A rabbit model for evaluation of chlorpromazine-induced orthostatic hypotension

The present study was conducted to develop an experimental model for evaluation of chlorpromazine-induced orthostatic hypotension in rabbits. In addition, the alpha-adrenoceptor blocking effect of chlorpromazine was investigated in isolated rabbit aorta and saphenous vein in comparison with prazosin. Chlorpromazine (0.1 and 1 mg/kg, i.v.) potentiated significantly a decrease in mean blood pressure at 1 min after the onset of head-up tilt in rabbits anesthetized with urethane alone, urethane+alpha-chloralose or nitrous oxide alone, but not in conscious and morphine+urethane+alpha-chloralose-anesthetized rabbits. There was a negative correlation (r=-0.986, p<0.01) between the extent of chlorpromazine-induced orthostatic hypotension and the amplitude of tilt-induced reflex tachycardia before chlorpromazine treatment. Both prazosin and pentolinium elicited orthostatic hypotension under all four anesthetic conditions. The pA2 value for chlorpromazine to antagonize norepinephrine-induced contraction in aorta was significantly larger than that in saphenous vein, whereas prazosin blocked aortic and venous contractions to a similar extent. These results suggest that a rabbit under an anesthesia which impairs tilt-induced reflex tachycardia may be useful for evaluation of orthostatic hypotension by chlorpromazine. The relatively low potential of chlorpromazine to produce orthostatic hypotension may be partly due to its weak venodilating action.

Skin eruption as the presenting sign of Hunter syndrome IIB

We present a case of Hunter syndrome diagnosed because of skin eruption. A 4-year-old Japanese boy presented with a 3-4-months history of papular lesions on the back and extremities. His growth and development were almost normal. His face was not of coarse appearance. He had multiple, whitish to skin-coloured, papules and nodules symmetrically distributed on the scapular regions and the extensor aspects of the upper arms and thighs. There was no family history of similar symptoms. Skin biopsy showed the deposition of a considerable amount of mucin in the dermis. Although physical examinations failed to detect any other signs of Hunter syndrome, X-rays showed the characteristic features of mucopolysaccharidosis: deformities of the vertebral bone, ribs, and pelvis. Mucopolysaccharide analysis of the urine revealed a marked increase in dermatan sulphate and heparan sulphate. The activity of iduronate sulphatase in the lymphocytes was deficient, which was diagnostic for Hunter syndrome. We emphasize that the skin eruption can be the earliest sign of Hunter syndrome, particularly in the mild form presenting with normal development and growth.

Characterization of psychrophilic alanine racemase from Bacillus psychrosaccharolyticus

A psychrophilic alanine racemase gene from Bacillus psychrosaccharolyticus was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli SOLR with a plasmid pYOK3. The gene starting with the unusual initiation codon GTG showed higher preference for codons ending in A or T. The enzyme purified to homogeneity showed the high catalytic activity even at 0 degrees C and was extremely labile over 35 degrees C. The enzyme was found to have a markedly large Km value (5.0 microM) for the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) cofactor in comparison with other reported alanine racemases, and was stabilized up to 50 degrees C in the presence of excess amounts of PLP. The low affinity of the enzyme for PLP may be related to the thermolability, and may be related to the high catalytic activity, initiated by the transaldimination reaction, at low temperature. The enzyme has a distinguishing hydrophilic region around the residue no. 150 in the deduced amino acid sequence (383 residues), whereas the corresponding regions of other Bacillus alanine racemases are hydrophobic. The position of the region in the three dimensional structure of C atoms of the enzyme was predicted to be in a surface loop surrounding the active site. The region may interact with solvent and reduce the compactness of the active site.

Muscarinic receptor occupancy by biperiden in living human brain

Anticholinergic drug is often used to treat extrapyramidal symptoms. We measured muscarinic cholinergic receptor (mAchR) occupancy by the oral administration of biperiden in eight healthy subjects using positron emission tomography (PET) and [11C]N-methyl-4-piperidylbenzilate (NMPB). After the baseline scan each subject underwent one or two post-dose PET scans. mAchR occupancy was 10-45% in the frontal cortex three hours after the oral administration of 4 mg of biperiden. The occupancy correlated with the plasma concentration of biperiden in a curvilinear manner.

