Nitric oxide concentrations in the follicular fluid and apoptosis of granulosa cells in human follicles

To study the relationship between follicular atresia, apoptosis, and nitric oxide (NO) generation in follicular development, steroidogenesis, NO levels in follicular fluid and apoptosis were analysed in the various sized follicles of women receiving ovarian stimulation with human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG)-human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) treatments for in-vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer. The follicles were divided into three groups by diameter: large follicle, > or = 18 mm; medium follicle, > or = 12 and < or = 15 mm; small follicle, < or = 10 mm. Follicular fluid was obtained from 20 women 34 h after HCG administration, and the concentrations of oestradiol, progesterone and testosterone, and nitrite, nitrate, arginine and citrulline were measured. Granulosa cells obtained from each group of follicular fluid were stained with Hoechst dye, and nuclear morphology was examined by a fluorescence microscopy. Oestradiol and progesterone concentrations in large follicles were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than those in medium or small follicles, and testosterone concentrations in small follicles were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than those in large follicles. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of nitrite, nitrate, arginine and citrulline among three groups. The percentage of apoptotic cells with nuclear fragmentation was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in small follicles than in large follicles. The present results suggested that small follicles with poor response to HMG may undergo atresia through apoptosis. No significant difference in the follicular NO level between large and small follicles led us to speculate on a different responsiveness to NO in these two types of follicles.

[Tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenitis presenting as hoarseness]

A 70 year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of hoarseness. Bronchoscopic examination revealed that the left vocal cord was fixed in the paramedian position, and therefore left recurrent nerve paralysis was suspected. Although a chest X-ray film showed no abnormal findings, a chest computed tomogram showed that pretracheal (#3) and subaortic (#5) lymph nodes were swollen (1 to 2 cm in diameter). An open biopsy was done. Histological examination of the resected mediastinal lymph nodes revealed an accumulation of Langhans giant cells and epithelioid cells in caseous necrosis. An acid-fast bacillus was seen after Ziehl-Neelsen staining. This was a rare case of mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis in which hoarseness was useful for early diagnosis. Fifty-three cases of tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenitis have been reported in Japan.

Marek's disease virus serotype 2 glycoprotein I gene: nucleotide sequence and expression by a recombinant baculovirus

In the Marek's disease virus (MDV) serotype 2 (MDV2) genome, a gene equivalent to the glycoprotein I (gI) of other alphaherpesviruses was identified and sequenced. The primary translation product comprises 355 amino acids with a M(r) of 38.4 kDa. The predicted amino acid sequence possesses several characteristics typical of membrane glycoproteins, including a N-terminal hydrophobic signal sequence, C-terminal transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, and extra-cellular region containing three potential N-linked glycosylation sites. Compared to other MDV serotypes, MDV2 gI showed 49% identity with MDV1 gI, and 36% identity with HVT gI at the amino acid level. In transcriptional analyses, a 3.5 kb mRNA which starts between 56 and 147 bps upstream of the potential translational initiation codon of gI was identified as the gI-specific transcript. By a recombinant baculovirus, this potential gI encoding region was expressed as two specific products 45 and 43 kDa. Both products were susceptible to tunicamycin treatment, indicating that they were glycoprotein. Further, the expressed gI reacted with all chicken-antisera raised to each of the three serotypes of MDV (strains GA, SB-1, and FC126), suggesting that gI is expressed by all three serotypes of MDV in infected cells and conserves common antigenic epitope(s) beyond serotypes.

Precise coexistence of regulatory peptides in the nerve fibers of the amphibian carotid labyrinth demonstrated by a combination of double immunofluorescence labelling and a multiple dye filter

An application of double-immunolabelling in combination with a multiple dye filter system demonstrated new findings regarding the distribution pattern of peptidergic fibers in the carotid labyrinth to addition to our previous findings shown by the individual filter system. In high magnification images of about 10% of the yellowish fibers which represent the coexistence of two neuropeptides, there was a definite difference in localization between the fluorescence originating from rhodamine (substance P fibers) and from FITC (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and neuropeptide Y fibers), but it was clear that they are intertwined within a single nerve bundle. This combination method was able to discriminate two different peptidergic fibers which run side by side. The coexistence suggested previously by the individual filter system may actually be due to the phenomenon described above. This means that it is necessary to apply the multiple dye filter system for reliable evidence of coexistence of different two substances in a single nerve fiber.

