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Biomedical subjects

C Erickson

Publications and source records attributed to C Erickson.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Porphyrin photosensitization of multi-drug resistant cell types.

The P388 murine leukemia and P388/ADR, a subline expressing the multi-drug resistance (MDR) phenotype, were examined with regard to the role of MDR as a determinant of responsiveness to photodynamic therapy in vitro. Mesoporphyrin was used as a model substrate. We found no differences in porphyrin accumulation nor transport alterations associated with exposure of P388/ADR cells to the verapamil analog DMDP. There was a significant correlation between photodamage to mitochondria vs loss of cell viability in both cell lines, and LD50 sensitizer levels were not significantly different in P388 vs P388/ADR. P388/ADR cells were partly resistant to porphyrin-catalyzed photodamage to amino acid transport, but this result was not associated with differences in sensitizer localization, as indicated by fluorescence studies. Moreover, photodamage to membrane transport was not associated with loss of viability. These studies suggest that cells which express the MDR phenotype are unlikely to be cross-resistant to photodynamic therapy.

Animals

Study of the separate and combined effects of the non-planar 2,5,2',5'- and the planar 3,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl in liver and lymphocytes in vivo.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of industrial chemicals that are widely distributed in the environment. Because these compounds occur as mixtures, studies of their possible interactive effects are essential for an understanding of the mechanism of the toxicity of these mixtures. For the determination of a possible interaction of the effects in vivo of 2,5,2',5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB) and 3,4,3',4'-TCB, rats were exposed to a single dose of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and subsequently to 0.1 p.p.m. 3,4,3',4'-TCB and/or 10 p.p.m. 2,5,2',5'-TCB in the feed for 1 year. The two major targets of PCB toxicity, the liver and the peripheral blood, were examined after these treatments. TCB treatment after DEN exposure caused a predominance of increased placental glutathione S-transferase (PGST) and deficiencies of ATPase as preneoplastic markers in focal hepatic lesions. When 0.05% phenobarbital (PB) was administered after DEN exposure, the distribution of markers in altered hepatic foci (AHF) was essentially equal for increased PGST and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and for ATPase deficiency. Many of these AHF also exhibited increased P450 b/e expression. Our results demonstrated that the two PCB congeners interacted in vivo to produce an increase in AHF that were PGST positive and ATPase negative. PGST-positive and ATPase-negative AHF correlated best with focal areas of P450 b/e expression. The combination of the two PCBs caused a greater than additive decrease in the total number of lymphocytes and antibody-producing B-cells. Also the thymocyte-dependent T-helper cells isolated from the animals receiving the combination of TCBs demonstrated a morphologically abnormal subpopulation. The results indicate that the interaction of 2,5,2',5'-TCB and 3,4,3',4'-TCB in vivo induced much greater toxicity and mutagenicity in peripheral lymphocytes and hepatocytes than treatment with either congener alone.

Animals

Prediction of intellectual deficits in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Possible predictors of reported lower cognitive functioning in irradiated children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were investigated. Thirty-four subjects, 5-14 years old, with ALL in continuous complete remission and without evidence of current or past central nervous system disease, were examined 9-110 months after diagnosis, using standard measures of intelligence and academic achievement. Subjects with a history of post-irradiation somnolence syndrome were significantly older at diagnosis than nonsomnolent subjects. Intelligence (IQ) was found to be unrelated to history of somnolence syndrome. IQ and achievement were unrelated to age at irradiation, irradiation-examination interval, and radiation dosages. The strongest predictor of IQ by far is parental social class. The importance of controlling for social class differences when searching for treatment effects on IQ and achievement is stressed.

Achievement

Ethanol and aging effects on movement initiation can be dissociated from general behavioral impairment using a high-speed lever-release task in rats.

