PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Rahemtulla

Publications and source records attributed to F Rahemtulla.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Isolation and characterization of bovine gingival proteoglycans versican and decorin.

1. We have isolated, chemically and immunologically characterized versican and decorin from bovine gingiva. 2. Versican was of large molecular weight and the molecular size of the core protein was estimated to be greater than 200 kDa. 3. The glycosaminoglycan chains were susceptible to chondroitinase ABC and N-linked oligosaccharides were present on the protein core of the molecule. 4. Immunological studies provided evidence that a hyaluronic acid binding region was present in the core protein of versican. 5. The overall structure was similar to that of versican isolated from bovine sclera. 6. Decorin had a molecular weight of 102 kDa and its glycosaminoglycan chain was completely digested by specific glycosidases. 7. The partially deglycosylated core protein had a molecular weight of 55 kDa and N-linked oligosaccharides were present on the molecule.

Amino Acids↗

Purification and characterization of a glycosylated proline-rich protein from human parotid saliva.

1. A glycosylated proline-rich protein (GPRP) was purified to homogeneity by subjecting parotid saliva to immunoaffinity, cation exchange, affinity and hydrophobic chromatography. 2. The purified GPRP had a molecular weight of 78 kDa as analyzed by SDS-PAGE. 3. The amino acid analysis revealed a preponderance of proline, glycine and glutamic acid/glutamine, which accounted for 77% of the total amino acids. 4. Cysteine, tyrosine or phenylalanine residues were not detected. 5. The glycoprotein contained 34% neutral sugars and the oligosaccharides were rich in mannose and N-acetylglucosamine, indicating that N-linked oligosaccharides were the predominant type of oligosaccharides in the molecule. 6. These observations were confirmed by treatment of the purified glycoprotein with specific N-glycosidase which removed the N-linked oligosaccharides leaving a core protein with an apparent molecular weight of 51 kDa. 7. The isoelectric point of GPRP was approx 7.0 and the molecule was not affected by reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol, indicating that no disulfide linkages were present. 8. The GPRP bound to hydroxyapatite and this binding could be partially inhibited by preincubation of the hydroxyapatite with parotid or submandibular saliva. 9. The purified GPRP also bound to a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 95 kDa present in submandibular saliva.

Amino Acids↗

Analyses of salivary components in leukemia patients receiving chemotherapy.

We analyzed several salivary components in stimulated whole saliva from patients with acute leukemia who were undergoing chemotherapy. Saliva samples were collected at the time of diagnosis and longitudinally during the treatment period. Data analyses showed that patients with leukemia had significantly higher peroxidase and amylase activity and elevated concentrations of total protein at the time of diagnosis. After induction chemotherapy these parameters returned to normal values and remained constant during the observation period. At the time of diagnosis no significant differences in thiocyanate (SCN-) concentrations were found in saliva samples from control subjects and patients with leukemia. Treatment with cytotoxic agents resulted in granulocytopenia and a concomitant decrease in the SCN- concentration in saliva. The function of the salivary peroxidase system is impaired by the decrease in SCN- concentration, which may be a contributing factor to some of the oral complications that occur in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Adolescent↗

The extracellular matrix of cerebral gray matter: Golgi's pericellular net and Nissl's nervösen grau revisited.

Glial hyaluronate-binding protein (GHAP) and a large aggregating chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (Ag-Pg) similar to a fibroblast proteoglycan (versican) were localized in bovine, dog and cat central nervous system (CNS) gray matter by indirect immunofluorescence. The distribution of the two hyaluronate-binding proteins was identical with that of hyaluronate, an extracellular glycosaminoglycan. All substances formed a finely reticulated mesh in the neuropil with a condensation of the stain around large neurons. It is concluded that in gray matter, as in white matter, the extracellular matrix (ECM) contains hyaluronate-protein aggregates. We suggest that the hyaluronate-protein aggregates correspond to the pericellular network first described by Golgi.

Animals↗

Immunolocalization of beta 1 integrins in human gingival epithelium and cultured keratinocytes.

