Showing papers on "Alkaline phosphatase published in 1995"

Virulence factors are released from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in association with membrane vesicles during normal growth and exposure to gentamicin: a novel mechanism of enzyme secretion.

Abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa blebs-off membrane vesicles (MVs) into culture medium during normal growth. Release of these vesicles increased approximately threefold after exposure of the organism to four times the MIC of gentamicin. Natural and gentamicin-induced membrane vesicles (n-MVs and g-MVs and g-MVs, respectively) were isolated by filtration and differential centrifugation, and several of their biological activities were characterized. Electron microscopy of both n-MVs and g-MVs revealed that they were spherical bilayer MVs with a diameter of 50 to 150 nm. Immunoelectron microscopy and Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of the vesicles demonstrated the presence of B-band lipopolysaccharide (LPS), with a slightly higher proportion of B-band LPS in g-MVs than in n-MVs. A-band LPS was occasionally detected in g-MVs but not in n-MVs. In addition to LPS, several enzymes, such as phospholipase C, protease, hemolysin, and alkaline phosphatase, which are known to contribute to the pathogenicity of Pseudomonas infections were found to be present in both vesicle types. Both types of vesicles contained DNA, with a significantly higher content in g-MVs. These vesicles could thus play an important role in genetic transformation and disease by serving as a transport vehicle for DNA and virulence factors and are presumably involved in septic shock.

Mice lacking tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase die from seizures due to defective metabolism of vitamin B-6

Abstract: In humans, deficiency of the tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) gene is associated with defective skeletal mineralization. In contrast, mice lacking TNAP generated by homologous recombination using embryonic stem (ES) cells have normal skeletal development. However, at approximately two weeks after birth, homozygous mutant mice develop seizures which are subsequently fatal. Defective metabolism of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), characterized by elevated serum PLP levels, results in reduced levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. The mutant seizure phenotype can be rescued by the administration of pyridoxal and a semi-solid diet. Rescued animals subsequently develop defective dentition. This study reveals essential physiological functions of TNAP in the mouse.

Bone progenitor cell deficits and the age-associated decline in bone repair capacity.

Abstract: Aging bone shows a progressive decline in mass and strength. Previous studies have suggested that bone marrow stem cells are reduced with aging and that this could be responsible, in part, for age-associated bone deficits. We measured the number of osteoprogenitor cells present in the bone marrow from adult and aged rats as well as their ability to differentiate in vitro and to form bone in vivo. We found that the number of adherent colony-forming cells was significantly lower (65%) in marrow cells isolated from aged compared with adult rats. Furthermore, 88% of the colonies obtained from aged rats were alkaline phosphatase (AP) positive, whereas virtually all the colonies from adult rats were positive. The addition of dexamethasone to the culture medium decreased the proliferation of the adherent cells and reduced the number of colonies obtained from both adult and aged bone marrow, all of which were AP positive. No significant differences were found in the expression of certain major bone cell marker genes as a function of donor age. However, dexamethasone treatment increased expression of osteopontin (OP) by fivefold. Adult stromal cells not treated with dexamethasone and implanted subcutaneously in recipient rats exhibited about 10-fold greater formation of bone compared with cells from aged rats. In contrast, dexamethasone-treated cells exhibited high levels of bone formation, irregardless of donor age or the age of the recipient into which the cells were grafted. These studies are consistent with a deficit of osteoprogenitor cells in the bone marrow site as a contributing, perhaps correctable factor in the decline in bone repair and bone mass with age.

Monoclonal antibody assay for measuring bone-specific alkaline phosphatase activity in serum.

