A proteomic approach using a cleavable ICAT reagent and nano-LC ESI tandem mass spectrometry was used to perform protein profiling of core RBC membrane skeleton proteins between sickle cell patients (SS) and controls (AA), and determine the efficacy of this technology. The data was validated through Peptide/Protein Prophet and protein ratios were calculated through ASAPratio. Through an ANOVA test, it was determined that there is no significant difference in the mean ratios from control populations (AA1/AA2) and sickle cell versus control populations (AA/SS). The mean ratios were not significantly different from 1.0 in either comparison for the core skeleton proteins (α spectrin, β spectrin, band 4.1 and actin). On the natural-log scale, the variation (standard deviation) of the method was determined to be 14.1% and the variation contributed by the samples was 13.8% which together give a total variation of 19.7% in the ratios.
Paclitaxel (PAC) is an anticancer drug used for treatments of breast, ovarian and lung cancers. However, little data is; available in the literature on its potential genotoxicity on healthy human cells. On the other hand, boron deficiency and supplementation exert important biological effects in human and animal tissues. The biological effects of dietary boron are defined, but its interaction with PAC is not known for therapeutic uses. The aim of the present study was to determine whether boric acid (BA) confer a protection against PAC genotoxicity. After the application of PAC (10 or 20 μg/l) and BA (2.5 or 5 mg/l), the genotoxic effects were assessed by sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and micronucleus (MN) tests in human blood cultures. We also analyzed nuclear division index (NDI) in peripheral lymphocytes. Our results showed that PAC significantly (P < 0.05) increased the frequencies of SCEs and the formations of MNs in peripheral lymphocytes as compared to controls. PAC decreased the nuclear division index in lymphocyte cultures. Boric acid did not show cytotoxic or genotoxic effects at the concentrations tested. Furthermore, the PAC-induced increases in the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity indices were diminished by the addition of BA. The present study suggests for the first time that BA can prevent the genotoxicity of PAC on human lymphocytes.
Oxidative stress, i.e., excessive production of oxygen free radicals and reactive oxygen species, leads to lipid peroxidation and to formation of reactive aldehydes which act as second messengers of free radicals. It has previously been shown that oxidative stress may be involved in the transcriptional regulation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate early promoter, involved in viral reactivation from latency. In the current study we used a plasmid containing the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) gene under the control of CMV-1 promoter to monitor the influence of hydrogen peroxide and reactive aldehydes, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) and acrolein, on CMV-1 promoter activation in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293). While acrolein was ineffective, hydrogen peroxide slightly (50 %) stimulated the CMV promoter. In contrast, HNE had a strong, up to 3-fold, enhancing effect on the CMV-1 promoter within four as well as after 24 h of treatment. The most effective was the treatment with 24 μM HNE. This effect of HNE suggests that stressful conditions associated with lipid peroxidation could lead to CMV activation.
Microarray methods have become a basic tool in studies of global gene expression and changes in transcript levels. Affymetrix microarrays from the HGU133 series contain multiple probe-sets complementary to the same gene (4742 genes are represented by more than one probe-set in a microarray HGU133A). Individual probe-sets annotated to the same gene often show different hybridization signals and even opposite trends, which may result from some of them matching transcripts of more than one gene and from the existence of different splice-variant transcripts. Existing methods that redefine probe-sets and develop custom probe-set definitions use mathematical tools such as Matlab or the R statistical environment with the Bioconductor package (Gentleman et al., 2004, Genome Biol. 5: 280) and thus are directed to researchers with a good knowledge of bioinformatics. We propose here a new approach based on the principle that a probe-set which hybridizes to more than one transcript can be recognized because it produces a signal significantly different from others assigned to the particular gene, allowing it to be detected as an outlier in the group and eliminated from subsequent analyses. A simple freeware application has been developed (available at http://www.bioinformatics.aei.polsl.pl) that detects and removes outlying probe-sets and calculates average signal values for individual genes using the latest annotation database provided by Affymetrix. We illustrate this procedure using microarray data from our experiments aiming to study changes of transcription profile induced by ionizing radiation in human cells.
