Past adult lead exposure is associated with longitudinal decline in cognitive function.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether adults with past exposure to neurotoxicants have progressive declines in cognitive function years after exposure has ceased, and whether tibia lead is a predictor of the magnitude of change. METHODS: A total of 535 former organolead manufacturing workers with a mean age of 55.6 years, a mean duration of 16 years since last occupational lead exposure, and low blood lead levels at the first study visit and 118 controls were evaluated with neurobehavioral tests two to four times over 4 years. "Peak" tibia lead levels, estimated from current levels measured by X-ray fluorescence, were used to predict changes in cognitive function over time. RESULTS: In former lead workers, peak tibia lead ranged from -2.2 to 98.7 microg Pb/g bone mineral. Compared to controls, former lead workers performed worse over time for three tests of visuo-constructive ability and verbal memory and learning (p < 0.05). In former lead workers, peak tibia lead predicted declines for six tests of verbal memory and learning, visual memory, executive ability, and manual dexterity (p < 0.05 for four tests and < 0.10 for two additional tests). On average, for these six tests, an increase of 15.7 microg/g of peak tibia lead was equivalent in its effects on annual test decline to 5 more years of age at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: These are the first data to suggest that cognitive function can progressively decline due to past occupational exposures to a neurotoxicant.

Inhibition of hepatocytic autophagy by adenosine, adenosine analogs and AMP.

Autophagy, measured in isolated rat hepatocytes as the sequestration of electroinjected [3H]raffinose, was moderately (17%) inhibited by adenosine (0.4 mM) alone, but more strongly (85%) in the presence of the adenosine deaminase inhibitor, 2'-deoxycoformycin (50 microM), suggesting that metabolic deamination of adenosine limited its inhibitory effectiveness. The adenosine analogs, 6-methylmercaptopurine riboside and N6,N6-dimethyladenosine, inhibited autophagy by 89% and 99%, respectively, at 0.5 mM, probably reflecting the adenosine deaminase-resistance of their 6-substitutions. 5-Iodotubercidin (10 microM), an adenosine kinase inhibitor, blocked the conversion of adenosine to AMP and largely abolished the inhibitory effects of both adenosine and its analogs, indicating that AMP/nucleotide formation was required for inhibition of autophagy. Inhibition by adenosine of autophagic protein degradation, measured as the release of [14C]valine from prelabelled protein, was similarly potentiated by deoxycoformycin and prevented by iodotubercidin. Inhibition of autophagy by added AMP, ADP or ATP (0.3-1 mM) was, likewise, potentiated by deoxycoformycin and prevented by iodotubercidin, suggesting dephosphorylation to adenosine and intracellular re-phosphorylation to AMP. Suppression of autophagy by AMP may be regarded as a feedback inhibition of autophagic RNA degradation, or as an aspect of the general down-regulation of energy-requiring processes that occurs under conditions of ATP depletion, when AMP levels are high.

MnDPDP for MR imaging of the liver. Results from the European phase III studies.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy and safety of MnDPDP (Teslascan) in enhanced MR imaging. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2 multiple independent trials in Europe 624 patients were given MnDPDP intravenously at 5 mumol/kg b.w. Patients underwent an unenhanced MR examination comprising T1-weighted spin-echo and breath-hold gradient-echo sequences and a T2-weighted spin-echo sequence. The T1 sequences were repeated after the administration of MnDPDP. In a subgroup of 137 patients the results of the enhanced MR images were compared with the results of contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) images. RESULTS: For both types of T1-weighted sequences and when evaluating the maximum numbers of lesions seen in all imaging sequences, the total numbers of lesions seen were significantly higher in the MnDPDP-enhanced images than in the unenhanced images (p = 0.0005 and p = 0.0001, respectively). The investigators considered the enhanced images to contain "other additional information not found in the unenhanced images" in 279 (45%) of the 621 patients examined. The MnDPDP-enhanced images were also superior to the CECT images in the detection of lesions (p = 0.02). Adverse events were reported by 46 patients (7%) and infusion-associated discomfort by 26 (4%). Heart rates and systolic and diastolic blood pressures showed no clinically significant changes from baseline as a result of the administration of the contrast medium. CONCLUSION: MnDPDP was shown to be effective and safe in enhanced MR imaging of the liver.

