Concentrations of glandular kallikrein in human nasal secretions increase during experimentally induced allergic rhinitis

We have previously demonstrated that a mixture of bradykinin and lysylbradykinin is generated in nasal secretions during the immediate allergic response to allergen. The present studies were performed to determine whether glandular kallikrein plays a role in kinin formation during the allergic reaction. Allergic individuals (n = 7) and nonallergic controls (n = 7) were challenged intranasally with appropriate allergen, and nasal lavages obtained before and after challenge were assayed for immunoreactive glandular kallikrein as well as for histamine, kinins, and N-alpha-tosyl-L-arginine methyl esterase (TAME-esterase) activity. The increase in postchallenge immunoreactive glandular kallikrein levels above baseline was significantly greater (p less than 0.01) for the allergic group (16.3 +/- 14 ng/ml; means +/- SD) than for the nonallergic controls (1.0 +/- 1.9 ng/ml). Increased levels of immunoreactive glandular kallikrein correlated with increases in kinins, histamine, and TAME-esterase activity and with the onset of clinical symptoms. Characterization of immunoreactive glandular kallikrein purified from postchallenge lavages by immunoaffinity chromatography confirmed the identity of this material as an authentic glandular kallikrein on the basis of its inhibition by protease inhibitors and by monospecific antibody to tissue kallikrein, its chromatographic behavior on gel filtration, and its ability to generate lysylbradykinin from highly purified human low m.w. kininogen. The specific activity of this purified material, in terms of kinin generation from kininogen, was very similar to that for authentic glandular kallikrein, suggesting that most if not all of the immunoreactive material purified from nasal lavages represented active enzyme. Inhibition studies by using pooled postchallenge lavages suggest that the majority of the kinin generating activity in these samples was due to glandular kallikrein. We conclude, therefore, that glandular kallikrein is secreted during the allergic response and can contribute to the formation of the lysylbradykinin produced during the allergic reaction.     

Differential enhancement of spontaneous transition mutations in the lacI gene of an Ung- strain of Escherichia coli

In this communication, the contribution of cytosine deamination to spontaneous mutagenesis in the lacI gene of E. coli was examined. In a wild-type strain, 75% of the amber mutations recovered were G:C----A:T transitions and 60% of these were at the 5-methylcytosine spontaneous hotspots Am6, Am15 and Am34. In a strain deficient for uracil-DNA glycosylase (Ung-), 96% of the amber mutations were G:C----A:T transitions while only 15% of these occurred at the hotspot sites. This shift in the mutational distribution demonstrates that cytosine deamination is a potent mutagenic process, which is enhanced in the absence of glycosylase. Moreover, some amber sites were greatly enhanced in the Ung- strain while others were only slightly enhanced. This result suggests that the rate of cytosine deamination at individual sites may be influenced by surrounding base composition. Therefore, we examined the neighboring sequences and found a strong correlation between the fold-increase in mutation and the A/T richness of the surrounding sequence. It is suggested that A/T-rich regions denature more often, forming transient single strands in which cytosine residues would be expected to deaminate more readily.     

Intracellular mitochondrial membrane potential as an indicator of hepatocyte energy metabolism: further evidence for thermodynamic control of metabolism

The lipophilic triphenylmethylphosphonium cation (TPMP+) has been employed to measure delta psi m, the electrical potential across the inner membrane of the mitochondria of intact hepatocytes. The present studies have examined the validity of this technique in hepatocytes exposed to graded concentrations of inhibitors of mitochondrial energy transduction. Under these conditions, TPMP+ uptake allows a reliable measure of delta psi m in intracellular mitochondria, provided that the ratio [TPMP+]i/[TPMP+]e is greater than 50:1 and that at the end of the incubation more than 80% of the hepatocytes exclude Trypan blue. Hepatocytes, staining with Trypan blue, incubated in the presence of Ca2+, do not concentrate TPMP+. The relationships between delta psi m and two other indicators of cellular energy state, delta GPc and Eh, or between delta psi m and J0, were examined in hepatocytes from fasted rats by titration with graded concentrations of inhibitors of mitochondrial energy transduction. Linear relationships were generally observed between delta psi m and delta GPc, Eh or J0 over the delta psi m range of 120-160 mV, except in the presence of carboxyatractyloside or oligomycin, where delta psi m remained constant. Both the magnitude and the direction of the slope of the observed relationships depended upon the nature of the inhibitor. Hepatocytes from fasted rats synthesized glucose from lactate or fructose, and urea from ammonia, at rates which were generally linear functions of the magnitude of delta psi m, except in the presence of oligomycin or carboxyatractyloside. Linear relationships were also observed between delta psi m and the rate of formation of lactate in cells incubated with fructose and in hepatocytes from fed rats. The linear property of these force-flow relationships is taken as evidence for the operation of thermodynamic regulatory mechanisms within hepatocytes.     

