Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 59
Filter
1.
Poult Sci ; 102(11): 103048, 2023 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37797358

ABSTRACT

This experiment determined the effects of different HS models and pair-feeding (PF) on nutrient digestibility and markers of stress, inflammation, and metabolism in broilers. Birds (720 total) were allocated into 12 environmentally controlled chambers and reared under thermoneutral conditions until 20 d. Until 41 d birds were exposed to 4 treatments, including: thermoneutral at 24°C (TN-al), daily cyclic HS (12 h at 24 and 12 h at 35°C; cyHS), constant HS at 35°C (coHS), and PF birds maintained at 24°C and fed to equalize FI with coHS birds (TN-coPF). At d 41, ileal digesta were collected to determine nutrient apparent ileal digestibility (AID). Blood, liver, and breast tissues were collected from 8 birds per treatment to determine the mRNA expression of stress, inflammation, and metabolism markers. An additional 8 TN-al birds were sampled after acute HS exposure at 35°C for 4 h (aHS), and 8 cyHS birds were sampled either right before or 4 h after HS initiation. Data were analyzed by 1-way ANOVA and means were separated using Tukey's HSD test. Compared with TN-al birds, AID of nitrogen and ether extract were reduced in coHS birds, and both cyHS and coHS reduced (P < 0.05) AID of total essential amino acids. TNFα and SOD2 expression were increased (P < 0.05) under aHS, coHS, and TN-coPF conditions. IL6 and HSP70 were increased (P < 0.05) under coHS and aHS, respectively. Expression of lipogenic enzymes ACCα and FASN were reduced by coHS and TN-coPF, while coHS increased the lipolytic enzyme ATGL (P < 0.05). IGF1 was lowered in coHS birds, and p70S6K and MyoG were reduced under coHS and TN-coPF (P < 0.05). Interestingly, MuRF1 and MAFbx were increased (P < 0.05) under coHS only. Overall, these results indicate that coHS has a greater impact on nutrient digestibility and metabolism than aHS and cyHS. Interestingly, increased protein degradation during HS appears to be mostly driven by HS per se and not the reduced FI.


Subject(s)
Chickens , Hot Temperature , Animals , Heat-Shock Response , Inflammation/veterinary , Nutrients , Lipids , Dietary Supplements , Diet/veterinary , Animal Feed/analysis
2.
Poult Sci ; 101(8): 101963, 2022 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35709683

ABSTRACT

This experiment compared the effects of 2 chronic heat stress (HS) models, constant (coHS), and cyclic (cyHS), on broiler performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. A total of 720 male chicks from a Cobb 500 line were placed in 12 environmentally controlled chambers divided into 2 pens of 30 birds. Before the experimental HS models were applied, chamber temperatures were gradually decreased from 32°C at placement to 24°C on d 20. From 20 to 41 d, 4 chambers were set to 35°C (coHS), and 4 chambers were set to 35°C for 12 h and 24°C for the next 12 h (cyHS). Four thermoneutral chambers were maintained at 24°C with half of the birds pair-fed to equalize feed intake (FI) with coHS birds (TN-coPF) and half fed ad-libitum (TN-al). From 20 to 41 d, FI and BW gain (BWG) of cyHS, coHS and TN-coPF birds were decreased (P < 0.001), whereas feed conversion ratio (FCR) was increased (P < 0.001) for coHS and TN-coPF birds compared with TN-al birds. The overall BWG and FCR of coHS birds were lower (P < 0.001) than TN-coPF birds. Both HS models reduced (P < 0.001) carcass weight, pectoralis major yield, total breast meat yield, and increased (P < 0.001) wing yield relative to TN-al birds, with each of these measurements more impacted by coHS than by cyHS. Pair-fed birds had lower (P < 0.001) fat pad and a higher total breast meat yield than coHS birds. They also had the lowest (P < 0.001) pectoralis major ultimate pH and yellowness, and these parameters were lower (P < 0.001) for coHS birds than for TN-al birds. Both HS models reduced (P < 0.001) the incidence of woody breast and white striping. Thus, these data indicate that the detrimental effects of HS cannot be entirely explained by reduced FI and that HS per se affects metabolic pathways associated with muscle and lipid accretion in broilers.


