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Upregulation of HLA class II, but not intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) by granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or interleukin-3 (IL-3) in synergy with dexamethasone.

In this study we have compared the effects of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on purified normal blood monocytes, with two other haemopoietic growth factors, Interleukin (IL-) 3 and Macrophage (M-)CSF on HLA class I, class II and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) expression in the presence and absence of dexamethasone (Dex). IL-3 alone, like GM-CSF, was a weak inducer of HLA class II expression but in combination with Dex markedly enhanced HLA-DR, DP and DQ expression. Similar changes were observed for HLA class I expression. The response to both IL-3 and GM-CSF was not additive in the presence of an optimal concentration of one cytokine and titrating concentrations of the other indicating that they may use common receptors and signal transduction mechanisms. Although IL-3 or GM-CSF alone also enhanced ICAM-1 expression, Dex inhibited both constitutive and the cytokine induced expression of this antigen. In contrast M-CSF, in the presence or absence of Dex, failed to enhance ICAM-1, HLA class I or II expression. These observations further highlight differences between the effects of the haemopoietic growth factors GM-CSF and IL-3 versus M-CSF in the regulation of monocyte function. Finally, the distinct effect of a combination of glucocorticoids with GM-CSF or IL-3 to induce high levels of HLA expression on human monocytes suggests they may have an important role during inflammatory conditions in vivo.

Cell Adhesion Molecules↗

T-cell activation is potentiated by cytokines released by lesional psoriatic, but not normal, epidermis.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: T-cell activation appears to be critical for the maintenance of psoriatic lesions. In this study, we determined whether cytokines released by epidermal cells from psoriatic lesions are providing signals that result in propagation of intralesional T-cell activation. Supernatants were obtained from epidermal cell cultures derived from skin biopsy specimens of psoriatic patients and normal subjects. These supernatants were added to purified normal CD4+ T cells activated via T-cell receptor (immobilized anti-CD3 and fibronectin) or via other activating pathways (anti-CDw60 or UM4D4). RESULTS: Psoriatic supernatants (n = 9), but not normal supernatants (n = 7, P < .0006), potentiated T-cell stimulation with anti-CD3 and fibronectin to 172% +/- 41% over control stimulation levels. The degree of lesional psoriatic epidermal cell potentiation correlated with the clinical severity of the lesion (r = .82, P = .007). Psoriatic epidermal cytokine potentiation of T-cell activation was not limited to T-cell receptor mediated stimulation; potentiation of anti-CDw60-stimulated CD4+ T cells was also observed. Neutralizing antisera to interleukin 1 and interleukin 8, but not interleukin 6, were found to reduce only partly the observed potentiation of T-cell activation. To determine whether cyclosporine is down modulating T-cell-potentiating cytokine activity in psoriasis, we compared samples obtained during a double-blind clinical trial of intralesional cyclosporine. T-cell-potentiating activity from psoriatic lesional sites treated with cyclosporine was not significantly modulated relative to the activity derived from vehicle-treated or untreated sites. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that lesional psoriatic epidermal cells release a balance of cytokines that potentiate T-cell activation. Because normal epidermal cells do not potentiate T-cell activation in this system, these findings demonstrate a mechanism by which the epidermis may non-specifically potentiate and perpetuate T-cell activation in psoriatic lesions.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗

Adhesion to vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and fibronectin. Comparison of alpha 4 beta 1 (VLA-4) and alpha 4 beta 7 on the human B cell line JY.