Differential Th1 and Th2 cell regulation of murine cardiac allograft acceptance by blocking cell adhesion of ICAM-1/LFA-1 and VCAM-1/VLA-4

Administration of anti-intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) plus anti-lymphocyte function associated antigen (LFA)-1 mAb induces tolerance in murine cardiac transplantation, while anti-vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 mAb plus anti-very late antigen (VLA)-4 mAb administration prolongs graft survival, but leads to tolerance only in some cases. BALB/c mice hearts were transplanted into C3H/He recipients. Each combination of anti-VCAM-1 plus anti-VLA-4 mAbs (100 microg each/day, i.p.) or anti-ICAM-1 plus anti-LFA-1 mAbs (50 microg each/day, i.p.) was administered for 5 days. For control study, third group mice received daily with FK506 administration (1 mg/kg/day). The cardiac allografts and recipients' spleens were harvested on day 7; the expression of cytokines were detected using immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ RT-PCR. Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) were markedly enhanced and Th1 cytokines (IFN-gamma and IL-2) were suppressed in recipients treated with anti-ICAM-1 mAb plus anti-LFA-1 mAb, while poor Th2 cytokine expression allowed persistent Th1 cytokine expression in recipient mice with anti-VCAM-1 mAb plus anti-VLA-4 mAb treatment. Both Th1 and Th2 cytokine expression was suppressed in FK506-treated mice. It is concluded that immunological tolerance and prolonged graft survival induced by blocking cell adhesion is regulated by different cytokine expression.

Mapping of central D2 dopamine receptors in man using [11C]raclopride: PET with anatomic standardization technique

D2 dopamine receptors are of interest in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. For group comparisons of neuroreceptor distribution measured by PET on a pixel-by-pixel basis, an anatomic standardization technique is required. The aim of the present study is to build a database of normal D2 dopamine receptor distribution using [11C]raclopride and an anatomic standardization technique. In each subject, two PET measurements were performed with rapid bolus injection and with continuous infusion of [11C]raclopride. The radioactivity of the PET images were integrated in the time interval. Integrated images were normalized by the radioactivity of the cerebellum, providing a measure of the binding potential (BP) in each pixel. Each PET image was transformed into a standard brain anatomy using a Computerized Brain Atlas system. From the standardized PET images, the sample mean and the SD of the BP were calculated in each pixel. On the anatomically standardized average images for the both rapid bolus injection and continuous infusion, high BP was observed in the putamen and the caudate nucleus, whereas low BP was observed in the cerebral cortices. The BP for the thalamus and the substantia nigra were slightly higher than those for the cerebral cortices. This regional distribution is in good agreement with the distribution of D2 dopamine receptors known from in vitro studies. The anatomic standardization technique permits to build a database of the normal D2 dopamine receptor distribution in the living human brain. This technique can be applied for group comparisons on a pixel-by-pixel basis.

Eosinophil active cytokines and surface analysis of eosinophils in Churg-Strauss syndrome

There are few reports regarding the measurement of cytokines and surface analysis of eosinophils in Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS). To examine the pathophysiology of CSS, concentrations of cytokines in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and surface antigens on peripheral blood eosinophils were analyzed in five patients with CSS. Concentrations of cytokines (interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-5 (IL-5) and granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were measured using ELISA. Surface antigens on eosinophils in peripheral blood were analyzed using flow cytometry. A concentration of interleukin-5 (IL-5) and TNF-alpha in serum was detected in five cases; however IL-1 beta, GM-CSF, and IL-3 were detected in 3 of 5, 2 of 5, and 1 of 5 patients, respectively. In BALF, TNF-alpha and IL-5 were detected in 2 of 3 and 1 of 3 patients, respectively; however, neither IL-1 beta, GM-CSF, nor IL-3 was detected in any. Newly expressed surface antigens such as CD25, CD4, and CD69 were observed on peripheral blood eosinophils in five cases. CD54 and HLA-DR were expressed in 4 of 5 and 3 of 5 patients, respectively. Eosinophils in peripheral blood are activated to various degrees, possibly depending on cytokine stimulation. This eosinophil activation may be related to the clinical stage of CSS.

