Modulation of cisplatin sensitivity and growth rate of an ovarian carcinoma cell line by bombesin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

A twofold change in the cisplatin (DDP) sensitivity of 2008 human ovarian carcinoma cells is sufficient to reduce tumor response in vivo. The DDP sensitivity of these cells can be enhanced by activation of the epidermal growth factor and protein kinase C signal transduction pathways. We report here that two endogenous growth factors, bombesin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), enhanced DDP sensitivity by factors of 1.7 +/- 0.1 (SD)-fold and 1.8 +/- 0.1 (SD)-fold, respectively. Both agents also produced sensitization in an 11-fold DDP-resistant 2008 subline. Neither bombesin nor TNF alpha changed the accumulation of DDP, glutathione content, or glutathione-S-transferase activity in 2008 cells. However, a 2-h exposure to both bombesin and TNF alpha was sufficient to increase 2008 cloning efficiency by up to 2.6 +/- 0.1 (SD)-fold and 2.2 +/- 0.1 (SD)-fold, and it increased average colony size by 1.35 +/- 0.1 (SD)-fold and 1.55 +/- 0.1 (SD)-fold, respectively. Bombesin increased intracellular free calcium, and this was blocked by the bombesin receptor-specific antagonist SC196, demonstrating that 2008 cells have functional bombesin receptors. These results indicate that bombesin and TNF alpha can enhance sensitivity to DDP in both DDP sensitive and resistant variants of a human ovarian carcinoma and that both agents serve as growth factors for this tumor.

Epidermal growth factor regulates the in vitro sensitivity of human ovarian carcinoma cells to cisplatin.

Cisplatin (DDP) is the most effective drug for the treatment of human ovarian cancer, but the mechanisms that determine sensitivity to the cytotoxic action of DDP are not well understood. Treatment of two human ovarian carcinoma cell lines with epidermal growth factor (EGF) simultaneously increased sensitivity to DDP and caused a persistent change in morphology in the absence of any mitogenic effect. Sensitization to DDP was shown to be dependent on both EGF concentration and EGF receptor number in C127 mouse fibroblasts expressing the human EGF receptor after transfection with a pBPV plasmid construct containing the human EGF receptor gene under control of the transferrin receptor 3'-inducible regulator. Sensitization of human ovarian carcinoma cells to DDP was not blocked by inhibition of protein synthesis. EGF did not enhance sensitivity to DDP or alter morphology in DDP-resistant human ovarian carcinoma cells despite the presence of functional EGF receptors on these cells. These results showed that elements of the signal transduction pathway activated by EGF determined cellular sensitivity to DDP, and that a DDP-resistant phenotype is associated with a defect in this signal transduction pathway.

Comparison of the synergistic potentiation of etoposide, doxorubicin, and vinblastine cytotoxicity by dipyridamole.

Dipyridamole (DPM) enhanced sensitivity to etoposide (VP-16), doxorubicin (DOX), and vinblastine (VBL) in a human ovarian carcinoma cell line that was already relatively sensitive to all three agents. This interaction was shown to be truly synergistic by median effect analysis over a 2 log cell kill. The combination index at 50% cell kill (CI50) was used to quantitate the extent of synergy. The CI50s were 0.42, 0.66, and 0.30 for VP-16, DOX, and VBL, respectively. We compared the effect of DPM on the cellular pharmacology of each chemotherapeutic drug. DPM increased the steady state cellular content of VP-16 by a maximum of 3.2-fold, and that of DOX and VBL by 1.7- and 3.7-fold, respectively. There was a good correlation between the CI50 and the DPM-induced increase in cellular drug content (r = 0.94). DPM had no effect on the initial influx VP-16 or DOX but did increase the initial influx of VBL by 3.5-fold. DPM inhibited the initial efflux of all three compounds. However, there was no relation between the extent of efflux inhibition and the magnitude of the DPM-induced increase in cellular drug content, indicating that DPM must have other effects as well. DPM has chemical characteristics similar to other known modulators of VP-16, DOX, and VBL sensitivity. When compared to verapamil, DPM was as efficacious but twice as potent in its synergistic enhancement of VP-16 sensitivity. These results demonstrate that DPM can markedly increase the cytotoxicity of VP-16, DOX, and VBL and suggest possible clinical applications.

