Photosynthetic acclamatory response of Panicum antidotale Retz. populations to root zone desiccation stress

Abstract Growth of plants is severely reduced due to water stress by affecting photosynthesis including photosystem II (PSII) activity and electron transport. This study emphasised on comparative and priority targeted changes in PSII activity due to progressive drought in seven populations of Panicum antidotale (P. antidotale) collected from Cholistan Desert and non-Cholistan regions. Tillers of equal growth of seven populations of P. antidotale grown in plastic pots filled with soil were subjected progressive drought by withholding water irrigation for three weeks. Progressive drought reduced the soil moisture content, leaf relative water content, photosynthetic pigments and fresh and dry biomass of shoots in all seven populations. Populations from Dingarh Fort, Dingarh Grassland and Haiderwali had higher growth than those of other populations. Cholistani populations especially in Dingarh Grassland and Haiderwali had greater ability of osmotic adjustment as reflected by osmotic potential and greater accumulation of total soluble proteins. Maximum H2O2 under water stress was observed in populations from Muzaffargarh and Khanewal but these were intermediate in MDA content. Under water stress, populations from Muzaffargarh and Dingarh Fort had greater K+ accumulation in their leaves. During progressive drought, non-Cholistani populations showed complete leaf rolling after 23 days of drought, and these populations could not withstand with more water stress condition while Cholistani populations tolerated more water stress condition for 31 days. Moreover, progressive drought caused PSII damages after 19 days and it became severe after 23 days in non-Cholistani populations of P. antidotale than in Cholistani populations.

Resumo O crescimento das plantas é severamente reduzido devido ao estresse hídrico, afetando a fotossíntese, incluindo a atividade do fotossistema II (PSII) e o transporte de elétrons. Este estudo enfatizou as mudanças comparativas e prioritárias na atividade do PSII devido à seca progressiva em sete populações de Panicum antidotale (P. antidotale) coletadas no Deserto do Cholistão e regiões fora do Cholistão. Perfilhos de igual crescimento de sete populações de P. antidotale cultivadas em vasos de plástico cheios de solo foram submetidos à seca progressiva, retendo a irrigação com água por três semanas. A seca progressiva reduziu o teor de umidade do solo, teor de água relativo nas folhas, pigmentos fotossintéticos e biomassa fresca e seca dos brotos em todas as sete populações. Populações de Dingarh Fort, Dingarh Grassland e Haiderwali tiveram maior crescimento do que as de outras populações. As populações de Cholistani, especialmente em Dingarh Grassland e Haiderwali, apresentaram maior capacidade de ajuste osmótico, refletido pelo potencial osmótico e maior acúmulo de proteínas solúveis totais. H2O2 máximo sob estresse hídrico foi observado em populações de Muzaffargarh e Khanewal, mas estas foram intermediárias no conteúdo de MDA. Sob estresse hídrico, as populações de Muzaffargarh e Dingarh Fort tiveram maior acúmulo de K+ em suas folhas. Durante a seca progressiva, as populações não cholistanesas mostraram rolagem completa das folhas após 23 dias de seca, e essas populações não conseguiram suportar mais condições de estresse hídrico, enquanto as populações cholistani toleraram mais condições de estresse hídrico por 31 dias. Além disso, a seca progressiva causou danos ao PSII após 19 dias e tornou-se severa após 23 dias em populações não cholistanesas de P. antidotale do que em populações cholistanesas.

Photosynthetic acclamatory response of Panicum antidotale Retz. populations to root zone desiccation stress / Reação fotossintética aclamatória de Panicum antidotale Retz. populações submetidas ao estresse da dessecação da zona radicular

