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Biomedical subjects

G Federici

Publications and source records attributed to G Federici.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Glutathione S-transferase from bovine tissues: relationship between multiple forms, distribution and catalytic activity.

Cytosolic functions obtained from various bovine tissues was individually subjected to column isoelectric focusing in order to resolve the glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes. The results showed a large variability in the isoenzyme pattern. All the tissues were found to have neutral-acidic forms of the enzyme, whilst liver, adrenal gland, testicle, lung and kidney contained a conspicuous amount of activity associated with the cationic forms of the enzyme. In spite of these differences, by comparison of the conjugating activity of transferases, we did not find essential inter-organ variations. Conversely, when the same tissue samples were tested for selenium independent glutathione peroxidase activity, using cumene hydroperoxide as second substrate, we observed a higher activity in the organs having the cationic form of glutathione S-transferase.

Animals↗

Glutathione redox cycle enzyme activities in erythrocytes of multiple sclerosis patients.

The erythrocytes of multiple sclerosis patients with elevated superoxide dismutase levels were tested for the activities of glutathione redox cycle enzymes. No differences were observed between multiple sclerosis and normal control erythrocytes when the activities were referred to either hemoglobin concentration or lactate dehydrogenase content. Our results indicate that no adaptative changes occur in the activities of glutathione redox cycle enzymes in erythrocytes of multiple sclerosis subjects as a consequence of an elevated superoxide dismutase level.

Adult↗

Glutathione transferase of human breast is closely related to transferase of human placenta and erythrocytes.

An acidic form (pI 4.6) of glutathione transferase has been purified to homogeneity from normal and tumor specimens of human breast. The two proteins did not differ significantly in their molecular and catalytic properties. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 46,000 and is composed of two identical subunits. The data presented, including amino acid composition, substrate specificity and immunological studies, give strong evidence that the glutathione transferase of human breast, placenta and erythrocytes are similar if not identical proteins.

Amino Acids↗

The isolation, characterisation and kinetics of glutathione-S-transferase from human platelets.

Glutathione S-transferase activity from human platelets was purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme was found to be the acidic form and its molecular and catalytic properties were identical to acidic glutathione S-transferases purified from other human tissues. The purified platelet enzyme had no peroxidase activity and did not protect microsomes against peroxidation.

Amino Acids↗

Glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase activities in normal and neoplastic human breast tissue.

Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione S-transferase (GSH-Tr) and glutathione reductase (GSSG-Rx) activities have been determined in normal and neoplastic human breast tissues. Large interindividual variations in the activities of all enzymes tested were found in both tumor and non-tumor specimens. In general a significant increase in the activities of the 3 enzymes was found in tumors, whereas in fibroadenoma they were as high as in healthy tissues. When a comparison was made between normal and neoplastic tissues of the same individual, GSH-Tr and GSSG-Rx activities were found to be higher in 15 and 11 cases, respectively, out of 17. GSG-Px activity was higher in all cases. From measurement of GSG-Px activity with both H202 and cumene hydroperoxide, it was deduced that human breast contains only the selenium-dependent form.

Adenofibroma↗

Effect of lipid peroxidation on the accessibility of dansyl chloride labeling to lipids and proteins of bovine myelin.

In our previous studies we have demonstrated that bovine myelin appears highly susceptible to oxidative damage to both its lipid and protein composition. In order to determine whether these alterations would affect the accessibility of myelin components to a fluorescent probe, we have performed various labeling experiments using dansyl chloride. Results from labeling of purified bovine myelin treated with or without cumene hydroperoxide show that basic protein from treated myelin incorporated more dansyl chloride than basic protein from untreated myelin. This increase of labeling could be prevented by the addition of the antioxidant agent, butylated hydroxytoluene. This evidence suggest that lipid peroxidation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory demyelinating diseases.

Animals↗

Enzymatic production of S-(2-hydroxy-2-carboxyethyl)homocysteine.

