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J J Costa

Publications and source records attributed to J J Costa.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Mast cell adhesion to fibronectin.

The MCP-5 murine mast cell line, as well as primary bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells (BMCMC), are demonstrated to bind to fibronectin, a ubiquitous adhesion protein of the extracellular matrix. BMCMC required activation by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) to adhere to fibronectin, whereas MCP-5 displayed spontaneous adherence. The binding of both MCP-5 and BMCMC was dose dependent, with maximal adhesion at a fibronectin concentration of 20 micrograms/ml. The 120,000 molecular weight (MW) proteolytic fragment of fibronectin containing the RGDS cell attachment site was able to substitute for the native fibronectin molecule in promoting mast cell attachment. Mast cell adhesion to fibronectin, in addition, could be inhibited by the RGDS peptide alone. These data suggest that, in addition to the previously described mast cell-laminin interactions, mast cells also adhere to fibronectin, thus providing further insight into their tissue localization and possible roles in processes such as wound healing and fibrosis.

Animals↗

Restriction map of corynebacteriophages beta c and beta vir and physical localization of the diphtheria tox operon.

The BamHI, EcoRI, HindIII, and KpnI restriction endonuclease maps of corynebacteriophage beta c and beta vir were constructed. beta vir appeared to be identical to beta c, except for an approximate 1-kilobase deletion that removed a BamHI site, two KpnI sites, and three EcoRI restriction sites. The diphtheria tox operon was located by hybridizing in vitro 32P-labeled tox messenger ribonucleic acid to blots of endonuclease-digested beta deoxyribonucleic acids. The messenger ribonucleic acid probe was found to hybridize to a 2.1-kilobase region of the beta genome. Since approximately 1.9 kilobases is required to encode prodiphtheria toxin, the data presented strongly suggest that the tox operon of beta is monocistronic.

Bacteriophages↗

[Acute eosinophilic pneumonia associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome: case report].

The Authors present a case of acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) associated with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome in a previously healthy young adult, medicated with nitrofurantoin. AEP must be included in the differential diagnosis of community adquired pneumonia, as well as a cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome; its diagnosis is suggested by the presence of eosinophilic alveolitis in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The early diagnosis of AEP and corticosteroid therapy may be lifesaving.

Acute Disease↗

Regulation of mouse and human mast cell development, survival and function by stem cell factor, the ligand for the c-kit receptor.

Stem cell factor (SCF), the ligand for the receptor (SCFR) that is encoded by the c-kit proto-oncogene, has many important effects in mouse and human mast cell development, survival, and function. SCF can promote mast cell survival by suppressing apoptosis, induce mast cell hyperplasia in murine rodents, experimental primates and humans, directly induce SCFR-dependent mast cell mediator release, and significantly modulate the extent of mast cell activation by Fc epsilon RI-dependent mechanisms. These findings raise several clinical issues and, in some cases, point to potentially significant therapeutic opportunities.

Animals↗