The expression of somatostatin receptors 1 and 2 in benign,pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal lesions

The expression of somatostatin receptors 1 and 2 in benign, pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal lesions The role of chemotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx has not been clearly defined. Whilst toxic chemotherapy regimes may confer a marginal improvement in survival, surgery and radiotherapy remain the mainstay of treatment. Somatostatin is a naturally occurring peptide, which exerts antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects via five membrane‐bound receptor subtypes. The expression of somatostatin receptor subtypes (SSTRs) 1 and 2 was studied in benign, pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal specimens. Epithelial expression of SSTR1 was detected in 4/6 (67%) Reinke's oedema, 5/6 (83%) pre‐malignant and 8/12 (67%) malignant specimens, with virtually no stromal or vascular expression. High levels of epithelial SSTR2 expression were noted in all Reinke's oedema specimens, compared with low‐to‐moderate levels in only 2/6 (33%) pre‐malignant and 3/12 (25%) malignant specimens (P < 0.01). This ‘loss’ of epithelial SSTR2 expression may provide a growth advantage in pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal lesions. Vascular expression of SSTR2 was ubiquitous in all groups, with scant stromal expression. Overall, most (>80%) pre‐malignant and malignant laryngeal specimens expressed at least one of the two SSTR subtypes studied. Somatostatin analogues may have a therapeutic role in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.     

Aldosterone and its mechanism of action: more questions than answers

The physiology of the steroid hormone, aldosterone is well defined. The molecular events that mediate this response remain to be elucidated. Aldosterone binds to a specific mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in sodium transporting epithelia. The structural determinants of ligand-binding have been explored through the analysis of steroid resistance syndromes, however, the molecular basis of resistance to aldosterone, pseudo-hypoaldosteronism remains an enigma. Cortisol also binds MR, access is however restricted by the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The MR induces specific genes which regulate apical amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channels; the finding of activating mutations in Liddles syndrome (pseudoaldosteronism) has emphasised their key role. Such mechanisms may apply not only to the peripheral effects of aldosterone but also to the central regulation of blood pressure.     

Effects of synthetic C-terminal fragment of interferon-2α on Daudi cells

Synthetic fragment of human interferon-2α (124th–138th amino acid residue, laboratory code 2438) inhibits the growth of B lymphocytes (Daudi cell line) in a dose-dependent manner. Radiolabeled peptide 2438 binds to specific receptors on the cell surface and competes with interferon-2α for the common binding sites. Translated fromByulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 123, No. 4, pp. 446–448, April, 1997     

人重组C3片段通过IL-2自分泌效应对CTLL-2细胞产生促增殖作用

目的研究补体Ｃ３片段的体外生物学活性及其作用机理，进一步探讨Ｃ３片段与免疫细胞的关联。方法利用重组ＤＮＡ技术表达纯化Ｃ３活性片段（命名为Ｃ３３），观察其对ＩＬ－２依赖性的小鼠杀伤性Ｔ细胞株ＣＴＬＬ－２细胞的促增殖效应，并通过抗体封闭途径和分子杂交技术研究Ｃ３３作用的机理。结果发现Ｃ３３蛋白对ＣＴＬＬ－２细胞具有明显的促增殖作用，并呈剂量依赖关系；这一作用能够部分地被抗小鼠ＣＤ１１ｂ抗体所封闭，能够完全被抗小鼠ＩＬ－２抗体所封闭；分子杂交显示Ｃ３３蛋白能够明显刺激ＣＴＬＬ－２细胞的ＩＬ－２ｍＲＮＡ表达。结论人重组Ｃ３片段Ｃ３３可通过ＩＬ－２的自分泌效应对ＣＴＬＬ细胞产生促增殖作用，补体受体ＣＲ３参与这一作用。     

Down-Regulation of Estrogen Receptor Immunoreactivity by 17β-estradiol in the Guinea Pig Forebrain

Low amplitude pulses of estradiol-17β (E₂-17β) are more effective than large single bolus injections or constant exposure to E₂-17β in inducing progesterone-facilitated sex behavior in female rats and guinea pigs. The present study examined whether the increased responsiveness to E₂-17β is due to an increase in the number of estrogen receptors in the estrogen receptor rich areas of the hypothalamus and amygdala. Initial studies examined the rapid effects (20 min) of a high dose of E₂-17β (50 μg) on estrogen receptor immunostaining using either the H222 antibody or the ER 21 antiserum. ER 21 immunostaining was not affected by the E₂-17β treatment suggesting that it binds to both occupied and unoccupied estrogen receptors. Therefore the ER 21 antiserum was used to characterize the regulation of estrogen receptor immunoreactivity (ER-IR) by E₂-17β. ER-IR was examined for 48 h and serum E₂-17β for 24 h following a 2 μg s.c. injection of E₂-17β (a dose similar to that used in multiple pulse paradigms). Serum E₂-17β peaked 15 to 30 min following the injection and returned to baseline values by 1 h. In all but one area maximal suppression of ER-IR occurred at 12 h. In summary, 1) decreases in estrogen receptor immunoreactivity following E₂-17β are consistent with studies in which estrogen receptors were assayed by binding assays and estrogen receptor mRNA was determined by in situ hybridization; 2) the ER 21 antiserum is able to detect both occupied and unoccupied estrogen receptors and 3) H222 immunoreactivity is influenced by the presence of E₂-17β, so that the level of H222-IR is a reflection of ligand/receptor binding dynamics. The data suggest that up-regulation of estrogen receptors does not account for the increase in behavioral sensitivity which is observed following multiple pulses of E₂-17β.     

