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Secretory phospholipase A2 group V: lesion distribution, activation by arterial proteoglycans, and induction in aorta by a Western diet.

OBJECTIVE: To study the distribution of group V secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) in human and mouse lesions and compare its expression by human vascular cells, its activity toward lipoproteins, and the interaction with arterial proteoglycans (proteoglycans) with those of sPLA2-IIA. In addition, we also investigated the effect of a Western diet and lipopolysaccharide challenge on the aortic expression of these enzymes in mouse models. METHODS AND RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry showed sPLA2-V in human and mouse lesions to be associated with smooth muscle cells and also surrounding foam cells in lipid core areas. mRNA of the enzyme was expressed in human lesions and human vascular cells, supporting the immunohistochemistry data. sPLA2-V but not sPLA2-IIA was active on lipoproteins in human serum. The association with proteoglycans enhanced 2- to 3-fold sPLA2-V activity toward low-density lipoproteins but not that of the group IIA enzyme. Experiments in mouse models showed that treatment with a Western diet induced expression of sPLA2-V but not that of sPLA2-IIA in aorta. On the other hand, lipopolysaccharide-induced acute inflammation augmented the expression of sPLA2-IIA but not that of sPLA2-V. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that these phospholipases could have different roles in atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

Kinetics and activity distribution of urease coencapsulated with hemoglobin within polyamide membranes.

A 91.5% mass yield of urease and hemoglobin (Hb), co-encapsulated within polyamide membranes, was determined spectrophotometrically. The specific activity yield of microencapsulation was 84%, twofold higher than values previously reported, as a result of optimization of encapsulation conditions. The kinetic parameters and pH activity profiles of intracapsular urease were determined to be similar to those corresponding to the free enzyme. Similar activities were also observed for intact and microcapsule homogenate, indicating minimal mass transfer and diffusional limitation. The active configuration of the enzyme appears to remain intact upon microencapsulation. The application of a kinetic model for encapsulated urease further indicated that the kinetics were reaction-controlled with minimal mass transfer restrictions.

Capsules↗

Unique CYP2D6 activity distribution and genotype-phenotype discordance in black Americans.

BACKGROUND: Although CYP2D6 has been studied extensively in different population groups, relatively little is known for black Americans. METHODS: CYP2D6 activity was assessed with dextromethorphan in 283 black American subjects and correlated with their genotype (2D6*2 to *12, 2D6*14, 2D6*15, 2D6*17, 2D6*18, and 2D6*29 and gene duplications). Volunteers provided information about ethnicity and concurrent medication, and they participated in either phenotyping (n = 225), genotyping (n = 251), or both (n = 193). RESULTS: The median urinary dextromethorphan/dextrorphan metabolic ratio (MR) indicated significantly lower CYP2D6 activity in the black American group (0.016) than in a white control population (0.0044; P =.0001) studied previously. The reduced function allele 2D6*17 was more common (frequency [f] = 0.395) among intermediate metabolizers (0.03 < or = MR < or= 0.3) than extensive metabolizers (MR < or = 0.03; f = 0.148; P =.0001). Consistent with reduced function toward dextromethorphan of COS cell-expressed 2D6.29 protein, 2D6*29 also was more frequent in intermediate metabolizers (f = 0.114) than in extensive metabolizers (f = 0.057; P = NS). Frequencies for 2D6*17 and 2D6*29 were f = 0.213 and 0.072, respectively. Of the 193 genotyped and phenotyped subjects, 14 were determined to be poor metabolizers, with dextromethorphan/dextrorphan ratios >0.3 (7.25%), but only 2 subjects (1.04%) carried 2 nonfunctional alleles (2D6*3/*4x2 and 2D6*4/*4). A new allelic variant, 2D6*40, was subsequently found in 2 discordant subjects (2D6*4/*40 and 2D6*6/*40), implying that the 18-base pair (bp) insertion found in 2D6*40 renders it nonfunctional. The frequency of 2D6*40 was 0.006. For genotypes that contain 2D6*2, median MR values were consistently higher in black Americans than in white subjects, indicating that other unidentified factors also contribute to lower CYP2D6 activity in black Americans. CONCLUSIONS: The lower CYP2D6 activity observed in a black American population is in part attributable to the presence of variant alleles that occur at a higher frequency in this population than in white subjects. Additional studies are required to ascertain the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic consequences of these pharmacogenetic data in black Americans.

