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Biomedical subjects

A Ray

Publications and source records attributed to A Ray.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Adrenergic-cholinergic interactions in left atria: a study using K+ channel agonists, antagonist and pertussis toxin.

1. The role of activation of potassium conductance in the antagonism by the muscarinic agonist carbachol of positive inotropic responses to alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor stimulation was studied in electrically driven left atrial strips of the rabbit. 2. The potassium channel antagonist, 4-aminopyridine, attenuated the direct negative inotropic response to carbachol and the reversal by carbachol of positive inotropic responses to the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (in the presence of timolol). The inhibitory effect of carbachol on positive inotropic responses to the beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline was much less affected by 4-aminopyridine. 3. Pretreatment of rabbits with pertussis toxin also attenuated the direct negative inotropic response to carbachol and the inhibitory effect of carbachol on positive inotropic responses to phenylephrine. 4. Neither carbachol nor phenylephrine, alone or in combination, had any effect on left atrial adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) levels. 5. The potassium channel agonist, pinacidil, exerted a dose-dependent negative inotropic response in rabbit left atria and reversed positive inotropic responses to phenylephrine and isoprenaline. In the dose-range tested, pinacidil had a greater inhibitory effect on positive inotropic responses to phenylephrine than on positive inotropic responses to isoprenaline. 6. Pretreatment of left atria with pinacidil or cromakalim, another potassium channel agonist, antagonized positive inotropic responses to phenylephrine but not to isoprenaline. 7. These results suggest that activation of potassium conductance plays an important role in the inhibition by carbachol of positive inotropic responses of rabbit left atria to phenylephrine but not to isoprenaline.

4-Aminopyridine↗
PubMed1990

On the mechanism for efficient repression of the interleukin-6 promoter by glucocorticoids: enhancer, TATA box, and RNA start site (Inr motif) occlusion.

The feedback inhibition of interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene expression by glucocorticoids represents a regulatory link between the endocrine and immune systems. The mechanism of the efficient repression of the IL-6 promoter by dexamethasone (Dex) was investigated in HeLa cells transiently transfected with plasmid constructs containing different IL-6 promoter elements linked to the herpesvirus thymidine kinase gene (tk) promoter and the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene (cat) and cotransfected with cDNA vectors constitutively expressing either the active wild-type or inactive mutant human glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The induction by interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor, phorbol ester, or forskolin of IL-6-tk-cat chimeric constructs containing a single copy of the IL-6 DNA segment from -173 to -151 (MRE I) or from -158 to -145 (MRE II), which derive from within the multiple cytokine- and second-messenger-responsive enhancer (MRE) region, was strongly repressed by Dex in a wild-type GR-dependent fashion irrespective of the inducer used. The induction by pseudorabies virus of an IL-6 construct containing the IL-6 TATA box and the RNA start site ("initiator" or Inr element) but not the MRE region was also repressed by Dex in the presence of wild-type GR. DNase I footprinting showed that the purified DNA-binding fragment of GR bound across the MRE, the TATA box, and the Inr site in the IL-6 promoter; this footprint overlapped that produced by proteins present in nuclear extracts from uninduced or induced HeLa cells. Imperfect palindromic nucleotide sequence motifs moderately related to the consensus GR-responsive element (GRE) motif were present at the Inr, the TATA box, and the MRE II site in the IL-6 promoter; although MRE I and a GR-binding site between -201 and -210 in IL-6 both lacked a discernible inverted repeat motif, their sequences showed considerable similarity with negative GRE sequences in other Dex-repressed genes. Surprisingly, chimeric genes containing MRE II, which lacks a recognizable GACGTCA cyclic AMP- and phorbol ester-responsive motif, were strongly induced by both phorbol ester and forskolin, suggesting that MRE II (ACATTGCACAATCT) may be the prototype of a novel cyclic AMP- and phorbol ester-responsive element. Taken together, these observations suggest that ligand-activated GR represses the IL-6 gene by occlusion not only of the inducible IL-6 MRE enhancer region but also of the basal IL-6 promoter elements.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Possible prostaglandin-dopamine interactions during experimental gastric ulcer formation.

