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Biomedical subjects

L M Green

Publications and source records attributed to L M Green.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Cancer mortality in workers exposed to chlorophenoxy herbicides and chlorophenols.

Epidemiological studies have revealed an increased risk of cancer, notably soft-tissue sarcomas and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, in people occupationally exposed to chlorophenoxy herbicides, including those contaminated by 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). We report here a historical cohort study of mortality in an international register of 18,910 production workers or sprayers from ten countries. Exposure was reconstructed through questionnaires, factory or spraying records, and job histories. Cause-specific national death rates were used as reference. No excess was observed in all-cause mortality, for all neoplasms, for the most common epithelial cancers, or for lymphomas. A statistically non-significant two-fold excess risk, based on 4 observed deaths, was noted for soft-tissue sarcoma with a standardised mortality ratio (SMR) of 196 and 95% confidence interval (Cl) 53-502; this was concentrated as a six-fold statistically significant excess, occurring 10-19 years from first exposure in the cohort as a whole (SMR = 606 [165-1552]) and, for the same time period, as a nine-fold excess among sprayers (SMR = 882 [182-2579]). Risks appeared to be increased for cancers of the testicle, thyroid, other endocrine glands, and nose and nasal cavity, based on small numbers of deaths. The excess of soft-tissue sarcomas among sprayers is compatible with a causal role of chlorophenoxy herbicides but the excess does not seem to be specifically associated with those herbicides probably contaminated by TCDD.

2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗
PubMed1991

Dysplasia and the natural history of cervical cancer: early results of the Toronto Cohort Study.

A sample of 176,808 Pap smears, taken from 70,236 women, was constructed from the records of a large cytopathology laboratory between 1962 and 1981. The prevalence of cervical dysplasia, based on the distribution of initial smear results, rose from 42.7 to 94.9 per 1000 during the study period. The relative risks (RR) for the manifestation of a malignancy (carcinoma in situ or worse) in a subsequent cervical smear were 1.48, 3.42, 20.9 and 71.5 for women with minimal, mild, moderate and severe dysplasia, respectively, compared with the entire cohort. The initial degree of dysplasia for women developing a malignancy was much more likely to be interpreted as moderate (RR = 5.0) or severe (RR = 42.3) than were those for controls. These results are strongly supportive of the hypothesis that the degree of dysplasia is related to the risk of development of cancer of the cervix.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

An abnormal T cell repertoire in hypergammaglobulinaemic primary Sjögren's syndrome.

T cell antigen specificity is determined by the products of the genes which encode the variable regions of their receptors. Of the T cell receptor (TCR) variable region gene products examined, only V beta 6.7a TCR-positive lymphocytes were reduced in primary Sjögren's syndrome patients with IgG1 hypergammaglobulinaemia compared with an age-, sex- and HLA-matched control population. The levels of V beta 6.7a T cells were also significantly reduced when these patients were compared with an age- and sex-matched but HLA-unmatched control group and non-tissue typed normal people of both sexes. Since published studies show no such abnormality in rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus or other autoimmune diseases, this abnormality may reflect a pathogenic process specific to primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

A cohort mortality study of forestry workers exposed to phenoxy acid herbicides.

A cohort mortality study was undertaken of forestry workers at a public electrical utility who had worked for six months or more during 1950-82 and who were routinely exposed to herbicides including phenoxy acids. A total of 1222 men with 25 274 years at risk experienced 80 deaths. Ascertainment of vital state at the end of follow up was 95.5%. The male population of the province (Ontario) was used as the reference group. Overall, no excess mortality was found in this cohort relative to the reference population. A statistically significant increase in deaths occurred, however, due to suicide (SMR = 210, 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 105-376) for the cohort as a whole. No deaths were seen due to cancers such as soft tissue sarcoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that have been cited by other authors as being associated with exposure to phenoxy acid herbicides. Although the cohort is not large, the absence of deaths due to these cancers is consistent with findings from other studies with sufficient numbers to allow examination of specific risks. The cohort is still young, however, and at the end of follow up most had not reached an age when increased incidence of cancer would normally be expected.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Retroviral nucleocapsid protein-metal ion interactions: folding and sequence variants.

Retroviral nucleocapsid proteins contain one or two proposed metal-binding sequences of the form Cys-Xaa2-Cys-Xaa4-His-Xaa4-Cys. Previously, we reported that an 18-amino acid peptide derived from the nucleocapsid protein of Rauscher murine leukemia virus (RMLV) binds metals such as Co2+ and Zn2+. We have now synthesized the entire nucleocapsid protein from RMLV. We report here that the protein also binds Co2+ and Zn2+ and does so with a higher affinity than does the peptide. Limited proteolysis and circular dichroism studies reveal that metal binding induces folding of the metal-binding domain and, perhaps, the regions adjacent to it but the remainder of the protein remains in a relatively unstructured state. In addition, we have synthesized sequence variants of the metal-binding domain that correspond to viral mutations reported in the literature. In many cases, the metal-binding properties of these peptides correlate with the observed biological activity, providing further evidence for the importance of metal binding to nucleocapsid function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Cytotoxicity mediated by tumor necrosis factor in variant subclones of the ME-180 cervical carcinoma line: modulation by specific inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase II.

