Age-related changes in myelopoietic response to lipopolysaccharide in senescence-accelerated (SAM) mice

The effects of in vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration on myelopoiesis were examined in senescence-accelerated (SAM) mice. Young mice injected with LPS exhibited: (a) increased femoral proliferative pool size; (b) transient reduction in femoral non-proliferative pool size and number of femoral colony forming unit-granulocyte macrophages (CFU-GMs); (c) marked increase in splenic CFU-GMs; and (d) transient increase in S-phase of femoral CFU-GMs. The responses of old mice after LPS administration differed from those of young mice in the following points: (a) no recovery of the femoral non-proliferative pool or femoral CFU-GMs, (b) less significant augmentation of the femoral proliferative pool and splenic CFU-GMs, and (c) prolonged reduction in S-phase of femoral CFU-GM. Injection of LPS into mice resulted in a hyperproduction of colony-stimulating activity (CSA) in bone followed by production of colony-inhibitory activity (CIA) in young mice and in contrast, an excessive CIA secretion from bone without an increase in CSA levels in old mice. These imbalances in the regulatory factors derived from non-hemopoietic cells in the bones may lead to an inappropriate response of myelopoiesis in aged SAM mice after LPS administration, which may play a key role in infections.

Screening for Drosophila proteins with distinct expression patterns during development by use of monoclonal antibodies

Kc 167 is a cell line established from Drosophila embryonic hemocytes and has been shown to express many extracellular matrix (ECM) and other proteins important during development. We have screened monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) raised against heparin affinity purified proteins from conditioned medium of Kc 167 cells to identify novel proteins with important roles for development. One mAb recognized a protein expressed with temporary and tissue specific patterns during Drosophila embryogenesis and larval development. This approach is an alternative to screening of Expression Sequence Tag (EST) clones by in situ hybridization to initiate reverse genetics. In addition, a number of mAbs recognizing ECM proteins were also identified. These mAbs will be useful for biochemical and cell biological analyses of Drosophila ECM proteins.

Difficulty in writing Japanese semantic characters in a 9-year-old boy with Williams syndrome

A 9-year-old boy diagnosed as having Williams syndrome was evaluated using psychological test batteries in order to clarify his ability in language and visual cognition. The subject had difficulty in writing some of the Japanese semantic characters (called Kanji) which he could otherwise read and understand. Although he could write the small components of which the Kanji characters were composed, he could not locate these correctly. This phenomenon is considered to be very similar to the difficulty in copying a figure observed clinically. The Kaufmann Assessment Batteries for Children clearly revealed that the boy had difficulty with the sub-test of spatial memory compared to his average score for simultaneous processing. This result is considered to be closely related to the difficulty in copying figures or writing Kanji characters. On the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities, the present authors found that the subject's vocabulary was relatively good, although semantic and pragmatic problems remained. Clarifying the strong and weak points of the abilities of such patients will help to determine the most appropriate mode of education for them.

Differences in the sensitivity to UVB radiation of two cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.) based on observation of long-lived radicals

Free radicals with a long lifetime were observed in the leaves of two rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.), Sasanishiki (UVB resistant) and Norin-1 (UVB sensitive), by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The leaves of both cultivars grown with visible light show very similar ESR spectra composed of radical 1 (R1) and radical 2 (R2), which may be attributable to P700 cation radicals in the reaction center of photosystem I, and tyrosine cation radicals in the reaction center of photosystem II, respectively. The ESR spectrum composed of R1 and R2 radicals in the leaves of Sasanishiki grown under visible light with supplemental UVB was similar to that in the plant grown without supplemental UVB. On the other hand, the amount of R2 radicals in the leaves of Norin-1 grown under visible light with supplemental UVB was significantly smaller than that in the plant grown without supplemental UVB. It is suggested that the loss of R2 radicals in Norin-1 upon UVB irradiation is related to the instability of the plant.

