Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Picard

Publications and source records attributed to J Picard.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans].

Glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. Numerous studies focused on glycosaminoglycans have provided evidence for a relationship between the distribution of these macromolecules in the connective tissue and their structure as well as their ionic and mechanic properties. However, a major advance has been made recently with the cloning of the genes coding for the protein cores of proteoglycans, which established not only the high structural diversity of the proteoglycans but also their activity to self-aggregate and to interact with other macromolecules of the extracellular matrix. Furthermore, the finding that the biosynthesis of proteoglycans is regulated by several exocrine factors and also the fact that they are differentially located within the cell or on their surface pointed to the importance of the potential role of these macromolecules in several biological processes including: inhibition of coagulation, control of lipolysis, cell-to-cell and cell-matrix recognition and communication, adherence, modulation of biological responses to various agents such as growth factors, secretagogues, oncogens and mitogens.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Evaluation of consumptions of alcoholic drinks during the National Service].

Using only ingested alcohol quantity, where individual erroneous values are counted and weigh a lot, alcohol consumption evaluation is biased. An original alcohol consumption evaluation is explained: ordinal factor analysis, and evaluation scales are described. This study shows several people groups, whose sensitivity about alcohol consumption safety varies greatly: from people whose alcohol consumption is low and have a bad picture of alcohol, to people whose consumption is high, have a good picture of alcohol, or think that their consumption is low or normal. In fact, for the last ones, alcohol consumption safety will never be effective.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Computer analysis of audiograms in epidemiologic surveillance of cohorts exposed to excessive noise].

We have developed a method for the assessment of auditive loss using a sample of 1794 Bekesy audiograms recorded in young military students. A rectangular digital filter was used to smooth rough audiogram signals so as to detect pathological patterns such as scotoms and recruitments. Three factors were extracted from principal component analysis. They were correlated with the usual auditory indices and explained 70% of the total observed variance. The first factor is a general indicator of deafness, while the second and third describe the shapes of the hearing threshold level (asymmetry and convexity). This method can be used for rapid identification of suspect audiograms and is thus of value for epidemiological surveillance of populations exposed to impulsive noise.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Differential role of insulin receptor autophosphorylation sites 1162 and 1163 in the long-term insulin stimulation of glucose transport, glycogenesis, and protein synthesis.

The long-term regulatory effect of insulin on glucose transport activity and glucose transporter expression was examined in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) transfectants that overexpress either human insulin receptors of the wild type (CHO-R cells) or human insulin receptors mutated at two major autophosphorylation sites, Tyr1162 and Tyr1163 (CHO-Y2 cells). Previous studies showed that, when acutely stimulated by insulin, CHO-Y2 cells exhibit decreased receptor kinase activity along with decreased signaling of several pathways, including that for glucose transport, as compared with CHO-R cells. We now report the following. (i) When treated for 24 h with insulin (10(-10) to 10(-6) M), CHO-R and CHO-Y2 cells displayed closely similar concentration-dependent increases in 2-deoxyglucose uptake. In both transfectants, the maximal insulin-induced increase (approximately 3.5-fold) in uptake was cycloheximide-sensitive and was paralleled by equivalent increases in the levels of GLUT-1 immunoreactive protein and mRNA. (ii) By contrast, under similar conditions, CHO-Y2 cells exhibited a marked decrease in their response to insulin for [U-14C]glucose incorporation into glycogen (decreased sensitivity and maximal responsiveness) and for [U-14C]leucine incorporation into protein (decreased sensitivity) as compared with CHO-R cells. (iii) After a 24-h treatment with 10(-7) M insulin, CHO-R (but not CHO-Y2) cells showed a decreased ability to respond to a subsequent acute insulin stimulation of either receptor exogenous kinase activity or 2-deoxyglucose uptake as compared with respective untreated controls. These results indicate that (i) insulin receptors mutated at Tyr1162 and Tyr1163 retain normal signaling of the long-term stimulatory effect of insulin on glucose transport activity and GLUT-1 expression, but not on glycogenesis and overall protein synthesis; (ii) these three insulin signaling pathways may be triggered by distinct domains of the insulin receptor beta-subunit; and (iii) wild-type (but not twin-tyrosine mutant) receptors undergo negative regulation by chronic insulin treatment for subsequent signaling of acute biological actions of insulin.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Growth-related production of proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid in synchronous arterial smooth muscle cells.

