American Red Cross

About: American Red Cross is a nonprofit organization based out in Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Antibody. The organization has 2268 authors who have published 3197 publications receiving 138677 citations. The organization is also known as: American Red Cross Society & A.R.C..

Ice-free cryopreservation of mouse embryos at -196 degrees C by vitrification.

Abstract: The failure of complex mammalian organs, such as the kidney, to function following freezing to low temperatures is thought to be due largely to mechanical disruption of the intercellular architecture by the formation of extracellular ice. Classical approaches to the avoidance of ice formation through the imposition of ultra-rapid cooling and warming rates or by gradual depression of the equilibrium freezing point during cooling to -80 degrees C have not been adequate. An alternative approach relies on the ability of highly concentrated aqueous solutions of cryoprotective agents to supercool to very low temperatures. At sufficiently low temperatures, these solutions become so viscous that they solidify without the formation of ice, a process termed vitrification. When embryo suspensions are cryopreserved using conventional procedures, this supercooling behaviour allows intracellular vitrification, even in the presence of extracellular ice. We have therefore used mouse embryos to examine the feasibility of obtaining high survival following vitrification of both the intra- and extracellular solutions and report here that in properly controlled conditions embryos seem to survive in high proportions after cryopreservation in the absence of ice.

Human cyclooxygenase-2 cDNA.

Abstract: Cyclooxygenase (Cox), also known as prostaglandin (PG) H synthase (EC 1.14.99.1), catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the formation of inflammatory PGs. A major regulatory step in PG biosynthesis is at the level of Cox: growth factors, cytokines, and tumor promoters induce Cox activity. We have cloned the second form of the Cox gene (Cox-2) from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The cDNA encodes a polypeptide of 604 amino acids that is 61% identical to the previously isolated human Cox-1 polypeptide. In vitro translation of the human (h)Cox-2 transcript in rabbit reticulocyte lysates resulted in the synthesis of a 70-kDa protein that is immunoprecipitated by antiserum to ovine Cox. Expression of the hCox-2 open reading frame in Cos-7 monkey kidney cells results in the elaboration of cyclooxygenase activity. hCox-2 cDNA hybridizes to a 4.5-kilobase mRNA species in HUVEC, whereas the hCox-1 cDNA hybridizes to 3- and 5.3-kilobase species. Both Cox-1 and Cox-2 mRNAs are expressed in HUVEC, vascular smooth muscle cells, monocytes, and fibroblasts. Cox-2 mRNA was preferentially induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and lipopolysaccharide in human endothelial cells and monocytes. Together, these data demonstrate that the Cox enzyme is encoded by at least two genes that are expressed and differentially regulated in a variety of cell types. High-level induction of the hCox-2 transcript in mesenchymal-derived inflammatory cells suggests a role in inflammatory conditions.

HBx gene of hepatitis B virus induces liver cancer in transgenic mice

Abstract: The exact role of hepatitis B virus in the development of liver cancer is not known The recent identification of a viral regulatory gene HBx suggests a possible direct involvement of the virus whereby the HBx protein, acting as a transcriptional transactivator of viral genes, may alter host gene expression and lead to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma We have tested this possibility of placing the entire HBx gene under its own regulatory elements directly into the germline of mice Transgenic animals harbouring this viral gene succumbed to progressive histopathological changes specifically in the liver, beginning with multifocal areas of altered hepatocytes, followed by the appearance of benign adenomas, and proceeding to the development of malignant carcinomas Male mice developed disease and died much earlier than females This transgenic animal model appears ideal for defining the molecular events that follow the expression of the viral HBx gene and are responsible for the development of liver cancer