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Biomedical subjects

Q Huang

Publications and source records attributed to Q Huang.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

[Clinical significance of changes of urinary enzymes in pregnancy induced hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical significance of changes of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and lysozyme in random urine sample in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). METHODS: The concentration of NAG was measured by oronitrophenol spectrophotometric methods, and the concentration of lysozyme by agar plate diffusion method. Random urine samples from 266 pregnant women were examined, 110 cases were normal pregnant women, 156 cases were PIH patients. RESULTS: (1) The level of NAG and lysozyme in moderate and severe PIH patients were significantly higher than that in mild PIH patients and normal pregnant women (P < 0.01) and it increased with the severity of disease. (2) There was a positive correlation between NAG and protein/creatinine (Pr/Cr) ratio in random urine. (3) There was a positive correlation between urinary lysozyme and serum beta 2-microglobulin (r = 0.874, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Determination of urinary NAG and lysozyme levels will differentiate various states of PIH.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

[Determinations of antiovarian antibodies and cellular immunity functions in patients with premature ovarian failure].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the variations of cellular immunity function and its relationship with antiovarian antibodies (AOAb) in patients with premature ovarian failure (POF). METHODS: Serum AOAb, T-lymphocyte subsets and leukocyteprocoagulant activity (LPCA) to ovarian antigens of peripheral blood were examined in 30 normal women (control group) and 30 patients with POF (POF group). RESULTS: The mean serum AOAb level in POF group was significantly higher than that in control group (6.80 +/- 1.9 kU/L vs 1.39 +/- 0.72 kU/L, P < 0.01). The percentage of CD3+, CD4+ cells increased significantly (65.42 +/- 5.31% and 44.79 +/- 5.90%, respectively), the percentage of CD8- cells was significantly lower (25.63 +/- 4.26%) and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ increased (1.66 +/- 0.27) in POF group when compared with control group (P < 0.01). The positive rate of AOAb in patients who had elevated ratio of CD4+/CD8+ was significantly higher than those with normal CD4+/CD8+ ratio (85.7%, 18/21 vs 3/9; P < 0.01). The level of LPCA was elevated in POF patients with positive AOAb, and was correlated positively with the level of AOAb (chi 2 = 8.378, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that cellular immunity and humoral immunity to ovarian antigens can be concurrently produced in POF patients, and suggested that pathogenesis of POF may be associated with immune factors.

Adult↗

[Development of genetically engineered chimeric and single chain antibodies against human brain glioma: a preliminary report].

In order to improve the clinical usefulness of mAb of mouse origin in targeting diagnosis and therapy for human brain glioma, it is necessary to humanize it and reduce its molecular size. By means of RT-PCR technique, a 348 bp heavy chain variable domain (VH), and a 318 bp light chain variable domains (VL) cDNA fragments were cloned from mouse hybridoma cell line SZ39 secreting mAb against human brain glioma. By recombinant DNA technique, the two cDNA fragments were linked to human IgG1 heavy chain CH1 and light chain kappa constant regions, respectively, to form a chimeric gene which was then inserted into an expression vector pHEN1-SZ39 Fab/Hu. In addition, the two cDNA fragments were connected directly with a universal linker and inserted to an expression vector pHEN1-SZ39 ScFv. The two expression vectors were separately introduced into E. coli HB2151 to secrete chimeric antibodies and single-clain antibodies, respectively. On ELISA and Western blot, the two genetically engineered antibodies bond to the same 180,000 cell surface membrane antigen on human brain glioma cell line SHG44 as did the parental mAb SZ39.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

De novo generation of defective interfering-like RNAs in broad bean mottle bromovirus.

