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R G Crystal

Publications and source records attributed to R G Crystal.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Expression of the secretory leukoprotease inhibitor gene in epithelial cells.

The secretory leukoprotease inhibitor (SLPI) gene codes for a 12-kD protein that within the lung protects the airway epithelium from neutrophil elastase. Screening of 228 alleles in 114 individuals for sequence differences by RNase protection of genomic DNA revealed no detectable polymorphisms in SLPI gene exons II-IV. SLPI gene expression in the lung was demonstrated by identifying SLPI mRNA transcripts in bronchial epithelial cells freshly isolated from normals. Cell lines derived from mucosal surfaces (HS-24 bronchial squamous cell carcinoma, HeLa cervical carcinoma) actively transcribe the SLPI gene and contain SLPI mRNA transcripts, while lung fibroblasts demonstrate no evidence of SLPI gene expression. SLPI mRNA transcripts appear to be relatively stable, with mRNA levels only mildly affected by inhibition of RNA synthesis. Chromatin DNA of HS-24 cells demonstrates two DNase I hypersensitivity sites within the 5' flanking region of exon I of the SLPI gene, whereas fibroblast chromatin has no DNase I accessible sites in the same region. Further analysis of the 5' flanking region demonstrated two contiguous transcription start sites, CAAT and TATA boxes, and several potential regions of known DNA binding proteins. Overall, the SLPI gene appears to be a relatively nonpolymorphic, stable gene that is constitutively expressed at specific tissue sites, but has the potential to be modulated at both the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Organ specific cytokine therapy. Local activation of mononuclear phagocytes by delivery of an aerosol of recombinant interferon-gamma to the human lung.

In the context of the central role of the alveolar macrophage in host defense of the respiratory epithelial surface, and the ability of IFN-gamma to activate mononuclear phagocytes, we have evaluated strategies to use rIFN-gamma to activate human alveolar macrophages in vivo. To accomplish this, rIFN-gamma was administered to nonsmoking normals, the amounts of IFN-gamma quantified in serum and respiratory epithelial lining fluid (ELF) and the status of IFN-gamma related activation of blood monocytes and alveolar macrophages was evaluated by quantifying the expression of mRNA transcripts of IP-10, a gene induced specifically by IFN-gamma. Systemic administration (subcutaneous) of maximally tolerated amounts of rIFN-gamma (250 micrograms) was followed by detectable levels of IFN-gamma in serum but not ELF, the expression of IP-10 transcripts in blood monocytes but not alveolar macrophages, and multiple systemic adverse effects. To circumvent the inability of systemic administration to reach respiratory ELF and activate alveolar macrophages, rIFN-gamma (250-1,000 micrograms) was inhaled as an aerosol once daily for 3 d. Strikingly, while IFN-gamma was not detected in serum it was detectable in respiratory ELF in a dose-dependent fashion. Further, alveolar macrophages, but not blood monocytes, expressed IP-10 mRNA transcripts and, importantly, inhalation of aerosolized rIFN-gamma was not associated with local or systemic adverse effects. Thus, it is feasible to use rIFN-gamma to activate alveolar macrophages by targeting the cytokine directly to the lung. These data suggest a potential strategy for targeted cytokine therapy, without systemic side effects, to augment respiratory tract defenses in individuals at risk for or with lung infection.

Actins↗
PubMed1991

Neutrophil accumulation in the lung in alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency. Spontaneous release of leukotriene B4 by alveolar macrophages.

