Myrtaceae is one of the chemically most variable and most significant essential oil yielding plant families. Despite an abundance of chemical information, very little work has focussed on the biochemistry of terpene production in these plants. We describe 70 unique partial terpene synthase transcripts and eight full-length cDNA clones from 21 myrtaceous species, and compare phylogenetic relatio...

The relationship between levels of angiotensin II, kinins, and prostaglandin E and the depressor response to 1 or 3 mg/kg of the conrerting enzyme inhibitor SQ20.88I was studied in recumbent hypertensive subjects during 109 mEq and 9 mEq/day sodium intake. In 13 sodium-replete patients, SQ20,881 decreased angiotensin II from 46.7 ± 9.2 (mean ± SEM) to 31.7 ± 5.1 pg/ml and plasma aldosterone fro...

The presence of la-antigens and their relationship to the inhibitory effect of prostaglandin E on the proliferation of human CFU-GM was studied in normals and patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Consistent reduction of normal colony formation to approximately 50% of baseline levels was observed using a monoclonal anti-human Ia antibody in a complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay titrated o...

The proliferative response of murine hemopoietic pro genitor cells to the stimulatory actions of colony-stimulating factor can be antagonized by agents that elevate cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and can be potentiated by agents associated with increases in cyclic guanosine 3':5'monophosphate. The granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cell is profoundly inhibited by the E-series prostaglandin...

Acetaminophen is one of the world's most commonly used drugs to treat fever and pain, yet its mechanism of action has remained unclear. Here we tested the hypothesis that acetaminophen blocks fever through inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), by monitoring lipopolysaccharide induced fever in mice with genetic manipulations of enzymes in the prostaglandin cascade. We exploited the fact that l...

Neurons interact closely with astrocytes via glutamate; this neuron-glia circuit may play a pivotal role in synaptic transmission. On the other hand, astrocytes contact vascular endothelial cells with their end-feet. It is becoming obvious that non-neuronal cells play a critical role in regulating the neuronal activity in the brain. We find that kainic acid (KA) administration induces the expre...

Ocular changes (prostaglandin E, protein, pupil diameter, and intraocular pressure) induced by photodisruption of pigmented rabbit iris with neodymium-yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd-YAG) laser and the effect of topical indomethacin upon those changes were examined. Concentrations of prostaglandin E in laser-treated eyes (1,3,5,10, and 20 lesions) were substantially greater than those in normal eye...

Dysregulation of enzymes involved in prostaglandin biosynthesis plays a critical role in influencing the biological behavior and clinical outcome of several tumors. In human gliomas, overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 has been linked to increased aggressiveness and poor prognosis. In contrast, the role of prostaglandin E synthase in influencing the biological behavior of human gliomas has not b...

In an attempt to relate changes in the intracellular concentration of prostaglandin E to the secretion process, two agents known to increase cyclic nucleotide concentrations and hormone release were added to dispersed rat anterior pituitary cells. They caused increases in teh intracellular prostaglandin E concentrations. Increasing the K+ concentration in the medium (which stimulates hormone re...

UV radiation induces systemic immunosuppression. Because nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs suppress UV-induced immunosuppression, prostanoids have been suspected as a crucial mediator of this UV effect. However, the identity of the prostanoid involved and its mechanism of action remain unclear. Here, we addressed this issue by subjecting mice deficient in each prostanoid receptor individuall...