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Biomedical subjects

G Nilsson

Publications and source records attributed to G Nilsson.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

TNF-alpha and IL-6 induce differentiation in the human basophilic leukaemia cell line KU812.

The basophilic leukaemia cell line KU812 can be induced to differentiate into basophil-like cells in vitro when exposed to supernatant from the Mo T-cell line. KU812 cells express affinity receptors for IgE, produce histamine and tryptase and have the capacity for IgE-mediated histamine release. In this study we have examined the cytokines, produced by the Mo cell line, which are responsible for the observed differentiation-inducing effect in the KU812 cell line. It was shown that interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induced differentiation in the KU812 cells and that these cytokines were responsible for the differentiation-inducing effect of the Mo supernatant. Other cytokines tested, IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) were without effect on the KU812 cells. KU812 was also shown to express receptors for both TNF-alpha and IL-6 after 3 days cultivation with conditioned media from the Mo T-cell line. Untreated cells showed no detectable levels of TNF-alpha or IL-6 receptors indicating induction of these receptors during differentiation. Spontaneous differentiation was shown to occur under serum-free conditions which may be the result of endogenous IL-6 production through an autocrine loop. The activity of TNF-alpha and IL-6 could be blocked by specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to the respective cytokine.

Basophils↗

Separation and partial characterization of proteinases with substrate specificity for basic amino acids from human MOLT-4 T lymphocytes: identification of those inhibited by variable-loop-V3 peptides of HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus-1) envelope glycoprotein.

The V3 loop of the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 likely plays a role in HIV-1 infectivity. Although the amino acid sequence of the V3 loop is hypervariable, it contains a conserved region, Gly-Pro-Gly-Arg, that shows similarity to the active-site Gly-Pro-Cys-Arg sequence of inter-alpha-trypsin and trypstatin proteinase inhibitors. The purpose of the present work was to identify proteinases recognizing substrates with basic amino acids in the P1 substrate site that are present in MOLT-4 cells, a human CD4-positive T helper lymphocyte cell line, and to characterize these enzymes in terms of substrate, pH and ionic-strength preferences, size and susceptibility to various inhibitors, including 24- and 36-amino-acid-long V3 loop peptides. Extraction of MOLT-4 cells at low ionic strength solubilized nearly all of the trypsin-like activity, which was separable into five peaks of activity by chromatography on Mono-Q: Peaks 1, 2a, 2b, 3 and 4. All showed a neutral pH optimum, and all except Peak 4 showed optimal activity at high ionic strength. Peak 1 preferred Tos-Gly-Pro-Arg, p-nitroanilide (-pNA) substrate; Peaks 2-4 preferred benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Leu-Gly-Arg-pNA. Peak 1, a zinc-dependent enzyme with serine and histidine in the active site, exhibited an M(r) of 75,000 on Superose 12 and was poorly inhibited by V3 loop peptides. Peak 2 contained two overlapping peaks, called 2a and 2b, that exhibited properties of zinc-dependent metalloproteinases. Gel filtration of Peak 2 activities revealed a major peak of activity at 81 kDa and a shoulder centred at 240 kDa. Each was modestly inhibited by V3 loop peptides. Peak 3, a zinc-dependent proteinase, exhibited a molecular mass of 100 kDa by gel filtration and was particularly sensitive to inhibition by V3 loop peptides. Peak 4 exhibited a molecular mass of 1100 kDa by gel filtration and was not inhibited by V3 loop peptides. None of these enzymes could be classified as mast-cell tryptase, and material in MOLT-4 cells cross-reactive with anti-(human tryptase) antibodies was not detected. Whether any of the MOLT-4 proteinases described in this study play a role in HIV-1 infectivity remains to be examined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An improved approach to the analysis of the structure of small oligosaccharides of glycoproteins: application to the O-linked oligosaccharides from human glycophorin A.

Treatment of purified human glycophorin A with alkaline borohydride cleaved the oligosaccharide side chains to yield alditol derivatives that were separated by gel filtration into three mixtures of low molecular weight compounds. Each mixture was oxidised with periodate, and the products were reduced with borohydride and analysed after acetylation or methylation by GLC-MS and FABMS. The resulting data allowed the monosaccharide sequence and linkage positions to be assigned to each component of the mixtures. The anomeric configuration was determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy of the intact fractions. The structures of a desialylated tetrasaccharide, two monosialylated trisaccharides, and five other minor products were defined.

