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C H Kim

Publications and source records attributed to C H Kim.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Differential chemotactic behavior of developing T cells in response to thymic chemokines.

Differentiation-dependent thymocyte migration in the thymus may be important for T lymphopoiesis and might be regulated by thymic chemoattractants. We examined modulation of chemotactic responsiveness of thymocyte subsets during their early to late stages of development in response to 2 thymus-expressed chemokines, SDF-1 and CKbeta-11/MIP-3beta/ELC. SDF-1 shows chemotactic preference for immature thymocytes (subsets of triple negative thymocytes and double positive [DP] subset) over mature single positive (SP) thymocytes. CKbeta-11/MIP-3beta/ELC shows low chemotactic activity on the immature thymocytes, but it strongly attracts mature SP thymocytes, effects opposite to that of SDF-1. SDF-1-dependent chemoattraction of immature thymocytes is not significantly desensitized by a negative concentration gradient of CKbeta-11/MIP-3beta/ELC, and chemoattraction of mature SP thymocytes to CKbeta-11/MIP-3beta/ELC is not antagonized by SDF-1, demonstrating that these two chemokines have different chemoattractant preferences for thymocyte subsets and would probably not inhibit each other's chemotaxis in the event of microenvironmental coexpression. The chemotactic responsiveness of thymocytes and mature T cells to the 2 chemokines is respectively enhanced after selection process and migration to the spleen. These studies demonstrate the presence of thymocyte chemoattractants with differential chemotactic preference for thymocytes, a possible mechanism for thymocyte migration in the thymus.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Ciprofloxacin inhibits activation of latent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in chronically infected promonocytic U1 cells.

The effect of ciprofloxacin, a quinolone antibiotic widely used to treat opportunistic bacterial infections in AIDS patients, was examined in the context of reactivation of latent HIV-1 in chronically infected promonocytic U1 cells. Ciprofloxacin inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, HIV-1 expression in U1 cells activated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). The inhibitory effect of ciprofloxacin was associated with a reduction in the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha, inhibition of activation of transcriptional factor NF-kappaB, and HIV LTR-driven gene expression. Furthermore, ciprofloxacin inhibited TNF-alpha-induced HIV expression in U1 cells. The concentrations of ciprofloxacin that inhibited HIV production are readily achievable in vivo.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1998

CK beta-11/macrophage inflammatory protein-3 beta/EBI1-ligand chemokine is an efficacious chemoattractant for T and B cells.

We examined the functional properties of CK beta-11/MIP-3 beta/ELC, a recently reported CC chemokine that specifically binds to a chemokine receptor, EBI1/BLR2/CCR7. CK beta-11/MIP-3 beta/ELC is distantly related to other CC and CXC chemokines in primary amino acid sequence structure. Recombinant human CK beta-11/MIP-3 beta/ELC expressed from a mammalian cell system showed potent chemotactic activity for T cells and B cells but not for granulocytes and monocytes. An optimal concentration of CK beta-11/MIP-3 beta/ELC attracted most input T cells within 3 h, a chemotactic activity comparable with that of stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1), a highly efficacious CXC chemokine. CK beta-11/MIP-3 beta/ELC equally attracted naive CD45RA+ and memory type CD45RO+ T cells. CK beta-11/MIP-3 beta/ELC also strongly attracted both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, but the attraction for CD4+ T cells was greater. CK beta-11/MIP-3 beta/ELC was also a more efficacious chemoattractant for B cells than MIP-1 alpha, a known B cell chemoattractant. CK beta-11/MIP-3 beta/ELC induced actin polymerization in lymphocytes, and chemotaxis was completely blocked by pertussis toxin showing its receptor, most likely EBI1/BLR2/CCR7, is coupled to a G(alpha i) protein. CK beta-11/MIP-3 beta/ELC induced calcium mobilization in lymphocytes, which could be desensitized by SDF-1, suggesting possible cross-regulation in their signaling. Human CK beta-11/MIP-3 beta/ELC attracted murine splenocytes suggesting functional conservation of CK beta-11/MIP-3 beta/ELC between human and mouse. The efficacy of chemoattraction by CK beta-11/MIP-3 beta/ELC and tissue expression of its mRNA suggest that CK beta-11/MIP-3 beta/ELC may be important in trafficking of T cells in thymus, and T cell and B cell migration to secondary lymphoid organs.

Actins↗
PubMed1998

Recombinant flounder growth hormone from Escherichia coli: overexpression, efficient recovery, and growth-promoting effect on juvenile flounder by oral administration.

