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Biomedical subjects

F Lang

Publications and source records attributed to F Lang.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Cellular stimulation via CD95 involves activation of phospho-inositide-3-kinase.

Several distinct intracellular pathways have been recently shown to be activated during CD95/Fas/APO-1-mediated apoptosis. Here, we demonstrate that CD95 ligation induces a rapid and transient tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI-3-K) in Jurkat T lymphocytes or CD95-sensitive glioma cells. Experiments using p56lck-deficient or p56lck-reconstituted Jurkat clones and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A revealed that tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of PI-3-K by CD95 depends on expression of Src-like tyrosine kinases, in particular p56lck. PI-3-K stimulation seems to be critical for CD95 receptor signalling since, first, inhibition of PI-3-K prevents CD95-mediated apoptosis and, second, CD95 receptor ligation fails to induce tyrosine phosphorylation or activation of PI-3-K in CD95-resistant glioma cells. Thus, PI-3-K activation may be an early signalling event during CD95-induced apoptosis, and failure to stimulate PI-3-K may predict tumor cell resistance to CD95-triggered apoptosis.

Apoptosis↗

Cellular taurine release triggered by stimulation of the Fas(CD95) receptor in Jurkat lymphocytes.

One of the hallmarks of apoptosis is cell shrinkage which appears to be important for cell death. The mechanisms mediating cell volume decrease have, however, not been addressed. Mechanisms employed by swollen cells to decrease their cell volume include activation of ion transport pathways, such as ion channels and KCl cotransport, and release of cellular osmolytes, such as taurine, sorbitol, betaine and inositol. The present study has been performed to test for release of taurine. To this end Jurkat human T-lymphocytes were loaded with [3H]taurine and apoptotic cell death induced by triggering the Fas(CD95) receptor with monoclonal crosslinking antibody. Triggering the Fas(CD95) receptor led to a release of 60+/-5% of cellular taurine within 90 min. The release did not occur prior to 45 min. The release coincided with cell shrinkage as evidenced from forward scatter in FACS analysis and preceeded DNA fragmentation according to propidium iodide staining. The delay of taurine release was not influenced by exchange of medium and thus was not due to extracellular accumulation of a stimulator. The Fas(CD95)-induced taurine release, cell shrinkage and DNA fragmentation were blunted by lowering of ambient temperature to 23 degreesC. Following pretreatment of cells with Fas(CD95) antibody at 23 degreesC rewarming led to rapid taurine release, cell shrinkage and DNA fragmentation, indicating that the temperature-sensitive step is distal to the mechanisms accounting for the delay. Osmotic cell swelling led to an immediate release of taurine. In conclusion, Fas(CD95) triggering leads to delayed taurine release through a temperature-sensitive mechanism.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Regulation of the Na+2Cl–K+ cotransporter in in vitro perfused rectal gland tubules of Squalus acanthias.

Previously it has been shown that the Na+2Cl–K+ cotransporter accepts NH4 + at its K+ binding site. This property can be used to estimate its transport rates by adding NH4 + to the bath and measuring the initial furosemide-dependent rates of change in BCECF fluorescence. We have utilized this technique to determine the regulation of the furosemide-inhibitable Na+2Cl–K+ cotransporter in in vitroperfused rectal gland tubules (RGT) of Squalus acanthias. Addition of NH4 + to the bath (20 mmol/l) led to an initial alkalinization, corresponding to NH3 uptake. This was followed by an acidification, corresponding to NH4 + uptake. The rate of this uptake was quantified by exponential curve fitting and is given in arbitrary units (Δfluorescence/time). This acidification could be completely inhibited by furosemide. In the absence of any secretagogue preincubation of RGT in a low Cl– solution (6 mmol/l, low Cl–) for 10 min enhanced the uptake rate significantly from 4.04±0.51 to 12.7±1.30 (n=5). The addition of urea (200 mmol/l) was without effect, but the addition of 300 mmol/l mannitol (+300 mannitol) enhanced the rate significantly from 7.24±1.33 to 14.7±4.6 (n=6). Stimulation of NaCl secretion by a solution maximizing the cytosolic cAMP concentration (Stim) led to a significant increase in NH4 + uptake rate from 5.00±1.33 to 13.3±1.54 (n=6). Similar results were obtained in the additional presence of Ba2+ (1 mmol/l): the uptake rate was increased significantly from 4.23±0.34 to 15.1±1.86 (n=16). In the presence of Stim low Cl– had no additional effect on the uptake rate: 15.1±3.1 versus 15.2±2.8 in high Cl– (n=6). The uptake rate in Stim containing additional +300 mannitol (22.3±4.0, n=5) was not significantly different from that obtained with Stim or +300 mannitol alone. By whatever mechanism the NH4 + uptake rate was increased furosemide (500 µmol/l) always reduced this rate to control values. Hence three manoeuvres enhanced furosemide-inhibitable uptake rates of the Na+2Cl–K+ cotransporter probably independently: (1) lowering of cytosolic Cl– concentration; (2) cell shrinkage; and (3) activation by cAMP.

