PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C L Huang

Publications and source records attributed to C L Huang.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Caffeine modulates Ca2+ receptor activation in isolated rat osteoclasts and induces intracellular Ca2+ release.

A ryanodine-sensitive pathway is involved in intracellular Ca2+ release in response to activation of the osteoclast cell surface Ca2+ receptor. We now report that the ryanodine-receptor modulator, caffeine itself released intracellularly stored Ca2+ and, strongly inhibited Ca2+ release triggered in response to Ca(2+)-receptor activation by Ni2+, a surrogate cation agonist. Caffeine yielded a bell-shaped concentration-response curve (0.005-2 mM) and displayed use-dependent inactivation. Furthermore, responses to caffeine were abolished on prior application of Ni2+ (5 mM). Subthreshold (0.005 mM) caffeine concentrations abolished Ni(2+)-induced elevations in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]). However, in a Ca(2+)-free, ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid-containing solution (extracellular [Ca2+] < 10 nM), caffeine (0.5 mM) neither elevated [Ca2+] nor inhibited the response to Ni2+. Finally, when caffeine was applied to intercept the plateau phase of the cytosolic Ca2+ signal triggered by extracellular Ca2+ elevation (10 mM), a rapid but reversible inactivation followed. These studies strongly indicate the existence of a caffeine-sensitive mechanism for the release of intracellularly stored Ca2+ in the osteoclast.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Kinetic separation of charge movement components in intact frog skeletal muscle.

1. Procedures for a complete charge movement separation employed a combination of its steady-state inactivation and activation properties in intact frog skeletal muscle fibres in gluconate-containing solutions. 2. Holding potential shifts from -70 to -50 mV reduced the total charge available between -90 and -20 mV from 16.76 +/- 1.70 nC microF-1 (mean +/- S.E.M.; n = 4 fibres) to 9.25 +/- 1.43 nC microF-1 without significant loss of tetracaine-resistant charge (q beta). 3. The steady-state and kinetic properties of tetracaine-sensitive charge (q gamma) persisted through holding potential changes from -90 to -70 mV in the presence of gluconate and generally resembled activation properties established hitherto in sulphate-containing solutions. 4. Further holding potential displacement to -50 mV abolished q gamma charge movements and depressed the charge-voltage curve. 5. Test voltage steps applied from a -70 mV prepulse level gave rapid monotonic q beta decays and similarly depressed activation functions in 2 mM tetracaine unchanged by holding potential shifts between -70 and -50 mV. 6. The isolated 'on' q gamma charge movements, I(t), always included early transients that preceded any prolonged charging phases and which increased with depolarization. They decayed to stable baselines in the absence of prolonged time-dependent or inward-current phases and yielded integrals, Q(t), that monotonically increased with test voltage. 7. 'Off' steps always elicited rapid monotonic q gamma decays that fully returned the 'on' charge. 8. 'On' and 'off' q gamma currents, I(t), following voltage steps from fixed conditioning to varying test levels mapped onto topologically distinct higher-order phase-plane trajectories, I(Q), that steeply varied with test voltage. 9. In contrast, voltage steps to fixed test potentials of either -70 or -20 mV elicited identical q gamma phase-plane trajectories independent of prepulse history. 10. The q gamma current thus reflects an independent, capacitative process driven uniquely by higher-order dependences upon charge distribution, Q(t), and test voltage, V(t), autonomous of prepulse history or time, t.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

IL-10 inhibits HIV-1 replication and is induced by tat.

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is produced by TH2 lymphocytes and regulates both lymphoid and myeloid cells. In the present study we demonstrate that IL-10 is expressed and produced spontaneously in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of all HIV-1 infected individuals tested, 3 of 19 cases of HIV-negative lymphoma and none of five healthy controls. IL-10 mRNA was detectable in both monocytes/macrophages and T lymphocytes isolated from PBMCs of HIV infected patients. We have also shown that infection of promonocytic (U937) and T (H9) cell lines with HIV stimulates IL-10 secretion. Furthermore, a T cell line (H9) stably transfected with a HIV tat expression-vector secreted higher levels of IL-10. We have also demonstrated that rhIL-10 inhibited HIV-1 replication in infected monocytes and PBMCs in a dose dependent manner. IL-10 may thus participate in long latency between HIV-1 infection and development of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Modulation of the osteoclast Ca2+ receptor by extracellular protons: possible linkage between Ca2+ sensing and extracellular acidification.

