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Biomedical subjects

Z Yao

Publications and source records attributed to Z Yao.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Functional expression of the chicken low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein in a mutant chinese hamster ovary cell line restores toxicity of Pseudomonas exotoxin A and degradation of alpha2-macroglobulin.

The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) is responsible for the clearance of several physiological ligands including a complex of proteinase and alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2M) and for the entrance of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PEA) into cells. We have prepared expression plasmids for the full-length chicken LRP (designated LRP100) and two intermediates encoding 25 and 67% of the receptor (designated LRP25 and LRP67, respectively) using overlapping cDNA fragments. LRP25 and LRP67 encode the N-terminal 22 and 64%, respectively, of LRP100 plus the transmembrane and intracellular domains. Transient transfection of these plasmids into COS-7 cells yielded recombinant proteins of expected molecular mass and immunoreactivity. However, LRP100 was incompletely processed into alpha- (515-kDa) and beta- (85-kDa) chains and was poorly transported from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi compartment. Stable transformants of LRP100, LRP67, and LRP25 were generated in a mutant Chinese hamster ovary cell line that lacked expression of endogenous LRP and was resistant to PEA. All forms of recombinant LRP proteins were transported from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus in Chinese hamster ovary cells as shown by their sensitivity to endoglycosidase H and resistance to neuraminidase. Cell surface iodination and subcellular fractionation studies indicated that all three LRP variants were expressed on the plasma membrane. Furthermore, expression of the three LRP variants restored, to various degrees, sensitivity to PEA and the ability to degrade methylamine-activated alpha2M (alpha2M*). These data suggest that deletion of large internal portions of LRP, including the processing site, does not prevent transport of LRP to the plasma membrane, nor does it abolish the interaction of LRP with alpha2M* or PEA. This LRP expression system may allow for the characterization of domains within LRP responsible for its multifunctionality.

ADP Ribose Transferases↗
PubMed1998

MAPKAPK5, a novel mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-activated protein kinase, is a substrate of the extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 kinase.

A novel protein kinase that has significant sequence homology to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-activated protein kinase (MAPKAPK) was identified. This novel protein kinase has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a protein of 473 amino acids and shares 45%, 46%, and 44% amino acid sequence identities to MAPKAPK2, 3 and 4 respectively. Northern blot analysis revealed that it has a wide tissue distribution. This novel protein kinase designated MAPKAPK5 can be phosphorylated by extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38 kinase but not by c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in vitro. Recombinant GST-MAPKAPK5 protein can phosphorylate a peptide derived from the regulatory light chain of myosin II. Phosphorylation of MAPKAPK5 by ERK and p38 kinase increased its activity by 9 and 15 fold respectively. Taken together, these data suggest that MAPKAPK5 is a novel in vitro substrate for ERK and p38 kinase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Avidin targeting of intraperitoneal tumor xenografts.

BACKGROUND: Lectins (proteins that bind specific sugar molecules on glycoproteins and glycolipids) are expressed at various levels on the surface of tumor cells. Conjugation of cytotoxic agents to glycoproteins recognized by lectins could be useful in the treatment of tumors. Avidin (a highly glycosylated, positively charged protein found in egg white) contains terminal N-acetylglucosamine and mannose residues that bind to some lectins. In this study, we tested the ability of avidin, labeled through conjugation to radioactive biotin (a B vitamin), to target intraperitoneal tumors. METHODS: Biotin was radioactively labeled with 111In. Four tumor models (one ovarian, one lung, and two colon) were established in nude mice by intraperitoneal injection of cultured cancer cells. The following two approaches were used in the intraperitoneal administration of avidin: 1) radioactive biotin-avidin conjugates were injected and 2) avidin was injected 1-24 hours before the injection of radioactive biotin (avidin pretargeting; avidin-biotin conjugates formed in vivo). The distribution of injected radioactivity in the tissues of treated animals was assessed. RESULTS: Radiolabeled avidin localized highly and rapidly in the tumors. More than 50% of the administered dose of avidin-biotin conjugate accumulated per gram of tumor tissue 2 hours after injection; high tumor uptake of radioactivity was observed up to 24 hours after conjugate injection. In contrast, accumulation of radioactivity in normal tissues was low, yielding high tumor to nontumor ratios. With avidin pretargeting, accumulation of radioactivity in the liver, kidney, and spleen was reduced to a greater extent than that in the tumor, and tumor to nontumor ratios were increased. CONCLUSIONS: Avidin may be a promising vehicle for the delivery of radioisotopes, drugs, toxins, or therapeutic genes to intraperitoneal tumors.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

SB202190, a selective inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, is a powerful regulator of LPS-induced mRNAs in monocytes.

Inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) have been reported to block tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) production in monocytes at the level of mRNA translation. Yet, several studies document that p38 can phosphorylate and activate specific transcription factors. Thus, to understand better the role of p38 during monocyte activation, we sought to determine the extent to which p38 is required for lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced gene expression. For this, differential mRNA display was used to identify LPS-induced genes whose expression was blocked by SB202190, a specific inhibitor of p38. A partial screen identified 10 genes in monoyctes induced 4- to 74-fold by LPS. Of these, genes encoding interferon-induced gene 15, neuroleukin, radiation-inducible immediate-early gene-1, A20, IL-1beta, and superoxide dismutase were suppressed >50% by SB202190. LPS-induced gene activation was not blocked by cycloheximide, indicating that synthesis of intermediate proteins was not required. SB202190 blocked gene induction by 50% when present between 41 and 123 nM, consistent with the potency of this compound as a p38 inhibitor. Furthermore, the ability of SB202190 to block gene activation was stimulus-dependent. LPS and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) both up-regulated neuroleukin mRNA, but only LPS-induced neuroleukin mRNA was suppressed by SB202190. In contrast, TNF-alpha and LPS both induced IL-8 mRNA, and induction by either TNF-alpha or LPS was blocked by SB202190. These data were consistent with the ability of LPS and TNF-alpha, but not IFN-alpha, to activate p38 in monocytes. The results provide pharmacological evidence that p38 may be a key mediator of inducible gene expression in monocytes, but its role is stimulus and gene specific.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗
PubMed1998

Purification and activation of recombinant p38 isoforms alpha, beta, gamma, and delta.

p38 is a proline-directed serine/threonine kinase that is activated by inflammatory cytokines and cellular stress. At present, four isoforms of p38 have been identified and termed alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. We expressed each p38 homolog in Escherichia coli and purified the recombinant isoforms. p38alpha and C-terminal Flag-tagged p38beta were purified by Q-Sepharose fast flow, hydroxyapatite, and Q-Sepharose high-performance chromatography. His-tagged p38gamma was purified using Ni2+-NTA resin followed by Mono Q chromatography. Glutathione S-transferase-Flag p38delta was purified using M2 affinity agarose and gel-filtration chromatography. Upstream activators of p38, constitutively active (ca) MKK3 and MKK6, were also cloned, purified, and used to activate each p38 isoform. p38 alpha, gamma, and delta were phosphorylated by both MKK6 and caMKK3. p38beta was phosphorylated only by MKK6. Mass spectrometry analysis and kinase assays showed that MKK6 was the superior reagent for phosphorylating and activating all p38 isoforms.

Activating Transcription Factor 2↗
PubMed1998

Imaging of intraperitoneal tumors with technetium-99m GSA.

99mTc labeled galactosyl serum albumin (GSA) has been used clinically as a receptor-binding agent for the assessment of liver function. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of 99mTc-GSA in intraperitoneal (i.p.) tumor imaging. A tumor model was established by i.p. inoculating nude mice with human ovarian cancer cell SHIN-3, or colon cancer cell LS 180. Radiolabels were i.p. injected into the tumor-bearing mice and the biodistribution of radioactivity was examined. After administration, 99mTc-GSA rapidly accumulated in the tumor. The tumor uptake was 5.82-8.46 %ID/g from 30 min to 6 h after the injection. Radioactivity in the blood was very low, less than 0.3 %ID/g, resulting in high tumor-to-blood ratio. Tumors could be clearly seen by scintigraphic imaging. Accumulation of i.p.-injected 99mTc labeled human serum albumin (HSA) in i.p. tumors was similar to that of 99mTc-GSA, but radioactivity of 99mTc-HSA in the circulation was high, resulting in a significantly lower tumor-to-blood ratio. In conclusion, 99mTc-GSA, when i.p. injected, accumulated in i.p. tumors and cleared from circulation rapidly, which would make it useful for the imaging of i.p. tumors.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Improved long-term survival for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a combination of surgery and intrahepatic arterial infusion of 131I-anti-HCC mAb. Phase I/II clinical trials.

