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Biomedical subjects

P E Chabrier

Publications and source records attributed to P E Chabrier.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of angiotensin I and angiotensin II in blood vessels: greater influence of converting enzyme activity in the rabbit basilar artery.

We investigated the constrictor effects of Angiotensin I (Ang I) and Angiotensin II (Ang II) on rabbit peripheral (aorta, carotid artery, mesenteric artery, saphenous artery) and cerebral (basilar artery) vessels and in rat aorta in functional organ bath studies. The effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition by captopril was also assessed in these preparations. Ang II elicited concentration-dependent contractions with comparable potency in rabbit and rat endothelium-free vascular rings (pD2 about 8.5) which indicates a lack of species and regional variation in the contractile responses to Ang II. The responses to Ang II were reduced by the presence of a functional endothelium in rabbit mesenteric artery and in rat aorta. Since ACE determines the plasma and tissue conversion of Ang I to active Ang II, we calculated the ratio R (EC50 Ang I-induced contraction: EC50 Ang II-induced contraction) as an indicator of the tissue ACE effectiveness. In the aorta without endothelium, Ang I was found to be much less potent than Ang II in the rabbit (R = 44) compared with the rat (R = 3.5). This species difference in the aortic conversion of Ang I to Ang II was confirmed by the use of captopril. Captopril (10(-6) M) shifted the Ang I concentration/ response curve by 2- and 14-fold to the right in rabbit and rat respectively. In other rabbit blood vessels, the rank order of potency to Ang I in endothelium denuded rings was basilar artery > > carotid artery > or = aorta > or = saphenous artery. In addition, the R value was the lowest for the basilar artery (R = 2.5). This is in agreement with the highest rightward shift (78-fold) of the Ang I concentration/response curve by captopril for basilar artery in comparison with only 3-, 8- and 3-fold shifts observed in carotid artery, saphenous artery and aorta respectively. In conclusion, our data provide evidence for a greater influence of ACE in rabbit basilar artery than in peripheral vessels.

Angiotensin I

Decrease in endothelin-1 renal receptors during the 1st month of life in the rat.

Endothelin-1 (Et1), like angiotensin II, is implicated in postnatal maturation and development. The present study was designed to identify Et1 receptors and subtype Et1 receptors present in rat kidney between 1 and 30 days of postnatal life. On day 1, high-affinity and high-density Et1 binding sites were identified in rat kidney. The dissociation constant and maximum binding for ET1 to membranes from whole kidney were 0.073 +/- 0.05 nM and 1,345.9 +/- 73 fmol/mg protein, respectively. On day 30, affinity and receptor density were markedly decreased. The dissociation constant and maximum binding were 0.147 +/- 0.021 nM (P < 0.01) and 633.2 +/- 56.4 fmol/mg protein (P < 0.001), respectively. Using BQ 123 (EtA-selective antagonist) and sarafotoxin S6c (EtB-selective agonist), the two Et1 receptor subtypes EtA and EtB were identified in 1- and 30-day-old rat kidney. BQ 123 selectively recognized EtA receptors with high affinity (2.9 +/- 0.44 on day 1 and 4.0 +/- 0.5 nM on day 30) and sarafotoxin S6c bound with higher affinity EtB receptors (0.871 +/- 0.14 on day 1 and 0.717 +/- 0.12 nM on day 30). Between birth and day 30, the EtA binding capacity was decreased (304 +/- 27 vs. 752 +/- 202 fmol/mg protein, P < 0.05), whereas EtB binding was not affected (514 +/- 87 vs. 656 +/- 171 fmol/mg protein, NS). The decrease in the total number of Et1 receptors during the 1st month of life may be due to the concomitant decrease in the number of EtA receptors. Increased Et1 receptor density in early postnatal life suggests an influence of Et1 on immature kidney circulation and/or kidney growth.

Animals

Pharmacological evidence that different alpha 1 adrenoceptor subtypes mediate contraction in rabbit prostate and hypogastric artery.