A selective dopamine D4 receptor antagonist, NRA0160: a preclinical neuropharmacological profile

NRA0160, 5 - [2- ( 4- ( 3 - fluorobenzylidene) piperidin-1-yl) ethyl] - 4 -(4-fluorophenyl) thiazole-2-carboxamide, has a high affinity for human cloned dopamine D4.2, D4.4 and D4.7 receptors, with Ki values of 0.5, 0.9 and 2.7 nM, respectively. NRA0160 is over 20,000fold more potent at the dopamine D4.2 receptor compared with the human cloned dopamine D2L receptor. NRA0160 has negligible affinity for the human cloned dopamine D3 receptor (Ki=39 nM), rat serotonin (5-HT)2A receptors (Ki=180 nM) and rat alpha1 adrenoceptor (Ki=237 nM). NRA0160 and clozapine antagonized locomotor hyperactivity induced by methamphetamine (MAP) in mice. NRA0160 and clozapine antagonized MAP-induced stereotyped behavior in mice, although their effects did not exceed 50% inhibition, even at the highest dose given. NRA0160 and clozapine significantly induced catalepsy in rats, although their effects did not exceed 50% induction even at the highest dose given. NRA0160 and clozapine significantly reversed the disruption of prepulse inhibition (PPI) in rats produced by apomorphine. NRA0160 and clozapine significantly shortened the phencyclidine (PCP)-induced prolonged swimming latency in rats in a water maze task. These findings suggest that NRA0160 may have unique antipsychotic activities without the liability of motor side effects typical of classical antipsychotics.

Novel mutations and genotype-phenotype relationships in 107 families with Fukuyama-type congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD)

Fukuyama-type congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD), one of the most common autosomal recessive disorders in the Japanese population, is characterized by congenital muscular dystrophy in combination with cortical dysgenesis (micropolygyria). Recently, we identified, on chromosome 9q31, the gene responsible for FCMD, which encodes a novel 461 amino acid protein which we have termed fukutin. Most FCMD-bearing chromosomes examined to date (87%) have been derived from a single ancestral founder, whose mutation consisted of a 3 kb retrotransposal insertion in the 3' non-coding region of the fukutin gene. FCMD is the first human disease known to be caused primarily by an ancient retrotransposal integration. We under-took a systematic analysis of the FCMD gene in 107 unrelated patients, and identified four novel non-founder mutations in five of them: one missense, one nonsense, one L1 insertion and a 1 bp insertion. The frequency of severe phenotypes, including Walker-Walberg syndrome-like manifestations such as hydrocephalus and microphthalmia, was significantly higher among probands who were compound heterozygotes carrying a point mutation on one allele and the founder mutation on the other, than it was among probands who were homozygous for the 3 kb retrotransposon. Remarkably, we detected no FCMD patients with non-founder (point) mutations on both alleles of the gene, and suggest that such cases might be embryonic-lethal. This could explain why few FCMD cases are reported in non-Japanese populations. Our results provided strong evidence that loss of function of fukutin is the major cause of FCMD, and appeared to shed some light on the mechanism responsible for the broad clinical spectrum seen in this disease.

Therapy-related megakaryoblastic leukemia with pituitary involvement following treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

A case of a 66-year-old Japanese man developed therapy-related megakaryoblastic leukemia with pituitary involvement after chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Alkylating agents had been administered for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 6 years later, megakaryoblastic leukemia with myelofibrosis and myelodysplasia developed. The blast cells expressed CD41, and immature antigens also. These findings were compatible with therapy-related megakaryoblastic leukemia. An autopsy revealed blast-cell infiltration into multiple organs including the posterior pituitary lobe. Therapy-related megakaryoblastic leukemia is very rare, and pituitary involvement may be associated with immaturity of blast cells.

[Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation]

A 34-year-old woman with chronic myeloid leukemia underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) after receiving high-dose chemotherapy and total body irradiation. She experienced progressively dry cough 51 days after BMT, and chest X-ray films showed patchy infiltrations in the lower fields of both lungs on the 66th day after BMT. The symptoms of cough, fever, and hypoxemia worsened. The patchy infiltrations continued to spread and fuse. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) was diagnosed on the basis of high-resolution CT and bronchoalveolar lavage findings. Treatment with high-dose methyl prednisolone pulse therapy, antibiotics, and haptoglobin resolved the patient's DAH symptoms. DAH was thought to be secondary to thrombotic microangiopathy. The majority of patients who experience DAH after BMT eventually die. The remission observed in our case was rare, and illustrated that steroid therapy can be effective for DAH after BMT.

A mammalian vector carrying the bleomycin N-acetyltransferase gene from bleomycin-producing Streptomyces verticillus as a selective marker

A gene, blmB, encodes a bleomycin (Bm) N-acetyltransferase, designated BAT, from Bm-producing Streptomyces verticillus and confers resistance to Bm in Streptomyces and Escherichia coli. COS-1 cells transfected with a plasmid designated pEF-BOS/blmB, in which blmB is under the control of a strong promoter from the human polypeptide chain elongation factor 1alpha, transiently produced BAT. Immuno-cytochemical analysis using an anti-BAT monoclonal antibody revealed that BAT was localized in the nucleus of the blmB-carrying COS-1 cells. NIH/3T3 cells, transfected with pEF-BOS/blmB, stably expressed BAT at least for one month. The stable transformants of blmB showed specific resistance to the Bm family of antibiotics, suggesting that blmB has potential as a selective marker in gene transfer studies with mammalian cells.

Apoptotic cells associated with Wallerian degeneration after experimental spinal cord injury: a possible mechanism of oligodendroglial death

We have investigated the temporal and spatial profiles of apoptotic cells in an experimental transection spinal cord injury by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotin-16-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. Twenty-four hours postinjury, a numerous TUNEL-positive cells appeared both rostrally and caudally to the transection site. Those positive cells, however, gradually diminished in number by several days postinjury. In contrast, other TUNEL-positive cells were found scattered within the white matter remote from the lesion by the third day postinjury. These cells were typically embedded in or among vacuolated fibers, where they were identified in close proximity to the vacuolated space enclosed by myelin basic protein (MBP)-positive structures confirmed by TUNEL-MBP double staining. Because of their linear arrangement, these TUNEL-positive cells were considered interfascicular oligodendrocytes, a fact that was confirmed by the finding that some TUNEL-positive cells were also stained with CCI, a cell marker for oligodendrocyte. Electron microscopic studies revealed that the cells expressing apoptotic morphology were invariably encased in a space formed by myelin splitting. Although the biological significance of apoptotic interfascicular oligodendrocytes in the process of wallerian degeneration is yet to be determined, the finding of such profiles localized within degenerating myelin structures suggests that; oligodendrocytes may be "trapped" within rapidly swollen and disintegrating myelin lamellae, which isolates and perhaps predisposes them to death.

Application of the Cre recombinase/loxP system further enhances antitumor effects in cell type-specific gene therapy against carcinoembryonic antigen-producing cancer

