Serum acid phosphatase activity in rats with hypoxia of different etiologies

Experiments on male rats have shown that the acid phosphatase activity increases in all the types of hypoxia (circulatory-hemic, hemic and hypoxic), in blood serum. An increase in the activity of this enzyme distinctly correlates with hypoxia gravity. A supposition is advanced that the blood enzyme level of lysosomal hydrolases can reflect the functional state of the lysosomal apparatus in cells of the organism.     

Changes in plasma levels of lysosomal and non lysosomal enzymes during hemorrhagic hypotension.

In a study of 4-hr hemorrhagic hypotension in dogs, the plasma levels of the lysosomal enzymes, cathepsin (CATH) and acid phosphatase (AP) showed early and progressive increases in activity. The plasma levels of the intestinal fraction of alkaline phosphatase (IAkP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) were increased after 2 hr of hypotension and the liver specific enzyme, ornithine carbamyltransferase (OCT), and creatine phosphokinase (CPK), after 3 hr. All of the enzymes showed large increases after 4 hr of hypotension. The plasma levels of CATH showed the earliest and largest relative increase indicating that with the shock model used, this enzyme was the most sensitive indicator of shock severity. The increase in plasma enzyme levels was probably the result of tissue damage in the splanchnic region but the elevation of plasma CPK, a muscle specific enzyme, indicates some muscle cell damage as well. While the increase in the plasma enzyme activity is probably due, in large part, to cellular damage, it is likely that a decreased enzyme removal rate--resulting from a hypofunctional RES--also contributes to the elevated plasma enzyme levels during hemorrhagic hypotension.     

Biological Time-Related Changes in Tolerance of Male Mice to Hypoxia—II. Orcadian Rhythm of Lysosomal Susceptibility to Hypoxia

Circadian variations of mouse liver, brain and heart lysosomal susceptibility to hypoxia were investigated. Lysosomal disruption during hypoxia was estimated on the basis of the following measurements: changes in percentage free activity of β-galactosidase and acid phosphatase, tissue loss of both lysosomal enzymes and accumulation of serum β-galactosidase. When exposure to hypoxia took place at the end of the rest phase or at the beginning of the active phase, it was accompanied by maximum increase of percent free activity. This, presumably represents a diffusion of enzymes from lysosomes due to altered membrane permeability. However, hypoxia when occurring during the second part of the active phase and first part of the rest phase resulted in tissues loss of lysosomal enzymes and accumulation of serum lysosomal enzymes. This is believed to represent the release of lysosomal enzymes in bulk from damaged or ruptured lysosomal membranes.     

Biological Time-Related Changes in Tolerance of Male Mice to Hypoxia—II. Orcadian Rhythm of Lysosomal Susceptibility to Hypoxia

Circadian variations of mouse liver, brain and heart lysosomal susceptibility to hypoxia were investigated. Lysosomal disruption during hypoxia was estimated on the basis of the following measurements: changes in percentage free activity of β-galactosidase and acid phosphatase, tissue loss of both lysosomal enzymes and accumulation of serum β-galactosidase. When exposure to hypoxia took place at the end of the rest phase or at the beginning of the active phase, it was accompanied by maximum increase of percent free activity. This, presumably represents a diffusion of enzymes from lysosomes due to altered membrane permeability. However, hypoxia when occurring during the second part of the active phase and first part of the rest phase resulted in tissues loss of lysosomal enzymes and accumulation of serum lysosomal enzymes. This is believed to represent the release of lysosomal enzymes in bulk from damaged or ruptured lysosomal membranes.     

Comparative effect and fate of non-entrapped and liposome-entrapped neuraminidase injected into rats

Non-entrapped and liposome-entrapped Clostridium perfringens neuraminidase (0.5-0.6 unit) was injected into rats and its fate as well as its effect on plasma and erythrocyte N-acetylneuraminic acid was investigated. The following observations were made. (1) Although removal of both non-entrapped and liposome-entrapped neuraminidase from the circulation was completed within 5h after injection, their recovery in tissues was distinctly different; 7-10% of the injected non-entrapped enzyme was found in the liver and none in the liver lysosomal fraction or the spleen. In contrast, 20-26% of the liposome-entrapped enzyme was found in the liver of which 60-69% was in the lysosomal fraction. Spleen contained 3.6-5.0% of the enzyme. (2) The presence of the non-entrapped neuraminidase in blood led to the extensive desialylation of plasma and to a decrease in the concentration or total removal from the circulation of some of the plasma glycoproteins. (3) Injection of non-entrapped neuraminidase also led to the partial desialylation of erythrocytes the life span of which was diminished and their uptake by the liver and spleen augmented. (4) Entrapment of neuraminidase in liposomes before its injection prevented the enzyme from acting on its substrate in plasma or on the erythrocyte surface, and values obtained for plasma glycoproteins and erythrocyte survival were similar to those observed in control rats. (5) Entrapment in liposomes of therapeutic hydrolases intended for the degradation of substances stored within the tissue lysosomes of patients with storage diseases could prevent the potentially hazardous enzymic action of hydrolases in blood and at the same time direct the enzymes to the intracellular sites where they are needed.     

