Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Regoeczi

Publications and source records attributed to E Regoeczi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Three types of human asialo-transferrin and their interactions with the rat liver.

Three types of asialo-transferrin were obtained from immunologically pure human transferrin by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, followed by desialylation and affinity chromatography on a column of the immobilized asialo-glycoprotein-binding hepatic lectin from rabbit liver. Of the asialo-transferrins, type 1 was derived from the principal DEAE-cellulose chromatographic component of transferrin, i.e. the one that contains two biantennary glycans. The two other asialo-transferrins (types 2 and 3) were derived from a minor DEAE-chromatographic transferrin component, which is assumed to possess one biantennary and one triantennary glycan. The three asialo-transferrin types were indistinguishable by electrophoretic mobility, but they were readily distinguished on the basis of their binding strengths to the hepatic lectin in intact rats. Glycan structures responsible for the difference in binding strengths between asialo-transferrin types 2 and 3 are not known. Metabolic studies in rats showed that none of the individual asialo-transferrin types was capable of generating a signal for endocytosis at low doses (<1mug/100g body wt.) and, consequently, most of the injected protein was recoverable with the plasma and the liver 35min after injection. However, endocytosis and catabolism of each asialo-transferrin type was readily induced by injecting a larger dose (50-250mug/100g body wt.) of unlabelled asialo-transferrin of the same type or of a different type a short interval after the labelled dose. These findings support the view that the dose-dependent uptake of human asialo-transferrin by the hepatocyte, as established in an earlier study with asialo-transferrin made from whole transferrin [Regoeczi, Taylor, Hatton, Wong & Koj (1978) Biochem. J.174, 171-178], also holds for these asialo-transferrin subfractions. Furthermore, the present studies indicate that asialo-transferrins of different carbohydrate compositions are capable of synergistically promoting endocytosis of each other.

Animals↗

Bi-and tri-antennary human transferrin glycopeptides and their affinities for the hepatic lectin specific for asialo-glycoproteins.

Glycopeptides were isolated from a proteolytic digest of human transferrin. After mild acid hydrolysis the desialylated glycopeptides were labelled by the galactose oxidase/NaB(3)H(4) procedure and then fractionated by Sephadex-gel filtration or by anion-exchange chromatography. Either technique allowed separation of the two heterosaccharide chains (designated glycan I and glycan II) previously described for this protein by Spik, Vandersyppe, Fournet, Bayard, Charet, Bouquelet, Strecker & Montreuil (1974) (in Actes du Colloque Internationale No. 221 vol. 1, pp. 483-499). Subsequent chromatography on Sepharose-concanavalin A separated fractions containing different quantities of carbohydrates for each glycan, as indicated by analyses. The isolated glycan fractions were then tested for their abilities to bind to the immobilized rabbit hepatic lectin. Our studies suggest that either glycan can have a bi- or tri-antennary structure. Desialylated biantennary glycans I and II did not bind to the hepatic lectin. Desialylated triantennary glycan I was slightly retarded by the hepatic lectin, whereas the triantennary glycan II consisted of equal quantities of a retarded and a bound type. Desialylated triantennary glycan II was totally displaced from the hepatic lectin by using a buffer containing 0.05m-EDTA. The results suggest that greater structural heterogeneity exists in the carbohydrate moiety of human transferrin than was previously envisaged. Such heterogeneity could be reflected in several molecular forms of human transferrin, which, after desialylation, differ significantly in their affinities for the hepatic lectin.

Amino Acids↗

Hepatic uptake and degradation of trace doses of asialofetuin and asialoorosomucoid in the intact rat.

Asialoorosomucoid and asialofetuin were prepared by using sialidase, which was removed chromatographically before the proteins were labelled with radioactive iodine. After intravenous administration of a small amount oa asialoglycoprotein (3--4 microgram/100 g body wt.) protein-bound and non-protein radioactivities in plasmas and livers of rats were determined at intervals over a period of 30 min. Transfer of either tracer protein from plasma to liver was almost complete in 5 min. Proteolysis of asialofetuin was evident very shortly thereafter, but degradation of asialoorosomucoid commenced after a significant delay and was initially slow relative to that of asialofetuin. Studies in vitro with crude hepatic lysosomal enzyme preparations indicated that asialoorosomucoid was less readily digested than asialofetuin, and that desialylation of orosomucoid or fetuin did not noticeably increase the susceptibility of these proteins to protease action. Proteolysis of asialofetuin was also demonstrable in liver homogenates in conditions under which albumin and asialotransferrin were stable. A generalized mathematical model was devised to represent the uptake and degradation of asialoglycoproteins by the liver. The theoretical assumptions that gave the best fits with experiment are outlined and discussed.

