Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C1519176 (PSA)
 5,490 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The expression of a high molecular weight cell surface glycoprotein (LETS, fibronectin) by preimplantation mouse embryos as well as cultured teratocarcinoma stem cells was detected by using indirect immunofluorescent staining. When each stage of preimplantation embryonic development was tested for the presence of LETS protein, none was observed on two-cell, four-cell, or eight-cell embryos, or on the morula or the outer cell layer (trophectoderm) of the early or late blastocyst. However, when the inner cell mass was isolated by immunosurgery, positive staining was observed. The intensity of the staining was significantly greater on the inner cell mass isolated from the expanded (day 4) blastocyst than on that from the early (day 3) blastocyst. Certain established cell lines of teratocarcinoma stem cells (embryonal carcinoma cells) also express cell surface LETS protein. "Nullipotent" (Nulli-SCC-1) as well as pluripotent (PSA 1) embryonal carcinoma cell lines have deposits of LETS protein concentrated in areas of cell-cell contact. In addition, a teratocarcinoma-derived endodermal cell line (PYS) was found to be capable of depositing LETS onto the substratum in a fibrillar network.Taken together, our results indicate that LETS protein is synthesized at a specific stage of preimplantation mouse embryonic development. In particular, they suggest that LETS protein is a product of the embryonic ectoderm, and that some types of embryonic endoderm are also capable of synthesizing this protein.
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PMID:Expression of a high molecular weight cell surface glycoprotein (LETS protein) by preimplantation mouse embryos and teratocarcinoma stem cells. 27 75

The seminal vesicles originate in embryos of about 58 mm crown-rump-length from the Wolffian duct under the influence of testosterone. Along with the ampulla of the vas deferens and the ejaculatory duct, they form a functional unit that develops slowly until the onset of puberty. Developmental malformations occur as uni- or bilateral agenesis, aplasia, cysts, or ureterovesicular fistules. After puberty, the glands form sac-like structures which have a capacity of about 3.4-4.5 ccm and contribute about 70% of the seminal fluid. In addition to secretion, they are capable of reabsorption of fluids or dissolved substances, and of spermatophagy (ingestion and degradation of damaged spermatozoa by epithelial cells). Secretory activity of the glands is a measure of testosterone supplementation to the epithelium. Nervous regulation of secretion is realized by cholinergic post-ganglionic, sympathetic (and perhaps parasympathetic) fibres, derived from pelvic plexus. Contraction of the muscular wall occurs under the influence of excitatory adrenergic and modulatory NPY-encephalin-peptidergic nerve fibres. The secretory products of the seminal vesicles encompass (1) ions (K+: 1.1 mM ml-1) (2) low molecular weight substances (fructose: above 1.2 mg ml-1; prostaglandins above 250 microliters ml-1, (3) peptides (endorphin: 330 pg ml-1), and (4) proteins. In addition to plasma protein related forms such as transferrin, lactoferrin, and fibronectin, specific proteins such as semenogelin (52 kDa) are synthesized, the scaffold protein of semen coagulate forming the substrate for PSA (prostate specific antigen), sperm motility inhibitor (ca. 18 kDa), and others (placental protein 5, protein kinase inhibitor, carboanhydrase, 5'-nucleotidase), some of which are immunosuppressive. Therefore, functions of the seminal vesicles concern (a) formation of seminal coagulum, (b) modification of sperm functions (motility, capacitation), and (c) immunosuppression. Additional functions within the female genital system, perhaps during pre-implantation period, are likely, but remain to be proven experimentally.
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PMID:Morphology and functions of the human seminal vesicle. 164 33

Using a monoclonal antibody that recognizes specifically a high polysialylated form of N-CAM (high PSA N-CAM), the temporal and spatial expression of this molecule was studied in developing spinal cord and neural crest derivatives of mouse truncal region. Temporal expression was analyzed on immunoblots of spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) extracts microdissected at different developmental stages. Analysis of the ratio of high PSA N-CAM to total N-CAM indicated that sialylation and desialylation are independently regulated from the expression of polypeptide chains of N-CAM. Motoneurons, dorsal root ganglia cells and commissural neurons present a homogeneous distribution of high PSA N-CAMs on both their cell bodies and their neurites. Sialylation of N-CAM can occur in neurons after their aggregation in peripheral ganglia as demonstrated for dorsal root ganglia at E12. Furthermore, peripheral ganglia express different levels of high PSA N-CAM. With in vitro models using mouse neural crest cells, we found that expression of high PSA N-CAM was restricted to cells presenting an early neuronal phenotype, suggesting a common regulation for the expression of high PSA N-CAM molecules, neurofilament proteins and sodium channels. Using perturbation experiments with endoneuraminidase, we confirmed that high PSA N-CAM molecules are involved in fasciculation and neuritic growth when neurons derived from neural crest grow on collagen substrata. However, we demonstrated that these two parameters do not appear to depend on high PSA N-CAM molecules when cells were grown on a fibronectin substratum, indicating the existence of a hierarchy among adhesion molecules.
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PMID:Analysis of high PSA N-CAM expression during mammalian spinal cord and peripheral nervous system development. 176 42

