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Biomedical subjects

G Pauli

Publications and source records attributed to G Pauli.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Occupational asthma].

The diagnosis of occupational asthma requires the integration of a multiplicity of data; the history, cutaneous skin tests, biological tests, respiratory function tests and non-specific tests of bronchial hyperreactivity and specific bronchial provocation test. The history search for the presence of an atopic state, the occurrence of similar disorders in members of the same firm and also the timing of symptoms in relation to the occupational activities. Cutaneous tests are particularly helpful in IgE-mediated asthma in relation to the inhalation of animal or vegetable materials of glycoprotein origin. For haptens, the need for their prior coupling to a protein carrier causes problems which have not been entirely resolved. Laboratory tests run into the same snags. Respiratory function and non-specific bronchial provocation tests, confirm the diagnosis of asthma and enable the medium and long term prognostic to be assessed. Specific bronchial provocation tests are the most appropriate tests to establish an aetiological diagnosis in occupational asthma. Different technical methods are possible: quantitative administration of allergen aerosols, realistic tests, and tests using exposure chambers to achieve true test doses. The products responsible for occupational asthma are multiple. The different substances are characterised in a simplified manner: first animal matter (mammalian and arthropod allergens), secondly substances of vegetable origin (roots, leaves, flowers, grain and flour, wood and its derivates) and finally chemical products. The chemical products are primarily from the pharmaceutical and metal industries and above all from the plastics industry.

Allergens↗
PubMed1992

Human-immunodeficiency-virus-type-1-encoded Vpu protein is phosphorylated by casein kinase II.

Vpu as a human-immunodeficiency-virus-type-1-encoded 81-amino-acid integral-membrane protein was expressed in Escherichia coli using the inducible ptrc promoter of an ATG fusion vector. Recombinant Vpu is associated with membranes of E. coli and could be partially solubilized by detergents. Recombinant Vpu was phosphorylated in vitro with purified porcine casein kinase II (CKII) as well as with a CKII-related protein kinase found in cytoplasmic extracts of human and hamster cells. Recombinant Vpu associated with E. coli membranes has turned out to be the best substrate for in vitro phosphorylation with CKII. This reaction can be inhibited by heparin and the ATP analogue 5,6-dichloro-1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)benzimidazole (DRB), both known to be potent inhibitors of CKII. Radiolabelled gamma ATP and gamma GTP were used as phosphate donors in vitro phosphorylation of recombinant Vpu. In vivo phosphorylation of Vpu in HIV-1-infected H9 cells was also inhibited by DRB. We concluded therefrom that the Vpu protein is phosphorylated by the ubiquitous CKII in HIV-1-infected human host cells. Two seryl residues in the sequence of Vpu (position 52 and 56) correspond to the consensus S/TXXD/E for CKII. These potential phosphorylation sites are located within a well-conserved dodecapeptide of Vpu (residues 47-58), which is found in different HIV-1 strains as well as in a Vpu-like protein of SIVCPZ. Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies directed against two different epitopes of Vpu were used for immunoprecipitation of Vpu from HIV-1-infected cells and for detection of Vpu in Western blot analyses. Vpu from HIV-1-infected cells as well as recombinant Vpu expressed in E. coli were determined by SDS/PAGE using 6 M urea to be 9 kDa, which corresponds to the calculated molecular mass of Vpu.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Borna disease virus-specific antigens. II. The soluble antigen is a protein complex.

Borna disease virus-specific soluble antigen from persistently infected rat brains was purified to homogeneity using preparative sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The soluble antigen is a complex of three proteins with apparent molecular weights of 35 kDa, 38 kDa and 24 kDa. The 35/38 kDa antigen double band was separated into its two components. The 24 kDa protein has no common epitopes with the 35/38 kDa protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Mapping of immunodominant epitopes of the HIV-1 and HIV-2 integrase proteins by recombinant proteins and synthetic peptides.

