A systematic genomewide linkage study in 353 sib pairs with schizophrenia

We undertook a genomewide linkage study in a total of 353 affected sib pairs (ASPs) with schizophrenia. Our sample consisted of 179 ASPs from the United Kingdom, 134 from Sweden, and 40 from the United States. We typed 372 microsatellite markers at approximately 10-cM intervals. Our strongest finding was a LOD score of 3.87 on chromosome 10q25.3-q26.3, with positive results being contributed by all three samples and a LOD-1 interval of 15 cM. This finding achieved genomewide significance (P<.05), on the basis of simulation studies. We also found two regions, 17p11.2-q25.1 (maximum LOD score [MLS] = 3.35) and 22q11 (MLS = 2.29), in which the evidence for linkage was highly suggestive. Linkage to all of these regions has been supported by other studies. Moreover, we found strong evidence for linkage (genomewide P<.02) to 17p11.2-q25.1 in a single pedigree with schizophrenia. In our view, the evidence is now sufficiently compelling to undertake detailed mapping studies of these three regions.     

The expression of optimum ATPase activities in human erythrocytes. A comparison of different lytic procedures.

The exposure of the Na⁺/K⁺/Mg²⁺- and Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺-stimulated ATPase activities in human erythrocytes through the use of several different lytic procedures revealed significant variations in the level of activity. Density (age)-separated as well as mixed-age human erythrocytes were subjected to hemolysis in isotonic buffer using saponin or ethylene glycol, to hemolysis in hypotonie buffer using low osmolarity buffers, or to freeze-thaw to allow potential accessibility to the ATPases. The results ranged from maximum exposure of both types of ATPases in saponin-treated cells, to little or no exposure of activity in ethylene glycol-treated cells, to variable responses in membranes derived by hypotonie hemolysis. The inability to elicit maximum exposure of ATPases in young cells by the freeze-thaw treatment was reversed by the use of saponin lysis in isotonic medium. These results illustrate the importance of the lytic conditions of membrane preparations on the recovery of as well as exposure to ATPase activities. It is concluded that saponin lysis in isotonic buffer medium is the preferred lytic technique for preparation of membranes retaining significant levels of the Na⁺/K⁺/Mg²⁺- and Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺-stimulated ATPases. These data are also discussed in reference to the degree of retention of the activator protein for the $\text{Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$ ATPase system.     

Impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in the GK rat is associated with abnormalities in islet nitric oxide production

We investigated implications of nitric oxide (NO) derived from islet neuronal constitutive NO synthase (ncNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) on insulin secretory mechanisms in the mildly diabetic GK rat. Islets from GK rats and Wistar controls were analysed for ncNOS and iNOS by HPLC, immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry in relation to insulin secretion stimulated by glucose or l-arginine in vitro and in vivo. No obvious difference in ncNOS fluorescence in GK vs control islets was seen but freshly isolated GK islets displayed a marked iNOS expression and activity. After incubation at low glucose GK islets showed an abnormal increase in both iNOS and ncNOS activities. At high glucose the impaired glucose-stimulated insulin release was associated with an increased iNOS expression and activity and NOS inhibition dose-dependently amplified insulin secretion in both GK and control islets. This effect by NOS inhibition was also evident in depolarized islets at low glucose, where forskolin had a further amplifying effect in GK but not in control islets. NOS inhibition increased basal insulin release in perfused GK pancreata and amplified insulin release after glucose stimulation in both GK and control pancreata, almost abrogating the nadir separating first and second phase in controls. A defective insulin response to l-arginine was seen in GK rats in vitro and in vivo, being partially restored by NOS inhibition. The results suggest that increased islet NOS activities might contribute to the defective insulin response to glucose and l-arginine in the GK rat. Excessive iNOS expression and activity might be deleterious for the beta-cells over time.     

Plasma variation and reproducibility of oxidized LDL-cholesterol and low-grade inflammation biomarkers among participants of the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort

Context: Large epidemiological studies often collect non-fasting samples, although the reliability of biomarkers may be uncertain.

Objective: To explore the reliability and reproducibility of a single measurement of selected biomarkers in a sub-sample of the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort.

Methods: We estimated single- and average-measures intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for oxidized (ox)-LDL, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α.

Results: Single-measures ICC in non-fasting samples of ox-LDL, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were the following: 0.85, 0.71, 0.61, 0.78 and 0.66 for men, and 0.67, 0.81, 0.87, 0.69 and 0.81 for women. Biomarkers at non-fasting and fasting samples were highly correlated (all r?>?0.80).

Conclusions: The observed ICC suggest that most of the examined biomarkers (non-fasting blood) would allow meaningful analysis in epidemiological studies.     

The Angiogenic Inhibitor Long Pentraxin PTX3 Forms an Asymmetric Octamer with Two Binding Sites for FGF2

The inflammation-associated long pentraxin PTX3 plays key roles in innate immunity, female fertility, and vascular biology (e.g. it inhibits FGF2 (fibroblast growth factor 2)-mediated angiogenesis). PTX3 is composed of multiple protomers, each composed of distinct N- and C-terminal domains; however, it is not known how these are organized or contribute to its functional properties. Here, biophysical analyses reveal that PTX3 is composed of eight identical protomers, associated through disulfide bonds, forming an elongated and asymmetric, molecule with two differently sized domains interconnected by a stalk. The N-terminal region of the protomer provides the main structural determinant underlying this quaternary organization, supporting formation of a disulfide-linked tetramer and a dimer of dimers (a non-covalent tetramer), giving rise to the asymmetry of the molecule. Furthermore, the PTX3 octamer is shown to contain two FGF2 binding sites, where it is the tetramers that act as the functional units in ligand recognition. Thus, these studies provide a unifying model of the PTX3 oligomer, explaining both its quaternary organization and how this is required for its antiangiogenic function.     

Clutch size variation and morphology in a cyclomorphic Bosmina population

Clutch size, cyclomorphosis and allometric growth were analysedin a population of the humpbacked Bosmina (E.) coregoni gibbera.This species shows cyclomorphosis in antennule length and bodyheight, traits that may reduce predation risk from Leptodorakindtii. Individuals with long antennule and extreme body heightmay pay a cost in terms of decreased reproductive capacity.On the other hand, increasing the body height may be a way toincrease the brood chamber volume during periods of good foodconditions. We tested these hypotheses by comparing the seasonalvariation in clutch size with the seasonal variation in morphology.Antennule length and body height increased from mid-May to Augustand showed usually positive allometry at times with high populationdensities of the predatory cladoceran Leptodora kindtii. Clutchsize decreased from spring to late summer contrary to the hypothesisthat cyclomorphosis in height is caused by a seasonal variationin reproductive demand. However, within-dates antennule lengthwas negatively related and body height was positively relatedto clutch size. We conclude that the long antennule may imposea cost that reduces the reproductive capacity. The hypothesisthat carapace cyclomorphosis is driven by seasonally varyingclutch sizes was rejected.