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Biomedical subjects

B Wang

Publications and source records attributed to B Wang.

At least 811 records · Page 45Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Convergence of somatic and visual afferent impulses in the Wulst of pigeon.

In 79 pigeons, unit discharges of Wulst neurons responding to bilateral stimulation of N. radialis and N. sciaticus and to bilateral light flashes were recorded. Of 178 such neurons, 55 showed multisensory convergence of various types: 40 of these were somatic convergent neurons, characterized as 3 types; three were binocular convergent cells; and twelve were bimodal (visual-somatosensory) convergent neurons. Of these neurons, the convergent action was either inhibitory or excitatory. These results suggest that the Wulst may function as an important centre for integrating visual and somatic sensory information.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1993

Induction of an adaptive response to dominant lethality and to chromosome damage of mouse germ cells by low dose radiation.

In the present paper, dominant lethal mutations, chromosome aberrations in spermatocytes and reciprocal translocations in stem spermatogonia were analyzed after whole body exposure of mice to X-radiation. Results both from chromosome aberrations in spermatocytes and for reciprocal translocations in spermatogonia showed that pre-exposure to low doses up to 200 mGy could induce a significant dose-dependent reduction in adapted mice compared to the non-adapted mice; the lower the adaptive dose, the greater the reduction. For dominant lethal mutations, it was found that spermatogonia (both stem cells and differentiated cells) and spermatocytes adapted to 50 mGy X-rays could show an adaptive response, but spermatids and spermatozoa could not.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1993

New aspects of brain oxidative stress induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide.

Many diseases and aging may be associated with oxidative stress in the brain. However, the effects of oxidative stress in the brain should be more clearly described, especially in terms of effects on brain reduced glutathione (GSH). This issue was addressed by intracerebroventricular injection of a direct-acting oxidative stress inducing agent, tert-butylhydroperoxide. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels in the brain increased by as much as 90-fold during tert-butylhydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress. At the same time, brain GSH levels decreased. The brain appears to retain GSSG and not reduce it or export it efficiently. Vitamin E levels in the striatum increased during tert-butylhydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress. Aging alters the ability of the brain to detoxify an oxidative stress, in that 8-month-old mice retain GSSG in their brains much more than 2-month-old mice. Eight-month-old mice were much more susceptible to tert-butylhydroperoxide-induced toxicity than 2-month-old mice. This may indicate that aging makes the brain more susceptible to oxidative damage.

Aging↗
PubMed1993

Molecular cloning, expression, and biological characterization of an HTLV-II envelope glycoprotein: HIV-1 expression is permissive for HTLV-II-induced cell fusion.

The human T cell leukemia virus II (HTLV-II) is a type C retrovirus closely related to the human transforming retrovirus HTLV-I. In contrast to HTLV-I, the role of HTLV-II in human disease is controversial. However, HTLV-II infection has been documented in several cases of a clinically benign hairy cell leukemia and has also been suggested as a cofactor for HIV-1 disease progression. We report that an HTLV-II isolate (designated FLW) derived from a serum-positive white male can induce cell fusion and significant cytopathic effects in tissue culture. This HTLV-II isolate induced syncytium formation with human T and B cell lines, several human fibroblast cell lines, and, interestingly, HIV-1- and HIV-2-infected cell lines. To elucidate the role in the FLW envelope in this phenomenon, we have cloned the envelope glycoproteins gp46 and gp21 of this isolate. The envelope glycoproteins expressed in the absence of the rest of the viral genome were sufficient to drive syncytium formation in vitro, and preserved the cellular tropism for syncytium formation observed with the native retroviral isolate. Amino acid (aa) sequence analysis demonstrated 88% overall similarity with other HTLV-II envelope glycoproteins. Interestingly, only cells infected by HIV-I, but not parental H9 cells, form syncytia with FLW env-transfected cells as well as with HTLV-II/FLW-infected BJAB-WH cells. Furthermore, antibodies directed at the CD4 receptor failed to inhibit the induction of giant cell formation, implying that the FLW envelope protein was responsible for driving syncytium formation in this system. These observations may be important for the understanding of the processes involved in human retroviral-mediated syncytium formation and may suggest a mechanism whereby HTLV-II could influence the disease process in individuals dually infected with HIV-1 and HTLV-II.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Conserved motifs in rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue T-cell receptor beta chains.