Adolescent↗

Mapping myocardial activation distributions using neural networks: 2-D simulation results.

The goal of this study was to explore the capabilities of neural networks to map with accuracy the sequence and location of myocardial activation using QRS complexes simulating normal and altered activation. A two-dimensional (2-D) fractal-based computer model of myocardial activation was used to develop training data for initial network learning. Two types of activation scenarios were used to evaluate network learning: 1) 450 training sets based on three activation foci per set using randomly chosen times and activation sites, and 2) 199 training sets based on a sequential, hierarchical blocking of the fractal-based model conduction network. Network learning was evaluated with training and test cases using trained weights. Network-calculated activation maps compared with the target activation maps had a mean error of < 5% in assigning the site and timing of activation. Pointwise mean correlation coefficients were > 0.98 for all conduction network cases and > 0.84 for the more demanding point foci cases. We conclude, based on these simulation results, that neural networks may be used to calculate activation maps using electrocardiogram lead data for a variety of activation patterns.

Animals↗

Description, distribution, activity and phylogenetic relationship of ribosome-inactivating proteins in plants, fungi and bacteria.

Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins (RIPs) are enzymes that trigger the catalytic inactivation of ribosomes and other substrates. They are present in a large number of plants and have been found also in fungi, algae and bacteria. RIPs are currently classified as type 1, those formed by a single polypeptide chain with the enzymatic activity, and type 2, those formed by 2 types of chains, i.e. A chains equivalent to a type 1 RIPs and B chains with lectin activity. Type 2 RIPs usually contain the formulae A-B, (A-B)2 and less frequent (A-B)4 and polymeric forms of type 2 RIPs lectins. RIPs are broadly distributed in plants, and are present also in fungi, bacteria, at least in one alga; recently RIP-type activity has been described in mammalian tissues. The highest number of RIPs has been found in Caryophyllaceae, Sambucaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Phytolaccaceae and Poaceae. However there are no systematic screening studies to allow generalisations about occurrence. The most known activity of RIPs is the translational inhibitory activity, which seems a consequence of a N-glycosidase on the 28 S rRNA of the eukaryotic ribosome that triggers the split of the A(4324) (or an equivalent base in other ribosomes), which is key for translation. This activity seems to be part of a general adenine polynucleotide glycosylase able to act on several substrates other than ribosomes, such as tRNA, mRNA, viral RNA and DNA. Other enzymatic activities found in RIPs are lipase, chitinase and superoxide dismutase. RIPs are phylogenetically related. In general RIPs from close families share good amino acid homologies. Type 1 RIPs and the A chains of type 2 RIPs from Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons) are closely related. RIPs from Liliopsida (monocotyledons) are at the same time closely related and distant from Magnoliopsida. Concerning the biological roles played by RIPs there are several hypotheses, but the current belief is that they could play significant roles in the antipathogenic (viruses and fungi), stress and senescence responses. In addition, roles as antifeedant and storage proteins have been also proposed. Future research will approach the potential biological roles played by RIPs and their use as toxic effectors in the construction of immunotoxins and conjugates for target therapy.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Activity, distribution and regulation of phosphofructokinase in salivary gland of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

Although the influence of diabetes on salivary glands is well studied, it still presents conflicting results. In this work, the regulation of the phosphofructokinase-1 enzyme (PFK-1) was studied utilizing the salivary glands of rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/Kg of body weight) in rats (180-200 g). The animals were killed 30 days after the induction of diabetes and the submandibular and parotid salivary glands were used. Hyperglycemia was evaluated by blood sugar determination. The distribution of PFK-1 between the soluble and cytoskeleton fractions, the phosphate content of PFK-1, the content of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate and the activity of the PFK-2 enzyme were determined. The calculated relative glandular weight showed a higher value for the parotid gland in comparison with the control, but not for the submandibular gland. The activity of PFK-1 expressed per gland showed no variation between diabetic and control animals. However, considering the specific activity, the soluble enzyme presented a value 50% higher than that of the control and the cytoskeleton bound form increased by 84% compared to the control. For the parotid gland, no difference in the specific activity between diabetic and control animals was observed. On the other hand, the activity per gland of the soluble enzyme increased in the diabetic animals. The phosphate content of PFK-1 increased in the submandibular and parotid glands of diabetic rats. Both the content of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate and the active form of PFK-2 were reduced in the diabetic glands. In conclusion, the increase in the activity of PFK-1 observed in the salivary glands of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes does not seem to be due to its modulator fructose-2,6-bisphosphate.

