The role of the actin status in platelet behaviour

The status of platelet actin has been studied analytically by the DNase-I inhibition assay. Exposure of platelets to diamide, which oxidizes sulphydryl groups, results in an increase of filamentous actin. Neutralization of the effect of diamide by addition of 2-mercaptopropionylglycine (2-MPG) or washing out the excess of diamide is associated with a normalization of the cellular actin status. These findings strongly suggest that the redox state of platelets is somehow involved in the process of actin polymerization. Alterations of the redox state in metabolically altered platelets could therefore account for changes in the G- to F-actin equilibrium. In the thrombin-induced actin polymerization the redox state of the cell seems to be not involved, since 2-MPG preincubation of platelets (1.25 mM, 30 min) does not inhibit the filament assembly.     

Real-Time Measurement of Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species Using Mito Tracker Orange (CMH2TMRos)

We have investigated a novel method to monitor real changes of intracellular ROS by the use of CMH₂TMRos (a reduced form of MitoTracker orange) in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. Arachidonic acid induced a rapid increase of CMTMRos fluorescence with a maximal elevation at 120–150 sec, which was determined by scanning every 10 sec with a confocal microscope. The fluorescence increase by arachidonic acid was completely inhibited by 2-MPG but not by catalase, indicating a major contribution of superoxide to the oxidation of CMH₂TMRos. Incubation with glucose oxidase, exogenous H₂O₂, KO₂ and lysophosphatidic acid also increased the CMTMRos fluorescence, which was blocked by 2-MPG. These results suggested that CMH₂TMRos is a useful fluorophore for real-time monitoring of intracellular ROS and also indicated that CMH₂TMRos detects primarily superoxide in cells even though the fluorophore can be oxidized by both superoxide and H₂O₂.     

Regulation of reactive oxygen species and stress fiber formation by calpeptin in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts.

We have investigated a novel function of calpeptin, a commonly used inhibitor of calpain, in the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. Calpeptin induced a rapid increase of intracellular ROS by a dose-dependent manner, with a maximal increase at 10 min, which was inhibited by ROS scavengers, catalase and 2-MPG. However, other calpain inhibitors, E64d and N-acetyl-Leu-Leu-Nle-CHO (ALLN), had no effect on the level of intracellular ROS, indicating that calpain was not involved in the ROS production by calpeptin. The role of Rho in the ROS production by calpain was studied by scrape-loading of C3 transferase. C3 transferase, which inhibited stress fiber formation by calpeptin, had no effect on the ROS production in response to calpeptin, suggesting that Rho was not involved in the ROS production by calpeptin. But the elevation of intracellular ROS was inhibited by mepacrine, a phospholipase A2 inhibitor. In addition, scavenging intracellular ROS by the incubation with catalase and 2-MPG had no effect on the stress fiber formation by calpeptin. These results suggested that calpeptin stimulated the production of intracellular ROS and stress fiber formation by independent mechanisms.     

Flumazenil preconditions cardiomyocytes via oxygen radicals and K(ATP) channels

We determined whether flumazenil mimics ischemic preconditioning in chick cardiomyocytes and examined the role of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ATP-dependent potassium (K(ATP)) channels in mediating the effect. Chick ventricular myocytes were perfused with a balanced salt solution in a flow-through chamber. Cell viability was quantified using propidium iodide, and ROS generation was assessed using the reduced form of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin (DCFH). Cells were exposed to 1 h of simulated ischemia and 3 h of reoxygenation. Preconditioning was initiated with 10 min of ischemia followed by 10 min of reoxygenation. Alternatively, flumazenil was added to the perfusate for 10 min and removed 10 min before the start of ischemia. Flumazenil (1 and 10 microM) and preconditioning reduced cell death [54 +/- 5%, n = 3; 26 +/- 4%, n = 6 (P < 0.05); and 20 +/- 2%, n = 6 (P < 0.05), respectively, vs. 57 +/- 7%, n = 10, in controls] and increased DCFH oxidation (an index of ROS production) [0.35 +/- 0.11, n = 3; 2.64 +/- 0.69, n = 8 (P < 0.05); and 2.46 +/- 0.52, n = 6 (P < 0.05), respectively, vs. 0.26 +/- 0.05, n = 9, in controls]. Protection and increased ROS signals with flumazenil (10 microM) were abolished with the thiol reductant N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine (2-MPG, 800 microM), an antioxidant (cell death: 2-MPG + flumazenil, 55 +/- 12%, n = 6; ROS signals: 2-MPG + flumazenil, 0.11 +/- 0.19, n = 6). Treatment with 5-hydroxydecanoate (1 mM), a selective mitochondrial K(ATP) channel antagonist, abolished its protection. These results demonstrate that flumazenil mimics preconditioning to reduce cell death in myocytes. ROS signals with the resultant mitochondrial K(ATP) channel activation are important components of the intracellular signaling pathway of flumazenil.     