Different parts of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and type 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) integrase proteins were expressed as TrpE fusion proteins in Escherichia coli and used to screen human sera. In the immunoblot, all HIV/integrase-positive human sera tested reacted with the carboxy-terminal third of the integrase protein. Furthermore, they crossreacted with the same part of the heterologous protein. Half (50%) of the HIV-1/integrase-positive sera additionally detected antigenic epitopes in the amino-terminal third of the HIV-1 protein. Two of the recombinant proteins were used to generate polyclonal rabbit sera, which react with type-common epitopes of both integrase proteins. To map the B-cell epitopes of the HIV integrase proteins in more detail, overlapping decapeptides representing the entire integrase proteins of HIV-1 and HIV-2 were synthesized and used in a pin-based oligopeptide ELISA to scan human sera. This method can define three potential immunogenic epitopes of the HIV-1 integrase and one potential epitope of the HIV-2 integrase. The immunodominant epitopes of the HIV-1 integrase, one localized in the amino-terminal (IDKAQDEHEKYHSNWRAM), one in the central (QMAVFIHNFKRKGGIGGY), and one in the carboxy-terminal (AVVIQDNSDIKVVPRRK) part of the protein were synthesized as oligopeptides and used to test a larger panel of human sera in ELISA (156 HIV-1+ sera and 104 HIV-1- sera). The amino- and the carboxy-terminal epitopes were of equivalent reactivity, while the central part of the HIV-1 integrase seems to be less immunogenic. Nearly 90% of the HIV-1/integrase-positive human sera could be detected by a combination of these three peptides.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Murine monoclonal antibodies directed against the transmembrane protein gp41 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 enhance its infectivity.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised against the transmembrane protein (TM) gp41 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1, strain HTLV-IIIB). The reactivity of three TM-specific MAbs was investigated in several tests, ELISA, immunostaining of Western blots, immunofluorescence and an alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase assay. Epitope mapping was done by using overlapping gp41 peptides produced as Escherichia coli fusion proteins and synthetic peptides. In an in vitro assay, all three MAbs showed enhancing effects on HIV-1 infection after single or repeated treatment with the purified MAbs at concentrations of 6 to 25 micrograms/ml. The enhancing domain is located between amino acids 724 and 752 of the env protein sequence. Homologous peptides based on this sequence were used for analysis of sera from 100 individuals at different stages of HIV infection to evaluate the relevance of antibodies against this region to the prognosis of disease. No antibodies reactive with this region were found in ELISA, indicating that this domain is not immunogenic in humans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Inhibition of viral replication by monoclonal antibodies directed against human immunodeficiency virus gp120.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised against the glycoprotein gp120 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (strain HTLV-IIIB). The reactivity of five selected MAbs was characterized in several tests: ELISA, immunostaining of Western blots, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, immunoelectron microscopy, alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase assay and neutralization. The binding region was delimited by sequential overlapping Escherichia coli fusion proteins of the gp120 sequence between amino acids (aa) 49 and 280. In the ELISA, when using sequential overlapping 15 aa peptides, the binding epitopes were localized between aa 64 and 78 for three MAbs and between aa 114 and 123 for the fourth Mab. The fifth Mab showed multiple reactions with different peptides possibly indicating a reaction with a discontinuous epitope. In virus growth inhibition assays, all five MAbs inhibited the spread of HIV-1 infection in cell cultures after a single or repeated treatment at a concentration of 63 micrograms/ml of the purified MAbs. All MAbs showed low but significant neutralizing activity at concentrations of 100 micrograms/ml.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Human choriogonadotropin (hCG) and placental lactogen (hPL) inhibit interleukin-2 (IL-2) and increase interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), -6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) expression in monocyte cell cultures.

The effect of the human trophoblast hormones chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and placental lactogen (hPL) on the expression of cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures was followed under a variety of culture conditions, (a) phytohemagglutinin stimulated cells (PHA-MSC), (b) allogenic mixed cells (AMC) and (c) spontaneously proliferating cells (SPC). A dose dependent enhanced release of IL-6, IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha by hCG and hPL was observed under all culture conditions. However, an inhibitory effect on the IL-2 release was seen in PHA-MSC by hPL and in AMC by hPL and hCG. The role of the suppression of IL-2 production/release on cytotoxicity towards trophoblast is discussed. These results suggest a sensitive, dose dependent hormonal control of the modulation of the immune response during pregnancy and strengthen the concept of a distinct regulation of monocytes and lymphocyte subpopulation by trophoblast hormones.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1992

[Loop diuretics and the treatment of asthma].

