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Biomedical subjects

P O Hasselgren

Publications and source records attributed to P O Hasselgren.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Patterns of morbidity and resource consumption associated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a VA medical center.

BACKGROUND: The generally low incidence of morbidity and reduced rate of health care resource consumption commonly associated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) have been established from studies of patient populations which are distinct from that served by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. We sought to assess the outcomes of this procedure when performed on VA beneficiaries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic and perioperative data for all patients undergoing attempted LC in our facility were recorded in a prospective database beginning 1 January 1993. The information in this registry was analyzed to determine the demographics of the treated population, the spectrum of biliary tract disease encountered, and patterns of morbidity and resource consumption. RESULTS: LC was attempted in 141 cases. Median patient age was 62 years. The indication for surgery was either acute cholecystitis or biliary pancreatitis in 63 cases (45%). Thirteen patients (9%) developed major complications. These patients were significantly older (mean age 68 vs 59 years) than patients whose course was uncomplicated. Twenty-seven cases (19%) required conversion to an open procedure, most commonly for acute cholecystitis. Progressive cholecystitis was associated with a conversion rate of 64%. Both conversion and the development of a major complication produced significant increases in length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: The population undergoing attempted LC in the VA system is characterized by relatively advanced age and high incidences of comorbid illness and complicated biliary tract disease. These attributes increase the frequency of major morbidity and of conversion to open cholecystectomy, which in turn increase resource consumption. Comparisons between the outcomes of attempted LC in VA centers and "benchmark" results obtained in other settings should be controlled for these factors.

Acute Disease

Complement component C3 production in IL-1beta-stimulated human intestinal epithelial cells is blocked by NF-kappaB inhibitors and by transfection with ser 32/36 mutant IkappaBalpha.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) stimulates the production of the acute phase protein complement component C3 in human intestinal epithelial cells. The transcription factor NF-kappaB activates different genes involved in the response to cytokines. It is not known if IL-1beta-induced C3 production in the enterocyte is regulated by NF-kappaB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cultured Caco-2 cells, a human intestinal epithelial cell line, were treated with one of the NF-kappaB inhibitors, tosyl-lys-chloromethylketone (TLCK), genistein, or pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), or with N-acetyl-leu-leu-norleucinal (LLnL), a proteasome inhibitor known to block the degradation of Ikappabeta, the cytosolic inhibitor of NF-kappaB. Following this treatment, the Caco-2 cells were stimulated with IL-1beta, and C3 levels in the culture medium were measured after 24 h by ELISA. C3 mRNA levels were determined after 4 h by Northern blot analysis. In other experiments, Caco-2 cells were transfected with a mutant IkappaBalpha in which serines 32 and 36 were substituted by alanine. This mutation prevents IkBalpha phosphorylation and subsequent NF-kappaB nuclear translocation. After transfection, the cells were stimulated with IL-1beta, and C3 levels in the culture medium were measured after 24 h. Cytosolic IkappaBalpha was determined by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: TLCK, genistein, and LLnL each inhibited IL-1beta-induced C3 production in a dose-dependent fashion. These responses were associated with decreased C3 mRNA levels. In contrast, PDTC did not influence C3 production or C3 mRNA in the Caco-2 cells. Transfection of the Caco-2 cells with the Ser 32/36 mutant IkBalpha resulted in maintained IkappaBalpha levels and decreased IL-beta-induced C3 production. CONCLUSIONS: IL-1beta-stimulated C3 production in the enterocyte may be regulated by NF-kappaB.

Base Sequence

Role of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in sepsis-induced muscle catabolism.

Several lines of evidence suggest that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is involved in sepsis-induced muscle catabolism. The gene expression of ubiquitin and several of the proteasome subunits was increased in muscle from both septic rats and patients. In other studies, the activity of isolated 20S proteasomes was stimulated in septic muscles. Sepsis-induced increase in muscle total and myofibrillar protein breakdown was inhibited with specific proteasome blockers. Although the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is upregulated in septic muscle, it is still unclear how the myofibrillar proteins actin and myosin are ubiquitinated and become substrates for the 26S proteasome. Recent studies suggest that a calcium-dependent, calpain-mediated process releases myofilaments from the Z-disks during sepsis. It is possible that this process exposes destabilizing N-terminal residues on actin and myosin, making them suitable substrates for the N-end rule pathway involving the 14 kD ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E214k and the ubiquitin-protein ligase E3alpha.

