Prevention of systemic and regional haemodynamic alterations, hypercreatininemia, hyperuremia and hyperphosphatemia by losartan in hypertension with acute renal failure

Patients with pre-existing hypertension are at a particular risk of fatal outcome due to acute renal failure (ARF). We investigate the effects of angiotensin II type-1 receptor blocker (ARB) losartan, on haemodynamics and biochemical parameters in adult male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with ischemia/reperfusion ARF. SHR were randomly selected in three experimental groups: sham-operated group (SHAM), ARF group, and ARF+LOS group (losartan, 10 mg/kg/b.w. given by infusion during the period of three hours after reperfusion). Beside the improvement of systemic haemodynamics 24 h after reperfusion, losartan significantly increased renal blood flow (RBF: 19.33±3.29 ml/min/kg vs. 8.03±1.04 ml/min/kg, p<0.05) and decreased renal vascular resistance (RVR) compared to ARF (8.85±1.21 mmHg × min × kg/ml vs. 19.90±2.35 mmHg × min × kg/ml, p<0.001). Plasma creatinine (Pcr), urea (Pu) and phosphates (Pphos) were significantly reduced in ARF+LOS group compared to ARF group (Pcr: 99.11±14.56 μmol/l vs. 242.71±20.25 μmol/l, p<0.001; Pu: 33.72±4.69 mmol/l vs. 61.90±3.93 mmol/l, p<0.001; 2.7±0.42 mmol/l vs. 5.57±0.61 mmol/l, p<0.01). Our results demonstrate that losartan improves systemic and regional haemodynamic and biochemical parameters in hypertension with ARF.     

Optimizing potentiometric ionophore and electrode design for environmental on-site control of antibiotic drugs: application to sulfamethoxazole

Potentiometric sensors are typically unable to carry out on-site monitoring of environmental drug contaminants because of their high limits of detection (LODs). Designing a novel ligand material for the target analyte and managing the composition of the internal reference solution have been the strategies employed here to produce for the first time a potentiometric-based direct reading method for an environmental drug contaminant. This concept has been applied to sulfamethoxazole (SMX), one of the many antibiotics used in aquaculture practices that may occur in environmental waters. The novel ligand has been produced by imprinting SMX on the surface of graphitic carbon nanostructures (CN)<500 nm. The imprinted carbon nanostructures (ICN) were dispersed in plasticizer and entrapped in a PVC matrix that included (or not) a small amount of a lipophilic additive. The membrane composition was optimized on solid-contact electrodes, allowing near-Nernstian responses down to 5.2 μg/mL and detecting 1.6 μg/mL. The membranes offered good selectivity against most of the ionic compounds in environmental water. The best membrane cocktail was applied on the smaller end of a 1000 μL micropipette tip made of polypropylene. The tip was then filled with inner reference solution containing SMX and chlorate (as interfering compound). The corresponding concentrations were studied for 1 × 10(-5) to 1 × 10(-10) and 1 × 10(-3) to 1 × 10(-8)mol/L. The best condition allowed the detection of 5.92 ng/L (or 2.3 × 10(-8)mol/L) SMX for a sub-Nernstian slope of -40.3 mV/decade from 5.0 × 10(-8) to 2.4 × 10(-5)mol/L. The described sensors were found promising devices for field applications. The good selectivity of the sensory materials together with a carefully selected composition for the inner reference solution allowed LODs near the nanomolar range. Both solid-contact and "pipette tip"-based sensors were successfully applied to the analysis of aquaculture waters.     

