Modulation of implantation-associated integrin expression but not uteroglobin by steroid hormones in an endometrial cell line

In order to test the hypothesis that integrin and uteroglobin (UG) expression in cultured endometrial cells are affected by hormone treatment, Ishikawa-CH endometrial cancer cells were cultured and exposed to oestradiol or oestradiol and progesterone regimens and assayed using immunohistochemistry. We evaluated the intensity of immunohistochemical staining for the integrin monomers alpha(v) and beta1, the dimers alpha(v)beta3 and alpha(v)beta6, and for the secretory protein uteroglobin under various experimental conditions. Cells grown in control media stained positively for the integrin monomers alpha(v) and beta1, the dimer alpha(v)beta3, and for UG. Oestradiol and sequential oestradiol/progesterone reversibly suppressed staining for the dimer alpha(v)beta3. Hormone treatment had no effect on the staining of the beta1 and alpha(v) monomers or UG. The alpha(v)beta6 dimer antibody did not stain under any experimental treatment conditions. These data indicate that expression of the integrin complex alpha(v)beta3 is reversibly suppressed by oestradiol in Ishikawa cells and that these cells may be a good model for studying hormone-driven molecular changes in endometrium.      

The endogenous cannabinoid anandamide has effects on motivation and anxiety that are revealed by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibition

Converging evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system is an important constituent of neuronal substrates involved in brain reward processes and emotional responses to stress. Here, we evaluated motivational effects of intravenously administered anandamide, an endogenous ligand for cannabinoid CB1-receptors, in Sprague-Dawley rats, using a place-conditioning procedure in which drugs abused by humans generally produce conditioned place preferences (reward). Anandamide (0.03-3 mg/kg intravenous) produced neither conditioned place preferences nor aversions. However, when rats were pre-treated with the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor URB597 (cyclohexyl carbamic acid 3'-carbamoyl-3-yl ester; 0.3 mg/kg intraperitoneal), which blocks anandamide's metabolic degradation, anandamide produced dose-related conditioned place aversions. In contrast, URB597 alone showed no motivational effects. Like URB597 plus anandamide, the synthetic CB1-receptor ligand WIN 55,212-2 (50-300 microg/kg, intravenous) produced dose-related conditioned place aversions. When anxiety-related effects of anandamide and URB597 were evaluated in a light/dark box, both a low anandamide dose (0.3 mg/kg) and URB597 (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg) produced anxiolytic effects when given alone, but produced anxiogenic effects when combined. A higher dose of anandamide (3 mg/kg) produced anxiogenic effects and depressed locomotor activity when given alone and these effects were potentiated after URB597 treatment. Finally, anxiogenic effects of anandamide plus URB597 and development of place aversions with URB597 plus anandamide were prevented by the CB1-receptor antagonist AM251 (3 mg/kg intraperitoneal). Thus, additive interactions between the effects of anandamide on brain reward processes and on anxiety may account for its aversive effects when intravenously administered during FAAH inhibition with URB597.     

Autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction in man. XIV. Deficiency of the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS related complex (ARC). In vitro effect of purified interleukin-1 and interleukin-2.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from male homosexuals with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and with AIDS related complex (ARC) were examined for the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) between responder T and irradiated autologous non-T cells and in vitro influence of purified human interleukin-1 (IL-1) and -2 (IL-2) on the AMLR. The AMLR was significantly (P less than 0.001) deficient in both ARC and AIDS; the deficiency of the AMLR was of the similar magnitude in two groups when compared to asymptomatic homosexuals and healthy heterosexuals. In vitro addition of IL-2 enhanced the AMLR to the baseline levels of control subjects in most patients in ARC group (P less than 0.01) and in four of 15 patients in AIDS group (P less than 0.01). Addition of IL-1 to IL-2 containing cultures resulted in no further increase in the AMLR response over those with IL-2 alone. This study demonstrates deficiency of the AMLR in patients with ARC and AIDS that is corrected by purified IL-2 in the majority of cases with ARC but only a subset of patients with AIDS. The significance of these findings is discussed.     

Factors related to patient smoking status.

To investigate those factors associated with patients' cigarette smoking status, 455 consecutive patients seen in two specialty clinics and one general medicine clinic at a university medical center were studied. Patient's age, sex, health status, and number of previous cessation attempts discriminated current from ex-smokers. A strong interaction was observed between sex and disease status with females showing a greater impact of smoking-related disease on smoking behavior than males.     

Effects of cimetidine on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of losartan,an AT1-selective non-peptide angiotensin II receptor antagonist

This was a 2-period randomized, crossover study in 8 healthy males to determine the effects of cimetidine (400 mg q.i.d. for 6 days) on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic effects of the angiotensin II receptor antagonist, losartan (100 mg). Cimetidine increased the AUC for losartan 18% without affecting the AUC for E-3174, the active metabolite of losartan. The increase in plasma renin activity following losartan was not affected by cimetidine (maximum mean increases 12.6 and 12.1 ng Ang I·ml^–1·h^–1 without and with cimetidine, respectively). These results indicate that cimetidine does not appear to alter the pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics of losartan to a clinically significant extent.