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Acute renal failure, characterized by rapid decline in glomerular filtration rate, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. During the evolution of renal diseases chronic ischemia develops. Indeed, acute or chronic renal failure may occur as a result of renal ischemia, which induces cells to dedifferentiate, proliferate, or become apoptotic. In this study, we have investigated the expression of a newly identified transcription factor, 6A3-5, under in vitroand in vivoconditions. Proliferating vascular smooth muscle were investigated in response to different mitogenic agents. The 6A3-5 expression was then studied in ischemic rat kidney, induced by renal pedicle clamping, followed, or not, by reperfusion. Subsequently human renal biopsies from early kidney grafts and chronic renal diseases were also investigated for 6A3-5 protein expression by immunohistochemistry. In vitrostudy shows an over-expression of 6A3-5 following 2 to 4 hours stimulation by serum or Angiotensin II, of rat proliferating aortic smooth muscle cell. Moreover, in vivostudy shows that this new protein is over expressed in rat kidney submitted to 45 minutes ischemia. An anti-6A3-5 antibody shows the protein to be expressed in smooth muscle cells of the arterioles and intermediate size arteries, in mesangial cells and interstitial myofibroblasts. In human biopsies of early kidney grafts and renal disease, the same up-regulation of 6A3-5, as in acute ischemic situation, is observed. This 6A3-5 expression is intimately associated with α-smooth muscle cell actin expression in mesangial cells, arteriolar smooth muscle cells as well as interstitial myofibroblasts. Transcription factor 6A3-5 could potentially be a novel early vascular marker of acute and chronic renal ischemic stress implicated in tissue remodeling.

CD36, a major adhesion molecule expressed by monocytes/macrophages, plays a key role in the binding and internalization of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL). This adhesion molecule, a member of an important scavenger receptor family, contains a very short C-terminal cytoplasmic tail that is known to induce intracellular signalling events. However, the domains on the cytoplasmic tail involved in such signal transduction are unknown. In this study, we have investigated the functional components of the cytoplasmic tail by site-directed mutagenesis coupled with functional OxLDL and monoclonal antibody (mAb) binding studies. Seven truncated or punctual CD36 constructs, localized in the cytoplasmic tail, were produced by site-directed mutagenesis. Each construct was stably expressed in HEK293 cells. We used a quantitative and a qualitative method, labelling OxLDL with either iodine or rhodamine, to determine the functional importance of the cytoplasmic domains in OxLDL internalization. Results indicate that: (1) a deletion of the last amino-acid (construct K472STOP) significantly reduces, compared with wild-type, the binding, internalization and degradation of OxLDL; (2) truncation of the last six amino-acids (construct R467STOP) significantly reduces OxLDL binding; (3) the above two constructs (K472STOP and R467STOP) showed a reduced rate of OxLDL internalization compared with wild-type; (4) the binding and rate of internalization of an anti-CD36 monoclonal antibody (10/5) was not affected by the above mentioned mutants (K472STOP and R467STOP), compared with wild-type. This study shows, for the first time, a specific site on the CD36 cytoplasmic tail that is critical for the binding, endocytosis and targeting of OxLDL.

Thrombin is a multifunctional serine protease, which is involved in blood coagulation and thrombosis, inflammation and wound repair in tissue injury. Its role in the amelioration of inflammatory tissue injury has been investigated. Protease-activated cell surface receptors (PARs) when activated by thrombin result in the production of proinflammatory mediators. In the kidney, these PARs are expressed on the glomerular epithelium and the vascular endothelium. The significant impact of thrombin inhibition on the development of crescentic glomerular nephritis is discussed.

A human malignant melanoma cell line (M3Dau) was observed by electron microscopy to interact directly with human platelets and induced platelet aggregation. Fab fragments of a monoclonal antibody MoAb (LYP18), directed against the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa com plex, inhibited platelet-melanoma interactions and plate let-platelet aggregation. M3Dau melanoma cells bind LYP 18 and synthesize IIb-IIIa—like GPs. When the melanoma cells were preincubated with LYP 18. tumor-platelet inter action did not occur, suggesting that the interaction may be mediated by the IIb-IIIa-like GPs present on the mela noma cell surface. Glanzmann's thrombasthenic platelets, lacking GPIIb and IIIa, did not interact with melanoma cells, indicating that the platelet GPIIb-IIIa complex is also neces sary for the platelet-melanoma cell interaction. This work demonstrates the importance of the IIb-IIIa-like GPs. present on M3Dau melanoma cells, in mediating tumor-platelet interactions. ©1989 by Grunβ & Stratton, Inc.

