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A semiempirical model is presented that correlates the broadening of the absorption edge with both transitions below the energy gap and with transitions by the Kane band model. This model correctly fits both the absorption and luminescence spectra of narrow-gap (Hg,Cd)Te samples that have been grown by the traveling heater method as well as by molecular-beam epitaxy. The accuracy of the band-gap determination is enhanced by this model.
Available data on the occurrence and expression of somatic histone HI during oogenesis and early embryogenesis of Xenopus laevis are contradictory. In particular the reported presence of a large storage pool of histone HIA in oocytes is difficult to reconcile with the high transcriptional activity of all gene classes in this specific cell type. In the present study we have used polyclonal antibodies raised against somatic Xenopus histone HI (HIA and HIA/B) for combined immunoblotting experiments to quantitate HI pools and immunolocalization studies to visualize chromosome- bound HI. Both approaches failed to detect soluble or chromosomal histone HI in vitellogenic oocytes, eggs, and cleavage-stage embryos up to early blastula. In addition, chromatin assembled in Xenopus egg extract was also negative for histone HI as revealed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Lampbrush chromosomes not only lacked histone HI but also the previously identified histone HI-like B4 protein (Smith et al., 1988, Genes Dev. 2,1284-1295). In contrast, chromosomes of eggs and early embryos fluoresced brightly with anti-B4 antibodies. Our results lend further support to the view that histone HI expression is developmentally regulated during Xenopus oogenesis and embryogenesis similar to what is known from other species.
In order to develop all-fish expression vectors for microinjection into fertilized fish eggs, we have prepared the following cunstructs: rainbow trout metallothionein a/b and the gilthead seabream growth hormone cDNA (ptMTa-gbsGHcDNA, ptMTb-gsbGHcDNA), carp ß-actin gilthead seabream GH cDNA (pcAßgsbGHcDNA). The inducible metallothionein promoters a and b were cloned from rainbow trout, and the constitutive promoter ß-actin was isolated from carp. The metallothionein promoters were cloned by using the PCR technique. The tMTa contains 430 bp, while the tMTb contains 260 bp (Hong et al. 1992). These two promoters were introduced to pGEM-3Z containing the GH cDNA of Sparus aurata to form ptMTa-gsbGH and ptMTb-gsbGH, respectively. The carp cytoplasmic ß-actin gene was chosen as a source for isolating strong constitutive regulatory sequences. One of these regulatory sequences in pUC118 was Iigated to GH cDNA of S. aurata to form the pcAß-gsbGHcDNA. Expression of the constructs containing the metallothionein promoters was tested in fish cell culture and was found tobe induced effectively by zinc. The ptMTa gsb-GH cDNA construct was microinjected into fertilized carp eggs, and integration in the genome of carp was detected in the DNA isolated from fins at the age of two months.
The role of the thymus in the pathogenesis of simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was investigated in 18 juvenile rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). The thymus was infected from the first week post-SIVmac inoculation, but the amount of virus-positive cells was very low « 1 in 1 04 T cells) as demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. First morphological alteration was a narrowing of the cortex at 12 and 24 wpi. Morphometry revealed no increase of pyknotic T cells but a decrease of the proliferation rate andflow cytometry showed a reduction of the immature \(CD4^+/CD8^+\) double-positive T cells. Ultrastructural analysis revealed vacuolization, shrinkage, andfinally cytolysis of the cortical epithelial cells and the interdigitating dendritic cells. Immunofluorescence staining exhibited a widespread loss of cortical epithelial cells. This damage to the thymic microenvironment could explain the breakdown of the intrathymic T cell proliferation. It preceded fully developed simian acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and is therefore considered to play a major role in its pathogenesis.
In distance geometry problems and many other applications, we are faced with the optimization of high-dimensional quadratic functions subject to linear equality constraints. A new approach is presented that projects the constraints, preserving sparsity properties of the original quadratic form such that well-known preconditioning techniques for the conjugate gradient method remain applicable. Very-largescale cell placement problems in chip design have been solved successfully with diagonal and incomplete Cholesky preconditioning. Numerical results produced by a FORTRAN 77 program illustrate the good behaviour of the algorithm.
Tbe benzodiazepines are a class of d.rugs that are widely used in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders. One member of um ~' oxazepam, is also a common metabolite of sevmd other benzod.iazepines. Since the evidence for the genetic toxicity and carcinogenic properties of these compounds is incol:lsb1ent, we investigated the oxazepam-induced fonnation of micronuclei in Syrian Hamster embryo fibroblast (SHE) cells, human amniotic fluid fibroblast-like (AFFL) cells and LS178Y mouse cells. A dose-dependent increase in micronucleus fractions was found in all tbree ceU llnes. The time course of micronucleus induction in L5178Y cells showed a maximum at 5 h after treatment, suggesting that the micronuclei were fonned in the first mitosis after treatment. Kinetochore staining (CREST -antiserum) revealed the presence of kinetochores in -SO% of the micronuclei in aU tbree ceU types. ThJs resu1t was further confinned by in situ bybridization in LS178Y cells and indicates tbe presence of wbole Chromosomes or centric fragments as weU as acentric fragments in the oxazepam-induced micronuclei. The LS178Y cells did not show a mutagenic response to oxazepam at any of the doses or expression times used.
Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease is a facultative intracellular bacterium, which in the course of human infection multiplies in lung macrophages predominantly manifesting as pneumonia. The natural habitat of Legionella is found in sweet water reservoirs and man-made water systems. Virulent L. pneumophila spontaneously convert to an avirulent status at a high frequency. Genetic approaches have led to the identification of various L. pneumophila genes. The mip (macrophage infectivity potentiator) determinant remains at present the sole established virulence factor. The Mip protein exhibits activity of a peptidyl prolyl cis trans isomerase (PPiase), an enzyme which is able to bind the immunosuppressant FK506 and is involved in protein folding. The recently cloned major outer membrane protein (MOMP) could play a role in the uptake of legionellae by macrophages. Cellular models are useful in studying the intracellular replication of legionellae in eukaryotic cells. Human celllines and protozoan models are appropriate for this purpose. By using U 937 macrophage-like cells and Acanthamoeba castellanii as hosts, we could discriminate virulent and avirulent L. pneumophila variants since only the virulent strain was capable of intracellular growth at 37 oc. By using these systems we further demonstrated that a hemolytic factor cloned and characterized in our laboratory, legiolysin (lly), had no influence on the intracellular growth of L. pneumophila.
5-Azacytidine was originally developed to treat human myelogenous leukemia. However, interest in this compound has expanded because of reports of its ability to affect cell differentiation and to alter eukaryotic gene expression. In an ongoing attempt to understand the biochemical effects of this compound, we examined the effects of 5-azacytidine on mitosis and on micronucleus formation in mammalian cells. In L5178Y mouse cells, 5-azacytidine induced micronuclei at concentrations at which we and others have already reported its mutagenicity at the tk locus. Using CREST staining and C-banding studies, we showed that the induced micronuclei contained mostly chromosomal fragments although some may have contained whole chromosomes. By incorporating BrdU into the DNA of SHE cells, we determined that micronuclei were induced only when the compound was added while the cells were in S phase. Microscopically visible effects due to 5-azacytidine treatment were not observed until anaphase of the mitosis following treatment or thereafter. 5-Azacytidine did not induce micronuclei via interference with formation of the metaphase chromosome arrangement in mitosis, a common mechanism leading to aneuploidy. SupravitalUV microscopy revealed that chromatid bridges were observed in anaphase and, in some cases, were sustained into interphase. In the first mitosis after 5-azacytidine treatment we observed that many cells were unable to perform anaphase separation. All of these observations indicate that 5-azacytidine is predominantly a clastogen through its incorporation into DNA.
The muscarinic receptor mediating vasodilation of resistance vessels in the rat isolated, constant-pressure perfused kidney (preconstriction by w- 7 M cirazoline) was characterized by subtype-preferring agonists and se]ective antagonists. The agonists produced vasodi1ation with the fol1owing rank order of potency: arecaidine propargy] ester (APE) > 5-methylfurtrethonium = methacholine = oxotremorine > (S)-aceclidine > arecaidine 2-butyne-1,4-diyl bisester > 4-Cl-McN-A-343 = (R)-nipecotic acid ethyl ester = N-ethyl-guvacine propargyl ester- (R)-aceclidine = (S)-nipecotic acid ethyl ester > McN-A-343. Agonist-induced vasodilation disappeared after destruction of the endothelium with detergent. Highly significant correlations of agonist potencies for vasodilation were found between rat kidney and guinea-pig ileum submucosal arterioles as weH as agonist potencies at smooth muscle muscarinic M\(_3\) receptors of the guinea-pig ileum. The rank order of antagonist potencies (4-diphenylacetoxy-Nmethylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP) > (R)-hexahydro-difenidol - hexahydro-sila-difenidol > pirenzepine - p-fluorohexahydro- sila-difenidol- himbacine- AF-DX 384- AQ-RA 741 > (S)-hexahydro-difenidol) to attenuate vasodilation to APE in rat kidney, correlated significantly with affinities at M\(_3\) receptors in submucosal arterioles and in smooth muscle of the guinea-pig ileum, but differed from those at M\(_1\) and M\(_2\) receptors in rabbit vas deferens. The agonist and antagonist potencies suggest that vasodilation elicited by muscarinic stimuli in endothelium-intact rat renal vasculature is mediated by functional muscarinic M\(_3\) receptors.
