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D H Alpers

Publications and source records attributed to D H Alpers.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Human gastric intrinsic factor: characterization of cDNA and genomic clones and localization to human chromosome 11.

A human gastric intrinsic factor (IF) cDNA clone was isolated using a rat cDNA clone as a probe. Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence revealed 80% identity of human IF with rat IF. These cDNA clones were used to isolate and map two overlapping clones encoding the human IF gene. The first exon of the cloned region (exon 2) contains 30 bp of the 5' untranslated region, the signal peptide, and the first 8 amino acids of the mature protein. Exons 3-10 encode the remainder of the coding and 3' noncoding regions. Southern analysis of genomic DNA indicated the presence of a single human IF gene and also revealed the presence of strong hybridizing sequences in genomic DNA from monkey, rat, mouse, cow, and human, suggesting that the IF gene is well conserved. The IF gene was localized to human chromosome 11 by concurrent cytogenetic and cDNA probe analysis of a panel of human X mouse somatic cell hybrids. Southern analysis of genomic DNA from patients with congenital pernicious anemia (lacking intrinsic factor) revealed normal restriction fragment patterns, suggesting that a sizable gene deletion was not responsible for the deficiency.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Undergraduate teaching project of the American gastroenterological Association: a pathophysiology resource.

The Undergraduate Teaching Project was founded as a committee of the American Gastroenterological Association to improve medical school teaching of the pathophysiological basis of gastrointestinal and liver diseases. Twenty-six units of colored illustrations have been produced in 18 years, which are designed to be used by instructors to supplement their own material. The slides are the result of extensive reviews and revisions, a process that has created a unique repository of educational concepts utilized by most US medical schools and over 50 foreign schools. This brief summary of the genesis and operation of this venture may be of interest to other professional societies concerned with the development of teaching materials.

Audiovisual Aids↗
PubMed1991

Glycosylation is not required for ligand or receptor binding by expressed rat intrinsic factor.

A cDNA clone encoding rat intrinsic factor (IF), pIFQ, has been inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pSVL and used to transfect COS-1 cells. The IF produced by the transfected cells was secreted nearly exclusively into the medium at concentrations of 0.1-0.2 micrograms/ml. Tunicamycin treatment (1-10 micrograms/ml) completely blocked N-linked glycosylation but had no effect on IF secretion. The secreted glycosylated IF retained all the properties of native IF, i.e., high affinity for cobalamin (Cbl) and for the IF-Cbl receptor and relative resistance to low pH and to proteolysis. The nonglycosylated IF also retained these properties except that it was more protease sensitive. The protease degradation was prevented by the presence of the ligand Cbl. The presence of carbohydrate may play a role in protecting IF from digestion by pancreatic proteases in the intestinal lumen.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Developmental expression of intestinal surfactant-like particles in rats.

We have reported the appearance of surfactant-like particles enriched for intestinal alkaline phosphatase and phosphatidylcholine within enterocytes and in the lumen of adult fat-fed rat intestine. Because rat pulmonary surfactant decreases in abundance during the first postnatal days, we examined the developmental expression of these intestinal particles in suckling rats. Electron microscopy revealed abundant particles in 1-day-old rats within and surrounding the villus enterocytes, declining in frequency by day 14. Phosphatidylcholine content, alkaline phosphatase, sucrase-isomaltase, and lactase activity in particles peaked 1 day after birth, declining rapidly to adult levels by day 3 of life, except for sucrase, which peaked again after weaning. The postnatal developmental profile of the same brush-border-associated enzymes was totally different. Membrane fractions enriched for alkaline phosphatase and of similar density to rat surfactant-like particles were isolated from the small intestine of an amphibian (Xenopus laevis) and a fish (grass carp). Electron microscopy of the Xenopus membranes revealed unilamellar structures similar to the rat particles, but the carp membranes were of dissimilar morphology. We conclude that particles with surfactant-like properties in the rat intestine are ontogenically expressed like pulmonary surfactant; similar particles are evident only in animals with lungs.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1991

A novel intracellular pathway for rat intestinal digestive enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and sucrase) via a lamellar particle.

To identify the mechanism of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) release into serum that is known to be associated with fat feeding, both luminal and serum IAP as well as sucrase-isomaltase levels were monitored by rocket electroimmunoassays and by immunogold labeling electron microscopy. Luminal and serum IAP, and to a much lesser extent sucrase-isomaltase, peaked at 7 hours after fat feeding. Analysis of the luminal IAP by isoelectric focusing showed that the enzyme had a slightly different pI than brush border IAP, but was still partially membrane bound, whereas serum IAP was no longer membrane bound. In parallel, by morphology, IAP and sucrase-isomaltase localized to intra- and extracellular lamellar membranous particles, most conspicuous at 7 hours after fat feeding, while very scarce in nonfat-fed animals. The membranous particles bearing the enzymes were commonly associated with fat droplets. These data are consistent with the existence of a novel pathway, possibly secretory, for IAP and sucrase-isomaltase via lamellar bodies, leading to appearance of the enzymes in lumen and serum, with subsequent release from the membrane extracellularly. They also offer an explanation for the known association of the increased secreted IAP after fat feeding.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1990

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA encoding porcine gastric haptocorrin.

