Childhood-Onset Lupus Nephritis in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry: Short-Term Kidney Status and Variation in Care

OBJECTIVE

The goal was to characterize short-term kidney status and describe variation in early care utilization in a multicenter cohort of patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) and nephritis.

METHODS

We analyzed previously collected prospective data from North American patients with cSLE with kidney biopsy-proven nephritis enrolled in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry from March 2017 through December 2019. We determined the proportion of patients with abnormal kidney status at the most recent registry visit and applied generalized linear mixed models to identify associated factors. We also calculated frequency of medication use, both during induction and ever recorded.

RESULTS

We identified 222 patients with kidney biopsy-proven nephritis, with 64% class III/IV nephritis on initial biopsy. At the most recent registry visit at median (interquartile range) of 17 (8-29) months from initial kidney biopsy, 58 of 106 patients (55%) with available data had abnormal kidney status. This finding was associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR] 3.88, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.21-12.46) and age at cSLE diagnosis (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.01-1.49). Patients with class IV nephritis were more likely than class III to receive cyclophosphamide and rituximab during induction. There was substantial variation in mycophenolate, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab ever use patterns across rheumatology centers.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort with predominately class III/IV nephritis, male sex and older age at cSLE diagnosis were associated with abnormal short-term kidney status. We also observed substantial variation in contemporary medication use for pediatric lupus nephritis between pediatric rheumatology centers. Additional studies are needed to better understand the impact of this variation on long-term kidney outcomes.

Intraarticular steroids as DMARD-sparing agents for juvenile idiopathic arthritis flares: Analysis of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry

BACKGROUND

Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who achieve a drug free remission often experience a flare of their disease requiring either intraarticular steroids (IAS) or systemic treatment with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). IAS offer an opportunity to recapture disease control and avoid exposure to side effects from systemic immunosuppression. We examined a cohort of patients treated with IAS after drug free remission and report the probability of restarting systemic treatment within 12 months.

METHODS

We analyzed a cohort of patients from the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry who received IAS for a flare after a period of drug free remission. Historical factors and clinical characteristics and of the patients including data obtained at the time of treatment were analyzed.

RESULTS

We identified 46 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Of those with follow up data available 49% had restarted systemic treatment 6 months after IAS injection and 70% had restarted systemic treatment at 12 months. The proportion of patients with prior use of a biologic DMARD was the only factor that differed between patients who restarted systemic treatment those who did not, both at 6 months (79% vs 35%, p < 0.01) and 12 months (81% vs 33%, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

While IAS are an option for all patients who flare after drug free remission, it may not prevent the need to restart systemic treatment. Prior use of a biologic DMARD may predict lack of success for IAS. Those who previously received methotrexate only, on the other hand, are excellent candidates for IAS.

Social determinants of health influence disease activity and functional disability in Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

BACKGROUND

Social determinants of health (SDH) greatly influence outcomes during the first year of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis, a disease similar to polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA). We investigated the correlation of community poverty level and other SDH with the persistence of moderate to severe disease activity and functional disability over the first year of treatment in pJIA patients enrolled in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance Registry.

METHODS

In this cohort study, unadjusted and adjusted generalized linear mixed effects models analyzed the effect of community poverty and other SDH on disease activity, using the clinical Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score-10, and disability, using the Child Health Assessment Questionnaire, measured at baseline, 6, and 12 months.

RESULTS

One thousand six hundred eighty-four patients were identified. High community poverty (≥20% living below the federal poverty level) was associated with increased odds of functional disability (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.28-2.60) but was not statistically significant after adjustment (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 0.81-1.86) and was not associated with increased disease activity. Non-white race/ethnicity was associated with higher disease activity (aOR 2.48, 95% CI: 1.41-4.36). Lower self-reported household income was associated with higher disease activity and persistent functional disability. Public insurance (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.06-2.29) and low family education (aOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.14-3.12) was associated with persistent functional disability.

CONCLUSION

High community poverty level was associated with persistent functional disability in unadjusted analysis but not with persistent moderate to high disease activity. Race/ethnicity and other SDH were associated with persistent disease activity and functional disability.

[Changes and clinical significance of γδT cells in peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis B during pegylated interferon α-2a treatment]

Objective: To observe the changes of γδT cells in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during pegylated interferon α-2a treatment, and to analyze the correlation between clinical indicators and curative effects. Methods: Peripheral blood of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB patients were collected at different time points of Peg-IFNα-2a treatment, including 17 patients at 0 weeks, 20 patients at 12 weeks, 20 patients at 24 weeks, and 16 patients at 48 weeks. From these 11 patients, blood samples were frequently observed at 0, 12, 24, and 48 weeks of treatment. The frequencies of γδT and its subpopulation cells Vδ1T, Vδ2T, effector memory γδT (γδTem), central memory γδT (γδTcm), initial γδT (γδTnaive) and terminal differentiation effect γδT (γδTeff) cells in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Liver function, serum HBV markers and HBV DNA levels were measured simultaneously. SPSS 23.0 statistical software was used to analyze the differences in cell proportions at each treatment time point, and the correlation between cell proportions and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), HBsAg, HBeAg or HBV DNA levels. In addition, the correlation between the proportions of γδT and its subpopulation cells and the response to Peg-IFNα-2a treatment in the 11 patients with continuous follow-up were analyzed. Results: The percentage of γδT and Vδ2T cells in peripheral blood of patients with CHB decreased gradually during the period of 0-48 weeks of Peg-IFNα-2a treatment. The percentages of γδT cells and Vδ2T cells at 48 weeks were 6.89% (5%, 8.15%), 4.61% (2.16%, 6.50%), respectively; significantly lower than the 0 week [12.5% ​​(7.73%, 19%), 6.59% (3.86%, 13.62%)], the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The proportions of Vδ1T, γδTem, γδTcm, γδTnaive, or γδTeff subpopulations were not statistically different at each time points (all P > 0.05). At the same time, the levels of ALT, HBsAg, HBeAg or HBV DNA were positively correlated with the ratio of γδT or Vδ2T cells (P < 0.05). Among the 11 patients with continuous followed- up, the proportion of γδTem cells in responders was significantly lower than that of non-responders at each time points, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Conclusion: The proportion of γδT cells in the course of CHB treatment with Peg-IFNα-2a reduces the liver inflammation by decreasing the replication of HBV virus. Chronic hepatitis B patients with a lower proportion of effector memory (γδTem) cells may be more likely to get better response with Peg-IFNα-2a.

