Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S C Liu

Publications and source records attributed to S C Liu.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

[A newly recognized precancerous lesion of the stomach--histopathologic features of globoid dysplasia of human gastric epithelium].

Histopathologic features of globoid dysplasia of human gastric epithelium were described by means of observation of serial paraffin sections of 53 cases of globoid dysplasia. It was divided into three grades according to the architecture and cellular atypia. Penetration of outer layer globoid dysplastic cells through the basement membrane of "double layers structure" appeared in typical globoid dysplasia Grade III and infiltration of globoid dysplastic cells into stroma as well as the formation of incipient focus of signet ring cell carcinoma were described. The twinkling scene of infiltration of the globoid dysplastic cells into lamina propria through the basement membrane and the damage of basement membrane by globoid dysplastic cells were shown by Gordon Sweet's stain. Through the analysis of background lesions of the globoid dysplasia, a conclusion can be made that the globoid dysplasia might be an important precancerous lesion of the signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗

Anti-shock effects of synthetic effective compositions of fructus aurantii immaturus. Experimental study and clinical observation.

Satisfactory results have been obtained in treating infective shock with injection of natural Fructus Aurantii immaturus (nat-FAI). The results of animal experiments and clinical observations on the anti-shock effects of the synthetic effective compositions of Fructus Aurantii immaturus (syn-FAI) are reported. The cardiac output increased from 0.53 to 0.87 L/min (P less than 0.01), and the cardiac index increased from 0.99 to 1.63 L/m2/min (P less than 0.01) in the endotoxic shock dogs after the treatment with syn-FAI. At the same time the blood stream in bulbar conjunctiva became accelerated and the dilated microvessels began to get smaller in most dogs. Of fifty children with infective shock treated with syn-FAI, forty-eight showed curative effects, with a total effective rate of 96%. The anti-shock effective compositions in FAI have been proved to be synephrine and N-methyltyrosamine. Moreover, syn-FAI has shown a more stable property, less side-effects and better clinical results than nat-FAI.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

Separation of the lipid bilayer from the membrane skeleton during discocyte-echinocyte transformation of human erythrocyte ghosts.

The membrane skeleton, a protein lattice at the internal side of the red cell membrane, is principally composed of spectrin, actin and proteins 4.1 and 4.9. We have examined negatively stained red cell ghosts and demonstrated, on an ultrastructural level, a separation of the lipid bilayer from the membrane skeleton during echinocytic transformation. The electron micrographs of discoidal red cell ghosts suspended in hypotonic buffer revealed a filamentous reticulum that uniformly laminated the entire submembrane region. transformation of the discoidal ghosts into echinocytic form, as induced by incubation in isotonic buffer, resulted in a disruption of skeletal continuity underlying the surface contour of the membrane spicule. The submembrane reticulum extended into the base and the neck of the spiny processes of the crenated ghosts but was absent at the tip of these projections. In addition, membrane vesicles without a submembrane reticulum were detected either attached to the tips of the spicules or released into the supernatant from the echinocytic ghosts. Protein analysis revealed that the released vesicles were enriched in bands 3, 4.1 and 7 and contained very little of the membrane skeletal proteins, spectrin and actin. The data indicate that during echinocyte formation, parts of the lipid bilayer physically separate from the membrane skeleton, leading to a formation of skeleton-poor lipid vesicles.

Actins↗

Viscoelastic properties of red cell membrane in hereditary elliptocytosis.

The viscoelastic properties of the RBC membrane are in part determined by a submembrane network of proteins consisting of spectrin alpha beta heterodimers (SpD) assembled head-to-head to form spectrin tetramers (SpT) and spectrin oligomers (SpO). SpT, in turn, are connected into a two-dimensional network by the linkage of distal ends of SpT to protein 4.1 and actin. With the micropipette technique, we determined the membrane viscoelastic properties of RBCs from a subset of patients with hereditary elliptocytosis (HE); these RBCs exhibit membrane skeletal instability, defective SpD self-association, and a molecular defect in the alpha I domain of spectrin, which is involved in the SpD-SpD contact (HE SpD alpha-SpD). The elastic modulus and viscosity of the membrane were significantly higher for the HE RBCs than for the control cells. Incubation of normal cells with N-ethyl-maleimide (NEM) produced a similar defective SpD self-association and a significant increase in the viscoelastic parameters of the membrane. The data provide evidence that the mode of assembly of membrane spectrin in the cytoskeletal protein network plays a major role in determining the rheologic behavior of erythrocyte membrane.

