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At least 1,351 records · Page 75Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

[Effects of nandrolone phenylpropionate on the expression level of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen after burn in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of nandrolone phenylpropionate (NP) on the expression level of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen after burn in rats and the possible mechanism involved in the process. METHODS: Thirty-two Wistar rats with a deep second-degree scald injury and 20% of total body surface area were randomly divided into two groups to receive either 5 mg/kg NP(NP group) or normal saline (control group) every other day. We analyzed the mean integrated optical density(mIOD) of androgen receptor (AR) to determine the distribution and expression of AR in fibroblasts by immunohistochemistry, and measured expression level of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA by quantitative fluorescent RT-PCR to find the relation between expressions of AR and pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA. The total specimens were obtained from the scalded rats after 4, 7, 14 and 21 of after burn. RESULTS: The expression of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA in NP group was significantly higher than that in control group on the 7th, 14th and 21st days(P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference on the 4th day. The density of AR in fibroblasts had significant difference (P < 0.05) between the two groups after 4, 7, 14 and 21 days. A positive relationship existed between the expression of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA and quantity of AR in fibroblasts(r = 0.836). CONCLUSION: The nandrolone phenylpropionate increased the expression of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA and enhanced the density of AR in fibroblasts. The higher expression of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen mRNA had a relation with the change of quantity of AR in fibroblasts.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Tyrosine aminotransferase gene expression in a temperature-sensitive adult rat liver cell line.

Regulation of tyrosine aminotransferase gene expression was studied in an adult rat hepatocyte line (RALA255-10G) which is temperature sensitive for the maintenance of the differentiated liver phenotype. Glucocorticoid hormones such as cortisol were necessary for expression of the aminotransferase gene. In the absence of these steroids, enzyme synthesis, activity, and mRNA accumulation were virtually abolished. In the presence of cortisol at 33 degrees C, RALA255-10G cells showed characteristics of malignant transformation and contained little tyrosine aminotransferase activity, synthesized low levels of this enzyme, and produced low levels of enzyme mRNA. At 40 degrees C, cells maintained in the presence of cortisol regained the normal, differentiated phenotype, and tyrosine aminotransferase synthesis and mRNA accumulation were greatly increased. This increase in aminotransferase synthesis paralleled the increase in the enzyme mRNA. However, after a temperature shift-up, tyrosine aminotransferase activity was increased only for the first 2 days, probably due to thermal inactivation of this enzyme at 40 degrees C. Dibutyryl cAMP alone was not sufficient to induce expression of the tyrosine aminotransferase gene, but it enhanced the induction caused by cortisol. Immunocytochemical studies revealed that the enhanced expression of the tyrosine aminotransferase gene at 40 degrees C and in the presence of cortisol or cortisol plus dibutyryl cAMP resulted from an increase in both the number of cells producing this enzyme and the quantity of tyrosine aminotransferase synthesized per cell.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

[Histochemical investigation on the parenchyma cells of the Epiphysis cerebri of cattle (Bos taurus domesticus) and pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) (author's transl)].

The parenchyma cells of the pineal organ from 20 cattle (10 week-old female calfs, from one year to several years of age female and male cattle) and 14 pigs (8- to 9-month-old female pigs) were investigated with histochemical methods. Carbohydrates are evident in a insignificant quantity. The content of lipids is very high, according to the age the quantity varying. Proteins are evident, but only in small quantities. The content of ribonucleic acid is very high.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Long-term intake of soy protein improves blood lipid profiles and increases mononuclear cell low-density-lipoprotein receptor messenger RNA in hypercholesterolemic, postmenopausal women.