Production of polyclonal antibodies towards the immunodetection of insecticide phosalone

Summary Hapten synthesis for the production of specific insecticide phosalone polyclonal antibodies was carried out starting from an intermediate of the phosalone synthesis, 6-chloro-2-benzoxazolone1. Two haptens containing different spacers have been prepared: N-5-carboxypentyl-6-chloro-2-benzoxazolone7 and N-(2-oxo-3-aza-5-carboxypentyl)-6-chloro-2-benzoxazolone12. Each of these two haptens conjugated to bovine serum albumine (BSA) was used to immunize four rabbits. Immunoassays of phosalone were performed with ELISA using solid-phase bound hapten thyroglobulin conjugate and horseradish peroxidase labelled goat antirabbit IgG. The more sensitive response was observed when the antiserum obtained from the rabbit immunized with the hapten-BSA conjugate containing the N-2-oxo-3-aza-5-carboxypentyl spacer was in competition with the same hapten coupled to thyroglobulin. An identical response was obtained under the same conditions when using benzoxazolone instead of phosalone as competitor, showing a good recognition of the specific aromatic part of the organophosphate insecticide phosalone. Reduction of coating conjugate concentration (from 2 to 0.05g/well) and also the use of heterologous coating protein instead of homologous did improve the sensitivity, resulting in a concentration of phosalone required to inhibit binding by 50% of 2 mg/l and a detection limit of 0.02 mg/l.     

Development of sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of Cronobacter muytjensii (formerly called Enterobacter sakazakii)

This study aimed to produce a polyclonal antibody against Cronobacter muytjensii (C. muytjensii, formerly called Enterobacter sakazakii) and to develop an immunoassay for its detection. The optimum production of rabbit anti-C. muytjensii immunoglobulin G (IgG) and chicken anti-C. muytjensii IgY was reached in weeks 8 and 9, respectively. Purification of rabbit anti-C. muytjensii IgG from immunized rabbit sera was accomplished using the caprylic acid and ammonium sulfate precipitation method. As a result, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis produced two bands around 25 and 50 kDa, corresponding to a light and a heavy chain, respectively. The optimized conditions for sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were using rabbit anti-C. muytjensii IgG (1 μg/mL) as a detection antibody and chicken anti-C. muytjensii IgY (10 μg/mL) as a capture antibody. In this assay, no cross-reactivity was observed with the other genera of pathogenic bacteria tested, which included Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes. The developed assay did not show cross-reactivity with other tested species of Cronobacter and Enterobacter genera such as C. turicensis, C. sakazakii, E. aerogenes, E. pulveris and E. helveticus. The detection limit of sandwich ELISA for C. muytjensii was found to be 2.0 × 10(4) colony forming units (CFU)/mL. In addition, detection of C. muytjensii in infant formula powder showed a low matrix effect on the detection curve of sandwich ELISA for C. muytjensii, the detection limit being found to be 6.3 × 10(4) CFU/mL. These findings demonstrate that the developed method is able to detect all strains of C. muytjensii. Hence, this ELISA technique has potent application for the rapid and accurate detection of C. muytjensii in dietary foods.     

抗磺胺对甲氧嘧啶单克隆抗体的研制及其特性分析

目的制备针对磺胺对甲氧嘧啶的单克隆抗体,建立对该物质的免疫学检测方法。方法以BSA-磺胺对甲氧嘧啶为免疫原,免疫BALB／c小鼠,取脾细胞与小鼠Sp-2／0骨髓瘤细胞融合后,经筛选和亚克隆,建立杂交瘤细胞株。结果获得2株能稳定分泌抗磺胺对甲氧嘧啶抗体的细胞株。对抗体进行了特性分析,抗体的效价分别为1：400000和1：1630000,抗体类型及亚类都为IgGl。其中,单克隆抗体1H10的亲和力为1．4×109L／mol,利用该抗体采用竞争间接ELISA法检测磺胺对甲氧嘧啶的范围是1025—16μg/mL,最低检测浓度是8μg/mL。单抗1H10与其他6种磺胺药（SMM、SMZ、SM2、SD、SulfaquinoxalineSodium、Sulfametetyrazine）无交叉反应。结论单克隆抗体1H10可用于研制免疫学方法检测磺胺对甲氧嘧啶残留的产品。     

Increased efflux of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) causes glutathione depletion and potentially diminishes antioxidant defense in sickle erythrocytes

