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Biomedical subjects

C C Shih

Publications and source records attributed to C C Shih.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Human immunodeficiency virus infection of human lymph nodes in the SCID-hu mouse.

The SCID-hu mouse is a small animal in which human hematolymphoid organs can be engrafted and maintained in vivo. In this study, parameters are described for reproducible infection of SCID-hu mice after i.v. inoculation. Infection was found to be dependent upon the time after inoculation, the virus isolate, the titer of virus, and the human target organ implanted into the mouse. Ten to 14 days after the i.v. administration of HIV isolates derived freshly from patients (e.g., JR-CSF, JR-FL, SM), 100% of engrafted human lymph nodes in SCID-hu mice were infected; greater than 95% of these animals were also viremic. Implants of human thymus or connective tissue, as well as the endogenous murine hematolymphoid organs, were not infected. As demonstrated by a combination of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, both T-lymphoid and myelomonocytic lineage cells were infected in this system. HIV isolates that have been adapted to growth in vitro (e.g., HTLV-IIIb) were not infectious. When either 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) or 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddIno) was administered to SCID-hu mice before HIV infection, the animals were protected in dose ranges similar to those used in man. This animal model may now be used as an efficient intermediate step between the lab and the clinic to study the infectious process in vivo and to best select efficacious antiviral compounds against HIV.

Animals↗

Studies on the arrangement of glucocorticoid receptors in the plasma membrane of S-49 lymphoma cells.

The presence of glucocorticoid receptors is required for glucocorticoid-mediated lymphocytolysis to take place. However, the explicit mechanism of involvement of this receptor continues to be debated. We have recently presented evidence that this response is mediated by a specialized form of the glucocorticoid receptor that resides in the plasma membrane (mGR). Using sequential cell separation techniques ("immunopanning," fluorescent cell sorting, and soft agar cloning), a resultant population of membrane receptor-enriched cells have remained stable and provided material for further analysis. The mGR patching and capping phenomenon originally observed with fluoresceinated monoclonal antibody techniques was verified here with electron micrographic analysis using colloidal gold-conjugated antibody. Using 3H-labeled monoclonal antibody, a radioimmunoassay for membrane receptors was developed. Trypsin treatment removed the membrane receptor antigenic site from the surface of cells. Peptide mapping of receptor purified from plasma membranes reveals several trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin cleavage sites. Larger fragments resulted from cleavage of the membrane receptor of cells enriched for mGR versus those found in cells depleted of the membrane form, although most of the resulting fragments are shared by the two forms. Confirmation of previous studies correlating membrane receptor with the mechanism of glucocorticoid sensitivity is now extended to include elimination of the lymphocytolysis effect in membrane receptor-stripped (trypsinized) S-49 cells.

Animals↗

Postexposure prophylaxis with zidovudine suppresses human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in SCID-hu mice in a time-dependent manner.

Occupational exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has led to a low but finite incidence of infection among health care providers. In such circumstances, postexposure administration of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (zidovudine; AZT) might be beneficial. To test this possibility, the SCID-hu mouse (the immunodeficient C.B-17 scid/scid mouse engrafted with human hematolymphoid organs) was treated with AZT at different times after intravenous infection with a standard dose of HIV (known to infect 100% of animals). If given within 2 h, AZT suppressed infection in all animals; if given after 2 days, no suppression was observed. At least in some animals, an AZT-sensitive phase lasted for as long as 36 h. These data support the hypothesis that prompt administration of AZT might be efficacious in suppressing acute HIV infection in humans. Further studies in the SCID-hu mouse might provide insight into treatment protocols of even greater efficacy.

Animals↗

The SCID-hu mouse: a small animal model for HIV infection and pathogenesis.

The SCID-hu mouse is a heterochimeric small animal model designed to support hematopoietic differentiation and function in vivo. Multiple organs of the human hematolymphoid system have been successfully engrafted into the immunodeficient C.B-17 scid scid mouse, including fetal liver, thymus, lymph node, and skin. Co-implantation of human fetal liver and human fetal thymus results in long-term, multilineage human hematopoiesis in vivo. Mature human lymphocytes within the SCID-hu mouse are phenotypically and functionally normal. HIV infection of the SCID-hu mouse reflects a tropism similar to that found in humans: only human organs with CD4+ cells are infected. Viral replication can thereafter be monitored with assays that are safe, reproducible, and quantitative. Given this small animal model, it is now possible to study systematically the infective process of HIV and to address questions about the efficacy of novel antiviral compounds or vaccines in vivo.

Animals↗

The acquisition and maintenance of cytolytic activity by CD4+ murine T-lymphocyte clones.

