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The pathology of non-immunological airway contraction is not well understood. To define the activation of different phenotypes of mast cells, a rat non-immunological asthmatic model was prepared. Airway contraction in rats was measured by an unrestrained whole-body plethysmographic system following a 10-min inhalation challenge with a 5% solution of compound 48/80. Histamine, leukotrein C(4) (LTC(4)) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, as well as tissue histamine content were quantified. Mast cells and eosinophils were detected by histology. Both the early and late phase of airway responses were induced by inhalation of compound 48/80. Histamine and TNF-alpha levels increased significantly 30 min after challenge, but no increases were detected at either 8 or 24 h after challenge. A high LTC(4) level was detected in 30 min and 8 h after challenge. Tissue histamine content decreased at 30 min after challenge and returned to the unstimulated level by 8 h. Connective tissue mast cells in rat trachea showed a degranulation response. Along with the increase in numbers of mucosal mast cells, rat mast cell protease II at both mRNA and protein levels in the trachea epithelial layer was also increased significantly at 30 min after challenge. We conclude that compound 48/80 inhalation causes both the early and late phase of airway contraction in rats. Mast cell degranulation is responsible for the early phase of airway response, which subsequently triggers the late phase of airway response.

A 12-year-old girl with occasional symptoms of chest discomfort was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia on cardiac evaluation. No evidence of organic heart disease was apparent, but a laboratory evaluation revealed hypomagnesemia. Ventricular tachycardia disappeared after treatment with 200 mg/day of oral magnesium hydroxide, and no further chest discomfort was reported. In addition to routine cardiac evaluation for arrhythmia, serum magnesium levels should be checked in patients with suspected idiopathic benign ventricular tachycardia. Treatment with oral magnesium is a physiologic therapy and should be considered for patients with ventricular tachycardia due to hypomagnesemia.

Mast cells are derived from stem cells in bone marrow and their proliferation and differentiation are regulated by stimulation of stem cell factor derived from fibroblasts and/or IL-3 from T lymphocytes. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily and ligand-activated transcription factors. It has been reported that PPARgamma is expressed in mast cells, but its roles remain uncertain. Since mast cells produce and release prostaglandin D(2), which is metabolized to 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2), a candidate for the endogenous PPARgamma agonist, mast cells play roles in inflammation and immunological response via the PPARgamma pathway. We will mainly discuss the contribution of PPARgamma to the proliferation and functions in murine cultured bone marrow derived mast cells.

Mast cells produce chemical mediators, including histamine and arachidonate metabolites such as prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) after antigen stimulation. Cyclopentenone prostaglandins of the J series, prostaglandin J(2) (PGJ(2)) and 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)), are thought to be derivatives of PGD(2). In this study, the biphasic effects of the PGJ(2) and 15d-PGJ(2) on proliferation and apoptosis in rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-2H3), a tumor analog of mast cells, were examined. At low concentrations, 1 or 3 microM PGJ(2) and 15d-PGJ(2) induced cell proliferation, respectively. At high concentrations (10-30 microM) both the inhibition of viability and decrease in histamine content in RBL-2H3 cells were dose dependent. These effects were independent of the nuclear hormone receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), since troglitazone, an agonist of PPARgamma did not cause any effects in RBL-2H3 cells. Cell death induced by PGJ(2) and 15d-PGJ(2) was the result of apoptotic processes, since RBL-2H3 cells treated with 30 microM of the prostaglandins had condensed nuclei, DNA fragmentation and increase in activities of caspase-3 and -9. Moreover, PGJ(2) or 15d-PGJ(2)-induced apoptotic effects were prevented by the caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk. In conclusion, the PGJ(2) or 15d-PGJ(2)-induced apoptosis in RBL-2H3 cells occurs mainly via mitochondrial pathways instead of by PPARgamma-dependent mechanisms.

Objectives: To demonstrate that small intestinal mucosal ischemia occurs during cardiopulmonary bypass by measuring serum diamine oxidase activity, an index of small intestinal mucosal ischemia, in perioerative patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery with and without cardiopulmonary bypass., Methods: Twelve successive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass (Group I) were compared to 10 patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (Group II). Serum diamine oxidase activity, blood lactate concentration, and serum peptidoglycan concentration were measured perioperatively., Results: Serum diamine oxidase activity rose after the start of cardiopulmonary bypass and continued to rise throughout cardiopulmonary bypass in Group I, while activity was unchanged in Group II. The serum lactate concentration mirrored the change in the diamine oxidase activity in both groups. The peptidoglycan concentration in Group I rose after the start of cardiopulmonary bypass and returned to near normal concentrations after surgery., Conclusions: The parallel rise in diamine oxidase activity and the serum lactate concentration in Group I implies that ischemic injury to the mucosa of the small intestine occurs during cardiopulmonary bypass, and the rise in the serum peptidoglycan concentration indicates that bacteremia did occur. Thus, cardiopulmonary bypass causes hypoperfusion of small intestinal mucosa and consequently bacterial translocation.

A case of bronchopulmonary foregut malformation (BPFM) detected by multislice computed tomography with three-dimensional reconstruction (MSCT/3D) is reported. Concern for aspiration frequently limits the use of radiopaque contrast agents when anomalies of the lung and esophagus are suspected. MSCT/3D may make it possible to assess the communication and spatial relationship of malformed lung and esophagus in the early neonatal period without invasive or contrast radiological procedures such as bronchography or upper gastrointestinal series (UGI).

Enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells play a central role in the regulation of gastric acid secretion. Previous studies have shown that proton pump inhibitors accelerate histamine release from ECL cells through the effects of gastrin. However, direct effects of proton pump inhibitors on ECL cells have not been demonstrated to date because the indirect effects of gastrin are difficult to suppress. We investigated the direct effects of proton pump inhibitors medication on ECL cells using an elutriation system. ECL cells were stimulated with gastrin or rabeprazole, and histamine release from ECL cells was measured. Rabeprazole increased histamine release through a pathway that differed from that of gastrin. The histamine increase was likely due to an acceleration of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2). Rabeprazole increased histamine release from ECL cells directly via VMAT2, but did not affect the total amount of histamine in the cells. The results suggest that patients receiving proton pump inhibitors for extended periods must be monitored extensively because gastric tumor proliferation may be promoted by increased histamine release from ECL cells.

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily and ligand-activated transcription factors. The activation of PPARgamma regulates lipid and glucose homeostasis and its agonists have been developed as novel antidiabetic drugs. Recently, it has been reported that PPARgamma plays roles in inflammatory and immunological responses. Especially in monocyte/macrophage system, the expression of PPARgamma and the negative regulation of cytokine production has been reported. Mast cells are derived from stem cells in bone marrow, and their proliferation and differentiation are regulated by stimulation of stem cell factor from fibroblasts and/or IL-3 from T lymphocytes. Recently, it was reported that PPARgamma is expressed in mast cells, but its roles remain uncertain. After antigen stimulation, mast cells produce and release prostaglandin D(2) which is metabolized to 15-deoxy Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)). Because 15d-PGJ(2) acts potently as an endogenous PPARgamma agonist, mast cells might play roles in inflammation and immunological responses via the PPARgamma pathway. In this paper we will discuss PPARgamma function in mast cells using cultured bone marrow derived mast cells obtained from heterozygous PPARgamma-deficient mice.

