In vitro myoblast to myotube transformations in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine which exerts a variety of effects on many cell types including neuronal cells, and is a potent mitogen for myoblasts. At concentrations of 0.1-0.

Specific binding of leukemia inhibitory factor to murine myoblasts in culture.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a member of the cytokine family of growth factors. It has been shown to exert a variety of actions on a diverse range of cell types, including neuronal, bone, and hemopoietic cells (Hilton, 1992, Trends Biochem. Sci.

Mammalian tyrosinase-related protein-1 is recognized by autoantibodies from vitiliginous Smyth chickens. An avian model for human vitiligo.

The Smyth line (SL) chicken is an animal model for the human acquired depigmentary disorder vitiligo. Affected birds from this line express a postnatal loss of melanocytes in feather and ocular tissues. This vitiligo-like depigmentation is considered to be a disorder with two interacting components: melanocyte dysfunctions and autoimmune reactions.

Patient rights issues and their implications for pastoral caregivers.

Reports on actual results of operationalizing the "spiritual concerns" dimension of the Patient Self-Determination Act in one hospital setting. Opines a variety of implications for hospital chaplains and for Clinical Pastoral Education.

Tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells: the role of intracellular Ca2+ in the histamine H1 receptor-stimulated phosphorylation of Ser8, Ser19, Ser31, and Ser40.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TOH), the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine biosynthesis, is regulated by phosphorylation. Activation of histaminergic H1 receptors on cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells stimulated a rapid increase in TOH phosphorylation (within 5 s) that was sustained for at least 5 min. The initial increase in TOH phosphorylation (up to 1 min) was essentially unchanged by the removal of extracellular Ca2+.

Dynamic cardiomyoplasty.

Dynamic cardiomyoplasty is a promising new technique that appears to effect symptomatic improvement in patients with NYHA class III heart failure. Objective improvement in systolic performance of the left ventricle appears small but remains to be further defined. No survival advantage has yet been realized, although this may be seen as the technique is further refined and operative risk curtailed.

In vivo correction of low density lipoprotein receptor deficiency in the Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbit with recombinant adenoviruses.

A rabbit animal model of the human disease familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), which is the result of low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor deficiency, was used to develop an in vivo approach to gene therapy based on recombinant adenoviruses. Recombinant, replication-defective adenoviruses expressing the lacZ gene under the control of different promoters were infused into the portal circulation of New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. Expression of lacZ could be obtained in virtually all hepatocytes within 3 days post-infusion, but was undetectable by 3 weeks.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) infusion stimulates skeletal muscle regeneration after injury: injured muscle expresses lif mRNA.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is known to stimulate myoblast growth in culture via direct receptor mediated mechanisms, but it does not suppress myoblast fusion in vitro. We show here that LIF is also effective in vivo, using a muscle crush model. Administration of LIF to the site of the crush results in an increased rate of regeneration of the injured muscle.

TrkA cross-linking mimics neuronal responses to nerve growth factor.

TrkA, a tyrosine kinase receptor, is an essential component of the nerve growth factor (NGF) response pathway. The binding of NGF to the receptor induces receptor autophosphorylation and activation of intracellular signaling pathways, resulting in diverse biological effects. We prepared polyclonal antibodies against the entire extracellular domain of rat trkA produced using a baculovirus expression system.

Smyth chicken melanocyte autoantibodies: cross-species recognition, in vivo binding, and plasma membrane reactivity of the antiserum.

Smyth line (SL) chickens, which develop a depigmenting disorder similar to human vitiligo, produce circulating anti-melanocyte antibodies (Austin, L.M. et al.

Isolation of a human liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase cDNA and expression of the protein in Escherichia coli. Role of ASP-118 and ASP-121 in catalysis.

A cDNA encoding human liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase was isolated from a lambda gt11 library by screening with a rat liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase cDNA. The cDNA (1421 base pairs) contains an open reading frame encoding 337 amino acids, corresponding to a protein with an estimated molecular weight of 36,697. Its primary sequence is highly homologous to that of the pig kidney and rat liver enzymes.

The cDNA sequence encoding the major intrinsic protein of frog lens.

