Some studies on the mechanism of action of antibodies to nerve growth factor.

The effects of antibodies to the nerve growth factor from mouse salivary gland were examined in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of explants of receptive ganglia with antibody and complement did not produce cell damage as judged by the ability of the tissue to respond to nerve growth factor. New-born mice experimentally depleted of or genetically deficient in key complement components were susceptible to the action of the antiserum.These results show that the effect of the antibody is independent of complement and are consistent with the view that it acts by neutralization of endogenous nerve growth factor.     

Changes in myocardial capillary diffusion capacity during infusion of vasoactive drugs

The present study investigated how variations in coronary vascular resistance and metabolic demand affected myocardial capillary diffusion capacity. Hearts from Wistar rats were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit-albumin buffer in a Langendorff preparation, where heart rate (HR), contractility (dP/dt_max) and myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO₂) were recorded continuously. Myocardial capillary diffusion capacity was measured as the permeability surface area product (PS) for Cr-EDTA and vitamin B₁₂ by the single injection colorimetric indicator dilution method. After base-line recordings without drugs, angiotensin II + arginine-vasopressin was infused, which increased coronary vascular resistance by 90%, stimulated HR by 11%, decreased dP/dt_max by 21% and reduced MVO₂ by 4%. PS_Cr-EDTA and PS_B12, decreased by 24 and 27%, respectively, leaving the ratio PS_Cr-EDTA/PS_B12 unchanged indicating unaltered capillary permeability. Moreover, the reductions in MVO₂ and PS correlated significantly. During vasodilation: (1) nitroprusside-NA stimulated HR by 7% and decreased dP/dt_max by 14%; (2) adenosine reduced dP/dt_max by 37% and decreased MVO₂ by 9%; and (3) isoproterenol increased HR, dP/dt_max and MVO₂ by 53, 76 and 9%, respectively. However, all three vasodilators reduced PS_Cr-EDTA and PS_B12 in parallel by 7–25% leaving PS_Cr-EDTA/PS_B12 unchanged. Thus, maximal estimated diffusion capacities were obtained during spontaneous coronary vascular tone, most likely reflecting maximal capillary recruitment in the Krebs-Henseleit-albumin perfused heart. The derecruiting effects of the vasoconstrictors were partly overridden by metabolic factors, while the reductions of PS after vasodilation more likely were due to increased heterogeneity in coronary flow.     

急性有机磷中毒患者晚期氧化蛋白产物动态变化的临床研究

目的探讨晚期氧化蛋白（AOPP）在急性有机磷农药中毒（AOPP）患者中的临床意义。方法采用酶联免疫分析法（ELISA）动态检测90例有机磷农药中毒患者和30例健康对照者血清晚期氧化蛋白的含量，并探讨其与病情的相关性。结果AOPP患者血浆中晚期氧化蛋白含量发病后的第1天〉第3天〉第7天与健康对照组比较，P均〈0．01。血清CRP的含量在患者中毒后的第1天〉第3天〉第7天与健康对照组比较，P均〈0．01。在发病的第1天，AOPP患者血清晚期氧化蛋白和CRP的含量重度中毒组〉中度中毒组〉轻度中毒组与健康对照组比较，P均〈0．01。在第1天，AOPP患者的病情程度即MODS的评分值与血清晚期氧化蛋白和CRP的含量均呈明显的正相关性（r1=0．590和r2=0．627，P均〈O．01），而血清晚期氧化蛋白和CRP的含量之间也呈明显的正相关性（r3=0．792，P〈0．01）。结论晚期氧化蛋白的含量随急性有机磷农药中毒患者的病情和炎症反应加重而升高。晚期氧化蛋白可能参与了有机磷农药中毒患者发生多脏器功能障碍的病理生理过程。     

Inhibitory activity of a series of coumarins on leukocyte eicosanoid generation

Sixteen plant-derived or synthetic coumarins with different patterns of substitution were tested for their capacity to modify A23187-induced synthesis of leukotriene B₄ and thromboxane B₂ via the 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathways of arachidonate metabolism in rat peritoneal exudate leukocytes. Five of the 16 coumarins inhibited LTB₄ production: all containortho-dihydroxy substitutions (approximate IC₅₀ values 8–100 M). The mechanism is likely to depend upon a combination of the coumarins' iron-chelating and iron ion-reducing abilities, properties which also confer beneficial activities of these compounds as scavengers of reactive oxygen species (Payá et al., Biochem. Pharmacol.44, 205–214 (1992)). Inhibition of the cyclooxygenase pathway was only demonstrated by one compound, 5,7-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin, which did not inhibit 5-lipoxygenase, indicating that the cyclooxygenase inhibitory mechanism is different. Similar effects of the active coumarins were obtained using arachidonic acid as substrate for rat leukocyte eicosanoid generation, confirming that they act at the 5-lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase level. The same profile of activity was also shown when the coumarins were tested against 5-lipoxygenase in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Taken together, these antioxidant and anti-eicosanoid properties of coumarins could be exploited for the design of potentially valuable non-toxic anti-inflammatory agents for treating diseases in which eicosanoid generation and the production of reactive oxygen species are involved.     

