bcl-2 expression in epidermal keratinocytic diseases

BACKGROUND

The bcl-2 protein has been shown to suppress apoptosis, and overexpression of the bcl-2 protein has been reported in several malignant tumors. Skin is one of the largest organs in the body, and the most common human malignancies arise from keratinocytes in the epidermis. In this paper, the authors analyzed immunohistochemically the expression of the bcl-2 protein in several keratinocytic (KC) tumors and inflammatory skin disorders to investigate the role of bcl-2 in the development of benign and malignant skin tumors.

METHODS

Seventy-two frozen tissues from patients with inflammatory KC proliferation (chronic dermatitis [CD] and psoriasis vulgaris [PV]), seborrheic keratosis (SK), carcinoma in situ of KC tumors (actinic keratosis [AK] and Bowen's disease [BD]), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 2 SCC cell lines, and 20 normal skin were immunostained with an anti-bcl-2 monoclonal antibody.

RESULTS

Tissue with normal KC, CD, PV, and SK scarcely expressed the bcl-2 protein. Seventy-three percent of tissue with BD, 25% with AK, 67% with BCC, and 100% with SCC showed obvious bcl-2 protein expression. bcl-2 expression of BCC, BD, and SCC was restricted to the involved lesions, and surrounding normal tissue with KCs were bcl-2 negative. Interestingly, tissue with atrophic AK expressed no bcl-2 protein (none of five cases), whereas tissue with hypertrophic AK reacted weakly with the anti-bcl-2 antibody (two of three cases).

CONCLUSIONS

bcl-2 protein expression in patients with KC may be related to tumorigenic proliferation possibly due to enhanced cell survival, but not when inflammatory proliferation of keratinocytes is present.

Different clinical implications for ST depression and T wave inversion in non-Q wave myocardial infarction

The differences between ST depression and T wave inversion in non-Q wave myocardial infarction were investigated in 42 patients with initial non-Q wave infarction, 22 patients with ST depression (ST group), and 20 patients with T wave inversion (T group). The extent of ischemic area estimated by electrocardiography and two-dimensional echocardiography, characteristic features of electrocardiographic changes, and clinical findings on admission and outcome were estimated. ST elevation preceded T wave inversion in the same leads in 80% (16/20) of the T group, and transient Q waves developed in 55% (11/20). However, neither ST elevation nor transient Q waves were observed in the ST group. Two or three ischemic segments were present in 86% (19/22) of the ST group patients, but only one ischemic segment was present in 60% (12/20) of T group patients, predominantly the anterior segment. The short-axis view of the two-dimensional echocardiogram on the level of papillary muscle showed decreased contraction in two or three of the anterior, lateral, and inferior segments of the left ventricle in 78% (14/18) of ST group patients. Only one segment with decreased contraction was present in 100% (17/17) of T group patients. Cardiac status on admission was lower in the ST than the T group: Killip class II-IV, 59% (13/22) vs 20% (4/20), p < 0.05; mortality rate after 1 month, 41% (9/22) vs 0% (0/20), p < 0.05. Coronary angiograms, left ventriculograms, and autopsy findings also showed extensive myocardial lesions in accordance with multivessel disease in the ST group, but localized myocardial lesion suggesting one-vessel territory in the T group. T wave inversion in non-Q wave myocardial infarction indicates a recovery phase in transient transmural ischemia and localized subendocardial infarction within the presumed one-vessel territory, while ST depression suggests the presence of extensive ischemia in the subendocardium of multivessel territory, and infarction within that region.

Comparative clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of ras and p53 in flat and polypoid type colorectal tumours

Mutations in oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes may have an important oncogenic role. Although flat type tumours have been frequently detected in recent years, ras and p53 expressions have not been studied in these tumours. Using a monoclonal and polyclonal antibody to the ras p21 and p53 product, paraffin wax embedded sections of 98 colorectal tumours (43 cases of the flat type colorectal tumour and 55 cases of polypoid type tumour) were stained using the immunoperoxidase technique. Staining was evaluated by light microscopic examination. Positive staining rate of ras p21 for the flat type was 0%; for the polypoid type, it was 60% in cancer with submucosal invasion, 82% in adenoma with high grade dysplasia, and 0% in adenoma with low grade dysplasia. The positive staining rate of p53 for the flat type was 50% in submucosal cancer, 9% in adenoma with high grade dysplasia, and 0% in adenoma with low grade dysplasia. For the polypoid type, it was 40% in submucosal cancer, 12% in adenoma with high grade dysplasia, and 0% in adenoma with low grade dysplasia. The intermediate staining rate of p53 in the polypoid type was 20% in submucosal cancer and 41% in adenoma with high grade dysplasia. It was seen that p53 was commonly expressed in both flat and polypoid lesions, p21 was not expressed in flat lesions, whereas it was commonly expressed in polypoid neoplasms. In the flat type cancer, a genetic change different from that of the polypoid type cancer is suggested.

