Glycine transporter I inhibitor, N-methylglycine (sarcosine), added to antipsychotics for the treatment of schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Hypofunction of N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor had been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Treatment with D-serine or glycine, endogenous full agonists of the glycine site of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, or D-cycloserine, a partial agonist, improve the symptoms of schizophrenia. N-methylglycine (sarcosine) is an endogenous antagonist of glycine transporter-1, which potentiates glycine's action on N-methyl-D-aspartate glycine site and can have beneficial effects on schizophrenia. METHODS: Thirty-eight schizophrenic patients were enrolled in a 6-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of sarcosine (2 g/d), which was added to their stable antipsychotic regimens. Twenty of them received risperidone. Measures of clinical efficacy and side effects were determined every other week. RESULTS: Patient who received sarcosine treatment revealed significant improvements in their positive, negative, cognitive, and general psychiatric symptoms. Similar therapeutic effects were observed when only risperidone-treated patients were analyzed. Sarcosine was well-tolerated, and no significant side effect was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcosine treatment can benefit schizophrenic patients treated by antipsychotics including risperidone. The significant improvement with the sarcosine further supports the hypothesis of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor hypofunction in schizophrenia. Glycine transporter-1 is a novel target for the pharmacotherapy to enhance N-methyl-D-aspartate function.     

Gastro-duodenal digestion products of the major peanut allergen Ara h 1 retain an allergenic potential

BACKGROUND: The process of gastro-duodenal digestion may play a role in determining the allergenic properties of food proteins. The sensitizing and allergenic potential of digestion products of highly degraded allergens, such as the major peanut allergen Ara h 1, is currently under debate. We evaluated the effect of in vitro gastro-duodenal digestion of Ara h 1 on T cell reactivity and basophil histamine release. METHODS: An in vitro model of gastro-duodenal digestion was used to investigate changes in the allergenic properties of Ara h 1 using in vitro assays monitoring T cell reactivity (proliferation, cytokine production) and histamine release of basophils from peanut allergic individuals. The digestion process was monitored using an SDS-PAGE gel. RESULTS: In vitro gastric digestion led to rapid degradation of Ara h 1 into small fragments M(r) L5600. Gastric digestion did not affect the ability of Ara h 1 to stimulate cellular proliferation. Gastro-duodenal digestion significantly reduced its ability to stimulate clonal expansion (P<0,05; Wilxocon's signed rank test). The Th-2 type cytokine polarization of T cells from peanut allergic donors (IFN-gamma/IL-13 ratio and IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio of CFSE(low) CD4(+) T cells) remained unchanged regardless of the level of digestion. Histamine release of basophils from peanut allergic individuals was induced to the same extent by native Ara h 1 and its digestion products. CONCLUSION: Gastro-duodenal digestion fragments of Ara h 1 retain T cell stimulatory and IgE-binding and cross-linking properties of the intact protein.     

Recombinant α2(IV)NC1 domain of type IV collagen is an effective regulator of retinal capillary endothelial cell proliferation and inhibits pre-retinal neovascularisation

Background A recombinant form of the α2(IV)NC1 domain of type IV collagen has been shown to have potent anti-angiogenic activity although this peptide has not been studied in the context of proliferative retinopathies. In the current investigation we examined the potential for α2(IV)NC1 to regulate retinal microvascular endothelial cell function using a range of in vitro and in vivo assay systems. Materials and methods α2(IV)NC1 at concentrations between 0.1 and 1 μg/ml was added to retinal microvascular endothelial cells (RMECs) followed by assessment of cell attachment, proliferation and survival. This agent was also tested within a novel in vitro three-dimensional retinal angiogenesis assay and the number of angiogenic sprouts quantified. α2(IV)NC1 was also delivered intra-vitreally to mice with oxygen-induced proliferative retinopathy (OIR) and neovascularisation evaluated in comparison with vehicle-treated controls. Results RMECs treated with α2(IV)NC1 (0.1, 0.5 and 1 μg/ml) showed delayed attachment at 3 h post-seeding, although this deficit had been restored at the 6-h time point. BrdU assay of DNA replication revealed that confluent RMECs treated with α2(IV)NC1 showed no measurable response in comparison with vehicle-treated controls. By contrast, proliferation of sub-confluent RMECs was significantly reduced by α2(IV)NC1 at 0.5 μg/ml (P<0.01). α2(IV)NC1 also induced apoptosis in RMECs and inhibited angiogenesis of pre-existing retinal vascular networks in vitro (P<0.001). Intra-vitreal injection of α2(IV)NC1 in the OIR model significantly inhibited pre-retinal neovascularisation compared with vehicle-treated controls (P<0.001). Conclusion α2(IV)NC1 inhibits angiogenesis in the retinal microvasculature. This recombinant protein has potential for the treatment of neovascularisation in proliferative retinopathies. BioStratum Inc. did not sponsor this research in any way. None of the authors are paid consultants with this company.     

