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Neonatal induction of tolerance to T(h)2-mediated autoimmunity in rats.

Brown-Norway (BN) rats are highly susceptible to drug-induced immune dysregulations and when injected with mercuric chloride (HgCl(2)) or sodium aurothiopropanolsulfonate (ATPS), they develop a syndrome characterized by a polyclonal B cell activation depending upon CD4(+) T(h)2 cells that recognize self-MHC class II molecules. Since peripheral tolerance of T(h)2 cells might be crucial in the prevention of immunological manifestations such as allergy, establishing conditions for inducing tolerance to HgCl(2)- or ATPS-mediated immune manifestations appeared to be of large interest. We report here that BN rats neonatally injected with HgCl(2): (i) do not develop the mercury disease, (ii) remain resistant to HgCl(2)-induced autoimmunity at 8 weeks of age and later, provided they are regularly exposed to HgCl(2), (iii) are still susceptible to ATPS-induced immune manifestations, and (iv) exhibit spleen cells that adoptively transfer tolerance to HgCl(2)-induced autoimmunity in naive, slightly irradiated, syngeneic recipients. These findings demonstrate that dominant specific tolerance can be neonatally induced using a chemical otherwise responsible for T(h)2-mediated autoimmunity.

Adoptive Transfer↗

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of british anti-lewisite in plasma.

British anti-Lewisite (BAL) (2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol) is a potential therapeutic compound when used against the effects of cutaneous sulfur mustard, and a method for its determination in plasma has been developed. BAL and the internal standard (IS) ethane dithiol were isolated from plasma samples through solid-phase extraction and then reacted with 1-pentafluoropropionylimidazole, forming stable pentafluoropropionyl derivates that are sensitive to gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis. Examination of concentration versus peak-area ratios of the BAL and IS derivatives demonstrated the method to be linear over a concentration range of 0.48 to 124 ng/mL in plasma when fit to a weighted (1/y2) least-squares regression. Correlation coefficients were 0.9943 to 0.9995 for six runs, and coefficients of variation (CV) were 2.5 to 8.7% over the eight concentrations tested. The intra- and interday accuracy and precision of this method was measured by examining six groups of eight unknown test samples (n = 6). Intraday accuracy, as expressed by percent error, was found to range from -15.4 to 0.21%, whereas the precision, expressed as %CV, was less than 9.8% over all sample concentrations. Interday test unknown sample results were similar in that the accuracy was shown to be -7.1 to 0.4%, and precision was 4.7 to 9.5%. BAL levels in frozen plasma (-70 degrees C) remained constant for more than 14 days with a CV of less than 10% for the eight concentrations tested. The data indicate that the method will provide accurate and precise determination of BAL at concentrations down to approximately 1 ng/mL in plasma. This procedure has been applied to determine preliminary time-concentration profile studies of BAL in the hairless guinea pig.

Animals↗

Garlic and garlic-derived compounds inhibit human squalene monooxygenase.

Although extracts of garlic inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis in cultured hepatocytes, the inhibitory components of garlic and the site or sites of inhibition in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway have not been established. To elucidate potential mechanisms of inhibition, we examined the effect of fresh garlic extract and 16 water- or lipid-soluble compounds derived from garlic on purified recombinant human squalene monooxygenase. Squalene monooxygenase catalyzes the second and likely rate-limiting step in the downstream pathway for cholesterol biosynthesis. A 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of squalene epoxidation was achieved with 1 g/L of fresh garlic extract; of the 16 garlic compounds tested, only selenocystine (IC(50) = 65 micromol/L), S-allylcysteine (IC(50) = 110 micromol/L), alliin (IC(50) = 120 micromol/L), diallyl trisulfide (IC(50) = 195 micromol/L), and diallyl disulfide (IC(50) = 400 micromol/L) substantially inhibited the enzyme. Kinetic analysis showed that the inhibition by garlic and by these compounds was slow and irreversible, suggestive of covalent binding to the enzyme; the ability of thiol-containing compounds such as glutathione and 2,3-dimercaptopropanol to prevent and reverse the inhibition indicated that the garlic compounds were reacting with sulfhydryl groups on the protein. Dithiols were better reversal agents than monothiols, further suggesting that these inhibitors bind to the proposed vicinal sulfhydryls present on this enzyme. These results indicate that squalene monooxygenase may be one of the target enzymes through which garlic inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis.