MR imaging properties and pharmacokinetics of MnDPDP in healthy volunteers.

PURPOSE: Thirteen male volunteers were studied to evaluate the MR imaging properties and pharmacokinetics of 10 mM mangafodipir trisodium infusion (MnDPDP, Teslascan). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Doses of 5 and 10 mumol/kg b.w. were administered by bolus injection (< 1 min) to 5 subjects, and by infusion (20 min) to 8 subjects, with a 3-week wash-out between doses. Infusion subjects underwent MR imaging. RESULTS: At 1 h after infusion, the plasma concentration of Mn was reduced to approximately 15% of the maximum value. Fifteen to 20% of Mn was recovered in the urine, and 50-60% was recovered in the faeces. The rapid initial plasma clearance of Mn is consistent with both rapid tissue uptake and rapid renal elimination. Increases in signal intensity were apparent on T1-weighted images of the liver, pancreas, spleen, renal cortex and the renal medulla, but not in regions of the brain protected by an intact blood-brain barrier. Increases were seen in the choroid plexus and pituitary. Contrast-related adverse events, only flushing of moderate intensity, occurred in bolus injection subjects. CONCLUSION: At 5 and 10 mumol/kg, mangafodipir produces relatively long-lasting enhancement of several abdominal organs, including the liver, pancreas and kidney.

Metabolism and pharmacokinetics of MnDPDP in man.

PURPOSE: To study the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of mangafodipir trisodium injection, 0.01 mmol/ml (Teslascan), in healthy male volunteers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight volunteers received mangafodipir trisodium as an infusion over 20 min, and 5 received it as an injection (< 1 min). Both groups received 5 and 10 mumol/kg b.w. with a wash-out period of 3 weeks between doses. Metabolites were measured in plasma, total manganese and zinc were measured in plasma and urine and total manganese was measured in faeces. RESULTS: The parent compound MnDPDP (manganese dipyridoxyl diphosphate) and 5 metabolites; MnDPMP (manganese dipyridoxyl monophosphate). MnPLED (manganese dipyridoxyl ethylenediamine) and the corresponding zinc compounds ZnDPDP, ZnDPMP and ZnPLED, were detected in plasma. ZnPLED was the only detectable metabolite 8 h after dosing. The apparent volume of distribution of manganese exceeded the interstitial body fluids. The volume of distribution of the ligand indicated distribution to the extracellular fluid only, with the plasma clearance close to the glomerular filtration rate. The manganese was incompletely excreted during the 4 days after treatment with the major part in faeces and less than 20% of the dose in the urine. CONCLUSION: Dephosphorylation and simultaneous transmetallation with zinc are the main metabolic pathways of MnDPDP in man.

Role of cAMP in the regulation of hepatocytic autophagy.

