PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Levitan

Publications and source records attributed to E Levitan.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

The MHC influences NK and NKT cell functions associated with immune abnormalities and lifespan.

The lifespans of H-2 congenic mice differ significantly. The B10.AKM (H-2m) strain has a median survival time (MST) of 15 months, whereas the B10.BR (H-2k) strain has an MST of 24 months. It was previously shown that B10.AKM mice at 13-15 months of age have immunological function comparable to those of B10.BR mice at 22-26 months of age. These functions include: a low proliferative response, reduced levels of intracellular calcium release [Ca2+]i, and an increase in the frequency of memory helper T-cells (CD4+ CD44hiCD45RBlo). In this report similar deficiencies were demonstrated in B10.AKM mice at 2-4 months of age and show that activated spleen NK1.1+CD4+ T (NKT) cells from young B10.AKM mice produce a significantly higher level of IL-4 but a lower level of IFN-gamma as compared to NKT cells from B10.BR mice of the same age. Also, the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells from spleens of young (2-4 months) as well as adult (12-16 months) B10.AKM mice is significantly lower (P < 0.01) than that of NK cells from B10.BR mice. These findings suggest that the NKT activity in young B10.AKM mice is a factor for the early onset of immune dysfunction leading to a shorter lifespan.

Aging↗
PubMed1999

CD4 TCRBV CDR3 analysis in prevalent SLE cases from two ethnic groups.

We examined CD4+ T cell TCRBV-CDR3 transcripts from 19 lupus patients and 16 controls to test the hypothesis that CD4+ TCRBV-CDR3 expression in SLE differs from normals. Within the disease group we also performed exploratory analyses to determine the association between risk of oligoclonality and HLA-DRB specificities and the duration of the CDR3 patterns. Oligoclonal patterns consistent with CDR3 restriction were three times more likely in SLE than in controls (OR = 3.7). TCRBV1, BV4, BV5.1, BV7, BV9, BV18 and BV22 gene segment CDR3 patterns of oligoclonality were seen exclusively among lupus patients. HLA-DRB3 increased the risk of oligoclonal expression in SLE. In four patients studied over time, the pattern of TCRBV-CDR3 expression was stable in a second sample obtained 6-14 months later. The increased frequency of CD4+ T cell TCRBV-CDR3 oligoclonal expression in SLE when compared to controls and the persistence of these patterns are consistent with an expanded pool of autoreactive CD4 T cells in SLE which recognize peptides derived from autoantigens. The association of HLA-DRB3 genes with increased risk of CDR3 oligoclonality among the SLE subjects is compatible with the hypothesis that molecules encoded by HLA-DRB3 may facilitate autoantigen recognition by CD4 T cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Type I insulin-like growth factor receptors in human ovarian stroma.

Hyperandrogenism observed in a variety of hyperinsulinemic states is thought to be due to an effect of insulin mediated through the type I insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptors. These receptors, however, have not yet been demonstrated in normal human ovarian cells capable of androgen production. We now report the presence of type I IGF receptors in membrane preparations of human ovarian stroma. The ovarian stromal tissue was obtained from women undergoing indicated oophorectomy. Stromal plasma membranes were prepared. Specific 125I-IGF-I binding was 6.6 +/- 0.2%/100 micrograms protein. The affinity constant estimated by Scatchard analysis was 4.6 X 10(-9) M. 50% inhibition of 125I-IGF-1 binding was observed at 5 ng/ml of IGF-1. Specificity of the 125I-IGF-I-binding sites was confirmed by analogue specificity studies and in experiments utilizing monoclonal antibody to the IGF-I receptor, alpha-IR-3. IGF-II and insulin competed with 125I-IGF-I for the binding sites, but with an affinity significantly lower than that of IGF-I: 50% inhibition was observed at approximately 60 ng/ml of IGF-II or insulin. alpha-IR-3, a monoclonal antibody with high specificity for the type I IGF receptor, effectively inhibited 125I-IGF-I binding in a dose-dependent manner, confirming that the 125I-IGF-I binding was indeed to the type I IGF receptor. We conclude that type I IGF receptors are present in human ovarian stroma. These receptors may mediate effects of insulin on the ovary in hyperinsulinemic insulin-resistant states.

Binding, Competitive↗
PubMed1986

Cardiogenic oscillation and phase III caused by pressure-volume heterogeneity: a model.