The mechanism of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced cytotoxicity has been investigated using two clonal variants of the ME-180 human cervical carcinoma cell line. The clonal lines were characterized with respect to their expression of TNF receptors, kinetics of cell death, and their ability to communicate intercellularly through gap junctions. The ME-180.4 and ME-180.8 clones were identified by their relative sensitivity to TNF induced lysis in a 24-h assay. The dose of TNF required to kill 50% of the target cells was 60 pM for the sensitive ME-180.4 and 2.5 nM for the ME-180.8. However, when assay times were extended, the dose response for both clones was the same, indicating that a difference in the kinetics of cell death and not absolute TNF sensitivity existed between the ME-180.4 and ME-180.8 clones. Both clones were gap junction deficient as judged by their inability to transfer Lucifer yellow or 6-carboxyfluorescein, a characteristic phenotype of cells sensitive to cytotoxicity by TNF. The level of surface receptor expressed on these clones was nearly identical with a Kd = 0.3 nM and 5,000 binding sites per cell. Measurement of the kinetics of cell death revealed that the time between the addition of TNF and the onset of observed cell death (induction phase) was much shorter for the ME-180.4 (32-55 h) than for the resistant ME-180.8 (55-80 h). Mitomycin C, a DNA alkylating agent, significantly reduced the length of the induction phase for both clones, although the kinetic difference between the clones remained unchanged. Two epipodophyllotoxins, VP-16 and VM-26, which specifically inhibit the rejoining activity of DNA topoisomerase II, showed a 10-100-fold synergistic effect when combined with TNF as shown by isobologram analysis. VM-26 when added to the resistant ME-180.8 clones decreased the length of induction phase and abolished the kinetic difference observed with the ME-180.4 clone. These results indicate that the variance in the TNF response of these two clones was closely associated with DNA topoisomerase II, and suggest that this enzyme may play an important role in TNF mediated cytotoxicity.

Cell Communication↗
PubMed1989

A retroviral Cys-Xaa2-Cys-Xaa4-His-Xaa4-Cys peptide binds metal ions: spectroscopic studies and a proposed three-dimensional structure.

Retroviral gag gene-encoded core nucleic acid binding proteins contain either one or two sequences of the form Cys-Xaa2-Cys-Xaa4-His-Xaa4-Cys. Previously, one of us has proposed that these sequences form metal-binding domains in analogy with the "zinc finger" domains first observed in transcription factor IIIA. We report that an 18-amino acid peptide derived from the core nucleic acid binding protein from Rauscher murine leukemia virus binds metal ions such as Co2+ and Zn2+. The absorption spectrum of the peptide-Co2+ complex is highly suggestive of tetrahedral coordination involving three cysteinates and one histidine. Titration experiments indicate that the dissociation constant for the peptide-Co2+ complex is 1.0 microM and that Zn2+ binds more tightly than Co2+. A detailed three-dimensional structure for this domain based on conserved substructures in other crystallographically characterized metalloproteins and on a detailed analysis of the Cys-Xaa2-Cys-Xaa4-His-Xaa4-Cys sequences from retroviruses and other related sources is proposed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Cytotoxicity by tumor necrosis factor is linked with the cell cycle but does not require DNA synthesis.

The relationship between the kinetics of cell death induced by TNF and the cell cycle in L929.10 target cells was investigated by comparison of growing, asynchronous cells with target cells synchronized at G1/S using a double thymidine block. The induction phase of lysis, the time following TNF addition but before loss of cell viability, was shortened in asynchronous cells by increasing the level of saturation of the TNF receptor. However, in synchronized target cells, the length of the induction phase showed no dependence on receptor occupancy. Almost all cell death occurred within a 3 hr period 4-7 hr after the addition of TNF regardless of the concentration of TNF. Target cell lysis in synchronized cells was concomitant with mitosis as verified by flow cytometry and DNA staining with propidium iodide. The narrow window of cytotoxicity was not due to cell cycle-related changes in the expression of the TNF receptor as measured by [125I]TNF binding. Treatment with TNF did not accelerate or retard the progression of cells through S and G2/M nor did target cells accumulate at G2/M. When the kinetic experiments were repeated in the presence of 2 mM thymidine, TNF-treated cells died with identical dose and kinetic responses as those in which the thymidine block had been removed. Under these conditions, flow cytometric analysis revealed that DNA synthesis remained inhibited. These results suggest that TNF-induced cytotoxicity is linked to cell cycle-associated processes and that TNF is capable of overriding the normal cellular controls that coordinately link the DNA replicative cycle with the mitotic cycle. In the L929.10 target cell, TNF may induce a fatal mitosis-linked event.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The relationship of receptor occupancy to the kinetics of cell death mediated by tumor necrosis factor.

