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Biomedical subjects

G Zhou

Publications and source records attributed to G Zhou.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Human plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase. On the substrate efficiency of cholest-5-ene-3 beta-thiol as a fatty acyl acceptor.

Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) is a plasma enzyme which catalyses cholesteryl ester formation from lecithin and cholesterol present in the surface of plasma lipoproteins. Sterol fatty acid acceptors have previously been shown to require the presence of a trans conformation of the A/B ring and a 3 beta-OH group. Our laboratory has, however, demonstrated that two thiol sites within LCAT can become fatty acylated following lecithin cleavage although this does not appear to be essential for catalysis. In order to assess the ability of LCAT to donate a fatty acid derived from the sn-2 position of lecithin and present as an acyl enzyme intermediate (linked via an oxyester bond to Ser-181) to a sulfhydryl residue, we evaluated the ability of cholest-5-ene-3 beta-thiol to act as a substrate for cholesterol ester formation by LCAT. Thiocholesterol was a good terminal fatty acyl acceptor when incorporated into synthetic proteoliposomes containing lecithin/thiocholesterol/apo A-I in the molar ratios of 250:15:0.8. The Km for thiocholesterol was 203.6 microM with a Vmax of 5.3 nmol thiocholesteryl ester formed/h per microgram. The Km for cholesterol when substituted for thiocholesterol in the proteoliposomes was 29.5 microM with a Vmax of 8.8 nmol cholesteryl ester formed/h per microgram. Thiocholesterol and cholesterol were shown to occupy the same catalytic site in LCAT. Thus, thiocholesterol exhibits approx. 10% of the substrate efficiency of cholesterol when incubated with pure human LCAT. We conclude that LCAT can transacylate a fatty acyl moiety from the sn-2 position of lecithin to the 3 beta-SH group of thiocholesterol forming a cholesteryl thioester. Although the 3 beta-SH group is not as good a terminal acceptor as the 3 beta-OH group of cholesterol, LCAT is clearly capable of transacylating a fatty acid esterified via an oxyester linkage to one containing a thioester.

Cholesterol↗

Purification and characterization of the low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase, Stp1, from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Genetic screening in fission yeast has identified a gene named stp1+ that rescues cdc25-22 [Mondesert et al. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 27996-27999]. This gene encodes a 17.4 kDa protein that is 42% identical to members of the low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatases (low M(r)PTPases) previously known to exist only in mammalian species. A simple and efficient purification procedure was developed to obtain the homogeneous recombinant yeast low M(r)PTPase, Stp1, in large quantities suitable for kinetic and structural studies. Authentic Stp1 was produced as judged by amino terminal protein sequencing and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analyses. Stp1 was shown to possess intrinsic phosphatase activity toward both aryl phosphates (such as phosphotyrosine) and alkyl phosphates (such as phosphoserine). Stp1 also dephosphorylated phosphotyrosyl peptide/protein substrates. The yeast enzyme was 6-fold slower than the mammalian enzymes, which made it amenable to pre-steady-state stopped-flow spectroscopic kinetic analysis at 30 degrees C and pH 6.0. Burst kinetics was observed with Stp1 using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as a substrate, suggesting that the rate-limiting step corresponds to the decomposition of the phosphoenzyme intermediate. Interestingly, the bovine heart low M(r)PTPase was capable of removing phosphate groups from both phosphotyrosyl and phosphoseryl/threonyl protein substrates with comparable efficiencies. The low M(r)PTPases, like the Cdc25 family of phosphatases, may represent a new group of dual specificity phosphatases which may be involved in cell cycle control.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Components of a new human protein kinase signal transduction pathway.