Animals↗

Cloning of sgk serine-threonine protein kinase from shark rectal gland – a gene induced by hypertonicity and secretagogues.

Recently, the cell-volume-regulated serine-threonine protein kinase h-sgk was cloned from a human hepatoma cell line. The sgk gene was shown to be induced by cell shrinkage in many different mammalian cell lines. In this study, two highly conserved serine-threonine protein kinases, sgk-1 and sgk-2, were cloned from rectal gland tissue of the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias). Both kinases showed a distinct pattern of tissue specificity, with high expression levels in kidney, intestine, liver and heart. In rectal gland slices sgk-1 transcription was induced by exposure to hypertonic solution, reduction of the extracellular urea concentration, and addition of the secretagogues vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and carbachol. The shark sgk-1 serine-threonine protein kinase may therefore provide a link between cell volume, Cl–secretion and protein phosphorylation state in shark rectal gland cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effect of extracellular pH on the myo-inositol transporter SMIT expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

The myo-inositol transporter SMIT is expressed particularly at high extracellular osmolarity and serves to accumulate the osmolyte myo-inositol. Transport of myo-inositol is coupled to the cotransport of Na+ and is electrogenic. In Xenopus oocytes injected with mRNA encoding SMIT but not in water-injected oocytes, myo-inositol creates an inward current that is dependent on the ambient Na+ concentration. The present study has been performed to elucidate the pH dependence of myo-inositol-induced currents. Therefore, Xenopus oocytes were injected with mRNA encoding SMIT and two-electrode voltage-clamp studies were performed. The myo-inositol-induced currents in oocytes expressing SMIT were found to have a sigmoidal dependence on the ambient pH between pH 5.5 and 8.5 with an apparent Ki of 0.21+/-001 microM H+ and a Hill coefficient of 1.80+/-0.16. Kinetic analysis of the myo-inositol-induced currents at pH 8.0 and -90 mV holding potential revealed a Hill coefficient of 0.93+/-0.07 and an apparent Km for myo-inositol of 0.031+/-0.003 mM as well as a Hill coefficient of 1. 64+/-0.24 and an apparent Km of 38.8+/-4.1 mM for Na+. A decrease of the Na+ concentra-tion from 150 mM to 50 mM significantly altered the maximal observed current and increased the apparent Km for myo-inositol. Acidification to pH 6.5 significantly increased the apparent Km for myo-inositol and for Na+ to 0.057+/-0.005 mM and 73. 9+/-4.8 mM, respectively. The Hill coefficients for myo-inositol and Na+ were not affected and remained close to 1 for myo-inositol and 2 for Na+. In summary, acidification impedes SMIT-mediated myo-inositol transport at least partially by decreasing the affinity of the carrier for Na+. The impaired Na+ binding subsequently decreases binding and transport of myo-inositol.

