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We have systematically optimized the concentrations of 20 components of a previously published serum-free medium (Brewer and Cotman,Brain Res 494: 65-74,1989) for survival of rat embryonic hippocampal neurons after 4 days in culture. This serum-free medium supplement,B27,produced neuron survival above 60%,independent of plating density above 160 plated cells/mm2. For isolated cells (textless 100 cells/mm2),survival at 4 days was still above 45%,but could be rescued to the 60% level at 40 cells/mm2 by simply applying a coverslip on top of the cells. This suggests a need for additional trophic factors. High survival was achieved with osmolarity lower than found in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM),and by reducing cysteine and glutamine concentrations and by the elimination of toxic ferrous sulphate found in DME/F12. Neurobasal is a new medium that incorporates these modifications to DMEM. In B27/Neurobasal,glial growth is reduced to less than 0.5% of the nearly pure neuronal population,as judged by immunocytochemistry for glial fibrillary acidic protein and neuron-specific enolase. Excellent long-term viability is achieved after 4 weeks in culture with greater than 90% viability for cells plated at 640/mm2 and greater than 50% viability for cells plated at 160/mm2. Since the medium also supports the growth of neurons from embryonic rat striatum,substantia nigra,septum,and cortex,and neonatal dentate gyrus and cerebellum (Brewer,in preparation),support for other neuron types is likely. B27/Neurobasal should be useful for in vitro studies of neuronal toxicology,pharmacology,electrophysiology,gene expression,development,and effects of growth factors and hormones. View Publication

Analysis of [3H]phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) binding was performed with protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha,-beta 1,-gamma,-delta,-epsilon,-eta,and -zeta produced in Sf9 insect cells using the baculovirus expression system. With the exception of PKC-zeta,all of the PKC isozymes bound [3H]PDBu with high affinity (Kd textless 1 nM),either in the presence or in the absence of calcium. Scatchard analysis using 100% phosphatidylserine vesicles revealed slightly lower affinity for the calcium-independent isozymes (PKC-delta,-epsilon,and -eta) than for the calcium-dependent isozymes (PKC-alpha,-beta,and -gamma). Competition for [3H]PDBu binding by different classes of PKC activators showed that 12-deoxyphorbol esters,mezerein,and octahydromezerein likewise possessed lower affinity for the calcium-independent isozymes. The mezerein analog thymeleatoxin was the most marked example,being almost 20-fold less potent for binding to PKC-epsilon and -eta than to PKC-beta 1. In contrast,the indole alkaloids (-)-indolactam V and (-)-octylindolactam V and the postulated endogenous activator 1,2-diacylglycerol bound with similar affinities to all of the PKC isoforms,suggesting that different residues/configurations in the binding sites of the different PKC isozymes might be involved in interaction with the pharmacophore of the activators. The seven PKC isozymes also showed clearly different substrate specificities with exogenous peptide and protein substrates. The heterogeneous behavior of the different members of the PKC family with ligands and substrates may contribute to the heterogeneity of PKC-mediated pathways at the cellular level. View Publication

Most primitive hematopoietic cells appear to be normally quiescent in vivo,whereas their leukemic counterparts in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are maintained in a state of rapid turnover. This difference is also seen in the long-term culture system,where control of primitive hematopoietic progenitor proliferation is mediated by interactions of these cells with marrow-derived mesenchymal cells of the fibroblast lineage. We now show that exogenous addition of macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha) to normal long-term cultures can reversibly and specifically block the activation of primitive" (high proliferative potential)� View Publication

A novel series of 3,4-dihydroxychalcones was synthesized to evaluate their effects against 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase. Almost all compounds exhibited potent inhibitory effects on 5-lipoxygenase with antioxidative effects,and some also inhibited cyclooxygenase. The 2',5'-disubstituted 3,4-dihydroxychalcones with hydroxy or alkoxy groups exhibited optimal inhibition of cyclooxygenase. We found that 2',5'-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroxychalcone (37; HX-0836) inhibited cyclooxygenase to the same degree as flufenamic acid and 5-lipoxygenase,more than quercetin. Finally,these active inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase inhibited arachidonic acid-induced mouse ear edema more than phenidone. View Publication