The emphysema of alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) deficiency is conceptualized to result from insufficient alpha 1AT allowing neutrophil elastase to destroy lung parenchyma. In addition to the deficiency of alpha 1AT in these individuals resulting from mutations in the alpha 1AT gene, it is recognized that, for unknown reasons, there are also increased numbers of neutrophils in their lungs compared with normal individuals. With the knowledge that alveolar macrophages have surface receptors for neutrophil elastase, we hypothesized that the neutrophil accumulation in the lower respiratory tract in alpha 1AT deficiency may result, in part, from release of neutrophil chemotactic activity by alveolar macrophages as they bind uninhibited neutrophil elastase. Consistent with this hypothesis, alpha 1AT-deficient alveolar macrophages spontaneously released nearly threefold more neutrophil chemotactic activity than normal alveolar macrophages. Analysis of alpha 1AT-deficient macrophage supernates by reverse-phase HPLC, molecular sieve chromatography, radioimmunoassay, and absorption with anti-LTB4 antibody revealed that the majority of the chemotactic activity was leukotriene B4 (LTB4), a mediator absent from normal macrophage supernates. Consistent with this hypothesis, incubation of normal macrophages with human neutrophil elastase resulted in the release of the same neutrophil chemotactic mediator. Furthermore, purified human alpha 1AT was able to prevent the neutrophil elastase from stimulating the macrophages to release the chemotactic factor. Together, these findings suggest that the absence of a normal antineutrophil elastase screen in the lower respiratory tract permits free neutrophil elastase to bind to alveolar macrophages, resulting in the release of LTB4, a process which attracts neutrophils to the alveoli of alpha 1AT deficient individuals, thus accelerating the lung destruction that characterizes this disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Severe deficiency of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator messenger RNA carrying nonsense mutations R553X and W1316X in respiratory epithelial cells of patients with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common, lethal inherited disorder in the Caucasian population. We have recently reported two African-American patients with nonsense mutations in each CF gene and severe pancreatic disease, but mild pulmonary disease. In order to examine the effect of these nonsense mutations on CF gene expression, bronchial and nasal epithelial cells were obtained from one of these patients (no. 246), a compound heterozygote for nonsense mutations R553X and W1316X; a healthy normal individual; a patient (no. 528) homozygous for the common CF mutation (delta F508); and a CF patient (no. 272) who carries the R553X mutation and a missense mutation, S549N. When mRNA from bronchial cells of the normal individual, the delta F508 homozygote, and the S549N/R553X compound heterozygote was reverse transcribed and amplified by polymerase chain reaction using primers derived from the CF gene, DNA fragments of the predicted size were observed. However, patient no. 246 with nonsense mutations in each CF gene has no detectable cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) messenger RNA, and therefore should have severely diminished, and possibly absent, CFTR protein. Furthermore, less than 2% of the CFTR transcripts in nasal epithelial cells from patient no. 272 (S549N/R553X) were derived from the gene with the nonsense mutation. We conclude that severe reduction in CFTR mRNA causes CF, but can have different consequences in the lung and pancreas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Use of a highly purified alpha 1-antitrypsin standard to establish ranges for the common normal and deficient alpha 1-antitrypsin phenotypes.

Diagnosis of the hereditary disorder alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) deficiency is critically dependent on quantification of serum levels of alpha 1AT, a 52-kDa antiprotease that serves to protect the lung from destruction by neutrophil elastase. Although the measurement of serum alpha 1AT levels is not difficult, there is no international standard for alpha 1AT, and investigators in the field recognize that widely used commercially available standards vary by as much as 50 percent. To establish accurate ranges for the common normal and deficient alpha 1AT phenotypes, the present study uses a purified alpha 1AT standard to quantify the alpha 1AT serum levels of 443 individuals with common normal and deficient alpha 1AT phenotypes, including MM, ZZ, SS, MZ, MS, and SZ. Based on the observed values, a statistical model was developed to generate predicted frequency distributions of alpha 1AT serum levels for each of these phenotypes. Based on these studies, the ranges (5th to 95th percentile) for alpha 1AT serum levels of the common phenotypes are: MM, 20 to 53 mumol/L; SS, 20 to 48 mumol/L; ZZ, 3.4 to 7.0 mumol/L; MZ, 15 to 42 mumol/L; MS, 18 to 52 mumol/L; and SZ, 10 to 23 mumol/L. This alpha 1AT standard and these ranges are being used for the National alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency Registry organized under the auspices of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗
PubMed1991