The effect of heterogeneity of pressure-volume (PV) behavior of lung units and the effect of the pulsations of the heart on expired N2 following a single breath of O2 were studied mathematically in a model of the lung. The lung was pictured as consisting of three compartments, one of high compliance (HC) and another of low compliance (LC), both affected by cardiac pulsations, and a third, nonoscillatory compartment (NC). Three sigmoid PV curves were assigned to the three compartments, for both acini and airway (generation 10-23), so that total compliance summed up to 200 ml/cmH2O. Bifurcation of NC was at generation 5/6 and that of HC and LC at any chosen generation. A steepness constant, K, was defined to characterize the sharply descending portion of the sigmoid PV curve. For a ratio of the steepness constant for the oscillatory compartments, KHC/KLC = 1, a sloping alveolar plateau was produced. The plateau was concave for KHC/KLC greater than 1 and slightly convex for KHC/KLC less than 1. Cardiogenic oscillations (CO) of the expired N2 were produced by alternate flows from either NC or HC and LC. CO diminished in fast expiration, and a phase shift between the heart pulsation and the CO was seen; both agree with experimental findings.

Heart↗
PubMed1985

Significant potassium ion accumulation at the external surface of Myxicola giant axons.

Potassium accumulation associated with outward membrane potassium current was investigated experimentally in Myxicola giant axon. During prolonged voltage-clamp pulses to positive transmembrane potentials, the K+ equilibrium potential may approach zero mV, suggesting massive K+ accumulation outside the axonal membrane to concentrations many-fold higher than those in the bathing medium. The potassium accumulation can be satisfactorily described by a three-compartment model, consisting of the nerve fiber, a restricted physiological periaxonal space and the bulk solution. The average thickness, theta, of the periaxonal space is calculated as 177 +/- 59 A, i.e., comparable to that in the squid, while the permeability coefficient of the external barrier, PKs, was calculated to be (1.4 +/- 0.4) X 10(-4) cm/s. These conclusions are well supported by morphological study.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

On the thermodynamic characterization of membrane gating particles by their Boltzmann distribution.

The characterizations of gating particles of ionic channels in nerve membranes by their equivalent valencies and their electric dipole moment changes are compared. The gating particle is represented as a system of electric charges in fixed positions in an external electric field and the potential energy of such a system is calculated in the approximation of a constant electric field. The proper expression of the Boltzmann distribution of the gating particles is presented. It is shown that the dipole moment of transition of the gating particle is the only proper thermodynamic (macroscopic) characteristics of the gating particles based on the available experimental information and does not depend on any microscopic assumption as the equivalent valency does.

Ion Channels↗
PubMed1980

Potassium ion accumulation at the external surface of the nodal membrane in frog myelinated fibers.

Potassium accumulation associated with outward membrane potassium current was investigated experimentally in myelinated fibers and analyzed in terms of two models-three-compartment and diffusion in an unstirred layer. In the myelinated fibers, as in squid giant axons, the three-compartment model satisfactorily describes potassium accumulation. Within this framework the average space thickness, theta, in frog was 5,900 +/- 700 A, while the permeability coefficient of the external barrier, PK, was (1.5 +/- 0.1) X 10(-2) cm/s. The model of ionic diffusion in an unstirred aqueous layer adjacent to the axolemma, as an alternative explanation for ion accumulation, was also consistent with the experimental data, provided that D, the diffusion constant, was (1.8 +/- 0.2) X 10(-6) cm/s and l, the unstirred layer thickness, was 1.4 +/- 0.1 micron, i.e., similar to the depth of the nodal gap. An empirical equation relating the extent of potassium accumulation to the amplitude and duration of depolarization is given.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Dipole moment, enthalpy, and entropy changes of Hodgkin-Huxley type kinetic units.

Dipole moment, enthalpy, and entropy changes were calculated for hypothetical structural units which control the opening and closing of ionic channels in axon membranes. The changes of these thermodynamic functions were calculated both for activation (transition to intermediate complex) and for the structural transformation as a whole. The calculations are based on the experimentally determined Q10 values and the empirical formulae for the rate constants (alpha's and beta's) as functions of membrane potentials in Hodgkin-Huxley type models. From the calculated thermodynamic functions we suggest that the specific structural units of the axon membranes are probably of macromolecular (possible protein-like) dimensions with large dipole moments (hundreds of debyes). The calculated dipole moment changes of a single structural unit indicate that in many cases these dipole moments saturate at strong depolarizations or hyperpolarizations. The transitions in structural units show substantial activation enthalpies and entropies but the net enthalpy and entropy changes are practically negligible for the transition as a whole, i.e. the structural units presumably undergo displacements. While the calculated dipole moment changes associated with structural transformations in Loligo and Myxicola show similar potential dependencies, those for Rana usually show a different behavior. The relevance of the dipole moment changes to gating currents is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Computation of axon gating currents from dipole moment changes in channel subunits.

The gating polarizational currents were computed on the basis of the dipole moment changes occurring in nerve membrane ionic channel subunits. Membrane thickness and surface density of channels were the only parameters used in addition to the Hodgkin-Huxley model. The gating currents computed for membrane potentials where the Hodgkin-Huxley empirical formulae are reliable were found to be in good agreement with the available experimental data. It is demonstrated that the gating currents of the n and h subunits are responsible for the late slowly decaying gating currents.

Animals↗