In vitro metabolism of opioid tetrapeptide agonists in various tissues and subcellular fractions from rats

The metabolism of three mu-selective opioid tetrapeptide agonists, Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-Nva-NH(2) (TArPN), Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-Phe-NH(2) (TArPP), and Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Phe-NH(2) (TAPP), was investigated in different rat tissues. High metabolic activity (<20% peptide remaining after 30 min) was found against the three peptides in the kidney homogenate and against TArPN in spleen homogenate. Low metabolic activity (>80% peptide remaining after 30 min) was found for all peptides in brain homogenate and plasma, and for TArPN and TArPP in blood. The other tissue homogenates, prepared from the small and large intestine, liver and lung, all exhibited intermediate metabolic activity (20-80% peptide remaining after 30 min) against the peptides. In all tissues investigated, the tetrapeptides were metabolized at the C-terminal amide by deamidation.A further in depth metabolic investigation was performed in subcellular fractions isolated from three tissues (small intestine, liver and kidney). In the liver, the deamidation was predominantly localized to the mitochondrial/lysosomal fraction, while hydrolysis at the N-terminal Tyr residue was the major metabolic pathway in the microsomal/brush-border membrane fraction from the kidney and small intestine.     

Lipoprotein lipase in lungs, spleen, and liver: synthesis and distribution.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL, E C 3.1.1.34) is the enzyme responsible for hydrolysis of triacylglycerols in plasma lipoproteins, making the fatty acids available for use by subjacent tissues. LPL is functional at the surface of endothelial cells, but it is not clear which cells synthesize the enzyme and what its distribution within tissues and vessels is. In previous studies we reported that in the major LPL-producing tissues (muscles, adipose tissue, and mammary gland) the enzyme is made by the major cell types. In the present work we have studied in adult guinea pigs some tissues that present LPL activity but in lower amounts (lung, spleen, and liver). On cryosections of these tissues we have searched for specific cell expression of the LPL gene (by in situ hybridization using a RNA probe) and for the corresponding protein distribution (by immunocytochemistry). Based on morphological criteria we can suggest that, contrary to the main LPL-producing tissues, in these tissues the enzyme is made by scattered cells, such as macrophages in the lung and spleen and Kupffer cells in the liver; endothelial cells present but do not synthesize the enzyme, indicating that the endothelial LPL originates in other cells. In the liver strong immunoreaction was detected in the sinusoid in contrast to the low level of mRNA expression, suggesting that liver takes up circulating LPL from blood.     

Tissue and cellular distribution of alpha-L-iduronidase in the pig

We investigated the alpha-L-iduronidase activity of various pig tissues. Furthermore, we examined the tissues using antibody, enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and immunohistochemical methods. The amounts of enzyme measured by the EIA method in the various tissues were proportional to their enzyme activities and also to their immunohistochemical characteristics. The tissues could thus be classified into three groups: a high enzyme activity group composed of the liver, kidney, and spleen; a moderate activity group comprising the lung, lymph nodes, stomach, ileum, colon, and pancreas; and a low activity group consisting of the heart, diaphragm, iliopsoas muscle, cerebrum, cerebellum, and skin. The molecular weight of the enzyme in each tissue did not reveal any heterogeneity, having two components of 70 KD and 62 KD by Western blot analysis. Immunohistochemically, alpha-L-iduronidase was strongly detected in the lysosomal membranes of cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system, epithelial cells of the proximal tubules in the kidney, and some blastic cells, whereas hepatocytes revealed weak positive reactions. The tissue and cellular distribution of the enzyme appeared to have a close relation to tissues that manifest or are affected by alpha-L-iduronidase deficiency.     