The long-term clinical effects of soy protein containing various amounts of isoflavones on lipoproteins, mononuclear cell LDL receptor messenger RNA concentrations, and other selected cardiovascular risk factors are not well known. Sixty-six hypercholesterolemic, free-living, postmenopausal women were investigated during a 6-mo parallel-group, double-blind trial with 3 interventions. After a control period of 14 d, all subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 dietary groups (all with 40 g protein): a National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Step 1 diet with protein from casein and nonfat dry milk (control), an NCEP Step 1 diet with protein from isolated soy protein containing moderate amounts of isoflavones (ISP56), or an NCEP Step 1 diet with protein from isolated soy protein containing high amounts of isoflavones (ISP90). Non-HDL cholesterol in both the ISP56 and ISP90 groups was reduced compared with the control group (P < 0.05), whereas total cholesterol was not changed. HDL cholesterol increased in both the ISP56 and ISP90 groups (P < 0.05), whereas the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol decreased significantly in both groups compared with the control (P < 0.05). Mononuclear cell LDL receptor messenger RNA concentrations increased in subjects consuming ISP56 or ISP90 compared with the control (P < 0.05). These results indicate that soy protein, with different amounts of isoflavones, may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease via improved blood lipid profiles, and that the mechanism by which apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins were depressed may be via alterations in LDL receptor quantity or activity.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Quantitation of Taura syndrome virus by real-time RT-PCR with a TaqMan assay.

A real-time RT-PCR assay was developed using a TaqMan probe to detect and quantify Taura syndrome virus (TSV) in penaeid shrimp. A pair of RT-PCR primers, which amplify a 72 bp DNA fragment, and a TaqMan probe were selected from open reading frame 1 (ORF1) of the TSV genome. The primers and TaqMan probe used in this assay reacted with TSV isolates from Hawaii, Texas, Colombia, Mexico, Belize, Indonesia, and Thailand, but neither with RNA of healthy shrimp nor with an isolate of yellow head virus. A plasmid (pTSV-1) that contains the target TSV sequence was constructed and used to generate positive control RNA through in vitro transcription. The positive control RNA was used to demonstrate that the real-time RT-PCR assay has a detection limit of 100 copies and a log-linear range up to 10(8) copies of TSV RNA. This quantitative method was found to be highly reproducible, with low intra- and inter-assay variation. Coefficient of variation (CVs) values were 0.04-8.9 and 0.05-3.7%, respectively, for replicates within and among assays. This assay was used to quantify TSV in both acutely and chronically infected shrimp in a laboratory experiment. The quantities of TSV in the tissues of pleopods and gills were not significantly different, and there was no difference in TSV levels between the acutely and chronically infected groups. However, in the chronically infected shrimp, the quantities of TSV were one to two orders of magnitude higher in the lymphoid organ than in either gills or pleopods. This assay proved to be specific with high sensitivity, and it can be used to detect and quantify TSV in shrimp samples.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Quantitative measurement of calretinin and beta-actin mRNA [correction of mRNAIN] in rat brain micropunches without prior isolation of RNA.

A microdissection technique for quantitation of neurochemicals in discrete brain nuclei has been applied to quantitative measurement of mRNA. The method permits quantitation of low abundance mRNA from submilligram amounts of tissue (10-500 micrograms protein). Discrete nuclei and other regions of the brain are solubilized in concentrated guanidine thiocyanate solution, mRNA is directly hybridized with riboprobes, and detected with a ribonuclease protection assay. This method eliminates the necessity for RNA isolation from solid tissue. No assumptions regarding RNA recovery are necessary since tissue specimens are solubilized, hybridized and treated with ribonuclease in a single tube. We have determined the mRNA levels of calretinin, a predominantly neuron-specific calcium binding protein in microdissected nuclei and other regions of rat brain. For interassay comparison, measurement of sample protein and beta-actin mRNA permits normalization and quantitation in terms of these internal controls. The quantity of calretinin mRNA ranged from 281 +/- 35 fg/micrograms protein in the thalamic paraventricular nucleus to 2.3 +/- 0.5 fg/micrograms protein for the cerebral cortex. The calretinin/beta-actin ratios ranged from 79.9 +/- 9.3% to 1.3 +/- 0.1%, respectively. The combination of microdissection techniques with a lysate RNase protection assay: (1) establishes this technique as quantitative for detection of high and low abundance mRNAs from microdissected brain specimens; (2) bypasses the inefficiencies and uncertainties associated with isolating RNA; and (3) enables large numbers of determinations from discrete brain nuclei to be analyzed in 2 to 3 days.

Actins↗
PubMed1989

Expression of two actin genes during larval development in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus.

