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Biomedical subjects

O Vesterberg

Publications and source records attributed to O Vesterberg.

108 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1972

Separation of two forms of rabbit metallothionein by isoelectric focusing.

Rabbits were given repeated injections of cadmium chloride. Cadmium- and zinc-containing protein fractions were obtained from the livers of these animals by precipitation procedures and Sephadex G-75 chromatography. The protein thus obtained showed several characteristics similar to those of the earlier described protein metallothionein. Further separation by isoelectric focusing showed two main protein peaks with isoelectric points at 3.9 and 4.5 respectively. Amino acid analysis of these two forms showed similar content of most amino acids [residues per cent.: cysteine (28%), aspartate (8%), threonine (5-6%), serine (12%), glycine (7%), alanine (13%), methionine (2%), isoleucine (2%)] but with a small difference in content of lysine (12 and 13% respectively), proline (9 and 5% respectively) and glutamate (2 and 4% respectively). The two forms of the protein both contained cadmium, but only the one with pI4.5 contained also significant amounts of zinc.

Amino Acids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Separation of different forms of transferrin by isoelectric focusing to detect effects on the liver caused by xenobiotics.

Several genetic variants and also isoforms of transferrin differing in carbohydrate structure can be separated by polyacrylamide or agarose gel isoelectric focusing. Numerous blood plasma or serum samples can be analyzed in parallel in each gel. Studies of the heterogeneity of transferrin have already revealed many results of importance to different fields of human medicine. Gene typing can give important and useful information for paternity determination and in forensic medicine. The gene type C 2 seems to have increased frequency in certain malfunctions. Futhermore, functional abnormalities of liver cells can be revealed by determination of the concentrations of transferrin isoforms differing mainly in their carbohydrate parts. The isoforms can be quantified with zone immunoelectrophoresis assay. Thus valuable information can be obtained about important modulated regulations of cell and membrane functions, even when these are disturbed by disease and xenobiotics. The information may be useful e.g. in the detection of individuals suffering from toxic effects, to identify toxic agents and exposure conditions. Studies of house painters revealed that exposure to different types of paints had an effect on transferrin. Determination of the concentration of the isotransferrin with pI 5.7 in blood samples from alcoholics can be used as a marker for the detection of liver dysfunction and for the monitoring of therapy treatments. In addition, by analyzing the isotransferrins a rare genetic abnormality can be detected.

Alcoholism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

High performance concentration and gel filtration of rat urinary protein allergens.

Allergies to laboratory animals, notably rats, have become an increasingly recognized occupational problem. Identification and isolation of the individual proteins causing allergic reactions, could form the basis for early recognition of sensitivity, diagnosis, control of degree of pollution of the environment and desensibilization treatments. Frequently, allergens originate from dried rat urine. Because earlier published methods were found unsatisfactory we have developed a new strategy for isolation of rat urinary proteins including a high performance technique for their mild concentration on hydroxyapatite. The concentrated allergens have been fractionated according to molecular size by high performance gel filtration and according to carbohydrate content by wheat germ lectin-Sepharose 6 MB affinity chromatography. The obtained fractions have been examined by denaturing and non-denaturing polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis followed by sensitive staining procedures, and tested with respect to allergenicity by skin tests on allergic patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Automatic method for quantitation of mercury in blood, plasma and urine.

Here we report our experience of quantification of mercury in blood, plasma and urine by using modifications of a procedure for cold vapour atomic absorption. We have tried: (1) modifications of the instrumentation including the tower, the cell and apparatus for measurement; (2) to increase the volume of sample, avoiding problems caused by foaming and background to arrive at a reliable method with low detection limit. Blood and plasma samples were digested overnight in a mixture of nitric acid and perchloric acid (1:5). Recovery of known additions of mercury was close to 100%. Coefficients of variation (CV) within runs and between runs was for B-Hg 4.7 and 9.5, respectively at 20 nmol/l, and for U-Hg 1.8 and 5.2, respectively at 57 nmol/l. The same detection limit of 5 nmol/l was obtained with blood, plasma and urine. This is in the lower range of non-occupationally exposed normal subjects. The results, including those obtained in sample exchange with other laboratories and with reference materials, indicate that the accuracy of this method for quantification of mercury is good.

Automation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mapping of IgE binding regions in the major rat urinary protein, alpha 2u-globulin, using overlapping peptides.

Exposure to laboratory animals poses a hazard for development of occupational allergy. Identification of antigenic determinants of allergenic proteins may be valuable for immunotherapeutic purposes. Overlapping peptides of the major allergen in rat urine, Rat n 1.02, corresponding to the protein alpha2u-globulin were synthesised on solid support and screened simultaneously to locate IgE binding linear epitopes using a simple modified ELISA procedure. Thirty-nine peptides were synthesised, each 8 amino acids long with 4 amino acids overlaps. Sera from fifteen rat-sensitized subjects were analyzed and as controls sera from 7 non-rat-sensitized individuals were used. In general low binding and a great individual variation between sera from rat allergic individuals were seen. Some peptides were more frequently recognized by IgE antibodies in sera from rat allergics. These peptides were mainly clustered towards the N-terminal and C-terminal parts of the protein. Taken together our data suggest the existence of linear IgE binding epitopes in the rat urine allergen, Rat n 1.02. However, the role of these sequences in the allergic reaction needs further investigation.

Alpha-Globulins↗