Cysteine↗

Genetic study of gold-salt-induced immune disorders in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with gold salts occasionally develop a glomerulonephritis and an increase in serum IgE concentration. Brown-Norway (BN) rats injected with aurothiopropanolsulphonate (ATPS) exhibit an increase in serum IgE concentration, produce antilaminin antibodies (Abs) and develop glomerular linear immunoglobulin (Ig) deposits, occasionally a membranous glomerulopathy and vascular granular Ig deposits. Lewis (LEW) rats are resistant. METHODS: The genetic requirements governing the appearance of these manifestations were studied in congenic rats, and in F1 hybrids injected with ATPS. RESULTS: Non-MHC-linked genes from the BN strain were absolutely required for all the traits to be observed. The RT1n (BN) or RT1(1) (LEW) haplotypes at the MHC were permissive for all the manifestations to appear and two RT1(1) alleles were associated with the highest response. However, granular Ig deposits were only observed in RT1n rats. The high serum IgE concentration and the antilaminin Ab level were associated with the presence of glomerular Ig deposits but were not associated with the presence of vascular Ig deposits. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that susceptibility to ATPS was mainly dependent upon non-MHC-linked BN genes and that the involvement of MHC-linked genes differed depending upon the character considered. There is an epistatic effect between the various genes.

Analysis of Variance↗

Experimental gold-induced autoimmunity.

The pathogenesis of gold-induced autoimmunity and membranous glomerulopathy is not well understood. HgCl2 and D-penicillamine, other chemicals known to trigger membranous glomerulopathy in humans, induce autoimmune manifestations in Brown-Norway (BN) rats but not in Lewis (LEW) rats. These chemicals trigger T-cell clones which are specific for self class II molecules from the major histocompatibility complex and are probably responsible for the polyclonal B-cell activation observed. The aim of this work was to test the effects of aurothiopropanolsulphonate (ATPS) in BN and LEW rats. In BN rats, ATPS induced a polyclonal B-cell activation marked by lymphoproliferation, hyperimmunoglobulinaemia affecting mainly IgE, and by the production of numerous autoantibodies. A glomerulonephritis occurred, initially due to anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody deposition, and later to the formation of granular deposits, occasionally resulting in a typical membranous glomerulopathy. Self class-II-specific T-cells were found that might be responsible for the polyclonal B-cell activation. Lewis rats were free of glomerulopathy but, like BN rats, exhibited an interstitial nephritis and some degree of polyclonal B-cell activation. These findings demonstrate that, depending on the strain, ATPS triggers different B-cell clones inducing different degrees of autoimmunity.

Animals↗

Reducing reagent-induced activation of adenylate cyclase in the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum.

Binding of an intrinsic agonist (cAMP) to specific receptors on the cell surface induces transmembrane signals for activation and desensitization (adaptation and down regulation) of adenylate cyclase in the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum. It is generally believed that dithiothreitol (DTT) induces the activation through interaction between the receptor and gradually accumulated cAMP, since DTT is known to inhibit cAMP-phosphodiesterase which degrades cAMP. In the present paper, we investigated the mechanism of activation of adenylate cyclase by the thiol-reducing agents, DTT and 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol (BAL). We found that BAL activated adenylate cyclase transiently even under conditions where the intrinsic agonist supersaturated the cAMP-receptors and competitively inhibited phosphodiesterase. This result is inconsistent with the generally accepted notion. We conclude that BAL has an independent effect from those of the intrinsic agonist (cAMP) and phosphodiesterase in activation of adenylate cyclase. Since BAL could induce activation just after the activation induced by a supersaturating concentration of the intrinsic agonist had ceased, the independent effect of BAL is not a simple enhancement of the cAMP-induced activation. Our result also suggests that the cAMP-induced adaptation (but not down regulation) suppresses the BAL-induced activation while BAL itself does not induce adaptation to cAMP or BAL. We propose that the thiol-reducing reagent induces or modifies the transmembrane activation signal for adenylate cyclase.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Reducing reagent-induced activation of guanylate cyclase in the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum.

Binding of folic acid (an intrinsic agonist) to the cell surface receptors evokes transmembrane signals for activation and adaptation of guanylate cyclase in Dictyostelium discoideum. The activation signal activates this enzyme and then the adaptation signal terminates the activation. As a result, these two signals cooperatively induce a transient activation of guanylate cyclase. We investigated transmembrane signal transduction for guanylate cyclase using 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol (BAL, a thiol-reducing reagent) since BAL induces or modifies the transmembrane signal(s). We found that BAL induced prolonged or continuous activation of guanylate cyclase. Thus, the mode of the activation is drastically different (transient versus continuous) between folic acid and BAL. We also found that the BAL-induced continuous activation was not observed when the cells were stimulated with BAL + folic acid, while folic acid + BAL transiently induced more cGMP accumulation than folic acid alone. We lastly showed that K252a, a protein kinase inhibitor, enhanced both the folic acid-induced and the BAL-induced activation of guanylate cyclase. Our results suggest that BAL induces or mimics the activation signal for guanylate cyclase. The lack of termination in the BAL-induced activation suggests that BAL does not induce the adaptation signal or that the adaptation does not inhibit the BAL-induced activation. The former possibility is more likely since folic acid suppresses the BAL-induced continuous activation. The effect of K252a suggests that protein phosphorylation plays a role in suppression of guanylate cyclase.