Abstract Growth of plants is severely reduced due to water stress by affecting photosynthesis including photosystem II (PSII) activity and electron transport. This study emphasised on comparative and priority targeted changes in PSII activity due to progressive drought in seven populations of Panicum antidotale (P. antidotale) collected from Cholistan Desert and non-Cholistan regions. Tillers of equal growth of seven populations of P. antidotale grown in plastic pots filled with soil were subjected progressive drought by withholding water irrigation for three weeks. Progressive drought reduced the soil moisture content, leaf relative water content, photosynthetic pigments and fresh and dry biomass of shoots in all seven populations. Populations from Dingarh Fort, Dingarh Grassland and Haiderwali had higher growth than those of other populations. Cholistani populations especially in Dingarh Grassland and Haiderwali had greater ability of osmotic adjustment as reflected by osmotic potential and greater accumulation of total soluble proteins. Maximum H2O2 under water stress was observed in populations from Muzaffargarh and Khanewal but these were intermediate in MDA content. Under water stress, populations from Muzaffargarh and Dingarh Fort had greater K+ accumulation in their leaves. During progressive drought, non-Cholistani populations showed complete leaf rolling after 23 days of drought, and these populations could not withstand with more water stress condition while Cholistani populations tolerated more water stress condition for 31 days. Moreover, progressive drought caused PSII damages after 19 days and it became severe after 23 days in non-Cholistani populations of P. antidotale than in Cholistani populations.

Resumo O crescimento das plantas é severamente reduzido devido ao estresse hídrico, afetando a fotossíntese, incluindo a atividade do fotossistema II (PSII) e o transporte de elétrons. Este estudo enfatizou as mudanças comparativas e prioritárias na atividade do PSII devido à seca progressiva em sete populações de Panicum antidotale (P. antidotale) coletadas no Deserto do Cholistão e regiões fora do Cholistão. Perfilhos de igual crescimento de sete populações de P. antidotale cultivadas em vasos de plástico cheios de solo foram submetidos à seca progressiva, retendo a irrigação com água por três semanas. A seca progressiva reduziu o teor de umidade do solo, teor de água relativo nas folhas, pigmentos fotossintéticos e biomassa fresca e seca dos brotos em todas as sete populações. Populações de Dingarh Fort, Dingarh Grassland e Haiderwali tiveram maior crescimento do que as de outras populações. As populações de Cholistani, especialmente em Dingarh Grassland e Haiderwali, apresentaram maior capacidade de ajuste osmótico, refletido pelo potencial osmótico e maior acúmulo de proteínas solúveis totais. H2O2 máximo sob estresse hídrico foi observado em populações de Muzaffargarh e Khanewal, mas estas foram intermediárias no conteúdo de MDA. Sob estresse hídrico, as populações de Muzaffargarh e Dingarh Fort tiveram maior acúmulo de K+ em suas folhas. Durante a seca progressiva, as populações não cholistanesas mostraram rolagem completa das folhas após 23 dias de seca, e essas populações não conseguiram suportar mais condições de estresse hídrico, enquanto as populações cholistani toleraram mais condições de estresse hídrico por 31 dias. Além disso, a seca progressiva causou danos ao PSII após 19 dias e tornou-se severa após 23 dias em populações não cholistanesas de P. antidotale do que em populações cholistanesas.

Radiation Synthesis of Poly(Starch/Acrylic acid) pH Sensitive Hydrogel for Rutin Controlled Release.

The copolymerization of starch with acrylic acid AAc using direct gamma radiation technique was performed. The effect of AAc concentrations on the gel (%) and swelling behavior were investigated. It is found that as AAc concentrations increase both gel(%) and swelling behavior increase. The Poly(starch/acrylic acid) (1:10wt%) hydrogel were selected due to its high swelling properties. From the in-vitro release study of the rutin-loaded hydrogel it is observed that it is strong pH-dependent release behavior, thus offering a maximum release as pH increased. The dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced rat colitis model was treated with rutin-loaded Poly(starch/acrylic acid) (1:10wt%) hydrogel and free rutin solution by oral administration. Colitic control group showed a significant elevation in colon/body weight ratio, myeloperoxgidase activity, tumor necrosis factor, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde levels. However, glutathione level was reduced. It was found that the rutin-loaded hydrogel was more efficient than free rutin as evidenced by improvement of all measured parameters. These effects were confirmed histopathologically and may be attributed to its ability to control delivery of rutin to colon with minor early release of rutin before colon. The Poly(starch/acrylic acid) (1:10wt%) can represent a pivotal anti-inflammatory approach for patients with inflammatory bowel disease in order to increase efficacy and reduce toxicity.

Interrelationship between milk constituents, serum oestradiol and vaginal mucus indicators of oestrus in Egyptian buffaloes.

