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Biomedical subjects

R H Jensen

Publications and source records attributed to R H Jensen.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Signal transduction by glycophorin A: role of extracellular and cytoplasmic domains in a modulatable process.

Binding of ligands to the extracellular region of the erythrocyte transmembrane protein glycophorin A induces a decrease in membrane deformability. Since the property of membrane deformability is regulated by the skeletal proteins on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane, this suggests that ligand binding may initiate a transmembrane signal. To further study this process, we examined which domains of the extracellular region of glycophorin are involved in signal transduction and whether the cytoplasmic domain of the molecule is necessary for transmitting the signal. Using the ektacytometer, we compared the effect on deformability of four monoclonal antibodies that detect different epitopes on glycophorin A. We found that 9A3 (which recognized the amino terminus of glycophorin) caused a 5.8-fold increase in rigidity, R-10 and 10F7 (which recognized epitopes in the mid-region of the extracellular domain) caused a 10.8-fold increase in rigidity and B14 (which binds to glycophorin close to the membrane) caused a 18-fold increase in rigidity. Further, a direct relationship was observed between the degree of antibody-induced rigidity and the amount of glycophorin A that became associated with the skeletal proteins in a Triton shell assay. In Miltenberger V erythrocytes, which contain a hybrid sialoglycoprotein with no cytoplasmic domain, antibody binding did not induce an increase in rigidity. These results imply that glycophorin A is capable of a modulatable form of transmembrane signaling that is determined by the extracellular domain to which the ligand binds, and the cytoplasmic domain of glycophorin A is crucial for this process.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Assessment of D-dimer in plasma: diagnostic value in suspected deep venous thrombosis of the leg.

D-dimer, a fibrin degradation product containing the gamma-gamma crosslink of fibrin, can now be assayed by the use of highly specific monoclonal antibodies. Such assays are not influenced by fibrinogenolysis and measurements can be performed on citrated plasma. The diagnostic values of four such assays--two based on ELISA technique and two on latex agglutination--were evaluated in 108 out of 118 consecutive patients admitted with suspected deep venous thrombosis of the leg. With cut-off limits defined by a pilot study and with venography as reference, a negative D-dimer test was confirmed in 45 of 46 patients (98%; 95% confidence limits: 88-99.9%) after ELISA-M, in 43 of 44 (98%; 88-99.9%) after ELISA-S, in 54 of 67 (81%; 69-89%) after Latex-M and in 40 of 44 (91%; 78-97%) after Latex-S. A positive D-dimer test was confirmed in 61% (48-73%), 59% (46-71%), 63% (47-78%), and 55% (42-67%) respectively. These data suggest the use of one of the ELISA assays for screening. A negative D-dimer test excludes deep venous thrombosis, whereas a positive D-dimer should be followed by venography. By this procedure a 40% reduction of venographic examinations can be expected.

Acute Disease↗

Evidence for increased somatic cell mutations at the glycophorin A locus in atomic bomb survivors.

A recently developed assay for somatic cell mutations was used to study survivors of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima. This assay measures the frequency of variant erythrocytes produced by erythroid precursor cells with mutations that result in a loss of gene expression at the polymorphic glycophorin A (GPA) locus. Significant linear relations between variant frequency (VF) and radiation exposure were observed for three different variant cell phenotypes. The spontaneous and induced VFs agree with previous measurements of radiation-induced mutagenesis in other systems; this evidence supports a mutational origin for variant cells characterized by a loss of GPA expression and suggests that the GPA assay system may provide a cumulative dosimeter of past radiation exposures. VFs for some survivors differ dramatically from the calculated dose response, and these deviations appear to result primarily from statistical fluctuations in the number of mutations in the stem-cell pool. These fluctuations allow one to estimate the number of long-lived hemopoietic stem cells in humans.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Normal membrane function of abnormal beta-related erythrocyte sialoglycoproteins.

