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Biomedical subjects

C W Jackson

Publications and source records attributed to C W Jackson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Possible dihydroepiandrosterone-induced mania.

BACKGROUND: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is among the most abundant steroids in the human body and appears to have diverse biochemical activities. This multifunctional hormone has long been a compound of interest to research psychiatrists. Its recent promotion and availability as an over-the-counter supplement to the general public has led to widespread use. Little is known about potential adverse effects of DHEA when consumed on an acute or chronic basis. We report a case of mania in an older man acutely admitted to our psychiatric facility with no previous personal or family history of bipolar disorder that appeared to be related to recent DHEA use. The patient had initiated DHEA use 6 months prior to admission and was taking 200-300 mg/day at the time of presentation. METHODS: He was treated with valproic acid 500 mg twice daily. RESULTS: The patient showed sufficient improvement to be discharged following a 7-day inpatient hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: A wide range of medications have been associated with the induction of hypomania and mania, and we have provided a brief discussion of the potential for DHEA to trigger manic symptoms.

Acute Disease

Erythroid maturation and globin gene expression in mice with combined deficiency of NF-E2 and nrf-2.

NF-E2 binding sites, located in distant regulatory sequences, may be important for high level alpha- and beta-globin gene expression. Surprisingly, targeted disruption of each subunit of NF-E2 has either little or no effect on erythroid maturation in mice. For p18 NF-E2, this lack of effect is due, at least in part, to the presence of redundant proteins. For p45 NF-E2, one possibility is that NF-E2-related factors, Nrf-1 or Nrf-2, activate globin gene expression in the absence of NF-E2. To test this hypothesis for Nrf-2, we disrupted the Nrf-2 gene by homologous recombination. Nrf-2-deficient mice had no detectable hematopoietic defect. In addition, no evidence was found for reciprocal upregulation of NF-E2 or Nrf-2 protein in fetal liver cells deficient for either factor. Fetal liver cells deficient for both NF-E2 and Nrf-2 expressed normal levels of alpha- and beta-globin. Mature mice with combined deficiency of NF-E2 and Nrf-2 did not exhibit a defect in erythroid maturation beyond that seen with loss of NF-E2 alone. Thus, the presence of a mild erythroid defect in NF-E2-deficient mice is not the result of compensation by Nrf-2.

Amino Acid Sequence

Prolonged bleeding time with defective platelet filopodia formation in the Wistar Furth rat.

Hereditary macrothrombocytopenia is a hallmark of Wistar Furth (WF) rats. In addition, a platelet/megakaryocyte alpha granule defect, similar to that of patients with gray platelet syndrome, is present. Several observations indicate cytoskeletal abnormalities in WF platelets and megakaryocytes, suggesting the potential for functional defects in hemostatic processes requiring cytoskeletal reorganization, such as platelet adhesion and spreading. However, no bleeding abnormality has been noted. Here, we report a prolonged bleeding time (>30 minutes in 10 of 11 rats tested) with defective clot formation in the WF strain. Prolonged bleeding time can result from defects in platelet adhesion, aggregation, or the release reaction. Because aggregation to collagen and adenosine diphosphate were reported to be normal, we determined whether WF rat platelets are defective in their ability to adhere to substrates. Platelet adherence and spreading was evaluated from 30 seconds to 30 minutes on Formvar-coated, carbon-stabilized grids or poly-L-lysine-coated glass coverslips by transmission electron microscopy or immunofluorescence, respectively, and scanning electron microscopy. We classified the adhered platelets according to their pattern of spreading, ie, rounded, rounded or spreading with short filopodia, spindle-shaped, spreading with long filopodia, spreading with lamellipodia, and fully spread. Adherent normal rat platelets displayed all stages of spreading within 30 seconds to 2 minutes, including many spindle-shaped forms, and forms with multiple, long filopodia. In contrast, adhered WF platelets at these early time points rarely developed long filopodia or were spindle shaped. The majority of adherent WF platelets at these early time points were either round, spread with a few short filopodia, or extensively spread with wide lamellipodial skirts. By 15 to 30 minutes, most platelets in both Wistar and WF samples were fully spread. These data show abnormal WF platelet spreading. The paucity of spindle-shaped forms and forms with long filopodia may reflect an inability of WF platelets to undergo the early stages of spreading, or, alternatively, their more rapid than normal progression through these stages. We hypothesize that this failure to spread normally may relate to prolonged bleeding times in vivo and defective clot formation in WF rats.

Animals

A single intravenous dose of murine megakaryocyte growth and development factor potently stimulates platelet production, challenging the necessity for daily administration.

