Long-term protection of chimpanzees against high-dose HIV-1 challenge induced by immunization.

A combination AIDS vaccine approach consisting of priming with adenovirus-HIV-1MN gp160 recombinants followed by boosting with HIV-1SF2 gp120 was evaluated in chimpanzees. Long-lasting protection, requiring only three immunizations, was achieved against a low-dose challenge with the SF2 strain of HIV-1 and a subsequent high-dose SF2 challenge administered 1 year later without an intervening boost. Notably, neutralizing antibody responses against both clinical and laboratory isolates developed in three chimpanzees and persisted until the time of high-dose challenge. The possibility that cytotoxic T-lymphocytes contribute to low-dose protection of a chimpanzee lacking neutralizing antibodies is suggested. Our results validate the live vector priming/subunit booster approach and should stimulate interest in assessing this combination vaccine approach in humans.

Anti-idiotypic antibody vaccine for type B viral hepatitis in chimpanzees.

Anti-idiotypic antibodies (anti-Id) that contain an internal image component that mimics the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) were used to immunize chimpanzees. Four injections of the rabbit anti-Id preparation elicited an antibody response to HBsAg (anti-HBs). The antibody specificity appeared to be against the anti-Id, since the anti-Id immunogen was shown to bind the chimpanzee anti-HBs. Two chimpanzees immunized with the anti-Id, along with two control animals that were either untreated or received a nonimmune rabbit immunoglobulin G preparation, were challenged with infectious hepatitis B virus. Both control chimpanzees developed clinical and serological characteristics consistent with an active hepatitis B virus infection, whereas the two anti-Id treated chimpanzees were protected from infection. Since chimpanzees provide a relevant model of a human response to hepatitis B virus immunization and infection, these results indicate that anti-Id preparations such as that described here might be candidates for vaccines against human diseases.

Transmission of HTLV-III infection from human plasma to chimpanzees: an animal model for AIDS.

Two of three chimpanzees given plasma from patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or pre-AIDS showed serum antibodies to type III human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-III) 10 to 12 weeks after transfusion. One animal also developed lymphadenopathy, transient depression of the ratio of T4 to T8 lymphocytes, and impaired blastogenic responses. No opportunistic infections occurred. Adenopathy persisted for 32 weeks, and antibody to HTLV-III persisted for at least 48 weeks. This transmission of HTLV-III by lymphocyte-poor plasma confirms the potential risk of such plasma or plasma derivatives to recipients. The susceptibility of the chimpanzee to HTLV-III infection and the ability to simulate the human lymphadenopathy syndrome in this animal makes it a valuable model for further study of AIDS.

Molecular species composition of glycerophospholipids in rat sciatic nerve and its alteration in streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

The molecular species composition of glycerophospholipid classes in nerves of normal and experimentally diabetic rats was determined. sn-1,2-Diacylglycerol (DAG) moieties of purified phospholipids were liberated enzymatically and analyzed as the benzoate derivatives by high-performance liquid chromatography. The most abundant molecular species in phosphatidylinositol (PI) from normal nerve were 18:0/20:4 (54%) and 16:0/18:1 (17%), whereas in phosphatidylcholine (PC), 16:0/18:1 (52%), 16:0/16:0 (12%) and 18:0/18:1 (11%) predominated. In phosphatidylethanolamine and ethanolamine plasmalogen, 18:1/18:1, 16:0/18:1 and 18:0/18:1 comprised more than 60% and 75% of the molecular species, respectively. Phosphatidylserine was characterized by a high content of 18:0/18:1 (38%) and a relative abundance of the 18:1/20:0, 18:1/22:0 and 18:1/24:0 molecular species, which together accounted for over 30% of the total. The molecular species profile of phosphatidic acid did not closely resemble that of any other phospholipids or DAG. In diabetic nerve, the molecular species composition of all diacylphospholipids showed a significant decline in the content of one or more arachidonoyl-containing molecular species. The largest decline occurred in PC and the least in PI. Except in PC, 16:0/20:4 was more depressed than 18:0/20:4. In combination with previous analyses of DAG molecular species which showed a similar decline in the content of arachidonoyl-containing molecular species in nerve from experimentally diabetic rats (Zhu, X. and Eichberg, J. (1990) J. Neurochem. 55, 1087-1090), the results suggest that nerve DAG arises largely, but not entirely, from phosphoinositides and that PC could be a significant precursor, especially in diabetic nerve.