Glycoprotein (GP) Illb (also termed GPIV or CD36) is an integral platelet membrane protein, and has been identified as a binding site for thrombospondin, collagen, and malaria-infected erythrocytes. PAS-IV is an integral membrane protein found in lactating mammary epithelial cells and capillary endothelial cells. The N-terminal sequence of PAS-IV is nearly identical to that of GPIIIb and monospecific anti-PAS-IV antibody reacts with GPIIIb, indicating that PAS-IV is structurally related to GPIIIb. In this study, human platelet GPIIIb and bovine epithelial PAS-IV were compared in terms of structural, immunologic, and functional characteristics. The two-dimensional tryptic peptide map of both intact and deglycosylated PAS-IV was highly similar but not identical to that of GPIIIb. PAS-IV and GPIIIb reacted to an equal extent with monoclonal antibodies 0KM5 and 0KM8 by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. GPIIIb bound to surface immobilized thrombospondin (TSP) in a concentration-dependent and saturable manner, with ≈ 60% reduction in binding in the presence of EDTA. PAS-IV bound to TSP with similar characteristics except that maximum binding was consistently ≈ 50% of that of GPIIIb and binding was not inhibited by EDTA. GPIIIb supported adhesion of Plasmodium falcipan/m-infected erythrocytes (PRBC) in a dose-dependent manner while no significant adhesion of PRBC to PAS-IV was observed. Our data demonstrate that while epithelial PAS-IV and platelet GPIIIb are structurally and immunologically related, there are significant differences in their functional properties. Whether this result is due to different posttranslational glycosylation modifications or that PAS-IV and GPIIIb represent a family of related cell adhesive protein receptors remains to be determined.

P-selectin (CD62P), an adhesion molecule localized in platelet α-granules and endothelial cell Weibel–Palade bodies, is rapidly expressed on the surface of activated cells. This adhesion molecule, a member of the selectin family, mediates leucocyte interactions with activated platelets or endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the epitope of a functional blocking P-selectin monoclonal antibody (mAb), LYP20. LYP20 recognizes human or rat, but not mouse, P-selectin. Human/mouse chimaeras and wild-type constructs, modified by homologue replacement mutagenesis, were expressed in COS cells. Blocking anti-(P-selectin) mAbs (G1, G3 or CLB-thromb/6) were observed, by flow cytometry, to bind to the lectin-like domain. In contrast, LYP20 was found to bind to one of the P-selectin short complement-like repeats (SCR domain 4). Homologue replacement mutagenesis of SCR domain 4 (region delineated by amino acid residues 359–457) identified three amino acids (Cys412 → Ser, Cys416 → Ser or Arg415 → Lys) as being implicated in the LYP20 epitope. Deleting the region bearing the LYP20 epitope, from a wild-type CD62P construct, showed a decrease in polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMNL) binding to transfected COS cells. In addition, mutation of one of the three amino acids, implicated in the LYP20 epitope, markedly affected PMNL binding to transfected COS cells but did not affect the binding of mAbs G1 and CLB-thromb/6. These results are the first to indicate (1) that a functional blocking anti-P-selectin mAb binds to SCR 4, a site other than the lectin-like/epidermal growth factor-like domain, and (2) that SCR domain 4 has a functional role in P-selectin–leucocyte interactions.

AbstractIt is commonly accepted that there is a monotonically increasing relationship between sea surface temperature (SST) and tropical cyclone intensity (as measured by maximum near-surface winds or minimum central pressure). This perceived relationship has been used to extrapolate the effects of climatologically warmer SSTs on tropical cyclones These warmer SSTs are one of the consequences of doubled C02predicted by climate general circulation models (GCMs). Very few investigations have actually critically addressed this SST-storm intensity relationship, however. In this paper, a limited area modeling study is used to explore the potential links between SST and tropical cyclone intensity. Previous work, including some observational data, is reviewed and its implications for the interpretation of the results given here is presented. Finally, the implications of the changes in SST on the thermodynamic structure of the atmosphere-in particular, the destabilization of the boundary layer-are identified as another possible mechanism of intensification for these modeled storms.

The structural and immunological properties of human thrombospondins isolated from platelets and from endothelial cells were compared. Both thrombospondins were digested with either trypsin or thermolysin, in the presence or absence of calcium, then injected onto a Superose 12 gel filtration column. The isolated thermolysin‐generated fragments of thrombospondins were identified by radioimmunoassays using either different monoclonal antibodies or a polyclonal antibody directed against platelet thrombospondin. The results show that platelet and endothelial thrombospondins are both partially protected from trypsin digestion in the presence of calcium but have different trypsin and thermolysin fragmentation patterns. The thermolysin‐generated fragments from platelet and endothelial thrombospondins are recognized differently by a monoclonal antibody whereas all of them are identified by a polyclonal antibody.

Structural differences between platelet and endothelial cell thrombospondin (TBSP) were found in two protease‐resistant domains (70 and 18 kDa). The 70 kDa fragment is involved in the binding of TBSP to fibrinogen and the 18 kDa fragment in the attachment to various cultured cells. Despite these structural differences, platelet and endothelial cell TBSP bound with the same affinity to fibrinogen and mediated the attachment of smooth muscle cells but not of endothelial cells.

