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Biomedical subjects

J Pan

Publications and source records attributed to J Pan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Post-transcriptional regulation of mouse renal cytochrome P450 2E1 by testosterone.

Our previous studies demonstrated that the sex-related difference in renal metabolism of N-nitrosodimethylamine in C3H/HeJ mouse was due to the sexual dichotomy of cytochrome P450 2E1 (P450 2E1) and that renal P450 2E1 in female mouse was inducible by testosterone. The present study demonstrates that the sex-related difference in renal P450 2E1 and the testosterone-mediated regulation also occurred in other mouse strains studied. The time- and dose-responses in the testosterone-mediated regulation of P450 2E1 were characterized. 19-Nortestosterone, an analog of testosterone, was shown to have an effect on the regulation of mouse renal P450 2E1 similar to that of testosterone. Testicular feminized mice (Tfm, a mouse strain devoid of functional androgen receptors) had about only one-tenth the renal P450 2E1 mRNA level as the wild-type male mice and testosterone treatment of the Tfm mice had no effect on the level of renal P450 2E1 mRNA. The result suggests that androgen receptor plays an important role in the sex- and testosterone-related regulation of mouse renal P450 2E1. To study the mechanism of the sex-related and testosterone-mediated regulation of P450 2E1 mRNA in mouse kidney, the transcription rate of the P450 2E1 gene was measured by a nuclear run-on transcription assay. Although the kidneys of male and testosterone-treated female mice had much higher steady-state levels of P450 2E1 mRNA, their transcription rates of the P450 2E1 gene were not higher than the kidneys of untreated female mice. This result suggests that the sex- and testosterone-related regulation of mouse renal P450 2E1 is predominantly at the post-transcriptional level.

Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome

Reversal of divergent differentiation by ras oncogene-mediated transformation.

In embryogenesis, ovarian surface epithelial cells and ovarian granulosa cells arise through divergent differentiation from a common mesenchymal precursor, the urogenital ridge. In the adult rat, ovarian surface epithelial cells are nonsteroidogenic and keratin positive, while ovarian granulosa cells are steroidogenic and keratin negative. In culture, Kirsten murine sarcoma virus-transformed, tumorigenic ovarian surface epithelial cells continued to express keratin but also became steroidogenic. Transformed ovarian granulosa cells remained steroidogenic but also acquired keratins. Mesodermally derived cells from other sources did not show these differentiation-related changes in response to transformation. The results suggest that v-ras oncogenes may cause the reversion of adult, developmentally related cells to the phenotype of a common, multipotential precursor. They also demonstrate the capacity of v-ras to either induce or reduce the same differentiated characteristic, depending on the developmental history of the target cells.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases

Inhibitory effects of diallyl sulfide on the metabolism and tumorigenicity of the tobacco-specific carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in A/J mouse lung.

Diallyl sulfide (DAS), a component of garlic oil, has been shown to inhibit tumorigenesis by several chemical carcinogens. Our previous work demonstrated that DAS inhibited the metabolic activation of carcinogenic nitrosamines, including the tobacco-specific 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), in rat lung and nasal mucosa microsomes. In the present study, the effects of DAS on the tumorigenicity and the metabolism of NNK in A/J mouse lung were examined. Female A/J mice at 7 weeks of age were pretreated with DAS (200 mg/kg body wt in corn oil, p.o) daily for 3 days. Two hours after the final DAS treatment, the mice were either given a single dose of NNK (2 mg/mouse, i.p.) and kept for an additional 16 weeks for determining the production of pulmonary tumors, or were killed immediately so as to measure the microsomal activity in metabolizing NNK. In comparison to the vehicle control group, DAS pretreatment significantly decreased the incidence of NNK-induced lung tumors (37.9 versus 100%) and the tumor multiplicity (0.6 versus 7.2 tumors/mouse). In pulmonary metabolism of NNK, DAS pretreatment reduced the rates of formation of keto aldehyde, keto alcohol, NNAL-N-oxide, and NNK-N-oxide by 70-90%. In addition, the formation of NNK oxidative metabolites from NNK in the liver microsomes from DAS-pretreated mice was remarkably reduced. DAS also inhibited the metabolism of NNK in mouse lung microsomes in vitro. These results demonstrate that DAS is an effective chemopreventive agent against NNK-induced lung tumorigenesis, probably by inhibiting the metabolic activation of NNK.

