Biomedical subjects

Xiang Yu

Publications and source records attributed to Xiang Yu.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Beta-catenin is critical for dendritic morphogenesis.

Regulated growth and arborization of dendritic processes are critical to the formation of functional neuronal networks. Here we identify beta-catenin as a critical mediator of dendritic morphogenesis. We found that increasing the intracellular levels of beta-catenin and other members of the cadherin/catenin complex, namely N-cadherin and alphaN-catenin, enhances dendritic arborization in rat hippocampal neurons, an effect that does not require Wnt/beta-catenin-dependent transcription. Conversely, proteins that sequester beta-catenin decreased dendritic branch tip number and total dendritic branch length. Enhancement of dendritic growth elicited by depolarization requires beta-catenin and increased Wnt release. These results identify Wnt/beta-catenin signaling as an important mediator of dendritic development and suggest that the intracellular level of the cadherin/catenin complex is a limiting factor during critical stages of dendritic morphogenesis.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

PubMed2003

Identification of aflatoxin M1-N7-guanine in liver and urine of tree shrews and rats following administration of aflatoxin B1.

Epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) and concurrent infection with hepatitis B lead to a multiplicative risk of developing liver cancer. This chemical-viral interaction can be recapitulated in the tree shrew (Tupia belangeri chinensis). As an initial characterization of this model, the metabolism of AFB(1) in tree shrews has been examined and compared to a sensitive bioassay species, the rat. Utilizing LC/MS/MS, an unreported product, aflatoxin M(1)-N(7)-guanine (AFM(1)-N(7)-guanine), was detected in urine and hepatic DNA samples 24 h after administration of 400 microg/kg AFB(1). In hepatic DNA isolated from tree shrews, AFM(1)-N(7)-guanine was the predominant adduct, 0.74 +/- 0.14 pmol/mg DNA, as compared to 0.37 +/- 0.07 pmol/mg DNA of AFB(1)-N(7)-guanine. Conversely, in rat liver, 6.56 +/- 2.41 pmol/mg DNA of AFB(1)-N(7)-guanine and 0.42 +/- 0.13 pmol/mg DNA of AFM(1)-N(7)-guanine were detected. Rats excreted 1.00 +/- 0.21 pmol AFB(1)-N(7)-guanine/mg creatinine and 0.29 +/- 0.10 pmol AFM(1)-N(7)-guanine/mg creatinine as compared to 0.60 +/- 0.12 pmol AFB(1)-N(7)-guanine/mg creatinine and 0.69 +/- 0.16 pmol AFM(1)-N(7)-guanine/mg creatinine excreted by the tree shrew. Furthermore, tree shrew urine contained 40 times more of the hydroxylated metabolite, AFM(1), than was excreted by rats. In vitro experiments confirmed this difference in oxidative metabolism. Hepatic microsomes isolated from tree shrews failed to produce aflatoxin Q(1) or aflatoxin P(1) but formed a significantly greater amount of AFM(1) than rat microsomes. Bioassays indicated that the tree shrew was considerably more resistant than the rat to AFB(1) hepatocarcinogenesis, which may reflect the significant differences in metabolic profiles of the two species.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2002

IL-2 receptor blockade inhibits late, but not early, IFN-gamma and CD40 ligand expression in human T cells: disruption of both IL-12-dependent and -independent pathways of IFN-gamma production.

mAbs directed against the alpha-chain (Tac/CD25) of the IL-2R are an emerging therapy in both transplantation and autoimmune disease. However, the mechanisms underlying their therapeutic efficacy have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we examined the effect of IL-2R blockade on Th1 and Th2 cytokine production from human PBMC. Addition of a humanized anti-Tac Ab (HAT) to activated PBMC cultures inhibited IFN-gamma production from CD4 and CD8 T cells by 80-90%. HAT partially inhibited production of TNF-alpha and completely inhibited production of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10. Furthermore, IL-12, a central regulatory cytokine that induces IFN-gamma, was undetectable in treated cultures. As T cell-dependent induction of IL-12 is regulated via CD40/CD40 ligand (CD40L) interactions, we examined the effect of HAT on CD40L expression. We found CD40L expression to be biphasic with an early (6 h) peak that is CD28/IL-2-independent, but a later peak (48 h) being CD28/IL-2-dependent and inhibited by HAT. Similarly, IFN-gamma production at 6 h was CD28/IL-2-independent but CD28/IL-2-dependent and inhibited by HAT at 48 h. Nonetheless, addition of rCD40L or exogenous IL-12 to HAT-treated cultures could not restore IFN-gamma production. The IFN-gamma deficit in such cultures appears to be due to a direct inhibition by HAT of IL-12-independent IFN-gamma production from T cells rather than altered expression of either the IL-12Rbeta1 or IL-12Rbeta2 chains. These data demonstrate that IL-2 plays a critical role in the regulation of Th1 and Th2 responses and impacts both IL-12-dependent and -independent IFN-gamma production.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