Receptor-mediated endocytosis of fibroblast beta-glucuronidase by peritoneal macrophages

beta-Glucuronidase secreted by mouse 3T3 fibroblasts in vitro was taken up into mouse peritoneal macrophages and into human fibroblasts by a process which was rapid and saturable. High concentrations of mannose-containing compounds inhibited uptake into macrophages but had no effect on uptake into fibroblasts. Mannose-6-phosphate inhibited uptake into both types of cell, reducing uptake into macrophages by 34% and abolishing uptake into fibroblasts completely at a concentration of 5 mM. Fructose-1-phosphate was almost equally as effective at inhibiting uptake into fibroblasts but had no effect on macrophages. Pre-treatment of beta-glucuronidase with alkaline phosphatase totally prevented its uptake into fibroblasts but had no effect on its uptake into macrophages. These results indicate that fibroblasts can secrete a lysosomal enzyme in a form recognised as a high uptake ligand not only by other fibroblasts but also by peritoneal macrophages and that endocytosis appears to be mediated by different receptors present on each type of cell. This has important implications for the potential treatment of mucopolysaccharidoses by fibroblast transplants.     

Various metabolic reactions of glycine in the animal organism

Investigations on homogenates of the rat liver, kidney and spleen established an intensive incorporation of glycine carbon into the fraction of lipids, which exceeds much the incorporation of glycine carbon into proteins and acetate carbon into lipids. The data show that glycine incorporates into the lipid fraction without a preliminary conversion into acetate.     

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor decreases small dense low-density lipoprotein and remnant-like particle cholesterol in patients with type-2 diabetes

Our studies have focused on the effect of injection of L-NAME and sodium nitroprussiate (SNP) on the salivary secretion, arterial blood pressure, sodium excretion and urinary volume induced by pilocarpine which was injected into the medial septal area (MSA). Rats were anesthetized with urethane (1.25 g/kg b. wt.) and a stainless steel cannula was implanted into their MSA. The amount of saliva secretion was studied over a five-minute period after injection of pilocarpine into MSA. Injection of pilocarpine (10, 20, 40, 80, 160 microg/microl) into MSA produced a dose-dependent increase in salivary secretion. L-NG-nitro arginine methyl-esther (L-NAME) (40 microg/microl), a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, was injected into MSA prior to the injection of pilocarpine into MSA, producing an increase in salivary secretion due to the effect of pilocarpine. Sodium nitroprussiate (SNP) (30 microg/microl) was injected into MSA prior to the injection of pilocarpine into MSA attenuating the increase in salivary secretion induced by pilocarpine. Medial arterial pressure (MAP) increase after injections of pilocarpine into the MSA. L-NAME injected into the MSA prior to injection of pilocarpine into MSA increased the MAP. SNP injected into the MSA prior to pilocarpine attenuated the effect of pilocarpine on MAP. Pilocarpine (40 ug/ul) injected into the MAS induced an increase in sodium and urinary excretion. L-NAME injected prior to pilocarpine into the MSA increased the urinary sodium excretion and urinary volume induced by pilocarpine. SNP injected prior to pilocarpine into the MSA decreased the sodium excretion and urinary volume induced by pilocarpine. All these roles of pilocarpine depend on the release of nitric oxide into the MSA. We may also conclude that the MSA is involved with the cholinergic excitatory mechanism that induce salivary secretion, increase in MAP and increase in sodium excretion and urinary volume.     