Erythrocytes are both an important source and target of reactive oxygen species in sickle cell disease. Levels of glutathione, a major antioxidant, have been shown to be decreased in sickle erythrocytes and the mechanism leading to this deficiency is not known yet. Detoxification of reactive oxygen species involves the oxidation of reduced glutathione (GSH) into glutathione-disulfide (GSSG) which is actively transported out of erythrocyte. We questioned whether under oxidative conditions, GSSG efflux is increased in sickle erythrocytes. Erythrocytes of 18 homozygous sickle cell patients and 9 race-matched healthy controls were treated with 2,3-dimethoxy-l,4-naphthoquinone, which induces intracellular reactive oxygen species generation, to stimulate GSSG production. Intra- and extracellular concentrations of GSH and GSSG were measured at baseline and during 210-minute 2,3-dimethoxy-l,4-naphthoquinone stimulation. While comparable at baseline, intracellular and extracellular GSSG concentrations were significantly higher in sickle erythrocytes than in healthy erythrocyte after 210-minute 2,3-dimethoxy-l,4-naphthoquinone stimulation (69.9 ± 3.7 μmol/l vs. 40.6 ± 6.9 μmol/l and 25.8 ± 2.7 μmol/l vs. 13.6 ± 1.7 μmol/l respectively, P<0.002). In contrast to control erythrocytes, where GSH concentrations remained unchanged (176 ± 8.4 μmol/l vs. 163 ± 13.6 μmol/l, NS), GSH in sickle erythrocytes decreased significantly (from 167 ± 8.8 μmol/l to 111 ± 11.8 μmol/l, P<0.01) after 210-minute 2,3-dimethoxy-l,4-naphthoquinone stimulation. Adding multidrug resistance-associated protein-1 inhibitor (MK571) to erythrocytes blocked GSSG efflux in both sickle and normal erythrocytes. GSSG efflux, mediated by multidrug resistance-associated protein-1, is increased in sickle erythrocytes, resulting in net loss of intracellular glutathione and possibly higher susceptibility to oxidative stress.     

Determination of picropodophyllin and its isomer podophyllotoxin in human serum samples with electrospray ionization of hexylamine adducts by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for determination of the new anticancer agent picropodophyllin (AXL1717) and its isomer podophyllotoxin levels in human serum has been developed. Monitoring of hexylamine adducts rather than proton adducts was used to optimize sensitivity. The chromatography system was an Acquity BEH C18, 2.1 mm × 50 mm 1.7 μm column with gradient elution (mobile phase A: 2.5 mM hexylamine and 5 mM formic acid in Milli-Q water and mobile phase B: methanol). The retention times were 1.4 min for picropodophyllin, 1.5 min for podophyllotoxin and 1.9 min for internal standard deoxypodophyllotoxin. The isomers were base-line separated. The analytes were detected after electrospray ionization in positive mode with selected reaction monitoring (SRM) with ion transitions m/z 516→102 for picropodophyllin and podophyllotoxin and m/z 500→102 for internal standard. The sample preparation was protein precipitation with acetonitrile (1:3) containing internal standard followed by dilution of the supernatant with mobile phase A (1:1). The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.01 μmol/L for picropodophyllin and podophyllotoxin. The limit of detection (LOD) at 3 times the signal to noise (S/N) was estimated below 0.001 μmol/L for picropodophyllin and podophyllotoxin. The quantification range of the method was between 0.01 μmol/L and 5 μmol/L for both isomers. The accuracy was within ±15% of the theoretical value for both picropodophyllin and podophyllotoxin and inter-assay precision did not exceed ±15%, except for the 0.016 μmol/L level of podophyllotoxin, which was 18%. The selectivity of the method was verified by analysis of two different product ions for each analyte and by analysis for interference of seven different batches of blank human serum. The combined recovery and matrix effects were about 83% for picropodophyllin and podophyllotoxin. The new LC-MS/MS method showed sufficient sensitivity and selectivity for determination of picropodophyllin and its isomer podophyllotoxin levels in human serum from subjects receiving therapeutic doses of AXL1717.     