An in vitro invasion model for human renal cell carcinoma cell lines mimicking their metastatic abilities

We developed a modified in vitro invasion assay system using monolayers of vascular endothelial cells. A type I collagen gel was formed in plastic dishes, and overlaid with type IV collagen. Calf pulmonary arterial endothelial (CPAE) cells were seeded onto these plates, and incubated until they reached confluence. Five human renal cell carcinoma cell lines with various metastatic potentials in vivo were then seeded on the monolayer CPAE cells, and their colony formation and invasion activities were examined for 9 days. At day 4, the highly metastatic cell lines increased the number of colony foci on monolayer CPAE cells several fold higher than their poorly metastatic counterpart. The horizontal spreading patterns were also different between poorly and highly metastatic cell lines. On day 9, the number of carcinoma foci that penetrated the monolayer of CPAE cells and type IV collagen sheets into type I collagen gels in highly metastatic cell lines greatly increased as compared with that of poorly metastatic cell lines. Our in vitro invasion assay using monolayer CPAE cells would be useful to evaluate protease activities and colony formation during invasion.

Effects of repeated treatment with methamphetamine plus scopolamine and methamphetamine on behavioral sensitization and conditioning

This study compared repeated treatment with methamphetamine (4.0 mg/kg, i.p.) plus scopolamine (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and methamphetamine alone in behavioral sensitization and drug conditioning with respect to a reciprocal balance between the dopaminergic and cholinergic systems. Repeated methamphetamine plus scopolamine treatment induced a more progressive and enduring enhancement of stereotyped behavior than repeated methamphetamine treatment. Methamphetamine plus scopolamine-induced stereotyped behavior was reproduced by challenge injections of not only methamphetamine plus scopolamine and methamphetamine, but also, to a lesser extent, by scopolamine challenges. The methamphetamine plus scopolamine-sensitized rats were conditioned to a low-frequency tone (300 Hz, 100 dB) as conditioned stimulus associated with the drug state. They responded to pairings of the tone and placebo injections, but not to the tone alone or the placebo alone. The methamphetamine-sensitized rats failed to exhibit conditioning. These results suggest that methamphetamine plus scopolamine-induced pronounced behavioral sensitization may produce an enhanced conditioning. Exteroceptive conditioned stimulus-interoceptive unconditioned stimulus associations may provide an important source for drug conditioning. We concluded that behavioral sensitization may be mediated via a reciprocal balance between the dopaminergic and cholinergic systems, in favor of a dopaminergic dominance. Conditioning to the drug-associated tone may operate via a reciprocal balance between the dopaminergic and cholinergic systems.

[Primary biliary cirrhosis with polymyositis successfully treated with prednisolone and ursodeoxycholic acid]

A 65-year-old woman was given a diagnosis of polymyositis in April 1991. She was treated with prednisolone until December 1993, at which time muscle strength had increased and high blood pressure had developed. In May 1994 she was hospitalized for muscle weakness and mild liver dysfunction. Prednisolone was given and the levels of hepatobiliary enzymes decreased. Immunological examination revealed strongly positive results for anti-mitochondria antibody and M-2 antibody, which lead to the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis. administration of ursodeoxycholic acid in addition to prednisolone was followed by normalization of liver function and a decrease in the production of the autoantibodies. Although polymyositis can be complicated by autoimmune diseases, reports of complication by primary biliary cirrhosis are rare, here we report that treatment with the combination of ursodeoxycholic acid and prednisolone was successful in a patient with liver dysfunction and primary biliary cirrhosis.