The mechanism of modification by propranolol of the metabolism of phosphatidyl-CMP (CDP-diacylglycerol) and other lipids in the rat pineal gland.

The mechanism underlying the alteration of phospholipid metabolism in rat pineal gland in vitro produced by propranolol and tertiary amine local anesthetics was investigated. 0.1 mM propranolol did not affect either the levels or specific activity of [32P]ATP in glands. In the presence of the drug, the incorporation of cytidine, but not of inorganic phosphate, into phosphatidyl-CMP (CDP-diacylglycerol) was dependent on the cytidine concentration. The incorporation of glycerol into phosphatidyl-CMP, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol was enhanced by propranolol, whereas labeling of phosphatidylcholine was decreased. When both 1 mM propranolol and 1 mM inositol were present, labeling of phosphatidylinositol was further increased, stimulation of phosphatidyl-CMP and phosphatidylglycerol labeling was reduced and incorporation into phosphatidylcholine and triacylglycerol was depressed. The incorporation of [3H]inositol into pineal lipids was also enhanced by propranolol. 10 microM propranolol inhibited rat liver phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase by 50%, while local anesthetics were less potent in the decreasing order: dibucaine greater than tetracaine greater than lidocaine greater than procaine. The propranolol-induced accumulation of phosphatidyl-CMP was prevented by supplying adequate freely diffusible inositol in the medium. The phosphatidyl-CMP which accumulated was not utilized for the enhanced formation of phosphatidylinositol brought about by norepinephrine. The results indicate that propranolol and local anesthetics redirect pineal phospholipid metabolism in part by inhibition of phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase.

Abnormal myo-inositol and phospholipid metabolism in cultured fibroblasts from patients with ataxia telangiectasia.

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is a complex autosomal recessive disorder that has been associated with a wide range of physiological defects including an increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation and abnormal checkpoints in the cell cycle. The mutated gene product, ATM, has a domain possessing homology to phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and has been shown to possess protein kinase activity. In this study, we have investigated how AT affects myo-inositol metabolism and phospholipid synthesis using cultured human fibroblasts. In six fibroblast lines from patients with AT, myo-inositol accumulation over a 3-h period was decreased compared to normal fibroblasts. The uptake and incorporation of myo-inositol into phosphoinositides over a 24-h period, as well as the free myo-inositol content was also lower in some but not all of the AT fibroblast lines. A consistent finding was that the proportion of 32P in total labeled phospholipid that was incorporated into phosphatidylglycerol was greater in AT than normal fibroblasts, whereas the fraction of radioactivity in phosphatidic acid was decreased. Turnover studies revealed that AT cells exhibit a less active phospholipid metabolism as compared to normal cells. In summary, these studies demonstrate that two manifestations of the AT defect are alterations in myo-inositol metabolism and phospholipid synthesis. These abnormalities could have an effect on cellular signaling pathways and membrane production, as well as on the sensitivity of the cells to ionizing radiation and proliferative responses.

Interactions of thiophosphatidic acid with enzymes which metabolize phosphatidic acid. Inhibition of phosphatidic acid phosphatase and utilization by CDP-diacylglycerol synthase.

Thiophosphatidic acid (1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorothioate; thioPA) was chemically synthesized from egg phosphatidylcholine-derived 1,2-diacylglycerol and PSCl3 and tested for its effects on enzymes which utilize phosphatidic acid (PA) in phospholipid biosynthesis. The compound was not a substrate for rat liver cytosolic PA phosphatase and strongly inhibited this enzyme activity. ThioPA was also a potent inhibitor of purified membrane-associated PA phosphatase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a competitive manner and exhibited an apparent Ki = 60 microM. In contrast, purified CDPdiacylglycerol synthase (PA:CTP cytidylyltransferase) from this organism was able to convert thioPA to CDP-diacylglycerol. The apparent Vmax for thioPA was 7-fold lower than that for PA, whereas the apparent Km for thioPA (70 microM) was 4-fold lower than that for PA. Calculation of the specificity constant (Vmax/Km) demonstrated that PA was the preferred substrate. These properties of thioPA indicate that this substance may prove useful in studies of phospholipid metabolism and function.

