Inappropriate request for breast examination.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J L Adams.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The chance that a change in excitability of one neuron leads to a change in excitability of another is likely to vary within a single volitional act. This temporal variability in functional connectivity is impossible to assess with standard analytical procedures to accurately that measure the correlation between such elements. This reports describes a technique designed to overcome this limitation by expressing a correlation measure calculated repeatedly in short epochs throughout a behavioral trial. The activity of two elements, a motor cortical neuron and a shoulder muscle, that might take place during a drawing task was first simulated so that the correlation could be manipulated. Various correlation algorithms (standard cross-correlation, spike-triggered average, impulse-response function, impulse-response surface) were tested with these data. Spike trains from a monkey's motor cortex and rectified EMG from its posterior deltoid muscle were compared using the same techniques and shown to have a correlation that changed in a characteristic manner throughout a task that required the monkey to draw a sinusoid.
Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2 fatty acyl group [predominantly arachidonic acid (AA)] of membrane phospholipids, the products of which are further metabolized, forming a variety of eicosanoids and/or platelet-activating factor. PLA2 activity is significantly enhanced during inflammation and therefore offers an intriguing target in designing anti-inflammatory drugs. SB 203347 (2-[2-[3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl) sulfonamido]-4- trifluoromethylphenoxy] benzoic acid) potently inhibits rh type II 14 kDa PLA2 (IC50 = 0.5 microM) but exhibits a 40-fold weaker inhibition of 85 kDa PLA2 (IC50 = 20 microM) using [3H]-AA E. coli as substrate. A specific interaction with rh type II 14 kDa PLA2 was confirmed both by observing the pH dependence of its IC50 and by demonstrating linear inhibition in a "scooting" kinetic model using radiolabeled phospholipid reporter substrate in a 1,2-dimyristoyl phosphatidylmethanol vesicle. Before evaluating the effect of SB 203347 on AA metabolism in intact human neutrophil, we showed that it fully inhibits PLA2 activity in acid extracted-intact human neutrophil homogenate (IC50 = 4.7 microM). SB 203347 inhibited A23187-induced intact human neutrophil AA mass release in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 1 microM), which coincided with reductions in the biosynthesis of platelet-activating factor (IC50 = 1.5 microM) and leukotriene B4 (IC50 = 2.3 microM). Finally, SB 203347 prolonged survival in a mouse model of endotoxin shock delivered i.p. Taken together, the data support a role of cellular 14 kDa PLA2 in the formation of AA-derived proinflammatory lipid mediator.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The peptidoleukotrienes and leukotriene B4, formed from arachidonic acid through the action of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), exert a spectrum of biological effects. It has been proposed that potent and selective 5-LO inhibitors will be effective therapy in diseases in which the peptidoleukotrienes and leukotriene B4 have been implicated, such as asthma and arthritis. The novel compound (S)-N-hydroxy-N-(2,3-dihydro-6-phenylmethoxy-3-benzyofuranyl )urea (SB 202235) was evaluated as a selective inhibitor of 5-LO in a cell-free system as well as in various cellular assays. In addition, the potential therapeutic value of SB 202235 was assessed in preclinical models of allergic asthma. The activity of the 5-LO enzyme isolated from rat basophilic leukemia-1 cells was inhibited by SB 202235 in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 1.9 microM. Consistent with its ability to inhibit 5-LO, SB 202235 inhibited the production of leukotriene B4 by human monocytes and in human whole blood (IC50 values of 1.5 microM and 1.1 microM, respectively). The selectivity of SB 202235 was confirmed by its lack of effect against several other enzymes and receptors. SB 202235 potently and effectively inhibited the contraction produced by a single concentration of ovalbumin in guinea pig trachea (IC50 = 20 microM) and of anti-IgE in human bronchus (IC50 = 2 microM). SB 202235 (3-30 microM) also inhibited the contraction of guinea pig trachea in response to increasing concentration of ovalbumin. When administered orally (30 mg/kg) to conscious guinea pigs, SB 202235 attenuated antigen-induced broncho-constriction and the subsequent eosinophil influx.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Johne's disease is characterized by a chronic enteritis that results in granulomatous inflammation, cachexia, and eventual death of cattle infected with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. The cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been associated with granuloma formation and wasting in other disease syndromes. The potential role of these cytokines in the development and progression of Johne's disease has not been investigated. Freshly isolated bovine peripheral blood monocytes and the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 were examined for their ability to release inflammatory cytokines in response to mycobacterial cell wall components. Bovine monocytes and RAW 264.7 cells incubated with M. paratuberculosis lipoarabinomannan (LAM), muramyl dipeptide (MDP), or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) released TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 as detected by appropriate bioassays. Using the RAW 264.7 cells, cytokine mRNA levels were elevated after in vitro incubation with live M. paratuberculosis or LPS as determined using a reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction procedure.