长程体外反搏对高胆固醇血症猪高级氧化蛋白产物和高敏C反应蛋白的影响

目的探讨长程体外反搏对高胆固醇血症猪血清中高级氧化蛋白产物(AOPP)和高敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)的影响.方法 18头雄性乳猪随机分为正常饲养组(n=6)、高脂饲养组(n=6)及高脂饲养+体外反搏组(n=6).后2组通过高脂饲养复制高胆固醇血症猪模型并对高脂饲养+体外反搏组进行36 d共36 h的长程增强型体外反搏.分别于分组饲养前、反搏前、反搏中期和反搏结束时留取3组动物静脉血,采用分光光度法检测血清AOPP浓度,采用乳胶凝集反应法检测血清hs-CRP浓度.结果高脂饲养组和高脂饲养+体外反搏组经高脂饲养后血清总胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白明显升高(P<0.05).血清AOPP和hs-CRP浓度在分组饲养前组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).反搏前、反搏中期和反搏结束时,高脂饲养组与高脂饲养+体外反搏组血清AOPP和hs-CRP浓度较正常饲养组同时期均有显著增高(P<0.05);而反搏中期和反搏结束时高脂饲养+体外反搏组血清AOPP浓度较高脂饲养组显著降低[(95.38±12.66)μmol/L比(128.46±12.55)μmol/L;(85.78±10.33)μmol/L比(158.22±16.32)μmoL/L,P<0.05];且反搏中期和反搏结束时高脂饲养+体外反搏组血清hs-CRP浓度较高脂饲养组也有显著降低[(0.47±0.14)mg/L比(0.62±0.32)mg/L;(0.47±0.16)mg/L比(0.59±0.43)mg/L,P<0.05].结论 AOPP和hs-CRP参与了高胆固醇血症猪的发病过程.长程体外反搏可能通过减轻机体体内氧化应激和微炎性反应过程,从而阻止高胆固醇血症的病理生理进程.     

脂肪细胞新蛋白My027原核表达、纯化及生物活性研究

目的通过原核表达获得大量脂肪新蛋白质My027,并在体外初步研究其生物活性。方法RT-PCR法扩增出My027片段,插入原核表达载体pGEX-4T-2,构建质粒pGEX-My027。转化BL-21菌,IPTG低温诱导表达融合蛋白,经亲和层析法获得融合蛋白,利用SDS-PAGE、Western印迹及质谱进行鉴定。在还原性谷胱甘肽存在的条件下,将纯化得到的融合蛋白作用于乙二醛酶Ⅰ的底物甲基乙二醛,通过分光光度法检测产物乳酸谷胱甘肽的生成。结果融合蛋白以水溶形式分泌于大肠埃希菌BL-21胞浆中,纯化后的目的蛋白SDS-PAGE、Western印迹及质谱证实高效表达,氨基酸序列正确。结论人脂肪细胞新蛋白质My027在pGEX-4T-2原核表达载体中可获高效表达,所纯化蛋白具有类似于乙二醛酶Ⅰ的作用。     

Substance P and somatostatin metabolism in sympathetic and special sensory ganglia in vitro

