[Weekly paclitaxel and cisplatin in recurrent ovarian cancer]

This study was performed to assess the feasibility of weekly paclitaxel (TXL) and cisplatin (CDDP) in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. Ten of eleven patients experienced recurrence after more than 6 months after first line CDDP-based chemotherapy. TXL and CDDP were given at initial doses of 60 mg/m2 and 30 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 in 2 patients and an increase in the respective dose level was planned to 60/35 in 5 patients, 70/35 in 2 patients, and 70/40 in 2 patients. Toxicities were well tolerated. None of the patients suffered from neurotoxicity or myalgia of more than grade 2. Gastrointestinal disorder was recognized as grade 1-2, and grade 3-4 hematological toxicity included leucocytopenia (64%), anemia (36%), and thrombocytopenia (9%). We set the recommended dose of TXL at 70 mg/m2 and that of CDDP at 35 mg/m2, considering toxicity and performed planned schedule. Of eleven patients, nine were assessable by computed tomographic scan. The overall response rate was 67% (CR: 1, PR: 5, NC: 1, PD: 2). One of two patients with standard TXL/CDDP therapy showed PR by switching to a weekly schedule. The median follow-up duration was 490 days and the median response duration was 371 days. From the results presented here, it is suggested that this regimen with increased DI might be quite effective and well tolerated in patients who experience relapse after CDDP-based chemotherapy.

Involvement of calcium signaling in the fibronectin-stimulated macrophage recognition of oxidatively damaged erythrocytes

Macrophages recognize oxidatively damaged autologous erythrocytes, and cell surface fibronectin of macrophages enhances the recognition (Beppu et al., FEBS Lett. 295 (1991) 135-140). In the present study, mechanisms of enhanced macrophage recognition of oxidatively damaged erythrocytes by fibronectin were investigated. Monolayers of thioglycollate-induced mouse peritoneal macrophages with cell surface fibronectin recognized autologous erythrocytes oxidized with an iron catalyst ADP/Fe(3+). The macrophage recognition of the oxidized erythrocytes was inhibited partially by pretreatment of the macrophage monolayers with a Ca(2+) channel blocker (diltiazem), calmodulin inhibitors (W-7, trifluoperazine, chlorpromazine and dibucaine), an inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase (ML-9), a microfilament formation inhibitor (cytochalasin B), phospholipase A(2) inhibitors (4-bromophenacyl bromide, mepacrine) and cyclooxygenase inhibitors (indomethacin and aspirin). Monolayers of macrophages depleted of fibronectin by trypsinization lost the ability of recognizing oxidized erythrocytes, but acquired the ability when stimulated with a fibronectin-coated coverslip. The recognition of fibronectin-stimulated trypsinized macrophages was also inhibited by the above inhibitors. On treatment with Ca ionophore A23187, trypsinized macrophages acquired the ability to recognize oxidized erythrocytes. The recognition of Ca ionophore-stimulated trypsinized macrophages was inhibited by the above inhibitors except the Ca(2+) channel blocker. These results indicate that the Ca(2+) signaling including Ca(2+) influx, calmodulin activation and myosin light chain phosphorylation are involved in the fibronectin stimulation of the recognition of macrophages for oxidized erythrocytes. Involvement of microfilament formation and arachidonate cascade in the fibronectin stimulation was also suggested.

Novel Lectin-Like Proteins on the Surface of Human Monocytic Leukemia Cell Line THP-1 Cells That Recognize Oxidized Cells