Ultrasound-induced myocardial preconditioning: analysis of its effectiveness and mechanisms

It has been shown that exposure of the isolated rat heart perfused according to Langendorff to therapeutic ultrasound (210 kHz and 0.5-1.5 W/cm2 ) induces a cardioprotective response similar to ischemic preconditioning. This reduces the infarct size and improves the postischemic systolic and diastolic function. The ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker glybenclamide abolished the protection afforded by ultrasound; in contrast, the free radical scavenger N-2-MPG did not influence the ultrasound-induced cardioprotective response.     

活性氧和线粒体ATP敏感钾通道介导肿瘤坏死因子α对缺氧/复氧心肌的保护作用

在培养的乳鼠心肌细胞上,研究肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)对缺氧/复氧损伤心肌的保护作用的机制。结果发现：(1)用TNF-α(10—500U／ml)预处理,缺氧/复氧后心肌细胞内锰超氧化物歧化酶(Mn-SOD)活性增高、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放量减少(P＜0．05);(2)用抗氧化剂N-乙酰半既氨酸(NAC,1mmol/L)、抗霉素A(antimycin A,50μmol/L)、2-巯基丙酰氨基乙酸(2-MPG,400μmol/L)和铜／锌超氧化物歧化酸(Cu/Zn,SOD)抑制剂二乙基二硫代氨基甲酸盐(DDC,100nmol/L)预处理,可取消TNF-α的抑制缺氧/复氧心肌细胞LDH释放和诱导Mn-SOD活性增高的作用;(3)mitoKATP通道抑制剂5-羟基癸酸(5-HD)预处理可阻断TNF-α对缺氧/复氧心肌细胞的保护作用;选择性mitoKATP通道开放剂diazoxide(50μmol/L)预处理可减少复氧后心肌细胞LDH的释放(P＜0．01),其作用可被5-HD(100μmol/L)和NAC所抑制。上述结果表明,活性氧和线粒体ATP敏感钾通道参与介导TNF-α对缺氧/复氧损伤的心肌保护作用。     

Surface plasmon resonance sensor for heparin measurements in blood plasma

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was used as an affinity biosensor to determine absolute heparin concentrations in human blood plasma samples. Protamine and polyethylene imine (PEI) were evaluated as heparin affinity surfaces. Heparin adsorption onto protamine in blood plasma was specific with a lowest detection limit of 0.2 U/ml and a linear window of 0.2–2 U/ml. Although heparin adsorption onto PEI in buffer solution had indicated superior sensitivity to that on protamine, in blood plasma it was not specific for heparin and adsorbed plasma species to a steady-state equilibrium. By reducing the incubation time and diluting the plasma samples with buffer to 50%, the non-specific adsorption of plasma could be controlled and a PEI pre-treated with blood plasma could be used successfully for heparin determination. Heparin adsorption in 50% plasma was linear between 0.05 and 1 U/ml so that heparin plasma levels of 0.1–2 U/ml could be determined within a relative error of 11% and an accuracy of 0.05 U/ml.     

