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Biomedical subjects

L Pang

Publications and source records attributed to L Pang.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum isolated from the Amazon region of Brazil: evidence for quinine resistance.

The prevalence and severity of drug-resistant malaria is emerging rapidly in the Amazon basin of Brazil. In support of clinical trials using the new antimalarial drug combination of atovaquone and proguanil, we performed in vitro drug sensitivities, molecular characterization of parasite populations using the circumsporozoite protein, merozoite surface antigen-1 (MSA-1), and MSA-2 markers, and an analysis of the Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance (pfmdr1) gene sequence and copy number in 26 isolates of P. falciparum obtained in a gold-mining endemic area in Peixoto de Azevedo, Mato Grosso State. All 26 isolates were found to be resistant to chloroquine (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 100-620 nM) and sensitive to mefloquine (IC50 < 23 nM) and halofantrine (IC50 < 6 nM). The isolates also show reduced susceptibility to quinine (IC50 = 48-280 nM). Sequence analysis of the pfmdr1 gene revealed Asn, Phe, Cys, Asp, and Tyr in positions 86, 184, 1034, 1042, and 1246, respectively. These point mutations were similar to that previously described in other Brazilian isolates. Southern blot analysis revealed no amplification of the pfmdr1 gene. These results suggest that three different mechanisms for drug resistance exist for chloroquine, mefloquine, and quinine.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Intra-axial tumors of the medullocervical junction: diagnosis and microsurgical treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features, operative methods and postoperative management of the intra-axial tumors of medullocervical junction, and to make differential diagnosis for different subtypes. METHODS: Fifteen patients with intra-axial tumors of medullocervical junction were treated from August 1988 to June 1997. The diagnoses were confirmed by MRI and histological examinations. The tumors were divided into two subtypes according to the clinical features and the main body of the tumor. The distinctive points of the two subtypes and the appropriate surgical methods of different pathological type tumors were expounded. RESULTS: Tumors were totally removed in 10 patients and subtotally in 5. There was no death caused by operation. Postoperative complications included respiratory disturbance in six cases, upper digestive tract bleeding in one, depressed cough reflex in two, most of which recovered after proper treatment. On discharge, the nervous system status was improved in 11 cases, stable in 2 and worsened in 2. CONCLUSIONS: The intra-axial tumors of medullocervical junction can be divided into cervicomedullary and medullocervical subtypes. The MRI examination is decisive in the distinction of the diagnosis, and is important in the determination of the nature of the medullar cystic lesions and the guidance of the resection of tumor extent. The cervicomedullary tumors are more amenable to an aggressive surgical treatment, during which the surgeon should remove the tumors first in the cervical spinal cord area, then in the medullar area with the tumor resection expanding rostrally. It can make the operation safer to remove the tumors using appropriate techniques varied with pathological types of the tumors. Managing postoperative respiratory disturbances without delay is one of the important points in improving the therapeutic effect.

Adolescent↗

Inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling events after treatment of cells with specific synthetic inhibitors of tyrosine kinase phosphorylation.

The receptor kinase activity associated with the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor plays an important role in ligand-induced signaling events. The effect of specific, synthetic chemical inhibitors of PDGF- and EGF-mediated receptor tyrosine autophosphorylation on receptor signaling were examined in NIH 3T3 cells overexpressing PDGF or EGF receptors. Specific inhibition of ligand-dependent receptor autophosphorylation, PI3K activation, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, cyclin E-associated kinase activity and cell proliferation was measured after treatment of cells with these inhibitors. A synthetic PDGF receptor kinase inhibitor exhibited specific inhibitory properties when tested for PDGF-induced receptor autophosphorylation, MAPK activity, PI3K activation, entry into S phase and cyclin E-associated kinase activity. A synthetic EGF receptor kinase inhibitor showed selective inhibitor properties when tested for EGF-induced receptor autophosphorylation, MAPK activation, PI3K activation, entry into S phase and cyclin E-associated kinase activity. In both cases, these compounds were found to be effective as inducers of growth arrest and accumulation of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle after ligand treatment. However, at high concentrations, the EGF receptor kinase inhibitor was observed to exhibit some nonspecific effects as demonstrated by attenuation of PDGF-induced receptor autophosphorylation and cell cycle progression. This demonstrates that it is critical to use the lowest concentration of such an inhibitor that will alter the response under investigation, to have confidence that the conclusions derived from the use of such inhibitor are valid. We conclude that these experimental parameters signify useful end points to measure the relative selectivity of tyrosine kinase inhibitors that affect receptor-mediated signal transduction.

