Galectin-1 suppresses methamphetamine induced neuroinflammation in human brain microvascular endothelial cells: Neuroprotective role in maintaining blood brain barrier integrity.

Methamphetamine (Meth) abuse can lead to the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity leading to compromised CNS function. The role of Galectins in the angiogenesis process in tumor-associated endothelial cells (EC) is well established; however no data are available on the expression of Galectins in normal human brain microvascular endothelial cells and their potential role in maintaining BBB integrity. We evaluated the basal gene/protein expression levels of Galectin-1, -3 and -9 in normal primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC) that constitute the BBB and examined whether Meth altered Galectin expression in these cells, and if Galectin-1 treatment impacted the integrity of an in-vitro BBB. Our results showed that BMVEC expressed significantly higher levels of Galectin-1 as compared to Galectin-3 and -9. Meth treatment increased Galectin-1 expression in BMVEC. Meth induced decrease in TJ proteins ZO-1, Claudin-3 and adhesion molecule ICAM-1 was reversed by Galectin-1. Our data suggests that Galectin-1 is involved in BBB remodeling and can increase levels of TJ proteins ZO-1 and Claudin-3 and adhesion molecule ICAM-1 which helps maintain BBB tightness thus playing a neuroprotective role. Galectin-1 is thus an important regulator of immune balance from neurodegeneration to neuroprotection, which makes it an important therapeutic agent/target in the treatment of drug addiction and other neurological conditions.

Nanotherapeutic approach for opiate addiction using DARPP-32 gene silencing in an animal model of opiate addiction.

Opiates act on the dopaminergic system of the brain and perturb 32 kDa dopamine and adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate-regulated phosphoprotein (DARPP-32) function. The DARPP-32 mediated inhibition of protein phosphatase-1 (PP-1) and modulation of transcriptional factor CREB is critical to the changes in neuronal plasticity that result in behavioral responses during drug abuse. To investigate the role of DARPP-32 mediated signaling on withdrawal behavior in a rat model of opiate addiction, we used intracerebral administration of gold nanorods (GNR) complexed to DARPP-32 siRNA to silence DARPP-32 gene expression and measure its effects on the opiate withdrawal syndrome. We hypothesized that DARPP-32 siRNA will suppress the neurochemical changes underlying the withdrawal syndrome and therefore prevent conditioned place aversion by suppressing or removing the constellation of negative effects associated with withdrawal, during the conditioning procedure. Our results showed that opiate addicted animals treated with GNR-DARPP-32 siRNA nanoplex showed lack of condition place aversive behavior consequent to the downregulation of secondary effectors such as PP-1 and CREB which modify transcriptional gene regulation and consequently neuronal plasticity. Thus, nanotechnology based delivery systems could allow sustained knockdown of DARPP-32 gene expression which could be developed into a therapeutic intervention for treating drug addiction by altering reward and motivational systems and interfere with conditioned responses.

An antidepressant mechanism of desipramine is to decrease tumor necrosis factor-alpha production culminating in increases in noradrenergic neurotransmission.

The monoamine theory of depression proposes decreased bioavailability of monoamines, such as norepinephrine (NE), as the underlying cause of depression. Thus, the antidepressant efficacy of NE-reuptake inhibitors such as desipramine is attributed to increases in synaptic concentrations of NE. The time difference between inhibition of reuptake and therapeutic efficacy, however, argues against this being the primary mechanism. If desipramine elicits its therapeutic efficacy by increasing NE release, in turn, increasing activation of the alpha(2)-adrenergic autoinhibitory receptor, then mimicking this increase with an exogenous agonist (clonidine) should support or even enhance the efficacy of the antidepressant. Intriguingly, simultaneous administration of clonidine with desipramine prevented the cellular and behavioral effects elicited by desipramine alone, in both acute and chronic administration paradigms. These results suggest the involvement of additional factor(s) in the mechanism of antidepressant action of this drug. Desipramine administration results in a virtual ablation of neuron-derived tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), thus implicating an essential role of TNF in the therapeutic efficacy of this antidepressant. Additionally, following chronic administration of desipramine, TNF-regulation of NE release is transformed, from inhibition to facilitation. Here, we demonstrate that a transformation in TNF-regulation of NE release in the brain is a key element in the efficacy of this antidepressant. Interestingly, an increase in neurotransmission prior to the antidepressant's effect on TNF production prevents the efficacy of the antidepressant drug. Thus, the efficacy of desipramine is due to decreased levels of TNF in the brain induced by this drug, ultimately modifying noradrenergic neurotransmission.

Antidepressant drug-induced alterations in neuron-localized tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA and alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor sensitivity.

The pleiotropic cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor activation regulate norepinephrine (NE) release from neurons in the central nervous system. The present study substantiates the role of TNF as a neuromodulator and demonstrates a reciprocally permissive relationship between the biological effects of TNF and alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor activation as a mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs. Immunohistochemical analysis and in situ hybridization reveal that administration of the antidepressant drug desipramine decreases the accumulation of constitutively expressed TNF mRNA in neurons of the rat brain. Superfusion and electrical field stimulation were applied to a series of rat hippocampal brain slices to study the regulation of [(3)H]NE release. Superfusion of hippocampal slices obtained from rats chronically administered the antidepressant drug zimelidine demonstrates that TNF-mediated inhibition of [(3)H]NE release is transformed, such that [(3)H]NE release is potentiated in the presence of TNF, an effect that occurs in association with alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor activation. However, chronic zimelidine administration does not alter stimulation-evoked [(3)H]NE release, whereas chronic desipramine administration increases stimulation-evoked [(3)H]NE release and concomitantly decreases alpha(2)-adrenergic autoreceptor sensitivity. Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that chronic antidepressant drug administration alters alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor-dependent regulation of NE release. Additionally, these data demonstrate that administration of dissimilar antidepressant drugs similarly transform alpha(2)-adrenergic autoreceptors that are functionally associated with the neuromodulatory effects of TNF, suggesting a possible mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs.

