Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M R Young

Publications and source records attributed to M R Young.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Polyanionic agents inhibit phagosome-lysosome fusion in cultured macrophages: a reply to the suggestion of Goren, Vatter, and Fiscus to the contrary.

The paper and review by Goren et al. (J. Leukocyte Biol. 41, 111, 1987) contain serious objections to the reports from several laboratories on the pattern of fusion of secondary lysosomes with phagosomes (yeasts being predominantly the target) in polyanion-treated macrophages; these reports had concluded that the polyanions were inhibitors of this fusion. The main objection by Goren et al. is to the alleged misuse of electron microscopic (EM) lysosome markers; many instances of phagosome-lysosome (P-L) fusion in the treated cells have therefore been missed. The central argument is that 1) the "hydrocolloid" properties of certain of these polyanions hinder the passage of the enmeshed marker from lysosome to phagosome after their fusion and 2) this hindrance is mistakenly interpreted as indicating that fusion has not taken place, thus giving rise to the belief that the polyanions can inhibit fusion. In reply, we explain that we score as P-L fusion any instance of marker (ferritin) being seen anywhere in a fused phagosome (phagolysosome). For this crucial reason, immobilisation of marker by a hydrocolloid polyanion, e.g., in lysosomal residue of phagolysosomes or just within phagosome membranes (as in Goren's Figs. 5 and 6 [8]), would not seriously threaten the marker distinction between fusion and nonfusion (with consequent underestimation of the former) and therefore would not invalidate the reports of a high incidence of nonfusion in polyanion-treated macrophages. Such inhibition of P-L fusion is supported by using as lysosomal label the nonpermeant fluorescent probe lucifer yellow (accepted by Goren et al. as a reliable indicator of fusion). Further support comes from the correlated inhibition of the saltatory movements of secondary lysosomes previously described; static lysosomes will have their contact with the phagosomes severely restricted. Another criticism is based on the failure of certain salient properties and functions of phagosomes to change significantly after polyanion treatment of the macrophages; these include intraphagosomal digestion, presence of lysosomal enzymes, and acidification. However, this indirect evidence can be accounted for alternatively by the operation of factors (primary lysosomes, endogenous acidification, etc.) not affected by the polyanionic block. We conclude that fusion inhibition by the polyanions is a real phenomenon, as previously reported, notwithstanding the hydrocolloid properties of some of them. Furthermore, an explanation based on hydrocolloid properties is questionable, since one or possibly two of the five main polyanionic agents appear not to be hydrocolloids.

Cells, Cultured↗

99Tcm-MDP bone scanning of injuries of the carpal scaphoid.

Clinical injuries of the carpal scaphoid are frequently seen at accident and emergency departments. Some exhibit delayed radiographic visualization of a fracture. The radioisotope bone scan is a sensitive test and increased uptake is observed in healing fractures. Twenty-three patients with an initial diagnosis of clinical fractures of the scaphoid were studied clinically, radiologically and independently by 99Tcm-MDP isotope scans. Three-quarters of the patients required only 1 month's management. Their corresponding bone scans were normal or not suggestive of a fracture. The remaining 25 per cent, who clinically required a more prolonged treatment (greater than or equal to 5 weeks' immobilization), were noted independently to have positive scans whether a fracture was observed or not. It is concluded that there is a stronger correlation between clinical examination and a bone scan than with a standard radiographic examination. It is proposed that patients still tender at 3 weeks should have a carpal isotope bone scan to identify if there is an important wrist injury and appropriate treatment commenced.

Adolescent↗

The effects of E series prostaglandins on blastogenic responses in vitro and graft vs. host responses in vivo.

In this study the ability of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), Misoprostol (a stable analog of PGE1), and 16,16-dimethyl PGE2 (a stable analog of PGE2) to suppress immune responses in vitro and in vivo was determined. All of the compounds caused a titratable (10(-6) to 10(-9) M) suppression of Con A blastogenesis and the mixed lymphocyte response whereas there was only slight inhibition of the LPS response. When either 16,16-dimethyl PGE2 (30 ug/mouse) or Misoprostol (60 ug/mouse) was administered daily in vivo, there was a significant suppression of splenomegaly in F1 mice (C57Bl/6 x CBA) which had been injected with parental (C57Bl/6) spleen cells. We conclude that prostaglandins of the E series can function as immunosuppressive reagents both in vitro and in vivo. In the future they may serve to augment existing forms of immunosuppressive therapy.

