Effect of dietary fat on pancreatic lipase levels in the rat

The effect of dietary fat on levels of lipase and other enzymes in rat pancreas has been studied. It was possible to raise levels of lipase in animals by supplementing their commercial chow diet with added fat or by raising the level of fat in semipurified diets from 4% to 22%. Pancreatic amylase levels decreased in rats fed the high fat diets, whereas levels of chymotrypsinogen and trypsinogen were unaffected. The type of carbohydrate in the semipurified diets made no difference. Thus, the levels of enzymes in rats fed dextrose-containing diets or cornstarch-containing diets were similar. On the basis of the present data, and results of others, it would appear that levels of pancreatic lipase are increased when the fat content of the diet is raised from about 5% to 15-22%, but that little or no additional increase in lipase levels can be attained by any further increase in the amount of dietary fat.     

Binding of bile salts to pancreatic colipase and lipase.

The binding of conjugated bile salts to pancreatic colipase and lipase has been studied by equilibrium dialysis and gel filtration. The results indicate that at physiological ionic strength and pH, conjugated bile salts bind as micelles to colipase: 12-15 moles/mole of colipase for the dihydroxy conjugates and 2-4 for the trihydroxy conjugates. No binding of bile salt takes place from monomeric solutions. Under the same experimental conditions, only 1-2 moles of conjugated dihydroxy bile salts bind to pancreatic lipase.     

Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of dominant-negative Smad4 blocks TGF-beta signaling in pancreatic acinar cells

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a potent inhibitor of pancreatic acinar cell growth. Smad4 is a central mediator in the TGF-beta signaling pathway. To study the effect of Smad4 on pancreatic growth, cell cycle protein expression, and the expression of a TGF-beta-responsive promoter in vitro, we constructed an adenovirus containing dominant-negative COOH terminal truncated Smad4 (AddnSmad4) downstream of the rat elastase promoter. Acinar cells expressed dominant-negative Smad4 within 8 h after infection, and expression persisted for 72 h. Mouse pancreatic acini were infected with either AddnSmad4 or control adenovirus expressing green fluorescent protein, and TGF-beta was added 8 h after infection. Acinar cells were then incubated for 1, 2, or 3 days, and [(3)H]thymidine incorporation was determined. AddnSmad4 significantly reduced TGF-beta inhibition of [(3)H]thymidine incorporation, with maximal effects on day 3. AddnSmad4 also completely blocked TGF-beta-mediated growth inhibition in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor. We next examined the effects of AddnSmad4 on TGF-beta-induced expression of the cell cycle regulatory proteins p21(Cip1) and p27(Kip1). TGF-beta induced upregulation of p21(Cip1), which was completely blocked by AddnSmad4. AddnSmad4 also inhibited TGF-beta-induced expression of the TGF-beta-responsive luciferase reporter 3TP-Lux. These results show that Smad4 is essential in TGF-beta-mediated signaling in pancreatic acinar cells.     

Purification of rat pancreatic lipase

A procedure for the isolation of lipase (glycerolester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3) from rat pancreas is described. The purification scheme includes homogenization of the pancreas, centrifugation at 3,000 rpm, centrifugation at 40,000 rpm, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, precipitation of amylase as the amylase-glycogen complex, gel filtration of the amylase-free proteins on Sephadex G-100, and chromatography on carboxymethyl-Sephadex C-50. The enzyme showed only one band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and had a specific activity of 5330 +/- 80 units/mg of protein.     

Transcytosis of pancreatic bile salt-dependent lipase through human Int407 intestinal cells.

In previous studies, we have shown that the bile-salt-dependent-lipase (BSDL), secreted by pancreatic acinar cells and secreted into the duodenal lumen, can be transcytosed through intestinal cells up to the lamina propria. In this study, we used an in vitro system to provide insights into the apical to basolateral transport of BSDL, across the intestinal barrier. The Int407 human epithelial cell line, grown under conditions that optimize polarity, was used as a tight epithelium model. We attempted to delineate uptake mechanisms and the transcytotic pathway followed by this pancreatic enzyme within the intestinal Int407 cells, which do not produce BSDL. When added to the apical reservoir of Transwell-grown Int407 cells, BSDL was shown to first interact with the apical membrane. Further, BSDL forms clusters that are internalized via clathrin-coated pits. Following endocytosis, BSDL is directed to a nocodazole- and colchicin-sensitive multivesicular compartment. Interestingly, this protein transits through the Golgi apparatus, where it was found to colocalize with the KDEL retrieval-receptor. Finally, enzymatically active intact BSDL was released at the basolateral membrane level. This is the first demonstration for an apical-to-basolateral transcytotic pathway of a secreted pancreatic digestive enzyme through polarized intestinal cells.     

