Biomedical subjects

L Franco

Publications and source records attributed to L Franco.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

DNA methylation and histone acetylation of rat methionine adenosyltransferase 1A and 2A genes is tissue-specific.

Methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) catalyzes the biosynthesis of S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet). In mammals MAT activity derives from two separate genes which display a tissue-specific pattern of expression. While MAT1A is expressed only in the adult liver, MAT2A is expressed in non-hepatic tissues. The mechanisms behind the selective expression of these two genes are not fully understood. In the present report we have evaluated MAT1A and MAT2A methylation in liver and in other tissues, such as kidney, by methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme digestion of genomic DNA. Our data indicate that MAT1A is hypomethylated in liver and hypermethylated in non-expressing tissues. The opposite situation is found for MAT2A. Additionally, histones associated to MAT1A and MAT2A genes showed enhanced levels of acetylation in expressing tissues (two-fold for MAT1A and 3.5-fold for MAT2A liver and kidney respectively). These observations support a role for chromatin structure and its modification in the tissue-specific expression of both MAT genes.

Acetylation↗

PubMed2000

A pea nuclear protein that is induced by dehydration belongs to the vicilin superfamily.

The purification to homogeneity of p16, a protein with an electrophoretic mobility compatible with an apparent molecular mass of 16 kDa, from nuclei of ungerminated pea embryonic axes is described. A cDNA clone of its gene, which was designated psp54, was also isolated. The psp54 cDNA contains an open reading frame coding for a 54.4-kDa polypeptide (p54). p16 corresponds to the C-terminal third of p54, although the mechanisms by which the primary polypeptide could be processed are not yet known. The sequence of p54 is 60% identical with that of the precursor of a sucrose-binding soybean protein, and, to a lesser extent (31-34%), it shares homology with some storage proteins. p16 is also 30% homologous with Nhp2p, a yeast nuclear protein. The psp54 gene, present in a single copy in pea genome, starts being expressed during seed desiccation. Soon after rehydration in seed germination, p54 mRNA disappears and is no longer detectable in vegetative tissues, except in response to hydric stress (exposure to abscisic acid, osmolites or desiccation). p16 can be recovered from nuclei cross-linked to histone H3, when the disulfide bridges that occur in vivo are preserved. On the other hand, p16 shares some properties with dehydrins, which are thought to protect cellular structures against desiccation. We propose that the possible precursor polypeptide p54 belongs to the vicilin superfamily, members of which play a variety of roles. The function of p16 may be related to the protection of chromatin structure against desiccation during seed development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Liver-specific methionine adenosyltransferase MAT1A gene expression is associated with a specific pattern of promoter methylation and histone acetylation: implications for MAT1A silencing during transformation.

Methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) is the enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), the main donor of methyl groups in the cell. In mammals MAT is the product of two genes, MAT1A and MAT2A. MAT1A is expressed only in the mature liver whereas fetal hepatocytes, extrahepatic tissues and liver cancer cells express MAT2A. The mechanisms behind the tissue and differentiation state specific MAT1A expression are not known. In the present work we examined MAT1A promoter methylation status by means of methylation sensitive restriction enzyme analysis. Our data indicate that MAT1A promoter is hypomethylated in liver and hypermethylated in kidney and fetal rat hepatocytes, indicating that this modification is tissue specific and developmentally regulated. Immunoprecipitation of mononucleosomes from liver and kidney tissues with antibodies mainly specific to acetylated histone H4 and subsequent Southern blot analysis with a MAT1A promoter probe demonstrated that MAT1A expression is linked to elevated levels of chromatin acetylation. Early changes in MAT1A methylation are already observed in the precancerous cirrhotic livers from rats, which show reduced MAT1A expression. Human hepatoma cell lines in which MAT1A is not expressed were also hypermethylated at this locus. Finally we demonstrate that MAT1A expression is reactivated in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 treated with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine or the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin, suggesting a role for DNA hypermethylation and histone deacetylation in MAT1A silencing.

