Cell-cell interactions in the eicosanoid pathways.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to N Islam.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Three mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which define a highly restricted antigen, were obtained by simultaneous immunizations with superficial papillary bladder tumor cells and mouse polyclonal serum against normal urothelium. The antigen was detected by the avidin/biotin/peroxidase method in 30/44 superficial bladder tumors (68%) but in only 4/27 infiltrating urothelial cancers (with much less intensity). No normal adult or fetal tissues tested expressed the antigen, including normal urothelium from 40 individuals, 13 of whom had a bladder tumor positive for the antigen. Only 1 of 45 nonbladder tumors showed some reactivity with one of the three mAbs. Serological tests on a large panel of human cancer cell lines and normal cultured cells were negative. The antigen is highly stable and well preserved on paraffin-embedded tissues. Electrophoretic transfer blot experiments with fresh tumor extracts showed that all three mAbs react with a determinant on a component of 300,000 Mr (pI 9.5) and 62,000 Mr (pI 6.5). The antigen shows polymorphic expression at the cellular level on tissue sections and also at a molecular level on immunoblots where the two bands are differentially detected on extracts of a series of tumors but are not visualized on normal urothelium extracts. The characteristics of this antigenic system suggest that it may provide some insights about the biology of bladder cancer. Specific detection of the antigen on 70% of superficial bladder tumors with normal cytology may be useful for their diagnosis and follow-up.
In vitro experiments carried out in several laboratories indicate that cell components of hemostatic plugs, thrombi, and inflammatory lesions are capable of sharing precursors and intermediates of both the lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase systems. These cells produce new eicosanoids in a stimulus-specific manner. It is therefore important to further elucidate mechanisms by which eicosanoids are formed during cell-cell interactions and the functional implications thereof.
Experience in setting up an inexpensive microbiology laboratory in the Bangladesh National Society for the Blind Eye Hospital and Training Complex at Chittagong is presented, together with the results of a pilot study to identify organisms responsible in 33 consecutive cases of suppurative keratitis in the Chittagong area of Bangladesh. Of the 33 cases 21 were positively identified by means of Gram stain and/or culture. Two-thirds of the responsible organisms were bacteria, and one-third were fungi. The bacterial causes included Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The fungi isolated were Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus ochraceus, and Fusarium solani. Among the causes of failure to diagnose the organism was chronicity of infection and previous treatment. The value of the study in the planning of future treatment regimens, and the implications of setting up similar relatively cheap microbiology laboratory facilities in developing countries, are discussed.
Stimulated platelets, in the presence or absence of aspirin, synthesize significant quantities of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), which is chemotactic and chemokinetic, and enhances mononuclear cell procoagulant activity. During a cell-cell interaction between stimulated platelets and unstimulated neutrophils, platelet 12-HETE is metabolized to 12,20-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12,20-DiHETE) by neutrophils. Characteristics of the enzyme system in unstimulated neutrophils responsible for this omega-hydroxylation were investigated. A broad range of cytochrome P-450 inhibitors, as well as leukotriene B4, blocked formation of 12,20-DiHETE. Owing largely to released proteases, neutrophil homogenization abolished activity. Pretreatment with diisopropylfluorophosphate preserved activity in neutrophil homogenates. omega-Hydroxylation of 12-HETE was confined solely to the microsomal fraction. Specific activity increased 6.6-fold compared with neutrophil sonicates. The electron donor NADPH was a required cofactor. These results indicate that the enzyme in unstimulated human neutrophils, which metabolizes 12-HETE from stimulated platelets to 12,20-DiHETE in this cell-cell interaction, is a cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Using monoclonal antibodies the immunogenic and allergenic characteristics of rye Group I were redefined by SDS-PAGE analysis and immunoblotting. The purified rye Group I from NIH possesses a major component of approximately 34000 Da against which most of the sera from grass-sensitive patients and none from non-atopic volunteers contain specific IgE antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies to rye Group I were raised and used to purify the antigen and to verify the cross-reactivity between grass extracts. The 3 monoclonal antibodies studied recognized different components of timothy grass and 2 of them recognized kentucky june grass but none recognized components of ragweed extracts.
