Immunology and Infectious Disease Commons^™

Environmental Factors In Autoimmunity: Assessment Of Immunotoxicity Of Phthalates In The Induction Of Lupus-Type Anti-Dna Antibodies, So-Yon Lim

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: Little is known of the role of specific environmental factors in promoting autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The broad objective of this study was to address how exposure to phthalates, common environmental factors m foods, and biomedical devices could affect the immune functions of resistant and autoimmune-prone mice. Methods: The environmental chemical model used in this study is phthalates, which are widely used in various forms and readily occur during day-to-day human contacts. Groups of nonautoimmune-prone (BALB/c, DBA/2 and C57BL/6) and susceptible (NZB, NZB/W Fl) mice were immunized with phthalates ( ortho, meta and para) conjugated …

Defensin In The Ticks Dermacentor Variabilis And Ixodes Scapularis, Shane Michael Ceraul

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

This dissertation presents the identification, molecular structure and expression of defensin, an antimicrobial peptide, in the ticks, Dermacentor variabilis and Ixodes scapularis. A 624 bp cDNA molecule for defensin was cloned and sequenced from hemocytes, fat body and midgut of unstimulated D. variabilis ticks. Defensin peptide was detected only in the hemocyte lysates. These results suggest that the defensin from D. variabilis is synthesized and stored in the hemocytes, although the role of other tissues is not excluded.

The ability of the juvenile stage ticks to express the defensin gene was confirmed. Detection of the defensin transcript in all …

5-Ht1b Receptor-Mediated Presynaptic Inhibition Of Gaba Release In The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, Jayne R. Bramley, Patricia J. Sollars, Gary E. Pickard, F. Edward Dudek

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) receives a dense serotonergic innervation that modulates photic input to the SCN via serotonin 1B (5-HT_1B) presynaptic receptors on retinal glutamatergic terminals. However, the majority of 5-HT_1B binding sites in the SCN are located on nonretinal terminals and most axonal terminals in the SCN are GABAergic. We therefore tested the hypothesis that 5-HT_1B receptors might also be located on SCN GABAergic terminals by examining the effects of the highly selective 5-HT_1B receptor agonist CP-93,129 on SCN miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs). Whole cell patch-clamp recordings of mIPSCs were obtained from rat …

A Monkey’S Tale: The Origin Of Plasmodium Vivax As A Human Malaria Parasite, Ananias A. Escalante, Omar E. Cornejo, Denise E. Freeland, Amanda C. Poe, Ester Durrego, William E. Collins, Altaf A. Lal

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

The high prevalence of Duffy negativity (lack of the Duffy blood group antigen) among human populations in sub-Saharan Africa has been used to argue that Plasmodium vivax originated on that continent. Here, we investigate the phylogenetic relationships among 10 species of Plasmodium that infect primates by using three genes, two nuclear (β-tubulin and cell division cycle 2) and a gene from the plastid genome (the elongation factor Tu). We find compelling evidence that P. vivax is derived from a species that inhabited macaques in Southeast Asia. Specifically, those phylogenies that include P. vivax as an ancient lineage from …

How Many Years Of Life Could Be Saved If Malaria Were Eliminated From A Hyperendemic Area Of Northern Ghana?, Ayaga A. Bawah, Fred N. Binka

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

For some time, Chinese government policies have treated rural and urban areas very differently, and a by-product of China’s rapid development seems to be an even greater differentiation between urban and rural social and economic life. Over the next several decades, in part because of rapid fertility declines and in part as a result of mortality declines at older ages, China and other developing countries will experience enormous increases in the proportion of older adults and the proportion of the “oldest-old.” It is reasonable to expect that these age structure changes will alter the provision of health care, making an …

Association Between Coinfection Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Actinobacillus Actinomycetemcomitans And Treponema Denticola And Periodontal Tissue Destruction In Chronic Periodontitis, L. L. Chen, Y. M. Wu, J. Yan, W. L. Sun, Y. Z. Sun, David M. Ojcius

