Immersion autometallographic tracing of zinc ions in Alzheimer beta-amyloid plaques

An easy to perform autometallographic technique (AMG) for capturing zinc ions in Alzheimer plaques is presented. The possibility of visualizing loosely bound or free zinc ions in tissue by immersion autometallography (iZnS^AMG) is a relatively recent development. The iZnS^AMG staining is caused by zinc-sulphur nanocrystals created in 1–2 mm thick brain slices that are immersed in a 0.1% sodium sulphide, 3% glutaraldehyde phosphate buffered solution, the NeoTimm Solution (NTS), for 3 days. When the zinc-sulphur nanocrystals are subsequently silver-enhanced by autometallography, the plaques are readily identified as spheres of dark interlacing strands of different sizes, embedded in the pattern of zinc-enriched terminals. The zinc specificity of the iZnS^AMG technique was tested by immersion of brain slides in the chelator DEDTC prior to the NTS immersion. The iZnS^AMG detection of zinc ions is easily standardized and can be used in the quantification of plaques with stereological methods. This technique is the first to detect zinc in plaques in the cerebellum of transgenic PS1/APP mice and the first to detect zinc ions in plaques and dystrophic neurites at electron microscopical levels.     

Gold ions bio-released from metallic gold particles reduce inflammation and apoptosis and increase the regenerative responses in focal brain injury

Traumatic brain injury results in loss of neurons caused as much by the resulting neuroinflammation as by the injury. Gold salts are known to be immunosuppressive, but their use are limited by nephrotoxicity. However, as we have proven that implants of pure metallic gold release gold ions which do not spread in the body, but are taken up by cells near the implant, we hypothesize that metallic gold could reduce local neuroinflammation in a safe way. Bio-liberation, or dissolucytosis, of gold ions from metallic gold surfaces requires the presence of disolycytes i.e. macrophages and the process is limited by their number and activity. We injected 20-45 mum gold particles into the neocortex of mice before generating a cryo-injury. Comparing gold-treated and untreated cryolesions, the release of gold reduced microgliosis and neuronal apoptosis accompanied by a transient astrogliosis and an increased neural stem cell response. We conclude that bio-liberated gold ions possess pronounced anti-inflammatory and neuron-protective capacities in the brain and suggest that metallic gold has clinical potentials. Intra-cerebral application of metallic gold as a pharmaceutical source of gold ions represents a completely new medical concept that bypasses the blood-brain-barrier and allows direct drug delivery to inflamed brain tissue.     

In vivo liberation of gold ions from gold implants. Autometallographic tracing of gold in cells adjacent to metallic gold

For some years, the implantation of small pieces of gold has been used as an unauthorised remedy for osteoarthritis and pain. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether gold ions are released from gold implants. Pieces of pure gold were placed in the connective tissue of skin, bone and brains of anaesthetised animals. Ten days to several months later the animals were anaesthetised and killed by transcardial perfusion. Tissue blocks containing the gold pieces were cut, and the sections were silver-enhanced by autometallography. It was found that gold ions are released from the implanted gold and diffuse out into the surrounding tissue. The gold-containing cells in connective tissues were macrophages, mast cells and fibroblasts. In the brain, gold accumulated in astrocytes and neurons. Proton-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy analysis of the tissue surrounding gold implants confirmed that gold ions are liberated. The findings suggest that the gold implant technique, on a local scale, mimics systemic treatment with a gold-containing drug.     

Action of metallic ions on the precocious development by rabbit sperm of motion patterns that are characteristic of hyperactivated motility

An earlier study demonstrated that rabbit sperm incubated for 16 hr under capacitation conditions acquire motility patterns identical to those seen in rabbit sperm capacitated in vivo. We now show that similar motion patterns develop after 0.5 hr incubation in a Trisbuffered medium, medium M. Development and decline of the motion patterns occurred in three phases each recognized by the character of the biphasic motion patterns. Hyperactivated sperm were objectively identified and quantified by a previously developed computer-directed model. The percentage of motile sperm that acquired hyperactivated motility and the period they remained in this state varied among sperm from different rabbits. The decline in hyperactivated motility was paralleled by a decrease in the average sperm curvilinear velocity (VCL) and average amplitude of lateral head displacement (AALH), but was not accompanied by a concomitant decrease in percentage of motile sperm. Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺, at concentrations that did not inhibit motility, prevented development of hyperactivated motility. Inhibition of hyperactivated motility by Pb²⁺ was time- and concentration-dependent; the average percentage of hyperactivated sperm decreased from ～ 30% to<5% (n = 5) in 1 hr at a Pb²⁺ concentration of 25 μM. Cd²⁺ inhibition of hyperactivation was dependent only on concentration of the cation. At a concentration of 100 μM, the decrease in the percent of hyperactivated sperm was ～ 50% (n = 3). Hg²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cr⁶⁺ at sublethal concentrations had no effect on hyperactivated motility development. These results suggest that Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺, by virtue of their ability to prevent the wide curvature flagella beating that is characteristic of hyperactivation, can compromise fertilization at concentrations that do not inhibit sperm motility and act as a reproductive toxicant at a level other than spermatogenesis. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Autocrine activation of cultured macrophages by brain-derived neurotrophic factor