Effect of ethyl alcohol on growth and intracellular alanine racemase of psychrotrophs

The psychrotrophic alanine racemase from Pseudomonas fluorescens, a typical psychrotroph, is less resistant to organic solvents than the enzymes from thermophilic and mesophilic bacteria (Okubo et al., J. Home Econ. Jpn., 46: 1135-1140, 1995). To further elucidate this difference, we examined the effect of ethyl alcohol on the growth and intracellular alanine racemase activity of three typical psychrotrophs-P. fluorescens, Bacillus psychrosaccharolyticus and B. psychrophilus-in comparison with two mesophiles, Escherichia coli and B. subtilis. Although all the bacteria grew to the early stationary phase when cultivated at 22 degrees C for 36 h in the absence of ethyl alcohol, the growth of the psychrotrophs was more effectively suppressed by the addition of 3 and 5% ethyl alcohol to the medium than that of the mesophiles. The intracellular alanine racemase activity of the psychrotrophs was also more markedly reduced in the presence of ethyl alcohol than that of the mesophiles. When bacterial cells of each strain grown at 22 degrees C for 36 h in the absence of alcohol were suspended in 0-5 % ethyl alcohol solution and incubated at 30 degrees C for 1 h, both the survival ratio and intracellular alanine racemase activity of the psychrotrophs were lower than those of the mesophiles. Thus, ethyl alcohol effectively reduced both the growth of the psychrotrophs and their intracellular alanine racemase activity. Low concentrations of various other alcohols also repressed the growth of the psychrotrophs at 10 degrees C.

[RT-PCR assay for detecting PSA mRNA in peripheral blood of prostate cancer patients]

A sensitive technique using reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been used to detect circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood of men with prostate cancer. We evaluated the clinical utility of this method for staging and monitoring for prostate cancer. Peripheral blood from 39 patients with prostate cancer and 7 non-prostate cancer controls was analyzed for prostate specific antigen (PSA) messenger RNA (mRNA) using RT-PCR. In 8 among 22 patients (36.4%) with clinically localized prostate cancer (T2 or T3), PSA mRNA was detected by RT-PCR (RT-PCR positive). Five out of 8 patients (62.5%) with regional lymph node and/or bone metastases were RT-PCR positive. The number of patients with RT-PCR positive was more frequent in a higher clinical stage. In 22 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer, 2 of the 9 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy had positive surgical margins and both patients were RT-PCR positive. Six of the 7 patients with negative surgical margin were RT-PCR negative. In the 9 cases that had been treated by combined antiandrogen blockade for metastatic prostate cancer, 4 patients whose serum PSA level were less than 4 ng/ml were all RT-PCR negative. More over 4 of 5 patients with more than 4 ng/ml of serum PSA level were RT-PCR positive. All control samples were RT-PCR negative. This study suggested that this technique using RT-PCR may provide useful information in treating patients with prostate cancer, especially for candidates for radical prostatectomy. The value of this modality as a prognostic factor awaits for further follow-up.

Comparative study of intramuscular and intraskeletal osteogenesis by recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare the osteoinducing activity of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) at intramuscular and intraskeletal sites in rats.

STUDY DESIGN

Five tg of rhBMP-2 was implanted into the right calf muscle of each of 20 rats and into a hole (4 mm in diameter, 1.5 mm in depth) that was made in the mandibular body of each of 20 other rats, with atelopeptide type I collagen as a carrier. The alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium content were quantitatively analyzed 1, 3, 7, and 21 days after the implantation of rhBMP-2 into either mandibular bone (in the intraskeletal group) or calf muscle (in the intramuscular group). The new bone formation was evaluated histologically 21 days after implantation.

