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K K Bradley

Publications and source records attributed to K K Bradley.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

Purine nucleoside-dependent inhibition of cellular proliferation in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells.

We examined the effects of purines and the pyrimidine UTP on cellular proliferation in the human astrocytoma cell line 1321N1. Treatment of cultured cells with 100 microM ATP or 2-chloroadenosine (2-CA) resulted in significant reductions in cell numbers after 2 days, whereas adenosine (ADO) exhibited a slower time course of inhibition of cell growth. Treatment with 100 microM UTP had no effect on cell numbers. 2-Chloroadenosine but neither ATP nor ADO resulted in an increase in cell death rates. A significant portion of the inhibitory response to ATP, ADO, or 2-CA was sensitive to the purine nucleoside transport inhibitor S-(p-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioguanosine, suggesting that uptake into cells was required for the inhibitory response. At least the majority of the observed responses to purines was not mediated by P1 (adenosine) receptors, because effects of ATP, ADO, or 2-CA were not affected by treatment of cells with the P1 receptor antagonist 8-(p-sulfophenyl)-theophylline. The absence of any known P2 (nucleotide) receptors in 1321N1 cells, coupled with the failure of the relatively stable ATP analog adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) to alter cell growth rates, suggests that ATP acts indirectly to inhibit proliferation via one or more metabolic products. Although intracellular effects of purine nucleosides should be taken into account in future studies using 1321N1 cells, our findings also suggest 1321N1 cells as an excellent model for intracellular actions of nucleosides.

2-Chloroadenosine↗

Prevalence of American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) among dogs in Oklahoma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection among dogs in Oklahoma. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: 301 owned or impounded dogs related by ownership or general geographic location to 3 dogs determined to have trypanosomiasis. PROCEDURES: Blood samples were obtained from dogs between November 1996 and September 1997. Infection status was determined by use of a radioimmunoprecipitation assay. Second blood samples were obtained from some of the seropositive dogs for study by hemoculture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Sites where infected dogs were found were inspected for triatomine insects, and light traps were used for vector trapping. RESULTS: 11(3.6%) dogs were seropositive for T. cruzi infection. Ten of the 11 were owned rural hunting dogs. Protozoal organisms isolated from the blood of 1 seropositive dog were identified as T. cruzi by PCR testing. Only 1 adult Triatoma sanguisuga was captured in a light trap at a site near infected dogs; this insect was not infected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our findings suggest that T. cruzi is enzootic in eastern Oklahoma. Measures that would reduce the risk of dogs acquiring T. cruzi infection are unlikely to be acceptable to their owners, and no effective drugs are available for treatment. The presence of T. cruzi-infected dogs poses a threat of transmission to persons at risk of exposure to contaminated blood Veterinarians who practice in the southern United States should be cognizant of this blood borne zoonosis and educate all personnel about appropriate precautions.

Animals↗

Kir3.1/3.2 encodes an I(KACh)-like current in gastrointestinal myocytes.

Expression of the Kir3 channel subfamily in gastrointestinal (GI) myocytes was investigated. Members of this K(+) channel subfamily encode G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K(+) channels (I(KACh)) in other tissues, including the heart and brain. In the GI tract, I(KACh) could act as a negative feedback mechanism to temper the muscarinic response mediated primarily through activation of nonselective cation currents and inhibition of delayed-rectifier conductance. Kir3 channel subfamily isoforms expressed in GI myocytes were determined by performing RT-PCR on RNA isolated from canine colon, ileum, duodenum, and jejunum circular myocytes. Qualitative PCR demonstrated the presence of Kir3.1 and Kir3.2 transcripts in all smooth muscle cell preparations examined. Transcripts for Kir3.3 and Kir3.4 were not detected in the same preparations. Semiquantitative PCR showed similar transcriptional levels of Kir3.1 and Kir3.2 relative to beta-actin expression in the various GI preparations. Full-length cDNAs for Kir3.1 and Kir3.2 were cloned from murine colonic smooth muscle RNA and coexpressed in Xenopus oocytes with human muscarinic type 2 receptor. Superfusion of oocytes with ACh (10 microM) reversibly activated a Ba(2+)-sensitive and inwardly rectifying K(+) current. Immunohistochemistry using Kir3.1- and Kir3.2-specific antibodies demonstrated channel expression in circular and longitudinal smooth muscle cells. We conclude that an I(KACh) current is expressed in GI myocytes encoded by Kir3.1/3.2 heterotetramers.

Acetylcholine↗

Inward rectifier potassium conductance regulates membrane potential of canine colonic smooth muscle.

