Biomedical subjects

X Lu

Publications and source records attributed to X Lu.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

[The types and distributive features of gene mutation on beta-thalassemia in three districts in northwest China].

OBJECTIVE: To sum up the results of gene analyses on beta-Thalassemia in three districts in northwest China and discuss the types and distributive features of the mutation. METHODS: Polymerase china reaction in combination with dot-blot hybridization of allele-specific oligonucleutide probes(PCR-ASO). RESULTS: In the gene analysis carried out in 85 probands with beta-Thalassemia, twelve types of gene mutation were identified from five nationalities. CD8(-AA), CDs8-9(+G), CDs27-28(+C) heterozygote and [-28(A-->uG). CD17(A-->uT)/N] double heterozygote were firstly assayed in these districts besides the common types in Chinese, of which, [-28(A-->uG). CD17(A-->uT)/N] as double gene mutation in the same chromosome is rare. CONCLUSION: There are significant differences in the distribution and nationality features of gene mutation types for beta-Thalassemia in the three districts, so the three districts as a whole is an area with special distributive features of the disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

[Detection of the mutant phenylalanine hydroxylase gene by dideoxy fingerprinting].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method with high efficiency in detecting phenylalanine hydroxylase (PHA) gene mutations and hence to rapidly diagnose prenatal fetals with phenylketonuria. METHODS: Dideoxy fingerprinting (ddF) was used. It is a hybrid method of dideoxy sequencing and single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP); it can effectively detect the presence of mutant genes and would not be limited by the length of the amplified products, by ddF, the mutant genes Y165X, Y204C and Q355H of PAH genes were detected. RESULTS: Many bands showed altered migration, compared with the controls. Abnormal band migration in Y165X and Q355H was also detected by SSCP, but it was not detected in Y204C which had large amplified products. CONCLUSION: Compared with SSCP, ddF is a more sensitive method detecting gene mutations in large fragments, ddF is a practicable method for detecting gene mutations.

DNA Fingerprinting↗

PubMed1998

Cimetidine sulfoxidation in small intestinal microsomes.

In previous studies, sulfoxide metabolite was observed in animal and human intestinal perfusions of cimetidine and other H2-antagonists in vivo. L-Methionine, imipramine, and the anionic exchange inhibitor diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid reduced metabolite appearance. A sequence of follow-up studies is underway, for the purpose of assessing the contributions of drug metabolism and drug and metabolite transport to variable drug absorption. In this regard, drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions represent a primary focus of this research. The S-oxidation of cimetidine in mammalian small intestinal microsomes was studied from three different species and two intestinal regions. Based on preparation activity and tissue availability, the relative contributions of flavin-containing monooxygenases and cytochrome P450 enzymes to cimetidine sulfoxidation were evaluated in rabbit jejunal microsomes. Additional inhibitor studies were carried out to evaluate the role of microsomal cimetidine sulfoxidation in the previous in vivo observations.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor prevents death, but not reductions in tyrosine hydroxylase, of injured nigrostriatal neurons in adult rats.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) promotes survival of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons in vitro and when injected locally into the brains of lesioned adult animals. Here, we show that GDNF (3 micrograms per day and higher) can promote the survival of all (retrogradely labeled) axotomized nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons of adult rats when continuously infused for 2 weeks close to the substantia nigra, compared to only approximately 30% survival with control infusions. Based on our previous observations, GDNF was as potent as ciliary neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-4 and approximately five to ten times more potent than brain-derived neurotrophic factor and was most effective in promoting survival. GDNF prevented neuronal death induced by 6-hydroxydopamine to a lesser extent than after axotomy. GDNF treatments begun 1 week after axotomy could maintain those neurons that had not yet died. When a 2 week GDNF treatment was interrupted, most of the GDNF-rescued neurons died over the following 2 weeks. This suggests that longer trophic factor treatments or nigrostriatal connections are needed to achieve permanent survival. Measurements of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity of the rescued neuronal cell bodies suggest that GDNF cannot prevent the lesion-induced loss of this rate-limiting enzyme for dopamine synthesis. In fact, GDNF induced a decrease in TH in normal animals, suggesting an active down-regulation of TH synthesis. Levels of TH immunoreactivity were recovered between 7 and 14 days after withdrawal of a 2 week GDNF infusion, in the neurons that survived axotomy. These results may have implications for developing new treatment strategies for Parkinson's disease.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Identification of c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase (JNK)-activating kinase 2 as an activator of JNK but not p38.

