Bacteriostatic action of streptomycin on ribosomally resistant mutants (rpsL) of Salmonella typhimurium.

Incubation of streptomycin-resistant (rpsL) mutants of Salmonella typhimurium in alkaline nutrient medium containing streptomycin brought about an inhibition of cell growth that was readily reversed by removing the antibiotic or neutralizing the medium. Growth inhibition was maximal at pH 8.2 and a streptomycin concentration of 800 micrograms/ml. A similar amount of dihydrostreptomycin had a negligible effect, and 10-times-higher concentrations of this antibiotic were required to reproduce the streptomycin action. Addition of streptomycin (400 micrograms/ml) to rpsL cells in alkaline (pH 8.2) nutrient medium caused inhibition of protein and DNA synthesis and also, but to a lower degree, of RNA synthesis. This effect on macromolecular synthesis was not due to ATP deprivation, since ATP content rose after addition of the antibiotic. At pH 8.2, the rate of entrance of streptomycin increased fourfold with respect to the rate at pH 7.0, leading to a large accumulation of streptomycin into rpsL cells. Uptake of the antibiotic was halted by addition of KCN or chloramphenicol. Equal uptake was obtained with 800 micrograms of dihydrostreptomycin or 400 micrograms of streptomycin per ml, yet the former did not affect cell growth at that concentration. It is concluded that high pH stimulates streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin uptake by rpsL strains but only streptomycin accumulation causes growth inhibition in cells lacking the high-affinity ribosomal site.     

Release of lysosomal enzymes and lactate dehydrogenase due to hematoporphyrin derivative and light irradiation of NHIK 3025 cells in vitro

NHIK 3025 cells in monolayer cultures were irradiated with near ultraviolet light in the presence of hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD). The release of lysosomal enzymes and the cytosol marker enzyme lactate dehydrogenase to the culture medium was determined 1, 3, 6 and 24 hours after irradiation. The enzyme activities of the cell pellet were investigated 24 hours after irradiating the cells. After exposure of HPD-labelled cells to light doses causing no cell inactivation, the leakage of enzymes was slightly inhibited in the first 6 hours followed by a period between 6 and 24 hours when the cells released the same amount or slightly more enzymes than the control. The enzyme activities of cell pellets made 24 hours after exposure were 40-75% of control values due to either a small inhibition of cellular enzyme activity or of inhibited cell growth by this dose. A higher light dose inactivating 80-90% of the cells, caused a rapid release of both lysosomal and cytosol enzymes. The cell pellets contained very little of the enzymes 24 hours after treatment and especially free intracellular enzymes had been released with high efficiency. Leupeptin, a lysosomal protease inhibitor, did not protect the cells from inactivation. We conclude that the release of lysosomal enzymes after porphyrins and light is of little significance in terms of cell killing.     

Effects of acetaldehyde on human red cell metabolism: evidence for the formation of enzyme inhibitors

Since red cells transport and metabolize acetaldehyde in vivo, the effects of acetaldehyde on human red cell enzyme activities were studied. Incubation of intact red cells or undiluted red cell lysates at 37 degrees C for 4 h with 1-10 mmol/l acetaldehyde decreased only GOT, GPT and aldolase activities among the 26 enzymes tested. No inhibition occurred at 4 degrees C or when acetaldehyde was incubated with dilute hemolysates. Incubation of lysates with other reducing substrates or with acetate inhibited aldolase but not GOT or GPT. Preincubation of lysates with cyanate or fluoride markedly decreased acetaldehyde-mediated transaminase inhibition but not aldolase inhibition. Addition of pyridoxal phosphate, the vitamin B6 transaminase coenzyme, to GOT and GPT assay mixes did not reverse acetaldehyde-mediated transaminase inhibition. These findings suggest that acetaldehyde-mediated aldolase inhibition results from oxidation of acetaldehyde while transaminase inhibition results from nonoxidative acetaldehyde metabolism. When 100-200 mumol/l acetaldehyde is added to lysates at 2-h intervals and when lysates are incubated with ethanol, alcohol dehydrogenase and an NAD-regenerating system, enzyme inhibition occurs at acetaldehyde levels approaching those seen in vivo. Thus, the role of acetaldehyde-mediated enzyme inhibition in the toxicity of alcohol abuse warrants further study.     

