Effects of rectal administration of taurocholic acid on glucagon-like peptide-1 and peptide YY secretion in healthy humans

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY), secreted by enteroendocrine L-cells located most densely in the colon and rectum, are of fundamental importance in blood glucose and appetite regulation. In animal models, colonic administration of bile acids can stimulate GLP-1 and PYY by TGR5 receptor activation. We evaluated the effects of taurocholic acid (TCA), administered as an enema, on plasma GLP-1 and PYY, as well as gastrointestinal sensations in 10 healthy male subjects, and observed that rectal administration of TCA promptly stimulated secretion of both GLP-1 and PYY, and increased fullness, in a dose-dependent manner. These observations confirm that topical application of bile acids to the distal gut may have potential for the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Corneal graft rejection occurs despite Fas ligand expression and apoptosis of infiltrating cells

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Constitutive expression of Fas ligand (CD95L) protects the eye against cell mediated immune responses by inducing apoptosis in infiltrating Fas bearing T cells. This study was designed to examine Fas ligand expression on acutely rejecting rat corneal grafts and to investigate the kinetics of induction of apoptosis in infiltrating leucocytes.

METHODS

Orthotopic penetrating corneal transplantation was performed between genetically disparate inbred rats. Fas ligand expression and the phenotype of infiltrating leucocytes were examined by immunohistochemistry. Apoptotic nuclei were visualised in sections of normal rat cornea, rejecting allografts, and time matched isografts by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) and quantified by video image analysis. Staining with Hoechst dye 33258 was used to confirm the presence of apoptotic nuclei.

RESULTS

Fas ligand was expressed on corneal endothelial and epithelial cells during acute corneal graft rejection. At all time points examined, including as early as the fifth postoperative day, the cells infiltrating both corneal isografts and allografts were TUNEL positive. By the 15th postoperative day, over 90% of all nuclei, many of which were T cells, were apoptotic.

CONCLUSION

Expression of Fas ligand is not downregulated on the cornea during allograft rejection and infiltrating leucocytes in both isografts and allografts die rapidly in situ. Despite the death of the cells believed to be responsible for rejection, isografts survive indefinitely whereas allografts are irreparably damaged.

Topically applied antibody fragments penetrate into the back of the rabbit eye

AIMS

Antibody fragments have been shown to penetrate into the anterior chamber when applied to the cornea. The aim of this study was to investigate whether such fragments could penetrate into the vitreous cavity after topical administration to the ocular surface of rabbits.

METHODS

An engineered single-chain variable-domain antibody fragment with specificity for an irrelevant rat determinant was applied as a 50 microl eye drop to the eyes of live rabbits at 20-min intervals over 12 h. Eye drops contained 0.8-1.1 mg/ml protein in a buffered salt solution supplemented with penetration and viscosity enhancers. Samples were collected by paracentesis from the vitreous cavity immediately postmortem. Antibody fragments in these samples were quantified by measuring the binding activity to specific antigen, using flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Topically applied antibody fragments were detectable in the vitreous of rabbit eyes after 4-12 h but had cleared at 12 h following the final eye drop. Concentrations of the antibody fragment in the vitreous samples were estimated to be 50-150 ng/ml at 12 h. Penetration of the parental whole antibody into the vitreous was not observed.

CONCLUSION

Antibody fragments penetrate into the vitreous chamber of the rabbit eye after topical administration to the ocular surface. Such fragments may have therapeutic potential for diseases affecting the posterior segment.

