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Biomedical subjects

R C Thompson

Publications and source records attributed to R C Thompson.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Endotoxin-induced cytokine gene expression in vivo. IV. Expression of interleukin-1 alpha/beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist mRNA during endotoxemia and during endotoxin-initiated local acute inflammation.

After the intravenous (IV) injection of endotoxin, (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]), in the rat, interleukin-1 alpha/beta (IL-1 alpha/beta) mRNA expression peaks at 1 hour in whole organ RNA preparations of the lung, liver, spleen, and bowel. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) mRNA peaks at 2 to 4 hours, consistent with the hypothesis that IL-1ra acts as an endogenous negative feedback mechanism to downregulate the proinflammatory effects of IL-1. After the intratracheal (IT) injection of LPS, however, IL-1 and IL-1ra mRNA levels in whole lung peak at 6 hours, concurrent with the maximum influx of neutrophils (PMNs) into the bronchoalveolar space. To address the cellular source of IL-1 and IL-1ra mRNA in the lung during acute pneumonitis, mRNA levels were studied in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) macrophages incubated with LPS in vitro for 6 hours as compared with BAL cells (95% PMNs) obtained 6 hours after IT injection of LPS. A much greater expression of IL-1 and IL-1ra mRNA was observed in PMN-rich BAL cells obtained after IT injection of LPS, suggesting that PMNs contribute substantially to IL-1 and IL-1ra mRNA expression. Fractionation of alveolar macrophage-enriched and PMN-enriched subpopulations from the BAL cells obtained at 6 hours after IT injection of LPS confirmed that neutrophils are a source of IL-1 and IL-1ra mRNA. The difference in the kinetics of IL-1 and IL-1ra mRNA expression in whole lung RNA preparations after IV and IT injections of LPS is due to the contribution of PMNs that appear in the lung in large numbers after IT injection. Finally, human peripheral blood PMNs were found to express IL-1ra mRNA and protein after in vitro incubation with LPS. PMNs may contribute to the up- and downregulation of their own accumulation by expressing both IL-1 and IL-1ra.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist binds to the type II interleukin-1 receptor on B cells and neutrophils.

We have examined the binding of human and rodent interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) to the type II IL-1 receptor on the human B cell line, Raji, on the mouse pre-B cell line, 70Z/3, and on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Human IL-1ra binds to the receptors on the human B cells with an affinity (KD = 15 +/- 3 nM) equal to that of IL-1 alpha and only 15-fold lower than that of IL-1 beta and, likewise, binds to human PMNs with an affinity (KD = 8 +/- 4 nM) 15-fold lower than that of IL-1 beta. Mouse and rat IL-1ra bind to these two human cell types with an affinity similar to that of the human protein. Human IL-1ra binds very weakly to the type II receptor on the mouse pre-B cells with an affinity (KD = 1.4 +/- 0.2 microM) about 1500-fold lower than human IL-1 beta. Mouse and rat IL-1ra also bind to the mouse pre-B cells with low affinity. The weak binding of the three IL-1ra proteins to these mouse cells appears to be more a consequence of the cell type rather than species specificity. There may be a population of cells for which the actions of IL-1 cannot be effectively opposed by IL-1ra, although this group does not include mature B cells and PMNs.

Affinity Labels↗
PubMed1991

Inhibition of interleukin-1 by an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist prevents graft-versus-host disease.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the major complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Dysregulation of inflammatory monokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) has been noted in both clinical and experimental GVHD. We present evidence that interleukin-1 (IL-1), another inflammatory monokine, is an important mediator of GVHD. Expression of the gene for IL-1 alpha as well as the gene for TNF alpha is increased in the skin of mice with GVHD. Inhibition of IL-1 function by the in vivo administration of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) reduces the immunosuppression and mortality of GVHD without impairing the engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells. GVHD thus appears to be a systemic inflammatory process in which monokines, especially IL-1, appear to be important mediators. Inhibition of IL-1 by IL-1ra represents a novel approach to the understanding and control of GVHD.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist is a member of the interleukin 1 gene family: evolution of a cytokine control mechanism.

Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) is a protein that binds to the IL-1 receptor and blocks the binding of both IL-1 alpha and -beta without inducing a signal of its own. Human IL-1ra has some sequence identity to human IL-1 beta, but the evolutionary relationship between these proteins has been unclear. We show that the genes for human, mouse, and rat IL-1ra are similar to the genes for IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in intron-exon organization, indicating that gene duplication events were important in the creation of this gene family. Furthermore, an analysis of sequence comparisons and mutation rates for IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-1ra suggests that the duplication giving rise to the IL-1ra gene was an early event in the evolution of the gene family. Comparisons between the mature sequences for IL-1ra, IL-1 alpha, and IL-1 beta suggest that IL-1ra has a beta-stranded structure like to IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta, consistent with the three proteins being related. The N-terminal sequences of IL-1ra appear to be derived from a region of the genome different than those of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta, thus explaining their different modes of biosynthesis and suggesting an explanation for their different biological activities.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist binds to the 80-kDa IL-1 receptor but does not initiate IL-1 signal transduction.

The interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) is a protein capable of inhibiting receptor binding and biological activities of IL-1 without inducing an IL-1-like response. Equilibrium binding and kinetic experiments show that IL-1ra binds to the 80-kDa IL-1 receptor on the murine thymoma cell line EL4 with an affinity (KD = 150 pM) approximately equal to that of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta for this receptor. However, IL-1ra is unable to induce two early events associated with IL-1 activity. Surface-bound IL-1ra does not undergo receptor-mediated internalization, and IL-1ra does not activate the protein kinase activity responsible for down-modulation of the EGF receptor on the murine 3T3 fibroblast cell line. The failure to induce general, early responses characteristic of IL-1 indicates that IL-1ra is unlikely to act as an agonist on any cell expressing the 80-kDa receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

A specific receptor antagonist for interleukin 1 prevents Escherichia coli-induced shock in rabbits.

Despite antibiotic therapy, the septic shock syndrome continues to have a high mortality. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 1 (IL 1), two polypeptide cytokines produced during sepsis, are thought to mediate the hypotension and tissue damage of shock. In the present studies, rabbits were infused with Escherichia coli organisms to produce shock. The IL 1 receptor antagonist (IL 1ra), which competes with IL 1 for occupancy of the IL 1 cell-surface receptors without agonist properties, was given 15 min before the bacterial infusion and during the subsequent 4 h. In saline-treated controls, hypotension was sustained for 4 h and death occurred for two of five rabbits; in rabbits treated with the IL 1ra, however, blood pressure was only transiently decreased, returned to pre-E. coli levels, and no deaths occurred. The associated leukopenia was also reduced by treatment with the antagonist (P less than 0.05). Histological examination of lung tissues showed reduced infiltrating neutrophils in the IL 1ra treatment group. Despite the attenuated responses in animals treated with the IL 1ra, circulating TNF and IL 1 levels were nearly identical in both groups. We conclude that specific blockade of IL 1 at the receptor level demonstrates an essential role for this cytokine in the pathogenesis of septic shock.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Localization of type X collagen in canine growth plate and adult canine articular cartilage.

Type X collagen was extracted from ends of canine growth plates by pepsin digestion after 4 M guanidine hydrochloride extraction, purified by stepwise salt precipitation (2.0 M NaCl in 0.5 M acetic acid), and chromatographed on a Bio-Gel A1.5 M column in 1.0 M CaCl2. Without reduction on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gels, the preparation yielded a single, high-molecular-weight (mol wt) band; after reduction, a single band of relative mol wt 5.0 x 10(4) was found. Polyclonal sera were raised against the purified collagen and used in the immunolocalization of canine type X collagen. As expected, indirect immunoperoxidase (IP) or indirect immunofluorescent staining with the polyclonal sera demonstrated that most of the immunoreactivity was localized in the zone of provisional calcification of the growth plate and in cartilage remnants in the metaphyseal region of the physis. A progressive decrease in staining toward the diaphysis of the fetal canine long bone was apparent as the trabecular structures were remodeled to bone. Unexpectedly, type X collagen was also detected in the zone of calcified, mature articular cartilage. It was concentrated in the pericellular matrix of the chondrocytes, appeared at or just above the tidemark, and was expressed immediately before mineralization. Identification of type X collagen in both the canine growth plate and the zone of calcified articular cartilage suggests that cells in the deep layer of cartilage and in the zone of calcified cartilage in the adult animal retain some characteristics of a growth plate and may be involved in regulation of mineralization at this critical interface. The expression of growth plate-like properties would allow the deep chondrocytes of mature articular cartilage to play a role in remodeling of the joint with age and in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Bursitis in association with solitary osteochondromas presenting as mass lesions.

