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Biomedical subjects

L Saggin

Publications and source records attributed to L Saggin.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Embryonic myosin heavy chain as a differentiation marker of developing human skeletal muscle and rhabdomyosarcoma. A monoclonal antibody study.

Hybridoma cell lines were obtained from the fusion of NS-O myeloma cells with spleen cells of mice immunized with bovine fetal skeletal myosin. A stable hybridoma clone, BF-G6, produced immunoglobulin G1 k antibodies reacting specifically with embryonic-type myosin heavy chains present in fetal but not in neonatal or adult human skeletal muscle, as determined by enzyme immunoassay and immunoblot analysis. Fetal but not adult skeletal muscle fibers were stained by this monoclonal antibody in indirect immunofluorescence assays; smooth muscle cells and cardiac muscle cells, as well as non-muscle cells were also unreactive. Solid tumors of infants and children were tested for reactivity with BF-G6 by immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase staining. Embryonic myosin heavy chain was expressed in rhabdomyosarcomas but not in other types of tumor, except for Wilms' tumor. Rhabdomyosarcoma cells isolated from a bone marrow metastasis and grown in vitro for several months were also labelled by BF-G6. Embryonic myosin heavy chain can thus be used as a specific differentiation marker of normal and neoplastic skeletal muscle tissue.

Adolescent↗

RMZ: a new cell line from a human alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. In vitro expression of embryonic myosin.

The RMZ cell line was established from a bone marrow metastasis of a human alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Since the beginning of the in vitro culture, RMZ cells showed differentiation-related morphological heterogeneity: actively proliferating polygonal or spindle-shaped cells were observed along with a few multinucleated myotube-like structures and giant cells, frequently multinucleated. All these cell types were still present after over 40 passages. A set of clonal derivatives has been obtained from the second in vitro subculture. All the clones showed the same morphological heterogeneity of the parental cells, but differed from one another in the degree of differentiation. Multinucleated myotube-like structures were strongly stained by anti-desmin antibody; most mononuclear cells were weakly stained. About 80% of RMZ and cloned cells were scored as desmin-positive in cytocentrifuged preparations. The expression of embryonic myosin heavy chain, specifically recognized by the monoclonal antibody BF-G6, was found in RMZ cell line and was localised in the myotube-like structures. Only a few giant cells and rare mononucleated polygonal cells were stained. The average proportion of BF-G6 positive cells in cytocentrifuged preparations was of about 6% of the total RMZ cells. In the two RMZ clones studied, the expression of embryonic myosin was correlated to the proportion of myotube-like structures: a BF-G6 positivity of 35% was found in the most differentiated one.

Cell Count↗

Prothrombin evaluation as obtained by kinetics studies of antigen-antibody reaction in a laser nephelometer.

Laser nephelometry is a technique which allows the evaluation of the concentration of several serum proteins and clotting factors. By means of this technique it is also possible to study the kinetics of the reaction between antigen and antibody. We studied the kinetics of the reaction between prothrombin and an antiprothrombin antiserum using several prothrombins namely: Prothrombin Padua, prothrombin Molise, which are two congenital dysprothrombinemias, cirrhotic, coumarin or normal prothrombins. Different behaviors in the kinetics of the reactions were shown even when the concentration of prothrombins was about the same in all plasma tested. These differences were analyzed by means of a computer (Apple II 48 RAM) programmed to solve four unknown equations (Rodbard's equation). From the data so obtained one can see that when voltages at the beginning and at the end of the reaction are in all cases about the same, a clear difference in the time required to reach half the maximum value of the voltage can still be demonstrated. This parameter, which is expressed in minutes, is longer in coumarin and prothrombin Molise than in controls. On the contrary it is shorter in prothrombin Padua and has about the same value of controls in the cirrhotic patient. Moreover the time at which the maximum rate is obtained is longer in coumarin and prothrombin Molise than in controls and shorter in liver cirrhosis and prothrombin Padua. In conclusion data obtained show that coumarin prothrombin behaves in a different way from cirrhotic prothrombin and also that there is a different behaviour between the two congenital dysprothrombinemias.

Anticoagulants↗

The role of laser nephelometer in the study of abnormal clotting factors: characterization of two abnormal antithrombins (AT III Padua and AT III Padua2).

