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J Levin

Publications and source records attributed to J Levin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Immunocytochemical identification of murine and human megakaryocyte colonies in soft-agar cultures.

Murine megakaryocyte (MK) colonies in soft-agar cultures were immunocytochemically stained with platelet antiserum and an immuno-alkaline phosphatase procedure. Subsequently, cytochemical staining for acetylcholinesterase was used to confirm the specificity of the immunolabelling technique. The correlation of numbers of megakaryocyte colonies enumerated by independent observers was excellent. A comparable platelet antiserum directed against human platelet epitopes was utilized to identify human MK colonies in soft-agar cultures of human bone marrow. Using this method, we determined that the frequency of detectable human MK colonies in our agar culture system was maximal between days 10 and 12. The immunocytochemical staining technique we have developed for identification of MK colonies in soft-agar cultures yielded good cellular morphology and produced an intensely specific label against a clear background; it therefore facilitated accurate enumeration of MK colonies. This non-fluorescent method avoids dependence upon a non-permanent marker, and allows the simultaneous enumeration of positive and negative colonies.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1994

Hemoglobin: a newly recognized binding protein for bacterial endotoxins (LPS).

Administration of purified hemoglobin (Hb) as a cell-free resuscitation fluid is associated with multiple organ toxicities. Many of these toxicities are characteristic of the pathophysiological effects of bacterial endotoxins (lipopolysaccharide, LPS). To better understand the potential role of LPS in the observed in vivo toxicities of Hb, we examined mixtures of Hb and LPS for evidence of LPS-Hb complex formation. LPS-Hb complexes were demonstrated by three techniques: ultrafiltration through 300 kDa cut-off membranes, which distinguished LPS in complexes (87-89% < 300 kDa) from LPS alone (90% > 300 kDa); density centrifugation through sucrose, which distinguished denser LPS alone from LPS-Hb complexes; and precipitation by 67% ethanol, which demonstrated 2-3 fold increased precipitability of Hb in complexes compared to Hb alone. Interaction of LPS with Hb was also associated with markedly increased biological activity of LPS, as manifested by enhancement of LPS activation of Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), increased release of human mononuclear cell tissue factor, and enhanced production of human endothelial cell tissue factor. These results demonstrated that hemoglobin can serve as an endotoxin binding protein, and that this interaction results in the alteration of several of the physical characteristics of LPS and enhancement of the biological activities of LPS. These findings suggest that a mechanism for the toxicity of infused Hb in vivo may involve potentiation of the biological effects of LPS. In addition, these observations suggest a mechanism by which LPS-related morbidity during sepsis could be enhanced by erythrocyte hemolysis.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1993

A single amino-acid substitution in the Ets domain alters core DNA binding specificity of Ets1 to that of the related transcription factors Elf1 and E74.

Ets proteins form a family of sequence specific DNA binding proteins which bind DNA through a 85 aminoacids conserved domain, the Ets domain, whose sequence is unrelated to any other characterized DNA binding domain. Unlike all other known Ets proteins, which bind specific DNA sequences centered over either GGAA or GGAT core motifs, E74 and Elf1 selectively bind to GGAA corecontaining sites. Elf1 and E74 differ from other Ets proteins in three residues located in an otherwise highly conserved region of the Ets domain, referred to as conserved region III (CRIII). We show that a restricted selectivity for GGAA core-containing sites could be conferred to Ets1 upon changing a single lysine residue within CRIII to the threonine found in Elf1 and E74 at this position. Conversely, the reciprocal mutation in Elf1 confers to this protein the ability to bind to GGAT core containing EBS. This, together with the fact that mutation of two invariant arginine residues in CRIII abolishes DNA binding, indicates that CRIII plays a key role in Ets domain recognition of the GGAA/T core motif and lead us to discuss a model of Ets proteins--core motif interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Induction of apoptosis in blood cells from a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia by SC41661A, a selective inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase.

Participation of leukotriene products in normal ex vivo hematopoiesis is well established. With increasingly specific inhibitors of lipoxygenases, it becomes possible to more closely define any participation of their biosynthetic products in these events. We cultured chronic myelogenous leukemia cells from the peripheral blood of several patients in blast crisis with three inhibitors of lipoxygenases: ETYA, and the more selective A63162 (Abbott) or SC41661A (Searle). All three agents reduced labelling of DNA with H3 thymidine measured at 4 h and reduced cell numbers by 72 h. An antisense deoxyoligonucleotide to the 5-lipoxygenase mRNA 'start' codon inhibited DNA synthesis at 24 h, as did two control oligonucleotides. Marked nuclear ultrastructural changes characteristic of apoptosis were induced by SC41661A in a subset of cells with the ultrastructure of promyelocytes. Whether this response characterizes a common pattern of this subset of leukemic cells to SC41661A, if damage to mitochondria with reduced function of bcl-2 protooncogene product located at that site might have contributed or some other mechanism was responsible, and if inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase activity was involved, are questions to be decided in the future.

5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraynoic Acid↗
PubMed1993

Failure of the International Normalized Ratio to generate consistent results within a local medical community.

Use of the International Normalized Ratio (INR) has been recommended as a means of standardizing prothrombin time (PT) results for management of oral anticoagulant therapy. During the evaluation of a new lot of thromboplastin reagent, however, INR values were obtained that were inconsistent with results obtained with the prior lot of reagent from the same manufacturer. A local normalized ratio (LNR) was substituted for the INR for the new reagent, based on a calculated local sensitivity index (LSI). Validation of the LSI was performed at the three hospitals in the medical community by testing an identical panel of aliquots from 64 plasmas obtained from patients who were chronically receiving oral anticoagulants. Each test result was classified according to the INR value as low, low therapeutic, high therapeutic, or high. Local normalized ratio values obtained at one hospital in the community were in reasonable agreement with INR determinations in the other two hospital laboratories. Classification mismatches occurred using the INR, however, in 84 of 280 (30%) of the paired samples. Thus, the inability to generate consistent INR values within a local medical community raises serious concern about the reliability of the INR concept in its current form.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed1993

A reevaluation of the role of crystalloid preload in the prevention of hypotension associated with spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean section.

BACKGROUND: Hypotension after spinal anesthesia for cesarean section remains a common and serious complication despite the use of uterine displacement and volume preloading. The current study revaluated the role of crystalloid volume preloading in this context. METHODS: In a two-stage open sequential design, patients presenting for elective repeat cesarean section were allocated to receive either no preload or 20 ml/kg crystalloid administered over 15-20 min before spinal anesthesia. Hypotension was defined as a decrease in systolic pressure to less than 100 mmHg and to less than 80% of baseline value, and the study was designed to detect a 20% difference in the incidence of hypotension between the groups, with statistical significance at the 10% (alpha = 0.1) level, one-tailed. RESULTS: One hundred forty patients were studied. Hypotension occurred in 43 (55%, 95% CI 43.4-66.4) preloaded and 44 (71%, 95% CI 58-81.8) unpreloaded subjects, a difference in incidence of 16% (95% CI 0.04-31.6), which was statistically significant. There were no significant differences in the severity, timing, or duration of hypotension; the dose requirement for ephedrine; or the clinical and biochemical status of neonates between the groups. The only difference seen was a lower mean base excess (-3.4, SD 2.81 mM-1) in the neonates of hypotensive mothers compared to neonates of nonhypotensive mothers (-2.4, SD 1.99 mM-1). CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms that hypotension associated with spinal anesthesia for cesarean section cannot be eliminated by volume preloading in the supine wedged patient. The relatively small reduction in incidence of hypotension challenges our perception of the value of crystalloid preload. Though volume preload in the elective cesarean section is advocated, the requirement for a mandatory administration of a fixed volume before spinal anesthesia for urgent cases has been abandoned.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Distribution of bacterial endotoxin in human and rabbit blood and effects of stroma-free hemoglobin.

Bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) is known to interact with numerous components of blood, including erythrocytes, mononuclear cells, platelets, neutrophils, lipoproteins, and plasma proteins. The relative affinities of LPS for these elements, and the distribution of LPS between them, are unknown. Cross-linked stroma-free hemoglobin (SFH), a potential substitute for erythrocyte transfusion, produces in vivo toxicity in animals consistent with significant LPS contamination. Therefore, we studied the distribution of LPS in human and rabbit blood and examined whether the presence of SFH altered LPS distribution. In either the presence or absence of SFH, LPS was associated predominantly with high-density lipoproteins and apoproteins. There was lesser binding to low- and very-low-density lipoproteins. Examination of the apoprotein pool by column chromatography and density centrifugation demonstrated that LPS in this fraction was predominantly protein bound. Binding of LPS to SFH resulted in dissociation of a portion of the LPS into low-molecular-weight complexes. Cell-bound LPS was only 2 to 16% of the total and was unaffected by SFH. The distribution among blood cells demonstrated predominant binding to platelets in human blood but predominant binding to erythrocytes in rabbit blood. Cellular distribution was not significantly altered by SFH.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1993

Biological and biochemical characteristics of murine megakaryoblastic cell line L8057.

