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Biomedical subjects

C L Wilson

Publications and source records attributed to C L Wilson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Toxicity of chemical mixtures: proteomic analysis of persisting liver and kidney protein alterations induced by repeated exposure of rats to JP-8 jet fuel vapor.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed by whole body inhalation to 1000 mg/m3 +/- 10% JP-8 jet fuel vapor or room air control conditions for 6 h/day, 5 days/week for six consecutive weeks. Following a rest period of 82 days rats were sacrificed, and liver and kidney tissues examined by proteomic methods for both total protein abundance and protein charge modification. Kidney and lung samples were solubilized and separated via large scale, high resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and gel patterns scanned, digitized and processed for statistical analysis. Through the use of peptide mass fingerprinting, confirmed by sequence tag analysis, three altered proteins were identified and quantified. Numerical, but not significantly different increases were found in total abundance of lamin A (NCBI Accession No. 1346413) in the liver, and of 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (10-FTHF DH, #1346044) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST; #2393724) in the kidneys of vapor-exposed subjects. Protein charge modification index (CMI) analysis indicated significant alterations (P < 0.001) in expressed lamin A and 10-FTHF DH. These persisting changes in liver and kidney proteins are discussed in terms of possible alterations in the functional capacity of exposed subjects.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Secretion of microbicidal alpha-defensins by intestinal Paneth cells in response to bacteria.

Paneth cells in mouse small intestinal crypts secrete granules rich in microbicidal peptides when exposed to bacteria or bacterial antigens. The dose-dependent secretion occurs within minutes and alpha-defensins, or cryptdins, account for 70% of the released bactericidal peptide activity. Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, lipopolysaccharide, lipoteichoic acid, lipid A and muramyl dipeptide elicit cryptdin secretion. Live fungi and protozoa, however, do not stimulate degranulation. Thus intestinal Paneth cells contribute to innate immunity by sensing bacteria and bacterial antigens, and discharge microbicidal peptides at effective concentrations accordingly.

Animals↗

Application of neurobehavioral toxicology methods to the military deployment toxicology assessment program.

The military Tri-Service (Army, Navy & Marines, Air Force) Deployment Toxicology Assessment Program (DTAP) represents a 30-year (1996-2026) planning effort to implement comprehensive systems for the protection of internationally deployed troops against toxicant exposures. A major objective of DTAP is the implementation of a global surveillance system to identify chemicals with the potential to reduce human performance capacity. Implementation requires prior development of complex human risk assessment models, known collectively as the Neurobehavioral Toxicity Evaluation Instrument (NTEI), based on mathematical interpolation of results from tissue-based and in vivo animal studies validated by human performance assessment research. The Neurobehavioral Toxicity Assessment Group (NTAG) at the Naval Health Research Center Detachment-Toxicology (NHRC-TD), Dayton, OH, and associated academic institutions are developing and cross-validating cellular-level (NTAS), laboratory small animal (NTAB), nonhuman primate (GASP), and human-based (GASH) toxicity assessment batteries. These batteries will be utilized to develop and evaluate mathematical predictors of human neurobehavioral toxicity, as a function of laboratory performance deficits predicted by quantitative structural analysis relationship (QSAR-like) properties of potential toxicants identified by international surveillance systems. Finally, physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) and pharmacodynamic (PBPD) modeling of NTAS, NTAB, GASP, GASH data will support multi-organizational development and validation of the NTEI. The validated NTEI tool will represent a complex database management system, integrating global satellite surveillance input to provide real-time decision-making support for deployed military personnel.

Animals↗

Chronic epileptogenesis requires development of a network of pathologically interconnected neuron clusters: a hypothesis.

