SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Functional perturbation”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2006

Semiempirical hybrid density functional with perturbative second-order correlation.

A new hybrid density functional for general chemistry applications is proposed. It is based on a mixing of standard generalized gradient approximations (GGAs) for exchange by Becke (B) and for correlation by Lee, Yang, and Parr (LYP) with Hartree-Fock (HF) exchange and a perturbative second-order correlation part (PT2) that is obtained from the Kohn-Sham (GGA) orbitals and eigenvalues. This virtual orbital-dependent functional contains only two global parameters that describe the mixture of HF and GGA exchange (a(x)) and of the PT2 and GGA correlation (c), respectively. The parameters are obtained in a least-squares-fit procedure to the G297 set of heat of formations. Opposed to conventional hybrid functionals, the optimum a(x) is found to be quite large (53% with c=27%) which at least in part explains the success for many problematic molecular systems compared to conventional approaches. The performance of the new functional termed B2-PLYP is assessed by the G297 standard benchmark set, a second test suite of atoms, molecules, and reactions that are considered as electronically very difficult (including transition-metal compounds, weakly bonded complexes, and reaction barriers) and comparisons with other hybrid functionals of GGA and meta-GGA types. According to many realistic tests, B2-PLYP can be regarded as the best general purpose density functional for molecules (e.g., a mean absolute deviation for the two test sets of only 1.8 and 3.2 kcal/mol compared to about 3 and 5 kcal/mol, respectively, for the best other density functionals). Very importantly, also the maximum and minimum errors (outliers) are strongly reduced (by about 10-20 kcal/mol). Furthermore, very good results are obtained for transition state barriers but unlike previous attempts at such a good description, this definitely comes not at the expense of equilibrium properties. Preliminary calculations of the equilibrium bond lengths and harmonic vibrational frequencies for diatomic molecules and transition-metal complexes also show very promising results. The uniformity with which B2-PLYP improves for a wide range of chemical systems emphasizes the need of (virtual) orbital-dependent terms that describe nonlocal electron correlation in accurate exchange-correlation functionals. From a practical point of view, the new functional seems to be very robust and it is thus suggested as an efficient quantum chemical method of general purpose.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Noise perturbation in functional principal component analysis filtering for two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy: its theory and application to infrared spectra of a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) thin film.

A method based on noise perturbation in functional principal component analysis (NPFPCA) is for the first time introduced to overcome the noise interference problem in two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS). By the systematic addition of synthetic noise to the dynamic multivariate spectral data, the functional principal component analysis (FPCA) described in this report is able to accurately determine which eigenvectors are representing significant signals instead of noise in the original data. This feature is especially useful for the data reconstruction and noise filtering. Reconstructed data resulted from the smooth eigenvectors can produce much more reliable 2D correlation spectra by removing the correlation artifacts from noise, which in turn enable more accurate interpretation of the spectral variations. The usefulness of this method is demonstrated with a theoretical framework and applications to the 2D correlation analyses of both simulated data and temperature-dependent reflection-absorption infrared spectra of a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) thin film.

Absorption↗

PubMed2003

Partitioned density functional approach for a Lennard-Jones fluid.

The existing classical density functional approach for nonuniform Lennard-Jones fluid, which is based on dividing the Lennard-Jones interaction potential into a short-range, repulsive part, and a smoothly varying, long-range, attractive tail, was improved by dividing the bulk second-order direct correlation function into strongly density-depending short-range part and weakly density-depending long-range part. The latter is treated by functional perturbation expansion truncated at the lowest order whose accuracy depends on how weakly the long-range part depends on the bulk density. The former is treated by the truncated functional perturbation expansion which is rewritten in the form of the simple weighted density approximation and incorporates the omitted higher-order terms by applying Lagrangian theorem of differential calculus to the reformulated form. The two approximations are put into the density profile equation of the density functional theory formalism to predict the density distribution for Lennard-Jones fluid in contact with a hard wall or between two hard walls within the whole density range for reduced temperature T(*)=1.35 and a density point for reduced temperature T(*)=1. The present partitioned density functional theory performs much better than several previous density functional perturbation theory approaches and a recently proposed bridge density functional approximation.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Analysis of the validity of perturbation density functional theory: based on extensive simulation for simple fluid at supercritical and subcritical temperature under various external potentials.

