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Biomedical subjects

R Hannon

Publications and source records attributed to R Hannon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The annexin-1 knockout mouse: what it tells us about the inflammatory response.

The 37kDa protein annexin 1 (Anx-1; lipocortin 1) is a glucocorticoid-regulated protein that has been implicated in the regulation of phagocytosis, cell signalling and proliferation, and postulated to be a mediator of glucocorticoids action in inflammation and in the control of anterior pituitary hormone release. Immuno-neutralisation or antisense strategies support this hypothesis as they can reverse the effect of glucocorticoids in several systems. We recently generated a line of mice lacking the Anx-1 gene noting that some tissues taken from such animals exhibited an increased expression of several proteins including COX-2 and cPLA2. In models of experimental inflammation, Anx-1(-/-) mice exhibit an exaggerated response and a partial or complete resistance to the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids. Several other anomalies were noted including abnormal leukocyte adhesion molecule expression, an increased spontaneous migratory behaviour of PMN in Anx-1(-/-) mice and a resistance in Anx-1(-/-) macrophages to glucocorticoid inhibition of superoxide generation. This paper reviews these and other data in the light of the development of the 'second messenger' hypothesis of glucocorticoid action.

Animals↗

The annexin protein lipocortin 1 regulates the MAPK/ERK pathway.

Lipocortin 1 (annexin 1) is a calcium- and phospholipid-binding protein that modulates anti-inflammatory responses including those induced by lipopolysaccharide. To investigate the precise role of lipocortin 1 in regulating the lipopolysaccharide-induced signal transduction pathways, we generated stable RAW 264.7 macrophage cell lines expressing decreased and increased lipocortin 1 protein. Several RAW 264.7 clones with increased lipocortin 1 protein levels showed constitutive activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase, which was down-regulated following lipopolysaccharide treatment. Conversely, clones with decreased lipocortin 1 protein expression showed prolonged extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity, following lipopolysaccharide activation. Lipocortin 1 specifically regulates the components of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway, since changes in lipocortin 1 protein expression had no affect on the related mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Lipocortin 1 modulated upstream components of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway and associated with the adaptor protein growth factor binding protein. The downstream consequences of altered extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity were independent of the proinflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B. These data indicate that lipocortin 1 specifically regulates proximal signaling components of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signal transduction pathway, resulting in the modulation of biochemical functions in RAW macrophages.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Monitoring alendronate therapy for osteoporosis.

Alendronate is an antiresorptive therapy for osteoporosis and results in a decrease in bone turnover. To choose the optimal measurement for monitoring this therapy, the size of the change needs to be compared with the variability of the measurement. We studied 26 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (bone mineral density [BMD] T score < -2.5), who were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive alendronate (10 mg/day) and calcium carbonate (500 mg/day) or calcium carbonate alone for 6 months. We measured serum markers of bone formation (osteocalcin [OC], bone isoform of alkaline phosphatase [BAP], and collagen type I C-terminal propeptide [CICP]) and urinary markers of bone resorption (cross-linked N-telopeptide [NTx], free deoxypyridinoline [iFDpd], and free pyridinolines). All subjects had two measurements 1 week apart at baseline to calculate the short-term variability. Biochemical measurements were then made at 4, 8, 12, 24, and 25 weeks. Measurements of bone mass were made by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine and proximal femur twice at baseline and then at 24 and 25 weeks. The mean difference in change in BMD and markers between both groups at the end of the study that were significant were (short-term variability in brackets): DXA total hip 4.3% (2.5%), NTX 49% (10%), iFDpd 22% (12%), OC 28% (13%), BAP 31% (13%), and CICP 31% (11%). Five of the six markers showed significant responses to alendronate therapy, but they differed in the relationship between size of response and variability. These biochemical markers performed better than DXA for monitoring alendronate therapy over 6 months.

