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Biomedical subjects

C Mathieu

Publications and source records attributed to C Mathieu.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Density-dependent induction of apoptosis by transforming growth factor-beta 1 in a human ovarian carcinoma cell line.

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 inhibited proliferation of a human ovarian carcinoma cell line (NIH-OVCAR-3). The inhibition of NIH-OVCAR-3 cell proliferation was accompanied by a decrease in clonogenic potential, evidenced by the reduced ability of TGF-beta 1-treated NIH-OVCAR-3 cells to form colonies on a plastic substratum. This rapid decrease of clonogenic potential, which was detected 6 h after addition of TGF-beta 1 was dose-dependent (IC50 = 4 pM). Fluorescence microscopy of DAPI-stained cells supported by electron-microscopic examination showed that TGF-beta 1 induced chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation. In addition, oligonucleosomal-sized fragments were detected in the TGF-beta 1-treated cells. These features indicated that TGF-beta 1 induced NIH-OVCAR-3 cell death by an apoptosis-like mechanism. This TGF-beta 1 apoptotic effect was subject to modulation by cell density. It was observed that an increase in cell density (up to 20 x 10(3) cells/cm2) protected NIH-OVCAR-3 cells against apoptosis induced by TGF-beta 1. Conditioned medium from high-density cultures of NIH-OVCAR-3 cells did not inhibit apoptosis induced by TGF-beta 1 on NIH-OVCAR-3 cells cultured at low density, suggesting that the protective effect of cell density was not related to the cell secretion of a soluble survival factor.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

Differentiation induction of human leukemia cells (HL60) by a combination of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and retinoic acid (all trans or 9-cis).

1,25(OH)2D3 and two stereoisomers of retinoic acid, all trans and 9-cis retinoic acid, are regulators of cell proliferation and differentiation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a combination of 1,25(OH)2D3 and retinoic acid (all trans or 9-cis) on proliferation and cell differentiation of the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL60, and to test the reversibility of the induced differentiation. Cell proliferation was inhibited as expected by 1,25(OH)2D3 and all trans retinoic acid alone (IC50 of cell survival was 4 x 10(-7) M, 9 x 10(-6) M and 9 x 10(-7) M for 1,25(OH)2D3, all trans and 9-cis retinoic acid, respectively). Combination of 1,25(OH)2D3 and either form of retinoic acid resulted in a partially additive decrease in cell proliferation. 1,25(OH)2D3 induced a monocytic differentiation (100% CD14+ cells with 10(-7) M 1,25(OH)2D3), while retinoic acid led to a predominantly granulocytic differentiation (36 and 42% CD67+ cells with 10(-6) M all trans and 9-cis retinoic acid, respectively). Additive effects on differentiation were observed upon combination of subtherapeutical doses of the drugs, achieving a mainly monocytic population, demonstrating the dominant role of 1,25(OH)2D3 in determining the direction of differentiation. The effects on proliferation and differentiation of the solitary drugs were reversible, while the proliferation arrest and differentiation induced by the combination persisted and even progressed after withdrawal of the drugs. We conclude that 1,25(OH)2D3 and retinoic acid (all trans or 9-cis) exert additive effects on inhibition of proliferation and induction of cell differentiation of HL60 cells, leading to a persistent differentiation, even after drug withdrawal.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1995

Six year follow-up of cryopreserved human embryos.

In 1987, we became aware of the importance of remaining in contact with couples whose embryos had been cryopreserved for > 1 year. As a result, a questionnaire was designed to follow the fate of these embryos. Of 407 couples with cryopreserved embryos, 262 couples opted to use them within 1 year with the intention of fulfilling a parental plan. The remaining 145 couples were questioned by six successive questionnaires sent out between 1987 and 1992. By the end of the study, 336 of the 407 couples (82.5%) had chosen to utilize their embryos in a parental plan. In most cases, the maximum delay of response (5 years according to the Council of State) was respected. The remaining 71 couples (17.5%) either abandoned the parental plan or had not given any information by the end of the study. Initially, anonymous donation to another couple was chosen in preference to destroying the surplus embryos (32 versus 18 couples, P < 0.05). Latterly, however, these differences have balanced out (24 versus 28, not significant). Only those couples who initially opted to donate embryos to another couple changed their attitude in later years. In the long run, 62 couples decided not to pursue their parental plan; of these, 24 couples chose to make a gift to another couple, 28 couples opted for destruction, and 10 chose to make a gift to research. Nine couples (out of 71) declined to make a decision, but they had all achieved a pregnancy during an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) attempt. Three of these were lost to follow-up, i.e. 0.7% of all couples benefiting from the freezing technique.

