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Biomedical subjects

M G Damber

Publications and source records attributed to M G Damber.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Cell lines with spontaneous secretion of pregnancy-associated alpha 2-globulin.

Pregnancy-associated alpha 2-globulin (PA alpha 2G) was quantitated by radioimmunoassay in culture media from 34 exponentially growing human cell lines. Only 8/34 cell lines produced PA alpha 2G. The highest secretion was found in cell lines of histiocytic lymphoma origin while it was low in some carcinoma-derived lines. The results may support an assumption that PA alpha 2G is a normal cell product of B-lymphoid, monocytic and epithelial cells but may also simply indicate that ectopic PA alpha 2G production is especially common in tumors derived from such cells. The availability of PA alpha 2G-producing cell lines should facilitate studies of the immunoregulatory role of this protein.

Alpha-Globulins↗
PubMed1979

Association between Duffy blood groups and serum level of the pregnancy zone protein.

In a previous study of psoriatic patients we found increased serum levels of the pregnancy zone protein (PZ) in individuals of blood groups O and Fy(a-). In this study we found an association between the PZ serum level and the Fy(a-) blood group also in young healthy males. Thus the association between the PZ serum level and Duffy blood groups appears to apply to both normal and pathological conditions.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed1979

Serum levels of total dehydroepiandrosterone and total estrone in postmenopausal women with special regard to carcinoma of the uterine corpus.

Serum levels of total dehydroepiandrosterone and total estrone were determined in 18 postmenopausal women with carcinoma of the uterine corpus (stage I, grade 1-3) and in 40 healthy postmenopausal women. Elevated levels of both steroids were found in the carcinoma group, for dehydroepiandrosterone 2010+/-195 vs. 1299+/-117 nM, p less than 0.01, and for estrone 2,38+/-0.24 vs. 1.36+/-0.11 nM, p less than 0.001. Dehydroepiandrosterone as well as the precursors of estrone are almost exclusively of adrenal origin in the postmenopausal woman. Thus these findings indicate a role of the adrenal cortex in the etiology of corpus carcinoma, either by providing increased levels of substrate for the peripheral synthesis of estrone or a direct action of adrenal androgens on the endometrial tissue.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

A new and sensitive method for quantifying and comparing the biological potency of varius estrogens in man.

The serum level of an estrogen-inducible plasma protein was followed by a radioimmunoassay in groups of women during treatment with various estrogens. After an initial increase, the mean value for the serum concentration was stable. The plateau level after six months of treatment was taken as a parameter of estrogenic potency. Eleven different hormonal preparations were compared and an estrogen index was constructed.

Contraceptives, Oral, Sequential↗
PubMed1979

Serum levels of placental alkaline phosphatase in high-risk pregnancies.

A recently developed radioimmunoassay (RIA) for placental alkaline phosphatase (paf) was used to estimate the maternal serum levels of the enzyme in 51 women with various complications of pregnancy. The results were compared with a reference group of 242 women with apparently normal pregnancies. Women with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) or severe or mild preeclampsia had significantly low weight of the fetoplacental unit. Simultaneous determinations of PAF in maternal serum and the urinary total estrogen/24 hr gave a clear differentiation of the IUGR group from the other pregnancies at risk. All PAF values from risk pregnancies were below the mean values of normal pregnancy.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1978

A double antibody solid phase radioimmunoassay for placental alkaline phosphatase.

A solid-phase "direct" radioimmunoassay for determination of placental alkaline phosphatase in serum was developed. The assay is highly sensitive, with a minimum detectable dose of 9 ng protein per ml. The specificity for the placental type of the enzyme, in comparison to other serum alkaline phosphatases, was found to be convincing. The choice of genetic types of either placental alkaline phosphatase or antiserm was found not to influence the radioimmunoassay. With the described technique the serum concentration of this enzyme during normal pregnancy was measured. A 25-fold increase from low levels during the first trimester up to 252 +/- 70 ng/ml (mean +/- S.D.) in gestation week 40 was observed.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1978

Polymorphonuclear leucocyte function during pregnancy.

Polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) function was studied in pregnant women and related to the serum concentration of pregnancy zone protein (PZP) and to mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) reactivity. Neutrophil chemotaxis was depressed in pregnant women. Pregnancy serum inhibited the MLC-reaction. The serum levels of PZP were inversely related to chemotactic responsiveness (P less than 0.05) and depression of MLC reactivity (P less than 0.01). The capacity to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium was depressed in PMNs from pregnant women, and pregnancy serum inhibited phagocytosis of Escherichia coli by control PMNs. Neutrophils from pregnant women showed increased chemiluminescence during phagocytosis of zymosan. The results may be explained by depression of ingestion by pregnancy serum and increased oxidative metabolism in PMNs from pregnant women.

