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Biomedical subjects

C Ferguson

Publications and source records attributed to C Ferguson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Cloning and characterization of two Toll/Interleukin-1 receptor-like genes TIL3 and TIL4: evidence for a multi-gene receptor family in humans.

Remarkable structural and functional similarities exist between the Drosophila Toll/Cactus/Dorsal signaling pathway and the mammalian cytokine-mediated interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R)/I-kappaB/NF-kappaB activation cascade. In addition to a role regulating dorsal-ventral polarity in the developing Drosophila embryo, signaling through Drosophila Toll (dToll) activates the nonclonal, or innate, immune response in the adult fly. Recent evidence indicates that a human homologue of the dToll protein participates in the regulation of both innate and adaptive human immunity through the activation of NF-kappaB and the expression of the NF-kappaB-controlled genes IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8, thus affirming the evolutionary conservation of this host defense pathway. We report here the cloning of two novel human genes, TIL3 and TIL4 (Toll/IL-1R-like-3, -4) that exhibit homology to both the leucine-rich repeat extracellular domains and the IL-1R-like intracellular domains of human and Drosophila Toll. Northern analysis showed distinctly different tissue distribution patterns with TIL3 expressed predominantly in ovary, peripheral blood leukocytes, and prostate, and TIL4 expressed primarily in peripheral blood leukocytes and spleen. Chromosomal mapping by fluorescence in situ hybridization localized the TIL3 gene to chromosome 1q41-42 and TIL4 to chromosome 4q31.3-32. Functional studies showed that both TIL3 and TIL4 are able to activate NF-kappaB, though in a cell type-dependent fashion. Together with human Toll, TIL3 and TIL4 encode a family of genes with conserved structural and functional features involved in immune modulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Molecular structure of the sarcomeric Z-disk: two types of titin interactions lead to an asymmetrical sorting of alpha-actinin.

The sarcomeric Z-disk, the anchoring plane of thin (actin) filaments, links titin (also called connectin) and actin filaments from opposing sarcomere halves in a lattice connected by alpha-actinin. We demonstrate by protein interaction analysis that two types of titin interactions are involved in the assembly of alpha-actinin into the Z-disk. Titin interacts via a single binding site with the two central spectrin-like repeats of the outermost pair of alpha-actinin molecules. In the central Z-disk, titin can interact with multiple alpha-actinin molecules via their C-terminal domains. These interactions allow the assembly of a ternary complex of titin, actin and alpha-actinin in vitro, and are expected to constrain the path of titin in the Z-disk. In thick skeletal muscle Z-disks, titin filaments cross over the Z-disk centre by approximately 30 nm, suggesting that their alpha-actinin-binding sites overlap in an antiparallel fashion. The combination of our biochemical and ultrastructural data now allows a molecular model of the sarcomeric Z-disk, where overlapping titin filaments and their interactions with the alpha-actinin rod and C-terminal domain can account for the essential ultrastructural features.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed1998

An expressed-sequence-tag database of the human prostate: sequence analysis of 1168 cDNA clones.

The human prostate is a complex glandular organ with functional development under hormonal regulation. Diseases of the prostate result in significant morbidity and mortality in the form of benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostate adenocarcinoma. The characterization of the molecular framework of the human prostate at the level of expressed genes will facilitate the understanding of normal and pathological prostate biology. The purposes of this study were to acquire an initial assessment of the qualitative and quantitative diversity of gene expression in the normal human prostate and to determine the extent that genes with prostate-restricted expression can be assessed using an expressed sequence tag approach. We have constructed a directional cDNA library from normal adult human prostate tissue and partially sequenced the 5' end of 1168 randomly selected cDNA clones, resulting in more than 400 kb of DNA sequence. Homology searches of the sequenced cDNAs against the GenBank and dbEST databases revealed that 43% of the sequences are identical to human genes whose functions are known, 5% are similar but not identical to known genes in humans or lower organisms, 5% match the mitochondrial genome, 9% are composed of interspersed DNA repeats, 30% are homologous to sequences in the dbEST database without a described function, and 6% are novel sequences. A total of 780 distinct species were identified. In addition to the 74 novel transcripts, 4 genes, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), prostate secretory protein (PSP), prostate acid phosphatase (PAP), and human glandular kallekrein 2 (HK2), have no homologous sequences in the databases that originate from sources other than prostate and thus may represent genes with prostate-restricted expression. Sequences matching PSA, PSP, and PAP each accounted for > 1% of the total ESTs and represent highly abundant transcripts, correlating with the abundance of these proteins in the prostate gland. No novel transcripts were represented by more than one EST and thus are expressed at levels much lower than the known prostate-specific genes.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Molecular control of odontogenic patterning: positional dependent initiation and morphogenesis.