The intensity of heat signs in buffaloes is generally low and the incidence of suboestrus varied from 15 to 73% (Buffalopedia). The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of monitoring the changes in some milk constituents, oestradiol levels and electrical conductivity of vaginal mucus during peri-oestrous period in prediction of the timing of oestrus in buffaloes. Twenty-one Egyptian buffaloes aged 3-9 year, 1st-6th lactations, were examined by oestrous detector and ultrasonographically for monitoring the ovarian and uterine activity for 7 days around the time of standing oestrus. Sodium, potassium, chloride and lactose were assayed in aqueous phase of milk; besides, oestradiol was estimated in serum. Current results declared highly significant acute changes in milk constituents at the time of oestrus characterized by peaking of chloride and sodium levels and lowering of potassium and lactose values. The alternation in milk composition when arranged in decreasing order of magnitude, sodium was the highest (77.78 ± 0.69%), followed by chloride (61.60 ± 1.52%) and potassium (-58.14 ± 10.89%). Concomitantly, milk lactose decreased by 26.07 ± 7.97% compared to baseline levels. Synchronously, vaginal electrical resistance (VER) showed a significant (p < 0.01) decrease, but serum oestradiol 17ß levels surged (59.93 ± 7.29 pg/ml) on day of oestrus. Serum oestradiol level was negatively correlated with VER (r = -0.577), potassium (r = -0.661), positively correlated with chloride (r = 0.707) and sodium (r = 0.579) and not correlated with lactose levels. These results for the first time suggested that the changes in constituents of milk during peri-oestrous period may be used as a practical non-invasive indicator for oestrous detection and prediction of ovulation in Egyptian buffaloes.

Evaluation of immunodiagnostic potential of ESAT-6 synthetic peptides mixture in Egyptian pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

Identification of M. tuberculosis ESAT-6 proteins has enhanced research for developing new specific and reliable in vitro diagnostic tests for pulmonary tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic potential of ESAT-6 synthetic overlapping peptides mixture (Pepmix) for diagnosis of pulmonary M. tuberculosis infection in Egypt. IFN-gammaand IL-17 production was assessed in whole-blood culture assay after overnight stimulation with M. tuberculosis crude culture filtrate (CF), purified 38 kDa antigen, and ESAT-6 Pepmix. Concentration of IFN-gamma and IL-17 was evaluated in the culture supernatant by ELISA. Patients with active pulmonary TB patients (n = 37), Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) positive healthy subjects (n = 16) and TST negative healthy subjects (n = 16) were included. Results indicated that IFN-gammaproduction following stimulation with crude CF, and 38 kDa purified antigen was not significantly different between patients and TST+ healthy controls. In contrast, Pepmix clearly distinguished between patients and TST+ healthy subjects with sensitivity of 70.3 % and specificity 96.9 %. The concentration of secreted IL-17 was significantly lower than IFN-gamma, and no statistically significant difference was found between groups. It is concluded that IFN-gamma assay using ESAT-6 Pepmix, as antigenic stimulus, has the potential to rapidly diagnose pulmonary TB infection.

Cytokine profiling as a prognostic markers in chronic myeloid leukemia patients.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) accounts for 20% of all adult leukemias worldwide. Most Egyptian patients are diagnosed in the chronic phase and progress to the accelerated or blastic phase, which is related with decreased survival. Various pro-inflammatory cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic leukemia but their prognostic significance is unknown. The aim of the current study is to determine the validity of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-18 and CRP levels as prognostic markers in CML patients. These parameters were monitored with clinical routine tests in 25 CML patients besides ten healthy control subjects at National Cancer Institute, Cairo, Egypt. IL-6 and IL-18 levels before hydroxyurea treatment were significantly higher in all patients compared to controls (P<0.001 for both levels). At hematological remission, significant reductions were observed for IL-6 (P<0.001), IL-18 (P<0.001) and CRP (P<0.001) whereas reduction in the levels of TNF were non-significant. Moreover, an inverse correlation was observed between both of TNF (P<0.05) and CRP (p<0.01) on one side and megakaryocytic dysplasia on the other side. These findings offer evidence that TNF may have potential prognostic role in megakaryocytic dysplasia detection.

