Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia associated with intra-tumour haemorrhage in cavernous sinus after cardiac myxoma surgery

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a life-threatening disorder that is associated with heparin exposure. The incidence of HIT in patients undergoing cardiac surgery is relatively rare. We present a case of intratumor haemorrhage in the cavernous sinus 1 week after cardiac surgery. The pathogenesis may be venous thrombosis and haemorrhagic infarct caused by HIT following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. This is a rare case and has not been reported previously.

Tamoxifen protects against acute tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced cardiac injury via improving mitochondrial functions

Tamoxifen is the most commonly used antiestrogen for the treatment of breast cancer. Several clinical trials demonstrate that tamoxifen reduces the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. However, the mechanism by which tamoxifen causes cardioprotection is unclear. Because increased levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in tissue and/or plasma have been observed in virtually all forms of cardiac injury, we investigated whether tamoxifen prevents cardiac injury in a murine model of acute TNFalpha challenge. Five- to six-week-old female mice were injected (ip) with tamoxifen at 0.25 mg/kg daily for 3 or 7 days before receiving an injection of TNFalpha. Ultrastructural examination of cardiac tissues revealed remarkable protection against TNFalpha-induced mitochondrial damage in tamoxifen pretreated mice. Tamoxifen treatment significantly improved the mitochondrial respiratory function and enhanced superoxide-scavenging activity of mitochondria. These findings reveal a novel mitochondria-mediated mechanism by which tamoxifen exerts its cardiac protection effect against acute TNFalpha-induced heart injury.

Overexpression of manganese superoxide dismutase suppresses tumor formation by modulation of activator protein-1 signaling in a multistage skin carcinogenesis model

Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is a nuclear encoded primary antioxidant enzyme localized in mitochondria. Because expression of MnSOD plays a major role in maintaining cellular redox status and reactive oxygen species are known to play a role in signal transduction and carcinogenesis, we investigated the role of MnSOD in the development of cancer using a two-stage [7,12-dimethylbenz(a)-anthracene plus 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)] skin carcinogenesis model. Female transgenic mice expressing the human MnSOD gene in the skin and their nontransgenic counterparts were used in this study. Pathological examination demonstrated significant reduction of papilloma formation in transgenic mice. Quantitative analysis of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-modified proteins showed greater accumulation of oxidative damage products in nontransgenic compared with transgenic mice, and this oxidative damage was demonstrated to be present in both mitochondria and nucleus. TPA increased activator protein-1 (AP-1) binding activity within 6 h in nontransgenic mice, but increased AP-1 binding activity was delayed in the transgenic mice. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay, transcription of the target genes, and Western analysis studies indicated that the increased AP-1 binding activity was attributable to induction of the Jun but not the Fos protein families. Overexpression of MnSOD selectively inhibited the TPA-induced activation of protein kinase Cepsilon and prevented subsequent activation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase in response to TPA. Overall, these results indicate that MnSOD regulates both cellular redox status and selectively modulates PKCepsilon signaling, thereby delaying AP-1 activation and inhibiting tumor promotion, resulting in reduction of tumors in MnSOD transgenic mice.

Yin6, a fission yeast Int6 homolog, complexes with Moe1 and plays a role in chromosome segregation

The INT6 gene has been implicated in human breast cancer formation, but its function is unknown. We isolated an Int6 homolog from fission yeast, Yin6, by its binding to a conserved protein in the Ras pathway, Moe1. Yin6 and Moe1 converge on the same protein complex to promote microtubule instability/disassembly. Yin6 and Moe1 interact cooperatively: when either protein is absent, the other becomes mislocalized with decreased protein levels. Furthermore, whereas full-length human Int6 rescues the phenotypes of the yin6-null (yin6Delta) mutant cells and binds human Moe1, truncated Int6 proteins found in tumors do not. Importantly, yin6Delta alone impairs chromosome segregation weakly, but yin6Delta together with ras1Delta causes severe chromosome missegregation. These data support a model in which INT6 mutations in humans either alone or together with additional mutations, such as a RAS mutation, may contribute to tumorigenesis by altering genome stability.

