Ipilimumab with Nivolumab in molecular-Selected patients with castration-resistant PRostate cancer: primary analysis of the Phase 2 INSPIRE trial.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) typically exhibits resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, a subset of mCRPC patients displays a more immunogenic profile. This study examines efficacy and safety of dual ICI therapy in molecularly selected mCRPC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This single-arm, phase II trial, included 69 molecularly selected mCRPC patients with mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd), non-synonymous tumour mutational burden ≥7.1 muts/Mb (hTMB), a BRCA2 mutation (BRCAm), or biallelic CDK12 inactivation (CDK12i). Efficacy was assessed in ICI-naïve patients (cohort A) with RECIST1.1 (A1) and PCWG3 (A2) measurable disease. Safety was evaluated in cohorts A and B (prior ICI monotherapy). Treatment included nivolumab 3 mg/kg and ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks for 4 cycles, followed by nivolumab 480 mg every 4 weeks for up to 1 year. The primary endpoint was disease control rate beyond 6 months (DCR>6), aiming to surpass a DCR>6 of 22%. RESULTS: Patients initiated treatment between January 2021 and February 2024. Cohort A included 65 patients. Of these, 21 had MMRd (32%), 8 hTMB (12%), 20 BRCAm (31%), and 16 CDK12i (25%). DCR>6 was achieved in 38% (95% CI 27-51), and was highest in MMRd (81%), followed by hTMB (25%), CDK12i (19%), and BRCAm (15%). Objective and PSA50 response rates in cohort A were 38% (95% CI 22-55) and 47% (95% CI 34-60), respectively. Median progression-free survival was 4.0 months (95% CI 3.5-12.0) in cohort A, and 32.7 months (95% CI 21.8-NR) in MMRd patients. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) led to permanent discontinuation in 14 of 69 patients (20%). Grade ≥3 TRAEs occurred in 48% of patients, with diarrhoea and elevated transaminases each in 10%. There was one treatment-related death due to a bowel perforation and a second following euthanasia after grade 4 toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: This trial of dual ICIs in molecularly selected mCRPC met its primary endpoint, showing DCR>6 in 40% of patients. Dual ICIs exhibited modest responses in the hTMB, BRCAm and CDK12i subgroups, but demonstrated exceptional efficacy in MMRd.

Advances in targeted alpha therapy for prostate cancer.

Amongst therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, targeted alpha therapy (TαT) can deliver potent and local radiation selectively to cancer cells as well as the tumor microenvironment and thereby control cancer while minimizing toxicity. In this review, we discuss the history, progress, and future potential of TαT in the treatment of prostate cancer, including dosimetry-individualized treatment planning, combinations with small-molecule therapies, and conjugation to molecules directed against antigens expressed by prostate cancer cells, such as prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) or components of the tumor microenvironment. A clinical proof of concept that TαT is efficacious in treating bone-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer has been demonstrated by radium-223 via improved overall survival and long-term safety/tolerability in the phase III ALSYMPCA trial. Dosimetry calculation and pharmacokinetic measurements of TαT provide the potential for optimization and individualized treatment planning for a precision medicine-based cancer management paradigm. The ability to combine TαTs with other agents, including chemotherapy, androgen receptor-targeting agents, DNA repair inhibitors, and immuno-oncology agents, is under investigation. Currently, TαTs that specifically target prostate cancer cells expressing PSMA represents a promising therapeutic approach. Both PSMA-targeted actinium-225 and thorium-227 conjugates are under investigation. The described clinical benefit, safety and tolerability of radium-223 and the recent progress in TαT trial development suggest that TαT occupies an important new role in prostate cancer treatment. Ongoing studies with newer dosimetry methods, PSMA targeting, and novel approaches to combination therapies should expand the utility of TαT in prostate cancer treatment.