1. The growth-stimulating effect of serum on the proteoglycan and hyaluronic acid production in arterial smooth muscle cells was investigated, using cells synchronized by serum deprivation. 2. After stimulation, synthesis of [35S]sulfated proteoglycans and [14C]hyaluronic acid increased during G1 and G2 phases (about 2- and 5-fold, respectively, in the culture medium), in comparison with quiescent cells. 3. Neither the size, nor the charge, nor the relative proportions of [35S]glycosaminoglycans of the proteoglycans were modified. 4. However, when the cells were stimulated to divide, increased synthesis of large [14C]hyaluronic acid was observed concomitantly with the production of higher hydrodynamic size [35S]proteoglycans, which aggregated with hyaluronic acid (20%).

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The effect of malaria on work time: analysis of data from two Nepali districts.

Malaria patients' loss of effective work time can account for an important proportion of the disease's economic cost. Here the extent, incidence and determinants of this loss are investigated. Data from 695 matched patient-control pairs from Nawal Parasi and Dhanusa districts in Nepal are analysed. Pairwise differences in work time are attributed to malaria, and the individual influences of the differences' determinants identified by regression. The mean pairwise differences in the number of days wholly and partially disabled by illness in the month preceding interview were respectively 5.31 (95% confidence interval 4.82-5.79) and 1.21 days (95% CI 0.95-1.47). The interval between fever onset and presumptive treatment, parasite species, the density of peripheral parasitaemia and district of residence each exerted significant influences over the difference in complete disability. The mean pairwise difference in the number of minutes worked on the day before the interview was 108 (95% CI 97-120). Socioeconomic variables, the interval between interview and perceived complete recovery, the pairwise difference in the number of days' complete disability in the month preceding interview and district of residence were significant to this difference. Poorer patients lose more time. The results corroborate past assumptions of debility, demonstrate that malaria's effect on effective work time may vary between socioeconomic groups, and underline the economic importance of speedy case detection and presumptive treatment.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1991

Stimulation of large proteoglycan synthesis in cultured smooth muscle cells from pig aorta by endothelial cell-conditioned medium.

We have previously shown (Berrou et al., J. Cell. Phys., 137:430-438, 1988) that porcine endothelial cell-conditioned medium (ECCM) stimulates proteoglycan synthesis by smooth muscle cells from pig aorta. ECCM stimulation requires protein cores for glycosaminoglycan chain initiation and is accompanied by an increase in the hydrodynamic size of proteoglycans secreted into the medium. This work investigates the mechanisms involved in the ECCM effect. 1) Control and ECCM stimulated proteoglycan synthesis (measured by a 20 min [35S]-sulfate labeling assay) was not inhibited by cycloheximide, indicating that the proteoglycans were composed of preexisting protein cores and that ECCM stimulates glycosylation of these protein cores. 2) Whereas ECCM stimulation of [35S]-methionine incorporation into secreted proteins only occurred after a 6 h incubation, the increase in [35S] methionine-labeled proteoglycans was observed after 1 h, and the increase was stable for at least 16 h. 3) As analysed by electrophoresis in SDS, chondroitinase digestion generated from [14C] serine-labeled proteoglycans 7 protein cores of high apparent molecular mass (550-200 kDa) and one of 47 kDa. The two protein cores of highest apparent molecular masses (550 and 460 kDa), but not the 47 kDa protein cores, showed increased [14C]-serine incorporation in response to ECCM (51%, as measured by Sepharose CL-6B chromatography). 4) Finally, incorporation of [35S]-sulfate into chondroitinase-generated glycosaminoglycan linkage stubs on protein cores was determined by Sepharose CL-6B chromatography: ECCM did not modify the ratio [35S]/[14C] in stimulated protein cores, indicating that ECCM did not affect the number of glycosaminoglycan chains. The results of these studies reveal that 1) endothelial cells secrete factor(s) that preferentially stimulate synthesis of the largest smooth muscle cell proteoglycans without structural modifications and 2) the stimulation proceeds via increased glycosylation of protein core through enhancement of xylosylated protein core, followed by enhanced protein synthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Pericellular glycoconjugates of cultured fibroblasts from control and cystic fibrosis patients.

