Androgenic stimulation of endocytosis, amino acid and hexose transport in mouse kidney cortex involves increased calcium fluxes

Testosterone was previously shown to induce an early (less than 1 min) receptor-dependent stimulation of endocytosis, hexose and amino acid transport in mouse kidney cortex (Koenig, H., Goldstone, A. and Lu, C.Y. (1982) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 104, 165-172). Testosterone (10(-8) M) has now been found to stimulate rapidly (less than 30 s) the influx and efflux of 45Ca2+ in cortex slices. Testosterone also decreased mitochondrial 45Ca and augmented soluble 45Ca, indicating a mobilization of intracellular calcium. Incubation of cortex slices in calcium-free medium without or with 2.5 mM EGTA decreased basal endocytosis, hexose and amino acid transport and blocked the hormonal response. 100 microM verapamil blocked the hormonal response without affecting basal transport. The calcium ionophore A23187 rapidly stimulated endocytosis, hexose and amino acid transport. These data indicate that androgenic stimulation of membrane transport functions involves an increased influx of extracellular calcium and a mobilization of intracellular calcium. Increased cytosolic Ca2+ is probably the regulatory signal for these transport processes.     

Effects of adrenergic agonists and mitochondrial energy state on the Ca2+ transport systems of mitochondria

This study investigates the effects of adrenergic agonists and mitochondrial energy state on the activities of the Ca2+ transport systems of female rat liver mitochondria. Tissue perfusion with the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine and with adrenaline, but not with the beta-adrenergic agonist isoprenaline, induced significant activation of the uniporter and the respiratory chain. Uniporter activation was evident under two sets of experimental conditions that excluded influences of delta psi, i.e., at high delta psi, where uniporter activity was delta psi independent, and at low delta psi, where uniporter conductance was measured. Preincubation of mitochondria with extracts from phenylephrine-perfused tissue quantitatively reproduced uniporter activation when comparison was made with mitochondria treated similarly with extracts from tissue perfused without agonist. Similar, but more extensive, data were obtained with heart mitochondria pretreated with extracts from hearts perfused with the alpha-adrenergic agonist methoxamine. Phenylephrine did not affect Ca2+ efflux mediated by the Na+-Ca2+ carrier or the Na+-independent system. In contrast, the liver mitochondrial Na+-Ca2+ carrier was activated by tissue perfusion with isoprenaline; the Na+-independent system was unaffected. Na+-Ca2+ carrier activation was not associated with any change in a number of basic bioenergetic parameters. It is concluded that the Ca2+ transport systems of liver mitochondria may be controlled in an opposing manner by alpha-adrenergic agonists (promotion of Ca2+ influx) and beta-adrenergic agonists (promotion of Ca2+ efflux). At delta psi values greater than 110 mV, the Na+-independent system was activated by increase in delta psi; the uniporter and Na+-Ca2+ carrier activities were insensitive to delta psi changes in this range.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Lymphocyte activation and serine-esterase induction following recombinant interleukin-2 infusion for lymphomas and acute leukaemias

Summary C57BL mice inoculated with radiation leukemia virus (RadLV) develop preleukemic cells long before the onset of leukemia. These cells are potentially immunogenic but fail to elicit an immune response in the host because of the appearance of virus-specific suppressor T cells. We have studied the effect of polysaccharide K (PSK) on the generation of RadLV-specific cell-mediated immune responses in vitro. Long-term exposure to PSK in culture potentiated the ability of immunized T cells to respond to a RadLV-induced lymphoma. It also abrogated the suppressive activity of suppressor T cells and simultaneously boosted the ability of reactive T cells to respond. The dual immunostimulating activity of PSK resulted in the generation of T cytotoxic lymphocytes that could lyse lymphoma cells in vitro. The results suggest that PSK could be used as a prophylactic immune response modifier in preleukemia.     

Beta-adrenergic stimulation evokes a rapid, Ca2+-dependent stimulation of endocytosis, hexose and amino acid transport associated with increased Ca2+ fluxes in mouse kidney cortex

The beta-adrenergic agonist 1-isoproterenol evokes an acute (less than 5 min) stimulation of endocytosis, hexose transport and amino acid transport, measured by the temperature-sensitive uptake of HRP, 3H-DG and 14C-AIB, in mouse kidney cortex slices. This stimulation is concentration dependent and is maximal at 10(-8)-10(-7) M isoproterenol. Peroxidase cytochemistry showed that the hormonal increase in HRP uptake is confined to proximal tubules. The rapid membrane response is abolished in a calcium-free medium and by the beta-adrenergic antagonist propranolol, indicating Ca2+- and beta-adrenoreceptor-dependence. Isoproterenol (1 microM) rapidly (less than 30 sec) stimulates the influx and efflux of 45Ca in cortex slices. Isoproterenol also decreased mitochondrial 45Ca and increased soluble 45Ca. These results indicate that beta-adrenergic stimulation of membrane transport functions involves an increased influx of extracellular calcium and a mobilization of intracellular (mitochondrial) calcium. An increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration appears to be the regulatory signal for these membrane transport processes.     