Animals↗

[Activity distribution of SDH in liver of mice. A histophotometrical study (author's transl)].

The paper presents histophotometrical measurements of the histochemical SDH reaction with INT as redoxindicator in comparison with biochemical techniques of the determination of SDH activity (with K3[Fe(CN)6] and INT as indicators) and a histochemical method of elution (with INT as indicator). The measurements were performed on liver of mice. For each method absolute values of activity (10(-9) mol substrat/min-mg liver) are calculated as relative values of activity [%]. The standard deviation of the biochemical methods is approximate +/- 4%, of the histochemical methods +/- 8%. The smallest value of detection is 2.5-10(-14) mol formazan of histophotometrical measurement. The correspondence between the measurements of the relative values of activity by the described methods was secured by statistical tests. A statistically significant proportion of activities between periportal zone and central zone like 100:82 was determinated by histophotometrical measurement.

Animals↗

Activity distribution of cytochrome oxidase in the rat retina. A quantitative histochemical study.

Cytochrome oxidase (CYO) is a key enzyme in the respiratory chain. Therefore, CYO has an important role in the cell metabolism. In the present study CYO activity in the rat retina was identified by histochemical staining. The density of the staining, corresponding to the activity of the CYO, was evaluated quantitatively by densitometry. A high CYO activity was found in the retinal pigment epithelium, in the inner segment of the photoreceptors, in the outer plexiform layer and in the inner plexiform layer. In the outer segment of the photoreceptors, in the outer nuclear layer, and in the inner nuclear layer the CYO activity was relatively low. An analysis of variance demonstrated that the precision in an estimation of a mean depends on the number of animals and the number of retinal sections per animal.

Animals↗

beta-Furfuryl-beta-Glucoside: An Endogenous Activator of Higher Plant UDP-Glucose:(1-3)-beta-Glucan Synthase : Biological Activity, Distribution, and in Vitro Synthesis.

In a recent paper (P Ohana, DP Delmer, JC Steffens, DE Matthews, R Mayer, M Benziman [1991] J Biol Chem 266: 13472-13475), we described the purification and structural characterization of beta-furfuryl-beta-glucoside (FG), an endogenous activator of plant UDP-glucose:(1-->3)-beta-glucan (callose) synthase. In the present report, we provide evidence that FG specifically stimulates callose synthase. The effects of FG on the kinetic properties of callose synthase were studied, and we ascertained that FG, or at least a very similar compound, is present in other plant systems. Chemically synthesized alpha-furfuryl-beta-glucoside also stimulates callose synthase, exhibiting a slightly higher K(a) of 80 micromolar, compared with 50 micromolar for FG. In addition, we have identified and partially characterized an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of FG using beta-furfuryl alcohol and UDP-glucose as substrates. A model for the regulation of callose synthesis in vivo, involving changes in intracellular compartmentation of FG and Ca(2+), is proposed.

Journal Article↗

Angiotensin-converting enzyme in the rat kidney. Activity, distribution, and response to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

While it is known that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in the kidney is concentrated at the brush borders of the proximal tubule, the role of tubular ACE in renal physiology is not well understood. The active site of tubular ACE is exposed on the luminal surface of the brush borders and may hydrolyze peptides in the glomerular filtrate. However, a positive correlation between blood pressure and renal ACE activity was observed in spontaneously hypertensive rats, as well as in cases of ACE inhibition. Determination of ACE activity in different renal zones and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that ACE predominates in the inner cortex and that the proximal tubule in the outer cortex contains less ACE. Perhaps the inner cortex is the area responsible for alteration of renal ACE activity, since only ACE activity in the inner cortex increased following administration of the ACE inhibitor captopril. This would suggest that the induction of ACE occurs in the inner cortex. Renal ACE activity is also affected by oxidation. Thus, the activity increased when diamide, an oxidizing agent, was added to the crude extract of renal cortex and when oxygen was introduced into the extract. Therefore, tissue oxidation may be one factor affecting renal ACE activity.

Animals↗

Quantitation of small-animal (124)I activity distributions using a clinical PET/CT scanner.