Presence of lectin-like receptors on the membranes of human monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 cells for clustered sialylated poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl sugar chains on the membranes of oxidized erythrocytes and T-lympoid cells was investigated. Membranes of THP-1 cells differentiated into macrophages were solubilized, and the membrane proteins obtained by affinity chromatographies using lactoferrin-Sepharose and band 3-Sepharose were purified by successive DE column chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Proteins of 50, 60, and 80 kDa with specificity to bind to sialylated poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl sugar chains were detected in the chromatographic fractions. A 50-kDa protein was isolated in a pure form. N-Terminal amino acid sequence of the protein was Lys-Gln-Lys-Val-Ala-Gly-Lys-Gln-Pro-Val-, which has not been found in the N-terminal regions of the hitherto known proteins. The antibody, raised against the chemially synthesized peptide composed of the N-terminal amino acid sequence, bound to 50-, 60-, and 80-kDa proteins as analyzed by immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation, indicating that these proteins had the same N-terminal amino acid sequence. The results demonstrate that THP-1 cells have novel 50-, 60-, and 80-kDa lectin-like proteins with the same N-terminal amino acid sequence on the cell surface which would bind to clustered sialylated poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl sugar chains generated on oxidized erythrocytes and T-lymphoid cells.

Enhanced adhesion of oxidized mouse polymorphonuclear leukocytes to macrophages by a cell-surface sugar-dependent mechanism

Mouse thioglycollate-induced peritoneal macrophages effectively, in the absence of serum, recognized mouse polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) mildly oxidized with diamide, superoxide (hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase) or t-butyhydroperoxide, or modified with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). The recognition reached a maximum when PMNs were treated wtih each of the reagents at relatively low concentrations, and the recognition was decreased on treatment with reagents at higher concentrations. Glutathione depletion in the diamide-oxidized PMNs may cause enhanced adhesion to macrophages. Sialylated sugar chains attached to a peptide chain in glycophorin A and sialylated poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl sugar chains in lactoferrin and band 3 glycoprotein effectively inhibited the increased adhesion of the diamide-oxidized PMNs. Enzymatic removal of sialyl residues and the degradation of poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl sugar chains by pretreatment of PMNs with neuraminidase or endo-beta-galactosidase, respectively, lost their increasing ability for macrophage adhesion after oxidation with diamide, superoxide or t-butylhydroperoxide. Clustered sialylated poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl sugar chains on the cell surface may be involved in the increased adhesion of the oxidized PMNs to macrophages.

Binding of Oxidized Jurkat Cells to THP-1 Macrophages and Antiband 3 IgG through Sialylated Poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl Sugar Chains

Human T-lymphoid cell line Jurkat cells were mildly oxidized with diamide, hydrogen peroxide, or t-butyl-hydroperoxide. The recognition of Jurkat cells in the absence of serum by human monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 differentiated into macrophages was enhanced by the oxidation with these reagents. The recognition was maximal when Jurkat cells were treated with each of the reagents at the relatively low concentrations, and the recognition was decreased on treatment with the reagents at the higher concentrations. The enhanced recognition of THP-1 macrophages to diamide-oxidized Jurkat cells was lowered when the binding was conducted in the presence of the oligosaccharides from band 3 glycoprotein and lactoferrin. The inhibitory effect of band 3 oligosaccharides was abolished by removal of the non-reducing-terminal sialyl residues or by cleavage of poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl sugar chains in the saccharides. Moreover, on enzymatic removal of the non-reducing-terminal sialyl residues or enzymatic cleavage of the poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl sugar chains on the surface of Jurkat cells prior to oxidation, the cells were recognized poorly by THP-1 macrophages. Human naturally occuring antiband 3 IgG bound effectively to the hydrogen peroxide-oxidized Jurkat cells. This binding was abolished by the enzymatic cleavage of the poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl sugar chains on the surface of the cells prior to oxidation with hydrogen peroxide. The results indicate that binding of THP-1 macrophages and antiband 3 IgG to Jurkat cells was increased by mild oxidation of Jurkat cells, and the bindings were through sialylated poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl sugar chains on Jurkat cell surface.