Because of the scarcity of available simulation data for confined hard-core attractive Yukawa model fluid, extensive Monte Carlo (MC) simulation research for this fluid under the influence of various external potentials were carried out. The present MC simulation results were employed to test a performance of the third-order perturbation density functional theory (DFT) based on a high order direct correlation function (DCF) [S. Zhou and E. Ruckenstein, Phys. Rev. E. 61, 2704 (2000)]. It was found that the present perturbation DFT formalism is soundly structured only if the imported second-order DCF is reliable. In this case, the accuracy of the results can be satisfactory or even very high for various types of external potentials. Further, the associated adjustable parameter can be universal, i.e., independent of the particular external field responsible for the generation of a nonuniform density profile. Dependence of both the maintenance of the reliability of the formalism and holding of the universality of the adjustable parameter on the accuracy of the imported bulk second-order DCF can be strengthened by the large difference between the external field investigated and that caused by a single hard wall used for specification of the adjustable parameter. In case the gaseous density in the subcritical region is below the coexistence density, an excellent performance of the present formalism is observed even for the mean spherical approximation's second-order DCF as an input. This advantageous property, combined with the fact that the present formalism needs only the second-order DCF of fluid at the coexistence state as an input, enables the present formalism to be a very good theoretical tool for the investigations of wetting and prewetting transitions.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1997

cis-unsaturated free fatty acids block growth hormone and prolactin secretion in thyrotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated GH3 cells by perturbing the function of plasma membrane integral proteins.

In vivo FFA block basal and stimulated GH secretion and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the altered GH secretion present in obesity and Cushing's syndrome. Although a direct action on the somatotroph cell has been postulated, the FFA mechanism of action is unknown. The main biological target for FFA action is the cellular membrane, and it has been shown that these metabolites can block the activity of a number of plasma membrane pumps, channels, and receptor systems. In the present work, it was observed using different types of pituitary cells (GH3, GH4C1, and rat pituitary primary cultures) that cis-unsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic, 1) do not perturb TRH binding or the homologous desensitization of the TRH receptor; 2) inhibit TRH-induced inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate/diacylglycerol generation, probably by a direct perturbation of phospholipase C; 3) reduce the TRH-induced intracellular Ca2+ redistribution and the ensuing changes in membrane potential; 4) completely inhibit the [Ca2+]i rise due to the TRH-induced opening of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels; and 5) abolish the TRH-induced Ca2+ efflux through plasma membrane Ca2+ pumps. These results suggest that cis-unsaturated FFA such as oleic acid selectively perturb the function of integral membrane proteins such as enzymes, channels, and pumps without perturbing the binding of ligands to receptors.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Robustness, evolvability, and optimality of evolutionary neural networks.

In a typical optimization problem, the main goal is to search for the appropriate values of the variables that provide the optimal solution of the given function. In artificial neural networks (ANN), this translates to the minimization of the error surface during training such that misclassification is minimized during generalization. However, since optimal training performance does not necessarily imply optimal generalization due to the possibility of overfitting or underfitting, we developed SEPA (Structure Evolution and Parameter Adaptation) which addressed these issues by simultaneously evolving ANN structure and weights. Since SEPA primarily relies on the perturbation function to bring variation in its population, this follow-up study aims to find out SEPAs evolvability, optimality, and robustness in other perturbation functions. Our findings indicate that SEPAs optimal generalization performances are stable and robust from the effect of the different perturbation functions. This is due to the feedback loop between its architecture evolution and weight adaptation such that any shortcoming of the former is compensated by the latter, and vice versa. Our results strongly suggest that proper ANN design requires simultaneous adaptation of ANN structure and weights to avoid one-sided or bias convergence to either the weight or architecture space.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1995

Low-dose UVB radiation perturbs the functional expression of B7.1 and B7.2 co-stimulatory molecules on human Langerhans cells.

