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Biomedical subjects

L C Pan

Publications and source records attributed to L C Pan.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Common mechanism for the estrogen agonist and antagonist activities of droloxifene.

The incidence of postmenopausal osteoporosis is increasing as the population ages. Even though estrogen replacement therapy has proven beneficial in reducing the number of skeletal fractures, the known risks and associated side-effects of estrogen replacement therapy make compliance poor. Recent research has focused on the development of tissue specific estrogen agonist/antagonists such as droloxifene which can prevent estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss without causing uterine hypertrophy. Furthermore, droloxifene acts as a full estrogen antagonist on breast tissue and is being evaluated for treatment of advanced breast cancer. In this report we propose a common mechanism of action for droloxifene that underlies its estrogen agonist and antagonist effects in different tissues. Droloxifene and estrogen, which have identical effects on bone in vivo, both induced p53 expression and apoptosis in cells of in vitro rat bone marrow cultures resulting in a decrease in the number of bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Droloxifene is growth inhibitory in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and therefore acts as an antagonist, whereas estrogen is mitogenic to these cells and acts as an agonist. Droloxifene, but not estrogen, induced p53 expression and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. These results indicate that the induction of apoptosis by droloxifene may be the common mechanism for both its estrogen agonist effects in bone and its antagonist effects in breast tissue.

Animals↗

Strain differences in the response of Fischer 344 and Sprague-Dawley rats to monocrotaline induced pulmonary vascular disease.

The pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) monocrotaline (MCT) is thought to be activated in the liver to monocrotaline pyrrole (MCTP) which is then transported to the lungs where it causes a pulmonary vascular syndrome characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy. We have found that, as opposed to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, Fischer 344 (F344) strain rats are resistant to the ventricular hypertrophy and pressure changes induced by MCT. To determine whether this strain difference might be related to differences in hepatic activation of MCT to MCTP, we compared the response of SD and F344 rats to treatment with MCT or MCTP. We determined right ventricular pressure and ventricular weight ratios with each treatment for each strain. We also compared subjective lesion scores of histopathologic changes characteristic of MCT pneumotoxicity. Sprague-Dawley rats treated with either MCT or MCTP had elevated right ventricular pressures (Control 13 +/- 1 mmH2O, MCTP 29 +/- 3 mmH2O, MCT 24 +/- 2 mmH2O) and increased right ventricular weight ratio (RV/LV + S) of 0.30 +/- 0.01 (Control), 0.44 +/- 0.05 (MCTP), 0.44 +/- 0.02 (MCT). Histopathologic evaluation demonstrated that significant alveolar septal fibrosis, edema and type II cell hypertrophy was induced by both PAs in both rat strains but that F344 rats had significantly less vascular medial hypertrophy and adventitial inflammation than SD rats. MCTP treated SD rats had similar vascular and parenchymal alterations as those treated with MCT but with a lesser inflammatory component. We conclude that the strain differences in cardiac and pulmonary vascular responses to MCT also occur with MCTP treatment. This, combined with the similarity in alveolar parenchymal response to both PAs in both strains, suggests that these differences are related to the pulmonary vascular response rather than differences in hepatic metabolism.

Animals↗

Gallium nitrate increases type I collagen and fibronectin mRNA and collagen protein levels in bone and fibroblast cells.

Gallium is a Group IIIa transitional element with therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of metabolic bone disorders. Previously described antiresorptive effects of gallium on osteoclasts are not sufficient to account for the full range of effects of gallium on bone structure and metabolism. We have recently shown that gallium nitrate inhibits osteocalcin gene expression and the synthesis of osteocalcin protein, an osteoblast-specific bone matrix protein that is thought to serve as a signal to trigger osteoclastic resorption. Here we present evidence for an additional mechanism by which gallium may function to augment bone mass by altering matrix protein synthesis by osteoblastic and fibroblastic cells. Rat calvarial explants exposed to gallium nitrate for 48 h showed increased incorporation of 3H-proline into hydroxyproline and collagenase digestible protein. In addition, gallium treatment increased steady-state mRNA levels for fibronectin and type I procollagen chains in primary rat calvarial osteoblast-enriched cultures, the ROS 17/2.8 osteoblastic osteosarcoma line, and nontransformed human dermal fibroblasts. These findings suggest that the exposure of mesenchymally-derived cells to gallium results in an altered pattern of matrix protein synthesis that would favor increased bone formation.

