Role of protein kinase C in the modulation of multidrug resistance: expression of the atypical gamma isoform of protein kinase C does not confer increased resistance to doxorubicin.

Cross-resistance to anticancer drugs, termed multidrug resistance (MDR), is functionally associated with the expression of a plasma membrane, energy-dependent, drug efflux pump termed P-glycoprotein (PGP), the product of the mdr1 gene. We have shown previously that MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells transfected with the human mdr1 gene (BC-19 cells) exhibit greater MDR when stably transfected with protein kinase C alpha (PKC alpha). We now demonstrate that transfection of BC-19 cells with the gamma isoform of PKC (BC-19/PKC gamma cells), which is not normally present in BC-19 cells, does not confer increased resistance to doxorubicin, despite a 19-fold increase in PKC activity. All of the increased PKC activity is accounted for by PKC gamma and it is rapidly down-regulated by phorbol dibutyrate, within 15 min of treatment. Endogenous PKC alpha and PKC epsilon activities are not affected by phorbol dibutyrate. The cytotoxicity of doxorubicin was similar in BC-19/neo or BC-19/PKC gamma cells after either 2-hr or continuous drug exposure, and co-treatment with phorbol dibutyrate increased resistance to doxorubicin 4-fold in both cell lines. Phosphorylation of PGP was similar in both cell lines and drug accumulation was not affected by overexpression of PKC gamma. These results demonstrate that transfection of PGP-expressing cells with an atypical isoform of PKC does not confer increased MDR, and they suggest that the regulation of PGP is phenotype specific with respect to the isoform of PKC.     

The assembly of the factor X-activating complex on activated human platelets

Summary.  Platelet membranes provide procoagulant surfaces for the assembly and expression of the factor X-activating complex and promote the proteolytic activation and assembly of the prothrombinase complex resulting in normal hemostasis. Recent studies from our laboratory and others indicate that platelets possess specific, high-affinity, saturable, receptors for factors XI, XIa, IX, IXa, X, VIII, VIIIa, V, Va and Xa, prothrombin, and thrombin. Studies described in this review support the hypothesis that the factor X-activating complex on the platelet surface consists of three receptors (for the enzyme, factor IXa; the substrate, factor X; and the cofactor, factor VIIIa), the colocalization of which results in a 24 million-fold acceleration of the rate of factor X activation. Whether the procoagulant surface of platelets is defined exclusively by procoagulant phospholipids, or whether specific protein receptors exist for the coagulant factors and proteases, is currently unresolved. The interaction between coagulation proteins and platelets is critical to the maintenance of normal hemostasis and is pathogenetically important in human disease.     

Activities of flavonoids for the cleavage of DNA in the presence of Cu(II): correlation with generation of active oxygen species.

The activities of several flavonoids and the related nonflavonoid compound epicatechin were compared with respect to Cu(II)-induced strand scission of DNA by using two different assays. The same series of compounds was used to study the stoichiometry of Cu(II) reduction in the absence of DNA. The compounds were compared for their ability to generate superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and the Cu(II)-dependent production of hydroxyl radicals. Flavonoids were examined to assess the production of a charge-transfer complex with Cu and the rate of decay of the complexes were compared. All the compounds tested had some ability to cause DNA strand scission in the presence of Cu(II), with myricetin being the most active and galangin the least active. The ability to cause such scission correlated with the rate of decay of the charge-transfer complex, the ability to generate active oxygen species and with the stoichiometry of Cu(II) binding. Analysis of the data in the light of the structural differences between the flavonoids led to a discussion of alternative Cu(II)-sequestering mechanisms.     

A practical profile of integrated safety assessment of near-surface disposal of radwaste at PINSTECH.