Characterization of the molecular basis of the alpha 1-antitrypsin F allele.

alpha 1-Antitrypsin (alpha 1AT), the major serum inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, is a highly polymorphic serum protein associated with characteristic isoelectric-focusing (IEF) patterns for most variants. To characterize the molecular basis of the anodal F variant, the DNA sequence of the coding exons of an FZ individual was determined. The F allele differed from the normal M1(Val213) alpha 1AT allele by a single nucleotide transversion of cytosine to thymidine, which results in the amino acid substitution Arg223 CGT----Cys TGT. Inheritance of the F mutation was confirmed by family analysis using allele-specific amplification. In the context that the normal alpha 1AT molecule has only one cysteine residue, a mutation resulting in the addition of a second cysteine may influence the three-dimensional form of the protein and/or permit interaction with other plasma proteins with free-SH groups and may be responsible for the observation that the major F alpha 1AT bands often migrate as doublets in IEF gels.

Alleles↗
PubMed1990

Alpha 1-antitrypsin Wbethesda: molecular basis of an unusual alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency variant.

Molecular analysis of alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) Wbethesda revealed that it differs from the normal M1 (Ala213) allele by a single base mutation causing an amino acid substitution Ala336 GCT----Thr ACT. Evaluation of alpha 1AT biosynthesis directed by the Wbethesda allele showed that although Wbethesda alpha 1AT mRNA was translated normally in vitro, transfection of the Wbethesda cDNA into COS-I cells was associated with human alpha 1AT secretion of 50% that of cells transfected with a normal alpha 1AT cDNA. The pattern of alpha 1AT biosynthesis was not intracellular accumulation as observed with the common Z alpha 1AT deficiency allele, but reduced intracellular alpha 1AT, suggesting intracellular degradation of the newly synthesized Wbethesda molecule. Together these observations suggest that in heterozygous combination with a Z or Null alpha 1AT allele, the Wbethesda variant causes "alpha 1AT deficiency", thus classifying it as an alpha 1AT "at risk" allele for emphysema.

Alleles↗
PubMed1990

Diversity in junctional sequences associated with the common human V gamma 9 and V delta 2 gene segments in normal blood and lung compared with the limited diversity in a granulomatous disease.

The T cell receptor (TCR) junctional regions (N regions) of the common human V gamma 9 and V delta 2 gene segments were sequenced from the blood and lung of normal individuals (195 transcripts) and a group of individuals with sarcoidosis (220 transcripts), a granulomatous disease in which increased numbers of V gamma 9+ gamma/delta + T cells are often observed. In normal individuals, the vast majority (86%) of blood V gamma 9 transcripts used the J gamma P gene segment. In contrast to this restriction of J region usage, there was a large diversity of the junctional region, with less than 20% of blood V gamma 9 junctional regions showing identical sequences for any one normal individual. For the blood V delta 2 transcripts in normal individuals, there was restriction of J region usage, with 93% using J delta 1. The junctional regions were even more diverse than for V gamma 9, with a unique sequence observed in each transcript examined. Compared with blood, sequences from the normal lung showed a small increase in identical junctional regions, particularly in one individual where 46% of V gamma 9 transcripts examined were identical, suggesting a response of some gamma/delta T cells to antigens found in the lung in the normal state. In marked contrast to normals, some individuals with sarcoidosis had large numbers of V gamma 9 transcripts, as well as V delta 2 transcripts, sharing identical sequences. For V gamma 9 blood transcripts, two individuals showed 84 and 56% of junctional region sequences to be identical, respectively. Similarly, blood V delta 2 transcripts showed 43, 33, and 25% identical junctional region sequences in three individuals. In the sarcoid patient with the most striking over-representation of blood V gamma 9 junctional sequences, lung V gamma 9 transcripts showed increased (67%) use of the same junctional region sequence as in blood. This limited diversity of TCR junctional regions among some individuals with sarcoidosis suggests a response from specific stimuli, possibly antigenic, and that gamma/delta T cells may play a specific role in granuloma formation in sarcoidosis, as has been suggested in other granulomatous diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Biased accumulation of T lymphocytes with "memory"-type CD45 leukocyte common antigen gene expression on the epithelial surface of the human lung.