Sublethal effects of an organophosphorus insecticide (RPR-II) on biochemical parameters of tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus

The effect of exposure to sublethal concentrations (0.017 mg L(-1), 1/10 of LC50) of the novel organophosphate (OP) insecticide, 2-butenoic acid-3-(diethoxyphosphinothioyl) methyl ester (RPR-II) on biochemical parameters in Oreochromis mossambicus was studied during exposure for 3, 7, 15, 30 and its recovery response after seven days. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of brain, gill and muscle was inhibited by 67%, 77% and 73% respectively on day-30. The plasma and kidney alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) activity increased, while decreases were observed in gill and liver. Increases in acid phosphatase (AcP), and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities were observed in plasma, gill, and kidney, and reductions of 20% and 61% in liver AcP and AP, respectively. Depletion of glycogen was observed in all tissues, an indication of typical stress related response of the fish with pesticide. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity decreased in liver and muscle, indicating tissue damage but a significant increase in LDH activity in gill and brain was observed. Depletion of glutathione (GSH) was observed in all tissues, thereby enhancing lipid peroxidation resulting in cell damage. The induction in hepatic glutathione-S-transferase (GST) levels indicates protection against the toxicity of xenobiotic-induced lipid peroxidation. There was a significant recovery in the above biochemical parameters, in all tissues of fish after a recovery period of seven days. These results revealed that the OP insecticide RPR-II is highly toxic and affects the intermediary metabolism of O. mossambicus.     

Changes in the creatine kinase activity of the brain, heart, liver and plasma of rats subjected to oxygen starvation]

The action of hypoxic and cytotoxic hypoxia on the creatine phosphokinase activity in the blood plasma, cardiac and hepatic tissue, cerebral tissue, as well as on the nuclear and mitochondrial cerebral fractions was investigated. Oxygen deficiency was followed by significant changes of the creatine kinase activity in all the tissues and cell fractions under investigation. The type of changes depended on the isoenzyme tissue perculiarities, as well as on the state of the enzyme oxidative phosphorylation systems and membrane permeability.     

Twenty-four-hour variations in ornithine decarboxylase and acid phosphatase in mice

Polyamines are essential for cell growth and differentiation. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis. Acid phosphatases (AP) are lysosomal enzymes that are important in normal intracellular metabolism. Twenty-four-hour variations in these enzymes may be important in understanding the temporal responses of different tissues to various stimuli. The purpose of this study was to examine a variety of tissues for fluctuations in the levels of ODC and AP over a 24-hr period. Significant circadian variations in the amount of ODC activity were observed in all tissues examined. Activity of AP varied with time of day in the liver, kidney, and heart. The highest and lowest measurements of ODC activity were as follows: liver, 81.5 +/- 7.0, 47.9 +/- 4.4; colon, 11.7 +/- 1.2, 3.1 +/- 0.7; stomach 3.1 +/- 0.4, 0.9 +/- 0.1; kidney, 420.9 +/- 0.9, 67.5 +/- 0.8; and heart, 4.7 +/- 1.0, 2.5 +/- 0.2. The highest and lowest measurements of AP activity were as follows: liver 3.8 +/- 0.1, 2.8 +/- 0.1; kidney, 3.4 +/- 0.1, 1.9 +/- 0.1; and heart, 2.6 +/- 0.1, 2.0 +/- 0.1. These findings suggest that rhythmic fluctuations in polyamine biosynthesis and lysosomal enzymes may influence other metabolic pathways differentially throughout 24 hr.     

Targeting peptidylarginine deiminase reduces neutrophil extracellular trap formation and tissue injury in severe acute pancreatitis

Recent evidence suggests that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play an important role in the development of acute pancreatitis (AP). Herein, we examined the role of peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD), which has been shown to regulate NET formation, in severe AP. AP was induced by retrograde of taurocholate infusion into pancreatic duct in C57BL/6 mice. PAD was pharmacologically inhibited using Cl-amidine, a pan-PAD inhibitor. Pancreata were collected, and histones, citrullinated histone 3, chemokines, myeloperoxidase, and NETs were quantified. Chemokines, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and DNA-histone complexes were determined in plasma samples. Infusion of taurocholate induced formation of NETs in pancreatic tissues of mice. Pretreatment with Cl-amidine markedly reduced the NET formation in the inflamed pancreas. Moreover, inhibition of PAD decreased the levels of blood amylase as well as edema, acinar cell necrosis, hemorrhage, and neutrophil infiltration in the pancreas of animals with AP. Administration of Cl-amidine attenuated the myeloperoxidase levels in the pancreas and lung of mice exposed to taurocholate. In addition, Cl-amidine decreased pancreatic levels of CXC chemokines, plasma levels of IL-6, and MMP-9 in mice with severe AP. This study shows that Cl-amidine is a potent inhibitor of NET formation in severe AP. Also, our results suggest that PAD regulates pathological inflammation and tissue damage in the inflamed pancreas. Thus, targeting PAD might be a useful strategy to treat patients with severe AP.     