Receptor-mediated endocytosis of fibroblast β-glucuronidase by peritoneal macrophages

β-Glucuronidase secreted by mouse 3T3 fibroblasts in vitro was taken up into mouse peritoneal macrophages and into human fibroblasts by a process which was rapid and saturable. High concentrations of mannose-containing compounds inhibited uptake into macrophages but had no effect on uptake into fibroblasts. Mannose-6-phosphate inhibited uptake into both types of cell, reducing uptake into macrophages by 34% and abolishing uptake into fibroblasts completely at a concentration of 5 mM. Fructose-1-phosphate was almost equally as effective at inhibiting uptake into fibroblasts but had no effect on macrophages. Pre-treatment of β-glucuronidase with alkaline phosphatase totally prevented its uptake into fibroblasts but had no effect on its uptake into macrophages. These results indicate that fibroblasts can secrete a lysosomal enzyme in a form recognised as a high uptake ligand not only by other fibroblasts but also by peritoneal macrophages and that endocytosis appears to be mediated by different receptors present on each type of cell. This has important implications for the potential treatment of mucopolysaccharidoses by fibroblast transplants.     

Endocytosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: internalization of alpha-amylase and fluorescent dextran into cells.

In the preceding paper I reported that Saccharomyces cerevisiae spheroplasts were able to internalize particulate markers, enveloped viruses, into intracellular organelles. Here the internalization of soluble macromolecules into cells having an intact cell wall is described. alpha-Amylase was taken up into cells in a temperature- and concentration-dependent way. The kinetics of accumulation were linear for the first 20-40 min at 37 degrees C and then started to level off. Internalization of alpha-amylase into spheroplasts displayed similar characteristics, but the accumulation rate was about four times higher than into cells. Fluorescent dextran was used to mark morphologically the compartment into which internalization occurred. This marker was accumulated into the vacuole of the cells in a time-, temperature- and concentration-dependent way. A temperature-sensitive mutant deficient in exocytosis was found to be defective in intracellular accumulation of alpha-amylase and dextran. At the restrictive temperature, very little alpha-amylase accumulated into the cells and only faint staining of intracellular organelles with fluorescent dextran could be detected. At the permissive temperatures, accumulation of alpha-amylase and dextran into the mutant cells was comparable with accumulation into wild-type cells. I conclude that alpha-amylase and fluorescent dextran were internalized into S. cerevisiae cells and directed into the vacuoles.     

Nitric oxide of the supraoptic nucleus influences the salivary secretion, sodium renal excretion, urinary volume and arterial blood pressure induced by pilocarpine

Male Holtzman rats weighting 200-250 g were anesthetized with zoletil 50 mg/Kg (tiletamine chloridrate 125.0 mg and zolazepan chloridrate 125.0 mg) into quadriceps muscle and stainless steel cannulas were implanted into their supraoptic nucleus (SON). We investigated the effects of the injection into the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of FK 409, a nitric oxide donor, and NW-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (NOS), on the salivary secretion, arterial blood pressure, sodium excretion and urinary volume induced by pilocarpine, which was injected into SON. The drugs were injected in 0.5 microl volume over 30-60 s. Controls was injected with a similar volume of 0.15 M NaCl. FK 409 and L-NAME were injected at doses of 20 microg/0.5 microl and 40 microg/0.5 microl respectively. The amount of saliva secretion was studied over a five-minute period after injection of pilocarpine into SON. Injection of pilocarpine (10, 20, 40, 80, 160 microg/microl) into SON produced a dose-dependent increase in salivary secretion. L-NAME was injected into SON prior to the injection of pilocarpine into SON, producing an increase in salivary secretion due to the effect of pilocarpine. FK 409 injected into SON attenuating the increase in salivary secretion induced by pilocarpine. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) increase after injections of pilocarpine into the SON. L-NAME injected into the SON prior to injection of pilocarpine into SON increased the MAP. FK 409 injected into the SON prior to pilocarpine attenuated the effect of pilocarpine on MAP. Pilocarpine (0.5 micromol/0.5 microl) injected into the SON induced an increase in sodium and urinary excretion. L-NAME injected prior to pilocarpine into the SON increased the urinary sodium excretion and urinary volume induced by pilocarpine. FK 409 injected prior to pilocarpine into the SON decreased the sodium excretion and urinary volume induced by pilocarpine. All these roles of pilocarpine depend on the release of nitric oxide into the SON. In summary the present results show: a) SON is involved in pilocarpine-induced salivation; b) that mechanism involves increase in MAP, sodium excretion and urinary volume.     

