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Effect of tuftsin stimulation on the microbicidal activity exerted by blood monocyte-macrophages of leprosy patients.

The ability of blood monocyte/macrophages from normal donors, tuberculoid leprosy (BT/TT) and lepromatous leprosy (BL/LL) patients to exert enhanced microbicidal activity was assayed after stimulating with 0.8 microM tuftsin, as a function of the duration of cultures in vitro. Normal and BT/TT macrophage cultures showed a statistically significant increase in microbicidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus at all ages of culture (6 h to 14 days), though the overall magnitude of the enhancement shows a decrease with increasing culture age in the same populations. However, 14-day old BL/LL macrophage cultures were unable to undergo tuftsin-mediated stimulation of microbicidal activity against S. aureus and even, fresh 6 h-old cultures exhibited a tuftsin-stimulated response profile similar to 14-day old normal and BT/TT cultures. Also, 7 and 14-day cultures of normal, BT/TT and BL/LL macrophages were unable to inhibit/kill intracellular Mycobacterium leprae after a single stimulation with 0.8 microM tuftsin. However, serial, daily stimulation with 0.8 microM tuftsin resulted in 77-140% inhibition of 3H-thymidine uptake by the 12th day of cultures in vitro in the three groups. These results suggest that BL/LL macrophages exhibit a premature inability to undergo tuftsin stimulated microbicidal activity, which may possibly be reversed by serial dosage of tuftsin.

Blood Bactericidal Activity↗

Pentoxifylline exerts synergistic immunomodulatory effects in combination with dexamethasone or cyclosporin A.

The methylxanthine derivative pentoxifylline (PTX) is an immunomodulatory agent with incompletely characterized effects on cytokine production. To analyse these effects and to delineate new combination strategies in immunotherapy, we have investigated immunomodulatory properties of PTX in combination with dexamethasone (DEX) or cyclosporin A (CsA). Stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were treated with clinically relevant concentrations of PTX (12.5-100 micrograms/ml), DEX (0.01-10 microM) or CsA (12.5-50 ng/ml), alone or in combination. With increasing doses of PTX the maximum supernatant titres of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon (IFN)-gamma decreased concomitantly, and all cultures co-treated with DEX showed synergism. Release of IL-6 was not consistently altered under PTX treatment. Similarly, PTX and CsA synergistically inhibited the release of IL-2, IFN-gamma and, to a lesser degree, TNF-alpha. Although PTX alone did not significantly reduce lymphoproliferation, both combinations of drugs synergistically inhibited this process. Furthermore, to demonstrate that the key mechanism of PTX-induced effects is an increase in intracellular cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels, identical experiments were performed using dibutyryl-cAMP instead of PTX. In cultures treated with PTX and DEX, expression of different cell receptors was analysed. Expression of IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) was reduced in cultures treated with PTX, and combination with DEX led to further reduction. Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and of leucocyte function antigen (LFA)-1 alpha was also synergistically reduced, though to a lesser degree. HLA-DR expression remained unchanged. In conclusion, we demonstrate that clinically relevant levels of PTX exert profound immunomodulatory effects in vitro, and that the combined treatment with DEX or CsA has synergistic effects.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Do 'chlorine covers' exert a sustained bactericidal effect on the bacterial hand flora?

Treatment of skin with chlorine generates 'chlorine covers' which, in a previous study, exerted significant sustained bactericidal effects against transient skin flora on the upper arm and forearm. In this investigation, this effect was studied on both the transient and resident flora of the hands using test models for the evaluation of hand disinfectants as agreed upon in Austria and Germany. Chlorine covers were generated by bathing hands in a solution of 2% sodium tosylchloramide for 1 min. Subsequently, this cover was destroyed on one, randomly selected, hand by bathing it in a solution of 0.5% sodium thiosulphate for 15 s. The amount of chlorine on the fingertips of chlorinated hands was 2.2 +/- 0.4 micrograms/cm2; that on subsequently dechlorinated hands was 0.2 +/- 0.1 microgram/cm2. In experiments with artificially contaminated hands (Escherichia coli), the kinetics of bacterial die-off were the same on both hands. Also, in experiments with resident flora, the kinetics of bacterial die-off did not suggest bacterial reductions that increase with the duration of contact with the chlorine cover. It was concluded that with the test models used, a significant sustained antimicrobial effect of the chlorine cover could not be demonstrated on hands.

