A novel missense mutation affecting the same amino acid as the recurrent PACS1 mutation in Schuurs-Hoeijmakers syndrome.

A novel causative variant (c.608G>A, p.Arg203Gln) in PACS1.

Immobility reduces muscle fiber necrosis in dystrophin deficient muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy is a progressive muscle disease, which is caused by the abnormality of dystrophin. Spina bifida is characterized by paralysis of the feet, with most of the upper extremities not being affected. We report here on the first case of Becker muscular dystrophy coinciding with spina bifida. The muscle biopsy specimens of the patient showed dystrophic changes in upper extremities, but clearly less in lower extremities. The results show that the restriction of excessive exercise is important for dystrophin deficiency disease.

Nitric oxide contributes to the progression of myocardial damage in experimental autoimmune myocarditis in rats.

BACKGROUND: Excess amounts of NO produced by an inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in response to cytokines may be cytotoxic and can be destructive to tissue. We investigated the role of NO in the development of myocardial damage and the effects of aminoguanidine (AG), an inhibitor of iNOS, on experimental autoimmune myocarditis in rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: Autoimmune myocarditis was induced in 20 Lewis rats by injection of porcine cardiac myosin. Ten of the 20 rats were administered AG. The severity of myocarditis was evaluated by measuring the size of myocarditic lesion and serum levels of CK-MB. Serum NO levels were determined using the Cd/Cu method. Tissue specimens were immunohistochemically examined for iNOS and nitrotyrosine. Histopathological study revealed extensive myocardial destruction and massive inflammatory cell infiltration in AG-untreated rats but only focal mononuclear cell infiltration in AG-treated rats. The mean percent areas of inflammatory lesions in the untreated and treated rats were 56 +/- 13% and 3 +/- 2%, respectively (P < .001). NO levels were 102 +/- 23 and 25 +/- 9 IU/L, respectively (P < .01). CK-MB levels were 68 +/- 13 and 16 +/- 13 nmol/L, respectively (P < .01). Superoxide production as measured with an ex vivo monitoring system was also significantly decreased in the treated rats. Nitrotyrosine relating to the generation of peroxynitrite was detected through immunostaining in the inflammatory lesions of untreated rats but not in those of treated rats. CONCLUSIONS: Excess amounts of NO produced by iNOS appear to contribute to the progression of myocardial damage in myocarditis. AG may prove to be useful in the treatment of myocarditis.

A familial occurrence of sporotrichosis.

A grandfather and granddaughter suffering from sporotrichosis were reported. It is thought that they might have been infected from the same source of Sporothrix schenckii (S. schenckii).

Functional size of acyl coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase by radiation inactivation.

Rat liver acyl coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase, an intrinsic membrane activity associated with the endoplasmic reticulum, catalyzes the terminal and rate-limiting step in triglyceride synthesis. This enzyme has never been purified nor has its gene been isolated. Inactivation by ionizing radiation and target analysis were used to determine its functional size in situ. Monoexponential radiation inactivation curves were obtained which indicated that a single-sized unit of 72 +/- 4 kDa is required for expression of activity. The size corresponds only to the protein portion of the target and may represent one or several polypeptides.

Lupus erythematosus profundus--report of a case treated with dapsone.

A male adult patient with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) developed lupus erythematosus profundus. We decided to treat him with oral administration of dapsone, which proved to be very effective.

Relationships between structure of nitrated arenes and their mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium; 2- and 2,7-nitro substituted fluorene, phenanthrene and pyrene.

In order to elucidate the mechanisms of mutagenic activation of nitroarenes, we studied the relationships between the mutagenic potency and chemical structure of 2-nitro- and 2,7-dinitro-arenes including nitrated fluorene (Fl), dihydrophenanthrene (DHPh), phenanthrene (Ph), tetrahydropyrene (THPy), dihydropyrene (DHPy) and pyrene (Py) together with 9-NO2-Ph, 1-NO2-Py and 1.3-diNO2-Py. The mutagenicity tests were carried out on Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA98NR and TA98/1,8-DNP6 in the absence of S9 mix. The order of mutability of mononitro- and dinitro-arenes in TA98 is as given below: 2-NO2-THPy less than 2-NO2-Fl less than 2-NO2-DHPh less than 9-NO2-Ph less than 2-NO2-Ph less than 2-NO2-DHPy less than 1-NO2-Py less than 2-NO2-Py, and 2,7-diNO2-DHPh less than 2,7-diNO2-Fl less than 2,7-diNO2-THPy less than 2,7-diNO2-Ph less than 2,7-diNO2-DHPy less than 2,7-diNO2-Py less than 1,3-diNO2-Py. 9-NO2-Ph and 1-NO2-Py, which have been detected in environmental samples, are not as potent mutagens as 2-nitrated phenanthrene and pyrene, respectively. 2-NO2THPy (37.7 rev/nmole) was a weak mutagen, but 2,7-diNO2-THPy (3197 rev/nmole) was as potent a mutagen as 2,7-diNO2 (3925 rev/nmole). Tetrahydropyrene has a twisted form in its structure. 1,3-diNO2-Py (99660 rev/nmole) was more mutagenic than 2,7-diNO2-Py (37960.0 rev/nmole), and their mutagenicities were correlated with the behavior of the K-band in their UV spectra by the introduction of nitro groups on pyrene.

