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Biomedical subjects

M K Armstrong

Publications and source records attributed to M K Armstrong.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Arachidonic acid suppression of fatty acid synthase gene expression in cultured rat hepatocytes.

Rat hepatocytes were maintained in a serum-free, hormonally defined medium supplemented with 50-500 microM albumin-bound 20:1 (n-9) vs 20:4 (n-6). The induction of fatty acid synthase mRNA by a mix of insulin/dexamethasone/T3 was inhibited in a dose dependent fashion by 20:4 (n-6). The abundance of beta-actin mRNA was not suppressed by 20:4 (n-6). The expression of fatty acid synthase was actually stimulated 2-fold by 20:1 (n-9). It would appear that the in vivo inhibition of fatty acid synthase gene expression by dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids is a specific hepatocelluar event.

Animals

The purification and characterization of a fatty acid binding protein specific to pig (Sus domesticus) adipose tissue.

Western-blot analysis using antiserum to 3T3-L1-cell fatty acid binding protein (FABP) revealed that pig adipose tissue contains a 15 kDa protein immunologically similar to the murine protein. This 15 kDa protein was purified from pig adipose tissue by sequential application of Sephadex G-50 gel filtration, cation exchange and covalent chromatography on Thiol-Sepharose-4B. The purity of the pig protein was established by two-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Isoelectric focusing indicated that the pig adipose FABP (a-FABP) exists with two charge isoforms (pI 5.1 and 5.2), both of which persist after delipidation. The N-terminus of the purified pig a-FABP was blocked; however, cleavage with CNBr allowed recovery of a 12-amino-acid peptide which was identical with the murine a-FABP sequence (residues 36-48) at 10 of 12 positions. The pig a-FABP bound 12-(9-anthroyloxy)oleic acid saturably and stoichiometrically, with an apparent dissociation constant of 1.0 microM. Northern-blot analysis using the cDNA for the murine 3T3-L1 FABP revealed that the pig a-FABP was expressed exclusively in adipose tissue.

Adipose Tissue

Nutritional control of rat liver fatty acid synthase and S14 mRNA abundance.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the change in abundance of S14 and fatty acid synthase (FAS) mRNAs under a variety of nutritional conditions to evaluate the hypothesis that the regulation of the S14 gene is similar to that of other proteins involved in lipid metabolism and that changes in S14 expression are comparable to those that occur in FAS expression. Livers from rats fed a high carbohydrate diet were found to contain 350- and 100-fold more S14 and FAS mRNA than livers from rats fasted for 48 h. Although feeding a high fat diet increased S14 and FAS mRNA above fasting (P less than 0.05), the level of S14 and FAS mRNAs was only 5% and 4%, respectively, of the amount in the high carbohydrate group. Both S14 and FAS mRNAs accumulated quickly upon intubation of fasted rats with a solution of sucrose. The earliest rise in these mRNAs occurred within 60 min; by 240 min after gavage, each mRNA had increased 30-fold. The rapid induction of FAS and S14 mRNAs was also observed during ingestion of a high glucose meal. Hepatic FAS and S14 mRNA decreased 80-90% and 60%, respectively, during the 21-h interval between meals. This degree of mRNA loss was estimated to require a half-life for FAS and S14 mRNA of less than 8 h and less than 12 h, respectively. Regression analysis of the three dietary studies revealed a correlation coefficient for the relationship between S14 and FAS mRNA abundance ranging between 0.88 and 0.96.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue

Dietary polyunsaturated fats uniquely suppress rat liver fatty acid synthase and S14 mRNA content.

The objective of these studies was to demonstrate that dietary polyunsaturated, but not saturated, fatty acids decrease mRNA abundance for fatty acid synthase (FAS) and S14. A series of experiments involving adult and weanling rats was designed to examine the ability of saturated (tripalmitin), (n-9) monounsaturated (triolein), (n-6) di-unsaturated (safflower oil), and (n-3) polyenic (fish oil) fatty acids to suppress the gene expression of FAS and S14. Dietary polyunsaturated fats reduced by 75-90% the hepatic abundance of FAS and S14 mRNA. Fish oil, rich in 20- and 22-carbon polyenic fatty acids, was more effective than safflower oil, whereas tripalmitin and triolein were without effect. Polyunsaturated fats were also very effective at preventing the rise in FAS and S14 mRNA associated with weaning. The inhibitory action of polyunsaturated fat was rapidly (less than 3 h) removed by deleting the fat from the meal. Regression analysis revealed a high correlation (0.81-0.94) between FAS and S14 expression among the various dietary studies. These data support the hypothesis that dietary polyunsaturated fats uniquely regulate the gene expression of lipogenic enzymes and that the mediator is likely a specific entity derived from the long-chain polyenic fatty acids. Moreover, the high correlation between FAS and S14 expression supports the hypothesis that S14 is a member of the lipogenic protein family and has potential as a model gene for the study of FAS expression.

