Inhalation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate increases methacholine airway responsiveness

Airway hyperresponsiveness is a characteristic feature in asthmatic subjects, but the mechanism of the hyperresponsiveness is not known. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether methacholine airway responsiveness was increased 24 h after inhalation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP). Ten atopic asthmatic subjects and six atopic normal subjects were studied on 4 study days. On the 1st day, a methacholine inhalation test was performed, followed within 48 h by an AMP inhalation test. Seven days later the second AMP test was performed, and 24 h later the methacholine inhalation test was repeated. Response was measured using partial flow-volume curves, and the concentration required to cause a 40% fall in the partial flow-volume curve (PC40) was calculated. The geometric mean methacholine PC40 fell from 1.36 mg/ml on day 1 (before AMP inhalation) to 0.71 mg/ml on day 4 (24 h after AMP inhalation, P less than 0.01). There was no change in the mean PC40 for adenosine on the 2 study days (5.82 and 7.06 mg/ml, P greater than 0.1). These findings suggest that adenosine release may contribute to the increase in airway responsiveness after allergen challenge.     

Greater airway narrowing in immature than in mature rabbits during methacholine challenge

Shen, X., V. Bhargava, G. R. Wodicka, C. M. Doerschuk, S. J. Gunst, and R. S. Tepper. Greater airway narrowing in immature thanin mature rabbits during methacholine challenge. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(6): 2637-2643, 1996.It hasbeen demonstrated that methacholine (MCh) challenge produces a greaterincrease in lung resistance in immature than in mature rabbits (R. S. Tepper, X. Shen, E. Bakan, and S. J. Gunst.J. Appl. Physiol. 79: 1190-1198, 1995). To determine whether this maturational difference in the response to MCh was primarily related to changes in airway resistance (Raw) or changes in tissue resistance, we assessed airway narrowing in1-, 2-, and 6-mo-old rabbits during intravenous MCh challenge (0.01-5.0 mg/kg). Airway narrowing was determined frommeasurements of Raw in vivo and from morphometric measurements on lungsections obtained after rapidly freezing the lung after the MChchallenge. The fold increase in Raw was significantly greater for 1- and 2-mo-old animals than for 6-mo-old animals. Similarly, the degree of airway narrowing assessed morphometrically was significantly greaterfor 1- and 2-mo-old animals than for 6-mo-old animals. The foldincrease in Raw was highly correlated with the degree of airwaynarrowing assessed morphometrically(r² = 0.82, P < 0.001). We conclude that thematurational difference in the effect of MCh on lung resistance isprimarily caused by greater airway narrowing in the immature rabbits.

     

Antigen challenge of sensitized rats increases airway responsiveness to methacholine

We measured airway responsiveness to methacholine (MCh) of highly inbred rats before and after six inhalational challenges with antigen. Ten Brown-Norway rats (130-216 g) that were actively sensitized to ovalbumin (OA) received six challenges with OA at 5-day intervals beginning 19 days after sensitization. An aerosol of OA (5% wt/vol) was inhaled for 1, 2, 5, and 10 min or until pulmonary resistance (RL) increased by at least 50%. Challenges with aerosolized MCh were performed immediately before and 14 days after sensitization, 2 days after the 3rd OA exposure, and 2, 7, 12, and 17 days after the 6th OA challenge. Four unsensitized rats underwent inhalational challenges with MCh over an equivalent time period. Responsiveness to MCh was calculated as the concentration of MCh required to increase RL to 200% of the control value (EC200RL). Seven out of 10 rats in the experimental group reacted to the first OA challenge with an immediate increase in RL of greater than 50% of control (range 70-550%). Three animals were unreactive to OA. Base-line EC200RL for all rats undergoing sensitization was 2.13 mg/ml (geometric mean), and it did not change significantly after sensitization (2.05 mg/ml). However, EC200RL of the rats that reacted to OA (n = 7) decreased significantly after 3 (1.11 mg/ml; P less than 0.005) and 6 OA exposures (0.96 mg/ml; P less than 0.005). The increase in responsiveness to inhaled MCh was present 17 days after the last OA exposure (EC200RL = 1.40 mg/ml; P less than 0.05). EC200RL of neither the unreactive sensitized rats (n = 3) nor the control rats (n = 4) changed after OA challenges.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

L-theanine elicits an umami taste with inosine 5'-monophosphate

We investigated the taste synergy between L-theanine and the flavour enhancer, inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP), by using a human sensory evaluation. When L-theanine was added to IMP, only the umami taste was enhanced. We then investigated this synergistic effect of L-theanine in mice by gustatory nerve recording. We confirmed the synergism between L-theanine and IMP for the umami taste.     

Adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate in mycobacteria.

Cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) is present in saprophytic fast growing as well as pathogenic and non-pathogenic slow growing mycobacteria. Apparently there does not seem to be any direct relationship between either intra- or extra-cellular cyclic AMP content with the growth rate of the bacteria. Intracellular cyclic AMP content is much higher than that of $\text{E}$. $\text{coli}$ grown on a similar carbon source. Glucose when added to the cells suspended in phosphate buffer lowers the intracellular cyclic AMP content by 6–8 fold.     

Adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase of buffalo spermatozoa.

The cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17) of buffalo spermatozoa is distributed in the head, mid-piece and tail fractions and has multiple forms, 70% of which is in the bound form. The bound enzyme was not solubilized by Triton X-100, lubrol or hyamine 2389. Kinetic measurements of the soluble enzyme showed two apparent Km values for low and high cAMP concentrations, i.e. 4.5 and 100 micro M with Vmax values of 0.25 and 2.0 nmol cAMP hydrolysed min-1 mg protein-1. The bound enzyme had an apparent Km of 66.6 microM with a Vmax of 0.75 nmol cAMP hydrolysed min-1 mg protein-1. The pH for optimum enzyme activity was 7.5 and Mg2+ was essential for the activity of the soluble and bound enzymes. Methylxanthines, ATP, ADP and ppi inhibited the soluble and bound enzymes, ATP being the most potent inhibitor.     

Adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate in perinatal rat liver. Ontogeny and response to hormones.

Developmental changes in the concentration of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and the effects of glucagon and epinephrine were studied in the perinatal rat liver. Hepatic cyclic AMP concentration doubled during the last day of gestation. After birth, the cyclic AMP concentration continued to increase and maximal levels were observed on the fifth postnatal day. Surgical delivery of foetuses on days 20, 21 and 22 of gestation resulted in a rapid increase in cyclic AMP concentration. Maximal concentrations were reached within one hour of delivery in the day-21 and day-22 foetuses. However with surgically delivered day-20 foetuses, the cyclic AMP concentration increased for a least two hours. Glucagon and epinephrine increases the hepatic cyclic AMP concentration in rats delivered surgically on days 20, 21 and 22 of gestation and in postnatal rats. Maximal stimulation by epinephrine was observed in 2-day-old rats. Maximal stimulation by glucagon was observed in 10-day-old rats. The results support the hypothesis that cyclic AMP is the intracellular effector for the synthesis of some enzymes in the perinatal rat. The cyclic AMP concentration in the perinatal rat liver in vivo appears to be controlled by changes in the relative concentrations of plasma glucagon and insulin.     

Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate receptor proteins in HeLa cells

The adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate receptor proteins of HeLa cells have been characterized. Using the Millipore filter assay, in the presence of 5'AMP and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, specific [3H]cyclic AMP binding was detected in cytosol and in a nuclear-free particulate fraction, but not in nuclei. Both preparations exhibited biphasic Scatchard plots. 8-Azido[32P]cyclic AMP was used as a photoaffinity probe to covalently link ligand with receptor proteins. Proteins were then separated on denaturing gels and analyzed by autoradiography. The cytosol exhibited four specific binding proteins, with molecular weights of 46 000, 50 000, 52 000 and approx. 120 000. The 50 000/52 000 doublet could not be interconverted by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation reactions. On DEAE-cellulose, the 50 000-dalton protein eluted with peak II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The other proteins eluted with Peak I and with a binding peak not associated with kinase activity. Only the 50 000 protein was precipitated by type II protein kinase antibody from bovine heart. In the particulate fraction, the 120 000 protein was not detectable, but 8-azido[32P]cyclic AMP treatment revealed the other three proteins, with a relative increase in the 50 000-dalton protein. The results suggest that HeLa cells have four binding proteins which can associate with catalytic subunit and that the Peak I enzyme is heterogeneous, consisting of several distinct regulatory subunits.     