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

Cutting Edge: Cd4+Cd25+ Regulatory T Cells Contribute To Gender Differences In Susceptibility To Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis, Jay Reddy, Hanspeter Waldner, Xingmin Zhang, Zsolt Illes, Kai W. Wucherpfennig, Raymond A. Sobel, Vijay K. Kuchroo

Jay Reddy Publications

Female B10.S mice are highly resistant to proteolipid protein (PLP) 139–151-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and depletion of PLP 139–151- reactive CD4+CD25+regulatory T (Treg) cells can slightly increase their EAE susceptibility. Although male B10.S mice are moderately susceptible to EAE, we report that depletion of Treg cells in male B10.S mice before immunization with PLP 139–151 renders them highly susceptible to severe EAE with more CNS neutrophil infiltrates than nondepleted controls. Increased susceptibility is associated with an enhanced PLP 139–151-specific T cell response and greater production of IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-17. Male CD4+CD25+ effector cells depleted of Treg cells proliferate …

Role Of The Hypervariable Hinge Region Of Phosphoprotein P Of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus In Viral Rna Synthesis And Assembly Of Infectious Virus Particles, Subash C. Das, Asit K. Pattnaik

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The phosphoprotein (P protein) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is an essential subunit of the viral RNAdependent RNA polymerase and has multiple functions residing in its different domains. In the present study, we examined the role of the hypervariable hinge region of P protein in viral RNA synthesis and recovery of infectious VSV by using transposon-mediated insertion mutagenesis and deletion mutagenesis. We observed that insertions of 19-amino-acid linker sequences at various positions within this region affected replication and transcription functions of the P protein to various degrees. Interestingly, one insertion mutant was completely defective in both transcription and replication. Using …

Development And Pathogenesis Of Parelaphostrongylus Odocoilei (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae) In Experimentally Infected Thinhorn Sheep (Ovis Dalli), Emily J. Jenkins, Eric P. Hoberg, L. Polley

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Recently, the protostrongylid nematode Parelaphostrongylus odocoilei has been reported in a new host species, thinhorn sheep (Ovis dalli). For the first time, we completed the life cycle of P. odocoilei in three Stone’s sheep (O. dalli stonei) and two thinhorn hybrids (O. dalli stonei × O. dalli dalli), each infected with 200 third-stage larvae from slugs (Deroceras laeve). The prepatent period ranged from 68 days to 74 days, and shedding of first-stage larvae (L1) peaked at >10,000 L1 per gram of feces between 90 and 110 days postinfection. A total of 75, …

Bronchial Airway Epithelial Cell Denudation In The Pathogenesis Of Asthma: The Role Of Il-4 And Il-13, Gail Ramirez-Icaza

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Asthma is characterized by infiltration and shedding of the bronchial epithelium. The Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 are involved in the cellular recruitment and infiltration seen in asthma. The effects ofIL-4 and IL-13 on cell-matrix interactions, gap formation, increased monolayer permeability and epithelial shedding are unknown. Experiments described in this report test the hypothesis that bronchial airway epithelial cells (BAEC) express paxillin, a structural focal adhesion protein, and down-regulation of paxillin by Th2 cytokines lead to BAEC hyperpermeability. Furthermore, the hypothesis that the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 could down-regulate the adherens junction proteins Pcatenin and E-cadherin in BAEC, and …

The Potential Role Of Ledgf/P75 In Prostate Cancer, Tracy Ruth Daniels

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The serum autoantibody repertoire from cancer patients is currently being exploited for the identification of tumor associated antigens (TAA) and the design of TAA arrays. Such arrays would facilitate autoantibody profiling and potentially aid in the serological diagnosis and prognosis of tumors. The goal of this study was to identify and characterize prostate-specific TAA. We observed that while the general frequency and titers of autoantibodies in PCa patients were relatively similar to those in matched controls, significant differences could be detected between the two groups in the autoantibody response to the lens epithelial-derived growth factor p75 (LEDGF/p75). LEDGF/p75 is a …

Beyond Bloodletting: Fda Gives Leeches A Medical Makeover, Carol Rados

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

In June 2004, the Food and Drug Administration cleared the first application for leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) to be used in modern medicine as medical devices. By definition, a medical device is an article intended to diagnose, cure, treat, prevent, or mitigate a disease or condition, or to affect a function or structure of the body, that does not achieve its primary effect through a chemical action and is not metabolized.