Role of TNF-alpha as a survival prognostic marker in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines play a central role in the pathogenesis of chronic leukemia. This pilot study assesses the potential value of measuring TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-18 and CRP levels as prognostic markers for disease monitoring in CLL patient. These parameters were evaluated in 45 CLL patients and 25 healthy control subjects IL-6 on contraire to the other cytokines, was significantly higher (P<0.05) in patients compared to controls. At hematological remission, only CRP was significantly reduced (P<0.005). IL-6 is inversely correlated with Hb (P<0.05). In the meantime, IL-18 is correlated to splenomegaly, and CRP (P<0.05; for both). TNF-alpha level in non-survived patients was significantly higher than both survived patients (P<0.05), and controls (P<0.01). In conclusion, TNF-alpha can be potentially used as a survival prognostic factor in CLL.

Benefits of oat beta-glucan on respiratory infection following exercise stress: role of lung macrophages.

Exercise stress is associated with an increased risk for upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). We have shown that consumption of the soluble oat fiber beta-glucan (ObetaG) can offset the increased risk for infection and decreased macrophage antiviral resistance following stressful exercise; however, the direct role of macrophages is unknown. This study examined the effect of macrophage depletion on the benefits of orally administered ObetaG on susceptibility to infection (morbidity, symptom severity, and mortality) following exercise stress. CL(2)MDP (Ex- H(2)O-CL(2)MDP, Ex-ObetaG-CL(2)MDP, Con-H(2)O-CL(2)MDP, Con-ObetaG-CL(2)MDP)-encapsulated liposomes were administered intranasally to deplete macrophages, and PBS (Ex-H(2)O-PBS, Ex-ObetaG-PBS, Con-H(2)O-PBS, Con-ObetaG-PBS)-encapsulated liposomes were given to macrophage-intact groups. Ex mice ran to volitional fatigue on a treadmill for 3 consecutive days, and ObetaG mice were fed a solution of 50% ObetaG in their drinking water for 10 consecutive days before infection. Fifteen minutes following the final bout of Ex or rest, mice were intranasally inoculated with 50 microl of a standardized dose of herpes simplex virus-1. Ex increased morbidity (P < 0.001) and symptom severity (P < 0.05) but not mortality (P = 0.09). The increase in morbidity and symptom severity was blocked by ObetaG consumption for 10 consecutive days before exercise and infection [morbidity (P < 0.001) and symptom severity (P < 0.05)]. Depletion of macrophages negated the beneficial effects of ObetaG on reducing susceptibility to infection following exercise stress, as evidenced by an increase in morbidity (P < 0.01) and symptom severity (P < 0.05). Results indicate that lung macrophages are at least partially responsible for mediating the beneficial effects of ObetaG on susceptibility to respiratory infection following exercise stress.

Susceptibility to HSV-1 infection and exercise stress in female mice: role of estrogen.

Exhaustive exercise has been associated with an increased risk for upper respiratory tract infections in mice and humans. We have previously shown (Brown AS, Davis JM, Murphy AE, Carmichael MD, Ghaffer A, Mayer EP. Med Sci Sports Exerc 36: 1290-1295, 2004) that female mice are better protected from the lethal effects of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, both at rest and following exercise stress, but little is known about possible mechanisms. This study tested the effects of estrogen on HSV-1 infection and macrophage antiviral resistance following repeated exhaustive exercise. Female mice were assigned to either exercise (Ex) or control (C): intact female (I-C or I-Ex), ovariectomized female (O-C or O-Ex), or ovariectomized estrogen-supplemented female (E-C or E-Ex). Exercise consisted of treadmill running to volitional fatigue ( approximately 125 min) for 3 consecutive days. Intact female mice had a later time to death than O and E (P < 0.05) and fewer deaths than both O and E (P < 0.05). Exercise stress was associated with increased time to sickness (P < 0.05) and symptom severity at days 6 and 12-21 postinfection (P < 0.05) and decreased macrophage antiviral resistance (P < 0.001) in all groups. E had increased symptom severity at days 6 and 13-21 postinfection (P < 0.05). Results indicate that intact female mice are better protected from the lethal effects of HSV-1 infection and that exercise stress had a similar negative impact in all groups. This protective effect was lost in ovariectomized mice, but it was not reinstated by 17beta-estradiol replacement. This indicates that other ovarian factors, alone or in combination with estrogen, are responsible for the protective effects in females.