The thrombopoietic efficacy of recombinant forms of c-mpl ligand is being actively investigated in preclinical studies using daily dosing schedules. However, a comprehensive kinetic study of the thrombopoietic response to a single injection of recombinant c-mpl ligand has not been performed. Here, we present the results of a detailed kinetic analysis of the platelet response to a single intravenous administration of pegylated recombinant murine megakaryocyte growth and development factor (PEG-rmMGDF) in mice. In addition, we compare the efficacy of single versus daily dosing in stimulating platelet production. A single intravenous injection of PEG-rmMGDF produced a marked and dose-dependent elevation in platelet number and a moderate increase in mean platelet volume (MPV). After administration of 25 or 250 micrograms/kg of PEG-rmMGDF, platelet number was first increased on day 3 and peaked at 2.7-fold (25 micrograms/kg) and 5.7-fold of normal (250 micrograms/kg) on day 5. Thereafter, platelet number declined and returned to baseline by days 9 and 14, with the 25 and 250 micrograms/kg doses, respectively. MPV began to increase on day 2 after PEG-rmMGDF, reaching maximum values of 1.2-fold (25 micrograms/kg) and 1.5-fold of normal (250 micrograms/kg) on day 4. Subsequently, MPV declined and was downregulated on days 6 to 7 (25 micrograms/kg) and day 8 (250 micrograms/kg). Based on these results, we evaluated the platelet response to PEG-rmMGDF administered intravenously as a single dose versus daily for 5 days. A single administration of 100 micrograms/kg produced a higher platelet number on day 5 than daily administration of 100 or 20 micrograms/kg for 5 days. However, the thrombocytosis was less sustained after single versus daily dosing. The smaller platelet number increase on day 5 after daily dosing reflected the production of larger platelets, rather than suppression of thrombopoiesis. Our results indicate that PEG-rmMGDF administered as a single intravenous dose potently stimulates platelet production in mice, challenging the need for its daily administration. Adoption of an intermittent administration schedule of this cytokine could be more efficacious and is merited in future clinical trials.

Animals

Wistar Furth rat megakaryocytes lack dense compartments and intercellular plaques, membranous structures rich in cytoskeletal proteins.

Wistar Furth (WF) rats have an abnormal thrombopoietic phenotype with morphologically aberrant megakaryocytes, larger than normal mean platelet volume, and platelet alpha-granule protein deficiency. Here, ultrastructural comparisons of WF rat megakaryocytes to those of rats (Wistar) with normal platelet formation during stimulated megakaryocytopoiesis following 5-fluorouracil administration, have revealed a previously unrecognized membrane structure in normal rat megakaryocytes, and two additional abnormalities in WF megakaryocytes. The novel structures were zones of electron density on the cytoplasmic face of apposed plasma membranes of adjoining normal megakaryocytes. These modified focal adhesion-type contacts were distributed at intervals between adjacent megakaryocytes, and were spaced by deposits of extracellular material. These structures also were present between apposed plasma membranes of Wistar rat megakaryocytes in unperturbed marrows, but were absent between megakaryocytes of WF rats. The second WF rat megakaryocyte abnormality is the absence of cytoplasmic dense compartments, another specialized membranous structure that is continuous with the megakaryocyte demarcation membrane system. Both the intercellular plaques and dense compartments of Wistar rat megakaryocytes were found to be rich in cytoskeletal proteins including actin, alpha-actinin, talin, and vinculin as indicated by ultrastructural immunogold labeling. We hypothesize that an abnormality in cytoskeletal protein function may be responsible for the lack of these structures in the WF rat.

Actinin

The Src family kinases, Fgr, Fyn, Lck, and Lyn, colocalize with coated membranes in platelets.

Nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinases phosphorylate proteins, thereby activating many intracellular signaling pathways and mediating protein-protein interactions. Protein phosphorylation is regulated in large part by the subcellular localization of these kinases and their respective substrates. Src is the most studied of these kinases, although other members of the Src family have been shown to be important in the differentiation of specific cell types. Src and Src family members are reported to be membrane-associated, but detergent-extraction studies have demonstrated a major difference in the solubility of Src compared with other members of the Src family (Fgr, Fyn, Lck, Lyn, and Yes), suggesting that their subcellular distributions may be different. By immunoelectron microscopy, we demonstrate that, unlike Src, the Src-related kinases are associated with electron-dense cytoplasmic domains and plasma membrane domains that correspond in size and frequency to endocytotic vesicles and coated pits. Clusters of labeling for these kinases also were seen adjacent to granule membranes. These kinases colocalize with the coated vesicle protein, clathrin, confirming their association with this class of endocytotic vesicle. We hypothesize that this vesicular association of Src-related kinases indicates a role for them in the endocytotic vesicle-mediated uptake and trafficking of plasma proteins into platelet granules.

