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Biomedical subjects

D Boyd

Publications and source records attributed to D Boyd.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Decreased urokinase receptor expression by overexpression of the plasminogen activator in a colon cancer cell line.

There is now ample evidence that the proteolytic action of urokinase (UK) is potentiated by a specific cell surface receptor. The present study was undertaken to determine the role of UK as a modulator of its binding site. GEO colonic cells, which secrete low levels of UK (approximately 2.5 ng/ml per 72 h per 10(6) cells) and display approx. 10(4) receptors per cell, the majority of which are vacant, were transfected with an exogenous UK gene driven by the RSV long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter (pRSVUK). Several UK-overexpressing pRSVUK clones were identified by an e.l.i.s.a., Northern blotting and Southern blotting, and analysed for receptor numbers after an acid pretreatment which dissociates receptor-bound UK. pRSVUK GEO clones, expressing high levels of UK, consistently bound 50-75% less radioactive di-isopropylfluorophosphate (DFP)-UK than clones harbouring the selectable marker gene neo only or control GEO cells. Cross-linking experiments with a radioactive N-terminal fragment of UK which binds to the receptor showed a decreased amount of a binding protein of approx. 51 kDa in representative pRSVUK-transfected cells. Saturation and Scatchard analysis indicated that this reduction in radioligand binding reflected a 40-70% decrease in the number of UK receptors, rather than a change in the dissociation constant. The reduction in receptor display could be accounted for by a decrease in the amount of steady-state mRNA encoding the receptor. Radioactive DFP-UK binding to pRSVUK GEO clones, which display two-thirds less receptors than their neo counterparts, could be restored to control levels (untreated cells harbouring neo) by cultivating them in the presence of an antibody which inhibits the interaction of UK with its receptor. These data suggest that for one colonic cell line at least, UK reduces the expression of its own binding site via an autocrine stimulation of its cell surface receptor.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1992

The dynamics of assembly of a cytoplasmic membrane protein in Escherichia coli.

The topology of integral cytoplasmic membrane proteins can be analyzed using alkaline phosphatase fusions by determining which constructs have low and which have high specific activity. We show that in all cases the enzymatic activity is due to the fraction of the alkaline phosphatase moiety of the fusion protein localized to the periplasm. We present evidence that these fusions can also be used to analyze the process of assembly of cytoplasmic proteins into the membrane. The rate of acquisition of protease resistance of the alkaline phosphatase moiety of such hybrid proteins is compared for fusions to periplasmic and cytoplasmic domains. We show that this process, which is assumed to be representative of export of alkaline phosphatase, is significantly slower for fusions to cytoplasmic and certain periplasmic domains than for most periplasmic domains. These results are discussed in the context of the normal assembly of integral membrane proteins.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1991

Regulation of the urokinase receptor by its plasminogen activator.

There is now ample evidence that the proteolytic action of urokinase (UK) is potentiated by a specific cell surface receptor. The present study was undertaken to assess the role of UK as a modulator of its receptor. GEO colonic cells, which secrete relatively low levels of UK (congruent to 0.1 nM/72 h per 10(6) cells) and display approximately 10(4) receptors per cell, 10% of which are "tagged" with the endogenous plasminogen activator (PA), was selected for the study. A 90% reduction in the specific binding of radioactive DFP-UK was observed for cells cultivated in the presence of two-chain (TC) UK (Mr 55,000). This only partly reflected occupation of the receptors with UK supplied in the culture medium, since the specific binding of the radioligand was still reduced by 60% after an acid pretreatment, which dissociates receptor-bound UK. The reduction in radioactive DFP-UK binding to cells treated with high molecular weight UK, either in the single or two-chain form, was both concentration and time dependent. Maximum reductions (70%) were achieved by treatment of the cells for 24 h with 1 nM of the plasminogen activator. In contrast, low molecular weight UK, which lacks part of the UK A chain, had no effect on ligand binding. Attenuation of radioactive DFP-UK binding to UK treated GEO cells was a consequence of a 60% reduction in the number of binding sites. Treatment of GEO cells with an antibody, which blocks the binding of endogenous UK to its receptor, augmented radioactive DFP-UK binding by two-fold. These data indicate that for one colonic cell line, at least, UK down-regulates its own binding site subsequent to it being bound to the receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Role of the urokinase receptor in facilitating extracellular matrix invasion by cultured colon cancer.