Randomized phase III KEYNOTE-045 trial of pembrolizumab versus paclitaxel, docetaxel, or vinflunine in recurrent advanced urothelial cancer: results of >2 years of follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Novel second-line treatments are needed for patients with advanced urothelial cancer (UC). Interim analysis of the phase III KEYNOTE-045 study showed a superior overall survival (OS) benefit of pembrolizumab, a programmed death 1 inhibitor, versus chemotherapy in patients with advanced UC that progressed on platinum-based chemotherapy. Here we report the long-term safety and efficacy outcomes of KEYNOTE-045. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adult patients with histologically/cytologically confirmed UC whose disease progressed after first-line, platinum-containing chemotherapy were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned 1 : 1 to receive pembrolizumab [200 mg every 3 weeks (Q3W)] or investigator's choice of paclitaxel (175 mg/m2 Q3W), docetaxel (75 mg/m2 Q3W), or vinflunine (320 mg/m2 Q3W). Primary end points were OS and progression-free survival (PFS) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1) by blinded independent central radiology review (BICR). A key secondary end point was objective response rate per RECIST v1.1 by BICR. RESULTS: A total of 542 patients were enrolled (pembrolizumab, n = 270; chemotherapy, n = 272). Median follow-up as of 26 October 2017 was 27.7 months. Median 1- and 2-year OS rates were higher with pembrolizumab (44.2% and 26.9%, respectively) than chemotherapy (29.8% and 14.3%, respectively). PFS rates did not differ between treatment arms; however, 1- and 2-year PFS rates were higher with pembrolizumab. The objective response rate was also higher with pembrolizumab (21.1% versus 11.0%). Median duration of response to pembrolizumab was not reached (range 1.6+ to 30.0+ months) versus chemotherapy (4.4 months; range 1.4+ to 29.9+ months). Pembrolizumab had lower rates of any grade (62.0% versus 90.6%) and grade ≥3 (16.5% versus 50.2%) treatment-related adverse events than chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term results (>2 years' follow-up) were consistent with those of previously reported analyses, demonstrating continued clinical benefit of pembrolizumab over chemotherapy for efficacy and safety for treatment of locally advanced/metastatic, platinum-refractory UC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02256436.

Heat shock protein expression in cerebral X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy reveals astrocyte stress prior to myelin loss.

AIMS: X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a genetic white matter disorder in which demyelination occurs due to accumulation of very long-chain fatty acids. Inflammation in the brain white matter is a hallmark of the pathology of cerebral X-ALD, but the underlying pathogenic mechanisms are still largely unknown. In other inflammatory demyelinating disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in combination with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) has been suggested to play a prominent role in the initiation of demyelination and inflammation. We therefore investigated these pathways in X-ALD lesions. METHODS: By immunohistochemistry, we examined the expression of small HSPs (HSPB1, HSPB5, HSPB6, HSPB8) and higher molecular weight HSPs (HSPA, HSPD1), and the expression of elements of the IFN-γ pathway on autopsy material of five patients with X-ALD. RESULTS: The expression of the larger HSPs, HSPA and HSPD1, as well as small HSPs is increased in X-ALD lesions compared with normal-appearing white matter. Such upregulation can already be detected before demyelination and inflammation occur, and it is predominant in astrocytes. The IFN-γ pathway does not seem to play a leading role in the observed inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: The finding that astrocytes show signs of cellular stress before demyelination suggests that they play a major role early in the pathogenesis of cerebral X-ALD, and may therefore be involved in the initiation of inflammation and demyelination.

The evolving role of immunotherapy in prostate cancer.

The prognosis for men with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is limited, and patients have very few treatment options, particularly if the treatment failed with docetaxel (Taxotere). As a result, there is a requirement for novel approaches to therapy. Using immunotherapy to induce immune responses to prostate cancer in preclinical and clinical studies appears to be a valid therapeutic approach. In a pivotal phase III trial, treatment with sipuleucel-T, an autologous cellular vaccine consisting of activated antigen-presenting cells loaded with prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), gave a median overall survival of 25.8 months compared with 21.7 months for placebo-treated patients, resulting in a 22% relative reduction in the risk of death. Based on these results, sipuleucel-T became the first therapeutic vaccine approved for any type of cancer in the USA. PROSTVAC(®)-VF, a poxvirus-based vaccine engineered to present prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and three immune costimulatory molecules, and GVAX, a vaccine consisting of two prostate cancer cell lines (LnCAP and PC3) and genetically modified to secrete granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), both showed promising results in phase II studies, although GVAX failed to meet its primary end point of overall survival when compared with docetaxel in a phase III study. T-cell modulation is another potential immunotherapeutic strategy for CRPC. Ipilimumab, an antibody against the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4, is being evaluated in phase I/II studies, both alone and in combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or GVAX, with activity in prostate cancer. CRPC is one of the few tumour types where immunotherapy is the current standard of care. Further research, however, will be necessary to improve antitumour responses and clinical benefits, including the use of novel combinatorial approaches.

