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Biomedical subjects

R A Dodds

Publications and source records attributed to R A Dodds.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Integrin subunit expression by human osteoblasts and osteoclasts in situ and in culture.

The extracellular matrix may be considered as an insoluble local mediator which plays an important role in regulating cell function. Communication between the cell and its matrix occurs via the integrins, a family of transmembrane proteins composed of non-covalently linked alpha and beta subunits. The aim of this study was to establish which integrins are present on human bone cells in situ and in culture, using cryostat sections of undecalcified human bone, osteoclastoma tissue and cultured human osteoblasts. Integrin subunit expression was identified indirectly using alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase conjugates and FITC-labelled secondary antibodies. Subunits expressed by cultured human osteoblast-like cells were then quantified by FACS analysis. Staining patterns observed in situ show that osteoblasts and osteoclasts possess different integrin subunits. Osteoblasts primarily express alpha 1, alpha 3 and beta 1 and weakly express alpha 2. Osteoclasts express alpha 2, alpha V, beta 1 and beta 3. Subunits alpha 4, alpha 5, alpha 6, alpha L, alpha M and beta 2 were not expressed by either of these cell types. Expression of beta 1 by all cells of the osteoblastic lineage was constitutive, but alpha 1 and alpha 3 subunits were expressed by osteoblasts actively synthesizing bone and some of the osteoblast lining cells. All integrin subunits identified on osteoblasts in situ were maintained on culture but there was an increased expression of alpha 2 and alpha V subunits were weakly positive. Expression of alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha V and beta 1 subunits was independent of cell density but expression of alpha 1 was much greater in confluent cultures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bone Matrix↗

Effect of low protein diet on the renal response to meat ingestion in diabetic nephropathy.

We measured the renal haemodynamic and proteinuric response to a meat meal (MM) in ten persistently proteinuric insulin-dependent diabetic patients in a randomized cross-over study of 3 weeks on low protein diet (LPD) or normal protein intake (NPD). On LPD, protein intake (0.64 +/- 0.05 vs 1.15 +/- 0.09 g kg-1 body weight (BW) per day, P less than 0.001), plasma urea (6.6 +/- 1.3 vs 11.0 +/- 2.0 mmol l-1, P less than 0.01) and urea appearance (0.06 +/- 0.01 vs 0.16 +/- 0.03 gN kg-1 body weight per day, P less than 0.001) were lower. Baseline glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) were similar on the two diets and there were no significant average changes in these variables after the meat meal on either diet (NPD, before vs after MM: GFR: 67 +/- 11 vs 71 +/- 13 ml min-1 1.73 m-2; RPF: 479 +/- 70 vs 512 +/- 81 ml min-1 1.73 m-2; RVR: 181 +/- 45 vs 179 +/- 52 mmHg min-1 l-1); (LPD, before vs after MM: GFR: 64 +/- 10 vs 67 +/- 11 ml min-1 1.73 m-2; RPF: 506 +/- 60 vs 533 + 52 ml min-1 1.73 m-2; RVR: 151 +/- 28 vs 146 +/- 32 mmHg min-1 l-1). However, all patients with baseline GFR above 60 ml min-1 1.73 m-2 showed a GFR rise in response to the meat meal on both diets, while patients with lower baseline values tended to reduce their GRF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Production and characterization of osteoclast-selective monoclonal antibodies that distinguish between multinucleated cells derived from different human tissues.