Most mononuclear leukocytes and cell lines express the integrin alpha 4 beta 1 (VLA-4) heterodimer. In this study we have used Northern blotting and immunoprecipitation experiments to demonstrate that a B lymphoblastoid cell line (JY) expressed the integrin beta 7 subunit in association with alpha 4. These alpha 4 beta 7-positive JY cells bound poorly or not at all to VLA-4 ligands (soluble form of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1) and the CS1 region of fibronectin). In contrast, a beta 1-positive variant of JY cells (selected to express a mixture of alpha 4 beta 1 and alpha 4 beta 7) bound avidly to VLA-4 ligands, and this binding was completely inhibitable by anti-alpha 4 and anti-beta 1 monoclonal antibodies. Thus, beta 1 expression appears to be a critically important component of VLA-4-mediated binding to its ligands. After either JY or JY-beta 1 cells were stimulated for 15 min with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, the majority of adhesion to VCAM or fibronectin remained alpha 4- and beta 1-dependent, but a low amount of adhesion to sVCAM-1 or fibronectin became alpha 4-dependent, beta 1-independent, thus suggesting a role for alpha 4 beta 7. In summary, we have found (i) that alpha 4 beta 7 makes little or no contribution to fibronectin or VCAM-1 binding on unstimulated JY cells, (ii) that alpha 4 beta 7 perhaps makes a minor contribution to ligand binding on 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate-stimulated cells, and (iii) that alpha 4 beta 1 is the functionally dominant VCAM-1 and fibronectin receptor even when expressed in relatively low amounts compared to alpha 4 beta 7.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Endogenous receptor-bound urokinase mediates tissue invasion of the human lung carcinoma cell lines A549 and Calu-1.

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) increases the tissue invasive potential of the CSF-1 receptor-bearing lung carcinoma cell lines A549 and Calu-1 by increasing the number of endogenously bound urokinase-type plasminogen activators (u-PA)s on these cells. CSF-1, at concentrations which optimize invasion of A549 and Calu-1 cells into human amnion membranes (250 ng/ml), maximally augments the number of u-PA receptors occupied by endogenously produced urokinase. Preincubation of A549 and Calu-1 cells with the anti-u-PA monoclonal antibody MPW5UK (25 micrograms/ml) or with a 20- to 40-fold stoichiometric excess of fluid phase type 2 plasminogen activator inhibitor abrogates invasiveness, indicating that functionally active cell surface u-PA is essential for tissue invasion. In contrast, fluid phase type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1, 5-15 units/ml) does not inhibit invasiveness unless preincubated with the amnion membranes. Inhibition of invasion by PAI-1 is abolished by presaturating the amnion membranes with antiitronectin monoclonal antibody (10 micrograms/ml) which prevents binding of PAI-1 to tissue-associated vitronectin. Binding of PAI-1 to tissue vitronectin is therefore a prerequisite for its inhibitory action. Thus, endogenously receptor-bound u-PA is the primary protease mediating CSF-1-induced tissue invasiveness of the lung carcinoma cell lines A549 and Calu-1.

Amnion↗

Hematopoietic growth factors upregulate the p65 type II interleukin-1 receptor on bone marrow progenitor cells in vitro.

Having previously shown that interleukin-1 (IL-1) induces the expression of IL-1 receptors (IL-1Rs) on bone marrow (BM) cells in vivo through an indirect mechanism, we studied whether hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) could induce the expression of IL-1R on BM cells in vitro. In vitro treatment of light-density murine BM (LDBM) cells with either IL-3, IL-6, granulocyte--colony-stimulating factor (CSF), or granulocyte-macrophage--CSF caused a 5- to 10-fold upregulation of IL-1R expression, whereas IL-1, IL-5, IL-7, and macrophage-CSF had no effect. Scatchard analysis showed one class of IL-1Rs on LDBM cells with an average of 66 +/- 20 sites per cells. After 24 hours of treatment with IL-3, the number of IL-1Rs increased to 413 +/- 125, without effecting the affinity. This effect required protein synthesis, but was independent of cell division. Purified lineage-negative progenitor cells (Lin-) did not express detectable levels of IL-1R, but 24 hours of treatment with IL-3, GM-CSF, and G-CSF stimulated IL-1--specific binding. Autoradiographic analysis of Lin- cells showed that IL-1R induction by IL-3 occurs on undifferentiated blast cells. Affinity labeling of Lin- cells treated with HGFs showed an increase in a 65-Kd IL-1 binding protein that did not bind or compete with an anti-type I IL-1R antibody, suggesting that these cells expressed type II IL-1R. These data suggest that IL-1 stimulation of myelopoiesis occurs by a mechanism involving IL-1R upregulation on hematopoietic progenitor cells by HGFs.

