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J C Laporte

Publications and source records attributed to J C Laporte.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Direct effects of interleukin-13 on signaling pathways for physiological responses in cultured human airway smooth muscle cells.

Numerous studies have suggested an important role for the Th2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-13 and IL-4 in the development of allergic asthma. We tested the hypothesis that IL-13 and IL-4 have direct effects on cultured airway smooth muscle cells (HASM). Using RT-PCR, we showed that HASM cells express transcripts for IL-4alpha, IL-13RalphaI, and IL-13RalphaII, but not for the common IL-2Rgamma chain. We then analyzed the capacity of the two cytokines to activate signaling pathways in HASM cells. Both IL-13 and IL-4 caused STAT-6 phosphorylation, but the time course was different between the two cytokines, with peak effects occurring 15 min after addition of IL-4 and 1 h after addition of IL-13. Effects on signaling were observed at cytokine concentrations as low as 0.3 ng/ml. IL-4 and IL-13 also caused phosphorylation of ERK MAP kinase. As suggested by the signaling studies, the biological responses of the two cytokines were also different. We used magnetic twisting cytometry to measure cell stiffness of HASM cells and tested the capacity of IL-4 and IL-13 to interfere with the reductions in cell stiffness induced by the beta-agonist isoproterenol (ISO). IL-13 (50 ng/ml for 24 h), but not IL-4, significantly reduced beta-adrenergic responsiveness of HASM cells, and the MEK inhibitor U0126 significantly reduced the effects of IL-13 on ISO-induced changes in cell stiffness. We propose that these direct effect of IL-13 on HASM cells may contribute at least in part to the airway narrowing observed in patients with asthma.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1980

[In vitro proteolysis of casein and gluten by pancreatic enzymes].

The time-course of proteolysis of casein and gluten by pancreatic enzymes (trypsin, chymotrypsin, pancreatic juice) was studied in vitro with various concentrations of enzyme or substrate. The effect of a previous peptic proteolysis, with or without sodium phytate, on proteolysis by pancreatic juice was also studied. Proteolysis was evaluated by measuring the nitrogen in products solubilized in trichloroacetic acid (peptides + amino acids) and in phosphotungstic acid (amino acids). Without a previous peptic proteolysis, at a low enzyme/substrate ratio, the release of peptides and amino acids was greater for casein than for gluten. At a high enzyme/substrate ratio, peptide release by pancreatic juice and chymotrypsin was quite similar for casein and gluten but amino acid release was a little less for gluten. After a previous high peptic proteolysis without sodium phytate, pancreatic juice proteolysis, at a low enzyme/substrate ratio, was increased. Peptide release was similar for casein and gluten but amino acid release was a little less for the gluten. With sodium phytate, the release of peptides was quite similar for casein but was less for gluten. The release of amino acids was diminished in both cases. Thus, gluten was more resistant than casein to the action of pancreatic enzymes. Nevertheless, this was not necessarily observed when those enzymes were used for proteolysis at a high enzyme/substrate ratio or following a high peptic proteolysis. The differences between casein and gluten proteolyses have been discussed according to the specific action of the pancreatic enzymes. In conclusion, in comparing the proteolyses of various foods, it is important to use various enzyme/substrate ratios.

Amino Acids↗