An efficient production method for recombinant flounder growth hormone (r-fGH) from Escherichia coli was developed and the biological activity of purified r-fGH was examined using juvenile flounder. The use of bicistronic construction in the expression plasmid resulted in the production of over 40% of the E. coli cellular protein as r-fGH. The r-fGH was recovered from cell lysates following inclusion body washing, solubilization and refolding in sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) solution, and removal of contaminated proteins with secondary butanol treatment. The SDS content in purified r-fGH solution was adjusted to appropriate levels by diafiltration. More than 47% of the r-fGH was recovered from the E. coli cell lysates and the purity of recovered r-fGH was 98%. The oral administration of purified r-fGH to juvenile flounder, once a week for 4 weeks at a dosage of 40 micrograms r-fGH g-1 fish body weight, resulted in significant increases both in weight and length. These results of overexpression, simple purification with high recovery yield and purity, and good growth-promoting activity of the r-fGH suggest that the production scheme described in this study is useful for the potential application of r-fGH in fish farming.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1998

The mechanism for low-pH-induced clustering of phospholipid vesicles carrying the HA2 ectodomain of influenza hemagglutinin.

Homotrimeric hemagglutinin (HA) is one of the major spike membrane glycoproteins of the influenza virus. Initial pH-triggered conformational changes in the target membrane-interacting HA2 domain are necessary for a preliminary step in membrane fusion. Using spin-labeling electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, we examined subsequent pH-dependent changes of a membrane-bound HA2 construct (FHA2, aa 1-127). Residues 91-94, 108-115, 122, and 125 were mutated to cysteine and spin-labeled. Low solvent accessibility and side chain mobility were observed by EPR at positions 91-94, 122, and 125. Spin-labels at residues 108-115 were solvent-exposed and highly mobile, revealing the presence of a flexible loop. These results are consistent with the low-pH crystal structure of a truncated HA2 domain, particularly the unusual kink loop at residues 108-115 [Bullough et al. (1994) Nature (London) 371, 37-43]. Most interestingly, at endosomal pH, spin-labels at 108-115 become immobile and no longer solvent-exposed, and this change is reversible upon reneutralization. However, little change in the EPR line shape and accessibility of spin-labels was observed in other regions. This observation implies that the FHA2 trimers interact reversibly via this specific loop, most likely in an intermolecular fashion. Furthermore, this interaction correlates well with a reversible pH-dependent clustering of FHA2-bearing vesicles evidenced by the reversible increase in turbidity and further confirmed in detail by electron microscopy. The implications of this reversible, pH-dependent interaction between FHA2 trimers are discussed in light of recent fusion models.

Cysteine↗
PubMed1998

In vitro behavior of hematopoietic progenitor cells under the influence of chemoattractants: stromal cell-derived factor-1, steel factor, and the bone marrow environment.

How multiple chemoattractants cooperate in directing the migration of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) for homing and peripheral blood mobilization has not yet been established. We report here the behavior of HPC under the influence of two different chemoattractants, stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1 and steel factor (SLF), and the chemotactic nature of the bone marrow (BM) environment using a two-chamber in vitro migration system. Various formulae were adopted to quantitate these effects. Based on these quantitations, SDF-1 showed only chemotactic activity, while SLF showed both chemotactic and chemokinetic activities on factor-dependent MO7e cells. SLF, like SDF-1, attracted human HPC from a population of CD34+ cells and induced actin polymerization in MO7e cells. SLF and SDF-1 cooperated in attracting MO7e cells, as well as cord blood (CB) and BM CD34+ cells. A negative concentration gradient of SLF and SDF-1, formed by the presence of chemoattractants in the upper chamber, showed potent inhibitory effects on MO7e cell migration induced by either of these chemoattractants in the lower chamber, and SDF-1 and SLF were synergistic in mobilizing cells to the lower chamber from this negative chemoattractant gradient. Plasma obtained from BM aspirates, but not CB or peripheral blood, showed strong chemotactic effects on BM and CB CD34+ cells, and an inhibitory effect in a negative gradient on SDF-1-dependent CD34+ cell migration. These in vitro migration experiments suggest that chemoattractants such as SDF-1 and SLF with other unidentified BM chemoattractants may be involved cooperatively in the migration of HPC to the BM and in preventing spontaneous mobilization of HPC out of the BM.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1998

Reciprocal change in angiotensinogen mRNA expression in rat myocardium and liver after myocardial infarction.

