Cellobiose transport by mixed ruminal bacteria from a Cow. (73/7411)

The transport of cellobiose in mixed ruminal bacteria harvested from a holstein cow fed an Italian ryegrass hay was determined in the presence of nojirimycin-1-sulfate, which almost inhibited cellobiase activity. The kinetic parameters of cellobiose uptake were 14 microM for the Km and 10 nmol/min/mg of protein for the Vmax. Extracellular and cell-associated cellobiases were detected in the rumen, with both showing higher Vmax values and lower affinities than those determined for cellobiose transport. The proportion of cellobiose that was directly transported before it was extracellularly degraded into glucose increased as the cellobiose concentration decreased, reaching more than 20% at the actually observed levels of cellobiose in the rumen, which were less than 0.02 mM. The inhibitor experiment showed that cellobiose was incorporated into the cells mainly by the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system and partially by an ATP-dependent and proton-motive-force-independent active transport system. This finding was also supported by determinations of phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase-dependent NADH oxidation with cellobiose and the effects of artificial potentials on cellobiose transport. Cellobiose uptake was sensitive to a decrease in pH (especially below 6.0), and it was weakly but significantly inhibited in the presence of glucose.  (+info)

Peritoneal dialysis adequacy: a model to assess feasibility with various modalities. (74/7411)

BACKGROUND: The current standard of adequacy for peritoneal dialysis (PD) is to provide a weekly normalized urea clearance (Kt/V) of 2.0 or more and a creatinine clearance (CCr) of 60 liter/1.73 m2 or more. As native renal function is lost, it is important to determine the effectiveness of the available therapeutic modalities in achieving these goals. METHODS: A model to assess our ability to provide a weekly Kt/Vurea of 2.0 or more and a CCr of 60 liter/1.73 m2 or more to anuric patients undergoing continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD) and automated PD (PD Plus) was developed. The body surface area (BSA) distribution was obtained from 38,768 patients undergoing dialysis during January 1997. The distribution of peritoneal transport rates (PTRs) was obtained from 2531 peritoneal equilibration tests performed during 1996. The weekly Kpt/Vurea was calculated for the various PTR groups and the range of BSA with four PD prescriptions: CAPD 8 liters, CAPD 10 liters, PD Plus 12 liters, and PD Plus 15 liters, using a previously validated kinetic program (PackPD). RESULTS: The predicted percentage of patients capable of achieving the adequacy goals for Kt/V and CCr, respectively, were 24.8 and 11. 2 for CAPD 8 liters, 54.2 and 33.0 for CAPD 10 liters, 77.8 and 54.9 for PD Plus 12 liters, and 93.2 and 72.9 for PD Plus 15 liters. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients can attain the current adequacy standards of therapy with automated PD, but few (less than 25%) can do so with standard CAPD in the absence of residual renal function.  (+info)

Tissue engineering of a bioartificial renal tubule assist device: in vitro transport and metabolic characteristics. (75/7411)

BACKGROUND: Current renal substitution therapy for acute or chronic renal failure with hemodialysis or hemofiltration is life sustaining, but continues to have unacceptably high morbidity and mortality rates. This therapy is not complete renal replacement therapy because it does not provide active transport nor metabolic and endocrinologic functions of the kidney, which are located predominantly in the tubular elements of the kidney. METHODS: To optimize renal substitution therapy, a bioartificial renal tubule assist device (RAD) was developed and tested in vitro for a variety of differentiated tubular functions. High-flux hollow-fiber hemofiltration cartridges with membrane surface areas of 97 cm2 or 0. 4 m2 were used as tubular scaffolds. Porcine renal proximal tubule cells were seeded into the intraluminal spaces of the hollow fibers, which were pretreated with a synthetic extracellular matrix protein. Attached cells were expanded in the cartridge as a bioreactor system to produce confluent monolayers containing up to 1.5 x 109 cells (3. 5 x 105 cells/cm2). Near confluency was achieved along the entire membrane surface, with recovery rates for perfused inulin exceeding 97 and 95% in the smaller and larger units, respectively, compared with less than 60% recovery in noncell units. RESULTS: A single-pass perfusion system was used to assess transport characteristics of the RADs. Vectorial fluid transport from intraluminal space to antiluminal space was demonstrated and was significantly increased with the addition of albumin to the antiluminal side and inhibited by the addition of ouabain, a specific inhibitor of Na+,K+-ATPase. Other transport activities were also observed in these devices and included active bicarbonate transport, which was decreased with acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, active glucose transport, which was suppressed with phlorizin, a specific inhibitor of the sodium-dependent glucose transporters, and para-aminohippurate (PAH) secretion, which was diminished with the anion transport inhibitor probenecid. A variety of differentiated metabolic functions was also demonstrated in the RAD. Intraluminal glutathione breakdown and its constituent amino acid uptake were suppressed with the irreversible inhibitor of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase acivicin; ammonia production was present and incremented with declines in perfusion pH. Finally, endocrinological activity with conversion of 25-hydroxy(OH)-vitamin D3 to 1,25-(OH)2 vitD3 was demonstrated in the RAD. This conversion activity was up-regulated with parathyroid hormone and down-regulated with increasing inorganic phosphate levels, which are well-defined physiological regulators of this process in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: These results clearly demonstrate the successful tissue engineering of a bioartificial RAD that possesses critical differentiated transport, and improves metabolic and endocrinological functions of the kidney. This device, when placed in series with conventional hemofiltration therapy, may provide incremental renal replacement support and potentially may decrease the high morbidity and mortality rates observed in patients with renal failure.  (+info)