Heart rate variability in children with myocarditis presenting with ventricular arrhythmias

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the heart rate variability in children with myocarditis presenting with ventricular arrhythmias.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study compared the characteristics of heart rate variability (HRV) among 67 children with viral myocarditis (VMC), presenting with (n=35) and without (n=32) ventricular arrhythmias and a control group of 30 healthy children.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the HRV time-domain indicators of children with VMC were significantly lower (p<0.05); also, the indicators of children with ventricular arrhythmias were significantly lower than those of children without ventricular arrhythmias (p<0.05). Equally, during both the lucid and sleep periods, the time-domain indicators of HRV were significantly lower in patients with VMC and arrhythmias than in either the control group (p<0.05) or the group with VMC but no ventricular arrhythmias (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the HRV of children with VMC probably decreased because of impaired vagal nerve function, with ventricular arrhythmias developing only when the decrease was most significant. Thus, HRV can be a useful predictive indicator for ventricular arrhythmias in children with VMC.

Research on the relativity between gene polymorphism and children cardiac insufficiency

OBJECTIVE

We analyzed the relationship between Mink-S27 gene polymorphism and children with cardiac insufficiency.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From April 2013 to April 2015, we enrolled 73 cases of children with cardiac insufficiency for this study, and all 73 were placed in the observation group. 76 normal cases were selected for the control group. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was used to make polymorphism analysis of the Mink-S27.

RESULTS

Our results showed no significant differences in Mink-S27 genotype and allele distribution in both observation and control groups (p>0.05). In lesion samples collected from children with cardiac insufficiency, we detected significant difference in AA, CC genotype frequency and allele frequency between the observation group and the control group (p< 0.05) (X2 = 15.43, p<0.05; X2  = 16.27, p<0.05). Further studies on samples obtained from both groups revealed certain differences of AA, CC, AC genotype frequency and allele frequency in the observation group. The proportion of homozygote (AA, CC) in children with severe cardiac insufficiency was relatively high.

CONCLUSIONS

GNAS2 gene polymorphism was associated with the prevalence of cardiac insufficiency in children. And also the patients' condition was correlated to the frequency of different genotypes and alleles.

Endothelial microparticles induce vascular endothelial cell injury in children with Kawasaki disease

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role of microparticles produced by endothelial cells in the injury of vascular endothelial cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with TNF-α in vitro, analyzed the change of cellular morphology, and measured EMP level in the supernatant with a flow cytometer. Then, we evaluated the corresponding clinical indicators and the role of EMP in endothelial injury.

RESULTS

The endothelial cellular morphology underwent significant changes, and a large number of microparticles were secreted. In turn, these microparticles blocked cell cycle and induced apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The microparticles produced by endothelial cells play an important role in the injury of vascular endothelial cells.

Detection and prevalence of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica in refrigerated and frozen dairy products by duplex PCR and dot hybridization targeting the virF and ail genes

Pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica is involved in yersiniosis through expression of chromosome-borne or plasmid-borne virulence factors. Yersinia enterocolitica is a cold-tolerant pathogen frequently isolated from refrigerated or frozen foods. However, little attention has been focused on the prevalence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in refrigerated or frozen dairy samples in China. In this study, we developed a new duplex PCR targeting the plasmid-borne virF gene and chromosome-borne ail gene for detection of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica isolates. We established a detection limit for the duplex PCR of 6.5 × 10(2)cfu/mL in artificially contaminated dairy samples. In addition, the duplex PCR could detect directly 4.5 to 5.7 cfu of Y. enterocolitica in 5 mL of brain heart infusion broth after 6 h of enrichment at 28 °C. A newly developed dot hybridization assay further confirmed specificity of the duplex PCR for detection of virulent Y. enterocolitica. Furthermore, 13 Y. enterocolitica and 5 pathogenic strains, from 88 commercial frozen or refrigerated dairy products, were detected successfully by the China National Standard method (GB/T4789.8-2008) and the duplex PCR, respectively. Finally, biotypes and serotypes of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica strains were further characterized. The duplex PCR developed here is reliable for large-scale screening, routine monitoring, and risk assessment of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in refrigerated or frozen dairy products.

Toxicity effects of oral gavage of aqueous solutions of cube-root powder and sodium nitrite in common carp

Context Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is a highly invasive freshwater pest fish that has been linked to waterway degradation when it has been introduced and exists at high densities. The deployment of a toxic bait may be a logistically simple tool that wildlife managers could use to reduce carp populations. Rotenone, the piscicide most commonly used in previous attempts to produce a carp bait is very expensive, albeit highly toxic to carp. We investigated the toxicity of two potential alternative piscicides to carp. Aim To determine the oral toxicity of two alternative cheaper toxins to carp, cube-root powder (CRP) and sodium nitrite (nitrite). Methods CRP or nitrite was administered in an aqueous solution by gavage to lightly sedated captive carp. The aqueous solution consisted of a 30 : 70 mixture (w/w) of the surfactant, Polysorbate 80, to increase the absorption of toxins through the intestine, and water. Key results The LD50 of CRP and nitrite in carp was 135.7 mg kg–1 and 122.0 mg kg–1, respectively. Conclusions Both CRP and nitrite are toxic to carp at dose rates low enough to be incorporated into a piscicide bait for this species. Implications Both CRP and nitrite appear to be viable alternative oral piscicides to rotenone for carp and warrant further investigation of delivery in bait.

