Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Levi

Publications and source records attributed to M Levi.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Renal brush border membrane Na/Pi-cotransport: molecular aspects in PTH-dependent and dietary regulation.

Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is reabsorbed in renal proximal tubules in a sodium (Na)-dependent manner involving brush border Na/Pi-cotransporter(s). Regulation of renal Pi-reabsorption, such as by parathyroid hormone (PTH) and/or by dietary Pi-deprivation, involves alterations in the rate of Na/Pi-cotransport. Two structurally different Na/Pi-cotransporters have been identified: type I-transporter and type II-transporter. The related mRNAs and proteins are located in the proximal tubule and in the brush border membrane. In heterologous expression systems type I and type II Na/Pi-cotransporters mediate Na/Pi-cotransport. Characterization of the transport properties suggested that the type II transporter is "responsible' for brush border membrane Na/Pi-cotransport (as observed in isolated vesicles). Administration of PTH to rats resulted in an inhibition of brush border membrane Na/Pi-cotransport (vesicles) and in a reduced brush border membrane content of the type II transporter. Feeding low Pi-diets resulted in an up-regulation of Na/Pi-cotransport (vesicles) and of type II transporter content; only after a prolonged exposure to low Pi-diets (more than 4 hr) was an increase in specific mRNA content observed. Refeeding high Pi diets had the opposite effects on Na/Pi-cotransport activity and on type II transporter protein. It is currently the task of future experiments to define the specific mechanisms leading to protein-synthesis-independent (PTH, acute Pi-deprivation, Pi-refeeding) and to protein-synthesis-dependent (prolonged Pi-deprivation) regulation of the type II Na/Pi-cotransporter.

Animals↗

Cellular mechanisms of the age-related decrease in renal phosphate reabsorption.

The aging process in humans and in the rat is associated with an impairment in renal tubular reabsorption of Pi and renal tubular adaptation to a low Pi diet. The purposes of the present study were to determine whether changes in the abundance of type II Na-Pi contransporter (NaPi-2) protein and/or mRNA play a role in the age-related decrease in Na-Pi cotransport activity, and to further determine the cellular mechanisms of impaired adaptation to a low Pi diet. In studies performed in 3- to 4-month-old young adult rats and 32-to 16-month-old aged rats we found that there was an age-related twofold decrease in proximal tubular apical brush border membrane (BBM) Na-Pi cotransport activity, which was associated with similar decreases in BBM NaPi-2 protein abundance and renal cortical NaPi-2 mRNA level. Immunohisto-chemistry showed lower NaPi-2 protein expression in the BBM of proximal tubules of superficial, midcortical, and juxtamedullary nephrons. We also found that in response to chronic (7 days) and/or acute (4 hr) feeding of a low Pi diet there were similar adaptive increases in BBM Na-Pi cotransport activity and BBM NaPi-2 protein abundance in both young and aged rats. However, BBM Na-Pi cotransport activity and BBM NaPi-2 protein abundance were still significantly lower in aged rats, in spite of a significantly lower serum Pi concentration in aged rats. The results indicate that impaired expression of the type II renal Na-Pi cotransporter protein at the level of the apical BBM plays an important role in the age-related impairment in renal tubular reabsorption of Pi and renal tubular adaptation to a low Pi diet.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Interleukin 10 release during endotoxaemia in chimpanzees: role of platelet-activating factor and interleukin 6.

Interleukin (IL-)10 has been demonstrated to inhibit endotoxin-induced production of a number of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The present study sought to compare the appearances in the circulation of IL-10, IL-6 and IL-8, and to assess the roles of endogenously produced platelet-activating factor (PAF) and IL-6 in IL-10 release during endotoxaemia in chimpanzees. Intravenous injection of endotoxin (lot EC-5, 4 ng/kg, n = 8) induced a transient rise in serum IL-10 concentrations, peaking after 2 h (213 +/- 70 pg/ml; P < 0.05). No correlations existed between peak IL-10 levels, and peak IL-6 and IL-8 levels. Neither infusion of the specific PAF antagonist TCV-309 (n = 4), nor infusion of a neutralizing anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody (n = 4) influenced endotoxin-induced IL-10 release. IL-10 release elicited by injection of endotoxin is not mediated by PAF or IL6.

