Postextrasystolic potentiation does not distinguish ischaemic from stunned myocardium

Myocardial function is impaired by ischaemia, and it remains depressed during reperfusion following short periods of ischaemia (stunned myocardium). We tested whether ischaemic and reperfusion dysfunction, in particular the time course of its recovery, can be distinguished by postextrasystolic potentiation (PESP). In eight open-chest dogs, posterior systolic wall thickening (sonomicrometry) was reduced by graded occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) from 17.4±6.8% (SD) during control conditions to 10.7±1.3% (mild ischaemic dysfunction), 7.2±2.3% (moderate ischaemic dysfunction), 3.6±1.4% (severe ischaemic dysfunction), and -4.4±3.6% (complete coronary occlusion). Extrasystoles with constant prematurity and a fully compensated postextrasystolic interval were induced after at least 4 min steady-state ischaemia. After each ischaemic period full recovery of posterior systolic wall thickening was assured. During 8 h of reperfusion following a 15-min LCX occlusion, extrasystoles were induced when posterior systolic wall thickening was comparable to one degree of the preceding ischaemic dysfunction. The increases in posterior systolic wall thickening induced by PESP were 10.5±5.8% during control conditions, during ischaemia they were 11.5±3.5% (mild dysfunction), 12.3±4.6% (moderate dysfunction), 12.6±4.1% (severe dysfunction) and 10.4±4.4% (complete coronary occlusion), and during reperfusion they were 12.8±8.2% (severe dysfunction), 13.0±9.7% (moderate dysfunction) and 10.7±2.2% (mild dysfunction). These increments in systolic wall thickening as well as those in ejection thickening were not significantly different. PESP can thus not distinguish between ischaemic and reperfusion dysfunction nor between different degrees of myocardial dysfunction.This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsge-meinschaft (He 1320/3-2). cand. med. S. Schäfer was involved in some of these experiments and presented part of the data at the 56th Annual Meeting of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herz- und Kreislaufforschung in Mannheim (Z Kardiol 79 [Suppl 1]: 24,1990). Part of the data were also presented at the 11th Congress of the European Society of Cardiology in Nice (Eur Heart J 10 [Suppl]: 242, 1989) and at the 73rd Annual Meeting of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology in New Orleans (FASEB J 3: A841, 1989)     

The Arabidopsis PILZ group genes encode tubulin-folding cofactor orthologs required for cell division but not cell growth

Plant microtubules are organized into specific cell cycle-dependent arrays that have been implicated in diverse cellular processes, including cell division and organized cell expansion. Mutations in four Arabidopsis genes collectively called the PILZ group result in lethal embryos that consist of one or a few grossly enlarged cells. The mutant embryos lack microtubules but not actin filaments. Whereas the cytokinesis-specific syntaxin KNOLLE is not localized properly, trafficking of the putative auxin efflux carrier PIN1 to the plasma membrane is normal. The four PILZ group genes were isolated by map-based cloning and are shown to encode orthologs of mammalian tubulin-folding cofactors (TFCs) C, D, and E, and associated small G-protein Arl2 that mediate the formation of alpha/beta-tubulin heterodimers in vitro. The TFC C ortholog, PORCINO, was detected in cytosolic protein complexes and did not colocalize with microtubules. Another gene with a related, although weaker, embryo-lethal phenotype, KIESEL, was shown to encode a TFC A ortholog. Our genetic ablation of microtubules shows their requirement in cell division and vesicle trafficking during cytokinesis, whereas cell growth is mediated by microtubule-independent vesicle trafficking to the plasma membrane during interphase.     

Characterization of a reduced peptide bond analogue of a promiscuous CD4 T cell epitope derived from the Plasmodium falciparum malaria vaccine candidate merozoite surface protein 1

