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Biomedical subjects

R K Barth

Publications and source records attributed to R K Barth.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Differential epitope expression of Ly-48 (mouse leukosialin).

Ly-48 is a major sialoglycoprotein expressed on the surface of a variety of mouse hematopoietic cells that exhibits many characteristic isoforms and may function in signal transduction and cell adhesion. Ly-48 is recognized by the 3E8-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) and it has been suggested that it is the same antigen recognized by another mAb known as S7. In this report, we demonstrate definitively by transfection of a Ly-48 cDNA that S7 and two previously uncharacterized mAbs, S11 and S15, recognize the same antigen as the 3E8-specific mAb. However, 2-D gel immunoblot analyses demonstrate the complex nature of Ly-48. Although all four mAbs react similarly with lysates from the M-45 B-cell myeloma line, 2-D immunoblot analyses of the EL-4 T-cell line reveal three distinct patterns of reactivity. Further, while transfection of Ly-48 into the K562 erythroleukemic cell line conferred reactivity to all four mAbs, transfection of the Ly-48 cDNA into the nonhematopoietic cell line, Line 1, conferred reactivity only to the S11 and S15 mAbs. Thus, the Line 1 transfectants suggest the importance of posttranslational modifications in the expression of the 3E8 and S7 epitopes. Interestingly, developing fetal liver cells show the same pattern of differential Ly-48-specific mAb reactivity. The developing early fetal liver cells are reactive with S11 and S15 but are negative, to very weakly, reactive with the 3E8- and S7-specific mAbs. These results show that Ly-48 epitopes can be expressed independently on cell lines in vitro and are differentially expressed on healthy cells in vivo.

Animals↗

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the mouse T-cell receptor gene families.

We have studied the restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) found in the germline T-cell receptor genes of 25 inbred Mus musculus strains and 8 wild Mus species. Included in the inbred mice tested were several strains which spontaneously develop systemic autoimmune disease. Extensive polymorphism was evident for the variable (V) gene segments of the alpha gene family for both the inbred strains and wild mouse species. Changes in the total number of bands hybridizing with probes for V alpha gene segments suggest that members of a V alpha gene segment subfamily are not closely linked, but are interspersed with members of other subfamilies; that expansion and contraction of the multimembered subfamilies may be an important diversifying factor. Our data obtained with beta gene probes revealed genomic diversity that is much more limited than that seen for the alpha locus. Analysis of inbred mice with probes for the gamma gene locus revealed some RFLPs, but little evidence of expansion or contraction in the numbers of gene segments. Among the autoimmune mice, NZW, NZB, and BXSB/MpJ all display distinctive differences with alpha gene probes. NZW mice have a large deletion of the beta gene family, which has been reported previously. We found no differences to distinguish the MRL/MpJ lpr/lpr mice from non-autoimmune strains.

Animals↗

Genomic organization of the mouse T-cell receptor beta-chain gene family.

We have combined three different methods, deletion mapping of T-cell lines, field-inversion gel electrophoresis, and the restriction mapping of a cosmid clone, to construct a physical map of the murine T-cell receptor beta-chain gene family. We have mapped 19 variable (V beta) gene segments and the two clusters of diversity (D beta) and joining (J beta) gene segments and constant (C beta) genes. These members of the beta-chain gene family span approximately equal to 450 kilobases of DNA, excluding one potential gap in the DNA fragment alignments.

Animals↗

A genetic locus closely linked to a protease inhibitor gene complex controls the level of multiple RNA transcripts.

The two major protease inhibitors in mouse plasma are alpha 1-protease inhibitor (alpha 1-PI), putative inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, and contrapsin, an inhibitor in vitro of trypsinlike proteases. We have shown by nucleotide sequence analysis that these two inhibitors are related (R. E. Hill, P. H. Shaw, P. A. Boyd, H. Baumann, and N. D. Hastie, Nature (London) 311:175-177, 1984). Here, we show that the contrapsin and alpha 1-PI genes are members of two different multigene families, each containing at least three genes in mice and rats. We established the chromosomal locations of these genes by analyzing the segregation of restriction fragment length polymorphisms in recombinant inbred mouse strains. These experiments show that the multiple genes in each family are clustered and that the two gene families are closely linked on chromosome 12. Thus the genes for contrapsin and alpha 1-PI are likely to have evolved by duplication of a common ancestral gene. The contrapsin multigene family codes for multiple mRNA transcripts in the liver. There is a genetic difference among inbred mouse strains in the regulation of two of these transcripts. In some inbred strains the transcripts are synthesized constitutively; in others they are induced by inflammation. We mapped in recombinant inbred strains the regulatory locus responsible for this genetic variation and found it is linked to the contrapsin multigene family, which suggests a cis-acting regulatory element. We also found that the contrapsin and the alpha 1-PI multigene families have acquired very different regulatory responses since the time of the gene duplication event.

Animals↗

Detection of c-sis transcripts and synthesis of PDGF-like proteins by human osteosarcoma cells.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been previously shown to be homologous to the transforming gene of simian sarcoma virus (v-sis), and inappropriate expression of the cellular counterpart of the v-sis gene (c-sis) has been implicated in the generation of mesenchymal tumors. The U-2 OS human osteosarcoma line was shown to contain multiple c-sis transcripts. Immunoprecipitation experiments with antiserum to PDGF identified a variety of polypeptides ranging in size from 18,000 to 165,000 daltons that were immunoprecipitated specifically from U-2 OS cell extracts. The osteosarcoma also was shown to secrete a 29,000-dalton protein having the serological and structural characteristics of PDGF.

Cell Line↗

Identification of a cDNA clone for mouse apoprotein A-1 (apo A-1) and its use in characterization of apo A-1 mRNA expression in liver and small intestine.

