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Biomedical subjects

L Muszbek

Publications and source records attributed to L Muszbek.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Covalent modification of platelet proteins by palmitate.

Covalent attachment of fatty acid to proteins plays an important role in association of certain proteins with hydrophobic membrane structures. In platelets, the structure of many membrane glycoproteins (GPs) has been examined in detail, but the question of fatty acid acylation of platelet proteins has not been addressed. In this study, we wished to determine (a) whether platelet proteins could be fatty acid acylated; and, if so, (b) whether these modified proteins were present in isolated platelet membranes and cytoskeletal fractions; and (c) if the pattern of fatty acid acylated proteins changed on stimulation of the platelets with the agonist thrombin. We observed that in platelets allowed to incorporate 3H-palmitate, a small percentage (1.37%) of radioactivity incorporated into the cells became covalently bound to protein. Selective cleavage of thioester, thioester plus O-ester, and amide-linked 3H-fatty acids from proteins, and their subsequent analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) indicated that the greatest part of 3H-fatty acid covalently bound to protein was thioester-linked 3H-palmitate. By sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and fluorography, at least ten major radiolabeled proteins were detected. Activation of platelets by thrombin greatly increased the quantity of 3H-palmitoylated proteins associated with the cytoskeleton. Nearly all radiolabeled proteins were recovered in the membrane fraction, indicating that these proteins are either integral or peripheral membrane proteins or proteins tightly associated to membrane constituents. Components of the GPIIb-IIIa complex were not palmitoylated. Thus, platelet proteins are significantly modified posttranslationally by 3H-palmitate, and incorporation of palmitoylated proteins into the cytoskeleton is a prominent component of the platelet response to thrombin stimulation.

Acylation↗
PubMed1988

Fibrinolysis resistant fibrin deposits in lymph nodes with Hodgkin's disease.

Extravasal fibrin deposition is frequently observed within and around tumorous tissues and has been implicated in various aspects of tumor growth. However, no adequate information has been available on the mechanism how intratumoral interstitial fibrin deposits escape a prompt elimination by the fibrinolytic system. In this study we provide immunomorphological evidence showing that fibrin deposits in lymph nodes with Hodgkin's disease are stabilized and made resistant to fibrinolysis by factor XIII (FXIII) of blood coagulation. By double immunofluorescent labelling systems fibrin deposits were simultaneously stained for alpha 2-antiplasmin (alpha 2-AP), the main physiological inhibitor of fibrinolysis and in a number of nodular areas they were also labelled for plasmin(ogen). The detection of alpha 2-antiplasmin-plasmin complex-neoantigen (alpha 2-AP-P-Neo) revealed that alpha 2-AP reacted with plasmin, i.e., alpha 2-AP covalently linked to fibrin indeed inhibited intratumoral fibrinolysis. In addition to fibrin deposits FXIII was also found in cellular elements characterized earlier as tumor associated macrophages. These cells were attached to fibrin strands suggesting that they are involved in the intratumoral fibrin formation and might be a source of fibrin stabilizing factor in the tumor stroma.

Fibrin↗
PubMed1988

Platelet vinculin: a substrate of activated factor XIII.

In addition to plasma, Factor XIII of blood coagulation (FXIII) is also present in the cytosol of platelets, monocytes and macrophages. However, its intracellular function has not yet been revealed. Activated Factor XIII (FXIIIa) is a transglutaminase (protein-glutamine: amine gamma-glutamyltransferase, EC 2.3.2.13) of highly restricted substrate specificity with only a few known protein substrates. In this report, we showed that FXIIIa can link dansylcadaverine, radiolabelled histamine and putrescine to vinculin. Quantitative determinations revealed that in the vinculin molecule a single glutamine residue can serve as acyl donor for the incorporation of small-molecular-weight amines. Vinculin could not be crosslinked to another vinculin molecule. It could be covalently bound, however, to fibrinogen, which indicates that the acyl donor glutamine residue can be engaged in an epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)lysyl crosslink formation. Since it has been shown that platelet actin and myosin, two main components of cytoskeleton, are also substrates for FXIIIa, and that vinculin is associated to the cytoskeleton during platelet activation, the involvement of FXIII in the stabilization of cytoskeleton at certain phases of cellular function is a likely possibility.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Monocytes of patients congenitally deficient in plasma factor XIII lack factor XIII subunit a antigen and transglutaminase activity.

Monocytes isolated from patients with severe deficiency in plasma Factor XIII of blood coagulation (FXIII) were tested for FXIII antigen and transglutaminase activity. By immunoperoxidase method the patients' monocytes, in contrast to normal controls, showed no reaction with a monospecific antibody against FXIII subunit a. This result was confirmed by immunoblotting technique, as well. In addition, tissue macrophages tested in one of the patients were also exempt of FXIII subunit a antigen. The transglutaminase activity in FXIII deficient monocytes was below the limit of the detection of the dansylcadaverine incorporation assay. The results suggest that FXIII subunit a of monocytes/macrophages and its plasma and platelet counterparts are closely related or identical proteins and demonstrate that the transglutaminase activity in monocytes is of FXIII origin and tissue transglutaminase is present, if at all, only in insignificant amount.

