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Biomedical subjects

M Garnier

Publications and source records attributed to M Garnier.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Acute action of choriogonadotropin on Leydig tumor cells: induction of a higher affinity benzodiazepine-binding site related to steroid biosynthesis.

We previously demonstrated that the mitochondrial peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) is coupled to hormone-activated steroidogenesis by regulating the intramitochondrial cholesterol transport, the rate-determining step of steroid biosynthesis. In the present study we examined whether PBR is the site of hormone action using the hCG-responsive MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cell line as a model system. Within 15 sec of the addition of hCG to Leydig cells a 3-fold cAMP-dependent increase in PBR binding was observed. This rapid increase returned to basal levels within 60 sec. No effect was observed after 1 min in the continued presence of hCG. Scatchard analysis revealed that in addition to the known high affinity (5.0 nM) benzodiazepine-binding site, a second, hormone-induced, higher affinity (0.2 nM) benzodiazepine-binding site appeared. We then examined whether in such a short time frame steroid synthesis occurs. Fifteen-second incubation of MA-10 cells with the inhibitor of cholesterol metabolism aminoglutethimide together with hCG also resulted in an increased rate of pregnenolone formation by their isolated mitochondria that were washed and incubated in aminoglutethimide-free buffer. The dose response of benzodiazepine binding to hCG closely parallels the increase in steroid formation by the mitochondria of stimulated cells. Addition of the selective inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, H-89, completely blocked hormone-induced PBR binding and steroid formation, whereas addition of the inactive analog H-85 was without any effect. The addition of flunitrazepam, a benzodiazepine previously shown to inhibit the trophic hormone action on steroidogenesis, completely abolished the hCG-induced rapid stimulation of steroid synthesis. These results demonstrate that in MA-10 cells, the most rapid effect described thus far of hCG and cAMP, is the transient induction of a higher affinity benzodiazepine-binding site, which occurs concomitantly with an increase in the rate of steroid formation. This, in turn, suggests that these hormones alter PBR to activate cholesterol delivery to the inner mitochondrial membrane and subsequent steroid formation.

Animals↗

In vitro reconstitution of a functional peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor from mouse Leydig tumor cells.

The peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) was identified and characterized by its high affinity for two distinct classes of compounds, the benzodiazepines (BZs) and the isoquinolines (IQs). An M(r) 18,000 IQ-binding protein has been identified as the PBR. In this report we isolated and sequenced a 626-base pair cDNA, specifying an open reading frame of 169 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular weight of 18,843, from MA-10 mouse tumor Leydig cells [i.e., mouse peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (mPBR)]. Expression of mPBR cDNA in simian virus 40-transformed 3T3 fibroblasts resulted in an increase in the density of both BZ and IQ binding sites. To examine whether the increased drug binding was due to the M(r) 18,000 PBR protein alone or to other constitutively expressed components of the receptor, an in vitro system was developed using recombinant mPBR protein. The mPBR cDNA was inserted in the pMAL-c2 vector downstream from the malE gene, which encodes maltose-binding protein (MBP). Transfection of the recombinant pMAL-c2 in Escherichia coli provided high levels of expression of the MBP-mPBR fusion protein. Purified MBP-mPBR recombinant fusion protein incorporated into liposomes, but not MBP alone, was able to bind IQs but not BZs. Addition of MA-10 mitochondrial extracts to the liposomes resulted in the restoration of BZ binding. The protein responsible for this effect was then purified and identified as the M(r) 34,000 voltage-dependent anion channel protein, which by itself does not express any BZ and IQ binding. These results provide strong evidence that PBR is not a single protein receptor but a multimeric complex in which the IQ binding site is on the M(r) 18,000 subunit and expression of the BZ binding site requires both the M(r) 18,000 and 34,000 voltage-dependent anion channel subunits.

3T3 Cells↗

Ligands of the antiestrogen binding site block endothelial cell proliferation reversibly.