Mutagenicity modulating effect of quercetin on aromatic amines and acetamides.

The effect of quercetin on the mutagenicity of 32 kinds of aromatic amines and their acetamides were investigated using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 with a mammalian metabolic activation system (S9 mix). Quercetin enhanced the mutagenicity of the tricyclic aromatic amines (aminofluorene, aminoanthracene and aminophenanthrene) and their acetamides by 1.2-5.9-fold. Whereas, quercetin depressed the mutagenicity of aniline derivatives, biphenyl derivatives, and bi- and tetra-cyclic amino derivatives. The modulation of mutagenicity of Trp-P-1, Trp-P-2, Glu-P-1 and Glu-P-2 (heterocyclic amines) by quercetin were liable to be affected by the content of S9 in the S9 mix. It seems that quercetin does not have the same effect as norharman, because quercetin did not enhance the mutagenicity of aniline. It is suggested that the modulation of the mutagenicity of aromatic amines and acetamides is caused by the modulation of the balance between the mutagenic activation and inactivation in the metabolism of these amines and acetamides in the presence of quercetin. In this modulation, quercetin may participate through its effects on the promotion of N-hydroxylation and the inhibition of arylhydroxylation and transacylation. The presence of tricyclic aromatic rings of amines and acetamides is a structural requirement for the mutagenicity enhancement by quercetin.

Relationship between mutagenic potency in Salmonella typhimurium strains and the chemical structure of nitro biphenyls.

Most of the positional isomers of mono-, di-, tri- and tetranitrobiphenyls were synthesized and assayed for their mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA98NR and TA98/1,8DNP6 in the absence of S9 mix. In mono- and dinitrobiphenyls, the structure requirements favoring mutagenic activity are the presence of a nitro group at the 4-position and its absence at the 2-position. TA98 and TA98/1,8DNP6 were reverted by 2-position-free 4-nitro analogues, but TA98NR was not reverted. The results suggest that direct-acting mutagenicity involves the reduction of the nitro group by bacterial nitroreductase but does not involve specific esterification enzymes. Some of the tri- and tetranitrobiphenyls e.g. 3,4,3'-, 3,4,4'-, 3,4,3',4'- and 3,4,2',4'-derivatives reverted not only TA98 and TA98/1,8DNP6 but also TA98NR. Those derivatives commonly have 2 nitro groups at an adjoining position (3,4-dinitro group), whereas 2,4,2',4'-tetranitrobiphenyl, which has strong potency not only in TA98 and TA98/1,8DNP6 but also in TA98NR, possesses 2 nitro groups at the 2-position of each benzene ring.

Relationship between mutagenic potency in Salmonella typhimurium and chemical structure of amino- and nitro-substituted biphenyls.

All positional isomers of mononitro- and monoaminobiphenyls and those of dinitro-, diamino- and aminonitrobiphenyls, which have one substituent on each benzene ring, were assayed for mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium by the Ames method. The results suggest that the structural requirements favoring mutagenic activity are the presence of substituents at the 4-position and their absence at the 2'-position. The introduction of an amino group to the 3'- or 4'-position of 4-nitrobiphenyl or a nitro group to 3'- or 4'-position of 4-aminobiphenyl enhanced the mutagenicity. Among the mutagenic compounds, 4-nitro analogues were mutagenic in strains TA98 and TA100 in the absence of a microsomal metabolic activation system. Strain TA98NR was not reverted by the direct-acting mutagens, whereas strain TA98/1,8-DNP6 was as revertible as strain TA98; these results suggest that the direct-acting mutagenicity involves the reduction of the nitro group by bacterial nitroreductase but does not involve specific esterification enzymes.

Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase of rat liver. Studies on the solubilisation, resolution and reconstitution of the enzyme complex.

