PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Lefort

Publications and source records attributed to A Lefort.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Lichen planus and vaccination against hepatitis B].

INTRODUCTION: The association of lichen planus with liver diseases is now well established. Lichen planus following hepatitis B vaccination are much more unusual. We report here the fifth case of this kind. CASE REPORT: A 16 years old girl developed a purely cutaneous lichen planus one week after the first injection of hepatitis B vaccine Gen Hevac B (Institut Pasteur), which appeared again 3 days after the second injection. The histologic features shown lichenoid pattern with intense keratinocytes necrosis more in favor of lichenoid drug eruption than lichen planus. DISCUSSION: According to our knowledge, only four similar cases have been previously reported. Comparison between the different vaccines used shows that only the HBs antigen and its epitope S could be involved in the lichen planus eruption. Our case is specific due to the early appearance of the eruption after the first injection and by its histologic features. CONCLUSION: New cases of lichen planus following hepatitis B vaccination should help to explain the causal relationship between lichen planus eruption and hepatitis B vaccination.

Adolescent↗

Construction of a bovine genomic library of large yeast artificial chromosome clones.

We have constructed a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) library derived from bull fibroblasts in primary culture. The library consists of 21,500 clones arranged on 224 gridded plates (96 or 8 x 12 positions) and in 2 x 224 96-well microplates maintained as permanent frozen stocks. An average insert size of 750 kb was estimated from the analysis of 200 randomly selected YACs, giving a sixfold coverage of the bovine genome for the total library. A screening strategy based on the polymerase chain reaction that allows the identification of individual clones has been devised. Screening of the library with six locus-specific markers of interest led to the isolation of 34 positive clones. The proportion of chimeric YACs was estimated from the analysis of a subset of the positive clones: 3 of 9 YACs were found to contain noncontiguous DNA.

Animals↗

Cloning and functional characterization of a human A1 adenosine receptor.

A human brain hippocampus cDNA library was screened by hybridization with a dog A1 adenosine receptor cDNA probe. Sequencing of the resulting clones identified a 978 residue open reading frame encoding a 326 amino acid polypeptide showing 95.7% similarity with the dog A1 adenosine receptor. Individual clones of stably transfected CHO cells expressing the human A1 receptor were obtained and tested for their response to the A1 agonist CPA [N6-cyclopentyladenosine] in the presence of forskolin. One clone was further characterized with respect to membrane binding of various adenosine agonists and antagonists. The rank order of affinities observed was typical of an A1 adenosine receptor. A Kd value of 2.28 nM was determined using [3H]DPCPX [dipropylcyclopentyl-xanthine], an A1 selective antagonist.

Adenosine↗

Expression of members of the putative olfactory receptor gene family in mammalian germ cells.

A series of genomic and complementary DNA clones encoding new putative members of G protein-coupled receptors were isolated using homology cloning and low-stringency polymerase chain reaction. Among the unidentified receptors ('orphan receptors'), a human genomic clone (HGMP07) was characterized by the presence of its transcripts in the testis and by its belonging to a large subfamily of genes sharing extensive sequence similarities. Sequence comparison demonstrated that this gene subfamily is the human counterpart of the putative rat olfactory receptors cloned recently. Another 48 members of the family were cloned. Northern blotting further demonstrated the presence of olfactory receptor transcripts in germ cells. Our finding suggests that a common receptor gene family encodes olfactory receptors and sperm cell receptors that could be involved in chemotaxis during fertilization.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure of the human brain calcium-binding protein calretinin and its expression in bacteria.

Calbindin D28k and calretinin are two closely related intracellular calcium-binding proteins belonging to the troponin C superfamily. Calbindin is known to be involved in the vitamin-D-dependent calcium absorption through intestinal and renal epithelia, while the function of neuronal calbindin and calretinin is poorly understood. Using antibodies directed against chick intestinal calbindin D28k, human calretinin cDNA clones were isolated from brain cDNA libraries. The sequence of the calretinin cDNA revealed an open reading frame of 271 codons coding for a protein of 31,520 Da, and sharing 58% identical residues with human calbindin D28k. Calretinin contains five presumably active and one presumably inactive calcium-binding domains. Comparison with the partial sequences available for chick and guinea pig calretinins revealed that the protein is highly conserved in evolution (evolutionary rate: 0.27 x 10(-9) amino acid-1 year-1). The calretinin message was detected in the brain, while absent from heart muscle, kidney, liver, lung, spleen, stomach and thyroid gland. Recombinant calretinin was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the calcium-binding properties were confirmed on both the natural and the recombinant proteins. Part of the human gene coding for calretinin was isolated and the region corresponding to the promoter and the first exon was sequenced.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The orphan receptor cDNA RDC7 encodes an A1 adenosine receptor.

