Lymphocyte lineages at mucosal effector sites: rat salivary glands

Development of T cell lineages and the role of the thymus as a source of immature T cells in parotid (PG) and submandibular salivary glands (SMG) were studied in Fischer 344 rats using the Thy-1/CD45RC/RT6 expression model. In addition, the phenotypes of salivary gland lymphocytes were compared with other conventional and extrathymic populations. PG mononuclear cells consisted of T cells (38%), B cells (29%), and NK cells (4%). SMG had 19% T cells, 7% B cells, 37% NK cells, and an unusual population of CD3(-)/RT6(+) cells. In comparison with lymph node (LN), both PG and SMG were enriched in immature (Thy-1(+)) and activated (Thy-1(-)/CD45RC(-)/RT6(-)) T cells. Unchanged percentages of Thy-1(+) T cells in PG and SMG following short-term adult thymectomy indicated that immature salivary gland T cells had an extrathymic source. In contrast, thymectomy eliminated LN recent thymic emigrants. SMG had T cells with characteristics of extrathymic populations, expressing TCRgammadelta(+) (28%), the CD8alphaalpha homodimer (11%), and NKR-P1A (66%). Many SMG T cells expressed integrin alpha(E)beta(7). PG T cells resembled those isolated from LN in respect to TCR and CD8 isoform usage, but were enriched in alpha(E)beta(7)(+) T cells and in NKT cells. Thus, salivary gland mononuclear cells are composed of a variety of subpopulations whose distributions differ between SMG and PG and are distinct from LN. These studies provide a basis for further investigation of regionalization in the mucosal immune network and are relevant to the design of vaccine regimens and intervention during pathological immune processes.     

Immunoassays based on electrochemical detection using microelectrode arrays

We show that CombiMatrix's VLSI arrays of individually addressable electrodes, using conventional CMOS integrated circuitry, can be used in detecting various analytes via immunoassay protocols. These microarrays provide over 1000 electrodes per square centimeter. The chips are coated with a porous material on which specific affinity tags are synthesized proximate to selected electrode sites. CombiMatrix microarrays are used to develop spatially multiplexed assay formats for biological entities over a wide range of sizes, from small molecules to cells. Antibodies are tagged with coded affinity labels and then allowed to self-assemble on the appropriate electrode assay sites. Each analyte-specific antibody is chaperoned to individual, predetermined locations by the self-assembly process. The resulting chip can perform numerous different analyte-specific immunoassays, simultaneously. We present new detection technologies based upon the use of the active individually addressable microelectrodes on the chip: redox enzyme amplified electrochemical detection. The results for human alpha1 acid glycoprotein, ricin, M13 phage, Bacillus globigii spores, and fluorescein indicate that this method is one of the most sensitive available, with limits of detection in the attomole range. The detection range is 4-5 logs of analyte concentration, with an assay volume of 50 microl or less. The system provides for a host of multiplexed immunoassays because of the large number of electrodes available. We show how the assays can be optimized for maximum performance on the CombiMatrix microarray platform.     

The structure of bovine F1-ATPase inhibited by ADP and beryllium fluoride

The structure of bovine F1-ATPase inhibited with ADP and beryllium fluoride at 2.0 angstroms resolution contains two ADP.BeF3- complexes mimicking ATP, bound in the catalytic sites of the beta(TP) and beta(DP) subunits. Except for a 1 angstrom shift in the guanidinium of alphaArg373, the conformations of catalytic side chains are very similar in both sites. However, the ordered water molecule that carries out nucleophilic attack on the gamma-phosphate of ATP during hydrolysis is 2.6 angstroms from the beryllium in the beta(DP) subunit and 3.8 angstroms away in the beta(TP) subunit, strongly indicating that the beta(DP) subunit is the catalytically active conformation. In the structure of F1-ATPase with five bound ADP molecules (three in alpha-subunits, one each in the beta(TP) and beta(DP) subunits), which has also been determined, the conformation of alphaArg373 suggests that it senses the presence (or absence) of the gamma-phosphate of ATP. Two catalytic schemes are discussed concerning the various structures of bovine F1-ATPase.     

Bradykinin receptor gene variant and human physical performance.

