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Biomedical subjects

E Berglund

Publications and source records attributed to E Berglund.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Symptoms related to asthma and chronic bronchitis in three areas of Sweden.

Does the prevalence of respiratory symptoms differ between regions? As a part of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey, we present data from an international questionnaire on asthma symptoms occurring during a 12 month period, smoking and symptoms of chronic bronchitis. The questionnaire was mailed to 10,800 persons aged 20-44 yrs living in three regions of Sweden (Västerbotten, Uppsala and Göteborg) with different environmental characteristics. The total response rate was 86%. Wheezing was reported by 20.5%, and the combination of wheezing without a cold and wheezing with breathlessness by 7.4%. The use of asthma medication was reported by 5.3%. Long-term cough and/or morning cough together with problems with phlegm was reported by 12.8%; the prevalence being highest in the most polluted area (Göteborg). When using multivariate analysis, no significant difference in asthma-related symptoms was found between the centres. Women reported cough more frequently, but otherwise gender did not influence symptom prevalence. Our results indicate that bronchitis symptoms occur more frequently in Göteborg, the most polluted of the Swedish centres, but that the prevalence rates of asthma-related symptoms do not differ between these three regions.

Adult

Intracerebral distribution of Gp135, a new human brain glycoprotein.

The intracerebral distribution of Gp135, a new human membrane glycoprotein, defined by monoclonal antibodies, was determined by a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the presence in different brain regions was shown by immunohistochemistry. The gray matter of frontal cortex and cerebellum were found to express this antigen in high amounts, whereas the subcortical white matter, pons and medulla oblongata displayed low levels. The presence of Gp135 was visualized in regions in which high density of neuronal dendrites and unmyelinated axons are found. Gp135 may participate in cell adhesion processes, in which cell-cell contacts and tissue integrity are fundamental.

Animals

Isolation and characterization of a membrane glycoprotein from human brain with sequence similarities to cell adhesion proteins from chicken and mouse.

We previously described the production of monoclonal antibodies against a preparation of membrane glycoproteins from human brain [Berglund et al. (1987) J. Neurochem. 48, 809-815]. One of the glycoproteins, recognized by monoclonal antibody CF3, was specifically expressed in the brain. We now report the isolation and characterization of this glycoprotein, called glycoprotein 135 (Gp135). Gp135 was purified by means of lentil lectin affinity chromatography and immunoaffinity chromatography, using monoclonal antibody CF3, from a crude membrane extract of human brain cortex. Gp135 was shown to consist of a glycosylated single polypeptide chain with an apparent molecular mass of 135 kDa. The size of the polypeptide moiety was estimated to 115 kDa following N-glycanase digestion. The glycoprotein is anchored in the membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol tail, as shown by phospholipase C digestion and liposome incorporation experiments. Amino acid sequence analysis of the amino terminal, and of an internal peptide obtained by V8 protease digestion of the glycoprotein, revealed a strong similarity to three previously described glycoproteins from chicken (contactin and F11) and mouse (F3) brains. These glycoproteins belong to the immunoglobulin superfamily and are implicated in cell adhesion phenomena in the developing brain. Gp135 may be the human counterpart to one or several of these glycoproteins.

Amino Acid Sequence

Brain-associated glycoproteins expressed in bovine heart Purkinje fibres.

The Purkinje fibres of bovine heart were investigated immunohistochemically by use of monoclonal antibodies with specificity against the glycoproteins Thy-1 and Gp120, expressed in human brain. The existence and expression in bovine tissues (brain and thymus) of antigens displaying similar properties and immunochemical crossreactivity with monoclonal antibodies against the human antigens were confirmed. Both these antigens, as identified by use of anti Thy-1 and anti-Gp120 monoclonal antibodies were found to be associated with the membranes of the impulse conduction system. The presence of the antigens was seen in areas facing other conduction cells. No parts of the cells facing the basal membrane of the fibres were stained. The continuous staining between the cells was different from that of desmosome related proteins. These findings may have physiological and functional implications and are interesting in relation to recent evidences suggesting that the conduction tissue might be a derivative of the neural crest.

Animals

Antigenic pattern of human brain glycoproteins as described by monoclonal antibodies.

A battery of monoclonal antibodies was raised against a preparation of lentil lectin-binding membrane glycoproteins from human brain. Out of 26 established hybridomas, nine produced antibodies against the human Thy-1 antigen. For the remaining 17 lines, reactivity with at least six other antigens could be identified after immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. Several of the antigens were di- or trimeric, mainly in the molecular weight range of 60-120 kDa. Two of the antibodies were reactive with high-molecular-weight aggregates and four targets for the antibody reactivity were not identifiable by immunoprecipitation of iodinated antigens. Three of the identified antigens were shown by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests on various human tissues to be specifically expressed in the brain.

Animals