The monodeamination product of L-cystathionine, S-(2-oxo-2-carboxyethyl)homocysteine is enzymatically reduced by human and hog L-lactate dehydrogenase to S-(2 hydroxy-2-carboxyhethyl)homocysteine which has been found in the urine of cystathioninuric patients. Km values are 6.6 mM and 13 mM for human and hog enzymes respectively. The reaction is not complete at alkaline pH values because of cyclization of the ketoacid into a 1,4 thiazepine derivative ring. By a coupled enzymatic system of L-amino acid oxidase and L-lactate dehydrogenase S-(2-hydroxy-2-carboxyethyl)homocysteine is also formed from L-cystathionine.

Animals↗

[Adjuvant potential of vitamin E in the induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis: histological aspects].

In this study we report the effect of Vit. E, as an immunostimulating factor, on the induction of Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis in Lewis rat. The animals were inoculated intracutaneously in the plantar areas with emulsion of isologous spinal cord suspensed in Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant (IFI) and Vit. E. Histologic examination revealed the basic lesion of a perivenous cuff of mononuclear cells and small areas of demyelinated axons. The clinical signes are graded in order to the time of induction. It is possible an action of "adjuvanticity" of Vit. E on the various cells involved in the immune response by cell transformation and moltiplication.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Detection of glutathione transferase activity on polyacrylamide gels.

A simple and sensitive assay for glutathione transferase activity on polyacrylamide gel is described. The method is based on the fast reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium salt by glutathione. Blue insoluble formazan colors the gel except in the glutathione transferase area. The stable and defined colorless zone is still detectable with 0.005 unit enzyme. This technique has been successfully applied with enzyme preparations of human heart and other tissues.

Animals↗

Superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and TBA-reactive products in erythrocytes of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and lipid peroxides levels were determined in the erythrocytes of multiple sclerosis patients. Superoxide dismutase activity and the malonyldialdehyde production rate were found to be significantly enhanced. The isoelectric focusing pattern of superoxide dismutase from multiple sclerosis and normal subjects erythrocytes was substantially overlapping. Our results indicate the occurrence of a higher susceptibility of multiple sclerosis erythrocytes to lipid peroxidation.

Erythrocytes↗

Isoelectric focusing of brain cortex GSH S-transferase activity in mammals: evidence that polymorphism is absent in man.

Specific activities of GSH S-transferase toward different model substrates were determined in the cytosol prepared from rat, guinea pig, rabbit, mouse, sheep, beef, pig and human brain cortex. The GSH S-transferase composition of the eight mammalian brain cortices was studied by using density gradient isoelectric focusing technique. Human brain cortex GSH S-transferase was resolved into a single peak of activity centered at pH 4.6, whereas the supernatants of all other mammals consisted of more than one enzymatic form. The kinetic properties of all forms isolated were compared.

Adult↗

In vitro interaction of penicillins and cephalosporins with human placenta GSH S-transferase.

Human purified placenta GSH S-transferase was generally inhibited by penicillins and cephalosporins to a different extent. Among the seven penicillins tested the dihalogenate dicloxacillin and flucloxacillin were the strongest inhibitors. All cephalosporins showed competitive inhibition for the electrophilic substrate, while penicillins acted as non-competitive inhibitors. Exposure of the enzyme to cephalosporins led to the loss of the catalytic activity. Addition of reduced glutathione in the incubation system would induce the formation of a conformational state of the enzyme which prevents cephalosporins binding.

Cephalosporins↗

Interaction between 1,4-thiazine derivatives and D-amino-acid oxidase.

