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Biomedical subjects

S M Phillips

Publications and source records attributed to S M Phillips.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Differential cytokine and chemokine production characterizes experimental autoimmune meningitis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

After primary immunization with myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, CD28(-/-) mice developed experimental autoimmune meningitis (EAM) rather than experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Cytokine and chemokine production in EAE and EAM were compared to understand the differences in disease phenotype. T cells from the central nervous system lesions of mice with either EAE or EAM expressed intracellular TNF-alpha. Splenic T cells from mice with EAM produced TNF-alpha and IL-6 but no IL-2. Conversely, EAE-derived splenic T cells produced TNF-alpha and IL-2 but no IL-6. Altered T cell differentiation in EAM was not due to a Th1 to Th2 shift, because equivalent amounts of T cell IFN-gamma mRNA were produced in both diseases. Neutrophils also produced inflammatory mediators such as TNF-alpha and IL-6 in EAM. Autocrine production of MIP-2 mRNA was observed in neutrophils from mice with EAM but not EAE. Therefore, distinct patterns of cytokines and chemokines distinguish EAE and EAM.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

The acute effects of androstenedione supplementation in healthy young males.

We examined the effects of androstenedione supplementation on the hormonal profile of 10 males and its interaction with resistance exercise. Baseline testosterone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and androstenedione concentrations were established by venous sampling at 3 hr intervals over 24 hr. Subjects ingested 200 mg of androstenedione daily for 2 days, with second and third day blood samples. Two weeks later, they ingested androstenedione or a placebo for 2 days, in a double-blind, cross-over design. On day 2, they performed heavy resistance exercise with blood sampled before, after, and 90 min post. The supplement elevated plasma androstenedione 2--3-fold and luteinizing hormone approximately 70% but did not alter testosterone concentration. Exercise elevated testosterone, with no difference between conditions. Exercise in the supplemented condition significantly elevated plasma estradiol by approximately 83% for 90 min. Androstenedione supplementation, thus, is unlikely to provide male athletes with any anabolic benefit and, with heavy resistance exercise, elevates estrogen.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Short-term training: when do repeated bouts of resistance exercise become training?

Chronic resistance training induces increases in muscle fibre cross-sectional area (CSA), otherwise known as hypertrophy. This is due to an increased volume percentage of myofibrillarproteins within a given fibre. The exact time-course for muscle fibre hypertrophy is not well-documented but appears to require at least 6-7 weeks of regular resistive training at reasonably high intensity before increases in fibre CSA are deemed significant. Proposed training-induced changes in neural drive are hypothesized to increase strength due to increased synchrony of motor unit firing, reducedant agonist muscle activity, and/or a reduction in any bilateral strength deficit. Nonetheless, increases in muscle protein synthesis were observed following an isolated bout of resistance exercise. In addition, muscle balance was positive, following resistance exercise when amino acids were infused/ingested. This showed that protein accretion occurred during the postexercise period. The implications of this hypothesis for training-induced increases in strength are discussed.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2000

Endurance exercise training attenuates leucine oxidation and BCOAD activation during exercise in humans.

We studied the effects of a 38-day endurance exercise training program on leucine turnover and substrate metabolism during a 90-min exercise bout at 60% peak O(2) consumption (VO(2 peak)) in 6 males and 6 females. Subjects were studied at both the same absolute (ABS) and relative (REL) exercise intensities posttraining. Training resulted in a significant increase in whole body VO(2 peak) and skeletal muscle citrate synthase (CS; P < 0.001), complex I-III (P < 0.05), and total branched-chain 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase (BCOAD; P < 0.001) activities. Leucine oxidation increased during exercise for the pretraining trial (PRE, P < 0.001); however, there was no increase for either the ABS or REL posttraining trial. Leucine oxidation was significantly lower for females at all time points during rest and exercise (P < 0.01). The percentage of BCOAD in the activated state was significantly increased after exercise for both the PRE and REL exercise trials, with the increase in PRE being greater (P < 0.001) compared with REL (P < 0.05). Females oxidized proportionately more lipid and less carbohydrate during exercise compared with males. In conclusion, we found that 38 days of endurance exercise training significantly attenuated both leucine oxidation and BCOAD activation during 90 min of endurance exercise at 60% VO(2 peak) for both ABS and REL exercise intensities. Furthermore, females oxidize proportionately more lipid and less carbohydrate compared with males during endurance exercise.

3-Methyl-2-Oxobutanoate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)↗
PubMed1999

Two novel regions of interstitial deletion on chromosome 8p in colorectal cancer.