RESULTS

On days 1 and 3, the alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium content in the intraskeletal group showed no significant differences from those in the intramuscular group. On the 7th and 21st days after implantation, however, the alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium content in the intraskeletal group were significantly higher than those in the intramuscular group. Histometry of the microscopic views showed that the mean trabecular area was 0.87 mm2 in the intramuscular group and 2.66 mm2 in the intraskeletal group.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the new bone formation stimulated by rhBMP-2 in the intraskeletal group was greater than in the intramuscular group.

Changes in serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2, -3, and -6 levels in patients with chronic renal failure following renal transplantation

The pathophysiological roles of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-6 have not been elucidated. Recently, we measured serum IGFBP-6 by Western immunoblot (WIB) and have found that serum IGFBP-6 levels increased in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). In the present study, serum IGFBP-6 levels were measured in 10 patients with CRF before and 1, 7 and 14 days after renal transplantation to investigate further clinical significance and regulation of serum IGFBP-6. IGFBP-2 and -3 levels, usually elevated in patients with CRF, were also measured after renal transplantation. Serum IGFBP-2 and -6 levels from patients with CRF by Western immunoblot increased to 230+/-90% (mean +/- SD), and 400+/-110% of the reference serum, respectively, and these levels did not change after hemodialysis. Serum IGFBP-6 levels decreased to 47+/-20% of the basal level 1 day after renal transplantation, and the IGFBP-6 levels in two patients whose renal function worsened again due to rejection increased to more than 60% of the basal levels on the 14th day. In contrast to IGFBP-6, serum IGFBP-2 levels did not decrease during the 14 days after renal transplantation in all patients. Serum IGFBP-3 levels were significantly higher in CRF than normal sera (5.5+/-1.2 vs 3.7+/-0.5 microg/ml, P < 0.01), and the levels decreased to the normal range (2.7+/-1.0 microg/ml) within 1 day after the transplantation, whereas the levels increased again in one of two patients with poorly-functioning graft. In addition, we demonstrated IGFBP-6 in urine from normal adults. These results indicate that IGFBP-6 might be excreted by the kidneys and serum IGFBP-3 and -6 levels might be related with renal function, and that the regulation of serum IGFBP-2 levels differs from those of IGFBP-3 and -6.

The activities of the Tokyo Center

The main World Health Organization (WHO) activities of the Tokyo Center are as follows: (1) It performed the research project entitled 'A Bio-Psycho-Social Study on Children with Emotional and Behavioral Problems' in cooperation with the Beijing and Seoul Centers from 1985 to 1987. These results suggested that the deviant behavior of children in the general population had no biological background, but presumably stemmed from psychosocial disadvantages. (2) It has participated in a field trial for the proposed draft for chapter V of the ICD-10 as the Field Trial Coordinating Center in Japan since 1986 and the first Japanese edition of the ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders: Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines were published in 1993. (3) It proposed the collaborative project exploratory eye movements in patients with schizophrenia in 1989 and has promoted the project with the cooperation of six centers that included Beijing, Casablanca, Montreal, Munich, Prague and Sapporo. The findings of the present project indicated that exploratory eye movements may be specific to schizophrenia and can be practically used to discriminate schizophrenia without significantly depending on language.

Effectiveness of kampo medicine (sai-boku-to) in treatment of patients with glossodynia

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of a Kampo medicine (Sai-boku-to) for treatment of patients with glossodynia.

STUDY DESIGN

Sai-boku-to or an antianxiety drug (diazepam) with vitamin B complex was administered orally for 3 months to each of 200 patients with glossodynia. Clinical examination evaluated the following subjective symptoms: pain, burning sensation, and discomfort. Effectiveness was evaluated as follows: "markedly effective," all 3 symptoms disappeared; "effective," pain improved; "ineffective," no improvement in pain.

RESULTS

The effective rates were 70% after 1 month, 85% after 2 months, and 92% after 3 months of administration of Sai-boku-to (the Kampo group) and 74% after 1 month, 71% after 2 months, and 69% after 3 months of administration of the antianxiety drug with vitamin B complex (the control group). No significant side effect was noted in the Kampo group, but sleepiness was recorded in 33 cases in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that Sai-boku-to may be a clinically useful medicine for the long-term treatment of patients with glossodynia.