Studies on Cholesterol Ester Formation and Hydrolysis in Liver Disease: A Selective Review

Plasma cholesterol esters are formed within the circulation by lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), an enzyme produced by the liver. Patients with hepatocellular disease have low plasma LCAT activity. This largely accounts for the decreased levels of cholesterol esters observed in such patients and appears due to impaired hepatic production of the enzyme. In contrast, activity of the LCAT reaction in patients with cholestasis seems variable and is the subject of controversy, largely because the influence of abnormal cholestatic lipoproteins on the reaction requires further clarification.Human liver contains a lysosomal cholesterol ester hydrolase (CEH) which may play an important role in hepatic cholesterol homeostasis. In patients with liver damage there is no concrete evidence of circulating CEH activity, but recent studies show elevated activity of hydrolase within the liver itself in acute hepatitis. Hepatic activity of another lysosomal enzyme, acid phosphatase, is not increased, suggesting that high CEH in hepatitic liver does not simply reflect a general increase in lysosomal enzymes. The pathogenesis and significance of altered CEH activity in liver disease require further study.     

The effect of TEPC-183 plasmacytoma growth on beta-glucuronidase activity in serum and tissues of tumor-bearing mice

beta-Glucuronidase activity increased in the serum of BALB/c mice during the growth of the IgM-secreting plasmacytoma, TEPC-183. The increase appeared to correlate with tumor burden. The beta-glucuronidase activity in tissue homogenates of spleen, liver, and kidney from tumor-bearing mice also increased significantly compared to the levels found in corresponding tissues from normal control mice. Assays of lysosomal and microsomal fractions from livers of TEPC-bearing mice indicated that approximately 70% of the enzyme activity was associated with the lysosomal fraction and the remainder with the microsomal fraction. A similar distribution was found in homogenates prepared from the plasmacytoma itself. In contrast to this the beta-glucuronidase activity in livers from normal BALB/c mice is nearly equally distributed between lysosomal and microsomal fractions.     

The demonstration of a specific 5'-nucleotidase activity in rat tissues.

5′-Nucleotidase has been partially purified from rat liver, spleen, kidney, heart, lung, brain and skeletal muscle. The majority of the enzyme activity in each of these tissues was insoluble in 1% of Triton X-100, solubilized in 2% Triton X-100,1% sodium deoxycholate, and stable to incubation at 50 °C for 5 min. The partially purified enzyme from each tissue exhibited the same pH optimum, was inhibited by concanavalin A, and was inhibited in an identical manner by antibody to highly purified 5′-nucleotidase from liver. Since the enzyme is usually concentrated in the plasma membrane (De Pierre, J. W. and Karnovsky, M. L. (1973) J. Cell Biol., 56, 275–303), the results indicate that the enzyme may represent a convenient and general marker for this organelle in rat tissues.     

Fatty acid ethyl ester synthase in rat adipose tissue and its relationship to carboxylesterase.

Fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) synthase was obtained from rat adipose tissue in an electrophoretically homogeneous form. The enzyme associated with carboxylesterase activity was purified by acetone precipitation followed by successive chromatographies on DEAE-cellulose, phenyl-Sepharose, and Sephadex G-100 gel. The two activities in rat adipose tissue were associated as judged by their co-elution profiles, co-purifications at different steps, co-precipitations by antibody raised against purified FAEE synthase, and identical profiles of inhibition by diisopropyl fluorophosphate. The enzyme catalyzed the hydrolyses of both tri- and monoacylglycerols, and the susceptibilities of substrates increase with decreasing acyl chain length of the fatty acid moiety. Ethyl oleate-hydrolyzing activity was about one-eighth of the synthesizing activity. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the first 27 residues of the purified enzyme was identical to that of the carboxylesterase from rat liver. With a polyclonal rabbit antibody against the rat adipose tissue FAEE synthase, the enzyme was demonstrated in the liver, lung, and testis, but not in the kidney. The antibody removed the FAEE-synthesizing activities in adipose tissue (86%), liver (23%), lung (62%), and testis (82%). These results suggest that carboxylesterase contributes to the nonoxidative ethanol metabolism (FAEE synthesis) in various organs.     