Polysaccharides as antiviral agents: antiviral activity of carrageenan.

A number of polysaccharides showed good antiviral activity against several animal viruses. At 5 micrograms/ml, carrageenan prevented the cell monolayer from destruction by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) growth. At 10 micrograms/ml, carrageenan reduced the formation of new infectious HSV-1 by almost five logs. No cytotoxic effects were detected with concentrations of carrageenan up to 200 micrograms/ml. When 10 micrograms of carrageenan per ml was added at the beginning of HSV-1 infection of HeLa cells, there was potent inhibition of viral protein synthesis, and the cells continued synthesizing cellular proteins. This did not occur if carrageenan was added 1 h after HSV-1 infection. The use of [35S]methionine-labeled virions to analyze the entry of HSV-1 or Semliki Forest virions into cells indicated that carrageenan had no effect on virus attachment or virus entry. Moreover, carrageenan did not block the early permeabilization of cells to the toxic protein alpha-sarcin. These results suggest that this sulfated polysaccharide inhibits a step in virus replication subsequent to viral internalization but prior to the onset of late viral protein synthesis.     

Cytotoxicity and Oxidative Stress Alterations Induced by Aldrin in BALB/c 3T3 Fibroblast Cells

The intensive use of pesticides in agro-vet practices resulted in their persistence in environmental medium responsible for adverse effect on living system. The present study was planned to evaluate the cytotoxicity and oxidative stress potential of aldrin on BALB/c 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. Short exposure of 3 h was given to the BALB/c 3T3 fibroblast cells under standard in vitro conditions. Inhibitory concentration-50 was estimated at the end of exposure period by neutral red uptake assay and was found to be 49.7 μg/ml. Further, cells were exposed with three concentrations of aldrin (12.4, 24.8 and 49.7 μg/ml) and 0.1 % dimethyl sulfoxide was used as negative control. Lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymes were determined along with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzymes in BALB/c 3T3 fibroblast cells. Cells were also monitored for cell morphology during experiment. Exposure of aldrin to BALB/c 3T3 fibroblast cells resulted in increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in antioxidant enzyme/non-enzyme system. Further, it caused decrease in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme activity and excess leakage of lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase enzymes into the medium. Aldrin-treated cells showed high degree of alteration in cell morphology indicating cell damage and death. These changes were noticed in dose dependent manner. In conclusion, the result of present study suggests that increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in activity of antioxidant defence via oxidative stress by aldrin in BALB/c 3T3 cells were responsible for cytotoxicity.     

Fungicidal action of aureobasidin A, a cyclic depsipeptide antifungal antibiotic, against Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Aureobasidin A, an antifungal antibiotic inhibiting a wide range of pathogenic fungi, is lethal for growing cells of susceptible fungi. We did cytological studies on the mechanism of its fungicidal action against Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When cultures were treated with 5.0 micrograms of aureobasidin A per ml, the numbers of viable cells started to decrease after 2 to 3 h of incubation, and most cells had lost viability after 5 to 6 h. When cell death in the treated cultures began, amino acids released by the cells could be detected, indicating disruption of the cell membrane. The proportion of cells with a single small bud or two or more buds increased as the population of viable cells decreased. Most such cells had the DNA content of cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle, suggesting that the drug inhibited some cellular process involved in normal bud growth but did not affect DNA replication. Disruption of actin assembly was found in many cells treated for 2 to 3 h, as was chitin delocalization. The results suggest that aureobasidin A has a previously unknown mechanism of fungicidal action toward S. cerevisiae. It causes aberrant actin assembly, inhibiting the normal budding process and leading to cell death, probably through destruction of membrane integrity.     

Inactivation of lysosomal enzymes by the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Possible involvement of myeloperoxidase-H2O2-halide system