Broad been mottle virus (BBMV) is the only member of the bromoviruses that is known to accumulate defective-interfering (DI) RNAs (Romero et al., Virology 194, 576-584, 1993). De novo generation of DI-like RNAs was demonstrated during serial passages of BBMV in broad bean using either DI RNA-free virion RNA preparations or transcribed genomic RNA inocula. As for previously described DI RNAs, all but one of the characterized de novo generated DI-like RNAs were derived by a single in-frame deletion from the RNA2 component. The sole exception was derived by two shorter in-frame deletions from RNA2. The maintenance of an open reading frame by all DI-like RNAs suggests the importance of coding capacity and/or the shortened 2a protein in the accumulation of these RNAs during infection. The deletion junction sites were between nucleotides 1152 and 2366, suggesting that the retained regions are essential for the efficient accumulation of BBMV DI-like RNAs in planta. Short regions of sequence similarity and/or complementarity were revealed at the 5' and 3' junction borders. We speculate that these regions can facilitate DI (DI-like) RNA formation. In addition to DI-like RNAs, the full-length nucleotide sequences of RNA2 components of the Type and Morocco strains of BBMV are presented.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Transformation of mammalian cells by overexpressing H2O2-generating peroxisomal fatty acyl-CoA oxidase.

Peroxisome proliferators induce qualitatively predictable pleiotropic responses, including development of hepatocellular carcinomas in rats and mice despite the inability of these compounds to interact with and damage DNA directly. In view of the nongenotoxic nature of peroxisome proliferators, it has been postulated that hepatocarcinogenesis by this class of chemicals is due to a receptor-mediated process leading to transcriptional activation of H2O2-generating peroxisomal fatty acyl-CoA oxidase (ACOX) in liver. To test this hypothesis, we overexpressed rat ACOX in African green monkey kidney cells (CV-1 cells) under control of the cytomegalovirus promoter. A stably transfected CV-1 cell line overexpressing rat ACOX, designated CV-ACOX4, when exposed to a fatty acid substrate (150 microM linoleic acid) for 2-6 weeks, formed transformed foci, grew efficiently in soft agar, and developed adenocarcinomas when transplanted into nude mice. These findings indicate that sustained overexpression of H2O2-generating ACOX causes cell transformation and provide further support for the role of peroxisome proliferation in hepatocarcinogenesis induced by peroxisome proliferators.

Acyl-CoA Oxidase↗

Studies on crystal structures, active-centre geometry and depurinating mechanism of two ribosome-inactivating proteins.

Two ribosome-inactivating proteins, trichosanthin and alpha-momorcharin, have been studied in the forms of complexes with ATP or formycin, by an X-ray-crystallographic method at 1.6-2.0 A (0.16-0.20 nm) resolution. The native alpha-momorcharin had been studied at 2.2 A resolution. Structures of trichosanthin were determined by a multiple isomorphous replacement method. Structures of alpha-momorcharin were determined by a molecular replacement method using refined trichosanthin as the searching model. Small ligands in all these complexes have been recognized and built on the difference in electron density. All these structures have been refined to achieve good results, both in terms of crystallography and of ideal geometry. These two proteins show considerable similarity in their three-dimensional folding and to that of related proteins. On the basis of these structures, detailed geometries of the active centres of these two proteins are described and are compared with those of related proteins. In all complexes the interactions between ligand atoms and protein atoms, including hydrophobic forces, aromatic stacking interactions and hydrogen bonds, are found to be specific towards the adenine base. The relationship between the sequence conservation of ribosome-inactivating proteins and their active-centre geometry was analysed. A depurinating mechanism of ribosome-inactivating proteins is proposed on the basis of these results. The N-7 atom of the substrate base group is proposed to be protonated by an acidic residue in the active centre.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Huntington's disease gene: regional and cellular expression in brain of normal and affected individuals.

