High frequency of cancer patients with abnormal assembly of the T cell receptor-CD3 complex in peripheral blood T lymphocytes

Structural abnormality of T cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 complex on the cell surface was investigated in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from 55 cancer patients. In 24 of the 68 tests done on these patients, the CD3 zeta chain was not detected by immunoprecipitation with anti-CD3 epsilon monoclonal antibody (mAb), but was observed with anti-CD3 zeta mAb, suggesting that a high frequency of cancer patients possesses abnormal T cell receptor (TCR) complex in PBL. On the other hand, the total zeta chain was missing in several advanced cases. During follow-up of several patients, the zeta chain became undetectable after two or three months of cancer progression. It appears that immunosuppressive status can be monitored by analyzing the TCR-CD3 complex on the cell surface of PBL.

Affinity binding of hamster oviductin to spermatozoa and its influence on in vitro fertilization

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of hamster oviductal glycoprotein (oviductin) on in vitro gamete interaction. Oviductin was purified from the oviducts using lithium 3,5-diiodosalicylate, followed by phenol extraction. Immunocytochemistry using indirect fluorescence staining revealed that oviductin binds to the sperm anterior acrosomal region. The specific binding of oviductin resulted in inhibition of in vitro fertilization in studies using cumulus-free oocytes. The inhibitory effect was dependent on the concentration of oviductin and occurred in both ovarian and oviductal oocytes but not zona-free oocytes, indicating that sperm-zona interaction was interferred by oviduction. However, the inhibitory effect of oviductin in sperm-zona interaction was reduced when cumulus-enclosed oocytes from ovaries and oviducts were used, indicating that the egg investment including cumulus oophorus has some effect on oviductin-sperm complex and maintaining the fertilizing ability.

Guinea pigs prepared with various bacteria and their components to induce a necrotic reaction provoked with muramyldipeptide

Guinea pigs were given a preparatory injection of heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a water-in-mineral oil emulsion into the footpads. A provocative injection of muramyldipeptide given 3-8 weeks later into the flanks, caused severe inflammation, with hemorrhage and necrosis and necrosis at the footpads. In this study, we determined the features of the preparatory injection required to prepare the necrotic reaction. Most mycobacteria-related and Gram-negative bacteria were capable of preparing guinea pigs for the necrotic reaction upon provocative injection with muramyldipeptide, whereas Gram-positive bacteria did not. Boivin- and Morrison-type lipopolysaccharides, which have a high content of bacterial protein, induced the susceptibility, whereas Westphal-type lipopolysaccharide, which has a low level of the protein, did not. Moreover, the latter adjuvant-active lipopolysaccharide and muramyldipeptide together with ovalbumin also exerted the activity. The development of delayed-type hypersensitivity to the protein antigen seemed to be important for inducing the necrotic reaction. Mice, rats, rabbits and monkeys were injected in the same way as the guinea pigs. The necrotic reaction occurred in the flanks of the monkeys, but not in the other animals. A similar necrotic reaction also occurred in the flanks of guinea pigs given live BCG cells in phosphate-buffered saline as well as the heat-killed M. tuberculosis in water-in-mineral oil emulsion upon provocative injection with muramyldipeptide. These findings suggested that the induction is associated with the development of delayed-type hypersensitivity to the protein antigen administered in the preparatory injection [corrected].

Studies on rehmanniae radix. I. Effect of 50% ethanolic extract from steamed and dried rehmanniae radix on hemorheology in arthritic and thrombosic rats

Effects of 50% ethanolic extract (JR-ext) from Chinese Rehmanniae Radix (the steamed and dried root of Rehmannia glutinosa, "Jyuku-Jio" in Japanese) on the hemorheology of inflammatory, thrombosic and intact animals were examined in the in vivo models. JR-ext (200 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited the reduction of fibrinolytic activity and erythrocyte deformability, the decrease in erythrocyte counts and the increase in connective tissue of the thoracic artery in a chronic inflammatory model, adjuvant-induced arthritis. However, JR-ext was ineffective on the development of edema in the arthritic rats and on acute and chronic inflammation. JR-ext inhibited the reduction of erythrocyte deformability, but not the decrease of coagulative factors in a thrombosic model, endotoxin-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). JR-ext also showed a promoting effect on erythrocyte deformability and fibrinolytic activity in intact rats. These results suggest that orally administered JR-ext can prevent an inducement of impediment in the peripheral microcirculation of various chronic diseases through the improvement of hemorheology.