We report a sensitivity of the osteoclast cell surface Ca2+ receptor to extracellular protons. Freshly isolated rat osteoclasts were exposed to the known agonists of the Ca2+ receptor, Ca2+ and Ni2+, in extracellular solutions set at different pH values. Decreasing the extracellular pH from 7.8 to 4.0 units markedly potentiated the cytosolic Ca2+ signals elicited in response to Ca2+ receptor activation by either Ni2+ (50 microM, 500 microM or 5 mM) or Ca2+ (5 mM). Each response consisted of a rapid and usually transient elevation of cytosolic [Ca2+]. Maximal cytosolic [Ca2+] responses were obtained at pH values of 6.6 (for 5 mM-[Ni2+]) and 4.0 units (for 5 mM-[Ca2+]). Finally, the effects of extracellular pH persisted in Ca(2+)-free, EGTA-containing solutions, suggesting a modulation of intracellular Ca2+ release.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Elevated cytosolic calcium levels in human lymphocytes during surface virus infections.

Generalised metabolic and electrolyte disturbances are known to accompany both plasma and surface virus infections. We have investigated whether these infections could impair the transport of Ca2+ from cells under conditions of controlled concentrations of the energy substrate glucose. Thus, cytosolic calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) were measured in single isolated lymphocytes obtained from healthy volunteers or those suffering from coryza. Before making measurements using a Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent dye indo 1, we incubated lymphocytes in buffers containing 0 mM-, 5.6 mM- or 11.2 mM-[glucose]. We found that [Ca2+]i of lymphocytes obtained from the sick were significantly higher than those from healthy controls both at 0 mM and 5.6 mM-[glucose], and that [Ca2+]i was inversely related to the media glucose concentration for both groups. These results suggest a diminished capacity of cation pumping in viral infections, such as coryza, in relationship to the available glucose as energy substrate.

Calcium↗
PubMed1994

Charge conservation in intact frog skeletal muscle fibres in gluconate-containing solutions.

1. The conservation of intramembrane charge was investigated in intact voltage-clamped frog skeletal muscle fibres under conditions that minimized time-dependent ionic currents and so facilitated precise determination of capacitative charge. 2. Prolonged (q gamma) transients were demonstrated in 3,4-diaminopyridine and tetraethyl-ammonium gluconate-containing low [Ca2+] solutions in response to 125 ms pulses that explored the voltage range -90 to -20 mV. The tetracaine-sensitive, q gamma, component then accounted for a significant proportion (over 50%) of available charge. 3. Both delayed 'on' q gamma currents and 'off' current tails decayed to steady direct current (DC) baselines without significant residual ionic current slopes in the chosen extracellular solutions. This suggested that the current transients represented capacitative decays. It was also compatible with the precise determination of effective charge by integration. 4. The advent of 'on' q gamma current was accompanied by increased 'off' charge. Thus, charge was conserved through all 'on' and 'off' steps and through test voltages that extended from the threshold appearance of q gamma as a slow transient to its full merger with the earlier q beta decay at stronger depolarizations. 5. Charge conservation persisted through a wide range of 'on' pulse durations between 60 and 370 ms and was therefore independent of the interval following the q gamma decay. 6. The quantity of q gamma charge remained a monotonic single-valued function of test voltage, whether this potential was reached directly from the -90 mV holding potential or following a prepulse to -10 mV. 7. These findings suggest that the q gamma charge movement represents the electrical signature of an intramembrane entity whose transitions are primarily driven by, and therefore conserved with, the steady-state potential.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Dimensional analysis of osteoclastic bone resorption and the measurement of biologically active calcitonin.