Expression of alternatively spliced products of the CD45 leukocyte common antigen gene identifies two populations of blood T cells: "naive" T cells (containing CD45R-IV mRNA transcripts, CD45 220, 205 kD surface proteins detected with antibody 2H4) that respond poorly to recall antigens, and "memory" T cells (containing CD45R-0 mRNA transcripts, expressing CD45 180 kD protein, detected with antibody UCHL1) that respond promptly to recall antigens. While blood contains approximately equal numbers of "naive" and "memory" T cells, it is known that UCHL1+ "memory" T cells accumulate at sites of chronic inflammation. To test the concept that "memory" T cells are a feature of the T lymphocyte populations present in tissues chronically exposed to antigens in normals as well as in individuals with chronic inflammation, we evaluated T lymphocytes obtained from blood and the epithelial surface of the lower respiratory tract of normal individuals for the expression of specific CD45 surface protein isoforms and corresponding mRNA transcripts. Flow cytometric analysis of CD45 220, 205, and 180 kD surface proteins demonstrated that lung T cells of normals are dominated by UCHL1+ "memory" cells (86 +/- 2%) while autologous blood T cells have equal proportions of "memory" UCHL1+ and "naive" 2H4+ T cells. In addition, polymerase chain reaction analysis of CD45 mRNA transcripts revealed that the lung cells expressed CD45R-0 mRNA transcripts but 17-fold fewer CD45R-IV mRNA transcripts than autologous blood T cells (p less than 0.01). The pattern of lung T cells being dominated by CD45R-0 mRNA+, UCHL1+ "memory" T cells was also observed in individuals with chronic beryllium disease, an example of a chronic inflammatory disease in which antigen-specific T cells accumulate on the pulmonary epithelial surface. Like the normals, the lung T cells of the beryllium disease patients were dominated by CD45R-0 mRNA transcript+, UCHL1+, T cells. However, on a quantitative basis, the beryllium patients contained far greater numbers of T cells, i.e., the T cell populations on the surface of the normal and inflamed lung are similar in character ("memory" T cells) but differ in numbers (there are far more in the chronic inflammatory state). Thus, T cell populations on the epithelial surface of the normal lung likely reflect the chronic exposure to a diverse set of antigens, with a pattern that is qualitatively similar to that observed among T cells accumulating in response to a single antigen.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Strategies for aerosol therapy of alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency by the aerosol route.

Alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a genetic disease in which low serum and lung levels of the antiprotease AAT cause a deficiency of the anti-elastase defensive screen of the lower respiratory tract such that neutrophil elastase is free to degrade the connective tissue of the lung, eventually resulting in emphysema. Intravenous AAT infusion therapy restores lung levels of AAT, but is inefficient, costly and a demanding form of therapy. As an alternative, we evaluated aerosol delivery of human plasma AAT (pAAT) and recombinant DNA-produced AAT (rAAT), as a means of providing anti-elastase protection to the lower respiratory tract. In vitro studies demonstrated that both pAAT and rAAT can be aerosolized into droplets suitable for alveolar deposition without loss of antiprotease activity. When administered by aerosol to individuals with AAT deficiency, pAAT and rAAT each significantly raised lung epithelial lining fluid levels of AAT and anti-neutrophil elastase capacity, with the likelihood that twice daily administration of 100 mg of either form would result in normalization of lung anti-elastase defenses at the alveolar surface. Studies in sheep further demonstrated that the aerosolized pAAT and rAAT were each able to pass through alveolar epithelium and gain access to the interstitial compartment of the lung, thus increasing anti-elastase defenses of the lung interstitium. Therapy was safe and well tolerated in all cases. Aerosol therapy with pAAT or rAAT is a safe, feasible, and likely a biochemically efficacious alternative to intravenous AAT augmentation therapy and merits further long-term studies for clinical therapy.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1990

Augmentation of glutathione in the fluid lining the epithelium of the lower respiratory tract by directly administering glutathione aerosol.

