Bm-CPI-2, a cystatin from Brugia malayi nematode parasites, differs from Caenorhabditis elegans cystatins in a specific site mediating inhibition of the antigen-processing enzyme AEP

Nucleotide-sensitive chloride current regulating proteins (ICln's) of the chloride channels have been characterized from man and animals. An ICln of Fasciola hepatica (ICln-Fh) consisting of 231 amino acids revealed high similarities to both consensus domain of ICln's and two acidic residue-abundant patches in its C-terminus. Native ICln-Fh protein was confirmed present in F. hepatica soluble extract by immunoblotting. The recombinant ICln-Fh protein expressed in collagenase-defolliculated Xenopus oocytes induced fast rising and outward rectifying Cl⁻ currents (I_Cln-Fh). The recombinant ICln-Fh protein, however, did not trigger cell swelling-induced Cl⁻ currents (I_Cl-swell). The I_Cln-Fh currents were significantly reduced by substituting external Cl⁻ with gluconic acid and by externally adding cAMP. Collectively, these results suggest that ICln-Fh protein is an inducer of Cl⁻ currents in F. hepatica.     

Affinity of purified thrombin or antithrombin III for two insoluble anticoagulant polystyrene derivatives: I. In vitro adsorption studies

In previous papers, we described insoluble polystyrene derivatives which exhibit a heparin-like antithrombic activity in plasma. In order to ascertain the heparin-like mechanism of this activity we have studied the interactions of thrombin and antithrombin III with two polymers of this series: sulphonated polystyrene and sulphonate-glutamic acid sulphonamide polystyrene. The adsorption was measured using purified enzyme and enzyme inhibitor and polymer beads whose average diameter was about 25 μm. The maxima of adsorption approximately correspond to a monolayer of protein. The results are discussed with respect to the most common isotherms used in chemisorption and the affinities of the enzyme and its inhibitor for both materials are evaluated: k_T- 10⁷(M/I)⁻¹, k_AT- 3.10⁵(M/I)⁻¹.     

Aging: effects on chronotropic actions of muscarinic agonists in isolated rat atria

Negative chronotropic effects of acetylcholine and carbachol were compared in right atria isolated from adult and aged Fischer 344 rats. Preparations from aged rats were more sensitive to the action of acetylcholine; however, there was no difference in responsiveness to carbachol or to acetylcholine after pretreatment with diisopropylfluorophosphate, an irreversible cholinesterase inhibitor. These data suggest that the enhanced sensitivity to the direct chronotropic action of acetylcholine is the result of aging-related reductions in acetylcholinesterase activity.     

Multiple forms of acetylcholinesterase in the ciliary ganglion and iris of the pigeon

Different methods of extraction and analysis have been used to investigate the cholinesterase activity of the ciliary ganglion and iris from the adult pigeon. The molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase in the extracts have also been separated either by gel electrophoresis or by sedimentation velocity in a density gradient. The activity and molecular forms in (i) a ‘soluble fraction’ (the high-speed supernatant of an isotonic sucrose homogenate) and (ii) a ‘Triton extract’ (as above, but with 0.2% Triton X-100 in the homogenate) were examined. The cholinesterase activity in whole homogenates and in the two extracts was characterized by enzyme kinetics and use of different substrates and inhibitors.In the iris, as distinct from the ganglion, the total cholinesterase activity involved a small but definite proportion attributable to a butyrylcholinesterase. In the soluble fraction from both ganglion and iris. which contained 13 and 29% of the total activity, respectively, either method of separation revealed three main molecular forms of acetylcholinesterase; the evidence suggests that these are size isomers. In addition, Triton X-100 extracts from ganglia were shown by electrophoresis to contain a fourth slow migrating component. This form contained most of the enzymic activity and appears to be a membrane-bound form of acetylcholinesterase; it was not detected in the iris.     

Kinetic and molecular properties of dihydrofolate reductase from pyrimethamine-sensitive and pyrimethamine-resistant Plasmodium chabaudi

