PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N A Kefalides

Publications and source records attributed to N A Kefalides.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Relation between reduced alveolar PO2 and collagen biosynthesis in the perfused rat lung.

Collagen biosynthesis was studied in a perfused rat lung system by measuring the extent of [14C]proline incorporation into TCA-insoluble [14C]hydroxyproline-containing protein over a 2 hr perfusion period. It was found that [14C]hydroxyproline formation was linear over the 2 hr period after an initial lag period of 20 to 30 min. [14C]Hydroxyproline constituted between 5% and 6% of the total [14C]proline incorporation, indicating that about 10% of the proline incorporated went into collagen. In the presence of phosphate buffers, collagen biosynthesis was markedly reduced, although total proline incorporation was unaffected. When lungs were ventilated at progressively lower Po2's, no significant effects were observed until the Po2's were below 12 mm Hg, at which point both [14C]hydroxyproline formation and the percentage of [14C]hydroxyproline declined. The PO2 at which hydroxylation was decreased by 50% was approximately 5 mm Hg. When lungs were ventilated with a 90% carbon monoxide, 5% oxygen, 5% carbon dioxide mixture (PO2, 36 mm Hg), protein synthesis was inhibited but the proline hydroxylation system was unaffected. (J Lab Clin Med 99:441, 1982.)

Animals↗

Virus infection of endothelial cells.

Endothelial injury is important in the pathogenesis of thrombosis, atherosclerosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and vasculitis. The ability of several common human viruses to infect cultures of endothelial cells obtained from human umbilical veins or bovine thoracic aorta was demonstrated. Indicators of infection included cytopathology, viral growth curves, and antigen detection by immunofluorescence. Herpes simplex virus type 1, adenovirus type 7, measles virus, and parainfluenza virus type 3 infected both human venous and bovine aorta endothelium. Mumps virus, poliovirus type 1, and echovirus type 9 grew only in human venous cells; coxsackievirus B4 infected only bovine arterial cultures; and cytomegalovirus, influenza A/Victoria/75 (H3N2) virus, and respiratory syncytial virus failed to grow in either cell culture. During replication some viruses caused acute lytic changes; some produced chronic, less destructive alterations; and other induced no apparent cytopathology. The results suggest that viral replication within endothelium may be important in the pathogenesis of viral disease of initiation of vessel-wall injury.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

Basement membrane: structure function relationships.

Basement membranes perform several functions including filtration and elastic support. In the glomerular capillary two regions of extracellular matrix are recognized: the laminae rarae and the lamina densa. Procollagen and noncollagen glycoproteins occupy the laminae rarae and lamina densa. Proteoglycans are present in the laminae rarae. The nature and spatial organization of the macromolecules within the basement membrane determine their filtration and elastic properties. The persistence of the procollagen molecules assures the low order of fibril organization and permits selective filtration, whereas the persistence of the noncollagen extension peptides in the procollagen and the presence of the glycoprotein confers elasticity. The anionic nature of basement membranes is determined primarily by the acidic amino acid content and to much lesser extent by sialic acid and proteoglycans.

Amino Acids↗

Virus infection of endothelial cells increases granulocyte adherence.

Adherence of human granulocytes was measured on endothelial monolayers of human and bovine origin, grown in 35-mm Diam petri dishes and in cluster wells. Adherence to human endothelium in petri dishes using 1.0 ml of whole blood averaged 17.9+/-3.7%, and to bovine endothelium was 20.3+/-3.7%. Cluster wells required only 1/5 the endothelial cells needed for petri dishes, and 0.25 ml of whole blood yielded average adherence of 26.2+/-3.4 to human cells and 28.0+/-3.7 to bovine in the wells. The impact of infection of the endothelium by different viruses on subsequent granulocyte adherence was measured. Polio virus produced an acute lytic infection of human endothelial cells, with associated increased adherence to 185.4% of control 24 h after inoculation. Significantly increased adherence was noted at 6 h, before detectable cytopathic effect. Herpes simplex type I caused a similar rapidly lytic infection of bovine endothelium associated with increased adherence to 213.7% of control 6 h after inoculation. This augmented adherence could be demonstrated when granulocytes were suspended in physiologic saline solution, showing that antibody and complement need not be present. Trypsin treatment of infected monolayers did not prevent the augmentation, and supernate from infected monolayers increased the adherence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to normal, uninfected monolayers. Chronic, slowly lytic infections, lasting 7 d or more, were induced with adenovirus in human endothelium and with measles virus in bovine cells. Adherence increased as virus was noted in the cell cultures on day 4, several days before cytotoxicity was seen. Thus, chronic viral infection of the endothelium appears possible, and results in increased granulocyte adherence. In naturally occurring disease, such an infection may act synergistically with adherent granulocytes to damage the endothelium, and may represent an in vitro model of vasculitis.

Animals↗

Comparison of the intracellular lipids of cultured vascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts.