A cDNA clone for mouse apoprotein A-1 (apo A-1), the major apoprotein of plasma high density lipoproteins, has been identified. In addition to structural and physiological evidence, a genetic polymorphism for mouse plasma apo A-1 has been used to confirm that this DNA sequence corresponds to the apo A-1 gene. Use of this clone in molecular hybridization studies has shown that the concentration of apo A-1 mRNA is similar in liver and small intestine and is constant along the entire length of the small intestine. We provide evidence that the same apo A-1 gene is expressed in both liver and small intestine. Apo A-1 mRNA is also present in the stomach and esophagus at 10-15% the concentration found in small intestine but is undetectable in other tissues (such as large intestine, pancreas, heart, kidney, spleen, and brain). Finally, we show that there is a differential effect of a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol on apo A-1 mRNA levels in liver and small intestine.

Animals↗

Developmentally regulated mRNAs in mouse liver.

The mouse liver contains a group of 10--12 different tissue-specific mRNAs, each present at an average concentration of 12,000--15,000 copies per cell [Hastie, N. D. & Bishop, J. O. (1976) Cell 9, 761--774]. We have determined, by translation in vitro, that these mRNAs are developmentally regulated in the liver. We have also used specific cloned probes to quantitate the developmental time course of expression of five different abundant liver mRNAs. We have found that there are at least three periods during liver development when specific abundant mRNAs are first detectable: prior to 14 days postconception, at birth, and during the onset of sexual maturity. These results indicate that all the members of this mRNA group are not under common developmental regulation. One of the abundant liver mRNAs (p54 mRNA) increases more than 1000-fold in the liver 1 day before birth. We discuss factors that may be involved in the developmental regulation of expression of the genes encoding these mRNAs.

Age Factors↗

Mapping the structural genes coding for the major urinary proteins in the mouse: combined use of recombinant inbred strains and somatic cell hybrids.

We have mapped the multiple (15-25) genes coding for the hormonally regulated major urinary proteins (MUPs) of the mouse by using a cloned cDNA probe. By Southern blot analysis of DNA from Chinese hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids, all of the MUP genes were found to be on chromosome 4. Different inbred mouse strains showed DNA polymorphism in their MUP Southern hybridization pattern. Analysis of recombinant inbred strains derived from these parent strains has shown that all the polymorphisms are linked to the MUP-a locus on chromosome 4. The combination of these mapping techniques should be applicable to many cloned DNA sequences.

Animals↗

The murine T-cell receptor uses a limited repertoire of expressed V beta gene segments.

Only 10 different V beta gene segments were found when the sequences of 15 variable (V beta) genes of the mouse T-cell receptor were examined. From this analysis we calculate that the total number of expressed V beta gene segments may be 21 or fewer, which makes the expressed germline V beta repertoire much smaller than that of immunoglobulin heavy-chain or light-chain genes. We suggest that beta-chain somatic diversification is concentrated at the V beta-D beta-J beta junctions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Fibroblast heterogeneity in the healing wound.

Although fibroblasts are traditionally described as static cells providing framework and support for tissues, there is an accumulating body of evidence showing that fibroblasts are a dynamic cell type which exist in functionally and morphologically heterogeneous subpopulations. Fibroblast subsets have been shown to play a critical role in the production and regulation of extracellular matrix components, in wound repair and regeneration, and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of fibrotic conditions. We have reviewed the evidence supporting heterogeneity of fibroblasts from pulmonary, periodontal, and dermal tissues. In addition, we will explore the role fibroblast subpopulations may play in the complex process of wound repair and regeneration.

Journal Article↗

PCR analysis of cytokine induction profiles associated with mouse strain variation in susceptibility to pulmonary fibrosis.

Susceptibility of mice to the induction of pulmonary fibrosis by bleomycin sulfate is inbred strain dependent, with C57BL/6 mice exhibiting high sensitivity to the drug and BALB/c mice demonstrating a resistant phenotype. The lungs of bleomycin treated C57BL/6J and BALB/cBy mice were analyzed for their mRNA expression level of a panel of cytokines using a semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (SQ-PCR) assay. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) mRNA was found to increase sevenfold by 5 days after bleomycin treatment of C57BL/6J (sensitive) mice. BALB/cBy (resistant) animals demonstrated a lower level of TGF-beta 1 mRNA induction, approximately threefold, after bleomycin administration. Analysis of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) mRNA levels also revealed a difference between the two strains, with BALB/cBy mice expressing approximately fourfold higher IL-1 beta mRNA levels than C57BL/6J mice. This result suggested possible protection by IL-1 beta. Analysis of (C57BL/6JxBALB/cBy)F1 hybrids, which are shown in this report to be sensitive to bleomycin-induced fibrosis, revealed a high IL-1 beta mRNA level, similar to that in the resistant parent. Thus, the observed strain variation in the level of IL-1 beta mRNA is not associated with differences in susceptibility to the induction of pulmonary fibrosis. In contrast, strain variation in interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA levels was observed that was completely concordant with the segregation of susceptibility phenotypes between the parental and F1 strains. This result indicates a possible association between sensitivity to bleomycin-induced fibrosis and inducibility of IL-6 mRNA upon drug treatment. Analysis of TGF-beta 2, interferon-gamma, interleukin-2, interleukin-3, and interleukin-4 (IL-4) mRNA showed no detectable strain variation in steady state mRNA levels in the lung as a consequence of bleomycin treatment. In contrast, the level of IL-4 receptor mRNA was induced to a higher degree in both sensitive groups (C57BL/6J and F1) than in resistant mice (BALB/cBy). Therefore, modulation of the IL-4 response, not at the level of IL-4 but through regulation of the IL-4 receptor, may play a role in pulmonary fibrogenesis.

Animals↗