Cloning of neuronal mtDNA variants in cultured cells by synaptosome fusion with mtDNA-less cells

Synaptosome cybrids were used to confirm the presence of heteroplasmic mtDNA sequence variants in the human brain. Synaptosomes contain one to several mitochondria, and when fused to mtDNA-deficient (rho degrees ) mouse or human cell lines result in viable cybrid cell lines. The brain origin of mouse synaptosome cybrid mtDNAs was confirmed using sequence polymorphisms in the mtDNA COIII, ND3 and tRNA(Arg)genes. The brain origin of the human synaptosome cybrids was confirmed using a rare mtDNA Mbo I polymorphism. Fusion of synaptosomes from the brain of a 35-year-old woman resulted in 71 synaptosome cybrids. Sequencing the mtDNA control region of these cybrid clones revealed differences in the number of Cs in a poly C track between nucleotide pairs (nps) 301 and 309. Three percent of the cybrid clones had mtDNAs with 10 Cs, 76% had nine, 18% had eight and 3% had seven Cs. Comparable results were obtained by PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing of mtDNA control regions directly from the patient's brain tissue, but not when the control region was amplified and cloned from a synaptosome cybrid homoplasmic for a mtDNA with nine Cs. Thus, we have clonally recovered mtDNA control region length variants from an adult human brain without recourse to PCR, and established the variant mtDNAs within living cultured cells. This confirms that some mtDNA heteroplasmy can exist in human neurons, and provides the opportunity to study its functional significance.

Antioxidant and oxidative status in tissues of manganese superoxide dismutase transgenic mice

Manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) plays an important role in attenuating free radical-induced oxidative damage. The purpose of this research was to determine if increased expression of Mn-SOD gene alters intracellular redox status. Twelve week old male B6C3 mice, engineered to express human Mn-SOD in multiple organs, and their nontransgenic littermates were assessed for oxidative stress and antioxidant status in heart, brain, lung, skeletal muscle, liver, and kidney. Relative to their nontransgenic littermates, transgenic mice had significantly (p <.01) higher activity of Mn-SOD in heart, skeletal muscle, lung, and brain. Copper, zinc (Cu,Zn)-SOD activity was significantly higher in kidney, whereas catalase activity was lower in brain and liver. The activities of selenium (Se)-GSH peroxidase and non-Se-GSH peroxidase, and levels of vitamin E, ascorbic acid and GSH were not significantly different in any tissues measured between Mn-SOD transgenic mice and their nontransgenic controls. The levels of malondialdehyde were significantly lower in the muscle and heart of Mn-SOD mice, and conjugated dienes and protein carbonyls were not altered in any tissues measured. The results obtained showed that expression of human SOD gene did not systematical alter antioxidant systems or adversely affect the redox state of the transgenic mice. The results also suggest that expression of human SOD gene confers protection against peroxidative damage to membrane lipids.

The role of interleukin 12 in the development of atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice

The cytokine profile of atherosclerotic aortas from apoE-deficient mice was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The results clearly showed that the expression of mRNA for IL-12p40 was evident in aortas from 3-month-old apoE-deficient mice. The mRNA for IL-10 was detected in aorta from these mice at the age of 6 months, indicating that expression of IL-12 is earlier than that of IL-10 in these animals. Concurrent with IL-12p40, the mRNA for the T-cell cytokine IFN-gamma, but not IL-4, was detected in aortas of mice at young and old ages. Both in situ hybridization and immunostaining further demonstrated the localization of IL-12 in macrophages of atherosclerotic lesions. Immunohistochemistry also demonstrated the expression of costimulatory molecules B7-1 and B7-2 in macrophages, suggesting that activation of T lymphocytes by macrophages may occur via surface antigens in lesions. When the immunoglobulin isotype of the antioxidized LDL antibodies in sera of apoE-deficient mice was determined, it revealed that both IgM and IgG were present. Furthermore, IgG2a is predominant and comprises approximately 50% of the antioxidized LDL IgG in sera from young mice (3 months), but decreased to lower levels (35%) in older mice (6 months). Daily administration of IL-12 led to an increase in serum levels of antioxidized LDL antibodies and accelerated atherosclerosis in young apoE-deficient mice compared with control mice injected with PBS alone. Taken together, these data suggest that IL-12 plays an active role in regulating the immune response during the early phase of atherosclerosis in apoE-deficient mice.

