Biological characterization of purified macrophage-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor

We have recently described the purification of a 54 kDa acidic protein, identified as macrophage-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor (MNCF). This protein causes in vitro chemotaxis as well as in vivo neutrophil migration even in animals treated with dexamethasone. This in vivo chemotactic activity of MNCF in animals pretreated with dexamethasone is an uncommon characteristic which discriminates MNCF from known chemotactic cytokines. MNCF is released in the supernatant by macrophage monolayers stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In the present study, we describe some biological characteristics of homogenous purified MNCF. When assayed in vitro, MNCF gave a bell-shaped dose-response curve. This in vitro activity was shown to be caused by haptotaxis. Unlike N-formyl-methionylleucyl- phenylalanine (FMLP) or interleukin 8 (IL-8), the chemotactic activity of MNCF in vivo and in vitro, was inhibited by preincubation with D-galactose but not with D-mannose. In contrast with IL-8, MNCF did not bind to heparin and antiserum against IL-8 was ineffective in inhibiting its chemotactic activity. These data indicate that MNCF induces neutrophil migration through a carbohydrate recognition property, but by a mechanism different from that of the known chemokines. It is suggested that MNCF may be an important mediator in the recruitment of neutrophils via the formation of a substrate bound chemotactic gradient (haptotaxis) in the inflamed tissues.     

An increase in nitric oxide produced by rat peritoneal neutrophils is not involved in cell apoptosis

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) obtained from carrageenin-stimulated peritoneal cavities of rats, but not blood PMN, spontaneously produced nitric oxide (NO) when incubated in vitro. Incubation of the cells with the NO synthase inhibitors, L-imino-ethyl-L-ornithine (L-NIO) or N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), inhibited NO production. This inhibition could be reversed by L-arginine. Incubation of PMN with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) failed to enhance NO production. Pretreatment of the rats with dexamethasone (DEXA) prior to carrageenin injection or incubation of PMN with the glucocorticoid in vitro partially inhibited the spontaneous release of NO. On the other hand, when PMN obtained from DEXA pretreated rats were incubated in vitro with DEXA, NO synthase activity and hence NO generation were almost abolished. A similar inhibition was also observed following the addition of L-NIO or cycloheximide to cultures of carrageenin-elicited PMN. The NO production by PMN did not appear to be related to cell viability or apoptosis. Indeed, neither the blockade of NO generation by L-NIO nor the incubation of the neutrophils with a NO donor, S-nitroso-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) modified the pattern of LDH release or DNA fragmentation. In summary, it appears that PMN migration triggers a continuous NO synthesis, and that NO produced by these cells is not related to their apoptosis.     

Complexity of RNA in Eggs of DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER and MUSCA DOMESTICA

Comparative measurements are presented of the sequence complexity of the RNA stored in the eggs of two dipteran flies, Musca domestica and Drosophila melanogaster. The genome of Musca is about five times the size of the Drosophila genome and contains about 3.6 times as much single-copy sequence. As shown earlier, the interspersion of repetitive and single-copy sequence is of the short-period form in Musca, and is of the long-period form in Drosophila. The egg RNA complexities were determined by hybridization of excess RNA with radioactively labeled single-copy DNA. Complexity is expressed as the length (in nucleotides) of diverse single-copy sequence represented in the RNA. The complexity of the RNA of the Musca egg is about 2.4 x 10⁷ nucleotides, and that of the Drosophila egg is about 1.2 x 10⁷ nucleotides. The RNA of the Musca egg is similar to or very slightly lower in complexity than that of other egg RNAs, e.g., those of Xenopus and sea urchin. Compared to all previously measured egg RNAs, Drosophila egg RNA is low in sequence complexity.     

Lectin-mediated sperm agglutination of bufo arenarum and leptodactylus chaquensis spermatozoa

Various plant lecins were employed in cell agglutination experiments to ascertain the presence of specific saccharides in the surface of B arenarum and L chaquensis spermatozoa. B arenarum spermatozoa were specifically agglutinated with Concanavalin A (Con A), phytohemagglutinin P (PHA-P), and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), but not with soybean agglutinin (SBA). In contrast, L chaquensis spermatozoa were strongly agglutinated by SBA, WGA, and PHA-P. L chaquensis spermatozoa did not agglutinate with Con A even at high concentrations. Lectinmediated sperm agglutination was inhibited in the presence of specific lectinbinding sugars. Spermatozoa from both species were agglutinated randomly with all lectins suggesting a uniform distribution in the sperm surface of the lectinbinding saccharide ligands. B arenarum sperm agglutination induced by Con A is sensitive to temperature. B arenarum spermatozoa are more agglutinable at 24°C than at 4°C. These results suggest that lectin-binding site mobility is necessary for sperm agglutination.     

Ouabain-resistant transfectants of the murine ouabain resistance gene contain mutations in the alpha-subunit of the Na,K-ATPase.

