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Natural selection and evolution of streptococcal virulence genes involved in tissue-specific adaptations.

The molecular mechanisms underlying niche adaptation in bacteria are not fully understood. Primary infection by the pathogen group A streptococcus (GAS) takes place at either the throat or the skin of its human host, and GAS strains differ in tissue site preference. Many skin-tropic strains bind host plasminogen via the plasminogen-binding group A streptococcal M protein (PAM) present on the cell surface; inactivation of genes encoding either PAM or streptokinase (a plasminogen activator) leads to loss of virulence at the skin. Unlike PAM, which is present in only a subset of GAS strains, the gene encoding streptokinase (ska) is present in all GAS isolates. In this study, the evolution of the virulence genes known to be involved in skin infection was examined. Most genetic diversity within ska genes was localized to a region encoding the plasminogen-docking domain (beta-domain). The gene encoding PAM displayed strong linkage disequilibrium (P << 0.01) with a distinct phylogenetic cluster of the ska beta-domain-encoding region. Yet, ska alleles of distant taxa showed a history of intragenic recombination, and high intrinsic levels of recombination were found among GAS strains having different tissue tropisms. The data suggest that tissue-specific adaptations arise from epistatic coselection of bacterial virulence genes. Additional analysis of ska genes showed that approximately 4% of the codons underwent strong diversifying selection. Horizontal acquisition of one ska lineage from a commensal Streptococcus donor species was also evident. Together, the data suggest that new phenotypes can be acquired through interspecies recombination between orthologous genes, while constrained functions can be preserved; in this way, orthologous genes may provide a rich and ready source for new phenotypes and thereby play a facilitating role in the emergence of new niche adaptations in bacteria.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Involvement of sialoadhesin in entry of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus into porcine alveolar macrophages.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) shows a very restricted tropism for cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. It enters cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis. A monoclonal antibody (MAb) that is able to block PRRSV infection of porcine alveolar macrophages (PAM) and that recognizes a 210-kDa protein (p210) was described previously (MAb41D3) (X. Duan, H. Nauwynck, H. Favoreel, and M. Pensaert, J. Virol. 72:4520-4523, 1998). In the present study, the p210 protein was purified from PAM by immunoaffinity using MAb41D3 and was subjected to internal peptide sequencing after tryptic digestion. Amino acid sequence identities ranging from 56 to 91% with mouse sialoadhesin, a macrophage-restricted receptor, were obtained with four p210 peptides. Using these peptide data, the full p210 cDNA sequence (5,193 bp) was subsequently determined. It shared 69 and 78% amino acid identity, respectively, with mouse and human sialoadhesins. Swine (PK-15) cells resistant to viral entry were transfected with the cloned p210 cDNA and inoculated with European or American PRRSV strains. Internalized virus particles were detected only in PK-15 cells expressing the recombinant sialoadhesin, demonstrating that this glycoprotein mediated uptake of both types of strains. However, nucleocapsid disintegration, like that observed in infected Marc-145 cells as a result of virus uncoating after fusion of the virus with the endocytic vesicle membrane, was not observed, suggesting a block in the fusion process. The ability of porcine sialoadhesin to mediate endocytosis was demonstrated by specific internalization of MAb41D3 into PAM. Altogether, these results show that sialoadhesin is involved in the entry process of PRRSV in PAM.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Porcine arterivirus infection of alveolar macrophages is mediated by sialic acid on the virus.

Recently, we showed that porcine sialoadhesin (pSn) mediates internalization of the arterivirus porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in alveolar macrophages (Vanderheijden et al., J. Virol. 77:8207-8215, 2003). In rodents and humans, sialoadhesin, or Siglec-1, has been described as a macrophage-restricted molecule and to specifically bind sialic acid moieties. In the current study, we investigated whether pSn is a sialic acid binding protein and, whether so, whether this property is important for its function as a PRRSV receptor. Using untreated and neuraminidase-treated sheep erythrocytes, we showed that pSn binds sialic acid. Furthermore, pSn-specific monoclonal antibody 41D3, which blocks PRRSV infection, inhibited this interaction. PRRSV attachment to and infection of porcine alveolar macrophages (PAM) were both shown to be dependent on the presence of sialic acid on the virus: neuraminidase treatment of virus but not of PAM blocked infection and reduced attachment. Enzymatic removal of all N-linked glycans on the virus with N-glycosidase F reduced PRRSV infection, while exclusive removal of nonsialylated N-linked glycans of the high-mannose type with endoglycosidase H had no significant effect. Free sialyllactose and sialic acid containing (neo)glycoproteins reduced infection, while lactose and (neo)glycoproteins devoid of sialic acids had no significant effect. Studies with linkage-specific neuraminidases and lectins indicated that alpha2-3- and alpha2-6-linked sialic acids on the virion are important for PRRSV infection of PAM. From these results, we conclude that pSn is a sialic acid binding lectin and that interactions between sialic acid on the PRRS virion and pSn are essential for PRRSV infection of PAM.