Benzylphenoxyethanamine derivatives are known to display antiproliferative activities on tumor cell lines consistently with their binding affinity to the microsomal antiestrogen binding site. In the present study we show that pyrrolidinobenzylphenoxyethanamine, a new efficient compound of this series, exhibits reversible effects on exponentially growing adult bovine aortic endothelial cells inducing (1) lamellated cytoplasmic inclusions, (2) cell proliferation inhibition, (3) dose-dependent transition delay of cells in the G0-G1 phase of the cell cycle. Complete reversal of these effects is achieved only by withdrawing the drug from the medium. The ultrastructural cellular modifications disappeared, and flow cytometry and thymidine incorporation analysis showed the effect on degree of synchronization of this one-step methodology.

Animals↗

The genome of the non-cultured, bacterial-like organism associated with citrus greening disease contains the nusG-rplKAJL-rpoBC gene cluster and the gene for a bacteriophage type DNA polymerase.

We have recently cloned three DNA fragments (In-2.6, In-1.0, and In-0.6) of the non-cultured, bacterial-like organism (BLO) associated with citrus greening disease. Nucleotide sequence determination has shown that fragment In-2.6 is part of the rplKAJL-rpoBC gene cluster, a well-known operon in eubacteria. The DNA fragment upstream of and partially overlapping with In-2.6 could be isolated and was shown to be the nusG gene. In Escherichia coli, nusG is also immediately upstream of rplKAJL-rpoBC. Fragment In-1.0 carries the gene for a bacteriophage type DNA polymerase. Fragment In-0.6 could not be identified. When In-2.6 was used, at high stringency, as a probe to detect greening BLO strains in infected plants, hybridization was obtained with all Asian strains tested, but not with the African strain examined. At lower stringencies, In-2.6 was able to detect also the African strain. The implications of these results in the taxonomical position of the greening BLO are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Diazepam binding inhibitor is a paracrine/autocrine regulator of Leydig cell proliferation and steroidogenesis: action via peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor and independent mechanisms.

Previous studies demonstrated that the polypeptide diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) and its receptor, the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), are involved in the regulation of steroid biosynthesis and that one site of PBR action resides in mitochondria. In the present investigation, evidence is presented that a functional form of PBR is also present at the cell surface. First, PBR was immunolocalized in the rat testis using biotin-streptavidin peroxidase immunocytochemistry, and results revealed that PBR was present exclusively in the interstitial Leydig cells. Next, the distribution of PBR in MA-10 Leydig cells was further examined using confocal microscopy. MA-10 cells were either fixed and immunostained or fixed/permeabilized and immunostained for PBR, followed by generation of confocal microscope optical sections, three-dimensional reconstructions of these sections, and then generation of vertical confocal sections of the three-dimensional reconstruction. In the fixed/unpermeabilized cells, PBR immunostaining at the cell surface was clearly evident, whereas in the fixed/permeabilized cells, intracellular PBR distribution was more robust. These results suggest that the plasma membrane fraction of the receptor could mediate the action of extracellular PBR ligands on Leydig cell function. Next, we examined whether DBI, the naturally occurring PBR ligand, is secreted by testicular cells and whether it could activate the cell surface PBR. Immunolocalization of DBI demonstrated that it was present in both Leydig and Sertoli cells. Further, using an immunoblot assay, we demonstrated that DBI is present in rat testicular interstitial fluid. Metabolic labeling of cultured immature rat Sertoli cells and MA-10 mouse tumor Leydig cells, followed by immunoprecipitation of the secreted proteins with an anti-DBI antiserum, demonstrated that both Leydig and Sertoli cells secrete DBI and could serve as a cell source for the interstitial fluid DBI. Then, we partially purified the DBI present in conditioned medium and interstitial fluid by reverse phase chromatography and demonstrated it to be bioactive, based on displacement of a radiolabeled benzodiazepine (Ro5-4864)-specific ligand for PBR; pronase treatment of different preparations eliminated all bioactivity. We then examined the effects of DBI on Leydig cell function. DBI added to MA-10 cells affected DNA synthesis and cell growth in a biphasic manner; at low concentrations (1 nM), DBI was mitogenic, increasing [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell numbers by 30-40%, while at high concentrations (1 microM), DBI inhibited cell growth (30-40%). Similar effects on cell growth were obtained using the benzodiazepine Ro5-4864.

3T3 Cells↗

[Comparison of six potential serum markers of hepatic fibrosis in alcoholic disease of the liver].