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by involuntary movements, dementia, and progressive, global, but regionally accentuated, brain atrophy. The disease affects the striatum most severely. An expansion of a trinucleotide repeat on chromosome 4p16.3 within the coding region of a gene termed IT15 has been identified as the mutation causing HD. The normal function of IT15 and the mechanisms by which the presence of the mutation causes HD are unknown. Although IT15 expression has been detected in the brain, as well as in other organ tissues, by Northern blot and in situ hybridization, it is not known whether a preferential regional or cellular expression of IT15 exists within the central nervous system of normal, affected, and presymptomatic individuals. Using quantitative in situ hybridization methods, we examined extensively the regional and cellular expression of IT15. In controls, IT15 expression was observed in all brain regions examined with the highest levels seen in cerebellum, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, substantia nigra pars compacta, and pontine nuclei. Expression in the striatum was intermediate and expression in the globus pallidus was low. IT15 was expressed predominantly in neurons; a low but significant level of expression was seen in glial cells. Analysis of grain counts per square micrometer in neurons showed that the regional differences in the level of mRNA expression were related to density and size of neurons in a given region and not primarily to differences in levels of mRNA expression in individual cells after correction for cell size. Neurons susceptible to degeneration in HD did not selectively express high levels of IT15 mRNA. In HD brains (grades 2-4), the distribution and levels of IT15 mRNA were comparable with controls in all areas except in neostriatum where the intensity of labeling was significantly reduced. Presymptomatic HD brains had a striatal expression similar to controls and surviving striatal neurons in more advanced HD had an expression of IT15 within normal limits. It is apparent from these results that the presence of expanded trinucleotide repeats in HD does not result in the absence of IT15 mRNA expression or in altered patterns or levels of expression. The lack of correlation between the levels of IT15 mRNA expression and susceptibility to degeneration in HD strongly suggests that the mutant gene acts in concert with other factors to cause the distinctive pattern of neurodegeneration in HD.

Aged↗

Frequency and spectrum of p53 mutations in gastric cancer--a molecular genetic and immunohistochemical study.

The p53 tumour-suppressor gene plays an important role in gastric carcinogenesis. In an analysis of the spectrum of mutations of the p53 gene seen in 56 primary gastric carcinomas of various types and grades of differentiation, the entire coding sequence (exons 2-11) of the p53 gene was screened by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and direct genomic sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products. Intragenic restriction site polymorphisms and the probe YNZ22 were used for the detection of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the p53 gene locus on chromosome 17p. p53 overexpression was studied with the anti-p53 antibody CM-1. A total of 21 somatic alterations of the p53 gene were found. Twenty were base-pair substitutions, and one was an eight base-pair deletion. Six tumours with p53 mutations revealed LOH. Abnormalities in p53 expression were found in 17 tumour samples, of which 16 had gene mutations. The spectrum of mutations observed was consistent with the predicted spectrum for dietary mutagens associated with the metabolism of nitrogenous compounds, resulting in deamination of nucleic acids. Our findings suggest that p53 could be a primary target for mutations associated with dietary carcinogens in gastric carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Use of monoclonal antibodies to cytochrome P450s to indicate the critical dealkylation and the P450s involved in methyl-n-amylnitrosamine mutagenicity in the presence of induced rat liver microsomes.

The mutagenicity for Salmonella typhimurium TA 1535 of the carcinogen methyl-n-amylnitrosamine (MNAN) was examined in the presence of rat liver microsomes from uninduced and induced rats. The number of mutations followed the order phenobarbital- and Aroclor-induced > 3-methylcholanthrene- and isoniazid-induced > uninduced microsomes. The MNAN metabolite 4-hydroxy-MNAN was not mutagenic. Using each type of induced liver microsomes, we examined the effect on MNAN mutagenicity of four monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that inhibit cytochrome P450s. The MAbs inhibited MNAN mutagenicity in seven MAb-microsome combinations by up to 49%. Taken together, these results indicated that CYP (P450) 2B1/2B2 was responsible for one half and CYP 2C11 for one quarter of MNAN mutagenicity with phenobarbital-induced microsomes, CYP 1A1/1A2 accounted for about 40% of the mutagenicity with 3-methylcholanthrene-induced microsomes, CYP 2B1/2B2 accounted for half and CYP 1A1/1A2 and 2C11 for smaller proportions of the mutagenicity with Aroclor-induced microsomes, and CYP 1A1/1A2 accounted for about 30% of the mutagenicity with isoniazid-induced microsomes. With isoniazid-induced microsomes, MAb 2-66-3 to CYP 2B1/2B1 caused an unexpected 219% increase and MAb 1-68-11 caused a moderate increase in MNAN mutagenicity. The test MAbs also inhibited the microsome-catalyzed demethylation and depentylation of MNAN by up to 83%, confirming previous results. Four comparisons between individual mutagenic and metabolic results supported the view that depentylation of MNAN was more critical for its mutagenicity than was demethylation, e.g., with 3-methylcholanthrene- and Aroclor-induced microsomes, MAb 1-7-1 to CYP 1A1/1A2 inhibited mutagenesis and depentylation, but did not affect demethylation.

