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Carcinofetal alterations in glycogen phosphorylase isozymes in rat hepatomas.

As part of a continuing study on the loss or retention of enzymes involved in specific hepatic functions in a series of rat liver neoplasms ranging widely in growth rate and degree of differentiation, isozyme patterns of glycogen phosphorylase in rat hepatomas were compared with those in rat tissues during development. A third phosphorylase isozyme, distinguishable kinetically, immunologically, electrophoretically, and by isoelectric focusing from liver and muscle types is commonly present in various rat hepatomas including Novikoff, Morris, and Yoshida hepatomas with various degrees of retention of liver type according to their degree of differentiation. This isozyme is also the sole type in the placenta and early embryo, and in liver and muscle is replaced with the organ specific liver and muscle types during development. In other organs, the replacement is only partial, and, especially in adult rat brain, this type is retained. Thus, this isozyme seems to be a prototype whose appearance in hepatomas is one of many examples of carcinofetal alterations in isozymes.

Animals↗

Identification of endogenous soluble glycoprotein receptors of bovine brain grey matter 14 kDa beta-galactoside-binding lectin.

The 14 kDa beta-galactoside-binding lectin from bovine brain grey matter (BBL) covalently attached to caproic acid-Sepharose by the N-hydroxy succinimide procedure was used to isolate endogenous glycoprotein receptors of this lectin. BBL-Sepharose could sugar-specifically retain several endogenous soluble glycoproteins with subunit molecular mass (in kDA) 44, 51, 60, 123 and 186. BBL, conjugated with horse radish peroxidase, could sugar-specifically recognize several glycoprotein subunits with molecular mass (in kDA) 58, 87, and 117 and 186 on Western blots. The only protein from an extract of bovine brain grey matter, that retained on Sepharose-immobilized endogenous N-linked glycoproteins and subsequently eluted with beta-galactosides was BBL as confirmed by electrophoresis and agglutination inhibition measurement. N-linked glycoproteins from bovine heart and even from human placenta were also efficient receptors of BBL. These results suggest that 14 kDa beta-galactoside-binding lectin is the major protein, if not the only one, that sugar-specifically interacts with endogenous soluble glycoproteins in bovine brain grey matter.

Animals↗

Rhox homeobox gene cluster: recent duplication of three family members.

We recently reported the discovery of a homeobox gene cluster on the mouse X chromosome, Rhox, whose 12 members are selectively expressed in specific cell types in reproductive organs. Here we report the existence of 20 additional Rhox homeobox genes in this gene cluster. Most of the newly identified Rhox paralogs retain the same order and relative orientation as three of the originally described Rhox genes, suggesting that they arose from recent duplications of this trimer unit. Many of these new Rhox family members are expressed in the testis and placenta. Analysis of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions in their homeodomain region suggests that these new Rhox paralogs duplicated so recently that their encoded proteins have not yet acquired distinct DNA-binding specificities. The existence of these new Rhox genes provides an opportunity to examine the initial stages of gene cluster evolution.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Late postpartum hemorrhage].

In the presented material the frequency of postpartum haemorrhage is 0.74%. In the study sixty-nine histologically confirmed cases were considered. At histological examination three main factors were found--subinvolution of the placental site, retained placental tissue, and inflammation, each of them responsible for about one third of all cases. The possible influence of such factors as parity, time of delivery, frequency of caesarian section, frequency of intrauterine exploration, manual extraction of the placenta, and induction and stimulation of the delivery on late postpartum haemorrhage is discussed.

Female↗

Identification of lysine residues in the binding domain of ribonuclease A for the RNase inhibitor from human placenta.

Amidination of the available lysine residues of the complex between RNase A and human placental RNase inhibitor has been performed with methyl acetimidate; the conditions of the derivatization preserve the complex functionally intact. Resistance of epsilon-acetimidyllysine residues to hydrolysis by trypsin allowed, after peptide mapping, the identification of lysine residues 7, 31, 41, 61, and 91 as those which were fully protected by the inhibitor from amidination. Lysine residue 37 was partially protected from amidination. In the presence of poly(A), lysine residues 41 and 61 of RNase A were fully protected from amidination, while lysine residues 7, 31, 37, 91, and 104 were only partially protected; the enzyme retained full activity. The results permit identification of lysine residues located in the binding domain of RNase A for the inhibitor. This region is not identical with, but does overlap, the binding domain for poly(A).