1. The membrane potential of gastrointestinal smooth muscles determines the open probability of ion channels involved in rhythmic electrical activity. The role of Ba2+-sensitive K+ conductances in the maintenance of membrane potential was examined in canine proximal colon circular muscle. 2. Application of Ba2+ (1-100 microM) to strips of tunica muscularis produced depolarization of cells along the submucosal surface of the circular muscle layer. Significantly higher concentrations of Ba2+ were needed to depolarize preparations from which the submucosal and myenteric pacemaker regions were removed. 3. Elevation of extracellular [K+]o (from 5.9 to 12 mM) brought membrane potentials closer to EK (the Nernst potential for K+ ions), suggesting activation of a K+ conductance. This occurred at potentials much more negative than the activation range for delayed rectifier channels (Kv). 4. Forskolin (1 microM) caused hyperpolarization and a leftward shift in the dose-response relationship for Ba2+, suggesting that forskolin may activate a Ba2+-sensitive conductance. 5. Patch-clamp recordings from interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) revealed the presence of a Ba2+-sensitive inward rectifier potassium conductance. Far less of this conductance was present in smooth muscle cells. 6. Kir2.1 was expressed in the circular muscle layer of the canine proximal colon, duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Kir2.1 mRNA was expressed in greater abundance along the submucosal surface of the circular muscle layer in the colon. 7. These results demonstrate that ICC express a Ba2+-sensitive conductance (possibly encoded by Kir2.1). This conductance contributes to the generation and maintenance of negative membrane potentials between slow waves.

Animals↗

Kir2.1 encodes the inward rectifier potassium channel in rat arterial smooth muscle cells.

1. The molecular nature of the strong inward rectifier K+ channel in vascular smooth muscle was explored by using isolated cell RT-PCR, cDNA cloning and expression techniques. 2. RT-PCR of RNA from single smooth muscle cells of rat cerebral (basilar), coronary and mesenteric arteries revealed transcripts for Kir2.1. Transcripts for Kir2.2 and Kir2.3 were not found. 3. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed significant differences in transcript levels of Kir2.1 between the different vascular preparations (n = 3; P < 0.05). A two-fold difference was detected between Kir2.1 mRNA and beta-actin mRNA in coronary arteries when compared with relative levels measured in mesenteric and basilar preparations. 4. Kir2.1 was cloned from rat mesenteric vascular smooth muscle cells and expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Currents were strongly inwardly rectifying and selective for K+. 5. The effect of extracellular Ba2+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Cs2+ ions on cloned Kir2.1 channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes was examined. Ba2+ and Cs+ block were steeply voltage dependent, whereas block by external Ca2+ and Mg2+ exhibited little voltage dependence. The apparent half-block constants and voltage dependences for Ba2+, Cs+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ were very similar for inward rectifier K+ currents from native cells and cloned Kir2.1 channels expressed in oocytes. 6. Molecular studies demonstrate that Kir2.1 is the only member of the Kir2 channel subfamily present in vascular arterial smooth muscle cells. Expression of cloned Kir2.1 in Xenopus oocytes resulted in inward rectifier K+ currents that strongly resemble those that are observed in native vascular arterial smooth muscle cells. We conclude that Kir2.1 encodes for inward rectifier K+ channels in arterial smooth muscle.

Animals↗

Molecular diversity of K(V) alpha- and beta-subunit expression in canine gastrointestinal smooth muscles.

Voltage-activated K(+) (K(V)) channels play an important role in regulating the membrane potential in excitable cells. In gastrointestinal (GI) smooth muscles, these channels are particularly important in modulating spontaneous electrical activities. The purpose of this study was to identify the molecular components that may be responsible for the K(V) currents found in the canine GI tract. In this report, we have examined the qualitative expression of eighteen different K(V) channel genes in canine GI smooth muscle cells at the transcriptional level using RT-PCR analysis. Our results demonstrate the expression of K(V)1.4, K(V)1.5, K(V)1.6, K(V)2.2, and K(V)4.3 transcripts in all regions of the GI tract examined. Transcripts encoding K(V)1.2, K(V)beta1.1, and K(V)beta1.2 subunits were differentially expressed. K(V)1.1, K(V)1.3, K(V)2.1, K(V)3.1, K(V)3.2, K(V)3.4, K(V)4.1, K(V)4.2, and K(V)beta2.1 transcripts were not detected in any GI smooth muscle cells. We have also determined the protein expression for a subset of these K(V) channel subunits using specific antibodies by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that K(V)1.2, K(V)1.4, K(V)1.5, and K(V)2.2 are expressed at the protein level in GI tissues and smooth muscle cells. K(V)2.1 was not detected in any regions of the GI tract examined. These results suggest that the wide array of electrical activity found in different regions of the canine GI tract may be due in part to the differential expression of K(V) channel subunits.

Animals↗

Leptospirosis.

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Animals↗

Basal activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in murine colonic smooth muscle cell.

