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Biomedical subjects

J Varani

Publications and source records attributed to J Varani.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

A direct comparison of pharmacologic effects of retinoids on skin cells in vitro and in vivo.

The purpose of these studies was to directly compare the pharmacologic effects of retinoids on cutaneous cells in vitro and in vivo. Previously, it was demonstrated that all-trans-retinoic acid stimulates the proliferation of growth-arrested human keratinocytes and fibroblasts in culture. In the present studies, all-trans-retinoic acid was compared to three other retinoids--13-cis-retinoic acid, P-[(E)-2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-napthalenyl-1-p ropenyl] benzoic acid (TTNPB) and M-[(E)-2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-2-napthalenyl-1-p ropenyl] benzoic acid (meta-carboxy-TTNPB]--for growth stimulation using a cultured human squamous epithelial cell line (UM-SCC-1) and human dermal fibroblasts. These four retinoids were also evaluated for their effects on reduction of horn-filled utriculi when topically applied to the skin of rhino mice. All-trans-retinoic acid stimulated proliferation of both fibroblasts and epithelial cells over concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1.0 micrograms/ml. In fibroblasts, 13-cis-retinoic acid was less potent than all-trans-retinoic acid, whereas, in epithelial cells these two retinoids were equipotent. In contrast, TTNPB was more potent than all-trans-retinoic acid at stimulating the growth of both fibroblasts and epithelial cells. The analog, meta-carboxy-TTNPB was essentially inactive as a growth stimulator of both cell types. In the rhino mouse utriculus reduction model, the rank order of potency for the retinoids was the same as that for in vitro cell growth stimulation (TTNPB greater than all-trans-retinoic acid greater than 13-cis-retinoic acid). Meta-carboxy-TTNPB was inactive at reducing utriculi at a dose of 5,000 times the ED50 of TTNPB.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Antisense-mediated reduction in thrombospondin reverses the malignant phenotype of a human squamous carcinoma.

Thrombospondin (TSP) is a trimeric glycoprotein which is synthesized and incorporated into the extracellular matrix by a wide variety of cells. TSP is involved in a number of cellular processes which govern tumor cell behavior including mitogenesis, attachment, migration, and differentiation. To directly assess the role of TSP in tumor cell growth and spread, a human squamous carcinoma cell line, with high TSP production and an invasive phenotype, was transfected with a TSP cDNA antisense expression vector. Five unique transfected clones were obtained with reduced TSP production. Expression of the transfected antisense sequence in these clones was verified by a ribonuclease protection assay. These clones demonstrated reduced growth rates in vitro when compared with a vector transfected control. After subcutaneous inoculation into athymic mice, the antisense clones formed either no tumors or tumors that were slow growing and highly differentiated. This contrasted with the vector-transfected clone which produced poorly differentiated, rapidly growing, invasive tumors. Our results argue in favor of a direct role for TSP in determining the malignant phenotype of certain human tumors.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Role of endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule 1 (ELAM-1) in neutrophil-mediated lung injury in rats.

Two murine monoclonal antibodies (CL-3 and CL-37, both F(ab')2) to human endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1) were found to react immunohistochemically with rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells that had been pretreated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha). CL-3, but not CL-37, blocked in vitro adherence of neutrophils to TNF alpha-treated endothelial cells and the killing of TNF alpha-treated rat endothelial cells by phorbol ester activated neutrophils. In rats treated systemically with CL-3, there was a 70% reduction in accumulation of neutrophils in glycogen-induced peritoneal exudates. Treatment of animals with CL-37 anti-ELAM-1 did not reduce neutrophil accumulation under the same conditions. When IgG immune complex deposition was induced in dermis and in lungs of rats, treatment with CL-3 anti-ELAM-1 markedly reduced vascular injury as measured by changes in vascular permeability (leakage of 125I-albumin) and hemorrhage (extravasation of 51Cr-red blood cells). The protective effects of CL-3 anti-ELAM-1 were related to greatly diminished recruitment of neutrophils (as assessed morphologically, by tissue extraction of myeloperoxidase, and by retrieval, via bronchoalveolar lavage, of neutrophils from lung). CL-37 had no protective effects in vivo after deposition of immune complexes in lung. Using either CL-3 or CL-37 anti-ELAM-1, immunohistochemical analysis of lungs undergoing IgG immune complex-induced injury revealed a striking upregulation of ELAM-1 in the lung vasculature (venules and interstitial capillaries), with a peak intensity developing between 3 and 4 h after deposition of immune complexes in lung. Vascular beds of spleen, liver, and kidney failed to show upregulation of ELAM-1 under these same conditions. The immunohistochemical reactivity of rat lung was abolished if the anti-ELAM-1 preparation was first absorbed with monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells that had been pretreated with TNF alpha. Untreated human endothelial cells failed to cause loss of lung reactivity of the anti-ELAM-1 preparation. These data indicate that ELAM-1 is upregulated in the pulmonary vasculature of rats during deposition of immune complexes and that ELAM-1 appears to play an obligate role in the recruitment of neutrophils.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Amino acid protection of cultured kidney tubule cells against calcium ionophore-induced lethal cell injury.