3T3 Cells↗

Efficacy and safety of liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) for visceral leishmaniasis in endemic developing countries.

Reported are the results of a study to determine the efficacy and safety of liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) for treating visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in several developing countries where the disease is endemic (Brazil, India, and Kenya). At each study site, sequential cohorts of 10 patients each were treated with AmBisome at a dose of 2 mg.kg-1.day-1 (2 MKD). The first cohort received regimen 1:2 MKD on days 1-6 and day 10 (total dose: 14 mg/kg). If the efficacy with this regimen was satisfactory, a second cohort received regimen 2:2 MKD on days 1-4 and 10 (total dose: 10 mg/kg); and a third cohort received regimen 3:2 MKD on days 1, 5, and 10 (total dose: 6 mg/kg). In India, regimens 1, 2, and 3 (which were studied concurrently) each cured 100% of 10 patients. In Kenya, regimen 1 cured all 10 patients, regimen 2 cured 90% of 10 patients, but regimen 3 cured only 20% of 5 patients. In Brazil, regimen 1 was only partially curative: 5 of 13 patients (62%). Therefore, 15 patients were administered regimen 4 (2 MKD for 10 consecutive days; total dose, 20 mg/kg) and 13 patients were cured (83%). These results suggest that for the treatment of kala-azar the following doses of AmBisome should be administered: in India and Kenya, 2 mg/kg on days 1-4 and day 10; and in Brazil, 2 mg/kg on days 1-10.

Adolescent↗

Interventions to improve the use of antimalarials in south-east Asia: an overview.

There are few drugs for malaria, and those which are available for use are subject to rapid development of resistance. Curiously, little effort has been made to improve drug use in malaria-endemic countries and to assess the benefits of such improvements. Advances can be made in public understanding of the value of ingesting a full regimen of antimalarials, in order to achieve complete cure, and in improving simple technologies (blister packaging) to achieve the same result. Better efforts can be made to reduce the availability of fake or substandard drugs in the marketplace. In this article, we describe the outcome of a concerted effort to improve drug compliance and drug quality in an area of multidrug resistance for malaria. These research efforts, guided by the Task Force for Improved Use of Antimalarials, characterized the problems in drug compliance in South-East Asia, and developed interventions to improve drug use in the various countries. Interventions involved drug packaging, public information campaigns, and assessments of drug quality. Results show that blister packaging worked best to improve drug compliance and that the increased cost of packaged medication did not limit its use. Drug quality was a major problem in unregulated countries and should be improved.

Antimalarials↗

Cell cycle analysis and synchronization of pluripotent hematopoietic progenitor stem cells.

Hematopoietic stem cells purified from mouse bone marrow are quiescent with less than 2% of Lin- Hoechst(low)/Rhodamine(low) (Lin- Ho(low)/Rho(low)) and 10% to 15% of Lin-/Sca+ cells in S phase. These cells enter proliferative cycle and progress through G1 and into S phase in the presence of cytokines and 5% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum (HI-FCS). Cytokine-stimulated Lin- Ho(low)/Rho(low) cells took 36 to 40 hours to complete first division and only 12 hours to complete each of 5 subsequent divisions. These cells require 16 to 18 hours to transit through G0/G1 period and 28 to 30 hours to enter into mid-S phase during the first cycle. Up to 56% of Lin- Rho(low)/Ho(low) cells are high-proliferative potential (7 factor-responsive) colony-forming cells (HPP-CFC). At isolation, HPP-CFC are quiescent, but after 28 to 30 hours of culture, greater than 60% are in S phase. Isoleucine-deprivation of Lin- Ho(low)/Rho(low) cells in S phase of first cycle reversibly blocked them from entering into second cycle. After the release from isoleucine-block, these cells exhibited a G1 period of less than 2 hours and entered into mid-S phase by 12 hours. Thus, the duration of G1 phase of the cells in second cycle is 4 to 5 times shorter than that observed in their first cycle. Similar cell cycle kinetics are observed with Lin-/Sca+ population of bone marrow cells. Stem cell factor (SCF) alone, in the presence of HI-FCS, is as effective as a cocktail of 2 to 7 cytokines in inducing quiescent Lin-/Sca+ cells to enter into proliferative cycle. Aphidicolin treatment reversibly blocked cytokine-stimulated Lin-/Sca+ cells at G1/S boundary, allowing their tight synchrony as they progress through first S phase and enter into second G1. For these cells also, SCF alone is sufficient for their progression through S phase. These studies indicate a very short G1 phase for stem cells induced to proliferate and offer experimental approaches to synchronize murine hematopoietic stem cells.

