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Biomedical subjects

C Remacle

Publications and source records attributed to C Remacle.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Intergenerational effect of an adverse intrauterine environment on perturbation of glucose metabolism.

Human epidemiological and animal studies have revealed the late consequences of malnutrition during gestation and early life on the health of the offspring. These studies have highlighted the inverse relationship between birth weight and the incidence of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes later in life. The aim of this paper is to review the different means of achieving foetal malnutrition and its consequences even for a next generation, in animal models and to identify key area for further research. We address the impact of two models of maternal malnutrition (protein restriction and caloric restriction) as well as the impact of maternal diabetes, the three maternal conditions leading to perturbed foetal nutritional environment. Particular emphasis is given to the endocrine pancreas and the insulin sensitive tissues. More specifically, alterations of the foetal nutritional environment perturb the development of the endocrine pancreas and target the ss cell mass at birth. Some adaptations later in life may take place but stress situations such as pregnancy and ageing precipitate the animals to glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Even the next generation features alterations in the development of the endocrine pancreas. Some mechanisms by which the foetal ss cell mass is altered are approached in this review and specific attention is paid to the amino acid profile. The preventive role of taurine is discussed.

Animals↗

Intrauterine low protein diet increases fetal beta-cell sensitivity to NO and IL-1 beta: the protective role of taurine.

We have demonstrated earlier that a low-protein (8% protein) diet during gestation alters fetal beta-cell development. Here, we investigated the effect of a low-protein diet as compared with a control (20% protein) diet, during gestation, on the sensitivity of fetal beta-cells against nitric oxide (NO) or interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and assessed the protective effect of taurine in vitro and in vivo. Neoformed islets from control fetuses or fetuses of dams fed a low-protein diet (LP group) were incubated with taurine, methionine or beta-alanine and then exposed to sodium nitropruside (SNP), a NO donor, or to IL-1 beta. To understand the effect of taurine in vivo, LP or control pregnant rats received 2.5% of taurine in the drinking water. Mortality and rate of apoptosis were quantified by confocal microscopy. Without treatment, rate of apoptosis was greater in LP group islets than in control islets (1.38+/-0.18% compared with 0.66+/-0.21% respectively, P<0.05). Addition of SNP 100 microM showed an augmentation in cell death, which was greater in the LP than in the control group (17.88+/-0.69% compared with 11.89+/-0.44% respectively, P<0.01). LP islets were more sensitive than control islets to IL-1 beta. Taurine was protective against SNP and IL-1 beta in both the groups, methionine provided a less protective effect than taurine, and pretreatment with beta-alanine had no protective effect. Taurine supplementation of the maternal diet reduced the rate of apoptosis induced by IL-1 beta in control islets and suppressed that induced by IL-1 beta in LP islets. Our findings indicate that a low-protein diet during gestation augments the sensitivity of fetal islet cells to NO and IL-1 beta. However, through in vitro and in vivo experiments our studies indicate that such effects can be rescued using amino acids such as taurine.

Animals↗

Islet cryopreservation: improved recovery following taurine pretreatment.

Simple and efficient freezing methods with maximal postthawing recovery form the basis of ideal cryopreservation. Taurine (2-amino ethanesulfonic acid), an end-product of sulphur amino acid metabolism, is one of the most abundant free amino acids in the body. The membrane stabilizing, free radical scavenging, and osmoregulatory roles of taurine have been well documented. We studied the effect of physiological and supra-physiological concentrations (0.3 and 3.0 mM) of taurine on islet cryopreservation. Islet viability on cryopreservation was significantly improved in both the taurine-treated groups (91.9 +/- 2.3% in 0.3 mM and 94.6 +/- 1.58% in 3.0 mM group, p < 0.05) compared with the controls (85.7 +/- 3.4%). Loss of peripheral islet cells was highly reduced in the taurine group, as examined under phase contrast and quantified by islet morphometric analysis (p < 0.05) using a digital image analysis system. Taurine-treated islets showed significant reduction in lipid peroxidation (0.905 and 0.848 nM MDA/microg protein for 0.3 and 3.0 mM taurine, respectively, p < 0.05) compared with control (1.307 nM MDA/microg protein) islets. In all, 500 islet equivalents (IE) of treated or control group islets were transplanted to BALB/c mice rendered diabetic with STZ. All animals showed a normal glucose clearance following a glucose load. Graft functionality was confirmed by normoglycemia (fasting plasma glucose: fpg < 150 mg/dl) after transplantation and reappearing hyperglycemia (fpg > 200 mg/dl) following removal of the graft. Suboptimal islet transplantation using 250 IE suggests that the grafted islet mass was inadequate for diabetes reversal. In addition, no significant differences were observed in the islet insulin content between the three groups following cryopreservation of the islets at -196 degrees C. Our studies indicate that taurine pretreatment and its continued presence during islet cryopreservation improves the postthawing viable recovery of islets.

