[Effect of deoxynivalenol and aflatoxin G1 on apoptosis of human blood lymphocytes in vitro]

Effect of deoxynivalenol (DON) and aflatoxin G1 (AFG1) on human blood lymphocytes in culture were studied with flow cytometric DNA content analyses and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. DON and AFG1 are two of the predominant mycotoxins contaminating foodstuffs or residents in a high incidence of esophageal cancer in Cixian County, Hebei province. A typical sub-diploid apoptosis peak was demonstrated in lymphocytes treated with DON and AFG1. A significant dose-effect response and time-effect correlation could be found between apoptosis rates and mycotoxin concentrations (DON: 50-2000 micrograms/L and AFG1: 3.12-2000 micrograms/L) and the treated time (DON: 2-72 hours and AFG1: 2-24 hours). The lymphocytes treated with DON and AFG1 showed characteristic 'ladder' pattern in agarose gel electrophoresis. All results confirmed that DON and AFG1 could induce and accelerate apoptosis in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

[Purification of outer membrane proteins in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by high performance ion-exchange liquid chromatography]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 was used in this study. Isolation of outer membrane was accomplished by treating the cell envelope with EDTA and lysozyme, followed by centrifugation. The outer membrane (10 mg of protein) was mixed with 34 mmol/L octyl beta-glucoside-5 mmol/L EDTA-10 mmol/L Tris-HCl (pH 8.0) and subjected to supersonic oscillation for 2 min. The centrifuged supernatant (100 kgf for 30 min at 20 degrees C) was applied onto a DEAE ion-exchange high performance liquid chromatographic column (TSK gel-DEAE-5PW column, 0.75 cm x 7.5 cm i.d.) that was equilibrated with a solution of 10 mmol/L Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.0) containing 2.5 mmol/L beta-C12E8 and 1 mmol/L EDTA. The column was washed with the same solution and eluted with a linear gradient of 0-0.5 mol/L NaCl in the same solution and fractions A, B, C were collected. Proteins in these fractions were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and quantified by the method of Lowry et al. Protein E(Mr 43,000), G(Mr 25,000) and H (Mr 19,000) flowed through the column without adsorption in fraction A. Protein C(Mr 70,000), D(Mr 46,000) and a small amount of F (Mr 34,000) were eluted in fraction B. Fraction A was concentrated with ultrafiltration and applied again onto a DEAE ion-exchange HPLC column equilibrated with 10 mmol/L Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.0, containing 34 mmol/L beta-C12E8 and 1 mmol/L MgCl2. Fraction B was subjected to DEAE ion-exchange HPLC column in the presence of EDTA. This fraction was then applied onto a DEAE ion-exchange HPLC column equilibrated with 10 mmol/L Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.0, containing 34 mmol/L octylglucoside and 1 mmol/L EDTA. By these procedures protein C, D and E were purified to apparent homogeneity as judged by SDS-PAGE. In this work, we purified the outer membrane proteins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and used a new technique selectively solubilizing the cytoplasmic membrane with sodium lauryl sarcosinate for isolating the outer membrane proteins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa because of its relative simplicity.

Inactivating mutations in an SH2 domain-encoding gene in X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome

X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP) is an inherited immunodeficiency characterized by increased susceptibility to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). In affected males, primary EBV infection leads to the uncontrolled proliferation of virus-containing B cells and reactive cytotoxic T cells, often culminating in the development of high-grade lymphoma. The XLP gene has been mapped to chromosome band Xq25 through linkage analysis and the discovery of patients harboring large constitutional genomic deletions. We describe here the presence of small deletions and intragenic mutations that specifically disrupt a gene named DSHP in 6 of 10 unrelated patients with XLP. This gene encodes a predicted protein of 128 amino acids composing a single SH2 domain with extensive homology to the SH2 domain of SHIP, an inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase that functions as a negative regulator of lymphocyte activation. DSHP is expressed in transformed T cell lines and is induced following in vitro activation of peripheral blood T lymphocytes. Expression of DSHP is restricted in vivo to lymphoid tissues, and RNA in situ hybridization demonstrates DSHP expression in activated T and B cell regions of reactive lymph nodes and in both T and B cell neoplasms. These observations confirm the identity of DSHP as the gene responsible for XLP, and suggest a role in the regulation of lymphocyte activation and proliferation. Induction of DSHP may sustain the immune response by interfering with SHIP-mediated inhibition of lymphocyte activation, while its inactivation in XLP patients results in a selective immunodeficiency to EBV.

