Subregional mapping of the human lymphocyte prolyl oligopeptidase gene (PREP) to human chromosome 6q22.

Prolyl oligopeptidase is a large monomeric proline specific serine endopeptidase, the activity of which correlates well with different stages of depression. We have subregionally mapped human lymphocytic prolyl oligopeptidase (PREP) by FISH using a cosmid probe. The probe mapped to the long arm of chromosome 6, and the signal clustered in band q22.

Costimulation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells through CD26: the ADA-binding epitope is not essential for complete signaling.

It was previously shown that CD26 (DPP IV, EC 3.4.14.5) is a binding site for adenosine deaminase (ADA, EC 3.5.4.4) on T cells and that costimulation by some anti-CD26 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and anti-CD3 induces CD4+ T cell proliferation. The CD26 epitopes involved in costimulation, the precise sequence of the events preceding proliferation, and the response of CD8+ compared with CD4+ T cells to CD26 were not extensively studied. We therefore compared the effects of the novel TA5.9 anti-CD26 mAb, recognizing an ADA-binding epitope, and the clearly distinct anti-Ta1 reference anti-CD26 mAb for their costimulatory properties in various T cell subsets. Both purified CD4+ and CD8+ T cells proliferated upon costimulation with anti-CD3 and either anti-CD26 mAb, but anti-TA5.9 mAb induced a more potent response than anti-Ta1. Either anti-CD26 mAb, together with anti-CD3, caused a similar sequential up-regulation of CD69, CD25 (IL-2R alpha), and CD71 (transferrin receptor) expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The activation markers appeared faster on the CD45R0+ than on the CD45R0- subsets. After costimulation, CD4+ T cell cultures contained significant amounts of the Th1 cytokines IL-2, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). In CD8+ T cell cultures relatively more IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha but almost no IL-2 was measured after triggering of CD3 and CD26. Our data demonstrate that the recognition of the ADA-binding epitope is not a prerequisite for the costimulatory capacity of anti-CD26 mAbs. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and their CD45R0- and CD45R0+ subsets are sensitive to various aspects of activation via CD26, but the magnitude and/or kinetics differ according to the anti-CD26 used and the T cell subset studied.

Immobilized carboxypeptidase N. A potent bioreactor and specific adsorbent for peptides.

Carboxypeptidase N-Sepharose was prepared by covalent immobilization of purified human plasma carboxypeptidase N. More than 98% of the carboxypeptidase N was immobilized; 42% of the applied activity can be detected on the support. The column has excellent capabilities to quantitatively remove carboxy-terminal basic amino acids from peptides, as is demonstrated using the synthetic peptide substrate hippuryl-L-arginine and the nonapeptide bradykinin, and remains stable for several months. In contrast with apocarboxypeptidase B-Sepharose, apocarboxypeptidase N-Sepharose poorly binds its substrates.

Stromal populations and fibrosis in human long-term bone marrow cultures.

An immunofluorescence study of the adherent layer of human long-term bone marrow cultures (HLTBMC) revealed the following surface markers on the different stromal cell populations: stromal fibroblastic cells CD10+, FIB86.3+, CD13+, CD71+; adipocytes CD10+, FIB86.3-, CD13+, CD71-/+; and macrophages CD10-/+, FIB86.3+, CD13+, CD71-/+, CD14+, CD33+, CD25+, HLA-DR+, CD4+, CD19+, CD45+. The markers of the stromal fibroblastic cells in HLTBMC were similar to those of twice-passaged fibroblasts not only from bone marrow and spleen, but also from a hemopoietic non-supportive organ such as the skin. Some of the cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells used as controls were found to be CD25+, demonstrating for the first time the interleukin-2 receptor p55 chain on normal non-hemopoietic cells. The stromal fibroblastic cells are overrepresented compared to the small non-macrophage hemopoietic cell population in the adherent layer of HLTBMC. In addition, silver staining revealed an increased reticulin content in most of the HLTBMC. An excessive growth of stromal fibroblastic cells and an excessive deposition of their product, the reticulin fibers, are the hallmark of myelofibrosis. The finding of equivalent observations in HLTBMC suggests that the hitherto unexplained, premature quenching of hemopoiesis in HLTBMC might at least partly be due to mechanisms similar to those operating in myelofibrosis in vivo.

Exopeptidases in human platelets: an indication for proteolytic modulation of biologically active peptides.

The determination in human platelets of four exopeptidases--aminopeptidase P, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, carboxypeptidase N, and angiotensin converting enzyme--by means of fluorometric or liquid chromatography techniques was carried out. The results obtained show that the specific activities of dipeptidyl peptidase IV, carboxypeptidase N, and angiotensin converting enzyme in intact and disrupted platelets are small compared to their specific activities in serum. However, for aminopeptidase P the specific activity of this enzyme is much higher in platelets than in serum. This suggests that circulating platelets may have a significant role as scavengers for circulating peptides containing bonds susceptible for aminopeptidase P.

