Functional domains of recombinant bactericidal/permeability increasing protein (rBPI23).

The 23-kDa recombinant amino-terminal bactericidal/permeability increasing protein fragment (rBPI23) has all of the antibacterial and antiendotoxin properties of the holoprotein. In the current studies, we have identified multiple active domains within rBPI23 with chemical and proteolytic cleavage fragments and with synthetic overlapping peptides. We also demonstrate a novel, high affinity heparin binding property for rBPI23, in addition to its established bactericidal and lipopolysaccharide binding properties. Cleavage fragments and synthetic, overlapping peptides of rBPI23 were analyzed for inhibition of the lipopolysaccharide-induced Limulus amebocyte lysate reaction, for bactericidal activity, and for heparin binding. Three separate, active domains were identified in amino acid regions 17-45, 65-99, and 142-169. A single synthetic peptide (85-99) was bactericidal. These results indicate that rBPI23 is comprised of three separate functional domains which contribute to the high affinity interaction of rBPI23 with Gram-negative bacteria. The individual activity of each domain and the cooperative interaction among domains provide the basis for developing rBPI23 analogues with increased biologic efficacy.

Inhibition of alloantigen presentation by cyclosporine.

Cyclosporine (CsA) was examined for its ability to inhibit alloantigen presentation by spleen cells in a primary mixed lymphocyte reaction; by gamma interferon-induced P388.D1 macrophages to an alloreactive T cell clone; and by a B cell lymphoma, B1D.beta to an alloreactive T cell hybridoma. Alloantigen-presenting cells were treated with CsA or its inactive analogs for 2 hr, washed extensively (four times), and added to the T cells. Using this protocol, CsA maximally inhibited allorecognition by the T cells at 1000 ng/ml in all three systems. An HPLC assay for CsA cell failed to detect any significant CsA carryover into the T cell assays. Supernatant transfer experiments also failed to demonstrate CsA carryover in the more sensitive T cell hybridoma assay. These transfer experiments also failed to demonstrate the generation of inhibitory factors during the assay. Northern blot analysis and a cell-surface ELISA failed to observe any decreases in MHC class II induction in/on P388.D1 cells with CsA present during the induction. Due to the lack of detectable (less than 10 ng/ml) CsA carryover, we hypothesize that CsA has a direct effect on the formation of stimulatory MHC class II in our alloreactive systems.

Effect of tolbutamide and chlorpropamide on acetaldehyde metabolism in two inbred strains of mice.

The mechanisms by which chlorpropamide and tolbutamide disrupt acetaldehyde metabolism were studied in C57BL and DBA mice. Acute po administration of varying doses of tolbutamide or chlorpropamide 2.5 hr before a 3.0 g/kg ip dose of ethanol to C57BL and DBA mice resulted in significant elevations of blood acetaldehyde when measured 2.5 hr after ethanol dosing. Dose-response analysis revealed a significant (p less than .05) difference in ED50 values for the elevated blood acetaldehyde response to tolbutamide in DBA (60 mg/kg) and C57BL (100 mg/kg) mice. The ED50 value for potentiation by chlorpropamide of blood acetaldehyde concentration was similar (23 to 32 mg/kg) in both inbred strains. At higher doses of chlorpropamide, DBA mice displayed elevations of blood acetaldehyde nearly threefold greater than those measured in C57BL mice treated identically. Measurements of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in hepatic subcellular fractions, obtained from both inbred strains treated with 100 mg/kg tolbutamide or chlorpropamide prior to a 3.0 g/kg dose of ethanol, revealed a 50 to 80% inhibition of the low-Km ALDH present in mitochondria. Chlorpropamide and tolbutamide did not inhibit ALDH in vitro, suggesting that metabolites of these hypoglycemic agents may be responsible for the genotypic-dependent alterations in in vivo acetaldehyde oxidation.

Subcellular distribution and kinetic parameters of HS mouse liver aldehyde dehydrogenase.

1. Aldehyde dehydrogenase subcellular distribution studies were performed in a heterogeneous stock (HS) of male and female mice (Mus musculus) with propionaldehyde (5 mM and 50 microM) and formaldehyde (1 mM) and NAD+ or NADP+. 2. The relative percents of distribution were: cytosolic 55-68%, mitochondrial 12-20%, microsomal 9-18% and lysosomal 3-15% for both propionaldehyde concentrations and NAD+. 3. Kinetic experiments using propionaldehyde and acetaldehyde with NAD+ revealed two separate enzymes, Enzyme I (low Km) and Enzyme II (high Km) in the cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions. 4. The kinetic data also indicated a spectrum of cytosolic low Km values that exhibited a bimodal distribution with one congruent to 40 microM and one congruent to 5 microM. 5. It was concluded that there was no significant difference in aldehyde-metabolizing capability between male and female HS mice, compared on a per gram of liver basis. The cytosolic low Km enzyme plays a major role in aldehyde oxidation at moderate to low aldehyde concentrations.

Ethanol elimination rates in mice: effects of gender, nutrition, and chronic ethanol treatment.

Twenty male and 20 female mice of a heterogeneous stock were assigned to each of three groups. One groups was administered ethanol in a liquid diet for 9 days, a second group was fed an isocalorically controlled diet containing no ethanol for the same length of time, and the third group was fed standard lab chow. Each animal was injected with a dose of ethanol equal to 3.5 g/kg body weight at the time corresponding to 6 hr post-withdrawal for the ethanol-treated group. Blood ethanol elimination rates were determined at 1, 2, and 3 hr post-injection. Neither gender, nutritional state, nor chronic ethanol treatment was found to affect ethanol elimination rates.

Incidence of asymptomatic gonorrhea in women.

Sixty-six of 70 consecutive cases of gonorrhea in women were reviewed retrospectively for presenting symptoms. Forty-four (44) percent were asymptomatic while an additional 48 percent mentioned only a vaginal discharge. The importance of taking routine gonorrhea cultures on all sexually active women is stressed. In medical settings where experience has shown a low yield of positive cultures, the Pennsylvania Health Department's priorities can be used to select the patients at highest risk of disease.