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Biomedical subjects

A M Bode

Publications and source records attributed to A M Bode.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Antisense oligonucleotide treatment reveals a physiologically relevant role for adrenomedullin gene products in sodium intake.

Adrenomedullin (AM), a potent hypotensive peptide, is produced in numerous tissues including adrenal gland, kidney, brain and pituitary gland, where it acts to modify sodium homeostasis. Central AM administration dose-dependently inhibits sodium appetite. AM antisense oligonucleotide treatment significantly lowered peptide content in the hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) nucleus and exaggerated the consumption of sodium. These results support a physiologic role for adrenomedullin gene products in the central regulation of sodium homeostasis.

Adrenomedullin↗

Ascorbic acid recycling in Nb2 lymphoma cells: implications for tumor progression.

Analysis of cultured rat "Nb2 lymphoma" cell lines, showing different degrees of malignant progression, can lead to identification of phenotypic changes associated with this phenomenon in T-cell cancers. In the present study we have compared the metastatic sublines, Nb2-11 and Nb2-SFJCD1, with regard to ascorbate and glutathione recycling, important processes in cellular protection from oxidative stresses. Whereas the Nb2-11 subline is prolactin (PRL)-dependent, the genetically related Nb2-SFJCD1 subline is growth factor-independent and shows more chromosomal alterations, indicative of more advanced progression. The Nb2-SFJCD1 cells, compared to the Nb2-11 cells, were less sensitive to toxic effects of dehydroascorbate, a potentially toxic oxidation product of ascorbate. Results were consistent with a significantly higher production of reducing equivalents (e.g., NADPH, GSH) and an accelerated reduction of dehydroascorbate by homogenates of Nb2-SFJCD1 cells. However, the increased resistance was apparently not directly related to the cellular uptake and reduction of dehydroascorbate by whole cells, which was similar in both cell lines. Observations indicate that Nb2 lymphoma cells, in their progression to malignancy, can acquire an enhanced capability to protect themselves from oxidative damage assisting them in withstanding the oxidative stress that anti-neoplastic drugs can cause. The adaptation may also be a mechanism that is utilized by tumor cells in suppressing apoptosis and other protective cellular functions facilitating, or potentiating, a tumor cell's ability to become more metastatic. However, the mechanism leading to this augmented capacity of Nb2 lymphoma cells to resist oxidative stress in not known and is the subject for further study.

Animals↗

Glutathione-dependent ascorbate recycling activity of rat serum albumin.

An efficient regeneration of vitamin C (ascorbate) from its oxidized byproduct, dehydroascorbate (DHAA), is necessary to maintain sufficient tissue levels of the reduced form of the vitamin. Additionally, the recycling may be more significant in mammals, such as guinea pigs and humans, who have lost the ability to synthesize ascorbate de novo, than it is in most other mammals who have retained the ability to synthesize the vitamin from glucose. Both a chemical and an enzymatic reduction of DHAA to ascorbate have been proposed. Several reports have appeared in which proteins, including thioltransferase, protein disulfide isomerase, and 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, characterized for other activities have been identified as having DHAA reductase activity in vitro. Whether these previously characterized proteins catalyze the reduction of DHAA in vivo is unclear. In the present study, a 66 kD protein was purified strictly on the basis of its DHAA-reductase activity and was identified as rat serum albumin. The protein was further characterized and results support the suggestion that serum albumin acts as an antioxidant and exerts a significant glutathione-dependent DHAA-reductase activity that may be important in the physiologic recycling of ascorbic acid.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Antioxidative mechanisms and plasma growth hormone levels: potential relationship in the aging process.

