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Biomedical subjects

R B Sterzel

Publications and source records attributed to R B Sterzel.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Adhesion molecules in the glomerular mesangium.

Experimental evidence indicates that extensive "cross-talk" exists between glomerular cells, extracellular matrix molecules and soluble mediator substances affecting the proliferative and secretory phenotype of glomerular mesangial cells. Both matrix and cytokines regulate mesangial cell behavior in vitro and in vivo after binding to specific cell surface receptors. It appears as if the concerted action of insoluble and soluble ligands on mesangial cells involves a reciprocal regulation of matrix molecules and cytokines as well as expression and affinity of their respective receptors. Elucidation of the potential biologic and clinical relevance of cell-matrix interactions in the glomerular mesangium represents a challenging goal in current kidney research. This brief review summarizes recent investigations concerning regulation of expression and function of adhesion molecules and matrix receptors in the mesangium. In addition to results from cell culture studies, descriptive findings on expression and regulation of adhesion molecules and their potential role for altered mesangial cell behavior in glomerular disease is considered.

Animals↗

Differential regulation of chemokines by leukemia inhibitory factor, interleukin-6 and oncostatin M.

M. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). oncostatin M (OsM) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are members of a cytokine family, which are produced by activated macrophages and glomerular mesangial cells. These cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of glomerular inflammation, but their action on glomerular cells is presently unclear. Therefore, we examined the effects of IL-6, OsM and LIF on chemokine synthesis of rat mesangial cells in culture. While LIF as well as IL-6 up-regulated monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA expression, OsM showed no such effect. The induction of MCP-1 mRNA by LIF and IL-6 was transient, peaking at one to two hours and two to three hours, respectively, and returning to background levels within several hours. Induction of MCP-1 mRNA by LIF and IL-6 was strongly inhibited by dexamethasone. LIF activated STAT factors in mesangial cells, suggesting their involvement in signal transduction pathways that lead to LIF-stimulated up-regulation of MCP-1 mRNA. By contrast, LIF. IL-6 and OsM failed to affect the expression of the chemokines, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and RANTES. The rapid, transient and differential regulation of MCP-1 expression induced by LIF and IL-6 contrasted with uniformly powerful effects of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta and TNF alpha that induced all tested chemokines for prolonged time periods. These results suggest that the selective and transient induction of MCP-1 by LIF and IL-6 may play a role in the preferential attraction of monocytes to the injured glomerulus.

Animals↗

Glomerular epithelial cell products stimulate mesangial cell proliferation in culture.

Glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) and mesangial cells (MC) are both involved in glomerular diseases. To elucidate potential interactions between these glomerular cell types, we examined whether products of GEC affect the proliferative activity of MC. We found that cultured rat GEC secrete soluble factors into the supernate (GEC-CM) that induce proliferation of quiescent rat MC. The mitogenic activity was trypsin sensitive and partially heat-labile. Biochemical analysis of GEC-CM by gel filtration HPLC, reverse phase HPLC, and isoelectric focusing revealed at least three mitogenic fractions as well as inhibitory activity present in GEC-CM. Competitive binding assays with 125I-labeled PDGF did not show significant amounts of PDGF in GEC-CM. The biochemical features of the GEC-derived MC growth factors are distinct from IL-6, PDGF, bFGF, and endothelin, previously described GEC-derived MC growth factors. Additionally, significant contributions of known growth factors such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, TNF alpha, TGF beta, and GM-CSF are unlikely. The results indicate that GEC produce several biochemically-distinct MC growth regulators. While these epithelial cell-derived mitogens for MC require further characterization, they may play an important role in the regulation of MC replication, such as during embryogenesis and glomerular disease.

Animals↗

Expression of cell adhesion molecules in primary renal disease and renal allograft rejection.

