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Biomedical subjects

C Urbina

Publications and source records attributed to C Urbina.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Comparison of reactogenicity and antigenicity of M37 rotavirus vaccine and rhesus-rotavirus-based quadrivalent vaccine.

90 Venezuelan infants aged 10-20 weeks were randomly allocated to four groups which received one of the following: the M37 vaccine (1 x 10(4) pfu [plaque-forming units]); quadrivalent rotavirus vaccine (1 x 10(4) pfu each of serotype 3 rhesus rotavirus [RRV] and human rotavirus-RRV reassortants of serotypes 1, 2, and 4); balanced quadrivalent vaccine consisting of 1 x 10(4) pfu of serotype 1 and 3 components but 5 x 10(4) pfu of serotype 2 and 4 components; or placebo. The frequencies of transient febrile responses in these four groups were 20%, 27%, 30%, and 9%. 50% of 22 infants tested who received M37 vaccine showed a serum rotavirus IgA antibody response, compared with 74% of the 23 quadrivalent and 86% of the 22 balanced-quadrivalent recipients. 64% of the M37 recipients showed a neutralising antibody response to M37; 27% showed such responses to human serotype 1 Wa strain and 27% to serotype 4 neonatal strain ST3. 17-39% of the quadrivalent recipients and 27-41% of the balanced-quadrivalent recipients showed neutralising antibody responses to serotypes 1-4. 70-73% of the quadrivalent and balanced quadrivalent groups also showed neutralising antibody responses to RRV.

Antibodies, Viral

Differential response of adherent and unanchored melanoma cells to bromodeoxyuridine evidenced by specific lectin-binding protein changes.

The possible differential response of adherent and nonadherent cells of the same tumor type to pyrimidine analogues has been investigated. We show that bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) increases interactions of attached cells with their substrate without markedly affecting the cell adhesion properties of the same cells when these are not anchored. However, evidence for an adhesion-independent response of both cell types to BUdR has been obtained with lectin binding assays using 125I-labelled Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA). This revealed a greatly increased binding of LCA to a large glycoconjugate in all cultures exposed to the halogenated pyrimidine. Attachment-dependent effects of BUdR were manifested in flattened cells by a greater LCA-binding to a 240-kDa protein and by increased interaction of 125I-labelled wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA) with a 200-kDa protein and a large glycoconjugate sharply defined in electrophoresis. Although both tumor cell aggregates and anchored cells exhibit detectable responses to pyrimidine analogues such as BUdR, the corresponding effects are thus manifested unequally in cells with different adhesion properties.

Animals

DNA on membrane receptors: a target for monoclonal anti-DNA antibody induced by a nucleoprotein shed in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Antibodies to double stranded (ds) DNA correlate with clinical evolution in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) although little is known about the immunogen and target for these antibodies, since ds DNA is poorly immunogenic. We now show that monoclonal anti DNA antibodies similar to those detected in human SLE can be produced by immunization of genetically non-autoimmune mice with a human circulating DNA-protein complex increased in the circulation of SLE patients. One such monoclonal antibody showed antinuclear reactivity, interacting with a 74 kd DNA-binding membrane protein, in reactions prevented by absorption with ds DNA cellulose. Our data suggests that anti ds DNA antibody reactions in SLE may be triggered by circulating nucleoproteins and directed toward membrane receptors capable of interacting with extracellular DNA.

Antibodies, Antinuclear

Changes in cytoskeleton-associated molecules in cells with different degrees of proliferation and metastatic ability.

An antiserum prepared against the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton of in vivo grown B16 melanoma tumor has been used to analyze the differential expression of cytoskeleton-associated molecules in cells with different degrees of proliferation and metastatic ability. This antiserum identified a major 97 kd molecule associated with the cytoskeletal fraction in B16 melanoma tumors, mouse embryo and in proliferating lymphocytes, with no reactivity with the 97 kd species in non proliferating lymphocytes. The antiserum revealed immune reactivity with a 180 kd Triton-insoluble species in normal adult mouse liver and kidney. A comparison of tumor cells with differing metastatic ability also showed a minor 180 kd component in poorly metastatic cells which appeared decreased and partly degraded in its more invasive counterpart. The differential recognition of a 97 kd species in resting and proliferating lymphocytes, as well as the different cleavage of a 180 kd species in tumor cells of differing metastatic ability, implies a role for these molecules in cell proliferation. The fact that these differences can be detected with an antiserum to tumor cell cytoskeleton suggests that this Triton-insoluble fraction may be a good source of molecules involved in growth control.