Replacement of both tryptophan residues at 388 and 412 completely abolished cytochalasin B photolabelling of the GLUT1 glucose transporter

A mutated GLUT1 glucose transporter, a Trp-388, 412 mutant whose tryptophans 388 and 412 were both replaced by leucines, was constructed by site-directed mutagenesis and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Glucose transport activity was decreased to approx. 30% in the Trp-388, 412 mutant compared with that in the wild type, a similar decrease in transport activity had been observed previously in the Trp-388 mutant and the Trp-412 mutant which had leucine at 388 and 412 respectively. Cytochalasin B labelling of the Trp-388 mutant was only decreased rather than abolished, a result similar to that obtained previously for the Trp-412 mutant. Cytochalasin B labelling was finally abolished completely in the Trp-388, 412 mutant, while cytochalasin B binding to this mutant was decreased to approx. 30% of that of the wild-type GLUT1 at the concentration used for photolabelling. This level of binding is thought to be adequate to detect labelling, assuming that the labelling efficiency of these transporters is similar. These findings suggest that cytochalasin B binds to the transmembrane domain of the glucose transporter in the vicinity of helix 10-11, and is inserted covalently by photoactivation at either the 388 or the 412 site.

The C-terminus of the prostaglandin-E-receptor EP3 subtype is essential for activation of GTP-binding protein

Three isoforms of the mouse prostaglandin-E-receptor EP3 subtype (EP3), EP3 alpha, EP3 beta and EP3 gamma, with different C-termini, which are produced through alternative splicing, showed different efficiencies with respect to heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein activation and adenylate cyclase inhibition [Sugimoto, Y., Negishi, M., Hayashi, Y., Namba, T., Honda, A., Watabe, A., Hirata, M., Narumiya, S. & Ichikawa, A. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 2712-2718; Irie, A., Sugimoto, Y., Namba, T., Harazono, A., Honda, A., Watabe, A., Negishi, M., Narumiya, S. & Ichikawa, A. (1993) Eur. J. Biochem. 217, 313-318]. To assess the role of the C-terminus in GTP-binding protein coupling, we truncated the C-terminus of EP3 at an alternative splicing site and expressed the mutant receptor. The truncated receptor retained the ability to physically associate with Gi2, forming an agonist/receptor/Gi2 ternary complex, and to undergo the characteristic conversion of its agonist-binding affinity, mediated by a guanine nucleotide from a low-affinity state to a high-affinity state. However, sulprostone, an EP3 agonist, failed not only to inhibit the forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation in the mutant receptor-expressing cells but also to stimulate the GTPase activity in the mutant receptor-expressing cell membrane. These results indicated that the C-terminus of EP3 is essential for the activation of GTP-binding protein.

A girl having congenital chloride diarrhea treated with spironolactone for seven years

We report on a girl having congenital chloride diarrhea (CCD) who has been followed for 7 years and 6 months sequentially. Dilated intestinal loops, marked enlargement of the abdominal circumference of the fetus and hydramnios were noted by ultrasound examination at 31 weeks of gestation. After delivery by cesarean section for hydramnios, she excreted profuse watery yellow green stools with marked abdominal distension. At 4 months of age, hypochloremia, hyponatremia and a high concentration of chloride in the stool were identified. She was diagnosed as having CCD. Because it was difficult to administer a large volume of potassium chloride (KCl), and sodium chloride (NaCl), we decided to administer spironolactone. After administration of spironolactone, we could generate correct serum electrolytes using less amounts of KCl. At 7 years and 6 months of age, her body size was within normal limits and her intellectual, mental and physical development had been normal. In spite of normal serum electrolytes, blood pH and the presence of chloriduria, secondary hyperaldosteronism was noted. We consider that spironolactone may be useful to decrease the amount of KCl administration in the neonatal period, but frequent measurements of renin, angiotensin and aldosterone would be necessary for adequate control in CCD cases.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide released by acetylcholine in the dog ileum

Release of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in response to acetylcholine (ACh) was characterized in the dog ileum using cholinergic antagonists. In blood-perfused ileum, ACh (2-200 nmol/min) produced a dose-dependent increase in venous VIP output, which was slightly reduced by hexamethonium (10 nmol/min) and blocked by hexamethonium and atropine (10 nmol/min) in combination. In isolated ileal tissues containing the submucous or myenteric plexus, excess KCl (75 mM), veratridine (0.1 mM) and ACh (0.1 mM) evoked the release of VIP. ACh-induced VIP output was decreased slightly by hexamethonium (0.1 mM), and blocked by atropine (0.1 mM) or pirenzepine (0.1 mM). Dimethylphenylpiperazinium (0.1 mM) also caused a small increase in VIP output sensitive to hexamethonium in the ileal tissues containing either the submucous or myenteric plexus. It is concluded that ACh evokes the release of VIP from VIP-containing neurons of the submucous and myenteric plexuses in the dog ileum mainly through the activation of M1 muscarinic receptors.