Role of the inositol phosphatase SHIP in negative regulation of the immune system by the receptor Fc(gamma)RIIB

Immune complexes are potent activators of inflammatory cells, triggering effector responses through the crosslinking of Fc receptors (FcRs) such as Fc(epsilon)RI or Fc(gamma)RIII. On B cells and mast cells, immune complexes are also negative regulators of activation triggered by antigen and Fc receptors, a consequence of coligation of the B-cell antigen receptor or Fc(epsilon)RI, respectively, and the inhibitory receptor Fc(gamma)RIIB. Here we show that inhibitory signalling by Fc(gamma)RIIB does not require the SH2-domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-1, in mast cells and results in the recruitment of the SH2-domain-containing inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase, SHIP, to the tyrosine-phosphorylated 13-amino-acid inhibitory motif of Fc(gamma)RIIB in both B cells and mast cells. SHIP, by hydrolysing the 5-phosphate of phosphatidylinositol(3,4,5)P3 and inositol(1,3,4,5)P4, suggests a mechanism by which Fc(gamma)RIIB can inhibit calcium influx and downstream responses triggered by immune receptors.

Cancer cell morphology at the invasive front and expression of cell adhesion-related carbohydrate in the primary lesion of patients with colorectal carcinoma with liver metastasis

BACKGROUND

Liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma is an important problem in surgical treatment and profoundly affects the prognosis of patients. If it were possible to identify characteristic features in the primary lesion strongly related to liver metastasis, these could be used as prognostic markers for liver metastasis. To search for such features, the primary lesions of patients with colorectal carcinoma with liver metastasis were investigated.

METHODS

Three groups of colorectal carcinoma were examined: Group A with synchronous liver metastases; Group B with only lymph node metastases without recurrence for 5 years; and Group C with recurrence of liver metastases. Groups A and B included 24 cases and Group C, 20. We focused on cancer cell morphology at the invasive front and expression of sialyl Lewis X (sialyl Lex) in the primary cancer.

RESULTS

At the invasive front in Group A it was frequently found that polygonal, not columnar, cancer cells with a single or solitary trabecular form with indistinct polarity, showed an infiltrative growth pattern. This type of morphology was termed "focal dedifferentiation" and graded four levels. Eleven of 24 cases (46%) had severe focal dedifferentiation in Group A, 1 of 24 (4%) in Group B, and 6 of 20 (30%) in Group C. Sialyl Lex staining was positive in 12 of 24 cases (50%) in Group A, in 3 of 24 cases (13%) in Group B, and in 7 of 20 cases (35%) in Group C in the primary carcinoma. In respect to the staining of (sialyl Lex) at focal dedifferentiation, it was positive in 17 of 24 cases (71%) in Group A, in 4 of 24 cases (17%) in Group B and in 11 of 20 cases (55%) in Group C. Focal dedifferentiation and sialyl Lex staining in the primary cancer showed a significant difference between Groups A and B. Sialyl Lex staining at focal dedifferentiation showed a significant difference between Groups A and B and Groups B and C. Other adhesion related molecules, sialyl LeA and CEA, showed no difference among Groups A, B, and C.

CONCLUSIONS

Both focal dedifferentiation and expression of sialyl Lex antigen in the primary lesion are considered good markers for assessing the metastatic proclivity of colorectal cancer.

Role of the human Y box-binding protein YB-1 in cellular sensitivity to the DNA-damaging agents cisplatin, mitomycin C, and ultraviolet light

The Y box-binding protein (YB-1) binds to DNA sequences, present in the control regions of many genes, that contain an inverted CCAAT box. The binding activity of a nuclear factor, designated MDR-NF1, to an inverted CCAAT box in the promoter of the multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene has previously been shown to be increased in nuclear extracts of cells exposed to UV radiation or various anticancer agents. The MDR-NF1 cDNA has now been cloned by screening a human colon library with an active fragment of the MDR1 promoter. The amino acid sequence encoded by the cloned cDNA was identical to that of YB-1. Northern blot analysis revealed that YB-1 mRNA was present in all human tissues examined. Rabbit antibodies were generated against synthetic peptides corresponding to YB-1, and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy with these antibodies showed that the concentration of YB-1 in all cisplatin-resistant cell lines examined was higher than that in the respective drug-sensitive parental cells. Transfection of human epidermoid cancer KB cells with a YB-1 antisense construct established two cell lines with reduced concentrations of YB-1. These transfectants showed increased sensitivity to cisplatin, mitomycin C, and UV radiation but not to vincristine, doxorubicin, camptothecin, or etoposide. Thus, YB-1 may protect cells from the cytotoxic effects of agents that induce cross-linking of DNA, suggesting a novel function of this ancestor DNA-binding protein.

