Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.1.27.1 (RNase)
16,360 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Advanced glycation end-products and glycoxidation products, such as Nepsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and pentosidine, accumulate in long-lived tissue proteins with age and are implicated in the aging of tissue proteins and in the development of pathology in diabetes, atherosclerosis and other diseases. In this paper we describe a new advanced glycation end-product, Nepsilon-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), which is formed during the reaction of methylglyoxal with lysine residues in model compounds and in the proteins RNase and collagen. CEL was also detected in human lens proteins at a concentration similar to that of CML, and increased with age in parallel with the concentration of CML. Although CEL was formed in highest yields during the reaction of methylglyoxal and triose phosphates with lysine and protein, it was also formed in reactions of pentoses, ascorbate and other sugars with lysine and RNase. We propose that levels of CML and CEL and their ratio to one another in tissue proteins and in urine will provide an index of glyoxal and methylglyoxal concentrations in tissues, alterations in glutathione homoeostasis and dicarbonyl metabolism in disease, and sources of advanced glycation end-products in tissue proteins in aging and disease.
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PMID:N-epsilon-(carboxyethyl)lysine, a product of the chemical modification of proteins by methylglyoxal, increases with age in human lens proteins. 918 19

Cis-acting regions regulating transcription of the alpha1(VI) collagen chain have been investigated in vitro by transfection of promoter-CAT (where CAT is chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) constructs in different types of cultured cells and in vivo in transgenic mice carrying the same CAT constructs or minigenes derived from the fusion of genomic and cDNA sequences in which small deletions of the collagenous domain had been engineered. 215 bp of 5'-flanking sequence showed promoter activity in vitro, yet were not expressed in any tissue of six transgenic lines, indicating that this fragment contains the basal promoter, but not activator sequences. Constructs with 0.6 and 1.4 kb of the 5'-flanking region produced significantly higher CAT activity in transfected cells and were expressed in tissues of about 30% of transgenic lines. Although CAT activity was totally unrelated to the pattern of expression of the alpha1(VI) mRNA, these results suggest the presence of an activator(s) between -0.2 and -0.6 kb from the transcription start site. When the promoter size was increased to 5.4 or 6.5 kb, CAT activity was stimulated severalfold relative to the construct p1.4CAT and p4.0CAT in NIH3T3 fibroblasts and chick embryo chondroblasts. This stimulation was, however, not observed in C2C12 myoblasts. Transgenic mice generated with 6.5CAT construct or minigenes, containing 6.2 kb of promoter, exhibited very high levels of expression, which was similar to the relative amount alpha1(VI) mRNA in the majority of tissues, with the exception of lung, adrenal gland and uterus. CAT activity in tissues was 100-1000-fold higher than that measured in transgenic mice with shorter promoter (0.6 or 1.4 kb). Since expression of minigenes was determined by RNase protection assay, the levels of mRNA per transgene copy were compared to those of the chromosomal gene and found to be always less than one quarter. These data suggest that the region -4.0/-5.4 contains an important activator(s) sequence which induces transcription in several, but not all, type VI collagen-producing tissues. Finally, analysis with the longest promoter fragment (7.5 kb) revealed a complex effect of the region -6.5/-7.5 on alpha1(VI) chain transcription. The sequence was inhibitory in NIH3T3 cells, indifferent in myoblasts and activating in chondroblasts in vitro, whereas transgenic animals generated with 7.5CAT construct produced a pattern of expression comparable to that of 6.5CAT and minigenes. During postnatal development transcription from both the endogenous gene and the transgenes decreased. However, the ratio of transgene/chromosomal gene expression was not constant, but varied in a way dependent on the tissue. This observation suggests that the fragment studied contains key sequences for the age-dependent regulation of the alpha1(VI) gene. No phenotypic alterations were induced by the presence of mutations in the minigenes.
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PMID:Tissue-specific expression of promoter regions of the alpha1(VI) collagen gene in cell cultures and transgenic mice. 924 27