We report the first measurements of cell number, total RNA, and transcript accumulations for two actin genes during larval development of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. At 5 weeks of feeding, when development of laboratory-raised larvae is completed, the cell number has increased about 100-fold with respect to the pluteus-stage embryo to about 150,000 +/- 50,000, and the total RNA has increased 46-fold to about 130 ng per larva. The transcripts of the Cylla cytoskeletal actin gene, which is expressed in adult tissues, continue to accumulate throughout larval development. A contrasting pattern of transcript accumulation is observed for Cyllla, a different cytoskeletal actin gene that in the embryo is expressed only in aboral ectoderm. These transcripts increase in number early in larval development, when the larval epidermis is differentiating, and then decline in quantity. It is known that at metamorphosis the larval epidermis is largely histolyzed and that the Cyllla gene is not expressed in the juvenile or adult.

Actins↗
PubMed1995

Homeless is required for RNA localization in Drosophila oogenesis and encodes a new member of the DE-H family of RNA-dependent ATPases.

The homeless (hls) gene of Drosophila is required for anteroposterior and dorsoventral axis formation during oogenesis. At a low frequency, females homozygous for mutations in hls generate early egg chambers in which the oocyte is positioned incorrectly within the cyst. At a high frequency, late-stage egg chambers exhibit a ventralized chorion. Sequence analysis of the hls cDNA predicts a protein with amino-terminal homology to members of the DE-H family of RNA-dependent ATPases and putative helicases. Similarity of 51% in the amino-terminal third of the protein was found to two yeast splicing factors, PRP2 and PRP16, and to Drosophila Maleless, which is required for dosage compensation. To analyze Hls function, RNA localization patterns were determined for seven different transcripts in hls mutant ovaries. Previtellogenic transport to the oocyte was unaffected for all transcripts examined. Transport and localization of bicoid and oskar messages during vitellogenic stages were strongly disrupted, and the distribution and/or quantity of gurken, orb, and fs(1)K10 mRNAs were also affected, but to a lesser degree. In contrast, hu-li tai shao and Bicaudal-D transcripts were transported and localized normally in hls mutants. In addition, Kinesin heavy chain:beta-Galactosidase fusion protein failed to localize correctly to the posterior of the oocyte in vitellogenic egg chambers. Examination of the microtubule structure with anti-alpha-Tubulin antibodies revealed aberrant microtubule organizing center movement and an abnormally dense cytoplasmic microtubule meshwork. We discuss potential roles for Hls in organizing a cytoskeletal framework essential for localizing specific RNAs.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1985

Accurate initiation of rat ribosomal RNA gene transcription using a fractionated nuclear extract from normal liver and a hepatoma.

Nuclear extracts obtained from normal rat liver and from Morris hepatoma 3924A were fractionated by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography. The fraction eluted with 175 mM (NH4)2SO4 (DE-B), which contains greater than 90% of RNA polymerase I activity, supported accurate transcription of cloned rat rDNA. A similar fraction obtained from the cytosol had all of the factors required for rDNA transcription. However, its transcriptional activity was at most one-sixth that of the corresponding nuclear fraction, as determined by the amount of protein needed to produce a similar quantity of the transcript. Unfractionated nuclear or cytosol preparations did not yield an accurate transcript. Optimal KCl and magnesium concentrations for rDNA transcription were 60 mM and 5-7.5 mM, respectively. The extent of transcriptional activity was in the following order: hepatoma nuclear fraction DE-B greater than whole cell extract derived from rat mammary adenocarcinoma cells much greater than normal liver fraction DE-B. The hepatoma preparation produced at least 10 times the amount of transcript produced by the corresponding liver nuclear preparation. Transcriptional activity was proportional to the levels of RNA polymerase I and to the rate of rRNA synthesis in these tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Oral administration of a mite allergen expressed by zucchini yellow mosaic virus in cucurbit species downregulates allergen-induced airway inflammation and IgE synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Sublingual-swallow immunotherapy in house dust mite-related asthma has a good safety profile and improves respiratory function and bronchial hyperreactivity. Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) is envisaged as a promising viral vector for expressing large quantity of foreign proteins in cucurbit species. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate whether oral feeding of dust mite allergen expressed by ZYMV in a cucurbit species can suppress allergen-induced inflammation and IgE synthesis. METHODS: An infectious plant virus clone, p35SZYMV2-26, that contains the full-length cDNA to the genomic RNA of a Taiwan isolate of ZYMV, driven by the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter, was engineered as an in vivo viral vector to express Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus group 5 allergen (Der p 5) in cucurbit species. Female BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally sensitized with Escherichia coli bacteria-expressed Der p 5 and orally treated with the virus-expressed Der p 5 (vDer p 5) extracted from the recombinant virus-infected squash plants. Der p 5-specific immunoglobulins were measured by ELISA, and bronchoalveolar lavage assays were used to measure airway inflammation. RESULTS: Infectivity assays and immunoblotting revealed that large quantities of free-form vDer p 5 are produced in the recombinant virus-infected squash plants. The recombinant virus carried and expressed the Der p 5 allergen in squash plants for at least 1 year after numerous passages. In animal tests, squash extract containing vDer p 5 inhibited Der p 5-specific IgE synthesis and airway inflammation. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that oral feeding with allergen produced by the plant viral vector provides a novel approach for the therapy of allergic asthma.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1991

