Showing papers in "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America in 1987"
TL;DR: Depending upon the cell line, lipofection is from 5- to greater than 100-fold more effective than either the calcium phosphate or the DEAE-dextran transfection technique.
Abstract: A DNA-transfection protocol has been developed that makes use of a synthetic cationic lipid, N-[1-(2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA). Small unilamellar liposomes containing DOTMA interact spontaneously with DNA to form lipid-DNA complexes with 100% entrapment of the DNA, DOTMA facilitates fusion of the complex with the plasma membrane of tissue culture cells, resulting in both uptake and expression of the DNA. The technique is simple, highly reproducible, and effective for both transient and stable expression of transfected DNA. Depending upon the cell line, lipofection is from 5- to greater than 100-fold more effective than either the calcium phosphate or the DEAE-dextran transfection technique.
5,434 citations
TL;DR: The vascular effects of EDRF released from perfused bovine intrapulmonary artery and vein were compared with the effects of NO delivered by superfusion over endothelium-denuded arterial and venous strips arranged in a cascade to determine whether nitric oxide (NO) is responsible for the vascular smooth muscle relaxation elicited by endothelia-derived relaxing factor (EDRF).
Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether nitric oxide (NO) is responsible for the vascular smooth muscle relaxation elicited by endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). EDRF is an unstable humoral substance released from artery and vein that mediates the action of endothelium-dependent vasodilators. NO is an unstable endothelium-independent vasodilator that is released from vasodilator drugs such as nitroprusside and glyceryl trinitrate. We have repeatedly observed that the actions of NO on vascular smooth muscle closely resemble those of EDRF. In the present study the vascular effects of EDRF released from perfused bovine intrapulmonary artery and vein were compared with the effects of NO delivered by superfusion over endothelium-denuded arterial and venous strips arranged in a cascade. EDRF was indistinguishable from NO in that both were labile (t1/2 = 3-5 sec), inactivated by pyrogallol or superoxide anion, stabilized by superoxide dismutase, and inhibited by oxyhemoglobin or potassium. Both EDRF and NO produced comparable increases in cyclic GMP accumulation in artery and vein, and this cyclic GMP accumulation was inhibited by pyrogallol, oxyhemoglobin, potassium, and methylene blue. EDRF was identified chemically as NO, or a labile nitroso species, by two procedures. First, like NO, EDRF released from freshly isolated aortic endothelial cells reacted with hemoglobin to yield nitrosylhemoglobin. Second, EDRF and NO each similarly promoted the diazotization of sulfanilic acid and yielded the same reaction product after coupling with N-(1-naphthyl)-ethylenediamine. Thus, EDRF released from artery and vein possesses identical biological and chemical properties as NO.
4,997 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that the protein has a role in the normal secretion of metabolites and certain anti-cancer drugs into bile, urine, and directly into the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract.
Abstract: Monoclonal antibody MRK16 was used to determine the location of P-glycoprotein, the product of the multidrug-resistance gene (MDR1), in normal human tissues. The protein was found to be concentrated in a small number of specific sites. Most tissues examined revealed very little P-glycoprotein. However, certain cell types in liver, pancreas, kidney, colon, and jejunum showed specific localization of P-glycoprotein. In liver, P-glycoprotein was found exclusively on the biliary canalicular front of hepatocytes and on the apical surface of epithelial cells in small biliary ductules. In pancreas, P-glycoprotein was found on the apical surface of the epithelial cells of small ductules but not larger pancreatic ducts. In kidney, P-glycoprotein was found concentrated on the apical surface of epithelial cells of the proximal tubules. Colon and jejunum both showed high levels of P-glycoprotein on the apical surfaces of superficial columnar epithelial cells. Adrenal gland showed high levels of P-glycoprotein diffusely distributed on the surface of cells in both the cortex and medulla. These results suggest that the protein has a role in the normal secretion of metabolites and certain anti-cancer drugs into bile, urine, and directly into the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract.
