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Biomedical subjects

A Ghorpade

Publications and source records attributed to A Ghorpade.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Suppression of inflammatory neurotoxins by highly active antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus-associated dementia.

A human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV)-seropositive, antiretroviral-naive patient presented with significant cognitive dysfunction. Neuropsychologic, neuroradiologic, immunologic, and virologic studies confirmed HIV-associated dementia (HAD). After 12 weeks of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with ibuprofen, dramatic improvements were demonstrated in neurologic function and were sustained for > 1 year. HIV-1 RNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) decreased from 10(5) to 10(4) copies/mL after 4 weeks. After 20 weeks of therapy, plasma viremia decreased from 10(6) copies/mL to undetectable (< 96 copies/mL). Assays of neurotoxins (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, quinolinic acid, and nitric oxide) in plasma and CSF were considerably elevated at presentation and significantly decreased after therapy. Baseline plasma and CSF demonstrated neurotoxic activities in vitro, which also reduced markedly. These data, taken together, support the notion that HAD is a reversible metabolic encephalopathy fueled by viral replication. HAART used with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents leads to the suppression of inflammatory neurotoxins and can markedly improve neurologic function in HAD.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1998

Human immunodeficiency virus neurotropism: an analysis of viral replication and cytopathicity for divergent strains in monocytes and microglia.

Productive replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in brain macrophages and microglia is a critical component of viral neuropathogenesis. However, how virus-macrophage interactions lead to neurological disease remains incompletely understood. Possibly, a differential ability of virus to replicate in brain tissue macrophages versus macrophages in other tissues underlies HIV-1 neurovirulence. To these ends, we established systems for the isolation and propagation of pure populations of human microglia and then analyzed the viral life cycles of divergent HIV-1 strains in these cells and in cultured monocytes by using identical viral inocula and indicator systems. The HIV-1 isolates included those isolated from blood, lung tissue, cerebrospinal fluids (CSF), and brain tissues of infected subjects: HIV-1(ADA) and HIV-1(89.6) (from peripheral blood mononuclear cells), HIV-1(DJV) and HIV-1(JR-FL) (from brain tissue), HIV-1(SF162) (from CSF), and HIV-1(BAL) (from lung tissue). The synthesis of viral nucleic acids and viral mRNA, cytopathicity, and release of progeny virions were assessed. A significant heterogeneity among macrophage-tropic isolates for infection of monocytes and microglia was demonstrated. Importantly, a complete analysis of the viral life cycle revealed no preferential differences in the abilities of the HIV-1 strains tested to replicate in microglia and/or monocytes. Macrophage tropism likely dictates the abilities of HIV-1 to invade, replicate, and incite disease within its microglial target cells.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1998

