Withaferin A inhibits lymphocyte proliferation, dendritic cell maturation in vitro and prolongs islet allograft survival.

The immunosuppressive regimen for clinical allogeneic islet transplantation uses beta cell-toxic compounds such as tacrolimus that cause islet graft loss. Previously we reported that the plant-derived steroidal lactone Withaferin A (WA) can protect islet grafts by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). Since the NF-κB signaling pathway is essential for T-cell activation, we hypothesized that long-term WA administration may also provide an immunosuppressive effect. Treatment of BALB/c donor islets and C57BL/6N recipients with WA alone resulted in 80% islet graft long-term survival vs. 40% in low-dose FK506-treated mice. In vitro, WA significantly blocked mouse and human T-cell proliferation by CD3/CD28 bead stimulation and in mixed lymphocyte reaction assay. Treatment of immature dendritic cells with WA prevented their maturation in response to inflammatory stimuli, as seen by decreased expression of CD83 and human leukocyte antigen-DR isotype. Exosomes released by islets treated with WA contained significantly fewer proinflammatory molecules interleukin-6, interleukin-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interferon-gamma-induced protein-10, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2. In conclusion, WA treatment not only reduced inflammation but also prolonged allograft survival, possibly through suppression of dendritic cell maturation and T-cell proliferation. WA has the potential to inhibit both the innate and adaptive immune response to prolong allograft survival.

Nevo epidérmico inflamatorio lineal (NEVIL): Presentación en la edad adulta / Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus (ILVEN): Late onset disease

El NEVIL es la variedad inflamatoria del nevo epidérmico; es un tumor benigno hamartomatoso, que se distribuye siguiendo las líneas de Blaschko. Estas líneas representarían mosaicismos cutáneos del desarrollo embriológico. El NEVIL suele aparecer en la infancia. Son generalmente unilaterales y en ocasiones muy pruriginosos. El diagnóstico diferencial es frecuentemente dificultoso. Presentamos una paciente en la cual la manifestación de esta patología se produce en forma tardía, siendo esto poco frecuente. El tratamiento es un desafío, se han probado múltiples modalidades terapéuticas, con resultados en ocasiones desalentadores. La cirugía, puede utilizarse en lesiones de pequeño tamaño. Los tratamientos con luz láser podrían ser de utilidad.

The ILVEN is the inflammatory variety of epidermal nevi, benign hamartomatous tumor that distributed following Blaschko lines. These lines represent cutaneous mosaicism in embryologic development. The ILVEN usually appear in the infancy. Generally unilateral and occasionally is very pruriginous. The differential diagnosis is often difficult. We present a patient in which the manifestation of her disease is produced in late onset, being this infrequent. Management is a challenge, multiple therapeutic modalities have been tested, with discouraging results. Surgery can be utilized in small size lesions. Laser therapy could be of utility.

Lessons learned from Myc/Max/Mad knockout mice.

The past two decades of gene targeting experiments have allowed us to make significant strides towards understanding how the Myc/Max/Mad network influences multiple aspects of cellular behavior during development. Here we summarize the findings obtained from the myc/max/mad knockout mice generated to date, namely those in which the N-myc, c-myc, L-myc, mad1, mxi1, mad3, mnt, or max genes have been targeted. A compilation of lessons we have learned from these myc/max/mad knockout mouse models, and suggestions as to where future efforts could be focused, are also presented.

FMRFamide-like peptides in the crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) stomatogastric nervous system: distribution and effects on the pyloric motor pattern.

Whole-mount immunocytochemistry was used to map the location of FMRFamide-like peptides in the crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) stomatogastric nervous system. This system contains the pyloric and gastric mill central pattern generators, which receive modulatory inputs from projection neurons with somata located primarily in other ganglia of the stomatogastric nervous system. Our studies revealed stained somata in the commissural and esophageal ganglia. A pair of stained somata was located in the inferior ventricular nerve, and another pair of somata was located in the stomatogastric nerve where it is joined by the two superior esophageal nerves. The stomatogastric ganglion contained no stained somata, but the neuropil was brightly stained and 2-4 axons projected laterally in small nerves directly from the ganglion. These results indicate that FMRFamide or related peptides may act as neuromodulators in the crayfish stomatogastric nervous system. To test this hypothesis, we studied the effects of FMRFamide and four related peptides (DF2, NF1, F1 and LMS) on the pyloric motor pattern. DF2, NF1 and F1 all excited certain pyloric cells, especially the lateral pyloric (LP) and ventricular dilator (VD) neurons, and enhanced pyloric cycling frequency in most actively rhythmic preparations. FMRFamide had no detectable effects on pyloric cells, and LMS had inhibitory effects, causing disruption of the pyloric rhythm in actively cycling preparations and reducing tonic activity in non-rhythmic preparations.

