Phenotypically distinct subsets of CD4+ T cells induce or protect from chronic intestinal inflammation in C. B-17 scid mice

CD4⁺ T cells in the mouse can be subdivided into two fractionsbased on the level of expression of the CD45RB determinant.Previous studies have shown that these subsets are functionallydistinct. We have further characterized the properties of thesesubpopulations in vivo by injecting them into C. B-17 scid mice.The animals restored with the CD45RB^highCD4⁺ T cell populationdeveloped a lethal wasting disease with severe mononuclear cellinfiltrates into the colon and elevated levels of IFN- mRNA.In contrast, animals restored with the reciprocal CD45RB^lowsubset or with unfractionated CD4⁺ T cells did not develop thewasting or colitis. Importantly, the co-transfer of the CD45RB^lowpopulation with the CD45RB^high population prevented the wastingdisease and colitis. These data indicate that important regulatoryinteractions occur between the CD45RB^high and CD45RB^lowCD4⁺T cell subsets and that disruption of this mechanism has fatalconsequences.     

“Dark” (compacted) neurons may not die through the necrotic pathway

Dark neurons were produced in the cortex of the rat brain by hypoglycemic convulsions. In the somatodendritic domain of each affected neuron, the ultrastructural elements, except for disturbed mitochondria, were remarkably preserved during the acute stage, but the distances between them were reduced dramatically (ultrastructural compaction). Following a 1-min convulsion period, only a few neurons were involved and their environment appeared undamaged. In contrast, 1-h convulsions affected many neurons and caused swelling of astrocytic processes and neuronal dendrites (excitotoxic neuropil). A proportion of dark neurons recovered the normal structure in 2 days. The non-recovering dark neurons were removed from the brain cortex through two entirely different pathways. In the case of 1-h convulsions, their organelles swelled, then disintegrated and finally dispersed into the neuropil through large gaps in the plasma membrane (necrotic-like removal). Following a 1-min convulsion period, the non-recovering dark neurons fell apart into membrane-bound fragments that retained the compacted interior even after being engulfed by astrocytes or microglial cells (apoptotic-like removal). Consequently, in contrast to what is generally accepted, the dark neurons produced by 1-min hypoglycemic convulsions do not die as a consequence of necrosis. As regards the case of 1-h convulsions, it is assumed that a necrotic-like removal process is imposed, by an excitotoxic environment, on dark neurons that previously died through a non-necrotic pathway. Apoptotic neurons were produced in the hippocampal dentate gyrus by intraventricularly administered colchicine. After the biochemical processes had been completed and the chromatin condensation in the nucleus had reached an advanced phase, the ultrastructural elements in the somatodendritic cytoplasm of the affected cells became compacted. If present in an apparently undamaged environment such apoptotic neurons were removed from the dentate gyrus through the apoptotic sequence of morphological changes, whereas those present in an impaired environment were removed through a necrotic-like sequence of morphological changes. This suggests that the removal pathway may depend on the environment and not on the death pathway, as also assumed in the case of the dark neurons produced by hypoglycemic convulsions.     

Effect of endothelium on basal and α-adrenoceptor stimulated calcium fluxes in rat aorta

Summary The rate of unstimulated influx of Ca²⁺ into rat aorta smooth muscle, measured as uptake of ⁴⁵Ca, was inhibited in the presence of endothelium as compared to influx in the absence of endothelium. Efflux of ⁴⁵Ca from unstimulated prelabelled tissues was also reduced in the presence of endothelium. In normal physiological solution the rate of influx and efflux of Ca²⁺ stimulated by B-HT 920 (1 and 10 M), but not that stimulated by phenylephrine (30 nM and 1 M), was also reduced in the presence of endothelium. In the presence of the calcium entry blocker flunarizine (3 M), phenylephrine (1 M) stimulated efflux of Ca²⁺ was inhibited by the presence of endothelium. A correlation between inhibition of Ca²⁺ influx and modulation of -adrenoceptor agonist-induced contractions by endothelium could not be demonstrated, and methylene blue, an antagonist of endothelium mediated inhibition of B-HT 920 contractions, did not affect Ca²⁺ influx stimulated by the agonist. The effects of endothelium on Ca²⁺ influx and efflux are unlikely to be due to alterations by endothelium of diffusion of ⁴⁵Ca or the agonists in the vessel. The results demonstrate that an endothelial derived factor or factors can reduce calcium influx into smooth muscle cells and also modulate the release of calcium from cells, perhaps by affecting intracellular calcium pumping mechanisms. A reduction of calcium influx cannot be the sole explanation for the modulatory effect of endothelium on -adrenoceptor agonist-induced contractions but an effect on intracellular calcium metabolism may be important.     