Animals↗

The genotoxicity of substituted nitrobenzenes and the quantitative structure-activity relationship studies.

The genotoxicity of 22 substituted nitrobenzenes was evaluated by the chromosome aberrations test in cultured human peripheral lymphocytes. 18 of 22 compounds exhibit genotoxic activities. A quantitative structure-activity relationship model was established to correlate the genotoxicity of substituted nitrobenzenes and the characteristics of the substituents on the benzene ring.

Cell Count↗

Quinolinic acid-induced increases in calbindin D28k immunoreactivity in rat striatal neurons in vivo and in vitro mimic the pattern seen in Huntington's disease.

In Huntington's disease striatal neurons undergo marked changes in dendritic morphology and coincidently exhibit an increase in immunoreactive calbindin D28k (calbindin), a cytosolic calcium-binding protein which is highly abundant in these neurons. Previous studies in the rat striatum have shown that excitotoxic injury, which is linked to a rise in intracellular Ca2+, mimics many of the neurochemical and neuropathological characteristics of Huntington's disease. We speculated, therefore, that the apparent increase in calbindin labeling in Huntington's disease spiny neurons may signal the response to an excitotoxic process. To investigate this possibility, we compared the cellular features of calbindin immunoreactivity in grade 1-4 Huntington's disease cases with those seen in rat striatal neurons in vivo and in vitro following treatment with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonist, quinolinic acid. In human post mortem control cases calbindin immunoreactivity was seen primarily in the somata and proximal dendrites of striatal neurons. In the Huntington's disease cases, calbindin labeling was markedly increased throughout the second and third order dendrites and in spines, and this change was more prevalent in advanced cases (grades 3-4). In the rat brain, two weeks after intrastriatal injection of quinolinic acid (6-20 ng), surviving medium-spiny neurons in the transition zone around the lesion core exhibited a marked increase in calbindin immunoreactivity similar to that seen in Huntington's disease spiny neurons. In more peripheral areas away from the lesion and on the contralateral unlesioned side, calbindin immunostaining was confirmed to somata and proximal dendrites. In situ hybridization histochemistry with an 35S-labeled oligonucleotide probe showed no change or a decrease in calbindin mRNA levels in neurons within the transition zone, suggesting that the observed increase in calbindin staining was not the result of increased transcription. In 12 day old postnatal striatal cultures, 2-6 h exposures to quinolinic acid (0.5 mM) significantly increased the length of neurites exhibiting calbindin immunoreactivity when compared to untreated controls. This effect was blocked by the selective NMDA receptor blocker (+/-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5), indicating that an NMDA receptor-mediated mechanism contributed to the change in staining pattern. Results in rats suggest that the subcellular redistribution of calbindin immunoreactivity observed in Huntington's disease spiny neurons may be related to an NMDA receptor-induced excitotoxic process. An increased availability of calbindin protein at dendrites and spines may reflect a greater demand for Ca2+ buffering precipitated by an abnormal rise in in intracellular Ca2+.

Adult↗