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Biomedical subjects

Z Hrkal

Publications and source records attributed to Z Hrkal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The effects of heme-binding proteins on the peroxidative and catalatic activities of hemin.

The plasma proteins hemopexin (Hx) and albumin (Alb) are known to bind heme with high and medium affinity, respectively. To study how this binding modifies heme catalytic reactivity, the effects of Hx, human serum Alb (HSA), and bovine serum Alb (BSA) on the peroxidase- and catalaselike activities of hemin were investigated. These hemin activities were found to be inhibited by 50 to 60% with either HSA or BSA, and by 80 to 90% with Hx. The heme complexes with Hx or Alb (1:1 = protein:heme) therefore had a much lower reactivity toward H2O2 and Cum-OOH than the nonprotein heme. A kinetic analysis suggested that binding to Hx or Alb inhibited the primary activation of heme by H2O2, the step common for both peroxidase- and catalaselike activities of hemin. It is thought that by complexing heme, the Hx and Alb can prevent the toxic effects of extracellular heme in blood plasma.

Animals

Selective destruction of leukaemic cells by photo-activation of 5-aminolaevulinic acid-induced protoporphyrin-IX.

The effect of 5-aminolaevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) on the viability and proliferation of leukaemia/lymphoma cells as well as normal human lymphocytes has been investigated by flow cytometry-propidium iodide assay (FC-PI), 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and on clonogenic activity of normal human bone marrow progenitor cells by clonogenic methods. ALA-PDT (1 mM 5-ALA, 4 h, 18 J cm-2) reduces the number and/or suppressed proliferation of leukaemic cells of promyelocytic (HL60), B-cell-derived (DAUDI) and T-cell-derived (JURKAT) cell lines by 2 logs and that of the HEL erythroleukaemia cells by 77%. The effect of ALA-PDT on quiescent human lymphocytes is small (85% viable cells after ALA-PDT). The proliferation of lymphocytes subjected to ALA-PDT and induced with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) decreases by 75% as compared to the untreated control. For normal human bone marrow progenitors, 58% of colony-forming units-granulocytes-macrophages (CFU-GM) and 55% burst-forming units-erythrocytes (BFU-E) activities are preserved.

Aminolevulinic Acid

Binding of heme-hemopexin complexes by soluble HxuA protein allows utilization of this complexed heme by Haemophilus influenzae.

Utilization of heme-hemopexin as a source of heme by Haemophilus influenzae type b is dependent on expression by this bacterium of the 100-kDa HxuA protein, which is both present on the bacterial cell surface and released into the culture supernatant (L. D. Cope, R. Yogev, U. Muller-Eberhard, and E. J. Hansen, J. Bacteriol. 177:2644-2653, 1995). Radioimmunoprecipitation analysis showed that the soluble HxuA protein present in H. influenzae type b culture supernatant bound heme-hemopexin complexes in solution. An isogenic H. influenzae type b hxuA mutant was unable to utilize soluble heme-hemopexin complexes for growth in vitro unless soluble HxuA protein was provided exogenously. Soluble HxuA protein secreted by a nontypeable H. influenzae strain also allowed growth of this H. influenzae type b hxuA mutant. These results indicated that the heme present in heme-hemopexin complexes is rendered accessible to H. influenzae when these complexes are bound by the soluble HxuA protein.

Animals

Kinetics of heme interaction with heme-binding proteins: the effect of heme aggregation state.

The kinetics of the interaction of heme with hemopexin and albumin was monitored by measuring the time dependence of changes in the Soret absorption spectra. Since the protein binding sites can only bind heme monomers, the binding kinetics apparently reflected the slow dissociation of heme dimers, resulting from dimer/monomer equilibria in aqueous heme solutions. The dissociation of heme dimers is characterized by the rate constant of (3-4) x 10(-3) s(-1). The measurements further revealed significant differences in the kinetic profiles (slowing down the binding interaction) that were dependent on the storage time of heme solutions at room temperature. These presumably responded to the gradual formation of higher aggregates of heme, which cannot dissociate into dimers/monomers. Alternatively, partial autooxidation of heme molecules could increase the stability of heme dimers and obstruct specific binding of heme to the proteins.

Binding Sites

Photodynamic effects of meso-tetra (4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine on human leukemia cells HEL and HL60, human lymphocytes and bone marrow progenitor cells.

Meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine (TPPS4), in combination with a light dose of 14 J cm-2, has a profound negative effect on the proliferation and viability of leukemia cells HL60 (human promyelocytic leukemia) and HEL (human erythroleukemia), the viability of normal lymphocytes and the colony-forming activity of human bone marrow progenitor cells. However, normal leukocytes (monocytes, granulocytes) are, to a large extent, resistant to photodynamic treatment (PDT). Whilst DNA fragmentation suggesting apoptosis is induced in HL60 cells, accumulation in the interphase of the cell cycle (G0/G1, G2/M) is mainly operative in the TPPS4-mediated PDT of HEL cells. The "dark" effect of TPPS4 on the cell viability is below 15% up to a concentration of 40 microM.