Manganese superoxide dismutase protects mitochondrial complex I against adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy in transgenic mice

Adriamycin (ADR) is a potent anticancer drug that causes severe cardiomyopathy. We have previously demonstrated that ADR-induced ultrastructural mitochondrial injury in the heart was attenuated in manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) transgenic mice. To further investigate the biochemical mechanisms by which MnSOD protected mitochondria against ADR-induced damage, cardiac mitochondrial function and activities were evaluated. The results showed that ADR caused significant decrease in state 3 respiration and respiratory control ratio using both complex I and II substrates in nontransgenic mice. In transgenic mice, state 3 respiration for complex I substrates remained unaffected by ADR, but was reduced for complex II substrate. Complex I activity was significantly decreased in nontransgenic, but not in transgenic mice after ADR treatment, suggesting that mitochondrial complex I is sensitive to inactivation by superoxide radicals. The activities of complex II and mitochondrial creatine kinase were decreased by ADR in both nontransgenic and transgenic mice. These results support our previous observations on the protective role of MnSOD on the ultrastructural damage of the heart after ADR treatment and extend the understanding of its mechanisms in mitochondria.

Manganese superoxide dismutase overexpression attenuates MPTP toxicity

There is substantial evidence implicating mitochondrial dysfunction and free radical generation in the neurotoxicity of MPTP. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is the primary antioxidant enzyme protecting against superoxide radicals produced within mitochondria. Overexpression of human MnSOD in transgenic mice resulted in increased MnSOD localized to mitochondria in neurons and a 50% increase in total MnSOD activity in brain homogenates. We found that MPTP toxicity was significantly attenuated in the MnSOD transgenic mice which overexpress the human manganese superoxide dismutase gene, with these mice showing threefold greater dopamine levels than controls following MPTP. There were no alterations in MPP+ levels, suggesting that the effects were not due to altered metabolism of MPTP. A significant increase in 3-nitrotyrosine levels was seen in littermate controls but not in transgenic mice overexpressing human MnSOD. These results provide further evidence implicating mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of MPTP neurotoxicity.

Prevention of mitochondrial injury by manganese superoxide dismutase reveals a primary mechanism for alkaline-induced cell death

Alkalosis is a clinical complication resulting from various pathological and physiological conditions. Although it is well established that reducing the cellular proton concentration is lethal, the mechanism leading to cell death is unknown. Mitochondrial respiration generates a proton gradient and superoxide radicals, suggesting a possible link between oxidative stress, mitochondrial integrity, and alkaline-induced cell death. Manganese superoxide dismutase removes superoxide radicals in mitochondria, and thus protects mitochondria from oxidative injury. Cells cultured under alkaline conditions were found to exhibit elevated levels of mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species, and calcium which was accompanied by mitochondrial damage, DNA fragmentation, and cell death. Overexpression of manganese superoxide dismutase reduced the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and calcium, restored mitochondrial transmembrane potential, and prevented cell death. The results suggest that mitochondria are the primary target for alkaline-induced cell death and that free radical generation is an important and early event conveying cell death signals under alkaline conditions.

Mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase prevents neural apoptosis and reduces ischemic brain injury: suppression of peroxynitrite production, lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial dysfunction

Oxidative stress is implicated in neuronal apoptosis that occurs in physiological settings and in neurodegenerative disorders. Superoxide anion radical, produced during mitochondrial respiration, is involved in the generation of several potentially damaging reactive oxygen species including peroxynitrite. To examine directly the role of superoxide and peroxynitrite in neuronal apoptosis, we generated neural cell lines and transgenic mice that overexpress human mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). In cultured pheochromocytoma PC6 cells, overexpression of mitochondria-localized MnSOD prevented apoptosis induced by Fe2+, amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta), and nitric oxide-generating agents. Accumulations of peroxynitrite, nitrated proteins, and the membrane lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) after exposure to the apoptotic insults were markedly attenuated in cells expressing MnSOD. Glutathione peroxidase activity levels were increased in cells overexpressing MnSOD, suggesting a compensatory response to increased H2O2 levels. The peroxynitrite scavenger uric acid and the antioxidants propyl gallate and glutathione prevented apoptosis induced by each apoptotic insult, suggesting central roles for peroxynitrite and membrane lipid peroxidation in oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Apoptotic insults decreased mitochondrial transmembrane potential and energy charge in control cells but not in cells overexpressing MnSOD, and cyclosporin A and caspase inhibitors protected cells against apoptosis, demonstrating roles for mitochondrial alterations and caspase activation in the apoptotic process. Membrane lipid peroxidation, protein nitration, and neuronal death after focal cerebral ischemia were significantly reduced in transgenic mice overexpressing human MnSOD. The data suggest that mitochondrial superoxide accumulation and consequent peroxynitrite production and mitochondrial dysfunction play pivotal roles in neuronal apoptosis induced by diverse insults in cell culture and in vivo.