Adipose differentiation related protein (ADRP) expressed in transfected COS-7 cells selectively stimulates long chain fatty acid uptake. (76/7411)

Adipose differentiation related protein (ADRP) is a 50-kDa novel protein cloned from a mouse 1246 adipocyte cDNA library, rapidly induced during adipocyte differentiation. We have examined ADRP function, and we show here that ADRP facilitates fatty acid uptake in COS cells transfected with ADRP cDNA. We demonstrate that uptake of long chain fatty acids was significantly stimulated in a time-dependent fashion in ADRP-expressing COS-7 cells compared with empty vector-transfected control cells. Oleic acid uptake velocity increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner in ADRP-expressing COS-7 cells compared with control cells. The transport Km was 0.051 microM, and Vmax was 57.97 pmol/10(5) cells/min in ADRP-expressing cells, and Km was 0.093 microM and Vmax was 20.13 pmol/10(5) cells/min in control cells. The oleate uptake measured at 4 degrees C was only 10% that at 37 degrees C. ADRP also stimulated uptake of palmitate and arachidonate but had no effect on uptake of medium chain fatty acid such as octanoic acid and glucose. These data suggest that ADRP specifically enhances uptake of long chain fatty acids by increasing the initial rate of uptake and provide novel information about ADRP function as a saturable transport component for long chain fatty acids.  (+info)

Genistein inhibits the regulation of active sodium-potassium transport by dopaminergic agonists in nonpigmented ciliary epithelium. (77/7411)

PURPOSE: To determine whether dopamine receptor stimulation regulates Na,K-ATPase-mediated ion transport in cultured nonpigmented ciliary epithelium (NPE). METHODS: Using a rabbit NPE cell line, active Na-K transport activity was determined by measuring ouabain-sensitive potassium (86Rb) uptake in cell monolayers. Western blot analysis of membrane material obtained from cell homogenates was conducted to examine tyrosine phosphorylation of membrane proteins. RESULTS: Ouabain-sensitive potassium (86Rb) uptake was inhibited in the presence of either dopamine or the D1-selective agonist SKF82958. The response was suppressed by SCH23390, a D1 antagonist, but not by sulpiride, a D2-selective antagonist. Quinpirole, a D2-selective agonist, did not cause inhibition of ouabain-sensitive potassium (86Rb) uptake. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) was detectably increased in SKF82958-treated cells, although the concentration of SKF required to elevate cell cAMP was higher than the concentration needed to inhibit ouabain-sensitive potassium (86Rb) uptake. The protein kinase A inhibitor H89 prevented the 86Rb uptake response to SKF82958. Genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinases, also prevented the 86Rb uptake response to SKF82958. Membrane material isolated from cells exposed to SKF82958 showed an increase in the density of several phosphotyrosine bands. These changes in phosphotyrosine immunoblot density were not observed in material isolated from cells that received either genistein or SCH23390 before SKF82958 treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest D1 agonists cause a reduction of Na,K-ATPase-mediated ion transport by a mechanism that could involve a tyrosine kinase step.  (+info)

Insect cuticle, an in vivo model of protein trafficking. (78/7411)