The extensive amino acid sequence conservation among G protein-coupled receptors has been exploited to clone new members of this large family by homology screening or by PCR. Out of four such receptor cDNAs we cloned recently, RDC7 corresponds to a relatively abundant transcript in the brain cortex, the thyroid follicular cell and the testis. We have now identified RDC7 as an A1 adenosine receptor. The A1 agonist CPA [N6-cyclopentyladenosine] decreased by 80% cAMP accumulation in forskolin-stimulated CHO cells stably transfected with RDC7. Specific binding of another A1 adenosine agonist, [3H]CHA [N6-cyclohexyladenosine], was demonstrated on membranes from Cos cells transfected with a pSVL construct harbouring the RDC7 cDNA insert. The binding characteristics were similar to those of the natural brain A1 receptor. The recombinant and the natural receptors behaved also in the same way in displacement experiments involving a series of A1 adenosine agonists. The binding characteristics of RDC7 were compared to those of RDC8, another orphan receptor recently identified as an A2 adenosine receptor. The two molecular species RDC7 and RDC8 correspond clearly to the A1 and A2 receptor entities defined hitherto on a purely pharmacological basis.

Adenosine↗

[Effect of rotary instruments on composites for coronal restoration. A proposed evaluation protocol for the effect of rotary instruments and surface conditions].

Numerous core composites are used to reconstruct abutments for fixed partial dentures. The preparation is carried out with various type of burs. The purpose of this study is to facilitate the choice among them. Six chemical composites, one glass ionomer cement and two light cured composites have been selected. Calibrated samples have been made, divided into four series and prepared with six different burs used for fixed partial dentures, three of them as finishing burs. In the first part of the investigation, the samples were examined with a S.E.M., in order to visualize the surface texture. According to the materials used, variations may exist. In the second part of the investigation, a tridimensional study was performed using a mechanical scanner microscope which permitted the quantification of some roughness characteristics, thus, an objective comparison of the surfaces became possible. Due to the complementary nature of the two investigation techniques, a protocol is presented for the study of burs instrumentation and prepared tooth surface.

Carbon↗

Molecular cloning of a dog thyrotropin (TSH) receptor variant.

A clone coding for a variant form of thyrotropin receptor was isolated from a dog thyroid cDNA library. It was characterized by a 75 bp deletion in the coding region, additionally to minor modifications in the 3' untranslated region. The corresponding 25 amino acids deletion is located in the long NH2 terminal extracellular domain which is characteristic of the glycoprotein hormone receptors. This region of the protein is composed of imperfect repeats and the deletion corresponds exactly to one of the repeat units. This suggests that the repeats correspond to individual exons in the thyrotropin receptor chromosomal gene. It is not known whether the deletion of the repeat and the concomitant suppression of one of the N-glycosylation sites of the molecule do alter the receptor function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Distinct transcriptional effects of cAMP on 2 thyroid specific genes: thyroperoxidase and thyroglobulin.

The production of the thyroid hormones by the thyroid tissue is regulated by thyrotropin (TSH). TSH, through cAMP, enhances all steps of T3 and T4 synthesis, among which transcription of the genes encoding the precursor protein, thyroglobulin (TG) and the enzyme responsible for the iodination and coupling mechanisms, thyroperoxidase (TPO). Run-on transcription assays show that the kinetics of TG gene transcriptional activation by cAMP is slow (8 to 16 hours) in dog thyrocytes in primary culture, while it is rapid (1 hour) in dog thyroid slices. Activation is sensitive to cycloheximide, reflecting the need for ongoing protein synthesis. In contrast, stimulation of TPO gene transcription is rapid in both experimental systems and is not inhibited in the presence of cycloheximide. It is concluded that different regulatory mechanisms are implicated in the control of Tg and TPO gene transcription by cAMP. However, the stimulation of TG and TPO gene transcription are equally suppressed by inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, which suggests that both regulatory mechanisms involve protein phosphorylation.

Animals↗

Cloning, sequencing and expression of the human thyrotropin (TSH) receptor: evidence for binding of autoantibodies.

A human thyroid cDNA library was screened by hybridization with a dog thyrotropin receptor (TSHr) cDNA. Sequencing of the resulting clones identified a 2292 residue open reading frame encoding a 744 amino acid mature polypeptide presenting 90.3% similarity with the dog TSHr. Two major transcripts (4.6 and 4.4 kilobases) were identified in the human thyroid which suggests that alternative splicing could generate multiple forms of human TSHr. Transfection of the coding sequence in COS-7 cells conferred to a membrane preparation of these cells the ability to bind specifically TSH. TSH binding was completely displaced by immunoglobulin preparations from patients with idiopathic myxoedema.

Amino Acid Sequence↗