Nebivolol-induced vasodilation of renal afferent arterioles involves β3-adrenergic receptor and nitric oxide synthase activation

Nebivolol is a β(1)-adrenergic blocker that also elicits renal vasodilation and increases the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). However, its direct actions on the renal microvasculature and vasodilator mechanism have not been established. We used the in vitro blood-perfused juxtamedullary nephron technique to determine the vasodilator effects of nebivolol and to test the hypothesis that nebivolol induces vasodilation of renal afferent arterioles via an nitric oxide synthase (NOS)/nitric oxide (NO)/soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)/cGMP pathway and the afferent arteriolar vasodilation effect may be mediated through the release of NO by activation of NOS via a β(3)-adrenoceptor-dependent mechanism. Juxtamedullary nephrons were superfused with nebivolol either alone or combined with the sGC inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) or the NOS inhibitor N(ω)-nitro-l-arginine (l-NNA) or the β-blockers metoprolol (β(1)), butoxamine (β(2)), and SR59230A (β(3)). Nebivolol (100 μmol/l) markedly increased afferent and efferent arteriolar diameters by 18.9 ± 3.0 and 15.8 ± 1.8%. Pretreatment with l-NNA (1,000 μmol/l) or ODQ (10 μmol/l) decreased afferent vasodilator diameters and prevented the vasodilator effects of nebivolol (2.0 ± 0.2 and 2.4 ± 0.6%). Metoprolol did not elicit significant changes in afferent vasodilator diameters and did not prevent the effects of nebivolol to vasodilate afferent arterioles. However, treatment with SR59230A, but not butoxamine, markedly attenuated the vasodilation responses to nebivolol. Using a monoclonal antibody to β(3)-receptors revealed predominant immunostaining on vascular and glomerular endothelial cells. These data indicate that nebivolol vasodilates both afferent and efferent arterioles and that the afferent vasodilator effect is via a mechanism that is independent of β(1)-receptors but is predominantly mediated via a NOS/NO/sGC/cGMP-dependent mechanisms initiated by activation of endothelial β(3)-receptors.     

铅螯合物人工抗原的制备与鉴定

以双功能螯合剂异硫氰酸苄基乙二胺四乙酸(ITCBE)螯合铅离子,制备得半抗原Pb-ITCBE,然后再分别与载体蛋白KLH或BSA偶联制备得免疫原Pb-ITCBE-KLH与包被抗原Pb-ITCBE-BSA,ITCBE-BSA.用二喹啉甲酸法测3种抗原的浓度,分析半抗原、抗原与载体蛋白的紫外吸收光谱,利用SDS-PAGE对3种抗原的分子量进行鉴定,用三硝基苯磺酸法检测3种抗原中的赖氨酸残基的ε-NH2被半抗原替换的程度,用石墨炉原子分光吸收法检测抗原中铅的含量.研究结果表明,免疫原与包被抗原制备成功,Pb-ITCBE-KLH、Pb-ITCBE-BSA、ITCBE-BSA的浓度依次为6.47± 0.08 mg/ml,6.68± 0.06 mg/ml,5.57± 0.05 mg/ml;抗原与载体蛋白的紫外吸收光谱的特征各不相同;SDS-PAGE的结果显示3种抗原的分子量均不同于各自的载体蛋白;抗原中载体蛋白ε-氨基的替换程度依次为1.86± 0.74 %、55.53± 1.13%、54.19± 1.34%;铅的含量依次为15.64± 0.11 μg/ml,17.33± 0.15 μg/ml,0 μg/ml.     