Three hours following injection of anti-GBM (glomerular basement membrane) antibody (10 mg/kg, i.v.) into rats, glomerular production of LTB4 was significantly increased as compared to untreated rats (497 +/- 26 vs. 244 +/- 18 pg of LTB4/mg protein). Twenty-four hours following administration of anti-GBM antibody, renal function (blood urea nitrogen, BUN; plasma creatinine, PCr; creatinine clearance, CCr; fractional excretion of sodium, FENa; fractional excretion of urea, FEUrea) was determined to be impaired proportionally to the amount of injected antibody (5 to 30 mg/kg, i.v.). In a second series of experiments, a selective 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitor, SK&F 107649, was used to investigate the involvement of 5-LO products in the pathophysiology of anti-GBM antibody-induced glomerulonephritis. In preliminary experiments. SK&F 107649 (50 to 200 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited ionophore (A23187)-stimulated whole blood leukotriene (LT) B4 production in a dose-dependent fashion (P < 0.05 at doses > or = 100 mg/kg). The anti-GBM antibody-mediated decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and increase in BUN and PCr were dose-dependently attenuated by SK&F 107649 (50 to 200 mg/kg, p.o. BID). These data confirm that glomerular LTB4 production is stimulated in anti-GBM antibody-induced glomerulonephritis, and demonstrate that inhibition of 5-LO by SK&F 107649 normalizes BUN and PCr and attenuate the decrease in GFR following anti-GBM antibody treatment. These results provide additional evidence for a role of 5-LO products in immune-mediated renal disease, and suggest that pharmacologic inhibition of 5-LO may be of therapeutic value.
The stimulation of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been widely used, both in vitro and in vivo, to examine the biochemistry and pharmacology of inflammatory cytokine production. It appears that classical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (prostaglandin H synthase 1 (PGHS-1) inhibitors) do not inhibit but instead stimulate cytokine production. In the current study, the authors utilized LPS-induced TNF alpha production in the Balb/c mouse to evaluate the activity of a classical NSAID, a mixed inhibitor, and SmithKline Beecham cytokine suppressive antiinflammatory drugs (CSAID). The results corroborated the stimulation of TNF alpha production by NSAIDs (indomethacin, naproxen, ibuprofen) and indicated that the stimulation rank-ordered with the potency of inhibition of PGHS-1. Neither acetaminophen nor nabumetone was found to stimulate TNF alpha production significantly. Tenidap, a compound reported to inhibit 5-lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase and cytokine production, also stimulated TNF alpha production while the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, phenidone, was inactive. The CSAID (exemplified by SK&F 86002, SK&F 105809 and SK&F 104351), strongly inhibited TNF alpha production in this model system (ED50s of 32, 48, and 34 mg/kg p.o., respectively). These results clearly differentiate CSAID from the other compounds tested and suggest that CSAID are relatively weak inhibitors of PGHS 1 while being potent inhibitors of inflammatory cytokine production.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A series of side chain modified analogues of cholesterol and lanosterol (1-10) have been synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of the Candida albicans delta 24-sterol methyltransferase. Two sterol substrate analogues 1 and 2 which contained a 24-thia substituent were relatively modest inhibitors of the enzyme (Ki = 1.5-72 microM). Compounds which mimic the carbocation intermediates proposed for the methyltransferase reaction, including sulfonium salts 4-6, amidines 7 and 8, and imidazoles 9 and 10 were substantially more potent inhibitors (Ki = 5-500 nM). All of the sterol analogues examined displayed less than 10-fold selectivity for inhibition of the methyltransferase versus the rat liver delta 24-sterol reductase. The sterol analogues were tested for in vitro antifungal activity against C. albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Torulopsis glabrata. The minimum inhibitory concentrations versus C. albicans correlated well with the Ki values for methyltransferase inhibition, and the potency of several compounds approached that of amphotericin B, although only modest fungicidal activity was observed.
