P234 A RARE CASE OF ACUTE RIGHT HEART FAILURE PRESENTED IN A CASE REPORT

Case Summary

A 62–year–old male with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, presented at the ED with signs and symptoms of right heart failure, Doppler echocardiography showed a severe dilatation and dysfunction of the right ventricle and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. After initial stabilization with diuretics and inotropes, the patient performed a coronary angiogram with evidence of severe multivessel coronary artery disease and combined pre–capillary and post–capillary pulmonary hypertension as shown by the right heart catheterization. After complete revascularization, the diastolic function of the left ventricle improved dramatically, and the right ventricle recovered completely.

Discussion

We presented a paradigmatical case of acute right heart failure secondary to left ventricular diastolic impairment in a patient affected by severe ischemic coronary artery disease. Several risk factors are associated with RVD in HFpEF: atrial fibrillation, male sex, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Diastolic performance of the LV is one of the main determinants of the right ventricular function, which, in turn, is proven to have prognostic implication in HFpEF. Nowadays, there is no evidence–based treatment for right heart failure secondary to decompensated HFpEF and therapy should be tailored to the individual patient’s response.

NIR Emitting Nanoprobes Based on Cyclic RGD Motif Conjugated PbS Quantum Dots for Integrin-Targeted Optical Bioimaging

Here, silica-coated PbS quantum dots (QDs) with photoluminescence emission properties in the near-infrared (NIR) region are proposed as potential effective single particle optical nanoprobes for future in vivo imaging of tumors. The dispersibility in aqueous medium of hydrophobic PbS QDs was accomplished by growing a silica shell on their surface by exploiting a base assisted water-in-oil microemulsion method. The silica-coated PbS QDs were then conjugated with a specifically designed cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (cRGD) peptide that is able to specifically recognize αvβ3 integrins, which are overexpressed in angiogenic tumor-induced vasculatures and on some solid tumors, to achieve tumor-specific targeting. The cRGD peptide PbS silica-coated QDs were systematically characterized, at each step of their preparation, by means of complementary optical and structural techniques, demonstrating appropriate colloidal stability and the maintenance of their optical futures in aqueous solutions. The cellular uptake of cRGD peptide functionalized luminescent nanostructures in human melanoma cells, where overexpression of αvβ3 was observed, was assessed by means of confocal microscopy analysis and cytometric study. The selectivity of the cRGD peptide PbS silica-coated QDs for the αvβ3 integrin was established, consequently highlighting the significant potential of the developed NIR emitting nanostructures as optically traceable nanoprobes for future αvβ3 integrin receptor in vivo targeting in the NIR region.

A new cryptic host defense peptide identified in human 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 β-like: from in silico identification to experimental evidence

BACKGROUND

Host defence peptides (HDPs) are evolutionarily conserved components of innate immunity. Human HDPs, produced by a variety of immune cells of hematopoietic and epithelial origin, are generally grouped into two families: beta structured defensins and variably-structured cathelicidins. We report the characterization of a very promising cryptic human HDP, here called GVF27, identified in 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 β-like protein.

METHODS

Conformational analysis of GVF27 and its propensity to bind endotoxins were performed by NMR, Circular Dichroism, Fluorescence and Dynamic Light Scattering experiments. Crystal violet and WST-1 assays, ATP leakage measurement and colony counting procedures were used to investigate antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, cytotoxicity and hemolytic activities. Anti-inflammatory properties were evaluated by ELISA.

RESULTS

GVF27 possesses significant antibacterial properties on planktonic cells and sessile bacteria forming biofilm, as well as promising dose dependent abilities to inhibit attachment or eradicate existing mature biofilm. It is unstructured in aqueous buffer, whereas it tends to assume a helical conformation in mimic membrane environments as well as it is able to bind lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA). Notably it is not toxic towards human and murine cell lines and triggers a significant innate immune response by attenuating expression levels of pro-inflammatory interleukins and release of nitric oxide in LPS induced macrophages.

CONCLUSION

Human GVF27 may offer significant advantages as leads for the design of human-specific therapeutics.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Human cryptic host defence peptides are naturally no immunogenic and for this they are a real alternative for solving the lack of effective antibiotics to control bacterial infections.

Silver nanoparticles functionalized with a fluorescent cyclic RGD peptide: a versatile integrin targeting platform for cells and bacteria

A green fluorescent RGD peptide–silver nanoparticle platform to target integrin receptors in cells and bacterial studies.

Antiviral activity in vitro of Urtica dioica L., Parietaria diffusa M. et K. and Sambucus nigra L