Lysosomal enzyme release from PMN during phagocytosis was examined in PMN from healthy subjects and patients with CGD. Normal PMN showed increased extracellular enzyme levels and a marked reduction of total (intracellular plus extracellular) enzyme activity after phagocytosis of STZ. In PMN from patients with CGD, a reduction of total enzyme activity was not observed and much more enzyme than normal was released extracellularly. We have examined the effect of the respiratory burst on enzyme activity mostly to loss of released enzymes. PMA-stimulated normal PMN inhibited the enzyme activity in postphagocytosis media from CGD PMN but PMA-stimulated CGD PMN did not. This inhibition by normal PMA-stimulated PMN was protected by the addition of catalase, histidine, and NaN3. Furthermore, these enzymes were inactivated by cell-free, glucose plus glucose oxidase (as a H2O2 generating system) and NaOCI. Histidine had a protective effect on the enzyme inactivation both by glucose plus glucose oxidase and by NaOCI. In contrast, histidine gave a slight increase of extracellular enzyme levels but failed to restore enzyme activity when added to the medium during phagocytosis in normal PMN. These evidences suggest that the inactivation of lysosomal enzymes is mainly due to MPO-H2O2-halide system, resulting in inhibition of lysosomal enzyme release from PMN during phagocytosis.     

Decreased H2 Histamine Response of Granulocytes of Asthmatic Patients

Increased bronchial sensitivity to inhaled histamine in asthma is well known. The mechanism of this increased bronchial sensitivity is not known nor has it been demonstrated that isolated cells respond abnormally to histamine. Polymorpho-nuclear leukocytes (PMNs) provide a homogeneous cell population to study agonist response. Release of granulocyte lysosomal enzymes is inhibited by agonists increasing the PMN cyclic AMP concentration. The release of the lysosomal enzyme beta glucuronidase by serum-activated particles of zymosan was similar in PMNs isolated from normal and asthma subjects. Histamine (100-0.01 muM) inhibited enzyme release. Except at the maximal concentration of histamine (100 muM), the response to histamine was decreased in asthma. The inhibition of enzyme release paralleled an increase in intracellular PMN cyclic AMP. In asthma, the cyclic AMP response to histamine was reduced. The H2 antihistamine metiamide blocked histamine inhibition of lysosomal enzyme release and the increase in cyclic AMP. The effect was maximal at concentrations equimolar to those of histamine. The H1 antihistamine chlorpheniramine had no effect on histamine inhibition of granulocyte lysosomal enzyme release. A decrease in the inhibition of the release of the inflammatory lysosomal enzymes from granulocytes in asthma may contribute to an enhanced bronchial inflammatory reaction.     

Phagocytosing human neutrophils inactivate their own granular enzymes.

During phagocytosis, neutrophils generate reactive oxygen metabolites and release lysosomal enzymes into the extracellular medium. We have investigated the possibility that these enzyme are inactivated by the oxygen compounds. Phagocytosing neutrophils from 12 patients with chronic granulomatous disease, which do not generate these oxygen metabolites, released two to three times more activity of lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase than did normal neutrophils. This difference proved to be due to a decrease of approximately 20% of the total activity of these enzymes in normal neutrophils, but not in neutrophils of patients with chronic granulomatous disease. This inactivation of enzymes took place during phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan particles as well as during stimulation of normal cells with phorbol myristate acetate. The inactivation was not due to formation of inhibitors. The lysosomal enzymes were not activated when the neutrophils were stimulated under anaerobic conditions. Addition of catalase, superoxide dismutase, or albumin gave no protection against the oxidative damage; reduced glutathione gave partial protection. The oxidative inactivation was more pronounced in the presence of azide. Measurement of the activity and the amount of protein of acid alpha-glucosidase in the cells showed that the specific activity of this enzyme decreased by approximately 50% during 30 min of phagocytosis. This indicates that the inactivation of the lysosomal enzymes takes place in the phagolysosomes, before the enzymes have leaked into the extracellular medium.     

MEDIATION OF IMMUNOLOGIC DISCHARGE OF LYSOSOMAL ENZYMES FROM HUMAN NEUTROPHILS BY GUANOSINE 3'',5''-MONOPHOSPHATE : REQUIREMENT OF CALCIUM, AND INHIBITION BY ADENOSINE 3'',5''-MONOPHOSPHATE