Animals↗

Cytotoxicity to macrophages of tetrandrine, an antisilicosis alkaloid, accompanied by an overproduction of prostaglandins.

Tetrandrine, an anti-inflammatory immunosuppressive bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid of Chinese herbal origin, is widely used to treat silicosis and interferes with the regulation of calcium in many cell types. We investigated its effect on the cellular integrity of macrophages and on their ability to generate prostaglandins and nitric oxide, mediators of inflammation with immunomodulatory roles. Tetrandrine at 10(-7) M to 10(-4) M caused dose- and time-dependent loss of cell viability of mouse peritoneal macrophages, guinea-pig alveolar macrophages and mouse macrophage-like J774 cells. Loss of viability (50%) occurred within 1-3 hr and required approximately 5 x 10(-6) M tetrandrine. Loss of macrophage viability after tetrandrine treatment was accompanied by the generation of large amounts of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), to levels 285-877% of control. Coincubation with indomethacin abolished PGE2 generation, but did not prevent cell death. Tetrandrine did not cause generation of nitric oxide. Verapamil also reduced the viability of mouse peritoneal macrophages and J774 cells, but did not cause PGE2 overproduction, except at 10(-4) M in mouse peritoneal macrophages. In macrophages cultured with lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma to induce the generation of large amounts of both PGE2 and nitric oxide, tetrandrine reduced mediator release and their forming enzymes (cyclo-oxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase), secondary to cytotoxicity. The predominant action of tetrandrine is to exert a cytotoxic effect on macrophages, perhaps by interfering with calcium homeostasis; this leads to overproduction of immunomodulatory but proinflammatory prostaglandin. This may be relevant to its protective actions in human fibrosing silicosis, in which there is alveolar macrophage involvement.

Alkaloids↗

Repression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 by prostaglandin E2 and other cyclic AMP stimulants in J774 macrophages.

The enhanced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG) generation of activated macrophages is controlled by glucocorticoid-sensitive inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), respectively. Negative feedback regulation of iNOS expression by the products of both pathways has been suggested, but their effects on COX-2 expression have not been examined. We hae investigated the effect of E- and l-series prostaglandins that activate adenylate cyclase (AC), forskolin (a direct activator of AC), and other agents that influence the cyclicAMP/cyclicGMP systems on the ability of E. coli endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) to induce iNOS and COX-2 in the murine macrophage cell line J774. After a 2-hr pretreatment before adding endotoxin, PGE2, PGI2, forskolin, IBMX (isobutylmethylxanthine, a cyclicAMP/cyclicGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor), 8-bromo cyclicAMP, and arachidonic acid itself all inhibited the expression of both iNOS and COX-2 (as shown by Western blotting) and reduced NO release and COX activity, whereas PGF2 alpha and 8-bromo cyclic GMP were only weakly effective. The effects of PGE2, PGI2, and forskolin were enhanced by cotreatment with IBMX. The suppression of LPS-induced iNOS induction by PGE2 was functionally significant, in that it protected against the mild cytotoxicity of the NO generated in response to endotoxin. These results provide the first direct evidence for the feedback regulatory suppression of COX-2 induction by a PG-driven cAMP-mediated process, and show that the modulation of iNOS and COX-2 induction shares common features. They also suggest that such modulation is normally held in check by high phosphodiesterase activity within these cells.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Effect of interleukin-1 beta, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma on the induction of cyclo-oxygenase-2 in cultured human airway smooth muscle cells.