To assess the role of cAMP in the regulation of autophagy, we examined the effects of cAMP analogues and cAMP-elevating agents on freshly isolated rat hepatocytes, using electroinjected [3H]raffinose as an autophagy probe. Glucagon was found to stimulate, inhibit or have no effect on autophagy, depending on the inclusion of metabolites like pyruvate (which caused ATP depletion and autophagy suppression) and amino acids (a complete mixture that antagonized pyruvate) in the incubation medium. Inhibition was also observed with theophylline, a cAMP-elevating inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases, and with the adenylyl cyclase activator deacetylforskolin. At low concentrations of deacetylforskolin, the inhibition could be abolished by amino acids. N6,2'-O-Dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (Bt2-cAMP) strongly inhibited both autophagic sequestration of [3H]raffinose and overall autophagic protein degradation; again, amino acids abolished the autophagy-inhibitory effect of low Bt2-cAMP concentrations. Several other cAMP analogues (8-thiomethyl-cAMP, N6-benzoyl-cAMP, (S)-5,6-dichloro-1-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole 3',5'-[thio]monophosphate, (S)-8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-[thio]monophosphate) inhibited autophagy as well. The effect of Bt2-cAMP was rapid, dose-dependent, reversible and did not require concomitant protein synthesis. Neither Bt2-cAMP nor deacetylforskolin reduced intracellular ATP levels or cell viability, ruling out inhibition of autophagy by non-specific cytotoxicity. The autophagy-inhibitory effect of Bt2-cAMP could be substantially antagonized (40-50%) by KT-5720, a specific inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A, and by the nonspecific protein kinase inhibitor K-252a. Somewhat surprisingly, KN-62 and KT-5926, allegedly specific inhibitors of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and myosin light chain kinase, respectively, were also Bt2-cAMP-antagonistic. These results suggest that cAMP regulates the early, sequestrational step of hepatocytic autophagy by a highly conditional, dual mechanism, inhibition being predominant under most conditions in freshly isolated hepatocytes, whereas stimulation reportedly predominates in vivo. The effect of cAMP is probably mediated by protein kinase A, but other protein kinases would appear to participate in the regulation of autophagic sequestration as well.

Inhibition of asialoglycoprotein endocytosis and degradation in rat hepatocytes by protein phosphatase inhibitors.

In isolated rat hepatocytes, a radiolabelled tyramine-cellobiose conjugate of asialo-orosomucoid, 125I-TC-AOM, was rapidly taken up by receptor-mediated endocytosis and proteolytically degraded in the lysosomes, where radioactive degradation products accumulated. Okadaic acid and other protein phosphatase inhibitors (microcystin-LR, calyculin A) strongly reduced the fraction of asialoglycoprotein (ASGP) receptors localized to the cell surface, and correspondingly inhibited the uptake of 125I-TC-AOM. In addition, the inhibitors suppressed 125I-TC-AOM degradation strongly (90% at 150 nM) and potently (half-maximal effect at 20 nM okadaic acid), indicating an involvement of protein phosphorylation, and of a protein phosphatase of type 2A, in the regulation of intracellular endocytic flux. The effects of okadaic acid on 125I-TC-AOM accumulation, as well as on degradation, could be eliminated by the protein kinase inhibitor genistein. Okadaic acid prevented the transfer of 125I-TC-AOM to a non-recycling endocytic compartment, causing its retention in a recycling compartment from which about one-third of the endocytosed 125I-TC-AOM could be returned to the cell surface and detached from its receptor in the presence of EGTA. ASGP receptors recycled extensively both in the presence and absence of okadaic acid, as indicated by a sustained uptake of 125I-TC-AOM. Sucrose density gradient analysis and sedimentation studies indicated that okadaic acid caused accumulation of 125I-TC-AOM in light endosomes (1.11 g/ml), preventing its transfer to dense endosomes (1.14 g/ml) and lysosomes (1.18 g/ml). The lysosomes could be identified in density gradients by their contents of lysosomal marker enzymes and acid-soluble radioactivity, and by their sensitivity towards the lysosome-disrupting agent glycyl-L-phenylalanine-2-naphthylamide. By using endocytosed AOM-gold particles as an ultrastructural endocytic marker, it could be shown that the light endosomes accumulating ASGP in the presence of okadaic acid had the morphological appearance of small endocytic vesicles/tubules and multivesicular endosomes. Whereas in control cells 4% of the AOM-gold was in small vesicles/tubules, 55% in multivesicular endosomes and 41% in lysosomes, the corresponding figures for okadaic acid-treated cells were 17%, 73% and 11%. Our results thus indicate that protein phosphatase inhibitors have two effects on ASGP endocytosis: (1) an early inhibition of ligand uptake, due to a reduction in the fraction of ASGP receptors at the cell surface, and (2) an inhibition of ASGP transfer from a recycling compartment consisting of light, small endocytic vesicles and multivesicular endosomes, to a non-recycling compartment consisting of dense multivesicular endosomes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Malignant breast masses detected only by ultrasound. A retrospective review.

