Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.2.1.23 (beta-galactosidase)
 14,648 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The purpose of the present study was to determine the role of cardiac lysosomal enzymes in the pathogenesis of the cardiomyopathy that develops in the genetically diabetic C57BL/KsJ db+/db+ mice. Db+/db+ mice and littermate controls were sacrificed as age-matched pairs between 5 and 26 weeks of age. C57BL/6J ob/ob mice and littermates served as other controls. Following anesthesia, the hearts were excised, homogenized, and the following enzymatic activities measured: N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, N-acetyl-beta-galactosaminidase, beta-glucosaminidase, aryl sulfatase, alpha-mannosidase, alpha-glucosidase, beta-galactosidase, beta-glucosidase, total rho-nitrophenyl phosphatase, acid phosphatase. and 5'-phosphodiesterase type IV. There is a progressive decrease in cardiac lysosomal enzyme activities of db+/db+ mice for the period 5 to 21 weeks of age. All enzyme activity is depressed significantly during the 9- to 21-week interval: alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase, alpha-mannosidase, beta-galactosidase, acid phosphatase, N-acetyl-beta-galactosaminidase, 5'-phosphodiesterase type IV, and total rho-nitrophenyl phosphatase are reduced approximately 10 to 20 per cent, whereas beta-glucosaminidase, aryl sulfatase, and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase are decreased almost 40 to 50 per cent. In contrast, cardiac lysosomal enzymic activity in the ob/ob mice does not differ significantly from controls aside from aryl sulfatase (20 per cent decrease) and beta-glucosidase (10 per cent decrease). This decrease in lysosomal enzyme activity can explain the accumulation of large residual bodies and interstitial material that occurs in the myocardium of the db+/db+ animals as part of the cardiomyopathy.
 ...
PMID:Lysosomal enzymes in the heart of the genetically diabetic mouse. 742 Nov 26

The development of brush-border enzymes and the possible regulatory role of cortisol were investigated in the small intestine of the fetal and neonatal pig. With the sows under pentobarbitone anesthesia, osmotic minipumps containing either saline or cortisol were inserted s.c. into 25 fetuses from 10 pregnant sows (82-96 d gestation). Six d later, the infused fetuses were removed by cesarean section and samples of the proximal, middle, and distal intestine taken for analysis. Samples were also obtained from 48 piglets that did not undergo an operation (controls) and that were removed at intervals from 82 d gestation until term (114 +/- 2 d). In the proximal and middle intestine, the mean levels of lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (EC 3.2.1.23-62), maltaseglucoamylase (EC 3.2.1.20), aminopeptidase N (EC 3.4.11.2), and aminopeptidase A (EC 3.4.11.7) increased during the last 10-15 d before term, correlated positively with log10 plasma cortisol values, and were higher in cortisol-infused than in saline-infused fetuses (p < 0.05). Activity of sucrase-isomaltase (EC 3.2.1.48-10) was low in fetal pigs, and this enzyme and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (EC 3.4.14.5) were not significantly affected by fetal age or exogenous cortisol. Maltase (EC 3.2.1.48-10 and EC 3.2.1.20) activity was significantly decreased in the middle and distal intestine of cortisol-infused fetuses. The results suggest that the prepartum rise in endogenous cortisol secretion stimulates the prenatal expression of certain brush-border enzymes in the pig small intestine at this critical time. However, the effects of cortisol on the developing intestine were highly idiosyncratic for particular enzymes and intestinal regions.
 ...
PMID:The prenatal development and glucocorticoid control of brush-border hydrolases in the pig small intestine. 773 59

Ballistic transfection, based on cell and tissue bombardment by the tungsten and gold microparticles covered with the gene DNA, was used for the delivery of a bacterial beta-galactosidase and a full-length cDNA copy of the human dystrophin genes into mouse skeletal muscles. CMV-lacZ, SV40-lacZ, LTR-lacZneo and full-length cDNA dystrophin (pDMD-1, approximately 16 kb) in eukaryotic expression vector pJ OMEGA driven by mouse leukaemia virus promotor (pMLVDy) were used throughout the studies. Musculus glutaeus superficialis of C57BL/6J and quadriceps femoris of mdx male mice were opened surgically under anesthesia and bombarded by means of the gene-gun technique originally developed by us. Different mixtures of gold and tungsten particles at ratios of 4:1, 1:1, 1:4 were applied. X-gal assay revealed marked beta-gal activity, both in total muscles and whole muscle fibers on histological sections, up to three months after transfection. The most intensive staining was observed after SV40-lacZ delivery. No staining was detected with LTR-lacZneo DNA as well as in untreated muscles. The higher tungsten particle concentration in the bombardment mixture correlated with more intense X-gal staining. At the gold/tungsten ratio of 1:4 the microparticles penetrated the musculus glutaeus superficialis and transfected the underlying musculus glutaeus medius as well. Immuno-cytochemical assay for human dystrophin revealed dystrophin positive myofibers (DPM) in the bombarded area up to two months after transfection. The proportion of DMP varied from 2.5% on day 17 up two 5% on day 60 after bombardment compared to only 0.5% in the control mdx mice. These results suggest the applicability of particle bombardment for gene delivery into muscle fibers.
 ...
PMID:Bacterial beta-galactosidase and human dystrophin genes are expressed in mouse skeletal muscle fibers after ballistic transfection. 931 10

The nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) is an important site for the regulation of sympathetic nerve activity. It receives the signals through afferent fibers from arterial baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, cardiopulmonary receptors, and other visceral receptors. Many studies have examined the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the NTS in cardiovascular regulation. However, most of these studies were conducted in an acute state with anesthesia. We have developed a novel technique of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene transfer into the NTS in vivo. Adenovirus vectors encoding either the beta-galactosidase gene (Ad beta gal) or the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (AdeNOS) gene were transfected into the NTS. In the Ad beta gal-treated rats, the local expression of beta-galactosidase was confirmed by X-Gal staining, and beta-galactosidase activity was quantified using a colorimetric assay. In the AdeNOS-treated rats, the local expression of eNOS protein was confirmed by immunohistochemistry, and eNOS production was measured by in vivo microdialysis. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored by a radiotelemetry system in a conscious state. The expression of each gene was observed from day 5 to day 10 after the gene transfer. In the AdeNOS-treated rats, blood pressure and heart rate significantly decreased from day 5 to day 10, and then thereafter gradually recovered over time. Our method may be useful in examining the local effect of a particular substance produced by a specific gene in the brain on cardiovascular function.
 ...
PMID:Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer into the NTS in conscious rats. A new approach to examining the central control of cardiovascular regulation. 1145 77

Use of perflubron (LiquiVent) and other perfluorochemical liquids during intratracheal administration of adenovirus and AAV vectors has been shown to improve total gene expression as well as distribution of expression throughout lungs of spontaneously breathing rodents. To determine if this method could be safely and easily extended to non-human primates, we carried out a pilot investigation in six spontaneously breathing rhesus macaques. Two animals received bronchoscopic administration of recombinant adenovirus vector (type 5 E1-deleted AdCMVlacZ, 4.6 x 10(10) plaque forming units/animal), two animals received vector followed by instillation of perflubron, and two animals received perflubron alone. Instillation of perflubron was well tolerated by the animals and, once recovered from anesthesia, all animals behaved and fed normally until lung harvest. Serial X-rays demonstrated that the perflubron had cleared from lungs of three animals by 48 hours after administration; the fourth animal had a small amount of residual perflubron. Apart from a mild elevation in hepatocellular enzymes, no significant abnormality was noted in complete blood count or serum electrolytes and chemistries. In animals receiving either vector alone or vector with perflubron, in situ beta-galactosidase expression was observed in a variety of cells including large airway, bronchiolar, and alveolar epithelial cells. In summary, use of perflubron was well tolerated in spontaneously breathing macaques. Further studies in larger numbers of animals will help assess the potential efficacy of perflubron for enhancing gene expression and elucidate effects on local and systemic inflammatory responses.
 ...
PMID:Use of perflubron to enhance lung gene expression: safety and initial efficacy studies in non-human primates. 1178 40

The use of stem cells is promising for future cell-based therapy such as tissue regeneration and engineering. Although Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs) are theoretically highly beneficial, there are some potential limitations of cell regulations and ethical consideration. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) isolated from bone marrow stroma have been shown to possess adipogenic, osteogenic, chondrogenic, myogenic and neurogenic potential in vitro. However, bone marrow procurement is severely painful for donors and often requires general anesthesia. Moreover, only small numbers of cells can be harvested. We previously hypothesized that human adipose tissue obtained from liposuction procedures also contains the same cell population as MSCs, because adipose tissue is mesenchymal in origin, like bone marrow stroma. Subsequent studies revealed that: (1) cell population (which we termed Processed Lipoaspirate [PLA] cells), observed by indirect immunofluorescence study of adipose tissue, consist of cells of mesenchymal origin that have little contamination with endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and pericytes; (2) these PLA cells exhibit low levels of cell senescence even after multiple passage, as demonstrated by beta-galactosidase staining assay; and (3) PLA cells can differentiate into adipogenic, osteogenic, chondrogenic and myogenic cells in vitro in lineage-specific culture media. These findings suggest that human PLA might have a mesodermal stem cell population. Since human adipose tissue is plentiful, easily harvested in large quantity under local anesthesia with little patient discomfort, it may be an alternative stem cell source for mesenchymal tissue regeneration and engineering. This review highlights our previous research work on PLA cells and future clinical perspectives, particularly in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery.
 ...
PMID:Mesengenic potential and future clinical perspective of human processed lipoaspirate cells. 1292 9

