Long-term effects of pergolide and (−)-deprenyl on H-mazindol and H-spiperone binding in rat brain

The effects of long-term administration of the putative neuroprotective agents pergolide and (−)-deprenyl was assessed by studying ³H-mazindol and ³H-spiperone binding at 12 and 20 months in the major dopamine brain regions. Male Wistar rats were treated from 3 to 20 months, together with their respective untreated and saline injected control groups. The main findings were: 1) there was a decrease in both ³H-mazindol and ³H-spiperone binding with age between 12 and 20 months; 2) there were no differences at 20 months between the pergolide or the (−)-deprenyl treated groups and their controls, thus providing no evidence for long-term neuroprotection; and 3) there was a marked decrease in ³H-mazindol binding in the injected controls compared with the untreated controls at both 12 and 20 months. This raises the possibility that mild chronic stress may accelerate the aging of the dopamine system.     

Tacrine slows the rate of ageing of sarin-inhibited acetylcholinesterase

Bovine erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase was inhibited by the organophosphate sarin, and the rate of ageing (the time-dependent decrease in the ability of an oxime to reactivate the enzyme) was studied. At pH 7.0 and 37°C, 10⁻⁵ M or 10⁻⁶ M tacrine (tetrahydroaminoacridine) decreased the rate of ageing in low ionic strength buffer. Tacrine at 10⁻⁵ M also significantly decreased the rate of ageing in 150 mM NaCl. The results indirectly demonstrated that the inhibition of substrate hydrolysis by tacrine is reversible, and that tacrine does not prevent reactivation of sarin-inhibited acetylcholinesterase. Both these observations, which were also made for rat brain acetylcholinesterase, are in contrast with reports in the literature.     

Daily variations in GABA receptor function in Syrian hamster cerebral cortex

The existence of diurnal changes in postsynaptic expression of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptors was assessed in cerebral cortex of Syrian hamsters by measuring [³H]GABA binding and the influx of ³⁶Cl⁻ in synaptoneurosomes. A diurnal variation in dissociation constant of [³H]GABA binding to cerebral cortex membranes, and the absence of diurnal differences in maximal number of sites, were found. When the nycthemeral changes in muscimol-stimulated ³⁶Cl⁻ uptake by cortical synaptoneurosomes were assessed, a maximum occurred late at night (i.e. 0400 h). At 1600 h, micromolar concentrations of flunitrazepam potentiated significantly the influx of chloride induced by muscimol, while at 0400 h flunitrazepam did not exert any significant effect on ³⁶Cl⁻ uptake. The results indicate that postsynaptic type A GABAergic activity peaked at nocturnal hours in the cerebral cortex of Syrian hamsters.     

The interaction of tacrine with benzodiazepine and GABA binding sites of guinea pig brain.

Tacrine (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9-acridinamine) inhibited binding of [3H]flunitrazepam to benzodiazepine receptors of guinea pig hippocampus with an inhibition constant of 46 microM at 2 degrees C and 37 degrees C. gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) decreased the affinity of tacrine for the receptor, suggesting that tacrine may act as an inverse agonist. A Hill coefficient less than 1 was observed under all conditions. Allosteric interactions may explain this behaviour, since 100 microM tacrine increased the rate of dissociation of [3H]flunitrazepam from the receptor. Tacrine inhibited the binding of 11 nM [3H]GABA to GABA receptors of guinea pig cerebral cortex with I50 = 188 microM. Bicuculline methiodide was 4 times as potent (I50 = 49 microM). The interaction of tacrine with GABA or benzodiazepine binding sites is unlikely to be of clinical significance.     

Positron Emission Tomography in the Study of Aging and Senile Dementia

¹⁸F-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose (¹⁸FDG) is a positron emitting tracer for rate of glucose utilization in brain. When used in conjunction with positron emission tomography (PET), the PET-FDG technique permits in vivo quantitation of regional brain metabolism in man. We have applied this technique to the study of regional brain function in normal aging and senile dementia. Preliminary results for 7 patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (SDAT) and 3 elderly normal subjects indicated a large, statistically significant (p < 0.01) diminution in rate of glucose utilization in SDAT. Furthermore, the degree of diminution in metabolic activity in SDAT was highly correlated with objective measures of degree of cognitive impairment. These results demonstrate the feasibility and potential utility of the PET-FDG technique for studying regional brain function in normal aging and dementia.     