p53 mutations in flat- and polypoid-type colorectal tumors detected by temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis

Reports of cases of flat-type colorectal tumors are increasing in Japan, but almost nothing has been elucidated about the genetic abnormalities of these tumors. In this study, we have examined p53 mutations in six cases of colon cancer cell lines, 22 cases of flat-type colorectal tumors, and 27 cases of polypoid-type colorectal tumors using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE); the latter has recently been developed as a screening method for gene mutations. p53 mutations were observed in four colon cancer cell lines, six flat-type colorectal tumors, and three polypoid-type colorectal tumors, all of which were analyzed by direct sequencing. These mutations were observed only in adenomas with high-grade dysplasia and in colorectal cancers but not in adenomas with low-grade dysplasia. These observations suggest that p53 gene mutations are involved in flat-type as well as polypoid-type colorectal tumors at relatively later stages of carcinogenesis and that TGGE seems to be useful as one of the rapid screening methods.

Alteration of plasma endothelin-1 by exercise at intensities lower and higher than ventilatory threshold

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the release of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor peptide produced by vascular endothelial cells, is induced by exercise. Venous plasma concentrations of ET-1 were measured by sandwich-enzyme immunoassay before and after endurance exercise with a cycle ergometer at different intensities. Male intercollegiate athletes participated in the study and performed cycle ergometer exercise of 30 min duration at intensities of 90 or 130% of their individual ventilatory threshold (VT). The plasma concentration of ET-1 was slightly but significantly increased after exercise at 90% and markedly increased after exercise at 130% of individual VT. The increase in ET-1 was greatest 30 min after exercise at both intensities. It was first demonstrated that the plasma concentration of ET-1 was significantly increased after exercise: the greater the intensity, the greater the extent of the increase in plasma ET-1 concentration. However, the precise physiological roles of ET-1 during exercise remain to be elucidated.

The p10 gene of natural isolates of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus encodes a truncated protein with an M(r) of 7700

Sequence analysis of the p10 genes of three Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) isolates collected in Taiwan (Ta) and Japan (T3 and D1) showed that all possessed a deletion of an adenine residue, 210 bp downstream from the first base of the initiation codon when compared to the p10 gene of Autographa californica (multinucleocapsid) NPV (AcMNPV). This deletion caused a downstream termination codon to come inframe with the coding sequence of p10, so that the p10 gene of BmNPV encoded a protein of 70 amino acid residues with an M(r) of 7700. This is considerably shorter than the 10,000 M(r) protein encoded by the closely related AcMNPV.

A comparison of vibrotactile thresholds on the finger obtained with different equipment

Vibrotactile thresholds on the finger have been compared using two alternative systems. One system prescribed the push force, the contact force, and the surround, while this was not defined for the other system. The experiment was performed with nine male subjects attending on three different days. It was found that the two systems yielded vibrotactile thresholds which were significantly different. The dependence of vibrotactile thresholds on the frequency of vibration, the area of contact with vibration, the conditions surrounding the contact area, the contact force, the push force, the finger temperature, and the distortion of waveform must be considered when quantifying vibrotactile thresholds.

[Circulatory effects of stellate ganglion block and high thoracic epidural block]

