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J Skopek

Publications and source records attributed to J Skopek.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Immunocapture RT-PCR probing of potato virus Y isolates.

Twenty potato virus Y (PVY) isolates were characterized. They represented two strains only, PVY(O) (three isolates) and PVY(N) (17 isolates). However, application of serological and molecular genetic methods led to a more complicated characterization. For example, five isolates induced necrotic symptoms on tobacco plants typical of PVY(N), despite reacting as PVY(O) serologically. Moreover, the PVY isolates were not identical according to molecular genetic properties. Typical PVY(NTN) PCR products were observed for 14 isolates, but five of them (Hr 220-5, Hr 387-7, Nord 242, Syn1Scot, and 41-97) did not produce potato tuber necrotic symptoms in infected cultivars. An immunocapture reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) probing was developed using a set of 24 primer pairs derived from eight regions of the PVY genome. Using this method, five out of seven PVY(NTN) isolates including the Czech standard PVY(NTN) from the potato cv. Nicola were found to be identical. However, two PVY(NTN) isolates and all the other probed PVY samples showed unique patterns, suggesting specific differences at the nucleotide level. This method enabled specific identification of individual isolates variability even within different PVY strains.

DNA Primers↗
PubMed2001

The alveolar septal thickness and type II pneumocytes number in irradiated lungs, time expression and the effect of pentoxifylline.

PURPOSE: We studied the relationship between type II pneumocytes number and alveolar septal thickness during different time after sublethal whole-thorax irradiation of rats and we investigated the influence of pentoxifylline (TNF-alpha inhibitor). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar rats were exposed to 15 Gy thoracic irradiation and pentoxifylline (35 mg/kg) twice a week. Lungs were examined histologically and immunohistochemically at intervals ranging from 1-12 weeks and alveolar septal thickness, number of type II pneumocytes (identified by immunoreactivity for cytokeratin 18), and neutrophile granulocytes were counted. RESULTS: Significant increase of alveolar septal thickness and type II pneumocytes depletion 3 weeks after irradiation were found. Correlation of these markers was r = -0.759. Pentoxifylline significantly inhibits increased alveolar septal thickness without the influence on type II pneumocytes number. Neutrophil penetration started 5 weeks after irradiation in non-treated animals, 8 weeks after irradiation in PTX-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that pneumocytes depletion is linked to increased vascular permeability, and pentoxifylline therapy does not influence on pneumocytes kinetics after irradiation.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Apoptosis and bcl-2 expression in irradiated lungs and the effect of pentoxifylline.

We measured number of bcl-2, apoptotic, neutrophil, and surfactant apoprotein D (SP-D) positive cells in irradiated rat lungs during different time points after the sublethal whole-thorax irradiation of rats. We also investigated the influence of pentoxifylline (PTX) therapy on these markers. Wistar rats were given 15 Gy thoracic irradiation and PTX (35 mg/kg) twice a week. Animals were examined histologically and imunohistochemically at intervals from 1-12 weeks. In non-treated rats compared with treated rats, bcl-2 expression was significantly inhibited from 4 weeks after irradiation. A higher apoptosis presence in non-treated rats from 4 weeks was found and apoptosis development in PTX-treated animals was delayed and started 8 weeks after irradiation. Similar differences were measured during neutrophil granulocytes examination. Neutrophil penetration in non-treated rats was found 5 weeks after irradiation in contrast to the RP onset of PTX-treated animals 8 weeks after irradiation. The number of SP-D positive cells in non-treated rats observed until 5 weeks after irradiation was higher than in the control group. PTX-treated animals expressed higher number of SP-D positive cells during the whole experiment than the control group. We suggest that apoptosis is linked to neutrophil granulocyte actions during the RP onset and that PTX-therapy causes diminished inflammation development.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Experimental radiation pneumonitis studied with indium-111-pentetreotide.

OBJECTIVES: To understand the evolution of lung uptake of 111-In-Pentetreotide in a rat model of pulmonary radiation pneumonitis. METHODS: A 15 Gy 60-Co thoracic irradiation (1.4 Gy/min) was delivered to Wistar rats. Irradiated and control animals were studied during 8 weeks after irradiation. 24 hours after an injection of 111-In-pentetreotide (12-18 MBq), the uptake in the lung tissue (ULT), in the alveolar cells (UpC) and in different organs, was determined. Histological examinations were performed. RESULTS: ULT and UpC after irradiation increased significantly peaking at 4 weeks (ULT: 32.8 +/- 13.0 in 10(-5) of the injected dose versus 10.8 +/- 2.0 for control; and, UpC was 19.3 +/- 7.2 versus 7.3 +/- 4.1) and decreased afterwards. Pre-injection of cold octreotide decreased the lung uptake. This evolution parallels the histological changes: alveolitis with granulomas in the interstitium at 4 weeks followed by development of sites of interstitial fibrosis. These observations suggest that the uptake is due to activated cells, mainly macrophages within the granulomas and in the alveoli, expressing somatostatin receptors. CONCLUSION: 1) The uptake of 111-In-pentetreotide in injured lungs after irradiation, already described in man, was confirmed in a rat model; 2) our results suggest that it is possible to follow the evolution of radiation lung injury by using In-111-pentetreotide.

Animals↗