Animals↗

Two neutralizing anti-V3 monoclonal antibodies act by affecting different functions of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) ICR41.1i (rat IgG2a) is specific for a conformation-dependent epitope of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) V3 , and MAb F58 (mouse IgG1) recognizes the peptide IXXGPGR, at the tip of the V3 loop. Both MAbs neutralized HIV-1 strain IIIB in C8166 and HeLa-T4(CD4) cells. Neutralization by either MAb did not inhibit attachment of virus to target cells as determined by FACS analysis, ELISA or immunofluorescence, and such attachment was absolutely dependent on the availability of CD4 molecules. F58 inhibited virus-induced cell-cell fusion, and reduced internalization of virions in direct proportion to neutralization. In contrast, ICR41.li had no effect on HIV-1-mediated cell fusion or on internalization of virus. It was concluded that MAb F58 neutralized infectivity by inhibiting fusion of the virus with the cell and internalization of the viral core, and that ICR41.1i neutralized by inhibiting a post-fusion-internalization event. The possible mechanism by which a neutralizing antibody binds to the V3 loop and affects the function(s) of structures inside the virion is discussed. Lastly, postattachment neutralization (PAN) was investigated. F58 mediated PAN at 21 degrees C and 35 degrees C. However, ICR41.1i gave PAN at 21 degrees C but not at 35 degrees C, suggesting that a temperature-dependent event affecting the V3 loop had abrogated neutralization. Overall, it appears that antibodies to different epitopes within the V3 loop neutralize by affecting very different functions of the virus.

Animals↗

Peptide sequences of glycoprotein G-2 discriminate between herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and HSV-1 antibodies.

The complete herpes simplex virus type 2 envelope glycoprotein G was represented by overlapping synthetic peptides. Herpes simplex virus type 2-specific human seroreactivities were mainly seen against three peptides, peptides G2-64, G2-69, and G2-70, located in the C-terminal part of glycoprotein G. This is, interestingly, a region which has strong homology between herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. G2-69 was the most herpes simplex virus type 2-specific peptide, reacting with 93% (13 of 14) of herpes simplex virus type 2 immunoglobulin G-positive human serum samples (n = 14) and none of the type 2 negative serum samples (n = 16) tested. The epitope of peptide G2-69 was mapped to the amino acid sequence RYAHPS, and the antibody binding to G2-64 could be increased by chemical oxidation of the peptide. The three reactive peptides were used, alone or combined, together with herpes simplex virus type 2 antigen in an attempt to discriminate anti-herpes simplex virus type 2 from anti-herpes simplex virus type 1 immunoglobulin G. Inclusion of the herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein G peptides increased the specificity compared with the use of glycoprotein G alone. Combinations of peptides with whole glycoprotein also showed a greater discriminative capacity than single peptides. We conclude that these synthetic glycoprotein G peptides may be useful for herpes simplex virus type 2 serology based on peptides or combinations of peptides and antigens. This is the first study describing the possibility of discriminative herpes simplex virus serology by using synthetic peptides combined with small amounts of whole glycoprotein G.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cyclosporin A impairs the nocturnal blood pressure fall in renal transplant recipients.

In renal transplant recipients, hypertension and a diminished nocturnal blood pressure fall are frequently found. To investigate whether this diminished nocturnal blood pressure fall is related to the use of cyclosporin A or to other factors, such as the use of glucocorticoids, we measured 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in 18 renal transplant recipients both before and 16 weeks after conversion from cyclosporin A to azathioprine. Renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate were estimated from 131I-hippurate and 125I-iothalamate clearances, respectively, and plasma concentrations of renin, atrial natriuretic peptide, norepinephrine, prostaglandin E2, and thromboxane B2 were determined. During cyclosporin A treatment, mean 24-hour blood pressure was 117 +/- 3 mm Hg, and the nocturnal fall in blood pressure was 4 +/- 9 mm Hg. A nondipping diurnal blood pressure pattern was present in 13 patients. After conversion to azathioprine, mean 24-hour blood pressure decreased to 109 +/- 3 mm Hg (P < .001), the nocturnal fall increased to 9 +/- 6 mm Hg, and the number of patients with a nondipping diurnal blood pressure pattern decreased to 9. The nocturnal fall in heart rate (17 +/- 10 beats per minute) during cyclosporin A did not change after conversion. Body weight and plasma concentrations of norepinephrine and renin did not change. Plasma concentrations of prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 decreased after conversion, as did plasma atrial natriuretic peptide. Renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate increased after conversion. In conclusion, cyclosporin A appears to be involved in the disturbance of the circadian blood pressure rhythm in renal transplant recipients. Although the precise mechanism is unclear. the elevated plasma atrial natriuretic peptide and slightly suppressed plasma renin concentrations suggest that intravascular volume expansion may contribute to the observed hemodynamic alterations.

Adult↗

Factor XIa induced activation of the intrinsic cascade in vivo.