Impairment of bile salt-dependent lipase secretion in human pancreatic tumoral SOJ-6 cells

Bile salt-dependent lipase (BSDL) was detected in human SOJ-6 and rat AR4-2J pancreatic cells. Whereas AR4-2J cells actively secreted the enzyme, BSDL was retained within the Golgi compartment of SOJ-6 cells. Because Rab6 is involved in vesicle transport in the Golgi apparatus and the trans-Golgi network, we confirmed the presence of Rab6 in these cells. In rat AR4-2J cells, Rab6 as well as Rab1A/B and Rab2, partitioned between the cytosol and microsomes. In SOJ-6 cells Rab1A/B and Rab2 also partitioned between the cytosol and microsomes, but Rab6 was strictly associated with microsome membranes, suggesting a specific defect of Rab6 cycling in human SOJ-6 cells. The apparent defect of cycling in these cells is not due to the expression of a defective Rab6 since its correct sequence was confirmed. We further demonstrated that AR4-2J and SOJ-6 cells express the Rab-GDIbeta and Rab-GDIalpha isoforms, respectively. However, the sequence of Rab-GDIbeta, which may be the main form expressed by SOJ-6 cells, identified a few substitutions located in regions that are essential for Rab-GDI function. We conclude that the deficient secretion of BSDL by SOJ-6 cells could be due to the expression of defective Rab-GDIbeta. In spite of the alterations in Rab-GDIbeta, membrane proteins such as CD71 and NHE3 were correctly localized to the cell plasma membrane of SOJ-6 cells, suggesting that two functional distinct secretory pathway coexist in pancreatic cells.     

Purification and characterization of bovine pancreatic bile salt-activated lipase

An enzyme with lipase and esterase activity was purified from bovine pancreas. Furthermore, a non-radioactive lipase assay was developed which is 100 times more sensitive than the conventional methods and allowed the characterization of the lipase activity of the enzyme. The lipase activity increased 42 times in the presence of 10 mM sodium taurocholate, which for the first time provides direct evidence that a bile salt-activated lipase (bp-BAL) was isolated from bovine pancreas. This conclusion is further supported by the fact that the N-terminal amino acid sequence of this lipase/esterase is 88% homologous to human milk BAL and human pancreatic BAL. Staining with various lectins showed that bp-BAL is a glycoprotein which contains fucose residues. Previously from bovine pancreas a lysophospholipase has been purified and a gene was cloned and sequenced encoding an enzyme with cholesterol esterase/lysophospholipase activity. Comparison of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of bp-BAL with the deduced amino acid sequence of the latter revealed that they are identical. Furthermore, the molecular weight of the purified bp-BAL of 63,000, as estimated by SDS-PAGE, is very similar to that of the purified lysophospholipase (65,000) and to the theoretical molecular weight of 65,147 of the cholesterol esterase/lysophospholipase. These data suggest that these three enzymes are one and the same.     

Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to nonparenchymal cells in normal and injured liver

Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer has become an important tool with which to introduce genetic material into cells. Available data emphasize efficient adenoviral transduction of parenchymal liver cells (i.e., hepatocytes) in both in vitro and in vivo model systems, typically in normal cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate gene transfer to nonparenchymal (and parenchymal) cells of the normal and injured rat liver. Hepatocytes, stellate cells, and endothelial cells were isolated by standard methods. Liver injury was induced by bile duct ligation or carbon tetrachloride administration. Cells were transduced in vitro with an adenovirus encoding beta-galactosidase (Ad.beta-gal) over a range of viral titers, and transduced cells were identified by detection of X-gal. In vivo transduction efficiency was studied in normal and injured livers using cell isolation techniques. Nonparenchymal cells were transduced with greater frequency than hepatocytes at all adenoviral titers tested, both in vitro and in vivo. After liver injury, adenoviral transduction was reduced for all liver cell types compared with that for cells from normal livers (at all virus titers). Notably, transduction efficiency remained greater in nonparenchymal cells than in hepatocytes after liver injury. This work implies that, to achieve comparable gene expression in the injured liver, higher adenoviral titers may be required, an important consideration as gene therapy in disease states is considered.     

Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of human butyrylcholinesterase results in persistent high-level transgene expression in vivo

Human serum butyrylcholinesterase (Hu BChE) is a promising therapeutic against the toxicity of chemical warfare nerve agents, pesticide intoxication, and cocaine overdose. However, its widespread application is hampered by difficulties in large-scale production of the native protein from human plasma and/or availability as a recombinant protein suitable for use in vivo. This limitation may be resolved by in vivo delivery and expression of the Hu BChE gene. In this study, recombinant (r) adenoviruses (Ads) encoding full-length and truncated rHu BChEs were tested for in vivo expression in mice. Mice injected with these rAds intraperitoneally failed to express rHu BChE. However, a single tail vein injection of both rAds resulted in persistent high serum levels of rHu BChE in BChE knockout mice, which peaked on days 4/5 at 377+/-162U/ml for full-length rHu BChE and 574+/-143U/ml for truncated rHu BChE. These activity levels are orders of magnitude higher than 1.9U/ml of mouse BChE present in wild-type mouse serum. Thereafter, rHu BChE levels dropped rapidly and very little or no activity was detected in the serum 10 days post-virus administration. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the potential of rAd-mediated Hu BChE gene therapy to counteract multiple lethal doses of chemical warfare nerve agent toxicity.     

Reaction kinetics of hydrolysis of animal fat by pancreatic lipase

Hydrolysis of lipids from beef fat by pancreatic lipase was studied. Maximal release of free fatty acids was shown to take place for the first 3 h of experiment. After this, transetherification developed. Following most important time course parameters were determined: maximal hydrolysis rate V = 1.25 +/- 0.1 mg fat/(ml min), Michaelis constant KMH = 100 +/- 12 mg fat/ml, constant of substrate inhibition KS = 10.0 +/- 0.8 mg fat/ml, equilibrium constant KP = 277 +/- 170 mg fat/ml, and activation energy of beef fat hydrolysis by pancreatic lipase Ea = 19.1 +/- 1.1 kJ/mole. The time course method used could be applied to develop biotransformation of poorly assimilated fats to more valuable products.     

Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to ciliated airway epithelia requires prolonged incubation time.

The efficiency of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to airway epithelia will be an important factor in determining whether recombinant adenoviruses can be developed as vectors for transferring cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) cDNA to patients with cystic fibrosis. Current understanding of the biology of CF lung disease suggests that vectors should express transgene in mature, ciliated airway epithelia. We evaluated the efficiency of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer to primary cultures of normal and CF human airway epithelia. Our studies showed that the airway cells developed from an undifferentiated epithelium with markers characteristic of basal cells and a surface covered by short microvilli 3 days after seeding to a mature epithelium whose apical surface was covered with cilia by 10 to 14 days. The ability of adenovirus vectors to express a reporter gene and to correct defective cyclic AMP-stimulated Cl- transport in CF epithelia was correlated inversely with the state of differentiation. However, the inefficiency of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer could be partially corrected when the contact time between vector and epithelium was prolonged. After prolonged contact, we observed complete correction of the CF Cl- transport defect in differentiated CF airway epithelia in culture and of the Cl- transport defect in the nasal epithelia of mice homozygous for the deltaF508 mutation. The fact that gene transfer to airway epithelia required prolonged incubation with vector contrasts with the rapid infection observed in cell models such as 293 and HeLa cells, which are commonly used to study adenovirus infection. Gene transfer observed after prolonged incubation may result from mechanisms different from those that mediate infection of 293 cells. These observations suggest that interventions that either increase the contact time or alter the epithelium or the vector may be required to facilitate gene transfer to ciliated respiratory epithelia.     