The alpha 1 adrenoceptor subtypes mediating contraction of rabbit prostate and hypogastric artery were pharmacologically characterized using an isolated organ bath technique. The prostate had the same sensitivity to the contractile action of methoxamine and phenylephrine, whereas the hypogastric artery was five times less sensitive to the action of methoxamine in comparison with phenylephrine. Clonidine elicited contraction in the hypogastric artery but not in the prostate. BMY7378 was about 70-fold more potent to antagonize the phenylephrine-induced contraction in the hypogastric artery (pA2 8.14) than in the prostate (pA2 6.28), and 5-methyl-urapidil was about three-fold more potent on prostrate than on hypogastric artery. The potency of different alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonists tested in the rabbit prostate was significantly correlated with their binding affinity for the expressed recombinant alpha 1A-, but not alpha 1B- or alpha 1D-, adrenoceptor subtype, whereas, the potency of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonists tested in the rabbit hypogastric artery was better correlated with the defined alpha 1D-adrenoceptor. Chloroethylclonidine produced a 10-fold rightward shift in the phenylephrine concentration-response curve in the hypogastric artery but only had a weak effect in the prostate. The results indicate that significant heterogeneity exists among alpha1-adrenoceptor in the rabbit hypogastric artery (alpha 1D-adrenoceptor) and the prostate (alpha 1A-adrenoceptor).

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists

Involvement of interleukin-6 and interferon-alpha in the poly(A).Poly(U)-induced 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity in the mouse monocyte-macrophage cell line, J774A1.

The synthetic polyribonucleotide poly(A).poly(U) induces 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity in the murine macrophage cell line J774A1. The possible role of several cytokines involved in macrophage activation (i.e., IL-1, IL-6, TNF, and IFN) was examined in the present study. It was first demonstrated that among the anticytokine antibodies, only monoclonal antibodies directed against IL-6 inhibited the induction of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase by poly(A).poly(U) in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, it was established that poly(A).poly(U) elicited IL-6 production in J774A1 cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner. Consequently, the effect of IL-6 on 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity was studied. IL-6 either alone or in combination with IL-1 and TNF did not induce 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity. IL-6 did not potentiate IFN-gamma-induced 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity. In contrast, addition of IL-6 to the incubation medium potentiated the stimulation of 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity by IFN-alpha. These results suggest that IL-6 is a necessary but not sufficient factor in the induction of 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity in the J774A1 cell line by poly(A).poly(U).

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase

The arterial wall: a new pharmacological and therapeutic target.

In recent years, two key concepts having numerous interrelationships were advanced for the understanding of various cardiovascular diseases: the "endothelial dysfunction" and the "arterial remodelling". Both endothelial dysfunction and arterial remodelling occur in various pathologies including essential hypertension, heart failure, atherosclerosis, restenosis after angioplasty, and pulmonary hypertension, and have modified the therapeutic approach by offering new pharmacological targets: specific receptors not only at the site of the vascular smooth muscle cells but also on the endothelial cells, growth factors that stimulate proliferation of smooth muscle, and receptors and enzymes of the extra-cellular matrix. Among the various substances under research, the present review will discuss angiotensin II receptor antagonists, endothelin receptor antagonists, nitrates-NO donors, potassium channel activators, and substances interfering with proteoglycans and other components of the extra-cellular matrix.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists

Pharmacological characterization of alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtype mediating regulation of arterial pressure and urethral perfusion pressure in the anaesthetized rat.

1. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor subtypes mediating the regulation of arterial pressure (AP) and urethral perfusion pressure (UP) in the anaesthetized rat were characterized by using selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists. 2. Intravenous administration of selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists elicited a dose-dependent increase in AP and UP. The rank order of agonist potency: oxymetazoline (ED50, 6.2 and 8.2 nmol kg-1 > phenylephrine (ED50, 32 and 27 nmol kg-1 > methoxamine (ED50, 300 and 296 nmol kg-1 was the same for AP and UP, respectively. 3. The effects of phenylephrine on AP and UP were antagonized, in a dose related-manner, by pretreatment with alfuzosin, BMY 7378, 5-methyl-urapidil, phentolamine, prazosin, spiperone and WB 4101.5-methyl-urapidil was the only alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist more potent on UP than on AP. 4. The potency of the different alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonists tested on AP and UP was significantly correlated with their binding affinity for the expressed recombinant alpha 1a-, but not alpha 1b- or alpha 1d-, adrenoceptor subtype. 5. The results suggest that in the anaesthetized rat (1) both AP and UP are regulated by the alpha 1A-adrenoceptor subtype; and (2) the urogenital selectivity of 5-methyl-urapidil may be due to the existence of multiple forms of the alpha 1A-adrenoceptor.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists

Growth factors and vascular wall.

