Biomedical subjects

W M Blankesteijn

Publications and source records attributed to W M Blankesteijn.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1993

Forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity is decreased but beta 2-adrenoceptor function is unchanged in primary hypertension.

beta 2-Adrenoceptor function may be decreased in primary hypertension, resulting in increased peripheral resistance. To study the beta 2-adrenoceptor function, we used circulating mononuclear leukocytes (MNL) as a model system. Twenty untreated hypertensive subjects [(HT) 10 men and 10 women] and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy normotensive (NT) volunteers were studied. The beta 2-adrenoceptor density was not significantly different between HT and NT, but the dissociation constants for the high- and low-affinity agonist binding states, studied by isoprenaline competition assays, were significantly higher in HT. Stimulation of adenylyl cyclase with isoprenaline (10 microM, beta 2-adrenoceptor-mediated stimulation) was not significantly different between the two groups. Forskolin-mediated direct stimulation of adenylyl cyclase was significantly higher in women than in men. For both sexes, the forskolin-induced cyclic AMP production was lower in the HT group, reaching statistical significance in the men. No major abnormalities were observed in beta 2-adrenoceptor function in mononuclear leukocytes. The putative relation between the decreased forskolin-mediated adenylyl cyclase activity and primary hypertension requires further study.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

PubMed1992

Does treatment with beta-adrenergic blocking agents cause a decrease in beta 2-adrenoceptor affinity?

The effect of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists (BAAs) differing in lipophilicity and partial agonist activity (PAA), and a full agonist, on the dissociation constant for [125I]-(-)- iodocyanopindolol binding to beta 2-adrenoceptors (KD) has been investigated. Twelve healthy, normotensive male volunteers (mean age 22.3 y) were treated with different BAAs according to a cross-over design. The drugs used were propranolol (highly lipophilic BAA, no PAA), pindolol (moderately lipophilic BAA, strong PAA), dilevalol (highly lipophilic BAA, weak PAA) and salbutamol (full agonist). Before and after a single dose and an 8 day course of one of the drugs, blood pressure and the beta 2-adrenoceptor characteristics of mononuclear leukocytes (MNL) were determined. Between the treatment periods, there was a washout interval of 14 days. All BAAs decreased the blood pressure, but only propranolol lowered heart rate. Treatment with salbutamol decreased the diastolic and increased the systolic blood pressure and heart rate. Three hours after the single dose of any of the BAAs, a more than 2-fold increase in KD was observed, and the increase became larger after 8 days of administration (up to 3.7-fold increase). In contrast, no effect on KD was observed after treatment with salbutamol. BAAs with PAA and salbutamol induced a 30% decrease in beta 2-adrenoceptor density. It is concluded that treatment with BAAs, irrespective their lipophilicity or PAA, induces a decrease in the affinity of MNL beta 2-adrenoceptors for antagonists. This phenomenon may help to explain the contradictory relationship between the kinetics and dynamics of BAAs.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

PubMed1988

Lambda-crystallin, a major rabbit lens protein, is related to hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenases.

It has recently been discovered that several lens proteins in birds and lower vertebrates are active enzymes or enzyme-related proteins (Wistow, G., Mulders, J. W. M., and de Jong, W. W. (1987) Nature 326, 622-624; Wistow, G., and Piatigorsky, J. (1987) Science 236, 1554-1556). We report here a novel lens protein, designated as lambda-crystallin, that occurs in rabbit and hare. It constitutes 7-8% of the total lens protein and has a subunit molecular mass of 35 kDa. Sequencing of cDNA clones encoding rabbit lambda-crystallin revealed 30% homology (at the amino acid sequence level) with L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase from pig mitochondria and 26% homology with enoyl-CoA hydratase-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase from rat peroxisomes. Also, the presence of a putative beta-alpha-beta nucleotide-binding fold and low levels of non-lens expression are indicative of some enzymatic function for lambda-crystallin (or highly related sequences) in non-lens tissues. lambda-Crystallin thus represents the first example of an enzyme-related crystallin in lenses from mammalian species. The recruitment of enzymes as lens structural proteins apparently is an evolutionary strategy which has been applied independently in different lineages.

3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases↗

PubMed1988

Autoradiographic visualization of muscarinic receptors in human bronchi.

To visualize muscarinic receptors in human bronchi, the stripping film method was used which permits direct autoradiographic localization of tissue labeling. Cryostate sections of human bronchi were fixed in 0.5% glutaraldehyde in Krebs-Ringer buffer, pH 7.0 for 30 min at 0 degrees C, washed in Krebs-Ringer buffer for 20 min at 0 degrees C and incubated with (-)-[3H]Quinuclidinyl benzilate [(-)-[3H]QNB] for 90 min at 37 degrees C. Specific (-)-[3H]QNB binding to tissue sections was saturable (receptor density of 0.14 +/- 0.03 fmol/tissue section) and of high affinity (Kd of 40 +/- 9 pM). For autoradiography, labeled tissue sections were covered with stripping film and exposed for 5 months. Muscarinic receptors in human bronchi were located predominantly in submucosal glands and parasympathetic ganglia. There was less labeling in smooth muscle cells and nerve bundles. Epithelium and blood vessels located within the bronchial wall were devoid of specific labeling.

Aged↗

PubMed1987

Autoradiographic visualization of muscarinic receptors in pulmonary nerves and ganglia.

We investigated autoradiographically the distribution of muscarinic receptors in bovine airways using (-)-[3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate as radioligand. The autoradiographs demonstrated the presence of muscarinic receptors in smooth muscle as well as neuronal muscarinic receptors in pulmonary nerves and ganglia. It is reasonable to believe that the neuronal muscarinic receptors participate in the regulation of neurotransmitter release at the peripheral nerve terminals innervating the bronchial smooth muscle.

Animals↗