We isolated four kinds of cDNA clones of isotypes of catalytic subunits of protein phosphatase 1 (PP‐1) from rat liver and testis cDNA libraries. For the cloning, cDNA fragments of dis2ml and dis2m2, which encode mouse PP‐1 catalytic subunits, were used as probes. Two of the four isotypes were thought to be derived from the same gene and produced by alternative splicing. Based on the comparative study of their nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences with those reported, these cDNA clones were named rat PP‐1α, PP‐1γ1, PP‐1γ2 and PP‐δ. The deduced amino acid sequences of these four cDNA clones showed about 90% identity. Their amino‐terminal regions were highly conserved, and their differences were mainly in the carboxy‐terminal regions. Furthermore, several amino acids located in the middle regions of the peptides were conserved in all the isotypes of the catalytic subunits of PP‐1, PP‐2A, PP‐2B and PP‐2C. These conserved regions are suggested to be the functional domains of the catalytic subunits of protein phosphatases. Rat hepatocellular carcinomas induced by a food mutagen, 2‐amino‐3,8‐dimethylimidazo[4,5‐f]quinoxaline showed increased expression of PP‐1α, but no increased expression of PP‐1γ1, PP‐1γ2 or PP‐1δ. Involvement of PP‐1α in hepatocarcinogenesis or in hepatic cell proliferation was suspected.

On the basis of the "protease-antiprotease imbalance" theory for the pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema, we hypothesized that measurement of elastase burden and antielastase capacity in the alveolar space might correlate with emphysema. To evaluate this, the severity of emphysema, the elastase burden, and the elastase inhibitory capacity were estimated in 28 patients with chronic bronchitis and variable degrees of emphysema, none of whom had congenital deficiency of alpha-1-protease inhibitor, and all of whom underwent bronchoalveolar lavage. Emphysema was assessed by both computed tomography and diffusing capacity. To examine "elastase burden," elastase:alpha-1-protease inhibitor complex and free elastase activity in alveolar lavage fluids were measured. To evaluate "antielastase" capacity, elastase inhibiting capacity in alveolar lavage fluid was measured. Elastase burden correlated directly and antielastase capacity correlated inversely with emphysema. These data provide direct support for the "protease-antiprotease imbalance" theory of emphysema in a group of smokers without congenital deficiency of alpha-1-protease inhibitor.

Abstract. To determine the roles of thrombopoietin (TPO) in platelet function in vitro, we examined the effects of TPO on platelet aggregation. Although several proteins in platelets were tyrosine-phosphorylated by TPO treatment, TPO alone was unable to induce platelet aggregation. However, the secondary wave of platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was enhanced by TPO in a dose-dependent manner. TPO in conjunction with ADP augmented tyrosine phosphorylation of platelet proteins, including tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins induced by TPO alone. Genistein inhibited protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in platelets induced by TPO with ADP and suppressed TPO-enhanced platelet aggregation. Moreover, tyrosine phosphorylation of MAPkinases induced by TPO alone and TPO with ADP was consistent with TPO-enhanced platelet aggregation. These findings in the present study suggest that signal transduction involved in TPO-enhanced platelet aggregation is mediated in part by tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, including MAPkinases, in platelets through TPO-stimulated c-Mpl, TPO receptor.

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To investigate the physiological role of GRF and somatostatin (SRIF) in GH secretion in adult male rats, we prepared in vitro models using the perifusion system of cultured rat anterior pituitary cells exposed to various combinations of human GRF-(1-44)NH2 (hGRF) and SRIF. We studied the following three models on GRF secretion: 1) pulsatile GRF secreted at 1-h intervals, 2) pulsatile GRF secreted at 3-h intervals, and 3) GRF continuously secreted. When 5-min pulses of 20 nM GRF were delivered at 1-h intervals, the responses to GRF gradually declined. The addition of continuous 20 nM SRIF with short pauses prevented this attenuated response and produced high peaks of GH at 3-h intervals. When 5-min pulses of 20 nM GRF were delivered at 3-h intervals, three high peaks of GH were observed regardless of the addition of SRIF. Pretreatment with GRF pulses enhanced the peaks of GH during SRIF pauses. When 20 nM GRF was continuously delivered, a rapid attenuated response to GRF was observed. Although the addition of continuous 20 nM SRIF with short pauses produced three small peaks of GH, these results were caused by the post-SRIF rebound release. These observations suggest that preexposure to prolonged SRIF can prevent an attenuated response to repeated GRF pulses, and that pretreatment with GRF pulses enhances post-SRIF rebound release.