Animals↗

Biophysical studies and intracellular destabilization of pH-sensitive liposomes.

We examined changes in membrane properties upon acidification of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine/cholesterylhemisuccinate liposomes and evaluated their potential to deliver entrapped tracers in cultured macrophages. Membrane permeability was determined by the release of entrapped calcein or hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (HPTS)-p-xylene-bis-pyridinium bromide (DPX); membrane fusion, by measuring the change in size of the liposomes and the dequenching of octadecylrhodamine-B fluorescence; and change in lipid organization, by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Measurement of cell-associated fluorescence and confocal microscopy examination were made on cells incubated with liposomes loaded with HPTS or HPTS-DPX. The biophysical studies showed (i) a lipid reorganization from bilayer to hexagonal phase progressing from pH 8.0 to 5.0, (ii) a membrane permeabilization for pH <6.5, (iii) an increase in the mean diameter of liposomes for pH <6.0, and (iv) a mixing of liposome membranes for pH <5.7. The cellular studies showed (i) an uptake of the liposomes that were brought from pH 7.5-7.0 to 6.5-6.0 and (ii) a release of approximately 15% of the endocytosed marker associated with its partial release from the vesicles (diffuse localization). We conclude that the permeabilization and fusion of pH-sensitive liposomes occur as a consequence of a progressive lipid reorganization upon acidification. These changes may develop intracellularly after phagocytosis and allow for the release of the liposome content in endosomes associated with a redistribution in the cytosol.

Animals↗

Culture of porcine stromal-vascular cells in serum-free medium: differential action of various hormonal agents on adipose conversion.

We developed a strictly controlled serum-free culture system and tested the effects of adipogenic and antiadipogenic agents on the proliferation and(or) adipose conversion of porcine stromal-vascular cells. To avoid any interference with serum components, stromal-vascular cells were isolated, plated, and grown in absence of serum. In these culture conditions, a very limited growth phase and the absence of cell confluence were observed. However, when compared with continuous culture in serum-containing medium, the serum-free conditions were significantly more adipogenic as assessed by increased lipid content and increased enzymatic activities for lipoprotein lipase, glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and malic enzyme. In serum-free medium, physiological concentrations of insulin or IGF-I were sufficient to significantly increase the percentage of lipid-containing cells, whereas triiodothyronine (T3) and GH had no effect. Insulin, IGF-I, and, more moderately, T3 also accelerated the lipid filling in the lipid-containing cells. In the presence of insulin, stimulation by T3 or hydrocortisone alone had no effect on glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity, whereas their concomitant addition significantly increased it. Chronic exposure to tumor necrosis factor-alpha dose-dependently stimulated cell proliferation but clearly inhibited differentiation. Epidermal growth factor, another known antiadipogenic agent, also significantly increased the proliferation of stromal-vascular cells, but, surprisingly, this was not correlated with inhibition of adipocyte differentiation. Indeed, epidermal growth factor treatment did not decrease lipid filling and significantly improved lipoprotein lipase and malic enzyme activities. Taken together, the results obtained in these strictly controlled serum-free culture conditions point out functions for insulin, IGF-I, hydrocortisone, and T3 during early and(or) later steps of porcine adipose conversion. In addition, this study reports a positive activity of epidermal growth factor on porcine adipocyte differentiation that is in clear contrast with previous works performed with rodent cells.