Role of the human erythrocyte in generation and storage of asymmetric dimethylarginine

Proteolytic activity in whole blood may lead to release of the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). We investigated the role of the human erythrocyte in storage and generation of ADMA in healthy controls (n = 36) and critically ill patients (n = 38). Both free and total (sum of free and protein-incorporated) ADMA were measured. Upon incubation of intact erythrocytes with extracellular ADMA (0 to 40 μmol/l), equilibrium between intra- and extracellular ADMA was reached within 3 h. Compared with controls, patients had significantly higher basal concentrations of ADMA in plasma (0.88 ± 0.75 vs. 0.41 ± 0.07 μmol/l) and erythrocytes (1.28 ± 0.55 vs. 0.57 ± 0.14 μmol/l). Intracellular and plasma ADMA were significantly correlated in the patient group only (r = 0.834). Upon lysis, followed by incubation at 37°C for 2 h, free ADMA increased sevenfold (to 8.60 ± 3.61 μmol/l in patients and 3.90 ± 0.78 μmol/l in controls). In lysates of controls, free ADMA increased further to 9.85 ± 1.35 μmol/l after 18 h. Total ADMA was 15.43 ± 2.44 μmol/l and did not change during incubation. The increase of free ADMA during incubation corresponded to substantial release of ADMA from the erythrocytic protein-incorporated pool (21.9 ± 4.6% at 2 h and 60.8 ± 7.6% at 18 h). ADMA was released from proteins other than hemoglobin, which only occurred after complete lysis and was blocked by combined inhibition of proteasomal and protease activity. Neither intact nor lysed erythrocytes mediated degradation of free ADMA. We conclude that intact erythrocytes play an important role in storage of ADMA, whereas upon erythrocyte lysis large amounts of free ADMA are generated by proteolysis of methylated proteins, which may affect plasma levels in hemolysis-associated diseases.     

Hyperhomocysteinemia among Omani autistic children: a case-control study

High serum homocysteine (Hcy) level is regarded as an indicator for impairment of folate-dependent methionine cycle and is associated with oxidative stress. In a case control study, we evaluated eighty 3-5 years old Omani children (40 diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and 40 their age and gender matched controls) for their fasting serum homocysteine levels as a biomarker of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Serum folate and vitamin B(12) status were also evaluated. The serum homocysteine was measured using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) technique whereas folate and vitamin B(12) were measured using an automated random access immune-assay system. The results indicated that mean serum Hcy levels were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in autistic children (20.1 ± 3.3 μmol/L) as compared to controls (9.64 ± 2.1 μmol/L). Significantly (P < 0.05) lower serum folate (1.8 ± 0.4 μg/L) and vitamin B(12) (191.1 ± 0.9 pg/mL) levels were observed in autistic children as compared to controls (6.1 ± 0.6 μg/L and 288.9 ± 1.3 pg/mL, respectively). The levels of homocysteine in autistic children were also much higher as compared to normal reference values (5-15 μmol/L). The results suggest that high fasting serum homocysteine and low folate and vitamin B(12) levels could be used as clinical biomarkers for an early diagnosis and management of ASD.     

消融右肺动脉神经节丛对肾上腺素能刺激和胆碱能刺激诱发房颤的影响

目的：探讨右肺动脉神经节丛（RPVGP）消融对胆碱能及儿茶酚胺诱发房颤的影响。方法：20只犬麻醉开胸后,暴露RPVGP,分别在消融RPVGP前后,经股静脉静滴乙酰胆碱（ACh）及儿茶酚胺。测量房颤诱发率及两类递质诱发房颤的阈浓度。结果：RPVGP消融前,静滴Ach和异丙基肾上腺素（IPA）及肾上腺素（EPI）（1～100μmol/l）均可诱发AF,诱发率100%。Ach、IPA和EPI的诱发阈浓度分别为2.6±0.3μmol/l,3.3±0.2μmol/l,5.6±0.2μmol/l。RPVGP消融后,Ach及儿茶酚胺的AF诱发率分别降至10%及35%,且三种递质的诱发阈浓度分别提高至2.6±0.3μmol/l、22.5±2.4μmol/l和26.±2.6μmol/（lP〈0.05）。结论：消融RPVGP使乙酰胆碱和儿茶酚胺诱发房颤的阈浓度增高,并降低此二类介质的房颤诱发率。     

The antibody binding site. Labelling of a specific antibody against the photo-precursor of an aryl nitrene

