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B Wu

Publications and source records attributed to B Wu.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[The role of G protein, protein kinase C and Na(+)-H+ exchanger in endothelin-1-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophic responses].

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been shown to be a potent growth factor and to induce cardiac hypertrophy. In the present study, we examined the role of G protein, protein kinase C (PKC) and Na(+)-H+ exchanger in ET-1-induced cardiac hypertrophy in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. ET-1 (10(-10)-10(-7) mol/L) induced promotion of 3H-leucine incorporation, increase in cell protein content and cell surface area in a dose-dependent manner with EC50 value of 5.2 x 10(-10), 5.2 x 10(-10) and 7.3 x 10(-10) mol/L respectively. All of these ET-1-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophic responses were completely blocked by pretreatment with staurosporine (2 nmol/L), a protein kinase C inhibitor, and stimulated by 4-phorbol, 12-myristate, 13-acetate (PMA) (10(-8)-10(-6) mol/L), a protein kinase C activator, in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment of amiloride (10(-4) mol/L), a Na(+)-H+ exchange inhibitor completely inhibited the ET-1-induced, but not PMA-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophic responses. The ET-1-induced increase in cardiomyocyte protein synthesis and cell surface area was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with pertussis toxin (150 ng/ml). These results suggest that ET-1-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was linked with pertussis toxin sensitive G protein, and PKC and Na(+)-H+ exchange may be an important intracellular signaling transduction pathway during ET-1-induced cardiac hypertrophy in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Determination algorithms in oscillometric blood pressure measurement].

This paper discusses the method of oscillometric blood pressure determination. A new criterion for systolic pressure and diastolic pressure determination has been proposed, which is based on ratio changes of the oscillation amplitude under a wide normalized range. Primary experiment results show the new criterion is effective.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1998

[Determination of net analyte emission intensity and signal-background ratio of Mg, Cr, Cd and Mn in Ar-air mixed coolant gas ICP].

The dependence of net analyte emission intensity and signal-background ratio on coolant gas composition and observation heights for 8 lines of four elements (Mg, Cr, Cd and Mn) in Ar-air mixed coolant gas ICP was measured under the similar condition as that in the low power Ar-ICP with a commercial sequential plasma spectrometer. Further, the detection limits under compromise conditions were estimated. The results show that ion lines and neutral atom lines with high excitation energy have maximum intensity and are more intense than those in the Ar-ICP, when 5-10% air is added to the coolant flow. The intensity of neutral atom lines with low excitation energy drops gradually as air is added to coolant flow. The signal-background ratio of analyte lines depends upon excitation energy and wavelength.

English Abstract↗
PubMed1998

A family-based analysis of the association of the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) with alcoholism.

The possible association of the DRD2 locus, and in particular the Taql-A1 allele, with alcoholism remains controversial, in part because of differences in allele frequencies among populations. To avoid problems associated with differences in allele frequencies in different populations, we tested whether the DRD2 locus is associated with alcohol dependence in a large family-based sample. Neither the transmission/disequilibrium test nor the Affected Family-Based Controls test provide any evidence of linkage or association between the DRD2 locus and alcohol dependence.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1998

Acute transverse myelitis in systemic lupus erythematosus: a case of rapid diagnosis and complete recovery.

Acute transverse myelitis is a rare and serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. Delay in diagnosis and treatment is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Earlier diagnosis is facilitated by magnetic resonance imaging. Treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus-related acute transverse myelitis remains controversial. The use of steroids alone may result in incomplete recovery. We report a patient who was promptly diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus-related acute transverse myelitis by magnetic resonance imaging. The patient had complete resolution of her symptoms following aggressive treatment with steroids and cyclophosphamide. Review of published treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus-related acute transverse myelitis suggests aggressive therapy with steroids and cyclophosphamide may provide the best outcome.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

Inhibition effect of transgenic tobacco plants expressing snowdrop lectin on the population development of Myzus persicae.