Phospholipid synthesis in rat liver endoplasmic reticulum after the administration of phenobarbitone and 20-methylcholanthrene

1. Phenobarbitone injection did not affect the concentration of phospholipids in the liver endoplasmic reticulum, but it increased the rate of incorporation of [(32)P]orthophosphate into the phospholipids. 20-Methylcholanthrene caused a transient increase in total phospholipid but a decrease in the turnover rate of the phospholipids. 2. Incorporation of [(32)P]orthophosphate into phosphatidylcholine, compared with that into phosphatidylethanolamine, was increased by phenobarbitone injection but decreased by 20-methylcholanthrene injection. 3. The activity of S-adenosylmethionine-phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase increased 12h after phenobarbitone injection, when incorporation of [(32)P]orthophosphate into phosphatidylcholine was a maximum, but at other times, and after 20-methylcholanthrene injection, the activity of the enzyme did not correlate with the rate of phosphatidylcholine synthesis. 4. [(14)C]Glycerol was incorporated more rapidly into phosphatidylcholine than into phosphatidylethanolamine, whereas [(32)P]orthophosphate and [(14)C]ethanolamine were incorporated more rapidly into phosphatidylethanolamine than into phosphatidylcholine. 5. Incorporation of [(32)P]orthophosphate into phosphatidylethanolamine of liver slices incubated in vitro was much more rapid than into phosphatidylcholine, and incorporation into phosphatidylcholine was markedly stimulated by addition of methionine to the medium. Changes in the incorporation of [(32)P]orthophosphate into phospholipids observed in vivo after injection of phenobarbitone or methylcholanthrene could not be reproduced in slices incubated in vitro. 6. It is concluded that phenobarbitone injection causes an increased rate of turnover of total phospholipids in the endoplasmic reticulum and an increased conversion of phosphatidylethanolamine into phosphatidylcholine, whereas 20-methylcholanthrene injection depresses both the turnover rate of total phospholipids and the formation of phosphatidylcholine.     

In vivo gene gun-mediated DNA delivery into rodent brain tissue

Various types of gene transfer into live tissues have been tried. However, in vivo gene transfer into brain tissue or neuronal cells without virus vector has required a great effort. Particle-mediated gene transfer into live brain tissue was thought to be impossible because of its fragility and the mechanical problem of a previous type of gene gun. In addition, particle-mediated DNA transfer into monolayer-cultured cells without mechanical damage has been difficult. We successfully transferred DNA into rodent live brain tissue and also into monolayer-cultured cells without mechanical damage by using a new type of gene gun and also confirmed gene expression in the brain. This new method represents another variation of gene transfer into the brain.     

Effects of ethanol on the incorporation of free fatty acids into cerebral membrane phospholipids

Chronic ethanol exposure is known to affect deacylation-reacylation of membrane phospholipids (PL). In our earlier studies we have demonstrated that chronic exposure to ethanol (EtOH) leads to a progressive increase in membrane phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity. In the current study, we investigated the effects of chronic EtOH exposure on the incorporation of different free fatty acids (FFAs) into membrane PL. The results suggest that the incorporation of fatty acids into four major PL varied from 9.6 fmol/min/mg protein for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) into phosphatidylinositol (PI) to 795.8 fmol/min/mg protein for linoleic acid (LA) into phosphatidylcholine (PC). These results also suggest a preferential incorporation of DHA into PC; arachidonic acid (AA) into PI; oleic acid into phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and PC; LA into PC and stearic acid into PE. Chronic EtOH exposure affected the incorporation of unsaturated fatty acid into PI, phosphatidylserine (PS) and PC. However, EtOH did not affect significantly the incorporation of any of the fatty acids (FA) studied into PE. No significant differences were observed with the stearic acid. It is suggested that acyltransferases may play an important role in the membrane adaptation to the injurious effects of EtOH.     

