Organ-specific occurrence and expression of the isoforms of nonspecific lipid transfer protein in castor bean seedlings, and molecular cloning of a full-length cDNA for a cotyledon-specific isoform

Four kinds of nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTP) were purified from different organs of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) seedlings. Amino acid compositions and amino-terminal sequences of the four nsLTPs were determined and compared with those of castor bean isoforms, nsLTP-A, -B, and -C, previously reported [Takishima et al. (1986) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 870, 248-255; Takishima et al. (1988) Eur. J. Biochem. 177, 241-249]. Two isoforms from the cotyledons were identified as nsLTP-A and -C, one isoform from the endosperms as nsLTP-B, and the other was a new isoform from the axes. This new isoform was named nsLTP-D and its amino acid sequence was determined. These results demonstrated organ-specific occurrence of the nsLTP isoforms in castor bean seedlings. The isoforms nsLTP-A, -B, -C, and -D showed similar transfer activity not only for phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine but also for monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, although the homology among their amino acid sequences ranged from 70 to 30%. Two cDNA clones (pnsLTP-C and pnsLTP-D) for nsLTPs of castor bean seedlings were isolated and sequenced. pnsLTP-C was the cDNA clone for nsLTP-C expressed in the cotyledons, and pnsLTP-D was that for nsLTP-D in the axis. A coupled in vitro transcription-translation analysis of both cDNA clones revealed that pnsLTP-C encodes the full-length of nsLTP-C precursor (pro-nsLTP-C), while pnsLTP-D encodes a part of nsLTP-D precursor. PronsLTP-C contained a 24-amino acid pre-sequence preceding the mature nsLTP-C (92 amino acids).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Experimental study on local attachment of Beriplast P membrane including MMC]

We studied the effect of Beriplast P membrane including MMC (2 mg/ml) on human gastric carcinoma implanted in nude mouse (OSS) as a example of a shallow but broad lesion as with an early-stage local recurrence of rectal cancer and superficial gastric cancer. As a result, the resected tumor contact Beriplast P membrane including MMC after 3 days showed continuous necrotic lesions, from 1 to 2 mm in depth. No side effect was observed in nude mice. These results indicated that Beriplast P membrane including MMC is a useful chemotherapy against local cancerous lesion.

[Arterial infusion chemotherapy combined with biochemical modulation in cancer patients]

Both arterial infusion chemotherapy and biochemical modulation are effective for unresectable and recurrent cancer patients. Thus, we tried to combine these methods and studied their combined efficacy in 30 cancer patients. Overall effectiveness was 40% with this method. The efficacy of each regimen, such as beta-MF and CF, was approximately 36.4% and 66.7%, respectively. The effectiveness of cannulation into the proper hepatic artery and aorta was 48.6% and 16.7%, respectively. In this study, there were no serial or severe side effects. These findings suggested that arterial infusion chemotherapy in combination with biochemical modulation was a safe and effective method for treating cancer patients.

Characteristics of peroxisome proliferation: co-induction of peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation-related enzymes with microsomal laurate hydroxylase

The profile of the changes in the peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation activity in rat liver was compared with that in microsomal omega-oxidation under various conditions such as a 2-week administration of phenoxyacetic acid derivatives and perfluorinated compounds, short and long-term administration of clofibrate and bezafibrate, high-fat diet feeding, starvation and diabetes. The results were summarized as follows: 1) when phenoxyacetic acid derivatives and perfluorinated compounds were administered, there was a significant correlation in the increase of the activities between peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation and microsomal omega-oxidation. 2) On the long-term administration (79 weeks) of peroxisome proliferators the activities of the enzymes were significantly reduced, but the levels were still higher than the control level in a similar manner. 3) On high-fat diet feeding the patterns of the changes in the activities of peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation, carnitine acetyltransferase and microsomal omega-oxidation were similar to each other, differing from the changes in the activities of microsomal aminopyrin demethylase and mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyltransferase. 4) Under starved and diabetic conditions, co-induction of peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation and microsomal omega-oxidation was observed. From these results it is suggested that 1) the biosynthesis of these enzymes would be regulated on the gene expression of the nearby domain and 2) peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation and microsomal omega-oxidation were co-operatively regulated in order to achieve fatty acid metabolism smoothly.

