PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J M Mathis

Publications and source records attributed to J M Mathis.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Brain 4: a novel mammalian POU domain transcription factor exhibiting restricted brain-specific expression.

The POU domain gene family of transcription factors share a conserved bipartite DNA binding domain, and exhibit distinct temporal and spatial patterns of expression during development, particularly in the forebrain. A cDNA encoding a new member of the POU-III class of the POU domain gene family, referred to as Brn-4, was isolated from a rat hypothalamic cDNA library. Like other mammalian POU-III genes previously characterized (Brn-1, Brn-2, Tst-1), Brn-4 transcripts are initially widely expressed at all levels of the developing neural tube, but in contrast to other previously described POU-III genes, are subsequently restricted to only a few regions of the adult forebrain, including the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. Brn-4 was shown to bind to DNA sequences containing the octamer motif and to trans-activate promoters containing this DNA binding motif, based on the actions of a unique N-terminal information. This ontogenic pattern of Brn-4 expression in concert with that of Oct-2 and Pit-1, indicates that certain POU domain genes potentially exert their primary functions widely during early neural development, and in a very limited set of neurons in the mature brain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase mediates a pathway for transcriptional regulation.

Calcium influx in response to extracellular signals can modulate gene transcription. A constitutive, calcium/calmodulin-independent mutant of type II calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase was capable of increasing the transcription rate of specific genes independently of protein kinase C activation. This increase was mediated by transferable cis-active elements capable of binding the transcription factor CAAT/enhancer binding protein. Therefore, the activation of type II calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase in response to stimuli that increase intracellular calcium is proposed to represent a distinct second messenger pathway in calcium-mediated regulation of gene transcription.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Structural analysis of the gene encoding human aromatase cytochrome P-450, the enzyme responsible for estrogen biosynthesis.

The structural gene encoding aromatase cytochrome P-450 (P-450AROM) was isolated from human genomic DNA. The gene spans at least 52 kilobases and is composed of 10 exons, the first of which is untranslated. Analysis of the transcription initiation site of human P-450AROM mRNA reveals the differential use of 1 of 3 consecutive G residues at the cap site. DNA sequence analysis indicates that the gene has a putative TATA (ATAAAA) sequence at -23 base pairs (bp) and putative CAAT binding sequences beginning at -41, -67, and -83 bp. The 5'-flanking region contains sequences similar to consensus sequences of cis-acting elements defined as regulators of aromatase gene expression. These putative sequences include a cAMP regulatory element at -211 bp, an AP1 (protein kinase C) site at -54 bp, and glucocorticoid regulatory elements at -352 bp and within the first intron at +346 bp. There appears to be only one gene encoding P-450AROM in the human genome. Two major species of human P-450AROM mRNA (3.4 and 2.9 kilobases) are derived from the use of two polyadenylation signals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Glucocorticoid regulation of the rat cytochrome P450c (P450IA1) gene: receptor binding within intron I.

The actions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and glucocorticoids to regulate the expression of cytochrome P450c were investigated using cultured fetal rat hepatocytes. Cytochrome P450c mRNA content, determined by Northern blot analysis, was induced in cells treated with 1,2-benzanthracene from levels undetectable in untreated cells. When dexamethasone was included in the culture medium together with 1,2-benzanthracene there was a further 2-fold increase in the induction of cytochrome P450c mRNA. The concentration of dexamethasone required for a half-maximal increase in cytochrome P450c mRNA content was approximately 10(-9) M. By nuclear run-on transcription assays, treatment with 1,2-benzanthracene induced cytochrome P450c transcription 5.3-fold over untreated cells. In the presence of dexamethasone and 1,2-benzanthracene, there was a further 2-fold increase in cytochrome P450c transcription. Southwestern blotting and exonuclease footprinting methods have identified binding interactions of a purified glucocorticoid receptor fraction with portions of the cytochrome P450c gene within the first intron. Using a chimeric plasmid containing the first intron, the first exon, and 824 bp of 5'-flanking region of the cytochrome P450c gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase activity was induced in transfected HepG2 hepatoma cells by the addition of 1,2-benzanthracene. The addition of dexamethasone induced a further 2.2-fold increase in activity. Deletion of the first intron within the chimeric plasmid abolished responsiveness to dexamethasone. It is concluded that glucocorticoids act together with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to increase the levels of cytochrome P450c expressed in the fetal rat hepatocyte, and that this action is mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor. A glucocorticoid responsive element, which binds the glucocorticoid receptor, has been identified within the first intron of the cytochrome P450c gene. These results suggest that glucocorticoids play a significant role in the response of the hepatic cytochrome P450c gene to xenobiotics.