In the course of this study more than 20 proteins have been isolated from the larval cuticle of Manduca sexta. Synthesis, secretion, transport and accumulation of four particular proteins, representative members of four characteristic groups, were followed during metamorphosis by immunoblot and immuncytochemical methods and are described in detail in this paper. We established that only some of the proteins of the soft cuticle of Lepidopteran larvae are synthesized in epidermal cells at the beginning of the larval stages and are digested during the moulting period (MsCP29). Other proteins (MsCP30/11) are secreted into the cuticle by the epidermal cells in different forms during various developmental stages. Some proteins are secreted apically during the feeding period, but before ecdysis they are then taken up by epidermal cells and transported in a basolateral direction back into the hemolymph and saved in an immunologically intact form by the fat body cells (MsCP12.3). Some cuticle proteins have a non-epidermal origin. They are transported from the hemolymph into the cuticle. Before and during ecdysis these molecules reappear in the hemolymph and are detectable again in the pupal cuticle (MsCP78). Our data prove that the cuticle is not a non-living part of the insect body: it is not only an inert, protective armor, but maintains a continuous and dynamic metabolic connection with the other organs of the organism.  (+info)

Receptor mediated and fluid phase pathways for internalization of the ER Hsp90 chaperone GRP94 in murine macrophages. (79/7411)

Immunization of mice with GRP94, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Hsp90, elicits cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses to chaperone-bound, source cell-derived peptides. Elicitation of a CTL response requires that GRP94-associated peptides be transferred onto major histocompatability complex (MHC) class I molecules, a process that is postulated to accompany GRP94 internalization by antigen presenting cells, such as macrophages (Mphi) and dendritic cells (DC). In studies of GRP94 uptake in elicited Mphi, we report that Mphi display specific cell surface binding of GRP94, and that surface-bound GRP94 can be internalized via receptor mediated endocytosis. GRP94 internalized by this pathway co-localized predominately with transferrin-positive early endosomes. At time periods of up to 20 minutes, little trafficking of GRP94 to the lysosomal compartment was observed. When GRP94 was present in the medium, and thus accessible to both receptor-mediated and fluid phase internalization pathways, internalization was modestly inhibited in the presence of yeast mannan, a competitive inhibitor of mannose/fucose receptor activity, and substantially inhibited by dimethylamiloride, an inhibitor of macropinocytosis. GRP94 internalized via macropinocytosis did not display prominent co-staining with the lysosomal marker LAMP-2. These data identify multiple pathways of GRP94 internalization and indicate that receptor-dependent uptake of GRP94 is not dependent upon its high mannose oligosaccharide moiety. Most significantly, these data demonstrate the existence of cell surface receptor(s), apparently unique to antigen presenting cells, that function in the binding and internalization of the ER chaperone GRP94.  (+info)

KGF prevents hyperoxia-induced reduction of active ion transport in alveolar epithelial cells. (80/7411)

We evaluated the effects of acute hyperoxic exposure on alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) active ion transport and on expression of Na+ pump (Na+-K+-ATPase) and rat epithelial Na+ channel subunits. Rat AEC were cultivated in minimal defined serum-free medium (MDSF) on polycarbonate filters. Beginning on day 5, confluent monolayers were exposed to either 95% air-5% CO2 (normoxia) or 95% O2-5% CO2 (hyperoxia) for 48 h. Transepithelial resistance (Rt) and short-circuit current (Isc) were determined before and after exposure. Na+ channel alpha-, beta-, and gamma-subunit and Na+-K+-ATPase alpha1- and beta1-subunit mRNA levels were quantified by Northern analysis. Na+ pump alpha1- and beta1-subunit protein abundance was quantified by Western blotting. After hyperoxic exposure, Isc across AEC monolayers decreased by approximately 60% at 48 h relative to monolayers maintained under normoxic conditions. Na+ channel beta-subunit mRNA expression was reduced by hyperoxia, whereas alpha- and gamma-subunit mRNA expression was unchanged. Na+ pump alpha1-subunit mRNA was unchanged, whereas beta1-subunit mRNA was decreased approximately 80% by hyperoxia in parallel with a reduction in beta1-subunit protein. Because keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) has recently been shown to upregulate AEC active ion transport and expression of Na+-K+-ATPase under normoxic conditions, we assessed the ability of KGF to prevent hyperoxia-induced changes in active ion transport by supplementing medium with KGF (10 ng/ml) from day 2. The presence of KGF prevented the effects of hyperoxia on ion transport (as measured by Isc) relative to normoxic controls. Levels of beta1 mRNA and protein were relatively preserved in monolayers maintained in MDSF and KGF compared with those cultivated in MDSF alone. These results indicate that AEC net active ion transport is decreased after 48 h of hyperoxia, likely as a result of a decrease in the number of functional Na+ pumps per cell. KGF largely prevents this decrease in active ion transport, at least in part, by preserving Na+ pump expression.  (+info)