Inhibition of MCP-1 and MIP-2 transcription and translation by mimosine in muscle tissue infected with the parasite Trichinella spiralis.

Mimosine is a non-toxic plant aminoacid which is an effective inhibitor of DNA replication by acting at the S-phase. In this study we infected mice with T. spiralis, a nematode parasite, and studied the inflammatory response through the determination of MIP-2, a C-X-C chemokine and MCP-1, a C-C chemokine in the inflamed area around the parasitic cyst.

Vitamin B6-deficient diet plus 4-deoxypyridoxine (4-DPD) reduces the inflammatory response induced by T. spiralis in diaphragm, masseter and heart muscle tissue of mice.

Animals fed diets deficient in vitamin B6 develop microcytic anemia, alterations of growth, and other pathologies. 4-deoxypirydoxine is a potent antagonist of vitamin B6 coenzyme which depresses IL-1, TNF and IL-6 and has anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to show the anti-inflammatory effects of 4-DPD on chronic inflammation caused by the nematode parasite T.

IgG, IgG1 and IgM response in Trichinella spiralis-infected mice treated with 4-deoxypirydoxine or fed a Vitamin B6-deficient diet.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) deficiency on the immunological response of BALB/c mice infected with the parasite T. spiralis. Specific anti-parasite IgM and IgG immunoglobulins were detected by ELISA method in the serum of treated animals at different periods for 60 days post infection.

Induction of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and TNF alpha by Trichinella spiralis in serum of mice in vivo.

MCP-1 is a small (8-10 KDa) protein and a prototype member of the CC chemokine beta subfamily, which plays a critical role in acute and chronic inflammation. Recent evidence suggests an important role for MCP- 1, MCP-2 and MCP-3 in a number of pathological states, including delayed type hypersensitivity conditions, parasitic infections and rheumatoid arthritis. Forty BALB-c mice were treated with the parasite Trichinella spiralis.

Pyridoxine deficiency: new approaches in immunosuppression and chemotherapy.

Pyridoxine deficiency leads to impairment of immune responses. It appears that the basic derangement is the decreased rate of production of one-carbon units necessary for the synthesis of nucleic acids. The key factor is a pyridoxine enzyme, serine hydroxymethyltransferase.

Massive infiltration of basophilic cells in inflamed tissue after injection of RANTES.

Regulated upon activation normal T expressed and secreted (RANTES) is a new inducible protein member of the human C-C branch of chemokines. RANTES is a potent monocyte and lymphocyte chemoattractant and is a mediator of inflammatory responses. In these studies we found that RANTES 10 ng/50 microl chemoattracts basophilic cells in a dose-dependent manner 4 h after an intradermal injection in rat skin sites, as revealed by optic microscopy.

Infra-red laser irradiation enhances interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, increases 3H-thymidine incorporation and the release of [3H]arachidonic acid in human monocytes.

The effect of infra-red laser irradiation has been experimented on various biological systems and particularly in human tissues, in vitro as well as in vivo. In order to examine the influence of laser irradiation on cells of the monocytic lineage we have irradiated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with an infra-red laser at a wavelength of 904 nm, at 2000 Hz frequency and 15 mW for 2 min. Here, we report that laser irradiation for 2 min.

Haemoglobin O Arab in the Pomak population of Thrace.

A 21 year old woman from Thrace with clinical and laboratory findings of mild hemolysis, was found to be homozygous for haemoglobin O Arab. Blood samples from 15 members of her family and from 42 inhabitants of her village were examined for the presence of Hb O Arab. A high incidence of this variant allele was also detected among the patient's family members as well as in other inhabitants of the village (p = 0.

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense mechanisms in rat renal tissue after daunorubicin administration.

Redox cycling compounds such as daunorubicin have been assumed to be toxic because they stimulate reactive oxygen-mediated lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, both DT-diaphorase and glutathione (GSH) have been regarded as protective cellular compounds against daunorubicin cardiotoxicity, but their role in daunorubicin nephrotoxicity remains unclear. To investigate this issue, 10 adult Wistar rats were twice injected with a single dose of 20 mg/kg body weight daunorubicin into the tail vein; the interval between injections was 48 h.

Human recombinant interleukin-1 beta induces thromboxane A2 release in polymorphonuclear leukocytes, macrophages and platelets: effect of IL-1 receptor antagonist.

Prostaglandins and thromboxanes (Txs) are produced by polymorphonuclears (PMNs) and macrophages (Mphis) in response to various stimuli. PMNs were separated from other human blood cells and Mphis were separated from rat peritoneal lavage. In this paper we show that human recombinant interleukin-1 (hrIL-1) can stimulate the release of thromboxane B2 (TxB2) by PMNs and Mphis.

Possible role of transferrin in exfoliation syndrome.

Protein concentration was measured in 30 exfoliation syndrome samples and 22 age matched controls. Exfoliation samples contained significantly more protein than controls. We also analyzed by SDS gel electrophoresis 32 aqueous samples, 12 with exfoliation syndrome and 20 age matched controls.

Generation of TNF alpha, IFN gamma, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-10 in mouse serum from trichinellosis: effect of the anti-inflammatory compound 4-deoxypyridoxine (4-DPD).

Infections caused by the nematode Trichinella spiralis is characterized in the host by an inflammatory response with cytokine production. In these studies we have detected TNF alpha, IL-6, IFN gamma, IL-4 and IL-10 in the serum of 10 mice infected with T. spiralis.

