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Biomedical subjects

G Dawson

Publications and source records attributed to G Dawson.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Rapid morphological and substratum adherence response by hairy cell and other human leukemic cells to phorbol ester tumor promoters.

Human leukemic cells, maintained in tissue culture, responded differentially following exposure to the phorbol ester tumor promoter 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Short-term (0-2 h) TPA treatment of hairy cell leukemic cells (of presumed B-lymphocytic origin) resulted in the attachment of 5-100% of cells (depending on % leukemic mononuclear cells) to the culture dish and extension of long processes. Similar changes were also observed with cells from acute myelogenous, acute prolymphocytic and some acute monomyelocytic leukemic patients. Related non-promoters such as phorbol and 4-alpha-phorbol-12, 13-didecanoate, had no effect. In contrast, both chronic and acute lymphocytic, chronic myelogenous and acute promyelocytic leukemic cells showed no response to TPA over this short time period. Neither the adherence nor morphological changes were blocked by inhibitors of protein synthesis (cycloheximide) or glycosylation (tunicamycin), but the process formation was sensitive to inhibitors of microtubule formation such as colchicine. The effect was not reversible by TPA removal, and exposure to TPA for only 5 min resulted in a complete adherence and morphological induction within 60 min.

Antimetabolites↗

Evidence for [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin-induced supersensitivity to 5-hydroxytryptamine in a neurotumor x brain hybrid cell line (NCB-20).

A neuroblastoma X Chinese hamster embryonic brain explant hybrid cell line (NCB-20) expressed 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT1) receptors, linked to adenylate cyclase, which closely resembled 5-HT1 receptors previously characterized in central nervous tissue. However, the affinity of the receptors for 5-HT was only 150 nM compared to 5 nM in membranes prepared from cerebral cortex. The elevation of cyclic AMP levels in NCB-20 cells produced by 5-HT was found additive to that produced by cholera toxin but synergistic with that produced by either prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) or forskolin, suggesting that these latter two agents elevate cyclic AMP levels by a different mechanism than 5-HT. The elevation of cyclic AMP levels by either 5-HT or PGE1 was reversed by [D-Ala2,D-Leu5]enkephalin (DADLE), morphine, clonidine, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine) on a short (30 min) time scale. However, continued exposure to DADLE resulted in loss of the initial inhibitory effects of DADLE after 6 h and return of cyclic AMP levels to that seen with either 5-HT or PGE1 alone. When the DADLE exposure time was increased to 48 h, 5-HT produced a further twofold increase in cyclic AMP levels, but there was no increase in the responsiveness of the cells to PGE1 unless naloxone was added 1 h prior to treatment with PGE1. Scatchard analysis showed that the increased potency of 5-HT resulted from an increase in receptor affinity for 5-HT (from a KD of 150 +/- 20 nM to one of 20 +/- 7 nM), with a reduction in the number of apparent binding sites. The 5-HT supersensitivity observed in NCB-20 cells may be a good model for neurotransmitter interactions that produce desensitization or facilitation in the intact nervous system.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Possible role of gangliosides in regulating an adenylate cyclase-linked 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT1) receptor.

Cultured NCB-20 hybrid cells express adenylate cyclase-coupled receptors for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) that correspond biochemically and pharmacologically to 5-HT1 receptors in rodent brain membrane preparations, apart from a much-reduced affinity for 5-HT (160 nM compared to less than 5 nM in brain). Since NCB-20 cells also differ from rodent brain both qualitatively and quantitatively in their ganglioside composition, the effects of exogenously added gangliosides on the affinity of the 5-HT1 receptor for 5-HT were tested. Both GM1 ganglioside (the cholera toxin receptor) and tetrasialoganglioside GQ1b produced a 10-fold increase in receptor affinity for [3H]5-HT, measured by binding studies. All gangliosides, at submicromolar concentrations, resulted in significantly reduced EC50 values for 5-HT-mediated elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP levels. GQ1b had the capacity to most dramatically enhance the potency of 5-HT in mediating increases in cyclic AMP levels. Gangliosides had no effect on the potency of DADLE or 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine (dopamine)-mediated depression of cyclic AMP levels, suggesting some specificity for 5-HT. Our data are interpreted as implying a specific role for polysialogangliosides in modulating the affinity of the 5-HT1 receptor and the coupling of the 5-HT1 receptor-guanine nucleotide binding protein adenylate cyclase complex.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Phorbol ester tumor promoters specifically stimulate choline phospholipid metabolism in human leukemic cells.

