Maleylated-BSA suppresses IFN-gamma-mediated Ia expression in murine peritoneal macrophages

Maleylated bovine serum albumin (maleyl-BSA) and other polyanionic polymers that are recognized by cell surface receptors on macrophages have been shown to induce chemotaxis, protease secretion, and tumoricidal function in this cell type. In this paper the effect of maleyl-BSA on Ia antigen expression has been evaluated. In a fashion similar to LPS, maleyl-BSA suppressed IFN-gamma-induced expression of Ia in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Also like LPS, maleyl-BSA stimulated the production and secretion of substantial amounts of PGE2 over a 24-hr period. This did not, however, appear to be the primary mechanism by which expression of Ia was suppressed, because co-treatment of the cells with indomethacin, which totally inhibited the production of PGE2, only minimally affected the suppressive activity. Surprisingly, the suppressive activity of both maleyl-BSA and LPS could be largely abrogated by co-treatment of the cells with cyclohexamide during the time period when Ia expression was sensitive to suppression. This effect was selective in that PGE2- or dibutyryl cyclic AMP-induced suppression of Ia expression was not affected by cyclohexamide treatment. The data support the concept that there are multiple molecular mechanisms involved in the negative regulation of IFN-gamma-induced Ia expression in macrophages. Such mechanisms may include, in addition to the synthesis of PGE2 and consequent elevation in intracellular levels of cyclic AMP, one or more proteins made early after treatment with either maleyl-BSA or LPS. Thus the function of some of these early gene products may be to regulate expression of functional genes such as that encoding Ia antigen.     

Interrelation of the changes in the blood rheological properties and the microcirculatory disorders in the early and late stages of experimental hyperlipoproteinemia

Experiments were made on rabbit fed an atherogenic diet (0.5 g/kg cholesterol) singly for 15 and 24 h and repeatedly for 3, 9 and 30 days. At early stages of lipid metabolism distress the interrelationship was established between blood rheological disorders and microcirculatory abnormalities. The dependence of the initial reaction of some rheological characteristics on their initial level was marked.     

Enhanced unscheduled DNA synthesis in the cotyledons of Gossypium,barbadense L. by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)

When cotyledonary tissue of $\text{G.}\text{,}\text{barbadense}$ cotton are treated with the mutagen ethyl methanesulfonate and then germinated, an enhanced, unscheduled DNA synthesis response is observed, along with a concomitant increase in the thymidine triphosphate precursor pool size. The implications of these results are discussed in this paper.     

Osteoarthritis of the hip: an occupational disease in farmers.

OBJECTIVE--To test the hypothesis that farmers are at high risk of hip osteoarthritis and to investigate possible causes for such a hazard. DESIGN--Cross sectional survey. SETTING--Five rural general practices. SUBJECTS--167 male farmers aged 60-76 and 83 controls from mainly sedentary jobs. All those without previous hip replacement underwent radiography of the hip. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Hip replacement for osteoarthritis or radiological evidence of hip osteoarthritis. RESULTS--Prevalence of hip osteoarthritis was higher in farmers than controls and especially in those who had farmed for over 10 years (odds ratio 9.3, 95% confidence interval 1.9 to 44.5). The excess could not be attributed to any one type of farming, and heavy lifting seems the likely explanation. CONCLUSIONS--Manual handling in agriculture should be limited where possible. Consideration should be given to making hip osteoarthritis a prescribed industrial disease in farmers. There may be wider implications for the prevention of hip osteoarthritis in the general population.     

Temporal characterization of growth of fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) larvae during sublethal hydrogen cyanide exposure

Growth of fathead minnow yolk sac larvae was characterized from changes in dry weight and total content and concentrations of RNA, DNA and protein in fish exposed to a sublethal level of HCN (58 micrograms/l) and in age matched controls. Cyanide toxicosis occurred within 24 hr of exposure as evidenced by significant reductions in protein and RNA content and RNA/DNA ratio of larvae. After 96 hr exposure to HCN, larvae exhibited the same growth rate and protein synthetic rate (RNA/DNA) as control fish. HCN toxicosis and recovery is rapid and at least partial tolerance to HCN develops within 96 hr of exposure in larval fathead minnows.     

Two color light scattering identifies physical differences between lymphocyte subpopulations

Forward angle light scattering of two different wavelengths by cells in a flow cytometer was used to investigate physical differences between lymphocytes of different lineage, functional subclass and developmental stage. Correlation of the ultraviolet (UV: 351 nm and 364 nm) and 488 nm light scattering signals produced by lymphoid cells demonstrated that the two signals were not equivalent and that they placed different emphasis on the physical parameters characterizing lymphocytes. Both small T and B lymphocytes from peripheral lymphoid tissues and mitogenically activated large T and B lymphocyte blasts were discriminated by both wavelengths. Differences between the Lyt-2 negative and Lyt-2 positive T lymphocyte subsets were also apparent. Two color light scattering could also discriminate between immature thymocytes and mature peripheral T cells and between small bone marrow cells and mature peripheral B cells. In bone marrow an increase in UV light scattering coincided with the appearance of cell surface immunoglobulin on small cells. These data establish that two color light scattering is a sensitive probe for distinguishing cells of apparently similar morphology and that it can be used to study the physical changes that occur during lymphoid cell differentiation.     

Isolation of zymogen granules from rat pancreas and characterization of their membrane proteins

A zymogen granule fraction has been isolated from rat pancreas, and its purity has been assessed by biochemical and morphological criteria. Specific activities of two marker enzymes, amylase and chymotrypsin, are increased by 4.6 and 5.4-fold, respectively, as compared to the homogenate. The purified fraction is devoid of detectable RNA, DNA and 5'-nucleotidase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and cytochrome c oxidase activities. Electron micrographs confirm the absence of mitochondria, lysosomes, and rough endoplasmic reticulum fragments. Zymogen granule membranes were isolated from this fraction on a sucrose gradient following lysis in alkaline buffer. Secretory contaminants were efficiently removed from the membranes as indicated by experiments in which labeled secretory proteins were added during the isolation procedure and secondly by measuring residual levels of amylase and chymotrypsin. Three enzyme activities were found in the membranes: thiamine pyrophosphatase, ATP-diphosphohydrolase, and low levels of acid phosphatase. Membrane proteins were solubilized by urea-Triton X-100 and separated in double-dimension (isoelectric focusing and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). Isoelectric point and molecular weight of each protein band were determined.     

Membrane chloride transport measured using a chloride-sensitive fluorescent probe

Transport of chloride across cell membranes through exchange, cotransport, or conductive pathways is a subject of great biological importance. Current methods of measurement are restricted in their sensitivity, time resolution, and applicability. A new transport measurement technique has been developed on the basis of the fluorescence quenching by chloride of the dye 6-methoxy-N-(3-sulfopropyl)quinolinium (SPQ). SPQ fluorescence quenching by chloride is rapid (less than 1 ms) and sensitive, with a greater than 50% decrease in fluorescence at 10 mM chloride. SPQ fluorescence is not altered by other physiological anions or by pH and can be used to measure both neutral and conductive transport processes. The high water solubility and membrane permeability properties of SPQ make it ideal for use in both membrane vesicles and cells. Chloride transport determined with SPQ was validated by measurement of erythrocyte chloride/anion exchange and membrane vesicle chloride conductance.