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M Carlevaro

Publications and source records attributed to M Carlevaro.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Extracellular fatty acid binding protein (Ex-FABP) modulation by inflammatory agents: "physiological" acute phase response in endochondral bone formation.

Ex-FABP, extracellular fatty acid binding protein, is a 21 kDa lipocalin expressed in hypertrophic cartilage, muscle and heart during chick embryo development and in granulocytes. Ex-FABP synthesis was increased in chondrocyte and myoblast cultures by inflammatory agents (LPS; IL6) and repressed by antiinflammatory agents. Expression of Ex-FABP and specific gelatinases is paralleled in hypertrophic cartilage; LPS specifically induced high molecular weight gelatinase ( > 200 kDa). LPS-treated hypertrophic chondrocytes showed increased chemotactic activity for endothelial cells paralleled by increased expression of transferrin. A high amount of Ex-FABP was expressed in adult pathological cartilage both in dyschondroplastic and osteoarthritic chickens. Controls were negative. Ex-FABP could represent a stress protein physiologically expressed in tissues where active remodelling is taking place during development and in tissues characterized by an acute phase response due to pathological conditions. We also suggest that during endochondral bone formation other responses characteristic of a local inflammatory status, such as gelatinase production and angiogenic factor secretion, are "physiologically" activated.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗
PubMed1998

Hydration properties of xylitol: computer simulation.

We present a molecular dynamics simulation of xylitol in SPC/E water using classical Gibbs ensemble molecular dynamics simulation. The simulation is done both with and without periodic charge update, and no qualitative difference in the results obtained by both methods is found. The analysis of the radial and angular distribution functions, the water-water hydrogen bond distributions, and water residence times allow the conclusion that there is a relatively strong hydration of xylitol. This polyol adopts a single linear conformation and, from the point of view of the hydration dynamics, it should be classified as positively hydrated.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗
PubMed1996

The developmentally regulated avian Ch21 lipocalin is an extracellular fatty acid-binding protein.

Ch21, a developmentally regulated extracellular protein expressed in chick embryos and in cultured chondrocytes, was expressed in the baculovirus system, and the recombinant protein was purified to homogeneity by gel-filtration chromatography. Separation of two isoforms was achieved on an ion-exchange column. Previous work had shown that Ch21 belongs to the superfamily of lipocalins, which are transport proteins for small hydrophobic molecules. Studies were performed to identify the Ch21 ligand. By analysis of recombinant Ch21 on native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by Lipidex assay, the binding of fatty acid to the protein was shown and a preferential binding of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids was observed. Both isoforms had the same behavior. The binding was saturable. Stoichiometry was about 0.7 mol of ligand/mol of protein. The protein binds the ligand in its monomeric form. Calculated dissociation constants were 2 X 10(-7) M for unsaturated fatty acids and 5 X 10(-7) M for stearic acid. The binding was specific; other hydrophobic molecules, as retinoic acid, progesterone, prostaglandins, and long-chain alcohols and aldehydes did not bind to the protein. Short-chain fatty acids did not bind to the protein. Ch21, also present in chicken serum, represents the first extracellular protein able to selectively bind and transport fatty acid in extracellular fluids and serum. We propose to rename the Ch21 protein as extracellular fatty acid-binding protein (Ex-FABP).

Animals↗