Investigation of the negative chronotropic action of SK&F 86466 in the pithed normotensive rat

SK&F 86466, 6-chloro-3-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1-H-3-benzazepine, is a potent and selective antagonist of the α₂-adrenoceptor in vitro. This compound produced a small pressor response accompanied by a marked bradycardia when administered i.v. to the pithed normotensive rat. The pressor response was not affected by reserpine treatment, pretreatment with α- or β-adrenoceptor antagonists, atropine, or hexamethonium. The bradycardia was markedly reduced by bilateral vagotomy and pretreatment with atropine and attenuated by hexamethonium. The negative chronotropic action of SK&F 86466 was abolished by a combination of vagotomy and atropine. Mediation of the bradycardia by a baroreceptor reflex was ruled out by the observations that a lack of change in heart rate was associated with the vasopressor response to phenylephrine in the pithed rat pretreated with propranolol. It is concluded that the negative chronotropic action of SK&F 86466 in the pithed rat is mediated indirectly by activation of the cholinergic innervation of the heart.     

Inhaled allergen-driven CD1c up-regulation and enhanced antigen uptake by activated human respiratory-tract dendritic cells in atopic asthma

Background Dendritic cells (DC) mediate inflammation in rodent models of allergic airway disease, but the role played by human respiratory‐tract DC (hRTDC) in atopic asthma remains poorly defined. Recent data suggest that CD1 antigen presentation by hRTDC may contribute to asthma pathogenesis. Objective To investigate the influence of hRTDC on the balance between atopy and allergic asthma in human subjects and to determine whether CD1 expression by hRTDC is modulated during asthmatic inflammation. Methods Sputum cells were induced from steroid‐naïve, allergen‐challenged and allergen‐naïve subjects (atopic asthmatics, atopic non‐asthmatics and non‐atopic controls). hRTDC were identified using monoclonal antibody labelling and analysis by flow cytometry. Results hRTDC stained HLA‐DR⁺ (negative for markers of other cell lineages) were predominantly myeloid and comprised ∼0.5% of viable sputum cells. Sputum cells were potent stimulators of allogeneic CD4⁺ naïve T cells and enrichment/depletion experiments correlated stimulatory potency with DC numbers. Sputum contained cells that exhibited typical dendritic morphology when analysed by electron microscopy. Myeloid hRTDC were endocytically active, but uptake of FITC‐dextran was enhanced in cells from asthmatics (P<0.001). Despite their increased endocytic capacity, asthmatic myeloid hRTDC appeared mature and expressed increased levels of maturation markers (P<0.05–P<0.001), CD1c, CD1d and langerin (P<0.05). CD1c expression by asthmatic myeloid hRTDC was enhanced upon in vivo allergen challenge (three to ninefold within 24 h; P<0.05). CD11c⁻CD123^high hRTDC were only detected in asthmatic sputum and were increased in number following allergen challenge. Conclusion Despite limited cell numbers, it proved possible to analyse human RTDC in induced sputum, providing evidence that increased antigen uptake and enhanced CD1 presentation by activated hRTDC may contribute to allergic airway disease. CD1 presentation by hRTDC in atopic asthma may therefore constitute a novel target for future intervention strategies.     