Polyamines and Ca2+ Mediate Hyperosmolal Opening of the Blood-Brain Barrier: In Vitro Studies in Isolated Rat Cerebral Capillaries

We recently presented evidence that the reversible opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) by the infusion of 1.6 M mannitol into the rat internal carotid artery is mediated by a rapid stimulation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and putrescine synthesis in cerebral capillaries. We have now investigated this hypothesis further, using isolated rat cerebral capillaries as an in vitro model of the BBB. The ODC activity of cerebral capillary preparations was enriched up to 15-fold over that of the cerebral homogenate. Hyperosmolal mannitol in physiological buffer evoked a rapid (less than 15 s), concentration- and time-dependent increase in capillary ODC activity and an accumulation of putrescine and spermidine which was blocked by the specific ODC inhibitor, alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO, 10 mM). Mannitol (1 M), as well as 2 M urea, evoked a two- to fivefold increase in the temperature-sensitive influx of 45Ca2+ and uptake of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and 2-deoxy-D-[1-3H]glucose (DG), but not alpha-[1-14C]aminoisobutyrate, during a 2-min incubation. DFMO (10 mM) abolished 1 M mannitol-mediated stimulation of 45Ca2+ influx and uptake of HRP and DG, whereas 1 mM putrescine replenished capillary polyamines and reversed the DFMO effects. Mannitol (1 M)-induced stimulation of ODC activity and membrane transport processes was Ca2+-dependent and verapamil- and nisoldipine-sensitive. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 10 nM), a protein kinase C activator, also evoked a two- to threefold stimulation of 45Ca2+ transport and HRP and DG uptake. This PMA effect was abolished by DFMO, suggesting involvement of rapid, ODC-controlled polyamine synthesis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cytochrome b-245 of neutrophils is also present in human monocytes, macrophages and eosinophils.

A cytochrome b with a midpoint oxidation-reduction potential of -245mV (cytochrome b-245) that is a major component of the microbicidal oxidase system of human neutrophil leucocytes has been identified in human eosinophils, monocytes and macrophages at concentrations similar to that found in human neutrophils. It was absent from a variety of other cells. This cytochrome is present in phagocytic leucocytes and probably plays an important part in the specialized activities of these cells.     

Evidence for a dual action of converting enzyme inhibitor on blood pressure in normal man

We studied the effect of a converting enzyme inhibitor (CEI), Captopril SQ 14,225 50 mg p.o. in eight supine normal subjects under a high sodium (150 mEq/d) and low sodium (25 mEq/d) diet. On high sodium, plasma renin (PRA) and aldosterone were basal and Saralasin did not lower mean blood pressure. However, CEI induced an 11.4 +/- 3.2 mm fall in blood pressure (p less than 0.02) and either indomethacin 50 mg or ibuprofen 800 mg (PI), when given simultaneously on another day abolished the blood pressure response (2.5 +/- 0.9 mm Hg, p greater than 0.5). In contrast, on a low salt diet where renin was increased, CEI induced a drop in blood pressure which was not significantly altered by PI (12.8 +/- 1.1 vs. 10.0 +/- 3.1 mm Hg, p greater than 0.5). CEI increased plasma renin on both diets (1.7 +/- 0.5 to 3.5 +/- 0.8 and 2.8 +/- 0.6 to 12.5 +/- 3.1 ng/ml/hr respectively both p less than 0.05). Aldosterone did not change (high Na+) or fell (low Na+). Inhibition of Prostaglandin synthesis did not significantly block the renin rise from CEI suggesting that the direct angiotensin II negative feedback is relatively independent of acute prostaglandin release. Our studies suggest that CEI has a dual hypotensive action. In a low renin state, the hypotensive action appears to be mediated through vascular prostaglandins.     

Changes in electronegativity of lysosomal hydrolases during intracellular transport. An isoelectric-focusing study in subcellular fractions of rat kidney.

Isoelectric focusing was used to investigate the multiple forms of acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase, beta-glucuronidase, beta-galactosidase and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase in the following, previously characterized subcellular fractions from rat kidney: a special rough microsomal fraction, enriched up to 9-fold over the homogenate in acid hydrolases; a smooth microsomal fraction; a Golgi membrane fraction enriched about 2.5-fold in acid hydrolases and 10- to 20-fold in several glycosyl transferases; and a lysosomal fraction enriched up to 25-fold in acid hydrolases. The electro-focusing behavior of the hydrolases in these fractions was markedly sensitive to the autolytic changes that occur under acidic conditions, even at 4 degrees C. Autolysis was minimized by extracting fractions in an alkaline medium (0.2% Triton X-100, 0.1 M sodium glycinate buffer, pH 10, 0.1 % p-nitrophenyloxamic acid) and adding p-nitrophenyloxamic acid (0.1 %), AN INHIBITOR OF LYSOSOMAL NEURAMINIDASE AND cathepsin D, to the pH gradient. The enzymes in the lysosomal fraction displayed a characteristic bimodal or trimodal distribution. Arylsulfatase, beta-glucuronidase and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase occurred in an acidic form with an isoelectric point of 4.4, and a basic form with an isoelectric point of 6.2, 6.7 and 8.0, respectively. Acid phosphatase and beta-galactosidase occurred in an acidic, intermediate and basic form with isoelectric points of about 4. 1, 5.6 and 7.4, respectively. In the special rough microsomal fraction these enzymes were mostly in a basic form with isoelectric points between 7.5 and 9; these were 1-2 units higher than the corresponding basic forms in the lysosomal fraction. Treatment of extracts of the rough microsomal fraction with bacterial neuraminidase raised the isoelectric points of all five hydrolases by 1-2.5 units, indicating the presence of some N-acetylneuraminic acid residues in these basic glycoenzymes. The hydrolases in the Golgi fraction were largely in an acidic form with isoelectric points similar to or lower than those of the corresponding acidic components in the lysosomal fraction. The hydrolases in the smooth microsomal fraction showed isoelectric-focusing patterns intermediate between those in the rough microsomal and the Golgi fractions. These findings support the following scheme for the synthesis, transport and packaging of the lysosomal enzymes. Each hydrolase is synthesized in a restricted portion of the r