14C] Alanine incorporation into proteins and their contents in the tissue of intact and adrenalectomized rabbits after hydrocortisone and cortitropin administration

A single administration of hydrocortisone to intact rabbits increases the incorporation of [14C] alanine into proteins of the brain and liver tissue homogenates and soluble fractions as well as in blood plasma proteins and reduces the label incorporation into the brain tissue proteins and reduces its incorporation into the blood plasma proteins. Adrenalcetomy is followed by an increase in the incorporation of [14C] alanine into proteins of the brain and muscle tissue homogenates and soluble fraction and into proteins of blood plasma and liver tissue homogenates as well as by reducing the label incorporation into the spleen soluble fraction proteins. ACTH administered to adrenalectomized rabbits reduces incorporation of [14C] alanine into the brain and muscle tissue proteins, total proteins of liver tissue homogenate and increases it into the proteins of the spleen tissue soluble fraction. Multiple administration of the soluble fraction hormones both to intact and adrenalectomized rabbits inhibits the label incorporation into the studied tissue proteins. Parallel with the change in [14C] alanine incorporation into proteins under the hormones effect certain shifts in their contents were also established.     

Effect of proteolysis inhibitors on the incorporation of labelled amino acids into proteins]

Role of peptide bond breaks in the incorporation of amino acids into proteins in a "protein--amino acid" system is investigated. For this purpose the incorporation of labelled amino acids into trypsin under the inhibition of its autolysis by a specific inhibitor from soybean and epsilon-amino-caproic acid is studied. The trypsin inhibitor from soybean is found to suppress considerably the incorporation of 14C-glycine, 14C-lysine and 14C-methionine into crystal trypsin and not to affect the incorporation of labelled amino acids into chomotrypsin, papain and carboxypeptidase. Epsilon-Aminocaproic acid inhibited 14C-glycine incorporation into crystal trypsin by 40% and did not change its incorporation level into serum albumin. The dependency of amino acid incorporation level into trypsin on the activity of autolysis in the "protein--amino acid" system is demonstrated.     

Effect of incubation and translation inhibitors on the transcriptional activity in salivary glands of Chironomus thummi

Short preincubations of excised salivary glands of Chironomus thummi in synthetic media modify both the activity of uridine uptake into the cells and its incorporation into RNA. The modification of uptake varies with the medium used. Incorporation into total RNA as well as into nucleolar preribosomal RNA is considerably decreased, while incorporation into non-nucleolar RNAs is little affected. When preincubated explanted glands are briefly treated with the protein synthesis inhibitors cycloheximide or anisomycin, the incorporation activity into preribosomal RNA is slightly recovered. This contrasts with the decrease of the labelling of preribosomal glandular RNA, when those drugs are applied in vivo to the larvae.     

Integration of human mesenchymal stem cells into the Wolffian duct in chicken embryos

Developing animal embryos have been providing human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) with an appropriate environment for their differentiation between species. We previously demonstrated that hMSCs transplanted into the metanephric mesenchyme region of rat embryos differentiate into kidney-specific cells. Here, we assessed whether hMSCs are competent to differentiate into precursors of the collecting duct system when they are transplanted into the ureteric bud progenitor region of chicken embryos that are easier to be manipulated and cultured than mammalian embryos. When chicken Pax2-expressing hMSCs were transplanted into the chicken ureteric bud progenitor region, they migrated caudally with the elongating Wolffian duct and then were integrated into the Wolffian duct epithelia. Also, chicken Pax2-expressing hMSCs started to express human LIM1 after their integration into the Wolffian duct epithelia. These results suggest that chicken Pax2-expressing hMSCs can be competent to differentiate into the Wolffian duct cells by the influence of chicken local signals.     