Amino Acids↗

Id-2 regulates critical aspects of human cytotrophoblast differentiation, invasion and migration.

During early human placental development, the conceptus attaches itself to the uterus through cytotrophoblast invasion. Invasive cytotrophoblast cells differentiate from precursor villous cytotrophoblasts, but the essential regulating factors in this process are unknown. Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor dimers are essential regulators of mouse trophoblast development. We therefore examined the importance of this family of factors in the human placenta. In many cell lineages, bHLH factors are sequestered by members of the Id family, HLH proteins that lack the basic DNA binding domain (Inhibitor of DNA binding proteins (Id-1 to Id-4)). During differentiation of some tissues, Id expression declines, allowing bHLH factors to dimerize, bind DNA and trans-activate lineage-specific genes. To begin to study the role of bHLH transcription factors in human placental development, we first characterized Id expression in cytotrophoblast cells. The cells expressed Id-3 constitutively; Id-2 was downregulated, at the mRNA and protein levels, as the cells differentiated in culture and in situ, respectively. In cases when cytotrophoblast differentiation was compromised (in placentas from women with preeclampsia, or in cells grown under hypoxic conditions in culture), Id-2 expression was maintained. To assess the functional relevance of these correlations, we used an adenovirus vector to maintain Id-2 protein expression in cultured cytotrophoblasts. Compared to control (lacZ-expressing) cells, cytotrophoblasts transduced to constitutively express Id-2 retained characteristics of undifferentiated cells: (alpha)1 integrin expression was low and cyclin B expression was retained. Furthermore, invasion through Matrigel was partially inhibited and migration was strikingly enhanced in Id-2-expressing cells. These results suggest that Id-2 and the bHLH factors that it partners play important roles in human cytotrophoblast development.

Animals↗

Purification and refolding of vascular endothelial growth factor-B.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A interacts with the receptor tyrosine kinases VEGF-R1 and R2, and the importance of this interaction in endothelial cell (EC) function and blood vessel development has been well documented. Other ligands that interact differentially with these receptors and that are structurally related to VEGF-A include VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and placenta growth factor (PLGF). Compared with VEGF-A, relatively little is known about the biological role of the VEGF-R1 specific ligand, VEGF-B. Two splice variant isoforms that differ at the COOH-terminus and which retain unique solubility characteristics are widely expressed throughout embryonic and postnatal development. Recent analysis of mice with a targeted deletion of the VEGF-B gene has revealed a defect in heart development and function consistent with an important role in vascularization of the myocardium (Bellomo D et al., 2000, Circ Res 86:E29-E35). To facilitate further characterization of VEGF-B, we have developed a protocol for expression and purification of refolded recombinant protein from Escherichia coli inclusion bodies (IBs). The approach developed resolves a number of significant issues associated with VEGF-B, including the ability to heterodimerize with endogenous VEGF-A when co-expressed in mammalian cells, a complex secondary structure incorporating inter- and intrachain disulfide bonds and hydrophobic characteristics that preclude the use of standard chromatographic resins. The resulting purified disulfide-linked homodimer was demonstrated to bind to VEGF-R1 and to compete with VEGF-A for binding to this receptor.

Animals↗

Purification of elongation factor 2 from human placenta and evidence of its fragmentation patterns in various eukaryotic sources.

While preparing human placenta elongation factor 2 (EF-2), whose purification and some molecular properties are reported, we noticed the presence of numerous protein fractions which did not have EF-2 activity, but were ADP-ribosylated by diphtheria toxin in the presence of NAD+. All these proteins, like EF-2, were selectively retained by a heparin-Sepharose column, which we used as an affinity-chromatography step. This was also observed when EF-2 was prepared, by this purification step, from other sources, i.e. ox liver and two species of yeasts. In order to assess whether these proteins were a degradation product of EF-2, independent proteins or a mixture of both, they were analysed by subjecting them, after [14C]ADP-ribosylation, to exhaustive trypsinolysis. Only one radioactive peptide was found, thus suggesting that those proteins originate from EF-2 by some proteolytic process. Our findings indicate that this proteolysis does not occur after cell disruption, but is more or less active in the intact cell, depending on the system considered.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗

Folate coenzyme and antifolate transport proteins in normal and neoplastic cells.