Adult↗

COR pulmonale is caused by monocrotaline and dehydromonocrotaline, but not by glutathione or cysteine conjugates of dihydropyrrolizine.

Monocrotaline (MCT) produces pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy in rats. It is generally believed that MCT must undergo hepatic metabolism to reactive metabolites that are subsequently transported to the lungs to induce a pneumotoxic response. Several studies suggest that dehydromonocrotaline (MCTP) is the reactive intermediate that initiates pulmonary toxicity. We recently identified two other MCT metabolites, the glutathione and N-acetylcysteine conjugates of 6,7-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1-hydromethyl-5H-pyrrolizine (DHP). To determine the potential pulmonary toxicity of the glutathione conjugate (DHP-GSH) and the unacetylated cysteine conjugate precursor (DHP-Cys) of the N-acetylated excretion product, we conducted parallel in vivo toxicity studies with DHP-GSH, DHP-Cys, MCT, and MCTP. Relative pneumotoxicity was evaluated by measurements of right ventricular pressure (RVP), ventricular weight ratio (RV/LV+S), subjective histopathology, and measurements of components of the arteriolar wall. Animals given a single injection of MCT (60 mg/kg) developed pulmonary hypertension at the end of 3 weeks, as indicated by significant elevation in RVP when compared to the controls (22.1 +/- 2.4 mm Hg vs 13.2 +/- 0.8 mm Hg). A parallel and significant increase in RV/LV+S was also evident: 0.37 +/- 0.021 (MCT) vs 0.299 +/- 0.011 (control). Histopathology showed marked alterations in both pulmonary vasculature and parenchyma in MCT- and MCTP-treated animals. MCTP (1 mg/kg) caused a significantly elevated RVP (MCTP vs control: 28.1 +/- 3.4 mm Hg vs 16.8 +/- 0.97 mm Hg) and an increased RV/LV+S (MCTP vs control: 0.445 +/- 0.051 vs 0.284 +/- 0.026). Both MCT- and MCTP-treated rats had increased arteriolar medial thickness and decreased lumen diameter, but MCTP-treated rats had a milder vascular inflammatory response and less parenchymal lesions. Neither DHP-GSH (24 or 12 mg/kg) nor DHP-Cys (12 mg/kg) caused detectable changes in pulmonary circulation and no structural alteration in the lung was observed in these treatment groups. Although they are all pyrrolic metabolites of MCT, these studies demonstrate that only MCTP but not the glutathione or cysteine conjugates, is pneumotoxic at the doses tested.

Animals↗

Neutrophil adherence to airway epithelium is reduced by antibodies to the leukocyte CD11/CD18 complex.

Airway inflammation, including neutrophil influx is commonly seen in human pulmonary diseases. We developed an in vitro system where the adherence of neutrophils to bronchial epithelial cells could be examined. Primary cultures of nonhuman primate bronchial epithelial cells or transformed BEAS human bronchial epithelial cells were grown to confluence on collagen-coated culture plates. Cells were cocultured for 30 min following the addition of human neutrophils and PMA. Cultures were then inverted, fixed with methanol, and adherent neutrophils labeled with 1B4 mouse monoclonal anti-human neutrophil antibody followed by fluorescein-labeled sheep anti-mouse IgG. Slides were examined using fluorescence microscopy. The 1B4 antibody allowed rapid identification of neutrophils adherent to the epithelial cell monolayers, which were not labeled by this technique. PMA increased the adherence of neutrophils to bronchial epithelial cells. Pretreatment of the neutrophils with anti-CD11/CD18 antibodies prevented the increase in PMA-stimulated adherence. We conclude that PMA-stimulated adherence to airway epithelial cells is in part dependent on the neutrophil CD11/CD18 adherence complex.