PURPOSE: The "silent period" is a characteristic of human localization-related symptomatic epilepsy. In mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), it follows an initial precipitating injury, and in animal models of MTLE in which brain damage is artificially created, there is also a prolonged interval between injury and the onset of spontaneous seizures. The neuronal reorganization responsible for epileptogenesis presumably takes place during this silent interval; however, the functional correlates of this process are poorly understood. We have previously described high-frequency (250 to 500 Hz) oscillations, called fast ripples (FR), in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex (EC) of intrahippocampal kainic acid (KA)-injected rats and patients with MTLE that are confined to the region of spontaneous seizure generation. We have proposed, therefore, that FR reflect the mechanisms responsible for epileptogenesis. If this is the case, they should appear during the process of epileptogenesis, before the appearance of spontaneous seizures. The purpose of the present study was to record continuously from rats after KA injection to compare the temporal development of FR with spontaneous seizures. Additional goals were to determine in these rats after spontaneous seizures begin (a) the volume of tissue in which FR can be recorded in hippocampus and EC, (b) the multiple-unit and field potential correlates of FR oscillations, and (c) whether there is an association of FR with mossy fiber sprouting. METHODS: After unilateral KA injection in the posterior hippocampus, interictal field epileptic activity and single-unit activity were recorded from freely moving animals using multiple-contact microelectrodes in dentate gyrus (DG) and EC. One group of animals underwent continuous recording to determine the time of onset of both FR oscillations and spontaneous seizures. A second group was implanted after behavioral seizures began to measure the area within which FR could be recorded as well as their unit and field potential correlates. The neo-Timm method was used to reveal mossy fiber sprouting, and gray value analysis was used to measure the intensity of sprouting in the inner molecular layer of DG. RESULTS: In KA-injected rats, FR were observed in hippocampal areas adjacent to the lesion and in the ipsilateral EC 11 to 14 days after injection, whereas spontaneous behavioral seizures occurred 2 to 4 months after injection. Analysis of depth profiles of interictal FR in the DG and EC showed that they were generated in local areas with a volume of about 1.0 mm3, and unit recordings indicated that they reflected fields of hypersynchronous action potentials. FR were found in areas of DG with more intensive mossy fiber sprouting. However, the correspondence was not absolute. CONCLUSIONS: The electrophysiological and anatomical data are consistent with the participation of FR oscillations, within small neuronal assemblies, in the development of chronic epileptogenesis. It is hypothesized that small clusters of pathologically interconnected neurons develop after focal hippocampal injury and that these clusters are capable of generating powerful hypersynchronous bursts of action potentials, which initiate epileptogenesis via a kindling effect. As the silent period progresses, a network of such clusters is formed that allows the development of discharges that spread throughout the limbic system. When this network engages brain areas that control motor activity, clinical seizures occur and the silent period ends.

Action Potentials↗

Functional and anatomic correlates of two frequently observed temporal lobe seizure-onset patterns.

Intracranial depth electrode EEG records of 478 seizures, recorded in 68 patients undergoing diagnostic monitoring with depth electrodes, were evaluated to investigate the correlates of electrographic onset patterns in patients with temporal lobe seizures. The seizure onsets in 78% of these patients were identified as either hypersynchronous onsets, beginning with low-frequency, high-amplitude spikes, or low-voltage fast (LVF) onsets, increasing in amplitude as the seizure progressed. The number of patients (35) having hypersynchronous seizure onsets was nearly twice that of patients (18) having LVF onsets. Three major differences were seen among patients with the two seizure-onset patterns. When compared with patients having LVF onsets, patients with hypersynchronous seizure onsets had a significantly greater probability of having (1) focal rather than regional seizure onsets (p < 0.01), (2) seizures spreading more slowly to the contralateral mesial temporal lobe (p < 0.003), and (3) cell counts in resected hippocampal tissue showing greater neuronal loss (p < 0.001). The results provide evidence that the most frequent electrographic abnormality associated with mesial temporal seizures is local hypersynchrony, a condition associated with major neuronal loss in the hippocampus. The results also indicate that LVF seizure onsets more frequently represent widely distributed discharges, which interact with and spread more rapidly to surrounding neocortical areas.

Adolescent↗

Regulation of intestinal alpha-defensin activation by the metalloproteinase matrilysin in innate host defense.

Precursors of alpha-defensin peptides require activation for bactericidal activity. In mouse small intestine, matrilysin colocalized with alpha-defensins (cryptdins) in Paneth cell granules, and in vitro it cleaved the pro segment from cryptdin precursors. Matrilysin-deficient (MAT-/-) mice lacked mature cryptdins and accumulated precursor molecules. Intestinal peptide preparations from MAT-/- mice had decreased antimicrobial activity. Orally administered bacteria survived in greater numbers and were more virulent in MAT-/- mice than in MAT+/+ mice. Thus, matrilysin functions in intestinal mucosal defense by regulating the activity of defensins, which may be a common role for this metalloproteinase in its numerous epithelial sites of expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

In vivo microdialysis measures of extracellular serotonin in the rat hippocampus during sleep-wakefulness.

