Amperometric determination of choline released from rat submandibular gland acinar cells using a choline oxidase biosensor.

A choline (CHO) biosensor based on the determination of H(2)O(2) generated at the electrode surface by the enzyme choline oxidase (CHOx) was developed. The biosensor consisted of CHOx retained onto a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) immobilized solid carbon paste electrode (sCPE). The HRPsCPE contained the molecule phenothiazine as redox mediator and CHOx was physically retained on the electrode surface using a dialysis membrane. Several parameters have been studied such as, mediator amount, influence of applied potential, etc. The CHO measurements were performed in 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. Amperometric detection of CHO was realized at an applied potential of 0.0 mV vs Ag/AgCl. The response is linear over the concentration range 5.0x10(-7)-7.0x10(-5) M, with a detection limit of 1.0x10(-7) M. This biosensor was used to detect choline released from phosphatidylcholine (PC) by phospholipase D (PLD) in isolated rat salivary gland cells stimulated by a purinergic agonist (ATP).

Distinct regulation by lipopolysaccharides of the expression of interleukin-1ß by murine macrophages and salivary glands.

The regulation of interleukin (IL)-1 expression and secretion by salivary glands and macrophages in response to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) was compared. In wild-type mice, injection of LPS significantly decreased the volume of saliva stimulated by pilocarpine and increased its protein and amylase concentration. It did not modify the salivary concentration of IL-1ß. The cytokine was expressed by submandibular acini and ducts. Macrophages also expressed IL-1ß but at lower concentration than salivary glands. The pre-incubation of macrophages with LPS increased the phosphorylation of IκB and the expression of IL-1ß. Adenosine triphosphate also promoted the secretion of the cytokine by these cells. These responses were absent in submandibular gland cells. These glands expressed CD14, TLR4 and MyD88. P2X(7)-KO mice secreted a lower volume of saliva which contained less proteins and amylase. In conclusion, IL-1ß is constitutively expressed by submandibular glands and its secretion is not regulated by a P2X(7) agonist. In these cells, LPS do not activate the nuclear factor-κB-pro-IL-1ß axis in spite of the expression of the proteins involved in their recognition.

Cholesterol depletion perturbs calcium handling by rat submandibular glands.

The sensitivity to cholesterol depletion of calcium handling by rat submandibular glands was investigated. The glands were digested with collagenase. After homogenization, the lysate was extracted at 4 degrees C with 0.5% Triton X-100 and the extract was submitted to an ultracentrifugation in a sucrose discontinuous gradient. A population of detergent-resistant membranes (DRM) was collected at the 5%-35% interface. The DRM had a higher content of cholesterol, saturated and long-chain fatty acids. Caveolin-1 and alpha(q/11) were located in these membranes. They were more ordered than vesicles from total cellular lysate as determined by anisotropy measurement. They disappeared after cholesterol extraction with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MCD). Exposure of the cellular suspension with MCD nearly abolished the response to carbachol, epinephrine, and substance P and inhibited the activation of phospholipase C (PLC) by these agonists and by sodium fluoride. MCD did not affect the mobilization of intracellular pools of calcium by thapsigargin. It increased the uptake of extracellular calcium or barium and did not inhibit the uptake of calcium after depletion of the intracellular stores of this ion. From these results, it is concluded that Triton X-100 can extract a fraction of membrane resistant to detergents. Treatment of the cells with MCD disrupts these membranes. The coupling between the heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein G(q/11) and poly-phosphoinositide-specific PLC is affected by disruption of these membrane fractions. At the opposite, the store-operated calcium channel (SOCC) is not affected by DRM-disruption.

Synthesis and enzymatic polymerisation of 5-amino-1-(2'-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)imidazole-4-carboxamide-5'- triphosphate.

The chemical synthesis of 5-amino-1-(2'-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)imidazole-4-carboxamide, referred to as dZ, and of its 5'-triphosphate derivative (dZTP), from 2'-deoxyinosine is described. The polymerisation of dZTP using terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase to give a homopolymer is also presented.