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Biomedical subjects

K Kanno

Publications and source records attributed to K Kanno.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Urinary excretion of aquaporin-2 in patients with diabetes insipidus.

BACKGROUND: Urine-concentrating ability is regulated by vasopressin. Recently, the specific water-channel protein of the renal collecting duct, known as aquaporin-2, was cloned. However, it is not certain whether this molecule is responsive to vasopressin. METHODS: We measured the urinary excretion of aquaporin-2 and its response to vasopressin in 11 normal subjects and 9 patients with central or nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. The urine samples were collected during periods of dehydration and hydration and after the administration of vasopressin. Urine samples were analyzed for aquaporin-2 by the Western blot assay and immunogold labeling, and the amount of aquaporin-2 was determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Aquaporin-2 was detectable in the urine in both soluble and membrane-bound forms. In the five normal subjects tested, the mean (+/- SE) urinary excretion of aquaporin-2 was 11.2 +/- 2.2 pmol per milligram of creatinine after a period of dehydration, and it decreased to 3.9 +/- 1.9 pmol per milligram of creatinine (P = 0.03) during the second hour after a period of hydration. In the six other normal subjects, an infusion of desmopressin (1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin) increased the urinary excretion of aquaporin-2 from 0.8 +/- 0.3 to 11.2 +/- 1.6 pmol per milligram of creatinine (P < 0.001). The five patients with central diabetes insipidus also had increases in urinary excretion of aquaporin-2 in response to the administration of vasopressin, but the four patients with X-linked or non-X-linked nephrogenic diabetes insipidus did not. CONCLUSIONS: Aquaporin-2 is detectable in the urine, and changes in the urinary excretion of this protein can be used as an index of the action of vasopressin on the kidney.

Adult

Food restriction inhibits an autoimmune disease resembling systemic lupus erythematosus in (NZB x NZW) F1 mice.

To investigate the beneficial effects of food restriction on systemic lupus erythematosus in NZB x NZW F1 mice, we separated the mice into three groups. One was fed a diet in which total food intake was reduced to 60% of normal from age 2 mo onward, while the animals were still healthy (group 2R). A second group was selected at age 7 mo based on a positive lupus nephritis (proteinuria) and fed the 40% restricted diet thereafter (group 7R); a third group was allowed to consume food ad libitum (control). All control mice died of renal disease by age 14 mo, whereas all mice in group 2R and 80% of those in group 7R were living at that age. Measurements of anti-double stranded DNA antibody concentrations in sera and in supernatants of in vitro spleen cell cultures revealed that the production of the immunoglobulin G, but not immunoglobulin M, class of antibodies was markedly and significantly reduced in food-restricted mice. Age-associated changes in lymphocyte subsets seen in control mice, i.e., increases in B:T and CD4:CD8 T cell ratios, decreases in NTA260+ T cell subsets, and increases in aberrant activated NTA204+CD4+ T cells and cycling cells, were all significantly lessened in underfed mice. Food restriction did not suppress the secondary acquired antibody responses to a foreign antigen. Thus, the beneficial effects of food restriction in these mice may be related to the lessening of the age-related onset of T cell subset abnormalities, including activation of autoreactive T cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in inflammatory arthritides.

In this study, we have identified the source of nitric oxide (NO) produced in the human inflammatory joints by analyzing expression of inducible NO synthase. In ex vivo organ cultures, both inflammatory synovium and cartilage from patients with rheumatoid arthritis produced NO. The NO production was suppressed by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, an inhibitor of NO synthase. The amount of NO produced by the synovium correlated with the proportion of CD14+ cells in the corresponding tissue (r = 0.8, P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis as well as in situ hybridization showed that inducible NO synthase was predominantly expressed in synovial lining cells, endothelial cells, chondrocytes, and to a lesser extent, in infiltrating mononuclear cells and synovial fibroblasts. The synovial lining cells and the infiltrating cells expressing inducible NO synthase were identified where CD14+ cells were located. Together with morphological features, this suggests that they are type A synoviocytes. NO production from freshly isolated synoviocytes and chondrocytes was up-regulated by in vitro stimulation with a combination of IL-TNF-beta, TNF-alpha, and LPS. In summary, the present results suggest that NO is produced primarily by CD14+ synoviocytes, chondrocytes, and endothelial cells in inflammatory joints of arthritides. NO production can be upregulated by cytokines present in inflamed joints. The increased NO production may thus contribute to the pathological features in inflammatory arthritides.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

[A case of growing up aneurysms with occlusion of basilar artery].

