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D D Hunter

Publications and source records attributed to D D Hunter.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Expression of non-N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor subunits in the olfactory epithelium.

The channel properties of the multimeric ionotropic glutamate receptors can be regulated by their subunit composition. The relationship between the structure and physiological functions of glutamate receptors, however, is difficult to study in the CNS because of the large number of these subunits, their widespread distribution, and neuronal heterogeneity. To avoid these difficulties, and to uncover possible novel functions of ionotropic glutamate receptors in sensory neurons, we examined the expression of non-N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor subunits in a simple neuronal system: the olfactory epithelium. It contains only one neuronal type, the olfactory receptor neuron, that receives no synaptic innervation within the epithelium and therefore should not require conventional postsynaptic glutamate receptors. The axons of these neurons, however, terminate and release glutamate in the glomerular region of the olfactory bulb, and may contain presynaptic glutamate receptors. By reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction amplification and RNase protection assays, we showed that a subset of non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits is expressed in the olfactory epithelium. The most abundant is KA2, which can form kainate-selective ion channels with GluR5 or GluR6. Messenger RNAs for GluR6, and for the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate/kainate-type (AMPA/KA) GluR2 and GluR3 subunits, are also present, but at levels lower than that of KA2 by an order of magnitude. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry localized KA2 to only the olfactory receptor neurons, and not to any other cell type in the olfactory epithelium. Surprisingly, antibodies against KA2 or GluR5/6/7 primarily stained the olfactory neuron dendritic knobs that are specialized for odorant signalling at the sensory epithelial lumenal surface, and the olfactory neuron axon bundles that project to the olfactory bulb. The presence of a limited subset of non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits in the olfactory epithelium, and the localization of a kainate-selective receptor to both the axons and specialized dendritic knobs of olfactory receptor neurons, which receive no known synaptic input, suggest that these non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subtypes may mediate either novel non-synaptic functions in the olfactory neuron dendrites or presynaptic functions in the olfactory nerve terminals or axons. These data also suggest that the olfactory sensory system, possessing a relatively simple anatomical organization and a limited number of glutamate receptor subunits, may be useful for elucidating facets of the complex relationships between subunit composition and physiological function of ionotropic glutamate receptors.

Animals↗

Prospective analysis of HLA immunogenicity of cryopreserved valved allografts used in pediatric heart surgery.

BACKGROUND: The HLA immunogenicity of cryopreserved valved allografts used in the surgical repair of congenital heart defects is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: To determine the immunogenicity of these allografts, we measured prospectively the frequency of panel-reactive HLA class I alloantibodies (PRA) before, 1 month after, and 3 months after allograft implantation in 9 children (age, 5.4 +/- 2.1 years) and after open-heart surgery without allograft implantation in 11 age-matched control children (age, 4.0 +/- 1.5 years). PRA was determined against an HLA-select frozen T-lymphocyte panel using the antiglobulin cytotoxicity technique. After allograft implantation, PRA increased from 3.2 +/- 2.7% before surgery to 63.3 +/- 12% at 25 +/- 2 days after surgery and 99.7 +/- 0.3% at 3.4 +/- 0.3 months after surgery. The use of dithiothreitol to remove IgM alloantibodies resulted in a modest decrease in PRA at 1 month (33.2 +/- 13%) but no change at 3 months (93.0 +/- 3.4%), suggesting the initial humoral response is an IgM alloantibody that switches almost exclusively to IgG by 3 months. Control patients showed no increase in PRA over time: 1.6 +/- 1% before surgery, 3.2 +/- 1% at 28 +/- 5 days after surgery, and 1.7 +/- 1% at 2.7 +/- 0.3 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Cryopreserved valved allografts in children induce a marked HLA alloantibody response that increases to broad panel reactivity within 3 months after surgery. This HLA sensitization has potential not only for causing deleterious effects on allograft function but also for limiting the future opportunity of heart transplantation in patients who receive cryopreserved valved allografts.

Adolescent↗

Developmental expression of laminin beta 2 in rat retina. Further support for a role in rod morphogenesis.

