Glucose biosensor based on functionalized ZnO nanowire/graphite films dispersed on a Pt electrode.

We present a glucose biosensor based on ZnO nanowire self-sustained films grown on compacted graphite flakes by the vapor transport method. Nanowire/graphite films were fragmented in water, filtered to form a colloidal suspension, subsequently functionalized with glucose oxidase and finally transferred to a metal electrode (Pt). The obtained devices were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The electrochemical responses of the devices were determined in buffer solutions with successive glucose aggregates using a tripolar electrode system. The nanostructured biosensors showed excellent analytical performance, with linear response to glucose concentrations, high sensitivity of up to ≈17 µA cm(-2) mM(-1) in the 0.03-1.52 mM glucose concentration range, relatively low Michaelis-Menten constant, excellent reproducibility and a fast response. The detection limits are more than an order of magnitude lower than those achievable in commercial biosensors for glucose control, which is promising for the development of glucose monitoring methods that do not require blood extraction from potentially diabetic patients. The strong detection enhancements provided by the functionalized nanostructures are much larger than the electrode surface-area increase and are discussed in terms of the physical and chemical mechanisms involved in the detection and transduction processes.

[Distal coronary thrombosis during L-asparaginase treatment for an acute lymphoblastic leukaemia]. / Thrombose coronaire distale compliquant une leucémie aiguë lymphoblastique traitée par asparaginase.

A 53-year-old man is treated by L-asparaginase for an acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. He received anti thrombin infusions. A systematic electrocardiogram showed an asymptomatic subepicardium ischemia without troponin elevation. Echocardiography and heart magnetic resonance imaging showed an apical thrombus facing a zone of myocardial necrosis. A thrombus regression was observed under anticoagulation. Atypical and asymptomatic coronary thrombosis may occur following L-asparaginase treatment. Regular electrocardiogram monitoring is proposed along this treatment. Arterial thrombosis associated with anti tumor chemotherapies are reviewed.

Syndecans serve as attachment receptors for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 on macrophages.

Macrophages are thought to represent one of the first cell types in the body to be infected during the early stage of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission and represent a potential viral reservoir in vivo. Thus, an understanding of HIV-1 attachment to these cells is fundamental to the development of novel anti-HIV-1 therapies. Although one of the major targets of HIV-1 in vivo--CD4(+) T lymphocytes--express high CD4 levels, other major targets such as macrophages do not. We asked in this study whether this low CD4 level on macrophages is sufficient to support HIV-1 attachment to these cells or whether cell surface proteins other than CD4 are required for this process. We show that CD4 alone is not sufficient to support the initial adsorption of HIV-1 to macrophages. Importantly, we find that heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) serve as the main class of attachment receptors for HIV-1 on macrophages. Most importantly, we demonstrate that a single family of HSPGs, the syndecans, efficiently mediates HIV-1 attachment and represents an abundant class of attachment receptors on macrophages.

A randomized double-blind trial of intravenous trimetazidine as adjunctive therapy to primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Despite high patency rates, primary angioplasty for myocardial infarction does not necessarily result in optimal myocardial reperfusion and limitation of infarct size. Experimentally, trimetazidine limits infarct size, decreases platelet aggregation, and reduces leukocyte influx into the infarct zone. To assess trimetazidine as adjunctive therapy to primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial was performed. METHODS: 94 patients with acute myocardial infarction were randomized to receive trimetazidine (40 mg bolus followed by 60 mg/day intravenously for 48 h) (n=44) or placebo (n=50), starting before recanalization of the infarct vessel by primary angioplasty. Patients underwent continuous ST-segment monitoring to assess return of ST-segment deviation to baseline and presence of ST-segment exacerbation at the time of vessel recanalization. Infarct size was measured enzymatically from serial myoglobin measurements. Left ventricular angiography was performed before treatment and repeated at day 14. RESULTS: Blinded ST segment analysis showed that despite higher initial ST deviation from baseline in the trimetazidine group (355 (32) vs. 278 (29) microV, P=0.07), there was an earlier and more marked return towards baseline within the first 6 h than in the placebo group (P=0.014) (change: 245 (30) vs. 156 (31) microV respectively, P=0.044). There was a trend towards less frequent exacerbation of ST deviation at the time of recanalization in the trimetazidine group (23.3 vs. 42.2%, P=0.11). There was no difference in left ventricular wall motion at day 14, or in enzymatic infarct size. There was no side effect from treatment. Clinical outcomes were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: Trimetazidine was safe and led to earlier resolution of ST-segment elevation in patients treated by primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 hijacks host cyclophilin A for its attachment to target cells.

