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Specific proteins of the apolipoprotein serum amyloid (apoSAA) family that are synthesized in large quantities during the acute, early phase of inflammation can serve as the proteinaceous precursors for amyloid fibrils. To model fibrillogenesis in such inflammatory diseases, we have used electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction to examine the structures formed by synthetic peptides corresponding in sequence to the 11 amino-terminal amino acids of murine apoSAA1, apoSAAcej, and apoSAA2 and to the 15 amino-terminal amino acids of apoSAA2. This region is reported to be the major fibrillogenic determinant of apoSAA isoforms. Both in 1 mM Tris buffer and in 35% acetonitrile, 0.1% trifluoracetic acid (ACN/TFA), all of the peptides formed macromolecular assemblies consisting of twisted, approximately 40- to 60-A-thick ribbons, which varied in width from around 40-70 A (for 11-mer apoSAA2 in Tris) up to 900 A (for the other peptides). X-ray diffraction patterns recorded from lyophilized peptides, vapor-hydrated samples, and solubilized/dried samples showed hydrogen bonding and intersheet reflections typical of a beta-pleated sheet conformation. The coherent lengths measured from the breadths of the X-ray reflections indicated that with hydration the growth of the assemblies in the intersheet stacking direction was comparable to that in the hydrogen-bonding direction, and analysis of oriented samples showed that the beta-strands were oriented perpendicular to both the long axis and the face of the assemblies. These X-ray results are consistent with the ribbon- or plate-like morphology of the individual aggregates and emphasize the polymorphic nature of amyloidogenic peptides. Our findings demonstrate that X-ray diffraction measurements on vapor-hydrated or solubilized/dried versus lyophilized, amyloidogenic peptides are a good indicator of their fibrillogenic potential. For example, from the highest to the lowest potential, the peptides examined here were ranked as: Abeta1-28 > Abeta1-40 > apoSAA1 approximately apoSAAcej > apoSAA2 > Abeta17-42. Experiments in which the three different 11-mer apoSAA isoforms were solubilized in ACN/TFA and then combined as binary mixtures showed that the ribbon morphology was not affected but that the extent of hydrogen bonding in the assemblies was substantially reduced. Our observations on the in vitro assembly of apoSAA analogs emphasize that amyloid fibril formation and morphology depend on primary sequence, length of polypeptide chain, the presence of additional fibrillogenic polypeptides, and solvent conditions., (Copyright 1998 Academic Press.)

Until CE/J mice and their offspring were characterized as amyloid-resistant, all mice were thought to be amyloid-susceptible to multiple injections of azocasein or a single injection of silver nitrate following administration of amyloid enhancing factor. We now report, for the first time, that wild-type Mus musculus czech and F1 hybrids bred by crossing M. musculus czech with amyloid-susceptible CBA/J mice are also amyloid resistant. Based on the derived amino acid sequences of two serum amyloid A (SAA) cDNA clones, we describe two unusual SAA gene isoforms in M. musculus czech, one of which differs from four previously characterized acute-phase apoSAA isoforms at several amino acid residues. Our findings support the hypothesis that protection against amyloid fibril formation in wild-type M. musculus czech mice and their offspring is linked to apoSAA gene mutations (molecular motif).

The human apoSAA proteins comprise both acute phase (apoSAA1, apoSAA2) and constitutive (apoSAA4) isoforms; all are expressed in human atherosclerotic lesions as well as in liver. Recombinant acute phase apoSAA binds cholesterol with an affinity of approximately 170 nM and enhances cholesterol uptake by HepG2 cells (J. Lipid Res. 1995. 36:37-46). In the present study, we sought to define the region of acute phase apoSAA involved in cholesterol binding and to investigate the ability of constitutive apoSAA4 to bind cholesterol. Binding of [3H]cholesterol to apoSAAp was inhibited by unlabeled cholesterol (1-100 nM), but not significantly by vitamin D and estradiol. Direct binding of acute phase, but not constitutive, apoSAA to the surfaces of polystyrene microtiter wells was strongly diminished in the presence of cholesterol. The ability of apoSAAp to bind cholesterol was inhibited by antibodies to human apoSAA1 and to peptide 1-18 of apoSAA1. There was only slight inhibition of cholesterol binding by antibodies to peptide 40-63, and no inhibition by antibodies to peptides spanning regions containing amino acid residues 14-44 and 59-104. [3H]cholesterol uptake by neonatal rabbit aortic smooth muscle and HepG2 cells was enhanced by a synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acids 1-18 of hSAA1, but not by peptides corresponding to amino acids 1-18 of hSAA4. [3H]cholesterol uptake by HepG2 cells was slightly increased by a peptide corresponding to amino acids 40-63 of hSAA1. These findings suggest that apoSAA modulates the local flux of cholesterol between cells and lipoproteins during inflammation and atherosclerosis.

