Cellular distribution of a colonic adenoma-associated antigen as defined by monoclonal antibody Adnab-9

Adenomatous colonic polyps constitute a precursor for colorectal cancer. Antibodies to these precancerous lesions might identify specific early tumor antigens. Adnab-9 is a murine monoclonal antibody raised against membranes of colonic adenomas. Adnab-9 binding in colonic washings (effluent) correlates with the presence of colorectal cancer. Immunohistochemical staining with Adnab-9 shows cytoplasmic reactivity in scattered cells in 4 of 31 adenomatous tissue sections, 0 of 14 sections of colorectal cancer cells, and 1 of 8 normal-appearing colonic mucosa specimens examined. Adnab-9 recognized a dominant M(r) 87,000 protein species in tissue extracts in the membrane-bound fraction of effluent by Western blotting. Adnab-9 binding by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in adenomatous extracts is higher than cancer or normal tissue, is membrane-bound, and is absent from established colorectal cancer cell lines. This distribution and nature of immunostaining suggest that Adnab-9 recognizes a determinant associated with the membrane component of a subpopulation of adenoma cells which may have a role in early colorectal neoplasia.

Proteoglycans from osteoarthritic human articular cartilage influence type II collagen in vitro fibrillogenesis

Collagen fibrils were formed in the presence of dermatan sulfate (DSPG) and high density (HDPG) proteoglycans isolated from human adult knee femoral articular cartilage. Eroded cartilage had a higher percentage of DSPGs in the extracted proteoglycans than normal cartilage (p = .018). The dermatan sulfate proteoglycans (DS-PGI and DS-PGII) were detected in normal and osteoarthritic cartilage. DSPGs compared to HDPG inhibited in vitro collagen fibrillogenesis producing a longer lag phase (p less than .05) and a slower rate of fibril formation (p less than .05). DSPGs from eroded osteoarthritic cartilage alone or in combination with HDPG produced a longer lag phase than DSPGs from normal cartilage alone or in combination with HDPG (p less than .05). The inhibition of fibrillogenesis by DSPGs suggests that collagen fibril formation in vivo may be abnormal due to the influence of molecular changes in proteoglycan as well as an increased proportion of DSPGs occurring in osteoarthritic cartilage. Abnormal fibril formation may produce a weakened cartilage matrix, thus contributing to an accelerated process of cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis.

Articular cartilage defects of the knee: correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and gross pathology

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee articular cartilage is possible owing to the contrast provided by different signal intensities of adjacent menisci and subchondral bone. The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of MRI in quantitatively detecting thinning and focal defects of articular cartilage in vivo. High resolution MRI was performed followed by dissection of the knee within one hour of amputations above the knee of eight patients (62-89 years) with peripheral vascular disease. Articular cartilage was examined for erosions, surface irregularities, and appearance. Mean thicknesses of femoral and tibial articular cartilage sagittal sections from MRI were statistically indistinguishable from matched gross thicknesses. In those joints in which cartilage erosions, thinning, or irregularities were detected by MRI the same defects were apparent by gross examination. Cartilage that appeared normal by MRI had a normal gross appearance by gross examination. Thus high resolution MRI can accurately predict gross articular cartilage appearance and thickness, allowing an objective, quantitative, noninvasive assessment of eroded cartilage.

Immunohistochemical study of melanocytic nevus and malignant melanoma with monoclonal antibodies against S-100 subunits

Immunohistochemical localization of S-100 protein alpha and beta subunits in the cells of melanocytic nevi and malignant melanomas was studied by using monoclonal antibodies directed against each subunit. Although polyclonal anti-S-100 reactivities have been demonstrated uniformly in all nevus cells and melanoma cells, monoclonal anti-S-100 alpha and anti-S-100 beta reactivities were either absent or rarely found in ordinary junctional nevi or junctional nests of ordinary compound nevi. However, in the junctional nests of dysplastic junctional nevi and junctional components of dysplastic compound nevi, monoclonal anti-S-100 alpha reactivity become more frequent, whereas monoclonal anti-S-100 beta reactivity remains negative. In the superficial variety of melanomas such as superficial spreading melanoma and lentigo maligna melanoma, monoclonal anti-S-100 beta is nonreactive until vertical growth or invasiveness begins. Most nodular melanomas are positively stained with both monoclonal anti-S-100 alpha and anti-S-100 beta. It is suggested that monoclonal anti-S-100 alpha can be an indicator of active junctional nevus of melanocytic nevi and the reactivity with monoclonal anti-S-100 beta may be related to vertical progression of superficial spreading melanomas and lentigo maligna melanomas.