Three patients with solitary osteochondromas which were increasing in size have been recently examined. Plain films were available on all patients; two patients had MR studies, and two had CT scans. In all three cases, malignant transformation of the osteochondroma was suspected from the cross-sectional imaging studies, but pathologic examination proved that these patients all had bursa formation without any evidence of malignancy. The incidence of this rare complication of solitary osteochondroma is discussed. Ultrasound is also recommended for the evaluation of enlarging solitary osteochondromas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

In vivo efficacy of albendazole against Giardia duodenalis in mice.

The antigiardial effects of albendazole were demonstrated in vivo using experimental infections of Giardia duodenalis in mice. These results complement previous in vivo studies in which albendazole was shown to have more potent antigiardial action than the currently applied antigiardial drugs. In mice, 2-4 doses (greater than 100 mg/kg twice daily) were required for complete inhibition of cyst excretion and full elimination of trophozoites from the small intestine. The high doses necessary in mice were not unexpected and are discussed in light of the possible pharmacokinetics of albendazole in the animal model used in this study.

Albendazole↗
PubMed1991

Critical comparison of Giardia duodenalis from Australia and Switzerland using isoenzyme electrophoresis.

Isoenzyme electrophoresis using 13 enzyme systems was applied to 31 Australian and 7 Swiss isolates of Giardia of human, cat, cattle, dog, sheep and rat origin. The Portland (ATCC No. 30888) reference strain was also included. The 39 isolates were divided into 22 different zymodemes. These consisted of 19 zymodemes containing the P1 and Australian isolates and three zymodemes containing Swiss isolates only. Differences in enzyme profiles between zymodemes was measured by euclidean distance and it was found that Australian isolates of Giardia exhibited more variation than the Swiss isolates. Relationships between zymodemes determined by clustering analysis are discussed with particular reference to the zoonotic potential of Giardia.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The origin of a new focus of infection with Echinococcus granulosus in Tasmania.

Hydatid cysts were discovered in cattle on King Island, north of Tasmania, where Echinococcus granulosus was thought to have been eradicated. Using enzyme electrophoresis, isolates from King Island were compared genetically with isolates from Tasmania and the mainland of Australia. The genetic distinctness of the King Island isolates make it unlikely that they originated from a recent introduction from either Tasmania or mainland Australia. Alternative possibilities, that the infection resulted from a recent introduction from another source or from previously undetected persistence of E. granulosus on King Island, could not be distinguished from available data.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

The response of intact Strongyloides ratti infective (L3) larvae to substrates and inhibitors of respiratory electron transport.

Live, intact third-stage larvae (L3s) of Strongyloides ratti in the absence of exogenous substrates consumed oxygen at a rate (E-QO2) of 181.8 +/- 12.4 ng atoms min-1 mg dry weight-1 at 35 degrees C. Respiratory electron transport (RET) Complex I inhibitor rotenone (2 microM) produced 33 +/- 6.5% inhibition of the E-QO2. Unusually the rotenone-induced inhibition was not relieved by 5 mM-succinate. The E-QO2 of intact L3s was refractory to RET Complex III inhibitor antimycin A at 2 microM; 4 microM-antimycin inhibited less than or equal to 10% of the E-QO2. The electron donor couple ascorbate/TMPD augmented the E-QO2 in the presence of rotenone (2 microM) and antimycin A (4 microM) by 110%. Azide (1 mM) stimulated the antimycin A refractory QO2 by 36.6 +/- 7.2% which was only partially inhibited by 1.0 mM-KCN (IC50 = 0.8 mM). The data suggest the presence of classical (CPW) and alternate (APW) electron transport pathways in S. ratti L3s.

Animals↗