Effects of new 21-aminosteroid tirilazad mesylate (U74006F) on chronic cerebral vasospasm in a "two-hemorrhage" model of beagle dogs

The present work aimed at examining the effect of tirilazad mesylate (U74006F), a newly developed lipid peroxidation inhibitor, on the intraluminal narrowing of basilar artery subjected to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in beagle dogs. In Experiment 1, an intravenous bolus injection of either vehicle or U74006F (0.5, 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg) was repeated every 8 hours after an induction of the first SAH until the animals were killed. A dose of 0.5 mg/kg of U74006F provided the greatest beneficial effect. In Experiment 2, an intravenous infusion of 100 ml of saline containing either vehicle or U74006F (0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg) was given in the same time schedule as in Experiment 1. Post-SAH treatment of U74006F, at a dosage of approximately 0.5 mg/kg, showed a beneficial effect by infusion as well as by bolus administration. The present study demonstrates that U74006F has an ability to prevent chronic vasospasm in the canine SAH model.

The effect of Nicorandil on chronic cerebral vasospasm

The present study is aimed at examining the therapeutic effect of Nicorandil on chronic vasospasm using beagle dogs subjected to a "two-haemorrhage" insult, as well as its dilatory effect on the PDA [phorbol-12,13 diacetate]-induced contraction of the canine basilar artery. 1. A total of 12 animals of either sex, weighing 7 to 12 kg, were assigned into saline control and Nicorandil-treated groups. Immediately after the second induction of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), animals started to receive the agent via the venous route at the constant rate of 10 micrograms/kg/minute for six hours (day 3). On days 4, 5, and 6, the drug was given twice at the same rate for three hours. After the final angiograms, animals were sacrificed by exsanguination. 2. Using ring specimen of the canine basilar artery at a resting tension of 3 g, isometric tension was monitored to examine the effect of Nicorandil on PDA induced contraction. Nicorandil significantly ameliorated chronic vasospasm and inhibited PDA-induced contraction in a dose-dependent fashion. The present data indicate that Nicorandil provides a useful way of treating chronic vasospasm after SAH.

Purification and characterization of a 20-kDa protein that is highly homologous to alpha B crystallin

A 20-kDa protein (p20) that had internal amino acid sequences highly similar to those of alpha B crystallin was purified from rat and human skeletal muscle. p20 co-eluted with alpha B crystallin and HSP27/28 during column chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose and on Bio-Gel A-5m. p20 was separated from alpha B crystallin and HSP27/28 and was resolved into two fractions, a minor first peak and a major second peak, by column chromatography on S-Sepharose in the presence of 7 M urea. During chromatography on a column of Superdex 75pg, even in the presence of 7 M urea, p20 in the second peak was eluted as aggregates near the exclusion volume of the column, whereas p20 in the first peak was eluted in fractions that corresponded to a lower molecular mass. Further chromatography on a TSK-SP-5PW column yielded pure preparations of each of the two forms of rat and human p20. The fragmentation patterns of the two forms of the respective p20 proteins generated by digestion with endoproteinase Asp-N were identical. The primary structures of rat and human p20, determined with an NH2-terminal sequenator, were highly homologous to those of alpha B crystallin and HSP27/28. p20 was present in all rat tissues examined and at high levels (> 1 micrograms/mg protein) in the soleus muscle, heart, and diaphragm, as are alpha B crystallin and HSP27. Centrifugation on sucrose density gradients allowed detection of the aggregated form and the small form of p20, as well as of HSP27, in extracts of rat muscle tissues. During heating at 45 degrees C of tissue in vitro, p20 in rat diaphragm was redistributed from the cytoplasm to the insoluble fraction, and dissociation of the aggregated p20 to the small form was enhanced. These results suggest that p20 is related to stress proteins.