The baiB gene from Eubacterium sp. strain VPI 12708 was previously cloned, sequenced, and shown to be part of a large bile acid-inducible operon encoding polypeptides believed to be involved in bile acid 7 alpha-dehydroxylation. In the present study, the baiB gene was subcloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and shown to encode a bile acid-coenzyme A (CoA) ligase. This ligase required a C-24 bile acid with a free carboxyl group, ATP, Mg2+, and CoA for synthesis of the final bile acid-CoA conjugate. Product analysis by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography revealed final reaction products that comigrated with cholyl-CoA and AMP. A putative bile acid-AMP intermediate was detected when CoA was omitted from the reaction mixture. The bile acid-CoA ligase has amino acid sequence similarity to several other polypeptides involved in the ATP-dependent linking of AMP or CoA to cyclic carboxylated compounds. The bile acid-CoA ligation is believed to be the initial step in the bile acid 7 alpha-dehydroxylation pathway in Eubacterium sp. strain VPI 12708.
The effects of recombinant basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on migration of human and bovine corneal cells were determined using checkerboard analysis in Boyden chambers. EGF, FGF, and TGF-beta each stimulated high levels of chemotactic migration. Each growth factor, however, induced a different dose-response pattern. Migration stimulated by FGF reached a plateau at a concentration between 100 and 200 ng/ml for endothelial, epithelial, and stromal fibroblasts. By contrast, chemotactic responses to EGF peaked between 10 and 50 ng/ml, then decreased at higher concentrations. TGF-beta also stimulated a peak in migration in all three corneal cells, but the peak of migration occurred at an approximately 1000-fold lower concentration (1 pg/ml) than for EGF. Checkerboard analysis demonstrated that FGF and EGF, but not TGF-beta, stimulated chemokinesis of bovine, stromal, and endothelial cells. These results demonstrate that FGF, EGF, and TGF-beta induce migration in pure populations of bovine and human corneal cells and support the concept that these growth factors may play key roles in corneal wound healing by regulating migration of corneal cells.
Human corneal epithelial cells are normally shed from the apical surface and replaced primarily by mitosis of basal cells. Growth factors may regulate this process, but the sources for the growth factors have not been fully established. One potential source for growth factors is tear fluid, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been detected in the lacrimal gland and in tears. However, the hydrophilic structure and size of growth factors such as EGF may limit penetration to basal layers of intact epithelium. It is possible that turnover of basal human corneal epithelial cells might be regulated by growth factors acting by an autocrine mechanism. To determine if human corneal epithelial cells synthesize a potential autocrine growth factor, the authors analyzed human corneal epithelial cells for transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) messenger RNA and protein, a growth factor that is structurally related to EGF and binds to the EGF receptor. Radioimmunoassay of human corneal epithelial cell cultures detected substantial levels of immunoreactive TGF-alpha (3 ng/10(6) cells). Immunohistochemical staining of human corneas also revealed the presence of immunoreactive TGF-alpha in the corneal epithelium. Northern hybridization with a 32P-labeled complementary DNA probe for TGF-alpha generated a single intense band at 4.4 kilobases, indicating the presence of TGF-alpha messenger RNA in cultured human corneal epithelial cells. These results support the hypothesis that normal turnover of corneal epithelium is controlled by the autocrine production of growth factors, such as TGF-alpha. Growth factors present in tears may function primarily as exocrine factors to stimulate healing of epithelial injuries after the epithelial barrier has been damaged.