Resectional therapy has been accepted as the only curative therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, it is estimated that only 10% of HCC are resectable at the time of diagnosis. Cytoreduction and sequential resection offer a new hope for patients with unresectable HCC. Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is an attractive approach for cytoreduction. We have previously shown that intrahepatic arterial 131I-labelled anti-HCC monoclonal antibody (131I-Hepama-1 mAb) could be used safely in combination with hepatic artery ligation for treatment of unresectable HCC, and encouraging results have been achieved. In this paper, the long-term survival and the prognostic factors in HCC patients treated with radioimmunotherapy will be analysed. Sixty-five patients with surgically verified unresectable HCC were treated with hepatic artery ligation plus hepatic artery cannulation and infusion from 1990 to 1992. Thirty-two patients were enrolled in a phase I-II clinical trial with infusion of 131I-radiolabelled anti-HCC monoclonal antibody (Hepama-1 mAb) via the hepatic artery (the RIT group). Another 33 patients formed the group treated with intrahepatic-arterial chemotherapy (the non-RIT group). T cell subsets were measured in 24 patients and human anti-(murine Ig) antibody (HAMA) were monitored in the RIT group. The 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in the RIT group than in the chemotherapy group, being 28.1% compared to 9.1% (P < 0.05); this was mainly a result of better cytoreduction and a higher sequential resection rate (53.1% compared to 9.1%). Significant prognostic factors in the RIT group included tumour capsule status and the number of tumour nodules. HAMA incidence and CD4+ T lymphocytes influenced short-term, but not long-term survival. It is suggested that intrahepatic-arterial RIT, using 131I-Hepama-1 mAb, combined with hepatic artery ligation might be an effective approach to improve long-term survival in some patients with unresectable HCC, which may successfully be made resectable by intra-arterial infusion of 131I-Hepama-1 mAb.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Three-step tumor imaging with biotinylated monoclonal antibody, streptavidin and 111In-DTPA-biotin.

The purpose of this study was to test the three-step targeting of tumors in mice using biotinylated antibody, streptavidin and radiolabeled biotin. Nude mice bearing subcutaneous LS180 human colon cancer xenografts were intravenously administered with 200 microg of the biotinylated anti-Tn monoclonal antibody MLS128, and 2 days later they got intravenous injection of 50 microg of streptavidin. They were intravenously injected 1, 4 or 7 days later with 0.5 microg of 111In-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-biotin. The tumor uptake, determined 2 h later, was 1.4, 0.5 and 0.6% injected dose/gram of tissue (ID/g), respectively, and the blood radioactivity was 1.0, 0.2 and 0.2% ID/g, respectively. When the interval between the streptavidin and radiolabeled biotin injections was prolonged from 1 day to 7 days, the tumor-to-blood ratio 2 h after injection of 111In-labeled biotin increased from 1.5 to 4.0. Clear tumor images were obtained as early as 2 h after injection of radiolabeled biotin. In conclusion, these preliminary data suggested that the three-step method using the streptavidin-biotin system would be applicable in an experimental mouse tumor model and provides images of tumors rapidly and clearly after injection of radiolabeled biotin.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Effect of administration route and dose of streptavidin or biotin on the tumor uptake of radioactivity in intraperitoneal tumor with multistep targeting.

The effect of the administration route and dose of streptavidin or biotin on the biodistribution of radioactivity in multistep targeting was studied in nude mice bearing intraperitoneal (IP) colon cancer xenograft. The multistep targeting included a two-step method using biotinylated antibody and radiolabeled streptavidin and a three-step method with radiolabeled biotin based on the two-step method. A monoclonal antibody, MLS128, which recognizes Tn antigen on mucin, was biotinylated and injected intravenously (i.v.) or i.p. in nude mice bearing human colon cancer LS180 IP xenografts for pretargeting. In the two-step method, i.p.-injected streptavidin showed a higher tumor uptake and tumor-to-nontumor ratios than i.v.-injected streptavidin regardless of administration route of pretargeting. The tumor uptake of radiolabeled streptavidin was increased with a high dose of biotinylated antibody pretargeting, but decreased with an increasing dose of streptavidin. In the three-step targeting, i.p. injection also gave a higher tumor uptake of radiolabeled biotin than i.v. injection. In conclusion, i.p. administration of radiolabeled streptavidin or biotin resulted in more efficient IP tumor targeting with the multistep methods.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Increased streptavidin uptake in tumors pretargeted with biotinylated antibody using a conjugate of streptavidin-fab fragment.

