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Biomedical subjects

P Franchimont

Publications and source records attributed to P Franchimont.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Breast cyst fluid proteins and breast cancer.

A specific breast cyst fluid protein was purified by the following steps: ultracentrifugation, gel filtration, DEAE and Con A chromatography, and gel filtration with guanidine, 6 M. The protein was pure, having a molecular weight of 17,800 daltons on SDS-PAGE and 68,000 daltons on gel filtration. The GCDFP 17,800 is immunologically distinct from other breast cyst fluid components and known milk and plasma proteins. A specific radioimmunoassay was developed and used to determine GCDFP 17,800 in 158 samples of breast cancer cytosol. The GCDFP 17,800 levels were significantly different between grade I tumors (mean of 813 ng protein per mg +/- 430 SEM) and grade III tumors (mean 184 ng protein per mg +/- 59 SEM) and were correlated with progesterone receptor values in postmenopausal women (Spearman's correlation, p = 0.03) but not in premenopausal women. The value of GCDFP 17,800 did not differ between the pre- and the postmenopausal women. By immunocytochemistry the intracellular localization of the GCDFP 17,800 was also found in relation to tumor grading and in correlation with PR values. GCDFP 17,800 appears as a hormone-induced protein of the breast cells. Its intracellular detection by means of radiolabeling allows a more sensitive and precise evaluation of the hormone-dependence of the breast cancer cells and emphasizes the heterogeneity of the tumor cell population.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1986

Effect of mouse epidermal growth factor on DNA and protein synthesis, progesterone and inhibin production by bovine granulosa cells in culture.

The effect of mouse epidermal growth factor (EGF) was investigated on DNA and protein synthesis, progesterone and inhibin production by bovine antral granulosa cells. When incubated for the whole period of culture, EGF inhibited inhibin production the second day of culture, progesterone the third and the fourth days whereas it stimulated DNA and protein synthesis only the fourth day of culture. Inhibition of progesterone and stimulation of DNA and protein were dose-dependent when treatment with EGF (pre-incubation) is followed by 24 h without EGF, a stimulatory effect on DNA and protein synthesis was observed after 48 and 72-h pre-incubation. Progesterone was reduced after 3 day pre-incubation and inhibin only after 2-day pre-incubation. Effects observed after 3-day pre-incubation were dose-dependent. These experiments demonstrated the stimulatory effect of EGF on growth of granulosa cells and its inhibitory action on hormonal production by these cells in vitro. The inhibitory effect on progesterone and inhibin production is more precocious than stimulatory effect on DNA and protein synthesis. The inhibitory action of EGF on granulosa cell production of progesterone and inhibin could thus be not directly dependent on its stimulatory action on DNA synthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Hypothalamic GnRH-like bioactivity and immunoreactivity in prepubertal and adult male rats.

In prepubertal (21-days old) and adult (50-days old) male rats, the immunological and biological properties of GnRH-like material extracted from the hypothalamus were studied. At both ages, hypothalamic material and synthetic GnRH resulted in a parallel inhibition of the binding of labelled GnRH to 2 different anti-GnRH antisera (As I and As II). Using both antisera, a similar amount of immunoreactivity was measured in several extracts from 50-day hypothalami. In contrast, hypothalamic extracts obtained at 21 days contained a greater immunoreactivity using As II than using As I. This discrepancy was only observed with the hypothalamic content whereas the immunoreactivity released in vitro was similar with the two antisera at both ages studied. Filtration of hypothalamic extracts on biogel P2 revealed two immunoreactive fractions, the major one being eluted as the synthetic decapeptide and showing a similar immunoreactivity using both antisera. A high molecular weight fraction was proportionally predominant in 21-day extracts and showed a greater immunoreactivity using As II than using As I. The biopotency of the hypothalamic extracts upon rat pituitary cells in vitro was similar at the two ages but around 30 times higher than the bioactivity expected for the immunoreactivity. We conclude that the heterogeneous physicochemical and immunological nature of hypothalamic GnRH is different before and after sexual maturation in the male rat, whereas the bioactivity, although much greater than expected, is similar at both ages.

