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Biomedical subjects

F Beauvais

Publications and source records attributed to F Beauvais.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Human eosinophils in culture undergo a striking and rapid shrinkage during apoptosis. Role of K+ channels.

In the absence of appropriate stimulus, eosinophils in vitro rapidly exhibit the features of apoptotic cells (nuclear pycnosis, cell shrinkage, DNA fragmentation). By using electronic cell sizing, we precisely measured the volume distribution of human eosinophils during apoptosis. We observed that apoptosis of eosinophils was accompanied by a marked cell volume decrease (approximately 60%). Moreover, analysis of the volume distribution in different experimental conditions (kinetics of apoptosis, inhibition of apoptosis by cytokines) revealed that the cell shrinkage, once triggered, was a fast process in which the intermediate states between normal and shrunken volume had a short half-life. As a model of apoptosis, the eosinophil model allowed us to test the hypothesis that apoptotic cell shrinkage was linked to osmotic changes due to leakage of internal ions. Indeed, in the presence of K+ channel blockers, the shrinkage was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, our results suggest that eosinophil shrinkage during apoptosis is a striking and rapid phenomenon and osmotic changes due to K+ efflux could be responsible, at least in part, of the volume decrease.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1995

Patterns of alcohol use among ethnic minority adolescent women.

There is agreement in the literature that women of the major ethnic groups in the United States have lower rates of alcohol use and suffer fewer alcohol-related problems than men. In adolescence, the highest rates of alcohol use are generally found among American Indians, followed in decreasing order by whites, Hispanics, African-Americans, and Asian-Americans. The role of sociocultural factors in alcohol use as found in the literature is discussed, including level of acculturation, generational status, culturally specific values and beliefs and peer influence. Lifetime and last 30-day prevalence, age of first time drunk, and peer sanction data from the 1989-93 database of The American Drug and Alcohol Survey are presented by gender and ethnicity for 8th and 12th graders. These data show similar rates of alcohol use by males and females in the 8th grade but more use by males in the 12th grade for all ethnicities except American Indians who live on reservations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Voltage-dependent ion channels on human basophils: do they exist?

The presence of voltage-dependent ion channels (particularly Ca2+ channels) on the surface of 'non excitable' cells such as human basophils is a matter of debate. Indeed, in basophils, Ca2+ entry or mobilization is not sufficient by itself to trigger secretion, although enhanced cytosolic Ca2+ concentration increases it. In order to address this question, we used a two-signal model and we report here experiments which suggest the presence of voltage-dependent structures directly or indirectly linked to membrane Ca2+ pathways. Indeed, it is known that, in the presence of PMA at threshold concentration (1st signal), elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ (2nd signal) induces histamine release. We observed that a depolarizing external solution (high K+) induced a Ca(2+)-dependent release of histamine from PMA-treated human basophils. High K+ alone did not induce histamine release. Although the voltage-sensitive component and the physiological relevance of this mechanism remain to be defined, these results suggest that this voltage-dependent Ca2+ influx in the human basophil could contribute to the up-regulation of histamine release.

Basophils↗
PubMed1994

Regulation of human basophil activation; the role of Na+ and Ca2+ in IL-3-induced potentiation of IgE-mediated histamine release from human basophils.

The release of mediators from human basophils is strongly enhanced by IL-3. However, the signalling pathways of IL-3 are poorly defined in these cells. Since external Ca2+ and Na+ play important regulating roles in histamine release, the possibility that these cations could be involved in the potentiation by IL-3 of the anti-IgE-induced histamine release from human basophils was considered, and it was observed that: (i) IL-3 dramatically decreased the external Ca2+ requirement for IgE-mediated histamine release. However, histamine release from IL-3-treated basophils became only partially independent of external Ca2+, since addition of EGTA in the external medium abolished the effect of IL-3; (ii) decreasing Na+ influx by lowering external Na+ concentration in isosmotic medium inhibited the potentiating effect of IL-3 on IgE-mediated release; (iii) amiloride, an inhibitor of Na+/Ca2+ and Na+/H+ exchanges, and its derivative, benzamil, more specific for Na+/Ca2+ exchanges, inhibited the release potentiated by IL-3. In contrast, the amiloride derivative 5-(N,N-dimethyl)-amiloride, more specific for Na+/H+ exchanges, slightly increased the IL-3-enhanced release. Thus, the decreased requirement for external Ca2+ and the dependence on external Na+, taken with the effect of the Na+/Ca2+ exchange inhibitors, suggest that Na+/Ca2+ exchanges are involved in the IL-3-induced enhancement of IgE-mediated human basophil histamine release.

Amiloride↗
PubMed1994

Anti-IgE induces the opening of non selective cation channels on human basophils.