c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase (JNK), a distant member of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family, regulates gene expression in response to various extracellular stimuli. JNK is activated by JNK-activating kinase 1 (JNKK1), a dual specificity protein kinase that phosphorylates JNK on threonine 183 and tyrosine 185 residues. Here we show that JNKK2, a novel member of the MAP kinase kinase family, was phosphorylated and activated by MEKK1, a MAP kinase kinase kinase in the JNK signaling cascade. JNKK2 activity was also stimulated by constitutively active forms of Rac and Cdc42Hs, members of the Rho small GTP-binding protein family. Unlike JNKK1 that activates both JNK and p38 MAP kinases, JNKK2 stimulated only JNK. Transient transfection assays demonstrated that JNKK2 potentiated the stimulation of c-Jun transcriptional activity by MEKK1. The existence of multiple JNK-activating kinases may contribute to the specificity of the JNK signaling cascade.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Fib420, the novel fibrinogen subclass: newborn levels are higher than adult.

Fib420 is a recently identified subclass of normal human fibrinogen in which two extended alpha chain isoforms (alphaE) replace the common alpha chains, yielding a molecule (ca. 420 kD) which is larger than the more abundant 340-kD form. Evidence for preservation of this subclass throughout vertebrate evolution suggests it performs some as yet unidentified vital function. A survey was undertaken to establish the range of plasma Fib420 levels in normal, healthy adults and in placental cord (fetal) blood. For measuring Fib420, a quantitative Western blot assay was developed using monoclonal antibody against the exon-VI encoded C-terminus of the molecule's unique alphaE chain. This alphaE chain signal was normalized to that of the beta chain, common to both fibrinogen forms. Analysis of plasma samples from the adult and newborn cohorts (n = 25 each; total fibrinogen ca. 2.6 mg/mL in both) revealed a statistically significant difference, with a mean level of 100 +/- 28 microg/mL in the neonate compared to 34 +/- 7 microg/mL in the adult. On average, 1 out of every 100 fibrinogen molecules in adult plasma belongs to the Fib420 subclass. Unlike in the newborn, adult Fib420 levels remained the same over a wide range of total plasma fibrinogen. The striking difference observed between these two cohorts suggests a changing developmental expression of the Fib420 subclass and a homeostatic control operating in later stages of life.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Evidence for a role of C-terminal amino acid residues in skeletal muscle Ca2+ release channel (ryanodine receptor) function.

The effects of deleting 1, 3 and 15 amino acid residues from the highly conserved C-terminus of the tetrameric skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor (RyR) complex were determined. Immunoblot analysis indicated similar expression levels in HEK293 cells for full-length and mutant proteins. Full-length and RyR lacking the last amino acid showed [3H]ryanodine binding and single channel activities typical of native receptors. Deletion of 3 amino acids resulted in decreased activities, whereas deletion of 15 amino acids yielded an inactive RyR. These results suggest that the most 15 C-terminal amino acids are important for the expression of a functional RyR complex.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

E2F1-induced apoptosis requires DNA binding but not transactivation and is inhibited by the retinoblastoma protein through direct interaction.