To elucidate a significance of the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the activated microglia/macrophages of the injured central nervous system, we examined BDNF actions on or BDNF synthesis by macrophages cultured from the mouse peritoneal cavity. They synthesized BDNF and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in addition to expressing high-affinity neurotrophin receptors, full-length TrkB (FL), truncated TrkB (TK(-)), and TrkC, thus suggesting an autocrine influence of BDNF and NT-3. BDNF, but not NT-3, enhanced phagocytic activity and stimulated synthesis/secretion of interleukin-1beta in the same manner as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation of the phagocytic activity with the expression of BDNF or TrkB (FL). These results imply that the phagocytic activity of macrophages depends on BDNF synthesis and/or TrkB (FL) expression, suggesting that BDNF participates in the activation processes of macrophages by acting in an autocrine manner.     

Enhancement of phagocytosis by calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is widely distributed in sensory neurons and nerve fibers. To clarify the function of CGRP on the immune system, the effect of CGRP on phagocytosis by peritoneal mactophages was examined by means of flow cytofluorometry. CGRP enhanced phagocytosis of latex beads in a dose-dependent manner. Because the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) enhanced the CGRP-induced enhancement of phagocytosis, the enhancement might be mediated by cAMP. In the presence of mannan, the phagocytosis was suppressed and the CGRP-induced enhancement was also blocked, suggesting that mannose receptors on macrophages were involved in mediating the phagocytosis of latex beads, and CGRP enhanced the mannose receptor-mediated phagocytosis. The present results indicate that CGRP can modulate the function of macrophages in nerve terminals of sensory neurons during the development and maintenance of inflammation.     

Selective inhibition of human acetylcholinesterase by xanthine derivatives: In vitro inhibition and molecular modeling investigations

The commonly used beverage and psychostimulant caffeine is known to inhibit human acetylcholinesterase enzyme. This pharmacological activity of caffeine is partly responsible for its cognition enhancing properties. However, the exact mechanisms of its binding to human cholinesterases (acetyl and butyrylcholinesterase; hAChE and hBuChE) are not well known. In this study, we investigated the cholinesterase inhibition by the xanthine derivatives caffeine, pentoxifylline, and propentofylline. Among them, propentofylline was the most potent AChE inhibitor (hAChE IC₅₀ = 6.40 μM). The hAChE inhibitory potency was of the order: caffeine (hAChE IC₅₀ = 7.25 μM) < pentoxifylline (hAChE IC₅₀ = 6.60 μM) ? propentofylline (hAChE IC₅₀ = 6.40 μM). These compounds were less potent relative to the reference agent donepezil (hAChE IC₅₀ = 0.04 μM). Moreover, they all exhibited selective inhibition of hAChE with no inhibition of hBuChE (IC₅₀ > 50 μM) relative to the reference agent donepezil (hBuChE IC₅₀ = 13.60 μM). Molecular modeling investigations indicate that caffeine binds primarily in the catalytic site (Ser203, Glu334 and His447) region of hAChE whereas pentoxifylline and propentofylline are able to bind to both the catalytic site and peripheral anionic site due to their increased bulk/size, thereby exhibiting superior AChE inhibition relative to caffeine. In contrast, their lack of hBuChE inhibition is due to a larger binding site and lack of key aromatic amino acids. In summary, our study has important implications in the development of novel caffeine derivatives as selective AChE inhibitors with potential application as cognitive enhancers and to treat various forms of dementia.     

In vitro kinetics of the rat brain succinate dehydrogenase inhibition by hexachlorophene.

