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Biomedical subjects

J S Price

Publications and source records attributed to J S Price.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Comparison of collagenase-cleaved articular cartilage collagen in mice in the naturally occurring STR/ort model of osteoarthritis and in collagen-induced arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The STR/ort mouse develops a naturally occurring osteoarthritis of the femorotibial joint that provides a model with which to establish the time course of biochemical changes taking place in articular cartilage in the disease. Our objective was to define the onset, location and progression of type II collagen cleavage by collagenase in the tibial cartilage of the STR/ort mouse. For comparison, cartilage collagen cleavage was also studied in collagen-induced arthritis in DBA mice. DESIGN: STR and control CBA mice aged 6-45 weeks were examined. DBA/1 mice were studied 2 and 3 weeks after initiating collagen-induced arthritis. Collagen cleavage was detected by immunolocalization using the antibody COL2-3/4Cshort which recognizes a carboxy terminal neoepitope created by collagenase cleavage of type I and II collagens. RESULTS: No COL 2-3/4Cshort immunostaining was observed in the intact cartilage of healthy young or old mice. The earliest detectable collagen degradation occurred at the cartilage surface coincident with the appearance of surface roughening. As fibrillations developed, further collagen degradation was evident around the edge of the lesion and in adjacent extracellular matrix. In contrast, staining was observed throughout the cartilage matrix in type II collagen-induced arthritis prior to the development of histopathological lesions. CONCLUSION: No evidence was found for collagen cleavage in intact/pre-lesional cartilage from STR/ort mice. Local collagen cleavage was, however, clearly associated with very early histopathological lesions and immunostaining with COL 2-3/4Cshort increased with progression of the latter. In contrast, type II collagen cleavage occurs throughout the articular cartilage at an early stage in collagen-induced arthritis.

Animals↗

Nuclear localization of type I parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone-related protein receptors in deer antler osteoclasts: evidence for parathyroid hormone-related protein and receptor activator of NF-kappaB-dependent effects on osteoclast formation in regenerating mammalian bone.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is not required for osteoclastogenesis during embryonic development; however, after birth it has been shown to regulate osteoclast formation during tooth eruption. Our study explores the hypothesis that PTHrP also may regulate osteoclast differentiation in the regenerating skeletal tissues of deer antlers, bones capable of complete regeneration. Osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (MNCs) formed spontaneously in micromass cultures derived from antler cartilage and these cells had the phenotypic characteristics of osteoclasts. PTHrP and receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) stimulated antler osteoclast formation although the effect of RANKL was less marked than that of PTHrP. The addition of osteoprotegerin (OPG) only partially decreased (by approximately 65%) the number of osteoclasts in PTHrP-treated cultures. To determine whether PTHrP also potentially could have direct effects on antler osteoclasts, we studied, by confocal microscopy, the expression of the type I PTH/PTHrP receptor (PTH1R) in MNCs cultured on glass and found the receptor protein to have a nuclear localization. In situ hybridization showed that antler MNCs also expressed PTH1R and PTHrP messenger RNAs (mRNAs). PTHrP was immunolocalized in MNCs cultured on glass but was undetectable in cells resorbing a dentine substrate. In tissue sections of antler cartilage, PTHrP and PTH1R were expressed in vitronectin receptor-positive (VNR+) osteoclast-like cells localized in the perivascular stroma. Thus, these data show that PTHrP plays a role in the regulation of osteoclast differentiation in regenerating skeletal tissues and that PTHrP can have effects on osteoclastogenesis that are independent of RANKL synthesis. Ours is the first study to describe the expression of the type I PTH/PTHrP receptor in mammalian osteoclasts at a protein and mRNA level, which indicates that PTHrP also may have a direct effect on osteoclasts. This also is the first study to show a nuclear localization of the PTHIR in cells of the osteoclast lineage, although the functional significance of this observation has yet to be established.

Animals↗

Biochemical markers of bone metabolism in growing thoroughbreds: a longitudinal study.

