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We measured the free concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25[OH]2D) using centrifugal ultrafiltration,and the level of vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) in 24 normal subjects,17 pregnant subjects,and 25 alcoholic subjects with liver disease. Our objective was to determine whether the increase in total 1,25(OH)2D levels in pregnant women and the reduction in total 1,25(OH)2D levels in subjects with liver disease reflected a true difference in free 1,25(OH)2D levels or whether such differences were due solely to the variations in DBP levels (and thus,the amount of 1,25[OH]2D bound) in these groups. In subjects with liver disease the mean total 1,25(OH)2D concentration (22.6 +/- 12.5 pg/ml) and the mean DBP concentration (188 +/- 105 micrograms/dl) were nearly half the normal values (41.5 +/- 11.5 pg/ml and 404 +/- 124 micrograms/dl,respectively,P less than 0.001),whereas the mean free 1,25(OH)2D level was similar to normal values (209 +/- 91 fg/ml and 174 +/- 46 fg/ml,respectively). In contrast,in pregnant subjects the mean total 1,25(OH)2D level (82 +/- 21 pg/ml) and mean DBP level (576 +/- 128 micrograms/dl) were significantly higher than normal (P less than 0.001). Although the mean percent free 1,25(OH)2D level in pregnant subjects was below normal (0.359 +/- 0.07% vs. 0.424 +/- 0.07%,P less than 0.001),the mean free 1,25(OH)2D level was 69% higher than normal (294 +/- 98 fg/ml vs. 174 +/- 46 fg/ml,P less than 0.001). When data from all three groups were combined,there was a linear correlation between total 1,25(OH)2D and DBP levels but not between DBP and percent free 1,25(OH)2D levels; the increased DBP levels in the pregnant subjects were associated with less of an effect on percent free 1,25(OH)2D than were the reduced DBP levels in the subjects with liver disease. Our data suggest that (a) free 1,25(OH)2D levels appear to be well maintained even in subjects with liver disease and reduced DBP levels,(b) free 1,25(OH)2D levels are increased during pregnancy despite the increase in DBP levels,and (c) free 1,25(OH)2D levels cannot be inferred accurately from measurements of total 1,25(OH)2D and DBP levels alone in subjects with various physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions. View Publication

Tamoxifen is used widely in the treatment of endocrine-responsive breast cancers in humans. Studies were undertaken to examine the biological character (estrogenic-antiestrogenic properties) and estrogen receptor (ER) interaction of the cis- and trans-isomers of tamoxifen and hydroxytamoxifen in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. For each compound,the following parameters were monitored: affinity for ER and effects on cellular ER levels; stimulation-inhibition of cell growth,plasminogen activator activity,and cellular progesterone receptor levels; and isomer interconversion and metabolism in vitro. The relative binding affinities of the compounds cis-tamoxifen,trans-tamoxifen,cis-hydroxytamoxifen,and trans-hydroxytamoxifen for cytosol ER were 0.3,2.5,1.8,and 310%,respectively,in which the affinity of estradiol is considered 100%. cis-Tamoxifen behaved as a weak estrogen agonist in all assays,while trans-tamoxifen was an effective estrogen antagonist. cis-Tamoxifen behaved like estradiol in stimulating MCF-7 cell growth and increasing plasminogen activator activity and cellular progesterone receptor content,although very much higher concentrations of cis-tamoxifen (10(-6) M) were needed to achieve the levels of stimulation observed with 10(-10) M estradiol. trans-Tamoxifen and trans-hydroxytamoxifen suppressed cell growth,inhibited plasminogen activator activity of control cells,and suppressed estradiol-stimulation of plasminogen activator activity,and they evoked minimal increases in cellular progesterone receptor levels. trans-Hydroxytamoxifen had a 100-fold increased affinity for ER and was approximately 100-times more potent than was trans-tamoxifen in suppressing cell growth and plasminogen activator activity. cis-Hydroxytamoxifen behaved as an estrogen antagonist,suppressing cell growth and plasminogen activator activity,and it elicited submaximal increases in progesterone receptor levels. This apparently paradoxical behavior of cis-hydroxytamoxifen was shown to be due to the fact that the cis- and trans-hydroxytamoxifens readily undergo isomeric interconversion upon exposure to our cell culture conditions,resulting in substantial accumulation of the higher-affinity trans-hydroxytamoxifen in the nuclear ER fraction of cells. In contrast to the facile interconversion of the hydroxytamoxifen isomers,there is no metabolism or interconversion of the parent compounds cis- and trans-tamoxifen in vitro. Hence,by the criteria we have used,the biological characters of trans-tamoxifen and trans-hydroxytamoxifen are similar,the major difference being the approximately 100-fold enhanced potency of the hydroxylated form. In contrast,cis-t View Publication