Detection of a high molecular weight heparin binding acidic growth factor in human placenta.

A heparin binding fibroblast growth factor with a molecular weight of approximately 45 kDa has been detected in human placenta. The protein was extracted from placenta and purified by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, DE-52 anion exchange chromatography, G100 gel exclusion and heparin sepharose affinity chromatography. The molecule was shown to be monomeric after treatment with beta-mercaptoethanol, and had an acidic isoelectric point.

Increased frequency of the rare PstI allele (P2) in a population of CAD patients in northern Greece.

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) at the apolipoprotein AI-CIII-AIV gene cluster and their association with coronary artery disease (CAD) and lipid levels were studied in a Northern Greek population. Ninety-five patients with CAD and fifty-four normal controls, angiographically proven, were included in this study. Using genomic hybridization techniques, three polymorphic restriction sites were identified at this locus: the PstI at the 3' end of the apoAI gene, the SacI at the 3' non-coding region of the apoCIII gene and the PvuII at the intergenic region between the apoCIII-AIV genes.

4-Deoxypyridoxine inhibits chronic granuloma formation induced by potassium permanganate in vivo.

4-Deoxypyridoxine (4-DPD) is a potent antagonist of Vitamin B6 coenzyme which inhibits IL-1, lymphocyte proliferation and has demonstrated that tolerance to skin grafts can be induced by administering splenic cells to pyridoxine-deficient mice. Chronic inflammation induced by dorsal injections of 200 microliters of a 1:40 saturated crystal solution of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) in mice treated or untreated with 4-DPD (400 micrograms/dose), has been investigated. After 7 days all mice developed a subcutaneous granulomatous tissue indicative of a chronic inflammatory response, at the site of injection.

Rat liver endoplasmic reticulum protein kinases.

1. Rat liver microsomal membranes were studied for the presence of protein kinases. Microsomal proteins solubilized with Triton X-100 were analyzed by means of ion exchange chromatography.

HLA class II DNA-RFLP typing in 102 individuals from Northern Greece.

The serological identification of HLA class II alleles is often doubtful. Since accurate HLA typing is essential for the matching of donor-recipient pairs in allogeneic transplantation, an effort was made to establish DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) typing and to assess the correlation between the serological and RFLP techniques in the population of Northern Greece. One hundred and two healthy individuals (204 HLA-DR alleles) from Northern Greece were HLA-DR, DQ typed with both the microcytotoxicity and the Taq I RFLP method, using three exon-specific probes.

Effect of combination of deoxypyridoxine with known anti-proliferative or immunosuppressive agents on lymphocyte serine hydroxymethyltransferase.

Measurements of serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) in resting lymphocyte cultures showed that the level of activity of this enzyme is very low. Under the influence of mitogenic stimuli serine hydroxymethyltransferase activity is induced 5-20-fold. Addition in the cultures of 4-deoxypyridoxine (dB6), a potent antagonist of vitamin B6 coenzymes, concurrently with the mitogen, inhibits the induction of SHMT.

Effect of pyridoxine deficiency on immunological phenomena.

Measurements of serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) in resting lymphocyte cultures showed that the level of activity of this enzyme was very low. Under the influence of mitogenic stimuli serine hydroxymethyl-transferase activity was induced 5-20-fold. Addition in the cultures of 4-deoxypyridoxine, a potent antagonist of vitamin B6 coenzymes, concurrently with the mitogen, inhibits the induction of serine hydroxymethyltransferase.

Beta zero and beta+ thalassemia genes in northern Greece.

In an attempt to estimate the prevalence of beta thal zero and beta thal+ thalassemia genes in northern Greece we analyzed hemoglobin samples of 32 subjects with sickle cell thalassemia (beta s/beta thal), from an area of northern Greece (Chalkidiki, 22-24E, 41-42N), where thalassemia and sickle cell disease are common. 24 subjects had no detectable Hb A and only 8 had Hb A ranging grossly between 3-5 per cent in six patients and 10-15 per cent in two patients. Thus the estimate of the relative frequency of the beta thal zero to the beta thal+ was found to be 0.

Cellular and tissue distribution of a single-strand-specific nuclease.

1. Specific antibodies which were raised against a single-strand-specific nuclease isolated from rat liver microsomes were used for characterizing this enzyme and determining its cellular and tissue distribution. 2.

Inhibitory effect of deoxypyridoxine on the action of certain mitogenic factors.

We studied the effect of pyridoxine deficiency state on the responses of human lymphocytes to certain mitogenic factors. Deoxypyridoxine (DB6), a potent pyridoxine antagonist, considerably inhibited Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into the newly synthesized DNA of lymphocytes cultured with Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and Concanavalin A (Con A) in separate sets of experiments. The addition of deoxypyridoxine simultaneously with or few hours prior to initiation of cell cultures did not significantly alter the inhibitory action of deoxypyridoxine.

A new glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase variant (G6PD Thessaloniki) in a patient with idiopathic myelofibrosis.

A new deficient glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) variant, G6PD Thessaloniki, which was found in the red blood cells of a 70-year-old woman who had idiopathic myelofibrosis, is described. G6PD Thessaloniki had a low Michaelis constant (Km) for G6P (20 microM), high Km for NADP (10.1 microM), normal pH optimum, reduced heat stability, decreased electrophoretic mobility (96-98% of the normal), increased 2-deoxy-G6P and decreased galactose 6-phosphate utilization.