Red cells totally deficient in beta and gamma sialoglycoproteins (the Leach type of Gerbich-negative) are elliptocytic and have altered membrane physical properties as evidenced by marked decreases in both membrane mechanical stability and membrane deformability. Red cells from individuals who are of the Gerbich and Yus phenotypes of Gerbich-negative are also deficient in beta and gamma sialoglycoproteins, but possess abnormal beta-related sialoglycoproteins. In order to determine if these beta-related sialoglycoproteins can functionally substitute for normal sialoglycoproteins, we measured membrane deformability and stability of red cells of the Gerbich and Yus phenotypes. In contrast to the red cells of the Leach phenotype, cells of Gerbich and Yus phenotypes were found to have normal membrane deformability and stability. Moreover, flow cytometric analysis using a monoclonal anti-beta antibody revealed that the Gerbich and Yus phenotype red cells expressed the beta-related sialoglycoprotein to the same extent as its normal counterpart on normal cells. Based on these data, we suggest that the abnormal beta-related sialoglycoproteins can functionally substitute for normal beta and gamma sialoglycoproteins.

Erythrocyte Deformability↗

Coordinate glycosylation and cell surface expression of glycophorin A during normal human erythropoiesis.

The expression of two epitopes on glycophorin A (GPA) during erythroid development was examined on normal human bone marrow using quantitative flow cytometry. The highly correlated binding of two monoclonal antibodies, one sensitive and the other insensitive to glycosylation, indicated that the two epitopes were coordinately expressed during erythroid development. Both antigens reached a maximum expression during the early normoblast stage and were maintained at a constant amount per cell throughout further maturation to erythrocytes. These data suggest that glycosylation of GPA, as detected by antibodies recognizing blood group (M) and (N) antigens, does not increase during erythroid maturation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Monoclonal antibodies recognizing single amino acid substitutions in hemoglobin.

Four monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to non-human primate hemoglobin referred to as Cap-4, Cap-5, Rh-2, and Rh-4, and two mAb to human hemoglobin, referred to as H-1 and H-3 were isolated and were partially characterized. Binding studies with these mAb on a panel of hemoglobins and isolated alpha and beta globin chains revealed a unique reactivity pattern for each mAb. Amino acid sequence analysis of the antigens used to generate the binding data suggests that the specific recognition of certain hemoglobin antigens by each mAb is controlled by the presence of a particular amino acid at a specific position within the epitope. The use of synthetic peptides as antigens confirmed this observation for five of the mAb. No synthetic peptides were tested with the sixth mAb, Rh-2. The amino acids required for binding of mAb Cap-4, Cap-5, Rh-4, and Rh-2 to hemoglobin are alanine at beta 5, threonine at beta 13, glutamine at beta 125, and leucine at alpha 68. The non-human primate hemoglobin antibodies require a specific amino acid that is not present in human hemoglobin. The amino acid required for binding of Cap-4, Cap-5, and Rh-4 could arise by a single base change in the beta globin gene, whereas the amino acid required for Rh-2 binding would only occur if two base changes occurred. Thus these mAb are candidate probes for a somatic cell mutation assay on the basis of the detection of peripheral blood red cells that possess single amino acid substituted hemoglobin as a result of single base substitutions in the globin genes of precursor cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Measurements of the frequency of human erythrocytes with gene expression loss phenotypes at the glycophorin A locus.

An assay method is described for determining the frequency of human erythrocytes having a gene expression loss phenotype at the glycophorin A locus presumably due to in vivo somatic mutational events in erythroid precursor cells. Monoclonal antibodies specific for the M and N glycophorin A alleles are used to identify variant cells that lack the expression of one allele in blood samples from MN heterozygotes. Flow cytometry and sorting are used to enumerate and purify variant cells. Using three different antibody combinations which are sensitive to the loss of either the M or the N allele, we find that variant cells occur at a frequency of 1 X 10(-5) in normal donors. We also detect variant cells with an apparent homozygous phenotype suggesting that events leading to homozygosity may occur at similar frequencies to gene loss events. Significant increases in variant cell frequency are observed in cancer patients after exposure to mutagenic chemotherapy drugs.

Adult↗

Formation of Filaments by Pseudomonas putida.