A cDNA encoding the gastric haptocorrin was isolated from a porcine gastric mucosal lambda gt11 cDNA library using oligonucleotide probes. The 1.4-kb cDNA contains a 1.25-kb open reading frame and 178 nucleotides of 3' noncoding region. Although no initiator methionine is present, primer extension analysis indicated that the transcription initiation site is only 100 bp upstream of the 5' end of this clone. Northern blot analysis showed that a single mRNA species of 1.6 kb exists in hog gastric mucosa. There was no cross-hybridization between this cDNA and the mRNA for haptocorrin in rat submaxillary gland or gastric RNA by Northern blot analysis. This lack of cross-reactivity was also seen on Southern blots, where cow, sheep and dog but neither rat nor mouse genomic DNAs showed cross-hybridizing bands. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of this cDNA with that previously reported for rat intrinsic factor [Dieckgraefe, B.K. et al. (1988) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 85, 46-50] showed considerable similarity, suggesting that these cobalamin-binding proteins may have a common evolutionary origin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Molecular cloning and expression of a cDNA encoding the membrane-associated rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase.

Rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) has been purified and proteolytic fragments sequenced. A cDNA library was constructed from duodenal poly(A) + RNA and screened for IAP positive clones by a full-length cDNA clone-encoding human IAP. A full length rat IAP clone (2237 bp) was isolated and sequenced, revealing a predicted primary sequence of 519 amino acids (61.974 kDa) with an additional signal peptide of 20 amino acids. 80% of amino acids from residues 1-474 were identical when compared with the human IAP, but there was only 31% identity in the COOH-terminal 45 amino acids. The homology diverges just before the putative binding site for the phosphatidylinositol-glycan (PI-glycan) anchor. The resulting peptide in rat AP contains five hydrophilic amino acids not present in the primary structure of human IAP. Binding of a synthetic 48-mer encoding a portion of this unique and divergent region (residues 476-491) was compared with that of the full-length clone on Northern blots of rat intestinal RNA. Two mRNAs, 3.0 and 2.7 kb, were detected by both probes, confirming earlier results, but the 48-mer bound preferentially to the 3.0 kb mRNA. The protein product of the full-length cDNA in a cell-free system was 62 kDa, corresponding with the smaller of the two IAP proteins produced by rat duodenal RNA. The cDNA transfected into COS-1 cells produced a membrane-bound IAP that was released by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase (PI-PLC). These data provide definitive evidence that IAP is anchored by PI-glycan and conclusively demonstrate that the unique COOH-terminal structure encoded by this rat mRNA supports the addition of a PI-glycan anchor.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1990

Oleic acid stimulation of apolipoprotein B secretion from HepG2 and Caco-2 cells occurs post-transcriptionally.

HepG2 and Caco-2 cells were studied to compare the regulation of liver and intestinal apolipoprotein (apo) biosynthesis and secretion by fatty acids. Incubation with fatty acid consistently stimulated apoB production by both HepG2 and Caco-2 cells. Media concentrations of apoB, determined by radioimmunoassay, were approx. 3-fold greater for cells incubated for 24 h in serum-free medium containing oleic acid bound to albumin than for cells incubated with albumin alone. Oleic acid also resulted in a 2-3-fold accumulation of cellular triacylglycerol for HepG2 cells and Caco-2 cells. Cellular apoB and media and cellular apoA-I concentrations were not affected by oleic acid. Immunoblotting with a monoclonal antibody against human apoB confirmed a greater mass of apoB in media from HepG2 and Caco-2 cells incubated with oleic acid. Radiolabeled apoB-100 was also increased in media from HepG2 and Caco-2 cells incubated with [35S]methionine for 24 h in the presence of oleic acid, suggesting enhanced apoB synthesis. However, apoB mRNA concentrations were unchanged in response to oleic acid. Gel filtration of media by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) revealed a redistribution of apoB from LDL-sized particles to VLDL or chylomicrons in media from Caco-2 cells incubated with oleic acid, whereas apoB remained in LDL for HepG2 cells. ApoA-I in media from HepG2 and Caco-2 cells eluted as free or lipid-poor apoA-I, and the apoA-I distribution was unaltered by incubation with oleic acid. These data demonstrate that HepG2 and Caco-2 cells maintained in supplemented serum-free medium respond to oleic acid by a similar post-transcriptional increase in apoB synthesis, but different packaging of apoB into triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins.