2,757 citations
TL;DR: A chemically modified phage T7 DNA polymerase has three properties that make it ideal for DNA sequencing by the chain-termination method; the enzyme is highly processive, catalyzing the polymerization of thousands of nucleotides without dissociating, and processive synthesis with dITP in place of dGTP eliminates band compressions.
Abstract: A chemically modified phage T7 DNA polymerase has three properties that make it ideal for DNA sequencing by the chain-termination method. The enzyme is highly processive, catalyzing the polymerization of thousands of nucleotides without dissociating. By virtue of the modification the 3' to 5' exonuclease activity is eliminated. The modified polymerase efficiently uses nucleotide analogs that increase the electrophoretic resolution of bands in gels. Consequently, dideoxynucleotide-terminated fragments have highly uniform radioactive intensity throughout the range of a few to thousands of nucleotides in length. There is virtually no background due to terminations at pause sites or secondary-structure impediments. Processive synthesis with dITP in place of dGTP eliminates band compressions, making possible the unambiguous determination of sequences from a single orientation.
2,128 citations
TL;DR: A family of peptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity has been isolated from the skin of the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis and appears to represent a previously unrecognized class of vertebrate antimicrobial activities.
Abstract: A family of peptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity has been isolated from the skin of the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis. It consists of two closely related peptides that are each 23 amino acids and differ by two substitutions. These peptides are water soluble, nonhemolytic at their effective antimicrobial concentrations, and potentially amphiphilic. At low concentrations they inhibit growth of numerous species of bacteria and fungi and induce osmotic lysis of protozoa. The sequence of a partial cDNA of the precursor reveals that both peptides derive from a common larger protein. These peptides appear to represent a previously unrecognized class of vertebrate antimicrobial activities.
2,073 citations
TL;DR: The rate of cpDNA evolution appears to have slowed in some dicot lineages following the monocot/dicot split, and the slowdown is more conspicuous at nonsynonymous sites than at synonymous sites.
Abstract: Comparison of plant mitochondrial (mt), chloroplast (cp) and nuclear (n) DNA sequences shows that the silent substitution rate in mtDNA is less than one-third that in cpDNA, which in turn evolves only half as fast as plant nDNA. The slower rate in mtDNA than in cpDNA is probably due to a lower mutation rate. Silent substitution rates in plant and mammalian mtDNAs differ by one or two orders of magnitude, whereas the rates in nDNAs may be similar. In cpDNA, the rate of substitution both at synonymous sites and in noncoding sequences in the inverted repeat is greatly reduced in comparison to single-copy sequences. The rate of cpDNA evolution appears to have slowed in some dicot lineages following the monocot/dicot split, and the slowdown is more conspicuous at nonsynonymous sites than at synonymous sites.
2,020 citations
TL;DR: The model provides an explanation for the experimentally observed high degree of negative or positive supercoiling of intracellular pBR322 DNA when DNA topoisomerase I or gyrase is respectively inhibited and in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Abstract: Transcription of a right-handed double-helical DNA requires a relative rotation of the RNA polymerase and its nascent RNA around the DNA. We describe conditions under which the resistance to the rotational motion of the transcription ensemble around the DNA can be large. In such cases, the advancing polymerase generates positive supercoils in the DNA template ahead of it and negative supercoils behind it. Mutual annihilation of the positively and negatively supercoiled regions may be prevented by anchoring points on the DNA to a large structure, or, in the case of an unanchored plasmid, by the presence of two oppositely oriented transcription units. In prokaryotes, DNA topoisomerase I preferentially removes negative supercoils and DNA gyrase (topoisomerase II) removes positive ones. Our model thus provides an explanation for the experimentally observed high degree of negative or positive supercoiling of intracellular pBR322 DNA when DNA topoisomerase I or gyrase is respectively inhibited. We discuss the implications of our model in terms of supercoiling regulation, DNA conformational transitions, and gene regulation in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
1,766 citations
TL;DR: Two monoclonal antibodies are developed that identify a cell-surface antigen expressed on cytokine- and endotoxin-stimulated H EC but not on unstimulated HEC that is designated "endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1)."