Individually,transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) alter the growth and differentiation of normal and transformed osteoblast-like (OB) cells. Although recent evidence suggests interactions between TGF beta and 1,25(OH)2D3 may occur,little is known of the individual or combined effects of these hormones on the expression of the osteoblast phenotype at the cytochemical and biochemical levels in normal human OB (hOB) cells. Primary cultures of hOBs were treated with TGF beta (0.001-10 ng/ml) and 1,25(OH)2D3 (0.1 pM-100 nM) either alone or in combination. TGF beta and 1,25(OH)2D3 stimulated spindle-shaped cells to become stellate in appearance and increased the number of cytoplasmic processes. TGF beta increased 3H-thymidine incorporation and 1,25(OH)2D3 reduced this effect. Conversely,procollagen type-I synthesis and secretion were increased in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of TGF beta but were not significantly affected in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3. TGF beta and 1,25(OH)2D3 each marginally increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity,but the combination synergistically increased ALP activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner at the cytochemical and biochemical level (three to tenfold over vehicle controls; n = 12). In contrast,TGF beta reduced 1,25(OH)2D3-stimulated osteocalcin secretion. These data suggest that TGF beta stimulates hOB cells to actively produce collagen matrix and proliferate. The combination of TGF beta and 1,25(OH)2D3,however,produces a synergistic increase in ALP activity and maintenance of collagen synthesis. 1,25(OH)2D3 stimulation may induce cells to advance to an endstage where cell proliferation is reduced and osteocalcin expression is promoted. Interactions between TGF beta and 1,25(OH)2D3 may represent important steps in the regulation of osteoblast differentiation and matrix production. View Publication

Phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) 3-kinase is an enzyme implicated in growth factor signal transduction by associating with receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases,including the platelet-derived growth factor receptor. Inhibitors of PtdIns 3-kinase could potentially give a better understanding of the function and regulatory mechanisms of the enzyme. Quercetin,a naturally occurring bioflavinoid,was previously shown to inhibit PtdIns 3-kinase with an IC50 of 1.3 microgram/ml (3.8 microM); inhibition appeared to be directed at the ATP-binding site of the kinase. Analogs of quercetin were investigated as PtdIns 3-kinase inhibitors,with the most potent ones exhibiting IC50 values in the range of 1.7-8.4 micrograms/ml. In contrast,genistein,a potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the isoflavone class,did not inhibit PtdIns 3-kinase significantly (IC50 textgreater 30 micrograms/ml). Since quercetin has also been shown to inhibit other PtdIns and protein kinases,other chromones were evaluated as inhibitors of PtdIns 3-kinase without affecting PtdIns 4-kinase or selected protein kinases. One such compound,2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one (also known as 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenylchromone,LY294002),completely and specifically abolished PtdIns 3-kinase activity (IC50 = 0.43 microgram/ml; 1.40 microM) but did not inhibit PtdIns 4-kinase or tested protein and lipid kinases. Analogs of LY294002 demonstrated a very selective structure-activity relationship,with slight changes in structure causing marked decreases in inhibition. LY294002 was shown to completely abolish PtdIns 3-kinase activity in fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated human neutrophils,as well as inhibit proliferation of smooth muscle cells in cultured rabbit aortic segments. Since PtdIns 3-kinase appears to be centrally involved with growth factor signal transduction,the development of specific inhibitors against the kinase may be beneficial in the treatment of proliferative diseases as well as in elucidating the biological role of the kinase in cellular proliferation and growth factor response. View Publication

Significant activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) was detected in the membrane fractions,or in the immunoprecipitates prepared with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies,from rat adipocytes that had been incubated with insulin for 20 min. The PI 3-kinase activity in these preparations as well as in the whole cell lysates of adipocytes not treated with insulin was inhibited by the addition of wortmannin,a fungal metabolite,to the enzyme assay mixture. The inhibition was dependent on the inhibitor concentration with IC50 being less than 10 nM and perfect inhibition at 100 nM. The effect of insulin to induce membrane PI 3-kinase activity was mostly abolished,but its effects to tyrosine-phosphorylate the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor or other cellular substrate proteins including insulin-receptor-substrate-1 were not at all antagonized,by wortmannin added to the cell incubation medium. Insulin stimulation of cellular 2-deoxyglucose uptake and inhibition of isoproterenol-induced lipolysis observable in adipocytes under the same conditions were also antagonized by wortmannin added in the same concentration range as used for the inhibition of insulin-susceptible PI 3-kinase. It is concluded,therefore,that activation of wortmannin-sensitive PI 3-kinase plays a pivotal role in the intracellular signaling pathways arising from the insulin receptor autophosphorylation and leading to certain metabolic responses. View Publication