There is increasing evidence that urokinase secreted by tumor cells can be bound to a cell surface receptor retaining its full potential to activate plasminogen and subsequently cleave basement membrane constituents. This study was undertaken to discriminate between soluble and cell surface bound urokinase as a potential mediator of in vitro invasion by cultured colon cancer. Extracellular matrix invasion by a colon cancer cell line GEO, characterized as being a poor secretor of urokinase and having few receptors (less than 10(4) receptors/cell) was not augmented when these cells were made to secrete up to 8 times as much urokinase, in response to an exogenous urokinase gene driven by the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat promoter. The majority of the plasminogen activator (greater than 95%) appeared in the culture medium, this reflecting the low numbers of binding sites displayed by GEO cells. In contrast, the cell line HCT 116 equipped with 10 times as many binding sites, (greater than 10(5)/cell), the majority of which are occupied with endogenous ligand, was an efficient invader of the extracellular matrix. Inhibition of urokinase binding to the cell surface receptors using an antibody to the A chain of the plasminogen activator reduced invasion by 65%. The cell line RKO is equipped with 3 x 10(5) receptors/cell, 15% of which are tagged with endogenous urokinase. Pretreatment of these cells with a concentration range of urokinase known to result in the majority of these binding sites being charged with the plasminogen activator led to a dose dependent increase in extracellular matrix invasion. Together, these data suggest that for cultured colon cancer, at least, invasion is a function of the amount of cell surface receptor bound urokinase.

Colonic Neoplasms↗
PubMed1991

A new qualitative variant of the RhE antigen revealed by heterogeneity among anti-E sera.

We have recently detected a new qualitative variant of the RhE antigen characterised by negative reactions with a minority of anti-E sera, and an inability of the relevant cells to completely absorb most, if not all, anti-E samples that we tested. In tube tests, using a two-stage enzyme technique, cells from the proposita (V.R.) were completely agglutinated by 8 out of 12 undiluted polyclonal sera, weakly agglutinated (2+ and 3+ reactions) by 2 sera, but not agglutinated by the 2 remaining sera. Cross-absorption tests using 1 non-reacting, 1 weakly reacting and 4 strongly reacting polyclonal anti-E sera showed that V.R.'s cells only slightly reduced their anti-E titres versus r"r cells, whilst completely removing their reactivity against her own cells. Absorptions with R2R2 cells abolished activity against both cell types. The cells of V.R. failed to absorb or elute anti-Ew, and had normal expression of c. Three monoclonal human anti-E reagents were tested by fluorescence flow cytometry; one reagent failed to react with the cells of V.R., a second bound as strongly with V.R.'s cells as with R1R2 controls while the third bound much more weakly with V.R. than with any other E+ sample. The variant of RhE in the V.R. family is therefore distinct from Ew, and lacks an epitope recognised by a major constituent of most anti-E sera. This epitope is unlikely to be ET, since all of 91 samples from E-positive Australian aborigines (many of which are expected to lack ET) were agglutinated by a serum that failed to react with V.R.'s cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1991

Sleep and nocturnal acid reflux in normal subjects and patients with reflux oesophagitis.

Nocturnal gastro-oesophageal reflux may be important in the pathogenesis of reflux oesophagitis. This study aimed to determine whether: (1) gastro-oesophageal reflux occurs during sleep in patients with reflux oesophagitis and, if so, to explore the mechanism, and (2) the sleep pattern of patients with oesophagitis is different from that of control subjects. After a standard evening meal, simultaneous manometric, oesophageal pH, and polysomnographic recordings were obtained in 11 patients with endoscopic oesophagitis and 11 control subjects. Patients with gastrooesophageal reflux disease had significantly more total reflux episodes throughout the nocturnal monitoring period than control subjects (105 v 6). Ninety two of 105 episodes of gastro-oesophageal reflux in patients occurred during the awake state and 10 during sleep stage II. A number of reflux episodes occurred during brief periods of arousal from the various sleep stages. Of the 105 reflux events recorded in patients, 42 were induced by transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation, 20 by stress reflux, 22 by free reflux mechanisms, and in 21 the mechanism was unclear. The sleep pattern and the time spent in each sleep stage was not different between the two groups. It is concluded that the awake state is crucial for the occurrence of nocturnal reflux episodes in normal subjects as well as in patients with reflux oesophagitis and that the difference between the frequency of gastro-oesophageal reflux between normal subjects and patients cannot be explained by different sleep patterns.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Genetic analysis of membrane protein topology by a sandwich gene fusion approach.