Heparan sulfate d-glucosaminyl 3-O-sulfotransferases (3-OSTs) catalyze the transfer of sulfate from 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) to position 3 of the glucosamine residue of heparan sulfate and heparin. A sixth member of the human 3-OST family, named 3-OST-5, was recently reported (Xia, G., Chen, J., Tiwari, V., Ju, W., Li, J.-P., Malmstrom, A., Shukla, D., and Liu, J. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 37912-37919). In the present study, we cloned putative catalytic domain of the human 3-OST-5 and expressed it in insect cells as a soluble enzyme. Recombinant 3-OST-5 only exhibited sulfotransferase activity toward heparan sulfate and heparin. When incubated heparan sulfate with [35S]PAPS, the highest incorporation of35S was observed, and digestion of the product with a mixture of heparin lyases yielded two major35S-labeled disaccharides, which were determined as DeltaHexA-GlcN(NS,3S,6S) and DeltaHexA(2S)-GlcN(NS,3S) by further digestion with 2-sulfatase and degradation with mercuric acetate. However, when used heparin as acceptor, we identified a highly sulfated disaccharide unit as a major product. This had a structure of DeltaHexA(2S)-GlcN(NS,3S,6S). Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that 3-OST-5 was highly expressed in fetal brain, followed by adult brain and spinal cord, and at very low or undetectable levels in the other tissues. Finally, we detected a tetrasulfated disaccharide unit in bovine intestinal heparan sulfate. To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe not only the natural occurrence of tetrasulfated disaccharide unit but also the enzymatic formation of this novel structure.

MITF is a basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper-type transcription factor and is important for development of mast cells. MITF encoded by Mi(wh) allele (Mi(wh)-MITF) was mutated at a single amino acid of basic domain, and possessed a deficient but apparent DNA-binding ability. Here, we characterized the unique effects of Mi(wh)-MITF on the expression of mast cell-related genes. The expression level of mouse mast cell protease (mMCP)-4, -5, and -6 genes in Mi(wh)/Mi(wh) cultured mast cells (CMCs) was intermediate between levels of normal (+/+) CMCs and tg/tg CMCs, which did not express any MITFs. Mi(wh)-MITF appeared to show the positive transactivation effect through the remaining DNA-binding ability. On the other hand, the expression level of tryptophan hydroxylase gene was lower in Mi(wh)/Mi(wh) CMCs than in tg/tg CMCs, suggesting the inhibitory effect of Mi(wh)-MITF on the transactivation. Mi(wh)-MITF possessed dual abnormal effects on transactivation of mast cell-related genes.

To detect low levels of histamine, we developed a histamine microsensor using recombinant histamine oxidase. Histamine oxidase with a histidine tag was readily purified using a histidine affinity column. The enzyme showed higher catalytic activity on histamine than diamines (e.g., putrescine and cadaverine) or N(tau)-methylhistamine. The sensor had three carbon film electrodes modified with osmium-polyvinylpyridine-based gel containing horseradish peroxidase, histamine oxidase, and Ag. When a standard solution of histamine was aspirated at a flow rate of 2 microl/min, the detected current was proportional to the histamine concentration and the lower detection limit was 11.3 nM. When rat basophilic leukemia cells (1 x 10(6)) were stimulated by various concentrations of antigen (2, 20, and 200 ng/ml), the histamine concentrations were 0.32, 2.7, and 1.3 microM, respectively, and 20 ng/ml of antigen was found to be the optimal concentration for the antigen-antibody reaction. In contrast, when thapsigargin, an inhibitor of Ca-ATPase in the endoplasmic reticulum, was added (50, 100, and 500 nM), the detected current increased with thapsigargin concentrations and the measured histamine concentrations were 28 nM, 1.3 microM, and 2.7 microM, respectively. These results indicate that the microsensor is useful for the analysis of histamine release from mast cells., ((c) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA))

We fabricated a micro-fluidic device for the highly selective detection of the histamine released from rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) 2H3 cells. The device has two thin layer flow channels, each with one working electrode. One electrode was modified with Os-polyvinylpyridine based mediator containing horseradish peroxidase (Os-gel-HRP) and histamine oxidase (HAOx), the other was modified with Os-gel-HRP without any HAOx. We employed the device for differential measurement by using the HAOx modified electrode for detection and the unmodified electrode as a reference. The detection limit was greatly improved from 190 to 25 nM since the baseline noise level was suppressed. We used differential measurement to observe the histamine released from RBL-2H3 cells when stimulated with dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA) as an antigen. We injected 5 microM of histamine solution into our device and it remained stable for more than 8 h.

A highly useful method for five- and six-membered ring annulation onto alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones is described. 1,4-Addition of propargylmalonate to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones in the presence of silyl triflate gives 7-siloxy-6-en-1-yne derivatives in good yield. W(CO)(5).L-catalyzed cyclization of these substrates can be induced to give preferentially either exo- or endo-cyclized products in good yield simply by changing the reaction solvent. [reaction: see text]

The mi transcription factor (MITF) is a basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper transcription factor that is important for the development of mast cells. Cultured mast cells (CMCs) of mi/mi genotype express abnormal MITF (mi-MITF), but CMCs of tg/tg genotype do not express any MITFs. It was previously reported that mi/mi CMCs showed more severe abnormalities than tg/tg CMCs, indicating that mi-MITF had inhibitory function. Whereas mi-MITF contains a single amino acid deletion in the basic domain, MITF encoded by mi(ew) allele (ew-MITF) deletes 16 of 21 amino acids of the basic domain. Here the effect of a large deletion of the basic domain was examined. In mi(ew)/mi(ew) CMCs, the expression pattern of genes whose transcription was affected by MITF was comparable to that of tg/tg CMCs rather than to that of mi/mi CMCs. This suggested that ew-MITF lacked any functions. The part of the basic domain deleted in ew-MITF appeared necessary for either transactivation or inhibition of transactivation.