1. Increased levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) have been found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from symptomatic asthmatic patients. IL-1 beta, TNF alpha and interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) are known to stimulate a number of cells to produce inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins. Although airway smooth muscle (ASM) is known to be a rich source of prostaglandins, the regulation of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) isoforms and prostanoid production by proinflammatory cytokines have not been studied in human airway smooth muscle. 2. We studied the effects of IL-1 beta, TNF alpha and IFN gamma on the induction of two isoforms of cyclo-oxygenase and its relation to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release and COX activity (reflected by PGE2 synthesis from exogenous arachidonic acid) in human cultured airway smooth muscle cells. 3. IL-1 beta, but not TNF alpha or IFN gamma, caused a time- and concentration-dependent enhancement in PGE2 and other prostanoid (6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGF2 alpha, thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and PGD2) production, with PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha as the principal products. This stimulation was accompanied by a corresponding increase in COX activity. 4. COX-2 protein measured by Western blot analysis was not detectable in untreated cells, but was increased in a time- and concentration-dependent manner by IL-1 beta, but not TNF alpha or IFN gamma. In contrast, no variation in the expression of COX-1 protein was observed. 5. Pretreatment with the conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), indomethacin and ibuprofen, and the selective COX-2 inhibitors, NS-398 and nimesulide, completely blocked IL-1 beta-induced PGE2 release and COX activity. The glucocorticosteroid dexamethasone and protein synthesis inhibitors, cycloheximide and actinomycin D, not only markedly inhibited IL-1 beta-stimulated PGE2 release and COX activity but also suppressed IL-1 beta-induced COX-2 induction. 6. This study demonstrates that human cultured ASM cells release prostanoids in response to IL-1 beta stimulation and that the response is mostly mediated by the induction of COX-2 rather than COX-1 isoenzyme, implying that airway smooth muscle may be an important source of prostaglandins in human airways and that COX-2 may play an important role in the regulation of the inflammatory process in asthma.

Cells, Cultured↗

PGE2 release by bradykinin in human airway smooth muscle cells: involvement of cyclooxygenase-2 induction.

Prostanoids may be involved in bradykinin (BK)-induced bronchoconstriction in asthma. We investigated whether cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 induction was involved in prostaglandin (PG) E2 release by BK in cultured human airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells and analyzed the BK receptor subtypes responsible. BK stimulated PGE2 release, COX activity, and COX-2 induction in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. It also time dependently enhanced arachidonic acid release. In short-term (15-min) experiments, BK stimulated PGE2 generation but did not increase COX activity or induce COX-2. In long-term (4-h) experiments, BK enhanced PGE2 release and COX activity and induced COX-2. The long-term responses were inhibited by the protein synthesis inhibitors cycloheximide and actinomycin D and the steroid dexamethasone. The effects of BK were mimicked by the B2-receptor agonist [Tyr(Me)8]BK, whereas the B1 agonist des-Arg9-BK was weakly effective at high concentrations. The B2 antagonist HOE-140 potently inhibited all the effects, but the B1 antagonist des-Arg9,(Leu8)-BK was inactive. This study is the first to demonstrate that BK can induce COX-2. Conversion of increased arachidonic acid release to PGE2 by COX-1 is mainly involved in the short-term effect, whereas B2 receptor-related COX-2 induction is important in the long-term PGE2 release.

Adult↗

[Relationship between reaction of membrane potential and size of glomus cells in rat carotid body during hypoxia].

The membrane potentials (Em) of 85 cultured isolated glomus cells were measured by intracellular recording. The shapes of glomus cells were recorded by microscopic photograph and the cell diameter was measured by micrometer enlarger. The glomus cells with different diameters exhibited two distinct responses to hypoxia. The glomus cells with diameter shorter than 10 microns were depolarized in response to hypoxia, while the cells with diameter over 10 microns were hyperpolarized during hypoxia. Thus, it is sugested that glomus cells may be divided into two functionally different subtypes. Although the smaller glomus cells depolarized more seriously under extreme hypoxia, the degree of hypoxia could not change the original response pattern of glomus cells to hypoxia.

Animals↗

[The study of mutation in exon 17 of insulin receptor gene in essential hypertensive pedigrees].

Using the molecular scanning technique of single-stranded conformational polymorphism, we examined the exon 17 of the insulin receptor (INSR) gene in 44 subjects of 6 essential hypertensive pedigrees and 2 normotensive pedigrees. In addition the serum levels of glucose and insulin during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); blood lipid, and plasma angiotension II and angiotensinogen were done on these pedigrees. Upon direct sequence analysis, 5 individuals were found a single nucleotide substitution at the codon 1058 (CAC-->CAT), which didn't change the amino acid sequence. Among the five individuals 4 of them were from the families with history of hypertension, only one was from normotensive pedigree. Compared with those without the mutation, the individuals with the mutation had a lower ratio of fasting blood glucose to fasting serum insulin level (P < 0.01) and an elevated plasma Ang II concentration. (There was no significant difference, P > 0.05, probably due to the mutant cases which we studied were small). Thus, we conjectured that the mutation in codon 1,058 of the INSR gene might be related with the insulin resistance in hypertensive patients and subjects with the positive hypertensive history.