The role of beta-tricalcium phosphate in vascularized periosteum

To investigate the osteogenic capacity of vascularized periosteum in bore grafting, we prepared experimental groups by wrapping beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) with vascularized periosteum of the femur of 12-week-old Japanese white rabbits, and evaluated osteogenesis histologically and biochemically. Bone formation was observed in the group with vascularized periosteum and in the group with bone marrow fluid added to the vascularized periosteum. In particular, woven bone was observed in the group that had added bone marrow. Osteogenesis appeared earlier in the group with bone marrow fluid added to the vascularized periosteum, but histologically, there was no significant difference between this group and the group with vascularized periosteum without bone marrow fluid added at week 24 after the operation. In the group with non-vascularized periosteum, slight osteogenesis was found at week 6 after the operation, but in the control group, with beta-TCP implanted in soft tissue, osteogenesis did not occur at all. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity reached a peak at week 2 after the operation in the group with vascularized periosteum, but only half the peak value was then maintained until week 8. In the group with bone marrow fluid added to the vascularized periosteum, similar values were found from immediately after the operation until week 8. ALP activity did not show any significant difference between these two groups at week 8 postoperatively. In the group with beta-TCP implanted in the soft tissue, ALP activity was low at all times measured. These results suggested that the periosteum had osteoinduction capacity and beta-TCP had osteoconduction capacity; that better osteogenesis occurred with vascularized periosteum; and that bone marrow fluid was involved in the promotion of osteoblastic activity, but not in calcification.

Motion analysis in two dimensions of radial-ulnar deviation of type I versus type II lunates

The motions of 2 different types of lunate (type I, no medial hamate facet; type II, medial hamate facet) were evaluated and compared during radial-ulnar deviation of the wrist using radiography and magnetic resonance imaging. Ten right wrists (5 type I and 5 type II lunates) were studied using posteroanterior and lateral x-rays. Six of the 10 normal volunteers (3 type I and 3 type II lunates) were studied using magnetic resonance imaging in 6 positions of radial-ulnar deviation. In the radiographic study the ulnar shift ratio of the lunate (USR), the shortest distance between the proximal ulnar tip of the lunate and the distal ulnar edge of the sigmoid notch of the radius (R-L), the closest distance between the distal ulnar tip of the lunate and the proximal pole of the hamate (L-H), the radius of curvature of the proximal head of the capitate (Cr) on posteroanterior view, and the radiolunate angle on lateral view were measured in each wrist in each of the 6 positions. There were statistically significant differences between type I and II lunates with regard to average maximum ulnar deviation of USR and R-L, total change of USR, R-L distance and L-H distance, average L-H distance and Cr distance in all positions, and average radiolunate angle in neutral and 15 degrees ulnar deviation. In the magnetic resonance imaging study the wrists with a type I lunate did not have contact between the lunate and hamate in any position; the wrists with a type II lunate did have contact between the hamate and the lunate, but only in ulnar deviation. The results of this study demonstrate that the kinematics of a type I lunate are different from those of a type II lunate during radial-ulnar deviation of the wrist.

Naturally occurring anti-band 3 antibody binds to apoptotic human T-lymphoid cell line Jurkat through sialylated poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl saccharide chains on the cell surface

Human T-lymphoid cell line Jurkat was treated with actinomycin D (ActD) and cycloheximide (CHX). The induction of apoptosis was confirmed by the chromatin condensation and DNA ladder fragmentation. Anti-band 3 IgG, purified from normal human plasma, bound to the ActD- or CHX-treated cells, and the binding was correlated to the degree of apoptosis. Antioxidants, N-acetylcysteine, pilloridine dithiocarbamate, and trolox, inhibited neither induction of DNA fragmentation of ActD-treated cells nor anti-band 3 IgG binding to ActD-treated cells, indicating that formation of the anti-band 3 IgG binding sites on the apoptotic cell surface is caused by nonoxidative mechanism. When Jurkat cells were treated with endo-beta-galactosidase to cleave sialylated poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl saccharide chains from the cell surface before induction of apoptosis, the binding of anti-band 3 IgG was abolished. The results indicate that sialylated poly-N-acetyllactosaminyl saccharide chains on the cell surface are requisite for the binding of anti-band 3 IgG to apoptotic cells.