Animals↗

Interferon-gamma increases the expression of the gene encoding the beta subunit of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) activates a broad range of myeloid cells through binding to high-affinity receptors (GM-CSF-R) consisting of at least two distinct subunits, GM-CSF-R alpha and GM-CSF-R beta. The genes of these GM-CSF-R subunits have been identified recently, but little is known about the regulation of their expression. In this study, we investigated the expression of the GM-CSF-R subunit genes in normal human monocytes. Out of a panel of various cytokines and factors tested, only interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) affected the expression of one of the GM-CSF-R subunit genes by increasing the GM-CSF-R beta mRNA expression threefold to sixfold with no effect on GM-CSF-R alpha. Maximal effects occurred 2 to 4 hours after stimulation with 500 to 5,000 U/mL IFN-gamma. Nuclear run-on assays and mRNA half-life studies showed that IFN-gamma modestly enhanced the transcription of the GM-CSF-R beta gene and stabilized the GM-CSF-R beta mRNA, with the latter mechanism predominant. Pretreatment of the monocytes with cycloheximide did not abrogate the increase of GM-CSF-R beta mRNA expression induced by IFN-gamma, indicating that de novo protein synthesis was not required for this activity. When monocytes were exposed to IFN-gamma for 6 to 24 hours, the number of GM-CSF-R per cell was increased 79% as compared with controls, whereas the receptor affinity remained unchanged. These data indicate that the GM-CSF-R expression in monocytes may be upregulated by IFN-gamma via an increased expression of the beta subunit gene, involving both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms.

Animals↗

Product of the Steel locus can replace leukemic cell interaction.

Mutations in the Steel locus, encoding a growth factor (Steel factor or SF) or c-kit, the gene encoding its receptor, result in severe anemia in the mouse. In the present study, we have addressed the mechanism of synergistic growth activation, at the cellular level, by SF and GM-CSF using the blast cells of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML blasts). Our data indicate that SF drastically alleviates the requirement in cell interaction for blast colony formation in most of the samples tested. Analysis of cultures performed in the presence of SF and GM-CSF at different cell concentrations, ranging from 1,000 to 20,000 cells, suggested a single limiting element, i.e., the blast clonogenic cell, while 2 or more limiting elements were found in cultures stimulated with GM-CSF alone, suggesting interacting cell populations. The presence of membrane-bound SF was detected by immunofluorescence, suggesting the possibility that secreted or membrane-bound SF may, at least in part, contribute to the density-dependent growth of AML blasts. In all samples tested, SF appears to increase the responsiveness of AML blasts to GM-CSF, as demonstrated by a 3-fold decrease of GM-CSF half efficient concentration on addition of SF to the cultures. Exposure of AML blasts to SF did not affect GM-CSF receptor expression, suggesting that this increase in GM-CSF responsiveness is likely to occur at the postreceptor level. Interestingly, 2 of 15 AML samples surveyed did not respond to SF, and were both of the myelomonocytic or monocytic subtype, classified as M4 and M5, respectively.

Cell Communication↗

Activation of the Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporter in rat parotid acinar cells by aluminum fluoride and phosphatase inhibitors.

The bumetanide-sensitive component of pHi recovery from an NH4Cl-induced acute alkaline load was used as a measure of Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransport activity in rat parotid acini. Acinar treatment with NaF/AlCl3 (15 mM NaF plus 10 microM AlCl3) induced a 5-fold stimulation in the initial rate of bumetanide-sensitive pHi recovery. This effect was dependent on NaF concentration (K1/2 approximately 7 mM) and was blunted in the presence of the Al3+ chelator desferal mesylate suggesting that it might be due to the aluminofluoride ion, AlF-4. NaF/AlCl3 treatment did not increase acinar intracellular cAMP levels but did result in an increase in intracellular calcium concentration (from 87 +/- 5 to 181 +/- 2 nM) and in acinar cell shrinkage (12 +/- 1%). But the stimulation of the Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporter by NaF/AlCl3 persisted in acini which had been depleted of their intracellular Ca2+ stores. In these acini no effect of NaF/AlCl3 on intracellular calcium or cell volume was observed, indicating that stimulation of the cotransporter was not secondary to either of these phenomena. The effect of NaF/AlCl3 on the cotransporter was blocked by the protein kinase inhibitor K252a indicating the involvement of a protein phosphorylation event. This result is consistent with either NaF/AlCl3-dependent protein kinase activation or phosphatase inhibition. The stimulation of the cotransporter by NaF/AlCl3 was mimicked by the protein phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A; however, this effect was not blocked by K252a suggesting that a different protein kinase from that associated with NaF/AlCl3 may be involved. The data indicate that the Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporter in this tissue is under tight regulatory control, in all likelihood via multiple protein kinase/phosphatase systems. The physiological roles of these regulatory events in modulating acinar fluid secretion driven by the Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporter remain to be elucidated.