In previous studies, we have shown that ultraviolet (UV) B radiation perturbs the APC function of Langerhans cells (LC) by interfering with as-yet unidentified co-stimulatory signals. Recently, B7.1 and B7.2 on APC were shown to deliver important co-stimulatory signals through interaction with their counter receptors CD28 and CTLA-4 on T cells. To determine whether UVB affects the functional expression of B7.1 or B7.2 on LC, B7.1 and B7.2 expression was studied on human LC by multiparameter flow cytometry. Little, if any, B7.1 or B7.2 was detected on LC freshly isolated from skin. However, following 48 h of tissue culture, expression of both B7.1 and B7.2 were markedly up-regulated. To test whether these molecules were functional, primary mixed epidermal cell leukocyte reactions (MECLR) were performed. Blocking monoclonal antibody (mAb) to B7.1 or B7.2 both inhibited the MECLR, with anti-B7.2 being much more effective than anti-B7.1. UVB radiation dose-dependently (100-200 J/m2) suppressed the culture-induced up-regulation of B7.1 and B7.2 on LC. Since LC exposed to the same UVB flux (UVB-LC) failed to stimulate alloreactive T cells in a MECLR, we questioned whether this was related to their inability to provide B7 co-stimulation. Indeed, when effective B7-CD28 signaling was ascertained by adding submitogenic doses of exogenous anti-CD28 mAb to UVB-LC, the proliferative response of alloreactive T cells was restored. We conclude that the suppressive effects of low-dose UVB radiation on the APC function of LC are, at least in part, due to an inhibition of functional B7.1 and B7.2 expression.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1997

Interactions between integrin receptors and fibronectin are required for calvarial osteoblast differentiation in vitro.

We previously showed that anti-fibronectin antibodies or soluble fibronectin fragments containing the central cell-binding domain inhibit formation of mineralized nodules by fetal calvarial osteoblasts in vitro. These findings suggest a critical role for fibronectin in osteoblast differentiation and morphogenesis. In this study we tested the hypothesis that fibronectin's effects on osteogenesis are mediated via direct interactions with integrin receptors for fibronectin on osteoblasts. Immunocytochemical analysis identified the integrin fibronectin receptor alpha5ss1 in fetal rat calvarial tissue and in cultured osteoblasts at all stages of differentiation. Three other integrins, alpha3ss1, alpha8ss1 and alphavss3, which can bind fibronectin, as well as other matrix components, were also identified in tissue and at all stages of cell culture. Immunoprecipitation data showed that alpha5ss1 levels are constant throughout osteoblast differentiation whereas levels of alpha3ss1 and alpha8ss1 decline in mature mineralized cultures. To determine whether integrin fibronectin receptors are required for osteoblast formation of mineralized nodules, we examined the extent of nodule formation in the presence and absence of function-perturbing anti-integrin antibodies. The antibodies were present continuously in cultures beginning at confluence (day 3), and nodule formation was measured at days 10 and 20. An anti-alpha5 integrin subunit antibody reduced nodule formation to less than 5% of control values at both time points. Inhibition of nodule formation was reversible and did not affect cell attachment and viability. Function-perturbing antibodies against alpha3ss1 and alpha8ss1 also reduced nodule formation, to less than 20% of control values. In contrast, function-perturbing antibodies to alphavss3 and alphavss5 did not affect nodule formation, indicating that the inhibitions noted were indeed specific. To determine the effect of antibody treatment on gene expression, steady-state mRNA expression was examined and found to be suppressed for osteoblast markers alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin. Together, these results indicate that direct osteoblast interactions with the extracellular matrix are mediated by a select group of integrin receptors that includes alpha5ss1, alpha3ss1 and alpha8ss1. We further conclude that the specific alpha5ss1 fibronectin receptor mediates critical interactions between osteoblasts and fibronectin required for both bone morphogenesis and osteoblast differentiation.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMed1999

A cell signal pathway involving laminin-5, alpha3beta1 integrin, and mitogen-activated protein kinase can regulate epithelial cell proliferation.

Laminin-5 (LN5) is a matrix component of epithelial tissue basement membranes and plays an important role in the initiation and maintenance of epithelial cell anchorage to the underlying connective tissue. Here we show that two distinct LN5 function-inhibitory antibodies, both of which bind the globular domain of the alpha3 subunit, inhibit proliferation of epithelial cells. These same antibodies also induce a decrease in mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. Inhibition of proliferation by the function-perturbing LN5 antibodies is reversed upon removal of the antibodies and can be overcome by providing the antibody-treated cells with exogenous LN5 and rat tail collagen. Because epithelial cells use the integrin receptor alpha3beta1 to interact with both LN5 and rat tail collagen, we next investigated the possibility that integrin alpha3beta1 is involved in mediating the proliferative impact of LN5. Proliferation of human epithelial cells is significantly inhibited by a function-perturbing alpha3 integrin antibody. In addition, antibody activation of beta1 integrin restores the proliferation of epithelial cells treated with LN5 function-perturbing antibodies. These data indicate that a complex comprising LN5 and alpha3beta1 integrin is multifunctional and contributes not only to epithelial cell adhesion but also to the regulation of cell growth via a signaling pathway involving mitogen-activated protein kinase. We discuss our study in light of recent evidence that LN5 expression is up-regulated at the leading tips of tumors, where it may play a role in tumor cell proliferation.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Frequent occurrence of anticardiolipin antibodies, Factor V Leiden mutation, and perturbed endothelial function in chronic myeloproliferative disorders.

