Biomedical subjects
M Vance
Publications and source records attributed to M Vance.
Peptide T blocks GP120/CCR5 chemokine receptor-mediated chemotaxis.
We previously reported that certain short gp120 V2 region peptides homologous to vasaoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), such as "peptide T," were potent inhibitors of gp120 binding, infectivity, and neurotoxicity. The present study shows that synthetic V2-region-derived peptides have potent intrinsic chemotaxis agonist activity for human monocytes and also act as antagonists of high-affinity (0.1 pM) gp120-mediated monocyte chemotaxis. Selectivity is shown in that peptide T is more potent at suppressing M-tropic than T-tropic gp120 chemotaxis. Peptide T was also able to suppress monocyte chemotaxis to MIP-1beta, a chemokine with selectivity for CCR5 chemokine receptors, while chemotaxis of the more promiscuous ligand RANTES was not inhibited, nor was chemotaxis mediated by SDF-1alpha. In order to determine if peptide T mediated its gp120 antagonistic effects via modulation of CCR5 receptors, RANTES chemotaxis was studied using a CCR5 receptor-transfected HOS cell line. In this case, RANTES chemotaxis was potently inhibited by V2-region-derived short peptides. Peptide T also partially suppressed (125)I-MIP1-beta binding to human monocytes, suggesting action at a subset of MIP1-beta receptors. The V2 region of gp120 thus contains a potent receptor binding domain and synthetic peptides derived from this region modulate CCR5 chemokine receptor chemotactic signaling caused by either gp120 or chemokine ligands. The results have therapeutic implications and may explain recent clinical improvements, in that HIV/gp120 actions at CCR5 receptors, such as occur in the brain or early infection, would be susceptible to peptide T inhibition.
Life-threatening airway obstruction from rattlesnake bite to the tongue.
We describe the case of a 41-year-old man who suffered a bite to the tongue from the Western Diamondback rattlesnake (C atrox). Life-threatening obstruction of his upper airway secondary to massive edema of the tongue and other soft tissue structures quickly followed envenomation. Nasotracheal intubation, IV antivenin, and supportive care resulted in complete recovery with no permanent deficits. Rattlesnake bites to the tongue are rare and pose an unusual cause of airway obstruction.
Human pancreatic tumor GH-releasing factor.
Within the past year, three similar peptides with specific growth hormone (GH) releasing effects have been extracted from human tissue, identified, and synthesized. Human pancreatic tumor GH releasing factor (I-40)-OH (hpGRF-40) was the sole hpGRF isolated from the pancreatic tumor of a patient in Charlottesville and was the predominant peptide isolated from the pancreatic tumor of a patient in Lyon. The Lyon tumor also contained hpGRF(1-37)-OH and hpGRF(1-44)-NH2. Both immunological and biochemical data suggest that hpGRF-40 and hpGRF-44 are present in the human hypothalamus and may be the human GH releasing hormone(s) (GHRH). In cultures of rat pituitary cells, hpGRF stimulates GH but affects neither basal and dopamine-inhibited prolactin release nor basal and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)-stimulated luteinizing hormone (LH) release. hpGRF stimulates cyclic AMP production within seconds, an effect which is blocked by somatostatin. In contrast, while hpGRF stimulates phosphatidylinositol turnover in the pituitary, the effect is not inhibited by somatostatin. In the human, hpGRF-40 (1 microgram/kg) given intravenously (i.v.) stimulates GH release within 5 minutes. hpGRF-40 does not elevate serum prolactin levels, thyrotropin (TSH), LH, or corticotropin (measured indirectly through plasma cortisol), or blood glucose or plasma concentrations of insulin, glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide, cholecystokinin, gastrin, gastric inhibitory peptide, motilin, or somatostatin. When graded doses of hpGRF (0.1-10 micrograms/kg) are given i.v., no differences are noted in the maximal levels of serum GH achieved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
EMT-paramedic defined.
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Hydrogen sulphide-positive strains of Escherichia coli from swine.
Thirty-two H2S-positive strains of Escherichia coli, isolated from the caecal contents or mesenteric lymph nodes or both of 60 apparently healthy pigs, were characterized. Eighteen different serotypes and 18 different fermentative types were found. During conjugation with E. coli K12, four strains transferred their Hys plasmids linked to Raf, and another transferred Hys associated with the Tc determinant. All Hys-Raf plasmids belong to incompatibility group FI, whilst Tc-Hys is an Fi- plasmid.