Enzymatic removal of oxidized protein aggregates from erythrocyte membranes

Erythrocytes oxidized or aged in the circulation undergo membrane protein aggregation and anti-band 3 autoantibody binding to the cell surface. When human erythrocytes were mildly oxidized in vitro with 0.1 mM Fe(III) at 37 degrees C for 3 h, the aggregation of nonionic detergent C(12)E(8)-insoluble membrane protein and the binding of anti-band 3 IgG to the cell surface were increased. Incubation of membranes isolated from the oxidized cells increased the amount of protein aggregates by 5-fold after 6 h, while incubation for a further 12 h sharply decreased the amount of aggregates. In the presence of diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), however, the increased amount of aggregates was maintained in the subsequent incubation. Western blot analysis of the aggregates using rabbit anti-band 3 showed that band 3 protein aggregates increased in the initial stage of incubation and decreased upon subsequent incubation, whereas the increased band 3 protein aggregates did not subsequently decrease when membranes were incubated in the presence of DFP. Incubation of the oxidized cells at 37 degrees C for 18 h caused reduction of the membrane protein aggregates and the (125)I-anti-band 3 IgG binding to the cell surface, while incubation in the presence of DFP did not cause these reductions. The results suggest that the oxidation-induced cell membrane protein aggregates were probably removed by 80-kDa serine protease, namely, oxidized protein hydrolase (OPH), in the oxidized cell membranes [Fujino et al. (1998) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1374, 47-54; (1998) J. Biochem. 124, 1077-1085; (2000) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1478, 102-112], and as a result the increased anti-band 3 binding to the cell surface was reduced.

Identification of the cleavage sites of oxidized protein that are susceptible to oxidized protein hydrolase (OPH) in the primary and tertiary structures of the protein

Amino acid sequences in H(2)O(2)-oxidized bovine serum albumin (BSA) that are susceptible to proteolytic cleavage by oxidized protein hydrolase (OPH) were investigated. When oxidized BSA was treated with OPH, low-molecular-weight fragments (54, 46, 24, 22, 20, and 8 kDa) were produced as analyzed by SDS-PAGE. N-Terminal amino acid sequence analysis of these fragments indicated that oxidized BSA was cleaved by OPH at three major sites, Leu218-Ser219, Tyr410-Thr411, and Phe506-Thr507, at an early stage of the proteolytic degradation. In the three-dimensional structure of BSA deduced by computer modeling, these cleavage sites were found to be located slightly inside the BSA molecule, in positions not easily accessible by OPH. The influence of oxidation on the tertiary structure of BSA was then investigated by hypothetically replacing all the four methionine and two tryptophan residues with their oxidized forms, methionine sulfoxide and N'-formyl-kynurenine, respectively. The three-dimensional structure of the hypothetically oxidized BSA indicated that all the three cleavage sites in the protein could become more exposed to the solvent than in unoxidized BSA. These results suggest that, upon oxidation of BSA, the amino acid sequences that are potentially cleavable by OPH but present inside the molecule become exposed on the surface and susceptible to proteolysis by OPH. This is the first report demonstrating the cleavage sites of oxidized protein by oxidized protein-selective protease, suggesting the possible mechanism of oxidized protein-selective degradation by the enzyme.

Is nitrotyrosine generated in human erythrocytes in circulation?

Nitrotyrosine is considered a stable biomarker of reactive nitrogen species, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and peroxynitrous acid (ONOOH) in biomaterials. There are inconsistent observations on the detection of free and protein-associated nitrotyrosine in normal human plasma. Human erythrocytes, differentiated from erythrocyte precursor cells in the bone marrow, circulating in the body for an average of 120 d, and finally removed by spleen macrophages, may be exposed to reactive nitrogen species. In the present study, membrane proteins and hemoglobin from the senescent erythrocyte population were compared with those from young erythrocytes separated from the same individuals in their nitrotyrosine presence using newly prepared rabbit polyclonal anti-nitrotyrosine-ribonuclease A and anti-nitro(N-butoxycarbonyl)tyrosine-bovine serum albumin antibodies. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the membranes and hemoglobin, and subsequent Western blot analysis, showed that these antibodies only slightly bind to the bands of the proteins from both young and senescent erythrocytes, whereas these antibodies definitely bind to the protein bands of membranes and hemoglobin nitrated by NO2 or ONOOH in vitro. This result indicates that nitrotyrosine is not detected in the membrane proteins and hemoglobin in human normal erythrocytes in circulation. However, this does not conclude that erythrocytes are not exposed to reactive nitrogen species in the circulation.