Efficacy of liver wound healing by secondary intent

Nonoperative treatment of liver injury raises questions about liver wound healing (LWH) when the edges are not approximated by primary intent. The efficacy of LWH was studied in 18 dogs and 18 pigs with a total of 108 standard 6-cm injuries. The 36 injuries in six dogs and six pigs were compressed for hemostasis and then allowed to heal by second intent. LWH in these animals was compared to 36 liver wounds in six dogs and six pigs following primary closure (hepatorrhaphy) and 36 liver wounds after omental buttress plus hepatorrhaphy in six dogs and six pigs. Average wound breaking strength (WBS) of liver wounds was studied at 3 weeks (54 wounds) and 6 weeks (54 wounds) with a Chatillon tensiometer and microscopic analysis. The WBS of liver wounds was also compared to normal uninjured liver WBS. The porcine WBS at 3 weeks after healing by second intent (0.31 kg/cm2) was similar to the WBS at 3 weeks after healing by hepatorrhaphy (0.30 kg/cm2) and omental buttress (0.25 kg/cm2). Porcine WBS at 6 weeks after healing by second intent was significantly greater than WBS at 6 weeks after hepatorrhaphy or omental buttress. The canine WBS at 3 weeks after healing by second intent exceeded WBS at 3 weeks after hepatorrhaphy or omental buttress. Canine WBS at 6 weeks after healing by second intent exceeded WBS at 6 weeks after omental buttress and was similar to WBS at 6 weeks after hepatorrhaphy. WBS in all groups paralleled the extent of fibrosis seen on microscopic analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In situ quantitation of inflammatory mononuclear cells in ductal infiltrating breast carcinoma. Relation to prognostic parameters

The authors examined inflammatory mononuclear cells in 10 fibroadenomas and 56 ductal infiltrating type carcinomas of the breast to see whether the distribution of various subpopulations of the mononuclear cells were correlated with known histologic, biochemical, and clinical parameters of the cancers. T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, and macrophages were quantitated on frozen tissue sections, which were stained with monoclonal antibodies, as demonstrated by the immunoperoxidase technique. The carcinomas had significantly higher numbers of T cells, Leu-3+ helper-inducer cells, T8+ cytotoxic-suppressor cells, M5+ macrophages, and T6+ Langerhans cells than the fibroadenomas. There were no significant differences in the distribution of natural killer cells. Among these mononuclear subsets, helper-inducer T cells were the primary cell type in both benign and malignant neoplasms. Estrogen receptor-positive carcinoma had significantly fewer numbers of T cells and the subgroup of Leu-3+ helper-inducer cells. Clinical Stage 3 cancers had significantly fewer numbers of T cells and natural killer cells than both fibroadenomas and Stage I and II neoplasms. Prominent infiltration of T cells, specifically helper-inducer cells, is not associated with estrogen receptor positivity, which is known to be a favorable prognostic marker of breast carcinoma. The findings of fewer T cells and natural killer cells in Stage 3 carcinomas are intriguing but unexplained.

Augmented gastrin responses in diabetic patients with vagal neuropathy

We evaluated serum gastrin responses to a test meal in normal subjects and diabetic patients with or without vagal neuropathy. Vagal neuropathy was defined as a heart rate variation during deep breathing of less than 9 beats/min. Forty-three percent (54 out of 124) of the diabetic patients had abnormal heart rate variation, compared with 5% (3 out of 53) of the normal subjects. Serum gastrin responses to a test meal were examined in 17 normal subjects, 20 out of 70 diabetic patients without vagal neuropathy and 17 out of 54 diabetic patients with vagal neuropathy. Meal-stimulated gastrin levels were significantly higher in the diabetic patients with vagal neuropathy than in the normal subjects, while the findings in the diabetic patients without vagal neuropathy were similar to those in normal subjects. These data suggest that augmented gastrin responses are due to vagal denervation induced by autonomic neuropathy.

Are Fc gamma receptors naturally clustered on normal human B lymphocytes?

The Fc gamma receptor (FcR) on normal human B lymphocytes was studied by using electron-microscopic monovalent ligands made of one ferritin (Fer) and one rabbit IgG anti-Fer. The binding of ligands was ascertained with the modified Coombs mixed antiglobulin reaction. The receptors were found clustered at 0 degree C, which was not affected even by examining the coated cells without washing away excess of the ligand solution, or by cross-linking bound ligands with a second antibody. The clusters varied in length, measuring up to 220 nm. Most of them were less than 110 nm long, and were seen as spots. When lymphocytes were preincubated with both cytochalasin B and colchicine, the clustering of FcR was not affected. Our findings show that FcR on B lymphocytes are naturally aggregated, which is not primarily mediated with the cytoskeletons made of actin microfilaments and microtubules.

Breast carcinoma with osseous metaplasia: an electron microscopic study

A breast carcinoma containing osseous metaplasia was examined with electron microscopy. The heterologous components were intermingled closely with the usual infiltrating ductal type of a breast carcinoma. Ultrastructurally, carcinoma cells were distinguished clearly from the various mesenchymal cells composed of active fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts. No intermediate cells were present between the two distinct cell populations. Our findings are consistent with the stromal cell origin of the heterologous components and are discussed with relation to their histogenesis in breast carcinoma.