Parietaria diffusa M. et K., Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae) and Sambucus nigra L. (Caprifoliaceae) are plants usually used in popular medicine of central Italy for treating numerous diseases, first of all Herpes zoster. Several plant products have been described as potential antiviral agents, with special attention being devoted to those having retroviruses as etiological agents, including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), in which a retrovirus, the designated human immunodeficiency virus HIV, has been clearly identified as the primary cause of this disease. The present study proposes a preliminary screening of the antiviral activity of Parietaria diffusa, Sambucus nigra and Urtica dioica preparation against the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection. The feline immunodeficiency virus is a widespread lentivirus of domestic cats sharing numerous biological and pathogenic features with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). FIV infection in cats has therefore been proposed as an animal model for AIDS studies with respect to pathogenesis, chemotherapy, and vaccine development [Pedersen, N.C., 1993. Feline immunodeficiency virus infection. In: Levy, J.A. (Ed.), The Retroviridae. Plenum Press, New York; Bendinelli, M., Pistello, M., Lombardi, S., Poli, A., Garzelli, C., Matteucci, D., Ceccherini-Nelli, L., Malvaldi, G., Tozzini, F., 1995. Feline immunodeficiency virus: an interesting model for AIDS studies and an important cat pathogen. Clinical Microbiology Revue 8, 87-112; North, T.W., LaCasse, R.A., 1995. Testing anti-HIV drugs in the FIV model. Nature Medicine 1, 410-411; Matteucci, D., Pistello, M., Mazzetti, P., Giannechini, S., Isola, P., Merico, A., Zaccaro, L., Rizzati, A., Bendinelli, M., 2000. AIDS vaccination studies using feline immunodeficiency virus as a model: immunisation with inactivated whole virus suppresses viraemia levels following intravaginal challenge with infected cells but non-following intravenous challenge with cell-free virus. Vaccine 18, 119-130]. Early studies showed that some of them presented antiviral activity against infection of FIV as assayed by syncytia formation using feline kidney Crandell cells (CrFK).

Evaluation of feline immunodeficiency virus ORF-A mutants as candidate attenuated vaccine

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) made defective in the accessory gene ORF-A were previously shown to be greatly attenuated in its ability to replicate in lymphocytes but to grow normally or near normally in other cell types. Here, we examined whether FIV thus mutated could protect specific pathogen-free cats against challenge with ex vivo fully virulent homologous virus. No reversion of the vaccinating infections to wild type ORF-A was noted over 22 months of in vivo infection. Following challenge, 6/6 unvaccinated control cats became readily and heavily infected. In contrast, 3/9 vaccinees showed no evidence of the challenge virus over a 15-month observation period. In the other vaccinees, the challenge virus was predominant for various periods of time, but pre-existing viral loads and CD4 lymphocyte counts were either unaffected or altered only marginally and transiently. These findings show that ORF-A-defective FIV should be further examined as a candidate live attenuated vaccine.

Development of feline immunodeficiency virus ORF-A (tat) mutants: in vitro and in vivo characterization

A functional ORF-A is essential for efficient feline immunodeficiency virus replication in lymphocytes. We have characterized a series of mutants of the Petaluma strain, derived from p34TF10 and having different combinations of stop codons and increasingly long deletions in ORF-A. Six clones proved fully replicative in fibroblastoid Crandell feline kidney cells and monocyte-derived macrophage cultures but failed to replicate in T cell lines and primary lymphoblasts. Cats inoculated with three selected mutants had considerably milder infections than controls given intact ORF-A virus. In vivo, the mutants maintained growth properties similar to those in vitro for at least 7 months, except that replication in lymphoid cells was strongly reduced but not ablated. One mutant underwent extensive ORF-A changes without, however, reverting to wild-type. Antiviral immune responses were feeble in all cats, suggesting that viral loads were too low to represent a sufficiently powerful antigenic stimulus.

TT virus (TTV) loads associated with different peripheral blood cell types and evidence for TTV replication in activated mononuclear cells

TT virus (TTV) loads associated with the peripheral blood cells of seven patients known to carry the virus in plasma were investigated by real-time PCR. Whereas red cells/platelets were uniformly negative, six and four patients yielded positive peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, respectively, but viral titres were generally low. Fractionation of PBMCs into monocyte- and B, T4, and T8 lymphocyte-enriched subpopulations showed no pattern in the viral loads that might suggest the preferential association of TTV to one or more specific cell types. TTV-negative PBMCs absorbed measurable amounts of virus when incubated with infected plasma at 4 degrees C. Furthermore, cultures of TTV-negative phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated PBMCs exposed in vitro to virus-positive plasma and faecal extracts released considerable levels of infectious TTV into the supernatant fluid and the same was true for TTV-positive stimulated PBMCs. These results indicate that, whereas freshly harvested resting PBMCs seem to produce little, if any TTV, stimulated PBMCs actively replicate the virus.

A novel gene expressed in human keratinocytes with long-term in vitro growth potential is required for cell growth

The herpes simplex virus large subunit of ribonucleotide reductase differs from its counterparts in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and in other viruses in that it contains a unique domain that codes for a distinct serine-threonine protein kinase that activates the Ras/MEK/MAPK mitogenic pathway and is required for virus growth. Previous studies suggested that ribonucleotide reductase protein kinase was co-opted from a cellular gene. Cellular genes similar to ribonucleotide reductase protein kinase were not cloned, however, and their function is unknown. Here we report that a novel gene (H11) that codes for a protein similar to herpes simplex virus 2 ribonucleotide reductase protein kinase, is expressed in skin tissues, cultured keratinocytes, and the keratinocyte cell line A431. The protein is phosphorylated and it associates with the plasma membrane. H11 is expressed in keratinocytes with long-term in vitro growth potential and is coexpressed with high levels of adhesion molecules involved in signal transduction, such as beta1 integrin. Antisense oligonucleotides that inhibit H11 expression inhibit DNA synthesis and keratinocyte proliferation, suggesting that H11 expression is required for cell growth.

