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Biomedical subjects

C W Jackson

Publications and source records attributed to C W Jackson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

The Wistar Furth rat: an animal model of hereditary macrothrombocytopenia.

The mechanisms that determine and regulate platelet size are unknown. By phase microscopy, we observed that Wistar Furth (WF) rats had macrothrombocytopenia. In this study, we have characterized and compared platelets and megakaryocytes of WF rats with those of Wistar, Long-Evans hooded (LE), and Sprague-Dawley rats. In addition, we have examined the mode of inheritance of this WF rat platelet abnormality. The average platelet count of WF rats was only one-third that of the other three rat strains. In contrast, the mean platelet volume (MPV) of adult WF rats was twice that of the other rat strains; however, the average megakaryocyte diameter and DNA content distribution of WF rats were not significantly different from those of LE rats. The average megakaryocyte concentration was 30% lower in the WF strain compared with that of LE rats. Mazelike membrane formations were observed in WF platelets and megakaryocytes by electron microscopy. Reciprocal crosses of WF and LE rats resulted in offspring with MPVs and platelet counts like those of LE rats, indicating that the macrothrombocytopenic trait is recessive in its inheritance. Reciprocal marrow transplants between the WF and LE strains resulted in MPVs like those of the donor strain, demonstrating that the macrothrombocytopenia is an intrinsic marrow abnormality of the WF strain. Splenectomy did not alter the MPV of WF rats. The response of WF megakaryocytes and platelets to severe, acute thrombocytopenia was similar to that of LE rats except that the shift to higher megakaryocyte DNA contents was muted and platelet recovery was slower in the WF rats. In summary, the WF rat has a hereditary macrothrombocytopenia that is recessive in nature and not due to differences in megakaryocyte size or DNA content. These results suggest that the macrothrombocytopenia of WF rats results from the formation of fewer platelets per megakaryocyte, possibly resulting from a qualitative or quantitative defect in some component necessary for proper subdivision of megakaryocyte cytoplasm into platelets.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1988

Increase in circulating megakaryocyte growth-promoting activity (Meg-GPA) following sublethal irradiation is not related to decreased platelets.

In this study, we have used the sublethally irradiated rat as a model to examine the relationship between platelet count and the plasma level of megakaryocyte growth-promoting activity (Meg-GPA) assayed in vitro. Meg-GPA of irradiated rats whose platelet counts were maintained by platelet transfusions was compared to that of irradiated controls allowed to develop thrombocytopenia. The irradiated controls were given either saline, packed red cells, or no other treatment. Blood values were determined and plasma was collected from all groups 11 days after irradiation, predetermined to be the nadir of platelet count and the peak of Meg-GPA. The Meg-GPA of plasma was assayed by culturing in vitro at a final concentration of 30% with rat marrow in methylcellulose and 2-mercaptoethanol for 7 days at 37 degrees C. Plasma from platelet-transfused irradiated rats, when collected at ambient temperature, contained markedly decreased levels of Meg-GPA compared to that present in plasma of irradiated controls. Subsequent in vitro studies indicated that elevated Meg-GPA levels of plasma from irradiated thrombocytopenic rats were drastically reduced by incubation with platelets in vitro at 37 degrees C. Incubation of the same plasma with platelets at 4 degrees C resulted in much less reduction in Meg-GPA. This suggested that the diminished Meg-GPA observed with plasma from the platelet-transfused irradiated rats may have been due to activation and release of Meg-GPA inhibitors from platelets during plasma collection. To investigate this possibility, experiments were repeated in which platelets of irradiated rats were maintained by platelet transfusion, but plasma was collected at 4 degrees C. Under these conditions, the level of Meg-GPA in plasma of the platelet-transfused irradiated rats was not markedly different from that in plasma of irradiated controls. We conclude that in this experimental model, circulating Meg-GPA level is not related to platelet count.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Involvement of von Willebrand factor in thrombosis following asparaginase-prednisone-vincristine therapy for leukemia.

To determine if factor VIII-von Willebrand factor (vWF) complex is involved in the thrombosis associated with asparaginase-prednisone-vincristine induction therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, plasma vWF was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-agarose gel electrophoresis and crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Five patients with cerebral thrombosis were studied; all had a decreased platelet count following the complication. Sequential studies of three patients disclosed changes in plasma vWF multimer pattern. One patient who was studied serially from 2 days before to 1 day after the event, had an increase in unusually large plasma vWF multimers that disappeared after the complication. The other two patients who were studied at presentation subsequently showed a decrease in plasma large vWF multimers, especially remarkable in the patient having the sharpest decrease in platelet count. No appreciable difference in vWF multimer pattern, when compared to normal pooled plasma, was found in the remaining two patients who were only studied at presentation, or in the seven controls who received the same treatment but did not develop thrombosis. Crossed immunoelectrophoretic analyses of two patients tested disclosed a right shift of immunoprecipitin line in one and a left shift in the other. Our findings suggest that the thrombotic complications resulted from platelet agglutination by plasma vWF.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Membrane skeletal alterations during in vivo mouse red cell aging. Increase in the band 4.1a:4.1b ratio.

