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Biomedical subjects

L Wu

Publications and source records attributed to L Wu.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Assembly of lipoprotein (a) in transgenic rabbits expressing human apolipoprotein (a).

The study of human lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] has been hampered due to the lack of appropriate animal models since apolipoprotein (a) [apo(a)] is found only in primates and humans. In addition, human apo(a) in transgenic mice can not bind to murine apoB to form Lp(a) particles. In this study, we generated three independent transgenic rabbits expressing human apo(a) in their plasma at 1.8-4.5 mg/dl. In the plasma of transgenic rabbits, unlike the plasma of transgenic mice, about 80% of the apo(a) was covalently associated with rabbit apo-B and was contained in the fractions with density 1.02-1.10 g/ml, indicating the formation of Lp(a). These results suggest that transgenic rabbits expressing human apo(a) exhibit efficient assembly of Lp(a) and can be used as an animal model for the study of human Lp(a).

Animals↗

Molecular detection of tumor cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with early stage lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Conventional cytologic analysis of sputum is an insensitive test for the diagnosis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We have recently demonstrated that polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular methods are more sensitive than cytologic analysis in diagnosing bladder cancer. In this study, we examined whether molecular assays could identify cancer cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. METHODS: Tumor-specific oncogene mutations, CpG-island methylation status, and microsatellite alterations in the DNA of cells in BAL fluid from 50 consecutive patients with resectable (stages I through IIIa) NSCLC were assessed by use of four PCR-based techniques. RESULTS: Of 50 tumors, 28 contained a p53 mutation, and the identical mutation was detected with a plaque hybridization assay in the BAL fluid of 39% (11 of 28) of the corresponding patients. Eight of 19 adenocarcinomas contained a K-ras mutation, and the identical mutation was detected with a mutation ligation assay in the BAL fluid of 50% (four of eight) of the corresponding patients. The p16 gene was methylated in 19 of 50 tumors, and methylated p16 alleles were detected in the BAL fluid of 63% (12 of 19) of the corresponding patients. Microsatellite instability in at least one marker was detected with a panel of 15 markers frequently altered in NSCLC in 23 of 50 tumors; the identical alteration was detected in the BAL fluid of 14% (three of 22) of the corresponding patients. When all four techniques were used, mutations or microsatellite instability was detected in the paired BAL fluid of 23 (53%) of the 43 patients with tumors carrying a genetic alteration. CONCLUSION: Although still limited by sensitivity, molecular diagnostic strategies can detect the presence of neoplastic cells in the proximal airway of patients with surgically resectable NSCLC.

Alleles↗

Restoration of potent protein-tyrosine phosphatase activity into the membrane-distal domain of receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase alpha.

Most transmembrane, receptor-like protein-tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs) contain two cytoplasmic catalytic protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) domains, of which the membrane-proximal domain, D1, contains the majority of the activity, while the membrane-distal domain, D2, exhibits little or no activity. We have investigated the structural basis for reduced activity in RPTP-D2s, using RPTPalpha as a model system. Sequence alignment of PTP domains indicated that two motifs, the KNRY motif and the WpD motif, are highly conserved in all PTP domains, but not in RPTP-D2s. In RPTPalpha-D2, the Tyr in the KNRY motif is substituted by Val (position 555) and the Asp in the WpD motif by Glu (position 690). Mutation of Val555 and Glu690 had synergistic effects on RPTPalpha-D2 activity, in that the PTP activity of RPTPalpha-D2-V555Y/E690D was greatly enhanced to levels that were similar to or approaching those of RPTPalpha-D1. Therefore, Val555 and Glu690 are responsible in large part for reduced RPTPalpha-D2 activity. In addition, we established that the increased PTP activity is due to restoration of effective transition-state stabilization in RPTPalpha-D2-V555Y/E690D. Since the KNRY motif and the WpD motif are mutated in all RPTP-D2s, it is highly unlikely, due to lack of transition-state stabilization, that the residual RPTP-D2 catalytic activity plays a role in the function of RPTPs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Msx2 gene dosage influences the number of proliferative osteogenic cells in growth centers of the developing murine skull: a possible mechanism for MSX2-mediated craniosynostosis in humans.