Our laboratory has identified a new facet of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) entry. We demonstrated that the incorporation of host cyclophilin A (CypA) into nascent viruses is absolutely required for HIV-1 attachment to target cells. Although CypA is initially incorporated into the interior of the virus, we found that during maturation CypA relocates to the viral surface. Our work indicates that exposed CypA mediates HIV-1 attachment to target cells via heparans. We believe that this interaction between CypA and heparan represents the initial step in HIV-1 entry.

Host cyclophilin A mediates HIV-1 attachment to target cells via heparans.

The present study proposes a novel mode of action for cyclophilin A (CypA) in the HIV-1 life cycle. We demonstrate that CypA-deficient viruses do not replicate because they fail to attach to target cells. We show that CypA is exposed at the viral membrane and mediates HIV-1 attachment. We identify heparan as the exclusive cellular binding partner for CypA. Furthermore, CypA binds directly to heparan via a domain rich in basic residues similar to known heparin-binding motifs. This interaction between exposed CypA and cell surface heparans represents the initial step of HIV-1 attachment and is a necessary precursor to gp120-binding to CD4. In conclusion, HIV-1 attachment to target cells is a multi-step process that requires an initial CypA-heparan interaction followed by the gp120-CD4 interaction.

HIV-1 infection of nondividing cells through the recognition of integrase by the importin/karyopherin pathway.

The karyophilic properties of the HIV-1 nucleoprotein complex facilitate infection of nondividing cells such as macrophages and quiescent T lymphocytes, and allow the in vivo delivery of transgenes by HIV-derived retroviral vectors into terminally differentiated cells such as neurons. Although the viral matrix (MA) and Vpr proteins have previously been shown to play important roles in this process, we demonstrate here that integrase, the enzyme responsible for mediating the integration of the viral genome in the host cell chromosome, can suffice to connect the HIV-1 preintegration complex with the cell nuclear import machinery. This novel function of integrase reflects the recognition of an atypical bipartite nuclear localization signal by the importin/karyopherin pathway.

Human immunodeficiency virus matrix tyrosine phosphorylation: characterization of the kinase and its substrate requirements.

During virus assembly, a subset of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) matrix (MA) molecules is phosphorylated on C-terminal tyrosine. This modification facilitates infection of nondividing cells by allowing for the recruitment of the karyophilic MA into the viral core and preintegration complex. MA tyrosine phosphorylation is accomplished by a cellular protein kinase which is incorporated into virions. In this study, we have investigated the nature of this enzyme as well as the determinants of MA necessary for its phosphorylation. Employing an in vitro kinase assay, we found that the MA tyrosine kinase activity is present in various cultured cell lines including CEM and SupT1 T-lymphoid cells, Namalwa B cells, 293 and CV-1 kidney fibroblasts, and P4 HeLa cells. In addition, it could be detected in platelets, macrophages, and activated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) but not in erythrocytes and resting PBLs isolated from human blood. Subcellular localization of the kinase activity by cell fractionation demonstrated that it is enriched in cellular membranes. In HIV type 2 (HIV-2) particles, the MA tyrosine kinase is associated with the inner leaflet of the viral membrane, while the tyrosine-phosphorylated MA is localized to the core. Individual mutations of each of the last eight residues immediately upstream of the C-terminal tyrosine (Y132) of HIV-1 MA did not prevent Y132 phosphorylation, suggesting that the kinase does not require a highly specific sequence adjacent to the C-terminal tyrosine. Confirming this, we found that the MA of murine leukemia virus, the sequence of which is only moderately homologous to that of HIV-1 and HIV-2 MA, is also C-terminally tyrosine phosphorylated.

