Effect of taurine on mitogen response of human lymphocytes

Taurine selectively inhibits the phytohemagglutinin-stimulated incorporation of 3H-thymidine by human cultured lymphocytes (50% inhibition by 12.5 mM taurine). Decreasing effects of taurine on Na-K ATPase activity calcium accumulation by lymphocytes might be responsible for its action on cell proliferation.     

Potentiation by taurine of the inotropic effect of ouabain and the content of intracellular Ca++ and taurine in the heart

Summary Under certain conditions, taurine (3.0 mM) potentiated cardiac contractile response to ouabain in the normal medium. The potentiation by taurine was also observed in the low K⁺ medium, in which the positive inotropic effect of ouabain increased. The potentiation as seen in both media was, at least in part, due to the increase by taurine of Ca⁺⁺ content in the heart. Taurine in the heart was not directly related to this potentiation.     

Inhibitory effect of taurine on decrease in the inotropic action of ouabain at high concentrations in isolated atria

Summary In vitro, taurine was shown to inhibit the decrease in the inotropic effect of ouabain at large doses in the normal and also low K⁺ medium in which this decrease in the inotropism of ouabain was facilitated. This inhibitory effect of taurine was, at least in part, due to the inhibition of the efflux of intracellular K⁺ in the isolated heart.     

13C NMR-study of osmoregulatory metabolites in the marine molluscTapes watlingi

Summary Examination of homogenates of tissue from the marine bivalve molluscTapes watlingi by natural-abundance¹³C NMR indicates that taurine, betaine, and some free amino acids play a significant role in osmoregulation.Acknowledgments. We thank Dr L.J. Borowitzka and D.D. Jamieson of this Institute for helpful discussions, and the RRIMP marine biology staff for assistance in collecting the animals.Queen Elizabeth II Fellow in Marine Science, 1976–1978. Please address correspondence to this author.     

Attempt to alter antigenic structure of normal tissues by treatment with dimethyl-triazeno-imidazole-carboxamide in vivo

Summary The antigenic structure of normal skin and spleen cells has been investigated following in vivo treatment with the compound DIC. In experiments involving skin grafting in the normal and sensitized host, cross sensitization with a DIC-antigenic lymphoma and³H-thymidine incorporation by lymphocytes cultured with DIC-treated spleen cells, new antigens on DIC-treated tissues were not demonstrated.Research supported in part by Contract No. 74.00237.04 from C.N.R., Rome.We wish to thank Mr.C. R. Reeder of the Mammalian Genetics and Animal Production Section of NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, for breeding and providing the animals, and Serpero Foundation, Milan, for support. The proficient technical assistance of Ms.C. Cattoi andD. Peroni is also acknowledged.     

Effect of taurine administration on liver lipids in guinea pig

The oral administration of 0.4% taurine in drinking water for 14 consecutive days showed the following hepatic effects in male guinea pig. The percentage of tauro-conjugated biliary bile acids was increased from 17.2-54.2%; the ratio liver weight/body weight was increased, and fatty change was induced. Liver triglyceride concentration was accordingly increased; diglyceride and phosphatidylcholine concentrations were reduced by the treatment, while phosphatidylethanolamine level was not affected. These changes suggest an adverse effect of taurine administration on phosphatidylcholine hepatic synthesis.     

Effect of taurine administration on liver lipids in guinea pig

Summary The oral administration of 0.4% taurine in drinking water for 14 consecutive days showed the following hepatic effects in male guinea pig. The percentage of tauro-conjugated biliary bile acids was increased from 17.2–54.2%; the ratio liver weight/body weight was increased, and fatty change was induced. Liver triglyceride concentration was accordingly increased; diglyceride and phosphatidylcholine concentrations were reduced by the treatment, while phosphatidylethanolamine level was not affected. These changes suggest an adverse effect of taurine administration on phosphatidylcholine hepatic synthesis.     

Immigration of lymphoid precursor cells into the thymic rudiment inXenopus

Summary The origin of thymic lymphocytes was investigated, using a new reliable method to mark cells inXenopus. It was easily observed that extraneous cells immigrated into the thymic rudiment 4 days after fertilization and differentiated into a cell population identified as thymic lymphocytes in a fully developed thymus. Clearly, lymphoid precursor cells are of extrinsic origin.This work was supported in part by a grant from the Ministry of Education, Science and culture of Japan (No. 59770026).     

Chronic overcrowding decreases cytoplasmic free calcium levels in T lymphocytes of aged CBA/CA mice

Intracellular calcium concentration is a sensitive marker of the homeostasis of living cells, and its increase is an essential step of T lymphocyte activation. Changes in the environment provoke an adaptive stress-response of the organism. In our present work we have investigated the effect of chronic overcrowding on resting and lectin-stimulated cytoplasmic free calcium concentration of splenic T lymphocytes from young and aged CBA/CA mice (50 animals total). The animals were kept under ‘normal’ (68 cm²/animal) or ‘overcrowded’ (22 cm²/animal) conditions for 3 months. Young animals showed no change in resting and stimulated calcium after overcrowding. T cells from aged mice, however, displayed significantly smaller levels of both resting and lectin-stimulated intracellular calcium concentration (p<0.01 each), as compared to those of the non-stressed, aged animals. This inadequate adaptation in the calcium metabolism of T lymphocytes may significantly contribute to the diminished immune response of the aged in stress.     

