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Biomedical subjects

M L Watson

Publications and source records attributed to M L Watson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Education and attitudes in families with adult polycystic kidney disease.

The availability of methods for early accurate identification of individuals at risk of developing adult polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) has raised a number of important clinical problems. As part of a project on clinical and genetic aspects of ADPKD, we have assessed the knowledge and attitudes of patients and their families. Most had a poor knowledge of the condition and its implications. Despite this, many were in favour of early, including antenatal, diagnosis. A videotape was therefore introduced as part of an educational programme to improve patients' knowledge. This resulted in a marked improvement in understanding of the condition. Although a significant number still wished to consider early diagnosis in their offspring, very few would consider terminating an affected pregnancy.

Adolescent↗

The effects of selective beta-adrenoceptor antagonists and partial agonist activity on renal function during exercise in normal subjects and those with moderate renal impairment.

1. The effects of sustained moderate exercise in the sitting position on renal haemodynamics and glomerular filtration were measured in six normotensive patients with moderately impaired renal function and seven age-matched normal volunteers. 2. The changes in the effects of exercise on renal function induced by chronic cardioselective beta-adrenoceptor blockade by drugs with (epanolol) and without intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (atenolol) were examined. 3. Both beta-adrenoceptor blockers attenuated the heart rate increase with exercise, but only atenolol lowered blood pressure significantly. In resting volunteers on atenolol, associated with the fall in blood pressure there was a significant reduction in glomerular filtration rate. 4. Glomerular filtration fell significantly in all groups with exercise, and renal blood flow also fell in parallel. These changes were not influenced by drug treatment. 5. The exercise-induced rise in PRA was suppressed by atenolol but not by epanolol. 6. The renal function and haemodynamic responses to moderate exercise does not appear to be mediated by the systemic renin-angiotensin system or by beta 1-adrenoceptors.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Effects of exercise on renal function in patients with moderate impairment of renal function compared to normal men.

The renal excretory and haemodynamic responses to sustained moderate exertion were investigated in normotensive humans with impaired renal function and normal volunteers. The heart rate increase with exercise was similar in each group. Subjects with impaired renal function showed a significant fall in glomerular filtration rate on exertion, while normals did not. In the presence of renal disease, urine osmolality did not rise with exertion, although it rose markedly in the normal group. Free water clearance became negative after exercise in the normal group only. The diseased kidney is unable to maintain glomerular filtration rate or conserve water under the stress of exertion as well as the normal kidney.

Adult↗

Genomic organization of the selectin family of leukocyte adhesion molecules on human and mouse chromosome 1.

A structurally and functionally related group of genes, lymph node homing receptor (LHR), granule membrane protein 140 (GMP-140), and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1 (ELAM-1) are shown to constitute a gene cluster on mouse and human chromosome 1. In situ hybridization mapped GMP-140 to human chromosome 1 bands 21-24 consistent with chromosomal localization of LHR. Gene linkage analysis in the mouse indicated that these genes and serum coagulation factor V (FV) all map to a region of distal mouse chromosome 1 that is syntenic with human chromosome 1, with no crossovers identified between these four genes in 428 meiotic events. Moreover, long range restriction site mapping demonstrated that these genes map to within 300 kb in both the human and mouse genomes. These data suggest that LHR, ELAM-1, and GMP-140 comprise an adhesion protein family, the selectins, that arose by multiple gene duplication events before divergence of mouse and human. Furthermore, the location of these genes on mouse and human chromosome 1 is consistent with a close evolutionary relationship to the complement receptor-related genes, which also are positioned on the same chromosomes in both species and with which these genes share a region of sequence homology. These data characterize the organization of a genomic region that may be critical for intercellular communication within the immune system.

Animals↗

Long-range restriction site mapping of a syntenic segment conserved between human chromosome 1 and mouse chromosome 3.

A linkage map determined from segregation analysis of 338 meiotic events in an interspecific mouse cross was utilized to help investigate genomic organization of a linkage group conserved between human chromosome 1p and mouse chromosome 3. Using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, the genes encoding the lymphocyte adhesion molecule human CD2/murine Ly-37, the alpha 1-subunit of Na, K-ATPase, the beta-subunit of thyrotropin, the beta-subunit of nerve growth factor, and muscle adenylate deaminase were similarly positioned on long-range restriction maps in both species. These studies indicate that the development of detailed genetic maps using interspecific Mus crosses facilitates rapid analysis of murine genomic organization and may enable physical mapping of syntenic regions within the human genome. Moreover, the data suggest profound conservation of genomic organization during mammalian evolution.