The purpose of this investigation was to elucidate the relationship of cyclic GMP and calcium to the immunologic discharge of lysosomal enzymes from purified human neutrophils. Contact of neutrophils with a variety of immunologic stimuli, including zymosan particles treated with either normal or rheumatoid arthritic (RA) serum, heat-aggregated (agg) IgG, particulate and immobilized agg IgG each treated with RA serum, and zymosan-treated serum, provoked the discharge of β-glucuronidase, but not cytoplasmic lactate dehydrogenase, and stimulated the accumulation of cyclic GMP. Both enzyme release and elevation of cyclic GMP levels required the presence of extracellular calcium as neither cellular event proceeded in its absence. Cholinergic enhancement of the immunologic secretion of β-glucuronidase from neutrophils by acetylcholine was associated with a concomitant accumulation of cyclic GMP. These actions of acetylcholine on neutrophils did not proceed in the absence of extracellular calcium. Whereas the concentrations of cyclic GMP in neutrophils were elevated by both immune reactants and a combination of the latter and acetylcholine, cyclic AMP levels remained unaltered. Thus, cyclic GMP, but not cyclic AMP, was associated with the immunologic and pharmacologic discharge of lysosomal enzymes from neutrophils. Contrariwise, cyclic AMP, but not cyclic GMP, was associated with inhibition of lysosomal enzyme release. For example, dibutyryl cyclic AMP and epinephrine inhibited the release of β-glucuronidase from neutrophils that was elicited by each of the immune reactants tested. Moreover, cyclic AMP levels in the cells were elevated markedly in every instance that enzyme discharge was inhibited by epinephrine. Epinephrine did not alter the neutrophil concentrations of cyclic GMP at times when those of cyclic AMP were elevated. The data in this report constitute partial evidence that the immunologic discharge of lysosomal enzymes from human neutrophils is mediated or signaled by intracellular cyclic GMP and that calcium is linked to this stimulation of enzyme secretion.     

Excretion-Reuptake Route of β-Hexosaminidase in Normal and I-Cell Disease Cultured Fibroblasts

It has been proposed that in cultured fibroblasts the final packaging of enzymes in lysosomes requires excretion followed by pinocytosis by neighboring cells via a carbohydrate-specific receptor mechanism. It has also been proposed that the abnormally high activity of lysosomal enzymes in the medium of cultured fibroblasts from patients with I-cell disease (mucolipidosis II) results from an altered carbohydrate recognition residue on the enzymes which prevents reuptake into the cells. With beta-hexosaminidase as a marker, and competitive inhibition of uptake by 2 mM mannose-6-phosphate, we have determined that only 12% of the total (intra- and extracellular) beta-hexosaminidase in normal fibroblasts is channeled through the excretion-reuptake route. After 9 d of exposure to mannose-6-phosphate, normal fibroblast cultures accumulated in the medium only a fraction of the enzyme excreted by I-cell disease fibroblasts in the same period. Furthermore, this minimal loss of enzyme to the medium did not result in a decrease of intracellular enzyme activity. Finally, if the defect in I-cell disease were only because of an impairment of a reuptake mechanism that involves only 12% of the total enzyme, then 88% of the newly synthesized enzyme should be retained by I-cell fibroblasts, resulting in intracellular activity three to nine times higher than that which is observed. These data are consistent with our previous proposal that excessive lysosomal enzyme activity in the medium of I-cell disease fibroblasts results from preferential exocytosis.     

Chemical inhibitors of phagosome-lysosome fusion in cultured macrophages also inhibit saltatory lysosomal movements. A combined microscopic and computer study

The effects on lysosomal movements produced by the weak base ammonium chloride and by a representative polyanion poly-D-glutamic acid (PGA), previously reported to inhibit phagosome-lysosome (P-L) fusion, have been studied in cultured mouse macrophages using direct visual phase- contrast microscopy, a previously described (1, 3, 7) fluorescence assay of fusion, and computer analysis techniques. Treatment of the macrophages with 5-10 mM NH4Cl for 0.5-2 h or with 100 micrograms PGA/ml for 5 d caused a striking inhibition of saltatory lysosomal movements, as well as the expected inhibition of P-L fusion. Two other anionic fusion inhibitors tested, dextran sulphate and suramin, inhibited movements similarly. Removal of the NH4Cl from the cell medium reversed the lysosomal stasis and restored P-L fusion. Computer analyses of changes in lysosomal positions in treated and untreated macrophages during 2, 10, and 30-s intervals, using data from photomicrographs, computer graphics, and quantitative nearest-neighbour techniques developed for this purpose, supported the qualitative visual observation of the inhibition of lysosomal movements by the fusion inhibitors NH4Cl and PGA. Over the chosen intervals, from 80 to 96% of the lysosomes could be paired within 1 micron of each other in the NH4Cl- and PGA-treated cells in comparison with 50-70% in normal cells. The differences between the drug-treated and normal cells were highly significant. In an analogous system, the lysosomal stasis induced by hypertonic sucrose was examined and it was observed that P-L fusion too was inhibited. Both effects were reversible. We conclude that inhibition of P-L fusion and of lysosomal movement are associated. We suggest a causal relationship between these changes, namely, that the lysosomotropic inhibitors of fusion under study produce their effects largely, though perhaps not exclusively, by reducing saltatory lysosomal motion and consequently periphagosomal assembly, rather than directly and independently on P-L contact or on the fusion process itself. The possibility is raised that microtubules may be involved in the effector mechanism of these modulations.     