Adipocytes↗

Circulating activated platelets assist THP-1 monocytoid/endothelial cell interaction under shear stress.

Circulating complexes of leukocytes and activated platelets are markers for atherosclerosis, but their interaction with the arterial endothelial lining has not been studied. Therefore, the effect of activated platelets on rolling and adhesion of labeled human THP-1 monocytoid cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) monolayers was studied by epifluorescence microscopy in a parallel plate flow chamber. In the absence of activated platelets, THP-1 rolling on resting HUVEC was negligible at shear rates greater than 300 s(-1). Activation of HUVEC with 100 nmol/L phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) increased THP-1 cell adhesion at shear rates less than 400 s(-1). Therefore, a shear rate of 400 s(-1) was identified as a threshold for THP-1 adhesion. THP-1 rolling on activated HUVEC was reduced by 64% after L-selectin inhibition but was not affected by P-selectin inhibition. The addition of 1 to 50 thrombin receptor-activating peptide (TRAP)-activated platelets per THP-1 cell enhanced interactions between THP-1 cells and HUVEC, resulting in a steep bell-shaped dose-response curve, with a peak of 10 +/- 3 rolling cells/50 seconds at 3 platelets per THP-1 cell (P <.01 v control) with a concomitant 2- to 3-fold increase of firmly adhering cells (P <.01 v control). In reconstituted blood, low numbers of activated platelets had the same effect on THP-1 rolling and adhesion. P-selectin inhibition reduced platelet/THP-1 cell interaction in suspension and deposition of the complexes on the endothelial monolayer. Inhibition of both P- and L-selectin reduced THP-1/HUVEC interactions to 14% (P <.01, n = 4). Sialidase digestion and removal of terminal sialic acid residues from HUVEC or THP-1 cells but not from platelets abolished the platelet mediated augmentation of THP-1 cell adhesion. Thus, THP-1 rolling on HUVEC is shear-dependent and largely mediated by L-selectin. P-selectin expressed on activated platelets increases monocytoid cell adhesion to endothelial cells at shear rates found in coronary arteries through interactions with both endothelial and monocytoid cells and may facilitate macrophage accumulation in the vessel wall.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Caveolin-1 modulates the activity of the volume-regulated chloride channel.

1. Caveolae are small invaginations of the plasma membrane that have recently been implicated in signal transduction. In the present study, we have investigated whether caveolins, the principal protein of caveolae, also modulate volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs). 2. ICl,swell, the cell swelling-induced chloride current through VRACs, was studied in three caveolin-1-deficient cell lines: Caco-2, MCF-7 and T47D. 3. Electrophysiological measurements showed that ICl, swell was very small in these cells and that transient expression of caveolin-1 restored ICl,swell. The caveolin-1 effect was isoform specific: caveolin-1beta but not caveolin-1alpha upregulated VRACs. This correlated with a different subcellular distribution of caveolin-1alpha (perinuclear location) from caveolin-1beta (perinuclear and peripheral). 4. To explain the modulation of ICl, swell by caveolin-1 we propose that caveolin increases the availability of VRACs in the plasma membrane or, alternatively, that it plays a crucial role in the signal transduction cascade of VRACs.

Animals↗

Biological evaluation of RGD peptidomimetics, designed for the covalent derivatization of cell culture substrata, as potential promotors of cellular adhesion.

Our aim was to replace the proteins and peptides, generally used for the biocompatibilization of polymer substrata, with synthetic molecules mimicking the RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) active sequence. Based on the (L)-tyrosine template, RGD peptidomimetics were constructed; one molecule 3 was equipped with an anchorage arm that allowed its covalent grafting on a culture substratum made from poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) microporous membrane. The amount of fixed molecules was readily determined by XPS, using a fluorine tag incorporated in the peptidomimetic structure. The binding of peptidomimetics 1-3 to the vitronectin (VN) and fibronectin (FN) receptors could not be revealed in a test of inhibition of MSC 80 cells adhesion, by the synthetic compounds in solution placed in competition with the adhesive proteins (VN and FN) coating polystyrene plates. However, the cell-attachment activity of peptidomimetic 3 was shown by culturing CaCo2 cells, in the absence of serum, on the PET substratum grafted with 3. The performance of this support was similar to that of PET grafted with the reference peptide RGDS (Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser), and only reduced by half comparatively to the PET grafted with FN.

