Effects of triphenyltin and other organotins on hepatic monooxygenase system in fish

The interaction of the organotin fungicide triphenyltin chloride (TPT) with fish microsomal monooxygenase systems has been studied in vitro and in vivo in the marine fish scup (Stenotomus chrysops). In vitro incubation of fish liver microsomes with TPT resulted in the conversion of about 40% of the native total spectral P450 to P420. In addition, a strong concentration-related inhibition of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity was observed, with a complete loss at 1.0 mM TPT. Pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (PROD) activity was inhibited only at the highest concentration tested. This suggests either some specificity for the EROD catalyst CYP1A1, or a loss of reductant NADPH cytochrome c reductase as the cause. Further in vitro incubations showed that NADPH, but not NADH, cytochrome c reductase was strongly inhibited at 100 microM TPT and higher. To further investigate this effect, fish were injected with single doses of 5, 25 and 50 microM TPT (1.9, 9.6 and 19.3 mg kg-1 TPT), and 24 and 48 h later, hepatic microsomes were analyzed for total P450 content, EROD activity, NAD(P)H cytochrome c reductase, and the content of three CYP forms. EROD activity tended to be decreased in TPT-treated scup, with the response being stronger after 48 than 24 h. No significant conversion of spectrally determined P450 to cytochrome P420 was found, and cytochrome b5 was not affected. However, both NAD(P)H cytochrome c reductases were significantly inhibited at all concentrations. Immunoblot analysis showed reduction of CYP1A1 content at all doses, being significant at 25 mM after 48 h, but no decrease in CYP3A-like protein, the dominant catalyst of testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation, nor CYP2B-like protein, the major contributor to indicates significant effects of TPT at high concentrations on fish hepatic CYP1A1 protein, EROD activity and the reductases. TPT seems to act more specifically on CYP1A1 than on other CYP forms. These findings combined with those of our previous studies (Brüschweiler BJ, Würgler FE, Fent K. Environ Toxicol Chem 1996;15:827-735; Fent K, Bucheli TD. Aquat Toxicol 1994;28:107-126; Fent K, Stegeman JJ. Aquat Toxicol 1991;20:159-168; Fent K, Stegeman JJ. Aquat Toxicol 1993;24:219-240) indicate a general degenerative effect of organotins on the fish microsomal monooxygenase system, although some differences are seen between the organotins, and between species. We conclude that these effects of organotins have consequences for use of CYP1A as a biomarker and endocrine disruption.     

N5-(1-Imino-3-butenyl)-L-ornithine. A neuronal isoform selective mechanism-based inactivator of nitric oxide synthase

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) catalyzes the NADPH- and O2-dependent conversion of L-arginine to nitric oxide (NO) and citrulline; three isoforms, the neuronal (nNOS), endothelial, and inducible, have been identified. Because overproduction of NO is known to contribute to several pathophysiological conditions, NOS inhibitors are of interest as potential therapeutic agents. Inhibitors that are potent, mechanism-based, and relatively selective for the NOS isoform causing pathology are of particular interest. In the present studies we report that vinyl-L-NIO (N5-(1-imino-3-butenyl)-L-ornithine; L-VNIO) binds to and inhibits nNOS in competition with L-arginine (Ki = 100 nM); binding is accompanied by a type I optical difference spectrum consistent with binding near the heme cofactor without interaction as a sixth axial heme ligand. Such binding is fully reversible. However, in the presence of NADPH and O2, L-VNIO irreversibly inactivates nNOS (kinact = 0.078 min-1; KI = 90 nM); inactivation is Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent. The cytochrome c reduction activity of the enzyme is not affected by such treatment, but the L-arginine-independent NADPH oxidase activity of nNOS is lost in parallel with the overall activity. Spectral analyses establish that the nNOS heme cofactor is lost or modified by L-VNIO-mediated mechanism-based inactivation of the enzyme. The inducible isoform of NOS is not inactivated by L-VNIO, and the endothelial isoform requires 20-fold higher concentrations to attain approximately 75% of the rate of inactivation seen with nNOS. Among the NOS inactivating L-arginine derivatives, L-VNIO is the most potent and nNOS-selective reported to date.     

Baseball implant. A method of secondary insertion of an intraorbital implant

A surgical technique for secondary emplacement of an orbital implant is described in which a spherical implant encased in a scleral homograft is placed in the orbit through a transconjuctival incision and sutured to the superior part of the periosteum.     

