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Biomedical subjects

E Wu

Publications and source records attributed to E Wu.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Intracellular relationship between actin and alpha-actinin in a whole corneal epithelial tissue.

Alpha-actinin is an actin crosslinking protein that may be one of the proteins involved in the attachment of the actin cytoskeletal framework to the plasma membrane. We investigated the distribution of alpha-actinin in whole-mount embryonic chick corneal epithelia using confocal laser scanning analysis. The intracellular alpha-actinin distribution was compared with F-actin using phalloidin, or total actin using an anti-actin antibody. Corneal epithelial tissues were isolated with or without the basal lamina (+ or -BL), and fixed immediately. In addition, epithelia isolated -BL were cultured for 2 hours with either control medium, laminin-supplemented medium or laminin and cytochalasin D (CD)-containing medium. The single- and double-labeled epithelia showed that alpha-actinin delineated the cell borders and microvilli of the periderm cells in the most apical optical sections of control and laminin-treated epithelia. At the optical plane through the basal cell nuclei, the alpha-actinin was distributed diffusely throughout the cytoplasm, whereas the actin was sparse, only associated with the lateral cell membranes. Epithelia (-BL) cultured in control medium had cytoplasmic protrusions or blebs on the basal cell surface. The blebs contained both actin and alpha-actinin. In epithelial cultured with laminin, the basal cell surface was flat. The actin cortical mat became reorganized within two hours. Actin and alpha-actinin were colocalized in the re-formed basal cytoskeletal network. In cells cultured with cytochalasin D (CD) and laminin the actin cortical mat was not reorganized. Actin networks from both cell layers were eliminated and replaced by aggregates scattered throughout the cytoplasm. The alpha-actinin remained diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm and failed to colocalize with the actin aggregates. The alpha-actinin appeared closer to the basal cell membrane than the actin in cross-sectional views of the tissue. Results from these double-labeling experiments confirmed the intimate association of alpha-actinin and actin in the laminin-stimulated actin cortical mat reorganization. This study is the first to demonstrate that CD-aggregated F-actin does not capture the alpha-actinin. The alpha-actinin appeared to remain diffuse throughout the cytoplasm and separate from F-actinin; however, there was some overlap with G-actin.

Actinin↗
PubMed1993

Multiple sclerosis: remyelination in acute lesions.

Central nervous system (CNS) remyelination has been found by light and electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry within fresh lesions from four cases of acute and chronic progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). The remyelination was sparse and existed in an edematous parenchyma containing oligodendrocytes, macrophages, hypertrophic astrocytes and inflammatory components, but no fibrillary astrogliosis. It is suggested that this type of CNS remyelination in MS is a transient event. Possible underlying factors are discussed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Isolation and characterization of endogenous modulators for GABA system.

Pig brain extracts from both soluble and membrane fractions were found to contain potent inhibitors for GABA synthesizing enzyme, GAD, referred to as endogenous GAD inhibitors (EGIs) and for the binding of GABA agonist, muscimol, referred to as muscimol binding inhibitors (MBIs). EGIs and MBIs were first purified through gel-filtration Bio-Gel P-2 columns, in which multiple activity peaks were observed. One of them appears to be co-eluted with either L-glutamate or GABA. However, others are clearly separated from L-glutamate or GABA. EGIs were found to be low MW (less than 1,800 dalton), heat and acid-base stable, negatively charged, non hydrophobic substances. MBIs were found to be low MW (less than 1,800 dalton) neutral or positively charged substances. MBIs had no effect on [3H]flunitrazepam (FNZP) binding, indicating that they are not endogenous benzodiazepine receptor ligands and they may act specifically on GABA binding site.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Hormonal profile of the menstrual cycle in Chinese women after tubal sterilization.

