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Biomedical subjects

C T Ho

Publications and source records attributed to C T Ho.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Regeneration of vitamin E in rat polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

The objectives of this study were to determine whether the recycling of tocopherol occurs in elicited rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes and if so, whether the recycling process is enzymic or chemical. When incubated with hemoglobin, tocopherol was oxidized in cell homogenates in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The oxidized tocopherol could be regenerated by addition of ascorbate, glutathione or nordihydroguaiaretic acid. Time course studies showed a rapid regeneration of tocopherol which peaked at 1 min after the addition of reductants. Determination of the regeneration reaction in the presence of CHCl3 and MeOH indicated that under these enzyme-denaturing conditions, a considerable amount of tocopherol was still regenerated, suggesting that the regeneration reaction is predominantly a chemical reaction. This study provided direct evidence from mass analysis that oxidized vitamin E can be regenerated by cellular water-soluble reductants such as ascorbate and glutathione.

Animals↗

Inhibition of tobacco-specific nitrosamine-induced lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice by green tea and its major polyphenol as antioxidants.

In this study we examined the effects of green tea and its major components, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and caffeine, on the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)-induced lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice. We also studied the effects of green tea and EGCG on O6-methylguanine and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dGuo) formation in lung tissues caused by NNK treatment. Mice were given 2% tea, 560 ppm EGCG, or 1120 ppm caffeine in drinking water for 13 weeks. During this time, NNK (11.65 mg/kg body weight) was administered by gavage three times weekly for 10 weeks from weeks 3 to 12. The bioassay was terminated 6 weeks after the last NNK treatment. Mice treated with NNK developed 22.5 lung adenomas per mouse, whereas NNK-treated mice that drank green tea or EGCG as drinking water developed only 12.2 (P less than 0.01) and 16.1 (P less than 0.05) tumors per mouse, respectively. Mice that drank green tea or caffeine solution showed lower body weight gains, although little difference in water and diet consumption was noted in these groups. While green tea and EGCG exerted little effect on the formation of O6-methylguanine, a critical DNA lesion in NNK lung tumorigenesis, both treatments suppressed the increase of 8-OH-dGuo levels in mouse lung DNA. The inhibition of 8-OH-dGuo formation in lung DNA by green tea and EGCG is consistent with their ability to inhibit lung tumorigenesis by NNK. Because 8-OH-dGuo is a DNA lesion caused by oxidative damage, these results suggest that the mechanism of inhibition by green tea and EGCG in NNK-induced lung tumorigenesis is due at least partly to their antioxidant properties.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Inhibitory effect of green tea on tumorigenesis by chemicals and ultraviolet light.

Topical application of a green tea polyphenol fraction inhibited 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate-induced tumor promotion in CD-1 mice previously initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). Oral administration of a green tea infusion as the sole source of liquid sustenance to SKH-1 mice inhibited ultraviolet B light (UVB)-induced sunburn lesions, UVB-induced initiation of skin tumors, UVB-induced formation of skin tumors in mice previously initiated with DMBA, and nitrosodiethylamine-induced forestomach and lung tumors in A/J mice. In addition to inhibiting UVB-induced formation of skin tumors in DMBA-initiated mice, oral administration of green tea markedly decreased tumor size.

Animals↗

Antioxidative effect of polyphenol extract prepared from various Chinese teas.

METHODS. Twelve different types of Chinese teas, including green, semifermented, and black tea, were studied for their antioxidant activities and active components. Compositions of (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin, (-)-epicatechin gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, and gallic acid were identified by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Antioxidant activities in lard were measured by the Rancimat method. RESULTS. The results showed that both yields of polyphenol extract and antioxidant activities varied with different tea processing methods. It was found that (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin, and (-)-epicatechin gallate inhibited soybean lipoxygenase at the IC50 values ranging from 10 to 20 microM.

Animals↗

Inhibitory effect of topical application of a green tea polyphenol fraction on tumor initiation and promotion in mouse skin.

A green tea polyphenol fraction was evaluated for its ability to inhibit tumor initiation by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and tumor promotion by a phorbol ester in the skin of CD-1 mice. Topical application of the green tea polyphenol fraction inhibited benzo[a]pyrene- and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]-anthracene-induced tumor initiation as well as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced tumor promotion. Topical application of the green tea polyphenol fraction also inhibited TPA-induced inflammation, ornithine decarboxylase activity, hyperplasia and hydrogen peroxide formation. Studies with individual polyphenolic compounds in green tea indicated that topical application of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin and (-)-epicatechin gallate inhibited TPA-induced inflammation in mouse epidermis.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Selective expansion of V delta 1 + T cells from leprosy skin lesions.

