PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Mei

Publications and source records attributed to L Mei.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[A study on the location of immuno-suppressive factor(s) in restraint rats and mice].

A serum lymphocyte-proliferation suppressive factor(s) induced by restraint stress over 10 h was found in previous studies in both rats and mice. The present study was undertaken to investigate the sites of its production. The results show that large doses of irradiation and cyclophosphamide (CY) decreased the total number of splenic nucleated cells, but the production of the suppressive factor was inhibited only by irradiation. This indicates that the drop in total number of lymphocytes does not play any key role in the production of the serum suppressive factor. Cell classification showed that the ratio of T to B cell was decreased by radiation but increased by CY, suggesting that this ratio may be relevant to the production of the factor. Inhibition of the production was also observed in nude mouse (an animal showing a lack of T cell activity), again supporting that T cells are involved in the production of the inhibitory factor.

Animals↗

[Effect of electroacupuncture tolerance by different frequencies on the cardiovascular inhibition of spinal opioid peptides of the rats].

Continuous 6 hour's electroacupuncture (EA) of 2-15Hz or 2Hz applying to both legs of the rats resulted in the electroacupuncture tolerance (ET). Then, we observed: (1) The effect of 2-15Hz ET on the recovery of mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) of rats after hemorrhagic shock; (2) The change in MAP and HR of rats subjected to 2Hz ET after intrathecally (i. t.) administration of DADLE 25 micrograms, a delta opioid agonist. The results showed that, firstly, there was no difference between 2-15Hz ET group and control group in the recovery of MAp and HR after hemorrhagic shock. Secondly, DADLE (25 micrograms) caused almost the same suppression effect both in 2Hz TE group and in control group. These results suggest that unlike the spinal dorsal horn cells (regulating algesia, the spinal lateral horn cells (regulating blood pressure) are insensitive during EA analgesia and can not be made tolerance to continuous EA.

Acupuncture Analgesia↗

[Study and preparation of Vi-PHA reagent and its application for detection of Salmonella typhi carriers].

Purified S. typhi Vi antigen is sensitized with equal volume of tannic acid treated formalational sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) at a final concentration of 1 microgram/ml. The Vi-passive hemagglutination assay (Vi-PHA) diagnostic reagent is developed to detect Vi antibodies to S. typhi for the detection of chronic carriers after typhoid fever and the screening S. typhi healthy carriers from food-handlers, which is characterized with high sensitivity, strong specificity and good stability. This Vi-PHA reagent is able to detect 1.16 micrograms/ml of Vi antibodies and doesn't make any cross reaction with healthy sera. For the sera of other diseases, the cross rate is only 0.84%. Using this reagent, 19 positive sera (6.93%) are detected from 274 convalescent sera from typhoid fever, 14 convalescents of which are stool-culture S. typhi positive, that persists a positive rate of 73.68%; 3 positive sera are detected from 106 foodhandlers, one of which is stool-culture S. typhi positive. Therefore, the reagent is simple, convenient, rapid and easy to be applicated in basic unit.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Purification and characterization of a protein tyrosine phosphatase which dephosphorylates the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is phosphorylated to a high stoichiometry on tyrosine residues both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, tyrosine phosphorylation has been shown to regulate the functional properties of the receptor. We report here the purification and characterization of a protein tyrosine phosphatase that dephosphorylates tyrosine-phosphorylated nAChR from Torpedo electroplax, a tissue highly enriched in the nAChR. The 32P-labeled tyrosine phosphorylated nAChR was used as a substrate to monitor the enzyme activity during purification. The protein tyrosine phosphatase activity was purified using three consecutive cation-exchange columns (phosphocellulose, S Sepharose Fast Flow, Bio-Rex 70), followed by two affinity matrices (p-aminobenzylphosphonic acid-agarose and thiophosphotyrosyl nAChR-Sepharose 4B). The enzyme activity was purified to homogeneity, with an overall purification of 25,000-fold and a yield of 20%. The purified enzyme had an apparent molecular mass of 43 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels and migrated as a monomer during Superose 12 chromatography. It had a neutral pH optimum and a specific activity of 18 mumol/mg of protein/min, with a Km of 4.7 microM for tyrosine-phosphorylated nAChR. The phosphatase was specific for tyrosine phosphorylated nAChR; it showed no activity towards the nAChR phosphorylated on serine residues by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The enzyme also dephosphorylated 32P-labeled poly(Glu-Tyr) (4:1). However, it did not dephosphorylate p-nitrophenylphosphate. The tyrosine phosphatase was inhibited by ammonium molybdate (IC50 of 2 microM), sodium vanadate (IC50 of 150 microM) and the divalent cations Mg2+, Mn2+, and Ca2+ at millimolar concentrations, but not by 100 microM ZnCl or 10 mM NaF. Poly-(Glu, Tyr) (4:1) and heparin inhibited the enzyme activity at micromolar concentrations. These unique properties of the purified enzyme suggest that it may be a novel protein tyrosine phosphatase that specifically dephosphorylates the nAChR.