Co-suppression by nicardipine, a calcium antagonist, of induction of microsomal lauric acid hydroxylation with peroxisome proliferation in clofibrate-treated rat liver

The in vivo effect of nicardipine, a well-known calcium antagonist, on microsomal omega-oxidation of laurate in clofibrate-treated rat liver was studied. The 15.3-fold induction of the activity by 2 weeks administration of 0.25% clofibrate in the diet was markedly suppressed to about 6-fold by co-administration of nicardipine at 100 mg/kg body weight. Similarly, the induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation and carnitine acetyltransferase activities were also suppressed by this simultaneous administration by more than 50%. Although clofibrate also induced the activity of reduced nicotineamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-cytochrome c reductase and increased the hepatic content of cytochrome P-450, no suppressive effect of nicardipine was observed. Contrarily, nicardipine induced the reductase activity and increased the hepatic content of cytochromes P-450 and b5. These results provide the first demonstration of a calcium antagonist, e.g. nicardipine acting as inhibitor of the induction of microsomal omega-oxidation, in association with the inhibition of peroxisome proliferation in animals. The suppression of drug-induced peroxisome proliferation and microsomal omega-oxidation by the calcium antagonist may help in elucidating the causal relationship of the induction mechanisms between peroxisomal and microsomal enzymes.

Characteristics of dehydroepiandrosterone as a peroxisome proliferator

Treatment of rats with dehydroepiandrosterone (300 mg/kg body weight, per os, 14 days) caused a remarkable increase in the number of peroxisomes and peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity in the liver. The activities of carnitine acetyltransferase, microsomal laurate 12-hydroxylation, cytosolic palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase, malic enzyme and some other enzymes were also increased. The increases in these enzyme activities were all greater in male rats than in female rats. Immunoblot analysis revealed remarkable induction of acyl-CoA oxidase and enoyl-CoA hydratase/3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase bifunctional enzyme in the liver and to a smaller extent in the kidney, whereas no significant induction of these enzymes was found in the heart. The increase in the hepatic peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity reached a maximal level at day 5 of the treatment of dehydroepiandrosterone and the increased activity rapidly returned to the normal level on discontinuation of the treatment. The increase in the activity was also dose-dependent, which was saturable at a dose of more than 200 mg/kg body weight. All these features in enzyme induction caused by dehydroepiandrosterone correlate well with those observed in the treatment of clofibric acid, a peroxisome proliferator. Co-treatment of dehydroepiandrosterone and clofibric acid showed no synergism in the enhancement of peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity, suggesting the involvement of a common process in the mechanism by which these compounds induce the enzymes. These results indicate that dehydroepiandrosterone is a typical peroxisome proliferator. Since dehydroepiandrosterone is a naturally occurring C19 steroid in mammals, the structure of which is novel compared with those of peroxisome proliferators known so far, this compound could provide particular information in the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the induction of peroxisome proliferation.

Purification and partial sequencing of inhibitory factor on renal membrane adenylate cyclase in pancreatic cancer extract: identity with histones H1b or H1d

Inhibitory activity on renal membrane adenylate cyclase (AC) has previously been found in the extract of a pancreatic cancer associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM). AC inhibitor was purified employing inhibition of AC activity of renal membrane stimulated by forskolin as its index. N-terminal 9 residues and a digested fragment of purified protein (14 residues) were completely consistent with that of histones H1b and H1d. Not only histone H1 but also histones H2A, H2B and H3 from calf thymus inhibited AC activity. These results indicate that the AC inhibitor in the pancreatic cancer extract is histone H1b or H1d and histones H2A, H2B and H3 also have an AC inhibitory activity.

Morphology and size of embryos recovered from superovulated cows

A total of 691 normal embryos were recovered from 183 superovulated donor cows on the 5th and 6th days after the first insemination, and were examined for their morphology and size in relation to their developmental stage. There was no significant difference in the thickness of the zona pellucida, the diameter of the cell mass, and the overall diameter of the embryos among zygotes, 2-, 4-, 8- and 16-cell embryos, and morulae. In the blastocyst stage, however, the diameter of the cell mass and the overall embryo diameter were significantly greater and the zona pellucida was significantly thinner than in the earlier-stage embryos. The volume of the blastomere significantly decreased from zygote to morula in proportion to the increase in the number of blastomeres. The volume of the cell mass of 2-cell embryos was decreased by about 30% compared with that of zygotes and no increase in the volume of the cell mass was observed during the progression from 2-cell stage to morula. The diameter of the cell mass and the overall diameter of morulae recovered on the 6th day after the first insemination were significantly greater than those of morulae recovered on the 5th day.