Heterogeneity in terms of interleukin 4-dependent regulation of Fce receptor/CD23 expression on chronic B-lymphocytic leukemia cells

To discriminate the stages of maturation arrest of leukemic B cells, we have investigated the cell surface expression of FcεR_1l (H107 antigen) on leukemic B cells from 6 patients with chronic type B-lymphocytic leukemia(B-CLL) by a double staining method combined with cytoflorometry, and their production of soluble FceR_ll ⁺ by an ELISA technique. FceR_ll was expressed onμ⁺/δ⁻ cells of case 5 as well as on μ⁺/δ⁺cells of cases 1,2 and 4, but not on μ⁺/δ⁺cells in cases 3 and 6. The cultivation of leukemic cells with IL-4 not only increased the percentage of FceR_ll⁺cells but also enhanced the production of soluble Fcer_llin most cases. However, IL-4 had no effects on μ⁺/δ⁻/Fcεr_ll⁺ cells of cases 5, which appeared to correspond to a rather late     

Preliminary characterization of an Na,K,Cl co-transport activity in cultured human astrocytes

We have studied the potassium uptake using ⁸⁶Rb⁺ into monolayers of secondary cultures of human astrocytes prepared from cerebral hemispheres of a 4-month-old fetus. With the use of inhibitors we could attribute 30–40% of the ⁸⁶Rb⁺ uptake to an Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase, 50–60% to an anion-cation co-transporter and 10% to potassium leak channels. The anion-cation co-transporter was dependent on the simultaneous presence of both sodium and chloride in the incubation medium and is therefore most likely an Na⁺,K⁺,Cl⁻ co-transporter. This is the first evidence of such an Na⁺,K⁺,Cl⁻ co-transport in human astrocytes.     

C-kit positive porcine bone marrow progenitor cells identified and enriched using recombinant stem cell factor

Porcine haematological studies have been hampered by the lack of monoclonal antibodies against porcine CD34 or CD117 expressed on haematological progenitors. The present report describes the enumeration, phenotyping and isolation of porcine haematopoietic progenitor cells expressing stem cell factor (SCF, c-kit ligand) receptor (c-kit, CD117). Recombinant porcine (rp) SCF and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were expressed in the mammalian HEK293 cell-based expression system. Both were biologically active and induced the proliferation of the human erythroleukemic cell line TF-1, as well as of porcine bone marrow haematopoietic cells (BMHC), in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect of rpSCF on BMHC proliferation was synergistic with rpGM-CSF. Furthermore, rpSCF had a synergistic effect on the generation of BMHC-derived dendritic cells (DC) induced by GM-CSF and TNF-. RpSCF was expressed with a 6-histidine epitope, permitting both its purification and immunological detection. Binding studies with BMHC demonstrated ligation of SCF to 4–11% of BMHC. These cells represented the SWC3^low/−SWC8⁻ BMHC subset, with characteristics of immature proliferative progenitor BMHC. In contrast, no expression was noted on the SWC3⁺SWC8⁻ monocytic, the SWC3⁺SWC8⁺ granulocytic or the SWC3⁻SWC8⁺ B cell lineage cells. Using magnetic or fluorescence-activated cell sorting, SCF-ligating BMHC were enriched for pluripotent progenitor cells. In this manner, porcine haematological studies can be pursued in a detailed manner not before possible.     

Human and chimpanzee monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibody-secreting cell lines were isolated after transformation of peripheral blood leukocytes with Epstein-Barr virus. Blood samples were obtained from human donors having circulating antibodies against hepatitis viruses (HAB, HBV), rubella, or rabies virus and from a chimpanzee infected with HAV. Dextran-isolated leukocytes were submitted to Epstein-Barr virus infection at low cell concentrations (1 × 10⁴ cells · mml⁻¹. Proliferating clones could be observed in 50–100% of the cultures within 4–6 weeks. Out of 1 ml blood (1 × 10⁶ leukocytes) 1–10 stable clones were isolated, secreting specific anti-viral antibodies. These clones were fused with an aminopterin-sensitive, ouabain-resistant, non-immunoglobulin producing mouse-human hybridoma (Org MHH.1). From such fusions 10–90% of the cultures yielded viable hybridomas of which 45% produced antibodies with the same specificity as of the parental EBV transformant. Immunoglobulin production of both EBV transformants and hybridomas was shown to be stable for more than 6 months and at a concentration up to 100 μg · ml⁻¹ · 48 h⁻¹.

