Fatty acids inhibit apical membrane chloride channels in airway epithelia.

Apical membrane Cl- channels control the rate of transepithelial Cl- secretion in airway epithelia. cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C regulate Cl- channels by phosphorylation; in cystic fibrosis cells, phosphorylation-dependent activation of Cl- channels is defective. Another important signaling system involves arachidonic acid, which is released from cell membranes during receptor-mediated stimulation. Here we report that arachidonic acid reversibly inhibited apical membrane Cl- channels in cell-free patches of membrane. Arachidonic acid itself inhibited the channel and not a cyclooxygenase or lipoxygenase metabolite because (i) inhibitors of these enzymes did not block the response, (ii) fatty acids that are not substrates for the enzymes had the same effect as arachidonic acid, and (iii) metabolites of arachidonic acid did not inhibit the channel. Inhibition occurred only when fatty acids were added to the cytosolic surface of the membrane patch. Unsaturated fatty acids were more potent than saturated fatty acids. Arachidonic acid inhibited Cl- channels from both normal and cystic fibrosis cells. These results suggest that fatty acids directly inhibit apical membrane Cl- channels in airway epithelial cells.     

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to Mycobacterium malmoense pulmonary disease

Polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers was utilized to ascertain the prevalence of 3 polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene (FokI F/f, ApaI A/a, and TaqI T/t) in 56 patients with Mycobacterium malmoense pulmonary disease. When compared with 101 controls, M. malmoense patients displayed an increased prevalence of Apa1 A (P=.03; Fisher's exact test), TaqI t (P=.04), and the At VDR haplotype (P=.04), and they displayed a decreased prevalence of FokI f (P=.04). Only 4 (7%) of 56 patients (vs. 29 [28%] of 101 controls) were both positive for FokI f and negative for At (P=.001). This indicates that polymorphisms in the VDR (or in closely linked genes) modulate the susceptibility to M. malmoense and that susceptibility involves multiple genetic and environmental factors.     

Fc gamma receptor II (CD32) on malignant B cells influences modulation induced by anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody

Antigenic modulation is one of many factors determining the effectiveness of monoclonal antibody (MoAb)-mediated therapy. To select the isotype of a CD19 MoAb most suitable for radioimmunotherapy of patients with B-cell malignancies, we studied the influence of MoAb isotype on modulation, after binding of the MoAb to different cell-line cells. The CD19-IgG1 MoAb was found to induce modulation of CD19 antigens on Daudi cell line cells more rapidly than did its IgG2a switch variant. We provide evidence that this difference in modulation rate is caused by the expression of Fc gamma receptor II (Fc gamma RII) on these cells. Experiments aimed at elucidating the mechanism of Fc gamma RII involvement in modulation induction by CD19-IgG1 showed that Fc gamma RII did not comodulate with CD19 MoAbs. However, cocrosslinking of CD19 and Fc gamma RII with CD19-IgG1 MoAb resulted in enhanced calcium mobilization in Daudi cells. This increased signal induction accompanies the enhanced capping and subsequent modulation of CD19 antigens. Because Fc gamma RII is expressed in varying densities on malignant B cells in all differentiation stages, our results have implications for the MoAb isotype most suitable for use in MoAb-based therapy of patients with B-cell malignancies.     

A radioreceptor assay for quantitating plasma factor VIII/von Willebrand's protein

A sensitive and precise radioreceptor assay for determining plasma levels of human factor VIII/von Willebrand's factor (FVIII/vWF) has been developed by taking advantage of the FVIII/vWF receptor sites on human platelets. Paraformaldehyde-fixed platelets, which were processed and then stored, retained FVIII/vWF binding activity and therefore could be used as a convenient source of receptors. The human plasma samples to be tested were initially filtered on 4% agarose columns to concentrate the FVIII/vWF protein in the void volume and to remove the factor(s) that interferes with the assay. The percent recovery of FVIII/vWF in the pooled eluent was measured by the recovery of added trace 125I-FVIII/vWF. The coefficients of intra- and interassay variation were 6% and 10%, respectively. The plasma FVIII/vWF concentrations determined by the assay for pooled normal plasma, hemophilia A plasma, and plasmas from two patients with von Willebrand's disease were 16.3 +/- 0.5, 52.6 +/- 1.5, 6.8 +/- 0.8, and 3.2 +/- 0.2 microgram/ml, respectively. The range of plasma FVIII/vWF concentrations varied between 8.3 microgram/ml and 24.9 microgram/ml for 10 normal adults. The plasma FVIII/vWF concentrations determined by the radioreceptor assay correlated well with levels measured by the ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation method, thus demonstrating the functional relevancy of the radioreceptor assay for plasma FVIII/vWF.     

Activated pancreatic stellate cells can impair pancreatic islet function in mice

Background

Pancreatic or islet fibrosis is often associated with activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). PSCs are considered not only to promote fibrosis, but also to be associated with glucose intolerance in some diseases. We therefore evaluated morphological and functional relationships between islets and PSCs in the normal mouse pancreas and transplanted islets.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry was used to map the presence of PSCs in the normal mouse pancreas and islets implanted under the renal capsule. We isolated and cultured mouse PSCs and characterized them morphologically by immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, we measured their cytokine production and determined their effects on insulin release from simultaneously cultured islets.

Results

PSCs were scattered throughout the pancreas, with occasional cells within the islets, particularly in the islet capsule. In islet transplants they were found mainly in the graft periphery. Cultured PSCs became functionally activated and produced several cytokines. Throughout the culture period they linearly increased their production of interleukin-6 and mammalian keratinocyte-derived chemokine. PSC cytokine production was not affected by acute hyperglycemia. Syngeneic islets co-cultured with PSCs for 24–48 h increased their insulin release and lowered their insulin content. However, short-term insulin release in batch-type incubations was unaffected after 48 h of co-culture. Increased islet cell caspase-3 activation and a decreased islet cell replication were consistently observed after co-culture for 2 or 7 days.

Conclusion

Activated PSCs may contribute to impaired islet endocrine function seen in exocrine pancreatitis and in islet fibrosis associated with some cases of type 2 diabetes.