A soluble LAG-3 protein (eftilagimod alpha) and an anti-PD-L1 antibody (avelumab) tested in a phase I trial: a new combination in immuno-oncology.

BACKGROUND: Eftilagimod alpha (efti) is a major histocompatibility complex class II agonist activating antigen-presenting cells which leads to greater systemic type 1 T helper response and more cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell activation. This phase I trial evaluated the administration of efti, a soluble lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) protein, combined with the anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody avelumab in advanced solid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with heavily pretreated metastatic solid tumors received intravenous avelumab (800 mg) combined with subcutaneously administered efti (6 or 30 mg) for up to 12 cycles, followed by avelumab monotherapy. The primary endpoint was the assessment of the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of efti in combination with avelumab. RESULTS: Twelve patients with different tumor entities were enrolled (six patients in each cohort). During treatment, no dose-limiting toxicities occurred, and the severity of most adverse events was grade 1 or 2. In total, nine serious adverse events were documented, resulting in a fatal outcome in two cases, but none of them were assessed to be treatment related. Five patients (42%) achieved partial response. The median progression-free survival was 1.96 months and the median overall survival was not reached, with a 12-month survival rate of 75%. CONCLUSION: Subcutaneously administered efti plus avelumab was well tolerated, and efti of 30 mg was determined to be RP2D. The activity is promising and warrants further investigation in future phase II trials.

Antibody-mediated depletion of lymphocyte-activation gene-3 (LAG-3(+) )-activated T lymphocytes prevents delayed-type hypersensitivity in non-human primates.

Lymphocyte-activation gene-3 (LAG-3, CD223) is a marker for recently activated effector T cells. Activated T lymphocytes are of major importance in many autoimmune diseases and organ transplant rejection. Therefore, specifically depleting LAG-3(+) T cells might lead to targeted immunosuppression that would spare resting T cells while eliminating pathogenic activated T cells. We have shown previously that anti-LAG-3 antibodies sharing depleting as well as modulating activities inhibit heart allograft rejection in rats. Here, we have developed and characterized a cytotoxic LAG-3 chimeric antibody (chimeric A9H12), and evaluated its potential as a selective therapeutic depleting agent in a non-human primate model of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH). Chimeric A9H12 showed a high affinity to its antigen and depleted both cytomegalovirus (CMV)-activated CD4(+) and CD8(+) human T lymphocytes in vitro. In vivo, a single intravenous injection at either 1 or 0·1 mg/kg was sufficient to deplete LAG-3(+) -activated T cells in lymph nodes and to prevent the T helper type 1 (Th1)-driven skin inflammation in a tuberculin-induced DTH model in baboons. T lymphocyte and macrophage infiltration into the skin was also reduced. The in vivo effect was long-lasting, as several weeks to months were required after injection to restore a positive reaction after antigen challenge. Our data confirm that LAG-3 is a promising therapeutic target for depleting antibodies that might lead to higher therapeutic indexes compared to traditional immunosuppressive agents in autoimmune diseases and transplantation.

Early stratification of patients with chest pain and suspected acute coronary syndrome in the Emergency Department.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of a critical pathway in the early stratification and management of patients with chest pain and suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the Emergency Department (ED). METHODS: An observational study was performed enrolling all patients with non-traumatic chest pain and suspected ACS who presented during a one-year period in the ED, where a critical pathway with five-level risk stratification, based on risk factors, characteristics of pain and ECG, was implemented. Patients were prospectively evaluated for rates of death, unstable angina, myocardial infarction or revascularization procedure occurring during admission or in the 30 days following discharge from the ED. Receiver-Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve was used to measure the accuracy of the stratification method. RESULTS: Overall, 1813 patients were enrolled: 475 patients (26.1%, 95% CI: 24.0-28.1 ) were admitted and 1338 (73.8%, 95% CI: 71.7-75.8) were discharged. Main outcomes occurred in 233 (49.9%, 95% CI: 47.5-52.2) of patients admitted and in 6 (0.4%, 95% CI: 0.06-0.7) of those discharged. The risk stratification system showed a good accuracy with an AUC-ROC curve of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.88-0.93). A total of 1541 (85%) patients were managed according to critical pathway. Adverse events were significantly fewer in patients discharged according to pathway criteria than in those who were not (0.27% vs. 1.37%, difference: 1.1% CI 95%: 0.06-2.1), without significant increase of inappropriate admissions. CONCLUSION: A critical pathway, based on clinical and ECG features, is a safe and accurate tool to stratify and manage the patients with non-traumatic chest pain and suspected ACS in the ED.