Chimpanzee EBV-transformed lymphocytes proliferated excellently in vitro. Mouse-human hybridomas, however, could be more easily cultivated, cloned and scaled up than the parental EBV-transformed lymphocytes.

In conclusion, stable, monoclonal antibody-secreting cell lines of either human or chimpanzee origin could be isolated with an efficiency that exceeds by 10–100-fold standard murine hybridoma technology.     

Two Down syndrome patients with an acquired translocation, t(8;14)(q11;q32), in early B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Two males with Down syndrome and acute lymphoblastic leukemia with the acquired translocation, t(8;14)(q11;q32), are described. In each case the constitutional karyotype was 47,XY,+21. The patients were, respectively, aged 3 years 11 months and 32 years, with presenting white blood counts 34 and 1.9 × 10⁹/L with blasts of FAB L1 and L2. In each case immunophenotype of the blasts was C-ALL. The child is alive and well and in first remission 6 years from diagnosis. In contrast, the adult patient died in first remission 8.5 months from diagnosis with severe pancytopenia. These are to our knowledge the second and third cases of ALL with t(8;14)(q11–12;q32) associated with a constitutional genetic disorder.     

Linkage of low and high affinity anti-fluorescein idiotype families

Data presented in this study describes the isolation and characterization of two anti-fluorescein (Fl) hybridoma proteins 3–24 and 12–40, both IgG₁, with a K_a = 2.8 and 3.4 × 10⁶ M⁻¹, respectively, at 37°C. These clones inhibited (6.8 ± 2.8 − 20.8 ± 0.6% at l μg/well) the idiotype-anti-idiotype interactions (IAII) of anti-Fl clones 3–13 and 3–17, which define a previously described low affinity idiotype family. Antibodies 3–24 and 12–40 also inhibited (45.0 ± 3.0 and 61.3 ± 5.6%, respectively, at 1 μg/well) an IAII denfied by a high affinity (K_a = 5.2 ± 1.5 × 10⁹ M⁻¹ at 37°C) anti-Fl clone, 4-4. Hybridoma proteins 3–13 and 3–17 possess similar affinities for Fl (K_a = 3.8 ± 5.1 and 5.9 ± 4.0 × 10⁴ M⁻¹) and are known to be idiotypically unrelated to clone 4-4. While 3–24 and 12–40 appeared very similar, non-identity of their active sites was established by heterologous idiotypic inhibitions, fine specificity of binding and spectral measurements (Q_max and λ_max) of bound Fl. All IAII (3–13, 3–17, 9–40 and 4-4) were inhibited>80% by the presence of 10⁻⁴M F1 or F1-BSA, In addition, four intermediate affinity (6.0 × 10⁶ K_a 5.3 × 10⁸ M⁻¹) anti-FI clones, comprising a second previously described idiotype family (designated the 9–40 family) were further analyzed. Inhibition of the 9–40 IAII by all heterologous proteins in the 9–40 family (except clone 5–27), and clones 3–24, 12–40 and 4-4 ranged from 87.7 ± 1.3 to 95.4 ± 1.0% at 1μg/well. Titration of the 9–40 IAII inhibition by antibodies 9–40, 3–24, 12–40 or 4-4 generated essentially superimposable profiles. In reciprocal inhibition experiments, using the 4-4 IAII, clones 3–24, 12–40, 9–40 and 4-4 gave distinct idiotypic titration patterns. Thus, members of the 9–40 family, 3–24 and 12–40 were more closely related to intermediate affinity clone 9–40 than high affinity clone 4-4. Finally all members of the 9–40 family also significantly inhibited both the 3–13 and 3–17 IAII (11.8 ± 3.1 − 32.9 ± 6.1 at 1 μg/well) and gave distinct idiotypic inhibition profiles. Clones 3–24 and 12–40, characterized in this report, and the 9–40 family provide linkage between idiotypically distinct anti-Fl hybridoma proteins differing in affinity by> 20,000-fold. This linkage provides a greater span in affinity, than in all previously reported idiotypic families, within restricted or unrestricted systems.     

