Adeno-associated virus vector-mediated anti-angiogenic gene therapy for collagen-induced arthritis in mice

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to determine the utility of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for anti-angiogenic gene therapy in a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

METHODS

CIA mice were generated by immunization with bovine type-II collagen and Freund's complete adjuvant. AAV vectors containing angiostatin and enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) expression units (AAV-Ang/GFP) or the GFP and neomycin phosphotransferase (NeoR) expression units (AAV-GFP/NeoR) were injected into mouse knee joints before development of arthritis. The expression of transgenes was confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunostaining, and the incidence and severity of arthritis was determined histologically via assessment of synovial hyperplasia, cartilage erosion and bone erosion. Vascularity in the knee joint was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining with anti-von Willebrand factor antibody.

RESULTS

AAV vectors were capable of efficient gene transfer into chondrocytes and synovial cells, and the extent of synovial hyperplasia and other parameters of arthritis were significantly reduced in the knee joints injected with AAV-Ang/GFP compared with the joints treated with either AAV-GFP/NeoR or phosphate-buffered solution (PBS). Reduction in the number of vessels was confirmed in AAV-Ang/GFP-treated joints.

CONCLUSION

AAV-vector-mediated local expression of angiostatin efficiently inhibited the development of collagen-induced arthritis in the treated joint. Anti-angiogenic gene therapy using AAV vector may provide a new approach for the effective treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

19F NMR Characterization of the Thermodynamics and Dynamics of the Acid−Alkaline Transition in a Reconstituted Sperm Whale Metmyoglobin

A 19F NMR study on the acid-alkaline transition in sperm whale myoglobin reconstituted with a perfluoromethyl heme, 13,17-bis(2-carboxylatoethyl)-3,8-diethyl-2,12,18-trimethyl-7-trifluoromethylporphyrinatoiron(III), demonstrated that the thermodynamics of the transition is predominantly controlled by the stability of acidic form.

Influence of microcatheter length on flow rates of disposable infusion kits

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Continuous spinal analgesia (CSA) offers considerable pain relief, and has been used in various procedures such as for surgery and cancer pain control. In Japan, portable and disposable infusion kits are increasingly employed for continuous epidural analgesia and CSA. In CSA, the use of a microcatheter is expected to reduce the incidence of spinal headache previously encountered with larger catheters. However, the flow rate of disposable infusion kits is reduced when used in conjunction with a microcatheter.

METHODS

This study aimed to investigate the influence of catheter length on the flow rate of two different devices: 20- or 91-cm 28-G microcatheters connected to balloon- or syringe-type infusion pumps were examined (50 mL, 1 mL h(-1)). There were four groups each of 10 experiments: Group A: balloon-type infuser, 91 cm catheter; Group B: balloon-type infuser, 20 cm catheter; Group C: syringe-type infuser, 91 cm catheter; Group D: syringe-type infuser, 20 cm catheter.

RESULTS

The mean flow rate in Group A was significantly less than that in Group B and the mean flow rate in Group C was significantly less than Group D (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These results indicated that the use of a shorter microcatheter achieves a better flow rate during CSA.

Powdery mildew pathogens can suppress the chitinase gene expression induced in detached inner epidermis of barley coleoptile

Two-step PCR (RT-PCR and nested PCR) was used to detect gene expression in powdery mildew pathogen-infected cells of detached inner epidermis of barley coleoptiles. Cellular contents of infected cells were microscopically suctioned with a micropipette and subjected to PCR. Triosephosphate isomerase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase genes involved in the glycolytic pathway and a stimulus-induced endochitinase gene were targeted, and their expression was determined by detecting cDNAs derived from spliced transcripts. The two gycolysis-related genes were constantly expressed in the tissue irrespective of pathogen inoculation. In contrast, chitinase gene expression was induced in non-infected inner epidermis after detachment. After inoculation, this expression was selectively suppressed in pathogen-invaded cells, in spite of continuous expression in non-invaded cells of the same epidermis. Thus, the present method enabled us to directly analyze transcripts in individual cells at the infection site and assess the capability of the pathogen to regulate host gene expression.

Closure of a Cervical H-Type Tracheoesophageal Fistula

Congenital H-type tracheoesophageal fistulae in adults are infrequent. In surgery, the essential components (defining, cutting, and suturing the fistula, and preventive interposition of muscle flap) must be performed precisely. We undertook these procedures through a small collar incision. Based on results of preoperative images, the fistula was identified under minimum dissection between the trachea and esophagus. After cutting and suturing the fistula, a sternohyoid muscle flap was interposed.