Throughout its complex morphogenesis, the vertebrate skull must at once protect the brain and expand to accommodate its growth. A key structural adaptation that allows this dual role is the separation of the bony plates of the skull with sutures, fibrous joints that serve as growth centers and allow the calvarial bones to expand as the brain enlarges. Craniosynostosis, the premature fusion of one or more calvarial bones with consequent abnormalities in skull shape, is a common developmental anomaly that disrupts this process. We found previously that a single amino acid substitution in the homeodomain of the human MSX2 gene is associated with the autosomal dominant disorder craniosynostosis, Boston type. This mutation enhances the affinity of Msx2 for its target sequence, suggesting that the mutation acts by a dominant positive mechanism. Consistent with this prediction, we showed that general overexpression of Msx2 under the control of the broadly expressed CMV promoter causes the calvarial bones to invade the sagittal suture. Here we use tissue-specific overexpression of Msx2 within the calvarial sutures to address the developmental mechanisms of craniosynostosis and skull morphogenesis. We demonstrate that a segment of the Msx2 promoter directs reporter gene expression to subsets of cells within the sutures. In late embryonic and neonatal stages, this promoter is expressed in undifferentiated mesenchymal cells medial to the growing bone. By P4, promoter activity is reduced in the suture, exhibiting a punctate pattern in undifferentiated osteoblastic cells in the outer margin of the osteogenic front. Overexpression of Msx2 under the control of this promoter is sufficient to enhance parietal bone growth into the sagittal suture by P6. This phenotype is preceded by an increase in both the number and the BrdU labeling of osteoblastic cells in the osteogenic fronts of the calvarial bones. These findings suggest that an important early event in MSX2-mediated craniosynostosis in humans is a transient retardation of osteogenic cell differentiation in the suture and a consequent increase in the pool of osteogenic cells.

Animals↗

A phosphotyrosyl mimetic peptide reverses impairment of insulin-stimulated translocation of GLUT4 caused by overexpression of PTP1B in rat adipose cells.

Biological actions of insulin are initiated by activation of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase. Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) PTP1B and PTPalpha are known to dephosphorylate the insulin receptor and may contribute to insulin resistance in diseases such as diabetes. We previously reported that overexpression of PTP1B in rat adipose cells significantly impairs insulin-stimulated translocation of GLUT4 [Chen, H., et al. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 8026]. In the present study, we treated adipose cells with a PTPase inhibitor containing the phosphotyrosyl mimetic difluorophosphonomethyl phenylalanine (F2Pmp) to determine whether we could improve the insulin resistance caused by overexpression of PTP1B or PTPalpha. Rat adipose cells transfected by electroporation with either PTP1B or PTPalpha were treated without or with the inhibitor, and effects on insulin-stimulated translocation of a cotransfected epitope-tagged GLUT4 were studied. The IC50 of the F2Pmp-containing inhibitor is 180 nM for PTP1B and 10 mM for PTPalpha in vitro. As expected, in the absence of the inhibitor, overexpression of either PTP1B or PTPalpha caused a significant decrease in the amount of GLUT4 at the cell surface both in the absence and in the presence of insulin when compared with control cells transfected with epitope-tagged GLUT4 alone. Interestingly, the insulin resistance caused by overexpression of PTP1B (but not PTPalpha) was reversed by treating the transfected cells with the F2Pmp-containing inhibitor. Furthermore, the inhibitor blocked the insulin-stimulated association of PTP1B with the insulin receptor. We conclude that the F2Pmp-containing compound is a potent and specific inhibitor of overexpressed PTP1B that may be useful for designing rational therapies for treating insulin resistant diseases such as diabetes.

Adipocytes↗

A T cell receptor-specific blockade of positive selection.