This is a report of unruptured aneurysms with occlusion of the basilar artery. A 61-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of dysarthria and numbness of her left face. Angiography revealed occlusion of the basilar artery and severe arteriosclerosis of the bilateral cerebral carotid arteries. Pcom was not visualized on bilateral carotid angiogram. These neurological signs were considered to be derived from vertebrobasilar insufficiency by occlusion of the basilar artery. Right STA-SCA anatomosis was performed to prevent brain stem infarction. Postoperative angiography showed a good filling of both PCA and SCA by collateral circulation via a right STA and an unruptured basilar top aneurysm. Seven months after the bypass surgery, angiography disclosed that the basilar top aneurysm was visualized clearly, and its size was unchanged. The fact that there was no thrombus formation in the aneurysm was considered to be due to ticlopidine, and the hemodynamic changes after the bypass surgery were suspected to have increased the intraaneurysmal pressure. Therefore we performed neck clipping of the basilar top aneurysm by using a right pterional approach. Two years after the second operation, the patient complained of severe headache and vomiting. CT scan showed subarachnoid hemorrhage, and angiography demonstrated a newly developed aneurysm which might have ruptured on left internal carotid anterior choroidal artery bifurcation. Emergency neck clipping of the second aneurysm was performed, and the patient showed a good postoperative course. The newly developed second aneurysm might have been caused by severe arteriosclerosis and hypertension in addition to hemodynamic stress.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases

[Marked dilatation of the bilateral common carotid artery: a case report].

We reported a rare case of marked dilatation of the bilateral common carotid artery (CCA) associated with stenosis of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA). A 64-year-old female was admitted with right hemiparesis and dysarthria. She was hospitalized 2 years ago for cholecystitis. For 5 years, she has been under medical treatment for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, cardiac failure associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and atrial fibrillation. Brain CT scan showed infarction of the left corona radiata. Angiography revealed marked dilatation of the bilateral CCA and the internal carotid artery (ICA), moderate dilatation of the innominate artery and the right subclavian artery, kinking of the right CCA, diverticular outpouching of the left ICA, and stenosis of the right external carotid artery and the left MCA. Breast CT scan revealed moderate dilatation and marked calcification of the ascending aorta and the aortic arch. Laboratory examination did not show any sign of inflammation, rheumatoid factor (RA), antistreptolysis-O (ASLO) and antinucleotic antibody. Based on the clinical course, radiological findings and laboratory data, possible diagnosis of the dilatation of the bilateral CCA was discussed with particular emphasis on arteriosclerotic aneurysm and aortitis syndrome.

Aortic Arch Syndromes

[Clinical usefulness of FUT-187 (sepimostat mesilate) on reflux esophagitis and gastritis after gastrectomy].

The efficacy and safety of the proteolytic enzyme inhibitor FUT-187 were evaluated in postgastrectomy reflux esophagitis and gastric remnant inflammation. FUT-187 was administered orally in a dose of 50 mg four times daily, after meals and bedtime, for periods of 4 to 8 weeks. The subjects consisted of 4 patients with postgastrectomy reflux esophagitis and 9 patients with gastric remnant inflammation. In the endoscopic classification of lesions, postgastrectomy reflux esophagitis was classified as erosive or ulcerative and gastric remnant inflammation as superficial. The general improvement rating, general improvement rating of endoscopic findings, and final global improvement rating were 85% (11/13), 82% (9/11), and 85% (11/13), respectively. Neither adverse reactions nor abnormal laboratory findings due to the test drug were noted. Based on the results of this study, it may be concluded that FUT-187 is an effective drug with a wide margin of safety for postgastrectomy reflux esophagitis and gastric remnant inflammation.

Administration, Oral

Effects of TNF-alpha on hemodynamic changes and circulating endothelium-derived vasoactive factors in dogs.

