Analysis of the glucocorticoid antagonist action of dexamethasone 21-mesylate in HeLa S3 cells

Several properties of human glucocorticoid receptors complexed to the synthetic glucocorticoid agonists dexamethasone (DEX) and triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and the antagonist dexamethasone 21-mesylate (DM) are compared in an attempt to define the mode of action of DM. Both DEX and TA induce an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity in HeLa S3 cells. Not only is DM without effect on alkaline phosphatase activity at concentrations as great as 10(-7) M, it blocks the action of DEX and TA on enzyme induction, thus acting as a pure antagonist in this system. DM-receptor complexes, like agonist-receptor complexes, are recovered in the cytosol when cells are incubated with ligand at 0 degrees C but are recovered from the nucleus when incubation is shifted to 37 degrees C, suggesting that activation of the antagonist-receptor complex occurs in vivo. The molecular species that undergoes this temperature-dependent shift from the cytosolic compartment to the nuclear compartment exhibits saturable binding to the antagonist. Both the cytosolic and nuclear species exhibit a relative molecular mass of approximately equal to 94,000 Daltons when analysed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Receptors labeled in intact cells with [3H]DM at 0 degrees C sediment at approximately 8S in sucrose gradients, shifting to 4S when the gradients contain 0.4 M KCl. DEX- and TA-labeled receptors show the same sedimentation behavior, which has been accepted as one criterion of receptor subunit dissociation, or activation.     

Mechanism of action of cyclosporin A in vivo. I. Cyclosporin A fails to inhibit T lymphocyte activation in response to alloantigens

Although cyclosporin A (Cy A) has been widely used clinically as a potent suppressor of organ allograft rejection and has been shown to block T lymphocyte activation in vitro by inhibiting the generation of interleukin 2 (IL-2) and other lymphokines, little direct evidence is available to support the view that the immunosuppressive effects of Cy A in vivo are mediated by a similar inhibition of the autocrine lymphokine cascade. We have used a quantitative assay for the assessment of the role of the IL-2/IL-2 receptor system in the activation of the draining popliteal lymph node population after the injection of allogeneic cells in the footpad to define the effects of Cy A on the early events of lymphocyte activation in vivo and to compare them with the effects of Cy A on lymphocyte activation in vitro. The administration of Cy A in vivo had no effect on alloantigen-induced increases in cell size, percentage of cells expressing the IL-2 receptor, the spontaneous or IL-2-driven proliferation of freshly explanted cells, or the induction of cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity. These findings raise major questions about the mechanism of action of Cy A in vivo and suggest that more experimentation is required to probe the mechanisms of Cy A-induced suppression of the response to allografts.     

Antagonists of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors do not inhibit induction of ischemic tolerance in gerbil hippocampus

In this study we tested the effect of antagonists of two subtypes of the group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs GI) on the induction of ischemic tolerance in relation to brain temperature. These experiments were prompted by indications that glutamate receptors may participate in the mechanisms of ischemic preconditioning. The role of NMDA receptors in the induction of ischemic tolerance has been debated while there is lack of information concerning the involvement of mGluRs GI in this phenomenon. The tolerance to injurious 3 min forebrain ischemia in Mongolian gerbils was induced 48 h earlier by 2 min preconditioning ischemia. Brain temperature was measured using telemetry equipment. EMQMCM and MTEP, antagonists of mGluR1 and mGluR5, respectively, were injected i.p. at a dose of 5 mg/kg. They were administered either before preconditioning ischemia in a single dose or after 2 min ischemia three times every 2 h. Both antagonists did not inhibit the induction of ischemic tolerance. Thus, our data indicate that group I metabotropic glutamate receptors do not play an essential role in the induction of ischemic tolerance.     

Inert dust insecticides: Part I. Mechanism of action

The mode of action of inert dust insecticides on the grain weevil ( Calandra granaria L.) has been investigated by determination of mortality-time curves and by a detailed study of the influence of dusts on the water relations of the insects. It has been found that dusts do not depend for their action on any chemical reactivity, some highly inert substances such as diamond and carborundum being very effective. A physical process is therefore indicated.
Dusts do not penetrate into the respiratory system, and although large amounts are ingested these seem to have little harmful effect.
It has been demonstrated that effective dusts increase the rate of evaporation of water from insects to the air, and that the relative killing powers of different dusts run parallel with their capacities for promoting evaporation. The results are in harmony with the view (proposed by earlier workers) that inert dusts kill insects by inducing death by desiccation.