Dihydrofolate reductase (5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate: NADP⁺ oxidoreductase, EC 1.5.1.3) was partially purified from a cloned strain of pyrimethamine-sensitive Plasmodium chabaudi and a drug-resistant clone derived from it. A molecular weight of approximately 120 000 was estimated by gel filtration for enzyme from both pyrimethamine-sensitive and resistant parasites. The specific activities of the crude enzyme at pH 7.4 were 2.7 ± 0.8 and 1.4 ± 0.6 nmol min⁻¹ mg⁻¹ protein for sensitive and resistant strains, respectively. Methotrexate titration (pH 7.4, 37°C) indicated that the apparent turnover number of the enzyme from the sensitive parasites was 1229 ± 322 mol min⁻¹ mol⁻¹ compared with 1238 ± 179 mol min⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for the enzyme from the resistant parasites. There was therefore no significant difference in the amounts of the enzyme from both sources. The K_m value for dihydrofolate (9.3 μM) of the enzyme from the drug-sensitive parasites at pH 7.4 was lower than that from the resistant parasites by a factor of approximately 4. The K_m values for NADPH of the enzyme from both sources were similar. Inhibition by pyrimethamine of the enzyme from the sensitive parasites was competitive with dihydrofolate, with K_i of 0.26 nM. By contrast, noncompetitive inhibition was observed for the enzyme from the resistant parasites, with K_is of 50 nM and K_ii of 33 nM. The enzyme from drug-sensitive and drug-resistant parasites had different activity profiles with respect to pH and temperature. Moreover, the former was more sensitive to heat denaturation than the latter. From these results, it was concluded that the major basis for drug resistance is not an increase in enzyme content, but a large decrease in drug binding with the structurally different enzyme.     

Chronic administration of acetylcholinesterase inhibitor in the senescent Rat brain

The effects of chronic administration of ENA-713, an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, on pre- and postsynaptic cholinergic indices were examined in the senescent rat brain. In the senescent group, the acetylcholine (ACh) level was markedly reduced in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum and thalamus + midbrain, but these reductions were completely prevented by ENA-713. Moreover, although choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity was also significantly decreased in these four regions, it recovered in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and thalamus + midbrain after ENA-713 treatment. In contrast, cholinesterase (ChE) activity was not changed in any experimental groups. The maximum number (B_max) of muscarinic M₁ receptor (M1-R) binding site in the frontal cortex in the senescent group was decreased without any change in affinity, but this decrease was also inhibited by ENA-713. Thus, these findings suggest that ENA-713 may have protective, neurotrophic and therapeutic effects on aging-induced cholinergic dysfunction and be useful for the treatment of aging-related dementia, such as the Alzheimer-type dementia.     

The enkephalins are amongst the peptides hydrolyzed by purified acetylcholinesterase

We have shown that purified acetylcholinesterase has the ability to hydrolyze a number of peptides including the physiologically occurring enkephalins. The enkephalins lost both the amino- and car☐yl-terminal amino acids, but several other peptides were not degraded. The enzyme was purified using an affinity Chromatographic matrix that recognised one component of the active centre that is specific to cholinesterases, the anionic-binding site. The acetylcholinesterase was extracted from four tissues of diverse origin to minimise the risk of co-purifying a peptidase. The enzyme was essentially homogeneous on polyacrylamide gels, and there was only one protein that bound diisopropylfluorophosphate in the samples. The peptidase activity was not affected by the aminopeptidase inhibitor puromycin, but it was inhibited by acetylcholine at concentrations that also reduced the esterase activity. It was concluded that acetylcholinesterase also has the capacity for a novel type of hydrolysis of peptide bonds.

The ability of acetylcholinesterase to hydrolyse naturally occurring compounds of different chemical nature, like esters and peptides, may help explain the long-standing puzzle of why the enzyme is more widely distributed than acetylcholine, once thought to be its sole natural substrate. The localization of the enzyme probably more accurately reflects the distribution of all its substrates, although their identity remains to be determined.     

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.     

Association with the cholinergic precursor choline alphoscerate and the cholinesterase inhibitor rivastigmine: an approach for enhancing cholinergic neurotransmission

The effects of association of cholinergic precursors choline or choline alphoscerate with the cholinesterase inhibitor rivastigmine on acetylcholine levels and [(3)H]hemicholinium-3 binding were assessed in rat frontal cortex, hippocampus and striatum. Acetylcholine immunoreactivity was also evaluated in cerebrocortical cholinergic fibers by immunohistochemistry. Choline alphoscerate or rivastigmine, but not choline increased acetylcholine levels as well as [(3)H]hemicholinium-3 binding used as a marker of high affinity cholinergic transporter. The association of choline alphoscerate with rivastigmine dose-dependently increased both acetylcholine levels and [(3)H]hemicholinium-3 binding. Rivastigmine alone or in association with either choline or choline alphoscerate decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE), whereas choline or choline alphoscerate alone did not affect AChE activity. Choline alphoscerate or rivastigmine alone or in association, but not choline increased acetylcholine immunoreactivity in nerve fibers supplying cerebral cortex. These data suggest that combination of a suitable precursor of brain acetylcholine such as choline alphoscerate and of a cholinesterase inhibitor may represent an association worthwhile of being further investigated as a cholinergic replacement therapy in pathologies characterized by altered cholinergic neurotransmission.     