Animals

Decrease in tumor-cell attachment and in a 140-kDa fibronectin receptor correlate with greater expression of multiple 34-kDa surface proteins and cytoplasmic 54-kDa components.

B16 melanoma cells attach to matrix-bound fibronectin but fail to adhere to albumin-coated surfaces supplemented with soluble fibronectin. Attachment to substratum is also decreased in the presence of an adhesion-disrupting antibody, or when cells are seeded on substrates poorly adhesive for these cells, such as collagen gels. We have now investigated some of the more general adhesion-related alterations that occur between flattened and poorly attached cells. Immune blots of octylglucoside extracts with the adhesion-disrupting IgG revealed a 140-kDa component in flattened cells, in contrast to the increased detection of a 54-kDa species in a comparable assay with rounded cells. Surface iodination also showed a decreased external exposure of a 140-kDa fibronectin binding species and an increased labelling in multiple 34-kDa protein species, in cells with decreased attachment to substratum. Analysis of 35S-methionine-labelled cell aggregates cultured on collagen gels also revealed a decrease in the 140-kDa region and a greater labelling of multiple 54-kDa components, compared to the same cells flattened on fibronectin. A change in 54- and 34-kDa species was also seen in matrix-associated components of rounded cells that failed to attach with soluble fibronectin. Since the 34-kDa species increase in poorly adherent cells is mainly detected by iodination, and the 54-kDa species increase in the same cells is partly associated with the corresponding detergent-insoluble matrices, we propose that these 2 novel proteins may relate to cell rounding, through a transmembrane modulation involving both surface membrane and cytoskeletal structures.

Animals

120 and 80 kd detergent-insoluble glycoproteins as markers of differentiation and adhesion in B16 melanoma.

Surface glycoproteins correlating with cell adhesion and differentiation have now been studied in pigmented and amelanotic B16 melanoma cell monolayers and aggregates, labelled with 3H-glucosamine. Solubilization with the non-ionic detergent octyl glucoside revealed mostly adhesion-related changes, which involved a decrease in 140 and 110 kd glycoproteins in both pigmented and amelanotic cell aggregates. Nevertheless, differentiation-regulated changes were preferentially evident in the remaining detergent-insoluble glycoproteins. Pigmented cell monolayers showed a preferential increase in glycoprotein species of about 120 kd and 80 kd, which were not detected in amelanotic monolayers or in pigmented or amelanotic cell aggregates. Our findings suggest the relevance of these cytoskeleton associated glycoproteins as markers of differentiation and adhesion in melanoma cells.

Cell Adhesion

Substrate-dependent effect of epidermal growth factor on intercellular adhesion and synthesis of triton-insoluble proteins in human carcinoma A431 cells.

Human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells attach more rapidly to collagen type-I and -IV substrates than to surfaces coated with laminin or fibronectin. The diminished intercellular interaction and rounding up manifested when these cells are exposed to epidermal growth factor (EGF) in tissue culture plastic or collagen films is not shown when the assay is performed on 3-dimensional collagen. In the latter substrate, cells exposed to EGF reveal greater cell cohesion with interdigitations and desmosomal junctions, compared to the limited intercellular interaction detected in similarly treated cells assayed in tissue culture substrate. Although the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, did not prevent these EGF-mediated changes, metabolic labelling indicated a substrate-dependent effect of EGF on the synthesis of proteins associated with the Triton-insoluble cytoskeletal matrix. The involvement of cytoskeleton components in the EGF effects on intercellular adhesion was shown by its susceptibility to cytochalasin B, known to disorganize actin-containing microfilaments. Some of the mechanisms of epithelial morphogenesis and the influence of extracellular matrix components on cell-receptor/growth-factor interactions may now be suitably analyzed by examining the EGF effects on A431 cells grown on different substrata.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

Preparation and evaluation of a soluble derivative of the antiallergic compound trans-2, 3b, 4, 5, 7, 8b, 9, 10-octahydronaphtho [1, 2-c:5, 6-c'] dipyrazole (LC-6).