Subject(s)
Chickens , Heat-Shock Response , Meat , Animal Feed , Animals , Chickens/physiology , Diet/veterinary , Hot Temperature , Male , Meat/standards
3.
Mol Psychiatry ; 21(11): 1511-1516, 2016 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26809839

ABSTRACT

Converging sources of evidence point to a role for inflammation in the development of depression, fatigue and cognitive dysfunction. More precisely, the tryptophan (TRP) catabolism is thought to play a major role in inflammation-induced depression. Mastocytosis is a rare disease in which chronic symptoms, including depression, are related to mast cell accumulation and activation. Our objectives were to study the correlations between neuropsychiatric features and the TRP catabolism pathway in mastocytosis in order to demonstrate mast cells' potential involvement in inflammation-induced depression. Fifty-four patients with mastocytosis and a mean age of 50.1 years were enrolled in the study and compared healthy age-matched controls. Depression and stress were evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory revised and the Perceived Stress Scale. All patients had measurements of TRP, serotonin (5-HT), kynurenine (KYN), indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) activity (ratio KYN/TRP), kynurenic acid (KA) and quinolinic acid (QA). Patients displayed significantly lower levels of TRP and 5-HT without hypoalbuminemia or malabsorption, higher IDO1 activity, and higher levels of KA and QA, with an imbalance towards the latter. High perceived stress and high depression scores were associated with low TRP and high IDO1 activity. In conclusion, TRP metabolism is altered in mastocytosis and correlates with perceived stress and depression, demonstrating mast cells' involvement in inflammation pathways linked to depression.


Subject(s)
Depression/metabolism , Mast Cells/metabolism , Tryptophan/metabolism , Depressive Disorder, Major/metabolism , Female , Humans , Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase , Inflammation/metabolism , Kynurenic Acid , Kynurenine , Male , Mast Cells/physiology , Mastocytosis/metabolism , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Serotonin , Stress, Psychological , Tryptophan/physiology
5.
Encephale ; 39 Suppl 1: S1-7, 2013 May.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23351932

ABSTRACT

LITERATURE FINDINGS: Prospective studies of subjects at high genetic risk of psychosis (at least one first relative with schizophrenia) and retrospective studies of patients at the end of the first episode of delusion or hallucination have identified various subjective and objective symptoms which emerged months or years before the diagnostic of schizophrenia. The objective symptoms presently designed as prodromes are either transient or of infradiagnostic intensity. The objective signs have been used to define an ultrahigh risk (UHR) state, and have been operationalized by psychometric instruments, which also include criteria for genetic risk (schizotypal dimensions) and alteration of social functioning. The main instruments are the Comprehensive Assessment of At-risk Mental States (CAARMS) and the SIPS (Structured Interview for Prodromal Symptoms). The subjective symptoms, which consist exclusively in inner experiences, have been named basic symptoms, and are operationalized by the Bonn Scale for the Assessment of Basic Symptoms (BSABS) and the Schizophrenia Proneness Instrument (SPI-A, Adult version). Prospective studies of selected individuals with a psychiatric help demand have shown that signs of endogenicity (schizotypal traits), and severity (high symptomatic scores and poor functioning), are of major value to predict conversion. In contrast, the positive predictive value of isolated prodromal symptoms is rather poor (much less than the 80% required for clinical validation). DISCUSSION: This suggests that the population of subjects with prodromes is structured by two latent subgroups: those who express transient psychotic manifestations (which are quite frequent in the general population), and those with an active psychotic process, who are progressively evolving towards the categorical diagnostic of schizophrenia. However, results obtained by between groups comparison of mean psychometric variables are unable to distinguish between these two populations at baseline. Because of this, introduction of the risk of psychosis category in the DSM-V has been bitterly criticized. In accordance, therapeutic prevention assays using antipsychotics, antidepressants, or cognitive therapy have provided inconsistent results. Only the administration of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has produced a long term efficient effect.


