Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01189 (beta-endorphin)
 21,003 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A dispersed descending pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) fiber system has been demonstrated by peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunocytochemistry in the adult rat spinal cord. beta-endorphin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and 16K immunoreactive fibers exist in the spinal cord from cervical down to sacral level. Descending fibers running parallel in the dorsolateral and lateral funiculus send collaterals ventromedially or medially to terminate in the gray matter surrounding the central canal, where nociceptive neurons have recently been located, in addition to those nociceptive cells in the dorsal horn. After spinal transection at lower thoracic level, POMC peptide immunoreactivities disappeared below the lesion. Moreover, no POMC cell bodies were found in the spinal cord. Therefore, the descending fibers are most likely of supraspinal origin.
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PMID:Immunocytochemical localization of pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides in the adult rat spinal cord. 301 2

The possible production of the opioid polypeptide beta-endorphin (beta-EP) was investigated in paraffin-embedded tissue from 17 ovarian tumors with the use of a specific anti-beta-EP antibody and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase staining technique. Only sex cord-stromal tumors (ten cases) showed positive staining. Strong beta-EP immunoreactivity was present in Leydig's cells of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors; weaker sporadic staining was present in cells of granulosa cell tumors, and faint staining was present in occasional, luteinized theca cells of fibrothecomata. These findings suggest that cells with the sex cord-stromal phenotype that are capable of steroid production can also produce beta-EP. The latter may be a component of the "functional" status associated with some ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors and may serve as a helpful marker in distinguishing this type of tumors from germ cell or epithelial neoplasms.
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PMID:Immunoreactive beta-endorphin in ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors. 303 26

Using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique, we showed the presence of peptides which are immunologically resembling mammalian corticotropin releasing hormone (CRF)-, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-, beta-endorphin (beta-END)-, alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH)-, methionine-enkephalin (met-ENK)- and leucine enkephalin (leu-ENK)- like immunoreactivity in hundreds to thousands of endocrine cells and nerve fibers in the midgut of the American cockroach Periplaneta americana. In the cockroach hindgut no immunoreactive cell bodies could be observed, although nerve fibers were clearly noticed to be recognized by antisera to CRF, ACTH1-24, ACTH11-24 and beta-END. Nothing is exactly known as to the function(s) of the demonstrated materials, but one can speculate that these numerous immunoreactive cells, might have important paracrine and/or endocrine functions in the insect physiology.
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PMID:Immunocytochemical demonstration of proopiomelanocortin- and other opioid-related substances and a CRF-like peptide in the gut of the american cockroach, Periplaneta americana L. 303 73

Opioid peptides have been shown to modulate the function of cells associated with host defense. Both opiate and nonopiate receptor mechanisms have been shown to mediate cell responses to these peptides. In this study we used a ferricytochrome C reduction microassay to measure superoxide (O2-) production by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes after stimulation with beta-endorphin (beta-END). beta-END was found to stimulate O2- release at concentrations from 10(-14) to 10(-8) M; the peak response occurred at 10(-12) M. A microassay based on the horseradish peroxidase-mediated oxidation of phenol red was used to demonstrate the production of hydrogen peroxide H2O2, by beta-END at 10(-12) M. The accumulation of H2O2 was reduced by the inhibitor, nitroprusside, and by the converting enzyme, catalase. The accumulation of O2- in response to the potent chemotactic peptide formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine was studied and a distinctly different dose-response profile with a peak response at 10(-8) M was observed. Because beta-END can apparently bind to and activate cellular functions by nonopiate receptors, N-acetyl-beta-END was tested. At doses between 10(-14) and 10(-8) M, it failed to effect O2- accumulation. Moreover, (-)-naloxone 10(-12) M was shown to completely abolish the stimulatory effect of equimolar beta-END whereas (+)-naloxone was entirely ineffective. At 10(-8) M both stereoisomers also failed to inhibit formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine 10(-8) M. Thus, at the picomolar concentration present in the human systemic circulation, beta-END activates oxygen metabolism by polymorphonuclear leukocytes through stereoselective, naloxone-sensitive opiate receptors.
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PMID:Beta-endorphin stimulates human polymorphonuclear leukocyte superoxide production via a stereoselective opiate receptor. 303 21