[AIDS: behavioral contributions to its prevention]. / SIDA: aportes conductuales para su prevencion.

PIP: AIDS is caused by the human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV) or lymphadenopathy associated virus (LAV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The latter name has been widely accepted. According to the WHO in 1988 there were 5 million infected persons. In Argentina, there were 300 AIDS patients and 30,000 infected people in 1989 and 60,000 in 1990. Obstacles to prevention of the spread of AIDS are: fear which causes some to conceal its existence; prolonged latency; complacency about future negative outcome; the lack of value of life among drug addicts; adolescent behavior of defiance and confrontation; militant denial by many of the possibility of contracting AIDS; and a criminally low level of measures to combat AIDS in the Third World. Primary prevention includes avoidance of contact with body fluids of an infected person submitting to a serological test if infection is suspected massive educational campaigns, study of subcultures such as drug addicts and adolescents, use of disposable needles and sterilization of all medical instruments use of condoms, and analysis of the blood of donated organs and blood for transfusion. Secondary prevention means making sure that seropositive patients undergo periodic medical checkups and receive medical attention when suspicious symptoms are detected and follow various steps to strengthen their immune systems. Tertiary prevention comprises psychological and psychopharmacological treatment of emotional distress to facilitate a less painful progress of the disease and to avert possible complications and relapses.^ieng

Cytochrome P-450 spin state and leakiness of the monooxygenase pathway.

1. The monooxygenase and oxidase activities of liver microsomes from phenobarbital (PB)-treated rabbits were investigated for their dependence on the high spin shift (delta alpha) of the ferric cytochrome P-450 induced by a series of benzphetamine analogues. 2. The spin shift activity of the substrate determines, via the first electron transfer kinetics, the steady-state level of the reaction intermediate oxycytochrome P-450. Correlation of the amount or oxycytochrome P-450 with delta alpha can be experimentally proved. 3. The spin-state-dependent formation of oxycytochrome P-450 regulates quantitatively the rates of NADPH oxidation and substrate N-demethylation. Both activities correlate with delta alpha. Oxycytochrome P-450 is substrate-stabilized towards decay with the formation of O2- which, upon dismutation, gives rise to H2O2. 4. The ratio of N-demethylase to NADPH oxidase activity (coupling ratio) also increases with the spin shift, delta alpha. Concomitantly, the proportion of NADPH accounted for by H2O2 and H2O formation via two- and four-electron reduction of dioxygen decreases. This indicates that the substrate-induced structural changes in the enzyme active centre which give rise to spin transition may likewise modify the coupling properties. 5. Perfluorinated compounds, which fail to undergo monooxygenation, fall in line with the benzphetamine derivatives with respect to the dependence of NADPH oxidation rate and steady-state oxycytochrome P-450 level on delta alpha. The increased oxidase activity results mostly in H2O formation. 6. The leakiness of the PB-induced monooxygenase pathway in the biotransformation of oxygen in the presence of the benzphetamines and perfluorinated compounds does not result in marked increases in H2O2 formation. Therefore, the increase of NADPH oxidase activity by these substrates does not significantly enhance H2O2-mediated oxygen tissue toxicity.

Role of lipid in the electron transfer between NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and cytochrome P-450 from mammalian liver cells.