Animals↗

The effect of recombinant murine interferon-gamma on the hematopoietic and immunological parameters of mice bearing metastatic Lewis lung carcinoma tumors.

The in vitro and in vivo effects of murine recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) on hematopoietic and immune parameters of normal mice and of mice bearing metastatic variant Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC-C3) tumors were assessed. The in vitro addition of rIFN-gamma to bone marrow or spleen cells from normal and LLC-C3-bearing mice reduced their capacity to grow into colonies in soft agar (CFU) and minimized their immune suppressive activities. In vivo studies showed that when LLC-C3 tumor-bearing mice were injected with rIFN-gamma for 2 days prior to sacrifice, there was a reduction in femoral bone marrow cellularity, CFU, and suppressor cell activity. In contrast, spleen cells of tumor-bearing mice that were injected with rIFN-gamma showed reduced blastogenesis, and increased spleen cellularity, CFU, and suppressor cell activity. Thus, short-term rIFN-gamma treatment of LLC-C3-bearing mice may be beneficial with regard to the bone marrow because it caused a decrease in hematopoiesis and suppressor cell activity, whereas it may be detrimental in the spleen because it appeared to stimulate hematopoiesis and increase splenic suppressor cell activity. The dichotomy between the in vitro versus in vivo effects of rIFN-gamma on splenic hematopoiesis and suppressor activity may be due to the stimulation of production of colony-stimulating factor (CSF) activities by spleen cells of rIFN-gamma-treated mice. Our results suggest that the tumor stimulation of hematopoiesis and its associated appearance of immune suppressor cells can be both positively and negatively altered by rIFN-gamma.

Animals↗

Correcting for single ascertainment by truncation for a quantitative trait.

Two methods for correcting for single ascertainment by truncation are compared. These methods are (1) conditioning on the phenotype of the proband and (2) conditioning on the event that the proband phenotype is greater than a threshold. The use of a constraint on model parameters is considered. The lack of robustness of this method to misspecifiction of the constraint has been demonstrated by Rao et al. It is noted that the constraint on model parameters used by Rao et al. is equivalent to an encoding of knowledge derived from a random sample, and an alternative representation of this information that has superior robustness properties is proposed.

Genetics, Medical↗

Comparison of sequential and fixed-structure sampling of pedigrees in complex segregation analysis of a quantitative trait.

In designing a study to demonstrate the existence of a major locus for a quantitative trait, an investigator chooses a sampling rule to ascertain pedigrees. The choice of sampling rule can significantly affect the study's power. Here, we compare two types of sampling rules for family studies: fixed-structure rules, in which the same set of relatives are sampled for each proband, and sequential rules, in which the relative or relatives to be sampled next may depend on the trait values of the individuals already observed. We compare fixed-structure and sequential sampling in the setting of extended pedigrees, a quantitative trait, and the genetic mixed model. Using computer simulation, we show that sequential sampling can increase power to detect segregation at a dominant major locus by over 60% in comparison with fixed-structure sampling. Just as important, this substantially increased power is obtained with an easily implemented sampling rule, one that might reasonably be employed in a family study of a quantitative trait.

Alleles↗

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the cDNA for small proteoglycan II of bovine bone.

The cDNA for the full-length core protein of the small chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan II of bovine bone was cloned and sequenced. A 1.3 kb clone (lambda Pg28) was identified by plaque hybridization with a previously isolated 1.0 kb proteoglycan cDNA clone (lambda Pg20), positively identified previously by polyclonal and monoclonal antibody reactivity and by hybrid-selected translation in vitro [Day, Ramis, Fisher, Gehron Robey, Termine & Young (1986) Nucleic Acids Res. 14, 9861-9876]. The cDNA sequences of both clones were identical in areas of overlap. The 360-amino-acid-residue protein contains a 30-residue propeptide of which the first 15 residues are highly hydrophobic. The mature protein consists of 330 amino acid residues corresponding to an Mr of 36,383. The core protein contains three potential glycosaminoglycan-attachment sites (Ser-Gly), only one of which is within a ten-amino-acid-residue homologous sequence seen at the known attachment sites of related small proteoglycans. Comparisons of the published 24-residue N-terminal protein sequence of bovine skin proteoglycan II core protein with the corresponding region in the deduced sequence of the bovine core protein reveals complete homology. Comparison of the cDNA-derived sequences of bovine bone and human embryonic fibroblast proteoglycans shows a hypervariable region near the N-terminus. Nucleotide homology between bone and fibroblast core proteins was 87% and amino acid homology was 90%.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Stimulation of suppressor cells in the bone marrow and spleens of high dose cyclophosphamide-treated C57Bl/6 mice.