The effects of new life-prolonging drugs for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients in a real-world population.

BACKGROUND: In 2004 docetaxel was the first life-prolonging drug (LPD) registered for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. Between 2011 and 2014 new LPDs for mCRPC (cabazitaxel, abiraterone, enzalutamide, and radium-223) were introduced in the Netherlands. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of the introduction of new LPDs on treatment patterns and overall survival (OS) over time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CRPC patients diagnosed in the years 2010-2016 in the observational, retrospective CAPRI registry (20 hospitals) were included and followed up to 2018. Two subgroups were analyzed: treatment-naïve patients (subgroup 1, n = 3600) and post-docetaxel patients (subgroup 2, n = 1355). RESULTS: In both subgroups, the use of any LPD increased: from 57% (2010-2011) to 69% (2014-2015) in subgroup 1 and from 65% (2011-2012) to 79% (2015-2016) in subgroup 2. Chemotherapy as first mCRPC-treatment (i.e., docetaxel) and first post-docetaxel treatment (i.e., cabazitaxel or docetaxel rechallenge) decreased (46-29% and 20-9% in subgroup 1 and 2, respectively), while the use of androgen-receptor targeting treatments (ART) increased from 11% to 39% and 46% to 64% in subgroup 1 and 2, respectively. In subgroup 1, median OS (mOS) from diagnosis CRPC increased from 28.5 months to 31.0 months (p = 0.196). In subgroup 2, mOS from progression on docetaxel increased from 7.9 months to 12.5 months (p < 0.001). After multiple imputations of missing values, in multivariable cox-regression analysis with known prognostic parameters, the treatment period was independent significant for OS in subgroup 1 (2014-2015 vs. 2010-2011 with HR 0.749, p < 0.001) and subgroup 2 (2015-2016 vs. 2011-2012 with HR 0.811, p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Since 2010, a larger proportion of mCRPC patients was treated with LPDs, which was related to an increased mOS.

CA 15-3 as an alternative marker for KL-6 in fibrotic lung diseases.

BACKGROUND: KL-6 is a mucin that is increased in interstitial lung diseases (ILD), and in some malignancies. CA 15-3, a tumor marker for breast cancer, refers to the same mucin but utilizes antibodies against different epitopes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to evaluate CA 15-3 as a viable alternative to KL-6 as a for ILDs with and without fibrosis. DESIGN: Serum from 242 patients with ILDs and from 327 healthy controls were included and KL-6 and CA 15-3 were measured in all subjects. Regression analyses and ROC curves were used to compare the performances of both markers. RESULTS: KL-6 and CA 15-3 levels were both significantly higher in the ILD patients compared to the controls (p < 0.0001). A weak yet significant correlation was found between serum KL-6 and CA 15-3 levels in the controls (R = 0.39, p < 0.0001), but showed a much higher correlation in the patient group (R = 0.85, p < 0.0001). CA 15-3 correlated best with KL-6 in patients with fibrotic ILDs (R = 0.83, p < 0.0001). KL-6 performed better as a marker compared to CA 15-3 in most ILDs. Both markers performed best in identifying idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and were equally able to differentiate between ILDs with and without fibrosis: (sensitivity and specificity %): 100/97, 95/92, and 90/72, respectively. CONCLUSION: CA 15-3 and KL-6 are equally sensitive and specific in terms of differentiating between ILDs with and without fibrosis. The wide availability, ease of use, and cost effectiveness, make CA 15-3 a viable alternative for KL-6 as a possible marker for pulmonary fibrosis.