We describe a cloning vector that allows the construction of phoA sandwich fusions in which mature alkaline phosphatase is inserted into target proteins. In contrast to previous fusions obtained using the TnphoA transposon, the entire amino acid sequence of the target protein is present in the fusion product. We have constructed a series of sandwich fusions of alkaline phosphatase to the multispanning cytoplasmic membrane protein MalF. Despite the fact that the alkaline phosphatase was tethered to MalF at both its N and its C terminus, the enzyme exhibited high activity when it was fused to a periplasmic domain of the membrane protein. Cells harboring an alkaline phosphatase sandwich fusion to the end of the first membrane-spanning segment of MalF exhibited both MalF and alkaline phosphatase activity. When alkaline phosphatase was inserted into a cytoplasmic domain of MalF, its specific activity was very low. Our results suggest that the alkaline phosphatase activity of phoA sandwich fusions provides a more sensitive monitor than previous methods of the cellular localization of the domain of the target protein to which the enzyme is fused. Thus, the sandwich fusion approach can give a more accurate picture of membrane protein topology.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1990

The effects of case definition in maternal screening and reporting criteria on rates of congenital syphilis.

Reports of congenital syphilis in 1987 were reviewed to determine how new national guidelines for defining congenital syphilis would influence reported rates in Los Angeles County. After reviewing all reported reactive serologic tests for syphilis, we found 166 additional cases, resulting in a 426 percent increase in the 1987 reported rate of congenital syphilis. Rates of congenital syphilis are dependent upon surveillance practices, screening policies, and case definition.

Female↗
PubMed1990

Invasion of extracellular matrix by cultured colon cancer cells: dependence on urokinase receptor display.

Several urokinase-expressing tumor cells display surface receptors that avidly bind the plasminogen activator. The present study was undertaken to determine the importance of receptor bound urokinase in promoting the invasive phenotype by cultured colon cancer cells. An HCT 116 cell line that elaborates urokinase and displays 11 x 10(4) receptors per cell, 57% of which are tagged with endogenous plasminogen activator, invaded extracellular matrix (Matrigel) in a plasminogen dependent manner. Matrigel invasion was contingent on plasmin production mediated by urokinase, since epsilon-aminocaproic acid diminished the invasive capacity of the HCT 116 cells by 75%. A specific urokinase receptor peptide-antagonist reduced cell invasion in a dose dependent manner with a maximum effect (78% reduction in tumor cell infiltration) being achieved with a 10(-4) M concentration. These results did not reflect a non-specific "shut down" of urokinase expression by the receptor antagonist insofar as steady state urokinase transcript levels were unchanged compared with untreated controls. In addition, LH-RH, a control peptide, failed to suppress Matrigel invasion by HCT 116 cells. The CBS and FET colon cancer cell lines, which secrete amounts of urokinase similar to HCT 116 cells and display one tenth of the receptor number were found to be poorly invasive. Over a three day period, less than 0.8% of these cells invaded the Matrigel in contrast to the 6.9% seen for HCT 116 cells. These data suggest that for cultured colon cancer cells, at least, the display of receptor bound urokinase was a prerequisite for plasminogen dependent invasion.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1989

Examination of the role of the urokinase receptor in human colon cancer mediated laminin degradation.

The relevance of urokinase receptors to urokinase-mediated laminin degradation was investigated in cultured colon cancer. Six colon cancer cell lines degraded laminin in a plasminogen-dependent manner. The ability of the individual cell lines to cleave the glycoprotein correlated well (r2 = 0.9242) with the amount of urokinase recovered from the cell surface by a mild acid treatment. A radioreceptor assay indicated that colon cancer cells most active in degrading the laminin, possessed the largest number of urokinase receptors. Moreover, acid treatment which depletes the receptors of endogenous plasminogen activator augmented the specific binding of radioactive urokinase to the colon cancer cells by 12-200%. A cell line (HCT 116) which displayed 1.1 x 10(5) receptors/cell the majority of which were occupied with endogenous urokinase was selected and the effects of a urokinase receptor antagonist on laminin degradation determined. The peptide antagonist reduced laminin turnover by 60-80%. Morphological observations were consistent with these findings. Plasminogen-treated HCT 116 cells retracted from the culture dish and many cells were observed in the culture medium. This effect could be largely reversed by simultaneous treatment with the peptide antagonist. A poor correlation was found between laminin degradation and soluble urokinase (r2 = 0.1074). These data strongly argue for a role of the urokinase receptor in facilitating the action of the plasminogen activator in colon cancer.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMed1989

Characterization of the ribosomal DNA from Trichinella spiralis.

Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) from three isolates of Trichinella was cloned into phage and sublcloned into the plasmid pBR322. The basic repeat unit of rDNA was variable in size, with the mapped clones ranging from 10-12 kb. There were differences in restriction sites within the genic region among the three isolates which were due to variations in the internal transcribed region (ITS) and the intergenic spacer (IGS). Three RsaI sites were mapped to the IGS repeat unit of the isolate AF1, and one RsaI site was mapped to the IGS repeat unit of Trichinella spiralis pseudospiralis (isolate Tp). The number of repetitive units in the IGS region varied markedly within and between the isolates. It was estimated that the basic repeat unit for the rDNA of isolate P1 was 10.6-28 kb, for AF1 10.7-37 kb, and for Tp it was 11-14.9 kb. There appeared to be a greater frequency of some sizes of the basic repeat unit in each of the populations, based on the relative intensity with which certain bands hybridize to the probe.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Examination of the effects of epidermal growth factor on the production of urokinase and the expression of the plasminogen activator receptor in a human colon cancer cell line.

The expression of the plasminogen activator, urokinase, and the display of its receptor in response to growth factors were examined in a serum-free adapted colon cancer cell line, CBSsf. Cells propagated in protein-free medium secreted 6.5 +/- 1.0 ng/ml of urokinase/10(6) cells in a 3-day period as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Inclusion of insulin or transferrin into the protein-free medium was without effect on this parameter. However, addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to the protein-free medium resulted in a 50% reduction in this parameter. This change was also reflected in the plasminogen-dependent solubilization of immobilized radioactive laminin. Plasminogen-supplemented conditioned medium derived from CBSsf cells grown in protein-free medium solubilized 135,000 +/- 25,000 dpm/10(6) cells of radioactive substrate. This value was decreased to 59,000 +/- 6,000 when conditioned medium was collected in the presence of EGF. Dose-response curves indicated that, while 0.5 ng/ml of EGF were suboptimal for the suppression of urokinase secretion, a concentration of 5.0 ng/ml had a maximum effect on this measurement. Northern hybridization studies indicated that the reduced plasminogen activator reflected, at least in part, translation of a less abundant transcript. Examination of the colon carcinoma cell line for altered urokinase receptor display revealed that EGF caused a dose-dependent increase in the amount of radioactive urokinase bound. This did not reflect reduced occupation of binding sites with endogenous ligand. Scatchard manipulation of the binding data indicated that the increased amount of radioactive plasminogen activator bound to cells cultured with EGF reflected an increase in receptor number from 7,500 to 13,000 sites/cell. Time course studies revealed that the decrease in urokinase secretion precedes changes in receptor display by 5 h. A 60% reduction in assayable urokinase was demonstrated in the conditioned medium from cells treated with the growth peptide for 10 h. However, a 24-h period was required to observe an increase (80%) in the amount of radioligand bound to EGF-treated cells. These data suggest EGF to be a regulator of both urokinase production and urokinase receptor display in a colon cancer cell line.

Colonic Neoplasms↗
PubMed1989

Determination of the effects of epidermal growth factor on urokinase secretion and urokinase receptor display in a well-differentiated human colon carcinoma cell line.