Gadd45β和Gadd45γ在亚砷酸钠所致的MIHA细胞周期改变中的作用

目的 探索Gadd45β和Gadd45γ在亚砷酸钠所致的MIHA细胞周期改变中的作用,为砷中毒的人群防治提供依据。方法 收集贵州省兴仁县雨樟镇交乐病区砷中毒人群以及格沙屯正常人群分别作为砷中毒组和对照组,实时荧光定量PCR检测各组人群Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因mRNA表达水平。同时,分别以不同剂量亚砷酸钠、不同时间处理MIHA细胞,流式细胞术测定细胞周期改变情况,实时荧光定量PCR和免疫印迹法分别检测Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因mRNA表达水平和蛋白表达情况。在上述实验基础上,针对Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因分别设计的siRNA作用于染砷的MIHA细胞,反向验证Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因在砷致细胞周期改变过程中的影响。统计学分析采用独立样本t检验比较两组间差异,采用单因素方差比较多组间差异。结果 人群实验研究发现,与对照组相比,砷中毒患者Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因mRNA表达水平升高（t = 2.576,P = 0.011;t = 2.312,P = 0.022）;MIHA细胞中,随亚砷酸钠染毒剂量、染毒时间增加,细胞G2/M期比例明显升高（F剂量 = 340.136,P＜0.001;F时间 = 49.194,P＜0.001）;在相对较低亚砷酸钠浓度（低于20 μmol/L）、一定时间内（低于48 h）Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因mRNA和蛋白表达水平随染砷剂量、染砷时间升高而升高,超过该浓度范围和作用时间后,出现表达下降的现象（Gadd45β:F剂量-蛋白 = 37.568,P＜0.001;F剂量- mRNA = 9.771,P＜0.001;F时间-蛋白 = 61.144,P＜0.001;F时间- mRNA = 46.366,P = 0.001;Gadd45γ:F剂量-蛋白 = 12.989,P = 0.001;F剂量- mRNA = 23.613,P＜0.001;F时间-蛋白 = 27.425,P＜0.001;F时间- mRNA = 37.969,P＜0.001）。转染siRNA分别下调Gadd45β和Gadd45γ的表达后,细胞周期都出现G2/M期比例下调（t = 3.053,P = 0.038;t = 14.47,P＜0.001）。结论 砷致Gadd45β和Gadd45γ基因表达水平升高在其诱导MIHA细胞出现G2/M期阻滞过程中发挥重要作用。     

Effect of benactyzine and arecoline on the45Ca uptake by rat brain nerve endings

The effect of the central cholinolytic benactyzine and the cholinomimetic arecoline on the uptake of⁴⁵Ca by rat brain synaptosomes was studied in vitro. Benactyzine was shown to cause biphasic changes (a decrease followed by an increase) in the intensity of uptake of the isotope, whereas arecoline led to a rapid initial increase in⁴⁵Ca uptake. Benactyzine was shown to depress the effect of arecoline and depolarization on uptake of the isotope. It is concluded that the increase in⁴⁵Ca uptake through the action of arecoline is connected with activation of Nachannels. Benactyzine, on the other hand, reduces the permeability of the these channels for⁴⁵Ca and activates the Ca-channels proper.(Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR S. S. Golikov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 86, No. 9, pp. 301–304, September, 1978.     

Ribosomal DNA locus evolution in Nemesia: transposition rather than structural rearrangement as the key mechanism?

We investigated chromosome evolution in Nemesia using fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) to identify the locations of 5S and 45S (18–26S) ribosomal genes. Although there was conservation between Nemesia species in chromosome number, size and centromere position, there was large variation in both number and position of ribosomal genes in different Nemesia species (21 different arrangements of 45S and 5S rRNA genes were observed in the 29 Nemesia taxa studied). Nemesia species contained between one and three pairs of 5S arrays and between two and four pairs of 45S arrays. These were either sub-terminally or interstitially located and 45S and 5S arrays were often located on the same chromosome pair. Comparison of the positions of rDNA arrays with meiotic chromosome behaviour in interspecific hybrids of Nemesia suggests that some of the changes in the positions of rDNA have not affected the surrounding chromosome regions, indicating that rDNA has changed position by transposition. Chromosome evolution is frequently thought to occur via structural rearrangements such as inversions and translocations. We suggest that, in Nemesia, transposition of rDNA genes may be equally if not more important in chromosome evolution.     

Recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis of the hemolytic uremic syndromes

One of the requirements for an agent to cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is its ability to injure endothelial cells. Shiga-like toxin (SLT) can do this. SLT is produced byEscherichia coli andShigella dysenteriae serotype 1; both have been implicated as causes of typical HUS. Endothelial cells have receptors (GB₃) for SLT and the toxin can inhibit eukaryotic protein synthesis, thereby causing cell death. Glomerular endothelial cell injury or death results in a decreased glomerular filtration rate and many of the perturbations seen in HUS. It is no longer certain that hemolysis is the result of a microangiopathy. Cell injury results in release of von Willebrand multimers; if these are ultra-large, thrombosis may ensue. There is also increasing evidence that neutrophils have a role in the pathogenesis of typical HUS.Streptococcus pneumoniae can also cause HUS and care must be taken to avoid giving plasma to patients withS. pneumoniae-associated HUS. There is compelling evidence that types of HUS are inherited by autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant modes. Patients with autosomal recessive HUS may have recurrent episodes. Mortality and morbidity rates are high for the inherited forms.     

Inhibition of Ca2+ transport associated with cAMP-dependent protein phosphorylation in rat cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum by triorganotins

Organotin compounds have been shown to interfere with cardiovascular system. We have studied the in vitro and in vivo effects of tributyltin bromide (TBT), triethyltin bromide (TET) and trimethyltin chloride (TMT) on the cardiac SR Ca²⁺ pump, as well as on protein phosphorylation of SR proteins, in order to understand the relative potency of these tin compounds. All the three tin compounds inhibited cardiac SR⁴⁵Ca uptake and Ca²⁺-ATPase in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. The order of potency for Ca²⁺-ATPase as determined by IC₅₀, is TBT (2 M) > TET (63 M) > TMT (280 M). For⁴⁵Ca uptake, it followed the same order i.e., TBT (0.35 M) > TET (10 M) > TMT (440 M). In agreement with the in vitro results, both SR Ca²⁺-ATPase and⁴⁵Ca uptake were significantly inhibited in rats treated with these tin compounds, indicating that these tin compounds inhibit cardiac SR Ca²⁺ transport. cAMP significantly elevated (70–80%) the³²P-binding to SR proteins in vitro in the absence of any organotin. In the presence of organotins, cAMP-stimulated³²P-binding to proteins was significantly reduced, but the decrease was concentration dependent only at lower concentrations. The order of potency is TBT > TET > TMT. In agreement with in vitro studies, cAMP-dependent³²P bound to proteins was significantly reduced in rats treated with TBT, TET and TMT. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the cardiac SR revealed at least 30 Coomassie blue stainable bands ranging from 9 to 120 kDa. Autoradiographs from samples incubated in the presence of cAMP indicated³²P incorporation in seven bands. Of these, the band corresponding to about 24 kDa molecular weight protein decreased in its intensity with the treatment of organotins. These results suggest that triorganotins may be affecting Ca²⁺ pumping mechanisms through the alteration of phosphorylation of specific proteins in rat cardiac SR.This work has been presented in part at the Annual meeting of Society of Toxicology, 1990 at Miami Beach, FL. The Toxicologist 10: 35 & 108 (1990).     

Use of radiolabeled antibodies in the treatment of childhood acute leukemia

Abstract: Despite advances in therapy for acute leukemia, relapse continues to be the major cause of treatment failure. Hematopoietic stem cell transplant can rescue some patients after relapse, but the ability to escalate the intensity of preparative regimens is limited by toxicity to normal organs. Radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies against hematopoietic antigens have emerged as an alternative to deliver targeted supplemental radiation to sites of leukemic involvement while relatively sparing normal organs. This paper will review the rationale for using this approach, our current experience with radiolabeled anti-CD45 antibody, and the potential challenges encountered in treating children with radiolabeled antibodies.