BACKGROUND: In vitro studies have demonstrated that inflammatory mediators such as the cytokines TNF alpha and IL-1 upregulate or induce de novo expression of cell adhesion molecules on endothelial and epithelial cells. In the present study the expression of the cell adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and PECAM-1 was investigated in renal biopsies from patients with primary renal diseases (n = 66) and from renal allograft recipients (n = 42). METHODS: Expression of the cell adhesion molecules was determined by immunohistochemistry of frozen sections using monoclonal antibodies directed against PECAM-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and MHC class II molecules (APAAP method). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: PECAM-1 and ICAM-1 were expressed in the renal vasculature and disappeared in obliterated glomeruli with endothelial cell destruction. ICAM-1 but not PECAM-1 was upregulated in renal endothelia in acute allograft rejection and inflammatory primary renal diseases. Tubular de novo expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 correlated with severe structural damage of the renal parenchyma including interstitial fibrosis. Vascular and/or glomerular VCAM-1 and E-selectin expression was pronounced in severe acute allograft rejection and also reflected the intensity of inflammatory reactions in primary renal diseases with or without autoimmune disorders. De novo expression of VCAM-1 and E-selectin in renal vessels and/or glomeruli and overexpression of ICAM-1 are markers of acute and severe inflammatory processes in biopsies from allograft recipients and patients with primary renal diseases.

E-Selectin↗

Factors controlling growth and matrix production in vascular smooth muscle and glomerular mesangial cells.

The vasculature wall is an active, integrated organ composed of endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells, as well as other cell types depending on the specific vascular segment (e.g. fibroblasts in many vascular regions). The vascular wall is not static; the vascular components (cells and extracellular matrix) dynamically increase, decrease or reorganize, or both, in response to physiological and pathological stimuli. The vascular smooth muscle cells are the final common pathway for many of these dynamic changes in vascular wall structure. In the renal glomerulus, however, the glomerular mesangial cells-a cell phenotypically related to the vascular smooth muscle cells-also participate. Although sometimes beneficial, changes in vascular or glomerular structure often lead to cardiovascular (e.g. atherosclerosis, restenosis, intimal hyperplasia) and renovascular (e.g. glomerulosclerosis) diseases. Consequently, much effort has been expended to elucidate the mechanisms that control growth and extracellular matrix production by vascular smooth muscle cells and glomerular mesangial cells. The purpose of this review is to discuss recent developments.

Angiotensin II↗

Transcription factor Egr-1 regulates glomerular mesangial cell proliferation.

Increase of glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) is a prominent histopathological finding in many types of glomerulonephritis. We have shown previously that expression of the zinc-finger transcription factor, early growth response gene-1 (egr-1), is closely correlated with the proliferation of cultured MCs. To elucidate whether Egr-1 is required for MC proliferation, we inhibited serum-induced Egr-1 expression by phosphothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotides (ODNs). Uptake of antisense ODNs into MCs was demonstrated, and five different egr-1 antisense ODNs were tested for their impact on serum-induced egr-1 mRNA and protein levels and on MC growth. The most potent egr-1 antisense ODN inhibited serum-induced egr-1 mRNA by 68%, protein induction by 58%, and MC replication as measured by [3H]thymidine uptake and cell counts by 78 and 46%, respectively. The effects of antisense ODNs on MC growth correlated closely with their ability to inhibit Egr-1 protein. ODNs acted in a dose-dependent manner, the minimal effective concentration being 1 microM. Control ODNs had no significant effects. In addition, antisense ODNs against egr-1 potently inhibited endothelin-1-induced Egr-1 expression and MC growth. Heparin, a known inhibitor of MC growth, suppressed serum-induced [3H]thymidine uptake by 39% and egr-1 mRNA expression by 44%. We conclude that Egr-1 is an essential part of the mitogenic signal transduction cascade in cultured MCs.

Animals↗

Cloning and sequencing of the proximal promoter of the rat iNOS gene: activation of NFkappaB is not sufficient for transcription of the iNOS gene in rat mesangial cells.