Antimicrosomal antibodies are present in the sera of most patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, and Graves' disease. It has, in general, been difficult to separate antimicrosomal activity from that directed against the thyrotropin (TSH) receptor in Graves' IgG preparations. The "microsomal" antigen has been localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and microfollicular aspect of thyrocytes; its structure is however unknown. In an attempt to identify the thyroid microsomal antigen, we studied the interaction of Hashimoto's IgG with high microsomal antibody titre and negative for thyroglobulin with purified thyroid plasma and light microsomal membranes. We allowed Hashimoto's, Graves', and control IgGs to bind to protein blots of thyroid plasma membranes resolved on SDS-PAGE under non-reducing conditions. All seven Hashimoto's IgG at a concentration of 2 mg/ml interacted with an M approximately 197,000 polypeptide corresponding to the TSH holoreceptor. By contrast to Graves' IgG (which were positive at 1 mg/ml), however, this binding was not blocked by pretreatment of the protein blots with TSH. Normal IgGs showed no binding at concentrations of up to 2 mg/ml. Both Hashimoto's and Graves' IgG interacted with TSH-affinity column-purified receptor preparations. Two of the Hashimoto's IgGs induced adenylate cyclase activation in thyroid plasma membranes, three inhibited TSH-stimulated enzyme activation, and two were without effect. Two classes of autoantibodies, other than TSH receptor directed, were encountered; one class raised to antigens common to all seven patients and another class unique to individual patients, eg, Mr 210,000 and Mr 20,000 polypeptides. We propose that the TSH receptor has multiple epitopes (functional domains), and the one to which antimicrosomal antibody bind is likely to be spatially separated from that with which Graves' IgG and TSH interact. Differences in affinity or number of sites allows for the demonstration of Graves' IgG against a background of antimicrosomal antibody.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Accumulating experimental and clinical evidence indicates that a time for reappraisal of therapeutic modalities designed to inhibit the eicosanoid pathway as it may affect vascular disease may be approaching. Pharmacologic agents originally used were chosen because they were capable of suppressing platelet functions such as aggregation, release, and adhesion. The goals of clinical trials were to evaluate medications that would prevent or reduce platelet accumulation in critically located blood vessels of the heart, brain, and extremities and on vascular prostheses. Evaluation of results of therapeutic trials has been difficult and this is superimposed on less-than-complete knowledge of the basic pharmacology of the drugs that have been used. Participation of neutrophils and possibly macrophages in the thrombotic process is now well recognized on morphologic grounds. Because different cell types such as platelets, neutrophils, and endothelial cells have been shown to interact biochemically by sharing precursors and intermediates of the eicosanoid pathway, the pharmacologic approach to inhibition of vascular disease may require reevaluation. Neutrophils appear to lack a cyclooxygenase pathway but serve as a source of the lipoxygenase product leukotriene B4 (LTB4). Actions of LTB4 include neutrophil aggregation, adhesion of neutrophils to endothelial cells, chemotaxis, chemokinesis, and plasma exudation. We have demonstrated in vitro that released free arachidonic acid from aspirin-treated platelets can serve as a source of neutrophil LTB4. Leukotrienes C4, D4, and E4 are agonists for various functions of vascular endothelium and smooth muscle. Most pharmacologic agents used in the treatment of vascular diseases inhibit the cyclooxygenase pathway.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A total of 323 cases of cirrhosis of liver with various complications in some hospitalised population were studied. Microcytic anaemia was found to be the commonest (46.43 percent) complication. Next common (21.05) complication was protosystemic encephalopathy (PSE). Gastrointestinal haemorrhage and primary carcinoma of liver constituted 12.37 percent and 9.28 percent respectively. In view of the nature of complications of liver, it was felt necessary that these type of patients should be exposed to facilities for the specialised management whenever possible. Development of primary carcinoma of liver emphasises the need for the prevention of hepatitis B virus infection for which preventive vaccine is now available.