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Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 12/2006; 496(1):192 - 195. · 3.15 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A commercially available preparation of corticotropin was found to have potent cytotoxic activity for several established cell lines. Neither synthetic corticotropin nor alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone demonstrated this cytotoxic activity. Gel filtration allowed separation of a 2100 dalton cytotoxic peptide from the actual corticotropin present in the commercially prepared material. The structural relatedness of the cytotoxic peptide to corticotropin was demonstrated by neutralization with antisera to alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone. These studies indicate the existence of a newly identified ACTH related peptide with cytotoxic activity.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.
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ABSTRACT: Endogenous opioids have been reported to elicit some of the pathophysiologic responses to endotoxic shock by binding to the δ-opiate receptor. We have previously reported the production of immunoreactive (ir)-endorphin by B lymphocytes treated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We postulated that this lymphocyte-derived ir-endorphin may be an extrapituitary source of the endogenous opioid component associated with the pathophysiology of endotoxic shock. To test this hypothesis, we chose to study the LPS-sensitive () and -resistant () inbred mouse model. We treated these mice with intraperitoneal injections of LPS or B-lymphocyte-derived ir-endorphin. The LPS-sensitive mice presented with a severe hypothermic and pathophysiologic response pattern when treated with LPS or with ir-endorphin. The LPS-resistant mice, which were unresponsive to the LPS, however, presented with the typical hypothermic and pathophysiologic responses to the ir-endorphin. Immunofluorescence on the splenic leukocytes in the LPS-treated mice showed significant ir-endorphin present only in the LPS-sensitive mice at a time point preceding onset of the pathophysiologic response pattern. Taken together, this evidence strongly suggests a role for B-lymphocyte-derived ir-endorphin in the pathophysiology of endotoxic shock. The implications of immune system regulation of neuroendocrine function are discussed.
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
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ABSTRACT: Human leukocyte interferon, but not fibroblast or immune interferons, binds to opiate receptor . When injected intracerebrally into mice, human leukocyte, but not fibroblast or immune interferon, caused potent endorphin-like opioid effects. These effects include analgesia, lack of spontaneous locomotion and catalepsy. All of these actions of human leukocyte interferon were preventable and reversible by the opiate antagonist naloxone. The findings suggest that some of the side effects of leukocyte interferon therapy may be mediated by opiate receptor binding. They also provide evidence for a regulatory circuit between the immune and neuroendocrine system. This putative circuit could be an etiologic site for certain psychopathological states.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.
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ABSTRACT: An interesting pattern in the genetic code has been discovered. Codons for hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids on one strand of DNA are complemented by codons for hydrophobic and hydrophilic amino acids on the other DNA strand, respectively. The average tendency of codons for “uncharged” (slightly hydrophilic) amino acids is to be complemented by codons for “uncharged” amino acids.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.