Rheumatoid arthritis is genetically linked to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules (HLA-DR4 and related molecules) and characterized pathologically by high levels of HLA-DR expression and infiltration of proliferative of synovial tissue with CD4+ T lymphocytes. T-lymphocyte activation is driven by specific signaling through polymorphic alpha/beta T-cell receptors (TCRs) that are reactive with antigen-MHC complexes present at the sites of inflammation. We are interested in characterizing rheumatoid TCRs molecularly to ascertain potential binding surfaces for antigen+MHC in synovial tissue. Accordingly, we have recently investigated the TCR alpha and beta chain heterogeneity in a series of 10 rheumatoid synovia obtained at the time of joint surgery. The most frequently detected V beta families were V beta 12, 14, and 17, each of which was found in 80% of specimens. We report here the molecular cloning and sequence analysis of 20 cloned V beta segments amplified with a V beta 14 family-specific TCR primer, and six cloned V beta segments amplified with a V beta 17 family-specific TCR primer from four rheumatoid synovia. Comparison with the data base revealed that these sequences belonged to the closely related V beta 3, V beta 14, and V beta 17 families. Dominant clones were apparent in two of the individuals by the presence of identical V-D-J regions, suggesting an antigen-driven process. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed a conserved motif in the putative fourth hypervariable region or CDR4. Molecular modeling of this epitope suggests that charged side chains are available for binding to ligand structures (e.g., antigen, MHC, or superantigen). We suggest this epitope may play a role in the molecular pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Genetic infection induces protective in vivo immune responses.

Drug-induced abortive retroviral infection has been reported to induce both T-cell and B-cell immunity in vivo. We sought to analyze if replication-incompetent retroviruses could induce the development of similarly protective in vivo immune responses in a more desirable fashion. To evaluate retroviral transduction vaccination (genetic infection), a plasmid encoding human CD4 in a retroviral vector was transfected into the pA317 amphotropic retroviral packaging system. The resulting replication defective retrovirus was used to transduce BALB/c mice prior to tumor challenge with human CD4. Immunization elicited specific humoral and cellular anti-human CD4 responses. We evaluated anti-cell responses using a tumor model system. We observed that BALB/c mice challenged with SP2/0 lymphoma cells develop lethal tumors and die within 7 weeks of challenge. Cloned SP2/0 cells stably transfected with the human cell-surface antigen CD4 also develop tumors in naive mice and succumb to the tumors in a similar manner to SP2/0 inoculated animals. In contrast, CD4 retrovirus-transduced animals, when challenged with the CD4-expressing SP2/0 cells, demonstrated a low incidence of tumors and significantly enhanced survival compared to the mice immunized similarly with human CD8 retrovirus. These results establish an in vivo tumor challenge system with relevance to the development of protective in vivo immune responses, and indicate that genetic infection is a useful technique for inducing protective immunity.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

DNA inoculation induces neutralizing immune responses against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in mice and nonhuman primates.

DNA, or genetic, inoculation mimics aspects of attenuated vaccines in that synthesis of specific foreign proteins is accomplished in the host. These proteins can be processed and presented on the relevant major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens and ultimately become the subject of immune surveillance. Very recently, we have described the use of the new technology to generate immune responses in mice against the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope using a gp160 DNA construct. Further analysis of this technology specifically in regard to HIV vaccine design is clearly important. In this report, we describe the analysis of additional HIV constructs as immunogens in both mice and report the use of this genetic immunization technology in nonhuman primates. In these studies, successful seroconversion occurs in more than 70% of the mice following the second immunization with 100 micrograms of construct DNA; three and four immunizations result in routinely 100% seroconversion of the mice. Furthermore, the same strategy has successfully seroconverted primates following their second inoculation, resulting in the generation of both antiviral and neutralizing antibodies in this animal species. These studies are the first report of which we are aware that demonstrate successful immunization of nonhuman primates through genetic vaccination technology and the first to describe genetic immunization of primates against HIV antigens. This technology has relevance for the development of safe and efficacious immunization strategies against HIV because it provides for relevant antigen production in vivo without the use of infectious agents.

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMed1993

The updated electrostatic potential for cytosine completes the qualitative explanations of base alkylation regiochemistry.