Penetration of engineered antibody fragments into the eye

Antibodies are powerful immunotherapeutic agents but their use for treating ocular disorders is limited by their poor penetration into the eye. We hypothesized that antibody fragments of relatively small size might penetrate the cornea more readily. Monovalent single chain variable region (scFv) antibody fragments and divalent miniantibodies were engineered from existing monoclonal antibodies, expressed in a bacterial expression system, and purified by metal ion affinity chromatography. Corneoscleral preparations from normal pig and cat eyes were mounted in a corneal perfusion chamber. Intact antibodies and antibody fragments were applied topically to the anterior corneal surface over 12-h periods, and samples were collected from the artificial anterior chamber. Similar experiments were performed with whole enucleated pig and human eyes. Penetration of antibodies and fragments was quantified by high-sensitivity flow cytometry on appropriate target cells. Both monovalent scFv and divalent miniantibody fragments (but not whole immunoglobulin molecules) passed through de-epithelialized and intact corneas after topical administration, and could be detected by antigen binding. Addition of 0.5% sodium caprate facilitated penetration through intact corneas. Topically-applied scFv was found to penetrate into the anterior chamber fluid of rabbit eyes in vivo. The engineered fragments were stable and resistant to ocular proteases. Monovalent and divalent antibody constructs of molecular weight 28 kD and 67 kD, respectively, can penetrate through intact corneas into the anterior chamber, with retention of appropriate antigen-binding activity. Such constructs may form novel therapeutic agents for topical ophthalmic use.

Apoptosis is a prominent feature of acute anterior uveitis in the Fischer 344 rat

AIMS

To examine the hypothesis that apoptosis of infiltrating cells contributes to spontaneous resolution of uveitis in clinically relevant rodent models.

METHODS

Experimental melanin induced uveitis (EMIU) was induced in Fischer 344 rats by immunisation with 250 microg bovine ocular melanin. Endotoxin induced uveitis (EIU) was induced by injection of 200 microg Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. Formalin fixed, paraffin embedded ocular cross sections were stained by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) to identify apoptotic cells. Indirect immunoperoxidase staining of paraformaldehyde lysine periodate fixed tissue cross sections was used to demonstrate expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).

RESULTS

TUNEL positive mononuclear cells were observed in the anterior uvea during both EMIU and EIU at all selected time points. However, whereas the majority of mononuclear cells appeared apoptotic from the outset of disease, neutrophils were notably TUNEL negative at all time points examined. Many infiltrating neutrophils expressed iNOS.

CONCLUSION

Apoptosis occurs early in the course of rat EMIU and EIU, and may contribute to resolution of these diseases. In general, infiltrating mononuclear cells die rapidly, while neutrophils survive, producing inducible nitric oxide synthase which may contribute to disease pathogenesis.

A new model of orthotopic penetrating corneal transplantation in the sheep: graft survival, phenotypes of graft-infiltrating cells and local cytokine production

BACKGROUND

Orthotopic penetrating keratoplasty in the sheep was developed as an outbred preclinical model to allow correlation of the cellular infiltrate during graft rejection with local production of cytokine mRNA.

METHODS

Penetrating corneal autografts and allografts were performed in Merino sheep. Graft outcome was followed at the slit-lamp. Corneal infiltrates were examined by immunoperoxidase staining on postmortem specimens. Cytokine mRNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Corneal autografts survived indefinitely. Allografts became vascularized and underwent rejection at a median of 20 days postgraft. Both endothelial and epithelial rejection lines were observed. Immunohistochemical staining of rejecting grafts showed up-regulation of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules on corneal graft epithelium, damaged or absent graft endothelium and a marked, predominantly mononuclear cell infiltrate. CD4-positive T cells were observed in the graft within 2 days of the onset of rejection, followed several days later by CD8-positive T cells. Messenger RNA transcripts for interleukin (IL)-2, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and IL-10 (but not for interferon (IFN)-gamma or IL-4) were found in autografted corneas. Proportionately, more allografts than autografts contained transcripts for IL-2 and TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma was detected in three of four allografts.

CONCLUSIONS

Corneal graft rejection in the sheep is macroscopically and histologically similar to human corneal graft rejection. Allografts become infiltrated by both CD4- and CD8-positive T cells and local production of pro-inflammatory cytokines occurs during graft rejection.

