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Biomedical subjects

H C Smith

Publications and source records attributed to H C Smith.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Three distinct RNA sequence elements are required for efficient apolipoprotein B (apoB) RNA editing in vitro.

Apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA is edited in rat liver and intestine to convert a CAA glutamine codon to a UAA translational stop codon by the direct conversion of cytidine to uridine at nucleotide 6666. We have proposed the 'mooring sequence' model for apoB RNA editing, in which editing complexes (editosomes) assemble on specific apoB mRNA flanking sequences to direct this site-specific editing event. One sequence element (approx. nts 6671-81, the presumed 'mooring sequence') has been previously identified as necessary for editing. We have identified two additional sequence elements which are necessary for efficient editing: (1) a 5' 'Regulator' region which modulates editing efficiency and (2) a 'Spacer' region between the editing site and the 3' mooring sequence, whose distance is critical for efficient editing. Utilizing this data, we have induced editing at a cryptic site and have defined a 22 nucleotide 'cassette' of specific apoB sequence which is sufficient to support wild-type levels of editing in vitro in a background of distal apoB RNA sequence.

Animals

Prognosis in rupture of the ventricular septum after acute myocardial infarction and role of early surgical intervention.

Since 1944, 91 patients (50 men and 41 women, mean age 68 years [range 39 to 86]) with ventricular septal rupture after acute myocardial infarction were seen at the Mayo Clinic. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to therapy and timing of surgical intervention. Fourteen patients seen before 1965, when surgery was not performed for such a complication or not readily available, were excluded from the analysis. Group 1 (n = 22) had surgery within 48 hours of septal rupture, group 2 (n = 6) underwent operation between 2 and 14 days, group 3 (n = 24) had surgery after 14 days, and group 4 (n = 25) only received medical treatment. Short-term (30 days) survivors (45%, 35 of 77 patients) were compared with nonsurvivors. Using logistic regression, by univariate analysis, 3 variables were significantly associated with outcome: age (p less than 0.01), cardiogenic shock (p less than 0.00001), and long delay between ventricular septal rupture and surgical intervention (p less than 0.004). By multivariate analysis, however, only cardiogenic shock (p less than 0.00001) and age (p less than 0.007) correlated with an adverse outcome. In patients with cardiogenic shock after septal rupture, the prognosis was uniformly fatal unless patients undergo early surgery. None of the 23 patients in groups 2, 3 or 4 survived, whereas 5 of 13 patients (38%) who had surgery within 48 hours of septal rupture survived.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors

Left ventricular dysfunction due to atrial fibrillation in patients initially believed to have idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Ten patients aged 22 to 80 years (median 57) with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid ventricular response were evaluated after therapy. Because most patients were unaware of their arrhythmia, duration was usually unknown. All patients had heart failure symptoms; 9 presented with New York Heart Association class III or IV disability, and 1 with class II disability. Initial LV ejection fraction ranged from 12 to 30% (median 25). No patient had symptomatic coronary artery disease (4 underwent angiography). Myocarditis and infiltrative processes were excluded by biopsy in 5 patients. All patients were considered initially to have idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy with secondary AF. Ventricular rate was controlled in all patients, with sinus rhythm restored in 5. At follow-up (median 30 months, range 3 to 56), all patients were asymptomatic. LV ejection fraction after treatment ranged from 40 to 64% (median 52). It is concluded that in some patients initially considered to have idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, AF with rapid ventricular response may be the primary cause rather than the consequence of severe LV dysfunction. LV dysfunction may be completely reversible with ventricular rate control.

Adult

In vitro apolipoprotein B mRNA editing activity can be modulated by fasting and refeeding rats with a high carbohydrate diet.

Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing in vivo is subject to tissue specific, developmental and metabolic regulation. We demonstrate for the first time that the metabolic modulation of apo B mRNA editing activity can be assayed in vitro using rat liver extracts. The editing activity in extracts from 48h-fasted rats was suppressed relative to that of normal chow-fed rats. Refeeding with a high-sucrose fat-free chow for 48h stimulated liver in vitro editing activity to approximately three times that of control liver extracts. The physical properties of editosomes assembled in extracts from fasted/refed rats differed from those assembled in control or fasted rat liver extracts. Polypeptide analysis revealed quantitative alterations of several proteins in each treatment group suggesting a complex regulatory process. The data corroborate those from in vivo studies and suggest the potential of the in vitro system in studying factors responsible for metabolic regulation of apo B mRNA editing.

Animals

Impaired hepatic apolipoprotein B and E translation in streptozotocin diabetic rats.