Cryopreservation↗
PubMed1995

Cumulative conception rate following intrauterine artificial insemination with husband's spermatozoa: influence of husband's age.

This paper presents the analysis of 901 cycles of intrauterine artificial insemination with the husband's spermatozoa (AIHIU) in 274 couples who obtained 80 pregnancies. The cumulative pregnancy rate after three cycles of AIHIU was 22% and reached 39% after six cycles. Univariate analysis disclosed two factors of poor prognosis: duration of infertility > 3 years (P = 0.01) and husband's age (P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis revealed that the most significant factor contributing to a decreased likelihood of pregnancy was the age of the husband (P = 0.01), then duration of infertility and dysovulation. The wife's age > or = 35 years did not appear to be of poor prognostic value when taking into consideration the three other factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Immunomodulatory effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

The activated form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, has not only a central role in bone and calcium metabolism, but also has important general effects on cell proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 behaves as a paracrine factor in the immune system as it can be produced by monocytes and has potent actions on all the cellular components of the immune defence system. In recent years, this new physiological role has been studied intensively both in terms of research and with the purpose of exploiting this action in a (pre)clinical setting. Indeed, through chemical alterations of the parent molecule, new substances have been created, called vitamin D analogues. Some of these molecules share the immunological effects of the mother compound, but have decreased effects on calcium and bone metabolism. This makes them potentially useful in clinical practice as immunomodulatory drugs. In the present review, we summarize the data on the in-vitro immune effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and its analogues and demonstrate that these compounds have clear in-vivo immune modulating properties in the prevention of spontaneous and allergic autoimmune diseases and in the prevention of graft rejection.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1995

Prevention of type I diabetes in NOD mice by nonhypercalcemic doses of a new structural analog of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, KH1060.

Pharmacological amounts of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] have potent immunoregulatory activity, but with marked effects on calcium and bone metabolism. In this study we demonstrate that nonhypercalcemia-inducing nondemineralizing doses of an analog of 1,25-(OH)2D3, 1 alpha,25-(OH)2-20-epi-22-oxa-24,26,27-trishomo-vitamin D (KH1060), can prevent type I diabetes. Female NOD mice received 1,25-(OH)2D3 (5 micrograms/kg), KH1060 (0.4 or 0.2 micrograms/kg), or the treatment vehicle ip every 2 days from 21-200 days of age. The incidence of diabetes in controls was 17 of 31 (55%), whereas 7 of 38 (18%) 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated mice, 3 of 27 (11%) KH1060 (0.4 micrograms/kg)-treated mice, and 6 of 27 (22%) KH1060 (0.2 micrograms/kg)-treated mice developed diabetes (P < 0.025 vs. controls). Protection was achieved with the low KH1060 dose without effects on calcium or bone metabolism, as evaluated by serum calcium (9.5 +/- 0.4 vs. 9.4 +/- 0.3 mg/dl in controls; P = NS), serum osteocalcin (82 +/- 17 vs. 83 +/- 20 ng/ml; P = NS), bone calcium content (6.8 +/- 0.7 vs. 6.4 +/- 0.5 mg/tibia; P = NS), urinary calcium (21 +/- 4 vs. 21 +/- 4 mg/dl; P = NS), pyridinoline excretion, and duodenal calbindin-D9K concentration. The proposed mechanism of action is a restoration of suppressor cell activity, as demonstrated in vitro (suppressor cell assay) and in vivo (cell transfer experiments). This study demonstrates that an analog of 1,25-(OH)2D3 prevents type I diabetes in NOD mice without significant effects on calcium or bone metabolism.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Immune modulation by vitamin D analogs in the prevention of autoimmune diseases].