[Preserving remnant liver function after major hepatic vein occlusion]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the pathological changes of the remained hepatic lobe after major hepatic vein (MHV) occlusion.

METHOD

Seventy-eight rats were randomly divided into the control group, the ligation group of segmental hepatic vein, the stricture group of left MHV, and the ligation group of left MHV. The pathology, hepatic microcirculation and hemodynamic changes of the involved hepatic lobe of MHV occlusion were dynamically determined.

RESULT

Necrosis occurred in the hepatocytes at the first postoperative day in the ligation group of MHV. Extensive collaterals between the hepatic veins and the portal veins appeared in the periphery of involved liver lobe in the stricture group of MHV. The levels of endotoxin and TXB(2)/6-Keto-PGF1alpha in the blood of portal vein obviously increased in the ligation group of MHV and also increased in the stricture group of MHV. The levels of endotoxin and TXB(2)/6-Keto-PGF1alpha in the blood of portal vein in the ligation and stricture group of MHV were apparently higher than those in the ligation group of segmental hepatic vein and in the control group.

CONCLUSION

The involved liver tissue can not tolerate complete MHV occlusion. The hepatic tissue lacking of MHV drain not only loss its function, but also cause endotoxemia and disorder of hepatic microcirculation. The involved hepatic lobe after the MHV ligation should have been resected at the same time.

Reduction of gut hypoplasia and cachexia in tumor-bearing rats maintained on total parenteral nutrition and treated with peptide YY and clenbuterol

Prevention of gut hypoplasia associated with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was investigated in 67 adult male Fisher 344 rats. Mass and protein content of the small intestine was reduced by 31% and 39%, respectively, after 7 d of TPN in tumor-bearing (TB) rats. Coinfusing peptide YY (PYY; 1 nmol.kg-1.h-1) and treating the rats with the anabolic beta-adrenergic agonist, clenbuterol (CLE; 2 mg.kg-1.d-1), resulted in significant savings in small intestine weight (26% increase) and protein (42% increase). Although the colon also exhibited a significant decrease in mass (31%), none of the treatment combinations were effective in this region of the gut. Histologic analysis of ileum suggested that the additive effects of PYY and CLE were due to differential effects of these compounds on mucosal and muscular tissues, respectively. This combination of treatments also resulted in significant savings (30% increase) in gastrocnemius protein, suggesting a reduction in the cachectic response. These results suggest that TPN-induced gut hypoplasia and cancer cachexia may be reduced by the proper combination of nutritional, hormonal, and pharmacologic treatments. In addition, the anabolic effects of various treatments may be additive to counteract TPN-induced gut atrophy.

[Quantitative study on synergistic effect of radix astragali A6 and acyclovir against herpes simplex virus type I by polymerase chain reaction]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the synergistic effect of Radix Astragali A6(A6) and acyclovir (ACV) in antagonizing herpes simplex virus type I (HSV1).

METHODS

The synergistic effect was measured by competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and compared with that measured by traditional cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition method.

RESULTS

The minimum inhibition concentration of A6, ACV and A6 + ACV measured by PCR was 1.88 mg/ml, 3.37 micrograms/ml and 0.47 mg/ml + 0.84 microgram/ml respectively, while measured by CPE, it was 6.25 mg/ml, 50 micrograms/ml and 0.94 mg/ml + 12.5 micrograms/ml respectively. The fractional inhibitory combined indexes were all less than 0.5, which is an indication of obvious co-synergistic effect.

CONCLUSION

The quantitative PCR is an effective method of screening antiviral drugs. The inhibitory action of A6 and ACV on HSV1 revealed mainly at the replicative stage of viral proliferation cycle.