Factors affecting longevity are complex and poorly understood. We have recently found that Ames dwarf mice (df/df), which are deficient in growth hormone (GH), prolactin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone, live significantly longer than their normal siblings whereas transgenic mice that overexpress GH exhibit reduced life-spans and various indices of premature aging. The production of reactive oxygen species increases with aging and is associated with DNA damage to the tissues. However, several cellular oxygen scavenging/detoxifying systems exist that improve the antioxidative defense capacity of cells. We evaluated the activity of enzymes involved in this defense system in liver, kidney, and heart tissue from dwarf, phosphoenol-pyruvate carboxykinase-bovine GH transgenic, and corresponding groups of normal mice. Liver glutathione and ascorbate levels were lower (p < 0.0025) in dwarf animals compared to normal and GH transgenic mice. By contrast, the level of catalase activity, which detoxifies hydrogen peroxide, in dwarf liver and kidney was significantly higher when compared to the other groups. Animals deficient in GH (dwarf) live longer and exhibit enzyme activities and levels that may combat oxidative stress more efficiently than normal mice and those overexpressing GH.

Aging↗

Changes in glutathione redox cycling and oxidative stress response in the malignant progression of NB2 lymphoma cells.

Differential analysis of closely related Nb2-lymphoma cell lines can be used for identification of changes in biochemical properties associated with the malignant progression of certain T-cell cancers. As tumors progress, they tend to show metabolic alterations such as an increased resistance to oxidative stress, a characteristic that may be correlated with changes in intrinsic antioxidant levels (e.g., glutathione) and in activities of associated enzymes such as the glutathione redox pathway. Whether increases in malignancy of Nb2 cells were associated with changes in cellular glutathione levels and activities of glutathione-metabolizing enzymes was addressed. To evaluate this relationship, 3 cell lines, showing increased malignancy, were used: Nb2-U17 (hormone-dependent, non-metastatic), Nb2-11 (hormone-dependent, metastatic), Nb2-SFJCD1 (growth factor-independent, metastatic). Compared to Nb2-U17 and Nb2-11 cells, the highly progressed Nb2-SFJCD1 lymphoma cells maintain low basal glutathione levels. However, the Nb2-SFJCD1 cells display an enhanced capacity to produce glutathione when challenged with an oxidative stress and show a significantly higher resistance to H2O2-induced apoptosis.

Animals↗

Ocular oxidants and antioxidant protection.

Oxidative damage and antioxidant protection in ocular tissues has not been reviewed recently. Metabolism in the eye is of increasing interest because the organ is highly susceptible to damage by sunlight, oxygen, various chemicals, and pollutants. Interest is expected to increase because of an aging Western world population and a continued depletion of stratospheric ozone. Hydrogen peroxide is discussed because it is both a byproduct and a source of free radical reactions and is normally present in the aqueous humor. The metabolism of reactive oxygen species by enzymes, nutrients, pigments, and low molecular weight scavengers is evaluated. Ascorbic acid, because of its high concentration in the eye, is thought to be a primary substrate in ocular protection; progress in determining the mechanisms by which it is recycled and maintained in the useful, reduced state is discussed. Recent information is included about antioxidants not previously known to be present in the eye, and some importance is placed on the properties of the vitreous humor and tear fluid because of the previous lack of emphasis on these.

Animals↗

Analysis of water-soluble antioxidants by high-pressure liquid chromatography.

The measurement of endogenous substances that function as biological antioxidants is of importance because the values obtained might be an index of future health. We quantified three water-soluble antioxidants by high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (h.p.l.c.-e.c.). Current-voltage relationships made at various settings of the D2 porous graphite electrode help to identify ascorbic acid, glutathione and uric acid. The antioxidants are determined simultaneously and without need for derivatization. The method is seen to be useful for comparison of normal rat liver with liver that had undergone oxidative stress through ischaemia. Antioxidant levels in liver, kidney, pancreas and intestinal mucosa are presented and compared with literature values. Endogenous contents of oxidized forms of ascorbic acid and glutathione become apparent following exposure of tissue samples to a strong reductant such as 2-mercapthoethanol.

Animals↗

Defects of copper deficiency in rats are modified by dietary treatments that affect glycation.

