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Biomedical subjects

M Li

Publications and source records attributed to M Li.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Preserved phosphorylation of RET receptor protein in spinal motor neurons of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an immunohistochemical study by a phosphorylation-specific antibody at tyrosine 1062.

Ret oncoprotein is a functional receptor for the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family and it is expressed in motor neurons, playing an important role in the motor neuron function. In this study, we examined the expression of the phosphorylation state of tyrosine residue 1062 (Tyr-1062) of Ret in the spinal cords of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), using the phosphorylation state specific antibody at Tyr-1062 of Ret. The immunohistochemical study demonstrated that Tyr-1062 of Ret was phosphorylated to variable extents in the surviving motor neurons of all the ALS as well as controls studied. This is the first report that the phosphorylation of Tyr-1062 occurred in neurons with nononcogenic type of Ret. The Ret-signaling pathway by Tyr-1062 autophosphorylation is constitutively activated via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and/or mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade for motoneuron survival even in the ALS motor neurons, supporting the view that GDNF is a candidate for therapeutic approach to ALS.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Antiangiogenic potential of 10-hydroxycamptothecin.

To investigate the antiangiogenic potential of 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT), the proliferation of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC) and seven human tumor cell lines were detected by SRB assay, and the endothelial cell migration and tube formation were assessed using two in vitro model systems. Also, inhibition of angiogenesis was determined with a modification of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay in vivo. Morphological assessment of apoptosis was performed by fluorescence microscope. HCPT 0.313-5 micromol x L(-1) treatment resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation, migration and tube formation in HMEC cells, and HCPT 6.25-25 nmol x egg(-1) inhibited angiogenesis in CAM assay. HCPT 1.25-5 micromol x L(-1) elicited typical morphological changes of apoptosis including condensed chromatin, nuclear fragmentation, and reduction in volume in HMEC cells. HCPT significantly inhibited angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo at relatively low concentrations, and this effect was related with induction of apoptosis in HMEC cells. These results taken collectively suggest that HCPT may be a potent antiangiogenetic and cytotoxic drug and further investigation is warranted.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗
PubMed2001

Formation of BaSO4 fibres with morphological complexity in aqueous polymer solutions.

BaSO4 fibres with morphological complexity were formed in aqueous solution with polyacrylate and partially monophosphonated poly(ethyleneoxide)-block-poly(methacrylic acid) additives by a simple precipitation reaction. For polyacrylate, formation of the fibrous deposits was strongly dependent on the level of supersaturation (S) and Ba2+:polymer molar ratio (R). At S = 60 to 80, and R = 3 to 14, highly anisotropic crystalline fibres consisting of bundles of BaSO4 nanofilaments were formed after several weeks, although the yield was low. The nanofilaments were also organized into cone-shaped aggregates at S = 80, and at lower R values these formed higher-order structures that consisted of multiple cone-on-cone assemblies with remarkable self-similarity. Increasing the supersaturation produced ovoid or cross-shaped dendritic particles for the range of molar ratios studied. In contrast, BaSO4 crystallisation in the presence of a partially phosphonated block copolymer gave a high yield of BaSO4 fibres up to 100 microm in length, and consisting of co-aligned bundles of 30 nm-diameter defect-free single-crystal nanofilaments with a uniform growth tip. A model for the defect-free growth of BaSO4 nanofilaments in aqueous polymer solutions based on amorphous precursor particles, vectorially directing forces and van der Waals attraction is proposed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Characterization of the genomic structure and tissue-specific promoter of the human nuclear receptor NR5A2 (hB1F) gene.

The human homologue of the Drosophila melanogaster orphan nuclear receptor fushi tarazu factor 1 (Ftz-F1), NR5A2 (hB1F), was initially identified as a regulatory factor that binds and activates enhancer II of hepatitis B virus. NR5A2 (hB1F) is expressed specifically in pancreas and liver, playing important roles in the regulation of several liver-specific genes. A detailed analysis on the genomic structure and promoter activity will greatly promote future studies on the function of the NR5A2 (hB1F) gene. In this report, a bacterial artificial chromosome clone and several phage clones covering the NR5A2 (hB1F) gene were isolated and the complete genomic sequence was obtained. Alignment of different cDNAs of the NR5A2 (hB1F) gene with the genomic sequence facilitated the delineation of its structural organization, which spans over 150 kb and consists of eight exons interrupted by seven introns. RT-PCR and 3'-RACE revealed that utilization of two polyadenylation signals results in the 3.8 and 5.2 kb transcripts that were observed previously. The transcription start site of the NR5A2 (hB1F) gene was mapped downstream of a canonical TATA box. An upstream fragment containing binding sites for several liver-specific and ubiquitous transcription factors exhibits hepatocyte-specific promoter activity. Transient transfections indicated that hepatocyte nuclear factors HNF1 and HNF3beta could activate NR5A2 (hB1F) promoter.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2001

GPC3 mutation analysis in a spectrum of patients with overgrowth expands the phenotype of Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome.

Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) is an X-linked overgrowth syndrome caused by deletions in glypican 3 (GPC3). SGBS is characterized by pre- and postnatal overgrowth, a characteristic facial appearance, and a spectrum of congenital malformations which overlaps that of other overgrowth syndromes. We performed GPC3 deletion screening on 80 male patients with somatic overgrowth in the following categories: SGBS (n = 19), possible SGBS (n = 26), including families in which individuals had previously been diagnosed with other overgrowth syndromes, and Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome (WBS) (n = 35). Using exon-specific PCR and Southern blot analysis, we identified seven GPC3 deletions. In most cases a clear X-linked family history was not present. In two cases, GPC3 deletions were identified in patients belonging to pedigrees published previously as other overgrowth syndromes: one with a diagnosis of Sotos syndrome and the other Perlman syndrome with nephroblastomatosis. A third patient developed hepatoblastoma, a tumor type not previously described in SGBS. No GPC3 deletions were identified among the WBS patients. Direct sequencing of all GPC3 exons in the remaining 13 SGBS patients without GPC3 deletions did not identify any further mutations, raising the possibility of alternative silencing mechanisms and/or other genes in the pathogenesis of SGBS. Our results validate the clinical specificity of the facial appearance, skeletal/hand anomalies, and supernumerary nipples in patients with GPC3 deletions. Our data also suggest that nephroblastomatosis and hepatoblastoma are included in the phenotypic spectrum of GPC3 deletions and SGBS, underscoring the importance of tumor surveillance in these children.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2001

Caveolin-1 null mice are viable but show evidence of hyperproliferative and vascular abnormalities.

Caveolin-1 is the principal structural protein of caveolae membranes in fibroblasts and endothelia. Recently, we have shown that the human CAV-1 gene is localized to a suspected tumor suppressor locus, and mutations in Cav-1 have been implicated in human cancer. Here, we created a caveolin-1 null (CAV-1 -/-) mouse model, using standard homologous recombination techniques, to assess the role of caveolin-1 in caveolae biogenesis, endocytosis, cell proliferation, and endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) signaling. Surprisingly, Cav-1 null mice are viable. We show that these mice lack caveolin-1 protein expression and plasmalemmal caveolae. In addition, analysis of cultured fibroblasts from Cav-1 null embryos reveals the following: (i) a loss of caveolin-2 protein expression; (ii) defects in the endocytosis of a known caveolar ligand, i.e. fluorescein isothiocyanate-albumin; and (iii) a hyperproliferative phenotype. Importantly, these phenotypic changes are reversed by recombinant expression of the caveolin-1 cDNA. Furthermore, examination of the lung parenchyma (an endothelial-rich tissue) shows hypercellularity with thickened alveolar septa and an increase in the number of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (Flk-1)-positive endothelial cells. As predicted, endothelial cells from Cav-1 null mice lack caveolae membranes. Finally, we examined eNOS signaling by measuring the physiological response of aortic rings to various stimuli. Our results indicate that eNOS activity is up-regulated in Cav-1 null animals, and this activity can be blunted by using a specific NOS inhibitor, nitro-l-arginine methyl ester. These findings are in accordance with previous in vitro studies showing that caveolin-1 is an endogenous inhibitor of eNOS. Thus, caveolin-1 expression is required to stabilize the caveolin-2 protein product, to mediate the caveolar endocytosis of specific ligands, to negatively regulate the proliferation of certain cell types, and to provide tonic inhibition of eNOS activity in endothelial cells.

Albumins↗
PubMed2001

Induction of apoptosis by cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor NS398 through a cytochrome C-dependent pathway in esophageal cancer cells.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can induce tumor cells to undergo apoptosis in vitro. They have also shown cancer-preventive activity in vivo. The mechanism of their effects is, however, not well defined. We investigated the mechanism by which a new NSAID, NS398, induces apoptosis in esophageal cancer cell lines. NS398 decreased cell viability in 2 cyclo-oxygenase-2-positive (COX-2(+)) esophageal cancer cell lines but not in a COX-2(-) cell line. DNA fragmentation and TUNEL assays demonstrated that NS398 induced the 2 COX-2(+) cancer cell lines to undergo apoptosis. The percentage of apoptosis induced by NS398 was associated with the level of COX-2 expression. Further investigation showed that the cytochrome c pathway was responsible for NS398-induced apoptosis; i.e., cytochrome c was released from mitochondria, caspase-9 and caspase-3 were activated and finally poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) was cleaved. Furthermore, the effect of NS398 was inhibited by the caspase inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK and prostaglandin E(2). In contrast, bcl-2, bax, c-myc, Fas and Fas-ligand showed minor changes. Altogether, our data suggest that induction of apoptosis by NS398 is associated with COX-2 expression and occurs through the cytochrome c-dependent pathway, which sequentially activates caspase-9 and caspase-3 and cleaves PARP.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2001

