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Biomedical subjects

R T Taggart

Publications and source records attributed to R T Taggart.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Slow moving proteinase in gastric cancer and its relationship to pepsinogens I and II. An immunohistochemical study.

Slow-moving proteinase (SMP), pepsinogen I (PG I), and pepsinogen II (PG II) are aspartic proteinases normally found in gastric mucosa. Because of differences in their cellular origins, normal gastric epithelial cells can be phenotyped by immunohistochemical staining with a panel of antisera to each proteinase. In this study, we determined aspartic proteinase phenotypes of malignant cells in 74 cases of gastric cancer by immunohistochemical staining with rabbit antiserum to human SMP, PG I, and PG II. Of the 74 cancers, 20 were histologically of the diffuse type and 54 were of the intestinal (or mixed) type. Intestinal metaplasia was characterized by the presence of SMP (but not PG I or PG II) in absorptive epithelial cells. SMP was found in 40 (54%) of the cancers (vs 31% for PG II and only 5% for PG I) and in both the intestinal and diffuse types. Of the 40 SMP-positive cancers, 14 also expressed PG II. In the latter tumors, staining of adjacent sections revealed that some malignant cells expressed only SMP or only PG II, whereas others expressed both proteinases. Overall, 49 (66%) of the cancers contained cells with proteinase phenotypes characteristic of cells in nonmalignant gastric mucosa and 23% contained cells with proteinase phenotypes characteristic of more than one cell type. The results indicate that both intestinal- and diffuse-type gastric cancers often differentiate to cell types that produce aspartic proteinases and that about one fourth contain a heterogeneous population of malignant cells.

Cathepsins↗

Differential expression of pepsinogen isozymogens in a patient with Barrett esophagus.

The pepsinogen A (PGA) isozymogens in the gastric mucosa and Barrett epithelium of a female patient with Barrett esophagus were studied on different occasions during a 3-year period by electrophoretic analysis of in vivo steady-state pepsinogen in biopsies by activity staining in combination with variant specific monoclonal antibodies and of de novo synthesized pepsinogen by autoradiography. In Barrett epithelium only one (Pg3) or two (Pg3 and Pg5) primary PGA gene products were detected, whereas in gastric mucosal biopsies three (Pg3, Pg4 and Pg5) primary gene products were demonstrated on all occasions. These differences strongly suggest differential expression/activation of individual gene numbers in the PGA gene cluster in Barrett esophagus and are in line with the preneoplastic nature of this condition. The mechanism behind this deregulation is currently under investigation by cell biology and molecular genetic techniques.

Aged↗

Cloning and expression of steroid sulfatase cDNA and the frequent occurrence of deletions in STS deficiency: implications for X-Y interchange.

Human STS is a microsomal enzyme important in steroid metabolism. The gene encoding STS is pseudoautosomal in the mouse but not in humans, and escapes X inactivation in both species. We have prepared monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to the protein which has been purified and from which partial amino acid sequence data have been obtained. cDNA clones containing the entire coding sequence were isolated, sequenced, and expressed in heterologous cells. Variable length transcripts have been shown to be present and due to usage of alternative poly(A) addition sites. The functional gene maps to Xp22.3-Xpter and there is a pseudogene on Yq suggesting a recent pericentric inversion. Absence of STS enzymatic activity occurs frequently in human populations and produces a visible phenotype of scaly skin or ichthyosis. Ten patients with inherited STS deficiency were studied and eight had complete gene deletions. The possibility that STS deficiency results from aberrant X-Y interchange is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Parasexual analysis of human pepsinogen molecular heterogeneity.

Pepsinogens (PGA) are the inactive precursors of pepsin, the major acid protease found in the stomach. Highly polymorphic variation of these proteins has been demonstrated in several populations, and comparison of the DNA restriction fragment patterns obtained from informative pepsinogen phenotypes suggest that the polymorphism results from chromosomal haplotypes containing variable numbers of pepsinogen genes. In order to isolate the three most common PGA haplotypes (A, B, and C) and to unambiguously demonstrate their relationship to the observed protein heterogeneity, we constructed mouse X human somatic cell hybrids from individuals heterozygous for PGA and INS (insulin). Here, we describe analysis of hybrid cell lines that segregated human chromosomes containing the PGA genes and thereby provided for the parasexual discrimination of the different haplotypes on chromosome 11 determining the corresponding heterozygous phenotypes. These studies demonstrate that the A, B, and C haplotypes contain three, two, and one PGA genes, respectively. This unusual polymorphism of genomic DNA encoding very similar proteins probably reflects recent evolution by gene duplication.