Waccnes Containing Bovine Herpe Svirus 1 Attenuated By Mutation In Latency-Related Gene, Clinton J. Jones

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Vaccines for pathogenic Strains of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) which are based on attenuated BHV-1 having a mutation in the latency-related gene are provided. Live, attenuated vaccines are also provided which express anti gens from other viral or bacterial pathogens and thus form the basis of a variety of vaccines.

Agribusiness Sheep Updates - 2004 Part 2, Anyou Liu, Clinton Revell, Phil Nichols, Brad Nutt, Darryl Clements, Lucy Anderton, Stephen Gherardi, Chris Oldham, Paul Sanford, John Gladman, G. E. Donald, A. Edirisinghe, D. A. Henry, S. P. Gittins, R. C. G. Smith, Roy Butler, Kelly Pearce, David Masters, David Pethick, Andrew Thompson, Ken Hart, Johan Greeff, Beth Paganoni, Rachel Kirby, Matt Ryan, Kira Butler, Roger Heggarty, David Hopkins, Samantha Giles, Tom Plaisted, Mark Ferguson, Darren Gordon, John Young, Sandra Brown, Ian Mcfarland, John Archer, John Milton, Rob Davidson, Graeme Martin, David Lindsay, Johnathan England, Mandy Curnow, Karina P. Wood, Ashley K. White, B. Lloyd Davies, Paul M. Carberry, Mark Hyder, Mike Freer, Andrew Van Burgel, Kazue Tanaka, Andrew Peterson, Roger Wiese, Gonzalo Mata, Evan Burt, Amanda Miller, Anne Bennett, Felicity Flugge, Amir Abadi, Perry Dolling, Dean Thomas, Mike Ewing, David Lindsay, Emma Kopke, E. A. Dowling, E. K. Crossley, Brien (Ben) E. Norton, John Karlsson, Geoff Pollott, Diana Fedorenko, Darryl Clements, Robert Beard, Brown Besier, Una Ryan, Caroline Bath

Sheep Updates

Precision Pastures

Using Species Diversity to Improve Pasture Performance Anyou Liu and Clinton Revell, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia

New Annual Pasture Legumes for Sheep Graziers Phil Nichols, Angelo Loi, Brad Nutt and Darryl McClements Department of Agriculture Western Australia

Pastures from Space – Can Satellite Estimates of Pasture Growth Rate be used to Increase Farm Profit? Lucy Anderton, Stephen Gherardi and Chris Oldham Department of Agriculture Western Australia

Summer-active Perennial Grasses for Profitable Sheep Production Paul Sanford and John Gladman, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia

Pastures From Space – Validation Of Predictions Of Pasture Growth Rates DONALD, G.E^{.A …}

Activation Of The Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt Pathway Contributes To Survival Of Primary Epithelial Cells Infected With The Periodontal Pathogen Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Özlem Yilmaz, Thomas Jungas, Philippe Verbeke, David M. Ojcius

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

Porphyromonas gingivalis, an important periodontal pathogen, infects primary gingival epithelial cells (GECs). Despite the large number of bacteria that replicate inside the GECs, the host cell remains viable. We demonstrate that P. gingivalis triggers rapid and reversible surface phosphatidylserine exposure through a mechanism requiring caspase activation. However, after 1 day of infection, the bacteria no longer induce phosphatidylserine externalization and instead protect infected cells against apoptosis. Infection exerts its effect at the level of mitochondria, as P. gingivalis also blocks depolarization of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and cytochrome c release. Interestingly, protein kinase B/Akt is phosphorylated during infection, which can …

