Non-fatal case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever imported into the United Kingdom (ex Bulgaria), June 2014.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) was diagnosed in a United Kingdom traveller who returned from Bulgaria in June 2014. The patient developed a moderately severe disease including fever, headaches and petechial rash. CCHF was diagnosed following identification of CCHF virus (CCHFV) RNA in a serum sample taken five days after symptom onset. Sequence analysis of the CCHFV genome showed that the virus clusters within the Europe 1 clade, which includes viruses from eastern Europe.

Role of cyclic AMP and related enzymes in rat lung growth and development.

Cyclic AMP levels in rat lungs showed phasic elevations which peaked during fetal, neonatal and late postnatal periods of development. Lung phospholipids showed major alterations in their levels during fetal and early neonatal life. Alterations in glycogen levels were accompanied by parallel changes in phosphorylase a/total phosphorylase activity which may be related to changes in cyclic AMP during development. Cyclic AMP levels were dependent on the relative activities of adenylate cyclase and cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase which also changed with age. Activation of adenylate cyclase by norepinephrine and NaF, and of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase by calcium, was maximum neonatally and declined variably thereafter. These data suggest a relationship between cyclic AMP, glycogen and phospholipids during rat lung development.

Regulation of rat lung adenylate cyclase by cytoplasmic factor(s) during development.

Basal adenylate cyclase activity in rat lung homogenate was low prenatally but increased several-fold after birth and remained elevated to maturity. The results also demonstrate the appearance of some factor(s) in the lung cytoplasm at a certain age which markedly activated adenylate cyclase. During late gestation and early neonatal life, when the cytoplasmic factor(s) was low or absent, basal adenylate cyclase activity was low and norepinephrine and NaF produced maximum activation of the enzyme. However, when the cytoplasmic factor(s) appeared in the adult lungs, basal adenylate cyclase activity was elevated and both norepinephrine and NaF produced little or no activation of the enzyme. These data suggest a role for the cytoplasmic factor(s) in regulating rat lung adenylate cyclase. The cytoplasmic factor(s) appeared to be a protein since it was inactivated by trypsin digestion and by heating to 75 degrees C. Activation of adenylate cyclase was not due to small ions or other low molecular weight components of the cytoplasm as dialysis of the supernatant did not alter its activation of adenylate cyclase. The cytoplasmic factor(s) did not appear to be either GTP or calcium-dependent regulator of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase as these did not activate the rat lung adenylate cyclase.

Isolation of plasma membranes from rat lungs: effect of age on the subcellular distribution of adenylate cyclase activity.

A simple and rapid method of isolating plasma membranes from rat lungs is described. The method involves homogenization of tissue in isotonic sucrose-buffered medium followed by differential and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Plasma membranes obtained by this procedure were essentially free from other subcellular contamination. Plasma membranes isolated from 2-day-old rat lungs showed 6 to 7-fold purification of adenylate cyclase and 5'-nucleotidase activities compared to the original homogenate. In contrast, plasma membranes from 35-day-old rat lungs showed no purification of adenylate cyclase activity although 5'-nucleotidase activity showed similar enrichment. These results suggest that adenylate cyclase activity is not a reliable marker for plasma membranes from adult rat lungs.

Influence of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on the cytoplasmic factors modulating adenylate cyclase activity in rat lungs.

Basal adenylate cyclase activity in rat lung alveolar tissue particulate fraction was depressed during streptozotocin-induced diabetes. However, the activation of the particulate adenylate cyclase by the cytoplasmic factor(s) was markedly increased in lungs from the diabetic rats. The increased activation of basal adenylate cyclase in the diabetic tissue appeared to be due to an increase in the activity of the cytoplasmic factor(s) and not due to an increase in the sensitivity of the particulate enzyme to the cytoplasmic factor(s). Insulin treatment of the diabetic animals restored the activation of adenylate cyclase by the supernatant activator to the control values. The cytoplasmic factor(s) did not appear to be related to the ubiquitous calcium-dependent regulator protein, calmodulin.

Purification and properties of polyphosphoinositide phosphomonoesterase from rat brain.