A considerable number of studies of cancer have shown that the cell type-specific promoter is an effective tool for selective expression of foreign genes in tumor cells. However, few reports have demonstrated significant in vivo antitumor effects using this strategy thus far, possibly because the low activity of such a promoter results in insufficient expression of genes in cancer cells as well as in insignificant antitumor effects, even when the cells are infected by highly efficient gene transfer methods. To overcome this problem, we used the Cre/loxP system for the cell type-specific gene therapy against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-producing cancer. We constructed a pair of recombinant Ads. One expresses the Cre recombinase (Cre) gene under the control of the CEA promoter (Ad.CEA-Cre). The other contains the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene separated from the strong CAG promoter by insertion of the neomycin resistance (neo) gene (Ad.lox-TK). The HSV-TK gene of the latter Ad is designed to be activated through excisional deletion of the neo gene by Cre enzyme released from the former one only when CEA-producing cells are infected simultaneously with these Ads. Coinfection by these Ads rendered a human CEA-producing cancer cell line 8.4-fold more sensitive to ganciclovir (GCV) compared with infection by Ad.CEA-TK alone, the HSV-TK gene of which is directly regulated by the CEA promoter. On the other hand, coinfection with these Ads did not significantly change the GCV sensitivity of non-CEA-producing cells. Intratumoral injection of Ad.CEA-Cre combined with Ad.lox-TK followed by GCV treatment almost completely eradicated CEA-producing tumors established in the subcutis of athymic mice, whereas intratumoral injection of Ad.CEA-TK with GCV administration at most retarded the growth of inoculated tumors. These results suggest distinct advantages of the Cre/loxP system applied in the conventional cell type-specific gene therapy against cancer.

Synthesis and SAR of 1-alkyl-2-phenylethylamine derivatives designed from N,N-dipropyl-4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenylethylamine to discover sigma(1) ligands

The synthesis and structure-activity relationships (SAR) of 1-alkyl-2-phenylethylamine derivatives 5-8 designed from N, N-dipropyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylamine hydrochloride (1, NE-100) are presented. The SAR between compound 1 and 1-alkyl-2-phenylethylamine derivatives suggested that the alkyl group on the 1-position carbon of 2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethyl)phenyl]ethylamine derivatives played the role of one of the propyl groups on the aminic nitrogen of compound 1. (-)-N-Propyl-1-butyl-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy)phenyl]ethylam ine hydrochloride ((-)-6d, NE-537) and (-)-N-propyl-1-(3-methybutyl)-2-[4-methoxy-3-(2-phenylethoxy )phenyl]e thylamine hydrochloride ((-)-6i, NE-535), typical compounds in this series, have potent and selective sigma(1) affinity.

Localization of mouse type 2 Alu sequence in schistosomes

Localization of the type 2 Alu sequence (B2), a highly repetitive DNA sequence in the mouse genome, was examined by in situ polymerase chain reaction (in situ PCR) in schistosomes. The signals to the B2 sequence were detected in the cytoplasm of the tegumental membrane and in the nuclei of the mesenchymal, testicular, ovarian and vitelline cells of 8-week Schistosoma japonicum. In contrast, it was difficult to detect any signals of this sequence in 8-week S. mansoni, whereas in 24-week male S. mansoni the signals were observed in the cytoplasm of the tegumental tubercles and in the nuclei of the mesenchymal and testicular cells. On the other hand, in 24-week female S. mansoni the signals were found in the nuclei of the mesenchymal, ovarian and vitelline cells but not found in the tegument. On the contrary, no hybridization band of the B2 sequence was detected in the amplified DNA of 3-week schistosomula of either species. These observations proved that the host DNA sequences existed in restricted schistosome cells and were accumulated in the schistosome body during their development.

Varicella-zoster virus-specific cellular immunity in subjects given acyclovir after household chickenpox exposure

The time course of primary cell-mediated immune responses to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) among persons receiving acyclovir prophylaxis after exposure to chickenpox has not been well defined. Fifteen children who had household exposure to varicella received prophylactic acyclovir (40 mg/kg/day for 7-14 days after exposure) and were studied for development of both antibody and cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to VZV. Twelve developed antibodies and/or CMI; 10 had no symptoms and 2 manifested mild varicella. Two were already immune to varicella and had booster immune responses. One was not infected and subsequently developed full-blown varicella. Although acyclovir given after exposure to VZV is highly effective and does not appear to attenuate the immune response, it remains necessary to confirm whether, in the absence of clinical varicella, persons acquire specific immunity.

