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J Kim

Publications and source records attributed to J Kim.

At least 973 records · Page 54Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease: A Role for Tissue Plasminogen Activator?

There are five published case reports of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) patients with hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) who were treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) and low-dose heparin. Two of the five patients had an initial response to rt-PA. One had complete resolution of clinical signs and symptoms. Bleeding occurred in three of the five. In a prospective, uncontrolled pilot study of seven allogeneic BMT patients, rt-PA was administered intravenously for two consecutive days, followed by low-dose heparin therapy. Five of the seven patients had a reduction in total bilirubin, and three of the five resolved their signs and symptoms of VOD. Adverse effects observed were limited to localized bleeding.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Plasticity in the adult human oligodendrocyte lineage.

Preoligodendrocytes have been described in cultures and tissue prints of adult human white matter (Armstrong et al., 1992). To characterize further these precursors of human oligodendrocytes, we have investigated whether they express genes playing a critical role in oligodendrocyte development. In the intact human brain, platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGF alpha R) and myelin transcription factor 1 (MyTI) transcripts are expressed in 1-2% of cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage (OL), and clusters of such cells can be found in the periventricular region. Myelin basic protein transcripts containing exon 2 information (exon 2+ MBP), which are characteristic of the premyelinating stage, are detected in 15-20% of OL cells in vivo. When OL cells are separated from human white matter and allowed to regenerate in vitro, a much larger proportion of these cells express developmentally regulated genes, while exon 2- MBP and proteolipid protein (PLP) transcripts characteristic of mature OL cells appear transiently downregulated. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), even in the presence of PDGF, does not promote DNA synthesis in these cultured OL cells. Yet bFGF induces human oligodendrocytes to regenerate their processes rapidly in vitro and to express O4 antigens as well as exon 2+ MBP, MyTI, and PLP transcripts. While bFGF accelerates early regenerative processes, it also maintains high expression of exon 2+ MBP transcripts in OL cells for up to 2 weeks in vitro. In contrast, high levels of insulin in the absence of bFGF allow accumulation of exon 2- MBP and PLP transcripts in most OL cells at 2-3 weeks in vitro. We propose that the myelinated human brain harbors a small pool of precursors of oligodendrocytes and that growth factor-regulated phenotypic plasticity rather than mitogenic potential accounts for the regeneration of oligodendrocytes in the initial stages of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

An efficient method for multiple sequence alignment.

Multiple sequence alignment has been a useful method in the study of molecular evolution and sequence-structure relationships. This paper presents a new method for multiple sequence alignment based on simulated annealing technique. Dynamic programming has been widely used to find an optimal alignment. However, dynamic programming has several limitations to obtain optimal alignment. It requires long computation time and cannot apply certain types of cost functions. We describe detail mechanisms of simulated annealing for multiple sequence alignment problem. It is shown that simulated annealing can be an effective approach to overcome the limitations of dynamic programming in multiple sequence alignment problem.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1994

Identification of the C-terminal amino acid amides by carboxypeptidase Y digestion and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry.

The combination method of carboxypeptidase Y digestion and fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry is described for the identification of C-terminal amino acid amides in peptides. Carboxypeptidase Y has amidase activity as well as exopeptidase activity in the same digestion buffer condition. Based on this concept, we develop a new technique which can definitively and easily identify the C-terminal amino acid amides. This method obviates the need for several complicated steps occurring in previous methods, but improves sensitivity, and enables exact identification of the amino acid amide by the difference of molecular mass. Analyses of carboxypeptidase Y digested peptides, not liberated free amino acid amides, were carried out by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. The use of truncated peptides by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry in C-terminal amino acid amide determination gives several advantages over analyses of the liberated amino acid amides. The C-terminal amino acid amides of Allantostatin I (Leu-NH2), alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (Val-NH2), and Ranatensin (Met-NH2) are unequivocally determined at a level of 0.90-2.3 nmol per peptide. This approach is based on entirely different principles than the previous approaches.

