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Biomedical subjects

J L Hudson

Publications and source records attributed to J L Hudson.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Functional innervation of spinal cord tissue by fetal neocortical grafts in oculo: an electrophysiological study.

The ability of fetal neocortex transplants, to functionally innervate maturated cervical spinal cord grafts in oculo, was investigated in rats. We found that a neocortex co-graft will grow and develop in contact with a spinal cord graft, and will generate a functional input to maturated spinal cord tissue which can be activated by electrical stimulation of the neocortex graft. Our data suggest that orthodromic stimulation of this pathway causes short latency, transient excitations of spinal graft neurons. These appear to be mediated by an excitatory amino acid receptor since the response was noncompetitively antagonized by kynurenic acid. Kynurenic acid also noncompetitively antagonized the excitatory effects of glutamate superfused over single spinal cord grafts. The mechanism of the excitation probably does not involve an NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor since APV (2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate) did not alter the spinal graft neuronal responses to neocortical co-graft stimulation. These data suggest that fetal neocortex can functionally innervate maturated cervical spinal cord in the in oculo graft preparation. The in oculo spinal cord graft model may thus provide a unique test system for studies of the influence of drugs and other manipulations that might alter cortico-spinal pathway development as well as influence reestablishment of neuronal pathways after spinal cord injury.

Action Potentials

Activity of acyclic halogenated tubercidin analogs against human cytomegalovirus and in uninfected cells.

Novel acyclic halogenated tubercidins (4-amino-5-halo-7-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)-methyl]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines) were examined for their ability to inhibit human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in yield reduction assays. 5-Bromo acyclic tubercidin (compound 102) was a more potent inhibitor of virus replication than the chloro- and iodo-substituted analogs (compounds 100 and 104). At a 100 microM concentration, the bromo and chloro compounds were more potent than acyclovir but not ganciclovir. Virus titers were reduced more than 99% by compounds 102 and 104 whereas compound 100 and the equally potent acyclovir reduced titers by only 90%. Quantitation of viral DNA by DNA hybridization demonstrated strong inhibition of HCMV DNA synthesis by these compounds. The most potent inhibitor, compound 102, had a 50% inhibitory (I50) concentration (1.6 microM) comparable to that of ganciclovir (1.8 microM). Cytotoxicity in uninfected human cells was evaluated and revealed the following: cell growth rates slowed markedly in the presence of 10 microM compound 102 whereas the same concentration of compounds 100 and 104 led to only a slight prolongation of population doubling time; these compounds inhibited cellular DNA synthesis but not RNA or protein synthesis, as measured by incorporation of radiolabeled precursors into acid-precipitable macromolecules; flow cytometry indicated that compound 102 was a mid-S phase blocker, and adenosine antagonized the inhibition of [3H]dThd incorporation by compound 102. Together, these results demonstrate that compound 102 is a potent and selective inhibitor of viral and cellular DNA synthesis and that acyclic halogenated pyrrolo-pyrimidine nucleosides may have therapeutic potential.

Adenosine

CD4+ cells treated with DNA methylation inhibitors induce autologous B cell differentiation.

The DNA methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine induces autoreactivity in cloned CD4+ T cells, but the functional consequences of this response are unknown. We now report that CD4+ T cells treated with 5-azacytidine respond to autologous antigen-presenting cells and induce autologous B cell differentiation without exogenous antigen or mitogen. This mechanism could play a role in some autoimmune diseases characterized by T cell DNA hypomethylation and polyclonal B cell activation.

Acecainide

Differences in flow cytometry and 3H-thymidine analyses of perturbed human lymphocytes.

A calf thymocyte crude aqueous extract was tested for DNA synthesis inhibitory activity using phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Inhibition of DNA synthesis was assayed using tritiated thymidine and flow cytometry. Although the calf thymocyte crude extract inhibited tritiated thymidine incorporation by over 50%, only very slight changes in the flow cytometric analysis were observed. When dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine monophosphate was used as an inhibitor, a correlation in terms of the inhibition of tritiated thymidine to the inhibition by flow cytometry was observed.

Animals

Nonparametric flow cytometry analysis.

A nonparametric statistical test for the analysis of flow cytometry derived histograms is presented. The method involves smoothing and translocation of data, area normalization, channel by channel determination of the mean and S.D., and use of Bayes' theorem for unknown histogram classification. With this statistical method, different sets of histograms from numerous biological systems can be compared.

Cells, Cultured

Multiparameter kinetic analysis of killer cell initiation by using immune RNA.

