Calcium transport and ATPase activity in mitochondria and fragments of sarcoplasmic reticulum of the heart and muscles of rabbits with hypercholesteremia

Keeping rabbits on a high-cholesterol diet (1 g/kg) for 3–7 months led to an increase in cholesterol concentration in the mitochondrial membranes and fragments of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SPR) of the myocardium and skeletal muscles. Saturation of the membranes with cholesterol led to a decrease in efficiency of the Ca-pump of the SPR, as reflected in lowering of the Ca/ATP ratio and an increase in the outflow of Ca⁺⁺ from the SPR. Under these conditions the rate of accumulation of Ca⁺⁺ was higher in SPR than in the mitochondria. Activity of mitochondrial Mg⁺⁺-activated 2,4-DNP-ATPase was reduced in hypercholesteremia.Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Biochemistry, Institute of General Pathology and Pathological Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. M. Chernukh.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 89, No. 3, pp. 292–294, March, 1980.     

Role of nitric oxide in skeletal muscle: synthesis,distribution and functional importance

Over the last two decades, nitric oxide (NO) has been established as a novel mediator of biological processes, ranging from vascular control to long-term memory, from tissue inflammation to penile erection. This paper reviews recent research which shows that NO and its derivatives also are synthesized within skeletal muscle and that NO derivatives influence various aspects of muscle function. Individual muscle fibres express one or both of the constitutive NO synthase (NOS) isoforms. Type I (neuronal) NOS is localized to the sarcolemma of fast fibres; type III (endothelial) NOS is associated with mitochondria. Isolated skeletal muscle produces NO at low rates under resting conditions and at higher rates during repetitive contraction. NO appears to mediate cell–cell interactions in muscle, including vasodilation and inhibition of leucocyte adhesion. NO also acts directly on muscle fibres to alter cell function. Muscle metabolism appears to be NO-sensitive at several sites, including glucose uptake, glycolysis, mitochondrial oxygen consumption and creatine kinase activity. NO also modulates muscle contraction, inhibiting force output by altering excitation–contraction coupling. The mechanisms of NO action are likely to include direct effects on redox-sensitive regulatory proteins, interaction with endogenous reactive oxygen species, and activation of second messengers such as cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). In conclusion, research published over the past few years makes it clear that skeletal muscle produces NO and that endogenous NO modulates muscle function. Much remains to be learned, however, about the physiological importance of NO actions and about their underlying mechanisms.     

Elongated peptides,not the predicted nonapeptide stimulate a major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte clone with specificity for a bacterial heat shock protein

The peptides recognized by an H-2D^b-restricted CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clone which is specific for the 60-kDa mycobacterial heat shock protein (hsp) and cross-reacts with stressed host cells were characterized. None of the nonapeptides from hsp60 conforming to the H-2D^b binding motif were able to sensitize target cells for lysis by this CTL clone. Sequence analysis of the stimulatory fraction from a trypsin digest of hsp60, together with synthetic peptide studies, defined a cluster of overlapping epitopes. Carboxy-terminal extension by at least one amino acid of the nonamer predicted to bind best to H-2D^b was essential for CTL recognition. Two such elongated peptides, a 10-mer and a 12-mer stimulated the clone at similarly low concentrations in the 100 pM range. We assume that these two peptides comply best with the natural epitope. In contrast, the 11-mer was inactive. The stimulatory 10-mer bound to H-2D^b with an efficacy similar to that of the nonapeptide corresponding to the H-2D^b motif, as revealed by peptide induced major histocompatibility complex (MHC) surface expression on RMA-S cells and competitive blocking of epitope recognition by the nonamer. Binding of these carboxy-terminally extended peptides to the MHC groove can be explained by anchoring through the amino acid residue Asn in position 5 of the peptide and by intrusion of the hydrophobic carboxy-terminal Ala (10-mer) or Leu (12-mer), but not Gly (11-mer), into the hydrophobic pocket of the H-2D^b cleft. Because the carboxy-terminal part is thus larger than predicted this region of the peptide may arch up from the binding groove. We assume that recognition of steric components of the MHC/peptide complex broaden the range of epitope specificity for a single T cell receptor. This flexibility not only promotes recognition of several overlapping peptides from a single antigen, but may also increase the chance of cross-reaction with similar peptides from unrelated proteins, including autoantigens. Consistent with this latter assumption, the T cell clone cross-recognizes mycobacterial hsp60 and stressed host cells.     