Genomically Intact Endogenous Feline Leukemia Viruses Of Recent Origin, Alfred L. Roca, Jill Pecon-Slattery, Stephen J. O'Brien

Biology Faculty Articles

We isolated and sequenced two complete endogenous feline leukemia viruses (enFeLVs), designated enFeLV-AGTT and enFeLV-GGAG. In enFeLV-AGTT, the open reading frames are reminiscent of a functioning FeLV genome, and the 5′ and 3′ long terminal repeat sequences are identical. Neither endogenous provirus is genetically fixed in cats but polymorphic, with 8.9 and 15.2% prevalence for enFeLV-AGTT and enFeLV-GGAG, respectively, among a survey of domestic cats. Neither provirus was found in the genomes of related species of the Felis genus, previously shown to harbor enFeLVs. The absence of mutational divergence, polymorphic incidence in cats, and absence in related species suggest that …

Phosphorylation Of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Phosphoprotein P Is Indispensable For Virus Growth†, Subash C. Das, Asit K. Pattnaik

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The phosphoprotein (P) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is an essential subunit of the viral RNAdependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) complex. It is phosphorylated at two different domains. Using defective interfering (DI) RNA or minigenomic RNA templates, we previously demonstrated that phosphorylation within the amino-terminal domain I is essential for transcription, whereas phosphorylation within the carboxyterminal domain II is necessary for replication. For the present study, we examined the role of the phosphorylation of residues in these domains in the life cycle of VSV. Various mutant P coding sequences were inserted into a full-length cDNA clone of VSV, and the virus …

Tolerance Of The Fetus By The Maternal Immune System: Role Of Inflammatory Mediators At The Feto-Maternal Interface, Colette Kanellopoulos-Langevin, Stephane M. Caucheteux, Philippe Verbeke, David M. Ojcius

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

The adaptive immune system of placental mammals has evolved to tolerate the fetus. Rejection of the fetus by adaptive immune responses is therefore a rare event, with abortion being caused more frequently by inflammation in the placenta. This review will cover recent aspects of immune privilege and the innate immune system at the feto-maternal interface, citing examples of the role played by microbial infections in fetal demise.

Determination Of The Optimal Form Of A Dna Vaccine To Induce An Effective Immune Response Against A Murine B-Cell Lymphoma, Deepti Aurora

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tumor vaccines are a promising alternative to chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. To be effective and safe, a cancer vaccine should specifically target antigens expressed only on tumor cells. The B-cell tumor-derived Ig receptor may be considered a model tumor antigen for cancer vaccine development. Specifically the immunoglobulin idiotype (ld) encoded by the variable region genes (VH and VL) provides a target antigen. Promising results have been obtained in clinical studies of ld vaccination using ld proteins. However, ld protein is laborious and time-consuming to produce. Gene-based vaccines, on the other hand, are inexpensive and offer ease of manipulation …

The Relationship Between Health Status And Hope In Individuals With Hiv Disease, Celine Meera Chohan

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between hope and health status over a two-year period in individuals who were HIV -infected. One hundred and three individuals completed the surveys at entry into the study, at 12 months, and at 24 months. The Health Status Questionnaire (Wu et.al., 1991) measured Cognitive Functioning, Emotional Functioning, and Physical Functioning. Additionally, the Hope Scale (Snyder, 1991) and the Client Information Form were used to collect data. Results suggested hope at entry into the study was a significant predictor of physical functioning initially, at 12 months, and at 24 months. This finding suggests a link between …

The Benefits Of Breastfeeding: An Introduction For Health Educators, Sheila G. J. Clark, Timothy J. Bungum

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Currently 16% of Americans breastfeed their children for at least 12 months as recommended by the AAP, which is well below the HP 2010 goal of 25%. Breastfed infants receive benefits that can improve their health throughout their lives. The benefits of breastfeeding for children include increased resistance to infectious diseases, such as gastroenteritis, respiratory tract infections, and ear infections. Breastfed children also display lower rates of chronic diseases including diabetes, obesity, asthma, and leukemia. The choice to breastfeed results in economic benefits from lower health care costs and from reduced spending on infant formula. The Healthy People 2010 targets …

