Cuprizone Administration Alters the Iron Metabolism in the Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis.

Cuprizone (CZ) is a widely used copper chelating agent to develop non-autoimmune animal model of multiple sclerosis, characterized by demyelination of the corpus callosum (CC) and other brain regions. The exact mechanisms of CZ action are still arguable, but it seems that the only affected cells are the mature oligodendrocytes, possibly via metabolic disturbances caused by copper deficiency. During the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis, high amount of deposited iron can be found throughout the demyelinated areas of the brain in the form of extracellular iron deposits and intracellularly accumulated iron in microglia. In the present study, we used the accepted experimental model of 0.2% CZ-containing diet with standard iron concentration to induce demyelination in the brain of C57BL/6 mice. Our aim was to examine the changes of iron homeostasis in the CC and as a part of the systemic iron regulation, in the liver. Our data showed that CZ treatment changed the iron metabolism of both tissues; however, it had more impact on the liver. Besides the alterations in the expressions of iron storage and import proteins, we detected reduced serum iron concentration and iron stores in the liver, together with elevated hepcidin levels and feasible disturbances in the Fe-S cluster biosynthesis. Our results revealed that the CZ-containing diet influences the systemic iron metabolism in mice, particularly the iron homeostasis of the liver. This inadequate systemic iron regulation may affect the iron homeostasis of the brain, eventually indicating a relationship among CZ treatment, iron metabolism, and neurodegeneration.

Patients with difficult-to-treat depression do not exhibit an increased frequency of CYP2D6 allele duplication.

The insufficient response of patients to antidepressant medications may result from several factors, including altered drug metabolism. CYP2D6 genotyping may help assess the possible factors that contribute to difficult-to-treat depression. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency of CYP2D6 allelic variants and the prevalence of predicted CYP2D6 phenotypes in patients who were suffering from difficult-to-treat depression and compare the data with those for the healthy population of Hungary.55 patients who failed to respond to 2 or more adequate trials of different CYP2D6-dependent antidepressants were selected for genotyping.The prevalence of the predicted CYP2D6 phenotypes in the patient population was 1.8% for the UMs, 80.0% for EMs, 3.6% for IMs and 14.5% for PMs compared with 1.9% for UMs, 83.3% for EMs, 6.5% for IMs and 8.3% for PMs in the Hungarian population.The CYP2D6 allele frequencies and the predicted phenotype distributions in patients with difficult-to-treat depression were not significantly different to those found in the healthy population of Hungary. The cumulative frequency of the CYP2D6*1XN, *2XN and *35XN alleles was 0.9% in the patient population -suggesting that CYP2D6 duplication or multiplication does not play a significant role in antidepressant pharmacotherapy failure in this patient sample. The cumulative frequency of the non-functional alleles (33.5%) and the prevalence of the genetically determined PM phenotype (14.5%) were relatively high in the patient group. These figures draw attention to the possibility of unrecognised and non-reported side effects and non-adherence to drug treatment.

Clindamycin release determined by high performance liquid chromatography from a novel low-cost local drug delivery system: a new potential treatment option for chronic osteomyelitis.

Osteomyelitis continues to be a severe problem worldwide, causing plenty of hospital admissions and entailing vast expenses. Previously, we developed a low-cost polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA)-sorbitol based capsule system for local long-term drug delivery. In the present study we aimed to test the in vitro release of clindamycin capsules by high performance liquid chromatography. By the end of the clinically relevant period (42 days), the capsules released 70-100% of their load. Furthermore, the release kinetics suggested that an effective antimicrobial concentration may be maintained within the target area. Our findings indicate that these newly developed capsules may be a versatile device for local clindamycin delivery by providing efficient release and reducing financial burdens.

Co-infections with hepatitis G and TT virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C in Hungary.