Phospholipid metabolism and protein phosphorylation in sciatic nerve from genetically diabetic (db/db) mouse.

The incorporation of [32P]orthophosphate into phospholipids and proteins of sciatic nerve from genetically diabetic (db/db) and littermate control (db/m) C57BL/KsJ mice was studied. Nerves from animals of ages 12, 16, 22, 26, and 38 wk were incubated in vitro. Among phospholipids, the uptake of isotope into phosphatidic acid was higher at nearly all ages examined. Phosphorylation of several proteins, including the major myelin glycoprotein, P0, and the small myelin basic proteins Pr + P2, was significantly enhanced in nerves from both 12- and 38-wk-old diabetic mice. The altered pattern of protein phosphorylation, but not that of phospholipid metabolism, was similar to changes observed in sciatic nerve from streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. The relationship of the results to reported levels of myo-inositol, sorbitol, and Na+-K+-ATPase activity and to functional abnormalities in nerves of db/db mice is discussed. The findings suggest that caution should be exercised in reaching conclusions concerning which biochemical alterations observed in different animal models of diabetic neuropathy are invariably associated with the development of this disorder.

Altered protein phosphorylation in sciatic nerve from rats with streptozocin-induced diabetes.

The effect of experimental diabetes on the phosphorylation of proteins in the rat sciatic nerve was studied. Nerves from animals made diabetic with streptozocin were incubated in vitro with [32P]orthophosphate and divided into segments from the proximal to the distal end, and proteins from each segment were then separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The principal labeled species were the major myelin proteins, P0, and the basic proteins. After 6 wk of diabetes, the incorporation of isotope into these proteins rose as a function of distance along the nerve in a proximal to distal direction and was significantly higher at the distal end compared with incorporation into nerves from age-matched controls. The overall level of isotope uptake was similar in nerves from diabetic animals and weight-matched controls. The distribution of 32P among proteins also differed in diabetic nerve compared with both control groups in that P0 and the small basic protein accounted for a greater proportion of total label incorporated along the entire length of nerve. In contrast to intact nerve, there was no significant difference in protein phosphorylation when homogenates from normal and diabetic nerve were incubated with [32P]-gamma-ATP. The results suggest that abnormal protein phosphorylation, particularly of myelin proteins, is a feature of experimental diabetic neuropathy and that the changes are most pronounced in the distal portion of the nerve.

Correction of altered metabolic activities in sciatic nerves of streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. Effect of ganglioside treatment.

The effect of ganglioside administration to nondiabetic and streptozocin-induced diabetic rats on sciatic nerve Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, polyphosphoinositide (PPI) turnover, and protein phosphorylation was investigated. Gangliosides were injected (10 mg/kg body wt i.p.) for 10 or 30 days beginning 20 days after induction of diabetes. Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity was reduced nearly 50% in diabetic nerve and was restored to normal by both ganglioside treatments. The elevated levels of fructose and sorbitol and depressed content of myoinositol in diabetic nerve were unaffected by 30 days of ganglioside treatment, indicating that the restoration of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity is not dependent on normal concentrations of these compounds. In the same nerves, 32P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate increased 73-76 and 39-53%, respectively, in diabetic compared with nondiabetic tissue. Ganglioside administration abolished the elevated labeling of PPIs after 30 days but was ineffective after only 10 days. Neither ganglioside regimen was able to reverse enhanced phosphorylation of the major peripheral nerve myelin protein P0. The finding that gangliosides can more quickly correct the effects of diabetes on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity than on PPI turnover suggests that the mechanisms underlying these two phenomena are not closely related and are distinct from the sequence of events responsible for altered myelin protein phosphorylation.

Distribution of elements and water in peripheral nerve of streptozocin-induced diabetic rats.