We investigated extracellular 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in rat hippocampus during different stages of the sleep-waking cycle using in vivo microdialysis. The extracellular 5-HT level was highest in active waking (AW) and, when compared to AW, 5-HT level was progressively lower in quiet waking (QW; 78%), quiet sleep (QS; 50%) and REM (which we termed active sleep (AS); 40%). Functional implications of AS related-decreased 5-HT in the hippocampus are discussed.

Animals↗

High-frequency oscillations in human brain.

Ripples are 100-200 Hz short-duration oscillatory field potentials that have recently been recorded in rat hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. They reflect fast IPSPs on the soma of pyramidal cells, which occur during synchronous afferent excitation of principal cells and interneuron networks. We now describe two similar types of high-frequency field oscillations recorded from the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. The first type appears be the human equivalent of normal ripples in the rat. The second, which we have termed fast ripples (FR), are in the frequency range of 250-500 Hz. FR are found in the epileptogenic region and may reflect pathological hypersynchronous population spikes of bursting pyramidal cells.

Action Potentials↗

Electrophysiologic analysis of a chronic seizure model after unilateral hippocampal KA injection.

PURPOSE: Unilateral intrahippocampal injections of kainic acid (KA) in rats produce spontaneous recurrent limbic seizures and morphologic changes in hippocampus that resemble hippocampal sclerosis in patients with medically refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), that form of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) associated with hippocampal sclerosis. Interictal in vivo electrophysiologic studies have revealed high-frequency (250-500 Hz) oscillations, termed fast ripples (FRs). These oscillations may uniquely occur in or adjacent to the site of hippocampal KA injection, in areas that generate spontaneous seizures. Similar field potentials also have been demonstrated in the epileptogenic region of patients with TLE. We have now characterized ictal electrographic patterns in this rat model for comparison with those in human TLE and begun to evaluate the role of FRs in the transition to ictus in the KA-treated rat. METHODS: Rats received unilateral intrahippocampal injections of KA and, after the development of spontaneous seizures, were implanted with multiple fixed and moveable microelectrodes for single unit, field potential, and EEG recording. They were then monitored by using video-EEG telemetry for several weeks to capture and evaluate electrographic and behavioral seizure types. Results were correlated with Timm's stain demonstration of mossy fiber sprouting. RESULTS: Low-voltage fast (LVF) and hypersynchronous electrographic ictal-onset patterns were seen in the KA-treated rat that resembled similar ictal-onset patterns in patients with TLE. Hypersynchronous, but not LVF, ictal discharges were associated with recurrent FRs. As in the human, hypersynchronous ictal onsets originated predominantly in hippocampus, whereas LVF ictal onsets more often involved extrahippocampal structures. LVF ictal onsets occurred during wakefulness or paradoxical sleep and were usually associated with motor behavior, whereas hypersynchronous ictal onsets occurred during slow-wave sleep or periods of immobility and were not associated with motor behavior unless there was transition to another ictal electrographic pattern. Mossy fiber sprouting did not correlate with the frequency of ictal EEG discharges exhibited by each rat but was greater in those rats that demonstrated frequent behavioral seizures. CONCLUSIONS: The electrographic features of spontaneous seizures in the KA-treated rat resemble those of patients with medically refractory TLE with respect to EEG pattern and localization. Our data suggest that hypersynchronous ictal onsets represent epileptogenic disturbances in hippocampal circuits, whereas LVF ictal onsets may involve extrahippocampal areas having more direct connections to the motor system. Hypersynchronous seizures may involve the same neuronal mechanisms that generate interictal FRs.

Animals↗

Hippocampal and entorhinal cortex high-frequency oscillations (100--500 Hz) in human epileptic brain and in kainic acid--treated rats with chronic seizures.