Abstract: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is present in human serum in the form of several isoenzymes. The two major circulating ALP isoenzymes, bone and liver, are difficult to distinguish because they are the products of a single gene and differ only by posttranslational glycosylation. Quantitative measurement of bone ALP (BAP) activity in serum can provide an index for the rate of bone formation. Furthermore, increased BAP activity in serum is indicative of bone disorders. We describe a method in which serum samples are added to a microtiter plate coated with monoclonal anti-BAP antibody and incubated 3 h at room temperature. After the unbound materials are washed off, the bound BAP activity is measured by adding p-nitrophenyl phosphate substrate. The assay demonstrated no cross-reactivity to intestinal or placental ALP and only 3-8% cross-reactivity to liver ALP. The intraassay (n = 21) CVs were 3.9-5.9%, and interassay (n = 8) CVs were 4.4-7.0%. Comparisons of the assay (y) with an IRMA (x) and a wheat germ agglutinin precipitation method (x') gave regression equations of y = 1.32x-6.4, r = 0.99, and y = 1.41x' + 4.8, r = 0.99. The assay detected increased BAP in sera from patients with osteoporosis, Paget disease, osteomalacia, or primary hyperparathyroidism.

The effects of bone morphogenetic protein-2, -4, and -6 on differentiation of rat osteoblast cells in vitro.

Abstract: The effects of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), -4, and -6 were tested on the differentiation of rat osteoprogenitor cells using a bone nodule-forming assay system, and the kinetics of their actions were investigated by double labeling for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) uptake in log phase cultures. All BMPs stimulated bone nodule formation, with an optimal concentration of 25 ng/ml resulting in nodule numbers of approximately 250% of controls using BMP-4 and -6. BMP-2 showed reduced potency compared to either BMP-4 or -6. No evidence of chondrocytic differentiation was found in any of the cultures. The effect of BMPs on nodule formation was seen after only 24 h of exposure to BMPs, but only affected nodule numbers when added to early cultures. Nodule size and number of cells per nodule were increased with BMP6 only. Continuous or 24-h exposure to BMP-2 or -4 increased the number of postmitotic ALP-positive cells in log phase cultures, whereas BMP-6 increased the number of po...

Cytokine-stimulated expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase by mouse, rat, and human osteoblast-like cells and its functional role in osteoblast metabolic activity

Abstract: Recent evidence suggests that the production of nitric oxide (NO) may have important roles in the regulation of osteoblast and osteoclast metabolism. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the expression of inducible NO-synthase (iNOS) and to measure high-output production of NO by primary rat osteoblasts and osteoblastic cell lines ROS 17/2.8, MC3T3-E1 and MG-63. In addition, we have investigated if NO may mediate some of the effects of these cytokines on osteoblast metabolism. Northern blots and immunocytochemistry revealed time-dependent iNOS messenger RNA and protein expression in primary rat osteoblasts in response to cytokine treatment. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction amplified an 807-base pair (bp) product from ROS 17/2.8 cells, which had a size and restriction enzyme-cut pattern identical to that predicted for authentic rat iNOS. Nitrite accumulation in culture medium was induced by IFN-gamma in a time- and dose-dependent manner and inhibited by cotreatment with inhibitors of NOS activity and by dexamethasone. IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and bacterial lipopolysaccharide were found to have weak stimulatory effects on nitrite production on their own. However, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha showed strong synergy with IFN-gamma, but, surprisingly, lipopolysaccharide was found to exert potent inhibitory effects on IFN-gamma-induced nitrite synthesis. Basal production of nitrite and induction of its synthesis was similarly observed with primary rat osteoblasts as well as ROS 17/2.8, MC3T3-E1, and MG-63 cell lines. Cytokine-induced NO production significantly reduced osteoblast activity, as was evidenced by inhibition of DNA synthesis, cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, and osteocalcin production. The results provide evidence for a basal expression of iNOS activity and show that the iNOS messenger RNA, protein, and enzyme activity are all induced by cytokines across the species. The data further suggest that osteoblast-derived NO may have an important role in mediation of localized bone destruction associated with inflammatory bone diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Alkaline phosphatase: placental and tissue-nonspecific isoenzymes hydrolyze phosphoethanolamine, inorganic pyrophosphate, and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. Substrate accumulation in carriers of hypophosphatasia corrects during pregnancy.