Neuroendocrine regulatory peptide-1 and neuroendocrine regulatory peptide-2 influence differentially feeding and penile erection in male rats: sites of action in the brain

The effect of NERP-1 and NERP-2, two recently discovered VGF-derived peptides, on feeding and penile erection was studied after injection into the lateral ventricles, the lateral hypothalamus, the arcuate nucleus or the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. NERP-2 (1-5 nmol), but not NERP-1 (2-4 nmol), increased feeding in a dose-dependent manner when injected into the lateral ventricles or bilaterally into the lateral hypothalamus but not into the arcuate or the paraventricular nucleus. The effect of NERP-2 given into the lateral ventricles was found in the first, but not in the second 60 min after treatment, and was antagonized by SB-408124, an orexin-1 receptor antagonist given into the lateral ventricles or the arcuate nucleus, but not into the paraventricular nucleus. However, SB-408124 was unable to reduce NERP-2-induced feeding when injected bilaterally into the lateral hypothalamus before NERP-2 given also bilaterally into the lateral hypothalamus. In contrast, NERP-1, but not NERP-2, induced penile erection in a dose-dependent manner when injected into the lateral ventricles or the arcuate nucleus, but not into the paraventricular nucleus or the lateral hypothalamus. The pro-erectile effect of NERP-1 was not prevented by the prior injection of d(CH(2))(5)Tyr (Me)(2)-Orn(8)-oxytocin or SB-408124 into the lateral ventricles. The present results suggest that while NERP-2 facilitates feeding by acting in the lateral hypothalamus, possibly by increasing orexin activity in the arcuate nucleus, NERP-1 facilitates penile erection by acting in the arcuate nucleus with a mechanism not related to orexin or oxytocin.     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor prevents formation of glycoproteins in a cells

alpha-Factor inhibits incorporation of [14C]glucosamine into water-soluble and into SDS-extractable glycoproteins to about 90%. The incorporation into chitin is not affected and the same is true for [14C]phenylalanine incorporation into protein. The inhibition of glycoprotein synthesis is specific for a cells.     

Antiproliferative efficacy of lipophilic soy isoflavone phytoestrogens delivered by low density lipoprotein particles into cultured U937 cells

Some fat-soluble bioactive substances incorporated into low density lipoprotein (LDL) may be delivered into cells via LDL receptor pathway influencing cellular functions. In this study, we synthesized a number of fat-soluble isoflavone esters and investigated their incorporation into LDL as well as their delivery into U937 cells. Using an artificial transfer system (Celite dispersion), genistein and daidzein oleates and daidzein dilinoleate were efficiently incorporated into LDL with concentrations ranging between 2.7 to 16.9 isoflavone molecules/LDL particle, while much smaller amounts of unesterified isoflavones and genistein stearates were transferred into LDL. LDL containing 7-oleates or 4',7-dioleates of genistein and daidzein significantly reduced U937 cell proliferation by 36-43%. The strongest inhibitory effect was shown by daidzein 4',7-dilinoleate with 93% reduction of cell proliferation. Neither of the 4'-oleates of genistein and daidzein contained in LDLs exhibited antiproliferative effects although they were incorporated into LDL. In summary, we demonstrated that isoflavones made fat-soluble by esterification can be incorporated into LDL in vitro and delivered into cultured U937 cells via the LDL-receptor pathway, reducing the cell proliferation.     

Yersinia enterocolitica can deliver Yop proteins into a wide range of cell types: development of a delivery system for heterologous proteins

Y. enterocolitica translocates virulence proteins, called Yop effectors, into the cytosol of eukaryotic cells. Here we investigated whether Y. enterocolitica could translocate Yops into a range of eukaryotic cells including neurons and insect cells. Y. enterocolitica translocated the hybrid reporter protein YopE-Cya into each of the eukaryotic cell types tested. In addition, Y. enterocolitica was cytotoxic for each of the adherent cell types. Thus we detected no limit to the range of eukaryotic cells into which Y. enterocolitica can translocate Yops. The Yop effectors YopE, YopH and YopT were each cytotoxic for the adherent cell types tested, showing that not only is Y. enterocolitica not selective in its translocation of particular Yop effectors into each cell type, but also that the action of these Yop effectors is not cell type specific. Invasin and/or YadA, two powerful adhesins were required for translocation of Yop into non-phagocytic cells but not for translocation into macrophages. To use the Yersinia translocation system for broad applications, a Y. enterocolitica translocation strain and vector for the delivery of heterologous proteins into eukaryotic cells was constructed. This strain + vector combination lacks the translocated Yop effectors and allows delivery into eukaryotic cells of heterologous proteins fused to the minimal N-terminal secretion/translocation signal of YopE. Using this strategy translocation of a YopE-Diphtheria toxin subunit A hybrid protein into several cell types has been shown.     