Studies of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats have demonstrated that hepatic apo B and apo E production are reduced. To determine if reductions are related to decreases in hepatic mRNAs, we performed blotting analysis of total liver RNA with rat apo B, apo E, and albumin cDNA probes. The expected reduction in albumin mRNA levels to 48% of control livers occurred in diabetic rat liver, while apo B and apo E mRNA levels were unchanged. The proportion of translational stop codon (BSTOP) mRNA averaged 43% of total in diabetic rats similar to control levels. Long-term labeling experiments using [35S]methionine in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes and specific immunoprecipitations demonstrated production of apo B and apo E, and albumin by hepatocytes from diabetic rats was reduced to 37%, 53%, and 23% of controls. Pulse-chase studies, together with mRNA analyses, suggest that reduced hepatic secretion of apo B and apo E in diabetics is primarily a result of impaired translation and not intracellular degradation. Ribosome transit studies directly confirmed the prolonged elongation rates for apo B and apo E mRNAs in hepatocytes derived from diabetic rats. This effect was more pronounced on apo BH (higher molecular weight) than on apo BL (lower molecular weight). Treatment of diabetic rats with insulin for 7 d led to normalization of hepatic albumin mRNA levels with no substantial change in apo E mRNA levels. In contrast, insulin treatment resulted in significant increases in hepatic apo B mRNA over control levels. Results suggest hepatic albumin and apo B mRNA levels are responsive to insulin in the diabetic state.

Animals

Apolipoprotein B mRNA sequences 3' of the editing site are necessary and sufficient for editing and editosome assembly.

Apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA is edited in rat liver and intestine through the direct conversion of cytidine to uridine at nucleotide 6666. Recently, we have proposed the 'Mooring Sequence' model, in which editing complexes (editosomes) assemble on specific apoB mRNA flanking sequences to direct this site-specific editing event. To test this model, apoB mRNA deletion and translocation mutants were constructed and analyzed. Specific sequences 3' of the editing site were absolutely required for editing, while specific sequences and bulk RNA 5' of the editing site were required for efficient editing. Translocation of apoB 3' flanking sequences induced editing of an upstream cytidine, demonstrating that 3' sequences are necessary and sufficient to direct editing in vitro. 3' flanking sequences were also shown to be necessary and sufficient for editosome complex assembly. These data provide strong support for a 'Mooring Sequence' model in which 3' apoB flanking sequences direct editosome assembly and subsequent editing in vitro, while 5' flanking sequences enhance these functions.

Animals

Induction of the proliferative phenotype in differentiated myogenic cells by hypoxia.

The effect of cellular differentiation on the response of cells to hypoxic stress has been evaluated using the myogenic cell line BC3H1. Aerobic myocytes were predominantly in G0/G1 of the cell cycle and could be induced into S and G2/M of the cell cycle only by replating in high serum-containing medium at subconfluent cell density. In contrast, hypoxic myocytes demonstrated marked progression into S and G2/M upon reoxygenation without replating in the presence of serum. This modulation of myocytes by hypoxia was suggested further by the induction of 100-kDa and 9-kDa proteins (PSP 100 and PSP 9) which were otherwise only detectable in myoblasts. Two-dimensional gel analysis of newly synthesized proteins demonstrated that the five major glucose/oxygen-regulated proteins (GRP/ORP 260, 150, 100, 80, and 33) were induced in hypoxic myogenic cells independent of their state of differentiation. In addition to the GRP/ORPs, synthesis of 20 and 23 other major proteins was influenced in myocytes and myoblasts, respectively. The bulk of these alterations in myoblasts (70%) were inhibitions. In contrast, 75% of the alterations in myocyte protein synthesis were either enhancements or inductions. The data show that hypoxia can modulate the myocyte phenotype and invoke proliferative characteristics. Moreover, the data suggest that ischemia will have a different effect on and prognosis for tissues with a high mitotic index compared with differentiated tissues.

Animals

Oxygen regulated 80 kDa protein and glucose regulated 78kDa protein are identical.

Ischemic stress of cells within solid tumors arises from inadequate perfusion of regions of the tumor and results in microenvironments which are hypoxic and deficient in nutrient delivery and waste product removal. Stressed cells within these microenvironments show growth inhibition and synthesize unique sets of proteins referred to as glucose and oxygen regulated proteins (GRPs and ORPs respectively). The commonality of proteins induced by glucose-starvation and hypoxia has not been proven. To this end, ORPs were induced in Chinese hamster ovary cells in the presence of high glucose concentration in the media and ORP 80 isolated from two dimension gels. Eleven tryptic peptides of the 80 kDa ORP were sequenced and found to be identical to GRP 78 sequences. The data demonstrate that GRP 78 and ORP 80 have the same primary amino acid sequence and suggest that glucose-starvation and hypoxia can induce the same cellular responses.

Amino Acid Sequence

In vitro apolipoprotein B mRNA editing: identification of a 27S editing complex.