In HeLa cells which have been exposed to 5 mM sodium butyrate for 21 h,the level of histone acetylation is greatly increased as compared to control cells (Riggs,M.G.,Whittaker,R.G.,Neumann,J.R.,and Ingram,V.R. (1977) Nature 268,462-464). Our experiments indicate that the increase in the relative amounts of multiacetylated forms of histones H4 and H3 following butyrate treatment is the result of an inhibition of histone deacetylase activity. View Publication

Central stimulant actions of 10 methylxanthines in mice correlate with affinities for adenosine receptors labeled with N6-[3H]cyclohexyladenosine. Affinities of methylxanthines for adenosine receptors are consonant with central levels attained at behaviorally effective doses. The much higher concentrations of methylxanthines required to influence benzodiazepine receptor binding do not correlate with behavioral potency. N6-(L-Phenylisopropyl)adenosine (L-PIA),a metabolically stable analog of adenosine with high affinity for adenosine receptors,is an extremely potent behavioral depressant,reducing locomotor activity of mice at doses as little as 0.05 mumol/kg. The D isomer,which has much less affinity for adenosine receptors,is much less active as a central depressant. Theophylline stimulates locomotor activity and reverses depressant effects of L-PIA. Caffeine or 1,7-dimethylxanthine,when administered alone,elicits biphasic effects,with locomotor depression at lower doses and stimulation at higher doses. When administered with L-PIA,even low doses of caffeine produce marked stimulation. 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine given alone elicits only behavioral depression. However,like theophylline and caffeine,isobutylmethylxanthine reverses the L-PIA-evoked depression,converting it into pronounced locomotor stimulation. The data strongly suggest that the behavioral stimulant effects of methylxanthines involve a blockade of central adenosine receptors. View Publication

Bay K8644 increased unidirectional Ca2+ influx and produced tension development in rabbit aorta. Both responses could be evoked in the tissue maximally stimulated with norepinephrine. When the arterial rings were maximally activated by high K+ depolarization,Bay K8644 was without effect. The tension evoked by high K+ and Bay K8644 was more sensitive to the dihydropyridine Ca2+ antagonist PY108-068 than norepinephrine induced tension. These results indicate that Bay K8644 activates only potential operated Ca2+ channels which are opened by high K+ depolarization. View Publication

Single cardiac transmembranous Ca channels have three modes of gating behaviour in the absence of drugs,expressed as current records with brief openings (mode 1),with no openings because of channel unavailability (mode 0 or null mode) and with long-lasting openings and very brief closings that appear only rarely (mode 2). The dihydropyridine Ca agonist Bay K 8644 enhances Ca channel current by promoting mode 2,while the Ca antagonists nitrendipine and nimodipine inhibit the current by favouring mode 0. View Publication

Sodium butyrate,at millimolar concentrations,when added to cell cultures produces many morphological and biochemical modifications in a reversible manner. Some of them occur in all cell lines. They concern regulatory mechanisms of gene expression and cell growth: an hyperacetylation of histone resulting from an inhibition of histone deacetylase and an arrest of cell proliferation are almost constantly observed. Some other modifications vary from one cell type to another: induction of proteins,including enzymes,hormones,hemoglobin,inhibition of cell differentiation,reversion of transformed characteristics of cells to normal morphological and biochemical pattern,increase in interferon antiviral efficiency and induction of integrated viruses. Most if not all these effects of butyrate could result from histone hyperacetylation,from changes in chromatin structures as measured by accessibility to DNases and from modifications in cytoskeleton assembly. We do not know at the present time whether butyrate acts on a very specific target site in cell or if it acts on several cell components. View Publication

We cultured sensory neurons from chick embryos in media containing the alkaloid taxol at concentrations from 7 X 10(-9) to 3.5 X 10(-6) M. When plated at taxol concentrations above 7 X 10(-8) M for 24 h,neurons have short broad extensions that do not elongate on the culture substratum. When actively growing neurites are exposed to these levels of taxol,neurite growth stops immediately and does not recommence. The broad processes of neurons cultured 24 h with taxol contain densely packed arrays of microtubules that loop back at the ends of the process. Neurofilaments are segregated from microtubules into bundles and tangled masses in these taxol-treated neurons. At the ends of neurites treated for 5 min with taxol,microtubules also turn and loop back abnormally toward the perikaryon. In the presence of 7 X 10(-9) M taxol neurites do grow,although they are broader and less branched than normally. The neurites of these cells appear to have normal structure except for a large number of microtubules. Taxol probably stimulates microtubule polymerization in these cultured neurons. At high levels of the drug,this action inhibits neurite initiation and outgrowth by removing free tubulin from the cytoplasm and destroying the normal control of microtubule assembly in growing neurites. The rapid inhibition suggests that microtubule assembly may occur at neurite tips. At lower concentrations,taxol may slightly enhance the mechanisms of microtubule assembly in neurons,and this alteration of normal processes changes the morphogenetic properties of the growing neurites. View Publication