The Nef protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 enhances serine phosphorylation of the viral matrix.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 matrix (MA) protein is phosphorylated during virion maturation on its C-terminal tyrosine and on several serine residues. Whereas MA tyrosine phosphorylation facilitates viral nuclear import, the significance of MA serine phosphorylation remains unclear. Here, we report that MA serine but not tyrosine phosphorylation is strongly enhanced by Nef. Mutations that abrogated the membrane association of Nef and its ability to bind a cellular serine/threonine kinase greatly diminished the extent of virion MA serine phosphorylation. Correspondingly, a protein kinase coimmunoprecipitated with Nef could phosphorylate MA on serine in vitro, producing a phosphopeptide pattern reminiscent of that of virion MA. Recombinant p21-activated kinase hPAK65, a recently proposed relative of the Nef-associated kinase, achieved a comparable result. Taken together, these data suggest that MA is a target of the Nef-associated serine kinase.

Long-term pacemaker dependency after radiofrequency ablation of the atrioventricular junction.

This prospective study was conducted to determine the percentage of patients with long-term pacemaker dependency after successful radiofrequency ablation of the atrioventricular junction. Abrupt inhibition of the pacemaker was performed 13.5 +/- 8.1 months after ablation in 59 patients. A > or =5-second asystole was considered to indicate pacemaker dependency. Pacemaker dependency was present in 18 patients. Absence of escape rhythm immediately after ablation was strongly associated with a higher incidence of long-term pacemaker dependency. The following variables were not associated with pacemaker dependency: age, presence of cardiac disease, presence of preablation bundle branch block, number of radiofrequency applications, a bilateral approach for ablation, and continuation of antiarrhythmic therapy after ablation. We concluded that (1) long-term pacemaker dependency is present in 30.5% of the patients after successful atrioventricular junction radiofrequency ablation and (2) absence of escape rhythm immediately after ablation predicts long-term pacemaker dependency.

In vivo gene delivery and stable transduction of nondividing cells by a lentiviral vector.

A retroviral vector system based on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was developed that, in contrast to a murine leukemia virus-based counterpart, transduced heterologous sequences into HeLa cells and rat fibroblasts blocked in the cell cycle, as well as into human primary macrophages. Additionally, the HIV vector could mediate stable in vivo gene transfer into terminally differentiated neurons. The ability of HIV-based viral vectors to deliver genes in vivo into nondividing cells could increase the applicability of retroviral vectors in human gene therapy.

[Mid-term outcome of escape rhythm after radiofrequency ablation of the atrioventricular junction]. / Evolution à moyen terme du foyer d'échappement après ablation par radiofréquence de la jonction auriculoventriculaire.

UNLABELLED: Mid-term outcome of the underlying escape rhythm developed after radiofrequency ablation of the atrio-ventricular junction was studied in 50 consecutive patients (28 women and 22 men with a mean age of 66.2 +/- 9.6 years). The escape rhythm was assessed immediately after ablation and after 13.7 +/- 8 months. At the end of ablation: an escape rhythm was present in 38 patients (76%), with a mean rate of 40.7 +/- 9.7 beats/min and a QRS morphology identical to the preablation QRS morphology in 22 patients (58%). At follow-up: an escape rhythm was present in 37 patients (74%), with a slower mean rate of 36.4 +/- 6.8 beats/min (p < 0.05) and an unchanged QRS morphology in 87.5% of the patients. Patients presenting with an escape rhythm at follow-up were more frequently found to have a postablation escape rhythm (p < 0.01). Escape rhythm presence at follow-up was not influenced by age, presence of a cardiac disease, continuation of an antiarrhythmic treatment after ablation, use of a bilateral approach for ablation or number of radiofrequency applications. CONCLUSION: after abrupt inhibition of the stimulation, an escape rhythm was present only in 74% of the patients 13.7 +/- 8 months after atrio-ventricular junction radiofrequency ablation. QRS morphology was identical to the preablation morphology in 57% of the patients.

