Fibrin regulates neutrophil migration in response to interleukin 8, leukotriene B4, tumor necrosis factor, and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine.

We have examined the capacity of four different chemoattractants/cytokines to promote directed migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) through three-dimensional gels composed of extracellular matrix proteins. About 20% of PMN migrated through fibrin gels and plasma clots in response to a gradient of interleukin 8 (IL-8) or leukotriene B4 (LTB4). In contrast, < 0.3% of PMN migrated through fibrin gels in response to a gradient of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) or formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). All four chemoattractants stimulated PMN to migrate through gels composed of collagen IV or of basement membrane proteins (Matrigel), or through filters to which fibronectin or fibrinogen had been adsorbed. PMN stimulated with TNF or FMLP adhered and formed zones of close apposition to fibrin, as measured by the exclusion of a 10-kD rhodamine-polyethylene glycol probe from the contact zones between PMN and the underlying fibrin gel. By this measure, IL-8- or LTB4-treated PMN adhered loosely to fibrin, since 10 kD rhodamine-polyethylene glycol permeated into the contact zones between these cells and the underlying fibrin gel. PMN stimulated with FMLP and IL-8, or FMLP and LTB4, exhibited very little migration through fibrin gels, and three times as many of these cells excluded 10 kD rhodamine-polyethylene glycol from their zones of contact with fibrin as PMN stimulated with IL-8 or LTB4 alone. These results show that PMN chemotaxis is regulated by both the nature of the chemoattractant and the composition of the extracellular matrix; they suggest that certain combinations of chemoattractants and matrix proteins may limit leukocyte movements and promote their localization in specific tissues in vivo.

The 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of cows' milk.

The 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of liquid milk was examined. Of the three peaks observed, the two larger were assigned to inorganic phosphate (Pi) and the seryl phosphate (SerP) residues of casein; the third peak was assigned to a phosphodiester, which is probably glycerophosphoryl choline. The pH-dependences of the chemical shifts of the Pi and SerP were measured with and without added EDTA, and the results confirm the assignments. The width of the Pi peak in milk is significantly greater than in similar solutions lacking casein, probably because of binding to, or chemical exchange with, the casein micelle. Most of the SerP residues in milk are not sufficiently mobile to have been detected in these experiments but a significant fraction of SerP residues is able to move freely and can be titrated.

Phytate hydrolysis in rat gastrointestinal tracts, as observed by 31P Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Phytate hydrolysis was followed through rat gastrointestinal tracts by (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. No phytate hydrolysis products were detected in the diet, stomach, or small intestine. It was concluded that cecal bacteria were responsible for phytate hydrolysis, which continued in the colon and fecal pellet.

NMR spectroscopy of dental materials. I. 31P studies on phosphate-bonded cement liquids.

Phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of phosphoric acid solutions containing zinc and aluminium indicates that zinc forms simple salts in solution, whereas aluminium forms a number of complexes, some of which are polymeric. The formation of the aluminophosphoric acid complexes controls the gelation and strengthening of the dental silicate cement and prevents the formation of crystalline zinc phosphate in the zinc phosphate cement.

Enhancement of air filtration using electric fields.

Although polarized electrostatic air filters are efficient air filtrating devices, their main disadvantages are difficulty in collecting conductive particles or in operating at relative humidities above 70%. We describe here a new filter design that eliminates these problems. A nonconductive media, normally a glass fiber mat, is placed between two insulated conductive screens. As the voltage across the screens is increased, the penetration of particles decreases exponentially. Increasing the electric field from 0 to 10 kV/cm will decrease the mass penetration from 60% to less than 10% of a polydispersed 0.8 micrometer ammd(sigma g = 2.0) sodium chloride aerosol. The experimental effects of face velocity, particle charge and size, packing density, fiber size, and screen insulation mirror the theoretical effects of these variables on particle penetration.