[The experimental study on competitive PCR for quantitation of herpesviruses]

A single pair of oligonucleotide primer selected within a highly conserved region of the DNA polymerase gene in herpesviruses was synthesized. The competitive template DNA purified from cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA was used to carry out competitive PCR amplification with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) DNA (target sequences). And anti-HSV1 effects of acyclovir (ACV) was investigated by the method. The results showed that the efficacy of PCR amplification was equal to each other(the ratio of the quantity of competitor template with DNA to the target sequence was 1.5:1). As the concentration of ACV was increased, the quantity of HSV1, DNA was decreased. It suggests that this method is practicable and some defects of mutant template can be overcomed.

Quantitative Texture Analysis from X-ray Diffraction Spectra

A method to obtain the orientation distribution function (ODF) of a polycrystalline material directly from X-ray diffraction spectra is presented. It uses the maximum-texture-entropy assumption to reduce the diffraction data needed for the ODF analysis. The validity of this new method is illustrated through two model examples.

Organization of the Fugu rubripes Hox clusters: evidence for continuing evolution of vertebrate Hox complexes

The clustered organization of Hox genes provides a powerful opportunity to examine gene gain and loss in evolution because physical linkage is a key diagnostic feature which allows homology to be established unambiguously. Furthermore, Hox genes play a key role in determination of axial and appendicular skeletal morphology and may be a key component of the evolution of diverse metazoan body forms. Despite suggestions that changes in Hox gene number played a role in evolution of metazoan body plans, there has been a general lack of evidence for such variation amongst gnathostomes (or indeed any vertebrate) and it has therefore been widely assumed that differential regulation may be the key element in all vertebrate Hox evolution. We have studied the Hox gene clusters of a teleost fish, Fugu rubripes, to test the possibility that Hox organization may have varied since the origin of jawed vertebrates. We have identified four Hox complexes in Fugu and found an unprecedented degree of variation when compared with tetrapod clusters. Our data show that: Fugu clusters are widely variant with respect to length; at least nine genes have been lost; there is a new group-2 paralogue; and pseudo-gene remnants of group-1 and group-3 paralogues were found in the Hoxc complex, when compared with the present mammalian clusters. We show that gene loss after duplication of the prototypical vertebrate Hox clusters is a key feature of both tetrapod and fish evolution.

mRNA differential display of colonic mucosa cells in ulcerative colitis

Involvement of mucosal cells in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be a sequenced process and the molecular difference between involved and uninvolved cells might implicate a possible mechanism in the disease process. The aim of this study was to compare gene expression between involved and uninvolved colonic mucosa cells in an individual with ulcerative colitis (UC) and to clone, sequence, and identify those differentially expressed genes, mRNA differential display was used to identify the gene expression in the mucosa of the UC patient. Anchored oligo(dT) primers and random 5' oligonucleotide 10-mer were used to carry out polymerase chain reaction on reverse-transcribed RNA (RT-PCR). The amplified cDNAs were displayed on a standard sequencing gel and comparisons were drawn between each two lanes representing either involved or uninvolved cells from a specific combination of two primers. Wherever differences were noted between lanes, the bands were reamplified using PCR, cloned into specialized vectors for positive selection, and then confirmed by dot blot. The cloned genes were then sequenced and compared with the GenBank database. About 1200 mRNA species were displayed in the sequencing gel. Among them, 106 fragments were differentially expressed between the two groups. Twenty-five of those differentially displayed gene fragments have been isolated, reamplified, and cloned for sequencing and dot blot analysis. Seventeen of the fragments were differentially expressed using the dot blot technique. Among those 25 gene fragments, 14 have homology to known genes and 11 have no match to any reported genes. Those matched known genes included genes for parathyroid tumor, T cell receptor-beta, alpha-nascent polypeptide-associated complex, ovarian cancer, and myeloblast. This is the first study using mRNA differential display to observe differential gene expression between involved and uninvolved mucosa cells in UC and it shows that differential display is a rapid method for characterizing gene changes in vivo in ulcerative colitis. The results from this study may provide useful information and facilitate further gene studies in this disease.