Cellular pharmacology of dichloro(ethylenediamine)platinum(II) in cisplatin-sensitive and resistant human ovarian carcinoma cells.

The cellular pharmacology of the tritium-labeled cisplatin analogue dichloro(ethylenediamine)platinum(II) ([3H]DEP) was compared in cisplatin-sensitive 2008 and resistant 2008/C13*5.25 human ovarian carcinoma cells. The cellular content of total [3H], ultrafiltrable [3H], and free native [3H]DEP was measured during and following incubation with 5 microM [3H]DEP. While the rate constant for [3H]DEP uptake in the resistant cells was reduced to 25% of that in the sensitive cells, DNA intrastrand adduct formation was reduced even further to 11%, indicating the presence of defects in both uptake and the ability of intracellular drug to access or react with DNA. The latter could not be accounted for by enhanced repair. Together, these defects were sufficient to account for the 11-fold level of resistance. At steady state, the intracellular to extracellular concentration ratio for native [3H]DEP was 7.7 in the sensitive cells and 11.7 in the resistant cells, suggesting the presence of a trapping or concentrative mechanism. Thus, despite the slower initial influx, the resistant cells eventually accumulated more free [3H]DEP than the sensitive cells. We conclude that the resistant phenotype in these cells is accounted for primarily by impaired uptake and decreased reaction of [3H]DEP with DNA rather than by changes in efflux or DNA repair.

Dipyridamole enhancement of etoposide sensitivity.

Dipyridamole (DPM) enhanced the sensitivity of human ovarian carcinoma 2008 cells to etoposide (VP-16) producing a 5.5-fold reduction in 50% inhibitory concentration at a DPM concentration of 20 microM. This interaction was shown to be truly synergistic by isobologram and median effect analysis. DPM increased the steady-state VP-16 content of 2008 cells; a DPM concentration of 4 microM increased VP-16 content by 2-fold. DPM was 25 times less potent when cells were incubated in human plasma. In tissue culture medium 96% of the DPM was free, whereas in plasma only 15% was non-protein bound. DPM did not displace VP-16 from proteins under either condition. DPM did not increase the initial influx of VP-16 but did inhibit the initial efflux, reducing the efflux rate constant by 27%. DPM had no effect on the later stages of drug efflux, nor did it irreversibly bind VP-16 in the cell. The effect of DPM was evident within 1 min; once removed, the effect disappeared within 2 min. DPM is a potent nucleoside membrane transport inhibitor and can also inhibit cyclic AMP (cAMP) phosphodiesterase in platelets. Nitrobenzylthioinosine, another nucleoside transport inhibitor which competes for binding with DPM, did not enhance sensitivity to VP-16 or increase VP-16 cellular accumulation and did not block the effect of DPM. In 2008 cells, DPM did not increase cAMP; when cAMP was increased by incubation with dibutyryl cyclic 3':5'-AMP, there was no synergy with VP-16. The results indicate that enhanced sensitivity to VP-16 was not due to an effect of DPM on the protein binding of VP-16 or on cellular cAMP and suggest that it is not directly related to inhibition of nucleoside transport. This effect appears to be a newly identified mechanism of action for this agent.

Expression of the c-Ha-ras oncogene in mouse NIH 3T3 cells induces resistance to cisplatin.

