Effect of astasilid on the stimulation of peritoneal macrophages

The effect of astasilid, a sucrose monoester and the effect of mainly unsaturated fatty acids from the lipid fraction of Astasia longa on immunocompetent cells--macrophages of the mouse peritoneal cavity were studied. It was shown that astasilid increased 7.5-8.5-fold expression of Fc-receptors on the macrophage plasmic membranes and stimulated 5.5-6.5-fold the macrophage capacity for Fc-dependent phagocytosis of sheep red blood cells. Astasilid had no effect on migration of the macrophages into the abdominal cavity.     

Sensorimotor Functions in Human Ontogeny and Their Relationship with the Properties of the Nervous System

Age-related characteristics of the formation and development of neurodynamic properties were studied in 835 subjects (6–75 years old) using unified methods and equipment. The dynamics of the growth of these functions and their gradual reduction were determined. Relationship between the properties of the basic nervous processes and temporal parameters of motor responses of various complexity is shown.     

Polymerization of Horseradish Peroxidase in the Presence of Inorganic Adsorbents

Efficiencies of binding between horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and its polymers (HRPp) with inorganic adsorbents (precipitated and coprecipitated) were studied. In aqueous solutions, HRP efficiently adsorbed on aluminum oxide and the coprecipitated sorbent (composed of calcium orthophosphate, magnesium hydroxide, and aluminum hydroxide). HRP readily bound to zinc hydroxide but not to aluminum hydroxide in 25.0 mM bicarbonate buffer (pH 9.0). Several variants of HRP polymerization and HRPp modification with diamines in the presence of Al₂O₃ and Zn(OH)₂ were compared. Synthesis of HRPp according to the scheme comprising HRP activation in solution followed by its polymerization in the presence of Zn(OH)₂ appeared the most efficient. HRP and HRPp bound to Zn(OH)₂ displayed a high catalytic activity in the presence of high H₂O₂ concentrations.__________Translated from Prikladnaya Biokhimiya i Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 41, No. 4, 2005, pp. 383–391.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Eryomin, Makarenko, Budnikova.     

Isolation and characterization of extracellular glucose oxidase from Penicillium adametzii LF F-2044.1

Hydroxides of magnesium and zinc, aluminum oxide, zinc phosphate, and co-precipitated Ca3(PO4)2 and Mg(OH)2 were efficient in binding extracellular glucose oxidase (GO) of P. adametzii LF F-2044.1 in a culture liquid filtrate (CLF). Basic Al2O3 was the most appropriate adsorbent for GO isolation from the CLF of the fungus. A GO isolation method was developed, which allowed for obtaining an enzyme with a high degree of purification. Spectral properties of the enzyme, its catalytic activity, and stability were characterized. The GO of P. adametzii LF F-2044.1 exhibited high pH stability, retaining activity within the range 4.5-9.0. The rate that GO-catalyzed D-glucose oxidation increased as the temperature increased (up to approximately 60 degrees C). The catalytic activity and thermal stability of GO depended on its concentration in the medium. Under optimum conditions, the fractions GO-1 and GO-2 were characterized by KM values of 1.56 x 10(-2) and 2.19 x 10(-2) M, respectively; the corresponding values of kcat equaled 235.1 and 318.2 s(-1).     

Characteristics of Lipid Fatty Acids in Calli of Two Geographic Populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix gmelinii</Emphasis>

The fatty acid (FA) composition of lipids of two geographic populations of larch (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.) was determined. One of these populations was grown on soil with a naturally high content of fluorides. This population exceeded the control one in the content of unsaturated fatty acids (FAs) in the lipid fraction of its calli. These FAs were characterized by the presence of 5-unsaturated FAs with irregular positions of double bonds, such as taxoleic, pinolenic, and sciadonic acids. It was established that the representatives of the larch fluoride population exceeded those of the control population in the content of these FAs in the total lipid fraction (8.1 and 6.7%, respectively).__________Translated from Fiziologiya Rastenii, Vol. 52, No. 3, 2005, pp. 343–348.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Makarenko, Konstantinov, Shmakov, Konenkina, Khotimchenko.     

Effect of corticoliberin fragment CRF(4-6) on pain sensitivity in rats

The effects of corticoliberin fragment CRF(4-6) (Pro-Pro-Ile) on pain sensitivity of rats in "hot plate" test were investigated. Intracerebroventricular administration of tripeptide CRF(4-6) (6, 30, 150 nmol/head) induced dose-dependent antinociception: the latency of paw lick response increased by 7.4 +/- 1.4, 10.1 +/- 1.5 and 16.7 +/- 4.2 s respectively from the basic level of 10.2 +/- 0.9 s. Duration of tripeptide antinociceptive action was 30 min (for 6 nmol) and 60 min (for 30 and 150 nmol). Pretreatment with corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist alpha-helical CRF(9-41) (6.5 nmol/head) 60 minutes before tripeptide administration completely abolished the antinociceptive effects of CRF(4-6) (6 nmol). Therefore corticoliberin receptors seem to be involved in realization of tripeptide influence on pain sensitivity. The data obtained suggest that CRF(4-6) can either directly interact with corticoliberin receptors or modulate activity of CRF-ergic neurons.     