PURPOSE: The authors previously hypothesized that laminin beta 2 (S-laminin) plays a role in directing photoreceptor development. The aim of this study was to examine the temporal and spatial expression pattern of beta 2 laminins in rat retina to test this hypothesis. METHODS: Retinas from Sprague-Dawley rats were harvested on embryonic days (E) 14, 16, and 21, as well as on postnatal days (P) 2, 5, and 10. Cryostat sections were probed with antibodies directed against beta 2 laminin, laminin-1 (alpha 1-beta 1-gamma 1), and von Willebrand factor. RESULTS: At the onset of rod photoreceptor birth (E14), laminin beta 2 surrounds the cells of the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and is present on the apical surface of the retinal neuroepithelium. At E16, laminin beta 2 persists on the apical surface of the neuroepithelium and the subjacent apical surface of the RPE. At birth, laminin beta 2 fills the matrix between the juxtaposed surfaces of the RPE and neuroepithelium; moreover, laminin beta 2 immunoreactivity penetrates the neural retina. Throughout postnatal development, laminin beta 2 immunoreactivity surrounds maturing inner and outer segments. Laminin beta 2 also is found in association with blood vessels in the neural retina itself, as well as with choroidal blood vessels; in both places, it is co-localized with an endothelial marker, von Willebrand factor, and laminin-1. CONCLUSIONS: The spatial and temporal expression of laminin beta 2 is consistent with its hypothesized role in rod development. Laminin beta 2 is in a unique position to interact with mitotically active cells (in early retinal development), uncommitted progenitors (in late embryonic development), developing rods (in early postnatal development), and mature outer segments (throughout adulthood). Together with our earlier functional data, these data support our hypothesis that this molecule is an important component of the interphotoreceptor matrix.

Animals↗

Epoetin alfa therapy in infants awaiting heart transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of epoetin alfa therapy in infants awaiting heart transplantation to minimize the need for blood transfusions. DESIGN: Prospective case series analysis. SETTING: Pediatric tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Eleven term infants (4 to 54 days old) awaiting heart transplantation. INTERVENTION: Infants received 16 courses of daily epoetin therapy and four subsequent courses of alternate-day epoetin therapy. RESULTS: Daily epoetin therapy was instituted at 23.6 +/- 4.5 days of age, and the duration of treatment was 13.8 +/- 3.9 days (mean +/- SEM). During daily epoetin therapy, the hematocrit increased from 0.42 +/- 0.015 to 0.50 +/- 0.019 (P < .001), and the reticulocyte count increased from 58 +/- 9 x 10(-3) to 105 +/- 16 X 10(-3) (P < .05). There were no significant changes in leukocyte count (13.4 +/- 1.0 X 10(9)/L vs 15.1 +/- 0.9 X 10(9)/L), platelet count (402 +/- 43 X 10(9)/L vs 387 +/- 39 X 10(9)/L), or creatinine (53 +/- 9 mumol/L [0.6 +/- 0.1 mg/dL] vs 53 +/- 9 mumol/L [0.6 +/- 0.1 mg/dL]) (not significant). Four patients received blood transfusions during daily epoetin therapy, but the amount of blood administered to patients was significantly less (0.9 +/- 0.5 mL/kg per day) than the phlebotomy losses (1.8 +/- 0.4 mL/kg per day) (P < .01). During alternate-day epoetin therapy, the hematocrit decreased from 0.53 +/- 0.014 to 0.43 +/- 0.019 (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Daily epoetin therapy appears to be effective in maintaining stable hematocrit in infants awaiting heart transplantation, who generally require multiple transfusions secondary to iatrogenic blood losses.

Anemia↗

Composition in situ and in vitro of vascular smooth muscle laminin in the rat.