Near-surface or shallow land disposal of radioactive waste has been the primary practice at the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH). The adopted choice of this mode of disposal has been based on a study of the site and the quality and quantity of waste generated at the 5 MW reactor with HEU fuel. Specific measures regarding the radiation safety of the workers and environmental protection have been adopted. The waste disposal operations are conducted to meet local regulatory requirements, IAEA recommendations and internationally endorsed principles such as ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable - economic, social and other relevant factors being considered). The data obtained through the years of operational and management experience have manifested the robustness of the disposal system and reliability of the disposal criterion, and have also served to further refine the latter. Consequently, confidence in the current shallow-land-burial practices has increased. Radiological safety of these practices has been assessed by addressing different aspects of the safety and disposal system. These parameters, as indices of a non-exclusive and operational safety model, are presented.     

Craniosynostosis,ectopia lentis,and congenital heart defects: Further delineation of an autosomal dominant syndrome with incomplete penetrance

The association of craniosynostosis with ectopia lentis is extremely rare. This was recently reported in monozygotic twin sisters, supporting a genetic etiology for this syndromic association. We report on female first cousins once removed who were born with unilateral coronal synostosis. One cousin also had peripheral pulmonic branch stenosis at birth and was later found to have ectopia lentis and severe myopia. The other cousin had an atrial septal defect, mitral valve prolapse, and only mild myopia. Their intelligence is normal. The inheritance is likely autosomal dominant with variable expression and incomplete penetrance and further defines this syndrome to include congenital heart defects. These findings will have important implications for genetic counseling. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Pleural effusion following coronary perforation during balloon angioplasty: an unusual presentation of the postpericardiotomy syndrome.

We report on the development of features of the postpericardiotomy syndrome following coronary perforation during balloon angioplasty, in a patient that was managed conservatively. The case illustrates that while cardiac tamponade does not invariably follow coronary perforation, late consequences derived from this complication may occur. It also widens the spectrum of conditions where the postpericardiotomy syndrome has been observed.     

Antibody-mediated specific binding and cytotoxicity of liposome-entrapped doxorubicin to lung cancer cells in vitro.

Liposome entrapment of doxorubicin has been shown to reduce its cardiotoxicity in vivo and increase its therapeutic index. A further improvement in therapeutic index could be achieved through targeting of liposome-entrapped drug selectively to cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies against the squamous lung cancer cell line KLN-205 have been ligated to the surface of long-circulating (Stealth) and conventional liposomes. The antibody-bearing liposomes showed specific, competitive uptake by KLN-205 cells as compared to liposomes bearing nonspecific isotype-matched antibodies or antibody-free liposomes. Doxorubicin-containing antibody-liposomes resulted in as much as a 15-fold decrease in the 50% inhibitory concentration for doxorubicin against KLN-205 cells as compared to free doxorubicin or doxorubicin entrapped in antibody-free liposomes.     

Non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging assessment of myocardial changes and the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition in diabetic rats

A non-invasive cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique was developed to allow, for the first time, detection and characterization of chronic changes in myocardial tissue volume and the effects upon these of treatment by the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor captopril in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic male Wistar rats. Animals that had been made diabetic at the ages of 7, 10 and 13 weeks and a captopril-treated group of animals made diabetic at the age of 7 weeks were scanned. The findings were compared with the results from age-matched controls. All animal groups (n = 4 animals in each) were consistently scanned at 16 weeks. Left and right ventricular myocardial volumes were reconstructed from complete data sets of left and right ventricular transverse sections which covered systole and most of diastole using twelve equally incremented time points through the cardiac cycle. The calculated volumes remained consistent through all twelve time points of the cardiac cycle in all five experimental groups and agreed with the corresponding post-mortem determinations. These gave consistent myocardial densities whose values could additionally be corroborated by previous reports, confirming the validity of the quantitative MRI results and analysis. The myocardial volumes were conserved in animals whose diabetes was induced at 13 weeks but were significantly increased relative to body weight in animals made diabetic at 7 and 10 weeks. Captopril treatment, which was started immediately after induction of diabetes, prevented the development of this relative hypertrophy in both the left and right ventricles. We have thus introduced and validated quantitative MRI methods in a demonstration, for the first time, of chronic myocardial changes in both the right and left ventricles of STZ-diabetic rats and their prevention by the ACE inhibitor captopril.