Modulation of DNA synthesis in aortic smooth muscle cells by dinitrotoluenes

Studies were conducted to determine if in vivo exposure to dinitrotoluenes (DNT), which is associated with circulatory disorders of atherosclerotic etiology in humans, is associated with alterations of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) consistent with the atherogenic process. Sprague-Dawley rats (150-180 g) were injected IP for 5 days/week for 8 weeks with 2,4- or 2,6-DNT (0.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg) or medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil. Histopathologic evaluation of aortae from animals exposed to either isomer showed dysplasia and rearrangement of SMC at all doses tested. Reduced ³H-thymidine incorporation was observed in primary cultures of aortic SMC from DNT-exposed animals relative to vehicle controls. This inhibitory response was maintained for up to two passages in culture after which a significant increase in thymidine incorporation was observed. Exposure of SMC from naive animals to DNT in vitro (1–100 µM) did not alter the extent of thymidine incorporation in cycling or growth-arrested cultures. In contrast, exposure to 2,4- or 2,6-diaminotoluene (DAT) (1–100 µM), carcinogens which share toxic metabolic intermediates in common with DNT, inhibited replicative DNA synthesis and stimulated unscheduled DNA synthesis in cycling and growth-arrested cultures of SMC, respectively. Our results suggest that modulation of DNA synthesis in aortic SMC by DNT metabolites generated in vivo contribute to the development of vascular lesions.Abbreviation DAT diaminotuluene - tDNT technical grade dinitrotoluene - DNT dinitrotoluenes - HU hydroxyurea - IP intraperitoneal - LDH lactate dehydrogenase - MCT oil medium chain triglyceride - NPTC non-protein thiol content - RDS replicative DNA synthesis - SEM standard error of the mean - SMC smooth muscle cells - UDS unscheduled DNA synthesis     

Biotechnological production of unnatural L-amino acids from D,L-5-monosubstituted hydantions. I. Derivatives of L-phenylalanine

Summary Resting cells of a mutant ofArthrobacter sp. (DSM 3747) were used for the bioconversion of D,L-5-benzylhydantoin and related compounds to the corresponding L-amino acids. After optimization of the reaction conditions in shake flask experiments, bioconversions were performed in a preparative scale in a 2-l-bioreactor under nitrogen atmosphere. Specific productivities of 0.4 (p-NO₂-L-phenylalanine) up to 3.9 mM amino acid x g cell dry mass^–1 x h^–1 (p-Cl-L-phenylalanine) were obtained. D,L-5-p-COOH-Benzylhydantoin, D,L-5-phenylhydantoin and D,L-5-p-OH-phenylhydantoin were not accepted as substrates.     

Polar secretion of endothelin-1 by cultured endothelial cells.

The aim of this study was to determine the permeability of endothelial monolayers for endothelin-1 and a possible directionality of the endothelin-1 secretion process. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured on acellular amniotic membranes, dividing the tissue culture wells into an apical (luminal) and a basolateral (abluminal) compartment. Whereas in the absence of endothelial monolayers 44.9 +/- 2.3 and 43.5 +/- 2.0% of the unilaterally added endothelin-1 permeated from the apical to the basolateral side and from the basolateral to the apical side, respectively, only 6.5 +/- 0.6 and 6.6 +/- 0.4% diffused in the presence of endothelial cells. Analyzing endothelin-1 secretion, approximately 80% of the total amount of synthesized endothelin-1 was found in the basolateral compartment; thrombin (10 units/ml) stimulated the production of endothelin-1 approximately 2-fold, but did not change the relative distribution of endothelin-1 between the apical and basolateral compartments. In the presence of dexamethasone (10(-7) M), a decrease in the level of endothelin-1 was found in the apical compartment, whereas the total amount of endothelin-1 produced was not affected. Dexamethasone did not influence the permeability of human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers for endothelin-1. These results strongly support the hypothesis that endothelin-1 is a local paracrine regulator of vasotone.     

Effective incorporation of 2''-O-methyl-oligoribonucleotides into liposomes and enhanced cell association through modification with thiocholesterol.

Cholesterol was linked to 2'-O-methyl-oligoribonucleotides (2'-OMe-RNA) via a disulfide bond by reacting the 3'-(pyridyldithio)-modified 2'-OMe-RNA with thiocholesterol in dichloromethane-methanol solution. This ligation reaction was made possible by a novel strategy in which the highly charged oligonucleotide was rendered soluble in nonaqueous solvent through conversion to a lipophilic amidinium salt. The biodegradable lipophilic modification of 2'-OMe-RNA resulted in a large increase in incorporation of such oligonucleotides into liposomes prepared by reversephase evaporation. Furthermore, association of these modified oligonucleotides with cultured TIB 73 cells was 100-fold higher than that seen with unmodified 2'-OMe-RNA in serum-free medium and about 10 to 30-fold higher in the presence of 10% calf serum. During incubation with cells, release of the internalized oligonucleotide from the thiocholesteryl moiety can be demonstrated.     