AMP Deaminase↗

Electrolyte and humoral responses of renal transplant patients to head-out water immersion.

Eighteen renal transplant recipients and sixteen volunteers were subjected to the physiological manoeuvre of head-out water immersion, in order to compare changes in electrolyte and humoral responses known to occur in healthy individuals with those arising as a result of renal denervation in the transplant recipients. Although the tubular sodium response to water immersion was normal, tubular potassium excretion was markedly different in the transplant patients. Plasma values of atrial natriuretic factor increased in both groups and showed a close temporal relationship to urinary excretion of cyclic GMP. The attenuation in transplant recipients of the well-documented suppression of plasma renin activity during water immersion was probably due to a combination of factors, namely lack of renal innervation and an increase in circulating ANF. The small but significant increase in the excretion of enzymically active urinary kallikrein observed only in the transplant recipients during immersion still requires explanation.

Adult↗

A 6000 kb segment of chromosome 1 is conserved in human and mouse.

A murine linkage map generated from analyses of 428 meiotic events in an interspecific cross and pulsed field gel electrophoresis allowed examination of the genomic organization of a 6000 kb segment of mouse and human chromosome 1. Analysis of five genes within this syntenic segment of both species revealed striking conservation of gene order, intergenic distance and, to a lesser extent, CpG dinucleotides. In the mouse, meiotic crossover events were not evenly distributed; a hot spot for meiotic recombination was coincident with a CpG-island. These studies provide a practical approach to aid physical mapping of the human genome and a model for determining the molecular principles that govern meiotic recombination. In addition, these findings demonstrate profound conservation of genomic organization over mammalian evolution.

Animals↗

PMN stimulation by factors from IL-1-treated human synovial cell cultures.

Following exposure of cultured human synovial cells to human recombinant interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), we demonstrate the appearance of factors in the supernatant which stimulate human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) locomotion and elevate intracellular free calcium ([Ca++]i). The production of these factors can be abolished by actinomycin D or dexamethasone but not by cyclo-oxygenase or lipoxygenase inhibitors. In vivo, the supernatant induces a rapid accumulation of PMNs in rabbit skin following intradermal injection. These activities were not due to IL-1 itself, tumour necrosis factor (TNF alpha) or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Such factors may play an important role in inflammatory responses involving IL-1.

Animals↗

Frusemide, ACE inhibition, renal dopamine and prostaglandins: acute interactions in normal man.

1. The acute effects of intravenous frusemide (30 mg) on prostaglandin dependent renal haemodynamics, urinary prostaglandin excretion, urinary dopamine excretion and electrolyte excretion were studied in six salt replete healthy volunteers with and without pretreatment with the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, ramipril (5 mg) and compared with the effects of ramipril alone in order to clarify the role of the renin-angiotensin system in these responses. 2. Frusemide increased natriuresis (UNaV), kaliuresis (UKV), inulin clearance and plasma renin activity (PRA) and ramipril pretreatment significantly enhanced these effects suggesting that the acute generation of angiotensin II (AII) may attenuate these actions of intravenous frusemide. 3. Frusemide increased para-aminohippurate (PAH) clearance, osmolar clearance and urine flow but did not change filtration fraction or urinary kallikrein excretion. Pretreatment with ramipril did not affect these responses. 4. Frusemide increased the excretion of urinary PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. Ramipril pretreatment did not suppress this rise in prostaglandin excretion. Since the frusemide induced prostaglandin dependent renal haemodynamic changes were also not suppressed with ACE inhibition, this suggests that in salt-replete volunteers AII does not significantly modulate renal prostaglandin production after frusemide. 5. Urinary free dopamine excretion increased with frusemide alone. With ramipril pretreatment this rise showed a tendency to increase. AII may therefore inhibit the rise in urinary dopamine excretion after frusemide. However this requires further study.