Renal cortical uptake kinetics of gentamicin in rats with impaired renal function.

The renal cortical uptake kinetics of the aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin was determined in the remnant kidney model. Renal failure was induced by partial ablation of the right kidney followed by left nephrectomy in female Wistar rats. The animals received a six-hour gentamicin infusion at a constant rate yielding steady-state serum concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 150 micrograms/mL. The renal cortical gentamicin concentrations were determined and related to the serum concentrations achieved. This relationship was nonlinear and followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Gentamicin cortical uptake rate, however, did not show clear saturation in the range of gentamicin serum levels studied as was observed in rats with normal renal function. The Michaelis-Menten parameters determined by nonlinear regression were Km = 15.0, 73.9, and 135.7 micrograms/mL; and Vmax = 149.9, 213.7, and 239.2 micrograms/g cortex/h, respectively, for controls, rats with serum creatinine levels between 0.9 and 1.2 mg/dL, and those with levels between 1.3 and 1.8 mg/dL. It is concluded that at serum levels below 100 micrograms/mL, the gentamicin renal cortical uptake is diminished in rats with renal failure. This decrease in renal cortical uptake is more pronounced in the group of rats with more severe renal failure.

Multiple forms of angiotensin-converting enzyme in human tissues and fluids.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (EC 3.4.15.1) exhibits distinctive tissue differences in electrophoretic behaviour. Human tissue homogenates and biological fluids were subjected to agar gel and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The gels were cut into slices and enzymatic activity detected by a specific colorimetric reaction. The technique allows localization of the enzyme in the electrophoretogram and gives an estimate of the total enzymatic activity of a tissue or biological fluid. Several tissues were found to show multiple forms of angiotensin-converting enzyme. The specificity of the assay was determined by running the samples after the addition of captopril and by adding proteinase inhibitors to the incubation mixture.

Distribution of angiotensin converting enzyme in human tissues.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (EC 3.4.15.1, dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase, ACE, Kininase II), the peptidase which transforms inactive decapeptide, angiotensin I, to the pressor octapeptide, angiotensin II, and which catalyses also the degradation of vasodilative nonapeptide bradykinin, was measured in 27 human tissue homogenates and physiological fluids. Two assays were used: one which measures the hydrolysis of the substrate hippuryl-glycyl-glycine, by means of high performance liquid chromatography and another, using a colorimetric assay measuring the cleaved glycyl-glycine after arylation with picrylsulfonic acid. All the tissues studied contained measurable converting enzyme activities which were inhibited by captopril (SQ 14.225) in low concentrations. High specific activities of converting enzyme were found in several tissues of the intestinal and urogenital tract, but the highest activity was found in benign prostatic hyperplasia. Normal prostate and prostatic adenocarcinoma have a much lower activity. Results obtained for human tissues are compared with those found in animals.

Improved procedure for extracting aminoglycosides from renal cortical tissue.

An efficient and reproducible procedure was developed for extracting aminoglycosides from renal cortical tissue. It involves a double homogenization and two rinsings with trichloroacetic acid. A higher recovery is obtained compared with that of other previously reported methods.

Comparative study of active and inactive plasma renin in healthy infants and adults.

Active, inactive and total plasma renin activity (obtained after cryoactivation), active, inactive and total plasma renin concentration (obtained after acid activation) and plasma angiotensin II were measured in 20 healthy infants and in 20 healthy adults. Active plasma renin activity but not active plasma renin concentration or plasma angiotensin II were significantly higher in the infants. In the latter both cryoactivation and acid activation resulted in a nearly 100% increase of the mean active plasma renin activity or active plasma renin concentration. Therefore the active fraction represented 0.5 of total renin with both methods. This was different in adults, where acid activation was more effective than cryoactivation. In adults, plasma angiotensin II was correlated only with active plasma renin activity and active plasma renin concentration; in contrast, plasma angiotensin II of infants was correlated with both active plasma renin activity, and with inactive plasma renin activity.

Sensitive colorimetric assay for angiotensin converting enzyme in serum.

A sensitive colorimetric procedure has been developed for the assay of angiotensin converting enzyme (EC 3.4.15.1) in serum. Serum (10 microL) is incubated for 30 min with hippuryl-glycyl-glycine as described earlier (Clin Chem 28: 1352-1355, 1982). After a Folin-Wu deproteinization, the liberated glycyl-glycine is derivatized with a borate-buffered (pH 9.3) trinitrobenzenesulfonate solution (60 mmol/L) to form trinitrophenyl-glycylglycine, the absorbance of which is read at 420 nm vs a serum blank. The linear range extends to an activity of more than 900 U/L of serum and the detection limit is less than 4 U/L. The mean activity for serum from 50 blood bank donors and 25 patients with active sarcoidosis was 281 (SD 77) and 693 (SD 81) U/L, respectively. The method demonstrates good precision (CVs less than 2.8%) and correlates well (r = .99) with results from a "high-pressure" liquid chromatographic procedure for determining hippuric acid. In addition, the proposed method is widely applicable, involving only commonly available apparatus.