Role of the karyopherin pathway in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nuclear import.

The interaction of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) nucleoprotein complex with the cell nuclear import machinery is necessary for viral replication in macrophages and for the establishment of infection in quiescent T lymphocytes. The karyophilic properties of two viral proteins, matrix (MA) and Vpr, are keys to this process. Here, we show that an early step of HIV-1 nuclear import is the recognition of the MA nuclear localization signal (NLS) by Rch1, a member of the karyopherin-alpha family. Furthermore, we demonstrate that an N-terminally truncated form of Rch1 which binds MA but fails to localize to the nucleus efficiently blocks MA- but not Vpr-mediated HIV-1 nuclear import. Correspondingly, NLS peptide inhibits the nuclear migration of MA but not that of Vpr and prevents the infection of terminally differentiated macrophages by vpr-defective virus but not wild-type virus. These results are consistent with a model in which Rch1 or another member of the karyopherin-alpha family, through the recognition of the MA NLS, participates in docking the HIV-1 nucleoprotein complex at the nuclear pore. In addition, our data suggest that Vpr governs HIV-1 nuclear import through a distinct pathway.

HIV nuclear import is governed by the phosphotyrosine-mediated binding of matrix to the core domain of integrase.

The karyophilic properties of the viral matrix (MA) protein govern HIV nuclear import in nondividing cells such as macrophages. A critical regulator of this process is the C-terminal tyrosine phosphorylation of MA during virus maturation. Here, we reveal the mechanism of this phenomenon, by demonstrating that tyrosine phosphorylation induces the binding of MA to integrase (IN). This leads to the incorporation of MA molecules into virus cores, and subsequently into uncoated viral nucleoprotein complexes. A direct interaction between tyrosine-phosphorylated MA and the central domain of IN can be demonstrated in vitro. It is blocked by phosphotyrosine, indicating that IN recognizes the phosphorylated C-terminal residue of MA. These results explain how the karyophilic potential of MA is conferred to the HIV nucleoprotein complex.

Characterisation of bovine lipopolysaccharide binding protein and the in vivo acute phase response to Pasteurella haemolytica Type A.

Lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) is a liver-derived acute phase protein which is implicated in modulating the host responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria. LBP interacts with circulatory LPS to form complexes which bind to the CD14 receptor or cells of the monocytic lineage and neutrophils resulting in their activation. This causes the release of mediators and cytokines which are responsible for initiating the acute phase response. LBP-like activity has now been identified in bovine serum and in this study LBP has been purified from acute phase bovine serum using ion exchange chromatography. On sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide electrophoresis, bovine LBP demonstrated a single band with a molecular mass of 58 kDa. Bovine LBP enhanced the binding of LPS to human monocytes while enzymatic removal of the CD14 receptor abrogated this interaction. Furthermore, bovine LBP increased the sensitivity of monocytes to LPS by at least 100-fold. Depletion of LBP by means of antibodies to bovine LBP inhibited the serum mediated LPS binding to monocytes. Antibodies to rabbit LBP or recombinant human LBP did not cross-react with bovine LBP. Studies on the kinetics of LBP activity in calves during the acute phase response demonstrated a four-fold increase in the serum concentration 36 h after a single intratracheal inoculation of Pasteurella haemolytica A1. The findings of this study indicate that cattle possess a LPS detection mechanism comparable to that described in man and experimental animals in which LBP forms complexes in serum with circulatory LPS enhancing the signal to the immune system to mount a host response. The isolation of LBP will allow further investigations into LBP-mediated responses to LPS in cattle.

Lipopolysaccharide binding protein as a marker of inflammation in synovial fluid of patients with arthritis: correlation with interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein.