Treatment of two cultured renal tubule epithelial cell lines, MDCK and LLC-PK1, with ionomycin produced rapidly evolving models of lethal cell injury characterized by increases of cytosolic free calcium to the microM level within 15 minutes followed by lactate dehydrogenase release and failure to exclude vital dyes that began between 30 and 60 minutes and became extensive after 60 minutes. The pattern of injury was similar when the mitochondrial uncoupler, carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone, was added to ionomycin. Carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone alone produced severe ATP depletion but not lactate dehydrogenase release. Inclusion of glycine in the experimental medium at concentrations ranging from 0.25 mM to 5 mM did not affect the increases of cytosolic free calcium or ATP depletion but was protective against enzyme release and failure to exclude vital dyes for 180 minutes. Maximal protection was achieved at glycine concentrations between 1 and 5 mM. Several other small neutral amino acids including alanine, beta-alanine, L-serine, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid also had protective effects but, glucose, pyruvate, glutamate, glutamine, leucine, valine, and taurine did not. These data indicate that potent protective effects of glycine and other small neutral amino acids previously shown in fresh tubule preparations are fully expressed in cultured tubule cells of diverse origin when appropriate acute injury models are used and the protective effects are sustained for long durations. The suitability of cultured cell lines for prolonged exposure studies will provide a powerful way of further exploring mechanisms of these effects.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1991

Effects of all-trans retinoic acid on neutrophil-mediated endothelial cell injury in vitro and immune complex injury in rats.

All-trans retinoic acid (RA) has beneficial effects when used in a variety of inflammatory skin conditions. In this study, the authors found that RA inhibited superoxide anion production and proteolytic enzyme release by human and rat neutrophils. Concomitantly, the authors found that RA-treated neutrophils were less able than untreated neutrophils to injure endothelial cells in culture even though the adhesion of the RA-treated neutrophils to endothelial cell monolayers was not diminished. Inhibition of cytotoxicity occurred over the same range of concentrations that inhibited oxygen radical formation and protease release. In additional studies, it was observed that pretreatment of endothelial cells with RA-induced resistance to subsequent injury by activated neutrophils. Finally, in vivo studies showed that pretreatment of rats for 3 days with RA (1-10 mg/day, IP) reduced the degree of injury in the lungs and skin sites after treatment with bovine serum albumin and antibodies to bovine serum albumin in the reverse-passive Arthus reaction. Thus, RA can modulate neutrophil-mediated endothelial cell injury by an effect on both the neutrophils and their target cells. Together, these effects may underlie the reduction in immune complex-mediated injury seen in experimental animals. The beneficial effects that retinoids have in a variety of inflammatory skin diseases may likewise be a reflection of their effects on the physiology of both neutrophils and endothelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Inhibition of epithelial cell adhesion by retinoic acid. Relationship to reduced extracellular matrix production and alterations in Ca2+ levels.

Human squamous epithelial cells maintained in growth factor-deficient medium were examined for sensitivity to all-trans retinoic acid (retinoic acid). Under conditions of low external Ca2+ (0.15 mmol/l [millimolar]), or high external Ca2+ (1.4 mmol/l), retinoic acid stimulated proliferation. Concomitantly, cell-substrate adhesion was decreased. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to assess production of two extracellular matrix components, ie, fibronectin and thrombospondin. In the presence of retinoic acid, production of both was decreased. Because both fibronectin and thrombospondin serve as epithelial cell adhesion factors, the decreased production of these moieties could contribute to reduced adhesion. Using 45Ca2+ to measure total cell-associated Ca2+ and the Ca2(+)-sensitive dye Indo-1 to measure intracellular free Ca2+, it was found that concentrations of retinoic acid that altered cell-substrate adhesion in the squamous epithelial cells had no effect on total, cell-associated Ca2+, but reduced intracellular free Ca2+ by 50% to 60%. Because Ca2+ is a regulator of adhesion, the ability of retinoic acid to modulate Ca2+ levels in the squamous epithelial cells may explain, in part, how retinoic acid influences their adhesiveness.