In the present report we describe the preparation of LC-6.2HCl, a soluble derivative of the synthetic bispyrazole LC-6. Because the latter was practically insoluble in aqueous and organic media, experiments which indicated that it had antiallergic activity were confined to in vivo studies following its oral administration. The availability of soluble LC-6.2HCl made it possible to administer the drug i.v. or i.p. Through these routes it exhibited greater antiallergic activity than by the oral route, as judged by lower ID50's and by the achievement of 100% PCA inhibition. The latter result had not previously been attained orally with the base. Furthermore, when injected i.v. or i.p. LC-6.2HCl showed prolonged inhibitory activity, a valuable attribute of the parent compound. The in vivo activity of the soluble salt, which we describe, further establishes the potential therapeutic value of the drug.

Administration, Oral

Relationship of a novel extracellular matrix glycoprotein to cell detachment in highly metastatic B16 melanoma: modulating effect of bromodeoxyuridine.

Growth of highly invasive B16 melanoma BL6 cells with bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) decreases in vitro cell detachment and modulates extrapulmonary growth in vivo. We now show: (1) The presence of an 80 kd glycoprotein in the Triton-insoluble matrix of control BL6 cells but not in the corresponding fractions from BUdR-treated BL6 cells and poorly metastatic F1r cells. (2) The matrix fractions from the two last mentioned cells reveal Triton-insoluble glycoproteins of about 55-58 kd. (3) Mild trypsin treatment of intact cells before matrix preparation leads to the preferential disappearance of the 80 kd component from control BL6 matrix, suggesting its extracellular localization. (4) Prevention of Triton-mediated BL6 matrix detachment by zinc chloride pretreatment, and analysis of different BL6 clones with significant metastatic behavior, also revealed the presence of 80-90 kd matrix-associated glycoproteins in control but not in corresponding BUdR-grown cultures. Since BUdR decreases cell detachment, extrapulmonary metastasis and the levels of the 80-90 kd Triton-insoluble glycoprotein species in metastatic B16 melanoma, and this matrix component is also decreased in poorly metastatic F1r cells, we propose an involvement of this glycoconjugate in tumor cell detachment and metastatic behavior.

Animals

Presence of basophils in PHA-reacted skin sites of mice. An electron microscopic study.

Subcutaneous injections of the lymphocyte mitogen PHA in mice induced a local reaction which was delayed in time course and characterized histologically by dermal infiltration with blood granulocytes. Basophils were identified in the skin sections by electron microscopy as their granules differ from those of other blood granulocytes and tissue mast cells.

Animals

Ultrastructure of the mouse blood basophil.

This work establishes the presence of basophils in mouse peripheral blood and describes their ultrastructure. In this species, the cytoplasmic granules, which are membrane-bound and relatively scarce, differ both in size and electron-density. The intragranular particle size is often markedly heterogeneous. All cytoplasmic organelles are visible including a well-defined Golgi and centriole. The bi-lobed or multi-lobed nucleus has peripherally condensed heterochromatin, nuclear pores and often nucleoli. The surface membrane is characteristically abundant in projections and associated cavities. The electron microscope image of the mouse basophil shows similarities to that of the human basophil, but appears different from that of the guinea pig, chicken and rat.

Animals

Synthesis and study of the potential antiallergic activity of some pyrazole derivatives.

The synthesis and study of the oral antiallergic activity of a series of monopyrazole derivatives (2-14) considered as analogues of active bispyrazole 1 are described. None of the compounds showed significant inhibition of the rat passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), with the exception of the already known 5-aminoindazole (2). The activity of this compound, is however, lower than that of compound 1.

Animals

A new look at basophils in mice.

It is believed that mice do not express cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity because they have few or no basophils. We have looked for these cells in peripheral blood smears of C3H/He, DBA/2, C57BL/6, and Balb/c mice before and after a series of foreign protein injections, a treatment known to induce basophilia. We found 0.2 and 1.5% basophils in the untreated C3H/He and DBA/2 mice and no basophils in the untreated C57BL/6 and Balb/c mice. Basophilia of 2--10% was found in the treated mice of the four strains. We noticed that the microscopic appearance of the mouse basophils differs from that in other species. These results indicate that basophils may be as frequent in mice--believed not to express cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity--as they are both in man and guinea pigs--known to express this entity. Since the mouse basophils have a distinct morphology, different from that of other species, it is possible that they may not have been noticed in routine skin preparations.

Animals