Basophils play a major role in allergic reactions-particularly in late phase reactions-by releasing histamine and other mediators of inflammation. Although transmembrane ion fluxes are thought to play an important role in the modulation of histamine release, little is known about ion pathways through the basophil membrane. We thus studied human basophils from normal subjects (n = 25 cells) with the patch-clamp method. We observed that IgE-dependent activation of human basophils led to the opening of non selective cation channels with a 20pS conductance. This was obtained when the patch pipette was applied onto the cell surface and sealed onto it in order to measure transmembrane currents on a small surface of intact basophils (cell-attached configuration). Non selective channels with the same 20pS conductance were also observed when a membrane patch was detached from basophil and its inner side placed in a Ca(2+)-containing medium (inside-out configuration). These data are a first contribution of the patch-clamp method in the understanding of ion movements in human basophils.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1993

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of beta-cryptogein, a toxic elicitin secreted by the phytopathogenic fungus Phytophthora cryptogea.

Crystals of the basic elicitin secreted by Phytophthora cryptogea have been obtained by the hanging-drop method of vapor diffusion from sodium chloride solutions. The crystals belong to the tetragonal space group P4(1)22 (or enantiomorph P4(3)22), with unit cell dimensions a = b = 47 A, c = 137 A and probably contain two molecules per asymmetric unit. The crystals are very stable to X-rays and diffract to 2.2 A resolution on a synchrotron radiation source.

Algal Proteins↗
PubMed1993

Presence of anti-insulin reaginic auto-antibodies of the IgG4 class in insulin-dependent (type I) diabetic patients before insulin therapy.

The autoimmune aetiology of type I diabetes has been well documented. We studied whether anti-insulin anaphylactic antibodies were present on the membrane of basophils from type I diabetics by the toluidine blue method (detecting basophil activation after stimulation by insulin). We observed that basophils of recently diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetic patients (n = 13) were statistically more frequently activated by insulin than basophils from noninsulin-dependent diabetics (p < 0.002, n = 8) or non-diabetic subjects (p < 0.05, n = 9). Basophils from normal donors were passively sensitized with plasma from insulin-dependent diabetics and could then be activated by insulin. This sensitization still occurred when using plasma previously heated to 56 degrees C, indicating that the sensitizing antibodies were not of the IgE class. When basophils from type I diabetics were preincubated with anti-IgG subclasses, only anti-IgG4 monoclonal antibodies inhibited the insulin-induced basophil activation. By contrast, preincubation with blocking concentrations of anti-IgG1-3 antibodies or desensitization of the IgE pathway did not modify basophil activation. These experiments strongly suggest the presence of anti-insulin antibodies of the IgG4 subclass in insulin-dependent diabetics before any insulin administration and provide a simple tool to complement the usual method of detecting auto-antibodies in diabetes.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Biosynthesis of paf-acether in cultured-mouse mast cells: the role of calcium and G proteins.

We examined the potential role of a guanine nucleotide-binding protein in the biosynthesis of paf-acether (paf) and the release of beta-hexosaminidase during antigenic stimulation of cultured mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells. Unlike pertussis toxin, cholera toxin treatment enhanced the antigen-stimulated production of paf and calcium mobilisation without affecting acetyltransferase activation and cell degranulation. The level of intracellular cAMP doubled in cholera toxin-treated cells. Our data suggest that a cholera toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding protein is involved in the IgE receptor-mediated signal transduction leading to paf production most probably at the level of Ca2+ influx.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1992

Regulation of human basophil activation. II. Histamine release is potentiated by K+ efflux and inhibited by Na+ influx.

Na+ and K+ are the major extra- and intracellular cations, respectively. We have thus studied the role of these ions on human basophil histamine release by modifying their transmembrane gradients or by increasing membrane ion fluxes using ionophores. 1) When external Na+ (reduced to 4 mM) was replaced by the nonpermeating Na+ substitute N-methyl-D-glucamine, the release of histamine was enhanced in 2 mM Ca2+ (from 37.5 +/- 8.0% in 140 mM Na+ to 68.5 +/- 9.1% in low Na+) and became possible in the presence of low Ca2+ (at 1 microM Ca2+: from 0.6 +/- 0.7% in 140 mM Na+ to 36.2 +/- 8.0% in low Na+); moreover, in low Na+, the release of histamine became partly independent on Ca2+ influx. 2) Increasing the Na+ influx with the cation channel-forming gramicidin D inhibited the release of histamine by 33.2 +/- 13.6% (n = 6) in an external Na(+)-dependent manner. 3) Decreasing K+ efflux using K+ channel blockers (4-aminopyridine, quinine, sparteine) inhibited histamine release in a dose-response manner. 4) The K+ ionophore valinomycin, which increases K+ efflux, slightly enhanced IgE-mediated histamine release when used alone, whereas it potentiated the release of histamine from leukocytes previously treated with 4-aminopyridine by 57.0 +/- 18.6% (n = 7). 5) Decreasing K+ efflux by increasing external K+ inhibited IgE-mediated release in a similar manner as Na+ did. The inhibitory effects of Na+ and high K+ were not additive, thus suggesting that both cations inhibited the release by a common mechanism. In conclusion 1) our data evidence that histamine release from human basophils is inhibited by Na+ influx and potentiated by K+ efflux; 2) they suggest that K+ channels are present on the basophil membrane and that Na+ and K+ fluxes act on histamine release most probably via modulation of membrane potential.