Calcium↗
PubMed1990

Modulation of differentiation and proliferation in human colon carcinoma cells by transforming growth factor beta 1 and beta 2.

We have previously characterized the diversity of cellular responses to transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 from human colon carcinoma cells. We now show that morphological alteration and part of the growth-inhibitory responses elicited by growth factor (GF) are associated with the secondary effect of the induction of synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoproteins. Specifically, morphological alteration is associated with the ECM glycoprotein laminin, and growth inhibition is associated with both laminin and fibronectin. Both TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 down-modulate the expression of nucleolar protein B23 (also known as numatrin or nucleophosmin, a positive regulator of cell proliferation). With one exception, the biological effects of both TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 on these human colon carcinoma cell lines are identical. Both GFs up-modulate the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CEA-related gene products. However, some of these products are differentially regulated by TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2. The differences in the profile of the induction of these CEA and CEA-related gene products, in the responsive cells, functionally distinguish TGF-beta 1 from TGF-beta 2. Finally, we identified and characterized some of the cellular proteins, the expression of which is up-modulated by GF. These proteins are epithelium-associated, differentiation-related cytokeratins. Both TGF-beta 1 and TGF-beta 2 up-modulate expression of the acidic and basic subtypes of human keratins in the responsive human colon carcinoma cells. Both the responsive and unresponsive cells, however, possess receptors for GFs.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗
PubMed1990

Expression of heterogeneous profiles of plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitors by human glioma lines.

Expression of plasminogen activator (PA) enzyme activity is believed to be one of the mechanisms by which malignant cells cause pericellular proteolysis of stromal structures during implantation and tissue invasion. In this study, four cell lines derived from human gliomas were studied to ascertain which PA enzymes and PA inhibitors determine the level of secreted PA activity. A plasminogen-dependent esterolytic assay was used, and two lines (U251 and U373) were found to secrete high levels of PA activity, while PA activity was undetectable in the conditioned media from the remaining two lines (U138 and LM). The PA produced by U251 and U373 resolved as single bands comigrating with high molecular weight urokinase (Mr 54,000) on casein-plasminogen zymography. Northern blot analysis demonstrated high levels of mRNA for urokinase-type PA (uPA) in U251 and U373, as well as a considerably lower level of uPA message in LM. U251 and U373 also contained mRNA for tissue-type PA (tPA), although secreted tPA activity was not demonstrated by zymography. The U138 line contained essentially undetectable levels of mRNA for either uPA or tPA. U138 was also unique in secreting PA inhibitor activity and contained high levels of mRNA for PA inhibitor 2, which was not seen in any other line. All cell lines contained PA inhibitor 1 mRNA, with substantially more expression in the U138 and LM lines than in U251 and U373. None of the lines secreted measureable anti-plasmin activity. We conclude that there is considerable heterogeneity among human glioma cells in expression of PA enzymes and PA inhibitors. The coordinated regulation of these proteins likely determines secreted PA activity and the resultant role of plasminogen activation in tumor implantation and invasion.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1990

Modulation of fibronectin synthesis and fibronectin binding during transformation and differentiation of mouse AKR fibroblasts.

In previous studies it was shown that transformation of AKR fibroblasts with 3-methylcholanthrene was associated with a loss of surface fibronectin and that induction of differentiation of the transformed cells with N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was associated with reacquisition of surface fibronectin (Chakrabarty et al., J. Cell. Physiol. 133:415, 1987). It is shown in the present study that changes in surface fibronectin reflect altered fibronectin synthesis and altered fibronectin binding. Both the nontransformed cells (AKR-2B) and their transformed counterparts (AKR-MCA) bound 125I-fibronectin in a receptor-like fashion, but the AKR-MCA cells had only 20% of the receptors found on the AKR-2B cells. Whole cell extracts prepared from the AKR-2B cells and separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions were examined for 125I-fibronectin binding. Under these conditions, the majority of binding occurred to moieties with molecular weights of 180 kD, 150 kD, and 97 kD. Binding to similar moieties on the AKR-MCA cells was virtually absent but occurred rapidly after treatment with DMF. The appearance of these moieties paralleled the acquisition of 125I-fibronectin binding activity by whole cells. Antibodies to the fibronectin receptor isolated from human placenta reacted with the DMF-sensitive moieties in immunoblot assays. Both the appearance of the fibronectin binding moieties and the acquisition of 125I-fibronectin binding activity by whole cells occurred within 6 hr of DMF treatment and increased over the subsequent 4 day period. The time course of these events paralleled closely the time course for induction of fibronectin biosynthesis by DMF. These changes in fibronectin binding and fibronectin production were associated with alterations in cell-substrate adhesion. The AKR-2B cells rapidly attached and spread on bovine serum albumin-coated dishes and on fibronectin-coated dishes, whereas the AKR-MCA cells were less adhesive on both substrates. Capacity to attach and spread was regained concomitantly with the induction of fibronectin binding and fibronectin production. Adhesion on both substrates was partially inhibited by antibodies to the fibronectin receptor and by RGDS. These studies suggest that fibronectin production and fibronectin binding are coregulated in AKR fibroblasts and that they function together to bring about changes in cell-substrate adhesion.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Time-dependent inhibition of oxygen radical induced lung injury.