The immunocytochemical technology in our laboratory has evolved in response to specific needs for more efficient, refined stains for each antigen. The rationale for the application of each of the immunocytochemical techniques used today is described, and detailed methods are given. In the early 1970s, it was determined that the peroxidase-antiperoxidase complex (PAP) stain provided the most sensitive means of detection of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) at the electron microscope level even in tissues prepared with conventional fixation and embedding techniques that are considered rather harsh for the maintenance of antigenicity. Application of the same PAP complex technique to the larger glycoprotein antigens, like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), however, proved far more difficult; and the problem was resolved partially when more gentle fixation-embedding protocols were applied. The production of an efficient, reliable stain for FSH was achieved only with the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) stains were applied in the early 1980s. This technique also allowed more efficient reactions for all the antigens, and morphometric data could thereby be collected more rapidly. Thus, we concluded that the light microscope immunoperoxidase techniques were excellent for the morphometric analysis of pituitary cell types in both pre-embedding and postembedding stains. However, the need for a more refined stain for its quantification at the electron microscope level on individual organelles led to the development of the colloidal gold stain in 1983-1984. This technique, which is new to our laboratory, is also described and illustrated in this report. Also included is a description of our studies of the effect of fixation and embedding processes on hormone antigenicity and techniques used to control background and nonspecific reactions. It is hoped that the novice will find the description of the rationale for the evolution of technology in our laboratory useful in making choices for his or her own immunocytochemical stains.
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PMID:Immunocytochemical studies of pituitary hormones with PAP, ABC, and immunogold techniques: evolution of technology to best fit the antigen. 308 66

Methionine(met)-enkephalin immunoreactivity as visualized by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase procedure, is present in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, and young ovarian follicles of Locusta (panoistic type) and Sarcophaga (polytrophic type). Follicle cells and mature spermatozoa are always immunonegative as are locust vitellogenic follicles. In oocytes and in trophocytes, the met-enkephalin-like material first appears around the nucleus and is then dispersed throughout the cytoplasm. Later, it is present only in the periphery. In the ovary of both insects, no immunoreactivity is found with antisera against adrenocorticotrophic hormone, melanophore stimulating hormone, beta-endorphin, corticotropin releasing factor, or leucine-enkephalin. All these antisera yield a positive reaction when applied to the central nervous system as does the met-enkephalin antiserum. This study indicates that the met-enkephalin-like peptide may play a role in reproductive physiology.
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PMID:Methionine-enkephalin immunoreactivity in the gonads and nervous system of two insect species: Locusta migratoria and Sarcophaga bullata. 336 Feb 84

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) receptors have been found in a subpopulation of kidney cells. In this report, we investigated the feasibility of techniques that apply a partial antagonist of PTH conjugated to biotin to localize receptors cytochemically on bovine kidney cortical cells in monolayer culture at the light microscopic level. Biotinylated bovine PTH (1-84) (biotinyl-PTH) was bound to the cultured cells for 1-30 min at 37 degrees C in the amounts of 10(-5) -10(-10) M. In a different set of experiments, the cells were also exposed to a solution containing 10(-6) M biotinylated PTH and an excess of unlabeled PTH, insulin, adrenocorticotropin, or calcitonin for 10 and 30 min at 37 degrees C to test the specificity of the binding. The cells were then fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and stained with the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) technique. Diffuse labeling was evident on 30% of the cells in 10 min with concentrations of biotinyl-PTH as low as 10(-8) M. The stain was diffuse, but more intense after 1-10 min in higher concentrations (10(-6) M). If a 15-1500-fold excess of unlabeled PTH was added to the biotinyl-PTH, no staining was observed. The other peptides (insulin, ACTH or calcitonin) had no effect on binding. Longer times in biotinyl-PTH (10(-6) M for 10-30 min) resulted in intense patches of label on the cells resembling caps (in addition to the pale diffuse label). The percentage of labeled cells in the monolayer (30%) did not change with time. These studies show that a partial antagonist of PTH can be used as a cytochemical probe for specific PTH receptors in a subpopulation of cultured cortical kidney cells.
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PMID:Visualization of binding sites for bovine parathyroid hormone (PTH 1-84) on cultured kidney cells with a biotinyl-b-PTH (1-84) antagonist. 351 93