Current data in the literature show a protective effect of loop diuretics in relation to certain types of experimental bronchospasm. This action has sometimes been observed after the administration of diuretics as aerosols in less severe cases of asthma. The initial observations on bronchospasm induced by physical stimuli (exercise, distilled water and hyperventilation), have been extended to bronchospasm provoked by allergens or certain chemical stimuli (metabisulphide, adenosine 5'-monophosphate, and salicylic acid). On the other hand provocation tests using histamine or acetylcholine are modified, either a little or not at all by diuretics. The proposed mechanisms of action are multiple, but are still very hypothetical: an action on ionic fluxes in the epithelial cells, in mastocytes, in nerve cells and in muscle cells inducing the secretion of prostaglandin. Diuretics certainly have opened some interesting patho-physiological approaches, but current data concerning their efficacy in asthmatics are still fragmentary and do not, at the current time, allow them to take a significant place in the therapeutic arsenal of asthma drugs.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1992

[Occupational asthma caused by ebony wood].

A case of occupational asthma to ebony wood dust is described in a violin and stringed instrument maker, who was sanding and filing ebony to make the finger boards of violins and cellos. The diagnosis was confirmed using a realistic provocation test; after sanding and smoothing the ebony for 20 minutes the patient developed bronchial spasm with fall of the force expired volume in one second (VMS) of 45% which was reversible following the inhalation of beta 2 agonists. A delayed reaction was seen at 3 hours and 6 hours and at 20 hours after the test. The observations of occupational asthma or rhinitis to ebony wood are very rare. To our knowledge there are two publications at the present time. It has been recognised as an occupational disease (see table 47 of occupational diseases) and an exclusion order has been effected.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Pharmacokinetic and preliminary metabolic fate of navelbine in humans as determined by high performance liquid chromatography.

The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of Navelbine (NVB) were investigated in 20 patients by a specific high performance liquid chromatographic methodology allowing the monitoring of NVB, deacetyl-NVB, and N-oxide NVB. After the i.v. (15 min) administration of 30 mg/m2 of drug, blood and urine samples were collected for, respectively, 144 and 48 h. NVB is characterized by a three compartmental kinetics, with a Cmax of 1130 +/- 139 (SEM) ng/ml. The total body clearance and apparent volume of distribution, as defined by high performance liquid chromatography, are 1.26 +/- 0.09 liter/h/kg (48.6 +/- 4.1 liters/h/m2) and 75.6 +/- 9.2 liters/kg (2918.4 +/- 307.2 liters/m2). No metabolite could be detected in serum; the urinary excretion of NVB represented 11% of the administered dose. Deacetyl-NVB could be identified as a minor urinary metabolite when no N-oxide NVB appeared in the urine samples. Two additional peaks appeared in most of urinary chromatograms as trace amounts. Thus, the major pathway of NVB, as for other Vinca alkaloids, should be hepatic clearance, as biliary elimination and/or hepatic biotransformation.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Borna disease virus-specific antigens: two different proteins identified by monoclonal antibodies.

A variety of cells originating from different species, including man, can be infected with Borna disease (BD) virus. Two different virus infection-specific antigens with molecular weights of 24 kD and 35/38 kD (double band) could be demonstrated using antigen preparations from persistently infected cells and rat brains, and polyvalent antisera from naturally and experimentally infected animals. Three different monoclonal antibodies were selected. One was specific for the 24-kD protein and two others reacted with the 35/38-kD antigen. The 24- and 35/38-kD antigens could be monitored concomitantly with the appearance of newly synthesized infectious virus. Both antigens could be detected at the same time during the infection cycle, and showed identical distribution in the cell. Their relationship to one another and their possible function is discussed.

Animals↗