Environmental influences on Adelie penguin breeding schedules, endocrinology, and chick survival

To understand how the social and physical environment influences behaviour, reproduction and survival, studies of underlying hormonal processes are crucial; in particular, interactions between stress and reproductive responses may have critical influences on breeding schedules. Several authors have examined the timing of breeding in relation to environmental stimuli, while others have independently described endocrine profiles. However, few studies have simultaneously measured endocrine profiles, breeding behaviour, and offspring survival across seasons. We measured sex and stress hormone concentrations (oestrogens, testosterone, and corticosterone), timing of breeding, and chick survival, in Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) at two colonies in two different years. Clutch initiation at Cape Bird South (CBS; year 1, ~14,000 pairs) occurred later than at Cape Crozier East (CCE; year 2, ~ 25,000 pairs); however, breeding was more synchronous at CBS. This pattern was probably generated by the persistence of extensive sea ice at CBS (year 1). Higher corticosterone metabolite and lower sex hormone concentrations at CBS correlated with later breeding and lower chick survival compared to at CCE - again, a likely consequence of sea ice conditions. Within colonies, sub-colony size (S, 50-100; M, 200-300; L, 500-600; XL, >1000 pairs) did not influence the onset or synchrony of breeding, chick survival, or hormone concentrations. We showed that the endocrine profiles of breeding Adelie penguins can differ markedly between years and/or colonies, and that combining measures of endocrinology, behaviour, and offspring survival can reveal the mechanisms and consequences that different environmental conditions can have on breeding ecology.

Socio-economic drivers of freshwater fish declines in a changing climate: a New Zealand perspective

New Zealand has a freshwater fish fauna characterized by high levels of national and local endemism and which is threatened by anthropogenic stressors including habitat destruction or deterioration, commercial harvest, pollution and interactions with invasive exotic species. Significant expansion of New Zealand's dairy production has recently created further deterioration of lowland water quality and greater pressure for water allocation in drier eastern regions of the South Island. New Zealand has large freshwater resources and its climate is predicted to experience less dramatic changes in mean annual temperature and precipitation than many other regions of the world as a result of anthropogenic climate change. Predicted changes in regional climate and further expansion of the dairy industry, however, will impose similar pressures on freshwater resources in northern New Zealand to those already acting to threaten freshwater biodiversity in the eastern South Island.

Compromised GCF total antioxidant capacity in periodontitis: cause or effect?

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. The total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) of gingival crevicular fluid volume (GCF) and plasma appears compromised in periodontitis, but it is unclear whether this predisposes to, or results from the inflammatory process.

AIM

To investigate longitudinal changes in GCF and plasma TAOC following reductions in periodontal inflammation with successful non-surgical therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two longitudinal studies were run in series on non-smokers with chronic periodontitis (CP). Study-1 (n=17) assessed index sites with mild disease; Study-2 (n=18) investigated deep sites. GCF sampling and clinical measures were performed at baseline and 3 months post-therapy. Plasma and GCF TAOC was determined by enhanced chemiluminescence and 32 age/sex-matched periodontally healthy controls were used.

RESULTS

Therapy improved clinical outcomes consistent with the literature. There were no differences in plasma TAOC between periodontitis patients (507+/-92 microMTeq) and controls (520+/-100 microMTeq; p=0.57) at baseline, but GCF TAOC was lower (p<0.0001) in CP patients (680+/-371 microMTeq) than controls (1129+/-722 microMTeq). Successful periodontal therapy did not alter plasma TAOC (p=0.56), but GCF TAOC increased (by 449+/-722 microMTeq, p<0.001) to control subject levels (p=0.47)

CONCLUSIONS

Local total antioxidant capacity in CP appears to reflect increased oxygen radical activity during periodontal inflammation and can be restored to control subject levels by successful non-surgical therapy.

Central administration of peptide and small molecule MC4 receptor antagonists induce hyperphagia in mice and attenuate cytokine-induced anorexia

We investigated the effect of melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4) antagonists on food intake in mice. Food intake during the light phase was significantly increased by ICV administration of mixed MC3/MC4 antagonists (AgRP and SHU9119) or MC4 selective antagonist peptide [(Cyclo (1-5)[Suc-D-Nal-Arg-Trp-Lys]NH2] (MBP10) and the small molecule antagonists THP and NBI-30. Both mixed and selective antagonists significantly reversed anorexia induced by ICV administration of the MC4 agonist (c (1-6) HfRWK-NH2) and the cytokine IL-1beta. These findings provide pharmacological evidence that the MC4 receptor mediates the effects of melanocortin agonists and antagonists on food intake in mice, and support the idea that selective small molecule MC4 antagonists may be useful as therapeutics for cachexia.

Measures of resting immune function and related physiology in juvenile rainbow trout exposed to a pulp mill effluent

Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to 0, 10, 30, and 70% (v/v) of a secondary-treated, integrated thermomechanical-bleached kraft pulp and paper mill effluent. The immunological parameters oxidative burst and phagocytosis of head kidney macrophages and total and differential circulating leukocytes were measured after 21 d of exposure. General parameters of stress and exposure including erythrocyte counts, numbers of degenerating erythrocytes, splenic pigmented macrophage aggregates (PMAs), spleen size, bile chemistry, and hepatic EROD activity were also assessed. Contrary to parallel chronic studies on the same effluent, EROD induction did not occur. Analyses of bile indicated uptake and accumulation of resin acids and some sterols. There was no measurable macrophage-related immunological dysfunction. However, circulating leukocytes, specifically lymphocytes, were reduced. The density of splenic PMAs increased over the exposure period, possibly in association with degenerating blood cells. There were statistical differences between staggered days of sampling in head kidney oxidative burst, white and mature red blood cell counts, and spleen size, indicating that relatively minor capture and handling stress could result in rapid changes in some parameters. Overall, it was concluded that the observed minor, indirect alterations in the immune response were likely the result predominantly of a nonspecific mechanism such as a cortisol-mediated stress response.

Determinants of high-affinity binding and receptor activation in the N-terminus of CCL-19 (MIP-3 beta)

CC chemokine receptor 7 (CCR-7) is expressed on mature dendritic cells and T-cells. Its ligands, CCL-19 (MIP-3beta) and CCL-21 (SLC), play an important role in the migration of these cells to secondary lymphoid organs where they are predominantly expressed. For most chemokines, the N-terminal domain preceding the first two conserved cysteines is involved in stabilizing the active conformation of its cognate receptors. We have chemically synthesized N-terminal analogues of CCL-19 with the aid of a native chemical ligation method to investigate structure function requirements of this ligand domain by performing ligand binding, GTP-gammaS binding, and chemotaxis assays. Successive truncations of the N-terminus of CCL-19 reduced the affinity of the receptor for the ligand in a size-dependent manner. Furthermore, Ala substitutions of Asn(3), Asp(4), and Asp(7) show that the side chains of these residues are important for high-affinity binding of CCL-19 to CCR-7. The effects observed were mirrored in both GTP-gammaS binding and chemotaxis assays, highlighting the functional importance of this ligand domain. We also describe two partial agonists of CCR-7 ([Nle(72)]CCL-19(6-77) and Ac-[Nle(72)]CCL-19(7-77)), and identify the first analogue of CCL-19 (Ac-[Nle(72)]CCL-19(8-77)) that acts as a functional antagonist in vitro (K(B) approximately 350 nM for GTP-gammaS binding assays). As mutations of both Glu(6) and Asp(7) to Ala did not dissociate effects on ligand binding from receptor activation, it is likely that the backbone of these two residues is crucial for agonist activity.