Satellite cells (SC) in adult muscle are quiescent in the G0 phase of the cell cycle. In the present study we determined whether SC after denervation upregulate M-cadherin, an adhesion molecule that is upregulated with differentiation and fusion. We also monitored primary cultures of SC from denervated muscle for expression of the transcription factors of the MyoD family to determine whether SC from denervated muscle can be activated in vitro. Hindlimb muscles of rats were denervated under anesthesia, and rats were killed after 2-28 days. The SC of the denervated limbs were pooled and either assessed for M-cadherin mRNA by using real-time RT-PCR or cultured in vitro. The cultures were processed for RT-PCR or immunofluorescence for expression of the transcription factors of the MyoD family. Hindlimb muscles of M-cadherin knockout mice were denervated under anesthesia, mice were killed after 2-28 days, and cells were stained for beta-galactosidase activity by X-gal histochemistry. In vitro, primary SC cultures from rat muscle denervated for 2-28 days expressed transcripts of myf5, MyoD, myogenin, and MRF4 as SC from normal innervated muscle. In vivo, M-cadherin transcription was not upregulated in SC from denervated rat muscle when compared with normal muscle. Moreover, beta-galactosidase activity was not detected in denervated mouse muscle. The finding that SC do not upregulate M-cadherin after denervation supports the notion that they remain in the G(0) phase of the cell cycle in vivo. However, the cells retain the capacity to pass through the proliferative and differentiative program when robustly stimulated to do so in vitro.
 ...
PMID:M-cadherin transcription in satellite cells from normal and denervated muscle. 1476 88

The nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) of the brainstem is an important site for the regulation of sympathetic nerve activity. In the brain, nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to reduce blood pressure by inhibiting sympathetic nerve activity. However, most studies were performed in an acute state of anesthesia. Therefore, we developed a technique to increase the local production of NO in vivo by the transfer of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) gene into the NTS. Adenovirus vectors encoding either the beta-galactosidase gene (Adbetagal) or the eNOS gene (AdeNOS) were infected into the NTS. In the Adbetagal-infected rats, the local expression of beta-galactosidase was confirmed by X-Gal staining, and beta-galactosidase activity was quantified using a colorimetric assay. In the AdeNOS-infected rats, the local expression of eNOS was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Production of NO was measured by in vivo microdialysis. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored by a radiotelemetry system in a conscious state. In the AdeNOS-infected rats, blood pressure and heart rate significantly decreased from d 5 to d 10, and then gradually recovered over time. These methods should be useful in examining the local effect on cardiovascular function of a particular substance produced by a specific gene in the brain.
 ...
PMID:Adenovirus-mediated nitric oxide synthase gene transfer into the nucleus tractus solitarius in conscious rats. 1519 46

The genetic basis of myotonic dystrophy type I (DM1) is the expansion of a CTG tract located in the 3' untranslated region of DMPK. Expression of mutant RNAs encoding expanded CUG repeats plays a central role in the development of cardiac disease in DM1. Expanded CUG tracts form both nuclear and cytoplasmic aggregates, yet the relative significance of such aggregates in eliciting DM1 pathology is unclear. To test the pathophysiology of CUG repeat encoding RNAs, we developed and analyzed mice with cardiac-specific expression of a beta-galactosidase cassette in which a (CTG)(400) repeat tract was positioned 3' of the termination codon and 5' of the bovine growth hormone polyadenylation signal. In these animals CUG aggregates form exclusively in the cytoplasm of cardiac cells. A key pathological consequence of expanded CUG repeat RNA expression in DM1 is aberrant RNA splicing. Abnormal splicing results from the functional inactivation of MBNL1, which is hypothesized to occur due to MBNL1 sequestration in CUG foci or from elevated levels of CUG-BP1. We therefore tested the ability of cytoplasmic CUG foci to elicit these changes. Aggregation of CUG RNAs within the cytoplasm results both in Mbnl1 sequestration and in approximately a two fold increase in both nuclear and cytoplasmic Cug-bp1 levels. Significantly, despite these changes RNA splice defects were not observed and functional analysis revealed only subtle cardiac dysfunction, characterized by conduction defects that primarily manifest under anesthesia. Using a human myoblast culture system we show that this transgene, when expressed at similar levels to a second transgene, which encodes expanded CTG tracts and facilitates both nuclear focus formation and aberrant splicing, does not elicit aberrant splicing. Thus the lack of toxicity of cytoplasmic CUG foci does not appear to be a consequence of low expression levels. Our results therefore demonstrate that the cellular location of CUG RNA aggregates is an important variable that influences toxicity and support the hypothesis that small molecules that increase the rate of transport of the mutant DMPK RNA from the nucleus into the cytoplasm may significantly improve DM1 pathology.
 ...
PMID:Cytoplasmic CUG RNA foci are insufficient to elicit key DM1 features. 1909 97