Abstract: Hypophosphatasia features selective deficiency of activity of the tissue-nonspecific (liver/bone/kidney) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) isoenzyme (TNSALP); placental and intestinal ALP isoenzyme (PALP and IALP, respectively) activity is not reduced. Three phosphocompounds (phosphoethanolamine [PEA], inorganic pyrophosphate [PPi], and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate [PLP]) accumulate endogenously and appear, therefore, to be natural substrates for TNSALP. Carriers for hypophosphatasia may have decreased serum ALP activity and elevated substrate levels. To test whether human PALP and TNSALP are physiologically active toward the same substrates, we studied PEA, PPi, and PLP levels during and after pregnancy in three women who are carriers for hypophosphatasia. Hypophosphatasemia corrected during the third trimester because of PALP in maternal blood. Blood or urine concentrations of PEA, PPi, and PLP diminished substantially during that time. After childbirth, maternal circulating levels of PALP decreased, and PEA, PPi, and PLP levels abruptly increased. In serum, unremarkable concentrations of IALP and low levels of TNSALP did not change during the study period. We conclude that PALP, like TNSALP, is physiologically active toward PEA, PPi, and PLP in humans. We speculate from molecular/crystallographic information, indicating significant similarity of structure of the substrate-binding site of ALPs throughout nature, that all ALP isoenzymes recognize these same three phosphocompound substrates.

The Activation of the Potato PR-10a Gene Requires the Phosphorylation of the Nuclear Factor PBF-1.

Abstract: The pathogenesis-related gene PR-10a (formerly STH[middot]2) is induced in various organs of potato after wounding, elicitor treatment, or infection by Phytophthora infestans. Deletion analysis of the promoter of the PR-10a gene enabled us to identify a 50-bp region, located between positions -155 and -105, necessary for the elicitor responsiveness of the [beta]-glucuronidase reporter gene in transgenic potato plants. Within this region, a 30-bp sequence, located between positions -135 and -105, was necessary for the activation of the promoter by the elicitor. However, strong promoter activity after elicitor treatment required the presence of a 20-bp sequence located between positions -155 and -135. The region between -135 and -105 was specifically recognized by two nuclear factors, PBF-1 (PR-10a Binding Factor 1) and PBF-2, and binding of PBF-1 was coordinated with the accumulation of the PR-10a mRNA. Gel shift assays using nuclear extracts pretreated with sodium deoxycholate or alkaline phosphatase suggested that PBF-1 is a multimeric factor in which at least one of the constituent proteins can be phosphorylated. Treatment with alkaline phosphatase also indicated that binding of PBF-1 is positively regulated by phosphorylation and that it is phosphorylated only in tissues in which PR-10a is expressed. The use of protein phosphatase and kinase inhibitors in vivo provided additional evidence that wounding and elicitor treatment induce the phosphorylation of PBF-1 and that this phosphorylation is associated with gene activation.

Biology of Human Alkaline Phosphatases with Special Reference to Cancer

Abstract: The current information on the cloning and sequencing of four alkaline phosphatase genes (PLAP, GCAP, LAP, TNAP) has been reviewed. It has provided insights into their evolutionary history and the mechanisms of catalysis and of uncompetitive inhibition. The oncodevelopmental biology of the germ cell and its excessive GCAP eutopic expression in neoplasia are noted, and there is reason to suggest that the enzyme may serve to guide migratory cells and to transport specific molecules such as fat and immunoglobulins across membranes. The hyperexpression of all four genes has been observed in various human tumors and in their cell lines, particularly cancers of the testis and ovary. The membrane APs have been investigated as targets for immunolocalization and immunotherapy.

Vanadium derivatives act as growth factor--mimetic compounds upon differentiation and proliferation of osteoblast-like UMR106 cells.