The measurement of lysosomal phospholipase A2 activity in plasma

A deficiency of lysosomal phospholipase A2 (LPLA2) causes macrophage-associated phospholipidosis, suggesting that the enzyme is important in the lipid catabolism. Because LPLA2 is secreted by macrophages, extracellular LPLA2 activity may potentially reflect a change in macrophage activation. In this report, the detection of LPLA2 activity in plasma was established by the measurement of the transacylase activity of LPLA2 under acidic conditions. No transacylase activity of LPLA2 was detected in normal human plasma when the plasma was incubated with liposomes consisting of 1,2-dioleoylphosphatidylcholine/sulfatide/N-acetylsphingosine (NAS) at pH 4.5. However, the transacylase activity in the plasma was detected when liposomes consisting of 1,2-dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol/NAS were used as a substrate. To establish the specificity of the assay, ceramide transacylase activity was detected in the plasma of wild-type mice. By contrast, the plasma obtained from LPLA2-knockout mice had no measurable transacylase activity under the same conditions. The enzymatic activity of recombinant LPLA2 was inhibited by treatment with methylarachidonylfluorophosphonate. The inhibitor also suppressed the transacylase activity observed in both normal human and wild-type mouse plasma, establishing that the transacylase activity observed in plasma is due to LPLA2. Plasma LPLA2 activity may be a useful bioassay marker for the identification of LPLA2-related disorders.     

Hydrogen Peroxide in Human Blood

Blood and plasma of humans and rats were analyzed for hydrogen peroxide. The samples were analyzed after deproteinization with trichloroacetic acid, immediately after they were withdrawn from human volunteers or rats. A radio-isotopic technique based on peroxide-dependent decarboxylation of 1-¹⁴C-alpha-ketoacids and consequent liberation of ¹⁴CO₂ was used. The results demonstrate the presence ofmicromolar levels of H₂O₂, both, in the plasma as well as in the whole blood. The values in the whole blood were substantially greater than the plasma. This was true for rats as well as humans. The presence of such significant quantities of H₂O₂ in the blood have been demonstrated for the first time. The investigation, therefore, opens a newer avenue of research on diseases purported to be related to the generation of oxygen radicals in vivo.     

Uptake and transfer of lithium in pregnancy and lactation in the mouse

The uptake of lithium in pregnant and lactating mice as well as its transfer to their respective fetuses (18-day postcoitum) and nurslings (11- to 15-day postnatal) were quantified. Lithium carbonate in concentrations of 1 or 2 mg/ml given ad libitum in drinking water produced plasma levels in adults ranging from 0.46 to 1.7 meq/liter. In pregnancy, plasma lithium of the adult was twice that of the fetal plasma. However, there was no statistical difference in brain lithium content between adults and fetuses at the 1- or 2-mg dosage. A significant decrease in bone lithium content was found in fetuses as compared to adults at the 2-mg level. During lactation the plasma lithium of nurslings was one-fourth to one-sixth that of the mothers' plasma. Lithium content in brain and in bone of adults was significantly lower than those of nurslings at both drug concentrations. No apparent effects on adults, fetuses, or nurslings were noted in the short term.     

Use of laurdan fluorescence intensity and polarization to distinguish between changes in membrane fluidity and phospholipid order

Sialyltransferase activity has been determined in membrane preparations containing the Golgi apparatus that were isolated from atherosclerotic and normal human aortic intima as well as in plasma of patients with documented atherosclerosis and healthy donors by measuring the transfer of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) from CMP-NeuAc to asialofetuin. The asialofetuin sialyltransferase activity was found to be 2 times higher in the atherosclerotic intima as compared to the normal intima and 2-fold higher in patients' plasma than in that from healthy donors. The mean values of the apparent Michaelis constant (K(m)) for the sialylating enzyme for both tissues did not differ and were close for the intima and plasma. In contrast, the maximal velocity (V(max)) was 2 times higher for the atherosclerotic intima than for the normal intima and 3 times higher for patients' plasma than for that of the donors. These results suggest that the activity of asialofetuin sialyltransferases of aortal intima is enhanced in atherosclerosis as is the secretion of their soluble forms into patients' plasma.     