UNLABELLED: Time-dependent PET imaging can be an important tool in the assessment of radiotracer performance in murine models. We have performed a quantitative analysis of PET images of (124)I, acquired on a clinical PET system using a small-animal phantom. We then compared the recovered activity concentrations with the known activity concentration in the phantom spheres. The recovery coefficients found from the phantom data were applied to in vivo (124)I anti-HER2/neu C6.5 diabody PET data and compared with necropsy biodistribution data from the same tumor-bearing immunodeficient mouse. METHODS: The small-animal phantom consisted of a 4 x 8 cm water-filled acrylic cylinder with hollow spheres filled with water ranging in volume from 0.0625 to 1.0 mL and activity concentration of 27 +/- 2 kBq/mL. The background activity concentrations varied from 0 to 0.05 to 0.10 of the spheres. Data were acquired at 0, 5, and 10 cm from the scanner longitudinal axis. Recovery coefficients were theoretically calculated for spheres of different volume, background-to-target concentrations, and distance from the scanner's longitudinal axis. The theoretic recovery coefficients were applied to the maximum sphere activity concentration measured from the PET images, thus obtaining a recovered activity concentration to be compared with the known activity concentration of the spheres. RESULTS: The mean recovered activity concentration for the phantom spheres was 25 +/- 2 kBq/mL. The (124)I diabody PET image of a mouse with a tumor xenograft was then analyzed using the techniques described. The tumor percentage injected dose per gram estimated from the murine PET image (4.8 +/- 0.4) compared well with those obtained from necropsy studies (5.1). CONCLUSION: This study indicates the feasibility of performing quantitative imaging on murine (124)I antibody fragment PET images using a large-bore clinical scanner, which enables high-throughput studies to evaluate the performance of PET tracers in a timely and cost-effective manner by imaging multiple animals simultaneously. Tracers deemed promising by this screening method can then be further evaluated using traditional necropsy studies. Our group is currently conducting time-dependent (124)I diabody PET and necropsy comparative studies with larger numbers of mice.

Animals↗

Microbial biomass and activity distribution in an anoxic, hypersaline basin.

The Orca Basin is a hypersaline depression in the northern Gulf of Mexico with anoxic conditions observed in the lower 200 m of the water column. Measurements of adenosine 5'-triphosphate, heterotrophic potential, and uridine uptake made above and across the interface into the anoxic zone revealed the presence of an active microbial population approximately 100 m above the interface. Biomass and activity decreased at and just below the interface but increased near the bottom, consistent with similar observations made in the Cariaco Trench. The maximum adenosine 5'-triphosphate concentration above the interface of 5.9 ng/liter (2,173 m) is about eight times greater than the value found in oxygenated waters of corresponding depth in the absence of an anoxic zone. The maximum adenosine 5'-triphosphate concentration in the anoxic zone is approximately 15 times greater than that found in oxygenated water of similar depth, suggesting anoxia will support the development of a larger bacterial population. Our findings suggest that autotrophic bacteria may be the dominant physiological group in the region just above the interface.

Journal Article↗

MIRD pamphlet No. 17: the dosimetry of nonuniform activity distributions--radionuclide S values at the voxel level. Medical Internal Radiation Dose Committee.

The availability of quantitative three-dimensional in vivo data on radionuclide distributions within the body makes it possible to calculate the corresponding nonuniform distribution of radiation absorbed dose in body organs and tissues. This pamphlet emphasizes the utility of the MIRD schema for such calculations through the use of radionuclide S values defined at the voxel level. The use of both dose point-kernels and Monte Carlo simulation methods is also discussed. PET and SPECT imaging can provide quantitative activity data in voxels of several millimeters on edge. For smaller voxel sizes, accurate data cannot be obtained using present imaging technology. For submillimeter dimensions, autoradiographic methods may be used when tissues are obtained through biopsy or autopsy. Sample S value tabulations for five radionuclides within cubical voxels of 3 mm and 6 mm on edge are given in the appendices to this pamphlet. These S values may be used to construct three-dimensional dose profiles for nonuniform distributions of radioactivity encountered in therapeutic and diagnostic nuclear medicine. Data are also tabulated for 131I in 0.1-mm voxels for use in autoradiography. Two examples illustrating the use of voxel S values are given, followed by a discussion of the use of three-dimensional dose distributions in understanding and predicting biologic response.