Animals↗

Measurement of alveolar gas volume by ambient pressure changes in isolated lungs.

Alveolar gas volume (AGV) may be measured in humans (Peslin et al., J. Appl. Physiol. 62: 359-363, 1987) by applying very slow sinusoidal variations of ambient pressure (delta Pam) around the body and studying the relationship between delta Pam and the resulting gas displacement at the mouth (delta Vaw): AGVapc = (PB.delta Vaw)/(delta Pam.cos phi), where AGVapc is AGV measured by ambient pressure changes, PB is barometric minus alveolar water vapor pressure, and phi is the phase angle between Pam and Vaw. The applicability of this method to excised lungs at various transpulmonary pressures was assessed in six rabbit lungs and three dog lobes by reference to AGV measurements by He dilution (AGVdil) and by a volumetric method (AGVvol). Except in one instance, AGVapc did not change significantly when the frequency of delta Pam was varied from 0.02 to 0.2 Hz. AGVapc was highly correlated (P less than 0.001) to both AGVdil and AGVvol. It did not differ significantly from AGVdil (81.4 +/- 50.6 vs. 80.2 +/- 44.2 ml) and was only marginally higher than AGVvol (64.6 +/- 26.9 vs. 62.4 +/- 24.4 ml, P less than 0.05). We conclude that the method usually provides accurate results in excised lung preparations. Its main advantages are that it does not require manipulating the lung or changing its volume and that the measurement takes less than 1 min.

Animals↗

Design and calibration of unicapillary pneumotachographs.

This study presents a method for design and calibration of unicapillary pneumotachographs for small-animal experiments. The design, based on Poiseuille's law, defines a set of internal radius and length values that allows for laminar flow, measurable pressure differences, and minimal interference with animal's respiratory mechanics and gas exchange. A third-order polynomial calibration (Pol) of the pressure-flow relationship was employed and compared with linear calibration (Lin). Tests were done for conditions of ambient pressure (Pam) and positive pressure (Ppos) ventilation at different flow ranges. A physical model designed to match normal and low compliance in rats was used. At normal compliance, Pol provided lower errors than Lin for mixed (1-12 ml/s), mean (4-10 ml/s), and high (8-12 ml/s) flow rate calibrations for both Pam and Ppos inspiratory tests (P < 0.001 for all conditions) and expiratory tests (P < 0.001 for all conditions). At low compliance, they differed significantly with 8.6 +/- 4.1% underestimation when Lin at Pam was used in Ppos tests. Ppos calibration, preferably in combination with Pol, should be used in this case to minimize errors (Pol = 0.8 +/- 0.5%, Lin = 6.5 +/- 4.0%, P < 0.0005). Nonlinear calibration may be useful for improvement of flow and volume measurements in small animals during both Pam and Ppos ventilation.

Animals↗

Experimental study for the development of an in vitro test for contact allergens. 1. Primary activation of hapten-specific T cells by hapten-conjugated epidermal cells.