Comparison of erythropoietic response to androgen in young and old senescence accelerated mice

In this study, to clarify whether the functional capacity of hemopoietic progenitor cells and the micro-environment of aged mice are identical with those of the young, we investigated the changes in the number of hemopoietic progenitor cells and the production of regulatory cytokines from splenic cells as well as changes in the serum levels of cytokine in senescence-accelerated mice (SAM) after administration of 19-nandrolone decanoate (19-ND), a synthetic androgenic anabolic steroid. 19-ND induced an increase in erythroid colony-forming units (CFU-E), erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E), and granulocytic-macrophage committed progenitor cells (CFU-GM) in bone marrow and spleen; especially remarkable increases were observed in the splenic CFU-E in both young and old mice. Antigen expression analysis of hemopoietic organs revealed that total TER-119+ cells per spleen of young and old mice with androgen treatment rose 2.6- and 3.2-fold over their respective control values. The responsiveness of hemopoietic progenitor cells to androgen did not change with age. Injection of 19-ND into young and old mice markedly enhanced the erythropoietin levels but not IL3 and GM-CSF levels in the serum of both groups. Cytokine production assessed by pokeweed mitogen-stimulated spleen condition medium showed an age-related decline. Androgen treatment could not influence IL-3 and GM-CSF production of spleen. These findings suggest that the spleen of both old and young mice served as the major site of regenerative repopulation of hemopoietic progenitors, especially the late erythroid progenitors in 19-ND-treated mice. The proliferative reserve of erythropoiesis with androgen treatment in aged mice was not reduced more than that in treated-young mice.

Arg506Gln mutation of the coagulation factor V gene not detected in Japanese pulmonary thromboembolism

The incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is lower in Japanese than in Caucasians. The basis for the different incidence has not been clarified. A poor anticoagulant response to activated protein C based on a single point mutation of the factor V gene (Arg506Gln) was found to be a pathogenetic factor for venous thrombosis and PTE in North America and Europe. We investigated whether the Arg506Gln mutation of factor V is responsible for the occurrence of PTE among Japanese. We analyzed genomic DNA prepared from fresh peripheral blood of 25 patients with PTE of unknown etiology (12 of acute type and 13 of chronic type) and that of 110 controls without respiratory or circulatory disorders. To detect the Arg506Gln mutation, 267 bp DNA fragments of the factor V gene including the Arg506Gln region were amplified by PCR, digested by MnlI and electrophoresed. After digestion of PCR products with MnlI, DNA fragments of 163 bp length, but not DNA fragments of 200 bp length, were identified in all samples, indicating the absence of the Arg506Gln mutation in the patients with PTE and control subjects. These results suggest that the Arg506Gln mutation is absent or very rare and not an important pathogenetic factor for PTE in Japanese.

Effects of low doses of endothelin-1 on basal vascular tone and autoregulatory vasodilation in canine coronary microcirculation in vivo

The plasma level of endothelin-1 (ET-1) increases in several cardiovascular disorders. The present study examined whether threshold doses of ET-1 affect vascular tone and autoregulatory vasodilation during a reduction in perfusion pressure in the coronary microcirculation in vivo. In anesthetized open-chest dogs, arterial microvessels in the epimyocardium were observed through a microscope equipped with a floating objective. In 6 dogs, ET-1 (10(-13) to 10(-8)mol/L) was superfused onto the epimyocardium in a cumulative fashion. In another set of dogs (n= 16), the perfusion pressure of the observed vascular bed was reduced to 60 mmHg (mild stenosis) and to 40 mmHg (severe stenosis) by a hydraulic occluder, and the microvascular responses were observed in the presence (n=9) or absence (n=7) of ET-1 (10(-12) or 10(-11) mol/L). ET-1 > or =10(-11) mol/L constricted coronary arterioles (< or =100 microm in diameter) and small arteries (>100 microm in diameter) in a dose-dependent fashion. ET-1 of 10(-12) mol/L affected neither the basal diameters nor the dilation of vessels during the pressure reduction. ET-1 of 10(-11) mol/L decreased the diameters of arterioles and small arteries before and during the mild and severe stenosis. However, ET-1 did not attenuate the percentage dilation of arterioles from the baseline in response to the mild and severe stenosis. The data indicates the following: (1) ET-1 at doses > or =10(-11) mol/L similarly constricts coronary arterioles and small arteries; (2) ET-1 at 10(-11) mol/L, which is slightly higher than the pathophysiological plasma level, increases the basal vascular tone, but does not attenuate the autoregulatory vasodilation of the coronary microcirculation.