1. On subcellular fractionation of rat brain homogenate, polyphosphoinositide phosphomonoesterase activity was greater in the cytosol than the membranous fractions. 2. The enzyme was purified from the cytosol by column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, calcium phosphate gel and Sephadex G-100. 3. The final preparation of the enzyme showed a 430-fold purification over the whole homogenate and appeared to be homogeneous since it gave a single band on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and on isoelectric focusing. The enzyme has a relatively low molecular weight and an isoelectric point of 6.8. 4. The phosphatase showed a high affinity for triphosphoinositide. Without added Mg2+, the Km was 25 muM and V was 33 mumol Pi released/min/mg protein. 5. The enzyme hydrolysed diphosphoinositide at a slower rate than triphosphoinositide. In the presence of 10 mM Mg2+, the Km values for triphosphoinositide and diphosphoinositide were 5 muM and 25 muM respectively and V was the same for each substrate. 6. Both Mg2+ and Ca2+ activated the enzyme. While Ca2+ produced maximum activation at 100 muM, a much higher concentration of Mg2+ (10 mM) was required to elicit comparable activation. The enzyme did not show an absolute requirement for Mg2+ or Ca2+ as it exhibited low activity in the presence of 0.5 mM EDTA or EGTA. 7. The phosphatase showed maximum activity between 7.4 and 7.6. A drop in pH to 7.0 activated it almost completely, whereas an increase in pH to 8.0 halved the activity. 7.0 activated it almost completely, whereas an increase in pH to 8.0 halved the activity.

Partial purification and properties of the cytoplasmic factors modulating adenylate cyclase activity in rat lung plasma membranes.

The adult rat lung supernatant contains some factors which markedly enhance adenylate cyclase activity in membranes (Nijjar, M.S. (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 584, 43-50). These factors were separated into two less active components (peaks 1 and 2) by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. However, their recombination restored the full activation of adenylate cyclase. Further purification and characterization of these factors revealed that the activator in peak 1 contained two proteins of low (14 500) and high (65 000) molecular weight whereas the activator in peak 2 contained only one protein of 65 000. The kinetics of adenylate cyclase activation revealed that both the Km and V values were affected. The data also demonstrate that calmodulin was not involved in the cytoplasmic activation of adenylate cyclase in rat lungs.

Role of phosphatidylinositol in basal adenylate cyclase activity of rat heart sarcolemma.

The adenylate cyclase activity and phospholipid composition were determined in rat heart sarcolemma after treating the membranes with a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. Complete hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol in sarcolemma was associated with a marked loss of the basal adenylate cyclase activity. The recombination of the supernatant with the phosphatidylinositol-depleted membranes was found to reactivate the adenylate cyclase activity. The soluble component(s) in the supernatant, which restored the adenylate cyclase activity, was thermolabile and precipitated by ammonium sulfate. Extensive hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin in sarcolemma with a Clostridium welchii phospholipase C treatment did not affect the basal adenylate cyclase activity. These results suggest that phosphatidylinositol anchors component(s) essential for the expression of basal adenylate cyclase activity to the myocardial cell membrane.

Phosphoinositide breakdown in isolated rat parotid membranes. Stimulation by cholinergic and alpha-adrenergic agonists.

Parotid gland membranes labelled with [3H]inositol were challenged with the cholinergic agonist, carbamylcholine, or with epinephrine in the presence of propranolol. Both agonists caused a significant breakdown of labelled phosphoinositides (17.5%) in membranes suspended in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer. This effect was abolished by the respective antagonists, atropine or phentolamine. The carbamylcholine-induced breakdown of labelled phosphoinositides did not require cytosol. The addition of cytosol alone, or the exposure of membranes to a medium of low ionic strength caused a significant breakdown of phosphoinositides (10-40%). No further breakdown due to the addition of carbamylcholine was observed under these conditions. It is suggested that neurotransmitter-induced breakdown of phosphoinositides is effected by membrane-associated enzyme(s) and can be observed only in a medium of high ionic strength.

Effects of domoate, glutamate and glucose deprivation on calcium uptake by rat brain tissue in vitro.