Transient increase in the level of mRNA for a germin-like protein in leaves of the short-day plant Pharbitis nil during the photoperiodic induction of flowering

A cDNA corresponding to an in vivo labeled protein whose level increased during flower-inductive darkness in the cotyledon of the short-day plant Pharbitis nil Choisy cv. Violet was isolated and characterized. The deduced amino-acid sequence of the protein (designated PnGLP; P.nil germin-like protein) showed homology to that of a GLP of Sinapis alba, a leaf protein, the mRNA accumulation of which showing circadian oscillations. PnGLP mRNA was detected specifically in the cotyledon and leaf, in particular, in the young expanded cotyledon and leaf. Accumulation of PnGLP mRNA increased transiently during flower-inductive darkness and peaked at a time that corresponded approximately to the critical night length. This mRNA peak was reduced by a brief exposure to red light at the 8th hour of darkness. The level of PnGLP mRNA peaked about 10 h from the beginning of the dark period, whereas it was reported that the level of mRNA for GLP of a long-day plant S. alba increased about 14 h from the beginning of the light period. Thus, the different time courses of accumulation of the mRNAs for leaf-specific GLPs appear to reflect the differences in photoperiodic responses of each plant.

Sequential alteration of proto-oncogene expression in liver, spleen, kidney and brain of mice subjected to whole body irradiation

Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to evaluate the sequential alteration of proto-oncogene mRNA expression in liver, spleen, kidney and brain of mice after whole body irradiation (WBI). The mRNAs investigated in this study were Fas, c-fos, c-myc. bcl-2, and p53, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA was employed as internal control. C3H/He mice aged 9-10 weeks were exposed to WBI of 7 Gy using a cobalt-60 teletherapy unit, without anesthesia, and sacrificed before and 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 96 h after irradiation. Their liver, spleen, kidney and brain were taken and immediately stored in liquid nitrogen until ready for RT-PCR. Each specimen was homogenized to extract RNA for conventional RT-PCR. The liver of mice administered 7 Gy of WBI revealed no significant changes in the expression of each of the mRNAs examined. In the spleen, c-fos mRNA expression decreased at 2 h following irradiation, and increased remarkably thereafter. In the kidney, no significant change in the expression of each mRNA was shown. In the brain c-fos mRNA expression decreased 1-24 h after irradiation, and showed a recovery thereafter. The remarkable differences in the sequential changes of c-fos mRNA expression following irradiation between each organ revealed by the present experiment may be an important aid in determining the tissue-specific radiosensitivity to ionizing radiation. Further investigations are, however, needed to clarify the signal transduction mechanisms which are mediated by the expression of these proto-oncogenes in each tissue following irradiation.

Immunohistological analysis of tumour growth factor beta 1 expression in normal and inflamed salivary glands

AIM

To determine whether transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) has a pathogenetic role in disease of the salivary glands.

METHODS

An indirect immunohistochemical technique was used to analyse TGF-beta 1 expression in six specimens of normal salivary gland and 23 surgical specimens.

RESULTS

TGF-beta 1 was strongly expressed in the ductal epithelial cells of normal salivary gland tissues (six of six cases) and in inflammatory conditions (eight of 11 cases). In contrast, TGF-beta 1 was not detectable in ductal epithelial cells expressing HLA-DR around infiltrating CD4+ CD45RO+ activated T cells, in the salivary gland tissue of patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

CONCLUSION

Because TGF-beta 1 has an essential role in the mucosal immunity of salivary glands, abnormal expression of this cytokine must be regarded as a candidate in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome.

