PubMed · 4037387
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S Brauer. 1985. Thoughts on protamine toxicity.. https://doi.org/10.1213/00000539-198510000-00022
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The pathophysiological responses to immune stress (IS) include activation of several processes which are dependent on cytosolic Ca2+ elevation. Magnesium frequently acts as a natural Ca2+ antagonist. In this study we have observed that Mg2+ can protect guinea-pigs against IS. Antigen-sensitized guinea-pigs, which had been fed a magnesium-deficient diet, were given a single dose (15 mg) of MgCl2 intraperitoneally 1 h before antigen challenge. The development of anaphylactic shock (AS) was observed during the next 2 h, and the hearts were subsequently examined histologically for signs of cardiac myolysis (CM). Magnesium (i) reduced the incidence of CM from 40% to 10% (p < 0.05); (ii) reduced the incidence of AS from 61% to 35% (p < 0.05); (iii) attenuated the severity of the AS; and (iv) lowered mortality from 39% in the control to 19% in the Mg(2+)-treated group (p = 0.1). Serum and tissue total [Mg2+] were not affected by the administration of MgCl2. Also, the serum and heart Mg2+ levels were the same whether or not the guinea-pigs developed AS or CM. In cell culture we demonstrated that by elevating the [Mg2+] in the medium bathing sensitized rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells, the increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] subsequent to antigen challenge was reduced from 174 +/- 23.28% (1 mM) to 82.74 +/- 13.22% (3 mM). We conclude that a single treatment with Mg2+ can considerably diminish damage induced by immune stress, probably by its altering the Ca2+: Mg2+ ratio. Since the physiological reaction to different types of stress is similar, Mg2+ could prove beneficial in preventing stress-induced shock in general. Studies examining the mechanisms by which Mg2+ exerts its effects thus provide a scientific basis for the current clinical use of Mg2+ in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and asthma.
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A chimeric gene was constructed from the genes coding for the human complement regulatory proteins, membrane cofactor protein (CD46) and decay-accelerating factor (CD55). The recombinant chimeric gene was transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells. The gene product is a soluble, glycosylated, 110-kDa protein named complement activation blocker-2 (CAB-2). This protein possesses both factor I cofactor activity and decay-accelerating activity, and inactivates classical and alternative C3/C5 convertases in vitro. The specific activity of CAB-2 against cell-associated convertases is greater than that of soluble forms of either membrane cofactor protein or decay-accelerating factor or of both factors combined. CAB-2 also blocks the activation of complement in vivo, inhibiting both the Arthus reaction and Forssman shock in guinea pigs. Studies in rats demonstrate CAB-2 to exhibit favorable biphasic pharmacokinetics with a t1/2 alpha of 10 min and a t1/2 beta of 8 h; the beta phase accounts for 93% of the administered dose. CAB-2 may be an effective therapeutic treatment of acute human diseases in which excessive complement activation causes damage to normal tissues.