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L G Dobbs

Publications and source records attributed to L G Dobbs.

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An improved method for isolating type II cells in high yield and purity.

A method has been developed for isolating alveolar type II cells by digesting lung tissue with elastase and "panning" the resultant cell suspension on plates coated with IgG. This method provides both high yield and purity of type II cells. In 50 experiments with rats, we obtained 35 +/- 11 X 10(6) cells/rat, 89 +/- 4% of which were type II cells (mean +/- SD). Type II cells isolated by "panning" adhered more rapidly and completely in tissue culture than did cells isolated by centrifugation over discontinuous density gradients of metrizamide. The "panning" method is superior to other methods for isolating type II cells in that it provides a population of type II cells of both high yield and high purity. The method is fast, reproducible, and easily adaptable to isolating type II cells from species other than rats.

Animals↗

Changes in biochemical characteristics and pattern of lectin binding of alveolar type II cells with time in culture.

When cultured on plastic culture dishes for several days, alveolar type II cells gradually lose both their morphologic and biochemical identifying characteristics. Although type II cells cultured on a matrix derived from corneal endothelial cells have previously been reported to retain lamellar bodies for 7-10 days in culture, the ability of type II cells cultured on matrix to synthesize surfactant lipids has not been previously studied. We therefore measured the phospholipid content and the distribution of [14C]acetate into classes of lipids by type II cells maintained in culture. We found no differences between cells cultured on plastic or on matrix. We then studied the binding to type II cells in culture of Maclura pomifera and Ricinus communis I, lectins specific in vivo for type II and type I cells, respectively. We found that the cells progressively bind less M. pomifera and more R. communis I. The change in pattern of lectin binding occurs whether cells are cultured on plastic or matrix, whether lectins are conjugated with fluorescein, rhodamine or ferritin, or whether cells are cultured in the presence or absence of serum. We conclude that type II cells cultured on either tissue culture plastic or matrix derived from corneal endothelial cells lose the ability to synthesize and contain surfactant phospholipids, and, at least in their pattern of lectin binding, become similar to type I cells.

Animals↗

Cholera toxin stimulates secretion of saturated phosphatidylcholine and increases cellular cyclic AMP in isolated rat alveolar type II cells.

We compared the time course of saturated phosphatidylcholine secretion and cellular cyclic AMP concentrations in isolated rat alveolar type II cells following stimulation by cholera toxin, terbutaline, and 12-0-tetradecanoyl-13-phorbol acetate. Secretion of saturated phosphatidylcholine was stimulated by cholera toxin at concentrations from 1.2 X 10(-11) M to 5.0 X 10(-7) M. In time course experiments there was no significant stimulation with cholera toxin before 1 hr; all subsequent points between 90 and 180 min were significantly different from controls. Secretion stimulated by 10 microM terbutaline was similar in magnitude to stimulation by 1.2 X 10(-9) M cholera toxin; stimulation following either of these agonists was higher than control secretion and lower than secretion stimulated by 10 nM 12-0-tetradecanoyl-13-phorbol acetate. Terbutaline caused an early rise in cellular cyclic AMP that peaked within 5 min and then returned to basal level by 60 min. In contrast, cholera toxin did not increase cellular cAMP levels until 60 min after addition, but then produced a sustained increase in cyclic AMP levels for up to 3 hr. In conclusion, we have presented evidence that more than one mechanism exists by which secretion can be stimulated in type II cells. It is likely that both terbutaline and cholera toxin act by stimulating cellular cyclic AMP and that 12-0-tetradecanoyl-13-phorbol acetate acts by a mechanism different from terbutaline or cholera toxin.

Animals↗

Secretion of surfactant by primary cultures of alveolar type II cells isolated from rats.

