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Biomedical subjects

D Roth

Publications and source records attributed to D Roth.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Early development of acute myelogenous leukemia following kidney transplantation: possible role of multiple serum cytokines.

We report a patient who at the time of kidney transplantation for polycystic kidney disease was found to have an enlarged inguinal lymph node which later demonstrated evidence of extra medullary granulopoiesis. During the first two weeks following kidney transplantation, a striking leukemoid pattern developed and 2 months after transplant the patient was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Retrospective analysis of peripheral blood cytokines over this time revealed elevated levels of GMCSF and gamma IFN at the time of peak peripheral blood WBC with subsequent peaks in IL-4, IL-6 and IL-2 as the peripheral blood WBC fell. A rise in levels of TNF alpha also preceded the peripheral blood WBC rise (although these concentrations were at or below those following uncomplicated kidney transplants). The clinical course of AML in this patient was marked by relentless relapse despite chemotherapy. The possibility of cytokine facilitated tumor growth is discussed.

Adult↗

SNAP-25 is present in a SNARE complex in adrenal chromaffin cells.

SNAP-25 (synaptosomal-associated protein 25 kDa) is a target for botulinum neurotoxins A and E, which both inhibit neurotransmitter release, and was recently identified together with syntaxin and synaptobrevin as receptors for NSF and alpha-SNAP. We show that SNAP-25 was enriched in the microsomal fraction from adrenal medulla, although the level of SNAP-25 in adrenal medullary microsomes was about 20-fold less than in brain microsomes. Immunocytochemistry confirmed the presence of SNAP-25 in cultured chromaffin cells and showed plasma membrane staining. Using immunoprecipitation, we found that SNAP-25 was present in a complex with syntaxin, synaptobrevin, synaptotagmin, NSF, alpha-SNAP and other unidentified polypeptides. These data indicate that SNAP-25 in chromaffin cells is present in a complex similar to that identified in brain.

Adrenal Medulla↗

Characterization of a monoclonal antibody recognizing an epitope designated as canine leukocyte-associated antigen.

An IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), designated as 15F1.5, was generated against surface determinants of a dog peripheral blood-derived PHA-induced IL-2-dependent T cell line. It reacted with 65-80% of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), 90-95% of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs), 65-70% of thymocytes, 85-95% of Thy-1 positive cells and 85-95% of IL-2-dependent T lymphoid cells in flow cytometry. It was nonreactive with peripheral blood red cells and platelets. It immunoprecipitated 95 and 150 Kd proteins derived from detergent solubilized lymphocyte membranes. Indirect immunofluorescent and immunoperoxidase staining of frozen tissue sections demonstrated positive reactivity to cells in lymphoid but not nonlymphoid tissues. The 15F1.5 antibody was not directly mitogenic for PBMC's. It caused significant decrease (P < or = 0.05) in the lymphoproliferative response to T-dependent B cell mitogens, such as pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and staphage lysate (SPL), without significant effects on responses to the T cell mitogens, phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and concanavalin A (Con A). The mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) response and both the proliferative and effector arms of the cell-mediated cytotoxicity reactions (CMC) were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. The mAb also inhibited the auto- and allolymphoproliferative reactivity of mixed lymphocyte kidney or islet cell cultures (MLKC and MLIC), and the adhesion of T lymphoblasts and PMA-treated PMNs to endothelial cells. In vivo administration of the 15F1.5 (20 mg/day for 5 days) caused an immediate and prolonged reduction in MLC responses, associated with cell binding of the mAb to PBMC and epitope modulation during the course of treatment, as indicated by flow cytometry. These results suggest that 15F1.5 is an immunomodulating antibody reacting with canine LFA-1. Thus, this mAb would be useful in studying the role of LFA-1/ICAM-1 in graft rejection as well as other inflammatory responses. It would also allow the use of an animal model to investigate the immunoregulatory effects of in vivo administration of anti-CD11/CD18 antibodies in organ/tissue transplants.

Animals↗

Characterization of 14-3-3 proteins in adrenal chromaffin cells and demonstration of isoform-specific phospholipid binding.

Isoform-specific antisera were used to examine which 14-3-3 isoforms were present in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The eta, tau and sigma isoforms were not detectable, and the epsilon isoform was present at only low levels. 14-3-3 isoforms were readily detected with antisera against the beta, gamma and zeta isoforms. The latter isoforms were found to leak from digitonin-permeabilized chromaffin cells, as expected for cytosolic proteins, but a proportion of each isoform was retained. In subcellular fractionation studies isoforms recognized by the beta and zeta antisera were found in the cytosol and Triton-insoluble cytoskeletal fractions, while the gamma isoform was found in cytosol and also in microsomal and chromaffin granule membrane fractions. The gamma 14-3-3 protein associated with granule membranes was partially removed by a high-salt/carbonate wash, and the membranes could bind further gamma from cytosol or from a purified brain 14-3-3 protein mixture. The binding of gamma 14-3-3 was not Ca(2+)-dependent, nor was it affected by phorbol ester, GTP analogues or cyclic AMP. Using pure phospholipid vesicles it was found that gamma and also epsilon 14-3-3 proteins bound directly to phospholipids. Little binding of brain beta, eta or zeta to phospholipid vesicles was detected. Brain 14-3-3 proteins were also able to aggregate phospholipid vesicles. Recombinant 14-3-3 isoforms (tau and the Xenopus protein) were able to stimulate Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis in digitonin-permeabilized chromaffin cells. The Xenopus proteins lacks part of the extreme N-terminus, indicating that this domain is not essential for function in exocytosis.