Actins↗
PubMed1988

Identification of multiple regulatory elements on the human cytochrome P450IA1 gene.

To examine the transcriptional regulation of the human cytochrome P450IA1 gene, a 3574 bp fragment containing 1140 bp of 5' flanking sequences, exon 1 (leader information only), intron 1, and the leader sequences from exon 2, was cloned upstream of the reporter gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, and used to transfect the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2. In transient expression assays, treatment of the transfected cells with 3-methylcholanthrene, benzo[a]pyrene or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran was shown to induce the expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase 10-fold. Previous studies by other investigators have identified a xenobiotic responsive element at greater than 800 bp 5' to the cap site in the mouse and rat cytochrome P450IA1 gene. In the current report, deletion of sequences from the 5' side of the P450IA1 fragment, as well as internal deletions, were used to identify at least three additional regulatory elements. A second positive, 3-methylcholanthrene responsive element was localized to sequences between -49 and -560 in addition to confirming the location of a similar element between -831 and -1140. These elements flank a potent negative regulatory element that has been conserved between the rat, mouse and human P450IA1 genes and also exhibits significant sequence identity with one of the negative control elements of the human c-Ha-ras1 proto-oncogene. Deletion of the negative control element clearly demonstrated that the fragments containing xenobiotic responsive elements also possess positive, constitutive control activity. A fourth element located within intron 1 was shown to potentiate the activity of 3-methylcholanthrene when the cells were treated simultaneously with the glucocorticoid agonist, dexamethasone.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Synergistic induction of monooxygenase activity by glucocorticoids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human fetal hepatocytes in primary monolayer culture.

The ability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and glucocorticoids to regulate monooxygenase activity of human fetal liver has been studied using hepatocytes prepared by collagenase digestion of liver samples from human abortuses of 13 to 19 weeks of gestational age, and maintained in primary monolayer culture for periods up to 5 days. Addition of 1,2-benzanthracene to the cells caused an increase in monooxygenase activity (3-hydroxylation of benzo[a]pyrene and O-deethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin) in a time-and concentration-dependent fashion. The concentration of 1,2-benzanthracene required to achieve half-maximal induction was 5 microM. The inductive effect of the polycyclic hydrocarbon was potentiated approximately 2.5-fold when dexamethasone (250 nM) or other glucocorticoids were included in the culture medium. Dexamethasone alone had little or no effect on the induction of monooxygenase activity. The concentration of dexamethasone required for half-maximal stimulation of monooxygenase activity in the presence of 1,2-benzanthracene was 5-10 nM, and the action of dexamethasone was reversed by the addition of cortisol 21-mesylate, consistent with the concept that the action of dexamethasone was mediated by binding to a glucocorticoid receptor. These results are suggestive that glucocorticoids, which are produced by the fetal adrenal and have an important role in the regulation of fetal development, act synergistically with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to induce the activity of liver monooxygenases in the human fetus.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗
PubMed1986

Regulation of cytochrome P-450c by glucocorticoids and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cultured fetal rat hepatocytes.

The actions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and glucocorticoids to regulate the synthesis of cytochrome P-450c (the major isozyme induced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) were investigated in fetal rat hepatocytes maintained in primary monolayer culture. Treatment of hepatocytes in culture with 1,2-benzanthracene resulted in a 50-fold increase in 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activity. The level of P-450c increased in the cells in a time-dependent fashion as determined by immunoelectrophoretic analysis. The inductive effect of BA was potentiated approximately 1.6- to 2.3-fold when 1 microM dexamethasone was included in the culture medium. However, dexamethasone alone had little or no effect on the induction of P-450c. The rate of synthesis of P-450c was examined by immunoisolation of the specific isozyme from total cellular proteins radiolabeled with [35S]methionine and from the protein products formed during in vitro translation of the isolated mRNA. In addition, the amount of mRNA specific for cytochrome P-450c was determined by Northern blot analysis of RNA extracted from cultured cells. The changes in the rates of synthesis and mRNA levels were found to parallel the changes in enzyme activity. The concentration of dexamethasone required to cause a half-maximal increase in P-450c content in the presence of 1,2-benzanthracene was between 10(-8) and 10(-7) M. It is concluded that glucocorticoids act synergistically with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to increase the levels of P-450c expressed in the fetal rat liver, and that this action is likely mediated by the classical type II glucocorticoid receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

An infusion system for improved vascular opacification during CT.