Aged↗

Endotoxin induction of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in equine alveolar macrophages.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the amount of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) enzymes induced in vitro in equine alveolar macrophages in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Sample Population-Alveolar macrophages obtained from 12 horses. PROCEDURE: Alveolar macrophages were collected by bronchoalveolar lavage from 12 horses and incubated for 6 hours with LPS (0.001 to 10 microg/ml) or vehicle. Total RNA was extracted and purified. After first-strand cDNA synthesis, mRNA induction was measured, using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for COX-2, iNOS, and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. In a second study, cells were incubated with LPS or vehicle for 24 hours. Culture medium was assayed for COX-2 and iNOS activity by determining prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and total nitrite concentrations, respectively. RESULTS: Lipopolysaccharide induces COX-2 and iNOS mRNA in equine alveolar macrophages. Sequencing revealed that PCR products for COX-2 and iNOS had a high degree of nucleotide homology with the human sequences (91% COX-2, 93% iNOS). Production of mRNA for COX-2 and iNOS was accompanied by induction of enzyme activity. Comparing PCR fragment production, expression of mRNA for iNOS appeared to be less than that for COX-2. Induction of COX-2, but not iNOS, was LPS-concentration dependent. Conclusion-Lipopolysaccharide induces COX-2 and iNOS in equine macrophages. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The induction of iNOS and COX-2 by LPS in equine macrophages suggests these enzymes may be important in the pathophysiology of sepsis. Pharmacologic modulation of iNOS and COX-2 activity may represent a novel therapeutic target in the management of endotoxemia in horses.

Animals↗

Alternate promoters and developmental modulation of expression of the chicken GATA-2 gene in hematopoietic progenitor cells.

We have isolated and characterized the chicken GATA-2 (cGATA-2) gene. We show that, as in the case of some other members of the GATA gene family, the gene is expressed from alternative first exons. One of the resulting mRNAs represents only a minor form of the GATA-2 mRNA in the cells and tissues we analyzed; the other is ubiquitously expressed. We have defined the minimal promoter that controls expression of this most abundant mRNA and that is necessary for full activity in hematopoietic progenitor cells. The activity of this promoter in transient assays is consistent with developmental differences of expression levels in these cells. We identify within the promoter a previously unrecognized extended CCAAT motif essential for its activity. The organization of the cGATA-2 gene, with alternative first exons and a CCAAT box in the proximal promoter, is similar to that recently described for mouse GATA-2, and the proximal promoter also resembles the only promoter so far described in Xenopus. Nonetheless, the roles of the promoters in development and tissue-specific expression are quite different in these organisms, most strikingly in the mouse, which assigns developmental roles to its proximal and distal promoters that are quite different from those in the chicken. We suggest that although the overall organization may remain the same, the role assigned to each promoter varies among organisms. We identify distant upstream regulatory elements in the cGATA-2 gene that modulate expression from the proximal promoter and that may be responsible for this variation.

Animals↗

Regulation of cyclo-oxygenase gene expression in rat smooth muscle cells by catalase.

We have studied, in detail, the effect of catalase, one of the naturally occurring antioxidant enzymes, on the expression of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) mRNA and protein in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMC). The activity of COX enzyme within the cells was also determined. Catalase either alone or in combination with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) enhanced mRNA and protein expression for cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) in a concentration-dependent manner. However, it did not affect the expression of mRNA or protein for cyclo-oxygenase 1 (COX-1). The expression of mRNA for COX-2 induced by catalase was blocked completely by actinomycin D (ACT) or cycloheximide (CHX). In comparison, expression of mRNA for COX-2 stimulated by IL-1beta was inhibited by actinomycin D, but not by cycloheximide. This suggests that induction of the synthesis of mRNA for COX-2 by catalase and IL-1beta involves different mechanisms. In particular, the induction of mRNA for COX-2 by catalase requires on-going protein and RNA synthesis, but the induction following exposure to IL-1beta does not. The increase in expression of mRNA for COX-2 induced by catalase may be related to the ability of catalase to stimulate cyclic AMP response element (CRE) and NF-IL6 transcription factors, but not nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), for electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) showed that catalase enhanced nuclear factor binding to cyclic AMP response element and NF-IL6 but not to NF-kappaB. Catalase exerted a biphasic effect on prostaglandin synthesis. At low concentrations it enhanced prostaglandin production, but at high concentrations it tended to inhibit it. These findings suggest that catalase has differential and multiple effects on COX expression and activity in rat aortic smooth muscle cells.

Animals↗

Endogenous monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 recruits monocytes in the zymosan peritonitis model.

The role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the recruitment of blood-derived monocytes in a model of zymosan peritoneal inflammation was investigated. After zymosan injection (1 mg) a rapid influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and monocytes into the peritoneal cavity associated with mouse MCP-1 (JE) gene activation and protein secretion in the exudates occurred. MCP-1 production (maximal at 4 h) preceded the accumulation of monocytes (F4/80-positive cells, maximally recovered between 16 and 24 h). Treatment of mice with a single injection of anti-mouse MCP-1 antibody inhibited 16-h monocyte accumulation by approximately 40%, however, a significant decrease in the number of PMN was also measured. Finally, intraperitoneal injection of murine recombinant MCP-1 (1 microg) produced a selective accumulation of monocytes (F4/80-positive cells) into the peritoneal cavity. In conclusion, we show the novel existence of a strict relationship between MCP-1 production and leukocyte accumulation in this model of acute inflammation.

