Development of a shaker culture of Buffalo green monkey kidney cells: potential use for detection of enteroviruses.

Buffalo green monkey kidney cells were adapted to grow as shaker cultures. Replication of environmental and clinical isolates of poliovirus, coxsackievirus, and echovirus in these cultures was analyzed by plaque assay and compared with replication in Buffalo green monkey kidney cell monolayers and HEp-2 cell shaker cultures. Dose-response tests with various concentrations of Mahoney type 1 poliovirus indicated that Buffalo green monkey kidney cell shaker cultures could detect as little as 1 PFU in an inoculum of 0.2 ml. These data suggest that Buffalo green monkey kidney cell shaker cultures can be effectively used for the detection of small quantities of enteroviruses from environmental sources.     

Diffusion resistance and enzyme activity decay in a pellet

The effective enzyme activity decay can be decreased by diffusion limitation in the immobilized pellet. Thiele modulus changes and/or poisoning of various enzyme forms are two phenomena which are influenced by diffusion limitation. This article considers these effects on enzyme decay as applied to glucose isomerase.     

Characterization of blood mononuclear cells reacting with K 562 cells after yellow fever vaccination

At various times after yellow fever (17 D) vaccination mononuclear blood cells were tested for cytotoxic potential in conjugate with K 562. They were characterized with monoclonal reagents Leu2a, Leu4, and OKM1, using indirect immunofluorescent technique. The cytotoxicity against K 562 increased after vaccination with a peak on Days 8–12 when the [³H]thymidine uptake was also maximal. The majority of cells in conjugates with K 562 were then T cells. Later the conjugates contained more OKM1-positive cells. OKM1 reagent was found to react with K 562 and thereby cause a coagglutination between this target cell and the OKM1-positive monocytic cells. The surface moiety reacting with OKM1 reagent might be of lipid nature.     

Surface antigen changes occurring in short-term cultures of activated human T lymphocytes: analysis by flow cytometry

Surface antigens of activated and cultured human T cells were studied using peripheral blood lymphocytes activated with conditioned medium from phytohemagglutinin-activated leukocytes and maintained in liquid culture for 2 weeks with conditioned medium containing Interleukin 2. The ensuing cell population was tested for kinetic changes in cell size and for the expression of surface antigens by immunofluorescence staining with a panel of monoclonal antibodies and analysis by flow cytometry. Upon activation, the cell population progressively increased in size to large blasts, with the rapid appearance on all of the large dividing cells of the antigen recognized by OKT9, the transferrin receptor. Cells within the population continued to express the common peripheral T-cell antigens bound by OKT3 and UCHT1, and also the antigen bound by 3A1, but never the antigen bound by OKT6, a thymic cell marker. From the time of activation an increasing proportion of the T cells, up to 80%, expressed the antigen detected with OKIa and FMC4, which recognise nonpolymorphic Ia determinants. This sequence of events was followed by a general decrease in size of the cell population, a process accompanied by further phenotypic changes. The percentage of cells expressing Ia antigens decreased, but most striking was the rapid change in the OKT4:OKT8 ratio of cells within the population, from 60:40 to 40:60. Thereafter the proportions of OKT4⁺ to OKT8⁺ cells within the cultures remained relatively stable and it is suggested that these data provide evidence for a possible change in phenotype of cultured human T lymphoblasts, from OKT4 to OKT8.     

Structure-activity relationships of chlorinated benzenes as inducers of different forms of cytochrome P-450 in rat liver

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) produced increases in ethoxyresorufin (ERR) O-deethylase, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and aminopyrine N-demethylase activities in rat liver microsomes which were intermediate between those produced by phenobarbital and 3,4-benzpyrene (BP). α-Naphthoflavone (ANF) selectively inhibited ERR activity in BP and HCB-induced microsomes (94% and 88%). Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of liver microsomes indicated that HCB did not produce a detectable increase in a polypeptide with electrophoretic properties similar to those of purified cytochrome P-448 (M_r = 56 000). However, HCB did induce a polypeptide with M_r = 53 000 corresponding to one of two polypeptide bands induced by BP. This polypeptide may represent a second form of cytochrome P-448. Purification of HCB to remove possible dibenzo-p-dioxin impurities did not alter the ‘mixed-type’ induction produced by HCB. In contrast to HCB, all other chlorinated benzenes tested resembled phenobarbital as inducers.     

39-kDa protein modulates binding of ligands to low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein/alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor.

A 39-kDa protein of unknown function has previously been reported to copurify with the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP)/alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor. In this study we demonstrate that a recombinant 39-kDa fusion protein can reversibly bind to the 515-kDa subunit of the LRP/alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor. This interaction inhibits the binding and uptake of the receptor's two known ligands: 1) beta-migrating very low density lipoproteins activated by enrichment with apoprotein E and 2) alpha 2-macroglobulin activated by incubation with plasma proteases or methylamine. A potential in vivo role of the 39-kDa protein is to modulate the uptake of apoE-enriched lipoproteins and activated alpha 2-macroglobulin in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues.     