Allyl Compounds

Intermediate filaments in rat ovarian surface epithelial cells: changes with neoplastic progression in culture.

Interrelationships between neoplastic progression and the expression of intermediate filaments were examined in primary cultures, immortal lines, and Kirsten murine sarcoma virus (KiMSV) transformed lines of rat ovarian surface epithelial (ROSE) cells. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed abundant keratin filaments in all cells of primary cultures. In immortal, nontumorigenic lines, keratin filaments were detected in fewer cells, in smaller numbers, and in microscopically altered forms. The percentage of keratin-positive cells ranged from 4 to 54%. Its expression was inversely proportional to cell density. Keratin expression was similar in the two immortal lines, although one had retained a monolayered epithelial growth pattern resembling primary cultures, while in the other the growth pattern of the cells was more atypical. The two KiMSV-transformed lines were previously shown to produce tumors in vivo that resemble human ovarian endometrioid stromal sarcomas. In spite of this histologic appearance, the proportion of keratin-positive cells in these cells was increased over the immortal lines. Keratin expression was unrelated to cell density, and keratin in most virally transformed cells was limited to few, fine filaments. In thymidine-labelled immortal and virus-transformed cultures stained for keratin, no correlation was found between keratin expression and proliferative activity. The keratin profiles of primary and immortal cultures were identical on Western blots, with subtypes ranging from 52 to 66 kDa. The two virally transformed lines lacked some of the subtypes. Vimentin networks were faint or absent in primary cultures. In the immortal and the virus-transformed lines, neoplastic progression was associated with increasing vimentin expression but with no changes in filament morphology and distribution. The results show that the abnormalities in intermediate filament expression that accompany immortalization do not preclude the retention of a normal epithelial morphology and growth pattern in this cell type. Furthermore, the number of intermediate filaments and their intracellular distribution appear to be altered at an earlier stage in neoplastic progression than those mechanisms that select for specific keratin subtypes, or those that respond to regulation by cell density. Finally, the presence of keratin in the KiMSV-transformed lines examined in this study supports the hypothesis that human ovarian stromal sarcomas can arise in the OSE.

Animals

Protease treatment of nitrocellulose-bound antigens enhances the sensitivity of western blots.

The sensitivity of Western blots is limited by the avidity of antibody-antigen interactions, and by problems of specificity in interactions between antibodies and antigens from different species. Using rat and human keratins as the antigens, and a set of antibodies against human and rat keratins, this study demonstrates that mild treatment of nitrocellulose blots with trypsin and/or pepsin enhances the sensitivity of the assay and permits the cross-species demonstration of antigens that are not otherwise detectable.

Animals

A histological, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study of superficial temporal arteries and middle meningeal arteries in moyamoya disease.

Pathologic changes in superficial temporal arteries (STA) and middle meningeal arteries (MMA) biopsied from 15 patients with moyamoya disease (MD) who had undergone cerebro-temporal arterio-synangiosis were studied histologically, ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically. The main pathologic features were: proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and thickening of the intima, degeneration and destruction of SMCs in the media and intima, and the presence of condensed organelles in necrosed SMCs or the interstitium among SMCs, or both outside and within the elastica interna (EI). The EI had become thin, porous, fragmented and was even absent in some segments. These changes are different from those of other forms of angiopathy, but identical with those at the ends of internal carotid arteries (ICA) reported by us previously, being pathognomonic for MD. These changes in the STA and MMA reveal that MD involves not only the ICA but also the intra- and extracranial branches of external carotid arteries. The medial necrosis of SMCs seems to be the primary injury of the arterial wall in MD. STA tissue blocks from two cases of MD were stained immunohistochemically. By electron microscopy, IgG-, IgM-, and C3-positive granules were observed on the ER of endothelial and intimal cells. Further studies on more cases are needed to determine whether an immunoreaction has occurred in these arteries.

Adolescent

Transcription analysis, physical mapping, and molecular characterization of a nonclassical human leukocyte antigen class I gene.