The aim of this study was to compare 6 potential serum markers for hepatic fibrosis in patients with alcoholic liver disease. Ninety-three patients (50 +/- 11 years old, 62 males) with biopsy-proven alcoholic liver disease were included in the study. A liver biopsy and serum assays of type I, type III and type IV collagens, N-terminal peptide of type III procollagen, laminin (by radioimmunoassays) and apolipoprotein A1 (by nephelometry) were performed in all patients. A histological score of hepatic fibrosis was established. Alcoholic hepatitis lesions and perisinusoidal fibrosis were assessed separately. A significant correlation was found between the score of hepatic fibrosis and serum levels of type I collagen (r = 0.44, P < 10(-3)), type III collagen (r = 0.36, P < 10(-2)), N-terminal peptide of type III procollagen (r = 0.50, P < 10(-3)), type IV collagen (r = 0.44, P < 10(-3)), laminin (r = 0.50, P < 10(-3)), and apolipoprotein A1 (r = 0.21, P < 0.05). After adjustment for the presence of lesions of alcoholic hepatitis and perisinusoidal fibrosis (partial correlation), serum levels of type I collagen, type III collagen, N-terminal peptide of type III procollagen, type IV collagen, and laminin remained significantly correlated with the score of hepatic fibrosis; in contrast, correlation with serum apolipoprotein A1 was no longer significant. Serum levels of N-terminal peptide of type III procollagen, type IV collagen and laminin were significantly higher in patients with perisinusoidal fibrosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Cardiac monitoring during medical management of cocaine body packers.

The cardiac risk of cocaine body packing was studied by means of continuous ECG monitoring in 13 cocaine body-packers during spontaneous elimination. The packages were all well manufactured bundles (McCarron type 2) not susceptible to spontaneous breakage. At the beginning of the Holter study, packages were still present in the bowel of twelve patients (range: 2 to 196). The mean time of Holter recording was 46 h (range 16 h to 75 h). Ten patients eliminated all their packages during the time of Holter recording. No ECG modifications were recorded for all of the patients in regard to usually admitted standard requirements of the American Heart Association. While initial cardiac frequencies were within the normal range, a significant decrease of pulse rates was associated with the elimination of bundles. We conclude that the McCarron type 2 cocaine body-packers are not in impending danger of cardiac acute events allowing a non-surgical management of these individuals.

Adult↗

Chemoattractant and opsonic activity in ascitic fluid. A study in 47 patients with cirrhosis or malignant peritonitis.

We studied prospectively the ascitic fluid of 47 patients. Thirty-five were cirrhotics (group A) and 12 had malignant peritonitis (group B). All ascitic fluid samples were initially uninfected. We measured opsonic activity by a chemiluminescent assay, and chemoattractant activity by the under agarose technique. We also measured ascitic concentrations of C3, C4, fibronectin, C-reactive protein, immunoglobulins G, A and M and total proteins. All patients were followed throughout the presence of ascites. None of the group B patients developed peritoneal infection, nor did 23 of the group A patients (group A2). Twelve group A patients (group A1) developed spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), four of them with recurrence. All indices except immunoglobulins A and M were significantly different between group A and group B patients. Comparing group A1 and group A2, only chemoattractant activity and concentrations of total proteins and C3 were significantly lower in group A1. Using a multivariate analysis with Cox's model, only C3 concentration had an independent predictive value for occurrence of SBP in cirrhotic patients.

Aged↗

The anti-proliferative properties of 4-benzylphenoxy ethanamine derivatives are mediated by the anti-estrogen binding site (ABS), whereas the anti-estrogenic effects of trifluopromazine are not.

We compared the anti-proliferative properties of 4-benzylphenoxy-N ethyl morpholine (morpho-BPE) and trifluopromazine (TFP) on both the human breast cancer cell lines, MCF7, and its tamoxifen-resistant variant RTx6. We found that the calmodulin antagonist trifluopromazine (TFP) which bound ABS weakly, inhibited MCF7 cell growth but did not follow the relationship observed for diphenylmethane derivatives between MCF7-inhibitory potencies and their Ki. Regarding the tamoxifen-resistant RTx6 cells, TFP but not morpho-BPE induced inhibition of the proliferation. Using a tritiated derivative of morpho-BPE, two distinct binding sites could be demonstrated. Indeed, a low affinity binding site was present in both cell lines whereas a high affinity binding site was mainly found in MCF7 cells although being in lower concentration (less than 10%) in RTx6 cells. Both tamoxifen and TFP displaced morpho-BPE from the two binding sites. The uptake and efflux of the tritiated drug were similar in the two cell lines. The drug did not appear to be metabolized. We concluded that TFP and morpho-BPE belong to distinct classes of molecules and that ABS mediates the anti-proliferative action of diphenylmethane derivatives but not the inhibitory effect of the calmodulin antagonist TFP.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Erythrocyte deformability in diabetes and erythrocyte membrane lipid composition.