Aging↗
PubMed1986

[Influence of gonadotropins on inhibin secretion].

Inhibin is produced by Sertoli cells in the male and by granulosa cells in the female. Follicular-stimulating hormone acts directly to stimulate production whereas luteinizing hormone exerts an indirect effect by stimulating production of androgens which themselves activate synthesis and release of inhibin. Prolactin has no effect on inhibin. These interpretations, derived from numerous in vivo and in vitro studies, explain why inhibin is not secreted in the hypophysectomized animal. Interruption of spermatogenesis by ligature of deferens canals, by experimental cryptorchidism in the rat, and in human primary azoospermias, provokes a reduction in production of inhibin and an increased secretion of FSH. The second must be the consequence of the first. Restoration of normal spermatogenesis results in normal production of inhibin. Biochemical mechanisms linking spermatogenesis and inhibin production are still unknown.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Presence of alpha-lactalbumin, epidermal growth factor, epithelial membrane antigen, and gross cystic disease fluid protein (15,000 daltons) in breast cyst fluid.

The frequency of gross cystic breast disease in premenopausal women and its possible association with increased breast cancer risk emphasize the importance of investigations relating to breast cyst fluid composition. In order to contribute to a better analysis of this medium, we have measured four proteins the presence of which in human milk was well documented. Breast cyst fluid specimens from 266 breast cyst disease patients were assayed and compared as to concentrations of alpha-lactalbumin, gross cystic disease fluid protein (GCDFP-15), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA). All the analyzed cyst fluids contained GCDFP-15, EMA, and EGF whereas alpha-lactalbumin was detected in only 14.2% of fluids assayed. Positive correlations were observed between GCDFP-15 and EMA concentrations (P less than 0.005), as well as GCDFP-15 and EGF concentrations (P less than 0.0005). The cyst fluid GCDFP-15 and EGF levels were higher when alpha-lactalbumin concentrations were below detection limits. This association was statistically significant for GCDFP-15 (P less than 0.03) and for EGF (P less than 0.001). These results suggest that GCDFP-15 and EMA could be the biochemical expression of apocrine metaplasia and epithelial hyperplasia, respectively, two histopathological features which characterize breast cystic disease. On the other hand, the occasional presence of alpha-lactalbumin in the cyst fluid would reflect the persistence of differentiated cells in the epithelium surrounding the cyst and would be inversely proportional to the degree of cellular proliferation. The omnipresence of EGF in the cyst fluid argues for the hypothesis of its production by the mammary gland. The highly significant relationship between GCDFP-15 and EGF levels in the medium remains to be elucidated but may be related to an androgen sensitivity in the breast epithelium surrounding the cyst.

Apolipoproteins↗
PubMed1985

Treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis with slow intravenous injections of thymopentin. A double-blind placebo-controlled randomised study.

41 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis entered a placebo-controlled double-blind randomised study in which 21 received slow intravenous injections (given in fractions over 10 min) of thymopentin (TP-5) 50 mg 3 times a week for 3 consecutive weeks and 20 received placebo in the same way. After 3 weeks of treatment the TP-5 group showed improvement (p less than 0.05 or p less than 0.01) in all but one of the clinical variables tested. There was improvement in the number of joints painful at rest, the number of joints painful on motion, scores for tenderness on pressure and swollen joints, severity of pain on awakening and morning stiffness, and right-hand grip strength; left-hand grip strength remained unchanged. In the placebo group, only morning stiffness improved significantly. The intergroup comparisons showed that thymopentin was significantly better than placebo in reducing tenderness, joint swelling, severity of pain on awakening, and disease activity. 4 weeks after the end of the TP-5 therapy, the improvement was still present although there was a trend towards relapses. No significant modifications occurred in any of the laboratory variables tested and only minor side-effects were experienced by either group.

Adult↗