Vitamin D has been discovered at the beginning of this century. 7-Dehydrocholesterol is converted to vitamin D3 in the skin and after several hydroxylations it is further converted to the active hormonal form, 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3. Vitamin D stimulates the absorption of calcium and phosphate and is an essential link in bone resorption and formation and calcium metabolism. 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 acts through a vitamin D receptor. These receptors are not only present in clinical target organs (kidney, gut, liver) but can also be found in a wide variety of "non-classical" tissues (keratinocytes, cells belonging to the immune system). Moreover, numerous cells (keratinocytes, macrophages) can locally synthetize or can be induced to synthetize 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 and these cells are responsive to its action. When these data are combined, a possible paracrine function of 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 can be suspected. Via this paracrine function 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 can suppress the cellular and humoral immunity. Based on the discovery of these effects on immune cells in vitro it became clear that 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 might be an interesting molecule to prevent autoimmune diseases and organ transplantation. This has already been shown in several animal models (Heymann nephritis, diabetes mellitus, experimental allergic-encephalomyelitis, lupus). 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 demonstrates however some side-effects (hypercalciuria, hypercalcemia, bone resorption) and for this reason 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3-analogs are developed with dissociated effects i.e. an activity profile that allows a specific action on non-classical tissues without calcemic effects. Some chemical modifications of the side chain, A and/or CD-ring results in "superanalogs" with 10 to 100-fold more activity on cell differentiation and the immune system then 1 alpha,25-(OH)2D3 but with less calcemic activity in vivo. These biological effects can be explained by differences in pharmacokinetics (low affinity for the plasma vitamin D-binding protein and short extracellular half-life) and increased intracellular activation and gen transactivation. Preclinical research must still be done to select the most potent superanalogs and to find the exact protocols for the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases and rejection of transplanted organs.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Spontaneous reestablishment of self-tolerance in BB/Pfd rats.

We describe a substrain of BB rats, BB/Pfd, characterized by a loss of autoimmune potential soon after onset of diabetes. When fresh syngeneic (BB/Pfd) islets (6 islets/g body weight) were transplanted under the kidney capsule of diabetic BB/Pfd rats 1-2 weeks after diabetes onset (n = 14), no recurrence of diabetes occurred. When, however, islets were transplanted on the day of diabetes diagnosis (n = 16), 10 animals were able to destroy the transplant (P < 0.005 vs. previous group). Pancreatic biopsies taken at the moment of transplantation in both groups showed an almost complete disappearance of beta cells and also insulitis in the pancreata of the 1- to 2-week diabetic rats, while the acutely diabetic rats still conserved a certain amount of beta cells and a florid insulitis. The development of a general immune defect was not the cause of this nonrecurrence, since allogeneic islet grafts were easily rejected (7 of 8), nor was there a general defect in mounting immune memory, since second set skin grafts could be rejected in an accelerated manner (9.7 vs. 15.8 days). The development of suppressor mechanisms as cause for nonrecurrence could not be demonstrated, since transfer of lymphocytes taken from 1- to 2-week diabetic rats into acutely diabetic rats at the moment of syngeneic islet transplantation was unable to prevent recurrence of disease (6 recurrences in 10 animals). We conclude that in the BB/Pfd substrain, the autoimmune capacity wanes rapidly after the onset of diabetes. This loss of autoimmune potential is parallelled by a disappearance of insulitis in the native pancreas, but the exact mechanisms of the spontaneous reestablishment of self-tolerance remain unclear.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Restriction of interferon gamma responsiveness and basal expression of the myeloid human Fc gamma R1b gene is mediated by a functional PU.1 site and a transcription initiator consensus.