E2F1 overexpression has been shown to induce apoptosis in cooperation with p53. Using Saos-2 cells, which are null for p53 and lack functional Rb, we have demonstrated that E2F1 overexpression can also induce apoptosis in the absence of p53 and retinoblastoma protein (Rb). E2F1-induced apoptosis can be specifically inhibited by Rb but not mdm2, which is known for its ability to inhibit p53-induced apoptosis. Through the study of the apoptotic function of a set of E2F1 mutants, it was clear that the transactivation and the apoptotic function of E2F1 are uncoupled. The transactivation-defective E2F1 mutants E2F1(1-374), E2F1(390-1)DF(delta mdm2), and E2F1(406-415)(delta Rb) can induce apoptosis as effectively as wild-type E2F1. In contrast to E2F1 transactivation, the DNA-binding activity of E2F1 was proven to be essential for its apoptotic function, as the DNA-binding-defective mutants E2F1(132) and E2F1(132)(1-374) failed to induce apoptosis. Therefore Rb may inhibit E2F1-induced apoptosis by mechanisms other than the suppression of the transactivation of E2F1. This hypothesis was supported by our observation that although Rb overexpression can specifically repress the apoptosis induced by wild-type E2F1 and a Rb-binding-competent E2F1 mutant E2F1(390-1)DF(delta mdm2), it failed to inhibit the apoptosis induced by mutants E2F1(1-374) and E2F1(delta 406-415)(delta Rb), which are defective or reduced in Rb binding and transactivation. All of these points argue for a novel function for E2F1 and Rb in controlling apoptosis. The results also indicate that transcriptional repression rather than the transactivation function of E2F1 may be involved in its apoptotic function. The results presented here may provide us some physiological implication of the repression function of the Rb-E2F1 complex.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed1997

High level expression of p27(kip1) and cyclin D1 in some human breast cancer cells: inverse correlation between the expression of p27(kip1) and degree of malignancy in human breast and colorectal cancers.

The expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(kip1) in human tumors and normal tissues was investigated using a panel of novel anti-p27(kip1) mAbs. An inverse correlation between expression of p27(kip1) and cell proliferation was generally observed after analyzing its expression in 25 different normal human tissues. In some highly proliferative human breast cancer cells, however, high level p27(kip1) expression was seen, indicating the existence of a mechanism by which some growing tumor cells may tolerate this inhibitor of cell cycle progression. Detailed studies demonstrated a correlation between the high level expression of p27(kip1) and cyclin D1 in human breast cancer cells. There was also an inverse correlation between the expression of p27(kip1) and the degree of tumor malignancy in human breast and colorectal cancers, indicating that p27(kip1) may be a useful prognostic marker in these cancers.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMed1997

XPC interacts with both HHR23B and HHR23A in vivo.

XP group C protein (XPC) and a human homologue of RAD23, HHR23B, have previously been shown to copurify in a tightly associated complex. Here, we show that XPC interacts in vivo, by means of the yeast two-hybrid system, with both HHR23B and a second homologue of RAD23, HHR23A. Domain mapping studies have revealed that both RAD23 homologues interact with XPC at the same highly conserved region in the C-terminal half of the protein. XPC mutants deleted within this domain and that are highly deficient in binding both RAD23 homologues are also highly defective in complementing XPC cells in vivo. Domain mapping studies have also identified a region in the N-terminal half of HHR23B that contains the XPC interactive site. This domain is highly conserved among HHR23B, HHR23A, and RAD23.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Aberrant trafficking of hepatitis B virus glycoproteins in cells in which N-glycan processing is inhibited.