Erythrocyte deformability was assessed in 40 diabetic patients, 24 insulin-dependent (IDD) and 16 non-insulin-dependent (NIDD), by measuring the initial filtration flow rate of whole blood, isolated red blood cells (RBC), and isolated RBC membranes with the Hanss hemorheometer, and its relationship to the plasma and ghost membrane lipid composition was investigated. RBC deformability was significantly reduced, whereas the deformability of the isolated RBC membranes did not differ significantly from the controls. In the plasma, the triglycerides were high, the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was reduced, and the ratio of total cholesterol over HDL cholesterol was high as compared with the controls. The RBC lipid composition expressed in mumol lipids/10(10) RBC showed significantly lower levels of free cholesterol, sphingomyelines, and phosphatidylcholine, which are the lipids principally located on the outer layer of the RBC membranes. These data suggest that in both IDD and NIDD patients, there may be a relation between these modifications in the RBC lipid composition and rheological impairment of the RBC.

Cholesterol↗

Effect of diosmin upon red blood cell deformability and osmotic fragility. Relationship with lipid content.

Rats were treated by ingesting forcibly 2 ml of a suspension of four different doses (100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg) of diosmin in carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and were killed immediately or after 3 or 6 hours of fasting. Animals treated by CMC only in a similar way (gavage) exhibited a fall in red blood cell (RBC) membrane cholesterol and an increase in RBC rigidity at the third hour while osmotic fragility remained stable. Diosmin treatment opposed the rise in RBC rigidity evoked by the gavage and induced a dose-dependent decrease of the RBC membrane cholesterol over phospholipid ratio.

Animals↗

Solubilization and characterization of guinea-pig pancreatic somatostatin receptors.

The solubilization of somatostatin receptors from guinea-pig pancreas by different non-denaturing detergents was investigated after stabilization of the receptors by prior binding of 125I-[Tyr11]somatostatin or its analogue 125I-[Leu8,DTrp22,Tyr25]somatostatin 28, to pancreatic plasma membranes. The somatostatin-receptor complexes were solubilized in a high yield by Zwittergent 3-14 (3-[tetradecyldimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate), a zwitterionic detergent. Other detergents, digitonin, Triton X-100, Chaps (3-[cholamidopropyldimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate) and octyl beta-D-glycopyranoside, achieved only partial solubilization. The recovery of receptor complexes was increased by glycerol. In order to characterize solubilized somatostatin-receptor complexes, membranes receptors were covalently labelled using N-5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxysuccinimide as cross-linking reagent before solubilization. Gel filtration chromatography analysis resulted in the identification of a major protein component of apparent Mr = 93,000 which interacted with the two radioligands. In addition, a similar component of Mr = 88,000 was characterized after analysis by SDS-PAGE of membrane receptors covalently cross-linked with 125I-[Leu8,DTrp22,Tyr25]somatostatin 28 by different heterobifunctional reagents: N-5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxysuccinimide, N-hydroxysuccinimidyl 4-azidobenzoate, N-succinimidyl 6-(4'-azido-2'-nitrophenylamino)hexanoate. Optimal cross-linking results were obtained with N-5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyloxysuccinimide. The solubilized somatostatin-receptor complex was adsorbed to wheat-germ agglutinin-agarose column and eluted by specific sugars. We concluded that the guinea-pig pancreatic somatostatin receptor in the membrane and in the non-denaturing detergent solution behaves as a protein monomer of apparent Mr approximately 85,000-90,000. The somatostatin receptor is a glycoprotein which contains complex-type carbohydrate chains.

Affinity Labels↗