In rat trachea, two types of mast cells have been identified, connective tissue mast cells (CTMCs) and mucosal mast cells (MMCs). We previously reported that CTMCs play an important role in tracheal contraction in vitro via 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) release in a rat model. In this study, we investigated whether MMCs also play a role in tracheal contraction by employing mast cell-deficient (Ws/Ws) rats and their congenic (+/+) rats. Rats were actively sensitized with ovalbumin and challenged with it 2 weeks later. To exclude the influence of CTMCs, rats were pretreated for 7 days with compound 48/80 injected i.p. in increasing doses. Histological study confirmed that degranulation occurred in CTMCs, but MMCs still remained. Histamine levels in trachea decreased to 9.31% of control levels. Ovalbumin-specific IgE production showed a time-dependent increase in both Ws/Ws and +/+ rats after sensitization with no significantly different values between the two groups. Ovalbumin challenge caused contraction of the trachea in sensitized control (+/+) rats, but not in sensitized Ws/Ws and compound 48/80-pretreated +/+ rats. Ketanserin inhibited the contraction, but leukotriene antagonist ONO-1078 did not, indicating that the contraction was due to 5-HT, whereas leukotriene, a mediator specific derived from MMCs, has no significant effect. The results suggest that MMCs has minimal, if any, contribution to tracheal contraction and might have another function. Furthermore, Ws/Ws and the congenic rats provide a good model for studying the role of mast cells in the immunologic response in airways.

The mi transcription factor (MITF) is a basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLH-Zip) transcription factor that is important for the development of mast cells. Mast cells of mi/mi genotype express normal amount of abnormal MITF (mi-MITF), whereas mast cells of tg/tg genotype do not express any MITFs. Mast cells of mi/mi mice show more severe abnormalities than those of tg/tg mice, indicating that the mi-MITF possesses the inhibitory function. The MITF encoded by the mi(ce) mutant allele (ce-MITF) lacks the Zip domain. We examined the importance of the Zip domain using mi(ce)/mi(ce) mice. The amounts of c-kit, granzyme B (Gr B), and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) messenger RNAs decreased in mast cells of mi(ce)/mi(ce) mice to levels comparable to those of tg/tg mice, and the amounts were intermediate between those of +/+ mice and those of mi/mi mice. Gr B mediates the cytotoxic activity of mast cells, and TPH is a rate-limiting enzyme for the synthesis of serotonin. The cytotoxic activity and serotonin content of mi(ce)/mi(ce) mast cells were comparable to those of tg/tg mast cells and were significantly higher than those of mi/mi mast cells. The phenotype of mi(ce)/mi(ce) mast cells was similar to that of tg/tg mast cells rather than to that of mi/mi mast cells, suggesting that the ce-MITF had no functions. The Zip domain of MITF appeared to be important for the development of mast cells. (Blood. 2001;97:2038-2044)

Background: Genetic background of the fetus contributes to the pathogenesis of congenital malformation after teratogen exposure. Such contribution is illustrated in left-right axis malformations observed in the F1 offspring of nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse dams and sires from different strains. When sires of the NOD, ICR, or C57BL/6J were mated with NOD dams, incidence varied depending on the fetal genotype, with 65% in NOD x NOD, 24% in NOD x ICR, and 7% in NOD x C57BL/6J., Methods: As a first step in elucidating the molecular basis of the interstrain differences in susceptibility to situs defects, we compared genomic sequences of six genes HNF3beta, Acvr2b, Nodal, ZIC3, Lefty1, and Smad2, which are involved in the normal development of left-right axis among NOD, ICR, and C57BL/6J strains., Results: The outbred strain ICR had 1) a 0.2-kb insertion in the putative promoter region of the isoform E of HNF3beta together with a G to A change that could create a potential splice acceptor in the exon 3 of HNF3beta (gene frequency P = 0.36), 2) five single base substitutions within the 5' controlling element and a proline to serine substitution (P2S) of Lefty1 (P = 0.77), and 3) a tyrosine to histidine substitution within the prodomain of Nodal (P = 0.48). The inbred strain NOD had the same G to A change as ICR and a three-base deletion in the putative promoter of isoform E of HNF3beta., Conclusions: We suggest that sequence variations in HNF3beta, Lefty1, and Nodal might account, in part, for the interstrain differences in susceptibility to situs abnormalities among the offspring of diabetic dams., (Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Documentation of maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 7 in 10% of patients with Russell-Silver syndrome (RSS), characterized by prenatal and postnatal growth retardation and dysmorphic features, has suggested the presence of an imprinted gene on chromosome 7 whose mutation is responsible for the RSS phenotype. Human GRB10 on chromosome 7, a homologue of the mouse imprinted gene Grb10, is a candidate, because GRB10 has a suppressive effect on growth, through its interaction with either the IGF-I receptor or the GH receptor, and two patients with RSS were shown to have a maternally derived duplication of 7p11-p13, encompassing GRB10. In the present study, we first demonstrated that the GRB10 gene is also monoallelically expressed in human fetal brain tissues and is transcribed from the maternally derived allele in somatic-cell hybrids. Hence, human GRB10 is imprinted. A mutation analysis of GRB10 in 58 unrelated patients with RSS identified, within the N-terminal domain of the protein, a P95S substitution in two patients with RSS. In these two cases, the mutant allele was inherited from the mother. The fact that monoallelic GRB10 expression was observed from the maternal allele in this study suggests but does not prove that these maternally transmitted mutant alleles contribute to the RSS phenotype.

We have characterized the binding of the histamine H3 receptor antagonist [125I]iodophenpropit to mouse brain. [125I]Iodophenpropit saturably bound to mouse brain membranes with a pKd-value of 9.31+/-0.04 nM and a receptor binding density of 290+/-8 fmol per mg protein. Saturation binding analysis revealed binding of [125I]iodophenpropit to a single class of sites, showing linear Scatchard plots and Hill coefficients not different from unity (nH=0.98+/-0.02). At a concentration of 0.25 nM [125I]iodophenpropit, specific binding represented about 75% of the total binding. Competition binding curves for H3 receptor antagonists were fitted best to a one-site model, showing pKi-values in general accordance with the pA2-values obtained in mouse cerebral cortex. Displacement of [125I]iodophenpropit by the H3 receptor agonists (R)-alpha-methylhistamine, immepip, imetit and histamine were fitted best to a two-site model. Competition binding curves of (R)-alpha-methylhistamine showed a rightward shift upon incubation with GTPgammaS (10 microM), indicating the involvement of G-proteins in H3 agonist binding. In contrast, competition binding curves of the antagonists iodophenpropit, thioperamide and burimamide were not affected by GTPgammaS (10 microM). Autoradiographic experiments showed that [125I]iodophenpropit binding sites were heterogeneously distributed, similarly to the distribution of histamine H3 receptors reported in rat brain. Highest densities were observed in the cerebral cortex, the striatum, the nucleus accumbens, the globus pallidus and the substantia nigra. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that in mouse brain, [125I]iodophenpropit selectively binds to histamine H3 receptors. We also observed that the mouse brain H3 receptors labelled by [125I]iodophenpropit displayed binding characteristics and a distribution similar to rat brain.