The effects of A 5-HT1A receptor agonist and antagonist on the 5-hydroxytryptamine release in the central nucleus of the amygdala: a microdialysis study with flesinoxan and WAY 100635

The modulation of extracellular 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) by 5-HT_1A receptors was studied by intracerebral microdialysis in awake and freely moving rats. Local administration of 1 μM tetrodotoxin (TTX), 60 mM K⁺ and perfusion with Ca²⁺-free Ringer containing EGTA confirmed that the major part of dialysate 5-HT levels from the CeA is of neuronal origin. Administration of 300 nM of RU 24969, a 5-HT_1B receptor agonist, through the probe into the CeA decreased dialysate 5-HT levels to 67.2% of the baseline value. Systemic administration of the 5-HT_1A receptor agonists 8-OH-DPAT and flesinoxan dose-dependently decreased 5-HT levels in the CeA. The effect of 0.3 mg/kg of flesinoxan could be completely antagonized by systemic administration of 0.05 mg/kg WAY 100635, a 5-HT_1A receptor antagonist. WAY 100635 alone had only minimal effects at this dose. These data show that a major part of the extracellular 5-HT in the CeA stems from 5-HT neurons and that the amount of 5-HT released into this brain region can be modulated by 5-HT_1A receptors. Received: 11 September 1996 / Accepted: 25 November 1996     

血清sIL—2r表达水平与脓毒血症的严重程度及预后的关系

目的：探讨脓毒血症患者血清中可溶性白细胞介素２受体（ｓＩＬ２ｒ）的表达水平以及与该病严重程度及预后的关系。方法：采用双抗体夹心酶联免疫分析法检测２９例脓毒血症患者血清ｓＩＬ２ｒ表达水平的动态变化，并以３０例正常人作为对照；用ＡＰＡＣＨＥⅡ评分方法对脓毒血症患者进行疾病严重度评分。结果：①脓毒血症患者血清ｓＩＬ２ｒ表达水平较正常人明显升高（Ｐ＜００１）；②脓毒血症患者中死亡者与存活者的血清ｓＩＬ２ｒ表达水平比较，感染初期及晚期死亡者明显高于存活者（Ｐ＜００５）；③以本组患者感染ｄ１的ＡＰＡＣＨＥⅡ评分的中位数１６为分界点，将患者分为２组，２组的血清ｓＩＬ２ｒ水平有显著差别（Ｐ＜００５）。结论：脓毒血症患者血清ｓＩＬ２ｒ表达水平明显升高；该指标与脓毒血症患者的疾病的严重程度及预后有密切的关系。此项指标的检测对判断脓毒血症患者的病情严重度及预后可能有重要意义     

Toll-like receptors in Borrelia burgdorferi-induced inflammation

Lyme arthritis, the most common manifestation of late Lyme disease, has been associated with the presence of Borellia burgdorferi in the joint. However, it is still unclear whether the pathogen itself is able to elicit such a sustained inflammatory response, or whether an aberrant immunological reaction of the host is the main driving force. Borrelia antigens, including lipoproteins, flagellin and DNA, are ligands of Toll-like receptors, and can thus elicit a strong stimulation of host cells, such as neutrophils, mononuclear cells and resident tissue cells. Understanding the molecular basis of the signalling events caused by Borrelia lipoproteins will lead to a greater understanding of inflammation in Lyme arthritis and, hopefully, new treatment strategies for chronic antibiotic-resistant disease.     

Up-regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors following chronic exposure of rats to mainstream cigarette smoke or α4β2 receptors to nicotine

Smokers are reported to have a higher density of central nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) that non-smokers at autopsy. Whether this increased receptor density is a response to smoking or a result of genetic variability is not known. While sub-chronic treatment of rats and mice with nicotine results in upregulation of central nAChRs, changes in receptor density in response to cigarette smoke have not been studied previously. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed nose-only for 13 weeks to mainstream cigarette smoke followed by assessment of [³H]nicotine binding in five brain regions of smoke- and sham-exposed animals. In smoke-exposed animals, there was a significant increase in nAChR density in the cortex, striatum, and cerebellum (35, 25, and 31% increases, respectively), while there was no significant change in receptor density in the thalamus and hippocampus. Smoke exposure did not alter markedly the affinity of the receptor for nicotine in these brain regions. Furthermore, up-regulation of nAChRs did not alter the biphasic binding properties by which nicotine binds to its receptor. There were no changes in the association (fast phase) or isomerization (slow phase) rate constants, and the percent contribution of slow and fast phase binding to nAChRs was not altered in the up-regulated receptor population compared with control. Similar results were observed following chronic nicotine exposure of cultured cortical cells from fetal rat brain or cells transfected with the α4β2 nAChR subtype. These results show that the up-regulation following smoke exposure in the rat is phenomenologically similar to that observed in vitro. These data provide preliminary evidence for a relationship between cigarette smoking and nAChR up-regulation in vivo and suggest that similar mechanisms of upregulation may underlie chronic smoke exposure of live animals and nicotine exposure of artificially expressed α4β2 receptors in vitro.