Type II collagen (CII) is of immunological interest because of its
repetitive structure and properties as an autoantigen. The mouse gene has
recently been cloned, thus enabling T cell-defined epitopes to be
identified. Multiple novel epitopes on mouse CII are here detected in the
autoreactive T cell response. The major response is directed to an epitope
with residues 707-721 located on the CB10 fragment. Some 25 other epitopes
are also recognized, including the autologous homologue of the 256-270
epitope which dominates in the response to foreign collagen. The cells
reactive with mouse collagen peptides were of Th1 type, as judged by
release of IFN-gamma. No significant reactivity was detected to mouse CII
peptides during ongoing disease. Alignment of the mouse epitopes revealed a
sequence motif with characteristic side chains at residues P1, P4 and P7,
and to a lesser extent at P5, within a nonamer core sequence. Binding of
these epitopes was simulated in a computer model of the I-Aq molecule,
where peptides with anchor residues at P1, P4 and P7 were indeed found to
fit the binding groove best. The spacing of pockets and the fine structure
of the binding surface of the I-Aq molecule meshes with the repetitive
structure of the collagen (X-Y-Gly), thus providing a likely explanation
for the occurrence of multiple epitopes. Comparison with human DR binding
motifs showed that the I-Aq motif resembles most closely that of the DR4
subtypes which predispose for rheumatoid arthritis.
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Background: Endothelium-derived nitric oxide causes vasodilation in part by increasing the dilator activity of other endothelium-derived mediators, including prostacyclin and a K sup +ATP channel-dependent hyperpolarizing factor. Although previous studies have proposed that isoflurane (ISO) depresses endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation by inhibiting endothelium-derived nitric oxide activity, the effects of ISO on the interactions among endothelium-derived dilators have not been characterized. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effect of ISO on endothelium-dependent relaxation in canine pulmonary arteries. Specifically, the goal was to assess the effects of ISO on the individual actions and on the synergistic interactions of these endothelium-derived mediators.
Methods: Canine pulmonary arterial rings were suspended for isometric tension recording. The effects of 1 minimum alveolar concentration ISO (0.4 mM) on vasorelaxation responses to bradykinin, A23187, acetylcholine, cromakalim, and SIN-1 were assessed in phenylephrine-precontracted rings with and without pretreatment with a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (N sup omega -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester; L-NAME), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin), or a K sup +ATP, channel inhibitor (glybenclamide).
Results: Isofluane attenuated pulmonary vasorelaxation induced by bradykinin, A23187, and cromakalim but had no effect on relaxation induced by acetylcholine or SIN-1. Neither the nitric oxide-mediated nor the prostacyclin-mediated components of relaxation induced by bradykinin and A23187 were altered by ISO. However, ISO abolished the K sup +ATP -mediated component of relaxation and the K sup +ATP -dependent synergistic interaction between nitric oxide and prostacyclin. 相似文献
While an unstable CTG triplet repeat expansion is responsible for myotonic
dystrophy, the mechanism whereby this genetic defect induces the disease
remains unknown. To detect proteins binding to CTG triplet repeats, we
performed bandshift analysis using as probes double- stranded DNA fragments
having CTG repeats [ds(CTG)6-10] and single- stranded oligonucleotides
having CTG repeats ss(CTG)8 or RNA CUG triplet repeats (CUG)8. The source
of protein was nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts of HeLa cells, fibroblasts
and myotubes. Proteins binding to the double-stranded DNA repeat
[ds(CTG)6-10], were inhibited by nonlabeled ds(CTG)6-10, but not by a
non-specific DNA fragment (USF/AD-ML). Another protein binding to ssCTG
probe and RNA CUG probe was inhibited by nonlabeled (CTG)8 and (CUG)8.
Nonlabeled oligos with different triplet repeat sequences, ss(CAG)8 or
ss(CGG)8, did not inhibit binding to the ss(CTG)8 probe. However, when
labeled as probes, the (CAG)8 and (CGG)8 bound to proteins distinct from
the CTG proteins and binding was inhibited by nonlabeled (CAG)8 or (CGG)8
respectively. The protein binding only to the RNA repeat (CUG)8 was
inhibited by nonlabeled (CUG)8 but not by nonlabeled single- or
double-stranded CTG repeats. Furthermore, the CUG-BP exhibited no binding
to an RNA oligonucleotide of triplet repeats of the same length but having
a different sequence, CGG. The CUG binding protein was localized to the
cytoplasm, whereas dsDNA binding proteins were localized to the nuclear
extract. Thus, several trinucleotide binding proteins exist and their
specificity is determined by the triplet sequence. The novel protein,
CUG-BP, is particularly interesting since it binds to triplet repeats known
to be present in myotonin protein kinase mRNA which is responsible for
myotonic dystrophy.
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