Animals

Sepsis is associated with increased ubiquitinconjugating enzyme E214k mRNA in skeletal muscle.

Previous studies provided evidence that sepsis is associated with increased ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent protein breakdown in skeletal muscle. The 14-kDa ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E214k) has been proposed to be a key regulator of the ubiquitin proteolytic pathway. We tested the hypothesis that E214k message and protein levels are increased in skeletal muscle during sepsis. Sepsis was induced in rats by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Control rats were sham operated. E214k mRNA and protein levels were quantitated after Northern and Western blot analysis, respectively, 16 h after CLP or sham operation. Sepsis resulted in a 70% increase in the 1. 2-kb E214k transcript in the fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus muscle, whereas no changes were seen in the slow-twitch soleus muscle. E214k protein levels were not influenced by sepsis in any of the muscles studied. Although the changes in the expression of the E214k 1.2-kb transcript paralleled the differential effect of sepsis on protein breakdown in fast- and slow-twitch muscle, the potential role of E214k in the regulation of sepsis-induced muscle proteolysis needs to be interpreted with caution, because the results demonstrated that increased message levels were not associated with increased E214k protein levels.

Animals

Nuclear factor-kappaB is activated in intestinal mucosa during endotoxemia.

BACKGROUND: The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) regulates a large number of genes involved in the inflammatory response to critical illness. The intestinal mucosa plays an active role in the inflammatory and metabolic response to sepsis and endotoxemia, but it is not known if NF-kappaB is activated in the mucosa during these conditions. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that endotoxemia in mice activates NF-kappaB in intestinal mucosa. METHODS: Mice were injected subcutaneously with lipopolysaccharide, 12.5 mg/kg, or a corresponding volume of saline. At various intervals following injection, jejunal mucosa was harvested and nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions were prepared. The nuclear fractions were analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay for NF-kappaB activation and by Western blot analysis for the NF-kappaB subunits p50 and p65. Cytoplasmic fractions were analyzed by Western blotting for the NF-kappaB inhibitory proteins IkappaB-alpha and IkappaB-beta. RESULTS: Electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that NF-kappaB was activated in jejunal mucosa 1 hour after injection of lipopolysaccharide and persisted for at least 4 hours. The NF-kappaB subunits p50 and p65 were present in nuclear fractions of mucosa from endotoxemic mice at the corresponding time points. Cytoplasmic levels of the inhibitory proteins IkappaB-alpha and IkappaB-beta decreased during endotoxemia, and the proteins were nearly absent 60 minutes after injection of lipopolysaccharide. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that IkappaB is degraded and NF-kappaB is activated in intestinal mucosa during endotoxemia. The findings support the concept that the intestinal mucosa is an important component of the inflammatory response to sepsis and endotoxemia.

Animals

Endotoxemia and IL-1 beta stimulate mucosal IL-6 production in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

BACKGROUND: In recent studies, sepsis and endotoxemia were associated with increased IL-6 production in mucosa of the jejunum. We tested the hypothesis that endotoxemia in mice stimulates mucosal IL-6 production in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract as well and that the enterocyte is a source of mucosal IL-6. In addition, we examined the effects of TNF alpha and IL-1 beta on mucosal IL-6 production. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endotoxin (12.5 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously in mice. Control mice were injected with a corresponding volume of sterile saline. After 4 h, IL-6 levels were determined in mucosa of stomach, jejunum, ileum, and colon and in plasma and liver. In a second series of experiments, immunohistochemistry was performed of jejunal mucosa to determine in which cell type IL-6 was expressed. Finally, 100 micrograms/kg of human recombinant TNF alpha or human recombinant IL-1 beta was injected intraperitoneally in mice and IL-6 levels were determined in plasma and tissues after 4 h. RESULTS: Endotoxemia resulted in increased mucosal IL-6 levels in small and large bowel but in reduced IL-6 levels in gastric mucosa. Immunohistochemistry of jejunal mucosa showed that IL-6 was expressed mainly in the enterocyte and in a few cells of the lamina propria. Treatment of mice with TNF alpha reduced IL-6 levels in gastric mucosa whereas IL-1 beta increased IL-6 levels in mucosa of small intestine. CONCLUSION: Mucosal IL-6 production during endotoxemia is differentially regulated along the gastrointestinal tract. Both TNF alpha and IL-1 beta may be involved in the regulation of gastrointestinal IL-6 production during endotoxemia.

