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Biomedical subjects

R D Rosenberg

Publications and source records attributed to R D Rosenberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Transcriptional regulation of the thrombomodulin gene.

The transcriptional start sites of the endogenous human thrombomodulin (TM) gene and transiently expressed TM promoter/CAT gene constructs were defined by nuclease S1 mapping which showed two closely spaced sites at +1 and +6, respectively. Transient expression and in vitro transcription assays of 5' and internal deletion mutants of the TM promoter/CAT gene constructs reveal that the region from -72 to -29 exhibits a positive acting domain which is essential for transcriptional activity, whereas the region from -373 to -225 possesses two positive acting subdomains, -343 to -277 and -245 to -225, which together augment transcriptional activity by about 40%. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with a duplex oligonucleotide corresponding to -72 to -29 and DNase I footprinting experiments show two specific interaction products which individually or cooperatively protect the DNA sequence from about -60 to -30. These components are essential for TM gene transcription since affinity fractionation of nuclear extracts with a duplex oligonucleotide corresponding to -72 to -29 depletes the above interaction products and specifically inhibits in vitro transcription activity of the promoter, whereas addition of the eluted components specifically restores in vitro transcription activity of the promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with duplex oligonucleotides corresponding to -294 to -215, as well as -373 to -295 and DNase I footprinting experiments show two specific interaction products which individually bind to the two subdomains but not -72 to -29 and protect the coding and noncoding strands from -245 to -225, and the noncoding strand from -337 to -314, respectively. Transient expression studies reveal that the TM promoter construct starting at -51 and including the TATA box is responsive to TNF only in cell lines exhibiting sensitivity of the endogenous receptor gene to cytokine, whereas other promoter constructs possessing a TATA box sequence are insensitive to TNF in all cell types. Based upon the above data, the regulatory events involved in TNF-dependent transcriptional regulation of the TM gene can be defined with the experimental tools and conceptual framework developed by the present investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Coagulation activation following estrogen administration to postmenopausal women.

We investigated coagulation system activation following estrogen treatment in 29 healthy postmenopausal women. Study participants received conjugated estrogens at 0.625 and 1.25 mg per day, and placebo for 3-month periods in a randomized crossover protocol. Blood samples were obtained on two consecutive days at the end of each treatment period for immunoassays of F1+2 and fibrinopeptide A (FPA), markers of factor Xa action on prothrombin and thrombin action on fibrinogen in vivo, respectively. Treatment with estrogens at a dose of 0.625 or 1.25 mg resulted in significant increases in mean F1+2 levels of 40 and 98%, respectively, and in mean FPA levels of 37 and 71%, respectively. The measurements of F1+2 were significantly higher in women receiving 1.25 mg of estrogen than 0.625 mg. We also observed significant declines in the levels of antithrombin III and total protein S antigen. Immunologic levels of protein C increased modestly at only the 1.25 mg estrogen dose level. These data indicate that low doses of oral estrogens (< or = 1.25 mg per day) frequently increase the amount of thrombin generated in vivo. Our observations may help to explain the increased thrombotic risk that has been observed with higher doses of this medication (> or = 2.5 mg).

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Antisense c-myb oligonucleotides inhibit intimal arterial smooth muscle cell accumulation in vivo.

Synthetic antisense oligonucleotides have been used to dissect gene function in vitro. Technical difficulties prevented the use of this approach for investigating the effect of gene products in vivo. Here we report the use of local delivery of antisense c-myb oligonucleotide to suppress intimal accumulation of rat carotid arterial smooth muscle cells. Our results suggest that antisense oligonucleotides can be used to define the in vivo biological role of specific macromolecules in the blood vessel wall and could potentially serve as a new class of therapeutic agents for cardiovascular disorders.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Gemfibrozil reduces plasma prothrombin fragment F1 + 2 concentration, a marker of coagulability, in patients with coronary heart disease.