Acid phosphatases: androgen dependent markers of rat prostate.

Our investigations on acid phosphatase (AP) were aimed at finding a biochemical assay marker for androgen actions in the rat prostrate. We quantitatively examined the effects of l-tartrate or formaldehyde on AP activity in tissue filtrates from nine adult male rat tissues, plasma and hemolysed red blood cells (HRBC). There was significant inhibition of AP activity in all instances with the exception of HRBC with tartrate. The prostate inhibition results were not different from those for seminal vesicles and adrenals but were different from the other tissues studied. Ten days following castration the inhibition by tartrate was less in all tissues studied except plasma and HRBC; the formaldehyde inhibition percentages were not altered.     

Detection of hypoxia in the pulmonary tissues of Xenopus laevis over repeated dives

The oxygen environment in African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) continuously changes during their development, which involves a rapid increase in the body size, metamorphosis, and transition to adulthood. Nevertheless, there are limited reports on experimental models that are available for studying fluctuations in the oxygen environment in X. laevis. Thus, this study aimed to develop an experimental model on intermittent hypoxia in X. laevis and evaluate hypoxia and oxidative stress in the same. X. laevis were submerged in water with a dissolved oxygen concentration of 2 mg/L for 30 min; they were then removed from the water and allowed to freely absorb oxygen for 5 min. Immunostaining of pimonidazole-containing frozen tissue sections of the lung and liver using anti-pimonidazole antibodies as the hypoxia probes revealed that more than 95% of the submerged X. laevis cells were pimonidazole positive, providing direct evidence of tissue hypoxia. When the amount of oxidative stress in the lungs and liver was evaluated in terms of the amount of lipid peroxides, the diving group showed a 2.08-fold and 3.20-fold increase over the normal group, respectively. Following hypoxia exposure, the dry-to-wet weight ratios of the lung tissues was 1.27 times higher (p < .05), while the liver tissues was 1.06 times higher (although not significant). Thus, the degree of damage depended on the tissues affected. In the future, we believe that this model will be a promising option for analyzing the physiological responses of X. laevis to hypoxia and oxidative stress.     

Endogenous plasma lipoprotein lipase activity in fed and fasting rats may reflect the functional pool of endothelial lipoprotein lipase

In this study, a correlation was sought between the circulating lipoprotein lipase activity and nutritional state in the rat. In fed rats, the plasma lipoprotein lipase activity was between 30 and 120 munits/ml, whereas after an overnight fast in restraining cages, the lipoprotein lipase plasma levels were between 280 and 500 munits/ml. The plasma lipoprotein lipase activity was inhibited by a specific high titre goat antiserum to rat lipoprotein lipase. No effect of fasting was seen on the plasma hepatic triacylglycerol lipase. 6 h after fasting, adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase decreased maximally, but plasma lipoprotein lipase was not changed and rose only after 16 h. Thus, it seems that most of the lipoprotein lipase activity in the fasting plasma was related to the 3-fold rise in lipoprotein lipase activity in the heart, which may represent total muscle lipoprotein lipase. The increase in heart lipoprotein lipase was due in part to an increase in the t1/2 of the enzyme from 1.2 to 2.9 h. To determine whether the high plasma levels in the fasting rats might result from impaired clearance of the enzyme by the liver, functional hepatectomy was carried out. 15 min after hepatectomy, plasma lipoprotein lipase rose up to 20-fold in fed and about 6-fold in fasting rats. Lipoprotein lipase activity extracted by the liver was calculated to be 30-60 munits/ml in the fed and 171-247 munits/ml plasma per min in fasting rats. An increase in lipoprotein lipase activity in extrahepatic tissues (heart, lung, kidney, diaphragm and adrenal) occurred 30 min after hepatectomy in fed rats. The increase in heart lipoprotein lipase was due to an increase in heparin-releasable fraction. Since no impairment of hepatic clearance of circulating plasma lipoprotein lipase was found, the high fasting plasma lipoprotein lipase activity may be related to an increase in enzyme synthesis, decreased enzyme turnover and an expansion of the functional pool in tissues such as the heart and probably muscle. The present findings indicate that measurement of endogenous plasma lipoprotein lipase can provide information with respect to the size of the functional pool under normal and pathological conditions.