Antigens↗
PubMed1988

Characterisation of connective tissue cells containing factor XIII subunit a.

Paraffin embedded sections of human liver, lymph node, and placenta showed that certain connective tissue cells were positive for factor XIII subunit a. These cells were further characterised by double immunofluorescence labelling and by combined immunofluorescence and enzyme cytochemical staining on frozen sections. They were labelled by the monoclonal antibodies RFD7 and anti-Leu M3 (markers of the macrophage cell line) but gave a negative reaction for the fibroblast marker IIG10 and showed no alkaline phosphatase activity. Immunoblotting detected factor XIII subunit a in macrophages isolated from placenta but not in human fibroblasts. At lower dilutions, the commercially available antibody against the b subunit of factor XIII also positively reacted with the same cell population. The facts that immunoblotting showed that the antiserum crossreacted with the a subunit and that placental macrophages did not stain strongly for the b subunit also indicate that this antigen is not present in adult connective tissue cells.

Connective Tissue↗
PubMed1987

Association of vinculin to the platelet cytoskeleton during thrombin-induced aggregation.

Vinculin is a protein generally believed to be involved in membrane-cytoskeleton interaction, and its presence in platelets has been verified earlier. Here we show that in resting bovine platelets, vinculin is not associated with the Triton-insoluble cytoskeletal fraction but becomes incorporated into it during the thrombin-induced activation process. The incorporation starts around the same time as the release reaction and only after the shape change and the first phase of aggregation have taken place. Its time course parallels the cytoskeletal association of actin and certain other contractile proteins. Vinculin is a minor component of platelet cytoskeleton and only about 10% of the total platelet vinculin becomes incorporated into the Triton X-100 residue.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Identification of smooth muscle-derived foam cells in the atherosclerotic plaque of human aorta with monoclonal antibody IIG10.

We have developed a monoclonal antibody that specifically interacts with a surface antigen of human fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. The antibody (antibody IIG10) recognizes a polypeptide of molecular mass 330,000, revealed by immunoblotting in fibroblast and smooth muscle cell extract, but not in vascular endothelial cells, peritoneal macrophages, peripheral blood lymphocytes nor hepatocytes. In tissue sections the antibody stained smooth muscle cells of myometrium, aorta and smaller blood vessels, and fibroblasts of connective tissue. Specificity of the antibody was further confirmed by double staining of aorta sections. Antibody IIG10 was used to identify smooth muscle-derived foam cells in the atherosclerotic plaque of human aorta.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1987

Characterization of factor XIII containing-macrophages in lymph nodes with Hodgkin's disease.

A large number of cells containing subunit a of blood coagulation Factor XIII (FXIII) was detected by immunoperoxidase staining in lymph nodes with Hodgkin's disease. These relatively large, multipolar, mononuclear cells were often found in the immediate vicinity of malignant Hodgkin's cells. Intensive characterization of these cells carried out by immunofluorescent and enzymecytochemical techniques in double- and triple-labelling systems on the same sections clearly demonstrated that they represent tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs). FXIII containing-cells showed alpha-naphtyl acetate esterase (ANAE) positivity, and were labelled by monoclonal anti-Leu M3 antibody, a monocyte/macrophage marker, but not at all or only very weakly by anti-HLA-DR. Neither alkaline phosphatase (ALP) nor adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity could be detected in these cells and surprisingly, they were consistently negative for acid phosphatase (AcP) as well. The presence of FXIII subunit a in tumour-associated macrophages suggests that this cell type might have an important role in the stabilization of fibrin deposits around tumour cells.

Factor XIII↗
PubMed1987

Factor XIII: a marker of mono- and megakaryocytopoiesis.

Previous studies have shown that human platelets, megakaryocytes and peripheral blood monocytes contain the subunit a of plasma factor XIII (FXIII) which plays a key role in fibrin stabilization. To study the expression of FXIII subunit a during differentiation of the mono- and megakaryocytic cell lines, bone marrow smears were examined by immunomorphological methods. In addition to megakaryocytes, FXIII was detected in a large number of cells by a highly sensitive immunoperoxidase staining. Characterization of these cells was carried out by double immunofluorescent labelling in which the detection of FXIII subunit a was combined by the labelling of either Leu M3 monocyte/macrophage surface antigen or platelet factor 4 (PF4) a marker for megakaryocytic cells. On the course of differentiation from early precursors to mature megakaryocytes all phenotypic form of the megakaryocytic cell line expressed FXIII subunit a though there were considerable changes in its subcellular distribution pattern. Leu M3 positive cells of monocytopoiesis, i.e. monocytes and promonocytes and in all probability monoblasts as well, were also labelled for FXIII. On this basis FXIII subunit a could be considered as a common marker of megakaryo- and monocytopoiesis and its immunomorphological detection might provide a useful diagnostic tool for identifying normal and perhaps also malignant differentiation forms of these cell lines.