Animals↗

Onion exerts antiaggregatory effects by altering arachidonic acid metabolism in platelets.

In vitro effects of an oily extract of onion were examined on the metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) in human platelets. Onion was found to reduce the formation of thromboxane and lipoxygenase products from exogenous arachidonic acid in platelets; it did not inhibit the incorporation of AA into platelet phospholipids. While not affecting the platelet phospholipase activity it did reduce the formation of thromboxane B2 and lipoxygenase products in platelets that were prelabelled with arachidonic acid and then activated by A23187. This suggests that onion inhibits the formation of AA metabolites by exerting its effect at steps later than the liberation of AA. With concentrations of onion extract producing abolition of AA-induced aggregation, only partial inhibition of aggregation was observed with ADP- and epinephrine-induced aggregation. Onion did not inhibit A23187 induced aggregation. The results suggest that inhibition of platelet aggregation by onion is mediated largely by its effect on platelet thromboxane production.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Combined effects exerted by amphotericin B and lucensomycin on cation permeability in a unilamellar vesicle system.

The permeability of artificial unilamellar vesicles and of plasma membrane vesicles from homogenized yeast in aqueous solutions of polyene antibiotics (amphotericin B and lucensomycin) was studied by measuring proton leakage by a pH-stat method. Micromolar concentrations of amphotericin B induced a remarkable proton efflux from the vesicles. Lucensomycin exerted similar effects only at 100 times higher concentrations. The latter antibiotic, at concentrations one order of magnitude lower than those necessary to induce a detectable proton efflux, seemed to protect the vesicles from the subsequent permeabilizing action of amphotericin B.

Amphotericin B↗

Quercetin exerts a preferential cytotoxic effect on active dividing colon carcinoma HT29 and Caco-2 cells.

The effect of the naturally occurring flavonol, quercetin, was investigated on cell growth and metabolism of two human carcinoma cell lines, HT29 and Caco-2 cells, both during the exponentially growing phase and after confluence. Our results show clearly that, after a 48-h period of treatment, quercetin (in the range of concentration from 15 microM to 120 microM) exerted a preferential cytotoxic effect on active proliferating cells. This effect was dose dependent and was accompanied by a simultaneous inhibition of lactate release and a dramatic decrease of total cellular ATP content. In contrast, in confluent cells, quercetin failed to affect cell viability or lactate release, but led nevertheless to a depletion of cellular ATP level. In conclusion, the cytotoxicity of quercetin is markedly higher in actively growing cells in comparison with confluent cells.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

A GABA antagonist, bicuculline, exerts its uncoupling action on external horizontal cells through dopamine cells in carp retina.

External horizontal cells in isolated retinas of the carp (Cyprinus carpio) were intracellularly recorded and marked with the fluorescent dye Lucifer Yellow (LY). These cells are electrically coupled via gap junctions, so that the injected dye normally diffused to neighboring cells. A GABA antagonist, bicuculline (Bcc, 20 microM), applied to the vitreous fluid beneath the isolated retina, altered the spatial properties of light-induced responses, by increasing the amplitude of responses to central spots and decreasing that of those to distant spots. Bcc also restricted to injected dye to single recorded cells. These uncoupling actions of Bcc were similar to those of amphetamine (20 microM) or dopamine (10-20 microM) and were abolished by the presence of a dopaminergic blocker, haloperidol (20-40 microM). Both the actions of Bcc and amphetamine were not observed when applied to retinas deprived of dopaminergic cells by prior destruction with 6-hydroxydopamine. Therefore, Bcc exerts its uncoupling actions on external horizontal cells indirectly through the dopaminergic system in the carp retina.

Amphetamine↗

Fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor and insulin exert a neuronal-like influence on acetylcholine receptors in aneurally cultured human muscle.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin added in combination to the culture medium in which normal human muscle was cultured caused a 4.0-fold (P less than 0.005) increase of the total number of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) and a 4.5-fold (P less than 0.001) increase in AChR aggregation. Individually, only FGF caused a 3.0-fold increase (P less than 0.005) in AChR aggregation, without influencing the total number of AChRs. To the contrary, insulin alone caused a 2.0-fold increase (P less than 0.05) in the total number of AChRs without influencing AChR aggregation. These findings show that these three polypeptide growth factors exert a neuronal-like influence on cultured human muscle in regard to AChRs.