Experimental melanin-induced uveitis in the Fischer 344 rat is inhibited by anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody, but not by mannose-6-phosphate

Experimental melanin-induced uveitis (EMIU) is a rodent model of acute anterior uveitis which was described in 1993. We investigated strain susceptibility, and age and gender characteristics of the model, undertook histological and immunohistochemical studies to investigate underlying cellular mechanisms, and examined several treatment options. Rats were immunized with bovine ocular melanin (250 microg), and disease was followed by slit lamp examination. Lewis, Fischer 344 and Porton rats were found to be susceptible to EMIU, whereas Wistar-Furth, DA, and Hooded Wistar strains were resistant. EMIU was neither age- nor gender-dependent. In Fischer 344 rats, EMIU was characterized clinically by florid anterior segment inflammation. Histopathological findings included infiltration of ciliary body and iris with mononuclear cells and neutrophils. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were prominent. Rats were then treated with intraperitoneal injections of anti-CD4, anti-CD8 or irrelevant isotype-matched MoAb on days -3, 0, 3, 6 and 9 with respect to melanin immunization. Incidence of uveitis was significantly reduced in rats treated with a non-depleting cocktail of anti-CD4 MoAbs (P = 0.007), whereas a depleting anti-CD8 antibody had no effect on the disease. Mannose-6-phosphate inhibits lymphocyte migration in some models of T cell-mediated inflammation. This simple sugar was administered to additional rats via intraperitoneal osmotic pumps for 14 days following disease induction, but did not influence the uveitis. We conclude that EMIU is controlled by CD4+ T cells, and disease may be abrogated by treatment with anti-CD4 MoAbs.

Experimental orthotopic corneal xenotransplantation in the rat. Mechanisms of graft rejection

Orthotopic penetrating guinea pig to rat and chicken to rat corneal xenografts were performed to examine the nature of the host response. Guinea pig to rat xenografts failed at a median of day 3 after surgery. A similar but slightly accelerated pattern of failure was seen in guinea pig xenografts performed in prevascularized recipient rat corneas. Chicken to rat xenografts failed at a median of day 2 after grafting. Rat corneal isograft controls survived indefinitely. Corneal endothelial cells were visible by silver staining on the xenografts immediately after operation, which indicates that failure was not due to loss of these cells during surgery. Histopathology and immunoperoxidase staining indicated that xenograft failure in euthymic recipients was characterized by early corneal epithelial and endothelial cell damage, granulocytic infiltration, and hemorrhage from recipient corneal and iris capillaries, followed at 7-14 days by infiltration with T cells, macrophages, and eosinophils. An accelerated pattern of graft failure was also observed in guinea pig grafts into homozygous nude rat recipients, which suggests that preformed anti-donor antibody and complement were responsible for some of the early graft damage. Flow cytometry demonstrated the presence of pre-existing natural antibodies to guinea pig and chicken lymphocytes and erythrocytes, as expected from other studies. Immunohistochemistry showed the presence of rat IgG2a, IgG1, and IgM, but not IgD deposited on grafts in immunocompetent recipients on the first postoperative day. We conclude that orthotopic corneal xenografts undergo substantial accelerated damage mediated by pre-existing antibody, followed at 7-14 days by a cell-mediated response that causes further destruction.

Patterns of corneal graft rejection in the rabbit and reversal of rejection with monoclonal antibodies

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the local administration of monoclonal antibodies could reverse rabbit corneal graft rejection. To provide a rational basis for the choice of monoclonal antibodies as potential immunosuppressive agents, the phenotypes of cells infiltrating rejecting rabbit corneal allografts were examined by immunohistochemistry. About half the leukocytes accumulating in these grafts bore an immunodominant T cell marker, over two-thirds carried MHC class II antigens, and about one-fifth carried myeloid cell markers. A kinetic study of the cell population appearing in rabbit aqueous during corneal graft rejection was performed by examination of repetitive anterior chamber taps taken over a ten-day period; again, the major components were T cells, MHC class II antigen-positive cells and myeloid cells. Monoclonal antibodies L11/135 (directed against a peripheral T cell determinant), 2C4 (directed against a monomorphic MHC class II antigen), and LION 2 (directed against a myeloid antigen) were chosen for intracameral injection into rabbits with rejecting corneal grafts. Each animal received a total of 50-100 micrograms of antibody in two injections at 3-4-day intervals. L11/135 and LION 2 reversed rejection in 5/9 and 8/12 animals, respectively, in the absence of any other immunosuppression; 2C4 was without effect. We suggest that monoclonal antibody therapy in corneal transplantation deserves further attention.