Increased gamma-aminobutyrate aminotransferase activity in brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

In order to search for more proximal factors in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, we studied the activities of various enzyme in the brains of patients, as well as control cases, by postmortem autopsy. In addition to the findings already known, such as the increase in prolyl endopeptidase (post-proline cleaving enzyme, PPCE) activity and the decrease in kallikrein activity, we found, anew, an increase in aminobutyrate aminotransferase (GABA-T) activity in the Alzheimer brain. This may be an important impetus for the reduction of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, one of the neurotransmitters. It has to be determined whether the former two abnormalities offer a background for such an abnormality of the neurotransmitter.

Deficiency of kallikrein-like enzyme activities in cerebral tissue of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

We examined the changes in the intracerebral activities, at the time of postmortem autopsy, in patients with Alzheimer's disease. When compared with the control group, the activity of kallikrein-like enzyme was significantly decreased, while prolyl endopeptidase activity increased, in the patients group. Aprotinin inhibited 50% of the activity of the former enzyme at 2 x 10(-7) M. Taken together with the results of a multivariate study, the above findings may indicate that intracerebral kallikrein deficiency plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

Antiglycolipid antibodies in normal and pathologic human sera and synovial fluids.

Antiglycolipid antibodies were measured in normal and pathologic sera and synovial fluids by means of a modified microplate method of complement-mediated immune lysis of fluorescent dye-trapped liposomes. All sera of normal subjects had antibodies against globopentaosylceramide (IV3 GalNAcGbOse4Cer), ganglioside GM1, gangliotriaosylceramide, gangliotetraosylceramide, and galactosylneolactotetraosylceramide antigens. Most sera of normal subjects had antibodies against lactotriaosylceramide, N-glycolylneuraminosyl-neolactotetraosylceramide (NeuGcnLcOse4Cer), GM3 ganglioside with N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGcGM3) and GD1a antigens. Differences of titers against IV3GalNAcGbOse4Cer, neolactotetraosylceramide, NeuGcGM3 and NeuGcnLcOse4Cer antigens were observed between sera of normal subjects and pathologic sera from cases of leukemias, lymphomas, several autoimmune diseases and liver diseases.

Analysis of the mode of antigen presentation required for triggering of T cell proliferation by using various azobenzenearsonate-tyrosine derivatives.

Various azobenzenearsonate-tyrosine (ABA-Tyr) derivatives were synthesized by modifying amino and carboxyl groups at the alpha-carbon of tyrosine, with preservation of most of the ABA-Tyr moiety (ABA plus hydroxyphenyl portion of tyrosine). These derivatives were tested for the ability to stimulate ABA-L-Tyr specific T cell lines derived from B10.BR and B10.S mice. ABA-acetyltyramine, ABA-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid (ABA-PPr), and ABA-propylphenol, which lack either the carboxyl or amino group or both, could not induce T cell proliferation. The lack of stimulation by these derivatives was not due to their cytotoxic effects. A similar pattern of proliferation was obtained on stimulating lymph node T cells from B10.BR and B10.S mice primed with ABA-L-Tyr. Some differences were observed, however, between B10.BR and B10.S mice. ABA-L-Tyr-specific T cells from B10.BR mice could not respond well to ABA-D-Tyr in contrast to B10.S T cells. Furthermore, B10.BR mice primed with ABA-acetyltyramine or ABA-PPr in complete Freund's adjuvant could not induce ABA-L-Tyr-reactive T cells, whereas T cells from B10.S mice primed with these derivatives could proliferate in the presence of ABA-L-Tyr. The differences between B10.BR and B10.S mice were further investigated by using (B10.S X B10.BR)F1 mice. T cells from ABA-L-Tyr-immunized F1 mice responded poorly to ABA-D-Tyr when presented with B10.BR antigen-presenting cells (APC), but responded well when presented with B10.S APC. Similarly, T cells from ABA-PPr-primed F1 mice did not proliferate to ABA-L-Tyr in the presence of B10.BR APC, but could proliferate in the presence of B10.S APC. Our results clearly indicate that the presence of charged groups at the alpha-carbon of tyrosine plays a critical role in the triggering of ABA-L-Tyr-specific T cell proliferation. The significance of these results is discussed.

Finding of a galactose-oxidation-product in lens of galactose-fed guinea pig.

From studies on polyols in lens of galactose-fed guinea pigs, r-galactono-1,4-lactone was found, which proves the presence of galactonic acid as a product of galactose oxidation, by gas liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The content of this component was one tenth of that of galactitol. In vitro culture of rat lens in 30 mM galactose-loaded media demonstrated the formation of the lactone. The significance of the lactone was discussed with respect to the galactose metabolism in lens.

Liposome immune lysis assay (LILA): a simple method to measure anti-protein antibody using protein antigen-bearing liposomes.