Acetylation↗

On generalized photocurrent spectral moments and the recovery of speed distribution in laser Doppler flowmetry.

Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) is a noninvasive method to assess tissue blood flow. By calculating the first moment of the Doppler signal power spectral density, a real-time output is generated that scales linearly with the perfusion flux defined as the product of average speed and concentration of moving blood cells (MBC's) if multiple scattering is negligible. However, this first spectral moment alone is apparently deficient to provide further information about the MBC's under study and therefore unable to answer more intricate questions in LDF. Without assuming any specific MBC speed or scattering vector distribution, a generalized formula for photocurrent spectral moments is first derived in the case of low and moderate MBC concentration. Then as a direct and important use of the formula, the speed distribution of MBC's is obtained via Henyey-Greenstein phase function and a Fourier inversion. The important implications and applications of this formulation in extracting more MBC information are discussed together with some other related issues.

Fourier Analysis↗

Expression of a mast cell tryptase in the human monocytic cell lines U-937 and Mono Mac 6.

Expression of a mast cell tryptase mRNA was detected in two human monocytic cell lines, the U-937 and the Mono Mac 6, and in normal human peripheral blood (PB) monocytes. In the U-937 cell line but not in normal PB monocytes, the tryptase expression was upregulated 3-50 fold following phorbol ester (PMA)-induced differentiation, but no such induction was seen after retinoic acid, interferon-gamma or vitamin D3 exposure. The tryptases expressed in PMA-induced and non-induced U-937 and in Mono Mac 6 were characterized by PCR amplification and nucleotide sequence analysis. The U-937 cell line was found to express a tryptase identical to one of the previously cloned mast-cell beta tryptases (Tryptase I), and the tryptase expressed in Mono Mac 6 was found to be nearly identical to the previously cloned alpha tryptase. By northern blot analysis with oligonucleotide probes specific for the alpha and beta tryptases both cell lines were found to express only one type of tryptase. Densitometric quantifications of tryptase mRNA levels, in the two cell lines, showed approximately 80 times higher mRNA levels in Mono Mac 6 compared to non-induced U-937. Immunohistochemical staining for tryptase showed a marked heterogeneity in the Mono Mac 6 cell line. Only one out of 10 cells were positive for the protein but the levels in these cells were very high, equivalent, or even higher than the levels seen in the human mast cell line HMC-1. This shows that the expression of a single tryptase, in this case the alpha tryptase, is sufficient for the production of a stable protein and probably also a stable proteolytically active tetramer. The family of human mast-cell tryptases has been considered to represent a class of proteases specifically expressed in mast cells and basophilic leucocytes. The expression of tryptases in two monocytic cell lines and in normal PB monocytes indicate that in humans, the lineage specificity of these serine proteases is less restricted than earlier expected. The cloning of a full length cDNA for the murine counterpart to the human mast cell tryptases, the MMCP-6, is presented. No expression of the MMCP-6 was detected in a panel of mouse monocyte or macrophage cell lines indicating a species difference in the lineage specificity of the 'mast cell tryptases'.

Animals↗

Effects of H1-receptor antagonists on 14C-aminopyrine accumulated in histamine-stimulated rabbit gastric glands.

After stimulation of gastric acid production there is a considerable delay before the acid starts to appear in the gastric lumen. The present study was carried out on isolated gastric glands to test the hypothesis that there may be a mechanism in the parietal cell that contributes to this delay by preventing emptying of the secretory canaliculi. Glands were incubated with 14C-aminopyrine and stimulated with histamine. After accumulation of 14C-aminopyrine various concentrations of H1-receptor antagonists were added. Clemastine, promethazine, and hydroxyzine effectively and cetirizine and tripelennamine less effectively decreased the accumulated 14C-aminopyrine content in a dose-dependent manner without significantly reducing the oxygen consumption. The H1-receptor antagonists influenced the 14C-aminopyrine content in another manner than H2-receptor antagonists. No effects were obtained by atropine or lidocaine, indicating that the elimination of 14C-aminopyrine is not an anticholinergic effect or due to membrane effects as exerted by local anesthetics. Stimulation of glands by further addition of histamine did not significantly stimulate the uptake of 14C-aminopyrine in the glands, whereas stimulation with db-cAMP produced an increase that was most pronounced when low concentrations of hydroxyzine had been used. It is suggested that H1-receptor antagonists do not inhibit stimulation of acid production in the secretory canaliculi. They may, however, interfere with a mechanism preventing acid from leaving the parietal cell. Such a mechanism may contribute to the delay in appearance of acid in the gastric lumen after stimulation of gastric acid production.

