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Soybean isoflavone extract suppresses early but not later promotion of hepatocarcinogenesis by phenobarbital in female rat liver.

The antioxidant and anticarcinogenic activities of soybean isoflavone extracts were investigated in female F344/rats. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 15 mg/kg body wt) as a cancer initiator was injected intraperitoneally into 120 female F344/N rats at 10 days of age, and at weaning, phenobarbital (PB, 500 mg/kg diet) was fed to one-half of the rats. Soybean isoflavones were extracted in acetone-0.1 N HCl and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and two levels of soybean isoflavones (920 and 1,840 mumol/kg diet) were fed during PB treatment for 3 and 11 months. Control rats were fed diets without PB and with or without isoflavones. The effect of soybean isoflavone extract on hepatic glutathione peroxidase was measured, and development of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT)-positive (GGT+) and placental glutathione transferase (PGST)-positive (PGST+) altered hepatic foci (AHF) was analyzed by computerized stereology. Soybean isoflavone extract providing 920 or 1,840 mumol/kg diet normalized total heptic glutathione peroxidase activity, which was suppressed about 17% by PB (p < 0.05), and both doses of isoflavone extract suppressed PB promotion of hepatocarcinogenesis, decreasing the volume occupied by GGT+ and PGST+ AHF (p < 0.05) after three months. After 11 months of PB promotion, isoflavone extract at 920 mumol/kg diet decreased PGST+ AHF compared with the PB-fed group, but neither dose of isoflavone extract suppressed development of GGT+ AHF compared with the group fed PB alone. Furthermore the control group fed isoflavone extract at 1,840 mumol/kg diet showed greater development of GGT+ and PGST+ AHF than the group fed the basal diet alone. Therefore soybean isoflavones may be anticarcinogenic, but their margin of safety is relatively narrow, with a cancer-promoting dose of 1,840 mumol/kg in female F344/N rats initiated with DEN.

Animals↗

Radioreceptor assay for the measurement of endogenous digitalis-like factors using membrane particulate fraction of human placenta and 125I-digoxin: comparison with RIA method.

We measured purified extracts of serum (plasma) or urine samples of newborns, pregnant women, normal adults, and uremic patients by a radioreceptor assay (RRA), which uses particulate membrane fractions from human placenta as a binding system, and 125I-digoxin as a tracer. We also measured the digoxin-like immunoreactivity by a sensitive RIA, and results were compared with those found by the RRA. Specific 125I-digoxin binding to placental receptors was competitively inhibited by purified plasma and/or urine extracts of newborns, adult subjects, pregnant women and uremic patients. A linear relationship was found between inhibition of binding and volume of plasma and urine assayed. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between the values obtained by RRA and those found by RIA (n = 17, r = 0.699, p = 0.0012). Our data confirm that increased circulating and/or urinary levels of substances with biological and immunological activity similar to cardiac glycoside drugs are present in newborns, pregnant women and uremic patients compared to healthy adult subjects. In addition, our preliminary study indicates that these endogenous factors are able to bind to the specific receptor of digitalis drugs on the placental membranes.

Adult↗

Distribution of tumor-associated antigen CEA and cross-reacting NCA in fetal organs.

The organ distribution of the tumor-associated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and that of the normal tissue component NCA (non-specific cross-reacting antigen) have been investigated in the fetus. Organ extracts from five fetuses between 14 and 21 weeks of age were analysed by radioimmunoassay using specific antisera. CEA was detected in large amounts (800--1,650 ng/g) in fetal colon and in barely detectable amounts in lung and placental tissue. This differed from NCA, which could be detected in almost all organ extracts analysed. The highest concentration of NCA was measured in fetal colon and the content increased with the gestational age of the fetus. High amounts of NCA were also found in the liver, spleen and placental tissue. The gel elution profiles of CEA and NCA from an amniotic fluid pool and a pool of colonic extracts were also determined. CEA eluted similarly to the marker 125I--CEA purified from liver metastasis of colonic carcinoma. The NCA-reactive material was found in three distinct peaks.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Synthesis of human placental lactogen messenger RNA as a function of gestation.