Animals↗

Distinction between binding and endocytosis of human asialo-transferrin by the rat liver.

The ability of the rat liver to bind and endocytose human asialo-transferrin was investigated in vivo. Asialo-transferrin was separated from incompletely desialylated transferrin and neuraminidase by chromatography before being labelled with (125)I. Plasma radioactivity curves and hepatic radioactivity contents measured over a 1270-fold dose range led to the following observation. At the lowest dose (0.4mug/100g body wt.), the distribution of asialo-transferrin between plasma and liver resembled a reversible reaction reaching equilibrium in approx. 20min. After 35min, 93% of the dose was recovered with the plasma and liver as protein-bound radioactivity. Most of the asialo-transferrin associated with the liver could be displaced by asialo-orosomucoid, indicating that binding of asialo-transferrin to the galactose-specific lectin on the plasma membrane of hepatocytes was not followed by a signal for endocytosis. A range of doses, up to an average of 509.2mug of asialo-transferrin per 100g body wt., resulted in progressive increments in asialo-transferrin catabolism, as evidenced by lower dose recoveries and increased concentrations of non-protein-associated radioactivity in the liver and plasma volume. These observations indicate that binding and endocytosis of human asialo-transferrin by the rat hepatocyte are distinct phenomena. Individual asialo-transferrin molecules, although readily bound by the hepatic lectin, lack either the quantity or spacing of terminal galactose residues necessary for triggering endocytosis. Although endocytosis is induced by several asialo-transferrin molecules acting synergistically, preliminary experiments with asialo-glycopeptides and other substances have so far failed to provide further insight into the chemical basis of the signal for endocytosis.

Animals↗

Elimination of asialofetuin and asialoorosomucoid by the intact rat. Quantitative aspects of the hepatic clearance mechanism.

The capacity of the liver to eliminate asialofetuin and asialoorosomucoid was investigated in intact rats. From plasma radioactivity curve measurements and assays on tissue homogenates the liver is shown to be able to dispose of an average of 19.8 microgram of asialofetuin/min per 100 g body weight. No other major route is identified for the disappearance of asialofetuin from the plasma, although trace amounts of the protein were detectable in the urine. From analyses of the plasma radioactivity curves the elimination process for asialoorosomucoid appears to be comparatively complex because of the existence of extrahepatic disposal routes. Quantification of labelled asialoorosomucoid in liver homogenates indicates, however, that the hepatic clearance rate for asialoorosomucoid is similar to that for asialofetuin. Urinary excretion significantly contributes to the disappearance of asialoorosomucoid from the plasma but the hepatic and renal routes do not account for all the protein lost from this compartment. At plasma concentrations above the maximal eliminative capacity of the liver, the hepatic clearance of asialofetuin obeys zero-order kinetics and is remarkably constant. Elimination of a quantity of asialoglycoprotein which exceeds the calculated total number of binding sites in the liver does not reduce the efficiency of the pathway, and studies of [3H]leucine incorporation indicate that the lectin, unlike the bound asialoglycoprotein, is not destroyed in the elimination process. Cytochalasin B (80 microgram/100 g body wt.) had no measureable effect on the hepatic clearance of asialofetuin. Administration of colchicine (10 mg/100 g body wt.) resulted in transitory accumulations of asialoorosomucoid in the liver, presumably due to interference with the intracellular transport of the endocytised protein.

Animals↗

Synthesis of antithrombin III and alpha-1-antitrypsin by the perfused rat liver.

Livers isolated from control or turpentine-injected rats were perfused for 3 h with human red cells suspended in Krebs-Henseleit solution containing bovine serum albumin, dextran, glucose, heparin, cortisol, insulin, a mixture of 20 amino acids and [3H]leucine. Changes in the concentrations of antithrombin III and alpha-1-antitrypsin were evaluated by rocket immunoelectrophoresis using specific antisera, and incorporation of the 3H radioactivity into the total protein, albumin, antitrhombin III and alpha-1-antitrypsin in the perfusate was measured. The results indicate that both antithrombin III and alpha-1-antitrypsin are synthesized in the liver. Local inflammation induced in the liver donors moderately stimulated the synthesis of alpha-1-antitrypsin but it affected only marginally that of antithrombin III.