Abstract: The effect of different vanadium compounds on proliferation and differentiation was examined in osteoblast-like UMR106 cells. Vanadate increased the cell growth in a biphasic manner, the higher doses inhibiting cell progression. Vanadyl stimulated cell proliferation in a dose-responsive manner. Similar to vanadate, pervanadate increased osteoblast-like cell proliferation in a biphasic manner but no inhibition of growth was observed. Vanadyl and pervanadate were stronger stimulators of cell growth than vanadate. Only vanadate was able to regulate the cell differentiation as measured by cell alkaline phosphatase activity. These results suggest that vanadium derivatives behave like growth factors on osteoblast-like cells and are potential pharmacological tools in the control of cell growth.

Human bone cell phenotypes differ depending on their skeletal site of origin.

Abstract: This report describes skeletal site-related differences in human osteoblastic cell metabolism in studies of four patients. Northern analyses of the constitutive growth factor messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression pattern in mandibular and iliac crest-derived human osteoblastic cells (based on within-patient comparisons) revealed higher mRNA levels for strong mitogenic growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) in the rapidly proliferating and less alkaline phosphatase (ALP)-expressing mandibular osteoblastic cells compared to those in the lower bFGF and IGF-II mRNA levels in slowly proliferating iliac human osteoblastic cells exhibiting a higher ALP expression level. In contrast, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) mRNA was more abundant in iliac human osteoblastic cells than in mandibular osteoblastic cells. Furthermore, we found that there was a proportionality, based on data from both sites, between the level of constitutive TGF beta mRNA and the response to exogenously administered bFGF or IGF-II. A comparable pattern of growth characteristics and mRNA expression was also observed in transformed human osteoblastic cells that had been subcloned in sublines expressing high and low levels of the human osteoblastic differentiation marker ALP. These findings are consistent with 1) skeletal site-related differences in human bone cell phenotypes, and 2) decreased IGF-II and bFGF expression and increased TGF beta expression and responsiveness to bFGF and IGF-II in human bone cells exhibiting a high ALP expression.

Modulation of cyclophosphamide-induced early lung injury by curcumin, an anti-inflammatory antioxidant

Abstract: Cyclophosphamide causes lung injury in rats through its ability to generate free radicals with subsequent endothelial and epithelial cell damage. In order to observe the protective effects of a potent anti-inflammatory antioxidant, curcumin (diferuloyl methane) on cyclophosphamide-induced early lung injury, healthy pathogen free male Wistar rats were exposed to 20 mg/100 g body weight of cyclophosphamide, intraperitoneally as a single injection. Prior to cyclophosphamide intoxication oral administration of curcumin was performed daily for 7 days. At various time intervals (2, 3, 5 and 7 days post insult) serum and lung samples were analyzed for angiotensin converting enzyme, lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione and ascorbic acid. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was analyzed for biochemical constituents. The lavage cells were examined for lipid peroxidation and glutathione content. Excised lungs were analyzed for antioxidant enzyme levels. Biochemical analyses revealed time course increases in lavage fluid total protein, albumin, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), lactate dehydrogenase, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, lipid peroxide levels and decreased levels of glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid 2, 3, 5 and 7 days after cyclophosphamide intoxication. Increased levels of lipid peroxidation and decreased levels of glutathione and ascorbic acid were seen in serum, lung tissue and lavage cells of cyclophosphamide groups. Serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity increased which coincided with the decrease in lung tissue levels. Activities of antioxidant enzymes were reduced with time in the lungs of cyclophosphamide groups. However, a significant reduction in lavage fluid biochemical constituents, lipid peroxidation products in serum, lung and lavage cells with concomitant increase in antioxidant defense mechanisms occurred in curcumin fed cyclophosphamide rats. Therefore, our results suggest that curcumin is effective in moderating the cyclophosphamide induced early lung injury and the oxidant-antioxidant imbalance was partly abolished by restoring the glutathione (GSH) with decreased levels of lipid peroxidation.

