Alteration of leukotriene C4 levels in experimental spinal cord injury]

Leukotriene C4 (LTC4) production in the guinea pig spinal cord following compression injury was determined by radioimmunoassay, in the same way thromboxane B2 (TXB2), a stable metabolite of thromboxane A2 (TXA2), was also measured. When the spinal cords were compressed under a 20 gram weight for 10 minutes, LTC4 levels reached peak values (2.2 +/- 0.4 pmol/g cord) 10 minutes after release, then gradually decreased until being undetectable 60 minutes later. TXB2 levels reached peak values (146.8 +/- 6.2 pmol/g cord) 5 minutes after the release from compression, the TXB2 level then gradually decreased, but remained at about 1/2 of the peak level even 60 minutes after the release. When the spinal cords were compressed with various weights, TXB2 production depended on the degree of compression, while LTC4 production was not affected by the compression injury. The LTC4 production confirmed in the injured spinal cords is suggestive of its relation to secondary disorders after spinal cord injury, spinal edema, in particular.     

Tachykinin receptor cross-talk. Immunological cross-reactivity between the external domains of the substance K and substance P receptors.

In the present study, we have chemically synthesized peptides which correspond to the four putative extracellular domains of the predicted substance K (SK) receptor protein and raised specific polyclonal antibodies against these peptides. These antibodies were then tested for both structural and functional recognition of epitopes on the substance P (SP) receptor on rat AR42J pancreatic cells and human IM9 lymphoblasts, which express the SP receptor, but not the SK receptor. Antibodies directed against the first, second, and fourth external domains of the predicted SK receptor recognized a 58-kDa protein on AR42J cells. This protein has a molecular weight similar to the previously demonstrated SP receptor on both AR42J cells and IM9 cells. Furthermore, antibodies against the second and fourth extracellular domains significantly inhibited specific 125I-SP binding on both AR42J and IM9 cells, and also significantly inhibited SP-induced mobilization of [Ca2+]i on AR42J cells. These data suggest that the second and fourth extracellular domains of the SK and SP receptors may share common structural motifs for ligand binding and signaling mechanism.     

Solubilization and characterization of the pyrilamine-binding protein from cultured smooth muscle cells

The cultured smooth muscle cell line DDT1MF-2 expresses a large number (9.7 x 10(6) receptors/cell) of functional histamine H1-type receptors [J. Cell. Physiol. 134:367-375 1988]. Two different binding assays, gel filtration and polyethylene glycol precipitation, indicated that the [3H]pyrilamine binding activity was solubilized by 1% digitonin with binding characteristics similar to those of intact cells. The solubilized proteins were then purified by sequential gel filtration, chromatofocusing, and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. The calculated molecular weight of this purified pyrilamine-binding protein was 38-40 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. [3H]Pyrilamine binding to these 38-40-kDa proteins indicated a single class of binding site with a Kd of 288 nM, which is equivalent to that of intact cells and digitonin-solubilized proteins. The computer analysis Scatfit also indicated that one molecule of [3H]pyrilamine bound to one molecule of purified protein. Furthermore, a polyclonal antibody raised against the purified protein recognized the 38-40-kDa band by Western blotting techniques, specifically bound to the cell surface of DDT1MF-2 cells, and inhibited [3H]pyrilamine binding to these cells in a dose-dependent manner. These data strongly suggest that the purified 38-40-kDa protein is part of an antagonist binding domain on the histamine H1 receptor on DDT1MF-2 cells.     

Evaluation of time-resolved fluorometric immunoassay of CA 50

Serum CA 50 was determined by a time resolved fluorometric immunoassay (TR-FIA) with CANAG CA-50 DELFIA kit. Evaluation of the assay system gave satisfactory results in its sensitivity, accuracy, reproducibility, dynamic range and easy handling. No prozone phenomenon was observed up to 347,000 U/ml. From a histogram of 134 normal sera, the cut off point was determined at 34 U/ml. CA 50 in 202 patients' sera was determined with this assay. Nineteen of 20 patients pancreatic cancer, 6 of 21 gastric cancer, 14 of 25 hepatoma gave positive values. In comparison with CA 19-9, higher values and higher rates of positive CA 50 were observed in benign and malignant liver diseases, suggesting its non-cancerous origin in the liver. A high correlation was observed between the level of CA 50 and CA 19-9 of 157 patients' sera. Serum CA 50 was completely correlated with CA 19-9 in the clinical course of patients with pancreatic cancer, but not in patients with hepatoma. Thus we conclude that the CANAG CA-50 DELFIA System is useful for the diagnosis and monitoring cancer patients but must be used with care because of its elevation in benign liver diseases.     

The evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in patients with bronchial asthma

Lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) and extended pH monitoring of the distal esophagus were assessed in 15 asthmatic children in order to evaluate the most important symptoms of suspected gastroesophageal reflux (GER)-asthma. As a result, episodes of asthmatic attacks after overeating were closely correlated with GER as determined by decreased LESP and high pH score.     

Relationship between lipoxygenase and human testicular cancer

The metabolism of arachidonic acid by either the cyclooxygenase (COX) or lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway generates eicosanoids, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases, including cancer. They are now believed to play important roles in tumor promotion, progression, and metastasis, and the involvement of LOX expression and function in tumor growth and metastasis has been reported in human tumor cell lines. Expressions of 5-LOX and 12-LOX in human testicular cancer (TC), and normal testis (NT) tissues were examined, as well as effects of their inhibitors on cell proliferation in TC cell line. Expressions of 5-LOX and 12-LOX were detected by immunohistochemistry. Effects of LOX inhibitors on TC cell growth were examined by MTT assay. While 5-LOX and 12-LOX expressions were slightly detected in NT tissues, expressions of 5-LOX and 12-LOX were significant detected in TC tissues by immunohistochemistry. The LOX inhibitors inhibited the growth of TC cells. LOX is induced in TC, and results may suggest that LOXs are essential for cell growth of TC cells.     

Secretory leukoprotease inhibitor augments hepatocyte growth factor production in human lung fibroblasts

Secretory leukoprotease inhibitor (SLPI), an 11.7-kD nonglycosylated serine protease inhibitor, is produced and released into the fluids of mucosal surfaces including human lung. It comprises two domains with homologous amino acid sequences: the N-terminal domain possessing antibacterial activity, and the C-terminal domain with antiprotease activity. Here we report the positive regulation of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) production in human lung fibroblasts exerted by SLPI or its C-terminal domain under physiologic concentrations (1 to 10 microM). This HGF production by SLPI was unaffected by the addition of interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist. In contrast, human skin fibroblasts exerted no SLPI-stimulated increase in HGF production, despite the fact that IL-1beta increased HGF production with an intensity similar to that of human lung fibroblasts. Both the time-course and dose-response studies in human lung fibroblasts revealed that the induction of HGF messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein occurred in parallel, indicating that the mechanism existed at the steady-state mRNA level. A synthetic elastase inhibitor failed to induce HGF, but alpha(1)-antitrypsin also stimulated HGF production in lung fibroblasts. Inactivation of the antiprotease activity of SLPI or its C-terminal domain by an oxidizing agent (N-chlorosuccinimide) abolished their stimulatory effect on HGF production. These findings demonstrate that SLPI exerts a novel HGF induction and functions as an anti-inflammatory and regenerative factor in addition to its role in protease inhibition.     

Recombination between phage S1 and the TC-resistant gene on Staphylococcus aureus plasmid.

When bacteriophage S1 is grown in a Staphylococcus aureus strain carrying the nonconjugative plasmid rms7 that encodes tetracycline (TC) resistance, a phage lysate capable of transducing TC resistance at an extremely high frequency was obtained. A linear relationship was found between transduction frequency and multiplicity of phage infection and a single phage particle can form a plaque containing TC lysogenic cells in its center. Treatment with anti-S1 phage serum and heating at 63° eliminated both transducing and plaque-forming activities of the lysate. These results indicated that a single recombinant of S1 particle (called S1ptet) carries the tet gene(s) of the rms7 plasmid and is responsible for the transduction.