Pulmonary surfactant conventionally is prepared from material obtained by endobronchial lavage. Although it has been assumed that the components of surfactant are secreted by alveolar type II cells, direct proof of this assumption has not been available. Furthermore, it is possible that the final material obtained by lavage has been modified after secretion or altered during the isolation procedure. It has been shown previously that type II cells, after 1 day in primary culture, secrete saturated phosphatidylcholine, one of the lipid components of surfactant. Because saturated phosphatidylcholine is not unique to surfactant and because type II cells in culture lose differentiated characteristics over the first several days in culture, it has not previously been established how closely the secretory products of cultures of type II cells resemble surfactant as obtained by endobronchial lavage. We therefore studied the morphologic, physical and chemical characteristics of the material that type II cells secrete under basal conditions and after stimulation with terbutaline or 12-O-tetradecanoyl-13-phorbol acetate. The secreted material resembled surfactant obtained by lavage; it was similar morphologically to the lamellar material and tubular myelin seen in the fluid-filled alveoli of fetal rats, it lowered surface tension to 5 mN per meter, and it contained the 72000 dalton apolipoprotein of surfactant (as measured by the 'rocket' immunoelectrophoresis technique). When cells were incubated for 22 h with [1-(14)C]acetate, the distribution of radioactivity in the secreted material was very similar to the phospholipid composition of rat surfactant. We conclude that the material secreted by alveolar type II cells after 1 day in primary culture is similar to surfactant obtained by endobronchial lavage.

Animals↗

Metabolic properties and ultrastructure of alveolar type II cells isolated with elastase.

We used porcine pancreatic elastase to isolate type II cells from the lungs of rats; the yield and purity of the type II cells was better than that obtained by methods using trypsin. In 102 experiments we obtained 82 +/- 23 . 10(6) cells/rat, 68 +/- 11% (mean +/- S.D.) of which type II cells. This preparation of cells, when centrifuged over a discontinuous density gradient, yielded 25 +/- 10 . 10(6) cells/rat, 80 +/- 13% of which were type II cells (n = 102). The cells, after density gradient centrifugation, could be futher purified by centrifugal elutriation (94 +/- 3% type II cells, n = 22) or adherence in primary culture (94 +/- 2% type II cells, n = 34). Type II cells isolated with elastase are similar morphologically and biochemically to type II cells isolated from rats with trypsin. The preparations of cells appeared healthy by several different criteria: ultrastructure, exclusion of vital dye, lack of stimulation of oxygen consumption by exogenous sodium succinate, and linear rates of oxidation of [1-14C]palmitic acid and of incorporation of [1-14C]acetate into fatty acids. Type II cells consumed 75 +/- 20 nmol O2/10(6) cell per h, oxidized [1-14C]palmitic acid at a rate of 0.4 nmol/10(6) cells per h, and incorporated [1-14C]acetate into fatty acids at a rate of 7.5 nmol/10(6) cells per h.

Acetates↗

Synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol by alveolar type II cells in primary culture.

Saturated phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol are important components of pulmonary surface active material. We studied the synthesis of these two phospholipid classes by alveolar type II cells in primary culture. During a 20-h incubation, type II cells incorporated a high percentage of glycerol, acetate, and palmitate into phosphatidylcholine (61.2, 76.4, and 76.8% of lipid radioactivity, respectively) and into phosphatidylglycerol (16.7, 5.8, and 6.6%). Acetate was incorporated principally by de novo synthesis of fatty acids rather than by chain elongation. We studied the pathways for synthesis of saturated phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol with type II cells that had been in culture for 1 day. Palmitate was incorporated nearly equally into positions 1 and 2 of saturated phosphatidylglycerol, but predominantly (72%) into position 2 of saturated phosphatidylcholine. These data imply that saturated phosphatidylcholine is synthesized at least in part by acylation of 1-acyl-2-lysophosphatidylcholine. Alveolar type II cells also incorporated a mixture of saturated 1-[9,10-3H]palmitoyl-2-lysophosphatidylcholine and 1-acyl-2-lysophosphatidyl-[1,2-14C]choline from the medium by direct acylation rather than by transacylation. As the duration of culture increased beyond 1 day, type II cells incorporated a lower percentage of palmitate into phosphatidylglycerol and saturated phosphatidylcholine.