Systemic administration of a single dose (300 mg/kg) of cyclophosphamide (Cy) induced the appearance of a population of suppressor cells in the bone marrow and spleens of mice. Suppressor cells were assayed by their capacity to inhibit the concanavalin A (Con A) blastogenesis or the mixed-lymphocyte response of normal C57Bl/6 spleen cells. Cy-induced bone marrow (Cy-BM) suppressor cells were present as early as 4 days following Cy therapy and their activity gradually decreased over the next 2 weeks. Cy-induced splenic (Cy-Sp) suppressor cells were maximally present on Days 6 through 10 following Cy therapy. Studies were performed to characterize the suppressor cells of bone marrow obtained 4 days after Cy treatment and of normal bone marrow (N-BM). Some suppressor activity was present in normal bone marrow. N-BM suppressor cells resembled cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage in that they were slightly adherent to Sephadex G-10, sensitive to L-leucine methyl ester (LME), and insensitive to treatment either with anti-T-cell antibody and complement or with anti-immunoglobulin antibody and complement. Their suppressive activity was abrogated by incubation with either indomethacin or catalase. Cy-BM suppressor cells were also resistant to treatment with anti-T-cell and anti-immunoglobulin antibody and complement but were not adherent to Sephadex G-10 and not sensitive to LME. Their suppressive activity was partially eliminated by indomethacin alone or in combination with catalase. We conclude that Cy chemotherapy induces the appearance of a population of immune suppressive cells and that these cells appear first in the bone marrow and subsequently in the spleen.

Animals↗

Inhibition of phagosome-lysosome fusion in macrophages by certain mycobacteria can be explained by inhibition of lysosomal movements observed after phagocytosis.

We have investigated the mechanism of the inhibition of phagosome-lysosome (P-L) fusion in macrophages known to occur after infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and by the mouse pathogen Mycobacterium microti. We have used an M. microti infection and have studied, first, the saltatory movements of periphagosomal secondary lysosomes by means of visual phase-contrast microscopy (a similar use of the method having been previously supported by computer analyses). The movements became slow or static after ingestion of live but not of heat-killed M. microti. They were unaffected by a fusiogenic mycobacterium M. lepraemurium. Second, we studied the behavior of a normally fusiogenic unrelated organism, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, after its phagocytosis by cells already containing live M. microti ingested 18 h previously. We observed, using a fluorescent assay of fusion, that many of these yeast phagosomes now also failed to fuse with the lysosomes; in contrast, when the host M. microti had been heat killed the yeast phagosomes fused normally. These observations were extended by ultrastructural quantitative analyses of P-L fusion, which confirmed the nonfusion of phagosomes of live M. microti and, more particularly, the change to nonfusion from the normal fusion behavior of the separate phagosomes of accompanying yeasts. Third, we have assembled evidence against the likelihood that these M. microti-induced phenomena are nonspecific, i.e., secondary to a general depression of activity of heavily infected host cells. The evidence includes the feasibility of adjusting the degree of infection so as to facilitate visual assessment of organelle movements without the presence of detectable damage to the cells studied; the absence of lysosomal stasis after comparable infection with another mycobacterium of comparable virulence (M. lepraemurium); and the reversibility of the stasis. We conclude that inhibition of lysosome saltatory movements (and consequently its secondary effect on the associated yeasts) is a significant, specifically induced phenomenon. From these observations and considerations, therefore, in conjunction with the analogous inhibition of lysosomal movements in normal macrophages by some chemical inhibitors of P-L fusion, and our suggestion that this association is causally related, we now suggest that M. microti-induced focal lysosomal stasis is also the main means by which the inhibition of P-L fusion is brought about by this organism. This concept is strengthened by the observations on S. cerevisiae, which provide strong evidence that stasis can cause suppression of fusion.

