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H C Slavkin

Publications and source records attributed to H C Slavkin.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

De novo induction of a gene product during heterologous epithelial--mesenchymal interactions in vitro.

Mesenchymal specification of epithelial cytodifferentiation and morphogenesis has been considered to be a general feature of various epithelial-mesenchymal interacting systems (e.g., salivary gland, mammary gland, feather, hair, and tooth morphogenesis). In contrast, we have demonstrated that a mesenchyme can be induced by a heterologous epithelium to synthesize in quantity a specific gene product(s) unorthodox to the organ from which the mesenchyme was taken. Stage 22-23 avian limb bud epithelium induced 17-day embryonic mouse tooth mesenchyme to differentiate into cartilage. Peptide analysis (cyanogen bromide cleavage after purification of extracted collagen chains) demonstrated that heterologous tissue recombinations produced type II collagen [alpha(II)](3) (i.e., cartilage-type) in addition to type I collagen [alpha(I)](2)alpha(2). Intact or reconstituted mouse molar tooth organs synthesized type I collagen and type I trimer [alpha(I)](3) collagen. Immunohistochemical criteria using anti-type II collagen antibodies identified type II collagen in cartilage-like matrix within the mesenchymal component of heterologous tissue recombinants. Cartilage has never been described during in vivo or in vitro tooth tissue differentiation or associated with the pathology of dental papilla mesenchyme. These results support the hypothesis that epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during embryonic development can selectively induce de novo synthesis of unique gene products.

Animals↗

HLA phenotype frequencies in individuals with cleft lip and/or cleft palate.

The HLA types of 133 patients with cleft lip and/or cleft palate were determined. Caucasian patients with isolated cleft palate showed a possible association with HLA. Ten of 11 male patients had HLA--A2 as compared to one out of eight female patients (P less than 0.005). Caucasian males with cleft lip and cleft palate had a slight increased frequency of HLA--Aw24 (P = 0.07) and Mexican-American males with cleft lip and/or cleft palate showed an increase of antigen HLA-A28 (P = 0.07), though neither were statistically significant. Females with cleft lip and/or cleft palate from either racial group had no differences from the controls. The serum from 90 mothers of patients with cleft lip and/or cleft palate were reacted against their child's lymphocytes. Of these crossmatch tests, 12% were found to be positive. These preliminary results suggest that male patients with isolated cleft palate are worthy of further studies with respect of HLA associations.

Cleft Lip↗

The nature and nurture of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during tooth morphogenesis.

Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during tooth morphogenesis are inductive and instructive developmental processes as well as permissive and regulatory processes. Data is available to support the early influences of enamel organ epithelium upon a responding mesenchyme in the determination of dental morphogenetic fields (Dryburg, 1967; Miller, 1969). Mesenchymal specificity appears to be operant during tooth shape and form and during the induction of secretary amelogenesis (Kollar, 1972). These heterotypic tissue interactions can be observed in vivo and in vitro. The cellular responses to these interactions appear to be transcriptional, translational and post-translational; as a direct consequence of the interactions, new gene products are synthesized and secreted and/or pre-existing gene products are amplified (Hata and Slavkin, 1978). The mechanism(s) by which epithelial-mesenchymal interactions function may best be learned through critical investigations of differentiation alloantigens, receptors, coupling components within the plasma membrane, translating components by which epigenetic external cues become internal chemical information, and the associations between peripheral and integral proteins within the plasma membrane and intracytoplasmic microfilaments and microtubules.

Amelogenesis↗

Ameloblast differentiation: protein synthesis and secretion in fetal New Zealand white rabbit molar tooth organs and isolated epithelia "in vitro".

We have attempted in this preliminary communication to determine the kinetic behaviour pf intracellular and extracellular forms of secretory ameloblast proteins. Our experimental strategy assumes several intracellular forms of enamel proteins: preproenamel leads to proenamel leads to enamel protein (1) leads to enamel protein (2) leads to enamel protein (3) leads to etc. Intracellular preproenamel has a molecular weight of greater than 70,00 and is selectively inhibited by 6 micronM - 12 micronM proflavine. Synthesis and secretion requires 30 minutes in vitro. Secretory ameloblasts in vitro synthesize and secrete a number of proteins ranging from 94,000 daltons to 10,000 daltons. Isotopically-labeled leucine, cystine, proline, methionine and an amino acid mixture were all found to be incorporated into enamel proteins. Preliminary data with protease inhibitors indicates that an enamel protease is directly involved in proenamel leads to enamel protein processing.

Ameloblasts↗

Demonstration of enamel matrix proteins on root-analogue surfaces of rabbit permanent incisor teeth.

The continuously erupting rabbit incisor tooth is normally thought of as having an enamel covered "crown" on its labial surface and a cementum covered "root" on its lingual surface. We have examined both surfaces of continuously erupting rabbit incisor teeth taken from near term embryos by a variety of means, including transmission and scanning electron microscopy, biochemical fractionation, and immunohistochemistry. In all cases, we could detect no qualitative difference in the early extracellular matrices taken from the labial and lingual surfaces of the teeth. Both matrices were shown to be composed of dentin and enamel, although the thickness and geometry of the enamel matrix on the lingual surface was somewhat different from that on the labial surface.