Bone Marrow Cells↗
PubMed1986

Transglutaminase-sensitive glutamine residues of human plasma fibronectin revealed by studying its proteolytic fragments.

The sites of transglutamination of fibronectin and fibronectin fragments, by coagulation factor XIIIa and tissue transglutaminase, were studied. It was shown that the intact fibronectin molecule has two sites sensitive to coagulation factor XIIIa and four sites sensitive to tissue transglutaminase: 180--190-kDa gelatin/heparin-binding fragments, 2 and 5--6 sites; 29-kDa heparin-I/fibrin-I-binding N-terminal fragments, 1 and 2 sites; 70-kDa gelatin-binding fragments, 0 and 1 site; 60-kDa cell-binding central fragments, 1 and 3--4 sites; 60-kDa, 45-kDa, 30-kDa heparin-II-binding C-terminal fragments, 1 and 2 sites. Thus, we have found a new coagulation-factor-XIIIa-sensitive site localized in the cell-binding central fragment, inaccessible to enzyme in the intact fibronectin molecule. Tissue transglutaminase appeared to interact with all of the three coagulation-factor-XIIIa-sensitive sites and, in addition, some others which are either available on the intact molecule or can be revealed only in proteolytic fragments of the fibronectin. We suggest that interdomain and intersubunit interactions in the intact fibronectin molecule account for the masking of glutamine residues potentially accessible to transglutaminases.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1986

Identification of histiocytic reticulum cells by the immunohistochemical demonstration of factor XIII (F-XIIIa) in human lymph nodes.

Morphologically and enzyme histochemically distinguishable tissue macrophages and stromal cells of human reactive lymph nodes were characterized by the cytoplasmic presence of the subunit A of factor XIII and by the expression of surface antigenic determinants reacting with monoclonal antibodies directed against monocyte/macrophage populations (Mo 1, Leu M3) and HLA-DR antigens. The distribution of F-XIIIa positive cells was studied on formaldehyde-fixed paraffin-embedded sections with immunoperoxidase techniques. established on cryostat section with double immunofluorescence. Alpha-Naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) reaction was The immunophenotype was established on cryostat sections with double immunofluorescence. Alpha-Naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) reaction was carried out on these cryostat sections to identify tissue macrophages. The antibody against F-XIIIa detected histiocytes in both intra- and extra-sinusoidal locations which were ANAE+, Mo 1+, Leu M3+ and HLA-DR-. F-XIIIa was also present in fibroblast-like mesenchymal cells with the following phenotypic characteristics: ANAE-, Mo 1+, Leu M3+ and HLA-DR+. The anti F-XIIIa antibody did not stain lymphoid cells, granulocytes, epithelial cells, endothelial cells and mast cells. The immunohistochemical detection of F-XIIIa works on formaldehyde-fixed paraffin-embedded sections. The most promising application seems to be the identification of histiocytes in lymphoid and histiocytic proliferations.

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1985

Factor XIII of blood coagulation in human monocytes.

The presence of Factor XIII subunit a was demonstrated in human monocytes by immunoperoxidase staining using specific antisera against Factor XIII and its subunits. This finding was verified by immunobiochemical techniques, as well. In an immunoblotting system after SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of denatured monocyte homogenate a protein band comigrating with Factor XIII subunit a showed positive reaction with antibodies against this subunit or whole Factor XIII. In contrast, no subunit b of Factor XIII could be detected by either of these methods in monocytes. Activity measurements were carried out by the dansylcadaverine incorporation assay in the absence and presence of anti-Factor XIII antibody with and without thrombin activation. The expression of transglutaminase activity required thrombin and was completely abolished in presence of anti- Factor XIII antibody, which clearly indicate that practically all the transglutaminase activity measured in monocytes comes from Factor XIII. Factor XIII of monocytes and macrophages might have a role in formation of focal fibrin thrombi as well as in organization of stable, fibrinolysis resistant fibrin clot at the site of inflammation or around tumor cells.

Acyltransferases↗
PubMed1985

Kinetic determination of blood coagulation Factor XIII in plasma.

We have designed a new kinetic assay for estimating Factor XIII in plasma. Plasma fibrinogen is removed by treatment with bentonite (colloidal aluminum silicate) before measurement. During the lag phase, Factor XIII is transformed by thrombin and Ca2+ into active transglutaminase (EC 2.3.2.13), which attaches the substrate ethylamine to a glutamine residue in acetylated, dephosphorylated beta-casein. During the reaction, ammonia is released, which can be continuously monitored in an NADPH-dependent indicator reaction catalyzed by glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.4). We determined the optimal concentrations of substrate and activator and found that, to eliminate the clottable fibrinogen from the plasma samples, bentonite treatment was more advantageous than the traditional heat treatment. Results by the method correlate well with those by the most widely used amine incorporation and immunoinhibition assays for Factor XIII. We established a reference interval of 12.1-22.7 U/L; at optimal conditions, the variance of the method was less than 3% within this range. The method has several theoretical and practical advantages over traditional determinations of Factor XIII.

Ammonia↗