The role of N-glycan trimming in glycoprotein fate and function is unclear. We have recently shown that hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is not efficiently secreted from cells in which alpha-glucosidase mediated N-glycan trimming is inhibited. Here it is shown that, in cells in glucosidase-inhibited cells, viral DNA, accompanied by envelope and core proteins, most likely accumulate within lysosomal compartments. Pulse-chase experiments show that although the viral glycoproteins (L, M, and S) are dysfunctional, in the sense that they do not mediate virion egress and are not efficiently secreted from the cell, they all still leave the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Surprisingly, however, the glycoproteins retained within the cell were not rapidly degraded, appearing as aggregates, enriched for L and M, with intracellular half-lives exceeding 20 h. Moreover, by 24 h after synthesis, a substantial fraction of the detained glycoproteins appeared to return to the ER, although a considerable amount was also found in the lysosomes. To our knowledge, this is the first report that shows, as a consequence of inhibiting glycosylation processing, certain glycoproteins (i) become dysfunctional and aggregate, yet still depart from the ER, and (ii) have extended rather than shortened half-lives. Taken together, these data suggest that proper intracellular routing of HBV glycoproteins requires ER glucosidase function. It is hypothesized that failure to process N-glycan causes HBV glycoproteins to aggregate and that impaired protein-protein interactions and trafficking are the result of misfolding.

Cell Line↗

PubMed1997

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope glycoproteins vary drastically in their sensitivity to glycan processing: evidence that alteration of a single N-linked glycosylation site can regulate HBV secretion.

The role of N-linked glycosylation and glycan trimming in the function of glycoproteins remains a central question in biology. Hepatitis B virus specifies three glycoproteins (L, M, and S) that are derived from alternate translation of the same ORF. All three glycoproteins contain a common N-glycosylation site in the S domain while M possesses an additional N-glycosylation site at its amino terminus. In the presence of N-butyl-deoxnojirimycin (an inhibitor of alpha-glucosidase) virions and the M protein are surprisingly retained. Preliminary evidence suggests that the retained M protein is hyperglucosylated and localized to lysosomal vesicles. In contrast, the S and L proteins are secreted, and their glycosylation state is unaffected by the presence of the inhibitor. Site-directed mutagenesis provides evidence that virion secretion requires the glycosylation sequon in the pre-S2 domain of M. This highlights the potential role of the M protein oligosaccharide as a therapeutic target.

1-Deoxynojirimycin↗

PubMed1997

G(alpha)i2-deficient mice with colitis exhibit a local increase in memory CD4+ T cells and proinflammatory Th1-type cytokines.

Mice with targeted deletion of the G protein G(alpha)i2 develop an inflammatory bowel disease closely resembling ulcerative colitis. To better define disease pathogenesis, the mucosal immune system in G(alpha)i2-deficient mice was studied. Phenotypic analysis of large intestine lamina propria lymphocytes revealed a large increase in memory CD4+ T cells (CD44high, CD45RBlow, CD62Llow). Furthermore, expression of the mucosal homing receptor integrin beta7 was increased on mucosal, but not systemic, CD4+ T cells. Analysis of cytokine production revealed a marked increase in proinflammatory Th1-type cytokines in inflamed colons, as compared with wild-type mice or G(alpha)i2-deficient mice without colitis. Thus, IFN-gamma and IL-1beta levels were increased 13-fold and 30-fold, respectively, with more modest increases in IL-6 levels (5-fold) and TNF levels (2-fold). Inflamed colons of G(alpha)i2-deficient mice also demonstrated increased IL-12 p40 mRNA levels. No increase in IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 was seen. Large intestinal epithelial cells in G(alpha)i2-deficient mice with colitis were found by immunohistochemistry to express increased levels of both MHC class I and class II Ags. Colitis was associated with increased IgG levels (60-fold increase), predominantly IgG2a (135-fold increase), in large but not small intestinal secretions. This was shown by ELISPOT analysis to result from local production within the lamina propria.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

NSAID-induced apoptosis in Rous sarcoma virus-transformed chicken embryo fibroblasts is dependent on v-src and c-myc and is inhibited by bcl-2.