Animals

Interleukin-6 production in human intestinal epithelial cells increases in association with the heat shock response.

BACKGROUND: In recent studies, IL-1beta stimulated the production of IL-6 in human enterocytes. The heat shock response influences the production of inflammatory mediators in certain cell types. We tested the hypothesis that heat shock regulates IL-1beta-induced IL-6 production in human intestinal epithelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cultured Caco-2 cells, a human intestinal epithelial cell line, were exposed to thermal heat shock at 43 degreesC for 1 h and recovered at 37 degreesC for 1 h. Cells were harvested for analysis of heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) production by Western blotting. In other experiments, IL-1beta (0.5 ng/ml) was added following heat shock and recovery. IL-6 protein was measured in culture medium after 24 h by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and IL-6 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were measured after 4 h by competitive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Heat shock resulted in the production of HSP-70 and potentiated IL-1beta-induced IL-6 production. The response to heat shock was associated with increased IL-6 mRNA levels. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that IL-1beta-induced IL-6 production in human enterocytes is increased in association with the heat shock response. The biological role of heat shock-potentiated IL-6 production in the enterocyte remains to be determined.

Caco-2 Cells

Sepsis: stimulation of energy-dependent protein breakdown resulting in protein loss in skeletal muscle.

Muscle catabolism is a characteristic metabolic response to sepsis, severe infection, and injury. In patients with severe and protracted sepsis, the catabolic response results in muscle wasting and fatigue, which may adversely affect the outcome in these patients. An understanding of the regulation of muscle protein breakdown during sepsis and the mechanisms involved is important from a clinical standpoint and is essential for the development of new therapeutic modalities to prevent protein loss from muscle tissue. Studies in septic patients and experimental animals have provided evidence that the myofibrillar proteins actin and myosin are particularly sensitive to the effects of sepsis. Among the factors that regulate muscle protein breakdown during sepsis, the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1, together with glucocorticoids, are the principal mediators. Intracellular protein breakdown is regulated by multiple proteolytic pathways. Among these, the energy-ubiquitin-dependent pathway accounts for a major portion of muscle protein breakdown during sepsis. The development of specific proteasome inhibitors may make it possible in the future to target the molecular mechanisms of sepsis-induced increase in muscle proteolysis. Such treatment may prove an important avenue to reduce the metabolic cost in patients with severe infection or sepsis.

Energy Metabolism

Dexamethasone stimulates proteasome- and calcium-dependent proteolysis in cultured L6 myotubes.

The effect of dexamethasone on protein degradation and the involvement of different proteolytic pathways were examined in cultured L6 myotubes. Treatment of the cells with dexamethasone resulted in an approximately 20% increase in protein degradation at a hormone concentration of 10(-7) to 10(-6) M. By using various proteolytic blockers, evidence was found that the dexamethasone-induced increase in protein breakdown mainly reflected energy-proteasome-dependent proteolysis and to a lesser extent calcium-dependent protein breakdown. In contrast, the hormone treatment did not increase lysosomal proteolysis. mRNA levels for cathepsin B, ubiquitin, and the proteasome subunit C3 were increased by dexamethasone. The results suggest that glucocorticoids stimulate calcium and energy-proteasome-dependent muscle proteolysis and that changes in mRNA levels for proteolytic enzymes do not necessarily reflect the involvement of different proteolytic pathways.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Sepsis-induced increase in muscle proteolysis is blocked by specific proteasome inhibitors.

Recent studies suggest that sepsis stimulates ubiquitin-dependent protein breakdown in skeletal muscle. The 20S proteasome is the catalytic core of the ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic pathway. We tested the effects in vitro of the proteasome inhibitors N-acetyl-L-leucinyl-L-leucinal-L-norleucinal (LLnL) and lactacystin on protein breakdown in incubated muscles from septic rats. LLnL resulted in a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of protein breakdown in muscles from septic rats. Lactacystin blocked both total and myofibrillar muscle protein breakdown. In addition to inhibiting protein breakdown, LLnL reduced muscle protein synthesis and increased ubiquitin mRNA levels, probably reflecting inhibited proteasome-associated ribonuclease activity. Inhibited muscle protein breakdown caused by LLnL or lactacystin supports the concept that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays a central role in sepsis-induced muscle proteolysis. The results suggest that muscle catabolism during sepsis may be inhibited by targeting specific molecular mechanisms of muscle proteolysis.