Chronic myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) are characterized by a high incidence of thrombohaemorrhagic complications, possibly related to platelet abnormalities and disturbances of the coagulation system. In an attempt to define abnormalities in coagulation and fibrinolysis, we investigated risk markers for venous thromboembolism, fibrinolytic, and haemostatic system activation markers and antiphospholipid antibodies in blood samples from 50 MPD patients and 30 controls. Compared with controls median levels of protein S free and protein C were significantly decreased in the patients (0.27 vs. 0.38 arbitrary units; P < 0.001 and 0.86 vs. 0.99 arbitrary units; P < 0.001, respectively), and activated partial thromboplastin time was significantly prolonged in patients (33 vs. 27 sec; P < 0.001). No differences were observed in levels of antithrombin, thrombin-antithrombin complex, and fibrin D-dimer. In patients the median value of thrombomodulin was significantly increased indicating perturbed endothelial function. Anticardiolipin antibodies of IgM subtype (median 38 U/mL, 33-99) were detected in 11 patients (22%) and only in one control (3%) (P < 0.021; patients vs. controls). Seven patients were heterozygous for the Factor V Leiden, one patient was heterozygous for the prothrombin G20210A mutation, and one patient was homozygous for the Factor V Leiden mutation. Among controls, two were heterozygous for the Factor V Leiden mutation. Comparing the allele frequency of the Factor V Leiden mutation in patients with MPD and the background population disclosed a significantly increased allele prevalence of the Factor V Leiden mutation in the patients (9% vs. 3.4%; P = 0.003). Alterations in the level of anticoagulant proteins, disturbances of endothelial cell function, and the presence of cardiolipin antibodies and Factor V Leiden mutation may increase the cumulative thrombotic risk in MPD besides the risk imposed by platelet activation.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Partial SP-B deficiency perturbs lung function and causes air space abnormalities.

Surfactant protein B (SP-B) is required for function of newborn and adult lung, and partial deficiency has been associated with susceptibility to lung injury. In the present study, transgenic mice were produced in which expression of SP-B in type II epithelial cells was conditionally regulated. Concentrations of SP-B were maintained at 60-70% of that normally present in control. Immunostaining for SP-B demonstrated cellular heterogeneity in expression of the protein. In subsets of type II cells in which SP-B staining was decreased, immunostaining for pro-SP-C was increased and lamellar body ultrastructure was disrupted, consistent with focal SP-B deficiency. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses of freshly isolated type II cells identified a population of cells with low SP-B content and a smaller population with increased SP-B content, confirming nonuniform expression of the SP-B transgene. Focal air space enlargement, without cellular infiltration or inflammation, was observed. Pressure-volume curves indicated that maximal tidal volume was unchanged; however, hysteresis was modestly altered and residual volumes were significantly decreased in the SP-B-deficient mice. Chronic, nonuniform SP-B deficiency perturbed pulmonary function and caused air space enlargement.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In vivo absorption, scattering, and physiologic properties of 58 malignant breast tumors determined by broadband diffuse optical spectroscopy.

Diffuse optical imaging (DOI) may be a beneficial diagnostic method for women with mammographically dense breast tissue. In order to evaluate the utility of DOI, we are developing broadband diffuse optical spectroscopy (DOS) to characterize the functional origins of optical signals in breast cancer patients. Broadband DOS combines multifrequency intensity-modulated and continuous-wave near-infrared light to quantify tissue absorption and scattering spectra from 650 to 1000 nm. Values of intrinsic physiological properties (oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin, water, lipid, and scatter power) derived from absorption and scattering spectra provide detailed information on breast physiology. We present the results of clinical studies of 58 stage II/III malignant breast tumors using a noninvasive, handheld, broadband DOS probe. On average, eight positions were scanned over tumor and contralateral normal breast for each subject. Intrinsic physiological properties were statistically significantly different for malignant vs. normal tissues for all subjects, without patient age or tumor size/type stratification. Breast tissues containing malignant tumors displayed reduced lipid content ( approximately 20%) and increased water, deoxy-, and oxy-hemoglobin (>50% each) compared to normal breast tissues. Functional perturbations by the tumor were significantly larger than functional variations in normal tissues. A tissue optical index (TOI) derived from intrinsic physiological properties yielded an average two-fold contrast difference between malignant tumors and intrinsic tissue properties. Our results demonstrate that intrinsic optical signals can be influenced by functional perturbations characteristic of malignant transformation; cellular metabolism, extracellular matrix composition, and angiogenesis. Our findings further underscore the importance of broadband measurements and patient age stratification in breast cancer DOI.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Betaine counteracts urea-induced conformational changes and uncoupling of the human erythrocyte Ca2+ pump.

