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J Dijkstra

Publications and source records attributed to J Dijkstra.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Simulation of nutrient digestion, absorption and outflow in the rumen: model description.

A mathematical model is described that stimulates the digestion, absorption and outflow of nutrients in the rumen. The model consists of 17 state variables, representing nitrogen, carbohydrate, lipid, microbial and volatile fatty acid pools. The flux equations are described by Michaelis-Menten or mass action forms with parameters calculated from the literature. Several specific areas of improvement in representation of rumen processes were reconsidered during model development. These included microbial substrate preference, differential outflow and chemical composition of rumen microbes, recycling of microbial matter within the rumen, uncoupling of fermentation with respect to nitrogen availability, reduced microbial activity at reduced rumen pH and pH-dependent absorption of volatile fatty acids and ammonia. The model was used to examine the effects of the diet on the profile of nutrients available for absorption and was shown to respond appropriately to different intake and nitrogen levels. The validity of the improvements and the predictions of nutrient supply on a variety of dietary inputs are tested in a companion paper.

Absorption↗

Simulation of nutrient digestion, absorption and outflow in the rumen: model evaluation.

A mathematical model of the rumen fermentation processes constructed to predict nutrient supply to the host animal was evaluated. Sensitivity analysis on high fiber, starch and protein diets indicated that the model responds appropriately to these types of diets and to changes in parameter values, and revealed that the model is sensitive to the availability of hexose for non-growth microbial processes and to the maximum storage rate of polysaccharides in amylolytic microbes, although sensitivity varied with diet composition. Of the parameters whose values were dependent on diet, the fraction of protozoa in the amylolytic microbial pool and the fluid and solid passage rates needed the most careful estimation. When model predictions of nutrient supply were compared with the experimental observations, those for duodenal flows of neutral detergent fiber, total non-ammonia nitrogen (NAN) and total volatile fatty acid rumen concentration were satisfactory for several feeding strategies. The partition of NAN flow into microbial and non-microbial NAN flow and the molar proportions of volatile fatty acid production and concentration were not predicted well. The representation of the complex interactions between rumen microbial populations and of their effects on the production of specific volatile fatty acids merits further study for an improvement in the prediction of nutrient supply.

Absorption↗

Coat protein properties suggest that azuki bean mosaic virus, blackeye cowpea mosaic virus, peanut stripe virus, and three isolates from soybean are all strains of the same potyvirus.

The interrelationship of a number of potyviruses infecting legumes has been investigated by comparing molecular properties of their coat proteins. Comparison of the coat proteins by the techniques of amino acid analysis and PAGE was inadequate to distinguish strains from distinct potyviruses. However, high-performance liquid chromatographic peptide profiles of tryptic digests of coat proteins of these legume-infecting potyviruses enabled such assignments to be made. These data indicate that amino acid sequences of coat proteins of azuki bean mosaic virus, the Type and W strains of blackeye cowpea mosaic virus, three isolates (74, PM, PN) of a potyvirus obtained from soybean in Taiwan, and the Blotch and Mild Mottle strains of peanut stripe virus (PStV) may be very similar to the known sequence of PStV Stripe coat protein. In contrast, peptide profiles of coat proteins from soybean mosaic virus, clover yellow vein virus, bean yellow mosaic virus, potato virus Y, and tobacco etch virus were dissimilar to each other and to the profile of PStV Stripe, suggesting that their coat protein sequences were also quite different. Based on observations of the coat protein structure of many potyviruses, the results suggest that the potyvirus isolates with similar coat proteins are strains of the same potyvirus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Efficiency of cytoplasmic delivery by pH-sensitive liposomes to cells in culture.

The intracellular processing of pH-sensitive liposomes composed of cholesterylhemisuccinate (CHEMS) and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) by eukaryotic cell lines has been compared to non-pH-sensitive liposomes made of CHEMS and dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC). The pH-sensitive liposomes can deliver encapsulated fluorescent molecules [calcein, fluoresceinated dextran, fluoresceinated polypeptide, and diphtheria toxin A chain (DTA)] into the cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic delivery can be blocked in the presence of ammonium chloride or EDTA, indicating that the process requires a low-pH environment and the presence of divalent cations. Inhibition of cellular protein synthesis by DTA delivery from the pH-sensitive liposome is orders of magnitude greater than from the non-pH-sensitive liposome composition. The delivery of DTA into the cytoplasm by pH-sensitive liposomes is at least 0.01% of cell-associated liposomal DTA. There is no significant difference in the degradation rate of bovine serum albumin (BSA) or the rate of acidification of pH-sensitive dye, 8-hydroxy-1,3,6-pyrene-trisulfonate (HPTS), when delivered to cells in pH-sensitive and non-pH-sensitive liposomes. Thus the efficiency of cytoplasmic delivery is less than 10% of the cell-associated liposome contents, which is the smallest difference that can be detected by these two assays. Based upon the various assays used to measure liposome content disposition in the cell, we conclude that the efficiency of cytoplasmic delivery by the CHEMS/DOPE liposomes is greater than 0.01% and less than 10% of the cell-associated liposomal contents.