Adult↗

Evidence against a role for prostaglandins in sustaining renal hyperfiltration in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The acute effect of inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis with indomethacin 50 mg by mouth on renal haemodynamics has been examined in 8 male Type 1 diabetic patients with elevated glomerular filtration rate who were free of diabetic complications. Renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate were measured by constant infusion of para-amino hippurate and polyfructosan, the patients being studied at normoglycaemia. Urinary excretion of prostaglandin E2 fell from 885 +/- 160 to 345 +/- 115 pg min-1, and excretion of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha fell from 489 +/- 77 to 283 +/- 50 pg min-1. There was no change in renal plasma flow or glomerular filtration rate following indomethacin. The results do not support the hypothesis that increased renal prostaglandin synthesis is a cause of hyperfiltration in diabetes mellitus.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Increased vascular permeability and polymorphonuclear leucocyte accumulation in vivo in response to recombinant cytokines and supernatant from cultures of human synovial cells treated with interleukin 1.

The inflammatory effects of intradermal injections of the human recombinant cytokines interleukin 1 (IL-1), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF alpha) have been assessed in rabbit skin, and compared with the effects of a novel polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN)-stimulating activity (PSA) produced by IL-1-treated human synovial cell cultures. IL-1 (84 fmol) and GM-CSF (10 pmol) caused increases in vascular permeability with a delayed onset, as assessed by the dermal accumulation of intravenously-administered 125I-human serum albumin. These cytokines also stimulated extravascular accumulation of PMNs. In contrast, PSA-containing supernatant caused a more rapid and prolonged increase in vascular permeability and PMN accumulation. TNF alpha (84 fmol) was unable to stimulate either of these responses. The increases in vascular permeability and PMN accumulation following IL-1 administration in vivo may be a consequence of the local generation of PMN-stimulating activity by connective tissue cells, such as the activity produced by IL-1-treated synovial cell cultures that we have described.

Animals↗

Elevation of PMN cytosolic free calcium and locomotion stimulated by novel peptides from IL-1-treated human synovial cell cultures.

Treatment of human synovial cell cultures with human recombinant interleukin 1 (IL-1) results in the appearance of activity in the supernatant which stimulates human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), as assessed by increased chemokinesis and elevation of intracellular free calcium concentration. IL-1 (or related cytokines) were unable to stimulate these responses. This activity chromatographed as a single peak on C8 reversed-phase HPLC and subsequent size exclusion HPLC revealed two peaks of chemokinetic activity with apparent molecular masses of approximately equal to 13kDa and 6kDa. Fractions containing the higher molecular mass material also elevated PMN cytosolic free calcium. The local production of such factors may mediate IL-1-induced PMN accumulation in vivo.

Calcium↗

The acute renal haemodynamic and endocrine response to felodipine in normal man.

Felodipine (0.075 mg/kg p.o.), a calcium antagonist, was given to 9 male volunteers, with and without indomethacin pretreatment. Diuresis and natriuresis occurred after felodipine without significant change in effective renal plasma flow or glomerular filtration rate. There was no significant change in urinary 6 keto PGF 1 alpha or urinary kallikrein excretion and indomethacin did not inhibit the natriuretic or diuretic response to felodipine. The felodipine induced diuresis and natriuresis appears most likely to be mediated by an action of the drug on renal tubules.

Adult↗

Neutrophil stimulation by recombinant cytokines and a factor produced by IL-1-treated human synovial cell cultures.

Neutrophil accumulation and activation are early events in the inflammatory response in vivo. Using human recombinant forms of the putative inflammatory mediators interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF alpha) we were unable to detect direct effects on human neutrophil locomotion or intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in vitro. Human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was able to stimulate significant locomotion, but was unable to elevate neutrophil [Ca2+]i. In contrast, supernatant from cultured human synovial cells that had been treated with human recombinant IL-1 alpha (28 pM) released a factor that stimulated both neutrophil locomotion and elevated neutrophil [Ca2+]i. Our studies demonstrate that the production of this factor is time-dependent, requiring exposure of the synovial cells to IL-1 for more than 4 hr, is not influenced by cyclo-oxygenase or lipo-oxygenase inhibition, but can be abolished by dexamethasone (100 nM) or actinomycin D (0.8 microM). The factor has a molecular weight above 10,000 and does not cross-react with anti-C5a antisera. IL-1 beta and TNF alpha were also able to stimulate its production. Our findings suggest that the neutrophil accumulation that is known to occur in response to IL-1 in vivo may be a consequence of the local production of such a factor.

Biological Factors↗