Use of synthetic peptides as vaccine components is hampered by their susceptibility to enzymatic degradation and rapid clearance from biological fluids. Introduction of non-natural structural modifications can render peptides more resistant to enzymatic degradation, encouraging attempts to profile such non-natural ligands as components of synthetic sub-unit vaccines. We have compared the antigenic and immunogenic properties of a series of non-natural peptide analogues derived from a promiscuous T cell epitope of the major Plasmodium falciparum malaria vaccine candidate merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1). A series of HLA class II restricted MSP-1(38-58)-specific TCC established from three volunteers were characterized for their minimal epitope and fine specificity. T cell stimulatory activities of a series of pseudo-peptide analogues with single reduced peptide bond Psi-[CH2-NH] modifications were compared with those of single d-amino acid replacement analogues. Compared to reduced peptide bond analogues the single d-amino acid replacement analogues turned out to be less suitable for stimulation of TCC. In particular, the reduced peptide analogue carrying a Psi-[CH2-NH] backbone modification between positions V52 and L53 of MSP-1(38-58) demonstrated properties that would make it a more suitable vaccine component than the unmodified parent peptide. First, the pseudo-peptide stimulated a number of TCC restricted by a range of HLA class II alleles. Second, trypsin treatment in combination with T cell stimulation assays provided evidence for increased resistance to proteolytic digestion. Third, the parasite-binding anti-MSP-1 mAb 7.27 recognized best this particular pseudo-peptide in competition ELISA experiments and its immunogenicity in out-bred Aotus monkeys was superior to that of the parent peptide eliciting antibodies cross-reactive with native MSP-1.     

Terminal sequences of Sindbis virus-specific nucleic acids: Identity in molecules synthesized in vertebrate and insect cells and characteristic properties of the replicative form RNA

The terminal sequences of the virus-specific nucleic acids synthesized in BHK vertebrate cells and in Aedes albopictus insect cells infected with the alphavirus Sindbis virus have been analyzed. The 26 S and 42 S plus-strand RNA molecules have the 5′-terminal sequences m⁷GpppAUAG and m⁷GpppAUAGGCGGCGUAGUACACAC, respectively. A 22 S replicative form (RF) RNA which contains an infectious 42 S plus-strand genome RNA molecule and a complementary 42 S negative-strand RNA accumulates in infected cells. The 5′-terminal sequence of the 42 S plus-strand RNA component of the RF is identical to that of the single-stranded plus-strand 42 S RNA molecule except for the absence of a 5′-terminal cap in the constituent of the RF RNA. The identification of a poly(U) sequence at the 5′-terminus of the 42 S minus strand RNA in our experiments is in accordance with earlier results obtained in other laboratories (Sawicki and Gomatos, 1976; Frey and Strauss, 1978). Analogous to our data concerning the structure of the RF RNA of the alphavirus Semliki Forest virus (Wengler et al., 1979) the 3′-terminus of the 42 S minus strand RNA component of the Sindbis virus-specific RF RNA is complementary to the 5′-terminus of the 42 S plus strand RNA molecule but in addition contains a 3′-terminal extra unpaired guanosine residue. The 3′-terminal sequence of the 42 S minus strand is strongly conserved between the two alphaviruses, Sindbis virus and Semliki Forest virus. The terminal sequences of the RF RNA synthesized in BHK and Aedes albopictus cells are identical. Analyses of the capped oligonucleotides derived from virus-specific single-stranded 42 S plus-strand RNA and from 26 S RNA strongly indicate that no base sequence differences exists between the corresponding molecules synthesized in either vertebrate or insect cells. Possible implications of these findings concerning the structure of alphavirus RF RNA and the synthesis of alphavirus-specific nucleic acids are discussed.     

Neurological Manifestations of COVID-19 Feature T Cell Exhaustion and Dedifferentiated Monocytes in Cerebrospinal Fluid

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Blood Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Activation in Atherosclerosis: Effects of Aspirin

The aim of the study was to demonstrate an activation of polymorpho-nuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in chronic progressive atherosclerosis (ATH). A group of patients with ATH, and a group of ATH patients under aspirin (ASA) therapy were compared with control persons without atherosclerotic alterations (healthy controls). Each group comprised 15 male age-matched subjects. The following inflammatory parameters related to PMN activities were measured: the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) blood count; blood PMN migration and reactive oxygen species release in vitro; the blood levels of PMN elastase, malondialdehyde, antibodies to oxidized LDL and soluble ICAM-1. In ATH patients, the PMN blood counts and the share of blood PMNs migrating upon platelet activating factor and leukotriene B4 stimulation were significnatly above the values of the healthy controls, while the other parameters were not significantly altered. ASA treatment attenuated the inflammatory response and reduced the differences between ATH and the healthy controls. It can be concluded that, in patients with chronic progressive atherosclerosis, PMNs are involved in the inflammatory process underlying the disease.     