4-Aminopyridine↗
PubMed1992

Regulation of human basophil activation. III. Impairment of the inhibitory effect of Na+ on IgE-mediated histamine release in patients with allergic rhinitis.

We recently observed that external Na+ inhibited the IgE-dependent human basophil histamine release (HR) in normal subjects. In this article we report differences in the Na+ effect on basophil HR between normal subjects (n = 16) and age matched patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) (n = 18). As expected, in vitro anti-IgE-stimulated basophils from the group with AR released greater amounts of histamine than basophils from the normal group. However, removal of external Na+ (and replacement by N-methyl-D-glucamine) abolished this difference between the two groups. HR in the normal group increased to the same high level as that of the group with AR. By contrast, the release of histamine in the group with AR was not further increased by Na+ removal. Although high releasers were more frequent in the group with AR, the absence of effect after Na+ removal was not due to the high basal release level (in the presence of Na+) because no effect after Na+ removal was also observed with medium releasers. These results strongly suggest that increased basophil HR in populations with AR, and possibly in other allergic populations, is linked to a defect in the inhibitory effect of Na+.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Regulation of human basophil activation. IV. Dissociation between cationic dye binding and histamine release: role of Ca2+ ions.

In previous studies we observed that in vitro histamine release from human basophils could be dissociated from the loss of affinity of basophil granules for a cationic dye, toluidine blue. In the present study we further explored the intracellular signals leading to the decrease in toluidine blue positive basophil (TB+) numbers, with or without histamine release. Since Ca2+ mobilization is a crucial event in secretion and particularly in histamine release, we studied the role of Ca2+ in histamine release as compared to TB+ decrease. In the presence of external Ca2+ (2 mM): i) Ca2+ channel antagonists verapamil and nifedipine up to 10 microM were without effect on IgE-mediated histamine release and TB+ decrease; ii) loading of the leucocytes with Quin2 or preincubation with TMP-8, an internal Ca2+ antagonist, significantly inhibited the release of histamine and the decrease of TB+ basophils. In the absence of added external Ca2+:i) histamine release was abolished whereas the decrease of TB+ was not modified, even in the presence of EGTA;ii) the decrease of TB+ could be inhibited by prolonged EGTA preincubation, by Quin2 loading and incubation with TMB-8. We conclude that histamine release requires both external Ca2+ influx and mobilization of internal Ca2+. In contrast, no influx of external Ca2+ is required for TB+ decrease in which, however, internal Ca2+ mobilization appears to play an important role.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗
PubMed1992

An integrated model for prevention and treatment of drug abuse among American Indian youth.

American Indian youth have been shown to be at high risk for drug abuse. Epidemiological studies of Indian school students over the past two decades have revealed rates of use consistently higher than those found for other youth. Socioeconomic and historical factors have led to conditions that put a great deal of stress on the family and other support systems which in part account for the seriousness of the problem. A model is presented which can guide both prevention and treatment efforts addressing drug abuse in Indian communities. Five variable domains, social structure, socialization factors, psychological variables, peer associations and drug use, are related in an integrated structure. By following the progression of the etiological variables, a stepwise plan can be developed to organize interventions. Although the model has immediate utility, a number of further research questions are outlined that will enhance its application.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Trends in Indian adolescent drug and alcohol use.

Trends in overall drug use among Indian and non-Indian youth have followed similar patterns, increasing from 1975 to the early 1980s and, for the most-used drugs, declining since then. At every point in time more reservation Indian youth are involved with drugs than are non-Indian youth. Rates for cocaine and hallucinogen use by Indian youth increase until 1990. The decline in overall drug use has occurred because a considerable number of moderate users have shifted to non-use. There has been no decrease in the proportion of high-risk users; since 1980, it has stayed between 17% and 20%. Societal changes and prevention programs are reaching casual drug users but not those susceptible to heavy drug involvement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of drug use rates for reservation Indian, non-reservation Indian and Anglo youth.

Rates of drug use and involvement were compared for three groups: Indian youth living on reservations, Indian youth living off reservations and Anglo youth. A consistent pattern emerged, showing the lowest rates of use among Anglo youth, higher rates among non-reservation Indian youth, and the highest rates among Indian youth on reservations. Rates of tobacco use, both smoked and smokeless, and marijuana use are especially high for Indian youth. Indian youth also show a pattern of earlier initiation to drug use. Gender differences reveal slightly higher rates of use for males, although the differences are not great enough to suggest that prevention efforts for males should have a higher priority.

Adolescent↗