Role of the beta-chemokine receptors CCR3 and CCR5 in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection of monocytes and microglia.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in mononuclear phagocyte lineage cells (monocytes, macrophages, and microglia) is a critical component in the pathogenesis of viral infection. Viral replication in macrophages serves as a reservoir, a site of dissemination, and an instigator for neurological sequelae during HIV-1 disease. Recent studies demonstrated that chemokine receptors are necessary coreceptors for HIV-1 entry which determine viral tropism for different cell types. To investigate the relative contribution of the beta-chemokine receptors CCR3 and CCR5 to viral infection of mononuclear phagocytes we utilized a panel of macrophage-tropic HIV-1 strains (from blood and brain tissue) to infect highly purified populations of monocytes and microglia. Antibodies to CD4 (OKT4A) abrogated HIV-1 infection. The beta chemokines and antibodies to CCR3 failed to affect viral infection of both macrophage cell types. Antibodies to CCR5 (3A9) prevented monocyte infection but only slowed HIV replication in microglia. Thus, CCR5, not CCR3, is an essential receptor for HIV-1 infection of monocytes. Microglia express both CCR5 and CCR3, but antibodies to them fail to inhibit viral entry, suggesting the presence of other chemokine receptors for infection of these cells. These studies demonstrate the importance of mononuclear phagocyte heterogeneity in establishing HIV-1 infection and persistence.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 production and its binding to the matrix are increased in abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Degradation of the elastic media is a hallmark of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). We examined the expression of 2 elastolytic matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-9, in AAA aortic tissues compared with those from atherosclerotic occlusive disease (AOD) and nondiseased control tissues. Quantitative competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and gelatin zymography showed increased MMP-9 mRNA and protein in both AAA and AOD tissues compared with those in control tissue, but there was no significant difference between AAA and AOD. In contrast, MMP-2 mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher in AAA than in AOD or control tissues. Sequential extraction of the MMPs from the aortic tissue with a physiological salt solution, 2% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and 10 mol/L urea showed that large amounts of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were bound to the matrix. The most conspicuous finding was that the levels of MMP-2 were significantly elevated in the DMSO fraction in AAA tissues compared with AOD and control tissues. In addition, a large portion of MMP-2 found in the DMSO and urea fractions was in the active 62-kDa form, indicating that the precursor of MMP-2 in AAA is largely activated locally and binds to the tissue matrix tightly. By immunolocalization, MMP-9 was found to be primarily produced by macrophages and MMP-2 by mesenchymal cells. The production of MMP-2 was prominent when mesenchymal cells were surrounded by inflammatory cells, suggesting paracrine modulation of MMP-2 expression in AAAs. These observations emphasize that MMP-2 participates in the progression of AAAs by degrading aortic tissue matrix components.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Verrucoid cutaneous rhinosporidiosis.

Verruca vulgaris like lesions of cutaneous rhinosporidiosis are reported in a middle aged Indian male. He also had nasal rhinosporidiosis. Imprint smears from skin lesions showed sporangia with endospores, confirming the diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Biochemistry and molecular regulation of matrix macromolecules in abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Past concepts of aneurysmal dilatation as a passive process of attenuation are oversimplified and inaccurate. Aneurysm formation is a complex remodeling process that involves both synthesis and degradation of matrix proteins. Interstitial procollagen gene expression is increased in AAA compared to AOD or normal aorta, whereas tropoelastin gene expression is decreased in both AOD and AAA. The medial elastin network is disrupted and discontinuous in small AAA. Thus, the growth rate of an established AAA may well relate to the balance between collagen synthesis and degradation. Although the increased procollagen expression found in AAA may represent a compensatory response, understanding the factors that modulate matrix metabolism in AAA may allow for development of pharmacologic strategies which effectively inhibit the growth of small aneurysms.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Efficient expression, processing and secretion of a biologically active mammalian protein by Vibrio cholerae.

The use of Vibrio cholerae as a secretory expression system for the expression of a mammalian protein, namely human growth hormone, under the control of the heat labile enterotoxin chain B signal sequence is reported. The protein is efficiently expressed and processed. The mature protein is exported to the periplasm after which it is secreted to the extracellular milieu. The expressed and secreted hGH actively binds to its receptor as established by its receptor binding activity. The biological activity of the protein is demonstrated in vitro in a Nb2 proliferation assay.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Phosphorylation-dependent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection and nuclear targeting of viral DNA.

In the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), gag MA (matrix), a major structural protein of the virus, carries out opposing targeting functions. During virus assembly, gag MA is cotranslationally myristoylated, a modification required for membrane targeting of gag polyproteins. During virus infection, however, gag MA, by virtue of a nuclear targeting signal at its N terminus, facilitates the nuclear localization of viral DNA and establishment of the provirus. We now show that phosphorylation of gag MA on tyrosine and serine prior to and during virus infection facilitates its dissociation from the membrane, thus allowing it to translocate to the nucleus. Inhibition of gag MA phosphorylation either on tyrosine or on serine prevents gag MA-mediated nuclear targeting of viral nucleic acids and impairs virus infectivity. The requirement for gag MA phosphorylation in virus infection is underscored by our finding that a serine/threonine kinase is associated with virions of HIV-1. These results reveal a novel level of regulation of primate lentivirus infectivity.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Buffalopox.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Intrathecal excitatory amino acid (EAA) agonists increase tail flick latencies (TFLs) of spinal rats.

