LH-21 and abnormal cannabidiol improve ß-cell function in isolated human and mouse islets through GPR55-dependent and -independent signalling.

AIMS: To examine the effects of Abn-CBD (GPR55 agonist) and LH-21 (CB1 antagonist) on human and mouse islet function, and to determine signalling via GPR55 using islets from GPR55-/- mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Islets isolated from human organ donors and mice were incubated in the absence or presence of Abn-CBD or LH-21, and insulin secretion, [Ca2+ ]i, cAMP, apoptosis, ß-cell proliferation and CREB and AKT phosphorylation were examined using standard techniques. RESULTS: Abn-CBD potentiated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and elevated [Ca2+ ]i in human islets and islets from both GPR55+/+ and GPR55-/- mice. LH-21 also increased insulin secretion and [Ca2+ ]i in human islets and GPR55+/+ mouse islets, but concentrations of LH-21 up to 0.1 µM were ineffective in islets from GPR55-/- mice. Neither ligand affected basal insulin secretion or islet cAMP levels. Abn-CBD and LH-21 reduced cytokine-induced apoptosis in human islets and GPR55+/+ mouse islets, and these effects were suppressed after GPR55 deletion. They also increased ß-cell proliferation: the effects of Abn-CBD were preserved in islets from GPR55-/- mice, while those of LH-21 were abolished. Abn-CBD and LH-21 increased AKT phosphorylation in mouse and human islets. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that Abn-CBD and LH-21 improve human and mouse islet ß-cell function and viability. Use of islets from GPR55-/- mice suggests that designation of Abn-CBD and LH-21 as a GPR55 agonist and a CB1 antagonist, should be revised.

Silylation of a Co/SiO2 catalyst. Characterization and exploitation of the CO hydrogenation reaction.

Several silylated- and nonsilylated Co/SiO2 catalysts have been prepared by reaction of the surface silanol groups with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS). These samples have been characterized by means of N2 adsorption isotherms, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (29Si and 1H), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and diffuse reflectance IR spectroscopy. We have focused on the study of the silylated surface stability at high temperatures and in different atmospheres. The characterization techniques have shown that silica silylation after cobalt impregnation leads to a silylated SiO2 surface composed of hydrophobic Si-(CH3)3 species highly stable up to 600-650 K in both oxidizing and reducing atmospheres. However, X-ray diffraction and temperature-programmed reduction have shown that the hydrophobic nature of the silica surface does not affect the metal dispersion and its reducibility. The materials prepared in this way have been tested as catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction. The CO conversion reaction rate increased over the silylated catalyst, probably as a consequence of the higher number of available active sites because water adsorption over the catalyst surface is impeded. However, catalyst deactivation was not affected by the hydrophobic nature of the support, suggesting that carbon deposition is the more probable mechanism of cobalt-based catalyst deactivation during the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.

Inhibition of glutaminase expression increases Sp1 phosphorylation and Sp1/Sp3 transcriptional activity in Ehrlich tumor cells.

Tumor cells expressing antisense glutaminase RNA show a drastic inhibition of glutaminase activity and they acquire a more differentiated phenotype. We have studied the expression of Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors in both Ehrlich tumor cells and their derivative 0.28AS-2 antisense glutaminase expressing cells. The expression of phosphorylated Sp1 in 0.28AS-2 cells was 3-fold the expression in EATC. Full length Sp3 was also incremented in 0.28AS-2 cells. Sp1 and Sp3 binding to a consensus Sp1 probe was higher in 0.28AS-2 nuclear extracts, as determined by supershift assays. Sp1-DNA binding was inhibited by phosphatase treatment, demonstrating that phosphorylation of Sp1 is critical for its DNA binding capacity. The Sp1 and Sp3 DNA binding found in 0.28AS-2 cells was also correlated with an increased Sp1 activity, as shown in transient transfections assays carried out with a luciferase reporter plasmid. Incubation of Ehrlich tumor cells with the differentiation agent PMA could not totally reproduce the Sp1/Sp3 changes observed in 0.28AS-2 cells. However, it was demonstrated that the intracellular concentration of glutamine, but not glutamate or aspartate, is increased in 0.28AS-2 cells. In conclusion, the antisense inhibition of glutaminase leads to an increased expression of phosphorylated Sp1 and that correlates with an increase in Sp1 activity.