Vascular smooth muscle cells are surrounded by a basal lamina containing an array of macromolecules: included among these are the laminins, a family of oligomeric glycoproteins composed of subunits encoded by different genes. In this study, we have used monoclonal antibodies to several of these subunits, including S-laminin, laminin B2, and laminin B1, to study these proteins in tail artery, superior mesenteric artery, and aorta of rats. In situ, immunostaining for the B2 and S chains was present in the basal lamina, between the smooth muscle cells, throughout the tunica media. In contrast, B1 chain immunostaining was concentrated around cells in the inner media. To investigate whether smooth muscle cells can produce S-laminin, laminin B2, and laminin B1, smooth muscle cells from the superior mesenteric artery were grown in culture and laminin subunit expression determined. In early culture (4 days), immunostaining showed abundant laminin B2 and less B1 synthesis and incorporation into the matrix. Staining for S-laminin was even less intense than for B1 and was localized to areas where cells were densely packed. The same pattern of S-laminin immunostaining was seen during early culture in cells grown on fibronectin, type IV collagen, or gelatin. Immunoblotting detected S-laminin in the conditioned medium from early cultured cells. In later culture (12 days), S-laminin incorporation into the matrix increased markedly compared to incorporation at 4 days. At this time, cells are much more densely packed and multilayered with extensive matrix accumulation. Cyclical stretching of cells in vitro did not increase immunostaining for S-laminin. Together these data show that S-laminin is a component of the arterial media in situ and that in vitro S-laminin is synthesized by smooth muscle cells. Increased incorporation of S-laminin into the matrix in later culture correlates with the presence of a more extensive matrix, suggesting that matrix organization may be critical to S-laminin incorporation.

Animals↗

S-laminin and N-acetylgalactosamine located at the synaptic basal lamina of skeletal muscle are involved in synaptic recognition by growing neurites.

The purpose of the work reported here is to identify molecular components of the synaptic basal lamina of skeletal muscle fibres which allow recognition of original synaptic sites by regenerating motor axons. We focused on s-laminin and components recognized by the lectin Dolichos biflorus agglutinin previously shown to be specifically located at the synaptic basal lamina. We used a cryoculture bioassay in which chick ciliary ganglion neurons grow on rat skeletal muscle cryostat sections. In control cultures, neurites extended over the muscle sections in close association with the muscle cell surface. It was observed that most of the neurites that extended towards the endplate zone and reached an area of 40 microns around the neuromuscular junction ceased to grow when they contacted the synaptic site. Masking either lectin receptors or some s-laminin molecule epitopes prior to the culture of neurons alters the behaviour of growing neurites. On sections treated either with Dolichos biflorus agglutinin or anti s-laminin monoclonal antibodies (D5 and C4) most of the neurites did not stop their growth at the synaptic regions. Moreover, treating muscle sections with Dolichos biflorus agglutinin removed the gradient of substratum affinity around the endplate. These results indicate that the s-laminin and Dolichos biflorus agglutinin receptors present on muscle cell surfaces may play a functional role in the interaction of growing neurites with original synaptic sites in the process of neuromuscular regeneration.

Acetylgalactosamine↗

Globose basal cells are neuronal progenitors in the olfactory epithelium: a lineage analysis using a replication-incompetent retrovirus.

We have used a replication-incompetent retrovirus to analyze the lineage of olfactory receptor neurons in young rats. At 5-40 days after infection, clusters of infected cells comprised two major types: one consisted of 1-2 horizontal basal cells, and a second consisted of variable numbers of globose basal cells and immature and mature sensory neurons. Olfactory nerve lesion (which enhances neuronal turnover) increased the frequency of the globose-sensory neuron clusters as well as the number of cells in such clusters. No clusters contained both horizontal and globose basal cells, and none contained sustentacular cells. These data suggest, at least in young rats, that horizontal basal cells are not precursors of olfactory neurons, that there is a lineage path from globose cells to mature neurons, and that sustentacular cells may arise from a separate lineage.

Animals↗

Lineage analysis of the olfactory epithelium using a replication-incompetent retrovirus.