Health-related quality of life analysis in stage III melanoma patients treated with adjuvant dendritic cell therapy.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important issue in the rapidly evolving field of adjuvant treatment for stage III melanoma. Dendritic cell vaccination is one of the adjuvant forms of therapy currently investigated. METHODS: We enrolled adults with stage III melanoma to receive adjuvant dendritic cell vaccination after a complete radical lymph node dissection. HRQoL assessment was one of the secondary endpoints of this trial and investigated with the EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire at baseline and week 26. RESULTS: Fifteen patients with a median age of 50 years were included in the study, with twelve evaluable patients on study at time of the second questionnaire. Global health status and role functioning improved clinically relevant with a mean difference of 15 (p = 0.010) and 26 points (p = 0.005), respectively. DISCUSSION: Despite the small number of patients, we found a clinically relevant improved global health status. Besides, compared to the other investigated therapies, toxicity of dendritic cell vaccination is low, which supports our finding. CONCLUSION: This is the first description of HRQoL in melanoma patients receiving dendritic cell vaccination. We show the expected improvement in global health status after surgical treatment of stage III melanoma. Thus, adjuvant dendritic cell vaccination does not seem to hamper this improvement, as shown in our small explorative study.

Review: Effectiveness of implementation strategies to increase physical activity uptake during and after cancer treatment.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this review was to assess the effectiveness of different strategies to implement physical activity during and after cancer treatment. DESIGN: We searched for studies containing strategies to implement physical activity in cancer care that meet the inclusion criteria of the Cochrane EPOC group. The primary outcome was physical activity uptake. We expressed the effectiveness of the strategies as the percentage of studies with improvement. RESULTS: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Patient groups doing physical activities via an implementation strategy had better outcomes than those receiving usual care: 83% of the studies showed improvement. Strategies showing significant improvement compared to usual care employed healthcare professionals to provide individual counselling or advice for exercise or interactive elements such as audit and feedback systems. When comparing the different strategies 1) interactive elements or 2) elements tailored to the needs of the patients had better physical activity uptake. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation strategies containing individual and interactive elements, tailored to the individual needs of patients, are more successful in improving physical activity uptake.

Evaluation of adenoviral oncolytic effect on glioma spheroids by 18F-DG positron-emission tomography.

Multicellular tumor spheroids are used as a model to assess the efficacy of replicating oncolytic adenoviruses. As most assays used to assess cellular viability are unsuitable for oncolytic viruses because of ongoing viral replication, we have used positron emission tomography (PET) to sequentially determine the incorporation of 18F-labeled deoxyglucose (18F-DG) as a measure of viability and compared the results to more commonly used assays for measuring the effect of oncolytic therapy. Glioma monolayer cultures and spheroids were infected with wild-type replicating adenovirus and viability was measured by 18F-DG incorporation, WST-1 assay, crystal violet assay, and spheroid volume 2 to 10 days following infection. Results show that volume measurements in adenovirus-infected spheroids are confounded by the cytopathic effect occurring in infected cells. 18F-DG PET provides a useful method to assess small differences in cell number and viability following oncolytic viral therapy in glioma monolayer cultures and spheroids without the need for disintegration of these cultures. Moreover, using 18F-DG PET, repeated sequential measurements of spheroid viability can be made, decreasing the required number of spheroids per experiment. This is a valuable feature when using spheroids derived from limited amounts of patient material.

Explorative immunohistochemical study to evaluate the addition of a topical corticosteroid in the early phase of alefacept treatment for psoriasis.