The aim of this study was to analyze sequential change of angiotensinogen (Ao) mRNA expression in rat liver and noninfarcted myocardium after myocardial infarction (MI). Female sprague-Dawley rats were subjected either to left coronary artery occlusion or sham operation. Three weeks after MI, coronary artery ligation resulted in comparable infarct sizes. A hypokinetic thin anterior wall and remarkable dilatation of the left ventricle, as well as decreased contractility (left ventricular end-systolic dimension = 6.0+/-0.4, 3.3+/-0.2, LV end-diastolic dimension = 7.9+/-0.3, 5.9+/-0.2 mm, and fractional shortening = 25.3+/-3.1%, 45.1+/-3.3%) were shown in the MI and sham group, respectively, by echocardiography (P < 0.01). Experimental MI caused a significant fall in systolic blood pressure (MI 90+/-5.0, vs sham 130+/-7.5 mmHg; P< 0.01) and significantly higher left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (MI 21+/-1.5, vs sham 11+/-1.0 mmHg: P < 0.01). At 4, 18, and 24h after MI, liver Ao mRNA levels, as shown by Northern blot analysis, had increased by up to four times (Ao/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) = 1.4+/-0.1 and 6.0+/-0.2 at baseline and 4h after MI, respectively (P < 0.01). After sham surgery, however, the corresponding increase was slight (maximal 1.5-fold). Three days after MI, liver mRNA had returned to the baseline level. In contrast, ATG mRNA expression in noninfarcted myocardium, as shown by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Southern blotting, decreased transiently during the acute phase. It returned to its baseline level within 3 days, and then increased further (Ao/ GAPDH = 2.9+/-0.6, 0.3+/-0.1, 3.2+/-0.8, and 3.7+/-0.8 at baseline, 24h, 3 days, and 3 weeks after MI, respectively). In conclusion, it can be stated that after MI, the Ao gene contributes, acutely in the liver and chronically in the myocardium, to the maintenance of hemodynamic homeostasis during the acute phase and ventricular remodeling during the chronic phase.

Angiotensinogen↗
PubMed1998

Effect of the Cox maze procedure on the secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide.

OBJECTIVES: The Cox maze procedure has been confirmed to be effective in curing atrial fibrillation. Some authors have reported severe fluid retention after the Cox maze procedure and have suggested decreased secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide as a possible mechanism. This study was designed (1) to examine the serial changes in atrial natriuretic peptide after the Cox maze procedure as compared with changes occurring after coronary artery bypass grafting and (2) to elucidate any differences in atrial natriuretic peptide levels between patients with transient recurrence of atrial fibrillation after the Cox maze procedure and those without recurrence of atrial fibrillation. METHODS: Blood samples were drawn from the right and left atria in patients undergoing the Cox maze procedure (n = 19) and from the right atrium in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 6) before and 1, 2, and 3 days after the operation. In six patients undergoing the Cox maze procedure, samples were also drawn from the radial artery before and 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days after the operation. The plasma samples were prepared by refrigerated centrifugation and stored until radioimmunoassay. In the Cox maze procedure group, atrial natriuretic peptide levels in the right atrium were 629 +/- 366, 154 +/- 112, 162 +/- 112, and 183 +/- 97 pg/ml and those in the left atrium were 276 +/- 168, 152 +/- 91, 162 +/- 111, and 145 +/- 80 pg/ml before and 1, 2, and 3 days after the operation, respectively. A marked decrease in atrial natriuretic peptide levels was evident after the Cox maze procedure (p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between atrial natriuretic peptide levels and atrial pressures after the Cox maze procedure, which suggests that secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide by the atria was impaired. There was a significant correlation between the atrial natriuretic peptide levels in the left atrium and those in the peripheral radial artery, and the decreased levels of atrial natriuretic peptide in the radial artery continued for 7 days after the Cox maze procedure. There were no differences in the atrial natriuretic peptide levels between the patients with transient recurrence of atrial fibrillation (n = 6) and those without recurrence (n = 13) after the Cox maze procedure. In the coronary artery bypass grafting group, the atrial natriuretic peptide levels in the right atrium were 115 +/- 37, 124 +/- 48, 154 +/- 54, and 156 +/- 36 pg/ml before and 1, 2, and 3 days after the operation, respectively. No change was seen after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a significant decrease in atrial natriuretic peptide levels after the Cox maze procedure. This may be one of the possible causes of fluid retention after this procedure. These decreased atrial natriuretic peptide levels after the Cox maze procedure may result from the multiple atriotomy incisions and excision of both atrial auricles performed during the procedure, rather than from the conversion of atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm.

