Bioflavonoid interaction with rat uterine type II binding sites and cell growth inhibition

Competition analysis with a number of known bioflavonoids demonstrated that these compounds (luteolin, quercetin, pelargonin) compete for [3H]estradiol binding to cytosol and nuclear type II sites in rat uterine preparations. The inhibition of [3H]estradiol binding to type II sites was specific and these bioflavonoids did not interact with the rat uterine estrogen receptor. Since estradiol stimulation of nuclear type II sites in the rat uterus is highly correlated with cellular hypertrophy and hyperplasia, we assessed the effects of these compounds on the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in culture and on estradiol stimulation of uterine growth in the immature rat. The data demonstrated that addition of quercetin (5-10 micrograms/ml) to MCF-7 cell cultures resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth (DNA/flask). This effect was reversible by removal of quercetin from the culture medium, or by the addition of 10 nM estradiol-17 beta to these cell cultures containing this bioflavonoid. Since estradiol-17 beta (10 nM) stimulated nuclear type II sites and proliferation of MCF-7 cells, we believe bioflavonoid inhibition of MCF-7 cell growth may be mediated through an interaction with nuclear type II sites. This hypothesis was confirmed by in vivo studies which demonstrated that injection of luteolin or quercetin blocked estradiol stimulation of nuclear type II sites in the immature rat uterus and this correlated with an inhibition of uterine growth (wet and dry weight). These studies suggest bioflavonoids, through an interaction with type II sites, may be involved in cell growth regulation.     

Somatostatin as a mediator of the effect of neurotensin on pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion in rats

Neurotensin and somatostatin have both been shown to inhibit gastric acid secretion, but no interaction between these peptides has been demonstrated. To determine whether somatostatin might be a mediator of neurotensin's effect on pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion, we performed the following three experiments. First, we collected 0.2-ml samples of portal venous blood as frequently as every 5 min, and we confirmed a significant release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity into portal venous blood during neurotensin-induced inhibition of acid secretion. This release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity and inhibition of acid secretion were only seen in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats, but no sustained release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity or inhibition of acid secretion occurred in urethane-anesthetized animals. In the second experiment, we analyzed portal plasma by high pressure liquid chromatography, and found that portal somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in blood collected during neurotensin infusion was composed of a single peak corresponding to somatostatin-14. In the third experiment, we found that infusion of antibody to somatostatin prevented neurotensin from inhibiting pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion. Taken together, these data show that somatostatin, possibly from the stomach itself, is a necessary mediator of neurotensin's inhibitory effect in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats.     

Critical epitopes in transmissible gastroenteritis virus neutralization.

Purified transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus was found to be composed of three major structural proteins having relative molecular weights of 200,000, 48,000, and 28,000. The peplomer glycoprotein was purified by affinity chromatography with the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 1D.G3. A collection of 48 MAbs against TGE virus was developed from which 26, 10, and 3 were specific for proteins E2, N, and E1, respectively. A total of 14 neutralizing MAbs of known reactivity were E2 protein specific. In addition, MAb 1B.C11, of unknown specificity, was also neutralizing. These MAbs reduced the virus titer 10(2)- to 10(9)-fold. Six different epitopes critical in TGE virus neutralization were found, all of which were conformational based on their immunogenicity and antigenicity. Only the epitope defined by MAb 1G.A7 was resistant to sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment, although it was destroyed by incubation in the presence of both the detergent and beta-mercaptoethanol. The frequency of MAb-resistant (mar) mutants selected with four MAbs (1G.A7, 1B.C11, 1G.A6, and 1E.F9) ranged from 10(-6) to 10(-7), whereas the frequency of the putative mar mutant defined by MAb 1B.B11 was lower than 10(-9). Furthermore, the epitopes defined by these MAbs and by MAbs 1H.C2 and 1A.F10, were present in 11 viral isolated with different geographical locations, years of isolation, and passage numbers (with the exception of two epitopes absent or modified in the TOY 56 viral isolate), suggesting that the critical epitopes in TGE virus neutralization were highly conserved.     