Functional Thin Polymer Films at High Pressure

Summary: A new thin‐film characterization setup was created based on the combination of a surface plasmon spectrometer with an electrochemical cell operated under high pressure of up to 200 MPa and at temperatures up to 120 °C. The examples given to document its performance include photoisomerization studies with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films partly derivatized with disperse red (DR1), as well as, a preliminary account of the electropolymerization of EDOT under pressure and the assessment of the redox properties of the resulting thin PEDOT films.

Sketch of the high‐pressure electrochemistry surface plasmon cell.     

β1-Adrenoceptor gene variations: a role in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy?

A substantial body of evidence suggests involvement of the human beta1-adrenoceptor (beta1-AR) gene in the pathophysiology of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a severe heart disease of significant public health impact. Beta1-AR-mediated signal transduction is dramatically altered due to downregulation, resulting in an impairment of myocardial response. The important role of genetic factors in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) recently recognized, we analyzed this prime candidate gene for genetic variation in carefully selected patients and controls. In this preliminary study, 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms were observed, 17 of which were located in the N-terminal and C-terminal region of the coding exon, resulting in 7 amino acid exchanges: Ser-49-Gly, Ala-59-Ser, Gly-389-Arg, Arg-399-Cys, His-402-Arg, Thr-404-Ala, and Pro-418-Ala. These mutations resulted in 11 different beta1-AR genotypes. Importantly, the genotypes carrying the Ser-49-Gly mutation in the N-terminus of the molecule in a heterozygous or homozygous form were observed significantly more frequently in the group of IDCM patients. The present results may provide a clue on the molecular mechanisms involved in IDCM, and add moreover interesting information on nature, distribution, and evolutionary aspects of sequence variation in human adrenergic receptor genes.     

Expression of adhesion molecules in allergic lung diseases

Endothelial adherence and migration of leukocytes into tissue is mediated by different sets of adhesion molecules. The expression of these sets might not only preselect the types of leukocytes that enter the inflammatory sites, but also activate these leukocytes, induce adherence to epithelial cells, and cause the release of cytokines. Atopic asthma, extrinsic allergic alveolitis, and sarcoidosis as examples of immunologic lung diseases were investigated for the expression of adhesion molecules. Bronchial biopsies in chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and resected lung tissue of juvenile emphysema were chosen for controls. Immunohistochemistry was done on sections from bronchial and transbronchial biopsies and on smears from bronchoalveolar lavage cells. In all three types of immune disorders, lymphocytes expressed the integrins alpha4/beta1 (VLA4) and ICAM3, whereas lymphocytes in COPD bronchitis and in emphysema controls were unreactive. Eosinophils in atopic asthma bronchitis in contrast to COPD bronchitis also expressed both VLA4 and ICAM3. The expression of VCAM1 on endothelial cells was only seen in atopic asthma and was related to disease activity. The expression of other adhesion molecules was nonspecific. Expression of VCAM1 on endothelial cells and its ligand VLA4 on lymphocytes and eosinophils seems to be a specific event in atopic asthma. Expression of VLA4 and ICAM3 on lymphocytes, however, might be a specific event in all three immune reactions.     

Urinary dopamine excretion in healthy volunteers: effect of sodium diet and acute water load

The present study was designed to investigate, in human subjects, urinary dopamine excretion under different conditions of sodium and water homeostasis. In a cross-over trial, ten healthy volunteers were subjected to low-salt (LS; dietary salt restriction, sodium chloride (NaCl) intake <5 g per day), normal-salt (NS; normal food ad libitum), and high-salt (HS; normal food plus NaCl 100 mg/kg per day) regimens for 8 days in a randomized order. On day 7, urine was collected for 24 h. The variations in urinary sodium excretion reflected the dietary salt intake (LS: 16.3+/-4.7; NS: 144.1+/-18.2; HS: 221.9+/-12.9 mmol 24 h(-1) 1.73 m(-2)), but were not accompanied by significant changes in urinary dopamine excretion. On day 8, clearance studies showed that an acute oral water load of 1500 ml did not alter glomerular filtration rate or renal plasma flow but significantly increased urinary flow rate without affecting dopamine excretion. Assuming that excreted dopamine is not metabolized or reabsorbed during the tubular passage, both the unchanged urinary dopamine output in spite of 14-fold variations in sodium excretion and its independence of an acute water load argue against the hypothesis that dopamine in the tubular lumen acts as a natriuretic and/or diuretic factor in humans.