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Biomedical subjects

H de Groot

Publications and source records attributed to H de Groot.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Generation of developmental patterns in the neuroepithelium of the developing mammalian eye: the pigment epithelium of the eye.

Culture experiments with eye anlages of mouse embryos were performed to study developmental traits of the neuroepithelial cells of the prospective pigment epithelium in the eye anlage of pigmented mice. Between the neural plate stage on embryonic day 8 (ED 8, developmental stage 12) and the neural tube stage on embryonic day 9 1/2 (stage 15), the cultured neuroepithelium of the eye generated neurons and glia, identified by morphological and immunocytochemical evidence, but no pigmented cells. In contrast, eye anlages did produce pigment epithelium when cultured in their natural position in a head tissue fragment. A minority of developing neurons displayed tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity, whereas GABAergic, serotoninergic and substance P-ergic neurons, which are common in the mature neuroretina, were not observed. When neuroepithelial cells from embryonic eyes older than stage 15 (ED 9 1/2) were cultured, they differentiated into pigment cells but not into nerve cells or glia. This developmental sequence indicates that the pigment cells derive from the neural lineage. Pigment cell fate dominates over the neural fate beginning at about stage 15 (ED 9 1/2-10). That is at least 2 days before the pigment cell phenotype becomes apparent in vivo (ED 11 1/2-12).

Animals↗

Modulation of PTH-stimulated osteoclastic resorption by bisphosphonates in fetal mouse bone explants.

We examined the effects of the bisphosphonates Cl2MDP, APD, and Me2APD on osteoclastic resorption in the absence and presence of PTH using fetal mouse osteoclast-free bone explants cocultured with fetal liver as a source of osteoclast precursors. Results revealed qualitative and quantitative differences among the bisphosphonates tested. With Cl2MDP and APD fractional inhibition of resorption (measured as 45Ca release) in the presence of PTH was proportional to that obtained in its absence. In contrast, Me2APD, which is the most potent inhibitor of the three, was found at low concentrations (less than or equal to 5 x 10(-7) M) to enhance the PTH-stimulated osteoclastic resorption. APD as well, at concentrations that could not inhibit resorption, had a similar effect, but Cl2MDP did not. These studies describe a new phenomenon, that low doses of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates can act synergistically with PTH and enhance osteoclastic resorption. These findings may have clinical implications in the management of patients with increased osteoclastic resorption due to parathyroid overactivity.

Animals↗

[Primary hepatocyte cultures as a model of experimental study of liver preservation].

Primary hepatocyte cultures have been used to evaluate data concerning hypoxic liver cell injury. To show the suitability of this method in liver preservation studies hepatocyte cultures were incubated under different conditions: warm normoxia (37 degrees C, pO2 greater than 70 mm Hg), warm hypoxia (37 degrees C, pO2 less than 0.1 mm Hg), cold normoxia (4 degrees C, pO2 greater than 70 mm Hg) and cold hypoxia (4 degrees C, pO2 less than 0.1 mm Hg). Incubations were performed in Euro Collins solution (EC), University of Wisconsin solution of Belzer (UW) and histidine ketoglutarat tryptophan solution of Bretschneider (HTK) as well as in Krebs Henseleit buffer (KH) for control incubations. During 12 h of incubation hepatocyte cultures under warm normoxia lost viability continuously in EC, UW and HTK while in KH they remained stable. Under warm normoxia all cultures lost 50% of their viability during 12 h of incubation while in cold normoxia loss of viability was mild but significant. Under cold anoxia which is the standard condition of liver preservation the cultured hepatocytes remained unchanged for 12 h in KH, UW and HTK, while in EC most of the cells were dead after 6 h. It is concluded that incubations of primary hepatocyte cultures under different pO2 and temperatures are well suited to contribute to liver preservation studies on a preclinical level and thus may help to save animal experiments.

Animals↗

Affinity purification of a major and a minor allergen from dog extract: serologic activity of affinity-purified Can f I and of Can f I-depleted extract.

Most dog-allergic patients react to a major 25 kd component on sodium dodecyl sulfate blots, Can f I (Ag 13). We initially raised monoclonal antibodies (Cf-3 and Cf-2) reactive with IgE-binding components distinct from Can f I. After a slight modification, we immunized other strains of mice and produced monoclonal antibodies coded Cf-1a and Cf-1b reactive with Can f 1. We affinity purified the allergens, Can f I and "dog allergen 2" with Cf-1a and Cf-2 ascites, respectively, and house dust-rich dog dander. Comparison of purified Can f I with dog saliva in RAST demonstrated that Can f I is a potent allergen for most dog-allergic patients (average response, 70%). After depletion of dog saliva of Can f I, a slightly lower contribution for Can f I was found, but the overall results supported the conclusion that Can f I is a major allergen in dog saliva. Comparison of purified dog allergen 2 with dog dander in RAST demonstrated that dog allergen 2 is less important for dog-allergic patients (average response, 23%). We radiolabeled the purified allergens and developed assays to measure Can f I and dog allergen 2 in allergen extracts and dust samples. Dog saliva was a strong allergen source, dog urine and feces contained very little of the allergens, and both allergens were found to a variable degree in the nine dog breeds tested.