Experimental acute lung injury mediated by reactive metabolites of oxygen can be inhibited by the antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD). However, the specific time interval during which these enzymes must be present in order to cause protection is not well defined. Using two experimental models of oxidant-dependent acute lung injury, one involving the intratracheal injection of glucose, glucose oxidase, and lactoperoxidase and the other involving the intravenous injection of cobra venom factor (CVF), we investigated the effects of delaying antioxidant administration on the outcome of the inflammatory response. In both cases, the protective effects of catalase and SOD were rapidly attenuated when their administration was delayed for a short period of time. For example, intratracheal catalase resulted in 98% protection when given simultaneously with the glucose oxidase and lactoperoxidase, but only 13% protection when the catalase was delayed 4 min. Likewise, in the CVF-induced lung injury model, intravenous catalase resulted in 40% protection when given simultaneously with the CVF, but only 2% protection when the catalase was delayed 20 min, even though the peak of the injury occurred hours after the initiation of the injury. A similar time dependence was seen with SOD. These results indicate that antioxidant therapy is required early in the course of oxygen radical-mediated acute lung injury for effective protection.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Laminin in lung development: effects of anti-laminin antibody in murine lung morphogenesis.

The pattern of deposition and the role of laminin, a major glycoprotein constituent of basement membranes, were investigated during lung morphogenesis in the fetal mouse. Lung primordia were removed from Day 13 embryos, right lower lobes were further dissected and placed in filter membrane assemblies. Explants were then cultured at the liquid-air interface for 3 days in the presence of anti-laminin, anti-thrombospondin (another extracellular matrix constituent), preimmune serum, laminin-neutralized anti-laminin, or medium alone. Cultures were monitored by (direct) phase-contrast microscopy, light microscopy, and immunofluorescence. We found that anti-laminin antibodies altered normal lung morphogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. The anti-laminin-treated explants presented a marked inhibition of branching morphogenesis and a distortion of the bronchial tree. A lower rate of growth was also observed in the explants exposed to this antibody. High concentrations of anti-thrombospondin antibodies, normal rabbit serum, or laminin-neutralized anti-laminin antibodies had no effect on lung morphogenesis. These results were not modified by culturing the explants in submersion culture or on Vitrogen 100-coated surfaces.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Inhibition of cytotoxicity by intracellular superoxide dismutase supplementation.

The role of intracellular oxyradicals in H2O2 and neutrophil-induced cytotoxicity is suggested by previous studies showing protection by inhibitors such as deferroxamine, dimethylthiourea, and dimethyl sulfoxide. In the current studies, the role of intracellular O2- is specifically examined by evaluating the effects of intracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD) supplementation on cytotoxicity of rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells induced by H2O2 and activated neutrophils. To minimize in vitro manipulation, supplementation was accomplished by incubating endothelial cells in the presence of SOD (1-20 mg/mL). Increases up to greater than 17-fold the baseline SOD activity were achievable using this approach, with uptake being maximal after 6 h of incubation. This increase was resistant to trypsin digestion, suggesting the intracellular location of SOD. Compared to controls, SOD-supplemented cells showed significantly increased resistance to killing by H2O2 and activated neutrophils. Inactive SOD failed to provide protection. The degree of protection was dependent on the dose of cytotoxic agent and the extent of SOD supplementation. The results provide new evidence that intracellular O2- participates in the killing process induced by these two stimuli. The intracellular source of O2- remains to be determined, although previous studies suggest xanthine oxidase as a likely candidate.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effects of 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C on cultured rabbit subconjunctival fibroblasts.