Aluminum↗

Neutrophil aggregation is beta 2-integrin- and L-selectin-dependent in blood and isolated cells.

Neutrophil aggregation in response to formyl peptide was analyzed in blood and isolated cells by fluorescence flow cytometry. The isolated leukocyte aggregates and the leukocytes in blood were identified with the vital nucleic acid stain LDS-751. This method enabled us to discriminate nucleated cells from other blood cells and to detect granulocyte aggregates without isolation or E lysis. Cells isolated in the absence of endotoxin retained the characteristics of cells in blood and exhibited similar aggregation kinetics and dose-response to formyl peptide. We show that it is possible to analyze epitope expression in blood with homogeneous flow cytometric assays and that carefully isolated neutrophils retain the expression characteristics of those in blood. The expression of CD18 was at its lowest levels in unstimulated cells, while the rate of formyl peptide stimulated aggregation was most rapid in these cells. Aggregation in isolated cells as well as blood preceded an increase in receptor expression. After stimulation, L-selectin expression decreased in both blood and isolated cells over a time frame similar to disaggregation. The aggregation response in blood was blocked by pretreatment with antibody to CD18 over a concentration range consistent with the amount of antibody bound. Aggregation was also blocked in isolated cells and blood by antibodies DREG-200 and DREG-56 to L-selectin, but not by isotype controls or anti-LFA-1. The results are discussed in terms of the roles of adhesive receptor expression and recognition in neutrophil aggregation. The methods validated here permit linkage between isolated cells and in vivo studies.

Antigens, CD↗

Regulation of IL-2 receptor subunit genes in human monocytes. Differential effects of IL-2 and IFN-gamma.

We investigated the effects of IFN-gamma and IL-2 on IL-2R alpha and beta mRNA expression in human monocytes. Low basal expression of IL-2R beta mRNA was detected in fresh monocytes. Stimulation of monocytes with IL-2 induced a significant increase of IL-2R beta mRNA, but did not induce IL-2R alpha mRNA. In contrast, stimulation of monocytes with IFN-gamma-induced IL-2R alpha mRNA, but did not modify IL-2R beta mRNA. Five U/ml of IFN-gamma induced IL-2R alpha mRNA and 2.2 nM of IL-2 induced IL-2R beta mRNA, both within 3 h. Nuclear run-on experiments demonstrated that the induction of IL-2R alpha mRNA by IFN-gamma is controlled, at least in part, at the transcriptional level. In contrast, the enhancement of IL-2R beta mRNA by IL-2 is controlled at a posttranscriptional level and is associated with an increase in the half-life of IL-2R beta mRNA. The results of studies on the cytotoxic activity and on the expression of c-fms mRNA of monocytes activated by the combination of IFN-gamma and IL-2 show that pretreatment with IFN-gamma renders monocytes more sensitive to activation by IL-2. These results demonstrate that the IL-2R alpha and IL-2R beta subunits are induced by different lymphokines through distinct mechanisms and that both receptor subunits can influence the response of monocytes to IL-2.

Antigens, CD↗

In vivo effect of interleukin-1 alpha on hematopoiesis: role of colony-stimulating factor receptor modulation.