NMR investigation of the heme electronic structure in deoxymyoglobin possessing a fluorinated heme

The heme electronic structures of deoxymyoglobins (deoxy-Mbs) reconstituted with 13,17-bis(2-carboxylatoethyl)-3,8-diethyl-2,12,18-trimethyl-7-(trifluoromethyl)porphyrinatoiron(III) (7-PF), 13,17-bis(2-carboxylatoethyl)-3,7-difluoro-2,8,12,18-tetramethylporphyrinatoiron(III) (3,7-DF), and 13,17-bis(2-carboxylatoethyl)-3,8-diethyl-2-fluoro-7,12,18-trimethylporphyrinatoiron(III) (2-MF) have been characterized by (1)H and (19)F NMR. The analysis of heme methyl proton shift patterns of the hemes in their bis-cyano forms demonstrated that, owing to the substitution of a strongly electron-withdrawing perfluoromethyl group, CF(3), to porphyrin, the porphyrin pi-system of 7-PF is more significantly distorted from four-fold symmetry than those of the ring-fluorinated hemes, 3,7-DF and 2-MF. The presence of the heme orientation disorder resulted in the observation of the two well-resolved (19)F signals in the spectra of deoxy-Mbs possessing 7-PF and 2-MF. The (19)F signals of deoxy-Mb possessing 7-PF exhibited a relatively large difference in paramagnetic shift (approximately 30 ppm), despite their small paramagnetic shifts (approximately 30 ppm), supporting the significant contribution of a pi spin delocalization mechanism in this Mb due to the d-electron configuration derived from the (5)E ground state. On the other hand, (19)F signals of deoxy-Mbs with 3,7-DF as well as 2-MF exhibited large paramagnetic shifts (approximately 250 ppm) with a relatively small difference in the paramagnetic shift (approximately 20 ppm), indicating the predominant contribution of spin delocalization, due to a d-electron configuration derived from the (5)B(2) ground state. These results demonstrate for the first time that the relative contributions of the orbital ground states derived from (5)E and (5)B(2) states to the heme electronic structure in deoxy-Mb are affected by the distortion of the porphyrin pi-system exerted by chemical properties of the heme peripheral side-chains.

Effect of HEMA on bonding of Er:YAG laser-irradiated bovine dentine and 4-META/MMA-TBB resin

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the priming effect of 2-hydroxyethylmetaclirate (HEMA) following acid treatment on resin bonding to prototype Er:YAG laser-irradiated dentine. Extracted bovine dentine following laser irradiation was acid treated by aqueous solution of 10% citric acid (10-0) or 10% citric acid/3% ferric chloride (10-3), and additionally treated with 35% HEMA. Pre-treated dentines were bonded to the polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) rod with 4-META/MMA-TBB resin (Super Bond C & B) and miniaturized dumbbell-shaped bonded specimens were prepared. These specimens profiled for tensile bond testing and fractured surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cross-sections of resin-dentine interface were also examined. The HEMA treatment following acid conditioned by 10-3 or 10-0 for both laser-irradiated and non-irradiated dentines was significantly higher than that without HEMA treatment. SEM view of a fractured specimen showed some cohesive failure in cured resin, but almost all of the fractured surface shows boundary failure between the penetrated resin and underlying dentine. A cross-sectional view of the interface showed a very thick hybrid layer between the hybridized dentine and underlying dentine. It was concluded that HEMA treatment following acid conditioning provided a slightly higher bond strength for both the Er:YAG laser-irradiated and non-irradiated dentines. However, the bond strength of Er:YAG laser irradiated dentine was significantly lower than that of the non-irradiated dentine.

[Evaluation of immunochromatography based rapid detection kit of rotavirus and adenovirus]