The significance of co-infections with novel hepatitis viruses Hepatitis G (GBV-C, HGV) and TT virus (TTV) in chronic hepatitis C is not clear. We determined the prevalence of HGV RNA and TTV DNA in chronic hepatitis C patients and in asymptomatic hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers, and assessed the influence of these agents on the course of HCV infection. Seventy-seven patients with chronic hepatitis C--50 of them treated with interferon (IFN)--and 33 HCV carriers with normal alanine aminotransferase have been investigated. Previous HBV infection was detected by testing serum HBsAg and aHBc. HGV RNA and TTV DNA were detected by PCR. In the healthy population, the prevalence of anti-HCV was 0.3%, HGV RNA 8.0% and TTV DNA 18.5%. In chronic hepatitis C HGV RNA occurred in 9.09% and TTV DNA in 40.25% of cases. In IFN-treated patients with sustained remission, the frequency of TTV was 20% vs. 45.7% found in non-responders. Among asymptomatic HCV-carriers, the prevalence of HGV RNA was 9.09% and TTV DNA 75.7%. Neither HGV RNA nor TTV DNA had apparent effect on the HCV infection. TTV was detected with the lowest frequency in persons with sustained remission due to IFN, suggesting antiviral effect of IFN on TTV.

[Plasma electrolytes in multiple myeloma]. / A vérplazma elektrolitjai myeloma multiplexben.

The plasma cell myeloma (multiple myeloma, myelomatosis) is a progressive disease, characterized by bone marrow plasmacytomas and the presence of monoclonal antibodies (IgG, IgA, IgD, IgE), or free kappa or lambda immunoglobulin side chains. The monoclonal antibodies or Bence-Jones protein may precipitate in the tubuli and impair kidney function. In addition, the plasma protein concentration may increase at the expense of plasma water level causing unrealistically low electrolyte levels. Since the isoelectric points of immunoglobulins are higher than those of most other plasma proteins, the net charge of plasma proteins may change causing new electrolyte balance. In addition, some monoclonal antibodies are more hydrated than others, and their high concentration may cause not only increased plasma viscosity but further electrolyte imbalance. In the present work the relationship between plasma protein and electrolyte levels is studied in samples of 100 multiple myeloma patients.

Identification of the NAD(+)-binding fold of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as a novel RNA-binding domain.

There is growing evidence that metabolic enzymes may act as multifunctional proteins performing diverse roles in cellular metabolism. Among these functions are the RNA-binding activities of NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases. Previously, we have characterized the glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as an RNA-binding protein with preference to adenine-uracil-rich sequences. In this study, we used GST-GAPDH fusion proteins generated by deletion mutagenesis to search for the RNA binding domain. We established that the N-terminal 43 amino acid residues of GAPDH, which correspond to the first mononucleotide-binding domain of the NAD(+)-binding fold is sufficient to confer RNA-binding. We also provide evidence that this single domain, although it retains most of the RNA-binding activity, loses sequence specificity. Our results suggest a molecular basis for RNA-recognition by NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases and (di)nucleotide-binding metabolic enzymes that had been reported to have RNA-binding activity with different specificity. To support this prediction we also identified other members of the family of NAD(+)-dependent dehydrogenases with no previous history of nucleic acid binding as RNA binding proteins in vitro. Based on our findings we propose the addition of the NAD(+)-binding domain to the list of RNA binding domains/motifs.

Relationship between the occurrence of cysteine in proteins and the complexity of organisms.

The occurrence and relative positions of cysteine residues were investigated in proteins of various species. Considering random mathematical occurrence for an amino acid coded by two codons (3. 28%), cysteine is underrepresented in all organisms investigated. Representation of cysteine appears to correlate positively with the complexity of the organism, ranging between 2.26% in mammals and 0. 5% in some members of the Archeabacteria order. This observation, together with the results obtained from comparison of cysteine content of various ribosomal proteins, indicates that evolution takes advantage of increased use of cysteine residues. In all organisms studied except plants, two cysteines are frequently found two amino acid residues apart (C-(X)(2)-C motif). Such a motif is known to be present in a variety of metal-binding proteins and oxidoreductases. Remarkably, more than 21% of all of cysteines were found within the C-(X)(2)-C motifs in ARCHEA.: This observation may indicate that cysteine appeared in ancient metal-binding proteins first and was introduced into other proteins later.