We examined the hypothesis that nonenzymatic glycosylatin of proteins (glycation) contributes to the defects of copper deficiency. We studied copper-adequate and -deficient rats while altering two factors known to affect glycation: type of dietary carbohydrate and amount of food intake. Copper deficiency caused cardiac enlargement and anemia, decreased erythrocyte osmotic fragility, enhanced heart lipid peroxidation, increased the percentage of glycated hemoglobin (Hb A1) and reduced staining of lens crystallins on SDS-PAGE gels (suggestive of glycation). Increasing dietary sucrose reduced organ copper concentration, exacerbated the rise in Hb A1 and worsened the anemia caused by copper deficiency. Food restriction ameliorated heart and erythrocyte defects, reduced the percentage of glycated hemoglobin and heart peroxidation and also improved heart and liver copper status in copper-deficient rats. These findings indicate that copper deficiency enhances glycation and that sucrose may exacerbate some defects of copper deficiency by enhancing glycation. Inhibition of defects of copper deficiency by food restriction suggests that glycation and/or peroxidation may contribute to those defects.

Analysis of Variance↗

Blood pressure and heat shock protein expression in response to acute and chronic stress.

We previously demonstrated that restraint and pharmacological agents that activate sympathetic nervous system activity induce expression of the 70-kD heat shock protein (HSP70) in major blood vessels. The magnitude and rapidity in which HSP70 is induced in the aorta suggest that it may play a salient role in the mechanical properties of vascular smooth muscle. Other investigators have reported that HSP70 inducibility is increased in genetically hypertensive animals. In this report, we have investigated the effects of acute and chronic (8-week) exposure to restraint and restraint in the presence of a randomized intermittent air jet on the development of hypertension and the induction of HSP70 in the aorta and adrenal glands of normotensive adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Acute restraint or air jet resulted in a fivefold to sixfold increase in aortic HSP70 mRNA expression. Chronic exposure to restraint reduced the HSP70 response to acute restraint. In contrast, no adaptation of the HSP70 response to acute air jet was observed in aortas of chronically air jet-treated rats. In adrenal glands, HSP70 expression was reduced after chronic restraint and air jet, indicating that in this tissue, adaptation occurs to both stressors. There was no difference in HSP70 expression in unstressed rats that had been chronically exposed to restraint or air jet in either adrenal gland or aorta. A significant increase (P < .05) in systolic blood pressure developed in air jet-treated animals (120 +/- 3 mm Hg) but not in restrained rats (107 +/- 2 mm Hg) compared with unstressed controls (106 +/- 3 mm Hg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenal Glands↗

Time-dependent inhibition of glucose 6-phosphatase by 3-mercaptopicolinic acid.

3-Mercaptopicolinate (3-MP) inhibits D-glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) phosphohydrolase activity of the glucose-6-phosphatase system (Bode et al. (1993) Biochem. Cell Biol. 71, 113-121). We therefore attempted to maximize the inhibition by varying the physical state of microsomes, the concentration of 3-MP, and the time of preliminary incubation of 3-MP with the enzyme. The inhibition was irreversible and time- and inhibitor-concentration-dependent, with G6P phosphohydrolase activity of intact rat liver microsomes, but there was no inhibition with detergent-treated microsomes. The effectiveness of 3-MP as a time-dependent inhibitor of glucose 6-phosphatase was demonstrated in situ by measuring glycogenolysis in isolated, perfused livers from fed rats. We first exposed the livers to 2 mM 3-MP for 40 min, and then assessed the inhibitory effects on glycogenolysis. It was lowered by 50%. These observations establish that 3-MP at the mM level may be useful as an experimental probe in the study of the role(s) of G6P in the regulation of glycogenolysis as well as glycogenesis. Further, they validate the use of much lower (microM) concentrations of 3-MP to block gluconeogenesis (at the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase step) without interfering with glucose 6-phosphatase. We also explored the mechanism of 3-MP inhibition. The time-dependent inhibition of carbamoyl-phosphate:glucose phosphotransferase activity with microsomes incubated with 1 mM 3-MP for 60 or 90 min and then assayed with 1 mM carbamoyl phosphate and 180 mM glucose was modest compared with inhibition of G6P phosphohydrolase. When G6P production by carbamoyl-phosphate:glucose phosphotransferase was reduced by decreasing glucose concentration to 60 mM, no inhibition by 3-MP was discernible. There was no inhibition of inorganic pyrophosphatase activity. These studies support the model of time-dependent, irreversible reaction of 3-MP with the G6P translocase component of the glucose-6-phosphatase system.