The regulation of urokinase secretion and receptor display in a well-differentiated colon carcinoma cell line, GEO, adapted to serum-free conditions was examined. In protein-free medium, the cell line secreted 0.8 +/- 0.1 ng/ml/10(6) cells of urokinase in a 3-day period as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This value was elevated 4-fold when the cells were cultivated in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) but not insulin or transferrin. Propagation of the cell line with any combination of these growth factors was not superior to EGF alone in inducing urokinase secretion. The presence of EGF raised the radioactive laminin-solubilizing activity of the conditioned medium. In the absence of the growth factor, spent medium supplemented with plasminogen solubilized 23,000 +/- 7,000 dpm/10(6) cells of the immobilized laminin. This value was increased to 95,000 +/- 10,000 dpm/10(6) cells when the cultures were grown with EGF. Northern analysis indicated that the elevated level of the plasminogen activator protein by EGF was a consequence of a more abundant urokinase transcript. The stimulation of urokinase secretion by EGF was accompanied by a reduction of radioactive urokinase binding to the cell line. The reduction in plasminogen activator binding was not further enhanced by insulin or transferrin. In addition, these latter growth factors, by themselves, were ineffective in altering the amount of plasminogen activator bound. The attenuation in 125I-labeled urokinase binding did not reflect occupation of the receptors with endogenous ligand as acid pretreatment was without effect on the binding profile. Scatchard analysis revealed that the altered urokinase binding by EGF reflected a decrease in receptor number from 14,000 +/- 1,500 to 8,000 +/- 1,500 sites per cell. The temporal relationship of urokinase secretion and receptor display was examined. Changes in either parameter required an EGF exposure period of 10 h or more. Further amplification of the EGF effects was seen with longer incubation times with the growth peptide. These opposite effects of EGF on urokinase secretion and receptor display may suggest a homeostatic control mechanism for keeping the plasminogen activator system in check. The ability of the cell line to express biological characteristics associated with a well-differentiated colon cell type may reflect its capacity to suppress a system which is usually associated with the transformed state.

Carcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Examination of urokinase protein/transcript levels and their relationship with laminin degradation in cultured colon carcinoma.

Conditioned medium derived from the colon cancer cell lines was ineffective in solubilizing immobilized radiolabeled laminin. However, substantial degradation was observed in the presence of plasminogen and could be largely blocked by preincubation with polyclonal anti-urokinase antibody. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the solubilized products generated either by the conditioned medium or by authentic urokinase supplemented with plasminogen yielded identical results. Analysis of the spent medium for urokinase by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method revealed a similar profile to that achieved with the laminin degradation assays for the six cell lines tested. However, Northern analysis of urokinase-specific mRNA indicated that protein levels could not be entirely predicted by steady-state levels of the transcript. In a previous study, undifferentiated colon cancer cell lines expressed larger amounts of the plasminogen activator into the conditioned medium compared with their well-differentiated counterparts. However, these earlier studies were performed using cells grown in defined medium which lacked epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF has been reported to affect plasminogen activator levels. Consequently, to investigate the role of EGF in the modulation of urokinase protein/activity, cell types representative of well- and poorly differentiated colon cancer were examined for their sensitivity of expression to this growth factor. In the absence of EGF, primitive cell types secreted, on average, 5 times more urokinase than their well-differentiated counterparts. In response to EGF, however, well-differentiated cell lines exhibited 4- to 6-fold increases in these parameters while the primitive cell lines were refractory to the peptide. Consequently, the differences in urokinase protein expressed by the well- and poorly differentiated groups of cells were abolished by the presence of EGF. The expression of a well-differentiated phenotype by colon cancer cell types in vivo probably depends to some extent on laminin within a basement membrane. The data presented herein are consistent with the idea that depletion of this glycoprotein from a basement membrane by urokinase-dependent mechanisms may contribute to the undifferentiated phenotype seen with many of these malignancies.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1989

Positively charged amino acid residues can act as topogenic determinants in membrane proteins.

When alkaline phosphatase is fused to the periplasmic domain of a cytoplasmic membrane protein, it is efficiently exported to the periplasm. Such a hybrid protein exhibits high alkaline phosphatase enzymatic activity. When alkaline phosphatase is fused to the cytoplasmic domain of a membrane protein, it remains, for the most part, in the cytoplasm. Such fusions exhibit low enzymatic activity. However, stable retention of alkaline phosphatase in the cytoplasm requires the presence in the fusion protein of the cytoplasmic loop ordinarily present in that position in the native, unfused protein. Using oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, we have shown that positively charged amino acids are required for the stable cytoplasmic localization of the fused alkaline phosphatase. We propose that, in addition to hydrophobic transmembrane segments, positively charged amino acids in the hydrophilic cytoplasmic domains of a membrane protein are determinants of the protein's topology.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