We have investigated interstitial deletions of chromosome 8 in 70 colorectal carcinomas and 11 colonic adenomas using 11 microsatellite markers, including eight spanning the centromeric region of chromosome 8p (p11.2-p12). Allelic loss or imbalance was observed in 38 (54%) cancers and four (36%) adenomas. Twenty-eight (40%) of the cancers had deletions of 8p11.2-p12. Two distinct and independent regions of interstitial loss were found within this region. Fluorescent in situ hybridization, using an alpha satellite repeat probe to the centromere of 8p and two probes to the P1 region, was performed in four tumours that demonstrated allelic imbalance. Localized heterozygous deletions were confirmed in all four tumours. Eleven (16%) cancers had localized deletion in the region ANK-1 to D8S255 (P1) and a further eleven (16%) cancers had a less well localized deletion in the region defined by the markers D8S87 to D8S259 (P2). Loss of both centromeric loci was identified in a further six (9%) tumours. A functional significance for these two deletion regions was sought by correlation with primary and secondary tumour characteristics. Isolated P2 deletion was associated with 'early' T1 cancers (2p=0.0002), and were also identified in 3/11 adenomas. Conversely, interstitial deletions of the P1 locus were more frequently seen in 'locally invasive' T3/4 cancers (2p=0.015), and isolated P1 deletions were also associated with the presence of liver metastases (2p=0.016). Our data provide evidence of at least two genes within the 8p11.2-p12 region, mutations in which may confer different and independent roles in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

Activated eosinophils are the major source of Th2-associated cytokines in the schistosome granuloma.

Eosinophils are a numerically dominant cell population within the schistosome granuloma. These granuloma eosinophils can produce a variety of cytokines, including IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma. Therefore, eosinophils may play a key role in the determination of the unique cytokine microenvironment within the granuloma milieu. These studies investigated the potential role of eosinophils in the regulation of granuloma immunopathology. We have characterized spleen- and granuloma-derived eosinophils based on cellular activation and cytokine production during the development of murine schistosomiasis. Based on the criteria of hypodensity and CD69 expression, granuloma eosinophils were highly activated and very homogeneous at 7 and 11 wk postinfection. Splenic eosinophils were also activated at 7 wk postinfection, but were much more heterogeneous than their granuloma counterparts. By 11 wk postinfection, few hypodense splenic eosinophils were observed. Eosinophils represented the majority of cytokine-producing cells in the granuloma and were a dominant source of IL-4. Eosinophils also produced IL-2, IL-5, and IFN-gamma, using the criteria of mRNA in situ hybridization and intracellular cytokine staining by FACS. Granuloma eosinophil activation and cytokine production were greatest at the time of maximum granuloma formation, i.e., 10-12 wk after initial cercarial exposure. Therefore, locally activated eosinophils, not Th2 lymphocytes, produce the majority of Th2 cytokines in the granuloma milieu and may be important determinators of immunopathology in schistosomiasis.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Experimental autoimmune meningitis: a novel neurological disease in CD28-deficient mice.

C57BL/6 mice develop T-cell-mediated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) after immunization with the neuroantigen myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. (MOG). We immunized CD28-deficient C57BL/6 mice to determine the role of T cell costimulation in the immune response to MOG. CD28-/- mice developed experimental autoimmune meningitis (EAM). EAM is a fatal, acute disease characterized by simultaneous weakness in all limbs, photophobia, irritability, and spatial disorientation. Histologically, EAM consisted of an infiltrate of myeloid, monocytic, and lymphocytic leukocytes within the leptomeninges. In contrast, the brain parenchyma was unaffected. EAM was mediated by CD4+ T cells since CD4 depletion prevented the disease. Upon rechallenge, mice in which EAM was prevented by CD4+ cell depletion developed EAE not EAM. Therefore, the presence or absence of CD28 determines the initial phenotype of the immune response to MOG. EAM, which develops in the absence of CD28, is a unique experimental model for immune-mediated aseptic meningitis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Genetic instability in incidentally discovered and advanced prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the frequency of microsatellite instability, a marker for genetic instability, in incidental and advanced prostate cancers, and to determine the role and prognostic importance of genetic instability in prostate carcinogenesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Microsatellite analysis was performed on 72 prostate cancers, of which 26 were incidentally discovered at transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) for benign disease. They were staged and graded 1-3 according to glandular differentiation. Fresh prostatic tissue was obtained at TURP performed for bladder outlet obstruction, from 43 patients (median age 73 years, range 55-88), with tissue from the remaining 29 (median age 75, range 53-83) patients obtained from pathology archives, having been originally collected at TURP between 1969 and 1986. RESULTS: Instability was detected in 14 (19%) cancers overall, in eight (31%) of 26 incidental tumours and in six (13%) of 46 clinically apparent tumours. These differences were not statistically different (2P=0.1). The time to progression and survival were similar between men with tumours showing instability and those with no instability. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that genetic instability is an early event in prostate carcinogenesis, but does not appear to influence prognosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Resistance training reduces the acute exercise-induced increase in muscle protein turnover.