Adolescent↗

Dissociation of LPL and LDL: effects of lipoproteins and anti-apoB antibodies.

We have shown previously that the activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), the major enzyme responsible for hydrolysis of triglyceride contained in circulating lipoproteins, is associated with lipoproteins in postheparin plasma. In other studies, microtiter plate assays showed that LPL interaction with low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) was decreased by antibodies to apolipoprotein (apo)B. To test whether antibodies to apoB affected LPL-LDL association in solution, two types of assays were performed, gel filtration and coprecipitation. First we showed that LPL activity and immunoreactive mass co-eluted during gel filtration of normal postheparin plasma, approximately with the peak of low density lipoproteins. Then LPL was used for gel filtration studies in the presence and absence of LDL and anti-apoB monoclonal antibodies. LPL association with LDL was diminished by antibodies to the amino-terminal region of apoB; antibodies to the carboxyl-terminal LDL receptor binding region of apoB were less effective. LDL binding to LPL containing heparin-agarose was also disrupted by the amino-terminal antibodies to apoB. To determine the LPL-lipoprotein association in situations in which the distribution of plasma lipoproteins was altered, we studied plasma from two types of subjects with dyslipidemias. The addition of 125I-labeled LPL to type 1 postheparin plasma produced two peaks of radioactivity, one peak eluted in the void volume of the column (with the chylomicrons) and a second peak eluted just prior to the normal elution of low density lipoproteins. In postheparin plasma from an abetalipoproteinemic subject, LPL eluted with HDL. We conclude that LPL associates primarily with apoB-containing lipoproteins. The reason for this appears to be that LPL interacts with the apoB.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

[Effects of low pH and nicotine on carotid body chemoreceptor activity in the rabbit].

The unit discharges of carotid chemosensory afferent fibers were recorded in the in vitro carotid body (CB)--sinus nerve preparations (n = 55) from 29 rabbits. The results were as follows: (1) The discharge of all the units increased from 0.86 +/- 0.21 to 1.75 +/- 0.40 imp/s (P < 0.001) upon lowering the pH of modified Locke solution. (2) Addition of nicotine at doses of 1, 3, 6, 10 and 15 micrograms/ml to the solution led to a dose-dependent increase in the discharge from 0.60 +/- 0.21 to 0.96 +/- 0.21, 1.19 +/- 0.30. 1.24 +/- 0.29, 1.48 +/- 0.41 and 1.82 +/- 0.39 imp/s, respectively (r = 0.94, P < 0.001, n = 10). Nicotinic stimulation was antagonized by D-tubocurarine but the basal discharge was not significantly affected. (3) Superfusion of the CB with acid solution increased the discharge from 0.95 +/- 0.34 to 1.84 +/- 0.55 imp/s (P < 0.01, n = 19); After injections of nicotine 1-5 micrograms/ml to acid perfusate the unit discharge showed an increase from 0.96 +/- 0.25 to 1.53 +/- 0.24 imp/s. The degree of increase was less as compared with that due to mere acidification (P < 0.05). (4) D-tubocurarine did not alter the action of acid solution on chemosensory discharge (P > 0.05, n = 17). The present results suggest that ACh might act only as a modulator on carotid chemosensory activity without involving N-cholinergic receptor directly as did by low pH perfusion of CB.

Animals↗

Induction of cyclooxygenase and nitric oxide synthase in endotoxin-activated J774 macrophages is differentially regulated by indomethacin: enhanced cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression but reduction of inducible nitric oxide synthase.

The involvement of prostaglandins in feedback modulation of the lipopolysaccharide-inducible isoforms of cyclooxygenase and nitric oxide was studied. This was done by testing the effects of arachidonic acid and indomethacin in the murine macrophage cell line J774. When added before lipopolysaccharide, arachidonic acid (10(-6)-10(-4) M) dose-dependently reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 activity as well as reducing the expression of both enzyme proteins. Indomethacin (10(-7)-10(-4) M) suppressed prostaglandin E2 release into the medium and reduced cyclooxygenase-2 activity irreversibly, as expected, but the amount of cyclooxygenase-2 protein was increased (because indomethacin removes the inhibitory effect of prostaglandins on cyclooxygenase-2 expression). However, the same doses of indomethacin also inhibited the release of nitric oxide into the medium. This was accompanied by a reduction in the amount of inducible nitric oxide synthase protein. The drug was not cytotoxic. Thus these results show that pharmacological treatments can have opposing actions on inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 induction, with indomethacin showing an additional unexpected action in macrophages which may diminish their cytotoxic potential.