Amides↗
PubMed1994

The effect of placenta previa on blood loss in second-trimester pregnancy termination.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether placenta previa increases bleeding during second-trimester pregnancy termination. METHODS: The records of 131 consecutive women undergoing elective pregnancy termination at 13-24 weeks' gestation were reviewed and divided into those with and without placenta previa based on an ultrasound examination before the procedure. These two groups were then compared for differences in maternal characteristics, estimated blood loss, operative time, infection, and hospital admission. RESULTS: Twenty-three of 131 women (17.6%) had placenta previa. Sixty-seven percent of the previa patients smoked, versus 37% in the control group, a statistically significant difference. A statistical difference was noted with respect to placenta previa in intraoperative blood loss (P < .05), but not operative time, time to discharge, infection, hemorrhage, or other complications. CONCLUSION: Second-trimester pregnancy terminations in the presence of placenta previa are associated with a higher estimated blood loss, but no apparent increase in abortion-related infection, postoperative transfusion requirements, hysterectomy, or other complications.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗
PubMed1994

Fine mapping of the autosomal dominant split hand/split foot locus on chromosome 7, band q21.3-q22.1.

Split hand/split foot (SHFD) is a human developmental defect characterized by missing digits, fusion of remaining digits, and a deep median cleft in the hands and feet. Cytogenetic studies of deletions and translocations associated with this disorder have indicated that an autosomal dominant split hand/split foot locus (gene SHFD1) maps to 7q21-q22. To characterize the SHFD1 locus, somatic cell hybrid lines were constructed from cytogenetically abnormal individuals with SHFD. Molecular analysis resulted in the localization of 93 DNA markers to one of 10 intervals surrounding the SHFD1 locus. The translocation breakpoints in four SHFD patients were encompassed by the smallest region of overlap among the SHfD-associated deletions. The order of DNA markers in the SHFD1 critical region has been defined as PON-D7S812-SHFD1-D7S811-ASNS. One DNA marker, D7S811, detected altered restriction enzyme fragments in three patients with translocations when examined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). These data map SHFD1, a gene that is crucial for human limb differentiation, to a small interval in the q21.3-q22.1 region of human chromosome 7.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Application of carboxypeptidase Y and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry for C-terminal sequencing of small peptides.

The application of fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry to the C-terminal amino acid sequence determination of peptides is reported. FAB mass spectrometric analysis of the peptides formed by carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) digestion conveniently provides information about C-terminal amino acid sequences. In these experiments, we accomplished the determination of C-terminal region amino acid sequence of Bradykinin and Angiotensin II. We describe advantages of the combination experiment of CPY and FAB mass spectrometry for C-terminal region amino acid studies of small peptides. The significant advantages of this method are the ability to study peptides without derivatization and the elimination of the separation step of liberated C-terminal amino acids and peptides. With this method, we could overcome several problems which conventionally happened in C-terminal sequence analysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Murine B7-2, an alternative CTLA4 counter-receptor that costimulates T cell proliferation and interleukin 2 production.

The B7-1 molecule, expressed on antigen presenting cells (APC), provides a crucial costimulatory signal for T cell activation. Recent studies demonstrate the existence of alternative, non-B7-1 CTLA4 counter-receptors in mice and humans. Here, we describe the molecular cloning and demonstrate costimulatory function of the murine B7-2 (mB7-2) gene. Murine B7-2 cDNA encodes a member of the Ig supergene family that binds CTLA4-Ig and stains with the GL1 but not anti-mB7-1 mAb. Murine B7-2 costimulates the proliferation and interleukin 2 production of CD4+ T cells and this costimulation can be inhibited by either CTLA4-Ig or GL1 mAb. Identification of the B7-2 molecule will permit further manipulation of the B7:CD28/CTLA4 costimulatory pathway which has been shown to be involved in the prevention of tolerance, induction of tumor immunity, and most recently, in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity.

Abatacept↗
PubMed1993

Protein-lipid interactions and Torpedo californica nicotinic acetylcholine receptor function. 1. Spatial disposition of cysteine residues in the gamma subunit analyzed by fluorescence-quenching and energy-transfer measurements.

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo californica was labeled with a fluorescent, lipophilic probe, N-(1-pyrenyl)maleimide, specific for sulfhydryls in a hydrophobic environment, and was found to alkylate Cys 416, Cys 420 and Cys 451 in the gamma subunit [Li, L., Schuchard, M., Palma, A., Pradier, L., & McNamee, M.G. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 5428-5436]. The spatial disposition of the acetylcholine receptor-bound pyrene with respect to the membrane bilayer was assessed by a combination of fluorescence-quenching and resonance energy transfer measurements, under conditions of selective labeling of the gamma subunit. Quenching of pyrene fluorescence by spin-labeled fatty acids with the doxyl group at positions C-5 and C-12 revealed that the former was more effective, with a Stern-Volmer quenching constant of 0.187 compared to 0.072 for the latter, suggesting that the fluorophore(s) are located closer to the membrane-water interface rather than the hydrophobic interior. Energy transfer was found to occur from tryptophan in the acetylcholine receptor to cysteine-bound pyrene with a distance of separation of approximately 18 A. However, there was no energy transfer when pyrene-labeled AChR was reconstituted into membranes containing brominated phospholipids and cholesterol, suggesting that the fluorophore(s) responsible for energy transfer are located in the membrane domain. Thus, the N-(1-pyrenyl)maleimide can be used to monitor lipid-protein interactions of the AChR.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Improved PCR/NcoI method for the molecular diagnosis of medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency using dried blood samples: two-stage amplification using two different sets of primers improves accuracy and sensitivity.

A 985A-->G transition is the single prevalent mutation representing 89% of all variant medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) alleles that causes MCAD deficiency. We and others previously devised a molecular method for the detection of the 985G allele that involves PCR coupled with NcoI digestion. The method has been widely used. However, when used for the analysis of dried blood samples, it sometimes produced ambiguous results with weak target bands in the presence of numerous artifact bands. An improved version of the method has been developed here, involving two stages of amplification using two different sets of primers. In the first stage, the entire exon-11 was amplified. A small aliquot (5 microliters) of the first PCR products were directly used as a template for the second PCR amplification. The second PCR is similar to the original method, but utilizes a pair of primers encompassing a smaller section within exon-11. The upstream primer incorporates a substitution at 981, so that a NcoI site involving 985G is introduced in the copies of the variant allele, as in the original PCR/NcoI method. The improved 2-stage method produces an intense target band with a very high sensitivity, yet devoid of artifacts, providing clean, unequivocal results.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1993

Uncovering of functional alternative CTLA-4 counter-receptor in B7-deficient mice.

B7 delivers a costimulatory signal through CD28, resulting in interleukin-2 secretion and T cell proliferation. Blockade of this pathway results in T cell anergy. The in vivo role of B7 was evaluated with B7-deficient mice. These mice had a 70 percent decrease in costimulation of the response to alloantigen. Despite lacking B7 expression, activated B cells from these mice bound CTLA-4 and GL1 monoclonal antibody, demonstrating that alternative CTLA-4 ligand or ligands exist. These receptors are functionally important because the residual allogenic mixed lymphocyte responses were blocked by CTLA4Ig. Characterization of these CTLA-4 ligands should lead to strategies for manipulating the immune response.

Abatacept↗
PubMed1993

Effects of beta 6 aromatic amino acids on polymerization and solubility of recombinant hemoglobins made in yeast.

Valine, leucine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine substitutions at the beta 6 position of hemoglobin (Hb) were made using a yeast expression system coupled with a polymerase chain reaction-based mutagenesis strategy. The oxygen affinity and absorption spectra of these mutants were similar to recombinant Hb A except for Hb beta E6W which had a higher absorbance at approximately 280 nm. The deoxy forms of Hb beta E6L and Hb S showed characteristic delay times prior to polymerization. Tetrameric deoxy-Hbs containing tryptophan or phenylalanine at the beta 6 position had higher solubilities and polymerized less readily compared with deoxy-Hb S. However, when oversaturated, these Hbs polymerized without a delay time. These results suggest that Hb beta E6W and Hb beta E6F form polymers upon deoxygenation by a linear polymerization mechanism without nuclei formation. During polymerization, bulky hydrophobic amino acids, like phenylalanine and tryptophan at the beta 6 position, might interact with the acceptor pocket on the surface of an adjacent Hb molecule but may not be able to form stable hydrophobic interactions like beta 6 valine and leucine. Difficulty in insertion of the bulky side chains of these aromatic amino acids into the hydrophobic acceptor pocket on an adjacent tetramer may inhibit nuclei formation prior to polymerization.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1993