Slow isomerization step in the interaction between mouse dopamine transporter and dopamine re-uptake inhibitor N-(3-iodoprop-2E-enyl)-2beta-carbo-[3H]methoxy-3beta-(4'-methylphenyl)nortropane

The kinetics of the association and dissociation of the tritium-labeled selective and potent dopamine transporter inhibitor N-(3-iodoprop-2E-enyl)-2β-carbo-[³H]methoxy-3β-(4′-methylphenyl)nortropane ([³H]PE2I) with the transporter of mouse striatal membranes was studied. The analysis revealed that the specific binding of [³H]PE2I occurs within a homogeneous population of binding sites in these membranes. The relatively slow binding process was characterized by the pseudo-first-order rate constant k_obs. The plot of these rate constants versus free radioligand concentration was hyperbolic, demonstrating that at least two kinetically distinguishable steps can be identified in the interaction of dopamine transporter with this inhibitor. The fast and reversible binding step, characterized by dissociation constant K_A = 51 ± 23 nM, is followed by a slow but also reversible isomerization step of the complex, characterized by the isomerization rate constant k_i = (7 ± 2)10⁻² s⁻¹ and by the rate constant k_−i = (3.9 ± 0.5)10⁻³ s⁻¹ for the reverse process. This isomerization step increases the apparent affinity of the ligand and probably consists of a conformational transition of the transporter protein, induced by the inhibitor molecule.     

Description of a mouse monoclonal anti-HLA-B27 antibody HLA-ABC-m3

The production and characterization of a new anti-HLA-B27 monoclonal antibody HLA-ABC-m3 is described. This cytotoxic IgG2a antibody binds protein A and is able to precipitate cell surface molecules of 43,000 and 12,000 daltons corresponding to the HLA heavy chain and β2-microglobulin. Population testing revealed that the HLA-ABC-m3 antibody reacted with the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 47/47 individuals conventionally typed as HLA-B27⁺ and with 5/105 HLA-B27⁻ individuals. These five extra reactions were with individuals expressing the cross-reactive HLA-B7 alloantigen, although the affinity of the monoclonal antibody for B27 heterozygous individuals (approx 10⁹ M⁻¹) was tenfold greater than with B7 individuals (approx 10⁸ M⁻¹). In addition, HLA-ABC-m3 reactivity segregated with HLA-B27 in two families. This monoclonal antibody should be of value in the investigation of the role of HLA-B27 in disease.     

PET imaging of the in vivo brain acetylcholinesterase activity and nicotine binding in galantamine-treated patients with AD

The effect of galantamine treatment on cortical acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and nicotinic receptor binding was investigated by positron emission tomography (PET) in 18 patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) in relation to galantamine concentration and the patients’ cognitive performances. The first 3 months of the study was of a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled design, during which 12 patients received galantamine (16–24 mg/day) and 6 patients the placebo, and this was followed by 9 months’ galantamine treatment in all patients. The patients underwent PET examinations to measure cortical AChE activity (¹¹C-PMP) and ¹¹C-nicotine binding. Neuropsychological tests were performed throughout the study. Inhibition (30–40%) of cortical AChE activity was observed after 3 weeks to 12 months of galantamine treatment. No significant change in mean cortical ¹¹C-nicotine binding was observed during the study. ¹¹C-Nicotine binding, however, positively correlated with plasma galantamine concentration. Both the changes of AChE activity and ¹¹C-nicotine binding correlated positively with the results of a cognitive test of attention. In conclusion, galantamine caused sustained AChE inhibition for up to 12 months. At the individual level, the in vivo cortical AChE inhibition and ¹¹C-nicotine binding were associated with changes in the attention domain of cognition rather than episodic memory.     

Changes in brain membrane phospholipid and high-energy phosphate metabolism precede dementia

A 52-year-old Caucasian male was followed with Mattis and ³¹P MRS examinations every 6 months for 33 months. At entry into the study, the subject had a normal clinical examination and normal Mattis scores but had alterations in MRS measures of membrane phospholipid and high-energy phosphate metabolism indistinguishable from those previously reported in mildly demented AD patients. After 33 months of follow-up, the subject had clinical and Mattis findings suggestive of possible incipient dementia and after 46 months of follow-up there was sufficient cognitive decline to make the diagnosis of dementia with a frontal lobe preponderance. The findings in this subject support the contention that alterations in brain membrane phospholipid and high-energy metabolism can be noninvasively detected by ³¹P MRS years before any clinical manifestations of the disease.     

Modulation by nitric oxide of rat brain GABAA receptors

The effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the function of GABA_A receptors was studied in two different rat brain neuron populations. Cerebral cortex neuronal GABA_A receptors were studied by preparing microsacs and evaluating ³⁶Cl⁻ accumulation. Whether nitric oxide was provided by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or by the metabolic precursor arginine there was a 15–25% reduction in the V_max for GABA-stimulated ³⁶Cl⁻ accumulation. The arginine effect could be reversed by the NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor . GABA_A receptor mediated Cl⁻ currents were studied in rat cerebellar granule cells by whole-cell patch clamp. S-Nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), sodium nitroprusside and -arginine reduced the Cl⁻ current elicited by 10 μM GABA. The -arginine effect was reversible upon its washing out. This circumstance indicates that NO produced by endogenous NOS can inhibit GABA_A receptor function in cerebellar granule cells.     