Amyloid enhancing factor (AEF) is an operational term applied to poorly defined extracts of amyloidotic or preamyloidotic tissues capable of shortening the induction time of amyloid deposition in recipient mice from 1 to 2 weeks to 48 to 72 hours. Its derivation has always left open the question of whether activity was dependent on the presence of amyloid fibrils or preamyloid fibril fragments. In these studies, we have assayed AEF activity in extracts of spleen and liver from azocasein-injected rats and CE/J mice that do not develop amyloidosis and, hence, cannot have amyloid A (AA) fibrils or fibril fragments in their tissues. Susceptibility to amyloid induction was compared in three strains of mice and three strains of rats by subjecting each group of experimental animals to multiple injections of azocasein. Spleens and livers were removed 24 hours after the last injection, and samples of all tissues were examined for amyloid deposits. AEF was extracted from the remainder of the tissues taken from amyloid resistant CE/J mice and Sprague-Dawley rats. Graded doses of the resulting tissue extract were given to naive Swiss-Webster (SW) recipient mice by i.p. injection concomitantly with subcutaneous injection of 0.5 ml 2% AgNO3. All tissues from both CE/J mice and rat donor animals were negative for amyloid by histologic examination of Congo Red stained samples, as were the AEF extracts. All recipient mice (six of six) given 600 micrograms of the CE/J-derived AEF developed large amyloid deposits in their spleens (mean severity 3.7 -/+ 0.3 SEM). Lower doses (200 micrograms protein) resulted in similar incidence of amyloid accumulation (in four of five), but quantitatively smaller amounts of amyloid protein were present. Doses of 100 micrograms decreased incidence (in one of five), whereas animals receiving 50 micrograms were all negative. AEF derived from rat tissues also induced high incidence of amyloid (in four of five) at high doses, although the amount of AA protein was less than in mice given equivalent amounts of CE/J mouse-derived AEF. Although 200 micrograms and 100 micrograms of rat AEF was effective (in two of five and one of five, respectively), 50 micrograms did not result in demonstrable amyloid deposition. The presence of AEF in tissues from azocasein-treated amyloid-resistant rats and CE/J mice excludes the possibility that AEF activity may be due to the presence of amyloid fibrils or fibril fragments in the donor tissue.

Inbred strains of mice provide a model for studies of the pathogenesis of amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis. All susceptible strains of mice described to date codominantly express two serum amyloid A (apoSAA) isoforms, apoSAA1 and apoSAA2, of which only apoSAA2 serves as a precursor for amyloid fibrils. In previous studies, we have shown that the CE/J strain, which produces a single, novel apoSAA isoform, apoSAACE/J, is amyloid resistant. In the present study amyloid-resistant CE/J females were mated with amyloid-susceptible CBA/J males to produce F1 hybrid offspring which were then backcrossed to the parental CBA/J mouse strain. Amyloid susceptibility was determined in 30 backcrossed mice 72 h after injection of murine amyloid enhancing factor and silver nitrate. ApoSAA isoforms in plasma were separated by isoelectric focusing gel electrophoresis and visualized after immunoblotting with anti-AA antiserum. Amyloid A fibrils in spleen homogenates were denatured by formic acid and AA protein was quantified by ELISA using anti-mouse apoSAA antibodies. Values < 5 apoSAA equivalent units were considered negative. 13 mice expressed an apoSAA1 and apoSAA2 doublet characteristic of CBA/J mice, whereas 17 mice, expressed the apoSAACE/J isoform codominantly with apoSAA1 and apoSAA2. The correlation of amyloid resistance to expression of the apoSAACE/J isoform was absolute (17/17 were negative; mean score 2.6 +/- 0.17 [standard error of the mean] apoSAA equivalent units) and the correlation between amyloid susceptibility and the expression of apoSAA2/apoSAA1 was also striking (12/13 were amyloid positive; mean score 47.9 +/- 9.0 [standard error of the mean] apoSAA equivalent units (P < 0.001). This is not significantly different from the 50% segregation of apoSAA phenotypes expected for linkage to a single gene. These results indicate that a single gene governs apoSAACE/J expression and thus confers protection against amyloid deposition even in the presence of apoSAA1 and apoSAA2 isoforms and show for the first time that resistance to AA amyloidosis is a dominant trait governed by a single gene.