We have identified two components of a new protein kinase signaling cascade, MAPK/ERK kinase 5 (MEK5) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5). The MEK5 cDNA was isolated by degenerate PCR and encodes a 444-amino acid protein, which has approximately 40% identity to known MEKs. ERK5 was identified by a specific interaction with the MEK5 mutants S311A/T315A and K195M in the yeast two-hybrid system. The proteins were found to interact in an in vitro binding assay as well. ERK5 did not interact with MEK1 or MEK2. ERK5 is predicted to contain 815 amino acids and is approximately twice the size of all known ERKs. The C terminus of ERK5 has sequences which suggest that it may be targeted to the cytoskeleton. Sequences located in the N terminus of MEK5 may be important in coupling GTPase signaling molecules to the MEK5 protein kinase cascade. Both MEK5 and ERK5 are expressed in many adult tissue and are abundant in heart and skeletal muscle. A recombinant GST-ERK5 kinase domain displays autophosphorylation on Ser/Thr and Tyr residues.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Connective tissue and repair in the heart. Potential regulatory mechanisms.

The heart is composed of highly differentiated cardiac myocytes, which constitute parenchyma, and stroma or connective tissue. Fibrillar collagen turnover in the heart and its valve leaflets, in particular, is dynamic and essential to tissue repair. Emerging evidence further suggests connective tissue is a metabolically active entity, where peptide hormones are generated and degraded and, in turn, these peptides regulate collagen turnover. This concept arose from quantitative in vitro autoradiography using an iodinated derivative of lisinopril (125I-351A) as ligand to localize angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) binding density within the heart. A heterogeneous distribution was found: low-density ACE binding within atria and ventricles; high ACE binding density at sites of high collagen turnover, such as valve leaflets, adventitia, and fibrous tissue of diverse etiologic origins. ACE-producing cells at these latter sites were identified by monoclonal ACE antibody. They included valvular interstitial cells (VIC) and fibroblast-like cells each of which also contained alpha-smooth muscle actin and the transcript for type I collagen (in situ hybridization). Substrate utilization in cultured VIC was found to include angiotensin I and bradykinin. Angiotensin II and bradykinin receptor-ligand binding was observed in VIC and at fibrous tissue sites. Connective tissue ACE is independent of circulating angiotensin II. In vivo, fibrous tissue formation is attenuated by ACE inhibition or antagonism of AT1 receptor. Angiotensin II and bradykinin are stimulatory and inhibitory, respectively, to cultured adult cardiac fibroblast collagen synthesis suggesting a paradigm of reciprocal regulation to fibroblast collagen turnover. Stroma and its cellular constituents represent a dynamic metabolic entity that regulates its own peptide hormone composition and turnover of fibrillar collagen. These findings may provide insights that could be used to advantage to either promote or forestall fibrous tissue formation depending on the nature of cardiovascular disease.

Angiotensin I↗

The catalytic role of aspartic acid-92 in a human dual-specific protein-tyrosine-phosphatase.

The mechanism of catalysis for the human dual-specific (vaccinia H1-related) protein-tyrosine-phosphatase was investigated. The pH dependence of the kcat value is bell-shaped when p-nitrophenyl phosphate was employed as a model substrate. The kcat/Km pH profile rises with a slope of 2 and decreases with a slope of -1, indicating that two groups must be unprotonated and one group must be protonated for activity. An amino acid residue with an apparent pKa value of 5.5 +/- 0.2 must be unprotonated and a residue with a pKa value of 5.7 must be unprotonated for activity. The pKa value of the catalytic cysteine-124 (C124) was 5.6 +/- 0.1. The aspartic acid-92-asparagine (D92N) mutant enzyme was 100-fold less active than the native enzyme and exhibited the loss of the basic limb in the pH profiles, suggesting that in the native enzyme D92 must be protonated for activity. The D92 residue is conserved throughout the entire family of dual-specific phosphatases. Mutants glutamic acid-6-glutamine, glutamic acid-32-glutamine, aspartic acid-14-asparagine, and aspartic acid-110-asparagine had less than a 2-fold effect on the kinetic parameters when compared to native enzyme. Based upon the lack of a "burst" in rapid reaction kinetics, formation of the intermediate is rate-limiting with both native and D92N mutant enzymes. In agreement with rate-limiting formation of the intermediate, the pKa value of 5.5 for the group which must be unprotonated for activity was assigned to C124.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The purification and characterization of a human dual-specific protein tyrosine phosphatase.