The effect of immobilization, gentle handling and decapitation on the level of plasma histamine in Wistar rats was investigated. Mast cell deficient (Ws/Ws) rats were used to characterize the source of elevated histamine in plasma by stress, and the effect of nedocromil, a mast cell stabilizer, on histamine release was assessed in these models in vivo. The plasma histamine concentration of freely moving rats was 93.0+/-2.3 pmol/ml. Gentle handling produced a transient increase in plasma histamine level by 1.9-fold, whereas immobilization resulted in a longer-lasting elevation by 2.6-fold compared to that in the freely moving rats. Decapitation increased the plasma histamine level by 10- to 16-fold compared with that in the freely moving rats. No increase in plasma histamine was found in Ws/Ws rats exposed to stress. Nedocromil inhibited the increase in plasma histamine level induced by stress in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that stress induces histamine release from mast cells in Wistar rats and the extent of this histamine release increases with the severity of stress. Nedocromil proved to be a good pharmacological tool to inhibit stress-induced release of mediators from mast cells.

The mi locus encodes a member of the basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper protein family of transcription factors (hereafter called MITF). Mutant alleles of mi, Mior, and Miwh are deletion or point mutation of the basic domain by which MITF binds DNA. The basic domain also has nuclear localization potential. In the present study, we compared the mast cell abnormalities of Mior/Mior and Miwh/Miwh mice with those of mi/mi mice, of which many have been described by us. The number of mast cells in the skin of Mior/Mior suckling mice was remarkably decreased from that observed in mi/mi suckling mice, but the number was normal in the skin of Miwh/Miwh suckling mice. The decrease in skin mast cells was more severe in the mi/mi embryos than in mi/mi suckling mice, but the magnitude of the decrease was comparable between Mior/Mior embryos and Mior/Mior suckling mice. The poor mRNA expression of granzyme B and tryptophan hydroxylase genes was observed in all cultured mast cells (CMCs) derived from the spleens of Miwh/Miwh, Mior/Mior, and mi/mi mice. However, the poor expression of mouse mast cell protease-4 (MMCP-4), MMCP-5, and MMCP-6 was observed only in Mior/Mior and mi/mi CMCs. MITF encoded by Miwh mutant allele (Miwh-MITF) showed deficient but demonstratable DNA binding, but mi-MITF and Mior-MITF did not show any DNA binding ability. Although Miwh-MITF and Mior-MITF showed normal nuclear localization potential, the potential was significantly impaired in mi-MITF. The rank order of mast cell abnormality (mi/mi > Mior/Mior > Miwh/Miwh) appears to be related to the functional abnormality of MITF encoded by each mutant gene.

Recent studies have demonstrated that human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and HHV-7 interact with HIV-1 and alter the expression of various surface molecules and functions of T lymphocytes. The present study was undertaken to clarify whether coreceptors for HIV-1, CXCR4 and CCR5, are necessary for HHV-6 and HHV-7 infection. Although CXCR4 and CCR5 appeared not to be the coreceptors for these viruses, marked down-regulation of CXCR4, but not CCR5, was detected in HHV-6 variant A (HHV-6A)-, HHV-6 variant B (HHV-6B)-, and HHV-7-infected cells. Down-regulation of CXCR4 resulted in impairment of chemotaxis and a decreased level of elevation of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in response to stromal cell-derived factor-1. Northern blot analysis of mRNAs extracted from HHV-6A-, HHV-6B-, and HHV-7-infected CD4+ T lymphocytes demonstrated a markedly decreased level of CXCR4 gene transcription, but the posttranscriptional stability of CXCR4 mRNA was not significantly altered. These data demonstrate that unlike HIV-1, HHV-6 and HHV-7 infections do not require expression of CXCR4 or CCR5, whereas marked down-regulation of CXCR4 is induced by these viruses, suggesting that HHV-6 and HHV-7 infections may render CD4+ T lymphocytes resistant to T lymphocyte-tropic HIV-1 infection.

The mi locus of mice encodes a transcription factor of the basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper protein family (MITF). The MITF encoded by the mutant mi allele (mi-MITF) deletes 1 of 4 consecutive arginines in the basic domain. The mice of mi/mi genotype express mi-MITF, whereas the mice of tg/tg genotype have a transgene at the 5' flanking region of the mi gene and do not express any MITF. To investigate the function of mi-MITF in cultured mast cells (CMCs), we took two approaches. First, mRNA obtained from mi/mi CMCs or tg/tg CMCs was subtracted from complementary (c) DNA library of normal (+/+) CMCs, and the (+/+-mi/mi) and (+/+-tg/tg) subtraction libraries were obtained. When the number of clones that hybridized more efficiently with +/+ CMC cDNA probe than with mi/mi or tg/tg CMC cDNA probe was compared using Southern analysis, the number was larger in the (+/+-mi/mi) library than in the (+/+-tg/tg) library. Second, we compared mRNA expression of six genes between mi/mi and tg/tg CMCs by Northern analysis. The transcription of three genes encoding mouse mast cell proteases was impaired in both mi/mi and tg/tg CMCs. On the other hand, the transcription of three genes encoding c-kit receptor, tryptophan hydroxylase, and granzyme B was markedly reduced in mi/mi CMCs, but the reduction was significantly smaller in tg/tg CMCs. These results indicated the inhibitory effect of mi-MITF on the transactivation of particular genes in CMCs.

Tissue fibrosis is frequently associated with an increase of mast cells, and mast cells are regarded as playing a role in the induction of tissue fibrosis. We attempted to examine whether mast cells influenced the induction of fibrosis using Ws/Ws mast cell-deficient rats. The mast cell deficiency of Ws/Ws rats is due to a 12-base pair deletion of the c-kit gene. The activity of c-kit receptor tyrosine kinase is remarkably reduced in Ws/Ws rats. Liver fibrosis was induced by the repeated injections of pig serum, and lung fibrosis was induced by the instillation of bleomycin. Marked fibrosis in the liver and lung did occur in the Ws/Ws rats, and the magnitude of fibrosis was more severe in Ws/Ws rats than in control normal (+/+) rats. The mast cell increase was observed in the liver of +/+ and Ws/Ws rats and in the lung of +/+ rats. However, the number of mast cells in the liver of treated Ws/Ws rats with marked fibrosis was comparable to that observed in the liver of nontreated +/+ rats without fibrosis. Histamine content increased in the liver and lung of +/+ rats after the treatment, but it remained in low levels even after the treatment in Ws/Ws rats. Mast cells and histamine did not appear to play important roles in the induction of fibrosis. Thus, an increase in mast cell number and histamine content may be associated with but not a cause of fibrosis.

