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Biomedical subjects

J Rhode

Publications and source records attributed to J Rhode.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Two iPSC lines with frameshift mutations in FTSJ1 as models for X-linked non-syndromic intellectual disability.

CRISPR/Cas9 was used to introduce two different FTSJ1 frameshift mutations into an existing human male iPSC line (UMGWi004-B). No additional genomic or chromosomal changes were detected. The modified iPSC express different stem cell markers and can be induced to differentiate into cells from all three germ layers. FTSJ1 is ubiquitously expressed and mutations in this X-chromosomal gene are involved in an intellectual developmental disorder (OMIM: #309549). These cells can be used to model the disease at the cellular and organoid level in their original state or after differentiation into cell types of interest.

Journal Article↗

Behaviour problems associated with lack of speech in people with learning disabilities.

It has been observed in a population of people with learning disabilities that people with good understanding but no speech have significantly more behaviour problems than those with good speech. This observation was confirmed by testing a data set of 3662 people. The purpose of the study was to stress the importance of teaching communication techniques as early as possible in order to pre-empt behaviour problems.

Humans↗

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase in Gilbert's syndrome.

The diagnosis of Gilbert's syndrome, a condition characterised by mild jaundice related to chronic unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, is often presumptive and the pathogenesis is incompletely understood. It would be of interest to develop an immunohistochemical staining method to confirm a diagnosis of Gilbert's syndrome. To this end liver tissues from ten patients with a presumed diagnosis of Gilbert's syndrome and six normal controls were examined by immunohistochemistry with polyclonal antibodies raised to UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT). All subjects had normal liver biopsies by hemotoxylin and eosin staining. In normal human liver specific staining for UGT was seen diffusely in all hepatocytes of the hepatic lobule with zone 3 accentuation. There was a reduction of immunostaining throughout the hepatic lobule in all specimens from patients with Gilbert's syndrome and faint residual staining was seen in zone 3. This thus proved a useful method to confirm a clinical diagnosis of Gilbert's syndrome. Raising monospecific antibodies to UGT may give an insight into polypmorphisms of phase II drug metabolism. Bosma et al.* have recently provided evidence from in vitro studies that subjects with Gilbert's syndrome have a putative defect in the promoter region of the gene encoding UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1, resulting in reduced transcription. These studies have yet to be confirmed from human biopsy specimens and the possibility of second mutations in intronic sequences affecting the stability of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1 m RNA are being explored. *Bosma PJ, Chowdhury JR, Bakker C et al. The genetic basis of the reduced expression of bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1 in Gilbert's syndrome. N Engl J Med 1995; 333: 1171-5.

Adult↗

Differential inhibition of human placental prostaglandin release in vitro by a GnRH antagonist.

Previously, we have demonstrated that the production of prostaglandins by human placental tissue varied with gestational age. In addition, we have shown that placental prostaglandin release was affected by GnRH, and that its response was also dependent on the gestational age of the placenta. Thus, we have studied the effect of a GnRH antagonist ([N-Ac-Pro1,D-p-Cl-Phe2,D-Nal(2)3,6-LHRH, Syntex Research, Palo Alto, CA) on basal prostaglandin release from placentas of 6 to 15 weeks' gestation and found that this antagonist (1 microgram/ml) effects an inhibition of the release of prostaglandin E, prostaglandin F, and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin from placentas of 13 and 15 weeks of gestation. This effect was not overridden by GnRH at 10 times the antagonist concentration in the 13-week placental cultures, but was totally reversed by GnRH (10 micrograms/ml) in the 15-week placental cultures. These data demonstrate that this GnRH antagonist can affect human placental prostaglandin production at 13 to 15 weeks of gestation and indicate that endogenous placental GnRH-like activity may exert a control over placental prostaglandin release at this gestational stage.

Culture Techniques↗

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone effects on placental hormones during gestation: I. Alpha-human chorionic gonadotropin, human chorionic gonadotropin and human chorionic somatomammotropin.