We have examined membrane protein profiles for alterations during red blood cell aging. To obtain populations of in vivo-aged red cells, we maintained mice in a state of continuous erythropoietic suppression for up to 8 wk using serial hypertransfusion. The circulating t1/2 of red cells from mice which had been erythropoietically suppressed for 8 wk was less than 1 d compared with a t1/2 of 15 d for red cells from normal animals. The most obvious alteration in membrane proteins was an increase in the ratio of the membrane skeletal components 4.1a:4.1b from 0.3 for the normal red cell population to greater than 1 for these old cells. The 4.1a:4.1b ratio thus appears to be a useful index of red cell age. Analyses of the density profile of cells aged in the hypertransfused mice disclosed that these old cells had a density range similar to that of controls, suggesting that cell density does not increase significantly with red cell age in the mouse.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Interaction of ristocetin and bovine plasma with guinea pig megakaryocytes: a means to enrich megakaryocytes based on membrane rather than physical characteristics.

We have investigated whether megakaryocytes can be aggregated by ristocetin and bovine plasma and whether such aggregation can be used as a step in the purification of megakaryocytes from marrow cell suspensions. Guinea pig marrow cell suspensions were first enriched for megakaryocytes by density equilibrium centrifugation in continuous Percoll density gradients. The megakaryocyte-enriched marrow was stirred in a platelet aggregometer to which ristocetin or bovine plasma was added. Megakaryocytes were aggregated by both ristocetin and bovine plasma with the proportion aggregated being related to the concentration of ristocetin or bovine plasma. Maximal aggregation (greater than 90% of megakaryocytes) was achieved with 2.0 mg/mL ristocetin or 5% bovine plasma and required five minutes. All maturation stages of morphologically recognizable megakaryocytes were aggregated. The megakaryocyte aggregates were separated from the marrow suspension by sedimentation at 1 g and the megakaryocytes disaggregated by dilution with media (ristocetin aggregated) or addition of dextran sulfate (bovine plasma aggregated). Megakaryocyte purity and recovery were higher with bovine plasma than with ristocetin. A mean of 92% of the megakaryocytes in the bovine plasma aggregated cell suspensions were recovered with megakaryocytes constituting an average of 76% of the final cell suspensions. The viability as well as the diameters and DNA content distribution of these megakaryocytes were similar to those of the starting population. We conclude that guinea pig megakaryocytes behave like platelets in that they can be aggregated with ristocetin or bovine plasma and that megakaryocyte aggregation induced by ristocetin or bovine plasma provides a means to enrich these cells based on membrane rather than physical characteristics. This approach yields purified megakaryocyte populations that are representative of those in unfractionated marrow.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Induction failures in childhood acute nonlymphocytic leukemia: etoposide/5-azacytidine for cases refractory to daunorubicin/cytarabine.

Treatment with a combination of daunorubicin (45 mg/m2 IV, days 1-3) and cytarabine (100 mg/m2 continuous IV infusion, days 4-10) failed to induce complete remission in 31 of 87 children (36%) with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). Six patients with monocytic or promyelocytic leukemia died before day 14 of therapy from complications of hyperleukocytosis and coagulopathy; an additional 10 failed because of fatal infections associated with drug-induced marrow hypoplasia, and the remaining 15 had residual leukemia despite receiving two courses of daunorubicin and cytarabine. Alternative therapy with etoposide (250 mg/m2, IV, days 1-3, 7-9) and 5-azacytidine (300 mg/m2 IV, days 4, 5, 9, 10) induced complete remission in nine (60%) of the 15 patients with resistant leukemia. Among the six children who failed to respond to either regimen, three had cytochemical and immunophenotypic features indicative of acute mixed-lineage leukemia, and one had monosomy 7 syndrome. Our findings suggest that the addition of etoposide and 5-azacytidine to a basic daunorubicin-cytarabine regimen would increase remission induction rates in childhood ANLL. Careful determination of pretreatment characteristics, including blast cell immunophenotype and cytogenetic properties, are needed to identify unusual cases of ANLL that may require selective therapy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Erythrocyte homeostasis: antibody-mediated recognition of the senescent state by macrophages.