Allergens↗

Oxygen partial pressure and free intracellular adenosine of isolated cardiomyocytes.

Adenosine formation by the heart is known to critically depend on the ratio of oxygen supply to oxygen demand, but the sensitivity of cardiomyocytes to defined changes in PO2 is not known. Isolated metabolically stable rat cardiomyocytes were incubated up to 45 min at constant PO2 values ranging from 0.1 to 100 mmHg using a feedback-controlled incubation system (oxystat system). Changes of the free intracellular adenosine concentration were measured after trapping of adenosine by cytosolic S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) hydrolase in the presence of 200 microM L-homocysteine thiolactone. Rate of SAH formation was constant at a PO2 between 3 and 100 mmHg and gradually increased at PO2 less than 3 mmHg. Cellular ATP decreased only at PO2 less than 1 mmHg, and this was accompanied by a decline of oxygen consumption. Treatment of cells with 5.5 mM deoxyglucose and 4 micrograms/ml oligomycin increased SAH formation 60-fold and was associated with elevated intra- and to a lesser extent extracellular adenosine levels. Inhibition of nucleoside transport with 20 microM S-(p-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine steepened the transmembrane adenosine gradient. Our findings suggest that the cardiomyocyte responds to metabolic poisoning and oxygen deprivation with an enhanced formation of adenosine. This adenosine is mainly formed intracellularly and reaches the extracellular space by diffusion. Threshold for adenosine formation is as low as 3 mmHg.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

O2-. release by activated Kupffer cells upon hypoxia-reoxygenation.

Primary cultures of rat liver Kupffer cells generated large amounts of superoxide anion radical (O2-.) when subjected to reoxygenation after a hypoxic period of at least 2 h. O2-. formation reached its maximum rate of approximately 25 nmol/10(6) cells within 1 h after reoxygenation. Two to four hours after reoxygenation, the number of injured cells began to increase and after 10 h approximately 60% of the cells were dead. During the period of O2-. release no significant difference in cell viability was observed between reoxygenated and hypoxically incubated cells, indicating a distinct time lag between O2-. release and onset of cell damage. Addition of diphenyliodonium, a specific inhibitor of the neutrophilic NADPH oxidase, to the Kupffer cells just before reoxygenation diminished both O2-. formation and cell injury up to 70%. Reoxygenation injury was completely prevented when superoxide dismutase and catalase were added immediately before reoxygenation. The results indicate that Kupffer cells subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation generate a burst of reactive oxygen species and that this kind of "activation," probably by activating the NADPH oxidase, contributes to the self-destruction of the cells.

Animals↗

Two distinct effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha on osteoclast development and subsequent resorption of mineralized matrix.

The multifunctional cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) stimulates osteoclastic resorption. It is not known which steps in osteoclast formation are affected by TNF alpha. We have investigated the effects of recombinant human TNF alpha (rhTNF alpha) on osteoclast development and osteoclastic resorption in two different in vitro resorption systems which are each characterized by a different stage of development of the osteoclast. The effects were further compared to those of bovine PTH-(1-84). rhTNF alpha at concentrations between 0.01-50 ng/ml (3 x 10(-13) to 1.5 x 10(-9) M) did not alter the activity of mature osteoclasts, measured as 45Ca release in fetal mouse radii. In the osteoclast precursor-dependent system (fetal mouse metacarpals) rhTNF alpha had a biphasic effect. It stimulated resorption dose-dependently from 0.01 ng/ml onward, with a maximal response at 0.5 ng/ml. At concentrations above 10 ng/ml rhTNF alpha, resorption was inhibited. In experiments in which irradiation was used to block replication, it was found that TNF alpha stimulates the proliferation of osteoclast progenitors at both low and high concentrations. As a result, at relatively low concentrations, more osteoclasts were formed in the calcified matrix, coinciding with an increased release of 45Ca. However, at relatively high concentrations, the increase in osteoclast progenitors did not lead to increased resorption, since the putative osteoclast progenitors were arrested in the periosteum. In comparison, bovine PTH-(1-84) stimulated resorption independent of proliferation by enhancing the differentiation of postmitotic osteoclast precursors and activating mature osteoclasts. In conclusion, the effects of TNF alpha on osteoclastic resorption are dependent on the stage of osteoclast development and the concentrations applied.

