Efflux of chloroquine from Plasmodium falciparum: mechanism of chloroquine resistance

Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum accumulate significantly less chloroquine than susceptible parasites, and this is thought to be the basis of their resistance. However, the reason for the lower accumulation of chloroquine was unknown. The resistant parasite has now been found to release chloroquine 40 to 50 times more rapidly than the susceptible parasite, although their initial rates of chloroquine accumulation are the same. Verapamil and two other calcium channel blockers, as well as vinblastine and daunomycin, each slowed the release and increased the accumulation of chloroquine by resistant (but not susceptible) Plasmodium falciparum. These results suggest that a higher rate of chloroquine release explains the lower chloroquine accumulation, and thus the resistance observed in resistant Plasmodium falciparum.     

Reversal of chloroquine resistance in malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum by desipramine

Desipramine and several other tricyclic antidepressant drugs reverse chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in vitro at concentrations observed in the plasma of human patients treated for depression. Reversal of resistance is associated with increased chloroquine accumulation in the parasite, probably because of inhibition of a putative chloroquine efflux pump. When owl monkeys (Aotus lemurinus lemurinus) infected with chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum were treated with chloroquine plus desipramine, their parasitemias were rapidly suppressed. Desipramine was found to be one of the most effective compounds yet described for the reversal of chloroquine resistance both in vitro and in vivo.     

Reversal of adriamycin resistance by verapamil in human ovarian cancer

The effectiveness of adriamycin in the treatment of ovarian cancer and other human tumors has been limited by the development of drug resistance. Verapamil, a calcium channel blocking agent, completely reversed adriamycin resistance in human ovarian cancer cells with moderate (three- to sixfold) degrees of resistance and partially reversed resistance in highly (150-fold) resistant cells. The potentiating effect of verapamil was due to inhibition of adriamycin efflux in the resistant cells. These results have led to a clinical trial of adriamycin and verapamil in refractory ovarian cancer patients.     

Amplification and expression of genes associated with multidrug resistance in mammalian cells

In multidrug resistance, which is observed clinically and in tissue culture, cells that are challenged with certain cytotoxic drugs develop resistance not only to the selective agent but also to other, seemingly unrelated, agents. The multidrug-resistant phenotype is associated with DNA sequence amplification and with the overproduction of a number of cytosolic and membrane glycoproteins. The differential amplification and altered expression of at least two related genes, termed multidrug-resistant associated genes has been shown in multidrug-resistant Chinese hamster cells. In multidrug-resistant mouse and human cells, genes homologous to those in Chinese hamster cells are also amplified. The level of expression of these genes varied and did not correlate with their copy number. Furthermore, in Chinese hamster cells, the development of resistance to a single drug and multidrug resistance were closely related, but uncoupled, events. The overexpression of the multidrug-resistant genes was better correlated with the degree of resistance to the selective agent than it was with the extent of multidrug resistance.     

Chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites conferred by pfcrt mutations

Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance is a major cause of worldwide increases in malaria mortality and morbidity. Recent laboratory and clinical studies have associated chloroquine resistance with point mutations in the gene pfcrt. However, direct proof of a causal relationship has remained elusive and most models have posited a multigenic basis of resistance. Here, we provide conclusive evidence that mutant haplotypes of the pfcrt gene product of Asian, African, or South American origin confer chloroquine resistance with characteristic verapamil reversibility and reduced chloroquine accumulation. pfcrt mutations increased susceptibility to artemisinin and quinine and minimally affected amodiaquine activity; hence, these antimalarials warrant further investigation as agents to control chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria.     