To elucidate the relation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced hemodynamic change to endothelium-derived vasoactive factors, we simultaneously measured hemodynamic parameters and circulating endothelin (ET)-1, ET-3, nitrite/nitrate (NOx), and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) in anesthetized dogs following administration of TNF-alpha with or without NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, and indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Natural human TNF-alpha (10 micrograms/kg, n = 5) with or without L-NNA (1 mg/kg, n = 5) or indomethacin (2 mg/kg, n = 5) was administered intravenously as a bolus, while administration of vehicle served as control (n = 5). After administration of TNF-alpha, mean arterial pressure and cardiac index significantly decreased, whereas systemic (SVRI) and pulmonary (PVRI) vascular resistance index increased. Plasma levels of ET-1, ET-3, NOx, and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha significantly (P < 0.01) increased at 1 h. L-NNA or indomethacin blocked TNF-alpha-induced hypotension and remarkably increased SVRI but did not affect decreased cardiac index. Our data suggest that endogenous ET-1 may partly contribute to TNF-alpha-induced increases in SVRI and PVRI, against which ET-3, NO, and prostacyclin may function as compensatory vasodilators.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha

Regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase gene by interleukin-1 beta in rat vascular endothelial cells.

To elucidate the regulation of endothelial inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), we studied the effects of interleukin (IL)-1 beta on production of nitric oxide (NO) and expression of iNOS mRNA and iNOS protein in cultured rat aortic endothelial cells (ECs) by measurement of NO2-/NO3- (NOx) and Northern blot and Western blot analyses. Among several cytokines and bacterial lipopolysaccharide tested, IL-1 beta most effectively stimulated NOx production. IL-1 beta dose and time dependently stimulated NOx production. Northern blot analysis using cDNA for mouse liver iNOS as a probe showed that IL-1 beta induced expression of iNOS mRNA and stimulated NOx production in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and dexamethasone blocked the IL-1 beta-induced NOx production as well as expression of iNOS mRNA and protein. TGF-beta dose dependently inhibited the IL-1 beta-induced NOx production and iNOS mRNA expression. Northern blot analysis for the decay of the IL-1 beta-induced iNOS mRNA revealed the approximate half-life of 4 h. These data indicate that IL-1 beta induces iNOS gene expression and de novo synthesis of iNOS and subsequent NO generation in vascular endothelium and that TGF-beta and glucocorticoid block iNOS gene expression at the transcriptional level.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases

Induction of nitric oxide synthase gene by interleukin-1 beta in cultured rat cardiocytes.

BACKGROUND: Impaired myocardial contractility in septic shock is protracting, which may be caused by cytokine-induced nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in the heart. However, the cellular mechanism by which cytokines induce nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in cardiocytes remains obscure. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied the effect of human recombinant interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) on synthesis of NO2-/NO3- (NOx) and the expression of NOS mRNA and protein in cultured neonatal rat cardiocytes. IL-1 beta dose-dependently (0.1 to 10 ng/mL) stimulated NOx production as a function of time (6 to 48 hours). Northern blot analysis using complementary DNAs for rat brain-type constitutive (c) NOS and mouse macrophage-type inducible (i) NOS as probes showed that IL-1 beta induced expression of mRNA for iNOS but not for cNOS, starting after 6 hours and reaching a maximum after 48 hours in cardiocytes. IL-1 beta similarly induced iNOS mRNA expression in cultured adult rat cardiocytes in a time-dependent manner. Western blot analysis using specific antibody against the N-terminal fragment of mouse iNOS revealed the expression of 130-kD iNOS-like protein in IL-1 beta-treated cardiocytes. Northern blotting and immunocytochemical study revealed that IL-1 beta-induced iNOS mRNA and iNOS-like immunoreactivity were exclusively localized to cardiac myocytes but also to nonmyocytes, to a lesser extent. NG-mono-methyl-L-arginine, an NOS inhibitor, completely blocked the IL-1 beta-induced NOx production, whose effect was reversed by L-arginine but not by D-arginine. Dexamethasone inhibited the IL-1 beta-induced NOx production as well as iNOS mRNA expression. Cycloheximide and actinomycin D completely inhibited the IL-1 beta-induced NOx production and iNOS mRNA expression. Neither a calmodulin inhibitor (W-7), a protein kinase C inhibitor (calphostin C), nor a Ca2+ channel antagonist (nicardipine) showed any effect on the IL-1 beta-induced NOx production. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that IL-1 beta induces macrophage-type iNOS mRNA expression mainly by cardiac myocytes but also by nonmyocytes to a lesser extent, and subsequent de novo protein synthesis of iNOS leads to excessive local production of NO by cardiocytes.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases

Induction of nitric oxide synthase by cyclic AMP in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

By measurements of NO2-/NO3- (NOx) production and Northern blot analysis, we studied the effects of a membrane-permeable cAMP derivative, 8-bromo-cAMP, on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene and the synthesis of NOx in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). 8-bromo-cAMP stimulated NOx production and increased steady-state levels of iNOS mRNA in rat VSMC in a time- and dose-dependent manner. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, a NOS inhibitor, completely blocked the 8-bromo-cAMP-induced NOx production, whose effect was partially, but significantly reversed by an excess L-arginine, but not by D-arginine. Compounds that increase intracellular cAMP levels (cholera toxin, forskolin, and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine), all stimulated NOx production. Dexamethasone inhibited the stimulated NOx production, as well as the induction of iNOS mRNA by cAMP. Both actinomycin D and cycloheximide completely blocked the stimulated NOx production by cAMP. Actinomycin D abolished the cAMP-induced iNOS mRNA, whereas cycloheximide remarkably increased iNOS mRNA levels in the presence and absence of 8-bromo-cAMP (superinduction). Actinomycin D, but not dexamethasone, completely abolished the cycloheximide-induced iNOS mRNA. The half-life of cAMP-induced iNOS mRNA was approximately 2 h, whereas no decay in the cycloheximide-induced iNOS mRNA was observed during 12 h. These results demonstrate that iNOS gene is upregulated by cAMP and the superinduction of iNOS mRNA is attributable to increased mRNA stability in rat VSMC.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine

TA-2005, a novel, long-acting, and selective beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist: characterization of its in vivo bronchodilating action in guinea pigs and cats in comparison with other beta 2-agonists.

Relaxant effects of the beta 2-selective adrenoceptor agonist TA-2005 on bronchoconstriction in the anesthetized guinea pig and cat were evaluated in comparison with other known beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists. The ED50 values of intravenously administered TA-2005, procaterol, formoterol, isoproterenol, salbutamol, and salmeterol to inhibit the histamine-induced bronchoconstriction of the guinea pigs were 0.024, 0.053, 0.056, 0.099, 0.23, and 2.00 micrograms/kg, respectively, and those in serotonin-challenged cats were 0.019, 0.037, 0.039, 0.042, 0.13, and 0.52 micrograms/kg, respectively, in the same increasing order. When guinea pigs were passively sensitized with anti-ovalbumin antiserum, the ED50 values of TA-2005, formoterol, procaterol, and isoproterenol to inhibit the antigen-induced bronchoconstriction were 0.09, 0.30, 0.65, and 7.0 micrograms/kg, i.v., respectively, while those of TA-2005, procaterol, formoterol, and salbutamol in actively sensitized animals were 0.24, 0.25, 1.40, and 23.0 micrograms/kg. When TA-2005 was administered by inhalation to guinea pigs or by the intraduodenal route to cats, it exhibited a long-lasting inhibitory effect comparable or superior to the effects of salmeterol and formoterol. These data indicate that, among the known beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists examined, TA-2005 exerts the most potent bronchodilating effects with a long duration of action in vivo, and its potency ratios to the other reference drugs were greater in antigen- than spasmogen-induced bronchoconstriction models.

Administration, Inhalation

Epididymis metastasis from colon carcinoma: a case report and a review of the Japanese literature.

A 56-year-old Japanese man in whom a descending colon carcinoma had been resected underwent a high orchitectomy for metastatic epididymis from the colon. Metastatic carcinoma from the digestive organs to the spermatic cord (SC) and/or the intrascrotal contents (ISC) is rare. Fifty-four Japanese patients with metastasis from the digestive organs to the SC and/or the ISC were analyzed. The most frequent primary site was the stomach and the most frequent metastatic site was the spermatic cord. Our patient was the first to exhibit metastasis from the colon to the epididymis. A primary site was identified in 24 patients subsequent to the metastatic tumor. Twenty patients had other organ metastasis. The prognosis for SC and/or ISC metastasis patients is poor. Our patients has survived for 18 months following his orchitectomy with no other organ metastasis (31 months after the primary operation). In our patient, monoclonal estrogen receptor staining was negative; however, further study must be undertaken.

Carcinoma

[A case of hemifacial spasm associated with a cerebellar hematoma].