Animals↗

Immunochemical, electrophoretic, and genetic heterogeneity of pepsinogen I. Characterization with monoclonal antibodies.

Two immunologic subclasses of human pepsinogen I alpha-PG I and beta-PG I, have been identified based on their reactivity toward a murine monoclonal antibody that recognizes an epitope on the alpha-PG I isozymogens. The antibody was used to purify the major alpha- and beta-isozymogens from gastric mucosa and to determine their contributions to the previously described genetic polymorphism of PG I. The alpha-epitope was localized to the pepsin region of the molecules. The two major alpha-PG I isozymogens (Pg 3 alpha and Pg 5 alpha) and the major beta-PG I isozymogen (Pg 4 beta) were demonstrated to contain net charge differences located in the respective pepsin and activation peptide regions. We propose that the alpha- and beta-subclasses contain net charge amino acid substitutions encoded by the corresponding pepsinogen genes: PGA3, PGA4, and PGA5.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effects of bombesin on the release of glycine-extended progastrin (gastrin G) in rat antral tissue culture.

Recently, glycine-extended processing intermediates of progastrin were identified in porcine stomach using a radioimmunoassay with conventional polyclonal antisera developed against a synthetic peptide analogue for progastrin processing intermediates, gastrin 6-G(Tyr-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-Gly). We developed monoclonal antibodies specific for glycine-extended processing intermediates of progastrin (gastrin G). Monoclonal antibody 109-21 appeared to require the carboxyl-terminal pentapeptide structure of gastrin 6-G for maximal binding. Cross-reactivities of 109-21 against gastrin 17 I, gastrin 17 II, cholecystokinin-octapeptide, des(SO3) cholecystokinin-octapeptide, and gastrin 6-G-R-R were respectively 1%, less than 0.1%, less than 0.1%, 0.1%, and 0.5%. With this monoclonal antibody and a polyclonal gastrin antibody we examined the concentrations of gastrin and gastrin G in tissue and the effects of bombesin on the release of gastrin and gastrin G from rat antral mucosa in tissue culture. The gastrin G to gastrin ratio was 2.2 in rat antral mucosa and 0.66 in rat duodenal mucosa. In tissue culture, bombesin significantly stimulated gastrin and gastrin-G secretion at doses of 10(-8) and 3 X 10(-8) M. Atropine (10(-6) M) abolished the actions of carbachol to stimulate gastrin and gastrin-G secretion but had no effect on bombesin-stimulated gastrin and gastrin-G secretion. These results suggest that gastrin G is cosecreted with gastrin in response to carbachol and bombesin, and the stimulation of gastrin and gastrin-G secretion by bombesin does not involve cholinergic neural pathways and may reflect a direct action on gastrin cells.

Animals↗

Pepsinogens, pepsins, and peptic ulcer.

The role of pepsin in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer has been the subject of intense study and debate for many years. Two difficulties inherent in distinguishing between the role of acid alone vs acid and pepsin are that a) acid-containing gastric juice always contains pepsin, and, b) that hydrogen ion concentration (pH) is a major determinant of the activity of pepsin. However, studies in animal models of peptic ulcer indicate clearly that pepsin, in combination with acid, produces much more severe and more extensive mucosal damage than acid alone. Recent interest in pepsin and its precursor, pepsinogen, has stemmed from the finding that each is remarkably heterogeneous, and that the heterogeneity has a genetic basis. Results of studies using radioimmunoassays specific for the 2 major forms of pepsinogen, pepsinogen I and pepsinogen II, have shown that serum levels of pepsinogen I and pepsinogen II, and the ratio of pepsinogen I to pepsinogen II, can be used as noninvasive probes of gastric mucosal structure and function, indicators of the genetics and heterogeneity of duodenal ulcer, and as markers of increased risk for duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer.

Duodenal Ulcer↗

Slow moving proteinase. Isolation, characterization, and immunohistochemical localization in gastric mucosa.