Simultaneous high performance liquid-chromatographic determination of carbamazepine, carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide, ethosuximide, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone and phenylethylmalonamide in plasma.

A common methodology is reported for the determination of five major anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, ethosuximide, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone) and their active metabolites (carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide, phenylethylmalonamide) in 30 microliters of plasma. After a single step of deproteinisation and extraction with acetonitrile, leading to an almost complete recovery of all the analytes, 5 microliters is injected on a reversed-phase column (Lichrosorb RP-18, 5 microns). The anticonvulsants are eluted isocratically at a column temperature of 50 degrees C with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile/phosphate buffer p' 6.9 (40/60 by vol), and monitored at 208 nm. Quantitation, using peak height or peak area, is based on the ratio of analyte to internal standard (allylisobutylbarbital) referenced to a serum-based multiple drug standard. The composition and pH of the mobile phase, temperature of the column, choice of wavelength of detection and size of the column material are crucial for the optimal separation of these five drugs and their two active metabolites in a chromatographic time of only 12 min, without sacrificing high sensitivity and column life.

Angiotensin I converting enzyme activity in rabbit corneal endothelial cells.

Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) was studied in Vero cells, rabbit corneal fibroblasts, and rabbit corneal endothelial cells. The enzyme activity was determined by means of an assay employing hippuryl-glycyl-glycine as a substrate. The hippuric acid end product was separated from the substrate by reversed phase liquid chromatography and measured spectrophotometrically at 228 nm. The enzyme was further characterized by a captopril inhibition study. Significant ACE activity was found in rabbit corneal endothelial cells but not in other types of cells tested. This is the first report of the presence of this enzyme in a specific ocular cell type and suggests that angiotensin II may play a role in normal ocular physiology.

Improved micromethod for assay of serum angiotensin converting enzyme.

We describe conditions for determining angiotensin converting enzyme (EC 3.4.15.1) in serum, by liquid chromatography. Serum (10 microL) is assayed with the artificial substrate hippuryl-glycyl-glycine (30 mmol/L) in a 50 mmol/L "HEPES" buffer solution with a high salt content (300 mmol of NaCl and 400 mmol of Na2SO4 per liter), at pH 8.0. The resulting enzymic activity is ninefold that of the currently popular spectrophotometric assay of Cushman and Cheung as modified by Lieberman (Am. J. Med. 59: 365-372, 1975). The hippuric acid end product is separated from the substrate by reversed-phase liquid chromatography and measured spectrophotometrically at 228 nm. o-Methyl hippuric acid is used as internal standard. The mean value for 100 normal control subjects was 317 (SD 96) nmol of hippuric acid released per milliliter of serum per minute. The enzyme activity is greater in newborns (p less than 0.05) and has a tendency to decrease with age. This partly automated method, which is optimized with regard to activity and detection, can be used in clinical routine.

Simultaneous determination of p-aminobenzoic acid, acetyl-p-aminobenzoic acid and p-aminohippuric acid in serum and urine by capillary gas chromatography with use of a nitrogen-phosphorus detector.

In various studies during recent years, the use of p-aminobenzoic acid has been described in screening tests for exocrine pancreatic function. A synthetic three-unit compound N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-p-aminobenzoic acid has been administered orally and hydrolysed in the small intestine in the presence of chymotrypsin to N-benzoyl-L-tyrosine and p-aminobenzoic acid. This study describes a convenient procedure in which, after a selective extraction and derivatization with diazomethane, capillary gas chromatography is used combined with nitrogen-sensitive detection. With the proposed procedure, p-aminobenzoic acid and its major metabolites, acetyl-p-aminobenzoic acid and p-aminohippuric acid, can be monitored in serum and in urine samples.

Relation of age to isoenzyme pattern and total activity of amylase in serum.

Pancreatic and salivary isoenzymes of amylase were determined in serum from 70 subjects. Thin-layer gel/isoelectric focusing was used to separate the isoenzymes. Because other studies (J. Lab. Clin. Med. 90: 141-151, 1977) show that the major isoamylases have isoelectric points between 5.8 and 7.2, we focused the sera on polyacrylamide gel plates with a pH gradient from 5.5 to 8.5. The separated amylase fractions were made visible by direct incubation with a commercially available dye-starch polymer. Isoelectric focusing proved to be convenient, precise, and reproducible, and it can be used as a routine analysis to detect even slight changes in serum amylase distributions. We found that the isoamylase distribution is age dependent, whereas total amylase activity shows no correlation with age.