Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Hardy

Publications and source records attributed to M Hardy.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Mechanism of inhibition of beta-hexosaminidase B from human liver by short- and medium-chain monocarboxylic acids.

Short- and medium-chain monocarboxylic acids showed an inhibitory effect on enzymatic activity of beta-hexosaminidase B (Hex B) when 4-methylumbelliferyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxyglucopyranoside (MU-GlcNAc) was used as substrate: 1. Two groups were distinguished according to the chain length of the monocarboxylic acids: the first was only constituted by acetic acid (C2) whereas the second group exhibited a broader chain length specificity for medium-chain monocarboxylic acids (between C6 and C9). 2. Both groups were reversible competitive inhibitors (Km = 0.52 +/- 0.15 mM; KiC2 = 21.4 +/- 3.0 mM; KiC7 = 3.4 +/- 0.5 mM). Competition experiments between C2 and C7 (as representent of medium-chain monocarboxylic acids group) demonstrated that these inhibitors were bound to different subsites. 3. Competition experiments between C2 and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactonolactone (GalNAcLone) (a competitive inhibitor of lysosomal hexosaminidases) demonstrated that these two inhibitors were mutually exclusive, i.e. they were probably bound at the same subsite. This feature and the structural analogy of C2 with the acetyl residue of GalNAcLone (and of the saccharidic part of the substrate) suggested that C2 bound to the substrate site where the N-acetyl residue of the beta-N-acetyl hexosaminide was positioned. 4. The inhibitory effect of medium-chain monocarboxylic acids (C6 and C9) was dependent on their physical state. Below the critical micellar concentration (CMC), detected by a dye spectral shift method, no significant inhibition was detected, but as extensively reported using C7, an obvious inhibitory effect occurred at concentrations higher than CMC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Binding Sites↗

A cyclic AMP analogue induces synthesis of a myelin-specific glycoprotein by cultured Schwann cells.

Neonatal rat Schwann cells, cultured with agents which increase intracellular cyclic AMP, were prompted to resume synthesis of a 170,000 Mr glycoprotein which is specific to peripheral nervous system myelin and is herein referred to as P170K. We have shown previously that similar treatment induces the synthesis by Schwann cells of the myelin lipid, galactocerebroside. In contrast to P170K and galactocerebroside, syntheses of P0 and myelin basic protein were not induced. Intracellular cyclic AMP is thus likely to be a participant in the complex system regulating myelination.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Irreversible inhibition of hexosaminidase C by medium-chain monocarboxylic acids and Triton X-100.

The neutral beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (hexosaminidase C) from human brain was partially purified (separated from lysosomal beta-N-acetylhexosaminidases by chromatography on a Con A-Sepharose column). Hexosaminidase C was inhibited by medium-chain fatty acids (monocarboxylic acids with chain-length between C6 and C9), whereas shorter-chain monocarboxylic acids showed no inhibitory effect. Studies on the inhibition mechanism showed an irreversible and pH-dependent inhibition which progresses with time and which is not reversed by the removal of fatty acids (by Bio-Beads SM-2). Similar inhibitory effects were also obtained using Triton X-100 (but not with homologous alkylamines). These results suggest that the hexosaminidase C inactivation is related to the hydrophobic properties of the inhibitor which acts as a denaturing agent mainly at acidic pH. The possibility has been discussed that this inactivation effect of monocarboxylic acid on hexosaminidase C could constitute a molecular model of the toxicity of medium-chain-length fatty acids.

Brain↗

Effect of antiidiotypic antibodies to HLA on graft survival in renal-allograft recipients.

Although the presence in the recipient of preformed antibodies to HLA antigens in the kidney of a renal-transplant donor may be associated with early graft failure, such grafts are often well tolerated. We have investigated the possibility that anti-anti-HLA (antiidiotypic) antibodies influence the outcome of renal transplantation in recipients with a history of presensitization to their donor's HLA antigens. A retrospective analysis of 20 such cases showed that in 10 patients the transplanted kidney was rejected within one month, whereas in the remaining 10 the graft was tolerated for more than a year. Nine of the 10 patients in whom the graft was tolerated had anti-anti-HLA antibodies at the time of transplantation. Nine of the 10 patients in whom the graft was rejected had antibodies that potentiated, rather than blocked, the cytotoxic activity of anti-donor-HLA antibodies. These results suggest that patients with anti-anti-HLA antibodies specific for a potential donor can safely undergo transplantation, despite a prior history of anti-HLA antibodies. At the time of transplantation, patients who have antibodies that potentiate the cytotoxic activity of a historically positive serum are at high risk of graft rejection within a short period. Taking these considerations into account may improve the reliability of cross-matching in renal transplantation.

Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic↗

The effect of intraocular silicone oil on anterior chamber oxygen pressure in cats.

Intraocular silicone oil has been observed to lessen the incidence of neovascular glaucoma in patients with a high risk of anterior segment neovascularization. In order to test the hypothesis that the presence of silicone oil in the vitreous cavity acts as a diffusion/convection barrier to oxygen and prevents the decrease in anterior chamber oxygen tension that occurs after lensectomy and vitrectomy, we measured anterior chamber oxygen pressure in six cats that had undergone lensectomy-vitrectomy in one eye and lensectomy-vitrectomy with silicone oil placement in the other eye ten to 21 days previously. The anterior chamber oxygen tension was 17.8 +/- 6.9 mm Hg (mean +/- SD) in the eyes that had undergone lensectomy-vitrectomy and 34.8 +/- 3.5 mm Hg in the silicone oil-treated eyes (P less than .001). Silicone oil does appear to act as a diffusion/convection barrier to oxygen and may alter the stimulus for anterior segment neovascularization.

Animals↗

Immunochemical characterization of peripheral nervous system myelin 170,000-Mr glycoprotein.

A recently described 170,000-Mr glycoprotein, specific to peripheral nervous system (PNS) myelin, was purified from rat PNS myelin by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and used to immunize guinea pigs and rabbits. The resultant antisera proved specific for 170,000-Mr glycoprotein by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, by immunoprecipitation of the appropriate peptide from solubilized PNS myelin, and by immunoblot analysis of rat PNS myelin. The anti-rat 170,000-Mr glycoprotein antisera cross-reacted with proteins of similar molecular weight in human and bovine PNS myelin, but such proteins were not detected in human or rat CNS myelin or other rat tissues. The 170,000-Mr glycoprotein was also detected by this immunoblot procedure in recently isolated rat Schwann cells but not in those kept in culture for greater than or equal to 3 days. By indirect immunofluorescent microscopy, anti-rat 170,000-Mr glycoprotein antibody bound to rat PNS myelin sheaths but not to other rat tissues. Together, these studies indicate the 170,000-Mr glycoprotein is specific to PNS myelin of several species and that a neuronal influence may be required for its expression by Schwann cells.

Animals↗

Novel approach to the study of the antigenicities and receptor functions of carbohydrate chains of glycoproteins.

This report describes the construction of neoglycolipids as a novel approach to determining the antigenicities and receptor functions of minute amounts of oligosaccharides derived from glycoproteins. Reduced oligosaccharides are converted into oligosaccharide alditols by controlled selective periodate oxidation and conjugated to phosphatidyl ethanolamine dipalmitoyl by reductive amination. The resulting neoglycolipids can be rendered multivalent by binding to polyvinylchloride or silica plates or they can be incorporated into liposomes and their antigenicities and receptor activities determined in low concentrations by direct binding or inhibition of binding assays. This approach, which has been successfully used with two monoclonal antibodies and a plant lectin, should be widely applicable to the direct analysis of O- and N-glycosidically linked carbohydrate chains of glycoproteins and proteoglycans both as antigens and recognition structures of diverse receptor systems.

Animals↗

Direct mapping of adeno-associated virus capsid proteins B and C: a possible ACG initiation codon.