F9 and PC13 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells adhered rapidly to growth substrata coated with fibronectin or laminin. When F9 cells were induced to differentiate into visceral or parietal endoderm-like cells, their ability to adhere to laminin diminished, but their adherence to fibronectin remained unchanged. Correspondingly, permanently differentiated teratocarcinoma-derived endoderm cells (PYS-2 and PSA-5e) adhered markedly less efficiently to laminin than to fibronectin. F9 cells adhered to proteolytic fibronectin fragments containing the cell-binding site but not to fragments containing gelatin- or heparin-binding sites. They also adhered slowly to gelatin, but this adhesion was completely blocked by cycloheximide. The results show that the teratocarcinoma stem cells may have specific mechanisms mediating adhesion to fibronectin and laminin and that endodermal differentiation leads to a reduction in their capacity to adhere to laminin but not to fibronectin.
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PMID:Embryonal carcinoma cells adhere preferentially to fibronectin and laminin but their endodermal differentiation leads to a reduced adherence to laminin. 271 4

Fibroblasts were cultured from the involved and uninvolved forearm skin of patients with severe generalized psoriasis and compared with those from the forearms of normal controls of similar ages. Thirteen strains were obtained from involved skin (PSA strains) and sixteen strains from uninvolved skin (PSB), with thirteen control strains (NSF). Outgrowth of fibroblasts from the psoriatic skin explants was slightly quicker than from control skin and the average proliferation rates of passaged strains were PSA 144, PSB 134 and NSF 94 (P less than 0.05). Psoriatic fibroblasts were abnormally dependent on serum for anchorage. In serum-free medium many cells rounded up and were only loosely attached to the substratum. This effect was rapid, reversible and not corrected by adding fibronectin. Cell attachment assays showed only small differences between the psoriatic and normal fibroblasts and the main effect of serum withdrawal appeared to be on spreading rather than attachment. These data suggest that the dermis of both involved and uninvolved psoriatic skin is abnormal and that the hyperactivity persists in vitro. Our findings seem most compatible with a hyperproliferative reaction of both epidermis and dermis to an extracutaneous, perhaps vascular, stimulus.
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PMID:Hyperactivity of fibroblasts cultured from psoriatic skin: I. Faster proliferation and effect of serum withdrawal. 687 Oct 94

The nephric duct of the chick embryo starts to form at about stage 10 of Hamburger and Hamilton ([1951] J. Morphol. 88:49-92) and extends posteriorly, fusing with the cloaca at about the end of the third day of incubation (HH stage 17). Evidence from the literature suggests that the extension involves active migration of the posterior tip. This investigation concerned some molecules that might control this migration: fibronectin, vitronectin, the beta 1 integrin receptor, and NCAM polysialic acid. The concentration of fibronectin in the extracellular matrix was found by immunocytochemistry to be negligible at the posterior end of the duct; treatment of the living embryo with GRGDS failed to halt further extension of the duct; SEM examination of embryos treated with the synthetic peptides of fibronectin GRGDS, GRDGS, SDGR, and GRGES, or with vitronectin, revealed negligible morphological effects on the duct. It is concluded that there is yet no evidence that fibronectin is an important factor in duct migration. NCAM polysialic acid had a similar distribution to fibronectin, but treatment of the living embryo with Endo-N caused cessation of extension of the duct. Endo-N is an enzyme that specifically degrades PSA without affecting the NCAM polypeptide itself. It is suggested therefore that PSA may play an important role in duct extension. The synthetic peptides of fibronectin each produced distinctive patterns of blebbing on the surfaces of cells in trunk mesoderm, but the duct cells were unaffected. GRGES and SDGR caused blebbing on cells in the somites and the anterior segmental plate, though not on cells in the posterior segmental plate. This suggests that integrin receptors change in the anterior segmental plate as the mesoderm forms somites from somitomeres.
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PMID:Posterior extension of the chick nephric (Wolffian) duct: the role of fibronectin and NCAM polysialic acid. 754 37

Human prostate specific antigen, PSA, is a product of the human glandular kallikrein gene locus on chromosome 19 that is almost selectively expressed by prostate tissue. PSA is one of the dominating prostate derived proteins in seminal fluid. The mature form of PSA, a single chain glycoprotein of 237 amino acids, is a serine protease manifesting restricted chymotrypsin-like activity. PSA is mainly responsible for gel dissolution in freshly ejaculated semen by proteolysis of the major gel forming proteins, semenogelin I and II, and fibronectin. In semen approximately two thirds of PSA is enzymatically active. The remaining 30-40% is inactive due to internal cleavage(s). A few per cent of PSA in semen is complexed to the protein C inhibitor. PSA complexed to alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) constitutes the predominant molecular form of serum PSA, although complex formation is slow between the purified proteins in vitro. PSA also forms stable complexes with alpha 2-macroglobulin in vitro but as this results in encapsulation of PSA and complete loss of the PSA-epitopes, the in vivo significance of this complex formation is presently unclear. A free, non-complexed form of PSA constitutes a minor fraction of the serum PSA despite the large molar excess of antiproteasees such as ACT. In patients with carcinoma of the prostate the serum PSA level increases. Analysis of the serum level of PSA is used both for diagnosing and monitoring patients with carcinoma of the prostate (CAP).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Biochemistry of prostate specific antigen, PSA. 754 81