Calcitonin inhibits bone resorption through a direct action on the osteoclast. We report a quantitative analysis of bone resorption by disaggregated rat osteoclasts. We then used our findings to develop a formal bioassay for calcitonin. Osteoclasts were mechanically disaggregated from neonatal rat long bones and dispersed at low densities on slices of devitalized bovine cortical bone. The resulting areas of bone excavation were quantified to micrometric precision by scanning electron microscopy together with computer-assisted image analysis. These findings were correlated with the volumes of bone resorption in the same slices measured by confocal scanning microscopy for the first time. The total planar areas of bone resorption per slice correlated linearly (r = 0.78) with the confocal microscopic measurements of total volume resorbed, provided that volume was expressed to its two-thirds power. The latter transformation resulted in representations of the determined areas ([length]2) and volumes ([length]3) which were dimensionally consistent. These findings thus demonstrate that osteoclastic bone excavations show a consistent relationship between area and volume and that assessments of the area of excavations accordingly provide an empirical representation of the volume of bone resorbed. Furthermore, in view of the skewed nature of the distributions of area measurements, we assessed the effect of transforming the response variable to derive a metameter, (planar area of resorption)1/2. Such transformed data points, which expressed the data in the dimensions of [length], were more normally distributed than the raw data points and had more stable variances over a wider concentration range. We accordingly determined relative potencies using parallel line analyses on the transformed data. The latter offered a consistent correlation to the volume measurements when these were also converted to dimensions of [length] (r = 0.805). It was confirmed that the inhibition of bone resorption by calcitonins from various species, namely, pig, salmon and eel, was quantitatively dependent upon concentration of the respective peptides. The resulting assay was also found to be sufficiently sensitive to measure picomolar peptide concentrations with a precision, lambda (standard deviation/slope), ranging between 0.3 and 0.8. Finally, we identified factors affecting assay precision and sensitivity.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Calcium influx and release in isolated rat osteoclasts.

Intracellular and extracellular sources of cytosolic [Ca2+] elevation in isolated rat osteoclasts were explored by a comparison of fura-2 signals in response to application of the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin, in Ca(2+)-containing and in Ca(2+)-free bathing solutions. Cytosolic [Ca2+] transients persisted in osteoclasts bathed in Ca(2+)-free, EGTA-containing solutions. They consisted of a peak cytosolic [Ca2+bd elevation followed by a full decay to baseline and were refractory to manipulations of surface membrane potential through changes in extracellular [K+]. They disappeared upon intracellular Ca2+ store depletion through repeated ionophore applications. They were therefore attributable solely to intracellularly stored Ca2+. In contrast, the fura-2 peaks in osteoclasts exposed to Ca(2+)-containing solutions decayed to sustained levels. Cytosolic [Ca2+] responses then persisted with repeated ionomycin application. These latter phenomena are accordingly attributable to extracellular Ca2+ entry. Finally, restoration of extracellular [Ca2+] to 1.25 mM following the depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores by treatment with ionomycin elicited a cytosolic [Ca2+] 'overshoot' consistent with capacitative Ca2+ entry via a cytosolic route. These results demonstrate a refillable intracellular source of cytosolic Ca2+ that could function in osteoclastic regulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Quantitative studies on the effect of prostacyclin on freshly isolated rat osteoclasts in culture.

Prostaglandins exert marked but transient inhibitory effects on bone resorption. The present study examines the effects of prostacyclin (0.15 to 25 microM) on the morphology of freshly disaggregated rat osteoclasts. An area descriptor, rho, represented changes in total cell spread area, and a motility descriptor, mu, represented overall changes in cell motility. The application of prostacyclin intercepted the trend of an increasing cell spread area with time and produced a transient reduction of rho, an R effect. Its magnitude depended upon concentration and was marked at 25 microM prostacyclin. The subsequent recovery (+0.8/min) of rho at this concentration resembled the persistent spreading seen in the absence of the agonist. There was also a sustained decrease in mu to approximately 60% of its pretreatment value (a Q effect) following the application of 25 microM prostacyclin. The extracellular application of 20 mM [Ca2+] produced a similarly transient cell retraction preceded by a rise of cytosolic [Ca2+], but without a corresponding decrease in mu. In contrast, prostacyclin did not elevate cytosolic [Ca2+], suggesting the triggering of an alternative transduction pathway. A fully reversible retraction together with incomplete quiescence may explain the transience characteristic of the antiresorptive action of prostacyclin.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[A case of multifocal eosinophilic granuloma presenting as a rib tumor].

