Primary culture of polarized human salivary epithelial cells for use in developing an artificial salivary gland

Therapeutic irradiation for head and neck cancer, and the autoimmune disease Sjogren's syndrome, lead to loss of salivary parenchyma. They are the two main causes of irreversible salivary gland hypofunction. Such patients cannot produce adequate levels of saliva, leading to considerable morbidity. We are working to develop an artificial salivary gland for such patients. A major problem in this endeavor has been the difficulty in obtaining a suitable autologous cellular component. This article describes a method of culturing and expanding primary salivary cells obtained from human submandibular glands (huSMGs) that is serum free and yields cells that are epithelial in nature. These include morphological (light and transmission electron microscopy [TEM]), protein expression (immunologically positive for ZO-1, claudin-1, and E-cadherin), and functional evidence. Under confocal microscopy, huSMG cells show polarization and appropriately localize tight junction proteins. TEM micrographs show an absence of dense core granules, but confirm the presence of tight and intermediate junctions and desmosomes between the cells. Functional assays showed that huSMG cells have high transepithelial electrical resistance and low rates of paracellular fluid movement. Additionally, huSMG cells show a normal karyotype without any morphological or numerical abnormalities, and most closely resemble striated and excretory duct cells in appearance. We conclude that this culture method for obtaining autologous human salivary cells should be useful in developing an artificial salivary gland.

Is age-induced decline in immune response associated with hypothalamic glutamate receptor density and dietary protein?

Manipulation of dietary protein has been found to be the most useful dictator in the age-associated decline of neuroimmune activity in mammals. In the present study, we sought to clarify the effect of dietary protein on age-induced alterations of hypothalamic glutamatergic activity and immune response. The hypothalamic glutamatergic activity and immune response were found to increase and decrease, respectively, with the increase in age of rats from young (3 months) to old (18 months) maintained with normal (20%) protein diet. Intake of low (5%) protein diet (LPD) and high (40%) protein diet (HPD) under short-term period (7 days) failed to alter the age-associated loss of immune response and increase in hypothalamic glutamatergic activity. However, long-term (30 days) supplementation of LPD retarded the age-induced decline in immune response and increase in hypothalamic glutamatergic activity, whereas, HPD consumption under similar condition potentiated the age-related immunosuppression and increase in hypothalamic glutamatergic activity. These results suggest that (a) the age-associated immunosuppression may be inversely related to the hypothalamic glutamatergic activity and (b) consumption of diets having variable quantity of protein without variation of calorie content modulates immune response and hypothalamic glutamatergic activity depending upon age and duration of dietary supplementation.

Pharmacological and behavioral analysis of the effects of some bivalent ligand-based monoamine reuptake inhibitors

Novel piperidine-based bivalent ligands were prepared in enantiomerically pure form and evaluated for their ability to inhibit reuptake of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and norepinephrine (NE) into rat brain nerve endings (synaptosomes). In this study, we have succeeded in using (1) the length of the linking chain connecting the two piperidine-based monomer units and (2) the absolute configuration of the piperidine monomer as a means to tailor activity and selectivity at the three monoamine transporters tested. In this series, the bivalent ligand 16, comprised of two (+)-trans-piperidine units linked by a pentamethylene spacer, exhibits a combination of high DA transporter (DAT) and 5-HT transporter (SERT) activity (K(i) = 39 nM and 7 nM, respectively). Piperidine 16 is capable of reducing cocaine's locomotor effects in mice while not having any effect on locomotion when tested alone. Additionally, compound 16 (1-10 mg/kg) does not substitute for cocaine in drug discrimination studies in rats. However, the analogous bivalent ligand 15 comprised of two (-)-trans-piperidine units, which is SERT selective, was less effective in antagonizing cocaine's locomotor stimulant activity. The piperidine-based bivalent inhibitors described herein constitute a new class of monoamine reuptake inhibitors that exhibit varying levels of monoamine transporter activity and selectivity, and these ligands may serve as lead candidates in the discovery of new therapeutics to treat a range of neurological disorders including cocaine addiction.