It has been reported that estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells express TauT, a Na+-dependent taurine transporter. However, there is a paucity of information relating to the characteristics of taurine transport in this human breast cancer cell line. Therefore, we have examined the characteristics and regulation of taurine uptake by MCF-7 cells. Taurine uptake by MCF-7 cells showed an absolute dependence upon extracellular Na+. Although taurine uptake was reduced in Cl- free medium a significant portion of taurine uptake persisted in the presence of NO3 -. Taurine uptake by MCF-7 cells was inhibited by extracellular β-alanine but not by L-alanine or L-leucine. 17β-estadiol increased taurine uptake by MCF-7 cells: the Vmax of influx was increased without affecting the Km. The effect of 17β-estradiol on taurine uptake by MCF-7 cells was dependent upon the presence of extracellular Na+. In contrast, 17β-estradiol had no significant effect on the kinetic parameters of taurine uptake by estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-231 cells. It appears that estrogen regulates taurine uptake by MCF-7 cells via TauT. In addition, Na+-dependent taurine uptake may not be strictly dependent upon extracellular Cl-.
Normal human T lymphocytes growing in culture undergo replicative senescence. Previously, we have shown that in our conditions polyclonal T cells cease proliferation after about three weeks (Radziszewska et al., 1999, Cell Biol. Int. 23, 97-103). Now we present results of a more detailed analysis of in vitro growth as well as phenotypic changes of T cells. Cell cycle analysis showed that about 20% of cells were in the S phase untill the 17th day of culture (young cells). The highest number of mitotic cells (phase G2/M; 10%) was observed during the first week of culture. All not dividing senescent cells were stopped in the G1 phase (after the 30th day of culture). The sub-G1 fraction which represents apoptotic cells did not exceed 8% during the whole period until the 30th day of culture. During in vitro T-cell growth, a rather rapid selection to CD3+CD8+ cells occurs. In the presenescent (between the 17th and 30th day) and senescent populations the majority of cells (above 90%) were CD8 positive. We also have checked the expression of alpha-chain interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor (CD25). In young and presenescent cells about one third of cells was CD25 positive, but only 15% in the pool of senescent cells. Immunoblotting analysis of p16 protein recognized previously as a marker of senescent T cells, showed its highest and transient expression in presenescent cells. A critical review of the polyclonal T cell replicative senescence model is presented.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the action of Clostridium perfringens neuraminidase on the adherence of 28 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa which were isolated from humans, different animals and environment to human buccal epithelial cells (BECs). Two reference strains - NCTC 6749 and ATCC 27853 were also examined. Incubation of cells with the enzyme significantly increased bacterial adherence (a mean number of bacteria adhering to cells amounted 19.62 ±9.20, for controls - 7.54 ±5.86). The reference strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed the following adherence: NCTC 6749-43.04 (control 20.83) and ATCC 27853-22.21 (control 5.51). This study demonstrates that asialogangliosides function as receptors on buccal epithelial cells for P. aeruginosa strains. Monosaccharides inhibition studies showed an inhibition of adhesion of P. aeruginosa (two reference strains - NCTC 6749 and ATCC 27853, two hospital strains - 80/85 and 351) to normal BECs in the presence of N-acetylneuraminic acid and N-acetylgalactosamine. D-galactose is the best inhibitor of bacterial adhesion to neuraminized BECs. All monosaccharides used had a significant effect on P. aeruginosa adherence to trypsinized BECs. These data suggest a difference in the receptors on the three types of BECs.
Mononuclear cells play an important role in the regulation of microbe-induced inflammation, in part through their ability to secrete cytokines in response to microorganisms and their products. To evaluate the effects of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans-derived endotoxins on TNF-a induction, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) isolated from soil and intestinal strain were used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The effect of these LPSs was assessed in comparison to that of LPSs from Escherichia coli, Salmonella minnesota and of lipid A from Salmonella minnesota. Level of TNF-a was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. D. desulfuricans LPSs at the highest dose (1000 ng/ml) displayed greater biological potency in inducing TNF-a secretion than other endotoxins used which indicates that these LPSs may act as a critical regulatory factor in bacteremia caused by these microorganisms.
The metal ion coordination abilities of reduced and oxidized glutathione are reviewed. Reduced glutathione (GSH) is a very versatile ligand, forming stable complexes with both hard and soft metal ions. Several general binding modes of GSH are described. Soft metal ions coordinate exclusively or primarily through thiol sulfur. Hard ones prefer the amino acid-like moiety of the glutamic acid residue. Several transition metal ions can additionally coordinate to the peptide nitrogen of the γ-Glu-Cys bond. Oxidized glutathione lacks the thiol function. Nevertheless, it proves to be a surprisingly efficient ligand for a range of metal ions, coordinating them primarily through the donors of the glutamic acid residue.