Acetylation↗

PubMed2000

Extracellular cyclic ADP-ribose increases intracellular free calcium concentration and stimulates proliferation of human hemopoietic progenitors.

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) is a universal second messenger that regulates many calcium-related cellular events by releasing calcium from intracellular stores. Since these events include enhanced cell proliferation and since the bone marrow harbors both ectoenzymes that generate cADPR from NAD(+) (CD38 and BST-1), we investigated the effects of extracellular cADPR on human hemopoietic progenitors (HP). Exposure of HP to 100 microM cADPR for 24 h induced a significant increase in colony output (P<0.01) and colony size (P<0.003). A horizontal expansion of HP, as demonstrated by a markedly increased replating efficiency in semisolid medium (up to 700 times compared to controls), was also observed, indicating that cADPR priming can affect cell growth for multiple generations over several weeks after exposure. Influx of extracellular cADPR into the cells was demonstrated, and a causal relationship between the functional effects and the increase of intracellular free calcium concentration induced by cADPR on HP was established through the use of specific antagonists. Similar effects on HP were produced by nanomolar concentrations of the nonhydrolyzable cADPR analog 3-deaza-cADPR. These data demonstrate that extracellular cADPR behaves as a cytokine enhancing the proliferation of human HP, a finding that may have biomedical applications for the ex vivo expansion of hemopoietic cells.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗

PubMed2000

Topology of CD38.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

PubMed2000

Generalization and selection of examples in feedforward neural networks.

In this work, we study how the selection of examples affects the learning procedure in a boolean neural network and its relationship with the complexity of the function under study and its architecture. We analyze the generalization capacity for different target functions with particular architectures through an analytical calculation of the minimum number of examples needed to obtain full generalization (i.e., zero generalization error). The analysis of the training sets associated with such parameter leads us to propose a general architecture-independent criterion for selection of training examples. The criterion was checked through numerical simulations for various particular target functions with particular architectures, as well as for random target functions in a nonoverlapping receptive field perceptron. In all cases, the selection sampling criterion lead to an improvement in the generalization capacity compared with a pure random sampling. We also show that for the parity problem, one of the most used problems for testing learning algorithms, only the use of the whole set of examples ensures global learning in a depth two architecture. We show that this difficulty can be overcome by considering a tree-structured network of depth 2log2(N)-1.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1999

Expression of COX-1, COX-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase protein in human gastric antrum with Helicobacter pylori infection.

For a better understanding of the regulation of prostaglandin and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in circumstances in which the gastric mucosa is inflamed, we have examined the ex vivo production of NO and prostaglandin E2 and the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and 2 cyclo-oxygenase (COX) isoforms in gastric biopsies from nine Helicobacter pylori-infected patients with active gastritis and six Helicobacter pylori (HP)-negative patients. The results indicate a significant increased of NO and PGE2 in patients with HP infection compared with uninfected samples. These findings were paralleled by marked increases in iNOS and in COX-1 and COX-2 protein expression. Expression of iNOS and COX-2 protein was absent in the mucosa of HP-negative controls. We have demonstrated that iNOS protein is expressed in the gastric mucosa of patients with HP infection. It is likely that iNOS expression and the corresponding high release of NO may play an important role in gastric inflammation associated with HP infection. However, the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 and the parallel increase of prostaglandin E2 could imply that these factors could limit the extend of mucosal damage. In previous reports NO has been shown to stimulate the COX activity, so we think that the role of NO could be both in the regulation of normal function and in the genesis of diseases.

Cyclooxygenase 1↗

PubMed1999

Ligand-induced internalization of CD38 results in intracellular Ca2+ mobilization: role of NAD+ transport across cell membranes.

