PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Dustin

Publications and source records attributed to P Dustin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

What's new in the pathology of neuronal cytoskeleton: the significance of neurofibrillary tangles.

Neurofibrillary tangles are a neuronal change observed in various conditions, linked with dementia when affecting the cerebral cortex as in Alzheimer's disease. They may be found locally close to fibrous or vascular tumors, or affect extensive regions of the neocortex while the cerebellum and the medulla are not affected. Recent immunological and biochemical studies demonstrate that the MT-associated protein tau is the main component of the tangles, in an abnormally phosphorylated state. A consequence of the formation of tangles is a decreased assembly of MT in axons and dendrites, with disturbances of neuroplasmic flow. The relations between tangles and amyloid, as seen in Alzheimer's and Down's diseases are topographical, tangles accumulating in particular in neurites close to the amyloid in the senile plaques (but also at distance in cell bodies and neurites). Genetically and biochemically A4 or beta-amyloid and tau differ. The exact relation between the beta-pleated proteins of tangles and amyloid remain poorly understood.

Amyloid beta-Peptides↗
PubMed1989

[The centennial of the discovery of the antimitotic properties of colchicine].

Pernice, a sicilian pathologist active mainly in Italy (Palermo) from 1884 to 1906, published one hundred years ago the first observation of the mitotic changes observed in two dogs injected with a large dose of tincture of Colchicum. His description of the considerable increase in mitotic figures in the gastric and intestinal mucosa, and the absence of ana-telophases, clearly illustrate the well-known effect of a spindle poison. They were however completely forgotten until 1949. The modern aspect of the action of colchicine on mitosis in relation with the properties of microtubules and their dynamic condition are briefly considered in relation with the history of colchicine in modern cell biology.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[Pathology of the cytoskeleton].

In the last years, considerable advances have been made in the study of the proteins and polypeptides of the cytoskeleton, and its three main components: microfilaments (MF), intermediate filaments (IMF) and microtubules (MT). The principal properties of these elements and those of many associated proteins are recalled. The actin MF are mainly involved in cell contractility, the IMF in cell shape, while the MT and their associated proteins are involved in intracellular transport. Some pathological modifications of the cytoskeleton will be considered. In the liver, accumulations of keratin result in the formation of Mallory's hyalin, found in several types of cirrhosis and hepatomas. In muscle, accumulations of desmin are observed in various myopathies. An accumulation of alpha-actinin at the Z bands characterizes nemalin myopathy. In several forms of hemolytic anemias, alterations of the membranous cytoskeletal components of the red blood cells--spectrin, ankyrin, actin--may explain their abnormal shape and excessive fragility. In the nervous system, many pathological conditions are related to abnormal cytoskeletal components. In Parkinson's disease, Lewy bodies are an accumulation of neurofilaments (IMF). In Alzheimer's disease, and some related conditions, the intraneuronal tangles are associated with modifications of MT and neurofilaments. The role of MT and in particular of the MT-associated protein tau, as demonstrated recently, confirms the involvement of the MT. The observed disturbances of MT-related axonal flow may explain some of the known functional changes in these forms of dementia.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed1984

Ultrastructural demonstration of retrovirus antigens with immuno-gold staining in prodromal acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

The peripheral lymphocytes of a patient with prodromal acquired immune deficiency syndrome contained giant multivesicular bodies. These were specifically stained by immuno-gold labelled polyclonal antibodies against the major core protein p24 of bovine leukaemia virus and human T cell leukaemia virus I. Moreover, the patient's serum was positive for bovine leukaemia virus by the ELISA method.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1980

Generalized fatal chronic infection by Mycobacterium scrofulaceum with severe amyloidosis in a child.

The case history and autopsy of a young boy chronically infected with M. scrofulaceum is reported. The pathology of the lesions, which affected mainly the skin and the bones, was that of a nonspecific inflammatory reaction, with many acid-fast bacteria. Some improvement was obtained by these use of several antimycobacterial drugs, but the general condition deteriorated, the child dying at the age of 16 after more than five years of sickness. One of the causes of death was a severe generalized amyloidosis. This case is discussed in relation with the very small number of autopsies of patients dying of infection caused by scotochromogenic mycobacteria, or M. scrofulaceum. A possible immunological defect cannot be entirely ruled out.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Microtubules.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

[Microtubules and mitosis].

The mitotic chromosome movements are discussed in relation with recent studies on tubulins, their assembly and disassembly, and the associated proteins. The role of contractile proteins in the mitotic spindle is considered, and also that of the calcium regulating protein (CDR) which has been demonstrated recently in the mitotic spindle. The study of more "primitive" mitoses underlines the differences between polar and chromosomal MT. The linear growth of the first, and the sliding movements of MT from opposing poles, explain the growth in length of the mitotic figure and the separation of chromosomes. The complex relations between various types of MT and the possibility of biochemical varieties of tubulins, are discussed.

Actins↗