Synthesis and pharmacological activity of pyrazolopyrrolopyrimidine derivatives having vasorelaxing activity

A new series of 5-substituted and 5-nonsubstituted pyrazolopyrrolopyrimidine derivatives were synthesized, and their vasorelaxing and hypotensive activities were evaluated. The syntheses were efficiently accomplished through the use of three key intermediates (7, 16, and 24), as shown in Schemes I-III. The desired pharmacological activities were confirmed on the basis of vasorelaxing activity in rat aorta (in vitro) and hypotensive activity in rats (in vivo). Specifically, compound 25 exhibited the strongest activity and appears to be a promising clinical lead for the development of a new antihypertensive agent.

Changes in seroepidemiological pattern of Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis A virus over the last 20 years in Japan

OBJECTIVE

The age groups most susceptible to infection and the mode of transmission of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are not yet clear. To contribute to a better understanding of this disease, this study was undertaken to evaluate changes in the seroepidemiological pattern of H. pylori in a group of Japanese people over the last 20 yr sampled in 1974, 1984, and 1994 in comparison with that of the hepatitis A virus (HAV), which was used as a marker of the fecal-oral route of transmission.

METHODS

A total of 1015 serum samples were obtained from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Tokyo. All of these samples were from healthy persons aged 0-89 yr (442 male and 573 female; median age 35.6 yr), living in seven prefectures in the central part of Japan in 1974, 1984, and 1994. All serum samples were assayed for H. pylori IgG by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Further, anti-HAV antibodies were assayed by blocking ELISA in the same samples. We investigated the prevalence of H. pylori and HAV for all ages, and the positive rate of H. pylori for infants and children separately.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of H. pylori antibodies was 72.7% (CI 95%, 68.0-77.3) in 1974, 54.6% (CI 95%, 49.1-60.0) in 1984 and 39.3% (CI 95%, 34.1-44.4) in 1994. That of HAV was 57.7% (CI 95%, 52.5-62.8) in 1974, 41.7% (CI 95%, 36.3-47.0) in 1984, and 23.4% (CI 95%, 18.9-27.8) in 1994. The prevalence of both H. pylori and HAV was found to increase with age, whereas there have been clear cohort shifts in the seroepidemiological patterns of both infections over the last 20 yr in Japan. This study shows that there is a slight similarity in the concordance of positive and negative populations between H. pylori and HAV. However, it was very difficult to determine the concordance between H. pylori and HAV infection in this study.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data strongly suggest that the highest infection rates for both H. pylori and HAV occur among infants and children in Japan. This study provides evidence that H. pylori and HAV may share a common mode of transmission but that changes in environmental conditions make this very difficult if not impossible to prove with seroepidemiological data.