Measurement of regional blood oxygenation and cerebral hemodynamics

An echo planar linewidth mapping technique, Shufflebutt, has allowed temporal measurements of changes in linewidth caused by static inhomogeneities (delta LWSI) and transverse relaxation rate (delta R2) in models of hypoxia and hypercapnia. We demonstrate these changes are due to intravascular susceptibility differences/(delta chi) between the blood and tissue. Contrast agent injections at a delta chi equivalent to that of deoxygenated blood showed a twofold difference between the contrast agent and physiological anoxia values. Hypercapnia decreased both delta LWSI and delta R2 consistent with an increase in blood oxygenation. We attribute these findings to constant oxygen extraction during an increase in blood flow, resulting in less deoxygenated venous blood and thus reduced delta chi. For in vivo perturbations we found that delta R2/delta R2' approximately 0.33, a ratio much different from that measured in whole blood phantoms (delta R2/delta R2' approximately 2). This demonstrates that signal changes in these studies are produced predominantly by dephasing of extravascular protons due to field inhomogeneities produced by intravascular deoxygenated hemoglobin (deoxyHb).     

Contractile cells of the kidney in primary glomerular disorders: an immunohistochemical study using an anti-alpha-smooth muscle actin monoclonal antibody

Mesangial cells of the renal glomerulus are thought to have contractile properties, resembling those of smooth muscle cells. Since actin synthesis in mesangial cells is increased in selected animal models of glomerulonephritis, we evaluated the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (ASMA), the principal actin isoform found in smooth muscle cells, in biopsy specimens from patients with primary glomerular disorders and in control tissues. Normal glomeruli and glomeruli in acute tubulointerstitial disorders showed few or no ASMA-positive cells in the glomeruli. In contrast, ASMA expression in mesangial cells was increased in minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, membranous glomerulonephritis, and immunoglobulin A nephropathy. In membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis both mesangial and capillary loop ASMA-positive cells were observed with a segmental distribution. In addition, ASMA-positive interstitial cells were seen in many biopsy specimens and often were increased in number in biopsy specimens showing early interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. We conclude that ASMA synthesis in mesangial cells is upregulated in a variety of glomerular disorders, frequently associated with increased cell proliferation and mesangial matrix production. This phenotypic change may be an indicator of mesangial cell activation after injury and may have important pathophysiologic consequences.     

Human immune responses to influenza virus vaccines administered by systemic or mucosal routes

Healthy adult volunteers were immunized by parenteral or oral routes with trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (A/Chile/1/83 (H1N1), A/Mississippi/1/85 (H3N2), and B/Ann Arbor/1/86), or intranasally with live attenuated, cold-adapted influenza type A/Texas/1/85 (H1N1) reassortant virus. In all volunteers, cells spontaneously secreting IgA, IgG or IgM antibodies specific to influenza virus were detected in peripheral blood on days 6-13 after immunization, and specific IgA, IgG and IgM antibodies to influenza vaccine were measured in sera and external secretions (saliva and nasal lavage). Following systemic immunization, a raise in specific antibodies of all isotypes was observed in sera beginning on day 13. Although small variations in IgA and IgM antibodies in saliva and nasal lavages were detected, antigen-specific IgG significantly increased between days 13 and 27. Intranasal administration of attenuated virus induced IgA and IgG antibodies in serum as well as in secretions. Serum antibodies were not substantially influenced by oral immunization, only a small increase in all isotypes was observed in volunteers' sera 21 days after ingestion of vaccine. However, in secretions, antigen-specific IgA and IgG responses were detected one week after immunization and reached a peak response on day 20. These studies show that different routes of immunization can be effective for the induction of specific antibodies, and support the concept of the common mucosal immune system in humans by demonstrating that the oral or intranasal administration of antigen-induced specific antibodies of IgA isotype in external secretions, preceded by the transient appearance in peripheral blood of specific antibody-producing cells.     

A critical role for IL-4 in regulating disease severity in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis as demonstrated in IL-4-deficient C57BL/6 mice and BALB/c mice

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that has served as the principal experimental model for multiple sclerosis (MS). Susceptibility to disease is thought to correlate with the ability to generate a Th1-type cytokine profile in myelin-responsive T cells, whereas T cells producing a Th2 cytokine pattern, in particular IL-4, are thought to be nonencephalitogenic and also to confer protection against a Th1-type response. However, recent studies using a variety of genetically engineered animals in which the genes for Th1-type cytokines and/or their receptors have been inactivated have called into question the Th1-Th2 paradigm in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. In this report we have addressed the contribution of IL-4 to disease expression by studying two strains of mice, C57BL/6 and BALB/c, in which the gene for IL-4 has been inactivated. The IL-4-deficient C57BL/6 mice, and to a lesser extent the IL-4-deficient BALB/c mice, developed a more severe form of clinical disease, a more extensive pathologic involvement of the spinal cord, and an increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines in the CNS than their wild-type littermates. BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice showed a slightly different cytokine profile in the CNS. Both groups of animals recovered from the acute clinical episode in a time frame that was essentially identical to that found in the wild-type controls. We conclude that IL-4 plays an important role in modulating the severity of the encephalitogenic process, but does not by itself contribute to spontaneous remission from the disease.