The function and molecular expression of ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels in murine colonic smooth muscle was investigated by intracellular electrical recording from intact muscles, patch-clamp techniques on isolated smooth muscle myocytes, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on isolated cells. Lemakalim (1 microM) caused hyperpolarization of intact muscles (17. 2 +/- 3 mV). The hyperpolarization was blocked by glibenclamide (1-10 microM). Addition of glibenclamide (10 microM) alone resulted in membrane depolarization (9.3 +/- 1.7 mV). Lemakalim induced an outward current of 15 +/- 3 pA in isolated myocytes bathed in 5 mM external K+ solution. Application of lemakalim to cells in symmetrical K+ solutions (140/140 mM) resulted in a 97 +/- 5 pA inward current. Both currents were blocked by glibenclamide (1 microM). Pinacidil (1 microM) also activated an inwardly rectifying current that was insensitive to 4-aminopyridine and barium. In single-channel studies, lemakalim (1 microM) and diazoxide (300 microM) increased the open probability of a 27-pS K+ channel. Openings of these channels decreased with time after patch excision. Application of ADP (1 mM) or ATP (0.1 mM) to the inner surface of the patches reactivated channel openings. The conductance and characteristics of the channels activated by lemakalim were consistent with the properties of KATP. RT-PCR demonstrated the presence of Kir 6.2 and SUR2B transcripts in colonic smooth muscle cells; transcripts for Kir 6.1, SUR1, and SUR2A were not detected. These molecular studies are the first to identify the molecular components of KATP in colonic smooth muscle cells. Together with the electrophysiological experiments, we conclude that KATP channels are expressed in murine colonic smooth muscle cells and suggest that these channels may be involved in dual regulation of resting membrane potential, excitability, and contractility.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Functional and molecular identification of a novel chloride conductance in canine colonic smooth muscle.

Swelling-activated or volume-sensitive Cl- currents are found in numerous cell types and play a variety of roles in their function; however, molecular characterization of the channels is generally lacking. Recently, the molecular entity responsible for swelling-activated Cl- current in cardiac myocytes has been identified as ClC-3. The goal of our study was to determine whether such a channel exists in smooth muscle cells of the canine colon using both molecular biological and electrophysiological techniques and, if present, to characterize its functional and molecular properties. We hypothesized that ClC-3 is present in colonic smooth muscle and is regulated in a manner similar to the molecular entity cloned from heart. Indeed, the ClC-3 gene was expressed in colonic myocytes, as demonstrated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction performed on isolated cells. The current activated by decreasing extracellular osmolarity from 300 to 250 mosM was outwardly rectifying and dependent on the Cl- gradient. Current magnitude increased and reversed at more negative potentials when Cl- was replaced by I- or Br-. Tamoxifen ([Z]-1-[p-dimethylaminoethoxy-phenyl]-1,2-diphenyl-1-butene; 10 microM) and DIDS (100 microM) inhibited the current, whereas 25 microM niflumic acid, 10 microM nicardipine, and Ca2+ removal had no effect. Current was inhibited by 1 mM extracellular ATP in a voltage-dependent manner. Cl- current was also regulated by protein kinase C, as phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (300 nM) decreased Cl- current magnitude, while chelerythrine chloride (30 microM) activated it under isotonic conditions. Our findings indicate that a current activated by hypotonic solution is present in colonic myocytes and is likely mediated by ClC-3. Furthermore, we suggest that the ClC-3 may be an important mechanism controlling depolarization and contraction of colonic smooth muscle under conditions that impose physical stress on the cells.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

Nitric oxide relaxes human myometrium by a cGMP-independent mechanism.

The role of intracellular guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate concentration ([cGMP]i) in nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxations in the uterus has become controversial. We found the NO donor S-nitroso-L-cysteine (CysNO) to potently (IC50 = 30 nM) inhibit spontaneous contractions in the nonpregnant human myometrium. CysNO treatment increased [cGMP]i significantly (P < 0.001), and this increase was blocked by the guanylyl cyclase inhibitors methylene blue (10 microM) or LY-83583 (1 microM); however, pretreatment with these guanylyl cyclase inhibitors failed to block CysNO-mediated relaxations. Intracellular cAMP concentrations were not altered by treatment of tissues with 10 microM CysNO. Incubation with the cGMP analogs 8-bromo-cGMP or beta-phenyl-1,N2-etheno-cGMP did not significantly affect spontaneous contractility. Pretreatment of tissues with charybdotoxin [a calcium-dependent potassium channel (BK) blocker] completely reversed CysNO-induced relaxations. We conclude that NO is a potent inhibitor of spontaneous contractile activity in the nonpregnant human uterus and that, although guanylyl cyclase and BK activities are increased by NO, increases in [cGMP]i are not required for NO-induced relaxations in this tissue.

Aminoquinolines↗