1. Cytochrome P-450 was prepared from the liver microsomes of cholestyramine-fed rats by solubilisation with the non-ionic detergent Nonidet P42 followed by chromatography on a DEAE-cellulose column and on hydroxyapatite. NADPH--cytochrome P-450 reductase was prepared by a technique of affinity column chromatography using 2',5'ADP Sepharose. 2. The activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase was measured in a reconstituted system of microsomal mixed-function oxidase containing cytochrome P-450 and NADPH--cytochrome P-450 reductase from rat liver plus cholesterol and NADPH. Endogenous cholesterol was largely depleted from the enzyme preparations by the treatment of the microsomes with cold n-butanol/acetone. 3. The reconstituted system of mixed-function oxidase catalysed a highly effective and specific 7 alpha-hydroxylation of cholesterol. The reconstituted system showed a higher activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase than was observed in native liver microsomes. The reconstituted system had an absolute requirement for cytochrome P-450, NADPH--cytochrome P-450 reductase and NADPH. 4. The apparent Km for cholesterol in the reconstituted system was 15 microM and the V was 1.4 nmol 7 alpha-hydroxycholesterol formed min-1 (nmol cytochrome P-450)-1. 5. The reconstituted system also catalysed the 7 alpha-hydroxylation of taurodeoxycholic acid, the 7 alpha-hydroxylation of 26-norcholesterol and to a limited degree the 12 alpha-hydroxylation of cholest-4-ene-3-one-7 alpha-ol. The ability of this reconstituted system to effect these two 7 alpha-hydroxylation reactions and the 12 alpha-hydroxylation reaction was significantly less than the ability of the system to 7 alpha-hydroxylate cholesterol.

Erythropoietic protoporphyria--report of a family and clinical review.

Three cases of erythropoietic protoporphyria are reviewed. The three patients constitute members of one family. The protoporphyrin content of the red blood cells was high, but porphyrins and their precursors in the urine and faeces were not excessive. Other normal members of the family did not reveal high protoporphyrin content in the red blood cells. Clinical symptoms were itching, swelling, shallow depressed scars and waxy yellow discoloration on the face and brown pigmentation and thickness on the back of the hands after exposure to the sun. The microscopic findings from skin biopsy specimens of the lesions resembled changes of the lipoid proteinosis.

Involvement of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase in the rat liver squalene epoxidase system.

Microsomal squalene epoxidase has previously been solubilized with Triton X-100 and resolved into fractions, FA and FB, by DEAE-cellulose chromatography (Ono T. and Bloch K (1975) J biol. Chem. 250, 1571-1579). It has now been found that FB is identical with NADPH-cytochrome c reductase (denoted FPT, EC 1.6.2.3). Although both NADPH and NADH served as electron donors, the former was preferred for squalene epoxidase activity in the reconstituted system of FA and FB. FB is characterized by its ability to reduce cytochrome c by NADPH. In place of FB, partially purified FPT was tested for its ability to support squalene epoxidation in the presence of FA. A stepwise purification of the deoxycholate-solubilized FPT yielded an increase in specific FPT activity with a parallel increase in squalene epoxidase activity. Bromelain-solubilized FPT was less effective. Rabbit antisera preparations to the purified FPT solubilized with trypsin were shown to inhibit concomitantly FPT activity and squalene epoxidase activity. These observations support the concept that squalene epoxidation is primarily mediated via a flavoprotein, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, and a terminal oxidase, squalene epoxidase, which is distinct from cytochrome P-450.

[Studies on the regulatory factors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMG CoA reductase) activity].

HMG CoA reductase, which catalyzes the reaction, HMG CoA + 2 NADAPH2 leads to mevalonate + CoA-SH + 2 NADP, is considered to be the rate-limiting enzyme on cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Since a degree in activity of this enzyme is almost proportional to the rate of cholesterol synthesis from acetate, elucidation of factors that regulate reductase activity would provide insight into the control mechanisms on the cholesterol biosynthesis. In the present study, attempts were made to establish standard assay conditions of HMG CoA reductase activiy, and to qualify the factors affecting the activity of the enzyme. The results obtained were as follows: (1) As standard assay conditions of HMG CoA reductase activity, 85, muM were chosen for substrate concentration, 25-80 mug for microsomal enzyme protein, and 20 min for incubation time in a final volume of 0.1 ml. (2) HMG CoA reductase activity of rat liver microsomes was exhibited diurnal variation. The level of reductase activity at night was 4 fold higher than that of at daytime. (3) Either ATP or insulin administration stimulated hepatic HMG CoA reductase activity. But, cyclic AMP had no effect on reductase activity. The stimulatory effect of ATP or insulin on reductase activity was inhibited by a preadministration of glucagon. These results suggested that an interplay of hormone might regulate reductase activity and consequently cholesterol biosynthesis. (4) HMG CoA reductase activity was increased by preincubation of microsomes with cytosol. Presence of ATP or Mg++ intensified this effect. When digested by trypsin or degenerated by heat treatment, cytosol lost the stimulating activity. These results suggested as existence of protein factors in cytosol, which might modulate the enzyme interconversion from inactive to active forms.