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Biomedical subjects

S L Lee

Publications and source records attributed to S L Lee.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Purification of a sperm motility stimulator from porcine follicular fluid.

1. We purified a glycoprotein possessing a potent ability to stimulate porcine sperm motility, from porcine ovarian follicular fluid. 2. The protein, of molecular weight 52,000, has an N-terminal sequence similar to that of antithrombin III, indicating that it is identical to or highly homologous to antithrombin III. 3. Thus it is proposed that antithrombin III or its homologue is involved in the mammalian fertilization process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification and localization of renal Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger by polymerase chain reaction.

The molecular identity of the renal Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger was determined by a homology-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cloning strategy. Rat kidney RNA was amplified by PCR, using oligonucleotide primers based on regions of low degeneracy in the published canine cardiac Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger cDNA sequence, and the products were subcloned and sequenced. A 452-bp clone (NCX1) was identified, which shares 89% nucleotide and 98% amino acid sequence identity with the canine cardiac exchanger, suggesting that they are products of the same gene. NCX1 was shown, by Northern analysis, to hybridize to an abundant major transcript of 7 kb and a minor one of approximately 14 kb both localized predominantly to kidney cortex. Microdissected tubule PCR analysis revealed that NCX1 was enriched in distal convoluted tubule compared with other cortical nephron segments. Such a location is consistent with a Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger corresponding to NCX1 playing a major role in active Ca2+ reabsorption at this site.

Animals↗

Assignment of the beta-thyroid hormone receptor to 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine-dependent inhibition of transcription from the thyrotropin-releasing hormone promoter in chick hypothalamic neurons.

Thyroid hormone, T3, is essential to the normal development and metabolism of vertebrates. Fine tuning of circulating levels of T3 is critical and involves feedback inhibition of the TRH and TSH genes by T3 at the hypothalamic and hypophyseal levels. However, the molecular basis of T3 inhibition of TRH gene expression in the hypothalamus is not known. The actions of T3 on target gene expression are mediated through nuclear receptor proteins, TR alpha and TR beta. To examine their effects on T3-dependent transcription from the rat TRH promoter, we used a gene transfer technique to express TR alpha and TR beta in cultured embryonic chick hypothalamic cells. Transcription from the TRH promoter construct transfected into these cultures was depressed in the presence of 10(-9) M T3. Cotransfecting TR alpha or TR beta activated transcription from the TRH promoter. However, only TR beta-dependent TRH transcription was differentially modulated by T3. Physiological concentrations of T3 decreased TR beta-dependent TRH transcription 4-fold. Thus, when T3 levels increase, TR beta mediates inhibition of TRH expression, a key step in down-regulating the hypophyseal-thyroid axis. This study demonstrates for the first time a T3-dependent differential regulation of the TRH promoter by TR beta and not TR alpha. Thus, the negative regulation of the TRH promoter in transiently transfected primary embryonic chick hypothalamic neurons provides a useful system for studying the molecular actions of thyroid hormone receptors.

Animals↗

8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin-responsive 5-hydroxytryptamine4-like receptor expressed in bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.

Bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle (SM) cells express a novel 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (5-HT4-like) receptor coupled to cAMP accumulation. cAMP radioimmunoassay established the agonist and antagonist profiles of this receptor. 5-HT (EC50 = 91 +/- 33 nM) and 5-methoxytryptamine were equipotent at the SM cell 5-HT receptor and both were more potent than 5-carboxamidotryptamine. Other tryptamine derivatives were less potent but remained full agonists. These findings are consistent with previous reports regarding 5-HT4 and 5-HT4-like receptors in the central nervous system. The most potent antagonists were the antidepressant compounds nortriptyline (IC50 = 177 +/- 153 nM) and zimelidine (IC50 = 202 +/- 101 nM). The 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 antagonist 3-tropanyl-indole-3-carboxylate (ICS 205-930) was also a competitive antagonist at this 5-HT4-like receptor (pA2 = 6.3). Antagonist affinities differed slightly at the SM cell receptor, compared with other 5-HT4 and 5-HT4-like receptors in the central nervous system. Nonetheless, the SM cell 5-HT4-like receptor displayed the same differential antagonist potencies as reported for these other receptors (ICS 205-930 > MDL 72222 and mianserin > ketanserin). 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) was the most potent agonist for this 5-HT4-like receptor (EC50 = 6.4 +/- 3.4 nM). 8-OH-DPAT-induced cAMP accumulation could be blocked by ICS 205-930 but not by the 5-HT1A antagonist 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-[4-(2-pthalimido)butyl]piperazine hydrobromide, distinguishing the SM cell 5-HT receptor from 5-HT1A receptors. The mechanism of 5-HT-stimulated cAMP production was also investigated. First, GTP augmented basal and 5-HT-stimulated cAMP accumulation. Second, antisera to the carboxyl terminus of the alpha subunit of Gs, attenuated 5-HT-mediated adenylate cyclase activation. This established that 5-HT-stimulated cAMP accumulation in SM cells required GS. These findings suggest that SM cells express a novel 5-HT4-like receptor positively coupled to adenylate cyclase. An unexpected finding was that 8-OH-DPAT is a potent partial agonist. These studies suggest that there may be heterogeneity among 5-HT4-like receptors.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗

Reactivity of anti-mitochondrial antibodies in primary biliary cirrhosis and systemic sclerosis.

Anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA) were detected by indirect immunofluorescence in the sera of 16 out of 17 (94%) patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Immunoblotting experiments with mitochondrial polypeptides from the porcine liver as antigens revealed that three antigens were recognized by the sera from AMA-positive patients. These were a 70-kD protein recognized by nine out of 16 AMA-positive sera, a 50-kD protein recognized by 13 out of 16 AMA-positive sera and a 39-kD protein recognized by four out of 16 AMA-positive sera. The reactivity of these polypeptides was destroyed by brief exposure to trypsin. None of these antigens were recognized by any of the 30 control sera. These results show that the 70-kD, 50-kD and 39-kD proteins are the major mitochondrial autoantigens recognized by sera from patients with PBC. In addition, of 30 sera samples from patients with diffuse scleroderma, 13 reacted to the 70-kD and/or 50-kD antigens. Anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) were also detected in the sera of five of the 17 (29%) patients with PBC. The high prevalence of ACA in patients with PBC and the presence of anti-70- and 50-kD antibodies in patients with diffuse scleroderma provide evidence of an association between these two disorders.

Adult↗

Endogenous vasoconstrictor prostanoids: role in serotonin and vasopressin-induced coronary vasoconstriction.

A vasoconstrictor-induced prostacyclin (PGI2) production in a perfused rat heart was found, suggesting a mitigating role of PGI2 on coronary vasoconstriction. Treatment of the heart with cyclooxygenase inhibitors (aspirin or indomethacin) decreased PGI2 production by more than 90% and paradoxically reduced the vasoconstriction response. The attenuating effect of cyclooxygenase blockade suggested that endogenous prostanoids contribute to serotonin-, vasopressin- or U46619-induced vasoconstriction. Two prostaglandin (PG) H2/thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor antagonists, i.e., 13-azaprostanoic acid (13-APA) and SQ 29,548 were used to investigate putative endogenous vasoconstrictor prostanoids on the exogenously induced vasoconstriction. Retrogradely perfused (5-6 ml/min) rat hearts were rendered guiescent, yet responsive to stimuli, by local injection of lidocaine to the atrioventricular node. Changes in coronary vascular resistance (i.e., perfusion pressure at constant flow) were monitored and the cardiac effluent was collected for analysis of 6-keto PGF1 alpha (the stable metabolite of PGI2) as well as PGF2 alpha by radioimmunoassay. Three vasoconstrictors, i.e., serotonin, vasopressin and the TXA2/PGH2 analog U46619, as well as authentic PGD2, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were infused. PGD2, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha exerted a dose-related coronary vasoconstriction, as did U46619, serotonin and vasopressin. Treatment with 13-APA (100 microM) or SQ 29,548 (100 nM) almost abolished U46619-induced vasoconstriction. The addition of PGH2/TXA2 receptor antagonists also significantly reduced the pressor effect of exogenously administered PGs, serotonin and vasopressin, with the exception that SQ 29,548 did not significantly antagonize PGE2-induced vasoconstriction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Dual effect of serotonin on growth of bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in culture.

