Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Webb.
Acute near-fatal intravascular hemolysis and renal failure developed in a patient after he had ingested 15 to 20 tablets of both methyldopa (Aldomet) nd hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril). Serologic test results were inconsistent with those associated with methyldopa-induced hemolytic anemia and suggested that hemolysis was caused by hydrochlorothiazide antibodies reacting by an immune complex mechanism.
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Cells present in the intestinal lymph of rats were obtained in large numbers by removing the mesenteric, portal and caecal lymph nodes and cannulating the thoracic duct 6 weeks later. About 1% of the cells present in the thoracic duct lymph of these mesenteric lymphadenectomized rats had striking dendritic morphology, were strongly Ia+ but labelled weakly with monoclonal antibodies that recognize rat B or T cells. It was found that intestinal lymph was highly enriched for cells that stimulated allogeneic T cells in the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and cells with stimulator activity co-purified with dendritic cells. Thus, these dendritic cells appear phenotypically and functionally similar to the dendritic cells that have been described in the mouse spleen and rat lymph node. The ability of the intestinal lymph cells to stimulate rat T cells was used to determine which of the two subsets of these cells were the prime responders in the rat MLR. These subsets, defined by monoclonal antibodies, have been shown by previous work to display close functional analogies to the Lyt 2+ and Lyt 2- subsets in the mouse and to the two human T-cell subsets that have been defined by monoclonal antibodies. It was found that the T-cell subset that contains the helper cells for antibody responses proliferated when irradiated, fully allogeneic or semi-allogeneic thoracic duct cells were used as stimulators, but the subset containing suppressor T cells did so only in the fully allogeneic system. Detailed studies showed that in the absence of helper cells in the responder population T cells in the stimulator population of helper phenotype were responsible for proliferation of the suppressor T-cell subset observed in fully allogeneic MLRs. Proliferation of the suppressor T-cell subset could be obtained using semi-allogeneic stimulators, provided that the F1 cells were derived from a source containing dendritic cells but it was shown that, as in the case with fully allogeneic stimulators, the helper T cells in the stimulator population were playing an active role. These results demonstrate that proliferation of the suppressor T-cell subset in the rat MLR is dependent on blastogenic activity provided by the helper T-cell subset and suggest that in some situations this blastogenic activity may arise through the recognition, by the helper cells, of environmental antigens presented on dendritic cells. It has been reported that in the human MLR both T-cell subsets proliferate but that only the helper subset does so when antigen-primed cells are stimulated with specific antigen. The present experiments, by emphasizing the activity of helper T cells in the stimulator population in the MLR, cast doubt on the implication that recognition of alloantigens in vitro differs in an essential way from that of soluble antigens.
In JCLR and Wistar-Porton rats renal concentrations of Cd2+ were maximal (21-22 micrograms Cd2+/g wet wt tissue) at 1 and 4 h respectively after the administration of CdCl2 (10 micromol, 1-12 mg Cd2+/kg body wt) together with L-cysteine (5 mmol/kg body wt). Synthesis of metallothionein in the kidney in response to the uptake of Cd2+, which occurred between 2 and 7 h after treatment in the Wistar-Porton rat, affected the distribution of Cd2+ between proteins of the renal soluble fraction, but not between the particulate components and, at both times, about 40% of the total Cd2+ was associated with the heterogeneous nuclei + cell debris fraction. Autoradiographic studies with 109CdCl2 revealed that Cd2+, accumulated by the kidney under these conditions, was not uniformly distributed throughout the renal cortex, but was concentrated unevenly in proximal tubules in the outer stripe of the outer zone of the medulla. Pathological changes, which were correlated with the concentrations of accumulated Cd2+ and were limited to the S3 segments of the proximal tubules, were apparent by light microscopy at 4 h after the administration of Cd2+ + cysteine and progressed with time. Thus by 7 h the lesion had extended to include almost the whole of the outer stripe of the outer zone of the medulla and, by 24 h the cells of the affected epithelia showed extensive necrosis and karyorrhexis. At this, as at earlier times, the cortex appeared to be undamaged. Neither these nor other morphological changes were observed in the kidneys of animals that had been dosed with either Cd2+, or L-cysteine alone. Within 60 min of the administration of Cd2+ + cysteine an increase in the number of endocytotic vesicles in the apical cytoplasm of the proximal tubular epithelium was observed by electron microscopy. Subsequent cytoplasmic vesiculation, which was conspicuous at 2 h, was extensive and widespread in both the apical and basal regions of the cytoplasm at 4 h. In some cells at this time the nuclei were irregular in shape; the mitochondria were swollen and their cristae were disorganized. As, after the administration of either Cd2+ or cadmium-metallothionein, damage is known to occur in the S1 and S2 segments of proximal tubules throughout the cortex, the Cd2+ + cysteine combination does not provide an exact model which reproduces in a short time the effects of long-term, low level exposure to Cd2+. Nevertheless it is suggested that the toxic mechanisms are the same after either treatment with Cd2+ + cysteine or continual exposure to Cd2+, but are limited to different segments of the proximal tubules. Possible mechanisms of toxicity are discussed.