Accumulating evidence suggests that athletic performance is strongly influenced by genetic variation. One such locus of influence is the gene for angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE), which exhibits a common variant [ACE insertion (I)/deletion (D)]. ACE can drive formation of vasoconstrictor ANG II but preferentially degrades vasodilator bradykinin. The ACE I allele is associated with higher kinin activity. A common gene variant in the kinin beta(2) receptor (B(2)R) exists: the -9 as opposed to +9 allele is associated with higher receptor mRNA expression. We tested whether this variant was associated with the efficiency of muscular contraction [delta efficiency (DE)] in 115 healthy men and women, or with running distance among 81 Olympic standard track athletes. We further sought evidence of biological interaction with ACE I/D genotype. DE was highly significantly associated with B(2)R genotype (23.84 +/- 2.41 vs. 24.25 +/- 2.81 vs. 26.05 +/- 2.26% for those of +9/+9 vs. +9/-9 vs. -9/-9 genotype; n = 25, 61, and 29, respectively; P = 0.0008 for ANOVA adjusted for sex). There was evidence for interaction with ACE I/D genotype, with individuals who were ACE II, with B(2)R -9/-9 having the highest DE at baseline. The ACE I/B(2)R -9 "high kinin receptor activity" haplotype was significantly associated with endurance (predominantly aerobic) event among elite athletes (P = 0.003). These data suggest that common genetic variation in the B(2)R is associated with efficiency of skeletal muscle contraction and with distance event of elite track athletes and that at least part of the associations of ACE and fitness phenotypes is through elevation of kinin activity.     

Involvement of integrin alpha(v)beta(3) and cell adhesion molecule L1 in transendothelial migration of melanoma cells

Tumor metastasis involves many stage-specific adhesive interactions. The expression of several cell adhesion molecules, notably the integrin alpha(v)beta(3), has been associated with the metastatic potential of tumor cells. In this study, we used a novel in vitro assay to examine the role of alpha(v)beta(3) in the transmigration of melanoma cells through a monolayer of human lung microvascular endothelial cells. Confocal microscopy revealed the presence of the integrin alpha(v)beta(3) on melanoma membrane protrusions and pseudopods penetrating the endothelial junction. alpha(v)beta(3) was also enriched in heterotypic contacts between endothelial cells and melanoma cells. Transendothelial migration of melanoma cells was inhibited by either a cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp peptide or the anti-alpha(v)beta(3) monoclonal antibody LM609. Although both platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 and L1 are known to bind integrin alpha(v)beta(3), only L1 serves as a potential ligand for alpha(v)beta(3) during melanoma transendothelial migration. Also, polyclonal antibodies against L1 partially inhibited the transendothelial migration of melanoma cells. However, addition of both L1 and alpha(v)beta(3) antibodies did not show additive effects, suggesting that they are components of the same adhesion system. Together, the data suggest that interactions between the integrin alpha(v)beta(3) on melanoma cells and L1 on endothelial cells play an important role in the transendothelial migration of melanoma cells.     

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of some 4'-C-hydroxymethyl-alpha- and -beta-D-arabino-pentofuranosyl pyrimidine nucleosides

A suitably protected 4-C-hydroxymethyl-arabino-pentofuranose was prepared and condensed with the following nucleobases: uracil, 5-fluorouracil and thymine. The corresponding cytosine and 5-fluorocytosine derivatives have also been obtained respectively from the uracil and 5-fluorouracil nucleosides. Separation of the anomeric mixtures followed by deprotection afforded the target compounds that were found to be non-cytotoxic to CCRF-CEM leukemia cells.     

The Mechanosensory Lateral Line System of the Hypogean form of Astyanax Fasciatus

The mechanosensory lateral line is a distributed, hair-cell based system which detects the water flow regime at the surface of the fish. Superficial neuromasts densely scattered over the surface of some cave fish detect the pattern of flow over the surface of the body and are important in rheotactic behaviors and perhaps in the localization of small vibrating sources. Canal neuromasts are very likely also involved in the detection of small planktonic prey, but seem also to play an essential role in replacing vision as the major sense by which blind cave-fish perceive their surroundings. The flow-field that exists around a gliding fish is perturbed by objects in the immediate vicinity, these perturbations are detected by the lateral line system. In this way the fish can build up a picture of its environment, a process that has been called active hydrodynamic imaging. None of the lateral line behaviors exhibited by blind cave fish are necessarily exclusive to these species, but there is some evidence that their lateral line capabilities are enhanced with respect to their sighted relatives.