The effects of dopamine (DA) agonists and antagonists were investigated on indomethacin--and restraint stress (6 hr at RT)--induced gastric ulcer formation in rats. The DA-agonists, apomorphine and bromocryptine (both at 5 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the frequency and severity of gastric mucosal lesions in both experimental models. The DA-antagonist, haloperidol (0.05 and 1.0 mg/kg) aggravated the gastric ulcerogenesis of both indomethacin and stress, the effects with the lower dose being statistically significant. Haloperidol (0.05 mg/kg) also prevented the cytoprotective effects of apomorphine on indomethacin-ulcers. The atypical DA-antagonist, sulpiride (10 and 50 mg/kg), however, showed differential dose- and model-specific effects. Whereas, the lower dose attenuated indomethacin-ulcers, the higher dose (50 mg/kg) tended to aggravate this phenomenon. The trend of results were reversed in the restraint stress model. Indomethacin (1 mg/kg) aggravated stress-ulcers, an effect which was also appreciably neutralised by apomorphine (5 mg/kg) pretreatment. These results are discussed in light of possible prostaglandin-DA interactions during such experimental gastric pathology.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Non-specific vaginitis vis-a-vis Gardnerella vaginalis.

One hundred patients of vaginitis along with 50 age matched control women were studied. Non-specific vaginitis (NSV) was diagnosed on the basis of the presence of at least any three of the four parameters which included presence of thin gray homogeneous discharge, pH of the discharge greater than or equal to 4.5, liberation of fishy odour from the discharge after adding 10 per cent KOH and presence of clue cells Using these criteria, NSV was diagnosed in 22 of the 100 patients and in 4 of 50 control women. Gardnerella vaginalis was cultured from 23 of the 26 women with NSV and 19 women without NSV (8 patients and 11 normal women). Women with NSV showed statistically significant difference in the presence of clue cells, amine test positivity and concentration of G. vaginalis as compared to women without NSV.

Amines↗
PubMed1990

Calcium-dependent protein phosphorylation in Babesia bovis and its role in growth regulation.

Intracellular growth of protozoan parasite Babesia bovis has been followed to study the effect of some chemical agents on growth regulation. Using an in vitro parasite culture system we present evidence that the normal growth of the parasite is dependent upon available calcium and a Ca2(+)-binding protein, calmodulin, because sequestration of either of these 2 components from the culture medium causes inhibition of parasitic growth. Further studies demonstrate that the parasite contains a protein kinase that can phosphorylate a 40-kDa parasitic protein and its activity is regulated by calcium and calmodulin. Both the enzyme and its substrate are present in the membrane of the parasite. In addition, the parasite also contains a highly active protein kinase C activity that is documented by phosphorylating histone, a known substrate for protein kinase C. These findings suggest a possible correlation between the growth of parasite and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphorylation activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Stress fractures of the tibia: uncommon mechanical complication of osteoarthritis of the knee. Report of 3 cases].

Three cases are reported of spontaneous fracture of the tibia complicating osteoarthritis of the knee with genu varum. These fractures, which are very rare, with only eight cases published in the literature, seem to be associated with severe osteoarthritis in small, obese women. They usually progress to union with simple relief from weight-bearing but non-union may develop which makes the treatment of the causative osteoarthritis more difficult. A review of the published cases helped the indications for treatment to be defined.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Rapid detection and sequencing of alleles in the 3' flanking region of the interleukin-6 gene.

The 3' flanking region of the interleukin 6 gene is polymorphic due to insertions of different size. Within this region lies a sequence of approximately 500 base pairs that is AT rich. Based on flanking sequence information we have constructed oligonucleotides which prime the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and amplify this AT rich region. The amplification products visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis gave fragment sizes for both homozygous and heterozygous individuals that were concordant with those observed by conventional genomic blotting techniques. Alleles that could not be typed by Southern analysis were resolved with this approach. These results illustrate the value of PCR for the rapid detection of length polymorphisms such as those due to variable numbers of tandem repeats. In contrast to RFLP analysis this procedure takes less than a day to perform, is cheaper, avoids the use of radioactivity and requires far less substrate DNA. Three different human alleles were sequenced, and differences were detected that were due to both large duplications and loss of one or two bases, suggesting that AT rich regions identify highly polymorphic loci. The same primers also amplified non-human primate DNA, allowing a comparison of the human sequence with that of the common chimpanzee and baboon.