The isolation of specific rabbit antibodies for the haptenic group 4-azido-2-nitrophenyl, is described. These antibodies bind 1.8-2.0mol of hapten [in-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)-l-lysine]/mol with an association constant of nearly 10(7)m(-1) at 4 degrees C. On photolysis of the antibody-hapten complex, resulting in the formation of an aryl nitrene at the binding site, hapten was covalently bound to the antibody, and the antibody binding site was blocked. The ratio of labelling of heavy- and light-chains was 2.5:1. Two small peptides were isolated from digests of labelled heavy-chain, indicating that some 13% of the label in the antibody was attached to cysteine-92 and to alanine-93. These residues are adjacent to the major hypervariable region in rabbit heavy-chain (residues 95-105).     

青杨脊虎天牛对植物源挥发物的EAG和行为反应

测定了青杨脊虎天牛Xylotrechus rusticus （L.）雌、雄成虫对其寄主杨树中的水杨醛（0.95 μmol/μL）和非寄主植物中0.3 μmol/μL的叶绿醇、0.4 μmol/μL的水芹烯和0.6 μmol/μL的 R 型α-蒎烯、S 型α-蒎烯、S型β-蒎烯、3-蒈烯、罗勒烯、香草烯和松节油等10种植物挥发性气味物质的触角电位（EAG）反应。结果表明,与对照相比,这10种植物挥发物多能引起成虫明显的EAG反应( P<0.05,P<0.01 ),其中雌虫对松节油、水杨醛、R 型α-蒎烯和 S 型α-蒎烯的EAG反应较强; 雄虫对 R 型α-蒎烯的EAG反应最强,松节油次之。根据雌虫对这10种挥发物EAG反应的强弱,进一步测定了雌虫对0.00006、0.0006、0.006、0.06、0.6、0.12 μmol/μL的松节油、R 型α-蒎烯、S 型α-蒎烯以及0.000095、0.00095、0.0095、0.095、0.95、0.19 μmol/μL的水杨醛的EAG和行为反应。结果表明,雌虫对松节油、水杨醛和 R 型α-蒎烯的EAG反应随气味物质浓度的增加而增加,水杨醛浓度增加到0.95 μmol/μL、松节油和 R 型α-蒎烯浓度增加到0.6 μmol/μL以后,EAG反应值趋于平稳;对 S 型α-蒎烯的反应随浓度的增加而呈线性增加。水杨醛浓度低于0.095时,对雌虫没有明显的定向作用( P>0.05 ),高于此浓度时表现为驱避作用( P<0.05 ); 松节油在浓度低于或等于0.6 μmol/μL时对雌虫表现为驱避作用,浓度为0.6时驱避效果最佳（ P<0.01 ）。雌虫对 R 型α-蒎烯和 S 型α-蒎烯没有明显的定向行为反应。     

Ursodeoxycholate modulates bile flow and bile salt pool independently from the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (Cftr) in mice

Cystic fibrosis liver disease (CFLD) is treated with ursodeoxycholate (UDCA). Our aim was to evaluate, in cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator knockout (Cftr(-/-)) mice and wild-type controls, whether the supposed therapeutic action of UDCA is mediated via choleretic activity or effects on bile salt metabolism. Cftr(-/-) mice and controls, under general anesthesia, were intravenously infused with tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDCA) in increasing dosage or were fed either standard or UDCA-enriched chow (0.5% wt/wt) for 3 wk. Bile flow and bile composition were characterized. In chow-fed mice, we analyzed bile salt synthesis and pool size of cholate (CA). In both Cftr(-/-) and controls intravenous TUDCA stimulated bile flow by ～250% and dietary UDCA by ～500%, compared with untreated animals (P < 0.05). In non-UDCA-treated Cftr(-/-) mice, the proportion of CA in bile was higher compared with that in controls (61 ± 4 vs. 46 ± 4%; P < 0.05), accompanied by an increased CA synthesis [16 ± 1 vs. 10 ± 2 μmol·h(-1)·100 g body wt (BW)(-1); P < 0.05] and CA pool size (28 ± 3 vs. 19 ± 1 μmol/100 g BW; P < 0.05). In both Cftr(-/-) and controls, UDCA treatment drastically reduced the proportion of CA in bile below 5% and diminished CA synthesis (2.3 ± 0.3 vs. 2.2 ± 0.4 μmol·day(-1)·100 g BW(-1); nonsignificant) and CA pool size (3.6 ± 0.6 vs. 1.5 ± 0.3 μmol/100 g BW; P < 0.05). Acute TUDCA infusion and chronic UDCA treatment both stimulate bile flow in cystic fibrosis conditions independently from Cftr function. Chronic UDCA treatment reduces the hydrophobicity of the bile salt pool in Cftr(-/-) mice. These results support a potential beneficial effect of UDCA on bile flow and bile salt metabolism in cystic fibrosis conditions.     