Association between polymorphisms in the type 1 sigma receptor gene and schizophrenia

Several antipsychotic agents such as haloperidol and rimcazole are known to bind to sigma receptors with high affinity, and evidence for a potential link between sigma receptors and the etiology of schizophrenia has been reported. The present study was conducted to systematically search for nucleotide variants of the type 1 sigma receptor gene in 48 schizophrenics. Two polymorphisms were found: GC-241-240TT in the 5' flanking region and Gln2Pro. These two polymorphisms were in nearly complete linkage disequilibrium with each other. The Pro2 variant of the Gln2Pro polymorphism changes the endoplasmic reticulum retention signal motif. These polymorphisms were examined in an extended sample of schizophrenics (n = 308) and controls (n = 433) and a significant association between the presence of the TT/Pro2 haplotype and schizophrenia was observed (odds ratio = 1.27, P = 0.04).

Sensitive diagnosis of cardiac allograft rejection by detection of cytokine transcription in situ

OBJECTIVE

In situ transcription of cytokines which are important in the development of cardiac rejection has not been evaluated for diagnosing rejection. The objective was to evaluate the usefulness of in situ reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for sensitive detection of acute cardiac rejection.

METHODS

We studied interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-2 expression using immunohistochemistry and in situ RT-PCR in murine cardiac transplant models. Hearts were heterotopically transplanted (BALB/c to C3H/He) and some mice were not treated (n = 23); others were treated with anti-intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and anti-lymphocyte function associated antigen (LFA)-1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (n = 23). Allografts were removed at days 1 to 7. For control, isografts were harvested at day 7 (n = 2).

RESULTS

Mice without treatment rejected allografts within 7 days, while all mAb-treated recipients accepted allografts for the same period. At day 1, allografts of both groups showed scattered myocardial cell infiltration which increased in non-treated allografts, but remained stable in mAb-treated grafts thereafter. In situ RT-PCR showed that IL-2 and IFN-gamma mRNA positive cells were present in non-treated allografts, while few mRNA positive cells were expressed in infiltrating cells in the mAb-treated allografts (IL-2, day 3: 88.8 +/- 28.3 vs. 7.2 +/- 6.4, p < 0.05, positive cells within 10 fields per section). However, immunohistochemistry could not reveal the difference at day 3.

CONCLUSION

In situ RT-PCR is a sensitive method for diagnosing acute rejection, and it reveals the characteristics of myocardial infiltrate cells to determine their role in the process of rejection.

Muscarinic cholinergic receptors in human narcolepsy: a PET study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the function of the muscarinic cholinergic receptor (mAchR) in narcolepsy and the effects of pharmacotherapy on mAchRs.

BACKGROUND

Muscarinic neural transmission serves as the main executive system in REM sleep. Studies in canine narcolepsy reported an increase in mAchRs in the pons.

METHODS

The mAchRs of 11 drug naive/free patients with narcolepsy and 21 normal controls were investigated using PET with [11C]N-methyl-4-piperidylbenzilate ([11C]NMPB). Measurements were done in the pons, thalamus, striatum, and cerebral cortex. Seven of the 11 patients also underwent additional PET scans after the alleviation of symptoms by pharmacotherapy.

RESULTS

There were no differences in [11C]NMPB binding between the control and drug naive/free patients in all areas analyzed. At the time of on-medication PET scan, [11C]NMPB binding in the thalamus was decreased, but only to a small degree compared with that by anticholinergic drugs.

CONCLUSION

The present results do not support the notion that the mAchR is the main site of action of pharmacotherapy in the marked clinical improvement of human cataplexy.

A case of pathophysiologic study in Kimura's disease: measurement of cytokines and surface analysis of eosinophils

BACKGROUND

Kimura's disease is a rare but distinctive eosinophilic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology; few reported case studies have focused on the immunopathologic background of this unique disease.

OBJECTIVE

To define better the immunopathogenetic features of Kimura's disease, we attempted to quantitatively analyze values of cytokines and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in peripheral blood (PB), as well as perform surface immunophenotypic analysis of eosinophils from a Japanese patient with chronic relapsing Kimura's disease.