The three major capsid proteins of adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) virions are designated A, B, and C and have molecular sizes of 90, 72, and 60 kDa, respectively. These proteins are related, and genetic studies have shown they are encoded by a long open reading frame located in the right half of the genome. The coding capacity distal to the first ATG in this reading frame is only 503 amino acids (i.e., a protein about the size of protein C), but an open frame sequence devoid of ATG codons extends upstream for an additional 184 codons. Although the amino terminus of the C capsid protein is blocked, partial amino acid sequence analyses of peptides from C have confirmed that it is encoded within the portion of the reading frame distal to the first ATG at nucleotide (nt) location 2810. The amino terminus of the B capsid protein is not blocked, and its sequence begins with alanine. The triplet encoding this alanine lies 64 codons upstream from the initiation site for protein C and is immediately preceded by the threonine codon, ACG, at nt 2615. This ACG codon lies in the most favorable sequence context for protein synthesis initiation. All three AAV2 capsid proteins are labeled in vitro with formyl[35S]methionyl-tRNAf, indicating that synthesis of each protein is initiated independently. Our data suggest that the nt 2615 ACG codon directs the methionyl-tRNA-dependent initiation of the AAV2 B capsid protein. Proteins B and C may be synthesized from the same mRNA species and their relative abundance could be determined by the efficiencies of their respective initiation codons.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Validity of lymphoid cell line for enzymatic studies of GM2-gangliosidosis variant 0 (Sandhoff disease).

A lymphoid cell line established by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformation of peripheral blood B-lymphocytes from a patient with Sandhoff disease showed a severe deficiency of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase activity (residual activity around 10% of that in lymphoid cell lines from normals or other lipidotic patients). This residual beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase was completely heat-labile in contrast to that of normals. The molecular forms of residual beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase from Sandhoff lymphoid cell line were separated by Con A-sepharose and electrofocusing. Their properties and electrofocusing profiles were compared to those from Sandhoff fibroblasts and from fetal brain: this comparison permitted to identify the residual molecular forms with Hex S and Hex C. The microheterogeneity of Hex S and Hex C, demonstrated by electrofocusing, was discussed. 2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactonolactone (GalNAcLone) showed a strong inhibitory effect on lysosomal Hex A, B and S, but only a very slight effect on Hex C. Studies of the inhibition type (competitive on Hex A, B and S and mixed on Hex C) gave some informations about the enzymatic site. Elsewhere, differences in affinity of GalNAcLone for the various isoenzymes could be utilized to define optimal assay conditions for specifically determining Hex C (standard assay containing 400 mumol/l of GalNAcLone). These results demonstrated that EBV-transformed lymphoid cell lines represent an accurate model system for enzymatic studies of Sandhoff disease.

Acetylgalactosamine↗

Hormonal control of uterine growth: alterations in luminal epithelial deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis after intraluminal application of estrogen.

Administration of a single injection of estradiol (E2) causes a maximum increase in DNA synthesis in the uterine luminal epithelium approximately 24 h later. We previously reported that animals receiving a second injection of E2 15-18 h after the first show an apparent decrease in DNA synthesis measured in this cell type at 24 h. This apparent decrease in DNA synthesis is due to a shift in the time course of DNA synthesis rather than an absolute decrease in this parameter. In this report we demonstrate that this inhibitory effect of a second injection of E2 is also observed after intraluminal instillation of the hormone. This effect is dose dependent and appears to result from a shift in the time course of luminal epithelial DNA synthesis. The intraluminal instillation of E2 produces the same pattern of nuclear receptor localization as sc administration of the hormone. These results suggest that this inhibitory effect we previously described results primarily from a direct action of E2 on the luminal epithelium.

Animals↗

Potential of 109Pd-labeled lymphocytes for selective lymphatic ablation.

The biodistribution of lymphocytes labeled with 109Pd was investigated in Lewis rats to determine if they might be useful for selective lymphoid ablation. 109Pd-labeled lymphocytes demonstrated significant lymphoid localization. However, there was a fall in the accumulation of radiolabeled lymphocytes in lymphoid tissue when the 108Pd carrier dose or the 109Pd radioactive dose incorporated per 10(8) lymphocytes was increased from 0.12 mg to 0.20 mg and from 21.3 microCi to 54.6 microCi, respectively (P less than 0.001). 109Pd-labeled syngeneic and allogeneic lymphocytes demonstrated similar tissue distribution patterns. These results raise the possibility of using 109Pd-labeled lymphocytes for selective lymphoid ablation, but emphasize the need for using high specific activity 109Pd and large amounts of lymphocytes for labeling. This will minimize cell damage and allow maximum therapeutic results to be obtained. The use of large numbers of cells might best be accomplished by using donor lymphocytes.

Animals↗