Lymphoma models for B cell activation and tolerance. VI. Reversal of anti-Ig-mediated negative signaling by T cell-derived lymphokines

We have recently described three "immature" B cell lymphomas which are exquisitely sensitive to growth inhibition by anti-Ig reagents and may serve as models for tolerance induction in normal B cells. These cells are inhibited from cell cycle progression into S after receiving a negative signal in early G1. In this paper, we demonstrate that the growth inhibition by anti-Ig can be prevented and reversed by the addition of supernatants from T cell lines. One such line, called Tova, produces factors which restore normal levels of DNA synthesis in the presence of concentrations of anti-Fab or anti-kappa immunoglobulins which cause up to a 90% inhibition of thymidine incorporation in a 2- to 3-day culture period. This factor is at least partially effective when added up to 24 hr after anti-Ig to unsynchronized lymphoma cells and it does not alter the growth of control cultures. Studies using synchronized lymphoma cells indicated that the T cell factor permitted cycle progression into S when added during the early G1 exposure to anti-kappa and was less effective when added late in G1. Preliminary characterization suggests that both B cell growth factor II (interleukin 5) and B cell stimulatory factor 1 (interleukin 4) have additive activity in this system, although another unidentified lymphokine may also be involved. The relevance of T cell reversal of Ig receptor-mediated negative signaling to neonatal B cell tolerance is emphasized.     

A phylogenetic study of the antenna cleaner in Formicidae,Mutillidae, and Tiphiidae (Insecta,Hymenoptera)

Summary The morphology of the tibio-tarsal antenna cleaner (strigilis) of 30 species of Formicidae, 14 species of Mutillidae and 9 species of Tiphiidae was investigated and is described comparatively. In Formicidae, there is a common type of strigilis. The spur has a posterior-dorsal comb and its anterior side is covered with squamae, which usually form a brush. Posteriorly, the basitarsal notch bears a comb and anteriorly specialized paddle-shaped hairs. These characters may be apomorphic for Formicidae. In several Ponerinae and in Myrmecia there is also a velum on the spur. In two species of ants which are strongly parasitic (Teleutomyrmex schneideri and Anergates atratulus ) there are reduced antenna cleaners. Mutillidae (except Myrmosa) have another common type of strigilis: the spur bears a velum with a smooth rim and a clear apex with two rows of teeth. The notch in the basitarsus is usually deeper than that of ants; there is a comb, but no paddle-shaped hairs. The strigilis of Myrmosa females has no velum but there are two prominent rows of teeth on the spur. In the male, the velum is reduced to a slender strip. In Tiphiidae the antenna cleaners show considerable diversity. In Methocha the spur bears a comb but no velum; the spur of Tiphia has a velum with a serrated rim; the spur of Myzinum is equipped with a velum with a smooth rim; in Thynnus the surface of the velum is wrinkled or undulating. An apex (without teeth) is present in all investigated Tiphiidae. The notch of the basitarsus bears a comb except in female Myzinum, where the teeth seem to have fused, thus forming a rim. It is suggested that a velum with a serrated or toothed edge and an apex with two rows of teeth are plesiomorphic for aculeate Hymenoptera. The antenna cleaners in Mutillidae are remarkably similar to those in some bees. This fact is interpreted as partly due to convergence and as partly symplesiomorphic. In several species of ants, there is a specialized cuticular area (bande poreuse) anterior to the comb of the notch, which is characterized by fissures or holes. These are presumably openings of an excretory gland.     

Cultivar-related differences in the distribution of cell-wall-bound thionins in compatible and incompatible interactions between barley and powdery mildew

Leaf-specific thionins of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) have been identified as a novel class of cell-wall proteins toxic to plant-pathogenic fungi and possibly involved in the defence mechanism of plants. The distribution of these polypeptides has been studied in the host-pathogen system of barley and Erisyphe graminis DC.f.sp. hordei Marchal (powdery mildew). Immunogold-labelling of thionins in several barley cultivars indicates that resistance or susceptibility may be attributed to the presence or absence of thionins at the penetration site in walls and papillae of epidermal leaf cells.All of the leaf-specific thionin genes are confined to the distal end of the short arm of chromosome 6 of barley. None of the genes for cultivarspecific resistance to powdery mildew which have previously been mapped on barley chromosomes are found close to this locus.     