Histamine in human breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Histamine inhibits lymphocyte function in vitro at concentrations of greater than 10(-6) mol/l. The aim of this study was to determine whether histamine concentrations in breast cancers were sufficient to produce an immunological effect. METHODS: Tumour and adjacent normal breast content of histamine was measured using a radioenzymatic assay in 29 patients having surgery for breast cancer. RESULTS: The median content of histamine in breast cancer tissue was 5.4 (range 0.9-27.3) microg/g (median concentration 4.5 x 10(-5) mol/l), and was significantly greater than that in adjacent breast tissue (P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: The concentration of histamine in breast cancer was sufficient to inhibit lymphocyte function and could be locally immunosuppressive.

Histamine content in colorectal cancer. Are there sufficient levels of histamine to affect lymphocyte function?

Histamine has been found to stimulate growth of colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo. Histamine has also been found to inhibit lymphocyte activity in vitro at concentrations greater than 10(-7) M. The aim of our study was to determine if the histamine concentrations in human colorectal cancer were sufficient to achieve these effects. We measured the histamine content in 31 colorectal cancer specimens using a radioenzymatic assay. Results were expressed as microgram histamine per gram of fresh tissue weight. Recovery and reproducibility studies were also carried out. The median histamine concentration in colorectal cancer tissue was 8.4 micrograms/g [7.6 x 10(-5)M], ranging from 0.3 microgram/g to 20.6 micrograms/g. The high concentration of histamine in colon cancer is enough to be locally immunosuppressive.

Role and regulation of phospholipase D activity in normal and cancer cells.

PLD is regulated by the small GTP binding proteins Rho and Arf, though predominantly by the latter. The PA product of PLD activation is an activator of Rho-regulated actin stress fibre formation and in invasive cells of MMP-9 synthesis and activation. Together this may explain the increased invasion of cells in response to PA.

In vitro effect of histamine and histamine H1 and H2 receptor antagonists on cellular proliferation of human malignant melanoma cell lines.

Histamine is an established growth factor for gastric and colorectal cancer. Contradictory data for response of melanoma to histamine have been reported. Our aims were to determine the effect of histamine and H1 and H2 receptor antagonists on cell growth and cyclic AMP production. Four human melanoma cell lines were cultured with a range of concentrations of histamine, and with the H2 receptor antagonists cimetidine, ranitidine or famotidine, or the H1 receptor antagonist diphenhydramine. Cellular proliferation was measured by the uptake of [3H]-thymidine. Cyclic AMP production was also measured to determine the receptor status of the cell lines. Histamine significantly stimulated growth in two of four cell lines, with maximal stimulation at 1 x 10(-8) M. This effect was inhibited by all four antagonists in a dose-dependent manner. Histamine [10(-7) to 10(-4) M] also induced a dose-dependent increase in cyclic AMP production in the two histamine-responsive cell lines, suggesting that these cell lines express H2 receptors. We conclude that there may be a role for histamine receptor antagonists in melanoma treatment and that further investigation is warranted.

Treatment of bulboventricular foramen stenosis by ventricle-ascending aorta valved-conduit bypass.

An 8-year-old girl with single ventricle and 1-transposition developed severe stenosis of the bulboventricular foramen. This became critical subsequent to pulmonary banding and a modified Fontan operation. Successful relief of the obstruction was achieved by placing a valved conduit between the ventricle and ascending aorta, thus bypassing the obstruction.

General practitioner obstetrics: does risk prediction work?

The effectiveness of antenatal risk prediction based on maternal characteristics at booking was examined among 5730 pregnant women booked in an integrated general practitioner obstetric unit over a seven-year period. High rates of transfer to consultant care were found especially for nulliparae. Apart from parity, maternal factors associated with transfer before labour were weight, smoking and social class. Factors associated with transfer in labour were maternal stature and marital status. Reasons for transfer were also identified. The validity of the present booking criteria, which were developed in the 1950s, is questioned.

Prenatal diagnosis by amniocentesis and chorionic villus biopsy.

Prenatal diagnosis forms only a small part of day-to-day family practice, but the techniques are of critical importance to couples at risk of having a child affected by genetic disorder. Second trimester amniocentesis will probably be replaced by first trimester chorionic villus biopsy and recombinant DNA technology, but the ethical and moral problems related to prenatal diagnosis are not so easily solved. Family physicians need to examine their own attitudes toward the handicapped before they offer counselling to couples at risk of bearing handicapped children. The controversy over abortion is central to the issue of prenatal diagnosis, and may only be resolved by development of prenatal treatments for certain genetic disorders. Sometimes the only thing we can offer patients is to be with them, in whatever their decisions bring.

Prevention in family practice.

Prevention has had an enormous impact on the health of western nations. Because people are now living longer, educating patients about prevention is becoming increasingly important. Priorities for preventive medicine are reviewed; in office practice, the most important preventive strategies are helping patients to quit smoking, giving advice on nutrition, recommending moderate regular exercise, detecting and treating patients at high risk for suicide, and detecting and treating hypertensive patients. Teachers of family medicine can improve the teaching of prevention by helping to establish liaisons between departments of family medicine and community and preventive health. The future impact of prevention on medical care is also discussed.