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K Seibert

Publications and source records attributed to K Seibert.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Post-translational processing and secretory pathway of human atriopeptin in rat pheochromocytoma cells.

Atriopeptin (AP) is expressed in several tissues with each tissue capable of specific differences in processing of the prohormone (pro-AP) to mature low molecular forms of the peptide. Since pro-AP has low biological activity, processing into mature AP is a critical activation event. This observation prompted us to study whether granule storage or regulated secretion of AP is essential for cleavage of mature peptide. We examined the processing of AP in adrenal medulla derived cells, using the rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12 cell) stably transfected with a genomic human AP DNA in the presence and absence of nerve growth factor (NGF), and also examined the mechanism of AP secretion and compared the results with those obtained using transfected chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO cells). The amount of prohormone was 5-10 fold higher than that of low molecular form of AP in the transfected PC12 cells. This ratio was essentially unchanged in differentiated PC12 cells after NGF treatment of the cells. Potassium depolarization of the transfected PC12 cells caused a 5-fold increase in AP release into the medium primarily as the intact prohormone. On the other hand, transfected CHO cells only exhibited constitutive AP release which is non-response to depolarization. These results suggest that the AP prohormone is sorted into secretory granules as the prohormone in PC12 cells and undergoes regulated release in response to depolarization indicating granule storage or release is not the critical determinant of AP prohormone cleavage.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗
PubMed1991

Monovalent cation and amiloride analog modulation of adrenergic ligand binding to the unglycosylated alpha 2B-adrenergic receptor subtype.

The unglycosylated alpha 2B subtype of the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor found in NG-108-15 cells possesses allosteric regulation of adrenergic ligand binding by monovalent cations and 5-amino-substituted amiloride analogs. These findings demonstrate that allosteric modulation of adrenergic ligand binding is not a property unique to the alpha 2A subtype. The observation that amiloride analogs as well as monovalent cations can modulate adrenergic ligand binding to the nonglycosylated alpha 2B subtype indicates that charge shielding due to carbohydrate moieties does not play a role in this allosteric modulation but, rather, these regulatory effects result from interactions of cations and amiloride analogs with the protein moiety of the receptor. Furthermore, the observation that both alpha 2A and alpha 2B receptor subtypes are modulated by amiloride analogs suggests that structural domains that are conserved between the two are likely to be involved in this allosteric modulation.

Amiloride↗
PubMed1990

The induction and suppression of prostaglandin H2 synthase (cyclooxygenase) in human monocytes.

We report here that the bacterial lipopolysaccharide endotoxin induces human blood monocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner to release prodigious amounts of prostaglandins with thromboxane A2, the major metabolite formed. Cells responded to as little as 1 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide to release prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane A2 with maximal stimulation at 10 micrograms/ml. Lipopolysaccharide was found to induce increased activity of cyclooxygenase enzyme without affecting the activities of phospholipase and thromboxane synthase or the formation of 5-lipoxygenase products (e.g. leukotriene B4). The glucocorticoid dexamethasone completely blocked the lipopolysaccharide-induced prostanoid release by inhibiting the activity of monocyte cyclooxygenase. Dexamethasone did not affect phospholipase and thromboxane synthase activities or leukotriene formation. Immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine-labeled cyclooxygenase confirmed that the effect of lipopolysaccharide and dexamethasone on the monocyte prostanoid production could be attributed to an increase or decrease, respectively, in cellular cyclooxygenase de novo synthesis.

Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase↗
PubMed1990

The value of C-reactive protein measurement in the diagnosis of neonatal infection.

We examined whether serum C-reactive protein (CRP) measurements used in conjunction with leucocyte counts help in the diagnosis of perinatally acquired and nosocomial infections in very preterm newborn infants. One hundred and twenty-five infants born at a gestational age between 23 and 31 weeks with respiratory distress were studied at birth. A similar group of 85 infants beyond 3 days of age were also studied on 100 occasions for suspected infection. The diagnosis of proven or probable infection was correlated with abnormal haematology (leucopenia less than 5000/mm3, leucocytosis greater than 20,000/mm3 or ratio of immature forms to total neutrophils of greater than 0.2) and an elevated CRP (greater than 10 mg/L) singly or in combination. The sensitivity of an elevated CRP was relatively higher than abnormal haematology in both early and late infections and the sensitivity was highest when either test was abnormal. Similarly, the specificity, positive and negative predictive values and efficiency of an elevated CRP was relatively higher than abnormal haematology. The performance of the tests in 45 infants born at 23-28 weeks gestation was similar to that in 80 infants born at 29-31 weeks gestation. It was concluded that both CRP and leucocyte counts should be determined as they provide valuable information in the diagnosis of neonatal bacterial infection.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1990

Selective regulation of cellular cyclooxygenase by dexamethasone and endotoxin in mice.

We have studied the effect of glucocorticoids administered in vivo on the activity and synthesis of the cyclooxygenase enzyme (COX) in mice treated with or without concurrent intravenous administration of LPS. Mouse peritoneal macrophages from LPS-treated animals showed a two to three fold increase in COX activity determined by the production of PGE2 and PGI2 after stimulation of the cells with exogenous arachidonate. Dexamethasone injected simultaneously with LPS, 12 h before killing of the animal and removal of the macrophages, completely blocked the LPS-induced increase COX activity in peritoneal macrophages. The regulation observed in COX activity by LPS and dexamethasone are due primarily to changes in COX mass as determined by immunoprecipitation of [35S]methionine endogenously labeled enzyme. In contrast, the COX present in the nonadherent cells and in renal medullary microsomes obtained from the same animals, showed no significant changes between treatments. These results indicate that LPS in vivo stimulates COX synthesis in the peritoneal macrophages but not in the kidney. The effect of dexamethasone to inhibit COX synthesis is selective to the LPS-induced enzyme.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Isomeric prostaglandin F2 compounds arising from prostaglandin D2: a family of icosanoids produced in vivo in humans.