To determine the mechanism(s) by which interleukin-1 (IL-1) promotes granulopoiesis in vivo, we examined the effect of in vivo administration of IL-1 alpha on colony-stimulating factor (CSF) receptor expression on bone marrow cells (BMCs) and whether this directly correlated with progenitor cell responsiveness. Administration of IL-1 alpha to mice induced the upregulation of both granulocyte-macrophage-CSF (GM-CSF) and IL-3 receptors, which reached a maximum 24 hours after IL-1 alpha injection on unfractionated BMCs. This upregulation was more pronounced on the progenitor-enriched cell population (lineage-negative [Lin(-)]). The enhanced GM-CSF and IL-3 receptor expression directly correlated with enhanced IL-3- or GM-CSF-induced growth of colony-forming unit-culture (CFU-c) or CFU-mixture (CFU-Mix; colonies containing macrophages, granulocytes, and erythroid cells). In addition, the absolute number of high proliferative potential-colony-forming cells (HPP-CFC) was increased fivefold. In contrast, granulocyte-CSF (G-CSF)-specific binding on unfractionated BMCs was rapidly (4 hours) reduced after IL-1 alpha administration and returned to control levels by 24 hours. This reduction correlated with IL-1 alpha-induced margination of mature granulocytes (RBC-8C5hi cells), which express high levels of G-CSF receptors. IL-1 alpha treatment did not affect G-CSF receptor expression on Lin- cells. Pretreatment of mice with anti-type I IL-1 receptor antibody blocked the IL-1 alpha-induced upregulation of GM-CSF and IL-3 receptor expression on BMCs. Taken together, as one possible mechanism, IL-1 alpha in vivo may stimulate the expression of functional GM-CSF and IL-3 receptors on BMCs indirectly, and, in concert with the induction of circulating CSF levels, may account for the ability of IL-1 alpha to stimulate hematopoiesis in vivo.

Animals↗

Loss of keratin expression in anaplastic carcinoma cells due to posttranscriptional down-regulation acting in trans.

Rat keratin K5 and vimentin complementary DNAs have been isolated, identified, and used to study keratin and vimentin expression as markers for cell differentiation. Isologous rat neoplastic epithelial cell lines used were based on a clonal benign epithelial line (A5P/B10) and a clonal anaplastic malignant derivative line (T952/F7). Stable cytoplasmic mRNA was detected for keratin but not vimentin in the benign cells. The anaplastic derivative cells expressed vimentin but showed a 1000-fold reduction in the keratin message, which nuclear run-on assays identified as being due to posttranscriptional down-regulation. An identical pattern of posttranscriptional down-regulation was found in independent malignant somatic cell hybrids of the benign and anaplastic cells. trans-acting regulatory mechanisms implicated in posttranscriptional (pretranslational) keratin down-regulation in these anaplastic malignant cells may play a role in the apparent loss of differentiation evident in tumor progression.

Animals↗

Endotoxin-induced cytokine gene expression in vivo. IV. Expression of interleukin-1 alpha/beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist mRNA during endotoxemia and during endotoxin-initiated local acute inflammation.

After the intravenous (IV) injection of endotoxin, (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]), in the rat, interleukin-1 alpha/beta (IL-1 alpha/beta) mRNA expression peaks at 1 hour in whole organ RNA preparations of the lung, liver, spleen, and bowel. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) mRNA peaks at 2 to 4 hours, consistent with the hypothesis that IL-1ra acts as an endogenous negative feedback mechanism to downregulate the proinflammatory effects of IL-1. After the intratracheal (IT) injection of LPS, however, IL-1 and IL-1ra mRNA levels in whole lung peak at 6 hours, concurrent with the maximum influx of neutrophils (PMNs) into the bronchoalveolar space. To address the cellular source of IL-1 and IL-1ra mRNA in the lung during acute pneumonitis, mRNA levels were studied in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) macrophages incubated with LPS in vitro for 6 hours as compared with BAL cells (95% PMNs) obtained 6 hours after IT injection of LPS. A much greater expression of IL-1 and IL-1ra mRNA was observed in PMN-rich BAL cells obtained after IT injection of LPS, suggesting that PMNs contribute substantially to IL-1 and IL-1ra mRNA expression. Fractionation of alveolar macrophage-enriched and PMN-enriched subpopulations from the BAL cells obtained at 6 hours after IT injection of LPS confirmed that neutrophils are a source of IL-1 and IL-1ra mRNA. The difference in the kinetics of IL-1 and IL-1ra mRNA expression in whole lung RNA preparations after IV and IT injections of LPS is due to the contribution of PMNs that appear in the lung in large numbers after IT injection. Finally, human peripheral blood PMNs were found to express IL-1ra mRNA and protein after in vitro incubation with LPS. PMNs may contribute to the up- and downregulation of their own accumulation by expressing both IL-1 and IL-1ra.