Radiolabeled streptavidin accumulated in tumors pretargeted with biotinylated antibody. However, the absolute delivery of radioactivity was limited. To increase the tumor uptake of radioactivity further, we conjugated streptavidin with a mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb) fragment, OST6Fab, which recognizes antigen on human osteosarcoma. Another mouse MAb, OST7, which also reacts with the same tumor but recognizes an epitope different from the OST6 epitope, was biotinylated. The radioiodinated streptavidin-OST6Fab conjugate was administered to tumor-bearing mice after the biotinylated OST7 pretargeting. The uptake of the conjugate in tumors pretargeted with the biotinylated antibody was significantly higher than that of streptavidin and that of the conjugate of streptavidin and irrelevant Fab fragment. Renal uptake of radioactivity was decreased markedly, and the blood clearance was retarded by the conjugation with Fab fragment. In conclusion, the conjugate of streptavidin with specific Fab fragment increased the accumulation of radioactivity in tumors pretargeted with biotinylated antibody.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A radioiodinated biocytin derivative for in-vivo applications.

Radioiodinated biocytin derivatives are potentially useful for multi-step tumour targeting using the avidin-biotin system. We synthesized a radioiodinated biocytin derivative and evaluated its properties in vivo. We labelled biocytin with 125I by coupling biocytin to radioiodinated N-succinimidyl 3-(tri-n-butyl-stannyl) benzoate, and assessed its binding to avidin and its biodistribution in normal and tumour-bearing mice. When the synthesized biocytin was incubated with immobilized avidin, more than 94% of the radioactivity was bound. However, after 2 h incubation in serum, only 40% of the radioactivity was bound to the avidin. The iodinated biocytin derivative was characteristically taken up by the liver and the kidneys when injected intravenously into mice. In mice bearing an intraperitoneal tumour xeno-graft, 125I-biocytin and 111In-biotin were co-injected intraperitoneally 4 h after the intraperitoneal administration of avidin, which accumulated in the intraperitoneal tumours. At 2 and 24 h, the tumour uptake of 125I-biocytin was 8.2 and 3.8% ID/g respectively, whereas that of 111In-biotin was 20.0 and 18.7% ID/g respectively. When radioiodinated, biocytin retains its binding capacity to avidin, and it localizes well with high tumour-to-normal tissue ratios early post-injection using the two-step method, but compared to 111In-biotin it is unstable. We conclude that the stability of the product in serum needs to be improved prior to in-vivo applications.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Sequences within the amino terminus of ApoB100 mediate its noncovalent association with apo(a).

Although sequences within the C terminus of apolipoprotein B (apoB) have been implicated in the formation of covalent lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] particles, sequences in apoB that mediate initial noncovalent interaction with apo(a) remain to be characterized. To address this question, we have used an affinity chromatography method in which 2 recombinant forms of apo(a) [r-apo(a); either a 17-kringle form (17K) or a derivative containing apo(a) kringle IV types 5-8] have been immobilized onto Sepharose beads. Conditioned media from rat hepatoma (McA-RH7777) cell lines stably expressing various carboxyl-terminally truncated forms of human apoB (ranging from full-length apoB to apoB15) were applied to the r-apo(a) affinity columns; the columns were subsequently washed and eluted with epsilon-aminocaproic acid (epsilon-ACA). Specific binding was quantified by Western blot analysis of column fractions. Of the apoB truncations examined, apoB94, apoB42, apoB37, and apoB29 exhibited complete specific binding to 17K r-apo(a). Only approximately 50% binding was observed for apoB18, whereas essentially no detectable binding was observed with apoB15. In all cases, similar results were obtained when the r-apo(a) kringle IV types 5-8-Sepharose column was used. Additionally, substitution of proline for epsilon-ACA as the eluent resulted in similar column profiles with either r-apo(a) affinity column. We also demonstrated that apoB48 present in chylomicrons bound completely to the 17K column in an epsilon-ACA-dependent manner. Taken together, these results represent the first demonstration that N-terminal sequences in apoB between amino acid residues 680 (apoB15) and 781 (apoB18) are essential for noncovalent association with apo(a) and that these sequences interact with domain(s) present within apo(a) kringle IV types 5-8.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Vasculogenesis from embryonic bodies of murine embryonic stem cells transfected by Tgf-beta1 gene.

Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells transfected with a 1.7 kb cDNA of porcine transforming growth factor type beta1 (TGFbeta1), known as ES-T cells, were found to be able to differentiate in vitro into cystic embryonic bodies (EBs) with outspread tubular structures. Morphological analysis using light, phase-contrast and electron microscopes revealed that in culture, the EBs of ES-T cells initially developed some flat endothelial-like cells which further proliferated and migrated to form thread structures. At 8-10 days after EB formation, these thread structures further developed into net-like and tubular structures connecting directly to EBs. Immunofluorescent assays using antibodies against Flk-1 and von Willebrand factor (vWF) indicated that these net-like and tubular structures of ES-T cells consisted of vascular endothelial cells. Further analysis by RT-PCR revealed that the EBs with tubular structures expressed the mRNA of other markers of vascular endothelial cells, including VE-cadherin and platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM). Cells of hematopoietic origin were not detected on the outside of EBs by immunostaining using several antibodies specific for granulocytes, macrophages and lymphocytes as well as by benzidine staining for erythroid cells on the outside of EBs. Our data demonstrates that the transfer of TGFbeta1 into ES cells results in a significant vasculogenesis without concomitant hematopoiesis. ES-T cells could therefore provide an excellent model for studying blood vessel formation and vasculogenic and hematopoietic interactions.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

The in vivo sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine in the Red River basin, Yunnan, China.

The sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine in vivo was examined out in a small town in the Red River basin from 1995 to 1996. forty cases were recruited into the present study, 32 cases were completely followed-up. The results of the in vivo study revealed that only 3 (9%) cases were sensitive to chloroquine, 29 (90.6%) showed resistance to chloroquine, among whom 7 cases (22%) showed resistance at RI, 12 cases (38%) at RII, and 10 cases (31%) at RIII. It is suggested that P. falciparum endemic areas should stop using chloroquine and other 4-aminoquinolines in the Red River basin now. Qinhaosu and pyronaridine were recommended to use as the first line antimalarial drugs of P. falciparum infection in the basin.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Normal-sized ovary carcinoma syndrome--clinical and pathological analysis of 11 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical-pathologic features, diagnostic criteria, effective treatment and prognosis of a clinically rare "normal-sized ovary carcinoma syndrome". METHODS: Histologic slides of 11 cases from 1984 to 1993 of normal-sized ovary carcinoma syndrome were retrospectively reviewed. Seven of the 11 cases were extraovarian peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma (EPSPC). The remaining 4 cases were serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary (2 cases), malignant mesothelioma (1 case) and metastatic poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of unknown origin (1 case). All patients received relatively thorough surgical resection combined with multiple courses of adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: The patient with malignant mesothelioma survived for 90 months, one case with EPSPC survived for 87 months up to Dec 1997. The average survival time of 9 patients who died of their diseases was 17.8 months, being longer than that reported in the literature. CONCLUSION: Following accurate diagnosis of normal-sized ovary carcinoma syndrome, radical tumor resection is the first treatment of choice. For residual tumor, postoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy is essential to obtain better prognosis.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

[Clinical study on preventing and treating chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting using supplemented Inula-Ochrae Decoction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe supplemented Inula-Ochrae Decoction (SIOD) in preventing and treating nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy for patients with malignant tumour. METHODS: Seventy-two patients were divided into two groups, the patients in test group took SIOD and in control group using ondensetron, and the efficacy of SIOD in preventing and treating chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting were studied prospectively with self-intersection approach. RESULTS: The effective rate of treating vomiting due to chemotherapy with DDP and without DDP in the test group was 92.7% and 93.5% respectively, and was higher than that in the control group 87.8% and 87.1%, the difference was insignificant statistically (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prescription SIOD could prevent and treat effectively chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting without any toxic and side effects, and is inexpensive with high efficacy for clinical use.

Adolescent↗