An extremely energetic cosmic ray observed by a surface detector array.

Cosmic rays are energetic charged particles from extraterrestrial sources, with the highest-energy events thought to come from extragalactic sources. Their arrival is infrequent, so detection requires instruments with large collecting areas. In this work, we report the detection of an extremely energetic particle recorded by the surface detector array of the Telescope Array experiment. We calculate the particle's energy as [Formula: see text] (~40 joules). Its arrival direction points back to a void in the large-scale structure of the Universe. Possible explanations include a large deflection by the foreground magnetic field, an unidentified source in the local extragalactic neighborhood, or an incomplete knowledge of particle physics.

Glibenclamide attenuates brain edema associated with microglia activation after intracerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: Glibenclamide, Sulfonylurea receptor 1 antagonist, reduces brain edema after cerebral hemorrhage. However, the effects of glibenclamide on microglial activation and inflammatory cell infiltration after cerebral hemorrhage are unclear. The present study investigated the effect of glibenclamide on microglial activation and inflammatory cell infiltration in a rat cerebral hemorrhage model. METHODS: A collagenase intracerebral injection model was used to cause cerebral hemorrhage in rats. After injury, glibenclamide was continuously administered at 1.0µL/h for 24hours. We evaluated hematoma volume, brain edema, expression of ABCC8, galectin-3 and CD11b, and anti-Iba-1 antibody staining. RESULTS: Glibenclamide significantly reduced water content. Meanwhile, glibenclamide significantly reduced expression of galectin-3 and CD11b in the cerebral cortex and putamen on the bleeding side. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed that glibenclamide attenuated activation of microglia around the hematoma. CONCLUSIONS: Glibenclamide reduced microglial activation and infiltration of inflammatory cells, resulting in amelioration of cerebral edema.

The role of small molecule GPR119 agonist, AS1535907, in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and pancreatic ß-cell function.

AIM: AS1535907, a small molecule agonist of GPR119, was assessed for its glucose-stimulated insulin secretory activity and pancreatic ß-cell function in type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Both in vitro and in vivo tests were conducted using NIT-1 and HEK293 cell lines, male normal and db/db mice and isolated perfused rat pancreas preparations. RESULTS: AS1535907 had an EC50 value of 1.5 µM for human GPR119 transfected in HEK293 cells. AS1535907 enhanced insulin secretion in NIT-1 cells and in the perfused rat pancreas. A transient increase in the human insulin promoter activity was also observed in NIT-1 cells. First-phase insulin secretion was particularly more evident in the AS1535907-treated perfused rat pancreas than that in the nateglinide or glibenclamide-treated group. Oral glucose tolerance improved following a single dose of AS1535907 in normal and db/db mice. Subsequently, 2 weeks of multiple dosing significantly increased plasma insulin levels and decreased blood glucose levels in db/db mice. After 3 weeks of treatment in db/db mice, the numbers of insulin and proliferation cell nuclear antigen-positive cells and the islet area were significantly higher than those in the vehicle-treated mice. As compared with the vehicle, gene expression analysis revealed that AS1535907 significantly upregulated transcription factors (Nkx 2.2, Nkx 6.1, NeuroD and activin A), responsible for ß-cell regulation and prohormone-converting enzyme 1 responsible for insulin biosynthesis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that AS1535907 can potentially regulate first-phase insulin secretion and exert a protective effect on pancreatic ß-cell function via regulation of transcription factors.

Fracture resistance of root filled molar teeth restored with glass fibre bundles.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of unidirectional or woven glass fibre tapes inserted into MOD cavity preparations on the fracture resistance of root filled molar teeth. METHODOLOGY: Extracted human molar teeth were randomly divided into six groups (n = 15) : G1 - sound teeth, control; G2 - MOD cavity preparation; G3 - MOD + root canal treatment (Endo); G4 - MOD + Endo + composite resin restoration (Resin); G5 - MOD + Endo + unidirectional fibre (UF) + Resin; G6 - MOD + ;Endo + woven fibre (WF) + Resin. The teeth were subjected to a compressive fracture test in a universal testing machine. After testing, two failure modes were classified: pulp chamber floor or cusp. RESULTS: The highest and the lowest mean fracture strengths were found in sound teeth (G1) (4960N) and MOD + root canal treatment (G3) (612.84N), respectively, with significant differences from the other groups (P < 0.05). The remaining groups had statistically similar means. In G5 and G6, there was a tendency for fracture to occur in the pulp chamber floor compromising tooth integrity. CONCLUSIONS: The insertion of glass fibres into MOD cavity preparations and restoring them with composite resin was not different than molar teeth filled with composite resin only in terms of fracture resistance. Fibres placed into MOD cavities do not reinforce teeth.

