Effects of hyperinsulinemia on hepatic metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors

To gain insight into the pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis related to insulin resistance, we have examined the effects of euglycemic hyperinsulinemia on three matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-9, and MT1-MMP) and on two major tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) in liver of insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant rats. Four hours of insulin infusion (4.8 mU.kg(-1).min(-1)) without or with lipid-heparin infusion (to produce insulin resistance) decreased hepatic MMP-2 mRNA (by RT-PCR), pro-MMP-2, MMP-2, MMP-9, and MT1-MMP (all by Western blots) and the gelatinolytic activity of MMP-2 (by gelatin zymography) by approximately 60-80%. Hyperinsulinemia ( approximately 1.6 mmol/l) increased TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 concentrations (by ELISA) in insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant rats. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase was activated by insulin in insulin-sensitive rats and inhibited in insulin-resistant rats. Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) were activated by insulin in insulin-sensitive rats and partially inhibited in insulin-resistant rats; c-jun NH(2)-terminal kinase-1 (JNK1), JNK2/3, or p38 MAPK were only activated by lipid but not by insulin. We conclude that hyperinsulinemia, whether or not associated with insulin resistance, shifts the MMP/TIMP balance toward reduction of extracellular matrix degradation and thus may promote the development of hepatic fibrosis.     

Detection of Trichinella spiralis, T. britovi and T. pseudospiralis in muscle tissue with real-time PCR

Infections caused by Trichinella species occur throughout the world in many wild and domestic animals resulting in trichinellosis in men. In Europe, domestic pigs are predominantly infected by three Trichinella species: T. spiralis, T. britovi and T. pseudospiralis. Present methods for detection of Trichinella spp. (compressorium method, artificial digestion) do not always sufficiently recognize Trichinella larvae and these techniques are labor-intensive, time consuming and do not differentiate isolates on the species level since there are no distinguishing morphological features. Additionally, conventional PCRs cannot quantify numbers of larvae in infectious material. In order to better meet these requirements, we developed a real-time PCR assay for the accurate, rapid and specific identification of the three common European species of the genus Trichinella. The assay targets the large subunit of the mitochondrial rRNA (rrnL) and enables sensitive determination and discrimination of larvae in muscle tissue samples. The real-time PCR assay was developed and validated using reference and field strains from T. spiralis, T. britovi and T. pseudospiralis. In the described real-time PCR assay, the melting points of specific amplificates were always discernable via the melting curve from melting points of unspecific amplificates. This is important for the methods workflow because only C(T) values connected with the additional melting curve analysis allow a distinction of the individual species with confidence. The sensitivity of the technique enabled detection down to 0.1 Trichinella larva per gram meat sample. High disruption levels of tissues by mincing generally resulted in higher sensitivities than protocols without mincing. With its short completion time as well as accurate and specific detection of selected species this assay could become a convenient tool for the fast detection of Trichinella larvae in meat.     

A Pediocin-Producing Lactobacillus plantarum Strain Inhibits Listeria monocytogenes in a Multispecies Cheese Surface Microbial Ripening Consortium

The growth of Listeria monocytogenes WSLC 1364, originating from a cheese-borne outbreak, was examined in the presence and in the absence of a pediocin AcH-producing Lactobacillus plantarum strain on red smear cheese. Nearly complete inhibition was observed at 10² CFU of L. monocytogenes per ml of salt brine solution, while contamination with Listeria mutants resistant to pediocin resulted in high cell counts of the pathogen on the cheese surface. The inhibition was due to pediocin AcH added together with the L. plantarum culture to the brine solution but not to bacteriocin production in situ on cheese. Pediocin resistance developed in vitro at different but high frequencies in all 12 L. monocytogenes strains investigated, and a resistant mutant remained stable in a microbial surface ripening consortium over a 4-month production process in the absence of selection pressure. In conclusion, the addition of a L. plantarum culture is a potent measure for combating Listeria in a contaminated production line, but because of the potential development of resistance, it should not be used continuously over a long time in a production line.     

Smart peptide libraries are accessible via enzymatic modifications

The minireview summarizes the recent preparation of thefollowing unusually modified combinatorial peptide collectionsuseful for diagnostics and screening in drug finding. Tissuetransglutaminase catalyzes cross couplings with transamidationbetween Gln and Lys peptide chains resulting in libraries withisopeptide bonds. The enzyme is involved in the triggering ofautoantigenic B- and T-cell epitopes of coeliac disease. Themicrobial enzyme EpiD involved in lantibiotic biosynthesiscatalyzes oxidative decarboxylation of C-terminal cysteineresidues in peptide libraries transforming peptidyl-cysteinesto peptide (2-mercaptovinyl)amides. Novel backbone modifiedpeptide libraries are prepared using oxazole and thiazolebuilding blocks carrying amino acid side chains. These aminoacids have been found in many biologically active naturalproducts from marine and microbial organisms such as microcinB17. Dityrosine and isodityrosine linked peptide dimerlibraries are accessible by oxidative phenol coupling usinghorseradish peroxidase. Such structural elements are found forexample in the polycyclic glycopeptide antibiotics of thevancomycin type. Microstructured layers of linear and cyclicpeptide libraries are generated on transducer surfaces forcellular assays, sensor developments and even chiralrecognition. Examples include a light-directed andmicrostructured electrochemical polymerization of phenollabelled peptides.     