Subject(s)
Prodromal Symptoms , Schizotypal Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Delusions/diagnosis , Delusions/genetics , Delusions/psychology , Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Female , Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics , Hallucinations/diagnosis , Hallucinations/genetics , Hallucinations/psychology , Humans , Male , Prognosis , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Risk Factors , Schizotypal Personality Disorder/genetics , Schizotypal Personality Disorder/psychology
6.
Encephale ; 36(6): 491-4, 2010 Dec.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21130233

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Telomeres are complex structures formed by the end of the DNA molecule at the tip of chromosomal arms. The telomeric sequence, which results from the repetition of the hexanucleotide TTAGGG, is partly single strand and is associated with more than ten proteins, including the enzyme telomerase. Because of the characteristics of the DNA replication process, only telomerase is able to elongate the telomeric sequence. Since the telomerase gene is repressed in virtually all the somatic cells, telomeres progressively shorten at each S phase of the cell cycle, and this shortening is accelerated by oxidative stress. A critically shortened telomere activates the genetic program of cell senescence and/or apoptosis. The telomere length measured in peripheral blood leucocytes is considered a reliable marker of biological age, mortality risk and exposure to various pathological conditions, including cardiovascular disease, dementia and metabolic syndrome. Telomere erosion has been observed in psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and mood disorders, suggesting an accelerated aging of 10 to 20 years. Whether this peripheral dynamic is reflected by a similar pattern in the brain remains unknown. To address this issue, we have measured the telomere length in the occipital DNA cortex of 24 patients with major depressive disorder and 12 controls (donated by the Stanley Research Institute). METHODOLOGY: The mean telomere length has been evaluated by a real time quantitative PCR technique, which amplified the telomere sequence and a reference single copy sequence. Results have been expressed by the ratios of Ct obtained for the two amplification curves. RESULTS: The mean Ct values were strictly identical (0.79 ± 0.001) and the 36 PCR curves were coincident. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates for the first time that there is no shortening of telomeres in the cortex of patients with depressive disorder. Previous results have shown that in normal tissues telomeres length is inversely correlated to age, even in non proliferating tissues, but that the change is minimal in the brain. Thus, although consistent evidence for the role of a systemic and brain inflammation associated oxidative stress in depression has been provided, it must be concluded that the cerebral state of telomeres is not affected by the mechanism operating in the leucocytes. This observation raises the issue of the relation between the psychiatric pathological process and the peripheral telomere marker. It suggests the existence of specific telomere stabilizing factors in the cortex cells.


Subject(s)
Affective Disorders, Psychotic/genetics , Apoptosis/genetics , Depressive Disorder, Major/genetics , Occipital Lobe/pathology , Telomere/genetics , Adult , Affective Disorders, Psychotic/mortality , Affective Disorders, Psychotic/pathology , Age Factors , Cause of Death , Depressive Disorder, Major/mortality , Depressive Disorder, Major/pathology , Female , France , Humans , Leukocytes/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Reference Values , Suicide/psychology
8.
Am J Med Genet A ; 149A(3): 475-81, 2009 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19213026

ABSTRACT

Polymicrogyria (PMG) is a relatively common malformation of the cortex for which the pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Both acquired and genetic causes are known, and to date more than 70 cases of PMG have been associated with chromosomal abnormalities. Here we report on a 12-year-old girl presenting with asymmetrical PMG predominantly affecting the right occipital lobe. She was the only child of consanguineous parents. At 7 years of age she was referred for mental retardation with speech delay and seizures. Cytogenetic studies of the patient revealed an inverted 9p duplication/deletion and bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs)-array also showed a 22q11.2 microduplication confirmed by quantitative PCR. This case is of interest in the search for candidate genes and emphasizes the importance of the 22q11 region in PMG. It also highlights the efficiency of BACs-array in detecting complex rearrangements.