In vivo anti-melanoma activities of the Melan-A/MART-1101–115 T CD4+ cell peptide

Malignant melanoma causes significant health problems. The identification of tumour-associated antigens has led to novel approaches to increase T cell mediated anti-tumour immune response. Melan-A/MART-1 has been use as target antigen for several T cell based immunotherapeutic treatments. More recently, the critical role of CD4+ T cells in inducing and maintaining anti-tumour immunity has been increasingly recognized. In order to optimize tumour immunotherapy, greater efforts have been concentrated on the identification of tumour antigens presented by MHC class II molecules to CD4+ T cells. In a publication, Tiwari et al. (2004) [1] have identified by a computational approach the 15-mer amino-acid sequence 101–115 (PPAYEKLSAEQSPPP) of the Melan-A/MART-1 as a good target for a vigorous and safe immunotherapy. Therefore, we have investigated the in vivo anti-tumour activity of this peptide in a murine melanoma model. For the prophylactic treatment, 20 μg or 50 μg peptide was subcutaneously injected in mice once a week during 3 weeks before tumour induction. Treatment with 50 μg peptide significantly affected tumour development. Thus, our preliminary data demonstrate potential in vivo prophylactic activity of the 101–115 peptide-based vaccine to control melanoma growth.     

维生素D的骨外作用

越来越多的研究表明,维生素D除具有经典的调节钙磷平衡和维持骨骼健康的作用外,还具有其他更为广泛的骨外生物学效应,如调节免疫、抗肿瘤、保护中枢神经系统和防治代谢综合征等作用.本文就相关方面的研究进展进行综述.     

前列腺素E1对大鼠肝移植肾功能的保护作用

目的探讨术中应用前列腺素E1（prostaglandin E1，PGE1）对大鼠肝移植肾功能的保护作用。方法大鼠原位肝移植术中经颈内静脉灌注PGE1为治疗组，生理盐水和空白为对照组，观察术后1周存活率、1h的尿量，测定血浆肌酐、尿素氮和肾组织中丙二醛（malondjaldehyde，MDA）、谷胱甘肽（glutathione，GSH）含量，肾组织病理检查。结果PGE1治疗组术后1h尿量较对照组明显增加，肌酐和尿素氮水平均较对照组降低，PGE1治疗组肾组织中GSH含量显著高于两对照组，MDA含量低于两对照组。病理检查PGE1治疗组肾脏组织形态学损伤明显减轻。结论术中应用PGE1能显著改善大鼠肝移植后的肾功能，其机制可能与对抗氧自由基损伤作用有关。     

胰岛素样生长因子1对新生大鼠缺氧缺血性脑损伤保护机制的研究

目的　建立单侧缺氧缺血性脑损伤 (HIBD)动物模型 ,研究胰岛素样生长因子 1(IGF 1)对HIBD的影响和可能机制。　方法　选择健康 7日龄Wistar大鼠 12 0只 ,建立HIBD模型 ,随机分成假手术组、HIBD组、HIBD后 0 .2mg/kg人基因重组IGF 1干预组 (RH IGF 1组 )、0 .0 6 6mg/kg人基因重组IGF 1干预组 (SRH IGF 1组 )及盐水对照组 (对照组 )。各组按观察时段进一步分为 2 4、4 8、72h组 ,每组 8只。各组于规定时刻观测脑形态学改变、谷氨酸 (Glu)含量、凋亡细胞计数、Bcl 2蛋白表达。　结果　 (1)HIBD 4 8h组Glu(116 2 .2± 10 8.1)mg/kg ,较假手术组(75 0 .9± 5 3.4 )mg/kg明显升高 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;HIBD组凋亡细胞计数 [2 4h :(7.6± 1.9) % ,4 8h(12 .6±1.2 ) % ,72h :(13.8± 0 .9) % ],较假手术组 [2 4h(2 .0± 0 .2 ) % ,4 8h(2 .0± 0 .3) % ,72h(2 .0±0 .2 ) % ]明显增加 (P均 <0 .0 5 )。 (2 )与对照组相比 ,RH IGF 1组脑组织病变减轻 ;干预 4 8h组Glu[SRH IGF 1组 (781.4± 5 4 .2 )mg/kg ,RH IGF 1组 (74 0 .5± 4 6 .6 )mg/kg],较对照组 (112 6 .6± 4 8.0 )mg/kg明显降低 (P均 <0 .0 5 ) ;RH IGF 1组凋亡细胞计数 [2 4h :(3.6± 0 .9) % ,4 8h(8.2± 2 .2 ) % ,72h(9.4± 1.4 ) % ],较对