Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Q Pan

Publications and source records attributed to H Q Pan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Identification of lysine decarboxylase as a mammalian cell growth inhibitor in Eikenella corrodens: possible role in periodontal disease.

The pathogenesis of inflammatory periodontal disease was studied by examining the mechanism of HeLa and HL60 cell growth inhibition by cell-free saline-soluble extracts of Eikenella corrodens and bacterial plaque. Previous studies identified a protein (p80) as causing growth inhibition by E. corrodens extracts. After purification by two-dimensional SDS-PAGE, p80 was digested with protease lysC. Amino acid sequences were obtained and backtranslated for use as PCR primers. A 5840 nucleotide sequence containing a lysine decarboxylase gene was obtained from a Sau3 A1 genomic library of E. corrodens DNA. Lysine decarboxylase activity was present at physiologic pH in the E. corrodens extracts containing p80, and also in bacterial plaque. Both extracts caused growth inhibition by depleting lysine from cell culture media through conversion to cadaverine. Adding lysine, or immune goat IgG to a peptide derived from the active site sequence of E. corrodens lysine decarboxylase, retarded lysine depletion and growth inhibition. epsilon-Amino caproic acid specifically enhanced lysine decarboxylase activity at the low lysine concentration in HL60 cell culture media, and also increased the growth inhibition. Thus, lysine decarboxylases such as p80 inhibit growth by removing lysine from mammalian cell culture media. A new role for lysine decarboxylase activity in the microbial aetiology of periodontal disease is discussed.

Carboxy-Lyases↗

A transcription map of the minimally deleted region from 13q14 in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia as defined by large scale sequencing of the 650 kb critical region.

Extensive analysis of tumors has demonstrated homozygous and heterozygous deletions in chromosome region 13q14.3 in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), suggesting the site of a tumor suppressor gene. Since previous searches for this gene have not yielded any viable candidates, we now present the sequence of the BACs which span the minimally deleted approximately 650 kb region between markers D13S319 and D13S25. This sequence has allowed us to create the definitive transcription map for the region which reveals 93 ESTs and 12 Unigene clusters in this region. Using gene prediction programs, a further 19 potential genes are also identified. The genes show an asymmetrical distribution throughout the region with most of them clustering at the extreme ends. This sequencing effort provides for the definitive structure of the B-CLL deletion region and the identification of the vast majority of the potential candidate genes. Of all the genes identified, only three have homologies to known genes: two L1 repeat genes and rabbit epididymal protein 52. This 13q14.3 sequence provides the final substrate from which to characterize the B-CLL tumor suppressor gene.

Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial↗

Progesterone is neuroprotective after acute experimental spinal cord trauma in rats.

STUDY DESIGN: A standardized rat contusion model was used to test the hypothesis that progesterone significantly improves neurologic recovery after a spinal cord injury that results in incomplete paraplegia. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of progesterone versus a variety of control agents to determine its effectiveness in promoting neurologic recovery after an incomplete rat spinal cord injury. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Progesterone is a neurosteroid, possessing a variety of functions in the central nervous system. Exogenous progesterone has been shown to improve neurologic function after focal cerebral ischemia and facilitates cognitive recovery after cortical contusion in rats. METHODS: A standardized rat contusion model of spinal cord injury using the New York University impactor that resulted in rats with incomplete paraplegia was used. Forty mature male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: laminectomy with sham contusion, laminectomy with contusion without pharmacologic treatment, laminectomy with contusion treated with dimethylsulfoxide and dissolved progesterone, and laminectomy with contusion treated with dimethylsulfoxide. Functional status was assessed weekly using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnehan (BBB) locomotor rating scale for 6 weeks, after which the animals were killed for histologic studies. RESULTS: Rats treated with progesterone had better outcomes (P = 0.0017; P = 0.0172) with a BBB score of 15.5, compared with 10.0 in the dimethylsulfoxide control group and 12.0 in the spinal cord contusion without pharmacologic intervention group. This was corroborated in histologic analysis by relative sparing of white matter tissue at the epicenter of the injury in the progesterone-treated group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Rats treated with progesterone had a better clinical and histologic outcome compared with the various control groups. These results indicate potential therapeutic properties of progesterone in the management of acute spinal cord injury.

