Enzyme immunoassay of histamine in foods

A competitive enzyme immunoassay of histamine in foodstuffs has been developed using a monoclonal antibody against a histamine‐benzoquinone adduct. In this assay, histamine present in food samples was treated with 1,4‐benzoquinone to form histamine‐benzoquinone by a simple and quick reaction and a histamine‐benzoquinone‐horse‐radish peroxidase conjugate was used as the labelled hapten. The apparent association constant (K_a) of the antibody used was 3.6 ×10⁶ l/mol and Gibbs’ energy of the immune complex formation has been estimated to find the optimal incubation time of the assay. The method enabled determination of histamine in fish, cheese, wine and beer at a concentration as low as 7 ng/ml with an accuracy of ± 15%. The recovery of the immunoassay was 88.9–114%. Cross‐reactivities of histidine, tyramine, tryptamine and its derivatives were lower than 0.001% and did not affect the assay.     

汉防己甲素抑制三种神经递质引起的新生大鼠脑细胞内游离钙的升高

应用Ｐｕｒａ－２技术测定游离新生大鼠脑［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ浓度的技术、研究了Ｔｅｔ对静息脑［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ和３种递质引起的脑［Ｃａ２］ｉ变化的影响。Ｔｅｔ（１，１０和２０μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１）对静息脑［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ无明显影响。Ｔｅｔ（１０μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１）可降低Ｌ－Ｇｌｎ（０．１、１．０和１０μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１）引起的脑（Ｃａ２＋）ｉ的升高。在Ｈａｎｋ＇ｓ液Ｃａ２＋为１．３ｍｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１时，Ｔｅｔ１０μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１可降低Ｈｉｓ（５０和１００μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１）和５－ＨＴ（０．１、１．０、１０和１００μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１）引起的脑［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ的升高。但不能降低Ｈａｎｋ＇ｓ液无Ｃａ２＋时Ｈｉｓ和５－ＨＴ引起的脑［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ的升高。研究表明Ｔｅｔ可阻滞Ｌ－Ｇｉｎ、Ｈｉｓ和５－ＨＴ受体调控的钙通道。但对Ｈｉｓ和５－ＨＴ引起的细胞内贮存钙的释放并无明显影响。Ｔｅｔ的这种降低脑［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ的作用可能是其治疗脑缺血性疾病的机理之一。Ｐ＜０．０１在Ｔｅｔ１０μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１作用下，相同浓度的细胞外液钙和Ｈｉｓ（０、５０和１００μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１），脑［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ分别是２２１±５、２４５±５和３０２±６ｎｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１。增加了１１．８?     

高频喷射通气结合胸壁挤压对组胺致肺损伤犬呼吸循环功能的影响

以高频喷射通气结合胸壁挤压（ＨＦＪＶ＋ＣＷＣ）为通气模式，观察其对组胺致肺损伤犬呼吸循环功能的影响，并与单纯高频喷射通气（ＨＦＪＶ）进行比较。结果表明：与ＨＦＪＶ相比，ＨＦＪＶ＋ＣＷＣ时的功能残气量（ＦＲＣ）、ＰａＣＯ＿２和ＰＣＯ＿２均显著降低（Ｐ＜０．０１），肺泡通气量（Ｖ＿Ａ）和二氧化碳排出量（ＣＯ＿２）均显著增高（Ｐ＜０．０１），每分呼出气量（Ｖ＿Ｅ）、ＰａＯ＿２、ＰＣＯ＿２、吸气峰压（ＰＩＰ）、平均气道压（Ｐａｗ）、呼气末压（ＥＥＰ）、ＨＲ、平均动脉压（ＭＡＰ）、肺动脉压（ＰＡＰ）和肺毛细血管楔压（ＰＣＷＰ）均无显著变化（Ｐ＞０．０５）。提示：ＨＦＪＶ＋ＣＷＣ除保留单纯ＨＦＪＶ时气道开放、气道低压、良好的血液氧合、不影响循环功能等特点外，还具有增加呼气动力，改善肺泡通气，显著促进ＣＯ＿２排除等优点。     