Apolipoproteins B↗
PubMed1990

Effect of lectins on the cobalamin-protein binding reactions: implications for the tissue uptake of cobalamin.

Plant lectins have been thought to impair nutrient absorption, both by specific and nonspecific interference in the absorptive process. The main objective of this investigation was to study the effect of lectins on the various binding reactions involving cobalamin (cbl)-protein complexes and their receptors, and to identify the rate-limiting step important in maintaining tissue levels of cobalamin. Among the lectins tested in vivo, only concanavalin A (ConA) was able to inhibit the transport of cobalamin to the tissues and caused a 70% to 75% inhibition of [(57)Co] cobalamin transported to the liver and kidney. The inhibition of transport to the tissues was independent of route of administration of cobalamin, whether intragastric or systemic, and was not due to decreased gastrointestinal uptake. When tested in vitro, concanavalin A inhibited the binding of transcobalamin II-cbl to its receptor, but not the binding of cobalamin to intrinsic factor or intrinsic factor-cobalamin complex to the ileal receptor. These results suggest that late events during transcellular transport of cobalamin through the enterocytes is the rate-limiting step determining tissue levels of cobalamin and that ConA inhibits these latter events.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Differential regulation of mRNAs encoding for rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase.

A cDNA probe encoding the entire structural region of the 62-kDa rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase from amino acid residues 1 to 531 detected multiple mRNA species (3.0, 2.7, and 2.2 kb) in rat intestinal RNA. The 3.0-kb species was most evident in duodenum but could be easily detected in jejunum using a 48-mer oligonucleotide encoding amino acid residues 492-508. This 48-mer oligonucleotide bound preferentially to the 3.0-kb mRNA, suggesting that the 2.7-kb mRNA differed in this region. To determine whether each of the mRNAs encoding rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase responded coordinately to physiological stimuli, the full-length cDNA and the 48-mer oligonucleotide were used as probes for the 2.7- and 2.2-kb and the 3.0-kb mRNAs, respectively. Intestinal mRNA concentration was measured by Northern blot analysis in acute (single feed, 17 kcal) and chronic (3 wk, 30% fat diet) fat feeding and in rachitic rats after 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 therapy. There was a large increase (8- to 25-fold) in the 3.0-kb mRNA 7 h after acute fat feeding, with a much smaller increase (1.4- to 5.0-fold) in the 2.7- and 2.2-kb species. The peak in 3.0-kb mRNA accumulation correlated in time with the maximal activity of serum phosphatase activity after acute fat feeding (4- to 5-fold increase). In contrast, there was a much smaller increase in all mRNAs and in tissue and serum enzyme activity after chronic fat feeding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1990

Both tissue and serum phospholipases release rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase.

Rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) is unique among the brush-border membrane enzymes in that it is released bidirectionally (lumen and blood) and exists in either soluble (serum) or particulate (cellular) form. To elucidate the mechanism of membrane release, we examined the effects of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PtdIns-PLC) and serum anchor-specific phospholipase D (PLD) on the solubility of the various tissue forms of IAP. The "solubility" of cytosol IAP could be explained in part by intracellular PtdIns-PLC activity, detected by production of acidic IAP isomers, and by ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA)-sensitive PtdIns hydrolysis. Contamination with serum (abundant with anchor-specific PLD) was responsible for the complete or partial solubilization of IAP that was found during processing of light mucosal scrapings. Anchor-specific PLD activity was increased after fat feeding, and the IAP released did not react with antiserum that recognizes the PtdIns-PLC-released phospholipid portion of trypanosomal variable surface glycoprotein. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that, after secretion from the enterocyte bound to a phospholipid-rich membranous particle, IAP release into serum is mediated by serum anchor-specific PLD. The soluble forms of IAP in the lumen and the cytosol fraction appear to be due to a combination of endogenous PtdIns-PLC activity and anchor-specific PLD contamination that occurs during cell fractionation.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1990

Pre-translational, translational, and post-translational mechanisms in adaptation of intestinal proteins.

The enterocyte exhibits remarkable short-term adaptation to a meal, complementing the well recognized adaptation of the stomach and pancreas. The mechanisms utilized include increased protein synthesis by pre-translational and translational events, and post-translational alterations in protein degradation and secretion. All of these events occur within a few hours after the meal. These adaptations are compared with the more long-term events in post-natal development that occur over a period of days, at least in the rat. They contrast even more with the macroscopic changes that also occur over days and weeks following intestinal resection, the model most commonly associated with the concept of intestinal adaptation. The demonstration of cellular and molecular adaptation within a few hours of a meal represents an expansion of the definition of intestinal adaptation and may provide clues to the explanation of more delayed events.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1990

The relation of ulcerative colitis to psychiatric factors: a review of findings and methods.