The lipids of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, calf aortic endothelial cells and foreskin fibroblasts have been compared. Cell cultures were established, and, upon confluency, the lipids were extracted and analyzed with respect to total lipid content, classes of lipids and total lipid fatty acid composition. The total quantity of lipid per milligram protein found in both human umbilical vein endothelium and calf aorta endothelium was similar to that found in fibroblasts grown in similar medium. Both types of endothelium contained the same major neutral lipid classes as fibroblasts, although they contained more phospholipid than did fibroblasts. The fatty acid composition of the three cells examined was influenced by cell type as well as the type of serum in the culture medium.

Animals↗

Localization and partial composition of the oligosaccharide units on the propeptide extensions of type I procollagen.

Type I procollagen secreted by matrix-free chick embryo tendon cells was labeled with L-[3,3'-3H] cystine and purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. After bacterial collagenase digestion, the NH2- and COOH-terminal propeptides were partially characterized by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration. Similar experiments were then conducted after labeling with either D-[6-3H] glucosamine, D-[2-3H] mannose, or D-[U-14C] glucose. On the basis of these studies and subsequent carbohydrate analysis, it was concluded that the COOH-terminal peptide contained greater than 90% of the radioactive carbohydrate which consisted predominantly of glucosamine and mannose with traces of galactosamine and galactose. Only radioactive glucosamine could be detected in the NH2-terminal propeptide. Under conditions which inhibit hydroxylation of lysine and glycosylation of hydroxylysine, unhydroxylated procollagen (protocollagen) could still be labeled with [3H] glucosamine and [3H] mannose. This suggested that glycosylation of the propeptides is at least initiated at the level of the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Animals↗

Synthesis of cold-insoluble globulin by cultured calf endothelial cells.

Radiolabeled amino acids were incorporated into nondialyzable protein by cultures of endothelial cells derived from calf aorta. Antibody prepared against purified bovine plasma cold-insoluble globulin (CIG) formed a strong precipitin line upon immunodiffusion against 3H-labeled proteins from endothelial cell culture media. This precipitin line formed a line of identity with the precipitin line formed by anti-CIG and purified CIG. Double-antibody immunoprecipitation of 3H-labeled protein showed that 36.3% of the radioactivity was specifically precipitated by the anti-CIG antibody. Gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the immunoprecipitate indicated that it contained a single protein species whose molecular weight was consistent with that of CIG isolated from plasma. When cultured cells were examined by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, the endothelial cells stained specifically with anti-CIG antibody. These data indicate that cultured endothelial cells derived from calf aorta synthesize and secrete a protein antigenically similar to CIG.

Animals↗

Comparative adherence of granulocytes to endothelial monolayers and nylon fiber.

Adherence of granulocytes to tissue culture monolayers of endothelium averaged 26.2 +/- 1.3% SEM, which was similar to their adherence on 50-mg nylon fiber columns (27.7 +/- 3.6%). In contrast, adherence to epithelial cells, fibroblasts, kidney cells, and plastic Petri dishes without monolayers was only 12.4, 9.9, 11.1, and 4.3%, respectively. Cyclic nucleotides and adherence-modifying plasma factors induced changes of adherence to endothelium similar to those in nylon fiber columns. Adherence of granulocytes in whole blood was the same as for purified granulocytes in Hank's balanced salt solution. Exposure of endothelial monolayers to 0.18% trypsin for 10 min reduced subsequent granulocyte adherence to 25.2% of control values. Incubation of trypsin-treated monolayers with nutrient medium for 4 h did not improve adherence, but values returned to normal or above by 24 h, with or without serum proteins present in the nutrient medium. The similarity of granulocyte adherence to nylon fiber and to endothelial monolayers in vitro suggests that results with the nylon fiber assay reflect in vivo granulocyte-endothelium interaction. Furthermore, the endothelial monolayer offers a new model for studying this cell-cell relationship in vitro.

Adhesiveness↗

Failure of cultured chick embryo fibroblasts to incorporate collagen into their extracellular matrix when transformed by Rous sarcoma virus. An effect of transformation but not of virus production.

Whole chick embryo fibroblasts were infected with the Prague wild type Rous sarcoma virus and with a temperature sensitive mutant of this strain, RSVtsLA24. Normal fibroblasts and fibroblasts infected with the temperature-sensitive mutant and cultured at the nonpermissive temperature-sensitive mutant and cultured at the nonpermissive temperature, secreted procollagen into the medium and incorporated collagen into their extracellular matrix. On the other hand, transformed fibroblasts and fibroblasts infected with the temperature-sensitive mutant and cultured at the permissive temperature, were able to secrete procollagen into the medium, but there was no evidence that they were able to convert procollagen to collagen and incorporate collagen into an extracellular matrix. The inability of the infected cells to incorporate collagen into an extracellular matrix was found to be a result of transformation rather than of virus production in these cells.

Animals↗

Properties of calf endothelial cells in culture.

