Competition between plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator for cellular binding sites

Cellular receptors for plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator (t- PA) regulate plasminogen activation and cell-associated proteolytic activity. The characteristics of the interactions of both ligands with monocytes and monocytoid cell lines bear certain similarities, including affinity (kd approximately 1 mumol/L) capacity and susceptibility to carboxypeptidase treatment. Therefore, we have undertaken the present study to determine directly whether t-PA and plasminogen share common binding sites on cells. We found that recombinant human single-chain t-PA (rt-PA) could inhibit the binding of 125I-plasminogen to the cells and, conversely, plasminogen could inhibit 125I-rt-PA binding. This relationship was observed with 9 cell types, including both adherent cells and cells in suspension. In addition, under several conditions of cell treatment, plasminogen and t- PA receptor expression was modulated in parallel. Furthermore, molecules that have been implicated as candidate plasminogen receptors, gangliosides, and an alpha-enolase--related molecule, also interacted with t-PA. These results suggest that at least a component of the binding sites for plasminogen is shared with t-PA. Occupancy of these sites by either or both ligand(s) should result in arming the cells with the proteolytic activity of plasmin.     

Identification of BCR/ABL-negative primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells within chronic myeloid leukemia marrow

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a malignant disorder of the hematopoietic stem cell. It has been shown that normal stem cells coexist with malignant stem cells in the bone marrow of patients with chronic-phase CML. To characterize the primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells within CML marrow, CD34+DR- and CD34+DR+ cells were isolated using centrifugal elutriation, monoclonal antibody labeling, and flow cytometric cell sorting. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of RNA samples from these CD34+ subpopulations was used to detect the presence of the BCR/ABL translocation characteristic of CML. The CD34+DR+ subpopulation contained BCR/ABL(+) cells in 11 of 12 marrow samples studied, whereas the CD34+DR- subpopulation contained BCR/ABL(+) cells in 6 of 9 CML marrow specimens. These cell populations were assayed for hematopoietic progenitor cells, and individual hematopoietic colonies were analyzed by PCR for their BCR/ABL status. Results from six patients showed that nearly half of the myeloid colonies cloned from CD34+DR- cells were BCR/ABL(+), although the CD34+DR- subpopulation contained significantly fewer BCR/ABL(+) progenitor cells than either low-density bone marrow (LDBM) or the CD34+DR+ fraction. These CD34+ cells were also used to establish stromal cell-free long-term bone marrow cultures to assess the BCR/ABL status of hematopoietic stem cells within these CML marrow populations. After 28 days in culture, three of five cultures initiated with CD34+DR- cells produced BCR/ABL(-) cells. By contrast, only one of eight cultures initiated with CD34+DR+ cells were BCR/ABL(-) after 28 days. These results indicate that the CD34+DR- subpopulation of CML marrow still contains leukemic progenitor cells, although to a lesser extent than either LDBM or CD34+DR+ cells.     

Plasminogen receptors, urokinase receptors, and their modulation on human endothelial cells

Endothelial cells are centrally involved in regulation of fibrinolysis, and receptors for plasminogen and urokinase provide a mechanism by which cells can regulate their fibrinolytic function. Therefore, the existence and characteristics of receptors for these fibrinolytic components on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells were examined. We verified the presence of plasminogen receptors on these cells (Kd = 2.1 +/- 1.3 mumol/L, and 1.8 +/- 1.3 x 10(7) binding sites/cell). These binding parameters and other characteristics indicate that these receptors are closely related to the plasminogen receptors on many circulating and adherent cells. Specific binding sites that interact with two-chain urokinase of mol wt 55,000 with a dissociation constant of 2.1 +/- 1.7 nmol/L, with 2.9 +/- 2.9 x 10(5) sites/cell were also identified. Single-chain urokinase of mol wt 55,000, but not the two-chain degradation product of mol wt 33,000 bound to the cells, implicating the amino-terminal aspects of the ligand in receptor recognition. When endothelial cells were stimulated with thrombin, an agent that modulates their fibrinolytic potential, both receptor types were modestly affected; urokinase binding increased 17%, whereas plasminogen binding decreased 19%. The presence and modulation of plasminogen and urokinase receptors provide a potentially important additional mechanism by which endothelial cells may regulate fibrinolysis.     

Gray-scale echographic visualization of a parathyroid adenoma

A large parathyroid adenoma and a smaller follicular thyroid adenoma were visualized with a combination of radionuclide imaging and gray-scale ultrasound in a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism.     

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase of malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Plasmodium falciparum growth is impaired in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient red blood cells (RBCs), and malaria has been implicated in the spreading of deficient variants in malaria- endemic areas. Recent reports suggest that the malaria parasite can adapt itself to grow in these variant RBCs by producing its own G6PD, but studies on parasite G6PD are very limited. In this report, we define the properties of the parasite G6PD. G6PD was partially purified from infected and uninfected variant RBCs associated with severe G6PD deficiency. G6PD from infected RBCs contained two components separable by starch gel electrophoresis: a major component (approximately 90% activity) with a very slow anodal electrophoretic mobility and a minor component (approximately 10% activity) with the same mobility as the host G6PD. Parasite G6PD exhibited much higher affinity (low Km) to G6P and nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) than did human G6PD. Southern blot hybridization indicated that the parasite genome contained nucleotide sequences that were hybridizable with the human G6PD cDNA. These data indicate that the parasite is capable of adapting to G6PD-deficient RBCs by producing its own G6PD.     

Lumbar myelography with iohexol and metrizamide: a comparative multicenter prospective study

Diagnostic quality of radiographs and adverse reactions associated with the use of metrizamide and iohexol as contrast agents in lumbar myelography were compared in a prospective randomized double blind study in 350 patients at seven centers. The contrast media were administered in comparable volumes at a concentration of 180 mg I per ml. Overall quality of radiographic visualization was graded good or excellent in 95% of 175 metrizamide studies and in 98% of 175 iohexol studies. Ninety-three patients examined using metrizamide (53%) and 130 patients examined using iohexol (74%) experienced no discomfort during or after myelography. Postmyelographic headache was associated with 38% of metrizamide examinations and 21% of iohexol examinations. Nausea and vomiting were also more common with metrizamide. Five patients examined using metrizamide (3%) experienced transient confusion and disorientation following lumbar myelography. No such reactions were observed following iohexol myelography.