Osteoclastoma-derived giant cells were used to produce 11 mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAb) reactive against human osteoclasts on undecalcified sections of adult human bone. All exhibited unique reactivities across a wide range of human tissues. Three in particular demonstrated distinctive reactivities; C35 was highly selective for bone osteoclasts, C27 showed selective reactivity for osteoclasts, tissue macrophages and blood-borne monocytes, and C22 showed selective membrane staining of osteoclasts. Consequently, C22 was used to coat Dynabeads to affinity-purify viable human osteoclasts from osteoclastoma-derived cell suspensions. Immunocytochemical staining of inflammatory osteoarthritic synovium/granulation tissue demonstrated positivity in the majority of giant cells with MAb C22 and C27. In contrast, C35 reacted with only very occasional giant cells. Furthermore, multinucleated cells formed in long-term human bone marrow cultures demonstrated similar selective staining. C27 stained all giant cells and the majority of mononuclear cells. C22 detected only a small proportion of giant cells. In contrast to its staining on bone osteoclasts, C22 demonstrated granular cytoplasmic staining in cultured giant cells. C35 stained no cells at all in these cultures. These MAb can therefore distinguish between giant cells of various origins and authentic mature osteoclasts. Alternatively, they can recognize antigens expressed at different stages of osteoclast differentiation and therefore provide an excellent tool for the study of the human osteoclast lineage.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Retinal break type and proliferative vitreoretinopathy in nontraumatic retinal detachment.

In a retrospective study of 1180 consecutive eyes operated for retinal detachment, vitreous traction on the rent was the determining factor for the development of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Round, multiple, small holes in equatorial degeneration (retinogenic) and macular holes in which no vitreous traction on the rent was found did not complicate with PVR. Retinal detachment caused by horseshoe or crescent-shaped tears with evidence of vitreous traction (vitreogenic) developed PVR to a variable degree: in 171 (25.8%) senile myopic, 19 (44.2%) senile-myopic aphakic, 23 (20.2%) typical aphakic, and 32 (78.1%) patients with giant tears. We also found that retinogenic retinal detachments affected younger age groups more than did vitreogenic retinal detachments.

Adolescent↗

Load-induced proteoglycan orientation in bone tissue in vivo and in vitro.

Previous studies of Alcian blue-induced birefringence in adult avian cortical bone showed that a short period of intermittent loading rapidly produces an increased level of orientation of proteoglycans within the bone tissue. In the absence of further loading, this persists for over 24 hours. We have proposed that this phenomenon could provide a means for "capturing" the effects of transient strains, and so provide a persistent, constantly updated strain-related influence on osteocyte populations related to the bones' averaged recent strain history, in effect, a "strain memory" in bone tissue. In our present study, we use the Alcian blue-induced birefringence technique to demonstrate that proteoglycan orientation also occurs after intermittent loading of both cortical and cancellous mammalian bone in vivo and in vitro. We also show that the change in birefringence is proportional to the magnitude of the applied strain, and that the reorientation occurs rapidly, reaching a maximal value after only 50 loading cycles. Examination of electron micrographs of bone tissue after staining with cupromeronic blue allows direct visualization and quantification of the change in proteoglycan orientation produced by loading. This shows that intermittent loading is associated with a realignment of the proteoglycan protein cores, bringing them some 5 degrees closer to the direction of collagen fibrils in the bone matrix.

Alcian Blue↗

Selective depression of metabolic activities in cortical osteoblasts at the site of femoral neck fractures.

The aim of this investigation was to determine whether some metabolic defect might be related to the propensity of osteoporotic femoral necks to fracture acutely. To this end, the activities of two dehydrogenases of the glycolytic Embden-Meyerhof pathway, two of the pentose phosphate pathway, two mitochondrial enzymes, and alkaline phosphatase were measured in the cortical and in the trabecular osteoblasts. Comparison was made with such activities in iliac crest biopsies from patients with these fractures and from the equivalent femoral and iliac crest samples from patients with osteoarthritis of the hip, in biopsies from the iliac crests from seven patients with no bony abnormality, and in specimens from the fracture site of six traumatic fractures. The results showed a highly significant decrease in the activities of the two enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway (p less than 0.001) in the cortical, but not in the trabecular, osteoblasts in the osteoporotic fractures. This could not be attributed to the trauma of acute fracture since it was not found in traumatic fractures. Other experimental evidence has indicated that a relationship may occur between depressed activity of these enzymes and a retardation of bone formation.

Aged↗

A quantitative cytochemical method for ornithine decarboxylase activity.