Animals↗

Effect of prostaglandin E2-producing nonmetastatic Lewis lung carcinoma cells on the migration of prostaglandin E2-responsive metastatic Lewis lung carcinoma cells.

The role of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in directly stimulating metastatic spread by Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells was examined with the use of an in vitro migration model for tumor dissemination. The extent to which cloned metastatic and nonmetastatic LLC cells migrated out of glass capillary tubes in vitro reflected their capacity to form pulmonary metastases in vivo. The addition of PGE2 to metastatic LLC cells further stimulated their migration. Other cyclooxygenase products, besides PGE2, did not stimulate the migration of metastatic LLC cells. Nonmetastatic LLC cells did not migrate out of capillary tubes, even in the presence of exogenous PGE2. The amount of PGE2 secreted by cloned LLC cells was quantitated by a radioimmunoassay. Nonmetastatic LLC cells secreted more PGE2 than did the metastatic LLC cells. When the nonmetastatic LLC cells were either mixed with or placed adjacent to cloned metastatic LLC cells, the migration by the metastatic LLC cells was stimulated. The migration-stimulatory capacity of the nonmetastatic LLC cells was minimized in the presence of indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor. Studies were conducted to relate these in vitro results to tumor metastasis in vivo. Injection of a mixture of metastatic and nonmetastatic LLC cells into mice s.c. resulted in a greater number of lung metastases than did injection of metastatic cells alone. This increase in metastasis formation was prevented by indomethacin. Formation of pulmonary metastases was also augmented when irradiated nonmetastatic LLC cells were injected into metastatic LLC-bearing mice. The results of our studies suggest that nonmetastatic LLC cells, by producing PGE2, can augment in vitro migration and in vivo dissemination of metastatic LLC cells. Thus, the response of tumor cells to PGE2, rather than simply their production of PGE2, appears to be important in regulating tumor dissemination.

16,16-Dimethylprostaglandin E2↗

Hematopoiesis and suppressor bone marrow cells in mice bearing large metastatic Lewis lung carcinoma tumors.

Mice bearing a metastatic variant of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC-C3) were studied to determine if there might be a relationship between tumor induced hematopoiesis and immune suppression. Growth of LLC-C3 in C57BL/6 mice corresponded with increased hematopoiesis and an increase in the proportion of monocytes in the peripheral blood, spleen, and bone marrow. The LLC-C3 cells secreted colony stimulating factor activity and, thus, could have directly stimulated the hematopoiesis in the hosts. As tumor growth progressed, the bone marrow of the tumor bearing mice became suppressive to T-cell blastogenesis. The bone marrow suppressor cells obtained from mice bearing large (greater than 3 g) LLC-C3 tumors were nonadherent to nylon wool, sensitive to treatment with L-leucine methyl ester, insensitive to treatment with anti-Thy-1.2 and complement, and mediated their suppression through an indomethacin sensitive mechanism. Secretion of colony stimulating factor activity by the LLC-C3 cells could have induced the appearance of the bone marrow suppressor cells since normal bone marrow cells which were cultured in the presence of LLC-C3 culture supernatants had an increased proportion of monocytes and were suppressive to T-lymphocyte blastogenesis. Our results suggest that the colony stimulating factor activity produced by LLC-C3 cells stimulates hematopoiesis which, in turn, could result in the appearance of bone marrow suppressor cells.

Animals↗

Suppressor alveolar macrophages in mice bearing metastatic Lewis lung carcinoma tumors.

The capacity of alveolar macrophages from mice injected with a metastatic Lewis lung carcinoma variant, LLC-C3, to regulate T-cell Con A blastogenesis and NK cytotoxicity was studied. During the first 5 days after subcutaneous tumor injection, alveolar macrophages were stimulatory to Con A blastogenesis of normal spleen cells. After 5 days, the alveolar macrophages shifted to become suppressive. The suppressive activity was extensive by day 11, when the primary and metastatic tumor foci were first detectable. The tumor-bearer alveolar macrophages also suppressed NK cytotoxicity. Alveolar macrophage suppressive activity was sensitive to indomethacin, suggesting a prostaglandin-dependent suppressor mechanism. Suppression was not mediated by the production of hydrogen peroxide or superoxide, as it was insensitive to catalase or superoxide dismutase. When normal alveolar macrophages were cultured with LLC-C3 supernatants for over 12 hours, suppressive activity was induced. The results of these studies show that alveolar macrophages of tumor bearers become suppressive with progressive tumor growth and might, thus, facilitate the development of pulmonary metastases.