The transport systems for folate coenzymes and antifolate compounds into various types of normal and neoplastic cells display considerable diversity in their pharmacokinetics and also in terms of the apparent molecular weights of the proteins involved. Further, several uptake routes may exist in a given cell type. A variety of neoplastic tissues have been reported to rely upon a single major transport system that has a relatively high affinity for the reduced form of folate compounds and for antifolates such as methotrexate. Using a photoaffinity analogue of methotrexate, we have identified the involvement of a 48 kDa membrane protein and a 38 kDa cytosolic or peripheral membrane protein in the transport of this compound into murine L1210 leukemia cells. Such an uptake is absent in mutant L1210 cells that are defective in methotrexate transport. We propose a model for the uptake of reduced folate coenzymes in L1210 cells in which the compound is initially transported across the cell membrane by the 48 kDa protein and delivered on the cytoplasmic surface to the 38 kDa protein; the 38 kDa protein then carries the folate compound to a specific enzyme of folate metabolism. Antibodies to the membrane folate binding protein from human placenta cross-react with the 48 kDa protein in L1210 cell membranes indicating an immunological relationship between these two proteins. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of peptides of the placental receptor obtained by digestion with S. aureus V8 protease indicate the presence of two homologous forms of the folate binding protein in placenta; one of these forms appears to have an identical sequence to the soluble and membrane associated folate binding proteins in human epidermoid carcinoma (KB) cells, which in turn share the primary structure of the soluble and membrane associated folate binders in human milk in the regions that have been sequenced. These results indicate that the folate coenzyme transport proteins in various tissues may be structurally related and in several instances may even be identical. In the latter cases the observed differences in apparent molecular weights may be due to differences in glycosylation and/or proteolysis. In support of this view is our observation that the deglycosylated and/or partially proteolyzed placental receptor retains the ability to bind folate.

Affinity Labels↗

A mouse placental immunoregulatory factor different from transforming growth factor beta.

Of the growth-promoting factors, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) has been most clearly shown to act as a potent regulator of inflammation and immunity. It is highly suppressive for T and B lymphocyte proliferation, cytotoxic T lymphocyte generation, and lymphokine-activated killer cell development, as well as natural killer cell activity. Moreover, there is accumulating evidence that TGF-beta also may contribute to impaired immune surveillance of tumor development. In previous work, we isolated and described a 40 kD glycoprotein extracted from mouse placenta. This placental factor (PF) is also a potent immune modulator in vivo: it is highly inhibitory of secondary antibody responses as well as cellular responses, such as local graft-versus-host reactions. Because placenta has been shown to be a major source of TGF-beta and several reports have indicated an important role for TGF-beta in the immunosuppressive mechanisms taking place during the course of mammalian gestation, we have looked for the presence of TGF-beta in our placental factor preparations. Our results clearly indicate that they do not contain TGF-beta or TGF-beta-like molecules by the following criteria: (1) no inhibition of Mv-1 Lu cell proliferation at any dose tested; (2) no band detected by immunoblotting using different polyclonal reagents specific for TGF-beta 1; and (3) no activity retained on or eluted from an affinity column made of immobilized monoclonal antibody against TGF-beta 2. Aliquots of the same preparations retained their full immune inhibitory capacity in vivo throughout the various assays.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Fetal monkey absorption of 55Fe from amniotic fluid.

A single dose of 0.5 mCi radioiron (55Fe) was injected directly into the amniotic cavity of each of four pregnant monkeys near term. At 6 or 24 hours after 55Fe adminstration, samples of fetal jejunum, ileum, blood, spleen, liver, lung and fetal membranes were taken for radioautography and scintillation counts. Counts were also made on corresponding maternal tissues. Intestinal radioiron levels and localization indicated that fetuses swallowed and absorbed 55Fe within 6 to 24 hours after injection. Silver grains over the meconium bodies of fetal ileum suggested that intestinal epithelium retained at least some of the absorbed radioiron. However, elevated 55Fe levels in fetal blood and hematopoietic organs indicated that transport of radioiron to the circulation had occurred, presumably through fetal intestine, extraembryonic membranes and/or fetal lungs. Transfer of 55Fe across the placenta from fetus to mother occurred at a slow rate, i.e., samples of maternal organs obtained at 24 hours gave low counts.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Transfer of 210Po and 210Pb through the lichen-caribou-wolf food chain of northern Canada.