Immunogenicity of an anti-clade B feline immunodeficiency fixed-cell virus vaccine in field cats

Attempts at vaccine development for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) have been extensive, both because this is a significant health problem for cats and because FIV may be a useful vaccine model for human immunodeficiency virus. To date, only modest success, producing only short-term protection, has been achieved for vaccine trials in controlled laboratory settings. It is unclear how relevant such experiments are to prevention of natural infection. The current study used a vaccine that employs cell-associated FIV-M2 strain fixed with paraformaldehyde. Subject cats were in a private shelter where FIV was endemic, a prevalence of 29 to 58% over an 8-year observation period. Cats roamed freely from the shelter through the surrounding countryside but returned for food and shelter. After ensuring that cats were FIV negative, they were immunized using six doses of vaccine over a 16-month period and observed for 28 months after the initiation of immunization. Twenty-six cats (12 immunized and 14 nonimmunized controls) were monitored for a minimum of 22 months. Immunized cats did not experience significant adverse effects from immunization and developed both antibodies and cellular immunity to FIV, although individual responses varied greatly. At the conclusion of the study, 0 of 12 immunized cats had evidence of FIV infection, while 5 of 14 control cats were infected. Thus, the vaccine was safe and immunogenic and did not transmit infection. Furthermore, vaccinated cats did not develop FIV infection in a limited clinical trial over an extended time period. Thus, the data suggest that a fixed, FIV-infected cell vaccine has potential for preventing natural FIV infection in free-roaming cats.

AIDS vaccination studies using feline immunodeficiency virus as a model: immunisation with inactivated whole virus suppresses viraemia levels following intravaginal challenge with infected cells but not following intravenous challenge with cell-free virus

The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) provides an excellent model system for AIDS vaccination studies. In the present experiments we investigated the immunogenicity and the protective activity of two inactivated vaccines prepared from a primary virus isolate. One vaccine was composed of whole virus inactivated with paraformaldehyde and then purified (WIV) and the other of viral proteins extracted with Tween-ether (TEV). Both vaccines elicited robust antiviral responses, but neither conferred appreciable levels of resistance against systemic challenge with the homologous virus. In addition, we tested whether the WIV vaccine, that had appeared more immunogenic, could protect against nontraumatic intravaginal exposure to FIV-infected cells. Although the proportions of control and vaccinated animals that became infected following mucosal challenge were similar, the vaccinees had significantly lower viral burdens than the controls, thus suggesting that immunisation with the WIV vaccine had limited FIV replication following intravaginal challenge.

Kinetics of replication of a partially attenuated virus and of the challenge virus during a three-year intersubtype feline immunodeficiency virus superinfection experiment in cats

The effects of preinfecting cats with a partially attenuated feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) on subsequent infection with a fully virulent FIV belonging to a different subtype were investigated. Eight specific-pathogen-free cats were preinfected with graded doses of a long-term in vitro-cultured cell-free preparation of FIV Petaluma (FIV-P, subtype A). FIV-P established a low-grade or a silent infection in the inoculated animals. Seven months later, the eight preinfected cats and two uninfected cats were challenged with in vivo-grown FIV-M2 (subtype B) and periodically monitored for immunological and virological status. FIV-P-preinfected cats were not protected from acute infection by FIV-M2, and the sustained replication of this virus was accompanied by a reduction of FIV-P viral loads in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma. However, from 2 years postchallenge (p.c.) until 3 years p.c., when the experiment was terminated, preinfected cats exhibited reduced total viral burdens, and some also exhibited a diminished decline of circulating CD4(+) T lymphocytes relative to control cats infected with FIV-M2 alone. Interestingly, most of the virus detected in challenged cats at late times p.c. was of FIV-P origin, indicating that the preinfecting, attenuated virus had become largely predominant. By the end of follow-up, two challenged cats had no FIV-M2 detectable in the tissues examined. The possible mechanisms underlying the interplay between the two viral populations are discussed.

Apoptotic fraction in lymphoid tissue of FIV-infected SPF cats

In the present study the apoptotic fraction has been investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and in lymphoid tissue of six clinically asymptomatic serologically positive specific pathogen free (SPF) FIV-infected cats with a decline in peripheral blood CD4+ lymphocytes, compared to five FIV- SPF controls. Apoptosis in PBMCs was scored in relation to cell cycle phases judged by the integrating cytometric measure of DNA content with 3H-thymidine and 3H-leucine incorporation. Apoptosis in lymphoid tissue was revealed with the ApopTag-peroxidase kit, quantified by image analysis and expressed as apoptotic index (number of apoptosis per 100 cells). The high percentage of apoptotic death in lymphocytes from FIV+ cats was chronologically related to the entrance of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle (p < 0.0001). No difference in the apoptotic index was revealed comparing the follicular, cortical + paracortical and medullary compartments in lymph nodes of FIV+ and FIV- cats. In each group of cats a similar pattern of apoptosis expression was revealed in lymph nodes: significantly higher in follicular vs. both cortical + paracortical and medullary compartments (p < 0.001). In the thymus a significant increase in apoptotic index was revealed in the cortical compartment of the FIV+ cats compared to FIV- (p < 0.001), while in the spleen both the red and white pulp expressed a higher value in FIV+ cats compared to FIV-(p < 0.05) and the former showed a pattern of expression as follows: in the red pulp significantly higher than in the white pulp (p < 0.001). This investigation suggests that the priming signals for apoptosis in FIV infection parallels the S phase of the cell cycle and peripheral blood changes could follow both thymic and splenic modifications in apoptotic expression.