维拉帕米和三苯氧胺逆转卵巢癌细胞对阿霉素耐药性的实验研究

目的 了解维拉帕米和三苯氧胺体外逆转卵巢癌细胞阿霉素耐药性的效果及临床意义.方法 分别以阿霉素、维拉帕米和三苯氧胺作用于人卵巢癌亲本细胞SKOV3和阿霉素耐药细胞SKOV3/ADM后,采用MTI法检测药物对癌细胞的抑制作用,以细胞内阿霉素聚集量测定和流式细胞术检测凋亡.结果 维拉帕米和三苯氧胺能部分逆转耐药细胞对阿霉素的耐药性,且维拉帕米能显著增加耐药细胞内阿霉素的聚集量并促进其凋亡.结论 虽然维拉帕米和三苯氧胺能部分逆转耐药细胞对阿霉素的耐药性,但用于临床的意义不大.     

Genetic loci affecting resistance to human malaria parasites in a West African mosquito vector population

Successful propagation of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum within a susceptible mosquito vector is a prerequisite for the transmission of malaria. A field-based genetic analysis of the major human malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae, has revealed natural factors that reduce the transmission of P. falciparum. Differences in P. falciparum oocyst numbers between mosquito isofemale families fed on the same infected blood indicated a large genetic component affecting resistance to the parasite, and genome-wide scanning in pedigrees of wild mosquitoes detected segregating resistance alleles. The apparently high natural frequency of resistance alleles suggests that malaria parasites (or a similar pathogen) exert a significant selective pressure on vector populations.     

Plasmodium falciparum in owl monkeys: drug resistance and chloroquine binding capacity

Erythrocytes infected with chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum bind chloroquine with an apparent intrinsic association constant of 1.5 x 10(7) liters per mole. Such high-affinity binding of chloroquine is absent or deficient in uninfected erythrocytes and in erythrocytes infected with chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum.     

Kisspeptin-10对无血清培养鸡F1级卵泡颗粒细胞孕酮分泌的影响及机制研究

【目的】研究kisspeptin-10对无血清培养的鸡卵泡颗粒细胞孕酮分泌的作用及可能机制。【方法】选取200日龄处于产蛋高峰期的伊莎蛋鸡,于排卵前剖腹收集F1卵泡,分离纯化颗粒细胞,于含胎牛血清培养基中培养24 h,换成无血清培养基稳定培养24 h后,用不同浓度的Kp-10、U73122、EGTA等单独或共同处理细胞,收集细胞上清,放射免疫学方法检测培养基中孕酮含量。【结果】（1）通过免疫细胞化学方法,显示颗粒细胞上有Kp-10免疫活性样物质的阳性表达;（2）Kp-10处理可显著增加无血清培养的颗粒细胞的活力,100 nmol•L-1时可显著促进孕酮的分泌（P＜0.05）;（3）与对照组相比,2 μmol•L-1 U73122（磷脂酶C抑制剂）对孕酮的分泌无显著影响（P＞0.05）,而0.5、2 μmol•L-1 U73122能显著降低Kp-10对孕酮分泌的促进作用（P＜0.05）;（4）钙离子阻断剂Verapamil（1-100 μmol•L-1 ）呈剂量依赖性降低孕酮的分泌,于100 μmol•L-1时达显著降低水平（P＜0.05）;与1 μmol•L-1 Verapamil单独处理组相比,100 nmol•L-1 Kp-10与1 μmol•L-1 Verapamil同时处理可显著增加孕酮的分泌,而与10、100 μmol•L-1 Verapamil共同处理不能逆转其对孕酮分泌的抑制作用（P＞0.05）,且胞内钙离子含量与上清液中孕酮分泌水平相一致;（5）与100 nmol•L-1 Kp-10处理组相比,1和5 mmol•L-1 EGTA共同处理时孕酮分泌显著降低,当再加入1.5 mmol•L-1 Ca2+时孕酮分泌量显著增加。【结论】Kp-10促进体外培养的鸡卵泡颗粒细胞孕酮的分泌,其机制可能与胞内Ca2+信号通路有关。     

Expression of the multidrug-resistant gene in hepatocarcinogenesis and regenerating rat liver

Preneoplastic and neoplastic liver nodules and hepatocytes isolated from regenerating rat liver have been shown to be resistant to a broad range of carcinogenic agents. This phenomenon was studied by measuring the expression of the multidrug-resistant (mdr) gene in normal liver cells and in preneoplastic and neoplastic nodules and regenerating liver. Levels of messenger RNA for the mdr gene, which encodes P-glycoprotein, were elevated in both preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions. Expression of the mdr gene also reached high levels in regenerating rat liver 24 to 72 hours after partial hepatectomy. These results show that the expression of the mdr gene can be regulated in liver and is likely to be responsible for part of the multidrug-resistance phenotype of carcinogen-initiated hepatocytes and regenerating liver cells.     