Identification of oxidized protein hydrolase of human erythrocytes as acylpeptide hydrolase

Partial amino acid sequence of 80 kDa oxidized protein hydrolase (OPH), a serine protease present in human erythrocyte cytosol (Fujino et al., J. Biochem. 124 (1998) 1077-1085) that is adherent to oxidized erythrocyte membranes and preferentially degrades oxidatively damaged proteins (Beppu et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1196 (1994) 81-87; Fujino et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1374 (1998) 47-55) was determined. The N-terminal amino acid of diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP)-labeled OPH was suggested to be masked. Six peptide fragments of OPH obtained by digestion of DFP-labeled OPH with lysyl endopeptidase were isolated by use of reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and the sequence of more than eight amino acids from the N-terminal position of each peptide was determined. Results of homology search of amino acid sequence of each peptide strongly suggested that the protein was identical with human liver acylpeptide hydrolase (ACPH). OPH showed ACPH activity when N-acetyl-L-alanine p-nitroanilide and N-acetylmethionyl L-alanine were used as substrates. Glutathione S-transferase (GST)-tagged recombinant ACPH (rACPH) was prepared by use of baculovirus expression system as a 107-kDa protein from cDNA of human erythroleukemic cell line K-562. rACPH reacted with anti-OPH antiserum from rabbit. rACPH showed OPH activity when hydrogen peroxide-oxidized or glycated bovine serum albumin was used as substrates. As well as the enzyme activities of OPH, those of rACPH were inhibited by DFP. The results clearly demonstrate that ACPH, whose physiological function has not yet been well characterized, can play an important role as OPH in destroying oxidatively damaged proteins in living cells.

Presence of oxidized protein hydrolase in human cell lines, rat tissues, and human/rat plasma

Oxidized protein hydrolase (OPH), an 80 kDa serine protease whose activity is inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP), has been isolated from human erythrocytes [Fujino, T. et al. (1998) J. Biochem. 124, 1077-1085]. The presence of OPH in various biological samples was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting using an anti-OPH antibody raised against OPH purified from human erythrocytes, and by [(3)H]DFP-labeling and successive SDS-PAGE/fluorography. Solubilized samples of human cell lines including K-562 cells, THP-1 cells and Jurkat cells, and rat tissues including brain, heart, liver, kidney, and testis, inhibited the anti-OPH antibody binding to OPH in ELISA. Immunoblotting of lysates of K-562 cells, THP-1 cells and Jurkat cells showed four immunoreactive protein bands including an 80 kDa protein. Immunoprecipitation of the [(3)H]DFP-labeled K-562 cell lysate and successive SDS-PAGE/fluorography showed the presence of only the 80 kDa DFP-reactive protein with OPH antigenic activity. The level of the 80 kDa immunoreactive protein in K-562 cells rose as the cells differentiated toward erythrocytes. Immunoblotting of human and rat plasma showed two immunoreactive protein bands, including the 80 kDa protein, and SDS-PAGE/fluorography of [(3)H]DFP-labeled rat and human plasma showed the presence of only the 80 kDa DFP-reactive protein. The results indicate that OPH is present in a wide variety of biological samples.