The cDNAs of snowdrop lectin mature protein and its precursor protein, GNA12 and GNA34, were inserted downstream of a 35S promoter with a double enhancer and a "omega" fragment of TMV-RNA cDNA in the binary vector pBin438, or the phloem-specific CoYMV promoter in the vector pBcop1, respectively, resulting in the construction of four plant expression vectors pBGna12, pBGna34, pBCGna12, and pBCGna34. Leaf stripes of Nicotiana tabacum var. K326 were transformed with A. tumefaciens LBA4404 harboring the above expression vectors, respectively. PCR and Southern blot analysis showed that foreign GNA genes were inserted into the genome of transformed tobacco plants. Western blot analysis indicated that GNA could be expressed efficiently up to 0.08-0.15% of total soluble proteins in transgenic tobacco plants with pBGna34 or pBCGna34, while in those with pBGna12 and pBCGna12 GNA were hardly detected by immunoassay. The results from insect bioassay with a peach aphid (Myzus persicae) demonstrated that the transgenic plants of pBGna34 and pBCGna34 were aphid-resistant as shown by a 45-60% reduction in insect population density, with some individual transgenic lines being reduced by over 90%. In addition, it was evident that the 35S promoter with a double enhancer and CoYMV promoter had similar abilities to direct the GNA gene to express in transgenic tobacco plants, but because the CoYMV promoter drives the foreign gene in a phloem-specific expression manner, the transgenic plants of pBCGna34 showed higher aphid resistance.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Human immunodeficiency virus-related progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with a CD4+ of 444 per mm3: a case report.

A 47-year-old homosexual man with human immunodeficiency virus infection and CD4+ cell count of 444 per mm3, and with a viral load of 95,720 copies per mL, developed a rapidly progressive cerebellar lesion one month after undergoing coronary artery bypass graft. Diagnostic data were unremarkable with the exception of the magnetic resonance imaging that revealed multiple subcortical and cerebellar lesions consistent with a demyelinating process. The patient died within two months. Postmortem examination of the cerebellum revealed acute phase progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. This case demonstrates that multifocal leukoencephalopathy must be considered in HIV+ patients in the setting of neurologic deterioration with radiographic evidence of demyelination regardless of CD4+ count.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1998

Bone and mineral abnormalities in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: influence of disease, drugs and nutrition.

In children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), abnormalities in mineral homeostasis and bone mass were first reported by our group in the late 1980s. Prospective longitudinal cohort studies in 40 consecutive patients receiving treatment according to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) protocol 87-001 and 16 children receiving DFCI protocol 91-001 afforded us the opportunity to explore various etiologies of the observed abnormalities in mineral and bone metabolism, specifically the leukemic disease process and chemotherapeutic drugs such as steroids and aminoglycoside antibiotics. At diagnosis of ALL, > 70% of children had abnormally low plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, 73% had low osteocalcin and 64% had hypercalciuria, indicating an effect of the leukemic process on vitamin D metabolism and bone turnover. During remission induction, treatment with high-dose steroid (prednisone or dexamethasone) resulted in further reduction in plasma osteocalcin and elevated parathyroid hormone levels. During 24 months of chemotherapy-maintained remission, reduction in bone mineral content (BMC), as measured by Z-scores, occurred in 64% of children, most severely affecting those > 11 years of age. A reduction in BMC during the first 6 months had a positive predictive value of 64% for subsequent fracture. By the end of 2 years of therapy, fractures occurred in 39% of children and radiographic evidence of osteopenia was found in 83% of the entire study group. Investigations of the biochemical basis of the bone abnormalities revealed that by 6 months hypomagnesemia developed in 84% of children (of whom 52% were hypermagnesuric) and plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D remained abnormally low in 70%. Altered magnesium status was attributed to renal wastage of magnesium following cyclical prednisone therapy and treatment with aminoglycoside antibiotics such as amikacin for fever accompanying neutropenia. Dietary intake and absorption of magnesium were normal. In 10 children treated for hypomagnesemia with supplemental magnesium for up to 16-20 weeks, plasma magnesium normalized in only 50% of subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

In vitro organogenesis of liver tissue.