Pasteurella multocida infection in a cirrhotic patient: case report, microbiological aspects and a review of literature.

Pasteurellosis is a zoonosis often caused by cat or dog bites or scratches, or by direct exposure to their secretions. Pasteurella multocida is the main pathogen involved in infections through domestic animal bites; generally a local infection characterized by its particular virulence with consequent rapid onset. Serious infection has also been reported in persons affected by comorbidity without domestic animal bite injuries. Here we report the case of a woman with lower limb exudating vesicular skin ulcers affected by liver cirrhosis, bilateral knee arthritis, septicemia with positive blood culture and synovial fluid culture for Pasteurella multocida. The etiology of Pasteurella multocida must be borne in mind in cases of sepsis in immunodeficient individuals, such as the cirrhotic patient, as well as exposure to domestic animals.

Vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporosis vertebral fractures: report on 52 cases.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) is largely employed in vertebral body compression fractures (VCF). PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of PV on pain relief and functional status, and its complications rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted by the Division of Internal Medicine of St. Croce and Carle Hospital. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Diagnosis of osteoporosis, intense back pain, unresponsive to conservative treatment, associated with radiological evidence of recent VCF. Pain control and functional improvement were respectively assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Activity of Daily Living scale (ADL) on admission, 24 h after PV and at follow-up. PV complications were detected by an immediate computed tomography (CT) scan on the vertebra treated as well as the vertebrae above and below the treated level(s) and by CT chest scan to exclude pulmonary emboli. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) follow-up at 6 or 12 months was performed. RESULTS: Fifty-two (46 with primary osteoporosis) patients were enrolled (mean age 73.18 yr, range 44-92). Median follow-up was 20.4 months (range 6-24). Treated vertebrae were 124. VAS, mean value was 9.05 (range 6-10) before treatment, 5.95 (range 2-8) at 24 h after PV and 4.94 (range 2-9) at follow-up (p<0.001). Before PV, 18 patients (34.6%) were functionally impaired vs 8 patients (15.3%) at follow-up (p<0.003). Control MRI evidenced 9 (17.3%) new VCF adjacent and 13 (25%) non-adjacent to treated vertebras. There was one case of discitis. Seven cases (13%) of cement leakage in para-vertebral space were observed. CONCLUSION: PV is safe and effective in immediate pain reduction and functional improvement and at a median term follow-up.

hHR23B is required for genotoxic-specific activation of p53 and apoptosis.

Rad23 proteins function in both DNA repair and protein stability regulation. As ubiquitinated forms of p53 are stabilized after DNA damage in concert with p53 functional activation, and human Rad23 proteins (hHR23A and B) regulate p53 stability in unstressed cells, the role of hHR23B in post-genotoxin regulation of p53 was investigated. Depletion of hHR23B by specific short interfering RNA before genotoxic exposure attenuated p53, p21 and bax induction, abrogated the accumulation of ubiquitinated p53 and suppressed apoptosis. Expression of ubiquitin derivatives with all lysines mutated except K48 or K63 demonstrated that K48-linked p53-ubiquitin conjugates were specifically induced after DNA damage. hHR23B, along with native and ubiquitinated p53, accumulated in chromatin after genotoxic exposure, and the accumulation of ubiquitinated p53 in chromatin was prevented by hHR23B depletion. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that hHR23B and p53 both localized to the p21 promoter shortly after DNA damage. hHR23B thus plays a critical role in the activation and function of p53 after specific genotoxic exposures.

Proteases produced by activated neutrophils are able to release soluble CD23 fragments endowed with proinflammatory effects.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are the major source of proteolytic activities involved mainly in tissue injuries observed in chronic inflammatory disorders. High levels of soluble forms of CD23 (the low-affinity receptor for IgE) were found in biological fluids from these patients, and recent reports focused on a CD23-mediated regulation of inflammatory response. In this context, we show here that co-culture of activated PMN with CD23+ B cells resulted in a drastic release of soluble CD23 fragments from the cell surface. This cleavage was inhibited by serine proteases inhibitors, including a1-antitrypsin. We next demonstrated that purified human leukocyte elastase or cathepsin G efficiently cleaved membrane CD23 on B cells with a high specificity. Soluble fragments released by serine proteases-mediated CD23 proteolysis stimulated resting monocytes to produce oxidative burst and proinflammatory cytokine without any co-stimulatory signal. This work strongly supports the idea that the capacity of PMN-derived proteases to release soluble forms of CD23 participates in the inflammatory process mediated by these cells.