Conformational behaviour of C(alpha,alpha)-diphenylglycine: folded vs. extended structures in DphiG-containing tripeptides

The crystal structures of three fully protected tripeptides containing the Dphi g residue (C[alpha,alpha]-diphenylglycine) in the central position are reported, namely Z-Gly-Dphi g-Gly-OMe (a), Z-Gly-Dphi g-Aib-OMe (b) and Z-Aib-Dphi g-Aib-OMe (c). The molecular conformations are quite unusual because the Dphi g residue adopts a folded conformation in the 3(10)-helical region when the following residue adopts a folded conformation of opposite handedness (peptides b and c). In contrast, the Dphi g residue adopts the more frequently observed fully extended conformation when the following residue adopts a semi-extended conformation (peptide a). These findings are in agreement with the theoretical calculations on Ac-Dphi g-Aib-NHCH3 and Ac-Aib-Dphi g-NHCH3 also reported in this work.

Studies of AIDS vaccination using an ex vivo feline immunodeficiency virus model: protection conferred by a fixed-cell vaccine against cell-free and cell-associated challenge differs in duration and is not easily boosted

Cats immunized with cells infected with a primary isolate of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and fixed with paraformaldehyde were challenged with cell-free or cell-associated homologous virus obtained ex vivo. Complete protection was observed in animals challenged with cell-free virus 4 months after completion of vaccination (p.v.) or with cell-associated virus 12 months p.v. In contrast, no protection was observed in cats challenged with cell-free virus 12 or 28 months p.v. or with cell-associated virus 37.5 months p.v. Prior to the 28- and 37.5-month challenges, the animals had received a booster dose of vaccine that had elicited a robust anamnestic immune response. These results show that vaccine-induced protection against ex vivo FIV is achievable but is relatively short-lived and can be difficult to boost.

Vaccination protects against in vivo-grown feline immunodeficiency virus even in the absence of detectable neutralizing antibodies

So far, vaccination experiments against feline immunodeficiency virus have used in vitro-grown virus to challenge the vaccinated hosts. In this study, cats were vaccinated with fixed feline immunodeficiency virus-infected cells and challenged with plasma obtained from cats infected with the homologous virus diluted to contain 10 cat 50% infectious doses. As judged by virus culture, PCRs, and serological analyses performed over an 18-month period after the challenge, all of the vaccinated cats were clearly protected. Interestingly, prior to challenge most vaccines lacked antibodies capable of neutralizing a fresh isolate of the homologous virus.

Epitope mapping of the V3 domain of feline immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoprotein by monoclonal antibodies

A panel of six IgG monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was produced by immunizing mice with a 22 amino acid synthetic peptide, designated V3.3, of the third variable region of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) envelope glycoprotein. This peptide is known to induce neutralizing antibodies in cats. In ELISA all MAbs reacted with purified SDS-disrupted FIV and in flow cytometry all MAbs stained permeated, persistently infected FL4 cells but not unfixed FL4 cells; this indicated that the MAbs recognize essentially cryptic epitopes of the gp100 V3 loop. By direct ELISA using partially overlapping synthetic peptides and by competition binding studies, the anti-V3.3 MAbs were shown to detect at least four distinct epitopes, two located in the amino-terminal half and two in the carboxy-terminal half of the sequence. When tested for neutralizing activity by the syncytium inhibition assay in Crandell feline kidney cells, all anti-V3.3 MAbs neutralized FIV at high dilution. However, at low dilution two MAbs exhibited much less neutralizing activity. These results indicate that the V3 region of FIV contains multiple epitopes involved in neutralization.

Defective natural killer cell cytotoxic activity in feline immunodeficiency virus-infected cats

Flow cytometry has been employed to study NK cell cytotoxic activity in cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus. The results show that animals infected for 12 months or more have decreased levels of NK cell cytotoxic activity in their blood. The impairment could not be overcome by in vitro treatment of effector cells with interleukin 2. Additional results suggest that the NK cells of infected cats are defective, in that they are still able to bind to target cells but have a reduced ability to kill them.

The feline lymphoid cell line MBM and its use for feline immunodeficiency virus isolation and quantitation

We report on the development of a feline T lymphoblastoid cell line obtained from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of a specific pathogen free cat and designated MBM. The cells are pan-T+, CD4- and CD8- and remained interleukin-2-dependent and concanavalin A-dependent throughout the period of observation. MBM cells have proved at least as sensitive as fresh blasts to infection with cell-free stocks of three feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) isolates. Upon infection, they exhibit a lytic cytopathic effect. Repeated attempts to establish a chronic infection have failed. Using a limiting cell dilution method, it has been shown that MBM cells may be more sensitive than fresh blasts as substrate for isolating FIV from the PBMC of infected cats. These studies have also shown that considerable individual variations exist in the virus loads present in the PBMC of naturally infected cats, and that load size does not appear to correlate with cat age, clinical status, CD4/CD8 ratio and titer of serum neutralizing antibody.