T cells bearing gamma delta T-cell receptors (TCRs) are prominent residents of murine epidermis and appear to be important participants in the immune response to infection in human skin. The Mitsuda reaction in leprosy, induced by intradermal challenge with Mycobacterium leprae, provides an opportunity to study the cellular events that mediate a form of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in skin. T cells bearing gamma delta TCRs comprise a significant proportion of the T-cell population in these DTH reactions. Presently we have generated T-cell lines from Mitsuda reactions in vitro and compared their TCR repertoire to that found in situ. gamma delta T cells comprised 20-40% of lines derived from these skin lesions, but < 10% of lines derived from the peripheral blood of the same individuals. Flow-cytometric analysis of variable (V) chain usage in T-cell lines derived from skin lesions indicated that V delta 1 was predominant. Evaluation of the TCR repertoire using PCR indicated that V delta 1-J delta 1 and V gamma 2-J gamma P gene rearrangements were prevalent. In comparison, V delta 2-J delta 1 gene rearrangements predominated in situ. Furthermore, nucleotide sequence analysis of the V-J junction of one T-cell line revealed limited genetic diversity of the gamma delta TCR. These findings suggest that the V delta 1 subpopulation of gamma delta T cells in Mitsuda skin reactions selectively outgrows from leprosy skin lesions in vitro. Such V delta 1 + T-cell lines should be useful for determining the relevant antigens and restriction elements in this response to a pathogen in skin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The effects of postharvest treatment and chemical interactions on the bioavailability of ascorbic acid, thiamin, vitamin A, carotenoids, and minerals.

All recent health recommendations include admonitions to reduce calories, maintain desirable weight, reduce fat, increase complex carbohydrates, and ensure an adequate intake of nutrients. Such recommendations require that we know not only nutrient composition of foods, but also potential losses and decreased bioavailability due to postharvest treatment and chemical interactions. This article discusses in some detail the reactions of concern that cause such changes and their potential alleviation with several key nutrients. The nutrients discussed were chosen as a result of the conclusions of the Joint Nutrition Monitoring Report of the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Obviously other choices could have been made, but the authors felt that the nutrients chosen--ascorbic acid, thiamin, vitamin A, carotenoids, calcium, and iron--were representative of a key profile of nutrients whose reactivity makes them vulnerable to losses in bioavailability, as well as being noted in the Joint Nutrition Monitoring Report.

Animals↗

Glycation of lysozyme in a restricted water environment.

Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB) was used to determine the glycation sites of lysozyme in a restricted water environment. A 30-day incubation at 25 degrees C, and 65% relative humidity (R.H.) resulted in glycation at lysine-1 while a much shorter (3-day) incubation at 50 degrees C and 65% R.H. resulted in diglycation at lysine-1 as well as glycation at lysine-13 and lysine-33.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effect of growth phase on phospholipid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The effect of growth phase on the membrane-associated phospholipid biosynthetic enzymes CDP-diacylglycerol synthase, phosphatidylserine synthase, phosphatidylinositol synthase, and the phospholipid N-methyltransferases in wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae was examined. Maximum activities were found in the exponential phase of cells grown in complete synthetic medium. As cells entered the stationary phase of growth, the activities of the CDP-diacylglycerol synthase, phosphatidylserine synthase, and the phospholipid N-methyltransferases decreased 2.5- to 5-fold. The subunit levels of phosphatidylserine synthase and the cytoplasmic-associated enzyme inositol-1-phosphate synthase were not significantly affected by the growth phase. When grown in medium supplemented with inositol-choline, cells in the exponential phase of growth had reduced CDP-diacylglycerol synthase, phosphatidylserine synthase, and phospholipid N-methyltransferase activities, with repressed subunit levels of phosphatidylserine synthase and inositol-1-phosphate synthase compared with cells grown without inositol-choline. Enzyme activity levels remained reduced in the stationary phase of growth of cells supplemented with inositol-choline. The phosphatidylserine synthase and inositol-1-phosphate synthase subunit levels, however, were depressed. Phosphatidylinositol synthase (activity and subunit) was not affected by growth in medium supplemented with or without inositol-choline or the growth phase of the culture. The phospholipid composition of cells in the exponential and stationary phase of growth was also examined. The phosphatidylinositol to phosphatidylserine ratio doubled in stationary-phase cells. The phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylethanolamine ratio was not significantly affected by the growth phase of cells.

CDP-Diacylglycerol-Inositol 3-Phosphatidyltransfer↗

Identification of soy protein in meat by pyrolysis-high-resolution gas chromatography.

Pyrolysis-gas chromatography was applied to the characterization of ground beef and soy protein isolate and its mixtures at the 50, 30 and 10% levels. A cryogenic trap pyrolysis mode was employed and the volatile pyrolysates were analysed by a high-resolution capillary gas chromatograph. Two phenolic derivatives, o-methoxy- and dimethoxyphenol, as well as 2,3-dithiabutane are uniquely observed at a large concentration in the soy pyrolysate. Quantification of these characteristic compounds allow the estimation of the level of soy inclusion in the mixture. This approach effectively denotes soy addition up to the 10% level in comminuted beef.

Animals↗