Binding of anti-CD23 monoclonal antibody to the leucine zipper motif of FcepsilonRII/CD23 on B cell membrane promotes its proteolytic cleavage. Evidence for an effect on the oligomer/monomer equilibrium.

In the present study we have compared the binding of two monoclonal antibodies to CD23, EBVCS1 and mAb25, which recognize the stalk and the lectin domain, respectively, on the CD23 molecule. At 4 degreesC, EBVCS1 binds to about 10% of the receptors recognized by mAb25 on the B cell surface. At 37 degreesC, whereas mAb25 reaches its maximal binding within a few seconds, EBVCS1 requires 60 min to bind to the same extent. Stabilization of the oligomeric structure of CD23 with IgE strongly affects in a dose-dependent fashion the number of binding sites seen by EBVCS1 but not the t1/2 to reach them, suggesting that EBVCS1 binds to the coiled coil region through an allosteric mechanism. EBVCS1 rapidly down-modulates the membrane CD23 expression with a coincident increase of CD23-soluble fragments in the culture medium, an effect that is inhibited by IgE. In contrast, mAb25, as well as IgE, protects CD23 from proteolytic cleavage and stimulates its endocytosis. These results suggest that EBVCS1 unravels the coiled coil structure of CD23, rendering it more susceptible to proteolytic attack. This supports the oligomeric model proposed previously (Gould, H., Sutton, B., Edmeades, R., and Beavil, A. (1991) Monogr. Allergy 29, 28-49). The biological significance of these observations is discussed.

Favourable, significant effect of the dose-dependent treatment with RU 38486 (RU) on the alterations of the hepatic mitochondrial function of diabetic rats.

In the present work, the effect "in vivo' of increasing doses of RU 38486 upon the hepatic mitochondrial function of diabetic rats has been studied. At the same time, the action of adrenalectomy and corticosterone restitution on this function were comparatively demonstrated. The parameters measured were oxygen consumption with the substrates: 3-hydroxybutyrate (HB), succinate (Suc) and malate-glutamate (Mal-glut) in intact liver mitochondria and the activities of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBD) and cytochrome c oxidase (Cyt.c oxid.) enzymes in broken liver mitochondria. The groups of animals studied were normal controls (N) and the following groups of diabetic rats: rats without any treatment (D), adrenalectomized rats (D+ADX), rats that were adrenalectomized and treated with corticosterone (D+ADX+C) and four groups treated with increasing oral doses of RU (in mg/kg body wt.), that is, 12.5 (D+RU1), 25.0 (D+RU2), 37.5 (D+RU3) and 50.0 (D+RU4). The results showed a tendency of increasing values of mitochondrial oxygen consumption in diabetic animals treated with RU. The favourable effect of increasing doses of RU on O2 consumption of diabetic rat liver mitochondria with each of the substrates showed a significant association as indicated by the values obtained for the correlation coefficients r (0.95, 0.97 and 0.99 according to the substrate HB, Succ or Mal-glut, respectively). Likewise, the correlation between the treatment with increasing doses of RU and the recovery of enzyme activities showed a significant dose-effect association with r 0.94 for HBD and r = 0.95 for Cyt.c oxid. Adrenalectomy showed a similar effect to treatment with the maximum dose of RU while corticosterone restitution gave measured values similar to those of the D group. In conclusion, the favourable, significant variation of the hepatic mitochondrial function of diabetic rats was demonstrated by the dose-dependent treatment with RU as seen by the correlation statistical study performed. At the same time, the pernicious effect that glucocorticoids exert upon such function in experimental diabetes was confirmed.

Effects of thyroid hormones on mitochondrial oxygen consumption in brown adipose tissue and heart from cold-exposed hypothyroid rats.