Adenosine/Adenine-Containing Nucleotides in the Leaves and Roots of Young Barley Plants after Infection of the Primary Leaf by Erysiphe graminis

The levels of adenosine, the adenine nucleotides AMP, ADP, ATP, as well as NAD, NADP, protein and chlorophyll were determined in young barley plants of which the primary leaves were infected by Erysiphe graminis DC. f. sp. hordei MARCHAL. The largest changes of these metabolite levels, compared to the non-infected control, occurred in the infected leaf and to a lesser degree also in the roots and in healthy younger leaves. The increase in the levels of most metabolites in the primary leaf revealed the sink property of this infected tissue and possible stress or defence reactions of the host, whereas the reductions in the roots showed the impaired supply of this natural sink organ due to the infection. Changes in the healthy leaves were most pronounced in the tertiary leaf and may reflect metabolic stimulation in that healthy organ. The changes of the adenosine pool, a precursor of the adenine nucleotides, were discussed in terms of translocation and its possible role as a precursor for fungal purine nucleotide synthesis.     

Plasma selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase. Cell of origin and secretion

Human plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) has been shown to be a glycosylated selenoprotein distinct enzymatically, structurally, and antigenically from known cellular glutathione peroxidases. The extracellular location of the enzyme and the fact that it is glycosylated suggested that it is a secreted protein. Utilizing mutually non-cross-reactive antibodies to human cellular and plasma GSHPx, we conducted a search to determine the tissue of origin for plasma GSHPx. The cells screened were endothelial cells because they are the main source of extracellular superoxide dismutase, HL-60 cells (myeloid cell line) because they are the main source of extracellular H2O2, and Hep G2 cells (hepatic cell line) because they are the source of many plasma proteins. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were metabolically labeled with either [35S]methionine or [75Se]selenious acid, and HL-60 cells and Hep G2 cells were metabolically labeled with [75Se]selenious acid. Proteins were immunopurified from the labeled cells and their media with either anti-red blood cell (RBC) GSHPx IgG or with anti-plasma GSHPx IgG. Utilizing anti-RBC GSHPx IgG, only the cellular form of the enzyme was precipitated from all the cells tested but not from their media. When anti-plasma GSHPx IgG was applied to the cells and their media, a selenoprotein was precipitated only from the media of Hep G2 cells. When Hep G2 cells were incubated in the presence of the carboxylic ionophore monensin, an intracellular selenoprotein could be detected using anti-plasma GSHPx IgG. The precipitation of the cellular form from all three cell types was partially inhibited by preincubation of the anti-RBC GSHPx IgG with purified RBC GSHPx while the precipitation of the selenoprotein from the medium of Hep G2 cells by anti-plasma GSHPx IgG was prevented by preincubation of the antibody with purified plasma GSHPx. We suggest that plasma GSHPx is synthesized by and secreted from hepatic cells. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the only known selenoprotein with a defined function that has been shown to be synthesized for secretion by mammalian cells.     

Effect of left atrial pressure on bronchial vascular hemodynamics

We studied the bronchial vascular response to downstream pressure elevation by increasing left atrial pressure (Pla) and mean airway pressure (Paw) with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). In seven pentobarbital-anesthetized ventilated sheep, we cannulated and perfused the bronchial branch of the bronchoesophageal artery. Steady-state bronchial artery pressure- (Pba) flow (Qba) relationships were obtained as Pla was increased by inflating a balloon catheter in the left atrium. Bronchial vascular resistance (BVR), determined by the inverse slope of the Pba-Qba relationship, increased significantly from 3.2 +/- 0.3 (SE) mmHg.ml-1.min-1 at a Pla of 2.9 +/- 0.7 mmHg to 5.1 +/- 0.5 mmHg.ml-1.min-1 at a Pla of 20.1 +/- 2.0 mmHg (P = 0.0007). Under control Qba (23.3 +/- 1.2 ml/min), these changes in BVR represent a 3.6 +/- 0.7-mmHg increase in Pba per mmHg increase in Pla. The zero-flow pressure increased 1.3 +/- 0.2 mmHg/mmHg increase in Pla. After infusion of papaverine, a smooth muscle paralytic agent, directly into the bronchial artery, BVR decreased significantly to 1.3 +/- 0.7 mmHg.ml-1.min-1 (P = 0.0004). Under these dilated conditions, BVR was unaltered by increases in Pla. After papaverine administration, Pba increased 0.9 +/- 0.1 and 1.2 +/- 0.1 mmHg/mmHg increase in Pla during control and zero-flow conditions, respectively. Thus the effect of Pla elevation on BVR appears to be dependent on active smooth muscle responses. Paw elevation had similar effects on Pba. Under control Qba, Pba increased 2.2 +/- 0.4 mmHg/mmHg increase in Paw.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)