The alpha subunit of GTP-binding protein G0 in neuroblastoma: correlation with advanced disease stage

Tissue levels of the alpha subunit of G protein G0 (G0 alpha) were measured in solid tumors from pediatric patients by immunoassay. G0 alpha concentrations were determined in the supernatant obtained by centrifugation of tissue homogenates prepared in the presence (total G0 alpha) or absence of 2% sodium cholate (soluble G0 alpha). Mean G0 alpha concentrations (total G0 alpha and soluble G0 alpha) in neuroblastomas (7 ganglioneuromas, 13 ganglioneuroblastomas, and 50 neuroblastomas) were over 50-fold higher than those in other solid tumors from pediatric patients (n = 13). Mean total G0 alpha and soluble G0 alpha concentrations were 207.0 +/- 166.0 (SD) ng/mg of cholate-extractable protein and 58.6 +/- 47.0 ng/mg of soluble protein, respectively, in the neuroblastoma group (n = 70). Total G0 alpha concentration decreased with disease stage and was strongly correlated with outcome in patients with neuroblastoma. The mean total G0 alpha concentration in tumors from younger patients (< 1 year old) was 297.0 +/- 137.0 ng/mg of cholate-extractable protein, significantly higher than in tumors from older patients (140.0 +/- 155.0 ng/mg cholate-extractable protein, P < 0.0001). These results suggest that total G0 alpha levels in neuroblastoma may indicate the degree of malignancy.

Novel retrovirus protease inhibitors, RPI-856 A, B, C and D, produced by Streptomyces sp. AL-322

Four kinds of retrovirus protease inhibitors (RPI-856 A, B, C and D) were isolated as white powder from the culture filtrate of a soil isolate, Streptomyces sp. AL-322 by column chromatography using Diaion HP-20, Sephadex LH-20, ODS reversed phase HPLC and SP-2SW ion exchange HPLC. The structures of these inhibitors were elucidated by physico-chemical properties, chemical reactions and spectral analyses, as valyl-ADPAA-leucyl-AOPBA-valyl-valyl-aspartic acid (RPI-856 A and B) and valyl-ADPAA-leucyl-AOPBA-valyl-valine (RPI-856 C and D) [ADPAA = 2-amino-2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid, AOPBA = 3-amino-2-oxo-4-phenylbutyric acid]. RPI-856 A and B, and RPI-856 C and D were both determined to be diasteromers each other on the asymmetric carbon in AOPBA. These four inhibitors strongly inhibited in vitro HIV-1 protease and HTLV-I protease both derived from recombinant Escherichia coli with IC50 of 10(-7) approximately 10(-8) M.

Mitochondrial diabetes mellitus: prevalence and clinical characterization of diabetes due to mitochondrial tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene mutation in Japanese patients

Mutations in the mitochondrial gene were recently identified in a large pedigree of diabetes mellitus and deafness. As the mitochondrial gene is materially inherited, Japanese diabetic patients whose mothers were also diabetic were screened, using peripheral leucocytes, for an A to G transition at nucleotide pair 3243 of the mitochondrial gene, a tRNA(Leu(UUR)) mutation. This mutation was identified in four pedigrees from among 300 unrelated patients who were screened. Diabetes co-segregated with the mutation, except in one young subject, and was maternally inherited. The apparent onset of disease occurred between 11 and 68 years of age. Some of the affected members developed hearing impairment and congestive heart failure due to cardiomyopathy, though generally long after the onset of diabetes, and these patients had therefore not been diagnosed as having a specific form of diabetes. The duration of sulphonyl-urea treatment was not more than 8 years in these pedigrees and affected members were prone to progression to insulin-requiring diabetes. Thus, these patients were secondary sulphonylurea failures. Long-term follow-up revealed that the underlying disorder in affected members is a progressive impairment of insulin secretion. Some were initially diagnosed as having IDDM based on an apparent acute onset in youth and the clinical severity of their diabetes. Others were regarded as having MODY with an aggressive course. The mitochondrial gene mutation or diabetes is not transmitted to all offspring of the affected mothers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Primary structure and reactive site of Streptoverticillium anticoagulant (SAC), a novel protein inhibitor of blood coagulation produced by Streptoverticillium cinnamoneum subsp. cinnamoneum