A comparative study of the circulatory effects of stellate ganglion block (SGB) and high thoracic epidural block (TEB) was conducted in 11 patients. Although blood pressure and heart rate showed no significant changes even after SGB, they both decreased significantly following TEB. The blood flow in the common carotid artery (CCA) increased markedly at 5 minutes after performing SGB, and at 20 minutes it reached its peak value of 163.5 +/- 7.8%, and the increase remained significant up to 75 minutes. On the other hand, it increased significantly from 5 minutes after performing TEB and reached its peak of 122.2 +/- 7.6% at 15 minutes, and this increase remained significant up to 60 minutes. In comparing these two nerve blocks, the blood flow in the CCA showed a more marked increase following SGB than after TEB from 5 to 60 minutes after performing. The blood flow rate in the CCA increased markedly from 5 minutes after performing SGB, reached its peak of 139.1 +/- 11.3% at 20 minutes, and this increase remained significant up to 60 minutes thereafter. After performing TEB no significant changes were observed. In comparing SGB and TEB, from 5 to 60 minutes after performing, the rate became markedly faster after SGB than after TEB. The vascular diameter of the CCA from 5 minutes after performing SGB showed a slight but significant enlargement, and at 20 minutes it reached its maximum of 111.7 +/- 3.0%, and this significant enlargement persisted up to 60 minutes. From 10 minutes after performing TEB, it showed a slight but significant enlargement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Prevention of autoimmune insulin-dependent diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice by anti-LFA-1 and anti-ICAM-1 mAb

Diverse adhesion molecules participate in many important responses and thus would be implicated in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases. However, there is little evidence for the role of these molecules in autoimmune insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Here we present several lines of evidence suggesting that leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) and its counter-receptor intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1), one of the most important pairs among these adhesion molecules, are involved in the development of autoimmune diabetes in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse. Immunohistochemical study showed the hyperexpression of ICAM-1 on islet-infiltrating mononuclear cells and vascular endothelium in NOD pancreas. In vivo administration of anti-LFA-1 or anti-ICAM-1 mAb from 5 to 30 (or 12) weeks of age exerted a very strong preventative effect on the development of spontaneous diabetes with a marked reduction of insulitis, whereas both antibodies, even combined to use simultaneously, could not prevent cyclophosphamide-induced diabetes. Adoptive transfer of insulitis and diabetes to young NOD mice following the injection of islet-derived mononuclear cells from diabetic donors was completely blocked by administration of both antibodies to recipients. The present study, therefore, provides the first evidence that immunointervention to LFA-1-ICAM-1 interaction has a strong prophylactic effect on autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice.

Temporary threshold shifts in fingertip vibratory sensation from hand-transmitted vibration and repetitive shock

Temporary threshold shifts (TSSs) in vibrotactile perception produced by continuous vibration and repetitive shocks having one complete cycle of a 100 Hz sine wave and exponential decays. The repetition rate of the cycles was 5, 25, 50, or 100/s, while the root-mean-square (r.m.s.) acceleration measured over exposure of five minutes was held constant (weighted according to British Standard (BS) 6842 and International Standard (ISO) 5349). When exposed to five shocks per second at each of the three frequency-weighted acceleration magnitudes, the subjects developed a small TTS. Exposure to 100 shocks per second (continuous vibration) at each of the three frequency-weighted acceleration magnitudes caused a large TTS, although the total frequency-weighted energy was the same as when exposed to five shocks per second. The results suggest that the equal energy hypothesis underlying BS 6842 and ISO 5349 is inappropriate for the prediction of the TTS produced by repetitive shocks.

[Expression of the p53 protein in human osteosarcoma]

The expression of the p53 tumor suppressor gene protein was analyzed in 35 resected osteosarcomas, 5 resected osteochondromas, and in 2 human osteosarcoma cell lines by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. An abnormality in the expression of the p53 protein was found in 10(29%) of the 35 osteosarcomas. An overexpression of the p53 protein showed no correlation with the clinicopathological features, but the p53 protein staining pattern showed a tendency to be correlated with aggressive growth and the metastatic potential. Diffusely-stained tumors had a worse prognosis than those focally-stained. The relationship between the expression of p53 protein and the cell cycle was examined by flow cytometry. The maximum overexpression of p53 protein was detected in the cells at the S phase. These results indicated that the nuclear accumulation of the p53 protein, especially the staining pattern, was a potentially useful prognostic factor for osteosarcoma. However our study did not show any clear correlation between either the growth pattern or the morphological type of osteosarcoma and the immunohistochemical results for the p53 protein.

