Associations Between Newly Discovered Polymorphisms of the CEBPD GENE LOCUS and Body Parameters in Sheep.

An understanding of what effects particular genes can have on body parameters in productive animals is particularly significant for the process of marker-assisted selection. The gene of transcriptional factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein delta (CEBPD gene) is involved in the process of growth in animals and is known to be a promising candidate for use as a genomic marker. The structure of the CEBPD gene locus was determined using NimbleGen sequencing technology (Roche, USA).

[Persistence properties of Corynebacterium non diphtheriae circulating in Rostov-on-Don and Rostov region].

Aim: Characterize persistence properties and antibiotic sensitivity of Corynebacterium non diphtheriae circulating in Rostov-on-Don and Rostov Region.

Materials And Methods: DNase, anti-immunoglobulin activity, hemagglutinating activity, antagonistic properties and antibiotic sensitivity of Corynebacterium non diphtheriae strains isolated from patients with inflammatory diseases of urogenital tract, pregnant women and individuals undertaking prophylactic examination were studied.

Results: Lack of antagonistic interactions of C.

Enhancing of GM3 synthase expression during differentiation of human blood monocytes into macrophages as in vitro model of GM3 accumulation in atherosclerotic lesion.

In previous studies, we showed that ganglioside levels (GM3 being the main ganglioside) in human aortic intima isolated from atherosclerotic lesions were 5 times greater compared to intima from non-diseased vascular areas. Recently, we found that GM3 and GM3 synthase levels in differentiated in vitro macrophages were five and ten times higher, respectively, compared to freshly isolated human monocytes. In this article, we report that GM3 synthase mRNA levels were significantly higher in differentiated human monocyte-derived macrophages compared to monocytes and in atherosclerotic aorta compared to normal aorta.

Ganglioside GM3 and its biological functions.

Metabolism, topology, and possible mechanisms for regulation of the ganglioside GM3 content in the cell are reviewed. Under consideration are biological functions of GM3, such as involvement in cell differentiation, proliferation, oncogenesis, and apoptosis.

Lipid second messengers and cell signaling in vascular wall.

Agonists of cellular receptors, such as receptor tyrosine kinases, G protein-coupled receptors, cytokine receptors, etc., activate phospholipases (C(gamma), C(beta), A(2), D), sphingomyelinase, and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase. This produces active lipid metabolites, some of which are second messengers: inositol trisphosphate, diacylglycerides, ceramide, and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate.

Activation of ganglioside GM3 biosynthesis in human monocyte/macrophages during culturing in vitro.

We found that GM3 levels in human peripheral blood monocytes and cultured monocyte-derived macrophages were 0.37 and 2.7 microg per million cells, respectively.

Expression of GM3 synthase in human atherosclerotic lesions.

We have previously demonstrated that amounts of ganglioside GM3 are markedly higher in human atherosclerotic lesions compared to that in non-diseased arterial tissue. Because the fatty acid composition of GM3 in blood plasma low density lipoproteins (LDL) and the fatty acid composition of GM3 in atherosclerotic lesions differed, we hypothesized that, in addition to GM3 originating from LDL infiltrating the arterial wall from the blood, excessive GM3 may be synthesized locally in atherosclerotic lesions. In the present work, using an anti-GM3 antibody developed by us, we showed that the levels of GM3 synthase in membrane fractions isolated from the atherosclerotic intima were higher compared to those in non-diseased arterial tissue.

Development of antibody to human GM3 synthase and immunodetection of the enzyme in human tissues.

Polyclonal antibody was raised to a cloned fragment of human GM3 synthase. Affinity purified R27C1 antibody to the tagged recombinant protein inhibited GM3 synthase activity in human liver and HL-60 cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, the R27C1 antibody did not affect liver sialyltransferase activity towards asialofetuin.

Sialidase activity in normal and atherosclerotic human aortic intima.

Sialidase activity has been determined in homogenates of human aortic intima by measuring the amount of GM1 formed during the incubation of ganglioside GD1a with the tissue homogenates. Areas with atherosclerotic lesions as well as adjacent areas without histological evidence of atherosclerosis were taken for comparison. The rate of GM1 formation from GD1a in the presence of homogenates of the atherosclerotic intima was 20 pmol/h per mg protein.

Sialyltransferase activity of human plasma and aortic intima is enhanced in atherosclerosis.

Sialyltransferase activity has been determined in membrane preparations containing the Golgi apparatus that were isolated from atherosclerotic and normal human aortic intima as well as in plasma of patients with documented atherosclerosis and healthy donors by measuring the transfer of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) from CMP-NeuAc to asialofetuin. The asialofetuin sialyltransferase activity was found to be 2 times higher in the atherosclerotic intima as compared to the normal intima and 2-fold higher in patients' plasma than in that from healthy donors. The mean values of the apparent Michaelis constant (K(m)) for the sialylating enzyme for both tissues did not differ and were close for the intima and plasma.

Sialyltransferase activity in normal and atherosclerotic human aorta intima.

Sialyltransferase activity has been determined in Golgi membrane fractions isolated from atherosclerotic and normal intima of human aorta by measuring the transfer of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) from CMP-NeuAc to asialofetuin. The asialofetuin-sialyltransferase activity was found to be twofold higher in the atherosclerotic intima than in the normal intima. The mean value of the apparent Michaelis constant (Km) for the sialylating enzyme in both tissues did not differ and was 57 microM.

Phenotype determination of anti-GM3 positive cells in atherosclerotic lesions of the human aorta. Hypothetical role of ganglioside GM3 in foam cell formation.