Escherichia coli isolates of serotype 06: K5 are the most common causative agents of cystitis and pyelonephritis in adults. To answer the question, as to whether strains of this particular serotype represent one special clonal group, out of a collection of 34 serotype 06: K5 isolates [Zingler et al. ( 1990) Zentralbl. Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg [A] 274:372-381] 15 strains were selected andanalyzed in detail. The flagellar (H) antigen and the outer membrane protein (OMP) pattern were determined. Furtherserum resistance properties and the genetic presence and expression of other virulence factors, including hemolysin, aerobactin, P fimbriae, S/F1C fimbriae and type 1 fimbriae was evaluated. In~laddition the Xbalmacrorestriction pattern of ten representative isolates was elaborated and the fimbrial (F) antigentype ofthe P fimbriae was determined, to obtain the complete 0: K: H: F pattern. These analyses could clearly show that the 06: K5 isolates do not represent one clonal group. The Xbal-macrorestriction profiles were heterogeneaus and marked differences in the hybridization patterns, using virulenceassociated gene probes in Southern hybridization of long-range-separated genomic DNA, were observed among the strains. However, some of strains showed similarities in the genomic profiles, arguing for clonal groupings among the 06: K5 isolates. lnterstingly the strains grouped tagether exhibited the same fimbrial F typethat many indicate a coincidence of this phenotypic trait with clonality.
S fimbrial adbesins (Sfa), which are able to recognize sialic acid-containing receptors on eukaryotic cells, are produced by Escherichia coli strains causing urinary tract infections or newbom meningitis. We recently described tbe cloning and molecular cbaracterization of a determinant, termed sftJI, from the chromosome of an E. coli urinary tract infection strain. Herewe present data conceming a S fimbria-specific gene duster, designated sfall, of an E. coli newbom meningitis strain. Like tbe Sfal complex, Sfall consists of tbe major subunit protein SfaA (16 kDa) and the minor subunit proteins SfaG (17 kDa), SfaS (15 kDa), and SfaH (29 kDa). The genes encoding tbe subunit proteins of Sfall were identified and sequenced. Their protein sequences were calculated from the DNA sequences and compared with tbose of the Sfal complex subunits. Altbough the sequences ofthe two major SfaA subunits ditf'ered markedly, tbe sequences ofthe minor subunits sbowed only a few amino acid exchanges (SfaG, SfaH) or were completely identical (SfaS). The introduction of a site-specific mutation into the gene sfaSII and subsequent analysis of an SfaS-negative clone indicated that sfaSII codes for the sialic acid-specific adhesin of tbe meninigitis isolate. These data were confirmed by tbe isolation and characterization of tbe SfaSII protein and the determination of its N-terminal amino acid sequence. The identity between the sialic acid-specific adhesins of Sfal and Sfall revealed that difl'erences between the two Sfa complexes with respect to tbeir capacities to agglutinate erythrocytes must result from sequence alterations of subunit proteins other tban SfaS.
Neurogenic inflammation is evoked by neuropeptides released from primary afferent terminals and,
presumably, by other secondarily released inflammatory mediators. This study examines whether prostaglandins might participate in the development of neurogenic inflammation in humans and whether cyclooxygenase inhibitors have any anti-inflammatory effect on this type of inflammation. In healthy volunteers, neurogenic inflammation was elicited by epicutaneously applied capsaicin (1 %), after systemic pretreatment with acetylsalicylic acid, or topically applied indomethacin compared to pretreatment with saline or vehicle, respectively. The extent of neurogenic inflammation was quantified by planimetry of visible flare size and recording the increase of superficial cutaneous blood flow (SCBF) with a laser Doppler flowmeter. Capsaicin-induced flare sizes and outside SCBF (both representing neurogenically evoked inflammation) were unaffected by acetylsalicylic acid or indomethacin. Only the capsaicin-induced increase; of inside SCBF was attenuated by local pretreatment with indomethacin, reflecting the participation of prostaglandins in the inflammatory response of those areas which were in direct contact with capsaicin.
Some chromosomes in transformed rat cells and somatic cell hybrids fail to display the presence of kinetochore proteins as detected by antikinetochore antibodies. Suchchromosomes (K- Chromosomes) may constitute a novel mechanism for the genesis of aneuploidy. Wehave analyzed primary~ immortalized and malignant marnmalian cells for the presence of kinetochore proteins and micronuclei. Our resuJts suggest a correlation of the K- chromosome and micronucleus frequency with the variability in chromosome number. Upon in situ hybridization with the minor satellite and alpha satellite sequences some Kchromosomes showed a signal. This indicates that the observed lack of kinetocbores is not necessarily due to a lack of centromeric DNA. We conclude that dislocated K- chromosomes may become incorporated into micronuclei which are prone to loss. Such events would be associated with the generation of aneuploidy.