1. The anaerobic NADPH-reduction of the isozymes cytochrome P-450 LM2 and LM4 was used as a functional tool to study the component interaction in reconstituted monooxygenase systems in dependence on different phospholipids. 2. The isozymes were shown to exhibit similar lipid interaction. The lipids generally favour a catalytically active 1:1 complex formation between reductase and cytochrome P-450 as the rate-determining unit in electron transfer. 3. The cytochrome P-450 reduction proceeds in a biphasic reaction. In dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine (DLPC)-reconstituted systems the amount of the fast reduction psi 1 is stoichiometrically limited by the reductase in deficit: psi 1 corresponds to the 1:1 complex formation capability of the reductase. 4. In vesicle-reconstituted systems an 'overstoichiometric' reductase cycling is observed which gives rise to a significantly increased amount of fast reduction psi 1. Reductase cycling is proposed to occur in protein clusters of cytochrome P-450 and reductase in deficit. 5. The dissociation constant KRP of the functionally active reductase-cytochrome P-450 complex has been determined by means of the amount of psi 1 (DPLC) and the rate constant kapp 1 (vesicles) of the fast reduction as a measure of the complex formation in dependence on the protein molar ratio. Taking into account the actual protein concentration in the vesicular lipid phase, KRP in vesicles has been calculated to be about 3 orders of magnitude increased in comparison to DLPC-reconstituted systems. 6. Vmax data reveal almost the same catalytic activity of both reconstitution modes, which justifies DLPC-reconstitution in model investigations. The vesicle-specific increased accumulation of reduced cytochrome P-450 in the steady state as originated by reductase cycling may offer the physiological advantage of an increased capacity of cytochrome P-450 for synergistic substrate conversion via cytochrome b5.

Chemical modification of cytochrome P-450 LM4. Identification of functionally linked tyrosine residues.

Cytochrome P-450 LM4 (RH, reduced flavoprotein:oxygen oxidoreductase (RH-hydroxylating), EC 1.14.14.1) from rabbit liver microsomes was chemically modified with tetranitromethane. Nitration of two tyrosine residues inhibits the p-nitrophenetole O-deethylase activity of the enzyme by about 80%. Sequencing the 3-nitrotyrosine-containing peptides after HPLC tryptic peptide mapping reveals that mainly Tyr-243 and Tyr-271 are nitrated, whereas Tyr-71, Tyr-188 and Tyr-365 are modified to a lower extent. Nitration of tyrosine residues affects the complex formation with p-nitrophenetole, alpha-naphthoflavone and metyrapone as indicated by an increased affinity towards p-nitrophenetole and by a decreased affinity for the latter compounds. Furthermore, nitration interferes with the electron transfer from NADPH-cytochrome P-450-reductase to cytochrome P-450 LM4 resulting in a slowed down reduction reaction. The results suggest that Tyr-243 and Tyr-271 of cytochrome P-450 LM4 are functionally involved in the interaction with NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase.

Sequential mechanism of refolding of carbonic anhydrase B.

The kinetics of refolding of bovine carbonic anhydrase B was studied by a variety of methods over a wide range of times (from milliseconds to hours). It has been shown that protein refolding proceeds through three stages. At the first stage (t1/2 approximately equal to 0.03 s) hydrophobic clusters and a compact state of the chain are formed. At the second stage (t1/2 approximately equal to 140 s) hydrophobic clusters are desolvated and the rigid native-like hydrophobic core is formed. At the third stage (t1/2 approximately equal to 600 s) the native active protein is formed.

Reduction of lactoperoxidase by the dithionite anion monomer.

The reduction of lactoperoxidase with sodium dithionite has been studied by means of stopped-flow spectrophotometry in an anaerobic system. Under pseudo-first-order conditions the rate constant was found to be linearly dependent on the square root of the dithionite concentration, which confirms the monomeric radical, SO2- as the reducing species. The second-order rate constant is moderately influenced by increased ionic strength but drastically increased at lower pH. The pH dependence supports the previously suggested existence of a carboxyl group, essential to the different enzymatic functions of lactoperoxidase. The second-order rate constant for the reduction of lactoperoxidase at pH 7.0 (kappa 1 = 1.3 X 10(5) M-1 s-1) was about three times higher than the rate constant for the reduction of cyanide-bound lactoperoxidase and two times the rate constant for the reduction of the fluoride-lactoperoxidase complex.

Interaction of nonionic detergents with phospholipids in hepatic microsomes at subsolubilizing concentrations as studied by 31P-NMR.

The effect of low concentrations of nonionic detergents with different critical micelle concentrations such as Triton X-100, Brij 35 and octylglucoside on rabbit liver microsomes is studied by means of 31P-NMR, 1H-NMR, dynamic light scattering and functional investigations. Hexane phosphonic acid diethyl ester was used as a phosphorus membrane probe molecule to monitor the interaction of detergent molecules with microsomal phospholipids by 31P-NMR. This method is more sensitive than 31P-NMR of phospholipids alone and permitted the estimation of the maximum number of detergent molecules which can be incorporated in microsomes without the formation of mixed micelles outside the membrane. These membrane saturation concentrations were determined to be 0.07 (Brij 35), 0.1 (Triton X-100) and 0.4 (octylglucoside) (molar ratio of detergent/total phospholipids). Above these detergent concentrations, mixed micelles consisting of detergent and membrane constituents are formed, coexisting with the microsomes up to the membrane solubilization concentration. The results indicate a dependence of the membrane saturation concentration on the critical micelle concentration of the detergent and a preferential removal of phosphatidylcholine over phosphatidylethanolamine from the microsomes by all detergents studied.