The reactivity and the structure as well as the growth of the vascular wall depend on a variety of locally synthetised factors in a process of a permanent structure-function adaptation. These substances exert their inhibitory or stimulatory growth effects by paracrine or autocrine mechanisms. These factors command the reorganisation of the structure of existing blood vessel or the creation of new vessels. They are synthetised and secreted form either endothelial and smooth muscle cells or circulating cells (in particular macrophages, platelets). The growth factors are multiple and interactive insuring a role of physiological vascular modeling in normal conditions but they may participate and even induce dramatic structural dysfunctions that are observed in pathologies such as venous diseases, atherosclerosis or hypertension. Among them, the polypeptides PDGF (platelet derived growth factor), FGF (fibroblast growth factor) and TGF beta (transforming growth factor beta) play a major role. Other factors like cytokines, IGFs (insulin like growth factors), PAF (platelet activating factor) endothelins or nitric oxide have also to be considered. Thus, the vascular wall structure is under the influence of a complex group of growth factors which become to be identified and may be the targets of new therapies of the vessels.

Endothelium, Vascular

Different alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes mediate contraction in rabbit aorta and urethra.

The alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes mediating contraction of rabbit aorta and urethra were pharmacologically characterized using an isolated organ bath technique. Although aorta was as sensitive as urethra to the contractile action of methoxamine, phenylephrine was about 10 times more potent as a contractile agonist on aorta than on urethra. In aorta, the rank order of agonist sensitivity was norepinephrine > phenylephrine > clonidine > methoxamine whereas the rank order in urethra was clonidine > methoxamine > or = phenylephrine > norepinephrine. A lack of significant correlation between the potency of different alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists tested against the phenylephrine-induced contraction in aorta and in urethra indicated that different alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes mediated the contractile response in the two preparations. The potency of different alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists tested in rabbit urethra was significantly correlated with their affinity for the cloned human alpha1c-, but not alpha1a- or alpha1b-, adrenoceptor subtype. Such a clear correlation with the potency of different alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists tested in rabbit aorta and their affinity for one subtype of cloned human alpha1-adrenoceptor was not found. Chlorethylclonidine, which produced a 10 000-fold rightward shift in the phenylephrine concentration-response curve for rat aorta, had a weak inhibitory effect in rabbit aorta and urethra as well as in other rabbit tissues (spleen, fundus, renal artery, saphenous artery). The results indicate that significant heterogeneity exists among alpha1-adrenoceptor in rabbit aorta and urethra (alpha1c-adrenoceptor). However, chlorethylclonidine does not seem to be a suitable tool for the differentiation of alpha1-adrenoceptor subtypes in the rabbit.

Animals

Selective inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase by agmatine.

Agmatine was about as potent as aminoguanidine to inhibit the activity of the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in isolated rat aorta. Like aminoguanidine, agmatine was devoid of significant activity on the constitutive form of NOS. Agmatine inhibited the conversion of [3H]L-arginine in [3H]L-citrulline in partially purified iNOS from macrophages (IC50 = 262 +/- 39.9 microM). Thus, our data suggest that agmatine may act as endogenous inhibitor of iNOS.

Agmatine

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis in the forearm arterial bed of patients with advanced cirrhosis.