Alleles↗
PubMed1989

Interleukin-6 gene expression in human endothelial cells: RNA start sites, multiple IL-6 proteins and inhibition of proliferation.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine which is not only produced by a wide variety of different cells but one which also affects the function of diverse tissues. We have studied the expression of the IL-6 gene in freshly explanted human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and have also evaluated the effect of IL-6 on HUVEC proliferation. Cytokines like interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) as well as bacterial products such as the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) rapidly enhance production of biologically active IL-6 by HUVEC (IL-6 bioassay: increase in alpha 1-antichymotrypsin secretion by Hep3B2 cells and its neutralization by antiserum to E. coli-derived human IL-6). The two inducible RNA start sites in the IL-6 gene that are used in cytokine-induced fibroblasts (at +1 and -21) are also used in the same relative proportion (+1 greater than -21) in cytokine or LPS-induced HUVEC as determined by S1-nuclease protection assays for IL-6 transcripts. Immunoaffinity chromatography followed by Western blotting shows that IL-6 species secreted by IL-1 alpha-induced HUVEC are of molecular mass 23-25, 27-30 and 45 kDa as judged by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. Finally, rIL-6 inhibits [3H]-thymidine incorporation by HUVEC in a dose-dependent manner. Thus IL-6 is not only produced by HUVEC but may also affect its proliferation. The ability of the vascular endothelium to rapidly secrete IL-6 in response to inflammation-associated cytokines is of strategic value since it generates a circulatory signal which helps mobilize the acute phase plasma protein response and enlists the immune system in host defence.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1989

Biochemical and pharmacological evidence for central cholinergic regulation of shock-induced aggression in rats.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was estimated in brain and heart homogenates and plasma of 'aggressive' and 'nonaggressive' rats. Brain homogenates of 'nonaggressive' rats hydrolyzed significantly more substrate when compared to the 'aggressive' rats. Such differences were not seen in the heart homogenates or plasma of these two groups of rats. Acute DFP (0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg) attenuated shock-induced aggression (SIA) 2 hr after treatment but facilitated SIA 24 hr and 48 hr after drug administration. Long-term DFP (0.3 mg/kg x 10 days), on the other hand, induced a significant enhancement in the SIA score, whereas atropine (1.0 and 5.0 mg/kg) produced a dose-related attenuation of the same. Pretreatment of rats with atropine (5 mg/kg) antagonized the long-term DFP-induced facilitation of SIA. These results are discussed in the light of an inhibitory central cholinergic mechanism in the regulation of SIA.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1989

The GABA/benzodiazepine receptor complex in the central amygdalar nucleus and stress ulcers in rats.

The effects of bilateral microinjections of chlordiazepoxide and GABA into the central amygdalar nucleus on gastric ulcer formation induced by cold-restraint were examined in chronically implanted Wistar rats. Higher doses of chlordiazepoxide (20 and 30 micrograms/amygdala) significantly reduced stress ulcer development, whereas a lower dose (2.5 micrograms) produced a nonsignificant increase in ulcer severity. A similar dose/response pattern was observed following GABA administration. The benzodiazepine receptor antagonist Ro15-1788, applied to the amygdala, abolished the protective effects of both chlordiazepoxide and GABA. In addition, when Ro15-1788 (10 micrograms) was injected into the amygdala by itself, it aggravated the gastric stress pathology. However, a lower dose (5 micrograms) had an attenuating effect, opposite to the pattern of effects produced by chlordiazepoxide and GABA. The role of the amygdalar GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex in stressful conditions is discussed.

Amygdala↗
PubMed1989

A DNA double chain break stimulates triparental recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Mitotic recombination between his3 heteroalleles on heterologous chromosomes is stimulated by a DNA double chain break delivered in vivo at a site 8.6 kilobase pairs distant from one his3 allele and unlinked to the other. The induced recombination at his3 is accompanied by gap repair at the break site using the uncut homolog as a template. The DNA between the break site and his3 is not deleted in most of the His+ recombinants.

DNA, Fungal↗
PubMed1989

Reappearance of CD1a antigenic sites after endocytosis on human Langerhans cells evidenced by immunogoldrelabeling.