Human hairy cell leukemia (HCL) cells in culture showed a marked increase in both [1-14C]acetate and [14C]choline incorporation into phosphatidylcholine (PC) when treated with a 10 nM concentration of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) for 3 h. Dramatic morphological changes occurred and synthesis of most phospholipids was stimulated. However, the most dramatic increase was seen in the [14C]acetate labeling of both long- and short-chain fatty acid-containing sphingomyelins (from 200-425% of control levels), sphingomyelin being especially enriched in HCL cells. Negligible incorporation of [14C]choline into sphingomyelin was observed and phospholipase inhibitor (U10029A) studies indicated that PC was the major source of sphingomyelin choline. These changes were most clearly seen by autoradiography of two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography plates. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) blasts, which did not respond morphologically to TPA, showed no increased phospholipid synthesis under the same conditions and increases in sphingomyelin synthesis were modest. Other non-TPA-responding leukemic cells were similarly refractive. However, one out of four acute monomyelocytic leukemic (AMMoL) cells studied responded morphologically in a manner identical to HCL cells and exhibited the same dramatic increase in sphingomyelin synthesis. Data are presented which suggest that TPA may also stimulate PC phospholipase C activity in addition to activating the calcium-dependent protein kinase by mimicking diacylglycerol.

Acetates↗

Gangliosides of human spinal cord: aberrant composition of cords from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The ganglioside content of formalin-fixed human spinal cords and fresh human spinal cords was found to be both quantitatively and qualitatively similar. However, the spinal cord was found to be heterogeneous with respect to ganglioside content. In particular, a gradient of GD1a was observed, increasing from a low content in the cervical region to a relatively high content in the sacral region. Comparison of the ganglioside content of nine normal spinal cords and nine spinal cords from clinically diagnosed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients revealed no major quantitative differences, but the unique presence of three additional gangliosides in ALS spinal cords. One of these was tentatively identified as sialosylglobotetraosylceramide and was absent from eight of nine control spinal cord samples, the sole exception being the cord from a 97-year-old female.

Adult↗

Gangliosides as modulators of the coupling of neurotransmitters to adenylate cyclase.

Cultured NCB-20 mouse neuroblastoma X Chinese hamster brain clonal hybrid cells express an adenylate cyclase-coupled receptor for serotonin (5HT) which corresponds pharmacologically to the 5HT1 receptor in whole brain, except for its much lower affinity for serotonin. Studies showed that the affinity of the NCB-20 receptor could be increased to near that of the whole brain receptor and the potency of 5HT in elevating cyclic AMP levels increased by pre-incubating NCB-20 cells for at least 3 hours with submicromolar concentrations of brain gangliosides. Tetrasialoganglioside (GQ1b) was found to be the most potent ganglioside tested, producing a ten-fold increase in affinity. However, the actual 5HT binding site is a protein and we have obtained no evidence that serotonin binds directly to gangliosides at the concentrations at which it labels the receptor. The receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase by biogenic amines such as dopamine and clonidine through dopamine (D2) and alpha-adrenoreceptors was unaffected by pre-incubation of the NCB-20 cells with gangliosides. Enkephalin was also found to acutely supress both the ability of 5HT to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity and the synthesis of polysialogangliosides in NCB-20 cells. After 6 hours of exposure, the cells became tolerant to enkephalin and after 36 hours the cells became supersensitive to 5HT in terms of adenylate cyclase activation and 5HT binding. The affinity of the receptor for 5HT increased the same 10-fold magnitude as achieved by GQ1b pre-incubation in comparison with untreated cells. This increase in receptor affinity appeared to coincide chronologically with the increase in ganglioside synthesis observed in enkephalin tolerant cells, further suggesting an important role of polysialogangliosides in the function of the serotonin (5HT1) receptor.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Imitation and social responsiveness in autistic children.