Beta 1 integrins are cell surface receptors for extracellular matrix binding. We have recently shown that these receptors may also play a role in cell-cell binding of human epidermal keratinocytes. In this study we used immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy to localize beta 1 integrins in frozen sections of human gingiva and cultures of human gingival keratinocytes. The results show that beta 1 integrin polypeptides, localized by monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, were detected mainly in the basal layer of the keratinized epithelium. There was also scattered staining in connective tissue fibroblasts, nerves, and blood vessel walls. In the basal layer, the integrins were found around the entire periphery of the basal keratinocytes. Furthermore, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) revealed that most of the staining was in fact localized in dot-like structures at the lateral cell membranes of neighboring basal cells. In cultured human gingival keratinocytes maintained in low calcium (0.15 mM) conditions beta 1 integrins were localized in several different structures: trails which were left behind when the cells moved in culture, dots underneath the cells, around the nucleus, and in cell-cell contacts. The trails were also found to contain fibronectin and type IV collagen but not laminin. Switching the keratinocytes to high calcium (1.2 mM) conditions induced the formation of cell-cell contacts which were strongly positive for beta 1 integrins. No fibronectin or type IV collagen was found in cell-cell contact sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Lysozyme enhances the inhibitory effects of the peroxidase system on glucose metabolism of Streptococcus mutans.

The combined effect of the salivary peroxidase system and lysozyme on the glucose uptake of Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10449 was investigated. The bacteria were grown to late-exponential phase, washed, re-suspended in buffer at pH6, and incubated with (1) 50 micrograms/mL lysozyme from human milk for 60 min; (2) 7-15 mumol/L hypothiocyanous acid/hypothiocyanite for 10 min; and (3) lysozyme for 60 min prior to addition of and incubation with hypothiocyanous acid/hypothiocyanite for 10 min. Glucose uptake was initiated by adding the bacterial suspensions to 10 mL of pre-warmed 50 mumol/L glucose containing 0.98 mumol/L D-(U-14C-)-glucose, and the mixture was incubated in a shaking water-bath at 37 degrees C. Samples were withdrawn at various time intervals, rapidly filtered through 0.45-microns membranes, washed with ice-chilled buffer, and the incorporated radioactivity determined. Lysozyme stimulated S. mutans glucose uptake slightly, but significantly inhibited S. rattus glucose metabolism. A 20-30% inhibition of radiolabeled glucose incorporation was observed with hypothiocyanous acid/hypothiocyanite alone. Incubation of the bacteria with lysozyme prior to addition of hypothiocyanous acid/hypothiocyanite containing peroxidase resulted in a total inhibition of the glucose uptake. In contrast, lysozyme in combination with hypothiocyanous acid/hypothiocyanite without peroxidase gave only a 30-50% inhibition. The addition of 5 mmol/L dithiothreitol after incubation with lysozyme and hypothiocyanous acid/hypothiocyanite eliminated the inhibition of the bacterial glucose uptake. The viability of S. mutans was not affected by treatment with any of the components used. Our results indicate that physiological concentrations of lysozyme and the salivary peroxidase system components have a synergistic effect which results in a significant inhibition of glucose metabolism by S. mutans.

Animals↗

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 up-regulates type IV collagenase expression in cultured human keratinocytes.

During the wound healing process lysis of basement membranes precedes keratinocyte migration into the wound bed. We studied, in vitro, whether this degradation of basement membranes could be regulated by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), which is known to accelerate wound healing in vivo. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 was found to increase the expression of both 92- and 72-kDa type IV collagenases (gelatinases) in cultured human mucosal and dermal keratinocytes. The 92-kDa enzyme predominated in both unstimulated and stimulated cultures. The 92-kDa form was stimulated over 5-fold, and the other form by a factor of 2-3. This increase in the synthesis of type IV collagenases was associated with a marked increase in the mRNA levels of these enzymes as well. The induction of the 92-kDa enzyme was similar in culture medium containing either 0.15 or 1.2 mM calcium chloride. Rat mucosal keratinocytes secreted only 92-kDa type IV collagenase, the secretion of which was not regulated by TGF-beta 1. Also, TGF-beta 1 did not cause any significant induction (maximum about 1.2-fold) of either type IV collagenase in human gingival fibroblasts. The induction levels of both collagenases in human keratinocytes were independent of the type of the extracellular matrix the cells were grown on. However, the basement membrane matrix (Matrigel) activated about half of the 92-kDa type to its 84-kDa active form. The data suggest that TGF-beta 1 has a specific function in up-regulating the expression of type IV collagenases in human keratinocytes, offering a possible explanation of how keratinocytes detach from basement membranes prior to the migration over the wound bed.

Animals↗

Carrier-mediated sulfate transport in human ureteral epithelial cells cultured in serum-free medium.