The relationship between the structures of different alkylating agents and the relative extents to which they modify the oxygen and nitrogen centers of nucleic acid bases has been discussed in the literature from several points of view, although each effectively attributes the increasing preference for oxygen alkylation to the increasing importance of electrostatic interactions between the reacting moieties. This is in direct contradiction to the published electrostatic potential data for cytosine which indicate the most attractive potential to lie in the vicinity of the 3-nitrogen. However, we have discovered the latter to be an artefact of the use of inadequate levels of theory. When the electrostatic potentials of cytosine are computed using more sophisticated ab initio Hartree-Fock/6-31G* calculations the global minimum does indeed lie in the vicinity of the O2-position as required by the various rationalizations of the alkylation data.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1993

Influence of a small number of mature T cells in donor bone marrow inocula on reconstitution of lymphoid tissues and negative selection of a T cell repertoire in the recipient.

Allo-chimerism and clonal elimination of self antigen (Ag) (Ia + Mls-1a) reactive V beta 6+ T cells were analyzed and compared between allogeneic bone marrow (BM) chimeras reconstituted with BM cells which had been treated with anti-Thy-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) plus complement (C) (T- chimeras) and BM chimeras which had been reconstituted with BM cells pretreated with anti-Thy-1 mAb alone (T+ chimeras). When lethally irradiated AKR (Mls-1a) mice were reconstituted with BM cells from B10 or B10 H-2 congenic mice, both T+ and T- chimeras were entirely free of signs of graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR). However, complete replacement of the AKR lymphoid tissues by donor BM cells was accomplished at an early stage in T+ chimeras but not in T- chimeras. On the other hand, clonal elimination of V beta 6+ T cells reactive to the recipient Ag (Mls-1a) was abolished in T+ chimeras but successfully induced in T- chimeras. The V beta 6+ T cells not eliminated in T+ chimeras showed depressed responses against Mls-1a antigens. The findings herein demonstrate that T cells which contaminate a BM inoculum survive in recipient mice after treatment with anti-Thy-1 mAb without C in vitro followed by BMT. The surviving T cells have been estimated to represent fewer than 0.5% of the BM cells inoculated. These cells appear to accelerate the full replacement of recipient lymphoid tissues by donor cells. Furthermore, the T cells which survive in the marrow inoculum influence eventually the development of a tolerant state in the T cell repertoire of the donor.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Role of antigen-presenting cells in activation of human T cells by the streptococcal M protein superantigen: requirement for secreted and membrane-associated costimulatory factors.

The requirements for T-cell activation by the streptococcal superantigen (SAg), pepsin-extracted M protein from type 5 streptococci (pep M5), were studied by monitoring Ca2+ influx and cell proliferation. Cells from a pep M5-specific T-cell line showed no change in intracellular Ca2+ levels in response to pep M5 when added alone or with freshly isolated autologous antigen-presenting cells (APC). However, after being incubated with pep M5 overnight, the APC secreted soluble factors that together with pep M5 induced a marked increase in intracellular Ca2+ levels in pep M5-specific T cells or freshly isolated, purified T cells. Removal of the SAg from the overnight APC-derived supernatants resulted in loss of the Ca(2+)-mobilizing activity, which was restored within seconds of addition of SAg, suggesting that both the SAg and the soluble factors synergize to induce the Ca2+ influx. Induction of cell proliferation required additional signals inasmuch as the activated APC-derived supernatant failed to synergize with pep M5 to induce the proliferation of purified T cells and required the presence of phorbol myristate acetate for this activity. Metabolically inactive, fixed APC were impaired in their ability to present pep M5 to T cells. Presentation of pep M5 by fixed APC was, however, restored when the APC-derived soluble costimulatory factors were added to the culture. Our data suggest that pep M5-induced activation of T cells is dependent on APC-derived soluble factors and an APC membrane-associated costimulatory molecule(s). These interactions may be important in regulating the in vivo responses to M proteins, could contribute to the severity or progression of infections with Streptococcus pyogenes, and may influence the susceptibility of individuals to its associated nonsuppurative autoimmune sequelae.

Antigen-Presenting Cells↗
PubMed1993

[Sonographic appearance and diagnosis of Crohn's disease].