We have investigated the effects of the protein structure-perturbing and function-perturbing osmolyte urea, and one of its physiological counteracting solutes, the methylamine compound (carboxymethyl)trimethylammonium hydroxide (betaine), on the structure and function of the human erythrocyte plasma-membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase. Betaine per se promoted a conformational change in the purified ATPase as revealed by steady-state and time-resolved intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy. The conformational change promoted by betaine was shown to be related to changes in the degree of compaction of the protein structure, as detected by fluorescence-quenching measurements using acrylamide and iodide, non-charged and charged quenchers, respectively. In contrast, urea promoted a biphasic increase in exposure of tryptophan residues of the purified ATPase to the aqueous medium. With the use of membrane-bound ATPase, increasing concentrations of urea up to 1.5 M promoted a twofold increase in the Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, and the simultaneous inhibition of Ca2+ accumulation indicated that ATP hydrolysis became uncoupled from Ca2+ transport. Higher urea concentrations promoted a pronounced inhibition of ATP hydrolysis. In the absence of urea, betaine decreased ATP hydrolysis without affecting Ca2+ transport, whereas it counteracted the strong inhibition of Ca(2+)-ATPase activity by urea concentrations as high as 7 M. Betaine also protected Ca2+ accumulation against inhibition with concentrations of urea up to 1.5 M, indicating that the methylamine is able to counteract the uncoupling of the ATPase observed at lower urea concentrations. These results suggest that betaine modifies the effects of urea on the erythrocyte Ca(2+)-ATPase, through specific solute-induced conformational changes that protect the energy-transduction capacity of the enzyme.

Betaine↗

PubMed1994

Cell-lytic and antibacterial peptides that act by perturbing the barrier function of membranes: facets of their conformational features, structure-function correlations and membrane-perturbing abilities.

Almost all hemolytic and antimicrobial peptides form part of the defense mechanism of species widely distributed across the evolutionary scale. Although these peptides are of varying lengths and composition, they form amphiphilic structures in a hydrophobic environment. They also have the ability to form channels in natural and model membranes. Hemolytic peptides have proven to be very useful in studying the mechanism of hemolysis and the permeability properties of red blood cells. Preliminary investigations indicate that these peptides may also be useful in the investigation of complex cellular phenomena like exocytosis and neurotransmission. Although molecules like vancomycin, bacitracin and penicillins have been extensively used as antibiotics for therapeutic purposes, most species throughout the evolutionary scale use peptides as antimicrobial agents. These peptides exert their activity by altering the permeability properties of the bacterial plasma membrane and do not interfere with macro molecular synthesis like the other antibiotics that are presently used in therapies. Hence it is likely that resistance to peptide antibacterial agents may not develop easily. Since the problem of antibiotic resistance is presently a particularly severe one, peptide antibiotics may be the drugs of choice in the future.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

Lipoprotein(a) and the link between atherosclerosis and thrombosis.

Elevated plasma concentrations of lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) have been consistently shown to be a risk factor for the development of a variety of thrombotic and atherosclerotic disorders including coronary artery disease. However, the mechanisms by which Lp(a) mediates its apparent pathophysiological effects remain to be conclusively determined. Atherosclerosis and thrombosis are functionally linked because it is thrombotic events, which ensue most often from the rupture of an unstable atherosclerotic plaque, that are the most significant manifestations of atherosclerotic disease. Lp(a) is a candidate to directly mediate this functional linkage in that this lipoprotein is capable of both proatherogenic and prothrombotic effects. In addition, Lp(a) has a profound effect on endothelial function, perturbation of which has important ramifications for both atherogenesis and thrombosis. Indeed, Lp(a) is capable of deleteriously altering the balance between the pro- and anticoagulant, pro- and anti-inflammatory, and vasorelaxing and vasoconstricting properties of the endothelium. In addition, Lp(a) is capable of perturbing the barrier function of the endothelium. As such, Lp(a) constitutes a functional link not only between atherosclerosis and thrombosis, but also between endothelial dysfunction and both of these disease processes.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Ichthyosis induced by cholesterol-lowering drugs. Implications for epidermal cholesterol homeostasis.