Influence of storage solution and curing method on a microhybrid composite microhardness.

AIM: The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the Vickers microhardness of one microhybrid composite polymerized with different sources and stored in different solutions for up to 14 days. METHODS: Using a bipartite PTFE mould with 6 mm inner diameter and 3 mm high, 30 samples were manufactured with Charisma B1 shade for each polymerization procedures (halogen light, LED and halogen light and postcure cycles) stored in tree types of storage solution. RESULTS: The postcuring method tended to improve the microhardness, but was not statistically different from halogen or LED curing methods (P>0.05). The storage solutions interfered in surface hardness, with the samples eluted in red wine showing the lowest hardness values (P<0.05). After seven days, the hardness values were higher than the first day, but statistically equal to 14 days (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: On accordance with the findings of this study, different storage solutions can change the surface microhardness of a composite resin. An alcoholic solution seems most harmful to the composite. Samples postcured in autoclave had an improved mean value, however, without differing from those of the LED and halogen photo polymerized specimens.

Changes in hardness and surface topography of tissue conditioners submitted to chemical disinfection.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the longitudinal effect of chemical disinfection on Shore A hardness, surface roughness (Ra) and morphology of two tissue conditioners (Dura Conditioner [DC] and Softone [SO]). METHODS: Twenty-four specimens (2 mm-thick) were made of each material and randomly divided into three groups (N.=8): control (no disinfection), 10 000 ppm chloride solution (sodium hypochlorite) and Corega Tabs solution (peroxide solution). Soaking was performed daily for 15 min, and Shore A hardness and Ra were measured at baseline and 3, 7, 10, and 14 days. Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni's test (alfa= 0.05). RESULTS: Chemical disinfection for 14 days with sodium hypochlorite and Corega Tabs affected differently the tested materials. Hardness varied from 8 to 20 for DC and from 8 to 23 for SO with significant interaction (P<0.05) between material and disinfection treatment up to day 7. Ra values (in microm) varied from 1.51 to 4.35 for DC and from 2.08 to 4.15 for SO; there was a significant difference between disinfection treatments (P=0.043) but not between materials (P=0.119). Sodium hypochlorite groups displayed smaller Ra values than the control groups, but did not differ from Corega Tabs groups. Scanning electron microscopy showed different pattern of degradation for each material. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the effect of chemical disinfection on degradation of tissue conditioners is material-specific, but hardness is less affected than surface topography. The overall results support the use of the tested materials for up to three days, independently from the disinfection treatment.

Intestinal cancer progression by mutant p53 through the acquisition of invasiveness associated with complex glandular formation.

Tumor suppressor TP53 is frequently mutated in colorectal cancer (CRC), and most mutations are missense type. Although gain-of-functions by mutant p53 have been demonstrated experimentally, the precise mechanism for malignant progression in in vivo tumors remains unsolved. We generated ApcΔ716 Trp53LSL•R270H villin-CreER compound mice, in which mutant p53R270H was expressed in the intestinal epithelia upon tamoxifen treatment, and examined the intestinal tumor phenotypes and tumor-derived organoids. Mutant Trp53R270H, but not Trp53-null mutation accelerated submucosal invasion with generation of desmoplastic microenvironment. The nuclear accumulation of p53 was evident in ApcΔ716 Trp53R270H/R270H homozygous tumors like human CRC. Although p53 was distributed to the cytoplasm in ApcΔ716 Trp53+/R270H heterozygous tumors, it accumulated in the nuclei at the invasion front, suggesting a regulation mechanism for p53 localization by the microenvironment. Importantly, mutant p53 induced drastic morphological changes in the tumor organoids to complex glandular structures, which was associated with the acquisition of invasiveness. Consistently, the branching scores of human CRC that carry TP53 mutations at codon 273 significantly increased in comparison with those of TP53 wild-type tumors. Moreover, allografted ApcΔ716 Trp53R270H/R270H organoid tumors showed a malignant histology with an increased number of myofibroblasts in the stroma. These results indicate that nuclear-accumulated mutant p53R270H induces malignant progression of intestinal tumors through complex tumor gland formation and acquisition of invasiveness. Furthermore, RNA sequencing analyses revealed global gene upregulation by mutant p53R270H, which was associated with the activation of inflammatory and innate immune pathways. Accordingly, it is possible that mutant p53R270H induces CRC progression, not only by a cell intrinsic mechanism, but also by the generation or activation of the microenvironment, which may synergistically contribute to the acceleration of submucosal invasion. Therefore, the present study indicates that nuclear-accumulated mutant p53R270H is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of advanced CRCs.