It has previously been shown that expression of the inducible form of NO synthase (EC 1.14.23) is controlled at the transcriptional level and that induction of iNOS transcription is dependent on activation of transcription factors of the NFkappaB family. TNF-alpha and IL-1beta synergistically stimulate iNOS transcription in rat glomerular mesangial cells. We have recently reported that endothelin-1 completely blocks cytokine-induced iNOS expression at the transcriptional level. To further investigate the molecular mechanisms and the role of NFkappaB in cytokine-elicited iNOS transcription, we cloned a 661 bp genomic rat DNA fragment, which contains 497 bp of the proximal iNOS promoter. An NFkappaB-binding site identical to that described for the murine sequence was identified and used for electrophoretic mobility shift experiments. We found that binding of NFkappaB is strongly induced in mesangial cells by both IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. While endothelin-1 blocks cytokine-induced iNOS expression, it has no influence on the binding pattern of NFkappaB. We conclude from these data that transcription of iNOS in mesangial cells requires additional signals besides activation of NFkappaB.

Animals↗

Cell-matrix interactions in the glomerular mesangium.

Specific interactions between cells and components of the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) or underlying basement membrane have been shown to modulate cell behavior, including cellular responses to soluble regulator molecules. In addition to the long-recognized role of such interactions in cell localization, anchoring and differentiation during embryogenesis, they are also involved in diverse processes such as maintenance of tissue integrity, response of cells to mechanical stress, inflammatory response, wound healing, tumor cell growth and metastasis as well as apoptosis. Over the last several years, evidence has been reported that extensive "cross-talk" between glomerular mesangial cells (MCs), ECM molecules and soluble mediator substances also affects the proliferative and synthetic phenotype of MCs. This is likely to be relevant for the behavior of MCs during embryonic development, tissue repair and disease processes of glomeruli. The potential biologic and clinical relevance of cell-matrix interactions in the glomerulus makes their elucidation a challenging goal in current kidney research. In this brief review, we present selected aspects of recent investigations concerning the mesangial matrix and its interactions with MCs. In addition to results from cell culture studies, descriptive findings on abnormalities of the ECM and their potential role for the altered MC behavior in glomerular disease will also be discussed.

Animals↗

Adenine dinucleotides: a novel class of signalling molecules.

1. Adenine dinucleotides (Ap3A, Ap4A, Ap5A, Ap6A) are stored in secretory granules of thrombocytes, chromaffin cells and neuronal cells. After release into the extracellular space, the dinucleotides exhibit divergent biological effects on a variety of target cells and organs. The dinucleotides are metabolized by soluble enzymes in the blood plasma as well as by membrane-bound ectoenzymes of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and other cell types. 2. The enzymatic cleavage of the dinucleotides plays a dual role for their biological function: (a) termination of the signal; and (b) generation of purinergically active products such as ATP, ADP and finally adenosine. In contrast to ATP the dinucleotides are long-lived purine nucleotides in the blood. 3. The potential role of the dinucleotides as signalling molecules has been demonstrated in several systems. The adenosine polyphosphates have autocrine function for thrombocytes. Ap3A at low concentration reversibly activates isolated platelets. The mechanism of activation has been elucidated by showing a continuous cleavage of Ap3A, leading to the formation of ADP which is a known agonist of the P2T receptor on thrombocytes. Ap4A and other dinucleotides act as antagonists and inhibit platelet activation. 4. The vasotone of perfused isolated arteries as well as of resistance vessels in the beating heart is differentially influenced by adenine dinucleotides. While Ap3A and Ap4A exhibit relaxing effects at micromolar concentrations, Ap5A and Ap6A elicit vasoconstriction in these vessels. 5. In rat kidney mesangial cells adenine dinucleotides efficiently promote growth. Stimulation of DNA synthesis by various growth factors is enhanced synergistically. ApnA significantly increase the expression of the early growth response gene Egr-1. 6. The specificity and, in some tissues, the uniqueness of effects evoked by dinucleotides may be mediated by genuine dinucleotide receptors (P4) or by specialized P2 receptors (P2D).

Animals↗

Extracellular nucleotides as signalling molecules for renal mesangial cells.