When Pseudomonas putida 40 was grown on a variety of liquid media in which oxygen became a limiting factor during growth, the latter stages of growth involved the elongation of cells without septation, which can result in the complete filamentation of the culture (up to several hundred micrometers long). The filaments appeared to consist of a chain of protoplasts within a common sacculus. Later these filaments were capable of a rapid fragmentation by septation to give a population of ordinary rods with a corresponding increase in the number of viable particles but no appreciable change in total bacterial mass. Filamentation did not occur if slow growth rates were maintained by restriction of oxygen availability from the beginning of growth. In complex media filaments were not formed during growth on 1% peptone alone, but the addition of 0.1 M phosphate or 6.6 x 10 M EDTA induced extensive filamentation that was reversed by the addition of 6.6 x 10 M Mg. In minimal media a much higher Mg concentration than that required for active growth or present in the complex media was usually required for filamentation. A very narrow range of Mg concentration promoted filamentation, and this optimum differed markedly depending on the carbon source used. Other medium variations which influenced the level of filamentation are reported. We found that most strains of P. putida (including the neotype strain) and P. fluorescens gave filaments under the conditions developed with strain 40, whereas several strains of P. aeruginosa failed to give filaments on the same media.

Journal Article↗

Monoclonal antibodies specific for sickle cell hemoglobin.

Two mouse hybridoma cell lines were isolated which produce monoclonal antibodies that bind hemoglobin S. The mice were immunized with peptide-protein conjugates to stimulate a response to the amino terminal peptide of the beta chain of hemoglobin S, where the single amino acid difference between A and S occurs. Immunocharacterization of the antibodies shows that they bind specifically to the immunogen peptide and to hemoglobin S. The specificity for S is high enough that one AS cell in a mixture with a million AA cells is labeled by antibody, and such cells can be analyzed by flow cytometry. Immunoblotting of electrophoretic gels allows definitive identification of hemoglobin S as compared with other hemoglobins with similar electrophoretic mobility.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Flow cytometric characterization of normal and variant cells with monoclonal antibodies specific for glycophorin A.

Quantitative immunofluorescence measurements were performed on erythrocytes labeled with monoclonal antibodies to glycophorin A (GPA) to assess the level of binding of these antibodies to normal and variant cell types. The seven antibodies used in this study include two that bind preferentially to the M form of GPA, three that bind preferentially to the N form, and two that bind equally well to both. Flow cytometric analysis of mixtures of cells differing in M,N type showed binding specificities of greater than 100-fold for most of the antibodies, and showed that three antibodies bind cell-bound GPA with an affinity of approximately 10(9) M(-1). These data also showed that the level of expression of GPA varies by less than 10% from cell to cell and from individual to individual. Flow measurements were also done on human erythrocytes with the following variant forms of glycophorin: Mc, Mg, Mk, En(F), En(UK), Mi-I, Mi-II, Mi-III, S-s-U-, Tn+, and St(a+). Other cell types analyzed included erythrocytes from chimpanzee, rhesus, African green, and capuchin monkeys, and cells from the human erythroleukemia cell line, K562. Flow analysis with our seven antibodies showed these cell types have distinctive labeling patterns consistent with the known or inferred altered glycophorins presented on these cells. In most cases, variant alleles were expressed at normal levels. Our results support other observations that the variants En(UK) and St(a+) contain hybrid GPA-GPB proteins, and suggest that their level of expression is largely determined by the 3' end of the hybrid genes.

Animals↗

Analytic studies of foam cells from breast cancer precursors.

A preliminary study of foam cells from nipple aspirate fluid demonstrated the ability of image analysis to discriminate categories of breast disease. Foam cell images numbering 471 were collected from nipple aspirate samples representing three to six cases of each of the four following disease categories based on breast tissue diagnosis: benign, nonproliferative; hyperplasia; atypical hyperplasia; and cancer. Twenty-two shape and density parameters were measured for each cell image. Using multivariate analysis, eight nuclear and three cytoplasmic parameters showed significant differences (P less than 0.005) when tested among cell populations from the breast disease categories. Linear stepwise discriminant analysis enabled construction of a three-parameter model that was optimal for distinguishing among cell populations from the four categories of breast disease. The means of all twenty-three parameters were then evaluated on a per-patient basis. A second three-parameter model was constructed that distinguished, with 100% accuracy, patients with proliferative disease from those with nonproliferative disease. Grouping disease categories and comparing patients whose diagnosis was benign or hyperplasia versus atypical hyperplasia or malignant, the model placed patients in the correct group 83% of the time.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Morphologic changes in rat urothelial cells during carcinogenesis: I. Histologic and cytologic changes.