The effect of expression of the c-Ha-ras oncogene on cisplatin (DDP) sensitivity was examined in murine NIH 3T3 cells transfected with the dexamethasone (DEX)-inducible mouse mammary tumor virus promoter linked to an activated c-Ha-ras gene [LTR H-ras(A) cells]. Treatment of these cells with 5 microM DEX for 24 h induced c-Ha-ras expression and produced an 8.2 +/- 1.3-fold (SD) increase in DDP resistance as quantitated by clonogenic assay. Induction of the c-Ha-ras oncogene reduced DDP accumulation by 40% and intrastrand adduct formation by 17%. In nontransfected wild-type NIH 3T3 cells, DEX did not induce DDP resistance nor did it decrease DDP accumulation. Induction of c-Ha-ras expression did not alter cellular glutathione content or the activity of glutathione-S-transferase in the LTR H-ras(A) cells. DEX increased cellular metallothionein content by 1.6-fold in NIH 3T3 cells and 3.3-fold in LTR H-ras(A) cells. We conclude that DEX-induced overexpression of a mutant c-Ha-ras gene confers DDP resistance and that this resistance is associated with an impairment of cellular drug accumulation and an increase in metallothionein content.

An efficient selection producing structural gene mutants of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase resistant to pyrazole.

Selection for resistance to allyl alcohol in respiration-incompetent Saccharomyces cerevisiae produces a high proportion of mutants that can be localized within the ADH2 structural gene and that still, because of the type of selection employed, retain enzyme activity. We show here that a similar type of selection produces a similarly high proportion of mutants resistant to the competitive inhibitor pyrazole. The first four mutants examined, picked at random from a collection of spontaneous pyrazole-resistant mutants, show altered--usually increased--KM values for ethanol and NAD+, and markedly increased K1 values for pyrazole, compared with the wild type. When these kinetic measures and their electrophoretic mobilities were compared, all the mutants could be clearly distinguished from each other as well as from wild type. Genetic analysis shows these mutants to be close to and probably resident in the structural gene. For a variety of reasons, these mutants are even more favorable subjects for population genetic analysis and the dissection of molecular microevolution than are allyl alcohol-resistant mutants.

Initial observations on using magnesium metal in peripheral nerve repair.

Biodegradable magnesium metal filaments placed inside biodegradable nerve conduits might provide the physical guidance support needed to improve the rate and extent of regeneration of peripheral nerves across injury gaps. In this study, we examined basic issues of magnesium metal resorption and biocompatibility by repairing sub-critical size gap injuries (6 mm) in one sciatic nerve of 24 adult male Lewis rats. Separated nerve stumps were connected with poly(caprolactone) nerve conduits, with and without magnesium filaments (0.25 mm diameter, 10 mm length), with two different conduit filler substances (saline and keratin hydrogel). At 6 weeks after implantation, magnesium degradation was examined by micro-computed tomography and histological analyses. Magnesium degradation was significantly greater when the conduits were filled with an acidic keratin hydrogel than with saline (p < 0.05). But magnesium filaments in some animals remained intact for 6 weeks. Using histological and immunocytochemical analyses, good biocompatibility of the magnesium implants was observed at 6 weeks, as shown by good development of regenerating nerve mini-fascicles and only mild inflammation in tissues even after complete degradation of the magnesium. Nerve regeneration was not interrupted by complete magnesium degradation. An initial functional evaluation, determination of size recovery of the gastrocnemius muscle, showed a slight improvement due to magnesium with the saline but not the keratin filler, compared with respective control conduits without magnesium. These results suggest that magnesium filament implants have the potential to improve repair of injured peripheral nerve defects in this rodent model.

Site of disease and opportunistic infection predict survival in HIV-associated tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: Infection with HIV adversely affects survival in patients with tuberculosis (TB), even when TB is effectively treated. The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of survival in HIV-associated TB. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Four US academic medical centers. PATIENTS: An inception cohort of 112 HIV-infected patients (mean age 41 years, 96% men, 46% African American) with their first episode of culture-proven TB. OUTCOMES MEASURES: Observed survival from the date of diagnosis of TB to the date of death or censoring. Independent variables included demographics, HIV-related conditions, risk behavior for HIV, absolute CD4+ counts, and site of disease with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. RESULTS: Of the 112 patients, 54 (48%) had pulmonary TB alone, 36 (32%) had both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB and 22 (20%) had extrapulmonary TB alone. Median CD4+ count was 95 x 10(6)/l (range, 2-767 x 10(6)/l). During follow-up, 45 patients (40%) died. Median survival was shortest in patients with both pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease (8.4 months), followed by extrapulmonary disease alone (15.6 months), then pulmonary disease (30.4 months; P < 0.001, log-rank test). Median survival was also reduced in patients with previous opportunistic infection and in those with CD4+ < 200 x 10(6)/l. In a proportional hazards regression analysis, which adjusted for CD4+ count, extrapulmonary disease and previous opportunistic infection were the only factors independently associated with shorter survival. Of the extrapulmonary sites of disease, TB meningitis was associated with the greatest risk of death. CONCLUSION: The site of culture-proven TB at presentation and the history of previous opportunistic infection are important predictors of survival in HIV-infected patients with TB.