Analysis of the T cell receptor V beta repertoire in human aortic aneurysms

Human aortic aneurysm is commonly characterized by the presence of advanced atherosclerosis associated with variable chronic adventitial inflammation. Histological examination of human aortic aneurysmal specimens revealed the presence of plasma cells and lymphoid aggregates in media and adventitia of the vessels. Immunostaining further demonstrated that CD3-positive T lymphocytes are present in follicles. Using a highly sensitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction amplification method, the T cell receptor (TCR) V beta gene expression in aortic aneurysms was shown to be polyclonal. Furthermore. there was no preferential expression of any TCR V beta gene in the aortic tissue as compared with that in peripheral blood in aneurysmal patients. These results indicate that the TCR repertoire in aortic aneurysm is not restricted.

The protective role of manganese superoxide dismutase against adriamycin-induced acute cardiac toxicity in transgenic mice

Adriamycin (ADR) is a potent anticancer drug known to cause severe cardiac toxicity. Although ADR generates free radicals, the role of free radicals in the development of cardiac toxicity and the intracellular target for ADR-induced cardiac toxicity are still not well understood. We produced three transgenic mice lines expressing increased levels of human manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), a mitochondrial enzyme, as an animal model to investigate the role of ADR-mediated free radical generation in mitochondria. The human MnSOD was expressed, functionally active, and properly transported into mitochondria in the heart of transgenic mice. The levels of copper-zinc SOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase did not change in the transgenic mice. Electron microscopy revealed dose-dependent ultrastructural alterations with marked mitochondrial damage in nontransgenic mice treated with ADR, but not in the transgenic littermates. Biochemical analysis indicated that the levels of serum creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in ADR-treated mice were significantly greater in nontransgenic than their transgenic littermates expressing a high level of human MnSOD after ADR treatment. These results support a major role for free radical generation in ADR toxicity as well as suggesting mitochondria as the critical site of cardiac injury.

An ethylene-inducible component of signal transduction encoded by never-ripe

The ripening-impaired tomato mutant Never-ripe (Nr) is insensitive to the plant hormone ethylene. The gene that cosegregates with the Nr locus encodes a protein with homology to the Arabidopsis ethylene receptor ETR1 but is lacking the response regulator domain found in ETR1 and related prokaryotic two-component signal transducers. A single amino acid change in the sensor domain confers ethylene insensitivity when expressed in transgenic tomato plants. Modulation of NR gene expression during fruit ripening controls response to the hormone ethylene.

The tomato Never-ripe locus regulates ethylene-inducible gene expression and is linked to a homolog of the Arabidopsis ETR1 gene

Fruit ripening represents a complex system of genetic and hormonal regulation of eukaryotic development unique to plants. We are using tomato ripening mutants as tools to elucidate genetic components of ripening regulation and have recently demonstrated that the Never-ripe (Nr) mutant is insensitive to the plant growth regulator ethylene (M.B. Lanahan, H.-C. Yen, J.J. Giovannoni, H.J. Klee [1994] Plant Cell 6:521-530). We report here ethylene sensitivity over a range of concentrations in normal and Nr tomato seedlings and show that the Nr mutant retains residual sensitivity to as little as 1 part per million of ethylene. Analysis of ripening-related gene expression in normal and mutant ethylene-treated fruit demonstrates that Nr exerts its influence on development at least in part at the level of ethylene-inducible gene expression. We have additionally used cloned tomato and Arabidopsis sequences known to influence ethylene perception as restriction fragment length polymorphism probes, and have identified a tomato locus linked to Nr that hybridizes to the Arabidopsis ETR1 gene at low stringency, suggesting the possibility that Nr may be homologous to ETR1.