Subject(s)
Chromosome Aberrations , Chromosome Deletion , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 , Malformations of Cortical Development/genetics , Child , Chromosome Breakage , Chromosome Painting , Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial , Cytogenetic Analysis , Female , Humans , In Situ Hybridization , Karyotyping , Nucleic Acid Hybridization , Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis , Physical Chromosome Mapping , Polymerase Chain Reaction
9.
Am J Med Genet A ; 146A(16): 2109-15, 2008 Aug 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18629884

ABSTRACT

Genosensor Array 300 (Abbott) is a multiplex platform for array-based comparative genomic hybridization that detects unbalanced genomic aberrations including whole chromosome gains/losses, microdeletions, duplications and unbalanced subtelomeric rearrangements. A series of 30 patients with unexplained mental retardation, dysmorphic features, congenital abnormalities and normal high resolution karyotype and FISH subtelomeric studies were analyzed using Genosensor Array 300 array-CGH. We identified a chromosomal aberration in one patient with an interstitial 1p31.1 deletion. FISH analysis with BACs specific probes of the 1p region confirmed the interstitial 1p22.2-p31.1 deletion. The patient was a 20-year-old man with short stature, facial dysmorphism including asymmetry, scoliosis, severe psychomotor delay and an epibulbar dermoid cyst. The phenotype was compatible with Goldenhar syndrome despite the absence of asymmetric ears. This observation is of interest since it could be a clue in the search for the genes responsible for Goldenhar syndrome. This study demonstrates the utility of the array-CGH technology in detecting interstitial deletions.


Subject(s)
Chromosome Deletion , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1/genetics , Goldenhar Syndrome/genetics , Intellectual Disability/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Developmental Disabilities/genetics , Female , Humans , In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence , Karyotyping , Male , Middle Aged , Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
10.
J Med Genet ; 43(1): 54-61, 2006 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16397067

ABSTRACT

Oral-facial-digital syndrome type 1 (OFD1) is characterised by an X linked dominant mode of inheritance with lethality in males. Clinical features include facial dysmorphism with oral, tooth, and distal abnormalities, polycystic kidney disease, and central nervous system malformations. Large interfamilial and intrafamilial clinical variability has been widely reported, and 18 distinct mutations have been previously reported within OFD1. A French and Belgian collaborative study collected 25 cases from 16 families. OFD1 was analysed using direct sequencing and phenotype-genotype correlation was performed using chi2 test. X inactivation studies were performed on blood lymphocytes. In 11 families, 11 novel mutations, including nine frameshift, one nonsense, and one missense mutation were identified, which spanned nine different exons. A combination of our results with previously reported cases showed that the majority of mutations (65.5%) was located in exons 3, 8, 9, 13, and 16. There was phenotype-genotype correlation between (a) polycystic kidney disease and splice mutations; (b) mental retardation and mutations located in exons 3, 8, 9, 13, and 16; and (c) tooth abnormalities and mutations located in coiled coil domains. Comparing the phenotype of the families with a pathogenic mutation to families with absence of OFD1 mutation, polycystic kidneys and short stature were significantly more frequent in the group with no OFD1 mutation, whereas lingual hamartomas were significantly more frequent in the group with OFD1 mutation. Finally, an X inactivation study showed non-random X inactivation in a third of the samples. Differential X inactivation between mothers and daughters in two families with high intrafamilial variability was of particular interest. Slight phenotype-genotype correlations were established, and X inactivation study showed that skewed X inactivation could be partially involved in the pathogenesis of intrafamilial clinical variability.