Induction of hepatic peroxisomes by a new, non-carboxylate-containing drug, bifonazole

The acute effect of an antimycotic drug, bifonazole, on hepatic peroxisomes of rats was studied in comparison with that of clotrimazole, which has a similar structure. By feeding 0.5% bifonazole in the diet for 5 days, the activities of carnitine acyltransferase, carnitine palmitoyltransferase and the peroxisomal beta-oxidation system were increased by 30-, 3- and 7-fold, respectively, over the control. Under the same conditions, clotrimazole did not cause such changes. Electron microscopic observation showed that peroxisome proliferation had been induced by bifonazole treatment. Thus, a compound which does not contain a carboxylate moiety can induce peroxisomes in rodent liver.

Rheumatoid factors in patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome

Several immunological aberrations, especially T-cell abnormalities, have been shown to be involved in the development of the minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) although the responsible factors have not been identified. We studied rheumatoid factors (RF), thought to be a consequence of polyclonal B-cell hyperactivation, in sera from patients with MCNS using a sensitive fluorescence immunoassay (FIA). Significant increases of IgG and IgM RFs and marginal increase of IgA RF were observed during the nephrotic stages. Some patients still showed high titers of IgM RF in the early remission phases. The levels of RFs were normalized during complete remission. It was suggested that polyclonal B cell activation might be involved in the development of this disorder along with T cell abnormalities.

Characteristics of induction of peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation-related enzymes in rat liver by drugs. Relationships between structure and inducing activity

To clarify the mechanism of induction of hepatic peroxisome-associated enzymes by drugs, we examined the interrelationship between the structures of fifteen drugs of two types (phenoxyacetic acid derivatives and perfluorinated compounds) and their inducing activities. Male Wistar rats were given the drugs at 150 mg/kg body weight daily for 2 weeks, and then hepatic activities of fatty acid metabolism-related enzymes were determined. The activity of the cyanide-insensitive fatty acyl-CoA oxidizing system located in peroxisomes was increased significantly in the following order: 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxypropionic acid (12.5-fold) greater than 2,4-dichlorophenoxypropionic acid (6.6-fold) greater than clofibrate (4.5-fold) greater than 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.6-fold) greater than 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.5-fold) greater than p-chlorophenoxypropionic acid (2.4-fold) greater than 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (1.7-fold). Treatment with perfluorinated compounds, perfluorobutyric acid, perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorodecanoic acid and perfluorooctanol, also induced the activity by 2-, 4.3-, 3.1- and 2.0-fold respectively. The profile of the induction of carnitine acetyltransferase by these compounds was quite similar to that of cyanide-insensitive fatty acyl-CoA oxidizing system. Lipophilicity of these drugs was determined by the octanol-water partition method. Among these drugs, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxypropionic acid showed the largest octanol/water partition coefficient (log P = 0.39). These results show a strong correlation among the number of chlor-substitutions on the phenyl moiety, the methyl-group on the alpha position of the acetic acid moiety, lipophilicity and the inducibility of peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation-related enzymes.

Fluorescence detection of femtosecond accumulated photon echo

We have been successful in the fluorescence detection of the accumulated photo echo by using the phase-modulation method, which makes possible photon-echo measurements in opaque samples.

Lack of induction of hepatic DNA damage on long-term administration of peroxisome proliferators in male F-344 rats