To investigate the influence of endogenous peptides on the developmental processes that occur during thymocyte selection, we have used monoclonal antibodies that preferentially recognize the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule I-Ek when it is bound to the moth cytochrome c peptide (88-103). One of these antibodies (G35) specifically blocks the positive selection of transgenic thymocytes expressing a T cell receptor that is reactive to this peptide- MHC complex. Furthermore, G35 does not block the differentiation of transgenic T cells bearing receptors for a different I-Ek-peptide complex. This antibody recognizes a subset of endogenous I-Ek-peptide complexes found on a significant fraction of thymic antigen-presenting cells, including cortical and medullary epithelial cells. The sensitivity of G35 to minor alterations in peptide sequence suggests that the thymic peptide-MHC complexes that mediate the positive selection of a particular class II MHC-restricted thymocyte are structurally related to the complexes that can activate it in the periphery.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Vascular endothelial growth factor is more important than basic fibroblastic growth factor during ischemic wound healing.

OBJECTIVES: To test the influence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on normal and ischemic wounds in a noncontractive dermal ulcer standardized model in the rabbit ear and to assay the levels of both VEGF and basic fibroblastic growth factor messenger RNA levels in normal and ischemic wounds at different intervals during the healing process. DESIGN AND INTERVENTIONS: Dermal ulcers were created in the normal and ischemic ears of 20 anesthetized young female New Zealand white rabbits. Either VEGF 121, VEGF 165 (30 microg per wound), or buffered saline solution alone was applied to each wound and covered. Wounds were harvested at day 7 or 10 and evaluated histologically. Twenty-four similar rabbits were wounded in the same manner and their untreated wounds were harvested at 1, 3, 7, and 10 days after wounding. The wounds were analyzed with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Histologic specimens were measured for amount of new epithelium and granulation tissue. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was used to determine basic fibroblastic growth factor and VEGF messenger RNA expression. RESULTS: Both isoforms of VEGF improved granulation tissue formation in both normal and ischemic wounds with a magnitude similar to other vulnerary agents tested in the past. Vascular endothelial growth factor application had no effect on new epithelium formation. In contrast to basic fibroblastic growth factor, VEGF messenger RNA levels were induced 4 fold by ischemia alone and 6 fold by wounding in both ischemic and normal wounds. CONCLUSION: Vascular endothelial growth factor seems to be more important than basic fibroblastic growth factor during ischemic wound healing. Treatment of ischemic wounds with VEGF improves the deficit in wound healing produced by ischemia.

Animals↗

Effects of electrically charged particles in enhancement of rat wound healing.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have show that various growth factors enhance wound healing in animal models. However, growth factors are expensive and complex and their wound pharmacokinetics are unknown. The clinical trials with growth factors in the treatment of chronic wounds have produced unsuccessful results. A viable alternative to growth factors may be certain biomaterials such as hydrophilic, carbohydrate beads. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Positively charged, negatively charged, or uncharged beads were applied to paired 6-cm rat incisions. The following key aspects of the wound healing process were examined: wound breaking strength and histological analysis. RESULTS: Our data show that wounds treated with positively charged, DEAE Sephadez beads had a 46-50% (P < 0.001) increase in breaking strength over untreated control wounds. A variety of other positively charged, anion exchange materials also elicited a wound healing response, despite the fact that the positively charged chemical moieties as well as the bead matrix were different. In conjunction with the increase in wound breaking strength, an increase in wound macrophage was observed in wounds treated with anion exchangers (P < 0.01). Negatively charged or uncharged beads showed no significant difference from the untreated controls. CONCLUSION: We conclude from this study that the enhancement of wound healing seen with positively charged beads is due principally to the positive charge on the beads; we postulate that the anion exchange between the positively charged beads and tissue is responsible for this enhancement.

Animals↗

Primordial prevention of cardiovascular disease through applied genetics.

Primordial prevention might be considered prevention of the development of disease at its earliest stages or early intervention on risk factors to eliminate increased risk in the first place. In this review we consider how knowledge of genetic causes of early cardiovascular disease can lead to directed screening and better treatment of high risk individuals. While gene therapy would be the most "primordial" approach to prevention of some diseases such as familial hypercholesterolemia, its practical application remains on the horizon. Nevertheless, there is much we can do now to prevent early deaths in genetically high risk patients. Here we consider epidemiology as the parent discipline for applied genetics and as integral to primordial prevention. With new knowledge of special susceptibility and new understanding of the interaction of genetics and exposures, prevention of individual high-risk in the first place is realizable. We summarize here the known and candidate genes influencing atherosclerosis, hypertension, and thrombosis; their diagnosis; and some useful preventive approaches. MEDPED, an international scheme for detection of risk in medical pedigrees, is described, along with the cost and social implications of its application as a preventive strategy.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

Functions of the MDM2 oncoprotein.