By treating nonsensitized C57BL/6J spleen derived lymphocytes with EL-4 tumor cell directed xenogeneic extracted RNA we were able to monitor early changes in cellular DNA content by flow cytometric (FCM) analysis and 3H-thymidine uptake. These kinetic parameters were correlated with cell mediated cytotoxicity which appeared as early as 8 hr after activation as measured by release of chromium-51 from labeled EL-4 target cells. Flow cytometric analysis and 3H-thymidine uptake data shown peak S phase activity at 72 hr. Maximum cytotoxicity was observed at 48 hr. Cell cycle kinetic parameters were correlated with the appearance of cell mediated cytotoxicity.

Animals

Inhibition of growth and guanylate cyclase activity of an undifferentiated prostate adenocarcinoma by an extract of the balsam pear (Momordica charantia abbreviata).

We have recently described the presence of a guanylate cyclase [GTP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.2] inhibitor (GCI) in an aqueous extract of the balsam pear (Momordica charantia abbreviata). Because the guanylate cyclase-cyclic GMP system is though to be involved in cell growth, DNA and RNA synthesis, and possible malignant transformation, we examined the effect of the aqueous extract containing GCI on an undifferentiated adenocarcinoma of the rat prostate and concanavalin-A-stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation into cultured splenic lymphocytes, a process thought to be mediated by cyclic GMP. The results demonstrate that the extract of the balsam pear blocks both the growth of the rat prostatic adencarcinoma in vitro and [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. DNA histograms from flow cytometry indicated that the extract containing GCI inhibited in the G2 + M phase of the cell cycle, a presumed locus of cyclic GMP effects. In addition, guanylate cyclase activity was significantly greater in the tumor than normal prostate tissue and was decreased by the extract containing GCI. Cyclic GMP levels in the tumor in culture wer also decreased by addition of the extract. It remains to be determined whether or not the anti-tumor agent and GCI are the same substance.

Adenocarcinoma

Effect of methionine-loading on methyl group synthesis and activation in rat brain and liver.

Much greater increases in S-adenosylmethionine concentrations are observed in the liver in response to methionine-loading than in the brain due to differences in the methionine adenosyltransferase activities in these tissues. Liver methione adenosyltransferase exhibits a bimodal saturation curve with a nonlinear Line-weaver-Burk plot, indicating that high methionine concentrations are required for saturation. In the brain the methionine adenosyltransferase is saturated in vitro at a methionine concentration less than the normal physiological concentration. The increased S-adenosylmethionine concentrations in the livers of methionine-treated rats also account for the observed inhibition of N5,N10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase activity in this tissue. No inhibition of this enzyme is observed in the brain of methionine treated animals. Nor are S-adenosylmethionine concentrations increased significantly in brain. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase activity responds to methionine-loading by decreasing in brain and increasing in liver.

Animals

High resolution proton magnetic resonance spectral characteristics of water, lipid, and protein signals from three mouse cell populations.

The high resolution proton magnetic resonance spectral properties of three C57BL/6J mouse cell populations (EL4 ascites tumor cells, normal spleen leukocytes, and normal erythrocytes) were investigated. Packed cell pellets were investigated at 100 MHz and 13.56 MHz. The 100-MHz spectra contained identifiable non-water proton resonances as well as the water resonance. The major non-water resonances from the EL 4 cells and normal leukocytes resembled resonances from lipid extracts, whereas the non-water resonances from erythrocytes resembled resonances from hemoglobin solutions. The reciprocals of the water proton spin-lattice relaxation times were roughly proportional to the total sample water content at both 100 and 13.56 MHz. The estimated slopes of these plots were frequency-dependent. The water proton relaxation rate generally increased with increasing total protein content of the packed cell pellets.

Animals

Immunoprophylaxis and cytotoxic effector cells against EL 4 leukemia induced in syngeneic C57BL/6J mice by use of irradiated EL 4 cells.

Tumor-specific immunoprophylaxis was achieved in C57BL/6J mice against EL 4 leukosis cell challenge by sensitization of the syngeneic host with multiple ip injections of irradiated EL 4 cells. A minimal radiation dose was used to replication-block EL 4 cells before inoculation, as defined by dose-response analysis of irradiated EL 4 cells. Multiple ip injections of irradiated EL 4 cells stimulated development of significant, yet relatively low, levels of cytotoxic lymphoid activity (CLA) in lymphoid cells of the peritoneal exudate as measured by in vitro 51Cr-release cytotoxicity assays. The specific temporal and frequency dependencies of the inoculation regimen for achieving immunoprophylaxis indicated that, in addition to CLA, other, short-lived, immune processes were important in the tumor rejection. These observations showed the capacity of the C57BL/6J host for tumor-specific immune recognition and rejection of the syngeneic EL 4 leukemia. The tumor rejection could be elicited solely by inoculations of irradiated EL 4 cells and did not require exogenous amplifiers, such as immunoadjuvants, chemical modifiers, and/or allogeneic immune information transfer.

Animals