Further development of local IL-2 therapy of cancer: multiple versus single IL-2 treatment of transplanted murine colon carcinoma

We have compared the effect of one and up to four local IL-2 treatments of transplanted MC38 colon carcinoma. A single IL-2 treatment prolonged the survival time (p=0.015), but no cure was obtained. One local IL-2 treatment inhibited tumor growth for about 1 week. After the start of tumor regrowth, a further IL-2 injection was given. After four IL-2 injections 6 out of 13 mice were cured. Histological studies show that IL-2 induced a local vascular leakage syndrome leading to massive peritumoral edema and subsequent necrosis of tumor tissue. IL-2 also attracted infiltrating cells, mainly macrophages. Subsequent IL-2 injections led to complete tumor regression. We believe that the combination of necrotic tumor debris and the IL-2–induced macrophage reaction enhanced a tumor-specific immune response. This local IL-2 application was not toxic.     

Impact of 1,5-disubstituted tetrazole ring on chelating ability of delta-selective opioid peptide

Complex formation between Cu(II) and three tetrazole analogues of opioid peptide-deltorphin I has been investigated. In potentiometric and spectroscopic (UV-Vis, CD and EPR) studies have been established the thermodynamic stability, speciation and structure of Cu(II) complexes with Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Asp-Val-Val-Gly-NH2 (L1), Tyr-Psi(CN4)-Gly-Phe-Asp-Val-Val-Gly-NH2 (L2), Tyr-Gly-Psi(CN4)-Phe-Asp-Val-Val-Gly-NH2 (L3) and Tyr-D-Ala-Psi(CN4)-Phe-Asp-Val-Val-Gly-NH2 (L4). The site of the insertion of tetrazole moiety Psi(CN4) into the peptide sequences has critical impact on their co-ordination ability. Comparison of the binding ability of the tetrazole analogues reveals that around physiological pH region the L3 and L4 are more effective ligands for copper(II) than L(1) and L(2). The peptide conformation changes achieved by Cu(II) co-ordination may be essential for binding of the tetrazole deltorphins at the opiate receptors.     

Thermal and guanidine hydrochloride-induced denaturation of human cystatin C

Wild-type human cystatin C is directly involved in pathological fibrils formation, leading to hemorrhage, dementia and eventually death of people suffering from cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Some studies on cystatin C oligomerization have been already done but some points are still unclear. In order to learn more about this important process, we have investigated thermal and chemical (guanidine hydrochloride-induced) denaturation of human cystatin C. Studies performed using tryptophan fluorescence, calorimetry, circular dichroism and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrate that neither chemical nor thermal denaturation of hCC are simple two-state events. One recognized intermediate form was dimeric cystatin C, whose appearance was preceded mainly by changes in the L2 binding loop. The other form occurred only in the chemical denaturation process and was characterized by partially recovered interactions maintaining the protein tertiary structure. Our studies also strongly indicate that the -structural motif of cystatin C is directly implicated in formation of temperature-induced aggregates.Abbreviations Gdn.HCl guanidine hydrochloride - hCC human cystatin C     

The effect of weak 50 Hz magnetic fields on the number of free oxygen radicals in rat lymphocytes in vitro

The aim of the work was verification of the hypothesis that weak power frequency (50 Hz) magnetic fields (MF) affected the number of free oxygen radicals in living biological cells and that these changes could be qualitatively explained by the radical pair mechanism. The experiments were performed on rat lymphocytes. One-hour exposure to 50 Hz MF at 20, 40, or 200 microT flux densities was performed inside a pair of Helmholtz coils with axis along or crosswise to the Earth's static MF. Iron ions (FeCl2) were used as a stimulator of the oxidation processes. Oxygen radicals were measured by fluorimetry using a DCF-DA fluorescent probe. Only in the lymphocytes exposed at 40 microT MF directed along the Earth's static MF there was a decrease of fluorescence in relation to non-exposed samples. Our observation seems to confirm the hypothesis that low level power frequency MF affects oxidative processes which occur in living biological cells and that this effect can be explained by the radical pair mechanism.     

Nitric oxide regulates retinal vascular tone in humans

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the contribution of basal nitric oxide (NO) on retinal vascular tone in humans. In addition, we set out to elucidate the role of NO in flicker-induced retinal vasodilation in humans. Twelve healthy young subjects were studied in a three-way crossover design. Subjects received an intravenous infusion of either placebo or NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; 3 or 6 mg/kg over 5 min), an inhibitor of NO synthase. Thereafter, diffuse luminance flicker was consecutively performed for 16, 32, and 64 s at a frequency of 8 Hz. The effect of L-NMMA on retinal arterial and venous diameter was assessed under resting conditions and during the hyperemic flicker response. Retinal vessel diameter was measured with a Zeiss retinal vessel analyzer. L-NMMA significantly reduced arterial diameter (3 mg/kg: -2%; 6 mg/kg: -4%, P < 0.001) and venous diameter (3 mg/kg: -5%; 6 mg/kg: -8%, P < 0.001). After placebo infusion, flicker induced a significant increase in retinal vessel diameter (P < 0.001). At a flicker duration of 64 s, arterial diameter increased by 4% and venous diameter increased by 3%. L-NMMA did not abolish these hyperemic responses but blunted venous vasodilation (P = 0.017) and arterial vasodilation (P = 0.02) in response to flicker stimulation. Our data indicate that NO contributes to basal retinal vascular tone in humans. In addition, NO appears to play a role in flicker-induced vasodilation of the human retinal vasculature.     