Specific apolipoprotein B (apoB) mRNA editing can be performed in vitro on apoB RNA substrates. Native gels and glycerol gradient sedimentation have been used to determine the physical properties of the in vitro editing activity in rat liver cytosolic S100 extracts. ApoB RNA substrates were progressively assembled as 27S complexes for 3 hr with similar kinetics as seen for the accumulation of edited RNA. Assembly was not observed on RNAs from apoB deletion constructs that did not support editing. The 27S complex contained both edited and unedited RNA sequences. Inhibition of 27S complex assembly by vanadyl-ribonucleoside complexes was accompanied by inhibition of editing. Based on these data, we propose that the 27S complex is the in vitro "editosome," A "mooring sequence" model for RNA recognition and editosome assembly has been proposed involving RNA sequences flanking the edited nucleotide.

Animals

Immediate versus deferred beta-blockade following thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Results of the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) II-B Study.

In the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) Phase II trial, patients received intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) and were randomized to either a conservative or an invasive strategy. Within this study, the effects of immediate versus deferred beta-blocker therapy were also assessed in patients eligible for beta-blocker therapy, a group of 1,434 patients of which 720 were randomized to the immediate intravenous group and 714 to the deferred group. In the immediate intravenous group, within 2 hours of initiating rt-PA metoprolol was given (5 mg intravenously at 2-minute intervals over 6 minutes, for a total intravenous dose of 15 mg, followed by 50 mg orally every 12 hours in the first 24 hours and 100 mg orally every 12 hours thereafter). The patients assigned to the deferred group received metoprolol, 50 mg orally twice on day 6, followed by 100 mg orally twice a day thereafter. The therapy was tolerated well in both groups and the primary end point, resting global ejection fraction at hospital discharge, averaged 50.5% and was virtually identical in the two groups. The regional ventricular function was also similar in the two groups. Overall, there was no difference in mortality between the immediate intravenous and deferred groups, but in the subgroup defined as low risk there were no deaths at 6 weeks among those receiving immediate beta-blocker therapy in contrast to seven deaths among those in whom beta-blocker therapy was deferred. These findings for a secondary end point in a subgroup were not considered sufficient to warrant a recommendation regarding clinical use. There was a lower incidence of reinfarction (2.7% versus 5.1%, p = 0.02) and recurrent chest pain (18.8% versus 24.1%, p less than 0.02) at 6 days in the immediate intravenous group. Thus, in appropriate postinfarction patients, beta-blockers are safe when given early after thrombolytic therapy and are associated with decreased myocardial ischemia and reinfarction in the first week but offer no benefit over late administration in improving ventricular function or reducing mortality.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

Analysis of U1snRNP-specific A protein cross-linked complexes.

The organization of the U1snRNP-specific A protein (34 kDa) has been analyzed by 12 and 16 A thiol-reversible chemical cross-linking and Western blotting. A-containing cross-linked complexes had molecular masses of 43, 47, 56, 62, 67, 105 and 125 kDa. None of these complexes could be cross-linked following ribonuclease digestion, suggesting that UsnRNA may play important roles in the spatial organization of A and other proteins. Moreover, the data suggest that A is proximal to, and may have interactions with, UsnRNP-specific proteins C and 70 kDa as well as with UsnRNP-common proteins B, E and G.

Blotting, Western

Quantitation of endogenous liver apolipoprotein B mRNA editing.

The mRNA for apolipoprotein B is translated into either a high molecular weight (apo BH) or low molecular weight (apo BL) form of the protein depending on a novel form of RNA processing known as RNA editing. Apo BH mRNA editing is both tissue-specific and hormonally regulated and involves transition of cytidine to uridine at codon 2153 thereby converting a glutamine codon (CAA) to a translational stop codon (UAA). Three methods for quantitating the endogenous levels of liver apo B mRNA editing were compared: (1) Southern blot hybridization with discriminative thermal washes, (2) competimer-hybridization with discriminative thermal washes and (3) competimer-polymerase chain reaction (competimer-PCR). The data suggest that hybridization and PCR can yield similar quantitation when competing oligonucleotides are used. Based on competimer-PCR it is proposed that 40% and 85% of normal rat liver and small intestine apo B mRNA (respectively) are edited.

Animals

Doppler echocardiography in aortic stenosis: feasibility and clinical impact.