The p53 protein is activated in response to physiological stress resulting in either a G1 arrest of cells or apoptosis. As such, p53 must be tightly regulated, and the MDM2 oncoprotein plays a central role in that regulatory process. The transcription of the Mdm2 oncogene is induced by the p53 protein after DNA damage, and the MDM2 protein then binds to p53 and blocks its activities as a tumour suppressor and promotes its degradation. These two proteins thus form an autoregulatory feedback loop in which p53 positively regulates MDM2 levels and MDM2 negatively regulates p53 levels and activity. Immediately after ultraviolet (UV) irradiation MDM2 messenger RNA and protein levels fall in a p53-independent fashion, resulting in increased p53 levels. The p53 protein is then activated as a transcription factor by posttranslational modification permitting p53 to initiate its cell-cycle arrest or apoptotic (programmed cell death) functions. At later times, after the repair of DNA, MDM2 levels increase in a p53-dependent fashion. This induction of MDM2 results in the inhibition of p53 transcriptional activity and the degradation of p53 protein. MDM2-p53 complexes in the nucleus are transported to the cytoplasm via signals present in the MDM2 protein, where p53 is degraded in the proteasome. Thus MDM2 acts as a nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttle for the p53 protein. There are many levels at which this process is regulated, and as such there are many places for chemotherapeutic interventions. The amino-terminal domain of the MDM2 protein is all that is required to bind the p53 protein. The MDM2 protein has additional domains and therefore may have additional functions. Any of these MDM2 domains may contribute to MDM2's activities as an oncogene independent of its inhibition of the tumour suppressor functions of p53. Thus MDM2 itself could be a target for cancer therapeutic intervention.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Transforming growth factor-beta1 fails to stimulate wound healing and impairs its signal transduction in an aged ischemic ulcer model: importance of oxygen and age.

Clinical trials of exogenous growth factors in treating chronic wounds have been less successful than expected. One possible explanation is that most studies used animal models of acute wounds in young animals, whereas most chronic wounds occur in elderly patients with tissue ischemia. We described an animal model of age- and ischemia-impaired wound healing and analyzed the wound-healing response as well as the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 effect in this model. Rabbits of increasing ages were made ischemic in the ear where dermal ulcers were created. Histological analysis showed that epithelium ingrowth and granulation tissue deposition were significantly impaired with increased age under ischemia. TGF-beta1 stimulated wound repair under both ischemic and non-ischemic conditions in young animals, although it showed no statistical difference in aged animals. Procollagen mRNA expression decreased under ischemic conditions and with aging. Neither TGF-beta1 nor procollagen alpha1(I) mRNA expression increased in response to TGF-beta1 treatment under ischemia in aged animals. Therefore, the wound-healing process is impaired additively by aging and ischemia. The lack of a wound-healing response to TGF-beta1 in aged ischemic wounds may play a role in the chronic wounds.

Aging↗

The analgesic tropane analogue (+/-)-SM 21 has a high affinity for sigma2 receptors.

The analgesic properties of the tropane analogue (+/-)-SM 21 have been attributed to the antagonism of presynaptic m2 receptors resulting in a potentiation of acetylcholine release. However, drugs targeting a number of other neurotransmitter receptors have been shown to enhance acetylcholine release. In the current study, in vitro studies were conducted in order to determine the affinity of (+/-)-SM 21 for serotonin 5-HT3, 5-HT4, and sigma receptors. Our results indicate that (+/-)-SM 21, and its structural congeners, have a relatively high affinity for sigma2 receptors relative to their reported affinity for muscarinic receptors. The higher affinity for sigma2 versus sigma1 receptors indicates that (+/-)-SM 21 may be a suitable lead compound for developing sigma2-selective ligands.

