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C Gerard

Publications and source records attributed to C Gerard.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Priming of the respiratory burst of neutrophils by diacylglycerol. Independence from activation or translocation of protein kinase C.

Preincubation of neutrophils with certain agonists may "prime" the cells to cause increased responses to a second stimulus ("primed stimulation"). We used two approaches to examine the role of protein kinase C (Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent enzyme) in priming and stimulation by 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG), phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), and N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP): inhibition of protein kinase C by 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-piperazine (C-I) and measurement of protein kinase C translocation induced by priming and stimulatory concentrations of OAG. C-I had little effect on stimulation or primed stimulation by fMLP, suggesting that fMLP invokes events independent of protein kinase C. C-I equally inhibited stimulation and primed stimulation by PMA. Direct stimulation by OAG was inhibited, but priming and primed stimulation by OAG was unaltered by C-I. OAG concentrations greater than or equal to 100 microM caused translocation of protein kinase C, in correlation with direct stimulation of the respiratory burst. Lower OAG concentrations (10-30 microM) primed to stimulation by fMLP and, conversely, stimulated neutrophils primed with fMLP, yet did not cause translocation of protein kinase C. The data are compatible with previous assumptions that PMA and OAG directly stimulate polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes by translocation and activation of protein kinase C. However, priming and primed stimulation by OAG apparently invoke distinct transduction mechanisms other than protein kinase C translocation.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗
PubMed1987

Epithelial cell polarization in culture: orientation of cell polarity and expression of specific functions, studied with cultured thyroid cells.

Isolated porcine thyroid cells reorganize in culture into various types of multicellular structure, which differ in the orientation of cell polarity and in the surface of the cell layer accessible to molecules present in the culture medium. The types of structure are: (1) follicles: the basal pole is oriented toward the medium; (2) inside-out follicles or monolayers: the apical pole is facing the culture medium; (3) monolayers on a permeable substratum: both sides of the cell layer are accessible to the medium. Follicles can be transformed into inside-out follicles or monolayers and vice versa by manipulation of the external cell environment and without dissociating the cells. Cells concentrate iodide and respond to acute stimulation by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) when the basal pole is accessible, and organification occurs only when cells form a closed follicular lumen. In porous-bottomed culture chambers monolayers are formed with the basal surface accessible to the medium and the apical compartment separated from the medium. Under these conditions 85-95% of the thyroglobulin produced is secreted apically and 5-15% basally. Thyrotropin stimulates (X3) apical accumulation without modifying secretion in the basal compartment. Sodium transport across the cell layer has been characterized. An amiloride-sensitive influx occurs at the apical pole whereas the Na+/K+-ATPase, localized in the basolateral membrane, mediates ouabain-sensitive efflux at the basal pole. The thyroid epithelium in culture appears therefore as a Na+-absorbing epithelium. The role of this transport in the stabilization of cell polarity is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Polarized properties of thyroid cells: a study with cultured porcine cells.

In primary culture porcine cells form polarized cell layers. We have designed culture conditions in which we can have access to only one side of the cell layer, either the apical or the basal surface. In addition, using culture chambers with permeable bottom we can have access to either side of the cell layer which separates two compartments. Using these organized systems we have shown that the iodide concentrating mechanism and the TSH-receptor adenyl cyclase complex are localized on the basolateral domain of the thyroid cell plasma membrane. We also demonstrated the existence on the apical surface of an amiloride sensitive sodium uptake. Finally we observed that about 10% of newly synthesized thyroglobulin appears to be secreted directly into the basal compartment, 90% being secreted in the apical compartment.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1986

Role of protein kinases in stimulation of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte oxidative metabolism by various agonists. Differential effects of a novel protein kinase inhibitor.

Isoquinoline sulfonamides have recently been shown to exert novel inhibitory effects on mammalian protein kinases by competitively binding to the ATP substrate site (Hidaka, H., M. Inagaki, S. Kawamoto, and Y. Sasaki, 1984, Biochemistry, 23: 5036-5041). We synthesized a unique analog of the previously reported compounds, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl) piperazine (C-I), in order to assess the role of protein kinases in modulating the agonist-stimulated oxidative burst of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Compound C-I, at micromolar concentration, markedly inhibited the release of superoxide anion from human PMN stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate or the synthetic diacylglycerol, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl glycerol. These data are consonant with previously reported data which indicate that the calcium and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase, protein kinase C, serves as the intracellular receptor for these agonists. In contrast, superoxide anion production stimulated by the complement anaphylatoxin peptide C5a or the synthetic chemotaxin formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine were not inhibited by C-I. These data suggest that parallel pathways exist for the agonist-stimulated respiratory burst of human neutrophils, only one of which utilizes the calcium and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗
PubMed1985

Evidence for a role of the amino-terminal region in the biological activity of the classical anaphylatoxin, porcine C5a des-Arg-74.

