Laser photosensitization of cells by hypericin.

Administering a light dose of 90 J/cm2 at 599 nm during incubation with hypericin to a highly differentiated normal epithelial cell line (FRTL-5), derived from Fisher rat thyroid, and to a neoplastic cell line (MPTK-6), derived from the lung metastases of a thyroid carcinoma induced in Fisher rats, produces cell kill at drug doses 1000 times lower than those necessary to cause the same mortality in the dark. The photocytocidal activity of this polycyclic quinone drug on neoplastic cells is superior to that of antitumor anthraquinone drugs, such as daunomycin and mitoxanthrone, and to the photosensitized antiviral activity previously reported for hypericin.

Kinetic transport analysis of daunorubicin by LoVo and LoVo/DX cells.

We describe a fluorometric technique for the measurement of transport parameters of fluorescent drugs through cellular membranes. Unlike other procedures, this method gives an accurate measure of drug accumulated in the cells and measures the fraction of free and bound drug in the cell. The kinetic parameters of transport through cellular membranes are determined using a simple three-compartment model combined with fluorescence measurements performed on the extracellular medium and on Triton-permeabilized cells during daunorubicin incorporation. With this technique we found that LoVo cells have a greater daunorubicin uptake, a similar input rate constant and a lower output rate constant than the drug-resistant LoVo/DX cells.

[Clinico-pathological evaluation of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia]. / Valutazione clinico-patologica in pazienti affetti da ipercolesterolemia familiare omozigote.

The authors have studied 8 patients with Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FHO) an autosomal genetic dominant disease due to mutation of the gene encoding a cell surface receptor for LDL. Anatomic and pathologic abnormalities caused by LDL-cholesterol and B-Apolipoprotein high plasma levels were found. We also measured malondialdehyde levels in plasma and atherosclerotic plaques of the only autoptic case observed. MDA-levels are an index of lipid peroxidation. Cutaneous xanthomatosis lesions and severe cardiovascular disease were also present.

[Angiotensin II stimulates endothelin-1 release from human endothelial cells]. / L'angiotensina II stimola il rilascio di endotelina-1 da cellule endoteliali umane.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is an endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor peptide isolated from the culture supernatant of porcine aortic endothelial cells. This 21 amino-acid residue peptide has potent vasoconstrictive properties in vitro and in vivo. ET-1 action involves phosphatidylinositol turnover, calcium mobilization and protein kinase C activation. Endothelial cells have distinct receptors for different operating through hydrosoluble hormones. The aim of this study was to investigate on a possible role of angiotensin II (ANG II) to modulate the release ET-1 from human endothelial cells in vitro. These data revealed a time- and a dose-dependent increase of ET-1 production in response to ANG II. This mechanism may have important pathophysiological implications in vivo. In fact, a double-mechanism of secretion of ET-1 from endothelial cells could exist: one active in a physiological condition and an other in response to a vasoconstrictor stimuli (as well as ANG II). Furthermore, these results may suggest an additional favourable effect of ACE-inhibition in human hypertension therapy.

Histological findings and evidence of lipid conjugated dienes and malonyldialdehyde in human fetal aortas.

Recent evidence strongly suggests that peroxidative modification of lipids may play a significant role in atherogenesis. In our present research, we investigated if the oxidative stress mediated by oxygen free radicals was a pathophysiologic condition that occurred in the early stages of human development. Thus the aim of this research was to examine lipid peroxidation in human fetal aortas. Human fetal aortas and proximal iliac arteries (n = 8) were obtained from fetuses aged 7 +/- 2 months, immediately after autopsy. Lipids from the initial fatty streak lesions (LFS) and the vessels uninvolved (LUV) were extracted by the chloroform/methanol method. Lipid peroxidation levels were measured by two different methods: determination of lipid conjugate dienes (the spectrum trend was recorded from 320 to 200 nm with a spectrophotometer) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) content (TBA method). We observed that lipid conjugated dienes were present in LFS, but not in LUV, with a characteristic absorption peak at 233 nm. In addition, MDA levels were significantly higher when the LFS = 3.85 +/- 0.91 nmol than when the LUV = 0.41 +/- 0.12 nmol (p < 0.001 versus LUV). The presence of lipid peroxidation in our samples could be mediated by free radical production in the first stages of human development. Thus these data suggest that LFS peroxidation mediated by free radicals occurs in the vascular circulation in the early stages of human development. This could influence the progression of vascular damage and atherosclerotic disease.

Role of arterial hypertension in plasma secretion of prostacyclin during renal failure in man.

Cardiac function and morphology in chronic hemodialyzed patients are modified in consequence of both vascular and neurohormonal factors. In the present study we investigate on the role of prostacyclin (PGI2) vasodilator agent, during hemodialytic (HD) treatment. Twenty-four patients (13 males and 11 females; 9 hypertensive and 15 normotensive) aged 58.5 +/- 14.4 years were studied; 2.5 ml of venous blood were collected before (time 0) and 15', 120', and 240' of dialytic session. The PGI2 levels were measured in plasma, after extraction in ethyl acetate by RIA method, as levels of 6-Keto-PGF1 alpha, a stable metabolite. The results have shown as increase of PGI2 levels at 15' in hypertensive HD patients (HHD) from the begin of dialysis that increased until 240'. This phenomenon was more significant in hypertensive than in normotensive group (NHD) (p < 0.05 vs NHD). These preliminary data suggest that in HHD patients the role of PGI2 is more important than in NHD patients as regards the effects on regulation of circulatory tone. The increment of PGI2 levels could be in relation with the sympathetic activation occurred during hemodialytic treatment.