We have previously proposed that the patterning of the mammalian dentition is determined by an odontogenic homeobox code, whereby positional specification of odontogenic ectomesenchymal cell populations in a given region of the first branchial arch are determined by the combination of different homeobox genes expressed, described in detail in (1). Here we describe the first functional evidence for such a mechanism, and show that development of different types of teeth is controlled by independent genetic pathways. We suggest a mechanism whereby patterning is determined by position dependent control of tooth germ initiation, and propose that the pathway of morphogenesis is directly linked to the early mesenchymal expression of homeobox genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Mice devoid of gamma-aminobutyrate type A receptor beta3 subunit have epilepsy, cleft palate, and hypersensitive behavior.

gamma-Aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABA(A)-Rs) mediate the bulk of rapid inhibitory synaptic transmission in the central nervous system. The beta3 subunit is an essential component of the GABA(A)-R in many brain regions, especially during development, and is implicated in several pathophysiologic processes. We examined mice harboring a beta3 gene inactivated by gene targeting. GABA(A)-R density is approximately halved in brain of beta3-deficient mice, and GABA(A)-R function is severely impaired. Most beta3-deficient mice die as neonates; some neonatal mortality, but not all, is accompanied by cleft palate. beta3-deficient mice that survive are runted until weaning but achieve normal body size by adulthood, although with reduced life span. These mice are fertile but mothers fail to nurture offspring. Brain morphology is grossly normal, but a number of behaviors are abnormal, consistent with the widespread location of the beta3 subunit. The mice are very hyperactive and hyperresponsive to human contact and other sensory stimuli, and often run continuously in tight circles. When held by the tail, they hold all paws in like a ball, which is frequently a sign of neurological impairment. They have difficulty swimming, walking on grids, and fall off platforms and rotarods, although they do not have a jerky gait. beta3-deficient mice display frequent myoclonus and occasional epileptic seizures, documented by electroencephalographic recording. Hyperactivity, lack of coordination, and seizures are consistent with reduced presynaptic inhibition in spinal cord and impaired inhibition in higher cortical centers and/or pleiotropic developmental defects.

Angelman Syndrome↗
PubMed1997

The relation between anxiety sensitivity and depression in children and adolescents referred for anxiety.

Research conducted with adult samples suggests that anxiety sensitivity is positively related to depression (Otto et al., 1995, Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 10, 117-123). The Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI, Silverman et al., 1991, Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 20 162-168) was used in this study to provide an examination of the relation between anxiety, anxiety sensitivity, and depression in a sample of children and adolescents (N = 234) referred for anxiety disorders. A significant correlation between depression and anxiety sensitivity was found. This relation remained statistically significant when controlling for other aspects of anxiety (i.e. worry, physiological anxiety, and concentration). The similarities between these findings and findings obtained with adults are discussed, as well as suggestions for future research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Desensitization of the inflammatory response in humans: changes in response to cardiopulmonary bypass.

Although circulating levels of interleukin 8 (IL-8), a potent pro-inflammatory chemokine, and many other inflammatory mediators increase in response to cardiopulmonary bypass, only a small proportion of patients develop a clinically significant systemic inflammatory response. The natural mechanisms that control the inflammatory response are poorly understood. To investigate the role of IL-8 in a human inflammatory model, 15 adult patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass for elective coronary artery bypass grafting were studied. Following reperfusion, plasma IL-8 levels increased significantly from 58 pg/mL (pre-bypass) and 66 pg/mL (after 20 min of bypass) to 98 pg/mL (p = .02 and .04, respectively), but this was accompanied by a concomitant threefold decrease in the IL-8 binding affinity of circulating neutrophils (Dissociation constant (KL) post-reperfusion/KL pre-bypass = 3.2; KL post-reperfusion/KL after 20 min of bypass = 2.8). IL-8-triggered release of myeloperoxidase and elastase by peripheral blood neutrophils ex vivo was also down-regulated following reperfusion. There were no significant changes in beta 2 integrin expression or inositol polyphosphate metabolism of peripheral blood neutrophils. These changes in receptor affinity and neutrophil responsiveness to IL-8 may represent an important in vivo regulatory mechanism which serves to prevent excessive tissue injury from inflammatory triggers.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1997

Gene knockout of the alpha6 subunit of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor: lack of effect on responses to ethanol, pentobarbital, and general anesthetics.