Natural background activity and food chain transfer of the uranium decay products, 210Po and 210Pb, were examined in the lichen-caribou-wolf food chain at two locations in the Northwest Territories of Canada. 210Po and 210Pb activities in lichens differed with species and location. Both 210Po and 210Pb were markedly higher in caribou bone than in wolf bone. 210Po activities in liver, kidney, and muscle were similar in both species. Caribou fetuses had lower activities of 210Po but higher activities of 210Pb than maternal muscle and placenta, suggesting greater placental transport of 210Pb than 210Po. Concentration ratios (CR = Bq kg-1 in consumer/Bq kg-1 in its food source) and ff values (ff in d kg-1 = Bq kg-1 in muscle/Bq d-1 ingested) showed that wolves retain more 210Po and less 210Pb from their diet than do caribou. 210Po CRs averaged 0.38 for caribou/lichens, 0.26 for caribou/rumen contents, and 0.40 for wolves/caribou. 210Pb CRs averaged 0.36 for caribou/lichens, 0.57 for caribou/rumen contents, and 0.13 for wolves/caribou.

Animals↗

Elevated placental soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 inhibits angiogenesis in preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is an inflammatory disorder in which serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its soluble receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1, also known as sFlt-1) are elevated. We hypothesize that VEGF and placenta growth factor (PlGF) are dysregulated in preeclampsia due to high levels of sVEGFR-1, which leads to impaired placental angiogenesis. Analysis of supernatants taken from preeclamptic placental villous explants showed a four-fold increase in sVEGFR-1 than normal pregnancies, suggesting that villous explants in vitro retain a hypoxia memory reflecting long-term fetal programming. The relative ratios of VEGF to sVEGFR-1 and PlGF to sVEGFR-1 released from explants decreased by 53% and 70%, respectively, in preeclampsia compared with normal pregnancies. Exposure of normal villous explants to hypoxia increased sVEGFR-1 release compared with tissue normoxia (P<0.001), as did stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P<0.01). Conditioned medium (CM) from normal villous explants induced endothelial cell migration and in vitro tube formation, which were both attenuated by pre-incubation with exogenous sVEGFR-1 (P<0.001). In contrast, endothelial cells treated with preeclamptic CM showed substantially reduced angiogenesis compared with normal CM (P<0.001), which was not further decreased by the addition of exogenous sVEGFR-1, indicating a saturation of the soluble receptor. Removal of sVEGFR-1 by immunoprecipitation from preeclamptic CM significantly restored migration (P<0.001) and tube formation (P<0.001) to levels comparable to that induced by normal CM, demonstrating that elevated levels of sVEGFR-1 in preeclampsia are responsible for inhibiting angiogenesis. Our finding demonstrates the dysregulation of the VEGF/PlGF axis in preeclampsia and offers an entirely new therapeutic approach to its treatment.

Alternative Splicing↗

Ultrastructural abnormalities of placental villi in placentae from pregnancies complicated by intrauterine fetal growth retardation: their relationship to decidual spiral arterial lesions.

An ultrastructural study has been made of villi adjacent to decidual spiral arteries exhibiting varying degrees of luminal occlusion in placentae from cases of intrauterine growth retardation. Partially occluded spiral arteries are associated with placental villous syncytiotrophoblast exhibiting extensive budding of surface microvilli, vacuolation of the cytoplasm, clumping of nuclear chromatin and a thickening of the underlying basement membrane. Marked degeneration of the syncytium is present in association with severely occluded spiral arteries. In contrast, the capillary endothelium of the villus retains a normal structure despite degenerative changes in villous Langhan's and stromal cells. The most extensive pathological changes in the placental villi are found distal to completely occluded spiral arteries and consist of complete necrosis of the syncytium and underlying fetal blood vessels, These findings suggest that the occlusive lesions in the maternal uterine vasculature may be the major cause of the infarction and impairment of placental function found in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth retardation.

