Induction of lymphokine-activated killer cells from nude mouse spleen cells by interleukin-4

The induction of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells from natural killer (NK) lineage cells by interleukin-4 (IL-4) was studied in vitro. Activation of nude mouse spleen cells by IL-4 generated cytotoxic cells, capable of killing NK-sensitive as well as NK-resistant tumor cells. The induction of peak lytic activity was demonstrated after 3 days of culture with IL-4. Surface marker analysis indicated that the majority of precursor cells were aGM1⁺, Thy1^–, and the majority of effector cells were aGM1⁺, Thy1⁺, suggesting that IL-4 induced LAK cells from nude mouse spleen cells were similar to those from normal mouse spleen cells. The induction of nude mouse LAK cells by IL-4 was partially inhibited by anti-IL-4 or anti-interferon (IFN)-, antibody, and it was further inhibited by the combination of two antibodies, suggesting that IFN-, production was associated with LAK induction of NK lineage cells by IL-4.     

Chromosomes and some issues of the evolution of the ground squirrel genusCitellus (Rodentia: Sciuridae)

Citellus (s. str.) relictus, C. dauricus C. pygmaeus (2=36, NF=72). . (Colobotis) erythrogenys . fulvus -. . (Urocitellus) undulatus (2n=32, NF=64) . columbianus. Citellus, , Citellus, . , .     

Evidence for a role of IFN γ in control ofListeria monocytogenes in T cell deficient mice

Summary The role of interferon (IFN) in controlling chronic infections ofListeria monocytogenes (Listeria) was studied in athymic C57BL/6nu/nu mice, and by treating thymectomized C57BL/6 +/+ mice with monoclonal rat CD4 and CD8-specific monoclonal antibodies (Mab). Mice treated with a combination of the two T cell subset antibodies were similar to athymic, nude mice in being able to contol Listeria infection, keeping the titers below 3–5 log₁₀ bacteria per organ, but they could not eliminate them completely. Treatment with antibodies to IFN of nude or CD4⁺ + CD8⁺-T cell-depleted mice suffering from chronic Listeria infection caused a marked increase of Listeria titers, in liver and spleen. This result implies a role of IFN in maintaining anti-Listeria resistance in mice lacking mature T cells.     

Distribution of C19-steroid conjugates in plasma protein fractions

Zusammenfassung Nach. i.v. Gabe von 7-³H-Dehydroepiandrosteron wurde menschliches Plasma einer präparativen Zonenelektrophorese unterworfen und in Albumine, ₁-, ₂-,- und-Globuline zerlegt. Aus den einzelnen Proteinfraktionen trennte man freie Steroide, Steroid-Sulfokonjugate und -Glukuronoside ab und untersuchte letztere Fraktionen auf ihren Gehalt an markierten C₁₉-Steroiden. Es zeigte sich, dass die Steroid-Sulfokonjugate vornehmlich in der Proteinfraktion der Albumine, die Steroid-Glukuronoside dagegen bevorzugt in der Proteinfraktion der ₁-Globuline auftraten.     

Ein neues Verfahren zur Herstellung von 19-Norsteroiden

Summary The new methods for the production of 19-norsteroids described involve the conversion of 5-halogen-6-hydroxy-steroids into the corresponding 5-halogen-6:19-ethers either with lead tetraacetate or by the hypoiodite reaction^8,10. The 6:19-oxygen bridge is then opened reductively either directly or after oxidation of the 6:19-ethers to lactones or preferably after introduction of a ^4,6-3-oxo grouping. Acylolytic cleavage of the ⁴-3-oxo-6:19-ethers followed by alkaline hydrolysis gives ^4,6-3-oxo-19-hydroxy-steroids. The 19-hydroxycompounds formed are easily converted into 19-norsteroids by known methods.

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Über Steroide, 189. (vorläufige) Mitteilung; 188. Mitt. vgl.J. Kalvoda, J. Schmidlin, G. Anner undA. Wettstein, Exper.18, 398 (1962).     

Interdependence between locomotor activity and duration of wakefulness in humans during isolation

Summary Locomotor activity was recorded in 14 subjects who lived singly in an isolation unit for 16 to 88 days. Their free-running circadian rhythms had a mean period of 25.9 h, with individual means in the duration of wakefulness () ranging from 12.1 to 22.9 h. Intraindividually, the hourly means of activity were negatively correlated with to such a degree that the total amount of activity per day remained constant irrespective of large variations in .     