Acetylcysteine

IGF-I stimulates protein synthesis but does not inhibit protein breakdown in muscle from septic rats.

Sepsis is associated with reduced protein synthesis and increased protein degradation in skeletal muscle. We examined the effects of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on protein synthesis and breakdown in muscles from nonseptic and septic rats. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture; control rats were sham operated. Extensor digitorum longus muscles were incubated in the absence or presence of IGF-I at concentrations ranging from 100 ng/ml to 10 micrograms/ml. Total and myofibrillar protein breakdown rates were measured as net release of tyrosine and 3-methylhistidine, respectively. Protein synthesis was determined by measuring incorporation of [U-14C]phenylalanine into protein. IGF-I stimulated protein synthesis in a dose-dependent fashion in muscles from both sham-operated and septic rats, with a maximal effect seen at a hormone concentration between 500 and 1,000 ng/ml. IGF-I inhibited total and myofibrillar protein breakdown in muscles from sham-operated rats, whereas in muscles from septic rats, IGF-I had no effect on protein breakdown, even at high concentrations. The results suggest that protein breakdown in skeletal muscle becomes resistant to IGF-I during sepsis and that this resistance reflects a postreceptor defect.

Animals

Treatment of burned rats with insulin-like growth factor I inhibits the catabolic response in skeletal muscle.

Thermal injury is associated with a pronounced catabolic response in skeletal muscle, reflecting inhibited protein synthesis and increased protein breakdown, in particular myofibrillar protein breakdown. Administration of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) has a nitrogen-sparing effect after burn injury, but the influence of this treatment on protein turnover rates in skeletal muscle is not known. In the present study, we examined the effect of IGF-I on muscle protein synthesis and breakdown rates following burn injury in rats. After a 30% total body surface area burn injury or sham procedure, rats were treated with a continuous infusion of IGF-I (3. 5 or 7 mg . kg-1 . 24 h-1) for 24 h. Protein synthesis and breakdown rates were determined in incubated extensor digitorum longus muscles. Burn injury resulted in increased total and myofibrillar protein breakdown rates and reduced protein synthesis in muscle. The increase in protein breakdown rates was blocked by both doses of IGF-I and the burn-induced inhibition of muscle protein synthesis was partially reversed by the higher dose of the hormone. IGF-I did not influence muscle protein turnover rates in nonburned rats. The results suggest that the catabolic response to burn injury in skeletal muscle can be inhibited by IGF-I.

Amino Acids

Endotoxemia in mice stimulates production of complement C3 and serum amyloid A in mucosa of small intestine.

We examined the effect of endotoxemia in mice on protein and mRNA levels for the acute phase proteins complement C3 and serum amyloid A (SAA) in jejunal mucosa. Endotoxemia was induced in mice by the subcutaneous injection of 250 microg lipopolysaccharide per mouse. Control mice were injected with saline. C3 and SAA were measured by ELISA. Messenger RNA levels were determined by Northern blot analysis or competitive PCR. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine in which cell type(s) C3 and SAA were present. Mucosal C3 and SAA protein and mRNA levels were increased in endotoxemic mice. Immunohistochemistry showed that C3 was present in both enterocytes and cells of the lamina propria, whereas SAA was seen mainly in lamina propria cells. Results suggest that endotoxemia stimulates production of C3 and SAA in small intestinal mucosa. The response may be regulated at the transcriptional level and probably reflects increased synthesis of the acute phase proteins in both enterocytes and cells of the lamina propria.

Animals

Sepsis in mice stimulates muscle proteolysis in the absence of IL-6.

We tested the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in sepsis-induced muscle proteolysis by determining ubiquitin mRNA levels and protein breakdown rates in incubated extensor digitorum longus muscles from septic and sham-operated IL-6 knockout and wild-type mice. In addition, the effect of treatment of mice with human recombinant IL-6 on muscle protein breakdown rates was determined. Finally, protein breakdown rates were measured in myotubes treated for up to 48 h with different concentrations of IL-6. Sepsis in wild-type mice resulted in an approximately ninefold increase in plasma IL-6 levels, whereas IL-6 was not detectable in plasma of sham-operated or septic IL-6 knockout mice. Total and myofibrillar muscle protein breakdown rates were increased by approximately 30% and threefold, respectively, in septic IL-6 wild-type mice with an almost identical response noted in septic IL-6 knockout mice. Ubiquitin mRNA levels determined by dot blot analysis were increased during sepsis in muscles from both IL-6 knockout and wild-type mice, although the increase was less pronounced in IL-6 knockout than in wild-type mice. Treatment of normal mice or of cultured L6 myotubes with IL-6 did not influence protein breakdown rates. The present results suggest that IL-6 does not regulate muscle proteolysis during sepsis.