Abstract: The accumulation of blood leukocytes at sites of inflammation depends upon their localized adhesion to the vascular lining. We have investigated the hypothesis that this adhesive interaction involves inducible endothelial cell-surface structures that can bind leukocytes. Certain inflammatory/immune cytokines, namely interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor, and lymphotoxin, as well as bacterial endotoxin, act on cultured human endothelial cells (HEC) in a time- and protein-synthesis-dependent fashion to increase leukocyte adhesion. We have developed two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), H18/7 and H4/18, that identify a cell-surface antigen expressed on cytokine- and endotoxin-stimulated HEC but not on unstimulated HEC. Both mAbs immunoprecipitate the same polypeptides (major species, Mr 115,000; minor species, Mr 97,000, reduced) from biosynthetically labeled cytokine-stimulated HEC. The mediator specificity and kinetics of HEC expression of this protein(s) correlate with increased adhesiveness for leukocytes. In standardized endothelial-leukocyte adhesion assays, mAb H18/7 inhibits the adhesion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (greater than 50%) and HL-60 cells (greater than 60%) to stimulated HEC by comparison to isotype-matched control mAb; mAb H4/18 also inhibits HL-60 adhesion but to a lesser extent. We have designated the inducible endothelial cell-surface protein recognized by mAb H18/7 and H4/18 "endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1)."
1,692 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that monocyte-derived hepatocyte-stimulating factor and IFN-beta 2 share immunological and functional identity and that IFN -beta 2, also known as B-cell stimulatory factor and hybridoma plasmacytoma growth factor, has the hepatocyte as a major physiologic target and thereby is essential in controlling the hepatic acute phase response.
Abstract: One of the oldest and most preserved of the homeostatic responses of the body to injury is the acute phase protein response associated with inflammation. The liver responds to hormone-like mediators by the increased synthesis of a series of plasma proteins called acute phase reactants. In these studies, we examined the relationship of hepatocyte-stimulating factor derived from peripheral blood monocytes to interferon beta 2 (IFN-beta 2), which has been cloned. Antibodies raised against fibroblast-derived IFN-beta having neutralizing activity against both IFN-beta 1 and -beta 2 inhibited the major hepatocyte-stimulating activity derived from monocytes. Fibroblast-derived mediator elicited the identical stimulated response in human HepG2 cells and primary rat hepatocytes as the monocyte cytokine. Finally, recombinant-derived human B-cell stimulatory factor type 2 (IFN-beta 2) from Escherichia coli induced the synthesis of all major acute phase proteins studied in human hepatoma HepG2 and primary rat hepatocyte cultures. These data demonstrate that monocyte-derived hepatocyte-stimulating factor and IFN-beta 2 share immunological and functional identity and that IFN-beta 2, also known as B-cell stimulatory factor and hybridoma plasmacytoma growth factor, has the hepatocyte as a major physiologic target and thereby is essential in controlling the hepatic acute phase response.
1,611 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that measurement of mdr1 RNA may prove to be a valuable tool in the design of chemotherapy protocols and controlled clinical studies will be required.
Abstract: The identification and cloning of a segment of a human multidrug resistance gene (mdr1) was reported recently. To examine the molecular basis of one type of multidrug resistance, we have prepared RNA from human tumors and normal tissues and measured their content of mdr1 RNA. We find that the mdr1 gene is expressed at a very high level in the adrenal gland; at a high level in the kidney; at intermediate levels in the lung, liver, lower jejunum, colon, and rectum; and at low levels in many other tissues. The mdr1 gene is also expressed in several human tumors, including many but not all tumors derived from the adrenal gland and the colon. In addition, increased expression was detected in a few tumors at the time of relapse following initial chemotherapy. Although controlled clinical studies will be required, our results suggest that measurement of mdr1 RNA may prove to be a valuable tool in the design of chemotherapy protocols.
1,535 citations
TL;DR: Results identify T3-epsilon as a cell surface protein involved in the transduction of activation signals and can both activate and inhibit T-cell function.
Abstract: A monoclonal antibody (145-2C11) specific for the murine T3 complex was derived by immunizing Armenian hamsters with a murine cytolytic T-cell clone. The antibody is specific for a 25-kDa protein component (T3-epsilon) of the antigen-specific T-cell receptor. It reacts with all mature T cells and can both activate and inhibit T-cell function. These results identify T3-epsilon as a cell surface protein involved in the transduction of activation signals.