Acetylcholine↗

Characterization of recombinant GABAA receptors produced in transfected cells from murine alpha 1, beta 1, and gamma 2 subunit cDNAs.

In order to explore the structural basis of GABAA receptor function, we have expressed murine alpha 1, beta 1, and gamma 2 subunit cDNAs by transient transfection of human 293 cells. Expression of GABAA receptors was measured by ligand binding assay and by electrophysiological analysis. As in other species, expression of the alpha 1 and beta 1 subunits produced a receptor that was insensitive to modulation by benzodiazepines as measured by electrophysiological analysis; however, a small number of flunitrazepam binding sites were detectable. The coexpression of the gamma 2 subunit was found to be essential for this modulation, and also resulted in a dramatic (14-fold) increase in the number of binding sites for flunitrazepam. On the coexpression of all 3 subunit cDNAs, a receptor was produced that exhibited a similar number of binding sites for flunitrazepam and muscimol.

Animals↗

Protein tyrosine kinases and phosphatases in the nervous system.

Evidence in the past year has provided support for a prominent role of tyrosine phosphorylation in the regulation of neuronal function. The discovery that many novel forms of protein tyrosine kinases and phosphatases are expressed in the brain has revealed that the regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation is highly complex. The recent identification of substrate proteins in the brain for the protein tyrosine kinases and phosphatases has begun to clarify the functional role of tyrosine phosphorylation in the development and modulation of the nervous system.

Animals↗

Pharmacologic comparison of selected agonists for the M1 muscarinic receptor in transfected murine fibroblast cells (B82).

The radioligand binding and functional properties of 10 muscarinic agonists for the M1 muscarinic receptors were characterized on the murine fibroblast B82 cells, which have been transfected with the m1 gene. All of the muscarinic agonists completely inhibited [3H](-)methyl-3-quinuclidinyl benzilate binding to the M1 muscarinic receptor in the transfected B82 cells. Their apparent inhibition constant values for agonist/[3H](-)methyl-3-quinuclidinyl benzilate inhibition experiments correlate well with their EC50 values in stimulating phosphatidylinositide hydrolysis. Based on the maximal functional effects: (+)-cismethyl-dioxolane, oxotremorine-M, acetylcholine, carbachol and methacholine are most efficacious, McN-A-343 and arecoline are least efficacious, whereas the efficacies of oxotremorine and pilocarpine are intermediate. In addition, McN-A-343 inhibited carbachol-stimulated phosphatidylinositide hydrolysis. Spare receptors were detected for oxotremorine-M, methacholine and carbachol, but not the rest of the agonists, by comparing the receptor-occupancy curves with the concentration-response curves. These results suggest that the presence of a quaternary nitrogen (trimethylammonium group) within the structure of the agonist may be important for the expression of full agonist activity.

(4-(m-Chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyl)trimethy↗

[Cholecystokinin-octapeptide antagonizes the central depressive effect of opioid peptides in rats].

Cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) has been shown to antagonize the analgesia produced by opioid peptides. The present study was performed to evaluate its effect on cardiovascular regulatory functions of opioids. Both CCK-8 and opioid peptides were injected intrathecally (ith) in pentobarbital anaesthetized rats. The depressive effects induced by the mu agonist PL017 (5 micrograms), delta agonist DADLE (25 micrograms) and kappa agonist 66A-078 (1 microgram) were antagonized by CCK-8 within a dosage of 10 micrograms in a dose dependent manner. CCK-8 can also partly antagonize the bradycardiac effects induced by PL017, DADLE and 66A-078. The antagonistic effect of CCK-8 on DADLE in MAP could be reversed by pretreatment with CCK receptor antagonist proglumide (100 micrograms). No significant changes in MAP were found following ith administration of CCK-8 0.5-10 micrograms and proglumide 100 micrograms, but a large dose (50 micrograms) of CCK-8 lowered MAP dramatically. The results suggest that within a certain range of dose CCK-8 in spinal cord may play an antagonistic role against opioid effects in the regulation of cardiovascular function and this effect of CCK-8 seems to be mediated by CCK receptor. These results support the hypothesis that CCK-8 may act as an anti-opioid substance in the CNS of the rat.

Animals↗

Characterization of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in human labial salivary glands.

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors were studied in human labial salivary glands with (-)-[3H]MQNB. The radioligand bound with a Kd value of 150 pM. The density of muscarinic receptors was 220 fmol/mg protein. Most muscarinic antagonists bound to a homogeneous population of muscarinic receptors in this tissue. However, the inhibition curves of pirenzepine had a Hill slope of 0.57 and could be analyzed by a two site model. These results suggest that the muscarinic receptors in human labial salivary glands are a mixture of M1 and M3 types.

Adult↗

The coupling of muscarinic receptors to hydrolysis of inositol lipids in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.

Carbachol (CCh)-stimulated hydrolysis of inositol lipids in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells was systematically characterized in parallel with the carbachol effects on cAMP formation. Carbachol concentration-dependently induced the hydrolysis of inositol lipids and formation of [3H]IP3, [3H]IP2 and [3H]IP1 in these cells labeled with [3H]inositol. The maximal amount of [3H]IP1 accumulated in the presence of 10 mM LiCl was about 50-fold above the basal level. The EC50 value of CCh was 14 microM. The muscarinic antagonists atropine, pirenzepine and 11-[[2-(diethylamino)methyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-5,11-dihydro- 6H-pyrido [2,3-b] (1,4)-benzodiazepine-6-one (AF-DX 116) competitively inhibited CCh-induced [3H]IP1 accumulation. The functional inhibition constants (converted from the pA2 values) were 0.24, 8.1 and 470 nM, respectively. These values are in good agreement with the inhibition constants of these drugs from antagonist/[3H]pirenzepine studies using intact cells. Forskolin, adenosine and PGE1 stimulated cAMP formation in this cell line. Morphine decreased PGE1-induced cAMP formation as well as the basal cAMP formation. However, CCh did not stimulate or inhibit the basal cAMP formation. Also, CCh did not have any effects on the adenosine and PGE1-induced cAMP formation in these cells. These data suggest that muscarinic M1 receptors are coupled to the hydrolysis of inositol lipids and not to the adenylate cyclase system in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.

Carbachol↗

Molecular pharmacology of muscarinic receptor heterogeneity.

Muscarinic receptors can be pharmacologically classified into 3 types at the present time, however, five genes for the receptor have been identified. The muscarinic receptor types have unique antagonist selectivity, distribution and are linked to specific second messenger systems. The interaction between the muscarinic receptor types and G proteins may depend on the systems in which the receptors are integrated. Expression of the cloned gene in mammalian cells will be useful in delineating the relationships between the pharmacological types of muscarinic receptors and their genes and studying the interactions between the receptor, G proteins, and second messenger coupling.

Animals↗

Pharmacological characterization of the M1 muscarinic receptors expressed in murine fibroblast B82 cells.

