Modulation of growth of melanoma

Combined heparin-cortisone treatment induces regression of growth in a variety of murine tumors including melanoma. We injected 92 inbred C 57 b1/6 male mice each with 5 X 10(5) melanoma cells (B16, B16 F1, and B16 A6 lines) with different metastatic potential. Heparin (400 U/ml) and cortisone acetate (250 mg/kg SC injections) were given daily. Control experiments were performed both with the administration of no drugs and with administration of cortisone alone. Plasminogen activator activity, which is notoriously related to tumor growth, was evaluated using fibrin plate technique in 10 fragments taken before and 20 days after the combined heparin-cortisone treatment of B16 F1 and B16 A6 melanomas. The combined heparin-cortisone treatment slowed tumor growth, but no tumour regression was observed. Cutaneous fibrinolytic activity appeared increased in all specimens after the treatment.

Serum 17-hydroxypregnenolone and 17-hydroxypregnenolone sulfate concentrations in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency

Serum concentrations of 17-hydroxypregnenolone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone sulfate and 17-hydroxyprogesterone were measured simultaneously in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency, using a combined radioimmunoassay method. All these precursor steroids were found to be markedly elevated in the sera of untreated patients with a salt-losing form of the disease, whereas, in untreated patients with a simple virilizing form, only the concentration of unconjugated steroids was increased and the 17-hydroxypregnenolone sulfate concentration remained within the normal range. Among the patients with a salt-losing form under maintenance therapy, these steroids were all still significantly increased in those on insufficient control, whereas only 17-hydroxyprogesterone was significantly but slightly increased in those on adequate control. Although the mechanism whereby the serum 17-hydroxypregnenolone sulfate concentration is not increased in the untreated simple virilizers is unknown, both a milder degree of 21-hydroxylase deficiency and a role of 17-hydroxypregnenolone sulfate in adrenal steroid production as a kind of supplier are suggested as possible explanations, especially in the neonatal period and early infancy. Thus, this study showed the serum concentrations of 17-hydroxypregnenolone and its sulfate together with 17-hydroxyprogesterone in patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency in various conditions.

Quantitative interactions in weight of lymphoid organs and steroid hormonal organs in hamsters under several experimental conditions

The adrenal and gonadal steroid hormones may continue to regulate lymphoid cells in tissues of mammals throughout their life span. To examine quantitative interrelationships between the endocrine and immune systems, we measured weights of the organs and compared them. The results showed that: (1) The relative weight of the adrenals in adult male hamsters significantly exceeded that of age-matched females. The adult thymus and spleen were heavier in females. (2) Adult gonadectomy induced marked involution of the thymus and adrenal hypertrophy in both sexes. (3) A single oestrone injection at suckling has severe, long lasting effects, with gonadal atrophy and hypertrophy of lymphoid tissues in both sexes for I year. (4) Testosterone in the same way produced adrenal hypertrophy in female hamsters, and adrenal atrophy in males. (5) Thymectomy, at 3 weeks of age, resulted in marked atrophy of the gonads in late adulthood in both sexes. (6) Repeated pulses of cortisone acetate led to marked involution of the thymus and steroid organs, the adrenals and testes. The rather unexpected results, as in (2), (3) and (5), probably represent the ultimate consequence of serial interactions among these organs after treatment. These findings suggest that there is thymus-gonads interdependence even in adulthood, and that subtle counterbalancing co-operation between the adrenals and gonads may regulate lymphocyte functions in tissues. between the adrenals and gonads may regulate lymphocyte functions in tissues.

[Changes in the composition of double-stranded sequences of poly(A)-containing RNA in cell cytoplasm during hormonal induction]

Double-stranded segments (c-ds) have been studied in the poly(A)+ cytoplasmic rat liver RNA. Duplexes about 40 base pairs long have been shown to be of intermolecular character and originate from the interaction between ss-RNA and complementary regions of the poly(A)-containing RNA molecules. Shorter ds-sequences are, mainly, of intramolecular nature. Double-stranded sequences of different length differ also in their oligonucleotide composition, according to fingerprint analysis data. Under the action of cortisone, only several kinds of double-stranded sequences have been demonstrated to increase in the population of cytoplasmic poly(A)+RNA. The function of ds-regions in the hormonal regulation of gene expression is suggested.