The release of alpha-human chorionic gonadotropin (alpha hCG), gonadotropin human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human chorionic somatomammotropin (hCS) in vitro from placentas of different gestational ages was studied. In addition, the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on these hormonal releases, as related to the gestational age of the placenta cultured and the dose of GnRH, was determined. The basal release of alpha hCG and hCG was greatest at 9-13 wk of gestation (1000-1500 ng/mg and 250-350 ng/mg, respectively). Lowest release rates were at term (28 ng/mg and 20 ng/mg, respectively). Hormonal release declined with extended culture, except from the cultures of 13- and 15-wk placentas, in which the initially high release continued throughout the 8 days of culture. The initial release of hCS was low at 6 wk, increased to maximum rates by 15 wk, and was similar to the initial rate of release at term. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulated the release of alpha hCG and hCG most dramatically in cultures of 16-wk and 17-wk placentas, where as much as a 400- and 250-fold increase, respectively, on Day 6 of culture was observed (p less than 0.0001). In term placenta cultures after 6 days in vitro, a 20-fold stimulation of alpha hCG and a 10-fold increase of hCG was effected by GnRH (p less than 0.001). The largest responses of alpha hCG and hCG to GnRH were observed when estrogen levels were low. Dose-related responses were observed in some placentas, yet in some instances, maximal effects were attained with all doses utilized in these studies (0.2 to 50 micrograms/ml). These data demonstrate that human placentas of different gestational ages have varying hormonogenic capabilities in vitro. The data also establish that synthetic GnRH is capable of stimulating alpha hCG and hCG production, but the degree and pattern of response to GnRH stimulation are related to the gestational age of the placental tissue and its time in culture. The most responsive period to exogenous GnRH stimulation of alpha hCG and hCG release was on Days 5 and 6 of culture, when basal estrogen release was very low. These data support the hypothesis that hCG release might be controlled by a chorionic GnRH stimulation and suggest that local steroid levels may modulate the hCG response to GnRH stimulation.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone effects on placental hormones during gestation: II. Progesterone, estrone, estradiol and estriol.

The release of progesterone (P), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3) from human placental tissue in vitro was found to be related to the gestational age of the placenta. The basal release of P, E1 and E2 on Day 1 of culture was highest from placentas of early gestation (9-13 wk). The release of P then declined, reaching a nadir by 15 wk, and continued at that level. The release of E1 and E2, reached a nadir at 17 weeks, and then again increased by term. In contrast, the basal release of E3 increased with increasing gestational age of the placenta. Thus, it appears that differing factors may influence placental P, E1, E2 and E3 production. In addition, the effect of synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on these hormonal releases was studied. The stimulation of P by GnRH was greatest in placentas of 16 and 17 wk of gestation after extended culture when the basal release of P had declined. As much as a 240-fold increase was observed on the eighth day of culture. A large stimulation of P (32-fold) was also observed in the term placental cultures. A stimulation of E1 and E2 by GnRH was observed during the initial days of culture and in mid-gestational placental cultures (16-17 wk). A stimulation of E2 only was also observed at 13-15 wk and at term. A stimulation of E3 was observed in certain individual placentas. A correlation of the P and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) response to GnRH stimulation was noted, as well as an inverse relation of estrogens and hCG stimulation by GnRH. These data demonstrate that steroidogenic competence of the placenta differs with gestational age and that GnRH can influence steroid release. The degree and pattern of response to GnRH varied with the gestational age of the placenta and its endocrine milieu.

Estradiol↗

GnRH effects on placental hormones during gestation. III. Prostaglandin E, prostaglandin F, and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F.

We studied the release of prostaglandin E (PGE), prostaglandin F (PGF) and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F (MPF) from explants of human placentas of different gestational ages and the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on this release. The greatest basal release of PGE, PGF and MPF was in the cultures from 9- to 13-wk placentas, with the release on the second and third days of culture increasing 4- to 10-fold from that of the first day. In cultures from 15-wk to term placentas, the initial basal release (Day 1) of these prostaglandins was only slightly higher than in cultures from 6-wk placentas. In cultures from term placentas, the later increase with extended culture was absent or very small. Addition of synthetic GnRH to the cultures from 6- to 9-wk placentas effected no significant change in release of PGE, PGF or MPF. However, GnRH added to the cultures from 13-wk placentas effected a dose-related inhibition of these prostaglandins. After 15 wk, we observed a stimulation of these prostaglandins by GnRH that was as much as 50-fold; stimulation was highly significant in the cultures from 16- and 17-wk, as well as in those from the term placentas. These data demonstrate an action of GnRH on prostaglandin release and indicate that both the basal release of PGE, PGF and MPF and the response to GnRH are related to the gestational age of the placenta.

Dinoprost↗

Gestational age-related inhibition of placental hCG, alpha hCG and steroid hormone release in vitro by a GnRH antagonist.

Human placental tissues have been shown to contain gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-(GnRH)-like activity. Thus, the effect of a potent GnRH antagonist (N-Ac-Pro1,D-p-Cl-Phe2,D-Nal(2)3,6-GnRH, obtained from Syntex Laboratories) on placental hormonal release was studied. Explant cultures of placentae of 6 to 15 weeks' gestation were studied. This GnRH antagonist did not inhibit the alpha human chorionic gonadotrophin (alpha hCG), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), oestrone or oestradiol release from the six- and nine-week placental cultures, but greatly suppressed the release of these hormones in the placental cultures from 13- and 15-week gestations. Synthetic GnRH partially reversed the action of this antagonist on the hormonal releases in the 15-week placental cultures. These data demonstrate a gestational age-related action of this antagonist on placental hormonal release. Thus, a role for the endogenous GnRH-like activity of the placenta in the control of placental hormonogenesis is indicated.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