The high metabolic rate of hepatocytes severely limits the mass of cells which can be transplanted without a vascular supply. We are developing an alternative approach in which vascularized tissue is grown ex vivo for anastamosis into the portal vein. Here, we discuss the key design issues for in vitro organogenesis of vascularized hepatic tissue, describe a fabrication approach for making complex degradable polymer scaffolds to organize cells in three dimensions on the scale of hundreds of microns, and demonstrate the feasibility of using these scaffolds for in vitro tissue organization in mixed-cell cultures.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding the neuropeptides APGWamide and cerebral peptide 1: localization of APGWamide-like immunoreactivity in the central nervous system and male reproductive organs of Aplysia.

While much is known about the neural and endocrine mechanisms that control egg laying in the gastropod mollusk Aplysia, relatively little is known about the regulation of male reproductive activity in this simultaneous hermaphrodite. In the present study, we have cloned and sequenced a cDNA that encodes a precursor protein, the predicted posttranslational processing of which presumably generates nine copies of the neuropeptide Ala-Pro-Gly-Trp-NH2 (APGWamide), five connecting peptide sequences, and a C-terminal peptide. The sequence of one connecting peptide is identical to the previously characterized cerebral peptide 1. Northern blot analysis identified two major APGWamide mRNA transcripts (approximately 1.3 kb, approximately 2.4 kb), which were present in central nervous system ganglia, but were most abundant in the right cerebral and right pedal ganglia. Immunohistochemical studies using sexually mature Aplysia demonstrated that the vast majority of APGWamide-like immunoreactivity was localized in 30-40 neurons along the anterior and medial margins of the right cerebral ganglion and in a cluster of 15-20 neurons in the right pedal ganglion. A total of only about ten immunoreactive neurons were located in other ganglia. Immunohistochemistry also demonstrated that APGWamide was present in the reproductive organs that participate in the storage or transport of sperm, including the small hermaphroditic duct (site of sperm storage before mating), the white hemiduct (also known as the copulatory duct), and penial complex. As a group, these data suggest that APGWamide may play a role in regulating male reproductive function in Aplysia, as it does in other gastropods.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Tolerance to a dominant T cell epitope in the acetylcholine receptor molecule induces epitope spread and suppresses murine myasthenia gravis.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a T cell-dependent, Ab-mediated autoimmune disease. T cells reactive to a dominant peptide alpha 146-162 of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) alpha subunit participate in murine MG pathogenesis. To suppress the autoimmune response to AChR, a high dose of alpha146-162 peptide in IFA was administered parenterally as a tolerogen, after the development of a primary T cell immune response to AChR. This form of AChR T cell peptide tolerance suppressed the in vitro T cell proliferative response to AChR and its dominant alpha146-162 and subdominant alpha182-198 peptides through epitope spread. Administration of alpha146-162 peptide in IFA after the primary immune response to AChR also significantly suppressed the serum anti-AChR Ab of the IgG2b isotype and clinical incidence of MG in C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, the production of IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IL-10 cytokines by AChR, alpha146-162, and alpha182-198 peptide-reactive cells was suppressed by alpha146-162 peptide tolerance, and the epitope spread observed could be attributed to the reduction in the above cytokine production. Therefore, AChR T cell-dominant peptide tolerance could be adapted in the Ag-specific therapy of MG.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis in B10.BV8S2 transgenic mice: preferential usage of TCRAV1 gene by lymphocytes responding to acetylcholine receptor.

Multiple TCRBV genes have been implicated in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) pathogenesis in susceptible H-2(b) strains of mice. We studied the contribution of specific TCRBV and AV genes in EAMG pathogenesis using B10.BV8S2 transgenic mice (H-2[b]). The TCR transgenic mice predominantly have TCRBV8S2 transgene, but can use any of the endogenous AV gene repertoire. The transgenic mice were immunized with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) in CFA and evaluated for EAMG pathogenesis. Although the lymphocyte responses to AChR in B10.BV8S2 transgenic and nontransgenic TCR wild-type mice were equivalent, a marked reduction in lymphocyte response to the dominant AChR alpha chain peptide 146-162 was observed in the TCR transgenic mice. After boosting with AChR in CFA, anti-AChR Abs were detected in the serum, and 14 of 42 (33%) of the TCR transgenic mice developed clinical EAMG. Furthermore, EAMG in TCR transgenic mice was prevented by treatment with mAb to TCRBV8, which depleted BV8-expressing T cells. Cloning and sequencing of TCRAV genes from AChR-reactive T cells from B10.BV8S2 transgenic mice revealed a pattern of restricted TCRAV gene usage. The majority (60%) of the clones sequenced showed a sequence identical with that of the TCRAV1S8 gene. In the normal spleen cells of TCR transgenic mice, AV gene usage was more random. Thus, despite the presence of a complete endogenous TCRAV repertoire in B10.BV8S2 transgenic mice, T cells responding to AChR preferentially used a single endogenous TCRAV gene, thus implicating the involvement of the TCRAV1S8 gene in EAMG pathogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Synergy between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and Epstein-Barr virus in T lymphoblastoid cell lines.

