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Biomedical subjects

D Rubin

Publications and source records attributed to D Rubin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Cellular interactions between n-6 and n-3 fatty acids: a mass analysis of fatty acid elongation/desaturation, distribution among complex lipids, and conversion to eicosanoids.

The biologic effect of eicosanoids depends in large measure upon the relative masses in tissues of eicosanoids derived from the n-6 fatty acids, dihomogammalinolenic acid and arachidonic acid, and the n-3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid. Generation of this tissue balance is related to the relative cellular masses of these precursor fatty acids, the competition between them for entry into and release from cellular phospholipids, and their competition for the enzymes that catalyze their conversion to eicosanoids. In order to better understand these processes, we studied the cellular interactions of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids using an essential fatty acid-deficient, PGE-producing, mouse fibrosarcoma cell line, EFD-1. Unlike studies using cells with endogenous pools of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids, the use of EFD-1 cells enabled us to examine the metabolic fate of each family of fatty acids both in the presence and in the absence of the second family of fatty acids. Thus, the specific effects of one fatty acid family on the other could be directly assessed. In addition, we were able to replete the cells with dihomogammalinolenic acid (DHLA), arachidonic acid (AA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) of known specific activities; thus the masses of cellular DHLA, AA, and EPA, and their metabolites, PGE1, PGE2, and PGE3, respectively, could be accurately quantitated. The major findings of this study were: 1) n-6 fatty acids markedly stimulated the elongation of EPA to 22:5 whereas n-3 fatty acids inhibited the delta 5 desaturation of DHLA to AA and the elongation of AA to 22:4; 2) n-6 fatty acids caused a specific redistribution of cellular EPA from phospholipid to triacylglycerol; 3) n-3 fatty acids reduced the mass of DHLA and AA only in phosphatidylinositol whereas n-6 fatty acids reduced the mass of EPA to a similar extent in all cellular phospholipids; and 4) n-3 fatty acids caused an identical (33%) reduction in the bradykinin-induced release of PGE1 and PGE2, whereas n-6 fatty acids stimulated PGE3 release 2.3-fold. Together, these highly quantitative metabolic data increase our understanding of the regulation of both the cellular levels of DHLA, AA, and EPA, and their availability for eicosanoid synthesis. In addition, these findings provide a context for the effective use of these fatty acids in dietary therapies directed at modulation of eicosanoid production.

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗

Regulation of agonist-induced prostaglandin E1 versus prostaglandin E2 production. A mass analysis.

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), derived by enzymatic oxidation of cellular dihomogammalinolenic acid (DHLA) and arachidonic acid (AA), respectively, have diverse and, at times, distinct biological actions. It has been suggested that PGE1 specifically inhibits a variety of inflammatory processes, and, in light of the potential therapeutic benefit of PGE1 and its fatty acid precursor in inflammatory disorders, there is growing interest in the biochemical mechanisms which determine the balance between PGE1 and PGE2 synthesis. Metabolic studies in this area have been hampered by the difficulties in measuring the extremely small masses of these prostaglandins which are generated in cell culture systems. We studied the regulation of PGE1 versus PGE2 synthesis using an essential fatty acid-deficient, PGE-producing, mouse fibrosarcoma cell line, EFD-1. Because EFD-1 cells contain no endogenous AA or DHLA, we were able to replete the cells with AA and DHLA of known specific activities; thus, the mass of both cellular AA and DHLA, and synthesized PGE1 and PGE2, could be accurately determined. The major finding of this study is that production of PGE2 was highly favored over production of PGE1 due to preferential incorporation of AA versus DHLA into, and release from, the total cellular phospholipid pool. Further, we correlated the selective release of AA versus DHLA from total cellular phospholipids with the selective incorporation of AA versus DHLA into specific phospholipid pools. In addition, we showed that conversion of DHLA to AA by delta 5 desaturase was enhanced by increasing the cellular mass of n-6 fatty acids and by increasing the cell proliferative activity. Together, these results indicate that the relative abundance of PGE2 versus PGE1 in vivo is not merely a function of the relative abundance of AA versus DHLA in tissues, but also relates to markedly different cellular metabolism of these two fatty acids.

8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid↗

Mutational analysis of the receptor-activating region of human parathyroid hormone.