Loss of the major isoform of phosphoglucomutase results in altered calcium homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Phosphoglucomutase (PGM) is a key enzyme in glucose metabolism, where it catalyzes the interconversion of glucose 1-phosphate (Glc-1-P) and glucose 6-phosphate (Glc-6-P). In this study, we make the novel observation that PGM is also involved in the regulation of cellular Ca(2+) homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When a strain lacking the major isoform of PGM (pgm2Delta) was grown on media containing galactose as sole carbon source, its rate of Ca(2+) uptake was 5-fold higher than an isogenic wild-type strain. This increased rate of Ca(2+) uptake resulted in a 9-fold increase in the steady-state total cellular Ca(2+) level. The fraction of cellular Ca(2+) located in the exchangeable pool in the pgm2Delta strain was found to be as large as the exchangeable fraction observed in wild-type cells, suggesting that the depletion of Golgi Ca(2+) stores is not responsible for the increased rate of Ca(2+) uptake. We also found that growth of the pgm2Delta strain on galactose media is inhibited by 10 microM cyclosporin A, suggesting that activation of the calmodulin/calcineurin signaling pathway is required to activate the Ca(2+) transporters that sequester the increased cytosolic Ca(2+) load caused by this high rate of Ca(2+) uptake. We propose that these Ca(2+)-related alterations are attributable to a reduced metabolic flux between Glc-1-P and Glc-6-P due to a limitation of PGM enzymatic activity in the pgm2Delta strain. Consistent with this hypothesis, we found that this "metabolic bottleneck" resulted in an 8-fold increase in the Glc-1-P level compared with the wild-type strain, while the Glc-6-P and ATP levels were normal. These results suggest that Glc-1-P (or a related metabolite) may participate in the control of Ca(2+) uptake from the environment.

The vacuolar Ca2+/H+ exchanger Vcx1p/Hum1p tightly controls cytosolic Ca2+ levels in S. cerevisiae.

It is well established that the vacuole plays an important role in the cellular adaptation to growth in the presence of elevated extracellular Ca2+ concentrations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The Ca2+ ATPase Pmc1p and the Ca2+/H+ exchanger Vcx1p/Hum1p have been shown to facilitate Ca2+ sequestration into the vacuole. However, the distinct physiological roles of these two vacuolar Ca2+ transporters remain uncertain. Here we show that Vcx1p can rapidly sequester a sudden pulse of cytosolic Ca2+ into the vacuole, while Pmc1p carries out this function much less efficiently. This finding is consistent with the postulated role of Vcx1p as a high capacity, low affinity Ca2+ transporter and suggests that Vcx1p may act to attenuate the propagation of Ca2+ signals in this organism.

The Golgi apparatus plays a significant role in the maintenance of Ca2+ homeostasis in the vps33Delta vacuolar biogenesis mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The vacuole is the major site of intracellular Ca2+ storage in yeast and functions to maintain cytosolic Ca2+ levels within a narrow physiological range. In this study, we examined how cellular Ca2+ homeostasis is maintained in a vps33Delta vacuolar biogenesis mutant. We found that growth of the vps33Delta strain was sensitive to high or low extracellular Ca2+. This strain could not properly regulate cytosolic Ca2+ levels and was able to retain only a small fraction of its total cellular Ca2+ in a nonexchangeable intracellular pool. Surprisingly, the vps33Delta strain contained more total cellular Ca2+ than the wild type strain. Because most cellular Ca2+ is normally found within the vacuole, this suggested that other intracellular compartments compensated for the reduced capacity to store Ca2+ within the vacuole of this strain. To test this hypothesis, we examined the contribution of the Golgi-localized Ca2+ ATPase Pmr1p in the maintenance of cellular Ca2+ homeostasis. We found that a vps33Delta/pmr1Delta strain was hypersensitive to high extracellular Ca2+. In addition, certain combinations of mutations effecting both vacuolar and Golgi Ca2+ transport resulted in synthetic lethality. These results indicate that the Golgi apparatus plays a significant role in maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis when vacuolar biogenesis is compromised.

On the role of Na,K-ATPase: a challenge for the membrane-pump and association-induction hypotheses.

The regulation of cellular ion levels has been an important issue of cell physiology since the beginning of the century. A special interest was focused on the monovalent ions which are involved in several cellular functions; in fact, the maintenance of high K+ level inside the cells is one of the most basic life-phenomena. Regarding the regulation of monovalent ions in general, two opposing ideas emerged: one being the membrane theory and the other the sorption theory(ies). Today most scientists are familiar only with the membrane theory which involves the pump and leak hypothesis and only a few consider the predictions of the association-induction hypothesis which may be classified as one of the sorption theories. In the regulation of monovalent ions the Na,K-ATPase is a key-molecule according to the membrane theory but not considered that important by the association-induction hypothesis. In this paper, we present two simple experiments which demonstrate the possible role of this molecule in the regulation of cellular Na+, K+ homeostasis and also disprove the pump and leak hypothesis.