Coagulation factor XI is a glycoprotein of the contact factor system. Its deficiency is associated with a highly variable bleeding tendency, thus a role in relation to hemostasis appears to exist. However, the importance of factor XI for stimulating intrinsic coagulation in vivo has not yet been determined. To study the procoagulant effects of human factor XIa in vivo, we infused the purified enzyme into normal chimpanzees (100 micrograms) in the absence or presence of the thrombin inhibitor rec-hirudin (1.0 mg/kg loading dose plus 0.3 mg/kg body wt continuous infusion). Factor XIa elicited an immediate activation of factors IX, X, and prothrombin, as measured by their respective activation fragments. However, whereas the activation of factors IX and X was immediate and shortlasting, (peak increments of 6- and 1.4-fold of baseline at 5 minutes after injection), the conversion of prothrombin gradually increased, reaching a summit of 6-fold baseline values after 60 min, and remaining elevated during the course of the experiments. Thrombin-antithrombin complexes also remained elevated during the study period. In the presence of hirudin, the initial activation of factors IX, X, and prothrombin was unchanged, however the further increment in prothrombin fragment F1 + 2 was markedly inhibited. These results demonstrate that factor XIa is a potential agonist of the intrinsic cascade in vivo, which activity is enhanced in the presence of thrombin.

Analysis of Variance↗

Fat emulsion infusion potentiates coagulation activation during human endotoxemia.

Intravenous fat emulsions are frequently given to malnourished patients who are prone to suffer from infectious complications. As injection of low dose endotoxin represents a model to study the human response to acute infection, we sought to determine the effect of lipid emulsion infusion on endotoxin-induced activation of the hemostatic mechanism in man. Ten healthy men received a bolus intravenous injection of endotoxin (lot EC-5; 20 U/kg) midway through a 4-h infusion (125 ml/h) of either dextrose 5% (n = 5) or Intralipid 20% (n = 5). Lipid infusion potentiated endotoxin-induced coagulation activation, as indicated by higher plasma levels of the prothrombin fragment F1 + 2 and of thrombin-antithrombin III complexes (both p < 0.05 for the difference between groups). However, lipid infusion did not influence the fibrinolytic response to intravenous endotoxin, as reflected by similar increases in the levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator and plasmin-alpha 2-antiplasmin complexes in both groups. Endotoxin-induced appearance of plasminogen activator inhibitor type I was enhanced by lipid infusion (p < 0.05). These data suggest that fat emulsion infusion may enhance the tendency towards thrombotic complications in patients with infections.

Adult↗

Fibrinolytic response to interferon-alpha in healthy human subjects.

Interferons (IFNs) are used for a variety of disorders. It has been postulated that part of the effects of IFN may be mediated by IFN-induced modulation of endothelial cells. Since the principal activating and inhibiting factors of the fibrinolytic system are synthesized and stored in endothelial cells, we have studied the effects on fibrinolysis and coagulation of the administration of recombinant IFN-alpha (5 x 10(6) U/m2) to healthy human subjects (n = 8) in a randomized controlled cross-over study. IFN-alpha significantly increased plasma levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA). Simultaneously, plasma levels of the inhibitor of plasminogen activation, PAI-1, sharply increased. The net effect on plasma plasminogen activator activity (PA-activity) was a modest increase to 116% of baseline, however without a significant effect on plasmin generation, as reflected by plasma levels of plasmin-alpha 2-antiplasmin complexes. IFN-alpha had no effect on the plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) complexes. We conclude that despite considerable effects on endothelial cells, IFN-alpha does not significantly alter the coagulant-fibrinolytic balance, although the occurrence of such changes under pathological circumstances is not excluded.

Adult↗

Inactivation of factor Xia in vivo: studies in chimpanzees and in humans.

C1-inhibitor (C1Inh), antithrombin III (ATIII), alpha 1-antitrypsin (a1AT), and alpha 2-antiplasmin (a2AP) are known inhibitors of factor XIa (FXIa). However, their precise contribution to FXIa inactivation in vivo is not known. We investigated FXIa inactivation in chimpanzees and assessed the contribution of these inhibitors to FXIa inactivation in patients with presumed FXI activation. Chimpanzees were infused with FXIa and the various FXIa-FXIa inhibitor complexes formed were measured. Most of FXIa was complexed to C1Inh (68%), followed by a2AP (13%), a1AT (10%), and ATIII (9%). Analysis of the plasma elimination kinetics revealed a half-life time of clearance (t1/2) for the FXIa-FXIa inhibitor complexes of 95 to 104 min, except for FXIa-a1AT, which had a t1/2 of 349 min. Due to this long t1/2, FXIa-a1AT complexes were predicted to show the highest levels in plasma samples from patients with activation of FXI. This was indeed shown in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation, recent myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris. We conclude from this study that in vivo C1Inh is the predominant inhibitor of FXIa, but that FXIa-a1AT complexes due to their relatively long t 1/2 may be the best parameter to assess FXI activation in clinical samples.