Two groups control light-induced schiff base deprotonation and the proton affinity of asp(85) in the Arg(82)His mutant of bacteriorhodopsin

Arg(82) is one of the four buried charged residues in the retinal binding pocket of bacteriorhodopsin (bR). Previous studies show that Arg(82) controls the pK(a)s of Asp(85) and the proton release group and is essential for fast light-induced proton release. To further investigate the role of Arg(82) in light-induced proton pumping, we replaced Arg(82) with histidine and studied the resulting pigment and its photochemical properties. The main pK(a) of the purple-to-blue transition (pK(a) of Asp(85)) is unusually low in R82H: 1.0 versus 2.6 in wild type (WT). At pH 3, the pigment is purple and shows light and dark adaptation, but almost no light-induced Schiff base deprotonation (formation of the M intermediate) is observed. As the pH is increased from 3 to 7 the M yield increases with pK(a) 4.5 to a value approximately 40% of that in the WT. A transition with a similar pK(a) is observed in the pH dependence of the rate constant of dark adaptation, k(da). These data can be explained, assuming that some group deprotonates with pK(a) 4.5, causing an increase in the pK(a) of Asp(85) and thus affecting k(da) and the yield of M. As the pH is increased from 7 to 10.5 there is a further 2.5-fold increase in the yield of M and a decrease in its rise time from 200 &mgr;s to 75 &mgr;s with pK(a) 9. 4. The chromophore absorption band undergoes a 4-nm red shift with a similar pK(a). We assume that at high pH, the proton release group deprotonates in the unphotolyzed pigment, causing a transformation of the pigment into a red-shifted "alkaline" form which has a faster rate of light-induced Schiff base deprotonation. The pH dependence of proton release shows that coupling between Asp(85) and the proton release group is weakened in R82H. The pK(a) of the proton release group in M is 7.2 (versus 5.8 in the WT). At pH < 7, most of the proton release occurs during O --> bR transition with tau approximately 45 ms. This transition is slowed in R82H, indicating that Arg(82) is important for the proton transfer from Asp(85) to the proton release group. A model describing the interaction of Asp(85) with two ionizable residues is proposed to describe the pH dependence of light-induced Schiff base deprotonation and proton release.     

Studies of the amino acid composition of wastes of production of rice,buckwheat, and sunflower

This study is devoted to investigation of the composition and content of free amino acids in the wastes of processing of Oryza sativa rice (Poaceae L.), Fagopyrum esculentum buckwheat (Polygonaceae L.), and Helianthus annuus sunflower (Compositae).     

Intra-articular injection of micronized dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane attenuates osteoarthritis development

Introduction

Micronized dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane (μ-dHACM) is derived from donated human placentae and has anti-inflammatory, low immunogenic and anti-fibrotic properties. The objective of this study was to quantitatively assess the efficacy of μ-dHACM as a disease modifying intervention in a rat model of osteoarthritis (OA). It was hypothesized that intra-articular injection of μ-dHACM would attenuate OA progression.

Methods

Lewis rats underwent medial meniscal transection (MMT) surgery to induce OA. Twenty four hours post-surgery, μ-dHACM or saline was injected intra-articularly into the rat joint. Naïve rats also received μ-dHACM injections. Microstructural changes in the tibial articular cartilage were assessed using equilibrium partitioning of an ionic contrast agent (EPIC-μCT) at 21 days post-surgery. The joint was also evaluated histologically and synovial fluid was analyzed for inflammatory markers at 3 and 21 days post-surgery.

Results

There was no measured baseline effect of μ-dHACM on cartilage in naïve animals. Histological staining of treated joints showed presence of μ-dHACM in the synovium along with local hypercellularity at 3 and 21 days post-surgery. In MMT animals, development of cartilage lesions at 21 days was prevented and number of partial erosions was significantly reduced by treatment with μ-dHACM. EPIC-μCT analysis quantitatively showed that μ-dHACM reduced proteoglycan loss in MMT animals.

Conclusions

μ-dHACM is rapidly sequestered in the synovial membrane following intra-articular injection and attenuates cartilage degradation in a rat OA model. These data suggest that intra-articular delivery of μ-dHACM may have a therapeutic effect on OA development.