Animals↗

Effective treatment of advanced breast cancer with vinorelbine, 5-fluorouracil and l-leucovorin plus human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

A phase II trial was performed to investigate the efficacy and tolerance of vinorelbine (VNB), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), l-leucovorin (LLV) and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in advanced breast cancer. Between August 1994 and October 1996, 53 patients entered this trial. Thirty-seven patients were previously untreated and 16 patients had failed previous palliative chemotherapy with (n = 12) or without anthracyclines (n = 4). Therapy consisted of VNB 40 mg m(-2) diluted in 250 ml of saline infused over 30 min on days 1 and 14 and LLV 100 mg m(-2) administered by intravenous bolus injection and 5-FU 400 mg m(-2) diluted in 500 ml of saline infused over 2 h, both given on days 1-5 every 4 weeks. G-CSF was administered at 5 microg kg(-1) day(-1) subcutaneously on days 6-10 during each cycle. Treatment was continued in cases of response or stable disease until a total of six courses were completed. The overall response rate was 59% for chemotherapeutically naive patients (95% confidence interval 42-75%), including five complete responses (CR; 13%) and 17 partial responses (PR; 46%); ten patients (27%) had stable disease (SD) and only five (14%) progressed (PD). Second-line chemotherapy with this regimen resulted in 3/16 (19%) objective remissions, but nine patients had SD and four had PD. The median time to progression was 10.5 months (range 2-23) in previously untreated patients and 7.0 months (range 2-19) in those who had failed prior chemotherapy. After a median follow-up time of 14 months, 29 patients (55%) are still alive with metastatic disease; median survival has not been reached yet. The dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression: WHO grade III and IV neutropenia occurred in 15 (28%) and four patients (8%), and was complicated by septicaemia in two; grade III anaemia and thrombocytopenia were noted in four (8%) and three (6%) patients respectively. Severe (WHO grade 3) non-haematological toxicities included stomatitis in 6% and nausea/vomiting and alopecia in 2% each. Our data suggest that the combination of vinorelbine, 5-fluorouracil and l-leucovorin plus G-CSF is an effective first line regimen for treatment of advanced breast cancer. Overall toxicity was modest, with myelosuppression being the dose-limiting side-effect. Other severe adverse reactions were uncommon.

Adult↗

Blockade of HERG channels by the class III antiarrhythmic azimilide: mode of action.

1. The class III antiarrhythmic azimilide has previously been shown to inhibit I(Ks) and I(Kr) in guinea-pig cardiac myocytes and I(Ks) (minK) channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Because HERG channels underly the conductance I(Kr), in human heart, the effects of azimilide on HERG channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes were the focus of the present study. 2. In contrast to other well characterized HERG channel blockers, azimilide blockade was reverse use-dependent, i.e., the relative block and apparent affinity of azimilide decreased with an increase in channel activation frequency. Azimilide blocked HERG channels at 0.1 and 1 Hz with IC50s of 1.4 microM and 5.2 microM respectively. 3. In an envelope of tail test, HERG channel blockade increased with increasing channel activation, indicating binding of azimilide to open channels. 4. Azimilide blockade of HERG channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes and I(Kr) in mouse AT-1 cells was decreased under conditions of high [K+]e, whereas block of slowly activating I(Ks) channels was not affected by changes in [K+]e. 5. In summary, azimilide is a blocker of cardiac delayed rectifier channels, I(Ks) and HERG. Because of the distinct effects of stimulation frequency and [K+]e on azimilide block of I(Kr) and I(Ks) channels, we conclude that the relative contribution of block of each of these cardiac delayed rectifier channels depends on heart frequency. [K+]e and regulatory status of the respective channels.

Animals↗

Effect of inhibitors of Na+/H+-exchange and gastric H+/K+ ATPase on cell volume, intracellular pH and migration of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