TL;DR: The theory of spin glasses was used to study a simple model of protein folding and the phase diagram was calculated, and the results of dynamics calculations are briefly reported.
Abstract: The theory of spin glasses was used to study a simple model of protein folding. The phase diagram of the model was calculated, and the results of dynamics calculations are briefly reported. The relation of these results to folding experiments, the relation of these hypotheses to previous protein folding theories, and the implication of these hypotheses for protein folding prediction schemes are discussed.
TL;DR: Several alternative algorithms for constructing human linkage maps given a specified gene order are described, one of which allows maximum-likelihood multilocus linkage maps for dozens of DNA markers in such three-generation pedigrees to be constructed in minutes.
Abstract: Human genetic linkage maps are most accurately constructed by using information from many loci simultaneously. Traditional methods for such multilocus linkage analysis are computationally prohibitive in general, even with supercomputers. The problem has acquired practical importance because of the current international collaboration aimed at constructing a complete human linkage map of DNA markers through the study of three-generation pedigrees. We describe here several alternative algorithms for constructing human linkage maps given a specified gene order. One method allows maximum-likelihood multilocus linkage maps for dozens of DNA markers in such three-generation pedigrees to be constructed in minutes.
TL;DR: Tests with globin and immunoglobulin sequences show that profile analysis can distinguish all members of these families from all other sequences in a database containing 3800 protein sequences.
Abstract: Profile analysis is a method for detecting distantly related proteins by sequence comparison. The basis for comparison is not only the customary Dayhoff mutational-distance matrix but also the results of structural studies and information implicit in the alignments of the sequences of families of similar proteins. This information is expressed in a position-specific scoring table (profile), which is created from a group of sequences previously aligned by structural or sequence similarity. The similarity of any other sequence (target) to the group of aligned sequences (probe) can be tested by comparing the target to the profile using dynamic programming algorithms. The profile method differs in two major respects from methods of sequence comparison in common use: (i) Any number of known sequences can be used to construct the profile, allowing more information to be used in the testing of the target than is possible with pairwise alignment methods. (ii) The profile includes the penalties for insertion or deletion at each position, which allow one to include the probe secondary structure in the testing scheme. Tests with globin and immunoglobulin sequences show that profile analysis can distinguish all members of these families from all other sequences in a database containing 3800 protein sequences.
TL;DR: The Monte Carlo-minimization method has located the lowest-energy minimum thus far reported for the brain pentapeptide [Met5]enkephalin in the absence of water, presumably it is the global minimum-energy structure.
Abstract: A Monte Carlo-minimization method has been developed to overcome the multiple-minima problem. The Metropolis Monte Carlo sampling, assisted by energy minimization, surmounts intervening barriers in moving through successive discrete local minima in the multidimensional energy surface. The method has located the lowest-energy minimum thus far reported for the brain pentapeptide [Met5]enkephalin in the absence of water. Presumably it is the global minimum-energy structure. This supports the concept that protein folding may be a Markov process. In the presence of water, the molecules appear to exist as an ensemble of different conformations.
TL;DR: A peptide, of calculated molecular mass 3905 Da, that was a major protein component of amyloid-rich pancreatic extracts of three type 2 diabetic patients is described, indicating that these peptides are related in evolution.