The restricted expression of the human Fc gamma R1b gene to myeloid cells is likely to be regulated by a combination of transcription factors that may not be solely expressed in myeloid cells, but act together to restrict the expression of the gene to myeloid cells. Low basal expression of the human Fc gamma R1b gene is specifically upregulated by interferon gamma (IFN-gamma). A 181-bp region of 5' flanking sequence contains several key regulatory motifs that include the extended gamma response region (XGRR) and the PIE region. The XGRR contains the 39-bp gamma response region originally defined in the highly homologous Fc gamma R1a gene. The XGRR is in close proximity to the 21-bp PIE motif that is conserved in the promoters of some other myeloid genes. The PIE motif contains a consensus site for the macrophage and B cell transcription factor, PU.1, and is adjacent to the cluster of transcription start sites. An active transcription initiator, Inr, consensus spans the start sites and appears to direct transcription initiation of this TATA-less gene. In this study, we demonstrate that the PIE region contains a functional PU.1 site that binds a human PU.1-like protein and that associated factors present in myeloid extracts also bind in this PIE region. Mutational analysis reveals an absolute requirement for an intact PU.1 box for both basal and IFN-gamma inducible expression of this gene. In addition, mutations in the Inr greatly reduce basal and inducible transcription. Insertion of a strong TATA box downstream from the Inr or at -30 bp from the transcription start sites restores basal and inducible activity in the presence of a mutated PU.1 site. We also demonstrate that indeed, when the XGRR is positioned in the context of a heterologous TATA containing promoter, it is able to respond equivalently to either IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma. However, IFN-alpha responsiveness does not occur in the context of the physiological Fc gamma R1b TATA-less basal promoter. Our results suggest that a human PU.1-like factor acts as a "bridging factor" between the upstream IFN-gamma enhancer and the Inr dependent preinitiation complex. These findings indicate that the structure of the basal promoter in combination with restricted activators like PU.1 are important in regulating the expression of this gene.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1994

Prevention of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice by 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3.

1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3, the active form of vitamin D, has immunomodulatory properties in vitro and in vivo. We report that treatment with 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (5 micrograms/kg on alternate days) prevents the development of clinical diabetes in NOD mice, an animal model of human autoimmune diabetes. Diabetes incidence in female NOD mice at the age of 200 days was reduced to 8% in the 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D treated group vs 56% in the control group (p < 0.0001). In parallel, treatment with 1,25 dihydroxy-vitamin D3 resulted in a complete normalisation of the capacity to induce suppressor mechanisms in an autologous MLR, which is severely depressed in control NOD mice. The existence of such suppressor cells was confirmed in transfer experiments, whereby cotransfer of splenocytes from 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 treated NOD mice prevented diabetes transfer by splenocytes from diabetic NOD mice into irradiated, 6-8-week-old male NOD mice. Other known immune defects of the NOD mice, such as defective natural killer cell killing of YAC-1 targets and defective thymocyte activation by anti-CD3 were not corrected. The pharmacological doses of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 were universally well tolerated as reflected by a normal weight gain of the mice. Serum calcium was increased (2.5 +/- 0.2 vs 2.2 +/- 0.2 mmol/l in the control group, p < 0.005), whereas osteocalcin levels nearly doubled and bone calcium content was halved. These findings show that 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 can prevent diabetes in NOD mice, probably through the correction of their defective suppressor function.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Relationship between semen characteristics, alpha-glucosidase and the capacity of spermatozoa to bind to the human zona pellucida.

Unfertilized oocytes from an in-vitro fertilization programme were stored in different saline solutions and then utilized in a zona binding assay (ZBA). The four saline solutions tested were identical with regard to the capacity of the zona to bind spermatozoa provided by healthy donors. Spermatozoa from 150 infertile patients were tested in the ZBA. The number of spermatozoa bound to the zona correlated positively with sperm concentration, the percentage sperm motility and the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa. The population was then divided into two groups according to the level of alpha-glucosidase activity, an epididymal marker. The average number of spermatozoa bound to the zona was diminished in the group with low alpha-glucosidase activity, even when considering strictly equivalent classes of sperm concentration, motility and morphology, respectively.

Biomarkers↗