Rhythmic Ganglion Cell Activity in Bleached and Blind Adult Mouse Retinas

In retinitis pigmentosa – a degenerative disease which often leads to incurable blindness- the loss of photoreceptors deprives the retina from a continuous excitatory input, the so-called dark current. In rodent models of this disease this deprivation leads to oscillatory electrical activity in the remaining circuitry, which is reflected in the rhythmic spiking of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). It remained unclear, however, if the rhythmic RGC activity is attributed to circuit alterations occurring during photoreceptor degeneration or if rhythmic activity is an intrinsic property of healthy retinal circuitry which is masked by the photoreceptor’s dark current. Here we tested these hypotheses by inducing and analysing oscillatory activity in adult healthy (C57/Bl6) and blind mouse retinas (rd10 and rd1). Rhythmic RGC activity in healthy retinas was detected upon partial photoreceptor bleaching using an extracellular high-density multi-transistor-array. The mean fundamental spiking frequency in bleached retinas was 4.3 Hz; close to the RGC rhythm detected in blind rd10 mouse retinas (6.5 Hz). Crosscorrelation analysis of neighbouring wild-type and rd10 RGCs (separation distance <200 µm) reveals synchrony among homologous RGC types and a constant phase shift (∼70 msec) among heterologous cell types (ON versus OFF). The rhythmic RGC spiking in these retinas is driven by a network of presynaptic neurons. The inhibition of glutamatergic ganglion cell input or the inhibition of gap junctional coupling abolished the rhythmic pattern. In rd10 and rd1 retinas the presynaptic network leads to local field potentials, whereas in bleached retinas additional pharmacological disinhibition is required to achieve detectable field potentials. Our results demonstrate that photoreceptor bleaching unmasks oscillatory activity in healthy retinas which shares many features with the functional phenotype detected in rd10 retinas. The quantitative physiological differences advance the understanding of the degeneration process and may guide future rescue strategies.     

Flux Analysis of Glucose Metabolism in Rhizopus oryzae for the Purpose of Increasing Lactate Yields

A flux analysis of glucose metabolism in the filamentous fungus Rhizopus oryzae was achieved using a specific radioactivity curve-matching program, TFLUX. Glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates labeled through the addition of extracellular [U-14C]glucose were isolated and purified for specific radioactivity determinations. This information, together with pool sizes and the rates of glucose utilization and end product production, provided input for flux maps of the metabolic network under two different experimental conditions. Based upon the flux analysis of this system, a mutant of R. oryzae with higher lactate and lower ethanol yields than the parent was sought for and found.     

The Effect of Coumarin on Growth, Production of Dry Matter, Protein and Nucleic Acids in Roots of Maize and Wheat and the Interaction of Coumarin with Metabolic Inhibitors

Effects of coumarin on fresh weight, dry matter, protein and nucleic acid content per cell in attached roots of maize and wheat and in whole excised elongation zones of maize were determined. The inhibition in cell length exerted by coumarin did not correspond to an inhibition of the net synthetic capacity. Coumarin treatment increased the cell surface, the production of dry matter and the protein content per cell. The dry matter and the protein content per unit surface was slightly increased or unaffected. The effect of coumann on cell shape seemed to be independent of that on dry matter production and net protein synthesis. The same was found in excised elongation zones. —The net DNA-synthesis per cell was slightly increased in attached roots by coumann treatment, but this effect was probably not correlated with the morphogenetic changes. Inhibition of DNA-synthesis with hydroxyurea did not alter the coumarin induced changes in cell shape. —The net RNA-synthesis per cell was slightly decreased after coumarin treatment, but the net RNA-synthesis per cell and the morphogenetic effects exerted by coumarin were not related with each other. Inhibition of m-RNA-synthesis with actinomycin D did not prevent the effects of coumarin on cell division, cell expansion, dry matter production and net protein synthesis. The same was true for inhibitors of protein synthesis, puromycin and p-fluorophenyl-alanine. The findings are in support of the view that coumarin affects already existing structures or enzymes. —Comparisons between coumarin and the uncouplers, DNP and dicoumarol, showed that the effects of coumarin were not, solely, due to uncoupling. SH-protecting agents, BAL, DTE and glutathione, did, with few exceptions, not reduce the morphogenetic effects of coumarin.