We conducted a study on the primary in vitro activation of T cells from non-sensitized mice by using hapten-conjugated Pam 212 cells (keratinocyte cell line). Furthermore, we attempted to develop a simple, quantitative in vitro test to assess the sensitizing potency of contact allergens and applied it to determine the stimulation index (SI) of various chemicals with known degrees of sensitizing potency. Monolayered Pam 212 cells were incubated with a variety of chemicals exhibiting allergenic potential. Washed and fixed T cells depleted of autoreactive T cells and macrophages from spleens of nonsensitized Balb/c mice were cocultured for 5 days with those monolayered Pam cells conjugated with chemicals. They were then harvested and restimulated with mitomycin-C-treated spleen cells conjugated with chemicals in 96-well culture plates to inhibit the proliferation of stimulator cells. We evaluated the sensitizing potency of the following chemicals: oxazolone, TNBS, DNFB and FITC (strong sensitizers); p-phenylendiamine (p-PD), nickel chloride and potassium dichromate (potent sensitizers); betamethasone and budesonide (corticosteroids), and methyl salicylate (MS) as an irritant. T cells sensitized in vitro with TNP-Pam cells and macrophages demonstrated antigen-specific proliferation when restimulated in vitro with mitomycin-C-treated TNP-spleen cells. Subcutaneous injection of these T cells induced contact sensitivity in vivo in an antigen-specific fashion. While T cells cocultured with TNP-3T3 could not be activated even in the presence of macrophages. The SI of strong sensitizers was about 4.00 and that of p-PD was 2.36. The SIs of budesonide, betamethasone and MS were 1.62, 0.98 and 1.21, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Differential effects of cyclophosphamide and cortisone acetate on bronchoalveolar phagocytic cell populations.

The effects of cyclophosphamide and cortisone acetate on numbers of pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) and on inflammatory response of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to bacterial infection in the lung were studied in guinea pigs. Groups of animals were treated for 7 days with each drug alone or in combination. Bronchoalveolar lavage was carried out on the day after completion of the drug regimens. Selected animals were challenged via the trachea with Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2 hours before lavage. Single-drug therapy did not significantly decrease numbers of PAM in lavage fluids, but combined therapy led to a 60 per cent (P less than 0.01) decrease in numbers of PAM. Normal animals and cortisone-treated animals responded 2 hours after Pseudomonas lung challenge with a 4-fold increase in PMN in lavage fluid, wherease animals treated with cyclophosphamide or the combined-drug regimen failed in this response. The clearance of viable Pseudomonas organisms from bronchoalveolar fluids was inhibited only in animals treated with both cyclophosphamide and cortisone. Thus, only a combined regimen of cyclophosphamide plus cortisone led to the simultaneous occurrence of decreased numbers of PAM, as well as inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocyte inflammation in the lung. Combined immunosuppressive drug regimens may result in more severe alterations in lung host defense for the clearance of bacteria than does single-drug therapy.

Animals↗

Human alveolar lining material and antibacterial defenses.

To investigate the possible antibacterial properties of human alveolar lining material (ALM), we obtained ALM and pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) by bronchoalveolar lavage of healthy nonsmokers. Alveolar lining material was isolated by centrifugation or micropore filtration; electron microscopy revealed lamellar bodies, and lipid analysis showed that 98% of the lipid fraction was phospholipid. No free fatty acids were detected. Streptococcus pneumoniae and non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) died spontaneously in PBS at a mean rate of log10 0.75 and 0.95 in 90 min, respectively; the addition of ALM appeared to exert a slight protective effect, and at higher concentrations supported replication of NTHI. There was no difference in the uptake of the bacteria by PAM when ALM was present. Phagocytosed NTHI were killed rapidly and completely within 60 min by PAM with or without ALM. A greater proportion of S. aureus were killed by PAM alone than in the presence of ALM. Alveolar lining material from healthy humans thus appears to have no demonstrable effect on host defense against these bacteria. The differences between our results and those of earlier studies using ALM from rats may relate to interspecies differences in the composition of ALM.

Cholesterol↗

Effect of acute inflammatory lung injury on the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages.

Using a well-characterized rat model of immune complex-mediated acute inflammatory lung injury, we determined that there is a time-dependent elaboration of monocyte chemotactic activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Monocyte chemotactic activity is also significantly enhanced in culture supernatants from pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) from injured rat lungs. Northern hybridization analysis revealed markedly increased expression of rat monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) mRNA in PAMs obtained from rats with immune complex-induced lung injury. The increased expression of MCP-1 mRNA and associated increase in monocyte chemotactic activity present in culture supernatants of PAMs from injured rat lungs suggest that PAMs may participate in the pathogenesis of acute inflammatory lung injury by the secretion of monocyte chemoattractants including MCP-1.