Accumulating evidence suggests that alterations in Na, Ca, K, and other biologically relevant elements play a role in the mechanism of cell injury. The pathogenesis of experimental diabetic neuropathy is unknown but might include changes in the distribution of these elements in morphological compartments. In this study, this possibility was examined via electron-probe X-ray microanalysis to measure both concentrations of elements (millimoles of element per kilogram dry or wet weight) and cell water content (percent water) in frozen, unfixed, unstained sections of peripheral nerve from control and streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. Our results indicate that after 20 wk of experimental diabetes, mitochondria and axoplasm from myelinated axons of proximal sciatic nerve displayed diminished K and Cl content, whereas in tibial nerve, the intraaxonal levels of these elements increased. In distal sciatic nerve, mitochondrial and axoplasmic levels of Ca were increased, whereas other elemental alterations were not observed. These regional changes resulted in a reversal of the decreasing proximodistal concentration gradients for K and Cl, which exist in nondiabetic rat sciatic nerve. Our results cannot be explained on the basis of altered water. Highly distinctive changes in elemental distribution observed might be a critical component of the neurotoxic mechanism underlying diabetic neuropathy.

Alteration of phosphoinositide metabolism, protein phosphorylation, and carbohydrate levels in sciatic nerve from Wistar fatty diabetic rats.

Sciatic nerve from the Wistar fatty diabetic (FD) rat, a prospective model for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, was investigated to determine the content of carbohydrates and to measure the incorporation of 32P into phosphoinositides and proteins. This strain has been shown to develop structural abnormalities in nerves and to exhibit reduced conduction velocity. Males became diabetic between the ages of 8 and 10 wk and were maintained together with lean sibling controls until the animals were either 22 or 44 wk old. Throughout this period, FD rats displayed moderate hyperglycemia. The carbohydrate profile of FD rat sciatic nerve exhibited modest increases in glucose, fructose, and sorbitol levels and significantly reduced myo-inositol concentrations, which were comparable at both ages. When nerves from 22-wk-old animals were incubated with [32P]orthophosphate and incorporation of radioactivity into phospholipids was measured, an increase in isotope uptake into phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate in the distal portions of tissue from the FD rat was observed. This effect was more pronounced in nerves from 44-wk-old rats. Phosphorylation of the major myelin protein P0 was 70% higher in the most distal portion of FD sciatic nerve from 22-wk-old animals. A comparable rise in phosphorylation of P0 as well as the large (P1) and small (Pr) myelin basic proteins occurred in nerves from 44-wk-old rats. In these animals, an approximately 50% decrease in the uptake of 32P into P0 and P1 in the most proximal region of FD nerve was also apparent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Infection and disease induced in chimpanzees with 6/94, a parainfluenza type 1 virus isolated from human multiple sclerosis brain.

A parainfluenza type 1 virus (6/94) recovered from brain cell cultures of two patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) was inoculated into newborn chimpanzees by the intranasal (IN) or intracerebral (IC) routes. Four of the five animals receiving the virus IN developed clinical signs ranging from mild fever, with or without rhinorrhea, to severe respiratory disease. Two of the chimpanzees died as a result of pneumonia. Virus could be recovered from respiratory tracts for as long as 9 days after exposure and was followed by development of specific neutralizing antibody to the 6/94 virus but not to the HA2 strain of parainfluenza type 1. Brain examination showed astrocytosis, especially of posterior fossa structures, activation of microgliacytes and, in one animal, round cell infiltration of leptomeninges. Of thse three animals receiving virus IC, two developed recurrent seizures beginning 14 months after inoculation. One of these was sacrificed at 23 months of age after progressive neurologic disease, with electroencephalographic abnormalities, developed. The third animal died at 3 months of age of intercurrent pneumonia. No virus was recovered from these animals, although all showed antibody conversion to 6/94 but not HA2 virus. A variety of pathologic lesions were seen in the brains of both animals coming to necropsy particularly in the sacrificed chimpanzee. These included subacute encephalitis, extensive cortical and subcortical degeneration, vascular sclerosis, white matter gliosis and axonal dystrophy.