The effects of gemfibrozil on several indices of haemostatic activity were explored in male patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Sixty-three of 71 patients completed a crossover study in which gemfibrozil 1,200 mg/day and matching placebo were each taken in randomised order for 2 months in a double-blind manner, separated by a 2-month washout period. Serum cholesterol decreased by an average (95% confidence interval) of 12 (9 to 15)% and non-fasting triglyceride concentration by 43 (34 to 51)% during active treatment. Plasma prothrombin fragment F1 + 2 concentration, a marker of the in vivo rate of generation of thrombin, was 25 (12 to 37)% lower on average while on gemfibrozil than during the placebo phase. Factor VII coagulant activity (VIIc) and antigen concentration, and fibrinopeptide A concentration were not influenced by gemfibrozil in the group overall. However, the VIIc response appeared to be dependent upon the untreated cholesterol level. Hypercholesterolaemic men (cholesterol greater than 6.5 mmol/l) experienced a significant reduction in VIIc averaging 6% of standard during active therapy. Other effects of gemfibrozil were a 5 (2 to 9)% increase in plasma fibrinogen by a gravimetric method, an 11 (8 to 13)% increase in platelet count, and a 6 (2 to 10)% reduction in white cell count. The reduced incidence of CHD following gemfibrozil therapy in hyperlipidaemic patients may arise in part through a reduction in procoagulant activity and thus the risk of an occlusive coronary thrombosis.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1992

Monitoring "mini-intensity" anticoagulation with warfarin: comparison of the prothrombin time using a sensitive thromboplastin with prothrombin fragment F1+2 levels.

Treatment with warfarin using a target International Normalized Ratio (INR) range of 1.7 to 2.5 is efficacious for many clinical indications, but the minimal intensity of anticoagulation required for antithrombotic protection has yet to be determined. To evaluate whether patients could be reliably monitored with a less intense regimen, we anticoagulated patients with warfarin for several months using a target INR range of 1.3 to 1.6 as determined by prothrombin time (PT) using a sensitive thromboplastin (Dade IS, International Sensitivity Index [ISI] = 1.3). Plasma measurements of F1+2, a marker of factor Xa action on prothrombin in vivo, were also obtained to determine the suppressive effect of warfarin on hemostatic system activity. Overall, 20 of 21 patients with a history of cerebrovascular events (mean age, 61 years) could be reliably regulated with warfarin in the target INR range. F1+2 levels were significantly suppressed from baseline in all patients, with a mean reduction of 49% (range, 28% to 78%). We found a significant relationship between the extent of suppression of prothrombin activation levels and the baseline measurements. A mean reduction of 65% was observed for those patients with baseline F1+2 greater than or equal to 1.5 nmol/L, but only 38% for baseline F1+2 less than or equal to 0.5 nmol/L. Overall, 68% of plasma samples obtained during stable anticoagulation were within the target INR range. PTs were also determined on all plasma samples with two thromboplastins of lower sensitivity (C+, ISI = 2.09; and automated simplastin, ISI = 2.10). Only 47% and 35% of PT determinations, respectively, were within the target range with these reagents. We conclude that prothrombin activation can be significantly suppressed in vivo with use of warfarin in an INR range of 1.3 to 1.6. This level of anticoagulation can be reliably achieved by monitoring PTs with a thromboplastin of high sensitivity.

Blood Coagulation↗
PubMed1992

Factor IXa-factor VIIIa-cell surface complex does not contribute to the basal activation of the coagulation mechanism in vivo.

We have infused recombinant factor VIIa into patients with hereditary factor VII deficiency with marked reductions in plasma concentrations of factor IX activation peptide (FIXP), factor X activation peptide (FXP), and prothrombin activation fragment F1+2. These investigations show substantial elevations in these markers of coagulation activation and thereby demonstrate that the factor VII-tissue factor pathway is largely responsible for the activation of factor IX as well as factor X in the basal state (ie, the absence of thrombosis or provocative stimuli). We have administered a monoclonal antibody purified factor IX concentrate to individuals with hemophilia B. These studies show an increase in the plasma levels of FIXP that were initially greatly decreased, but no change in FXP or F1+2. We have also infused highly purified factor VIII concentrate into patients with hemophilia A. The data demonstrate no significant changes in the plasma concentrations of FXP and F1+2. The above observations indicate that factor IXa generated by the factor VII-tissue factor pathway is unable to activate factor X under basal conditions. Based upon the above findings, we outline a model of blood coagulation system function under basal conditions, and suggest a process by which the generation of factor Xa and thrombin might be accelerated during normal hemostasis and in the setting of thrombotic disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Thrombomodulin gene regulation by cAMP and retinoic acid in F9 embryonal carcinoma cells.