Stimulated osteoclastic and suppressed osteoblastic activity in metabolic but not respiratory acidosis

Abstract: When bone is cultured in acidic medium produced by a reduced bicarbonate concentration ([HCO(3-)]), a model of metabolic acidosis, there is greater net calcium efflux than when the same decrement in pH is produced by an increased partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), a model of respiratory acidosis. To determine the effects of metabolic and respiratory acidosis on bone cell function we cultured neonatal mouse calvariae for 48 h under control conditions (pH approximately 7.40, PCO2 approximately 41 mmHg, [HCO(3-)] approximately 25 meq/l) or under isohydric acidic conditions simulating metabolic (pH approximately 7.09, [HCO(3-)] approximately 12) or respiratory (pH approximately 7.10, PCO2 approximately 86) acidosis and measured osteoblastic collagen synthesis and alkaline phosphatase activity and osteoclastic beta-glucuronidase activity. Collagen synthesis was inhibited by metabolic (23.2 +/- 1.3 vs. 30.3 +/- 1.0% in control) but was not altered by respiratory (32.3 +/- 0.6) acidosis. Alkaline phosphatase activity was inhibited by metabolic (402 +/- 16 vs. 471 +/- 15 nmol P.min-1.mg protein-1 in control) but not altered by respiratory (437 +/- 25) acidosis. beta-Glucuronidase activity was stimulated by metabolic (1.02 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.78 +/- 0.05 micrograms phenolphthalein released.bone-1.h-1 in control) but not altered by respiratory (0.73 +/- 0.06) acidosis. Net calcium efflux in control was increased by metabolic (783 +/- 57 vs. 20 +/- 57 nmol.bone-1.48 h-1 in control) and by respiratory (213 +/- 45) acidosis; however, calcium efflux with metabolic was greater than with respiratory acidosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Gender affects doxorubicin pharmacokinetics in patients with normal liver biochemistry

Abstract: We studied the variability in doxorubicin pharmacokinetics in 27 patients, all of whom had normal liver biochemistry tests. Blood samples were collected after the first cycle of single-agent doxorubicin given as an i.v. bolus and plasma levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The relationship of doxorubicin clearance (dose/AUC) with biochemical tests (AST, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, creatinine) and physical characteristics (age, gender, height, weight, tumour type) was investigated. The 6 men had a significantly higher doxorubicin clearance than did the 21 women (median values, 59 and 27 lh−1 m−2, respectively;P=0.002). Doxorubicin clearance was significantly lower in patients with breast cancer than in those with other tumours (median values, 26 and 53 lh−1 m−2, respectively;P=0.0008). The other biochemical and physical parameters did not correlate with doxorubicin clearance. However, in multivariate analysis, gender was the only factor predicting doxorubicin clearance (r2=40%). The ratio of the AUCs for doxorubicinol and doxorubicin (R) was higher in the men than in the women (median values, 0.62 and 0.36, respectively;P=0.03). We conclude that gender may be an important determinant of doxorubicin clearance in patients with normal liver biochemistry.

The diagnostic value of urinary pyridinium cross-links of collagen, serum total alkaline phosphatase, and urinary calcium excretion in neoplastic bone disease.

Abstract: Bone metastases strongly affect skeletal metabolism by both their growth and their paracrine activities. However, so far no specific laboratory marker has been found to signal the spread of neoplastic disease to bone. We performed a cross-sectional study of 153 cancer patients and an equal number of healthy controls matched for sex and age, in which we determined serum levels of calcium and total alkaline phosphatase (TAP) as well as the fasting urinary excretion of calcium (uCa) and of the collagen cross-links pyridinoline (uPYD) and deoxypyridinoline (uDPD). The aim of the study was to analyze the diagnostic validity of the biochemical parameters measured with regard to neoplastic bone involvement. In the cancer group, 98 patients had overt bone metastases, as judged from radiographic and radioisotopic bone imaging. The remaining 55 patients were also in an advanced stage of disease, but there was no evidence of malignant bone involvement. In comparison to healthy controls, patients both with and withou...

