IL-10 treatment of macrophages bolsters intracellular survival of Mycobacterium leprae.

In these studies, metabolically active Mycobacterium leprae were maintained for as long as 8 weeks in monolayer cultures of mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPhi). Supplemental IL-10, but not TGF-beta, bolstered, directly or indirectly, M. leprae metabolism in mouse MPhi.

Evidence for the involvement of the Rho GTP-binding protein in egg activation of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi.

Eggs of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi are activated by insemination and by treatment with calcium ionophore, leading to elevation of the vitelline coat. Here we describe the effects on egg activation of microinjection of guanosine 5'-(γ thio) triphosphate (GTPγS, a non-hydrolyzable GTP analog), heparin (an antagonist of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor) and a monoclonal antibody to the Rho GTP-binding protein. Microinjected GTPγS induced elevation of the vitelline coat, but not when it was co-injected with EGTA or heparin.

Phorbol Ester Induces Elevation of the Vitelline Coat of Eggs of the Ascidian Halocynthia roretzi: (phorbol ester/ascidian egg/vitelline coat/trypsin-like enzyme/calmodulin).

Elevation of the vitelline coat of eggs of the ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi, was induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate or phorbol-12, 13-didecanoate, but not by their 4-epimers. After elevation of the vitelline coat in this way, eggs were unable to undergo cleavage on addition of sperm. This elevation of the vitelline coat by phorbol esters was inhibited by specific inhibitors of trypsin-like enzyme, calmodulin, phospholipase A , and protein kinase C.