CD31 (PECAM-1) is an immunoglobulin gene superfamily cell adhesion molecule found on vascular endothelium, platelets, and leukocytes. Lymphocyte expression of CD31 is most closely associated with the CD45RA+CD8+naive T phenotype. CD31 has recently been shown to play a role in leukocyte egress to inflammatory sites. The mechanism of CD31 adhesion remains under investigation. Several investigators have reported evidence for a heterotypic ligand. We have previously shown that CD31 is phosphorylated with cell activation, which suggests a possible role for CD31 in cell activation events. We therefore studied the effects of CD31 antibodies on in vitro assays of lymphocyte activation. One CD31 antibody, LYP21, inhibited the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) in a specific and dose-dependent fashion. An LYP21 epitope was localized to the sixth Ig domain of CD31. This peptide and a scrambled control peptide were synthesized and used to study effects of this epitope on lymphocyte activation. The CD31 peptide strongly inhibited the MLR. Because CD31 is expressed on both stimulator and responder populations, stimulator peripheral blood leukocytes and responder lymphocyte populations were separately incubated with CD31 peptide or control peptide and then washed before mixing. The CD31 peptide inhibited the MLR equally when either stimulator or responder cells were pre-incubated with the CD31 peptide. We further sorted responder cells into CD31-high and CD31-low populations and separately incubated these subsets with peptides. The CD31 peptide strongly inhibited MLRs, regardless of level of re-sponder-cell CD31 expression. Examination of MLR reactions involving the CD31 peptide showed dispersed small aggregates of cells, rather than the single large aggregate observed in control MLRs. The CD31 peptide did not affect activation of lymphocytes by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and ionomycin. These results suggest that a surface CD31-ligand interaction may have a functional role in alloim-mune lymphocyte activation and identify a functionally important domain of CD31.

Structural differences between platelet and endothelial cell thrombospondin (TBSP) were found in two protease-resistant domains (70 and 18 kDa). The 70 kDa fragment is involved in the binding of TBSP to fibrinogen and the 18 kDa fragment in the attachment to various cultured cells. Despite these structural differences, platelet and endothelial cell TBSP bound with the same affinity to fibrinogen and mediated the attachment of smooth muscle cells but not of endothelial cells.

The structural and immunological properties of human thrombospondins isolated from platelets and from endothelial cells were compared. Both thrombospondins were digested with either trypsin or thermolysin, in the presence or absence of calcium, then injected onto a Superose 12 gel filtration column. The isolated thermolysin-generated fragments of thrombospondins were identified by radioimmunoassays using either different monoclonal antibodies or a polyclonal antibody directed against platelet thrombospondin. The results show that platelet and endothelial thrombospondins are both partially protected from trypsin digestion in the presence of calcium but have different trypsin and thermolysin fragmentation patterns. The thermolysin-generated fragments from platelet and endothelial thrombospondins are recognized differently by a monoclonal antibody whereas all of them are identified by a polyclonal antibody.

AbstractHigh-resolution climate simulations are presented for January and July over the Australian region using a limited-area model nested within a GCM. One new aspect of these simulations is that the model domain extends to tropical regions both north and south of the equator. Objective measures of skill are used to assess the quality of the model simulations, and the performance of the model is verified over various subregions of the model domain. Poleward of tropical regions, the nested model climatologies produced are generally superior to those produced by the GCM, and compare reasonably well to observations over the Australian continent at the regional scale; in particular the simulations of precipitation and screen temperature are improved.

This study characterizes a congenital hemorrhagic disorder caused by a platelet function defect with the following features: (1) severely impaired platelet aggregation and fibrinogen or von Willebrand factor (vWF) binding induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP); (2) defective aggregation, release reaction, and fibrinogen or vWF binding induced by other agonists; (3) normal aggregation and release reaction induced by high concentrations of thrombin or collagen; (4) no further inhibition by ADP scavengers of aggregation, release reaction, and fibrinogen or vWF binding, comparable with those observed for normal platelets in the presence of ADP scavengers; (5) normal membrane glycoprotein (GP) composition and normal binding of the anti-GP IIb/IIIa monoclonal antibody 10E5; (6) no acceleration by ADP of binding of the anti-GP IIb/IIIa monoclonal antibody 7E3; (7) normal platelet-fibrin clot retraction if induced by thrombin or reptilase plus epinephrine, absent if induced by reptilase plus ADP; (8) no inhibition by ADP of the prostaglandin E1-nduced increase in platelet cyclic adenosine monophosphate, but normal inhibition by epinephrine; (9) defective mobilization of cytoplasmic Ca2+by ADP; (10) normal binding of 14C-ADP to fresh platelets, but defective binding of [2-3H]-ADP to formalin-fixed platelets. This congenital platelet function defect is characterized by selective impairment of platelet responses to ADP, caused by either decreased number of platelet ADP receptors or abnormalities of the signal-transduction pathway of platelet activation by ADP.