Animals↗

Allergic contact dermatitis from formaldehyde in a liquid soap.

A case is reported of a 74-year-old white man who developed generalized allergic contact dermatitis from formaldehyde present in a liquid soap. The patient had a 2+ positive patch test reaction to formaldehyde, which was present as a preservative in the soap at 0.1% concentration. His dermatitis cleared when he switched to a nonformaldehyde-containing bar soap. The cause of the contact dermatitis was covert to both physician and patient before patch testing. Since registration with the Food and Drug Administration of formaldehyde-containing soaps is voluntary, it is likely that there are more soaps on the market than the six registered as of June 1988.

Aged↗

Differential effects of liposome-incorporation on liver macrophage activating potencies of rough lipopolysaccharide, lipid A, and muramyl dipeptide. Differences in susceptibility to lysosomal enzymes.

We investigated the in vitro activation of rat liver macrophages to a tumor-cytotoxic state with muramyl dipeptide (MDP), rough LPS (Re-LPS) and lipid A in both a free and liposome-encapsulated form. The tumor cytotoxic state of the liver macrophages was determined with a [methyl-3H]thymidine release assay using C26 colon adenocarcinoma cells as target cells. As was shown previously, the encapsulation of MDP within multi-lamellar phospholipid vesicles greatly enhanced the activating potency of the drug; by contrast, encapsulation of Re-LPS or lipid A significantly reduced the activation of macrophages as compared to the free form of these agents. At a dose of 1 ng of free Re-LPS per ml a significant induction of tumor cell lysis was observed whereas a maximal level was obtained at a concentration of approximately 10 ng/ml. By encapsulation of Re-LPS in liposomes the activating potency diminished 20- to 100-fold. The minimal concentration required to induce detectable macrophage activation with free lipid A was 10 ng/ml, while liposome-encapsulated lipid A did not induce any detectable tumor cell lysis up to a concentration of 200 ng/ml. After a 1-h pre-incubation with a lysosomal fraction from rat liver at pH 4.8, the macrophage-activating potency of Re-LPS and lipid A was diminished by up to 95% whereas MDP remained fully active under these conditions. We conclude that, due to endocytic uptake of liposome-incorporated Re-LPS and lipid A and subsequent intralysosomal degradation, these immunomodulators are inactivated with respect to their potency to activate liver macrophages to tumor cytotoxicity.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗

Treatment of experimental invasive aspergillosis with novel amphotericin B/cholesterol-sulfate complexes.

An immunosuppressed rabbit model of invasive aspergillosis was used to evaluate a novel micellar preparation of cholesterol sulfate complexed to amphotericin B. The acute LD50 of amphotericin B-deoxycholate was 5.1 mg/kg versus 20 mg/kg for the amphotericin/cholesterol-sulfate complexes. Amphotericin B-deoxycholate given iv at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg was more effective in sterilizing liver and kidney than the amphotericin/cholesterol-sulfate complexes given iv at 1.5-4.5 mg/kg, but infection persisted in the lungs of all rabbits treated with those doses. Infection persisted even when the rabbits were given a lethal dose of amphotericin B-deoxycholate (4.5 mg/kg), but a dose of 15 mg/kg of the amphotericin/cholesterol-sulfate complexes sterilized tissues and was associated with no acute lethality. Equivalent doses of the amphotericin/cholesterol-sulfate complexes were less effective than amphotericin B-deoxycholate, but a fourfold decrease in acute lethality improved the therapeutic index of amphotericin B. The amphotericin/cholesterol-sulfate complexes appear to be an improved means of amphotericin B delivery and may improve therapy for invasive aspergillosis.

Amphotericin B↗

Altered in vivo activity of liposome-incorporated lipopolysaccharide and lipid A.