Isolation and genomic structure of a human homolog of the yeast periodic tryptophan protein 2 (PWP2) gene mapping to 21q22.3

As part of efforts to identify candidate genes for disease mapping to the 21q22.3 region, we have assembled a 770-kb cosmid and BAC contig containing eight tightly linked markers. These cosmids and BACs were restriction mapped using eight rare cutting enzymes, with the goal of identifying CpG-rich islands. One such island was identified by the clustering of NotI, EagI, SstII, and BssHII sites, and corresponded to the NotI linking clone LJ104 described previously. A 7.6-kb HindIII fragment containing this CpG-rich island was subcloned and partially sequenced. A homology search using the sequence obtained from either side of the NotI site identified an expressed sequence tag with homology to the yeast periodic tryptophan protein 2 (PWP2). Several cDNAs corresponding to the human PWP2 gene were identified and partially sequenced. Northern blot analysis revealed a 3.3-kb transcript that was well expressed in all tissues tested. A cDNA consensus of 3157 bp was obtained, and an open reading frame potentially encoding 919 amino acid residues was identified. The predicted protein shows 42% identity and 57% similarity at the amino acid level to the yeast PWP2 protein, which is a member of the WD-repeat containing superfamily, and potentially encodes a G-protein beta subunit. The PWP2 gene is split into 21 exons, ranging in size from 53 to 516 bp, and spans an estimated 25 kb. The gene is transcribed in a 21cen-->21qter direction, with its 5' end mapping approximately 195 kb proximal to the 5' end of the phosphofructokinase-liver isoform gene. Four single base-pair polymorphisms were identified using single-stranded conformation polymorphism analysis. Possible functions of the protein based on homology to other members of the WD-repeat-containing family are discussed.

Pituitary lineage determination by the Prophet of Pit-1 homeodomain factor defective in Ames dwarfism

The gene apparently responsible for a heritable form of murine pituitary-dependent dwarfism (Ames dwarf, df) has been positionally cloned, identifying a novel, tissue-specific, paired-like homeodomain transcription factor, termed Prophet of Pit-1 (Prop-1). The df phenotype results from an apparent failure of initial determination of the Pit-1 lineage required for production of growth hormone, prolactin or thyroid-stimulating hormone, resulting in dysmorphogenesis and failure to activate Pit-1 gene expression. These results imply that a cascade of tissue-specific regulators is responsible for the determination and differentiation of specific cell lineages in pituitary organogenesis.

[Reconstitution of Hu-SCID mice transplanted with human tonsillar lymphocytes immunized with dengue virus-2 in vitro and its immune response]

OBJECTIVE

To study the measure for the reconstitution of severe combined immunodeficient disease mice (SCID mice) transplanted with human lymphocytes immunized with specific antigen in vitro.

METHODS

Hu-SCID mice were constructed by intraperitoneal (i.p.) transfer of human tonsillar lymphocytes (TLC) first immunized with dengue virus-2 (DV2) in vitro, then boostered with different doses of DV2 antigen in vivo.

RESULTS

Human immunoglobulin (Ig) and specific human anti-DV2 antibodies could be detected in sera of the hu-SCID mice by ELISA. Two weeks after transplantion of the in vitro-immunized hu-TLC, the highest human IgG concentration was 412.86 micrograms/ml, two or four weeks later specific human anti-DV2 IgM or IgG and the neutralizing antibody could found in these sera, respectively, the highest titer was 1:6400. The levels of human IgG and human anti-DV2 antibodies were related to the dose of DV2 antigen. The presence of human B cells (CD20+) and T/cells (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) were shown in the sleen, lung, intestine and mesentery of the hu-SCID mice as determined by immunoperoxidase staining, and the cells were distributed correspondingly with the lymphocyte cells in proper human tissue. Human anti-DV2 IgG could also be detected in the spleen cell culture obtained from the SCID mice.

CONCLUSION

By co-immunized in vitro and in vivo the SCID mice deduced stronger immune response for specific antigen, and the reconstitution of the human lymphocytes could be established successfully.

