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Biomedical subjects

E Graner

Publications and source records attributed to E Graner.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Cyclosporin A inhibits production and activity of matrix metalloproteinases by gingival fibroblasts.

Cyclosporin A (CyA) is a potent immunosuppressor used in organ transplantation and in the management of various autoimmune diseases. Gingival overgrowth is one of the side-effects of the CyA-treatment, affecting the attached gingiva of 25-81% of treated patients. To investigate the production and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the CyA-induced gingival overgrowth, 2 well-documented models were utilized: the in vivo CyA-induced rat gingival overgrowth and primary cultures of human gingival fibroblasts treated with CyA. Our results obtained from the Western blot assays demonstrated clearly that the production of MMP-1 and MMP-3 was significantly inhibited by CyA at similar concentrations found in the serum of patients undergoing CyA-treatment. Moreover, the gelatinolytic activity of MMP-2 was also reduced both in cultured fibroblasts and in the rat CyA-induced gingival overgrowth. Taken together, the data presented here suggest that these inhibitory effects may contribute to the extracellular matrix (ECM) components accumulation in the CyA-induced gingival overgrowth.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Normal inhibitory avoidance learning and anxiety, but increased locomotor activity in mice devoid of PrP(C).

Prions are the causative agents of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. The transmissible agent (PrP(Sc)) is an abnormal form of PrP(C), a normal neuronal protein. The physiological role of PrP(C) remains unclear. In the present report, we evaluated behavioral parameters in Prnp(0/0) mice devoid of PrP(C). Prnp(0/0) mice showed normal short- and long-term retention of a step-down inhibitory avoidance task and normal behavior in an elevated plus maze test of anxiety. During a 5-min exploration of an open field, Prnp(0/0) mice showed normal number of rearings, defecation, and latency to initiate locomotion, but a significant increase in the number of crossings. The results suggest that Prnp(0/0) mice show normal fear-motivated memory, anxiety and exploratory behavior, and a slight increase in locomotor activity during exploration of a novel environment.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Detection and characterization of metalloproteinases with gelatinolytic, fibronectinolytic and fibrinogenolytic activities in brown spider (Loxosceles intermedia) venom.

By studying Loxosceles intermedia (Brown spider) venom we were able to detect a proteolytic action on fibronectin and fibrinogen but an inability to degrade full length laminin, type I and type IV collagens. By studying enzyme inhibitors we observed that divalent metal chelators as EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline completely blocked this cleaving action whereas serine-protease inhibitors, thiol-protease inhibitor and acid-protease inhibitor showed little or no effect on the proteolytic activity of the venom indicating involvement of a metalloproteinase. Zymogram analysis of venom detected a 35 kDa molecule with gelatinolytic activity. The metalloproteinase nature was further supported by its sensitivity to 4-aminophenyl mercuric acetate (APMA) treatment which decreased its molecular weight to 32 kDa, inhibition of its gelatinolytic effect by 1,10-phenanthroline and its elution from gelatin-sepharose affinity beads. In addition, zymogram experiments using fibronectin and fibrinogen as substrates detected a fibronectinolytic and fibrinogenolytic band at 28 kDa which changed its electrophoretic mobility to 20 kDa band after organomercurial treatment. The inhibitory effect of 1,10 phenanthroline and APMA sensitivity on this proteolytic effect confirmed the presence of a second metalloproteinase in the venom. The data presented herein describe two invertebrate metalloproteinases in L. intermedia venom with different specificities one gelatinolytic and another, fibronectinolytic and fibrinogenolytic, probably involved in the harmful effects of the venom.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Differential proliferation of fibroblasts cultured from hereditary gingival fibromatosis and normal gingiva.

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is an oral condition characterized by the enlargement of the gingiva of both the maxilla and mandible. To study the cell proliferation index of fibroblasts from HGF and normal gingiva (NG), cell cultures from 4 members of the same family with HGF and from 4 healthy patients were established. Our results obtained from 6 different cell proliferation assays clearly showed that the cell proliferation rate was significantly higher in fibroblasts from HGF than from normal gingiva. HGF and control fibroblasts in subconfluent culture densities were typically spindle, but in saturation density HGF cells were shorter than control cells. These data suggest that the higher proliferative index of HGF fibroblasts possibly has a role in the pathogenesis of gingival outgrowth in HGF patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Complementary hydropathy identifies a cellular prion protein receptor.