Neuroendocrine (NE) neoplasms range from well to poorly differentiated types. These neoplasms usually contain neurosecretory (NS) granules demonstrated by either transmission electron microscopy (TEM) or silver reduction methods. By using the uranaffin reaction, one can differentiate NSG from other membrane-bound organelles. Recently, a variety of antibodies reactive against specific peptides or neurotransmitter substances have been advocated as being diagnostically useful. Using the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase (PAP) or Avidin-Biotin technics, we studied 41 NE neoplasms using anti-sera specific for neurospecific enolase (NSE), bombesin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), calcitonin, and serotonin. All cases were shown to contain NS granules with a positive uranaffin reaction. In all 25 well-differentiated cases, at least one anti-serum gave a positive reaction. NSE was positive in 22 of the 25. In the poorly differentiated group, 7 (43.2%) of 16 were negative for all anti-sera tested. In these negative cases TEM using the uranaffin reaction remains an important diagnostic test.
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PMID:Comparison of the usefulness of histochemistry and ultrastructural cytochemistry in the identification of neuroendocrine neoplasms. 375 79

The distribution of immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRF) in the forebrain and pituitary of the frog Rana ridibunda was studied by means of specific radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemistry using the indirect immunofluorescence and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase techniques. Relatively high concentrations of CRF-like material were found in both chiasmatic and infundibular regions of the hypothalamus (352 +/- 11 and 422 +/- 36 pg, respectively). Large amounts of CRF were also found in neurointermediate lobe extracts. Standard curves of synthetic CRF and the dilution curves for hypothalamic or neurointermediate lobe extracts were parallel. After Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, CRF-like immunoreactivity eluted in a single peak, in the same position as synthetic ovine CRF. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of the material purified on Sephadex G-75 revealed 5 components with CRF-like immunoreactivity. The major peak had a retention time of 22 min as compared to 25.4 min for ovine CRF and 36 min for rat CRF. The detection of CRF-like immunoreactivity in neurons was facilitated by colchicine pretreatment of the frogs. The great majority of the CRF-positive perikarya were seen in the ventral region of the preoptic nucleus. A few scattered perikarya were also observed in the dorsal preoptic nucleus and in the retrochiasmatic region. Immunoreactive fibers were found in the infundibular nucleus and in various extrahypothalamic zones. CRF-containing neurons were apparently distinct from mesotocinergic and vasotocinergic neurons. A large number of immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed in the median eminence in close contact with the capillaries of the pituitary portal plexus and in the neural lobe. A few CRF-positive fibers were detected in the intermediate lobe, whereas the distal lobe was totally negative. These results show that the diencephalon and pars intermedia-nervosa of the frog contain a peptide immunologically related to mammalian CRF.
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PMID:Immunohistochemical localization and radioimmunoassay of corticotropin-releasing factor in the forebrain and hypophysis of the frog Rana ridibunda. 388 12

A morphologic, histochemical, and immunocytochemical study of 20 cases of pure gastrointestinal carcinoids, adenocarcinomas, and mixed neoplasms composed of both elements, so-called composite carcinoma-carcinoid tumors (CCC), was undertaken in order to correlate the morphologic patterns with the immunocytochemical localization of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), serotonin, and a battery of polypeptide hormones (calcitonin, glucagon, insulin, gastrin, somatostatin, and adrenocorticotropin [ACTH]). Paraffin sections from five pure carcinoids, seven pure adenocarcinomas, and eight CCC from the stomach, small bowel, appendix, and colon were studied with mucicarmine, silver impregnation stains, and a peroxidase-anti-peroxidase technic. Of the eight CCC, all were mucin positive, four were argyrophilic, and three were argentaffin positive. CEA was present in all eight, serotonin in seven, and calcitonin in one. No other neurohormonal peptides were demonstrated. The distribution of serotonin and CEA generally corresponded to the morphologic pattern, but discordance was observed in two cases, i.e., serotonin was not always localized to areas of carcinoid and CEA not always confined to areas of carcinoma. All five pure carcinoids demonstrated intracytoplasmic localization of serotonin, whereas none contained intracytoplasmic CEA. In two cases, CEA was present within acinar lumens only. The seven colonic adenocarcinomas were argyrophil and argentaffin negative. All contained CEA within the cytoplasm and in gland lumens. None contained serotonin. None of the neurohormonal peptides was localized in either pure adenocarcinomas or carcinoids. This study reveals that among gastrointestinal neoplasms displaying morphologic patterns of adenocarcinoma and carcinoid, immunocytochemical localization of CEA and serotonin confirms their bidirectional differentiation and justifies the designation "composite carcinoma-carcinoid."
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PMID:Composite carcinoma-carcinoid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. A morphologic, histochemical, and immunocytochemical study. 389 86


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