It was shown previously that 4 to 5 times more human placental lactogen (hPL) was synthesized in cell-free extracts from term placentae than in comparable extracts prepared from first trimester tissue. In an attempt to define what accounts for this differential rate of synthesis RNA was prepared from first trimester and term placentae. Following purification through an oligo(dT)-cellulose column, these RNA preparations were tested for their ability to direct the synthesis of the hPL precursor in the wheat germ cell-free system. With similar amounts of first trimester and term mRNA, the overall efficiency as defined by the stimulation of total amino acid incorporation was comparable. However, there was approximately 4 times more hPL synthesized in the presence of term RNA. This was assessed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and tryptic fingerprinting. The peak of the hPL precursor messenger activity sedimented at 12 to 13 S on sucrose gradient. Analysis of the RNA by formamide-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis further supported this value. The data indicate that the increased synthesis of hPL at term reflects greater levels of hPL mRNA in term tissue than in first trimester tissue. The data also show that the overall in vivo levels of hPL can be correlated not only with the increase in placental syncytial mass during pregnancy but also in the greater proportion of hPL synthesized per g of tissue. The latter results from the continual differentiation of the placenta occurring throughout gestation.

Female↗

Insulin-like growth factors I and II peptide and messenger RNA levels in macrosomic infants of diabetic pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: Fetal macrosomia is a common complication of maternal diabetes mellitus and is associated with substantial morbidity, but the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms that induce fetal macrosomia are not well understood. We hypothesized that the macrosomia or accelerated fetal growth seen in infants of diabetic mothers is due to a perturbation of a putative placental-fetal growth axis involving growth hormone and insulin-like growth factors. Insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and IGF-II) are ubiquitous peptides that share structural homology with insulin and have been implicated in processes that control fetal growth. Studies of IGF levels in pregnancies complicated by diabetes and macrosomia have shown conflicting results. We set out to resolve these inconsistencies using molecular techniques to measure the placental IGF-I and IGF-II messenger RNA levels in placentas and a specific radioimmunoassay to measure IGF-I and IGF-II peptide levels in cord serum of normal and diabetic pregnancies. METHODS: Placentas and cord blood were collected immediately after delivery at term from patients from each of three study groups: 1) nonmacrosomic infants of nondiabetic mothers (controls), 2) macrosomic infants of diabetic mothers, and 3) nonmacrosomic infants of diabetic mothers. Both IGF-I and IGF-II levels were measured in cord serum and placental tissue by a specific radioimmunoassay. Total RNA was extracted and analyzed by Northern gels hybridized to IGF-I or IGF-II riboprobes. RESULTS: Levels of IGF-I in cord serum from the macrosomic diabetic group (83 +/- 4.2 ng/mL) were significantly higher than levels from either the nonmacrosomic nondiabetic group (38 +/- 1.9 ng/mL) or the nonmacrosomic diabetic group (13 +/- 3.5 ng/mL). There was a direct linear correlation between cord serum IGF-I and infant birth weight, independent of diabetes (r2 = 0.61, P < .01). On the other hand, IGF-II cord serum levels were elevated in diabetic pregnancies (337 +/- 12.2 ng/mL) compared with nondiabetic women (172 +/- 19.8 ng/mL), but there was no correlation with birth weight (r2 = 0.035, P = .52). In contrast to cord blood levels, IGF-II peptide levels were significantly decreased in the placentas from mothers with diabetes compared with nondiabetic controls (116 +/- 3.2 versus 158 +/- 5.3 ng/mL, respectively). Levels of IGF-I peptide in placentas from both nondiabetic controls and diabetic mothers were below the sensitivity of the assay. Levels of IGF-I and IGF-II mRNA did not differ in placentas from diabetic mothers versus nondiabetic controls. CONCLUSION: Cord serum IGF-II levels are elevated in diabetic pregnancies without a concomitant increase in placental IGF-II levels. This novel finding, combined with the finding that IGF-I levels are correlated with macrosomia independent of the diabetic state, contributes to our understanding of the possible mechanisms involved in fetal growth in pregnancies complicated by diabetes.

Birth Weight↗

Human placental (fetal) fibronectin: increased glycosylation and higher protease resistance than plasma fibronectin. Presence of polylactosamine glycopeptides and properties of a 44-kilodalton chymotryptic collagen-binding domain: difference from human plasma fibronectin.

