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Biomedical subjects

G R Russ

Publications and source records attributed to G R Russ.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Diltiazem in renal allograft recipients receiving cyclosporine.

Of 113 cyclosporine-treated primary renal allograft recipients, 60 were randomized to receive standard therapy without diltiazem (ND) and 53 received standard therapy plus diltiazem (D). There was no difference in CsA blood levels between ND and D at all intervals between 3 and 24 months follow-up, yet the D group required 35% less CsA than the ND group (measured at 12 months). At all intervals to 24 months there was no difference in blood pressure, renal function (as measured by serum creatinine), or in the number of grafts lost between the 2 groups (ND, 4 lost; D, 3 lost). There was no significant difference in the total number of rejection episodes in the 2 groups (ND, 89 episodes; D, 71 episodes). However, the severity of rejection episodes was greater in the ND group as evidenced by a significant difference in the usage of OKT3 (ND, 17 courses; D, 8 courses of OKT3, P < 0.05). Of the biopsy-proven episodes of rejection, there were more episodes of vascular rejection in the ND group (ND, 14 episodes; D, 3 episodes, P = 0.005). The incidence of primary nonfunction was less in the D group (ND, 16 patients; D, 5 patients, P = 0.05). It was concluded that the use of diltiazem was associated with a markedly reduced requirement for CsA without any adverse effect on graft function or graft outcome. Diltiazem with CsA was associated with fewer episodes of primary nonfunction and less-severe rejection episodes and in particular fewer episodes of vascular rejection.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Nucleotide sequences of the HLA-DRw12 and DRw8 B1 chains from an Australian aborigine.

To gain a more detailed understanding of the molecular structure of the HLA genes in Australian aborigines, the polymorphic first-domain sequences of the DR B alleles were determined in an aborigine who was tissue typed as HLA-DRw8 and a probable DRw12; DRw52; DQw1,7. Both peripheral blood leukocytes and a lymphoblastoid cell line were reactive with the majority of DRw12-specific sera, but also with half of the DRw11-specific sera. With the use of primers specific for the conserved regions flanking the first domain, the polymerase chain reaction technique was used to amplify first-strand synthesis products prepared from the cell line. Two distinct DRB1 sequences were obtained. One was virtually identical to the reported DRw8,Dw8.3 sequence present in an Asian haplotype, differing only by a single silent nucleotide substitution at the third position of codon 36 (A to G). A second DRB allele was closely related to two recently published and nearly identical sequences for DRw12, with amino acid differences at positions 67 and 85 of the first domain. DRB RFLP studies on this cell line using the Taq I restriction enzyme indicated bands previously described for the DRw8 and DRw12 haplotypes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Endothelial cell activation in vasculitis of peripheral nerve and skeletal muscle.

To clarify the role of endothelial cells in the pathogenesis of vasculitis affecting peripheral nerve and skeletal muscle, the endothelial expression of adhesion molecules and major histocompatibility antigens (MHC) in different vasculitic syndromes were studied, and related to the presence of anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA). Increased expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule ICAM-1 in vasculitic lesions in nerve and muscle was shown, and this was associated with increased expression of MHC class I and II antigens. AECA were detected in low titre in only a minority of patients. The findings suggest that endothelial cells have a critical role in mediating the tissue injury in vasculitis affecting nerve and muscle and that the process is triggered by cellular and not antibody-mediated mechanism in the majority of patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

VLA-2 is a collagen receptor on endothelial cells.

In order to identify cell-substrate adhesion receptors on vascular endothelium, murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) were raised against human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVE). One anti-HUVE MoAb, RMAC11, identified the adhesion receptor VLA-2 as it immunoprecipitated a non-covalently linked heterodimer of 160 kD and 130 kD, which was identical to the heterodimer immunoprecipitated by the anti-VLA-2 MoAb, 12F1 and 5E8. Furthermore, proteolytic peptide maps of the VLA-2 alpha- and beta-chains were highly homologous with those of the RMAC11-recognized molecule. However, unlike other VLA-2 MoAb, RMAC11 also identified an 85 kD band which migrated to 90 kD under reducing conditions. This band was most likely a fragment of the 160 kD alpha-chain as a similar alpha-chain derived fragment has been demonstrated in the immunoprecipitates of some VLA-4 reactive monoclonals. However the possibility that this may be a novel molecule associated with VLA-2 has not been excluded. In vitro assays of HUVE adhesion to collagen types 1 and 4, laminin and fibronectin showed that RMAC11 blocked adhesion to collagen (types 1 and 4) and laminin, but had no effect on HUVE adhesion to fibronectin, confirming that VLA-2 is a collagen and laminin receptor for HUVE.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1989

Tubular expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 during renal allograft rejection.

Molecules responsible for adhesion between cells are known to play an important role in the immune response. The expression of one of these molecules, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), was examined on normal and allografted kidneys using a specific monoclonal antibody and an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. The expression of this molecule was compared to that of HLA class II antigens. On normal kidneys and most allograft biopsies taken immediately before implantation, ICAM-1 was expressed only on vascular endothelial cells (VEC) and parietal epithelium of Bowman's capsule. In the 11 kidneys where biopsies were available before and after transplantation, the appearance of rejection was associated with de novo expression of ICAM-1 on renal tubular epithelial cells that closely paralleled that of HLA class II antigens. In addition, an increase in endothelial cell expression of these molecules was also seen in rejection. In 23 random allograft biopsies, most of those with rejection showed tubular expression of both HLA class II antigens and ICAM-1. However, the presence of these molecules on tubules in several biopsies that did not show rejection limits the clinical usefulness of monitoring these antigens in posttransplant biopsies. The upregulation of these molecules is presumed to be secondary to the release of cytokines by cells infiltrating the allograft, although other mechanisms may be operating that explain the expression of these molecules in nonrejecting grafts.

Antigens, Surface↗