1. Stimulation of chemotaxis of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) with the chemoattractive peptide fMLP (N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe) is paralleled by profound morphological and metabolic alterations like changes of intracellular pH (pHi) and cell shape. The present study was performed to investigate the interrelation of cell volume (CV) regulatory ion transport, pHi and migration of fMLP stimulated PMNs. 2. Addition of fMLP to PMNs stimulated directed migration in Boyden chamber assays and was accompanied by rapid initial intracellular acidification and cell swelling. 3. Inhibition of the Na+/H+ exchanger suppressed fMLP stimulated cell migration, accelerated the intracellular acidification and inhibited the fMLP-induced cell swelling. 4. Step omission of extracellular Na+ caused intracellular acidification, which was accelerated by subsequent addition of gastric H+/K+ ATPase inhibitor SCH 28080, or by omission of extracellular K+ ions. In addition Na+ removal caused cell swelling, which was further enhanced by fMLP. 5. H+/K+ATPase inhibitors omeprazole and SCH 28080 inhibited stimulated migration and blunted the fMLP-induced increase in CV. 6. Increasing extracellular osmolarity by addition of mannitol to the extracellular solution caused cell shrinkage followed by regulatory volume increase, partially due to activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger. In fMLP-stimulated cells the CV increase was counteracted by simultaneous addition of mannitol. Under these conditions the fMLP stimulated migration was inhibited. 7. The antibacterial activity of PMNs was not modified by Hoe 694 or omeprazole. 8. Western analysis with a monoclonal anti gastric H+/K+ ATPase beta-subunit antibody detected a glycosylated 35 kD core protein in lysates of mouse and human gastric mucosa as well as in human PMNs. 9. The results indicate that fMLP leads to cell swelling of PMNs due to activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger and a K+-dependent H+-extruding mechanism, presumably an H+/K+ ATPase. Inhibition of these ion transporters suppresses the increase in CV and precludes PMNs from stimulated migration.

Animals↗

Fas/CD95/Apo-I activates the acidic sphingomyelinase via caspases.

Fas/CD95/Apo-I has been shown to stimulate a variety of molecules including several members of the caspase family and the acidic sphingomyelinase (Martin and Green 1995; Gulbins et al, 1995). Here, we demonstrate that Fas receptor-triggered activation of the acidic sphingomyelinase, consumption of sphingomyelin, release of ceramide, and subsequent activation of JNK and p38-K are regulated by caspases. Inhibition of caspases by Ac-YVAD-chloromethylketone or transient CrmA transfection prevented stimulation of acidic sphingomyelinase, release of ceramide and activation of JNK and p38-K upon Fas-receptor crosslinking. Likewise, Fas triggered apoptosis was almost completely blocked by Ac-YVAD-chloromethylketone or CrmA mediated inhibition of caspases. The results suggest a new signalling cascade from the Fas receptor via caspases to acidic sphingomyelinase, ceramide and JNK/p38-K.

Acids↗

Mesangial cell hypertrophy induced by NH4Cl: role of depressed activities of cathepsins due to elevated lysosomal pH.

Enhanced ammoniagenesis is currently thought to play an important role in renal hypertrophy and subsequent tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Under certain conditions glomeruli also may be affected by ammonia toxicity. Exposure of glomeruli to augmented ammonia levels may occur: (i) in advanced liver diseases due to elevated blood ammonia concentrations; (ii) in conditions of enhanced tubular ammoniagenesis following cortical "trapping;" and (iii) due to increased ammonia formation in the glomeruli in the presence of impaired renal function. To elucidate the potential role of ammonia in glomerular injury, we investigated the effect of NH4Cl on protein turnover as well as on activities of various cathepsins in cultured rat mesangial cells. The results show that NH4Cl (20 mM) induced cell hypertrophy as defined by an increase in both cell protein content and cell volume (+38% and +10.1%, respectively, after 48 hr). This hypertrophy was associated with suppression of the activities of cathepsins B and L + B (-56.8% and -51.3% after 48 hr) and reduction of protein degradation rate (-61% after 48 hr), but without enhanced protein synthesis. Inhibition of Na+/H+ antiport by amiloride (1 mM) neither prevented the reduction of cathepsin activities nor the hypertrophy of the mesangial cells. Upon NH4Cl application lysosomal pH was elevated. This alkalinization may be causatively involved in the impairment of cathepsin B and L + B due to shifting the lysosomal pH above the optimum of their activities. In conclusion, NH4Cl induces hypertrophy but not hyperplasia in mesangial cells. This hypertrophy is caused by the reduction of protein degradation, mainly due to depressed activities of cathepsin B and L + B in the absence of enhanced protein synthesis. A shift of lysosomal pH above the optimum of the acidic cathepsins seems to be a key factor in their impaired activities in mesangial cells.