Augmented water binding and low cellular water content in erythrocytes of camel and camelids.

We investigated a link between hemoglobin primary structure, hemoglobin hydrophobicity-hydrophilicity, and erythrocyte water content in various mammalian species. Some hemoglobin molecules, particularly those of the camel and camelids, contain more charged amino acid residues and are more hydrophilic than the hemoglobins of human and a number of other mammalian species. To test the in vivo significance of these alterations of hemoglobin primary structure, we determined the osmotically unresponsive erythrocyte water fractions in mannit solutions of various osmolarities at 4 degreesC. Among the species investigated, the size of the osmotically unresponsive erythrocyte water fraction relates in a positive linear way to hemoglobin hydrophilicity. The extreme low total erythrocyte water content of camel erythrocytes (1.1-1.3 g water/g dry mass) may be explained by a comparatively high osmotically unresponsive erythrocyte water fraction. It is proposed that alterations of hemoglobin sequences of camel and camelids may be the part of a natural selection process aimed at protecting these animals against osmotic dehydration in arid environments.

Chirality differences in amino acid retention and release from acid-extractable pool of cultured mammalian cells.

In previous work, no chiral differences were found between D and L enantiomers of Leu in their ability to displace one another from the acid-extractable pool in mammalian cells. Recent evidence suggested otherwise. Our aim is to examine whether, in physiological range, D-amino acids have an equivalent ability to displace L-amino acids from the acid-extractable pool of HeLa cells, and vice versa. In the Millimolar range, D-Leu and L-Leu have similar uptake and displacement properties with regard to the acid-extractable pool in HeLa cells, despite only the latter isomer being incorporated into protein. Below millimolar concentration however, a distinct difference was found in the displacement of tritium-labelled L-Leu from the pool by unlabelled D-Leu compared with unlabelled L-Leu. Thus, unlabelled L-Leu in the external medium at 10(-4) or 10(-5) M displaced and equivalent amount of label from the pool ad D-Leu introduced at a concentration approx. one order of magnitude higher, respectively. Reciprocal experiments, in which the acid-extractable pool was preloaded with 3H-D-Leu, confirmed this finding. The chirality difference was noted whether pool prelabelling was carried out at 37 or 0 degrees C; but in order to avoid the complications of active transport mechanisms, the competition work reported here was done at 0 degrees C. Similar chirality differences were observed with other hydrophobic amino acids, including His, Ile, and Phe, such as, preferential displacement by the L-Leu racemer compared with the D-Leu racemer below mM levels. This was also true for the D and L forms of the non-utilisable isomer of Leu, norleucine (nLeu). We conclude that D-forms of hydrophobic amino acids have lower affinity for similar or the same intracellular binding sites involved in the acid-extractable pool than in their L-forms. The significance of these findings to amino acid pools in cells, and to the predominance of L-forms of amino acids in the biosphere is considered

Albumin can reverse the release of potassium from human erythrocytes treated with the non-ionic detergent, Brij 58.

Exchange of erythrocyte intracellular (i/c) K+ for extracellular (e/c) Na+ in human erythrocytes treated with sub-CMC concentrations of the non-ionic detergent Brij 58 can be stopped by reincubation in serum or albumin containing solutions. The progressive equilibration of the K+ contents of detergent-treated human erythrocytes with the incubation medium was reversed by an albumin-mediated withdrawal of detergent molecules from the cell. Re-establishment of near normal [K+] in terms of K+/kg water proceeds in two ways: (i) a metabolism-dependent net accumulation of K+ ions; and (ii) a metabolism-independent shrinkage of erythrocytes, this being the more significant factor.

Maintenance of ions, proteins and water in lens fiber cells before and after treatment with non-ionic detergents.