Sulfate transport studies were carried out in secondary cultures of epithelial cells isolated from the human ureter. Results demonstrate the presence of carrier-mediated SO4(2-) transport as supported by three lines of evidence: 1) saturation kinetics, 2) substrate specificity, and 3) inhibition by the anion transport inhibitor 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS). The DIDS-insensitive component of SO4(2-) transport was markedly lower than the DIDS-sensitive component and was not affected by changes in extracellular pH (pHo) or Cl- concentration. The mechanism of this DIDS-insensitive component is not clear. The DIDS-sensitive component of SO4(2-) uptake was a saturable function of the extracellular sulfate concentration ([SO4(2-)]o). Increasing the extracellular chloride concentration ([Cl-]o) inhibited DIDS-sensitive SO4(2-) uptake competitively. Taken together with the fact that increasing [Cl-]o stimulated SO4(2-) efflux, these results suggest that SO4(2-) uptake in uroepithelial cells occurs via SO4(2-)-Cl- anion exchange. Cis-inhibition studies with a variety of anions indicate that this anion-exchange system may be shared by S2O3(2-) and MoO4(2-) but not by NO3- and H2PO4-. SO4(2-) uptake was stimulated at decreasing pHo with a pK approximately 7.4. Decreasing pHo from 7 to 6 lowered the apparent Michaelis constant significantly but had no significant effect on kcat, suggesting that protons may increase the affinity of the SO4(2-) transporter for SO4(2-). SO4(2-) efflux was inhibited at low pHo and was stimulated by increasing [Cl-]o. This study is the first to demonstrate an ion transport process in epithelial cell cultures isolated from the human ureter. In contrast to epithelial cells from the upper urinary tract, no Na(+)-dependent SO4(2-) transport could be demonstrated in these lower urinary tract epithelial cells. In conclusion, the major mechanism for SO4(2-) transport in ureteral epithelial cells is a carrier-mediated, DIDS-sensitive, pHo-sensitive SO4(2-)/Cl- anion-exchange mechanism. These studies suggest that varying [SO4(2-)]o and [Cl-]o or pHo in the ureteral lumen will affect SO4(2-) influx and efflux and may influence the size of the intracellular pool of SO4(2-) available for macromolecular sulfation in these cells.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

Monolayer culture of rat parotid acinar cells without basement membrane substrates.

Acinar cells have been difficult to maintain in primary or secondary cultures over extended periods of time. The most successful monolayer culture system reported to date requires basement membrane substrates. We report here a technique for culture of rat parotid acinar cells which does not rely upon basement membrane supports for maintenance and growth. The procedure involves gland excision, treatment to chelate metal ions, enzymatic digestion with collagenases and hyaluronidase, removal of fat and red blood cells by gravimetric separation, and nylon mesh filtration to yield a homogeneous suspension of small aggregates and single cells. The cells were examined for: a) morphology, identity, and growth; b) macromolecular synthesis; and c) secretory output. They were healthy, peroxidase positive, and growing for up to 10 d. Protein synthesis increased from the point of cell layer formation at 3 to 4 d, through 10 d, while DNA synthesis decreased. As in other studies, amylase secretion fell sharply between 2 and 4 d in culture and remained low. Although previous studies indicated that the initial isolation protocol left these acinar cells unable to thrive in monolayer culture except in the presence of basement membrane substrates, the modified technique reported herein allows these cells to attach, spread, and grow on a wide variety of commercially available plasticware. This method lends itself readily to long-term analysis of rat parotid acinar cell metabolism without the complications of dedifferentiation, cell loss through culture manipulation common in suspension cultures, or complex interactions between bioactive supports and cell surfaces.

Animals↗

Quantitative, standardized assays for determining the concentrations of bovine lactoperoxidase, human salivary peroxidase, and human myeloperoxidase.

Because of the important biological functions of peroxidases, there is growing interest in the measurement of their concentrations in various secretions. At present, there is no standard method which allows for comparisons in reported activities. This report describes procedures which can be used to measure peroxidase enzyme concentrations by commonly employed assays. Regression equations have been determined which can be used to calculate concentrations of bovine lactoperoxidase (LPO), human salivary peroxidase (SPO), and human myeloperoxidase (MPO) from activities measured with the following donors: pyrogallol, guaiacol, 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzylthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and thiocyanate (SCN-). The peroxidation rates of these donors depend upon the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) used in the individual assays and thus, for accurate, reproducible results, these concentrations must be carefully controlled. The SCN- normally present in human saliva will reduce observed reaction rates by simple competition kinetics in the ABTS, guaiacol and pyrogallol assays and will increase the rates observed when Cl- is used as a donor in NBS assay for MPO. Therefore, SCN- must be removed from saliva samples prior to peroxidase activity determination by all assays except the thionitrobenzoic acid (NBS) assay. LPO cannot be used as a standard for either SPO or MPO because the specific activities of LPO, SPO, and MPO are significantly different.