Culture Techniques↗

6,7-Dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione but not MK-801 exerts a protective effect against kainic acid neurotoxicity in the goldfish retina.

Recent findings indicated that the excitotoxicity of glutamate analogues was prevented in the mammalian nervous system by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists. The neurodegenerative effects of kainic acid, and the putative protection of MK-801 and 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX), were investigated by morphological studies showing the toxicity of kainic acid to the neurons of the inner nuclear layer, and measuring choline acetyltransferase and glutamate decarboxylase activities in the retina. In addition, the proliferation of Müller retinal cells was assumed as an index of neuronal degeneration and was quantified by counting glial fibrillary acidic protein immunopositive cells. Our observations suggest that the non-NMDA receptor antagonist DNQX exerted a protective effect on goldfish retinal neurons, while MK-801 did not prevent the neurotoxicity induced by kainic acid in the goldfish retina. This finding is in agreement with previous work on kainic acid toxicity in the goldfish optic tectum.

Animals↗

The dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 can exert D1 agonist-like effects on rat nucleus accumbens neurons.

Interactions between the selective dopamine D1-class receptor antagonist SCH 23390 and the dopamine D2-class receptor agonist quinpirole on nucleus accumbens neurons were investigated with extracellular single cell recording and microiontophoresis. Because dopamine D1 receptor stimulation enables many dopamine D2 receptor-mediated effects, SCH 23390 was expected to antagonize quinpirole-induced inhibition of activity. Although concurrent iontophoretic administration of SCH 23390 attenuated the inhibitory effects of quinpirole on most neurons, the antagonist further suppressed the firing of most neurons during attempts to reverse quinpirole-induced inhibition. SCH 23390 also reinstated (enabled) quinpirole-induced inhibition in rats acutely depleted of dopamine. These findings suggest that under certain conditions, SCH 23390 may exert dopamine D1 agonist-like effects.

Animals↗

The mesolimbic dopaminergic system exerts an inhibitory influence on brain corticosteroid receptor affinities.

Central type I and type II corticosteroid receptors play a principle role in the regulation of corticosterone secretion. Although the binding capacity of these receptors is thought to be regulated essentially hormonally, there is also evidence for a direct neural control. For example, experimental manipulation of central serotoninergic and noradrenergic activities modifies the binding capacity of type I and type II corticosteroid receptors via a corticosterone-independent mechanism. In this study, we tested the effect of lesions of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area on corticosteroid receptor binding capacity. The study was performed in adrenalectomized rats whose corticosterone levels were maintained within normal limits by corticosterone pellets and corticosterone in their drinking water during the dark period to generate the circadian rhythm. Binding properties of corticosteroid receptors were analysed in target regions of the lesioned neurons, including the ventral and dorsal striatum. Corticosteroid receptors in the hippocampus were also studied as a control as these lesions do not significantly affect dopamine content in this structure. Three weeks after the lesion, type II corticosteroid receptor affinity was increased in the ventral striatum. There was no effect on receptors in the dorsal striatum or hippocampus. Our results, together with other reports showing that dopamine inhibits the expression of corticosteroid receptors in the anterior pituitary, suggest that dopamine transmission exerts a negative control on central corticosteroid receptors.

Adrenalectomy↗

A mathematical model for the computation of the forces exerted by the facial orthopedic mask.

This study presents a model for the computation of the forces exerted on the chin and on the forehead by the facial orthopedic mask in skeletal Class III malocclusions. Cephalometric data as well as geometry of the mask are taken into account to simulate in quantitative terms the entire approach. A computer program has been implemented to validate the model on a group of patients. Despite the approximations about the mechanical characteristics of the appliance and of the constraints (rigid body, ideal constraints) and despite the unavoidable errors in the estimation of the geometric parameters (dimensions and angles), it is shown that the computation of the forces (in orientation and in magnitude) at the forehead and at the chin is possible. Some practical applications of the model are presented.