The class II MHC antigen-specific CTL clones described in this report lose lytic activity when grown in exogenous rIL-2, but regain lytic activity when rIL-2 is removed from the culture medium. Using this cell model, we have investigated the metabolic activities (i.e., DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis) required for CTL to acquire or down-regulate lytic activity. DNA synthesis inhibitors (hydroxyurea and cytosine-arabinoside) and irradiation did not prevent CTL from gaining lytic activity. However, when protein or RNA synthesis was inhibited, these CTL could no longer acquire lytic activity. Furthermore, evidence showed that continuous RNA and protein syntheses were essential for CTL to exert their lytic function. Studies on cell surface antigen expression of CD3, CD4, Thy-1, and LFA-1 revealed no significant difference of antigen expression between a cloned CTL in its lytic and nonlytic states. Our data suggested that the synthesis of certain proteins and their encoded mRNA are essential for CTL to exert its lytic function and these proteins are not the cell surface antigens involved in CTL-target recognition or binding. Data also indicated that a granule enzyme, serine-esterase, was not involved in the expression of lytic activity in these CTL clones.

Animals↗

Suppression of HIV infection in AZT-treated SCID-hu mice.

The SCID-hu mouse, engrafted with human hematolymphoid organs, is permissive for infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This mouse model was used to test compounds for antiviral efficacy. Two weeks after infection with HIV, 100 percent (40/40) of SCID-hu mice were positive for HIV by the polymerase chain reaction. When first treated with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), none (0/17) were HIV-positive by this assay. However, AZT-treated SCID-hu mice did have a few infected cells; after AZT treatment was stopped, viral spread was detected by polymerase chain reaction in such mice. Thus, the SCID-hu mouse provides a means to directly compare new antiviral compounds with AZT and to further improve antiviral efficacy.

Animals↗

Molecular dynamics of antitumor ether-linked phospholipids in model membranes: a spin-label study.

We have synthesized a spin-labeled derivative of ET-18-OCH3, a known antitumor ether-linked phospholipid. The spin-labeled analog was shown to be as potent as ET-18-OCH3 in inhibiting 3H-thymidine uptake of HL60 leukemic cells. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies showed that the mobility of this ether-linked phospholipid in the membrane is more restricted when compared to its ester-linked counterparts. It is probable that the absence of the bulky carbonyl oxygens allows closer packing of the two alkyl chains in the ether-linked phospholipid, thereby reducing the angular amplitude of the motion of the alkyl chains. These findings may be of importance in elucidating mechanisms by which the antitumor ether-linked phospholipids perturb the structure of cellular membranes.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine↗

Pancreatic vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-secreting tumor: report of a case.

A 58-year-old Taiwanese woman was admitted to Mackay Memorial Hospital for evaluation profuse watery diarrhea. She presented with watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, and hypochlorhydria, and had experienced these problems for 2 years prior to admission. A pancreatic tumor with liver metastasis was noted by the ultrasound, abdominal CT scanning, and angiography studies. Surgical exploration disclosed an ill-defined ovoid tumor in the body and tail of the pancreas measuring 8 x 3 x 3 cm. The immunohistochemistry study of the tumor for VIP-immunoreactivity (VIP: vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) was markedly positive, and also stained slightly positive for other peptides, including pancreatic polypeptide (PP), calcitonin, glucagon, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). Postoperatively, the patient recovered immediately from her symptoms and there has been no evidence of recurrence during the past 8 months of follow-up.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

Highly preferred targets for retrovirus integration.

A central feature of retrovirus replication is integration of the provirus into host cell DNA, but the specificity of this step for cell target sequences has not been clarified. To investigate this issue, we developed a method for screening and comparing large numbers of unselected integration events. Using a replication-competent Rous sarcoma virus containing a bacterial suppressor tRNA gene as a selectable marker, we obtained collections of clones comprising integrated provirus together with host flanking sequences. Hybridization and sequence analysis of the flanking sequence reveals the presence of a number of strongly preferred integration targets. Within these targets, independent integration events occur at sites identical to the base.

Animals↗

Downregulation of L3T4+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes by interleukin-2.

Proliferation of activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that recognize foreign histocompatibility antigens is induced by interleukin-2, a potent immunoregulatory molecule originally described as T cell growth factor. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is widely used to isolate and induce clonal expansion of CTLs for functional studies in vitro and in vivo. However, in studies with CTLs specific for class I and class II histocompatibility antigens, IL-2 rapidly downregulated the lytic activity of some class II-specific CTLs in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Lytic activity of L3T4+ CTLs specific for the murine class II antigen I-Ek was repeatedly up- and downregulated in vitro by alternate exposure to specific (alloantigen) and nonspecific (recombinant IL-2) signals, respectively. These results demonstrate that some CTLs modulate their functional property (cytolysis) while undergoing IL-2-driven cell proliferation without loss of antigen specificity or ability to revert to a lytic phenotype.

Animals↗