An expression and purification method was developed to obtain the recombinant human dual-specific protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) VHR in quantities suitable for both kinetic studies and crystallization. Physical characterization of the homogeneous recombinant protein verified the mass to be 20,500 +/- 100 by matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry, confirmed the anticipated NH2-terminal amino acid sequence and demonstrated that the protein exists as a monomer. Conditions were developed to obtain crystals which were suitable for x-ray structure determination. Using synthetic diphosphorylated peptides corresponding to MAP177-189 (mitogen-activated protein) kinase (DHTG-FLpTEpYVATR), an assay was devised which permitted the determination of the rate constants for dephosphorylation of the diphosphorylated peptide on threonine and tyrosine residues. The diphosphorylated peptides are preferred over the singly phosphorylated on tyrosine by 3-8-fold. The apparent second-order rate constant kcat/Km for dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosine on DHTGFLpTEpYVATR was 32,000 M-1 S-1 while dephosphorylation of phosphothreonine was 14 M-1 S-1 (pH 6). The reaction of DHTGFLpTEpYVATR with VHR is ordered, with rapid dephosphorylation on tyrosine occurring first followed by slow dephosphorylation on threonine. Similar results were obtained with F(NLe)(N-Le)pTPpYVVTR, a peptide corresponding to a MAP kinase-like protein (JNK1(180-189)) which is involved in the stress response signaling pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Myocardial fibrosis in hypertensive heart disease: an overview of potential regulatory mechanisms.

Myocardial fibrosis in hypertensive heart disease (HHD) can present as a reactive process, involving intramyocardial coronary arteries and arterioles with extensions of collagen into the neighbouring interstitial space, and as a replacement for necrotic cardiac myocytes. Fibrosis adversely affects myocardial stiffness and therefore regulatory mechanisms are of considerable interest. Mechanisms responsible for scarring (reparative fibrosis) are based on factors that adversely influence myocyte survival. This topic is not covered in this brief review. Mechanisms responsible for the perivascular/interstitial fibrosis that appear in both the normotensive, non-hypertrophied right and the pressure overloaded, hypertrophied left ventricule in HHD are addressed herein. They include: (a) angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated coronary vascular hyperpermeability with subsequent fibrosis; (b) direct hormonal regulation of fibroblast collagen turnover, whereby Ang II, aldosterone and/or endothelins may be involved; (c) autocrine and paracrine signalling between fibroblasts and/or endothelial cells that alters collagen synthesis and degradation and which includes an angiotensin converting enzyme found in fibrous tissue. Collagen turnover in the myocardium is a dynamic process and fibrous tissue is anything but inert.

Animals↗

Hormonal regulation of cardiac fibroblast function.

In arterial hypertension or congestive heart failure, myocardial fibrosis is associated with an activated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). This reactive fibrosis presents as an excessive accumulation of fibrillar collagen within the normal connective tissue structures of the myocardium in either ventricle, irrespective of its haemodynamic load. It therefore would appear that circulating (hormonal) and not haemodynamic factors are responsible for this adverse fibrous tissue response. The cardiac fibroblast expresses mRNA for types I and III collagens, the major fibrillar collagens in the heart, and for collagenase or matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP 1), the key enzyme for interstitial collagen degradation. Therefore, adult rat cardiac fibroblasts were cultured to ascertain whether the RAAS effector hormones angiotensin II (Ang II) or aldosterone (Aldo) directly stimulate collagen synthesis or inhibit MMP 1 production. Collagen synthesis, determined by 3H-proline incorporation and MMP 1 activity determined by degradation of 14C-collagen, were measured under serum-free conditions in confluent, quiescent fibroblasts after 24 h incubation with Ang II or Aldo over a wide range of concentrations (10(-11) -10(-6) M). In addition, collagen synthesis was measured after incubation with the mineralocorticoid, dexoycorticosterone (DOC), or the prostaglandin, PGE2. Collagen synthesis, normalized per total protein synthesis, increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner after incubation with either mineralocorticoid hormone, Aldo or DOC, or after incubation with Ang II compared with untreated control cells. In contrast, collagen synthesis was significantly decreased with PGE2 treatment. This increase in collagen synthesis in Ang II or mineralocorticoid-stimulated fibroblasts could be completely abolished by Ang II type 1 or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, respectively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

A 182 bp fragment of the mouse pro alpha 1(II) collagen gene is sufficient to direct chondrocyte expression in transgenic mice.