Differential Contractile Response of Cultured Microvascular Pericytes to Vasoactive Agents

Objective: Microvascular pericytes may contract in two different ways: In the first, a circumferential or radial mechanical force applied at right angles to the long axis of the vessel may constrict the underlying vessel affecting blood flow and transmural pressure. Retraction and elongation of pericyte processes may also occur tangentially and at right angles to the vessel axis and alter microvessel permeability by changing the amount of ablumenal surface covered or the openness of interendothelial junctions. In this study, cultured pericytes were utilized as a model experimental system to determine if vasoactive stimulation changes their shape in a manner consistent with this hypothesis. Methods: Pericytes cultured from isolated rate capillaries were subjected to angiotensin II and histamine. Their response was monitored by measuring the area of nonyielding substrate covered by the pericytes and the manner in which their shape changed. Shape changes were quantified by calculating the surface area: perimeter perimeter ratios. Results: Histamine significantly reduced surface area covered and the surface area: perimeter ratio. The pericyte processes retracted, resulting in elongated, spindle-shaped cells. These effects were nullified by the H₁ blocker diphenhydramine suggesting a receptor-specific response. Angiotensin II also elicited contraction and reduced surface area, but the cells contracted laterally and longitudinally. The surface area: perimeter ratios also decreased. Conclusions: These results indicate that pericytes are capable of two types of contractile responses in culture, depending on the specific vasoactive stimulus.     

大鼠实验性胃溃疡自愈期间肠嗜铬样细胞的变化

目的:探讨肠嗜铬样细胞与大鼠实验性胃溃疡自愈的关系. 方法:通过制备大鼠乙酸性胃体溃疡模型,采用免疫组化、逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)和放射免疫测定的方法,观察溃疡自愈过程中大鼠胃黏膜内ECL细胞形态、组氨酸脱羧酶(HDC)mRNA和组胺含量的变化. 结果:胃溃疡大鼠胃黏膜内HDC阳性细胞率和胞质平均灰度值在制模术后第1日即开始降低,术后第6日达到最低,随后开始回升,术后第12日基本正常. 胃黏膜内HDC mRNA表达在制模术后第1日开始降低,第3日最明显,第6日开始恢复,第9日后接近正常. 制模术后胃黏膜内组胺含量也出现下调,以术后第6日为最低. 结论:ECL细胞可通过减弱其合成组胺的功能,参与胃溃疡自愈的调节过程.     

Anti-inflammatory effects of hydroalcoholic extract and two biflavonoids from Garcinia gardneriana leaves in mouse paw oedema

Garcinia gardneriana (Planch. & Triana) Zappi (Clusiaceae) is widely distributed in Brazil and used in folk medicine to treat inflammation, pain, and urinary tract and other infections. However, very few studies have analyzed these therapeutic effects. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of the hydroalcoholic extracts from Garcinia gardneriana (HEGG) and some of its isolated biflavonoids were evaluated. The results showed that HEGG from the leaves, bark and seeds reduced carrageenan-induced mouse paw inflammation, in addition to diminishing the myeloperoxidase activity in the stimulated tissues. The reduction of neutrophil infiltration by treatment with the HEGG from leaves was confirmed by histology. The leaf extract also reduced the paw oedema evoked by bradykinin, histamine, prostaglandin E2 and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol acetate. However, it partially decreased substance P and compound 48/80-caused paw oedema, without any influence on the arachidonic acid-induced oedema. Both of the isolated compounds, fukugetin and GB-2a, prevented the carrageenan-induced paw oedema. In conclusion, this study showed important anti-inflammatory effects of HEGG through its interaction with different intracellular signaling pathways, without interfering with the formation of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites. These characteristics, in addition to the wide distribution and culturing ease of the plant, confirm its popular use and highlight its promise in the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs.     