Increased vascular production of nitric oxide (NO) may contribute to the peripheral vasodilation and hyperdynamic state complicating advanced liver cirrhosis. In this study, we examined the effect on forearm blood flow of local brachial artery infusion of noradrenaline (NA) and NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), an inhibitor of NO-synthase, in 10 alcoholic ascitic cirrhotic patients (patients with decompensated alcohol-induced liver disease: DALD group) and 10 patients with well-compensated alcohol-induced liver disease (CALD group). Forearm blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. As compared with the CALD group, the DALD group had higher cardiac index and forearm blood flow as well as lower systemic blood pressure and vascular resistance. Infusions of NA and L-NMMA produced similar reduction in resting blood flow in the CALD group. However, in the DALD group, NA was significantly less effective than L-NMMA. The forearm vasoconstrictor response to NA was also significantly reduced in the DALD group when compared with the CALD group. In the DALD group, NA decreased forearm blood flow by 21.0 +/- 6.2% and increased vascular resistance by 37.2 +/- 12.3%, whereas respective changes in the CALD group were 41.8 +/- 6.2% (P < .01) and 77.8 +/- 9.9% (P < .02). In contrast, L-NMMA induced greater forearm vasoconstriction in the DALD group than in the CALD group. In decompensated patients, L-NMMA decreased forearm blood flow by 50.4 +/- 2.7% and increased vascular resistance by 115.9 +/- 14.4%, whereas changes in compensated patients were 38.2 +/- 4.9% (P < .05) and 77.4 +/- 16.2% (NS), respectively. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that increased vascular synthesis of NO contributes to the high dynamic state of patients with advanced cirrhosis.

Arginine

[Nitric oxide: implication in excitotoxicity and cerebral ischemia].

In the central nervous system, several cellular types are able to produce nitric oxide (NO). In particular in neuronal cells, the excitatory amino-acid receptor activation induces NO synthesis and release. Since excessive activation of these receptors is responsible of neuronal death in excitotoxicity or cerebral ischemia, the hypothesis of a NO role in neuronal damage has been proposed. The use of NO synthesis inhibitors in excitotoxicity or cerebral focal ischemia models has provided contradictory data. Here we attempt to present the main bibliographic data concerning this controversial research area in order to a better comprehension of NO role in neuronal death.

Animals

Endothelin-1 in patients with coronary heart disease undergoing cardiac catheterization.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the possible association between endothelin and coronary atherosclerosis and evaluated the synthesis and release of endothelin in the presence of various stimuli that occur during cardiac catheterization. BACKGROUND: Circulating endothelin has been reported to be increased in diffuse atherosclerosis and acute myocardial infarction. However, the relation between coronary artery disease and endothelin release remains unclear. METHODS: We measured the plasma and urinary concentrations of endothelin immunoreactivity in 45 patients and 10 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: In group IA (n = 9), simultaneous blood sampling in the coronary sinus and femoral artery during coronary angioplasty of the left anterior descending coronary artery demonstrated no immediate changes in plasma immunoreactive endothelin-1 (ir-ET-1) levels. In 11 patients in group IB undergoing coronary angioplasty of a major artery, we did not detect changes in peripheral plasma concentrations of ir-ET-1 within 24 h, but urinary ir-ET-1 levels increased from 9.2 +/- 2.3 to 18.6 +/- 4.9 pg/mg of creatinine a few hours after coronary angioplasty (mean +/- SEM, p < 0.05). This increase in urinary endothelin excretion persisted 24 h later. Group II patients (n = 12) had coronary angiography without coronary angioplasty. Levels of both plasma and urinary ir-ET-1 did not change during the 24-h follow-up period. There was no relation between the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and the plasma or urinary concentrations of ir-ET-1. Systolic aortic pressure correlated with basal urinary excretion of endothelin (r = 0.54, p = 0.03, n = 15). In group III (n = 13), levels of ir-ET-1 in patients undergoing right heart catheterization without angiography did not differ from those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The presence or the severity, or both, of coronary atherosclerosis is not associated with a detectable increase in endothelin release. The diagnostic procedures of catheterization do not modify endothelin concentrations in plasma and urine. Vascular stretch or injury, or both, during coronary angioplasty increases urinary ir-ET-1 levels a few hours after the procedure. This increase persists for at least 24 h but is not detectable by brief sampling of peripheral or coronary sinus blood.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary

Changes in [3H]PAF binding and PAF concentrations in gerbil brain after bilateral common carotid artery occlusion: a quantitative autoradiographic study.