Age-associated hypothalamic glutamate receptor density: effect of dietary protein

An age-associated (3-18 months) increase in hypothalamic glutamate receptor (HgluR) binding due to increase in receptor density (Bmax) was observed in rats maintained with normal (20%) protein diet. Short-term supplementation of low (5%) protein diet (LPD) and high (40%) protein diet (HPD) produced no significant change in the HgluR binding and Bmax in young as well as aged rats. Consumption of LPD for long-term period (LTP) increased the HgluR binding by increasing Bmax in young rats; whereas, intake of the same diet by the aged rats under similar condition reduced the HgluR binding by reducing Bmax. Unlike LPD, HPD intake by the young rats for LTP decreased the HgluR binding by decreasing affinity (1/KD) without altering Bmax. However, the aged rats when supplemented with HPD for LTP, the HgluR binding was increased due to increase in Bmax. Further, no age-induced increase in HgluR binding and Bmax was observed following short-term supplementation of LPD; whereas, long-term intake of LPD decreased the HgluR binding and Bmax in 18 months old rats compared to 3 months old rats under similar condition. On the other hand, HPD under LTP potentiated the age-induced increase in HgluR binding and Bmax. These results, thus, suggest that dietary protein affects the hypothalamic glutamatergic activity by modulating its receptor population depending on the age of the subject, quantity of dietary protein and its duration of supplementation.

Dietary protein alters age-induced change in hypothalamic GABA and immune response

The effect of dietary protein on hypothalamic GABAergic activity and immune response of rats in relation to age was studied. The age-induced (due to increase of age from three to 18 months) decrease in hypothalamic GABAergic activity and immune response were potentiated with the supplementation of protein rich diet under both short- and long-term conditions. Long-term consumption of protein-poor diet, in contrast, produced activation of hypothalamic GABAergic activity with an immunopotentiation with the increase of age from three to 18 months; whereas, short-term supplementation of low protein diet did not show any effect. The results of the present study may indicate that the activation or inhibition of hypothalamic GABAergic activity by immunopotentiation or immunosuppression during aging depends on the variation of the amount of dietary protein as well as the duration of its supplementation.

Discovery of a novel dopamine transporter inhibitor, 4-hydroxy-1-methyl-4-(4-methylphenyl)-3-piperidyl 4-methylphenyl ketone, as a potential cocaine antagonist through 3D-database pharmacophore searching. Molecular modeling, structure-activity relationships, and behavioral pharmacological studies

A novel, fairly potent dopamine transporter (DAT) inhibitor, 4-hydroxy-1-methyl-4-(4-methylphenyl)-3-piperidyl 4-methylphenyl ketone (3, K(i) values of 492 and 360 nM in binding affinity and inhibition of dopamine reuptake, respectively), with significant functional antagonism against cocaine and a different in vitro pharmacological profile from cocaine at the three transporter sites (dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine) was discovered through 3D-database pharmacophore searching. Through structure-activity relationships and molecular modeling studies, we found that hydrophobicity and conformational preference are two additional important parameters that determine affinity at the DAT site. Chemical modifications of the lead compound (3) led to a high affinity analogue (6, K(i) values of 11 and 55 nM in binding affinity and inhibition of dopamine reuptake, respectively). In behavioral pharmacological testing, 6 mimics partially the effect of cocaine in increasing locomotor activity in mice but lacks cocaine-like discriminative stimulus effect in rats. Taken together, these data suggest that 6 represents a promising lead for further evaluations as potential therapy for the treatment of cocaine abuse.

Dietary protein-induced change in mammalian corticosterone status (index of immune response) during aging

The measurement of corticosterone level in plasma and adrenal glands of male albino rats, maintained with normal diet (20% protein), increased with age from 3 to 18 months without changing its adrenal level. Intake of low protein diet (LPD) (5%) for short-term period of seven consecutive days (STP) increased the plasma and adrenal corticosterone level in 6 month old rats only and decreased only the adrenal corticosterone level in 9, 12 and 18 month old rats. LPD supplementation under long-term period (LTP) of 30 consecutive days increased the plasma corticosterone level with a decrease in its adrenal level in 3 month old rats. In 6 months old, the adrenal corticosterone was increased without affecting its plasma level; whereas in 18 month old rats, the plasma corticosterone level was decreased without affecting adrenal levels under similar conditions. High protein diet (HPD) (40%) consumption under STP conditions decreased the plasma corticosterone level in 3 month old rats and increased the same in 6 month old rats. The adrenal corticosterone level under similar condition was increased in 3 and 18 months old and decreased the same in 9 and 12 month old rats. Supplementation of HPD under LTP significantly decreased the plasma corticosterone in 3 and 9 month old rats, while its increase was observed only in 6 and 18 month old groups. The increase in adrenal corticosterone level was observed under similar conditions (HPD under LTP) in 3 the months old group and decreased the same in the 6 months old group. The present result thus suggest that the adrenocortical response may be modulated with the increase of age, the amount of protein supplemented in the diet and its duration of supplementation.