The accumulation of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) is believed to be a factor in the development of aging nephropathy. We have attempted to establish a link between the formation of AGEs and the onset of renal impairment with aging, indicated by albuminuria, using a fluorescence assay and immunohistochemical detection of AGEs in the renal extracellular matrix in rats. The fluorescence of collagenase-digested Type IV collagen from GBM increased with age, from 1.65 +/- 0.05 AU/mM OHPro (3 months) and 1.58 +/- 0.04 (10 months) to 2.16 +/- 0.06 (26 months) (p < 0.001) and 2.53 +/- 0.18 (30 months) (p < 0.001). In contrast, the extent of early glycation products significantly decreased from 5.35 +/- 0.25 nmol HCHO/nmol OHPro at 3 months to 3.14 +/- 0.19 at 10 months (p < 0.001), 3.42 +/- 0.38 at 26 months, and 0.74 +/- 0.08 at 30 months (p < 0.001). The urinary fluorescence of circulating AGE rose from 2.42 +/- 0.15 AU/mg protein (3 months), 1.69 +/- 0.07 (10 months), to 4.63 +/- 0.35 (26 months) (p < 0.01) and 4.73 +/- 0.72 (30 months), while the serum fluorescence increased from 0.39 +/- 0.02 AU/mg protein at 3 months and 0.43 +/- 0.02 at 10 months to 0.59 +/- 0.04 at 26 months (p < 0.001) and 0.54 +/- 0.03 at 30 months (p < 0.04). Polyclonal antibodies raised against AGE RNase showed faint areas of AGE immunoreactivity in mesangial areas in the nephrons of young rats. The immunolabeling of Bowman's capsule, the mesangial matrices, and the peripheral loops of glomerular and tubule basement membranes increased with rat age. The increase in circulating AGE peptides parallels the accumulation of AGEs in the nephron, and this parallels the pattern of extracellular matrix deposition, suggesting a close link between AGE accumulation and renal impairment in aging rats.
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PMID:Accumulation of advanced glycation endproducts in the rat nephron: link with circulating AGEs during aging. 926 67

To identify antigenic differences between gliomas and normal brain, we have immunohistochemically studied the expression of lymphocyte adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, ICAM-2, ICAM-3, VCAM-1, E-selectin and CD58), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and extracellular matrix proteins (collagen IV, fibronectin, laminin, merosin, tenascin and vitronectin) in these tissues. Gliomas expressed high levels of ICAM-1, CD58 (LFA-3), EGFR, tenascin and vitronectin, whereas only very low levels were detected in normal brain. VCAM-1 expression was detected in 15 out of 25 gliomas but not in normal brain. The presence of VCAM-1 in gliomas was verified by immunoblotting and RNase protection assay, and in glioma cell lines by Northern blotting. Expression of VCAM-1 in gliomas may partially explain lymphocytic infiltration, and anti-VCAM-1 antibodies may be of potential in antibody mixtures for targeted therapy of gliomas.
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PMID:Lymphocyte adhesion molecule ligands and extracellular matrix proteins in gliomas and normal brain: expression of VCAM-1 in gliomas. 929 90

Delayed reperfusion has a beneficial effect on prognosis, independent of infarct size. One potential mechanism to explain this observation may be an effect on infarct healing. In this study, the impact of delayed reperfusion on two aspects of the healing process was examined, the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes and the expression of fibronectin (FN) mRNA. The rat model of coronary artery ligation was used and rats were randomly assigned to delayed reperfusion (150 min following coronary ligation) or permanent ligation. Animals were subsequently killed 1, 2, 3 and 7 days following infarction. Infarct tissue was harvested for MMP activity (zymography), FN mRNA (RNase protection analysis) and protein (immunofluorescence microscopy and Western analysis), and collagen content (hydroxyproline concentration). Infarction produced marked activation of MMP-1, -2, and -9. Reperfusion significantly attenuated the activity of these enzymes (approximately 50% reduction in MMP-1, P=0.03 and ;60% reduction in MMP-2 at 7 days, P=0.001; approximately 55% reduction in MMP-9 at 24 h and 84% reduction at 48 h, P=0.01 and 0.002, respectively). Delayed reperfusion also produced a trend toward a greater increase in FN mRNA 24 h following infarction and immunofluorescent staining suggested the presence of more FN protein at this point. These data demonstrate that delayed reperfusion alters matrix metalloproteinase activity and fibronectin mRNA expression in the infarct zone. The impact of these changes on infarct healing and their association with the improved prognosis of a patent infarct vessel following infarction will require further study.
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PMID:Delayed reperfusion alters matrix metalloproteinase activity and fibronectin mRNA expression in the infarct zone of the ligated rat heart. 929 68