This study investigated the distribution of platelet activating factor (PAF) binding sites in the brain and their involvement in global ischemia in a model of bilateral common carotid occlusion in the gerbil. In sagittal sections of gerbil brain, labeling with [3H]PAF was mainly located in the cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. The corpus striatum, the superior and inferior colliculi showed lower binding, while the thalamus was only weakly labeled. Scatchard analysis of the data obtained from displacement curves with unlabeled PAF revealed the presence of one or two populations of binding sites with different affinity constant values depending on the brain structures. When the gerbils were submitted to 10 min ischemia, similar autoradiography with [3H]PAF demonstrated a dramatic reduction of labeling in all brain structures, particularly in the hippocampus. Immunoreactive endogenous PAF concentrations in brain tissues showed a marked increase in ischemic animals: (8977.3 +/- 1113 pg/g wet weight) as compared to sham-operated control: (997.7 +/- 77 pg/g wet weight). Endogenous PAF levels returned to basal values following 30 min reperfusion. These results indicate that PAF may be involved in the early stages of brain ischemia in the gerbil and suggest that endogenous PAF produced during ischemia may contribute to the down-regulation of [3H]PAF binding sites in the brain.

Animals

[Functions of the endothelium].

The venous endothelium, acting as an interface between the blood and the layer of smooth muscle cells, plays a major role in many essential functions of vessel physiology. The endothelium prevents and inhibits pathological activation of the coagulation system and plays an active role in the regulation of venous tone. Mediators include the prostacyclin which has vasodilating and antiagregating properties and nitric oxide (NO), a vasodilator and inhibitor of thrombosis, adhesion and cellular proliferation. To maintain endothelial integrity and tissue cohesion, endothelial cells express adhesion factors which regulate cell to cell and cell to extracellular matri interactions. Finally, the endothelium plays a role in vasotrophism by synthesizing, or activating growth factors which act directly on cell renewal of the endothelium itself and proliferation of adjacent tissues. Thus, the venous endothelium cannot be considered simply as a biologically inert barrier but rather as an active cell layer capable of intercell signalling and interactions constantly modified by the pathophysiological environment.

Blood Coagulation Factors

Intravenously administered atrial natriuretic factor in patients with COPD. Effects on ventilation-perfusion relationships and pulmonary hemodynamics.

The potent pulmonary vasodilating property of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) may alter gas exchange in patients with COPD. We examined the hemodynamic and gas exchange responses to intravenous infusion of ANF (0.01 and 0.03 ng/min/kg body weight) in eight stable patients with COPD studied during spontaneous breathing, using the inert gas elimination technique. When compared with baseline, ANF infusion was associated with a dose-dependent decrease in pulmonary artery pressure (from 27.3 +/- 2.5 to 23.9 +/- 1.8 and 20.2 +/- 1.7 mm Hg, respectively) and a dose-dependent increase in blood flow perfusing poorly ventilated and unventilated units (VA/Q < 0.1: from 5.80 +/- 2.05 to 7.25 +/- 2.5 and 12.0 +/- 5.4 percent of total blood flow, respectively; p = 0.02). However, PaO2 remained unchanged (70.2 +/- 3.6, 68.1 +/- 3.8 65.4 +/- 3.5 mm Hg, respectively) because of a significant increase in minute ventilation (VE) from 8.6 +/- 0.8 to 9.6 +/- 0.8 and 10.3 +/- 0.7 L/min (p < 0.002). Six additional COPD patients receiving intravenously administered ANF at the same dosages were studied during controlled mechanical ventilation using right heart catheterization. In these patients, pulmonary vasodilation was associated with a significant increase in venous admixture (from 12.7 +/- 2.4 to 14.4 +/- 2.9 and 17.5 +/- 3.5 percent of total blood flow, respectively; p < 0.02), and a dose-dependent reduction in arterial PO2 (from 117 +/- 17 to 110 +/- 15 and 96.4 +/- 8.8 mm Hg, respectively; p < 0.05). The present results show that ANF infusion is associated with alterations in the VA/Q relationship in patients with COPD. However, a decrease in arterial oxygenation may be prevented by an increase in VE.

Aged

[Role of endothelial nitric oxide synthases in the contractile response to angiotensin II of the aorta in rats. Wistar Kyoto and hypertensive rats].