Aminopyrine↗

Effects of carbachol and gastrin on 14C-aminopyrine accumulated in rabbit gastric glands and cells.

The present study examines the possible existence of a mechanism regulating emptying of the secretory canaliculi content of the parietal cell and the possible effects of carbachol and gastrin on such a mechanism. In rabbit gastric glands stimulated with carbachol, 14C-aminopyrine accumulation reached a maximum after 15 min and then started to decrease. This decrease was not accompanied by a decrease in oxygen consumption, nor was any decrease of accumulated 14C-aminopyrine seen in dispersed gastric cells. In glands but not in cells stimulated with histamine together with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IMX), carbachol induced a reduction in the accumulated 14C-aminopyrine content, whereas the effect of gastrin was less pronounced. The carbachol-induced reduction was counteracted by atropine but was not accompanied by a decrease in oxygen consumption. It is suggested that there exists a mechanism that controls the emptying of the secretory canaliculi content of the parietal cell, and that carbachol, in addition to stimulating acid production, also contributes to this emptying. Paracrine factors may be involved in this latter mechanism.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Constitutive and inducible expression of PDGF in the human basophilic cell line, KU 812.

The human basophilic cell line KU 812, that also has some mast cell characteristics, was found to express the PDGF-A gene and secrete PDGF-A like activity. After treatment with IL-6+ TNF-alpha, the PDGF-A mRNA expression increased as did cytoplasmic immunostaining with anti-PDGF antibodies. Secretion of PDGF-A was visualized by immunoprecipitation. An augmentation of non-secreted PDGF-like activity after IL-6+ TNF-alpha treatment was not accompanied by induction of the long splice variant of the PDGF-A-chain mRNA. Treatment with TPA caused an increase in PDGF-A expression and in addition, an induction of PDGF-B transcripts were seen. Staining of cytospin preparations with anti-PDGF antibodies visualized a substantial increase in immunostaining of the TPA treated cells and both intracellular and secreted PDGF-AA-like activity was substantially increased as compared to untreated control cultures. There was a concomitant induction of exon 6 specific mRNA, corresponding to a cellular retention signal after TPA treatment. Our results show that PDGF can be produced by a cell line of the basophilic/mast cell lineage, i.e. cells involved in allergic disorders and inflammation.

Basophils↗

Phenotypic characterization of stem cell factor-dependent human foetal liver-derived mast cells.

Human foetal liver cells are an enriched source of mast cell progenitors that complete their differentiation and mature in response to stem cell factor, the ligand for Kit, in liquid culture. These mast cells are Kit+, metachromatic with toluidine blue+, tryptase+, histamine+ and show ultrastructure features of mast cells. Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against different cell-surface antigens (33 mAb were used), the cell-surface phenotype of human stem cell factor-dependent foetal liver-derived mast cells was examined by flow cytometry. Consistent with previous reports on tissue-derived mast cells, those derived from foetal liver in vitro expressed HLA class I, CD9, CD29, CD33, CD43, CD45 and Kit. Unlike mast cells dispersed from tissue, a high expression of CD13 was found. Also, these in vitro-derived mast cells express little, if any, high-affinity IgE receptor. However, small amounts of mRNA for the alpha-chain in foetal liver-derived mast cells compared to KU812 cells (a human basophil-like cell line) could be detected by Northern blotting. Full expression of Fc epsilon RI may require additional growth factor(s).

Antigens, Surface↗

Recombinant human stem cell factor stimulates differentiation of mast cells from dispersed human fetal liver cells.