In order to evaluate the relationship between hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation and subsequent DNA damage caused by peroxisome proliferation, we examined DNA damage and changes in peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity in rat liver. Male F-344 rats were given orally clofibrate, bezafibrate or di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) for up to 78 weeks. In rats fed DEHP for 52 or 78 weeks hepatocarcinomas or neoplastic nodules were found. In rats treated for 2 weeks with peroxisome proliferators, peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity was increased 10-17 times over control levels. After long-term treatment (20-78 weeks), the level of peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity remained 3-13-times higher in each group. When single strand DNA breaks were measured by a DNA-alkaline elution technique, no increase in DNA damage was observed in livers from rats fed peroxisome proliferators for 2, 40 or 78 weeks. In rats bearing hepatocarcinomas induced by DEHP, the hepatic DNA showed significant breaks; the rate of DNA-alkaline elution was found to increase approximately 5-fold. No significant increase in hepatic lipid peroxide level was observed in each group. These results show that although prolonged treatment with peroxisome proliferators induces markedly peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity, the active oxygen species from peroxisomal beta-oxidation are not enough to give rise to significant DNA damage. Moreover, the change in the activity of peroxisomal beta-oxidation may not relate to hepatocarcinogenesis induced by peroxisome proliferators.

Effect of bis(bilato)-1,2-cyclohexanediammineplatinum(II) complexes on lung metastasis of B16-F10 melanoma cells in mice

New platinum(II) complexes, bis(bilato)-1,2-cyclohexanediammineplatinum(II) which were lipophilic and water-miscible, were tested for antitumor activity against lung nodules from intravenously injected B16-F10 melanoma cells in C57BL/6 mice by intravenous administration of the complexes in water suspension form. Among them, DACHP(litho)2 and DACHP(urso)2 had high antitumor activity but others had no activity. The antitumor activity of DACHP(urso)2 was increased significantly by injecting it three times; T/C was over 280% with 100-day survivors of 3 of 6 mice tested. Large amounts of total platinum were found in lung and liver tissues by atomic absorption spectroscopy after single intravenous injection of DACHP(urso)2 suspension in ICR mice.

Uptake of clarithromycin by rat lung cells

To evaluate the affinity of clarithromycin (6-O-methylerythromycin A) for lung tissue, the in-vivo and in-vitro uptake of [14C]clarithromycin and [14C]erythromycin by rat lung cells was compared, and the characteristics of the uptake mechanism were investigated. After the administration into the external jugular vein of rats, clarithromycin was found in much higher concentrations in the lung tissue than erythromycin. In isolated lung cells, clarithromycin was also found in greater concentrations than erythromycin. The amount of clarithromycin was ten times that of erythromycin after 5 min incubation. This uptake profile was quite different from that observed in isolated liver cells. Uptake by lung cells for both antibiotics was shown to be an active process, as revealed by the need for cell viability, a suitable environmental temperature and ATP. Clarithromycin uptake proved to be dependent in part upon mitochondrial oxidative respiration. Kinetic analysis indicated that clarithromycin transport was saturable, with a relatively high binding affinity and velocity of uptake. Clarithromycin transport was significantly inhibited by 6-O-methylerythromycin analogues, but was not influenced by other analogues, including erythromycin. Competitive inhibition of clarithromycin uptake was demonstrated by 6,11,12.4"-tetra-O-methylerythromycin, one of the mutual inhibitors. These findings may suggest that clarithromycin utilizes a carrier-mediated transport system in the lung cells, which is common to 6-O-methylerythromycins. This difference of uptake mechanism between both antibiotics may account in part for the greater clarithromycin uptake by the lung cells.

Rheumatoid factors and glomerulonephritis

It is presently unknown whether rheumatoid factors have a pathogenic role in the development of various types of glomerulonephritis with immune deposits. Three isotypes of rheumatoid factors (RFs), which are autoantibodies to IgG, were measured using the solid-phase fluorescence immunoassay in sera from patients with diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis (DPLN), membranous lupus nephritis (MLN), IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN). RF activity of immunoglobulins deposited in the glomeruli from these patients was also studied by examining the binding of the FITC-conjugated human IgG and Fc portion of IgG to the glomeruli of renal biopsy specimens. IgG, IgA and IgM RFs were significantly increased in sera from patients with DPLN, and the increase was significantly lower in patients with MLN, IgAN and MN. Human IgG bound to immunoglobulin on the glomeruli only in DPLN, but not in MLN, IgAN or MN. The Fc portion of IgG was demonstrated to be involved in this reaction. It was suggested that RFs and IgG may play a major role in immune deposits on the glomeruli in DPLN and may be involved in the development of DPLN; however, this is not likely in MLN, IgAN or MN.