14-3-3 Proteins↗

Depletion of hepatitis C virus from procured kidneys using pulsatile perfusion preservation.

The safety of the use of kidneys procured from a hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive cadaver donors in transplantation has recently been the subject of controversy. One factor that is important in determining the transmission of the virus and/or viral liver disease is the total viral inoculum to which the renal allograft recipient is exposed as a result of the transplant. We have studied the effect of a standard pulsatile renal preservation procedure and variations of it on the number of viral copies in organs from HCV-positive donors. An HCV-RNA quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was utilized with a recombinant competitive inhibitor substrate added after cDNA synthesis with the PCR primers within the relatively non-polymorphic 5' untranslated region of the HCV genome. Additionally, strain specificity was found to be detectable using a modification of the technique of restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP-PCR), so that virus from the organ donor could be specifically identified and quantified in the recipient. It was observed that standard preservation procedures using pulsatile perfusion were able to eliminate 75% of the virus from the organ in 20 hr. By modifying this procedure to include additional wash steps and a second pulsatile perfusion, greater than 99% of the virus could be eliminated from the kidney. In a related study, we used quantitative PCR to study requirements for filtration of the virus using HCV-positive serum. It was found that a high-flow-rate ultrafilter with a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of 300,000 daltons placed in series to the preservation apparatus was very efficient in eliminating the virus from perfusion solution in less than 2 hr. It can therefore be proposed that with the use of these molecular techniques, pulsatile perfusion coupled with additional viral depletion steps (dilution, and/or filtration) may allow the practical reduction of HCV transmission risk in recipient follow-up studies. The means are thereby presented for similar manipulation of other known or, as yet, unknown transmissible agents.

Base Sequence↗

Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin on renal function in chronic renal failure predialysis patients.

A study was undertaken to ascertain the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) on renal function in chronic renal failure predialysis patients. The effect of improvement of anemia by r-HuEPO on the rate of decline in renal function in predialysis patients has not been previously studied prospectively in a large number of patients using reliable measures of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). To investigate the efficacy, safety, and impact of r-HuEPO therapy in chronic renal insufficiency patients, a 48-week, randomized, open-label, multicenter study was initiated in 83 anemic, predialysis (serum creatinine 3 to 8 mg/dL) patients. Serial GFRs were measured using 125I-iothalamate clearance. Forty patients were randomized to the untreated arm and 43 patients to the treatment arm (50 U/kg r-HuEPO subcutaneously three times weekly). Baseline characteristics were comparable for the r-HuEPO-treated and untreated groups. During this 48-week study, GFR, mean arterial blood pressure, and daily protein intake were not significantly different between the two groups. There was a statistically significant increase in hematocrit for the r-HuEPO-treated group that was not associated with acceleration of deterioration in residual renal function. This was demonstrated by the lack of a significant (P = 0.376) between-group difference in mean change in GFR from baseline to last available value for the r-HuEPO-treated (-2.1 +/- 3.2 mL/min) and untreated (-2.8 +/- 3.5 mL/min) groups. This study concludes that r-HuEPO therapy improves anemia in predialysis patients and does not accelerate the rate of progression to end-stage renal disease.

Adult↗

The impact of hepatitis C virus infection on renal allograft recipients.

A second generation hepatitis C virus recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) was used to screen stored perioperative serum from 641 renal allograft recipients. One hundred and nine (17%) were anti-HCV positive at the time of transplant. RIBA positivity was found to be an independent predictor of post-transplant liver disease in a logistic regression model (P < 0.05). Moreover, RIBA positive patients were at greater risk for infectious events (P = 0.03) and rejection episodes (P = 0.002). The cumulative dose of antilymphoblast globulin administered as induction therapy was an independent predictor of post-transplant liver disease in a dose response relationship. Qualitative PCR showed that 74% of the perioperative RIBA positive patients had detectable HCV RNA in a current serum sample. Further, quantitative HCV RNA analysis with a competitive template PCR and HCV strain identification by restriction fragment length polymorphism demonstrated a large range of HCV RNA copies/ml of serum and three different HCV strains (BK, Hutch and HCV-1). Neither quantity of HCV RNA nor strain type correlated with abnormal transaminases post-transplant. As yet, there has not been an effect of anti-HCV status on actuarial patient and graft survival. This study suggests that anti-HCV is not a contraindication to renal transplantation; however, we would recommend that the pre-transplant evaluation of the anti-HCV positive patient include a liver biopsy to properly stage the disease. Close post-transplant follow-up is required in view of the increased risk for infection and rejection.