Ten women after tubal sterilization were studied for the hormonal profile of the menstrual cycle. They had undergone sterilization procedures, on the average 5.3 years (range 1.5-10 years) earlier. The serum concentrations of LH, FSH, prolactin, estradiol and progesterone were measured by RIA in daily blood samples of a complete menstrual cycle. Another ten normal women were studied at the same time and were used as the control group. There were no significant differences in the hormonal patterns of the menstrual cycle between the two groups. There was a significantly lower LH level in the early luteal phase of the tubal ligation group compared to the control group. Also, a significantly lower E2 luteal peak compared to the preovulatory peak was observed in the tubal ligation group. The physiological significance of these minor changes is not clear. Only one out of ten women in the tubal ligation group, who had undergone sterilization 1.5 years prior, showed a deficiency in luteal function, but her ovulatory function and menstrual cycle appeared normal. This study indicates that normal hormonal profiles are retained after tubal sterilization.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Amyloid angiopathy in diffuse Lewy body disease.

We determined the frequency of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in 135 consecutive cases of diffuse Lewy body disease (DLBD) (N = 67), Alzheimer's disease (AD) (N = 34), and normal elderly controls (NECs) (N = 34). DLBD cases were subdivided into those with pathologic changes compatible with coexistent AD (DLBD/AD) and those without sufficient AD-type changes to warrant that diagnosis. In each case, we assessed the frequency, severity, and distribution of CAA on multiple thioflavin-S-stained sections of cerebral cortex examined with fluorescent microscopy. Based on immunocytochemistry with beta-amyloid antibodies, amyloid in all the brains was composed of beta/A4. CAA was present in the leptomeningeal vessels in 50% of the NECs and in 100% of AD cases. In DLBD without coexisting AD, the frequency of leptomeningeal CAA was 58%, whereas in DLBD/AD, the frequency was 85%. The frequency of CAA in parenchymal vessels was 38% for NECs, 97% for AD, 43% for DLBD, and 85% for DLBD/AD. There was no significant difference in the frequency or severity of CAA between NECs and DLBD, but CAA was significantly more severe, and comparable with CAA in AD, in the cases of DLBD/AD. Ten NECs had focal CAA without senile plaques (SPs), whereas all other cases with CAA had at least some SPs. Neither CAA nor SPs were present in 14 cases, including seven NECs and seven DLBD cases. We found cerebrovascular accidents in 50 cases (including nine without CAA) and leukoencephalopathy in 24 cases. These results suggest that CAA and other AD-type changes are not concomitant with DLBD but are related to coexisting AD or pathologic aging.

Alzheimer Disease↗
PubMed1992

[Pneumocystis carinii infection. Various aspects on its clinical and laboratory diagnosis].

P carinii is an opportunistic pathogenic agent able to produce severe infection that must be diagnosed promptly. We analyzed 138 samples from 100 patients suspected of having infection by P carinii. The ortho-toluidine blue and the methenamine stains were used to analyze the samples. Infection was demonstrated in 18 patients, 13 adults and 5 children. Underlying disease was AIDS in 7 and other immunosuppressive disorders in the rest. No immunocompetent patient was infected with P carinii. Proper sample collection is important for diagnosis. When bronchoalveolar lavage is not possible, pharyngo-tracheal aspirate in children and sputum sampling after assisted coughing in adults are recommended. At least 2 staining methods and proper controls are advisable.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Multiple sclerosis. Interactions between oligodendrocytes and hypertrophic astrocytes and their occurrence in other, nondemyelinating conditions.