This is a report of a hemifacial spasm associated with a cerebellar hematoma. A 60 year-old female was admitted to our hospital due to severe vertigo and nausea. On admission, the neurological examination showed drowsy conscious level, cerebellar sign dominant on the left side, and left hemifacial spasm. CT scans disclosed a large hematoma in the left cerebellar hemisphere. An angiography revealed a dominant left PICA, but showed neither vascular malformation nor aneurysm. An emergency removal of the hematoma was carried out by using suboccipital craniectomy. Three days after the surgery, the patient's left hemifacial spasm disappeared completely. She had never suffered from left hemifacial spasm prior to this cerebellar bleeding. The hemifacial spasm was thought to be due to either the compression of the left facial nerve by the PICA which had been displaced by the cerebellar hematoma, or to the fact that the nucleus of the left facial nerve might have been stimulated by the hematoma, and the hemifacial spasm might have been caused as a result of the stimulation. The total removal of the hematoma and the postoperative CSF leakage might have decompressed the facial nerve. It was considered that this might be similar to microvascular decompression.

Cerebellar Diseases

Effect of an AT1 receptor antagonist (CV-11974) on angiotensin II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in vitro.

Angiotensin (ANG) II, a potent vasoconstrictor is known to be a hypertrophic factor for cardiomyocytes. Recently, endothelin (ET)-1 has also been shown to be an autocrine/paracrine growth factor for cardiomyocytes. To determine the cellular mechanism by which ANG II induces cardiac hypertrophy, we studied the effects of ANG II on the gene expression of ET-1 and ET receptor subtypes (ETA, ETB), as well as its effects on the expression of immediate early oncogenes (c-fos, c-myc) in cultured rat cardiomyocytes in vitro. ANG II (10(-7) M) increased steady-state mRNA levels of ET-1 in the same manner as c-fos and c-myc during a short incubation period (0.5-1 h), while ANG II induced ETB receptor mRNA, but not ETA receptor mRNA, during a long incubation period (6-12 h). CV-11974, an antagonist of ANG II receptor type-1 (AT1), inhibited the ANG II-induced expression of c-fos, c-myc and ET-1 mRNAs, as well as that of ETB receptor mRNA, whereas PD-123319, an antagonist of the ANG II type-2 (AT2) receptor, failed to block such induction. CV-11974 similarly blocked ANG II-induced immediate-early oncogenes (c-fos, c-myc) in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells. Our findings indicate that ANG II immediately upregulates the cardiac ET-1 gene in the same manner as it does the immediate early protooncogenes, while the late induction of the ETB receptor, mainly via the cardiac AT1 receptor, suggests the involvement of endogenous ET-1 in ANG II-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Angiotensin II

Induction of nitric oxide synthase gene by interleukin in vascular smooth muscle cells.

To elucidate whether cytokines induce nitric oxide synthase in vascular smooth muscle cells, we studied the effects of human recombinant interleukin-1 beta on the synthesis and release of nitric oxide in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells by measurement of NO2-/NO3- levels. Furthermore, we performed Northern blot analysis using subcloned polymerase chain reaction products as probes for constitutive and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Interleukin-1 beta dose dependently (1 to 20 ng/mL) stimulated NO2-/NO3- production as a function of time. Northern blotting demonstrated the interleukin-1 beta-induced expression of messenger RNA for an inducible but not for the constitutive nitric oxide synthase after 3 hours. NG-Monomethyl L-arginine completely blocked the interleukin-1 beta-induced NO2-/NO3- production, the effect of which was reversed by L-arginine but not by D-arginine. Dexamethasone inhibited the interleukin-1 beta-induced NO2-/NO3- production in a dose-dependent manner (10(-9) to 10(-7) M) and the interleukin-1 beta-inducible nitric oxide synthase messenger RNA levels. Neither a calmodulin inhibitor (W-7) nor a protein kinase C inhibitor (staurosporine) showed any effects on the induction of nitric oxide synthase transcripts or production of NO2-/NO3- stimulated by interleukin-1 beta, whereas cycloheximide and actinomycin D completely inhibited the basal and stimulated NO2-/NO3- production. These data demonstrate for the first time that interleukin-1 beta induces gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and its de novo protein synthesis in rat vascular smooth muscle cells, thereby leading to generation of nitric oxide via Ca2+/calmodulin-independent and protein kinase C-independent mechanisms.