We have analysed the lineage of olfactory receptor neurons using a replication-incompetent retrovirus injected beneath the olfactory epithelium of young rats. There are two major types of clusters of infected cells seen at 5--40 days after infection: (i) horizontal basal cells (HBCs); (ii) variable numbers of globose basal cells (GBCs), and immature and mature sensory neurons. Olfactory nerve lesion increased the frequency of the globose/sensory neuron clusters, as well as the number of cells/cluster, but did not change the number of HBC clusters or cells/cluster. No clusters contained sustentacular cells. These data indicate that, at least in young rats: (i) HBCs are not precursors of olfactory neurons; (ii) there is a lineage path from GBCs to mature neurons; and (iii) sustentacular cells arise from a separate lineage.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

S-laminin: mapping to mouse chromosome 9 and expression in the linked mutants tippy and ducky.

S-Laminin, a homologue of the laminin B1 chain, is present in a subset of basal laminae, including those of the skeletal neuromuscular junction and the renal glomerulus. Here, we show that the distribution and apparent size of murine S-laminin are similar to those documented previously for rat and human. We then use interspecific backcross analysis to map the S-laminin (Lams) gene to mouse chromosome 9. Thus, it is unlinked to genes for the laminin A, B1, and B2 chains. Finally, because the Lams gene mapped near two mutations that affect neuromuscular function, ducky (du) and tippy (tip), we assayed S-laminin by Southern blotting, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry in these mutants. No abnormality of the S-laminin gene or protein was detectable in either mutant.

Animals↗

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of recombinant erythropoietin in treatment of the anemia of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Because anemia in patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia is characterized by inappropriately low serum concentrations of erythropoietin but increased in vitro sensitivity of erythroid progenitors to erythropoietin, we speculated that administration of human recombinant erythropoietin would correct this anemia. Fifteen infants with the anemia of bronchopulmonary dysplasia were randomly assigned to receive erythropoietin or placebo subcutaneously for 10 days. Changes in reticulocyte count, hematocrit, blood lactate concentration, neutrophil count, platelet count, heart rate, oxygen requirement, weight gain, and number of transfusions were assessed. In the 10 erythropoietin recipients (99 +/- 12 days of age), hematocrit values increased from 0.325 +/- 0.006 to 0.381 +/- 0.013 (mean +/- SEM; p < 0.005) and reticulocyte counts from 122 +/- 20 to 446 +/- 48 x 10(3)/microliters (p < 0.005); lactate values remained unchanged. In the five placebo recipients (91 +/- 12 days of age), hematocrits and reticulocyte counts remained unchanged, and lactate values increased from 0.73 +/- 0.14 to 1.34 +/- 0.25 mumol/gm (p < 0.05). During the 30 days after the treatment period, one erythropoietin recipient and four placebo recipients were given transfusions. Other measured variables remained unchanged in both groups. We conclude that erythropoietin is effective in treatment of the anemia of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Anemia↗

Expression of s-laminin and laminin in the developing rat central nervous system.

The extracellular matrix component, s-laminin, is a homologue of the B1 subunit of laminin. S-laminin is concentrated in the synaptic cleft at the neuromuscular junction and contains a site that is adhesive for motor neurons, suggesting that it may influence neuromuscular development. To ascertain whether s-laminin may also play roles in the genesis of the central nervous system, we have examined its expression in the brain and spinal cord of embryonic and postnatal rats. S-laminin was not detectable in synapse-rich areas of adults. However, s-laminin was present in discrete subsets of three laminin-containing structures: (1) In the developing cerebral cortex, laminin and s-laminin were expressed in the subplate, a transient layer through which neuroblasts migrate and cortical afferents grow. Both laminin and s-laminin disappeared as embryogenesis proceeded; however, laminin was more widely distributed and present longer than s-laminin. (2) In the developing spinal cord, laminin was present throughout the pia. In contrast, s-laminin was concentrated in the pia that overlies the floor plate, a region in which extracellular cues have been postulated to guide growing axons. (3) In central capillaries, s-laminin appeared perinatally, an interval during which the blood-brain barrier matures. In contrast, laminin was present in capillary walls of both embryos and adults. To extend our immunohistochemical results, we used biochemical methods to characterize s-laminin in brain. We found that authentic s-laminin mRNA is present in the embryonic brain, but that brain-derived s-laminin differs (perhaps by a posttranslational modification) from that derived from nonneural tissues. We also used tissue culture methods to show that glia are capable of synthesizing "brain-like" s-laminin, and of assembling it into an extracellular matrix. Thus, glia may be one cellular source of s-laminin in brain. Together, these results demonstrate that s-laminin is present in the developing central nervous system, and raise the possibility that this molecule may influence developmental processes.