A new simple immunoassay technique using immune lysis of liposomes was developed to measure antibody against protein antigens. Multilamellar liposomes were composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and phosphatidylethanolamine substituted with the hetero-bifunctional cross-linking reagent N-hydroxysuccinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP). The protein antigen (human IgG) was coupled to these liposomes after treatment with SPDP and mild reduction. As a release marker, carboxyfluorescein (CF) was entrapped in the liposomes. The CF release was specific to anti-human IgG antibody and depended on the presence of complement. This technique could detect 10(-15) mol of anti-human IgG antibody or human IgG. The liposomes were stable over 8 months at 4 degrees C under nitrogen gas.

Ageing and compositional changes of rat lens.

In order to elucidate chemical changes in the lenses of aged animals, carbohydrate and fatty acid compositions were studied in 36 healthy male and female Fischer 344 rats from 3 weeks to 32 months of age. Senile cataract was observed on six lenses of 12 rats aged 28-32 months. The carbohydrate content increased rapidly within 7 months of age and remained constant until 29 months. But the myoinositol content showed a maximum at 7 months of age and afterwards a decreasing trend was observed. In cataractous lenses, the myoinositol content decreased rapidly; sorbitol and fructose showed similar changes although the rates were much lower than that of myoinositol. Lens fatty acids increased steadily during the life span and the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids was maintained in a narrow range (1.20-1.30). However, the value was significantly altered in cataractous lenses. An age-dependent change was found with nervonic acid, which increased markedly from 1.8% of fatty acids at 3 weeks of age to 6.8% at 29 months. In cataractous lenses, the predominant changes noticed were a rapid decrease of arachidonic acid and a high content of nervonic acid.

Biological activities of analogues of lipid A based chemically on the revised structural model. Comparison of mediator-inducing, immunomodulating and endotoxic activities.

Lipid A analogues were chemically synthesized based on the model structure recently revised, and biological activities of the analogues were tested. The analogue, (beta-1,6)-linked glucosamine disaccharide carrying ester-bound 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acids at 3 and 3' position of reducing and nonreducing glucosamine in addition to amide-bound 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acids and glycosidic-linked and ester-linked phosphate groups, showed much stronger activities for mediator inducing and immunomodulating as well as endotoxic activities than those exhibited by the previously synthesized analogues based on the old model. Among the activities tested, induction of interferon and tumor necrosis factor as well as mitogenicity, adjuvanticity and pyrogenicity were, however, not expressed so strongly as natural lipid A used as controls. In contrast, the analogue exhibited comparable activities to those of control lipid A in the test of lethal toxicity to mice and gelating activity of Limulus amebocyte lysate. Other synthetic analogues carrying a phosphate group showed comparable, slightly stronger or weaker activities depending on the test, but nonphosphorylated analogue exhibited no apparent or only very weak activities.

Further study of biological activities of chemically synthesized analogues of lipid A in artificial membrane vesicles.

In the previous paper [Eur. J. Biochem. 124, 405 (1982)], we demonstrated that chemically synthesized lipid-A analogues such as the 1-monophosphate or 1,4'-diphosphate of 6-O-(2-deoxy-2-tetradecanoylamino-6-O-tetradecanoyl-D-glucopyra nos yl)-2-deoxy-2-tetradecanolyamino-3,4-di-O-tetradecanoyl-D-gluco pyr anose enhanced immunogenicity of liposomal model membranes sensitized with amphipathic antigen when they were incorporated in the same liposomes. Here we extend the observation by testing the recently synthesized analogues including diglucosamine analogues carrying hydroxy and acyloxy fatty acids. Among the analogues tested, those which showed higher adjuvant and mitogenic activities in the liposomal system were N-acylated and O-acylated beta-1,6-linked D-glucosamine disaccharides carrying either amide-bound 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acids in addition to phosphate in position 1 of the reducing sugar or amide-bound 3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoic acids. The analogue carrying both amide-bound 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acids and phosphate in position 4 of the non-reducing sugar showed weak adjuvant activity and marginal mitogenic activity.

Effect of parathyroid hormone, cyclic AMP and Ca2+ on the phosphorylation of brush border membranes in rabbit kidney.