Human placental fibronectin was isolated from fresh term placenta by urea extraction and purified by gelatin affinity chromatography. A 44-kDa chymotryptic fragment, also purified by gelatin affinity chromatography, gave a broad, diffuse band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, whereas the analogous 43-kDa fragment from human plasma fibronectin migrated as a defined, narrow band. Upon extended treatment with endo-beta-galactosidase from Escherichia freundii, the 44-kDa chymotryptic gelatin-binding fragment from placental fibronectin changed its behavior on gel electrophoresis and migrated as a narrower, more defined band. The carbohydrates on human placental fibronectin contained a large percentage of polylactosamine structures, part of which occurred on the gelatin-binding fragment, comprising almost twice as much carbohydrate as plasma fibronectin. NH2-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the chymotryptic gelatin-binding fragments from both fibronectins showed the first 21 residues to be identical. Tryptic and chymotryptic peptide maps of the gelatin-binding fragment from placental fibronectin, however, showed differences including several protease-resistant domains not found in the analogous fragment from plasma fibronectin. Intact placental fibronectin contains 20,000 Da of carbohydrate, whereas plasma fibronectin contains 11,000 Da. Placental fibronectin is more protease-resistant than plasma fibronectin, possibly due to the additional carbohydrate. Polyclonal antibodies against either fibronectin completely cross-react with amniotic fluid fibronectin, placental fibronectin, and plasma fibronectin upon Ouchterlony immunodiffusion. Human fibronectins of putatively the same polypeptide structure are, therefore, glycosylated in a dramatically different fashion, depending on the tissue of expression. If the patterns of glycosylation comprise the only difference in the glycoprotein, this may confer the characteristic protease resistance found for each of the fibronectins.

Chymotrypsin↗

New pregnancy and placental proteins and their possible diagnostic significance.

In our laboratory a large number of, for the most part, new proteins have been detected by immunochemical methods in extracts from human term placentae: namely 3 pregnancy proteins (SP1, SP2 and SP3), around 40 soluble placental tissue proteins (PPs) and at least 11 different solubilized, apparently membrane-associated, tissue proteins. A great deal of the new proteins has been already isolated to purity and characterized. The treatise gives an overview of what is known of the physico-chemical properties and of the possible biological role of these proteins as well as of their occurrence in tissues and body fluids. It also summarizes the possible diagnostic significance of detection and measurement of these proteins on the one hand in pregnant women, on the other hand in patients with tumours and other diseases, as far as this has been already investigated.

Amniotic Fluid↗

The human fallopian tube contains placental protein 5.

Placental protein 5 (PP5), a glycoprotein with properties of a serine protease inhibitor, was found in human Fallopian tubes removed during proliferative (n = 6) and secretory (n = 6) phases of the menstrual cycle. The content of PP5 did not differ in fimbrial, ampullar and isthmic parts of the tube. In gel filtration, PP5-immunoreactivity from Fallopian tube extracts eluted as one major peak corresponding to a mol. wt of 36 kd. In radioimmunoassay, the dose--response curves of purified placental PP5 and Fallopian tubal extracts were parallel. In immunofluorescence staining, utilizing polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, PP5 was localized to the epithelium of the Fallopian tube, but weaker staining was observed also in the stroma. As a potential serine protease inhibitor, PP5 might play a part in the implantation of the fertilized ovum.

Adult↗

Recessive X-linked ichthyosis: lack of immunologically detectable steroid sulfatase enzyme protein.

Patients with recessive X-linked ichthyosis (RXLI), one hereditary form of scaly skin, lack activity of the enzyme steroid sulfatase in all tissues studied. To investigate the molecular defect underlying the lack of enzyme activity, we prepared antisera against normal enzyme by injecting normal placental microsomal suspensions or partially purified steroid sulfatase into rabbits. Antibody activity was assessed by immunoprecipitation of detergent solubilized steroid sulfatase. In addition, we prepared rabbit antisera against RXLI placental microsomal suspensions. To detect immunologically cross-reactive material in patients' placentas, extracts were studied by immunoblot techniques and by competition with normal enzyme for antibody binding. Patients' extracts did not contain immunoreactive material co-migrating on electrophoresis with purified enzyme nor did they inhibit immunoprecipitation of normal enzyme. Sera from rabbits immunized with RXLI placental microsomes contain no antibodies to normal steroid sulfatase, as judged by their failure to immunoprecipitate normal enzyme or to react with normal steroid sulfatase on immunoblot. Thus the mutation in RXLI appears to reduce steroid sulfatase enzyme protein as well as enzyme activity.

Chromatography, Agarose↗

Placental vascular disease and toll-like receptor 4 gene expression.