Animals↗

Identification of four extracellular-matrix enamel proteins during embryonic-rabbit tooth-organ development.

1. Investigations were designed to identify the proteins which characterize the ameloblast phenotype, and to determine to what extent these extracellular-matrix proteins were degraded as a function of enamel matrix mineralization and maturation. 2. The identification of enamel proteins was based on comparisons between the electrophoretic patterns of enamel-containing and non-enamel-containing matrix extracts isolated from specific regions within 26-day embryonic New Zealand White rabbit incisor and molar tooth organs. 3. Since enamel proteins become mineralized on secretion, matrix specimens were demineralized in cold 5% (w/v) trichloroacetic acid, extracted with buffered 6M-urea and reduced with mercaptoethanol, and then the solubilized proteins were fractionated by urea/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. 4. Three enamel-specific electrophoretic components were identified in newly secreted enamel-matrix specimens and this number increased as a function of mineralization and maturation. 5. Antibodies were prepared against embryonic rabbit extracellular matrix containing enamel. Comparison between immunoelectrophoretic patterns demonstrated that two of the three enamel components were antigenic. 6. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulphate was used to identify four enamel proteins of mol.wts. (1) 65 000 (2) 58000 (3) 22 000 and (4) 20 000, localized within enamel matrix. Enamel proteins (1) and (3) were phosphorylated, whereas (2) and (4) did not contain detectable phosphate. Labelled proline, leucine, tryptophan and glucosamine were incorporated into each of the four enamel proteins extracted from tooth explants incubated in the presence of radioactive precursors for 6 h. Whereas four proteins were identified in newly secreted enamel matrix, the concentrations of high-molecular-weight proteins (1) and (2) were found to decrease and the number (greater than 10) and concentration of low-molecular-weight polypeptides increased as a function of advanced enamel-matrix mineralization and maturation.

Animals↗

The biosynthesis and secretion of precursor enamel protein by ameloblasts as visualized by autoradiography after tryptophan administration.

The incorporation of 3H-tryptophan into the inner enamel epithelium of newborn mouse incisor tooth organs has been studied in situ by light and electron microscopic autoradiography to determine the sites and kinetics of biosynthesis, migration, and secretion of precursor enamel protein during newborn mouse incisor tooth formation maxillary and mandibular incisor tooth amelogenesis was studied 5, 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes and 24 hours following the intraperitoneal injection of 3H-tryptophan. By 5 minutes, 40% of the total silver grains associated with the secretory ameloblasts were localized over the rough endoplasmic reticulum and 50% of the silver grains were localized over the Golgi apparatus. By 30 minutes, silver grains were observed predominately over condensing vacuoles and secretory granules within the forming Tomes' processes, and were also localized over the extracellular "granular" pre-enamel matrix. The enamel proteins were synthesized on membrane-bound polysomes, transferred within the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and then accumulated in the inner saccules of the Golgi apparatus. The enamel proteins were than packaged in condensing vacuoles which subsequently became secretory granules which migrated to the lateral and apical secretory regions of the forming Tomes' processes. It was concluded from these in vivo studies that enamel protein were synthesized and subsequently secreted within 30 minutes. The initially secreted precursor enamel protein was localized over a material which demonstrated a granular or stippled ultrastructure. The labeled protein then was localized over the amorphous enamel matrix per se which contained the forming calcium hydroxyapatite crystals. We assumed, therefore, that there are two different ultrastructural forms of 3H-tryptophan containing extracellular enamel proteins and suggest that the granular or "stippled" form represents newly secreted precursor enamel protein.

Ameloblasts↗

Matrix vesicle heterogeneity: possible morphogenetic functions for matrix vesicles.

Extracellular membranous matrix vesicles were localized and described using electronmicroscopy during chondrogenesis, osteogenesis, and dentinogenesis. Evidence indicates that matrix vesicles in each of these specific tissue types function to concentrate and transport ions and enzymes which serve as nucleation sites for the mineralization of hydroxylapatite. We have examined different developmental stages of Meckel's cartilage, alveolar bone and epithelial-mesenchymal interactions associated with tooth formation in newborn mice. These ultrastructural studies indicate matrix vesicle heterogeneity. Whereas most matrix vesicles contain alkaline phosphatase activity during cartilage, bone and dentine mineralization, in earlier developmental stages matrix vesicles contain acid phosphatase activities and little, if any, alkaline phosphatase. Tissue type, specific developmental stage, and ultrastructural criteria indicate various "classes" of matrix vesicles. During epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in tooth development, mesenchymal cells (preodontoblasts) appear to be the source of matrix vesicles as indicated by the complementarity between H-2 histocompatibility alloantigen specificity on the cell surface and that of the matrix vesicle outer surface; matrix vesicles are limited by a trilaminar membrane derived from the mesenchymal cells. Some of the vesicles located adjacent to dividing inner enamel epithelial cells contain RNA's as determined by electron microscopic autoradiography in situ, as well as by direct biochemical assays. We postulate that matrix vesicles have many different and important biological functions, one of which may be to mediate developmental information from mesenchyme to epithelia during "instructive" stages of tooth development.

Animals↗