This study describes longitudinal changes in serum levels of biochemical markers of bone cell activity in a group of 24 thoroughbred foals from birth to 18 months of age. The markers of bone formation included the type I collagen carboxy-terminal propeptide (PICP), the bone-specific isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and osteocalcin (OC). Levels of the cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), a marker of bone resorption, and the N-terminal propeptide of type III collagen (PNIIIP), a marker of soft tissue turnover, were also measured. Levels of all markers fell significantly between birth and 18 months of age (70-80 per cent); this decrease being most marked between 0 and 6 months. However, a transient increase in levels of the markers then occurred between 6 and 14 months of age. The timing of this increase was specific for each parameter. ICTP and OC concentrations increased between October and December. PICP concentrations increased between December and April whereas the increase in PIIINP was coincident with the peak in weight gain between April and June. Changes in BAP concentration were less distinct at this time. Season was shown to have significant effects on the biochemical markers independent from the effect of age. Concentrations of all markers decreased with increasing body weight and at any given age heavier horses had lower marker levels. These results show that biochemical markers of bone cell activity and soft tissue turnover follow characteristic patterns of change in growing thoroughbreds influenced by age, season and bodyweight. The demonstration that the reference ranges for the biochemical markers change from month to month means that single samples from individuals are of little value for monitoring bone cell activity in growing thoroughbreds.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Cells in regenerating deer antler cartilage provide a microenvironment that supports osteoclast differentiation.

Deer antlers are a rare example of mammalian epimorphic regeneration. Each year, the antlers re-grow by a modified endochondral ossification process that involves extensive remodelling of cartilage by osteoclasts. This study identified regenerating antler cartilage as a site of osteoclastogenesis in vivo. An in vitro model was then developed to study antler osteoclast differentiation. Cultured as a high-density micromass, cells from non-mineralised cartilage supported the differentiation of large numbers of osteoclast-like multinucleated cells (MNCs) in the absence of factors normally required for osteoclastogenesis. After 48 h of culture, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive mononuclear cells (osteoclast precursors) were visible, and by day 14 a large number of TRAP-positive MNCs had formed (783+/-200 per well, mean +/- s.e.m., N=4). Reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed that receptor activator of NF &kgr; B ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) mRNAs were expressed in micromass cultures. Antler MNCs have the phenotype of osteoclasts from mammalian bone; they expressed TRAP, vitronectin and calcitonin receptors and, when cultured on dentine, formed F-actin rings and large resorption pits. When cultured on glass, antler MNCs appeared to digest the matrix of the micromass and endocytose type I collagen. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) may play a role in the resorption of this non-mineralised matrix since it is highly expressed in 100 % of MNCs. In contrast, cathepsin K, another enzyme expressed in osteoclasts from bone, is only highly expressed in resorbing MNCs cultured on dentine. This study identifies the deer antler as a valuable model that can be used to study the differentiation and function of osteoclasts in adult regenerating mineralised tissues.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Mechanical strain stimulates osteoblast proliferation through the estrogen receptor in males as well as females.