Bone Marrow Cells

[Photobiologic effects of porphyrins and their use in therapy of tumors].

Principles and mechanisms of the photobiological effects of porphyrin derivatives on the cell components and their employment for the selective destruction of cancer tissues (photodynamic therapy) are discussed. The present status of the photodynamic therapy for the treatment of various cancers is given.

Hematoporphyrin Photoradiation

Hyaluronan-binding properties of human serum hemopexin.

Hemopexin, the heme-binding serum glycoprotein, exhibits a complex electrophoretic pattern on two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis on agarose gels into which hyaluronic acid is incorporated in the first and monospecific anti-hemopexin in the second dimension. This heterogeneity reflects a range of interactions of hemopexin isoforms with hyaluronic acid. Electrophoretic patterns of individual human sera greatly differ in their contents of hyaluronan-interacting hemopexin species. Hemopexin itself has no hyaluronidase activity.

Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional

Identification of an outer membrane protein involved in utilization of hemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes by nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae.

A recombinant plasmid containing a 6.5-kb fragment of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) chromosomal DNA was shown to confer a hemoglobin-haptoglobin-binding phenotype on Escherichia coli. Use of a mini-Tn10kan transposon for random insertion mutagenesis of this recombinant plasmid allowed localization of the NTHI DNA responsible for this hemoglobin-haptoglobin-binding phenotype to a 3.5-kb PstI-XhoI fragment within the 6.5-kb NTHI DNA insert. When this mutagenized NTHI DNA fragment was used to transform the wild-type NTHI strain, the resultant kanamycin-resistant mutant exhibited significantly decreased abilities to bind hemoglobin-haptoglobin and utilize it as a source of heme for aerobic growth in vitro. This mutant also lacked expression of a 115-kDa outer membrane protein that was present in the wild-type parent strain. Transformation of this mutant with wild-type NTHI chromosomal DNA restored the abilities to bind and utilize hemoglobin-haptoglobin and to express the 115-kDa outer membrane protein. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the relevant NTHI DNA revealed the presence of a gene, designated hhuA, that encoded a predicted 117,145-Da protein. The HhuA protein exhibited features typical of a TonB-dependent outer membrane receptor and had significant identity with the hemoglobin receptors of both Haemophilus ducreyi and Neisseria meningitidis.

Amino Acid Sequence

[Disorders of anticoagulation and fibrinolysis in monoclonal gammopathies--another mechanism of paraprotein interference with hemostasis].

We have investigated the possible interaction of paraprotein (pp) with anticoagulation mechanisms and fibrinolysis. Eighty four patients with monoclonal gammapathy (MG) were included to the study, 59 of them with multiple myeloma (MM). In 48.8% cases some defect was found. Decreased levels of antithrombin III (AT III) was observed in 13.3%, protein C (PC) in 18.3% and protein S (PS) in 13.5% of patients. Distribution between the free and the bound PS fraction remained normal. The most frequent abnormality found was the reduction of plasminogen (PLG) activity, which was observed in 35.1% and elevated levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor, detected in 42.3% of cases, respectively. Decreased plasminogen activator activity was observed in only one patient. The relationship between isotype and concentration of paraprotein and frequency of factor levels abnormalities was not found. The incidence of arterial and/or venous thrombosis was higher in patients with laboratory defect in comparison with the unaffected, however, the difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, the incidence of hemorrhagic complications was significantly lower in these patients (p < 0.01), although in most of them simultaneous defect of plasmatic coagulation and/or platelet functions was detected. We suggest, the interaction with both hemostatic and anticoagulation systems could result to "elimination" of inauspicious effect of pp on hemostasis. The impairment of anticoagulation systems and fibrinolysis is another type of paraprotein interference with hemostasis. It is also considered to be another pathogenetic mechanism of secondary deficiency of AT III, PC, PS and PLG.

Adult

Differential expression of nuclear HMG1, HMG2 proteins and H1(zero) histone in various blood cells.