[Study of intraarteric infusion chemotherapy with drug delivery system]

We have studied the effect of intraarteric infusion chemotherapy with missile chemotherapy, induced hypertensive chemotherapy and/or two-route infusion chemotherapy in 14 liver tumors (7 cases with liver metastasis from gastric cancer, 3 cases with liver metastasis from colonic cancer, 4 cases with hepatoma). Results indicated that PR in 6 (46.1%) out the 13 evaluated cases. The toxicity was not evident except for slight bone marrow depression with 5 cases and a low grade fever with 2 cases. These results indicate that intraarterial infusion chemotherapy with drug delivery system can be considered one of the treatment therapies available for a nonresectable tumor.

[Long-term arterial infusion chemotherapy to the cancer patients]

Arterial infusion chemotherapy is an effective method for unresectable and recurrent cancer patients. But this method had some problems, in terms of efficacy, side effect and safety. Thus, we studied these problems in 33 patients. We inserted the tube into the proper hepatic artery in 25 cases and into the aorta in 8 cases, and used anticancer drugs, such as MMC, ADM and CDDP. In this study, no serial or severe side effects were noted. On the other hand, the obstruction of catheter and artery was found in a few cases. We encountered 2 cases of CR and 11 cases of PR. The effectiveness of this method is approximately 46.4%. These results suggested that long term arterial infusion chemotherapy for outpatients was a safe and effective method from the view point of quality of life in cancer patients.

Long-term effects of peroxisome proliferators on the balance between hydrogen peroxide-generating and scavenging capacities in the liver of Fischer-344 rats

In order to clarify whether peroxisomal hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) plays an important role in peroxisome proliferator-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, we examined the change in metabolism of peroxisomal H2O2 in vivo and in vitro using male Fischer-344 rats fed clofibrate, bezafibrate and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) for up to 78 weeks. Hepatic peroxisomal fatty acyl-CoA oxidase activity increased 12-20-fold after 2 or 4 weeks treatment; later this level gradually decreased toward controls, and at 78 weeks activity was 3-10-times of control. Although hepatic H2O2 levels were increased slightly by clofibrate, bezafibrate and DEHP, the changes did not correlate with the changes in peroxisomal fatty acyl-CoA oxidase activity. In isolated hepatocytes, the rate of leakage of peroxisomal H2O2 from peroxisomes into the cytosol and the hepatocellular H2O2 content was measured. The rate of leakage of peroxisomal H2O2 into cytosol increased 2.5-4-fold when peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity was induced by peroxisome proliferators, and the increases in this rate corresponded with changes in the peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity. In contrast, the hepatocellular H2O2 contents were not affected by induced peroxisomal beta-oxidation. These data show that H2O2 leaking from peroxisome into cytosol would be quickly decomposed, and thus peroxisomal H2O2 does not appear to play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis by such an oxidative stress mechanism after the long-term treatment with peroxisome proliferators.

Contribution of peroxisomal beta-oxidation system to the chain-shortening of N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)azelaamic acid in rat liver

Hepaptic peroxisomal and mitochondrial beta-oxidation of N-(alpha-methylbenzyl)azelaamic acid (C9), which is a possible metabolic intermediate of Melinamide, a potent hypocholesterolemic drug, were investigated. Isolated hepatocytes generated H2O2 when incubated with C9, indicating that C9 served as the substrate for peroxisomal beta-oxidation. Also with isolated peroxisomes a significant activity of peroxisomal beta-oxidation for C9-CoA measured by following cyanide-insensitive NAD reduction was observed, when the chain-shortened products such as C7 and C5 were detected from the incubation mixture of C9-CoA, and so NADH, acetyl-CoA and C2 units split off from C9-CoA were produced in stoichiometric amounts. In contrast, the mitochondrial beta-oxidation for C9 measured by following ketone body production and antimycin A-sensitive O2 consumption was not detectable, indicating that C9 is not metabolized by mitochondrial beta-oxidation. Comparative study of beta-oxidation capacities in peroxisomes and mitochondria indicate that the beta-oxidation of C9 occurs exclusively in peroxisomes. Also, the formation activity of C2 units liberated from C9 in intact hepatocytes reflects the peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity of liver homogenates with a highly close correlation. Therefore, it is concluded that C9 can be an excellent substrate for estimating peroxisomal beta-oxidation activity in intact cells.