Animals↗

Synthesis and assembly of the synaptic cleft protein S-laminin by cultured cells.

S-laminin, a homologue of the B1 chain of laminin, is concentrated in a subset of basal laminae (BLs), including the BL at the skeletal neuromuscular junction and bears an adhesive site for motoneuron-like cells. Here, we have begun to characterize the native form of the protein. We show that several muscle- and glia-like cell lines synthesize and secrete S-laminin as well as the A, B1, and B2 subunits of the conventional laminin trimer. Experiments using subunit-specific antibodies showed that S-laminin is complexed with the A and B2 subunits of laminin but not with B1, suggesting that S-laminin replaces B1 to form a novel laminin-like trimer. Comparison of material precipitated by different antibodies provided evidence for two immunochemically distinct forms of S-laminin, both of which associate with B2 and A-like subunits. Analysis of tunicamycin-treated cells indicated that N-linked glycosylation is required neither for the selective association of S-laminin with B2 and A subunits nor for the distinction between two forms of S-laminin. Finally, a full-length S-laminin cDNA was constructed and transfected into muscle and non-muscle cells. S-laminin was detected intracellularly in both cell types, in extracellular matrix of muscle cells, and in two immunochemically distinct forms. Thus, the cDNA contains sufficient information to permit assembly, secretion, and post-translational modification of S-laminin.

Animals↗

S-laminin expression in adult and developing retinae: a potential cue for photoreceptor morphogenesis.

The development of the neural retina follows a stereotyped time course that begins with an undifferentiated neuroepithelium populated by multipotential progenitor cells and ends with a highly differentiated tissue containing diverse cell types. The identities of the factors that guide this differentiation have remained elusive; a likely location for such factors, however, is the extracellular environment. Here, we show that the extracellular matrix component s-laminin is present in the neural retina, that s-laminin expression parallels the differentiation of rod photoreceptors, that photoreceptors interact with s-laminin in vitro, and that antibodies to s-laminin profoundly reduce the appearance of cells that express rhodopsin in vitro. These data suggest that s-laminin plays a role in the differentiation of the neural retina and provide evidence that the composition of the extracellular matrix may be an important determinant of retinal differentiation.

Animals↗

Evaluation of the mechanism causing anemia in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

In seven patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and anemia, we evaluated the mechanisms causing the anemia. All had a normocytic, normochromic, hyporegenerative anemia (mean hematocrit 26%; range 21% to 30%). The low hematocrit values seemed physiologically significant because mean (+/- SD), heart rates fell after transfusion (162 +/- 7 to 149 +/- 9 beats/min; p less than 0.005), as did blood lactate concentrations (1.2 +/- 0.3 mumol/gm blood before vs 0.5 +/- 0.3 after transfusion; p less than 0.05). Anemia could not be explained by blood withdrawal or deficiency of vitamin E, folate, or iron. No dyserthropoietic or megaloblastic changes were observed. No erythroid regenerative response was seen in the marrow; however, when recombinant erythropoietic growth factors were added to marrow cells in tissue culture, erythroid cell growth in vitro was normal. In contrast to patients with the "anemia of chronic disorders," these patients had a normal or increased number of marrow sideroblasts and increased serum transferrin saturation. Serum concentrations of erythropoietin were low for patients with anemia (range 11.4 to 47.1 mU/ml); yet the in vitro sensitivity of bone marrow erythroid progenitors (colony-forming units--erythroid) to recombinant erythropoietin was increased (p less than 0.001). We conclude that the anemia in these patients was the result of deficient production of erythropoietin, and we speculate that administration of recombinant erythropoietin would correct the anemia.

Anemia↗

An LRE (leucine-arginine-glutamate)-dependent mechanism for adhesion of neurons to S-laminin.