Corticosteroid increases gastrointestinal luminal proteolysis in suckling rats

Although stress during the perinatal period may influence a number of enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract, the resulting effects on digestive processes are not completely understood. In suckling rats, corticosteroid administration increases levels of proteases in gastric mucosa and pancreas, but previous studies of unstimulated luminal fluid proteolytic activity suggest no effect. To re-evaluate this phenomenon, we injected suckling rats with cortisone acetate (5 mg/100 g body weight) subcutaneously daily on days 9-11 followed by sacrifice on day 12; littermates served as controls. Luminal fluid from stomach and small intestine was analyzed for proteolytic activity by a sensitive assay in which incubation in vitro with 125I-bovine casein was followed by measurement of radioactivity soluble in trichloroacetic acid. Cortisone acetate produced significant increases in luminal proteolytic activity in all gastrointestinal segments with the most dramatic effect observed in the ileum; this segment showed a more than 10-fold enhancement of proteolysis with steroid treatment. Analysis of acid-precipitable reaction products by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate also revealed enhancement of casein degradation by luminal fluid in all segments from steroid-treated animals. We conclude that corticosteroid increases luminal proteolysis in the gastrointestinal tract of the suckling rat. This phenomenon may have implications for steroid-induced premature closure to macromolecular absorption and protein digestive capacity during the perinatal period.

Efficacy of antitumor chemotherapy in C3H mice enhanced by the antiangiogenesis steroid, cortisone acetate

The effect of "antiangiogenesis" therapy using cortisone acetate (CA) with or without heparin on tumor growth as well as in combination with chemotherapy was investigated. C3H mice were implanted intradermally with N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-thiazolyl]formamide induced undifferentiated transitional cell carcinoma, MBT-2, in the right flank. The treatment was initiated 9 to 10 days after tumor inoculation. Daily injections of CA (250 mg/kg s.c.) suppressed tumor growth significantly in a dose dependent fashion. Administration of heparin (Elkins-Sinn) at the concentration of 200, 400, or 1000 units/ml in drinking water for 3 to 6 days was neither additive nor detrimental to the effect of CA. Chemotherapy was combined with CA; 3 days of administration of 250 mg/kg of CA in tapering doses was used. The chemotherapeutic agent was injected once 24 h before the initial CA. Combinations of chemotherapy (Adriamycin, 2.5-7.5 mg/kg i.v; cisplatin, 3-9 mg/kg i.p.; cyclophosphamide, 50-150 mg/kg i.p.; cis-(diammino)(1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylate)platinum(II) (JM-8), 60-150 mg/kg i.p.; mitomycin C, 3-4.5 mg/kg i.p.) with CA showed additive suppression of tumor growth. Mice tolerated chemotherapy alone, CA alone, and both in combination. CA combined with JM-8 was not tolerated. Mice tolerated 100 to 150 mg/kg of JM-8, whereas the addition of CA to JM-8 resulted in a 66% (6 of 9) to 89% (8 of 9) mortality rate. CA at a concentration of 5 and 25 micrograms/ml showed no direct cytotoxic activity against MBT-2 cells in vitro. However, 3 days of administration of 250 mg/kg of CA inhibited tumor angiogenesis generated by MBT-2 cells in C3H mice using a dorsal air sac assay. The data suggest that CA alone inhibits tumor angiogenesis in C3H mice and that antiangiogenesis therapy enhances the antitumor efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents without increasing host toxicity (except for JM-8).

