Brain renin-angiotensin system blockade by systemically active aminopeptidase A inhibitors: a potential treatment of salt-dependent hypertension.

The hyperactivity of the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been implicated in the development and maintenance of hypertension in several types of experimental and genetic hypertension animal models. We previously reported that in the murine brain, aminopeptidase A (APA) is involved in the conversion of angiotensin II (AngII) to AngIII and that AngIII is one of the main effector peptides of the brain RAS in the control of vasopressin release. Here we report that brain AngIII exerts a tonic stimulatory effect on blood pressure in a model of salt-dependent hypertension, the DOCA-salt rat, characterized by a depressed systemic but a hyperactive brain RAS.

Myelination and motor coordination are increased in transferrin transgenic mice.

Myelin deficiency in the central nervous system (CNS) can cause severe disabling conditions. Most of the transgenic mice models overexpressing myelin components have limitations for investigators of myelin deficiency and myelin therapy as they severely alter CNS architecture. It has been postulated that transferrin (Tf) is involved in oligodendrocyte (OL) maturation and myelinogenesis.

Effect of 17beta-estradiol on somatostatin receptor expression and inhibitory effects on growth hormone and prolactin release in rat pituitary cell cultures.

In the present study, we tested whether 17beta-estradiol (E2)-induced PRL sensitivity to somatostatin-14 (SRIF) involves selective up-regulation of discrete somatostatin receptor subtypes (ssts) in primary cultures of female rat pituitary cells. The efficacy of the endogenous peptide SRIF to inhibit GH and PRL secretion and cAMP accumulation was compared with those of octreotide (OCT), BIM-23052, BIM-23056, and BIM-23268, which have been reported to be relatively selective for rat sst2, sst3, and sst5. Experiments were performed in steroid-depleted media supplemented or not with 1 nM E2 for 96 h.

Distinct patterns of expression and physiological effects of sst1 and sst2 receptor subtypes in mouse hypothalamic neurons and astrocytes in culture.

Somatostatin (SRIF) receptor subtypes (sst) were characterized in hypothalamic neurons and astrocytes by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and radioreceptor assays using [125I-Tyr0,D-Trp8]SRIF-14 as a ligand in ionic conditions discriminating between SRIF-1 (sst2, -3, and -5 receptors) and SRIF-2 (sst1 and -4 receptors) binding sites. In neurons, sstl mRNA levels were twofold higher than those of sst2, and sst3-5 expression was only minor. Astrocytes expressed 10-fold less sst mRNAs than neurons, which corresponded mostly (80%) to sst2.

Down-regulation of CD4 molecules by the expression of Nef: a quantitative analysis of CD4 antigens on the cell surfaces.

Nef is one of the non-structural genes encoded by human immunodeficiency viruses. The protein product is associated with the cellular and plasma membranes, and is synthesized soon after entry of the virus. However, little is known about its functions relevant to viral replication and cytopathogenesis.

Differential appearance of autoantibodies to human brain S100 protein, neuron specific enolase and myelin basic protein in psychiatric patients.

Sera from psychiatric patients (32 with senile dementia, 56 with Alzheimer's disease, 189 with schizophrenia, 117 with manic-depressive psychoses, 52 with other nonorganic psychoses, 44 with paranoid state, 58 with neurotic depression and 78 with alcoholic syndrome), normal subjects (112 blood donors) and 43 hospitalized elderly patients with chronic cardiac failures without senile syndrome were examined by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of autoantibodies to human brain S100 protein, neuron specific enolase (NSE) and myelin basic protein (MBP). These varied antibrain autoantibodies occurred at different frequencies. The highest incidence of anti-S100 and anti-NSE antibodies was in Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia, than in manic-depressive and other nonorganic psychoses, and the lowest in paranoid state, neurotic depression, schizophrenia and alcoholic syndrome.

Brain-associated autoimmune features in heroin addicts: correlation to HIV infection and dementia.

We report here on brain associated autoimmune features in opiate-dependent subjects. This study includes 107 (37 HIV + and 70 HIV -) hospitalized heroin-addicted subjects on a methadone maintenance program, and 45 healthy individuals. Human brain S100 protein, neuron specific enolase (NSE), myelin basic protein (MBF), and old tuberculin (OT) were used as antigens in the study.