1. Labeled glycoconjugates released by trypsin from cell surfaces of control and cystic fibrosis (CF) skin fibroblasts were purified and fractionated by column chromatography on Sephadex G-50 and Concanavalin A Sepharose. Based on chemical analysis and specific enzymatic digestions: (1) Glycoconjugates were characterized as O-linked glycopeptides consisting predominantly of glycosaminoglycan type and N-linked glycopeptides with glycans of complex type. Their relative proportions were similar between the two groups. (2) The N-linked glycopeptides exhibited an increased molar ratio of fucose to galactose in CF fibroblasts. (3) When pericellular glycoconjugates were metabolically labeled with [14C]glucosamine and [3H]fucose, incorporation and degradation kinetics were similar between the two groups.

Carbohydrates↗
PubMed1991

Regulation of secretion in cultured tracheal serous cells by protein kinases A and C.

We recently reported that cultured gland serous cells release chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) in response to beta-adrenergic agonists. In this study, we analyzed this regulatory pathway and other cellular mechanisms responsible for CSPG secretion. We show the following. 1) Isoproterenol increased CSPG secretion in a concentration-dependent manner, with maximal stimulation (50%) obtained at 10(-5) M; at this concentration, the beta-agonist also stimulated protein kinase A (PKA) by 50%, whereas it increased cellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) content by 300%. 2) Phenylephrine (10(-5) M), 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (1.6 x 10(-7) M), and A23187 (10(-6) M) also stimulated CSPG secretion; this stimulation was concomitant with protein kinase C (PKC) translocation from cytosol to membrane, was blocked by sphingosine (2 x 10(-5) M), and was additive with that elicited by isoproterenol. 3) All PKC activators potentiated the isoproterenol-induced increased in cAMP accumulation without modifying the activation of PKA elicited by the beta-agonist. Our results indicate that although the signaling pathways triggered by alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists converge at the level of adenylate cyclase in tracheal serous cells, PKA and PKC independently regulate CSPG secretion.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Increased insulin action in cultured hepatocytes from rats with diabetes induced by neonatal streptozotocin.

Previous studies have shown that Wistar rats injected at birth (n0) with STZ (n0-STZ) develop as adults a noninsulin-dependent diabetic state characterized by a lack of insulin response to glucose in vivo, a mild basal hyperglycemia, and an impaired glucose tolerance. Our former in vivo studies using the insulin-glucose clamp technique revealed an increased insulin action upon hepatic glucose production in these animals. We have now cultured hepatocytes from these mildly diabetic rats in parallel with hepatocytes from control rats, to examine more closely basal and insulin-regulated glucose production and glucose incorporation into glycogen. In addition, we extended our investigation to other hepatic functions such as lipid synthesis and amino acid transport, which could not be studied in vivo. Although glucose production from glycogenolysis or gluconeogenesis in absence or presence of glucagon was identical in the two cell populations, glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis was more sensitive to insulin action in diabetic hepatocytes. Similarly, insulin action on glucose incorporation into glycogen, lipogenesis, and amino acid transport were enhanced in diabetic hepatocytes. The hormone effect was manifested by an increase in the sensitivity and/or in the responsiveness, reflecting the multiplicity of the pathways whereby the insulin signal is transduced through the insulin receptor to multiple postreceptor sites. To gain insight into the possible mechanism of these disturbances, we evaluated the initial insulin receptor interaction and the kinase activity of the receptor beta-subunit. In accordance with our previous study on intact livers, we found no alteration in either of these parameters in n0-STZ rat hepatocytes. Thus, the present study clearly demonstrates that these diabetic rats exhibit a postreceptor hyperresponsiveness to insulin at the cellular level. It strengthens the notion that a beta-cell deficiency with glucose intolerance does not necessarily lead to a hepatic insulin resistance.