We have previously reported that serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5HT]) alters cultured bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (SMC) configuration through two different regulatory mechanisms. We now report that 5HT also regulates SMC growth through these same two mechanisms--a stimulatory event initiated intracellularly and inhibition of growth resulting from a cell surface action. 5HT (1 microM) plus 0.1 mM iproniazid (a 5HT metabolic inhibitor) produced a severalfold stimulation of DNA synthesis (as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation) of SMCs after a 17-24-hour incubation with only a slight elevation of cellular cAMP. This stimulatory effect responded synergistically with other growth factors including platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and epidermal growth factor and was effectively reversed by 5HT uptake inhibition. It was not produced by 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, a metabolite of 5HT. In the presence of 1 microM 5HT plus 0.1 mM isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), cAMP was elevated eightfold, dendritic formation occurred, and [3H]thymidine labeling of SMCs was inhibited. Inhibition of labeling by [3H]thymidine was mimicked by other agents that elevated cellular cAMP (10 microM histamine, 1 microM isoproterenol plus 0.1 mM IBMX, and 10 microM forskolin) and by 1 mM dibutyryl cAMP. This inhibitory effect was not blocked by either inhibition of 5HT uptake or 5HT-receptor antagonists ketanserin (5HT2); methiothepin, spiperone, and mianserin (5HT1/5HT2); and 3-tropanyl-indole-3-carboxylate and 3-tropanyl-3,5-dichlorobenzoate (5HT3). However, similar to 5HT, the 5HT1A agonist, (+/-)-8-hydroxy-(+/-)-2-dipropylamino-8-hydroxy-1,2,3, 4-tetrahydronaphthalenehydrobromide, in association with IBMX, produced an elevation in cAMP and inhibition of labeling by [3H]thymidine. 5HT, in the presence of either iproniazid or IBMX, did not alter [Ca2+]i, indicating that [Ca2+]i was not a signal for either of these actions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Distribution of silicotic collagenization in relation to smoking habits.

Controversy regarding the association between silicosis and lung cancer has been clouded by the fact that studies examining this association generally do not include information on smoking. A causal association between smoking and silicosis would seriously confound the association between silicosis and lung cancer. The current analysis assessed the association between silicosis and smoking using data on deceased white gold miners who underwent postmortem examination between 1976 and 1981. Smoking histories and exposure information were available. A subset analysis in a group of deceased miners for whom more detailed smoking and exposure information was available confirmed the findings of the larger analysis. Both analyses showed a slight inverse relationship between smoking and silicotic collagenization of the parenchyma and a stronger negative relationship between smoking and silicotic collagenization of the pleura, controlling for age and cumulative exposure to silica dust. No association between silicotic collagenization of the hilar glands and smoking was detected. The data should not be construed as advocating that workers exposed to silica dust should smoke. The hazards of cigarette smoking are likely to far outweigh the hazards of silicosis. The data suggest that the lack of smoking histories in studies of the association between silicosis and lung cancer probably does not seriously confound risk estimates. The distribution of silicotic collagenization in the lungs of smokers and nonsmokers is consistent with enhanced mucus interception, more central deposition in the lungs, and proportionally more lymphatic clearance to the hilum (as opposed to the pleura) of silica particles in smokers compared to nonsmokers.

Gold↗

Beta adrenergic antagonists inhibit serotonin uptake by pulmonary vascular cells in culture.