BACKGROUND: The authors attempted to appraise the ability of high resolution, real-time ultrasound to find malignant breast masses that are nonpalpable and undetectable by high quality mammography in women with radiographically dense breasts, who were referred because of palpable or mammographically detected lesions. METHODS: The records of breast ultrasound examinations of 12,706 women were retrospectively reviewed. All lesions were classified according to clinical and mammographic status as palpable or nonpalpable and as visible or nonvisible, respectively. Solid masses were sampled percutaneously by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) using ultrasound guidance and either were excised surgically or followed by sequential imaging. RESULTS: There were 1575 solid masses detected sonographically that were nonpalpable and nonvisible by mammography; percutaneous biopsies (FNABs) were performed on 279 of these. Cytologic interpretation was definitely malignant in 22, suspicious in 18 (6 confirmed cancers), and benign in 183 (no false negatives). Surgery confirmed malignancy in 44 of the 1575 solid masses (2.8%), including 16 in patients with multifocal cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound can detect unsuspected, mammographically occult cancers in radiographically dense breasts and can alter treatment planning when a second cancer is found in a breast that otherwise was considered appropriate for conservative surgery. The authors recommend that any solid lesion detected incidentally during breast sonography either should be biopsied percutaneously under ultrasound guidance and/or closely followed with sequential scans.

Inhibition of autophagy and multiple steps in asialoglycoprotein endocytosis by inhibitors of tyrosine protein kinases (tyrphostins).

In isolated rat hepatocytes, several tyrosine protein kinase inhibitors (tyrphostins) reduced the autophagic sequestration of electroinjected [3H]raffinose by 40-75% at doses that did not significantly affect cellular ATP levels or plasma membrane integrity. Tyrphostin 46 specifically inhibited autophagy, whereas tyrphostins 1, 25 and 51 also suppressed the receptor-mediated endocytic uptake of 125I-tyramine-cellobiose-asialoorosomucoid, 125I-TC-AOM, by 20-30% and its degradation by 70-90%. Tyrphostins 1 and 51, and the microtubule inhibitor vinblastine, inhibited an early endocytic step (endosome maturation/multivesiculation?), causing accumulation of endocytosed 125I-TC-AOM in a recycling compartment that corresponded to light endosomes (1.10-1.11 g/ml) in sucrose density gradients. In the electron microscope, these endosomes could be recognized as small, peripheral endocytic vesicles and tubules accumulating endocytosed AOM-gold. The serine/threonine protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid inhibited an intermediate endocytic step (detachment of multivesicular endosomes from the tubulovesicular network?), causing accumulation of 125I-TC-AOM in a recycling compartment corresponding to light endosomes (1.10-1.11 g/ml), but with a multivesicular rather than a tubulovesicular morphology. Tyrphostin 25 inhibited endocytosis at a late step (endosome-lysosome fusion?), causing accumulation of 125I-TC-AOM in a non-recycling compartment corresponding to dense, multivesicular endosomes (1.14 g/ml) that had probably detached from the light endosomal network.

Protection by naringin and some other flavonoids of hepatocytic autophagy and endocytosis against inhibition by okadaic acid.