The present work measured brown adipose tissue and heart mitochondrial oxygen consumption in hypothyroid rats treated with replacement doses of T3, T4 or T4 plus iopanoic acid and kept at 4 degrees C for 24 h. Heart oxygen consumption in normal, untreated hypothyroid and T4-treated hypothyroid rats was unaffected by cold exposure. In rats treated with T4 plus iopanoic acid, rates of oxygen consumption were normal in those maintained at 4 degrees C as well as in those kept at room temperature, despite serum T3 concentration being significantly decreased. The cold-exposed T3-treated hypothyroid rats showed a marked decrease in oxygen consumption (p less than 0.02) and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity, a T3-dependent enzyme. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption in brown fat from normal (p less than 0.01), T4 (p less than 0.02) and T4 plus iopanoic acid-treated (p less than 0.01) rats rose more than twofold in response to cold. In the T3-treated group, oxygen consumption at room temperature was higher (p less than 0.02) than in any other group at similar temperatures. However, the T3-treated group showed no changes in oxygen consumption in response to cold, perhaps because this group reached the maximal response at room temperature. The untreated and the T3-treated hypothyroid rats (both groups devoid of T4) did not survive at 4 degrees C unless T4 or several-fold replacement amounts of T3 were administered. The data demonstrate the crucial role of T4 in thermogenesis during cold exposure.

Improving effects obtained by the ovariectomy or treatment with tamoxifen of female diabetic rats over the function and enzyme activities of liver mitochondria.

In the present work we studied, in female chronic diabetic rats the effect of either the parenteral administration of tamoxifen (TAM) (500 micrograms.kg-1.day-1) for 15 days or the ovariectomy upon the respiration and oscillatory behaviour of intact mitochondria and the activities of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBD) and cytochrome c oxidase (Cox) of disrupted liver mitochondria. The treatment with TAM as well as the ovariectomy of diabetic animals significantly increased the respiratory control (RC) and the state 3 (S3) of respiration of intact liver mitochondria with the three substrates assayed (3-hydroxybutyrate, malate-glutamate and succinate). Both treatments also lowered significantly the damped factors of the oscillatory variation of liver intact mitochondria of diabetic rats. Moreover, the two above-mentioned treatments restored the activities of HBD and Cox of liver disrupted mitochondria to normal values. The effect of estrogens at level of its receptors in the modulation of liver mitochondrial function and liver HBD and Cox activities in chronic diabetes is discussed.

[Effects of cold on myocardial mitochondria respiration of rats with hypothyroidism treated with triiodothyronine]. / Efectos del frío sobre la respiración mitocondrial del miocardio de ratas hipotiroideas tratadas con triiodotironina.

The present work studied the effect of cold on oxygen consumption (OC) and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity (alpha-GPD) in heart mitochondria of hypothyroid rats (hypo) treated with T3, T4 or T4 plus Iopanoic Acid (IOP). 200 g male Wistar rats were made hypothyroid by 131I administration. Animals were injected s.c., in divided doses, for 10 days, with one of the following substances: T3, 300 ng/100 g BW/day; T4, 2 micrograms/100 g BW/day or T4 plus IOP, 5 mg/100 g BW/day, for 72 h preceding the experiment. One half of each group was housed in a cold room at 4 degrees C and the other at 22 degrees C, for 25 h, and thereafter decapitated. Heart mitochondria were isolated by routine methods. The OC was measured polarographically using L-malate, L-glutamate and malonate as substrates. Intramitochondrial alpha-GPD activity was measured by a microcolorimetric assay. The results from 16 or 20 rats/group (4 or 5 pools of 4 hearts each) were: In the rats kept at 22 degrees C the OC (in ng at. oxyg./min/mg prot.; State 3) in the hypo+T4 group was 69 +/- 10; in the rats treated with T4+IOP, 75 +/- 11 and in the hypo+T3, 102 +/- 5. When the animals were exposed to 4 degrees C no change was observed in the hypo+T4 and hypo+T4IOP groups. On the other hand, OC was significantly lower in the T3-treated animals (p less than 0.001, versus their controls at 22 degrees C). This group of rats did not survive when exposed to cold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of withdrawal of glucocorticoids on improving the function and enzymatic activities of liver mitochondria in female diabetic rats.