Seasonal variations of acute massive submacular haemorrhage associated with age-related macular degeneration.

AIMS: To determine whether there is a seasonal variation in the onset of acute, massive submacular haemorrhage associated with age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: Sixty eyes of 59 patients diagnosed between April 1998 and March 2005, were studied retrospectively. For each patient, the month and season of onset of the submacular haemorrhage and the mean monthly ambient temperature in Nagoya were analysed. Any history of systemic hypertension was also recorded, and the seasonal variations were also investigated in hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups. RESULTS: The number of cases peaked in winter with a trough in summer, and this seasonal variation was significant (Roger's R = 12.03, p<0.01). The monthly incidence was inversely correlated with the temperature (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient r = 0.89, p<0.01). The seasonal variations were significant in the hypertensive group but not in the non-hypertensive group. CONCLUSION: The considerable seasonal variations suggests that the mechanism for the haemorrhage is strongly correlated with the systemic blood pressure.

Feed-forward control of post-stroke movement disorders by on-demand type stimulation of the thalamus and motor cortex.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the thalamus (Vo/Vim) has become popular as a means of controlling involuntary movements, including post-stroke movement disorders. We have also found that post-stroke movement disorders and motor weakness can sometimes be controlled by motor cortex stimulation (MCS). In some forms of movement disorders, motor dysfunction becomes evident only when patients intend to move their body. We have developed an on-demand type stimulation system which triggers stimulation by detecting intrinsic signals of intention to move. Such a system represents feed-forward control (FFC) of involuntary movements. We report here our experience of DBS and MCS for controlling post-stroke movement disorders, and discuss the value of FFC. Excellent control of post-stroke movement disorders was achieved by conventional DBS and/or MCS in 20 of 28 patients with hemichoreoathetosis, hemiballism tremor, and motor weakness. FFC was tested in 6 patients who demonstrated excellent control of post-stroke postural tremor or motor weakness by conventional DBS or MCS. The on-demand stimulation provided satisfactory FFC in 4 of 4 patients with postural tremor and 2 of 2 patients with motor weakness, when the activity of muscles involved in posturing or intention to move was fed into the system. These findings justify further clinical studies on DBS and MCS in patients with post-stroke movement disorders. The on-demand type stimulation system may also be useful for overcoming various post-stroke movement disorders.

Detection of boundaries of subthalamic nucleus by multiple-cell spike density analysis in deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease.

When microelectrode recording of single cell activity is employed for targeting the subthalamic nucleus (STN), multiple sampling of single cells is needed to determine whether the electrode has passed through the ventral boundaries of the STN. In contrast, stepwise recording of multiple cell activities by a semimicroelectrode reveals robust changes in such activities at the dorsal and ventral boundaries. We attempted to quantify changes in multiple cell activities by computing multiple-cell spike density (MSD). We analyzed MSD in 60 sides of 30 patients with Parkinson's disease. Neural noise level was defined as the lowest cut-off level at which neural noise is separated from larger amplitude spikes. MSD was analyzed at cut-off levels ranging from 1.2 to 2.0-fold the neural noise level in the white matter in each trajectory. Both the dorsal and ventral boundaries were clearly identified by an increase and a decrease (p < 0.0001) in MSD, respectively, in all the 60 sides. The cut-off level of 1.2-fold showed the clearest change in MSD between the STN and the pars reticulata of substantia nigra. MSD analysis by semimicroelectrode recording represents the most practical means of identifying the boundaries of STN.

Pallidal high-frequency deep brain stimulation for camptocormia: an experience of three cases.