Intracellular accumulation of azithromycin by cultured human fibroblasts.

Azithromycin was shown to achieve high concentrations in human skin fibroblasts. Intracellular penetration occurred rapidly (10 micrograms/mg of cellular protein after 3 h) and then increased progressively over a 3-day period; azithromycin accumulated up to 21 times more than erythromycin (61.1 versus 2.9 micrograms/mg of protein). Uptake was dependent on the extracellular concentration, was inhibited at 4 degrees C, did not occur in nonviable cells, and was reduced by a low pH. Intracellular accumulation was not affected by the metabolic inhibitor 2,4-dinitrophenol or sodium fluoride or by the nucleoside transport inhibitor 2-chloradenosine. Once concentrated in cells, azithromycin remained intracellular and was released slowly in the absence of extracellular drug, compared with erythromycin (17 versus 78% released after 1 h). After 48 h of incubation in drug-free medium, 27% of the initial amount of azithromycin remained cell associated. The release of azithromycin was not affected by various monokines reported to stimulate fibroblasts (interleukin-1 or tumor necrosis factor) or by exposure to bacteria. Incubation of azithromycin-loaded fibroblasts with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes resulted in a higher intracellular accumulation of azithromycin in polymorphonuclear leukocytes than in cells incubated with free nonintracellular azithromycin for the same time (8.3 versus 2.2 micrograms/ml after 2 h), suggesting a more efficient or rapid uptake through cell-to-cell interaction. The widespread distribution of fibroblasts in tissues suggests a potential for these cells, and possibly other lysosome-containing tissue cells, to serve as a reservoir for azithromycin, slowly releasing it for activity against extracellular organisms at sites of infection and passing it to phagocytes for activity against intracellular pathogens and potential transport to sites of infection.     

In vitro demonstration of transport and delivery of antibiotics by polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Several antibiotics are concentrated inside polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). To investigate whether PMN could act as vehicles for delivery of antibiotics, we combined an assay measuring PMN chemotaxis under agarose with a bioassay measuring levels of antibiotic in agar. Double-layer plates were made by pouring a layer of chemotaxis agarose into tissue culture plates and then adding a thin layer of Trypticase soy agar. Neutrophils were incubated with antibiotic for 1 h and then were washed and placed in wells made in the plates. After allowing PMN to migrate under the agar toward a chemoattractant well containing formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine for 3 h, Streptococcus pyogenes was streaked on top of the agar and grown overnight. PMN migration and zones of inhibition of bacterial growth were measured. Neutrophils migrated 2.51 +/- 0.16 mm toward the chemoattractant well and 1.48 +/- 0.12 mm toward the medium well; migration was not significantly affected by any of the antibiotics used. Plates with PMN incubated without antibiotic showed insignificant inhibition of bacterial growth toward chemoattractant and medium wells (0.38 +/- 0.18 and 0.14 +/- 0.12 mm, respectively; for both, P > 0.05 for difference from 0). PMN incubated with oxacillin (3 micrograms/ml), a drug not concentrated in PMN, caused a similar lack of inhibition (0.28 +/- 0.09 mm toward chemoattractant; 0.14 +/- 0.03 mm toward medium). Incubation with 30 microns of ciprofloxacin per ml resulted in inhibition that was similar in both directions (1.40 +/- 0.16 versus 1.18 +/- 0.13 mm). However, for PMN incubated with azithromycin (3 micrograms/ml), an agent highly concentrated inside phagocytes, there was a large degree of inhibition which was significantly greater in the direction of chemoattractant than in the direction of medium (3.47 +/- 0.30 versus 1.89 +/- 0.25 mm; P < 0.001), indicating that release of bioactive azithromycin by neutrophils occurred after migration. Likewise, after incubation with rifampin (10 micrograms/ml), which is also concentrated by PMN, inhibition was significantly greater in the direction of chemoattractant than in the direction of medium (1.54 +/- 0.24 versus 0.81 +/- 0.28 mm; P = 0.001). We conclude that for certain antibiotics, PMN may act as vehicles for transport and delivery of active drug to sites of infection.     