OBJECTIVE: Vascular disease in the placenta, which is identified by the study of umbilical artery Doppler flow velocity waveforms, is associated with endothelial cell activation and a proinflammatory cytokine response in the villous placental circulation. We studied toll-like receptor 4 expression (the ligand is lipopolysaccharide) to examine whether infection may cause these inflammatory components of placental vascular disease through an innate immune response. STUDY DESIGN: Microvessel endothelial cells were isolated from human placentae with collagenase digestion and then extracted with Dynabeads that were coated with monoclonal antibody against CD31. We studied 13 placentae from normal pregnancies that were delivered at term and 15 pregnancies with umbilical placental vascular disease that was defined by an abnormal umbilical artery Doppler study. We extracted RNA from the isolated endothelial cells. The messenger RNA expression of toll-like receptor 4 production was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and factored relative to the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and 18S ribosomal RNA genes. RESULTS: Microvessel endothelial cells from placental villi with placental vascular disease showed up-regulation of toll-like receptor 4 expression (toll-like receptor 4/18S, 1.92 +/- 0.37 vs 0.99 +/- 0.19; P < .05; toll-like receptor 4/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, 2.20 +/- 0.36 vs 1.25 +/- 0.22; P < .05) in comparison with normal pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Up-regulation of toll-like receptor 4 gene in the endothelium of the placental villi is present in placental vascular disease, which may result from exposure of this endothelium to the toll-like receptor 4 ligand lipopolysaccharide in vivo. Directly extracted endothelial cells were used to avoid the possibility for change in behavior in tissue culture. We conclude that Gram-negative infection and lipopolysaccharide stimulation may cause placental vascular disease.

Adult↗

Coculture cells that express leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) enhance mouse blastocyst development in vitro.

PURPOSE: Leukemia inhibitory factor is a cytokine that plays an important role in implantation and enhances mouse preimplantation embryo development in vitro. Since leukemia inhibitory factor enhances early embryo development, we tested the hypothesis that coculture cells that express leukemia inhibitory factor would enhance mouse blastocyst development in vitro. In this study, Northern analysis for leukemia inhibitory factor was performed on total RNA extracted from Vero cells, human embryonic fibroblasts, and human placental fibroblasts. METHODS: Two-cell mouse embryos were cultured to blastocyst in Ham's F-10 with 15% human cord serum (control) or with the coculture cells. Northern analysis demonstrated expression of LIF mRNA in Vero cells and embryonic fibroblasts but not in placental fibroblasts. Development to blastocyst was significantly enhanced in two-cell embryos cultured with Vero cells (86%, 140/163) and embryonic fibroblasts (83%, 118/142) when compared to controls (71%, 67/94, P < 0.05) or placental fibroblasts (71%, 95/134), P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that coculture cells that express leukemia inhibitory factor may be superior to nonleukemia inhibitory factor expressing cells for early preimplantation embryo development.

Animals↗

Immunochemically detected placental proteins and their biological functions.

During the last 20 years a systematic search for proteins occurring in human term placenta (afterbirth) has been performed in our laboratory. As a result more than 30 soluble placental proteins and at least 20 different solubilized antigens apparently derived from the placental membranes have been identified by immunochemical methods in extracts from human term placentas. Most of these proteins have already been isolated to purity and characterized by their physicochemical parameters. Specific antisera to these proteins were obtained by immunizing animals with the corresponding purified proteins. They were used detect and localize these antigens by immunochemical methods in the placenta and in other human tissues. Sensitive immunochemical assays have been developed to exactly quantitate the new proteins in body fluids and to find out the diagnostic significance of measurement of these proteins in pregnant women and in patients with tumors and other diseases. Another aim was to elucidate the biological functions of our immunochemically detected proteins. The results obtained thus far are reported.

Female↗

Characterization of a Mr 25,000 basic fibroblast growth factor form in adult, regenerating, and fetal rat liver.

A heparin-binding Mr 25,000 immunoreactive bFGF-like protein (ir-bFGF) is recognized in adult rat liver extract by affinity-purified polyclonal anti-human placental bFGF antibodies. Hepatic levels of this protein increase 4-fold in regenerating rat liver during the first 48 h after partial hepatectomy. Also, they appear to be higher in embryonic than in newborn or in adult rat liver. Mr 25,000 ir-bFGF from regenerating rat liver, partially purified by heparin-affinity chromatography, induces plasminogen activator activity and cell proliferation in transformed fetal bovine aortic endothelial GM 7373 cells and competes with Mr 18,000 [125I]bFGF for the binding to high affinity bFGF receptors. The data indicate the presence in rat liver of a high molecular weight form of bFGF whose expression is modulated during embryonic development and liver regeneration.