Animals↗

Hydrogen peroxide induces DNA single strand breaks in respiratory epithelial cells.

The respiratory epithelium is often exposed to oxidant gases, including ozone from photochemical smog and toxic oxygen metabolites released from neutrophils recruited in conditions of airway inflammation. We evaluated DNA single strand break formation by alkaline elution as a measure of oxidant-induced DNA damage to bronchial epithelial cells. Human AdenoSV-40-transformed bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS), subclone R1.4 or nonhuman primate bronchial epithelial cells were cultured in growth factor supplemented Ham's F12 medium on polycarbonate filters. DNA was labeled by incubation with [3H]thymidine. Cells were incubated for 1 h in HBSS or HBSS and increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Cells incubated in H2O2 demonstrated dose-dependent increases in strand break formation, and BEAS cells were more sensitive to H2O2-induced injury than primary bronchial epithelial cells. The addition of catalase or preincubation of cells with the iron chelator desferoxamine prevented H2O2-induced strand breakage. DNA strand break formation may be an important mechanism of oxidant injury in respiratory epithelial cells.

Animals↗

Cloning muscle isoforms of neural cell adhesion molecule using an episomal shuttle vector.

Three distinct transcripts encoding two phosphatidylinositol (PI) linked isoforms of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) are induced during the differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts into myotubes. Corresponding NCAM clones were isolated from a mouse muscle cDNA library made in an Epstein-Barr virus shuttle vector that replicates extrachromosomally in human cells. Following transfection with the library, human cells expressing mouse NCAM were enriched using the fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Episomal NCAM clones recovered from sorted cells contain an 18-bp insert between exons 12 and 13. Two other NCAM cDNAs encode identical polypeptides containing a 108-bp insert homologous to the complete MSD1 domain, but differ in their 3' untranslated regions. Induction of MSD1-containing transcripts in advance of myotube formation suggests that muscle-specific NCAMs contribute to myogenesis from the earliest stages of differentiation. Moreover, our studies demonstrate the feasibility of cloning tissue-specific molecules by transfection and expression of cDNA libraries in episomal vectors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Novel Fc gamma receptor I family gene products in human mononuclear cells.

Unlike the human Fc gamma RII and Fc gamma RIII families, which exhibit considerable diversity at both the nucleic acid and protein levels, the human Fc gamma RI family has only a single recognized product expressed as a 70-kD cell surface receptor with high affinity for monomeric IgG (hFc gamma RIa1). Using both polymerase chain reaction-based amplification and Northern hybridization, we document multiple interferon-gamma-inducible hFc gamma RI RNA transcripts in human mononuclear cells and neutrophils. The sequences of two of these Fc gamma RI related transcripts indicate that they are alternatively spliced products of a second Fc gamma RI family gene, termed Fc gamma RIB. The cDNA derived from the larger of these transcripts, termed hFc gamma RIb1, encodes a surface molecule that is not recognized by Fc gamma RI specific monoclonal antibodies when transfected into COS-7 cells. Unlike the interferon-gamma-inducible hFc gamma RIA gene product, hFc gamma RIb1 does not bind monomeric IgG with high affinity. However, both hFc gamma RIa1 and hFc gamma RIb1 do bind aggregated human IgG. Previously unrecognized diversity within the hFc gamma RI family includes an interferon-gamma-inducible, putative low affinity Fc gamma receptor that may play an important role in the mechanism by which Fc gamma receptors participate in the humoral immune response.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mechanisms and pathology of monocrotaline pulmonary toxicity.

