Demonstration of up-regulated IL 2 receptor expression on an in vitro cloned BCL1 subline

We have established BCL1 CL-3 cells capable of responding to B15-TRF and interleukin 2 (IL 2). This clone has both high affinity and low affinity receptors for IL 2 (IL 2R), but IL 2 by itself did not stimulate either proliferation or immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion. B15-TRF, which possesses both growth and differentiation activity, causes an increase in size of CL-3 cells and renders CL-3 cells responsive to IL 2, including an increased expression of IL 2R (eight-fold to 10-fold) and the differentiation of CL-3 cells into Ig secretion (60 to 80% of cultured cells). CL-3 cells pretreated with B15-TRF for 12 hr become competent to respond to IL 2 by up-regulation of IL 2R within 12 hr. In contrast CL-3 cells pretreated with IL 2 for 12 hr required 24 hr B15-TRF stimulation to result in IL 2R up-regulation. Thus the ordered action of B15-TRF and IL 2 is the most effective operational pathway for the up-regulation of IL 2R. This IL 2-mediated IL 2R up-regulation and induction of Ig synthesis depends upon the concentration of IL 2 in the culture. Both responses seem to be caused by IL 2 molecules bound to high affinity IL 2R. However, the possibility of involvement of low affinity IL 2R can not be vigorously excluded. In fact the level of IL 2 required for a response is far higher than that needed for activated T cell proliferation. This cloned BCL1 subline promises to be a useful tool for studying the regulation and mechanisms of B cell responses.     

Reduction of 7-ketolithocholic acid to chenodeoxycholic acid by rat liver preparations in vitro

The formation of chenodeoxycholic acid via 7-ketolithocholic acid by rat liver preparations was examined in vitro. Results showed that a rat liver preparation reduced 7-ketolithocholic acid mainly to chenodeoxycholic acid and to ursodeoxycholic acid in a smaller amount, and that the reductase required NADPH but not NADH as coenzyme and was mainly localized in the microsomes.     

The conversion of L-lysine to saccharopine and alpha-aminoadipate in mouse

Saccharopine [?-N-(l-glutaryl-2)-l-lysine] has been found to occur in normal, untreated mouse liver. The pool of saccharopine as well as that of α-aminoadipate become labeled shortly after the administration of l-lysine-U-¹⁴C into intact mouse. In vitro experiments using the mouse liver homogenate have shown that l-lysine is converted to saccharopine in the presence of α-ketoglutarate and NADPH, and saccharopine to α-aminoadipate in the presence of NAD⁺. The oxidation of α-aminoadipic-δ-semialdehyde (Δ¹-piperideine-6-carboxylate), the proposed reaction product of saccharopine cleavage, to α-aminoadipate is effected by either NAD⁺ or NADP⁺.     

The Effect of Electrotonus on the Olfactory Epithelium

The effect of electrotonus on the slow potential of the olfactory epithelium of the frog was studied. The "on"-slow potential induced by a general odor like amyl acetate increased its magnitude in accordance with increase of anodal current, while it decreased its magnitude with increase of cathodal current. Similar relations were also found in the case of the vapors of organic solvents like ethyl ether of low concentrations. Conversely, the on-slow potential induced by the vapors of organic solvents of high concentration decreased its magnitude in accordance with the increase of anodal current, while it increased its magnitude with the increase of cathodal current. The "off"-slow potential induced by the vapors of organic solvents of high concentration showed a potential change under the action of electrotonic currents which is similar to the change of the on-slow potential induced by general odors. It was concluded that there are two receptive processes in the olfactory cell. One is an ordinary excitatory process which produces an electronegative slow potential in response to general odors. The other is a process of a different kind which is activated only by the vapor of an organic solvent of high concentration and which shows an entirely opposite reaction from that generally found in excitable tissues when an electrotonic current is applied.     