Chemotaxis, Leukocyte↗
PubMed1978

Serum pregnancy-associated alpha2-glycoprotein levels in autoimmune diseases.

Serum pregnancy-associated alpha2-glycoprotein (alpha2-PAG) levels have been measured in patients with a variety of proven non-organ specific and organ-specific autoimmune diseases and in age and sex-matched hospital outpatient and inpatient controls. Significantly lower alpha2-PAG levels were only observed in patients with thyrotoxicosis and in patients with atrophic gastritis accompanied by megaloblastic anaemia. In the latter case a significant inverse correlation between alpha2-PAG and haemoglobin levels was noted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Immunosuppressive effect of human pregnancy zone protein on H-2 incompatible mouse heart allografts.

Human pregnancy zone protein (PZP) given intraveneously, significantly (p less than 0.001) prolonged the survival of heterotopic A/J heart transplants in A.CA recipients, compared to untreated control recipients, recipients treated with phosphate buffered saline and recipients treated with a control preparation from male serum. The results support the hypothesis that PZP protein exerts an unspecific immunosuppressive effect in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Purification of the pregnancy zone protein by affinity chromatography.

A method for purification of the pregnancy zone protein (PZP) by affinity chromatography was developed. A monospecific immunoglobulin fraction, covalently coupled to Sepharose 4B, was used as binding agent and the elution conditions for PZP are described. The purified protein was shown to have identical properties compared to native PZP with regard to molecular weight, immunodiffusion precipitation and immunosuppressive activity.

Alpha-Globulins↗
PubMed1978

Prognostic value of the pregnancy zone protein during early pregnancy in spontaneous abortion.

The concentration of pregnancy zone (PZ) protein in maternal serum during early normal pregnancy was followed in a prospective study of 261 pregnant women. A marked increase which followed an exponential function was found and a theoretic onset of induction at the time for implantation was calculated. Women with a later spontaneous abortion had low values. The prognostic relevance of PZ determinations was studied and values from women who later had a spontaneous abortion were compared to those from normal pregnancies. The prognostic value of PZ protein was compared to that of hCG and progesterone. PZ and hCG assays had the same prognostic accuracy concerning the outcome of pregnancy while determinations of progesterone were less valuable.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1977

The immunological paradox of pregnancy.

During a normal pregnancy the fetus can be regarded as a transplant inside the uterus. The reason why this transplant is not rejected is still unclear. In this work various models for this immunological paradox and recent results within the field of pregnancy immunology are discussed. From an immunological point of view the development of a normal pregnancy is almost impossible. During all stages the embryo can be regarded as a transplant (4), but instead of the expected rejection an intimate parasitic graft - host relationship is established. The sperm has already been shown to be the carrier of transplantation antigens and thus theoretically capable of initiating an immune response. The fertilized egg also carries transplantation antigens on its surface after the first division. Foreign transplantation antigens release in the receiver a cell mediated immune reaction, which normally causes a rejection within some weeks.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Basic levels of the immuno suppressive serum protein PZ in women-influence of age, parity, gonadotrophins and estrogens.

The basic levels of the pregnancy zone protein (PZ) were measured by a radio-immunoassay, in 270 women of various age. All women were apparently healthy taking no drugs. Values were correlated to age, parity, gonadotrophins and estrogens. A significant age dependent increase was found for PZ while no influence could be attributed to the other factors studied. The present results emphasize that the age dependent variation of PZ concentration should be considered when clinical data of this protein are evaluated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Increased serum levels of the pregnancy zone protein in psoriasis.

On the basis of immunological studies on psoriasis in recent years, it seems probable that immunological mechanisms are of importance and that psoriasis could be regarded as an immunogenetic disease. In this study, increased serum levels of an immunosuppressive factor, the pregnancy zone protein (PZ), were found in psoriatic patients. Patients with elevated levels (greater than 2 S.D. units) of PZ showed a positive association with continuous symptoms and a negative association with blood groups A and Fy(a+b-). Thus, induction of PZ occurs mainly in psoriatic patients who have a particular genetic constitution. The results support the hypothesis that PZ is not only an immunosuppressive but also an immunoreactive protein.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

On the occurrence of the pregnancy zone protein (PZ) in gynecological cancer.

Reports have been made that the pregnancy zone protein (PZ) is found in increased amounts in sera of patients with malignant disease. The serum concentration of PZ was measured by a radioimmunoassay in 83 women with the diagnosis of gynaecological cancer or other malignancies. Values did not significantly differ from values previously recorded in apparently healthy women. There was no support for previous data of increased levels of PZ in cancer patients, when the age-dependent increase of this serum factor was considered.

Adolescent↗