Sensory integration in the hydrodynamic world of rainbow trout

Water movements, of both abiotic and biotic origin, provide a wealth of information for fishes. They detect these water movements by arrays of hydrodynamic sensors located on the surface of the body as superficial neuromasts and embedded in subdermal lateral line canals. Recently, the anatomical dichotomy between superficial and canal neuromasts has been matched by demonstrations of a corresponding functional dichotomy. Superficial neuromasts are sensitive to water flows over the surface of the fish and are the sub-modality that participates in orientation to water currents, a behaviour known as rheotaxis. The canal neuromasts are sensitive to water vibration and it is this sub-modality that determines the localization of artificial prey. Recently, however, it has been shown that the complex behaviour of natural prey capture in the dark requires input from both lateral line sensory submodalities and here we show that the ability of trout to hold station behind a stationary object in fast flowing water also requires integration of information from both sub-modalities.

Discovery of a series of nonpeptide small molecules that inhibit the binding of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) to IGF-binding proteins

Insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and II) play an important role in metabolic and mitogenic activities through stimulation of the IGF-I receptor on the cell surface. Although the concentration of IGF in blood and cerebrospinal fluid is quite high (>100 nM), this large pool of IGF is biologically inactive because of its association with six distinct binding proteins, which form high-affinity complexes with IGF. Thus, inhibitors of IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), especially IGFBP-3, could potentially alter the distribution between the "free" and "bound" forms of IGF and thereby elevate biologically active IGF-I to exert a beneficial effect on those patients with diseases that respond to the application of exogenous IGF-I. Whereas IGF-I peptide variants, which bind to IGFBPs but not the IGF-I receptor, have been shown to be potent IGF/IGFBP inhibitors, small molecule nonpeptide IGF/IGFBP inhibitors have the potential advantages of oral bioavailability and flexible dosing regimen. Here we report the discovery of several isoquinoline analogues, exemplified by 1 and 2, which bind IGFBP-3 as well as other IGFBPs at low nanomolar concentrations. More importantly, both compounds were shown to be able to release biologically active IGF-I from the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 complex. These results point to the feasibility of developing orally active therapeutics to treat IGF-responsive diseases by optimization of the lead molecules 1 and 2.

Identification of a nonpeptide ligand that releases bioactive insulin-like growth factor-I from its binding protein complex

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) has both metabolic and mitogenic activities mediated through interaction with the type 1 IGF receptor. The circulation of IGF-I in blood and interstitial fluid is not free but bound mostly to a family of six high affinity IGF-binding proteins, which form stable complexes with IGF and neutralize its bioactivity. Therefore, displacement of this large pool of endogenous IGF from the binding proteins could elevate "free" IGF levels to elicit beneficial effects in diabetes and other IGF-responsive diseases comparable with those produced by administration of exogenous IGF-I. We report here the identification of a nonpeptide ligand NBI-31772, which displaces IGF-I from all six IGF-binding proteins at low nanomolar concentrations from screening of the in-house chemical libraries. Furthermore, the released free IGF-I was shown to be biologically active in an in vitro bioassay. Thus, NBI-31772 could serve as a valuable lead molecule for the design of novel therapeutics to treat diabetes and other IGF-responsive diseases.

Adaptive-optics compensation by distributed beacons for non-kolmogorov turbulence

In optical propagation through atmospheric turbulence, the performance of compensation with adaptive optics depends on a beacon's spatial distribution. With distributed beacons, the inefficiency of the modal correction, which is defined as the ratio of the anisoplanatic error of the jth mode and the Zernike-coefficient variance, is derived by use of the wave-front expansion on the Zernike polynomials for non-Kolmogorov turbulence. Numerical results are presented for laser beam propagation through constant turbulence with an offset point beacon and an on-axis uniform circular beacon. The results show that compensation for an on-axis uniform circular beacon is much more effective than that for an offset point beacon. The low-order modes are much more correlated than the higher-order modes. The larger the power-law exponent of the refractive-index power spectrum beta, the smaller the propagation path length L and the larger the diameter D of the telescope aperture, the more effective the compensation is. For a specific extended degree of beacon for which there are a maximum number of modes N(max) to be corrected, only low-order-correction systems are useful.

Performance-enhancing effects of CRF-BP ligand inhibitors

Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) peptide fragments with low affinity for CRF receptors reportedly improves cognitive performance without producing anxiety. These compounds are hypothesized to act by displacing endogenous peptide from the CRF-binding protein (CRF-BP). To test this hypothesis, the present study determined whether the performance-enhancing potency of CRF fragments was related to their affinity for the CRF-BP. Rank ordering of the optimal doses of these compounds for facilitating spatial navigation corresponded to their affinity for the CRF-BP. i.c.v. pretreatment with performance-enhancing doses of r/h CRF(1-41)-OH (5 micrograms) or r/h CRF(6-33) (25 micrograms) did not increase emotionality. These findings replicate the dissociability of the cognition- and anxiety-related effects of CRF-related compounds and suggest that CRF fragments facilitate performance via the CRF-BP.