Mechanical strain, testosterone, and estrogen all stimulate proliferation of primary cultures of male rat long bone (LOB)-derived osteoblast-like cells as determined by [3H]thymidine incorporation. The maximum proliferative effect of a single period of mechanical strain (3400 microepsilon, 1 Hz, and 600 cycles) is additional to that of testosterone (10(-8) M) or estrogen (10(-8) M). The cells' proliferative response to strain is abolished both by concentrations of tamoxifen that cause proliferation (10(-8) M) and by those that have no effect (10(-6) M). Strain-related proliferation also is reduced by the estrogen antagonist ICI 182,780 (10(-8) M) but is unaffected by the androgen receptor antagonist hydroxyflutamide (10(-7) M). Tamoxifen, ICI 182,780, and the aromatase inhibitor 4-dihydroandrostenedione, at concentrations that have no effect on basal proliferation, significantly reduce the proliferative effect of the aromatizable androgen testosterone but not that of the nonaromatizable androgen 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone. Hydroxyflutamide, at a concentration that has no effect on basal proliferation (10(-7) M), eliminates the proliferative effect of 5alpha-dihydro-testosterone but had no significant effect on that caused by testosterone. Proliferation associated with strain is blocked by neutralizing antibody to insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) but not by antibody to IGF-I. Proliferation associated with testosterone is blocked by neutralizing antibody to IGF-I but is unaffected by antibody to IGF-II. These data suggest that in rat osteoblast-like cells from males, as from females, strain-related proliferation is mediated through the estrogen receptor (ER) in a manner that does not compete with estrogen but that can be blocked by ER modulators. Proliferation associated with testosterone appears to follow its aromatization to estrogen and is mediated through the ER, whereas proliferation associated with 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone is mediated by the androgen receptor. Strain-related proliferation in males, as in females, is mediated by IGF-II, whereas proliferation associated with estrogen and testosterone is mediated by IGF-I.

Androgen Antagonists↗

Retinoic acid-induced type II collagen degradation does not correlate with matrix metalloproteinase activity in cartilage explant cultures.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in retinoic acid (RetA)-induced degradation of type II collagen in cartilage. METHODS: Bovine nasal cartilage explants were cultured with 1 microM RetA or in 3 nM interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha). Release of proteoglycan and type II collagen into the medium was measured by colorimetric assay and immunoassay, respectively. MMP activity in the medium was determined using a quenched fluorescent substrate assay, while specific collagenases were identified by Western immunoblotting. In some cases the effects of low molecular mass synthetic MMP inhibitors and serum on collagen degradation were studied. RESULTS: RetA promoted maximal breakdown of type II collagen after 4 or 5 weeks in culture, compared with 3 weeks in culture with IL-1alpha. In IL-1alpha-stimulated cultures, collagen degradation was coincident with a large increase in MMP activity in the culture medium, whereas in RetA-stimulated cultures, there was only a small increase. In Western immunoblots of culture media containing RetA, prointerstitial collagenase and active collagenase 3 were sometimes detected, but not in all experiments. In IL-1alpha cultures, active interstitial collagenase was always detected, and active collagenase 3 was detectable in some experiments. Neutrophil collagenase was not detected in any cultures. IL-1alpha-stimulated collagen degradation was effectively inhibited by a potent, broad-spectrum inhibitor of MMPs, whereas it was poorly inhibited by a weak MMP inhibitor. The same 2 compounds were both only weak inhibitors of RetA-induced collagen degradation. When fetal calf serum was included in cartilage cultures, MMP activity in the culture medium was reduced to low levels. This resulted in a marked inhibition of IL-1alpha-induced type II collagen degradation, whereas there was no inhibition of RetA-induced collagen degradation. CONCLUSION: Unlike IL-1alpha, RetA induces degradation of type II collagen in cartilage explants by a mechanism that is mainly independent of those MMPs that can be detected in the culture medium.

Animals↗

Degradation of cartilage type II collagen precedes the onset of osteoarthritis following anterior cruciate ligament rupture.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if degradation of cartilage matrix in primary osteoarthritis (OA) or in OA secondary to rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a gradual response to excessive loading or an early, initiating event in the disease process. METHODS: Biopsy samples were obtained from the low-weight-bearing articular cartilage of the intercondylar notch, in patients undergoing knee arthroscopy (ACL injury) or arthroplasty (late-stage primary OA) or in controls. In some cases, biopsy samples were also removed from the high-weight-bearing articular cartilage of the femoral condyles. Biopsy specimens were extracted and assayed for total and denatured type II collagen (CII) by inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and for proteoglycan using a colorimetric method. All patients were assessed radiographically for cartilage erosion. In addition, the cartilage of patients with ACL injury was assessed at arthroscopy, and the knee function of patients with primary OA was assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). RESULTS: Increased CII degradation was detected in the low- as well as the high-weight-bearing cartilage of patients with late-stage OA, and there was a positive correlation between the percentage denatured collagen and the WOMAC score. Most of the patients with ACL injury had no clinical signs of OA or macroscopic cartilage erosion. However, the low-weight-bearing articular cartilage from these patients showed a significant increase in CII degradation, similar to that observed in late-stage OA. The proteoglycan content of articular cartilage did not change significantly in patients with OA or ACL injury compared with controls. CONCLUSION: CII degradation is an early event following ACL injury and is unlikely to be a direct result of mechanical loading, since it was observed in cartilage obtained from a low-weight-bearing site.