Adolescent↗

Cytotoxicity of phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxides is exerted through decomposition of fatty acid hydroperoxide moiety.

The cytotoxicity of phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxides synthesized regioselectively and stereoselectively was examined in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxides were readily incorporated into cells, after which the contents declined gradually. Phosphatidylcholine with an arachidonic acid hydroperoxide residue was toxic to cells, while phosphatidylcholine with a linoleic acid hydroperoxide residue had no effect. The toxicity of phosphatidylcholine with arachidonic acid hydroperoxide disappeared after the reduction of the hydroperoxide by triphenylphosphine. Phosphatidylcholine with arachidonic acid hydroperoxide that had decomposed partially upon standing at room temperature was much more toxic than the pure hydroperoxide. 4-Hydroxynonenal, known widely as a toxic secondary product in the lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, was detected in the decomposition mixture of phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide. Phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide incorporated into cells did not show toxicity when the hydroperoxide-containing medium was changed to growth medium after a short time. On the other hand, the phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide was toxic in cells treated with the lipophilic free radical generator, 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile). In addition, cells were damaged by long-term treatment in medium containing phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide and its decomposition products. These results suggest that the toxicity of phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxides is exerted by toxic compounds arising from the decomposition of the hydroperoxide moiety.

Arachidonic Acid↗

Resveratrol exerts its antiproliferative effect on HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells, by inducing cell cycle arrest, and NOS activation.

The stilbene resveratrol exerts antiproliferative and proapoptotic actions on a number of different cancer cell lines, through diverse mechanisms, including antioxidant effects, enzyme, growth factor and hormone receptor binding, and nucleic acid direct or indirect interactions. Although resveratrol accumulates in the liver, its effect on hepatocellular carcinoma has not been extensively studied. We have used the human hepatocyte-derived cancer cell line HepG2 to address the possible action of resveratrol on cell growth and to examine some possible mechanisms of action. Our results indicate that the stilbene inhibits potently cell proliferation, reduces the production of reactive oxygen species and induces apoptosis, through cell cycle arrest in G1 and G2/M phases. Furthermore it modulates the NO/NOS system, by increasing iNOS and eNOS expression, NOS activity and NO production. Inhibition of NOS enzymes attenuates its antiproliferative effect. These data could be of value in possible prevention or adjuvant treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, through an increased consumption of resveratrol-rich foods and beverages.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Cis-9,trans-11-CLA exerts anti-inflammatory effects in human bronchial epithelial cells and eosinophils: comparison to trans-10,cis-12-CLA and to linoleic acid.

Interaction of eosinophils and bronchial epithelial cells plays a pivotal role in maintaining inflammatory airway disease. Since conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are suggested to exert anti-inflammatory effects, one purpose of this study was to compare cis-9,trans-11-CLA and trans-10,cis-12-CLA with regard to their influence on the stimulus-induced activation of eosinophils. ECP (eosinophil cationic protein) released in co-culture of stimulated and CLA-treated eosinophils with stimulated bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) was measured and cis-9,trans-11-CLA was found to be most potent in inhibiting ECP formation. Further, expression of the activation markers CD69 and CD13 induced by various stimuli (TNF-alpha, IL-5, IL-3) was significantly reduced in the presence of cis-9,trans-11-CLA. Subsequently, various concentrations of cis-9,trans-11-CLA vs. linoleic acid (LA, cis-9,cis-12-octadecadienoic acid) were tested for the effect on proliferative response and release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 in stimulated BEAS-2B. Addition of cis-9,trans-11-CLA attenuated cell growth and significantly reduced IL-8 production at mRNA and protein levels. In contrast, LA had a slight stimulating effect on proliferation and was less effective in reducing the cytokine release. It was demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of cis-9,trans-11-CLA on IL-8 production is mediated through activation of the nuclear receptor PPARgamma, since blocking the receptor with a selective antagonist (GW9662) restored the stimulus-induced enhancement in IL-8 mRNA expression and protein secretion. PPARgamma has previously been shown to be closely involved in the downregulation of inflammation during hyperresponsiveness related to pulmonary immune responses. Thus, targeting PPARgamma, cis-9,trans-11-CLA might be of therapeutic value in the focus of airway disease while ameliorating inflammatory processes by affecting epithelial and eosinophil functions.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

CD8 T-cell ability to exert immunodomination correlates with T-cell receptor: epitope association rate.