Inbred CE/J mice have been identified as extremely resistant to azocasein-induced amyloidosis relative to five commonly used inbred strains, A/J, CBA/J, C57BL/6J, C3H/HeN, and SJL/J. The enhanced amyloid resistance in CE/J mice seems to derive from the novel structure of the SAA gene family in CE/J mice, as determined by Southern blot hybridization analysis of SAA gene structure and isoelectric focusing analysis of acute phase SAA proteins in the six inbred strains. In CE/J mice, a single, novel SAA isoform of pI 6.15 is present, whereas in the other strains the amyloidogenic SAA2 isoform (pI 6.3) is codominantly expressed with SAA1 (pI 6.45). Two other inbred strains, PERU and IS/CAM, share common SAA specific HindIII DNA fragments with CE/J mice. Wild-derived Mus musculus mice differ from all of the inbred strains studied, both in SAA gene structure and in the pattern of SAA isoform production; two isoforms, one pI 6.15 and the other pI 6.3 (corresponding to SAA2), were codominantly expressed. Only the pI 6.15 isoform, not SAA1 and 2, was produced by CE/J mice in response to lipopolysaccharide, casein, silver nitrate, interleukin-1, or tumor necrosis factor; tumor necrosis factor was a weaker stimulus than interleukin-1 for the pI 6.15 isoform as it is for SAA1 and 2 production in the other inbred strains. This study provides a new line of evidence supporting the role of precursor structure as a determining factor in murine amyloid A amyloidosis and provides a valuable model for studies of amyloidogenesis.

Amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis is widespread throughout the animal kingdom. Several factors including: 1) precursor production; 2) precursor structure; 3) precursor degradation; and 4) precursor/product interaction with the pentraxin serum amyloid P have been implicated in amyloidogenesis, but the exact sequence of events leading to AA fibril formation and deposition remains unclear. Most models of experimental amyloidosis, including golden Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), involve massive and repeated inflammatory stimulation; however, the model of spontaneous amyloidosis with aging in female, but not male, Syrian hamsters permits analysis of amyloidogenic factors in the absence of inflammation. Another genus, the Armenian hamster (Cricetulus migratorius), differs from Syrian hamsters both in gender-specific serum amyloid P expression and susceptibility to AA amyloidosis. In this study, we describe novel SAA molecules in the Syrian hamster in the presence and absence of inflammation. We demonstrate that, based on isoelectric separation, the Syrian hamster SAA proteins can be separated into two broad subfamilies. Plasma SAA concentration in female Syrian hamsters increases spontaneously with age, and fragments of a basic SAA isotype expressed both hepatically and extrahepatically are selectively deposited as AA fibrils. After inflammatory stimulation, the patterns of SAA gene expression in Syrian and Armenian hamsters differ. In Syrian hamsters, both hepatic SAA mRNA and the high density lipoprotein apoSAA content increase approximately 1000-fold; in Armenian hamsters, hepatic SAA mRNA is limited in quantity and different in structure; and although plasma SAA proteins increase three- to fivefold, apoSAA is not detectable in high density lipoprotein. The results suggest that regulation and site of precursor production as well as precursor structure influence AA amyloidogenesis in these two hamster genera.

