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Biomedical subjects

F van Leuven

Publications and source records attributed to F van Leuven.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Qualitative and quantitative differences in spreading of human fibroblasts on various protein coats. Modulation by treatment of the cells with amines.

In contrast to established cell lines, normal human skin fibroblasts spread on their own fibronectin. The present investigation has examined whether human fibroblasts, like established cell lines, would be capable of spreading on substrata coated with proteins with different reactivity towards the cell surface. Coverslips were coated with human serum, fibronectin, alpha 2 macroglobulin-trypsin, a polyspecific anti-fibroblast antibody and a polyspecific anti-calf-serum antibody. The attachment of the cells to these substrate was of the same extent. Spreading was examined qualitatively using phase, interference contrast and reflection contrast optics on live cells, as well as scanning electron microscopy on fixed cells. To quantitate the maximum degree of cell spreading a semi-automated system was used, which measured the cell perimeter on a large number of cells. The distributions of the degree of cell spreading on the five substrata were compared statistically. The qualitative and quantitative differences observed on the various substrata could be further differentiated by adding various amines to the cells during 60 min spreading or during a 30 min preincubation before spreading. No strict correlation could be found between the effect of the amines on attachment or on spreading and their presumed effects on cellular transglutaminases. The results clearly indicate that the spreading of human fibroblasts can be modulated by the nature of the substratum and that, by using quantitative methods, these differences in behaviour can be measured accurately.

Cell Adhesion↗

Immunohistochemical localization of human alpha 2Macroglobulin in connective tissue.

The localization of alpha 2macroglobulin (alpha 2M) has been examined by an indirect immunofluorescent technique in frozen sections of various human tissues. The results indicate that alpha 2M is present only in connective tissues and blood. The outer medulla of the kidney and the submucosa of the gut showed the strongest reaction. Epithelia or endothelial cells were unreactive. In liver, only the Kupffer cells were stained. These results were confirmed withe the immunoperoxidase technique and by the study of tissue extracts in crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE). As a positive control a polyspecific antiserum prepared against whole human fibroblasts as well as anti-albumin were used. Our findings are interpreted in the light of the observations that alpha 2M is synthesized and selectively ingested by fibroblasts.

Connective Tissue↗

The CSF HCO3 increase in hypercapnia relationshp to HCO3, glutamate, glutamine and NH3 in brain.

To study the role of carbonic anhydrase in the CSF [HCO3] increase in respiratory acidosis and its effect on brain ammonia, anesthetized rats were subjected to hypercapnia (7% CO2) for 2 hours. The animals received periodic intraventricular injections of either 'mock' CSF or 'mock' CSF and acetazolamide for 45 minutes prior and during hypercapnia when: (a) plasma [HCO3-] was allowed to increase normally and (2) plasma [HCO3] increase was prevented by i.v. HC1 infusion, CSF [HCO3] increased 8.5 mM/L after 2 hours of hypercapnia (delta PCO2 40) in the rats with intraventricular 'mock' CSF injections, and only 6 mM/L in the animals with acetazolamide injections. CSF [HCO3-] increased 7 mM/L during hypercapnia and HCl infusion with intraventricular 'mock' CSF injections, but only 2 mM/L with acetazolamide injections. Changes in total brain CO2 (increase) and brain glutamic acid (decrease) in hypercapnia were not affected by intraventricular acetazolamide and i.v. HCl. The increase of brain NH4+ and glutamine in hypercapnia was reduced in these conditions. It is concluded that there are at least two sources for the CSF [HCO3-] increase in hypercapnia; one formed in the CNS and dependent on carbonic anhydrase, and the other derived from plasma [HCO3-] increase.

Acetazolamide↗