Albumins↗

Isolation and partial characterization of rabbit plasma alpha1-antitrypsin.

Alpha1-Antitrypsin was isolated from rabbit plasma by salting out with (NH4)2SO4 followed by ion-exchange chromatography either on DEAE-Sephadex or DEAE-cellulose (each at pH8.8 and 6.5), and affinity chromatography on Sepharose-Cibacron Blue and Sepharose-concanavalin A. The protein thus obtained was homogeneous during crossed immunoelectrophoresis by using an antiserum to whole rabbit plasma, but it migrated as two broad bands when electrophoresed in alkaline polyacrylamide gels. Under optimal loading conditions, two or three subcomponents could be distinguished in each band. The two major forms of rabbit alpha1-antitrypsin, designated components F and S, were separated by preparative polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, and some of their physico-chemical properties were established. Both forms reacted with trypsin at a molar ratio of 1:1. Their elution volumes from a Sephadex G-200 column were identical, corresponding to a mol.wt. of 58000; however, some heterogeneity was observed after sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel in a pH 4-6 gradient revealed a multiple-band pattern for each form in the range of pH4.4-4.9. The two forms of rabbit alpha1-antitrypsin possessed the same N-terminal amino acid (glutamic acid) and had very similar amino acid and carbohydrate compositions.

Amino Acids↗

Effect of experimental inflammation on the synthesis and distribution of antithrombin III and alpha1-antitrypsin in rabbits.

Local inflammation, induced by s.c. injection of turpentine, evoked characteristic changes in the metabolism of antithrombin III, and alpha1-antitrypsin. For a period of approximately 36 h, the plasma half-lives of both protease inhibitors were shortened to 70--74% of the respective preinjection values. Similar changes were also observed in the slope of iodine-labelled albumin, suggesting that increased capillary permeability was primarily responsible for the losses of labelled proteins from the circulation. Incorporation of [3H]- or [14C]-leucine into albumin changed little during inflammation, but markedly increased values were measured for anti-thrombin III (3-fold), alpha1-antitrypsin (4-fold) and, above all, for fibrinogen (7-fold) 24 h and 48 h after the injection of turpentine. These changes in synthesis and elimination rates resulted in the following net balances: fibrinogen concentrations in plasma rose substantially during the early phase of inflammation; alpha1-antitrypsin concentrations increased gradually but to a significantly lesser extent, peak concentrations being reached after a reverse trend in fibrinogen concentrations had become apparent; antithrombin III concentrations remained steady throughout at levels which were only marginally above the pretreatment values.

Animals↗

The net weight of the rat liver.

Contribution of blood to the post-mortem weight of the liver was measured by an isotopic technique in 269 rats with body weights ranging from 110 g to 480 g. Amounts of blood in the liver increased proportionately to the body and liver weights so that the portion of gross organ weight attributable to blood remained constant at 16.9-17.9%. Examination of the liver weight: whole body weight relationship for both gross and net liver weights by the conventional equation, Y = aXb, indicates that trapped blood affects exponent b very little but it alters coefficient a.

Animals↗

Bovine serum transferrin phenotypes AA, D1D1, D2D2, EE: their carbohydrate compositions and electrophoretic multiplicity.

Samples of homozygous bovine serum transferrins have been prepared and their purity has been ascertained by immunological techniques and electrophoretic analysis in SDS. Measurements of carbohydrate composition show that no significant differences exist among the phenotype variants AA, D1D1, D2D2, and EE. Chromatography of transferrin AA on DEAE-cellulose separated four subfractions, each of which corresponded well with one band obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Carbohydrate analyses of the individual subfractions did not show significant differences in sialic acid, hexose, or hexosamine contents. After desialylation with neuraminidase, each subfraction was converted to a major band and a minor band on gel electrophoresis. From the relative band positions of the desialylated transferrins, it was concluded that possession of sialyl residued by bovine transferrin is not the primary cause of electrophoretic multiplicity. Rather, sialic acid masks an underlying heterogeneity which most likely resides within the polypeptide chain. Further characterization of this heterogeneity will best be undertaken with the isolated asialotransferrin subfractions.

Animals↗