Animals

A single injection of pegylated murine megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF) into mice is sufficient to produce a profound stimulation of megakaryocyte frequency, size, and ploidization.

Despite numerous studies investigating the action of c-mpl ligand, no reports have defined the in vivo changes in megakaryocytopoiesis in response to a single injection of this cytokine. Here we compare the kinetics of the megakaryocytopoietic response in C57BI/6J mice administered 25 micrograms/ kg or 250 micrograms/kg of pegylated (PEG) murine megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF) as a single intravenous injection. Megakaryocytes of mice treated with MGDF had normal ultrastructure, showing a typical distribution of the demarcation membrane system, alpha-granules, and other cytoplasmic organelles. Megakaryocyte ploidy, size, and frequency were markedly increased with both MGDF doses. Megakaryocyte ploidy was maximally increased from a modal value of 16N to 64N on day 3, with both doses of MGDF. Similarly, a comparable increase in megakaryocyte size occurred in the two MGDF groups. Increased megakaryocyte size was coupled to the increase in megakaryocyte ploidy, and no evidence for independent regulation of megakaryocyte size within individual ploidy classes was apparent. In contrast to megakaryocyte ploidy and size, the increase in megakaryocyte frequency was markedly different with the two doses of MGDF. The proportion of 2N and 4N cells was increased from a baseline of 0.035% to 0.430% by day 4 in mice treated with the higher dose of MGDF, but only to 0.175% in mice administered 25 micrograms/kg of MGDF. The marked increase in the pool of these immature megakaryocytes translated to a sustained elevation in the frequency of polyploid megakaryocytes (8N cells and greater). In contrast to the sustained increase in the frequency of polyploid cells, the level of polyploidization was downregulated on days 6 to 10, but normalized by day 14. We conclude that a single injection of MGDF is able to expand the megakaryocytic pool in a dose-dependent manner, which, with subsequent maturation, should lead to an increased rate of platelet production.

Animals

Decreased serglycin proteoglycan size is associated with the platelet alpha granule storage defect in Wistar Furth hereditary macrothrombocytopenic rats. Serglycin binding affinity to type I collagen is unaltered.

The Wistar Furth (WF) rat has a hereditary defect in platelet formation that resembles gray platelet syndrome of man with a large mean platelet volume and platelet alpha granule deficiency. The alpha granule abnormality is suggestive of a defect in granule packaging and/or stability. Proteoglycans are hypothesized to play a role in granule packaging. Therefore, we have analyzed the structure of the platelet proteoglycan, serglycin, in platelets of WF and normal Wistar rats. Normal and Wistar Furth rats were injected with 35S-sulfate to label platelet proteoglycans via synthesis by the megakaryocytes, and platelets were isolated 3 days later. We found that WF rat platelets have only one-third of the normal proteoglycan mass per unit platelet volume, and the proteoglycans are smaller in hydrodynamic size with shorter glycosaminoglycan chains than those of Wistar rats. However, WF rat platelet proteoglycans showed no defect in binding to collagen on affinity coelectrophoresis gels. We conclude that the structure of WF rat platelet proteoglycans is abnormal, and speculate that this abnormality may contribute to abnormal packaging of the alpha granule contents. Leakage of alpha granule contents into the marrow by platelets and megakaryocytes could perturb the marrow matrix, and promote the development of myelofibrosis noted in gray platelet syndrome.

Animals

A role for cyclin D3 in the endomitotic cell cycle.

Platelets, essential for thrombosis and hemostasis, develop from polyploid megakaryocytes which undergo endomitosis. During this cell cycle, cells experience abrogated mitosis and reenter a phase of DNA synthesis, thus leading to endomitosis. In the search for regulators of the endomitotic cell cycle, we have identified cyclin D3 as an important regulatory factor. Of the D-type cyclins, cyclin D3 is present at high levels in megakaryocytes undergoing endomitosis and is markedly upregulated following exposure to the proliferation-, maturation-, and ploidy-promoting factor, Mpl ligand. Transgenic mice in which cyclin D3 is overexpressed in the platelet lineage display a striking increase in endomitosis, similar to changes seen following Mpl ligand administration to normal mice. Electron microscopy analysis revealed that unlike such treated mice, however, D3 transgenic mice show a poor development of demarcation membranes, from which platelets are believed to fragment, and no increase in platelets. Thus, while our model supports a key role for cyclin D3 in the endomitotic cell cycle, it also points to the unique role of Mpl ligand in priming megakaryocytes towards platelet fragmentation. The role of cyclin D3 in promoting endomitosis in other lineages programmed to abrogate mitosis will need further exploration.