Doxorubicin, an RNA synthesis inhibitor, prevents vasoconstriction and inhibits aberrant expression of endothelin-1 in the cerebral vasospasm model of the rat

The present study investigates the effects of bis(7)-tacrine, a novel dimeric acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, on hydrogen peroxide(H₂O₂)-induced cell injury with comparison to the corresponding monomer, tacrine. Exposure of rat pheochromocytoma line PC12 cells to H₂O₂ induced significant cell damage. This reagent also caused redox desequilibrium as indicated by a decrease in activities of intracellular antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase as well as catalase and an accumulation of malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation. Pretreatment of cells with bis(7)-tacrine or tacrine attenuated H₂O₂-induced cell toxicity, and bis(7)-tacrine demonstrated higher potency than tacrine in improving redox desequilibrium. These results suggest that bis(7)-tacrine and tacrine significantly protect against H₂O₂ insult, which might be beneficial for their potential usage in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.     

Acetylcholinesterase knockouts establish central cholinergic pathways and can use butyrylcholinesterase to hydrolyze acetylcholine

Acetylcholinesterase is one of the most prominent constituents of central cholinergic pathways. It terminates the synaptic action of acetylcholine through hydrolysis and yields the choline moiety that is necessary for transmitter recycling. Despite these pivotal relationships, mice nullizygous for acetylcholinesterase established all principal anatomical components of central cholinergic pathways. No compensatory increase in the distribution of butyrylcholinesterase was detected. However, both the wild-type and nullizygous mice showed that butyrylcholinesterase enzyme activity extended to all parts of the brain receiving cholinergic innervation and that it could hydrolyze the acetylcholine surrogate acetylthiocholine. As opposed to acetylcholinesterase which was mostly of neuronal origin, butyrylcholinesterase appeared to be mostly of glial origin.

These experiments lead to the unexpected conclusion that acetylcholinesterase is not necessary for the establishment of cholinergic pathways. They also show that butyrylcholinesterase can potentially substitute for acetylcholinesterase and that this enzyme is likely to play a constitutive (rather than just back-up) role in the hydrolysis of acetylcholine in the normal brain. The inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase may therefore provide a desirable feature of cholinergic therapies, including those aimed at treating Alzheimer’s disease.     

Comparison of the long-term effects of oral estriol with the effects of conjugated estrogen on serum lipid profile in early menopausal women

Objective: We investigated the long-term effects of oral estriol (E₃) on serum levels of total cholesterol (t-Cho), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-Cho), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-Cho), and triglycerides in early menopausal women. Methods: We studied 67 healthy early menopausal women who were treated for 48 months with 2.0 mg of E₃ plus 2.5 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate daily (E₃ group, n=21), 0.625 mg of conjugated estrogen plus 2.5 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate daily (CE group, n=19), or 1.0 μg of 1-hydroxyvitamin D₃ daily or 1.8 g of calcium lactate containing 250 mg of elemental calcium daily (control group, n=27). The serum levels of t-Cho, HDL-Cho, LDL-Cho, and triglycerides were evaluated at baseline and every 6 months. Results: After 48 months of treatment, the t-Cho decreased significantly by 4.3±2.1% (mean±SE) from baseline in the E₃ group, did not change in the CE group (−1.9±2.1%), and significantly increased (5.4±3.4%) in the control group. The HDL-Cho significantly increased in the CE group (10.7±2.4%), but not in the E₃ group (3.8±3.3%) or in the control group (−3.6±3.0%). The LDL-Cho significantly decreased in the CE group (−11.4±4.0%), did not change in the E₃ group (−5.2±3.6%), and significantly increased in the control group (11.8±6.3%). The triglyceride level decreased significantly in the E₃ group (−6.7±4.9%), whereas it significantly increased in the CE group (17.6±11.4%), and did not change in the control group (6.1±6.4%). Conclusions: Oral E₃ prevented a postmenopausal rise in the t-Cho. Oral estriol did not induce the hypertriglyceridemia that was seen after treatment with conjugated estrogen. Oral E₃ may be a useful alternative therapy in women with hypertriglyceridemia and in women who are reluctant to continue conventional hormone replacement therapy because of uterine bleeding.     