Sheep Updates 2003 - Husbandry, Paul Barrett, Kevin Bell, J Greeff, L. Butler, S. Brown, K. Hart, A. Gray, John Karlsson, Paula Coombe, Ron Mctarrart, David Scobie, Sandy White

Sheep Updates

This session covers seven papers from different authors:1. Setting up a successful, low input feedlot Paul Barrett, ‘Bimberdong’ Jerramungup 2. Effective mineral supplementation of sheep Kevin Bell, Sheep Management and Production Consultants, Kojonup, WA 3. Genetic benchmarking for WA sheep producers J. Greeff, L. Butler, S. Brown, K. Hart and A. Gray Department of Agriculture Western Australia 4. Does selecting sheep for low WEC reduce scouring? John Karlsson, Johan Greeff and Paula Coombe, Department of Agriculture Western Australia 5. Summer quarters for sheep - stubbles Ron McTaggart, Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Albany 6. Thinking about breeding Easy Care Sheep? …

Sheep Updates 2003 - Plenaries, Ashley Mercy, David Scobie, Neil Buchanan, Kevin Bell, John Milton, Graeme Martin, Bob Hall, Maurie Stephen, Rob Woodgate

Sheep Updates

This session covers eight papers from different authors:1. Biosecurity in the sheep industry will improve production and profits Ashley Mercy, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia 2. Easy care sheep David Scobie, AgResearch, PO Box 60 Lincoln, 8152, New Zealand 3. Targeting the market’s requirements - live sheep exports Neil Buchanan, Manager Animal Health Operations, Primary Industries & Resources, South Australia 4. Setting flock breeding objectives Kevin Bell, Sheep Management and Production Consultants, Kojonup WA 5. Future feeding of sheep in Western Australia John Milton and Graeme Martin, The University of Western Australia 6. Recipe for getting back into Sheep Bob …

Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization Induces Cell Death In A Mitochondrion-Dependent Fashion, Patricia Boya, Karine Andreau, Delphine Poncet, Naoufal Zamzami, Jean-Luc Perfettini, Didier Metivier, David M. Ojcius, Marja Jäättelä, Guido Kroemer

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

A number of diseases are due to lysosomal destabilization, which results in damaging cell loss. To investigate the mechanisms of lysosomal cell death, we characterized the cytotoxic action of two widely used quinolone antibiotics: ciprofloxacin (CPX) or norfloxacin (NFX). CPX or NFX plus UV light (NFX*) induce lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP), as detected by the release of cathepsins from lysosomes. Inhibition of the lysosomal accumulation of CPX or NFX suppresses their capacity to induce LMP and to kill cells. CPX- or NFX-triggered LMP results in caspase-independent cell death, with hallmarks of apoptosis such as chromatin condensation and phosphatidylserine exposure on …

Characterization Of Mouse Prostate Tumor-Infiltrating Leukocytes, Daniel Alan Holterman

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Prostate cancer is the most common form of non-cutaneous cancer among men in the United States and the second most common cause of cancer-related death among men with approximately 189,000 new cases diagnosed and 30,200 deaths of the disease in 2002. Prostate cancer can be a treatable disease but once it becomes metastatic there are no acceptable therapies. For this reason, immunotherapy has been attempted but the results have been disappointing. The TRAMP model was used to evaluate specific interactions between an intact murine immune system and a prostate tumor that expressed a naturally processed weak tumor antigen. Vaccination trials …

Role Of Proapoptotic Bax In Propagation Of Chlamydia Muridarum (The Mouse Pneumonitis Strain Of Chlamydia Trachomatis) And The Host Inflammatory Response, Jean-Luc Perfettini, David M. Ojcius, Charles W. Andrews Jr., Stanley J. Korsmeyer, Roger G. Rank, Toni Darville