The human major histocompatibility complex contains approximately 20 class I genes, pseudogenes, and gene fragments. These include the genes for the three major transplantation antigens, HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C, as well as a number of other genes or pseudogenes of unknown biological significance. Most of the latter have C + G-rich sequences in their 5' ends that are unmethylated in the B-lymphoblastoid cell line 3.1.0. We investigated one of these genes, HLA-H, in more detail. The gene is, overall, strongly homologous in sequence to HLA-A but differs in several potentially significant ways, including changes in conserved promoter sequences, a single-base deletion producing a translation termination codon in exon 4, and a region of sequence divergence downstream of the transcribed portion of the gene. Nevertheless, mouse L cells transfected with the gene accumulated small amounts of apparently full-length polyadenylated RNA. A portion of this RNA begins at the transcription site predicted by analogy to certain class I cDNA clones, while another portion appears to begin shortly upstream. L cells transfected with a hybrid gene containing the first three exons of HLA-H and the last five exons of HLA-B27 accumulated full-length HLA transcripts at the same level as cells transfected with an HLA-B27 gene; both levels are at least 15- to 20-fold higher than that directed by HLA-H alone. In addition, we isolated a cDNA clone for HLA-H that contains a portion of intron 3 attached to a normally spliced sequence comprising exons 4 through 8. These results suggest that low levels of translatable mRNA for the truncated class I heavy chain encoded by HLA-H are produced under physiologic circumstances and that sequences 3' of intron 3 decrease the levels of stable transcripts.

Amino Acid Sequence

[Effects of processing methods on the amounts of volatile oil of nutmeg and on isolation and characterization of the volatile oil constituents].

In this paper, the authors investigated the effects of various processing methods, i.e., scalding in hot purified talc, simmering wrapped in flour in hot purified talc and stir-frying in smoking wheat bran, on nutmeg (Semen Myristicae) in terms of the quantities of the volatile oil. The experimental results revealed that the amounts of volatile oil contained in nutmeg vary remarkably with the lengths of cooking time and the fluctuation of temperature. Detected by GC-MS-computer, 32 compounds of nutmeg were characterized, and their contents were determined by GC respectively.

Allylbenzene Derivatives

Purification of an acrosomal antigen recognized by a monoclonal antibody and antifertility effects of isoimmune serum.

A highly conserved acrosomal antigen reactive to a monoclonal antibody (HS-63), generated against human sperm, was purified to homogeneity with a combination of conventional procedures and immunoaffinity chromatography using a soluble extract of mouse and rabbit testes. The molecular weight of the purified antigen was 42-50 kD when analysed by sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The high specificity of the purified antigen to monoclonal antibody HS-63 was shown by indirect immunofluorescent inhibition assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot analysis and radioimmunosorbent assay. The purified antigen was used for isoimmunization of mice and rabbits. Following successive immunizations, antisera of high titres were raised and reacted specifically with antigen on the sperm acrosome and in testes of several mammalian species, but not with somatic tissues. These isoimmune sera exhibited strong inhibition on mouse in-vitro fertilization and human sperm penetration of zona-free hamster eggs. The results of this study suggest that the sperm-specific acrosomal antigen reacting with HS-63 could be a good candidate for the development of immunocontraceptive vaccines in humans and in other animals.

Acrosome

2-chloroadenosine attenuates kainic acid-induced toxicity within the rat straitum: relationship to release of glutamate and Ca2+ influx.

1. The mechanism by which 2-chloroadenosine (2-chloroado) exerts a neuroprotective action against the excitotoxic effect of kainic acid (KA) when injected into the rat striatum was investigated. 2. Histological examination two weeks after a single injection of KA (2.2 nmol) into rat striatum revealed widespread neuronal damage. Co-injection of 2-chloroado (6-25 nmol) with the neurotoxin afforded dose-dependent neuroprotection. This effect was reversed by administration of an equimolar concentration of the adenosine receptor antagonist theophylline. 3. Both K+ (30 mM) and KA (1 mM) enhanced the release of endogenous glutamate from guinea-pig purified cerebrocortical synaptosomes in a predominantly (approximately 70%) Ca2+-dependent manner. 2-Chloroado (10 nM-1 microM) inhibited the release of glutamate evoked by both KA and K+. These effects were partially reversed by the selective A1-adenosine receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyltheophylline (CPT) (1 microM). 4. Crude rat cortical synaptosomes were loaded with the fluorescent calcium indicator quin-2 and Ca2+ influx monitored following two successive depolarising stimuli (30 mM K+; 'S1' and 'S2'). 2-Chloroado (10 nM-1 microM) produced a dose-dependent reduction in the S2:S1 ratio when added before the S2 period of stimulation. This effect was reversed by 1 microM theophylline. However, KA (1 mM) failed to enhance Ca2+ influx in the same preparation. 5. These results suggest that the anti-excitotoxic action of 2-chloroado is mediated primarily through a specific presynaptic receptor mechanism involving reduction of transmitter glutamate release, possibly occurring through an inhibition of Ca2+ influx.