An analysis of the relationship between TNF receptor occupancy and the kinetics of cell death has been conducted in the sensitive L929.10 murine fibrosarcoma cell line. The receptor affinity and number, measured by competitive and saturation binding assays with human 125I-TNF, is consistent with a single class of binding sites having a Kd = 1.5 nM and 7,000 sites/cell. Human lymphotoxin competed equally well with TNF for binding to the receptor. Determination of the kinetics of L929.10 cell death as a function of TNF concentration revealed three sequential phases to the cytolytic process: An induction phase, that lasted 4 to 9 hrs after the addition of TNF, in which no cell death occurred; the burst phase in which cells died at a rate of 12 to 14% per hr; and the third phase, termed the slow lytic phase, was characterized by a rate of lysis of 1 to 2% per hr. Two parameters, the length of the induction phase and the percentage of cells killed in the burst phase, were dependent on TNF receptor occupancy. Both of these receptor dependent processes were maximized at 10% receptor occupancy. Half maximal lysis of the L929.10 clone was achieved at 10 pM or 0.67% receptor occupancy. In contrast, the rates of cell death during the burst phase and the slow lytic phase were independent of the concentration of TNF. Mitomycin C, an antitumor drug that alkylates and crosslinks DNA, enhanced the sensitivity of the L929.10 cells to TNF mediated lysis by modulating both of the TNF receptor dependent processes and by doubling the (apparent) rate of cell death (22 to 25%/hr) during the burst phase. These results suggest a direct relationship exists between the strength of the TNF-receptor signal and nuclear events, perhaps those associated with processes involved in DNA replication or cell division, during the cytotoxic reaction induced by these inflammatory cytokines.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Cytotoxic lymphokines produced by cloned human cytotoxic T lymphocytes. II. A novel CTL-produced cytotoxin that is antigenically distinct from tumor necrosis factor and alpha-lymphotoxin.

We have cloned lines of IL 2-dependent human T cells derived from alloantigen, soluble antigen (tetanus toxoid), mitogen, or IL 2-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes and characterized their surface marker expression and cytolytic activity. The surface phenotype and cytolytic function was compared with the ability of these T cell clones to release cytotoxic lymphokines in response to mitogenic lectins. The cytotoxins released by these CTL clones were detected on the murine L929 target cells in a 16-hr assay. All of the T cell clones, whether stimulated by HLA alloantigens, tetanus toxoid, or mitogens, exhibited killer cell activity and the capacity to secrete a soluble cytotoxin(s). Specific polyclonal antisera to recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rTNF) and human alpha-lymphotoxin (alpha LT) were unable to neutralize the cytotoxic activity released by most of these CTL clones. These results indicate that human CTL produce a novel antigenic form(s) of cytotoxin that we have termed CTL-toxin. Supernatants from several CTL clones yielded a cytotoxic activity that was partially neutralized (10 to 40%) by saturating levels of anti-TNF (but not anti-alpha LT) indicating that human CTL may be capable of producing a TNF-like molecule. Only two out of 60 CTL clones studied thus far produced a cytotoxic activity that was partially neutralized by anti-alpha LT (20 to 40%). Collectively, these results suggest that although both the CD4 and the CD8 subpopulations of human cytotoxic T cells may be capable of releasing several types of cytotoxins in response to mitogenic signals, the predominant cytotoxin is distinct from alpha LT and TNF.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1986

Human T cell hybridomas producing cytotoxic lymphokines: induction of lymphotoxin release and killer cell activity by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody or lectins and phorbol ester.

Human T cell hybrids were constructed between lectin-activated peripheral blood lymphocytes and CEM.TET1, a variant of the CEM T lymphoblastoid cell line. Hybrids were screened for their ability to produce cytotoxic lymphokines and interleukin-2 (IL-2) following lectin activation. Five hybrids were identified that released significant levels (greater than 75 units/ml) of cytotoxic activity that was detected on the murine L929 target cells; three hybrids were identified that produced IL-2. Cell surface phenotype of the T cell hybrids did not correlate with their ability to produce these lymphokines. The II-23 hybrid (CD3+;4+) produced an inducible cytotoxic activity that was fully neutralized by anti-lymphotoxin antibodies. The release of lymphotoxin (LT) rapidly attained maximum levels 12 hrs to 24 hrs after lectin activation; IL-2 production was maximum at 48 hrs. The induction of LT and IL-2 release required similar membrane stimulating agents. The phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) in combination with phytohemagglutinin or concanavalin A, were required for maximal release of LT and IL-2. Anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies coupled to agarose, but not anti-T200-agarose, induced the release of high levels of LT and IL-2. Soluble anti-CD3 was not sufficient to induce IL-2 or LT release from the II-23 hybrid; however, soluble anti-CD3 combined with PMA was a strong stimulus for lymphotoxin and IL-2 release. The II-23 hybrid also functioned as a cytotoxic T cell line in a 51Chromium release assay. Induction of killer cell function required similar perturbation of Ti/CD3 complex. This human T cell hybrid line offers an inducible model system for the simultaneous study of the molecular events regulating the production of growth inhibitory/cytotoxic (LT) and growth promoting (IL-2) lymphokines and cytotoxic T cell function.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