Inhibitory effects of antiviral compounds on respiratory syncytial virus replication in vitro.

We examined the inhibitory effect of 20 antiviral compounds, including ribavirin, on the replication of respiratory syncytial virus in HeLa and HEp-2 cell cultures. Of the compounds studied, pyrazofurin and 3-deazaguanine emerged as more potent inhibitors of respiratory syncytial virus than ribavirin. Based on their inhibitory effect on the cytopathogenicity of respiratory syncytial virus in HeLa cells, the average 50% effective dose of pyrazofurin and 3-deazaguanine for eight strains was 0.07 and 1.65 micrograms/ml, respectively; that of ribavirin was 5.82 micrograms/ml. The cytotoxicity of these compounds for HeLa cells was examined by monitoring the incorporation of radiolabeled uridine into cellular RNA. The selectivity indexes of pyrazofurin and 3-deazaguanine exceeded that of ribavirin by 70- and 11-fold, respectively. Pyrazofurin, 3-deazaguanine, and ribavirin inhibited both viral antigen expression and syncytium formation in HeLa cell cultures, as assessed by an indirect immunofluorescence assay. In these assays, pyrazofurin and 3-deazaguanine again proved more potent than ribavirin. 2,5-Diamidinoindole and carbodine were less potent than ribavirin. Various other compounds, i.e., 3-adenin-9-yl-2-hydroxypropanoic acid isobutyl ester, 3-deazauridine, 3'-C-methyluridine, 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine, 5-cyanoimidazole-4-carboxamide, and its ribofuranosyl derivative, did not inhibit the cytopathic effect of the Long strain of respiratory syncytial virus at concentrations greater than or equal to 125 micrograms/ml. Tubercidin, 5-chlorotubercidin, xylotubercidin, neplanocin A, thiosemicarbazone R, and 3-methylquercetine were too toxic to HeLa cells for their inhibitory effects on respiratory syncytial virus to be examined.     

Modulation of polymorphonuclear leukocyte microbicidal activity and oxidative metabolism by fibrinogen degradation products D and E.

Fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) D and E are typically present in blood of patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation and related conditions in which granulocyte (PMN) defense against bacterial infection may be compromised. This study was intended to determine whether FDP modify PMN functions critical to their bactericidal activity. Incubation of human PMN and Escherichia coli with 50-100 micrograms/ml FDP did not affect phagocytosis, but reduced by greater than 90% the cells' ability to inhibit bacterial colony growth compared with control PMN incubated with albumin or fibrinogen. FDP (10-100 micrograms/ml) inhibited PMN O2- release and chemotaxis stimulated by FMLP by 17-50% (P less than 0.005) and 41% (P less than 0.01), respectively. Fragment E3, and not fragment D1, was primarily responsible for inhibition of FMLP-induced PMN O2- release. Phorbol myristate acetate (10 ng/ml), 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (10(-6) M), AA (4.2 x 10(-5) M), and zymosan-activated serum-stimulated PMN O2- release were also decreased 37-63% by FDP compared with control protein. There are at least two mechanisms by which FDP may impair PMN responses. With respect to FMLP, FDP (16-100 micrograms/ml) inhibited specific binding to the cell surface over a ligand concentration range of 1.4-85 nM [3H]FMLP. In contrast, FDP did not effect the extent of phorbol ester binding to PMN but blocked activation of protein kinase C. These data suggest that elevated plasma FDP inhibit several PMN functions critical to the bactericidal role of these inflammatory cells.     

Killing of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by the lysosomotropic detergent N-dodecylimidazole.