Monocrotaline (MCT) is an 11-membered macrocyclic pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) that causes a pulmonary vascular syndrome in rats characterized by proliferative pulmonary vasculitis, pulmonary hypertension, and cor pulmonale. Current hypotheses of the pathogenesis of MCT-induced pneumotoxicity suggest that MCT is activated to a reactive metabolite(s) in the liver and is then transported by red blood cells (RBCs) to the lung, where it initiates endothelial injury. While several lines of evidence support the requirement of hepatic metabolism for pneumotoxicity, the mechanism and relative importance of RBC transport remain undetermined. The endothelial injury does not appear to be acute cell death but rather a delayed functional alteration that leads to disease of the pulmonary arterial walls by unknown mechanisms. The selectivity of MCT for the lung, as opposed to that of other primarily hepatotoxic PAs, appears likely to be a consequence of the differences in hepatic metabolism and blood kinetics of MCT. A likely candidate for a reactive metabolite of MCT is the dehydrogenation product monocrotaline pyrrole (MCTP). Secondary or phase II metabolism of MCT through glutathione (GSH) conjugation has been characterized recently and appears to represent a detoxification pathway. The role of inflammation in the progression of MCT-induced pulmonary vascular disease is uncertain. Both perivascular inflammation and platelet activation have been proposed as processes contributing to the response of the vascular media. This review presents the experimental evidence supporting these hypotheses and outlines additional questions that arise from them.

Animals↗

Systemic delivery of human growth hormone by injection of genetically engineered myoblasts.

A recombinant gene encoding human growth hormone (hGH) was stably introduced into cultured myoblasts with a retroviral vector. After injection of genetically engineered myoblasts into mouse muscle, hGH could be detected in serum for 3 months. The fate of injected myoblasts was assessed by coinfecting the cells with two retroviral vectors, one encoding hGH and the other encoding beta-galactosidase from Escherichia coli. These results provide evidence that myoblasts, which can fuse into preexisting multinucleated myofibers that are vascularized and innervated, may be advantageous as vehicles for systemic delivery of recombinant proteins.

Animals↗

Red blood cells augment transport of reactive metabolites of monocrotaline from liver to lung in isolated and tandem liver and lung preparations.

Monocrotaline (MCT) is a pyrrolizidine alkaloid that causes pulmonary hypertension in rats by mechanisms which remain largely unknown. MCT is thought to be activated in the liver to a reactive intermediate that is transported to the lung where it causes endothelial injury. Our previous pharmacokinetic work demonstrated significant sequestration of radioactivity in red blood cells (RBCs) of rats treated with [14C]MCT. To determine whether this RBC sequestration might be important in the transport of reactive MCT metabolites, we compared the effect of inclusion of RBCs in the perfusion buffer on the extent of covalent binding of [14C]MCT to rat lungs in tandem liver-lung preparations. The potential effect of RBCs in stabilizing reactive intermediates was evaluated by preperfusion of isolated liver preparations with [14C]MCT with and without RBCs, separation and washing of the RBC fraction, and subsequent (90 min later) perfusion of washed RBCs or buffer alone in isolated perfused lungs. Covalent binding to lung tissues was determined by exhaustive methanol/chloroform extractions of unbound label from homogenized lung tissue followed by scintillation counting of residual 14C. Covalent binding was expressed as picomole MCT molecular weight equivalents/mg protein. Comparison of the relative capability of these isolated organ preparations for conversion of MCT to polar metabolites was done by extraction and HPLC analysis of perfusate at the end of the experiment. Isolated livers converted 65-85% of MCT to polar metabolites compared with less than 5% conversion in the isolated lungs. Inclusion of RBCs in the buffer of tandem lung liver preparations perfused with 400 microM [14C]MCT increased the covalent binding to the lung from 97 +/- 25 (buffer alone) to 182 +/- 36 (buffer + RBC) pmol/mg protein. At the end of these perfusions, RBCs contained 1552 +/- 429 pmol/mg hemoglobin of which 333 +/- 98 pmol/mg hemoglobin resisted exhaustive solvent extraction. After 90 min at room temperature, buffer with 400 microM [14C]MCT preperfused in isolated livers resulted in covalent binding to isolated perfused lung of 0.8 +/- 0.4 pmol/mg protein while washed RBCs isolated from buffer of similar liver preperfusions preparations resulted in 53 +/- 7 pmol/mg protein bound to lung. Control groups perfused with 400 microM [14C]MCT in buffer or buffer + RBCs through isolated lungs only resulted in covalent binding of 2 +/- 1 or 1 +/- 0.6 pmol/mg protein respectively. We conclude: (1) RBCs significantly augment the transport of lung reactive MCT metabolites from the liver to the lung.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Progressive inflammatory and structural changes in the pulmonary vasculature of monocrotaline-treated rats.