Crystal structure of human epidermal growth factor and its dimerization.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a typical growth-stimulating peptide and functions by binding to specific cell-surface receptors and inducing dimerization of the receptors. Little is known about the molecular mechanism of EGF-induced dimerization of EGF receptors. The crystal structure of human EGF has been determined at pH 8.1. There are two human EGF molecules A and B in the asymmetric unit of the crystals, which form a potential dimer. Importantly, a number of residues known to be indispensable for EGF binding to its receptor are involved in the interface between the two EGF molecules, suggesting a crucial role of EGF dimerization in the EGF-induced dimerization of receptors. In addition, the crystal structure of EGF shares the main features of the NMR structure of mouse EGF determined at pH 2.0, but structural comparisons between different models have revealed new detailed features and properties of the EGF structure.

Crystallization↗
PubMed2001

Coupled capillary wave fluctuations in thin aqueous films on an aqueous subphase.

X-ray scattering and interfacial tension measurements are used to demonstrate the formation of nanometer-thick aqueous films on aqueous bulk subphases from polymer-salt biphase mixtures. X-ray scattering determines a coupling constant that characterizes the coupled capillary wave fluctuations of the liquid-vapor and liquid-liquid interfaces of this thin film. These data also determine an effective Hamakar constant that characterizes the long-range interaction between the interfaces and parameters that characterize the short-range part of the interfacial interaction.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Closing the pseudogap by Zeeman splitting in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+y at high magnetic fields.

Interlayer tunneling resistivity is used to probe the low-energy density-of-states (DOS) depletion due to the pseudogap in the normal state of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+y. Measurements up to 60 T reveal that a field that restores DOS to its ungapped state shows strikingly different temperature and doping dependencies from the characteristic fields of the superconducting state. The pseudogap closing field and the pseudogap temperature T small star, filled evaluated independently are related through a simple Zeeman energy scaling. These findings indicate a predominant role of spins over the orbital effects in the formation of the pseudogap.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Imprinting status of 11p15 genes in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome patients with CDKN1C mutations.

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is an imprinting disorder characterized by somatic overgrowth, congenital malformations, and predisposition to childhood tumors. Aberrant expression of multiple imprinted genes, including H19, IGF2, KCNQ1OT1, and CDKN1C, has been observed in BWS patients. It has been estimated that mutations in CDKN1C occur in 12-17% of BWS patients. We have screened 10 autosomal dominant pedigrees and 65 sporadic BWS cases by PCR/heteroduplex analysis and DNA sequencing and have identified four mutations, two of which were associated with biallelic IGF2 expression and normal H19 and KCNQ1OT1 imprinting. One patient demonstrated phenotypic expression of paternally transmitted mutation in this maternally expressed gene, a second proband is the child of one of a pair of monozygotic twin females who carry the mutation de novo, and a third patient exhibited unusual skeletal changes more commonly found in other overgrowth syndromes. When considered with other studies published to date, this work reveals the frequency of CDKN1C mutations in BWS to be only 4.9%. This is the first report of an analysis of the imprinting status of genes in the 11p15 region where CDKN1C mutations were associated with loss of IGF2 imprinting and maintenance of H19 and KCNQ1OT1 imprinting.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

An essential role of the NF-kappa B/Toll-like receptor pathway in induction of inflammatory and tissue-repair gene expression by necrotic cells.

Tissue damage induced by infection or injury can result in necrosis, a mode of cell death characterized by induction of an inflammatory response. In contrast, cells dying by apoptosis do not induce inflammation. However, the reasons for underlying differences between these two modes of cell death in inducing inflammation are not known. Here we show that necrotic cells, but not apoptotic cells, activate NF-kappaB and induce expression of genes involved in inflammatory and tissue-repair responses, including neutrophil-specific chemokine genes KC and macrophage-inflammatory protein-2, in viable fibroblasts and macrophages. Intriguingly, NF-kappaB activation by necrotic cells was dependent on Toll-like receptor 2, a signaling pathway that induces inflammation in response to microbial agents. These results have identified a novel mechanism by which cell necrosis, but not apoptosis, can induce expression of genes involved in inflammation and tissue-repair responses. Furthermore, these results also demonstrate that the NF-kappaB/Toll-like receptor 2 pathway can be activated both by exogenous microbial agents and endogenous inflammatory stimuli.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

'Inverse' melting of a vortex lattice.