We investigated the usefulness of Rapidtesta Rota-Adeno (Daiichi Pure Chemicals Co., Ltd., Japan) for rapid detection of group A rotavirus and adenovirus simultaneously using immunochromatography with clinical samples. In investigation of the reaction of the kit to 5 strains of group A rotavirus, 13 strains of adenovirus and other intestinal viruses, specific lines were formed in red to group A rotavirus and blue to adenovirus. No cross reaction was observed with other intestinal virus. In measurement of detection limit, group A rotavirus (SA11) was detected at 10(4.4)TCID50/ml, serotype 3 adenovirus at 10(4.45)TCID50/ml. The detection limit of the kit was similar to other immunochromatographic assay or enzyme immnoassay kits and approximately 10 times higher than that of kits using latex agglutination test. In comparison with other testing kits in clinical samples, the concordance with other immunochromatographic assay was 99.2% (121/122) in group A rotavirus and 98.6% (138/140) in adenovirus. The rate of concordance with latex agglutination test kit was 94.5% (69/73) in group A rotavirus and 92.3% (84/91) in adenovirus. The kit had high rates of concordance with other immunochromatographic assay kits and higher virus detection rates than those of latex agglutination test kits. Rapidtesta Rota-Adeno is able to detect group A rotavirus and adenovirus simply and rapidly. In addition, the two kinds of virus can be easily differentiated by color difference in reaction lines, suggesting that the kit is useful in clinical diagnosis.

Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the vulva: report of a case with imprint cytology

BACKGROUND

Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of the vulva is an extremely rare disease, and, to our knowledge, only two cases have been previously reported.

CASE

A 45-year-old woman presented with a mass in the right labium major. Three years after removal of the tumor, she noticed a new lesion in the same place and underwent a partial vulvectomy. The imprint cytology of the recurrent tumor showed a monomorphic appearance, composed of small round cells with scant cytoplasm against a hemorrhagic background. These tumor cells were loosely connective, but rosettelike structures were observed focally. On pathologic examination, the neoplasm was composed of small round tumor cells showing sinusoidal, diffuse or micropapillary growth. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells stained positively for neuron-specific enolase, vimentin and HBA 71 and negatively for cytokeratin, HBA 45 and muscle-specific actin. The morphologic characteristics of the disease were well expressed in the imprint cytology, and this influenced the selection of immunohistochemical studies.

CONCLUSION

Cytologic examination for vulvar tumors, even imprint cytology, can be a useful tool in obtaining an accurate pathologic diagnosis of a rare disease, such as peripheral PNET.

An anatomic study of the extensor tendons of the human hand

A total of 548 upper limbs (276 right and 272 left hands) from Japanese cadavers were dissected. The arrangements of extensor indicis proprius, extensor digitorum communis (EDC), and extensor digiti minimi tendons and the intertendinous connections were studied. The most common pattern of extensor tendons was as follows: the index finger had a single EDC tendon, the middle finger had a single EDC tendon, the ring finger had a single EDC tendon, and the small finger had a single EDC tendon or a single common EDC tendon distributed to the ring and small finger. A single extensor indicis proprius tendon ran along the ulnar side of the EDC, and the extensor digiti minimi tendon consisted of 2 slips. Intertendinous connections were classified into 3 types: type 1 with a filamentous band, type 2 with a fibrous band, and type 3 with a tendinous band subdivided to r-shaped and y-shaped. The most common patterns were type 1 in the second intermetacarpal space (IMCS), type 3r in the third IMCS, and type 3y in the fourth IMCS.

Immunoglobulin G1 antibody response to Helicobacter pylori heat shock protein 60 is closely associated with low-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma

Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is related to Helicobacter pylori infection. Specifically, it has been pointed out that pathogenesis of MALT lymphoma involves the 60-kDa heat shock protein (hsp60). To investigate humoral immune responses to the H. pylori hsp60 in patients with gastroduodenal diseases and patients with MALT lymphoma, the hsp60 of H. pylori was expressed with a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein and was purified (recombinant hsp60). Sera were obtained from H. pylori-positive patients with gastroduodenal diseases (MALT lymphoma, n = 13; gastric ulcer, n = 20; duodenal ulcer, n = 20; gastritis, n = 20) and from H. pylori-negative healthy volunteers (n = 9). Sera from patients with MALT lymphoma were also obtained at two times: before and after eradication therapy. Antibodies to hsp60 and H. pylori were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to the hsp60 of H. pylori-positive patients with gastroduodenal diseases were significantly elevated compared to those in the controls. The levels of IgG1 antibodies to hsp60 were elevated and correlated with the levels of anti-H. pylori antibodies in patients with MALT lymphoma. Humarol immunity against hsp60 may be important and relevant to gastroduodenal diseases induced by H. pylori infection.