Addison's disease and corticosteroid-reversible hypothyroidism

We report the case of a 28-year-old man who presented with idiopathic adrenal insufficiency and subclinical hypothyroidism documented by elevated basal thyrotropin level with abnormal response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone administration. Anti-thyroid antibodies were present in high titer, supporting the diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and hence of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II. The patient was not submitted to thyroxine therapy, and during cortisol replacement thyroid function improved, as judged by normalization of basal and stimulated thyrotropin and elevation of thyroid hormone levels. Anti-thyroid antibodies titer significantly diminished, and a short-time withdrawal of corticosteroids was not followed by elevation of thyrotropin hormone levels. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms of cortisone-induced remission of hypothyroidism due to chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis are discussed.

Maternal treatment with cortisone accelerates eyelid closure and other developmental fusion processes in fetal mice

Cortisone acetate administered to pregnant CBA/J and SWV/Bc mice at 30 to 100 mg kg-1 on day 14 of gestation causes accelerated development of eyelid closure, digit fusion and fusion of pinnae to the scalp on day 16 of gestation. Eyelid closure seems to be accelerated more than hindlimb digit fusion. The results support the hypothesis that the prevention of the open-eye birth defect in lgMl/lgMl mutant mice by cortisone is through a shift of eye closure to an earlier chronological or morphological stage, and that the lgMl mutation causes delay in eyelid development and closure. Most previous studies of the effects of glucocorticoids on morphological development have focussed on high doses that induce defects, such as cleft palate, and on treatment earlier in gestation. In the studies reported here, lower doses were used and an acceleration of apparently normal development was observed. The results support the possibility that the gene regulatory effects of physiological levels of glucocorticoids are involved in normal morphological development of mammalian fetuses. The regulation of genes is far less well understood for morphological development than for biochemical differentiation. The responses of the four morphological traits described in this paper seem to offer a route to some greater insight into the genetic regulation of morphology.

Dietary and hormonal regulation of L-type pyruvate kinase gene expression in rat small intestine

L-type pyruvate kinase is an enzyme of the glycolytic pathway whose activity and mRNA levels fluctuate in the small intestine according to dietary status. Both the enzyme activity and mRNA concentration decline during fasting and increase upon refeeding either a glucose-rich or a fructose-rich diet. Using a single-strand M 13 phage complementary to L-type pyruvate kinase mRNA as probe, we determined the level of the mRNA in the small intestine of normal, adrenalectomized, thyroidectomized, diabetic and glucagon-treated or cAMP-treated animals refed either a glucose-rich or a fructose-rich diet. The specific mRNA is present in the small intestine of normal fasted rats and increases twofold and threefold on refeeding glucose and fructose respectively. However, the hormonal control of the gene expression differs according to the dietary carbohydrate. The L-type pyruvate kinase mRNA increase, induced by glucose feeding, is hormone-dependent and requires the presence of thyroid hormones and insulin. In fructose-fed rats a certain level of mRNA increase occurs regardless of the hormonal status of the animals, but the full induction of the mRNA by fructose requires the presence of glucocorticoids, thyroid hormones and insulin. Thus, the hormonal regulation of L-type pyruvate kinase gene expression in the small intestine is largely similar to that described in normal rat liver but the basal mRNA level and the stimulation of the mRNA increase by fructose are higher in the small intestine.

Palatopharyngeal incompetence in association with esophageal dysmotility, acquired glucocorticoid deficiency, and deficient tear production

An 8 1/2-year-old male is described with the rare triad of acquired adrenal insufficiency, esophageal dysfunction, and alacrima. In addition, he had velopharyngeal insufficiency, which is a previously unreported feature of this syndrome. Although the pathophysiology of this disorder remains to be demonstrated, a defect may be present, linking hormone-receptor cyclic AMP-mediated processes with abnormalities in parasympathetic and voluntary neuronal innervation or transmission.

[Specific acid-soluble chromatin protein synthesized in the rat liver after cortisone administration]

After cortisone injection, the content of the specific chromatin acid-soluble non-histone protein alpha is markedly increased in rat liver cells. The alpha-protein has been isolated in preparative amounts, its amino acid composition and some properties have been studied. It has been shown that the amino acid composition of protein alpha differs markedly from that of the HMG proteins, semi-histone A24, and of other non-histone proteins studied so far. Cortisone has been shown to induce the de novo synthesis of protein alpha. The alpha-protein is observed in transcriptionally active chromatin. The 3H-labeled hydrocortisone and dexamethasone bind mainly to this protein. The suggestion, that this protein participates in the regulation of transcriptional activity of liver cells in response to the hormonal stimulus is put forward.

