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Biomedical subjects

P Guerrieri

Publications and source records attributed to P Guerrieri.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Characterisation of a human glioblastoma cell line (LI) expressing hypothalamic and pituitary hormones.

The human glioblastoma cell line LI showed morphological features typical of its neuroectodermal origin. Cells were positive by immunofluorescence to GFAP, MHC class II, and L1 determinants. Cytogenetic analysis showed the presence of a modal chromosome number of 63, ranging from 58 to 69 chromosomes (DNA index was 1.6). Northern blot analysis demonstrated the presence of mRNA transcripts specific for transglutaminase C (type II or "tissue"), growth-hormone releasing-hormone (GHRH), insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II), and proopiomelanocortin (POMC). The GHRH mRNA was present in two different sizes, one similar to the normal hypothalamic species of 0.75 kb, whilst the second species was a large transcript of approximately 10 kb size. Treatment with 5 microM retinoic acid or 5 mM alpha-difluoromethylornithine for 5 days sharply reduced the growth rate and also induced modulation of the ultrastructure and antigenic profile. This cell line may be useful to study glial differentiation and the relationship of GHRH, IGF-II and POMC expression with differentiation in neuroectodermal tumours.

Blotting, Northern↗

Redox buffering ability of lymphoid cells evaluated by the oxidation of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin.

The redox buffering activity of several lymphoid cells against endogenous and exogenous H2O2 has been evaluated using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH2-DA). The mechanism of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin (DCFH2) oxidation has also been investigated. It was found that while the oxidation by external H2O2 is completely inhibited by azide or cyanide, the oxidation by endogenous species is still present, even under anaerobic conditions. The data herein reported indicate that autoxidation and peroxidation of DCFH2 are distinct reactions. Hence only by addition of increasing concentrations of exogenous hydrogen peroxide, the fluorescence of DCF can be used to evaluate the cellular ability of scavenging H2O2. By this method we have found that the erythroleukaemia cell line K562 and promyelocytic line HL-60 show a faster rate of DCFH2 oxidation than peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL), mature T-cells (MOLT-3 and MOLT-4) and B-cells (DAUDI). Using this method the balance between antioxidant enzymes activity and the redox state of the cell can be easily assessed by fluorescence both in single cells and in cell populations.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Effects of dimethylsulfoxide on Friend erythroleukemic cell proliferation and on the activity of enzymes involved in this process.

Variations in catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GP) and adenylate cyclase (AC) activity in murine erythroleukemic (MEL) cells were studied during multiplication and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)-induced differentiation. The results demonstrated that, although DMSO favors the incorporation of 3H-thymidine into DNA of treated cells, it slows down cell multiplication. Increased incorporation was also observed in superoxide dismutase (SOD)-treated cells. DMSO also determined an early and significant drop in AC activity and a late fall in catalase activity, whereas there was no significant variation in GP activity in parallel with the decreased cell multiplication that accompanied cell differentiation. We hypothesize that DMSO and SOD favor 3H-thymidine incorporation by neutralizing the reactive forms of oxygen and that the reduction in catalase and AC activity is closely related to the mitotic activity of MEL cells.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Antioxidant enzymes and proliferative activity of cell lines of different origin.

The effects of catalase treatment were studied in two in vitro passaged ascites tumour lines (ATP C+ and EAT) and in three in vitro established human myeloid leukemia cell lines (HL-60; KG-1; KG-1a) characterized by the arrest of cells at different stages of maturation. The results demonstrate that catalase treatment favoured proliferation in the in vitro passaged ascites tumour cells, but not in the in vitro established leukemia lines. Enzyme assays on five in vitro cell lines revealed that catalase was only present in HL-60. Although glutathione peroxidase activity was initially found in all five cell lines, it disappeared from two ascites tumour cells when they were transferred in culture. It is hypothesized that catalase treatment favours ascites tumour cell proliferation because it replaces glutathione peroxidase in eliminating H2O2.

Catalase↗

The role of antioxidant enzymes in benzo(a)pyrene-induced carcinogenesis.

Chick embryo hepatocytes were cultured in the presence of benzo(a)pyrene in order to study the effects of this carcinogen on catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity. The results demonstrate that benzo(a)pyrene is incapable of modifying the activity of these enzymes, even though it is taken up by cultured cells to form benzo(a)pyrene-DNA adducts. The effect of culturing, however, caused a marked reduction in the activity of these enzymes. The significance of these activity variations in benzo(a)pyrene in vitro carcinogenesis is discussed.

Animals↗

Possible role of certain antioxidant enzymes in dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver carcinogenesis.

An investigation was carried out to establish whether the reduction in catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity, normally observed in liver tumours, is an early event and therefore of pathogenetic importance, or whether it is a late occurrence. Experiments performed on dimethylnitrosamine-treated hepatectomized and non-hepatectomized rats show that the decrease in activity of these enzymes is entirely due to hepatectomy, since the tumour-inducing doses of dimethylnitrosamine failed to provoke variations in the activity of these enzymes, in either normal or regenerating liver.

Animals↗

Replicative behaviour of ascites tumour cells transplanted in BALB C mice of different sex.

The present research demonstrates that cells from an ascites tumour (ATP C+) multiply more actively in the peritoneum of male mice, provided they are maintained alive in this environment for long periods of time by weekly transplants in animals of the same sex. Solid tumours obtained by inoculating ATP C+ cells, removed from the peritoneum of male mice, into the subcutaneous dorsal region of castrated male mice, grew more rapidly than those obtained by inoculating the same cells removed from the peritoneum of female mice, always provided that the cells had been passaged at length in animals of the same sex. Cytogenetical studies of these two cell subpopulations revealed that cells reproduced for 2 years in males had a less stabile karyotype and a greater incidence of acrocentric associations.