Adenosine 5'-monophosphate is a selective inhibitor of the brown adipocyte nonselective cation channel

Calcium-activated nonselective cation channels (NSC(Ca)) in brown adipocytes are inhibited by several nucleotides acting on the cytosolic side of the membrane. We used excised inside-out patches from rat brown adipocytes to identify important nucleotide structures for NSC-channel inhibition. We found that 100 microM 5'-AMP inhibited NSC-channel activity more than did ATP or ADP. Adenosine was a weak inhibitor, whereas adenine and ribose-5-phosphate had no effect. The channel activity was effectively blocked by 10 microM AMP, but it was unaffected by 10 microM cAMP, CMP, GMP, IMP, TMP or UMP. Dose-response studies yielded IC(50)-values of 4 microM for AMP and 32 microM for cAMP. dAMP was as effective as AMP, but all 5'-phosphate group modifications on AMP dramatically lowered the inhibitory effect. 10 microM of the AMP precursor adenylosuccinate weakly inhibited the channel activity. An increase in AMP concentration from 1 to 10 microM shifted the EC(50) for Ca(2+) activation almost 1 order of magnitude; a Schild plot analysis yielded a K(B) value of 0.3 microM for AMP. We conclude that AMP is the most efficacious endogenous nucleotide inhibitor of the brown adipocyte nonselective cation channel (NSC(Ca/AMP)) yet identified and that there is functional competition between Ca(2+) and AMP. The brown adipocyte NSC(Ca/AMP) thus appears to be functionally different from the NSC(Ca,PKA) in the exocrine pancreas and the NSC-(Ca,cAMP) in the endocrine pancreas, but similar to the NSC(Ca/AMP) in the endocrine pancreas.     

Parenchymal interdependence and airway response to methacholine in excised dog lobes

The objective of this investigation was to determine the minimum transpulmonary pressure (PL) at which the forces of interdependence between the airways and the lung parenchyma can prevent airway closure in response to maximal stimulation of the airways in excised canine lobes. We first present an analysis of the relationship between PL and the transmural pressure (Ptm) that airway smooth muscle must generate to close the airways. This analysis predicts that airway closure can occur at PL less than or equal to 10 cmH2O with maximal airway stimulation. We tested this prediction in eight excised canine lobes by nebulizing 50% methacholine into the airways while the lobe was held at constant PL values ranging from 25 to 5 cmH2O. Airway closure was assessed by comparing changes in alveolar pressure (measured by an alveolar capsule technique) and pressure at the airway opening during low-amplitude oscillations in lobar volume. Airway closure occurred in two of the eight lobes at PL = 10 cmH2O; in an additional five it occurred at PL = 7.5 cmH2O. We conclude that the forces of parenchymal interdependence per se are not sufficient to prevent airway closure at PL less than or equal to 7.5 cmH2O in excised canine lobes.     

Adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate receptor proteins in mammalian brain.

cAMP receptor proteins present in mammalian brain were identified and characterized with the use of the photoaffinity label 8-azido[32P]cAMP. Cytosol and membrane fractions from various regions of rat, guinea pig, and bovine brain contained two specific cAMP receptor proteins with apparent molecular weights of 47,000 and 52,000 to 55,000. Subcellular fractionation studies showed the highest amounts of these cAMP receptor proteins associated with cytosol fractions and synaptic membrane fractions. For both the cytosol and membrane fractions, the two cAMP receptor proteins represented almost all of the proteins specifically labeled by 8-azidol[32P]cAMP and appeared to be the regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinases.     

Threshold of airway response to inhaled methacholine in healthy men and women

Threshold of airway response to inhaled methacholine was determined using maximum expiratory partial flow-volume curves in 21 men and 36 women with similar age distribution, all of them healthy nonsmokers. Mean threshold was on average 1.3 doubling dose lower in women than men. There were no sex differences in the increase of maximum expiratory flows after a full inspiration when the airways were constricted by methacholine.     

Genetically engineered enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strain elicits a specific immune response and protects against a virulent challenge

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), a major cause of severe disease with diarrhea in infants, is also involved in weaned rabbit colibacillosis. EPEC O103 is frequent in rabbit-fattening units of Western Europe. It causes high mortality and growth retardation, leading to substantial economic losses. We report here the construction by allelic exchange of an EPEC O103 strain mutated in espB and tir, two essential virulence genes. Upon live oral administration to weaned rabbits, the E22DeltaTir/EspB mutant strain efficiently colonized the intestinal tract without any adverse consequences. The rabbits were challenged with the highly pathogenic parental strain E22. The mutant provided complete protection to rabbits and total resistance to intestinal colonization by E22. In addition, E22DeltaTir/EspB strain induced a specific humoral response against the bacterial adhesin AF/R2. These Abs prevent bacterial attachment to epithelial cells in vitro. These results open the way for the development of an efficient vaccine strategy against rabbit EPEC infections.