Acute Disease↗

TOM1 genes map to human chromosome 22q13.1 and mouse chromosome 8C1 and encode proteins similar to the endosomal proteins HGS and STAM.

The avian tom1 (target of myb 1) gene has been previously characterized from v-myb-transformed cells. We report here cloning of the human and mouse tom1 orthologs. Both genes are expressed ubiquitously, with the highest levels in skeletal muscle, brain, and intestines, as assessed by Northern blot and mRNA in situ hybridization. The N-terminal domain of the TOM1 protein shares similarity with HGS (hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate) and STAM (signal-transducing adaptor molecule), which are associated with vesicular trafficking at the endosome. A putative coiled-coil domain was also detected in the central part of the TOM1 protein. This domain structure suggests that TOM1 is another member of a family of genes implicated in the trafficking regulation of growth-factor-receptor complexes that are destined for degradation in the lysosome. We also show that a human paralog of TOM1 (TOM1-like gene 1) exists. Furthermore, we provide a transcription map over a 190-kb contig of the TOM1 region. This map includes its distal neighbors HMOX1 and MCM5 and two proximal novel genes, one of which is a HMG-box-containing gene (HMG2L1), and the other of unknown function. Using a genomic PAC clone, we demonstrate that the mouse Tom1 and Hmox1 genes are part of an as yet undescribed syntenic group between mouse chromosome 8C1 and human chromosome 22q13.1.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Duplications on human chromosome 22 reveal a novel Ret Finger Protein-like gene family with sense and endogenous antisense transcripts.

Analysis of 600 kb of sequence encompassing the beta-prime adaptin (BAM22) gene on human chromosome 22 revealed intrachromosomal duplications within 22q12-13 resulting in three active RFPL genes, two RFPL pseudogenes, and two pseudogenes of BAM22. The genomic sequence of BAM22vartheta1 shows a remarkable similarity to that of BAM22. The cDNA sequence comparison of RFPL1, RFPL2, and RFPL3 showed 95%-96% identity between the genes, which were most similar to the Ret Finger Protein gene from human chromosome 6. The sense RFPL transcripts encode proteins with the tripartite structure, composed of RING finger, coiled-coil, and B30-2 domains, which are characteristic of the RING-B30 family. Each of these domains are thought to mediate protein-protein interactions by promoting homo- or heterodimerization. The MID1 gene on Xp22 is also a member of the RING-B30 family and is mutated in Opitz syndrome (OS). The autosomal dominant form of OS shows linkage to 22q11-q12. We detected a polymorphic protein-truncating allele of RFPL1 in 8% of the population, which was not associated with the OS phenotype. We identified 6-kb and 1.2-kb noncoding antisense mRNAs of RFPL1S and RFPL3S antisense genes, respectively. The RFPL1S and RFPL3S genes cover substantial portions of their sense counterparts, which suggests that the function of RFPL1S and RFPL3S is a post-transcriptional regulation of the sense RFPL genes. We illustrate the role of intrachromosomal duplications in the generation of RFPL genes, which were created by a series of duplications and share an ancestor with the RING-B30 domain containing genes from the major histocompatibility complex region on human chromosome 6.

Adaptor Protein Complex 1↗

Characterization of the human NIPSNAP1 gene from 22q12: a member of a novel gene family.