Animals↗

Different behaviour of normal and neoplastic cells cultured in vitro in the presence of catalase and superoxide dismutase.

Chicken embryo fibroblasts and hepatocytes were studied in the presence of catalase and superoxide dismutase in order to establish whether these enzymes had the capacity to favour cell multiplication as previously shown for in vitro tumour ascites cells (ATP C+). The results indicate that, unlike ATP C+ cells, both fibroblasts and hepatocytes are inhibited in their multiplication by superoxide dismutase. Similar effects are exerted on hepatocytes by catalase, whereas the multiplication of fibroblasts is favoured by high doses of this enzyme. Enzyme determinations revealed high levels of catalase and superoxide dismutase in hepatocytes, whereas both enzymes were poor in fibroblasts and ATP C+.

Animals↗

Antagonism between catalase and ascorbic acid in control of normal and neoplastic cell multiplication.

The authors studied the effects of a treatment with ascorbic acid on in vitro multiplication of ascites tumour cells (ATP C+), of fibroblast-like cells and of hepatocytes from chick embryos, by measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. The results obtained show that the ATP C+ cells are the most sensitive to the toxic effects of the experimental treatment, while the hepatocytes are the most resistant cell population. A treatment with catalase was able to greatly reduce the damage caused by ascorbic acid on the ATP C+ cells. It is hypothesized that ascorbic acid inhibits cell multiplication by the H2O2 formed by its oxidation and that the cells having the highest level of catalase are more resistant to its toxic effects.

Animals↗

Inhibition of the binding of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene to DNA by ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione and cysteine in chick embryo cells cultured in vitro.

A study on the capacity of ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione and cysteine to interfere with 3H-7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (3H-DMBA) binding to DNA in cultured fibroblast-like cells from 11-day-old chick embryos showed that, although the total amount of 3H-DMBA in the treated cells was greater than in the untreated cells, the DNA-bound 3H-DMBA was less. Comparisons between the various experimental groups demonstrated that the greater 3H-DMBA in the ascorbic acid-, reduced glutathione-, and cysteine-treated groups could not be attributed to an initially higher number of cells, nor to a treatment-induced increase in DNA synthesis. It is proposed that the three substances examined inhibit the oxidative degradation of 3H-DMBA, thereby favoring its accumulation within the cell and reducing the formation of DNA-binding metabolites.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Influence of sexual hormones on solid tumor growth and ATP C+ cell replication.

Solid tumors obtained by implanting ATP C+ cells subcutaneously into the back of BALB/cf/Had/Se substrain mice developed more rapidly in males than females. Experiments conducted on gonadectomized animals demonstrated that female gonads inhibit the development of this tumor. Studies on ATP C+ cells cultured in vitro with various doses of male and female hormones showed that mainly progesterone, but to a lesser extent also estradiol, significantly inhibit cell proliferation with respect to testosterone. The treatment of normal and gonadectomized animals with testosterone and progesterone confirms the results obtained in vitro. Analyses carried out on ATP C+ cells do not reveal presence of estradiol and progesterone receptors.

Animals↗

Effects of ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acid on the multiplication of tumor ascites cells in vitro.

The effects of AA and DHA on ATP C+ cell multiplication in vitro were studied by measuring incorporation of 3H thymidine into DNA. The results obtained demonstrate that both AA and DHA have the same effects: they favor cell multiplication at low doses and inhibit it at high doses. Experiments carried out with serial doses of both these substances revealed that AA is more efficient in determining both stimulating and inhibiting effects. The lesser efficiency of DHA may be attributed to its limited stability in culture medium. Studies on the effect of high doses of AA and DHA added to the culture medium in single or fractionated doses revealed that fractionated administration is more efficient in inhibiting cell multiplication than single administration.

Animals↗

[Further information on fish parasites from Lake Trasimeno. II. Observations on the population of Scardinius erythrophthalmus L].

An investigation was carried out to identify the actual state of parasitism in the Scardinius erythrophthalmus L. population of Trasimeno lake (Umbria, Italy). Seasonal samples of fishes were taken in different points of the litoral and pelagic zones. The parasites found, together with the somatometric values and the characteristics of their localizations are reported. It has been found: a high number of infested specimens; eleven species of parasites, of which five were not yet known to be in the lake; frequency variations of certain species. The species of parasites observed are distributed in the Paleartic region. The five species, whose presence was not known in the lake, are considered to be allochtonous. The organs most frequently involved were, in descending order, the gills, the ureters, the gonads, the intestinal and mesenteric serous membranes, the liver. The most marked histologic alterations and reactions were observed as a consequence of Ergasilus sieboldi Nord. action and, in several cases, with the presence of Ligula intestinalis L. larvae.

Animals↗

[Current state of fish parasites in lake Trasimeno. I. Observations on the Tinca tinca L. population].

An investigation was carried out to identify the actual state of parasitism in the Tinca tinca population of Trasimeno lake (Umbria, Italy). It has been found: a high number of infested specimens, eleven species of parasites, of which four were not yet known to be in the lake, frequency variations of certain species, the absence of others that in the past were present. The species of parasites observed are, in various ways, distributed in the Paleartic region. Some are considered to be of allochthonous origin. The organs most frequently involved were the gills and the ureters followed by the intestine and the liver.

Animals↗