Genetic epidemiology of cystic fibrosis in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean (Quebec, Canada)

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder with a prevalence at birth estimated at 1/2000-1/2500 livebirths in Caucasian populations. Some 127 CF individuals are known in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean (SLSJ), a geographically isolated region of Quebec. The prevalence at birth was estimated at 1/902 live borns, and the carrier rate was estimated at 1/15 inhabitants in the SLSJ region. The mean inbreeding coefficient was only slightly elevated in the CF group compared with three control groups, and was due to remote consanguinity. The mean kinship coefficient was 2.4 times higher in the CF group than in the control groups. In SLSJ region, the places of origin of the CF individuals and their parents did not show a clustered nonuniform distribution. Endogamy was not higher in the CF group than in control groups.     

Mutations in activation-induced cytidine deaminase in patients with hyper IgM syndrome

Recent studies have shown that mutations in a newly described RNA editing enzyme, activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), can cause an autosomal recessive form of hyper IgM syndrome. To determine the relative frequency of mutations in AID, we evaluated a group of 27 patients with hyper IgM syndrome who did not have defects in CD40 ligand and 23 patients with common variable immunodeficiency. Three different mutations in AID were identified in 18 patients with hyper IgM syndrome, including 14 French Canadians, 2 Lumbee Indians, and a brother and sister from Okinawa. No mutations were found in the remaining 32 patients. In the group of patients with hyper IgM syndrome, the patients with mutations in AID were older at the age of diagnosis, were more likely to have positive isohemagglutinins, and were less likely to have anemia, neutropenia, or thrombocytopenia. Lymphoid hyperplasia was seen in patients with hyper IgM syndrome and normal AID as well as the patients with hyper IgM syndrome and defects in AID.     

血管紧张素Ⅱ受体1和受体2在小鼠肾脏发育中的表达

目的观察小鼠肾脏发育中血管紧张素Ⅱ受体1(AngiotensinⅡreceptor type1,AT_1)和受体2 (AT_2)的表达特征,探讨小鼠肾脏发育过程中AT_1和AT_2的作用及相互关系。方法应用免疫组织化学技术、免疫印迹法(Western blot)并结合体视学方法检测胚龄12、14、15、16、18d及生后日龄1、3d小鼠肾脏发育中AT_1和AT_2的表达。结果AT_1和AT_2均首先出现在输尿管芽,然后出现在肾小管,生后表达逐渐减弱。早期肾小体内AT_2丰富表达,随着肾小体的成熟表达量逐渐降低。结论在小鼠肾脏发育中,AT_1可能与输尿管芽分支不断延长以及肾小管的增殖密切相关,AT_2可能与输尿管芽和肾小体的相互诱导相关。     