Adrenalectomy and steroid treatment in obese (ob/ob) and diabetic (db/db) mice

Adrenalectomy in young obese (ob/ob) and the diabetic (db/db) mouse slowed body weight gain. Treatment of adrenalectomized ob/ob mice with cortisone or deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) significantly increased weight gain in a dose-related manner. Cortisone had no effect on weight gain on lean mice and treatment with dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was without effect on either ob/ob or lean mice. The increment in body weight of adrenalectomized ob/ob mice treated with corticosterone and DOCA was associated with an increase in body weight and an increase in food intake. When adrenalectomy was performed at twenty-three days of age (five days before weaning), animals carrying the (db/db) genotype remained lighter than their normal littermates. These data document the importance of the adrenal gland and its steroids for the development and maintenance of many features of the obese or diabetes mouse.

Contribution of neutrophils and cell-mediated immunity to control of Nocardia asteroides in murine lungs

To distinguish between the contributions of neutrophils and cell-mediated immunity to defense against Nocardia asteroides in the lung, we induced pneumonia in BALB/c mice by intranasal inoculation. We studied the course of pneumonia by histology, bronchoalveolar lavage, and quantification of colony-forming units in lungs. Mice with intact host defenses had an initial inflammatory response, consisting mostly of neutrophils, followed by a mononuclear cell infiltrate. Nocardiae were eradicated during the seven days after inoculation. Mice in which the early, predominantly neutrophil inflammatory response was prevented with mechlorethamine or antiserum to neutrophils had little inflammation, and nocardiae grew extensively. Mice in which cell-mediated immunity was impaired with cyclosporin A or cortisone acetate developed abscesses; neutrophils were abundant, but nocardiae proliferated. The occurrence of these three separate and distinct patterns suggested that both neutrophils and cell-mediated immunity are necessary for optimal control of N. asteroides infection.

Effect of growth of Candida spp. in the presence of various glucocorticoids on the adherence to human buccal epithelial cells

In vitro culturing of three different yeast species with a number of glucocorticoids altered their adherence ability in two ways: Incubation with dexamethasone and triamcinolone acetonide promoted the adherence in general (the increase in adherence ranged between 17% and 44%), whilst growth in the presence of cortisone acetate or hydrocortisone blocked the adherence (inhibition ranged from 16% to 32%). No statistical difference in the adherence capabilities of different growth phases of C. albicans noted, and the effects of glucocorticoids persisted irrespective of the phase of growth used. An attempt to explain the differences in adherence of the Candida spp. investigated, in the presence of various steroids, on the basis of variation in their structural configurations and/or steroid-receptor interaction is given.

Purification and characteristics of glucocorticoid antagonizing factor in endotoxemia

The present study involved the purification of GAF (glucocorticoid antagonizing factor) released in blood of endotoxemic mice, using the inhibition rate of tryptophan oxygenase (TO) activity in the mice liver as a parameter, to determine if this plays a role in metabolic disorders. GAF-rich serum in zymosan-primed and endotoxin-injected mice was subjected to chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, Blue Sepharose CL-6B and Sephadex G-200 superfine columns. Finally, GAF fractions were purified by chromatography on a DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column. The purified GAF showed a single band in electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel. The molecular weight of GAF was estimated to be 90,000. The purified GAF was regarded as glycoprotein. No factor (100 micrograms) exhibited lethal action on mice. The activity of TO in cortisone treated mice after injection of purified GAF was markedly lower than that in cortisone alone treated mice. On the other hand, there were no differences in tyrosine aminotransferase activities between the GAF plus cortisone injected group and cortisone only treated group. The glucose level after injection of GAF in cortisone treated mice initially showed hyperglycemia, but declined toward hypoglycemia 2 hr after injection, and thereafter returned nearly to the normal range by 4 hr. The liver glycogen level in GAF plus cortisone-treated mice was markedly lower than that in cortisone-alone treated mice.