Reassessment of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) as a chelating agent for indium-111 labeling of polypeptides using a newly synthesized monoreactive DTPA derivative

Previous studies on indium-111 (111In) labeling of polypeptides and peptides using cyclic diethylenetriaminepentaacetic dianhydride (cDTPA) as a bifunctional chelating agent (BCA) have indicated that DTPA might be a useful BCA for 111In labeling of polypeptides at high specific activities when DTPA can be incorporated without inducing intra- or intermolecular cross-linking. To investigate this hypothesis, a monoreactive DTPA derivative with a maleimide group as the peptide binding site (MDTPA) was designed and synthesized. A monoclonal antibody (OST7, IgG1) was used as a model polypeptide, and conjugation of MDTPA with OST7, 111In radiolabeling of MDTPA-OST7, and the stability of 111In-MDTPA-OST7 were investigated using cDTPA and benzyl-EDTA derivatives as references. SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated that while cDTPA induced intramolecular cross-linking, no such undesirable side reactions were observed with MDTPA. MDTPA generated 111In-labeled OST7 with high radiochemical yields at higher specific activities than those produced using cDTPA and benzyl-EDTA derivatives as the BCAs. Incubation of each 111In-labeled OST7 in human serum indicated that MDTPA generated 111In-labeled OST7 of much higher and a little lower stability than those derived from cDTPA and benzyl-EDTA derivatives, respectively. These findings indicated that the low in vivo stability of cDTPA-conjugated antibody reported previously is not attributable to low stability of 111In-DTPA but to formation of intramolecular cross-linking during cDTPA conjugation reactions. The present study also indicated that MDTPA and its precursor, the tetra-tert-butyl derivative of DTPA, would be useful BCAs for 111In radiolabeling of polypeptides that have rapid blood clearance with high specific activities.

Angiogenesis as a new target for cancer treatment

Neovascularization is often required for rapid growth of solid tumors and also limits vascular metastasis of tumor cells. Neovascularization-targeting agents are a recent innovation that may be a novel means of anticancer therapy. These antiangiogenic drugs have been developed by targeting cell proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, basement-membrane-degrading enzymes, angiogenic factors/receptors, extracellular matrix, angiogenesis signaling, and cell-cell/cell-matrix interactions. In this report, we describe how tumor angiogenesis occurs and how antiangiogenic agents are developed.

Successful conduit repair using aortic homograft in a Jehovah's Witness child

A 10-year-old female child of the Jehovah's Witness faith presented with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (S,L,L), pulmonary atresia, and a ventricular septal defect. A successful surgical correction was performed using an aortic homograft as a valved extracardiac conduit without the use of homologous blood or blood products. We used permanent splinting of the sternum with a methyl methacrylate resin plate to prevent compression of the conduit.

Detection of Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV1) glycoprotein D in MDV1-infected chick embryo fibroblasts

Chick embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) infected with three strains of Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV1), GA, Md5 and JM, were subjected to indirect immunofluorescence assay with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against MDV1 homolog of glycoprotein D (MDV1 gD) of herpes simplex virus. By the MAbs, a number of MDV1 gD-positive cells were detected in CEFs infected with GA, whereas only a few and no positive cells were detected in CEFs infected with Md5 and JM, respectively. The MDV1 gD in GA-infected CEFs was recognized as the band of 64 kDa in immunoblot analysis using one of the MAbs. This is the first report that the MDV1 gD was detected in MDV1-infected cell cultures.