CD38, a transmembrane glycoprotein widely expressed in vertebrate cells, is a bifunctional ectoenzyme catalyzing the synthesis and hydrolysis of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR). cADPR is a universal second messenger that releases calcium from intracellular stores. Since cADPR is generated by CD38 at the outer surface of many cells, where it acts intracellularly, increasing attention is paid to addressing this topological paradox. Recently, we demonstrated that CD38 is a catalytically active, unidirectional transmembrane transporter of cADPR, which then reaches its receptor-operated intracellular calcium stores. Moreover, CD38 was reported to undergo a selective and extensive internalization through non clathrin-coated endocytotic vesicles upon incubating CD38(+) cells with either NAD+ or thiol compounds: these endocytotic vesicles can convert cytosolic NAD into cADPR despite an asymmetric unfavorable orientation that makes the active site of CD38 intravesicular. Here we demonstrate that the cADPR-generating activity of the endocytotic vesicles results in remarkable and sustained increases of intracellular free calcium concentration in different cells exposed to either NAD+, or GSH, or N-acetylcysteine. This effect of CD38-internalizing ligands on intracellular calcium levels was found to involve a two-step mechanism: 1) influx of cytosolic NAD+ into the endocytotic vesicles, mediated by a hitherto unrecognized dinucleotide transport system that is saturable, bidirectional, inhibitable by 8-N3-NAD+, and characterized by poor dinucleotide specificity, low affinity, and high efficiency; 2) intravesicular CD38-catalyzed conversion of NAD+ to cADPR, followed by outpumping of the cyclic nucleotide into the cytosol and subsequent release of calcium from thapsigargin-sensitive stores. This unknown intracellular trafficking of NAD+ and cADPR based on two distinctive and specific transmembrane carriers for either nucleotide can affect the intracellular calcium homeostasis in CD38(+) cells.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1998

Priming or tolerization of the B- and Th2-dependent immune response by the oral administration of OVA-DNP is determined by the antigen dosage.

In the present report we established antigen dosages that induce oral tolerance of Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes or instead prime B- and Th2-dependent immune response and induce the tolerance of Th1 lymphocytes. Using different hapten-carrier systems, we found that low doses of OVA-DNP administered orally primed B and Th2 cells. On the other hand, no priming of B or Th2 cells was found in high-dose-OVA-DNP-fed rats. Low-dose-OVA-DNP-fed rats showed a strong mucosal immune response, with a high number of IgA anti-DNP antibody-forming cells in the lamina propria, while no mucosal immune response was observed in high-dose-OVA-DNP-fed rats. Thirty days after the immunization, tolerization of Th1 lymphocytes was confirmed in low- and high-dose-OVA-DNP-fed rats by diminished antigen-specific proliferation in vitro, reduced titers of anti-DNP IgG2a in serum, reduced expression of CD25 and CD134 molecules in cultured cells exposed to the antigen, reduced DTH reaction, and reduced IL-2 synthesis in culture. On the other hand, a high dose of OVA-DNP led to Th1 and Th2 tolerance, with an inhibition of specific IgG1 and IgG2a anti-DNP antibodies in serum after a parenteral challenge with OVA in CFA. This functional evidence was supported by the direct examination of IL-2 and IL-4 production. Furthermore, whereas in vitro assays seem to indicate that active suppression could be the responsible for Th1 tolerization in low-dose-OVA-DNP-fed rats, the results obtained after the transference of spleen or MLN cells to naive recipients support the idea that a subtractive mechanism is behind the tolerization of Th1 lymphocytes.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1998

Dimeric and tetrameric forms of catalytically active transmembrane CD38 in transfected HeLa cells.

CD38, a type II transmembrane glycoprotein, behaves as a catalytically active transporter responsible for ectocellular generation of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) from NAD+ and for subsequent influx of cADPR across membranes [Franco, L., Guida, L., Bruzzone, S., Zocchi, E., Usai, C. and De Flora, A. (1998) FASEB J. in press]. cADPR regulates intracellular calcium homeostasis by releasing calcium from responsive stores. The cADPR-transporting function of CD38 requires channel-generating oligomeric forms of the protein rather than the 46 kDa monomers that have been described so far in CD38+ cells. Here we demonstrate that CD38, both in reconstituted proteoliposomes and in CD38-transfected HeLa cells, is a mixture of catalytically active monomers, homodimers and homotetramers. A soluble recombinant form of CD38 corresponding to its ectocellular region proved to be monomeric. Thus, association of native CD38 with either artificial or natural membranes seems to result in a reversible juxtaposition of monomers suitable to cADPR-transporting activity.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

PubMed1998

Nitric oxide enhances prostaglandin production in ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats.