Increased band 3 protein aggregation and anti-band 3 binding of erythrocyte membranes on treatment with sesamol

The influence of sesamol, an antioxidant in processed sesame oil, on oxidative modification of human erythrocyte membrane proteins was investigated. Human erythrocytes were incubated with sesamol at various concentrations up to 10 mM at 37 degrees C for 1 h. The amounts of hemoglobin bound to the membranes and detergent C12E8-insoluble membrane protein aggregates were increased as the concentration of sesamol increased. Western blot analysis indicated that aggregates of band 3 protein were increased by the treatment. Binding of anti-band 3 antibody to the erythrocytes was increased by the treatment. Isolated cell membranes were incubated with sesamol similarly. Aggregates of band 3 protein were also increased, indicating that the band 3 protein aggregation was little affected by hemoglobin bound to the membranes. Aggregation of band 3 protein in the treatment of isolated cell membranes was partially prevented when the treatment was conducted under anaerobic conditions, suggesting that augmentation of the protein aggregation by sesamol involved both oxygen-dependent and oxygen-independent pathways. Among phenolics, sesamol showed a distinctive feature to increase band 3 protein aggregation in erythrocyte membranes and to enhance anti-band 3 binding to erythrocytes.

Aging-dependent proteolysis of NF-kappaB in human fibroblasts

We investigated the NF-kappaB-like factor induced in the late-passage human oral mucosal fibroblasts stimulated with interleukin-1 (IL-1). Compared with the NF-kappaBs of HeLa cells and early-passage fibroblasts, the NF-kappaB-like factor of late-passage (passage 15) fibroblasts migrated faster in the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and behaved like a 70-80 kDa protein in the gel filtration chromatography. Both antibodies against p50 and p65 subunits of NF-kappaB could supershift the small NF-kappaB-like factor of late-passage cells in the EMSAs. A 47-kDa band was detected in late-passage fibroblasts by immunoblotting against p50. The mobility of the trypsin-degraded NF-kappaB of HeLa cells corresponded to that of the small NF-kappaB-like factor of late-passage fibroblasts in the EMSAs. Furthermore, when the nuclear extracts of the IL-1-stimulated HeLa cells were incubated with those of the IL-1-stimulated old fibroblasts, the p65-p50 NF-kappaB band disappeared, leaving behind a small NF-kappaB-like band. This reduction of NF-kappaB was prevented by the addition of a cysteine protease inhibitor leupeptin. These results suggest that the small NF-kappaB-like factor of late-passage fibroblasts is a part of the NF-kappaB truncated by aging-induced protease(s).

Effect of dietary soy isoflavone aglycones on the urinary 16alpha-to-2-hydroxyestrone ratio in C3H/HeJ mice

Estradiol is metabolized through two mutually exclusive pathways. 2-Hydroxyestrone (2-OHE,) is antiestrogenic, while 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (16alpha-OHE1) is a potent estrogen. It is suggested that a high urinary 16alpha-OHE1-to-2-OHE1 rato is a biomarker of increased mammary tumor risk. Mice were fed one of the test diets for 21 days. Indole-3-carbinol (2,500 mg/kg diet) increased the cytochrome P-450 content of hepatic microsomes and liver weight and reduced the urinary 16alpha-OHE1-to-2-OHE1 ratio in comparison with the respective value in the control mice. Fermented soy extract (100, 200, or 400 mg isoflavonoid/kg diet), genistein (200 mg/kg diet), and daidzein (200 mg/kg diet) each reduced the urinary 16alpha-OHE1-to-2-OHE1 ratio without increasing the cytochrome P-450 content of hepatic microsomes or liver weight. The combination of genistein and daidzein (100 mg and 100 mg/kg diet) did not have a synergistic effect on the reduction in urinary 16alpha-OHE1-to-2-OHE1 ratio. These data suggest that the soy isoflavonoid aglycones genistein and daidzein and indole-3-carbinol each exert a cancer-preventive effect by shifting metabolism away from the production of genotoxic metabolites toward the production of inactive metabolites.