The alpha6 subunit of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABA(A)-R) has been implicated in mediating the intoxicating effects of ethanol and the motor ataxic effects of general anesthetics. To test this hypothesis, we used gene targeting in embryonic stem cells to create mice lacking a functional alpha6 gene. Homozygous mice are viable and fertile and have grossly normal cerebellar cytoarchitecture. Northern blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses demonstrated that the targeting event disrupted production of functional alpha6 mRNA. Autoradiography of histological sections of adult brains demonstrated that diazepam-insensitive binding of [3H]Ro15-4513 to the cerebellar granule cell layer of wild-type mice was completely absent in homozygous mice. Cerebellar GABA(A)-R density was unchanged in the mutant mice; however, the apparent affinity for muscimol was markedly reduced. Sleep time response to injection of ethanol after pretreatment with vehicle or Ro15-4513 did not differ between genotypes. Sleep time response to injection of pentobarbital and loss of righting reflex and response to tail clamp stimulus in mice anesthetized with volatile anesthetics also did not differ between genotypes. Thus, the alpha6 subunit of the GABA(A)-R is not required for normal development, viability, and fertility and does not seem to be a critical or unique component of the neuronal pathway mediating the hypnotic effect of ethanol and its antagonism by Ro15-4513 in mice. Similarly, the alpha6 subunit does not seem to be involved in the behavioral responses to general anesthetics or pentobarbital.

Anesthetics, Inhalation↗
PubMed1997

What's up, Billy Jo? Deaf children and bilingual-bicultural instruction in east-central Texas.

Seven deaf children attended a bilingual-bicultural (bi-bi) prekindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade from 1993 to 1996 in an east-central Texas public school. The children had diverse backgrounds (African American, Hispanic, White) and various intellectual, cognitive, and linguistic abilities. We detail the backgrounds of the seven children and their families and describe three bi-bi classrooms. We present standardized test scores on cognition (Bracken Test of Basic Concepts) and academic achievement (Stanford Achievement Test, 9th edition, and Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery). When, with one exception, the children completed first grade, they all tested at grade level. (The exception was a younger child who had only completed kindergarten but who nonetheless tested at the first-grade level). We interpret our findings in light of theories of first- and second-language acquisition and discuss the feasibility of establishing bi-bi programs in areas where no large Deaf community exists. We also note our plans to evaluate the seven children again, at the end of second grade in spring 1997.

Child↗
PubMed1996

Students in employment: learning and working.

The last two decades have witnessed the emergence of research findings in the field of education which clearly demonstrate the powerful influence of 'workload' on both what and how students learn. In nurse education, this notion of workload has focused on assessment demands and the dual role of the student nurse as learner and employee. Indeed it has only been with the implementation of the Project 2000 programmes of pre-registration nurse education that this latter aspect has been dealt a death blow. Or, has it? This paper presents a picture of current student nurses who should have greater educational freedom due to their supernumerary status. However, whilst not employees (as part of course participation), many students are participating in other employment. This phenomenon should be of interest to nurse educators because for many it presents the first opportunity for dealing with students in this situation.

Employment↗
PubMed1996

Reduction in circulating IGF-I and hepatic IGF-I mRNA levels after caecal ligation and puncture are associated with differential regulation of hepatic IGF-binding protein-1, -2 and -3 mRNA levels.