In vivo nitric oxide suppression of lipolysis in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue is greater in obese than lean women

Mounting evidence suggests there is a reduced mobilization of stored fat in obese compared to lean women. It has been suggested that this decreased lipid mobilization may lead to, or perpetuate, the obese state; however, there may be a beneficial effect of reduced lipolysis, either by allowing for a sink of excess fatty acids, or by limiting a potentially harmful rise in interstitial and circulating fatty acid concentration. Nitric oxide (NO) may be responsible for a portion of the reduced in vivo rates of lipolysis in obese women because NO reduces adipose tissue lipolysis and adipose tissue nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mRNA is higher in obese than lean individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine if the inhibition of NOS by L-N(g)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) in the absence and presence of lipolytic stimulation would result in a larger increase in lipolytic rate in obese (OB) than lean (LN) women. Microdialysis probes were inserted into the subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue of seven obese and six lean women to monitor lipolysis. Dialysate glycerol concentration increased in response to L-NMMA in OB (basal 125 ± 26 μmol/l; L-NMMA 225 ± 35 μmol/l) to a greater extent than in LN (basal 70 ± 18 μmol/l; L-NMMA 84 ± 20 μmol/l) women (P < 0.05). Dialysate glycerol increased to a similar extent in OB and LN in response to adrenergic stimulation by isoprenaline or norepinephrine in the presence of L-NMMA. The differential glycerol responses to L-NMMA between obese and lean could not be explained by differential blood flow responses. It can be concluded that NO suppresses basal lipolysis in obese women to a greater extent than in lean women.     

Autoimmune response to advanced glycosylation end-products of human LDL

Advanced glycosylation end-products (AGEs) are believed to play a significant role in the development of vascular complications in diabetic patients. One such product, AGE-LDL, has been shown to be immunogenic. In this report, we describe the isolation and characterization of human AGE-LDL antibodies from the sera of seven patients with Type 1 diabetes by affinity chromatography using an immobilized AGE-LDL preparation that contained primarily the AGE N epsilon (carboxymethyl)lysine (CML, 14.6 mmol/mol lysine), and smaller amounts of N epsilon (carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL, 2.7 mmol/mol lysine). The isolated antibodies were predominantly IgG of subclasses 1 and 3, and considered proinflammatory because of their ability to promote Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis and to activate complement. We determined dissociation constants (Kd) for the purified antibodies. The average Kd values (4.76 +/- 2.52 x 10(-9) mol/l) indicated that AGE-LDL antibodies are of higher avidity than oxidized LDL antibodies measured previously (Kd = 1.53 +/- 07 x 10(-8) ml/l), but of lower avidity than rabbit polyclonal LDL antibodies (Kd = 9.34 x 10(-11)). Analysis of the apolipoprotein B-rich lipoproteins isolated with polyethylene glycol-precipitated antigen-antibody complexes from the same patients showed the presence of both CML and CEL, thus confirming that these two modifications are recognized by human autoantibodies. A comparative study of the reactivity of purified AGE-LDL antibodies with CML-LDL and CML-serum albumin showed no cross-reactivity.     