Animals↗

Peptide-amidating enzymes are expressed in the stellate epithelial cells of the thymic medulla.

C-terminal amidation is a post-translational processing step necessary to convey biological activity to a large number of regulatory peptides. In this study we have demonstrated that the peptidyl-glycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase enzyme complex (PAM) responsible for this activity is located in the medullary stellate epithelial cells of the thymus and in cultured epithelial cells bearing a medullary phenotype, using Northern blot, immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, and enzyme assays. Immunocytochemical localization revealed a granular pattern in the cytoplasm of the stellate cells, which were also positive for cytokeratins and a B-lymphocyte-associated antigen. The presence of PAM activity in medium conditioned by thymic epithelial cell lines suggests that PAM is a secreted product of these cells. Among the four epithelial cell lines examined, there was a direct correlation between PAM activity and content of oxytocin, an amidated peptide. Taken together, these data provide convincing evidence that thymic epithelial cells have the capacity to generate amidated peptides that may influence T-cell differentiation and suggest that the amidating enzymes could play an important role in the regulation of thymic physiology.

Animals↗

A compound heterozygous combination of SLC34A2 variants in pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: A case report and literature review.

Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare hereditary lung disorder characterized by the intra-alveolar deposition of calcium phosphate microliths. It is primarily familial and follows an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, with no significant gender disparity in incidence. In its early stages, PAM is often asymptomatic, and most cases are detected incidentally through abnormal imaging findings during routine health examinations. We report a case of a male patient in his mid-50&#x2005;s with a 10-year history of exertional dyspnea and cough unresponsive to conventional therapy. Initially diagnosed and treated for emphysema in early 2024, the patient was readmitted two months later with progressive dyspnea and cyanosis. The diagnosis of PAM was confirmed by typical medical imaging and pathological examination. Genetic analysis identified a previously unreported compound heterozygous combination of SLC34A2 variants: a c.910A&#x2009;>&#x2009;T (p.Lys304*) nonsense variant in exon 8 and a heterozygous &#x223c;5.5&#x2005;kb copy-number deletion at 4p15.2 (encompassing exons 2-6), thereby expanding the catalogue of reported PAM-associated genetic combinations. No recurrence was observed during one-year follow-up after bilateral lung transplantation.

Humans↗

2-propen-1-amine derivatives and their synthetic intermediates: activity against pathogenic trypanosomatids.

The potential activity of three new derivatives of 3-(4'-Y-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-3-(4-X-phenyl)-N,N-dimethyl-2-propen-1-amine (2-PAMs) was assayed against Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania amazonensis. They showed higher activity against trypomastigotes and epimastigotes of T. cruzi than the standard drugs, crystal violet and nifurtimox. Besides these derivatives, a series of eleven 2-PAMs derivatives and the corresponding intermediates, biphenyl methanones (BPMs) were assayed against promastigotes of L. amazonensis, showing that the 2-PAMs were remarkably more active than the BPMs. The PAMs 2c, 2e and 2j were about 2-fold more active that pentamidine isothionate and between 27.2- and 46.4-fold less toxic to V79 mammalian cells. The present results encourage further studies, especially against intracellular parasites and in experimental animals.

Animals↗

Adjuvant CMFVP versus melphalan for operable breast cancer with positive axillary nodes: 10-year results of a Southwest Oncology Group Study.

Four hundred forty-one women with operable breast cancer with histologically positive axillary nodes were randomized to receive either combination cyclophosphamide (60 mg/m2 orally everyday for 1 year); fluorouracil (300 mg/m2 intravenously [IV] weekly for 1 year); methotrexate (15 mg/m2 IV weekly for 1 year); vincristine (0.625 mg/m2 IV for 10 weeks); prednisone (30 mg/m2 orally days 1 to 14, 20 mg/m2 days 15 to 28, 10 mg/m2 days 29 to 42) (CMFVP) or single-agent melphalan (L-PAM) (5 mg/m2 orally every day for 5 days every 6 weeks for 2 years) chemotherapy after a modified or radical mastectomy between January 1975 and February 1978. Patients were stratified according to menopausal status and number of positive nodes (one to three, more than three nodes) before randomization. Seventy-eight patients were ineligible, most (56) because they were registered more than 42 days from surgery. Maximum duration of follow-up is 12 years, with a median of 9.8 years. The treatment arms were balanced with respect to age, menopausal status, and number of positive nodes. Among eligible patients, disease-free survival and survival were superior with CMFVP (P = .002, .005, respectively). At 10 years, 48% of patients treated with CMFVP remain alive and disease-free and 56% remain alive, compared with 35% alive and disease-free and 43% alive on the L-PAM arm. Disease-free survival and survival were significantly better with CMFVP compared with L-PAM only in premenopausal patients and patients with four or more positive nodes. Both regimens were well tolerated, although toxicity was more severe and more frequent with CMFVP. We conclude that after 10 years of follow-up, adjuvant combination chemotherapy with CMFVP is superior to single-agent L-PAM in patients with axillary node-positive primary breast cancer. The major advantage is in premenopausal women and in patients with more than three positive axillary nodes.