If the plasma membrane and its associated transport proteins are solely responsible for maintenance of the asymmetric solute distribution then disruption of the plasma membrane would quickly lead to the symmetric distribution of all unattached inorganic ions between the cell and the extracellular environment. To test this hypothesis fresh pig lenses were incubated in Hanks' balanced salt solution in either absence or presence of non-ionic detergents (0.2% Triton X-100 or 0.2% Brij 58). Both detergents caused permeabilization of every lens fiber cell as shown by electron microscopy. The flux kinetics of K+, Mg2+, Na+, Ca2+, water and protein out of and into the permeabilized lens fiber cells was measured. Triton X-100 caused a faster flux rate of all solutes than did Brij 58. The Triton X-100 induced flux of solutes and water was associated with a decrease in lens ATP. Incubation of untreated lenses in solutions of different osmotic pressures at 0 degree C demonstrated that the major fraction of lens water was osmotically unresponsive. Thus the asymmetric distribution of solutes in lens fiber cells is dependent on an intact plasma membrane and on a co-operative ATP-dependent association between K+, Mg2+, water and cytomatrix proteins.

Nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation parameters of muscle in malignant hyperthermia-susceptible swine.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The malignant hyperthermia (MH) syndrome involves characteristic changes in metabolism that have a significant effect on the postmortem properties of muscle tissue. We investigated the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (MR) relaxation parameters of muscle tissue from normal (MH-) and malignant hyperthermia-susceptible (MH+) swine taken before their death to identify whether postmortem metabolic differences would be accompanied by changes in relaxation parameters. METHODS: Muscle samples from 63 MH-susceptible swine were characterized by proton MR relaxation times (T1 and T2). The water content, pH, conducting, and the "subjective meat" quality were assessed in order to differentiate the meat into one of three groups: normal, pale-soft-exudative, and dark-firm-dry. RESULTS: The T2 relaxation of MH- and MH+ muscles was significantly different, but no significant changes were detected in the water content and corresponding T1 relaxation times. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that MH-susceptible swine can be distinguished from normal swine using nuclear MR relaxometry. The results of relaxation measurements and the multiexponential analysis of the T2 curves suggest a shift between the different water compartments during MH that might predict the increased water loss of muscle tissue after death.

Phenylalanine utilization for protein synthesis in beta-phenylpyruvic acid treated Escherichia coli cells.

The possibility of coupling along the supply routes of phenylalanine from its uptake by the cell, through the charging of specific tRNAs, has been postulated. The experimental approach to testing this hypothesis has been to study the competition between endogenously synthesized and exogenously supplied amino acids, from which preferences for their incorporation into cellular proteins can be deduced. The results indicate that manipulation of the endogenous phenylalanine pool size, achieved by addition of its immediate precursor, beta-phenylpyruvate, does not cause the predicted changes in the incorporation of exogenous labelled phenylalanine into proteins. The evidence favours exogenous phenylalanine being preferentially delivered to the sites of protein synthesis.

Effect of non-lytic concentrations of Brij series detergents on the metabolism-independent ion permeability properties of human erythrocytes.

Subcritical micellar concentrations (sub-CMC) of Brij-series detergents alter ion movements between human erythrocytes and their environment when metabolism has been slowed down by incubation at zero degrees centigrade. The effect of nonhemolytic concentrations of detergents on the erythrocyte K+ and Na+ movements is described. Results indicate a significant difference in monovalent cation movements, depending on the number of hydrophilic polyoxyethylene units (n). There is an increasing loss of K+ and gain of Na+ as n increases from 4 to 20. Where n > or = 21, ion movements are not significantly different from those found in erythrocytes not exposed to detergents. The carbon chain length of the detergent fatty acid residue (10-18 carbons) appears to be relatively unimportant, but detergents with unsaturated (oleic acid) hydrophobic regions potentiate K+ release and Na+ uptake when compared to the corresponding saturated fatty acid (stearic acid). The erythrocyte stabilizing effect of detergents against hypo-osmotic shock correlates well with the increase of monovalent ion traffic and the mobility of membrane lipids revealed by fluorescence anisotropy measurements.

Acid-extractable amino acid pool in Escherichia coli: possible role in energy-independent amino acid accumulation and protein synthesis.

The acid extractable amino acid pool (AEP) demonstrates time and concentration dependent saturation kinetics in cold-incubated (0-2 degrees C) Escherichia coli cells. Attention is drawn in particular to the contribution of the AEP to the total non-covalently bound amino acid intracellular levels (total pool) at low exogenous amino acid concentrations. Amino acids compete with one another for associations which internally constitute the AEP. Although physicochemically related amino acids tend to be better competitors than other amino acids, the physicochemical relatedness was by no means the sole, or necessarily the main, factor determining competitiveness. On the return of cells to incubation temperatures allowing protein synthesis to proceed, the contribution of the AEP to protein synthesis was explored.