Thrombomodulin (TM) expression was investigated during differentiation of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells into primitive or parietal endoderm. Exposure of F9 cells to retinoic acid (RA) triggers differentiation into primitive endoderm and induces the appearance of barely detectable amounts of TM mRNA, whereas treatment with dibutyryl cAMP plus theophylline (CT) augments the levels of TM mRNA to a 4-fold greater extent than RA. Exposure of F9 cells to RA plus CT initiates differentiation into parietal endoderm and synergistically increases the levels of TM mRNA by 10- to 12-fold compared with CT. The time-dependent establishment of cooperativity between RA and CT appears to be secondary to RA-induced differentiation to primitive endoderm. The above alterations in TM mRNA levels occur by a transcriptional mechanism as judged by nuclear run-on experiments. Transient gene expression experiments show that the human TM promoter is transactivated by coexpression of the human RA receptor beta. Thus, the mechanism of induction of TM expression in F9 cells undergoing differentiation to parietal endoderm appears to be similar, but not identical, to that noted for other late response genes.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Isolation and characterization of heparan sulfate proteoglycans produced by cloned rat microvascular endothelial cells.

We have isolated heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) from cloned rat microvascular endothelial cells using a combination of ion-exchange chromatography, affinity fractionation with antithrombin III (AT III), and gel filtration in denaturing solvents. The anticoagulantly active heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGact) which bind tightly to AT III bear mainly anticoagulantly active heparan sulfate (HSact) whereas the anticoagulantly inactive heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGinact) possess mainly anticoagulantly inactive heparan sulfate (HSinact). HSact and HSinact were also isolated by a combination of ion-exchange chromatography, treatment with protease and chondroitin ABC lyase, and affinity fractionation with AT III. HSact and HSinact have molecular sizes of about 25-30 kDa with the same overall composition of monosaccharides except that HSact exhibits about nine glucuronsyl 3-O-sulfated glucosamines/chain whereas HSinact possesses about three glucuronsyl 3-O-sulfated glucosamines/chain. Direct isolation of the AT III-binding site of HSact by exposing carbohydrate chains to Flavobacterium heparitinase in the presence of protease inhibitor revealed only a single interaction site which contained two to three glucuronsyl 3-O-sulfated glucosamine residues. The core proteins of HSPGact and HSPGinact were isolated by treatment with Flavobacterium heparitinase and purification by ion-exchange chromatography. The molecular sizes of the core proteins were established by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and their primary structures were examined by cleavage with trypsin or endopeptidase Glu-C as well as separation of peptides by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that both sets of core proteins exhibited three major components with molecular sizes of 50, 30, and 25 kDa, respectively. The 25-kDa species appears to be a proteolytic degradation product of the 30-kDa species. The peptide mapping revealed that HSPGact and HSPGinact possess extremely similar core proteins.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Molecular cloning and expression of two distinct cDNA-encoding heparan sulfate proteoglycan core proteins from a rat endothelial cell line.

The cloned rat fat pad endothelial cell (RFP-EC) line synthesizes anticoagulantly active heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGact) and anticoagulantly inactive heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGinact), both of which exhibit 25-, 30-, and 50-kDa core proteins of extremely similar structure. The primary sequences of internal peptides obtained from HSPGinact core proteins and the NH2-terminal sequence analyses of the 25-kDa component from the HSPGinact core proteins demonstrate that the 30-kDa component is a previously unidentified species, designated as ryudocan, with the 25-kDa component representing a proteolytic degradation product, while the 50-kDa component is the rat homolog of syndecan (Saunders, S. Jalkanen, M., O'Farrell, S., and Bernfield, M. (1989) J. Cell Biol. 108, 1547-1556). Specific oligonucleotide probes were obtained for ryudocan and syndecan by polymerase chain reaction, and the corresponding cDNAs were isolated from a RFP-EC library. The cDNAs encode type I integral membrane proteins of 202 and 313 amino acids, respectively, which have homologous transmembrane and intracellular domains but very distinct extracellular regions. In particular, ryudocan exhibits only three potential glycosaminoglycan attachment sites within the extracellular region while syndecan has five glycosaminoglycan attachment sites within the same domain. Both species are expressed in RFP-EC lines, primary rat aortic smooth muscle cells and primary rat skin fibroblast cells. The levels of ryudocan and syndecan mRNA were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in primary microvascular endothelial cells and closely associated non-endothelial cells isolated by cell sorting. Ryudocan and syndecan mRNAs were abundantly expressed in both populations representing about 0.1-0.5% of mRNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

New approaches for defining sequence specific synthesis of heparan sulfate chains.