Analgesics↗

Comparative microsatellite analysis in discerning origin of disseminated tumor: the case of a patient with malignant ascites and a history of multiple tumors.

The origin of metastatic carcinoma is now always easily resolved on the basis of conventional dinical and pathological parameters, particularly in patients with more than 1 primary tumor. When 1 of the tumors is a renal cell carcinoma, the clinical picture is further confounded by the tendency of these tumors to be locally silent, to metastasize to unusual sites, and to disseminate long after removal of the primary tumor. We compared tumors for loss (ie, deletion) of loci on chromosomal arms 3p, 5q, 11q, and 18q in a patient with a malignant ascites fluid, a remote history of renal and colonic neoplasms, and a strong clinical suspicion of disseminated gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma. DNA from microdissected tumors and normal tissues was subjected to polymerase chain reaction-based microsatellite analysis. Even though the clinical picture suggested a gastrointestinal origin, comparison of genetic alterations clearly showed that the malignant ascites represented recurrence of the renal cell carcinoma. The malignant ascites and the primary renal cell carcinoma showed identical patterns of allelic loss at all loci tested. In contrast, the malignant ascites and colonic adenoma showed discordant patterns of allelic loss. Comparative microsatellite analysis provides a rapid genetic approach for discerning the origin of metastatic tumor spread. This may be a useful diagnostic adjunct when tumor origin is not clear on clinical or morphological grounds. In some instances, it may even provide a reasonable alternative to an extensive and costly conventional work-up.

Adenoma↗

HIV-1 infectability of CD4+ lymphocytes with relation to beta-chemokines and the CCR5 coreceptor.

CD4+ lymphocytes exhibit variable permissiveness to the replication of HIV-1. A cohort of sexually-exposed-yet-uninfected individuals were previously shown to have CD4+ lymphocytes refractory for M-tropic viral replication. In particular, two individuals from this population whose CD4+ lymphocytes exhibited complete resistance to M-tropic viral replication were later shown to be homozygous for a 32bp (delta32) deletion in the gene encoding for CCR5. In screening diverse populations, HIV-1 infected individuals heterozygous for the delta32 allele were statistically favored in their disease course to harbor lower viral loads and exhibit slower rates of CD4+ cell loss when compared to control CCR5 wild-type individuals. Further comparative analysis between individuals in the exposed but uninfected cohort who demonstrated intermediate levels of in vitro viral replication and CD4+ lymphocytes isolated from uninfected delta32 heterozygous individuals indicate that reduced levels of in vitro M-tropic replication are a CCR5-related phenomenon: CD4+ lymphocytes from these individuals were more sensitive to the HIV-1 blocking effects of recombinant chemokines, displayed lower CCR5 cell surface expression levels and a proportionate increase in the production of RANTES when compared to CD4+ lymphocytes from control individuals. These results suggest that the CCR5 phenotype is important in determining the replicative capacity of M-tropic HIV-1 in vitro. The implications of these results with relation to HIV-1 transmission and disease progression are discussed.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗

Biological effects of naturally occurring and man-made fibres: in vitro cytotoxicity and mutagenesis in mammalian cells.

Cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of tremolite, erionite and the man-made ceramic (RCF-1) fibre were studied using the human-hamster hybrid A(L) cells. Results from these fibres were compared with those of UICC Rhodesian chrysotile fibres. The A(L) cell mutation assay, based on the S1 gene marker located on human chromosome 11, the only human chromosome contained in the hybrid cell, has been shown to be more sensitive than conventional assays in detecting deletion mutations. Tremolite, erionite and RCF-1 fibres were significantly less cytotoxic to A(L) cells than chrysotile. Mutagenesis studies at the HPRT locus revealed no significant mutant yield with any of these fibres. In contrast, both erionite and tremolite induced dose-dependent S1- mutations in fibre-exposed cells, with the former inducing a significantly higher mutant yield than the latter fibre type. On the other hand, RCF-1 fibres were largely non-mutagenic. At equitoxic doses (cell survival at approximately 0.7), erionite was found to be the most potent mutagen among the three fibres tested and at a level comparable to that of chrysotile fibres. These results indicate that RCF-1 fibres are non-genotoxic under the conditions used in the studies and suggest that the high mesothelioma incidence previously observed in hamster may either be a result of selective sensitivity of hamster pleura to fibre-induced chronic irritation or as a result of prolonged fibre treatment. Furthermore, the relatively high mutagenic potential for erionite is consistent with its documented carcinogenicity.