CR2 (CD21), the EBV receptor, was detected on three of four CD4-positive cell lines by indirect fluorescent labeling, and its corresponding mRNA was found by use of the reverse transcription-based polymerase chain reaction. To determine whether CR2 on CD4-positive cells was functional, their ability to be infected by EBV was analyzed. EBV DNA, EBV nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA-2A), and EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER1) transcripts could be detected in CR2-expressing CD4-positive cells following infection by the B95.8 strain of EBV. Analysis of the terminal region showed the EBV genome remained linear following infection, and copy number decreased with time. Since CD4-positive cell lines are targets for HIV-1 infection, the effects of EBV infection on HIV-1 expression were analyzed. HIV-1 replication was upregulated when CD4-positive cells were coinfected with EBV strain B95.8 but not P3HR-1K. These results suggested that EBNA-2 is involved in upregulation of HIV-1 expression in T lymphoblastoid cell lines. To test this hypothesis an EBNA-2-expression vector was transfected into T lymphoblastoid cell lines and HIV-1 expression measured. First, trans-activation of HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) by Tat was enhanced by EBNA-2 type 1 expression. trans-Activation of the HIV-1 LTR by Tat was also enhanced when CD4-positive cells were infected by EBV (strain B95.8) encoding an intact EBNA-2, but not by P3HR-1K with a deleted EBNA-2. In addition, CD4-positive cell clones stably expressing EBNA-2 supported enhanced HIV-1 replication as measured by accumulation of reverse transcriptase activity and syncytium induction. This provides direct evidence that EBV infection can enhance HIV-1 replication in T cells. Whether this in vitro phenomenon contributes to disease progression in vivo remains to be determined.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1997

Decreased C-MYC and BCL2 expression correlates with methylprednisolone-mediated inhibition of Raji lymphoma growth.

Methylprednisolone (MP) and related corticosteroids are a fundamental part of regimens used to treat lymphoma and leukemia. In many of these malignancies, oncogenic activation of C-MYC and BCL2 is seen. Abnormalities of the tumor suppressor p53, which exerts growth-suppressing and apoptosis-enhancing functions through the transcriptional regulation of downstream genes including CDKN1, GADD45, and BCL2, are also often found. The goal was to determine the modulation of expression of the oncogenes (C-MYC and BCL2), the p53 pathway described above, and the apoptosis marker TGF-beta 1 in the human Raji lymphoma following MP treatment. Raji xenografts were grown in nude mice and growth curves characterized by sequential measurement. Mice were treated daily for 8 days with MP. Tumors were harvested untreated, or at 1 or 8 days after cessation of MP treatment, and the RNA was extracted. RT-PCR was used to determine the level of mRNA expression of the genes. Tumor growth was greatly reduced in the MP-treated mice. Gene expression levels for C-MYC and BCL2 were reduced at 1 day following MP and approached control levels 8 days after MP treatment. Expression levels of p53, CDKN1, and GADD45 were moderately and coordinately decreased at 1 day after cessation of MP treatment and remained repressed a week later. TGF-beta 1 exhibited no change in expression levels. These results suggest that decreased expression of C-MYC and BCL2 may play a role in the molecular events that initiate and are responsible for the growth inhibition of Raji lymphoma xenografts by MP.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding a potential water-borne pheromonal attractant released during Aplysia egg laying.