Brain succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity was inhibited by in vitro hexachlorophene (HCP) with a half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.65 x 10(-3) M. The HCP exerted noncompetitive inhibition at 0.5 mM (IC50) on SDH activity. The brain SDH demands more energy of activation (deltaE) in the presence of HCP. The ionizable groups of SDH such as the sulfhydral group of cysteine and alpha-amino groups of cysteine were not altered qualitatively in the presence of HCP.     

Effects of recombinant cholera toxin B subunit on IL-1beta production by macrophages in vitro

Recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (rCTB) is a safe and potent mucosal adjuvant. As a clue to the mechanism of the adjuvant effect of rCTB, the profile of cytokines secreted in vitro by the mouse peritoneal macrophage (Mphi) treated with rCTB was examined. IL-1beta secretion, intracellular production, and expression of its mRNA of LPS-stimulated Mphi was greatly enhanced by treatment with rCTB. IL-1beta production in response to other microbial stimulators, such as Pansorbin, Sansorbin, insoluble peptidoglycan, and Taxol, was also potentiated by rCTB. Mphi pretreated with rCTB before 24 hr could maintain the ability to produce a high level of IL-1beta, suggesting that this ability may be involved in the adjuvant activity of rCTB on Mphi stimulation. The possibility of close association between rCTB and signal transduction of a Toll-like receptor family in Mphi is discussed.     

Intragastric floating drug delivery system of cefuroxime axetil: In vitro evaluation

This investigation describes the development of an intragastric drug-delivery system for cefuroxime axetil. The 3² full factorial design was employed to evaluate contribution of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) K4M/HPMC K100 LV ratio (polymer blend) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) on drug release from HPMC matrices. Tablets were prepared using direct compression technique. Formulations were evaluated for in vitro buoyancy and drug release study using United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 24 paddletype dissolution apparatus using 0.1N HCl as a dissolution medium. Multiple regression analysis was performed for factorial design batches to evaluate the response. All formulations had floating lag times below 2 minutes and constantly floated on dissolution medium for more than 8 hours. It was found that polymer blend and SLS significantly affect the time required for 50% of drug release, percentage drug release at 12 hours, release rate constant, and diffusion exponent (P<.05). Also linear relationships were obtained between the amount of HPMC K100 LV and diffusion exponent as well as release rate constant. Kinetic treatment to dissolution profiles revealed drug release ranges from anomalous transport to case 1 transport, which was mainly dependent on both the independent variables. Published: February 24, 2006     

Research note: In vitro inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes growth by veillonellae cultures grown on tartrate media

Veillonellae cultures were grown on agar media supplemented with tartrate and examined for inhibitory effects on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes . Veillonellae cultures grown on media supplemented with 0 or 50 mmol l⁻¹ of tartrate did not inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes ; however, veillonellae grown on media supplemented with 100, 150 or 200 mmol l⁻¹ of tartrate did inhibit the growth of L. monocytogenes . The inhibition of the growth of L. monocytogenes by the veillonellae was correlated with the increased production of acetate and propionate from tartrate by veillonellae and with the reduction of the pH of the media by L. monocytogenes .     

How cells settle on glass: A study by light and scanning electron microscopy of some properties of normal and stimulated macrophages

Summary Some properties of normal and stimulated peritoneal macrophages have been studied using light microscopy, cinemicroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. No difference in the overall rate of translational movement was found between normal and stimulated cells. Macrophages were found to settle on glass by a process involving initial protrusion of very fine finger-like processes, followed by veils. Full extension occurred sooner in stimulated cells.We are grateful to Professor R. Barer for his criticisms, to Miss Anne Edwards for technical help, to Mr. G. Tuck for help with cinemicroscopy, and to the Science Research Council and the Medical Research Council for grants.     

基于组合胶体金纳米颗粒的免疫层析试纸条快速可视化检测海产品中副溶血性弧菌

本研究以野生型副溶血性弧菌(Vibrio parahaemolyticus)为免疫原制备单克隆抗体,并以组合胶体金纳米粒子(CP-AuNPs)为抗体标记探针,开发了一种基于双抗体夹心原理的可视化快速检测副溶血性弧菌的免疫层析试纸条方法.该方法被应用于梅子鱼、鲜虾、白蛤等海产品中副溶血性弧菌的检测,具有特异性强、检测时间...     