Glutathione (GSH), a cysteine-containing tripeptide, functions as an antioxidant, provides cells with cysteine, and is required for optimal function of the immune system. Because the epithelial-lining fluid (ELF) of the lower respiratory tract normally contains high GSH levels and lung ELF GSH deficiency states can exist, we evaluated the feasibility of augmenting lung ELF GSH levels by (i) administering GSH to sheep i.v. and by direct aerosolization and then (ii) measuring the GSH levels in lung ELF, lung lymph, venous plasma, and urine. When GSH (600 mg) was administered i.v. (n = 11), GSH levels in venous plasma, lung lymph, and ELF rose, but only transiently, suggesting the i.v. route would not deliver adequate GSH to the alveolar epithelial surface. For directly administering GSH to the lung by the aerosol route, in vitro studies were first conducted to show that greater than 50% of a GSH solution could be converted to droplets less than 3 microns in aerodynamic diameter without oxidizing the GSH. To target functional GSH to the lower respiratory tract, an aerosolized solution of GSH (600 mg) was administered to sheep (n = 12). Significantly, the GSH level in ELF increased 7-fold at 30 min (preaerosol, 45.7 +/- 10 microM; 30-min postaerosol, 337 +/- 64 microM; P less than 0.001). The ELF GSH levels remained above baseline at 1 hr (P less than 0.01), returning toward baseline over a 2-hr period. In contrast, GSH levels in lung lymph, venous plasma, and urine were not significantly increased during the period--i.e., aerosol therapy selectively augmented the GSH levels only at the lung epithelial surface. Thus, functional GSH can be delivered by aerosol to directly augment the ELF GSH levels of the lower respiratory tract. Such an approach may prove useful in treating a variety of lung disorders.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1990

Molecular basis of alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and emphysema associated with the alpha 1-antitrypsin Mmineral springs allele.

The Mmineral springs alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) allele, causing alpha 1AT deficiency and emphysema, is unique among the alpha 1AT-deficiency alleles in that it was observed in a black family, whereas most mutations causing alpha 1AT deficiency are confined to Caucasian populations of European descent. Immobilized pH gradient analysis of serum demonstrated that alpha 1AT Mmineral springs migrated cathodal to the normal M2 allele. Evaluation of Mmineral springs alpha 1AT as an inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, its natural substrate, demonstrated markedly lower than normal function. Characterization of the alpha 1AT Mmineral springs gene demonstrated that it differed from the common normal M1(Ala213) allele by a single-base substitution causing the amino acid substitution Gly-67 (GGG)----Glu-67 (GAG). Capitalizing on the fact that this mutation creates a polymorphism for the restriction endonuclease AvaII, family analysis demonstrated that the Mmineral springs alpha 1AT allele was transmitted in an autosomal-codominant fashion. Evaluation of genomic DNA showed that the index case was homozygous for the alpha 1AT Mmineral springs allele. Cytoplasmic blot analysis of blood monocytes of the Mmineral springs homozygote demonstrated levels of alpha 1AT mRNA transcripts comparable to those in cells of a normal M1 (Val213) homozygote control. Evaluation of in vitro translation of Mmineral springs alpha 1AT mRNA transcripts demonstrated a normal capacity to direct the translation of alpha 1AT. Evaluation of secretion of alpha 1AT by the blood monocytes by pulse-chase labeling with [35S]methionine, however, demonstrated less secretion by the Mmineral springs cells than normal cells. To characterize the posttranslational events causing the alpha 1AT-secretory defect associated with the alpha 1AT Mmineral springs gene, retroviral gene transfer was used to establish polyclonal populations of murine fibroblasts containing either a normal human M1 alpha 1AT cDNA or an Mmineral springs alpha 1AT cDNA and expressing comparable levels of human alpha 1AT mRNA transcripts. Pulse-chase labeling of these cells with [35S]methionine demonstrated less secretion of human alpha 1AT from the Mmineral springs cells than from the M1 cells, and evaluation of cell lysates also demonstrated lower amounts of intracellular human alpha 1AT in the Mmineral springs cells than in the normal M1 control cells. Thus, the Gly-67 --> Glu mutation that characterizes Mmineral springs causes reduced alpha 1AT secretion on the basis of aberrant posttranslational alpha 1AT biosynthesis by a mechanism distinct from that associated with the alpha 1AT Z allele, whereby intracellular aggregation of the mutant protein is etiologic of the alpha 1AT-secretory defect. Furthermore, for the alpha 1AT protein that does reach the circulation, this mutation markedly affects the ability of the molecule to inhibit neutrophil elastase; i.e., the alpha 1AT Mmineral springs allele predisposes to emphysema on the basis of serum apha 1AT deficiency coupled with alpha AT dysfunction.