Animals↗

Monoclonal antibody against the common beta subunit (beta c) of the human interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-5, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptors shows upregulation of beta c by IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

High-affinity receptors for human granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and IL-5 are composed of two distinct subunits, alpha and beta. Each receptor has its own ligand-specific alpha subunit, and the three receptors share the common beta subunit, beta c. Using a transfectant of NIH3T3 cells expressing the high-affinity human GM-CSF receptor, monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against beta c were generated. These MoAbs specifically bound to cells bearing beta c and immunoprecipitated the beta c protein of 120 Kd. Using these MoAbs, expression of beta c was examined. It is known that IL-1 augments the proliferative response of a human factor-dependent hematopoietic cell line TF-1 to either GM-CSF, IL-3, or IL-5, and that it upregulates the high-affinity receptors for GM-CSF, IL-3, and IL-5. Antibody binding and immunoprecipitation demonstrated that IL-1 increased cell surface expression of beta c. This enhancement by IL-1 was accompanied by an increased level of beta c mRNA. In addition, we found that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) also increased the expression of beta c, although it did not augment the proliferative response of TF-1 to GM-CSF, IL-3, and IL-5.

3T3 Cells↗

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta is induced during tumor development and upregulated during tumor progression in endothelial cells in human gliomas.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial cells proliferate during brain development, are quiescent in normal adult brain but proliferate again under pathologic conditions such as glioma growth. The vascular phenotype of low grade glioma is comparable to normal brain, however high grade gliomas are focally highly vascularized and there is associated prominent endothelial cell proliferation. The mechanisms of this change in vascular phenotype are unknown but there is evidence that growth factors play an important role in this process as well as in normal angiogenesis and vascular differentiation. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To investigate whether endothelial cells become activated during tumorigenesis and progression of human gliomas by a platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) dependent pathway, we analyzed platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFR-beta) expression by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry in normal human brain, astrocytoma (grade II), anaplastic oligo-astrocytoma (grade III), and glioblastoma multiforme (grade IV). RESULTS: PDGFR-beta mRNA was not detectable in the vessels of normal human brain, but was expressed in the vasculature of low and high grade gliomas, particularly in endothelial cell proliferations in glioblastomas. The expression of the receptor in the tumor microvessels, was confirmed by double immunofluorescence in which the staining appeared to be in the endothelial cells. Primary cultures of endothelial cells derived from glioblastoma multiforme maintained receptor expression for 2 days in vitro, whereas it was not detectable in vitro in endothelial cells derived from normal brain. Tumor cells in all grades of glioma expressed very little PDGFR-beta mRNA in situ. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the malignant phenotype in human glial tumors is associated with an upregulation of the PDGFR-beta on endothelial cells of vessels which vascularize the tumor. These findings may contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate vessel growth and differentiation in normal and pathologic states.

Brain Neoplasms↗

[Effect of habenular nucleus in 5-HT ascending pressor pathways].

The blood pressure was elevated by the electric stimulation of dorsal raphe nucleus in rats. Microinjection of 5-HT (6 micrograms, 3 micrograms) into habenular nucleus induced pressor effect too, but the heart rate was not much changed. Microinjection of procaine hydrochloride (300 micrograms.microliters-1) into both sides of habenular nuclei, the pressor effect induced by stimulation of dorsal raphe nucleus was alleviated obviously (85% blockade). The data suggested that habenular nucleus participates in the pressor effect caused by the excitation of dorsal raphe nucleus, and 5-HT may be one of the neurotransmitters in the action of habenular nucleus participating in cardiovascular regulatory function.

Animals↗