Primary listerial infections are exacerbated in mice administered neutralizing antibody to macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

The serum and tissue levels of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) are elevated in mice during a primary immunologic response to infection by Listeria monocytogenes. Experiments were performed to determine the specific role of M-CSF in the resolution of listerial infections. The bulk of Listeria injected into a mouse i.v. is deposited in the liver. The expression of M-CSF mRNA in the liver increased markedly within 2 h postinfection. Maximum expression was dependent upon the dose of Listeria inoculated. The administration of anti-M-CSF mAb reduced the percentage of Mac-1+ mononuclear phagocytes subsequently found in the livers of infected animals. This reduction correlated inversely with an increase in the number of Listeria associated with both the parenchymal and NPC populations. These results suggest that M-CSF may play an important role in the primary immunologic response to Listeria in the liver by stimulating the production, mobilization, and/or biologic activity of Mac-1+ mononuclear phagocytes.     

Selectable plasmid vectors with alternative and ultrasensitive histochemical marker genes

Three different histochemical marker genes--E. coli beta-galactosidase gene (lacZ), Drosophila alcohol dehydrogenase gene (ADH) and human placenta alkaline phosphatase gene (ALP)--were cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector also containing the neomycin resistance gene. After calcium phosphate transfection and G418 sulfate selection of recipient BALB/c 3T3 cells, stable transfectants were pooled for histochemical staining. The lacZ-bearing cells produce aqua blue staining for beta-galactosidase; ADH-bearing cells, blue-black staining for alcohol dehydrogenase; and ALP-bearing cells, red staining for alkaline phosphatase. Cells carrying different marker genes can be easily differentiated by double-staining protocols. In addition, various photographic films can be used to enhance the colors of specific histochemically tagged cell classes. These plasmid vectors, providing selectability with the neomycin resistance gene and ultrasensitivity of alternative histochemical marker genes, will be very effective in virtually any biological system requiring analyses of multiple cell clones or classes in culture model systems or in situ.     

Preparation of enteric-coated microspheres of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine with cellulose acetate phthalate: The effect of swine serum on micromeritic properties

Summary Cellulose acetate phthalate was used to prepare the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccine (MHV) microspheres using a solvent evaporation method. Swine serum was used as an additive in the antigen to form the core materials. The addition of serum had a significant effect on surface topography of the MHV microspheres. By using this modified solvent evaporation method, the recoveries of antigens in the MHV microspheres were generally over 90% of the weight and antigenicity of antigens originally added in the formulation.     

Transbilayer distribution and mobility of phosphatidylinositol in human red blood cells

The present studies describe the distribution of phosphatidylinositol (PI) within the membrane bilayer of the human red blood cell (RBC) as well as its transbilayer mobility. The membrane bilayer distribution was determined by measuring the hydrolysis of PI in the exterior leaflet of the RBC membrane using a PI-specific phospholipase C and by extraction of PI from the exterior leaflet using bovine serum albumin. The transbilayer mobility of PI was measured by following the fate of radiolabeled PI which was first incorporated into the outer leaflet of the RBC membrane. Our results indicate that PI is asymmetrically distributed in the membrane, with approximately 80% located in the inner and 20% in the outer leaflet of the bilayer. The rate of transbilayer mobility of PI is similar to that for certain molecular species of phosphatidylcholine and much slower than that reported for the aminophospholipids in the RBC membrane.     