Subject(s)
Orofaciodigital Syndromes/genetics , Orofaciodigital Syndromes/pathology , Proteins/genetics , Adult , Belgium , DNA Mutational Analysis , Female , France , Genetic Linkage , Genotype , Humans , Mutation/genetics , Pedigree , Phenotype , X Chromosome Inactivation/genetics
12.
Biochim Biophys Acta ; 1586(3): 233-42, 2002 Apr 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11997075

ABSTRACT

The molecular basis of the intrinsic vulnerability of the compliant right ventricle to chronic pressure overload is poorly understood. Extensive apoptosis, possibly coupled with aberrant cell cycle reentry, in response to unrestrained biomechanical stress may account for this phenotypic flaw. To address this issue we have studied changes in expression of the cell cycle and apoptosis regulators in the right ventricle following induction of pulmonary hypertension in the rat by injection of monocrotaline. Hypertrophy, apoptosis and cell cycle events, as well as expression of their regulator genes were documented during a period of 31 days. The hypertrophy index reached 127% at day 31. At the early stage both apoptosis and cell proliferation pathways were coincidentally activated. The level of cyclin A and E transcripts steadily increased, the labeling index was 4.8% at day 31, and expression of the caspase-3 gene peaked at day 14. Until day 21 execution of apoptosis was prevented, probably by a high level of Bcl-2. At this time point Bcl-2 collapsed, cyclin D1 was upregulated, the differentiation gatekeeper p27Kip1 was downregulated, pro-caspase-3 was activated and extensive apoptosis developed. These results indicate that the right ventricle is especially vulnerable to apoptotic pressure-dependent stimuli, and that the cell cycle and apoptosis pathways were co-activated in this experimental model.


Subject(s)
Apoptosis/physiology , Heart/physiopathology , Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/physiopathology , Myocardium/pathology , Angiotensin II/metabolism , Animals , Apoptosis/genetics , Cell Cycle/genetics , Cell Cycle/physiology , Disease Models, Animal , Heart Ventricles , Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/etiology , Immunohistochemistry , Myocardium/metabolism , Pressure , RNA, Messenger/analysis , Rats , Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 , Receptors, Angiotensin/genetics , Receptors, Angiotensin/metabolism , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
13.
Mol Cell Biochem ; 220(1-2): 77-86, 2001 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11451386

ABSTRACT

The objective was to relate the response of the HSP70 and P53 genes to the cessation and the recovery of cardiac muscle cell functions when submitted to ischemia-reperfusion. We have measured the electromechanical activity, the released enzymes and HSP70 RNA and protein levels in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (CM) in a substrate-free, hypoxia-reoxygenation model of ischemia-reperfusion. In parallel the expression of the two genes P53 (the key apoptosis regulator gene) and P21/Waf1 (the P53 target gene) has been evaluated. The functional recovery during post-'ischemic' reoxygenation was associated with an overexpression of HSP70 and P53 lasting until the functional parameters reverted back to the normal, prehypoxic values. In contrast, extending the substrate-free hypoxic treatment worsens the dysfunction of the cardiac muscle cell and, in these conditions, reoxygenation failed to restore cell functions and to activate HSP70. Finally, in the conditions of reversible 'ischemic' cell injury, an early and transitory activation of P53 was associated with the functional recovering process of the CM submitted to simulated ischemia. These observations are suggestive of a contributive role of both HSP70 and P53 to a cytoprotective program activated by reoxygenation in post-'ischemic' CM.


Subject(s)
Electrophysiology , HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/biosynthesis , Ischemia , Myocardium/cytology , Myocardium/metabolism , Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/biosynthesis , Animals , Blotting, Western , Cells, Cultured , Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 , Cyclins/biosynthesis , Genes, p53/genetics , Kinetics , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Stress, Physiological
14.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun ; 283(5): 1031-6, 2001 May 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11355876

ABSTRACT

The DCC (deleted in colon cancer) gene has a brain restricted high expression pattern. It encodes a transmembrane protein of the immunoglobulin superfamily identified as the netrin-1 receptor. It might be a member of the so called "brain-lymphoid" molecules, which control key cell surface events. To test this hypothesis we have assessed the DCC mRNA level in human normal and malignant myeloid and lymphoid cells. A high mRNA content has been observed only in mature B cells at the secreting or presecreting stage. Expression of DCC was also assessed in the anti-CD40 model of immunopoiesis. Activation of purified tonsillar B cells by anti-CD 40 antibody strongly increased the DCC mRNA level and this effect was dramatically enhanced by the association of IL-2 + IL-10, which is a potent and selective in vitro inducer of the B cell memory phenotype. In contrast no effect has been detected after activation of T cells by anti-CD3. These data suggest that the DCC encoded netrin receptor is involved in B cell immunopoiesis.