Animals↗

Characterization of human gingival keratinocytes cultured in a serum-free medium.

Primary cultures of keratinocytes were established from gingival tissue explanted on the surface of type I collagen gels and fed a serum-containing medium. Cells could be routinely subcultured for at least five passages in a basal nutrient medium (MCDB 153) containing low calcium (0.1 mM), and supplemented with ethanolamine, phosphoethanolamine, hydrocortisone, insulin, epidermal growth factor and protein of bovine pituitary extract. Cells seeded at low densities doubled exponentially in number every 24-30 h and formed a confluent monolayer within 10-14 days. Phase-contrast light and transmission electron microscopy showed that the keratinocyte cultures had features typical of epithelial cells, including desmosomes and perinuclear tonofilament bundles. Immunofluorescent microscopy showed the presence of specific keratin proteins in basal cells of proliferating cultures. Gel electrophoresis of the insoluble cytosolic proteins of gingival and skin keratinocytes showed several differences. Suspension of dividing gingival keratinocytes in 1.3% methylcellulose medium induced greater than 50% cross-linked envelopes, suggesting the existence of a terminal differentiation pathway in gingival basal cells. Clonal growth experiments showed that both insulin and epidermal growth factor were required for optimal clonal growth. The growth of subcultures was arrested and the unstratified epithelial monolayer induced to form a stratified sheet by replacing the growth medium with basal MCDB 153 medium depleted of growth factors and containing 2 mM calcium. Sheets of stratified gingival epithelium formed on and later released from the dish by enzymatic treatment may be suitable for a variety of experimental and clinical uses.

Cell Cycle↗

Human salivary peroxidase and bovine lactoperoxidase are cross-reactive.

Peroxidases are abundant in nature, and the primary function of mammalian peroxidases is to catalyze the peroxidation of halides and pseudohalides. Previous studies have shown that antibodies raised against bovine lactoperoxidase moderately cross-react with human salivary peroxidase, a feature that has been used in the present study to examine epitopes common to the antigen and human salivary peroxidase. Polyclonal antibodies against a highly purified preparation of bovine lactoperoxidase were raised in rabbits, and their properties were examined. In double-immunodiffusion experiments, the two enzymes showed partial identity, and in competitive radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, lactoperoxidase replaced the labeled and coated antigen, while salivary peroxidase did not. However, salivary peroxidase from human and rat saliva samples and the purified enzyme in its non-reduced, reduced, and de-glycosylated forms were recognized by these antibodies, as analyzed by Western blot analysis and immunodetection. The major activity of these antibodies was directed against the protein core of the antigen. Immunodetection of the peptide fragments of bovine lactoperoxidase and human salivary peroxidase revealed structural differences in the two enzymes. These antibodies also precipitated an in vitro translation product from rat-parotid-gland cell lysate that, on SDS-PAGE, compared favorably with the expected molecular weight of a de-glycosylated peroxidase. The antibodies partly inhibited the enzyme activity of salivary peroxidase and the peroxidase in rat parotid gland lysate, but the enzyme activity of lactoperoxidase was not affected by addition of anti-lactoperoxidase IgG between 25 and 400 micrograms/mL. The enzyme activity remained unchanged in all samples when pre-immune IgG was used.

Animals↗

Immunohistochemical localization of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans in predentin and dentin of rat incisors.

We examined immunocytochemically the type and distribution of glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans (PG) in predentin and dentin demineralized with EDTA after aldehyde fixation of rat incisors using (a) four monoclonal antibodies (1-B-5,9-A-2,3-B-3, and 5-D-4) which recognize epitopes in unsulfated chondroitin (C0-S), chondroitin 4-sulfate (C4-S), chondroitin 6-sulfate (C6-S), and keratan sulfate (KS) associated with the PG, and (b) monoclonal (5-D-5) and polyclonal antibodies specific for the core protein of large and small dermatan sulfate (DS) PG. Light microscope immunoperoxidase staining after pre-treatment of tissue sections with chondroitinase ABC localized the majority of stainable PG (C4-S, KS, DSPG, C0-S, and C6-S) in predentin and, to a lesser extent (C4-S and small DSPG), in the dentin matrix. The former site demonstrated relatively homogeneous PG distribution, whereas the latter site revealed that strong staining of C4-S and small DSPG was confined mostly to dentinal tubules surrounding odontoblastic processes, with only weak staining in the rest of the dentin matrix. These results indicate that there is not only a definite difference between PG of predentin and dentin but also a selective decrease in the concentration or alteration of these macromolecules during dentinogenesis and mineralization.