In isolated rat hepatocytes, the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid exerts a strong inhibitory effect on autophagy, which can be partially overcome by certain protein kinase inhibitors like the isoflavone genistein. To see if other, more specific okadaic acid antagonists could be found among the flavonoids, 55 different flavonoids were tested for their effect on okadaic acid-inhibited autophagy, measured as the sequestration of electroinjected [3H]raffinose. Naringin (naringenin 7-hesperidoside) and several other flavanone and flavone glycosides (prunin, neoeriocitrin, neohesperidin, apiin, rhoifolin, kaempferol 3-rutinoside) offered virtually complete protection against the autophagy-inhibitory effect of okadaic acid. Unlike genistein, these compounds had little or no autophagy-inhibitory effect of their own. Their innocuousness appeared to be related to glycosylation, because the corresponding aglycones (naringenin, eriodictyol, hesperetin, apigenin, kaempferol) were all inhibitory, in particular apigenin (80% inhibition at 100 microM). Naringin, the most potent okadaic acid-antagonistic flavonoid, gave half-maximal protection at 5 microM and maximal effect at 100 microM. Naringin also prevented the okadaic acid-induced inhibition of endogenous, autophagic lysosomal protein degradation and of receptor-mediated asialoglycoprotein uptake and degradation. Naringin and other okadaic acid-antagonistic flavonoids may be useful tools in the study of intracellular protein phosphorylation and could have potential therapeutic value as protectants against pathological hyperphosphorylations, environmental toxins, or side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs.

Reduced autophagic activity in primary rat hepatocellular carcinoma and ascites hepatoma cells.

Autophagy, measured as the sequestration of an endogenous cytosolic enzyme (LDH), showed a progressive rate reduction during diethylnitrosamine-induced rat liver carcinogenesis. In primary hepatocellular carcinomas the autophagic activity was only one-fourth of that seen in normal hepatocytes. Reduced autophagy was also observed in peritumorous hepatocytes and in cells from preneoplastic liver, and a complete suppression of autophagic protein degradation was seen in normal hepatocytes treated with ascitic fluid from an ascites hepatoma, suggesting that tumour cells and their precursors may produce autophagy-suppressive factors with an autocrine and paracrine action. In cells from the transplantable rat ascites hepatoma, Yoshida AH-130, autophagic activity was negligible during active (logarithmic) growth, but increased to approximately 0.4%/h at high cell density, i.e. in stationary phase. In contrast to normal hepatocytes, autophagy in the AH-130 cells was not inhibited by ascitic fluid. The hepatoma cells would thus appear to have lost some aspects of autophagy regulation while retaining others. However, even the highest rate of hepatoma cell autophagy was only one-tenth of the maximal activity seen in normal hepatocytes, confirming the hypothesis that reduced autophagy may be an important aspect of growth deregulation in liver cancer.

Dependence of hepatocytic autophagy on intracellularly sequestered calcium.

Autophagic sequestration of endogenous lactate dehydrogenase or electroinjected [3H]raffinose in isolated rat hepatocytes was strongly suppressed by the Ca2+ chelator EGTA, unless the cells had previously been electroloaded in the presence of high concentrations of Ca2+ (1.2 mM). The extracellular Ca2+ chelator bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) and the intracellular Ca2+ chelator BAPTA/tetra(acetoxymethyl)-ester (BAPTA/AM) both inhibited autophagy to the same extent as did EGTA. Inhibitors of Ca(2+)-activated protein kinases (KN-62, H-7, W-7) had little or no effect on autophagy, indicating that the Ca2+ requirement of autophagy was not mediated by such kinases. Agents that elevate cytosolic Ca2+ by releasing Ca2+ from intracellular stores, like thapsigargin, 2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-benzohydroquinone (tBuBHQ) and the ionophores A23187 and ionomycin, inhibited autophagy strongly, implicating depletion of sequestered rather than of cytosolic intracellular Ca2+ as a common mechanism of inhibition. Lysosomal (propylamine-sensitive) protein degradation, known to be largely autophagy-dependent, was inhibited by thapsigargin and tBuBHQ. Thapsigargin had no effect on cellular ATP levels, but all agents tested (thapsigargin, tBuBHQ, ionophores) inhibited protein synthesis. Our results suggest that autophagy, like protein synthesis, is dependent on the presence of Ca2+ in some intracellular storage compartment.