Subject(s)
B-Lymphocytes/physiology , Genes, DCC , Interleukin-10/pharmacology , Interleukin-2/pharmacology , Interleukins/pharmacology , Lymphocyte Activation/physiology , Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics , Tumor Suppressor Proteins , Up-Regulation , Adult , B-Lymphocytes/drug effects , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Brain/metabolism , Cell Adhesion Molecules/genetics , Cell Line , DCC Receptor , Humans , Immunologic Memory , Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects , Muromonab-CD3/pharmacology , Netrin Receptors , Palatine Tonsil/immunology , RNA, Messenger/genetics , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Transcription, Genetic , Tumor Cells, Cultured , Up-Regulation/drug effects
15.
Pathol Biol (Paris) ; 49(2): 115-23, 2001 Mar.
Article in French | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11317955

ABSTRACT

Mutations of the p53 gene are the most common genetic alteration in malignant human tumors. A cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21WAF1/CIP1, is thought to be an important mediator of p53-induced cell cycle arrest. Although numerous studies have reported p53 expression and mutation in colorectal cancer few of them have correlated p53 expression with that of its downstream effector p21 and with the proliferation index as measured by expression of the Ki67 nuclear antigen. We studied p53, p21 and Ki67 expression by immunohistochemistry and molecular biology in 35 colorectal carcinomas. We compared these findings with each other and with clinical factors. Sixty three percent of tumors expressed p53 whereas seventy one percent expressed p21WAF1/CIP1. In adenocarcinomas, p21 staining was heterogeneous: p21-reactive cells were seen in the most differentiated areas. There was no correlation between p21WAF1/CIP1 and p53 expression, p53 mutation, Ki67 expression or clinical factors such as sex or location of the tumor. On the other hand, there was a statistical relationship between p21 expression and survival: our results indicated an association between high p21 expression and lower stages p21WAF1/CIP1 appears to be induced independently of p53 in these tumors and may be associated with differentiation rather than proliferation.


Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/genetics , Biomarkers, Tumor/biosynthesis , Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics , Cyclins/biosynthesis , Genes, p53 , Ki-67 Antigen/genetics , Neoplasm Proteins/biosynthesis , Adenocarcinoma/metabolism , Adult , Aged , Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism , Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 , Cyclins/genetics , Humans , Ki-67 Antigen/biosynthesis , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Proteins/genetics , Pilot Projects , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational , Prospective Studies
16.
J Mol Cell Cardiol ; 32(12): 2385-95, 2000 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11113014

ABSTRACT

The cardiac LIM domain protein MLP plays a crucial role in the architecture and mechanical function of cardiac myocytes. Mice lacking the MLP gene develop cardiac hypertrophy, dilated cardiopathy and heart failure. We investigated whether downregulation of MLP is induced by pressure overload and contributes to the physiopathology of cardiac hypertrophy and failure. We studied this mechanism in rat right ventricles submitted to pulmonary arterial hypertension, because it is known that this ventricle is very vulnerable to the deleterious effects of pressure overload. During the progression of cardiac hypertrophy to failure over a 31 days period there was a dramatic decrease by 50% of the MLP transcripts level. Consistently, immunohistochemistry detected very weak protein signals in the cytoplasms of cardiomyocytes at the failing stage, but myocytes nuclei were heavily labeled. The nuclear relocation was confirmed by the immunodetection of MLP on the nuclear and cytosolic fractions. This nuclear localization is the hallmark of a retro-differentiated phenotype, since it has been observed only in differentiating myoblasts. These changes were associated with ultrastructural disorganization of the myofibrils similar to that observed in MLP -/- mice. Therefore, MLP dowregulation occurring during gene reprogramming may critically contribute to mechanical failure of the myocardium.