1. Glomerular diseases frequently cause chronic renal failure which ultimately requires dialysis and kidney transplantation. The events leading to destruction of the glomerular filtration apparatus include injury of glomerular cells, aggregation of thrombocytes and infiltration of immune cells into the glomerulus. 2. Nucleotides (e.g. ATP and UTP) are present in all glomerular cell types as well as in thrombocytes. The release of nucleotides into the extracellular space occurs after damage of glomerular cells and aggregation of thrombocytes. Several in vitro and in vivo findings indicate that extracellular nucleotides may play a role as pro-inflammatory mediators in glomerulonephritis. 3. A hallmark finding in kidney biopsies from patients with glomerulonephritis is proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells. Cell culture studies demonstrated that extracellular ATP (10-300 microM) stimulated growth of mesangial cells. The mitogenic effect of ATP was potentiated in the presence of multiple growth factors. 4. Nucleotide-induced signalling in mesangial cells included an increase of intracellular calcium, activation of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C and phospholipase D, inhibition of adenylylcyclase, stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and increased expression of the immediate early genes, c-fos, c-jun and Egr-1. 5. In previous studies of experimental mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, exogenously given ADP beta S and ATP gamma S have been shown to aggravate the course of the disease, while 2-chloroadenosine had beneficial effects. 6. Taken together, these findings support the concept that nucleotides may function as proinflammatory mediators in glomerulonephritis while adenosine may have antiinflammatory effects.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Mesangial cell-matrix interactions in glomerular inflammation.

Specific interactions between cells and components of the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) or underlying basement membrane have been shown to modulate cell behaviour, in culluro and in vivo. There is evidence that extensive 'cross-talk' occurs between glomerular mesangial cells (MCs), ECM molecules, and soluble mediator substances affecting the proliferative and synthetic-secretory phenotype of MCs. This is likely to be relevant for the behaviour of MCs during embryonic development, disease processes of glomeruli, and tissue repair. The potential biologic and clinical relevance of cell-matrix interactions in the glomerulus are discussed in this brief review of selected aspects of recent investigations concerning the mesangial matrix and its interactions with MCs.

Animals↗

Glomerular basement membrane-derived perlecan inhibits mesangial cell adhesion to fibronectin.

To explore whether the heparan sulfate proteoglycan, periecan, may act as a regulator of glomerular cell behavior, we examined the effects of perlecan on adhesive properties of rat and human mesangial cells in culture. We observed that mesangial cells did not adhere to purified perlecan. Mesangial cell adhesion to fibronectin, but not to laminin, was inhibited when perlecan was present in the substratum, reaching complete inhibition at 20 micrograms/ml perlecan. Similarly, perlecan reduced mesangial cell adhesion to the 120 kDa fragment of fibronectin and to bovine serum albumin-coupled RGD peptides both lacking the fibronectin heparin-binding domains, indicating that the inhibitory effect of perlecan does not require interaction of its heparan sulfate chains with fibronectin. The core protein of perlecan seems to be relevant, since perlecan retained most of its anti-adhesive potency after total deglycosylation. It is unlikely that perlecan causes steric inhibition of the cell binding sites of fibronectin by direct binding, since the 120 kDa fragment of fibronectin which includes the cell binding site, did not bind to intact perlecan. In the presence of submaximal inhibitory concentrations of perlecan, soluble RGD peptides (100 micrograms/ml), by themselves without effect, completely inhibited cell adhesion to fibronectin. Using immunocytochemistry, we examined the effects of perlecan on the organization of fibronectin-specific, RGD-dependent beta 1 integrins in focal contacts. When perlecan was added to the substratum, human mesangial cells adhered to fibronectin only in the presence of collagen I. Under these conditions, perlecan did not significantly alter the organization of alpha 5 beta 1 integrin into focal contacts of mesangial cells which adhered to a substratum composed of collagen I plus fibronectin. These data suggest that perlecan exerts its anti-adhesive effects on mesangial cells via a core protein-dependent mechanism which reduces the avidity of the fibronectin receptor. The resulting avidity level is too low for mediating cell binding but sufficient to induce integrin organization into focal contacts.