Spin state control of cytochrome P-450 reduction and catalytic activity in a reconstituted P-450 LM2 system as induced by a series of benzphetamine analogues.

Reconstituted liposomal cytochrome P-450 LM2 was reacted with a series of benzphetamine analogues as substrates. Based on the thermodynamical model of Ristau et al. (Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 536 (1978) 226-234) the free enthalpy of substrate binding to the high spin form of the enzyme was shown to correlate with the total high spin content of the respective enzyme substrate complex. Reduction and substrate N-demethylation rates as well have been evidenced to linearly correlate with the substrate-induced spin shift delta alpha and moreover with the spin content alpha. The data obtained provide further experimental support for the spin state regulation of the reduction and conversion rate of cytochrome P-450 LM2.

[Regulation mechanisms of the endoplasmic cytochrome P-450 systems of the liver]. / Regulationsmechanismen des endoplasmatischen Zytochrom P-450-Systems der Leber.

Regulation mechanisms of the cytochrome P-450 dependent monooxygenase from the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum at 3 different integrational levels are discussed. At the molecular level the activity of the system is regulated by a substrate dependent shift of an equilibrium of cytochrome P-450 spin conformers in favour of the high spin component. A correlation between the extent of the spin shift, the reduction rate and the substrate turnover has been evidenced. The regulation at the membrane level is based on interactions between the 3 essential components of the system: cytochrome P-450, reductase and lipid. The formation of the cytochrome P-450-reductase-complex necessary for oxygen activation by transfer of electrons is dependent on the charge of the phospholipids. The binding constant of the donor-acceptor complex increases with the acidity of the phospholipid head group, thus enhancing the velocity of the electron transfer.

Mechanism of rate control of the NADPH-dependent reduction of cytochrome P-450 by lipids in reconstituted phospholipid vesicles.

The NADPH-supported reduction of cytochrome P-450 LM2 (liver microsomal isozyme 2) in reconstituted phospholipid vesicles in general exhibits two-exponential kinetics. The physiologically relevant rapid partial reaction is favoured in amount with increasing reductase/P-450 ratio. A lipid specificity was observed in that negatively charged lipids favour that process, too. The rate constant increases concomitantly. The data are consistent with the formation of a reactive 1:1 complex the amount of which determines the rate constant. The dissociation constants amount to 0.048 microM for a microsomal lipid extract, 0.051 microM for a 3:1 (w/w) mixture of dioleoylglycerophosphoethanolamine and phosphatidylserine, and 0.47 microM for dioleoylglycerophosphocholine, respectively, in the respective reconstituted systems. At low reductase/P-450 ratio the amount of the rapidly reduced P-450 exceeds the equilibrium concentration of a 1:1 complex. Preformed 1:1 associates, therefore, cannot fit the derived mechanism. Instead, a cluster model based on P-450 association does correspond to the data.

Reduction of cytochrome P-450 LM2 by NADPH in reconstituted phospholipid vesicles is dependent on membrane charge.

The kinetics of the reduction of cytochrome P-450 LM2 mediated by NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase in reconstituted phospholipid vesicles was examined. An inefficient reduction of the hemoprotein in phosphatidylcholine vesicles was observed. However, by introducing negatively charged phospholipids into the membrane, the rate of reduction increased in a concomitant manner to the resulting net negative charge of the vesicles. In the presence of benzphetamine, the extent of cytochrome P-450 LM2 reduced 1 s after the addition of NADPH to the system was a linear function of the electrophoretic mobilities of the vesicles used. A similar relationship between the net negative charge of the vesicles, as measured electrophoretically, and the reduction rate was also attained in the absence of substrate. The enhanced reduction was mainly reflected in an altered phase distribution of the reduction; the extent of fast phase reduction in the absence or in the presence of added substrate was dependent upon the electrophoretic mobilities of the vesicles. A similar change in the distribution of the reduction phases was observed upon decreasing the phosphatidylcholine content of the vesicles; the fast phase reduction being more pronounced in membranes with higher relative amounts of the protein components. A decrease of the rate of O-demethylation of p-nitroanisole catalyzed by P-450 LM2 parallel to the extent of fast phase reduction was observed upon dilution of neutral phosphatidylcholine membranes with phospholipid. By contrast, no effect of lipid dilution was evident in negatively charged membranes. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the extent of fast phase reduction is governed by the amount of complex formed between NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and cytochrome P-450 in the membranes; negative membranes appear to favor the formation of such complexes, whereas similar complexes are less formed, or are not functional, in neutral membranes.