Mounting epidemiological and experimental evidence implicates non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs as anti-tumorigenic agents. Our previous work showed that nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug treatment of src-transformed chicken embryo fibroblasts caused apoptosis--a mechanism by which these drugs might exert their anti-tumorigenic effect. The present studies employ a sensitive technique for detecting single- and double-stranded DNA cleavage (the comet assay) to quantitate apoptosis. By this method pp60v-src, which antagonizes apoptosis in many cell systems, was found to induce apoptosis in 11-23% of serum-starved fibroblasts. However, treatment with diclofenac following pp60v-src activation produced a much stronger response beginning within 6 hours of treatment that resulted in 100% lethality. During cell death, cyclooxygenase-2 but not cyclooxygenase-1 mRNA was found to be uniformly increased by all apoptotic drugs tested. Examination of the expression of apoptosis-associated genes showed that c-rel and p53 (found in normal or v-src-transformed chicken embryo fibroblasts at moderate levels), and bcl-2 (present at an extremely low level) were largely unchanged by treatment with eight different nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. However, overexpression of human bcl-2 inhibited diclofenac-mediated apoptosis by 90%, demonstrating directly that bcl-2 expression can regulate nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug induction of cell death. The proto-oncogene c-myc is known to cause apoptosis in chicken embryo fibroblasts when artificially overexpressed in cells deprived of trophic factors. We found that nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug treatment following pp60v-src activation persistently induced myc protein and mRNA by more than 20-fold above that evoked by pp60v-src activation alone. Moreover, transfection of antisense c-myc oligonucleotides reduced drug-induced myc expression by 80% and caused a concomitant 50% reduction in cell death. These findings suggest that nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug-induced apoptosis proceeds through a src/myc dependent pathway which is negatively regulated by bcl-2.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Inactivation of monoamine oxidase B by benzyl 1-(aminomethyl) cyclopropane-1-carboxylate.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is a flavoenzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of various biogenic and xenobiotic amines. Benzyl 1-(aminomethyl)cyclopropane-1-carboxylate (1) was designed as a diactivated cyclopropane mechanism-based inactivator of MAO (Silverman, R.B.: Ding, C.Z.; Borrillo, J.L.; Chang, J.T.J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1993, 115, 2982). [1,1-2H2]-1 exhibits a deuterium isotope effect of 4.5 on inactivation, but in D2O the isotope effect is only 2.3. [1-3H]-1 and [1-14C]-1 were synthesized; upon inactivation of MAO, 1.1 and 2.0 equiv of radioactivity, respectively, are incorporated into the enzyme. Tritium as 3H2O, is released during inactivation with [1-3H]-1. The flavin absorption spectrum changes from that of oxidized to that of reduced flavin after inactivation; denaturation of the inactivated enzyme shows a reduced flavin spectrum, suggesting the formation of a modified flavin. Tryptic digestion of the enzyme labeled with [1-3H]-1 or [1-14C]-1, followed by HPLC analysis, monitoring at 310 nm [corrected] (flavin), shows that the radioactivity comigrates with the 310 nm [corrected] absorptions. The metabolites that are generated during inactivation are benzyl 1-formylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate, benzyl alcohol, and 1-formylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid; no ring-cleaved products were detected. The partition ratio, as determined from the ratio of nonamines to enzyme, is 110. These results are rationalized in terms of a single-electron transfer mechanism leading to the imine of benzyl 1-formylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate, which alkylates the flavin coenzyme.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1997

Effects of excitatory amino acids on cerebral oxygen consumption and blood flow in rat.