Animals↗

Stimulation of hematopoiesis and bone marrow suppressor cells by the subcutaneous injection of linoleic acid.

The effects of injection of linoleic acid into C57Bl/6 mice on hematopoietic and immunological parameters were examined. Administration of linoleic acid stimulated hematopoiesis as it increased spleen weight and cellularity, increased the number of bone marrow and splenic granulocytic-monocytic progenitor cells, and increased the colony stimulating factor activity in the serum of the treated mice. Associated with the hematopoietic stimulation in linoleic acid-treated mice was a decline in the spleen cell blastogenic responses and the appearance of bone marrow suppressor cells which were inhibitory to normal spleen cell blastogenesis. The linoleic acid-induced bone marrow suppressor cells resembled cells of the monocyte lineage in that they were sensitive to treatment with L-leucine methyl ester, partially sensitive to treatment with anti-Ia antibodies and complement, and their suppressor activity was minimized by indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor. These results suggest that administration of linoleic acid results in hematopoietic stimulation and, concurrently, in the appearance of suppressor cells in the bone marrow. The bone marrow suppressor cells resemble immature cells of the monocyte lineage and appear to mediate their suppressive effects through the production of prostaglandins.

Animals↗

The A+T-rich sequence of the simian virus 40 origin is essential for replication and is involved in bending of the viral DNA.

The origin-promoter region of simian virus 40 contains a 17-base-pair sequence composed exclusively of adenine (A) and thymine (T). We constructed a linker replacement mutant in which this stretch of A's and T's was reduced to 11 base pairs. While not affecting the level of early gene transcription, this mutation reduced the accumulation of viral DNA in COS cells at least 10(4) fold. In addition, a restriction fragment containing the wild-type A + T-rich region migrated in nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels with an anomalous mobility characteristic of bent DNA; however, the corresponding fragment from the mutant migrated less anomalously. Therefore, bending of the DNA in this region may play a role in some step in viral DNA replication.

Base Composition↗

Adhesiveness and morphology of Lewis lung carcinoma variants influence their sensitivity to natural killer cytolysis and their metastatic capacity.

Cloned metastatic Lewis lung carcinoma cells, C3, were more resistant to natural killer (NK) lysis than were nonmetastatic variant cells, C8. This was influenced by the tumor cell adhesiveness and morphology. When the nonadherent round C3 cells were cultured with dimethylsulfoxide, they became adherent and spread, sensitive to NK lysis and less metastatic. When the adherent and spread C8 cells were made nonadherent and round with cytochalasin B, they became more resistant to NK lysis and more metastatic. These metastatic differences were not observed in 3-week-old NK-deficient mice.

Animals↗

Stimulation of prostaglandin-dependent macrophage suppressor cells by the subcutaneous injection of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), in the form of pure linoleic, linolenic, or arachidonic acid, were injected subcutaneously into male C57Bl/6 mice daily for 10 days. Injection of 3.6 mg/day of PUFA resulted in up to a two- to threefold increase in spleen weight. Spleen cell response to mitogens was reduced by about 70%; mixed lymphocyte responses were reduced by about 90% when compared to normal values. In admixture experiments, spleen cells from PUFA treated mice suppressed the mitogen induced blastogenic response of control spleen cells by up to 90%. Fractionation of spleen cells from PUFA treated mice by G-10 adherence resulted in an enrichment of suppressive activity in the adherent cells. The suppressive effect of G-10 adherent cells was abolished by the addition of indomethacin as well as by depletion of macrophages by treatments with agents such as carbonyl iron and leucine methyl ester. These studies indicate that the administration of PUFA has marked immunosuppressive effects in mice. These effects may be related to increased prostaglandin production and appear to be mediated by a macrophage type cell.

Animals↗