Maintenance of mice on dietary regimens containing fish oil decreases severity of collagen-induced arthritis. Macrophages from fish oil fed animals had decreased omega-6 and significant amounts of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in membrane phospholipids and produced significantly less prostaglandins than macrophages from corn oil fed animals. Gender differences in both prostaglandin production and susceptibility to arthritis were noted.

Hepatic levels of mRNA specific for total serum amyloid A (SAA), the SAA1 and SAA2 isotypes, serum amyloid P (SAP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and fibronectin, as well as the plasma concentrations of SAA and SAP were examined in amyloid-resistant (A/J) and amyloid-susceptible (CBA/J) mice during azocasein-induced chronic inflammation. In both strains hepatic SAA and SAP mRNA levels and plasma SAA and SAP protein concentrations increased dramatically during the early stages of inflammation; this was followed by a decrease to concentrations that were maintained at levels considerably higher than background. The ratios of SAA1 and SAA2 mRNA and plasma protein were 1:1 throughout. This indicated that there was no preferential accumulation of mRNA specifying a particular isotype and no preferential synthesis or clearance of a particular isotype during chronic inflammation and the early stages of amyloidogenesis in either strain. Similarly, hepatic SAP mRNA levels in both strains increased dramatically during the early stages of inflammation and were subsequently maintained at elevated levels. Plasma SAP concentrations increased rapidly during the first three days of the study in both A/J and CBA/J mice; however, during the later stages of inflammation, A/J plasma SAP levels decreased to a steady-state concentration that was approximately half that observed in CBA/J mice. Our results identify differences in the hepatic mRNA and plasma protein levels of the major mouse acute-phase reactants (APR) in the amyloid-resistant A/J and amyloid-susceptible CBA/J mouse strains. These findings are consistent with circulating inflammatory APR concentrations contributing, together with other factors, to the onset and pathogenesis of secondary amyloidosis.

Activity of lysyl oxidase, an enzyme responsible for production of aldehydic precursors for lysine-derived collagen crosslinks, was measured in tibial metaphyses from chicks receiving different dietary levels of vitamin D and Ca for 2 weeks after hatching. Enzyme activities were increased twofold in D-deficient chicks compared to activities from chicks receiving control levels of vitamin D. Addition of Ca to the D-deficient diet had no effect on lysyl oxidase activity. It is suggested that vitamin D may play a role in the age-related decrease in lysyl oxidase activity that normally occurs in chick bone.

Rats were scalded on one hind limb and sacrificed by exsanguination at 4 hours, 1 day, and 3 days postburn. Concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate were measured in serum and in calf muscles from the burned and unburned limb of burned rats and controls. At 4 hours postburn, the injured rats exhibited a 5.4% elevation in serum potassium, a 23% increase in serum magnesium, and a 15% rise in serum phosphate compared to controls. At 3 days postburn, serum calcium and phosphate levels of burned rats were 7 and 13%, respectively, below controls. Tissue electrolytes in calf muscles from the unburned limb of burned rats did not differ from controls. In contrast, calf muscles of the burned limb showed up to a 202% increase in sodium content and up to a 61% fall of potassium content; the tissue Na/K ratio was elevated more than threefold at all test times. Burned muscles' calcium content was increased 127% at 4 hours, 112% at 1 day, and 21% at 3 days postburn. Magnesium and phosphate contents did not differ from controls at 4 hours postburn, but gradually decreased 58 and 59%, respectively, during the observation period. The data suggest that muscles underlying the burned wound show increased cell permeability and/or impaired active ion transport. These alterations as well as the loss of magnesium and phosphate may be related, in part, to the previously demonstrated depletion of ATP and adenine nucleotides in thermally injured muscles.