Fifteen autistic children, ages 4-6 years, participated in the present study. Imitation and object permanence skills were assessed. Language and social behaviors were observed during free play. Children were also exposed to three interactive procedures that differed in developmental sophistication. The experimenter either (1) simultaneously imitated the child's actions, (2) modeled a familiar action, or (3) modeled a novel action. It was found that the autistic children who had a low level of imitative ability (Piaget's Stages 2-3) were more socially responsive, showed more eye contact, and played with toys in a less perseverative manner when the experimenter imitated their behavior than when the experimenter modeled either a familiar or a novel action. When the experimenter modeled a familiar as opposed to a novel action, these children were more likely to spontaneously imitate the experimenter. The autistic children with more highly developed imitation skills, however, responded similarly to all conditions. They also were generally more socially and verbally responsive. These results suggest that developmental status is an important variable in designing intervention programs for severely impaired children.

Age Factors↗

Self-recognition in autistic children.

The hypothesis that the autistic child's impairment in social relatedness stems in part from underlying deficits in self-recognition was explored. Fifteen autistic children ranging from 4 to 6 years of age were assessed for visual self-recognition ability, as well as for skills in two cognitive areas that are believed to be related to the development of self-recognition--object permanence and gestural imitation. It was found that 13 of 15 autistic children showed evidence of self-recognition. The two autistic children who lacked self-recognition were the only two children to perform poorly on the object permanence tasks, which suggests that these two cognitive domains may be closely linked in development. In contrast, there appeared to be no consistent relationship between motor imitation ability and self-recognition. It was concluded that the autistic child's social deficits are not due to a basic lack of differentiation between self and other.

Attention↗

Specific receptor-mediated inhibition of cyclic AMP synthesis by dopamine in a neuroblastoma X brain hybrid cell line NCB-20.

Dopamine and dopamine receptor agonists were found to inhibit adenylate cyclase activity dose-dependently in a neuroblastoma X Chinese hamster brain explant hybrid cell line NCB-20. Apomorphine (with an IC50 value of 10 nM) was the most effective inhibitor, followed by 2-amino-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthaline (ADTN), dopamine, and N-dipropyldopamine. The inhibition was potently reversed by sulpiride, butaclamol, and flupenthixol in a stereospecific manner, but was unaffected by yohimbine, except at high concentrations. Clonidine also inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in these cells and this was reversed by the alpha 2-adrenoreceptor antagonist yohimbine, but not by sulpiride. [D-Ala2, D-Leu5] Enkephalin inhibited adenylate cyclase activity in NCB-20 cells at nanomolar concentrations; this was reversed by naloxone. All three inhibitory neurotransmitters were able to reverse the stimulation of cyclic AMP synthesis by serotonin or prostaglandin E1. The dopamine receptor that modulates cyclic AMP synthesis in NCB-20 cells is pharmacologically quite distinct from a high-affinity spiperone binding site identified in these cells, but shows the pharmacologic specificity of the "D2" receptor previously described in mammalian brain.

Alprostadil↗

Cell-cycle dependence of a ganglioside glycosyltransferase activity and its inhibition by enkephalin in a neurotumor cell line.

Rat glioma X mouse neuroblastoma hybrid neurotumor cells (NG108-15), synchronized by amino acid deprivation, showed a cell-cycle-dependent peak of activity of a ganglioside N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase 14-24 h following release from the cell cycle block (S/G2 phase). Maximal expression of two typical lysosomal hydrolases, N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase and beta-galactosidase, occurred between 18 and 21 h following release (S phase), declining to G1 phase levels during the peak of N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) transferase activity. In addition, glycosyltransferase activity in G2 phase cells showed an increase in apparent Vmax (suggesting the presence of more enzyme/mg of cell protein) and apparent binding affinity for uridine diphosphate N-acetylgalactosamine (UDP-GalNAc) (32 versus 14 microM) when compared to transferase activity in the G1 phase. However, the opioid peptide enkephalin [D-Ala2, D-Leu5], which inhibits ganglioside GalNAc transferase activity in unsynchronized NG108-15 cultures, was much more inhibitory in whole cells 8 h after release from the cell cycle block (G1 phase) than in cells 20 h after release (G2 phase), with 50% inhibition occurring at 2 X 10(-9) M and 2 X 10(-7) M, respectively. These results suggest that the GalNAc transferase activity is regulated in more than one way during the cell cycle, since both Vmax and Km changes are observed, and that the cyclic AMP-dependent mechanism by which opiates reduce transferase activity is receptor mediated and cell cycle dependent.