The mi locus encodes a member of the basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper protein family of transcription factors (hereafter called MITF). We have reported that the expression of several genes was impaired in cultured mast cells (CMCs) of mi/mi genotype, and demonstrated the involvement of MITF in the transcription of these genes. To obtain new genes whose transcription may be regulated by MITF, we prepared a subtracted cDNA library using +/+ and mi/mi CMCs. We found two clones carrying the granzyme (Gr) B and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) cDNAs in the subtracted library. The expression of the Gr B and TPH genes decreased in mi/mi CMCs, and recovered to nearly normal level by the overexpression of normal (+) MITF but not of mutant (mi) MITF. The +-MITF bound three and one CANNTG motifs in the Gr B and TPH promoters, respectively, and transactivated these two genes, indicating the involvement of +-MITF in their expression. Because TPH is the rate-limiting enzyme for serotonin synthesis, we examined the serotonin content of +/+ and mi/mi CMCs. The serotonin content was significantly smaller in mi/mi CMCs than in +/+ CMCs. The introduction of +-MITF but not of mi-MITF normalized the serotonin content in mi/mi CMCs.

We investigated the brain penetration of the histamine H3 receptor antagonists thioperamide and clobenpropit using ex vivo [125I]iodophenpropit binding. Homogenates of the rat cortex, striatum and mouse whole brain were prepared 1 h after subcutaneous injection of the H3 antagonists and incubated with [125I]iodophenpropit, a radiolabeled H3 receptor antagonist, to determine the H3 receptor occupancy. Specific [125I]iodophenpropit binding to the rat cortex and striatum was inhibited by thioperamide with IC30 values of 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg, respectively. Clobenpropit also inhibited [125I]iodophenpropit binding, but was less potent (IC30: 18 and 19 mg/kg in the rat cortex and striatum, respectively) than thioperamide. Similar results were obtained in experiments with mouse whole brain (3.5 and 13 mg/kg for thioperamide and clobenpropit), indicating that there is no important species differences in the brain penetration of these drugs between rats and mice. These findings suggest that after peripheral injection both in rat and mouse thioperamide penetrates the blood-brain barrier more efficiently compared to clobenpropit.

Levels of brain histamine (HA) and pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined in female rats anesthetized with ether in the afternoon of proestrus. The rats after 6-hr ether anesthesia had an average HA concentration higher than that of non-anesthetized rats in the hypothalamus, but not in the cortex or diencephalon. Ether-anesthetized rats also showed a higher LH level in the pituitary than that of non-anesthetized rats. These findings agree well with our previous observation of an inhibited ovulation associated with a decrease in serum LH in female rats anesthetized with ether in the afternoon of proestrus. Furthermore, it is suggested that the release of pituitary LH into the circulating blood is regulated by the level of HA in the hypothalamus.

The effects of an H3 agonist, (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (alpha-MeHA), and an H3 antagonist, thioperamide, on monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity in rat hypothalamus were studied in vitro. Thioperamide was more potent in inhibiting MAO-B than MAO-A activity; MAO-B activity in rat hypothalamic homogenates was competitively inhibited by thioperamide with a Ki value of 175 micronM. From this in vitro experiment, the conversion of N-telemethylhistamine to N-tele-methylimidazoleacetic acid may be inhibited by thioperamide, suggesting that thioperamide may affect the regulation of histamine metabolism within histaminergic neurons. In contrast with the results obtained with thioperamide, alpha-MeHA inhibited MAO-A more potently than MAO-B activity; the Ki values for MAO-A and -B of hypothalamic homogenates were estimated to be 1.1 and 3.3 mM, respectively. The weak inhibitory effect of alpha-MeHA for MAO-B does not seem to be a major cause of changes in N-tele-methylhistamine concentrations.

Effects of carbachol and antigen (dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin) on histamine release and histidine decarboxylase (HDC, the enzyme synthesizing histamine) activity were studied in 2H3-m1 cells, a subclone of rat basophilic leukemia cells that expresses human muscarinic m1 receptors through transfection with the gene. Carbachol stimulated the release of histamine and the activity of HDC with 30-50% the intensity of the maximal effect of the antigen. Pirenzepine, an m1 antagonist, inhibited these carbachol effects in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of the combination of carbachol and antigen on histamine release showed no additivity. These results indicate that these effects of carbachol are exerted via m1 receptors, and they suggest that the actions of carbachol and antigen on histamine release share a common pathway(s), and the release and synthesis of histamine have a positive relationship like in a feedback system.

The mast cell-deficient [Ws/Ws (White spotting in the skin)] rat was investigated with regard to the origin of histamine in the brain. No mast cells were detected in the pia mater and the perivascular region of the thalamus of Ws/Ws rats by Alcian Blue staining. The histamine contents and histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activities of various brain regions of Ws/Ws rats were similar to those of +/+ rats except the histamine contents of the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. As the cerebral cortex and cerebellum have meninges that are difficult to remove completely, the histamine contents of these two regions may be different between Ws/Ws and +/+ rats. We assume that the histamine content of whole brain with meninges in Ws/Ws rats is < 60% of that in +/+ rats. So we conclude that approximately half of the histamine content of rat brain is derived from mast cells. Next, the effects of (S) alpha-fluoromethylhistidine (FMH), a specific inhibitor of HDC, on the histamine contents and HDC activities of various regions of the brain were examined in Ws/Ws rats. In the whole brain of Ws/Ws rats, 51 and 37% of the histamine content of the control group remained 2 and 6 h, respectively, after FMH administration (100 mg/kg of body weight). Therefore, we suggest that there might be other histamine pools including histaminergic neurons in rat brain.

A method for the simultaneous determinations of histamine and its metabolite N tau-methylhistamine by HPLC-chemiluminescence coupled with immobilized diamine oxidase was developed. The method was based on the determination of chemiluminescence formed by the reaction of a luminol-ferricyanide mixture in alkaline medium with hydrogen peroxide which is one of the metabolic products of histamine and N tau-methylhistamine formed by diamine oxidase. HPLC with postcolumn derivatization resulted in good separation of the two amines and gave linear relationships between the concentrations of both and their chemiluminescence intensities. The lower limits of chemiluminescent detection of histamine and N tau-methylhistamine were 5 and 10 pmol, respectively. The immobilized column showed good operational stability for more than 1 month, during which period 200 samples were analyzed. With this system, the histamine contents of the cerebral cortex, forestomach, glandular stomach, and kidney of Wistar rats were found to be 0.30, 58, 396, and 2.4 nmol/g wet wt, respectively. These values are very similar to those determined by HPLC-fluorometry. The N tau-methylhistamine contents of these tissues were 0.36, 0.40, 0.72, and 3.8 nmol/g wet wt, respectively. This method will be useful for studying the roles of histamine in both brain and peripheral tissues.

The effect of thioperamide, a histamine H3 receptor antagonist, on learning and memory was studied in the senescence-accelerated mice-prone strain (SAM-P/8) and normal-rate aging strain (SAM-R/1). In a passive avoidance test, SAM-P/8 mice of 12 months showed significant impairment of learning and memory compared with SAM-R/1 mice of the same age. Thioperamide significantly improved the response latency in SAM-P/8 mice when injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 15 mg/kg. The histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity in the forebrain was significantly lower in SAM-P/8 mice than in SAM-R/1 mice. Thioperamide administration significantly potentiated HDC activity in the forebrain of SAM-P/8 mice as well as improving learning and memory. These results suggest that central histaminergic neurons may be involved in learning and memory impairment of SAM-P/8 mice, although other possibilities are not ruled out.