The never ripe mutation blocks ethylene perception in tomato

Seedlings of tomato fruit ripening mutants were screened for their ability to respond to ethylene. Ethylene induced the triple response in etiolated hypocotyls of all tomato ripening mutants tested except for one, Never ripe (Nr). Our results indicated that the lack of ripening in this mutant is caused by ethylene insensitivity. Segregation analysis indicated that Nr-associated ethylene insensitivity is a single codominant trait and is pleiotropic, blocking senescence and abscission of flowers and the epinastic response of petioles. In normal tomato flowers, petal abscission and senescence occur 4 to 5 days after the flower opens and precede fruit expansion. If fertilization does not occur, pedicel abscission occurs 5 to 8 days after petal senescence. If unfertilized, Nr flowers remained attached to the plant indefinitely, and petals remained viable and turgid more than four times longer than their normal counterparts. Fruit development in Nr plants was not preceded by petal senescence; petals and anthers remained attached until they were physically displaced by the expanding ovary. Analysis of engineered 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase-overexpressing plants indicated that they are phenotypic opposites of Nr plants. Constitutive expression of ACC synthase in tomato plants resulted in high rates of ethylene production by many tissues of the plant and induced petiole epinasty and premature senescence and abscission of flowers, usually before anthesis. There were no obvious effects on senescence in leaves of ACC synthase overexpressers, suggesting that although ethylene may be important, it is not sufficient to cause tomato leaf senescence; other signals are clearly involved.

Properties of lactate dehydrogenase in a psychrophilic marine bacterium

Lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) from Vibrio marinus MP-1 was purified 15-fold and ammonium activated. The optimum pH for pyruvate reduction was 7.4. Maximum lactate dehydrogenase activity occurred at 10 to 15 degrees C, and none occurred at 40 degrees C. The crude-extract enzyme was stable between 15 and 20 degrees C and lost 50% of its activity after 60 min at 45 degrees C. The partially purified enzyme was stable between 8 and 15 degrees C and lost 50% of its activity after 60 min at 30 degrees C. The thermal stability of lactate dehydrogenase was increased by mercaptoethanol, with 50% remaining activity at 42 degrees C.

Map of genes for carotenoid and bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis in Rhodopseudomonas capsulata

The recently discovered gene transfer system of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata was used to construct a genetic map of a region concerned with bacteriochlorophyll and carotenoid production. Mutants blocked in the biosynthesis of these compounds were isolated, and each was characterized on the basis of pigments accumulated during growth under low pO2. One-point, two-point, three-point, and ratio test crosses were performed between various mutant strains, and the results were amenable to conventional genetic analyses. A mapping function was found that related cotransfer frequency to map distance. Seven clusters of mutations, five affecting carotenoid and two affecting bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis, were arranged in one linkage group. Each cluster of mutations is thought to represent a gene. The length of the mapped region is estimated to be less than 1% of the genome. Cotransfer is observed between markers separated by about 5 to 10 genes.

Release and uptake of gene transfer agent by Rhodopseudomonas capsulata

Many strains of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata are capable of exchanging genetic information via a recently discovered gene transfer process involving the release and subsequent uptake from the medium of particles containing genetic information (gene transfer agents, GTAs). No viral activities are observed to be associated with this system. An assay has been developed to quantitate gene transfer in R. capsulata. Conditions are described for which the number of cells acquiring a new genetic trait is direcly proportional to the number of GTAs and independent of the number of receipient cells. These conditions were used for the assay of the uptake and release of GTAs by cells. The maximum fraction of recipients that acquire a given genetic marker is approximately 4 X 10(-4). Free GTA appears in a growing culture in one or two abrupt waves near the time of transition from exponential to stationary phase. During these waves, the titer of GTA for a given marker may reach 2 X 103/ml. A comparison of the frequency of single- and double-marker transfers suggests that most of the cells in early-stationary-phase cultures are active recipients. The ultraviolet inactivation spectrum of GTA resembles that of the small ribonucleic acid phages. The inactivation cross section section beta, for GTA was calculated to be 1.7 X 10(-16) cm2/photon at 265 nm.