Anatomical Study of the Distal Radioulnar Joint: Degenerative Changes and Morphological Measurement

A study of the degenerative changes in the distal radioulnar joint compared with morphological measurement of that joint using 91 joints of the hand from 51 systemic anatomy cadavers was conducted. X-ray images of the joints of the hand were taken followed by measurement of radial inclination, ulnar variance, volar tilt, sigmoid notch inclination and ulnar seat inclination. Macroscopic observations of the ulnar notch of the radius and surface of the distal radioulnar joint of the ulnar head were made by dividing them into six and nine areas, respectively. These were then used to classify the degree of cartilage degeneration. In addition, the status of the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) was also observed. Arthropathic changes of the distal radioulnar joint were associated with factors including TFC degeneration and UV(+), SNI(-) and USI(+).

Bone Lesions of the Hand and Wrist in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis for Ten Years

We investigated the chronological changes in the plain radiographs of the hands and wrists of 32 patients who underwent hemodialysis for ten years. Digital image processing (DIP)(9) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) were conducted to examine bone density. Fourteen patients underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the wrists, and the relationships between MRI findings and plain radiographic findings and association of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) were investigated. Twenty-one patients with bone lesions revealed by plain radiography were classified into four groups - cystic lesion, bone resorption, mixed, and no-lesion groups. Subperiosteal bone resorption was seen in 17 patients at ten years, of whom one showed a marked improvement of bone lesion observed at five years. Twelve patients had cystic lesions at ten years, most often observed in the middle phalanx and lunate. Seven of those 12 patients suffered from CTS, in contrast to only one case with CTS in each of the bone resorption and no-lesion groups. DIP and QCT revealed the most severe bone atrophy in the cystic lesion group. In six patients, MRI revealed bone lesions not detected by plain radiographs.

Expression of MMPS, MT-MMP, and TIMPs in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity: correlations with tumor invasion and metastasis

BACKGROUND

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that degrade the extracellular matrices (ECMs) have been thought to play an important role in both the invasion and metastasis of tumors. However, the detailed role of MMPs and TIMPs (tissue inhibitors of MMP) on the biological behavior of tumor cells has yet to be elucidated in vivo. The aim of the present study was thus to determine whether expression of MMPs on tumor cells is associated with such clinicopathological features as the invasive and metastatic potential.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included 96 cases of primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), of which 38 cases showed lymph node metastases. The relationship between the expression of MMPs and the staining of ECMs, the mode of tumor invasion, nodal involvement, and expression of TIMPs was immunohistochemically examined.

RESULTS

First of all, a decrease in the staining of ECMs was observed in cases with an increased expression of MMP-1, -2, and -9. The association between the expression of MMPs and the loss of ECMs was thus found to be statistically significant. Secondly, in both invasive and metastatic cases, a marked expression of MMP-1, -2, -3, -9 and MT1-MMP was frequently observed. The association of the expression of MMPs both with the mode of tumor invasion and nodal involvement was thus found to be statistically significant. Thirdly, TIMP-2 was thus found not to significantly decrease in metastatic cases, while TIMP-1 expression significantly increased in metastatic cases.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that tumor progression is dependent on the ability of tumor cells to degrade ECMs, while the metastasis of tumors is regulated by many types of MMPs, and the overproduction of MMPs therefore appears to be more important for metastasis than the production of TIMPs in vivo.

Immunohistochemical study of sialyl Le(a) and sialyl Le(x) antigen in oral squamous cell carcinoma: the association of sialyl Le(a) expression with the metastatic potential

BACKGROUND

Carbohydrate antigens in cancer cells are considered to be involved in the binding of cancer cells to the endothelium during metastasis.

METHODS

Seventy cases of primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were obtained from biopsy specimens and were analyzed immunohistochemically using an antibody against sialyl Lewis (Le)a or sialyl Le(x). Flow cytometry was performed to detect the sialyl Le(a) or sialyl Le(x) expressed on oral SCC cell lines.

RESULTS

The expressions of sialyl Le(a), but not sialyl Le(x), of primary tumors significantly correlated to nodal metastasis; 71% of the metastatic cases express sialyl Le(a) and the cases with positive sialyl Le(a) and no sialyl Le(x) demonstrated a high incidence of metastasis (80%). A flow cytometric study demonstrated the oral SCC cell line, which can metastasize in nude mice, to express a high level of sialyl Le(a).