The authors investigated effects of two antimetabolites, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin C (MMC), on proliferation and motility of cultured rabbit subconjunctival fibroblasts. Both drugs caused dose-dependent inhibition of fibroblast proliferation. These effects were reversible at lower doses (0.33 mg/l of 5-FU, 1.0 X 10(-3) mg/l of MMC) and at an early stage of treatment, but became irreversible at higher doses or after longer treatment times. The degree of growth inhibition reached a plateau after 7 days of treatment. Neither drug altered fibroblast migration in the agarose droplet motility assay or on the intra-cytoplasmic actin distribution by epifluorescent-light microscopy. These results indicate that 5-FU and MMC inhibit subconjunctival fibroblast function predominantly by their effect on cell proliferation rather than on cell motility. The clinical implications of these results may possibly support the use of a much lower total dose of subconjunctival antimetabolite than used in the 5-FU clinical trial.

Actins↗
PubMed1990

Nuclear parameters as prognostic indicators in glioblastoma patients.

The objective of this study was to determine whether nuclear parameters were associated with prognosis in glioblastoma multiforme. DNA indices, cell cycle parameters, and nuclear population densities were compared with patient survival. Selection criteria included the pathologic diagnosis of a cerebral glioblastoma multiforme, absence of therapy before surgery, and adequate tissue to measure each nuclear parameter studied. Nine cases accrued over a two year period. The amount of DNA per nucleus was quantified in fresh tissue specimens by nuclear-isolation flow cytometry in Vindelov's solution. One particular association was significant when tested by Cox models: The percentage of nuclei with S-phase amounts of nuclear DNA was a significant predictor of decreased survival (regression coefficient = 0.20, p = 0.04). The percentage of nuclei in the G0/G1 peak was marginally associated with longer survival. These data are evidence of an association between nuclei in certain phases of the DNA cell cycle and postoperative survival.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

All-trans retinoic acid stimulates growth and extracellular matrix production in growth-inhibited cultured human skin fibroblasts.

All-trans retinoic acid was examined for effects on human dermal fibroblast proliferation and for effects on fibroblast production and expression of non-collagenous and collagenous components of the extracellular matrix in vitro. Fibroblast proliferation was blocked when the cells were cultured in the presence of a serum-free culture medium containing epidermal growth factor, hydrocortisone, insulin, ethanolamine, phosphoethanolamine, and bovine pituitary extract as growth supplements and 0.15 mM Ca++. This level of extracellular Ca++ is lower than that needed to support fibroblast growth. Under these conditions, growth was stimulated by all-trans retinoic acid. Proliferation was also stimulated in the same basal medium without the growth supplements. Growth-promoting concentrations of all-trans retinoic acid ranged from 0.5-2.0 micrograms/ml (1.7-6.6 X 10(-6) M). Stimulation of proliferation was not seen at higher or lower concentrations. Concentrations of all-trans retinoic acid that stimulated proliferation also induced increased production of fibronectin as indicated by biosynthetic labeling/immunoprecipitation and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Increased production was associated with increased staining for fibronectin in the extracellular matrix. Increased production of two other non-collagenous extracellular matrix component, i.e., thrombospondin and laminin, also occurred in all-trans retinoic acid-treated cells. At 0.5 micrograms/ml, all-trans retinoic acid also stimulated production of type I collagen by the dermal fibroblasts, but at higher concentrations (2.5 micrograms/ml) production of type I collagen was inhibited. These data indicate that all-trans retinoic acid can induce changes in dermal fibroblasts in vitro (i.e., increased proliferation and extracellular matrix production) that mimic the major changes seen in the dermis after topical treatment with this agent.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1990

Modulation of squamous carcinoma cell growth, morphology, adhesiveness and extracellular matrix production by interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were examined for effects on human squamous carcinoma cells. IFN-gamma inhibited proliferation at concentrations between 100 and 1,500 units/ml and the inhibitory effects were potentiated by TNF-alpha. Inhibition of cell growth was not accompanied by cytotoxicity. Combined treatment with the two cytokines also inhibited cell-substrate adhesion and altered the morphology of the cells. The treated cells were large and flattened. These morphological features are similar to those that have been previously described for normal keratinocytes induced to differentiate by a variety of means. The changes in biological properties were accompanied by alterations in production of extracellular matrix components - e.g., fibronectin and thrombospondin. Synthesis of both components was decreased following treatment. The cytokine-induced alterations in squamous carcinoma cell properties were fully reversible. These findings indicate that malignant squamous epithelial cells may be similar to their normal counterparts in their responses to IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. In the malignant cells, however, these cytokines do not appear to induce permanent phenotypic changes.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