The complete amino acid sequence of SAC I, a novel protein inhibitor of blood coagulation produced by Streptoverticillium cinnamoneum subsp. cinnamoneum IFO 12852, was determined. Automated Edman degradation was employed for its fragment peptides, which were obtained by specific cleavage procedures including tryptic, chymotryptic, and peptic digestions, and cyanogen bromide treatment. SAC I is composed of 110 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 11,642. It has two intramolecular disulfide bonds, Cys31-Cys46 and Cys68-Cys98, but no cysteine residues. The overall sequence homology of SAC I is 58% to plasminostreptin, a protein protease inhibitor produced by Streptomyces antifibrinolyticus, and 52% to S-SI, Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor, produced by Streptomyces albogriseolus. Subtilisin [EC 3.4.21.14]-modified SAC I, which was prepared by incubating SAC I with subtilisin, had a newly-generated amino terminal sequence, Glu71-Trp72-Asn73-, in addition to the original amino terminal sequence, and a newly-generated carboxyl terminal arginine in addition to the original phenylalanine. These results clearly show that the Arg70-Glu71 bond was specifically cleaved on the limited proteolysis with subtilisin and that the bond is the relative site for subtilisin.

Isolation and characterization of Streptoverticillium anticoagulant (SAC), a novel protein inhibitor of blood coagulation produced by Streptoverticillium cinnamoneum subsp. cinnamoneum

Three Streptoverticillium anticoagulants, SAC I, II, and III, which strongly inhibit human intrinsic blood coagulation, were each isolated in a homogeneous form from a culture fluid of Streptoverticillium cinnamoneum subsp. cinnamoneum IFO 12852. SAC I, II, and III are simple proteins with molecular weights of around 12,000, and with isoelectric points of 9.7, 9.7, and 9.9, respectively. Their amino acid compositions are similar and each SAC possesses two disulfide bonds. The COOH-terminal residue of each of these proteins is phenylalanine. Together with the similarity of their protein chemical properties, the results of NH2-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of these SAC proteins strongly suggested that the deletion of Ser-Leu and Ser-Leu-Tyr from the NH2-terminus of SAC I (Ser-Leu-Tyr-Ala-Pro-...) results in the generation of SAC II and III, respectively. The amount of each SAC necessary to double the partial thromboplastin time was around 5 micrograms/ml. SAC I inhibited activated human factor XII and human plasma kallikrein. It also inhibited, but to a lesser extent, activated factor X. The inhibition constants (Ki) of SAC I toward activated factor XII and plasma kallikrein were 5.3 x 10(-8) and 7.2 x 10(-9) M, respectively. The SACs also inhibited some microbial serine proteases such as subtilisin Carlsberg and, to a lesser extent, mammalian serine proteases including bovine trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin. Of these three inhibitors, only SAC I inhibited metalloproteases such as thermolysin in addition to these serine proteases.

Production of human protein disulfide isomerase by Bacillus brevis

Human protein disulfide isomerase (PDI; EC 5.3.4.1) was expressed and secreted into the culture medium using Bacillus brevis as host and pNU200 which codes the promoter and signal sequence of major cell wall protein of B. brevis as vector. The accumulation of recombinant human PDI (rhPDI) reached about 5 mg l-1 in the late exponential phase of the bacterial growth. The purified rhPDI was found to be exactly processed at the carboxyl terminus of the signal sequence. It was as active as natural PDI derived from human placenta as determined by its ability to reactivate scrambled ribonuclease that was a fully oxidized mixture containing randomly formed disulfide bonds. The activity was significantly accelerated in the presence of dithiothreitol or a mixture of reduced and oxidized glutathione. These indicate that the characteristics of rhPDI are similar to those reported for mammalian PDI and that it can be used for refolding inactive proteins having incorrect disulfide bonds.

Proteolytic modification of membrane-associated phospholipase C-beta by mu-calpain enhances its activation by G-protein beta gamma subunits in human platelets

Membrane-associated phosphoinositide-phospholipase C (PI-PLC)-beta (150 kDa) and its truncated forms (100 kDa and 45 kDa) were purified from human platelets. The 100 kDa PI-PLC-beta was found to be activated to a greater extent by brain G-protein beta gamma subunits compared to the intact 150 kDa enzyme. Furthermore, treatment with mu-calpain of the intact PI-PLC-beta (150 kDa) caused a marked augmentation of its activation by beta gamma subunits. This enhanced PLC activation by beta gamma subunits was due to truncation by mu-calpain, producing a 100 kDa PI-PLC, but not by another protease, thrombin.