1. In order to examine whether K+ channels play a role in antigen-induced airway responses, the effect of K+ channel blockers on antigen-induced airway smooth muscle contraction and mediator release was examined in vitro in guinea-pigs actively sensitized with ovalbumin (OA). 2. Tracheal strips from sensitized animals were suspended in organ baths under a resting tension of 1 g and isometric tension was continuously measured. Cumulative concentration-response curves to OA (0.1-1000 ng ml-1) or histamine (10 nM-1 mM) were obtained in the presence and absence of K+ channel blockers. 3. OA (10, 100 or 1000 ng ml-1) was incubated with minced lung tissues from the same animals for 15 min in the presence and absence of K+ channel blockers, and released histamine and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) in the incubating medium were measured. 4. Apamin, a small conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel (PK,Ca) blocker, (0.1, 0.3 and 1 microM) significantly inhibited OA-induced smooth muscle contraction, while charybdotoxin (ChTX, 10 nM), an intermediate and large conductance PK,Ca blocker, and iberiotoxin (IbTX, 3 nM), a large conductance PK,Ca blocker, were without effect. Apamin (0.3 microM) had no effect on exogenously administered histamine-induced airway smooth muscle contraction, suggesting that the inhibition of OA-induced contraction by apamin did not occur at the smooth muscle level. 5. The inhibition of OA-induced contraction by apamin (0.3 microM) was not significantly affected by pretreatment with a leukotriene antagonist, ONO-1078 (10 microM), but was abolished by pretreatment with a histamine H1-receptor blocker, pyrilamine (1 microM). 6. Apamin by itself (up to 0.1 MicroM) had no effect on spontaneous histamine release from minced lung tissues. Histamine release induced by low and intermediate concentrations of OA (10 and 100 ng ml-1)was significantly suppressed by apamin pretreatment (P<0.05 and P<0.001), whereas LTC4 release was not affected. ChTX (0.1 MicroM) and IbTX (10 nM) had no significant effect on either spontaneous or OA (100 ng ml-1)-induced histamine release.7. These results suggest that apamin partially but substantially inhibits antigen-induced smooth muscle contraction, presumably by inhibiting antigen-induced histamine release from airway mast cells through small conductance PKca closure.

Using a modified HPLC method with a fluorescence spectrophotometer and a weak cation exchanger, it was possible to separate (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (alpha-methylhistamine) from histamine in plasma and various tissues. The assay was used to study the disposition and pharmacokinetic analysis of alpha-methylhistamine after a bolus intravenous administration to rats. After rapid intravenous administration (12.6 mg kg-1), the plasma concentration declined biexponentially with a half-life of 1.3 min in the elimination phase. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve and total body clearance were 130 micrograms min mL-1 and 97 mL min-1 kg-1, respectively. After administration, alpha-methylhistamine was immediately transferred to various tissues. The concentration was high in the kidney, lung, and liver (kidney > lung > liver), but low in the brain. The tissue-to-plasma concentration ratios in peripheral tissues were greater than 1, suggesting that the transfer of alpha-methylhistamine to peripheral tissues was due to a specialized transport mechanism or possibly to tissue binding. However, the finding that the tissue/plasma ratio in the brain was lower than unity suggests that the transport system in this tissue depends on a concentration gradient, and that alpha-methylhistamine crosses the blood-brain barrier in rats with difficulty.

An HPLC method using an ovomucoid-conjugated column has been developed for measurement of thioperamide, a histamine H3 antagonist, with a minimum quantitation limit of 0.05 micrograms mL-1. The assay was used to study the disposition of thioperamide in rats. After bolus intravenous administration of thioperamide (10 mg kg-1), the plasma concentration decreased monoexponentially with a half-life of 26.9 min. The apparent total body clearance of thioperamide from rat plasma was 74.6 mL min-1 kg-1. Although thioperamide was quickly transferred to various tissues, its concentrations in peripheral tissues were higher than that in the brain. However, the brain regional tissue/plasma ratios of thioperamide increased continuously after its injection.

We studied the effects of inactivators of the central histaminergic neuron system, (R)-alpha-methylhistamine, a histamine H3 receptor agonist, and (S)-alpha-fluoromethylhistidine, a histamine synthesis inhibitor, on locomotor activity and brain histamine content of mast cell-deficient W/Wv mice using a recently developed high-performance liquid chromatography system coupled with a fluorometric detector. IP injection of (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (6-50 mg/kg) increased brain histamine content after 1 h but caused no significant change in locomotor activity. IP injection of (S)-alpha-fluoromethylhistidine decreased brain histamine content at doses of 6-50 mg/kg and locomotor activity at doses of 12.5-50 mg/kg. However, locomotor activity was decreased significantly (in Student's t-test) by sequential administrations of (S)-alpha-fluoromethylhistidine (6 mg/kg) and (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (12.5 or 25 mg/kg), but not by (S)-alpha-fluoromethylhistidine (6 mg/kg) and other doses of (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (6 or 50 mg/kg). These results support the hypothesis that the central histaminergic neuron system is involved in the control of spontaneous locomotion or alertness.

Ws/Ws rats have a small deletion at the tyrosine kinase domain of the c-kit gene, and practically no mast cells were detectable when the tissues were stained with alcian blue. Because alcian blue stains proteoglycans, there is a possibility that immature mast cells that do not contain a sufficient amount of proteoglycans are not detectable by this method. We examined this possibility by using other markers of mast cells. The histamine content in the skin of Ws/Ws rats was 0.3% that of control normal (+/+) rats. Because the number of alcian blue-positive mast cells in the skin of Ws/Ws rats was also 0.3% that of +/+ rats, histamine in the skin seemed to be concentrated to alcian blue-positive mast cells. Mast cells in the skin of +/+ rats express messenger RNA of Fc epsilon RI beta-subunit and c-kit protein. Because c-kit messenger RNA was normally expressed at least in the brain of Ws/Ws rats despite the small deletion, we examined the expression of Fc epsilon RI beta-subunit and c-kit messenger RNA in the skin and stomach of Ws/Ws rats by reverse transcriptase modification of polymerase chain reaction. Expression of either Fc epsilon RI beta-subunit or c-kit messenger RNA in the skin and stomach of Ws/Ws rats was estimated to be less than 1% that of +/+ rats. Moreover no Fc epsilon RI beta-subunit-expressing and no c-kit-expressing cells were detectable in the skin of Ws/Ws rats by in situ hybridization histochemistry. The present result suggests the absence of immature mast cells in tissues of Ws/Ws rats.