Effects of moderate exercise and oat beta-glucan on lung tumor metastases and macrophage antitumor cytotoxicity.

Both moderate exercise and the soluble fiber beta-glucan can have beneficial effects on the initiation and growth of tumors, but the data are limited, and there is no information on their combined effects. This study tested the independent and combined effects of short-term moderate-exercise training and the soluble oat fiber beta-glucan (ObetaG) on the metatastic spread of injected tumor cells and macrophage antitumor cytotoxicity. Male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to one of four groups: exercise (Ex)-H2O, Ex-ObetaG, control (Con)-H2O, or Con-ObetaG. ObetaG was fed in the drinking water for 10 days before tumor administration and death. Exercise consisted of treadmill running (1 h/day) for 6 days. After rest or exercise on the last day of training, syngeneic B16 melanoma cells (2 x 10(5)) were administered via intravenous injection (n = 8-11 per group). Lungs were removed 14 days later, and tumor foci were counted. Additional mice (n = 8 per group) were killed, and peritoneal macrophages were assayed for cytotoxicity against the same mouse tumor cell line at various effector-to-target ratios. Both moderate exercise and ObetaG decreased lung tumor foci and increased macrophage cytotoxicity. However, there were no differences in lung tumor foci and macrophage cytotoxicity between Ex-ObetaG and either Ex-H2O or Con-ObetaG. These data suggest that, although not additive in their effects, both short-term moderate-exercise training and consumption of the soluble ObetaG can decrease the metatastic spread of injected B16 melanoma cells, and these effects may be mediated in part by an increase in macrophage cytotoxicity to B16 melanoma.

Effects of moderate exercise and oat beta-glucan on innate immune function and susceptibility to respiratory infection.

Both moderate exercise and the soluble oat fiber beta-glucan can increase immune function and decrease risk of infection, but no information exists on their possible combined effects. This study tested the effects of moderate exercise and oat beta-glucan on respiratory infection, macrophage antiviral resistance, and natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity. Mice were assigned to four groups: exercise and water, exercise and oat beta-glucan, control water, or control oat beta-glucan. Oat beta-glucan was fed in the drinking water for 10 days before intranasal inoculation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or euthanasia. Exercise consisted of treadmill running (1 h/day) for 6 days. Macrophage resistance to HSV-1 was increased with both exercise and oat beta-glucan, whereas NK cell cytotoxicity was only increased with exercise. Exercise was also associated with a 45 and 38% decrease in morbidity and mortality, respectively. Mortality was also decreased with oat beta-glucan, but this effect did not reach statistical significance. No additive effects of exercise and oat beta-glucan were found. These data confirm a positive effect of both moderate exercise and oat beta-glucan on immune function, but only moderate exercise was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of upper respiratory tract infection in this model.

Tissue expression and plasma concentrations of TNFalpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 following treadmill exercise in mice.

Exercise can increase plasma inflammatory cytokine concentrations in humans, but tissue responses are not well studied. We examined plasma concentrations and tissue expression of TNFalpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 following treadmill running in mice. C57B1/6 mice were randomly assigned to: non-exercise control (CON), sacrifice at 0 or 1.5 h after 60 min running (MOD0, MOD 1.5), sacrifice at 0, 1.5, or 3 h after fatiguing running (approximately 3 h) (EX0, EX1.5, EX3), or lipopolysaccharide (25 microg) with no exercise (LPS). Lung, liver, muscle, and brain mRNA expression was analyzed (n = 4-6/group) using reverse transcriptase-rapid polymerase chain reaction (RT-RPCR). Plasma cytokine concentrations were determined (n =4-10/group) by ELISA. Plasma IL-6 was higher in EX1.5, and lung TNFalpha mRNA was higher in EX1.5 and EX3 compared to CON (P < 0.05). No significant increases in plasma cytokine concentrations or tissue cytokine expression were found in other EX groups. LPS significantly increased these cytokine measures in tissues and plasma, with the exception of plasma IL-1beta which was undetectable. The source of the plasma IL-6 following exercise does not appear to be lung, liver, muscle, or brain tissue, and remains to be determined. These data also suggest that tissue level cytokine expression may not necessarily lead to increased plasma cytokine concentrations.