Elasticity↗

Identification of the protein 4.1 binding site to phosphatidylserine vesicles.

Previous studies have shown that protein 4.1 is a multifunctional protein that binds to spectrin, actin, glycophorins, the anion channel protein, and phosphatidylserine (PS). In this report, we have characterized the binding of protein 4.1 and its major proteolytic fragments to phospholipid vesicles. Pure 125I-labeled protein 4.1 was incubated with PS liposomes, and the free protein 4.1 was separated by ultracentrifugation. Protein 4.1 bound to PS liposomes with a high affinity. At saturation, there was 9 X 10(-3) pmol of protein 4.1 bound/pmol of PS with a Kd of 3.3 X 10(-7) M. When the protein 4.1 containing liposomes were examined in an electron microscope, the protein 4.1 was found uniformly decorating the vesicles in a rosettelike fashion. Among peripheral membrane proteins tested (spectrin, actin, ankyrin, and protein 4.1), protein 4.1 showed the highest level of binding to PS. The binding of protein 4.1 to PS, one of the principal phospholipids of the inner half of the lipid bilayer, was considerably higher than the binding to phosphatidylcholine, that is principally located in the outer half of the lipid bilayer. To identify the structural domain of protein 4.1 involved in binding to the phospholipids, a mixture of proteolytic fragments of protein 4.1 was incubated with PS liposomes. The liposomes selectively retained the 30-kilodalton (kDa) basic domain of the protein, as shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis/isoelectric focusing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Proteins↗

Detection of hemin release during hemoglobin S denaturation.

Sickle hemoglobin is relatively unstable upon oxidation or mechanical shaking. During denaturation, it generates oxygen radicals and hemichromes and ultimately precipitates in the form of micro-Heinz bodies. It is not clear, however, whether the degradation product hemin, which is a potent hemolytic agent and a potential perturbant to protein-protein interactions in the red cell membrane skeleton, is also generated during sickle hemoglobin denaturation. By specific absorption of hemin with Dowex AG 1-X8 anion-exchange resin at high-ionic strength conditions, we now separate hemin for quantitation from the bulk hemoglobin and its derivatives. We demonstrate that upon mechanical shaking oxyhemoglobin S denatures much faster than oxyhemoglobin A and that a considerably higher level of hemin is detected in the shaken hemoglobin S as compared with hemoglobin A. By using the same method to measure the hemin content in the hemolysate of fresh red cells from patients with sickle cell disease, we detect a three- to fivefold increase in the hemin content in these patients (0.4 to 0.75 mumol/L) as compared with normal individuals (0.1 to 0.15 mumol/L). These data suggest that the instability of sickle oxyhemoglobin leads to increased intracellular precipitation of hemoglobin and the release of hemin, which may play a role in the membrane lesion of sickle red cells.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗

Visualization of the hexagonal lattice in the erythrocyte membrane skeleton.