The interaction between endogenous nitric oxide (NO), elicited by administration of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide, and cyclooxygenase system, in ethanol-induced injury in rat gastric mucosa, was investigated. Administration of graded doses of lipopolysaccharide reduced the gastric mucosal injury in response to ethanol. The ex vivo production of both nitrite and prostaglandin E2 was increased in dose-related manner by lipopolysaccharide. Pretreatment with dexamethasone, L-N6-(1-Iminoethyl)lysine(dihydrochloride) and L-NG-nitro arginine methyl ester inhibited the protection associated with lipopolysaccharide treatment and the ex vivo production of both, nitrite and prostaglandin E2. The pretreatment with L-arginine counteracted the decrease of nitrite and prostaglandin E2 production in lipopolysaccharide-treated rats in which nitric oxide synthesis was blocked by L-N6-(1-Iminoethyl)lysine(dihydrochloride). Administration of sodium nitroprusside and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine caused a dose related enhancement in the accumulation of prostaglandin E2. Indomethacin administration and N-(2-Cyclohexyloxy-4-nitrophenyl)methanesulfonamide were ineffective in suppressing lipopolysaccharide-mediated protection against ethanol-induced damage, and in suppressing ex vivo increase of nitrite whereas the ex vivo increase of prostaglandin E2 was prevented in a dose-related fashion. These results indicate that in ethanol-induced rat gastric injury, endogenous NO elicited by lipopolysaccharide or released by NO donors is able to activate the cyclooxygenase pathway, and the protective effect of lipopolysaccharide is dependent upon NO formation.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Expression of CD38 increases intracellular calcium concentration and reduces doubling time in HeLa and 3T3 cells.

CD38 is a bifunctional ectoenzyme, predominantly expressed on hematopoietic cells during differentiation, that catalyzes the synthesis (cyclase) and the degradation (hydrolase) of cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), a powerful calcium mobilizer from intracellular stores. Due to the well established role of calcium levels in the regulation of apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation, the CD38/cADPR system seems to be a likely candidate involved in the control of these fundamental processes. The ectocellular localization of the cyclase activity, however, contrasts with the intracellular site of action of cADPR. Here we demonstrate that ectocellular expression of human CD38 in CD38(-) HeLa and 3T3 cells results in intracellular CD38 substrate (NAD+ + NADH) consumption and product (cADPR) accumulation. Furthermore, a causal relationship is established between presence of intracellular cADPR, partial depletion of thapsigargin-sensitive calcium stores, increase in basal free cytoplasmic calcium concentration, and decrease of cell doubling time. The significant shortening of the S phase in CD38(+) HeLa cells, as compared with controls, demonstrates an effect of intracellular cADPR on the mammalian cell cycle.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1998

In vivo and in vitro phosphorylation of the alpha 7/PRS1 subunit of Saccharomyces cerevisiae 20 S proteasome: in vitro phosphorylation by protein kinase CK2 is absolutely dependent on polylysine.

In this paper, we show that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae 20 S proteasome subunit 1 (PRS1), recently renamed as alpha 7, is the main in vivo phosphorylated and in vitro CK2-phosphorylatable proteasome component. In vitro phosphorylation occurs only in the presence of polylysine, a characteristic that distinguishes the yeast proteasome from mammalian ones which are phosphorylated by CK2 in the absence of polylysine. A peptide reproducing the long acidic C-terminal tail of alpha 7/PRS1, where consensus CK2 phosphorylation sites are located, was also phosphorylated by the CK2 holoenzyme in a polylysine-dependent manner, suggesting that this region contains structural features responsible for this particular behavior.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Cyclic GMP-dependent and -independent effects on the synthesis of the calcium messengers cyclic ADP-ribose and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate.