We compared the abilities of free and liposome-incorporated Salmonella minnesota wild-type lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipid A to activate peritoneal macrophages and induce lethal toxicity in mice. Incorporation of lipid A into multilamellar vesicles resulted in a 100-fold-decreased potency to prime macrophages for phorbol myristate acetate-triggered release of H2O2. In addition, liposome incorporation reduced the lethality of LPS and lipid A at least 10-fold in dactinomycin-sensitized mice. Similar results were obtained with multilamellar liposomes delivered intravenously and when small unilamellar vesicles were employed. The observed difference in toxicity was not dependent on dactinomycin treatment, since a similar decrease was obtained with large doses of liposomal LPS in unsensitized mice. Control liposomes, prepared without LPS and lipid A, did not reduce the activities of the free compounds. The administration of a sublethal amount of liposomal LPS induced within 20 days, but not during the first week, tolerance to a subsequently injected lethal dose of free endotoxin. The latter observation suggests that early-phase tolerance is not the mechanism responsible for the reduced toxicity of liposomal LPS. These data show that liposomal LPS and lipid A have reduced endotoxic activity in vivo and are consistent with our hypothesis that a direct interaction of lipid A with appropriate plasma membrane components is necessary to efficiently trigger biologic responses. This interaction, however, is prevented by the stable insertion of LPS into the liposomal membrane.

Animals↗

A procedure for the efficient incorporation of wild-type lipopolysaccharide into liposomes for use in immunological studies.

Previous studies on the mechanism of action of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) on macrophages have used wild-type lipopolysaccharide (wt-LPS) containing liposomes. In these studies the endotoxin was incorporated into liposomes by suspending the wt-LPS in the buffer used to rehydrate the lipid. Using this approach (buffer method), we observed that less than 10% of Salmonella minnesota smooth LPS is incorporated into multilamellar vesicles (MLV). If the non-incorporated material is not effectively separated from the liposomal form, erroneous conclusions on the mechanism of action of LPS can be drawn. Prolonged sonication of the wt-LPS-MLV suspension resulted in almost complete incorporation of the LPS into the resulting small unilamellar vesicles (SUV). In order to prepare MLV, we briefly soniated the buffer preparation, dehydrated the resulting smaller vesicles and then rehydrated the mixture (dry method). This procedure resulted in almost complete incorporation of the wt-LPS into MLV. The ability of wt-LPS in MLV prepared by the dry method to activate macrophages or trigger gelation of Limulus amoebocyte lysate was reduced by 100-1000-fold compared to the non-incorporated wt-LPS. This indicates that at least 99% of the wt-LPS is incorporated in MLV made by the dry method.

Animals↗

Incorporation of LPS in liposomes diminishes its ability to induce tumoricidal activity and tumor necrosis factor secretion in murine macrophages.

We investigated the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) incorporated into phospholipid vesicles (liposomes) on the induction of macrophage-mediated tumor cytotoxicity and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) secretion. The incorporation of Salmonella minnesota rough (Re)-LPS into multilamellar or small unilamellar vesicles (liposomes) resulted in an 100- to 1,000-fold reduction in its potency to activate both the macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 and murine thioglycolate elicited peritoneal macrophages to become cytotoxic for L929 and P815 tumor cells. Liposomal LPS was also a 100- to 1,000-fold less potent inducer of TNF secretion from RAW 264.7 cells. Cytokines secreted by the activated macrophages contributed to the cytotoxic effect on the L929 cells but not the P815 cell line. Human recombinant TNF was not cytotoxic for either cell line but was cytostatic for the L929 cell line. Morphological examination of the cells after uptake of fluorescent, free, and liposomal LPS revealed that both forms were internalized by the endocytic pathway. This, together with the considerably reduced potency of liposomal LPS to induce tumor cytotoxicity and TNF secretion, suggests that the interaction of the hydrophobic part of the lipid A moiety of LPS with the macrophage plasma membrane is needed to optimally activate these cells. Incorporation of LPS into liposomes effectively abrogates this interaction.

Animals↗

Modulation of the biological activity of bacterial endotoxin by incorporation into liposomes.