The presence of methionyl residues at positions 1 and 17 in porcine classical anaphylatoxin (e.g. C5a des-Arg-74) permits chemical cleavage of the factor with cyanogen bromide to generate two defined fragments. Peptides corresponding to the amino-terminal fragment, CN-I, and the carboxyl-terminal peptide, CN-II, were purified from the CNBr digest of C5a des-Arg-74 by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The isolated derivatives were assessed for their abilities to cause contraction of isolated guinea pig ileal smooth muscle, guinea pig lung parenchymal strips, and degranulation of guinea pig polymorphonuclear neutrophils. In each assay, CN-I was devoid of biological activity at concentrations greater than 10(-6) M. In contrast, the carboxyl-terminal 56-residue fragment, CN-II, possessed weak (10(-6) versus 10(-9) M for classical anaphylatoxin) agonist activity in each of the assay systems. Our data suggest that structural information contained in the amino-terminal 17 residues of the C5a des-Arg-74 molecule contributes to the biological potency of the intact factor, but is not an essential component of the active site. Whether the structural information in residues 1-17 relates to receptor binding directly or serves to stabilize the conformation of the 18-73-fragment containing the active center of the molecule is yet to be determined.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1985

Effects of prostaglandin E2 and cholera toxin on apical sodium uptake in thyroid epithelial cells: role of cAMP.

When cultured in tissue culture polystyrene dishes, porcine thyroid cells formed polarized monolayers. Their apical pole was oriented towards the culture medium. Influx of sodium 22 (5 min) through the apical surface was partially inhibited by amiloride. Amiloride-sensitive Na uptake was increased about 3-fold by prostaglandin E2 (1 microM, 30 min) and by cholera toxin (0.01 micrograms/ml, 1 h). This increase, which was also obtained with forskolin and 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)adenosine-3':5'-monophosphate, cyclic (8-chloro-cAMP), is probably a consequence of the increase of the intracellular cAMP level by prostaglandin and cholera toxin.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗
PubMed1985

Localization of the Na+/K+-ATPase and of an amiloride sensitive Na+ uptake on thyroid epithelial cells.

The Na+/K+-ATPase was localized using purified specific antibodies, on the basolateral membranes of rat thyroid epithelial cells and of cultured porcine thyroid cells, by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. No staining was observed on the apical membranes. When cultured cells formed monolayers, with their apical pole in contact with the culture medium, 22Na+ uptake was inhibited by amiloride. Inhibition was dependent upon extracellular Na+ concentration, half maximal inhibition was obtained with 0.7 microM amiloride in the presence of 5 mM Na+. Ouabain was ineffective on Na+ uptake into intact monolayers. A brief treatment of the monolayers with ethyleneglycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) opened the tight junctions and allowed the access of ouabain to the basal pole of the cells. In this condition ouabain increased Na+ uptake. When cells were reorganized into follicle-like structures, with their basal pole in contact with the culture medium, Na+ uptake was not modified by amiloride but was increased by ouabain. We conclude that in thyroid cells, the Na+/K+-ATPase is present on the basolateral domain of the plasma membrane whereas an amiloride sensitive sodium uptake occurs at the apical surface.

Amiloride↗
PubMed1985

[Close interdependence between passive and active soleus muscle torques in man: approach to the coregulation of the number of sarcomeres and length of the connective tissue].