Aminoisobutyric Acids↗
PubMed1990

Insulin receptor tyrosine residues 1162 and 1163 control insulin stimulation of myristoyl-diacylglycerol generation and subsequent activation of glucose transport.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) transfectants expressing human insulin receptors that were mutated at tyrosines 1162 and 1163 (CHO-Y2 cells) exhibit decreased insulin stimulation of both receptor tyrosine kinase and 2-deoxyglucose uptake compared with transfectants expressing wild-type human insulin receptors (CHO-R cells). We now provide evidence that insulin stimulation of myristoyl-diacylglycerol (DAG) production is also markedly impaired in CHO-Y2 cells; this is manifested as a decreased responsiveness and sensitivity to insulin as compared with CHO-R and parental CHO cells. Further, we report that (i) the concentration-response curves of insulin-stimulated myristoyl-DAG production and 2-deoxyglucose uptake were superimposable within each of the three cell lines. (ii) The insulin-induced increase in myristoyl-DAG production preceded that in 2-deoxyglucose uptake, and the time course was altered for both responses in CHO-Y2 cells. (iii) Insulin also increased the phosphorylation of a 40-kDa protein known to be a substrate for protein kinase C, but to a much lesser extent in CHO-Y2 cells than in CHO-R cells. (iv) Exogenously added 1,2-dimyristoyl-glycerol and 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (PMA) again stimulated both the phosphorylation of the 40-kDa protein and 2-deoxyglucose uptake, but in contrast to insulin, they elicited the same level of response in both CHO-R and CHO-Y2 cells. (v) Finally, in protein kinase C-depleted CHO-R cells, insulin and PMA stimulation of 40-kDa protein phosphorylation as well as PMA stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake were completely abolished whereas insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake was only partially decreased. Taken together, these results suggest that insulin stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake involves myristoyl-DAG production and, at least in part, protein kinase C activation, all three of these processes being controlled by receptor tyrosines 1162 and 1163.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1990

Altered expression of proteoglycans in E1A-immortalized rat fetal intestinal epithelial cells in culture.

Normal and E1A-immortalized rat fetal intestinal epithelial SLC-11 cells were compared for the characteristics of the 35S-labeled proteoglycans isolated from their cell-associated and secreted fractions. In comparison with control cells in primary culture, immortalized SLC-11 cells: (a) secreted larger amounts of radiolabeled proteoglycans; (b) contained larger amounts of membrane-intercalated proteoglycans, analyzed by hydrophobic affinity chromatography on octyl-Sepharose; (c) produced cell-associated and secreted proteoglycans of smaller hydrodynamic size, assessed by measurement of Kav values; (d) contained a higher percentage of heparan sulfate in the cell-associated proteoglycans, determined by differential susceptibility of glycosaminoglycans to specific glycosaminoglycan lyases; (e) displayed heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate with a shorter chain length; and (f) synthesized glycosaminoglycans with a lower degree of sulfation, determined by ion-exchange chromatography. Taken together, these results demonstrate that in E1A-immortalized intestinal epithelial SLC-11 cells, the expression of proteoglycans alters considerably at an early stage of oncogenic transformation.

Adenovirus Early Proteins↗
PubMed1990

Further evidence for abnormal protein kinase C regulation of macromolecule secretion in fibroblasts from cystic fibrosis patients.

In comparison to skin fibroblasts from normal subjects, those from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF): (1) bound [20-3H] phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) with a higher affinity Kd = 25.8 vs 12.8 nM respectively) but expressed a similar number of total phorbol ester binding sites (about 2.5 pmol PDBu bound/mg of protein); (2) exhibited a faster and higher response to 4 beta-phorbol 12 beta-myristate 13 alpha-acetate (PMA) for the stimulation of [35S]-labelled glycoconjugate release, but were equally sensitive to the synergistic effect of A23187 on this process; and (3) secreted glycoconjugates with similar [35S]-sulfate and [14C]-leucine to [14C]-glucosamine labelling ratios. Taken together, these results provide further evidence for abnormal protein kinase C (PKC) regulation of macromolecule secretion in CF disease.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1990

Evidence for the involvement of vicinal sulfhydryl groups in the insulin stimulation of intracellular glucose metabolism in Zajdela hepatoma cells.

