Association of Tat protein and viral mRNA with nuclear matrix from HIV-1-infected H9 cells

The transactivating protein from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), Tat, was found to bind to the nuclear matrix from uninfected and HIV-1-infected H9 cells. Addition of the Zn2+, Cd2+ and Cu2+ chelator o-phenanthroline destroyed the matrix fibrils and the binding affinity of Tat to the matrix. A sequential treatment of the matrix, first with o-phenanthroline and then with ZnCl2, partially restored the fibrillar-like matrix structure. Infection of H9 cells with HIV-1 resulted in a displacement of cellular mRNA by viral mRNA from the nuclear matrix. Both the matrix-bound host cell and HIV-1 mRNA were found to dissociate from the matrix in the presence of o-phenanthroline. This could be prevented by coincubation with Zn2+ or Cu2+ (but not Mg2+), which stabilize the mRNA containing nuclear matrix structure.     

Studies on protein kinases involved in regulation of nucleocytoplasmic mRNA transport.

The rate of energy-dependent nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase)-mediated nucleocytoplasmic translocation of poly(A)-containing mRNA [poly(A)+mRNA] across the nuclear envelope is thought to be regulated by poly(A)-sensitive phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of nuclear-envelope protein. Studying the phosphorylation-related inhibition of the NTPase, we found that phosphorylation of one polypeptide of rat liver envelopes by endogenous NI- and NII-like protein kinase was particularly sensitive to poly(A). This polypeptide (106 kDa) was also phosphorylated by nuclear-envelope-bound Ca2+-activated and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C). Activation of kinase C by tumour-promoting phorbol esters resulted in inhibition of nuclear-envelope NTPase activity and in a concomitant decrease of mRNA (actin) efflux rate from isolated rat liver nuclei. Protein kinase C, but not nuclear envelope NI-like or NII-like protein kinase, was found to be solubilized from the envelope by Triton X-100, whereas the presumable poly(A)-binding site [the 106 kDa polypeptide, representing the putative carrier for poly(A)+mRNA transport] remained bound to this structure. RNA efflux from detergent-treated nuclei lost its susceptibility to phorbol esters. Addition of purified protein kinase C to these nuclei restored the effect of the tumour promoters. Protein kinase C was found to bind also to isolated rat liver nuclear matrices in the absence but not in the presence of ATP. The NII-like nuclear-envelope protein kinase co-purified together with the 106 kDa polypeptide which specifically binds to poly(A) in an ATP-labile linkage.     

The effect of chronic prepubertal administration of marihuana (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) on the onset of puberty and the postpubertal reproductive functions in female rats

The effect of the main psychoactive component of marihuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was investigated on the onset of puberty and on the reproductive function in female rats up to the seventy-fifth to eightieth day of life. The drug was administered i.p. at a dose of 1 microgram/kg/day between the twenty-second postnatal day and the day of vaginal opening (V.O.). The administration of THC caused a 2-day delay in V. O., and the number of ova on the day of first estrus was significantly lower in treated rats than in controls. No differences were observed in serum gonadotropin and prolactin (PRL) levels on the day of V. O. After puberty, alterations occurred in the neuroendocrine functions of animals receiving THC that persisted until adulthood: estrous cycles were irregular, the number of ova in animals killed 35-40 days after V. O. was reduced, and serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were decreased (diminution of serum FSH content was less expressed). An increase in serum PRL concentration could be demonstrated only in animals killed on the day of estrus. From these results, it might be concluded that THC administered to prepubertal rats--even in a very low dose--causes long-term irreversible alterations in reproductive functions. The importance of the fight against drug abuse is emphasized.     

Prophylactic treatment of BALB/c mice with cyclosporine A and its analog B-5-49 enhances resistance to Leishmania major

The effect of cyclosporine A (Cs A) and its analog B-5-49 on Leishmania major in vitro and in vivo in the highly susceptible BALB/c mouse strain has been investigated. In vitro, both of these drugs showed significant toxicity toward L. major, but only at relatively high levels (greater than 25 micrograms/ml). However, at 5 and 10 micrograms/ml, levels which correspond more closely to physiologically achievable concentrations, no growth-inhibitory effect in vitro was observed. On administration of the drugs to animals with established lesions, no beneficial effect was observed and, in fact, some exacerbation of lesion development and disease progression was noted. Surprisingly, a majority of the mice treated prophylactically with Cs A for a period of 7 consecutive days beginning 1 day before infection with L. major did not develop ulcerated cutaneous lesions, although some footpad swelling was observed 10 days to 2 wk after infection. These resistant animals displayed a sustained DTH after infection, and were resistant to further challenge with virulent L. major. Prophylactic treatment with the B-5-49 analog of Cs A was also effective in enhancing resistance to L. major infection in BALB/c mice, although to a somewhat lesser degree. Because the cyclosporines tested do not appear to be directly toxic nor inhibitory in vivo for established L. major infections, it appears that these drugs may be effective in modulating the induction stage of the immune response toward the parasites in the BALB/c mouse in such a way as to allow a protective immunity to develop.     