Abstract: Deposition of amyloid in pancreatic islets is a common feature in human type 2 diabetic subjects but because of its insolubility and low tissue concentrations, the structure of its monomer has not been determined. We describe a peptide, of calculated molecular mass 3905 Da, that was a major protein component of amyloid-rich pancreatic extracts of three type 2 diabetic patients. After collagenase treatment, an extract containing 20-50% amyloid was solubilized by sonication into 70% formic acid and the peptide was purified by gel filtration followed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. We term this peptide diabetes-associated peptide, as it was not detected in extracts of pancreas from any of six normal subjects. Diabetes-associated peptide contains 37 amino acids and is 46% identical to the sequences of rat and human calcitonin gene-related peptide, indicating that these peptides are related in evolution. Sequence identities with conserved residues of the insulin A chain were also seen in a 16-residue segment. On extraction, the islet amyloid is particulate and insoluble like the core particles of Alzheimer disease. Their monomers have similar molecular masses, each having a hydropathic region that can probably form beta-pleated sheets. The accumulation of amyloid, including diabetes-associated peptide, in islets may impair islet function in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
TL;DR: Colony-forming human epidermal cells are heterogeneous in their capacity for sustained growth and the incidence of the different clonal types is affected by aging, since cells originating from the epidermis of older donors give rise to a lower proportion of holoclones and a higher proportion of paraclones.
Abstract: Colony-forming human epidermal cells are heterogeneous in their capacity for sustained growth. Once a clone has been derived from a single cell, its growth potential can be estimated from the colony types resulting from a single plating, and the clone can be assigned to one of three classes. The holoclone has the greatest reproductive capacity: under standard conditions, fewer than 5% of the colonies formed by the cells of a holoclone abort and terminally differentiate. The paraclone contains exclusively cells with a short replicative lifespan (not more than 15 cell generations), after which they uniformly abort and terminally differentiate. The third type of clone, the meroclone, contains a mixture of cells of different growth potential and is a transitional stage between the holoclone and the paraclone. The incidence of the different clonal types is affected by aging, since cells originating from the epidermis of older donors give rise to a lower proportion of holoclones and a higher proportion of paraclones.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that TGF-beta is a potent chemoattractant for human peripheral blood monocytes and may provide an important signal for monocyte recruitment and for regulation of their synthesis of mediators of fibroblast growth and activity in wound healing.
Abstract: Recent studies have focused on the potential role of transforming growth factor type beta (TGF-beta) as an immunoregulatory peptide. In this context, we demonstrate that TGF-beta is a potent chemoattractant for human peripheral blood monocytes. At concentrations from 0.1 to 10 pg/ml, TGF-beta induces directed monocyte migration in vitro. Consistent with this observation is the expression of high-affinity TGF-beta receptors on the monocytes with a Kd of 1-10 pM. At higher concentrations of TGF-beta (greater than or equal to 1 ng/ml), monocytes are stimulated to generate biologically active mediator(s) that enhance fibroblast growth. Gene expression for one of these growth factors, interleukin 1, is induced in monocytes within hours after exposure to TGF-beta. Thus, TGF-beta may provide an important signal for monocyte recruitment and for regulation of their synthesis of mediators of fibroblast growth and activity in wound healing.
TL;DR: A pathogenetic sequence by which elevated plasma LDL levels, followed by oxidative modification in the arterial wall, could sufficiently account for the generation of the lipid-laden foam cells and the initiation of the fatty streak, the earliest well-defined lesion in atherogenesis.
Abstract: Previous studies in this laboratory established that low density lipoprotein (LDL) incubated with cultured endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, or macrophages undergoes free radical-catalyzed oxidative modification that generates lipid peroxides and extensive structural changes in the LDL molecule. The oxidatively modified LDL strongly inhibited chemotactic responses of the mouse resident peritoneal macrophage. The present studies show that this oxidized LDL does not inhibit the motility of mouse monocytes and actually exhibits a chemotactic activity for human monocytes; the chemotactic activity of the oxidized LDL resides in the lipid fraction. These findings allow us to propose a pathogenetic sequence by which elevated plasma LDL levels, followed by oxidative modification in the arterial wall, could sufficiently account for the generation of the lipid-laden foam cells and the initiation of the fatty streak, the earliest well-defined lesion in atherogenesis.
TL;DR: These experiments directly demonstrate that reactive oxygen-centered free radicals are generated in hearts during ischemia and that a burst of oxygen radical generation occurs within moments of reperfusion.