The authors reviewed all known English-language literature on the association between psychiatric factors and ulcerative colitis to ascertain the evidence for such an association and evaluate the methods used in these studies. Most of the 138 studies contained serious flaws in research design, such as lack of control subjects, unspecified manner of data collection, and absence of diagnostic criteria. Analysis revealed that methodological flaws were significantly related to the finding of a positive association between psychiatric factors and ulcerative colitis. Seven studies represented solid systematic investigation, and all seven failed to find such an association.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Isolation and characterization of a small intestinal surfactant-like particle containing alkaline phosphatase and other digestive enzymes.

Digestive brush-border enzymes in particulate form have been reported in the intestinal lumen in vivo and in medium from organ explants in vitro. It has been suggested that these particles derive from membrane shedding of the apical brush border. This study describes the isolation and characterization of particles derived from the 105,000 x g supernatant fraction of intestinal luminal washings and from light scrapings of the mucosa itself after fat feeding of rats. These fractions were separated in a continuous NaBr gradient, producing a visible band of 1.07-1.08 g/liter density and resulting in a 15-fold enrichment of intestinal alkaline phosphatase in the band fraction. Other brush-border hydrolases were represented in the banded fraction, but at specific activities only 1/5th to 1/36th that of the brush border. The major phospholipid in the fraction was phosphatidylcholine (58 +/- 15%), containing 75% saturated fatty acids. In contrast, the major brush-border phospholipid was phosphatidyl-ethanolamine. These characteristics showed that the particles derived from the lumen and mucosal surface were not identical to fragments of the brush border. Electron microscopy of the banded fraction revealed partially coiled membrane fragments. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blots, some proteins (e.g. surfactant protein B, collagenous protein 4) were found in common between the intestinal particles and rat pulmonary surfactant. These data suggest the production of a particle secreted by rat intestine that differs from brush-border membranes and that shares some morphological and biochemical similarities with pulmonary surfactant.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1989

The alpha 1-antitrypsin gene is expressed in a human intestinal epithelial cell line.

alpha 1-Antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) is considered a typical plasma protein and a prototype of the serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin) family. It is synthesized in hepatocytes and, to a lesser extent, in macrophages. In this study we show that the alpha 1-AT gene is also expressed in human intestine and in a human colonic epithelial tumor cell line, Caco2. A single 1.6-kilobase alpha 1-AT-specific mRNA is present in jejunum and in Caco2 cells. It is identical in apparent size to that present in human hepatoma HepG2 cells but slightly smaller than that present in human macrophages, cells in which an alternative upstream transcriptional start site is used. Synthesis and secretion of alpha 1-AT in Caco2 cells is similar to that in HepG2 cells. It is synthesized as an approximately 52-kDa precursor polypeptide, converted to its mature, fully glycosylated 55-kDa form intracellularly, and the native protein is secreted with a half-time of 37 min. Functionally active alpha 1-AT is secreted into the basolateral and apical (luminal) fluid in pulse-chase labeling experiments of Caco2 cells cultured in polarized orientation on collagen-coated nitrocellulose membranes. Expression of alpha 1-AT in Caco2 enterocytes is not affected by soluble factors that regulate expression of alpha 1-AT in macrophages and hepatocytes. However, expression of alpha 1-AT increases markedly in Caco2 cells as they differentiate into enteric villous-type cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1989

Rat ileal alkaline phosphatase activity and secretion is stimulated by alterations in calcium metabolism.

The mechanism of calmodulin-stimulated alkaline phosphatase activity was studied in the rat. In calmodulin-treated rats (2.5 micrograms/animal, intraperitoneally) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was elevated 11-fold in the ileum, 1.5-fold in the duodenum and calvarium, 3-fold in serum, and not at all in liver. The elevated ALP activity was prevented by prior treatment with flunarizine, a calcium channel blocker, and by W-7, a calmodulin antagonist. cAMP content in ileum paralleled the timing and changes in ALP activity, but was not elevated in the duodenum or calvarium. Calcium ionophore A23187 and calcitonin treatment also increased ileal, duodenal, and calvarial ALP activity, but by less than the response to calmodulin. All of these treatments caused a 2-fold elevation in serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 (1,25(OH)2D3) levels. Pretreatment of the animals with parathyroid hormone prevented the rise of both ALP activity and of 1,25(OH)2D3. Administration of 1,25(OH)2D3 alone stimulated a different pattern of increased ALP activity, greater in duodenum than ileum. The uptake of 45Ca by calmodulin was also elevated in ileum and calvarium. These data suggest that shifts in calcium movement, perhaps mediated by vitamin D, can alter ALP activity, and may provide a mechanism for rapid control of the secretion of this enzyme.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