Genetic segregation analysis of red blood cell (RBC) histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT) activity

Methylation is an important pathway in the biotransformation of many drugs, neurotransmitters, and xenobiotic compounds. Histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT) catalyzes the Nτ-methylation of histamine and structurally related compounds. Measurement of HNMT activity in the RBC makes it possible to access variation in the enzyme activity that may reflect differences in less accessible tissues such as brain. Previously reported high family correlations for RBC HNMT activity suggested that genetic inheritance plays a major role in the regulation of variation in this enzyme. In the present study we completed complex segregation analyses of RBC HNMT activity of 241 individuals in 51 nuclear families that were randomly ascertained through children in the Rochester, Minnesota public school system in order to characterize the mode of inheritance of this important enzyme. We found evidence for major gene influence on the regulation of RBC HNMT activity. Both transformed and untransformed data support the presence of Mendelian major gene segregation, but the gene frequency differences do not indicate a direct correspondence between genotypes inferred from the two sets of analyses. Analyses of the skewed untransformed data indicated the presence of a relatively rare (Q = 0.121) additive major gene for high activity, with the three overlapping genotype distributions representing 77, 21, and 2 % of individuals. Analyses of the normalized transformed data indicated the presence of a common (Q = 0.71) additive major gene for high activity, with the three overlapping genotype distributions accounting for 9, 41, and 50 % of individuals. The analyses of transformed data give the best fit as well as the most parsimonious Mendelian major gene model. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of multiple alleles, and analyses of untransformed data provide some support for a third allele. Molecular studies will be needed to validate and characterize the alleles that regulate RBC HNMT activity levels in humans. © 1993 Wiley-Liss. Inc.     

支气管哮喘患儿全血组胺水平检测

对７８例支气管哮喘患儿和３２名正常儿童全血组胺含量进行检测。结果显示，支气管哮喘患儿全血组胺含量高于正常儿童（Ｐ＜０．０１），其外源性哮喘患儿全血组胺含量高于内源性哮喘和混合型哮喘患儿（均Ｐ＜０．０ｌ），提示全血组胺含量测定在小儿支气管哮喘的诊断和分型上具有一定价值。     

Anti-inflammatory effect of β2-agonists: Inhibition of TNF-α release from human mast cells

β₂-Agonists inhibit the release of preformed mediators such as histamine and newly synthesized mediators such as prostaglandin D₂ from mast cells. However, although mast cells have been identified as an important source of several cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), there is no information about their regulation by β₂-agonists. Thus given the importance of TNF-α in inflammation and the widespread use of β₂-agonists, we investigated the effect of long-acting (salmeterol) and short-acting (salbutamol) β₂-agonists on the secretion of TNF-α from human skin mast cells. Treatment of mast cells with salmeterol or salbutamol (100 nmol/L) inhibited the IgE-dependent release of TNF-α (82% and 74%, respectively). Moreover, 2-hour treatment with salmeterol, isoproterenol, or salbutamol inhibited mast cell cytotoxicity against a TNF-α–sensitive cell line, WEHI-164, with an IC₅₀ of 71, 50, and 29 nmol/L, respectively. Specificity for β-adrenergic receptors was shown with propranolol. The inhibitory effect of β₂-agonists was observed after only 20 minutes of treatment but was lost by 24 hours after removal of salbutamol and isoproterenol (7% and 11% inhibition remaining, respectively). In contrast, the inhibition of TNF-α release was increased 1 hour after removal of salmeterol and remained significant 24 hours later. Furthermore, β₂-agonists did not show tachyphylaxis for the inhibition of TNF-α release. Thus selective β₂-agonists demonstrate anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the release of TNF-α from mast cells stimulated through their IgE receptor or by a tumor target cell. This inhibitory effect of β-agonists may be important in their mode of action in the treatment of allergic diseases. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;100:825-31.)