Abstract: Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to directly measure free radical generation in perfused rabbit hearts. Hearts were freeze-clamped at 77 degrees K during control perfusion, after 10 min of normothermic global ischemia (no coronary flow), or following post-ischemic reperfusion with oxygenated perfusate. The spectra of these hearts exhibited three different signals with different power saturation and temperature stability: signal A was isotropic with g = 2.004; signal B was anisotropic with axial symmetry with g parallel = 2.033 and g perpendicular = 2.005; signal C was an isotropic triplet with g = 2.000 and hyperfine splitting an = 24 G (1 G = 0.1 mT). The g values, linewidth, power saturation, and temperature stability of signal A are identical to those of a carbon-centered semiquinone, whereas those of signal B are similar to alkyl peroxyl or superoxide oxygen-centered free radicals; signal C is most likely a nitrogen-centered free radical. In the control heart samples signal A predominated, whereas in ischemic hearts signal A decreased in intensity, and signals B and C became more intense; with reperfusion all three signals markedly increased. Free radical concentrations derived from the intensities of the B and C signals peaked 10 sec after initiation of reflow. At this time the oxygen-centered free radical concentration derived from the intensity of signal B was increased over six times the concentration measured in control hearts and over two times the concentration measured in ischemic hearts. Hypoxic reperfusion did not increase any of the free radical signals over the levels observed during ischemia. These experiments directly demonstrate that reactive oxygen-centered free radicals are generated in hearts during ischemia and that a burst of oxygen radical generation occurs within moments of reperfusion.
TL;DR: The Hep G2 cell line can support the assembly and secretion not only of several of the replicative intermediates of HBV DNA but also of Dane-like particles, and this in vitro system can now be used to study the life cycle ofHBV and the reaction of immunocompetent cells with cells carrying HBV.
Abstract: The hepatoblastoma cell line Hep G2 was transfected with a plasmid carrying the gene that confers resistance to G418 and four 5'-3' tandem copies of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome positioned such that two dimers of the genomic DNA are 3'-3' with respect to one another. Cells of one clone that grew in the presence of G418 produce high levels of hepatitis B e antigen and of hepatitis B surface antigen. HBV DNA is carried by these cells as chromosomally integrated sequences and episomally as relaxed circular, covalently closed, and incomplete copies of the HBV genome. Viral DNA was detected also in conditioned growth medium at the buoyant densities characteristic for infectious Dane and immature core particles. Finally, HBV-specific components morphologically identical to the 22-nm spherical and filamentous hepatitis B surface antigen particles as well as 42-nm Dane particles were visualized by immunoelectron microscopic analysis. Therefore, we have demonstrated that the Hep G2 cell line can support the assembly and secretion not only of several of the replicative intermediates of HBV DNA but also of Dane-like particles. This in vitro system can now be used to study the life cycle of HBV and the reaction of immunocompetent cells with cells carrying HBV.
TL;DR: The construction of a full-length cDNA is reported for the human MDR1 gene and it is shown that this reconstructed cDNA, when inserted into a retroviral expression vector containing the long terminal repeats of Moloney leukemia virus or Harvey sarcoma virus, functions to confer the complete multidrug-resistance phenotype.
Abstract: Intrinsic and acquired multidrug resistance (MDR) is an important problem in cancer therapy. MDR in human KB carcinoma cells selected for resistance to colchicine, vinblastine, or doxorubicin (former generic name adriamycin) is associated with overexpression of the "MDR1" gene, which encodes P-glycoprotein. We previously have isolated an overlapping set of cDNA clones for the human MDR1 gene from multidrug-resistant KB cells. Here we report the construction of a full-length cDNA for the human MDR1 gene and show that this reconstructed cDNA, when inserted into a retroviral expression vector containing the long terminal repeats of Moloney leukemia virus or Harvey sarcoma virus, functions in mouse NIH 3T3 and human KB cells to confer the complete multidrug-resistance phenotype. These results suggest that the human MDR1 gene may be used as a positive selectable marker to introduce genes into human cells and to transform human cells to multidrug resistance without introducing nonhuman antigens.
TL;DR: Treatment with probucol significantly reduced the rate of development of fatty-streak lesions even though plasma cholesterol levels were no lower than lovastatin-treated (control) rabbits.