A 19-year-old man was hospitalized because of left chest pain. He had a tumor in the left fifth rib with tenderness. Partial resection of the fifth rib was performed. Pathological examination showed granuloma with infiltration of histiocyte-like cells and eosinophils, and S-100 staining was positive. Therefore, the rib tumor was diagnosed as eosinophilic granuloma. Thereafter, the patient had recurrent bone lesions of the mandible, temporal bone, zygomatic bone, scapula, right eleventh rib, and tibia. Radiation therapy was effective for local treatment of each bone lesion. Moreover, pulmonary lesion was suspected on roentgenographic study. However, he had no respiratory symptoms and there was no significant change on roentgenographic findings over six years. It was considered that follow up for detection of bone and pulmonary lesions should be continued in this case.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Magnetic resonance imaging planes for the 3-dimensional characterisation of human coronary arteries.

We report a magnetic resonance imaging study which developed a consistent hierarchy of imaging planes for examination of the origins, courses and principal branches of the main coronary arteries of prepared human cadaveric hearts. The reference longitudinal axis was chosen between the aortic valve and the apex of the left ventricle. A series of transverse planes then successfully visualised the ostia of the left and right coronary arteries; the left main coronary, its bifurcation, and the left anterior descending artery for a distance 24 mm distal to its origin were clearly distinct in successively posterior sections as was the emergence and course of the right coronary artery. Further sections were derived from an axis that joined the posterior aspects of the left and right coronary artery ostia seen in cross-section, which demonstrated the origins of these arteries. They also traced the circumflex artery 30 mm beyond its point of emergence and demonstrated the course of the right coronary artery between the right ventricle and right atrium. The anatomical identifications were confirmed in selective 3-dimensional reconstructions of the cardiac anatomy around the aortic root and pulmonary artery origin. The orthogonal anatomical arrangements of the left and right coronary artery arterial trees thus permit a consistent set of imaging planes useful for the visualisation of all the major branches in a static heart in vitro. This may offer an approach useful for clinical imaging of human coronary vessels in vivo in the moving heart.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography of transitional cell carcinoma of renal pelvis and ureter.

Fourteen patients with clinically suspicious transitional cell carcinoma of renal pelvis or ureter were preoperatively examined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). All of the cases had surgical approval. In eleven of these patients, the tumor was correctly detected by MRI. Two cases were falsely positive including one squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and one Wilms' tumor of the kidney. The final case was falsely negative. The positive predictive value of MRI was 92.9%. The sensitivity was 91.7%. In seven of the fourteen patients, the CT findings were truly positive. There were five falsely negative findings and two falsely positive cases. The positive predictive value by CT was 64.3%. The sensitivity was 59.3%. Tumor stagings were done for all patients. The accuracy rate of staging was 7/7 by CT and 10/11 by MRI. MRI showed better identification of distant metastasis in the liver, vertebrae and vascular structure because of its high tissue contrast and larger field of view. MRI had a higher positive predictive rate and sensitivity for identification of uroepithelial tumor than CT.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Comparison of double-lumen endobnonchial versus single-lumen endotracheal tube anesthesia in bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy].

Since the development of video endoscopic surgery, the number of transthoracic endoscopic sympathectomy has been increasing. The use of double-lumen endobronchial tube or single-lumen endobronchial tube during anesthesia for these surgeries has been a controversial. 385 palmar hyperhidrosis patients divided into three groups: group I, under alterative one lung ventilation anesthesia with double-lumen endobronchial tube; group II, under alterative one lung ventilation anesthesia with single-lumen endobronchial tube; group III, under two lung ventilation anesthesia with single-lumen endobronchial tube were studied. All had received bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy. The age of patients ranged from 8 to 64 years old. There were 154 male and 231 female. The average anesthesia durations for group I, II and III were 38.56 +/- 10.28, 34.14 +/- 5.21, 31.83 +/- 3.34 min respectively. The variables considered in the study were: physique of the patients; duration of anesthesia; airway pressure changes; SaO2 changes during the operation and post-anesthesia complaints. We found that upon using double-lumen endobronchial tube, SaO2 levels was better maintained especially in the obese patients and the patients who had received a traditional surgical operation before.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Voltage sensitivity of the osteoclast calcium receptor.