Type II collagen is a major chondrocyte-specific component of the cartilage extracellular matrix and it represents a typical differentiation marker of mature chondrocytes. In order to delineate cis-acting elements of the mouse pro alpha 1(II) collagen gene that control chondrocyte-specific expression in intact mouse embryos, we generated transgenic mice harboring chimeric constructions in which varying lengths of the promoter and intron 1 sequences were linked to a beta-galactosidase reporter gene. A construction containing a 3,000 bp promoter and a 3,020 bp intron 1 fragment directed high levels of beta-galactosidase expression specifically to chondrocytes. Expression of the transgene coincided with the temporal expression of the endogenous gene at all stages of embryonic development. Successive deletions of intron 1 delineated a 182 bp fragment which targeted beta-galactosidase expression to chondrocytes with the same specificity as the larger intron 1 fragment. Transgenic mice harboring a 309 bp Col2a1 promoter lacking intron 1 tester sequences showed no beta-galactosidase expression in chondrocytes. Reduction of the 182 bp fragment to a 73 bp subfragment surrounding a decamer sequence previously reported to be involved in chondrocyte specificity, resulted in loss of transgene expression in chondrocytes. When the Col2a1 promoter was replaced with a minimal beta-globin promoter, the 182 bp intron 1 sequence was still able to target expression of the transgene to chondrocytes. We conclude that a 182 bp intron 1 DNA segment of the mouse Col2a1 gene contains the necessary information to confer high-level, temporally correct, chondrocyte expression on a reporter gene in intact mouse embryos and that Col2a1 promoter sequences are dispensable for chondrocyte expression.

Animals↗

[Effects of 3 kinds of decoction on serum gastrin, gastrin cell density and the content of PGE2 of gastric antral mucosa in experimental chronic gastritis in rats].

Experimental chronic gastritis (ECG) models were established in rats by inserting a spring into pyloric canal as well as feeding sodium deoxycholate. An experiment was undertaken to observe the therapeutic effects of three formulas of traditional Chinese medicine "Shipitong" (SPT), "Ganpingyangwei" (GPYW) and "Weile" (WL). The experimental results show that all of the three decoctions can make serum gastrin, gastrin cell density and amount of antral mucosal PGE2 of the ECG rats return to normal levels.

Animals↗

Coronary vascular hyperpermeability and angiotensin II.

Elevations in plasma angiotensin II (AngII) are associated with evidence of vascular hyperpermeability expressed as efflux of plasma macromolecules into the perivascular and interstitial space. This exudative response is followed by a series of fibrogenic events that lead to a perivascular fibrosis of involved vessels. Mediators of hyperpermeability and fibrogenesis are unknown. In dogs receiving intravenous AngII, hemodynamic factors (i.e., arterial hypertension or coronary venoconstriction) were discounted as being responsible for the rise in cardiac lymph-to-plasma protein ratio. Accordingly, we investigated the relationship between AngII-induced coronary hyperpermeability and the release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and activation of the basement membrane degrading matrix metalloproteinase, gelatinase/type IV collagenase. In dogs, cardiac lymph was monitored over the course of a 90-minute intravenous infusion of either AngII (0.2 to 0.3 micrograms/kg/min; n = 8) or saline solution (n = 6). Lymph was examined at 30-minute intervals for the following: total protein (Lowry's method), albumin (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)), plasma fibronectin (SDS-PAGE and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay); PGE2 (radioimmunoassay) and gelatinase/type IV collagenase (zymography). In comparison with baseline we found a consistent rise in lymph flow (p = 0.02), total protein (p = 0.02), albumin, fibronectin, PGE2 (p = 0.03), and gelatinase/type IV collagenase (p = 0.019), which began after 30 minutes of AngII infusion. Similar trends were not observed in dogs receiving saline solution alone. We therefore conclude that AngII-induced coronary vascular hyperpermeability is associated with an early release of PGE2 and gelatinase.