A 6.5-kilobase murine genomic DNA fragment isolated by Levenson et al. (Levenson, R., Racaniello, V., Albritton, L., and Housman, D. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81, 1489-1493) (called the ouabain resistance gene) has been shown to produce ouabain resistance in primate cells. Preliminary sequence information has revealed no homology with the coding sequence of the Na,K-ATPase. We have introduced this murine sequence into monkey and murine cells in an attempt to characterize its mechanism of action. In our experiments, transfection of this DNA fragment is associated with the low frequency (1 in 8 x 10(5) cells) appearance of ouabain-resistant clones of CV1, COS, and NIH 3T3 cells, an event not seen in control transfections. Characterization of a new clone of ouabain-resistant CV1 cells (called OR8 cells) revealed a 5-fold increase in the IC50 for ouabain inhibition of rubidium uptake and a 10-fold increase in cell survival on ouabain. Although the murine sequence was detectable in Southern blots of ouabain-resistant cells soon after transfection, this exogenous DNA was rapidly lost despite continued exposure to ouabain. Furthermore, we were unable to detect message expression by this genomic sequence in any of the three cell types tested. Instead, we found that all three ouabain-resistant cell lines exhibited point mutations in a domain of the alpha-subunit that has been implicated in ouabain sensitivity (H1-H2). One of these mutations (Asp121-Asn121 in OR8 cells) has been previously reported to cause ouabain resistance (Price, E.M., Rice, D.A., and Lingrel, J.B. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 21902-21906). Other novel mutations in the H2 transmembrane domain were also detected. We postulate that the "ouabain resistance gene" is important in the early selection process on ouabain but that the permanent ouabain-resistant phenotype is due to a stable mutation in one allele of the alpha-subunit of the Na,K-ATPase.     

AMONG- AND WITHIN-FLOWER COMPARISONS OF POLLEN TUBE GROWTH FOLLOWING SELF- AND CROSS-POLLINATIONS IN DIANTHUS CHINENSIS (CARYOPHYLLACEAE)

We compared the rate of pollen tube growth following self- and cross-pollinations both among and within flowers of two clones of Dianthus chinensis L. For among-flower comparisons, both styles of a flower were pollinated with either self- or cross-pollen. Within-flower comparisons were made between the two styles of the same flower, one of which was self-pollinated and the other cross-pollinated. Comparisons between flowers indicated that self-pollen grew slower than cross-pollen in both clones. However, differences in the growth rate of pollen tubes from self- and cross-pollinations were greater when comparisons were made between the two styles of the same flower than when pollinations were made in different flowers. These results suggest the existence of interstyle interactions in pollen tube growth.     

PERFUSION FOR MYOCARDIAL REVASCULARIZATION WITHOUT AN ARTIFICIAL OXYGENATOR (New Method to Reduce Surgical Morbidity)

Thirteen patients were submitted to direct myocardial revascularization (saphenous vein graft) without the use of an artificial oxygenator. The perfusion was done by a left ventricle-to-aorta bypass and autogenous oxygenation. Most patients had three grafts implanted plus endarterectomy of the distal right coronary artery. There was one hospital death that was apparently not related to the method used. Perfusion time ranged from 45 minutes to 4 hours. Body temperature during perfusion was kept between 25 and 30 degrees C. Perfusion flow was maintained between 25 to 50 ml per kg of body weight per minute. Ischemic, hypothermic cardiac arrest was employed. We demonstrated for the first time that perfusion for this kind of heart surgery could be done with no artificial oxygenators and, apparently, is safer for the patients. There were no bleeding problems even in perfusions as long as 4 hours. There was no respiratory dysfunction, and artificial respiration was used for only 6 to 12 hours. The patients awoke at the end of surgery with no signs or symptoms of central nervous system damage, and vasopressor drugs were rarely used after surgery. Although the experience is very small, it suggests that many postoperative problems, especially those related to bleeding and respiratory dysfunction may be reduced or eliminated by this new method.     

Using Species Distribution Models to Predict Potential Landscape Restoration Effects on Puma Conservation

A mosaic of intact native and human-modified vegetation use can provide important habitat for top predators such as the puma (Puma concolor), avoiding negative effects on other species and ecological processes due to cascade trophic interactions. This study investigates the effects of restoration scenarios on the puma’s habitat suitability in the most developed Brazilian region (São Paulo State). Species Distribution Models incorporating restoration scenarios were developed using the species’ occurrence information to (1) map habitat suitability of pumas in São Paulo State, Southeast, Brazil; (2) test the relative contribution of environmental variables ecologically relevant to the species habitat suitability and (3) project the predicted habitat suitability to future native vegetation restoration scenarios. The Maximum Entropy algorithm was used (Test AUC of 0.84 ± 0.0228) based on seven environmental non-correlated variables and non-autocorrelated presence-only records (n = 342). The percentage of native vegetation (positive influence), elevation (positive influence) and density of roads (negative influence) were considered the most important environmental variables to the model. Model projections to restoration scenarios reflected the high positive relationship between pumas and native vegetation. These projections identified new high suitability areas for pumas (probability of presence >0.5) in highly deforested regions. High suitability areas were increased from 5.3% to 8.5% of the total State extension when the landscapes were restored for ≥ the minimum native vegetation cover rule (20%) established by the Brazilian Forest Code in private lands. This study highlights the importance of a landscape planning approach to improve the conservation outlook for pumas and other species, including not only the establishment and management of protected areas, but also the habitat restoration on private lands. Importantly, the results may inform environmental policies and land use planning in São Paulo State, Brazil.     

Synchrotron X-ray imaging via ultra-small-angle scattering: principles of quantitative analysis and application in studying bone integration to synthetic grafting materials

Optimized experimental conditions for extracting accurate information at subpixel length scales from analyzer-based X-ray imaging were obtained and applied to investigate bone regeneration by means of synthetic β-TCP grafting materials in a rat calvaria model. The results showed a 30% growth in the particulate size due to bone ongrowth/ingrowth within the critical size defect over a 1-month healing period.