The isolated membrane skeleton of human erythrocytes was studied by high resolution negative staining electron microscopy. When the skeletal meshwork is spread onto a thin carbon film, clear images of a primarily hexagonal lattice of junctional F-actin complexes crosslinked by spectrin filaments are obtained. The regularly ordered network extends over the entire membrane skeleton. Some of the junctional complexes are arranged in the form of pentagons and septagons, approximately 3 and 8%, respectively. At least five forms of spectrin crosslinks are detected in the spread skeleton including a single spectrin tetramer linking two junctional complexes, three-armed Y-shaped spectrin molecules linking three junctional complexes, three-armed spectrin molecules connecting two junctional complexes with two arms bound to one complex and the third arm bound to the adjacent complex, double spectrin filaments linking two junctional complexes, and four-armed spectrin molecules linking two junctional complexes. Of these, the crosslinks of single spectrin tetramers and three-armed molecules are the most abundant and represent 84 and 11% of the total crosslinks, respectively. These observations are compatible with the presence of spectrin tetramers and oligomers in the erythrocyte membrane skeleton. Globular structures (9-12 nm in diameter) are attached to the majority of the spectrin tetramers or higher order oligomer-like molecules, approximately 80 nm from the distal ends of the spectrin tetramers. These globular structures are ankyrinor ankyrin/band 3-containing complexes, since they are absent when ankyrin and residual band 3 are extracted from the skeleton under hypertonic conditions.

Actins↗

Expression of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) in differentiated rat mammary tumors: estrogen induction of TGF alpha production.

Primary well-differentiated dimethylbenzene alpha-anthracene (DMBA)-or nitrosomethylurea (NMU)-induced rat mammary adenocarcinomas that are estrogen dependent possess biologically active and immunoreactive transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), which can be detected in a sort agar growth-promoting assay and by a specific liquid-phase competitive RIA, respectively. In contrast, tissue extracts prepared from transplantable undifferentiated DMBA-I and NMU-II rat mammary carcinomas that are estrogen independent and metastatic exhibit low or undetectable levels of TGF alpha. In addition, the primary DMBA- and NMU-induced rat mammary adenocarcinomas express a specific 4.8-kilobase TGF alpha mRNA species, whereas little or no TGF alpha mRNA can be detected in the transplantable DMBA-I and NMU-II tumors. Primary tumors synthesize type IV basement membrane collagen, whereas the transplantable tumors elaborate very little type IV collagen. Either TGF alpha or estrogens can differentially enhance the synthesis of type IV collagen by 0.5- to 4-fold over total protein synthesis in primary cultures of normal mouse mammary epithelial cells or in primary NMU-induced tumor cells, respectively. Therefore, TGF alpha could function as an estrogen-inducible autocrine growth factor for well differentiated rat mammary tumor cells by its ability to selectively regulate type IV collagen synthesis. Estrogens can modulate TGF alpha production in vivo in primary DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors, because ovariectomy results in a rapid decline (within 6 h) of TGF alpha mRNA levels. This response to estrogens can also be observed in vitro. Primary DMBA- or NMU-induced rat mammary tumor cells cultured in the presence of 17 beta-estradiol (10(-8) M) for 4 days show an increase in the level of TGF alpha mRNA over cells not treated with estrogen. This increase in TGF alpha mRNA is paralleled by a 2- to 3-fold increase in the levels of immunoreactive TGF alpha that can be detected and in the conditioned medium from estrogen-treated cells. These results suggest that TGF alpha may be an adjunct marker for those mammary tumors that are well differentiated adenocarcinomas and estrogen dependent and that estrogen-independent tumors do not constitutively produce TGF alpha or express TGF alpha mRNA.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Intracranial alveolar echinococcosis in China: discussion of surgical treatment.

Intracranial alveolar echinococcosis is an uncommon disease and difficult to treat. Three patients with central nervous system (CNS) involvement are reported, and the surgical treatment of the monomassive type is emphasized. The largest mass lesion reported, so far, in the literature (9.0 X 6.5 X 4.5 cm) was extirpated in one of our cases. Related problems are discussed in combination with the literature.

Adult↗

Ultrastructural studies of the interaction of spectrin with phosphatidylserine liposomes.