Animals↗

Novel cardiac protective effects of urea: from shark to rat.

1. This study was carried out to investigate novel cardioprotective effects of urea and the underlying mechanisms. The cardiac functions under oxidative stress were evaluated using Langendorff perfused isolated heart. 2. Isolated dogfish shark hearts tolerated the oxidative stress generated by electrolysis (10 mA, 1 min) of the perfusion solution (n=4), and also showed normal cardiac functions during post-ischaemia reperfusion (n=4). The high concentration of urea (350 mM) in the heart perfusate was indispensable for maintaining the normal cardiac functions of the shark heart. 3. Urea at 3 - 300 mM (n=4 for each group) protected the isolated rat heart against both electrolysis-induced heart damage and post-ischaemia reperfusion-induced cardiac injury. 4. A concentration-dependent scavenging effect of urea (3 - 300 mM, n=4 for each group) against electrolysis-induced reactive oxygen species was also demonstrated in vitro. 5. Urea derivatives as hydroxyurea, dimethylurea, and thiourea had antioxidant cardioprotective effect against the electrolysis-induced cardiac dysfunction of rat heart, but were not as effective as urea in suppressing the post-ischaemia reperfusion injury. 6. Our results suggest that urea and its derivatives are potential antioxidant cardioprotective agents against oxidative stress-induced myocardium damage including the post-ischaemia reperfusion-induced injury.

Animals↗

Repetitive, non-invasive imaging of the dopamine D2 receptor as a reporter gene in living animals.

Reporter genes (e.g. beta-galactosidase, chloramphenicol-acetyltransferase, green fluorescent protein, luciferase) play critical roles in investigating mechanisms of gene expression in transgenic animals and in developing gene delivery systems for gene therapy. However, measuring expression of these reporter genes requires biopsy or death. We now report a procedure to image reporter gene expression repetitively and non-invasively in living animals with positron emission tomography (PET), using the dopamine type 2 receptor (D2R) as a reporter gene and 3-(2'-[18F]fluoroethyl)spiperone (FESP) as a reporter probe. We use a viral delivery system to demonstrate the ability of this PET reporter gene/PET reporter probe system to image reporter gene expression following somatic gene transfer. In mice injected intravenously with replication-deficient adenovirus carrying a D2R reporter gene, PET in vivo measures of hepatic [18F] retention are proportional to in vitro measures of hepatic FESP retention, D2R ligand binding and D2R mRNA. We use tumor-forming cells carrying a stably transfected D2R gene to demonstrate imaging of this PET reporter gene/PET reporter probe system in 'tissues'. Tumors expressing the transfected D2R reporter gene retain substantially more FESP than control tumors. The D2R/FESP reporter gene/reporter probe system should be a valuable technique to monitor, in vivo, expression from both gene therapy vectors and transgenes.

Adenoviridae↗

A study of charge distribution in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta superconductors using novel electron-diffraction and imaging techniques.

We report our study of the distribution of valence electrons in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta high-temperature superconductors using novel electron-diffraction and imaging techniques. The former method was based on quantitative analyses of the diffraction intensity of many reflections as a function of crystal thickness to determine, with an unprecedented accuracy, the Fourier components of the electron distribution in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta. The latter was based on examining the effect of charge transfer on many-beam imaging by comparing the observed and calculated low- and high-resolution images of long-period displacive and charge modulation of the cuprate. Our study demonstrates that fast electrons have greater sensitivity than X-rays to valence electrons distribution at small scattering angles, and that electron microscopy is a powerful tool in revealing charge distribution in materials.

Journal Article↗