A case of Behçet's disease with multiple longitudinal ulcers all over the colon

We experienced a rare case of intestinal Behçet's disease simulating Crohn's colitis. A 70-yr-old female presented oral and genital ulcers, erythema nodosum, arthralgias, and abdominal pain. Regardless of our efforts, she died of septic shock. Autopsy showed punched-out ulcers in the terminal ileum and multiple longitudinal ulcers with inflammatory polyposis spreading from the ascending to the descending colon. The differential diagnosis of intestinal Behçet's disease versus Crohn's disease was difficult. However, microscopic findings showed nonspecific ulceration, and no evidence of Crohn's disease could be found. Clinically, the patient met the criteria of Behçet's disease, and punched-out ulcers in the ileocecal region, which is characteristic of intestinal Behçet's disease, confirmed the diagnosis of Behçet's colitis. Although rarely encountered, multiple longitudinal ulcers can involve all of the colon in Behçet's disease, like Crohn's disease.

[Quantitative assessment of scattered photons considering skull bone in brain SPECT]

A Monte Carlo simulation was performed to estimate scattered photons generated in skull bone in brain SPECT. In the simulation, we used cylindrical phantoms which consisted of water and calcium. We calculated energy spectra of planar images and the scatter fractions, which were defined by the ratio of the scattered photons to primary photons, within the energy windows of 20% centered at the photopeak energy. For radionuclides [99mTc (141 keV), 123I (159 keV)], we changed the following parameters: the thickness of the calcium layer (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 cm) and its density (1.55, 1.70, 1.85 g/cm3). The results showed that the shape of the energy spectra depended on the photon energy, the thickness of skull and its density. Consequently, the scatter fractions within the energy windows varied from 0.23 to 0.25 (without skull) and from 0.28 to 0.42 (with skull).

Expression of adhesion molecules on human hematopoietic progenitor cells at different maturational stages

In this report we examined the expression of several adhesion molecules on human hematopoietic progenitor cells at different maturational stages. Human hematopoietic progenitor cell-enriched fractions were prepared from bone marrow cells by depleting lymphocytes and monocytes (CD2+, CD14+ and CD19+ cells). These cells were separated into adhesion molecule-positive and -negative cell populations by immunomagnetic separation methods and then assessed for their ability to form various colony forming cells (CFC). CD44 and CD49d were expressed on multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cells, or mixed colony forming units (CFU-Mix), erythroid burst forming units (BFU-E), granulocyte-macrophage CFU (CFU-GM) and erythroid CFU (CFU-E). Leu8 was expressed on CFU-Mix, BFU-E and some populations of CFU-GM, but not CFU-E. CD11a was expressed on some populations of CFU-Mix, CFU-GM and BFU-E. CD54 was expressed only on some populations of CFU-GM. These results suggest that Leu8, CD44, CD49d and CD11a appear to play important roles in the differentiation and proliferation of human hematopoietic progenitor cells at different maturational stages in the bone marrow microenvironment.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of curculin. A new type of sweet protein having taste-modifying action

A taste-modifying protein, curculin, has been crystallized by the vapor diffusion method using polyethylene glycol 400 as a precipitant. The crystals belong to orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit cell dimensions: a = 105 A, b = 271 A, c = 48.7 A. The crystals diffract X-rays to at least a resolution of 3.0 A and are suitable for X-ray crystallographic studies.

ICAM-1 expression and cellular injury in cultured endothelial cells under hypoxia/reoxygenation

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1(ICAM-1) expression and cellular changes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC) and ECV304, an established cultured line derived from HUVEC, under hypoxia and hypoxia(H)/reoxygenation(R) were investigated by immunological, cytochemical, and morphological methods. ICAM-1 expression in HUVEC decreased slightly under hypoxia(92%) and was up-regulated under reoxygenation(114%), but this up-regulation was diminished by superoxide dismutase(SOD). The up-regulation of ICAM-1 expression by interleukin-1 beta(IL-1 beta) was detected at almost equal levels under hypoxia, and H/R. Using lucigenin-chemiluminescence, we demonstrated superoxide generation from HUVEC under H/R. The Ca2+ influx under hypoxia, and the Ca2+ release from the cells under H/R reduced by SOD were detected cytochemically. Vacuole formation as cell injury under hypoxia and H/R was detected by electron microscopy. The present findings provide evidence that superoxide generated from HUVEC is responsible for the up-regulation of ICAM-1 expression under H/R, and the cause of endothelial cellular injury.