Signal transduction via receptors for N-formylmethionyl peptide chemoattractants (FPR) on human neutrophils is a highly regulated process. It involves direct interaction of receptors with heterotrimeric G-proteins and may be under thc control of cytoskeletal clemcnts. Evidencc exists suggesting that thc cytoskeleton and/or the membrane ske1eton determines the distribution of FPR in the plane of the plasma membrane, thus controlling FPR accessibility to different protcins in functionally distinct membrane domains. In desensitized cells, FPR are restricted to domains which are depleted of G proteins but enriched in cytoskeletal proteins such as actin and fodrin. Thus, the G protein signal transduction partners of FPR become inacccssible to the agonist-occupied receptor, preventing cell activation. We are investigating the molecular basis for the interaction of FPR with the membrane skeleton, and our results suggest that FPR, and possibly other receptors, may directly bind to cytoskeletal proteins such as actin.
Tyr-o-Arg\(^2\)-Phe-sarcosine\(^4\) (TAPS), a mu-selective tetrapeptide analog of dermorphin, induced sustained antinociception and stimulated ventilatory minute volume (MV) at the doses of 3 to 100 pmol i.c.v. The doses of 30 and 100 pmol i.c.v. induced catalepsy. The effect of TAPS on MV was in negative correlation with the dose and the maximal response was achieved by the lowest (3 pmol) dose (+63 ± 23%, P < .05). Morphine, an agonist at both mu\(_1\) and mu\(_2\) sites, at a dose of 150 nmol i.c.v. (equianalgetic to 100 pmol of TAPS decreased the MV by 30%, due to a decrease in ventilatory tidal volume. The antinociceptive effect of TAPS was antagonized by naloxone and the mu, receptor antagonist, naloxonazine. Naloxonazine also attenuated the catalepsy produced by 1 00 pmol of TAPS i.c. v. and the respiratory Stimulation produced by 3 pmol of TAPS i.c.v. Pretreatment with 30 pmol of TAPS antagonized the respiratory depression induced by the mu opioid agonist dermorphin (changes in MV after dermorphin alone at 1 or 3 nmol were -22 ± 1 0% and -60 ± 9% and, after pretreatment with TAPS, +44 ± 11 % and -18 ± 5%, respectively). After combined pretreatment with naloxonazine and TAPS, 1 nmol of dermorphin had no significant effect on ventilation. In contrast, pretreatment with a low respiratory stimulant dose (10 pmol i.c.v.) of dermorphin did not modify the effect of 1 nmol of dermorphin. ln conclusion, the antinociceptive, cataleptic and respiratory stimulant effects of TAPS appear to be a related to its agonist action at the mu, opioid receptors. TAPS did not induce respiratory depression (a mu\(_2\) opioid effect) but antagonized the respiratory depressant effect of another mu agonist. Thus, in vivo TAPS appears to act as a mu\(_2\) receptor antagonist.
Quantification of the peripheral nerve myelin glycoprotein PO and antibodies to PO is difficult due to insolubility of PO in physiological solutions. We have overcome this problern by using the water-soluble recombinant form of the extracellular domain of PO (PO-ED) and describe newly developed assays which allow detection and quantitation of PO and antibodies to PO, in serum and cerebraspinal fluid (CSF). These sensitive and specific assays based on the ELISA technique were used to study humoral immune responses to PO during experimental autoimmune ("allergic") neuritis (EAN). In order to establish these tests, monoclonal antiborlies to different epitopes of rodent and human PO-ED were produced. A two-antibody sandwich-ELISA allowing quantitation of PO Oower detection Iimit of 0.5 ngjml or 30 fmoljml) and an antibody-capture ELISA (lower detection Iimit 1 ng specific antibody jml) to detect antiborlies to PO in serum and CSF were developed. EAN was induced in rats by active immunization with bovine myelin or the neuritogenic protein P2 or by adoptive transfer using P2 specific CD4 positive T cells. Serum and CSF were assayed for the presence of PO-ED and antibodies to PO-ED or P2. Antibodies to PO-ED were detected during active myelin-induced EAN, but not during P2-induced or adaptive transfer EAN. The anti-PO-ED antibodies in the CSF showed a correJation with disease activity. In contrast, in the same model antibodies to P2 persisted long after the disease ceased. No soluble PO-Iike fragments could be found in serum or CSF during any of the three types of EAN. We conclude that PO may be a B-eeil epitope in EAN. These findings warrant a screen for antibodies to PO-ED in human immune neuropathies.