Silver enhancement of quantum dots resulting from (1) metabolism of toxic metals in animals and humans, (2) in vivo, in vitro and immersion created zinc-sulphur/zinc-selenium nanocrystals, (3) metal ions liberated from metal implants and particles

Autometallographic (AMG) silver enhancement is a potent histochemical tool for tracing a variety of metal containing nanocrystals, e.g. pure gold and silver nanoclusters and quantum dots of silver, mercury, bismuth or zinc, with sulphur and/or selenium. These nanocrystals can be created in many different ways, e.g. (1) by manufacturing colloidal gold or silver particles, (2) by treating an organism in vivo with sulphide or selenide ions, (3) as the result of a metabolic decomposition of bismuth-, mercury- or silver-containing macromolecules in cell organelles, or (4) as the end product of histochemical processing of tissue sections. Such nano-sized AMG nanocrystals can then be silver-amplified several times of magnitude by being exposed to an AMG developer, i.e. a normal photographic developer enriched with silver ions. The present monograph attempts to provide a review of the autometallographic silver amplification techniques known today and their use in biology. After achieving a stronghold in histochemistry by Timm's introduction of the "silver-sulphide staining" in 1958, the AMG technique has evolved and expanded into several different areas of research, including immunocytochemistry, tracing of enzymes at LM and EM levels, blot staining, retrograde axonal tracing of zinc-enriched (ZEN) neurons, counterstaining of semithin sections, enhancement of histochemical reaction products, marking of phagocytotic cells, staining of myelin, tracing of gold ions released from gold implants, and visualization of capillaries. General technical comments, protocols for the current AMG methods and a summary of the most significant scientific results obtained by this wide variety of AMG histochemical approaches are included in the present article.     

Selenoprotein K is a novel target of m-calpain, and cleavage is regulated by Toll-like receptor-induced calpastatin in macrophages

Calpains are proteolytic enzymes that modulate cellular function through cleavage of targets, thereby modifying their actions. An important role is emerging for calpains in regulating inflammation and immune responses, although specific mechanisms by which this occurs have not been clearly defined. In this study, we identify a novel target of calpain, selenoprotein K (SelK), which is an endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane protein important for Ca(2+) flux in immune cells. Calpain-mediated cleavage of SelK was detected in myeloid cells (macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells) but not in lymphoid cells (B and T cells). Both m- and μ-calpain were capable of cleaving immunoprecipitated SelK, but m-calpain was the predominant isoform expressed in mouse immune cells. Consistent with these results, specific inhibitors were used to show that only m-calpain cleaved SelK in macrophages. The cleavage site in SelK was identified between Arg(81) and Gly(82) and the resulting truncated SelK was shown to lack selenocysteine, the amino acid that defines selenoproteins. Resting macrophages predominantly expressed cleaved SelK and, when activated through different Toll-like receptors (TLRs), SelK cleavage was inhibited. We found that decreased calpain cleavage was due to TLR-induced up-regulation of the endogenous inhibitor, calpastatin. TLR-induced calpastatin expression not only inhibited SelK cleavage, but cleavage of another calpain target, talin. Moreover, the expression of the calpain isoforms and calpastatin in macrophages were different from T and B cells. Overall, our findings identify SelK as a novel calpain target and reveal dynamic changes in the calpain/calpastatin system during TLR-induced activation of macrophages.     

负载雷公藤甲素的TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA)纳米制剂体外抑制宫颈癌细胞生长的研究

雷公藤甲素（triptolide,TPL）是传统中药雷公藤的主要活性成分,具有抗炎、抗肿瘤活性,但其毒副作用限制了临床上的广泛使用。为了探讨以TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA)为载体制备的TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA)/TPL纳米粒的表征和体外对宫颈癌细胞的抑制作用,采用乳化/溶剂挥发法,优化TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA)与TPL比例,制备TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA)/TPL纳米粒,对纳米粒进行表征,包括粒径大小、ζ电位、包封率、累积释放率,用MTS法体外研究游离型TPL和TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA)/TPL纳米粒对宫颈癌细胞半数抑制浓度（IC50）,用克隆形成实验分析TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA)/TPL纳米粒对宫颈癌细胞HeLa的抑制作用,用流式细胞仪分析纳米粒对HeLa细胞凋亡的影响。结果显示：当TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA)与TPL为50∶1时制备的纳米粒粒径为(95.3±5.2)nm,zeta电位为(-12.2±0.9)mV,其累积释放曲线呈双相分布,TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA)纳米粒对HeLa细胞在24、48和72 h的IC50（2.8、1.8、0.9 μg·L-1）远远低于游离型TPL（P<0.01）,克隆形成实验证明纳米粒能显著抑制肿瘤细胞生长,并能显著诱导HeLa细胞凋亡。研究结果表明,TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA)/TPL纳米粒能抑制宫颈癌细胞HeLa的生长,其作用主要通过TPL和TPGS共同诱导细胞凋亡,可以作为抗宫颈癌等肿瘤的候选药物。     

In vitro maintenance of nematode parasites assayed by acetylcholinesterase and allergen secretion.