Angiotensin II↗

Transgenic mice with deficiencies in cartilage collagens: possible models for gene therapy.

We address three issues that are important when considering somatic gene therapy approaches to osteoarthritis (OA) and related syndromes. First, only those diseases for which a precise molecular etiology has been established should be contemplated for somatic gene therapy. Second, DNA sequences should be identified that restrict expression of correcting genes to chondrocytes; we discuss the use of transgenic mice to identify such sequences. Third, we emphasize the usefulness of establishing animal models that mimic human OA syndromes by genetic manipulations. These transgenic models should be essential for testing gene therapy approaches in vivo.

Animals↗

Pharmacological modulation of cardiac fibroblast function.

The cardiac interstitium is composed of nonmyocyte cells and a structural protein network which plays a dominant role in governing the structure, architecture, and mechanical behavior of the myocardium. The heterogeneity in myocardial structure, created by the altered behavior of nonmyocyte cells, particularly cardiac fibroblasts which are responsible for myocardial collagen metabolism and fibrous tissue accumulation, may largely explain the appearance of diastolic and/or systolic myocardial failure. Regulatory mechanisms that are related to the fibrous tissue response in various cardiovascular diseases, e.g., hypertensive heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy or post myocardial infarction, are of primary clinical interest. A better understanding of the hitherto neglected role of cardiac fibroblasts in mediating an adverse structural remodeling of the myocardium will lead to specific pharmacologic agents that interfere with the fibrous tissue response. Several lines of evidence based on in vivo and in vitro studies suggest that circulating and tissue renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems (RAAS) are involved in the structural remodeling of the nonmyocyte compartment, including the cardioprotective effects of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition or aldosterone receptor antagonism that was found to prevent myocardial fibrosis in the rat with renovascular or genetic hypertension. In cultured adult cardiac fibroblasts, an angiotensin (Ang)II- or aldosterone-mediated dose-dependent increase in collagen synthesis could be completely abolished by the use of AngII type 1 or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, respectively. Likewise, the AngII-mediated decrease in the activity of matrix metalloproteinase 1, the key enzyme for interstitial collagen degradation, could be antagonized by AngII receptor blockade.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aldosterone↗

Plasma lipid transport in the hedgehog: partial characterization of structure and function of apolipoprotein A-I.

Apart from exhibiting the presence of lipoprotein [a] in its plasma, another interest of the European hedgehog in lipoprotein research lies in the quantitative prominence of a complex spectrum of high density lipoproteins (HDL) and very high density lipoproteins (VHDL) as cholesterol transporters in plasma (Laplaud, P. M. et al. 1989. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1005: 143-156). We, therefore, initiated studies in the field of reverse cholesterol transport in the hedgehog. As a first step, we characterized apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the main protein component of hedgehog HDL and VHDL. Proteolytic cleavage of apoA-I (M(r) approx. 27 kDa) using two different enzymes resulted in two sets of peptides that were subsequently purified by high performance liquid chromatography, and that allowed us determination of the complete protein sequence. Hedgehog apoA-I thus consists of 241 amino acid residues and exhibits an overall 58% homology to its human counterpart, i.e., the lowest value observed to date among mammalian species. However, it retained the general organization common to all known apoA-Is, i.e., a series of amphipathic helical segments punctuated by proline residues. Circular dichroism experiments indicated a helical content of approx. 45%, increasing to approx. 58% in the presence of lecithin unilamellar liposomes. Apart from other differences, amino acid composition analysis shows that hedgehog apoA-I contains four isoleucine residues, while this amino acid is totally absent from the corresponding protein in higher mammals. Polyclonal antibodies raised against hedgehog apoA-I failed to detect any cross-reactivity between the animal and human proteins, although comparative prediction of the respective antigenic structures using the Hopp-Woods algorithm indicated that several potentially antigenic sites may occur in similar regions of the protein. Finally, hedgehog apoA-I was shown to be able to activate lecithin:cholesterol acyl transferase, although it was 4 to 5 times less efficient in this respect than the human protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Angiotensin converting enzyme and kininase-II-like activities in cultured valvular interstitial cells of the rat heart.