2-Chloroadenosine

Group B streptococcal (GBSS) newborn septic shock model: the role of prostaglandins.

Group B beta hemolytic streptococcal sepsis has many of the characteristics of gram negative sepsis (Hellerqvist, et al., 1981). This is further shown in the model developed for this study. The newborn piglet septic model developed for this study appears to be an adequate model for group B, beta-streptococcal sepsis characterized by the development of significant hypotension by six hours. As with human sepsis, this model develops hypoglycemia, hemoconcentration as noted by the increased hematocrit, thrombocytopenia and a significant drop in WBC with an increase in immature forms (Wilson, 1986). The only finding not correlated to the septic newborn is the development of DIC as characterized by an increased PT/PTT and increased FSP. As with other animal models for both gram positive and negative sepsis, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin significantly increased survival out to 72 hours. Previous studies with thromboxane synthetase inhibitors have not shown increased survival, but shunting into the prostacyclin pathway has occurred and the effect of this on survival could not be ruled out (Short, et al., 1983). The use of a thromboxane receptor site antagonist should not cause this shunt, and thus may help to evaluate the effect of thromboxane blockade. In this model no effect of the receptor site antagonist was noted, but due to the short half-life of this compound, a different dosing schedule may be needed before its efficacy can be determined. In summary, the cyclooxygenase inhibitors do appear to have a protective effect in gram positive sepsis, but the mechanisms of action are still to be determined.

Animals

Blood gas studies in dogs with severe steam inhalation injury.

The dynamic changes in blood gases in 34 dogs suffering severe steam inhalation injury were studied during the first 14 days post-burn to determine the effects of inhalation injury on lung function. Nineteen dogs received only severe steam inhalation injury, while 15 other dogs received both 30 per cent total body surface area (TBSA) deep burns and steam inhalation injury. The results showed marked reductions of PaO2, PaCO2, AB, SBE, T-CO2, SB, BBp, pHNR and SatO2 (P less than 0.05 approximately 0.01), whereas the P(A-a)O2 increased (P less than 0.05 approximately 0.01) within week 1 post-burn in both groups. These data suggest that the injured animals were suffering from hypoxaemia and respiratory alkalosis induced by disturbance of the gas-exchange function of the lungs. There was also metabolic acidosis, which was closely related to high fever, excessive catabolism, and particularly to hypoxaemia in week 1 post-burn. If the animals survived through the critical period (1-7 days post-burn), most of the abnormal gas parameters then gradually returned to the pre-burn levels. It is clear, therefore, that blood gas monitoring in patients with inhalation injury is not only of diagnostic importance but also of prognostic value.

Acidosis, Respiratory

Structure, expression, and molecular mapping of a divergent member of the class I HLA gene family.

A class I gene distinct from HLA-A, -B, or -C was identified in a cosmid clone and transfected into mouse L cells. The gene, placed adjacent to the polyoma enhancer, produced a full-length class I mRNA and high levels of a 43-kDa protein in the cytoplasm. The surface expression of the gene product required its association with human beta 2-microglobulin. The protein was recognized by a xenoantiserum raised against a mixture of human B- and T-cell lines. The product was also serologically reactive with the HLA framework monoclonal antibodies. The complete nucleotide sequence of the gene was determined and a specific oligonucleotide probe was synthesized. This probe was used to identify a full-length mRNA transcript in a B-lymphoblastoid cell line (JY). The gene was mapped within a 190-kilobase Not I restriction fragment located in the telomeric portion of the human major histocompatibility complex. Distinct features of the gene include the structure of the promoter, the position of the translation initiation site, a frameshift mutation at the carboxyl terminus, the insertion of an Alu repeat element in the eighth exon, divergence in the derived amino acid sequence, and the lack of expression of the gene in some cells.

Amino Acid Sequence