A 32-carboxylic acid derivative of lanosterol (SKF 104976) was found to be a potent inhibitor of lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase (14 alpha DM). 14 alpha DM activity in a Hep G2 cell extract was inhibited 50% by 2 nM SKF 104976. Exposure of intact cells to similar concentrations of the compound resulted in the inhibition of incorporation of [14C]acetate into cholesterol with concomitant accumulation of lanosterol as well as a 40-70% decrease in 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) activity. SKF 104976 did not effect low density lipoprotein uptake and degradation in Hep G2 cells, suggesting that HMGR and low density lipoprotein receptor activity were not coordinately regulated under these conditions. Reduction of the flux of carbon units in the sterol synthetic pathway by as much as 80% did not alter the suppressing effect of SKF 104976 on HMGR activity. However, under conditions where sterol synthesis was almost completely blocked by lovastatin, HMGR activity was not suppressed by SKF 104976. Mevalonate, at concentrations that did not decrease HMGR activity, was able to restore the inhibiting effect of SKF 104976 on HMGR activity. The rapid inhibition (2-3 h) of HMGR activity by SKF 104976 to 30-60% of the level in controls was not dependent on the initial amount of HMGR enzyme present. These findings suggest that upon inhibition of 14 alpha DM by SKF 104976, a mevalonate-derived precursor regulates HMGR activity, even when the sterol synthetic rate is considerably reduced and when HMGR protein levels are very high. In Hep G2 cells, formation of oxylanostenols from [3H]mevalonate reached a maximum between 1 and 10 nM SKF 104976 and was negligible at higher concentrations. This result suggests that oxylanostenols are not the key mediators of the modulation of HMGR in Hep G2 cells upon 14 alpha DM inhibition.
The hydrodynamic properties of the previously purified glutamate-binding protein from rat synaptic membranes were determined in order to estimate the molecular size of the protein in its native state. This protein is apparently a subunit of a multisubunit complex that forms the N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptor and has a molecular size of approximately 70 kDa based on electrophoretic migration under denaturing conditions. On the basis of results obtained from H2O/D2O sucrose density gradient sedimentation and gel filtration chromatography of the purified glutamate-binding protein we calculated the partial specific volume of the protein-detergent complex to be 0.766 cc3/g, the Stokes radius of the complex as 4.9 nm, the Mc of the complex as 203,000 +/- 22,000 and the Mr of the protein as 182,000 +/- 19,000. These results are indicative of stable self-association of the glutamate-binding protein and are in agreement with recent studies indicating that more than one molecule of glutamate may be required to activate the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-associated ion channel.
In this study, a paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) model was developed by intragastrically dosing gnotobiotic athymic nude mice with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. The mice infrequently shed bacilli from their intestinal tracts during the first 4 months after inoculation. Following this time, increasing numbers of M. paratuberculosis (greater than 4.0 log10 bacilli per fecal pellet by 40 weeks) were recovered from the feces of the 12 mice that remained in the isolator. A similar pattern of recovery of M. paratuberculosis was obtained from the ileum, cecum, colon, and liver. Histopathologic lesions and acid-fast bacilli were rare during the first 4 months of infection and then, with time, increased in prevalence and severity. Mice maintained for 7 months or longer exhibited severe granulomatous inflammation and large numbers of acid-fast bacilli in the gastrointestinal tract and liver (up to 10(8) log10 colony forming units per gram wet weight). Five mice maintained for 7 months or more developed clinical signs consistent with those seen in paratuberculosis (weight loss, chronic diarrhea); three of these mice eventually died or became moribund and were euthanatized. M. paratuberculosis monoassociated mice released increased levels of tumor necrosis factor activity into their sera, as compared to uninfected control mice, when they were injected with bacterial lipopolysaccharide. The clinical signs, fecal shedding of M. paratuberculosis, granuloma formation, and progressive bacillary multiplication observed with these mice are consistent with naturally occurring M. paratuberculosis infection of ruminants (Johne's disease). This model will be useful for future studies of immunoregulation and antimicrobial therapy of paratuberculosis.