Fibrosis of lung tissue is a frequent and serious consequence of radiotherapy of mammary carcinoma. The pathogenesis of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis remains unclear. Cytokines such as transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) have been reported to stimulate collagen synthesis in fibroblasts in vitro. The aim of this study was to document the presence of IL-4 during the development of post-irradiation lung fibrosis. Right lungs of male Fischer rats were irradiated with a single dose of 20 Gy and IL-4 expression in the irradiated lungs was monitored for a period of three months. IL-4 gene transcription as determined by ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) as well as IL-4 synthesis as shown by Western blotting increased in the irradiated lungs reaching a plateau concentration within 3 weeks after irradiation. Enhanced IL-4 production was still detected at day 84 after irradiation. The cellular origin of IL-4 was analyzed by in situ hybridization and two-color immunofluorescence on lung tissue sections and on cytospin preparations of leukocytes obtained from bronchoalveolar lavages. These experiments revealed a substantial IL-4 production by macrophages during development of post-irradiation lung fibrosis.
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PMID:Local production of interleukin-4 during radiation-induced pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis in rats: macrophages as a prominent source of interleukin-4. 930 18

The biological activity of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta) is controlled by its secretion as a latent complex in which it is noncovalently associated with latency-associated peptide (LAP). Activation is the extracellular process in which TGF-beta is released from LAP, and is considered to be a primary regulatory control. We recently reported rapid and persistent changes in TGF-beta immunoreactivity in conjunction with extracellular matrix remodeling in gamma-irradiated mouse mammary gland. Our hypothesis is that these specific changes in immunoreactivity are indicative of latent TGF-beta activation. In the present study, we determined the radiation dose response and tested whether a functional relationship exists between radiation-induced TGF-beta and collagen type III remodeling. After radiation exposures as low as 0.1 Gy, we detected increased TGF-beta immunoreactivity in the mammary epithelium concomitant with decreased LAP immunostaining, which are events consistent with activation. Quantitative image analysis demonstrated a significant (P=0.0005) response at 0.1 Gy without an apparent threshold and a linear dose response to 5 Gy. However, in the adipose stroma, loss of LAP demonstrated a qualitative threshold at 0.5 Gy. Loss of LAP paralleled induction of collagen III immunoreactivity in this tissue compartment. We tested whether TGF-beta mediates collagen III expression by treating animals with TGF-beta panspecific monoclonal antibody, 1D11.16, administered i.p. shortly before irradiation. Radiation-induced collagen III staining in the adipose stroma was blocked in an antibody dose-dependent manner, which persisted through 7 days postirradiation. RNase protection assay revealed that radiation-induced elevation of total gland collagen III mRNA was also blocked by neutralizing antibody treatment. These data provide functional confirmation of the hypothesis that radiation exposure leads to latent TGF-beta activation, support our interpretation of the reciprocal shift in immunoreactivity as evidence of activation, and implicate TGF-beta as a mediator of tissue response to ionizing radiation. The sensitivity of activation to low radiation doses points to a potential role for TGF-beta in orchestrating tissue response to oxidative stress. As such, radiation may be useful as a probe to delineate the consequences of latent TGF-beta activation in situ.
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PMID:Latent transforming growth factor beta1 activation in situ: quantitative and functional evidence after low-dose gamma-irradiation. 933 52

We first isolated and characterized genomic DNA fragments that cover the 5' flanking sequences of COL4A3 and COL4A4 encoding the human basement membrane alpha3(IV) and alpha4(IV) collagen chains, respectively. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that the two genes are arranged head-to-head. To determine transcription start site for COL4A4 gene, we performed RACE and RNase protection assays, indicating that there are two alternative transcripts presumably derived from two different promoters. Interestingly, one transcription start site (from exon 1') of COL4A4 is only 5 bp away from the reported transcription start site of COL4A3, whereas the other transcript (from exon 1) starts 373 nucleotides downstream from the first one, generating the two kinds of transcripts that differ in the 5' UTR regions. Expression of these two transcripts appears tissue-specific; exon 1 transcript was expressed predominantly in epithelial cells, while exon 1' transcript showed rather ubiquitous and low expression. The nucleotide sequence of the promoter region is composed of dense CpG dinucleotides, GC boxes, CTC boxes and a CCAAT box but no TATA box. These results provide information to delineate the promoter activity for the tissue-specific expression of the six type IV collagen genes and basement membrane assembly in different tissues and organs.
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PMID:Two genes, COL4A3 and COL4A4 coding for the human alpha3(IV) and alpha4(IV) collagen chains are arranged head-to-head on chromosome 2q36. 953 6

Hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy is associated with the accumulation of collagen in the myocardial interstitium. Previous studies have demonstrated that this myocardial fibrosis accounts for impaired myocardial stiffness and ventricular dysfunction. Although cardiac fibroblasts are responsible for the synthesis of fibrillar collagen, the factors that regulate collagen synthesis in cardiac fibroblasts are not fully understood. We investigated the effects of angiotensin II on cardiac collagen synthesis in cardiac fibroblasts. Cardiac fibroblasts of 10 week old spontaneously hypertensive rats and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats were prepared and maintained in culture medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. The expression of mRNA of the renin-angiotensin system (renin, angiotensinogen, angiotensin converting enzyme) was determined by using a ribonuclease protection assay. Basal collagen synthesis in cardiac fibroblasts from spontaneously hypertensive rats was 1.6 fold greater than that in the cell of Wistar-Kyoto rats. Angiotensin II stimulated collagen synthesis in cardiac fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. The responsiveness of collagen production to angiotensin II was significantly enhanced in cardiac fibroblasts from spontaneously hypertensive rats (100 nM angiotensin II resulted in 185 +/- 18% increase above basal levels, 185 +/- 18 versus 128 +/- 19% in Wistar-Kyoto rats p < 0.01). This effect was receptor-specific, because it was blocked by the competitive inhibitor saralasin and MK 954. These results indicate that collagen production was enhanced in cardiac fibroblasts from spontaneously hypertensive rats, that angiotensin II had a stimulatory effect on collagen synthesis in cardiac fibroblasts, and that cardiac fibroblasts from spontaneously hypertensive rats were hyper-responsive to stimulation by angiotensin II. Level of angiotensin and renin mRNA expressed in ventricles, and angiotensinogen mRNA expressed in fibroblasts from SHR were higher than those from WKY. These findings suggest that the cardiac renin-angiotensin system may play an important role in collagen accumulation in hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy.
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PMID:Increased mRNA expression of cardiac renin-angiotensin system and collagen synthesis in spontaneously hypertensive rats. 954 81

The role of the first intron of the Col1A1 gene in the regulation of type I collagen synthesis remains uncertain and controversial despite numerous studies that have made use of transgenic and transfection experiments. To examine the importance of the first intron in regulation of the gene, we have used the double-replacement method of gene targeting to introduce, by homologous recombination in embryonic stem (ES) cells, a mutated Col1A1 allele (Col-IntDelta). The Col-IntDelta allele contains a 1. 3-kb deletion within intron I and is also marked by the introduction of a silent mutation that created an XhoI restriction site in exon 7. Targeted mice were generated from two independently derived ES cell clones. Mice carrying two copies of the mutated gene were born in the expected Mendelian ratio, developed normally, and showed no apparent abnormalities. We used heterozygous mice to determine whether expression of the mutated allele differs from that of the normal allele. For this purpose, we developed a reverse transcription-PCR assay which takes advantage of the XhoI polymorphism in exon 7. Our results indicate that in the skin, and in cultured cells derived from the skin, the intron plays little or no role in constitutive expression of collagen I. However, in the lungs of young mice, the mutated allele was expressed at about 75% of the level of the normal allele, and in the adult lung expression was decreased to less than 50%. These results were confirmed by RNase protection assays which demonstrated a two- to threefold decrease in Col1A1 mRNA in lungs of homozygous mutant mice. Surprisingly, in cultured cells derived from the lung, the mutated allele was expressed at a level similar to that of the wild-type allele. Our results also indicated an age-dependent requirement for the intact intron in expression of the Col1A1 gene in muscle. Since the intron is spliced normally, and since the mutant allele is expressed as well as the wild-type allele in the skin, reduced mRNA stability is unlikely to contribute to the reduction in transcript levels. We conclude that the first intron of the Col1A1 gene plays a tissue-specific and developmentally regulated role in transcriptional regulation of the gene. Our experiments demonstrate the utility of gene-targeting techniques that produce subtle mutations for studies of cis-acting elements in gene regulation.
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PMID:A gene-targeting approach identifies a function for the first intron in expression of the alpha1(I) collagen gene. 958 77


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