Correlations between spin equilibrium shift, reduction rate, and N-demethylation activity in liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 and a series of benzphetamine analogues as substrates.

Cytochrome P-450 forms a thermal ferric spin equilibrium which is significantly shifted by substrate binding. Within a series of benzphetamine analogues the liver microsomal enzyme system exhibits a close correlation of the substrate induced spin equilibrium shift towards the high spin state and both the rate of P-450 reduction, and of substrate turnover, as well. The spin equilibrium regulates the first electron transfer by favoured high spin state reduction and rapid pre-equilibration with respect to the low spin fraction.

Kinetics of elementary steps in the cytochrome P-450 reaction sequence. VI. Model treatment of the NADPH-dependent first electron transfer reaction between cytochrome P-450 reductase and cytochrome P-450 LM2 in solution.

The NADPH-dependent reduction of P-450 LM2 has been studied both anaerobically and aerobically in solution state. The disintegration of the constitutive proteins was obtained by means of Triton N-101. At varied P-450 reductase/P-450 ratios two sets of reaction curves were treated by computer procedures. A general reaction mechanism of a modified Michaelis-Menten type could be evidenced. Rate determination in the overall reaction could be proved to be exerted by the electron transfer in the P-450 reductase/P-450 intermediate complex. This process is unresolved as yet. The significance of the solution state investigations is outlined with respect to the functional clusters in microsomes and liposomes, respectively. The physiologically relevant cluster reduction is supposed to follow similar kinetics based on a rapid protein exchange in the clusters.

Kinetics of elementary steps in the cytochrome P-450 reaction sequence. V. Laser temperature-jump investigation of the spin relaxation kinetics of cytochrome P-450 LM2.

The cytochrome P-450 LM2 spin state relaxation kinetics has been resolved by means of laser temperature-jump techniques. The first order rate constants amount to about 10(6) S-1 in the substrate-free and the substrate-bound protein, respectively. Evidence is provided that the spin equilibrium preequilibrates the P-450 reduction but is not rate-limiting. Additional capacitor discharge temperature-jump studies elucidate substrate dependent perturbations.

Molecular mechanisms of interactions between phospholipids and liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 LM2.

The interactions between cytochrome P-450 LM2, NADPH-dependent P-450 reductase and different phospholipids have been analysed in reconstituted systems utilizing spin equilibrium and the reduction reaction as sensitive probes. The results have been correlated with structural data derived from second derivative spectroscopic measurements. The data obtained indicate that phospholipids with acidic groups are of special importance in shifting the spin equilibrium to the high spin state. The detergent substitution of phospholipids, on the other hand, in the reduction reaction provides evidence that the capability to shift the spin state is not strictly correlated with the functional integrity of the system. The results imply that the phospholipids exert a linker function orienting the proteins within the bilayer into a proper interaction state. This function can be substituted by detergents. The phospholipid effect is specified by their head groups and increases with negative charges.

Kinetics of elementary steps in the cytochrome P-450 reaction sequence. III. NADPH reduction of cytochrome P-450LM at different integrational levels.

The aerobic NADPH reduction of cytochrome P-450LM has been investigated on microsomes, as well as on the solubilized enzyme system in the associated, disintegrated, and reconstituted state, respectively. P-450 exhibits biphasic reduction kinetics of about 70/30% phase distribution and rate constants differing 10-fold. The partial reactions are due to organizational asymmetries, the cytochrome being either incorporated into P-450/reductase associates (cluster) or localized outside (randomly distributed, homoassociated, weakly cluster-associated). Triton N-101 disintegrates the different associate structures, consequently followed by the disappearance of the rapid reaction phase. The enzyme system can be reconstituted; at microsomal stoichiometry the respective standard parameters are approached, depending on the composition and structural organization of the phospholipid. The reorganization without any membrane matrix is obviously thermodynamically determined.