Animals↗

Endothelin-1 inhibits cytokine-stimulated transcription of inducible nitric oxide synthase in glomerular mesangial cells.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor while nitric oxide (NO) has strong vasodilatory effects. Recent studies have indicated that vasoconstrictors and NO may mutually modulate their production and/or activity, thus regulating each other in the context of microcirculatory maintenance. We examined the question whether ET-1 may affect NO formation by controlling the expression of the inducible isoform of the NO synthase (iNOS) in cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells (MCs), as induced by the inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plus interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). We found that ET-1 in MCs markedly reduced cytokine-induced NO production (measured as stable NO2-) and inhibited the expression of iNOS mRNA (Northern blot analysis) and of iNOS protein (Western blotting). Inhibition of cytokine-stimulated iNOS mRNA expression by ET-1 was almost complete at the level of gene transcription while post-transcriptional effects were not detected. The ETA receptor antagonist BQ-123 blocked the inhibitory effect of ET1. The ETA agonist sarafotoxin 6b (S6b) inhibited, while the ETB agonist-sarafotoxin 6c (S6c) did not inhibit cytokine-initiated iNOS transcription in MCs. The results demonstrate that ET-1 can strongly inhibit cytokine induction of iNOS and formation of NO in cultured MCs, and that this action is mediated via the ETA receptor. While the precise mechanism(s) and biological relevance of this ET-1 effect are presently unclear, it is conceivable that down-regulation of iNOS by the vasopressor ET-1 may serve in vivo to prevent massive NO build-up and subsequent vasomotor collapse in the glomerular capillary tuft. This could help to maintain glomerular ultrafiltration in states of endotoxin excess as well as during glomerular formation and action of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta causing iNOS induction and subsequent overproduction of NO.

Analysis of Variance↗

Vasoactive diadenosine polyphosphates promote growth of cultured renal mesangial cells.

Diadenosine polyphosphates (diadenosine triphosphate, Ap3A; diadenosine tetraphosphate, Ap4A; diadenosine pentaphosphate, Ap5A; diadenosine hexaphosphate, Ap6A) are potent vasoactive molecules stored and released by platelets. We examined whether these dinucleotides might contribute to the glomerular inflammatory response by stimulating the proliferation of mesangial cells. In cultured rat mesangial cells all four tested dinucleotides (10 to 100 mumol/L) significantly stimulated DNA synthesis as measured by [3H]thymidine uptake at 48 hours (x-fold increase compared with unstimulated control cells: Ap3A, 1.5; Ap4A, 1.8; Ap5A, 1.6; Ap6A, 1.6). In combination with the platelet products platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and serotonin, the dinucleotides synergistically increased DNA synthesis. Dinucleotides by themselves increased cell counts by 23% to 43% at day 2 and augmented mesangial cell growth induced by platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and serotonin. Furthermore, dinucleotides (100 mumol/L) rapidly induced a modest increase in expression of the early growth response gene Egr-1 at 30 minutes (x-fold increase over baseline control: Ap3A, 1.9; Ap4A, 2.8; Ap5A, 2.2; Ap6A, 2.1). We found that extracellular Ap4A was metabolized by mesangial cell ectoenzymes to mononucleotides and adenosine, which also have been shown to be mitogenic for mesangial cells. The combination of Ap4A with mononucleotides or adenosine failed to cause additive stimulation of DNA synthesis in mesangial cells. We conclude that diadenosine polyphosphates stimulate proliferation of cultured mesangial cells and augment mesangial cell growth induced by other mitogens released from platelets. Different molecular mechanisms may be involved in dinucleotide-induced mitogenesis of mesangial cells. Direct effects of dinucleotides on cultured mesangial cells. Direct effects of dinucleotides on cultured mesangial cells appear to play a role because dinucleotides rapidly caused activation of Egr-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗

Extracellular ATP augments mesangial cell growth induced by multiple growth factors.