Hypothalamic GABA-ergic activity and T-cell proliferation in aged mammal: effect of dietary protein

Short-term supplementation of low protein diet (LPD) or high protein diet (HPD) to the aged (18 months old) rats did not change the hypothalamic GABAergic activity and immune response. Long-term supplementation of LPD on the other hand, enhanced hypothalamic GABAergic activity with an immunopotentiation by increasing the T-cell proliferating activity and peripheral blood lymphocyte count in the same age group of rats. Unlike LPD, HPD under long-term supplementation to the aged rats reduced the hypothalamic GABAergic activity with immunosuppression. These results thus suggest that (i) hypothalamic GABAergic activity is a regulatory index of immune response in aged mammals and (ii) long-term consumption of protein-poor or protein-rich diet may be an exogenous modulator of neuroimmune regulation in relation to central GABAergic activity and immune response.

Is hypothalamic GABA involved in immune function in relation to dietary protein during aging?

Hypothalamic GABAergic activity and immune response in spleen were not significantly changed with the increase of age from 3 to 6 months in adult male albino rats. Further increase of age from 6 to 9 months increase the GABAergic activity and decreased the cell viability in spleen without any change in its T-lymphocyte cytotoxicity. Consumption of low protein diet (LPD) for a short-term period (STP; 7 consecutive days) increased the hypothalamic GABAergic activity without changing the immune response in 3 months old rats. When supplemented for a long-term period (LTP; 30 consecutive days) to 3 months old rats, a reduction of hypothalamic GABAergic activity and the immune response was observed. Intake of high protein diet (HPD) for both STP and LTP increased the GABAergic activity and immune response, but the increase of GABAergic activity in hypothalamus under STP was greater than that observed under LTP. In 6 months old rats consumption of LPD for STP reduced the GABAergic activity without any alteration of its immune response. Long-term supplementation of this LPD to the same age group increased GABAergic activity and the mitotic activity of spleen cells without any alteration of the functional activity of the T-cells in spleen. Consumption of HPD for STP failed to produce any change in hypothalamic GABAergic activity and the immune response of 6 months old rats. Supplementation of HPD for LTP reduced the hypothalamic GABAergic activity and the immune response of the same age group. The reduction in hypothalamic GABAergic activity without any change in the immune response was observed following the supplementation of low protein diet to 9 months old rat for STP. Intake of the LPD for LTP also reduced the hypothalamic GABAergic activity and the mitotic activity of the spleen cells without any alteration of the functional activity of the T-cells in spleen of 9 months old rats. Supplementation of HPD for STP to this aged rat, on the other hand, failed to produced any change in hypothalamic GABAergic activity and the immune response. Intake of HPD for LTP by this aged rats increased the hypothalamic GABAergic activity along with the immune response. The results of this study, thus, suggest that hypothalamic GABAergic activity during aging is an index of immune response and it is modulated following the short- and long-term consumption of protein poor and protein rich diet.

Theophylline-induced changes in mammalian adenosine deaminase activity and corticosterone status: possible relation to immune response

Theophylline at low doses (10 mg/kg/day p.o.) under long-term conditions (for 16 consecutive days) increased the adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in spleen and thymus of adult male albino rats without changing its hepatic ADA activity. Treatment with high doses (20 mg/kg/day p.o.) under similar conditions, on the other hand, decreased the splenic and hepatic ADA activity and increased the thymic ADA activity. This induction of thymic ADA activity, however, was significantly less than that observed with low doses of theophylline. The plasma corticosterone level was increased without changing its adrenal level under similar conditions. This study, thus, indicates that long-term theophylline treatment may potentiate or suppress the immune response, depending on the dose, through the tissue (liver/spleen/thymus)-specific modulation of ADA activity and plasma corticosterone status.

Caffeine-induced increase of adenosine deaminase activity in mammalian lymphoid organs

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was increased in spleen and thymus of rat with single and multiple caffeine treatments (10 and 20 mg/kg/day). The stimulation was greater at the higher dose. ADA activity of liver was not affected under these conditions. This study indicates that caffeine may potentiate immunity with the modulation of adenosinergic system through increasing splenic and thymic ADA activity.