Prions, the etiological agents for infectious degenerative encephalopathies, act by entering the cell and inducing conformational changes in PrPC (a normal cell membrane sialoglycoprotein), which result in cell death. A specific cell-surface receptor to mediate PrPC and prion endocytosis has been predicted. Complementary hydropathy let us generate a hypothetical peptide mimicking the receptor binding site. Antibodies raised against this peptide stain the surface of mouse neurons and recognize a 66-kDa membrane protein that binds PrPC both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, both the complementary prion peptide and antiserum against it inhibit the toxicity of a prion-derived peptide toward neuronal cells in culture. Such reagents might therefore have therapeutic applications.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Immunochemical characterization and distribution of laminin in the rat tongue.

Anti-laminin serum was used to investigate the distribution and composition of laminin in the rat tongue. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that laminin is a useful marker to study the microscopic anatomy of the tongue. Laminin is expressed in most tissues that form this organ, such as smooth and striated muscle, epithelium, nerves, and endothelium, allowing the observation of fine details of neuromuscular junctions, taste papillae and microvasculature. Western blot analysis revealed that laminin extracted from the tongue differs from EHS tumor laminin. Tongue laminin contains B chains, while A chain seems to be present only in small amounts.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Laminin and collagen IV distribution and ultrastructure of the basement membrane of the gingiva of the rat incisor.

The continuous growth of the rat incisor is associated with renovation of the junctional epithelium and resorption of the periodontal ligament. The circumdental papilla separates the connective tissue suffering resorption from the rest of the gingiva. Laminin and collagen IV were detected by the immunoperoxidase technique on the basement membrane of all regions of the gingival epithelium of the rat incisor, except the internal basal lamina and the internal surface of the circumdental papilla. The internal basal lamina is formed by a granular electron-dense material, without the organization of a typical basal lamina. Areas of the internal surface of the circumdental papilla, negative for laminin and collagen IV, lack the basal lamina. These data suggest that these molecules are not components of the dento-epithelial junction of the distal surface of the rat incisor. In addition, the basal lamina is absent or fragmented on the internal surface of the circumdental papilla, adjacent to the areas of the connective tissue undergoing resorption.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Oral paracoccidioidomycosis. A study of 36 South American patients.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (South American blastomycosis) is an uncommon, progressive systemic mycosis, virtually only seen in persons who have visited Latin America. Reports of oral lesions are extremely rare in the English-language literature. Thirty-six adults with oral lesions as the first sign of paracoccidioidomycosis are described; this appears to be the largest series in the dental literature. All had chronic proliferative mulberry-like ulcerated oral lesions; the diagnosis was confirmed histologically. The gingiva or alveolar process was the typical site, but lesions were also seen particularly on the palate and lip. Most of the patients proved to have detectable pulmonary involvement. Patients with lesions in the oropharynx, tongue, or floor of mouth all had confirmed pulmonary lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Oral changes associated with biliary atresia and liver transplantation.

A child is reported with green hypoplastic teeth in both dentitions, resulting from hyperbilirubinemia biliary atresia. Following liver transplantation, labial hirsutism, gingival hyperplasia and herpes labial, were seen as a consequence of cyclosporin therapy and iatrogenic immunosuppression. The oral manifestations and management in biliary atresia and after liver transplantation are reviewed.

Biliary Atresia↗
PubMed1991

Oral mucosal health and disease in institutionalized elderly in Brazil.

During the last decade, many studies in Europe and North America have evaluated oral conditions and dental needs in the elderly. Similar information does not exist in Brazil. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of oral health and disease in elderly persons living in an institution in the city of Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Of 350 elderly persons, 134 males and 136 females were interviewed and clinically examined. Less than one half had healthy mouths. 58.9% of the examined individuals showed one or more lesions in the oral mucosa, the most frequent being denture-induced stomatitis (20.0%). Fibrous hyperplasias (11.8%) and angular cheilitis (9.3%) were fairly common. Gender, use and degree of hygiene of the denture were factors statistically significantly contributing to prevalence of denture stomatitis. Precancerous lesions such as leukoplakia (3.0%), actinic cheilitis (2.6%) were uncommon but three cases of squamous carcinoma (1.1%) were revealed. This study emphasizes the need for regular oral examinations of the elderly by personnel trained in oral diagnosis.

Aged↗