The first 4 residues of parathyroid hormone (PTH) are highly conserved in evolution and are important for biological activity. We randomly mutated codons 1-4 of human PTH (hPTH) with degenerate oligonucleotides and, after expression in COS cells, screened the mutants for receptor binding and cAMP-stimulating activity using ROS 17/2.8 cells. This survey identified Glu4 and Val2 as important determinants of receptor binding and activation, respectively. Positions 1 and 3 were more tolerant of substitutions indicating that these sites are less vital to hormone function. Activities of synthetic hPTH(1-34) analogs further demonstrated the importance of positions 2 and 4. The binding affinity of [Ala4,Tyr34] hPTH(1-34)NH2 was 100-fold reduced relative to [Tyr34]hPTH(1-34)NH2 (Kd values = 653 +/- 270 and 4 +/- 1 nM, respectively), and [Arg2, Tyr34]hPTH(1-34)NH2 was a weak partial agonist which bound well to the ROS cell receptor (Kd = 31 +/- 10 nM). The Arg2 analog was nearly as potent as PTH(3-34) as an in vitro PTH antagonist in osteoblast derived cells. However, unlike PTH(3-34), [Arg2]PTH was a full agonist in opossum kidney (OK) cells. These observations suggest that the activation domains of the OK and ROS cell PTH receptors are different. Thus, amino-terminal PTH analogs may be useful as probes for distinguishing properties of PTH receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Processing to endoglycosidase H-resistant thyrotropin subunits occurs in the presence of brefeldin-A: evidence favoring the recycling of Golgi membranes to the rough endoplasmic reticulum in mouse thyrotrophs.

In order to assess the localization and physiologic redistribution of Golgi enzymes within mouse thyrotrophs, we studied the carbohydrate processing of TSH subunits in the presence of brefeldin A (BFA). Although this drug clearly causes endoglycosidase (endo) H-sensitive species to accumulate in most cell types, our purpose was to determine whether or not endoglycosidase H-resistant forms of free alpha-subunits and TSH subunits eventually accumulated in small but significant amounts within mouse thyrotrophic tumor cells or pituitary thyrotrophs incubated with BFA. This drug is known to block intracellular transport from the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) to the proximal Golgi. Stimulated thyrotrophs have been reported to have some Golgi enzymes active in their dilated RER. Accumulation of endo H-resistant forms in the presence of BFA might be explained by (1) drug-induced enhancement of Golgi to RER membrane recycling with further aberrant distribution of Golgi enzymes or (2) an uncharacteristic trapping of glycoproteins within Golgi elements that might be an unusual action of BFA peculiar to thyrotrophs. Free alpha-subunits and TSH were labeled in mouse thyrotrophic tumor tissue or pituitaries incubated in pulse-chase fashion with [35S]methionine in the absence or presence of BFA, carboxyl cyanide m-chlorophylhydrazone (CCCP), or swainsonine. The results in tumor and pituitary tissue were similar. In incubations without drugs, most TSH subunits (greater than 90%) became endo H-resistant after 5-h chase, and the majority (greater than 85%) were secreted. Doses of CCCP and BFA were selected that generally blocked the secretion of TSH subunits by greater than 85% (in some cases greater than 99%), presumably because of accumulation of secretory proteins in the RER. Yet, in the presence of CCCP, 35% and 42% of intracellular free alpha-subunits and TSH subunits, respectively, became endo H-resistant at 5 h chase. Compared to control incubations, intracellular subunits tended to remain endo H-sensitive in the presence of BFA, yet, compared to CCCP incubations, BFA slightly enhanced the attainment of endo H-resistance by free alpha-subunits and TSH subunits to 55% and 52%, respectively. Pretreatment of tumor tissue with BFA allowed more endo H-resistant species to appear, even during coincubation with CCCP. These data suggest that Golgi enzymes cycle back to the dilated RER of active thyrotrophs and that this phenomenon is enhanced by BFA.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Resolving the eight key issues in network management strategic planning.

No strategic plan for information systems or networks will be adequate without careful consideration of the pace, content, and direction of network management systems. Here are the eight key issues in strategic planning for network management and how to resolve them.

Computer Communication Networks↗

Expression of human parathyroid hormone-(1-84) in Escherichia coli as a factor X-cleavable fusion protein.

Recombinant human parathyroid hormone (hPTH)-(1-84) was obtained from Escherichia coli using a cleavable fusion protein strategy. The fusion protein contains residues 1-138 of human growth hormone as the amino-terminal region and residues 1-84 of hPTH as the carboxyl-terminal region. A 7-residue linker containing the recognition/cleavage sequence of the site-specific blood coagulation protease activated factor X (factor Xa) joins the two regions. Intact hPTH-(1-84) is released from this fusion protein by cleavage in vitro with factor Xa. The fusion protein was produced at a high level and formed inclusion bodies which allowed it to be easily purified by low speed centrifugation, with a yield of approximately 50 mg/liter of culture. After factor Xa cleavage and high performance liquid chromatography purification, highly purified hPTH was obtained, with a final yield of 1.5-3 mg/liter. Physical and biological characterization of the purified hormone demonstrated that it was intact and active hPTH-(1-84).

Animals↗

Electrocardiographic pseudo-myocardial infarct pattern in malignant cardiac disease.

A patient with disseminated diffuse histiocytic lymphoma had persistent electrocardiographic (ECG) signs of acute myocardial infarction without clinical, enzymatic, or hemodynamic evidence of myocardial necrosis. The ECG findings were felt to be secondary to myocardial tumor invasion by antemortem noninvasive testing. This was confirmed by postmortem examination. Based on this report and a literature review, the particular ECG findings noted (lateral leads) are felt to be highly predictive of direct tumor invasion in this setting.