Cultures of rabbit aortic smooth muscle (RSM) cells are a valuable model system for studying production and metabolism of connective tissue components. This report describes various assay procedures for lysyl oxidase, the enzyme responsible for deaminating lysine residues to give aldehyde cross-link precursors, in culture medium from these cells. Studies of the medium enzyme from second-passage RSM cells indicate that approximately 40% of the total enzyme activity in the flask of cells is in the medium. The medium enzyme levels are replenished quite rapidly following refeeding, and enzyme levels in the medium appear to be feedback controlled. The mechanism for this control is unknown at present. Multiple refeeding experiments in which the medium was changed every 2-4 h for up to 40 h indicate that these cells are cap]able of producing large amounts of enzyme and are capable of altering enzyme production and secretion quite rapidly in response to changes in their environment. Protein synthesis inhibitor studies with cycloheximide suggest that the major portion of the enzyme released into the medium following refeeding is newly synthesized although a pool of latent enzyme is also present. As in intact tissue, extraction of the enzyme from the cell layer requires strong denaturing reagents such as 4 M urea. These results suggest that the production of lysyl oxidase is closely regulated and is very responsive to changes in the external environment of the cells. This cell culture system appears to be an excellent one to study the production of lysyl oxidase and its role in connective tissue fibrillogenesis.

Plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OHD3) and 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha, 25-(OH)2D3) in growing chicks and weanling rats were measured by a new radioreceptor assay to determine the effects of varying dietary levels of vitamin D3. The plasma concentration of 25-OHD3 fell from 14.1 ng/ml in 1-day-old chicks to undetectable levels after 3 weeks on a rachitogenic diet. Circulating 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 hormone also decreased from 8.9 ng/100 ml to undetectable levels at 3 weeks in these chicks. Chicks receiving an optimal supplement of vitamin D3 (1.4 IU/g diet) for three to four weeks had plasma 25-OHD3 and 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 levels of 21-35 ng/ml and 5.1-7.5 ng/100 ml, respectively. Nutritional supplementation with a 50-fold excess of vitamin D3 (70 IU/g diet) elicited a substantial increase in plasma 25-OHD3 to 87-130 ng/ml, while plasma 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 was not increased. Increasing dietary calcium from 1.4 to 2.8% did not alter the circulating level of vitamin D3 metabolites in chicks fed 1.4 IU of vitamin D3/g diet. Direct measurement of the renal 25-OHD3-1 alpha-hydroxylase in vitro, showed that lowering dietary calcium or exclusion of vitamin D3 stimulated the biosynthesis of 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3, but raising calcium did not alter the enzyme activity. It is concluded that the circulating concentration of the 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 hormone in the chick is unaffected by abnormally high intakes of vitamin D3 or calcium, but the renal production of the hormone increases during vitamin D3 or calcium deprivation. Additional studies in rats fed a diet supplemented with either 2 or 1000 IU of vitamin D3/g verify that the circulating concentration of 25-OHD3 is markedly increased when the dietary intake of vitamin D3 is elevated. Moreover, 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 is not increased under these conditions, but actually falls significantly when the dietary level of vitamin D3 is raised from 2 to 1000 IU/g. These studies in both the chick and rat indicate that dietary vitamin D3 excess enhances circulating 25-OHD3, probably because the vitamin D3-25-hydroxylase enzyme is not strigently controlled. The fact that the circulating 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 is not concomitantly increased may reflect either decreased synthesis or increased utilization of the 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 sterol.

Six squirrel monkeys immunized with native fetal bovine type II collagen (CII) in complete Freund's adjuvant developed arthritis 3 to 6 weeks later. None of three cebus monkeys given CII plus complete Freund's adjuvant or three control squirrel monkeys immunized with complete Freund's adjuvant alone developed arthritis. In four of the squirrel monkeys, arthritis was symmetrical and involved mainly the interphalangeal and metacarpal phalangeal joints. Two other monkeys had pauciarticular disease. Although three monkeys became cachetic and died, the others regained weight and their arthritis spontaneously remitted with minor residual deformities in digits and larger joints. Each squirrel monkey with arthritis had high titers of CII antibodies whereas the arthritis-resistant cebus monkeys had lower titers of CII antibodies whereas the arthritis-resistant cebus monkeys had lower titers of CII antibodies. As an animal model, experimentally induced arthritis in primates appears to resemble an acute arthropathy in man rather than chronic rheumatoid arthritis.