Subject(s)
Cardiomegaly/metabolism , Cell Nucleus/metabolism , Down-Regulation , Heart Ventricles/metabolism , Muscle Proteins/metabolism , Pressure , Ventricular Function , Animals , Cardiomegaly/genetics , Cardiomegaly/pathology , Cytoplasm/metabolism , Cytosol/metabolism , Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism , Immunohistochemistry , LIM Domain Proteins , Lung/pathology , Male , Microscopy, Electron , Muscle Proteins/genetics , Myocardium/metabolism , Myofibrils/ultrastructure , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Time Factors , Transcription, Genetic
17.
Melanoma Res ; 10(2): 113-8, 2000 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10803711

ABSTRACT

The presence of tyrosinase mRNA in the peripheral blood cells of melanoma patients has been recently studied as a possible marker of haematogenous dissemination. However, considerable variations in the rates of detection have been noted. We determined the presence of tyrosinase mRNA-positive circulating cells using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 35 patients with stage I melanoma, two patients with stage II melanoma and two patients with stage III melanoma. Among the patients with stage 1, 13 were tested before and after surgery (< 1 h). Twenty healthy subjects served as negative controls. Out of the melanoma patients, the tyrosinase gene was expressed in three of the 52 samples tested. Tyrosinase mRNA was present in the circulating cells of only one patient with stage I melanoma after intra-congenital naevi resection. However, two other stage I patients developed rapidly lethal metastasis within the following 6 months, despite the lack of detectable tyrosinase mRNA. None of stage II patients were positive for the tyrosinase transcripts, while both patients with stage III melanoma showed enzyme expression. Our results confirm those of previous studies, showing that a small proportion of stage I melanoma patients have tyrosinase-positive circulating cells. Moreover, the lack of tyrosinase mRNA detection in the blood does not necessarily exclude metastatic progression. Therefore, this study indicates that the detection of tyrosinase mRNA-positive circulating cells by RT-PCR is not a predictive biomarker of a metastasis risk in patients with stage I melanoma.


Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor/blood , Melanoma/enzymology , Monophenol Monooxygenase/genetics , Neoplasm Metastasis , Neoplasm Proteins/genetics , Neoplastic Cells, Circulating , RNA, Messenger/blood , RNA, Neoplasm/blood , Disease Progression , Humans , Melanocytes/enzymology , Melanoma/blood , Melanoma/mortality , Melanoma/pathology , Neoplasm Staging , Neoplastic Stem Cells/enzymology , Prognosis , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Risk , Survival Analysis
18.
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol ; 34(5): 651-9, 1999 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10547080

ABSTRACT

Formation of oxygen free radicals during heart transplantation seems to be related to the alterations occurring during ischemia and reperfusion and could explain the short preservation time of donor hearts. The aim of our study was (a) to analyze the protective effects of pyruvate during cold cardioplegia and ischemia/reperfusion sequence, and (b) to investigate in vitro the radical scavenging properties of this compound. After 30 min of perfusion, isolated working rat hearts were arrested by cardioplegic solution, stored 4 h in B21 solutions at 4 degrees C, and reperfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer for 45 min. Pyruvate (2 mM) was added to Krebs-Henseleit, cardioplegic, and storage solutions, and functional parameters were recorded throughout the experiments. In a second part, control hearts and hearts treated with pyruvate were cannulated via the aorta and perfused for 30 min by the Langendorff method, arrested by cardioplegic solution, stored 4 h in B21 solutions at 4 degrees C, and reperfused for 45 min by the Langendorff method. Malonedialdehyde and alpha-tocopherol levels were determined on heart homogenate. In situ detection of apoptotic cells also was performed on tissue samples (left ventricle) at the end of the ischemia/reperfusion sequence. To demonstrate in vitro the antioxidant effects of pyruvate, we monitored (a) its hydroxyl radical scavenging properties by using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and (b) the decrease of fluorescence of allophycocyanin, in the presence of a Fenton system (H2O2/Cu2+). Ischemia for 4 h, followed by myocardial reperfusion, resulted in substantially reduced mechanical function. Hearts subjected to this ischemia and pretreated with pyruvate showed a significant improvement in the function recovery. After the ischemia/reperfusion protocol, no significant decrease of malonedialdehyde levels was shown on hearts treated with pyruvate. However, alpha-tocopherol levels were higher in the pyruvate group compared with the control group. At the end of the reperfusion period, levels of apoptotic cells were significantly lower in hearts treated with pyruvate compared with control hearts. EPR studies showed that pyruvate was an efficient hydroxyl scavenger, with a median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 8 mM. The allophycocyanin assay also showed a dose-dependent effect of pyruvate against hydroxyl radicals. In conclusion, these findings showed that pyruvate could prevent reperfusion injuries in the isolated heart, probably by its antioxidative properties. The application of pyruvate may contribute to the preservation of hearts for organ transplantation.