Effects of light and acetate on the liberation of zoospores by a mutant strain ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii

In light-dark-synchronized cultures of the unicellular green algaChlamydomonas reinhardtii, release of zoospores from the wall of the mother cell normally takes place during the second half of the dark period. The recently isolated mutant ls, however, needs light for the liberation of zoospores when grown photoautotrophically under a 12 h light-12 h dark regime. The light-induced release of zoospores was found to be prevented by addition of the photosystem-II inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. Furthermore, light dependence of this process was shown to be abolished when the mutant ls was grown either photoautotrophically under a 14 h light-10 h dark regime or in the presence of acetate. Our findings indicate that the light-dependency of zoospore liberation observed in cultures of this particular mutant during photoautotrophic growth under a 12 h light-12 h dark regime might be attributed to an altered energy metabolism. The light-induced release of zoospores was found to be prevented by addition of cycloheximide or chloramphenicol, antibiotics which inhibit protein biosynthesis by cytoplasmic and organellar ribosomes, respectively. Actinomycin D, an inhibitor of RNA synthesis, however, did not affect the light-induced liberation of zoospores.Sporangia accumulate in stationary cultures of the mutant ls. Release of zoospores was observed when these sporangia were collected by centrifugation and incubated in the light after resuspension in fresh culture medium. Since liberation of zoospores was not observed after dilution of the stationary cultures with fresh culture medium, we suppose that components which interfere with the action of the sporangial autolysin are accumulated in the culture medium of the mutant ls.Abbreviation DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea     

Metallothionein induction by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs

In the present study we report on the effects of commonly used nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on metallothionein (MT) and MT-I mRNA levels. A single dose of chloroquine (100 mg/kg), diclofenac (100 mg/kg), indomethacin (10 mg/kg), or piroxicam (100 mg/kg) was administered ip to C57B1 mice. After 18 h, MT levels were determined with a Cd-saturation radioassay. MT-I mRNA levels were measured by Northern Blot analyses using a probe containing the mouse MT-I gene. All drugs tested caused an increase in the MT content of the liver but not of the kidneys and lung. The lowest and highest effects were observed with chloroquine (8 times the control value) and diclofenac (18 times), respectively. In accordance with the stimulation of MT synthesis, increased accumulation of hepatic MT-I mRNA could be demonstrated. These results indicate that elevated MT levels may contribute to the effectiveness of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).     

Gill monogenea of Rastrelliger spp. (Scombridae)

The following gill monogeneans are described, based on a survey of 240 Rastrelliger kanagurta, 12 R. faughni and 185 R. brachysoma (Scombridae) from many geographical areas: Eyelavera typica from R. kanagurta, R. faughni and R. brachysoma, Indomazocraes jagannath from R. kanagurta and R. faughni, Kuhnia sprostonae from R. kanagurta and R. brachysoma, and Kuhnia scombercolias from R. kanagurta and R. brachysoma. Eyelavera parukhini Lebedev, 1980 is synonymised with E. typica, Scomberocotyle eyela Unnithan, 1964 with Indomazocraes jagannath, Kuhnia microlepidotusi Gupta & Krishna, 1977 and K. kanagurta Mamaev & Parukhin, 1986 with K. sprostonae, K. arabica Mamaev & Parukhin, 1986 with K. scombercolias Nasir & Fuentes Zambrano, 1983. It is emphasized that populations of Monogenea from the same host species or genus in different geographical areas are likely to be conspecific, and should not be described as different species, if they differ only slightly from each other. Monogenea that differ from insufficiently described species in minor detail should not be described as new species unless material of the original species has been examined.     

Effects of nucleotides and divalent cations on phospholipase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Divalent cations activate the lysophospholipase and transacylase reactions catalyzed by the same enzymes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The activation was observed at neutral pH, but not at the pH optimum of lysophospholipase/transacylase, near 3.5. Adenine nucleotides, especially AMP and ADP, are strong inhibitors of the same group of enzymes. Half maximal inhibition by AMP was found at a concentration of about 20 M. The inhibition by nucleotides in low concentrations is enhanced by divalent cations.     

Temperature jump study of charge translocation during the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle

Temperature jump experiments were carried out on purple membranes oriented and fixed in polyacrylamide gel. With green background illumination a relaxation of the photocurrent after an infrared laser pulse could be observed. To simulate the temperature jump signals different models of the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle were tested. The parameters of these models were obtained by measuring absorbance changes and photocurrent after excitation with a 575-nm laser flash.

A model with a temperature-dependent branching before the M state turned out to be satisfying. Other models, especially those with a late branching or without branching, could not reproduce the temperature jump measurements.