Acute Disease↗

Response of biochemical markers of bone turnover to hormone replacement therapy: impact of biological variability.

Biochemical markers of bone turnover may be useful to monitor patients taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The aim of this study was to assess the utility of markers in monitoring HRT by comparing the response of a large panel of markers to HRT with their within subject variability. We measured the response of markers to transdermal estradiol in 11 postmenopausal women over 24 weeks. We measured the within subject variability of markers in 11 untreated healthy postmenopausal women over the same period. The mean decrease in markers of bone formation after 24 weeks treatment ranged from 19% for procollagen type I C-terminal propeptide (PICP) to 40% for procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP). The mean decrease in markers of bone resorption ranged from 10% for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) to 67% for C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide The least significant change (LSC at p < 0.05), calculated from the within subject variability in the untreated group, was used to define response. LSC for osteocalcin was 21%, bone alkaline phosphatase 28%, PICP 24%, PINP 21%, type I collagen telopeptide 28%, TRAP 17%, urinary calcium 90%, hydroxyproline 75%, total deoxypyridinoline 47%, free pyridinoline 36%, free deoxypyridinoline 26%, N-terminal cross-linked telopeptide 70%, and C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide 132%. The greatest number of responders after 24 weeks of treatment were found using PINP and osteocalcin (9 each), and free deoxypyridinoline (8 each) and total deoxypyridinoline (8 each) and total deoxypyridinoline (7 each). Lumbar spine bone mineral density defined four patients as responders. The ability to detect a response differs between markers and is not dependent on the magnitude of response to therapy.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Mobilizing lipocortin 1 in adherent human leukocytes downregulates their transmigration.

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) migration into sites of inflammation is fundamental to the host defense response. Activation of endothelial cells and PMNs increases the expression or activation of adhesion molecules, culminating in rolling and subsequent adherence of these cells to the vascular wall. Further activation of adherent PMNs, possibly by endothelial cell ligands, leads, within a few minutes, to extravasation itself. This process is not clearly understood, but adhesion molecules or related proteins, as well as endogenous chemokines, may play an important role. The anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids delay extravasation, which implies that an inhibitory regulatory system exists. Resting PMNs contain abundant cytoplasmic lipocortin 1 (LC1, also called annexin I)', and the activity profile of this protein suggests that it could reduce PMN responsiveness. To investigate this we have assessed neutrophil transmigration both in vivo and in vitro and examined the content and subcellular distribution of LC1 in PMNs by fluorescence-activated cell-sorting (FACS) analysis, western blotting and confocal microscopy. We report that LC1 is mobilized and externalized following PMN adhesion to endothelial monolayers in vitro or to venular endothelium in vivo and that the end point of this process is a negative regulation of PMN transendothelial passage.

Animals↗

Bone mineral density and bone turnover in spinal osteoarthrosis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there was a generalised increase in bone mineral density (BMD) in spinal osteoarthrosis (OA), and to determine the mechanism of this possible protection against osteoporosis as assessed by biochemical markers of bone turnover. METHODS: We studied 375 women (ages 50 to 85) from a population based group. Spinal OA was defined from radiographs as the presence of degenerative changes affecting intervertebral or facet joints. BMD of the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN) and total body (TB) was measured by dual energy x ray absorptiometry (Lunar DPX). Bone turnover rates were estimated from measurement of biochemical markers of bone formation and resorption (urine deoxypyridinoline (Dpyr) and serum bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP)). RESULTS: BMD at each site was greater in the women with spinal OA (mean increase in LS-BMD 7.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0 to 15.1; TB-BMD 8.4%, 95% CI 1.9 to 9.7; FN-BMD 6.4%, 95% CI 0.3 to 12.6). Twenty four hour urinary excretion of Dpyr, corrected for TB bone mineral content, and serum BAP were 19% lower in the women with spinal OA (95% CI for Dpyr 4.3 to 31.9%; for BAP 6.3 to 32.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Spinal OA is associated with a generalised increase in BMD and a decreased rate of bone turnover. This suggests that the protective effect of spinal OA against osteoporosis may be mediated by decreased bone turnover.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Developmental regulation of globin gene expression.