Adolescent↗

The estrogen receptor's involvement in osteoblasts' adaptive response to mechanical strain.

The estrogen receptor's role in bone cells' response to mechanical strain was investigated by studying the effect of the estrogen receptor modulators ICI 182, 780 and tamoxifen on the proliferation of primary cultures of rat long bone-derived osteoblasts stimulated by the independent and combined effects of 17beta-estradiol, mechanical strain, and the mitogens basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), truncated insulin-like growth factor (tIGF)-I and tIGF-II, and epidermal growth factor (EGF). 17Beta-estradiol (10(-10) M to 10(-8) M) increased [3H]thymidine incorporation equally in cells from males and females, as did a single period of cyclical strain in the plastic strips onto which the cells had been seeded (peak strain 3,400 microepsilon, 600 cycles, 1 Hz). At 10(-8) M, neither ICI 182,780 nor tamoxifen had any effect on basal [3H]thymidine incorporation in these cells, but both compounds prevented their proliferative responses to 10(-8) M 17beta-estradiol. Tamoxifen eliminated and ICI 182,780 substantially reduced the proliferation stimulated by strain. 17Beta-estradiol partially rescued the strain-related response from the effect of tamoxifen but not that of ICI 182,780. Both tamoxifen and ICI 182,780 reduced proliferation stimulated by 10(-8) M EGF but had no effect on that by 10(-7) M bFGF or tIGF-I and tIGF-II. That both ICI 182,780 and tamoxifen, which in other tissues act as estrogen antagonists, should reduce osteoblast proliferation stimulated by 17beta-estradiol and EGF, but not that by FGF or the IGFs, was expected since the mitogenic effects of estrogen and EGF involve the estrogen receptor, whereas those of FGF and the IGFs do not. That these compounds should prevent osteoblasts' proliferative response to strain suggests that strain also stimulates mitogenesis by a mechanism involving the estrogen receptor. If this is so, bones' reduced ability to maintain their structural strength after the menopause could be explained by less effective strain-related (re)modeling when estrogen is absent and, among other changes, the estrogen receptor could be down-regulated.

Animals↗

[D-Pro5]Corticotropin-releasing factor analogs as selective agonists at corticotropin-releasing factor receptors.

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) acts on at least two types of CRF receptors. To search for selective CRF receptor agonists, 37 ovine CRF analogs, systematically substituted with D-amino acids, were tested for inhibitory activity on edema induced in the pentobarbital-anesthetized rat paw by heat (immersion in 58 degrees C water for 1 min). The activity of each analog, administered 21 nmol/kg i.v. 10 min before heat, was compared to published data on the analog's potency in stimulating adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) release from cultured rat pituitary cells. In general, a positive rank correlation was found between the anti-edema and neuroendocrine activities of these analogs, however, one outlier, [D-Pro5]ovine CRF, exhibited greater selectivity for anti-edema activity. The human/rat analog of [D-Pro5]CRF was synthesized and found to be equipotent to human/rat CRF for suppression of heat-edema. In cells transfected with two types of cloned CRF receptors, the intracellular cAMP response to [D-Pro5]human/rat CRF was equipotent to human/rat CRF in the heart-muscle CRF (CRF2 beta) receptor assay but was five times less potent than human/rat CRF in the pituitary-central nervous system CRF (CRF1) receptor assay. We conclude that changing residue Pro5 in the CRF molecule from a L- to a D-configuration confers selectivity by decreasing second messenger activation at the CRF1 receptor whilst retaining full potency at the CRF2 beta receptor.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Substrate binding and catalysis by ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolases: identification of two active site residues.

Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolases (UCH's) are a newly-defined class of thiol proteases implicated in the proteolytic processing of polymeric ubiquitin. They are important for the generation of monomeric ubiquitin, the active component of the eukaryotic ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic system. There are at least three mammalian isozymes which are tissue specific and developmentally regulated. To study the structure and functional roles of these highly homologous enzymes, we have subcloned and overexpressed two of these isozymes, UCH-L1 and UCH-L3. Here, we report their purification, physical characteristics, and the mutagenesis of UCH-L1. Site-directed mutagenesis of UCH-L1 reveals that C90 and H161 are involved in catalytic rate enhancement. Data from circular dichroic and Raman spectroscopy, as well as secondary structure prediction algorithms, indicate that both isozymes have a significant amount of alpha-helix (> 35%), and contain no disulfide bonds. Both enzymes are reasonably stable, undergoing a reversible thermal denaturation at 52 degrees C. These transitions are characterized by thermodynamic parameters typical of single domain globular proteins. Substrate binding affinity to UCH-L3 was directly measured by equilibrium gel filtration (Kd = 0.5 microM), and the results are similar to the kinetically determined Km for ubiquitin ethyl ester (o.6 microM). The binding is primarily electrostatic in nature and indicates the existence of a specific and extensive binding site for ubiquitin on the surface of the enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chondrogenesis in the regenerating antler tip in red deer: expression of collagen types I, IIA, IIB, and X demonstrated by in situ nucleic acid hybridization and immunocytochemistry.

The annual regrowth of antlers in male deer is a unique example of complete bone regeneration occurring in an adult animal. Growth is initiated at the distal antler tip, which is similar to the epiphyseal growth plate in some respects. However, there is some debate as to whether this process represents "true" endochondral ossification. As part of the characterization of the developmental process in pre-osseus antler tissue, we have studied, by in situ hybridization, the spatial expression of mRNAs for types I, II, and X collagen. Viewed in a coronal plane, type I procollagen mRNA was observed in skin, the fibrous perichondrium, and the densely cellular area immediately adjacent to the perichondrium. Below this area, as cells began to assume a columnar arrangement and coincident with the appearance of a vasculature and synthesis of a cartilaginous matrix, transcripts for types I, IIA, IIB procollagen and X collagen were detected. Further down in the cartilage zone, the pattern of type I procollagen mRNA expression was altered. Here, the signal was detected only in a morphologically distinct subpopulation of small, flattened cells within the intercellular matrix at the periphery of the columns of chondrocytes. The alternative splice form of type II procollagen mRNA (IIA), characteristic of chondroprogenitor cells (Sandell et al. [1991] J. Cell Biol. 114:1307-1319), was expressed by a subset of cells in the upper region of the columns, indicating that this zone contains a population of prechondrocytic cells. Positive hybridization to type IIA was most abundant in these cells. In contrast, transcripts for the other procollagen splice form (IIB) and type X collagen were expressed by chondrocytes throughout the whole of the cartilage region studied. The translation and export of type II collagen and type X collagen were confirmed by detecting specific immunoreactivity for each. The spatial distribution of immunoreactivity for collagen types II and X was consistent with that of corresponding mRNAs. These data demonstrate for the first time the distinct pattern of expression of genes for major cartilage matrix macromolecules, the expression of the differentially spliced form of type II procollagen mRNA (IIA), and specifically the co-localization of types II and X collagen in the developing antler tip. Taken together, they strongly indicate that antler growth involves an endochondral process.

Animals↗

Controlled release of antibiotics from coated orthopedic implants.