Solid breast lesions: diagnosis with US-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

PURPOSE: To ascertain the usefulness of real-time ultrasound (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy as an adjunct to clinical, mammographic, and sonographic assessment of solid breast lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: US-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed in 225 malignant and 580 benign solid breast lesions confirmed by means of excisional biopsy or with imaging follow-up (mammography or US) performed at approximate intervals of 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. All lesions were classified as palpable or nonpalpable at clinical examination and visible or nonvisible on mammograms. RESULTS: In 213 malignant lesions (95%), the cytologic findings were malignant or suspicious, with no false-positive and 12 false-negative cases. Mammography did not enable detection of 58 cancers (26%), 43 of which were palpable. Fifteen cancers discovered with US were nonpalpable and not seen on mammograms. Cytologic diagnosis of fibroadenoma or nonspecific benign cells was correct in 535 lesions. The sensitivity of this method was 95%; specificity, 92%; and overall accuracy, 93%. CONCLUSION: Real-time US-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a useful adjunct to clinical, mammographic, and sonographic assessment of solid breast lesions.

Inhibition of hepatocytic autophagy by okadaic acid and other protein phosphatase inhibitors.

Autophagy, measured as the sequestration of electroinjected [3H]raffinose or endogenous lactate dehydrogenase, was inhibited in isolated rat hepatocytes by the protein phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid, calyculin A and microcystin-LR. Okadaic acid, the most potent inhibitor, suppressed autophagy almost completely at 15 nM, suggesting inhibition of a protein phosphatase of type 2A. Okadaic acid had no effect on ATP levels, protein synthesis or cellular viability at this concentration, but caused a disruption of the hepatocytic cytoskeleton and a consequent reduction in organelle sedimentability, potentially interfering with the autophagy assay unless the necessary precautions are taken. Lysosomal (propylamine-sensitive) degradation of endogenous protein was inhibited by okadaic acid, whereas non-lysosomal (propylamine-resistant) degradation was unaffected. The autophagy-inhibitory effect of okadaic acid was not affected by inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase or protein kinase C (H-7, H-89, calphostin C) but eliminated by the non-specific inhibitor K-252a and its analogues (KT-5720, KT-5823, KT-5926) and by KN-62, a specific inhibitor of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Protein phosphorylation by this kinase would thus seem to play a role in regulation of the autophagic-lysosomal degradation pathway.

Protein kinase-dependent effects of okadaic acid on hepatocytic autophagy and cytoskeletal integrity.

The protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid suppressed autophagy completely in isolated rat hepatocytes, as measured by the sequestration of electroinjected [3H]raffinose into sedimentable autophagic vacuoles. Okadaic acid was effectively antagonized by the general protein kinase inhibitors K-252a and KT-5926, the calmodulin antagonist W-7, and by KN-62, a specific inhibitor of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK-II). These inhibitors also antagonized a cytoskeleton-disruptive effect of okadaic acid, manifested as the disintegration of cell corpses after breakage of the plasma membrane. CaMK-II, or a closely related enzyme, would thus seem to play a role in the control of autophagy as well as in the control of cytoskeletal organization.

Prelysosomal and lysosomal connections between autophagy and endocytosis.

In isolated rat hepatocytes electroloaded with [14C]sucrose, autophaged sugar accumulated in lysosomes under control conditions, and in prelysosomal autophagic vacuoles (amphisomes) in the presence of asparagine, an inhibitor of autophagic-lysosomal fusion. Endocytic uptake of the sucrose-cleaving enzyme invertase resulted in rapid and complete degradation of autophaged sucrose in both amphisomes and lysosomes. Pre-accumulated sucrose was degraded equally well in both compartments, regardless of amphisomal-lysosomal flux inhibition by asparagine, suggesting that endocytic entry into the autophagic pathway can take place both at the lysosomal and at the amphisomal level. The completeness of sucrose degradation by endocytosed invertase furthermore indicates that all lysosomes involved in autophagy can also engage in endocytosis. Endocytosed invertase reached the amphisomes even when autophagy was blocked by 3-methyladenine, and autophaged sucrose reached this compartment even when endocytic influx was blocked by vinblastine, suggesting that amphisomes may exhibit some degree of permanence independently of either pathway.