The promoter of the rainbow trout metallothionein B gene ( tMTb) was isolated from genomic DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR ), fused to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) genein an expression vector, and functionally analyzed in one human cellline and four fish celllines. This promoter exhibited an extremely low basal expression in all celllines and was zincand cadmium-inducible except in the fish melanoma cell line where the promoter was completely inactive. The metal-induced expression patterns were cellline-specific. In general the fish promoter was more species- and cell type-specific than its human counterpart. In a transient assay it was functional in developing embryos of the medaka ( Oryzias /atipes). These properties make this promoter suitable for inducible, tissue-specific expression of transgenes and for in vivo studies of gene function and regulation.
Diethylstilbestrol alters the morphology and calcium levels of growth cones of PC12 cells in vitro
(1993)
Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a synthetic estrogen with carcinogenic properties. DES is known to alter cytoskeletal components, including the organization of actin stress fibres in C6 rat glioma cells. ln a test of the hypothesis that DES disrupts actin Filaments of growth cones in neuron-like cells, DES-induced changes in filopodial lengths were quantified in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells in vitro. DES significantly altered growth cone morphology, with collapse of growth cone filopodia and neurite retraction invariably occurring at a concentration of 10 MikroM. At 5 MikroM DES, transient reductions in total filopodiallengths occurred. At DES concentrations of 0.1 nM and 1 nM, reductions in total filopodiallengths occurred in a fraction of growth cones. Evidence exists which shows that growth cone activity and morphology are intimately linked to Ieveis of intracellular, free calcium and that DES increases such levels. Measurements of free intracellular calcium levels by fluorescence microscopy, at times concurrent with the DES-induced reduction in total filopodial lengths, showed that calcium levels were indeed significantly increased by 10 MirkoM DES. Labelling of filamentaus actin (f-actin) with FITC-phalloidin showed that the f-actin distribution in growth cones exposed to DES could not be differentiated from the distribution found in spontaneously retracting growth cones. Tagether with evidence which showed that growth cone motility was not affected, the results are taken to indicate that DES, rather than acting directly on the cytoskeleton, exerts its effects indirectly, by a calcium-induced destabilization of actin filaments in the growth cone.
Hereditary melanoma in Xiphophorus hybrids canying the melanoma·induclng Tu-Sd locus is caused by transcriptional activation of the Xmrk gene that resides at the Tu·Sd locus and encodes a novel member of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK). ln this study, a total of 17 hereditary melanomas from various hybrid genotypes harbouring 7 different Tu alleles were also found to aver-express the correspondlng Xmrlc alleles. The Ievei of over-expression correlated with the degree of malignancy of the melanoma. ln addition, Xsrc expression was high ln many malignant melanomas. Expression pattems and Ieveis of the Xiphophorus EGF-receptor gene (Xerb B), the c-myc (Xmyc), and the PDGF (Xsls) gene(s) were not intriguing. Transcription of the ras gene(s) may be correlated to secondary events of melanoma progression. Expression pattems of Xfms, the Xiphophorus CSF-1 receptor homologue, can be explained by different contents of infiltrating macrophages in the tumors. ln carcinogen-induced tumors includlng one melanoma no significant expression of the Xmrk oncogene could be detected. Xsrc expression, however, was strikingly high. This indicates that activation of oncogenes other than Xmrk ls instrumental in tumorigenesls of neoplasia of non-hereditary origin.
The effect of measles virus (MV) infection on mRNA expression and protein synthesis of cytokines in human malignant glioma celllines (0-54 and U-251) was investigated. Primary MV infections led in both celllines to the induction of interleukin-1 fJ (ll-1 (3), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-(3 (IFN-fJ), and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a). ln contrast, persistently infected astrocytoma lines continually produced IL-6 (two out of 12 lines high Ievels) and IFN-ß, whereas only 1 out of 121ines synthesized TNF-a and none IL-1ß. The pathways for induction of IL-1fJ and TNF-a expression were not suppressed by the persistent MV infection, since IL-1ß and TNF-a could be induced by external stimuli Jike diacylglycerol analog plus calcium ionophore. lnterestingly, persistently infected astrocytoma cells synthesized considerably higher Ievels of ll-1ß and TNF-a than uninfected cells afteradditional external induction. These results suggest that in the centrat nervous system (CNS) of SSPE patients a percentage of persistently infected astrocytes may continually synthesize IL-6 and IFN-ß, and in the presence of additional external stimuli, as possibly provided by activated lymphocytes, might ovarexpress the inflammatory cytokines IL-1 ß and TNF-a. This may be of pathogenetic significance in CNS diseases associated with persistent MV infections.