Non-involvement of ras mutations in flat colorectal adenomas and carcinomas

Ras gene mutations occur relatively early during colorectal tumor development and have been observed in 40-50% of malignant colorectal tumors. Advances in endoscopic techniques have made it possible to detect small, flat colorectal tumors that could not be detected by standard examinations. To determine whether ras gene mutations are also involved in the genesis of small, flat colorectal tumors, we examined ras point mutations in 34 cases of small polypoid or flat elevated colorectal tumors (32 adenomas, 2 carcinomas) and in 26 cases of small, flat colorectal tumors (13 adenomas, 13 carcinomas) by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and dot-blot hybridization. Ras gene point mutations were observed in 16 of the 34 tumors of the former type (47%), but in none of the 26 tumors of the latter type, even though the grade of dysplasia was severe in the flat tumors. Our results suggest that different genetic pathways for tumor progression may exist for polypoid and for flat colorectal carcinomas.

Analysis for the stage specific antigen of the primordial germ cells in the chick embryo

A monoclonal antibody 2C9 (IgM chi-light chain) was established by fusing the myeloma cells (X63-Ag8-653) with the spleen cells immunized with sexually indifferent gonads from 6-day chick embryos. The 1- to 17-day chick embryos were examined by immunohistochemistry (ABC technique). As a result, the 2C9 antigen first appeared in the cytoplasm of some primordial germ cells (PGCs) of the germinal crescent at 1 day of incubation. The reactivity was also detected in the hypoblastic cells. This antigen may be produced at this stage. After the migrating stage, 2C9-reactive PGCs were increased in number. From this stage to the sexually differentiating stage (7 days of incubation), the 2C9 antibody was reactive all over the cytoplasm of PGCs in both sexes. In the female gonads, the reactivity disappeared at 8 days of incubation, but not in the male. The reactivity of male PGCs was gradually decreased and disappeared until 14 days of incubation. Since the stages of disappearance of this antigen in both sexes seem to depend on the differentiation of the oogonia and spermatogonia, this antigen may disappear in accordance with germ cell differentiation. Cross-reactions were observed in hepatocytes, gastrointestinal endoderm and some mesonephric tubules. By SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting methods, all the extracts from these tissues revealed two bands; 109 kilodalton (kDa) and 64 kDa, suggesting that the 2C9 antibody detects the same molecule in each kind of cells. The 2C9 antibody may be a useful cell-marker and/or probe for analysis of the germ cell differentiation in chick PGCs.

Fully mechanized latex immunoassay for serum lipoprotein(a)

We have developed a fully automated system to quantify lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) in human serum, based on the latex-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay by application of the Immuno Chemistry Analyzer 501X. This assay was carried out with undiluted serum and was able to detect at Lp(a) levels higher than 4.0 mg/l. When judged to be out of range of the calibration (> 600 mg/l), the sample was automatically re-tested after automatic 10-fold dilution. Within-run C.V.s ranged from 1.9 to 2.1% and between-run C.V.s from 2.7 to 3.9%. Results by the present method were in good agreement with those by the in-house ELISA (r = 0.978) and the commercial ELISA (r = 0.990). The distribution of Lp(a) levels in sera from 508 healthy donors was highly skewed; the mean and median were 158 mg/l and 105 mg/l, respectively.

Structures of replacement vectors for efficient gene targeting

The relationship between DNA structure of replacement vectors and gene targeting efficiency was studied using positive-negative selection. The vectors contained pBR322 DNA, a bacterial neomycin-resistance gene (neo) for positive selection, a herpes simplex virus (HSV) thymidine kinase gene (tk) for negative selection, and a mouse genomic fragment, including exons 1 to 3 of the transthyretin (ttr) gene. The neo gene that confers G418 resistance was inserted into the second ttr exon, and the HSV-tk gene that confers gancyclovir (GANC) sensitivity was added to the 3' end of the ttr fragment. The vectors were linearized by digesting with restriction enzyme(s) and transfected into mouse embryonal carcinoma F9 cells. In this system, the enrichment by GANC selection as well as the frequency of gene targeting was increased by placing the pBR322 DNA at the 3' end of the HSV-tk gene. Adding one more HSV-tk gene at the 5' end of the ttr fragment did not increase the enrichment by GANC selection. This enrichment factor was also increased by reducing the size of the ttr fragment present between the two selection markers. However, it decreased the frequency of gene targeting and, overall, it did not increase the efficiency of isolating targeted clones. When structures of the vector DNA fragments present in 20 G418-resistant and GANC-resistant non-targeted clones were examined by Southern blot analysis, the inefficiency of GANC selection proved to be mostly caused by exonucleolytic degradation of HSV-tk genes progressing from ends of the vectors.