When presented alone, H7 a and HY antigens elicit CD8 T-cell responses of similar amplitude, but H7 a totally abrogates the response to HY when both antigens are presented on the same antigen-presenting cell. We found that H7a- and HY-specific T-cell precursors had similar frequencies in nonimmune mice and expressed similar levels of CD5. The H7a -specific CD8 T-cell repertoire harvested at the time of primary response showed highly restricted T-cell receptor (TCR) diversity. Furthermore, T cells specific for H7a and HY expressed equivalent levels of CD8 and TCR and displayed similar tetramer decay rates. The key difference was that anti-H7a T cells exhibited a much more rapid TCR:epitope on-rate than anti-HY T cells. Coupled with evidence that primed CD8 T cells limit the duration of antigen presentation by killing or inactivating antigen-presenting cells, our data support a novel and simple model for immunodomination: the main feature of T cells that exert immunodomination is that, compared with other T cells, they are functionally primed after a shorter duration of antigen presentation.

Animals↗

Hepatocyte growth factor exerts a proliferative effect on oval cells through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogen for a variety of cells including hepatocytes. While rat oval cells are supposed to be one of hepatic stem cells, biological effects of HGF on oval cells and their relevant signal transduction pathways remain to be determined. We sought to investigate them on OC/CDE22 rat oval cells, which are established from the liver of rats fed a choline-deficient/DL-ethionine-supplemented diet. The oval cells were cultured on fibronectin-coated dishes and stimulated with recombinant HGF, transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), and thrombopoietin (TPO) under the serum-free medium condition. HGF treatment enhanced [3H]thymidine incorporation into oval cells in a dose-dependent manner. On the contrary, treatment with TGF-alpha or TPO had no significant effects on [3H]thymidine incorporation into the oval cells. c-Met protein was phosphorylated at the tyrosine residues after the HGF treatment. AKT, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and p70(s6k) were simultaneously activated after the HGF stimulation, peaking at 30min after the treatment. The activation of AKT, p70(s6k), and ERK1/2 induced by HGF was abolished by pre-treatment with LY294002, a phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, and U0126, a mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor, respectively. When the cells were pre-treated with LY294002 prior to the HGF stimulation, the proliferative action of HGF was completely abrogated, implying that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is responsible for the biological effect of HGF. These in vitro data indicate that HGF exerts a proliferative action on hepatic oval cells via activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Cell Division↗

Frontocortical 5-HT4 receptors exert positive feedback on serotonergic activity: viral transfections, subacute and chronic treatments with 5-HT4 agonists.

BACKGROUND: We recently identified a facilitory control exerted by serotonin4 (5-HT4) receptors on the in vivo firing activity of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) serotonergic (5-HT) neurons. However, these findings were based on acute administrations of 5-HT4 receptor agonists and antagonists, which were active only in a subpopulation of 5-HT neurons. We had no evidence that this influence was significant when considering the entire DRN, nor if it was persistent after chronic treatments. In addition, the poor distribution of 5-HT4 receptors within the DRN raised the question of the neuroanatomical bases underlying this control. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here we show that the subacute intraperitoneal (IP) injection of the 5-HT4 receptor agonists prucalopride (2.5 mg/kg) and RS 67333 (1.5 mg/kg) 30 minutes before the beginning of recordings augment the mean firing rate of DRN neurons by 40% and 66%, respectively. These increases remain stable when the compounds are administered continuously during 3 and 21 days; the effects of the 3-day treatment are blocked by the 5-HT4 receptor antagonist GR 125487 (1000 microg/kg, intravenous [i.v.]). In addition, stereotaxic microinjections of herpes simplex viruses, transformed to overexpress 5-HT4 receptors, increase DRN 5-HT neuronal mean activity when performed in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) but not in the striatum or in the hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS: This finding suggests the existence of a 5-HT(4)-dependent activation of DRN that may involve the mPFC, unveiling the 5-HT4 receptor as a putative player in the physiopathology of several disorders related to central 5-HT dysfunction.

Aniline Compounds↗