Immunosuppressive effects of (2R,5R)-6-heptyne-2,5-diamine an inhibitor of polyamine synthesis: I. Effects on mitogen-induced immunoglobulin production in human cultured lymphocytes.

The consequences of specific inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis by (2R,5R)-6-heptyne-2,5-diamine (MAP) a potent inhibitor of L-ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), on immunoglobulin (Ig) production were studied in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with pokeweed mitogen (PWM). MAP inhibits the usual PWM-induced increase of polyamine (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) concentrations and reduces concomitantly cell replication. In parallel with these biochemical effects, IgG and IgM production are diminished, a 95% decrease being observed at 100 microM MAP concentration.

Mapping of four light chain-associated idiotopes of a human monoclonal rheumatoid factor.

In an effort to analyze both IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) repertoire and regulation of RF production in humans, we developed a panel of four mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAb) defining distinct K light chain-associated idiotopes (id) of a human monoclonal IgM RF (Alt). These mAb (A75, AM1, AM2, AM3) had equivalent reactivities with the immunizing RF during classic inhibition of antigen-binding assays. These anti-id reagents were reacting to neither other tested monoclonal IgM RF nor normal polyclonal IgM.

Inhibition by DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine of the pokeweed mitogen-induced immunoglobulin production in cultured human lymphocytes.

The effects of DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMeOrn), an irreversible inhibitor of L-ornithine decarboxylase, on immunoglobulin production were studied in vitro using human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with pokeweed mitogen. DFMeOrn inhibits in a concentration-dependent manner the usual pokeweed mitogen-induced increases of polyamine contents (putrescine, spermidine, spermine) and of [3H]thymidine incorporation. In parallel with the reduction of polyamine content and of thymidine incorporation, IgG and IgM productions are diminished, a 70% decrease being observed at 5 mM DFMeOrn concentration.

Age-related changes in biological parameters in Zucker rats.

Changes in a number of morphological and biochemical parameters were observed in genetically obese Zucker rats and in lean controls between 3 and 58 weeks of age. By 3 weeks, the genetically obese rats had higher proportional (wt/100 g body wt) and absolute amounts of adipose tissue, hyperlipemia affecting all the lipid fractions, and hyperproteinemia compared to lean controls. Obesity, hepatomegaly, high concentrations of hepatic lipids and hyperinsulinemia did not appear until the fifth week.

[Erythrocyte uric acid in the non-gouty subject].

The red cell uric acid concentration (E) is lower than its plasma concentration (P). In normal subjects the ration E/P is close to 0.7.

Effects of medium- and long-chain triglyceride diets in the genetically obese Zucker rat.

To test whether the property of medium-chain fatty acids (which have 6-12 carbon atoms) being incorporated only in small amounts into the various tissues of a living organism could be exploited to treat obesity, genetically obese Zucker rats and their lean littermates were fed a diet containing 20% medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCT) or long-chain triacylglycerols (LCT) for 10 weeks. MCT, as compared with LCT, had the following effects: 1) MCT did not diminish weight gain in either the nonobese or the obese rats; 2) they increased ketogenesis more in the former than in the latter; 3) they increased the concentration of triacylglycerols in the liver of the obese rats but not of the lean ones; 4) they decreased the concentration of cholesterol in the liver of the lean but not of the obese rats, and 5) they did not particularly affect the concentration of proteins, glucose and insulin in the blood. We therefore conclude that the influence of the genotype is much more important in the establishment of the biochemical characteristics of rats than is the nature of the fatty acids ingested.

Biological parameters of the blood in the genetically obese Zucker rat.

A study of the various biological parameters of the blood in the genetically obese Zucker rat, the nonobese Zucker rat, and the Wistar rat has revealed great similarity between the two latter types of animals. On the other hand, in genetically obese Zucker rats as compared with the nonobese ones, (1) the blood mass per unit of weight was lower; (2) the level of nitrogenous degradation compounds was the same; (3) the lipase activity was lower; (4) the levels of substances for which liver plays a crucial role--all lipid and protein fractions, glucose, and the enzyme GPT--were higher; (5) the levels of Ca, Zn, Fe, Cu and Pi were high; (6) the blood and bone-marrow cells were unremarkable.

[Intravenous nitroglycerin as vasodilator therapy in acute myocardial infarction (author's transl)].

Thirteen patients with left ventricular failure complicating acute myocardial infarction were treated with intravenous nitroglycerin. The hemodynamic criterium for admission to this study was a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure greater than 15 mm Hg. All patients received intravenous nitroglycerin at infusion rates sufficient to lower pulmonary capillary wedge pressure by an average of 15 mm Hg, corresponding to the optimal left ventricular filling pressure in acute myocardial infarction.

Ketogenic response to medium-chain triglyceride load in the rat.

We studied ketonemia induced in rats by a single oral load of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) (C8:0 50.5%, C10:0 48.0%, C12:0 1.