Establishment of immortalized alveolar type ii epithelial cell lines from adult rats

Abstract: We developed methodology to isolate and culture rat alveolar Type II cells under conditions that preserved their proliferative capacity, and applied lipofection to introduce an immortalizing gene into the cells. Briefly, the alveolar Type II cells were isolated from male F344 rats using airway perfusion with a pronase solution followed by incubation for 30 min at 37° C. Cells obtained by pronase digestion were predominantly epithelial in morphology and were positive for Papanicolaou and alkaline phosphatase staining. These cells could be maintained on an extracellular matrix of fibronectin and Type IV collagen in a low serum, insulin-supplemented Ham’s F12 growth medium for four to five passages. Rat alveolar epithelial cells obtained by this method were transformed with the SV40-T antigen gene and two immortalized cell lines (RLE-6T and RLE-6TN) were obtained. The RLE-6T line exhibits positive nuclear immunostaining for the SV40-T antigen and the RLE-6TN line does not. PCR analysis of genomic DNA from the RLE-6T and RLE-6TN cells demonstrated the T-antigen gene was present only in the RLE-6T line indicating the RLE-6TN line is likely derived from a spontaneous transformant. After more than 50 population doublings, the RLE-6T cells stained positive for cytokeratin, possessed alkaline phosphatase activity, and contained lipid-containing inclusion bodies (phosphine 3R staining); all characteristics of alveolar Type II cells. The RLE-6TN cells exhibited similar characteristics except they did not express alkaline phosphatase activity. Early passage RLE-6T and 6TN cells showed a near diploid chromosome number. However, at later passages the 6T cells became polyploid, while the 6TN genotype remained stable. The RLE-6T and 6TN cells were not tumorigenic in nude mice. The cell isolation methods reported and the novel cell lines produced represent potentially useful tools to study the role of pulmonary epithelial cells in neoplastic and nonneoplastic lung disease.

Purification and properties of human placental ATP diphosphohydrolase.

Abstract: ATP diphosphohydrolase activity (ATP-DPH) has been previously identified in the paniculate fraction of human term placenta [Papamarcaki, T. & Tsolas, O. (1990) Mol. Cell. Biochem. 97, 1–8]. In the present study we have purified to homogeneity and characterized this activity. A 260-fold purification has been obtained by solubilization of the particulate fraction and subsequent chromatography on DEAE Sepharose CL-6B and 5′-AMP Sepharose 4B. The preparation has been shown to be free of alkaline phosphatase even though the placental extract is rich in this activity. The purified enzyme is a glycoprotein and migrates as a single broad band of 82 kDa on SDS/PAGE. The same band is obtained after photoaffinity labeling of the enzyme with 8–azido-[α-32P]ATP. The enzyme has a broad substrate specificity, hydrolyzing triphosphonucleosides and diphosphonucleosides but not monophosphonucleosides or other phosphate esters. The activity is dependent on the addition of divalent cations Ca2+ or Mg21. The Km values for ATP and ADP were determined to be 10μM and 20 μM, respectively. Maximum activity was found at pH 7.0–7.5 with ATP as substrate, and pH 7.5–8.0 with ADP. The enzymic activity is inhibited by NaN3 NaF3 adenosine 5′-[β,γ-imido]triphosphate and adenosine 5′-[α,β-methylene]triphosphate. Protein sequence analysis showed ATP-DPH to be N-terminally blocked. Partial internal amino acid sequence information was obtained after chymotryptic cleavage and identified a unique sequence with no significant similarity to known proteins. ATP-DPH activity has been reported to be implicated in the prevention of platelet aggregation, hydrolysing ADP to AMP and thus preventing blood clotting.