The quantitative relationships were determined between the structural crosslinks, dihydroxylysinonorleucine (Lys(OH)2-Nle) and hydroxylysinonorleucine (Lys (OH) -Nle) in NaB 3H4-reduced diaphyseal bone collagen from 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-week-old chicks fed either a vitamin D-deficient diet, a normal-vitamin D diet or a high-, but non toxic, vitamin D diet from time of hatching. Chicks fed the normal diet showed a progressive decrease in the ratio of Lys(OH)2-Nle/Lys(OH)-Nle with age. This decrease was accelerated in chicks receiving the High-vitamin D diet. In the vitamin D-deficient group, the ratio was higher than controls at 1 and 2 weeks and increased further at 3 and 4 weeks. Similar changes in Lys(OH)2-Nle/Lys(OH)-Nle ratio did not occur in skin collagen. Compared to Control-vitamin D animals, the increased crosslink ratios in the vitamin D-deficient bone collagen occurred prior to changes in growth rate and could not be correlated with lysine hydroxylation or the hypocalcemia seen in this group. These results suggest that the type of crosslink analysis used in this study provides one of the earliest and most sensitive indications of a bone disturbance due to vitamin D deficiency and that vitamin D specifically acts to increase the rate of maturation of bone collagen.

We have evidence that dietary fish oil (FO) decreases severity of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), changes the fatty acid composition of macrophage (M phi) membrane phospholipids, decreases M phi synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs), changes chemotactic ability of M phi s, and affects metabolism of acute phase proteins. Gender also has pronounced effects on susceptibility to CIA and M phi prostaglandin profiles. The mechanisms by which dietary n-3 fatty acids may act to alleviate symptoms of CIA, as well as interactions of dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and gender are discussed. We suggest that the ability of FO diets to influence favourably the course of chronic inflammatory diseases is mediated via alterations in n-6 fatty acid metabolism and that intrinsic differences in n-6 fatty acid metabolism may account not only for our reported gender differences in incidence and severity of CIA, but also the well-documented sexual dimorphism in immune/inflammatory responses in general.

Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rodents is an experimental animal model that shares many clinical and pathologic findings with rheumatoid arthritis in man. Our previous findings suggested that the amelioration of CIA in mice by a fish oil diet was associated with macrophage accumulation and metabolism of eicosapentaenoic acid and a subsequently altered prostaglandin (PG) profile. In these experiments, we examined the role of gender and found that macrophages from female arthritis-susceptible B10.RIII or B10.G mice synthesized more PG and thromboxane than macrophages isolated from the males. Compared with males, female mice had higher circulating anti-type II collagen antibodies but were less likely to develop CIA. Females, especially those on a fish oil diet, developed a much less severe disease than the males. This supports our hypothesis that the type and/or amount of eicosanoid produced from the macrophage may alter the course of experimentally induced arthritis.

The effect of dietary vitamin D levels on the response to iv injected parathyroid hormone (PTH) was studies in chicks fed one of three diets: D-deficient, Control-D (1.4IU cholecalciferol/g diet), or High-D (70 IU cholecalciferol/g diet) during the first 4 weeks post-hatching. Compared to chicks on Control-D diet, chicks on the D-deficient diet had significantly decreased plasma Ca levels at 2 and 4 weeks and increased plasma P levels at 17 and 21 days. The plasma Ca response to a low dose of PTH (15 USP U/100 g body wt) 1 hr postinjection was normal at 1 week, reduced at 2 weeks and absent at 4 weeks in D-deficient chicks. However, a 4-16-fold higher dose of PTH did elicit a significant, though subnormal, response in this group at 3 and 4 weeks. Chicks fed the D-deficient diet with 2.8% Ca, compared to 1.4% Ca, showed a near normal plasma Ca level and bone ash content and only a small increase in plasma P at 17 and 21 days. However, the plasma Ca response to 15 U PTH/100 g body wt in this group was significantly increased only at 17 days and not at 21 days. In contrast, the hyperphosphatemic response to PTH was not markedly diminished in the D-deficient group, and it was restored to Control-D levels in the D-deficienyt High Ca group. These data suggest that different mechanisms may be involved in the Ca and P responses.