The effects of nicotinamide (NIC) on human fetal and adult endocrine pancreatic cells were studied in tissue culture. Treatment of the fetal cells with 10 mM NIC resulted in a twofold increase in DNA content and a threefold increase in insulin content. This was associated with the development of beta cell outgrowths from undifferentiated epithelial cell clusters and an increase in the expression of the insulin,glucagon,and somatostatin genes. DNA synthesis was stimulated only in the undifferentiated cells. Half-maximal doses for the insulinotropic and mitogenic effects of NIC were 5-10 and 1-2 mM,respectively. Islet-like cell clusters cultured with NIC responded to glucose stimulation with a biphasic increase in insulin release (fourfold peak),whereas control cells were unresponsive to glucose. Both control and NIC-treated cells developed into functional islet tissue after transplantation into athymic nude mice. As compared with adult islets,the insulinotropic action of NIC could only be demonstrated in the fetal cells. Our results indicate that NIC induces differentiation and maturation of human fetal pancreatic islet cells. This model should be useful for the study of molecular mechanisms involved in beta cell development. View Publication

We demonstrate an essential role for the proteasome complex in two proteolytic processes required for activation of the transcription factor NF-kappa B. The p105 precursor of the p50 subunit of NF-kappa B is processed in vitro by an ATP-dependent process that requires proteasomes and ubiquitin conjugation. The C-terminal region of p105 is rapidly degraded,leaving the N-terminal p50 domain. p105 processing can be blocked in intact cells with inhibitors of the proteasome or in yeast with proteasome mutants. These inhibitors also block the activation of NF-kappa B and the rapid degradation of I kappa B alpha induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha. Thus,the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway functions not only in the complete degradation of polypeptides,but also in the regulated processing of precursors into active proteins. View Publication

Stroma-dependent long-term bone marrow cultures (LTBMC) assay the ability of primitive haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) for long-term production of clonable progenitors. We have developed a limiting dilution type LTBMC assay allowing frequency analysis of transiently repopulating HSC and long-term culture initiating cells (LTC-IC) without the necessity to replate large numbers of wells. Normal or 5-FU-treated Ficoll bone marrow cells (BMC),or BMCs sorted on CD34 or HLA-DR expression,or Rh123 retention,(input range 40-70,000 CFU-GM/BFU-E/10(5) cells) were plated at limiting dilution on unirradiated adherent layers formed by a novel murine preadipose cell line (FBMD-1). The percentage of wells with at least one phase-dark haematopoietic clone (cobblestone area,CA) beneath the stromal layer was weekly determined for at least 8 weeks,and CA-forming cell (CAFC) frequencies were calculated using Poisson statistics. Parallel LTBMCs of the same samples were weekly assessed for supernate CFU-GM/BFU-E production. Weekly addition of rhIL-3 with rhG-CSF supported a high average clonogenic output per CA and dramatically increased CA size,but did not significantly alter the apparent CAFC frequency. The generation of CFU-GM per CA was constant over a period of 6 weeks with weekly means of eight normal BM samples,ranging between 5-16. At week 6 the mean CAFC frequency was 29 (1 SEM,8.8)/10(5). Early appearing CAFC were highly sensitive to 5-FU,and were contained over the full Rh123 and HLA-DR fluorescence profile of CD34pos cells,whereas CAFC week 5-8 were predominantly contained in the CD34pos Rh123dull HLA-DRlow fraction in agreement with previously reported LTC-IC characteristics. In conclusion,the CAFC assay enumerates LTC-IC using a direct visual endpoint and allows study of LTC-IC heterogeneity with respect to progenitor cell generation per stem cell clone in various haematologic diseases. View Publication

In fura-2-loaded ECV304 cells ionomycin elicited a saturable biphasic change in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i),where the initial phase represented mobilization of intracellular stores and the sustained component represented Ca2+ influx. To examine whether ionomycin could stimulate influx via a store-dependent mechanism. Mn2+ entry was monitored by the quenching of fura-2 fluorescence: influx was enhanced even after ionomycin wash-out,provided that internal stores were not refilled with Ca2+. Moreover,the maximal rate of histamine-stimulated Mn2+ entry was unaffected by ionomycin,suggesting a common route of entry. The Ca(2+)-entry blocker SK&F 96365 inhibited both the ionomycin-induced Mn2+ entry and the sustained [Ca2+]i response to the ionophore (leaving the initial peak [Ca2+]i response unaffected). In other experiments,although addition of ionomycin further increased the plateau phase induced by 100 microM histamine,the increase was completely abolished by pretreatment with the store Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). Furthermore,in store-depleted cells,re-addition of 1 mM extracellular Ca2+ (in the presence of CPA plus histamine) led to a rapid rise in [Ca2+]i,dependent on Ca2+ influx,with kinetics that were not enhanced by ionomycin. These data suggest that ionomycin acts primarily at the level of the internal Ca2+ stores,so that,at the concentrations used here (textless or = 1 microM),it increases Ca2+ (and Mn2+) influx via activation of endogenous entry pathways and not by plasmalemmal translocation. View Publication

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