Puberty in the chimpanzee: somatomedin-C and its relationship to somatic growth and steroid hormone concentrations.

A relationship between sex steroids and the somatomedins (Sms) is well known, but poorly defined. In some primates, including man, there are pubertal increases in Sms, concurrent with increased growth and sex steroid production. In the current studies, indices of somatic growth [body weight, crown-rump length (CRL), and testis size (testicular volume index)] and circulating concentrations of testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), cortisol, and Sm-C were determined (n = 208) in 86 male and female chimpanzees during a 1-yr period. In addition, we have attempted to determine whether plasma Sm-C concentrations correlate with serum levels of estrogen and androgens. In male animals between 6 and 8 yr of age, there was a marked increase in testicular size, concurrent with an increase in serum T and preceding slightly an increase in the rate of body weight gain. There were no detectable increases in serum E2 or the CRL slope. In females between 6 and 8 yr of age, serum T increased, concurrent with an increase in the rate of body weight gain much smaller than that in male animals. Serum E2 increased only after 10 yr of age, and no increased linear growth (CRL) was found. In both sexes, increases in serum DHEA-S were found by 4-6 yr of age, in contrast to cortisol concentrations, which were high and remained unchanged from birth to 12 yr of age, except for lower values in the very youngest and very oldest female animals. An increase in Sm-C occurred in both sexes by 4-6 yr of age, with higher values in female than in male animals 0-2, 4-6, and 6-8 yr of age, and when all ages were considered together. In both sexes, plasma Sm-C concentrations correlated with serum T (r = 0.60 and P less than 0.001; r = 0.68 and P less than 0.001; females and males, respectively), although when both sexes were analyzed together, the correlation was not as good (r = 0.36; P less than 0.001). Sm-C concentrations correlated with serum DHEA-S when the two sexes were analyzed separately (r = 0.44 and P less than 0.001; r = 0.54 and P less than 0.001; females and males, respectively) or together (r = 0.49; P less than 0.001). Sm-C correlated poorly with serum E2 levels in females (r = 0.20; P less than 0.05) and did not correlate with E2 in males.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Diminished phospholipase C activation by dopamine in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

It is reported that a defect in dopamine-1 (DA-1) receptor adenylate cyclase coupling in the proximal convoluted tubule in the spontaneously hypertensive rat may contribute to the diminished natriuretic response to DA-1 receptor agonists. Since the tubular DA-1 receptor is also coupled to phospholipase C, and both of these cellular signaling processes are involved in DA-1 receptor-mediated diuresis and natriuresis, it is important to know whether a similar defect is also present in DA-1 receptor-coupled phospholipase C pathway. The present study was therefore designed to determine the functional status of DA-1 receptor-phospholipase C coupling system of adult spontaneously hypertensive rats using a renal cortical slice preparation. In addition, the renal response to exogenously administered dopamine (1 microgram/kg/min i.v.) was also determined. We found that basal phospholipase C activity was significantly higher in hypertensive rats than in age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (7.36 +/- 0.32% versus 5.61 +/- 0.27%, p less than 0.05). However, compared with the normotensive controls, dopamine-induced increases in phospholipase C activity were significantly attenuated in the preparations of hypertensive rats in a concentration-dependent manner (13 +/- 6% versus 38 +/- 6% for 1 mM dopamine, p less than 0.05; 49 +/- 6% versus 71 +/- 9% for 3 mM dopamine, p less than 0.05; 50 +/- 16% versus 106 +/- 22%, p less than 0.05 for 10 mM dopamine).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Construction and characterization of adenovirus co-expressing hepatitis B virus surface antigen and interleukin-6.

