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S Cala

Publications and source records attributed to S Cala.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Negative effect of uraemia and cuprophane haemodialysis on natural killer cells.

The evidence indicating the important role of natural killer (NK) cells in immune surveillance against tumours and certain infections is accumulating. Uraemic and dialysed patients are known to be at greater risk of infections and malignant diseases. NK cells were analysed in patients with advanced uraemia, and in patients treated with different dialysis techniques. Number of NK cells was morphologically identified as large granular lymphocytes in blood smears. NK activity was determined as mononuclear cell cytotoxicity against K562 cells. In a group of uraemic patients, large granular lymphocyte number was reduced to 39%, and NK activity to 41%-52% of control values. Large granular lymphocyte number and NK activity in patients haemodialysed on cuprophane membranes was significantly reduced, compared to corresponding values in controls and uraemic patients, declining to 17% and 8%-16% of respective control values. In a group of patients treated by CAPD, and in a group haemodialysed on polyacrylonitrile membranes, NK activity was close to values in the uraemic group, but significantly greater than those of cuprophane-haemodialysed patients. Haemodialysis on cuprophane membranes has an additional negative effect on NK cells, which are already seriously depressed by the uraemic state.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Localization of ARPP-90, a major 90 kiloDalton basal ganglion-enriched substrate for cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, in striatonigral neurons in the rat brain.

Cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoproteins with specific cellular localizations in brain represent important targets through which this second messenger system can mediate or modulate distinct neurotransmitter signals. This study reports that two cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoproteins (Mr 90,000 and 93,000) found in brain share several properties, including similar isoelectric points and similar phosphopeptide maps. This protein doublet is particularly enriched in the forebrain basal ganglia, but it can also be found in the substantia nigra, a brainstem region which is a major target for fibers from the forebrain basal ganglia. Quinolinic acid lesions of neurons in the neostriatum decrease the levels of the 90/93 kDa phosphoprotein doublet to about the same extent as they reduce the levels of DARPP-32, a phosphoprotein specifically enriched in striatonigral medium-sized spiny neurons. These reductions are seen in both the neostriatum and the substantia nigra. Therefore, within the basal ganglia, the 90/93 kDa phosphoprotein doublet, termed adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-regulated phosphoprotein, Mr = 90,000 (ARPP-90), is largely, if not solely, present in striatonigral cells and fibers. The specific localization in these neurons suggests that ARPP-90 could be important in receptor-regulated, cyclic AMP-mediated functions in the striatonigral neurons.

Animals↗