The muscarinic receptors in a B82 cell line which were transfected with the rat m1 muscarinic receptor gene (cTB10 cells) were studied by using radioligand binding assays. Their possible coupling to the hydrolysis of inositol lipids and cyclic AMP formation were also investigated. [(-)-[3H]Quinuclidinyl benzilate [(-)-[3H]QNB] binding to the intact cTB10 cells was saturable and displaceable by 1 microM atropine sulfate. The Kd and maximum binding values of (-)-[3H]QNB from saturation studies were 12 pM and 17 fmol/10(6) cells, respectively. Inhibition studies of (-)-[3H]QNB binding to intact cTB10 cells suggested that these muscarinic receptors are of the M1 type defined by their high affinity for pirenzepine and low affinity for AF-DX 116 [11-[2-diethylamino methyl-1-piperidinylacetyl]-5,11-dihydro-6H-pyrido(2,3-b) (1,4)benzodiazepine-6-one]. The muscarinic agonist carbachol stimulated [3H]inositol monophosphate accumulation in the cTB10 cells, which could be reversed by the muscarinic antagonists atropine, pirenzepine or AF-DX 116. The rank order of potency of the muscarinic antagonists in inhibiting carbachol-stimulated [3H]inositol monophosphate accumulation was atropine greater than pirenzepine greater than AF-DX 116, in agreement with that from ligand/(-)-[3H]QNB competition experiments. Pertussis toxin and 4 beta-phorbol, 12-beta-myristate, 13-alpha-acetate reduced carbachol-stimulated [3H]inositol monophosphate accumulation. Prostaglandin E1 stimulated cyclic AMP formation in the cTB10 cells. Carbachol at the concentration of 10 mM exhibited no stimulatory or inhibitor effect on the basal or prostaglandin E1-stimulated cyclic AMP formation. These results suggest that the muscarinic receptors encoded by the transfected m1 gene in the cTB10 cells are of the M1 type and are coupled to the hydrolysis of inositol lipids, possibly via a pertussis toxin sensitive G protein.

Alprostadil↗

The relationship between agonist states of the M1 muscarinic receptor and the hydrolysis of inositol lipids in transfected murine fibroblast cells (B82) expressing different receptor densities.

We studied the relationship between the M1 muscarinic receptor density and the receptor-mediated hydrolysis of inositol lipids in cloned murine fibroblast B82 cells which were transfected with the m1 muscarinic receptor gene. Of the seven clones examined, the M1 muscarinic receptor densities in these cells characterized by (-)[3H]methyl-3-quinuclidinyl benzilate ([-)-[3H]MQNB binding ranged from 12 fmol/10(6) cells in LK3-1 cells to 260 fmol/10(6) cells in the LK3-8 cells. Carbachol/(-)[3H]MQNB competition curves for the LK3-1 cells (with low receptor density) had a Hill coefficient close to unity. The competition curves for carbachol in the clones with higher receptor densities had Hill coefficients less than 1 and were best fitted by a computerized nonlinear least-squares regression program for the two-site model. The percentage of the M1 muscarinic receptors which had high affinity for carbachol decreased as the receptor density increased, suggesting that the presence of endogenous factors in these cells may be important for the agonist affinity state of the receptor. Concentration-response curves for carbachol-stimulated [3H]inositol monophosphate [( 3H]IP1) accumulation were also obtained. A significant correlation was observed between the density of M1 muscarinic receptor with high affinity for carbachol and the maximum [3H]IP1 accumulation in these cells. There is no significant difference among the EC50 values and the dissociation constant of high-affinity state values of the carbachol/(-)[3H] MQNB competition curves. These results suggest that the high-affinity state for carbachol may be the functional state of the M1 muscarinic receptors in these transfected B82 cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Muscarinic receptor-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositols in human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells is sensitive to pertussis toxin.

Effects of pertussis toxin or cholera toxin on carbachol-stimulated inositol-1-phosphate ([3H]IP1) accumulation were studied using the human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y). The maximal carbachol-stimulated [3H]IP1 accumulation in the SH-SY5Y cells was decreased from 51.4 fmol/10(6) cells to 42.4 fmol/10(6) cells (P less than 0.05) and 22.1 fmol/10(6) cells (P less than 0.01) in the absence and presence of 1 microgram/ml and 10 micrograms/ml pertussis toxin, respectively while the EC50 values did not change. Cholera toxin (1 mg/ml) did not alter carbachol-stimulated [3H]IP1 accumulation in these cells. These results suggest that a pertussis toxin sensitive G-protein may be involved in muscarinic receptor-phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis coupling in SH-SY5Y cells.

Carbachol↗