BACKGROUND: ATP is released into the extracellular milieu during tissue injury and platelet aggregation and has a modest mitogenic effect on cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells (MCs). In this study we investigated the interaction of ATP with multiple growth factors during MC mitogenesis. METHODS: Replication of MCs was determined by direct cell counting and DNA synthesis was measured by 3H-thymidine uptake. Activity of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) was assessed by measuring formation of inositol phosphates from 3H-labelled precursors. RESULTS: Extracellular ATP (1-100 microM) exerted a powerful synergistic effect on DNA synthesis of MCs when used simultaneously with various mitogens, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB), endothelin-1 (ET-1), arginine vasopressin (AVP), thrombin (Thr), serotonin (5-HT), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). ATP synergized with these factors by increasing the maximum of DNA synthesis, without changing the half-maximal concentration of the growth factor. In addition cell counts revealed that ATP significantly augments MC growth induced by EGF, bFGF, PDGF-BB, ET-1, AVP, Thr, 5-HT, and IL-1 beta. ATP caused activation of PI-PLC, but did not synergize with any of the tested growth factors in this respect. ATP-induced PI-PLC activation was inhibited by preincubation with pertussis toxin by 40-93%. This treatment did not suppress DNA synthesis induced by ATP alone, by PDGF, or by PDGF plus ATP. The calcium antagonists, TMB-8 and verapamil, as well as the inhibitors of protein kinase C, calphostin C and H7, had no effect on DNA synthesis induced by ATP or PDGF plus ATP. Also, ATP synergistically stimulated DNA synthesis in combination with the direct activator of protein kinase C, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and with the reaction product of phospholipase D, phosphatidic acid. Finally, ATP was mitogenic in an MC line of higher passage which did not respond with PI-PLC activation. CONCLUSIONS: Extracellular ATP synergistically augments MC growth induced by multiple growth factors. While the ATP-induced mitogenic signal is presently unclear, our observations support the concept that ATP may play a role during the course of glomerulonephritis when multiple growth factors are released from glomerular and inflammatory cells.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Inhibition of immediate-early-gene induction in renal mesangial cells by depletion of intracellular polyamines.

Mitogens have been shown to stimulate the activity of the rate-limiting enzyme for polyamine synthesis, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), and ODC mRNA expression in cultured rat mesangial cells (MCs). In addition, inhibition of ODC by alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) results in growth arrest of MCs. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in the inhibition of MC proliferation due to polyamine depletion, we studied the effects of DFMO on the activation of phospholipase C and induction of the immediate early genes (IEGs), c-fos, c-jun and Egr-1, which are thought to regulate cell growth. Mitogenic 10% fetal-calf serum (FCS) and 1 unit/ml thrombin activated phospholipase C in MCs within 30 s, as assessed by generation of [3H]inositol phosphates. This activation was not affected by DFMO. mRNAs of the IEGs c-fos, c-jun and Egr-1 were induced by FCS within 15 min. Expression of these genes reached a peak at 60 min and disappeared at 3 h. Treatment of MCs with a growth-suppressing dose of DFMO (5 mM) inhibited mRNAs of all three IEGs by 52-87% at 1 h. Total expression of Egr-1 over 20-120 min was diminished by 41%, and the time point of maximal expression was delayed by 40 min. This inhibitory effect was abolished in a time-dependent manner (1-3 days) by prior addition of 200 microM putrescine, the reaction product of ODC. Egr-1 mRNA expression was super-induced by the inhibitor of protein synthesis, cycloheximide. This effect was also blocked by DFMO. The results indicate that the DFMO-induced process of MC growth inhibition involves steps necessary for IEG activation. The signal-transduction step sensitive to polyamines occurs distal to the activation of phospholipase C. Since reconstitution of normal induction of IEGs requires 3 days, it seems likely that polyamine depletion affects the regulation of IEG expression in an indirect fashion. We conclude that activation of IEGs requires the presence of polyamines and plays a significant role in the induction of MC replication.

Animals↗