The angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory tripeptides Ile-Pro-Pro and Val-Pro-Pro show increasing permeabilities with increasing physiological relevance of absorption models

Transepithelial transport of the ACE inhibitory peptides Ile-Pro-Pro and Val-Pro-Pro was studied in different models of absorption. Apparent permeability (P(app)) values for absorptive transport across Caco-2 monolayers were 1.0+/-0.9 x 10(-8) (Ile-Pro-Pro) and 0.5+/-0.1 x 10(-8)cms(-1) (Val-Pro-Pro). Ex vivo transport across jejunal segments in the Ussing chamber was 5-times (Ile-Pro-Pro) to 10-times (Val-Pro-Pro) higher with no significant differences (p>0.05) observed between both peptides. The peptidase inhibitor bestatin increased permeability for the absorptive direction for Ile-Pro-Pro by twofold. Neither a transepithelial pH gradient nor increased apical tripeptide concentration nor longitudinal localization of the intestinal segment influenced P(app) in the ex vivo experiments. Val-Pro-Pro transport across Peyer's patches, however, was 4-times higher (P(app)=21.0+/-9.3 x10(-8)cms(-1)) as compared to duodenum (P(app)=4.8+/-1.4 x 10(-8)cms(-1)). In the in situ perfusion experiments P(app) values varied greatly among different animals ranging from 0.5 to 24.0 x10(-8)cms(-1) (Ile-Pro-Pro) and from 1.0 to 15.6 x 10(-8)cms(-1) (Val-Pro-Pro). In summary, Caco-2 and ex vivo absorption models differ considerably regarding their peptide permeability. The in situ model seems to be less appropriate because of the observed large variability in peptide permeability. The results of this study demonstrate that the ACE inhibitory peptides Ile-Pro-Pro and Val-Pro-Pro are absorbed partially undegraded.     

An autocrine factor from Reuber hepatoma cells that stimulates DNA synthesis and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Characterization of biologic activity and evidence for a glycan structure

Conditioned medium from Reuber H-35 or Fao hepatoma cells contains autocrine factors that both stimulate DNA synthesis and activate acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) carboxylase in serum-deprived Fao cells. The factor(s), which appears within 4 h of serum-free culture, also increases the cell number and the mitotic index. The effects of the conditioned medium are insulinomimetic, both with respect to stimulation of DNA synthesis and acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity. However, no induction of tyrosine aminotransferase activity or stimulation of aminoisobutyric acid uptake is seen in response to the conditioned medium. Insulin over a 4-h period does not increase the concentration of DNA synthesis stimulating activity that is observed in the medium. This activity is dialyzable and is resistant to acid treatment or to heating to 60-100 degrees C and to trypsin digestion; it is not extracted with chloroform/methanol nor adsorbed by charcoal or by a C18 reverse-phase column. Fractionation of the conditioned medium derived from Reuber H-35 hepatoma cells by gel filtration chromatography reveals two low molecular weight (less than 1000) compounds that both stimulate DNA synthesis in Fao hepatoma cells. The larger compound (peak I) also stimulates the activity of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. The stimulatory effects of the peak I compound are destroyed by nitrous acid deamination, periodate oxidation, and methanolysis. Biosynthetic labeling studies indicate the probable presence of glucosamine, galactose, and perhaps phosphate in the peak I-activating material. No significant incorporation of either myoinositol or mannose into the active material has been observed. These data, taken together, are consistent with a glycan structure for this autocrine factor, which bears strong resemblance to similar insulinomimetic factors generated in BC3H1 myocytes and H-35 hepatoma cells in response to insulin and on digestion of membranes with a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. Further characterization of this factor may provide insight into different pathways of insulin action and could provide a strategy to check autocrine-stimulated tumor growth.     

Stability of interleukin 6, soluble interleukin 6 receptor,interleukin 10 and CC16 in human serum

The stability of interleukin 6 (IL-6), its soluble receptor (sIL-6R), IL-10 and CC16 or uteroglobin (an endogenous cytokine inhibitor) in human serum was examined using an accelerated stability testing protocol according to the Arrhenius equation. Further, the effect of time delay between blood sampling and sample processing, clotting temperature and repeated freeze-thaw cycles on serum levels of these proteins were determined. Paired serum samples were stored at 4 degrees C, 20 degrees C, 30 degrees C and 40 degrees C for 1 to 21 days. We found that IL-6 and CC16 concentrations did not change at 4 degrees C, 20 degrees C and 30 degrees C. Interleukin-6 concentrations significantly declined after 11 days at 40 degrees C. The concentrations of sIL-6R and IL-10 did not change at 4 degrees C but significantly decreased at 20 degrees C (after 21 and 14 days respectively), 30 degrees C and 40 degrees C (after 1 day at both temperatures for both cytokines). Arrhenius-plots indicated that sIL-6R and IL-10 are stable for at least several years at -20 degrees C and -70 degrees C, respectively. Since their relative stability, no Arrhenius-plot could be calculated for IL-6 and CC16. The concentrations of the proteins examined were not significantly altered by repeated freeze-thaw cycles, nor by extended clotting times at 4 degrees C or 20 degrees C. We conclude that serum samples for the determination of IL-6, sIL-6R and CC16 can be stored at -20 degrees C for several years, but for IL-10 determinations, storage at -70 degrees C is recommended.     

Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21: registration results from a single genetic center

This is a retrospective review of all collected amniotic fluid samples, chorionic villus samples and other fluid-aspirations (hygroma colli fluid/urine from megacystis) over an 11-year period (1996-2006) in a single Genetic Center (University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven), looking at the prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21. In this study a total of 404 diagnoses of trisomy 21 were made on 29696 samples (1.4%). The prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21 increased over the years with 0.88% (21/2363) in 1996 and 1.99% (50/2512)in 2006. Also the type of invasive testing changed over the years with an increase of the proportion of trisomy 21- diagnoses by chorionic villussampling from 2001. Looking at the registry for perinatal activities in Flanders for the year 2006 the live birth incidence for trisomy 21 was 1/1782 and this is lower than the often reported incidence oftrisomy 21 at birth of 1/800: it is likely that the use of more sensitive screening methods for the prenatal detection of trisomy 21 and the election of termination for most affected pregnancies affects the birth incidence oftrisomy 21.     

CDKB1;1 Forms a Functional Complex with CYCA2;3 to Suppress Endocycle Onset

The mitosis-to-endocycle transition requires the controlled inactivation of M phase-associated cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity. Previously, the B-type CDKB1;1 was identified as an important negative regulator of endocycle onset. Here, we demonstrate that CDKB1;1 copurifies and associates with the A2-type cyclin CYCA2;3. Coexpression of CYCA2;3 with CDKB1;1 triggered ectopic cell divisions and inhibited endoreduplication. Moreover, the enhanced endoreduplication phenotype observed after overexpression of a dominant-negative allele of CDKB1;1 could be partially complemented by CYCA2;3 co-overexpression, illustrating that both subunits unite in vivo to form a functional complex. CYCA2;3 protein stability was found to be controlled by CCS52A1, an activator of the anaphase-promoting complex. We conclude that CCS52A1 participates in endocycle onset by down-regulating CDKB1;1 activity through the destruction of CYCA2;3.