Recently deposited egg cordons are a source of water-borne pheromones that attract the marine mollusk Aplysia into breeding aggregations and coordinate male and female reproductive behavior within the aggregation. A potential pheromonal attractant has been isolated from egg cordon eluates and the peptide partially characterized [S.D. Painter, B. Clough, X. Fan, G.T. Nagle, Soc. Neurosci. Abstr., Vol. 22 (1996) 837]. Using this information, we have cloned an Aplysia albumen gland cDNA that encodes a precursor protein containing a single copy of the full-length peptide, and demonstrated that there are abundant levels of pheromone mRNA transcripts (0.8 and 2.5 kb) in the albumen gland. This is consistent with the reported function of the gland (i.e. packaging the eggs into a cordon for deposition), with behavioral studies showing that the albumen gland is a potential source of attractants, and more recent biochemical studies in which the full-length peptide has been isolated from the albumen gland. This is the first candidate peptide pheromone in mollusks and the first in invertebrates. The pheromonal regulatory system in Aplysia may provide a model system for examining the structural characteristics of peptide pheromones.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Hyperoxic increases in lung ICAM-1 mRNA are independent of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA.

Hyperoxia-exposure results in neutrophil accumulation and edema in the exposed lung. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a ligand for neutrophil beta 2 integrins, is upregulated in hyperoxia-exposed lungs and enhances neutrophil-mediated injury. Because tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) are potent inducers of ICAM-1, we investigated whether TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA increase prior to the increase in ICAM-1 mRNA in hyperoxia-exposed mouse lungs. We exposed mice to > 95% oxygen for up to 96 h, isolated lung RNA, and assessed ICAM-1, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta mRNA by Northern blotting. We found that neither, TNF-alpha nor IL-1 beta mRNA was detectable prior to 96 h, while ICAM-1 mRNA increased by 48 h. To further assess TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA, we employed quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) using a mimic DNA (mimic) species as an internal control for PCR. Mimic DNA was identical to reverse-transcribed cDNA (wild type), except for 147 bp of irrelevant DNA ligated into the original cDNA. For each lung RNA sample we reverse transcribed total lung RNA and coamplified the resulting wild-type cDNA with serial dilutions of mimic DNA in a PCR containing [32P] dCTP. After PCR, we electrophoresed the samples and determined the concentration of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta wild-type cDNAs by the ratios of wild type to mimic counts. We found no increase in TNF-alpha or IL-1 beta mRNA through 72 h of hyperoxia exposure, while there was an approximately 10-fold increase in TNF-alpha mRNA and a 35-fold increase in IL-1 beta mRNA within 2 h in the lungs of animals exposed to endotoxin. In conclusion, our data suggest that TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta are not responsible for the upregulation of ICAM-1 in hyperoxia-exposed mouse lungs.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Cell-cycle-specific transcription termination within the human histone H3.3 gene is correlated with specific protein-DNA interactions.

In vitro studies using highly purified calf thymus RNA polymerase II and a fragment spanning the first intron of H3.3 as template DNA have demonstrated the existence of a strong transcription termination site consisting of thymidine stretches. In this study, nuclear run-on experiments have been performed to assess the extent to which transcription elongation is blocked in vivo using DNA probes corresponding to region 5' and 3' of the in vitro termination sites. These studies suggest that H3.3 expression is stimulated following the inhibition of DNA synthesis through the elimination of the transcription elongation block. Interestingly, both the in vivo and in vitro experiments have revealed that the transcriptional block/termination sites are positioned immediately downstream of a 73 bp region that has been over 90% conserved between the chicken and human H3.3 genes. The extreme conservation of this intronic region suggests a possible role in maintaining cis-acting function. Electrophoretic mobility shift experiments show that HeLa cell nuclear extracts contain protein factors that bind specifically to the region of transcription elongation block. Furthermore, we demonstrate a correlation between the protein binding activity and the transcriptional block in cells that have been either arrested at the initiation of S phase or were replication-interrupted by hydroxyurea. DNA footprinting experiments indicate that the region of protein binding is at the 3' end of the conserved region and overlaps with one of the three in-vitro-mapped termination sites.

Animals↗