Amplification of a gene related to mammalian mdr genes in drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum contains at least two genes related to the mammalian multiple drug resistance genes, and at least one of the P. falciparum genes is expressed at a higher level and is present in higher copy number in a strain that is resistant to multiple drugs than in a strain that is sensitive to the drugs.     

Role of the glutathione redox cycle in acquired and de novo multidrug resistance

Drug resistance represents a major obstacle to successful cancer chemotherapy. However, the specific biochemical mechanisms responsible for clinical drug resistance are unknown. In these studies resistance to the antitumor agent adriamycin was found to involve two mechanisms, one that decreased drug accumulation by the P170 mechanism and another that altered the glutathione redox cycle, an important pathway in the detoxification of reactive oxygen. This dual mechanism of drug resistance was demonstrated in cell lines that had acquired the multidrug-resistant phenotype and in human colorectal cancer cells with de novo resistance. These studies support a model of acquired and de novo multidrug resistance that includes alterations in both drug accumulation and the glutathione redox cycle.     

Epitopes recognized by human T cells map within the conserved part of the GP190 of P. falciparum

In a study aimed at developing a vaccine against the asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum, two T cell epitopes were identified within a nonpolymorphic region of gp190 of Plasmodium falciparum merozoites. The two epitopes, which were revealed by deletion analysis, stimulated human T cell clones. Peptides containing sequences of the epitopes stimulated the cloned T cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from malaria-infected individuals. Moreover, the T cell clones responded to 11 different Plasmodium falciparum isolates in culture, showing that the epitopes are recognized in native parasites.     

Role of nonimmune IgG bound to PfEMP1 in placental malaria

Infections with Plasmodium falciparum during pregnancy lead to the accumulation of parasitized red blood cells (infected erythrocytes, IEs) in the placenta. IEs of P. falciparum isolates that infect the human placenta were found to bind immunoglobulin G (IgG). A strain of P. falciparum cloned for IgG binding adhered massively to placental syncytiotrophoblasts in a pattern similar to that of natural infections. Adherence was inhibited by IgG-binding proteins, but not by glycosaminoglycans or enzymatic digestion of chondroitin sulfate A or hyaluronic acid. Normal, nonimmune IgG that is bound to a duffy binding-like domain beta of the P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) might at the IE surface act as a bridge to neonatal Fc receptors of the placenta.     

欧亚种葡萄对霜霉病和黑痘病的抗性及关系

利用配对设计方法,田间自然鉴定及室内离体叶圆片接种鉴定,系统地研究了8个欧亚种葡萄品种(系)及1个欧山杂种对葡萄霜霉病及黑痘病的抗性,同时对其中的7个欧亚种葡萄品种对两病的抗性关系进行了研究．结果表明,供试品种(系)对霜霉病与黑痘病的抗性存在负相关,但相关性不显著,由此可以推断,控制两病的微效多基因不是同一基因组或它们是连锁强度不大的2个基因组,即抗霜霉病的品种不太抗黑痘病,抗黑疸病的品种不太抗霜霉病,同一品种对两病的抗性表现交错现象     

Human multidrug-resistant cell lines: increased mdr1 expression can precede gene amplification