Animals

Cellular lipid binding proteins: expression, function, and nutritional regulation.

The membrane transport and cytosolic solubilization of hydrophobic ligands, including sterols, fatty acids, retinoids, and certain hydrophobic carcinogens, are facilitated by a group of similar low molecular weight proteins: plasma membrane transport protein, fatty acid binding proteins, sterol carrier protein, and retinoid binding proteins. The cellular content of these proteins, which establishes the capacity of a cell to utilize the various ligands, is determined by events regulating transcription and translation, e.g., the mRNA abundance of liver- and gut-type FABPs is increased by dietary fat, and translation of hepatic FABP appears to be stimulated by insulin. Functions attributable to these lipid binding proteins remain unclear, but data are presented that indicate physiological roles in 1) fatty acid transport, esterification, and oxidation, 2) steroidogenesis, and 3) retinoid uptake, retinaldehyde reduction, and retinol esterification. An exciting and novel prospect for cellular trafficking proteins is the role they may play in regulating gene expression. In this respect, cellular lipid binding proteins, e.g., retinoid binding proteins, may deliver their ligands to nuclear trans-acting proteins, and thereby modulate genes coding for key proteins involved in lipid metabolism or differentiation. Even though the functions of these proteins still need to be unequivocally established, it is clear that they are important in the overall homeostasis of lipid metabolism.

Animals

Use of lactate as a base in hemodialysis.

The purpose of our study was to investigate the feasibility of using lactate as a complete or partial substitute for acetate in hemodialysis solutions. Six patients, each serving as his own control, were dialyzed once against a dialysis solution containing 40 mM acetate, once against a dialysis solution containing 40 mM DL-lactate and once against a dialysis solution containing 20 mM each of acetate and DL-lactate. Six additional patients underwent hemodialysis using acetate + lactate for a 3-week period, and the blood acid-base values during this period were compared to those obtained during periods when acetate was used. All dialysis treatments were well tolerated without hypotension or other clinical manifestations. When acetate + lactate was used, only a slight delay in the correction of acidosis during dialysis occurred and the net change in the plasma bicarbonate value appeared to be comparable to that measured with acetate. On the other hand, when lactate was used, the increase in the plasma bicarbonate level during and immediately after dialysis was reduced. With acetate + lactate, intradialytic blood D-lactate levels remained between 1 and 2 mM and returned promptly to near baseline within 1 h after dialysis. During 3 weeks of dialysis using acetate + lactate, predialysis plasma bicarbonate values were similar to those achieved when using acetate, but with acetate + lactate, the intradialytic plasma acetate levels were reduced by 50%. The results suggest that DL-lactate merits further evaluation as a potential base for hemodialysis solutions, and that both the D- and the L-lactate isomers are metabolized in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Acetates

The effect of ethanol or sorbitol on glucose production from pyruvate in isolated hepatocytes from 48-hour fasted guinea-pigs.

Hepatocytes isolated from 48-hour, fasted guinea-pigs were incubated with glucose precursors to compare relative rates of glucose production. Glucose production from lactate and pyruvate was similar (2.61 vs 3.18 mumol/hr per 100 mg wet weight). Glucose production from fructose was greater than that from sorbitol (4.68 vs 1.63 mumol/hr per 100 mg wet weight). When ethanol was added to pyruvate-containing buffer, the flux of pyruvate to glucose and lactate was synergistically enhanced (5.28 vs 3.76 and 7.51 vs 2.88 mumol/hr per 100 mg wet weight, respectively). When sorbitol was added to buffer containing pyruvate, glucose and lactate production were even greater than that seen with ethanol (8.32 vs 5.38 and 15.99 vs 7.51 mumol/hr per 100 mg wet weight, respectively).

Animals

Ethanol administration fails to produce hypoglycemia in fasted chickens (Gallus domesticus).

Chickens weighing approx. 1500 g were fasted 64 hr and then continuously infused with [6-3H]glucose to determine effects of ethanol on plasma glucose concentrations and on rates of glucose turnover. Ethanol infusions (222 or 444 mumol/min X kg-1 body weight) did not cause hypoglycemia although the high dose infusion slightly decreased the rate of glucose turnover. Metabolite ratios measured in livers of chickens infused with the high dose of ethanol indicated that the hepatic cytosolic redox state was relatively unchanged. Chickens have an unusual resistance to ethanol-induced hypoglycemia.

Animals

Effects of ethanol, fructose, and ethanol plus fructose infusions on plasma glucose concentration and glucose turnover in monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) as measured by [6-3H]glucose.