Animals↗

Reoxygenation injury in rat hepatocytes: mediation by O2/H2O2 liberated by sources other than xanthine oxidase.

The mechanism of reoxygenation injury was studied in primary cultures of isolated hepatocytes from rat liver. Reoxygenation injury, which affected up to 80% of the hepatocytes, was only inducible within a certain time window of the anaerobic incubation. Reintroduction of oxygen before this vulnerable period ensured the survival of the hepatocytes. After the vulnerable period upon reintroduction of oxygen the hepatocytes continued to die in the same way as the anaerobic control. Allopurinol had no effect on reoxygenation injury. From the inhibitors of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, both cyanide and antimycin A increased injury while rotenone was without significant effect on injury. Reoxygenation injury was significantly diminished by superoxide dismutase, but not by catalase. When added together, superoxide dismutase and catalase completely prevented reoxygenation injury. The results demonstrate that reoxygenation injury in hepatocytes is mediated by the combined action of both O2- and H2O2. These reduced oxygen species are not liberated by xanthine oxidase but possibly originate from the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

Allopurinol↗

Differences in glycolytic capacity and hypoxia tolerance between hepatoma cells and hepatocytes.

Viability, glycolytic capacity and energy metabolism under anaerobic conditions were studied in the hepatoma cell lines HTC, FU5 and HepG2 and in rat and human hepatocytes using glucose and fructose as glycolytic precursors. During 6 hr of anaerobic incubation without additional substrate, viability decreased rapidly in FU5 and HTC cells, whereas viability of HepG2 cells was not significantly affected. In all tumor cells, 10 mmol/L glucose prevented hypoxic cell injury almost completely. Lactate formation from glucose was about five times higher than in hepatocytes under these circumstances. ATP content of the tumor cells remained almost constant under anaerobic conditions in the presence of glucose. Ten millimoles per liter of fructose diminished glycolysis in the hepatoma cells compared with glucose, ranging from 87% reduction in HTC cells to 43% reduction in HepG2 cells. Accordingly, ATP content decreased rapidly in the FU5 and slowly in the HepG2 cells. Viability was strongly diminished in the HTC and FU5 cells in the presence of fructose, whereas in the HepG2 cells no effect of fructose on viability was detectable. In contrast to the hepatoma cells, rat and human hepatocytes exhibited higher rates of anaerobic glycolysis in the presence of fructose and thus were able to maintain their viability under these conditions. These differences in glycolytic capacity, energy metabolism and hypoxia tolerance of hepatoma cells compared with hepatocytes may be used for the treatment of liver cancer by isolated liver perfusion and ex situ revision of the organ.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Solid-state NMR studies of the mechanism of the opsin shift in the visual pigment rhodopsin.

Solid-state 13C NMR spectra have been obtained of bovine rhodopsin and isorhodopsin regenerated with retinal selectively 13C labeled along the polyene chain. In rhodopsin, the chemical shifts for 13C-5, 13C-6, 13C-7, 13C-14, and 13C-15 correspond closely to the chemical shifts observed in the 11-cis protonated Schiff base (PSB) model compound. Differences in chemical shift relative to the 11-cis PSB chloride salt are observed for positions 8 through 13, with the largest deshielding (6.2 ppm) localized at position 13. The localized deshielding at C-13 supports previous models of the opsin shift in rhodopsin that place a protein perturbation in the vicinity of position 13. Spectra obtained of isorhodopsin regenerated with 13C-labeled 9-cis-retinals reveal large perturbations at 13C-7 and 13C-13. The similar deshielding of the 13C-13 resonance in both pigments supports the presence of a protein perturbation near position 13. However, the chemical shifts at positions 7 and 12 in isorhodopsin are not analogous to those observed in rhodopsin and suggest that the binding site interactions near these positions are different for the two pigments. The implications of these results for the mechanism of the opsin shift in these proteins are discussed.

Animals↗

Evidence for a Fel d I-like molecule in the "big cats" (Felidae species).