Beta adrenergic antagonists have been demonstrated to show stereoselective affinity for serotonin (5-HT) receptors in the central nervous system, and competitively inhibit 5-HT transport of platelets, but have not previously been evaluated for their influence on either 5-HT receptors or 5-HT transport systems of vascular cells. We have reported stimulation of 5-HT uptake by subjection of endothelial (EC) and smooth muscle cells (SMC) to anoxia. We now report that (+/-)-propranolol inhibits 5-HT uptake by both room air- and anoxia-exposed EC and SMC in culture. The effect on SMC was more marked than that on EC and showed a similar inhibition as ketanserin. The relative inhibitory potencies of beta adrenergic antagonists and ketanserin on uptake of 5-HT by SMC were as follows: (+/-)-propranolol = ketanserin greater than alprenolol = pindolol greater than oxprenolol = atenolol. The beta adrenergic receptor agonist, isoproterenol, in the presence of isobutylmethylxanthine, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase, produced a high elevation of cyclic AMP in SMC along with a cellular configurational change and partially inhibited uptake of 5-HT. Propranolol inhibited 5-HT uptake both in the presence and absence of isoproterenol plus isobutylmethylxanthine, suggesting that its inhibitory effect was not mediated through its interaction at the beta adrenergic receptor. Kinetic analyses of the effect of propranolol on 5-HT uptake indicated that propranolol reduced 5-HT uptake by noncompetitive inhibition. We conclude that beta adrenergic antagonists block vascular cell uptake of 5-HT through an action other than interaction with the beta adrenergic receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Gallbladder visualization during post-therapy iodine-131 imaging of thyroid carcinoma.

A persistent, extra-thyroidal focus of 131I on whole-body imaging of thyroid carcinoma usually represents a functioning metastasis. We report a case of 131I localization within a septated gallbladder, initially mimicking an isolated hepatic metastasis. Adjunctive liver/spleen and hepatobiliary scintigraphy helped to elucidate the true nature of this 131I activity.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Modulation of cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors by dopamine beta-hydroxylase.

Incubation of cardiac sarcolemma in the presence of dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), a catecholamine biosynthetic enzyme, increased beta-adrenergic receptor density by 68% as measured by [3H]dihydroalprenolol (DHA) binding. The addition of DBH to plasma membranes isolated from brain, kidney, skeletal muscle, liver and intestine did not alter [3H]DHA binding. Cardiac alpha-receptors were unaffected under similar conditions. Since DBH is coreleased with norepinephrine, these results indicate that a functional coupling of the putative beta-adrenergic receptor with DBH may exist in cardiac muscle.

Animals↗

Effect of chronic in vivo exposure to hypoxia on serotonin uptake by isolated rats lungs.

1. Previously, we have shown that exposure to hypoxia stimulates serotonin uptake by cultured bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cells. 2. In the present study, lungs isolated from rats exposed to 24 h, 48 h or 14 days of hypobaric hypoxia (0.43 or 0.5 atm) manifested no alteration of serotonin uptake in comparison to lungs from normoxic controls. 3. In addition, hypoxic stimulation of serotonin uptake by cultured rat epididymal endothelial cells was much less than that occurring in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells. 4. We conclude that chronic hypoxia does not stimulate serotonin uptake by rat lungs exposed in vivo as it does in endothelial cells exposed in vitro.

Animals↗

Nitrendipine binding in congestive heart failure due to myocardial infarction.

Depressed cardiac pump function is the hallmark of congestive heart failure, and it is suspected that decreased influx of Ca2+ into the cardiac cell is responsible for depressed contractile function. Since Ca2+ channels in the sarcolemmal membrane are considered to be an important route for the entry of Ca2+, we examined the status of Ca2+ receptors/channels in failing rat hearts after myocardial infarction of the left ventricular free wall. For this purpose, the left coronary artery was ligated and hearts were examined 4, 8, and 16 weeks later; sham-operated animals served as controls. Hemodynamic assessment revealed decreased total mechanical energy (left ventricular systolic pressure x heart rate), increased left ventricular diastolic pressure, and decreased positive and negative dP/dt in experimental animals at 4, 8, and 16 weeks. Although accumulation of ascites in the abdominal cavity was evident at 4 weeks, other clinical signs of congestive heart failure in experimental rats were evident from the presence of lung congestion and cardiac dilatation at 8 and 16 weeks after induction of myocardial infarction. The density of Ca2+ receptors/channels in crude membranes, as assessed by [3H]nitrendipine binding assay, was found to be decreased in the uninfarcted experimental left ventricle at 8 and 16 weeks; however, no change in the affinity of nitrendipine was evident. A similar depression in the specific binding of another dihydropyridine compound, [3H]PN200-110, was also evident in failing hearts. Brain and skeletal muscle crude membrane preparations, unlike those of the right ventricle and liver, revealed a decrease in Ca2+ receptors/channels density in experimental animals at 16 weeks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Chloride efflux in cyclic AMP-induced configurational change of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