In vivo receptor occupancy of NRA0045, a putative atypical antipsychotic, in rats

We have previously reported that (R)-(+)-2-amino-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-[1-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutyl]+ ++pyrrolidin-3-yl]thiazole (NRA0045) is a novel antipsychotic agent with affinities for dopamine D4, 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT2A) and alpha1 receptors. In the present study, in vivo receptor occupancy of 5-HT2A, alpha1, dopamine D2 and D3 receptors by NRA0045 was assessed, based on in vivo and ex vivo receptor binding, and findings were compared to reference antipsychotic drugs (haloperidol, risperidone, clozapine). Intraperitoneal administration of haloperidol highly occupied the dopamine D2 receptor in the striatum and nucleus accumbens, and alpha1 adrenoceptors in the frontal cortex. Occupation of the 5-HT2A receptor in the frontal cortex and the dopamine D3 receptor in the nucleus accumbens and islands of Cajella was moderate. By contrast, atypical antipsychotics such as risperidone and clozapine dose-dependently occupied the 5-HT2A receptor in the frontal cortex, with moderate to negligible occupancy of the D2 receptor in the striatum and the nucleus accumbens. Clozapine and risperidone also occupied the alpha1 adrenoceptor in the frontal cortex, and clozapine did not occupy the dopamine D3 receptor. As seen with other atypical antipsychotics, intraperitoneal administration of NRA0045 dose-dependently occupied the 5-HT2A receptor and the alpha1 adrenoceptor in the frontal cortex, while it was without effect on dopamine D2 and D3 receptors in the striatum, nucleus accumbens and islands of Cajella. Thus, the strong occupancy of 5-HT2A and alpha1 receptors is involved in the pharmacological action of NRA0045.

Effects of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and transforming growth factor-beta1 on gene expression of decorin and biglycan by cultured osteoblastic cells

The influence of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) on the expression of small proteoglycans, decorin and biglycan was investigated in a clonal rat osteoblastic cell line, ROS-C26 (C26) cells, which is a potential osteoblast precursor cell line and capable of differentiating into mature osteoblasts after treatment with recombinant BMP-2 (rhBMP-2). Following the culture of C26 cells for 3, 6, and 9 days in the presence or absence of rhBMP-2, alkaline phosphatase activity increased in the rhBMP-2 treated cells in direct proportion to their differentiation into more mature osteoblastic cells, whereas decorin mRNA decreased in the cells, when compared to control cells without rhBMP-2 treatment. These results were evident 6 days after treatment. However, rhBMP-2 treatment had no effect on biglycan mRNA expression in the cells. Subsequently, after removal of rhBMP-2 from the culture media, the cells were further cultured for 24 h with graded concentrations of TGF-beta1 (0, 0.1, 1.0, 5.0, and 10 ng/ml). TGF-beta1 decreased decorin mRNA expression in the cells dose dependently, but did not affect their biglycan mRNA expression. Furthermore, either removal of rhBMP-2 from the culture media or addition of TGF-beta1 significantly decreased alkaline phosphatase activity of rhBMP-2-induced cells. These results indicate that osteoblastic differentiation is accompanied by increased alkaline phosphatase activity and decreased expression of decorin mRNA, but continuous expression of biglycan mRNA. Both rhBMP-2 and TGF-beta1 inhibit decorin mRNA expression in osteoblasts at varying stages of differentiation, but their effects on biglycan mRNA expression and alkaline phosphatase are different.

Mutation of the N-terminal proline 9 of BLMA from Streptomyces verticillus abolishes the binding affinity for bleomycin

A gene, blmA, from bleomycin (Bm)-producing Streptomyces verticillus, encodes a Bm-binding protein, designated BLMA. The expression of BLMA conferred resistance to Bm in the Escherichia coli host, whereas a mutant protein, designated Pro-9/Leu, with the N-terminal proline 9 residue in BLMA replaced by leucine, did not. We created a fusion protein between the maltose-binding protein (MBP) and a mutant protein Pro-9/Leu/Leu with Met-94 in Pro-9/Leu replaced by leucine. Pro-9/Leu/Leu from the fusion protein, obtained by digestion with CNBr digestion, did not inhibit DNA-cleaving and antibacterial activities of Bm. Native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and gel filtration column chromatographic analysis showed that the molecular size of Pro-9/Leu/Leu is roughly half of that of BLMA, suggesting that the mutant protein cannot form dimeric structure. Furthermore, Far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of Pro-9/Leu/Leu was quite different from that of BLMA and similar to the spectra obtained from unordered proteins [Venyaminov, S.Y. and Vassilenko, K.S. (1994) Anal. Biochem. 222, 176184], suggesting that the secondary structure of Pro-9/Leu/Leu is disrupted. These results indicate that the mutation abolishes not only dimer formation but also the secondary structure of BLMA, which results in the loss of its function as a Bm-resistance determinant.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of bleomycin-binding protein encoded on the transposon Tn5