An animal model of human reaction time was used to assess the effects of ethanol on reactive capacity (RC) as a function of age. Three doses of ethanol (0.5, 1.0 & 1.5 g/kg of 20% v/v, i.p.) were confirmed by gas chromatographic analysis of blood samples taken immediately following every behavioral test. Fisher 344 rats were trained to use their forepaws to hold down a lever until the onset of a buzzer and light that signalled impending foot shock, which occurred within 200-1000 msec of the stimulus. All rats were shaped to release the lever faster than 200 msec, which permitted them to avoid all shock under saline treatment. In the first experiment, only young adult rats (3-4 mos) were tested. Ethanol caused a dose-dependent impairment of RC. In a second experiment, rats aged 4, 12 and 24 mos were tested. As in previous work, RC was reduced by age. Ethanol caused a dose-dependent impairment of response speed (as indicated by the average of the fastest five RTs) that was exaggerated in the 24 mo-old rats. Ethanol also appeared to amplify the trial-by-trial variability in RC that was typical of the old rats under saline conditions. Nevertheless, if given enough time (1000 msec) most rats (except for a few in the oldest group) were able to avoid shock under ethanol as reliably as under saline conditions, even at the highest dose. Thus, ethanol specifically slowed reaction time while sparing memory and motivational and motor capacities required for success in this task. Both extensive practice and pre-test warm up sessions modified the effects of ethanol; however they did not do so differentially across ages.

Aging

Depletion of T cells from bone marrow for allogeneic transplantation: method for treatment of bone marrow in bulk.

T lymphocytes were depleted from donor marrow for 23 patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation using an anti-T-cell antibody, CT-2, and complement. The methodology is described in detail for in vitro depletion of large quantities of bone marrow. The extent of T-lymphocyte depletion using various T-cell markers, the percent of marrow lost in the processing and quantity of antibody, and complement needed are presented. These techniques for in vitro T-lymphocyte depletion were reproducible and did result in an average final yield of 47% of the harvested donor marrow.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

In vitro analysis of donor bone marrow following monoclonal antibody treatment for the prevention of acute graft versus host disease.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality following bone marrow transplantation. The in vitro removal of the GVHD-causing T-lymphocytes from donor marrow is one approach which could control this complication. Treatment of the donor bone marrow with lectins and erythrocyte-forming rosette depletion, anti-T-cell antisera or monoclonal antibodies are methods currently being tested to accomplish this. CT-2 is an immunoglobulin monoclonal antibody specific for the T-cell erythrocyte-forming rosette receptor. Bone marrow from 23 consecutive donors was treated in vitro with CT-2 and complement, prior to infusion, as a potential means of controlling GVHD. Surface marker analysis using erythrocyte-forming rosetting, and OKT-3 and OKT-11 monoclonal antibodies on paired samples of treated and untreated marrow demonstrated a mean depletion to 1% of the original number of T-cells. Proliferative responses to alloantigens and mitogens as well as cytotoxic and natural killer cell function were tested and found to be markedly reduced. Despite these effects on T-lymphocytes, viable hematopoietic stem cell colonies were retained. Clinical results following the in vitro T-lymphocyte depletion of donor bone marrow for the 8 histocompatible and 15 nonhistocompatible bone marrow transplantation are reported. Prompt engraftment with minimal GVHD, despite no posttransplant GVHD prophylaxis, was seen in seven of the matched patients. In the nonhistocompatible bone marrow transplantation, failure of engraftment occurred in 11 patients. Grades III-IV GVHD were seen in two of the four patients that engrafted despite good T-lymphocyte depletion. No predictive correlation could be found between the in vitro analysis of marrow following CT-2 treatment and clinical outcome.

Acute Disease

Immunity to lymphoid tumors in syngeneic mice by immunization with mitomycin C-treated cells.

Immunization of mice with syngeneic mitomycin C-treated lymphoid tumor cells (EL-4 and S49A) conferred a high degree of immunity to transplantation with viable tumor cells in syngeneic animals. The development of this immunity was paralleled by the development of specific cell-mediated cytotoxicity; no anti-tumor antibodies could be detected in the immunized animals. In contrast to the high immunoprophylactic capacity of mitomycin C-treated cells, attempts to utilize these cells for immunotherapy were unsuccessful. Preliminary experiments did not reveal antigenic differences between mitomycin C-treated and untreated tumor cells.

Animals

Current management of non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma of the head and neck.

Older nomenclature for non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma has undergone revision to more accurate terminology based on cytology and histological pattern. Presentation of non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma above the supraclavicular fossa demands through investigation to rule out occult disease in bone marrow and the intra-abdominal space. This is accomplished by appropriate clinical evaluation including lymphangiogram and exploratory laparotomy. However, the value of exploratory laparotomy for staging on increased survival rates in non-Hodgkin malignant lymphoma of the head and neck has not been established.

Antineoplastic Agents