BACKGROUND: The proliferation of oligodendrocytes and their association with hypertrophic astrocytes has been previously described in resolving multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Central nervous system lesions of different ages were examined from 9 cases of MS with clinical histories ranging from 8 weeks to 13 years and in a variety of non-MS conditions. RESULTS: In MS, these associations were found to occur most frequently in acute, actively demyelinating (as opposed to resolving) lesions. They also occurred, albeit rarely, in chronic active and chronic silent MS plaques and in areas showing remyelination or normal myelination adjacent to lesions. Immunocytochemistry revealed that the oligodendrocytes occurred in increased numbers and displayed enhanced reactivity for HNK-1, similar to previous studies that claimed such cells to be of recent origin. Ultrastructurally, hypertrophic astrocytes in the lesion center usually possessed no formed bundles of intermediate filaments, but rather displayed a finely granular cytoplasm. Towards the perimeter, they contained bundles of filaments and showed increased staining with anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein antibody. The interactions involved the close apposition to, and internalization of oligodendrocytes by astrocytes, between which membrane specializations occurred, suggestive of an adhesion event. Identical glial associations were also seen in various non-MS conditions. In most of the latter cases, there was evidence of central nervous system inflammation and/or destruction. CONCLUSIONS: These observations underscore the increased frequency of the glial cell phenomenon in active MS lesions, its ubiquity in diseases of different etiologies and the need for careful scrutiny of control central nervous system tissue in assessing the specificity of phenomena attributed to MS. It is suggested that these glial associations may represent a transient protective mechanism and may be related to local cytokine production.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Structure and function of L-glutamate decarboxylase.

Membrane bound L-glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) has been solubilized and partially purified from hog brain. The solubilized GAD appears to exist in two forms, alpha and beta, differing in their size and electrophoretic mobility. The alpha form has similar mobility as that of the soluble GAD in 7.5% and 5-25% gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis suggesting that they are similar in size and charge. In addition, gene encoding for mouse brain GAD has been cloned and characterized. Mouse brain GAD cDNA consists of two DNA fragments with 1.6 and 1.0 Kb. The 1.6 and 1.0 Kb fragments contain 1657 and 974 bP, respectively. The significance of multiple forms of GAD is also discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Structural and functional analysis of the S1 subunit of pertussis toxin using synthetic peptides.

Pertussis toxin (PT) is a major virulence factor of Bordetella pertussis, and also an important protective antigen. PT is an oligomeric A-B type toxin in which the S1 subunit has the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity whereas the B-oligomer mediates its binding to target cell receptors. To analyze the immunological properties of S1 and to generate probes to localize and characterize S1 functional domains, we synthesized four sets of peptides and peptide analogs corresponding to potentially critical regions of the S1 subunit. Two peptide-KLH conjugates were found to be capable of inducing PT-neutralizing antibodies in rabbits as judged by the CHO cell clustering assay. These peptides comprise residues 1-18 (N18-S1) and 121-138 (NAD-S1), respectively. Immunization with the unconjugated C-terminal peptide C35-S1 (residues 201-235) in the presence of Freund's adjuvant also elicited PT-neutralizing antibodies, indicating that the C-terminal region of S1 contains a potent functional T-helper cell epitope. Using truncated peptide analogs of N18-S1, we have demonstrated that the first three N-terminal residues are essential for inducing neutralizing antibodies. The NAD-S1 peptide elicited a neutralizing antibody response when coupled to KLH via its N-terminal end but not via its C-terminal residue. Identification of these B-cell neutralization epitopes represents a first step towards the rational design of a synthetic vaccine against whooping cough.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Myocardial aging: antioxidant enzyme systems and related biochemical properties.

The effects of aging on myocardial antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation, and other related biochemical properties were investigated in male Wistar-Furth rats at 4, 26, and 31 mo of age at rest and after an acute exercise bout. The results showed that resting heart cytosolic superoxide dismutase (CuZn SOD) activity was significantly decreased in the heart with aging (66 +/- 6.5 U/mg protein at 4 mo vs. 49 +/- 3.8 U/mg protein at 31 mo) and was elevated in all age groups after exercise. Mitochondrial Mn SOD activity was almost doubled in both 26- and 31-mo-old rats compared with that at 4 mo. Myocardial catalase and cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities were significantly decreased with age, whereas mitochondrial GPX was 29% higher (P less than 0.05) in 31- than 4-mo-old rats. Glutathione S-transferase activity in the heart also declined with age (P less than 0.05 at 31 mo). Malondialdehyde contents in both heart homogenate and mitochondria were significantly increased at old age. Activity of several enzymes related to myocardial energy production, e.g., citrate synthase, malate dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase, as well as myocardial protein content showed an age-related decline. These data indicate that myocardial antioxidant capacity is weakened during aging and that the compensatory increases of mitochondrial SOD and GPX may be an important mechanism in coping with free radical damage in senescent heart. Findings in the present investigation seem to support the free radical theory of aging.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

Effect of exercise training on antioxidant and metabolic functions in senescent rat skeletal muscle.

