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Biomedical subjects

W Hsu

Publications and source records attributed to W Hsu.

59 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Interleukin-2 affects cochlear function gradually but reversibly.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2), one of the chemical mediators produced by helper T cells, activates its target cells via its receptor and induces inflammatory reactions indirectly. In this study, IL-2 was instilled into the round window niche of rats and the electrophysiological effects of inflammation on the inner ear were evaluated by a frequency-specific auditory brainstem response (ABR) technique. ABR threshold curves and intensity-latency (I-L) curves were investigated. In most cases, moderate sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was observed in the high-frequency areas (16-31.5 kHz). In the time course investigation of I-L curves, the responses of SNHL type appeared only 1 day after instillation (day 1) gradually becoming more prominent, to become most pronounced on days 5-7. The electrophysiological impairment was reversible within 2 weeks. Differing degrees of responsiveness of effusion production were observed following the instillation of IL-2, varying from pronounced middle ear effusion causing rather severe mixed hearing loss, to complete lack of effusion. Inflammation induced by IL-2 affects cochlear function gradually but reversibly.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lung hyaluronan as assayed with a biotinylated hyaluronan-binding protein.

This study was designed to define how hyaluronan (HA) is bound in lung tissue. Aliquots of lyophilized hamster lungs were extracted with 0.5 M NaCl (associative conditions) or 4 M guanidine . HCL (Gu . HCl) (dissociative conditions) or with water. Aliquots were also digested with Pronase in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or in dilute Tris buffer. The nanogram amounts of solubilized HA were quantified by an inhibition assay based on the specificity of binding of HA to biotinylated HA-binding protein (B-HABP) rather than radioactive HA-binding protein. Lung HA was readily soluble. More than 80% of it was solubilized by one extraction with either 0.5 M NaCl or 4 M guanidine . HCl. Almost half of it was solubilized by two brief (15-min) water washes. After three extractions under associative conditions only 5% of the total HA remained insoluble and could exist in structural proteoglycan aggregates. However, HA is present in lung in more than one situation, as was discerned in Pronase digestion experiments. Digestion of lung tissue with Pronase solubilized total lung HA. In PBS all the HA was detected, but in dilute Tris buffer 52% of the HA solubilized was not available for combination with the B-HABP and was presumed to be bound to another lung component. Overall, the data suggest that lung HA is free to engage in water transport and to provide a protective coating for elastin and collagen fibers.

Animals↗