Aminoethylcysteine-ketimine (2H-1,4-thiazine-5,6-dihydro-3-carboxylic acid) strongly inhibits D-amino-acid oxidase (D-amino-acid:oxygen oxidoreductase (deaminating), EC 1.4.3.3). The inhibition is purely competitive (Ki = 3.3 X 10(-7) M). Aminoethylcysteine-ketimine modifies the visible spectrum of the enzyme: the absorption maxima of bound FAD shift from 375-455 nm to 385-445 nm with a definite shoulder at 465 nm; the appearance of a large absorption band centered at 750 nm may be due to a charge-transfer complex formation. The dissociation constant for the aminoethylcysteine-ketimine-enzyme complex, calculated by a photometric procedure (4 X 10(-7) M), is in good agreement with kinetic data. The dicarboxylic analogue of this inhibitor (lanthionine-ketimine) is ineffective in D-amino-acid oxidase inhibition and does not produce any spectral modification of the enzyme. These results confirm structural requirements for D-amino-acid oxidase inhibitor reported by other researchers. Ketimine reduced forms (thiomorpholine-2-carboxylic acid and thiomorpholine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid) are chemically synthesized and checked as D-amino-acid oxidase substrates: only thiomorpholine-2-carboxylic acid is oxidized to aminoethylcysteine-ketimine (Km = 2 X 10(-4) M).

Amino Acids, Sulfur↗

Glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activities in the human early pregnancy placenta.

GSH peroxidase, GSSG reductase, GSH S-transferase, and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activities were measured in the supernatant of 13 human early pregnancy placenta homogenates. From measurements of GSH peroxidase activity with both H2O2 and cumene hydroperoxide as second substrate it was deduced that immature placenta contains only the Se-dependent form. All the specimens investigated exhibited GSSG reductase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activities. GSH S-transferase activity was noted only using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as electrophilic substrate, while no detectable activity was found with 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene, 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy) propane, and p-nitrobenzylchloride. It is concluded that human placenta is equipped, from early pregnancy, with the enzymatic systems which are involved in GSH-mediated cellular detoxication and in preserving the integrity of the sulfhydryl status of the cells.

Female↗

Absence of tyrosine aminotransferase multiple forms in several mammalian animals.

Tyrosine aminotransferase multiple forms occurring in rat liver are not present in all mammalian species. Among animals examined only rat and mouse liver possesses multiple forms of tyrosine aminotransferase; in guinea-pig, rabbit, bovine and sheep liver the enzyme occurs in a single form. The presence of lysosomal converting factor (cathepsin T), responsible for arising of multiple forms of tyrosine aminotransferase in rat liver, has been checked in another species lacking enzyme subforms. Lysosomal extracts of guinea-pig liver interconverts tyrosine aminotransferase from rat liver; lysosomal extracts of rat liver does not generate multiple forms of the enzyme from guinea-pig liver. It has been concluded that in some animals hepatic tyrosine aminotransferase is resistant to the proteolytic cleavage by lysosomal cathepsin T.

Animals↗

Ranitidine, cimetidine and antacids in the prevention of recurrence after healed duodenal ulcer: one-year experience.

A total of 110 subjects with duodenal ulcer healed with cimetidine (C) (50 patients), ranitidine (R) (40 patients) or pirenzepine (20 patients) was randomly divided in 3 groups. The first group (40 patients) was treated with R (150 mg nightly); the second group (40 patients) with C (400 mg nightly) and the third group with antacids as needed for symptomatic relief. The presence of the ulcer and its healing were established by endoscopy, which was repeated after 6 and 12 months of treatment, or previously if symptoms suggested recurrence. At the end of the year's follow-up, no recurrence of ulcers was observed in 75% of the R group, in 77.5% of the C group and in 40% of the antacids group. Some erosive duodenitis developed in the first and second groups (17.5% and 20% respectively), but none in the antacids group. Most of the ulcers that recurred did so in the first 6 months of treatment. No relevant side-effects were observed with the treatments described. Although no significant difference was detected between C and R treatments, both appeared to be clearly more effective than antacids. The usefulness of adequate prophylactic treatment against the tendency of duodenal ulcer to recur is stressed.

Antacids↗