Structure and expression of the cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase gene in cyclophosphamide-resistant murine leukemia L1210 cells.

These investigations were performed to clarify the molecular basis for the enhanced expression of cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH-1) enzymatic activity in the cyclophosphamide-resistant L1210/CPA murine leukemia cell line, as compared to the parental L1210/O strain. Western immunoblot analysis was performed using a 15-fold greater quantity of cytosolic protein from the L1210/O as compared to the L1210/CPA cell line. Nevertheless, ALDH-1 immunoreactive protein could be detected only in the L1210/CPA cells. Northern analyses, performed using total cellular and polyadenylated RNA, again demonstrated ALDH-1-specific transcripts only in the L1210/CPA cell line. This transcript was identical in size to the ALDH-1 message expressed by normal murine hepatocytes. On Southern analysis, no evidence of gene amplification, gene rearrangement, or significant mutations of length was detected. These studies suggest that the ALDH-1 protein produced by the L1210/CPA cell line is structurally normal. Moreover, overexpression of the gene does not appear to have arisen as a result of an incremental process, such as gene amplification. Rather, a qualitative abnormality in the regulation of this gene appears to exist in the L1210/CPA cells, which distinguishes them from L1210/O cells and from normal murine lymphocytes.

Aldehyde Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1980

Loss of reiterated DNA sequences during serial passage of human diploid fibroblasts.

A specific family of tandemly repeated DNA sequences was found to diminish in the human genome after serial passage of three strains of diploid fibroblasts. Eco RI restriction fragments of 340 and 680 bp were significantly reduced in quantity at late passage as determined by autoradiography of 14C-DNA and also by ethidium bromide fluorescence. The reduction in these closely related DNA sequences was confirmed by saturation hybridization to excess 14H-RNA transcribed from a homogeneous restriction fragment recleaved from the 340 bp DNA. The maximal fraction of DNA hybridizing to the 3H-RNA probe declined by 33-50% over 21-41 population doublings. Divergence and/or methylation of such sequences could not account for these results since the thermal stability of cRNA:DNA duplexes actually increased by 0.3 degrees C at late passage. Total highly repetitive sequences assayed by reassociation kinetics were also substantially reduced at late passage, implying that depletion may be common to many repeat families in DNA. The denaturation temperature for such rapidly reassociated duplexes again increased slightly at late passage, possibly reflecting the minor decreases in DNA methylation which were detected in two of the cell strains. Karyotype analyses demonstrated that over 95% euploidy was maintained, with no specific chromosome loss and no visible deletions at late passage. The depletion of reiterated sequences during repeated cell division is thus attributed to numerous small DNA deletions, which may arise from unequal recombination coupled with selection or from a nonreciprocal mechanism such as excision.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1998

Dual amino acid-selective and site-directed stable-isotope labeling of the human c-Ha-Ras protein by cell-free synthesis.