Ichthyosis and other disorders of cornification may occur as side effects of treatment with several hypocholesterolemic agents. Recent progress in understanding of the functional role of lipids in stratum corneum provides a new pathophysiologic basis for these earlier clinical observations. In stratum corneum, lipids are segregated within intercellular membranes, where they appear to regulate permeability barrier function and desquamation. Cholesterol is an important constituent of these membranes and may be essential to both of these functions. Perturbation of barrier function induces cholesterologenesis locally within the epidermis. Polar sterol metabolites, such as cholesterol sulfate, may also regulate epidermal sterologenesis under normal or pathologic circumstances. Cholesterol homeostasis may also modulate desquamation. For example, hairless mice fed azacosterol hydrochloride (20,25-diazacholesterol) develop a generalized scaling disorder without loss of barrier function. In these mice, total stratum corneum sterol content is markedly decreased, and topical or systemic repletion with cholesterol can correct the scaling abnormalities.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Integrin binding specificity regulates biomaterial surface chemistry effects on cell differentiation.

Biomaterial surface chemistry has profound consequences on cellular and host responses, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using self-assembled monolayers as model biomaterial surfaces presenting well defined chemistries, we demonstrate that surface chemistry modulates osteoblastic differentiation and matrix mineralization independently from alterations in cell proliferation. Surfaces were precoated with equal densities of fibronectin (FN), and surface chemistry modulated FN structure to alter integrin adhesion receptor binding. OH- and NH(2)-terminated surfaces up-regulated osteoblast-specific gene expression, alkaline phosphatase enzymatic activity, and matrix mineralization compared with surfaces presenting COOH and CH(3) groups. These surface chemistry-dependent differences in cell differentiation were controlled by binding of specific integrins to adsorbed FN. Function-perturbing antibodies against the central cell binding domain of FN completely inhibited matrix mineralization. Furthermore, blocking antibodies against beta(1) integrin inhibited matrix mineralization on the OH and NH(2) surfaces, whereas function-perturbing antibodies specific for beta(3) integrin increased mineralization on the COOH substrate. These results establish surface-dependent differences in integrin binding as a mechanism regulating differential cellular responses to biomaterial surfaces. This mechanism could be exploited to engineer materials that control integrin binding specificity to elicit desired cellular activities to enhance the integration of biomaterials and improve the performance of biotechnological culture supports.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1998

Blockade of glutamate-mediated activity in the developing retina perturbs the functional segregation of ON and OFF pathways.

The dendrites of ganglion cells initially ramify throughout the inner plexiform layer of the developing retina before becoming stratified into ON or OFF sublaminae. This ontogenetic event is thought to depend on glutamate-mediated afferent activity, because treating the developing retina with the glutamate analog 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (APB), which hyperpolarizes ON cone bipolar cells and rod bipolar cells, thereby preventing their release of glutamate, effectively arrests the dendritic stratification process. To assess the functional consequences of this manipulation, extracellular recordings were made from single cells in the A laminae of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus and from the optic tract in mature cats that had received intraocular injections of APB during the first postnatal month. Such recordings revealed that stimulation of the APB-treated eye evoked both ON as well as OFF discharges in 37% of the cells tested. (As expected, when the normal eye was activated, virtually all cells yielded only ON or OFF responses.) The proportion of ON-OFF cells found here corresponds closely to the incidence of multistratified dendrites observed previously in anatomical studies of APB-treated cat retinas. This suggests that the ganglion cells with multistratified dendrites receive functional inputs from ON as well as OFF cone bipolar cells. This interpretation is further supported by the finding that the proportion of ON-OFF cells was very similar in the geniculate layer innervated by the treated eye and in the optic tract. The cells activated by the APB-treated eye were also found not to show response suppression when flashing stimuli of increasing size were used. This suggests that exposing the developing retina to APB perturbs the neural circuitry mediating the antagonistic center-surround organization found in normal receptive fields. The functional changes evident after treating the developing retina with APB suggest that it should now be feasible to assess how the segregation of ON and OFF retinal pathways relates to organizational features at higher levels of the visual system, such as orientation selectivity in cortical cells.

Aminobutyrates↗