2-Cys peroxiredoxin PfTrx-Px1 is involved in the antioxidant defence of Plasmodium falciparum

Peroxiredoxins (Trx-Px) are ubiquitous antioxidant enzymes that catalyse the thioredoxin-dependent reduction of hydroperoxides. The number of characteristic active site (VCP/T) motifs defines these proteins as 1-Cys and 2-Cys Trx-Px. Steady-state kinetic parameters of Plasmodium falciparum 2-Cys Trx-Px (PfTrx-Px1) were determined using stopped flow rapid kinetics. The bi-substrate reaction displays ping-pong kinetics and the K_m values for H₂O₂ and thioredoxin were determined to be 0.78±0.14 μM and 18.94±3.01 μM, respectively. The V_max^app and k_cat^app for H₂O₂ were found to be 4±0.6 U mg⁻¹ and 1.67±0.25 s⁻¹, respectively and those for thioredoxin are 23.0±0.2 U mg⁻¹ and 9.65±0.1 s⁻¹, emphasising the specificity of the enzyme for the substrate H₂O₂. After subjection to exogenous and endogenous oxidative stress, P. falciparum blood stage forms showed a marked elevation of PfTrx-Px1 mRNA and protein levels consistent with the hypothesis that it is an important component of the parasite’s antioxidant machinery. Gel filtration, cross-linking and electron microscopy (EM) revealed that the protein forms decamers consisting of pentamers of homodimers that have a doughnut-like shape consistent with the structures of related proteins. No dimeric forms of the protein were detectable after gel filtration suggesting that PfTrx-Px1 predominantly exists as an oligomer.     

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.     

Pharmacological stimulation reveals recombinant human nerve growth factor-induced increases of in vivo hippocampal cholinergic function measured in rats with partial fimbrial transections.

The present study determined the effects of chronic recombinant human nerve growth factor administration [1 μg given intracerebroventricularly q.i.d. (every other day) for three weeks] on in vivo hippocampal cholinergic function in adult rats with unilateral partial fimbrial transections. Partial fimbrial transections did not significantly alter the levels of endogenous acetylcholine or [²H₄]acetylcholine in the hippocampus due to functional compensation by surviving cholinergic terminals. In animals chronically treated with nerve growth factor, the levels of endogenous choline, endogenous acetylcholine, [²H₄]choline and [²H₄]acetylcholine accumulated in the hippocampus on the lesioned side were not significantly different from those on the contralateral unlesioned side or from values measured in animals treated with cytochrome c, a control protein. However, changes in cholinergic parameters induced by the partial lesions or recombinant human nerve growth factor treatment became manifest when animals were challenged using pharmacological agents such as pentylenetetrazole or pilocarpine given after lithium chloride pretreatment. First, in nerve growth factor-treated animals administered the general stimulant pentylenetetrazole (10 mg/kg) 2 min prior to measuring in vivo cholinergic parameters, we observed a significant increase in the hippocampal content of [²H₄]choline in both lesioned and unlesioned hippocampi. The magnitude of the increase was significantly higher on the lesioned compared to the unlesioned side. Although chronic recombinant human nerve growth factor treatment induced increases of hippocampal [²H₄]choline levels, there were no concomitant increases in the level of [²H₄]acetylcholine. Second, in nerve growth factor-treated animals administered lithium chloride (3 mmol/kg) 20 h prior to pilocarpine (30 mg/kg), we observed a significant enhancement of the content of endogenous acetylcholine in the hippocampus of the lesioned side. Partial fimbrial transections also reduced in vitro cholinergic parameters reflecting endogenous acetylcholine levels in hippocampal slices. The content of endogenous acetylcholine in the slices was decreased by approximately 50% and chronic nerve growth factor treatment significantly elevated this value to approximately non-lesioned control values. Similarly, reductions in spontaneous and veratridine-evoked release of endogenous acetylcholine induced by partial fimbrial transections were counteracted by recombinant human nerve growth factor treatment.

These findings demonstrate that chronic recombinant human nerve growth factor treatment effectively enhances the in vivo and in vitro synthesis, storage and release of endogenous acetylcholine. The results from the in vivo studies suggest that recombinant human nerve growth factor-induced differences in functional performance of hippocampal neurons may only be manifest during behavioral and/or pharmacological stimulation.     