This investigation tested the importance of excitatory amino acids' effects on regional cerebral O2 consumption and the concomitant changes in cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in isoflurane anesthetized rats. In the glutamate or N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) groups, 10(-2) M glutamate or NMDA was topically applied to the right cortex and the left cortex was used as a control. One mg/kg dizocilpine maleate (MK-801), a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, was administered (iv) to the MK-801 group and saline was given to the control group. Cortical rCBF was determined using 14C-iodoantipyrine and regional O2 extraction was measured microspectrophotometrically. Cerebral O2 consumption increased 77% after glutamate (contralateral cortex: 9.0 +/- 1.1 ml O2/min/100 g, glutamate treated cortex: 15.9 +/- 3.9), while a 46% increase was observed with the same concentration of NMDA (contralateral cortex: 9.8 +/- 2.0, NMDA treated cortex: 14.3 +/- 5.5). After MK-801, the O2 consumption decreased to 37% of the control value (control cortex: 7.0 +/- 1.3, MK-801 treated cortex: 2.6 +/- 3.9). MK-801 significantly decreased cerebral O2 extraction from 7.1 +/- 1.3 ml O2/100 ml (control cortex) to 5.3 +/- 0.6 (MK-801 treated cortex). However, there was no significant difference in cerebral O2 extraction between treated and contralateral cortex in either the glutamate or NMDA groups. The increase in O2 consumption caused by glutamate or NMDA was coupled with increased rCBF. Glutamate increased rCBF from 95 +/- 5 ml/min/100 g (contralateral cortex) to 165 +/- 31 (treated cortex), while NMDA increased rCBF from 114 +/- 12 (contralateral cortex) to 178 +/- 60 (treated cortex). MK-801 decreased O2 consumption with a lesser decrease of rCBF. The rCBF was 48 +/- 9 in the MK-801 treated cortex and 99 +/- 22 in the control cortex. Some substances produced by the activation of NMDA receptors may be related to the coupling of cerebral metabolism and blood flow, since after blockade of NMDA receptors with MK-801, this relationship is uncoupled. These findings suggest that glutamatergic processes have a major effect on cerebral O2 consumption and that this is at least partly due to NMDA receptors.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Overlapping functions for two G protein alpha subunits in Neurospora crassa.

Heterotrimeric G proteins, consisting of alpha, beta and gamma subunits, mediate a variety of signaling pathways in eukaryotes. We have previously identified two genes, gna-1 and gna-2, that encode G protein alpha subunits in the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. Mutation of gna-1 results in female infertility and sensitivity to hyperosmotic media. In this study, we investigate the expression and functions of gna-2. Results from Western analysis and measurements of gna-2 promoter-lacZ fusion activity indicate that gna-2 is expressed during the vegetative and sexual cycle of N. crassa in both A and a mating types. Activating mutations predicted to abolish the GTPase activity of GNA-2 cause subtle defects in aerial hyphae formation and conidial germination. Extensive phenotypic analysis of delta gna-2 strains did not reveal abnormalities during vegetative or sexual development. In contrast, deletion of gna-2 in a delta gna-1 strain accentuates the delta gna-1 phenotypes. delta gna-1 delta gna-2 strains have a slower rate of hyphal apical extension than delta gna-1 strains on hyperosmotic media. Moreover, delta gna-1 delta gna-2 mutants have more pronounced defects in female fertility than delta gna-1 strains. We propose that gna-1 and gna-2 have overlapping functions and may constitute a gene family. This is the first report of G protein alpha subunits with overlapping functions in eukaryotic microbes.

DNA, Fungal↗

PubMed1997

Adjuvant activity of the heat-labile enterotoxin from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli for oral administration of inactivated influenza virus vaccine.

Alternative strategies for vaccination against influenza that elicit both systemic antibody and mucosal IgA responses are needed to improve the efficacy in protection against infection. This study demonstrated that oral delivery of inactivated influenza vaccine with the heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli elicited the spectrum of humoral and cell-mediated responses in BALB/c mice critical for the protection and recovery from influenza virus infection. Coadministration of LT with oral influenza vaccine increased antiviral serum IgG and mucosal IgA responses compared with administration of oral influenza vaccine alone. Serum hemagglutination-inhibition and neutralizing antibodies were also augmented by LT. The adjuvant potentiated protection from infection with influenza A H3N2 viruses in mouse lower and upper respiratory tracts, enabling the use of lower doses of oral vaccine. Coadministration of LT with oral inactivated influenza vaccine induced influenza virus-specific proliferative T cells, interleukin-2 production, and major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted cytotoxic T cells.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