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Biomedical subjects

A F Stewart

Publications and source records attributed to A F Stewart.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Identification of transcripts encoding a parathyroid hormone-like peptide in messenger RNAs from a variety of human and animal tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

The syndrome of humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) appears to be mediated in many instances by a parathyroid hormone-like peptide, which has recently been purified, sequenced, and cloned. Using a probe representing the coding region of the human PTH-like peptide, we examined by Northern analysis poly (A)+ RNA from a variety of human and animal tumors associated with HHM. Hybridizing transcripts were identified in mRNA from each of 12 human and each of four animal HHM-associated tumors, with a complex hybridization pattern observed in the human mRNAs and a relatively simple pattern observed in the animal mRNAs. Poly (A)+ RNA prepared from tumors of similar histological types unassociated with HHM failed to hybridize with the probe. Messenger RNA-dependent biological activity from the animal tumors was entirely eliminated in a hybridization-arrest experiment using a complementary oligonucleotide spanning the region of homology between human PTH and the PTH-like peptide. These findings indicate that the PTH-like peptide is associated with the syndrome of HHM in a wide spectrum of tumor types from a variety of mammalian species and that the PTH-like sequence in the proximal amino terminus of the peptide is highly conserved.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

Synthetic and partially-purified adenylate cyclase-stimulating proteins from tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy inhibit phosphate transport in a PTH-responsive renal cell line.

Hypophosphatemia and hyperphosphaturia characteristically occur in patients with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM). To determine if a tumor product causes these abnormalities in phosphate metabolism, rather than, for example, hypercalcemia, we investigated the effect of partially-purified adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity (ACSA) from human and animal HHM-associated tumors on sodium-dependent phosphate transport (Na PiT) in a PTH-responsive renal epithelial cell line. Thirty minute exposure to 7 X 10(-10) MbPTH (1-34) equivalents of ACSA from the human and animal tumors, reduced NaPiT by 20% and 14%, respectively. We also recently isolated an adenylate cyclase-stimulating protein (hACSP) from two human tumors associated with HHM and identified a cDNA clone for this protein which encodes a 141 amino-acid peptide. Based on the deduced amino-acid sequence, we synthesized tyr36 (1-36) hACSP. This synthetic peptide induced a 22% decrease in the initial rate of NaPiT by the epithelial monolayer. Its inhibitory activity was roughly equipotent to that of bPTH (1-34). We conclude that the ACSP derived from HHM-associated tumors decreases phosphate transport in renal epithelial cells. This peptide appears to play a key role in mediating the changes in phosphate metabolism in this syndrome.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1988

Poorly differentiated ("insular") carcinoma of the thyroid gland: an aggressive subset of differentiated thyroid neoplasms.

Four patients with a histologically distinctive thyroid carcinoma--which recently has been referred to as poorly differentiated ("insular") carcinoma--are reported. This study confirms the previous conclusions that patients with this neoplasm often experience an aggressive clinical course, with focal recurrences and distant metastases common, which results in death in the majority of patients. Such aggressive behavior may occur even when the insular component accounts for only a small percentage of an otherwise well-differentiated carcinoma, as seen in one of our patients. After subtotal or total thyroidectomy, three of the four patients have experienced local recurrence (1) and metastases to lung (3), mediastinum (1), and bone (1). All three of these patients died within 2 years of the diagnosis of insular carcinoma. The remaining patient is alive without evidence of disease 1 year after total thyroidectomy. Histologically, this neoplasm is characterized by well-defined nests (insulae) that are composed of relatively small, uniform cells and sometimes associated with small, thyroglobulin-containing follicles. Tumor necrosis is often present. Insular carcinoma may comprise the entire neoplasm (2 patients) or be associated with well-differentiated follicular (1 patient) or papillary (1 patient) carcinoma. The rapid and often fatal course associated with insular carcinoma warrants aggressive treatment at the time of initial diagnosis, including total thyroidectomy and node dissection (if involved), as well as possible iodine-131, external beam irradiation and chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Camptothecin-induced in vivo topoisomerase I cleavages in the transcriptionally active tyrosine aminotransferase gene.

The topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin induces the formation of covalent topoisomerase I-DNA intermediates in vitro. In vivo these intermediates are produced upon administration of camptothecin to FTO-2B cells, as demonstrated by the occurrence of single-stranded DNA breakages that have protein covalently associated with the free 3' end and by the covalent association of approximately 50% of nuclear topoisomerase I with DNA. We have analyzed the frequency and distribution of camptothecin-induced topoisomerase I strand cleavages in the transcriptionally active rat tyrosine aminotransferase gene. Cleavages are largely confined to the transcribed region and occur predominantly on the lower strand. Increasing the transcriptional activity of the gene with either glucocorticoids or cAMP increases the intensity but does not change the position of camptothecin-induced cleavages. Camptothecin treatment decreases tyrosine aminotransferase mRNA levels and inhibits transcription. These observations suggest that topoisomerase I participates in transcriptional elongation.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

N-terminal amino acid sequence of two novel tumor-derived adenylate cyclase-stimulating proteins: identification of parathyroid hormone-like and parathyroid hormone-unlike domains.

A 17,000 dalton human adenylate cyclase-stimulating protein has previously been purified from a human tumor associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. This report describes the purification of a related 7,000-9,000 MW protein from a second tumor, and provides N-terminal amino acid sequence of these two peptides. The sequences of the peptides are identical, defining the smaller peptide as an N-terminal portion of the larger peptide. The two peptides possess one region of strong homology with parathyroid hormone and a second divergent region. These structural similarities and differences may explain the similarities and differences which occur in patients with hyperparathyroidism and humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1987

Identification of a novel 17,000-dalton parathyroid hormone-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating protein from a tumor associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy is a common paraneoplastic syndrome which is characterized by hypercalcemia resulting from secretion by tumors of a circulating bone-resorbing factor. Evidence suggests that in many instances this factor is an adenylate cyclase-stimulating protein which shares features with, but is distinct from, parathyroid hormone (PTH). The current report describes the purification to homogeneity from a humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy-associated tumor of a novel, basic, highly potent PTH-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating protein. This factor differs from previously described PTH-like factors with respect to size, amino acid composition, and specific activity.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1987

The relative potency of a human tumor-derived PTH-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating preparation in three bioassays.

Three bioassays are widely employed for the measurement of PTH-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating factors (ACSFs) derived from tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. These include renal cortical adenylate cyclase (RAC) assays, rat osteosarcoma (ROS) adenylate cyclase assays, and fetal bone resorption (FBR) assays. A previous study has suggested that the potency of one human tumor-derived ACSF, expressed in PTH equivalents, was 30-fold higher in the ROS assay than in the RAC assay, but no study has directly compared all three bioassays using a single PTH standard and a single ACSF preparation. We compared one partially purified ACSF preparation to a single lot of bPTH 1-34 in all three bioassays. The results indicate that the relative potency of this ACSF as compared to the PTH standard varied with the assay employed, with the ROS assay yielding a specific activity estimate 47.5-fold higher than the RAC, and the FBR 6.7-fold higher than the RAC but 7.1-fold lower than the ROS. These findings support the possibility that distinct subpopulations of PTH receptors exist on different PTH target tissues. Further, they underscore the importance of bioassay choice when estimating the specific activity of tumor-derived ACSF preparations.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1987

Two forms of parathyroid hormone-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating protein derived from tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) contain parathyroid hormone-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating proteins (hACSPs). We previously purified a 17,000 MW hACSP from an HHM-associated breast carcinoma. This report describes the characterization of hACSPs from three additional HHM-associated tumors: two typical HHM-associated tumors (squamous carcinomas) and a third unusual tumor type (pheochromocytoma). Each tumor was extracted in acid-urea/ethanol-sodium chloride, and adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity (ACSA) was examined following reverse-phase and size-exclusion HPLC and isoelectric focusing. Each tumor contained a high molecular weight form of ACSA which co-eluted with the 17,000 molecular weight breast carcinoma hACSP in each of the three separation procedures. Each also contained a lower molecular weight form(s) of ACSA (6,000-9,000 molecular weight). Both forms were inhibited by Nle8,18Tyr34bPTH(3-34) amide. The high molecular weight form was not changed to the lower molecular weight form by a reducing agent. Some HHM-associated tumors contain two forms of hACSP, one with a molecular weight of 17,000 and another with a molecular weight of 6,000-9,000, which appears to be an amino-terminal cleavage product of the larger protein.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1987

Hypercalcemia in breast cancer. Reassessment of the mechanism.