The immunologic concentration of two abnormal antithrombins III (AT III), namely antithrombin III Padua (AT III Padua) and antithrombin III Padua2 (AT III Padua2) and the kinetics of the reaction of these two ATs III with an anti AT III antiserum was investigated by means of a laser nephelometer. The immunologic concentration of these two AT III both in presence (0.2 IU/mL) or absence of heparin was normal. On the contrary, the analysis of kinetics behavior demonstrated that AT III Padua is radically different from pooled normal plasma both in presence or in absence of heparin. This was not the case for AT III Padua2, which showed no difference from pooled normal plasma regardless of the presence or absence of heparin. Both abnormal antithrombins III reached the plateau of the reaction at about the corresponding value of pooled normal plasma, indicating a normal antigen level. These experimental data were analyzed by means of a computer (Apple II 48 RAM) programmed to solve a four unknowns equation (Rodbard's equation). This analysis showed that the time needed to reach half of the maximum voltage, i.e., the parameter C, which is expressed in minutes, is clearly longer in the case of AT III Padua samples (heparinized or not) as compared with pooled normal plasma. Moreover, the time at which the maximum rate was reached was also longer. On the contrary, in the case of AT III Padua2 there is no difference from pooled normal plasma. These data confirm the view that a different kind of defect is present in these two AT III abnormalities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antigen-Antibody Reactions↗

Myosin changes in hypertrophied human atrial and ventricular myocardium. A correlated immunofluorescence and quantitative immunochemical study on serial cryosections.

Two antigenically distinct types of myosin heavy chain, referred to as alpha and beta, have been identified in autoptic and bioptic specimens of human heart using specific antimyosin antibodies. By immunofluorescence heavy chain alpha was present in all atrial myocytes and in a variable number of ventricular myocytes. Heavy chain beta was present in all ventricular myocytes and in a number of atrial myocytes. Ventricular hypertrophy in patients with aortic stenosis, systemic hypertension or tetralogy of Fallot was characterized by an almost complete absence of fibres reactive with anti-alpha. A striking decrease in alpha chain reactivity and a parallel increase in beta chain reactivity was apparent in the hypertrophied left atria of patients with mitral stenosis. To quantify these myosin changes a novel procedure was developed whereby myosin was extracted from single cryosections serial to those processed for immunofluorescence and the relative amount of alpha and beta heavy chain was determined by enzyme immunoassay. Heavy chain alpha was less than 5% in most normal ventricular specimens and disappeared completely under the effect of pressure overload. On the other hand heavy chain beta was generally undetectable in the left atrial myocardium but increased up to 90% in biopsies of hypertrophied atria.

Adult↗

Role of accessory cells in the induction of a secondary cytotoxic response to Moloney murine sarcoma virus-induced tumors.

The role of Ia-positive accessory cells in the generation of a secondary cytotoxic response to tumor-associated antigens induced by Moloney murine sarcoma virus (M-MSV) was evaluated. Spleen cells from M-MSV-immune A.TL mice, depleted of accessory cells by anti-Iak serum plus C treatment and stimulated in secondary mixed leukocyte tumor cell culture (MLTC) with syngeneic Ia-negative A6ATL Moloney leukemic cells, failed to generate virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). CTL generation in Ia-depleted MLTC may be reconstituted by the addition of nonimmune Ia-positive spleen or peritoneal cells obtained not only from syngeneic A.TL but also from I-incompatible A.TH mice. This lack of restriction observed in accessory cell function is explained in terms of a nonspecific mechanism of CTL triggering mediated by soluble factors. In fact, IL 2 as well as supernatants obtained from I region-incompatible cultures consisting of M-MSV-immune, Ia-depleted A.TL spleen cells and A.TH Ia-positive cells, reconstituted secondary virus-specific CTL generation.

Animals↗

Prothrombin antigen evaluation by means of laser nephelometry in health and disease.