The lysosomotropic detergent N-dodecylimidazole (C12-Im) has previously been found to kill mammalian cells by concentrating in lysosomes, followed by lysosomal disruption and release of cytotoxic enzymes into the cytoplasm. The action of C12-Im on Saccharomyces cerevisiae is described in this report. C12-Im prevented growth of colonies when present in 1% yeast extract-2% Bacto-Peptone-2% glucose plates at concentrations of 5 micrograms/ml or above, or when present in a soft agar overlay at 20 micrograms/ml. Treatment of cells suspended in glucose-containing buffer (pH 8.0, 37 degrees C) with C12-Im (6 micrograms/ml) caused greater than 95% cell death within 6 min. Dependence of killing on C12-Im concentration was sigmoidal, suggesting a cooperative mode of action. Killing was pH dependent, being much more effective at pH 8.0 than at pH 5.0. Ammonium sulfate and imidazole protected against killing if added before, but not after, the addition of C12-Im. Sensitivity to C12-Im was strongly growth dependent: the cells were most sensitive at early to mid-logarithmic phase of growth and became progressively less sensitive during progression through late logarithmic and stationary phase. Vacuolar disruption by C12-Im was demonstrated by using cells loaded with lucifer yellow CH or fluoresceinated dextran in their vacuoles; vacuoles of logarithmically growing cells were more sensitive than those of stationary-phase cells. These results suggest that vacuolar disruption by C12-Im may underlie its cytotoxic effects.     

Overproduction of 3'-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase type I confers resistance to tobramycin in Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli HM69, isolated from urine, was resistant to high levels of kanamycin (MIC, > 1,000 micrograms/ml) and a low level of tobramycin (MIC, 8 micrograms/ml). Phosphocellulose paper-binding assays and molecular cloning indicated that resistance to both aminoglycosides was due to synthesis of a 3'-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase type I, an enzyme that phosphorylates kanamycin but not tobramycin. The structural gene for the enzyme was borne by an 80-kb conjugative plasmid, pIP1518, and was nearly identical to aphA1 of Tn903. Incubation of extracts of resistant cells with tobramycin or kanamycin led to a decrease (> 80%) of antibiotic activity as determined by a microbiological assay. Heat treatment showed that loss of activity was reversible and dependent upon the native enzyme. In the presence of ATP, only inactivation of kanamycin was reversible. These results suggest that resistance to low levels of tobramycin was due to formation of a complex between the enzyme and the antibiotic.     

Activity of 2-(3,4-dichlorophenoxy)-5-nitrobenzonitrile (MDL-860) against picornaviruses in vitro.

The newly synthesized compound 2-(3,4-dichlorophenoxy)-5-nitrobenzonitrile (MDL-860) has been found to inhibit picornavirus replication. In multiple growth cycle experiments, 1 microgram of MDL-860 per ml caused a reduction in virus yield of at least 1.0 log10 50% tissue culture infectious doses per 0.2 ml for 8 of 10 enteroviruses and 72 of 90 rhinovirus serotypes. This antiviral activity was dependent on both compound concentration and virus inoculum size. At concentrations that had no toxic effects on cell cultures, MDL-860 did not inhibit cytopathic effect or hemadsorption activity due to coronavirus 229-E, vesicular stomatitis virus, herpes simplex virus type 1, adenovirus, influenza virus A, or parainfluenza virus 1. Compound concentrations up to 25 micrograms/ml did not cause cytopathic effect in short-term cultures of rhesus monkey, WI-38, or HeLa cells; 10 micrograms/ml did not inhibit the replication of HeLa cells. The mechanism of action of MDL-860 has not been defined, although it was not directly virucidal and appeared to inhibit picornaviruses specifically at an early step in the virus-host cell interaction.     

Effect of insulin on the lysosomal function of rat aortic smooth muscle cells and subcutaneous fibroblasts in tissue culture

Extracellular and intracellular activities of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAG), a representative lysosomal enzyme, in rat aortic smooth muscle cells and subcutaneous fibroblasts cultured for 6 days with an insulin-enriched (200 microU/ml of insulin) or an insulin-deprived medium were measured. The culture medium was changed every 2 days. The net release of NAG into the medium between the 4th and the 6th day was significantly inhibited in the insulin-enriched culture of both smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts. The inhibition was more marked in the fibroblasts series than in the smooth muscle cell series. On the other hand, the intracellular NAG activity of both cell series was almost similar in the insulin-enriched culture and in the insulin-deprived culture. The results indicate that insulin has an inhibitory effect on the net extracellular release of NAG and, therefore, regulates the lysosomal function in these mesenchymal cells.