Animals

Identification of the Src family kinases, Lck and Fgr in platelets. Their tyrosine phosphorylation status and subcellular distribution compared with other Src family members.

We have identified the Src family members, Lck and Fgr in resting human and rodent platelets and compared their subcellular distributions and tyrosine phosphorylation status to those of the other Src family kinases to gain insights into the signal transduction pathways active in maintaining platelets in the circulation. Like Fyn, Lyn, and Yes, most of Fgr and Lck was detergent-insoluble in human and rat platelets. In comparison, Src showed higher detergent solubility than the Src-related kinases. Most all human platelet Src was detergent-soluble, while that of rodent platelets was present in all detergent fractions. We also compared the tyrosine-phosphorylation status of Lck and Fgr to other Src family members in resting platelets using immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. All of these Src family members except Fgr exhibited substantial phosphotyrosine antibody labeling. The partitioning of these kinases, with the exception of Src, with the detergent-insoluble fraction, their tyrosine-phosphorylation status, and co-localization with endocytotic vesicles lead us to hypothesize that the Src family kinases are involved in signaling events that drive cytoskeletal reorganization and active endocytosis of plasma proteins by circulating platelets.

Animals

Deregulated expression of c-myc in megakaryocytes of transgenic mice increases megakaryopoiesis and decreases polyploidization.

Platelets, essential for vascular integrity and hemostasis, fragment from polyploid megakaryocytes, characterized by their endomitotic cell cycle. We studied the influence of overexpression of c-myc oncogene on megakaryopoiesis and endomitosis in vivo, using transgenic mice carrying c-myc fused to the estrogen receptor under the control of the platelet factor 4 (PF4) megakaryocyte-specific promoter. The rationale behind this strategy was to obtain controlled overexpression of an active c-Myc, depending on the estrogen level in the mouse circulation. Analysis of these transgenic mice revealed that the bone marrow of female transgenic mice or of estrogen-injected male transgenic mice, but not of age-matched transgenic males nor nontransgenic females, contained frequent immature myeloid cells and an increased number of megakaryocytes. Deregulated expression of c-Myc shifted the normal ploidy profile of megakaryocytes due to a significant increase in proliferating megakaryocytes and a decrease in the fraction of ploidizing cells. These transgenic mice represent a novel in vivo model for a Myc-induced myeloproliferative disorder which can be controlled.

Animals

Transcription factor NF-E2 is required for platelet formation independent of the actions of thrombopoietin/MGDF in megakaryocyte development.

Despite the importance of blood platelets in health and disease, the mechanisms regulating their formation within megakaryocytes are unknown. We generated mice lacking the hematopoietic subunit (p45) of the heterodimeric erythroid transcription factor NF-E2. Unexpectedly, NF-E2-/- mice lack circulating platelets and die of hemorrhage; their megakaryocytes show no cytoplasmic platelet formation. Though platelets are absent, serum levels of the growth factor thrombopoietin/MGDF are not elevated above controls. Nonetheless, NF-E2-/- megakaryocytes proliferate in vivo in response to thrombopoietin administration. Thus, as an essential factor for megakaryocyte maturation and platelet production, NF-E2 must regulate critical target genes independent of the action of thrombopoietin. These findings provide insight into the genetic analysis of megakaryocyte maturation and thrombopoiesis.

Animals

Abnormal subcellular distribution of myosin and talin in Wistar Furth rat platelets.

The roles of most cytoskeletal proteins in platelet formation and function remain largely undefined. We earlier detected megakaryocyte membrane blebbing and a unique antigenic determinant associated with a missense mutation in the cytoskeletal protein, talin, in an animal model of hereditary macrothrombocytopenia, the Wistar Furth (WF) rat, which led us to examine the distribution of talin and other cytoskeletal proteins in resting normal and WF rat platelets. In contrast to the conclusions of an earlier ultrastructural analysis, our biochemical and ultrastructural immunogold studies indicate a significant membrane-association of talin in both resting normal and WF rat platelets as found earlier for rat megakaryocytes. Talin was associated with plasma membranes, membranes of the surface-connected canalicular system, and with alpha-granule membranes of both normal and WF rat platelets, but as in WF megakaryocytes, talin was absent from the large membrane complexes of WF platelets. An even more striking difference was seen in the distribution of myosin in subcellular fractions of normal and WF rat platelets separated in density gradients, in which the proportion of myosin in the least dense WF rat platelet membrane fraction was one half that in the same normal platelet fraction. This difference was balanced by a fourfold increase in myosin in the most dense WF rat subcellular fraction, which is highly enriched for alpha-granules. These results support our hypothesis that the platelet abnormalities of the WF rat are related to defects in the megakaryocyte-platelet cytoskeleton.

Animals