CNTF is a cytosolic molecule expressed postnatally in myelinating Schwann cells and in a subpopulation of astrocytes. Although CNTF administration prevents lesion-mediated and genetically determined motor neuron degeneration, its physiological function remained elusive. Here it is reported that abolition of CNTF gene expression by homologous recombination results in a progressive atrophy and loss of motor neurons in adult mice, which is functionally reflected by a small but significant reduction in muscle strength.
The direct involvment of the Wilm's tumor suppressor gene (WTl) in Denys-Drash syndrome through mutations within exons 8 or 9 has recently been established. The absence of such alterations in three patients with Frasier syndrome provides a molecular basis for distinguishing these two syndromes that are associated with streak gonads, pseudohermaphroditism and renal failure.
'lbe mouse skin tumor model was used to investigate whether the Ievel of DNA 8dducts and/or the rate of cell division in the epidermis are indicators of the risk of cancer formation for an individual in an outbred animal popul8tion. A high risk was considered to be reftected by 8 short latency period for the 8ppearance of 8 papilloma. Fernale NMRI mice were treated twice weekly with 2.5 nmol 7 ,12-dimethylbenz[a]antbracene (DMBA) and 3 nmoi12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13- 8cetate (TPA) and the appearance of papillomas was registered. The first papilloma 8ppeared after 7.5 weeks. After 17 weeks, when 12 of 14 mice bad 8t least one papilloma, an osmotic minipump deliverlog 5-bromo-2'deoxyuridine (BrdU) was implanted into eacb mouse for 24 h. The mice were killed after 24 h ~d the epidermis was analyzed for D:MBA-nucleotide 8dducts by 32p.postlabeling, for the cell number per unit skin length, and for the labeling index for DNA synthesls. Unexpectedly, D:MBA-nucleotide 8dduct Ievels were highest in those anima1s wbich showed the Iongest latency periods. Adduct Ievels were negatively correlated with the 18beling index, indicating that dilution of adducts by cell division was a predominant factor in determining average adduct concentrations. Individual tumor-latency time was not corTelated with either cell ntunber or labeling index. This could be due to the fact that the measurements only provided 8veraged data and gave no infonnation on the specific situation in clones of premalignant cells. Under the conditions of tbis assay, therefore, neither DNA adduct Ievels nor information on the average kinetics of cell division bad a predidive value for the individual amcer risk withln a group of outbred animals receiving the same treatment
Wben irradiated at 360 nm, furocoumarins with a hydroperoxide group in a side chain effciently give rise to a type of DNA damage that can best be explained by a photoinduced generation of hydroxyl radicals from the excited pbotosensitizers. The observed DNA damage profiles, i.e. the ratios of single-strand breaks, sites of base loss (AP sites) and base modifications sensitive to fonnamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (FPG protein) and endonuclease m, are similar to the DNA damage profile produced by hydroxyl radicals generated by lonizing radiation or by xanthine and xanthine oxidase in the presence of Fe(III)-EDTA. No such damage is observed with the corresponding furocoumarin alcohols or in the absence of near-UV radiation. The damage caused by the photo-excited hydroperoxides is not influenced by superoxide dismutase (SOD) or catalase or by D2O as solvent. The presence of t-butanol, however, reduces both the formation of single-strand breaks and of base odifications sensitive to FPG protein. The cytotoxicity caused by one of the hydroperoxides in L5178Y mome lymphoma cells is found to be dependent on the near-UV irradiation and to be much higher than that of the corresponding alcohol. Therefore the new type of photoinduced damage occurs inside cells. Intercalating photosensitizers with an attached hydroperoxide group might represent a novel and versatile class of DNA damaging agents, e.g. for phototherapy.
In somatic cells DNA topoisomerase II (topo II) is thought to be involved in the domain Organization of the genome by anchoring the basis of chromatin loops to a chromosomal scafFold. Lampbrush chromosomes of am-phibian oocytes directly display this radial loop Organization in cytological preparations. In order to find out whether topo II may play a role in the Organization of these meiotic chromosomes, we performed immunofluorescence studies using antibodies against Xenopus topo II. Our results indicate that topo II is apparently absent from lampbrush chromosomes and is hence unlikely to act as a "fastener" of the numerous lateral chromosomal loops. Topo II was, however, enriched in the amplified nucleoli of Xenopus oocytes.
Phenotypic and functional changes in lymphocytes from rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were investigated during the first 6 months after infection with SIVmac 32H. Animals preimmunized with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) were sacrificed l, 3, 6, 12, and 24 weeks post infection. Subset composition and function of lymphocytes from blood, spleen, lymph node and thymus were analysed. In addition to a rapid decline in CD4/CD8 ratios, a massive reduction in CD29+CD4+ cells was seen in the periphery. Although depletion of this subset was observed throughout the course of this experiment, the loss of proliferative T cell responses was most pronounced very early after infection and partially recovered after Month 3. Polyclonal cytotoxic responses were only slightly affected. In the thymus, a gradual, but moderate loss of CD4 + CD8 + immature thymocytes, and a relative increase in both CD4 + and CD8 + mature subsets was observed. Infectious virus was readily recovered from homogenates of lymph node and spleen, but not of thymus tissue. Interestingly, however, virus was detected in thymocytes from all infected animals by cocultivation with a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) susceptible cell line.