Affinity labelling of the binding site of rabbit antibody. Evidence for the involvement of the hypervariable regions of the heavy chain

The binding sites of rabbit antibodies with affinity for the haptenic group 4-azido-2-nitrophenyl-lysine have been specifically labelled by photolysis of the hapten-antibody complex. The extent of covalent labelling was 0.5-0.9mol of hapten bound/mol of antibody and, by using an immunoadsorbent, antibody with 1.3mol of hapten/mol was obtained. The antibody was specifically labelled in the binding site and the ratio of labelling of heavy and light chains was in the range 3.3-5.0. The labelled heavy chains were cleaved by CNBr treatment and after reduction and alkylation of the intrachain bonds, were digested with trypsin. Evidence is presented that two regions of the heavy chain, positions 29-34 and 95-114, together contain about 80% of the label on the heavy chain; these two regions respectively include two of the hypervariable regions of rabbit heavy chain.     

Detection of human asialo-α1-acid glycoprotein using a heterosandwich immunoassay in conjunction with the light addressable potentiometric sensor

Highly specific detection of human ₁-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and asialo-₁-acid glycoprotein (asialo-AGP) was made possible by use of a sandwich immunoassay. The glycoproteins were sandwiched between biotinylated and fluoresceinated polyclonal rabbit anti-human AGP antibodies. Additionally, asialo-AGP could be distinctly detected, apart from AGP, via the formation of a heterosandwich immunoassay using biotinylated polyclonal rabbit antihuman AGP and the lectin, fluoresceinated ricin toxin. Streptavidin was added to the formed immunocomplexes and the immunocomplexes captured on a biotinylated nitrocellulose membrane. The signal generator, urease conjugate of an anti-fluorescein antibody, was then bound to the complex on membrane. The rate of pH change under microvolume conditions (0.6 µl) was monitored using a silicon chip-based, light addressable potentiometer sensor. Results indicated that AGP and asialo-AGP can be detected to the 2 pg level when two antibodies are used to form the immunocomplex. Asialo-AGP can be detected down to 250 pg when the heterosandwich immunoassay is used; this assay exhibited no response up to 10 ng for native AGP or asialofetuin. Both immunoassays can be used to quantify the level of AGP and asialo-AGP in solution. Although the assay presented is very specific for AGP, asialo-AGP and terminal galactose, it is readily adaptable for the detection of any glycoprotein and terminal carbohydrate (or branched structure) by use of a protein-specific antibody and various lectins.     

不饱和脂肪酸在低渗牵张加强豚鼠胃窦平滑肌细胞毒蕈碱电流中的作用

利用全细胞膜片钳技术在急性分离的胃窦平滑肌细胞上记录离子电流的方法 ,探讨外源性不饱和脂肪酸是否参与低渗牵张加强毒蕈碱电流的过程。在豚鼠胃窦平滑肌细胞上膜电位被钳制在 - 2 0 0mV等渗状态时 ,5 0 μmol/L卡巴胆碱 (carbachol,CCh)引起的毒蕈碱电流 (ICCh)作为对照 ,发现低渗牵张可以使ICCh明显增加到对照的 2 2 6 0±2 1 0 %。当用含 5 μmol花生四烯酸 (arachidacid ,AA)、亚麻酸 (linoleicacid ,LA)或亚油酸 (oleicacid,OA)细胞外液灌流时 ,ICCh分别被抑制在对照的 3 8± 0 6%、3 5 2± 0 8%和 66 6± 0 6%。在这种情况下 ,低渗牵张刺激可以使ICCh分别增加到 10 6 0± 2 5 %、173 2± 6 8%和 2 2 2 1± 11 0 %。 5 μmol/LAA抑制低渗牵张增加的毒蕈碱电流 5 1 2± 3 8% ,而在等渗状态下抑制ICCh为 96 2± 1 6%。上述结果提示 ,不饱和脂肪酸中双键数目越多 ,抑制效应越强 ;但不饱和脂肪酸不参与低渗刺激加强毒蕈碱电流的过程。