Atrial Fibrillation↗
PubMed1998

Association of microalbuminuria and atherosclerotic risk factors in non-diabetic subjects in Korea.

Microalbuminuria in non-diabetic subjects is reportedly associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of microalbuminuria in non-diabetic subjects varies widely from 5-6% in the UK and USA to 30-55% in Finland, Mexico, or Australian Aborigines. We studied cross-sectionally 497 clinically healthy, non-diabetic subjects more than 40 years of age who were living in Seoul, Korea for the prevalence of microalbuminuria and various cardiovascular risk factors. Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) was determined in morning spot urine samples. Subjects were divided into normoalbuminuria (UACR < 2 mg/mmol) and microalbuminuria (UACR > or = 2 mg/mmol) groups. A total of 61 (12.2%) out of 497 subjects were found to have microalbuminuria. Subjects with microalbuminuria had significantly higher values in age, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio in women, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, prevalence of hypertension, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride, and fasting plasma insulin. When subjects with microalbuminuria were compared with age-, sex-, and BMI-matched controls without microalbuminuria, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and fasting plasma insulin concentrations were higher in microalbuminuric subjects. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that fasting plasma insulin level and systolic blood pressure were independently associated with microalbuminuria. These results indicate that the prevalence of microalbuminuria in Korean non-diabetic subjects is lower than that in Mexico and Finland, but similar to that in Caucasians from the UK and USA, or in Pima Indians. Also, microalbuminuria in Korean non-diabetic subjects is associated with atherosclerotic risk factors such as hyperinsulinemia and hypertension, suggesting that microalbuminuria in these subjects may be a feature of insulin resistance syndrome.

Albuminuria↗
PubMed1998

Genetic instability of microsatellite sequences in non-small cell lung cancers.

To evaluate the frequency and pattern of microsatellite instability in NSCLCs, we examined 36 cases of resected NSCLC. The mean age of the patients was 59.9+/-8.4 years. There were 19 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 15 of adenocarcinoma and two of large cell carcinoma. We observed microsatellite instability at one or more loci in 13 (36%) of 36 tumors analyzed, and this instability ranged from six tumors showing instability in only a single microsatellite to three tumors that had alterations in three of four tested microsatellites. The microsatellite that showed instability most frequently in these tumors was D3S1340 (31%). Microsatellite instability was found in five (26%) of 19 squamous cell carcinomas, six (40%) of 15 adenocarcinomas, and in both large cell carcinomas tested. We found microsatellite instability in four (24%) of 17 cancers at stage I, in one (17%) of six at stage II, in eight (73%) of eleven at stage IIIa, and in neither at stage IIIb. In conclusion, microsatellite instability was noted in at least one third of non-small cell lung cancers, suggesting its possible role in cancer development.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

Characterization of two frizzled8 homologues expressed in the embryonic shield and prechordal plate of zebrafish embryos.

We have isolated and characterized two complete cDNA clones, Zfz8a and Zfz8b, which encode zebrafish Frizzled (Fz) homologues. The predicted protein sequences, spanning 579 and 576 amino acid residues for ZFz8a and ZFz8b, respectively, were highly homologous (78%) to each other and contained an extracellular cysteine-rich domain and seven transmembrane domains that are well conserved in Fz receptor protein members. In comparison with other Fz family members, ZFz8a and ZFz8b showed the highest homology with mouse Fz8 (MFz8), sharing 84 and 76% amino acid identity, respectively. The presence of Zfz8a and Zfz8b transcripts was detected by in situ hybridization in zebrafish embryos from the 512 cell stage, and their appearance in the future dorsal region could be observed before embryos reached the 30% epiboly stage. At shield stage, Zfz8a transcripts were expressed in both epiblast and shield whereas expression of Zfz8b was only detected in the embryonic shield. During gastrula stages, both Zfz8a and Zfz8b transcripts were found in anterior dorsal regions of the involuting mesendoderm (future prechordal plate). By the 2- to 3-somite stage, expression of both Zfz8a and Zfz8b was restricted to the prechordal plate and prospective anterior neurectoderm, although expression of the Zfz8a gene was no longer present in the most anterior portion of the prechordal plate, the polster. In one-eyed pinhead mutant embryos, which lack prechordal plate, both Zfz8a and Zfz8b transcripts were reduced, confirming the prechordal plate specificity of Zfz8a and Zfz8b gene expression. These results provide an additional evidence supporting the role of Wnt signaling in organizer-mediated axial patterning.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Paired-like homeodomain proteins, Phox2a and Phox2b, are responsible for noradrenergic cell-specific transcription of the dopamine beta-hydroxylase gene.