Beta 2-microglobulin, HIV-1 p24 antibody and acid-dissociated HIV-1 p24 antigen levels: predictive markers for vertical transmission of HIV-1 in pregnant Ugandan women.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical utility of plasma beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) levels, acid-dissociated HIV-1 p24 antigen, and HIV-1 p24-antibody titers in predicting HIV-1 vertical transmission in 227 HIV-1-infected Ugandan pregnant women. DESIGN: Plasma beta 2M levels, acid-dissociated HIV-1 p24-antigen positivity, and HIV-1 p24-antibody titers were determined using commercial enzyme immunoassays (EIA) in a Ugandan cohort of 52 HIV-1-seropositive transmitting mothers, 175 HIV-1-seropositive non-transmitting mothers, and 52 seronegative mothers within 6 weeks prior to delivery. RESULTS: Transmitter mothers had significantly higher plasma concentrations of beta 2M (1.80 +/- 1.13 mg/l) than non-transmitter seropositive mothers (1.32 +/- 0.81 mg/l; P = 0.0013). Similarly, a significantly higher proportion of transmitter mothers had detectable p24 antigen than non-transmitter mothers [six out of 51 (11.8%) versus six out of 173 (3.5%); P = 0.03]. Compared with the vertical transmission rate of 23% in the seropositive group, the positive predictive values of a beta 2M level > 1.5 mg/l or detectable HIV-1 p24 antigen for vertical transmission were 34 and 50%, respectively. Five of six (83.3%) seropositive mothers with both a beta 2M level > 1.5 mg/l and detectable p24 antigenemia transmitted HIV-1 infection to their infants compared with 25 of 124 (20.2%) seropositive mothers with values below the cut-off values for both tests (P = 0.00249). However, beta 2M was not found to be a significant independent predictor of vertical transmission when analyzed in a multivariate model with p24 antigenemia. There was no significant difference in HIV-1 p24-antibody titers in transmitter mothers versus non-transmitter mothers (P = 0.299). CONCLUSION: beta 2M levels and acid-dissociated HIV-1 p24-antigen assays may be used to predict which HIV-1-infected pregnant women are at greatest risk for vertical transmission. However, only the p24-antigen test was independently predictive of vertical transmission and its clinical utility is limited.