The development of simultaneous resistance to multiple structurally unrelated drugs is a major impediment to cancer chemotherapy. Multidrug resistance in human KB carcinoma cells selected in colchicine, vinblastine, or Adriamycin is associated with amplification of specific DNA sequences (the multidrug resistance locus, mdr1). During colchicine selection resistance is initially accompanied by elevated expression of a 4.5-kilobase mdr1 messenger RNA (mRNA) without amplification of the corresponding genomic sequences. During selection for increased levels of resistance, expression of this mRNA is increased simultaneously with amplification of mdr1 DNA. Increased expression and amplification of mdr1 sequences were also found in multidrug-resistant sublines of human leukemia and ovarian carcinoma cells. These results suggest that increased expression of mdr1 mRNA is a common mechanism for multidrug resistance in human cells. Activation of the mdr1 gene by mutations or epigenetic changes may precede its amplification during the development of resistance.     

Diethylstilbestrol induces neoplastic transformation without measurable gene mutation at two loci

The frequency with which diethylstilbestrol induces neoplastic transformation and somatic mutation was measured concomitantly in Syrian hamster embryo cells. While diethylstilbestrol was as active as benzo[a]pyrene in inducing transformation, it failed to induce mutations at two conventionally studied loci. These results suggest that diethylstilbestrol may transform cells in the absence of gene mutations.     

Identification of a platelet membrane glycoprotein as a falciparum malaria sequestration receptor

Infections with the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are characterized by sequestration of erythrocytes infected with mature forms of the parasite. Sequestration of infected erythrocytes appears to be critical for survival of the parasite and to mediate immunopathological abnormalities in severe malaria. A leukocyte differentiation antigen (CD36) was previously suggested to have a role in sequestration of malaria-infected erythrocytes. CD36 was purified from platelets, where it is known as GPIV, and was shown to be a receptor for binding of infected erythrocytes. Infected erythrocytes adhered to CD36 immobilized on plastic; purified CD36 exhibited saturable, specific binding to infected erythrocytes; and purified CD36 or antibodies to CD36 inhibited and reversed binding of infected erythrocytes to cultured endothelial cells and melanoma cells in vitro. The portion of the CD36 molecule that reverses cytoadherence may be useful therapeutically for rapid reversal of sequestration in cerebral malaria.     

蕨和毛叶蕨对大鼠致瘤作用的实验研究

本文研究结果发现,蕨和毛叶蕨除引起肝、肾和心等实质细胞肿胀外,并具有明显的致瘤能力,其肿瘤发生例数分别为11/20和15/22。蕨在W大鼠引起的肿瘤为:肠道肿瘤(3/10);膀胱肿瘤(6/10)。在S—D大鼠只引起膀胱肿瘤(4/10)而无其它肿瘤。毛叶蕨在W大鼠引起的肿瘤;肠道肿瘤(5/12);膀胱肿瘤(5/12);甲状腺肿瘤(2/12);卵巢肿瘤(1/12);皮下肿瘤(1/12)。在S—D大鼠引起的肿瘤为:肠道肿瘤(3/10);膀胱肿瘤(3/10),肿瘤发生率在蕨和毛叶蕨组间以及大鼠品系之间均无明显统计学差异(P>0.1)。肠道肿瘤主要发生于回肠,往往会导致肠套叠或类套叠变化,但未见有肿瘤转移现象,在20只对照大鼠未见任何肿瘤发生。     

Genetic analysis of a high-level vancomycin-resistant isolate of Staphylococcus aureus

Vancomycin is usually reserved for treatment of serious infections, including those caused by multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. A clinical isolate of S. aureus with high-level resistance to vancomycin (minimal inhibitory concentration = 1024 microg/ml) was isolated in June 2002. This isolate harbored a 57.9-kilobase multiresistance conjugative plasmid within which Tn1546 (vanA) was integrated. Additional elements on the plasmid encoded resistance to trimethoprim (dfrA), beta-lactams (blaZ), aminoglycosides (aacA-aphD), and disinfectants (qacC). Genetic analyses suggest that the long-anticipated transfer of vancomycin resistance to a methicillin-resistant S. aureus occurred in vivo by interspecies transfer of Tn1546 from a co-isolate of Enterococcus faecalis.