We developed two methods for stable-isotope labeling of proteins by cell-free synthesis. Firstly, we applied cell-free synthesis to the dual amino acid-selective 13C-15N labeling method, originally developed for in vivo systems by Kainosho and co-workers. For this purpose, we took one of the advantages of a cell-free protein synthesis system; the amino acid-selective stable-isotope labeling is free of the isotope scrambling problem. The targets of selective observation were Thr35 and Ser39 in the effector region (residues 32-40) of the Ras protein complexed with the Ras-binding domain of c-Raf-1 (Raf RBD) (the total molecular mass is about 30 kDa). Using a 15-mL Escherichia coli cell-free system, which was optimized to produce about 0.4 mg of Ras protein per 1-mL reaction, with 2 mg each of DL-[13C']proline and L-[15N]threonine, we obtained about 6 mg of Ras protein. As the Pro-Thr sequence is unique in the Ras protein, the Thr35 cross peak of the Ras.Raf RBD complex was unambiguously identified by the 2D 1H-15N HNCO experiment. The Ser-39 cross peak was similarly identified with the [13C']Asp/[15N]Ser-selectively labeled Ras protein. There were no isotope scrambling problems in this study. Secondly, we have established a method for producing a milligram quantity of site-specifically stable-isotope labeled protein by a cell-free system involving amber suppression. The E. coli amber suppressor tRNATyrCUA (25 mg) was prepared by in vitro transcription with T7 RNA polymerase. We aminoacylated the tRNATyrCUA transcript with purified E. coli tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, using 2 mg of L-[15N]tyrosine. In the gene encoding the Ras protein, the codon for Tyr32 was changed to an amber codon (TAG). This template DNA and the [15N]Tyr-tRNATyrCUA were reacted for 30 min in 30 mL of E. coli cell-free system. The subsequent purification yielded 2.2 mg of [15N]Tyr32-Ras protein. In the 1H-15N HSQC spectrum of the labeled Ras protein, only one cross peak was observed, which was unambiguously assigned to Tyr32.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1985

Decreased ovalbumin-gene response to oestrogen in the prenatally diethylstilboestrol-exposed chick oviduct.

Prenatal exposure of the female chick-embryo Müllerian duct to diethylstilboestrol (DES) decreases its future capacity for epithelial tubular-gland-cell differentiation and oviduct ovalbumin-gene expression. Chick Müllerian ducts after prenatal exposure to different concentrations of DES were tested after birth to determine the response of the oviduct toward the oestrogen induction. The quantity of DNA was biochemically determined, the differentiation of tubular-gland cells in the oviduct was studied by light microscopy, and the expression of the ovalbumin gene was detected by hybridization of the total RNA with radioactive ovalbumin cDNA. Comparisons among these three parameters revealed that the expression of the ovalbumin gene was affected most by DES exposure. Exposure to high doses of DES suppressed ovalbumin-gene expression by 75-78%, and inhibited tubular-gland-cell differentiation and thus decreased the DNA content by 29 and 32% respectively. Exposure to low doses of DES caused suppression of ovalbumin-gene expression by 47-53%, but it did not affect the other two parameters. Prenatal DES exposure has strong inhibitory effects on the Müllerian duct at the age (5-8-day-old embryos) when the organ is undifferentiated. Less inhibition is observed when the organ becomes differentiated (15-day-old embryos and older).

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Synthesis of stable unspliced mRNA from an intronless simian virus 40--rat preproinsulin gene recombinant.

We constructed a recombinant DNA molecule carrying the coding region and the 3' flanking sequences of the rat preproinsulin I gene, replacing the late region of a simian virus 40 (SV40) viral vector. The sequences making up the single intron of the preproinsulin I gene, located within the nontranslated leader region, as well as all of the 5' flanking sequences, have been deleted. The sequences remaining within the late transcriptional unit of SV40 do not retain a functional intron. This "intronless" mutant nevertheless directs the synthesis of substantial quantities of unspliced stable hybrid transcripts that are translated into polypeptides with insulin immunoreactivity. Two novel 5' termini, not used in wild-type SV40 transcripts, have been detected in the majority of the hybrid RNA molecules. These are located at analogous positions in both of the late SV40 72-base-pair repeats.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[Quantitation of viral load in patients infected with HIV-1 subtype E or A].