Acetates↗

Pulmonary alveolar type II cells isolated from rats. Release of phosphatidylcholine in response to beta-adrenergic stimulation.

It is unclear what factors control the secretion of pulmonary surface active material from alveolar type II cells in vivo. Other workers have suggested that cholinergic stimuli, adrenergic stimuli, and prostaglandins may all stimulate secretion. We isolated type II cells from the lungs of rats by treatment with elastase, discontinuous density centrifugation, and adherence in primary culture. beta-Adrenergic agonists, but not cholinergic agonists, caused an increase in the release of [(14)C]disaturated phosphatidylcholine, the major component of surface-active material, from type II cells in culture. The beta-adrenergic effect was stereo-selective, (-)-isoproterenol being 50 times more potent than (+)-isoproterenol. Terbutaline, 10 muM, a noncatecholamine beta-2 adrenergic agonist, caused a release of 2.0+/-0.5 (mean+/-SD) times the basal release of [(14)C]disaturated phosphatidylcholine in 3 h; the concentration of terbutaline causing half maximal stimulation was 800 nM. The terbutaline effect was blocked by propranolol, a beta-adrenergic antagonist (calculated K(d) = 6 nM), but not by phentolamine, an alpha-adrenergic antagonist. Isobutylmethylxanthine, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and 8-Br cyclic AMP, but not 8-Br cyclic guanosine monophosphate, also stimulated release. We conclude that type II cells secrete disaturated phosphatidylcholine in response to treatment with adrenergic stimulation.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

The epidemiology of hepatitis B infection in housestaff.

Ninety-nine medical and surgical house officers were prospectively evaluated during internship and residency for the development of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The overall incidence of hepatitis B was 10.2% per year. Eighty-six percent of episodes were subclinical. The greatest risk factor appeared to be frequent hand-to-mouth activity such as smoking or licking requisition labels. The presence of a hemodialysis or transplantation unit may be an additional institutional risk factor. HBV infection was not associated with a history of needle-sticks or contact with known antigen-positive patients. Educational efforts to minimize HBV infection should concentrate on handwashing techniques and discouragement of hand-to-mouth activity in patient care areas.

Habits↗

Stimulation of secretion of disaturated phosphatidylcholine from isolated alveolar type II cells by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-13-phorbol acetate.

Alveolar type II synthesize and secrete pulmonary surface-active material; the stimuli for secretion in vivo and the mechanisms by which secretion occurs are not well understood. We studied the secretion of disaturated phosphatidylcholine, the principal component of surfactant, from a purified population of type II cells. We isolated type II type from the lungs of adult male rats by treatment with trypsin, centrifugation over discontinuous density gradients, and adherence in primary culture; our preparations were 93 +/- 5 per cent (mean +/- SD; n = 10) type II cells. Basal secretion was 2.9 +/- 1.0 per cent (n = 16) of total cellular carbon-14 [14C]-disaturated phosphatidycholine in 3 hours. We found that 10(-8) M 12-O-tetradecanoyl-13-phorbol-acetate (TPA), a substance that has been shown to stimulate secretion in other cell systems, caused a release of 14C-disaturated phosphatidylcholine that was 8.4 times the basal rate. TPA caused a greater release of disaturated phosphatidylcholine than did any other substance that we have tested. Low temperature (4 degree C) inhibited the basal release by 85 per cent and the TPA-stimulated release by 98 per cent. The effect of TPA was also inhibited 25 per cent by 10(-6) M colchicine and 33 per cent by 10(-5) M vinblastine. Medium from control cells contained 6.3 +/- 1.3 per cent (mean +/- SD; n = 5) of total cellular lactate dehydrogenase (a marker for cell damage) after a 3-hour incubation period; medium from cells treated with TPA contained a similar amount, 6.7 +/- 1.5 per cent (n = 5). We concluded that the TPA-induced secretion of disaturated phosphatidylcholine is an active process probably mediated by microtubules. Because it has a large stimulatory effect on secretion, TPA may be useful for the study of the mechanisms by which surfactant is secreted.

Animals↗