We show evidence of the reappearance of CD1a antigenic sites on the surface of human isolated Langerhans cells after internalization of CD1a antigen/CD1a monoclonal antibody (BL6) complexes. The internalization was visualized by immunogoldlabeling, and the reappearance of CD1a binding sites was shown by immunogoldrelabeling. The relabeling was distinguished from the labeling either by using two sizes of gold granules (15 and 5 nm) or by quantitative estimation with one size of gold granules, before and after the relabeling. This reappearance of sites is cycloheximide insensitive, and is evidenced, even if the transfer of gold particles to lysosomes is blocked by the monensin. These results suggest that the reexpression of CD1a antigens is due to antigens stored in the cytoplasm or to recycling of internalized sites. Some immunolabeled Birbeck granules were observed in continuity with the plasma membrane, which demonstrates their membrane origin and their involvement in the endocytosis process. However, the weak labeling of these organelles makes us believe that they are not specialized CD1a endocytosis structures.

Antigens↗
PubMed1989

A multiple cytokine- and second messenger-responsive element in the enhancer of the human interleukin-6 gene: similarities with c-fos gene regulation.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a major systemic alarm signal that indicates the occurrence of tissue damage. The IL-6 gene is induced in various cell types by serum, inflammation-associated cytokines, viruses, and second-messenger agonists. There is an overall functional similarity between IL-6 and c-fos promoters, since transfection of excess amounts of either promoter DNA into intact HeLa cells modulates the function of the heterologous promoter construct. Furthermore, the transcription regulatory factor Fos transrepresses both the IL-6 and c-fos promoters. The 115-base pair (bp) region from -225 to -111 in the IL-6 5'-flanking region, which shares nucleotide sequence similarity with the c-fos serum response (SRE) and adjacent AP-1-like (the CGTCA motif) elements, confers responsiveness to several reagents, including serum, forskolin, and phorbol ester, upon the heterologous herpesvirus thymidine kinase (TK) promoter. In gel shift assays using nuclear extracts from HeLa cells, the 115-bp IL-6 enhancer formed several complexes that (i) were increased when extracts from induced HeLa cells were used and (ii) were inhibited most efficiently by the fos E DNA fragment (-700 to -100) and by c-fos oligonucleotides containing an intact AP-1-like site (the CGTCA motif). The 23-bp oligonucleotide designated AR1 from within the IL-6 enhancer region (-173 to -151) contains a CGTCA motif and bound nuclear proteins that also associated with c-fos oligonucleotides containing either an intact SRE or AP-1-like site. A single copy of AR1 inserted upstream of the herpesvirus TK promoter rendered this heterologous promoter inducible by IL-1 alpha, tumor necrosis factor, and serum as well as by activators of the protein kinase A (forskolin) and protein kinase C (phorbol ester) signal transduction pathways. Mutations in the AP-1-like site within AR1 (CGTCA----GTTCA) decreased inducibility of the chimeric IL-6/TK/chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene by phorbol ester and by forskolin but not by serum, IL-1 alpha, or tumor necrosis factor. These data not only show that the AR1 segment from within the IL-6 enhancer binds nuclear proteins that also bind to c-fos regulatory elements but also demonstrate that a single copy of this 23-bp element is functionally sufficient to confer responsiveness to a variety of inducers and thus define a multiple-response element.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Effect of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists and some related drugs on maximal electroshock seizures in mice.

(+/-) Propranolol (1-50 mg/kg), (+) propranolol (50 mg/kg) and pindolol (10-50 mg/kg) exhibited significant protective effects against MES (maximum electroshock seizures), whereas, timolol (1 mg/kg), the propranolol analog, UM-272 (1 and 10 mg/kg), and the beta-agonist, terbutaline (1 and 10 mg/kg) were ineffective. Cholinergic agents, physostigmine (0.01-1.0 mg/kg), and atropine (1 and 10 mg/kg), the serotonin antagonist, cyproheptadine (0.05 mg/kg), and the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin (10 mg/kg), were also without effect on the MES extensor phase. Further, pretreatment of mice with terbutaline, atropine, cyproheptadine or indomethacin did not influence the anti-MES effect of propranolol to any significant extent. The results indicate that the observed anticonvulsant effects of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists are unrelated to noradrenergic or other central neurotransmitter systems and that a non-specific mechanism, probably a membrane stabilizing effect is involved.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