Animals↗

Identification and characterization of voltage-sensitive calcium channels in neuronal clonal cell lines.

Voltage-sensitive calcium channels ( VSCCs ) have been identified in three clonal cells. These are the neuroblastoma X Chinese hamster brain hybrid ( NCB -20), the neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid (NG108-15), and the neuroblastoma ( N4TG1 ). Depolarization of NCB -20 cells with 50 mM KCl or 50 microM veratridine (VE) produced a 2- to 3-fold increase in net 45Ca2+ uptake. In NCB -20 cells, this voltage-sensitive 45Ca2+ uptake was inhibited selectively by organic calcium antagonists such as nitrendipine, cinnarizine, verapamil, and diltiazem (IC50 values = 6.4, 750, 1800, and 4500 nM, respectively). High K+-induced uptake was unaffected by 4-aminopyridine, tetraethylammonium, and tetrodotoxin (TTX), whereas VE-induced 45Ca2+ uptake was completely blocked by 3 microM TTX. In contrast to NCB -20 cells, NG108-15 cells showed a much smaller response to depolarizing stimuli. Following differentiation of NG108-15 cells by chronic treatment with 10 microM prostaglandin E1 and 50 microM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, depolarization induced a large increase in voltage-sensitive 45Ca2+ uptake. This induction was apparent after 24 hr and increased linearly for 96 hr. VSCC activity was also induced by 1.5% dimethyl sulfoxide and by other agents that increase intracellular cAMP, such as forskolin (1 microM) and cholera toxin (1 microgram/ml). Voltage-sensitive 45Ca2+ uptake in differentiated NG108-15 cells was inhibited by nitrendipine, D-600, and diltiazem (IC50 values = 7, 690, and 1600 nM). Our results suggest that VSCCs in neuronal clonal cell lines can be altered by cellular differentiation. In contrast to those VSCCs involved in neurotransmitter release, the VSCCs described here appear to be blocked by organic calcium channel antagonists at very low concentrations.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

N-acetylneuraminic acid and sialoglycoconjugate metabolism in fibroblasts from a patient with generalized N-acetylneuraminic acid storage disease.

Cultured skin fibroblasts from a patient suffering from generalized N-acetylneuraminic acid storage disease were found to accumulate large amounts (approx. 4.0 mumol/g fresh weight) of free N-acetylneuraminic acid in a lysosome-enriched subcellular fraction. However, there were no detectable deficiencies in lysosomal hydrolase activities (including neuraminidase), and the activities of CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid synthetase and N-acetylneuraminic acid aldolase were within normal limits. The cellular glycoconjugate composition was normal, and pathologic fibroblasts labeled with either [3H]glucosamine-HCl or N-[3H]acetylmannosamine showed a marked accumulation of labeled free N-acetylneuraminic acid, along with elevated incorporation into sialoglycoconjugates. Neither normal nor pathologic fibroblasts secreted labeled free N-acetylneuraminic acid into the culture medium. These results are consistent with an inherited defect in N-acetylneuraminic acid reutilization, resulting in the lysosomal accumulation of the free monosaccharide in generalized N-acetylneuraminic acid storage disease.

Carbohydrate Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

The effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on pituitary and hypothalamic endorphin equivalents.

This study examines the effect of experimentally induced diabetes mellitus in rats on tissue concentrations of opioid peptides in the neurointermediate lobe (NIL), anterior pituitary (AP) and hypothalamus. Diabetic animals were found to have a marked increase in endorphin equivalents, measured by opiate receptor binding assay, in the NIL whereas no change was observed in beta endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta ELI) or ACTH measured by RIA. These results may indicate the presence of a feedback mechanism and suggest the possibility that opioid peptides may be physiologically important in the maintenance of glucose homeostasis.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