Rapid progress in sequencing of human and other genomes allows high-resolution analysis of their gene content on the basis of comparison between species. We have used a combined computer and biochemical approach to characterize 135 kb of human genomic sequence from 22q12 and discovered a new 10 exon gene, termed NIPSNAP1, located between the neurofibromatosis type 2 and the pK1.3 genes. The NIPSNAP1 gene spans 26 kb of genomic sequence and shows to large introns in the 5'-region. All exon-intron junctions contain the gt/ag consensus splice site. The putative promoter of the NIPSNAP1 gene is TATA-less and resides in a GC-rich island characteristic of housekeeping genes. The NIPSNAP1 mRNA is 2.1 kb, is expressed ubiquitously at variable levels, with the highest expression in liver, is terminated by an uncommon ATTAAA polyadenylation site, and is capable of encoding a 284-amino-acid protein. This NIPSNAP1 protein has a strong sequence similarity limited to the central portion of a hypothetical protein (acc. P34492) from chromosome III of C. elegans, in which the other portions resemble a 4-nitrophenylphosphatase domain and non-neuronal SNAP25-like protein. Thus, the NIPSNAP1 gene is a member of an evolutionarily well conserved, novel gene family with two members in human and mouse that have now been characterized, and one member in C. elegans. The second human gene, NIPSNAP2, is localized in the vicinity of marker D7S499 on chromosome 7. Although the function of the NIPSNAP protein family is unknown, clues about its role may reside in the co-expression of the C. elegans orthologue, within an operon encoding protein motifs known to be involved in vesicular transport.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Megakaryocytic differentiation of HIMeg-1 cells induced by interferon gamma and tumour necrosis factor alpha but not by thrombopoietin.

Activated macrophage-conditioned medium (M-CM) induces megakaryocytic differentiation of HIMeg-1 cells. The megakaryocytic differentiation activity (MDA) is proteinaceous since it is susceptible to treatments by proteinases, heat, and reducing agents. MDA is not thrombopoietin (TPO) since (1) TPO alone or in conjunction with several other recombinant cytokines fails to induce any degree of HIMeg-1 cell differentiation; and (2) a neutralizing antibody against TPO or an antibody against the extracellular domain of c-mpl is unable to abolish M-CM-induced CD41 expression on HIMeg-1 cells. Reverse transcriptase-mediated polymerase chain reaction shows that HIMeg-1 cells express c-mpl but not TPO. Additional neutralizing antibody studies suggest that MDA is not one of the cytokines known to induce some degree of megakaryopoiesis in vitro or in vivo including interleukin 3 (IL-3), IL-6, IL-11, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, erythropoietin, or stem cell factor. On the other hand, MDA appears to be a combination of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), since neutralizing antibodies against these two cytokines completely abolish MDA-induced CD41 expression. In addition, either recombinant human IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha alone is capable of inducing CD41 and CD42 expression on HIMeg-1 cells. In combination, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha induce a maximal level of CD41 and CD42 expression which is also accompanied by an increase in cell size and DNA ploidy level. Thus, our studies indicate that IFN-gamma/TNF-alpha is capable of inducing megakaryocytic differentiation of the HIMeg-1 cell line and that HIMeg-1 is a good system for studying the molecular mechanism mediating megakaryocytic differentiation.

Antibodies↗

Characterization of the human synaptogyrin gene family.

Genomic sequencing was combined with searches of databases for identification of active genes on human chromosome 22. A cosmid from 22q13, located in the telomeric vicinity of the PDGFB (platelet-derived growth factor B-chain) gene, was fully sequenced. Using an expressed sequence tag-based approach we characterized human (SYNGR1) and mouse (Syngr1) orthologs of the previously cloned rat synaptogyrin gene (RATSYNGR1). The human SYNGR1 gene reveals three (SYNGR1a, SYNGR1b, SYNGR1c) alternative transcript forms of 4.5, 1.3 and 0.9 kb, respectively. The transcription of SYNGR1 starts from two different promoters, and leads to predicted proteins with different N- and C-terminal ends. The most abundant SYNGR1 a transcript, the 4.5-kb form, which corresponds to RATSYNGR1, is highly expressed in neurons of the central nervous system and at much lower levels in other tissues, as determined by in situ hybridization histochemistry. The levels of SYNGR1b and SYNGR1c transcripts are low and limited to heart, skeletal muscle, ovary and fetal liver. We also characterized two additional members of this novel synaptogyrin gene family in human (SYNGR2 and SYNGR3), and one in mouse (Syngr2). The human SYNGR2 gene transcript of 1.6 kb is expressed at high levels in all tissues, except brain. The 2.2-kb SYNGR3 transcript was detected in brain and placenta only. The human SYNGR2 and SYNGR3 genes were mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization to 17qtel and 16ptel, respectively. The human SYNGR2 gene has a processed pseudogene localized in 15q11. All predicted synaptogyrin proteins contain four strongly conserved transmembrane domains, which is consistent with the M-shaped topology. The C-terminal polypeptide ends are variable in length, display a low degree of sequence similarity between family members, and are therefore likely to convey the functional specificity of each protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure of the promoter and genomic organization of the human beta'-adaptin gene (BAM22) from chromosome 22q12.

