable expression of mMOR in Chinese hamster ovary cells conferred high binding affinity for mu receptor ligands including morphine and [D-Ala2,N-methyl-Phe4,Gly5-ol]-enkephalin and low affinity for delta and kappa preferring ligands. Treatment of these cell lines with morphine and other mu agonists inhibited forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation, demonstrating a functional coupling of mMOR to the inhibition of adenylate cyclase. The predicted amino acid sequence of mMOR shares approximately 55% overall amino acid identity with the delta receptor and approximately 97% identity with the recently reported rat mu opioid receptor. Expression of the mu receptor in mouse brain as revealed by in situ hybridization parallels the reported pattern of distribution of mu-selective ligand binding sites. Chromosomal localization (to mouse chromosome 10) and Southern analysis are consistent with a single mu opioid receptor gene in the mouse genome, suggesting that the various pharmacologically distinct forms of the mu receptor arise from alternative splicing, post-translational events, or from a highly divergent gene(s).

Specific binding of avidin to biotin containing lipid lamella surfaces studied with monolayers and liposomes

The interaction of avidin (from egg white) with phospholipid (monolayer and bilayer) model membranes containing biotin-conjugated phospholipids has been studied. In the first part, using surface sensitive techniques (ellipsometry and surface plasmon resonance) we demonstrated that the nonspecific adsorption of avidin to phospholipid lamella could be abolished by adding an amount of Ca2+, Mg2+ or Ba2+ that led to an electrostatic interaction. The specific binding of avidin to lipid mixtures containing biotin-conjugated phospholipids was obviously composition dependent. The ratio 1:12 of a B-DPPE/DPPE mixture was found to be the optimum molar ratio. When we compared the results from the surface sensitive techniques with those from the electron micrographs of a two dimensional crystal of avidin (obtained in our laboratory), the optimum ratio was found to be determined by the effect of lateral steric hindrance. In the second part, we observed the pattern of the layers of fluorescently labeled phospholipid and adsorbed proteins with a home-made micro fluorescence film balance. The fluorescence images showed that avidin was preferentially bound to the receptors that were in the fluid domains. Further, with a sensitive fluorescence assay method, the effect of the phase behavior of liposomes on the specific binding of avidin was measured. This showed that avidin interacted with biotinlipid more weakly in the gel state liposome than in the liquid state liposome. The major conclusion was that the binding of avidin to a membrane bound model receptor was significantly restricted by two factors: one was the lateral steric hindrance and the other was the fluidity of the model membrane.

Blood levels of sex hormone in lupus nephritis and their relationship to lupus activity

One hundred and fifty-nine patients (140 females, 19 males) with lupus nephritis (LN) were studied. Renal biopsy was performed for each patient with light microscopy, immunofluorescence and electronic microscopic studies. 27 normal subjects were selected as controls. Blood levels of sex hormone including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and some clinical, laboratory and histological parameters were collected for analysis of lupus activity. It was found that serum FSH, LH and plasma E2 of all patients were much higher than normal (P < 0.01) while plasma T was much lower in female patients (P < 0.01) but normal in male patients. The lupus activity was proved to be closely related to plasma E2 and T (P < 0.05). There was no definite relationship between abnormal plasma E2 or T and serum IgG, C3 C4, ANA, A-dsDNA or A-Sm. The levels of sex hormones among every histological type of LN were not significantly different. It was concluded that: 1. The increment of plasma E2 is associated with lupus activity in both male and female patients. 2. The decrement of plasma T only in female patients is also related to lupus activity. 3. No relationship could be found among FSH, LH, E2 and T.