Adult↗

The cloning of the Bar region and the B breakpoint in Drosophila melanogaster: evidence for a transposon-induced rearrangement.

We have cloned the B breakpoint in Drosophila melanogaster using DNA from a P-M-induced revertant of B, which has a P element inserted at the B breakpoint. The analysis of the B DNA reveals that there is a transposable element, B104, right at the breakpoint. This suggests that this element may have been involved in the generation of the B breakpoint and the associated tandem duplication. One possible mechanism to generate the B duplication is a recombination event between two B104 elements, one at 16A1 and the other at 16A7. DNA sequencing data of the junctions of the B104 element support this model. Four partial revertants of B are the result of insertions of transposable elements very close to the B breakpoint. This supports the hypothesis that the breakpoint is the cause of the B mutation. The clones from B were used to isolate wild-type clones from 16A1, the location of the Bar gene. Four rearrangement breakpoints associated with various Bar mutations map within a 37-kb region, suggesting that the Bar gene is very large.

Animals↗

Intestinal alkaline phosphatase is secreted bidirectionally from villous enterocytes.

A fraction of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) is secreted into blood. To study this process, enzyme secretion was examined in a fetal (IRD-98) and a differentiated (Caco-2) intestinal cell line. Tissue-unspecific alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity in the IRD-98 cells increased 20-fold after addition of 1.5 mM sodium butyrate and 40 mM NaCl, but no AP activity was secreted into the medium. In contrast, newly synthesized IAP in Caco-2 cells was secreted into the medium. AP secretion increased with time and was inhibited by monensin. Medium AP was still partially bound to membranes as assessed by Triton X-114 phase separation and could be released by the addition of serum. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels and by isoelectric focussing showed that secreted AP gave a pattern similar to that of the AP released from membranes by phospholipase D treatment. When Caco-2 cells were grown on filters, AP activity was found in both basolateral (75%) and luminal (25%) media. These data demonstrate that the secretion of a particulate AP with extracellular release from the membrane can account for the appearance of the intestinal isozyme in both the serum and the lumen.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Determination of fitness in children with asthma. Use of standardized tests for functional endurance, body fat composition, flexibility, and abdominal strength.

Children with asthma frequently have exercise-induced disease that can limit their participation in both organized sports and vigorous free play. We measured fitness in a group of children with moderately severe to severe asthma with an instrument that is used widely and is available to clinicians for assessment of the physical capability of their patients. Abnormalities in physical fitness were present primarily in the area of endurance, with performance in the nine-minute run frequently found to be low. Increased skin-fold thickness was also present more frequently than in the normal population. Abdominal strength and flexibility were normal. Abnormalities in fitness were not well explained by measures indicating the presence of poorly controlled disease. All children with significant asthma probably should be tested to document the level of fitness so that appropriate intervention can be initiated.

Adolescent↗

Fat feeding stimulates only one of the two mRNAs encoding rat intestinal membranous and secreted alkaline phosphatase.

We have identified two mRNAs in rat intestinal mucosa by Northern blot analysis, using cloned cDNAs encoding human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP). Probes from both the NH2- and COOH-terminal ends of the human PLAP coding region identified, in rat intestine (especially duodenum), an mRNA of nearly identical size (3 kb) to that found in human placenta. A smaller mRNA (2.7 kb), detected only with the COOH-terminal probe, was more prevalent in jejunum. Following feeding of triacylglycerols, the prevalence of the 2.7 kb mRNA increased over 2-fold. The tissue distribution and response of the 2.7 kb mRNA to fat feeding corresponds exactly with the known behavior of the secreted alkaline phosphatase.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Pulmonary function in advanced pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary mechanical function and gas exchange were studied in 33 patients with advanced pulmonary vascular disease, resulting from primary pulmonary hypertension in 18 cases and from Eisenmenger physiology in 15 cases. Evidence of airway obstruction was found in most patients. In addition, mean total lung capacity (TLC) was only 81.5% of predicted and 27% of our subjects had values of TLC less than one standard deviation below the mean predicted value. The mean value for transfer factor (TLCO) was 71.8% of predicted and appreciable arterial hypoxaemia was present, which was disproportionate to the mild derangements in pulmonary mechanics. Patients with Eisenmenger physiology had significantly lower values of arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) (p less than 0.05) and of maximum mid expiratory flow (p less than 0.05) and significantly higher pulmonary arterial pressure (p less than 0.05) than those with primary pulmonary hypertension, but no other variables were significantly different between the two subpopulations. It is concluded that advanced pulmonary vascular disease in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmenger physiology is associated not only with severe hypoxaemia but also with altered pulmonary mechanical function.

Adolescent↗