The aim of this study was to explore the additional effect of betamethasone dipropionate cream in the early phase of an intramuscular (IM) alefacept course, on plaque severity and on modulating T-cell subsets, cells expressing NK-receptors, epidermal proliferation and keratinocyte differentiation in lesional psoriatic skin. Therefore, sixteen patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis received 15 mg alefacept IM for 12 weeks, followed by a 12-week follow-up period. The first 4 weeks, patients were randomized 1:1 to either betamethasone dipropionate, or the vehicle cream, once daily. Plaque severity (SUM) was assessed and serial biopsies were immunohistochemically stained for T-cell subsets (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45RO, CD45RA, CD2, CD25, GITR), cells expressing NK-receptors (CD94 and CD161), epidermal proliferation (Ki67) and differentiation (K10), which were quantified using manual and digital image analysis. Alefacept monotherapy resulted in statistically significant improvement in plaque severity. Subsequently, immunohistochemical assessments on T-cell subsets, epidermal proliferation (Ki67) and keratinization (K10) revealed marked time-related improvements with respect to the mentioned parameters, without significant differences between both treatment regimens. Alefacept monotherapy induces improvement of plaque severity, which is accompanied by a reduction in activated (CD2+, CD25+, CD45RO+) dermal CD4+ and activated epidermal CD8+ T cells, epidermal proliferation and differentiation. Once daily treatment with betamethasone dipropionate cream during the first 4 weeks of an intramuscular alefacept course did not provide substantial additional clinical and immunohistochemical improvement.

Inhibition of platelet function by abciximab or high-dose tirofiban in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI: a randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary PCI, few data exist on the magnitude of platelet activation, aggregation and dosing of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors. METHODS: Sixty STEMI patients were randomised to abciximab, to high-dose tirofiban or to no additional GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor treatment. Platelet activation (P-selectin expression) was measured using flow cytometry and the level of inhibition of platelet aggregation was assessed using the Plateletworks assay. Additionally, the PFA-100 with the collagen/adenosine-diphosphate cartridge (CADP) was used to compare the levels of platelet inhibition. All measurements were performed at baseline (T(0)), immediately after (T(1)), 30 minutes (T(2)), 60 minutes (T(3)) and 120 minutes (T(4)) after primary PCI. RESULTS: The level of platelet activation in both GP IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor treated groups was significantly lower compared with the control group at all time points after primary PCI (p=0.04). Also the administration of the currently recommended dose of abciximab resulted in significantly lower levels of inhibition of aggregation compared with high-dose tirofiban (p<0.0001). In addition, the CADP closure times were significantly prolonged in both GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor treated groups compared with the control group at time points T(1) (p=0.006) and T(4) (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The administration of high-dose tirofiban resulted in a significantly higher inhibition of platelet aggregation compared with the currently recommended dose of abciximab. Large clinical trials are needed to assess whether this laboratory superiority of high-dose tirofiban translates into higher clinical efficacy. (Neth Heart J 2007;15:375-81.).

[The unicorn and the pharmacists. Early modern views on the presumed anti-toxic effects of unicorn horn]. / De eenhoorn en de apothekers. Opvattingen omtrent de antitoxische werking van 'eenhoornhoorn' in het laatste kwart van de 16e en het eerste kwart van de 17e eeuw.

Around 1600, the age-old belief in the anti-toxic effect of unicorn horn began to be called into question. This is evidenced by the views of two well-known French pharmaceutic authorities whose publications are discussed in this paper: the surgeon Ambroise Paré (1510-1590), court physician to four French kings, and the Montpellier pharmacist Laurent Catelan (1568-1647), who owned a famous cabinet de curiosités. Although Paré had to accept, however reluctantly, the existence of the unicorn (since it is mentioned in the Bible), he vehemently denied the supposed medicinal effect of unicorn products. He defended his position by an appeal to ancient and contemporary authorities, by rational argumentation, and by experiment. Paré's arguments failed to convince Catelan, who adhered to an alternative, so-called spagyric, medical theory of neoplatonic inspiration, as propagated by Paracelsus and Ficino. Catelan remained convinced of the efficacity of unicorn horn, which in his view could drain the human body from any poisonous substance. The medical establishment being reluctant to give up a rewarding source of income,'unicorn' remained much in demand as a prescription.

The lateral distribution of intramembrane particles in the erythrocyte membrane and recombinant vesicles.