Animals

The molecular regulation of protein breakdown following burn injury is different in fast- and slow-twitch skeletal muscle.

We compared the effect of burn injury on the energy-ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic pathway in the fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and the slow-twitch soleus muscle in rats. Rats were subjected to a 30% total body surface area full-thickness burn or sham procedure. At various time points after injury, total and myofibrillar protein breakdown rates were determined in incubated EDL and soleus muscles. The energy-dependent component of protein break-down was determined by incubating muscles in energy-depleting medium. Messenger RNA levels for ubiquitin and RC3, a 20S proteasome subunit, were measured by Northern blot analysis. Burn injury resulted in an approximately 50% increase in total protein breakdown and a 3-4 fold increase in myofibrillar protein breakdown in EDL muscles, and this response reflected increased energy-dependent protein breakdown. In contrast, protein breakdown rates were not significantly influenced by the burn injury in soleus muscles. Ubiquitin mRNA levels were increased almost 10-fold in EDL and approximately 4.5-fold in soleus muscles following burn injury. Burn injury resulted in a 2-fold increase in RC3 mRNA in EDL with no significant changes noted in soleus muscles. The results suggest that the more pronounced effect of burn injury on protein breakdown in fast-twitch than in slow-twitch muscle may reflect different regulation of proteolysis at the molecular level.

Animals

Proteasome blockers inhibit protein breakdown in skeletal muscle after burn injury in rats.

1. Burn injury stimulates ubiquitin-dependent protein breakdown in skeletal muscle. The 20S proteasome is the proteolytic core of the 26S proteasome that degrades ubiquitin conjugates. We examined the effects of the proteasome inhibitors N-acetyl-L-leucinyl-L-leucinal-L-norleucinal (LLnL), lactacystin and beta-lactone on protein breakdown in muscles from burned rats. 2. A full-thickness burn of 30% total body surface area was inflicted on the back of rats. Control rats underwent a sham procedure. After 24 h, extensor digitorum longus muscles were incubated in the absence or presence of 20S proteasome blocker and protein turnover rates and ubiquitin mRNA levels were determined. 3. LLnL resulted in a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of total protein breakdown in incubated muscles from burned rats. Lactacystin and beta-lactone blocked both total and myofibrillar muscle protein breakdown. In addition to inhibiting protein breakdown, LLnL increased ubiquitin mRNA levels, possibly reflecting inhibited proteasome-associated RNase activity. 4. Inhibited muscle protein breakdown caused by LLnL, lactacystin and beta-lactone supports the concept that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays a central role in burn-induced muscle proteolysis. Because the proteasome has multiple important functions in the cell, in addition to regulating general protein breakdown, further studies are needed to test the role of proteasome blockers in the treatment or prevention of muscle catabolism.

Acetylcysteine

Sepsis is associated with increased mRNAs of the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway in human skeletal muscle.

Previous studies provided evidence that sepsis-induced muscle proteolysis in experimental animals is caused by increased ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent protein breakdown. It is not known if a similar mechanism accounts for muscle proteolysis in patients with sepsis. We determined mRNA levels for ubiquitin and the 20 S proteasome subunit HC3 by Northern blot analysis in muscle tissue from septic (n = 7) and non-septic (n = 11) patients. Plasma and muscle amino acid concentrations and concentrations in urine of 3-methylhistidine (3-MH), creatinine, and cortisol were measured at the time of surgery to assess the catabolic state of the patients. A three- to fourfold increase in mRNA levels for ubiquitin and HC3 was noted in muscle tissue from the septic patients concomitant with increased muscle levels of phenylalanine and 3-MH and reduced levels of glutamine. Total plasma amino acids were decreased by approximately 30% in the septic patients. The 3-MH/creatinine ratio in urine was almost doubled in septic patients. The cortisol levels in urine were higher in septic than in control patients but this difference did not reach statistical significance. The results suggest that sepsis is associated with increased mRNAs of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in human skeletal muscle.

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