In previous studies we demonstrated that PTH stimulates production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by intact chick calvaria. In the present series of experiments, two cell populations were isolated from chick calvaria by centrifugation on a 25%/55% Percoll gradient. Cells harvested from the upper band of the Percoll gradient (designated F-1) appeared large and spindle-shaped in culture. Cells harvested from the lower band of the Percoll gradient (designated F-2) were relatively small and polygonal-shaped. Both cell populations required fetal bovine serum (FBS) for attachment and proliferation. In the presence of FBS the cells formed multilayers, but they formed confluent monolayers in the presence of heat-inactivated FBS. The pattern of cAMP responses to different effectors and biochemical determinations for alkaline and acid phosphatase suggests that the F-2 fraction consists primarily of osteoblasts. No cells with osteoclastic patterns appeared in either fraction. Both cell types synthesized predominantly PGD2. PGE2 was also produced, however, in considerably smaller quantities. PG production in the presence of ionophore A23187 (1 microM) or arachidonate (10 microM) increased significantly when the F-1 and F-2 cells were cocultured at a 1:1 ratio. These results suggest that cell to cell or cell to matrix interactions normally present in intact bone influence PG synthesis.

Synthetic human PTH N-terminal 1-34 peptide [hPTH-(1-34)] stimulates prostaglandin (PG) production by chick calvariae in culture. PGE2 was the predominant PG found by both RIA and HPLC. Stimulation of PGE2 synthesis was significant at 50 ng/ml (1.2 X 10(-8) M) hPTH-(1-34) and was dose dependent at concentrations up to 0.6 microgram/ml (1.4 X 10(-7) M). Continuous exposure of calvariae to hPTH-(1-34) showed that PGE2 production increased significantly by 1 h, reached a maximum at 24 h, and then persisted over 96 h. Indomethacin at concentrations above 5 X 10(-7) M inhibited PGE2 synthesis by both control and hPTH-(1-34)-treated bones. PTH-(1-34) stimulated bone cells to convert arachidonic acid to PGE2, but did not activate the bone to release stored arachidonate. In summary, our results show that hPTH-(1-34) stimulates PGE2 synthesis by chick calvariae. This endogenous PGE2 may be involved in bone remodeling.

B10.RIII and B10.G mice were transferred from a diet of laboratory rodent chow to a standard diet in which all the fat (5% by weight) was supplied as either fish oil (17% eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA], 12% docosahexaenoic acid [DHA], 0% arachidonic acid [AA], and 2% linoleic acid) or corn oil (0% EPA, 0% DHA, 0% AA, and 65% linoleic acid). The fatty acid composition of the macrophage phospholipids from mice on the chow diet was similar to that of mice on a corn oil diet. Mice fed the fish oil diet for only 1 wk showed substantial increases in macrophage phospholipid levels of the omega-3 fatty acids (of total fatty acid 4% was EPA, 10% docosapentaenoic acid [DPA], and 10% DHA), and decreases in omega-6 fatty acids (12% was AA, 2% docosatetraenoic acid [DTA], and 4% linoleic acid) compared to corn oil-fed mice (0% EPA, 0% DPA, 6% DHA, 20% AA, 9% DTA, and 8% linoleic acid). After 5 wk this difference between the fish oil-fed and corn oil-fed mice was even more pronounced. Further small changes occurred at 5-9 wk. We studied the prostaglandin (PG) and thromboxane (TX) profile of macrophages prepared from mice fed the two diets just before being immunized with collagen. Irrespective of diet, macrophages prepared from female mice and incubated for 24 h had significantly more PG and TX in the medium than similarly prepared macrophages from male mice. The increased percentage of EPA and decreased percentage of AA in the phospholipids of the macrophages prepared from the fish oil-fed mice was reflected in a reduction in the amount of PGE2 and PGI2 in the medium relative to identically incubated macrophages prepared from corn oil-fed mice. When this same fish oil diet was fed to B10.RIII mice for 26 d before immunization with type II collagen, the time of onset of arthritis was increased, and the incidence and severity of arthritis was reduced compared to arthritis induced in corn oil-fed mice. The females, especially those on the fish oil diet, tended to have less arthritis than the males. These alterations in the fatty acid pool available for PG and leukotriene synthesis suggest a pivotal role for the macrophage and PG in the immune and/or inflammatory response to type II collagen.