Abstract: It has been postulated that low density lipoprotein (LDL) becomes fully atherogenic only if it first undergoes oxidative modification. The oxidatively modified form, but not native LDL, is recognized by the acetyl-LDL or "scavenger" receptor and could, therefore, be taken up rapidly by tissue macrophages to generate the fatty-streak lesion of atherosclerosis. However, there is thus far very little direct evidence for oxidative modification in vivo. The studies reported here take advantage of the fact that probucol is an effective antioxidant transported in lipoproteins, including LDL, and blocks the oxidative modification of LDL in vitro. We now show that the rate of degradation of LDL in the macrophage-rich fatty-streak lesions of the LDL receptor-deficient rabbit treated with probucol (1% by weight in the diet) is reduced to about one-half of that in the lesions of receptor-deficient rabbits not given probucol (but matched for plasma cholesterol levels). In contrast, the rates of degradation in the nonlesioned areas of the aorta were no different in probucol-treated and control animals. Most of the LDL degradation in fatty-streak lesions takes place in macrophages, whereas in nonlesioned aorta, which contains very few macrophages, the degradation is almost exclusively in endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Thus, the results are compatible with the postulate that the native LDL taken up and degraded by foam cells in the developing fatty-streak lesions was in part first converted to a form recognized by the scavenger receptor (by oxidative or analogous modification). Finally, and most importantly, we show that treatment with probucol significantly reduced the rate of development of fatty-streak lesions even though plasma cholesterol levels were no lower than lovastatin-treated (control) rabbits.
TL;DR: It is suggested that endothelium can store growth factors capable of autocrine growth promotion in two ways: by sequestering growth factor within the cell and by incorporating it into the underlying extracellular matrix.
Abstract: Bovine aortic and corneal endothelial cells synthesize a growth factor that remains mostly cell-associated but can also be extracted from the subendothelial extracellular matrix (ECM) deposited by these cells. The endothelial cell-derived growth factors extracted from cell lysates and from the extracellular matrix appear to be structurally related to basic fibroblast growth factor by the criteria that they bind to heparin-Sepharose and are eluted at 1.4-1.6 M NaCl, have a molecular weight of about 18,400, cross-react with anti-basic fibroblast growth factor antibodies when analyzed by electrophoretic blotting and immunoprecipitation, and are potent mitogens for bovine aortic and capillary endothelial cells. It is suggested that endothelium can store growth factors capable of autocrine growth promotion in two ways: by sequestering growth factor within the cell and by incorporating it into the underlying extracellular matrix.
TL;DR: It is concluded that the toxR gene plays a central role in the transcriptional regulation of multiple virulence genes of V. cholerae.
Abstract: The transposon TnphoA was used to generate fusions between phoA, the gene for alkaline phosphatase (PhoA), and genes encoding proteins that are secreted by Vibrio cholerae. One of the PhoA+ mutants isolated showed a dramatic reduction in its ability to colonize the intestines of suckling mice. This mutant no longer produced a 20.5-kDa protein (TcpA) that we show is the major subunit of a V. cholerae pilus. Amino-terminal sequence analysis of the TcpA pilus subunit showed that it shares amino acid homology with the pilins produced by several other pathogenic bacteria. The TcpA pilus was coordinately expressed with cholera toxin under various culture conditions, and this effect appeared to be dependent on the transcriptional activator encoded by the toxR gene. We conclude that the toxR gene plays a central role in the transcriptional regulation of multiple virulence genes of V. cholerae.
TL;DR: Results strongly suggest that the site of primary charge separation in photosystem II is located on the heterodimer composed of D-1 and D-2 subunits.
Abstract: A photosystem II reaction center complex consisting of D-1 and D-2 polypeptides and cytochrome b-559 was isolated from spinach grana thylakoids, treated with 4% (wt/vol) Triton X-100, by ion-exchange chromatography using DEAE-Toyopearl 650S. The isolated complex appears to contain five chlorophyll a, two pheophytin a, one β-carotene, and one or two cytochrome b-559 heme(s) (molar ratio) and exhibits a reversible absorbance change attributable to the photochemical accumulation of reduced pheophytin typical for the intermediary electron acceptor of photosystem II reaction center. These results strongly suggest that the site of primary charge separation in photosystem II is located on the heterodimer composed of D-1 and D-2 subunits.