The reduction of cytochrome c by beef liver sulfite oxidase was found to be strongly inhibited by high ionic strength, indicating the importance of electrostatic interactions to the reaction. The reaction rates of sulfite oxidase with singly trifluoroacetylated or trifluoromethylphenylcarbamylated cytochrome c derivatives were studied to determine the role of individual lysines in the reaction. The reaction rate was decreased by modification of the lysines immediately surrounding the heme crevice, the decreases following the order: Lys 13 greater than Lys 25 congruent to Lys 79 approximately equal to Lys 87 greater than Lys 8 approximately equal to Lys 27 approximately equal to Lys 72. Modification of lysines 22, 55, 88, 99, and 100 had no effect on the reaction rate. These results indicate that the interaction site on cytochrome c for sulfite oxidase is at the heme crevice region, and overlaps considerable with that for cytochrome oxidase.
Addition of Hg2+ in vitro to metallothionein (Cd : Cu : Zn = 6.5 : 4 : 1) from the kidneys of Cd2+ exposed rats appears to result initially in the replacement of Zn2+, then Cd2+ and finally copper. The ionic stoichiometries between Hg2+-binding and the release of Cd2+ (or Zn2+) and copper are 3 : 2 and 1 : 1 respectively. After treatment with amounts of Hg2+ sufficient to displace completely either the bound Zn2+ and Cd2+, or all of the original cations, the metallothionein has little or no negative charge at pH 8.0 and is not resolved into the two isometallothioneins, which characterize the (Cd, Cu, Zn)-thionein, by ion exchange chromatography at this pH. Cation substitution occurs in both isometallothioneins and there is no evidence that Hg2+ interacts preferentially with one of them. Treatment of the metallothionein with increasing amounts of Hg2+, equivalent to approx. 25% and 50% of the bound cations gives rise to a range of molecular species of progressively decreasing negative charge. The consistent stiochiometry between Hg2+ uptake and Cd2+ or Zn2+ release at all concentrations of Hg2+ indicates that free thiol groups are not formed during the substitution reaction.
The metallothionein fractions, isolated by gel filtration from the kidneys of rats that have been dosed with Cd2+, Hg2+ or Cd2+ followed by Hg2+, yield very different elution profiles on ion-exchange chromatography. The metallothionein from Cd2+-treated animals is resolved into the isomethallothioneins I and II and a minor, less negatively-charged species (B), which contains Cd2+ and copper, but little Zn2+. The corresponding fraction from the kidneys of rats doses with Hg2+ yields five components, all of which contain Hg2+, Zn2+ and Cu, but in different ratios. Three of these compounds correspond in their elution characteristics from DE-cellulose with the above-mentioned isometallothioneins I and II and fraction B. The last of these, which also is rich in Cu, is the major Hg2+-binding component. The distribution of Hg2+ and of other cations between these five sub-fractions, but not the number of sub-fractions, is altered by Cd2+-pretreatment of the animals. Treatment of Cd2+-dosed rats with sodium maleate has no significant effect on the distribution of cations (Cd2+, Zn2+ and copper) amongst the renal metallothionein subfractions. The same treatment, applied to animals dosed with either Hg2+ only, or Cd2+ followed by Hg2+, causes the elimination of 70--75% of the Hg2+ from the metallothionein fraction. Loss occurs from all subfractions, but is greatest in subfraction B, which also loses copper. Whilst it is possible that Hg2+ may induce metallothionein and other metalloproteins in the kidney, Hg2+ appears to bind to both isometallothioneins I and II, when these are induced by Cd2+-pretreatment. The loss of Hg2+, but not of Cd2+, from these metalloproteins after treatment with sodium maleate may be related to differences in the relative binding affinities of the two cations for thionein and other cellular proteins.
