Alterations in histamine levels in the rat induced by compound 48/80

Histamine release in the rat was induced in vivo either by a single dose of compound 48/80 injected i.v. or by four repeated, daily doses of the same compound injected i.p. After i.v. injection the levels of blood histamine were determined and after i.p. injections the changes in both tele-methylhistamine and histamine levels in different tissues were investigated. I.v. injection of 48/80 induced a very rapid and marked increase of blood histamine by 7.4 to 11-fold over the control levels within the first two minutes. After repeated i.p. injections of compound 48/80 most tissues showed higher than normal tele-methylhistamine/histamine ratios. The results suggest that agents known to induce release of histamine from mast cells may exert significant changes in blood and tissue histamine levels and that liberated histamine is thereafter extensively catabolized.     

Amyloid fibril formation by human stefin B: influence of pH and TFE on fibril growth and morphology.

As shown before, human stefin B (cystatin B) populates two partly unfolded species, a native-like state at pH 4.8 and a structured molten globule state at pH 3.3 (high ionic strength), from each of which amyloid fibrils grow. Here, we show that the fibrils obtained at pH 3.3 differ from those at pH 4.8 and that those obtained at pH 3.3 (protofibrils) do not transform readily to mature fibrils. In addition we show that amorphous aggregates are also a source of fibrils. The kinetics of amyloid fibril formation at different trifluoroethanol (TFE) concentrations were measured. TFE accelerates fibril growth at predenaturational concentrations of the alcohol. At concentrations higher than 10%, the fibrillar yield decreases proportionately as the population of an all alpha-helical, denatured form of the protein increases. At an optimum TFE concentration, the lag and the growth phases are observed, similarly to some other amyloidogenic proteins. Morphology of the protein species at the beginning and the end of the reactions was observed using atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Final fibril morphologies differ depending on solvent conditions.     

Retroviral gene therapy of collagen-induced arthritis by local delivery of IL-4

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune arthritis, for which treatment options remain limited. This study investigated the potential role of adoptive cellular gene therapy as a novel means for treating the RA animal model collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Adoptive transfer of antigen-specific T-cell hybridomas retrovirally transduced to express IL-4 1 day before booster immunization significantly reduced the number of inflamed joints. Cell transfer after clinical onset of disease had no therapeutic effect. Bioluminescence imaging showed that the hybridomas migrated to the inflamed joints, thus delivering the regulatory protein locally at the site of inflammation. The homing was, at least in part, due to chemotaxis in response to proinflammatory chemokines that are expressed in inflamed joints. There were no significant changes in the cytokine milieu of the draining lymph nodes, nor in the systemic levels of anti-collagen antibodies in treated mice. We conclude that the beneficial clinical effects observed in our model were most likely based on the local action(s) of IL-4 in the inflamed joints and that the local delivery (and effects) of regulatory cytokines, like IL-4, constitutes a novel and effective method of preventing organ-specific autoimmune disease and of minimizing systemic adverse effects.     

Compound 48/80 and substance P induced release of histamine and serotonin from rat peritoneal mast cells

The effect of substance P and compound 48/80 on histamine and serotonin release from not isolated and isolated mast cells have been compared in experimentsin vitro. The response of not isolated and isolated mast cells were virtually identical. The release of both amines, in response to 48/80 and substance P, was dose-dependent. The percentage of histamine released by 48/80 was significantly higher than the percentage of serotonin, the difference being higher at lower concentrations of compound 48/80 after 15 min of incubation. Substance P also showed a tendency to higher efficiency for histamine than for serotonin release. In contrast to 48/80, the dose-response curves for histamine and serotonin release were parallel. These results support the view that the ratio between histamine and serotonin release depends on the liberator used. They also showed that this ratio can depend on the concentration of the agent inducing secretion. The results indicate that substance P as well as 48/80 act rather selectively as histamine liberators and that there is some difference in releasing properties of 48/80 and substance P.     