The progression of changes in the bronchus-associated and intraacinar pulmonary arteries of rats treated with a single dose of monocrotaline (60 mg/kg) was evaluated by quantitative light and electron microscopy. The relative volume of vessel wall components was normalized to the surface area of the adventitial sheath. An increased relative volume of media was evident in intraacinar pulmonary arteries by 4 hr post-treatment. This increase may represent vascular smooth muscle contraction. Significant increases in adventitial mononuclear inflammatory cells were evident by 8-16 hr post-treatment in intraacinar pulmonary arteries and veins but not until 14 days post-treatment in major, bronchus-associated pulmonary arteries. Inflammatory cell influxes were associated with increased relative volume of adventitia, largely due to increased extracellular space. By 22 days posttreatment, there was right ventricular hypertrophy and a marked mononuclear vasculitis in major and intraacinar pulmonary arteries as well as intraacinar veins (confirmed as such by vascular perfusion of carbon/gelatin). There was increased relative medial volume in both major and intraacinar pulmonary arteries associated with increased extracellular matrix composed largely of collagen. Intraacinar veins developed intimal plaques of smooth muscle in a collagenous matrix. We conclude that (1) adventitial inflammation precedes morphologic evidence of medial changes in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension, (2) involvement of intraacinar arteries precedes that of major bronchus associated arteries, and (3) both pulmonary arteries and veins are involved in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary vascular disease in the rat.

Animals↗

Ligand-dependent regulation of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor in rat osteosarcoma cells.

The specific binding of radiolabeled 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) to intact rat osteosarcoma (ROS 17/2) cells was followed for 24 h. In the presence of 0.5-1.5 nM 1,25(OH)2D3, hormone binding increased over a period of 12 h, from 1.1 X 10(4) to 1.3 X 10(5) receptors/cell. The elevated level of hormone binding persisted through 24 h provided that the initial concentration of hormone was maintained. The concentration dependence of this increase in receptor level was centered between 10 and 30 pM 1,25(OH)2D3, and the binding at 12 h exhibited the metabolite specificity expected for a 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor. The t 1/2 values for the disappearance of unoccupied and occupied receptors were roughly the same, approximately 2.7 h; therefore, the increase in hormone binding was not due to receptor stabilization. In comparison, hormone-receptor complexes appeared to dissociate with a t 1/2 of 1 h. alpha-Amanitin treatment reduced the magnitude of receptor accumulation by 50-60%, indicating that mRNA synthesis was required to achieve the maximal response. Ligand-dependent regulation of cellular receptor levels provides a mechanism for amplifying the primary hormonal signal and is predicted to influence the kinetics, magnitude, and dose dependence of cellular responses.

Animals↗

Effects of ingested gossypol on the ultrastructure of rat ovarian follicles.

Ultrastructural changes were observed in the oocytes and granulosa cells of the ovarian follicles of sexually mature female rats treated daily for 60 days with gossypol acetic acid at a dosage known to induce sterility in male rats (20 mg/kg body weight, orally). The changes included an increased lysosomal population in the ooplasm and a reduced, poorly developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the granulosa cells. The latter changes suggest a suppression of the secretory activity of the granulosa cells.

Administration, Oral↗

Sequence of the precursor to rat bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein that accumulates in warfarin-treated osteosarcoma cells.