Although decarboxylases, particularly ornithine decarboxylase, are of considerable importance in cell metabolism, it has been impossible to demonstrate their activity histochemically, as this depends on trapping carbon dioxide at neutral pH values. A new reagent, lead hydroxyisobutyrate, has been shown capable of such trapping. It has been applied to the demonstration of ornithine decarboxylase activity in mouse kidney. Optimal concentrations of substrate, co-factor and trapping agent, as well as the pH optimum, have been determined for cryostat sections stabilized with a collagen polypeptide. The activity was inhibited by the specific ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor alpha-difluoromethyl ornithine.

Animals↗

Restriction of dietary protein and progression of renal failure in diabetic nephropathy.

In a study of the effect of a low-protein diet on the progression of renal disease 19 insulin-dependent diabetic patients with persistent clinical proteinuria were observed for 12-39 (mean 29) months while they were on a normal-protein diet (1.13 [0.06] g/kg per day), then for 12-49 (mean 33) months on a low-protein diet (0.67 [0.03] g/kg per day). The low-protein diet had no adverse effect on nutrition or glycosylated haemoglobin concentration. Mean supine blood pressure (BP) fell slightly on the low-protein diet and was probably due to the start or modification of antihypertensive medication in 9 patients. The mean rate of decline in glomerular filtration rate fell from 0.61 (SEM 0.14) ml/min per month with the normal-protein diet to 0.14 (0.08) with the low-protein diet, and this effect remained highly significant after adjustment for blood pressure, energy intake, and glycosylated haemoglobin. The rise in the fractional clearance of albumin during a normal-protein diet stopped with the low-protein diet, and there was a significant fall in albumin excretion from 467 (95% CI 234-895) micrograms/24 h on the normal-protein to 340 (138-719) on the low-protein diet. Thus, a low-protein diet, with its reduction in protein and possibly other dietary components such as phosphate or fat, seems to retard the rate of decline of glomerular filtration rate in diabetic nephropathy independently of blood pressure changes and glycaemic control.

Adult↗

Comparative metabolic enzymatic activity in trabecular as against cortical osteoblasts.

On the basis of studies with bone-seeking isotopes, it is generally believed that the metabolic activity of osteoblasts of the trabecular bone is greater than that of the osteoblasts of the cortex. This implies that the oxidative activity, which provides the energy for biosyntheses, will also be greater in the former than in the latter. In the present study, direct measurement of the activities of representative enzymes of the major oxidative pathways, as well as of alkaline phosphatase, showed that the reverse pertained. However, owing to the greater cellularity of trabecular bone, the activity per unit mass of bone may be higher in the trabecular bone.

3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases↗

Electron microscopy of undecalcified human bone.

An alternative approach for the electron microscopical examination of undecalcified human bone was investigated. The method required bone to be chilled to -70 degrees C, sectioned at 10 microns in a special bone cryostat, and these sections to be fixed and embedded for ultrathin sectioning. Good preservation of bone cells was seen. The advantages of this method are that it allows numerous particular regions of the 10 microns thick sections to be selected under normal light microscopy, and these regions to be then selected for electron microscopy. The 10 microns sections allow for excellent penetration of the fixative and thus better preservation of the tissue is more likely.

Bone and Bones↗

Renal response to restricted protein intake in diabetic nephropathy.

Proteinuria in diabetes is associated with progressive glomerular damage. We studied the effects of 3-wk dietary protein restriction on proteinuria and renal function in 10 insulin-dependent diabetic men with diabetic nephropathy. Patients were randomly assigned by a crossover design to 40-g low-protein diet (LPD) or usual-protein diet (UPD). Glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow were measured by inulin and p-aminohippurate clearance at the end of each period under conditions of sustained euglycemia. Total calorie intake, body weight, serum albumin and total protein concentrations, hematocrit, blood pressure, and glucose control were similar during the two diets. Achieved protein intake was 46 +/- 3 g/day during LPD and 81 +/- 4 g/day during UPD (P less than .001). Urinary urea appearance and plasma urea were significantly lower on LPD. Median total urinary protein was reduced from 3.9 g/day (range 0.5-12.3) on UPD to 2.4 (range 0.2-9.0) on LPD (P less than .006), and there was a significant fall in the median fractional clearance of albumin from 2.0 x 10(-4) (range 0.1-90.9) on UPD to 1.0 x 10(-4) (range 0.1-51.4) on LPD and IgG from 2.1 x 10(-5) (range 0.2-238) to 1.5 x 10(-5) (range 0.1-77) (P less than .006 and P less than .02, respectively). The reabsorption rate of beta 2-microglobulin was similar on the two diets and glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow, and filtration fraction remained unchanged. Thus, short-term dietary protein restriction reduces diabetic proteinuria independently of blood glucose or systemic blood pressure changes by improving glomerular permselectivity.