In this study, we investigated the cross-reactivity pattern of IgE and IgG4 antibodies to the major feline allergen, Fel d I. We studied the IgE and IgG4 response of 11 cat-allergic patients against Fel d I-like structures in eight members of the Felidae family: ocelot, puma, serval, siberian tiger, lion, jaguar, snow leopard, and caracal. Hair from these "big cats" was collected, extracted, and used in a RAST system and histamine-release test. By means of a RAST-inhibition assay with affinity-purified Fel d I from cat dander, it was established that, in the Felidae species, a Fel d I equivalent is present that reacts with IgE and IgG4 antibodies. We found that all patients had cross-reacting IgE antibodies to seven of the Felidae tested; no IgE antibodies reactive with the caracal were found. Eight of 10 patients with IgG4 antibodies directed to cat dander also had IgG4 antibodies directed to several Felidae species, including the caracal. However, the correlation between the IgE and the IgG4 antibody specificity was low, indicating that, in the case of Fel d I IgE and IgG4, antibodies do not necessarily have the same specificity.

Adolescent↗

Evidence for a factor protective against hypoxic liver parenchymal cell injury in a protein-free blood extract.

The effect of a protein-free extract from calf blood on hypoxic cell injury was studied in experiments with primary cultures of isolated hepatocytes. At concentrations above 1 mg/ml the extract produced marked protection. At 4 h of anaerobic incubation at 37 degrees C only 20% of cells were damaged as compared to 50% of the anaerobic control incubation. These data demonstrate the presence of a factor in the blood extract which protects against hypoxic cell injury.

Animals↗

Hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in liver: Kupffer cells are much more vulnerable to reoxygenation than to hypoxia.

Cell injury due to hypoxia and reoxygenation was studied in primary cultured rat Kupffer cells. Under hypoxic conditions only 20% of the cells had lost their viability after 12 h of incubation. In contrast, almost complete losses of cell viability were observed when reoxygenation was performed after 2, 4 or 6 h of hypoxia. The time-course of reoxygenation injury in Kupffer cells was characterized by a lag phase of 2 h during which no difference between reoxygenated and hypoxically incubated cells was apparent; during the next 4 h, there was an increase of up to 100% in the amount of nonviable cells in the reoxygenated cultures. These results indicate that Kupffer cells were much more vulnerable to reoxygenation than to hypoxia. The time-course of cell damage upon hypoxia/reoxygenation may indicate a self-destruction mechanism caused by an oxygen-triggered activation of these cells.

Animals↗

Statistical analysis of IgE antibodies to the common inhalant allergens in 44,496 sera.

A statistical analysis of RAST screening of 44,496 sera, submitted in 1986 and 1987 for routine diagnostic allergic examination, was performed. The sera were tested on a fixed panel of allergens, regardless of the patient's history. The association of a positive RAST with age and month of birth was studied. It was concluded that among the inhalant allergens, house-dust mite was the most frequent sensitizer for all age groups, followed by grass pollen and cat dander. Sensitization to cat dander occurred twice as often as sensitization to dog dander. Among children less than 4 years of age, a different profile of sensitization was found, indoor allergens (mites, animal danders) being more important than outdoor allergens (pollen). Furthermore, we found that children born during December-February had a slightly but significantly greater chance of becoming sensitized to grass pollen compared with children born during September and November (P less than .05). Children born during July-September had a greater chance of becoming sensitized to house dust mite compared with children born during January-March (P less than .05). Finally, it was found that children born during October-December had a greater chance of becoming sensitized to dog dander compared with children born during March-May.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Halomethane hepatotoxicity: induction of lipid peroxidation and inactivation of cytochrome P-450 in rat liver microsomes under low oxygen partial pressures.

Halomethane-induced lipid peroxidation and inactivation of cytochrome P-450 were studied in liver microsomes from phenobarbital-pretreated rats in the presence of NADPH at steady-state O2 partial pressures (PO2). As indicated by the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive material and the stimulation of O2 uptake, significant lipid peroxidation was induced by those halomethanes containing more than two Cl, Br, or I atoms. Lipid peroxidation decisively depended on the PO2 present, showing distinct maxima at PO2 between 1 and 10 mm Hg. Those halomethanes inducing lipid peroxidation also led to inactivation of microsomal cytochrome P-450, as indicated by a loss of cytochrome P-450 detectable as ferrous CO complex and an equimolar loss of microsomal heme. Under anaerobic conditions inactivation of cytochrome P-450 presumably resulted solely from an attack of halomethane radicals on its heme moiety. Under aerobic conditions lipid peroxidation made an additional contribution to the inactivation of cytochrome P-450. These results suggest that the reductive activation to free radicals, catalyzed by cytochrome P-450, and thus the induction of lipid peroxidation at low but physiological PO2 are characteristic not only of CCl4 but also of other polyhalogenated methanes, especially CBrCl3, CBr4, CHI3, CHBr3, and CHBr2Cl.

Animals↗