OBJECTIVE: The function of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) at cell sites of high collagen turnover, such as heart valves, is uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess ACE and kininase-II-like activities and collagen turnover in cultured valvular interstitial cells of the adult rat heart. METHODS: The valvular interstitial cell phenotype was determined by immunolabelling (rhodamine phalloidin, desmin, and Griffonia simplicifolia lectin), and the presence of ACE mRNA and protein was confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis, ACE monoclonal antibody and in vitro autoradiography, respectively. ACE and kininase-II-like activities in valvular interstitial cells were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography. Angiotensin II (AT1) and bradykinin receptors in valvular interstitial cell membranes were examined by western immunoblotting and binding assay. Type I collagen and collagenase in valvular interstitial cell culture media were determined by ELISA and zymography, respectively. Type I collagen mRNA expression in cultured valvular interstitial cells was determined by northern blot analysis and in situ hybridisation. RESULTS: In intact valvular interstitial cells or their cell membrane we found: (1) actin microfilaments, but not desmin or lectin labelling; (2) ACE mRNA expression and binding activity; (3) conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, which was completely inhibited by 50 microM lisinopril, while kinase-II-like activity exceeded ACE activity and was not inhibited by lisinopril; (4) AT1 and bradykinin receptors in valvular interstitial cell membrane preparations; (5) type I collagen mRNA expression and collagenase activity; and (6) angiotensin II induced increase in type I collagen synthesis and mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: Cultured valvular interstitial cells represent a nonendothelial, non-smooth-muscle cell type that expresses mRNA for ACE and type I collagen. ACE and kininase-II-like activities in valvular interstitial cells may be involved in the regulation of peptides that influence collagen turnover. Angiotensin II stimulates type I collagen synthesis and mRNA expression in these cells.

Angiotensin II↗

[The use of measuring serum soluble IL-2 receptor levels in cyclosporine-A treated lupus nephritis].

Twenty-one patients with Lupus Nephritis (LN) were treated with cyclosporine-A (CsA) for three months. Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptors (SIL-2R) were measured before and after treatment and correlated prospectively with serologic findings of LN activity. The patients had significantly higher IL-2R level before treatment (during LN flare) than after treatment (disease remission). A significant positive correlation was present between serum SIL-2R and proteinuria, and ANA as well, whereas the SIL-2R levels in LN patients were inversely correlated with serum levels of C3 and CH50. These observations suggest that serum SIL-2R level is an useful marker of disease activity in LN and may serve as a helpful adjunct in the management of this disorder.

Adult↗

[An experimental study of corneal allograft rejection with cytotoxin IL-2-PE40].

We used a new immunosuppressive agents interleukin (IL)-2-Pseudomonas exotoxin 40 (PE40) to treat corneal allograft rejection, using the Wistar rat model of heterograft-heterotopic graft rejection. 36 rats were divided randomly into the treatment and the control groups. On 2, 5, 7, 10 and 14 days after the transplantation, the transplanted corneas were removed for pathological examinations. The peripheral blood was collected for the analysis of T cell subgroups and T lymphocyte colony forming unit (T-CFU) assay. These results indicate that IL-2-PE40 can delay the development of corneal graft rejection and significantly reduce the percentage of T-helper cells. On the other hand, IL-2-PE40 can weaken the gathering capacity of the peripheral T-cells.

Animals↗