Urocortin, corticotropin releasing factor-2 receptors and energy balance

Although there is considerable information regarding the role of brain CRF in energy balance, relatively little is known about the role of urocortin (UCN), which is an equally potent anorexic agent. Therefore, the effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of UCN (0.01-1 nmol/day) on food intake and body weight were assessed over a period of 13 days and compared with data from CRF-infused counterparts. Although both peptides dose dependently reduced food intake and weight gain, the effects of CRF were much greater in magnitude than those of UCN, particularly on body weight. Pair-feeding studies suggested that, while the effects of CRF on body weight could not be completely explained by appetite suppression, the effects of UCN appeared to be due to its initial impact on food intake. CRF increased brown adipose fat pad and adrenal weights, whereas it reduced thymus and spleen weights. CRF also increased serum corticosterone, triglyceride, FFA, and cholesterol levels, whereas it reduced glucose. UCN did not produce any consistent changes in any of these indices of sympathetic nervous system activation. Concurrent administration of the CRF(2)-selective antagonist, antisauvagine-30 (ASV-30) (30 nmol/day) completely reversed or attenuated the effects of UCN and CRF (1 nmol/day) on food intake and body weight. ASV-30 did not significantly attenuate any of the above CRF-induced changes in tissue weights or serum chemistry. These data suggest that the central CRF(2) receptor may primarily mediate the anorexic, but not the metabolic effects of CRF.

Role of the central melanocortin system in cachexia

Individuals affected with either acute or chronic diseases often show disorders of nutrient balance. In some cases, a devastating state of malnutrition known as cachexia arises, brought about by a synergistic combination of a dramatic decrease in appetite and an increase in metabolism of fat and lean body mass. Stimulation of the hypothalamic melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4-R) produces relative anorexia and increased metabolic rate, even in a relatively starved state. Here we demonstrate that cachexia induced by lipopolysaccharide administration and by tumor growth is ameliorated by central MC4-R blockade. MC4-R knock-out mice or mice administered the MC3-R/MC4-R antagonist, agouti-related peptide, resist tumor-induced loss of lean body mass, and maintain normal circadian activity patterns during tumor growth. The final tumor mass is not affected in these animals, providing further support for the potential role of MC4-R antagonism in the treatment of cachexia in disease states.

A disease-associated cellular immune response in type 1 diabetics to an immunodominant epitope of insulin

The 9-23 amino acid region of the insulin B chain (B9-23) is a dominant epitope recognized by pathogenic T lymphocytes in nonobese diabetic mice, the animal model for type 1 diabetes. We describe herein similar (B9-23)-specific T-cell responses in peripheral lymphocytes obtained from patients with recent-onset type 1 diabetes and from prediabetic subjects at high risk for disease. Short-term T-cell lines generated from patient peripheral lymphocytes showed significant proliferative responses to (B9-23), whereas lymphocytes isolated from HLA and/or age-matched nondiabetic normal controls were unresponsive. Antibody-mediated blockade demonstrated that the response was HLA class II restricted. Use of the highly sensitive cytokine-detection ELISPOT assay revealed that these (B9-23)-specific cells were present in freshly isolated lymphocytes from only the type 1 diabetics and prediabetics and produced the proinflammatory cytokine IFN-gamma. This study is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of a cellular response to the (B9-23) insulin epitope in human type 1 diabetes and suggests that the mouse and human diseases have strikingly similar autoantigenic targets, a feature that should facilitate development of antigen-based therapeutics.

Role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors in the anorexic syndrome induced by CRF

Genetic manipulations of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)(1) and CRF(2) receptors have resulted in data suggesting that the CRF(2) receptor could mediate the effects of CRF on appetite or satiety. We have attempted to obtain pharmacological evidence for this hypothesis by comparing the ability of a high-affinity peptide, mixed CRF antagonist [cyclo 30-33,f12,L18,21E30, A32,K33]sucker fish urotensin (12-41)NH(2) [cUTSN (12-41)] with a small-molecule CRF(1)-selective antagonist, NBI-27914, and a CRF(2)-selective peptide antagonist, antisauvagine-30, to attenuate the anorexic effects of CRF. We also monitored other behaviors that accompanied CRF-induced anorexia. CRF-induced anorexia was significantly correlated with a reduction in locomotor activity and an increase in freezing behavior and piloerection. cUTSN (12-41) and antisauvagine-30 significantly attenuated the effects of CRF (0.04 nmol) on food intake along with the behavioral syndrome that accompanied anorexia. In contrast, NBI-27914 did not attenuate either of the above-mentioned CRF-induced phenomena when given centrally at doses ranging from 0.13 to 10 nmol/2.5 microl or when given orally at 20 to 40 mg/kg. Although these data support the hypothesis that the CRF(2) receptor mediates the appetite suppression induced by CRF, they also suggest that the CRF(2) receptor could mediate the stress-like behaviors that accompany CRF-induced appetite suppression.

Expression of rat insulin-like growth factor binding protein-6 in the brain, spinal cord, and sensory ganglia

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are important trophic factors during development as well as in the adult or damaged nervous system. Their trophic actions are modulated by interactions with six distinct IGF binding proteins. The mRNA expression profiles of binding proteins 2, 4 and 5 in the normal developing and adult CNS are well characterized and are shown to have distinctive, non-overlapping distributions. The IGF binding protein-6 (BP6) is also expressed in the CNS, however, details regarding its mRNA expression distribution in the developing and adult nervous system is limited. BP6 has the unique property of preferentially binding the IGF-II ligand. Coupled with the fact that this ligand is the most abundantly expressed IGF in the adult CNS, this suggests that the IGF-II/BP6 complex has a unique role in modulating IGF-II function in the adult brain. In this report the anatomical distribution of BP6 messenger RNA in the developing and adult rat nervous system is presented. In the embryonic animal the CNS expression is tightly restricted to trigeminal ganglia and, relative to the rest of the embryo, this structure has the highest expression. The expression in the forebrain and cerebellum does not occur until after postnatal day 21 and then is primarily associated with GABAergic interneurons. The highest levels of expression in the adult animal are in the hindbrain, spinal cord, cranial ganglia, and dorsal root ganglia. These nuclei in the hindbrain and periphery that express BP6 are all associated with the coordination of sensorimotor function in the cerebellum, which indicates an important role for the BP6/IGF-II complex in the function and maintenance of these systems.