Six adult, female, cynomolgus monkeys were fasted for 64 hr and then continuously infused with [6-3H]glucose to determine the rates of glucose turnover and clearance while they were also being infused with ethanol (110 mumol/min/kg), 1,3-butanediol (110 mumol/min/kg), fructose (30 mumol/min/kg) or ethanol plus fructose (110 and 30 mumol/min/kg) respectively. Both ethanol and 1,3-butanediol infusions decreased the glucose turnover rate (the steady-state input-output rate from the plasma glucose pool) and the plasma glucose concentration by halving the glucose production rate. In contrast, fructose infusions increased the glucose turnover rate and glucose concentration by increasing the glucose production rate by 20%. The plasma clearance rate of glucose was lowest when the animals were infused with ethanol plus fructose; this suggests that acetate from ethanol oxidation may have a glucose-sparing effect if normoglycemia is maintained.

Animals

Influence of prolonged fasting in the dog on glucose turnover and blood metabolites.

Glucose turnover and blood metabolites were measured in eight adult female beagles in the fed state, at 1 day of fasting, and at 7, 14, and 21 days of fasting. Glucose utilization decreased significantly from 1 to 7 days of fasting, but remained constant from 7 to 21 days, while blood ketones and plasma free fatty acids rose significantly during the same period. Plasma alanine, serine, and glycine fell with fasting, with the greatest decrease in alanine levels occurring between 7 to 14 days. Plasma branched chain amino acids rose significantly with fasting. It was concluded that the shifts in plasma metabolites and decreased glucose utilization could be indicative of decreased energy demands of the fasting dogs and/or a shift in substrate utilization with progressive fasting.

Amino Acids

Replication of murine leukemia virus in bone marrow-derived lymphocytes.

Murine lymphoid cells were infected in vitro with WN 1802 B, a naturally occurring murine leukemia virus isolated from the spleen of an 18-month-old BALB/c mouse. Normal spleen and bone marrow cells were more susceptible to infection than were cells prepared from thymus and lymph node. Spleen cells from athymic nu/nu mice also could be readily infected with virus. Permissive cells did not ingest iron readily infected with virus. Permissive cells did not ingest iron filings and did not adhere to plastic. Exogenous replication of murine leukemia virus was enhanced in spleen and lymph node cells treated with lipopolysaccharide, a bone marrow-derived lymphocyte mitogen. Conversely, cells treated with the thymus-derived lymphocyte cell mitogens, phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A, were less capable of supporting murine leukemia virus replication. These studies suggest that the natural host for WN 1802 B is the bone marrow-derived lymphocyte.

Animals

Time sequence of lipogenic changes in adipose tissue of rats when converted from ad libitum feeding to meal-eating.

This study was undertaken to establish the time sequence of lipogenic changes in adipose tissue of rats when converted from ad libitum feeding to meal-eating. Rats were fed a high carbohydrate diet 2 hours/day for 0 to 10 days (meal-eating). The high speed supernatant fraction from homogenized epididymal fat pads was assayed for citrate cleavage enzyme, acetyl CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthetase and malic enzyme activities. The effects of meal-feeding on in vitro and in vivo rates of fatty acid synthesis in adipose tissue as well as the amounts of glycogen deposited in the adipose tissue were measured. During the first 10 days of meal-feeding, the lipogenic enzyme activities were actually decreased or unchanged in the meal-fed rats but during this time the in vitro and in vivo rates of fatty acid synthesis were progressively increased in the meal-fed rats. Glycogen levels in the adipose tissue of meal-fed rats were greater than the levels in the nibblers. The initial hyperlipogenesis observed in the meal-fed rat appears to be due to changes in substrate uptake by the adipose tissue and/or to alterations in enzyme activation in the adipose tissue rather than to changes in the quantity of enzyme present in the tissue.

ATP Citrate (pro-S)-Lyase

Contact regions for dinitrophenyl and menadione haptens in an immunoglobulin binding more than one antigen.

Protein 460 is a mouse myeloma gamma A(2) protein that competitively binds two small haptens, 2,4-epsilon-dinitrophenyl-L-lysine (Dnp-Lys) and 2-methyl-1:4-naphthaquinone thioglycollate (MenTG), to the antibody-combining region. The intact protein has a relatively inaccessible sulfhydryl group on each heavy chain. When it is substituted with a bulky reagent the binding affinity for MenTG decreases, while the binding of Dnp-Lys remains the same. Guanidine.HCl selectively reduces binding of Dnp-Lys; dimethylsulfoxide selectively reduces binding of MenTG. Papain digestion of protein 460 followed by column chromatography gave two fractions: one contained both binding activities and the other contained the sulfhydryl group. The affinity for Dnp-Lys of the first fraction is the same as that of the whole molecule, while affinity for MenTG is decreased. Since selective alteration of one or the other binding activity can occur in different ways, it seems likely that even though the haptens compete with each other, there is some spatial separation between the groups of contact amino-acid residues involved in the binding of these two haptens. These findings do not support the hypothesis that an immunoglobulin molecule carries combining sites complementary only to a single hapten or to a structurally related series of haptens, but rather suggests that the antibody-combining site may be a polyfunctional region capable of binding several structurally dissimilar haptens. We discuss a mechanism whereby polyfunctional combining sites can give rise to an antibody population (immune serum) that has a high degree of specificity to a single hapten.

Alkylation