INTRODUCTION: The term "camptocormia" describes a forward-flexed posture. It is a condition characterized by severe frontal flexion of the trunk. Recently, camptocormia has been regarded as a form of abdominal segmental dystonia. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a promising therapeutic approach to various types of movement disorders. The authors report the neurological effects of DBS to the bilateral globus pallidum (GPi) in three cases of disabling camptocormia. METHODS: Of the 36 patients with dystonia, three had symptoms similar to that of camptocormia, and all of these patients underwent GPi-DBS. The site of DBS electrode placement was verified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The Burke Fahn and Marsden dystonia rating scale (BFMDRS) was employed to evaluate the severity of dystonic symptoms preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: Significant functional improvement following GPi-DBS was noted in the majority of dystonia cases. At a follow-up observation after more than six months, the overall improvement rate was 71.2 +/- 27.0%, in all dystonia cases who underwent the GPi-DBS. In contrast, the improvement rate of the three camptocormia cases was 92.2 +/- 5.3%. It was confirmed that the improvement rate for camptocormia was much higher than for other types of dystonia. CONCLUSION: According to our experience, a patient with a forward-bent dystonic posture indicative of camptocormia is a good candidate for GPi-DBS. The findings of this study add further support to GPi-DBS as an effective treatment for dystonia, and provide the information on predictors of a good outcome.

Inhibitory effect of testosterone on gap junctional intercellular communication of human transitional cell carcinoma cell lines.

A dye transfer method was applied to investigate the effect of testosterone on gap junctional intercellular communication (IC) of two kinds of human transitional cell carcinoma cell lines, JTC-30 and JTC-32. When JTC-30 cells were cultured with testosterone at nontoxic concentrations (17-69 microM), a dose and time dependent inhibition of dye transfer was observed. More than 90% inhibition occurred after exposure to 69 microM testosterone for 96 h. The inhibition was reversed rapidly after testosterone deprivation. Similar results were obtained with JTC-32 cells. 17 beta-Estradiol showed no inhibitory effect on IC of both transitional cell carcinoma cell lines even at toxic levels. Testosterone exhibited no inhibitory effect on IC of human fibroblasts. The inhibitory effect of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone was almost similar to that of testosterone. At concentrations examined, cyproterone acetate influenced neither dye transfer nor the inhibitory effect of testosterone, suggesting a mechanism of testosterone action different from that of the known receptor system. Since blockage of IC has been indicated as one reliable evidence for tumor promotion, current results suggest that testosterone is a possible endogenous promoter of the bladder carcinoma and may therefore possibly play a role on the sexually different incidence of bladder carcinoma.

Morphological and molecular processes of polyp formation in Apc(delta716) knockout mice.

Mutations in the human adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene are responsible for not only familial adenomatous polyposis but also many sporadic cancers of the digestive tract. Using homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells, we recently constructed Apc gene knockout mice that contained a truncation mutation at codon 716 (Apc(delta716)). The heterozygous mice developed numerous intestinal polyps. All microadenomas dissected from nascent polyps had already lost the wild-type allele, indicating the loss of heterozygosity (M. Oshima et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 92: 4482-4486, 1995). We also demonstrated that cyclooxygenase 2 is induced in the polyps at an early stage and plays a key role in polyp development (M. Oshima et al., Cell 87: 803-809, 1996). We have analyzed the process of polyp development in these mice both at morphological and molecular levels. A small intestinal microadenoma is initiated as an outpocketing pouch in a single crypt and develops into the inner (lacteal) side of a neighboring villus forming a double-layer nascent polyp. The microadenoma then enlarges and gets folded inside the villus. When it fills the intravillous space, it expands downward and extends into adjoining villi, rather than rupturing into the intestinal lumen. During this course of development, the basement membrane remains intact, and the labeling index of the microadenoma cells is similar to that of the normal crypt epithelium. As in the crypt cells, neither transforming growth factor beta1 nor its receptor type II is expressed in the microadenoma cells. No hot spot mutations in the K-ras gene are found in the microadenoma tissue during these early stages of polyp development. Essentially, the same results have been obtained for the colonic polyps as well. These results suggest that early adenomas in the Apc(delta716) polyps are very similar to the normal proliferating cells of the crypt except for the lack of directed migration along the crypt-villus axis.

Evidence against dominant negative mechanisms of intestinal polyp formation by Apc gene mutations.

Mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene are responsible for not only familial adenomatous polyposis but also many sporadic cancers of the digestive tract. Most mutations found in familial adenomatous polyposis patients are of the truncation type, and the phenotype is affected by the mutation sites in the gene. Truncated APC proteins can associate with the wild-type protein. Accordingly, it has been proposed that the polyposis is caused by a dominant negative mechanism. To test this possibility, we constructed transgenic mice that contained mutant minigenes. They expressed the APC protein truncated either at codon 716 (Apc delta 716) or 1287 (Apc delta 1287) at high levels in the intestinal epithelium. Contrary to our expectation, no intestinal polyps or tumors were found in any of such mice, even after 7 months. These results rule out any dominant negative mechanisms in which the truncated APC protein is directly involved in the formation of intestinal polyps in the mouse.

Differential modulation of gene induction by glucocorticoids and antiglucocorticoids in rat hepatoma tissue culture cells.

Studies of glucocorticoid and antiglucocorticoid induction of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) in two rat hepatoma cell lines (Fu5-5 and HTC) are described. These studies revealed several phenomena that are not consistent with the current models of steroid hormone action: (a) TAT induction occurred at glucocorticoid levels below those required for comparable receptor occupancy in Fu5-5, but not in HTC, cells; (b) the ability of antiglucocorticoids to induce TAT is higher in Fu5-5 than in HTC cells; (c) the values of the amount of TAT agonist activity with the antiglucocorticoid dexamethasone 21-mesylate and of log10 of the dexamethasone concentration required for half-maximal induction of TAT were not constant over time but varied in a linear, reciprocal manner. This modulation was seen for several glucocorticoids and antiglucocorticoids at the level of both TAT enzyme and mRNA but not for two other glucocorticoid inducible genes in the same cells. These results, plus the fact that a similar difference in the concentration required for half-maximal TAT induction in Fu5-5 cells was seen for both glucocorticoids and cyclic AMP, argue that the modulation occurs at some point distal to receptor-steroid complex binding to the biologically active nuclear sites but proximal to translation of TAT mRNA. In order to explain these results, it is pointed out that models involving second messengers are entirely appropriate for steroid hormone action. The participation of a modulated trans-acting factor in such a model may explain the above results.

[Aortic valve replacement for the small aortic annulus].

Aortic valve surgery for the small aortic annulus is still challenging for surgeons. Recently, the new types of high performance prosthesis have been developed and the chance of an aortic root enlargement (ARE) is decreasing. In this study, we propose the ideal strategy of the aortic surgery for the small aortic annulus. We analyzed the clinical records of 158 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement from August 1999 to October 2005 in our institution. The small aortic annulus was observed in 38 patients (24%). Fourteen patients of this group underwent ARE. Patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) was less frequently observed in patients with ARE compared to those without ARE. The additional time required for ARE was not considerable, and neither ischemic time nor cardiopulmonary bypass time was significantly prolonged by ARE. In conclusion, we have to select a prosthesis with sufficient orifice area to avoid PPM, otherwise we should choose an option of ARE. For this consideration, we definitely need the chart that demonstrates the relationship between the nominal size of various types of prostheses and the size of a patient's annulus that those prostheses actually fit.

Modulation of transcription factor activity by a distant steroid modulatory element.

Variations in the biological activity of antisteroids, as determined by their percent agonist activity, is a well known but poorly understood phenomenon. For example, in tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) induction by the antiglucocorticoid dexamethasone 21-mesylate in rat hepatoma tissue culture cells, the percent agonist activity varies with the density of cultured cells. A 21-basepair sequence of the rat TAT gene has now been isolated which confers all of the induction properties of the endogenous TAT gene to homologous and heterologous promoters and genes. We call this 21-basepair sequence, which acts in concert with a trans-acting factor identified by gel shift experiments, a glucocorticoid modulatory element. The changes in induction properties were found to be independent of the fold induction by dexamethasone, thus arguing that the GME does not synergize with the glucocorticoid response element. A model incorporating this new element is advanced which can explain the observed variations of TAT induction and may be generally applicable for the mechanism of action of other steroid hormones.

A new cis-acting element involved in tissue-selective glucocorticoid inducibility of tyrosine aminotransferase gene expression.

Tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT), a prototypical steroid hormone-inducible gene, has been used extensively in studies of tissue-specific control of gene transcription. Over the last several years, a total of five cis-acting elements have been implicated in the tissue-specific expression and induction of the TAT gene in rat liver. These elements are all located upstream of the start of transcription, at -11, -5.5, -3.6, -2.5, and approximately -0.1 kilobases (kb). We now have used both stable and transient transfection assays to define a new element between -2.56 and -2.3 kb that regulates the fold induction by glucocorticoids in a tissue-selective manner. Compared to simple glucocorticoid-regulated constructs, which were used as controls, the major effect of this element was repression of glucocorticoid inducibility in nonliver cells. This activity was both orientation and position independent and was seen with homologous and heterologous promoters and genes. Although this element, therefore, possessed silencer-like activity, it was unable to extinguish gene expression in nonliver cells. In fact, the observance of some glucocorticoid-induced gene expression was additional evidence that the repression derived from an element that is distinct from the glucocorticoid-responsive element at -2.5 kb. A second element was found between -2.95 and -2.56 kb that acts in a tissue nonspecific manner to reduce the absolute level of gene expression in both hepatic and nonhepatic cells. The combined effects of this tissue-nonselective element and the above-mentioned tissue-selective element were to almost completely eliminate glucocorticoid inducibility in nonhepatic cells.

A negative tyrosine aminotransferase gene element that blocks glucocorticoid modulatory element-regulated modulation of glucocorticoid-induced gene expression.

Tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) is the prototypic steroid-inducible gene. Recently, we have found that the modulation of TAT induction properties is reproduced by a novel cis-acting TAT gene element, the glucocorticoid modulatory element (GME). This GME lies about 1 kb upstream of the glucocorticoid response elements (GREs) of the TAT gene and binds a heterooligomer of two recently defined proteins. We now report the existence of an additional TAT gene element between the GME and the GREs that blocks the action of the GME and thus prevents the left shift in the glucocorticoid dose-response curve caused by the GME. This negative element has the properties of a silencer because its activity is relatively position- and orientation-independent. The interaction appears to be stoichiometric in that the effects of a single negative element can be overcome by a second GME. This negative element also has an intrinsic inhibitory activity in the absence of the GME. The majority of the negative element activity could be elicited by a 56-bp sequence between -3105 and -3050 bp of the TAT gene. Multiple, clustered mutations of this sequence reduced, but did not eliminate, the negative activity. Further efforts to restrict the negative element were unsuccessful, suggesting that multiple sequences are required for full activity. High affinity, sequence-specific binding of a trans-acting factor(s) was observed in gel shift assays. This binding was half-maximally competed by a 4.4-fold excess of nonradioactive probe and was very stable once formed (delta H [symbol: see text] dissoc. = 32 kcal/mol), suggesting that low concentrations of a high affinity binding protein(s) exist in nuclear extracts. Further support for this conclusion came from the observation that cotransfection of a plasmid containing multiple copies of the 56-bp negative element was able to relieve the negation of GME activity in a GME-56-bp-GRE reporter construct. These data directly support the role of a trans-acting factor(s) in binding to the 56-bp negative element and blocking GME activity. Collectively, these data suggest that glucocorticoid induction of TAT gene expression is subject to multiple levels of control by several new cis-acting elements and thus is much more complex than previously appreciated.

Unlinked regulation of the sensitivity of primary glucocorticoid-inducible responses in mouse mammary tumor virus infected Fu5-5 rat hepatoma cells.

The enzyme tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) is induced by unusually low concentrations of glucocorticoids in Fu5-5 cells. We have isolated clones of Fu5-5 cells infected with mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) in order to simultaneously compare the glucocorticoid regulation of the host cell gene, TAT, with that of another primary inducible gene, MMTV. In the two clones that were examined in detail, MMTV RNA induction occurred at 4- to 11-fold higher concentrations of dexamethasone than those needed for induction of TAT mRNA. Furthermore, the amount of agonist activity displayed by the irreversible antiglucocorticoid dexamethasone 21-mesylate was greater for the induction of TAT mRNA than for MMTV RNA. These results extend our previous observations of unequal sensitivity of induction of TAT enzyme activity in two hepatoma cell lines and show that differential glucocorticoid regulation of gene induction within the same cell can occur at a pretranslational step. The present data also indicate that the unusual properties of TAT gene induction are not shared by all primary, glucocorticoid-inducible responses of the same cell and imply that additional factors mediating differential regulation of glucocorticoid-responsive genes are involved.