JL1, a novel differentiation antigen of human cortical thymocyte.

Expression of a novel thymocyte differentiation antigen, JL1, defined by a monoclonal antibody (mAb) developed against human thymocytes showed a specificity for stage II double positive (CD4+CD8+) human cortical thymocytes. This antigen was not expressed at detectable levels on medullary thymocytes, mature peripheral leukocytes, bone marrow cells or on other types of tissues elsewhere in the human body. Immunohistologic analysis revealed that JL1 had a clear pattern of distribution on cortical thymocytes. Immunoprecipitation of 125I-labeled cell lysates from human thymocytes and Molt-4 leukemic cell line with anti-JL1 mAb yielded a 120-130-kD single chain glycoprotein. When immunoprecipitation of cell lysate was done after endoglycosidase F treatment, JL1 antigen was still detected by antibody but the band showed a reduction in apparent molecular mass of approximately 5 kD. This suggests that, although JL1 molecule contains carbohydrate group, this does not form a critical part of the antigenic determinant for anti-JL1 antibody. JL1 antigen appears to be the first double positive, stage-specific differentiation antigen of human thymocyte reported so far. This antigen would be a useful marker for lymphoblastic malignancy of stage II thymocyte origin and it may be involved in the thymocyte education process.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗
PubMed1993

A rate turbidimetric immunoassay for theophylline using biotin-avidin system.

We describe a biotin-avidin based rate turbidimetric homogeneous immunoassay for the determination of serum theophylline with a measuring range of 0-40 micrograms/ml. The assay features an avidin-biotin-labeled theophylline conjugate and a monoclonal antibody. The rate of change of turbidity caused by the antibody-conjugate complexing was monitored on the Beckman Synchron CX 4 System at 340 nm and 37 degrees C. Theophylline in a sample inhibited the complexation, and the extent of inhibition allowed the quantitation of theophylline in the sample. The within-run coefficient of variation (CV) was < 3.7% and the between-run CV was 5.2-9.2% depending on the theophylline concentration. Linear regression analysis showed a good correlation with an established fluorescence polarization immunoassay (r = 0.9866, n = 94).

Avidin↗
PubMed1993

Partial functional mapping of the human interleukin-8 type A receptor. Identification of a major ligand binding domain.

We have previously demonstrated that a basic amino acid residue of interleukin (IL)-8, namely Arg-6, is critical for the binding of IL-8 to its receptor. We reasoned that this residue is likely to be poised to directly interact with a counterpart acidic residue on the receptor. To identify this key residue, we systematically mutated to Ala all acidic residues present on the ligand accessible surface of IL-8 receptor type A. Using this strategy, we demonstrate that two residues which are present in extracellular loop 3 of the receptor, namely Glu-275 and Arg-280, are critical for ligand binding. In addition, we show that although Asp-11 is critical for ligand binding, a conservative mutation of Asp-11 to Glu or a substitution of Asp-11 with Lys (the residue found at position 11 in IL-8 receptor type B) does not affect the Kd of the receptor/ligand interaction. These data suggest that Lys-11 recruits a new and favorable interaction with IL-8 (analogous to that of IL-8 receptor type B with IL-8) or that the cavity created by mutating Asp-11 to Ala is particularly deleterious. Finally, we discuss fluorescence-activated cell sorter staining data which support the hypothesis that the N-terminal region and the extracellular loop 3 of the receptor may lie in close proximity of one another and constitute a major binding domain for IL-8.

Alanine↗