We examined the effect of resistance training on the response of mixed muscle protein fractional synthesis (FSR) and breakdown rates (FBR) by use of primed constant infusions of [2H5]phenylalanine and [15N]phenylalanine, respectively, to an isolated bout of pleiometric resistance exercise. Trained subjects, who were performing regular resistance exercise (trained, T; n = 6), were compared with sedentary, untrained controls (untrained, UT; n = 6). The exercise test consisted of 10 sets (8 repetitions per set) of single-leg knee flexion (i.e., pleiometric muscle contraction during lowering) at 120% of the subjects' predetermined single-leg 1 repetition maximum. Subjects exercised one leg while their contralateral leg acted as a nonexercised (resting) control. Exercise resulted in an increase, above resting, in mixed muscle FSR in both groups (UT: rest, 0.036 +/- 0.002; exercise, 0.0802 +/- 0.01; T: rest, 0.045 +/- 0.004; exercise, 0.067 +/- 0.01; all values in %/h; P < 0.01). In addition, exercise resulted in an increase in mixed muscle FBR of 37 +/- 5% (rest, 0.076 +/- 0.005; exercise, 0.105 +/- 0.01; all values in %/h; P < 0.01) in the UT group but did not significantly affect FBR in the T group. The resulting muscle net balance (FSR - FBR) was negative throughout the protocol (P < 0.05) but was increased in the exercised leg in both groups (P < 0.05). We conclude that pleiometric muscle contractions induce an increase in mixed muscle protein synthetic rate within 4 h of completion of an exercise bout but that resistance training attenuates this increase. A single bout of pleiometric muscle contractions also increased the FBR of mixed muscle protein in UT but not in T subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Postexercise net protein synthesis in human muscle from orally administered amino acids.

We examined the response of net muscle protein synthesis to ingestion of amino acids after a bout of resistance exercise. A primed, constant infusion of L-[ring-2H5]phenylalanine was used to measure net muscle protein balance in three male and three female volunteers on three occasions. Subjects consumed in random order 1 liter of 1) a mixed amino acid (40 g) solution (MAA), 2) an essential amino acid (40 g) solution (EAA), and 3) a placebo solution (PLA). Arterial amino acid concentrations increased approximately 150-640% above baseline during ingestion of MAA and EAA. Net muscle protein balance was significantly increased from negative during PLA ingestion (-50 +/- 23 nmol. min-1. 100 ml leg volume-1) to positive during MAA ingestion (17 +/- 13 nmol. min-1. 100 ml leg volume-1) and EAA (29 +/- 14 nmol. min-1. 100 ml leg volume-1; P < 0.05). Because net balance was similar for MAA and EAA, it does not appear necessary to include nonessential amino acids in a formulation designed to elicit an anabolic response from muscle after exercise. We concluded that ingestion of oral essential amino acids results in a change from net muscle protein degradation to net muscle protein synthesis after heavy resistance exercise in humans similar to that seen when the amino acids were infused.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1999

Differential requirements of naïve and memory T cells for CD28 costimulation in autoimmune pathogenesis.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most extensively studied animal model of the human disease multiple sclerosis (MS). In EAE, CNS demyelination is induced by immunization with myelin proteins or adoptive transfer of myelin-reactive CD4+ T cells. Since the antigen specificity of the immune response believed to be responsible for the pathology of MS is not well defined, therapies that target aspects of T cell activation that are not antigen specific may be more applicable to the treatment of MS. As a result, understanding the role of costimulatory molecules in the activation of naïve and memory T cells has become an area of extensive investigation. Naïve T cells require two signals for activation. Signal one is provided by engagement of the T cell receptor (TCR) with MHC/peptide complexes and provides antigen specificity to the immune response. The second signal, termed costimulation, is usually provided by B7 molecules on APC to CD28 molecules expressed on T cells and is antigen-independent. This review will discuss our current understanding of costimulation in the induction and perpetuation of EAE, as well as the potential of costimulation blockade in the treatment of MS.

Abatacept↗
PubMed1998

The schistosome granuloma: characterization of lymphocyte migration, activation, and cytokine production.