Arteries↗

Identification of residues which regulate activity of the STE20-related kinase hMINK.

Activity of the STE20-related kinase hMINK was investigated. hMINK was expressed widely, though not ubiquitously, in human tissues; highest levels being found in haematopoietic tissues but also in brain, placenta, and lung. Mutagenesis revealed that T(191) and Y(193) in the substrate recognition loop of the catalytic domain were critical for kinase activity against exogenous substrates and autophosphorylation. A mutation on T(187) showed reduced enzymatic activity against exogenous substrates but retained autophosphorylation activity. Phosphorylation was confirmed by the use of a phospho-specific T(187) antibody. hMINK activated the JNK signal transduction pathway and optimal JNK activation occurred when the C-terminus was deleted. In addition, overexpression of the C-terminal domain devoid of kinase activity also resulted in significant activation of the JNK pathway. These data suggest that hMINK requires an activation step that dissociates the C terminal, thereby freeing the catalytic domain to interact with substrates. Models for receptor-mediated activation of hMINK are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[FBA and/or CTG: fetal blood analysis and/or cardiotocography].

"The Ranking and Value of Intrapartum Cardiotocography--A Contribution to the Efficiency of the Method", and "Overrating of Cardiotocography and Negative Clinical Effects", two round-table discussions on specialist congresses during 1982/1983, prompted a controversial discussion on the subject: Intensive Care during Pregnancy and Delivery via FBA (foetal blood analysis) and/or CTG (cardiotocography)? In two recently published papers originating from the working team of Professor Saling, Hammacher's score was used as measure for assessing the value of cardiotocography. Hence, the author has been both prompted and challenged to this editorial not only as the inaugurator, but also as "interpretative acrobat" of cardiotocography. In his opinion, the overrated use of FBA represents an additional risk to the foetus due to possible compressions of the umbilical cord--placenta circulation because of the artificial rupture of the membranes which is often necessary when performing FBA. He pleads for preserving the "padding" provided by the amniotic fluid, by employing external cardiotocography--monitoring via the reliable beat-to-beat autocorrelation technique--while retaining the amniotic sack.

Acidosis↗

Immunoactive products of placenta. IV. Impairment by placental cells and their products of CTL function at effector stage.

Trophoblast-enriched cell suspensions prepared by collagenase digestion from midterm murine placentae were found resistant to CTL-mediated lysis. Treatment of such cells by trypsin or neuraminidase rendered these cells susceptible to such lytic effectors. Collagenase-prepared cell suspensions could impair CTL action, whereas neuraminidase- or trypsin-treated cells did not retain this property. This effect was also observed with extracts. These results indicate that soluble factors (which we will characterize in another paper) released by trophoblast cells (in fact, spongiotrophoblast) can interfere in a dose-dependent fashion with the action of lytic effectors. We suggest that such active mechanisms are physiologic components of the placental barrier and might be defective in some cases of immunologic abortions.

Animals↗

Delayed-interval delivery in multifetal pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to review a single subspecialty practice experience with a uniform approach to delayed-interval delivery. STUDY DESIGN: A 66-month retrospective review of our maternal-fetal medicine practice database was completed. Fifty-nine sets of twins or triplets delivered at < 30 weeks' gestation were identified. No cases of twins or triplets who came to our care, either in consultation or as primary providers, were excluded. RESULTS: Forty-three patients were excluded as candidates for delayed-interval delivery because of monochorionicity, abruptio placentae, severe preeclampsia, and the need for hysterotomy. Sixteen pregnancies were identified as candidates for delayed-interval delivery, and we actually attempted to delay delivery in 9 of them. The details of the interval deliveries are summarized; there was a mean latency interval of 34 days with a range of 3 to 76 days. Pregnancies in which delayed-interval deliveries wer attempted were significantly less mature at the time of presentation than those managed by delivery of all infants initially. Perinatal mortality was significantly lower in the retained fetuses. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective consecutive case review from a single maternal-fetal practice documents that selected multichorionic pregnancies may benefit from delayed-interval delivery. Modest intervals between siblings during critical gestational ages can improve newborn survival and decrease neonatal morbidity.

Abruptio Placentae↗