Ammonium Chloride↗

Mechanisms and clinical significance of cell volume regulation.

A wide variety of factors challenge constancy of cell volume. Alterations of cell volume activate diverse cell volume regulatory mechanisms including ion transport, osmolyte accumulation, metabolism and expression of appropriate genes. A wealth of cellular signalling pathways link cell volume to the respective regulatory mechanisms. Cell volume emerges as a pathophysiologically important parameter in several diseases including diabetes mellitus, uraemia, hepatic insufficiency and hypercatabolic states. The role of altered cell volume in disease is a challenge which requires more experimental research and clinical investigation.

Animals↗

Human neurons express the polyspecific cation transporter hOCT2, which translocates monoamine neurotransmitters, amantadine, and memantine.

Recently, we cloned the human cation transporter hOCT2, a member of a new family of polyspecific transporters from kidney, and demonstrated electrogenic uptake of tetraethylammonium, choline, N1-methylnicotinamide, and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium. Using polymerase chain reaction amplification, cDNA sequencing, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry, we now show that hOCT2 message and protein are expressed in neurons of the cerebral cortex and in various subcortical nuclei. In Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing hOCT2, electrogenic transport of norepinephrine, histamine, dopamine, serotonin, and the antiparkinsonian drugs memantine and amantadine was demonstrated by tracer influx, tracer efflux, electrical measurements, or a combination. Apparent Km values of 1.9 +/- 0.6 mM (norepinephrine), 1.3 +/- 0.3 mM (histamine), 0.39 +/- 0.16 mM (dopamine), 80 +/- 20 microM (serotonin), 34 +/- 5 microM (memantine), and 27 +/- 3 microM (amantadine) were estimated. Measurement of trans-effects in depolarized oocytes and human embryonic kidney cells expressing hOCT2 suggests that there were different rates and specificities for cation influx and efflux. The hypothesis is raised that hOCT2 plays a physiological role in the central nervous system by regulating interstitial concentrations of monoamine neurotransmitters that have evaded high affinity uptake mechanisms. We show that amantadine does not interact with the expressed human Na+/Cl- dopamine cotransporter. However, concentrations of amantadine that are effective for the treatment of Parkinson's disease may increase the interstitial concentrations of dopamine and other aminergic neurotransmitters by competitive inhibition of hOCT2.

Amantadine↗

A decrease in renal medullary tonicity stimulates anion transport in Henle's loop of rat kidneys.

To investigate the effect of reduction in renal medulla osmolality on loop of Henle (LOH) net bicarbonate reabsorption, clearance and microperfusion experiments were performed on Sprague-Dawley rats. The decrease of renal medulla osmolality was induced by intravenous infusion of either a large dose of mannitol (mannitol protocol) or a hypotonic solution (hypotonic protocol) delivered at a rate to match the sodium and bicarbonate load of the control period. During the mannitol protocol, clearance data demonstrated a rise in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow, urine pH, and fractional bicarbonate excretion. On the contrary, microperfusion experiments, performed in the absence of mannitol in the tubular perfusate, revealed a significant increase both in the absolute and fractional LOH bicarbonate transport. During the hypotonic protocol, there was a decrease in GFR, associated with an increase in fractional excretion of bicarbonate. In the microperfusion experiments, hypotonic saline, similar to mannitol, stimulated absolute and fractional LOH bicarbonate transport. Net reabsorption of chloride, measured under the same experimental conditions, was also found to be activated. Therefore, the intravenous infusion of hypotonic solution affected the LOH transepithelial net reabsorption of both bicarbonate and chloride. We hypothesize that the increase in the transport rate of these two anions, along the same segment and in similar experimental conditions, may be mediated, at least in part, by decreased medullary tonicity, which is one factor common both to hypertonic mannitol and hypotonic saline infusion.

Animals↗

Functional significance of cell volume regulatory mechanisms.