Inverse melting is the process in which a crystal reversibly transforms into a liquid or amorphous phase when its temperature is decreased. Such a process is considered to be very rare, and the search for it is often hampered by the formation of non-equilibrium states or intermediate phases. Here we report the discovery of first-order inverse melting of the lattice formed by magnetic flux lines in a high-temperature superconductor. At low temperatures, disorder in the material pins the vortices, preventing the observation of their equilibrium properties and therefore the determination of whether a phase transition occurs. But by using a technique to 'dither' the vortices, we were able to equilibrate the lattice, which enabled us to obtain direct thermodynamic evidence of inverse melting of the ordered lattice into a disordered vortex phase as the temperature is decreased. The ordered lattice has larger entropy than the low-temperature disordered phase. The mechanism of the first-order phase transition changes gradually from thermally induced melting at high temperatures to a disorder-induced transition at low temperatures.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Protein disulfide isomerase and sulfhydryl-dependent pathways in platelet activation.

The inhibition of blood platelet aggregation and secretion was studied using covalent thiol reagents, maleimides, or mercuribenzoates, or using inhibitors of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), bacitracin or antibodies to PDI. As expected, both types of inhibitors were effective against stimulation by normal physiologic stimuli. On the other hand, when stimulation was initiated with the peptide LSARLAF, that specifically activates the integrin alphaIIbbeta3 (the fibrinogen receptor), the PDI inhibitors were without effect. LSARLAF-induced aggregation was, however, inhibited by the sulfhydryl reagents. To further investigate the role of sulfhydryl-containing proteins and alphaIIbbeta3, platelets were labeled with membrane-impermeant sulfhydryl reagents. Nine bands were found labeled on gel electrophoresis. Two of the labeled bands were identified as alphaIIb and beta3. The conclusions are that while PDI is required for platelet aggregation and secretion, an additional sulfhydryl-dependent step or protein is also required. This latter reaction occurs at the level of alphaIIbbeta3. In distinction to most literature reports, at least a subpopulation of alphaIIbbeta3 contains free sulfhydryl groups, consistent with the possibility that it is a substrate for PDI or part of the sulfhydryl-dependent response.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed2001

O-ethyl and o-methyl n-(2,3,4,6-tetra-o-acetyl-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)thiocarbamate.

In both the title structures, O-ethyl N-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)thiocarbamate, C(17)H(25)NO(10)S, and O-methyl N-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)thiocarbamate, C(16)H(23)NO(10)S, the hexopyranosyl ring adopts the (4)C(1) conformation. All the ring substituents are in equatorial positions. The acetoxymethyl group is in a gauche-gauche conformation. The S atom is in a synperiplanar conformation, while the C-N-C-O linkage is antiperiplanar. N-H.O intermolecular hydrogen bonds link the molecules into infinite chains and these are connected by C-H.O interactions.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗
PubMed2001

Cell-associated ovalbumin is cross-presented much more efficiently than soluble ovalbumin in vivo.

To better understand the antigenic requirements for cross-presentation, we compared the in vivo efficiency of presentation of cell-associated vs soluble OVA with the OT-I (CD8) and OT-II (CD4) TCR transgenic lines. Cross-presentation of cell-associated OVA was very efficient, requiring as little as 21 ng of OVA to activate OT-II cells and 100-fold less to activate OT-I cells. In contrast, soluble OVA was presented inefficiently, requiring at least 10,000 ng OVA for activation of either T cell subset. Thus, cell-associated OVA was presented 500-fold more efficiently than soluble OVA to CD4 T cells and 50,000-fold more efficiently to CD8 T cells. These data, which represent the first quantitative in vivo analysis of cross-presentation, show that cell-associated OVA is very efficiently presented via the class I pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Transgenic mice with an expanded CAG repeat controlled by the human AR promoter show polyglutamine nuclear inclusions and neuronal dysfunction without neuronal cell death.

We generated transgenic mice that expressed a highly expanded 239 polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat under the control of the human androgen receptor promoter. These transgenic mice developed progressive neurological phenotypes of muscular weakness and ataxia, small body size and short life-span. PolyQ nuclear inclusions (NIs) were remarkable and widespread but found in selective regions of the central nervous system (CNS) such as the spinal cord, cerebrum and cerebellum as well as in selective peripheral visceral organs. This distribution pattern resembled that of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy somewhat, but was more widespread. In neuronal tissues, NIs were present in astrocytes as well as neurons. Cytoplasmic and axonal inclusions were not observed. In the CNS regions with abundant NIs, neuronal populations were well-preserved, and neither neuronal cell death, reactive astrogliosis nor microglial invasions were detected. These findings suggest that polyQ alone can induce the neuronal dysfunction that precedes gross neuronal degeneration and provides a clue for investigating molecular mechanisms that underly the pathway to neuronal dysfunction from polyQ expansion.

Animals↗