Plasma [H+] regulation and whole blood [CO2] in exercising ponies

The major objective was to determine in ponies whether factors in addition to changes in blood PCO2 contribute to changes in plasma [H+] during submaximal exercise. Measurements were made to establish in vivo plasma [H+] at rest and during submaximal exercise, and CO2 titration of blood was completed for both in vitro and acute in vivo conditions. In 19 ponies arterial plasma [H+] was decreased from rest 4.5 neq/l (P less than 0.05) during the 7th min of treadmill running at 6 mph, 5% grade (P less than 0.5). A 5.6-Torr exercise hypocapnia accounted for approximately 2.9 neq/l of this reduced [H+]. The non-PCO2 component of this alkalosis was approximately neq/l, and it was due presumably to a 1.7-meq/l increase from rest in the plasma strong ion difference (SID). Despite the arterial hypocapnia, mixed venous PCO2 was 2.7 Torr above rest during steady-state exercise. Nevertheless, mixed venous plasma [H+] was 1.2 neq/l above rest during exercise, which was presumably due to the increase in SID. Also studied was the effect of submaximal exercise on whole blood CO2 content (CCO2). In vitro, at a given PCO2 there was minimal difference in CCO2 between rest and exercise blood, but plasma [HCO3-] was greater for exercise blood than for rest blood. In vivo, during steady-state exercise, arterial plasma blood. In vivo, during steady-state exercise, arterial plasma [HCO3-] was unchanged or slightly elevated from rest, but CaCO2 was 4 vol% below rest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Colloid osmotic pressure changes in human whole blood and separated plasma in vitro with changes in CO2 content and pH

Colloid osmotic pressure (COP) and pH were measured on the true plasma of human blood from five subjects tonometered with different concentrations of carbon dioxide. Measurements were also made on their separated plasma. COP (mmHg) of true plasma obtained from tonometered whole blood varied in proportion to the bicarbonate concentration (mEq/l): COP = 0.056 [HCO3-] + 23.3. In separated plasma, as CO2 concentration increased, COP decreased as pH decreased: COP = 1.99 (pH) + 11.0. When the change in COP due to the change in pH was subtracted from the observed change of COP due to CO2 exposure of whole blood, the difference was the change of COP due to the shift of fluid between plasma and red cells: COP adjusted for pH = 0.131 [HCO3-] + 21.5. The COP values of tonometered whole blood and separated plasma are taken to be equal at a pH of 7.40 (at the mixed venous point). The change in COP, adjusted for pH, for a given change in pCO2 is in keeping with the amount of fluid shift calculated from the measured changes in hematocrit and plasma protein concentration. An error in a previous paper (Kakiuchi et al., J. appl. Physiol. 44, 474-478, 1978) had led to an overestimation of the COP change from the exposure of whole blood to CO2 in vitro.     

Increased nitric oxide is one of the causes of changes of iron metabolism in strenuously exercised rats

This study was carried out to investigate the possible role of increased nitric oxide (NO) production in the development of the low iron status in strenuously exercised rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: sedentary (S1), sedentary + nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; S2), exercise (E1), and exercise + L-NAME (E2). Animals in the E1 and E2 groups swam for 2 h/day for 3 mo. L-NAME in the drinking water (1 mg/ml) was administrated to rats in the S2 and E2 groups for the same period. At the end of third month, hematological indexes and nitrite and nitrate (NOx) contents in the plasma and non-heme iron and NOx levels in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow cells were measured. Three months of exercise induced a significant increase in NOx content and a decrease in iron level both in plasma and tissues. Treatment with L-NAME, an inhibitor of NO synthase (NOS), led to a significant decrease in NOx and an increase in iron level both in plasma and tissues in the exercised rats. The E2 group had a significantly lower NOx content as well as a higher iron level both in plasma and tissues than the E1 group. However, the iron contents in the plasma and tissues of the E2 group were still significantly lower than those found in S1. No difference was found in NOx levels between E2 and S1. These findings showed that exercise was associated with elevation in NOx and reduction in iron in plasma and the tissues. Treatment with L-NAME was able to completely inhibit the effect of exercise on NOx as well as partly recover the decreased iron contents in plasma and tissues resulting from exercise. This suggests that the increased production of NO might be one of the causes of the lower iron status in exercised rats.     