We demonstrated previously that osteoclasts possess a divalent cation-sensitive "receptor", the Ca2+ receptor. Activation of the Ca2+ receptor by the surrogate cation Ni2+ was shown to elicit an increase in cytosolic [Ca2+] to a peak value followed by an exponential decline. In the present study we examined the influence of surface membrane voltage on the kinetics of Ca2+ receptor inactivation. The K+ ionophore, valinomycin was applied to intercept the declining phase of the cytosolic [Ca2+] transient elicited by application of between 50 microM- and 5 mM-[Ni2+]. This resulted in a sustained elevation of cytosolic [Ca2+] or even a 'hump' followed by a gradual decline. Such a kinetic alteration persisted in a Ca(2+)-free solution, but was abolished in high extracellular [K+] (105 mM). Thus, we demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge, a modulatory effect of membrane potential on the function of the osteoclast Ca2+ receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Stimulation of a Gs-like G protein in the osteoclast inhibits bone resorption but enhances tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase secretion.

Previous studies have demonstrated that G-protein agonists induce quiescence (Q effect) or retraction (R effect) in isolated osteoclasts. We now report the functional effects of such agonists on osteoclastic bone resorption and enzyme release. Exposure of osteoclasts to tetrafluoro-aluminate anions (AlF4-), a universal G protein stimulator, resulted in a marked concentration-dependent inhibition of bone resorption. This was associated with a dramatic increase in the secretion of the osteoclast-specific enzyme, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). Cholera toxin, a Gs stimulator and a selective Q effect agonist, similarly abolished bone resorption and enhanced TRAP secretion. In contrast, pertussis toxin, a Gi inhibitor and a selective R effect agonist, inhibited bone resorption significantly, but slightly reduced enzyme release. The results suggest an involvement of a Gs-like G protein in TRAP secretion from the osteoclast, possibly through a cyclic AMP-dependent mechanism.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1993

Linkage of extracellular and intracellular control of cytosolic Ca2+ in rat osteoclasts in the presence of thapsigargin.

Cytosolic [Ca2+] was measured in single osteoclasts using fura-2 in experiments investigating the effects of Ca2+ "receptor" activation using thapsigargin as a means of depleting intracellular Ca2+ stores. Application of 4 microM thapsigargin to osteoclasts in Ca(2+)-free solutions resulted in an elevation of cytosolic [Ca2+]. Under similar conditions, activation of the osteoclast Ca2+ receptor by the substitute divalent cation agonist, Ni2+, resulted in a transient elevation of cytosolic [Ca2+]. In both instances, restoration of extracellular [Ca2+] to 1.25 mM resulted in an "overshoot" of cytosolic [Ca2+]. Prior depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores by thapsigargin markedly reduced the magnitude of the cytosolic [Ca2+] response to a subsequent application of 5 mM Ni2+. The application of 2 microM thapsigargin to intercept the falling phase of the Ni(2+)-induced cytosolic Ca2+ signal resulted in a sustained elevation of cytosolic [Ca2+], which was terminated by a second application of the same Ni2+. Furthermore, the sustained elevation of cytosolic [Ca2+] induced by thapsigargin application alone was abolished by late application of Ni2+. We conclude that activation of the surface membrane Ca2+ receptor on the osteoclast results in the cytosolic release of Ca2+ from intracellular storage organelles; the refilling of such stores depends upon a thapsigargin-sensitive Ca(2+)-ATPase; store depletion induces capacitative Ca2+ influx; and the Ca2+ influx pathway is sensitive to blockade by Ni2+.

Animals↗