In the present work the effects of corticosterone restitution were examined in female rats with chronic streptozotocin (SZ)-induced diabetes upon intact liver mitochondrial function and the activities of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBD), succinate dehydrogenase (SD) and cytochrome c oxidase (Cox) of the ruptured organelle. The liver mitochondrial function was analyzed by the respiration and the osmotic oscillatory behaviour. Respiration was measured by polarographic method and both the state 3 of active respiration (S3) and the respiratory control (RC) were determined using the following substrates: 3-hydroxybutyrate, succinate and malate-glutamate. The oscillatory behaviour was measured using as parameters the damping factors (DF) which are the ratios of amplitudes of two consecutive peaks or troughs of the spectrophotometrical tracings of this phenomenon. A group of control normal rats (N) and the following three groups of diabetic rats were studied: controls (D), adrenalectomized (D + ADX) and adrenalectomized with corticosterone restitution (D + ADX + C). The results of mitochondrial respiration showed that the mean values of S3 and RC decreased with the three substrates in the group D + ADX + C compared with D + ADX group (p < 0.001). This group demonstrated a significant increase of S3 and RC values of the respiration compared with the D group. The oscillatory behaviour of liver mitochondria of D + ADX + C group demonstrated a significant increase in the DF of peaks and troughs compared with D + ADX group. The values of DF of the latter group were not significantly different from the N group. The behaviour of the enzymes activities of ruptured liver mitochondria were different for each enzyme in the different groups of treated rats. Thus, in the D + ADX + C group the mean value of the activity of HBD significantly decreased, that of the Cox increased (p < 0.02) and that of SD did not show any variation compared with the corresponding values of the D + ADX group. Likewise, the mean value of HBD activity in this latter group was similar to that of the N group and that of Cox activity was lesser (p < 0.01) than that of the D group. The conclusion is drawn that corticosterone has significant additional diabetogenic effects upon biochemical functions of liver mitochondria in the SZ-induced diabetic state which could occur through the hormone cellular receptors.

Efectos del frío sobre la respiración mitocondrial del miocardio de ratas hipotiroideas tratadas con triiodotironina. / [Effects of cold on myocardial mitochondria respiration of rats with hypothyroidism treated with triiodothyronine]

The present work studied the effect of cold on oxygen consumption (OC) and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity (alpha-GPD) in heart mitochondria of hypothyroid rats (hypo) treated with T3, T4 or T4 plus Iopanoic Acid (IOP). 200 g male Wistar rats were made hypothyroid by 131I administration. Animals were injected s.c., in divided doses, for 10 days, with one of the following substances: T3, 300 ng/100 g BW/day; T4, 2 micrograms/100 g BW/day or T4 plus IOP, 5 mg/100 g BW/day, for 72 h preceding the experiment. One half of each group was housed in a cold room at 4 degrees C and the other at 22 degrees C, for 25 h, and thereafter decapitated. Heart mitochondria were isolated by routine methods. The OC was measured polarographically using L-malate, L-glutamate and malonate as substrates. Intramitochondrial alpha-GPD activity was measured by a microcolorimetric assay. The results from 16 or 20 rats/group (4 or 5 pools of 4 hearts each) were: In the rats kept at 22 degrees C the OC (in ng at. oxyg./min/mg prot.; State 3) in the hypo+T4 group was 69 +/- 10; in the rats treated with T4+IOP, 75 +/- 11 and in the hypo+T3, 102 +/- 5. When the animals were exposed to 4 degrees C no change was observed in the hypo+T4 and hypo+T4IOP groups. On the other hand, OC was significantly lower in the T3-treated animals (p less than 0.001, versus their controls at 22 degrees C). This group of rats did not survive when exposed to cold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of withdrawal of glucocorticoids on improving the function and enzymatic activities of liver mitochondria in female diabetic rats.

In the present work the effects of corticosterone restitution were examined in female rats with chronic streptozotocin (SZ)-induced diabetes upon intact liver mitochondrial function and the activities of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBD), succinate dehydrogenase (SD) and cytochrome c oxidase (Cox) of the ruptured organelle. The liver mitochondrial function was analyzed by the respiration and the osmotic oscillatory behaviour. Respiration was measured by polarographic method and both the state 3 of active respiration (S3) and the respiratory control (RC) were determined using the following substrates: 3-hydroxybutyrate, succinate and malate-glutamate. The oscillatory behaviour was measured using as parameters the damping factors (DF) which are the ratios of amplitudes of two consecutive peaks or troughs of the spectrophotometrical tracings of this phenomenon. A group of control normal rats (N) and the following three groups of diabetic rats were studied: controls (D), adrenalectomized (D + ADX) and adrenalectomized with corticosterone restitution (D + ADX + C). The results of mitochondrial respiration showed that the mean values of S3 and RC decreased with the three substrates in the group D + ADX + C compared with D + ADX group (p < 0.001). This group demonstrated a significant increase of S3 and RC values of the respiration compared with the D group. The oscillatory behaviour of liver mitochondria of D + ADX + C group demonstrated a significant increase in the DF of peaks and troughs compared with D + ADX group. The values of DF of the latter group were not significantly different from the N group. The behaviour of the enzymes activities of ruptured liver mitochondria were different for each enzyme in the different groups of treated rats. Thus, in the D + ADX + C group the mean value of the activity of HBD significantly decreased, that of the Cox increased (p < 0.02) and that of SD did not show any variation compared with the corresponding values of the D + ADX group. Likewise, the mean value of HBD activity in this latter group was similar to that of the N group and that of Cox activity was lesser (p < 0.01) than that of the D group. The conclusion is drawn that corticosterone has significant additional diabetogenic effects upon biochemical functions of liver mitochondria in the SZ-induced diabetic state which could occur through the hormone cellular receptors.