Soleus muscle has, to as great an extent as possible, been functionally isolated in man. A device previously described permitted measurement of the soleus torque as a function of the tibia-calcaneum angle, and not as a function of tibia-foot angle. This latter angle cannot be correctly related to soleus length, since the arch of the foot can not be considered as rigid throughout the experiment. Ankle movements were performed on a horizontal plane by successive increments of 5 degrees from full extension (plantar flexion) up to full flexion (dorsiflexion). Passive torques were measured for every angle. At the same angles, the total torques were recorded while the subject exerted a voluntary constant contraction which corresponded to 45% of the maximum integrated electromyographical activity of soleus muscle. The active torque-angle curve was obtained by subtracting, for the same angle, the passive from the total torques. It must be stressed that, when the muscle is maximally shortened, little or no torque was measured. For the angle corresponding to the top of the sub-maximal active curve (integrated electromyographic activity 45% of the maximum), the passive torque was about 1.75 Nm and showed no significant interindividual variations. This result contrasted with the marked interindividual shifts which affect both passive and active curves. This interdependence of passive and active curves in human soleus muscle is compatible with the results of a previous study in the cat showing the concomitant adaptations of sarcomere number and connective tissue length.

Calcaneus↗
PubMed1982

Effects of eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) on cultured pig thyroid cells. Relationships between the inhibition of the phosphatidate-phosphatidyl inositol cycle, the iodination and the cyclic AMP responsiveness to thyrotropin.

The arachidonate inhibition of the adenylate-cyclase system of cultured pig thyroid cells was not mediated by cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase or peroxidase metabolites. Indeed ETYA, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase, and methimazole, an inhibitor of peroxidase and iodination were without effect on the arachidonate inhibition. Moreover the effect of arachidonate was amplified by a combination with ETYA. In 32P incorporation experiments we observed a modification of the labelling of individual phospholipids of cultured pig thyroid cells resulting in a decrease into phosphatidylinositol (PI) and an increase into phosphatidate (PA) of arachidonate and ETYA-treated cells. These results may be explained by an inhibition of CDP-diacylglycerol: inositol transferase and conversely a stimulation of PI specific phospholipase C yielding a decrease in PI and an increase in PA, which inhibits in turn adenylate cyclase activity possibly by Ca2+ translocation.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗
PubMed1982

Chronic and acute effects of thyrotropin on phosphatidylinositol turnover in cultured porcine thyroid cells.

The 32P incorporation into phospholipids of isolated porcine thyroid cells, cultured for 1-4 days, has been studied in subsequent 2-h incubations. Along with culture ageing, decreased 32P incorporation into total phospholipid of control cells was observed. The presence of 40 munits/ml TSH during the 2 h incubation yielded a relative increase in labelling of phosphatidylinositol, named 'acute phospholipid effect'. A chronic treatment of the cells with TSH concentration ranging from 0.1 to 10 munits/ml ensured the maintenance of a high turnover rate of total phospholipids. The analysis of individual phospholipids revealed that 1-day culture cells in the presence of 0.1 munits/ml TSH presented a strong increase of phosphatidylinositol labelling. This 'chronic phospholipid effect' of TSH can be reproduced by a chronic treatment with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (10(-3)M) or prostaglandin E2 (10(-6)M), which did not evoke a classical phospholipid effect in a 2 h incubation. If TSH (40 munits/ml) is added to the cells in a 2 h incubation, control cells show the classical phospholipid effect whereas cells chronically treated with TSH, dibutyryl cyclic AMP or prostaglandin E2 presented a 'reverse phospholipid effect' i.e. a relative decrease in phosphatidylinositol labelling. 10(-4)M cycloheximide presence during the last 12 h of culture prevented the establishment of the 'chronic phospholipid effect' and of its consequence, 'the reverse phospholipid effect'. On the basis of these results a scheme is proposed in keeping with current hypotheses concerning phosphatidylinositol metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

An amphiphilic structure of the ninth component of human complement. Evidence from analysis of fragments produced by alpha-thrombin.