Human mast cell carboxypeptidase. Selective localization to MCTC cells

Two murine mAb were prepared against human mast cell carboxypeptidase (HMC-CP) purified from human skin, and were termed CP1 and CP2, respectively. Double immunohistochemical labeling of Carnoy's-fixed sections of human skin, lung, and gastrointestinal tissue with CP1 and CP2, respectively, and with a murine monoclonal antitryptase antibody demonstrated that HMC-CP was selectively present in a subset of human mast cells. Double labeling experiments with CP1 and CP2, respectively, and a murine anti-chymase mAb demonstrated the presence of HMC-CP in the tryptase-positive, chymase-positive mast cell type (MCTC) only. Immunohistochemical labeling of peripheral blood leukocytes resulted in staining of monocytes with CP2 but not with CP1. In addition to chymase and a cathepsin-G like proteinase, HMC-CP is another neutral protease that is selectively present in the MCTC tryptase-positive, chymase-positive mast cells type of mast cell, thus extending the biochemical definition of human mast cell heterogeneity.     

Negative air ions as a source of superoxide

The physico-chemical characteristics and possible formation mechanisms of negative air ions are considered. It was found that the products of oxygen and nitrogen negative ionization reduce ferricytochromec and nitroblue tetrazolium, and that these reactions were inhibited by superoxide dismutase. The interaction of negatively ionized oxygen with water led to hydrogen peroxide accumulation, which was inhibited by tetranitromethane or catalase. Nitrogen ionization under these conditions caused the formation of the hydrated electron e _aq ^— and the superoxide anion O ₂ ^— . The data obtained indicate that the biological activity of negative air ions may be dependent on superoxide. The generation of reactive oxygen ions in the gas phase and also at a gas/water interface is described. A scheme for superoxide production under oxygen and nitrogen ionization is proposed.     

Morphology and dynamics of protruding spirochete periplasmic flagella.

We recently characterized the three-dimensional shape of Treponema phagedenis periplasmic flagella (PFs). In the course of these studies, we observed protrusions on swimming cells that resembled PFs. Here we present a detailed characterization of the shape, structure, and motion of these protrusions. Although protrusion formation occurred primarily in wild-type cells during the stationary phase, a large fraction of exponential-phase cells of cell cylinder helicity mutants (greater than 90% of mutant T-52) had protrusions. These results suggest that cells bearing protrusions can still participate in cell division. T. phagedenis protrusions had the identical helix handedness, pitch, and diameter to those of purified PFs. Protrusions were not present on mutants unable to synthesize PFs, but were present in all motile revertants which regained PFs. These results, taken together with electron microscope observations, suggest that protrusions consist of PFs surrounded by an outer membrane sheath. To analyze protrusion movements, we held cells against a coverglass surface with optical tweezers and observed the motion of protrusions by video-enhanced differential interference contrast light microscopy. Protrusions were found to gyrate in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, and direct evidence was obtained that protrusions rotate. Protrusions were also observed on Treponema denticola and Borrelia burgdorferi. These were also left-handed and had the same helix handedness, pitch, and diameter as purified PFs from their respective species. The PFs from T. denticola had a helix diameter of 0.26 microns and a helix pitch of 0.78 micron; PFs from B. burgdorferi had a helix diameter of 0.28 micron and a helix pitch of 1.48 microns. Protrusions from these spirochete species had similar structures and motion to those of T. phagedenis. Our results present direct evidence that PFs rotate and support previously proposed models of spirochete motility.     

Cytoplasmic sequence required for basolateral targeting of LDL receptor in livers of transgenic mice

When expressed in livers of transgenic mice, the human low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor is specifically targeted to the basolateral (sinusoidal) surface of hepatocytes as determined by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. The COOH-terminal cytoplasmic domain of the receptor (residues 790-839) contains a signal for this targeting. A mutant receptor truncated at residue 812 was localized exclusively to the apical (bile canalicular) surface. A mutant receptor terminating at residue 829 showed the normal basolateral distribution, as did a receptor in which alanine was substituted for serine 833, which was previously shown to be a site for phosphorylation in vitro. These data localize the basolateral targeting signal to the 17-residue segment between residues 812 and 828. A 10-amino acid stretch within this segment shows a 4/10 match with a sequence within a previously identified basolateral sorting motif for the receptor for polymeric IgA/IgM in MDCK cells. The four shared residues are spaced at intervals of three, raising the possibility that they all face the same side of an alpha-helix. We conclude that this 10-amino acid stretch may contain a signal that directs certain proteins, including the LDL receptor and the polymeric IgG/IgM receptor, to the basolateral surface of polarized epithelia.