Renal cortical slices were incubated with parathyroid hormone or dibutyryl cAMP and the effects on phosphate uptake and phosphorylation of proteins in brush border membranes isolated from the treated slices were determined. Na+ gradient-dependent phosphate uptake was inhibited. Phosphorylation of proteins of Mr=170 K, 135 K, 105 K, 88 K, and 68 K was increased after incubation with the hormone or the cyclic nucleotide. Phosphorylation of membrane proteins was also examined in isolated relatively intact brush border membrane vesicles and in membrane vesicles disrupted with Triton X-100. With intact membrane vesicles, total phosphorylation of the membrane was not significantly altered by cAMP. However, phosphorylation of proteins of Mr=85 K and 48 K increased whereas phosphorylation of proteins of Mr=170 K, 78 K, and 56 K decreased, relative to that found with slices. With detergent-treated membranes, which presumably were made permeable to [gamma-32P]-ATP, a cAMP-induced increase in total phosphorylation was demonstrated. Phosphorylation of proteins of Mr=135 K, 78 K, 65 K, and 56 K was markedly enhanced. These findings suggest that proteins of Mr=135 K, 78 K, 65 K, and 56 K are localized on the cytosolic side of the membrane whereas proteins of Mr=85 K and 48 K are present on the luminal surface of the membrane. Incubation of the isolated brush border membrane vesicles with Ca2+, or Ca2+ plus cAMP, also affected the phosphorylation of membrane proteins. The phosphorylation of proteins of Mr=105 K, 68 K, and 20 K was increased by Ca2+. The Mr=20 K protein may be myosin light chain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Activation of the alternative complement pathway by natural antibody to glycolipids in guinea-pig serum.

Liposomes containing paragloboside (PG) on their membrane were readily lysed by C4-deficient guinea-pig serum (C4D-GPS) through activation of the alternative complement pathway (ACP). Therefore we examined the reactivity of several types of guinea-pig serum (GPS) on PG-liposomes and determined that all GPS except that from specific pathogen-free (SPF) Hartley guinea-pigs had lytic capacity in Mg-EGTA-GVB (gelatin veronal-buffered saline containing Mg++ and ethyleneglycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N'-tetraacetate). This lytic capacity of GPS corresponded with the amount of natural antibody to PG in those sera. Although GPS of SPF guinea-pigs (SPF-GPS) could not lyse PG-liposomes in Mg-EGTA-GVB, it could lyse the liposomes when heated C4D-GPS or Hartley GPS was added. Natural antibody to PG in the heated sera was regarded to have sensitized PG-liposomes to lysis by SPF-GPS via ACP activation. Since the antibody to PG-liposomes was removed by lacto-N-nor-hexaosylceramide which has the same chemical structure in the terminal oligosaccharide, the antibody to PG in GPS was suggested to have a specificity to the terminal structure of oligosaccharide shared by lacto-N-nor-hexaosylceramide. Furthermore, the IgM fraction, which had been prepared by gel filtration of heated C4D-GPS on a Sephadex G200 column, could also sensitize PG-liposomes to lytic reaction of SPF-GPS in Mg-EGTA-GVB. This sensitizing capacity of heated C4D-GPS was suppressed by absorption of the serum or its IgM fraction with anti-guinea-pig mu-chain antibody coupled to Sepharose. Therefore, it was concluded that the lysis of PG-liposomes by GPS in Mg-EGTA-GVB was a result of ACP activation mediated by natural antibodies to PG of the IgM type which are present in usual GPS. This conclusion indicated that natural antibodies of the IgM type might play a role with ACP in host defence, especially in C4-deficient guinea-pigs where the classical complement pathway is impaired.

Differing reactivities of human and guinea-pig complement on haptenized liposomes via the alternative pathway.

Several haptens coupled to dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE) were inserted into the liposome membrane with a base composition of an equimolecular mixture of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and cholesterol (Chol). Haptens used were trinitrophenyl (TNP)-DPPE, TNP-aminocaproyl (TNP-Cap)-DPPE, dinitrophenyl (DNP)-DPPE, DNP-aminocaproyl (DNP-Cap)-DPPE, fluoresceinthiocarbamyl (Fl)-DPPE, azobenzenarsonate-tyrosyl (ABA-Tyr)-DPPE, dansyl (DNS)-DPPE, dabsyl (DABS)-DPPE, dithiopyridyl (DTP)-DPPE and maleimidobenzoyl (MB)-DPPE. Reactivity of those haptenized liposomes with complement via the alternative pathway was assessed by release of trapped fluorescent marker from the liposomes following incubation with dilutions of guinea-pig and human sera in a diluent containing MgCl2 and ethyleneglycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)N,N'-tetraacetate (EGTA). In the diluent (Mg-EGTA-GVB), complement activation via the alternative pathway proceeds while that via the classical pathway is inhibited. Fl-liposomes were found to be extremely sensitive to guinea-pig complement, being lysed by guinea pig serum dilutions of up to 1:76 in Mg-EGTA-GVB. Guinea-pig serum could lyse TNP-Cap-liposomes, DNP-Cap-liposomes, TNP-liposomes, DTP-liposomes, MB-liposomes, DNP-liposomes and ABA-Tyr-liposomes, with the reactivity of the liposomes decreasing in this order. However, the only haptenized liposomes sensitive to human serum in Mg-EGTA-GVB were DTP- and MB-liposomes; the other liposomes including Fl-liposomes being unreactive via the alternative pathway in reaction with human complement.

