Neurospecific proteins in human malignant brain tumors

The content of neurospecific proteins S-100, GFA and D2 was measured in malignant cerebral tumors by electrophoresis with the use of monospecific antisera. Concomitant measurement of proteins S-100 and GFA is a more reliable diagnostic criterion as to the tumor histogenesis than study of each protein alone. D2 protein appeared to be the most stable specific marker.     

Volatile profiles of human skin cell cultures in different degrees of senescence

It is known that skin releases volatile organic compounds to the environment, and also that its emission pattern changes with aging of the skin. It could be considered, that these compounds are intermediaries in cell metabolism, since many intermediaries of metabolic pathways have a volatile potential. In this work, a simple and non-destructive method consisting of SPME sampling and GC/MS analysis was developed to identify volatile organic emanations from cell cultures. This technique, applied to skin cells culture, indicates that the cells or cell metabolism produce several skin emissions. Chemometric analysis was performed in order to explore the relationship between a volatile profile and the senescence of cell cultures. Volatile profiles were different for cell cultures in different degrees of senescence, indicating that volatile compound patterns could be used to provide information about the age of skin cells.     

Decreased expression of J11d antigen during monocytic differentiation of M1 myeloid leukemic cells.

Four myeloid cell lines (M1, WEHI-3B D+, FDC-P1, and 32D) were screened for the presence of J11d antigen. One of these cell lines, the myeloid leukemia M1, was found to express a high level of J11d antigen on the cell surface. Recombinant mouse leukemic inhibitory factor (rm-LIF), recombinant human LIF (rh-LIF), and steroids (hydrocortisone and dexamethasone) could induce M1 cells to undergo monocytic differentiation. The level of J11d antigen was greatly reduced after treatment of the cells with LIF or steroids. Western blotting revealed that the apparent molecular weight of the J11d antigen on M1 cells was 45-48 kDa. Furthermore, the level of J11d mRNA was also reduced during LIF-induced differentiation of M1 cells.     

Vitronectin and its fragments purified as serum inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus gamma-hemolysin and leukocidin, and their specific binding to the hlg2 and the LukS components of the toxins.

Staphylococcal gamma-hemolysin and leukocidin are bi-component cytolysins, consisting of LukF (or Hlg1)/Hlg2 and LukF/LukS, respectively. Here, we purified serum inhibitors of gamma-hemolysin and leukocidin from human plasma. Protein sequencing showed that the purified inhibitors of 62, 57, 50 and 38 kDa were the vitronectin fragments with truncation(s) of the C-terminal or both N- and C-terminal regions. The purified vitronectin fragments specifically bound to the Hlg2 component of gamma-hemolysin and the LukS component of leukocidin to form high-molecular-weight complexes with them, leading to inhibition of the toxin-induced lysis of human erythrocytes and human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, respectively. Intact vitronectin also showed inhibitory activity to the toxins. The ability of gamma-hemolysin and leukocidin to bind vitronectin and its fragments is a novel function of the pore-forming cytolysins.     

Vertical distribution of zooplankton in the frontal zone of the Gulf Stream and Labrador Current

Zooplankton data collected during September 1995 in the NorthWest Atlantic at 4139'N, 4958'W (the location of the siteof the ‘Titanic’ wreck) were analysed. The regioninvestigated was characterized by a very sharp frontal zonebetween the Gulf Stream and the main stream of the LabradorCurrent. The total plankton biomass in the water column wasvery high. The macroplankton biomass values below the 600 mlayer were significantly higher as compared with the similarvalues measured before in other productive boreal regions ofthe Atlantic and Pacific oceans. A lot of dead mesoplanktonanimals occurred in the deep layers. The reason was that thecold-water mesoplankton advected by the Labrador Current diedoff intensively within the deep layers of the frontal zone andwere used as a food resource by the macroplankton carnivoresand scavengers that were very abundant there.     

Alkaloids of the leaves of Voacanga grandifolia

Besides vobtusine and vobtusine-lactone, deoxyvobtusine was isolated from the leaves of Voacanga grandifolia (Miq. Rolfe. Spectral and chemical evi     

Metabolic pathways involved in the oxidation of isopropanol into acetone by the intact rat

Isopropanol administered in a large (6 g/kg, orally) as well as in a lower dose (1 g/kg, I.P.) is slowly oxidized into acetone by the intact rat. Using two inhibitors, 3 amino-1,2,4-triazole and pyrazole, investigations on the hepatic enzymatic system involved in the oxidation of isopropanol show that catalase does not play an important part in this pathway, contrary to alcohol dehydrogenase which is the major enzyme responsible for this oxidation. Although isopropanol oxidation is mainly catalysed in the liver through alcohol dehydrogenase, no alteration of the hepatic extramitochondrial redox state occurs after the administration of a large as well as of a lower dose of isopropanol. From these experiments it may be concluded that alterations of the liver NAD⁺/NADH ratio, which seem to play an important part in the ethanol induced fatty liver, are not involved in the isopropanol induced one.