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Tumorigenic cell lines were established in culture from three transplantable mouse colonic carcinomas designated CT 26, CT36, and CT 51. The cultured lines were characterized for the retention of the biological characteristics of the parental lines. All three cultured lines retained the ability to form tumors in vivo. Serially transplanted parental lines CT 26 and CT 51 grew at a faster rate than did CT 36 and showed a greater propensity for the formation of lung metastases. Similar characteristics were exhibited by the tumors formed from the injection of cultured cells. The cultured cell lines were also evaluated with respect to a number of in vitro markers for cancer. Cultured CT 26 and CT 51 cells formed tumors at lower inocula than did CT 36. CT 26 and CT 51 showed anchorage-independent growth and lack of contact inhibition, while CT 36 grew as a strict monolayer and did not form colonies in 0.27% agarose. CT 26 had the highest saturation density of the cell lines when grown in media supplemented with either 10 or 2.5% fetal bovine serum, while CT 51 had the lowest saturation density under these conditions. The varying degrees of malignancy exhibited by the three cell lines and the overall retention of the biological characteristics of the parental lines by the cultured lines suggest that the cultured cells (without the contaminating stromal elements present in the serially transplanted lines) will provide suitable material for the investigation of the molecular bases of these malignant characteristics.
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When amikacin was administered to Fischer rats at a dose of 120 mg/kg/day for up to 14 days, renal proximal tubule cells became vacuolated, but BUN and creatinine remained normal. Renal cortical drug levels rose steadily throughout the treatment period. When, in a second trial of the same duration, the drug dose was tripled, focal proximal tubular necrosis, then regeneration, occurred and the animals became azotemic. Tissue drug concentrations peaked and began to decline during the treatment period, having reached levels more than three times higher than achieved at the lower dose. Ultrastructural changes were similar to those observed with other aminoglycosides. The results indicate that amikacin is less nephrotoxic than gentamicin and more toxin than tobramycin and netilmicin in the Fischer rat.
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Methylmercury, after incubation at 3k7 degrees C and pH 7.0 with selenite in the presence of rat erythrocytes, can be extracted into benzene as an unstable 2 : 1 complex with selenium. The same complex, possibly bis-methylmercury selenide, is formed when methylmercury is treated with hydrogen selenide at pH 7.0 in the absence of erythrocytes.
In rats, of the Wistar-Porton strain, a single intravenous injection of 1.25 mg Cd2+ between days 9 and 15 of gestation results in a high incidence (80% of hydrocephalus, together with other malformations in the fetuses, examined on day 20. This dose is critical, since 1.1 mg Cd2+/kg is not teratogenic, while 1.35 mg Cd2+/kg kills all the embryos. Intravenous injection of Cd2+ to the pregnant rat on day 12 causes a dose-dependent inhibition of placental Zn2+ transport. At the teratogenic dose, Zn2+ transport is inhibited by about 75% at 4 hr. Thereafter, inhibition decreases with time but is still significant at 48 hr. At 20 hr after administration of Cd2+ the embryonic concentration of Zn2+ is depressed by 33%. In the whole embryo the activity of the Zn2+-dependent thymidine kinase is inhibited by about 60% at 4 hr and at 20 hr the DNA concentration is reduced significantly. Placental transport of 14C-leucine and 14C-uridine, as well as the embryonic incorporation of these precursors into protein and RNA is unaffected at least at short times after the administration of Cd2+. It is possible therefore, that the teratogenic effects of Cd2+ may be related to the inhibition of DNA synthesis in the embryo.
The kidney uptake of Hg2+ was increased by Cd2+-pretreatment when Hg2+ was given intraperitoneally but not subcutaneously. Subsequent s.c. administration of maleate increased Hg2+ release from the kidneys only if Hg2+ was given subcutaneously. Neither the effect of Cd2+, nor that of maleate, on the distribution of Hg2+ among the renal soluble protein fractions was affected by the route of Hg2+ administration. The protective effect of Cd2+-pretreatment against the nephrotoxic effect of Hg2+ was also independent of the route of Hg2+ administration. Maleate given in nephrotoxic doses removed Hg2+ and copper, but not Cd2+ from the renal metallothionein fraction. Mercury in the urine, however, was not complexed by proteins with the molecular weight of thionein, but was bound to high molecular weight proteins and diffusible molecules. These findings are discussed in relation to the role of metallothionein in the interaction between Cd2+ and Hg2+.
The interaction between two metals, which can be either synergistic or antagonistic, implies that the behavior of one is changed by the presence of the other. Possible mechanisms of these interactions, which include chemical association, competition for carriers, metabolic changes, induction of binding proteins, membrane alterations are discussed.