Alleles↗
PubMed1990

Aerosolization of recombinant SLPI to augment antineutrophil elastase protection of pulmonary epithelium.

In a variety of lung diseases the respiratory epithelial surface must contend with an increased burden of neutrophil elastase (NE). One candidate for augmenting epithelial anti-NE protection is the secretory leukoprotease inhibitor (SLPI). In vitro evaluation demonstrated that 96 +/- 1% of the recombinant SLPI (rSLPI) molecules were capable of inhibiting NE, with an association rate constant of 7.1 +/- 0.1 X 10(6) M-1.s-1. Evaluation of rSLPI after in vitro and in vivo aerosolization showed that aerosolization did not alter rSLPI. Aerosolization of a single dose of 50 mg rSLPI to sheep resulted in a fourfold increase of the anti-NE capacity in epithelial lining fluid (ELF) at 3 h, with a half-life in ELF of 12 h. After aerosolization some rSLPI appeared in lung lymph. Simultaneous aerosolization of rSLPI and recombinant alpha 1-antitrypsin (rAAT) demonstrated a molar ratio of the concentration in lymph to the concentration in ELF 3 h after the aerosol eightfold higher for rAAT than for rSLPI. Overall, these observations demonstrate that it is feasible to use aerosolized rSLPI to directly augment the anti-NE capacity of the lung, particularly on the pulmonary epithelial surface.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1990

Persistent lower respiratory tract inflammation associated with interstitial lung disease in patients with tropical pulmonary eosinophilia following conventional treatment with diethylcarbamazine.

Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE) presents as an acute syndrome with dyspnea, fluffy infiltrates, and rounded opacities on the chest radiograph, reduced lung function, marked eosinophilia in the blood and lower respiratory tract, and high titers of specific IgE and IgG antifilarial antibodies. The standard therapy for TPE is a 3-wk course of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) following which there is almost always a marked improvement in all parameters. However, clinical observations suggest that the disease can persist despite DEC therapy and lead to chronic dyspnea with restrictive lung impairment. To evaluate the concept that DEC therapy is not completely "curative" for TPE, but rather leaves most individuals with a mild, chronic form of TPE defined by persistent inflammation of the lower respiratory tract, we evaluated 23 individuals an average of 12 +/- 2 months following a standard 3-wk course of diethylcarbamazine for acute TPE. In the majority there were mild, persistent symptoms referrable to the lung, chest X-ray abnormalities, blood eosinophilia, and elevated serum IgE and filarial specific IgG. On the average, lung function was consistent with the presence of chronic, mild interstitial lung disease. When the inflammatory cells from the lower respiratory tract were examined, there was a persistent eosinophilic alveolitis (TPE/post-DEC 1769 +/- 376 eosinophils/microliters epithelial lining fluid; normal subjects 256 +/- 38, p less than 0.02). Evaluation of the lower respiratory tract inflammatory cells recovered from the TPE/post-DEC-treated individuals demonstrated spontaneous release of exaggerated amounts of O2-. and H2O2 compared to normal subjects (p less than 0.05, both comparisons).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