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

The BCL-2 family member BAX plays a critical role in regulating apoptosis. Surprisingly, bax-deficient mice display limited phenotypic abnormalities. Here we investigate the effect of BAX on infection by the sexually transmitted pathogen,Chlamydia muridarum (the mouse pneumonitis strain ofChlamydia trachomatis). Bax −/−cells are relatively resistant to Chlamydia-induced apoptosis, and fewer bacteria are recovered after two infection cycles from Bax −/− cells than from wild-type cells. These results suggest that BAX-dependent apoptosis may be used to initiate a new round of infection, most likely by releasingChlamydia-containing apoptotic bodies from infected cells that could be internalized by neighboring uninfected cells. Nonetheless, infected …

Characterization Of A Gene Encoding Two Isoforms Of A Mitochondrial Protein Upregulated By Cyclosporin A In Activated T Cells, Laurent Mascarell, Rodolphe Auger, Andres Alcover, David M. Ojcius, Thomas Jungas, Veronique Cadet-Daniel, Jean M. Kanellopoulos, Paolo Truffa-Bacchi

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

Cyclosporin A (CSA) is an immunosuppressor used in organ transplantation. A recent proteomic analysis has revealed that activation of T cells in the presence of CSA induces the synthesis of hundreds of new proteins. Here we used representational difference analysis to characterize some of the corresponding induced genes. After cDNA bank screening we focused on one of these genes, which we named CSA-conditional, T cell activation-dependent (CSTAD) gene. This gene produces two mRNAs resulting from alternative splicing events. They encode two proteins of 104 and 141 amino acids, CSTADp-S and CSTADp-L, for the short and long forms, respectively. FK506 had …

Enterobius Vermicularis: Ancient Dna From North And South American Human Coprolites, Alena M. Iñiguez, Karl J. Reinhard, Adauto Araújo, Luiz F. Ferreira, Ana Carolina P. Vicente

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

A molecular paleoparasitological diagnostic approach was developed for Enterobius vermicularis. Ancient DNA was extracted from 27 coprolites from archaeological sites in Chile and USA. Enzymatic amplification of human mtDNA sequences confirmed the human origin. We designed primers specific to the E. vermicularis 5S ribosomal RNA spacer region and they allowed reproducible polymerase chain reaction identification of ancient material. We suggested that the paleoparasitological microscopic identification could accompany molecular diagnosis, which also opens the possibility of sequence analysis to understand parasite-host evolution.

Isovolumetric Regulation In Mammal Cells: Role Of Taurine, B. Ordaz, R. Franco, National University Of Mexico Tuz

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The ability to regulate cell volume is an ancient conserved trait present in essentially all species through evolution. The maintenance of a constant cell volume is a homeostatic imperative in animal cells. Changes in cell water content affecting the concentration of intracellular messenger molecules impair the complex signaling network, crucial for cell functioning and intercellular communication. Although the renal homeostatic mechanisms exert a precise control of extracellular fluid osmolarity, this is challenged in a variety of pathological situations. The intracellular volume constancy is continuously compromised by the generation of local and transient osmotic microgradients, associated with nutrients uptake, secretion, cytoskeleton …

Osmosensitive Taurine Release: Does Taurine Share The Same Efflux Pathway With Chloride And Other Amino Acid Osmolytes?, Rodrigo Franco

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Swelling subsequent to hyposmotic conditions activates a process of volume regulation present in most cell types. This volume adjustment is accomplished by osmolyte translocation toward the extracellular space to reach a new osmotic equilibrium. Molecules involved in this homeostatic mechanism have been broadly classified into two categories: organic and inorganic osmolytes. Inorganic osmolytes comprise mainly the intracellular ions K⁺ and Cl^–. Cell swelling–induced activation of separate K⁺ and Cl^– channels has been described in most preparations. Organic osmolytes are grouped in three categories: amino acids, polyalcohols, and methylamines. These osmolytes, particularly taurine, are present in …