A system to simplify infusion and maintain a high level of intravascular contrast material during CT scanning is described. A standard 150 ml container of 60% iothalamate meglumine (Conray), standard intravenous tubing, and a charge of air, which is introduced into the contrast material, are used. The system provides more uniform intravenous levels of contrast material over the interval of the scanning procedure, which results in consistently improved vascular opacification.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1983

Substrate-induced inactivation of argininosuccinate lyase by monofluorofumarate and difluorofumarate.

Monofluorofumarate and difluorofumarate were tested as alternate substrates and inhibitors of the reverse reaction of bovine liver argininosuccinate lyase. Km and Vmax values relative to fumarate at pH 7.5, 25 degrees C, and 10 mM arginine are (monofluorofumarate) 1.4 mM and 5% and (difluorofumarate) 46 microM and 0.5%. As inhibitors, both of these compounds were shown to inactivate the enzyme activity in a pseudo-first-order process that is dependent on the presence of arginine. The rate of inactivation at saturating monofluorofumarate and difluorofumarate is 13 and 1.3 min-1, respectively. After removal of excess inhibitor, the inactivated enzyme can be restored to greater than 75% of its original activity with half-lives of 6 and 24 min for the monofluorofumarate- and difluorofumarate-inhibited enzyme. Evidence is presented to suggest that the time-dependent inactivation is caused by covalent addition of an enzyme nucleophile with an electrophilic reaction intermediate. In the inhibition by monofluorofumarate, the postulated intermediate is proposed to occur by the spontaneous loss of HF from 2-fluoroargininosuccinate.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Steroid 21-sulfatase activity in human placenta.

Intravenously administered [3H]-deoxycorticosterone sulfate is not metabolized by way of deoxycorticosterone in men or non-pregnant women. Thus, it can be implied that steroid 21-sulfatase is not active in human tissues. On the other hand, evidence has accrued that deoxycorticosterone sulfate is hydrolyzed in human placenta. In the present investigation, we sought to ascertain if steroid 21-sulfatase activity were present in placenta and, if so, to characterize the enzyme activity in this tissue. Steroid 21-sulfatase activity was found to be present in microsome-enriched fractions prepared from human placental tissue; conditions of linearity of the reaction with time and protein concentration were established and the apparent KM of the enzyme for deoxycorticosterone sulfate was 100 microM. Thus, deoxycorticosterone sulfate, which is present in high concentration in plasma of the human fetus, may enter trophoblast wherein it could be hydrolyzed; the deoxycorticosterone formed could be secreted into the maternal circulation. Such a process, together with deoxycorticosterone formation from plasma progesterone in extraadrenal sites, could account for the high concentrations of deoxycorticosterone that are present in plasma of near-term pregnant women.

Dehydroepiandrosterone↗
PubMed1982

Osteomyelitis of the mandible. An initial feature in late-onset osteopetrosis.

Osteopetrosis is a rare disease that may be seen with numerous disorders referable to the head and neck. It occurs in both a malignant and a benign form. The benign form is consistent with a long life span and, when clinically manifest, often does so as osteomyelitis of the mandible. An awareness of this association greatly simplifies diagnosis through standard osseous roentgenograms. The findings of osteopetrosis so characteristic on standard osseous roentgenograms may be inapparent if only mandibular roentgenograms are obtained.

Humans↗
PubMed1981

Percutaneous nephrostomy. A useful technique for urinary drainage.

When urinary drainage is necessary but urethral catheterization is not satisfactory or not feasible, percutaneous nephrostomy can be considered. The nonsurgical technique, which was high success and low complication rates, often allows postponement of surgical intervention or may make such treatment unnecessary.

Drainage↗
PubMed1980

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the iliac artery.

Stenosis in the right common iliac artery of a 61-year-old man was manifested as pain in the right leg and foot and cyanosis of the second and third toes. Dilatation of the lesion was performed using a Grüntzig catheter; arteriography and measurement of femoral artery pressure confirmed a successful result. The patient was pain free at six-month follow-up. Dilatation of stenoses by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty provides an alternative to conventional operative procedures, with lower cost and morbidity plus an acceptable success rate.

Angiography↗