Aging is known to be associated with alterations of both oxidative capacity and antioxidant status in skeletal muscle. In the present investigation we compared the activity of enzymes involved in both metabolic functions and antioxidant defense capacity in young adult (5 months old) and senescent (27.5 months old) Fischer 344 rats. In addition, we studied the effects of chronic exercise training on these enzymes in the senescent skeletal muscle. Old sedentary rats had significantly lower glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity (-22%, p less than 0.05) in the deep portion of vastus lateralis muscle (DVL) than young sedentary rats, but after a progressive 10-week treadmill training program GPX activity in DVL was significantly increased in old rats to a level higher than that seen in young sedentary rats. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the DVL were not altered significantly with aging or by training. Glutathione S-transferase activity in the same muscle was elevated (p less than 0.05) with aging but unaffected by training. Citrate synthase and malate dehydrogenase activities in the DVL muscle were significantly decreased in senescence, whereas training increased these two enzyme activities by 71 and 48%, respectively (both p less than 0.05). Lactate dehydrogenase activity in the same muscle decreased with age but increased 23% (p less than 0.05) in old rats. These data indicate that while aging may significantly affect antioxidant and metabolic capacities in skeletal muscle, regular exercise can preserve functions of these enzyme systems at old age.

Aging↗
PubMed1990

Cyclic AMP responses are suppressed in mammalian cells expressing the yeast low Km cAMP-phosphodiesterase gene.

A genomic DNA fragment from Saccharomyces cerevisiae which contains the SRA5 (=PDE2) gene, coding for a low Km cAMP-phosphodiesterase, was transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells. Clones carring the cAMP-phosphodiesterase gene were capable of growth in the presence of cholera toxin, which slows the growth of untransfected cells by elevating their cAMP levels. The cholera toxin-resistant transfected cell lines expressed high levels of cAMP-phosphodiesterase mRNA and cAMP-phosphodiesterase activity. Basal intracellular cAMP levels were not significantly affected by the presence of the yeast cAMP-phosphodiesterase gene, but elevation of cAMP levels in response to cholera toxin or prostaglandin E1 was suppressed. Induction of the cAMP-responsive tyrosine aminotransferase promoter by cholera toxin was also blocked in cell lines carrying the yeast cAMP-phosphodiesterase gene. Cholera toxin-resistant transfected cell lines were sensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of N6,02'-dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, which can be used to bypass the effects of the yeast cAMP-phosphodiesterase.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1990

Nonmucosal predominantly serosal eosinophilic enteritis. A case report.

A unique case of eosinophilic enteritis with predominant serosal involvement and mucosal sparing, ascites and abdominal adenopathy is reported with computed tomography (CT) and barium study correlation. The clinical presentation may mimic lymphoma or granulomatous disease, (e.g. tuberculosis) but peripheral eosinophilia is a strong differentiating point.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Molecular cloning and amino acid sequence of brain L-glutamate decarboxylase.