Adsorption↗

Regulation of porcine adipogenesis in vitro, as compared with other species.

In vitro studies, mostly performed on murine cell lines, allowed us to identify the role played by hormonal agents, second-messenger pathways, extracellular matrix proteins, and transcription factors in adipose conversion. Some information has also been reported when studies were conducted on primary cultures that originated from various species. However, because of conflicting results, probably caused, at least in part, by species specificity, developing cultures of preadipose cells from economically important species appeared necessary to better understand and control the animals' fat development. We reviewed our current knowledge concerning the regulation of cultured porcine preadipose cells by hormones, second-messenger pathways, and extracellular matrix proteins. The results clearly demonstrate that such primary cultures are essential to avoid the establishment of hazardous concepts originated from rodent and aneuploid cell lines in particular.

Adipocytes↗

Various stimulators of the cyclic AMP pathway fail to promote adipose conversion of porcine preadipocytes in primary culture.

The cyclic adenosine-monophosphate (cAMP) pathway is generally recognized as one of the essential pathways for the adipose conversion of rodent preadipocytes in vitro. However, divergent effects of cAMP on adipocyte differentiation have also been reported. Since there is very little data on non-rodent preadipose cells, the aim of the present work was to analyze the effects of classic activators of the cAMP pathway on the proliferation and differentiation of porcine preadipocytes grown either in serum-free or in serum-containing medium. In both media, the addition of 10 microM forskolin from day 1 after cell plating to day 3 or 7 did not affect cell proliferation. Such stimulations also failed to enhance preadipocyte differentiation, as assessed by the measurement of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activities, two markers of adipose conversion. Similar results were obtained when various concentrations of forskolin (0.1 nM-100 microM) were added for 2 days either during the growth phase (days 1-3) or after confluence (days 5-7). Addition of methylisobutylxanthine (MIX) or 8-bromo-cAMP was also found inefficient to stimulate porcine preadipocytes differentiation clearly. By contrast, post-confluence treatment of the murine 3T3-L1 cell line with either forskolin or MIX markedly enhanced lipid accumulation and led to a dramatic increase in GPDH activity (up to 120 times). This indicates that similar culture conditions are adipogenic for the murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes but not for porcine preadipose cells. In summary, this work clearly highlights the finding that porcine preadipocytes do not respond to classic activators of the cAMP pathway like rodent cells do. This calls in question again the general model proposed for the action of this pathway in adipose conversion and suggests that the mechanisms regulating adipocyte differentiation may differ among species.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

A low-protein isocaloric diet during gestation affects brain development and alters permanently cerebral cortex blood vessels in rat offspring.

In humans, low birth weight is associated with nonfatal stroke, cardiovascular disease and diabetes at adulthood. The aim of this study was to investigate in rats the effect of early protein restriction, inducing low birth weight, on brain and endocrine pancreas vascularization at birth and to study if such alterations lasted until adulthood. Pregnant rats were fed either 20 or 8% protein isocaloric diets. Control newborns were nursed by their dams fed the 20% protein diet and low protein (LP) pups by dams fed either the 8 or 20% protein diet. The diets given during lactation were maintained until adulthood. The blood vessel density of cerebral cortex analyzed by morphometry in 3-d-old pups from dams fed the 8% protein diet was lower than in control (C). It remained lower at adulthood whether a LP or a C diet was given postnatally. Reduction of vascularization at adulthood induced by the LP diet limited to fetal life seems characteristic for the brain since vascularization of islets of Langerhans was reduced in neonates but normalized at adulthood by a C diet postnatally. Body and brain weights were lower in LP pups and adults. DNA concentration was lower in forebrain and higher in cerebellum in LP pups. In brain of LP adults, DNA, protein, cholesterol and phospholipid concentrations were lower and were restored at adulthood by a normal diet after birth. In conclusion, cerebral cortex of offspring exposed to a LP isocaloric diet during fetal development showed reduced vascularization which remained throughout life.