Inhibition of autophagic-lysosomal delivery and autophagic lactolysis by asparagine.

Overall autophagy was measured in isolated hepatocytes as the sequestration and lysosomal hydrolysis of electroinjected [14C]lactose, using HPLC to separate the degradation product [14C]glucose from undegraded lactose. In addition, the sequestration step was measured separately as the transfer from cytosol to sedimentable cell structures of electroinjected [3H]raffinose or endogenous lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; in the presence of leupeptin to inhibit lysosomal proteolysis). Inhibitor effects at postsequestrational steps could be detected as the accumulation of autophaged lactose (which otherwise is degraded intralysosomally), or of LDH in the absence of leupeptin. Asparagine, previously shown to inhibit autophagic but not endocytic protein breakdown, strongly suppressed the autophagic hydrolysis of electroinjected lactose. Vinblastine, which inhibits both types of degradation, likewise suppressed lactose hydrolysis. Asparagine had little or no effect on sequestration, but caused an accumulation of autophaged LDH and lactose, indicating inhibition at a postsequestrational step. Neither asparagine nor vinblastine affected the degradation of intralysosomal lactose preaccumulated in the presence of the reversible lysosome inhibitor propylamine. However, if lactose was preaccumulated in the presence of asparagine, both asparagine and vinblastine suppressed its subsequent degradation. The data thus indicate that autophagic-lysosomal delivery, i.e., the transfer of autophaged material from prelysosomal vacuoles to lysosomes, is inhibited selectively by asparagine and non-selectively by vinblastine.

Effects of adrenergic agonists and antagonists on autophagic activity in isolated rat liver cells.

The effect of various adrenergic agonists on autophagic sequestration--measured as the transfer of electroinjected [3H]raffinose from cytosol to vacuoles of the autophagic pathway--was investigated. Epinephrine and other agonists with alpha-effects inhibited sequestration through a specific alpha 1-adrenergic, i.e. prazosin-sensitive, mechanism. The beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol also inhibited sequestration, but by a non-beta-specific (propranolol-insensitive) mechanism. All sequestration-inhibitory agents suppressed overall autophagic-lysosomal proteolysis. The inhibitory action of the adrenergic agonists on protein metabolism was not specific to the autophagic pathway since protein synthesis was suppressed as well. However, intracellular levels of ATP were not adversely affected, ruling out the possibility that the agonists might be generally cytotoxic.

Hepatocytic autophagy.

Autophagy is a non-selective bulk process for degradation of cytoplasm, as indicated by ultrastructural evidence and by the similarity in autophagic sequestration rates of various cytosolic enzymes with different half-lifes. The initial autophagic sequestration step is subject to feedback inhibition by amino acids, an effect which is potentiated by insulin and antagonized by glucagon. Epinephrine and other adrenergic agonists inhibit autophagic sequestration through a prazosin-sensitive, alpha 1-adrenergic mechanism. The sequestration is also inhibited by cAMP and by protein phosphorylation as indicated by the effects of cyclic nucleotide analogues, phosphodiesterase inhibitors and okadaic acid. Asparagine specifically inhibits autophagic-lysosomal fusion without having any significant effects on autophagic sequestration, intralysosomal degradation or on the endocytic pathway. Autophaged material that accumulates in prelysosomal vacuoles in the presence of asparagine is accessible to endocytosed enzymes, revealing the existence of an amphifunctional organelle, the amphisome. Evidence from several cell types suggests that endocytosis may be coupled to autophagy in a differential (ligand-dependent) manner, and that amphisomes may play a central role as collecting stations for material destined for lysosomal degradation.