Angina, Unstable↗

Interleukin-6 stimulates coagulation, not fibrinolysis, in humans.

The role of IL-6 as a mediator of haemostatic changes during severe inflammation is controversial. To assess the effect of IL-6 on haemostasis we conducted a controlled cross-over study in eight patients with metastatic renal cell cancer. In all subjects coagulation and fibrinolysis were monitored during and after a 4-h infusion of either 150 micrograms recombinant human (rh) IL-6, or during infusion of saline (control study). Mean maximum IL-6 concentrations were 1418.0 +/- 755.8 pg/ml. Compared to the control study, rhIL-6 induced activation of coagulation as reflected by a 190 +/- 55% increase in the plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complexes (p < 0.001) and by a 24 +/- 11% increase in the plasma levels of in the prothrombin activation fragment F1 + 2 (p < 0.001). In contrast, fibrinolysis was not affected. We conclude that in severe inflammation IL-6 may contribute to the activation of coagulation, whereas other factors mediate changes in fibrinolysis.

Blood Coagulation↗

Inhibition of endotoxin-induced activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic pathways using a recombinant endotoxin-binding protein (rBPI23).

A recombinant endotoxin-neutralizing protein, rBPI23, was shown to partially prevent endotoxin-induced activation of the fibrinolytic and coagulation systems in experimental endotoxemia in humans. In a placebo-controlled, blinded crossover study, eight volunteers were challenged twice with an intravenous bolus injection of endotoxin (40 EU/kg of body weight) and concurrently received either rBPI23 (1 mg/kg) or placebo (human serum albumin, 0.2 mg/kg). rBPI23 treatment significantly lowered the endotoxin-induced fibrinolytic response, ie, reduced the release of tissue-type plasminogen activator, urokinase-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor antigen, and complex formation of plasmin alpha 2-antiplasmin (P = .0078 for each). Plasminogen activator inhibitor activity was also reduced, but not significantly according to the Hochberg method (P = .0304). The endotoxin-induced activation of the procoagulant state as reflected by increase in F1 + 2 fragments and TAT complexes was blunted by rBPI23 infusion (P = .0391 [not significant according to the Hochberg method] and .0078, respectively). These results indicate that rBPI23 is capable of reducing both the activation of the fibrinolytic and the coagulation systems after low-dose endotoxin infusion in humans.

Anticoagulants↗

Thrombolysis and reocclusion in experimental jugular vein and coronary artery thrombosis. Effects of a plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1-neutralizing monoclonal antibody.

BACKGROUND: Thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction is often complicated by reocclusion of the initially reperfused artery. Platelets have been shown to play an important role in this process. We determined the contribution of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), stored in the alpha-granules of platelets, to thrombolysis resistance and to reocclusion. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a rabbit jugular vein thrombosis model, the effect of a PAI-1-neutralizing monoclonal antibody (CLB-2C8) on thrombolysis and thrombus growth was assessed. The effect on reperfusion, reocclusion, and duration of vessel patency was studied in a canine model of coronary artery thrombosis superimposed on a high-grade stenosis and endothelial damage. In the rabbit jugular vein model, the intravenous administration of 1 mg/kg anti-PAI-1 antibody significantly enhanced the endogenous thrombolysis from 5.5 +/- 1.3% in the animals treated with a nonspecific monoclonal antibody (control) to 13.7 +/- 2.6% in the animals treated with the anti-PAI-1 antibody. Thrombus growth was reduced significantly, from 41.3 +/- 2.6% in the control animals to 22.8 +/- 2.8% in the animals treated with the anti-PAI-1 antibody. In combination with a single bolus injection of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rTPA; 0.25 mg/kg), the anti-PAI-1 antibody reduced thrombus growth significantly, from 21.5 +/- 2.7% in the animals treated with rTPA alone to 12.2 +/- 2.6% in the animals treated with rTPA and the antibody. No additional effect of the anti-PAI-1 antibody was observed on rTPA-induced thrombolysis. In the canine coronary artery thrombosis model, the administration of a suboptimal dose of rTPA (0.45 mg/kg) induced reperfusion in 7 of the 8 dogs after 19.5 +/- 8.2 minutes. Reperfusion was followed by reocclusion in all animals after 3.3 +/- 2.6 minutes. Administration of the anti-PAI-1 antibody in combination with rTPA significantly reduced time to reperfusion (8.1 +/- 5.2 minutes) and delayed the occurrence of reocclusion to 11.6 +/- 12.5 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of the anti-PAI-1 antibody (CLB-2C8) results in increased endogenous thrombolysis and inhibition of thrombus growth in a venous thrombosis model in rabbits and facilitated reperfusion and reduction of reocclusion in a canine model of coronary artery thrombosis.

Animals↗