CONCLUSION

The high expression of sialyl Le(a) in primary tumors may thus be involved in nodal metastasis and therefore predict a poor prognosis in oral SCC.

Gelatinolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase in tumor tissues correlates with the invasiveness of oral cancer

We examined whether or not the gelatinolytic activity in tumor tissue was associated with the invasion and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Tissue homogenates were prepared from 57 biopsy specimens of OSCC. The gelatinolytic activities in the homogenates were measured by gelatin zymography and its densitometric analysis. The Immnunoblot findings revealed the major gelatinolytic activities to be due to matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9. The zymography-detected gelatinolytic activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the tissue specimens significantly correlated with the degree of immunohistochemical staining detected in frozen sections of the same biopsy specimens. According to a histopathological analysis of the mode of invasion, highly invasive cases showed the increased gelatinolytic activities of MMP-2 as well as MMP-9 in the tissue specimens. Although no significant differences were observed in the gelatinase activities between the metastatic cases and the non-metastatic cases, the levels of tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP)-1 in the tumor tissue specimens were higher in the non-metastatic cases than in the metastatic cases. The cases with the high levels of MMPs and low levels of TIMP-1 thus seemed to have a high potential to metastasize. As a result, the zymographic measurement of the gelatinolytic activity in biopsy tissue specimens may therefore be useful in predicting the behavior and prognosis of OSCC.

Membrane proteins of human erythrocytes are modified by advanced glycation end products during aging in the circulation

Recent immunological studies demonstrated that proteins in vivo in several diseases are subjected to post-translational modification by advanced glycation end products (AGEs), suggesting a potential role of AGEs in aging and age-enhanced disease processes such as diabetic complications, atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Nvarepsilon-(Carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) is one of the major AGE-structures demonstrated in vivo so far. In the present study, membrane proteins from young erythrocyte population were compared with those from senescent erythrocytes separated from the same individual in their CML-contents using a monoclonal antibody for CML (6D12). SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and subsequent Western blot showed that 6D12 bound to the band 1, 2, 3, 4.2, 5, 6 and 7 proteins from senescent erythrocytes, but not to those from young erythrocytes. Furthermore, quantitative estimation of the reactivity of 6D12 to these erythrocyte membranes by ELISA showed that the reactivity of 6D12 to senescent erythrocyte membranes was 3- to 6-fold higher than that of young erythrocyte membranes. These results indicate that membrane proteins of circulating erythrocytes undergo CML-modification, and the modified proteins accumulated in an age-dependent manner during the life span of erythrocytes.

Purification and characterization of a serine protease in erythrocyte cytosol that is adherent to oxidized membranes and preferentially degrades proteins modified by oxidation and glycation

A serine protease that preferentially degrades oxidized and glycated proteins was shown to be present in erythrocyte cytosol. Human erythrocyte cytosol was labeled with [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) and passed through a column of carboxymethyl-Sephadex to obtain radioactive fractions free of hemoglobin. The fractions contained a single radioactive 80-kDa protein, as analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE)/fluorography. The radioactive 80-kDa protein bound to unoxidized erythrocyte membranes, and more effectively to oxidized membranes. The radioactive protein was purified through a column of diethylaminoethyl-cellulose and by preparative native-PAGE in a purity of 80%. Antibody against the cytosolic 80-kDa protein bound to 80-kDa protein of erythrocyte membranes, indicating the presence of the same protein in the membrane. The antibody bound more effectively to oxidized membranes than to unoxidized membranes. The 80-kDa protein partially purified from unlabeled cytosol degraded more effectively oxidized bovine serum albumin (BSA), oxidized IgG, and glycated BSA more effectively than the corresponding unoxidized or unglycated proteins. Degradation of oxidized or glycated proteins was effectively inhibited by DFP. Hence, the protein is an 80-kDa serine protease that is adherent to oxidized membranes and is responsible for degradation of proteins modified by oxidation and glycation.