Age Factors↗

Customized oligonucleotide microarray gene expression-based classification of neuroblastoma patients outperforms current clinical risk stratification.

PURPOSE: To develop a gene expression-based classifier for neuroblastoma patients that reliably predicts courses of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred fifty-one neuroblastoma specimens were analyzed using a customized oligonucleotide microarray comprising 10,163 probes for transcripts with differential expression in clinical subgroups of the disease. Subsequently, the prediction analysis for microarrays (PAM) was applied to a first set of patients with maximally divergent clinical courses (n = 77). The classification accuracy was estimated by a complete 10-times-repeated 10-fold cross validation, and a 144-gene predictor was constructed from this set. This classifier's predictive power was evaluated in an independent second set (n = 174) by comparing results of the gene expression-based classification with those of risk stratification systems of current trials from Germany, Japan, and the United States. RESULTS: The first set of patients was accurately predicted by PAM (cross-validated accuracy, 99%). Within the second set, the PAM classifier significantly separated cohorts with distinct courses (3-year event-free survival [EFS] 0.86 +/- 0.03 [favorable; n = 115] v 0.52 +/- 0.07 [unfavorable; n = 59] and 3-year overall survival 0.99 +/- 0.01 v 0.84 +/- 0.05; both P < .0001) and separated risk groups of current neuroblastoma trials into subgroups with divergent outcome (NB2004: low-risk 3-year EFS 0.86 +/- 0.04 v 0.25 +/- 0.15, P < .0001; intermediate-risk 1.00 v 0.57 +/- 0.19, P = .018; high-risk 0.81 +/- 0.10 v 0.56 +/- 0.08, P = .06). In a multivariate Cox regression model, the PAM predictor classified patients of the second set more accurately than risk stratification of current trials from Germany, Japan, and the United States (P < .001; hazard ratio, 4.756 [95% CI, 2.544 to 8.893]). CONCLUSION: Integration of gene expression-based class prediction of neuroblastoma patients may improve risk estimation of current neuroblastoma trials.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Distribution and characterization of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase activity in the ovine brain and hypothalamo-pituitary axis.

The production of alpha-amidated peptide hormones from their glycine-extended precursors is catalyzed by the specific enzyme peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM). In the present study, the distribution and subcellular localization of PAM activity in the sheep brain was examined and compared with known sites of amidated peptide synthesis and release. Of the brain regions assayed, the preoptic anterior and medial basal areas of the hypothalamus contained the greatest concentration of amidating activity. Lower concentrations (greater than 3-fold less) were found in the anterior and neurointermediate pituitary, median eminence, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, pons-medulla, and brainstem. Very low amounts of activity were present in the cerebellum and pineal gland. In most tissues tested, PAM activity was 40-75% higher in the membrane-associated fraction than in the soluble fraction. In the hypothalamus, affinity constants were identical for both membrane-associated and soluble fractions, and ranged from 12.3-13.3 microM. Maximal velocity was higher in the membrane fraction (4.7-4.8 pmol/microgram.h) than in the soluble fraction (2.6-2.9 pmol/microgram/h). Levels of amidating activity in hypophysial-portal and jugular plasma were similar and were 20- to 25-fold lower than in hypothalamic extracts. Insulin-induced hypoglycemia did not significantly alter PAM levels in portal or peripheral plasma, suggesting that amidating activity is not released during this stress. These results indicate that the hypothalamus is the richest source of amidating activity in the sheep brain, and suggest that amidation of neurohypophysial and hypothalamic releasing peptides may occur before axonal transport, given the much lower levels in median eminence, neurointermediate pituitary, and portal plasma.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Adenovirally encoded prohormone convertase-1 functions in atrial myocyte large dense core vesicles.