Selective impairment of corticotropin-releasing factor1 (CRF1) receptor-mediated function using CRF coupled to saporin

CRF is the main component in the brain neuropeptide effector system responsible for the behavioral, endocrine, and physiological activation that accompanies stress activation. Reduced CRF system activation plays a role in the etiology of a variety of psychiatric and metabolic disease states. We have developed a novel protein conjugate that joins native rat/human CRF to a ribosome-inactivating protein, saporin (CRF-SAP), for the purpose of targeted inactivation of CRF receptor-expressing cells. Cytotoxicity measurements revealed that CRF-SAP (1-100 nM) produced concentration-dependent and progressive cell death over time in CRF1 receptor-transfected L cells, but at similar concentrations had no effect on CRF2alpha receptor-transfected cells. The CRF-SAP-induced toxicity in CRF1-transfected cells was prevented by coincubation with the competitive CRF1/CRF2 receptor peptide antagonist, [D-Phe12]CRF-(12-41), or the selective nonpeptide CRF1 receptor antagonist, NBI 27914. Finally, in cultured rat pituitary cells that express native CRF1 receptors, CRF-SAP suppressed CRF-induced (1 nM) ACTH release. GnRH (1-10 nM) stimulated LH release was also assessed in the same pituitary cultures. Although there was a slight decrease in LH release from these cultures, this decrease was observed with CRF-SAP or SAP alone, suggesting that the response was nonspecific. Taken together, these results suggest the utility of CRF-SAP as a specific and subtype-selective tool for long term impairment of CRF1 receptor-expressing cells.

Contribution of individual amino acids within MHC molecule or antigenic peptide to TCR ligand potency

The TCR recognition of peptides bound to MHC class II molecules is highly flexible in some T cells. Although progress has been made in understanding the interactions within the trimolecular complex, to what extent the individual components and their amino acid composition contribute to ligand recognition by individual T cells is not completely understood. We investigated how single amino acid residues influence Ag recognition of T cells by combining several experimental approaches. We defined TCR motifs for CD4+ T cells using peptide synthetic combinatorial libraries in the positional scanning format (PS-SCL) and single amino acid-modified peptide analogues. The similarity of the TCR motifs defined by both methods and the identification of stimulatory antigenic peptides by the PS-SCL approach argue for a contribution of each amino acid residue to the overall potency of the antigenic peptide ligand. In some instances, however, motifs are formed by adjacent amino acids, and their combined influence is superimposed on the overall contribution of each amino acid within the peptide epitope. In contrast to the flexibility of the TCR to interact with different peptides, recognition was very sensitive toward modifications of the MHC-restriction element. Exchanges of just one amino acid of the MHC molecule drastically reduced the number of peptides recognized. The results indicate that a specific MHC molecule not only selects certain peptides, but also is crucial for setting an affinity threshold for TCR recognition, which determines the flexibility in peptide recognition for a given TCR.

Nephroblastoma overexpressed gene (NOV) codes for a growth factor that induces protein tyrosine phosphorylation

NOV (nephroblastoma overexpressed gene) is a member of the CCN (connective tissue growth factor [CTGF], Cyr61/Cef10, NOV) family of proteins. These proteins are cysteine-rich and are noted for having growth-regulatory functions. We have isolated the rat NOV gene, and the DNA sequence shares 90% identity with the mouse and 80% identity with the human sequences. The rat NOV gene was expressed in all rat tissues examined, including brain, lung, heart, kidney, liver, spleen, thymus and skeletal muscle. Higher levels of rat NOV mRNA were seen in the brain, lung and skeletal muscle compared to the other tissues. Examination of NOV expression in various human cell lines revealed that NOV was expressed in U87, 293, T98G, SK-N-MC and Hs683 but not in HepG2, HL60, THP1 and Jurkat. The human NOV gene was transfected into 293 cells and the expressed protein purified. When 3T3 fibroblasts were treated with this recombinant NOV protein, a dose-dependent increase in proliferation was observed. Analysis of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins revealed that when 3T3 cells were treated with NOV, a 221 kDa protein was phosphorylated. These data suggest that NOV can act as a growth factor for some cells and binds to a specific receptor that leads to the phosphorylation of a 221 kDa protein.

Measuring the power-law exponent of an atmospheric turbulence phase power spectrum with a Shack Hartmann wave-front sensor

For non-Kolmogorov turbulence we develop a differential angle-of-arrival fluctuation coefficient, which is the ratio between the transverse and longitudinal differential angle-of-arrival variances, and a slope structure-correlation coefficient, which is the ratio between the transverse and longitudinal differences of the slope correlation function and the slope structure function, to measure the power-law exponent of a phase power spectrum with a Shack-Hartmann wave-front sensor: The differential arrival-of-angle fluctuation coefficient and the slope structure-correlation coefficient are both related to power-law exponent beta and are independent of strength parameter rho(0) of the turbulence. We compare the methods developed and use them to evaluate beta in recently completed horizontal atmospheric experiments for 1000-m laser beam propagation.

Differential distribution of urocortin- and corticotropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactivities in the rat brain

Urocortin, a novel 40 amino acid neuropeptide, is a member of the corticotropin-releasing factor family. With 45% homology to corticotropin-releasing factor, urocortin binds with similar affinity to the corticotropin-releasing factor- and corticotropin-releasing factor-2 receptors and may play a role in modulating many of the same systems as corticotropin-releasing factor. To assess whether urocortin and corticotropin-releasing factor are localized in the same regions of the brain, we compared the distribution of urocortin- and corticotropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactivities in the rat central nervous system. Polyclonal antibodies to rat corticotropin-releasing factor and rat urocortin were generated and utilized to map the distribution of corticotropin-releasing factor- and urocortin-like immunoreactivities throughout the rat forebrain and brainstem. Characterization of the antibodies by radioimmunoassay showed no cross-reactivity with related peptides. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with colchicine for 18-24 h. Following colchicine treatment, the rats were perfused with paraformaldehyde-lysine-periodate fixative and their brains removed. Serial coronal sections were taken throughout the rat brain and processed for either corticotropin-releasing factor- or urocortin-like immunoreactivity. Urocortin-like immunoreactivity shows a discrete localization within several regions including the supraoptic nucleus, the median eminence, Edinger-Westphal nucleus and the sphenoid nucleus. This is in contrast to the more abundant corticotropin-releasing factor-like immunoreactivity. Regions containing high levels of corticotropin-releasing factor immunoreactivity include the lateral septum, paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, median eminence and locus coeruleus. There are a few regions that contain both urocortin-immunoreactive and corticotropin-releasing factor-immunoreactive cells, such as the supraoptic nucleus and the hippocampus. Therefore, urocortin and corticotropin-releasing factor appear to have different distribution patterns which may be indicative of their respective physiological functions.