Effects of withdrawal of glucocorticoids on improving the function and enzymatic activities of liver mitochondria in female diabetic rats.

In the present work the effects of corticosterone restitution were examined in female rats with chronic streptozotocin (SZ)-induced diabetes upon intact liver mitochondrial function and the activities of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBD), succinate dehydrogenase (SD) and cytochrome c oxidase (Cox) of the ruptured organelle. The liver mitochondrial function was analyzed by the respiration and the osmotic oscillatory behaviour. Respiration was measured by polarographic method and both the state 3 of active respiration (S3) and the respiratory control (RC) were determined using the following substrates: 3-hydroxybutyrate, succinate and malate-glutamate. The oscillatory behaviour was measured using as parameters the damping factors (DF) which are the ratios of amplitudes of two consecutive peaks or troughs of the spectrophotometrical tracings of this phenomenon. A group of control normal rats (N) and the following three groups of diabetic rats were studied: controls (D), adrenalectomized (D + ADX) and adrenalectomized with corticosterone restitution (D + ADX + C). The results of mitochondrial respiration showed that the mean values of S3 and RC decreased with the three substrates in the group D + ADX + C compared with D + ADX group (p < 0.001). This group demonstrated a significant increase of S3 and RC values of the respiration compared with the D group. The oscillatory behaviour of liver mitochondria of D + ADX + C group demonstrated a significant increase in the DF of peaks and troughs compared with D + ADX group. The values of DF of the latter group were not significantly different from the N group. The behaviour of the enzymes activities of ruptured liver mitochondria were different for each enzyme in the different groups of treated rats. Thus, in the D + ADX + C group the mean value of the activity of HBD significantly decreased, that of the Cox increased (p < 0.02) and that of SD did not show any variation compared with the corresponding values of the D + ADX group. Likewise, the mean value of HBD activity in this latter group was similar to that of the N group and that of Cox activity was lesser (p < 0.01) than that of the D group. The conclusion is drawn that corticosterone has significant additional diabetogenic effects upon biochemical functions of liver mitochondria in the SZ-induced diabetic state which could occur through the hormone cellular receptors.

Effect in vivo of endogenous sexual hormones upon the liver mitochondrial function compared in male and female diabetic rats.

Chronic diabetes induced by the injection of streptozotocin in male and female albino adult rats provoked significant alteration of liver mitochondrial function 30 or 35 days after administration of the drug. Thus, we obtained mean values of respiratory control (RC) and state 3 (S3) with 3-hydroxybutyrate as substrate 40 or 50% lower than those of non-diabetic animals. With other substrates (malate-glutamate, succinate) the decrease of RC and S3 in the diabetic animals was 20% or 30% of the normal mean values. The osmotic damped oscillations of mitochondria were measured as another parameter of the organella function. It was assayed with valinomycin as K+ ionophore and succinate as substrate. In diabetic rats of both sexes we found a significant increase of the mean damping factor of these oscillatory variations compared with normal values. The above-mentioned results indicate a lesser elasticity and an impaired K+ transport of mitochondria across the inner membrane in diabetic animals. Both reported parameters, respiration and oscillatory variations of liver mitochondria, were measured in normal non-diabetic rats and in the groups of diabetic rats referred to as follows: 1) intact (male and female), 2) gonadectomized (male and female), 3) oophorectomized with restitution of 17 beta-estradiol. Ovariectomized diabetic rats showed a significant increase in the values of the RC and S3 of liver mitochondria compared with intact female diabetic animals. The withdrawal of the ovarian hormone in female diabetic rats significantly decreased the values of the damping factors of the oscillatory mechanism and they were similar to the normal. The restitution of 17 beta-estradiol to oophorectomized diabetic rats resulted in a decrease of liver mitochondrial respiration. The damping factor of liver mitochondria of the oophorectomized diabetic rats treated with the estrogen showed values significantly higher than those of female diabetic animals without the hormone and similar to the values of the intact diabetic female rats. Castration of male rats did not produce any effect upon the liver mitochondrial RC and S3 or upon the mean damping factor of the oscillatory variation either. Then the castration of male diabetic rats did not modify the mitochondrial function. In contrast, the oophorectomy of diabetic animals produced amelioration of mitochondrial respiration and oscillatory behavior. The conclusion is drawn that in female rats the circulating 17 beta-estradiol produced a pernicious effect upon liver mitochondrial function in the experimental diabetic state.