Changes in the levels of chromosomal high-mobility group proteins HMG1, HMG2 and histone H1 zero were investigated in blood cells of various types, proliferation activity and stage of differentiation. The relative amounts of proteins HMG1, HMG2 and histone H1 zero were evaluated densitometrically by SDS-PAGE of 5 per cent w/v perchloric acid extracts of blood cells. Concerning the HMG1 and HMG2, the main conclusions were: the expression of these HMG proteins was higher in malignant cells, namely leukemia cell lines, then in lymphocytes or granulocytes and the distribution of HMG1 and HMG2 was highly cell-specific. In comparison with lymphoid cells, the levels of HMG1/2 were higher in myeloid cells. The results revealed that in myeloid cells HMG2 prevails over HMG1. There was no direct correlation between HMG1/2 expression and proliferation activity. The levels of HMG1/2 did not depend on the transcription of chromatin either. However, there was some connection between irreversibly differentiated nonproliferating cells and a loss of HMG1/2 proteins. Reversibly differentiated leukemic cells retain their HMG1/2 levels. Similarly to HMG1/2,H1 zero showed a strong cell specificity. The level of H1 zero was different in the various blood cell types. As compared with lymphoid cells, the level of H1 zero was several-fold higher in myeloid cells, regardless of whether they were normal or malignant. Moreover, there was an accumulation of H1 zero in differentiating HL-60 cells accompanied by only a slight decline in cell proliferation; this agrees with the idea that H1 zero expression is not directly associated with the inhibition of cell growth. Rather higher expression of H1 zero is related to changes during cell differentiation.

Animals

Roles of heme iron-coordinating histidine residues of human hemopexin expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells.

Hemopexin (Hx), the major heme-binding plasma glycoprotein, scavenges circulating heme and performs an antioxidant function. In the present study, human Hx was expressed in a baculovirus system and its presumed essential His residues were mutated to Thr as a means of investigating their participation in heme binding. The recombinant Hx proteins were purified by sequential chromatography on Con A-agarose and SP-Sepharose. The purified recombinant wild-type Hx retained its heme binding. The binding constant for heme was considerably reduced, however, suggesting that glycosylation contributes critically to the heme binding property of Hx. Mutation either at His-127 or at His-56 plus His-127, but not at His-56 per se, reduced the affinity for heme by an order of magnitude relative to wild-type Hx. It is concluded that His-127 contributes to the high affinity for heme. We recorded proton NMR spectra to investigate the possibility that the degree of high-spin content is increased by deletion of an axial His-iron coordination. 1H NMR data indicate that each of the single-mutant heme-Hx complexes is predominantly low-spin, perhaps owing to coordination of the heme iron by the Thr side-chain oxygen or water oxygen coordinating to the iron.

Animals

Binding of meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine to haemopexin and albumin studied by spectroscopy methods.

1. The interaction of haemopexin and albumin with TPPS4 was studied by measuring the absorption and fluorescence spectra. Haemopexin was found to have one strong TPPS4 binding center (Ka = 3 x 10(7) M-1). 2. Haem-haemopexin complex appears to have no specific binding site for TPPS4. Occupation of the specific binding center of haemopexin molecule by a haem abolishes TPPS4 binding. 3. Albumin was found to possess one strong TPPS4 binding center (Ka = 3 x 10(6) M-1) besides two or three weak binding sites (Ka = 2 x 10(5) M-1). 4. Haem-albumin complex possesses only one weak TPPS4 binding site (Ka = 7 x 10(5) M-1). These observations suggest identity of primary binding sites of TPPS4 and haem on albumin molecule.

Binding Sites

Monoclonal antibodies against human hemopexin and their application.

Six monoclonal antibodies raised against human serum hemopexin have been characterized. The antibodies reacted with serum hemopexin as well as with the isolated protein in apo-form and with heme-protein complexes on immunoblots obtained following both PAGE and SDS-PAGE. In the case of PAGE blots 1 ng of hemopexin could be detected using a streptavidin-AP detection system. ELISA procedures employing two different pairs of monoclonal antibodies gave working ranges of 0.3-3 mg/l and 10-100 micrograms/l respectively.

Animals

Monoclonal antibodies against human antithrombin III.

Three monoclonal antibodies identified as D8, B11 and C5 of different specificities have been produced against human antithrombin III (AT). The apparent dissociation constants (Kd app) of the AT-antibody interaction were determined by ELISA method: Kd app (D8) = 2.4 nmole, Kd app (B11) = 13 nmole, Kd app (C5) = 24 nmole. All three antibodies reacted with isolated AT on immunoblots obtained with "native" PAGE. The D8 antibody also reacted with plasma and serum AT while B11 antibody reacted with serum thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complexes as well.

Animals

[Biochemical values in erythrocytes before freezing and after freezing at low temperatures].

The authors tested three ways of freezing red cell concentrates with glycerin. At -30 degrees C in a deep freezer; on a Planer at the rate of 1 degree C per minute and by immersion into liquid nitrogen to -196 degrees C, stored in cryo-containers in liquid nitrogen. In samples processed in all three ways, incl. the follow-up of glycolysis in red cell concentrates in acid-citrate-dextrose solution, the levels of the following enzymes were assessed: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase, pyruvate kinase. In addition also the levels of sodium, potassium, pH and glucose were assessed. The enzyme estimations of all three mentioned enzymes after triple rinsing with saline in the samples immersed in liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees C had the most acceptable values and smallest losses after rinsing.

Erythrocytes