Study on the enzymatic 5′-deiodination of 3′,5′-diiodothyronine using a radioimmunoassay for 3′-iodothyronine

A radioimmunoassay for 3′-iodothyronine has been developed. All iodothyronine analogues (except 3,3′-diiodothyronine) showed very little (0.02% at most) cross-reactivity, and the assay was sensitive to 1 pg 3′-iodothyronine/ tube. We have studied the 5′-deiodination of 3′,5′-diiodothyronine by rat liver microsomal fraction in the presence of dithiothreitol. Production of 3′-iodothyronine at 37°C was found to be linear with time of incubation up to 30 min and with concentration of microsomal protein up to 100 μg/ml. The reaction rate reached a limit on increasing 3′,5′-diiodothyronine concentration to 10 μM. The effect of pH on 3′-iodothyronine production was found to depend on 3′,5′-diiodothyronine concentration. Increasing 3′,5′-diiodothyronine concentration from 0.1 to 10 μM resulted in a shift of the pH optimum from 6–6.5 to 7.5. Similar effects on the 5′-deiodination of 3,3′,5′-triiodothyronine were observed, supporting the hypothesis that these reactions are catalysed by a single enzyme (iodothyronine 5′-deiodinase).     

Histoenzymological and biochemical changes in the liver of adult female rats and of youngs born from Madiol-treated pregnant rats

The effect of a 30-day treatment with Madiol was studied on the activity of some enzymes, nucleic acids, protein and glycogen content of the liver of adult female rats and youngs born from mothers treated during pregnancy. Madiol caused a significant increase in SDH and Atp-ase activity, and decreased glycogen and acid phosphatase.     

Involvement of Kv1.3 and p38 MAPK signaling in HIV-1 glycoprotein 120-induced microglia neurotoxicity

Inflammatory responses mediated by activated microglia play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-associated neurocognitive disorders. Studies on identification of specific targets to control microglia activation and resultant neurotoxic activity are imperative. Increasing evidence indicate that voltage-gated K⁺ (K_v) channels are involved in the regulation of microglia functionality. In this study, we investigated K_v1.3 channels in the regulation of neurotoxic activity mediated by HIV-1 glycoprotein 120 (gp120)-stimulated rat microglia. Our results showed treatment of microglia with gp120 increased the expression levels of K_v1.3 mRNA and protein. In parallel, whole-cell patch-clamp studies revealed that gp120 enhanced microglia K_v1.3 current, which was blocked by margatoxin, a K_v1.3 blocker. The association of gp120 enhancement of K_v1.3 current with microglia neurotoxicity was demonstrated by experimental results that blocking microglia K_v1.3 attenuated gp120-associated microglia production of neurotoxins and neurotoxicity. Knockdown of K_v1.3 gene by transfection of microglia with K_v1.3-siRNA abrogated gp120-associated microglia neurotoxic activity. Further investigation unraveled an involvement of p38 MAPK in gp120 enhancement of microglia K_v1.3 expression and resultant neurotoxic activity. These results suggest not only a role K_v1.3 may have in gp120-associated microglia neurotoxic activity, but also a potential target for the development of therapeutic strategies.     

Decompression outcome following saturation dives with multiple inert gases in rats

This investigation examined the question of whether gas mixtures containing multiple inert gases provide a decompression advantage over mixtures containing a single inert gas. Unanesthetized male albino rats, Rattus norvegicus, were subjected to 2-h simulated dives at depths ranging from 145 to 220 fsw. At pressure, the rats breathed various He-N2-Ar-O2 mixtures (79.1% inert gas-20.9% O2); they were then decompressed rapidly (within 10 s) to surface pressures. The probability of decompression sickness (DCS), measured either as severe bends symptoms or death, was related to the experimental variables in a Hill equation model incorporating parameters that account for differences in the potencies of the three gases and the weight of the animal. The relative potencies of the three gases, which affect the total dose of decompression stress, were determined as significantly different in the following ascending order of potency: He less than N2 less than Ar; some of these differences were small in magnitude. With mixtures, the degree of decompression stress diminished as either N2 or Ar was replaced by He. No obvious advantage or disadvantage of mixtures over the least potent pure inert gas (He) was evident, although limits to the expectation of possible advantage or disadvantage of mixtures were defined. Also, model analysis did not support the hypothesis that the outcome of decompression with multiple inert gases in rats under these experimental conditions can be explained totally by the volume of gas accumulated in the body during a dive.     

Anaerobic ureolytic bacteria from caecal content and soft faeces of rabbit

Forty strains of ureolytic bacteria were isolated from the caecal content and soft faeces of seven rabbits by the anaerobic roll tube method and were characterized. The isolates were identified with Clostridium coccoides, Cl. innocuum, Peptostreptococcus productus, P. micros, Peptococcus magnus, Fusobacterium russii and Fusobacterium sp. Urease activity of representative strains of the various species was also determined. The study indicated that strongly-ureolytic anaerobic bacteria are present in the caecum of the rabbit.     

Artifactual phosphate binding due to impurities in [32P]orthophosphate

Many commercial preparations of [32P]orthophosphate contain radioactive impurities that interfere with binding and transport studies in biological systems. One type of impurity is micro-particulate whereas another may be pyrophosphate. Methods of removing these impurities from radiolabeled orthophosphate solutions are described.     

Effect of dehydrocorrine-cobalt complex on mitochondria

The effects of the decamethyloctadehydrocorrine-cobalt complex (Co-C) on respiration and the ATP-synthetase activity of rat liver mitochondria were investigated. The Co-C complex was found to be an effective shunt of the respiratory chain. It accepts electrons from ubiquinone and donates them directly to O2. The Co-C complex inhibits the ATPase and ATP-synthetase activities of mitochondria.