Granuloma formation and its regulation are dependent on lymphocytes. Therefore, we compared the characteristics of lymphocytes derived from the spleens and granulomas of Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice during the course of their disease. We examined lymphocyte cell cycle kinetics, migration, expression of activation Ags (CD69 and IL-2R), cytokine production (IL-2, IL-4, IFN-gamma), and apoptosis. Lymphocytes in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and high levels of lymphocyte intracellular IL-2 were found in the spleen but not in the granuloma. Cell trafficking experiments showed Ag-specific recruitment of schistosomal egg Ag (SEA)-reactive lymphoblasts into granulomas in vivo, as well as recruitment to, residence within, and egress from granulomas in vitro. Granuloma-derived lymphocytes were more highly activated than splenic lymphocytes based on higher levels of CD69 and IL-2R expression. While the granuloma microenvironment was rich in Th2 cytokines, during peak granuloma formation, the lymphocytes per se from the spleen and granuloma did not exhibit a dominant Th1 or Th2 cytokine profile, producing low but similar levels of IL-4 and IFN-gamma. The discrepancy between high IL-2R expression and low levels of IL-2 protein production by granuloma lymphocytes was associated with increased apoptosis in the granuloma compared with the spleen. These findings support the hypothesis that granulomas may play a role in the regulation of systemic pathology in schistosomiasis by adversely affecting the survival of SEA-reactive, immunopathogenic T lymphocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Mutation and expression analysis of the putative prostate tumour-suppressor gene PTEN.

The chromosomal region 10q23-24 is frequently deleted in a number of tumour types, including prostate adenocarcinoma and glioma. A candidate tumour-suppressor gene at 10q23.3, designated PTENor MMAC1, with putative actin-binding and tyrosine phosphatase domains has recently been described. Mutations in PTEN have been identified in cell lines derived from gliomas, melanomas and prostate tumours and from a number of tumour specimens derived from glial, breast, endometrial and kidney tissue. Germline mutations in PTEN appear to be responsible for Cowden disease. We identified five PTEN mutations in 37 primary prostatic tumours analysed and found that 70% of tumours showed loss or alteration of at least one PTEN allele, supporting the evidence for PTEN involvement in prostate tumour progression. We raised antisera to a peptide from PTEN and showed that reactivity occurs in numerous small cytoplasmic organelles and that the protein is commonly expressed in a variety of cell types. Northern blot analysis revealed multiple RNA species; some arise as a result of alternative polyadenylation sites, but others may be due to alternative splicing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Testosterone injection stimulates net protein synthesis but not tissue amino acid transport.

Testosterone administration (T) increases lean body mass and muscle protein synthesis. We investigated the effects of short-term T on leg muscle protein kinetics and transport of selected amino acids by use of a model based on arteriovenous sampling and muscle biopsy. Fractional synthesis (FSR) and breakdown (FBR) rates of skeletal muscle protein were also directly calculated. Seven healthy men were studied before and 5 days after intramuscular injection of 200 mg of testosterone enanthate. Protein synthesis increased twofold after injection (P < 0.05), whereas protein breakdown was unchanged. FSR and FBR calculations were in accordance, because FSR increased twofold (P < 0.05) without a concomitant change in FBR. Net balance between synthesis and breakdown became more positive with both methodologies (P < 0.05) and was not different from zero. T injection increased arteriovenous essential and nonessential nitrogen balance across the leg (P < 0.05) in the fasted state, without increasing amino acid transport. Thus T administration leads to an increased net protein synthesis and reutilization of intracellular amino acids in skeletal muscle.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effects of acute expansion of plasma volume on cardiovascular and thermal function during prolonged exercise.

To investigate the hypothesis that an increase in plasma volume (PV) is obligatory in reducing the cardiovascular drift that is associated with prolonged exercise following training, a plasma expander (Macrodex) was used to acutely elevate PV. Eight untrained volunteers [maximal oxygen consumption; VO2max 45.2 (2.2) ml x kg(-1) x min(-1), mean (SE)] cycled for 2 h [at 46 (4)% VO2max] in ambient conditions either with no PV expansion (CON) or following PV expansions of either 14% (LOW) or 21% (HIGH). During CON, heart rate (HR) increased (P < 0.05) from 147 (2.4) beats x min(-1) to 173 (3.6) beats x min(-1) from 15 to 120 min of exercise. Both LOW and HIGH conditions depressed (P < 0.05) HR, an effect that was manifested following 15 min of exercise. In contrast, stroke volume (SV) was elevated following PV expansion, with values (ml) of 89.6 (6.8), 97.8 (5.9) and 104 (4.6) noted by 15 min of exercise for CON, LOW and HIGH conditions, respectively. Acute PV expansion, regardless of magnitude, also resulted in elevations in cardiac output (Qc). These differences between conditions persisted throughout the exercise, as did the elevation in Qc that was noted with LOW and HIGH conditions. No difference between Qc, HR or SV was found between LOW and HIGH. In addition, neither LOW nor HIGH conditions altered the change in rectal temperature that was observed during exercise. These results demonstrate that, at least for moderate exercise performed in ambient conditions, PV expansion serves only to alter cardiac function (Qc, HR, SV) early in exercise, and not to attenuate the drift that occurs as the exercise is prolonged.

Adult↗