Human gastric mucosa contains three immunochemically distinguishable aspartic proteinases, pepsinogen I (pepsinogen A), pepsinogen II (pepsinogen C, progastricsin), and a nonpepsinogen proteinase also termed slow moving proteinase (SMP). The properties of SMP, and in particular its relationship to another aspartic proteinase, cathepsin D, were examined in this study. Slow moving proteinase and cathepsin D were isolated, respectively, from gastric mucosa and human spleen. Antiserum specific to each proteinase was prepared in rabbits. Rabbit anti-SMP did not recognize cathepsin D, and conversely, anticathepsin D did not react with SMP. Immunohistochemical studies localized SMP to surface epithelial cells in both the fundic and pyloric gland areas of the stomach. In contrast, cathepsin D was found mainly in mononuclear cells in the lamina propria and in parietal cells. Slow moving proteinase exhibited considerably lower Km values for its interaction with two chromogenic substrates than did cathepsin D. An even greater distinction between the two enzymes was found with the protein inhibitor from Ascaris lumbricoides; the activity of SMP was inhibited very strongly, whereas that of cathepsin D was not affected. By sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, SMP consisted of two subunits with apparent molecular weights of 42,500 and 41,000. The last two properties characterize a less-well-known aspartic proteinase, cathepsin E. We conclude that SMP is not cathepsin D, but that it may be cathepsin E.

Cathepsin D↗

Assignment of the pepsinogen gene complex (PGA) to human chromosome region 11q13 by in situ hybridization.

The genes coding for human pepsinogen (PGA3, PGA4, and PGA5) were assigned to chromosome region 11q13 by in situ hybridization. Previously we localized the PGA gene complex to a centromeric region of chromosome 11 (p11----q13) by Southern blot analysis of mouse-human somatic cell hybrids. Our in situ hybridization results confirm this assignment and further localize the genes to a smaller region on the long arm.

Chromosome Banding↗

Monoclonal antibodies to pig angiotensinogen recognize minor idiotypes.

We have produced monoclonal antibodies to a highly purified pig (P) angiotensinogen preparation and characterized their ability to bind [125]I-P- angiotensinogen. Lymphocytes of RBF/Dn mice immunized with P-angiotensinogen were fused with FOX-NY myeloma cells and clones were isolated by binding to [125]I-P-angiotensinogen and by an immunodot blot assay. Three of 16 clones which recognized P-angiotensinogen were characterized. Isolated monoclonal antibodies bound only 10-15% of the total [125]I-P-angiotensinogen; however, the bound counts could be displaced with unlabelled P-angiotensinogen. None of the monoclonals inhibited the cleavage of P-angiotensinogen by homologous renin, nor did they bind to the NH-terminal angiotensin I (ANG I) peptide. Little or no binding was detected to angiotensinogens in human, monkey, rat, rabbit, sheep or bovine serum. Mixtures of the clones and analysis of the immune complexes by PAGE indicated that different binding sites on different P-angiotensinogen were detected by some of the monoclonals, while the same or competing sites were recognized by others. No combination of clones tested significantly increased the amount of P-angiotensinogen bound. We interpret these findings to indicate that monoclonal antibodies to 'purified' pig P-angiotensinogen recognize species-specific minor epitope subsets of the protein, but not antigenic determinants common to all.

Angiotensinogen↗

Relationships between the human pepsinogen DNA and protein polymorphisms.

Pepsinogens (PGA) are the inactive precursors of pepsin, the major acid protease found in the stomach. The PGA gene family exhibits polymorphic variation in human populations that can either be demonstrated by electrophoretic analysis of the proteins or by analysis of the respective genes with cDNA probes. Here, we describe the interrelationships between the most common pepsinogen protein phenotypes and the corresponding pepsinogen haplotypes (A, B, and C) containing different combinations of the PGA3, PGA4, and PGA5 genes. We propose that this unusual genetic variation involving haplotypes that contain three, two, and one genes, respectively, is the result of molecular evolution by gene duplication.

Chromosomes, Human, 6-12 and X↗

Variable numbers of pepsinogen genes are located in the centromeric region of human chromosome 11 and determine the high-frequency electrophoretic polymorphism.