Contrasting effects of RNA and protein synthesis blocking on natural and lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against adherent HEp-2 cells

Summary In this study, earlier observations^2,9 concerning the independence of both natural (NCMC) and lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (LDCC) from DNA synthesis have been confirmed. In addition, blocking of RNA synthesis by actinomycin D and of protein synthesis, reversibly by puromycin (PM) and irreversibly by emetine (EM) had different effects on NCMC and LDCC against³H-thymidine-prelabeled HEp-2 target cells. Similarly to the Con A-induced proliferation of lymphocytes, LDCC activity was also inhibited by blocking of RNA and protein synthesis. NCMC to HEp-2 target cells was not affected by blocking of RNA synthesis, while both PM and EM strongly enhanced NCMC activity.     

The environment in which lymphocytes differentiate influences their ability to cooperate in vivo

Summary Whether or not parental B lymphocytes cooperate with F1 T lymphocytes depends upon the environment in which parental bone marrow cells differentiate. Only those parental B lymphocytes that have differentiated in the F1 environment are able to cooperate with F1 T lymphocytes.Postdoctoral Investigator supported by Subcontract No. 3322 from the Biology Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory to the University of Tennessee and by the Fulbright-Hays Program.Operated by the Union Carbide Corporation for the Department of Energy.     

Tetanus toxin does not affect the release of noradrenaline and taurine from rat cerebral cortex slices evoked by high K+ and Na+-free media

Noradrenaline and taurine release from superfused rat cerebral cortex slices was stimulated by potassium ions, veratrine, ouabain and omission of sodium ions. Tetanus toxin enhanced only the ouabain-evoked calcium-dependent noradrenaline release and the ouabain-evoked calcium-independent taurine release. The uptake of both was marginally affected.     

Tetanus toxin does not affect the release of noradrenaline and taurine from rat cerebral cortex slices evoked by high K+ and Na+-free media

Summary Noradrenaline and taurine release from superfused rat cerebral cortex slices was stimulated by potassium ions, veratrine, ouabain and omission of sodium ions. Tetanus toxin enhanced only the ouabain-evoked calcium-dependent noradrenaline release and the ouabain-evoked calcium-independent taurine release. The uptake of both was marginally affected.     

Differences in in vitro incorporation of tritiated deoxycytidine and tritiated thymidine into human lymphocytes

Summary Human lymphocytes stimulated in vitro by PHA or PWM incorporate³H-CdR into DNA, but less well than³H-TdR. More³H-CdR is incorporated in populations enriched for T cells. No³H-CdR is used by cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharides under circumstances in which³H-TdR is incorporated. We conclude that human T cells and B cells differ in their ability to use³H-CdR.     

Taurine concentrations in the aqueous humor and plasma of anesthetized rabbits

Summary Aqueous humor taurine concentrations were found to be significantly higher (p<0.01) than that of the plasma in anesthetized rabbits. Topical application of 2 mg terbutaline lowered intraocular pressure (p<0.001), but did not alter aqueous taurine content.Supported by National Eye Institute grants Nos EY05430 (JMR) and EY02156 (DEP).Acknowledgments. We thank Dr J. Gintautas, this institution, for translating reference 18 and Dr S. Y. Schmidt, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, for valuable advice.     

Effects of cadmium on the immune system of mice

Summary Chronic oral exposure of mice to Cd⁺⁺ inhibits cell-mediated immunity of delayed type hypersensitivity induced by sheep red blood cells (SRBC). No effect was detected on humoral immune response to SRBC. Spleen cells derived from mice exposed to Cd⁺⁺ showed in vitro enhanced response to T and B cell mitogens. These results demonstrate that Cd⁺⁺ exposure alters the immune system of mice.Dedicated to Prof. Georg Henneberg on the occasion of his 70th anniversary on 12.10.1978.Acknowledgments. Supported by a grant from the Umweltbundesamt. We thank Ms Odenwald, Ms Schulz, Klinikum Steglitz, and Ms Emeis, Robert Koch-Institut Abt. Immunologie, for the excellent technical assistance.     

A rapid method for measuring the phospholipid synthetic activity of incubated lymphocytes

Summary A rapid and simple method for estimating the phospholipid synthetic activity of incubated lymphocytes by a Florisil column technique following the uptake of¹⁴C-oleic acid was established. Stimulation of phospholipid synthesis by PHA and inhibitions caused by Tween 20 or Tween 80 and heating were evaluated easily with this method.     

Interaction of polyamines or their precursors with the calcium-controlled secretion of peroxidase by sugarbeet cells

Summary Three polyamines tested (cadaverine, spermidine and spermine) and their 2 precursors (the amino acids arginine and ornithine) inhibit the Ca²⁺-mediated secretion of peroxidases by sugarbeet cells in suspension culture at concentrations ranging from 10^–15 to 10^–5M. In the absence of exogenous Ca²⁺, spermine added at higher concentrations mimics the activatory effect of Ca²⁺, the other polyamines being without effect.Supported by the Belgian FRFC (grant No. 2.9009.75 to T.G.) and the Swiss National Foundation for Scientific Research (grant No. 3.140-0.81 to C.P. and H.G.).     

Analysis of nucleic acid derivatives at the subnanomolar level. II. Quantitative analysis of ribose derivatives by tritium labeling

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine Methode zur quantitativen Analyse von Ribosederivaten beschrieben, welche etwa fünftausendmal empfindlicher ist als die spektrophotometrischen Standardverfahren.

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This work was supported by grants-in-aid from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (No. AT(30-1)2643), the U.S. Public Health Service (No. CA 05018), and the American Cancer Society (No. E-51-J). This is publication No. 1325 of the Cancer Commission of Harvard University.

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The first paper of this series³ described a procedure for detecting subnanomolar quantities of mono- and oligonucleotides on PEI-cellulose thin layers.