Chronic osteomyelitis is one of the most serious complications of orthopedic open fracture treatment. The objective of this study was to develop a biodegradable implant coating with impregnated antibiotics as an adjunct to current therapy. We used a polylactic-co-glycolic acid copolymer (PLGA) as the biodegradable carrier and gentamicin as the antibiotic. Our objectives were to establish elution characteristics of the antibiotic from the polymer, and determine if the coated orthopedic implants would inhibit bacterial growth in vitro. In the elution study, coated implants were incubated in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at 37 degrees C and sampled daily for gentamicin levels. The in vitro model consisted of test tubes containing Mueller-Hinton culture broth inoculated with 5 x 10(6) cfu of Staphylococcus aureus and incubated at 37 degrees C. The implants were switched to a new set of inoculated tubes each day. Tubes were sampled for colony counting to determine bactericidal effects. Implant coatings consisted of 40 mg of gentamicin as a 20% mixture with PLGA. The elution curve showed an average level of 138 micrograms/mL over 15 days. This local concentration would be more than adequate to kill susceptible organisms. The in vitro study showed a significant reduction in bacterial growth in the test tubes containing coated implants. Control tubes averaged 2.5 x 10(8) cfu/mL of S.aureus over 24 days. Coated implant tubes averaged 0.9 cfu/mL. This was a reduction of greater than 99.999% (p < 0.0001). This study showed that a thin biodegradable implant coating can be developed with bactericidal activity against the organisms frequently associated with osteomyelitis in cases of open fractures.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Measurement of bone specific alkaline phosphatase in the horse: a comparison of two techniques.

For many years total alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity in serum has been used to monitor bone metabolism in different species. However, total AP lacks bone specificity because the total activity in serum is made up of several isoenzymes, of which the liver and bone isoforms predominate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate an immunoradiometric assay for measuring bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) in horses. BAP, a specific marker of bone formation, was measured in sera from thoroughbred horses by using a previously characterised wheat germ lectin (WGL) precipitation assay and an immunoradiometric assay. The levels of immunoreactive BAP (iBAP) and WGL precipitated BAP (wBAP) were related to the serum levels of total AP and another marker of bone formation, the carboxy-terminal propeptide of type 1 collagen (PICP). In horses over one year old, iBAP correlated at least as strongly with total AP as with wBAP, which suggests that the immunoradiometric assay may partially cross-react with liver alkaline phosphatase in horse serum. This possibility was supported by the observation that there was a weaker correlation between iBAP and PICP than between wBAP and PICP. These data indicate that WGL precipitation is currently the most specific method for measuring bone specific alkaline phosphatase in horses.

Aging↗

A comparison of the post-marketing safety of four selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors including the investigation of symptoms occurring on withdrawal.

1. We have addressed the question of whether there is a 'serotonin withdrawal syndrome' by analysis of spontaneous reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with four SSRIs. A comparison of the post-marketing safety profiles of the four SSRIs has also been made. 2. The UK database of ADRs was examined for reactions associated with fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine and sertraline. The safety profiles of the four SSRIs were similar. However, withdrawal reactions with paroxetine constitute a greater proportion of reports (5.1%) than with the other SSRIs (0.06-0.9%). They have been reported more often with paroxetine (0.3 reports per thousand prescriptions) than with sertraline and fluvoxamine (0.03), and least often with fluoxetine (0.002). 3. Descriptions of withdrawal reactions received and further details of 217 reports of withdrawal reaction with paroxetine obtained by mailing a questionnaire to the reporting doctor were examined. Withdrawal symptoms were diverse but most commonly comprised dizziness, paraesthesia, tremor, anxiety, nausea and palpitation. They usually occurred after 2 days and lasted for an average of 10 days. There was no evidence of a physical drug dependency syndrome. 4. Symptoms different from the previous depressive illness occur after discontinuing an SSRI, and are reported most often with paroxetine. Paroxetine is the most pharmacologically specific of the SSRIs, but it is not clear whether the reactions constitute a 'serotonin withdrawal syndrome'.

1-Naphthylamine↗