A comparison was made of the ability of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and Necator americanus to synthesize and secrete acetylcholinesterase when they were maintained in different in vitro culture media. The amount of allergen released by N. brasiliensis was also studied. The adult and fourth stage larval stages (but not the infective larvae) of Necator and adult N. brasiliensis secreted from their anterior glands up to 40 times as much acetylcholinesterase as they contained at the outset of culture. In contrast, allergen, which is less easy to quantitate, was secreted into the same media at about one-third the rate of secretion of acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholinesterase was synthesized and released by both worms in media containing protein and the enzyme did not lose activity when kept for several days at 37 C. The secretion of this enzyme by nematodes kept in culture provides a simple, sensitive, rapid, and quantitative assay for measuring the ability of these nematodes to synthesize and secrete antigens in culture.     

Effect of suramin on pinocytosis by resident rat peritoneal macrophages: an analysis using four different substrates

The effect of suramin on pinocytosis and intralysosomal proteolysis by resident rat peritoneal macrophages cultured in vitro has been studied. Suramin had little effect on the rate of pinocytic uptake of two non-adsorptive substrates [14C]sucrose and [3H]dextran, but unexpectedly enhanced uptake of a third, 125I-labelled polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Since this enhanced uptake was completely abolished by NaF at a concentration known to inhibit pinocytosis, it clearly represented an increased internalization of substrate and not merely a superficial binding to the cell surface. It was concluded that suramin (i) does not affect the rate of formation of pinocytic vesicles but (ii) acts as a bivalent ligand, binding to both the macrophage surface and the 125I-labelled polyvinylpyrrolidone, thus converting a non-adsorptive into an adsorptive substrate. Suramin (500 micrograms/ml) decreased both the rate of uptake of formaldehyde-denatured 125I-labelled bovine serum albumin (BSA) (an adsorptive substrate) and the rate of its subsequent intracellular degradation. Thus, depending on the substrate chosen to measure pinocytosis, the same modifier may stimulate or inhibit uptake or be without effect.     

几种杀虫剂对朱砂叶螨酯酶的抑制作用

测定了 3种杀虫剂乐斯本、甲氰菊酯、敌敌畏及其两两组合对朱砂叶螨离体酯酶的抑制作用。这 3种杀虫剂的抑制中浓度依次为 2 .81 2 8× 1 0 - 6 、 3 .1 698× 1 0 - 6 、 4.1 5 86× 1 0 - 6 ( mol/ L) ,说明乐斯本对朱砂叶螨酯酶的抑制作用最强 ,甲氰菊酯次之 ,敌敌畏最弱。通过对杀虫剂作用于朱砂叶螨酯酶的米氏常数和最大反应速度测定 ,发现乐斯本和甲氰菊酯的作用方式为竞争性抑制 ,敌敌畏为非竞争性抑制。敌敌畏 +乐斯本和敌敌畏 +甲氰菊酯联合抑制作用均具有相加作用 ,乐斯本 +甲氰菊酯联合抑制有增效作用 ,且均为竞争性抑制     

An autoantibody against N-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL): Possible involvement in the removal of CEL-modified proteins by macrophages

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are believed to play a significant role in the development of diabetic complications. In this study, we measured the levels of autoantibodies against several AGE structures in healthy human plasma and investigated the physiological role of the autoantibodies. A high titer of the autoantibody against N^ε-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL) was detected in human plasma compared with other AGE structures such as CML and pentosidine. The purified human anti-CEL autoantibody reacted with CEL-modified human serum albumin (CEL-HSA), but not CML-HSA. A rabbit polyclonal anti-CEL antibody, used as a model autoantibody against CEL, accelerated the uptake of CEL-HSA by macrophages, but did not enhance the uptake of native HSA. Furthermore, when ¹²⁵I-labeled CEL-HSA was injected into the tail vein of mice, accumulation of ¹²⁵I-CEL-HSA in the liver was accelerated by co-injection of the rabbit anti-CEL antibody. These results demonstrate that the autoantibody against CEL in plasma may play a role in the macrophage uptake of CEL-modified proteins.