杏仁内侧核注射AVP和AVPMcAb对家兔ET性发热效应的影响

目的和方法：在大脑杏仁内侧核微量注射精氨酸加压素（ＡＶＰ）和精氨酸加压素单克隆抗体（ＡＶＰＭｃＡｂ）,观察其对家兔内毒素（ＥＴ）性发热效应以及视前区一下丘脑前部（ＰＯＡＨ）温敏神经元放电活动的影响。结果：①杏仁内侧核微量注射ＡＶＰ能明显抑制家兔ＥＴ性发热效应,注射ＡＶＰＭｃＡｂ能明显易化家兔ＥＴ性发热效应;②杏仁外侧核分别注射ＡＶＰ和ＡＶＰＭｃＡｂ则对家兔ＥＴ性发热效应无明显影响;③杏仁内侧核分别注射ＡＶＰ和ＡＶＰＭｃＡｂ后ＰＯＡＨ热敏神经元和冷敏神经元放电活动均无明显变化。结论：家兔杏仁内侧核也是ＡＶＰ抗热效应的一个重要的作用部位,杏仁内侧核注射ＡＶＰ的抗热作用途径与隔区注射ＡＶＰ的抗热途径可能不同     

Immunohistological analysis of immigration of thymocyte-precursors into the thymus: evidence for immigration of peripheral T cells into the thymic medulla

The immigration route of thymocyte precursors into the thymic microenvironment was examined in various experiments using two strains of mice (B10.Thy-1.1 and C57BL/6) that were identical in H-2 and different in Thy-1 locus. The experiment of thymus grafting revealed that there were two types of thymocyte precursors; one immigrated into the cortex and vigorously proliferated and the other directly immigrated into the medulla. Such a direct immigration of host-type cells into the medulla of the grafted thymus was not observed, when thymus was grafted into young adult nude mice having no T cells. When bone marrow cells were iv injected into intact mice, the direct immigration of donor-type cells was observed only in the cortex, not in the medulla. In parabiotic mice, the immigration of partner's cells into the medulla was observed independently before the proliferation of partner's cell in the cortex. These findings taken together indicate that peripheral T cells directly immigrate into and recirculate through the thymic medulla.     

The carboxyl-terminal region of the spinach PsaD subunit contains information for its specific assembly into plant thylakoids

The assembly of the multi-subunit membrane-protein Photosystem I (PS I) complex involves incorporation of peripheral proteins into the complex. Here we studied assembly of the PsaD subunit of the cyanobacterial and plant PS I into the thylakoid membranes. We generated partial and chimeric psaD genes from which labeled proteins were synthesized in vitro. Assembly of these proteins into the cyanobacterial or plant thylakoids was assayed. The deletion of leader sequence and N-terminal extension of spinach prePsaD did not inhibit its assembly into spinach or cyanobacterial thylakoids. Addition of these sequences to the cyanobacterial PsaD did not enable it to assemble into plant thylakoids. Moreover, these additions significantly decreased the ability of the chimeric proteins to assemble into cyanobacterial thylakoids. In contrast, when the carboxyl-terminal half of cyanobacterial PsaD was replaced by the corresponding region of the spinach PsaD, the chimeric protein could assemble into both spinach and cyanobacterial thylakoids. Therefore, information in the carboxyl-terminal region of spinach PsaD is crucial for its assembly into plant thylakoids.Abbreviation prePsaD precursor of the PsaD subunit of PS I