An in vivo microdialysis method combined with a highly sensitive HPLC method which was developed for the analysis of the mediators in the CNS has been applied to assay histamine concentrations in the blood. The technique was used to study the effects of compound 48/80 and histamine receptor antagonists on histamine release in the blood of rats. The mean basal level of histamine in the blood measured by in vivo microdialysis was 177.8 +/- 11.1 pmol/mL. This level was not affected significantly by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of saline, and remained at the constant level for at least 8 hr after injection of saline. After i.p. injection of histamine (0.5 mg/kg), histamine was quickly detected in the blood of the jugular vein. Moreover, because the recovered histamine in the dialysate is directly proportional to the free fraction in the blood, the in vivo microdialysis method of blood is a reliable method of examining histamine release into the blood. In our experiments, the histamine level in dialysates from rat jugular vein was markedly increased by compound 48/80 (2.0 mg/kg, i.p.), demonstrating the histamine release into the blood from mast cells. However, there was no increase in histamine concentration after an i.p. injection of histamine receptor antagonists, such as pyrilamine (2.0 mg/kg), d-chlorpheniramine (2.0 mg/kg), cimetidine (10 mg/kg), or thioperamide (10 mg/kg). Thus, the present results suggested that these histamine receptor antagonists might not have an influence on histamine release into the blood.

Cases of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are being increasingly reported in Japan. Bacteriological isolation of EHEC has been a constant problem because the organism is shed for a short duration after onset on illness and generally during the prodromal stages. In order to ease the diagnosis of EHEC infections in this country, we have developed a LPS-based solid phase enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for serological diagnosis of the infection. Adequate knowledge on the prevalence of EHEC serogroups in Japan is mandatory for the success of such a diagnostic test. O157 is currently the prominent serogroup associated with EHEC infections in Japan followed by O111, O26 and O128 in that order of prevalence. In February 1992, a 1 year-old infant developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) 15 days later the prodrome of watery diarrhoea. Stool sample obtained on day 15 was cultured for detection of EHEC. Ten colonies of E. coli picked from MacConkey agar plate were examined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers specific for both verotoxins (VT1 and VT2). Of the 10 colonies, only one was positive for the VT2 gene. The strain was confirmed to be cytotoxic on cultured Vero cells. The strain agglutinated with antisera of E. coli O2, K1 and with H7 serogroups. As of date, none of such strains of O2:K1:H7 EHEC has been reported in Japan. The patient's sera was found to be positive for antibodies against LPS from the homologous isolate as well as against VT2. The patient recovered uneventfully from HUS 40 days after the onset of the disease and was discharged from the hospital.

To examine whether histamine N-methyltransferase (HMT; EC 2.1.1.8) modulates the effects of allergic reaction in vivo, we studied the effects of aerosolized SKF 91488, a specific HMT inhibitor, on the responses to aerosolized histamine in unsensitized guinea pigs and to ovalbumin (OA) antigen inhalation in guinea pigs sensitized to OA. Airway responsiveness was assessed by determining provocation concentrations of histamine and OA aerosols that increased pulmonary resistance to twice the baseline values. SKF 94188 shifted, in a dose-dependent fashion, the dose-response curves to histamine and OA antigen to lower concentrations, and it significantly decreased provocation concentrations of both histamine and OA antigen (p < 0.01). In contrast of SKF 91488, aerosolized aminoguanidine, a specific inhibitor of diamine oxidase (10(-2) M, 90 breaths), did not alter the provocation concentration of histamine (p > 0.20). SKF 91488 (10(-2) M, 90 breaths) caused no significant changes in response to acetylcholine (p > 0.30). HMT activities were observed in the entire airways of the trachea, main bronchi, segmental bronchi and bronchioles, and parenchymal tissues. These findings suggest that HMT modulates the effects of exogenous histamine and endogenously released histamine by antigen challenge on bronchoconstrictor responses in guinea pigs in vivo.

The enantiomer-specific pharmacokinetics of histidine and its analogue, alpha-fluoromethylhistidine (FMH), were investigated in rats. After bolus intravenous administration of each enantiomer of histidine or FMH at a dose of 40.3 mg kg-1 as free base equivalents, the plasma concentrations of L-histidine, D-histidine, (S)-FMH and (R)-FMH decreased biexponentially with half-lives of 39.2, 20.8, 32.8 and 25.0 min, respectively, in the elimination phase. Although the concentration of L-histidine in the plasma was lower than that of D-histidine, there was no large difference in plasma concentration-time curves of the enantiomers of FMH. The apparent total clearance of L-histidine from rat plasma was about 4 times that of D-histidine or the enantiomers of FMH. L-Histidine was quickly transferred to the peripheral tissues where the concentrations also decrease biphasically. L-Histidine penetrated more rapidly into the brain than either its D-enantiomer or a compound closely related in structure such as FMH. However, the disappearance of L-histidine from the various brain regions was very rapid. In contrast, brain/plasma ratios of D-histidine and (S)-FMH increased continuously after injection of these compounds, indicating that D-histidine or (S)-FMH partitioned into the brain and was very slowly removed from the brain; (R)-FMH was not distributed to the brain. These results suggested stereoselectivity in disposition of histidine and FMH enantiomers in rats.

L-Histidine decarboxylase (HisDC) is the enzyme catalyzing the formation of histamine from L-histidine. HisDC activity is expressed specifically in mast cells/basophils, endocrine cells in stomach, and histaminergic neurons in brain. As a first step in the analysis of the regulation of HisDC gene expression, we have cloned the cDNA coding for HisDC from a cDNA library of a human basophilic leukemia cell line, KU-812-F. We identified two types of HisDC cDNA, representing the 2.4-kb and 3.4-kb HisDC mRNA constitutively expressed in these cells. Sequence analysis of these cDNA revealed that the 3.4-kb mRNA contains the insert sequence of 824 bases and suggests that both 2.4-kb and 3.4-kb mRNA may represent the alternatively spliced transcripts of the HisDC gene. Using expression plasmids containing a cDNA for each HisDC mRNA, we analyzed the function of possible HisDC isoforms. We show that only the 2.4-kb mRNA encodes functional HisDC and is expressed in human brain and lung. However, we were unable to detect the 3.4-kb mRNA in these tissues. Thus, the 3.4-kb mRNA may be generated by KU-812-F cell-specific splicing of the HisDC gene transcripts. Furthermore, we demonstrated the increase in the level of 2.4-kb HisDC mRNA and HisDC activity in KU-812-F cells following treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate.

Intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was monitored in monolayer of 1321 N1 astrocytoma cells by using a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), endothelin-2 (ET-2), and sarafotoxin Sb6 (SRTX) increased [Ca2+]i from 56 +/- 6 nM to 360 +/- 82, 120 +/- 51, 143 +/- 29 nM, respectively, immediately after their addition to the perfusate with maximum response of more than 0.1 microM of peptides. Endothelin-3 (less than 1 microM) did not affect [Ca2+]i. The increase in [Ca2+]i in response to either ET-1, ET-2, or SRTX could be almost completely inhibited by pretreating cells with ET-1 or ET-2. The homologous desensitization of [Ca2+]i induced by ETs and SRTX is in good agreement with their affinity toward an ETA receptors. The responses in [Ca2+]i by ETs and SRTX were not affected in the desensitized state induced by the pretreatment of histamine in the presence of extracellular Ca2+. However, the response in [Ca2+]i by ETs and SRTX were reduced in the desensitized state induced by pretreatment of histamine in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. These results indicate that depletion of the intracellular Ca2+ stores is responsible for the heterologous desensitization between ETs and histamine.

The effects of the histamine H3 receptor ligands thioperamide and (R)-alpha-methylhistamine on the histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity and histamine content of mouse brain were examined. Thioperamide, a histamine H3 antagonist, significantly increased the HDC activity in the brain of ddY, W/Wv and ICR mice 2-6 hr after its intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. On the other hand, (R)-alpha-methylhistamine, a histamine H3-receptor agonist, caused no significant change in the HDC activity. The whole brain histamine content of ddY mice decreased significantly to 60-70% of the control level 2-8 hr after injection of thioperamide (25 mg/kg, i.p.), but then increased to 90% of the control level 10 hr after the injection. These in vivo results showed that blockade of the presynaptic histamine H3-receptor, which causes release of presynaptic histamine, increased the HDC activity.

In rat basophilic leukemia cells (2H3), a tumor analog of mast cells, the aggregation of IgE receptors results in histamine secretion and the increase in histidine decarboxylase activity which synthesizes histamine. Using inhibitors of protein kinases C, we studied the relationships between these events and protein kinase C which is activated by antigens. Histamine release is suppressed by inhibitors of protein kinase C, staurosporine, K252-a and H-7, in this decreasing order of effectiveness; and the IC50 values are 1.5 nM, 29.9 nM and 3.8 microM, respectively. The changes in the intracellular Ca concentration monitored by fura-2 fluorescence is not modified by staurosporine, although the histamine response is suppressed. Meanwhile, the increase of histidine decarboxylase was abolished by inhibitors of protein kinase C; staurosporine was the strongest, K-252a of moderate activity and H-7, the weakest, having IC50 values of 0.8 nM, 100 nM and 11.5 microM, respectively. The inhibitors of protein kinase C suppress both histamine secretion and synthesis. Therefore, the histamine synthesis may be stimulated via activation of protein kinase C to supplement the released histamine.

The cellular action of vasoconstrictive hormones, angiotensin II (AII) and Arg8-vasopressin (AVP), on vascular smooth muscle (VSM) in cultured VSM cells from rat mesenteric artery was studied. Both AII and AVP specifically induce a transient increases in cytosolic free calcium independent of extracellular calcium or calcium channels activated by high potassium depolarization in VSM cells loaded with Fura-2. Vasoconstrictive hormones induce a dose-dependency with formation of inositolphosphates. Analysis using high pressure liquid chromatography has shown that AVP stimulates rapid and transient increases in inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate within 1 minute. Moreover, a laser-excitation fluorescence system reveals high calcium concentration sites in subsarcolemmal region. These results indicate that, unlike voltage-dependent calcium influx across the cell membrane, AII and AVP induce receptor-mediated increases in cytosolic free calcium via phosphoinositide hydrolysis creating an intracellular messenger for calcium release from intracellular calcium stores.

We examined the effects of (S)-alpha -fluoromethylhistidine (FMH), an inhibitor of histidine decarboxylase, and metoprine, an inhibitor of histamine N-methyltransferase, on the locomotor activity and the brain histamine content of ICR mice. The brain histamine content was decreased by FMH (12.5 or 50 mg/kg, i.p.) and increased by metoprine (4 mg/kg, i.p.). Under these conditions, the locomotor activity and the number of rearing were significantly decreased and increased by FMH and metoprine, respectively. The higher the brain histamine content, the greater the locomotor activity and vice versa. In a previous paper [Sakai et al., Life Sciences, 48, 2397-2404 (1991)], we showed that thioperamide, a histamine H3 antagonist, which enhances the release of histamine from histaminergic neurons, in doses of 12.5 and 25 mg/kg, i.p. increases the locomotor activity, whereas it decreases the brain histamine content. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that central histaminergic neurons may be involved in the control of state of locomotion and rearing.

The intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in mouse peritoneal macrophages cultured on a coverglass was measured in the superfusion system using fura-2 as a fluorescent calcium probe and platelet activating factor (PAF) as a stimulant. In the presence of extracellular Ca2+, 10(-7) M PAF sharply increased [Ca2+]i from a basal level of 90 nM to 340 nM. Thereafter, the [Ca2+]i level gradually decreased in two phases, in an initial rapid phase and a subsequent slow phase of decrease. The calcium response was dependent on the PAF concentration. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, a single sharp peak was observed, suggesting two different modes of Ca2+ movement, one from intracellular stores and the other from the extracellular medium. A simple, sensitive fluorometric assay system was developed for measuring H2O2 in the superfusate of macrophages after stimulation by use of immobilized peroxidase and 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid as a fluorogenic substrate. With this system, as little as 2 pmol of H2O2 could be measured. PAF (1 microM) increased H2O2 production in peritoneal macrophages in the presence of extracellular Ca2+, but H2O2 production was not observed in the absence of extracellular Ca2+.

The level of cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) and the production rate of prostacyclin were simultaneously measured in perfused monolayers of cultured vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cells. After loading of fura-2 (a fluorescent calcium indicator), the monolayer of VSM cells (cultured on a cover glass) was fixed in the perfusion cuvette and the cuvette was placed in a fluorometer to monitor the change in [Ca2+]i. The monolayer was perfused and the fractionated perfusion solution was collected to determine 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (a metabolite of prostacyclin) production found in the solution. Afterwards, the time-dependent changes in [Ca2+]i and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha synthesis were compared. Bradykinin (BK, 10(-6) M), angiotensin (Ang) II (10(-7) M) as well as ionomycin (10(-6) M) induced simultaneous increases in [Ca2+]i and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production. An inhibitor against prostaglandin synthesis, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 10(-6) M) abolished BK-induced 6-keto-PGF1 alpha synthesis, whereas ASA did not affect the increase in [Ca2+]i. BK-induced increases in [Ca2+]i and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production occurred in a dose-dependent manner and the half-maximal response was observed at the same concentration of BK (10(-7) M). These results indicate that an increase in [Ca2+]i is closely associated with BK as well as AngII-induced prostacyclin synthesis. It is suggested that an increase in [Ca2+]i plays a prior role in prostacyclin synthesis. Thus, an interaction between phospholipase A2 (prostaglandin synthesis) and phospholipase C (inositol trisphosphate-Ca2+ mobilization) is suggested.