Genetic variation, population structure and cryptic species within the black mudfish, Neochanna diversus, an endemic galaxiid from New Zealand

To investigate the phylogenetic relationships and geographical structure among landlocked populations of the black mudfish, Neochanna diversus, mitochondrial DNA nucleotide sequence data were sampled from seven populations from the Waikato and Northland regions of New Zealand. The complete D-loop region was sequenced from 70 individuals, with 913 bp from the tRNA-pro end used in population and phylogenetic analysis. A tandem repeat array, which ranged in size up to 200 bp, was found in most populations at the 3' end of the D-loop that was not able to be aligned for analysis. Of the seven sites sampled, two from Northland exhibited significant sequence divergence from all other sites. There was also a clear distinction among remaining Northland sites and those from the Waikato. An additional 518 bp segment of the 16S region was sequenced from all sites and compared with the other New Zealand mudfish species, N. apoda, N. burrowsius and the Tasmanian mudfish Galaxias (Neochanna) cleaveri using Galaxias maculatus as an outgroup. Both D-loop and 16S sequence data provided strong evidence for a cryptic species of mudfish present in Northland. The significant genetic structure apparent in the black mudfish appears most probably to be attributed to geological conditions during the Pliocene, where peat wetlands became apparent in the Waikato while Northland consisted of disjunct 'islands'. Conservation and management of these populations must take into account the historical processes that have shaped these patterns of genetic diversity.

Characterization of [125I-Tyr0]-corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) binding to the CRF binding protein using a scintillation proximity assay

We describe the characterization of high affinity [125I-Tyr0]-human CRF binding to purified recombinant human CRF-binding protein (CRF-BP) using a scintillation proximity assay (SPA). For this stable nonseparation technique developed in 96 well microtiter plates, biotinylated CRF-BP is captured by streptavidin-coated SPA beads for the detection of bound [125I-Tyr0]-CRF. Unbound [125I-Tyr0]-CRF represented little or no signal in the assay. Total binding observed was greater than 5000 cpm with a nonspecific signal of < 100 cpm determined in the presence of excess unlabeled human CRF. A comparison of the SPA method with a charcoal precipitation method confirmed that the biotinylation procedure did not adversely affect affinity of the CRF-BP for [125I-Tyr0]-CRF. Saturation binding analysis yielded an apparent equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of 208 +/- 5.0 pM (+/- S.D., n = 3). An inhibition constant (Ki) for unlabeled CRF was calculated to be 0.22 +/- 0.03 nM (+/- S.D., n = 8) and a pharmacological profile for eight CRF-related neuropeptides gave a rank potency similar to previously reported results. Finally, the assay variability was assessed with intra- and inter-plate coefficients of variation which were less than 5% each.

Interferon beta 1-b in verbal memory functioning of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

The effects of interferon Beta 1-b (Betaseron) on verbal memory functioning was examined in 167 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and 112 matched normal controls. Subjects were administered 10 verbal memory tests from the Memory Assessment Scales and the Verbal subtests from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Analysis showed subjects treated with Betaseron (n = 73) did not perform significantly better on measures of verbal memory or verbal ability than subjects not receiving the drug (n = 94), although the mean performance of treated subjects was higher across all verbal memory tests. Both groups of patients performed significantly worse on verbal memory subtests measuring list acquisition, delayed list recall, delayed cued recall, and the immediate and delayed recall of names and faces than control subjects. Although patients had lower performance scores across all memory tests than the control subjects, their scores were not within the impaired range. These results do not permit a clear conclusion about the effects of Betaseron on verbal memory for any effect is probably obscured by the relatively preserved cognitive functioning of this outpatient sample.

Short peptide-based tolerogens without self-antigenic or pathogenic activity reverse autoimmune disease

An immunodominant epitope of myelin basic protein (MBP), VHFFKNIVTPRTP (p87-99), is a major target of T cells in brain lesions of multiple sclerosis (MS), and this peptide can trigger experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We designed truncated peptides based on this pathogenic 13-mer that are not antigenic. These short peptides reduced production of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in vivo. Moreover, paraplegic rats given the 7-mer FKNIVTP in soluble form showed total reversal of paralysis in 24 h. Truncated peptides that are too small to stimulate antigenic responses to pathogenic regions of myelin basic protein are nevertheless effective tolerogens and are able to anergize autoreactive T cells. Short peptide-based tolerogens, devoid of immunogenic and pathogenic potential, may be attractive for therapy of autoimmune diseases.

Predictable TCR antigen recognition based on peptide scans leads to the identification of agonist ligands with no sequence homology

The potential of CD4+ T cells for cross-recognition of self and foreign Ags has important implications for the understanding of thymic selection, lymphocyte survival, and the occurrence of autoimmune diseases. Here, we define the extensive flexibility of Ag recognition for three human CD4+ autoreactive T cell clones (TCC) by using ligands with single and multiple amino acid (aa) substitutions. Our results demonstrate that the spectrum of tolerated ligands and the resulting stimulatory potency of peptides for a TCC can be predicted by the relative influence of each aa. Using this approach, we have identified stimulatory ligands not sharing a single aa in corresponding positions with the Ag used to establish the TCC. These results argue for an independent contribution of each aa in the peptide sequence to the affinity of the MHC/peptide complex to the TCR.