Adaptins are major structural components of heterotetrameric protein complexes called adaptors, which are essential in intracellular receptor transport via clathrin-coated vesicles. beta-adaptins constitute one of three known classes (alpha, beta, gamma) of adaptins, including beta and beta' subtypes. We previously cloned the human beta'-adaptin gene (BAM22) (GDB symbol, ADTB1) from chromosome 22q12 and proposed its involvement in the development of meningiomas. Here we describe the genomic organization of this gene, which consists of 22 exons spanning over approximately 100 kb. We also report results from point mutation screening of 7 randomly chosen exons analyzed in 110 sporadic meningiomas. As part of the genomic characterization of the BAM22 locus, we sequenced 40 kb covering exons 1-4 and 12 kb upstream from the start of gene transcription. Analysis of the sequence suggests that the BAM22 gene has a CG-rich promoter.

Adaptor Protein Complex 1↗

Expression of receptor protein tyrosine kinase tif is regulated during leukemia cell differentiation.

tif is a recently cloned and characterized cDNA predicting a transmembrane protein with a putative tyrosine kinase structure in its cytoplasmic domain. By analysis of the purified tif cytoplasmic domain expressed in Escherichia coli, we have demonstrated that tif is an active protein tyrosine kinase capable of autophosphorylation on tyrosine residues and this phosphorylation is inhibited by a tyrosine-specific inhibitor genistein. Northern blot analyses of various leukemia cell lines have revealed that tif mRNA expression is primarily confined to those bearing erythroid and megakaryocytic phenotypes. Megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 and HEL cells induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate is accompanied by down-regulation of tif mRNA expression. In addition, treatment of K562 and HEL with hexamethylene bis-acetamide, but not with hemin, decreases the steady-state level of tif mRNA. These combined results suggest that the receptor tyrosine kinase tif is involved in hematopoietic development.

Acetamides↗

The complete nucleotide sequences of the SacBII Kan domain of the P1 pAD10-SacBII cloning vector and three cosmid cloning vectors: pTCF, svPHEP, and LAWRIST16.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the 16,009-bp SacBII Kan domain of the P1 pAD10-SacBII cloning vector and the sequences of three cosmid cloning vectors, pTCF (7941 bp), svPHEP (9201 bp), and LAWRIST16 (5194 bp) have been determined. A modified diatomaceous earth (Prep-A-Gene)-based procedure, which rapidly yields highly supercoiled double-stranded DNA from recombinant P1 and cosmid clones suitable for generating shotgun libraries, also has been developed. The isolated recombinant DNAs were physically sheared to generate 1- to 2-kb fragments that then were blunt-ended and subcloned into double-stranded pUC-based sequencing vectors. The double-stranded sequencing templates were isolated by an alkaline lysis method and subjected to Taq polymerase catalyzed fluorescent end-labeled primer cycle sequencing. After shotgun sequence assembly, contig gaps were closed and ambiguities were resolved via Sequenase catalyzed fluorescent dye-terminator sequencing.

Bacteriophage P1↗

The Maquet procedure: effect of tibial shingle length on patellofemoral pressures.

