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C Gray

Publications and source records attributed to C Gray.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Characterization of a phospholipase C activity regulated by the purified Gh in reconstitution systems.

Recently, we have reported that the isolated guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein, Gh, couples to the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor (Im, M.-J., and Graham, R. M. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 18944-18951 and Im, M.-J., Riek, R.P., and Graham, R. M. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 18952-18960) and has a molecular mass of approximately 74 kDa, and the approximately 50-kDa protein which is copurified probably regulates guanine nucleotide binding of the 74-kDa GTP-binding protein. In this paper, we describe the role of purified Gh in the regulation of phospholipase C in the reconstitution system. The stimulation of phospholipase C activity by Gh effectively occurred at a low calcium concentration (less than or equal to 2 microM), but the phospholipase C (PLC) itself required at least 50-100 times more calcium to become fully activated. The characteristic nature of phospholipase C stimulation by Gh is its response to the calcium concentration. Thus, the enzyme activity changes in narrow submicromolar ranges and reaches maximal stimulation, but it does not extend to the levels above those stimulated by calcium alone. The calcium concentrations for the maximal stimulation of phospholipase C activity were 10-20 microM with phospholipid vesicles and 100-200 microM with detergent solution. These calcium concentrations were further decreased when Gh and phospholipase C were co-reconstituted into the phospholipid vesicles or in the detergent solution. The maximal stimulations of the PLC activity were reached at less than 5 microM calcium in both the vesicles and the detergent solution. The changes of calcium concentration for the activation of PLC are quite different from those obtained by reconstituting PLC-beta 1 with Gq-like G-proteins (Smarcka, A. V., Hepler, J. R., Brown, K. O., and Sternweis, P. C. (1991) Science 251, 804-807 and Taylor, S. J., Chae, H. Z., Rhee, S. G., and Exton, J. H. (1991) Nature 350, 516-518). The phospholipase C activity was stimulated in a Gh concentration-dependent manner in the presence of GTP gamma S. The phospholipase C activity was activated by Gh alpha in the presence of aluminum fluoride, but not by Gh beta. Furthermore, a Gh.PLC complex can be induced by incubation with aluminum fluoride in a detergent solution and partially purified without the dissociation of related proteins. Thus, our reconstitution studies show that the pattern of stimulation of PLC by AIF-4-activated Gh in the ternary complex is similar to the stimulation of PLC activated by Gh in both detergent solution and phospholipid vesicles.

Affinity Labels↗

Interaction of androgen and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3: effects on normal rat bone cells.

We studied the actions of testosterone (T) and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in combination with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] on primary rat bone cells. The actions of androgens were generally anabolic, although response patterns varied considerably between cultures. For example, DHT caused striking dose- and time-dependent increases in [3H]thymidine incorporation into calvarial cells over the range 1-100 nM, with maximal stimulation of 2.5-fold after 9 days in culture. Testosterone (50 nM) also stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation into long bone-derived cells. 1,25-(OH)2D3 generally blunted or abolished the proliferative action of androgens but was not itself always inhibitory; in some experiments, stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation occurred. Collagen production, as assessed by [3H]proline incorporation into pepsin-resistant protein secreted by calvarial cells, was also stimulated by DHT. In some cultures, androgen responses were absent, although striking inhibitory responses to 1,25-(OH)2D3 were observed. These results illustrate complex patterns of responses to androgens and 1,25-(OH)2D3 in cells derived from rat bone.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Rapid neural growth: calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P-containing nerves attain exceptional growth rates in regenerating deer antler.

Deer antler is a unique mineralized tissue which can produce very high growth rates of > 1 cm/day in large species. On completion of antler growth, the dermal tissues which cover the antler are shed and the underlying calcified tissue dies. After several months the old antler is discarded and growth of a new one begins. It is known that deer antlers are sensitive to touch and are innervated. The major aims of this study were to identify and localize by immunohistochemical techniques the type of innervation present, and to find out whether nerve fibres could exhibit growth rates comparable to those of antler. We have taken tissue sections from the tip and shaft of growing Red deer (Cervus elaphus) antlers at three stages of development; shortly after the initiation of regrowth, the rapid growth phase, and near the end of growth. Incubation of tissue sections with antisera to protein gene product 9.5 (a neural cytoplasmic protein), neurofilament triplet proteins (a neural cytoskeletal protein), substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide (both of which are present in and synthesized by sensory neurons) showed the presence of immunoreactive nerve fibres in dermal, deep connective and perichondrial/periosteal tissues at all stages of antler growth. The sparse distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactivity was found in dermal tissue only at the earliest stage of antler development. Nerve fibres immunoreactive to neuropeptide Y, C-flanking peptide of neuropeptide Y and tyrosine hydroxylase, all present in postganglionic sympathetic nerves, were not observed at any stage of antler growth. Nerves expressing immunoreactivity for any of the neural markers or peptides employed could not be found in cartilage, osteoid or bone. These results show that antlers are innervated mainly by sensory nerves and that nerves can attain the exceptionally high growth rates found in regenerating antler.