Dysfunctions of EDRF/L-arginine-NO pathway have been demonstrated in genetic and experimental hypertension. NO is produced through the conversion of L-arginine to L-citruline by NO synthases (NOS) which exist at least in two isoforms. The first termed constitutive (NOSc) and located in the endothelium of the vascular wall results in the basal and stimulated NO production. The second termed inducible (NOSi), which produces large amounts of NO, can be expressed in both smooth muscle and endothelial cells. The aim of the study was to examine and compare in isolated aortic rings of WKY and SHR rats, the activity of the two isoforms of endothelial NO synthases and their influence on the constrictor response induced by angiotensin II. On phenylephrine preconstricted endothelium intact aortic rings (10(-6) M, WKY = 1.2 +/- 0.04 g; SHR = 1.2 +/- 0.07 g; n = 7), carbachol (10(-5) M) induced a greater relaxation in WKY (84 +/- 2.5%) than in SHR (63 +/- 8.5%) rat. This suggests the presence of a low NOSc stimulated activity in the hypertensive strain. When the incubation period was limited to 30 min after equilibration period, L-arginine (3.10(-4) M) did not induce relaxation. When the incubation period was prolonged (180 min), L-arginine induced a relaxation (WKY = 75 +/- 8%; SHR = 58 +/- 10%; n = 7). This relaxation was not observed in a medium containing actinomycin D (10(-6) M) or after endothelium removal, indicating the induction of an endothelial NOSi in the two strains.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases

Endothelin receptor subtypes A and B are up-regulated in an experimental model of acute renal failure.

The two endothelin (ET) receptor subtypes (ETA and ETB) have been characterized in rat kidney from normal rats and rats with acute renal failure induced by hypertonic glycerol administration. In control rats, the total number of ET receptors in kidney cortex and medulla was 155 and 386 fmol/mg of protein, respectively. The ratio of ETA to ETB receptors was 54:46 in renal cortex and 35:65 in renal medulla. Treatment of rats with 10 ml/kg glycerol (50%, w/v) intramuscularly resulted in severe renal dysfunction; the serum urea concentration increased from 0.46 to 2.65 g/liter and the creatinine clearance decreased from 1.06 to 0.30 ml/min. Ligand binding studies showed that glycerol-induced acute renal failure was associated with a marked up-regulation of ETA and ETB receptor subtypes in both cortex and medulla. In glycerol-treated rats, the total ET receptor density in kidney cortex and medulla was increased to 294 and 1172 fmol/mg of protein, with ETA/ETB ratios of 52:48 and 31:69, respectively. The upregulatory effect of glycerol treatment was significantly more pronounced in renal medulla than renal cortex and affected ETB receptors preferentially, compared with ETA receptors. Subsequently, ETA and ETB receptor mRNA levels were markedly increased by glycerol administration in both kidney cortex and medulla, as assessed by polymerase chain reaction coupled to reverse transcription. These results suggest that up-regulation of renal ET receptors, particularly ETB receptors in kidney medulla, may account for or contribute to renal function impairment induced by glycerol, and they support a pathophysiological role for ET in acute renal failure.

Acute Kidney Injury

Activation of the murine monocyte/macrophage cell line, J774A1 by poly(A).poly(U): I. Binding of poly(A).poly(U) and induction of oligo-2',5'-adenylate synthetase.

Binding and internalization of the synthetic double-stranded complex poly(A).poly(U) were studied on a murine monocyte/macrophage cell line J774A1. Poly(A).poly(U) increased in a dose-dependent fashion the oligo-2',5'-adenylate synthetase demonstrating that those cells were responsive to this agonist. Binding of [32P]poly(A).[32P]poly(U) to the cells reached an apparent kinetic equilibrium within 4 h and was saturable (apparent Kd = 9.99 +/- 0.09.10(-2) g/l and Bmax 13.3 +/- 5.3.10(-3) g/l per 10(6) cells) and temperature-dependent. The binding of poly(A).poly(U) was competitively inhibited by various polynucleotides but not by other structurally unrelated compounds. Analysis of cell-associated [32P]poly(A).[32P]poly(U) demonstrated a minimal degradation of this polyribonucleotide over a 4-h incubation period. Autoradiography of cells incubated with [3H]poly(A).[3H]poly(U) revealed that poly(A).poly(U) was internalized and migrated to cell nuclei. These results suggest that poly(A).poly(U) is internalized in J774A1 cells via an endocytotic process.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase