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Biomedical subjects

J Martinez

Publications and source records attributed to J Martinez.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

In vivo immunopharmacological properties of tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) and some analogues.

Tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) is part of the Fc fragment of a leukophilic IgG and is a stimulator of the phagocytic activity of macrophages and polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) when cleaved from its carrier molecule. Tuftsin was shown to stimulate in vitro all PMN and macrophage functions examined through binding to specific cell surface receptors. In the present work, we provide further evidence that synthetic tuftsin administered to mice may act as an immunomodulator and that its effects on immune functions may result from a primary action on macrophages. After i.v. injection at a dosage of 25 micrograms/mouse, tuftsin stimulated effector (phagocytosis) and regulatory (IL1 production) functions of macrophages and potentiated DTH reaction. Lymphocyte functions (proliferative response to mitogens, T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, IL2 and gamma IFN production) were depressed at times at which macrophage activities were maximally enhanced, suggesting that negative regulatory functions of these latter cells were also stimulated. Tuftsin analogues were synthetized representing substitution or derivatization of the threonyl residue. The relative potencies of these analogues in augmenting phagocytosis-induced chemiluminescence of macrophages were tuftsin greater than or equal to (Gly1)-tuftsin greater than for-tuftsin greater than (for-Met1)-tuftsin greater than (Met1)-tuftsin. Concerning potentiation of DTH reaction the order was (Gly1)-tuftsin greater than or equal to (for-Met1)tuftsin greater than tuftsin greater than (Met1)-tuftsin greater than for-tuftsin. In contrast to tuftsin, none of the analogues induced depression of spleen cell reactivity to mitogens. In addition, (for Met1)-tuftsin administration resulted in an increased production of IL2 and IFN by ConA-stimulated spleen cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Platelet dysfunction in uremia. II. Correction by arachidonic acid of the impaired exposure of fibrinogen receptors by adenosine diphosphate or collagen.

Previous studies showed that platelets from patients with uremia have a marked decrease in their aggregation response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and collagen as single agents or as a pair. It is known that small amounts of arachidonic acid can enhance the sensitivity of platelets to concentrations of ADP or collagen that do not cause aggregation when used singly. Stimulation of platelets by certain agonists induces the formation of fibrinogen receptors on the platelet surface. The binding of fibrinogen that follows is essential for platelet aggregation. The platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex appears to be the site of the fibrinogen receptor. Therefore, we investigated the binding of iodine 125-labeled fibrinogen to uremic platelets exposed to ADP, collagen, or arachidonic acid as single agents and as pairs. When aggregation and binding were studied in response to ADP, collagen, or the combination of ADP with collagen, uremic platelets had reduced aggregation and bound abnormally low amounts of fibrinogen. In contrast, platelets from patients with uremia bound as much 125I-fibrinogen and aggregated as well as controls when ADP or collagen were used in combination with low concentrations of arachidonic acid. Studies with a monoclonal antibody (B 79.7) suggested that the number of glycoprotein IIb-IIa molecules is the same in uremic and normal platelets. We conclude that uremia impairs the exposure of fibrinogen receptors on platelets in response to ADP or collagen without affecting the glycoprotein IIb-IIa complex quantitatively. Correction by arachidonic acid of the impaired aggregation and exposure of fibrinogen receptors by ADP or collagen suggests that abnormal release of endogenous arachidonic acid plays a role in the dysfunction of platelets in uremia.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Partial purification of polypeptides activating catalase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In a previous paper the existence of an activating factor for catalase biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was reported. The partial purification of this factor by ammonium sulphate precipitation and chromatography is described. Several fractions with different molecular weights manifesting catalase activity in repressed cultures of S. cerevisiae were obtained, and are discussed.

Catalase↗

Late results of mitral valve replacement with the Björk-Shiley prosthesis in children under 16 years of age.

The late results of isolated mitral valve replacement were evaluated in 37 children under 16 years of age receiving a Björk-Shiley prosthesis for the treatment of rheumatic mitral lesions. Three patients died, one during the operation and the others 2 months postoperatively. Of the latter two, one had a cerebral hemorrhage and the second had septicemia. The survivors were followed up for a mean of 4.7 years (range 2.8 to 8.9 years). After the operation, all patients were placed on a strict anticoagulant regimen with acenocoumarol. The actuarial survival rate was 92% at the end of the follow-up period. Before valve replacement two patients were in New York Heart Association Class I, 15 in Class II, 18 in Class III, and two in Class IV. After treatment 33 were in Class I and one in Class II. No instances of thromboembolism or infective endocarditis were observed in the survivors. Twenty-one patients underwent cardiac catheterization 2 to 7 years after the operation for evaluation of surgical results. The mean pulmonary artery systolic pressure decreased significantly after operation (p = 0.001), and the mean pulmonary artery wedge pressure decreased to normal values (p = 0.001). A mild mean diastolic gradient across the mitral valve at rest was found after the operation (4.9 +/- 2.4 mm Hg). During isometric exercise this gradient increased to 6.5 +/- 4.6 mm Hg. In two patients a discrete paravalvular leak was demonstrated by cineangiography, but the pulmonary wedge pressure was normal in both. The overall results with the Björk-Shiley prosthesis are encouraging in patients in whom reconstructive operations cannot be performed.

Adolescent↗

Neutralization of African swine fever virus by sera from African swine fever-resistant pigs.

Sera from African swine fever-resistant pigs with infection-inhibitory activity decreased virus replication in infected porcine buffy coat cultures. This same effect was observed even after virus was adsorbed. The infection-inhibition was not reversed by removing the immune serum from the assay cultures. Reduction of African swine fever virus replication by immune sera was demonstrated by fluorescent focus assay on MS cell line cultures. Virus-neutralization tests showed a persistent fraction of non-neutralized virus, which was not demonstrable by infection-inhibition tests. One hypothesis for explaining this difference is proposed.

African Swine Fever↗

Oxyntomodulin (glucagon-37) and its C-terminal octapeptide inhibit gastric acid secretion.

Oxyntomodulin (OXM) is a peptide isolated from porcine intestine which consists of the whole glucagon sequence with a basic octapeptide (KA8) at its C-terminal end. In this study, the effect of OXM and KA8 on pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid secretion has been studied in conscious rats and cats. In rats, OXM (25-450 pmol . kg-1) as well as KA8 (7.5-60 nmol . kg-1) inhibited pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid output in a dose-dependent manner; KA8 was about 100-times less potent than OXM. In cats, KA8 (90 nmol . kg-1) was also an inhibitor of acid secretion. We conclude that OXM, or a closely related peptide, could be a physiological modulator of gastric acid secretion, and that the C-terminal octapeptide of OXM is implicated in this effect.

Animals↗

Abilities of some tryptophan and phenylalanine derivatives to inhibit gastric acid secretion.

Benzotript (N-p-chlorobenzoyl-L-tryptophan) has been shown to be a receptor-antagonist in vivo and in vitro for peptides from the gastrin family. In the present study, we examine tryptophan, and some of its N- and C-acylated derivatives, as well as some phenylalanine derivatives, to show their ability to inhibit gastrin-induced acid secretion in the rat in vivo and to compete for the binding of [125I]-(Leu-15)-HG-17 to its cellular receptor on rabbit isolated gastric mucosal cells. N- and C- derivatives of tryptophan and phenylalanine were found to inhibit gastrin-induced acid secretion and binding of [125I]-(Leu-15)-HG-17 to its mucosal cell receptors. By either criterion, the relative antagonistic potencies of the compounds tested were: tert-butyloxycarbonyl-L-tryphophan-p-nitrophenyl ester approximately equal to tert-butyloxycarbonyl-L-tryptophan-carbamoylmethyl ester greater than tert-butyloxycarbonyl-L-tryptophyl-L-methionyl-carbamoylmethyl ester approximately equal to tert-butyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanine-carbamoylmethyl ester approximately equal to tert-butyloxycarbonyl-L-tryptophyl-L-methionyl-amide greater than tert-butyloxycarbonyl-L-tryptophan greater than tert-butyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanine greater than benzyloxycarbonyl-L-tryptophan approximately equal to benzotript, with minor differences between the in vivo and the in vitro experiments. These results demonstrate that both the nature of the amino acid residue and the N- and C-substitutions are important in determining antagonist activity and affinity for gastrin receptors.

Animals↗

Platelet dysfunction in uremia. Multifaceted defect partially corrected by dialysis.

In an attempt to elucidate the nature of the bleeding tendency in uremia, some in vitro functions of platelets from eight patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis were studied. None of the patients had diabetes. All had bleeding times longer than eight minutes. Threshold aggregating concentrations for collagen, adenosine diphosphate, and epinephrine, when used singly or in pairs, were two to three times higher than normal in platelet-rich plasmas from these patients. In contrast, those for arachidonic acid and U-46619, a cyclic endoperoxide/thromboxane A2 analogue, were within the normal ranges. Thromboxane B2 formation was normal in response to arachidonic acid (0.2 to 1 mM), whereas it was decreased by 30 to 50 percent in response to thrombin (0.5 to 10 units/ml), collagen (0.5 to 10 micrograms/ml), and the combination of collagen with adenosine diphosphate or epinephrine. There was a partial (about 35 percent) reduction of the platelet granular content of adenosine diphosphate. Secretion of adenosine triphosphate by 5 units/ml of thrombin was 25 to 50 percent less than in normal subjects. Thus, there was a storage pool defect as well. Similar but less severe defects were found in platelets from uremic patients who had never undergone hemodialysis. Partial correction of aggregation and thromboxane B2 formation was seen after dialysis, although platelet adenosine diphosphate content did not increase. It is concluded that the platelet dysfunction in uremia is multifaceted. There appears to be an aggregation and secretion defect related to impaired arachidonic acid release from platelet phospholipids as well as a storage pool defect. The first is improved with dialysis; the second is not.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Synthesis of the C-terminal octapeptide of pig oxyntomodulin. Lys-Arg-Asn-Lys-Asn-Asn-Ile-Ala: a potent inhibitor of pentagastrin-induced acid secretion.

The synthesis of Lys-Arg-Asn-Lys-Asn-Asn-Ile-Ala representing the C-terminal octapeptide of oxyntomodulin isolated from pig intestine is described. Its structure was confirmed by its 360-MHz 1H NMR spectra. The octapeptide was tested for its ability to inhibit pentagastrin-induced acid secretion, in the anaesthetized rat, in the conscious rat with chronic gastric fistula, and in the conscious cat with gastric chronic fistula. The octapeptide inhibits pentagastrin-induced acid secretion in all three models. Compared to oxyntomodulin, the parent hormone, the synthetic peptide was approximately 150 times less potent but has the same efficacy. Biological data are presented and discussed.

Animals↗

Synthesis and biological activities of some pseudo-peptide analogues of tetragastrin: the importance of the peptide backbone.

Pseudo-peptide analogues of the C-terminal tetrapeptide of gastrin, in which a peptide bond has been replaced by a CH2-NH bond, i.e. (tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-L-tryptophyl-psi (CH2-NH)-L-leucyl-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine amide (8), (tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-L-tryptophyl-L-leucyl-psi (CH2-NH)-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine amide (13), (tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-L-tryptophyl-L-leucyl-L-aspartyl-psi (CH2NH)-L-phenylalanine amide (20), were synthesized. The pseudo-peptides 8 and 13 were shown to have the same affinity as (tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-L-tryptophyl-L-leucyl-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine amide (21) for the gastrin receptor on isolated mucosal cells. The pseudo-peptide 20 exhibited lower affinity (IC50 congruent to 10(-5) M). The biological activity of these pseudo-peptides was studied on acid secretion in the anesthetized rat. Compound 8 stimulated acid secretion, identically with that of 21. Compound 13 did not exhibit any agonist activity but was able to antagonize the action of gastrin (ED50 = 0.3 mg/kg). Compound 20 did not show any agonist activity but was able to inhibit gastrin-induced acid secretion, with lower potency (ED50 = 15 mg/kg). The importance of the peptide bonds in the mode of action of gastrin is discussed, and a hypothetical approach of the mechanism of action is presented.

Animals↗

Structure-activity relationships of C-terminal tri- and tetrapeptide fragments that inhibit gastrin activity.

A series of tri- and tetrapeptide derivatives, analogues of the gastrin C-terminal region with no phenylalanine residue, were synthesized. These peptides were tested for their ability to inhibit gastrin-stimulated acid secretion in vivo as well as binding of [125I]-(Nle11)-HG-13 to gastric mucosal cell receptors in vitro. Most of the peptides tested exhibited gastrin antagonist activity in vivo and in vitro. Most active derivatives were 20-30 times more potent than the well-known gastrin antagonist derivatives proglumide and benzotript and had 20-200 times more binding affinity. The smallest fragment exhibiting antagonist activity was the tripeptide Boc-L-tryptophyl-L-methionyl-L-aspartic acid amide.

Animals↗

Synthesis of Z-CCK-27-32-NH2, Z-Tyr(SO-3)-Met-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-NH2, a cholecystokinin receptor antagonist and an inhibitor of gastrin-induced acid secretion.

The synthesis of the hexapeptide Z-Tyr(SO-3)-Met-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-NH2, representing the C-terminal sequence of cholecystokinin minus the C-terminal phenylalanyl residue is described. This peptide was shown to be the most potent cholecystokinin receptor antagonist in vitro described to date. It is also able to inhibit gastrin-induced acid secretion in vivo, in the rat and was proved to antagonize the action of the C-terminal octapeptide of cholecystokinin in the central nervous system.

Animals↗

The role of the carbohydrate moiety in the biologic properties of fibrinogen.

The carbohydrate moiety of some glycoproteins influences their secretion and functional properties. We have examined the importance of the oligosaccharide chains of fibrinogen in this regard. Fibrinogen was labeled de novo by the addition to rabbit hepatocyte monolayer cultures of either 3H-amino-acids or [2-3H] mannose, in the presence or absence of tunicamycin, a potent inhibitor of glycosylation. Inhibition of glycosylation, which ranged from 75 to 80%, was determined by incorporation of [2-3H]mannose as quantitated by gel filtration. Synthesis and secretion of fibrinogen were quantitated by 3H-amino-acid incorporation, using anti-fibrinogen immunoaffinity column chromatography of medium and cell homogenates. Tunicamycin did not appreciably inhibit fibrinogen synthesis, as compared to a 30-40% inhibition of overall protein synthesis, determined by incorporation of 3H-amino-acids into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable material. There was no evidence that secretion of fibrinogen was impaired. Fibrinogen from medium was copurified by adding cold plasma fibrinogen as carrier. Nonglycosylated fibrinogen was found to be functional as demonstrated by incorporation of radioactivity into clots of the copurified material at a rate identical to that of glycosylated fibrinogen. When clotted in the presence of Ca2+ and Factor XIII, cross-linking of glycosylated and nonglycosylated fibrin was demonstrable on fluorography of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, showing disappearance of gamma-chain and appearance of gamma-gamma-dimers.

Animals↗

Reproductive disorders in dairy cattle: I. Respective influence of herds, seasons, milk yield and parity.

This study was performed in two large dairy units (with 130 and 213 calving cows each) during one year. The objectives were to investigate 1) epidemiological patterns of main post-partum reproductive disorders (metritis, post-partum and post-service anestrus, repeat breeding and embryonic death) and 2) the impact of herd, calving season, milk yield and parity on these patterns. Approximately 20% of the cows in both herds were not affected by any of the disorders. Prevalence of metritis was high (32 to 44%) and appeared influenced by the herds' conditions interacting with calving months and milk yield effects. Cyclic post-partum anestrus incidence was also essentially affected by the herd effect with an added seasonal interaction. Other disorders in both herds were also primarily subjected to the seasonal effect. Individual milk yield and parity only marginally affected the epidemiological patterns. We concluded that even in similar environmental conditions, no general patterns of incidence of reproductive disorders can be drawn and that they are essentially dependent on the characteristics of each herd management.

Journal Article↗