TL;DR: It is shown that cosecretion of TGF-beta and its monocyte/macrophage-derived binding protein may modulate growth factor action and that monocytic expression of other growth factor genes, such as the B chain of platelet-derived growth factor, is not constitutive and requires activation.
Abstract: Alveolar macrophages activated with concanavalin A and peripheral blood monocytes activated with lipopolysaccharide secrete type beta transforming growth factor (TGF-beta). There is minimal TGF-beta secretion in unactivated monocytes, even though TGF-beta mRNA is expressed in these cells at a level similar to that in activated, lipopolysaccharide-treated cultures. U937 lymphoma cells, which have monocytic characteristics, also express mRNA for TGF-beta. Freshly isolated monocytes, both control and lipopolysaccharide-treated, secrete an acid-labile binding protein that inhibits TGF-beta action. We conclude the following: (i) that expression of TGF-beta mRNA is unrelated to monocyte activation, (ii) that secretion of TGF-beta is induced by monocyte activation, and (iii) that cosecretion of TGF-beta and its monocyte/macrophage-derived binding protein may modulate growth factor action. In contrast, monocytic expression of other growth factor genes, such as the B chain of platelet-derived growth factor, is not constitutive and requires activation.
TL;DR: A cDNA encoding the CD2 antigen has been isolated by a highly efficient technique based on transient expression in COS cells and adherence of cells expressing surface antigen to antibody-coated dishes.
Abstract: A cDNA encoding the CD2 antigen has been isolated by a highly efficient technique based on transient expression in COS cells and adherence of cells expressing surface antigen to antibody-coated dishes. COS cells expressing a CD2 cDNA isolated by this method readily formed rosettes with sheep as well as human and other mammalian erythrocytes. Pretreatment of transfected COS cells with anti-CD2 antibody, or pretreatment of human erythrocytes with anti-LFA-3 antibody, abolished rosette formation.
TL;DR: It is suggested that this pancreatic neuropeptide-like protein may exert an important endocrine regulatory effect and be raised to a synthetic human insulinoma IAPP-(7-17) undecapeptide and showed specific immunohistochemical reactivity with human and cat islet amyloid and with islet B cells.
Abstract: Amyloid deposits localized to the islets of Langerhans are typical of non-insulin-dependent human diabetes mellitus and of diabetes mellitus in adult cats. Amyloid deposits also commonly occur in insulin-producing pancreatic tumors. We have purified a major protein--insulinoma or islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP)--from human and cat islet amyloid and from amyloid of a human insulinoma. IAPP from human insulinoma contained 37 amino acid residues and had a theoretical molecular mass of 3850 Da. The amino acid sequence is unique but has greater than 40% identity with the human calcitonin gene-related peptide. A partial amino acid sequence of cat islet IAPP corresponding to positions 1-27 of human insulinoma IAPP was identical to the human IAPP except for substitutions in three positions. An antiserum raised to a synthetic human insulinoma IAPP-(7-17) undecapeptide showed specific immunohistochemical reactivity with human and cat islet amyloid and with islet B cells. The significance of this pancreatic neuropeptide-like protein is unknown, but it is suggested that it may exert an important endocrine regulatory effect.
TL;DR: A cDNA clone encoding CD28 is isolated by a simple and highly efficient cloning strategy based on transient expression in COS cells based on the use of an efficient method to prepare large plasmid cDNA libraries.
Abstract: CD28 (Tp44) is a human T-cell-specific homodimer surface protein that may participate in T-cell activation. We have isolated a cDNA clone encoding CD28 by a simple and highly efficient cloning strategy based on transient expression in COS cells. Central to this strategy is the use of an efficient method to prepare large plasmid cDNA libraries. The libraries are introduced into COS cells, where transient expression of surface antigen allows the isolation of cDNAs by way of monoclonal antibody binding. The CD28 cDNA encodes a highly glycosylated membrane protein with homology to the immunoglobulin superfamily and directs the production of a homodimer in transfected COS cells.