Prothrombin antigen concentration was evaluated by means of laser nephelometry in 10 patients on coumarin therapy, in 17 patients with cirrhosis of the liver, and in four patients with congenital hypo- or dysprothrombinemias. The average values obtained were 46.4, 37.7, and 35.6%, respectively, for anticoagulated, cirrhotic, and congenitally abnormal patients. These values correlated well with those obtained by means of electroimmunoassay (Laurell) and immunodiffusion (Mancini) methods. Similarly, satisfactory results were obtained in eight normal subjects. Multiple evaluations at different incubation times, also allowed the authors to construct kinetic curves of the interaction between antigen and antibody. However, an abnormal kinetic curve was demonstrated only for coumarin-treated patients.

Antigens↗

Differences between normal antithrombin III and antithrombin III Padua as determined by laser nephelometry.

Laser nephelometry was used to characterize an abnormal antithrombin III (AT III Padua) in comparison with normal antithrombin. Heparinized (0.2 IU/ml) or non-heparinized AT III Padua plasma reacts with Laser nephelometry antithrombin III antiserum in a different way compared with pooled normal plasma. There is in fact a slower antigen-antibody reaction during the first 40-45 min both in AT III Padua heparinized and non-heparinized plasmas, compared with pooled normal plasma; then the kinetics overlap. On the contrary the concentrations of antithrombin III Padua in percent correlate well with those obtained by Mancini's and Laurell's methods. These data indicate that Laser nephelometry is suitable for AT III antigen determinations and may also supply useful information for the characterization of abnormal clotting factors.

Antithrombin III↗

Chromogenic substrate (S-2222) factor X assays in the follow-up of coumarin treated patients. No advantage over prothrombin time and/or thrombotest.

Factor X was assayed in 30 patients on long-term anticoagulation by means of a chromogenic substrate (S-2222) for a total of 120 determinations. The average level found was 25.38 +/- 9.38% of normal. A satisfactory correlation was found between the factor X chromogenic level and the prothrombin time or Thrombotest percental values. However, factor X levels as determined by the chromogenic assay were usually higher than the global tests percental figures. The factor X chromogenic level was also slightly higher than the RVV-cephalin factor X assay. Since the chromogenic assay does not allow any new information to be made on the coumarin induced defect and since the costs of the assay are about 20-30 times higher than those of a simple prothrombin time, the test seems to play no part in the follow-up of coumarin therapy.

Blood Coagulation Tests↗

Factor X assays using chromogenic substrate S-2222.

Factor X was assayed using chromogenic substrate S-2222 for four patients with severe factor X deficiency and for nine patients with homozygous or heterozygous factor X Friuli disorder. Factor X Friuli disorder is characterized by the presence of an abnormal factor X that is normally activated by Russell's viper venom, but is not activated by tissue thromboplastins. The levels of factor X found in factor X deficiency varied between 2 and 10% of normal and therefore were higher than those found in the same plasmas using "clotting" methods (1% or less than 1% of normal). The levels of factor X found in homozygous factor X Friuli patients varied between 4 and 11% of normal, and therefore were practically identical to those found by means of clotting methods that employed tissue thromboplastins (7-9% of normal). These values were definitely lower than those obtained using a Russell's viper venom and cephalin mixture as thromboplastin (82-92%). A similar pattern was observed for patients heterozygous for the abnormality. These findings indicate that "amidolytic" methods are not necessarily identical to clotting methods. Furthermore, they indicate that substrate S-2222 is not specific for factor X.

Blood Coagulation Tests↗

Chromogenic substrate (S-2238) prothrombin assay in prothrombin deficiencies and abnormalities. Lack of identity with clotting assays in congenital dysprothrombinemias.

Prothrombin was assayed using chromogenic substrate of S-2238 for patients who were being treated with coumarin, for patients who had liver disease, and for patients who had congenital hypoprothrombinemias and dysprothrombinemias. In coumarin therapy and in patients with liver disease the levels found correlated well with the one-stage clotting methods. The same was true for heterozygous and homozygous "true" prothrombin deficiency. In the case of congenital dysprothrombinemias the levels observed with the chromogenic substrate were higher than the clotting counterparts, particularly so in the case of prothrombin Padua. In the latter case the levels observed were always about 100% of normal, as compared with the levels of about 50% of normal found with clotting methods. These data indicate that chromogenic substrates are not always equivalent to "clotting" substrates, namely, that amidolytic activity is not always equivalent to clotting activity. Therefore the two methods cannot be used interchangeably, lest some defects escape detection.

Blood Coagulation↗