RESULTS

Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and sIL-2R were elevated, and newly expressed antigens on eosinophils CD4, CD25, and HLA-DR were found to be involved in the pathophysiology of this disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

Kimura's disease may be a disease in which activated lymphocytes release cytokines, and these released cytokines, such as GM-CSF and TNF-alpha cause eosinophil activation. These processes may be related to the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Heterogeneity of blood group RhE variants revealed by serological analysis and molecular alteration of the RHCE gene and transcript

After testing red cells from 12 RhE variants with a panel of anti-E monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), four patterns of reactivity were detected indicating that the MoAbs may recognize four distinct E epitopes designated epE1, epE2, epE3 and epE4. The variants were classified into four categories (cat EI to EIV) which carried epE1 and epE2, epE1 and epE4, epE1, epE3 and epE4, and all four epitopes, respectively. Molecular analysis of the transcripts and genomic DNA of the variants from cat EI, EII and EIII displayed three distinct genetic alterations. Cat EI variants exhibited a point mutation (T500A) in exon 4 of the RHCE gene that resulted in a Met167Lys substitution in the third extracellular loop of the RhcE protein. Cat EII variant carried a hybrid gene structure characterized by replacement of exons 1-3 (or 2-3) of the RHCE gene by their specific counterparts in the RHD gene. This latter variant was also associated with a weak expression of the RhC antigen. In cat EIII variants there was a partial DNA exchange of exon 5 sequences (nt 697 and 712) between the RHCE and the RHD genes, generating a hybrid Rh cE-D-cE protein carrying the Glu233 and Val238 substitutions. The serological and molecular studies of the RhE variants indicated that: (i) the RhE antigen is a mosaic composed of at least four epitopes and proline at position 226 is necessary but not sufficient for the full expression of the E antigen, (ii) the lack of RhE epitope(s) is associated with heterogenous molecular alterations of the RHCE gene, and (iii) amino-acids located on the third and fourth extracellular loops of the RhCE polypeptide are critical for some RhE epitopes expression.

Insulin-like growth factor-I inhibits the stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase

The pathways involved in the cellular responses to the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are numerous and vary according to cell type. Following activation of the IGF-I receptor, the mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositide 3'-kinase (PI3'K) pathways are activated and result in cellular proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis. In this study, we analyzed the IGF-I effect on the stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity using human embryonic kidney 293 cells, 293 cells transiently expressing hemagglutinin-JNK, and 293 cells stably expressing a hemagglutinin-JNK transgene. In all cell types, endogenous or transfected JNK activity was strongly stimulated by anisomycin or tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and 10 nM IGF-I pretreatment suppressed the induced JNK activity. To determine whether the effect of IGF-I on JNK activity involves the mitogen-activated protein kinase or PI3'K pathway, we used the specific MEK1 inhibitor PD098059 and the PI3'K inhibitor LY 294002. PD098059 did not alter the IGF-I suppressive effect on stressor-induced JNK activity, but LY 294002 suppressed the IGF-I effect. Moreover, in transiently transfected parental 293 cells expressing dominant-negative Akt, anisomycin-increased JNK activity was not suppressed by pretreatment with IGF-I. Our results demonstrate that the action of IGF-I on JNK in these cells is via PI3'K and Akt.

Role of selectin-dependent adhesion in cardiac allograft rejection

BACKGROUND

Selectins play important roles in the inflammatory responses by eliciting leukocyte rolling. The roles of E- and P-selectins in the acute rejection of cardiac allografts remain unclear. This study was designed to evaluate whether E- and P-selectins participate in the pathophysiology of heart rejection.

METHODS

Heterotopic heart transplantation was performed in both mice and rats in full histoincompatibility combinations. Immunohistochemistry, flow-cytometry, and reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction were performed to evaluate E-, P-selectin and sialyl Lewis X (SLeX) expression in rejecting cardiac allografts. The effects of short-term administration of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to E- and P-selectins on cardiac allograft survival were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Significant prolongation of graft survival was observed in mice treated with either anti-E- or P-selectin mAbs, or both. The enhanced endothelial and mRNA expression of E- and P-selectins was observed in the rejecting cardiac allografts. Some graft- infiltrating mononuclear cells were double-stained with both anti-SLeX and anti-alphabetaT cell receptor mAbs. Flow-cytometric analysis of graft-infiltrating cells also showed enhanced SLeX expression.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that both P- and E-selectins are critically involved in the early development of acute heart rejection.

