Arlen R. Thomason

Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor has thymidine phosphorylase activity

Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF), a protein which stimulates angiogenesis in vivo, is shown to have a 39.2% amino acid sequence similarity over a 439 amino acid region with the thymidine phosphorylase of Escherichia coli (E. coli). Using recombinant human PD-ECGF, we show that PD-ECGF has thymidine phosphorylase activity. Analysis by gel chromatography revealed that recombinant human PD-ECGF occurs as a 90 kDa homodimer, similar to other thymidine phosphorylases. In addition to a possible effect on DNA synthesis, PD-ECGF was shown to affect [3H]thymidine assays in a manner which is not related to cell proliferation. The in vitro and in vivo effects of PD-ECGF may thus occur by an indirect mechanism through its enzymatic activity.

Reversal of impaired wound healing in irradiated rats by platelet-derived growth faetor-BB

This study examined the potential influence of platelet-derived growth factor-BB homodimers (PDGF-BB) on surgical incisions in irradiated animals with depressed wound healing. Rats were irradiated with either 800 rads total body or 2,500 rads surface irradiation. Parallel dorsal skin incisions were made 2 days later, and PDGF-BB was applied topically a single time to one of two incisions. In total body-irradiated rats, bone marrow-derived elements were severely depressed, wound macrophages were virtually eliminated, and PDGF-BB treatment was ineffective. However, in surface-irradiated rats, PDGF-BB treatment recruited macrophages into wounds and partially reversed impaired healing on day 7 (p less than 0.005) and day 12 (p less than 0.001). PDGF-BB-treated wounds were 50 percent stronger than the paired control wounds. The results suggest PDGF requires bone marrow-derived cells, likely wound macrophages, for activity and that it may be useful as a topical agent in postirradiation surgical incisions.

Plasma clearance and tissue distribution of recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor (B-chain homodimer) in rats

125I-labeled human recombinant platelet-derived growth factor (B-chain homodimer; rHuPDGF-BB) was intravenously injected into male rats, and plasma clearance and tissue distribution of total and acid-insoluble radioactivity were determined. Insoluble radioactivity was rapidly cleared from plasma in a biphasic manner with estimated distribution and elimination half-lives of 5.2 and 68 min, respectively. Less than 10% of the injected radioactivity remained in plasma at 1 hr after injection. rHuPDGF-BB was widely distributed throughout body tissues. However, acid-insoluble radioactive concentrations greater than those in plasma were only observed in liver, kidneys, and spleen. The radioactive concentration of most tissues declined rapidly between 1 and 4 hr but increased in the intestinal contents. Radioactive concentrations decreased in all tissues and intestinal contents at 8 and 24 hr. Urine samples collected at the latter interval showed that 39% of the dose was excreted by the kidneys in an acid-soluble form. These results suggest that the rapid clearance of rHuPDGF-BB from plasma is the result of widespread tissue distribution, metabolism by the liver, and excretion by the kidneys. In this respect, the pharmacokinetic behavior of rHuPDGF-BB resembles that of other lymphokines and growth factors that have recently been studied.

Automated high throughput RT-PCR

AMGENs genome project is designed to discover and assess genes that may be of therapeutic value. As an early screen, novel genes of potential importance are investigated by analysis of their in vivo expression pattern using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We describe the automation pathway taken to provide high throughput screening of mRNA from human, mouse, and rat species. High throughput was achieved using the Beckman Biomek™ 2000 robot, large-capacity gel electrophoresis trays, an imaging station and custom image analysis software written in Visual Basics™ (VB).