Mammalian cells synthesize heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) which consist of core proteins with covalently linked glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) of 50-150 disaccharide units. The GAGs exhibit great structural diversity which arise from differing arrangements of alternate disaccharide units. It has been hypothesized that HSPG may be involved in regulating the most basic aspects of cell biologic systems such as adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. However, considerable doubt exists about the specific nature of the above interactions because of a failure to isolate GAGs of unique monosaccharide sequence with appropriate biologic activities. We have demonstrated that mouse LTA cells synthesize cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans with regions of defined monosaccharide sequence that specifically interact with antithrombin (HSPGact). However, it remains unclear how HSPGact can be generated by a biosynthetic pathway with no simple template for directing the ordered assembly of monosaccharide units. To examine this issue, we treated LTA cells with ethylmethane sulfonate and then identified mutants that exhibit decreased antithrombin binding to heparan sulfate chains but possess no gross defects in glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis. After screening 40,000 colonies, we isolated 7 stable mutants which synthesize 8-27% of the wild type HSPGact but produce normal amounts of other HSPG. These mutants are recessive in nature, and fall into at least two different complementation groups. The delineation of the molecular basis of these defects should greatly improve our understanding of how cells synthesize HSPG with regions of defined monosaccharide sequence.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Antisense nonmuscle myosin heavy chain and c-myb oligonucleotides suppress smooth muscle cell proliferation in vitro.

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation is a poorly understood process that plays a critical role in several pathological states, including atherosclerosis and hypertension. Recent work suggests that the oncogene c-myb and myosin, a ubiquitous cytoskeletal protein, may be directly involved in this process. We have used antisense nonmuscle myosin heavy chain (NMMHC) or c-myb phosphorothiolate oligonucleotides to inhibit proliferation of SMCs in vitro. The suppression of growth is accompanied by reductions in the concentrations of NMMHC and c-myb mRNAs as well as decreases in the levels of the corresponding proteins. The specificity of the antiproliferative effect is underscored by the absence of any detectable growth inhibition with sense NMMHC or c-myb phosphorothiolate oligonucleotides, an antisense c-myb mismatch phosphorothiolate oligonucleotide, or an antisense thrombomodulin phosphorothiolate oligonucleotide. Furthermore, the treatment of SMCs with antisense phosphorothiolate oligonucleotides for as little as 2 hours causes maximal inhibition of cell growth over the next 72 hours. Under these conditions, SMCs attain normal rates of growth over the following 48 hours, which shows that proliferation is suppressed in a reversible fashion by antisense phosphorothiolate oligonucleotides. These experiments indicate that both c-myb and nonmuscle myosin play critical roles in SMC proliferation and that reductions of either mRNA by antisense phosphorothiolate oligonucleotides arrest the process.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Botrocetin agglutination of rat megakaryocytes: a rapid method for megakaryocyte isolation.

Botrocetin isolated from the venom of Bothrops jaracara has been shown by others to induce binding of von Willebrand Factor to glycoprotein Ib and thereby produce platelet agglutination in a wide range of animal species. We have found that botrocetin also facilitates the agglutination of megakaryocytes and have used this property to develop a method to isolate megakaryocytes from rat bone marrow. When botrocetin is added to a mixture of rat bone marrow, rat platelets, and rat plasma, coagglutination of megakaryocytes and platelets occurs. The agglutinated complexes, containing > 95% of the megakaryocytes, may then be separated from the remaining marrow cells by filtration. Megakaryocytes account for 39% (range 30%-48%) of the isolated cells and 83% (range 77%-88%) of the isolated cell mass. This method allows the virtually complete removal of megakaryocytes from bone marrow as well as their isolation to a high degree of purity. It should provide a useful, inexpensive, general method for the rapid isolation of megakaryocytes from multiple, small marrow samples from a wide range of species.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

The isolation and characterization of a specific antibody population directed against the prothrombin activation fragments F2 and F1 + 2.

