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P A Rutherford

Publications and source records attributed to P A Rutherford.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Characterization of the response of erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport to inhibitors.

To clarify the biochemical characteristics of the sodium-lithium countertransporter (SLC) the responses of SLC to two probes of ion transport--4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2' disulfonate, and N-ethylmaleimide--were assessed. The results suggest that the SLC transporter is associated with the band 3 protein in the plasma membrane and demonstrate that a sulfhydryl group is essential for transport function.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

Sodium-lithium countertransport activity is not affected by short-term insulin exposure in vivo or in a physiologic medium in vitro.

This study examined the acute effects of physiologic concentrations of insulin in vitro and in vivo on sodium-lithium countertransport (SLC) kinetics in nondiabetic subjects. SLC was measured at eight different external sodium concentrations including the standard 150 mmol/L, allowing calculation of both maximal velocity (Vmax) and external sodium affinity (Km). Incubation with insulin (50 mU/L) in 110 MgCl2 but not in 150 mmol/L NaCl decreased standard SLC activity. The decrease was accounted for by a reduction in Vmax, whereas Km remained constant. There was no difference in standard SLC activity, Vmax, or Km when endogenous insulin concentrations were altered either by fasting or by a carbohydrate load. Similarly, standard SLC activity, Vmax, or Km were not significantly different before or at the completion of a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. These findings provide no support for an action of physiologic concentrations of insulin either in vitro or in vivo on the kinetics of the countertransporter measured in vitro in isotonic sodium-containing media.

Adult↗

Kinetics of sodium-lithium countertransport activity in patients with uncomplicated type 1 diabetes.

1. Increased erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport activity has been reported to be associated with nephropathy in type 1 diabetes and linked to a family history of essential hypertension. 2. This study aimed to determine the mechanism of increased sodium-lithium countertransport activity. Sodium-lithium countertransport kinetics were measured in uncomplicated and hyperlipidaemic type 1 diabetic patients. 3. In the nine out of 31 uncomplicated type 1 diabetic patients who had high sodium-lithium countertransport activity, the sodium affinity (Km) was normal but the maximum velocity (Vmax) was increased. 4. Hyperlipidaemia, when present in diabetic patients, was associated with increased sodium-lithium countertransport activity, but could not explain the high activity in uncomplicated type 1 diabetic patients in whom plasma lipid concentrations were normal. 5. Sodium-lithium countertransport activity is increased in type 1 diabetes by a mechanism different to that in essential hypertension, where the mechanism is a low Km (increased sodium affinity). Hence familial hypertension cannot explain the raised sodium-lithium countertransport activity in type 1 diabetes.

Adult↗

Changes in erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport kinetics in diabetic nephropathy.

1. It has been proposed that raised erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport activity in type 1 diabetic patients is associated with an increased risk of developing diabetic nephropathy. Diabetic patients with established nephropathy would therefore be expected to have high activity. 2. Standard sodium-lithium countertransport activity, sodium affinity (Km) and maximum velocity (Vmax) were measured in type 1 diabetic patients at different stages of diabetic nephropathy and in appropriately matched uncomplicated diabetic patients and normal control subjects. 3. A small proportion (15%) of patients with nephropathy had standard sodium-lithium countertransport activity higher than the control range. However, mean standard sodium-lithium countertransport activity in the diabetic patients with nephropathy [mean +/- SEM, 0.26 +/- 0.12 mmol of Li+ h-1 (l of cells)-1] was not significantly higher than in the uncomplicated diabetic patients [0.27 +/- 0.03 mmol of Li+ h-1 (l of cells)-1] or in the normal control subjects [0.25 +/- 0.02 mmol of Li+ h-1 (l of cells)-1]. 4. There were marked changes in the kinetic characteristics of the sodium-lithium countertransport in the diabetic patients with nephropathy so that there were decreases in both Km and Vmax. 5. These kinetic changes could not be attributed to an effect of either renal failure per se or the duration of diabetes. 6. The characteristic kinetic changes in sodium-lithium countertransport may indicate underlying alterations in membrane function with the onset of nephropathy in type 1 diabetes.

Antiporters↗

Plasma lipids affect maximum velocity not sodium affinity of human sodium-lithium countertransport: distinction from essential hypertension.

Inheritance is a major determinant of increased sodium-lithium countertransport (SLC) activity in hypertension. However, hyperlipidaemia can also cause increased SLC activity in some individuals and it is difficult to distinguish this effect from the effect of hypertension. Erythrocyte SLC activity and its kinetic determinants sodium affinity (km) and maximum velocity (Vmax) were measured in 25 hyperlipidaemic patients and 15 normal controls (NC). Increased SLC activity (0.31 +/- SEM 0.03 mmol Li/(h x 1 cells) vs. NC 0.20 +/- 0.01, P < 0.01) in the hyperlipidaemic patients was associated with increased Vmax (0.59 +/- 0.07 vs. NC 0.41 +/- 0.03, P < 0.01) but normal km (median 120 range [40-324] mmol l-1 vs. 140 [108-260]. Lipid-lowering therapy resulted in decreased SLC activity secondary to a fall in Vmax. Km remained constant despite the changes in lipids and Vmax. The mechanism of increased SLC activity in hyperlipidaemia is different from that in essential hypertension where increased sodium affinity is found. Measurement of the kinetic characteristics of SLC may discriminate between the independent influences of hypertension and hyperlipidaemia on the sodium-lithium countertransporter.