Earlier we reported that atherosclerotic plaques contain cells which were specifically and very intensively stained with anti-GM3 antibodies although no GM3 positive cells were detected in the normal non-diseased arterial intima. Because of their lipid inclusions, GM3 positive cells in atherosclerotic lesions seemed to be foam cells but their origin needed clarification. Using an immunohistochemical technique in the present work, we showed that some of these foam cells contained CD68 antigen.

Corrective effect of clotrimazole and beta-ionol during exposure to thiophenol.

Toxic effect of thiophenol on rats can be prevented by injection of antioxidant beta-ionol and clotrimazole, an inductor of phase I and II detoxication enzymes. Both agents increase o-demethylase activity of cytochrome P-450, but do not prevent inhibition of its water-soluble form, and activate cytosol and microsomal glutathione-dependent enzymes. Both agents protected erythrocytes from peroxide damage by thiophenol and simultaneously enhanced its prooxidant effect in the liver.

Ganglioside-mediated metabolic synchronization of protein synthesis activity in cultured hepatocytes.

An ultradian oscillation of protein synthesis was detected by synchronization of metabolic activity in rat hepatocyte cultures. This oscillation occurs in dense cultures in fresh medium, but not in sparse ones. Metabolic synchronization of sparse cultures, however, was initiated by conditioned medium or addition of 0.

Plasma sialyltransferase activity in healthy subjects and atherosclerotic patients.

Plasma sialyltransferase activity measured by incorporation of cytidine 5;-phospho[14C]acetylneuraminic acid (CMP-NeuAc) into asialofetuin was twofold higher in patients with documented atherosclerosis than in healthy donors. Kinetic studies showed that the enzyme affinity for CMP-NeuAc is the same in donors and patients. Low activity of plasma sialyltransferase in donors may be due to low blood content of this enzyme.

Immunoreactivity of apolipoprotein B-100 and binding to LDL-receptor of phospholipase A2-treated low density lipoproteins.

Lipid--protein particles were obtained by treatment of low density lipoproteins (LDL) with phospholipase A2 from bee venom. Under these conditions, half of the phosphatidylcholine (PC) of LDL was changed to lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). At the same time, the composition of other lipids and the apoprotein structure were unaffected.

Autoantibodies to gangliosides in sera of atherosclerotic patients.

Using ELISA we studied the levels and clinical correlation of serum antibodies against gangliosides and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in patients with atherosclerosis and clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease. A range of 70-80% of the patients showed higher titers of anti-GM3(L) and anti-5HT as compared to normal serum. The anti-GM3(L) antibodies appeared to be directed mainly against GM3 present in platelets and were much less reactive against GM3 isolated from the aorta.

Incorporation and localisation of ganglioside GM3 in human intimal atherosclerotic lesions.

Immunohistochemical examination showed that sections of intimal atherosclerotic plaques contained cells and cell clusters as well as areas of extracellular matrix specifically stained with antibodies against ganglioside GM3. No immunohistochemical staining was observed in areas bordering the plaques where there was no histological evidence of atherosclerosis. To determine whether the ganglioside GM3 deposits in the intimal plaques derived directly from plasma or were synthesised by intimal cells.

[Blood sialic acids in atherosclerosis].

Determination of the total (protein- and lipid-bound) sialic acid in blood sera of atherosclerotic patients (registered thickening of coronary vessels) and donors revealed that the concentration of the both types of sialic acids in the blood sera of atherosclerotic patients are increased. The concentration of total sialic acid in patients' sera was, on the average, by 20% higher than that in donors' sera. The identity of protein content in patients' and donors' sera suggests that under atherosclerosis serum proteins are sialated in a greater degree as compared to norm.

[Autoantibodies to ganglioside GM3 and serotonin in blood serum in atherosclerosis].

Using ELISA method, the sera from 17 patients with atherosclerosis and 13 normal controls were examined for ganglioside- and serotonin-reactive antibodies. Gangliosides from human liver (GM31) and human aorta (GM3a) as well as GM2, GM1, GT1b, human brain cerebrosides and the BSA-serotonin conjugate (5-HT) were used as antigens. A group of patients showed statistically significant higher levels of anti-GM31 (82%) and anti-5-HT (71%) as compared to the control group.

[The effect of fluorinated prostaglandins on platelet aggregation].

The effects of fluorodeoxy prostanoids on platelet aggregability were studied. It was shown that introduction of fluorine into positions 9, 11 or 15 of prostaglandin F2 alpha led to enhanced proaggregation activity. The most active compound among fluorodeoxy analogs was 15-fluoro derivative; bisfluoro analog was moderately active, and 11-fluoro compound had the least activity.

Nanomolar concentrations of prostaglandin E1 induce changes in the surface organization of high-density lipoproteins.

Incubation of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) with small amounts of the prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) results in mobilization of the spin-label 5-doxylstearic acid incorporated into the HDL surface monolayer as well as in decreased binding of apoprotein A1 antibodies to the HDL surface. These effects are manifested at strikingly low PGE1 concentrations, corresponding to one prostaglandin molecule per 10(2)-10(3) lipoprotein particles. At the same time, the flotation properties of HDL are not changed in the presence of PGE1.

[The use of kombutek 2 in treating patients with radiation damages to the skin].

A high activity of combutec 2, prepared on the basis of soluble collagen, was demonstrated in patients with radiation injuries of the skin after the accident at Chernobyl. Combutec 2 can be recommended for local therapy of patients with skin radiation injuries in all periods of development of these changes.