We have raised antisera against human prothrombin activation fragment F2 in rabbits and have chromatographed the respective immunoglobulin G fractions on prothrombin-Sepharose, Pr1-Sepharose, and F2-Sepharose immunoadsorbents. The specific antibody population obtained was utilized to construct a double antibody radioimmunoassay capable of measuring as little as 0.8 ng/ml of this component. Our studies suggest that the immunoreactive site defined by this antibody population is most probably located within the negatively charged COOH-terminal region of F2. The immunologic expression of this area is unaffected by denaturation or reduction-alkylation of F2 as well as by attachment of polypeptide to the NH2-terminal of this component. However, the presence of covalently bound polypeptide at the COOH-terminal of F2 reduces its immunologic reactivity by 300- to 400-fold. Prothrombin, Pr1, and Pr*1, which contain the F2 region as part of their covalent structure, are at least 4000 to 7000 times less immunoreactive than F2 on a molar basis. Conversion of these components to thrombin as well as activation fragments generates the theoretically predicted level of immunoreactivity. Masking of the immunoreactive site within these zymogens is due to two phenomena. Firstly, covalent attachment of polypeptides on the COOH-terminal of the F2 segment significantly depresses the reactivity of this region. Secondly, a critical S--S bridge aids in the sequenstration of the immunoreactive site. This cross-link may facilitate interactions between the COOH-terminal of the F2 segment and other regions of the zymogen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1979

Correlation between structure and function of heparin.

We have fractionated crude porcine heparin to obtain highly active as well as relatively inactive species of molecular weight approximately 7000 with specific anticoagulant activities of 360 and 12 units/mg, respectively. Nitrous acid degradation of both of these polymers yielded a tetrasaccharide fraction, 1beta, that contained equimolar amounts of iduronic and glucuronic acids, possessed an internal N-acetylated glucosamine, and carried anhydromannitol at the reducing end position. The 1beta tetrasaccharide derived from the highly active heparin, 1betaa, was recovered in a yield of 1.1 mol/7000 daltons. Our analyses indicate that at least 95% of the 1betaa is a single structure that consists of the following unique monosaccharide sequence: L-iduronic acid --> N-acetylated D-glucosamine-6-sulfate --> D-glucuronic acid --> N-sulfate D-glucosamine-6-sulfate. The 1beta tetrasaccharide fraction from relatively inactive mucopolysaccharide, 1betai, was recovered in a yield of 0.3 mol/7000 daltons and was a mixture of several components. Only 8.5% of the 1betai tetrasaccharide fraction exhibited the same uronic acid placement and sulfate group position found in 1betaa. Thus, 2.6% of relatively inactive mucopolysaccharide molecules contain the unique tetrasaccharide sequence found within each molecule of highly active heparin. Given the correlation between abundance of this unique 1betaa tetrasaccharide sequence and biologic potency, we suggest that this structure represents the critical site responsible for anticoagulant activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Isolation and characterization of heparin from human lung.

Heparin as measured by azure A metachromasia and anticoagulant activity has been extracted with 1 M NaCl from (35)S-labeled human lung fragments or dispersed human lung cells enriched for mast cells. The (35)S-labeled metachromatic material in the 3 M NaCl eluate from Dowex-1 chromatography of the extract from lung fragments exhibited an average mol wt of 20,000 by Sepharose 4B gel filtration. The (35)S-labeled metachromatic material with the charge characteristics of commercial porcine heparin on DEAE cellulose chromatography was entirely heparin by the criteria of resistance to degradation by chondroitin ABC lyase and complete degradation by purified heparinase. Antithrombin affinity chromatography of purified heparin with an anticoagulant activity of 137 U/mg, revealed that the one-third that was bound and eluted had a 273 U/mg sp act, whereas the unbound activity was 31 U/mg. Thus, the previously observed heterogeneity of commercial porcine heparin for binding to human antithrombin was also observed with human heparin. The mast cell-enriched human lung cell preparations yielded [(35)S]mucopolysaccharides with an average mol wt of 60,000 by Sepharose 4B gel filtration. Approximately 30% of this fraction was degraded by chondroitin ABC lyase, and the residual 70% was degraded by purified heparinase. When the chondroitin ABC lyase-resistant fraction was subjected to alkali degradation the average mol wt was reduced to 20,000. The calculated human lung mast cell heparin content of 2.4-7.8 mug/10(6) cells gave a ratio to histamine on a weight basis similar to that of intact lung fragments, thereby implying that heparin in the lung fragments was largely restricted to the mast cells.

Anticoagulants↗