We have previously shown the development in vitro of tryptase+ human mast cells from fetal liver cells cocultured with murine 3T3 fibroblasts. In this study, recombinant human stem cell factor (rhuSCF), the ligand for the c-kit proto-oncogene product called Kit, stimulated the growth and differentiation primarily of mast cells from dispersed fetal liver cells, whereas recombinant human interleukin-3 (rhuIL-3) stimulated the differentiation of basophils along with other cell types. Cultures of fetal liver cells were initiated and maintained in the presence of rhuSCF or rhuIL-3 for up to 6 weeks. Metachromatic cells in cytospins were identified as mast cells primarily on the basis of tryptase expression, and as MCT or MCTC by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies against tryptase and chymase, whereas basophils were metachromatic, polymorphonuclear, and lacked these proteases. Levels of tryptase and histamine were measured by radioimmunoassay, tryptase and chymase activities by peptide hydrolysis, and cell surface Kit by flow cytometry with the monoclonal antibody YB5.B8. The predominant presence of mast cells occurred only in the cultures supplemented with rhuSCF. The percentage and total number of mast cells increased over time with increasing concentrations of rhuSCF and reached a plateau at 55 ng/mL. At this concentration of rhuSCF, mast cells first appeared by day 7; by day 42, 106% of the starting number of cells were present and 85% of these were tryptase+, 31% being weakly chymase+. These mast cells appeared immature by ultrastructural criteria; most cells were mononuclear, but some had nuclei with deeply divided lobes. DNA synthesis in tryptase+ mast cells at days 21 and 28 of culture with rhuSCF was demonstrated by incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine. Calculated levels of histamine (1.2 pg/mast cell) and tryptase (0.9 pg/mast cell) were similar to those determined previously in coculture experiments with murine 3T3 fibroblasts. Chymase activity was undetectable in most cell extracts. On day 0, 4% to 20% of fetal liver cells expressed cell surface Kit. In the presence of rhuSCF, the percentages and total numbers of Kit+ cells and the apparent concentration of Kit per cell increased along with the number of tryptase+ cells. In the presence of rhuIL-3, toluidine blue+, tryptase- cells first and maximally appeared at day 14 (11% +/- 2.5%). The percentage of these toluidine blue+ cells then declined to about 6% by days 21 and 35, while the total number of positive cells declined over 10-fold. Kit+ cells in the presence of rhuIL-3 declined from 9% on day 3 to 2% on day 35.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗

Postpausal ventricular fibrillation analyzed by Holter-ECG: a case report.

A 70-year-old male patient with a myocardial infarction, 3 months previously, happened to be wearing a Holter monitor at cardiac arrest during micturition. The patient had ventricular fibrillation (VF) and was successfully resuscitated by means of defibrillation. Analysis of the Holter tape revealed atrial fibrillation and secondary ventricular premature beats (VPB), i.e., VPBs dependent upon a relatively long interval between the two preceding heartbeats. The VF was preceded by an especially long R-R interval (1.45 sec) following a run of especially short R-R intervals implying the sharpest deceleration of the ventricular rate during 1 hour Holter recording preceding the cardiac arrest. A peculiar large alteration of the T wave configuration was also found to precede the VF.

Aged↗

Effects of omeprazole and ranitidine on plasma gastrin concentration and stomach gastrin content in rats.

Prolonged fasting and longer time between dosing and sampling reduced the plasma gastrin concentrations after omeprazole (80 mumol/kg x 2 for 14 days) treatment in male rats whereas the amounts of tissue gastrin were essentially unchanged during these initial experiments. After 28 days omeprazole (80 mumol/kg x 2) or ranitidine (375 mumol/kg x 4) that produced corresponding inhibition of acid secretion, increased the tissue gastrin content by 114 and 59%. A low dose of omeprazole (20 mumol/kg x 2) also raised the gastric gastrin content (41%), whereas no change was noted on treatment with a low dose of ranitidine (125 mumol x 4). Following recovery for 28 days no significant increases in gastrin were observed. 1, 3, 7, 14 or 28 days of treatment with omeprazole (80 mumol/kg x 2) gradually increased the gastric gastrin content being significantly raised already after 3 days. We conclude that a) measuring the tissue gastrin content may be the preferable method when changes in gastrin following long-term treatment with acid inhibiting drugs are to be determined, b) the amount of gastrin in the stomach increases rapidly following treatment with omeprazole and is approximately doubled following 28 days of treatment and c) after treatment for 28 days omeprazole was found to cause greater elevations in the tissue gastrin content than ranitidine despite similar degrees of basal acid inhibition.

Analysis of Variance↗