Animals↗

Cell-surface expression of an amino-terminal fragment of apolipoprotein B increases lipoprotein lipase binding to cells.

Previous studies (Sivaram, P., Choi, S. Y., Curtiss, L. K., and Goldberg, I. J.(1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 9409-9412) from this laboratory showed that the NH2-terminal region of apoB (NTAB) has binding domains for lipoprotein lipase (LPL). LPL binding to endothelial cells, we hypothesize, involves interaction both with heparan sulfate proteoglycans and with a protein that has homology to NTAB. To test whether cell-surface NTAB would increase the amount and affinity of LPL binding to cells, we produced stable Chinese hamster ovary cell lines that have NTAB anchored to the cell surface. A cDNA encoding the amino-terminal 17% of apoB (apoB17) was fused to a cDNA coding for the last 37 amino acids of decay-accelerating factor (DAF), which contains the signal for glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor attachment. The fused construct was sequence-verified and cloned into expression vector pCMV5. The pCMV5-apoB17-DAF plasmid was cotransfected with a neomycin resistance gene into wild-type (WT) cells and mutant heparan sulfate proteoglycan-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cells (745 cells), and stable cell lines were established. Expression of apoB17 on the cell surface was confirmed by the release of apoB17 by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. LPL binding to WT and apoB17-DAF-transfected cells was determined. Using 0.8-6 microg of LPL, 1.3-2.2-fold more LPL associated with apoB17-DAF WT cells compared with WT cells; apoB17-DAF also increased LPL binding to 745 cells. After heparinase treatment, LPL binding to apoB17-DAF cells was still greater than to treated WT cells. This increased binding to apoB17-DAF cells was almost abolished by treatment of cells with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C or anti-apoB monoclonal antibody. LPL dissociated from WT cells with k-1 = 2.55 x 10(-2) min-1, whereas LPL dissociated more slowly from apoB17-DAF-containing cells with k-1 = 1.08 x 10(-2) min-1. Furthermore, almost 95% of the LPL on WT cells was dissociated by 1 M NaCl, while only 65% of the LPL dissociated from apoB17-DAF cells at the same high salt concentration. Similarly, in high salt, more LPL remained associated with apoB17-DAF cells than with nontransfected 745 cells. These data show that NTAB on cell surfaces can function as a LPL-binding protein. Moreover, they demonstrate that LPL association with cells can be increased by simultaneously binding to both proteoglycan and non-proteoglycan binding sites.

Animals↗

A novel diterpenoid labdane from Sideritis javalambrensis inhibits eicosanoid generation from stimulated macrophages but enhances arachidonate release.

The diterpenoid ent-8alpha-hydroxy-labda-13(16),14-dien ("labdane F2") was obtained from an anti-inflammatory extract of Sideritis javalambrensis. Labdane F2 inhibited prostaglandin E2 generation in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages, treated with zymosan, ionophore A23187, or arachidonic acid itself, and in J774 macrophage-like cells activated by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The mechanism was investigated by prelabelling the macrophages with radiolabelled arachidonic acid or oleic acid, followed by cell activation in the presence or absence of nontoxic concentrations of labdane F2. Surprisingly, under those conditions in which reduced PGE2 generation was observed, labdane F2 consistently enhanced the release of labelled fatty acid, in a manner similar to that displayed by thimerosal a known acyl-CoA: lysolecithin transferase inhibitor. Labdane E2 therefore appears to possess 2 mutually opposing actions on the eicosanoid system in macrophages: potentiation of delivery of substrate following cell activation, followed by inhibition of conversion of substrate to product. It was also found that nontoxic concentrations of labdane F2 reduced the expression of the inducible isoforms of cyclooxygenase and nitric oxide synthase in LPS-treated J774 cells. Thus, this anti-inflammatory diterpenoid labdane possesses a diverse array of effects impinging on enzyme pathways involved in eicosanoid generation and other inflammatory pathways in macrophages.

Animals↗