The effects of starving versus fasting on blood composition in larval house crickets

Larval crickets (Acheta domesticus) starved for 2 days during the growth phase of the instar consumed twice as much water as larvae that ceased feeding of their own accord during the last 2 days of the last instar. The behaviour of drinking more water during starvation may compensate for dry weight loss and prevent the larvae from missing the critical weight required to initiate the next moult. During starvation the plasma volume increased while the tissue volume remained constant, which produced a shift in both organic and inorganic solutes from the tissues into the plasma. During fasting there was no change in tissue or plasma volume, therefore large osmotic adjustments were unnecessary, and the only change in plasma solutes noted was a decline in plasma proteins.The titres of proteins, lipids and amino acids remained constant during 2 days of starvation, though the amount of each increased because of the increased plasma volume. Although both the titre and the amount of plasma sugar sharply declined during starvation, there was no change in the sugar titre when the insects fasted. There was some evidence that prior to fasting the programmed gradual decline in food intake matched the decline in metabolic rate, which permitted a plasma sugar stability not evident in starved larvae. The decline in plasma proteins during the fasting phase appeared due to the removal of a larval specific protein and not a direct result of fasting.     

Molecular species of phosphatidylcholine in familial lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency: effect of enzyme supplementation

We studied the molecular species composition of plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC) in three patients with familial deficiency of lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase in order to determine whether certain species are increased in the absence of this enzyme activity. Compared to normal plasma, the deficient plasma contained significantly higher percentages of 16:0-18:2 and 18:0-18:2 species and lower percentages of 16:0-20:4 and 18:0-20:4 species. The bulk of the total plasma PC as well as the abnormal composition of molecular species were found in the very-low-density and low-density lipoprotein (VLDL + LDL) fractions. When the deficient plasma was incubated with partially purified enzyme from normal human plasma, there was a significant reduction in the amounts of most major species, mainly in the VLDL + LDL fraction. When the selectivity factors were calculated by dividing the percentage contribution of each species for cholesterol esterification by its percentage concentration, the highest selectivity factors were found for 16:0-18:2, 18:1-18:1 and 18:1-18:2. The order of selectivity of the enzyme for various species was very similar to that obtained earlier using normal HDL as substrate. These results show that lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase has significant effects on the molecular species composition of plasma PC and the deficiency of the enzyme results in accumulation of certain PC species normally used by the enzyme, as well as in abnormal distribution of these species among the lipoproteins.     

Sialyltransferase activity of human plasma and aortic intima is enhanced in atherosclerosis

Sialyltransferase activity has been determined in membrane preparations containing the Golgi apparatus that were isolated from atherosclerotic and normal human aortic intima as well as in plasma of patients with documented atherosclerosis and healthy donors by measuring the transfer of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) from CMP-NeuAc to asialofetuin. The asialofetuin sialyltransferase activity was found to be 2 times higher in the atherosclerotic intima as compared to the normal intima and 2-fold higher in patients’ plasma than in that from healthy donors. The mean values of the apparent Michaelis constant (K_m) for the sialylating enzyme for both tissues did not differ and were close for the intima and plasma. In contrast, the maximal velocity (V_max) was 2 times higher for the atherosclerotic intima than for the normal intima and 3 times higher for patients’ plasma than for that of the donors. These results suggest that the activity of asialofetuin sialyltransferases of aortal intima is enhanced in atherosclerosis as is the secretion of their soluble forms into patients’ plasma.     