During a routine abdominal sonography, 16 patients with bowel wall thickening lesion were found to indicating have Crohn's disease of these, 14 were confirmed by surgery, pathology or fibrocolonoscopy. The accuracy of ultrasonic diagnosis was 87.5%. One of the main sonographic appea-raphic appearances was thickened bowel wall of 0.7-2.5 cm (averaging 1.09cm) which was more marked than that in ulcerative colitis, but less marked than that in colonic carcinoma. The diseased bowel segment was much longer than that in tumors. When mild thickening, particularly when localized in the ileocecal region or ascending colon, and in combination with anatomic superficial position, Crohn's disease should be considered.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Study on antibacterial proteins from rabbit bladder mucosa].

Acid-soluble extract of rabbit bladder mucosa was obtained by washing out the bladder of normal female New Zealand rabbit with 1% acetic acid in the presence of proteinase inhibitors. Acid urea polyacrylamide electrophoresis (AU-PAGE) analysis indicated that the extract had more than 10 main protein bands. The currently-known antibiotic peptides, e. g. lysozyme and defensin-like molecules were not found in this material. When tested for antibacterial activity by using ultrasensitive radial diffusion assay, the acid-soluble extract effectively killed E. coli ML-35P. The gel overlay assay showed that the anti-bacterial activity of the acid-soluble extract was relevant to two protein bands referred to as rabbit bladder protein 1 (Rab BP-1) and rabbit bladder protein 2 (Rab BP-2). The Rab BP-1 and Rab BP-2 accounted for 2.5% and 1.2% of the total acid-soluble extract proteins, respectively. These results suggest that the long recognized ability of the normal rabbit bladder wall to kill adherent E. coli may result from the presence of endogenous antibacterial proteins associated with its mucosa.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Spiral shaped bacteria in the human gastric biopsy].

Biopsy specimens from the gastric mucosa of 149 patients who underwent gastroduodenal endoscopy for upper gastrointestinal complaints were studied by light microscopy and culture. Spiral shaped bacteria were detected in four of the specimens by smears with Gram stain. The positive rate was 2.68%, but these bacteria and HP did not grow in culture. The characteristic helical morphology of the bacteria appears to be similar to that of the bacteria found in the stomach of cats and dogs. And what of significance in these cases is the presence of spiral shaped bacteria in association with chronic gastritis.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[The establishment of genomic DNA libraries for the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum].

The DNA of Plasmodium falciparum has been purified and fragmented with restriction endonuclease BamHI. The fragments have been incorporated in vitro into derivatives of bacteriophage lambda EMBL4 digested with BamHI and Sal I. The recombinant mixture has been ligated and packaged in vitro. The recombinant phages have been identified in E. coli L95 host cell and the libraries have been established in which most of the parasite DNA is represented. The ligation proportion of vector to insert is 3:1. The recombinant phages of 4 x 10(5) have been obtained. By plaque hybridization, we have been able to recover from these libraries specific clones containing repetitive DNA sequences.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Isolation and identification of two new saponins from Bupleurum smithii Wolff].

Two new saikosaponins of oleanane type were isolated from the roots of Bupleurum smithii Wolff, collected in Minhe County, Qinghai, namely saikosaponin k (VIb) and saikosaponin 1 (VIII). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis of UV, IR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR and FAB-MS. Saikosaponin k (VIb) was identified as 3 beta, 16 beta, 23,28-tetrahydroxyoleana-11,13(18)-dien-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta- D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-fucopyranoside, and saikosaponin 1 (VIII) as 3 beta, 16 alpha, 23,28,30-pentahydroxyoleana-11,13(18)-dien-3-O-beta-D- glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-fucopyranoside, respectively.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal↗
PubMed1993

[Rat bladder ubiquitin-like molecule: isolation, purification and N-terminal sequencing].

A Ubiquitin-like peptide was accidentally isolated from rat bladder by using 5% acetic acid wash while we were isolating antibacterial peptides. The purified molecule was obtained by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. Gas phase microsequence analysis indicated the N-terminal sequences of the molecule as follows: MET-GLN-ILE-PHE-VAL-LYS-THR-LEU-THR-GLY-LYS-THR-ILE-THR-LEU- GLU-VAL-GLU-PRO-SER-ASP-THR-ILE-GLU-ASN, which is homologous to human ubiquitin. Ubiquitin plays a role in the differentiation of pre-B lymphocytes, Thus, it is suggested from the findings of this molecule and the endogenous antibacterial polypeptides in mucosa or mucosal epithelium that mucosal epithelium also might be one of immune cells or immunity-associated cells, which may secrete effector molecules directly to kill adherent microbes and produce regulating factors in mucosal immune response.

Amino Acid Sequence↗