B7-1 costimulatory molecule is critical for the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis

Following immunization with acetylcholine receptor (AChR), MHC class II-restricted, AChR-specific CD4 cell activation is critical for the development of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) in C57BL/6 mice. To study the contributions of B7-1 and B7-2 costimulatory molecules in EAMG, B7-1, B7-2, and B7-1/B7-2 gene knockout (KO) mice were immunized with Torpedo AChR in CFA. Compared with wild-type C57BL6 mice, B7-1 and B7-1/2 KO mice were resistant to EAMG development. B7-1 KO mice had reduced anti-AChR Ab compared with C57BL/6 mice. However, neither B7-1 nor B7-2 gene disruption impaired AChR-induced or dominant alpha(146-162) peptide-induced in vitro lymphoproliferative responses. Blocking of the B7-1 or B7-2 molecule by specific mAbs in vivo led to a reduction in the AChR-specific lymphocyte response, and the reduction was more pronounced in mice treated with anti-B7-2 Ab. The findings implicate B7-1 molecules as having a critical role in the induction of EAMG, and the resistance of B7-1 KO mice is associated with suppressed humoral, rather than suppressed AChR-specific, T cell responses. The data also point to B7-2 molecules as being the dominant costimulatory molecules required for AChR-induced lymphocyte proliferation.     

Genetic evidence for involvement of classical complement pathway in induction of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis

Abs to acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and complement are the major constituents of pathogenic events causing neuromuscular junction destruction in both myasthenia gravis (MG) and experimental autoimmune MG (EAMG). To analyze the differential roles of the classical vs alternative complement pathways in EAMG induction, we immunized C3(-/-), C4(-/-), C3(+/-), and C4(+/-) mice and their control littermates (C3(+/+) and C4(+/+) mice) with AChR in CFA. C3(-/-) and C4(-/-) mice were resistant to disease, whereas mice heterozygous for C3 or C4 displayed intermediate susceptibility. Although C3(-/-) and C4(-/-) mice had anti-AChR Abs in their sera, anti-AChR IgG production by C3(-/-) mice was significantly suppressed. Both C3(-/-) and C4(-/-) mice had reduced levels of B cells and increased expression of apoptotis inducers (Fas ligand, CD69) and apoptotic cells in lymph nodes. Immunofluorescence studies showed that the neuromuscular junction of C3(-/-) and C4(-/-) mice lacked C3 or membrane attack complex deposits, despite having IgG deposits, thus providing in vivo evidence for the incapacity of anti-AChR IgGs to induce full-blown EAMG without the aid of complements. The data provide the first direct genetic evidence for the classical complement pathway in the induction of EAMG induced by AChR immunization. Accordingly, severe MG and other Ab- and complement-mediated diseases could be effectively treated by inhibiting C4, thus leaving the alternative complement pathway intact.     

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis of cytochromes P450 2C2 and 2E1 molecular interactions in living cells

The molecular organization of microsomal cytochromes P450 (P450s) and formation of complexes with P450 reductase have been studied previously with isolated proteins and in reconstituted systems. Although these studies demonstrated that some P450s oligomerize in vitro, neither oligomerization nor interactions of P450 with P450 reductase have been studied in living cells. Here we have used fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to study P450 oligomerization and binding to P450 reductase in live transfected cells. Cytochrome P450 2C2, but not P450 2E1, forms homo-oligomeric structures, and this self-association is mediated by the signal-anchor sequence. Because P450 2C2, in contrast to P450 2E1, is directly retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), these results could suggest that oligomerization may prevent transport from the ER. However, P450 2C1 signal-anchor sequence chimera defective in ER retention also formed oligomers, and chimera containing the cytoplasmic domain of P450 2C2, which is directly retained in the ER, did not exhibit self-oligomerization, which indicates that oligomerization is not correlated with direct retention. By using FRET, we have also detected binding of P450 2C2 and P450 2E1 to P450 reductase. In contrast to self-oligomerization, the catalytic domain can mediate an interaction of P450 2C2 with P450 reductase. These results suggest that microsomal P450s may differ in their quaternary structure but that these differences do not detectably affect interaction with the reductase or transport from the ER.