Simultaneous determination of antibody to Epstein-Barr virus in prenatal mothers and new-born infants

Zusammenfassung Antikörpertiter gegen EBV wurden in 40 gepaarten Seren von pränatalen Müttern und Neugeborenen gleichzeitig mit indirekter Immunofluoreszenz bestimmt. In 95% hatten sowohl Mütter als auch Neugeborene den Antikörper. Die Titer der Mütter waren mehrheitlich gleich oder höher jenen der Neugeborenen, woraus geschlossen wird, dass der Antikörper gegen EBV von der Mutter diaplacentar auf den Fetus übertragen werden kann.     

Distribution of vitamin D3: Evidence of accumulation in renal proximal tubuli and thyroid parafollicular cells

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe der Ganzkörper-Autoradiographietechnik konnte nach Zufuhr von Vitamin D₃-4-¹⁴C an Mäusen der Nachweis einer radioaktiven Ansammlung in gewissen Gebieten (Labyrinth) der Nierenrinde sowie der Thyroidea erbracht werden, die möglicherweise mit parafollikulären Zellen identisch ist.     

The action of various vitamin D3 metabolites on calcium and phosphorus metabolism in chick embryo calvariae

Chick embryos from vitamin D-deficient hens given physiological doses of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or both become severely hypocalcemic, hyperphosphatemic and fail to hatch as compared to those derived from hens given 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 or 24,25-difluoro-25-hydroxyvitamin D3. Calvariae from the former contain less mineral and on incubation in vitro produce significantly lower calcium and higher phosphate concentration in the medium than do the calvariae derived from the embryos of hens supported on 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 or 24,24-difluoro-25-hydroxyvitamin D3.     

The action of various vitamin D3 metabolites on calcium and phosphorus metabolism in chick embryo calvariae

Summary Chick embryos from vitamin D-deficient hens given physiological doses of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ or 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ or both become severely hypocalcemic, hyperphosphatemic and fail to hatch as compared to those derived from hens given 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ or 24,25-difluoro-25-hydroxyvitamin D₃. Calvariae from the former contain less mineral and on incubation in vitro produce significantly lower calcium and higher phosphate concentration in the medium than do the calvariae derived from the embryos of hens supported on 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ or 24,24-difluoro-25-hydroxyvitamin D₃.     

The effect of vitamin D3 and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol on intestinal transport of calcium in vivo and in vitro

Zusammenfassung 8 Stunden nach Injektion von 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol bei rachitischen Ratten steigerte sich der Kalzium-Transport des Duodenum in vivo wie auch in vitro bedeutend. Während dieser Zeit war Vitamin D₃, wirkungslos. 24 h nach der Injektion stimulierten beide Verbindungen in ähnlichem Masse den Kalzium-Transport.     

Template preference of polymerases and its relevance to oncogenic RNA virus replication

Zusammenfassung DNS-Polymerae aus Kalbsthymus (in50%-Glycerin-haltigem Puffer gelöst) zeigt bei Kühlaufbewahrung Alterung mit Änderung ihrer Template-Präferenz von einstrangiger zu doppelstrangiger DNS.

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Supported by U.S. Public Health Service and Damon Runyon Grants.     

Regulation of the type III InsP3 receptor and its role in beta cell function

The type III inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R) is an important intracellular calcium (Ca2+) release channel in the pancreatic beta cell. Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin following a characteristic change in membrane potential that leads to an increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+. Both extracellular Ca2+ and Ca2+ mobilized from InsP3-sensitive stores contribute to this increase. RIN-m5F cells, an insulin-secreting beta cell line, preferentially express the type III InsP3R. These cells have been useful in determining the regulatory properties of the type III InsP3R and the role of this isoform in an intact cell. The type III InsP3R is ideal for signal initiation because high cytoplasmic Ca2+ does not inhibit its activity. Altered insulin secretion, the result of changes in Ca2+ handling by the beta cell, has significant clinical consequences.     

Regulation of Plasmodium falciparum Pfnek3 relies on phosphorylation at its activation loop and at threonine 82

A mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Pfmap2, has been identified in Plasmodium falciparum. However, its bona fide activator remains elusive as no MAPK kinase (MAPKK) homologues have been found so far. Instead, Pfnek3, a NIMA (never in mitosis, Aspergillus)-related kinase, was earlier reported to display a MAPKK-like activity due to its activating effect on Pfmap2. In this study, the regulatory mechanism of Pfnek3 was investigated. Pfnek3 was found to possess a SSEQSS motif within its activation loop that fulfills the consensus SXXXS/T phospho-activating sequence of MAPKKs. Functional analyses of the SSEQSS motif by site-directed mutagenesis revealed that phosphorylation of residues S221 and S226 is essential for mediating Pfnek3 activity. Moreover, via tandem mass-spectrometry, residue T82 was uncovered as an additional phosphorylation site involved in Pfnek3 activation. Collectively, these results provide valuable insights into the potential in vivo regulation of Pfnek3, with residues T82, S221 and S226 functioning as phospho-activating sites.     

Characterization of the third component of pig complement and its utilization in a C3b receptor study

Summary The third component of the pig complement system (C3) was isolated in hemolytically active form and characterized. The C3 component is a -globulin with the molecular weight of 191,000 and is composed of 2 non-identical polypeptide chains of M_t 112,000 and 74,000. The isolated C3 can be used for the detection of the C3b receptor on the membranes of heterologous peritoneal macrophages.     

Calcium-mediated activation of PI3K and p53 leads to apoptosis in thyroid carcinoma cells

The molecular mechanism responsible for cadmium-induced cell death in thyroid cancer cells (FRO) is unknown. We demonstrated that apoptosis of FRO cells induced by cadmium was concentration and time dependent. Cadmium caused the rapid elevation of intracellular calcium and induced phosphorylation of Akt, p53, JNK, ERK and p38. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt attenuated the cadmium-induced apoptosis, but the inhibition of JNK inhibitor, ERK or p38 aggravated it, indicating that activation of PI3K/Akt was a pro-apoptosis signal in response to cadmium treatment, whereas the activation of stress-activated protein kinase JNK, ERK and p38 functioned as survival signals to counteract the cadmium-induced apoptosis. Buffering of the calcium response attenuated mitochondrial impairment, recovered the cadmium-activated Akt, p53, JNK, ERK and p38, and subsequently blocked the apoptosis. These results suggested that apoptosis induced by cadmium in FRO cells was initiated by the rapid elevation of intracellular calcium, followed by calcium-mediated activation of PI3K/Akt and mitochondrial impairment. Received 28 February 2007; received after revision 2 April 2007; accepted 23 April 2007     

The role of maternal parathyroids and vitamin D3 metabolites in fetal growth and the deposition of glycogen reserves in the maternal and fetal liver in rats]

Thyro-parathyroidectomy of pregnant Rats at 12.5 days of gestation decreased maternal liver glycogen on 21.5 days of gestation and fetal weight as well as fetal liver glycogen stores. The graft of one parathyroid gland or the injection of 1 alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol in these thyro-parathyroidectomized mothers increased their liver glycogen stores at 21.5 days of gestation. These treatments also markedly increased both fetal weight and fetal liver glycogen stores. It was concluded that maternal 1,25-dihydorxycholecalciferol, which is synthesized under the control of parathyroid hormone secretion, controls fetal growth and liver glycogen stores. The mechanism of these effects (direct or indirect) requires further investigations.     

Prothoracic gland synthesis of 3-dehydroecdysone and its hemolymph 3 beta-reductase mediated conversion to ecdysone in representative insects

The prothoracic glands of a variety of insects were tested for their ability to synthesize ecdysteroids in vitro. More specifically, they were evaluated for their ability to produce 3-dehydroecdysone and ecdysone using both radioimmunoassay and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. Three categories of insect prothoracic glands were noted: a) those producing much more 3-dehydroecdysone than ecdysone; b) glands synthesizing almost equivalent amounts of each of these two ecdysteroids; c) prothoracic glands that yielded more ecdysone than 3-dehydroecdysone. In addition, the 3-oxoecdysteroid 3 beta-reductase activity of the hemolymph of these insects was evaluated for its ability to convert 3-dehydroecdysone to ecdysone. The lepidopteran species tested yielded the most potent enzyme activity, although activity was demonstrated in members of other orders. These data indicate that the dehydroecdysone-ecdysone axis is not restricted to moths and butterflies.