Monoclonal antibodies to rabbit skeletal muscle protein phosphatases C-I and C-II

Rabbit skeletal muscle protein phosphatases C-I and C-II have been previously isolated as two proteins of Mr = approximately 35,000. Both enzymes display broad substrate specificities but have distinct enzymatic properties in regard to their susceptibility to heat-stable protein inhibitor-2 and their response to divalent cations. Monoclonal antibodies against both protein phosphatase C-I and C-II were produced by fusion of spleen cells of immunized BALB/c mice with SP2/0-Ag14 mouse myeloma cells. The products of the hybrid cells were screened by solid phase radioimmunoassay for the production of antibodies to protein phosphatase C-I and C-II. Positive cells were cloned and injected into mice to produce ascitic fluids. Ten monoclonal antibodies against phosphatase C-I and eight monoclonal antibodies against phosphatase C-II were obtained. These antibodies were characterized with regard to their relative binding affinities to the two protein phosphatases and their abilities to inhibit the phosphorylase phosphatase activities of the two enzymes. All ten of the phosphatase C-I monoclonal antibodies inhibited the phosphorylase phosphatase activity of phosphatase C-I, and three of these also inhibited phosphatase C-II. Only one of the eight antibodies to phosphatase C-II was inhibitory and inhibited the activities of both phosphatase C-I and C-II. Examination of the binding of these monoclonal antibodies by a solid phase radioimmunoassay showed that eight of the ten phosphatase C-I antibodies cross-reacted with phosphatase C-II, while all eight of the phosphatase C-II antibodies cross-reacted with phosphatase C-I. These findings show that phosphatases C-I and C-II possess common antigenic determinant(s) and may, therefore, be structurally related proteins.     

Increased atrial natriuretic peptide (6-33) binding sites in the subfornical organ of water deprived and Brattleboro rats

Binding sites for rat atrial natriuretic peptide (6-33) (ANP) were quantitated in the subfornical organ of chronically dehydrated homozygous Brattleboro rats unable to synthesize vasopressin; heterozygous Brattleboro rats, their controls, Long Evans rats and Long Evans rats after 4 days of water deprivation. Brain sections were incubated in the presence of 125I-ANP and the results analyzed by autoradiography coupled to computerized microdensitometry and comparison to 125I-standards. Brattleboro rats and water deprived Long Evans rats presented a higher number of ANP binding sites than their normally hydrated controls. Our results suggest a role of ANP binding sites in the subfornical organ in the central regulation of fluid balance and vasopressin secretion.     

Characterization of Cellular Transport, Subcellular Distribution, and Secretion of the Neurotoxicant 1-Methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium in Bovine Adrenomedullary Cell Cultures

Cultures of bovine adrenomedullary chromaffin cells accumulated 1-[methyl-3H]methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ([3H]MPP+) in a time- and concentration-dependent manner with an apparent Km of 0.7 microM and a Vmax of 3 pmol/min/10(6) cells. The uptake was sodium dependent and sensitive to inhibitors of the cell-surface catecholamine transporter. At low concentrations of MPP+, the subcellular distribution was identical to that of endogenous catecholamines in the catecholamine-containing chromaffin vesicles. However, at a higher concentration of MPP+, a larger proportion of the toxicant was recovered in the cytosolic fraction, with less in the chromaffin vesicle fractions. When cells were prelabeled with [3H]MPP+, at 1 and 300 microM, and then permeabilized with digitonin in the absence of Ca2+, there was a proportionally greater release of MPP+ from the cells labeled at the higher concentration of the toxicant. In the presence of Ca2+, cell permeabilization induced a time-dependent secretion of catecholamines and a parallel secretion of MPP+. Under these conditions, the secretion of endogenous catecholamines was unaffected by the presence of MPP+. When the permeabilization studies were carried out in the presence of tetrabenazine, a massive release of MPP+ was observed in the absence of Ca2+ and was not further increased by Ca2+. In intact cells prelabeled with 300 microM [3H]MPP+, the secretagogues nicotine and veratridine elicited a Ca2+ -dependent secretion of catecholamines and MPP+ from the cells in similar proportions to their cellular contents. Barium-induced release of both species was independent of external Ca2+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)