Interferon-γ effect on growth regulation of cells with different levels of EGF receptor expression

Interferon gamma (IFNγ) is known to inhibit the proliferation of some transformed cell lines. Recently, we demonstrated the transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in response to IFNγ (Burova et al., 2007) and provided direct evidence for the dependence of IFNγ-induced EGFR transactivation on the EGFR expression level in epithelial cells (Gonchar et al., 2008). This study examines an antiproliferative effect of IFNγ on human epithelial cell lines—A431 and HeLa that express high levels of EGFR, as well as HEK293 that expresses low levels of EGFR. To characterize the IFNγ-induced changes in these cells, we studied cell growth, the cell cycle, and induction of apoptosis. The response to IFNγ differed in the compared cell lines; cell growth was inhibited in both A431 and HeLa cells, but not in HEK293 cells, as was shown by the cell count and MTT. The cell-cycle phases analyzed by flow cytometry were disturbed in A431 and HeLa cells in response to IFNγ. On the contrary, in HEK293 cells, the IFNγ treatment did not alter distribution by cell cycle phases. Our results indicate that IFNγ produces an antiproliferative effect that depends on the increased expression of EGFR in A431 and HeLa cells. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that IFNγ induced the caspase 3 activation in A431 cells, which suggests the involvement of active caspase 3 in the IFNγ-induced apoptosis.     

Bioelectrical Impedance of the Rat Myocardium and Liver under Chronic Exposure to Doxorubicin

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology - Changes in bioelectrical impedance of the myocardium and liver were revealed in male Wistar rats chronically exposed to doxorubicin....     

Hormonal regulation of anabolic processes and of protein utilization efficiency in the early postnatal period

The levels of thyroid, pituitary and steroid hormones-thyroxine, triiodothyronine and 11-hydroxycorticosteroids in the blood serum, somatotropin in the pituitary, and processes of protein assimilation were studied in rats in the early postnatal period. The highest endogenous production of thyroxine, triiodothyronine and somatotropin was detected in 15-day-old rats. The highest level of protein utilization was detected in 7 to 15-day-old rats, followed by the lowering of the utilization on changing over to definitive nutrition. Endogenous production of the anabolic hormones thyroxine, triiodothyronine and somatotropin was found to correlate with a high level of protein utilization in rats within the first days of life after birth.     

Effect of TNF-α, IL-2, IL-5 and IL-6 on Rat Tracheal and Bronchial Smooth Muscle Contractions

Journal of Evolutionary Biochemistry and Physiology - The article addresses the role of TNF-α, IL-2, IL-5 and IL-6 in the contractile activity of rat tracheal and bronchial smooth muscle...     

Impaired Surfactant Production by Alveolar Epithelial Cells in a SCID-hu Lung Mouse Model of Congenital Human Cytomegalovirus Infection

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the leading viral cause of birth defects and life-threatening lung-associated diseases in premature infants and immunocompromised children. Although the fetal lung is a major target organ of the virus, HCMV lung pathogenesis has remained unexplored, possibly as a result of extreme host range restriction. To overcome this hurdle, we generated a SCID-hu lung mouse model that closely recapitulates the discrete stages of human lung development in utero. Human fetal lung tissue was implanted into severe combined immunodeficient (CB17-scid) mice and inoculated by direct injection with the VR1814 clinical isolate of HCMV. Virus replication in the fetal lung was assessed by the quantification of infectious virus titers and HCMV genome copies and the detection of HCMV proteins by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. We show that HCMV efficiently replicated in the lung implants during a 2-week period, forming large viral lesions. The virus productively infected alveolar epithelial and mesenchymal cells, imitating congenital infection of the fetal lung. HCMV replication triggered apoptosis near and within the viral lesions and impaired the production of surfactant proteins in the alveolar epithelium. Our findings highlight that congenital and neonatal HCMV infection can adversely impact lung development, leading to pneumonia and acute lung injury. We have successfully developed a small-animal model that closely recapitulates fetal and neonatal lung development and provides a valuable, biologically relevant tool for an understanding of the lung pathogenesis of HCMV as well as other human respiratory viruses. Additionally, this model would greatly facilitate the development and testing of new antiviral therapies for HCMV along with select human pulmonary pathogens.     

Fat absorption following temporary ischemia of the small intestine

Ischemia of the rat small intestine lasting 40 min leads to pronounced structural disorders in lipid transport across the enterocytes, reduction in enzymatic activity of the cells and in absorption function, and to the loss of fat with feces. The normalization of the indicated parameters occurs at varying times and ends after 1 month. Fat transport abnormality is marked by an increase in lipid drops in the cavities of the smooth endoplasmic network, appearance of large and numerous matrix lipids, by a greater reduction, as compared to normal, in the membranes of the rough endoplasmic network and lamellar complex in the epithelium of the villi. Accumulation of lipids and retardation of their release from the cytoplasm are determined by incomplete differentiation of the epithelium, which is also combined with a decreased enzymatic activity.