A biosynthetic precursor to rat bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein (BGP) was isolated from warfarin-treated ROS 17/2 osteosarcoma cells by antibody affinity chromatography followed by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. Thirty-two residues of its NH2-terminal sequence were determined by gas-phase protein sequence analysis. Comparison of this sequence with the known structure of rat BGP established that the intracellular precursor is a 76-residue molecule of Mr = 9120 that differs from 6000-Da bone BGP in having an NH2-terminal extension of 26 residues. This precursor appears to be generated from the primary translation product by cleavage of a hydrophobic signal peptide and is the probable substrate for gamma-carboxylation by virtue of its accumulation in the presence of warfarin. The putative targeting region for gamma-carboxylation previously identified in the leader sequences of vitamin K-dependent proteins is found in the propeptide portion of the precursor. Since the immunoreactive component secreted by warfarin-treated cells is identical in sequence to the 6000-Da BGP from bone, propeptide cleavage from the precursor is independent of gamma-carboxylation and precedes secretion of BGP from the cell.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The propeptide of rat bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein shares homology with other vitamin K-dependent protein precursors.

The molecular cloning of bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) protein (BGP; osteocalcin) was accomplished by constructing a phage lambda gt11 cDNA library from the rat osteosarcoma cell line ROS 17/2 and screening this library with antibodies raised against BGP from rat bone. By sequencing several cloned cDNAs, we have established a 489-base-pair sequence that predicts a mature BGP of 50 amino acid residues with an NH2-terminal extension of 49 residues. The leader peptide consists of a hydrophobic signal peptide followed by a basic propeptide of 26 or 27 residues that is cleaved after an Arg-Arg dipeptide prior to secretion from the cell. Mature rat BGP is extremely homologous to BGPs from other species except for its COOH-terminal sequence. A stretch of 9 residues proximal to the NH2 terminus of secreted BGP is strikingly similar to the corresponding regions in known propeptides of the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid-containing blood coagulation factors. We suggest that this common structural feature may be involved in the posttranslational targeting of these polypeptides for vitamin K-dependent gamma-carboxylation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Immunological characteristics of monoclonal antibodies against human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).

Four hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) of the IgG1 subclass against human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were obtained from fusion of P3-NS1/1-Ag4 myeloma cells with splenic cells from mice immunized with purified CEA. None of the MAbs showed cross-reactivity to perchloric acid extractable antigens from the normal human colon by an inhibition radioimmunoassay. However, MAb C27 showed the highest affinity to CEA. The intensity of immunofluorescence staining of human colorectal cancer cells with MAb C27 correlates well to the cellular CEA content of cancer cells. LS174T showed the highest intensity of fluorescence (95%) while COLO320DM and COLO320HRS were the lowest (0.5%). None of the normal human organs - colon, lungs, liver, spleen or kidneys-showed positive staining by immunoperoxidase anti-peroxidase (PA) techniques, while tissues from colorectal carcinoma (CRC), gastric carcinoma, hepatoma and lung cancer gave a positive rate of 100% (30/30), 96.6% (28/29), 32.1% (9/28) and 82.1% (69/84) respectively. Results suggest that MAb C27 can be used in immunodetection and radiolocalization of colorectal carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The effect of transcriptional inhibitors on the bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein response to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in osteosarcoma cells.

The stimulation of bone gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein (BGP) synthesis by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) in clonal osteosarcoma cell culture has been analyzed using specific inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis. Addition of actinomycin D or alpha-amanitin simultaneously with 1,25-(OH)2D3 prevented hormonal elevation of BGP levels but did not affect basal BGP synthesis. Neither transcriptional inhibitor had any effect on BGP synthesis in cultures which had already been fully stimulated by 1,25-(OH)2D3. In contrast, the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide blocked BGP synthesis in both untreated and 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated cells. Inhibitor effects on media BGP levels corresponded in all cases to effects on the rapidly turned over intracellular BGP pool. These results support a model of transcriptional control for the action of 1,25-(OH)2D3 and suggest that the hormone elicits a transient burst of transcription of the BGP gene.

Amanitins↗