Effect in vivo of endogenous sexual hormones upon the liver mitochondrial function compared in male and female diabetic rats.

Chronic diabetes induced by the injection of streptozotocin in male and female albino adult rats provoked significant alteration of liver mitochondrial function 30 or 35 days after administration of the drug. Thus, we obtained mean values of respiratory control (RC) and state 3 (S3) with 3-hydroxybutyrate as substrate 40 or 50

lower than those of non-diabetic animals. With other substrates (malate-glutamate, succinate) the decrease of RC and S3 in the diabetic animals was 20

or 30

of the normal mean values. The osmotic damped oscillations of mitochondria were measured as another parameter of the organella function. It was assayed with valinomycin as K+ ionophore and succinate as substrate. In diabetic rats of both sexes we found a significant increase of the mean damping factor of these oscillatory variations compared with normal values. The above-mentioned results indicate a lesser elasticity and an impaired K+ transport of mitochondria across the inner membrane in diabetic animals. Both reported parameters, respiration and oscillatory variations of liver mitochondria, were measured in normal non-diabetic rats and in the groups of diabetic rats referred to as follows: 1) intact (male and female), 2) gonadectomized (male and female), 3) oophorectomized with restitution of 17 beta-estradiol. Ovariectomized diabetic rats showed a significant increase in the values of the RC and S3 of liver mitochondria compared with intact female diabetic animals. The withdrawal of the ovarian hormone in female diabetic rats significantly decreased the values of the damping factors of the oscillatory mechanism and they were similar to the normal. The restitution of 17 beta-estradiol to oophorectomized diabetic rats resulted in a decrease of liver mitochondrial respiration. The damping factor of liver mitochondria of the oophorectomized diabetic rats treated with the estrogen showed values significantly higher than those of female diabetic animals without the hormone and similar to the values of the intact diabetic female rats. Castration of male rats did not produce any effect upon the liver mitochondrial RC and S3 or upon the mean damping factor of the oscillatory variation either. Then the castration of male diabetic rats did not modify the mitochondrial function. In contrast, the oophorectomy of diabetic animals produced amelioration of mitochondrial respiration and oscillatory behavior. The conclusion is drawn that in female rats the circulating 17 beta-estradiol produced a pernicious effect upon liver mitochondrial function in the experimental diabetic state.

Effect of ovarian hormones upon liver mitochondrial function in diabetic rats.

In the present study it is shown that streptozotocin (SZ)-induced chronic diabetes of female albino rats produced significant alterations in liver mitochondrial function after 30-35 days of diabetes. The disturbances were as follows: (1) a significant fall of the mean values of the respiratory control ratio and of state 3 of respiration using three substrates, 3-hydroxybutyrate, malate-glutamate and succinate, and (2) a significant increase of the mean damping factor of the oscillatory osmotic variations (with valinomycin as K+ ionophore and succinate as substrate). The same mitochondrial function parameters were analyzed for comparison in control non-diabetic rats (group N) and in the following groups of female rats with chronic diabetes: intact (group I), oophorectomized (6 days after the injection of SZ) (group O), and oophorectomized with restitution therapy of 17 beta-estradiol (from the operation until the day before killing) (group O + Eol). The O group showed significantly higher values of the respiratory control ratio and of state 3 of respiration and significantly lower damping factors than group I. The restitution treatment in the O + Eol group restored the mitochondrial functions assayed to values similar to those of group I. These data provide strong evidence that estrogens exert a negative effect at the molecular level upon impaired liver mitochondrial functions in SZ-induced diabetes.