Impact of pulmonary tuberculosis on survival of HIV-infected adults: a prospective epidemiologic study in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Retrospective cohort studies of tuberculosis suggest that active tuberculosis accelerates the progression of HIV infection. The validity of these findings has been questioned because of their retrospective design, diverse study populations, variable compliance with anti-tuberculous therapy and use of anti-retroviral medication. To assess the impact of tuberculosis on survival in HIV infection we performed a prospective study among HIV-infected Ugandan adults with and without tuberculosis. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, 230 patients with HIV-associated tuberculosis and 442 HIV-infected subjects without tuberculosis were followed for a mean duration of 19 months for survival. To assess changes in viral load over 1 year, 20 pairs of tuberculosis cases and controls were selected and matched according to baseline CD4 lymphocyte count, age, sex and tuberculin skin test status. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 63 out of of 230 tuberculosis cases (28%) died compared with 85 out of 442 controls (19%), with a crude risk ratio of 1.4 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07-1.87]. Most deaths occurred in patients with CD4 lymphocyte counts < 200 x 10(6) cells/l at baseline (n = 99) and occurred with similar frequency in the tuberculosis cases (46%) and the controls (44%). When the CD4 lymphocyte count was > 200 x 10(6)/l, however, the relative risk of death in HIV-associated tuberculosis was 2.1 (95% CI, 1.27-3.62) compared with subjects without tuberculosis. For subjects with a CD4 lymphocyte count > 200 x 10(6)/l, the 1-year survival proportion was slightly lower in the cases than in the controls (0.91 versus 0.96), but by 2 years the survival proportion was significantly lower in the cases than in the controls (0.84 versus 0.91; P < 0.02; log-rank test). For subjects with a CD4 lymphocyte count of 200 x 10(6) cells/l or fewer, the survival proportion at 1 year for the controls was lower than cases (0.59 versus 0.64), but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.53; logrank test). After adjusting for age, sex, tuberculin skin test status, CD4 lymphocyte count, and history of HIV-related infections, the overall relative hazard for death associated with tuberculosis was 1.81 (95% CI, 1.24-2.65). In a nested Cox regression model, the relative hazard for death was 3.0 (95% CI, 1.62-5.63) for subjects with CD4 lymphocyte counts > 200 x 10(6)/l and 1.5 (95% CI, 0.99-2.40) for subjects with a CD4 lymphocyte count of 200 x 10(6)/l or fewer. CONCLUSION: The findings from this prospective study indicate that active tuberculosis exerts its greatest effect on survival in the early stages of HIV infection, when there is a reserve capacity of the host immune response. These observations provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of latent tuberculous infection in HIV-infected persons.

A rapid manual method for CD4+ T-cell quantitation for use in developing countries.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a manual method (Cytosphere) for quantifying CD4+ T-cell numbers. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of HIV-1-seronegative and HIV-1-seropositive individuals evaluated for absolute CD4 counts by both standardized flow cytometric measurements and manual Cytosphere technology using a hemacytometer. SETTING: University research hospitals in both the United States and Africa. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Blood specimens from 382 patients were evaluated. These were broken down into 294 samples obtained from HIV-1-seropositive patients and 88 samples obtained from HIV-1-seronegative patients. INTERVENTIONS: None. OUTCOME MEASURED: Absolute CD4 cell number. RESULTS: Evaluation of samples obtained from HIV-1 patients in both the United States and Africa demonstrated an overall correlation of the Cytosphere assay with flow cytometry of 0.912 (95% confidence interval, 0.895-0.928; P < 0.001). When samples were stratified based on CD4+ T-cell counts determined by flow cytometry, the Cytosphere assay had a 96% predictive value for correctly identifying individuals with CD4 T-cell counts > 200 x 10(6)/l and a 92% predictive value for correctly identifying individuals with CD4 T-cell counts < 200 x 10(6)/l. CONCLUSIONS: This assay appears to have the potential for the quantitation of CD4 cells in the limited laboratory facilities in developing countries and to have a strong correlation with standard flow cytometric technology.

PIP: Clinicians took blood samples from 294 HIV-1 seropositive patients and 88 HIV-1 seronegative patients at Cornell University Medical College and The New York Hospital in New York City, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago, and Makerere University Medical school in Kampala, Uganda, to assess a manual method's (Cytosphere) ability to accurately determine the CD4+ T-cell count. The Cytosphere assay uses latex beads coated with CD4 antibody which are combined with anticoagulated whole blood followed by red cell lysis. A hemacytometer then counts the bead-coated cells. The average technologist only needs 1-3 days of training (20 CD4 practice assays/days) in the Cytosphere assay. The minimal equipment required for the assay are a pipette, a hemacytometer, and a light microscope. The lysing agent inactivates HIV-1. The overall correlation between the standard flow cytometry method and the Cytosphere assay stood at 0.912 and was significant (p .001). When the researchers stratified the samples based on CD4+ T-cell counts defined by flow cytometry, the predictive values of the Cytosphere assay for correctly identifying patients with CD4 T-cell counts greater or less than 200 x 1 million/1 were 96% and 92%, respectively. These findings suggested that the Cytosphere assay has the potential to quantify CD4 cells in the limited laboratories in developing countries. Larger longitudinal studies of HIV seropositive people in developing countries are needed to test the reliability and reproducibility of the assay.