Evaluation of resistance index of several anticancer agents on parental and resistant P-388 cell lines

Multidrug resistance is frequently detected in haematological malignancies and in acute leukaemias with a poor prognosis. In the last few years, several reports seem to suggest that the new anthracycline derivative idarubicin and the anthraquinone mitoxantrone have some advantages in the management of untreated or relapsed acute leukaemias compared with older anthracyclines. This could be due to a different interaction of these drugs with multidrug resistance. To evaluate this possibility, we compared the activity of doxorubicin (DOXO), epirubicin (EPI), idarubicin (IDA) and mitoxantrone (MITO) on a murine, multidrug resistant, leukaemic cell line (P-388/Dx) cultured in vitro. ID50 of IDA and MITO was in the ng range whereas that of DOXO and EPI was in the microgram(s) range. Moreover, IDA has a resistance index of 50 whereas DOXO has one of 250. Verapamil is able to almost completely abolish the resistance to IDA. Efflux experiments confirm that verapamil increases IDA intracellular concentration. IDA and MITO appear to be less involved in multidrug resistance than older anthracyclines.

Mixed conformation in C alpha, alpha-disubstituted tripeptides: x-ray crystal structures of Z-Aib-Dph-Gly-OMe and Bz-Dph-Dph-Gly-OMe

We report here the synthesis and molecular structure in the solid state of fully protected tripeptides containing C alpha, alpha-diphenylglycine (Dph), namely Z-Aib-Dph-Gly-OMe (Aib: C alpha, alpha-dimethylglycine) and Bz-Dph-Dph-Gly-OMe. The molecular conformation around the Dph residue, containing two bulky substituents, is fully extended, while the Aib residue, containing two smaller groups on the C alpha atom, adopts the typical 3(10)/alpha-helical conformation. Gly residues, without substituents on the C alpha atom, show different conformational preferences. Each residue seems to behave, from a conformational point of view, independently from the presence of the other residues, and thus mixed local conformations (folded and extended) are present in the crystals. The nonconventional peptide synthesis, using the Ugi reaction, is also reported.

Detection of feline immunodeficiency virus p24 antigen and p24-specific antibodies by monoclonal antibody-based assays

A panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) detecting distinct B-cell epitopes on p24 core viral protein of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) were employed to develop immunoassays to measure p24 concentration in culture and serum samples, to localize p24 in FIV-infected cells and tissues, and to detect anti-p24 antibodies in cat sera. In its optimized configuration the p24 capture assay detected as little as 0.25 ng/ml of protein. The assay was found at least as sensitive as the reverse transcriptase activity assay in FIV-infected lymphocyte cultures and proved capable of detecting p24 antigen in acid pretreated sera from a high proportion of FIV-infected cats. The mAbs were also successfully used to detect the p24 antigen in permeated FIV-infected cells by flow cytometry and in tissue sections from FIV-infected cats by immunohistochemical staining. Anti-p24 antibodies in FIV-infected cat sera were assayed by a competitive capture ELISA which readily identified occasional false positive results provided by a standard ELISA using purified whole FIV-coated wells.

Synergistic antiproliferative activity of suramin and alpha 2A-interferon against human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines: in vitro studies

Suramin, a polysulphonated naphthylurea proven to be an effective anticancer agent against selected tumours, and alpha 2A-interferon (alpha 2A-IFN) were investigated for their combined effects on HCT-8, HCT-15, CL-D, SW-480 and SW-620 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines. All lines were sensitive to clinically achievable concentrations of suramin in a dose-dependent manner, while alpha 2A-IFN alone induced only a modest reduction of cell growth. Concomitant treatment with suramin and alpha 2A-IFN resulted in a synergistic inhibition of cell viability in each cell line at all doses tested. However, when suramin and alpha 2A-IFN were administered sequentially, inhibition of cell viability was clearly dependent on the timing of treatment schedule, with maximum effect obtained when alpha 2A-IFN was administered prior to suramin. In contrast, pretreatment with suramin was markedly inferior to the former one. In conclusion, suramin and alpha 2A-IFN exert a synergistic effect on human colorectal cell proliferation in vitro at clinically achievable concentrations. This observation may have clinical relevance although the mechanisms of interaction remain to be elucidated.

Identification of a linear neutralization site within the third variable region of the feline immunodeficiency virus envelope

Synthetic peptides have been used to map linear B-cell epitopes of the third variable (V3) region of the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) external membrane glycoprotein gp120. The analysis of sera from naturally and experimentally FIV-infected cats by Pepscan and enzyme immunoassay with four partially overlapping peptides evidenced three antibody-binding domains, two of which mapped in the carboxyl-terminal half of V3. In particular, the V3.3 sequence (Gly-392-Phe-413) turned out to be important for in vitro neutralization of the virus in that the peptide inhibited the FIV-neutralizing activity of pooled immune cat sera, and on the other hand, cat sera raised against this peptide effectively neutralized FIV infectivity for Crandell feline kidney cells.