A panel of 26 mouse-human somatic cell hybrids containing different human chromosome complements was analyzed with a cloned human pepsinogen cDNA probe to determine the chromosomal location and the number of genes encoding these proteins. A complex containing variable numbers of pepsinogen genes was localized to the centromeric region of human chromosome 11 (p11----q13). Examination of somatic cell hybrids containing single copies of chromosome 11 and the corresponding human parental cell lines revealed a restriction fragment length polymorphism determined by pepsinogen haplotypes that contained two or three genes, respectively. Concurrent studies of DNA from individuals exhibiting the most common pepsinogen electrophoretic phenotypes with exon-specific probes demonstrated that the absence of one gene among the different restriction fragment patterns correlated with the absence of one specific isozymogen (Pg 5). Thus, our studies demonstrate that this genetic polymorphism involving intensity variation of individual pepsinogen isozymogens results from chromosome haplotypes that contain different numbers of genes. The regional localization of this polymorphic gene complex will facilitate detailed linkage analysis of human chromosome 11.

Centromere↗

Stable antibody-producing murine hybridomas.

A method is described for obtaining antibody-producing hybridomas that are preferentially retained in cultures of fused mouse spleen and myeloma cells. Hybridomas are produced by fusing mouse myeloma cells that are deficient in adenosine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) with mouse spleen cells containing Robertsonian 8.12 translocation chromosomes. The cell fusion mixtures are exposed to a culture medium that can be utilized only by APRT-positive cells, which results in the elimination of both unfused APRT-deficient myeloma cells and non-antibody-producing APRT-deficient hybridomas that arise by segregation of the 8.12 translocation chromosomes containing the APRT genes and the active heavy chain immunoglobulin gene.

Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase↗

Mapping of polypeptide genes by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of hybrid cell extracts.

A series of 18 Chinese hamster X human somatic cell hybrid subclones segregating human chromosomes were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to determine the chromosomal location of the human genes responsible for the expression of specific proteins. Two independent methods, side by side comparison and double label autoradiography-fluorography, were used to identify the human proteins that were unambiguously resolved from those of the Chinese hamster (CH). Of the 83 human spots resolved, 22 were determined to be associated with nine specific chromosomes or chromosome regions by correlation with quantitative cytogenetic analysis of the hybrid clones. An additional five spots were associated with three different chromosomes that had identical patterns of segregation. A total of 12 resolvable polypeptides of apparently human origin were present in all 18 hybrid subclones and may be coded for by one of the nine human autosomes that were also consistently present. Future investigations using a variety of available methods to determine the identity of the polypeptide spots will permit the mapping of genes for specific enzymes and for other classes of proteins that are not detectable by the commonly used zymogram methods.

Animals↗

Mapping of polypeptide genes by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of hybrid cell extracts.

A series of 18 Chinese hamster X human somatic cell hybrid subclones segregating human chromosomes were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to determine the chromosomal location of the human genes responsible for the expression of specific proteins. Two independent methods, side by side comparison and double label autoradiography-fluorography, were used to identify the human proteins that were unambiguously resolved from those of the Chinese hamster (CH). Of the 83 human spots resolved, 22 were determined to be associated with nine specific chromosomes or chromosome regions by correlation with quantitative cytogenetic analysis of the hybrid clones. An additional five spots were associated with three different chromosomes that had identical patterns of segregation. A total of 12 resolvable polypeptides of apparently human origin were present in all 18 hybrid subclones and may be coded for by one of the nine human autosomes that were also consistently present. Future investigations using a variety of available methods to determine the identity of the polypeptide spots will permit the mapping of genes for specific enzymes and for other classes of proteins that are not detectable by the commonly used zymogram methods.

Animals↗

Conserved autosomal syntenic group on mouse (MMU) chromosome 15 and human (HSA) chromosome 22: assignment of a gene for arylsulfatase A to MMU 15 and regional mapping of DIA1, ARSA, and ACO2 on HSA 22.

We have utilized a panel of Chinese hamster x mouse somatic cell hybrids segregating mouse chromosomes to assign a gene for arylsulfatase A (ARSA) to mouse chromosome 15. Considering our previous assignment of a gene for diaphorase-1 (DIA1) to the same mouse chromosome, we have evidence for another syntenic relationship that has been conserved, since the homologous loci for human ARSA and DIA1 are both located on human chromosome 22. Because MMU 15 and HSA 22 are quite dissimilar in size and banding patterns, we have attempted to identify the conserved portion by regional mapping of human DIA1 and ARSA using somatic cell hybrids segregating a human chromosome translocation t(15;22)(q14;q13.31). The results assign human DIA1 and ARSA to the distal sub-band of 22q13 (region 22q13.31 leads to qter). The locus for mitochondrial aconitase (ACO2) has been separated by the breakpoint from DIA1 and ARSA and is located more proximally.

Aconitate Hydratase↗