Characterization of the feline herpesvirus type 1 immediate early gene expression

We analyzed the mechanism for feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) immediate early (IE) gene expression. We demonstrated that (i) the transcription initiation site of the FHV-1 IE transcript lies in the putative FHV-1 ICP4 binding site, (ii) the FHV-1 IE transcript is spliced to remove 906 bp intron from the leader region, (iii) cis-acting elements of the FHV-1 IE promoter map both down- and upstream of the transcription initiation site, and (iv) a deletion of a 58 bp sequence which includes the putative FHV-1 ICP4 binding site in the IE promoter resulted in significant induction of promoter activity by a FHV-1 IE gene product although the FHV-1 IE gene product slightly stimulates the FHV-1 IE promoter, indicating that the FHV-1 IE gene product down-regulates its own promoter via the region.

Vascular lesions in mice with a deficit in Fas-mediated apoptosis and their transfer

The lpr and gld genes are thought to result in an incapacity for Fas-mediated apoptosis of T and B cells and the development of subsequent autoimmune disease. A newly established gld-congenic strain of mice, MRL/MpTn-gld/gld (MRL/gld), was found to develop vascular lesions involving arteritis and glomerulonephritis (GN), which were similar to those observed in the MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) strain. However, comparative studies with a C3H/HeJ strain bearing lpr or gld revealed that these lesions developed only in mice with an MRL background. We were successful in transferring GN to normal MHC-compatible gld/gld and irradiated +/+ mice by bone marrow cells of MRL/gld mice, but were unsuccessful using those of C3H/gld mice. Transfer of arteritis, however, was only successful in mice with an MRL background. Nephritogenic monoclonal antibodies obtained from an MRL/lpr and an MRL/gld mouse were shown to be bone marrow-derived and rich in clonal diversity, and at least two of these were capable of causing glomerular injury by different mechanisms. Development of GN and systemic arteritis in MRL/lpr and MRL/gld mice will be dependent not only on their incapacity for Fas-mediated apoptosis but also on bone marrow cells and peripheral cells with intrinsic defects.

Involvement of the transcription factor NF-kappaB in tubular morphogenesis of human microvascular endothelial cells by oxidative stress

Oxygen radicals are induced under various pathologic conditions associated with neovascularization. Oxygen radicals modulate angiogenesis in cultured human microvascular endothelial cells by an unknown mechanism. Treatment of human microvascular endothelial cells for 15 min with 0.1 to 0.5 mM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or 100 U of tumor necrosis factor alpha per ml induced tubular morphogenesis in type I collagen gels. Gel shift assays with nuclear extracts demonstrated that H2O2 increases the binding activities of two transcription factors, NF-kappaB and AP-1, but not of Spl. Tumor necrosis factor alpha increased the binding activities of all three factors. A supershift assay with specific antibodies against JunB, JunD, and c-Jun (Jun family) showed that the antibody against c-Jun supershifted the AP-1 complex after H2O2 treatment. Coadministration of the antisense sequence of NF-kappaB inhibited H2O2-dependent tubular morphogenesis, and the antisense c-Jun oligonucleotide caused partial inhibition. The angiogenic factor responsible for H2O2-induced tubular morphogenesis was examined. Cellular mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin-8 (IL-8), but not those of transforming growth factor alpha, were increased after treatment with 0.5 mM H2O2. Coadministration of anti-IL-8 antibody inhibited tubular morphogenesis enhanced by H2O2, and IL-8 itself also enhanced the formation of tube-like structures. Treatment with antisense NF-kappaB oligonucleotide completely blocked H2O2-dependent IL-8 production by endothelial cells. The tubular morphogenesis of vascular endothelial cells after treatment with oxidative stimuli and its possible association with NF-kappaB and IL-8, is examined.

Regulation of pituitary growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) receptor gene expression by GRF

We examined how growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) regulated pituitary GRF receptor gene expression in the conscious rat. GRF receptor mRNA levels were significantly increased by immunoneutralization of endogenous GRF with its specific antiserum. This effect was dose dependent and the maximum level was 3.8-fold higher than that in control rats. A similar rise in GRF receptor gene expression was obtained by the depletion of noradrenaline, a neurotransmitter thought to stimulate GRF release, and was reversed by 87% by the repeated administration of synthetic GRF. These results indicate that pituitary GRF receptor gene expression was up- or down-regulated in vivo in the absence or presence of GRF, respectively.