The toxic effects of excitatory amino acids (EAAs) on the central nervous system appear to be mediated by calcium. Calcium uptake into rat brain tissue slices was studied in the absence and in the presence of domoate and glutamate. Calcium uptake into brain cytoplasm was enhanced by domoate in a concentration-dependent manner. Glutamate also stimulated calcium uptake. Calcium uptake into brain tissue was enhanced markedly by the removal of glucose from the Krebs-Henseleit-Ringer bicarbonate incubation medium. Stimulation of calcium uptake by glucose deprivation increased with incubation time, suggesting the depletion of energy stores, i.e. ATP, which is necessary for calcium transport in brain tissue. Replacement of NaCl with choline chloride in the incubation medium also enhanced calcium uptake into brain tissue cytosol. The removal of both glucose and NaCl from the medium produced an additive effect on calcium uptake, indicating independent mechanisms of action. NaF stimulated calcium uptake into brain tissue more in the presence of glucose than in its absence. Since NaF is an inhibitor of glucose metabolism, these results indicate that glucose metabolism is somehow linked to calcium transport in brain tissue. Since ATP is required by calcium pumps, which extrude as well as store calcium in nervous tissue cells, depletion of ATP, either in the absence of glucose or when glucose metabolism is blocked by NaF, may be responsible for the accumulation of calcium in the brain tissue cytosol, and for the neurotoxicity induced by domoate and glutamate.

Relationship between domoic acid levels in the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and toxicity in mice.

Monitoring of eastern blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), contaminated with domoic acid, involved mouse bioassays and quantitative analysis using HPLC. Mice undergo a typical scratching syndrome at sublethal as well as lethal doses of domoic acid. The onset of scratching behaviour and time of death in mice were inversely related to the dosage of domoic acid. An LD50 (i.p.) of 3.6 mg domoic acid/kg mouse was calculated. Toxic mussels held in tanks and flushed with uncontaminated sea water showed a decline in domoic acid concentration in mussel tissue with time. In addition, domoic acid concentrations in mussels from two infected rivers declined to negligible levels in 40-50 days under normal environmental conditions. The bulk of domoic acid and toxicity was located in the hepatopancreas which also contained large amounts of chlorophyll-A, an algae biomass indicator, relative to control mussels. These results support the conclusion that domoic acid was the primary causative factor in the shellfish poisonings from Prince Edward Island mussels in late 1987.

Role of cyclic adenosine monophosphate in rat lung development.

The objective of this study was to identify the biochemical mechanisms concerned with pulmonary growth and development. The data show that cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), adenylate cyclase, cAMP phosphodiesterase, and their regulation by intracellular modulators are important to the development of rat lungs. The presence in rat lung cytoplasm of factors modulating adenylate cyclase activity is described. These factors appear to be important physiologically as they are present in vivo, they appear in the cytoplasm at a specific age, and their activity is altered by diabetes and adrenalectomy and restored to original levels by administration of insulin and dexamethasone, respectively. The cytoplasmic activation of adenylate cyclase appears to be due to multiple proteins that can be resolved into less active components by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Recombination of these proteins not only restored activity to the original level but actually resulted in more than additive activation, indicating some interdependence and positive cooperativity among the different components to maximally stimulate adenylate cyclase activity. The rat lung cytoplasmic activator protein regulates adenylate cyclase by a mechanism different from those reported for epinephrine, NaF, 5'-guanylimidophosphate, and calmodulin.

Domoic acid-induced neurodegeneration resulting in memory loss is mediated by Ca2+ overload and inhibition of Ca2+ + calmodulin-stimulated adenylate cyclase in rat brain (review).