Subject(s)
Antioxidants/pharmacology , Heart Arrest, Induced , Myocardial Ischemia/metabolism , Myocardial Ischemia/prevention & control , Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/metabolism , Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/prevention & control , Pyruvic Acid/pharmacology , Animals , Apoptosis/drug effects , Cardioplegic Solutions , Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy , Free Radical Scavengers/pharmacology , Heart Arrest, Induced/methods , Hydroxyl Radical/metabolism , In Vitro Techniques , Male , Myocardial Ischemia/pathology , Myocardial Reperfusion/methods , Rats , Rats, Wistar
19.
Am J Pathol ; 151(2): 549-55, 1997 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9250167

ABSTRACT

A multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay was designed to measure manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and CuZnSOD mRNAs in the left and right ventricles of rat hearts after myocardial infarction induced by occlusion of the left coronary artery. These data were compared with changes in enzymatic activities. In the left ventricle, Mn-SOD RNA increased significantly at 6 hours, peaked at 12 hours (490 +/- 38 arbitrary units), and progressively decreased (127 +/- 21 arbitrary units at 48 hours). In contrast, there was a steady accumulation of transcripts in the right ventricle up to 48 hours. In both ventricles, the changes in the MnSOD mRNA and protein content were not associated with proportional variations in enzymatic activity. There was no characteristic alteration of the CuZnSOD system in either ventricle over the 48-hour period. These results demonstrate that infarction selectively activates the MnSOD gene in the viable myocardium of both ventricles. They suggest that MnSOD may be involved in the adaptive response of myocytes to the overloading stress.


Subject(s)
Heart Ventricles/enzymology , Myocardial Infarction/enzymology , Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism , Animals , Heart Ventricles/pathology , Male , Myocardial Infarction/pathology , Polymerase Chain Reaction , RNA, Messenger/analysis , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Superoxide Dismutase/analysis
20.
Anticancer Res ; 13(4): 845-50, 1993.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-8352553

ABSTRACT

The cytogenetic analysis of 67 meningiomas (58 intracranial and 9 spinal tumors) identified chromosomal abnormalities in 63% of cases. When chromosomes involved in numerical and structural changes with a frequency of more than one standard deviation above the mean were considered, distinct cytogenetic patterns could be identified according to sex, anatomical location and histology. The chromosomes more frequently affected were 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 14, 15, 19, 22, Y. No conclusion could be drawn regarding the prognostic significance of these karyotypic alterations.


Subject(s)
Brain Neoplasms/genetics , Chromosome Aberrations , Meningeal Neoplasms/genetics , Meningioma/genetics , Spinal Cord Neoplasms/genetics , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Brain Neoplasms/pathology , Female , Humans , Karyotyping , Male , Meningeal Neoplasms/pathology , Meningioma/pathology , Middle Aged , Sex Factors , Spinal Cord Neoplasms/pathology , Tumor Cells, Cultured
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL
...