Induction of zinc metallothionein by calcium ionophore in vivo and in vitro

AbstractThe calcium ionophore, A23187, can induce rat hepatic metallothionein (MT) when administered in vivo (5.8-fold, 5.0 μM, 11 h) and rat hepatocyte MT when administered in vitro (10.70-fold, 1.0 μM, 24 h). Several rat hepatoma cell lines (2M, 4.55-fold; JM2, 12.29-fold; EC3, 14.12-fold; HTC, 7.99-fold) and a normal rat liver cell line (Clone 9, 39.67-fold) were tested for their inducibility of MT mRNA by Cd2+ (10 μM, 8 h). Quantitatively, JM2 and 2M made the most MT mRNA, while HTC made the least. A23187 (0.1–7.0 μM) was studied as an inducer of MT mRNA in these cell lines (except for HTC) and in HeLa. A variety of responses and tolerances were seen with inductions ranging up to 32.11-fold. Quantitatively, the best responding cell lines were EC3 and 2M. A combination induction experiment, using TPA, a protein kinase C activator, and A23187 in EC3 cells revealed an additive effect of the two inducers on MT mRNA levels: TPA (10 nM), 11.71-fold; A23187 (3.0μM), 6.71-fold; and TPA + A23187, 20.00-fold. These studies have implicated perturbations in cytosolic calcium ion concentrations, caused by the ionophore A23187, as being involved in the complicated signaling systems which can lead to induction of MT mRNA and protein

Imaging findings of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-producing tumors: a case series and review of the literature

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-producing tumors have an aggressive clinical course. Here, we report five cases of G-CSF-producing tumors and review the literature, focusing on imaging findings related to tumor-produced G-CSF. In addition to our cases, we identified 30 previous reports of G-CSF-producing tumors on which 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/CT, bone scintigraphy, or evaluation of bone marrow MR findings was performed. White blood cell count, serum C-reactive protein, and serum interleukin-6 were elevated in all cases for which these parameters were measured. G-CSF-producing tumors presented large necrotic masses (mean diameter 83.2 mm, range 17–195 mm) with marked FDG uptake (mean maximum standardized uptake value: 20.09). Diffuse FDG uptake into the bone marrow was shown in 28 of the 31 cases in which FDG-PET/CT was performed. The signal intensity of bone marrow suggested marrow reconversion in all seven MRI-assessable cases. Bone scintigraphy demonstrated no significant uptake, except in two cases with bone metastases. Splenic FDG uptake was increased in 8 of 10 cases in which it was evaluated. These imaging findings may reflect the effects of tumor-produced G-CSF. The presence of G-CSF-producing tumors should be considered in patients with cancer who show these imaging findings and marked inflammatory features of unknown origin

健康食品中の硝酸塩の含有量調査

We investigated the contents of nitrate in health foods, vegetables, baby foods and crude drugs by HPLC. Nitrate was detected from all the products. The nitrate contents of products was as follow: supplements containing vegetables or herbs (n=14), 292～5,151μg/g; powdered vegetable juice (n=14), 404～11,860μg/g; health foods containing ginseng (n=10), 56～1,253μg/g; vegetables (n=8), 604～6,238μg/g; vegetable baby foods (n=6), 118～1,421μg/g; ginseng crude drugs (n=3), 372～2,142μg/g. The nitrate level is high in some powdered vegetable juices

Determination of 17β-estradiol concentration in aquatic environment of Peninsular Malaysia using the ELISA technique

Effluents from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants, agricultural run-off and domestic drainage add numerous pollutants to the aquatic system. Among them is 17β-estradiol (E2), which is known as one of the strongest estrogenic chemical in the environment and commonly found in wastewater. This study was conducted to assess present concentration of E2 in aquatic environment of Peninsular Malaysia. Water samples were collected from rivers, estuaries and lakes at the northern, central and southern regions of Peninsular Malaysia. E2 concentration was determined using ELISA technique. Results revealed that the center region has the highest E2 average concentration (149.19 ng/L), followed by the northern region (95.04 ng/L) and southern region (15.66 ng/L). These results exhibit size of human population and activities may directly related with E2 elevation in aquatic environment as reflected by high human population in the central region. The lakes have the lowest concentration (11.83 ng/L), thus suggesting E2 discharges flow directly into river system. Comparison with other countries demonstrates E2 in aquatic environment in Peninsular Malaysia is higher several folds. If no immediate actions are implemented to control E2 level in the environment, there could be some adverse effects, especially to male aquatic animals, such as ova-testis, feminization, fertility reduction and villetogenin gene expression. Application of suitable bio-indicator is recommended in order to monitor estrogenic activities in aquatic environment

Development of Plasma Vitellogenin Assay for Estrogenic Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Using Ovariectomized Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Plasma vitellogenin (VTG) assay was developed using ovariectomized goldfish (Carassius auratus) for determining the estrogenic effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. In a laboratory study, we assessed the estrogenic activity of commercial fish diets by using a diet for ornamental carp (CD) and a casein-based formulated fish diet (FD), which was shown to not contain soybean or fish meal in a previous study. In ovariectomized fish, plasma VTG concentrations were significantly higher in the CD-fed group than in the FD-fed group. These results indicate that the estrogen activity of CD may be high enough to cause induction of plasma VTG in ovariectomized goldfish as previously observed in male goldfish. Moreover, the effect of estrogen on plasma VTG induction was confirmed by significant plasma VTG production following the exposure of FD-fed ovariectomized goldfish to a nominal estradiol-17β concentration of 100 μg/l for 31 days. Our data suggest that induction of plasma VTG using ovariectomized goldfish is a good tool for evaluating the estrogenic effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals