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Biomedical subjects

M Mattei

Publications and source records attributed to M Mattei.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Batimastat reduces Mycobacterium tuberculosis-induced apoptosis in macrophages.

In this study, we report evidences that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-induced apoptosis in macrophages is reduced by a broad-spectrum hydroxamic acid-based matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, Batimastat (BB-94). In particular, we show that BB-94 administration to MTB-infected macrophages inhibits apoptosis and the downmodulation of membrane CD14 expression. Moreover, the addition of broad spectrum matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor to cell culture, during MTB infection, decreases the release of soluble TNF-alpha and leads to a simultaneous increase of membrane TNF-alpha. These results show that MTB-induced apoptosis in macrophages is reduced by a MMP inhibitor and most probably is related to TNF-alpha release. This identifies BB-94 as a simultaneous anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory molecule during MTB infection.

Annexin A5↗

Inhibition of contact hypersensitivity reaction to picryl chloride: effect of small molecular weight peptidomimetic compounds possessing inhibitory activity against metalloproteinases.

We have studied the effect of small molecular weight inhibitors of snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMP) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) on the induction and effector phase of the contact hypersensitivity reaction (CHR) in a mouse model. Identification of nonsteroid small molecules is very important for the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs. The compounds that we tested were synthetically modified tripeptides (peptidomimetic compounds) POL-257, POL-509, POL-443, POL-491, and POL-647, with structures based on natural occurring peptides in snake venom. A well-known hydroxamate-based inhibitor of the MMPs, Batimastat (BB-94), was also used. We have shown that these peptidomimetics possess in vitro inhibitory activity against the MMP-2 (gelatinase-A), MMP-9 (gelatinase-B), and MMP-3 (stromelysin). They also inhibit metalloproteinases purified from the venom of Crotalus adamanteus and C. atrox snakes, which are very similar to the so-called A Desintegrine, A Metalloproteinase (ADAMs) enzymes. When injected intraperitonealy before the topical application of the contact sensitizer (picryl chloride) or before the challenge, these compounds significantly inhibited the development of CHR. BB-94 at doses 0.4 and 4 mg/kg before the sensitization or before the challenge almost completely abrogated the reaction. POL-257 and POL-443 were among the most active peptidomimetics tested. They inhibited the inflammatory reaction up to 70-80%, when applied either immediately before sensitization or before challenge. POL-509, a methylated derivative of POL-257, inhibited the CHR to 40-50% when administered at either challenge or sensitization. However, when applied 24 h before the challenge, it completely abrogated the inflammatory reaction. The results show that these small molecular weight peptidomimetic compounds, as well as BB-94, are able to significantly inhibit the CHR. This finding opens possibilities for using metalloproteinase inhibitors in the treatment of allergic contact dermatitis and other inflammatory diseases.

Animals↗

Molecular cloning, functional expression and chromosomal localization of an amiloride-sensitive Na(+) channel from human small intestine.

Amiloride-sensitive Na(+) channels belonging to the recently discovered NaC/DEG family of genes have been found in several human tissues including epithelia and central and peripheral neurons. We describe here the molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding a novel human amiloride-sensitive Na(+) channel subunit that is principally expressed in the small intestine and has been called hINaC (human intestine Na(+) channel). This protein is similar to the recently identified rodent channel BLINaC and is relatively close to the acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) (79 and 29% amino acid identity, respectively). ASICs are activated by extracellular protons and probably participate in sensory neurons to nociception linked to tissue acidosis. hINaC is not activated by lowering the external pH but gain-of-function mutations can be introduced and reveal when expressed in Xenopus oocytes, an important Na(+) channel activity which is blocked by amiloride (IC(50)=0.5 microM). These results suggest the existence of a still unknown physiological activator for hINaC (e.g. an extracellular ligand). The presence of this new amiloride-sensitive Na(+) channel in human small intestine probably has interesting physiological as well as physiopathological implications that remain to be clarified. The large activation of this channel by point mutations may be associated with a degenerin-like behavior as previously observed for channels expressed in nematode mechanosensitive neurons. The hINaC gene has been mapped on the 4q31.3-q32 region of the human genome.

Acid Sensing Ion Channels↗

Assignment of transcription factor NFAT5 to human chromosome 16q22.1, murine chromosome 8D and porcine chromosome 6p1.4 and comparison of the polyglutamine domains.

To date, transcription factors of the NFAT family (nuclear factors of activated T cells) have been described for mouse and man. Recently, we mapped the human NFAT5 gene to chromosome 16 by PCR using DNA from hybrid cell lines. Here we report the exact position of the human gene between D16S496 and WI5254 within the 16q22.1 subband, the localization of the murine gene at chromosome 8D, and the identification and mapping of the porcine counterpart to chromosome 6p1.4.

Animals↗

Activities of eighteen antimicrobial regimens against Mycobacterium avium infection in beige mice.

The therapeutic effect of 18 anti-Mycobacterium avium regimens was examined in beige mice after 91 days of infection. Treatments included monotherapy with clarithromycin (CLA), ethambutol (EMB), amikacin (AMI), rifabutin (RFB), ciprofloxacin (CIP), clofazimine (CLO), and combinations of CLA, CLA-EMB, or CLA-AMI with one of the other drugs. After monotherapy, only AMI and CLA displayed bacteriostatic and/or moderate bactericidal effects in spleens and lungs, while CIP and RFB were totally inactive and CLO and EMB showed intermediate effects against the isolate tested. Resistant mutants were isolated in spleens of mice treated with EMB, CIP, RFB, and CLO-Among two-drug combinations, CLA-RFB, CLA-CIP, and CLA-CLO were significantly more active than RFB, CIP, CLO, respectively, but not more active than CLA alone, in both organs; CLA-AMI and CLA-EMB were bactericidal in spleens and lungs, respectively. Although activity of CLA-EMB was significantly potentiated by RFB and CLO in spleens and lungs, that of CLA-AMI was significantly increased by RFB and CLO only in lungs. The most active regimen in spleens and lungs on day 91 was the combination of all three, namely CLA-AMI-EMB, which reduced the CFU numbers of 2.7 and 7.5 log10, in comparison with day 1 and day 91 counts in untreated control mice, respectively.

Amikacin↗

[Central apnea with consciousness impairment due to Listeria rhombencephalitis sequelae].

Listeria neuromeningitis presents as febrile rhombencephalitis in half the patients, often with persistent sequelae such as cranial nerve palsy. We report the case of a man who developed central apnea with simultaneous consciousness impairment subsequent to an infectious disease. Magnetic resonance imaging showed low signal intensities in T1 and T2, particularly in the medulla. Neither acidosis, hypoxia nor hypercapnea stimulated the respiratory centers during episodes of apnea; ventilation started again only with strong voluntary stimulation. Pons and medulla lesions of the reticular formation were probable as well as lesions of the automatic respiratory system and could explain the central origin of the apnea in this patient.

Cerebral Palsy↗

Beta-adrenergic receptor-dependent and -independent stimulation of adenylate cyclase is impaired during severe sepsis in humans.

OBJECTIVES: a) To investigate the functional consequences of sepsis on the beta-adrenergic signal transduction in human circulating lymphocytes; b) to appreciate sepsis-associated catecholamine and cytokine release. DESIGN: Experimental, comparative study. SETTING: Research laboratory in a university hospital. SUBJECTS: Healthy controls (n = 10); critically ill patients who were not septic (n = 7); septic patients with severe sepsis or septic shock (n = 11). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Experiments were carried out using freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We measured beta-adrenergic receptor (betaAR) number and affinity, and intracellular cAMP content at baseline and after the pharmacological stimulation of each component of the beta-adrenergic complex: betaAR with isoproterenol, Gs-protein with sodium fluoride (NaF), adenylate cyclase with forskolin. Catecholamine (adrenaline, noradrenaline) and cytokine (TNFalpha, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6) serum levels were measured. In both septic and non-septic patients we observed a similar 40 % down-regulation of betaARs compared to controls, and a reduced basal and isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP accumulation (p < 0.05). The cAMP production elicited by NaF or forskolin was lower in septic patients than in the controls (p < 0.01). Forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation was significantly lower in septic patients than it was in non-septic ones (p < 0.001). Catecholamine serum concentrations were increased in the two patient groups without any significant difference. Elevated cytokine serum levels were detected in 45% of the septic patients (versus 14% of non-septic patients p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients presenting with severe sepsis or septic shock have extended postreceptor defects of the beta-adrenergic signal transduction. This finding suggests a heterologous desensitization of adenylate cyclase stimulation.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

A third human CBL gene is on chromosome 19.

CBL genes encode cytoplasmic proteins involved in signal transduction downstream of a number of receptors including tyrosine kinases, cytokine receptors, and T-cell or B-cell receptors. They seem to be transducers associated with negative regulation of signals, and, as such, may be potential tumor suppressors. Using a probe derived from an expressed sequence tag, we isolated a cosmid containing part of a new CBL gene, CBLc, related to the two characterized paralogous genes CBLa and CBLb. Using the cosmid in fluorescence in situ hybridization of human metaphase chromosomes, we localized the CBLc gene to band 13.2 of chromosome 19. We show that the 19q12.2-13.3 region where CBLc is located shows paralogy with two other regions of the human genome, 3q22-q27 and 11q22-q24 where CBLb and CBLa are located, respectively. Genes from several other families are located in these regions.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Human fibulin-1D: molecular cloning, expression and similarity with S1-5 protein, a new member of the fibulin gene family.

Fibulin-1 is an extracellular matrix (ECM) component of basement membranes and connective tissue elastic fibers, and a blood protein. Multiple forms of fibulin-1 that differ in their C-terminal regions are produced through the process of alternative splicing of their precursor RNA. Two transcripts of 2.4 and 2.7 kb are the predominant fibulin-1 mRNAs expressed in human tissues and cultured cells. While the 2.4 kb transcript had been shown to encode fibulin-1C, the 2.7 kb transcript did not correspond to any of the previously identified human fibulin-1 variants. Herein, we report on the isolation and sequencing of cDNA corresponding to the 2.7 kb fibulin-1 transcript which encodes a novel, alternatively spliced form of human fibulin-1 that we term the D form. The deduced amino acid sequence of the D form is identical in its first 566 residues to the three known fibulin-1 variants (fibulin-1A-C); however, it has a unique 137 amino acid-C-terminal segment encoded by the alternatively spliced portion of its transcript. RNA hybridization analysis showed that the fibulin-1D transcript is coordinately expressed with that of fibulin-1C both in tissues and in cultured cells. Using antibodies specific to the unique C-terminal segment of fibulin-1D and -1C, both proteins were found to be expressed in human placenta. Recombinant fibulin-1D generated in transfected mammalian cells displayed similar ligand-binding properties as placenta-derived fibulin-1 and recombinant fibulin-1C, and it was capable of incorporating into cultured cell ECM in the absence of other fibulin-1 forms. A comparative sequence analysis revealed that the unique C-terminal region of fibulin-1D is similar to the C-terminal regions of fibulin-1C and fibulin-2. Furthermore, the C-terminal regions of fibulin-1C, -1D and -2 are similar to the C-terminal region of a recently described protein termed S1-5. In addition to this C-terminal similarity, S1-5 also contains repeated EGF-like modules and a conserved N-terminal element, thereby leading to the conclusion that S1-5 is a third member of the fibulin gene family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Pneumatosis cystoides of the colon. Apropos of 7 cases].

Seven cases of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis affecting the colon (PKC) revealed 5 times by a nonspecific symtomatology and 2 times by an occlusion were reported. In three of the patients the disease was found as a primary idiopathic form free of clinical antecedents. In 4 of the patients the pneumatosis was found to be secondary to a pulmonary disease, a gastric ulcer, a connectivite of a corticotherapy. The PKC was generally diagnosed either by barium enema or by computed tomography and less frequently by colonoscopy with deep biopsy allowing differential diagnosis with colonic polyposis. The mechanism and etiology of the PKC were not fully understood. The illness is a benign condition that often responds to a conservative management--i.e. abstention, oxygenotherapy, diet or antibiotherapy- or exceptionally to surgical colonic resection in case of acute complication.

Aged↗