Mechanisms regulating the content of the putative peptide transmitters, substance P and somatostatin, were examined in several neuronal populations in culture. Substance P levels increased more than 25-fold within 48 h in sympathetic neurons in the explanted rat superior cervical ganglion, and remained elevated for 4 weeks. Identity of the peptide was authenticated by combined high pressure liquid chromatography-radioimmunoassay. Veratridine prevented the increase of substance P in vitro, and tetrodotoxin blocked the veratridine effect, suggesting that sodium ion influx and membrane depolarization prevent peptide elevation. Veratridine (or potassium)-induced membrane depolarization released substance P into the culture medium through a calcium-dependent process. Consequently, at least some veratridine effects are attributable to release and subsequent depletion of ganglion peptide. However, the inhibitory effects of veratridine were far greater than could be accounted for by the quantity of peptide released, suggesting a separate influence on net synthesis (synthesis less catabolism) of substance P. Viewed in conjunction with previous in vivo studies, our observations suggest that trans-synaptic impulses, through the mediation of postsynaptic sodium flux, release substance P from sympathetic neurons and also regulate intracellular peptide metabolism. To determine whether the processes regulating substance P in sympathetic neurons reflect generalized mechanisms, a different peptide, somatostatin, was examined in sympathetic neurons; moreover, substance P was examined in a different neuronal population, special sensory neurons in the nodose ganglion. Substance P levels increased significantly in both sympathetic and sensory neurons after explantation, and somatostatin levels increased in sympathetic neurons. In each instance, the increase was dependent upon the presence of the calcium ions. Moreover, these increases were all prevented by veratridine, in a tetrodotoxin-sensitive manner. Our observations suggest that common regulatory mechanisms govern peptide transmitter metabolism in diverse neuronal populations.     

Some kinetic features of membrane-bound monoamine oxidase

Initial reaction-velocity versus substrate-concentration curves for serotonin oxidation catalyzed by monoamine oxidase (MAO) from fragments of rat liver or bovine brain mitochondrial membranes have a complex, nonhyperbolic shape; this is regarded as a kinetic manifestation of substrate cooperativeness for membrane-bound MAO. The possibility of interaction between different types of MAO based on conformational changes in the membrane itself is discussed.Scientific-Research Institute for Biological Trials of Chemical Compounds, Ministry of the Medical Industry of the USSR. Institute of Biological Medical Chemistry, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. All-Union Vitamin Scientific-Research Institute, Ministry of the Medical Industry of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. N. Orekhovich.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 3, pp. 288–289, March, 1977.     

Precipitation of fibrinogen, fibrinogen degradation products and fibrin monomer by histone H3

Incubation of histone H3 with normal citrated plasma resulted in the formation of insoluble aggregates, as determined by turbidity measurements. The precipitate was subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, confirming that fibrinogen was a major component. Purified fibrinogen precipitated rapidly as determined with turbidity experiments and experiments with radioiodinated protein. The amount of fibrinogen precipitation was strongly dependent on H3 concentration. Variation of ionic strength (0.2-0.84) and pH (5.3-7.4), however, had little or no effect on the reaction. Fibrinogen subjected to gelatin-Sepharose chromatography or dialysis against 3.3M urea reacted equivalently with H3. Precipitation of 125I-fibrinogen by H3 was strongly favored by increasing temperature (4 degrees-45 degrees C). Precipitation of fibrinogen by protamine was maximized by decreasing the temperature. In addition, formation of insoluble fibrinogen-protamine aggregates was highly dependent on ionic strength and pH, suggesting that different types of protein-interaction are involved in the two studied precipitation reactions. Of the fibrinogen degradation products, only fragment X precipitated significantly when incubated with H3. Radioiodinated fibrin monomer also precipitated when incubated with H3 in solutions of sufficient ionic strength to prevent spontaneous polymerization. The extent of precipitation was equivalent for fibrin monomer and fibrinogen. Fragment D inhibited the precipitation of fibrinogen by H3 or protamine. These studies indicate that the proteins termed "paracoagulants" are not all equivalent and that the hydrophobic domain of H3 plays a critical role in fibrinogen precipitation.     

Nutritional Importance of Selected Fresh Fishes,Shrimps and Mollusks to Meet Compliance with Nutritional Guidelines of n-3 LC-PUFA Intake in Spain

Fishery products are the main source of dietary n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA). Following the European Commission’s request to address the risks and benefits of seafood consumption, and taking into account the great variability of nutrient and contaminant levels in fishery products, the present work aims to estimate the n-3 LC-PUFA provided per serving of selected fishes, shrimps and mollusks that are commonly consumed in Spain. This would enable the establishment of a risk–benefit analysis of fish consumption and provide recommendations for fish intake to comply with nutritional guidelines of n-3 LC-PUFA intake. We confirmed high variation in the pattern and contents of fatty acids for different species. n-6 PUFA were minor fatty acids, whereas palmitic (C16:0), oleic (C18:1 n-9), and mainly eicosapentaenoic (C20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6 n-3) acids were the major fatty acids in the sample. Therefore, consumption of 2–3 servings per week of a variety of fishery products may contribute to compliance with the recommended daily n-3 LC-PUFA intake while maintaining an adequate balance to avoid contaminant-derived potential risks (metals and others). Taking the fatty acid content of fishery products described in this study into consideration, it is advisable to include one serving of fatty fish per week in order to meet recommended n-3 LC-PUFA levels.