Coexpression of biologically active interleukin 6 (IL-6), an immunoregulator, and hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), an immunogen, was obtained using an adenovirus type 7 (Ad7) vector. Two recombinant adenoviruses (re-Ad) containing both the HBsAg and IL6 genes were constructed: one virus was capable of expressing IL6 with its signal peptide (spIL6) (Ad7::spIL6::HBsAg), and the second virus lacked this sequence (Ad7::IL6::HBsAg). A third recombinant contained only HBsAg (Ad7::HBsAg). All three Ad constructs were plaque purified and characterized in the A549 human lung cell line. The growth kinetics of the recombinants were similar to wild-type (wt) Ad7. The production and secretion of HBsAg (p24 and gp27) from cells infected with each re-Ad were at a level greater than 9 micrograms/10(6) cells by 118 h postinfection. Two IL-6 of approx. 24 and 27 kDa were produced and secreted into the culture medium from cells infected with Ad7::spIL6::HBsAg, and maximal accumulation occurred by 92 h p.i. at a level > 260 ng/10(6) cells. One cell-associated IL-6 of approx. 23 kDa was produced from cells infected with Ad7::IL6::HBsAg at a level > 12 ng/10(6) cells. Importantly, the Ad-produced IL-6 were determined to be biologically active by enhancing immunoglobulin production in lymphoblastoid cells. The co-production of IL-6 with HBsAg did not affect growth of these recombinant Ad, immunoreactivity of HBsAg, or the biological activity of IL-6 in tissue culture cells.

Fatty acid patterns in triglycerides, diglycerides, free fatty acids, cholesteryl esters and phosphatidylcholine in serum from vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

The differences in the fatty acid spectra of serum samples obtained from vegetarians (62 females, 40 males) and non-vegetarians (70 females, 38 males) were evaluated in a matched-pair study design. This study population made it possible to examine 48 female and 31 male pairs whose age difference did not exceed 3 years. The pairs were further matched by education, social status and health-consciousness. The fatty acid pattern of whole serum total lipids and HDL total lipids were determined by GLC. In particular linoleic, linolenic, oleic and docosahexaenoic acid reveal statistically significant differences due to different nutritional habits. A subsample (n = 20) of sera from the 2 groups was investigated by separation of lipid classes by TLC and GLC on a SP 2,340 fused-silica capillary column in order to separate cis-trans fatty acids additionally. This part of the study gives detailed information concerning the fatty acid composition of cholesteryl esters, triglycerides, diglycerides, free fatty acids and phosphatidylcholine. In all those fractions the fatty acid profiles reflect the dietary consumption of lipids. Palmitoleic, vaccenic and docosahexaenoic acid as markers of omnivorous nutrition reach levels of 5, 5 and 3% respectively in non-vegetarians, while they remain remarkably lower in vegetarians. The most prominent difference is the higher amount of linoleic acid in all lipid classes of vegetarian serum samples. The highest amount of trans fatty acids (up to 3%) was detected in di- and triglycerides.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in retinas of streptozotocin-induced and Zucker diabetic rats. The effect of angiotensin II on Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether serum and/or retinal angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity might correlate with the decrease in sodium potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase) activity in the retina of experimentally diabetic rats. METHODS: Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Male Zucker fatty diabetic (ZDF/Gmifa) rats were used as models of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. ACE activity in the serum and retina of diabetic rats (1 through 5 months) and age-matched control animals was measured by radioimmunoassay using benzoyl-gly-gly-gly as substrate. The activity of total Na,K-ATPase was determined spectrophotometrically. The alpha 1 and alpha 3 isozymes of Na,K-ATPase were distinguished pharmacologically by their differential sensitivity to ouabain and were measured in the retina. RESULTS: Serum ACE activity was significantly increased in rats with STZ-induced diabetes at 3 weeks through 4 months of diabetes (28% to 32%) but was significantly decreased in ZDF rats after 2 to 5 months of diabetes (-9% to -16%). The activity of ACE in retinas obtained from the same groups of STZ and ZDF rats was significantly reduced at all time points examined in both models (-43% and -55%, respectively). The effect of angiotensin II (AngII) on the activity of Na,K-ATPase in retinas from normal rats was also studied in vitro. AngII significantly lowered the activities of total Na,K-ATPase (-16%) and its alpha 1 and alpha 3 isozymes. The inhibitory effect of AngII was abolished completely by losartan (0.1 microM), a specific antagonist of the AT1 receptor-subtype of AngII, and by nordihydroguaiaretic acid (50 microM), which at this concentration inhibits the lipoxygenase and cytochrome P-450-dependent pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism. The inhibitory effect of AngII on the Na,K-ATPase activity was not altered significantly by NG-iminoethyl ornithine (10 microM), an irreversible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: The authors suggest that systemic ACE probably is not involved in the mechanisms responsible for the reduced activity of Na,K-ATPase in diabetes. Although AngII inhibits retinal Na,K-ATPase by a mechanism possibly involving arachidonic acid metabolites, it is unlikely that AngII contributes to the decreased Na,K-ATPase activity because of its reduced formation by retinal ACE in diabetes. The possible importance of reduced retinal ACE activity in diabetes warrants further investigation.