Analysis of Variance↗

A low protein diet alters the balance of islet cell replication and apoptosis in the fetal and neonatal rat and is associated with a reduced pancreatic expression of insulin-like growth factor-II.

A programmed turnover of pancreatic beta cells occurs in the neonatal rat involving a loss of beta cells by apoptosis, and their replacement by islet cell replication and neogenesis. The timing of apoptosis is associated with a loss of expression of a survival factor, insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II), in the pancreatic islets. Offspring from rats chronically fed a low protein isocalorific diet (LP) exhibit a reduced pancreatic beta cell mass at birth and a reduced insulin secretion in later life. This study therefore investigated the impact of LP on islet cell ontogeny in the late fetal and neonatal rat, and any associated changes in the presence of IGFs and their binding proteins (IGFBPs). Pregnant Wistar rats were fed either LP (8% protein) or normal (C) (20% protein) chow from shortly after conception until the offspring were 21 days postnatal (PN). Bromo-deoxyuridine (BrdU) was administered 1 h before rats were killed and pancreata removed from animals between 19.5 days fetal life and postnatal day 21. Offspring of rats given LP diet had reduced birthweight, pancreatic beta cell mass, and pancreas insulin content, with smaller islets compared with control fed animals, which persisted to weaning. Histological analysis showed that islets from pups given LP diet had a lower nuclear labeling index with BrdU in the beta cells, although, paradoxically, more beta cells showed immunoreactivity for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Because PCNA is present in G1 as well as S phase of the cell cycle, we quantified the number of beta cells immunopositive for cyclin D1, a marker of G1, and NEK2, an indicator of cells in G2 and mitosis. More beta cells in islets from LP-fed animals contained cyclin D1, but less contained NEK2 than did those in controls. This suggests that the beta cell cycle may have a prolonged G1 phase in LP-fed animals in vivo. Offspring of rats given C diet had a low rate of islet cell apoptosis detected by the TUNEL method in fetal and neonatal life (1-2%), with a transient increase to 8% at PN day 14. Offspring of rats receiving LP diet demonstrated a significantly greater level of islet cell apoptosis at every age, rising to 15% at PN 14. IGF-II mRNA was quantified in whole pancreas and was significantly reduced in LP-fed animals at ages up to PN day 10. IGF-II immunoreactivity within the islets of LP-fed rats was also less apparent, but no changes were seen in immunoreactive IGF-I or IGFBPs-2 to -5. These findings show that LP diet changes the balance of beta cell replication and apoptosis in fetal and neonatal neonatal life, which may involve an altered length of beta cell cycle, and contribute to the smaller islet size and impaired insulin release seen in later life. A reduced pancreatic expression of IGF-II may contribute to the lower beta cell proliferation rate and increased apoptosis seen in the fetus and neonate after feeding LP diet.

Animals↗

Seasonal variations in the function of the endocrine pancreas in Psammomys obesus.

The aim of this work was to determine whether Psammomys obesus living in its natural habitat displays variation in the function of the endocrine pancreas. Live animals were collected regularly through the year by strip sampling. Plasma glucose varied during the year. Glucose levels were higher in periods I and III (autumn and spring) than in periods II and IV (winter and summer). Pancreatic insulin contents were higher in periods I and II than in periods III and IV. Plasma insulin also varied with the season in synchrony with glucose variations except during period IV, in which elevated levels of insulin were associated with low levels of glucose. The high insulin levels observed in period IV were resistant to the effects of food restriction in that period and were probably related to the presence of the greater levels of insulin in period III (spring). The dry season (period IV) corresponding to the period of restricted diet appears necessary to restore elevated levels of insulin to baseline. Morphometric quantitation of the insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin positive islet cells did not reveal seasonal variation. However, the volume density of A and D cells in P. obesus reached high values of 32 and 15%, respectively. The volume density of insulin cells amounted to about 53%. It is concluded that P. obesus living in its natural habitat is a nondiabetic healthy gerbil adapted to desert subsistence by endocrine feedback, imposed by the seasonal variation in food availability.