To survive, cells have to avoid excessive alterations of cell volume that jeopardize structural integrity and constancy of intracellular milieu. The function of cellular proteins seems specifically sensitive to dilution and concentration, determining the extent of macromolecular crowding. Even at constant extracellular osmolarity, volume constancy of any mammalian cell is permanently challenged by transport of osmotically active substances across the cell membrane and formation or disappearance of cellular osmolarity by metabolism. Thus cell volume constancy requires the continued operation of cell volume regulatory mechanisms, including ion transport across the cell membrane as well as accumulation or disposal of organic osmolytes and metabolites. The various cell volume regulatory mechanisms are triggered by a multitude of intracellular signaling events including alterations of cell membrane potential and of intracellular ion composition, various second messenger cascades, phosphorylation of diverse target proteins, and altered gene expression. Hormones and mediators have been shown to exploit the volume regulatory machinery to exert their effects. Thus cell volume may be considered a second message in the transmission of hormonal signals. Accordingly, alterations of cell volume and volume regulatory mechanisms participate in a wide variety of cellular functions including epithelial transport, metabolism, excitation, hormone release, migration, cell proliferation, and cell death.

Animals↗

The diversity of volume regulatory mechanisms.

Mammalian cells utilize a wide variety of cell volume regulatory mechanisms. For rapid adjustment of cell volume cells release or accumulate ions through respective channels and transport systems across the cell membrane. The most widely used mechanisms of cell volume regulatory ion release include ion channels and KCl symport. Ion uptake is most frequently mediated by Na+ channels, Na+, K+, 2Cl- cotransport, and Na+/H+ exchange. Chronic adjustment of cell osmolarity is accomplished by the formation or accumulation of organic osmolytes, molecules specifically designed to create intracellular osmolarity without interfering with cellular function. The most widely occurring osmolytes are sorbitol, inositol, glycerophosphorylcholine, betaine, taurine, and amino acids. The osmolytes are either synthesized by or transported into shrunken cells. During cell swelling osmolytes can be rapidly degraded or released. Any given cell may utilize several volume-regulatory mechanisms. Moreover, different mechanisms are utilized in different tissues. The diversity of cell volume regulatory mechanisms allows the cells to defend the constancy of cell volume against a myriad of challenges with relatively little impairment of cellular function.

Animals↗

Na(+)-dependent and -independent amino acid transport systems in immortalized human kidney epithelial cells derived from the proximal tubule.

In the proximal tubule Na(+)-dependent (SDAT) and Na(+)-independent (SIAT) amino acid (AA) transporters are present. The effects of neutral, basic, and acidic AA on membrane voltage (Vm) of immortalized human kidney epithelial (IHKE-1) cells derived from the proximal tubule were examined using the slow whole-cell patch-clamp technique. In the presence of Na+ AA depolarized Vm in a concentration-dependent manner (0.05-5 mM) with Asp = Arg = Glu = 2Cys < Pro = Leu < Phe = AIB = Ala = Pro = Asn < Gly. In the absence of extracellular Na+ a decreased depolarization was seen with most neutral AA (Ala, Pro, Asn, Gly, Phe, and Leu), and the depolarization was increased with Asp, Glu, Arg, and 2Cys (1 mM each). In the absence of Na+ and a reduction in Cl- (5 mM) the depolarization by Arg was reduced. Unlike that predicted for transport by system b0,+ which exchanges neutral against dibasic amino acids, Leu does not hyperpolarize but depolarize Vm of IHKE-1 cells in the absence of extracellular Na+. After removal of Na+ (0 mM) and a reduction in Cl- (5 mM) in the extracellular solution, Leu or Glu hyperpolarized Vm, indicating that IHKE-1 cells possess two different SIAT systems, one Cl(-)-dependent and similar to system b0,+ and one novel Cl(-)-dependent system, which might be a Cl-/AA exchanger and can be blocked by the Cl(-)-channel blockers 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate (10 microM) and 4,4'-diisothiocyanostibene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (50 microM). B system-related AA transporters might be responsible for the C(-)-independent SIAT, since we were able to detect its signal by Northern blot analysis.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