The facilitation of spinal nociceptive reflexes that occurs after spinal transection reveals the existence of descending, supraspinally mediated inhibition. Substantial evidence indicates that the excitatory amino acids (EAAs) are involved in these spinal circuits. Therefore, it was hypothesized that reflex facilitation in the spinal animal might be due to the removal of inhibitory input normally exerted on the spinal action of EAAs. If so, the facilitatory decrease in reflex latency, observed in the spinal preparation, might be potentiated by intrathecal (IT) administration of EAA agonists. This was tested by comparing the effect of IT injections of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) on the thermally elicited tail flick (TF) response of Intact and acute spinal rats. In intact rats, a low (0.25 nM) dose of NMDA produced a hyperalgesic decrease in latency, relative to saline, whereas higher doses produced an overall increase in latency. A large dose (0.5 microM) produced overt signs of toxicity (crippling, self-mutilation, and loss of the reflex). Only the highest (1.0 nM) dose of AMPA affected the response, resulting in a significant increase. After spinal transection, the hyperalgesic reaction to 0.25 nM of NMDA was absent, and latencies were significantly increased by 1.0 nM. The toxic reaction to 0.5 microM appeared to be potentiated. Tail flick responses to AMPA were also significantly increased in spinal rats. Contrary to the prediction, reflex latencies were significantly increased by these drugs after spinal transection. It was suggested that, although the spinal action of EAAs appears to be supraspinally modulated, this influence may be facilitatory rather than inhibitory.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Evidence of a role for N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the facilitation of tail withdrawal after spinal transection.

Peripheral injury produces a characteristic excitation of spinal cord dorsal horn cells (wind-up) which is associated with a facilitation of spinal nociceptive reflexes (hyperalgesia). These phenomena are believed to be mediated by a trauma-induced increase in the release of excitatory amino acids (EAAs). A similar increase in the activity of dorsal horn neurons and spinal reflexes occurs after spinal transection. Therefore, the present studies examined the possibility that EAAs, acting through the NMDA receptor, might also be involved in behavioral hyperalgesia produced by central injury. The first experiment assessed the effect of pretreatment with the NMDA antagonist, ketamine, on the facilitated tail flick (TF) response of spinally transected rats. Separate groups of animals were spinalized under isoflurane anesthesia alone, intramuscular ketamine anesthesia alone, or a combination of isoflurane and intrathecal ketamine. The TF was examined 24 h later, before and 30 min after an intrathecal injection of morphine. In the second experiment, the effect of intraperitoneal or intrathecal ketamine on the TF was assessed to separate groups of rats that underwent spinal transection or sham surgery under isoflurane anesthesia. Pretreatment with either systemic or intrathecal ketamine did not alter TF facilitation or morphine-induced antinociception in spinal rats. However, both systemic and intrathecal ketamine significantly increased TF latencies in spinal, relative to intact rats. These results indicate that ketamine did not prevent the development of spinal reflex facilitation, but it selectively reduced this reaction once it was established in spinal rats. The data support an involvement of EAAs in reflex facilitation produced by spinal transection.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1993

Efficient processing and export of human growth hormone by heat labile enterotoxin chain B signal sequence.

The heat-labile enterotoxin chain B (LTB) signal sequence was used for the processing and export of human growth hormone (hGH). The protein was completely processed and exported across the cell membrane to accumulate in the periplasmic space in Escherichia coli. The human growth hormone cDNA was cloned as a PCR amplified fragment under the control of tac promoter and translationally fused to the LTB signal sequence. The rate of processing of hGH under the control of the LTB signal sequence was equal to or more than the rate of induction of expression, indicating efficient processing. The receptor binding activity of the processed periplasmic protein was established in a radio receptor assay.

Bacterial Toxins↗