Nonisotopic probing, blotting, and sequencing

Abstract: Labels, Labelling, Analytical Strategies and Applications. Nonradioactive Labelling Methods for Nucleic Acids. Detection of Alkaline Phosphatase Labels By Time-Resolved Fluorescence. Detection of Alkaline Phosphatase By Bioluminescence. Detection of DNA on Membranes with Alkaline Phosphatase Labelled Probes and Chemiluminescence Cspdr Substrate. Detection of Alkaline Phosphatase By Colorimetry. Detection of Alkaline Phosphatase By Chemiluminescence Using NADP, Ascorbate and Indoxyl Phosphates. Detection of Horseradish Peroxidase By Enhanced Chemiluminescence. Dtection of Horseradish Peroxidase By Colorimetry. Detection of Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase By Bioluminescence. Detection of Xanthine Oxidase By Enhanced Chemiluminescence. Electrochemiluminescent Detection of PCR-Derived Nucleic Acids. Detection of Phosphors By Phosphorescence. Detection of Europium Cryptates By Fluorescence. Detection of Lanthanid Chelates By Time-Resolved Fluorescence. Detection of Lanthanide Chelates and Multiple Labelling Strategies Based on Time-Resolved Fluorescence. Detection of Acridinium Esters By Chemiluminescence. Detection of Energy Transfer and Fluorescence Quenching. DNA Sequencing By Nonisotopic Methods. Chemiluminescent DNA Sequencing with 1, 2-Dioxetanes.

Effects of sublethal metal ion concentrations on osteogenic cells derived from bone marrow stromal cells.

Abstract: Ions released from implant surfaces are suspected of playing some role in osteolysis surrounding metal prostheses. To understand how ions may affect osteogenesis, previous work exposed osteogenic cells to metal ions to study acute cytotoxic responses. The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term effects of sublethal ion concentrations on osteogenic cell proliferation and function. Bone marrow stromal cells were harvested from juvenile rats and exposed to solutions of ions associated with Co-Cr-Mo and Ti-6Al-4V implants. Cells were cultured for up to 4 weeks and assayed for total protein, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and calcium. Other than V+5, none of the ions affected cell proliferation, indicating that the chosen concentrations were sublethal as desired. V+5 elicited delayed gross toxicity not previously observed during acute experiments. At the chosen concentrations, Co+2, Cr+6, Mo+6, and Co-Cr-Mo alloy elicited little effect on cell proliferation and moderate effects on matrix mineralization. Cultures exposed to Ti+4, Al+3, and Ti-6Al-4V alloy also showed no decrease in cell number, but did show near total suppression of osteocalcin secretion and matrix mineralization. These results suggest that ions released from Ti alloy implants may interfere with osteoblastic cell differentiation, contributing to periprosthetic osteolysis by impairing normal osteogenesis. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Pattern of rat intestinal brush-border enzyme gene expression changes with epithelial growth state

Abstract: Enterocyte growth and differentiation occur simultaneously within the epithelium, but little is known regarding any relationship between these two processes. Four rat models of small intestinal epithelial hypo- and hyperplasia (neonatal ontogeny, fasting/refeeding, hypo-/hyperthyroidism, and bombesin treatment) were used to study the regulation of enterocyte gene expression in relation to epithelial growth state. Mucosal scrapings, as well as crypt and villus cell populations, were subjected to Northern blot analyses using radiolabeled cDNA probes corresponding to lactase, intestinal alkaline phosphatase, villin, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), and the actin control. In all four models, the hypoplastic (atrophic) condition is characterized by high levels of lactase and low levels of the 3.0-kb intestinal alkaline phosphatase mRNA, whereas under hyperplastic conditions this pattern is reversed. The changes in intestinal alkaline phosphatase and lactase are qualitatively similar along the longitudinal axis of the intestine and are proportional to the degree of hyperplasia, as verified by ODC mRNA levels. Furthermore, the crypt-villus axis of differentiation is maintained regardless of epithelial growth state. In conclusion, the pattern of brush-border enzyme gene expression changes as a function of epithelial growth state, indicating a previously unrecognized degree of plasticity to the state of enterocyte differentiation.

Comparison of the characteristics of human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells.