Hypercalcemia in patients with breast cancer is usually attributed to osteolytic bone metastases. Seventeen patients with biopsy-proved breast cancer and hypercalcemia were identified in a prospective, unselected manner. Biochemical and clinical evaluation included measurements of parathyroid hormone, nephrogenous cAMP, vitamin D metabolites, fasting calcium excretion, and maximal tubular phosphate reabsorption, and bone radionuclide scanning. Tumor histologic findings were also reviewed. Four of the 17 patients (23.5 percent) had no evidence of bone involvement by bone scanning or radiography. Two additional patients (a total of 35 percent) appeared to have a humoral component to their hypercalcemia as determined by the presence of elevated nephrogenous cAMP excretion. These observations suggest that humoral, tumor-derived products may play a more important role in the hypercalcemia of breast cancer than has been previously recognized.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Complete nucleotide sequences of bovine alpha S2- and beta-casein cDNAs: comparisons with related sequences in other species.

The nucleotide sequences corresponding to bovine alpha S2- and beta-casein mRNAs have been determined by cDNA analysis. Both sequences appear to be complete at their 5' ends. The nucleotide sequence of alpha S2-casein, when compared with the corresponding cavine A sequence, helps to define the boundaries of a large amino acid repeat (approximately 80 residues) whereas comparisons with the nucleotide sequences of rat gamma- and mouse epsilon-casein mRNAs also reveal extensive sequence similarities. An alignment of these four sequences shows that the divergence of their translated regions has been characterized by the duplication and deletion of discrete segments of sequence that probably correspond to exons. A high degree of nucleotide substitution is also found when the four sequences are compared, except for well-conserved leader-peptide and phosphorylation-site sequences and, to a lesser extent, the 5'-untranslated regions. Similar comparison of the bovine and rat beta-caseins shows that their divergence has involved a high rate of nucleotide substitution but that no major insertions or deletions of sequence have occurred. The several splice sites that have veen defined in the rat beta-casein gene are likely to have been conserved in the bovine. The contrasting evolutionary histories of the alpha- and beta-casein coding sequences correlate with the distinctive functions of these proteins in the casein micelle system in milk.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Corticotroph cell pituitary adenoma within an ovarian teratoma. A new cause of Cushing's syndrome.

A 24-year-old woman with severe Cushing's syndrome was found to have corticotroph cell pituitary adenoma arising within a benign cystic ovarian teratoma. The patient manifested sustained hypercortisolemia and lack of suppression of either adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) or cortisol production. There was no evidence of a pituitary mass or secretion of other hormones. After careful clinical evaluation, no other tumor masses were found. Resection of the ovarian tumor led to normalization of ACTH and cortisol levels. Densely granulated corticotroph tumor cells with prominent Type I microfilaments and intracytoplasmic ACTH immunoreactivity characterized the neoplasm as a pituitary corticotroph cell adenoma. This is, to our knowledge, the first case reported of a functioning pituitary adenoma arising within a benign cystic teratoma.

ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic↗
PubMed1987

Co-purification of transforming growth factor beta-like activity with PTH-like and bone-resorbing activities from a tumor associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) is caused by a circulating bone-resorbing factor or factors. Suggestions as to the nature of this factor include PTH-like proteins, transforming growth factors, and bone-resorbing factors distinct from either of the first two classes of polypeptides. We investigated the occurrence of these three activities in a highly purified extract of the H-500 Leydig cell tumor which causes HHM when implanted into Fisher rats. PTH-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity (ACSA) was extracted from tumor tissue by sequential treatment with urea/HCl and ethanol/NaCl. Tumor extract was further purified by hydrophobic-interaction, gel-filtration, and reverse-phase HPLC steps to a specific activity of 1038 ng eq bPTH(1-34)/mg protein. Only the fraction pool containing ACSA demonstrated significant bone-resorbing (1.78-fold over basal) and transforming growth factor activity (epidermal growth factor (EGF)-dependent colony formation in soft agar suspension by NRK-49F indicator cells). A subsequent reverse-phase HPLC step produced material which contained both ACSA and transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta)-like activity in a single fraction. Whether the responsible mediator in this animal model has TGF beta-like properties as well as PTH-like and bone-resorbing activity remains to be determined.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1987

Skin-derived fibroblasts respond to human parathyroid hormone-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating proteins.