Adult↗

Characterization of anti-canine cytokine monoclonal antibodies specific for IFN-gamma: effect of anti-IFN-gamma on renal transplant rejection.

Two murine monoclonal antibodies specific for IFN-gamma, ADI-1, and ADI-23 (both IgG1 kappa), were generated in BALB/c mice. The ADI-1 exhibited a higher avidity for canine rIFN-gamma than for nIFN-gamma and human rIFN-gamma. In contrast, the ADI-23 showed equal avidity for the three IFN-gamma preparations. The anti-canine IFN-gamma mAb did not bind to mouse and rat rIFN-gamma. The ADI-1, and ADI-23 mAb were also tested for binding to human rTFN-alpha and, contrary to our expectations, it was found that ADI-23 showed significant binding to human rTFN-alpha and rIFN-gamma, in contrast to ADI-1. Both anti-canine IFN-gamma mAb stained 48-h PHA-induced dog lymphoblasts. A two-site mAb ELISA was developed, which was linear in the range of 7-500 ng of canine rIFN-gamma, which indicated that the two mAb detected non-overlapping epitopes on the canine rIFN-gamma molecule. We studied the effect of ADI-1 on the prolongation of canine renal allografts. Recipients of kidney allografts, that were treated with ADI-1 by continuous arterial infusion, were prolonged to 22 and 25 days, compared to 9 and 13 days for animals given the IgG1 isotype control.

Animals↗

Insulin reverses the protection given by diabetes against gentamicin nephrotoxicity in the rat.

Rats with untreated diabetes mellitus are protected from gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. In order to evaluate the role of hyperglycemia, glycosuria, and polyuria in this phenomenon, miniosmotic pumps filled with insulin were implanted for 15 days in seven female Sprague-Dawley rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. Plasma glucose levels were successfully maintained under 126 mg/dl. To serve as the control group, eight age-matched diabetic (plasma glucose > 400 mg/dl) rats had miniosmotic pumps placed delivering only Ringer's solution. Six days after placement of the pumps, gentamicin (40 mg/Kg/day) was administered to all animals for 9 days. The insulin-treated diabetic rats exhibited clear signs of nephrotoxicity by Day 6 of gentamicin, whereas the diabetic control group remained free from any functional or morphological evidence of proximal tubular damage throughout the 9 days of the aminoglycoside administration. At the end of the experiment, the creatinine clearance in the insulin-treated diabetic group was 45% lower than in the untreated diabetic group (P < 0.005). In addition, there was a rise in plasma creatinine (P < 0.02), muramidase appeared in the urine, and mild patchy acute tubular necrosis of the renal cortex was observed by light microscopic examination. The insulin-treated group also accumulated more gentamicin in the renal cortex than the untreated animals (P < 0.005). It is concluded that protection against the nephrotoxic effects of gentamicin is a feature of untreated experimental diabetes mellitus in the rat and that correction of the hyperglycemic state with insulin reverses this resistance.

Animals↗

Posttraumatic endophthalmitis. Causative organisms, treatment, and prevention.

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic endophthalmitis is a rare complication of penetrating eye injuries that results in blindness in potentially salvageable eyes. METHODS: 36 cases of posttraumatic endophthalmitis were evaluated retrospectively to determine which factors were associated with visual loss. All cases were treated with intravenous and intraocular antibiotics. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 15 (41.7%) cases as an adjunct to treatment. RESULTS: Patients ranged in age from 18 months to 83 years, and included 30 men (83%) and 6 women (17%). Intraocular foreign bodies were present in 6 patients (16.7%), 9 (25%) had corneal lacerations, 13 (36.1%) had corneoscleral or scleral lacerations, and 8 (22.2%) had ocular trauma of unknown type. Of the 36 eyes, 21 (58.3%) had positive culture results, and 10 of these (27.8%) had multiple organisms. The most common isolates were Staphylococcus species (26.5%), Streptococcus species (20.6%), and Bacillus species (14.7%). In 4 cases the diagnosis was made 6 or more years after injury. Final visual acuity was 20/200 in 8 eyes (22.2%) and 20/300 in 1 eye. In 17 cases (47.2%), the eye was salvaged but visual acuity was 5/200 or worse, and 10 eyes (27.8%) were lost to enucleation or phthisis bulbi. CONCLUSION: Prompt diagnosis and early treatment with intraocular and systemic antibiotics are important in the successful management of posttraumatic endophthalmitis. The use of pars plana vitrectomy was associated with a good visual outcome when used in select cases.

Adolescent↗