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) have been shown to mobilize intracellular Ca2+ stores by totally independent mechanisms, which are pharmacologically distinct from that activated by inositol trisphosphate. Although cADPR and NAADP are structurally and functionally different, they can be synthesized by a single enzyme having ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity. In this study, three different assays were used to measure the metabolism of cADPR in sea urchin egg homogenates including a radioimmunoassay, a Ca2+ release assay, and a thin layer chromatographic assay. Soluble and membrane-bound ADP-ribosyl cyclases were identified and both cyclized NAD to produce cADPR. The soluble cyclase was half-maximally stimulated by 5.3 microM cGMP, but not by cAMP, while the membrane-bound form was independent of cGMP. The two forms of the cyclase were also different in the pH dependence of utilizing nicotinamide guanine dinucleotide (NGD), a guanine analog of NAD, as substrate, indicating they are two separate enzymes. The stimulatory effect of cGMP required ATP or ATPgammaS (adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)) and a cGMP-dependent kinase activity was shown to be present in the soluble fraction. The degradation of cADPR to ADP-ribose was catalyzed by cADPR hydrolase, which was found to be predominantly associated with membranes. Similar to the membrane-bound cyclase, the cADPR hydrolase activity was also independent of cGMP. Both the soluble and membrane fractions also catalyzed the synthesis of NAADP through exchanging the nicotinamide group of NADP with nicotinic acid (NA). The base-exchange activity was independent of cGMP and the half-maximal concentrations of NADP and NA needed were about 0.2 mM and 10 mM, respectively. The exchange reaction showed a preference for acidic pH, contrasting with the neutral pH optimum of the cyclase activities. The complex metabolic pathways characterized in this study indicate that there may be a multitude of regulatory mechanisms for controlling the endogenous concentrations of cADPR and NAADP.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

PubMed1998

Ectocellular CD38-catalyzed synthesis and intracellular Ca(2+)-mobilizing activity of cyclic ADP-ribose.

CD38 is a type-II transmembrane glycoprotein occurring in several hematopoietic and mature blood cells as well as in other cell types, including neurons. Although classified as an orphan receptor, CD38 is also a bifunctional ectoenzyme that catalyzes both the conversion of NAD+ to nicotinamide and cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), via an ADP-ribosyl cyclase reaction, and also the hydrolysis of cADPR to ADP-ribose (hydrolase). Major unresolved questions concern the correlation between receptor and catalytic properties of CD38, and also the apparent contradiction between ectocellular generation and intracellular Ca(2+)-mobilizing activity of cADPR. Results are presented that provide some explanations to this topological paradox in two different cell types. In cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons, extracellular cADPR (either generated by CD38 or directly added) elicited an enhanced intracellular Ca(2+)-response to KCl-induced depolarization, a process that can be qualified as a Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) mechanism. On the other hand, in the CD38+ human Namalwa B lymphoid cells, NAD+ (and thiol compounds as well) induced a two-step process of self-aggregation followed by endocytosis of CD38, which resulted in a shift of cADPR metabolism from the cell surface to the cytosol. Both distinctive types of cellular responses to extracellular NAD+ seem to be suitable to elicit changes in the intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

PubMed1998

During intense exercise, obese women rely more than lean women on aerobic energy.