The effectiveness of patient referral in Pakistan.

In Pakistan, despite an elaborate network of over 5000 basic health units and rural health centres, supported by higher-level facilities, primary health care activities have not brought about expected improvements in health status, especially of rural population groups. A poorly functioning referral system may be partly to blame. System analysis of patient referral was conducted in a district of Punjab province (Attock) for the purpose of identifying major shortcomings, if any, in this domain. Respondents from 225 households were interviewed. Of the households experiencing serious illnesses less than half were taken to a nearest first-level care facility (FLCF). Major reasons included dissatisfaction with quality of care offered, non-availability of physician, and patients being too ill to be taken to the FLCF. The FLCF utilization rate was less than 0.6 patient visits/person/year. The mean number of patients referred per FLCF during the previous 3 months was 6.5 +/- 5.0. Only 15% of patients were referred on the prescribed referral form. None of the higher-level facilities provided feedback to FLCFS: Records of higher-level facilities revealed lack of information on either patient referrals or feedback. There were no surgical or emergency obstetric services available at any of the first-level referral facilities. Seventy-five percent of the patients attending the first-level referral facilities and 44% of the patients attending higher-level facilities had a problem of a primary nature that could well have been managed at the FLCF. As a result of the study findings, eight principal criteria were identified that need to be satisfied before a referral system may be considered functional.

The collagenous domain of class A scavenger receptors is involved in macrophage adhesion to collagens.

Class A macrophage scavenger receptors (MSRs) have a remarkably broad ligand specificity and are well-known for their roles in atherogenesis and host defense. Recently, we demonstrated that these receptors also recognize and mediate adhesion to denatured forms of type I collagen. In this study, the involvement of the collagenous domain of MSRs in binding to denatured type I collagen was investigated. Transient expression of full-length, native type II MSR in COS-1 cells conferred adhesion to denatured type I collagens, whereas expression of a truncated receptor lacking the distal portion of the collagenous domain did not. Further, a synthetic peptide derived from the collagenous domain was effective in abrogating Mphi adhesion to denatured forms of type I collagen. We also addressed collagen-type specificity by examining MSR affinity for type III and type IV collagens. As with type I collagen, Mphis adhered only to denatured forms of type III collagen. Moreover, the adhesion was mediated by MSRs. In contrast, adhesion to denatured type IV collagen was not shown to be MSR-dependent, but adhesion to the native form was. MSR-mediated adhesion to types III and IV collagens was also shown to be dependent on the collagenous domain. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that the collagenous domain is involved in MSR-mediated adhesion to denatured forms of types I and III collagens and native, but not denatured, type IV collagen.

Exercise and tumor development in a mouse predisposed to multiple intestinal adenomas.

UNLABELLED: Epidemiological evidence suggests that physical activity may be protective against the development of colon cancer. Potential mechanisms remain largely unexplored due to the paucity of appropriate experimental models. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exercise training on polyp development in an induced mutant mouse strain predisposed to multiple intestinal neoplasia (Min mouse). METHODS: Three-week-old male and female heterozygotes were randomly assigned to control (CON; 10 males, 6 females) or exercise (EX; 11 males, 11 females) groups. In the first week, EX mice were acclimated to treadmill running at 10-18 m x min(-1) for 15-60 min x d(-1). From 4-10 wk of age, mice ran at 18-21 m x min(-1) for 60 min. CON mice sat in Plexiglas lanes suspended above the treadmill for the same time periods. At 10 wk of age, the mice were sacrificed and the intestines removed, opened, and counted for polyps. RESULTS: Skeletal muscle oxidative capacity increased with training as shown by a 64% increase in citrate synthase activity in the gastrocnemius/soleus muscle of EX compared with CON (P = 0.009). There were no significant effects of exercise in the males and females combined on small intestine, colon, or total intestinal polyps (P > 0.05). When analyzed separately, however, there were fewer colon and total polyps in the EX than in the CON males, although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that seven weeks of exercise training do not affect the development of intestinal polyps in the Min mouse. Further studies are required to determine if a true sex difference exists or if variations on the current training protocol may affect tumor outcomes.