Calf aorta endothelial cells, obtained by collagenase treatment of vessels from freshly killed animals, were cultured in medium 199 supplemented with fetal bovine serum, amino acids, and vitamins. The material released from the vessel wall after collagenase treatment consists of clumps of cells which quickly attach to the dish and spread to form confluent islands of cells. These islands of cells coalesce to form a confluent monolayer in 6 to 8 days. Cultures labeled with [3H]thymidine show an increase in labeling commencing 3 days after initial culture. Cells within monolayers do not overgrow one another and retain their epithelioid appearance after subculture. Identification of endothelial cells was based on culture morphology and by the presence of factor VIII antigen as localized by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy. These data indicate that large numbers of endothelial cells (5 to 7 x 10(6) cells per aorta) can be obtained and maintained in culture.

Animals↗

Basement membrane procollagen is not converted to collagen in organ cultures of parietal yolk sac endoderm.

Basement membrane procollagen biosynthesis was studied in organ cultures of embryonic rat parietal yolk sac endoderm by following [14C]proline incorporation into nondialyzable proteins. After reduction with 2-mercaptoethanol the 14C-proteins synthesized were characterized by agarose gel filtration and disc electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The labeled procollagen was identified by its content of hydroxy[14C]proline, its sensitivity to digestion with bacterial collagenase, and its resistance to digestion with pepsin. In cultures which were continuously labeled for periods from 6 hours to 4 days, the pro-alpha chains consistently eluted as a single peak with an apparent molecular weight of 160,000. After pepsin digestion the resultant alpha chains had an apparent molecular weight between 125,000 and 140,000. This suggests that basement membrane procollagen either contains non-triple helical pepsin-resistant regions or a triple helical region which is larger than the corresponding region of interstitial procollagen. Two experiments were performed to determine whether the chains of newly synthesized basement membrane procollagen were cleaved to a smaller molecular species. In the first, the hydroxylation and secretion of procollagen were blocked with alpha, alpha'-dipyridyl, and the resulting intracellular chains of basement membrane protocollagen were found to co-elute with fully hydroxylated and secreted pro-alpha chains. In the second, cultures were labeled for 1 day and chased for 3 days with unlabeled medium. Autoradiography had shown that most of the label was chased into new basement membrane. Agarose chromotography showed that after 3-day chase the pro-alpha chains still eluted with an apparent molecular weight of 160,000. Thus, the data indicated that basement membrane procollagen was deposited in new basement membrane without undergoing a time-dependent extracellular conversion.

Animals↗

Biosynthesis of basement membrane collagen by rabbit corneal endothelium in vitro.

The synthesis of collagen has been demonstrated in endothelial cells of Descemet's membrane isolated from rabbit cornea. Incorporation of [14C]proline and [14C]lysine into nondialyzable protein was measured in the medium and cell fraction after incubating Descemet's membrane for up to 5 hours. In the [14C]collagen synthesized by the endothelium, 15% of the hydroxy[14C]proline was present as the 3-isomer. About 98% of the hydroxy[14C]lysine in the 14C-labeled-protein found in the medium was glycosylated; 95% of the glycosylated hydroxy[14C]lysine was in the form of the disaccharide glucosyl-galactosyl-hydroxy[14C]lysine. Time course experiments with [14C]proline indicated that there was a delay of about 60 min before significant amounts of [14C]collagen were secreted into the medium. The initial polypeptides of [14C]collagen synthesized by the corneal endothelium had an apparent molecular weight of 155,000. The chemical and physical properties of the [14C]collagen synthesized by rabbit corneal endothelium are consistent with those of basement membrane collagen synthesized by other cell types.

Animals↗

Regulation of lipid synthesis from acetate in diploid fibroblast cultures -- variation with passage level and stage of cell growth.

Regulation of lipid synthesis from acetate in human diploid fibroblast cultures has been studied at various passage levels and at different stages of cell growth. When cultures were transferred to lipid free medium, a stimulation of [14C]acetate incorporation into lipid occurred within three to six hours after removal of exogenous lipid. In early passage cultures, this stimulation was observed whether cells were transferred to protein-free medium or medium supplemented with delipidized serum protein. However, in late passage cultures the presence of delipidized serum protein was required for the stimulation of lipid synthesis. When logarithmically dividing and stationary phase cultures were compared, the cultures in log phase showed stimulation of acetate incorporation into lipid in the presence or absence of delipidized serum protein, whereas in the stationary cultures the delipidized serum protein was required. When cultures were partially synchronized by a thymidine block, stimulation of acetate incorporation into lipid in the blocked cells only occurred in the presence of delipidized serum protein; in released cells stimulation occurred in protein free medium. When inhibition of lipid synthesis from acetate was compared in young vs. old or dividing vs. stationary cultures, however, no differences were observed. The data indicate the response of diploid fibroblast cultres to change in exogenous lipid is dependent on passage level and state of growth.

Acetates↗