PURPOSE: Properties of oscillations with frequencies >100 Hz were studied in kainic acid (KA)-treated rats and compared with those recorded in normal and kindled rats as well as in patients with epilepsy to determine differences associated with epilepsy. METHODS: Prolonged in vivo wideband recordings of electrical activity were made in hippocampus and entorhinal cortex (EC) of (a) normal rats, (b) kindled rats, (c) rats having chronic recurrent spontaneous seizures after intrahippocampal KA injections, and (d) patients with epilepsy undergoing depth electrode evaluation in preparation for surgical treatment. RESULTS: Intermittent oscillatory activity ranging from 100 to 200 Hz in frequency and 50-150 ms in duration was recorded in CA1 and EC of all three animal groups, and in epileptic human hippocampus and EC. This activity had the same characteristics in all groups, resembled previously observed "ripples" described by Buzsáki et al., and appeared to represent field potentials of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) on principal cells. Unexpectedly, higher frequency intermittent oscillatory activity ranging from 200 to 500 Hz and 10-100 ms in duration was encountered only in KA-treated rats and patients with epilepsy. These oscillations, termed fast ripples (FRs), were found only adjacent to the epileptogenic lesion in hippocampus, EC, and dentate gyrus, and appeared to represent field potential population spikes. Their local origin was indicated by correspondence with the negative phase of burst discharges of putative pyramidal cells. CONCLUSIONS: The persistence of normal-appearing ripples in epileptic brain support the view that inhibitory processes are preserved. FRs appear to be field potentials reflecting hyper-synchronous bursting of excitatory neurons and provide an opportunity to study the role of this pathophysiologic phenomenon in epilepsy and seizure initiation. Furthermore, if FR activity is unique to brain areas capable of generating spontaneous seizures, its identification could be a powerful functional indicator of the epileptic region in patients evaluated for surgical treatment.

Action Potentials↗

Cerebral microdialysis combined with single-neuron and electroencephalographic recording in neurosurgical patients. Technical note.

Monitoring physiological changes in the brain parenchyma has important applications in the care of neurosurgical patients. A technique is described for measuring extracellular neurochemicals by cerebral microdialysis with simultaneous recording of electroencephalographic (EEG) and single-unit (neuron) activity in selected targets in the human brain. Forty-two patients with medically intractable epilepsy underwent stereotactically guided implantation of a total of 423 intracranial depth electrodes to delineate potentially resectable seizure foci. The electrodes had platinum alloy contacts for EEG recordings and four to nine 40-microm microwires for recording single-unit neuron activity. Eighty-six electrodes also included microdialysis probes introduced via the electrode lumens. During monitoring on the neurosurgical ward, electrophysiological recording and cerebral microdialysis sampling were performed during seizures, cognitive tasks, and sleep-waking cycles. The technique described here could be used in developing novel approaches for evaluation and treatment in a variety of neurological conditions such as head injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, epilepsy, and movement disorders.

Adolescent↗

Induction and evasion of host defenses by type 1-piliated uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Virtually all uropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli encode filamentous surface adhesive organelles called type 1 pili. High-resolution electron microscopy of infected mouse bladders revealed that type 1 pilus tips interacted directly with the lumenal surface of the bladder, which is embedded with hexagonal arrays of integral membrane glycoproteins known as uroplakins. Attached pili were shortened and facilitated intimate contact of the bacteria with the uroplakin-coated host cells. Bacterial attachment resulted in exfoliation of host bladder epithelial cells as part of an innate host defense system. Exfoliation occurred through a rapid apoptosis-like mechanism involving caspase activation and host DNA fragmentation. Bacteria resisted clearance in the face of host defenses within the bladder by invading into the epithelium.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Matrilysin expression and function in airway epithelium.

We report that matrilysin, a matrix metalloproteinase, is constitutively expressed in the epithelium of peribronchial glands and conducting airways in normal lung. Matrilysin expression was increased in airway epithelial cells and was induced in alveolar type II cells in cystic fibrosis. Other metalloproteinases (collagenase-1, stromelysin-1, and 92-kD gelatinase) were not produced by normal or injured lung epithelium. These observations suggest that matrilysin functions in injury-mediated responses of the lung. Indeed, matrilysin expression was increased in migrating airway epithelial cells in wounded human and mouse trachea. In human tissue, epithelial migration was reduced by > 80% by a hydroxamate inhibitor, and in mouse tissue, reepithelialization in trachea from matrilysin-null mice was essentially blocked. In vivo observations and cell culture studies demonstrated that matrilysin was secreted lumenally by lung epithelium, but upon activation or while migrating over wounds, some matrilysin was released basally. The constitutive production of matrilysin in conducting airways, its upregulation after injury, its induction by alveolar epithelium, and its release into both lumenal and matrix compartments suggest that this metalloproteinase serves multiple functions in intact and injured lung, one of which is to facilitate reepithelialization.

Amides↗

Method for identifying prostate cells in semen using flow cytometry.