Elevation of cellular cyclic AMP by agents such as isoproterenol plus 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine produced rapid and reversible dendritic formation of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells in the monolayer. The effect did not occur with exposure of the cells to a variety of other vasoactive agents, calcium ionophore, phorbol ester, or cyclic GMP. The cyclic AMP-induced configurational change was completely inhibited by 2.5 mM N-phenylanthranilic acid or 145 mM sodium gluconate (Cl- channel inhibitors) and was partially inhibited by 2.5 mM 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS), but it was not affected by deprivation of Ca2+ or Na+ ion, 1 mM bumetanide (Cl- cotransport inhibitor), 1 mM amiloride (Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor), 0.1 mM verapamil (Ca2+ channel inhibitor), or 5 mM BaCl2 (K+ channel inhibitor), by change in cellular pH, or by pertussis toxin. Trifluoperazine (calmodulin inhibitor, 50 microM), 1 mM EGTA plus 100 microM 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid 8-(diethylamino)octyl ester (TMB-8, intracellular Ca2+ antagonist), and 5 microM cytochalasin B also produced cellular retraction, but these changes were not blocked by chloride channel inhibition. In the presence of 0.1 mM ouabain plus 0.1 mM bumetanide, 36Cl- uptake was decreased by isoproterenol plus isobutylmethylxanthine while its efflux was enhanced. N-Phenylanthranilic acid inhibited the stimulated efflux. We conclude that cyclic AMP induces a configurational change of endothelial cells that is related to Cl- efflux from the cells; the cellular effects may play a role in vascular function.

Animals↗

Intrinsic pituitary interleukin-1 beta is induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

Using a specific antiserum recognizing recombinant rat interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), immunoreactive material was localized to cytoplasmic granules in anterior pituitary endocrine cells and colocalized with TSH in thyrotropes. Authenticity was established by Northern blot hybridization using a specific rat IL-1 beta cRNA probe, revealing a 1.8-kilobase mRNA identical to that in the spleen. The marked increase in anterior pituitary IL-1 beta message after the administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide, raises the possibility that IL-1 beta may be involved in paracrine or autocrine regulation of pituitary function during infectious challenge.

Animals↗

Effect of calcium channel blockers on serotonin uptake.

We previously demonstrated that verapamil inhibits serotonin uptake by bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cells by a mechanism not involving alterations in calcium fluxes. In this study, we determine whether verapamil inhibition of serotonin uptake occurs in other pulmonary cell types (bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells), in cells from other organs and species (rat epididymal endothelial cells), and in intact organs (isolated rat lungs). We also compare the effects of verapamil with those of nifedipine and diltiazem. At concentrations of 10(-6) M or greater, verapamil is an inhibitor of serotonin uptake by cultured cells and isolated lungs. Nifedipine and diltiazem are weak inhibitors of serotonin uptake by cultured bovine cells only at suprapharmacologic doses and have no effect on serotonin uptake by isolated lungs. Surprisingly, nifedipine stimulates serotonin uptake by rat epididymal endothelial cells. We conclude that inhibition of serotonin uptake by verapamil is a generalized phenomenon, occurring in a variety of cell types, in intact organs, and in different species that does not occur consistently with other calcium channel blockers.

Animals↗