Animals↗

Glycogenesis from glucose and ureagenesis in isolated perfused rat livers. Influence of ammonium ion, norvaline, and ethoxyzolamide.

The probable involvement of hepatic carbamyl-P in the reciprocal relationship between hepatic ureagenesis and glycogenesis from glucose was explored. Isolated perfused liver preparations from 48-h fasted rats were employed. Moderate (9.2 mM) and relatively high levels of glucose (34 mM) were perfused. Hepatic glycogenesis, glucose-6-P, carbamyl-P, and citrulline levels, hepatic urea formation, and ureagenesis based upon perfusate urea levels were measured. Experimental probes selected to modify hepatic ureagenesis and carbamyl-P production and utilization included: (a) NH4Cl, maintained at 5 mM by continuous infusion (NH4+ is a substrate for carbamyl-P synthase I and glutamate dehydrogenase); (b) norvaline, an inhibitor of ornithine transcarbamylase which catalyzes the first committed step in the urea cycle; and (c) ethoxyzolamide, an inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase which produces HCO3-, an essential substrate for carbamyl-P synthase I. NH4+ increased ureagenesis and decreased glycogenesis. The inclusion of norvaline with NH4+ decreased ureagenesis and increased glycogenesis. Ethoxyzolamide with or without NH4+ inhibited both ureagenesis and glycogenesis, and decreased the hepatic glucose-6-P level. Glycogenesis was greater at 34 mM than 9.2 mM glucose, increased in norvaline-containing preparations correlative with increased availability of carbamyl-P, and decreased when carbamyl-P formation was inhibited by ethoxyzolamide. Kinetic analysis indicated a Km, Glc of 31 mM for glucose phosphorylation preliminary to glycogenesis. Glycogen formation via the "indirect pathway" (i.e. involving extrahepatic glycolysis, transport of lactate to the liver, and glyconeogenesis therefrom) was quantitatively insufficient to account for the observed glycogenesis. Glucokinase is contraindicated by the inverse relationship between hepatic glycogenesis and ATP availability in the ethoxyzolamide-treated preparations. In contrast, carbamyl-P:glucose phosphotransferase activity of the glucose-6-phosphatase system has the characteristics to bridge hepatic ureagenesis and glycogenesis.

Ammonium Chloride↗

Dietary copper deficiency reduces heat shock protein expression in cardiovascular tissues.

Dietary copper deficiency impairs cardiovascular function by depression of catecholamine metabolism, and alteration of the structure and function of cardiac mitochondria. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a group of cellular homeostatic proteins that are induced in vascular tissue by catecholaminergic transmission after exposure to stress. We investigated the effects of dietary copper deficiency on the induction and accumulation of HSPs in several cardiovascular tissues. Stress-induced levels of aortic HSP70 mRNA were reduced in copper-deficient (CuD) rats when compared with copper-adequate (CuA) controls. Cocaine-induced HSP70 mRNA accumulation was not different between CuA and CuD rats, suggesting that reduced HSP70 levels in restrained CuD animals may result from altered catecholaminergic neurotransmission. The level of HSP60 mRNA was specifically reduced in the atria of CuD rats, which may be associated with altered mitochondrial structure and function. These results describe a novel relationship between dietary copper deficiency and the expression of highly conserved cellular stress response proteins. Loss of these essential homeostatic proteins in vascular tissue may contribute to the impairment of cardiovascular function known to accompany copper deficiency.

Adrenal Glands↗

Reciprocal effects of proline and glutamine on glycogenesis from glucose and ureagenesis in isolated, perfused rat livers.