We used specific polyclonal antibodies against L-glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) to screen a mouse brain cDNA library that was constructed in the expression vector lambda gt11. We obtained 1.5 x 10(6) recombinant DNA clones in the mouse brain cDNA library. One of the clones was positively identified as a GAD clone on the basis of the following results: (i) the clone and its secondary and tertiary clones all reacted strongly with anti-GAD antibodies; (ii) the fusion protein obtained from lambda GAD-Y1089 showed good GAD enzyme activity as determined by both CO2 and gamma-aminobutyric acid methods. The GAD clone thus obtained contains GAD cDNA of approximately 2.6 kilobases that has one internal EcoRI site. After GAD cDNA was cut at the EcoRI site, two DNA fragments of about 1.6 and 1.0 kilobases were obtained at the 5' and 3' ends, respectively. The cDNA insert was found to be composed of 2632 base pairs, the translation initiation site was assigned to the methionine codon ATG, and the termination site was found to be TGA (positions 2216-2218). Furthermore, the coding region in 2169 base pairs was found to consist of 723 amino acids. The protein has a molecular weight of 83,207 and contains 83 strongly basic, 108 strongly acidic, 226 hydrophobic, and 221 polar amino acids with an isoelectric point of 5.355. The relationship of this GAD cDNA to other forms of GAD is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Alteration of antioxidant enzymes with aging in rat skeletal muscle and liver.

Maximal activities of antioxidant enzymes involved in oxygen free radical metabolism in skeletal muscle and liver were investigated in 4-, 26-, and 31-mo-old male Wistar-Furth rat at rest and after a single bout of treadmill exercise. In skeletal muscle, cytosolic (Cu-Zn) and mitochondrial (Mn) superoxide dismutase (SOD) specific activities were significantly higher in the aged rats and at 31 mo reached 135 and 218%, respectively, of those at 4 mo. Resting catalase activity was doubled at 31 mo compared with that at 4 mo. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity increased twofold in muscle cytosol and by 47% in mitochondria of aged rats. Glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) activities in muscle were also significantly elevated. Hepatic antioxidant enzymes were altered differentially with aging. Cytosolic SOD and GST activities were decreased, whereas mitochondrial GPX, GR, and G-6-PDH activities were increased. Lipid peroxidation was greater in skeletal muscle homogenate and mitochondria but lower in liver homogenate in the aged rats. An acute exercise bout had little effect on muscle or liver antioxidant enzymes regardless of the animal's age. It is concluded that aging is accompanied with an elevation of antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation in skeletal muscle probably due to the increased oxygen free radical production and reaction.

Aging↗
PubMed1988

Rat lens gamma-crystallins. Characterization of the six gene products and their spatial and temporal distribution resulting from differential synthesis.

We have isolated, purified and characterized six individual gamma-crystallin polypeptides present in the rat lens. Comparison of their amino acid compositions with the known structure of the six gamma-crystallin genes permits a one-to-one correspondence to be made between each protein synthesized and the encoding gene. This demonstrates that each of the six genes is actually expressed in vivo. Two classes of three gamma-crystallins each, which we have designated classes gamma ABC and gamma DEF, are known to exist, on the basis of internal sequence homology. We have measured the temperature-dependent phase-separation characteristics of solutions of the six purified gamma-crystallins, and find that the three members of the gamma DEF class (gamma 2-2, gamma 3-1 and gamma 4-1) are all cryo-proteins with relatively high phase-separation temperatures, whereas the three gamma ABC crystallins (gamma 1-1, gamma 1-2 and gamma 2-1) do not show phase separation above -7 degrees C. We have measured the spatial distribution in rat lens of each of the alpha-, beta- and gamma-crystallins as a function of age from 1 to 420 days, using size-exclusion and ion-exchange high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Our findings in the cortical layer permit us to establish the differential synthesis of each of the crystallins during lens development. Particular attention has been devoted to the spatial and temporal distribution of the six individual gamma-crystallins. Up to birth, synthesis of the three components of the gamma DEF class predominates, and in particular that of gamma 2-2. In subsequent development the three components of the gamma ABC class assume a greater proportion of monomeric crystallins synthesized, while beta s-crystallin synthesis predominates in late development. Our analysis of different layers within single lenses provides novel information on spatial gradients of the water-soluble and water-insoluble protein fractions as a function of age. We consider the consequences of these findings for lens transparency and opacity in both rat and mouse lens. We show that the high concentrations of gamma DEF-crystallins appear to be responsible for the opacity known to occur in young rat lenses. We conclude from these observations that close control of the differential synthesis of gamma-crystallins plays an important role in maintaining lens transparency during development.

Age Factors↗