Domoic acid is a shellfish toxin which produces neurodegeneration and CNS dysfunction, notably a loss of short-term memory. This toxin was found in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) cultivated in river water in the east coast of Prince Edward Island in Canada and caused human poisoning. The toxin was localized in the stomach of blue mussels, which was engorged with algae, Nitzschia pungens, that were filtered from the surrounding water. The toxin was isolated from contaminated mussels or phytoplankton, and identified chemically as domoic acid (DOM) which is a tricarboxylic amino acid. Due to its structural resemblance to glutamic, aspartic and kainic acids, DOM was considered to produce excitotoxicity by similar mechanism(s). However, the latest evidence indicates differences in its mode of action from these excitatory agonists. We propose that DOM induces toxicity via changes in intracellular concentration of Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). Results of our studies demonstrate that DOM elevated [Ca2+]i in brain slices. Glucose deprivation and removal of Na+ from the Krebs-bicarbonate medium further elevated [Ca2+]i, suggesting a relationship between glucose metabolism (cell energy), Na+ and Ca2+ transfer across neuronal membrane. DOM-induced rise in [Ca2+]i was due to enhanced Ca2+ influx and its mobilization from the endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, diminished Ca2+-ATPase activity due to lack of ATP, and variable amounts and expression of calcium binding proteins (CaBP) appear to contribute to an elevation in [Ca2+]i in response to DOM. Most interestingly, DOM inhibited Ca2+ and calmodulin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in brain membranes, resulting in reduced level of cyclic AMP. Cyclic AMP is known to activate protein kinase A to enhance phosphorylation of Ca2+ channels, thereby, reducing Ca2+ influx to prevent the development of Ca2+ overload which is detrimental to neuronal cell function (neuroprotection). However, DOM reduced cyclic AMP level, diminishing the feedback control of cyclic AMP on Ca2+ influx via Ca2+ channels, thereby, allowing continuing enhanced Ca2+ influx, resulting in Ca2+ overload which adversely affects many intracellular processes to induce toxicity. Ca2+ and CaM-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in brain is highly correlated with the acquisition and retention of memory in different organisms. Calcium binding proteins bind Ca2+ reversibly and provide intracellular Ca2+ buffering, thereby, protecting neuronal cell from damage by Ca2+ overload in response to DOM. DOM appears to interfere with the cross talk between Ca2+ and cyclic AMP which is necessary for neuronal cell function. We have also demonstrated that DOM stimulates GLU release from synaptosomes and may produce some of its toxic effects via excess GLU in the neuronal synapse. In conclusion, DOM-induced neurodegeneration resulting in a loss of memory is mediated by Ca2+ overload, inhibition of Ca2+ and CaM-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, and/or by the enhanced GLU release in rat brain.

Ventilation-induced release of phosphatidylcholine from neonatal-rat lungs in vitro.

Factors regulating the release of phosphatidylcholine (PC) from neonatal-rat lungs were investigated. The results show that the release of prelabelled PC from the newborn-rat lung was augmented by air ventilation at the onset of breathing. This response was mimicked in lungs of pups delivered 1 day before term and allowed to breathe for different time intervals. Anoxia further augmented the ventilation-enhanced PC release from the newborn-rat lungs. The ventilation-induced release of PC was not abolished by the prior treatment of pups in utero or mothers in vivo with phenoxybenzamine, propranolol or atropine, suggesting the lack of receptor stimulation in the ventilation-enhanced PC release at birth. The results also show that ventilation stimulated [methyl-14C]choline incorporation into lung PC, presumably to replenish the depleted surfactant stores. The ratio of adenylate cyclase/cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities, which reflects cyclic AMP levels in the developing rat lungs, did not change during the 120 min of air ventilation when the release of PC was much enhanced, implying that cyclic AMP may not be involved. This confirms our conclusion that stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptor was not involved in the air-ventilation-enhanced release of PC. Since the cell number or size did not change during 120 min of ventilation when the alveolar-cell surface was maximally distended, it is suggested that distension of alveolar wall by air ventilation at the onset of breathing may bring the lamellar bodies containing surfactant close to the luminal surface of alveolar type II cells, thereby enhancing their fusion and extrusion by exocytosis.

Domoic acid inhibits adenylate cyclase activity in rat brain membranes.

Adenylate cyclase activity measured by the formation of cyclic AMP in rat brain membranes was inhibited by a shellfish toxin, domoic acid (DOM). The inhibition of enzyme was dependent on DOM concentration, but about 50% of enzyme activity was resistant to DOM-induced inhibition. Rat brain supernatant resulting from 105,000 x g centrifugation for 60 min, stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in membranes. Domoic acid abolished the supernatant-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. The brain supernatant contains factors which modulate adenylate cyclase activity in membranes. The stimulatory factors include calcium, calmodulin, and GTP. In view of these findings, we examined the role of calcium and calmodulin in DOM-induced inhibition of adenylate cyclase in brain membranes. Calcium stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in membranes, and further addition of calmodulin potentiated calcium-stimulated enzyme activity in a concentration dependent manner. Calmodulin also stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, but further addition of calcium did not potentiate calmodulin-stimulated enzyme activity. These results show that the rat brain membranes contain endogenous calcium and calmodulin which stimulate adenylate cyclase activity. However, calmodulin appears to be present in membranes in sub-optimal concentration for adenylate cyclase activation, whereas calcium is present at saturating concentration. Adenylate cyclase activity diminished as DOM concentration was increased, reaching a nadir at about 1 mM. Addition of calcium restored DOM-inhibited adenylate cyclase activity to the control level. Similarly, EGTA also inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in brain membranes in a concentration dependent manner, and addition of calcium restored EGTA-inhibited enzyme activity to above control level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)