When bovine or human growth hormones (GH) were injected into 6 months old (about 10 g) gilthead seabream, the growth rate of the fish, as measured by changes in their weight, increased by only about 15% compared with the saline-injected control. No effect or even slight inhibition of the growth rate was obtained when chicken or porcine GHs were injected. In a preliminary experiment, it was found that injection ofthe native GH increased the growth rate ofthe fish by about 20% after treatment for only 2 weeks. An expression vector, using the pRE1 plasmid and transformation into MZl cells, produced the gilthead seabream GH, providing a supply for further experiments on the effect of the homologaus GH on growth. Two reporter genes, ß-galactosidase (lacZ) and melanoma oncogene of Xiphophorus (mrk YY), were microinjected into fertilized eggs of S. aurata. Expression of these two genes could be demonstrated in 2-day-old embryos, the lacZ gene by staining of its enzymatic product, and the mrk YY gene by its phenotypic expression.
Effects of smoking on thermal pain threshold in deprived and minimally-deprived habitual smokers
(1993)
This study examined the antinociceptive effects of smoking in nine habitual smokers under deprived (12 h) and minimally-deprived (< 30min) conditions. Pain threshold for thermal stimuli, heart rate, blood pressure and ratings of mood, arousal, dominance and well-being were assessed before and after smoking a cigarette. Overall, smoking affected all measured variables in the expected direction, leading to increased physiological activity, elevated pain threshold and improved mood. However, most of these effects depended on the deprivation status of the subjects, such that smoking after deprivation increased pain threshold whereas smoking after minimal deprivation did not. Pain threshold before smoking was the same for both groups. Deprived subjects had lower pre-smoke diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and arousal levels, which rose to equal minimally-deprived subjects scores after smoking.
In leishmaniasis, macrophages are known to play a central role as modulators of the specific immune activity. In this article, Heidrun Moll presents evidence for the critical involvement of another component of the skin immune system, the epidermal Langerhans cell. She proposes that Langerhans cells take up parasites in the skin and transport them to the draining lymph node for presentation to T cells and initiation of the specific immune response.
We examined the potential role of fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF-5) as a target-derived trophic factor for spinal motoneurons. Northern analysis of total RNA from rat skeletal muscle revealed an FGF-5 mRNA transcript both during the period of embryonic motoneuron death and in the adult. Recombinant human FGF-5 supported the survival of highly enriched cultures of embryonic chick motoneurons. Significant proportions of the motoneuron survival activity of rat skeletal muscle extracts could be immunoprecipitated using an antiserum to FGF-5. The immunoprecipitable activity was present in soluble and matrix-bound forms in embryonic muscle, but bound exclusively to the extracellular matrix in adult muscle. These results, along with the secretory nature of FGF-5, suggest that FGF-5 may act as a target-derived trophic factor for motoneurons.
The human foamy virus (HFV) bel-l transactivator protein was expressed in insect cells by a recombinant baculovirus. For the generation of the recombinant baculovirus, Acbel-1, the bel-l gene of an HFV mutant was used, that bears truncations in the bel-l overlapping bel-2 open reading frame. Acbel-1 infected Sf9 cells produced high amounts of recombinant protein of the same electrophoretic mobility (36 kD) as bel-l expressed in mammalian cells. The baculovirus expressed bel-l proteinwas readily identified by a polyclonal rabbit serum directed against bel-1 in immunoblot assay. As in mammalian cells, bel-l was predominantly localized to the nucleus of Acbel-1 infected insect cells. The baculovirus expressed bel-1 proteinwill be of use to determine the action of this novel viral transactivator more precisely.