Animals↗

Synthesis, antitumor activity, distribution and toxicity of 4-[4-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]phenyl]-1-hydroxybutane-1 1-bisphosphonic acid (BAD), a new lost derivative with increased accumulation in rat osteosarcoma.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the newly synthesized bisphosphonic acid-linked N-Lost derivative BAD retains bone-seeking and cytostatic properties. The paper describes experiments on mutagenicity in vitro and on toxicity in vivo. BAD is characterized by very low mutagenic activity toward histidine auxotrophic Salmonella typhimurium strains. Cytotoxic effects were tested in rat osteosarcoma and in Walker carcinosarcoma 256B. The LD50 of i.v. injected BAD was 146 mg/kg. Acute toxicity is probably caused by calcium complexing of the bisphosphonate part of the molecule. Labeling experiments showed moderate accumulation in bone and osteosarcoma, as well as in lung metastases. BAD effected high tumor growth inhibition in osteosarcoma and Walker carcinosarcoma-bearing rats and marked prolongation of survival; histologic and radiographic examination revealed rapid calcification of osteosarcoma and lung metastases. BAD-pretreatment produced protective effects against osteolysis induced by intratibially implanted Walker carcinosarcoma ascites cells. The cytostatic efficacy of equitoxic doses of BAD in rat osteosarcoma is comparable to that of dacarbazine and in Walker carcinosarcoma to that of melphalan.

Animals↗

Microsomal and cytosolic epoxide hydrolases, the peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation system and catalase. Activities, distribution and induction in rat liver parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells.

A number of structurally unrelated hypolipidaemic agents and certain phthalate-ester plasticizers induce hepatomegaly and proliferation of peroxisomes in rodent liver, but there is relatively limited data regarding the specific effects of these drugs on liver non-parenchymal cells. In the present study, liver parenchymal, Kupffer and endothelial cells from untreated and fenofibrate-fed rats were isolated and the activities of two enzymes associated with peroxisomes (catalase and the peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation system) as well as cytosolic and microsomal epoxide hydrolase were measured. Microsomal epoxide hydrolase, cytosolic epoxide hydrolase and catalase activities were 7-12-fold higher in parenchymal cells than in Kupffer or endothelial cells from untreated rats; the peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation activity was only detected in parenchymal cells. Fenofibrate increased catalase, cytosolic epoxide hydrolase and peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation activities in parenchymal cells by about 1.5-, 3.5- and 20-fold, respectively. The induction of catalase (2-3-fold) and cytosolic epoxide hydrolase (3-5-fold) was also observed in Kupffer and endothelial cells; furthermore, a low peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation activity was detected in endothelial cells. Morphological examination by electron microscopy showed that peroxisomes were confined to liver parenchymal cells in untreated animals, but could also be observed in endothelial cells after administration of fenofibrate.

Animals↗

Autocatalytic reactions of phase distributed active particles.

We investigate the effect of asynchronism of autocatalytic reactions taking place in open hydrodynamical flows, by assigning a phase to each particle in the system to differentiate the timing of the reaction, while the reaction rate (periodicity) is kept unchanged. The chaotic saddle in the flow dynamics acts as a catalyst and enhances the reaction in the same fashion as in the case of a synchronous reaction that was studied previously, proving that the same type of nonlinear reaction kinetics is valid in the phase-distributed situation. More importantly, we show that, in a certain range of a parameter, the phenomenon of phase selection can occur, when a group of particles with a particular phase is favored over the others, thus occupying a larger fraction of the available space, or eventually leading to the extinction of the unfavored phases. We discuss the biological relevance of this latter phenomenon. (c) 2002 American Institute of Physics.

Journal Article↗

Comparative studies of rat liver and sea urchin embryo nuclear matrices: partial fractionation and protein kinase activity distribution.

Rat liver and sea urchin embryo nuclear matrices were found to differ in composition and in the strength of the association of their structural elements. Apart from the qualitative differences in composition, the embryonic matrices retained greater amounts of nuclear proteins and DNA, and were less susceptible to ultrasonic treatment than those of rat liver. They were essentially resistant to mild sonication, by which the rat liver matrix structure was resolved into two distinct fractions, referred to by Berezney (1980) as matricin and ribonucleoprotein (RNP). Both sub-fractions exhibited a protein kinase activity; the phosphorylating capacity of the RNP-associated protein kinases was found to be higher than that of the matricin-bound enzyme. The preferred substrate was among the secondary matrix proteins. In sea urchin embryos, sonication introduced no change in the type and lesion of the matrix proteins phosphorylated by the associated enzyme.

Animals↗