A series of untrained, healthy, obese women (body mass index 32.5 +/- 0.9 kg.m-2) were subjected to a protocol of intense exercise on a cycloergometer and compared with lean controls (body mass index 20. 9 +/- 0.5 kg.m-2). Physiological parameters, blood lactate, bicarbonate, plasma metabolites, oxygen consumption and CO2 production were measured. Impedance-derived extracellular water and plasma changes in lactate and bicarbonate were used to determine changes in bicarbonate pools and lactate-displaced CO2. From these and respiratory gases, the respiratory quotient was calculated and thence overall fuel consumption. Anaerobic energy during exercise accounted for about 1.8% of all energy consumed in the lean but only 0.7% in the obese. Obese women fatigued at lower workloads and energy expenditure levels than did the lean, and their lactate buildup was similar when compared on the basis of fat-free mass. The data support the postulation of fatigue being triggered by a combination of factors: stretched cardiovascular work would be the main factor for obese women, in part limiting lactate production. For lean women, the triggering factor for fatigue could be the loss of buffering capacity; but it is the combination of stretching cardiovascular capacity, exhaustion of glycogen and available glucose and increase in lactate/loss of bicarbonate buffer that determines the onset of fatigue.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

A cost comparison of approaches to sexually transmitted disease treatment in Malawi.

Since syndromic management of STDs requires treatment with at least two antibiotics per patient, one of the concerns raised by adoption of the syndromic approach is the cost of drugs, especially for developing countries with limited drug budgets. The objective of the current study is to compare the cost-effectiveness of syndromic management to current national practice for the management of STDs in Malawi. The actual cost of observed antibiotic treatment for 144 patients receiving same day treatment for two STD syndromes in Malawi was determined using prices from the Malawi government supply catalogue. This was then compared to the calculated cost of treatment had the same patients been managed syndromically according to national guidelines. The cost of drug treatment under current practice was similar to the cost of syndromic treatment. However, at least one-third of observed patients did not receive effective treatment for either likely cause of their STD syndrome and wastage accounted for 54% of total observed drug cost. Overall, syndromic management of STDs in Malawi would result in more effective treatment of STDs at no additional cost. Since the indirect costs of low treatment efficacy were not taken into account in this analysis, a net saving is likely to be realized with the adoption of syndromic management.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1998

The transmembrane glycoprotein CD38 is a catalytically active transporter responsible for generation and influx of the second messenger cyclic ADP-ribose across membranes.

CD38 is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein expressed in many vertebrate cells. It is a bifunctional ectoenzyme that catalyzes both the synthesis of Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) from NAD+ and the degradation of cADPR to ADP-ribose by means of its ADP-ribosyl cyclase and cADPR-hydrolase activities, respectively. The cyclase also converts NGD+ to cyclic GDP-ribose (cGDPR), which is refractory to cADPR-hydrolase. cADPR, but not cGDPR, is a potent calcium mobilizer from intracellular stores. It has been demonstrated to be a new second messenger involved in the regulation of calcium homeostasis in many cell types, from plants to mammals. The number of physiological processes shown to be regulated by cADPR is steadily increasing. A topological paradox exists because ectocellularly generated cADPR acts intracellularly. Here we demonstrate that the catalytic functioning of CD38 is accompanied by a cADPR (cGDPR) -transporting activity across natural and artificial membranes. In resealed membranes from CD38(+) human erythrocytes, transport of catalytically generated cADPR or cGDPR was saturation dependent and occurred against a concentration gradient. Likewise, CD38-reconstituted proteoliposomes were active in concentrating NAD+ (NGD+) -derived cADPR (cGDPR) inside the vesicle compartment. Moreover, the cADPR-transporting activity in CD38 proteoliposomes prevented the hydrolase-catalyzed degradation to ADPR that occurs conversely with detergent-solubilized CD38, resulting in selective influx of cADPR. In the CD38 proteoliposomes, catalytically active CD38 exhibited monomeric, dimeric, and tetrameric structures. In CD38 sense- but not in antisense-transfected HeLa cells, externally added NAD+ resulted in significant, transient increases in cytosolic calcium. These data suggest that transmembrane juxtaposition of two or four CD38 monomers can generate a catalytically active channel for selective formation and influx of cADPR (cGDPR) to reach cADPR-responsive intracellular calcium stores.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