S-laminin is a homolog of laminin that is concentrated in the synaptic cleft of the neuromuscular junction. We previously showed that the tripeptide LRE is a crucial determinant for binding of ciliary motoneurons to recombinant s-laminin. Here, we describe a neuroblastoma-spinal neuron hybrid cell line, NSC-34, that binds to an LRE-containing s-laminin fragment and to a synthetic LRE-protein conjugate. NSC-34 cells exhibit several properties of motoneurons; other cell lines tested were not motoneuron-like and did not display LRE-dependent adhesion. We therefore used NSC-34 cells to characterize the LRE-dependent adhesion mechanism. Inhibition studies with a series of 20 tripeptide LRE analogs showed that the cells exhibit a high degree of selectivity for LRE, and suggested that ligand binding requires a combination of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. The effects of cations on LRE-dependent adhesion are unlike those of previously described adhesion molecules including the integrins, a family of receptors for extracellular matrix proteins, including laminin. Specifically, adhesion to LRE does not require divalent cations and is inhibited by Ca2+ (but not by Mg2+) in the physiological range. In contrast, adhesion of NSC-34 cells to laminin is LRE- and Ca2+ independent but Mg2+ dependent, and appears to be mediated by integrins. Additionally, experiments using mixed substrates demonstrated that LRE-protein conjugates inhibit neurite outgrowth promoted by laminin. Finally, we show that, under ionic conditions that minimize integrin-dependent adhesion, NSC-34 cells bind to s-laminin-rich basal laminae in tissue sections in an LRE-dependent manner. Together, these results suggest that LRE comprises a motoneuron-selective adhesion site that is accessible in native basal laminae and that acts to inhibit neurite outgrowth.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Neutropenia in donor (anemic) twins involved in the twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

Neutropenia is common in neonates with sepsis and in those born to women with pregnancy-induced hypertension. Neutropenia has not previously been described, however, as a result of the twin-twin transfusion syndrome. We observed neutropenia of 4 to 8 days' duration in each of five "donor" (anemic) twins affected with the twin-twin transfusion syndrome. No evidence of infection was observed. Like neutropenia of pregnancy-induced hypertension, no left shift was seen. Neutrophil kinetic studies were performed on one of the neutropenic patients. Assessment of the marginal, storage, proliferative, and progenitor cell pools indicated that neutropenia resulted from diminished neutrophil production.

Anemia↗

Molecular heterogeneity of basal laminae: isoforms of laminin and collagen IV at the neuromuscular junction and elsewhere.

Laminin and collagen IV are components of most basal laminae (BLs). Recently, both have been shown to be products of multigene families. The A, B1, and B2 subunits of the laminin trimer are products of related genes, and the BL components merosin M and s-laminin are homologues of the A and B1 subunits, respectively. Similarly, five related collagen IV chains, alpha 1(IV)-alpha 5(IV), have been described. Here, we used a panel of subunit-specific antibodies to determine the distribution of the laminin and collagen IV isoforms in adult BLs. First, we compared synaptic and extrasynaptic portions of muscle fiber BL, in light of evidence that axonal and muscle membranes interact selectively with synaptic BL during neuromuscular regeneration. S-laminin, laminin A, and collagens alpha 3(IV) and alpha 4(IV) are greatly concentrated in synaptic BL; laminin B1 is apparently absent from synaptic BL; collagens alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) are less abundant in synaptic than extrasynaptic BL; and laminin B2 and merosin M are present at similar levels synaptically and extrasynaptically. These results reveal widespread differences between synaptic and extrasynaptic BL, and implicate several novel polypeptides as candidate mediators of neuromuscular interactions. Second, we widened our inquiry to assess the composition of several other BLs: endoneurial and perineurial BLs in intramuscular nerves, BLs associated with intramuscular vasculature, and glomerular and tubular BLs in kidney. Of eight BLs studied, at least seven have distinct compositions, and of the nine BL components tested, at least seven have distinct distributions. These results demonstrate a hitherto undescribed degree of heterogeneity among BLs.

Adolescent↗

S-laminin.

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Amino Acid Sequence↗