OBJECTIVE: To determine levels of lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) in serum and in synovial fluid (SF) of patients presenting with various articular disorders [degenerative arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), reactive arthritis (ReA)] and to correlate these levels with C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), 2 markers of the acute phase response. METHODS: LBP was measured by a radioimmunoassay made up of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to capture LBP and radiolabelled anti-LBP antibodies to detect LBP. LBP was also measured for its ability to present fluorescein isothiocyanate LPS (FITC-LPS) to human monocytes. CRP was measured by nephelometry and IL-6 bioassay. RESULTS: Levels of LBP in serum and in SF were significantly higher in patients with RA and ReA than in the control group of degenerative arthropathies. In the latter group, LBP values were similar to those found in controls. Serum LBP values correlated positively with SF LBP values. LBP values also correlated with CRP and IL-6 levels measured in SF. Functionally, LBP was found to be active and able to present LPS to monocytes, resulting in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) release upon LPS challenge. CONCLUSION: These in vitro data support the observation that LBP could play a major role in local joint disorders. Our results also strengthen the view that LBP may be a new marker of synovial inflammation.

HIV-1 infection of nondividing cells: C-terminal tyrosine phosphorylation of the viral matrix protein is a key regulator.

The HIV-1 matrix (MA) protein contains two subcellular localization signals with opposing effects. A myristoylated N-terminus governs particle assembly at the plasma membrane, and a nucleophilic motif facilitates import of the viral preintegration complex into the nucleus of nondividing cells. Here, we show that myristoylation acts as the MA dominant targeting signal in HIV-1 producer cells. During virus assembly, a subset of MA is phosphorylated on the C-terminal tyrosine by a virion-associated cellular protein kinase. Tyrosine-phosphorylated MA is then preferentially transported to the nucleus of target cells. An MA tyrosine mutant virus grows normally in dividing cells, but is blocked for nuclear import in terminally differentiated macrophages. MA tyrosine phosphorylation thus reveals the karyophilic properties of this protein within the HIV-1 preintegration complex, thereby playing a critical role for infection of nondividing cells.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein in human serum determines the tumor necrosis factor response of monocytes to LPS.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP) and CD14 represent key elements in monocyte activation by LPS. The mean concentration of LBP was 18.1 microgram/mL in normal serum and 40-60 micrograms/mL in serum of patients with septic shock, independent of the fact that patients had gram-negative or other infections. Ten percent normal serum presented large concentrations of LPS (in the microgram range) to monocytes. Only when diluted 1:100 was LBP in plasma a limiting factor for monocyte activation, as measured by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) release. When LBP was depleted from serum with anti-LBP antibodies, the resulting serum did not support TNF release of monocytes upon LPS challenge. In conclusion, monocyte activation resulting in TNF secretion was related to LBP, which is abundantly present in normal serum, and elevated two to three times in patients with septic shock.

Cytokine regulation of TNF-alpha mRNA and protein production by unprimed macrophages from C57Bl/6 and NZW mice.

It is well known that bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces the synthesis of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and other inflammatory cytokines by primary monocytes and macrophages and that the Th1 lymphokines, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), augment this response. We investigated the ability of IL-2 and IFN-gamma to induce the production of TNF-alpha mRNA and protein independently of LPS and the modulation of this response by macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and IL-10. We found that IL-2 and IFN-gamma were both able to induce the accumulation of TNF-alpha mRNA, albeit with slower kinetics than LPS, and that they acted synergistically. However, very little TNF bioactivity was secreted by lymphokine-stimulated macrophages unless LPS was also added. This finding underscores the importance of translational effects in the control of TNF production. M-CSF and IL-10 strongly inhibited TNF production at the level of both mRNA and bioactivity but had no effect on the production of IL-6. Bone marrow-derived or thioglycollate-elicited macrophages from the NZW mouse strain, which have been reported to be deficient in their ability to produce TNF, were at least as responsive to LPS or lymphokines as those taken from the C57Bl/6 strain and were similarly affected by M-CSF and IL-10. Therefore, the genetic defect of NZW mice is not a primary deficiency in TNF production.