Detection of salivary antibodies in cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus

The saliva of cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus was examined for total immunoglobulin content and antiviral antibodies. Seropositive cats showed an increase in salivary immunoglobulin G levels, which was only partly attributable to the enhanced prevalence of oral inflammatory lesions, compared with the levels in seronegative cats. Immunoglobulin G, but not immunoglobulin M, levels in serum were also increased. Salivary antibodies were determined by indirect immunofluorescence and Western blot (immunoblot) analysis. All but 1 of the 16 seropositive cats examined were positive, while all 16 control cats were negative. The presence of oral lesions was not a prerequisite for antibody detection in saliva. It was concluded that salivary antibody might be usefully exploited for diagnostic and epidemiologic purposes.

Reduced cardiotoxicity and increased cytotoxicity in a novel anthracycline analogue, 4'-amino-3'-hydroxy-doxorubicin

The acute and chronic cardiotoxicity and cytotoxicity of the novel doxorubicin (DXR) derivative 4'-amino-3'-hydroxy-DXR were compared with those of 4'-deoxy-DXR and DXR. In the acute cardiotoxicity study, the ECG and hemodynamic changes recorded in anesthetized rats that had been treated i.v. with 10 mg/kg 4'-amino-3'-hydroxy-DXR or 8.6 mg/kg 4'-deoxy-DXR were significantly less severe than those caused by 13 mg/kg DXR. In the chronic cardiotoxicity study, rats received 3 weekly i.v. injections of 3 mg/kg DXR, 3 mg/kg 4'-amino-3'-hydroxy-DXR, or 2 mg/kg 4'-deoxy-DXR during the first 14 days of the study and were observed for an additional 35-day period. DXR induced severe cardiomyopathy that was characterized by ECG changes in vivo (S alpha T-segment widening and T-wave flattening) and by impairment of the contractile responses (Fmax, +/- dF/dtmax) to adrenaline of hearts isolated from treated animals. 4'-Deoxy-DXR caused a progressive enlargement of the S alpha T segment in vivo and a significant impairment of the -dF/dtmax value in vitro, which were less severe than those produced by DXR. The least cardiotoxic drug was 4'-amino-3'-hydroxy-DXR, which induced minor ECG changes without causing significant alterations in the contractile responses of isolated hearts to adrenaline. On the basis of the drug concentration required to inhibit 50% of the colony formation (IC50) of cell lines in vitro, 4'-amino-3'-hydroxy-DXR was less active than 4'-deoxy-DXR but at least twice as active as DXR against human cancer and murine transformed cell lines. These data indicate that 4'-amino-3'-hydroxy-DXR is significantly less cardiotoxic and more cytotoxic than DXR.

Comparative activity of doxorubicin and its major metabolite, doxorubicinol, on V79/AP4 fibroblasts: a morphofunctional study

Doxorubicin (DXR), an anthracycline antineoplastic drug, is mainly metabolized to the C-13 dihydroderivative doxorubicinol (DXR-ol), which displays cytotoxic activity on various cell lines. To better characterize the cytotoxic activity of this metabolite, we have studied the effect of DXR (0.1-10 micrograms/ml) or DXR-ol (1-100 micrograms/ml) on the transformed fibroblast cell line V79/AP4 by means of the clonogenic assay, cytofluorescence, and light and electron microscopy. Both DXR and DXR-ol displayed a dose-dependent inhibition of colony formation with an IC50 factor DXR-ol/DXR of 19.5. A striking nuclear fluorescence was observed after DXR but not after DXR-ol. A low number of mitoses and a decrease in nucleoli staining affinity were the most evident alterations induced by DXR. Electron microscopy showed both nuclear and cytoplasmic changes in DXR treated cells: nucleolar segregation, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and mitochondrial swelling with dense needle-shaped material were observed. Exposure to formic acid confirmed the calcific nature of the mitochondrial bodies. Only the highest dose of DXR-ol brought about nuclear and cytoplasmic ultrastructural changes similar to those induced by DXR. Our data describe new in vitro findings on the cytotoxicity and morphological alterations induced by both DXR and DXR-ol, with a lower activity of DXR-ol against V79/AP4 fibroblasts.

Persistence of drug-induced chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of the rat

We have studied the persistence of pre-clastogenic lesions, detected as induced chromosomal aberrations, in rat peripheral lymphocytes at various time intervals after acute treatment with 3 different antineoplastic drugs: cyclophosphamide (CPA), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and adriamycin (AM). Single i.p. doses were administered to groups of rats and heart blood samples from each group were taken after 3, 12, 24 or 48 h or weekly up to 20 weeks later. The cytogenetic analysis was performed on lymphocytes cultured for 33 h after sampling. The results for CPA exposure (10 mg/kg) show that the yield of chromosome aberrations is maximal 3 h after the treatment (20 times the control level). For up to 8 weeks the values remain about 6 times the baseline; afterwards a decrease is observed and the control level is reached after 20 weeks. For 5-FU (50 mg/kg) a remarkable increase (13-fold) in chromosomal damage is observed at the first sampling time. Within 48 h the effect is drastically reduced but persistent (3 times the control level), and the level returns to spontaneous values 1 week later. AM treatment (2 mg/kg) induced an increase of about 8 times the control level at 3 h post exposure. The clastogenic effects remained at a detectable level for 1 week (about 6 times the control level at all sampling times); 2 weeks after the treatment the control level was found. A parallel analysis was performed on bone marrow cells. In this tissue the clastogenic effects of the treatments were maximal, as in lymphocytes, at the first sampling time (20-25 times the control level) and were no longer detectable within 72 h after exposure, irrespective of the administered drug.