Animals↗

B-cell lymphoma presenting as infiltrative renal disease.

Acute renal failure is rarely the presenting manifestation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Of the reported cases of renal insufficiency secondary to diffuse renal infiltration with lymphoma, few have presented with acute renal failure. We present a patient with acute renal failure secondary to diffuse bilateral renal infiltration by a B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The findings of an elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lymphopenia, and homogenous bilateral renal enlargement on computed tomographic (CT) imaging were important in suggesting the diagnosis of primary renal lymphoma. Renal biopsy with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis was instrumental in confirming this diagnosis.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Classification of essential tremor.

Classification of essential tremor was attempted using tremor frequency; tremor duration; family history of tremor; responsiveness to alcohol, propranolol, and primidone; muscle contraction pattern; and long-latency reflexes. Sixty-one patients were evaluated. The majority of patients had a tremor frequency less than 7.0 Hz, a positive family history, and a positive response to alcohol. Approximately 46% of patients had a beneficial response with propranolol and 71% with primidone. Tremor frequency was inversely correlated with age and directly correlated with an antagonist pattern of muscle contraction. Enhanced long-latency reflexes were not found. Other characteristics of essential tremor were not significantly correlated. It is concluded that essential tremor can not be classified into subtypes.

Aged↗

Thyroid function tests are rarely abnormal in patients with severe hyperemesis gravidarum.

OBJECTIVES: There is considerable controversy in the literature as to the cause of hyperemesis gravidarum. The aim of this project was to measure a range of thyroid hormone levels in a group of hyperemetic pregnant women. PATIENTS: The study was carried out in 10 first trimester pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum. All had been admitted to hospital due to the severity of their symptoms. Fifty age matched, healthy first trimester pregnant women were used as controls. MEASUREMENTS: Blood samples from the women were analysed for total T3 (TT3), total T4 (TT4), free T4 (FT4), TSH, thyrotrophin receptor antibodies (TRAb), thyroid stimulating antibodies (TSAb) and thyroid microsomal and thyroglobulin antibodies. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels were also measured. RESULTS: While individual patients were found to have some abnormal thyroid function tests the group as a whole showed no consistent pattern of abnormality and did not differ significantly from a group of healthy first trimester pregnant women. hCG levels were also within the normal range in the hyperemetic patients. DISCUSSION: None of the women in this study received any antithyroid medication and their symptoms improved as the pregnancy progressed. These results would suggest that there is no underlying thyroid abnormality in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum. It would appear that neither thyroid hormones, nor hCG contribute to the pathogenesis of the condition.

Antibodies↗

Oncogenous osteomalacia and malignancy.

An example of oncogenous osteomalacia is described in association with the rate mesenchymal chondroblastoma. The tumour was characterized with a variety of immunohistochemical antibodies which confirmed its mesenchymal origin. Despite several surgical excisions of local recurrence, plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 concentrations (off treatment) indicate continued tumour activity and the continuing need for vitamin D therapy. This case and two others briefly discussed illustrate some of the difficulties in diagnosis and in achieving a cure in cases of oncogenous osteomalacia. Oncogenous osteomalacia in association with any malignant tumour is rare, there being eight previously recorded cases. Details of these cases are briefly reviewed for comparison. Despite undoubted malignancy our patient has survived 30 years from presentation indicating the benefits of aggressive surgical management.

Adult↗

The use of verbatim and schematic strategies in the recall of written stories by deaf and hearing children.

It is, in general, difficult to study cognitive structures in deaf children: in particular, the enquiry into the nature of their story-knowledge structures (or story schemata) is fraught with thorny methodological problems. While some of the available evidence would suggest that typical deaf children do not read "story schematically", theirs may be a problem of lack of access to (rather than absence of) such cognitive structures. On the other hand, it cannot be assumed a priori that cognitive structures are identical in deaf and hearing children. A study using a picture arrangement method is described, the results of which support the view that the story schemata of deaf children are basically similar to those of hearing children. Deaf children, however, may not utilise the presence of certain story features which, if presented to hearing children, lend strength and salience to the story line.

Attention↗

Flow cytometric analysis of T cell response in mice infected with Cowdria ruminantium.

A 3-fold increase in the numbers of Lyt-2+ T cells in the circulating blood of mice infected and re-infected with the Welgevonden stock of Cowdria ruminantium, as determined by flow cytometry, is supportive evidence that immunity in heartwater is cell-mediated. The rise in Lyt-2+ cells only after re-infection of the mice is further evidence that the development of immunity in heartwater is dependent on the unhindered and adequate replication of C. ruminantium.

Animals↗