The effect of 6-chloro-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-3-methyi-1-H-3-benzazepine (SKF 86466), a selectlve nonimldazoline alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonlst, on hippocampal re1ease of norepinephrine and dopamlne in conscious rats was lnvestigated by /n vlvo mlcrodialysis and high-pressure liquid chromatography. Additionally, extracellular concentrations of hippocampal dopamine (DA) and norepinephrtne (NE), durtng Infusion of selective monoamine uptake Inhibitors, were determined in freely moving rats. The basal concentration of NE in the dialysate was 4.9 ± 0.3 pg/20 pl. lntravenous admlnistratlon of 5 or 10 mgJkg of SKF 86466 was associated wlth a transierlt inc:rease (30 min) of 2-fold (12 ± 1 pg/20 ,d; p < .05) and 8-fold (39 ± 3 pg/20 pl; p < .05), respectlvely, in dlalysate NE, whereas a 1-mgfkg dose had no effect. DA was not detected in basal dlalysates, but after the adminlstratlon of 5 or 10 mgJkg of SKF 86466, 3.9 ± 0.4 and 6.4 ± 0.6 pg/20 pl, respectlvely, was present in the dialysates. The rnaxlmum increase in dialysate DA was reached 60 to 90 min after SKF 86466. The DA was not derived from plasma because plasma NE was elevated after the 5 mgJkg dose of SKF 86466 whereas no plasma DA was detected. ln order to determlne whether DA was present in noradrenergic nerve termlnals, the dopamine ß-hydroxylase Inhibitor SKF 1 02698 was administered (50 mgJkg i.p.). The Inhibitor decreased dialysate NE but DA was stin not detected in the dialysate. When SKF 86466 (5 mgJkg t.v.) was adminlstered 4 hr after SKF 102698, DA appeared in the dialysate but there was no lncrease in dialysate NE. Administration through the dialysis probe of the DA uptake Inhibitor, GBR-12909 (0.1 and 1 pM), dose-dependently lnaeased DA Ieveis to 5.7 ± 1.2 and 9.6 ± 2.8 pg/20 pl, respectively. GBR-12909 had no effect on hippocampal NE. Desipramine (5 and 10 pM) lncreased dose-dependently dialysate NE and lncreased DA concentrations to detectable Ieveis (2.7 ± 0.5 and 3.5 ± 0.7 pg/20 ,d, respectively). These results suggest that the a/pha-2 adrenoceptors modulate both NE and DA release in the rat hlppocampus and that DA detected in the hlppocampal dialysate might be released from dopaminergic neurons.
The mineralogical and chemical characteristics of fulgurites ( = natural glasses forrned by lightning strikes to the ground) from the southern Centrat Sahara (Niger) are presented. The fulgurites are indicators of thunderstorms. The northernmost important fulgurite formation in the study area reached up to about l8°N, with decreasing fulgurite concentration from south to north. Their distribution pattern and the relative dating of their formation in relation to Iandscape history from the Late Pleistocene onwards (e.g., palaeolakes, palaeosols), and to Neolithic settlement reveals their value as palaeoenvironmental indicators. They indicate: (1) local palaeoenvironmental conditions depending on the topographical situation in a complex dune relief; (2) climatic change during the mid-Holocene from northerly rains to southerly rains; and (3) the northernmost Iimit of important thunderstorrns and rainfall activity since this time in the southern Centrat Sahara.
When human neutrophils become desensitized to formyl peptide chemoattractants, the receptors (FPR) for these peptides are converted to a high affinity, GTP-insensitive form that is associated with the Triton X-1 00- insoluble membrane skeleton from surface membrane domains. These domains are actin and fodrin-rich, but G protein-depfeted suggesting that FPR shuttling between G protein-enriched and depleted domains may control signal transduction. Todetermine the molecular basis for FPR interaction with the membrane skeleton, neutrophil subcellular fractions were screened for molecules that could bind photoaffinity-radioiodinated FPR solubilized in Triton X-1 00. These receptors showed a propensity to bind to a 41- to43-kDa proteinband on nitrocelluloseoverlays of SOS-PAGE-separated cytosol and plasma membrane fractions of neutrophils. This binding, as weil as FPR binding to purified neutrophil actin, was inhibited 50% by 0.6 \(\mu\)M free neutrophil cytosolic actin. Addition of greater than 1 \(\mu\)M G-actin to crude or lectin-purified Triton X-1 00 extracts of FPR from neutrophil membranes increased the sedimentationrate of a significant fraction of FPR two to three fold as measured by velocity sedimentation in Triton X-1 00-containing linear sucrose density gradients. Addition of anti-actin antibodies to FPR extracts caused a concentration-dependent immunoprecipitation of at least 65% of the FPR. More than 40% of the immunoprecipitated FPR was specifically retained on protein A affinity matrices. Membrane actin was stabilized to alkaline washing when membranes were photoaffinity labeled. Conversely, when purified neutrophil cytosolic actinwas added to membranes or their digitonin extracts, after prior depletion of actin by an alkaline membrane wash, photoaffinity labeling of FPR was increased two- to fourfold with an EC\(_{50}\) of approximately 0.1 \(\mu\)M actin. We conclude that FPR from human neutrophils may interact with actin in membranes to form Triton X-1 00-stable physical complexes. These complexes can accept additional G-actin monomers to form higher order molecular complexes. Formation of FPR-actin complexes in the neutrophil may play a role in the regulation of chemoattractantinduced activation or actin polymerization.