菊藤胶囊对应激大鼠血压、血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ和血液流变学的影响

目的观察中药复方菊藤胶囊对慢性应激性高血压大鼠血压、血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）及血液流变学的影响。方法大鼠随机分为6组（每组7只）：应激＋蒸馏水组（model），应激＋菊藤胶囊高剂量组（JT—H），应激＋菊藤胶囊中剂量组（JT—M），应激＋菊藤胶囊低剂量组（JT—L），应激＋卡托普利组（captopril），正常对照组（control）；除正常对照组外，其余5组均采用低频低压交流电间断电击法。电击大鼠足底28d，制作应激性高血压模型，同时各组均加入不同的干预。后应用经尾动脉测量血压和心率，酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测大鼠血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ，血液流变学和细胞流变学的各项指标。观察比较菊藤胶囊不同剂量组、卡托普利组对应激致大鼠血压及相关指标的影响。结果与正常对照组相比，模型组大鼠血压和血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ含量明显升高（P〈0．01）。全血黏度、血浆黏度、纤维蛋白原及红细胞聚集指数均明显升高（P〈0．05），红细胞变形指数无变化。与模型组相比，菊藤胶囊高、中组均能抑制应激大鼠的血压及血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ含量的升高（P〈0．01），菊藤胶囊高剂量能明显改善应激大鼠的血液流变性（P〈0．05），低剂量组应激大鼠的血液流变学无明显改变（P〉0．05）。结论菊藤胶囊能够降低应激性高血压大鼠的血压，其机理可能是通过降低血浆中血管紧张素Ⅱ的含量和改善血液流变和细胞流变性实现的。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">cagA</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">vacA</Emphasis> gene status in children from Brazil with chronic gastritis

Helicobacter pylori has been shown to be strongly associated with chronic gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulceration, and is a risk factor for gastric carcinoma. Histology, urease, culture, and polymerase chain reaction have been employed as for H. pylori diagnostic methods, pre and post treatment or during follow-up of dyspeptic adult individuals referred for endoscopy. In order to obtain a more-sensitive and specific method for H. pylori detection, we evaluated gastric body and antrum biopsies of 134 consecutive Brazilian consecutive dyspeptic children aged 1-16 years by rapid urease test, histology and polymerase chain reaction using two pairs of oligonucleotides. Our results indicated that polymerase chain reaction with Southern blotting and hybridization with specific chemiluminescent probes increased the number of positive H. pylori patients by 35%. The genotyping of H. pylori strains directly from gastric biopsy using the same nucleic acid methodology revealed that there is no association of chronic gastritis in our infant patients with vacA s1 and the presence of the cagA gene. These data suggest an initial infection of children with normal mucosa and probably others factors than vacA s1 genotype or the presence of the cagA gene are associated with the onset of gastric disease. Altogether, our results reinforce the need for using more sensitive diagnostic methods in order to understand the role of H. pylori in the genesis of gastric disease in children and its progression in adults.     

心肌肥厚大鼠心肌组织中5-羟色胺及血管紧张素-Ⅱ含量的变化

目的：观察大鼠发生心肌肥厚时心肌组织中5-羟色胺（5-HT）及血管紧张素-Ⅱ（Ang-Ⅱ）含量的变化，探讨5-HT、Ang-Ⅱ与心肌肥厚发生的关系。方法：采用腹主动脉缩窄法建立压力超负荷心肌肥厚模型；腹腔注射甲状腺素法建立体液性心肌肥厚模型；荧光分光光度法和放射免疫分析法测定5-HT及Ang-Ⅱ含量。结果：大鼠腹主动脉缩窄后8周，心肌肥厚明显，分别于主动脉缩窄后4-8周内处死动物，发现心肌肥厚程度逐渐加重；心肌组中5-HT及Ang-Ⅱ含量也逐渐增加，并与肥厚程度呈正相关。腹腔注射甲状腺素2周后出现心肌肥厚，4周时症状加剧；于2、3、4周时处死动物，发现肥厚心肌组织中5-HT和Ang-Ⅱ含量均显著增加。结论：提示5-HT与心肌肥厚的形成有关，二者之间的相互关系尚待进一步研究。     

New multiple congenital anomalies: Mental retardation syndrome (MCA/MR) with facio-cutaneous-skeletal involvement

Five unrelated patients (a male and 4 females) were affected with a previously undefined multiple congenital anomalies/mental retardation syndrome which has been designated the facio-cutaneous-skeletal (FCS) syndrome and which includes mental retardation with specific sociable, humorous behavior, characteristic facial appearance, excessive generalized skin, postnatal growth failure, and skeletal involvement. Consanguinity was noted in 2 patients, thus autosomal recessive inheritance is suggested. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.