Selective adhesion of macrophages to denatured forms of type I collagen is mediated by scavenger receptors.

Macrophages (Mφs) are multifunctional immune cells which are involved in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses, as well as in tissue repair and remodeling. In tissues, Mφs reside in areas which are rich in extracellular matrix (ECM), the structural component which also plays an essential role in regulating a variety of cellular functions. A major ECM protein encountered by Mφs is type I collagen, the most abundant of the fibril-forming collagens. In this study, the adhesion of RAW 264.7 murine Mphis to native fibrillar, monomeric, and denatured type I collagen was investigated. Using atomic force microscopy, structural differences between fibrillar and monomeric type I collagen were clearly resolved. When cultured on fibrillar type I collagen, Mphis adhered poorly. In contrast, they adhered significantly to monomeric, heat-denatured, or collagenase-modified type I collagen. Studies utilizing anti-beta1 and -beta2 integrin adhesion-blocking antibodies, RGD-containing peptides, or divalent cation-free conditions did not inhibit Mphi; adhesion to monomeric or denatured type I collagen. However, macrophage scavenger receptor (MSR) ligands and anti-MSR antibodies significantly blocked Mphi; adhesion to denatured and monomeric type I collagen strongly suggesting the involvement of the MSR as an adhesion molecule for denatured type I collagen. Further analysis by Western blot identified the MSR as the primary receptor for denatured type I collagen among Mphi; proteins purified from a heat-denatured type I collagen affinity column. These findings indicate that Mphis adhere selectively to denatured forms of type I collagen, but not the native fibrillar conformation, via their scavenger receptors.

Exercise effects on lung tumor metastases and in vitro alveolar macrophage antitumor cytotoxicity.

This study examined the effects of moderate and prolonged exercise on 1) lung tumor metastases and 2) alveolar macrophage antitumor response in vitro. C57B1/6 mice were assigned to either Ex-30 (30-min run), Ex-F (run to fatigue), Ex-F-24 h (run to fatigue 24 h before tumor injection), or Con (rested in lanes above the treadmill). Mice received intravenous injections of syngeneic B16 melanoma cells 30 min postexercise. Lungs were removed 7 or 10 days later, and tumor foci were counted. Ex-F had fewer tumors than either Ex-30 or Con, whereas Ex-F-24 h also showed a strong trend toward fewer tumors. The initial localization of tumor cells in the lungs after injection was not different among groups. For the in vitro experiment, mice were killed immediately after exercise or 8 h later. Alveolar macrophages were removed and cultured in vitro with B16 melanoma cells. The growth of the tumors cultured with macrophages from Ex-F was lower than Con after exercise and, to a lesser extent, 8 h later. In Ex-30, this effect was only found immediately after exercise. The data suggest that prolonged exercise has a protective effect on lung tumor metastases and enhances alveolar macrophage antitumor cytotoxicity.

The role of stress hormones in exercise-induced suppression of alveolar macrophage antiviral function.

We hypothesized that a previously observed exercise-induced suppression of alveolar macrophage antiviral resistance results from increases in corticosterone and/or epinephrine. Mice (CD-1) were run to fatigue on a treadmill (exercise), or placed in Plexiglas lanes above the treadmill (control). The role of corticosterone was assessed by further dividing mice into groups receiving one of the following treatments; sham surgery, adrenalectomy, or adrenalectomy plus corticosterone replacement. Macrophage antiviral function was suppressed in the exercised mice compared to the control mice. However, macrophage antiviral function was not suppressed in the exercised mice that underwent adrenalectomy or adrenalectomy plus corticosterone replacement. We tested whether another adrenal factor (epinephrine) may be involved by dividing mice into exercise and control groups treated with either saline or propranolol. Macrophage antiviral function was again suppressed in the saline-treated exercised mice compared to saline-treated control mice, but no differences were found between the exercised mice receiving propranolol, control mice receiving propranolol, or saline-treated control mice. Isoproterenol, when added to alveolar macrophages in culture, also suppressed antiviral resistance. These findings suggest that decreased macrophage antiviral function following exercise may be due to increased release of adrenal catecholamines.