The role of Leishmania enriettii multidrug resistance protein 1 (LeMDR1) in mediating drug resistance is iron-dependent

In parasitic protozoan Leishmania enriettii, the role of a multidrug resistance (mdr) gene LeMDR1 (L. enriettii multidrug resistance 1) in mediating vinblastine resistance has been previously demonstrated by association, transfection and “gene knockout” studies. LeMDR1 has been shown to be located intracellularly and it was proposed to mediate drug resistance by sequestering drugs into intracellular organelles rather than by active efflux. Here we compared LeMDR1 overexpressed cell lines (Vint3 and V160), wild type (Le) and LeMDR1 “double knockout” mutant (LeMDR1−/−) and demonstrated that LeMDR1 gene copy number was associated with (1) higher level of intracellular iron, (2) increased sensitivity to an iron-dependent antibiotic, streptonigrin and (3) increased enzyme activity of an iron–sulfur-containing mitochondrial enzyme, aconitase. This result suggests that the normal function of LeMDR1 is related to mitochondrial iron homeostasis. To test such hypothesis, we have used the LeMDR1-overexpressing mutant V160 and LeMDR1−/− mutant to determine how iron level can affect its resistance level to drugs targeting either cytosol (vinblastine) or mitochondria (rhodamine 123 and pentamidine). It was found that the resistance level of V160 to vinblastine can be increased by iron whereas resistance to both rhodamine 123 and pentamidine can be increased by iron depletion and vice versa. Iron treatment can potentiate rhodamine 123 and pentamidine accumulation whereas iron deprivation can cause the reduction of rhodamine 123 accumulation. Our result highly suggests that LeMDR1's function in mediating drug resistance is iron-dependent.     

Acetylcholine receptors in dissociated nucleus basalis of Meynert neurons of the rat

Electrical and pharmacological properties of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced currents in neurons dissociated from the nucleus basalis of Meynert (nBM) of immature (2-week-old) rats were investigated with the whole-cell mode of the patch-clamp technique. At a holding potential (V_H) of −50 mV, ACh (10⁻⁴M) evoked a transient inward current mimicked by nicotine (I_nACh), followed by a sustained outward current mimicked by carbamylcholine (I_mACh). The K_D values were 1.2 × 10⁻⁴ M for I_nACh) and 8.7 × 10⁻⁷ M for I_mACh. The reversal potenial of I_mACh was close to E_K. The I_mACh was determined to be elicited via the M₂ muscarinic receptor, based on the differences in sensitivity to muscarinic antagonists such as pirenzepine and AF-DX-116.     

叶酸对去卵巢大鼠抗氧化酶、一氧化氮合酶和一氧化氮的影响

 目的: 观察叶酸对去卵巢大鼠抗氧化酶、一氧化氮合酶和一氧化氮的影响。方法: 40只3月龄健康雌性SD大鼠,随机分成5组:假手术组、去卵巢组、二乙基己烯雌酚(0.03 mg·kg^-1·d^-1)组、低剂量(5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1)叶酸组和高剂量(20 mg·kg^-1·d^-1)叶酸组。各组大鼠于术后1周开始灌胃给药,假手术组和去卵巢组给予蒸馏水,10周后,取L₅椎体和右股骨行骨密度(BMD)检测;测定血浆和骨匀浆总抗氧化能力(TAC)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)、丙二醛(MDA)、一氧化氮合酶(NOS)和一氧化氮(NO)水平。结果: 与假手术组比较,去卵巢组大鼠L₅椎体和股骨BMD显著降低(P < 0.01),血浆GSH-Px、NO和骨匀浆TAC、GSH-Px、NOS及NO水平明显降低(P < 0.01),MDA浓度升高显著(P < 0.01);与去卵巢组大鼠比较,高剂量叶酸组大鼠L₅椎体和股骨BMD增加(P < 0.01),骨匀浆TAC、GSH-Px、NOS和NO水平升高(P < 0.01),MDA浓度降低(P < 0.01),血浆GSH-Px和NO水平升高。结论: 去卵巢大鼠体内抗氧化酶、NOS和NO水平降低,氧化应激参与了去卵巢大鼠骨质疏松的发生;高剂量叶酸能提升去卵巢大鼠腰椎和股骨BMD,提高其体内抗氧化酶、NOS和NO水平,改善氧化应激,这可能是高剂量叶酸防治去卵巢大鼠骨质疏松的机制之一。     

Histamine release by vagal stimulation

The content of acetylcholine and histamine in the effluent of isolated, vagally innerved guinea-pig auricles was determined. Spontaneous or stimulation-induced overflow of acetylcholine was detected only in the presence of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. The histamine overflow was measurable also in the absence of inhibition of cholinesterase, and neatly increased during vagal stimulation. The vagally evoked histamine overflow was blocked by atropine and potentiated by eserine. The stimulation-induced histamine overflow in the effluent is discussed, presumably assuming that acetylcholine may release histamine from cardiac histamine stores.