Alterations in histamine levels in the rat induced by compound 48/80

Histamine release in the rat was inducedin vivo either by a single dose of compound 48/80 injected i.v. or by four repeated, daily doses of the same compound injected i.p. After i.v. injection the levels of blood histamine were determined and after i.p. injections the changes in both tele-methylhistamine and histamine levels in different tissues were investigated. I.v. injection of 48/80 induced a very rapid and marked increase of blood histamine by 7.4 to 11-fold over the control levels within the first two minutes. After repeated i.p. injections of compound 48/80 most tissues showed higher than normal tele-methylhistamine/histamine ratios. The results suggest that agents known to induce release of histamine from mast cells may exert significant changes in blood and tissue histamine levels and that liberated histamine is thereafter extensively catabolized.     

Micromolar concentrations of EGTA increase histamine secretion from mast cells treated with digitalis glycosides of different polarity

Histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by compound 48/80 (1 g/ml) after 90 min of preincubation in calcium — free medium is only 8.4%. Cardiotonic glycosides modify the secretion induced by compound 48/80: hydrophlic glycosides potentiate the secretion, and this potentiation decreases with increasing lipophility of the glycosides.Our present study shows that the preincubation (90 min) of mast cells with EGTA (1mol/l) potentiates the histamine release induced by compound 48/80. A further potentiation is found when mast cells are preaincubated with EGTA before the addition of digitalis glycosides. The potentiation depends on the polarity of the glycoside. Since EGTA inflences the secretion only in media containing sodium, the effect of EGTA might be due to its interaction with membrane permeability for Na⁺ ions. Liposoluble glycosides have an additional intracellular effect, acting on microfilaments and producing a lower or no potentiation of the response.     

Crotoxin acceptor protein isolated from Torpedo electric organ: binding properties to crotoxin by surface plasmon resonance.

Crotoxin, a potent neurotoxin from the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus, is a heterodimeric phospholipase A(2) (EC 3.1.1.4), which blocks the release of acetylcholine from peripheral neurons. We previously have suggested the existence of a 48 kDa crotoxin-binding protein in the presynaptic membranes of the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata. Here, we report the purification and characterization of this protein that we called the crotoxin acceptor protein from Torpedo (CAPT). The membranes of electric organs from Torpedo were solubilized with a detergent (4% (w/v) Triton X-100) and CAPT was isolated by affinity chromatography on a crotoxin column. SDS-PAGE showed that the purified protein was homogeneous and cross-linking studies with radioiodinated crotoxin confirmed that it had retained its toxin-binding properties. The purified CAPT has similar molecular mass as crocalbin, a crotoxin-binding protein isolated from porcine brains, yet anti-crocalbin antiserum failed to recognize CAPT. Surface plasmon resonance biosensor technology was used to measure the specific interaction between crotoxin and solubilized CAPT. Using this method, it was possible to follow CAPT throughout the purification procedure. As well, an apparent dissociation constant (K(d)(app)) of 3.4 nM was calculated for the interaction of pure CAPT and crotoxin from the dissociation rate constant (k(off)=1.2 x 10(-2)s(-1)) and the association rate constant (k(on)=3.5 x 10(6)M(-1)s(-1)).     

Animal and human dentin microstructure and elemental composition

Animal teeth are a common model in studies on dentin adhesive materials. The aim of this study was to compare microstructural parameters (density and diameter of dentinal tubules (DT), peritubular dentin (PTD) thickness, PTD and intertubular dentin (ITD) surface area) and chemical characteristics of canine, porcine, equine, and human root dentin. The middle layers of dentin were harvested just below a cemento-enamel junction from incisors and investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS). SEM evaluation of the specimens revealed, that porcine dentin shared most similarities with human dentin. When comparing the density of DTs, canine dentin was also found to be similar to human dentin. Elemental composition of the root dentin did not differ significantly in porcine, equine and human dentin, but in canine dentin higher magnesium value in PTD compared to ITD was found. It is known that microstructural and chemical characteristics affect the strength of the adhesive bonds created among restorative materials and dentin. According to the results of this study, porcine dentin seems to be the most appropriate model to study dental materials to be used in human restorative dentistry.