Membrane sialoglycolipids regulate the activation of alternative complement pathway by liposomes containing trinitrophenylaminocaproyldipalmitoylphosphatidylethaolamine.

We found that liposomes associated with trinitrophenylaminocaproyldipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine (TNP-Cap-DDPE) activate the alternative complement pathway (ACP) of guinea-pig. The complement-activating capacity (CAC) of liposomes with TNP-Cap-DPPE (TNP-Cap-liposomes) was found to be inhibited by the insertion of sialoglycolipids such as GM3 onto the membrane. However, neutral glycolipids tested had no inhibitory effect on the CAC of the TNP-Cap-liposomes. The minimum amount of sialoglycolipids required for the inhibition of the ACP-activating capacity of TNP-Cap-liposomes was 0.01 or less in molar ratio to dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine in the liposomes. Since the insertion of charged amphiphiles did not affect the status of TNP-Cap-liposomes containing glycolipids with respect to their ACP-activating capacity, the surface potential caused by sialoglycolipids was disregarded as being the factor responsible for restriction of the complement-activating effect. For the inhibitory effect to be manifested, it was demonstrated that the presence of GM3 was required on the same liposome membrane as where the TNP-Cap-triggered ACP activation is taking place. Therefore, sialoglycolipids may inhibit ACP activation by reacting directly on certain nascently activated complement proteins. However, insertion of GM3 could not inhibit liposome lysis via the classical complement pathway. Furthermore, the presence of antibody reaction significantly reduced the inhibitory capacity of GM3 indicating that natural antibody may be responsible for discriminating between self and heterologous surfaces, thus cancelling the glycolipid-mediated restriction of ACP activation in the case of heterologous cell surface, bringing about lysis by the cancellation of the glycolipid-mediated restriction of ACP activation on heterologous cell surfaces.

Biological activity of chemically synthesized analogues of lipid A. Demonstration of adjuvant effect in hapten-sensitized liposomal system.

The adjuvant effect of synthetic analogues of lipid A was investigated in mice in vivo. Two of the five synthetic lipid A analogues showed adjuvant activity when they were incorporated into dipalmitoylglycerophosphocholine-cholesterol-dipalmitoylglycerophosphate liposomes sensitized with trinitrophenylaminocaproylglycerophosphoethanolamine. The minimum structure for an adjuvant effect in the liposomal immunogen system was 1-monophosphate of 6-0-(2-deoxy-2-tetradecanoylamino-6-0-tetradecanoyl-D-glucopyranosyl)-2-deoxy-2 -tetradecanoyl-amino-3,4-di-O-tetradecanoyl-D-glucopyranose.

Effect of lipid A incorporation on characterization of liposomal model membranes as thymus-independent type 1 or type 2 immunogens.

We used the following criteria to determine whether liposomal model membranes are thymus-independent type 1 (TI-1) or type 2 (TI-2) immunogens: a) in vivo response of (CBA/N X BALB/c)F1 male and female mice; b) in vitro response of spleen cells from these mice; c) ontogeny of the response in cultures of (C57BL/6 X DBA/2)F1 male cells obtained from mice of different ages; d) ability of a monoclonal anti-delta antibody to block the in vitro response of C57BL/6 spleen cells. The liposomes were sensitized with N(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl-6-N-aminocaproyl)-dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine (TNP-Cap-DPPE) and were prepared without and with incorporation of the B cell mitogen, lipid A. On the basis of the above criteria, liposomes prepared without lipid A can be characterized as a TI-2 immunogen and resemble TNP-Ficoll. In contrast, liposomes prepared with lipid A behave like a TI-1 immunogen such as TNP-BA (trinitrophenylated Brucella abortus). Conversion of liposomes from a TI-2 to a TI-1 immunogen by inclusion of lipid A in the bilayers was achieved under conditions of constant TNP-Cap-DPPE epitope density. Increasing the epitope density in liposomes made without lipid A does not result in transformation of immunogen type. These results, which bear on the features that may distinguish TI-1 from TI-2 immunogens, are discussed with regard to the involvement of macrophages and T cells in the response.

Forssman antibody levels in sera of cancer patients.

By means of SRBC lysis in agarose gel and Forssman (F) liposome lysis assay, serum levels of F antibodies were determined in various cancer patients. F antibody titers of the patient's sera were shown to be lower than that of normal controls. Following radical surgery, F antibody titers were elevated significantly in most of the patients with advanced gastric, colorectal and lung cancer. Similar tends of anti-A antibody titers were observed in group O and B patients with advanced cancer.