Phenylarsine oxide (PhAsO), a dithiol reagent that blocks insulin stimulation of glucose transport in 3T3 L1 cells, also altered insulin stimulation of intracellular glucose metabolism in Zajdela Hepatoma cultured cells. PhAsO (2 microM) similarly inhibited the insulin-induced glycogen and lipid syntheses without modifying the basal level of these processes, cell viability or the ATP content. Prior incubation of the cells with PhAsO did not prevent insulin binding to the cells, or activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase, while it minimally (16%) altered receptor internalization. These results indicate that cellular dithiols located at a post-receptor step are involved in the transduction of the insulin signal to intracellular glucose metabolism.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1990

Changes in proteoglycans of cultured pig aortic smooth muscle cells during subculture.

Smooth muscle cells were cultured from pig aorta. Changes in both the growth and the properties of sulfated proteoglycans were observed during passage. The population doubling time during log phase growth was 34 h from Passages 3 to 7-8 but 20 h at the Passage 11, and the cell density at the stationary phase, was 86,000 and 136,000 cells/cm2 at Passages 3 and 11, respectively. Structural characteristics of sulfated proteoglycans secreted into the medium were investigated after metabolic labeling with [35S]-sulfate. Significant differences were observed with age in vitro: a) [35S]proteoglycan complexes were in a greater amount at Passage 10 than at Passage 3; b) the hydrodynamic size of at least 45% of subunits and about 90% of monomers decreased with in vitro aging; c) this decrease in the size of proteoglycans was partly due to a decrease in the size of their glycanic chains; d) an increase of 15% in the proportion of dermatan sulfate was observed when cells were subjected to 10 passages.

Aging↗
PubMed1990

Dual effect of metformin in cultured rat hepatocytes: potentiation of insulin action and prevention of insulin-induced resistance.

The ability of the biguanide hypoglycemic agent metformin to improve the acute effects of insulin on glucose and/or lipid metabolism was investigated in both insulin-responsive and insulin-resistant cultured rat hepatocytes: (1) metformin (20 micrograms/mL, 16 hours) increased the insulin-dependent stimulation of glycogen and lipid synthesis through an exclusive enhancement of the responsiveness without modification of the cell sensitivity to the hormone; (2) metformin neither altered basal glycogenesis from [U-14C]glucose and basal lipogenesis from [1-14C]acetate nor insulin binding. These results indicate the ability of this drug to selectively potentiate the acute action of insulin at a postreceptor step in normal liver cells. A prolonged incubation with insulin (16 hours, 5 x 10(-7) mol/L) led the hepatocytes to a state of resistance evidenced by a 50% decrease in their maximal responsiveness and sensitivity to a subsequent acute stimulation by the hormone, as assessed on lipogenesis. Addition of metformin (20 micrograms/mL) during the overnight incubation of hepatocytes with insulin prevented the decrease in cell responsiveness and sensitivity to the hormone for the stimulation of lipogenesis, thus showing that metformin was able to hamper the development of the resistant state to the hormone in this pathway. These results strongly suggest that metformin improves type 2 diabetes through an effect at the hepatic level on both insulin action and insulin-induced resistance.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Evidence for a modulatory role of protein kinase C on glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis during the spontaneous differentiation of Caco-2 cells.

The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the regulation of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) sulfation was investigated during the spontaneous differentiation of Caco-2 cells. The total cellular activity of PKC as well as its subcellular distribution was examined from d 5 (non-differentiated cells) to d 15 (enterocytic differentiated cells): during this period, PKC was redistributed from the membrane to the cytosol, but the amount of PKC activity was not modified. This redistribution of PKC was concomitant with an increase in 35S-sulfate incorporation in GAG. 4-beta phorbol 12 beta-myristate, 13-alpha acetate (PMA) and 1-2 dioctanoyl-glycerol (DIC8), 2 PKC activators, decreased 35S-sulfate incorporation in GAG; by contrast, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13 didecanoate (4 alpha-PDD), an inactive phorbol ester, proved to be ineffective. These results suggest that membrane-bound PKC which is the active form of the enzyme, may exert on GAG sulfation a modulatory role, which is gradually attenuated as Caco-2 cell differentiation progresses.

Biological Transport↗