Immunohistochemical localization of aldehyde and xanthine oxidase in rat tissues using polyclonal antibodies

Tissues from male Wistar rats, fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and embedded in paraffin, were studied with immunoperoxidase techniques using polyclonal antibodies raised against aldehyde oxidase or xanthine oxidase purified from rat liver. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that aldehyde oxidase-bearing cells were strongly stained in renal tubules, esophageal, gastric, intestinal and bronchial epithelium as well as liver cytoplasm. Weak but positive immunoreactivity was observed on the pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells, gastric glands and intestinal goblet cells. In contrast, it was demonstrated that cells with xanthine oxidase were strongly stained in renal tubules, esophageal, gastric, and small and large intestinal and bronchial epithelia etc. Positive immunostaining was also found in adrenal gland, skeletal muscle, spleen and cerebral hippocampus. Immunoreactivity againt aldehyde oxidase was not found in adrenal gland, spleen, mesentery or aorta, while immunoreactivity against xanthine oxidase was not found in mesentery or aorta. Although the significance of this ubiquitous and similar localization of aldehyde and xanthine oxidase seems unclear at present, these results may provide a clue as to the full understanding of the pathophysiological role of these oxidases in tissues.     

Comparison of the Effects of Flexion and Extension of the Thumb and Fingers on the Position and Cross-Sectional Area of the Median Nerve

Objective

To assess the separate effects of thumb and finger extension/flexion on median nerve position and cross-sectional area.

Methods

Ultrasonography was used to assess median nerve transverse position and cross-sectional area within the carpal tunnel at rest and its movement during volitional flexion of the individual digits of the hand. Both wrists of 165 normal subjects (11 men, 4 women, mean age, 28.6, range, 22 to 38) were studied.

Results

Thumb flexion resulted in transverse movement of the median nerve in radial direction (1.2±0.6 mm), whereas flexion of the fingers produced transverse movement in ulnar direction, which was most pronounced during flexion of the index and middle fingers (3.2±0.9 and 3.1±1.0 mm, respectively). Lesser but still statistically significant movements were noted with flexion of the ring finger (2.0±0.8 mm) and little finger (1.2±0.5 mm). Flexion of the thumb or individual fingers did not change median nerve cross-sectional area (8.5±1.1 mm²).

Conclusions

Volitional flexion of the thumb and individual fingers, particularly the index and middle fingers, produced significant transverse movement of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel but did not alter the cross-sectional area of the nerve. The importance of these findings on the understanding of the pathogenesis of the carpal tunnel syndrome and its treatment remains to be investigated.     

Oral Candida Mannan Concentrations Correlate with Symptoms/Signs of Ill Health and the Immune Status

Mycopathologia - A relationship has been proposed between increases in oral Candida concentrations and host immunity. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship...     

Inhibitory synaptic transmission tuned by Ca2+ and glutamate through the control of GABAAR lateral diffusion dynamics

The GABAergic synapses, a primary inhibitory synapse in the mammalian brain, is important for the normal development of brain circuits, and for the regulation of the excitation-inhibition balance critical for brain function from the developmental stage throughout life. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the formation, maintenance, and modulation of GABAergic synapses is less understood compared to that of excitatory synapses. Quantum dot-single particle tracking (QD-SPT), a super-resolution imaging technique that enables the analysis of membrane molecule dynamics at single-molecule resolution, is a powerful tool to analyze the behavior of proteins and lipids on the plasma membrane. In this review, we summarize the recent application of QD-SPT in understanding of GABAergic synaptic transmission. Here we introduce QD-SPT experiments that provide further insights into the molecular mechanism supporting GABAergic synapses. QD-SPT studies revealed that glutamate and Ca²⁺ signaling is involved in (a) the maintenance of GABAergic synapses, (b) GABAergic long-term depression, and GABAergic long-term potentiation, by specifically activating signaling pathways unique to each phenomenon. We also introduce a novel Ca²⁺ imaging technique to describe the diversity of Ca²⁺ signals that may activate the downstream signaling pathways that induce specific biological output.