L-Proline and L-glutamine were used to probe the inverse relationship between glycogenesis and ureagenesis in isolated, perfused livers from 48-h fasted rats. Both amino acids may provide nitrogen in the form of NH+4 for carbamyl-P synthesis. However, one molecule of glutamine may provide additionally for the synthesis of one molecule of the urea cycle substrate L-aspartate, but proline can provide for the synthesis of a molecule of NH+4 or one molecule of aspartate on an either/or basis only. In all perfusates, glucose was initially 30 mM (to favor phosphotransferase activity of glucose-6-phosphatase) and 0.5 mM 3-mercaptopicolinate was present (to inhibit glyconeogenesis from endogenous substrates, from the added amino acids, and via the indirect pathway). Glycogenesis from glucose, perfusate and hepatic urea formation, and levels of hepatic glucose-6-P, citrulline, PPi, and carbamyl-P were measured. The addition of glutamine to the perfusate markedly stimulated the urea cycle, but not glycogenesis. Hepatic urea level, perfusate urea concentration, and hepatic citrulline and PPi increased while carbamyl-P content decreased. In contrast, proline stimulated glycogenesis from glucose, but not ureagenesis. In the proline-supplemented compared with glutamine group, hepatic glycogenesis and carbamyl-P content increased; hepatic glucose-6-P levels showed a tendency toward increase; and hepatic urea formation, hepatic citrulline, and PPi levels were decreased. These observations are interpreted to support an hepatic mechanism whereby the relative availability of carbamyl-P to the urea cycle and as a substrate for glucose phosphorylation via phosphotransferase activity of the glucose-6-phosphatase system preliminary to glycogenesis from glucose is a major metabolic determinant.

Animals↗

Enzymatic basis for altered ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid levels in diabetes.

Abnormal plasma ascorbic acid (AA) and dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) levels observed in diabetes may be correlated to a deficiency in the recycling of AA. Ascorbic acid and DHAA levels are altered in diabetic liver in the present study. In addition, a coupling of the hexose monophosphate (HMP) shunt by way of NADPH to glutathione reductase and subsequent DHAA reduction is demonstrated. Ascorbic acid production was assayed directly and by way of the HMPS pathway. Results indicate that AA production from DHAA via the HMPS pathway occurs, and is significantly decreased in diabetic liver. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity is shown to be decreased in diabetic liver. Since G6PDH is essential in providing NADPH for the reduction of glutathione required for subsequent DHAA reduction, its decreased activity is consistent with altered levels of AA and DHAA observed in diabetic tissues.

Animals↗

Ascorbic acid regeneration by bovine iris-ciliary body.

Ocular tissues appear to require high levels of ascorbic acid and the elucidation of the mechanisms by which those tissues maintain the vitamin in its reduced state remains an important objective. The regeneration of ascorbate from its oxidative by-product, dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), was studied in bovine iris-ciliary body. Iris-ciliary body was removed by scalpel, weighed, minced, and homogenized in 20 mM MOPS, 62 mM sucrose, and 0.1 mM EDTA at pH 7.0. The homogenate was centrifuged and precipitated with ammonium sulfate such that maximal DHAA reducing activity was enhanced in a 50-75% ammonium sulfate fraction. This fraction was employed for subsequent characterization of DHAA reduction by iris-ciliary body. Results indicate that the iris-ciliary body enzymatically reduces DHAA to ascorbate at a rate significantly greater than can be accounted for by a nonenzymatic glutathione-dependent mechanism. In addition, saturation kinetics are observed, and the enzymatic activity is dependent on protein concentration, DHAA concentration, and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration. The activity is sensitive to pH, to high temperature, and to digestion by trypsin and is greatest in the presence of both GSH and NADPH. The reducing activity is therefore attributed to one or more proteins that are distinct from the known ascorbate regenerating enzyme, GSH-dependent DHAA reductase (EC 1.8.5.1).

Animals↗