Displacement of insulin-like growth factors from their binding proteins as a potential treatment for stroke

Insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and IGF-II) play an important role in normal growth and brain development and protect brain cells from several forms of injury. The effects of IGFs are mediated by type-I and type-II receptors and modulated by potentially six specific binding proteins that form high-affinity complexes with IGFs in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and under most circumstances inactivate them. Because brain injury is commonly associated with increases in IGFs and their associated binding proteins, we hypothesized that displacement of this large "pool" of endogenous IGF from the binding proteins would elevate "free" IGF levels to elicit neuroprotective effects comparable to those produced by administration of exogenous IGF. A human IGF-I analog [(Leu24, 59, 60, Ala31)hIGF-I] with high affinity to IGF-binding proteins (Ki = 0.3-3.9 nM) and no biological activity at the IGF receptors (Ki = >10,000 nM) increased the levels of "free, bioavailable" IGF-I in the CSF. Intracerebroventricular administration of this analog up to 1h after an ischemic insult to the rat brain had a potent neuroprotective action comparable to IGF-I. This novel strategy for increasing "free" IGF levels in the brain may be useful for the treatment of stroke and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Systemic therapy with 3BIT, a triple combination cocktail of anti-CD19, -CD22, and -CD38-saporin immunotoxins, is curative of human B-cell lymphoma in severe combined immunodeficient mice

We demonstrate in these preclinical studies that all severe combined immunodeficient mice injected with the human B-cell lymphoma cell line Ramos are cured when treated with a combination of anti-CD19, -CD22, and -CD38-saporin immunotoxins (ITs; termed 3BIT). Each component IT used individually did not cure the majority of animals but did significantly prolong their survival compared with PBS sham-treated controls, although the majority succumbed eventually to disease. The very significant improvement obtained with the three-IT combination 3BIT was not due to an antibody or antibody-plus-IT effect. We postulate that by targeting against these three cell surface molecules, we have effectively ensured delivery of saporin to each lymphoma cell with growth potential within the tumor, thus overcoming the problems of heterogeneity of target antigen expression that can limit the therapeutic efficacy of single-IT therapy or even two-IT combination therapy. These "proof of principle" findings have an obvious important bearing on antibody-based therapies for cancer and provide the rationale needed for the design and implementation of clinical trials with such combinations.

Human T-cell response to myelin basic protein peptide (83-99): extensive heterogeneity in antigen recognition, function, and phenotype

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease, and myelin proteins are the most likely candidate autoantigens. Based on experiments performed in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), innovative immunotherapies have been developed that target either the specific trimolecular complex of encephalitogenic T cells, consisting of T-cell receptor (TCR), major histocompatibility complex (MHC; HLA in humans) class II molecule, and autoantigenic peptide, or the effector functions of these cells. To provide the basis for the transfer of these specific immunotherapies to MS, we extensively characterized the human T-cell response to one major myelin epitope, the myelin basic protein peptide (83-99). We analyzed restriction element, TCR usage and affinity, fine specificity, cytokine production, cytolytic activity, and expression of surface molecules on 41 T-cell clones (TCCs) derived from MS patients and normal controls. We demonstrate a high degree of complexity of recognition patterns as well as of functional phenotypes among T cells responding to the same epitope. In contrast to results from animal models, these findings indicate that the design of epitope-based specific immunotherapies for MS is more difficult than previously thought.

Expression and characterization of a putative high affinity human soluble leptin receptor

Leptin, a circulating 16-kDa protein secreted by adipocytes, decreases body weight by reducing food intake and enhancing energy utilization. Leptin receptors that share homology to the glycoprotein gp130 have been recently cloned. In addition, differentially spliced leptin receptor messenger RNAs have been identified. Functional mutations in either the leptin or leptin receptor gene cause obesity. In the present study, expression of the full length human leptin receptor complementary DNA encoding the long cytoplasmic domain of leptin receptor in COS7 cells resulted in high affinity membrane binding of 125I-leptin (Ki approximately 200 pM); no detectable binding was present in the medium. In addition, we expressed the extracellular domain of human leptin receptor in COS7 cells and identified a soluble leptin receptor in the conditioned medium that binds human and mouse leptin with high affinity comparable with the full length membrane receptor. Transfected COS7 cells expressing the soluble leptin receptor also demonstrated modest specific 125I-leptin binding in whole cells, presumably due to association of the soluble leptin receptor to cell membrane proteins. Data from cross-linking studies identified two specific bands in the 125I-leptin/soluble leptin receptor complex with molecular masses of approximately 130-150 kDa and 300 kDa. The 130-150 kDa molecular mass was confirmed in Western blot analysis and Coomassie staining of the purified soluble receptor and probably represents the glycosylated form of the receptor. The 300-kDa band most likely represents a homodimer of the soluble leptin receptor complex because HPLC gel filtration analysis of the 125I-leptin/soluble leptin receptor complex identified a single peak corresponding to a molecular mass of approximately 340 kDa. The soluble leptin receptor antagonized 125I-leptin binding to the membrane receptor, suggesting its potential utility as a functional tool for determining the role of endogenous leptin.

Stress and autoimmunity: the neuropeptides corticotropin-releasing factor and urocortin suppress encephalomyelitis via effects on both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the immune system

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) exerts a major role in the stress response. Both CRF and urocortin, a newly discovered neuropeptide homologous to CRF, suppressed experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Suppression of paralysis with CRF involved stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and inhibitory effects on an encephalitogenic T cell line. While CRF increased glucocorticoid production, which is known to block EAE, it also suppressed EAE in adrenalectomized rats, where glucocorticoid stimulation via CRF plays no role. Moreover, the encephalitogenicity of a T cell line exposed to CRF in vitro was reduced. Stress may influence autoimmune disease through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and directly via the immune system.

Stress and autoimmunity: the neuropeptides corticotropin-releasing factor and urocortin suppress encephalomyelitis via effects on both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the immune system

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) exerts a major role in the stress response. Both CRF and urocortin, a newly discovered neuropeptide homologous to CRF, suppressed experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Suppression of paralysis with CRF involved stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and inhibitory effects on an encephalitogenic T cell line. While CRF increased glucocorticoid production, which is known to block EAE, it also suppressed EAE in adrenalectomized rats, where glucocorticoid stimulation via CRF plays no role. Moreover, the encephalitogenicity of a T cell line exposed to CRF in vitro was reduced. Stress may influence autoimmune disease through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and directly via the immune system.

[Studies on chemical constituents of Polygala arillata buch-ham]

Two new compounds were isolated from the roots of Polygala arillata Buch-Ham. On the basis of chemical reactions and spectral (UV, IR, MS, 1HNMR, DIFNOE, 13CNMR) analysis, they were identified as 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone(I) and 7-hydroxy-1-methoxy-2,3-methylenedioxyxanthone(II). Pharmacological study indicated that I and II have inhibitory effect on aldose reductase activity.