Triton X-100 (in concentrations which did not cause a significant solubilization of membrane material) caused aggregation of the intramembrane particles of human erythrocyte ghosts. Ghosts from which the extrinsic proteins had been removed by alkali treatment showed a temperature-induced aggregation of the particles. With virtually no spectrin present, the particles in these stripped ghosts could still be aggregated by manipulations with ionic strength and pH, or by the addition of calcium. Recombinant vesicles were made from a Triton X-100 extract and a mixture of phospholipids with a composition which resembled that of the inner monolayer of erythrocyte membrane. In these recombinants the same manipulations with ionic strength and pH and the addition of calcium caused a rearrangement of the particles, resulting in the appearance of particle-free areas. In recombinants prepared from a Triton X-100 extract and egg phosphatidylcholine the lateral distribution of the particles was not altered by these manipulations. It is concluded that in the erythrocyte membrane the intramembrane particles can be aggregated by effects of external agents on lipid components. In this light the role of spectrin in stabilizing the membrane by interactions with lipids in the inner monolayer is discussed.

A 13C NMR method for determination of the transbilayer distribution of phosphatidylcholine in large, unilamellar, protein-free and protein-containing vesicles.

(1) Large unilamellar vesicles have been prepared from N-[Ne3-13C]-18 : 1c/18 : 1c-phosphatidylcholine, both with and without the major intrinsic proteins from the human erythrocyte membrane incorporated in the bilayer. (2) It is shown that the inside-outside distribution of the lipid molecules in these large unilamellar structures can be determined using 13C NMR. (3) Large vesicles of 18 : 1c/18 : 1c-phosphatidylcholine containing glycophorin show an enhanced permeability to Dy3+. It is shown that the permeability barrier of these vesicles can be restored by addition of 10 mol% 18 : 1c/18 : 1c-phosphatidylethanolamine or 1-18 : 1c-lysophosphatidylcholine.

Ca2+-induced isotropic motion and phosphatidylcholine flip-flop in phosphatidylcholine-cardiolipin bilayers.

Ca2+ induces a structural change in phosphatidylcholine-cardiolipin bilayers, which is visualised by freeze-fracturing as lipidic particles associated with the bilayer and is detected by 31P-NMR as isotropic motion of the phospholipids. In this structure a rapid transbilayer movement of phosphatidylcholine and a highly increased permeability towards Mn2+ are observed.

The lipidic particle as an intermediate structure in membrane fusion processes and bilayer to hexagonal HII transitions.

Small unilamellar vesicles comprised of a mixture of phosphatidylethanolamine/phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol (3 : 1 : 2) fuse to form large multilamellar vesicles on increasing the temperature from 0 to 50 degrees C. This event is associated with the appearance of lipidic particles at the fusion sites, consistent with a role as intermediary structures during the fusion process. Further, for phosphatidylcholine/cardiolipin (1 : 1) liposomes in the presence of Mn2+ a direct relationship between lipidic particles and the hexagonal (HII) phase is demonstrated which suggests that lipidic particles can also occur as intermediaries between bilayer and hexagonal (HII) structures.

The transbilayer movement of phosphatidylcholine in vesicles reconstituted with intrinsic proteins from the human erythrocyte membrane.

Vesicles have been prepared from 18 : 1c/18 : 1c-phosphatidylcholine with or without purified glycophorin or partially purified band 3 (obtained by organomercurial gel chromatography). The vesicles have been characterized by freeze-fracture electron microscopy, binding studies to DEAE-cellulose, 31P-NMR and K+ trap measurements. Pools of phosphatidylcholine available for exchange have been investigated using phosphatidylcholine exchange protein from bovine liver. The protein-containing vesicles both exhibit exchangeable pools larger than the fraction of phosphatidylcholine in the outer monolayer, whereas in the protein-free vesicles the exchangeable pool is consistent with the outer monolayer. The results indicate that both glycophorin and the partially purified band 3 preparation enhance the transbilayer movement of phosphatidylcholine.

Fusion of phospholipid vesicles in association with the appearance of lipidic particles as visualized by freeze fracturing.

The addition of Ca2+ to small unilamellar vesicles of an equimolar mixture of egg phosphatidylcholine and cardiolipin induces fusion of these vesicles in association with the appearance of lipidic particles on the fusion sites.