Characterization of Ca2+ uptake in plasma membrane vesicles isolated from guinea pig ileum smooth muscle

We have characterized ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport into highly purified plasma membrane fraction isolated from guinea pig ileum smooth muscle. The membrane fraction contained inside-out sealed vesicles and was enriched 30-40-fold in 5'-nucleotidase and phosphodiesterase I activity as compared to post nuclear supernatant. Plasma membrane vesicles showed high rate (76 nmol/mg/min) and high capacity for ATP dependent Ca2+ transport which was inhibited by addition of Ca2+ ionophore A23187. The inhibitors of mitochondrial Ca2+ transport, i.e., sodium azide, oligomycin and ruthenium red did not inhibit ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake into plasma membrane vesicles. The energy dependent Ca2+ uptake into plasma membranes showed very high specificity for ATP as energy source and other nucleotide triphosphates were ineffective in supporting Ca2+ transport. Phosphate was significantly better as Ca2+ trapping anion to potentiate ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake into plasma membrane fraction as compared to oxalate. Orthovanadate, an inhibitor of cell membrane (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activity, completely inhibited ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport and the Ki was approximately 0.6 microM. ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport and formation of alkali labile phosphorylated intermediate of (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase increased with increasing concentrations of free Ca2+ in the incubation mixture and the Km value for Ca2+ was approximately 0.6-0.7 microM for both the reactions.     

Studies in humans using deuterium-labeled alpha- and gamma-tocopherols demonstrate faster plasma gamma-tocopherol disappearance and greater gamma-metabolite production

We hypothesized that human plasma alpha- and gamma-tocopherol concentrations reflect differences in their kinetics, especially influenced by gamma-tocopherol metabolism. Vitamin E kinetics were evaluated in humans (n=14) using approximately 50 mg each of an equimolar ratio of d6-alpha- and d2-gamma-tocopheryl acetates administered orally. Mass spectrometry was used to measure deuterated plasma tocopherols, as well as plasma and urinary vitamin E metabolites, alpha- and gamma-carboxyethylhydroxychromans (CEHCs). Plasma d2-gamma-tocopherol fractional disappearance rates (FDR; 1.39+/-0.44 pools/day, mean+/-SD) were more than three times greater than those of d6-alpha-tocopherol (0.33+/-0.11, p<0.001). The d2-gamma-tocopherol half-life was 13+/-4 h compared with 57+/-19 for d6-alpha-tocopherol. Whereas neither plasma nor urinary d6-alpha-CEHC was detectable (limit of detection 1 nmol/L), gamma-CEHC (labeled plus unlabeled) increased from 129+/-20 to 258+/-40 nmol/L by 12 h and returned to baseline by 48 h; at 12 h d2-gamma-CEHC represented 54+/-4% of plasma gamma-CEHC. Women compared with men had a greater d2-gamma-tocopherol FDR (p<0.004) and a greater maximal plasma d2-gamma-CEHC concentration (p<0.02) and CEHC FDR (p<0.007), as well as excreting four times as much d2-gamma-CEHC (p<0.04) in urine. Thus, gamma-tocopherol is rapidly metabolized to gamma-CEHC, and to a greater degree in women than in men, whereas alpha-tocopherol is maintained in the plasma and little is metabolized to alpha-CEHC.     

Recognition of acidic phospholipase A2 activity in plasma membranes of resident peritoneal macrophages

Phospholipase (PLase) activities in the plasma membrane of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages were studied, as these enzymes having such activity may be candidates for the release of arachidonic acid (AA) from phosphatidylcholine (PC). An AA release system operating at acidic pH was identified in the macrophage plasma membrane and characterized. This membrane-bound acidic PLase A2 had an optimum pH at 4.5, and enzyme activation was observed in Ca++-free medium; but the maximum activity was found at 0.5 mM Ca++ concentration. The Km value for PC of acidic PLase A2 was 4.2 microM, and a Michaelis-Menten relationship was evident. Calcium might act as a cofactor at some intermediate step during the activation of acidic PLase A2 in light of the uncompetitive manner of Ca++ action. Furthermore, the release of [3H]-AA from preradiolabelled macrophage plasma membranes occurred with the addition of Ca++ at pH 4.5. These data suggest that the acid PLase A2 is a component of the plasma membrane and is not due to lysosomal contamination since membrane-bound acidic PLase A2 properties are opposite to those found for lysosomal PLase A2.