Quantitation of viral load in a HIV infected person gives important information for monitoring of the clinical status of the patients and evaluation of anti viral effects of admininstred drugs. Although conventional Amplicor HIV-1 monitor system (Roche's conventional method) is used widely, the sensitivity of this system is not enough for measurement of subtype E and A giving lower titer of these subtype viruses than the actual quantity. In Japan, HIV-1 subytpe B cases used to be predominant but recently subtype E cases are increasing especially among heterosexuals thus it becomes required to increase the sensitivity of measurement of HIV-1 RNA of subtype E or A. Therefore we establised the Kanagawa primer method using newly developed subtype E and A primers added to the primers of Roche's conventional method. The results were compared with the conventional Amplicor and also with Roche's new version method which contained new primers. Kanagawa primer method gave 4 to 16 times more sensitive results as compared with Roche's conventional method for subtype E measurement. As for subtype A case, Kanagawa primer method gave a value 1.2 x 10(4) copies/ml while it was undetectable by Roche's conventional method. Roche's new version method showed equal sensitivity of Kanagawa primer method. As for subtype B, the results of these three methods showed no difference. Addition of our newly developed subtype E and A primers to the Roche's conventional method enabled to measure subtype E and A with high sensitivity. For quantitative measurement of HIV-1 RNA, it is important to consider the subtype of the virus in test samples.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1996

Reduced cell-cell communication in experimentally induced autoimmune thyroid disease.

We have recently described a spontaneous murine model of autoimmune thyroid disease. The disorder was in part characterized by reduced thyroid epithelial cell-cell communication that was associated with abnormalities in three major connexins. To compare whether this finding was a common secondary occurrence in autoimmune thyroid disease, or unique to the spontaneous development in the MRL mice, we induced thyroiditis in Lewis rats. Immunization with thyroid extract and thyroglobulin resulted in extensive lymphocytic infiltration and increased expression of major histocompatibility gene complex (MHC) class II surface antigen in the diseased thyroid. Both experimental and control rat thyroid tissues produced gap junction proteins connexin 43, connexin 32, and connexin 26. The connexins in nondiseased tissue was located in the plasma membrane at points of cell-cell contact and labeled as discrete arrays of punctate fluorescence. The quantity of all three connexins were reduced in the diseased thyroid tissue. More importantly, the connexin proteins were not distributed as gap junctions at contacting cell interfaces. Both nondiseased and diseased thyroid tissue expressed messenger RNA (mRNA) for the three connexins, but the diseased tissue had reduced levels of mRNA for connexin 43 (45%), and to a lesser extent, connexin 26 (25%) and connexin 32 (20%). The reduced connexin mRNA, protein, and lack of assembled gap junctions measured in the diseased tissue were obtained under conditions where the infiltrating cells and their potent cytokine products were continuously present. To determine if this difference persisted when these inflammatory components were absent, primary cultures of thyroid cells from control and experimental rats were established and connexin localization experiments repeated. The diseased thyroid cells, like the diseased tissue, lacked plasma membrane associated connexin protein. The lack of gap junction assembly in the thyrocytes cultured from the diseased tissue was accompanied by a loss of functional coupling. Collectively, the data document that autoimmune diseased thyroid tissue from both the spontaneous mouse and induced rat models have reduced plasma membrane assembled gap junctions and deficient intercellular communication as determined by the inability to transfer lucifer yellow dye to contiguous cells. Nondiseased cultured thyrocyte monolayers and follicles transferred dye to second and third order neighboring cells in 80 and 95% of trials, respectively. In contrast, only 5-10% of the diseased thyrocytes transferred microinjected dye, and in these cases the transit was limited to primary contacting cells. Culturing removed inequities introduced by the infiltrating cells and their products. However, the established cultures of diseased thyroid cells retained their communication deficiency. This suggests that the loss of communication may be a common abnormality in autoimmune disease, and furthermore, this uncoupling could contribute to the loss of coordinated hormonal regulation (hypothyroidism) in the diseased thyroid gland in the absence of thyroid cell destruction.

Animals↗