Bioactive peptides are usually synthesized as inactive precursor proteins that yield bioactive products only after specific biosynthetic processing events. Large dense core vesicles (LDCV) are usually the site of storage of mature peptides. Atrial myocyte LDCV are rather unique in their storage of intact prohormone, proatrial natriuretic factor (pro-ANF), with no storage of cleaved products. To investigate whether the lack of intracellular cleavage of pro-ANF is due to the absence of prohormone convertases (PCs) from the atrial granules or to other factors, we expressed PC1 in atrial myocyte cultures using a recombinant adenovirus vector. Pro-PC1 protein was processed to mature PC1 and to the COOH-terminally shortened neuroendocrine-specific form of PC1 and rapidly secreted. Integral membrane forms of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) were processed by PC1, and two primary products were secreted: a monofunctional monooxygenase and a larger bifunctional form. The cleaved PAM products were stored in LDCV, as secretion of PAM-derived products was stimulatable. In addition, pro-ANF was processed to ANF within PC1-expressing cells. In primary atrial myocytes, virally encoded PC1 is active on three substrates; lack of cleavage of pro-ANF and PAM in atrial myocytes is not due to a fundamental inability of atrial LDCV to support endoproteolytic processing.

Adenoviridae↗

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor-like protein in plasmalemmal caveolae is linked to actin filaments.

We reported that a plasmalemmal inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor-like protein (PM InsP3R-L) is localized in caveolae of various non-neuronal cells in vivo (Fujimoto et al. (1992) J. Cell Biol. 119, 1507-1513). In the present study, we investigated the distribution of PM InsP3R-L in cultured cells. In mouse epidermal keratinocytes (Pam 212) cultured in standard Ca2+ (1.8 mM), PM InsP3R-L was distributed densely in the vicinity of cell-to-cell contacts. In contrast, when Pam cells were cultured in low Ca2+ (0.06 mM) without making cell-to-cell contacts, PM InsP3R-L was observed randomly; by restoring the Ca2+ concentration, the circumferential actin filaments became obvious and the density of PM InsP3R-L increased in the contact region. Treatment of Pam cells with cytochalasin D caused aggregation of caveolae where PM InsP3R-L as well as F-actin and fodrin were localized. In bovine aortic endothelial cells, PM InsP3R-L was aligned along actin filaments crossing the cytoplasm in various directions. PM InsP3R-L of Pam cells was hardly extracted by treatment with 0.5% Triton X-100 or 60 mM octyl-glucoside in a cytoskeleton-stabilizing buffer for 15 minutes at 4 degrees C. The results show that the distribution of caveolae bearing PM InsP3R-L changes when the actin cytoskeleton is modified. They also indicate that the association of PM InsP3R-L with actin filaments may mediate the redistribution of caveolae. Since caveolae are thought to be related to signal transduction, their location defined by the actin cytoskeleton may affect the site where cellular reaction is to occur in response to various stimuli.

Actins↗

Effects of instilled fibrogenic particles on the clonal growth of murine pulmonary alveolar macrophages.

Murine pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) form macrophage colonies in vitro with colony-stimulating factors, which stimulate the clonal growth of radioresistant alveolar colony-forming cells (AL-CFC). The toxic effects of fibrogenic mineral dust particles on AL-CFC were investigated after intratracheal instillation into mice. Exposure to either crocidolite asbestos or silica (Min-u-sil) induced a significant depletion of AL-CFC as well as a decrease in PAM recovery compared to either untreated or titanium dioxide-exposed animals. Such effects were also noted with different doses (50-200 micrograms/animal) of instilled particles. The plating efficiency of AL-CFC was depleted in PAM exposed to fibrogenic particles in vitro, but not when exposed to nonfibrogenic titanium dioxide particles. These results indicate the toxic effects of fibrogenic dust particles on the clonal growth of PAM, cells which play a role in the clearance of inhaled particles from the lung and in subsequent pathologic processes.

Animals↗