Sepsis is characterized by a severe shift in metabolism, characterized by low IGF-I levels. We have studied the influence of caecal ligation and puncture (CLP) on the levels of circulating IGF-I and hepatic IGF-I and IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-1, -2 and -3 mRNA in adult male Wistar rats (n = 12) and compared it with sham-operated rats (n = 6). In order to exclude anorexia-induced changes we also studied animals pair-fed to both groups. IGF-I levels were measured by RIA. Steady-state hepatic IGF-I, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-3 mRNA levels were measured by Northern blot analysis using specific rat cDNA probes. Food intake averaged 13.0 +/- 2.0 g/day in the sham-operated rats fed ad libitum during the study period, with a sharp decline in food intake in the CLP animals (2.3 +/- 1.3 g/day). After CLP, there was a significant reduction in circulating IGF-I levels (467.2 +/- 50.9 micrograms/l) compared with sham-operated animals (924.0 +/- 75.3 micrograms/l; P = 0.04) or those pair-fed to the CLP rats (612.5 +/- 52.9 micrograms/l; P = 0.04). Total hepatic IGF-I mRNA levels were significantly reduced (2.57 +/- 0.05 densitometric units (DU) after CLP compared with the sham-operated group (2.71 +/- 0.04); P = 0.04), or their pair-fed controls (2.75 +/- 0.08 DU; P < 0.05). Hepatic IGFBP-3 mRNA levels were lower after CLP (0.37 +/- 0.04 DU) than in the sham-operated animals (0.66 +/- 0.09 DU; P = 0.04) or their pair-fed controls (0.61 +/- 0.05 DU; P = 0.04). On the other hand, hepatic IGFBP-2 mRNA levels were increased after CLP (0.91 +/- 0.11 DU) compared with sham-operated animals (0.28 +/- 0.06 DU; P = 0.01) or with their pair-fed controls (0.22 +/- 0.02; P = 0.01), as were hepatic IGFBP-1 mRNA levels (CLP animals 0.95 +/- 0.11 DU; sham-operated 0.30 +/- 0.04 DU, P = 0.01; pair-fed 0.30 +/- 0.02 DU, P = 0.01). No significant difference between sham-operated animals and their pair-fed controls was observed in circulating IGF-I levels (888.0 +/- 109.3 micrograms/l; P = not significant (N.S.)), hepatic mRNA levels for IGF-I (2.72 +/- 0.06 DU; P = N.S), IGFBP-3 (0.71 +/- 0.07 DU; P = N.S.), IGFBP-2 (0.25 +/- 0.07 DU; P = N.S.) or IGFBP-1 (0.27 +/- 0.06 DU; P = N.S.). In summary, after CLP there was a reduction in both circulating and hepatic IGF-I mRNA levels associated with a specific and differential regulation of hepatic IGFBP-1, -2 and -3 mRNA levels. Although we cannot eliminate a possible effect of surgical stress combined with malnutrition, our results suggest that these changes are a specific effect of sepsis rather than simply a result of surgical stress or poor nutrition alone.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Cytoskeletal proteins of insect muscle: location of zeelins in Lethocerus flight and leg muscle.

Asynchronous insect flight muscles produce oscillatory contractions and can contract at high frequency because they are activated by stretch as well as by Ca2+. Stretch activation depends on the high stiffness of the fibres and the regular structure of the filament lattice. Cytoskeletal proteins may be important in stabilising the lattice. Two proteins, zeelin 1 (35 kDa) and zeelin 2 (23 kDa), have been isolated from the cytoskeletal fraction of Lethocerus flight muscle. Both zeelins have multiple isoforms of the same molecular mass and different charge. Zeelin 1 forms micelles and zeelin 2 forms filaments when renatured in low ionic strength solutions. Filaments of zeelin 2 are ribbons 10 nm wide and 3 nm thick. The position of zeelins in fibres from Lethocerus flight and leg muscle was determined by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. Zeelin 1 is found in flight and leg fibres and zeelin 2 only in flight fibres. In flight myofibrils, both zeelins are in discrete regions of the A-band in each half sarcomere. Zeelin 1 is across the whole A-band in leg myofibrils. Zeelins are not in the Z-disc, as was thought previously, but migrate to the Z-disc in glycerinated fibres. Zeelins are associated with thick filaments and analysis of oblique sections showed that zeelin 1 is closer to the filament shaft than zeelin 2. The antibody labelling pattern is consistent with zeelin molecules associated with myosin near the end of the rod region. Alternatively, the position of zeelins may be determined by other A-band proteins. There are about 2.0 to 2.5 moles of myosin per mole of each zeelin. The function of these cytoskeletal proteins may be to maintain the ordered structure of the thick filament.

Animals↗