Phosphate transport by plasma membranes of enterocytes during development: role of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol.

The present studies were designed to investigate phosphate transport across the brush border and basolateral membranes of enterocytes and to determine the effect of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25(OH)2D3] on these processes in suckling and adolescent rats. Vitamin D deficiency was induced in suckling rats by feeding pregnant dams a vitamin D-deficient diet 48 h after insemination; they were then kept in the dark. Vitamin D deficiency in the adolescent rats was induced by feeding the vitamin D-deficient diet to weanling rats for 4 wk. V max values for Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake in the brush border membranes of vitamin D-deficient and 1,25(OH)2D3-injected suckling rats was 0.7 +/- 0.1 and 1.5 +/- 0.2 nmol.mg protein-1.10 s-1 (P less than 0.01), respectively; V max values in adolescent rats were 0.2 +/- 0.05 and 0.36 +/- 0.04 nmol.mg protein-1.10 s-1 (P less than 0.05), respectively. Vmax values for Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake in basolateral membranes of vitamin D-deficient and 1,25(OH)2D3-treated suckling rats were 0.006 +/- 0.001 and 0.047 +/- 0.006 nmol.mg protein-1.10 s-1 (P less than 0.01).     

The CTLA-4 gene region of chromosome 2q33 is linked to, and associated with, type 1 diabetes. Belgian Diabetes Registry

Susceptibility to autoimmune insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes mellitus is determined by a combination of environmental and genetic factors, which include variation in MHC genes on chromosome 6p21 (IDDM1) and the insulin gene on chromosome 11p15 (IDDM2). However, linkage to IDDM1 and IDDM2 cannot explain the clustering of type 1 diabetes in families, and a role for other genes is inferred. In the present report we describe linkage and association of type 1 diabetes to the CTLA-4 gene (cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated-4) on chromosome 2q33 (designated IDDM12). CTLA-4 is a strong candidate gene for T cell- mediated autoimmune disease because it encodes a T cell receptor that mediates T cell apoptosis and is a vital negative regulator of T cell activation. In addition, we provide supporting evidence that CTLA-4 is associated with susceptibility to Graves' disease, another organ- specific autoimmune disease.      

Isolated congenital lipase-colipase deficiency

A 5-yr-old child with isolated combined pancreatic lipase and colipase deficiency is described. The patient has a history of passing oily stools since birth. Pancreatic stimulation tests showed that both lipase and colipase activities were less than 2% of normal control values. Despite the total lack of both enzymes, the patient's fat absorption coefficient was 50%. Fat absorption coefficient increased to 82% with pancreatic enzyme supplementation. This is the first report of congenital combined lipase and colipase deficiency.     

Intestinal maturation: characterization of mitochondrial phosphate transport in the rat and its regulation by 1,25-(OH)2 vitamin D3

The mitochondria play a major role in the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation within the cell. Despite the fact that the enterocytes receive the majority of absorbed phosphate and their high metabolic turnover rate, the role of the intestinal mitochondria in phosphate transport system during maturation is not known. Therefore, the current studies were designed to characterize phosphate transport by jejunal mitochondria of rats during maturation (suckling, weanling, and adolescent rats). The functional integrity of the intestinal mitochondria of suckling and adolescent rats was determined by oxygen consumption studies demonstrating respiratory control ratios of more than 3 when succinate was used as a test substrate. Phosphate uptake was significantly stimulated by the presence of 3 mM ATP at all age groups studied. Maximal phosphate uptake in the presence of 3 mM ATP and 2 mM succinate was 16.5 +/- 1.0, 20.5 +/- 1 and 28.7 +/- 0.4 nmol/mg protein (mean +/- SE) in suckling, weanling, and adolescent rats respectively. ATP-dependent phosphate uptake was inhibited by 80% with 100 microM p-MB. Kinetic parameters for ATP stimulated phosphate uptake at 10 s revealed a Km of 4 +/- 0.9, 2.8 +/- 0.4, and 0.9 +/- 0.1 mM and Vmax of 5 +/- 0.7, 9.5 +/- 1, and 11 +/- 0.7 nmol/mg protein per 10 s in suckling, weanling, and adolescent rats, respectively. Phosphate uptake was also stimulated by an inwardly directed pH gradient (pH out less than pH inside) compared to no pH gradient condition suggesting the presence of PO4-/OH- exchange.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Development maturation of riboflavin intestinal transport in the rat

The intestinal transport of riboflavin in the immature intestine of the suckling rat (14 day old) and its subsequent maturation in weanling (22 day old) and adult (90 day old) rats were investigated using the intestinal everted sac technique. The mucosal-to-serosal transport of 0.5 microM riboflavin was linear with time for 30-min incubation and occurred at a rate of 4.6, 3.6, and 1.6 pmol/g initial tissue wet wt/min in suckling, weanling, and adult rats, respectively. The transport of 0.5 microM riboflavin was higher in the jejunum than the ileum in all age groups. The transport system of riboflavin in all age groups was saturable, energy-, temperature-, and Na+-dependent. Kinetic parameters of the transport process were different. Apparent Kt of the transport process was the same in suckling and weanling rats (0.12 and 0.11 microM, respectively) but tripled in adult rats (0.35 microM). On the other hand, a progressive decrease in Vmax from 166 to 122 to 54 pmol/g initial tissue wet weight/30 min was observed in the suckling, weanling, and adult rats, respectively. The present study demonstrates that the characteristics of the transport process of riboflavin is similar in suckling, weanling, and adult rats and occurs by an energy-, temperature-, and Na+-dependent carrier-mediated process. However, the affinity and the activity (or the number) of the transport carriers of riboflavin decrease with maturation.