Biochemical localization of hepatic surface-membrane Na+,K+-ATPase activity depends on membrane lipid fluidity

Membrane proteins of transporting epithelia are often distributed between apical and basolateral surfaces to produce a functionally polarized cell. The distribution of Na+,K+-ATPase [ATP phosphohydrolase (Na+/K+-transporting), EC 3.6.1.37] between apical and basolateral membranes of hepatocytes has been controversial. Because Na+,K+-ATPase activity is fluidity dependent and the physiochemical properties of the apical membrane reduces its fluidity, we investigated whether altering membrane fluidity might uncover cryptic Na+,K+-ATPase in bile canalicular (apical) surface fractions free of detectable Na+,K+-ATPase and glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities. Apical fractions exhibited higher diphenylhexatriene-fluorescence polarization values when compared with sinusoidal (basolateral) membrane fractions. When 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl 8-(cis-2-n-octylcyclopropyl)octanoate (A2C) was added to each fraction, Na+,K+-ATPase, but not glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, was activated in the apical fraction. In contrast, further activation of both enzymes was not seen in sinusoidal fractions. The A2C-induced increase in apical Na+,K+-ATPase approached 75% of the sinusoidal level. Parallel increases in apical Na+,K+-ATPase were produced by benzyl alcohol and Triton WR-1339. All three fluidizing agents decreased the order component of membrane fluidity. Na+,K+-ATPase activity in each subfraction was identically inhibited by the monoclonal antibody 9-A5, a specific inhibitor of this enzyme. These findings suggest that hepatic Na+,K+-ATPase is distributed in both surface membranes but functions more efficiently and, perhaps, specifically in the sinusoidal membranes because of their higher bulk lipid fluidity.

Clastogenic effects induced in mice and rats by 1,4-bis[2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)]-benzene, a phenobarbital-like enzyme inducer and liver tumour promoter

The clastogenic activity of 1,4-bis[2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)]-benzene (TCPOBOP), a phenobarbital-like enzyme inducer and liver tumour promoter, was studied in mammalian cells exposed in vivo and in vitro. The effects of an oral treatment with 3 mg/kg body weight of TCPOBOP were scored in the bone marrow cells and in the liver cells of B6C3F1 hybrid mice. A relevant increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations was observed in both cell types. A co-administration of TCPOBOP and carbon tetrachloride (the latter given to stimulate liver cell divisions) produced similar effects to those induced by TCPOBOP alone. Several i.p. doses (1, 3, 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg body weight) were administered to Swiss-albino mice and to Sprague-Dawley rats. In bone marrow cells, a remarkable concordance between the two species was observed: at any dose higher than 3 mg/kg body weight the increase in frequency of chromosomal aberrations was more than three times the control level, with a slight decrease at the highest dose. A dose of 300 mg/kg body weight was lethal. Doses of 3 or 30 mg/kg body weight were also administered i.p. to partially hepatectomized rats and the effects on metaphase chromosomes were detected in the liver cells. Besides an increase in structural chromosomal aberration frequency, TCPOBOP induced high percentages of hypodiploid and hyperdiploid-hypotetraploid liver cells. Since no changes in euploidy were observed in the bone marrow cells, this effect seems to be tissue specific. The clastogenic activity of TCPOBOP was also confirmed in vitro by a rat lymphocyte assay without addition of any exogenous metabolic activation.

Ethinylestradiol administration selectively alters liver sinusoidal membrane lipid fluidity and protein composition

Administration of high-dose ethinylestradiol to rats decreases bile flow, Na,K-ATPase specific activity, and liver plasma membrane fluidity. By use of highly purified sinusoidal and bile canalicular membrane fractions, the effect of ethinylestradiol administration on the protein and lipid composition and fluidity of plasma membrane fractions was examined. In sinusoidal fractions, ethinylestradiol (EE) administration decreased Na,K-ATPase activity (32%) and increased activities of alkaline phosphatase (254%), Mg2+-ATPase (155%), and a 160-kDa polypeptide (10-fold). Steady-state and dynamic fluorescence polarization was used to study membrane lipid structure. Steady-state polarization of diphenylhexatriene (DPH) was significantly higher in canalicular compared to sinusoidal membrane fractions. Ethinylestradiol (5 mg/kg per day for 5 days) selectively increased sinusoidal polarization values. Similar changes were demonstrated with the probes 2- and 12-anthroyloxystearate. Time-resolved fluorescence polarization measurements indicated that EE administration for 5 days did not change DPH lifetime but increased the order component (r infinity) and decreased the rotation rate (R). However, 1 and 3 days after EE administration and with low doses (10-100 micrograms/kg per day for 5 days) the Na,K-ATPase, bile flow, and order component were altered, but the rotation rate was unchanged. Vesicles prepared from total sinusoidal membrane lipids of EE-treated rats, as well as phospholipid vesicles, demonstrated increased DPH polarization, as did intact plasma membrane fractions. Liver plasma membrane fractions showed no change in free cholesterol or cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio, while esterified cholesterol content was increased with high-dose but not low-dose ethinylestradiol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