Differential scanning calorimetry study of mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines with a common molecular weight identical with diheptadecanoylphosphatidylcholine

To examine the thermotropic phase behavior of various mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines in excess water and to compare it with the known behavior of identical-chain phosphatidylcholines, we have carried out high-resolution differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) studies on aqueous dispersions of 10 different mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines. These lipids, C(16):C(18)PC, C(18):C(16)PC, C(15):C(19)PC, C(19):C(15)PC, C(14):C(20)PC, C(20):C(14)PC, C(13):C(21)PC, C(21):C(13)PC, C(12):C(22)PC, and C(22):C(12)PC, have a common molecular weight which is the same as that of C(17):C(17)PC, an identical-chain phosphatidylcholine with a molecular weight of 762.2. When the values of any of the thermodynamic parameters (Tm, delta H, and delta S) of the mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines and C(17):C(17)PC are plotted against the normalized chain-length difference (delta C/CL), a linear function with negative slope is obtained provided that the value of delta C/CL is within the range of 0.09-0.4. The linear relationship suggests that these mixed-chain phospholipids are packed in the gel-state bilayer similar to the bilayer structure of C(17):C(17)PC at T less than Tm; however, the negative slope suggests that the conformational statistics of the hydrocarbon chain and the lateral lipid-lipid interactions of these phosphatidylcholines in the gel-state bilayer are perturbed proportionally by a progressive increase in the chain-length inequivalence between the two acyl chains within each lipid molecule. When the value of delta C/CL for mixed-chain phosphatidylcholines reaches the range of 0.44-0.55, the thermotropic phase behavior deviates markedly from that of less asymmetric phosphatidylcholines, suggesting that these highly asymmetric lipids are packed into mixed interdigitated bilayers at T less than Tm. The heating and cooling pathways of aqueous dispersions prepared from the 10 mixed-chain phospholipids are also discussed.     

Expression and characterization of human factor IX and factor IX-factor X chimeras in mouse C127 cells

Human blood clotting factor IX, and two chimeric molecules of factor IX, in which the first epidermal growth factor-like domain or both epidermal growth factor-like domains have been replaced by that of human factor X, have been expressed in mouse C127 cells. The recombinants have been purified using a metal ion-dependent monoclonal antibody specific for residues 1-42 of human factor IX. All recombinant molecules are activated normally by human factor XIa in the presence of calcium ion. Activation of the factor IX recombinants by factor VIIa-tissue factor appears to be normal for the epidermal growth factor-1 exchange but considerably reduced for the construction containing both epidermal growth factor-like domains of factor X. The analysis of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues reveals that all of the purified recombinants are almost fully carboxylated. The extent of aspartic acid hydroxylation at residue 64 is 60% for all recombinants. The chimeric molecule with both epidermal growth factor-like domains from factor X has about 4% normal activity in the activated partial thromboplastin time assay. In contrast, the construct containing the first epidermal growth factor-like domain of factor X shows essentially normal clotting activity. Thus, it is unlikely that this domain is involved in a unique interaction with factor VIII.     

Simplified procedure for the analysis of 3- and 4-hydroxyproline

A column chromatographic analysis of 3-hydroxyproline (3-Hyp), 4-hydroxyproline (4-Hyp), and γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) is described. The analyses of urine and plasma were performed with a JLC-6AH amino acid analyzer. A 0.15 M sodium citrate buffer, pH 2.1, was used for elution. Urinary Gla, 3-Hyp, and 4-Hyp were among the seventeen peaks eluted before asparti acid. Hyp, Gla, glutamine, and asparagine in plasma were separated by elution with 0.2 M sodium citrate buffer, pH 3.25, containing 10% methanol. This single-column procedure achieves the sequential separation and quantitation of Gla, 3-Hyp, and 4-Hyp in urine as well as plasma, and is applicable to the diagnosis of collager, metabolism disorders.     

The binding of androgen receptor to DNA and RNA

The androgen receptor from mouse kidney cytosol has been studied for its nucleic acid binding properties by DNA-cellulose centrifugation assay. The receptor appears to bind to RNA (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA) as well as to DNA. Salt and heat activation of the androgen receptor enhances both DNA and RNA binding. The receptor binds slightly better to denatured DNA than to native DNA. The androgen receptor binds about 2-fold tighter to poly(dG-dC) than to poly (dA-dT). The interaction of the receptor with DNA is not greatly affected by the BrdUrd substitution. The observation that androgen receptor shows a significant affinity to RNA may imply that androgen receptor-RNA interaction could play a role in gene regulation.