We have used the globin family of genes in chicken to study developmental regulation of gene expression, both at the level of individual interaction of trans-acting factors with local promoters and enhancers, and at the level of chromatin structure. Regulation of all members of the alpha- and beta-globin clusters is affected by the erythroid regulatory factor GATA-1. Separate mechanisms exist for regulation of individual members of the family. As an example, we describe the control mechanisms that play a role in the expression of the rho-globin gene, which is expressed only in primitive lineage erythroid cells. In addressing the involvement of chromatin structure in gene activation, we have examined the role of locus control elements, and also considered the way in which RNA polymerase molecules might accommodate to the presence of nucleosomes on transcribed genes.

Animals↗

Structure and promoter activity of the gene for the erythroid transcription factor GATA-1.

We have cloned the gene for the chicken erythroid transcription factor GATA-1 (formerly Eryf1, NF-E1, or GF-1). The gene is composed of six exons, two of which encode the two finger domains of the protein. Transcription of GATA-1 in chicken embryonic erythroid cells initiates from multiple sites clustered approximately 200 base pairs upstream from the start of protein-coding sequence. A number of sequence motifs for known DNA-binding proteins are found to be protected in DNase I-footprinting experiments by either erythroid or brain nuclear extracts or by both. Notably, a cluster of three GATA-1 sites is protected by the erythroid extract, as well as by purified GATA-1. We find that the upstream region of the gene functions as a powerful promoter when transfected into embryonic erythroid cells. In primary chicken embryo fibroblasts the promoter exhibits lower activity, which is increased when the cells are cotransfected with a second plasmid expressing the GATA-1 cDNA. The results suggest that GATA-1 protein plays an autoregulatory role in its own expression.

Animals↗

Memory retraining with adult male alcoholics.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the use of group memory retraining in adult male alcoholics. Subjects were 29 residents of a Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. Fourteen of the men volunteered to be in a memory retraining group and 15 to be in a control group, and all had memory functioning assessed during a pretest and again during a posttest eight weeks later. Memory retraining occurred in groups of three to six men who met one hour per week for eight weeks. Only one test improved significantly with memory retraining. Despite that fact, subjects appreciated the retraining and were more confident of their ability to learn and remember. Since alcoholics have many subjective complaints about memory dysfunction and previous research has demonstrated memory impairment, both a standardized clinically useful memory test battery and effective memory retraining techniques are needed.

Journal Article↗

Social drinking and cognitive functioning in college students: a replication and reversibility study.

The purposes of this study were to replicate a previous study of the relationship between alcohol consumption and cognitive functioning in college students and to investigate the reversibility of negative effects of social drinking on cognitive functioning when randomly assigned subjects abstained from drinking for 2 weeks. The previous study was replicated by administering the same battery of neuropsychological tests to 170 subjects (103 women) during the first testing session. Like the original study, the present study demonstrated several significant predicted inverse relationships between drinking and cognitive performance, but specific relationships between various drinking and cognitive variables were not replicated. As in the original study, some significant nonpredicted relationships also occurred. At the end of the first testing session, subjects were randomly assigned either to abstain from drinking or to maintain their usual drinking patterns for 2 weeks. They were then administered a different neuropsychological battery designed to assess functions similar to the original battery. Consumption the previous 2 weeks was significantly lower in the abstain group than in the maintain group, but there were no significant differences in the predicted direction between groups on the cognitive variables. Several significant predicted inverse correlations between drinking variables and cognitive performance occurred, but some nonpredicted relationships occurred also. Problems and implications for research in social drinking are discussed.

Adult↗

Facilitated diffusion of a DNA binding protein on chromatin.

Facilitated diffusion accounts for the rapid rate of association of many bacterial DNA binding proteins with specific DNA sequences in vitro. In this mechanism the proteins bind at random to non-specific sites on the DAN and diffuse (by 'sliding' or 'hopping') along the DNA chain until they arrive at their specific functional sites. We have investigated whether such a mechanism can operate in chromatin by using a bacterial DNA binding protein, Escherichia coli RNA polymerase, that depends on linear diffusion to locate initiation sites on DNA. We have measured the competition between chromatin and its free DNA for the formation of initiation complexes. Only the short linker segments exposed by the removal of histone H1 are available for interaction with the polymerase, but the sparsely distributed promoter sites on the linker DNA of such a polynucleosome chain are located at the same rate as those on DNA. We conclude that the polymerase is free to migrate between the separate linker DNA segments of a polynucleosome chain to reach a promoter site. This chain thus permits the 'hopping' of proteins between neighboring linker segments in their search for a target site on the accessible DNA.

Animals↗