Treatment with inverse agonists enhances baseline atrial contractility in transgenic mice with chronic beta2-adrenoceptor activation.

In this study, we investigate whether chronic treatment with beta-adrenoceptor (betaAR) ligands with inverse agonist activity enhances myocardial beta2AR-mediated atrial tension more than neutral antagonists in transgenic mice (TG35). These mice exhibit chronic adrenoceptor activation because they possess a greater number of constitutively active receptors than wild type mice due to cardiac-specific overexpression of human betaARs. TG35 and wild type mice were chronically treated for 90 h with three inverse agonists, ICI-118,551, propranolol, and carvedilol, and one neutral antagonist, alprenolol. After 96 h, we compared the basal and isoprenaline-stimulated (10 microM) increase in atrial tension in treated or untreated TG35 mice and wild type mice. In parallel, to determine the effect of chronic betaAR ligand treatment on the amounts of G protein receptor kinase-2 (GRK-2) and G proteins, we performed Western blotting on myocardial cytosolic and membrane proteins. Atria from the TG35 mice treated with inverse agonists showed increases in the baseline tension compared to those from alprenolol/vehicle-treated mice. ICI-118,551 and propranolol treatment restored the elevated myocardial G-inhibitory protein (Gialpha) levels to that of wild type. Also, treatment with inverse agonists upregulated G-stimulatory protein (Gsalpha) levels and GRK2 above those levels in vehicle-treated TG35 or wild type mice. The increased baseline atrial tension was reversed by the addition of ICI-118,551. Overall, our data suggests that inverse agonists enhance baseline atrial tension more than neutral antagonists. Based on this, we propose that upregulation of the active conformation of the beta2ARs, Gsalpha protein and restoration of Gialpha as three possible mechanisms to explain this enhanced receptor activity. Therefore, the favourable effects of some ligands used in pathological conditions involving chronic adrenoceptor activation may be due to the inverse agonist activity of the ligand.

Isolation and characterization of simian immunodeficiency viruses from two subspecies of African green monkeys.

Cercopithecus aethiops (African Green monkey), a nonhuman primate species distributed throughout subsaharan Africa, has been shown to have high seroprevalence rates of antibodies to simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), and therefore, has been proposed as a natural reservoir for immunodeficiency viruses. Our laboratories have isolated SIV-like viruses from two East African subspecies of C. aethiops designated grivet and vervet monkeys. Analysis of the structural proteins based on the molecular weights and immunologic cross-reactivity to the prototypic SIV(MAC), HIV-1, and HIV-2 isolates suggests that these viruses are distinctly different. Heterogeneity was observed in the molecular weights of the gag, pol, and env gene products between SIV isolates from vervets [SIV(AGM(VER))] and grivets [SIV(AGM(GRI))]. Phenotypically, SIV(AGM(VER)) isolates were distinguishable from SIV(AGM(GRI)) isolates by the apparent size difference of the major core antigen p24. All SIV(AGM(GRI)) and SIV(AGM(VER)) isolates were found to encode a transmembrane protein of approximately 40 kD (gp40) in contrast to gp32 of SIV(MAC). Furthermore, the transmembrane protein was shown to be encoded by the entire env open reading frame, unlike gp32 of SIC(MAC) or gp36 of SIV(AGM(TYO-1)). These data indicate that viruses from C. aethiops share common features with SIV(MAC) and HIV-1, but represent diverse SIV-like viruses which may vary according to subspecies and geographic location.