Tulane University

About: Tulane University is a education organization based out in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Blood pressure. The organization has 24478 authors who have published 47205 publications receiving 1944993 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Louisiana.

Adipogenic differentiation of human adult stem cells from bone marrow stroma (MSCs).

Abstract: We assayed gene expressions during adipogenesis of human MSCs. Microarray assays demonstrated time-dependent increases in expression of 67 genes, including 2 genes for transcription factors that were not previously shown to be expressed during adipogenesis. Introduction: Increased numbers of bone marrow adipocytes have been observed in patients with osteoporosis and aplastic anemia, but the pathological mechanisms remain unknown. Recently, microarray assays for mRNAs were used to follow adipogenic differentiation of the preadipocytic cell line, 3T3-L1, but adipogenic differentiation has not been examined in primary cells from bone marrow. Here we defined the sequence of gene expression during the adipogenesis ex vivo of human cells from bone marrow referred to as either mesenchymal stem cells or marrow stromal cells (MSCs). Materials and Methods: MSCs were plated at extremely low densities to generate single-cell derived colonies, and adipogenic differentiation of the colonies assayed by accumulation of fat vacuoles, time-lapse photomicroscopy, microarrays, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays. Results and Conclusions: About 30% of the colonies differentiated to adipocytes in 14 days and about 60% in 21 days. Cell proliferation was inhibited by approximately 50% in adipogenic medium. The differentiation occurred primarily at the center of the colonies, and a few adipocytes that formed near the periphery migrated toward the centers. RT-PCR assays demonstrated that the differentiation was accompanied by increases in a series of genes previously shown to increase with adipogenic differentiation: peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ, CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α, acylCoA synthetase, lipoprotein lipase, and fatty acid binding protein 4. We also followed differentiation with microarray assays. Sixty-seven genes increased more than 10-fold at day 1 and 20-fold at day 7, 14, or 21. Many of the genes identified were previously shown to be expressed during adipocytic differentiation. However, others, such as zinc finger E-box binding protein and zinc finger protein 145, were not. This study should serve as a basis for future study to clarify the mechanisms of adipocyte differentiation of MSCs.

Mechanisms of surface-tension-induced epithelial cell damage in a model of pulmonary airway reopening.

Abstract: Airway collapse and reopening due to mechanical ventilation exerts mechanical stress on airway walls and injures surfactant-compromised lungs. The reopening of a collapsed airway was modeled experimentally and computationally by the progression of a semi-infinite bubble in a narrow fluid-occluded channel. The extent of injury caused by bubble progression to pulmonary epithelial cells lining the channel was evaluated. Counterintuitively, cell damage increased with decreasing opening velocity. The presence of pulmonary surfactant, Infasurf, completely abated the injury. These results support the hypotheses that mechanical stresses associated with airway reopening injure pulmonary epithelial cells and that pulmonary surfactant protects the epithelium from this injury. Computational simulations identified the magnitudes of components of the stress cycle associated with airway reopening (shear stress, pressure, shear stress gradient, or pressure gradient) that may be injurious to the epithelial cells. By comparing these magnitudes to the observed damage, we conclude that the steep pressure gradient near the bubble front was the most likely cause of the observed cellular damage.

Characterization and Distribution of Binding Sites for the Hypothalamic Peptide, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide

Abstract: A novel bioactive peptide was recently isolated from ovine hypothalamus and was named PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide). PACAP was present in two bioactive, amidated forms, PACAP27 and PACAP38 (27 and 38 amino acids, respectively), and showed a 68% sequence homology with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the Nterminal 28 residues. PACAP38 was at least 1000 times more potent than VIP in stimulating adenylate cyclase in pituitary cells, but both peptides exhibited comparable vasodepressor activity. Thus, we sought to determine whether PACAP acts on specific binding sites in the anterior pituitary or other tissues and whether these binding sites are different from those of VIP. Binding of [125I] PACAP27 to freshly prepared rat anterior pituitary membranes in the presence and absence of 212 nM unlabeled PACAP27 was specific, saturable, and more rapid at 22 C than at 4 C. Scatchard analysis of this binding site using increasing doses of unlabeled PACAP27 revealed a single high aff...