BACKGROUND: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) cannot differentiate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), from prostatitis, or prostate cancer in the range of 4.0-10 ng/ml. An accurate cytologic or histologic assessment is necessary to confirm the proper diagnosis. The nature of a biopsy tends to make it a selective test not frequently repeated. We are reporting a technique employing semen as a source for the differential diagnosis of prostate epithelial cells. METHODS: Eleven vasectomized and nonvasectomized prostate cancer patients provided semen samples (stage T1 to T2). Two patients provided repeat samples. In addition, 15 vasectomized or nonvasectomized individuals without evidence of disease provided semen samples. Three million cells fixed with 50% ethanol were stained by an antibody (7E11.C5) to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), Hybritech Antibody (399) to PSA, and cytokeratin 8 and 18. In addition to the antibodies described, a DNA stain To-Pro 3 was used to identify 2n-4n DNA containing cells. A dual laser, Becton Dickinson FACSCaliber cytometer, was used to analyze the samples. RESULTS: All semen specimens contained diploid, cytokeratin 18-positive epithelial cells regardless of disease status. A clear difference between prostate cancer and normal prostate cell samples was observed using staining with 7E11.C5. The ratio of prostatic cells in the total epithelial cell population (PSMA:cytokeratin ratios) was calculated for each specimen. A retrospective study of sixteen semen samples from 11 prostate cancer patients had a mean PSMA:cytokeratin ratio of 0.57, whereas the samples from 15 patients without evidence of cancer had a mean PSMA:cytokeratin ratio of 0.11. This difference was significant. PSA staining was variable and inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS: This report demonstrates that human semen contains prostate cells that can be characterized and used in the clinical diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Adult↗

Paired pulse suppression and facilitation in human epileptogenic hippocampal formation.

Paired pulse stimulation has commonly been employed to investigate changes in excitability in epileptic hippocampal tissue employing the in vitro slice preparation. We used paired pulse stimulation in the intact temporal lobe of patients with temporal lobe seizures to compare the excitability of pathways in the epileptogenic hippocampus (located in the temporal lobe in which seizures arise) with those in the non-epileptogenic hippocampus of the contralateral temporal lobe (in the hemisphere to which seizures spread). A total of 20 patients with temporal lobe seizure onsets were studied during chronic depth electrode monitoring for seizure localization. Intracranial in vivo stimulation and recording sites included the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, subicular cortex and parahippocampal gyrus. A comparison of all hippocampal pathways located in the temporal lobe where seizures typically started (n = 37) with those in temporal lobes contralateral to seizure onset (n = 53) showed significantly greater paired pulse suppression of population post-synaptic potentials on the epileptogenic side (F(1,87) = 6.1, P < 0.01). Similarly, mean paired pulse suppression was significantly greater for epileptogenic perforant path responses than for contralateral perforant path responses (F(1,13) = 7.5, P < 0.01). In contrast, local stimulation activating intrinsic associational pathways of the epileptogenic hippocampus showed decreased paired pulse suppression in comparison to the epileptogenic perforant path. These results may be a functional consequence of the formation of abnormal recurrent inhibitory and recurrent excitatory pathways in the sclerotic hippocampus. Enhanced inhibition may be adaptive in suppressing seizures during interictal periods, while abnormal recurrent excitatory circuits in the presence of enhanced inhibition may drive the hypersynchronization of principal neurons necessary for seizure genesis.

Action Potentials↗

Covalent cross-linking of fibronectin to fibrin is required for maximal cell adhesion to a fibronectin-fibrin matrix.

In a blood clot, fibrin and plasma fibronectin (pFN) are covalently cross-linked by activated factor XIII (factor XIIIa) to form pFN-fibrin multimers. To determine the functional significance of covalent pFN-fibrin interactions, we have developed an in vitro model which allows the incorporation of recombinant FN (recFN) molecules into a covalently cross-linked recFN-fibrin matrix. Using the baculovirus expression system, we have expressed recFN monomers composed of the amino-terminal 70-kDa region and the first 11 type III repeats (WT) with mutations in the glutamines at positions 3 and 4 (Q2) or at 3, 4, and 16 (Q3). Examination of the covalent incorporation of these recFNs into fibrin clots confirms that glutamines 3 and 4 are major participants in FN-fibrin cross-linking as the mutation of these sites reduces cross-linking efficiency by 65%. Additional mutation of the glutamine at position 16, however, eliminates >99% of cross-linking suggesting that it also may be factor XIIIa reactive. When the Q3 recFN-fibrin clots were used as substrates for cell adhesion, there was a decrease in both cell attachment and spreading when compared with the WT recFN-fibrin clots. These data demonstrate that for maximal cell attachment to a FN-fibrin clot, FN must be cross-linked to fibrin by factor XIIIa.

3T3 Cells↗