Structure of human milk bile salt activated lipase

The structure and some functional sites of human milk bile salt activated lipase (BAL) were studied by cDNA cloning and chemical analysis of the enzyme. Eighteen cDNA clones of human BAL were identified from lactating human breast cDNA libraries in lambda gt11 and lambda gt10 with antibody and synthetic oligonucleotides as probes. The sequence of four clones was sufficient to construct a 3018-bp BAL cDNA structure. This sequence codes for an open reading frame of 742 amino acid residues. There is a putative signal sequence of 20 residues which is followed by the amino-terminal sequence of BAL, and the mature BAL contains 722 amino acid residues. The cDNA sequence also contains a 678-base 5'-untranslated sequence, a 97-base 3'-untranslated region, and a 14-base poly(A) tail. The sequence of a 1.8-kbp insert of clone G10-4A differs from that of the other cDNA in that it contains a deletion of 198 bases (1966-2163) corresponding to 66 amino acid residues. By use of BAL cDNA as probe, it was found that the major molecular species of BAL mRNA in human mammary gland HBL-100 cells had a size of 2.9 kb and two minor species had sizes of 3.8 and 5.1 kb by Northern blot analyses. The deduced BAL protein structure contains in the carboxyl-terminal region 16 repeating units of 11 amino acids each. The repeating units have the basic structure Pro-Val-Pro-Pro-Thr-Gly-Asp-Ser-Gly-Ala-Pro with only minor substitutions. The amino acid sequence of human BAL is related to that of pancreatic lysophospholipase, cholesterol esterase, cholinesterase, acetylcholinesterase, and thyroglobulin. Ten of the 14 cyanogen bromide fragments of diisopropyl fluorophosphate inhibited human milk BAL were isolated, determined for N-terminal sequences, analyzed for amino sugars, and tested for some functional properties. These chemical studies established that the active site of human milk BAL is located at serine-194, the N-glycosylation site is present at asparagine-187, the O-glycosylation region is in the 16 repeating units near the C-terminus, and the heparin binding domain is in the N-terminal region. We have also determined the location of disulfide bridges as Cys64-Cys80 and Cys246-Cys257. The cyanogen bromide cleavage and the partial sequencing of CNBr peptides also confirmed the location of methionines in the polypeptide chain as well as the deduced cDNA sequence of BAL.     

Adenovirus-mediated transfer of RA538 gene and its antitumor effect

The RA538 cDNA was transferred into human ovarian cancer cell line SK-OV-3 and human melanoma cell line WM-983A by its recombinant adenoviral vector constructed through homologous recombination. It was demonstrated that the recombinant adenovirus could transfer RA538 gene with high efficiency, and could obviously inhibit tumor growth, with the inhibiting rates of 85% and 73% respectively, at the same time greatly repress the colony forming ability of the cells. The therapeutic experiments on transplanted subcutaneous tumor model in nude mice demonstrated that RA538 could significantly inhibit tumor growth. Flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation analysis indicated that RA538 could induce the cell cycle G1 arrest/apoptosis of the tumor cells. The expression of cmyc gene was found pronouncedly reduced by Western blot analysis. These results suggest that the RA538 recombinant adenovirus could be a promising drug in cancer gene therapy.     

Adenovirus-mediated transfer of RA538 gene and its antitumor effect

The RA538 cDNA was transferred into human ovarian cancer cell line SK-OV-3 and human melanoma cell line WM-983A by its recombinant adenoviral vector constructed through homologous recombination. It was demonstrated that the recombinant adenovirus could transfer RA538 gene with high efficiency, and could obviously inhibit tumor growth, with the inhibiting rates of 85% and 73% respectively, at the same time greatly repress the colony forming ability of the cells. The therapeutic experiments on transplanted subcutaneous tumor model in nude mice demonstrated that RA538 could significantly inhibit tumor growth. Flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation analysis indicated that RA538 could induce the cell cycle G1 arrest/apoptosis of the tumor cells. The expression of c-myc gene was found pronouncedly reduced by Western blot analysis. These results suggest that the RA538 recombinant adenovirus could be a promising drug in cancer gene therapy.