Human esophageal epithelial cells possess an Na+/H+ exchanger for H+ extrusion

Chronic progressive renal function loss is a main cause of long-term graft loss after initially successful renal transplantation. Transplanted kidneys share some risk factors for renal function loss, such as hypertension or proteinuria, with diseased native kidneys. Recently, it has been shown that renal function loss is influenced by the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) (insertion/deletion [I/D]) genotype in renal disease in diseased native kidneys. This study examines whether donor or recipient ACE (I/D) genotype is a risk factor for graft loss after renal transplantation. To avoid bias by acute events, graft survival was studied, with patients dying with a functioning graft censored, starting at 12 mo after transplantation in a cohort of 367 patients transplanted between 1987 and 1994 with at least 2 yr of follow-up. Mean follow-up was 58 mo. ACE (I/D) genotype was determined by PCR on stored donor and recipient lymphocytes. Neither donor nor recipient ACE (I/D) genotype was associated with graft survival. However, Cox proportional hazards analysis identified recipient, but not donor, ACE (I/D) genotype D-allele to be independently associated with a shorter time to graft loss in subgroups of patients at high risk for graft loss defined by a creatinine clearance <50 ml/min (n = 108, P = 0.017) or proteinuria > or =0.5 g/24 h at 12 mo (n = 97, P = 0.0051) after transplantation. In conclusion, recipient ACE (I/D) genotype was associated with time to graft loss in a specific high-risk subgroup of the study population. This suggests that the effect of ACE (I/D) genotype on graft survival only becomes apparent when other risk factors are simultaneously present.     

H3+ in dense and diffuse clouds

Interstellar H3+ has been detected in dense as well as diffuse clouds using three 3.7 microns infrared spectral lines of the nu 2 fundamental band. Column densities of H3+ from (1.7-5.5) x 10(14) cm-2 have been measured in dense clouds in absorption against the infrared continua of the deeply embedded young stellar objects GL2136, W33A, MonR2 IRS 3, GL961E, and GL2591. Strong and broad H3+ absorptions have been detected in dense and diffuse clouds towards GC IRS 3 and GCS3-2 in the region of the galactic center. A large column density of H3+, comparable to that of a dense cloud, has been detected towards the visible star Cygnus OB2 No. 12, which has a line of sight that crosses mostly diffuse clouds. The H3+ chemistry of dense and diffuse clouds are discussed using a very simple model. Some future projects and problems are discussed.     

Glucose metabolism, H+ production and Na+/H+-exchanger mRNA levels in ischemic hearts from diabetic rats

CD105 (endoglin) is a receptor for transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta). Although methods to measure soluble forms of TGFbeta and CD105 have been published, no assay is available to quantify the receptor-ligand complexes. We describe both an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the quantitation of soluble CD105-TGFbeta1 and the characterization of the complexes by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. Mab E9, specifically reactive with CD105, was utilised as the capture reagent in the ELISA system. Detection of complexes was achieved using chicken antibody against TGFbeta1 and the subsequent detection of bound antibody demonstrated by the addition of anti-species antiserum conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP). By using enhanced chemiluminescence and optimised antibodies, the assay was made sufficiently sensitive and reproducible to detect low levels of circulating complexes. Whether the assay had any practical applications was evaluated in breast cancer patients. Plasma levels of CD105-TGFbeta1 were significantly elevated in 59 patients with breast cancer compared to 52 age matched normal women (p < 0.001). Immunoprecipitation using a rabbit anti-CD105 antibody, which reacts with both dimeric and monomeric CD105, and immunoblotting showed that three molecular forms of CD105-TGFbeta1 complexes > 200, 195, and 125 kDa existed in the plasma. We believe these represent the oligomer, dimer and probably the protease degraded form of CD105 complexed to TGFbeta1. The resistance to hypertonic solution, SDS and heat treatment suggested that the soluble CD105-TGFbeta1 complex may be linked by covalent bonds. The measurement of CD105-TGFbeta complexes in the circulation may have important clinical applications not only in cancer but also in patients with other angiogenic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, myocardial infarction and stroke.