Duration of efficacy of treatment of latent tuberculosis infection in HIV-infected adults.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of latent infection is needed to protect HIV-infected individuals against tuberculosis. A previous report addressed short-term efficacy of three regimens in HIV-infected adults. We now report on long-term efficacy of the study regimens. METHODS: Three daily self-administered regimens were compared in a randomized placebo-controlled trial in 2736 purified protein derivative (PPD)-positive and anergic HIV-infected adults. PPD-positive subjects were treated with isoniazid (INH) for 6 months (6H), INH plus rifampicin for 3 months (3HR), INH plus rifampicin and pyrazinamide for 3 months (3HRZ), or placebo for 6 months. Anergic subjects were randomized to 6H or placebo. RESULTS: 6H initially protected against tuberculosis in PPD-positive individuals; however, benefit was lost within the first year of treatment. Sustained benefit was observed in persons receiving 3HR and 3HRZ. In a Cox regression analysis, the adjusted relative risk for tuberculosis compared with placebo was 0.67 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.42-1.07] for 6H, 0.49 (95% CI, 0.29-0.82) for 3HR, and 0.41 (95% CI, 0.22-0.76) for 3HRZ. When the rifampicin-containing regimens were combined, the adjusted relative risk for tuberculosis compared with placebo was 0.46 (95% CI, 0.29-0.71). Among anergic subjects, a modest degree of protection with 6H was present (adjusted relative risk, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.32-1.16). Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection had no effect on mortality. CONCLUSION: Six months of INH provided short-term protection against tuberculosis in PPD-positive HIV-infected adults. Three month regimens including INH plus rifampicin or INH, rifampicin and pyrazinamide provided sustained protection for up to 3 years.

A phase I/II study of the safety and pharmacokinetics of nevirapine in HIV-1-infected pregnant Ugandan women and their neonates (HIVNET 006).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety, pharmacokinetics, tolerance, antiretroviral activity, and infant HIV infection status after giving a single dose of nevirapine to HIV-1-infected pregnant women during labor and their newborns during the first week of life. DESIGN: An open label phase I/II study. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital, Kampala, Uganda. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Nevirapine, 200 mg, was given as a single dose during labor to 21 HIV-1-infected pregnant Ugandan women. In cohort 1, eight infants did not receive nevirapine whereas in cohort 2, 13 infants received a single dose of nevirapine, 2 mg/kg, at 72 h of age. OUTCOMES: The number and type of adverse events; nevirapine concentrations in the plasma and breast milk; maternal plasma HIV-1 RNA copy number before and up to 6 weeks after delivery; and HIV-1 infection status of the infants were monitored. RESULTS: Nevirapine was well tolerated by women and infants; no serious adverse events that were related to nevirapine were observed. Median nevirapine concentration in the women at delivery was 1623 ng/ml (range 238-2356 ng/ml); median cord/maternal blood ratio of 0.75 (0.37-0.93). The median half-life in women was 61.3 h (27-90 h) and the transplacental nevirapine half-life in infants who did not receive a neonatal dose was 54 h. The median half-life after a single dose at 72 h in infants was 46.5 h. During the first week of life, the median colostrum/breast milk to maternal plasma nevirapine concentration was 60.5% (25-122%). The median nevirapine concentration in breast milk 1 week after delivery was 103 ng/ml (25-309 ng/ml). Plasma nevirapine concentrations were above 100 ng/ml in all infants from both cohorts tested at age 7 days. Maternal HIV-1 RNA levels decreased by a median of 1.3 logs at 1 week postpartum, and returned to baseline by 6 weeks postpartum. Detectable plasma HIV-1 RNA was observed in one out of 22 (4.5%) infants at birth; three out of 21 (14%) at 6 weeks; and four out of 21 (19%) at 6 months of age. CONCLUSION: The administration of a single dose of nevirapine to women during labor and to their newborns at 72 h was well tolerated and showed potent antiretroviral activity in the women at 1 week after dosing without rebound above baseline 6 weeks after a single dose. The nevirapine concentration was maintained above the target of 100 ng/ml in infants at age 7 days, even in those infants not receiving a neonatal dose. This regimen has promise as prophylaxis against intrapartum and early breast milk transmission in a breastfeeding population.