Long-range sequence analysis in Xq28: thirteen known and six candidate genes in 219.4 kb of high GC DNA between the RCP/GCP and G6PD loci

DNA comprising 219 447 bp was sequenced in nine cosmids and verified at > 99.9% precision. Of the standard repetitive elements, 187 Alus make up 20.6% of the sequence, but there were only 27 MERs (2.9%) and 17 L1 fragments (1.6%). This may be characteristic of such high GC (57%) regions. The sequence also includes an 11.3 kb tract duplicated with 99.2% identity at a distance of 38 kb. The region is 80-90% transcribed and 12.5% translated. Thirteen known genes and their exon-intron borders are all accurately predicted at least in part by GRAIL programs, as are six additional genes. From centromere to telomere, the orientation of transcription varies among the first eight genes, then runs centromeric to telomeric for the next five, and is in the opposite sense for the last six. Eighteen of the 19 genes are associated with CpG islands. Two islands are exact copies in the 11.3 kb repeat units, and could thus give rise to double dosage levels of an X-linked gene. Another island is associated with two genes transcribed in opposite directions. From the sequence data, three genes and their exon structure are inferred. One of them, previously associated with HEX2, is shown to be a different gene unrelated to hexokinases; a second gene, previously known by an EST, is plexin, from its 65.5% identity with the Xenopus analog; and a third is a subunit of a vacuolar H-ATPase, and is named VATPS1.

Differential expression of intestinal and splenic cytokines after parenteral nutrition

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of parenteral nutrition (PN) on the expression of message for inflammatory cytokines in the spleen and different segments of the intestine.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

PARTICIPANTS

Eleven adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 to 300 g.

INTERVENTIONS

All rats underwent central venous cannulation and were randomized to two groups. Group 1 (n = 6) received saline solution infusion and chow ad libitum; group 2 (n = 5) received lipid-free PN with no oral feeding. After 7 days, the animals were killed and the spleens and segments of small and large intestine were removed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The expression of message for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1 in the spleen and intestine was determined using a semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase reaction. Splenic macrophages were isolated and cultured for 24 hours with and without lipopolysaccharide. Production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 was determined by bioassay followed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

After 7 days of infusion, messenger RNA (mRNA) expression for TNF-alpha, IL-1, and IL-6 was increased in the jejunum (P < .05), and TNF-alpha mRNA and IL-6 mRNA expression was decreased in the spleen (P < .01) of PN-fed animals when compared with saline/chow controls. In addition, TNF-alpha mRNA expression was increased in the cecum (P < .05), IL-1 mRNA expression was increased in the ileum (P < .05), and IL-6 mRNA expression was increased in the cecum (P < .05) and Peyer's patches (P < .007) in the PN-fed animals. Production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 by splenic macrophages was decreased following PN infusion in both lipopolysaccharide-treated and untreated cultures (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Infusion of lipid-free PN induces a differential mRNA expression for inflammatory cytokines in the spleen and intestine with an overall up-regulation of the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the intestine and a down-regulation in the spleen. These data provide evidence that the regulatory mechanisms for cytokine production are different in the intestine and the spleen. Further study is needed to elaborate the mechanism of this differential expression following lipid-free PN infusion.

Quantitation of P53 protein expression in gastrointestinal smooth muscle tumors. Clinicopathological correlation and prognostic significance

Quantitative analysis of P53 protein expression was performed on paraffin-embedded tissues from 55 smooth muscle tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, using immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. No positive expression was found in normal smooth muscle tissues of the gastrointestinal tract. Over-expression of P53 gene was found in a significantly higher proportion in leiomyosarcomas (90%) and potentially malignant smooth muscle tumors (75%) as compared to leiomyomas (14%) (P < 0.005). The quantitation of P53 expression was found to be progressively enhanced in the sequence from leiomyoma through potentially malignant smooth muscle tumor to leiomyosarcoma (P < 0.005). It was markedly over-expressed when the mitotic counts ranged from one to more than one per 10 high power fields (P < 0.005) or the mild cytologic atypia was found (P < 0.005). The five-year survival rate was significantly higher in patients with low-expression of P53 than in those with over-expression of P53 (P < 0.005). It was suggested that P53 over-expression might be associated with the transformation of leiomyoma into leiomyosarcoma and could be used as an objective parameter in distinguishing the malignant from the benign and predicting the prognosis of patients with smooth muscle tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