Recently, a murine paired-like homeobox gene, Phox2a, has been identified whose product is critical for the development of several major noradrenergic neuron populations, including the locus coeruleus. In noradrenergic neurons, dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) is a hallmark protein and catalyzes the conversion of dopamine to noradrenaline. Our previous studies have shown that a composite promoter (domain IV), residing at -185 to -150 bp upstream of the transcription start site, is critical for DBH transcription and is comprised of multiple cis-acting elements, including a cyclic AMP response element, a YY1 binding site, and two core motifs of the homeodomain (HD)-binding site. Here, we show that the HD-binding site residing within domain IV is a noradrenergic-specific cis-acting element. In contrast, the cyclic AMP response element is active in all cell lines tested. We provide evidence that Phox2a is expressed only in DBH-positive cell lines and interacts with the HD-binding site. Forced expression of Phox2a robustly activates DBH promoter activity in DBH-negative cell lines (>10-fold), but increased it only marginally (<50%) in DBH-positive cell lines. Furthermore, another protein factor with an identical HD, Phox2b, also activates DBH transcription with an efficiency comparable to that of Phox2a. In contrast, neither Phox2a nor Phox2b was able to transactivate tyrosine hydroxylase transcription, indicating that these transcription factors differentially activate catecholamine-synthesizing gene transcription. Together with the Phox2a knockout experiment, the studies described here make Phox2a and Phox2b the first strong candidate transcription factors for determining a neurotransmitter phenotype in vertebrates.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Effective dose equivalent and effective dose for photon exposures from point and disk sources on the floor.

A complete set of H(E) and E values were calculated for photon exposures from point and disk sources on the floor using the MCNP code and a "hermaphroditic" phantom. It was found that a male can receive a higher H(E) or health risks than a female by a factor of two from an identical point source on the floor when source distance is less than 50 cm. Conversely, if the source distance becomes larger than 100 cm, the female receives H(E) higher than the male by up to 40%. For identical sources, both the male and female experience significantly higher H(E) from front-located sources than from back- or side-located sources. For a 100-cm source distance, male H(E) from a front-located source is greater than that from a side-located source by factors of 4, 3, and 2 for 0.08, 03, and 1.0 MeV photons, respectively. In the female cases, the differences are somewhat smaller but still differ by factors of 3, 2, and 1.7. It was also found that both the highest male and female H(E) values occur when a source is within 40-60 cm in front of the phantom. The maximum male H(E) is 1.8 x 10(-18), 6.6 x 10(-18), and 2.1 x 10(-17) Sv per photon emission for 0.08, 03, and 1.0 MeV photons, respectively. For females, these maximum values are slightly smaller, 1.4 x 10(-18), 5.3 x 10(-18), and 1.9 x 10(-17) Sv/photon, respectively. Tissue kerma free-in-air at 100 cm above a disk source (Ktissue) was found to greatly overestimate H(E) if the source radius is less than 200 cm. For radii larger than 200 cm, the Ktissue gives a relatively better estimate of H(E), overestimating by not more than 100%. The point source H(E) values were directly integrated to estimate H(E) for simple non-self-shielding sources such as disk, circle, and line sources. This simple approach was found to overestimate H(E) by less than 10% for these irradiation geometries. Finally, the comparison of H(E) and E showed that for most cases these values are almost identical. For point sources, when source distance is larger than 50 cm, the difference between H(E) and E was always less than 23% over photon energies between 0.08 and 1.0 MeV. For disk sources of radius larger than 50 cm, the difference was even smaller (<12%).