Amyloid P component (AP) bears close homology with C-reactive protein and behaves as an acute phase reactant in the plasma of mice but not in man. Our aim was to determine whether AP is influenced by diet, gender, and arthritis severity in a murine model of arthritis. B10.RIII mice were segregated according to gender and diet at 8 wk of age: the source of fat was either corn oil, fish oil, or beef tallow (5% by weight). Four weeks later, each mouse was immunized with 100 micrograms fetal bovine type II collagen, and the incidence and severity of arthritis was noted at weekly intervals. AP was measured by competitive ELISA in plasma taken 5 wk and 15 wk after immunization. AP levels were less in fish oil fed males and females. Under all conditions tested AP levels of females were greater than in males. There was a negative correlation between AP levels and the severity of arthritis. We conclude from these data that although AP levels cannot be used as indices of arthritis severity, there are significant dietary and gender effects on AP concentrations as long as 15 wk after immunization with type II collagen.

Arthritis-susceptible B10.RIII mice, maintained on either fish oil (FO) or corn oil (CO) diets (5% by weight), and amyloid-susceptible CBA/J mice fed chow diets were given 20 micrograms purified LPS by i.p. injection. Both strains of mice responded to LPS with a 20- to 30-fold increase in plasma amyloid P component (AP) levels. There were no differences in the response between males and females or between FO and CO treatment groups. The data demonstrated that cultured peritoneal macrophages (M phi) respond to LPS stimulation with increased secretion of AP. In contrast to plasma AP levels, the MO response to LPS stimulation, as measured by production of AP, was influenced by both gender and diet. Although M phi from both male and female mice on the CO diet and male mice on the FO diet responded similarly, those from female mice on the FO diet secreted only 25 to 35% as much AP as did the other three groups. There were no dietary effects on the LPS-induced serum amyloid A protein response nor was there detectable serum amyloid A protein produced by the M phi. These results demonstrate that unstimulated, resident peritoneal M phi secrete AP as a normal constituent and in increasing amounts in response to LPS stimulation.

In the presence of ascorbate, there is an increase in collagen synthesis with a concomitant decrease in insoluble elastin and lysyl oxidase activity in cultured rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells. While the addition of 0.5 micrograms ascorbate per ml of medium enhances collagen synthesis and accumulation, detectable insoluble elastin and lysyl oxidase activity remain essentially unchanged. However, at 2 micrograms ascorbate per ml, the integrity of the insoluble elastin is lost and lysyl oxidase activity is decreased. These studies suggest that by modifying the levels of ascorbate in the culture medium one can alter the nature of the extracellular matrix produced by the smooth muscle cells.

A solid-phase, direct binding ELISA for serum amyloid A (SAA) proteins is described, in which noncovalent interactions of SAA with other plasma constituents are disrupted to permit direct coating of the wells of flexible polyvinyl chloride microtitration plates with an amount of SAA antigen proportional to its concentration in plasma. The wells are coated overnight at 60 degrees C with plasma diluted in 3 M potassium bromide and 0.1 M sodium bicarbonate. pH 9.6. The next day, any remaining sites on the wells are blocked by incubation for 1 h at ambient temperature with a 5% solution of dry milk solids and 0.05% Tween 20 in 0.02 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. The wells are rinsed and incubated for 90 min at 37 degrees C with polyclonal rabbit or rat anti-human SAA antiserum. Then, the wells are rinsed and incubated with goat anti-rabbit or rat IgG antiserum to which has been conjugated horseradish peroxidase. o-phenylenediamine and hydrogen peroxide substrates are added to the wells, color is allowed to develop, and sulfuric acid is added to stop the enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The amount of SAA coated to wells is quantified by absorbance at 490 nm. Four or more serial three-fold dilutions of plasma samples are assayed simultaneously on separate plates. Each plate contains a set of wells with identical concentrations of SAA standard protein diluted in decreasing concentrations of plasma proteins corresponding to the dilution of sample. The method can detect SAA concentrations in plasma samples ranging from 1 microgram/ml to greater than 1000 micrograms/ml. The method is suited to serial monitoring of SAA concentration in patients undergoing treatment for inflammatory conditions and to the quantitative analysis of large numbers of samples.