Regulation of alveolar macrophage transforming growth factor-beta secretion by corticosteroids in bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation in the rat

In a model of pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis induced by the antineoplastic antibiotic, bleomycin, we previously demonstrated that TGF-beta was markedly elevated within 7 d of bleomycin administration. At the time of maximal TGF-beta production, TGF-beta 1 was localized by immunohistochemistry to be present almost exclusively in alveolar macrophages. In this study, we have demonstrated that alveolar macrophages stimulated by bleomycin-induced injury secrete large quantities of biologically active TGF-beta 1 when explanted into tissue culture. However, alveolar macrophages from normal saline-treated rats secrete small quantities of biologically inactive TGF-beta. In contrast, splenic macrophages secrete large quantities of inactive TGF-beta and are unaffected by the intratracheal bleomycin treatment. High doses of the corticosteroid methylprednisolone given intramuscularly before and concomitantly with bleomycin administration prevented the influx of alveolar macrophages into the lungs, diminishing both the number of macrophages present in the alveoli and the total lung content of TGF-beta. However, the rate of secretion of TGF-beta by alveolar macrophages recovered from the alveoli was unchanged after corticosteroid treatment. When activated alveolar macrophages were cultured in the presence of several concentrations of dexamethasone that completely suppressed IL-1 secretion, little effect on TGF-beta secretion was observed. The findings in this study demonstrate that during bleomycin-induced injury, alveolar macrophages not only secrete large quantities of active TGF-beta 1, but are a predominant source of the enhanced TGF-beta response seen in this model. Furthermore, the alveolar macrophage secretion of TGF-beta is not inhibited by the presence of high concentrations of corticosteroids.

Molecular characterization of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in patients of Chinese descent and identification of new base substitutions in the human G6PD gene

The underlying DNA changes associated with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient Asians have not been extensively investigated. To fill this gap, we sequenced the G6PD gene of 43 G6PD-deficient Chinese whose G6PD was well characterized biochemically. DNA samples were obtained from peripheral blood of these individuals for sequencing using a direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing procedure. From these 43 samples, we have identified five different types of nucleotide substitutions in the G6PD gene: at cDNA 1388 from G to A (Arg to His); at cDNA 1376 from G to T (Arg to Leu); at cDNA 1024 from C to T (Leu to Phe); at cDNA 392 from G to T (Gly to Val); at cDNA 95 from A to G (His to Arg). These five nucleotide substitutions account for over 83% of our 43 G6PD-deficient samples and these substitutions have not been reported in non-Asians. The substitutions found at cDNA 392 and cDNA 1024 are new findings. The substitutions at cDNA 1376 and 1388 account for over 50% of the 43 samples examined indicating a high prevalence of these two alleles among G6PD-deficient Chinese. Our findings add support to the notion that diverse point mutations may account largely for much of the phenotypic heterogeneity of G6PD deficiency.

Central administration of interleukin-1 beta increases norepinephrine turnover in the spleen

We have previously shown that intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) suppressed splenic macrophage function. Sympathetic noradrenergic innervation of the spleen was implicated as a mediator of this IL-1 beta signal as surgical sympathectomy ablated the macrophage suppression. In this study, we have determined whether ICV administration of IL-1 beta has an effect on sympathetic outflow and norepinephrine (NE) turnover in the spleen. Adult male rats were injected with 5 ng of IL-1 or saline, and NE turnover in the spleen was determined using the rate of decline of NE content in the spleen after synthesis inhibition. The splenic NE turnover rate was increased significantly from 69.52 ng/g/h in saline-treated animals to 111.05 ng/g/h in IL-1-treated animals. In addition, serum corticosterone and ACTH were significantly elevated in IL-1 beta-treated animals 4 h postinjection. These data indicate that central administration of IL-1 beta increases both sympathetic outflow to the spleen and activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during the period when IL-1 beta induces immunosuppression.