Spectrin was shown previously to interact with phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine, which are preferentially localized in the inner half of the membrane lipid bilayer, but this interaction is not well characterized. In the present study we used electron microscopy of rotary-shadowed platinum replicas of spectrin dimer-phosphatidylserine complexes to study the interaction of spectrin with phosphatidylserine vesicles. At a spectrin concentration of 0.6 mg/mL, 60% of spectrin dimers were associated with phosphatidylserine vesicles and at a spectrin concentration of 1.2 mg/mL, some vesicles were crosslinked by spectrin dimers. The length of the protruding segment of spectrin dimer from the liposome edge ranged from 400 to 960A degrees and the contact region to phosphatidylserine extended 272 +/- 144A degrees from either end of the molecule. Therefore, these data are consistent with multiple binding sites to phosphatidylserine throughout the spectrin dimer molecule. Spectrin tetramers, when bound to phosphatidylserine liposomes, extended 1804 +/- 79A degrees from the liposome edge and crosslinked liposomes, suggesting that some of the binding sites to phosphatidylserine vesicles is in the proximity of the tail end of spectrin. The association between spectrin dimers to phosphatidylserine was demonstrated by nondenaturing gel electrophoresis. The complexes were separated into multiple bands with molecular weight of 1.4 X 10(6), 1.8 X 10(6), and 2.3 X 10(6). These bands did not represent self-associated spectrin oligomers, since postincubation treatment with Triton-X-100 dissociated them into spectrin dimers. Furthermore, these spectrin high molecular weight bands, as visualized by Coomassie blue absorbance, closely corresponded to the 14C-phosphatidylserine distribution. These data provide ultrastructural and biochemical evidence that spectrin binds to phosphatidylserine at multiple sites including the tail end region.

Binding Sites↗

Hemin-mediated dissociation of erythrocyte membrane skeletal proteins.

Spectrin tetramers and oligomers in normal erythrocytes are cross-linked by actin and protein 4.1 to form a two-dimensional membrane skeletal network. In the present study, we find that hemin, a breakdown product of hemoglobin, progressively (a) alters the conformation of spectrin as revealed by electron microscope studies and by the decreased resistance of spectrin to proteolytic degradation, (b) alters the conformation of protein 4.1 as revealed by the increased mobility of protein 4.1 on nondenaturing gel electrophoresis, (c) weakens spectrin dimer alpha beta-dimer alpha beta, spectrin alpha-spectrin beta, as well as spectrin-protein 4.1 associations as analyzed by nondenaturing gel electrophoresis, and (d) diminishes the structural stability of erythrocyte membrane skeletons (i.e. Triton-insoluble ghost residues) subjected to mechanical shearing. Since hemin may be liberated from oxidized or unstable mutant hemoglobin under pathological conditions, these hemin-induced effects on spectrin, protein 4.1, and membrane skeletal stability may play a role in the membrane lesion of these erythrocytes.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗

Role of solar conditioning in DNA repair response and survival of human epidermal keratinocytes following UV irradiation.

We have investigated the cumulative effects of sunlight exposure upon the excision-repair of UV radiation damage to DNA in epidermal keratinocytes from human donors of different ages as well as the possible effect on DNA repair of periodic conditioning of the cultured keratinocytes with sublethal UV radiation exposures. We have also compared the growth properties of UV-irradiated keratinocytes derived from habitually sun-exposed and nonexposed areas from the bodies of young and aged donors. DNA repair replication in keratinocytes from habitually sun-exposed facial skin and the less sun-exposed abdominal skin of middle-aged adults was found to be similar, with respect to both the UV dose response and the time course of repair after 20 J/m2, 254 nm. Growth and survival (after exposure up to 50 J/m2, 254 nm) were greater for keratinocytes from protected areas of the upper arm of young donors (under 18 years) than for cells from their own sun-exposed areas. Growth and survival were markedly reduced for all keratinocyte cultures from aged donors, especially those cultures developed from sun-exposed areas. Nevertheless, the DNA repair response to UV radiation was similar in all cases. The evident uncoupling of UV sensitivity from DNA repair capacity remains to be understood. Our studies confirm that the cumulative effect of sunlight exposure indeed contributes to some skin aging processes. However, we have found no indication that an overall reduction in capacity for excision-repair of UV photoproducts in keratinocyte DNA accompanies senescence in human skin.

Abdomen↗