The Maquet procedure--elevation of the anterior tibial tubercle--has been recommended for treatment of symptomatic osteoarthrosis of the patellofemoral joint. Although the operation was first described 30 years ago, it remains controversial, both on a clinical and on a biomechanical basis. In addition, deterioration of the long-term results has been suggested. One of the variables that has been ignored in both clinical and biomechanical studies has been tibial shingle length. In order to judge its effect, we examined contact pressures and areas in 15 cadaver knees with 7 and 20 cm tibial shingle lengths. We found significant patellofemoral pressure diminution only with 2 cm elevations. The short anterior tibial shingle with 2 cm of elevation tipped the patella on its superior pole, with a significant change in angle between the patella and the shingle. We suggest that this creates a potentially less than desirable biomechanical circumstance and believe it may explain the discrepancies among previously published reports.

Adult↗

Long-term follow-up study on the Maquet procedure with special reference to the causes of failure.

Thirty-nine patients with symptomatic osteoarthrosis (OA) of the patellofemoral joint were treated with 42 anterior tibial tubercle elevations, also known as the Maquet procedure. The patients all had symptomatic OA of the patellofemoral joint that fell into one of three categories: old patellar fracture, chronic patellar subluxation, or postpatellectomy pain. In the latter group, the OA was manifested by erosions of trochlear articular cartilage from the articulating quadriceps tendon-patellar ligament suture line. All 39 patients had a 1.5-2.5-cm tibial tubercle elevation with medial displacement, as necessary, to centralize their patellofemoral mechanisms. Follow-up period averaged 6.1 years. Seventy-nine percent (33 of 42 procedures) had good to excellent results. There was a major complication rate of 7%. Six of the nine failures were attributable to social/psychiatric reasons. Previously unrecognized tibiofemoral OA was the reason for poor results in two of the other failures, and one failure was unexplained. Patients with long-standing symptoms caused by patellofemoral OA should preoperatively be psychologically evaluated and diagnostically arthroscoped before the Maquet procedure is carried out.

Adolescent↗

[Scanning electron microscopic observation of microvascular cast changes of bone following rigid limb immobilization].

This paper reported the results of scanning electron microscopic observation of microvascular cast changes of tibia following long cast immobilization of lower extremity. Beginning from 10 days after immobilization, the diameter of microvessels, particularly capillaries and sinusoids system in bone marrow, displayed severalfold enlargement compared with the control side. The changes became more obvious at 20 days. The number of sinusoids increased whereas the degree of dilatation declined at 40 days. The vessels within the epiphyseal region also showed more intense dilatation, growth of sinusoid-like structure and proliferation of sinusoidal and capillary system in marrow at 60 to 80 days. Similar changes in the cortical bone emerged as well at 80 days. The above-mentioned changes decreased at 100 days. These results pointed out that the pump effect of muscle on the blood flow in bone almost disappeared completely and disturbance of intraosseous venous drainage occurred. Under the condition of increased but unbalanced bone metabolism and turnover, the intraosseous microvascular system exhibited the described changes. Thus the total bone blood volume and the total bone blood flow increased.

Animals↗

[Effect of vitamin C (V.C) on thermal sensitivity of Lewis tumor].

In this paper, the effect of V.C on thermal sensitivity of the tumor and normal tissues was studied. Average peak reaction and RD50 (50% reaction dosage) were used to evaluate the effect of V.C on thermal sensitivity of the normal tissue. Tumor cure rate and TCD50 (50% tumor cure dosage) were used to evaluate the effect of V.C on that of the tumor tissue. In all mice injected by V.C locally, the average peak reaction markedly increased, RD50 decreased by 1-2 fold; the tumor cure rate was obviously elevated, TCD50 was significantly reduced except those treated by 20' hyperthermia. TGF (therapeutic gain factor) was 1.76. These results indicate that V.C can increase the thermal sensitivity of tumor and normal tissues but the effect on tumor tissue is selective.

Animals↗

Non-parametric estimation of age-related centiles over wide age ranges.

A new method for estimating age-related centile curves has been developed, which is suitable for measurement covering a wide age range. The method was used to calculate weight centile curves of 8995 children from birth to 6 years obtained by the Collaborating Centre for Physical Growth and Psychosocial Development of Children in Shanghai, China.

Aging↗