Treatment of hormone-producing adrenocortical cancer with o,p'DDD and streptozocin

Three patients with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma were treated with a combination of intermittent streptozocin and continuous o,p'DDD. Two patients were treated preoperatively and the primary tumors, initially considered as inoperable, could be resected after 19 and 5.5 months, respectively. In the patient with the longer treatment (35 months), lung and lymph node metastases disappeared and she has no evidence of recurrent disease 6.5 years after start of therapy. One patient was followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and urinary steroid secretion. The MRI gave a good visualization of the tumor. Measurements of relaxation times showed a significant decrease in T1 values. The urinary steroid profile showed an increased secretion of 3 beta-hydroxy-5-ene steroids and tetrahydro-11-deoxy-cortisol. Treatment with streptozocin and o,p'DDD initially increased 16-oxygenation of dehydroepiandrosterone and androst-5-en-3 beta,17 beta-diol, followed by a decrease in the secretion of all urinary steroids. The third patient received postoperative treatment with no effect on metastatic disease in the lungs, she died 9 months after start of treatment. The therapeutic approach with the combination regimen of streptozocin and o,p'DDD pretreatment plus aggressive surgery has to be further evaluated, as well as MRI and urinary steroid profile as methods to monitor the effect of therapy.

Experimental Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in the ferret

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) was provoked in the ferret, Mustela pulorius furo, by immunosuppression with daily long-term administration of cortisone acetate, 10-20 mg/kg subcutaneously for 9 to 10 weeks, Microscopically P. carinii was observed in the lungs of all 11 treated animals: mild to moderate in five and extensive disease in six. The histopathological features of PCP in the ferret included interstitial pneumonitis, scant mononuclear cell alveolitis, with abundant cysts and trophozoites visible in a focal distribution. There were few neutrophils present. Electron microscopy showed large numbers of both cysts and trophozoites in close association with type I cells. No bacterial pathogens were isolated from the lungs of immunosuppressed animals but an unexplained eosinophilic enteritis was present in treated animals. P carinii pneumonia developed without significant body weight loss during corticosteroid administration, unlike previously described studies using corticosteroid-treated rodents. Ferrets thus appear to be a 'steroid resistant' animal, like man, and therefore a more suitable model for immunological studies of host response to PCP than rodents. This new model also has practical advantages over previously described animal models of PCP, including larger lung and airway size.

[Insulin binding to erythrocytes in chronic glucocorticoid deficiency--investigation before and during replacement therapy]

The effect of chronic glucocorticoid deficiency on insulin binding to erythrocyte was evaluated in 2 cases of ACTH deficiency, 2 of Sheehan's syndrome and a case of Addison's disease before and after the replacement therapy with cortisone acetate. 75 gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was also performed. Mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and insulin (FIRI) before (70.2 mg/dl, 3.6 microU/ml) and after (75.4 mg/dl, 7.8 microU/ml) therapy were significantly lower than those in normal control (97.0 mg/dl, 12.0 microU/ml). The ratio of FIRI/FPG before and after treatment were also significantly lower than that in control subjects. Glucose areas during OGTT before and after treatment were not different from that in control subjects. However, insulin area before treatment was significantly lower than that in control group. There were significant increases in FIRI/FPG and insulin area, but not in FPG and glucose area before and after treatment. Insulin binding to erythrocytes before treatment (11.9 +/- 1.1%, mean +/- SD) was greater than that in normal subjects (7.7 +/- 1.9%, n = 19, p less than 0.05). It was significantly decreased and normalized to 7.8 +/- 2.0% by the treatment. Analysis of binding parameters revealed the increases in receptor concentration at high affinity site (R1) and in average affinity at empty site by average affinity profile (Ke) before treatment in comparison with control subjects. There was no significant difference in binding parameters after treatment and in control group. High R1 or low R2 observed before treatment was significantly decreased or increased after treatment, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Glucocorticoid-mediated activation of muscle branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase in vivo