Resin bonding to Er: YAG laser-irradiated dentin: combined effects of pre-treatments with citric acid and glutaraldehyde

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of citric acid and glutaraldehyde (GA) on the resin bonding to Er: YAG laser-irradiated dentin. Bovine dentin was prepared with 180- to 600-grit SiC paper and then uniformly irradiated with an Er: YAG laser (laser-irradiated group) or immersed in water at 60 degrees C for 15 min (heated group). The samples were then acid-conditioned with 10% citric acid (10-0) or 10% citric acid/3% ferric chloride (10-3) for 15 s and treated with GA for 10 min before bonding to an acrylic rod with 4-META/MMA-TBB resin. These samples were trimmed to prepare miniaturized dumbbell-shaped specimens. After storage in water at 37C for 1 d, the tensile bond strength was measured, and the fractured surface was evaluated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). In the laser-irradiated and heated groups, the 10-3+GA-treated specimen had higher bond strength than that of 10-0+GA. On the other hand, the tensile bond strength of 10-3 +GA in the non-irradiated group was lower that that of 10-0+GA. In conclusion, the combination of 10-3 and GA for bonding with 4-META/MMA-TBB resin was the most effective for Er: YAG laser-irradiated dentin and heated dentin, but it was not effective for the non-irradiated dentin.

Mutational analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 and clinicopathologic analysis of ovarian cancer in 82 ovarian cancer families: two common founder mutations of BRCA1 in Japanese population

We analyzed genetic alterations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes among 82 ovarian cancer families in Japan. The clinical characteristics of BRCA-associated ovarian cancer patients were compared with cases carrying no mutations as well as with population controls. Using a direct sequencing method, 45 of the 82 ovarian cancer families were found to carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 germ-line mutations (40 with BRCA1 and 5 with BRCA2). In 24 independent mutations of BRCA1, 5 recurrent mutations were found and 2 of them, the L63X and Q934X mutations, were detected in seven and eight independent families, respectively. In addition, 16 mutations of BRCA1 and 3 mutations of BRCA2 have never been described previously. In consideration of clinicopathological features, there was a significantly higher proportion of tumors with serous adenocarcinoma and of cases of advanced stages in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 cases than in those of the controls. On the other hand, there were no differences of mean age at diagnosis between patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation and those of the controls. Our results indicate that the features of BRCA-associated ovarian cancer in Japan appear to be similar to those in Western countries, and the L63X and Q934X mutations of BRCA1 appear to be common founder mutations unique to the Japanese population.

Expression of membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase in rheumatoid synovial cells

Membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is thought to be a putative regulator of pro-gelatinase A (MMP-2) in the rheumatoid synovium. In this study, we examined the effects of IL-1beta, one of the inflammatory cytokines, on the expression of MT1-MMP and the activation of pro-MMP-2 using rheumatoid synovial cells. We also studied the effects of KE-298 (2-acetylthiomethyl-4-(4-methylphenyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid), a new disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD), on MT1-MMP expression of rheumatoid synovial cells. Type B synovial cells (fibroblast-like synovial cells) were cultured with KE-298 (25-100 microg/ml) in the presence of IL-1beta for 48 h. Activation of pro-MMP-2 secreted from synovial cells was analysed by gelatin zymography. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods were used to detect MT1-MMP mRNA. MT1-MMP protein expression on synovial cells was examined by anti-MT1-MMP immunoblot. An active form of MMP-2 was demonstrated in the culture media conditioned by IL-1beta-stimulated synovial cells. In addition, MT1-MMP mRNA and protein expression of rheumatoid synovial cells were increased by IL-1beta treatment. KE-298 blocked this IL-1beta-induced pro-MMP-2 activation and MT1-MMP expression, but did not affect IL-1beta-induced tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) secretion from rheumatoid synovial cells. These findings indicate that activation of rheumatoid synovial cells by IL-1beta results in the induction of MT1-MMP expression. Given that MT1-MMP promotes matrix degradation by activating pro-MMP-2, these results suggest a novel mechanism whereby cytokine may contribute to articular destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). KE-298 may prevent this process by down-regulating MT1-MMP expression.

Sexual isolation and cuticular hydrocarbons in Drosophila elegans

In Drosophila elegans, partial sexual isolation has developed between the brown and black morphs, which are distributed allopatrically. The present study aims to understand how they discriminate between potential mates. Mating experiments show that the females of the two morphs differ in sexual signal(s) and the males discriminate using these differences. Body colouration is not used as a sexual cue in this species. Between the females of the two morphs, a large difference was observed in the percentages of 7-pentacosene and 9-pentacosene on the cuticle. Genetical analysis using recombinant inbred lines supported the possibility that the concentration of these pentacosenes plays a role in mate discrimination of these two morphs. However, males did not respond to killed females at all, suggesting that cuticular hydrocarbons of females are not the only cue for the induction of male courtship behaviour. It may be that unknown signals or substances are essential to induce male courtship and pentacosenes modulate the attractiveness of females, positively in the black morph and negatively in the brown morph. Drosophila elegans F1 offspring had intermediate characteristics in mate discrimination and hydrocarbon composition between the parental brown and black morph strains. The number of loci responsible for the differences in the concentration of pentacosenes and the male and female components in the mate recognition between these two morphs is suggested to be more than one.