DNA synthesis, mitotic index, drug-metabolising systems and cytogenetic analysis in regenerating rat liver. Comparison with bone marrow test after 'in vivo' treatment with cyclophosphamide

Rat-liver cells can be used to reveal "in vivo" clastogenic activity of indirect mutagens, provided that they are stimulated to divide by partial hepatectomy. In order to characterize the rat-liver metabolic capacity in such experimental conditions, several biochemical parameters were measured during the first 54-66 h of liver regeneration in Sprague-Dawley male rats, subjected to a partial hepatectomy. The levels of cytochrome P-450, the activities of styrene monooxygenase, epoxide hydrolase and glutathione-S-epoxide transferase were chosen as markers. All the enzymatic activities and the level of cytochrome P-450 decreased during the first 12 h after the hepatectomy to about 50% of the activities of the sham-operated rats considered as controls. Subsequent recovery of the metabolic capacity was not observed. DNA synthesis and the mitotic index were measured to find the most suitable time for metaphase analysis. DNA synthesis and the number of metaphases were maximal at, respectively, 22-25 and 28-31 h after partial removal of the liver. The sensitivity to clastogenic damage induced by "in vivo" treatment with cyclophosphamide (CPA) was assayed in regenerating liver cells by chromosome-aberration analysis. Different doses, ranging from 5 to 30 mg/kg b.w., were given i.p. to the rats 17 h before or 7 h after partial hepatectomy. Liver cells were collected 31 h after surgery. Clastogenic damage was greater when the drug was administered to the animals after the hepatectomy (24 h of exposure) than before (48 h of exposure). The sensitivity to CPA-induced damage was compared with a bone marrow cell test carried out on non-hepatectomized rats treated in the same way. The results indicated that in these conditions regenerating liver cells are more sensitive than bone marrow cells to the induction of chromosome aberrations by CPA.

Chromosome aberrations in rat liver cells and bone marrow cells following treatment in vivo with mitomycin C

The clastogenic potential of mitomycin C (MMC) was studied in rat liver cells and bone marrow cells. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were partially hepatectomized and treated with a single i.p. dose of MMC (3.5 mg/kg body weight) 7 or 24 h after the operation. Non-hepatectomized rats were also treated with the same dose of MMC 7 or 24 h after the mutagenic treatment; liver and bone marrow cells were isolated from hepatectomized rats (31 h after the operation) and bone marrow cells only from non-hepatectomized animals. The results show that, if MMC was administered 7 h before the isolation of cells, the induction was more efficient in liver cells than in bone marrow cells. At this sampling time, there was no consistent difference between the frequencies observed in bone marrow cells from hepatectomized and non-hepatectomized rats. An increase was observed in both tissues 24 h after the mutagenic treatment. At this sampling time, the effect was significantly higher in the bone marrow cells from non-hepatectomized animals than in the liver cells and bone marrow cells from hepatectomized animals. No significant difference between the two cell types from hepatectomized rats was observed. Different factors related to the cytostatic properties of MMC and/or to cell kinetics in the two cell types, probably affected by the surgical operation, may account for the differences in the yield of chromosomal damage.

Human lymphocytes assay: cyclophosphamide metabolic activation by S9 system with low cytotoxicity

The general suitability of exposing human lymphocytes directly to prolonged contact with an Ames-type microsomal (S9) activation system has been examined, for testing the effect of the indirect chemical mutagen, cyclophosphamide (CPA), on induction of chromosomal aberrations. Direct exposure of lymphocytes to only S9 mix produced a decrease in the mitotic index within 30-60 min, whereafter it stabilized at acceptable values. Further toxic effects following treatment with different doses of CPA and S9 mix, for the longest times of exposure were due to production of clastogenic metabolites. On the basis of these results, the low cytotoxicity of S9 mix in our conditions allows extension of the application of the test to the study of metabolites which require prolonged contact with the target cells.

Mutagenic studies on the hair dye 2-(2',4'-diaminophenoxy)ethanol with different genetic systems

A new hair-dye coupler, 2-(2',4'-diaminophenoxy)ethanol was analyzed for its potential mutagenic activity in different genotoxic assays, namely gene reverse mutations in Salmonella typhimurium, forward mutations in the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and in the V79 Chinese hamster cell line grown in vitro (HGPRT forward mutation system). Two other genetic test systems, measuring the mitotic gene conversion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain D4) and the unscheduled DNA-repair synthesis in a HeLa cell line grown in vitro, were also used. 2,4-Diaminoanisole, a mutagenic/carcinogenic structurally related hair-dye coupler, and a group of well-known mutagens, namely methyl methanesulfonate, ethyl methanesulfonate, cychlophosphamide, hycanthone and N-nitrosodimethylamine, were used as positive controls. The new aromatic amine, 2-(2',4'-diaminophenoxy)ethanol, was negative in all the assays performed, under the same treatment conditions as in the case of all the positive controls.