Human tumors and keratinocyte-conditioned medium contain PTH-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating proteins. Human dermal fibroblasts have receptors that recognize PTH and a factor associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy in rats. We examined 10 human dermal fibroblast lines for an adenylate cyclase response to PTH. Six of 10 lines tested displayed a definite response (2.4- to 3.8-fold over basal) to 10(-6) M bovine PTH-(1-34). This response was inhibited by the PTH analog and antagonist Nle8,18,Tyr34-bPTH-(3-34). We also examined whether human dermal fibroblasts are capable of responding to either a human PTH-like tumor-derived factor or the PTH-like factor contained in human keratinocyte-conditioned medium. Both human humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy-associated tumor extract (2.5 X 10(-10) M) and keratinocyte-conditioned medium (8 X 10(-10) M) stimulated human dermal fibroblast adenylate cyclase. These concentrations are markedly lower than those required for PTH-induced adenylate cyclase stimulation. This activity was also inhibited by the PTH analog. The high prevalence of PTH-responsive adenylate cyclase in dermal fibroblast lines and the apparent potency of tumor-derived and keratinocyte-derived PTH-like factors in dermal fibroblasts suggest that these factors may play a role in normal dermal physiology.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1986

Evolution of the casein multigene family: conserved sequences in the 5' flanking and exon regions.

The rat alpha- and bovine alpha s1-casein genes have been isolated and their 5' sequences determined. The rat alpha-, beta-, gamma- and bovine alpha s1-casein genes contain similar 5' exon arrangements in which the 5' noncoding, signal peptide and casein kinase phosphorylation sequences are each encoded by separate exons. These findings support the hypothesis that during evolution, the family of casein genes arose by a process involving exon recruitment followed by intragenic and intergenic duplication of a primordial gene. Several highly conserved regions in the first 200 base pairs of the 5' flanking DNA have been identified. Additional sequence homology extending up to 550 base pairs upstream of the CAP site has been found between the rat alpha- and bovine alpha s1-casein sequences. Unexpectedly, the 5' flanking promoter regions are conserved to a greater extent than both the entire mature coding and intron regions of these genes. These conserved 5' flanking sequences may contain potential cis regulatory elements which are responsible for the coordinate expression of the functionally-related casein genes during mammary gland development.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

A parathyroid hormone-like protein from cultured human keratinocytes.

Parathyroid hormone-like factors have been found in extracts of tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy, many of which are of squamous epithelial origin. Cultured, nonmalignant human keratinocytes were examined for the production of similar factors. Keratinocyte-conditioned medium from ten cultures stimulated the production of cyclic adenosine monophosphate in clonally derived rat osteosarcoma cells sensitive to parathyroid hormone. Bovine [Nle8,18, Tyr34]PTH-(3-34)NH2, a competitive inhibitor of parathyroid hormone, stopped the adenylate cyclase production stimulated by keratinocyte-conditioned medium, but antisera to parathyroid hormone had no effect on such adenylate cyclase activity. The active component of keratinocyte-conditioned medium has a molecular weight exceeding that of native parathyroid hormone. These characteristics are shared by the parathyroid hormone receptor agonists associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy, which suggests that normal human keratinocytes may produce a factor related to that produced by malignant tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1986

Frequency and partial characterization of adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity in tumors associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

Parathyroid hormone-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity (ACSA) has previously been identified in small numbers of tumors or tumor-conditioned tissue culture medium derived from patients or animals with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM). We examined the frequency with which this ACSA occurred in a large group of tumor extracts derived from patients with HHM (n = 20), and compared this to three control groups: normocalcemia-associated tumors (n = 20), hypercalcemic control tumors (n = 7), and normal, nonmalignant tissue samples (n = 10). Eighteen of 20 HHM-associated tumor extracts displayed ACSA whereas only 4 of 37 controls contained detectable ACSA. ACSA in one tumor was partially purified, using sequential extraction steps and reverse-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography. Highly purified ACSA (4800-fold) also contained potent in vitro bone-resorbing activity. The molecular weight as assessed by gel filtration was approximately 40,000 D. These findings provide strong support for the thesis that the humoral factor which is responsible for the syndrome of HHM is a parathyroid hormone-like adenylate cyclase-stimulating protein.

Animals↗