In this study, we demonstrate that freshly adherent bovine monocytes release tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in response to stimulation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). TNF-alpha was detected using actinomycin D-treated WEHI-164 murine fibrosarcoma cells as targets in an 18 hr cytotoxicity assay. Doses of LPS from 20 ng/ml to 20 micrograms/ml were capable of inducing bovine TNF-alpha. The kinetics of TNF-alpha release from bovine monocytes demonstrated peak levels of cytotoxic activity at 1-3 hr post-LPS treatment, with a subsequent decline to background levels by 18 hr post-LPS treatment. A monoclonal antibody that neutralizes recombinant human TNF-alpha (rHuTNF-alpha) significantly reduced the cytotoxicity of LPS-stimulated bovine monocyte culture supernatants. Size exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of LPS-stimulated monocyte and alveolar macrophage culture supernatants resulted in a molecular weight elution profile similar to that of recombinant human TNF-alpha. These elution profiles are consistent with the presence of multimers of TNF-alpha. This is believed to be the first report of the in vitro production of bovine TNF-alpha.
The presence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) during endotoxemia in ruminants has not been reported previously. In this study, we detected the in vivo release of bovine TNF-alpha by using WEHI-164 murine fibrosarcoma cells as targets in an 18-h cytotoxicity assay. Treatment of the WEHI-164 cells with 1 microgram of actinomycin D (dactinomycin) enhanced approximately twofold the susceptibility of the cells to TNF-alpha activity. TNF-alpha activity in sera from neonatal calves injected intravenously with 2.7 micrograms of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased rapidly within the first 2 h postinjection and then declined until it was undetectable by 4 h postinjection. Sera taken before LPS administration had no TNF-alpha activity. LPS (10 micrograms/ml) and fetal, newborn, and pooled adult bovine sera alone and in combination had no direct cytotoxic effects on WEHI-164 cells. TNF-alpha cytotoxic activity is probably not due to the presence of interleukin-1 (IL-1), alpha interferon, or gamma interferon in the sera since recombinant human IL-1, natural bovine IL-1, and recombinant bovine alpha and gamma interferons had no direct cytotoxic effects on WEHI-164 cells. A monoclonal antibody that neutralizes recombinant human TNF-alpha significantly reduced the cytotoxic activity of sera from LPS-injected calves.
The S-adenosyl-L-methionine: delta 24-sterol methyltransferase from Candida albicans has been solubilized with a mixture of octyl glucoside and sodium taurodeoxycholate. The enzyme has an apparent molecular weight of approximately 150,000 as measured by gel filtration chromatography. Zymosterol is the preferred substrate for the microsomal methyltransferase. Other nuclear double bond isomers support reduced rates of methenylation, while sterols which bear methyl groups at C-4 or C-14 are not substrates. Initial velocity and product inhibition studies are consistent with a rapid equilibrium ordered kinetic mechanism. A series of novel sterol analogues which contain heteroatoms substituted for C-24 or C-25 have been kinetically characterized as dead-end inhibitors of the methyltransferase, revealing three distinct mechanisms of interaction with the enzyme. Sterols which contain positively charged moieties in these positions are particularly potent inhibitors, supporting the proposed intermediacy of C-24 and C-25 carbocations. The methyltransferase is reversibly inhibited by low concentrations of 24-thiasterols, while behavior consistent with mechanism-based enzyme inactivation is apparent at higher concentrations. Possible mechanisms for this novel inactivation reaction are discussed.