Molecular analysis of the heterogeneity among the P-family of alpha-1-antitrypsin alleles.

The rare P-family of alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) variants is defined by the position of migration of the alpha 1AT protein on isoelectric focusing of serum (IEF) between the common M and S variants. To begin to examine the molecular heterogeneity among the P-type alleles, two unrelated subjects and their families identified by IEF to be carrying a P allele were analyzed. The first, Plowell, is a deficiency allele associated with reduced serum alpha 1AT levels, and the second, Psaint albans, is associated with normal serum levels. DNA sequence analysis of Plowell, the more anodal of the two variants on IEF analysis, showed that if differed from the normal M1(Val213) allele by a single base and amino acid substitution Asp256 GAT----Val GTT. In contrast, Psaint albans, a slightly more cathodally positioned variant on IEF analysis, differed from the coding exons of the normal M1(Val213) allele by two mutations, Asp341 GAC----Asn AAC, and a silent substitution in the same codon as the Plowell variant, Asp256 GAT----Asp GAC. Evaluation of Plowell mRNA transcripts by Northern and cytoblot analyses demonstrated they were of normal size and amount, and Plowell mRNA transcripts could be translated normally in vitro. Retroviral insertion of the Plowell cDNA into the genome of 3T3 fibroblasts demonstrated that it directed the synthesis of alpha 1AT, but at levels 24% that of the Psaint albans cDNA or the normal M1 (Val213) cDNA, with a pattern of biosynthesis consistent with the concept that the Plowell alpha 1AT deficiency state results from intracellular degradation of the newly synthesized Plowell protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Regulation of insulin-like growth factor I gene expression in the human macrophage-like cell line U937.

Activated macrophages release tissue forms of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), 20-25-kD products of the IGF-I gene, thus providing an extracellular growth and differentiation signal at sites of inflammation. To examine the control of IGF-I gene expression in mononuclear phagocytes, the human macrophage-like cell line U937 was evaluated at rest and after surface activation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or Ca2+ ionophore. Northern analysis and RNAse protection analysis with 32P-labeled IGF-I-specific probes demonstrated that the IGF-I mRNA transcripts of resting U937 cells were similar in size and amount to those of resting human alveolar macrophages, mononuclear phagocytes known to express the IGF-I gene. Nuclear run-off assays demonstrated that surface activation of U937 cells increased the transcription rate of the IGF-I gene four- to fivefold, a process that was inhibited by cycloheximide, suggesting that active protein synthesis was involved in the activation pathway. Despite this, cytoplasmic IGF-I mRNA levels after surface activation declined markedly, a process blocked by a protein kinase C inhibitor (for PMA activation) or a calmodulin antagonist (for Ca2+ ionophore activation). Like the increased transcription of the IGF-I gene, modulation of IGF-I mRNA transcript levels required active protein synthesis; in the presence of cycloheximide constitutive IGF-I mRNA levels increased and surface activation no longer caused a decrease in transcript number. Interestingly, surface activation caused a rapid release of IGF-I, even in the presence of a protein synthesis inhibitor, suggesting that mononuclear phagocytes have a preformed, stored, releasable pool of IGF-I. Together these observations demonstrate that IGF-I gene expression is complex and probably involves control of transcription rate, cytoplasmic mRNA levels possibly mediated through protein kinase C, calcium influx and calmodulin, and finally, release of preformed IGF-I from a storage pool.

Calcimycin↗