We have recently demonstrated in liquefied human seminal plasma the presence of the novel kallikrein hK2 in association with protein C inhibitor (PCI) as a 75-kDa complex. In the present study, we showed that hK2, immediately after ejaculation, was recovered only in its free form but complex formation with PCI occurred rapidly thereafter and was completed within 10 minutes. That reaction required an enzymatically active kallikrein. In order to determine the patterns of hydrolysis of major seminal vesicle proteins, semenogelins and fibronectin were exposed to hK2 and to hK3 (prostate-specific antigen or PSA) and cleavage sequences were identified by N-terminal sequencing. Free hK2 was able to hydrolyze semenogelins and fibronectin in vitro. Most of cleavage sites were at the carboxyl-side of arginyl residues. Semenogelins were hydrolyzed to a similar extent by catalytic (and similar) concentration of either hK2 or PSA though no common cleavage sites was identified for both proteinases. Unlike semenogelins, fibronectin was hydrolyzed much more efficiently by hK2 than by PSA. These results show that hK2 is enzymatically active during a short period of time after ejaculation, that major seminal vesicle proteins can be the target of this proteolytic activity, and that hK2 and PSA have different substrate specificities.
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PMID:Potential involvement of kallikrein hK2 in the hydrolysis of the human seminal vesicle proteins after ejaculation. 901 96

Different reports demonstrated that reactive glial cells express increased amounts of adhesion and matrix molecules. Despite a wealth of information on the expression of these molecules during development and after lesion, very little is known of how this expression is regulated. In the present report we used Western blots and immunocytochemistry to investigate the expression of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), fibronectin and tenascin-C in cultured astrocytes from rat hippocampus. The effects of three different extracellular signals were analyzed: the glutamatergic receptor agonist kainic acid, the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and the bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Each treatment had a specific pattern of glial activation and differentially modified the expression of these proteins. Treatment of astrocytes with kainic acid resulted in an increase of tenascin-C, a decrease of fibronectin and a shift of NCAMs isoforms: NCAM 140 and PSA-NCAM (polysialic acid-rich NCAMs) were increased while NCAM 120 was decreased, bFGF increased fibronectin, tenascin-C and NCAM 120, while decreasing PSA-NCAM. Finally, the treatment of astrocytes with lipopolysaccharide induced a significant increase of fibronectin, tenascin-C and NCAM 120 but did not modify the expression of NCAM 140 and PSA-NCAM. These data suggest different mechanisms for modulation of cell surface interactions. They suggest that glial activation by bFGF and lipopolysaccharide are associated with an increase of the adhesive properties, while kainate action is rather associated with a decrease of the adhesiveness of astrocytes.
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PMID:Differential expression of fibronectin, tenascin-C and NCAMs in cultured hippocampal astrocytes activated by kainate, bacterial lipopolysaccharide or basic fibroblast growth factor. 943 29

The authors investigated acrosomal changes occurring in boar sperm that interact with the expanded cumulus matrix surrounding ovulated pig oocytes. Samples of washed boar sperm obtained from six donors were incubated for 4 hr under capacitating conditions and exposed either to solubilized zonae pellucidae (ZP) or solubilized expanded pig cumuli (SEC) obtained from IVM oocytes. Alternatively, hyaluronic acid, laminin, or fibronectin, components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) were added to capacitated sperm. Acrosomal integrity was evaluated 1 hr later by using FITC-PSA staining. Solubilized cumuli induced acrosome reaction (AR) in a dose-dependent manner with a saturating effect exerted at 2.5 SEC/50 microl. Both 500 nM fibronectin and 500 nM laminin stimulated acrosomal exocytosis, the latter being more effective and inducing saturating levels of AR. By contrast, hyaluronic acid did not affect acrosomal status. Preincubation with anti-laminin antibodies completely prevented the inducing activity of SEC without affecting the activity of solubilized ZP. Consistent with these data, the integrin VLA-6, a receptor with high affinity for laminin, was detected by immunoblotting on the plasma membrane of capacitated boar spermatozoa. In addition, its immunoneutralization, obtained with the preincubation of capacitated sperm with the antibody raised against the alpha chain of VLA-6 integrin, prevented AR upon exposure to laminin or SEC (10.7+/-3.2 and 10.2+/-1.0% respectively), while the samples retained their responsiveness to ZP (29.6+/-1.2%). The results demonstrate that the interaction between laminin, entrapped in the expanded cumuli, and specific integrins present on the sperm membrane can initiate AR, thus taking part in the process of sperm-egg recognition.
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PMID:Expanded cumuli induce acrosome reaction in boar sperm. 982 Feb 4


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