Abstract: To elucidate the characteristics of human periodontal ligament cells, we compared these cells with gingival fibroblasts isolated from the periodontal tissues of female human subjects. Human periodontal ligament (HPDL) cells had a sharper spindle shape and exhibited a higher growth rate than human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). HPDL cells had a high level of alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity, whereas HGF had a low level of such activity. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that HPDL cells produced ALPase mRNA. Decorin and biglycan mRNA were detected in both HPDL cells and HGF, whereas osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein mRNA was not detected in either cells. Both HPDL cells and HGF responded to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and isoproterenol, and produced cyclic AMP (cAMP), but did not respond to human 1-34 parathyroid hormone (PTH). Intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was measured in HPDL cells and HGF, using Fura 2-AM. Bradykinin (BK) and histamine (HIS), which are major chemical mediators, caused a transient rise of [Ca2+]i in the presence of extracellular Ca2+. In HGF, but not HPDL cells, HIS induced a biphasic transient peak in [Ca2+]i. BK and HIS increased PGE2 release in both HPDL cells and HGF. However, HGF released a larger amount of PGE2 than HPDL cells. These results demonstrate that HPDL cells have quite different characteristics from HGF. HPDL cells proliferate at a higher rate than HGF, show higher levels of cAMP production and greater ALPase activity, and respond in a different fashion to chemical mediators (BK and HIS) compared with HGF.

Immunohistochemical detection of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in non-hematopoietic human tissues.

Abstract: Immunohistochemical studies were done on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues to evaluate the specificity of a newly developed monoclonal antibody (9C5) against tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. Sections from 195 specimens were examined, which included 33 types of tissues/organs. These tissues included normal, inflammatory, and neoplastic processes. Neoplastic tissues from 14 patients with hairy cell leukemia served as positive controls. Epitope enhancement was accomplished either by microwave irradiation in citrate buffer or by boiling in water followed by trypsin digestion. Tissues were reacted with monoclonal antibody 9C5 and stained with either the avidin-biotin peroxidase method or the alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase method. The hairy cells of all cases of hairy cell leukemia reacted positively with 9C5. Other positively stained cells included osteoclasts, activated macrophages and giant cells. Immunohistochemical studies with 9C5, when interpreted within the context of the specificity of this antibody, are useful for the diagnosis and assessment of treatment results for hairy cell leukemia. Monoclonal antibody 9C5 also may be useful as a marker for osteoclasts and the activated macrophages and for the diagnosis of disorders involved by these cells.

Maturational regulation of globotriaosylceramide, the Shiga-like toxin 1 receptor, in cultured human gut epithelial cells.

Abstract: Differentiated villus intestinal epithelial cells express globotriaosylceramide, the Shiga-like toxin 1 (SLT-1) receptor, and are sensitive to toxin-mediated cytotoxicity, whereas undifferentiated crypt cells neither express Gb3 nor respond to toxin. To investigate if SLT-1 receptors are maturationally regulated in human intestinal cells, we examined the effect of butyrate, a known transcriptional regulator of differentiation genes in many cell types, using cultured colonic cancer-derived epithelial cell lines. Exposure to butyrate increased villus cell marker enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase, sucrase, and lactase, expression of toxin receptors, and sensitivity to SLT-1 in villus-like CaCo-2A and HT-29 cells. These effects were reversibly inhibited by preincubation of CaCo-2A cells with actinomycin D or cycloheximide. Butyrate-treated CaCo-2A cells unable to bind fluoresceinated SLT-1 B subunit were undifferentiated as assessed by alkaline phosphatase activity. HT-29 cells induced to differentiate by another signal, glucose deprivation, upregulated receptor content and response to toxin. Crypt-like T-84 cells responded to butyrate with a modest increase in alkaline phosphatase and toxin binding, but no induction of sucrase or lactase, and no change in sensitivity to toxin. The results demonstrate that expression of SLT-1 toxin receptors and toxin sensitivity are coregulated with cellular differentiation in cultured intestinal cells.