We tested the hypothesis that the accumulation of bound autologous antibody on a "senescent epitope" identifies aged erythrocytes for phagocytic removal by macrophages. Erythrocytes were collected from mice maintained on a hypertransfusion protocol designed to yield cells of defined age. The mouse erythrocytes were assayed for the presence of bound antibody by measuring their susceptibility to ingestion by macrophages from mouse peritoneal exudates and by flow cytofluorometry. Both assays disclosed that only the oldest mouse erythrocytes bore detectable levels of antibody. Flow cytofluorometric analysis revealed that the frequency distribution of IgG isotypes bound to the cells reflected their levels in normal serum. Finally, treatment with trypsin abolished the ability of the macrophages to ingest erythrocytes aged in vivo. These findings support the hypothesis that antibody mediates the clearance of senescent mouse erythrocytes from the circulation and demonstrate that the presence of a trypsin-sensitive recognition structure on macrophages is an essential requirement in this homeostatic process.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Lack of pathogenetic role of proteins C and S in thrombosis associated with asparaginase-prednisone-vincristine therapy for leukaemia.

Plasma levels of protein C and protein S antigens were measured in eight children who developed thrombosis following asparaginase-prednisone-vincristine treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and in nine similarly treated children without this complication. Protein C antigen levels were below normal in three of the eight patients with thrombosis and in three of the nine patients without the complication (P = 0.38). Low protein S antigen levels were found in five of six patients with thrombosis and in two of seven patients without thrombosis (P = 0.10). Plasma factor IX and factor X antigen levels, other vitamin K dependent factors, were also measured in the two groups of patients. In general, reduced levels of protein C, protein S or both antigens (anticoagulant vitamin K dependent proteins) were associated with reduced levels of factor IX, factor X, or both of these factors (procoagulant vitamin K dependent clotting proteins). The ratios of protein C and protein S antigens to each other and to factor IX and factor X antigens did not differ between the two groups. Thus, there is no clear evidence that reduced levels of protein C and (or) protein S cause thrombosis in leukaemia patients treated with this drug combination.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Inverse relationship between megakaryocyte buoyant density and maturity.

We examined the relationship between rat megakaryocyte buoyant density and maturation stage in continuous Percoll density gradients. An average of 88% of megakaryocytes had buoyant densities less than 1.054 g/ml. There was an inverse relationship between megakaryocyte buoyant density and maturation. Morphologically mature forms comprised 90% of the megakaryocytes with buoyant densities of 1.030-1.033 g/ml. In contrast, immature morphology was present in three-quarters of megakaryocytes with buoyant densities of 1.042-1.046 g/ml. These morphological findings were confirmed by [3H]thymidine labelling studies. Cell viability assessed by trypan blue exclusion was highest among more dense megakaryocytes of which the majority were immature. The lowest trypan blue exclusion was found in the less dense, predominantly mature megakaryocytes indicating that these cells are more susceptible to membrane damage during marrow suspension. Megakaryocyte DNA content distributions and platelet antigen levels, determined by two-colour flow cytometry, were also related to megakaryocyte density; the more dense megakaryocytes showed an approximately two-fold higher proportion of 8N cells and less platelet antibody binding than did less dense megakaryocytes. These studies suggest that megakaryocytes can be fractionated according to their buoyant densities into immature and mature populations suitable for molecular studies of differentiation.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Gold induced enterocolitis.

A case of gold associated enterocolitis is described. A review of all 27 previously reported cases revealed that the syndrome induced has common characteristics. The reaction occurs within three months of instituting gold therapy, is characterised by profuse diarrhoea and vomiting with abdominal pain, fever, and sometimes eosinophilia. Petechial changes are prominent on endoscopy and the endoscopic and histological features of the gut lesion do not resemble inflammatory bowel disease. The overall mortality is 26% but has decreased in recent years. There is no specific therapy but in severe cases diversional surgery may be justified.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Altered von Willebrand factor molecule in children with thrombosis following asparaginase-prednisone-vincristine therapy for leukemia.

Eleven consecutive leukemia patients with thrombosis induced by asparaginase-prednisone-vincristine therapy were studied to gain insight into the pathogenesis of this complication. Measurement of anti-thrombin III, plasminogen, factor V, and fibrin degradation products as well as platelet aggregation sensitivity to adenosine diphosphate disclosed no consistent abnormalities that would explain pathologic thrombus formation. A decrease in platelet counts observed in nine of 11 patients, prompted us to investigate the possible involvement of factor VIII in this disorder. Levels of factor VIII procoagulant activity, von Willebrand factor (vWF) and ristocetin cofactor were similar to findings for an identically treated comparison group who remained free of thrombotic complications. However, qualitative examination of vWF by crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) revealed a distinct right shift of the immunoprecipitin lines in each of three thrombotic patients tested, whereas a normal profile was found in three similarly treated patients without the complication. This altered pattern had reverted to normal when CIE was repeated 2 to 7 months later. We postulate that the abnormal vWF is related to the development of thrombosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Preferential phagocytosis of in vivo aged murine red blood cells by a macrophage-like cell line.