Muscle branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase, the rate-limiting enzyme for branched-chain amino acid oxidation in skeletal muscle, was measured after treatment of rats with glucocorticoids. Cortisone treatment (10 mg X 100 g body wt-1 X day-1 for 2-5 days) resulted in an approximate doubling of the percentage of active enzyme. To further characterize this effect, the enzyme complex was measured 4 h after the intraperitoneal injection of 6 alpha-methylprednisolone, a water-soluble glucocorticoid with rapid onset effects. The percentage of active enzyme increased linearly as the dose of methylprednisolone was increased from 0.125 to 12.5 mg/100 g body wt, while total enzyme activity was unchanged. Administration of insulin with glucose had no significant effect on the activity of the enzyme. However, treatment of rats with insulin and glucose after methylprednisolone administration partially blocked branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase activation. The activity of the enzyme complex was correlated with the concentration of leucine in plasma and muscle. Activation of skeletal muscle branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase by increased glucocorticoids may play a role in the acceleration of branched-chain amino acid oxidation observed during severe stress.

Inhibitory effects of heparin plus cortisone acetate on endothelial cell growth both in cultures and in tumor masses

A combination of heparin and cortisone acetate significantly inhibited both embryonic angiogenesis and the tumor growth of Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) transplanted into C57BL/6 mice, although each of these agents used alone affected neither angiogenesis nor tumor growth. On the other hand, this combination neither decreased the number of metastatic foci in the lung nor prolonged the survival time of mice with 3LL. All tumor-bearing mice died of hemothorax due to pulmonary metastases. Cortisone acetate by itself increased metastasis, and addition of heparin did not affect accelerated metastasis. Because an antiangiogenic activity appears independent of metastasis acceleration by cortisone acetate, the use of steroids other than cortisone acetate having no metastasis-promotion effect should be required for an antiangiogenic tumor therapy in the presence of heparin. Heparin plus cortisone acetate prevented the DNA synthesis of cultured vascular endothelial cells but not that of cultured 3LL cells. Additionally, oral administration of this combination decreased the [3H]thymidine labeling of endothelial cells of tumor blood vessels prior to the suppression of tumor growth. The specific inhibition of the growth of endothelial cells by heparin plus cortisone acetate was revealed in both the in vitro and the in vivo tests.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 modulates glucocorticoid-induced alteration in serum bone Gla protein and bone histomorphometry

Glucocorticoid excess is associated with alterations in the vitamin D endocrine system. The aim of this study was to assess change in serum bone Gla protein (BGP) after low and high dose cortisone acetate treatment and to assess whether these alterations are altered or attenuated by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] administration. Five groups of rats were studied and compared to a control group [cortisone acetate in doses of 0.2, 3.3, and 5.0 mg/100 g BW; 1,25-(OH)2D3 in a dose of 100 ng/100 g BW; and a combination of 1,25-(OH)2D3 (100 ng/100 g BW) plus cortisone acetate (3.3 mg/100 g BW)]. Each animal received daily sc injections for 27 days. BGP decreased significantly by day 7 in the two groups receiving high doses of cortisone acetate compared to control group values (65.20 +/- 4.38 vs. 150.18 +/- 6.13 ng/ml in the intermediate dose group and 91.57 +/- 5.30 vs. 150.18 +/- 6.13 ng/ml in the high dose group; P less than 0.01); this effect persisted until day 28. Histomorphometry revealed decreased formation and resorption in the two high dose cortisone acetate groups, whereas low dose cortisone acetate produced no histological change. The combination therapy lessens any change in BGP until day 28 when BGP was lower than the control value (P less than 0.01); histomorphometry showed that combination therapy prevents the effect of cortisone acetate by increasing bone formation and resorption. The data demonstrate that high doses of cortisone acetate suppress bone formation and that this is reflected in the low serum BGP values. Thus, BGP may be a marker of glucocorticoid-induced bone disease. 1,25-(OH)2D3 protects against glucocorticoid-induced bone disease and the normal BGP level reflects this.