Animals↗

A novel and simple colorimetric assay for human serum lipase.

A new and simple colorimetric method for human serum lipase [EC 3.1.1.3] assay has been developed, using 2,3-dimercaptopropan-1-ol tributyroate as a substrate, 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitro-benzoic acid) as a chromogenic reagent, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride as an inhibitor of serum esterases, and sodium dodecylsulfate as a lipase activator. The method requires only 50 micron1X2 of serum sample and a reaction time of less than 30 min. The method is reproducible and sensitive enough to measure low levels of lipase activity in normal and abnormal sera. The gel filtration of serum samples on a Sephadex G-200 column gave one peak of lipase activity, when measured by the present method, and the molecular weight of the enzyme was identical with that of lipase of human pancreatic origin, confirming the specificity of this new method for the serum lipase.

Chromatography, Gel↗

Properties of serum lipase in patients with various pancreatic diseases. Analysis by a new serum lipase assay method (the BALB-DTNB method) in combination with gel-filtration and iso-electrofocusing techniques.

Very low levels of lipase can easily be measured by a new serum lipase assay method (the BALB-DTNB method), using BAL-tributyrate (BALB) as a substrate, 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) as a chromogenic SH reagent, phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride as an inhibitor of esterases and sodium dodecyl sulfate as a surfactant. The BALB-DTNB method has a higher sensitivity than the conventional serum lipase assay methods, and proved useful for analyzing the properties of serum lipases in combination with gel-filtration on a Sephacryl S 200 column and isoelectrofocusing in an Ampholine column. Serum samples containing high levels of lipases from patients with pancreatic diseases or patients in whom the pancreatic exocrine gland had been stimulated by injecting caerulein and secretin were analyzed by these methods. The lipolytic profiles obtained indicated the presence of a lipase with an estimated molecular weight of 46,000 and isoelectric points of 7.4, 6.8, or/and 6.4. A lipase with properties similar to those of the serum lipase was found to be present in human pancreatic juice.

Chromatography, Gel↗

The effect of HIV infection on phagocytosis and killing of Staphylococcus aureus by human pulmonary alveolar macrophages.

Pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) play a central role in host defense against pulmonary infection. The authors studied the number, viability, and ultrastructure of PAM recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage from normal and HIV-infected subjects, and their ability to phagocytose and kill Staphylococcus aureus. PAM from HIV-infected subjects who did not have pneumonia were present in greater numbers and phagocytosed significantly more opsonized Staphylococcus aureus (32.5% and 27.3% for nonsmokers and smokers, respectively) than did PAM from healthy controls (19.5% and 18.2%). In 15 patients with AIDS and pneumonia (due to Pneumocystis carinii in 13/15), viability of PAM and their phagocytic capacity were significantly reduced; in smokers with AIDS and pneumonia, the PAM yield was also dramatically decreased. Killing of S. aureus was similar by PAM from all patient groups. HIV infection was associated with the electron microscopic finding in PAM of extensively ruffled PAM cell-surfaces and ingestion of lymphocytes. Thus, HIV infection stimulates the phagocytic capacity and produces morphologic changes consistent with the possibility that PAM are activated by this retroviral infection. In patients with AIDS who develop pneumonia, especially in smokers, the number, viability and phagocytic capacity of PAM are significantly decreased; our study could not determine whether this diminished activity reflects evolution of the HIV infection or a secondary effect of the pneumonia.

Adult↗

Lead poisoning from retained bullets. Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management.

Lead intoxication (plumbism) from retained bullets has rarely been reported but may be fatal if unrecognized. Bullets lodged within joint spaces or pseudocysts are more likely to develop this complication, although patients with retained missiles in other locations may also be at risk. Subtle findings such as the occurrence of unexplained anemia, abdominal colic, nephropathy, or neurologic deterioration in patients with retained missiles may suggest consideration of plumbism. An intercurrent metabolic stress such as infection, endocrinopathy, or alcoholism may be a precipitating factor. Among the various diagnostic studies available, mass spectrometric stable isotope dilution analysis may be the most reliable. It is important to employ chelation therapy prior to any operative intervention. This will reduce the mobilization of lead from bone during or following the surgical procedure.

Adult↗