In an attempt to define the mechanism by which endotoxin induces its biological activity, we studied the effect of the incorporation of lipopolysaccharide and lipid A into phospholipid vesicles (liposomes) on the stimulation of the macrophage cell-line RAW 264.7 and on the coagulation of Limulus amoebocyte lysate. The incorporation of Salmonella minnesota smooth-and rough (Re) lipopolysaccharide or primarily monophosphoryl lipid A into multilamellar and small unilamellar vesicles consisting of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine and cholesterol (molar ratio 4:1:4) reduced the interleukin 1 inducing potency of these substances about 1000-fold. When corrected for the actual uptake of radiolabeled free and liposome-incorporated lipopolysaccharide by the cells, this difference amounted to 100- to 1000-fold. In addition, liposome-associated Re-lipopolysaccharide was about 1000-fold less potent in stimulating the Fc-receptor mediated uptake of IgG-coated sheep erythrocytes by the cells. The ability of lipopolysaccharide and lipid A to coagulate the Limulus amoebocyte lysate appeared to be at least 100-fold decreased upon incorporation into phospholipid vesicles. Control experiments demonstrated that liposomes prepared without lipopolysaccharide did not reduce the studied activities of free lipopolysaccharide. In conclusion, the incorporation of lipopolysaccharide into the liposomal membrane probably prevents the interaction of the hydrophobic portion of the lipid A component of lipopolysaccharide with the plasma-membrane structures involved in the activation of macrophages and with the proteins of the Limulus amoebocyte lysate. This indicates that the direct interaction of the lipid A moiety of lipopolysaccharide with the macrophage plasma-membrane is required to optimally trigger the studied responses.

Animals↗

[Various cases of cysticercosis in sheep in the Netherlands].

During the period from January to March 1985, approximately ninety cases of Cysticercus ovis infection in sheep were observed in a slaughter-house in The Netherlands. Investigations into the cause of this infection showed that dogs kept by the owners of the slaughter-house, had in all likelihood been the source of contamination.

Animals↗

Effects of (dihydro)cytochalasin B, colchicine, monensin and trifluoperazine on uptake and processing of liposomes by Kupffer cells in culture.

We investigated the effects of (dihydro)cytochalasin B, colchicine, monensin and trifluoperazine on uptake and processing of large unilamellar liposomes by rat Kupffer cells in maintenance culture. The phospholipid vesicles were labeled in the lipid moiety with phosphatidyl[14C]choline and contained [3H]inulin or [125I]iodoalbumin as nondegradable and degradable markers of the aqueous vesicle content, respectively. Cytochalasin B and dihydrocytochalasin B, inhibitors of microfilament function, reduced inert inulin label uptake by 75% maximally, but residual uptake was not followed by release of lipid degradation products from the cells. By contrast, colchicine, an inhibitor of microtubule assembly, reduced uptake of liposomal inulin by maximally 55% but could not inhibit release of lipid degradation products from the cells. It is concluded that the cytochalasins partly inhibit uptake but fully prevent the arrival of internalized liposomes in the lysosomal compartment, while the action of colchicine is to slow down the overall process of uptake and subsequent transportation to the lysosomes. Monensin reduced inulin uptake to an extent similar to that found with colchicine, but reversibly blocked degradation of liposomal lipid and encapsulated protein. The kinetics of degradation of liposomal constituents suggests that residual uptake in the presence of monensin represents accumulation in an intracellular compartment. Trifluoperazine did not affect binding, internalization or degradation of encapsulated protein at low concentration (6 microM), but completely inhibited release of liposomal lipid degradation products under these conditions. At intermediate concentration (14 microM), the drug also reduced the internalization, while a high concentration (22 microM) was required to inhibit protein degradation as well. We conclude that trifluoperazine has multiple sites of action in the uptake and processing of liposomal constituents by Kupffer cells.

Animals↗

Uptake and processing of liposomal phospholipids by Kupffer cells in vitro.

We investigated the intracellular metabolic fate of [Me-14C]choline-labeled phosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelin taken up by rat Kupffer cells in maintenance culture during interaction with large unilamellar liposomes composed of cholesterol, labeled choline-phospholipid and phosphatidylserine (molar ration 5:4:1). With both labeled compounds only small proportions of water-soluble radioactivity were found to accumulate in the cells and in the culture medium, suggesting limited phospholipid degradation. However, after a lag period of 30 min progressively increasing proportions of cell-associated liposomal phospholipid were found to be converted to cellular phospholipid, nearly all of which was phosphatidylcholine. This conversion as well as the limited release of water-soluble label from the cells was inhibited by the lysosomotropic agents ammonium chloride and chloroquine. With [Me-14C]choline-labeled lysophosphatidylcholine, label was found to become cell-associated far in excess of an encapsulated liposomal label, [3H]inulin. Without a lag period virtually all of this was rapidly converted to phosphatidylcholine, a process which was not inhibited by the lysosomotropic agents. It is concluded that Kupffer cells, after endocytosis of liposomes, degrade the liposomal phospholipids effectively but reutilize the choline moiety for de novo synthesis of cellular phosphatidylcholine.

Ammonium Chloride↗