Female↗
PubMed1998

Molecular characterization of the garlic virus X genome.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the cDNA genome for garlic virus X (GVX), one of the major viruses infecting garlic plants, was determined. GVX is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus consisting of 8106 nucleotides excluding the 3'-end poly(A) tail and contains six open reading frames (ORFs) which encode putative proteins of 174 kDa (ORF1), 26 kDa (ORF2), 12 kDa (ORF3), 32 kDa (ORF4), 26 kDa (ORF5) and 15 kDa (ORF6). The putative viral proteins show similarity to those of carlaviruses and potexviruses but show the highest homology to shallot virus X (ShVX). Even though the GVX genome contains most of the structural elements common to carlaviruses and potexviruses, it is distinguished from them by the presence of an ORF4 which encodes an unusual protein. These results suggest that GVX may belong to an unassigned group of ShVX and GarV-type viruses rather than to the carlaviruses or potexviruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Interferon-inducible Mx proteins in fish.

Mx proteins are members of a family of interferon-inducible genes expressed when cells are treated with double-stranded RNA or virus infection. These proteins are important components of the antiviral response and form the first line of the body's defense against virus infections. The exact mechanism of action for these proteins has not been discovered, but mice missing the Mx genes are extremely sensitive to influenza virus infection. Mammals have between two and three Mx genes whose functions may vary with regard to the inhibition of a specific virus, cellular localization, and activity. The cDNA of three rainbow trout Mx proteins has been cloned and a comparison of their sequences with that of avian and mammalian species reveals striking conservation of domains. They all maintain the tripartite ATP/GTP binding domain and the dynamin family signature in the amino terminal half of the protein. In the carboxyl terminal half of the Mx proteins are the localization signals and the leucine zipper motifs which account for the trimerization of Mx in the cell. Like the rat and human Mx proteins, the different trout Mx proteins exhibit distinctly different immunohistochemical staining patterns in cells transfected with plasmids expressing RBTMx1, RBTMx2, or RBTMx3. To date, the antiviral function of the trout Mx proteins has not been satisfactorily established.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Influence of antithyroid antibodies in euthyroid women on in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer outcome.

PROBLEM: To investigate whether antithyroid antibodies (ATAs) affect the pregnancy outcome in euthyroid women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHOD OF STUDY: Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOA) and thyroglobulin antibody (TGA) were measured by radioligand assay kits that were used as ATAs in 79 patients with tubal or unexplained infertility who were enrolled in an IVF-ET program. Women who were positive for antinuclear antibody, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibody, and rheumatoid factor were excluded from our study. The study group comprised 28 (29.1%) euthyroid women who were positive for TPOAs, TGAs, or both. Fifty-one euthyroid women without ATAs served as control subjects. The results were analyzed with linear regression analysis, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance, chi 2 test, and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the study group and the control group in patient characteristics such as age, infertility duration, and hormonal profile. There were also no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the number of retrieved oocytes, the fertilization rate, the number of embryos frozen, and the number of embryos transferred. There were no correlations between ATA (TPOA and TGA) titers and the fertilization rate. The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was significantly lower in the study group, with 26.3% (10/38), compared with 39.3% (35/89) in the control group. The biochemical pregnancy rate per cycle and the miscarriage rate were significantly higher in the study group, 18.4% (7/38) and 40.0% (4/10), respectively, compared with 5.6% (5/89) and 11.4% (4/35), respectively, in the control group. In the study group, both TPOA and TGA titers were significantly higher in the biochemical pregnancy group than in the clinical pregnancy group or the nonpregnancy group. In 10 women with ATAs who achieved pregnancy after IVF-ET, both TPOA and TGA titers were significantly higher in the miscarriage group than in the ongoing pregnancy/delivery group. CONCLUSION: ATAs in euthyroid women with tubal or unexplained infertility have an association with a poor pregnancy outcome after IVF-ET treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Extracellular and cytosolic iron superoxide dismutase from Mycobacterium bovis BCG.

Two forms of iron superoxide dismutase (SOD) were purified from cell extract (CE) and culture filtrate (CF) of Mycobacterium bovis BCG, respectively. The molecular weight of both enzymes was estimated to be approximately 84,000 by gel filtration, whereas that of their subunits was 21,500, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicating that each of purified enzymes is composed of four identical subunits. The specific activities of CE SOD and CF SOD were 3,850 and 4,040, respectively. The purified enzymes were not joined by disulfide bonds and were, to some extent, resistant to sodium dodecyl sulfate. Their activities were lost by H2O2, but not by azide and cyanide, indicating iron SODs. Enzyme activities were detectable over a broad range of pHs, from 5.0 to 9.0, and were stable for 6 months at -20 degreesC. Each value of pI was 4.5. In Western blots, both enzymes reacted with sera of tuberculosis patients, but not with normal sera. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of CE SOD and CF SOD were the same, suggesting that there is no N-terminal signal sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