HLA-DQ1 haplotype ruin the effect of cis complementation of DQA10501-DQB10201 in association with trichosanthin-induced immunosuppression

CD8 cell-mediator (M+) or non-mediator (M−) are distinguishable for healthy subjects according to whether their CD8 T cells keep the down-regulatory function in Trichosanthin (Tk)-induced immunosuppression. Tk is a plant protein of 247 amino acid residues purified from a Chinese medicinal herb. The M+ phenotype has been shown in our previous work to be strongly associated with HLA-DQ2. By genotyping with PCR-based techniques, the essential alleles of the DQ2 were identified as DQA1^*0501 and DQB1^*0201, which were either in cis (DR3) or in trans (DR5, DR7) position. A more detailed examination of the HLA association pattern with M+/M− in 42 Chinese candidates, however, revealed another two points of interest. 1) The cis complementation did not work if another DQA1^*01- or DQA1^*02-related haplotype (e.g. DRB1^*0101-DQA1^*0101-DQB1^*0501) were combined. The later seemed to behave like a ‘negative’ factor superimposed on the ‘positive’ role of DQA1^*0501-DQB1^*0201 haplotype in heterozygous condition. 2) In addition to DQA1^*0501, the DQB1^*0201 was actually able to combine all available DQA1 alleles except DQA1^*01 family to form the trans complementation. Again, the DQ1 haplotype acted negatively. It is thus likely that the cis and trans complementary association of DQA1^*0501-DQB1^*0201 could only be detected conditionally or only appeared as a special case in the Tk-induced immunosuppression.     

Assessment of Tolerance to Immunosuppressive Activity of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinoll in Rats

Immunosuppression evoked by Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC) has been a consistent finding in rats but the development of tolerance to this phenomenon has not been explored. Therefore, Fischer rats of both sexes were orally given Δ⁹-THC at 6 or 12 mg/kg or sesame oil as vehicle control for 5-26 days before and after I.P. antigenic stimulation with sheep red blood cells (SRBC). Δ⁹-THC doses were relevant to those of man and produced mild CNS-inhibition followed by CNS-stimulation, tolerance developing to both behavioral phases. The primary immune response was evaluated by determining splenic antibody-forming cells (AFC), hemagglutinin (HT) and/or hemolysin (HS) titers. Simultaneous administration of Δ⁹-THC and SE induced dose-related splenic atrophy and reduced AFC proliferation as well as HT and HS responses. These changes were not elicited by sesame oil. Tolerance did not develop to imnunosuppression during 26 days of cannabinoid treatment. A⁹-THC given 3 days post SEBC inoculation induced immunosuppression at 12 but not 6 mg/kg. Immunosuppression was directly related to Δ⁹-THC rather than to non-specific debilitating factors since body weights are stable. The inductive phase of the primary immune response was most sensitive to impairment although the reproductive phase was also affected at the high dose level.     

Oocytes from Xenopus laevis contain an intrinsic σ2-like binding site

In preparation for expression studies for rat brain σ-binding sites, Xenopus oocytes were tested for the presence of [³H]di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG)-binding sites. Native oocytes were found to contain two intrinsic [³H]DTG-binding sites, a high-affinity site (K_d = 32 ± 6 nM, B_max of 45.7 ± 19 pmol/mg protein) and a low-affinity binding site (K_d = 1.3 ± 0.7 μM, B_max of 3.2 ± 0.7 nmol/mg protein). In a series of radioligand-binding-displacement studies, the high-affinity binding sites were found to have a binding profile which has a similar K_d to that of the mammalian σ₂-binding site (32 vs. 38 nM). Comparison of the IC₅₀ values for inhibition of [³H]DTG binding in rat liver and oocytes for DTG, haloperidol (HAL), (−)-pentazocine, (+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-propylpiperidine hydrochloride ((+)-3-PPP), (+(-pentazocine and Zn²⁺, showed similarity in rank (r² = 0.913) but a 7-fold lower potency in oocytes. These results suggest that the high-affinity [³H]DTG-binding site in oocytes represents a σ₂-like binding site.