Animals↗

Biosynthesis of proteoglycans by proliferating and differentiating normal human keratinocytes cultured in serum-free medium.

Normal human keratinocytes (NHK) were cultured in serum-free medium, containing low (0.1 mM) or high (2 mM) calcium, to obtain proliferating and differentiating cultures, respectively. Proteoglycan (PG) synthesis of proliferating and differentiating NHK was investigated. Cultures were labeled with 35S-sulfate, and the PGs were extracted from medium and cell layer. The newly synthesized PGs were isolated by ion-exchange chromatography on a column of DEAE-Sephacel. The molecular properties of the PGs and the size and composition of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were determined. In general, the PGs are relatively small size (Mr 70,000-120,000). The PGs of proliferating cultures are larger in molecular size than the PGs of differentiating cultures, and this is due to the degradation of the GAG chains. The molecular weight of the GAG chains of proliferating NHK ranged from 4,800 to 22,000, and the range for GAGs from differentiating cultures varied from 2,800 to 9,600. By compositional analysis, these PGs proved to contain heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and dermatan sulfate as determined by nitrous acid degradation, and chondroitinase ACII and ABC digestion. No significant differences were found in the overall GAG composition of the medium secreted PGs of proliferating and differentiating cultures. In contrast, cell-associated PGs of differentiating cells had higher levels of heparan sulfate than those of proliferating cells.

Calcium↗

Purification and characterization of human salivary peroxidase.

Human salivary peroxidase (SPO) has been purified to homogeneity by subjecting human parotid saliva to immunoaffinity, cation exchange, and affinity chromatography. These procedures resulted in a 992-fold purification of the enzyme. When purified SPO was subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), three Coomassie stainable bands were apparent, all of which stained positive for enzyme activity. The apparent molecular weights of the three bands were 78,000, 80,000, and 280,000 as analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol resulted in a decreased mobility of these bands, and enzyme activity could no longer be detected on the gels. The SPO preparation had the characteristic peroxidase heme spectrum in the range 405-420 nm. The ratio between the absorbance of the Soret band (412 nm) and the absorbance at 280 nm was 0.81. The enzyme activity was inhibited by the classical peroxidase inhibitors cyanide and azide. Salivary peroxidase is similar to bovine lactoperoxidase (LPO) in amino acid composition, in ultraviolet and visible spectrum, in reaction with cyanide, in susceptibility to 2-mercaptoethanol inactivation, and in thermal stability. The two enzymes differ in carbohydrate composition and content. SPO contains 4.6% and LPO 7% total neutral sugars. The ratio of glucosamine to galactosamine is 2:1 in SPO and 3:1 in LPO. SPO contains mannose, fucose, and galactose in a molar ratio of 1.5:1.5:1.0, while the ratio was 14.9:0.5:1.0 in LPO. Glucose was present in both preparations in minor amounts. The concentration of azide required for 50% inhibition of enzyme activity was 20-fold greater for LPO than for SPO.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acids↗

Steady-state kinetics of thiocyanate oxidation catalyzed by human salivary peroxidase.

A steady-state kinetic analysis was made of thiocyanate (SCN-) oxidation catalyzed by human peroxidase (SPO) isolated from parotid saliva. For comparative purposes, bovine lactoperoxidase (LPO) was also studied. Both enzymes followed the classical Theorell-Chance mechanism under the initial conditions [H2O2] less than 0.2mM, [SCN-] less than 10mM, and pH greater than 6.0. The pH-independent rate constants (k1) for the formation of compound I were estimated to be 8 X 10(6) M-1 s-1 (SD = 1, n = 18) for LPO and 5 X 10(6) M-1 s-1 (SD = 1, n = 11) for SPO. The pH-independent second-order rate constants (k4) for the oxidation of thiocyanate by compound I were estimated to be 5 X 10(6) M-1 s-1 (SD = 1, n = 18) for LPO and 9 X 10(6) M-1 s-1 (SD = 2, n = 11) for SPO. Both enzymes were inhibited by SCN- at pH less than 6. The pH-independent equilibrium constant (Ki) for the formation of the inhibited enzyme-SCN- complex was estimated to be 24 M-1 (SD = 12, n = 8) for LPO and 44 M-1 (SD = 4, n = 10) for SPO. An apparent pH dependence of the estimated values for k4 and Ki for both LPO and SPO was consistent with a mechanism based on assumptions that protonation of compound I was necessary for the SCN- peroxidation step, that a second protonation of compound I gave an inactive form, and that the inhibited enzyme-SCN- complex could be further protonated to give another inactive form.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Humans↗