Adult↗

Altered organization of non-collagenous bone matrix in osteoporosis.

In osteoporosis it is postulated that while the amount of bone is diminished, the quality of the bone is unaltered. Recently relatively novel methods of analysis have shown that, at the fracture site of osteoporotic subcapital fractures, there is a marked change in the molecular orientation of components of the non-collagenous bone matrix. These procedures, now applied to iliac crest biopsies, confirm earlier findings of altered orientation of the proteoglycans at the subcapital fracture site but show that very similar changes occur even in the iliac crests from patients with both types of osteoporotic proximal femoral fracture. Thus, whereas the amount of these acidic moieties of the non-collagenous bone matrix was unchanged, the molecular orientation was markedly altered, albeit not to the same extent as that found at the fracture site. These results imply that the quality of the bone, as well as the quantity, may be generally affected in osteoporosis.

Adult↗

Major components of bone in subcapital and trochanteric fractures. A comparative study.

Quantitative polarised light microscopy was applied to sections of unfixed, undecalcified bone taken at operation from patients with two types of proximal femoral fracture, subcapital and trochanteric. Specimens were also taken from the equivalent sites in otherwise normal subjects at autopsy, and from various other sites of traumatic fractures; these two latter groups acted as controls. Analysis of the 57 specimens disclosed changes in the nature of the bone at the site of subcapital fractures, namely the presence of relatively large crystals of hydroxyapatite and a change in the molecular orientation, but not total content, of the acidic proteoglycans of the bone matrix. Our results have confirmed and extended the findings of others on subcapital fractures, and have also shown very similar changes in the trochanteric fractures. It thus appears that the bony changes in the two types of proximal femoral fracture are not as different as has been suggested.

Adult↗

Putrescine may be a natural stimulator of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

The possible relationship between pyridoxal phosphate-dependent ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity has been studied in the osteoblasts of the growth-plate of metatarsals of rats fed a pyridoxine-deficient diet, which caused depressed G6PD levels. The G6PD activity was fully restored when it was assayed in the presence of putrescine. It is suggested that this relationship may account for the correlation generally found between growth and ODC activity.

Animals↗

Abnormalities in fracture healing induced by vitamin B6-deficiency in rats.

Vitamin K1 is the intermediate carrier of reducing equivalents in mineralization. In fracture-healing in the rat metatarsal the primary source of these reducing equivalents appears to be NADPH, generated from glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity. Because recent evidence indicated that stimulation of G6PD activity can be induced by putrescine, derived from pyridoxal phosphate-dependent ornithine decarboxylase activity, the effect of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) deficiency has been studied in this system. Vitamin B6-deficiency caused marked diminution in the G6PD activity in the periosteal region of bone-formation and in the developing callus, with significant delay in the maturation of the callus and union. It also caused changes in the bone suggestive of imbalance in the coupling between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. These results suggest that the vitamin B6-status may be important in fracture-healing.

Animals↗

Electrochemical detection of depressed circulating levels of vitamin K1 in osteoporosis.

If gamma-carboxylation, by the vitamin K1 - cycle, of glutamate residues of bone-matrix peptides is essential for the formation of bone, the circulating levels of this vitamin might indicate the potential efficiency of this process. Methods involving HPLC with electrochemical detection have very recently been developed for assaying the low levels of vitamin K1 that occur in normal plasma. Using such methods, we found that the circulating levels of vitamin K1 in osteoporotic patients (who had sustained either spinal crush-fractures or fractures of the neck of the femur) were significantly lower than those of age-matched control subjects.

Aged↗