Aging↗

Immunologic identification of the aromatase enzyme system in human endometrium.

Confluent human endometrial stromal cells were cultured in medium with no hormone or supplemented with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), estradiol (E2), and porcine relaxin (RLX) for 5 days. These stromal cells were then labeled with [35S]methionine for 3 h. The radioactive proteins in the particulate fraction of cell homogenate were extracted by detergent and incubated with antisera to purified placental aromatase cytochrome P-450 (P-450arom) and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase to isolate the radio-labeled aromatase enzyme components. Analysis of the radio-labeled protein, isolated by antibody to the cytochrome P-450arom from different preparations (P45FBIII or R-8-2) showed a major band at molecular weight 54k on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The intensity of 54k band was stronger in hormone treated stromal cells than that of control in parallel with the increase of aromatase activity. The radio-labeled protein isolated by anti-NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase, REDFBIV, showed a major band at the molecular weight 73k on SDS-PAGE with comparable intensity in control and hormone treated samples. Thus, the apparent molecular weights of endometrial cytochrome P-450arom and cytochrome P-450 reductase were identical to placental aromatase enzyme system. When a secretory endometrium and a decidua were labeled with [35S]methionine, the cytochrome P-450arom was detected only in the decidua. NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase was detected both in the endometrium and the decidua. These results show that antisera to placental aromatase enzyme system cross reacts with the endometrial aromatase enzyme components. The synthesis of cytochrome P-450arom was stimulated by MPA, E2 and RLX while the synthesis of the NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase aromatase component was not affected by the hormone.

Aromatase↗

Detection of placental-type alkaline phosphatase in ovarian cancer.

A monoclonal antibody, H317, has been used for the sensitive and specific detection of placental-type alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) in sera, solubilized tissue extracts and fixed tumour tissue sections from patients representing a variety of ovarian tumours. PLAP was detected in over 30% of these sera and in most solubilized tumour tissue extracts. There was no association between circulating PLAP levels and either tissue extract levels or immunohistological staining of ovarian tumour tissue sections with H317. Nevertheless, immunohistology demonstrated the heterogeneity of cellular localization of PLAP within different tumours, and can often be of value in localizing tumour tissue.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Enzyme replacement therapy in Gaucher's disease: large-scale purification of glucocerebrosidase suitable for human administration.

Enzyme replacement therapy for the alleviation of Gaucher's disease has been impeded because of the difficulty in preparing large amounts of glucocerebrosidase, the enzyme that is deficient in patients with this disorder. A large-scale procedure for the purification of human placental glucocerebrosidase has been developed. The method uses cholate extraction, ammonium sulfate fractionation, acid precipitation, butanol extraction, and hydrophobic chromatography; the final enzyme preparation has a specific activity of more than 10(6) units/mg of protein with an overall recovery of 30%. In addition, the contamination of enzyme preparations, intended for human infusion, prepared by isolation procedures involving concanavalin A columns has been studied and is reported here.

Female↗

L-glucosylceramide: synthesis, properties, and resistance to catabolism by glucocerebrosidase in vitro.

Procedures for the synthesis and radioactive labeling of L-glucosylceramide are described. This compound is a stereoisomeric analogue of D-glucosylceramide which occurs in nature and accumulates in pathological quantity in the organs and tissues of patients with Gaucher disease. The properties of L-glucosylceramide that have been examined so far have been found to be indistinguishable from those of the naturally occurring glycolipid. However, L-glucosylceramide is completely refractory to enzymatic hydrolysis by purified placental glucocerebrosidase and enzyme(s) present in whole tissue extracts. It is anticipated that L-glucosylceramide will be a uniquely useful substance for exploring pathogenetic processes in animal analogues of Gaucher disease.

Animals↗

Insulin activates a tyrosine-specific protein kinase in extracts of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and human placenta.

Insulin activates a tyrosine-specific cAMP-independent protein kinase when added directly to detergent extracts of differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and humal placental membranes. The kinase is also activated by antibody to the insulin receptor and, to a lesser extent, by proinsulin. It catalyzes the phosphorylation of the 92,000-dalton component of the insulin receptor, histone, and casein; in each case, tyrosine is the principal amino acid modified. Under the conditions used to activate the kinase, insulin does not affect the rate of dephosphorylation of the receptor or of histone. The insulin-activated kinase is copurified with the human placental insulin receptor until the final elution from insulin-Sepharose. It remains to be established whether the kinase and the insulin receptor are separate molecules.

Adipose Tissue↗