Hepatitis C virus 1b(II) infection and development of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control study in Japan

This study was performed to determine the distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes among asymptomatic carriers (ASC) and patients with chronic hepatitis without cirrhosis (NC-CH), liver cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the Osaka area, and to assess whether infection with HCV genotype 1b (II) is more likely to develop into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than is that with genotype 2a (III) or genotype 2b (IV). Genotypes of all study subjects were determined by Okamoto's method. HCV genotype 1b was detected in 100 of the 143 ASC (69.9%), 551 of the 726 NC-CH patients (75.9%), 86 of the 103 patients with LC (83.5%), and 153 of the 179 HCC (85.5%) patients. Using unconditional logistic regression analysis, the age- and sex- adjusted odds ratios contrasting NC-CH with ASC, LC with ASC and HCC with ASC were 1.38 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.93-2.05], 2.28 (95% CI = 1.12-4.63) and 2.27 (95% CI = 1.02-5.06) respectively. HCV genotype 1b is predominant in both healthy carriers and patients with chronic liver diseases in the Osaka area. The findings from the three case-control studies indicate that type 1b infection is more closely associated with the development of LC and HCC than type 2a or 2b through its role in the progression of chronic liver inflammation to a cirrhotic stage.

Effects of intracellular cyclic AMP modulators on human eosinophil survival, degranulation and CD11b expression

BACKGROUND

Brochial asthma is characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells such as lymphocytes and eosinophils. Theophylline is one of the most widely used drugs in the therapy of bronchial asthma, and phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibition is thought to be an important mechanism of its anti-inflammatory actions. However, the detailed effects of PDE inhibition on eosinophils still remain unclear.

METHODS

Eosinophils in peripheral blood obtained from normal subjects and patients with mild off-season allergic rhinitis were purified using CD16 negative selection. The following effects of theophylline (nonselective PDE inhibitor), KF19514 (selective PDE IV inhibitor), mirlinone (selective PDE III inhibitor), procaterol (beta2-adrenoceptor agonist) and N6, 2'-O-dibutyryladenosine 3'5'-cyclic monophosphate (dB-cAMP; AMP analogue) on eosinophils were examined: (1) survival in the presence of interleukin-5, (2) degranulation by granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or platelet-activating factor (PAF), (3) CD11b expression under GM-CSF or PAF stimulation and (4) intracellular cAMP level.

RESULTS

Eosinophil survival was inhibited by theophilline, KF19514 or procaterol. GM-CSF- or PAF-induced degranulation was inhibited by theophylline, KF19514, procaterol or dB-cAMP. CD11b up-regulation by PAF was inhibited by theophylline, KF19514 or dB-cAMP, while GM-CSF-stimulated CD11b up-regulation was not significantly inhibited by any of the drugs tested. The levels of intracellular cAMP were increased by theophylline, KF19514 and procaterol.

CONCLUSIONS

Intracellular cAMP is an important factor in the regulation of eosinophil biological functions. PDE IV inhibitors and beta2-agonists are suggested to be useful for the treatment of bronchial asthma through inhibition of eosinophil effector function.

Insulin-like growth factor-I receptor signal transduction: at the interface between physiology and cell biology

The insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) mediates the biological actions of IGF-I and IGF-II. The IGFs play a critical role in promoting development, stimulating growth and organogenesis via mitogenic, antiapoptotic and chemotactic activity. Recent research has focused on the events that occur intracellularly upon receptor activation. Several pathways have been shown to be important. The insulin-receptor substrate (IRS), SHC, GRB2, CRKII and CRKL adaptor proteins have all been implicated in transmitting signals to the nucleus of the cell. This review outlines some of the signalling pathways believed to be important in converting IGF-IR activation into changes in cell behavior and metabolism.