Purified human C9 was treated separately with three proteolytic enzymes: trypsin, plasmin, and alpha-thrombin, and the digestion products were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Trypsin initially cleaved the Mr = 71,000 C9 to produce a Mr = 47,000 fragment plus numerous smaller fragments and prolonged digestion reduced the molecule to small polypeptides. Plasmin produced a Mr = 37,000 fragment which was stable to further digestion, plus fragments smaller than Mr = 10,000. Human alpha-thrombin cleaved C9 (7.8% carbohydrate) at a single internal site to produce a Mr = 37,000 fragment (11.3% carbohydrate) and a Mr = 34,000 fragment (3.9% carbohydrate). Statistical analysis of the amino acid compositions of the fragments and alkaline polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that C9 is highly amphiphilic; the Mr = 34,000 fragment contains a majority of the acidic amino acids and migrates rapidly on alkaline gels; the Mr = 37,000 fragment is hydrophobic with a slow electrophoretic mobility. The two fragments remain noncovalently associated, but were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-hydroxylapatite chromatography. The NH2-terminal sequence analysis of native C9, of alpha-thrombin-cleaved C9, and for the isolated fragments showed that the acidic Mr = 34,000 fragment is the NH2-terminal C9a domain and the more hydrophobic Mr = 37,000 fragment is the carboxyl-terminal C9b domain. Hemolytic activity of C9 was unaffected by alpha-thrombin cleavage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1981

Isolation of three separate anaphylatoxins from complement-activated human serum.

Recent methodologies used in preparing anaphylatoxins from complement-activated serum are described. Activation of the alternative pathway generates C3a and C5a; however, activation of the classical pathway is required to generate the anaphylatoxin from C4. This article describes an activation scheme that simultaneously generates all three of the anaphylatoxins (e.g., C3a, C4a and C5a) in human serum and outlines a procedure for isolating each as homogeneous products. Purification of intact anaphylatoxins directly from complement-activated serum takes place only if an exopeptidase in serum, known as carboxypeptidase N (SCPN), is properly inhibited. A new series of mercapto derivatives of arginine analogs are introduced as potent and effective inhibitors of SCPN. These inhibitors permit normal complement activation but prevent degradation of the released activation fragments C3a, C4a or C5a. The SCPN inhibitor previously used was 6-aminohexanoic acid (EACA), but it required a 1 M concentration for effective inhibition, the substituted mercapto-guanido compounds prove to be effective in the mM range.

Aminocaproic Acid↗
PubMed1981

Identification of classical anaphylatoxin as the des-Arg form of the C5a molecule: evidence of a modulator role for the oligosaccharide unit in human des-Arg74-C5a.

A functionally active and potentially lethal fragment of the fifth component of complement (C5) is generated during complement activation in serum from animals of various species. This factor, termed the "classical" anaphylatoxin, was isolated from porcine serum and was identified chemically as the des-Arg derivative of the well-characterized C5a molecule. Unlike the C3a and C4a anaphylatoxins, porcine C5a does not require the COOH-terminal arginyl residue for spasmogenic activity. Further degradation of porcine des-Arg(74)-C5a by carboxypeptidase Y removed glycine-73 and leucine-72 and decreased the intrinsic spasmogenic activity by >90%. Hence, we conclude that, although the arginyl residue is not essential, the COOH-terminal sequence Leu-Gly-Arg contributes structural information that accounts for >90% of C5a activity. Human des-Arg(74)-C5a, like its porcine counterpart, has instrinsic anaphylatoxin activity; however, higher concentrations were needed to contract the guinea pig ileal tissue (i.e., 1 muM for human des-Arg(74)-C5a versus 1 nM for porcine des-Arg(74)-C5a). Furthermore, the des-Arg form of human C5a was only 0.1% as active as porcine des-Arg(74)-C5a for enhancing vascular permeability in guinea pig skin. In addition to these biological differences, numerous chemical differences exist between the human and porcine des-Arg(74)-C5a molecules, the most prominent feature being an oligosaccharide entity associated uniquely with the human C5a. When the oligosaccharide unit of human des-Arg(74)-C5a was removed by glycosidases, leaving a single glucosamine residue attached to the side chain of asparagine-64, activity was enhanced. The human des-Arg(74)-C5a molecule devoid of the complex oligosaccharide unit exhibited 10-fold stronger spasmogenic activity and 20- to 50-fold greater permeability-enhancing activity than did human des-Arg(74)-C5a containing the oligosaccharide. Consequently, the oligosaccharide associated with human C5a modulates or suppresses potentially harmful activities of this anaphylatoxin. The relatively high levels of spasmogenic activity associated with porcine des-Arg(74)-C5a indicate that this factor is poorly controlled by endogenous serum carboxypeptidase, whereas human C5a is virtually inactivated by the enzyme. Hence, the influence of this oligosaccharide in suppressing human des-Arg(74)-C5a activity is of major physiologic importance in protecting man from potentially toxic effects of this complement factor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