Adrenocorticotropic effect in humans of a syntheticβ 1–24 corticotrophine derivative

Zusammenfassung Am Menschen wurde die adrenocorticotrope Wirkung von ^1–24 Corticotrophin Tetracosactid undd-Serin¹-17, 18 Diornithin ^1–24 Corticotrophin nach i.m. Injektion untersucht. Das synthetische Derivat erwies sich als etwa fünfmal stärker wirksam als das natürliche Tetracosactid, hauptsächlich durch eine Verlängerung der Wirkungsdauer.

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The synthetic peptides were kindly supplied by CIBA Ltd. Basel, Switzerland.     

Inhibition of hepatic Na+, K+-adenosinetriphosphatase in taurolithocholate-induced cholestasis in the rat

Summary Na⁺, K⁺-adenosinetriphosphatase (Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase) activity was decreased in liver plasma membranes from rats in which cholestasis had been induced by i.v. administration of sodium taurolithocholate (5 moles/100 g b. wt). Incubation of liver plasma membranes with taurolithocholate (10–1300 M) caused significant and dose dependent reductions of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity at taurolithocholate concentrations above 100 M. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that cholestasis induced by monohydroxy bile acids is at least partially the result of an inhibition of hepatic Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity.This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation.The authors thank Mr H. Sägesser and Miss B. Schütz for technical assistance.     

Unterschiedliche Empfindlichkeit verschiedener Angiotensinderivate gegen Abbau durch Plasma oder Nierenhomogenat

Summary -Asp¹-Angiotensin II had a more pronounced action on the blood pressure of nephrectomized rats than the corresponding-compound.-Asp¹-Angiotensins were more slowly destroyed by rat serum, rat kidney homogenate, and human plasma than-compounds, especially-Asp¹-Angiotensin II amide.     

Age- and sex-related differences in the content of prothymosinα in rat tissues

Differences in the tissue content of prothymosin during the early postnatal development of male and female rats are reported. Thymus and spleen have been found to contain significantly higher amounts of prothymosin in the newborn and prepubertal animals, as compared to adults, whereas liver has been found to contain low levels of prothymosin throughout development. These findings indicate a functional association of prothymosin with the proliferating lymphoid tissues of the young rat.     

Evidence for the extranuclear localization of thymosins in thymus

A new radioimmunoassay has been developed for thymosin ₄ by generating rabbit polyclonal antibodies against the synthetic N-terminal peptide fragment 1–15 coupled to KLH. The synthetic analogue [Tyr¹²]-thymosin ₄ (1–15) was used as tracer. This radioimmunoassay, with a useful range of 10–1000 pmoles, showed cross-reactivity with the second homologous -thymosin of man and rat (thymosin ₁₀) but not of calf (thymosin ₉). This radioimmunoassay, together with an improved radioimmunoassay for the N-terminus of parathymosin , was employed for the measurement of the levels of thymosin ₄ and parathymosin in nuclear and extranuclear extracts of calf thymus. The bulk of these polypeptides was found in the extranuclear material whereas only traces were observed in the nuclear environment, which indicates the extranuclear localisation of - and -thymosins.     

Effect of genome size andrrn gene copy numbers of PCR amplification products of 16S rRNA genes from mixed bacterial species

Results and conclusion As determined by image analysis of SYBR green-stained amplification products the experimentally determined ratio corresponded well with the expected ratio calculated from the number ofrrn genes per equimolar amount of DNA in mixtures containing DNA ofEscherichia coli and Thermus thermophilus and DNA ofPseudomonas aeruginosa and T. thermophilus. The values for the pairBacillus subtilis and T. thermophilus showed higher deviation from the predicted value. The dependence of the amount of 16S rDNA amplification products on these two parameters makes it impossible to quantify the number of species present in 16S rDNA clone library of an environmental sample, as long as these two parameters are unknown for these species.     

Cardenolide glycosides from the adults and eggs ofChrysolina fuliginosa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Besides the known sarmentogenin 3-O--D-allopyranoside (1) and digitoxigenin-3-O-[-D-xylopyranosyl-(14)-2, 3-di-O-acetyl--D-allopyranoside] (4), four new cardiac glycosides (2, 3, 5 and6) have been isolated from the defensive glands of adults ofChrysolina fuliginosa. The structures of the new compounds were determined by¹H NMR at 600 MHz and FABMS. Compounds1–6, present in the adults ofC. fuliginosa, have also been identified in the eggs.     