The ability of an established line of mouse macrophages (IC-21) to ingest red blood cells (RBC) aged in vivo was assessed. RBC populations of increasing age were prepared in mice by serial hypertransfusion, a procedure that inhibits erythropoiesis. Mouse RBC with a mean age of about 58 d (normal RBC life span, 60 d) had a circulating half-life of less than 1 d when transfused into normal mice. IC-21 macrophages ingested the in vivo aged RBC in preference to RBC from normal mice (mean RBC age, 30 d). RBC isolated from mice 10 d after being released from one red blood cell lifespan (60 d) of inhibited erythropoiesis (mean RBC age 5 d) were ingested significantly less than RBC from normal mice. The IC-21 macrophage line used with in vivo aged RBC affords a highly defined model system for identifying the mechanism(s) of macrophage-mediated homeostasis.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Increases in circulating megakaryocyte growth-promoting activity in the plasma of rats following whole body irradiation.

To gain insight into the regulation of megakaryocyte precursors in vivo, we assayed (in vitro) megakaryocyte growth-promoting activity (Meg-GPA) in plasma of rats in which both marrow hypoplasia and thrombocytopenia had been induced by irradiation. Rats received whole body irradiation of 834 rad from a 137Cs source. Plasma was collected at intervals of hours to days, up through day 21 postirradiation, and was tested, at a concentration of 30%, for Meg-GPA on bone marrow cells cultured in 1.1% methylcellulose with 5 X 10(-5) M 2-mercaptoethanol. With normal rat plasma, no megakaryocyte colonies (defined as greater than or equal to 4 megakaryocytes) were seen and only a few single megakaryocytes and clusters (defined as 2 or 3 megakaryocytes) were formed. Two peaks of plasma Meg-GPA were observed after irradiation. The first appeared at 12 hr, before any decrease in marrow megakaryocyte concentration or platelet count. The second occurred on days 10-14 after irradiation, after the nadir in megakaryocyte concentration and while platelet counts were at their lowest levels. A dose-response study of plasma concentration and megakaryocyte growth, using plasma collected 11 days postirradiation, demonstrated that patterns of megakaryocyte growth were related to plasma concentration; formation of single megakaryocytes was optimal over a range of 20%-30% plasma concentration, while cluster and colony formation were optimal at a plasma concentration of 30%. All forms of megakaryocyte growth were decreased with 40% plasma. There was a linear relationship between the number of bone marrow cells plated and growth of single cells, clusters, and colonies using a concentration of 30% plasma collected 11 days after irradiation. We conclude that irradiation causes time-related increases in circulating megakaryocyte growth-promoting activity. We suggest that the irradiated rat is a good model for studying the relationships between Meg-GPA and megakaryocyte and platelet concentration in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Two-color flow cytometric measurement of DNA distributions of rat megakaryocytes in unfixed, unfractionated marrow cell suspensions.

The ploidy distribution of megakaryocytes shifts in response to platelet demand and thus provides a sensitive index of megakaryocytopoiesis. Flow cytometry (FCM) is a potentially valuable method for rapid determination of ploidy distributions of megakaryocyte populations; however, because megakaryocytes constitute only a very small proportion of the cells in unfractionated marrow, other rare events, such as cell clumping, complicate FCM analysis. We describe the measurement of cellular DNA distributions of megakaryocytes by two-color FCM in unfixed, unfractionated marrow--a method based on the resistance of megakaryocytes to hypotonic lysis in the cold for at least 2 days. Specific platelet antiserum was used to label megakaryocytes by indirect immunofluorescence with fluorescein (green fluorescence), and DNA was stained with propidium iodide (red fluorescence) in hypotonic citrate solution. The ploidy distribution of megakaryocytes was selectively determined with two-color, green-gated FCM, with which the red and green fluorescence of all cells is analyzed, but only the red fluorescence (DNA content) of cells that specifically bound the platelet antibody is recorded. We demonstrate that this method can readily detect changes in megakaryocyte DNA distributions due to experimental thrombocytopenia or platelet hypertransfusion and, therefore, should be useful for both experimental and clinical investigations of megakaryocytopoiesis.

Animals↗