Somatic mutations of the PTEN/NMAC1 gene associated with frequent chromosomal loss detected using comparative genomic hybridization in endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVES

We analyzed the mutational status of the transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor (TGF beta RII), BAX, and PTEN/MMAC1 genes as well as microsatellite instability (MI) in 29 consecutive cases of endometrial carcinoma operated on at the Cancer Institute Hospital (Tokyo, Japan). To identify chromosomal loss associated with significant somatic mutations, we conducted comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis.

METHODS

We conducted a direct sequence for mutational analysis of these genes. To examine copy number loss at the chromosomal regions bearing these genes, we used CGH analysis. CGH analysis may provides a genome-wide overview about tumor-associated genomic imbalances.

RESULTS

Among nine tumors that showed the MI+ phenotype, four (44%) demonstrated a significant mutation with a definite amino acid change in the PTEN/MMAC1 gene. CGH analysis demonstrated that all four tumors (100%) showed chromosomal copy number loss around the locus of this gene, whereas four (57%) of seven tumors with PTEN/MMAC1 mutations showed chromosomal loss or double mutations in MI- carcinomas. The role of TGF beta RII and BAX genes is limited as a target gene of MI+ phenotype in endometrial cancer, because several mutations of these genes were detected but a chromosomal loss was demonstrated by CGH in only one tumor in MI+ endometrial cancers with mutation.

CONCLUSIONS

This report reveals, by using CGH, that most MI+ endometrial cancers with PTEN/MMAC1 mutations as well as MI- tumors showed inactivation of both alleles of this gene, which strongly suggested the involvement of this gene in carcinogenesis.

Analysis of E6 variants of human papillomavirus type 33, 52 and 58 in Japanese women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia/cervical cancer in relation to their oncogenic potential

The variation of the E6 region of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is associated with a high risk for cervical carcinogenesis. To see whether the same is the case with HPV33, 52 and 58, known to have high homology with HPV16, we analyzed the E6 sequence variation of these HPVs in 107 Japanese women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or invasive cervical cancer (ICC): 20 HPV33-positive, 46 HPV52-positive and 41 HPV58-positive cases. HPV33 variants were more frequently observed in CINs I/II than in CIN III/ICCs (71% (5/7) versus 15% (2/13), P=0.02). In HPV52-positive cases, a single E6 variant was detected in 98% of the cases, whereas the prototype accounted for 98% of HPV58-positive cases. In summary, the distribution of E6 variants is different among HPV types tested, suggesting a link between E6 variation and oncogenic potential being type-specific.

Positive peritoneal cytology in endometrial cancer: enhancement of other prognostic indicators

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of positive peritoneal cytology in endometrial cancer.

METHODS

A clinicocytopathological study was performed in 534 patients with endometrial cancer to assess the prognostic value of positive peritoneal cytology. The study population was divided into three groups: a low-risk group (disease limited to the uterus, grade 1, and depth of invasion < or =1/2), a moderate-risk group (disease limited to the uterus, grade 2 or 3, and/or depth of invasion >1/2), and a high-risk group (extrauterine disease). In each group, disease-free survival was compared in the patients who were positive or negative for malignant cells.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of positive peritoneal cytology was 22.3% (119/534). The 5-year disease-free survival of patients positive or negative for malignant cells was 98.1% versus 100% in the low-risk group (n = 250), 77.5% versus 91.3% in the moderate-risk group (n = 211), and 42.9% versus 72.1% in the high-risk group (n = 73). A significant difference was noted in the moderate-risk (P = 0.044) and high-risk (P = 0.015) groups, but not in the low-risk group (P = 0.56).

CONCLUSIONS

Positive peritoneal cytology is not a negative prognostic indicator itself, but it potentiates other prognostic indicators for endometrial cancer. Our findings also suggest that patients with positive peritoneal cytology in the absence of other adverse prognostic factors do not need upstaging.