A bleomycin-binding protein, designated BLMT, encoded on the transposon Tn5 was crystallized using the vapour-diffusion method in a form suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystals were grown at pH 6.5 in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate and 0.2 M calcium acetate, using 25% PEG 6000 as a precipitant. They belong to the orthorhombic system, space group C2221, with unit-cell dimensions a = 81.56, b = 85.25, c = 78.91 A and one dimer in the asymmetric unit. The diffraction intensity data were collected on beamline 18B of the Photon Factory to 2.0 A resolution with a merging R value of 0.052. The diffraction data set is 91% complete.

Receptor binding, behavioral, and electrophysiological profiles of nonpeptide corticotropin-releasing factor subtype 1 receptor antagonists CRA1000 and CRA1001

Receptor binding, behavioral, and electrophysiological profiles of 2-[N-(2-methylthio-4-isopropylphenyl)-N-ethylamino]-4-[4-(3-flu orophe nyl)-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidine (CRA1000) and 2-[N-(2-bromo-4-isopropylphenyl)-N-ethylamino]-4-[4-(3-fluoropheny l)- 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidine (CRA1001), putative novel and selective antagonists for corticotropin-releasing factor1 (CRF1) receptor were examined. Both CRA1000 and CRA1001 inhibited 125I-ovine CRF binding to membranes of rat frontal cortex with IC50 values of 20.6 and 22.3 nM, respectively. Likewise, CRA1000 and CRA1001 inhibited 125I-ovine CRF binding to membranes of rat pituitary. In contrast, both CRA1000 and CRA1001 were without affinity for the CRF2beta receptor when examined using rat heart. In mice orally administered CRA1000 and CRA1001 reversed the swim stress-induced reduction of the time spent in the light area in the light/dark exploration task. In nonstress conditions, CRA1000 and CRA1001 were without effect on the time spent in the light area in the same task in mice. Orally administered CRA1000 and CRA1001 dose dependently reversed the effects of i.c.v. infusion of CRF on time spent in the open arms in the elevated plus-maze in rats. Lesioning of olfactory bulbs induced hyperemotionality, and this effect was inhibited by either acute or chronic oral administration of CRA1000 and CRA1001 in rats. The firing rate of locus coeruleus neurons was increased by i.c.v.-infused CRF. This excitation of locus coeruleus neurons was significantly blocked by pretreatment with i.v. administration of CRA1000 and CRA1001. CRA1000 and CRA1001 had no effects on the hexobarbital-induced anesthesia in mice, the rotarod test in mice, the spontaneous locomotor activity in mice, and a passive avoidance task in rats. These observations indicate that both CRA1000 and CRA1001 are selective and competitive CRF1 receptor antagonists with potent anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like properties in various experimental animal models, perhaps through inhibition of CRF1 receptors. CRA1000 and CRA1001 may prove effective for treating subjects with depression- and/or anxiety-related disorders without the side effects seen in the related currently prescribed medications.

Binding of Asp-hemolysin from Aspergillus fumigatus to oxidized low density lipoprotein

Asp-hemolysin is a human low density lipoprotein (LDL) binding protein. We found evidence that Asp-hemolysin binds to oxidized LDL (oxLDL) as well as to LDL in a concentration-dependent manner. This result suggests that Asp-hemolysin is a novel protein, which shares binding abilities to LDL and oxLDL.