The methods of either image or flow cytometry applied to developing bladder tumors in rats requires satisfactory cell samples and a system for cell classification that is related to the lesions from which the cells are derived. Seven- to eight-week-old male Fisher 344 rats were fed 0.05% of the carcinogen N-butyl-4-N-hydroxybutylnitrosamine (BBN) in drinking water for 10 wk and then returned to tap water. Animals were killed at 14, 26, 34, 45 and 62 wk after the start of carcinogen feeding. Age-matched untreated animals were controls. Bladders were fixed, embedded, sectioned, and histologically evaluated, or were dissociated with a trypsin/EDTA solution into single cells that were Papanicolaou stained and evaluated for cytopathologic changes. Overnight urines were collected before killing; urine sediments were Papanicolaou stained and evaluated. Histologic features were hyperplasia at 14 wk, followed by slowly progressing papillary transitional cell tumors that eventually led to invasive carcinoma and were similar to those reported for this animal model. Treated animals had cytologic features of repair at 14 and 26 wk and neoplastic features at 45 and 62 wk. Both reparative and neoplastic changes were found at 34 wk. Cells were much more numerous in urines from treated rats (greater than 1,000 per sample) than in urines from controls (less than 1,000 per sample). Although exfoliated cells in urine samples were generally of poor quality, as many as 11% of cells were adequately preserved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Binding specificities of eight monoclonal antibodies to human glycophorin A--studies with McM, and MkEn(UK) variant human erythrocytes and M- and MNV-type chimpanzee erythrocytes.

Four newly derived mouse monoclonal antibodies to human glycophorin A are described. Three of these antibodies bind preferentially to the N form of glycophorin A; the fourth recognizes a shared determinant of the M and N forms. All four antibodies are directed toward the 39 amino acid, amino-terminal portion of the protein, and the N-specific antibodies require for binding the presence of N-acetyl-neuraminic acid on the glycosidically linked oligosaccharides. Cross-reaction of the N-specific antibodies to homozygous MM erythrocytes appears to result from binding to glycophorin B. In addition, these antibodies together with four previously reported glycophorin monoclonal antibodies, including two that specifically recognize the M form of glycophorin A, were tested for binding to McM and MkEn(UK) variant human erythrocytes and M- and MNV-type chimpanzee erythrocytes. Results obtained for five of the six M- or N-specific monoclonal antibodies point to the general immunodominance of the amino-terminal serine-leucine polymorphism and the requirement for sialic acid. One of the two M-specific monoclonal antibodies, 9A3, discriminates between the M, N, and Mc forms of glycophorin A solely on the basis of the amino-terminal serine-leucine polymorphism. The other M-specific antibody, 6A7, requires a more complex determinant involving the glycine-glutamic acid polymorphism at the fifth position in the sequence as well. The epitopes for all three N-specific monoclonal antibodies include the amino terminal leucine that occurs in the N form of glycophorin A and may also include the glutamic acid that occurs at position five. Our studies support the proposed Lepore-type glycophorin A-B hybrid gene rearrangement for the En(UK) allele found in the English En(a-) family. The data also confirm the expression of the M-like glycoprotein on chimpanzee erythrocytes and the presence of a human glycophorin B-like antigen on the MNV-type cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A computer-based data analysis system for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

A computerized system is presented for automating the data collection, processing, and displaying tasks involved in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. This system uses a through-the-well absorbance reader of microtiter plates interfaced to a minicomputer running the UNIX operating system. Optical density in each well of a 96-well microtiter plate is recorded as a function of time for up to 10 time points. These data are automatically transmitted to the remote computer. The rate of product formation is then calculated for each well, and a battery of analysis, display, and comparison programs can then be used by the researcher for data presentation. Using the initial rate of reaction as the basis for quantifying enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays focuses on the catalytic property of the enzyme and allows a large dynamic range of the assay on any plate. These programs can be adapted to virtually any mini- or microcomputer with a graphics display or a plotting device. Assuming moderately powerful computing hardware, throughputs of 50 plates per day are easily achieved. The programs work equally well with peroxidase, beta-galactosidase, or alkaline phosphatase conjugated second antibodies, and with whole cell or soluble antigens.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