Animals↗

Suppression of a +1 T mutation by a nearby substitution in the mitochondrial cox1 gene of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: a new type of frameshift suppression in an organelle genome.

In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, mutants defective in the cytochrome pathway of respiration lack the capacity to grow under heterotrophic conditions (in darkness on acetate). In the dark- strain duM18, a + 1 T addition in a run of four Ts, located at codon 145 of the mitochondrial cox1 gene encoding subunit I of cytochrome c oxidase, is responsible for the mutant phenotype. A leaky revertant (su11) that grows heterotrophically at a lower rate than wild-type cells was isolated from dum18. Its respiration sensitivity to cyanide was low and its cytochrome c oxidase activity was only 4% of that of the wild-type enzyme. Meiotic progeny obtained from crosses between revertant and wild-type cells inherited the phenotype of the mt- parent, showing that the suppressor mutation, like dum18 itself, is located in the mitochondrial genome. In order to map the su11 mutation relative to dum18, a recombinational analysis was performed on the diploid progeny. It demonstrated that su11 was very closely linked to the dum18 mutation less than 20-30 bp away. The cox1 gene of the su11 revertant was then sequenced. In addition to the + 1 T frameshift mutation still present at codon 145, an A-->C substitution was found at codon 146, leading to the replacement of a glutamic acid by an alanine in the polypeptide chain. No other mutations were detected in the cox1 coding sequence. As the new GCG codon (Ala) created at position 146 is very seldom used in the mitochondrial genome of C. reinhardtii, we suggest that the partial frameshift suppression by the nearby substitution is due to an occasional abnormal translocation of the ribosome (+ 1 base shift) facilitated both by the run of Ts and the low level of weak interaction of alanyl-tRNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effect of MRC-5 fibroblast conditioned medium on breast cancer cell motility and invasion in vitro.

We used Transwell chambers to study separately cellular motility and invasion. In order to assess the cellular motility, polycarbonate microporous filters were coated with extracellular matrix proteins which adsorbed on the filters without clogging the pores. To investigate the invasive behavior of tumor cells, filters were covered with a layer of Matrigel which clogged the pores. The motility and the invasion of breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7/6 and MCF-7/AZ cells) were assessed quantitatively in different culture media: defined (serum-free), serum-containing and normal human fibroblast MRC-5 conditioned media. In serum-containing medium, tumor cells migrated and invaded through the coated and covered filters. Their motility and invasion potentials were considerably lower in defined medium, whereas medium conditioned by MRC-5 fibroblasts stimulated both motility and invasion but not growth. The MRC-5 conditioned medium induced also the spreading of clusters of MCF-7/6 cells grown on Matrigel-coated plates.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Effects of taurine on the insulin secretion of rat fetal islets from dams fed a low-protein diet.

An isocaloric low-protein (LP) diet (8% instead of 20% in controls) given to dams during gestation reduces the fractional insulin release of stimulated fetal islets. The LP diet lowers the plasma concentration of taurine in both pregnant rats and their fetuses. This study reports the effect of taurine on the in vitro release of insulin from control and LP fetal islets. Direct stimulation with taurine, methionine or leucine increased the release of insulin from control islets. Nevertheless, no effect on LP islets was observed with either taurine or methionine. The release of insulin from LP islets was reduced with leucine. The in vitro addition of taurine (0. 3 or 3 mM) to the culture medium increased the release of insulin from the control islets in response to arginine or leucine, but it did not restore the reduced responsiveness of LP islets to these amino acids. When 2.5% taurine was added to the drinking water of control or LP dams (groups C+T and LP+T) throughout gestation, the concentration of taurine increased in the serum of dams and fetuses of both groups. The release of insulin from the LP+T fetuses was restored to control levels when stimulated with taurine, methionine, leucine or arginine. In conclusion, taurine stimulated control fetal islets in vitro, but failed to do so in LP islets. However, the addition of taurine to the diet of LP dams restored to normal the release of insulin from LP fetal islets, indicating the importance of taurine during development for a normal fetal beta cell function.

Analysis of Variance↗