Biological and biochemical characteristics of a murine megakaryoblastic cell line (L8057), derived from an irradiated C3H/He mouse, were studied. The L8057 cells grew in liquid cultures with a doubling time of 24 to 27 hours. By light and electron microscopy, the L8057 cells were small and basophilic with a high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, but large cells (approximately 25 to 60 microns) were sometimes seen. Western blot analysis of cell extracts demonstrated that murine megakaryocyte and platelet antigens, glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa, fibronectin, and factor VIII:RAg were expressed in L8057 cells. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-positive cells were rare (< 2.0%). Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that 8.7% of the cells were spontaneously polyploid (> 4N DNA levels). In response to phorbol diester (TPA, 50 nm), L8057 cells showed a decrease in proliferation and a marked increase in cell size and amount of cytoplasm. The morphology of the cells became similar to that of megakaryocytes, with larger and lobulated nuclei and expansion of the demarcation membrane system compartment. The proportion of cells with ploidy levels greater than 4N increased to 40.8% (8N, 21.3 +/- 3.2%; 16N, 13.1 +/- 2.6%; > or = 32N, 6.4 +/- 4.9% [n = 4]). More than 90% of the cells became AChE-positive. TPA also increased the expression of GP IIb/IIIa, fibronectin and factor VIII:RAg. Thus, the L8057 cell line provides a potentially superior model with which to study the characteristics of megakaryocytic biology, differentiation and biochemistry.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1992

Purification of Limulus polyphemus proclotting enzyme.

Horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus and Tachypleus tridentatus) possess a proteolytic blood coagulation system within their amebocytes that, after release and endotoxin activation, generates a polymerized insoluble coagulin clot. Clotting enzyme from horseshoe crab amebocyte lysate is the protease that activates the clottable protein (coagulogen) which then forms the coagulin clot. Comparison of the previously published descriptions of this enzyme has revealed significantly discordant biochemical characteristics. We purified a 60-kDa proclotting enzyme from L. polyphemus amebocyte lysate to a single band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. After electrophoresis, evaluation of enzymatic activity of this protein within gels demonstrated that the band of purified protein corresponded to enzymatic activity, as detected by amidolytic activity for chromogenic substrates and by gelation of coagulogen applied to the gel. The enzymatic activity was inhibited by serine protease inhibitors. The purified proclotting enzyme had a molecular weight and amino acid composition different from the previously published characterizations of proclotting enzymes from both L. polyphemus and T. tridentatus.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1992

Evidence that interleukin-6 does not play a role in the stimulation of platelet production after induction of acute thrombocytopenia.

The induction of thrombocytopenia results in elevated levels of thrombopoietin (TPO), which can be detected in the plasma of experimental animals. Acute, severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count less than 5% of control) was produced in mice by the administration of either guinea pig or rabbit antimouse platelet antiserum. Control mice received equal volumes of normal serum. At various times after the induction of thrombocytopenia (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours) citrated plasma was collected, and circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured using the IL-6-dependent murine hybridoma cell line B9. At no time points after induction of thrombocytopenia were plasma IL-6 levels significantly different from control animals that received normal serum. However, injection of heterologous serum did result in slightly elevated plasma IL-6 levels (at 2 and 3 hours) compared with basal levels measured in uninjected animals. This brief increase was not related to the production of thrombocytopenia. Protein fractions from the plasma of thrombocytopenic rabbits were also tested for the presence of IL-6. Preparations that contained TPO, as shown by stimulation of megakaryocyte maturation in vitro, did not contain detectable levels of IL-6. The ability of the B9 assay to detect the elevation of IL-6 levels in murine or rabbit plasma was verified after the administration of bacterial endotoxin, which is known to increase circulating IL-6 concentrations. IL-6 levels were highly elevated in rabbit or mouse serum after the administration of 5 mg/kg or 1 mg/kg of endotoxin, respectively. Anti-IL-6 antiserum did not neutralize the in vitro megakaryocyte maturation activity of partially purified TPO from the plasma of thrombocytopenic rabbits. In addition, IgG purified from the same antiserum did not neutralize partially purified TPO, as shown after incubation with TPO and subsequent precipitation with agarose-bound protein A. These results show that, unlike TPO, levels of IL-6 do not increase after the induction of acute, severe thrombocytopenia, and strongly suggest that IL-6 does not mediate the thrombopoietic response to acute thrombocytopenia. Although prolonged administration of IL-6 has been shown to induce thrombocytosis, IL-6 and TPO are apparently different and immunologically distinct molecules.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Composition of lipid A in the S and R forms of Shigella dysenteriae serovar 1.

A chemical analysis was performed of lipid A, isolated by acid hydrolysis of the lipopolysaccharide from the S and R forms of Shigella dysenteriae serovar 1. Differences in the moiety of both lipids and sugars were compared. The lipid portion consisted of a homologous series of fatty acids ranging from C12:0 to C18:0 (predominant homologues, C12:0, C14:0 and C16:0) and the homologous series of 3-hydroxy acids ranging from C12:0 to C16:0 (predominant homologue, 3-OH-C14:0). The major sugar portion consisted of D-glucosamine. The toxicity of lipid A in mice (LD50) ranged between 300-400 micrograms/mouse, and values from the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay were recorded as titres of 10(-5) to 10(-6) mg/ml.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The safety and efficacy of ten percent pentastarch as a cardiopulmonary bypass priming solution. A randomized clinical trial.

Ten percent pentastarch is a low-molecular-weight hydroxyethyl starch with greater oncotic pressure and shorter intravascular persistence than 6% hetastarch. To evaluate its safety and efficacy as a component of cardiopulmonary bypass priming solution, we prospectively studied 90 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting or valve replacement necessitating cardiopulmonary bypass (bubble oxygenator and moderate systemic hypothermia). Sixty patients were randomized to receive 75 gm of either 10% pentastarch (group P) or 25% albumin (group A), and 30 patients received lactated Ringer's solution alone (group C). Intravascular colloid osmotic pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass was highest with either of the colloid primes (15-minute measurement: group P, 15.7 +/- 2.2 mm Hg (mean +/- standard deviation); group A, 15.2 +/- 2.0 mm Hg; group C, 11.3 +/- 1.7 mm Hg; p less than 0.05, groups P and A compared with group C). This was associated with a lower volume requirement during cardiopulmonary bypass to maintain the venous reservoir (group P, 333 +/- 318 ml; group A, 483 +/- 472 ml; group C, 1332 +/- 1013 ml; p less than 0.05, groups P and A compared with group C). Urine output during cardiopulmonary bypass was similar in each group. Net intraoperative fluid balance was lowest in the colloid groups (groups P and A, 5.7 +/- 1.4 L; group C, 6.9 +/- 1.3 L; p less than 0.05, groups P and A compared with group C). Cardiac index shortly after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass was greatest in group P (group P, 3.2 +/- 0.9; group A, 2.8 +/- 0.8; group C, 2.7 +/- 0.6 dyne.sec.cm-5; p less than 0.05, group P compared with group C). Changes in alveolar-arterial oxygen gradients, shunt fraction, and effective compliance were similar in all groups. During cardiopulmonary bypass, pentastarch appeared to cause the greatest degree of hemodilution, as suggested by the lowest hemoglobin, factor VII and IX levels and platelet count. The activated partial thromboplastin time was significantly prolonged during and immediately after cardiopulmonary bypass in group P relative to groups A and C (p less than 0.05), although there were no significant differences in the activated clotting time before cardiopulmonary bypass, during cardiopulmonary bypass, or after heparin neutralization. As well, clinical indices of hemostasis, including mediastinal drainage, red cell, platelet, and fresh frozen plasma requirements, and reoperation for excessive postoperative bleeding, were similar. We conclude that pentastarch, when used in cardiopulmonary bypass prime, is as safe as either albumin or Ringer's solution alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Blood Coagulation↗