A cDNA clone encoding the frog lens major intrinsic protein (MIP) has been isolated and sequenced. The predicted protein of 28 kDa has high sequence identity and similarity to mammalian and avian lens MIP sequences. Frog lens MIP is encoded by a transcript of 4.

Effects of leukaemia inhibitory factor and other cytokines on murine and human myoblast proliferation.

It has been shown previously that leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) stimulate proliferation of primary cultures of murine myoblasts. We now show that human myoblasts respond in a similar manner to LIF and TGF-alpha. These responses occur over a range of growth conditions.

The detection of melanocyte autoantibodies in the Smyth chicken model for vitiligo.

Smyth line (SL) chickens are phenotypically characterized by a posthatch depigmentation (vitiligo) of the feathers. The destruction of melanocytes in the feather follicle as well as in other tissues such as the choroid is genetically determined. Previous studies have shown that bursectomy or treatment with immunosuppressive agents decreases the incidence and severity of SL depigmentation (1).

Lysine 274 is essential for fructose 2,6-bisphosphate inhibition of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase.

Lysine 274 is conserved in all known fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase sequences. It has been implicated in substrate binding and/or catalysis on the basis of reactivity with pyridoxal phosphate as well as by x-ray crystallographic analysis. Lys274 of rat liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase was mutated to alanine by the polymerase chain reaction, and the T7-RNA polymerase-transcribed construct containing the mutant sequence was expressed in Escherichia coli.

Potential oxyradical damage and energy status in individual muscle fibres from degenerating muscle diseases.

Inherited degenerating muscle diseases result in disintegration of muscle fibres, which is initiated by a lack of or alteration to a muscle protein. In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) the protein is known to be dystrophin. The cellular function of dystrophin is not known in any detail but its absence appears to lead to a weakening of the sarcolemma.

Regenerating neurons. Changes in protein phosphorylation.

We have been studying the phosphorylation of proteins of both normal and regenerating superior cervical ganglia of the rat. Here we report the incorporation of radioactive phosphate into proteins of ganglia homogenates incubated with 32P-labeled ATP under various conditions at day 3 after postganglionic axotomy. The proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by autoradiography.

Dopamine blocking activity of clomipramine in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

While many data suggest that Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an illness accompanied by dysregulation of the serotonergic system, interesting clinical evidence and animal studies also suggest possible dysregulation of the dopaminergic (DA) system. In order to determine whether clomipramine (CMI), an antiobsessional agent, is capable of altering DA function, we performed a neuroleptic radioreceptor assay (NRRA) on plasma samples from OCD patients before and after treatment in a double-blind, placebo controlled trial of CMI. CMI produced mild but significant DA D-2 receptor binding activity in an in vitro assay.

Rapid isolation of rat brain nuclei on percoll gradients.

A rapid isotonic method for fractionation of nuclei from rat brain is described. This procedure is based on the use of discontinuous colloidal silica gel (Percoll) gradients. We start from a 63,000-g purified nuclear pellet (fraction P3) isolated from gray matter and white matter separately.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy and dystrophin: sequence homology observations.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetically transmitted disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness and usually leads to death. DMD results from the absence, deficiency or dysfunction of the protein dystrophin. Analysis of protein data bases, including homology alignments and domain recognition patterns, have located highly significant correlations between dystrophin and other calcium regulating proteins.

Dynamic cardiomyoplasty: clinical follow-up results.

From 1985 to April 1990, 78 clinical dynamic cardiomyoplasty procedures were performed using the latissimus dorsi muscle stimulated with the Medtronic Cardiomyoplasty System. Indications for surgery were mostly ischemic and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathies with patients in severe cardiac insufficiency (NYHA Class III and IV). Results of this multicenter study (11 centers) indicate that the dynamic cardiomyoplasty procedure can be transferred and reproduced in many centers with low perioperative mortality and that it improves the functional status of patients who survive the procedure.

Stimulation of myoblast proliferation in culture by leukaemia inhibitory factor and other cytokines.

Significant stimulation of growth of myoblasts in culture is achieved by leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The optimum activity of this cytokine occurs at about 6 pM LIF. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) also stimulates cultured myoblasts but to a lesser degree than LIF and the effect is not maintained for extended culture periods.