Prostaglandin (PG) D2 has been shown to be transformed by human 11-ketoreductase to 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2, a biologically active metabolite that is produced in vivo. During the course of developing a mass spectrometric assay for 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2, several compounds with characteristics similar to PGF2 were detected in both plasma and urine of normal humans by selected ion monitoring. Analysis of pooled plasma obtained from patients with mastocytosis during severe episodes of systemic mast cell activation associated with the release of markedly increased quantities of PGD2 was revealing in that all of these compounds were present in approximately 800-fold greater abundance compared to levels found in normal plasma, suggesting that these compounds arose from PGD2 metabolism. Complete electron impact mass spectra were obtained of these compounds in both plasma and urine; these spectra established that they were all isometric forms of PGF2. Approximately 16 isomeric PGF2 compounds were identified. Treatment with butylboronic acid indicated that the C-9 and C-11 hydroxyls were trans in approximately one-third of the compounds and cis in approximately two-thirds. Preliminary experiments suggest that PGD2 is a very labile compound in vivo and undergoes extensive isomerization, after which reduction by 11-ketoreductase yields a family of more stable isomeric PGF2 compounds. Elucidating the profile of biological activity of these compounds and their mechanism of formation will contribute importantly to our understanding of the biological consequences of PGD2 release in vivo. These results also bring into question the reliability of assays for PGF2 alpha and its metabolites in human biological fluids as a specific index of endogenous PGF2 alpha biosynthesis, as these assays may also measure in part isomeric PGF2 compounds arising from PGD2 metabolism.

Dinoprost↗
PubMed1987

(5Z,13E)-(15S)-9 alpha,11 beta,15-trihydroxyprosta-5,13-dien-1-oic acid (9 alpha,11 beta-prostaglandin F2): formation and metabolism by human lung and contractile effects on human bronchial smooth muscle.

Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) was recently found to be stereospecifically converted to the compound (5Z,13E)-(15S)-9 alpha,11 beta,15-trihydroxyprosta-5,13-dien-1-oic acid (9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2) by a human liver cytosolic NADPH-dependent 11-ketoreductase enzyme. Because PGD2 is a potent bronchoconstrictor and is released into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after allergen stimulation in patients with allergic asthma, the ability of human lung to metabolize PGD2 to 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 and the contractile effects of 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 on human bronchial smooth muscle were investigated. The 100,000 X g supernatant of human lung converted PGD2 in the presence of an NADPH-generating system stereospecifically to 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 at a rate of 3.46 +/- 0.94 pmol per min per mg of protein. 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 was found to contract human bronchial rings in a dose-dependent fashion with a potency virtually identical with that of both PGD2 and PGF2 alpha, known potent bronchial constrictors. PGD2 was found to be a very poor substrate for human lung 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenases and to be preferentially metabolized by lung to 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2. 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 was also found to be a very poor substrate for the lung 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenases. Thus, once formed, 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 would not be expected to be rapidly inactivated in situ by these metabolic enzymes. These results suggest that 9 alpha,11 beta-PGF2 may participate along with other putative mediators in the pulmonary allergic response in humans.

Bronchi↗
PubMed1984

gamma-Aminobutyric acid uptake inhibition and anticonvulsant activity of nipecotic acid esters.

n-Alkyl esters of nipecotic acid were prepared by Fischer esterification, and the esters were evaluated against bicuculline-induced seizures in mice. Evaluation of the alkyl esters for inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acid uptake into mouse whole brain mini-slices revealed that the order of potency was proportional to chain length. The octyl ester inhibited gamma-aminobutyric acid and beta-alanine uptakes by apparently nonspecific mechanisms. A variety of phenyl esters of nipecotic acid were also synthesized utilizing either dicyclohexylcarbodiimide or 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole as the condensing agent. Most of the phenyl esters were potent inhibitors of gamma-aminobutyric acid uptake. The uptake inhibition appeared to involve specific and nonspecific (detergent-like) mechanisms. The m-nitrophenyl and p-nitrophenyl esters were particularly potent against bicuculline-induced seizures in mice.

Alanine↗
PubMed1984

Anticonvulsant activity of the nipecotic acid ester, (+/-)-m-nitrophenyl-3-piperidinecarboxylate.

The nipecotic acid ester, (+/-)-m-nitrophenyl-3-piperidinecarboxylate hydrochloride (MNPC) is a potent inhibitor of uptake of GABA in vitro and should be able to penetrate into the brain much more readily than the parent compound nipecotic acid. A study of the effects of MNPC on convulsions induced by chemicals which interfere with GABA-mediated neurotransmission was carried out in the mouse, with MNPC being administered by subcutaneous injection 30, 60 or 90 min prior to challenge with bicuculline. It was found that MNPC protected against convulsions induced by bicuculline with ED50 values for clonic and tonic convulsions of 157.8 and 138.8 mg/kg, respectively, at the time of peak effect of 60 min and MNPC abolished both the clonic and tonic components of isoniazid convulsions with respective ED50 values of 255.3 and 76.7 mg/kg at 1 hr. Picrotoxin and pentylenetrazol-induced seizures were also blocked with corresponding ED50 values for clonic convulsions of 224.9 and 235.9 mg/kg at 1 hr. No serious side effects were observed during the 90 min period after the administration of MNPC in doses up to 600 mg/kg.

Animals↗