The exchange of ribosomal subunits during the release of growing polypeptide chains by puromycin has been investigated in a bacterial cell-free system engaged in protein synthesis. The addition of spermidine,used as a stabilizing agent of 70S monomers,caused a strong inhibition of the subunit exchange. This result led us to conclude that upon premature release of unfinished protein chains by the antibiotic,the ribosomes fall off mRNA as 70S particles. This behavior is different from that occurring during physiological termination of translation,where the ribosomes detach in a dissociated form. Some implications of the postulated mechanism are also discussed. View Publication

Puromycin N-acetyltransferase from Streptomyces alboniger inactivates puromycin by acetylating the amino position of its tyrosinyl moiety. This enzyme has been partially purified by column chromatography through DEAE-cellulose and Affigel Blue and characterized. It has an Mr of 23 000,as determined by gel filtration. In addition to puromycin,the enzyme N-acetylates O-demethylpuromycin,a toxic precursor of the antibiotic,and chryscandin,a puromycin analogue antibiotic. The Km values for puromycin and O-demethylpuromycin are 1.7 and 4.6 microM,respectively. The O-demethylpuromycin O-methyltransferase from S. alboniger,which apparently catalyzes the last step in the biosynthesis of puromycin [Rao,M. M.,Rebello,P. F.,& Pogell,B. M. (1969) J. Biol. Chem. 244,112-118],also O-methylates N-acetyl-O-demethylpuromycin. The Km values of the methylating enzyme for O-demethylpuromycin and N-acetyl-O-demethylpuromycin are 260 and 2.3 microM,respectively. These findings suggest that O-demethylpuromycin,if present in S. alboniger,would be N-acetylated and then O-methylated to be converted into N-acetylpuromycin. It might even be possible that N-acetylation of the puromycin backbone takes place at an earlier precursor. View Publication

The proliferation and differentiation effects of the synthetic retinoid TTNPB and of 13-cis retinoic acid (RA) on hemopoietic progenitors from bone marrow of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients were compared. The addition of TTNPB or RA to culture plates containing MDS patient's marrow cells stimulated myeloid colony (CFU-C) growth and caused a significant increase in granulocytic colonies (CFU-G). In the presence of RA the increase in CFU-G was statistically insignificant. Cellular differentiation studies in liquid suspension culture revealed that the two retinoic acid analogues cause a marked decrease in immature granulocytes and an increase in mature granulocytes. There was further an increase in the number of cells that reacted positively with monoclonal antibodies (McAb) binding specifically to granulocytes (B4,3,B13,9 and Leu M4) and a decrease in the percentage of cells reacting with the McAb against Ia-like determinants. These findings indicate that TTNPB is as active as RA in stimulating the growth of hemopoietic progenitors from MDS patients and in enhancing granulocytic differentiation in liquid culture. View Publication

Twenty-four patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) were treated with all-trans retinoic acid (45 to 100 mg/m2/day). Of these,eight cases had been either nonresponsive or resistant to previous chemotherapy; the other 16 cases were previously untreated. All patients attained complete remission without developing bone marrow hypoplasia. Bone marrow suspension cultures were studied in 15 of the 24 patients. Fourteen of these patients had morphological maturation in response to the retinoic acid (1 mumol/L). Chloroacetate esterase and alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase staining as well as electronmicroscopic examination confirmed that retinoic acid-induced cells differentiated to granulocytes with increased functional maturation (as measured by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction,NBT). The single nonresponder to retinoic acid in vitro was resistant to treatment with retinoic acid but attained complete remission after addition of low-dose cytosine arabinoside (ara-C). During the course of therapy,none of the patients showed any abnormalities in the coagulation parameters we measured,suggesting an absence of any subclinical disseminated intravascular coagulation. The only side effects consisted of mild dryness of the lips and skin,with occasional headaches and digestive symptoms. Eight patients have relapsed after 2 to 5 months of complete remission. The others remain in complete remission at 1+ to 11+ months and are still being followed up. We conclude that all-trans retinoic acid is an effective inducer for attaining complete remission in APL. View Publication