The clinical utility of Doppler echocardiography for the assessment of aortic stenosis was prospectively studied in 425 consecutive patients referred to the echocardiography laboratory over 1 year with the clinical diagnosis of aortic stenosis. Optimal peak Doppler velocities were obtained in 405 (95%) patients of all ages. In 108 patients, the severity of aortic stenosis as determined by subsequent cardiac catheterization was compared with that found by Doppler assessment. Categorization of severity was concordant in 8 (89%) of 9 cases of mild aortic stenosis and in 28 (78%) of 36 cases of severe aortic stenosis, but there was considerable diagnostic overlap in cases of moderate stenosis. Forty-nine patients with mild aortic stenosis as determined clinically had moderate or severe stenosis as assessed by Doppler; 7 (14%) of these patients underwent subsequent replacement of the aortic valve. Increased aortic velocity, as determined by Doppler, was associated with a significant incidence of subsequent (mean follow-up period, 22 months) cardiac events (cardiac death, aortic valvar replacement, New York Heart Association functional class III or IV). Patients with mild aortic stenosis as assessed by Doppler (peak aortic velocity less than 2.5 m/sec) had greater than 95% event-free survival at 1 year and rarely required cardiac catheterization. Conversely, only 45% of patients with severe aortic stenosis as determined by Doppler were free of a cardiovascular event at 1 year. Although the noninvasive assessment of aortic stenosis should ideally include determination of the area of the aortic valve and the mean aortic gradient by Doppler echocardiography, this is not always possible. Prognostic information derived from peak aortic velocity alone is clinically useful. It has the additional advantage that it is much less laborious and time-consuming to obtain and is obtainable in almost all (99%) patients.

Aged

Tuberous sclerosis presenting with fetal and neonatal cardiac tumours.

Cardiac tumours were identified on ultrasonography in fetal or early postnatal life in five infants. Tuberous sclerosis was subsequently diagnosed in all five. Only one infant required operation. Regression of the tumour occurred in three. No infant had hypomelanotic macules at birth, and they took up to two years to appear.

Adult

Immunological evidence for the role of phosphoprotein p68/pI = 7.3 in premessenger RNA splicing.

A 68 kDa (pI = 7.3) nuclear phosphoprotein has been previously characterized as a component of transcriptionally active chromatin. Two-dimensional PAGE Western blotting and radioimmunoassay with monoclonal antibodies have identified this protein in nuclear extracts used for in vitro RNA splicing. In vitro splicing activity could be quantitatively inhibited by preincubating nuclear extracts with the antibodies, but the assembly of 60 S spliceosomes could not.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Weighted ventriculographic wall motion score for improved survival prediction in patients with coronary artery disease. Coronary Artery Surgery Study.

Global ventricular function parameters such as the ejection fraction and the sum of wall motion scores for segments of the left ventricle are excellent predictors of long-term survival in patients with coronary heart disease. These are usually determined from a monoplane right anterior oblique view. It was hypothesized that a biplane weighted wall motion score that included the left anterior oblique projection might better predict survival. A new score (BISCORE) was derived for 1,433 Mayo Clinic ventriculograms coded by the methods of the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS). Weighting coefficients for each left ventricular segment were derived by the proportional hazards technique, and this resulted in the equation BISCORE = 120 - (8.6 x anterobasal + 3.4 x basal septum + 2.9 x apical + 2.7 x posterolateral + 2.4 diaphragmatic), which yielded a score from 0 (all segments aneurysmal) to 100 (all segments normal). This score stratified the original 1,433 patients into distinct groups by survival. As a single variable it was better than previous wall motion scores and ejection fraction at predicting survival. When prospectively applied to 5,172 Coronary Artery Surgery Study patients, this new score again proved to be a better predictor of survival than previous unweighted scores. Since the new score contains terms from the left anterior oblique ventriculographic projection, it is concluded that this projection adds information to that of the right anterior oblique projection regarding survival. Furthermore, this weighted score appears more highly associated with survival than unweighted scores.

Coronary Disease

Evidence that a nuclear matrix protein participates in premessenger RNA splicing.

The role of nuclear matrix proteins in premessenger RNA splicing has been investigated using antibodies raised against isolated rat liver nuclear matrix and cross-reactive with a 65-kDa HeLa cell nuclear matrix protein (IGA-65). IGA-65 is an internal nuclear matrix component which can be solubilized as a component of nuclear splicing extracts, by the action of endogenous ribonucleases, EDTA, and DTT during extract preparation. Preincubation of splicing extract with antibodies against IGA-65 (anti-IGA-65) inhibited in vitro splicing of exogenous adenovirus precursor RNA. Furthermore, assembly of precursor RNA into active spliceosome complexes was inhibited by pretreatment of extracts with anti-IGA-65, suggesting a role for IGA-65 during early spliceosome assembly. The IGA-65 present in splicing extracts was distinguishable from known U-snRNP and hnRNP proteins on protein gels. Furthermore, electrophoresis of splicing extract on native gels indicated that IGA-65 was present in protein complexes different from those containing U-snRNPs or hnRNP C protein. The data support identification of complexes containing IGA-65 as nuclear factors involved in pre-mRNA splicing and, by extension, suggest a role for the nuclear matrix during processing in vivo.

Antibodies