Modifications of sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine metabolism by tricyclic antidepressants and phenothiazines

Phenothiazines and tricyclic antidepressants, when added to culture medium, gave rise in several types of cells (C6 rat glioma cells and human fibroblasts), to a decrease in lysosomal sphingomyelinase activity. The effect of chlorpromazine and desipramine was dose dependent, and was observed after 3 hours of incubation with the drugs at concentrations ranging between 1 and 10 microM. In C6 glioma cell cultures, the decrease in sphingomyelinase activity was related to the clinical effectiveness of phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants and derivatives. Incorporation of (choline-14C) sphingomyelin showed that the metabolic pathway implying the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine from the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin and/or transfer of phosphorylcholine to phosphatidylcholine was also partially reduced.     

Type C Niemann-Pick disease. Abnormal metabolism of low density lipoprotein in homozygous and heterozygous fibroblasts

The esterification of cholesterol derived from human low density lipoprotein (LDL) or fetal bovine serum (FBS) was deficient in cultured fibroblasts from subjects with heterozygous and homozygous type C Niemann-Pick (NPC) disease. Failure to significantly esterify LDL-derived cholesterol resulted in abnormal accumulation of predominantly unesterified cholesterol in homozygous NPC fibroblasts. Compared with normal and homozygous fibroblasts, heterozygous NPC fibroblasts synthesized intermediate levels of cholesteryl ester during the initial 6 h of incubation with LDL. The rate of cholesterol esterification in heterozygous cells was normal when measured over a 24-h period of incubation with LDL. In addition to demonstrating a defect in cholesterol esterification, homozygous NPC fibroblasts accumulated more total cholesterol when incubated with LDL or FBS than normal fibroblasts accumulated. When heterozygous NPC fibroblasts were incubated with LDL or FBS, cellular accumulation of cholesterol reached levels that were high-normal or intermediary between levels observed in normal and homozygous NPC fibroblasts. The partial expression of these metabolic errors in the heterozygous genotype relevantly links these errors to the primary mutation of this disorder.     

Induction of cAMP-dependent protein kinase I during human monocyte differentiation

Differentiation of human peripheral blood monocytes into macrophages was accompanied by induction of the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase I as determined by photoaffinity labeling of cytosol proteins with 8-N3-[32P]cAMP and DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. The appearance of cAMP-dependent protein kinase I in macrophages was not due to translocation from the particulate fraction of monocytes. The regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase II was present in both monocytes and in vitro-differentiated macrophages. Protein kinase I in macrophages demonstrated higher affinity for 8-N3-cAMP (KD = 0.7 nM) than did protein kinase II from either monocytes (KD = 14.5 nM) or macrophages (KD = 4.9 nM). These studies demonstrate induction of the regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase I during the differentiation of a normal human cell and support the hypothesis that cAMP may regulate some stages of differentiation.     

Sister chromatid exchange analysis of the 15q11 region in Prader-Willi syndrome patients

Summary Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a sporadic disorder in which about half of cases have a 15q12 deletion. Although a small number of cases have other rearrangements involving 15q12, the rest of the cases appear to have normal chromosomes. Clinical similarities among all these patients regardless of the karyotype strongly suggests a common etiology. To investigate the nature of this common etiology, we analyzed sister chromatid exchange (SCE) at the 15q11-13 region in 10 PWS patients with the chromosome deletion, 12 PWS patients with normal chromosomes, and 11 normal control individuals. While SCE at the q11-13 region was absent on the 15q12 deleted chromosome, the percentage of SCE on chromosome 15 at q11 was statistically higher for PWS with normal chromosomes (10.1%) compared to that for normal controls (1.9%) and the normal homologue (2.2%) in deleted patients (²=7.7982, df=2, P<0.025). The data suggest relative instability of DNA at the 15q11 region in PWS patients.