Decreased glutathione results in calcium-mediated cell death in PC12.

Neuronal damage in certain cellular populations in the brain has been linked to oxidative stress accompanied by an elevation in intracellular calcium. Many questions remain about how such oxidative stress occurs and how it affects calcium homeostasis. Glutathione (GSH) is a major regulator of cellular redox status in the brain, and lowered GSH levels have been associated with dopaminergic cell loss in Parkinson's disease (PD). We found that transfection of antisense oligomers directed against glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS), the rate-limiting enzyme in GSH synthesis, into PC12 cells resulted in decreased GSH and increased levels of ROS. Decreased GSH levels also correlated with an increase in intracellular calcium levels. Data from this study suggest that dopaminergic neurons are very sensitive to decreases in the internal oxidant buffering capacity of the cell caused by reductions in GSH levels, and that alterations in this parameter can result in disruption of calcium homeostasis and cell death. These results may be of particular significance for therapeutic treatment of PD, as those dopaminergic neurons that are spared in this disorder appear to contain the calcium binding protein, calbindin.

Decreases in protective enzymes correlates with increased oxidative damage in the aging mouse brain.

We used several biochemical assays to evaluate age-related changes in antioxidant enzyme levels vs. free-radical damage in the murine brain. We found levels of several free-radical scavenging enzymes in the brains of 24-month-old C57B1 male mice vs. 12-month-old animals were decreased, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione reductase (GSSG-Rd). In addition, we found concomitant increases in the levels of several forms of free-radical damage including sensitivity to lipid peroxidation as measured by the thiobarbituric acid test, protein oxidation as measured by glutamine synthetase (Gln Syn) activity, as well as increases in oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels, a measure of oxidative stress. These data suggest that decreases in levels of enzymes which ordinarily protect neuronal cells against oxidative stress with age may be responsible for increased levels of free-radical damage in the murine brain, or that these enzymes themselves are susceptible to inactivation by free radical molecules which increase with age in the brain.

Effects of naloxone on d-amphetamine- and apomorphine-induced behavior.

The effects of acute naloxone administration on d-amphetamine- and apomorphine-induced behavior were studied. Naloxone, in doses of 0.3-10 mg/kg (s.c.), antagonized the increase in ambulation and rearing induced by 1 mg/kg of d-amphetamine. When the dose of d-amphetamine was increased to 3 mg/kg, naloxone (3 mg/kg) antagonized only the increase in rearing activity. No dose (0.3-10 mg/kg, s.c.) of naloxone significantly affected d-amphetamine- or apomorphine-induced stereotyped activity. Naloxone (3 mg/kg) significantly augmented the apomorphine (1 mg/kg, s.c.)-induced increase in ambulation but attenuated the apomorphine (0.3 mg/kg)-induced increase in rearing activity. Naloxone (3 mg/kg) or apomorphine (0.03 mg/kg) significantly decreased the ambulation and rearing induced by a novel environment. In combination and in these doses, naloxone and apomorphine produced an additive effect on these behaviors. The neurochemical mechanisms by which naloxone affects d-amphetamine- and apomorphine-induced behavior were investigated. Naloxone (10(-6) M) had no significant effect on [3H]spiroperidol binding in either the caudate nucleus or nucleus accumbens except for a modest inhibition (24%) of both the Km and Bmax in the accumbens microsomal fraction. Similarly, naloxone (10(-6) M) had no significant effect on [3H]dopamine(DA) uptake into either brain region nor did naloxone alter the d-amphetamine-inhibition of uptake. Using perfused tissue slices, naloxone (10(-6)-10(-5) M) significantly attenuated the increase in [3H]DA release induced by d-amphetamine (10(-5) M) in both brain regions. Naloxone (1 mg/kg) had no significant effect on DA or dihydroxyphenyl-acetic acid (DOPAC) levels or on the DA/DOPAC ratio in the caudate nucleus or nucleus accumbens. However, naloxone did reverse the marked increases in the DA-DOPAC ratio induced by d-amphetamine (1 mg/kg) in both brain regions.

Detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA and p24 antigen in breast milk of HIV-1-infected Ugandan women and vertical transmission.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between the detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in breast milk, the duration of breastfeeding, and vertical transmission of HIV-1 infection in Ugandan women. METHODS: A prospective study of HIV-1 infection in pregnant Ugandan women and their infants has been ongoing since 1990 with follow-up of mother-infant pairs for at least 2 years. Expressed breast milk specimens were collected from 201 HIV-1-seropositive and 86 HIV-1-seronegative Ugandan women approximately 6 weeks after delivery. The presence of HIV-1 DNA in the cellular fraction of the breast milk was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and HIV-1 p24 antigen was detected in the cell-free breast milk supernatant using p24 antigen enzyme immunoassay (EIA) after immune complex dissociation (ICD). The duration of breastfeeding and the clinical status of the mothers and their children were recorded. HIV-1 EIA, Western blot, PCR, or p24 antigen detection were used for the determination of the HIV-1 infection status of the children. RESULTS: Of the 201 HIV-1-infected women studied, 47 had HIV-1-infected children, 143 had children who seroreverted, and 11 had children of indeterminate status. Breast milk supernatants were available for ICD p24 antigen testing from 188 of the HIV-1-infected women and none had detectable p24 antigen. Breast milk cell pellets were available and contained amplifiable DNA in 125 of the HIV-1-infected women (20 transmitters, 104 nontransmitters, 1 indeterminate). HIV-1 DNA was detected by PCR in 72% (75/104) of nontransmitters and 80% (16/20) of the transmitters. The duration of breastfeeding by transmitter mothers (15.8 months) was not significantly different from nontransmitter mothers (14.4 months). CONCLUSIONS: No correlation was found between the detection of HIV-1 in breast milk or the duration of breastfeeding and transmission of HIV-1 infection in this study of Ugandan women.

Effects of cycloheximide and tunicamycin on opiate receptor activities in neuroblastoma X glioma NG108-15 hybrid cells.

The molecular mechanism of opiate receptor down-regulation and desensitization was investigated by studying the effects of cycloheximide and tunicamycin on opiate receptor activities in neuroblastoma X glioma NG108-15 hybrid cells. Cycloheximide inhibited [35S]methionine and [3H]-glucosamine incorporation by hybrid cells, while tunicamycin inhibited [3H]glucosamine incorporation only. Exposing hybrid cells to these two agents did not alter the viability of the cell. Treatment of NG108-15 cells with cycloheximide or tunicamycin produced a decrease in [3H]diprenorphine binding dependent on both time and concentrations of inhibitors, with no measurable modification in the ability of etorphine to regulate intracellular cyclic AMP production. Cycloheximide attenuated [3H]-diprenorphine binding by decreasing both the number of sites, Bmax, and the affinity of the receptor, Kd. Tunicamycin treatment produced a decrease in Bmax with no apparent alteration in Kd values. Cycloheximide and tunicamycin did not potentiate the rate or magnitude of etorphine-induced down-regulation or desensitization of opiate receptor in NG108-15 cells. Furthermore, there was an apparent antagonism in cycloheximide action on receptor down-regulation. The reappearance of opiate binding sites after agonist removal was affected by these two inhibitors. Cycloheximide and tunicamycin eliminated the increase in [3H]diprenorphine binding in the chronic etorphine-treated cells after agonist removal. These two inhibitors did not alter the resensitization of hybrid cells to etorphine. Thus, the site of opiate agonist action to induce receptor down-regulation and desensitization is not at the site of protein synthesis or protein glycosylation. These data substantiate previously reported observations that receptor down-regulation and receptor desensitization are two different cellular adaptation processes.