The molecular structure of the benzilic acid rearrangement product of 3α, 17β-diacetoxy-11-hydroxy-12-oxo-5β-androst-9(11)-ene

Zusammenfassung Die Struktur desp-Brombenzoates des Benzilsäureumlagerungsproduktes von 3, 17-Diacetoxy-11-hydroxy-12-oxo-5-9(11)-androsten wurde durch dreidimensionale Röntgenstrukturanalyse eines Einkristalls als 3-p-Brombenzoat des 11-Carboxy-3, 11, 17-trihydroxy-13-C-nor-5-androstan 11a, 17-Laktons erkannt.     

Continuous light abolishes the maternal entrainment of the circadian activity rhythm of the pups in the field mouse

Summary 1212-h cycles of presence and absence of mother mouse act as a zeitgeber and entrain the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity in the pups ofMus booduga under continuous darkness or continuous dim light. Continuous higher illumination of 15–25 lx abolishes this impressive maternal entrainment.Acknowledgment. We are grateful to the DST, Government of India, for financial support under their IRHPA scheme. N.V. is the recipient of a Senior Research Fellowship of CSIR, New Delhi. We thank Dr. R. Subbaraj for discussions.     

The effect of chloramphenicol analogs on protein biosynthesis in a cell-freeEscherichia coli B system

a aaa a aa aa a a E. coli aa, a aa aa a , a a aa - a .

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Laboratory of Biological Investigations.

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Laboratory for Chemistry of Antibiotics.     

Defensive steroids from a carrion beetle (Silpha americana)

Summary The defensive anal effluent discharged bySilpha americana in response to disturbance contains a mixture of steroids stemming from a glandular annex of the rectum. The compounds have been characterized as 15-hydroxyprogesterone (1, principal component), 5-pregnan-15-ol-3, 20-dione (2), 5-pregnan-3, 15-diol-20-one (3), 5-pregnan-7, 15-diol-3,20-dione (4), 5-pregnan-3, 7, 15-triol-20-one (5), 5-pregnan-16-ol-3,20-dione (6), and 5-pregnan-3, 16-diol-20-one (7), none previously found in insects. Bioassays with jumping spiders showed compounds1 and6 to be feeding deterrents at the 1 g level.Paper No. 78 of the series: Defense Mechanisms of Arthropods. Study supported by NIH (Grants AI-02908, AI-12020). We thank Maura Malarcher and Maria Eisner for excellent technical help, and the Squibb Institute of Medical Research for samples of authentic reference compounds.     

Major contribution of codominant CD8 and CD4 T cell epitopes to the human cytomegalovirus-specific T cell repertoire

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection or reactivation is a cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. In immunocompetent individuals, in contrast, HCMV is successfully controlled by specific CD8 and CD4 T cells. Knowledge of CD8 and CD4 T cell epitopes from HCMV and their immunodominant features is crucial for the generation of epitope-specific T cells for adoptive immunotherapy and for the development of a peptide-based HCMV vaccine. Therefore, we investigated the natural frequencies of a large number of CD8 and CD4 T cell epitopes, including 10 novel ones. We determined several epitopes as immunodominant. Surprisingly, no clear hierarchies were found for CD8 T cell epitopes, indicating codominance. These results will be valuable for adoptive transfer strategies and support initiatives towards development of a peptide-based HCMV vaccine.Received 12 August 2004; received after revision 24 September 2004; accepted 29 October 2004 These authors contributed equally to this work.     

Separation of rat liver mitochondrial amine oxidases

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Synthesis of 3-(2′-chloroethoxy)-6-formyl-Δ3,5-pregnadienes. A new class of highly active anti-inflammatory corticosteroids

Riassunto È stata studiata 1'azione del reattivo di Vilsmeier-Haack su 3-cicloetilendiossi- ⁵-steroidi appartenenti ai corticoidi; è stata così ottenuta una scrie di 3-(2-cloroetossi)-6-formil- ^3,5-pregnadieni, alcuni dei quali hanno mostrato notevoli proprietà antiinfiammatorie con una netta dissociazione dell'attività per somministrazione locale e somministrazione sistemica.