Adult↗

Sodium-lithium countertransport kinetics in normal and hypertensive human pregnancy.

Erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport activity is increased in a subgroup of patients with essential hypertension but activity also rises temporarily during normal pregnancy. It is not known if the mechanism of raised activity is the same in both of these situations. Standard sodium-lithium countertransport activity and its kinetic characteristics (sodium affinity and maximum velocity) were measured in 15 women with a normal pregnancy. The mechanism of raised sodium-lithium countertransport activity was an increase in maximum velocity. There was no change in sodium affinity. This contrasts with essential hypertension where the mechanism is increased sodium affinity. Sodium-lithium countertransport activity was also measured in 14 primigravidae whose pregnancies were complicated by hypertension, and mean activity was not significantly higher than in normal pregnancy. However, six women had increased sodium affinity suggestive of essential hypertension and a different underlying mechanism of hypertension to those with normal sodium affinity. Prospective measurement of sodium-lithium countertransport kinetics may lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of hypertension in pregnancy.

Adult↗

Increased erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport activity in essential hypertension is due to an increased affinity for extracellular sodium.

1. Sodium-lithium countertransport activity in a standard assay, its sodium affinity constant and maximum velocity were measured in erythrocytes from normal subjects and from essential hypertensive patients with and without a family history of hypertension. 2. In normal subjects the sodium concentration used in the standard assay was similar to the sodium affinity constant so that the activity measured in this assay was less than the maximum velocity. 3. In patients with essential hypertension and a positive family history, 33% had a sodium-lithium countertransport activity greater than the upper limit of the normal control range (0.4 mmol of Li+ h-1 l-1 of cells). 4. The reason for the raised sodium-lithium countertransport activity was an increased sodium affinity (lower sodium affinity constant) at the outside ion-binding site. 5. Of the patients with essential hypertension and a positive family history but sodium-lithium countertransport activity within the normal range in the standard assay, 30% also had a low sodium affinity constant. 6. A low sodium affinity constant at the outside site of the sodium-lithium countertransporter may be a more specific indicator for a group of patients with inherited hypertension than the standard sodium-lithium countertransport activity assay.

Adult↗

Cell-mediated immunity to male-strain histocompatibility alloantigens detected after natural insemination and systemic immunization in the female mouse using the cell-mediated microcytotoxicity test.

Female cell-mediated immunity to allogeneic spermatozoa after repeated natural insemination, in the absence of pregnancy, was compared with that after systemic challenge using the cell-mediated microcytotoxicity test to measure cytotoxic cell alloreactivity. After multiple (3-6) inseminations the majority of females (11 out of 13) showed a significant degree of lymphocytotoxicity to male-strain histocompatibility alloantigens in the para-aortic lymph nodes, and to a lesser extent in the spleens, while a single insemination was usually not sufficient to evoke a specific cytotoxic cell response. This differed from the low and highly variable degree of female sensitization after multiple systemic challenge with allogeneic spermatozoa via the intraperitoneal route. By contrast, a single systemic challenge via the footpad proved to be the most highly consistent and effective route for eliciting cell-mediated immunity to male-strain histocompatibility alloantigens in all 9 female mice. This alloreactivity appeared to be directed at alloantigens other than the male-specific H-Y antigen. These findings show that the precise route of immunization is a major factor in the development of female cell-mediated immune responsiveness to allogeneic spermatozoa.

Animals↗

Expression of Na(+)-H+ exchanger isoforms NHE1 and NHE3 in kidney and blood cells of rabbit and rat.

Increased peripheral blood cell Na-H exchange (NHE) and erythrocyte Na-Li countertransport activity have been reported in hypertension and diabetic nephropathy and correlated with increased activity of the renal brush border Na-H exchanger. A relationship between cation exchange activities of blood cells and renal brush border membranes might exist if both were mediated by the same NHE isoform. We generated isoform-specific antibodies to compare the expression of NHE1 and NHE3 in peripheral blood cell membranes and renal cortical membrane vesicles. An NHE1-specific monoclonal antibody reacted with a 199- to 110-kD protein in basolateral membrane fractions isolated from rabbit and rat kidney. NHE1 protein expression was also detected in erythrocytes, platelets, and lymphocytes isolated from rabbit and rat. Two polyclonal antisera generated against nonoverlapping portions of NHE3 reacted with proteins of 82 and 85 kD in brush border membrane fractions isolated from rabbit and rat kidney, respectively, but failed to detect NHE3 expression in blood cells. These data do not support the hypothesis that Na-H exchanger of Na-Li countertransport in blood cells takes place via the renal brush border membrane NHE isoform, namely NHE3.

Animals↗