Alkaloids

Endothelin receptor subtype B mediates synthesis of nitric oxide by cultured bovine endothelial cells.

Endothelins (ET) produce endothelium-dependent vasodilation through nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. The present study was designed to elucidate the cellular mechanism by which ET induces synthesis and release of endothelium-derived NO by cultured bovine endothelial cells (EC). Binding studies revealed that bovine EC membrane had the binding sites of a novel agonist (BQ3020) for non-isopeptide-selective receptor subtype (ETB). Affinity labeling studies showed a major labeled band with the apparent molecular mass of 50 kD. Northern blot analysis demonstrated the expression of mRNA for ETB receptor. BQ3020 rapidly and dose dependently induced formation of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate and increased intracellular Ca2+ concentrations in fura-2-loaded cells. Concomitantly, BQ3020 dose dependently stimulated production of both nitrate/nitrite (NOx) and cyclic GMP; a highly significant correlation existed between NOx and cGMP production. The stimulatory effect on NOx and cGMP production by ETB agonist was inhibited by NO synthase inhibitor monomethyl-L-arginine; this effect was reversed by coaddition of L-arginine, but not D-arginine. NOx and cGMP production stimulated by BQ3020 was inhibited by pretreatment with pertussis toxin. ETB agonist-induced NOx production was blocked by a calmodulin inhibitor and an intracellular Ca2+ chelator, but not by an extracellular Ca2+ chelator or a Ca2+ channel blocker. These data suggest that endothelins stimulate ETB receptor-mediated phosphoinositide breakdown via pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein(s), which triggers release of intracellular Ca2+, thereby activating Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent NO synthase in EC.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases

Differential sensitivity to interleukins of CD5+ and CD5- anti-DNA antibody-producing B cells in murine lupus.

We studied the effects of interleukins (IL) on in vitro IgM and IgG anti-DNA antibody production by splenic B cells from autoimmune disease-prone NZBxNZW (NZB/W) F1 mice. It was found that different interleukins regulate phenotypically distinct B cells producing separate isotype of anti-DNA antibodies. IL-2 slightly but significantly inhibited the production of IgM anti-DNA antibodies. IL-4 and IL-6 significantly enhanced the antibody production, but the effects were not so marked and inconsistent, particularly with respect to IL-6. By contrast, the effects of IL-5 were remarkable, particularly on splenic B cells from young mice. As for IgG anti-DNA antibodies, IL-6, but not other interleukins, markedly up-regulated the antibody production by splenic B cells from mice over 6 months of age, in a dose dependent fashion. Thus, the ability of B cells to produce IgG anti-DNA antibodies appears to be dependent on the surface expression of IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) at the ages when the mice begin to develop the disease. Studies of the surface phenotypes showed that while the IL-5-sensitive major IgM anti-DNA producers were CD5+Lp-3(CD43)-sIgM+, the IL-6-sensitive major IgG anti-DNA producers were CD5-Lp-3+sIgM-. However, significant amounts of IgG antibodies were also produced, in the presence of IL-6, by CD5+Lp-3+sIgM+, but not by CD5-Lp-3+sIgM+ B cells from 6-month-old mice. We suggest that surface phenotypes of anti-DNA antibody producers change from CD5+Lp-3-sIgM+IL-5R+, CD5+Lp-3+sIgM+IL-6R+ and subsequently to CD5-Lp-3+sIgM-(sIgG+)IL-6R+ in NZB/W F1 mice with aging.

Animals

Estimation of the functional reserve of the human liver by urinary D-glucaric acid excretion after vitamin C administration.

The excretion of D-glucaric acid in the urine (uGA) correlates with the total liver content of hepatic cytochrome P-450, the metabolism of which depends on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) being produced by intrahepatic cellular mitochondria. Five cases of compensated liver cirrhosis group with less than 0.4 mg/kg/min of the maximum removal rate of indocyanine green (ICGR max), and 5 cases with normal hepatic function (control group), were monitored for uGA before and after P-450 activation induced by administration of 1 g of vitamin-C. Before vitamin-C administration, no differences in uGA excretion were observed comparing the cirrhosis with the control group. After administration of vitamin-C, the excretion of uGA was significantly lower in the cirrhosis group. The measurement of uGA is considered to represent vitamin-C induced activation by P-450, and is a new method for evaluation of the functional reserve of the liver.

Adenosine Triphosphate