Hyaline globules and intracellular lumina in a hepatocellular carcinoma

The authors report ultrastructural findings on the morphogenesis of hyaline globular inclusions (HG) of a moderately well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma, with the features of a fibrolamellar variant. Pale blue cytoplasmic inclusions (pale bodies) of the tumor cells were shown to be intracellular lumina lined with numerous microvilli. Our findings suggest that HG were formed apparently by the successive deposition of fine granular materials in the lumina. Small accumulations were present in the intracellular lumina, which were seen on light microscopy as central hyaline cores of pale inclusions. Larger globular deposits, corresponding to HG and presumably mature ones, were lined closely with membranes devoid of microvilli that were probably shed intraluminally. Our observation was discussed with relation to the previous findings on the inclusions.

Rapid endocytosis of soluble immune complexes by Fc receptors of normal human neutrophils

The redistribution of the Fc receptor (FcR) on human neutrophils was examined by using specific ligands made of one ferritin (Fer) molecule and one IgG antibody. Incubating neutrophils with the bound ligands at 37°, the numbers of neutrophils carrying the ligands were rapidly decreased, which was detected with a modified Coombs' mixed antiglobulin reaction (double-coating indirect rosette formation). Only less than half of the remaining rosetting neutrophils formed capping, adhering indicator red cells over one half or less of the neutrophil surface. The general trends were basically similar, even by using a second antibody to cross-link the bound ligands or incubating the coated neutrophils at 22°. By electron microscopy under the same conditions without the cross-linking antibody, the ligands were seen to be rapidly endocytosed into pinosomes at 5 min at 37° which subsequently fused with lysosomes at 15 min. No aggregation or polar capping of FcR patches was recognized. While the ligands were closely adherent to the cell membrane at 0°, some of them were released into the lumens of endocytic vesicles at 37°, suggesting the dissociation from the membrane receptors. In incubated coated cells at 22°, the general patterns of the ligand redistribution were similar except for the slower progression than at 37°. With cross-linking antibody, the patterns of endocytosis at both temperatures were similar except for the appearance of remaining FcR patches on the external cell surface. The receptor-mediated endocytosis of the ligands differed and did not result from fluid phase pinocytosis of plain Fer. Our findings are discussed with relation to the ligand-induced redistribution of other surface receptors involved in specific cellular functions.

Natural clusterings of Fc receptors on human neutrophils--not affected by the cytoskeletal reagents

By using sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation and immunodiffusion, we confirmed the monovalency of the electron microscopic ligand for the receptor for the Fc portion of IgG (FcR) on human neutrophils, which was composed of one ferritin (Fer) molecule and one IgG anti-Fer molecule. Pre-treatment of neutrophils at 37 degrees for 30 min with cytochalasin B, colchicine, both of the reagents, concanavalin A, and tetracaine did not alter the clustering of FcR on the surface, which was demonstrated by the ligand at 0 degrees. The effectiveness of these employed cytoskeletal reagents was determined ultrastructurally by observing the changes of morphology and cytoskeletal structures of treated neutrophils; a novel and unique cellular change of cytochalasin B-treated neutrophils was described which we called arachnocytosis. Under our experimental conditions the cytoplasmic surface of the membrane under the receptor patches did not show any specialized density resembling coated membrane regions. These data verify our previous finding that FeR is naturally clustered on human neutrophils, and suggest strongly that the FcR natural clustering is not primarily mediated by the cytoskeletons consisting of microfilaments (actin) and microtubules, and the coated membrane region. The exact mechanism for FcR clustering on human neutrophils is not clear and remains to be elucidated.

Fc receptors on human neutrophils: electron microscopic study of natural surface distribution

The membrane receptor for the Fc portions of IgG (FcR) was examined on the cell surface of human neutrophils using electron microscopic markers of soluble immune complexes composed of ferritin (Fer) and rabbit 7S anti-Fer prepared in forty-fold and 120-fold antigen excess than needed at equivalence. By using negative staining coupled with electron microscopy, most of the immune complexes in forty-fold antigen excess were seen to be composed of one anti-Fer antibody and one or two Fer particles, suggesting that most of the indicator molecules are 'monovalent ligands' in terms of Fc pieces available per single immune complex molecule. FcR on neutrophils labelled with both indicators at 0 degrees in the presence of sodium azide were clustered as discontinuous patches of varying length over the cell surface. The pre-incubation of neutrophils at 37 degrees for 30 min prior to labelling did not alter the grouped distribution of FcR. No diffuse Fer labelling was observed. The clustering of FcR remained the same even after cross-linking the soluble complexes with F(ab')2 anti-Fer into multivalent ligands at 0 degrees. We favour the clustering of FcR as the natural surface representation on human neutrophils rather than an initial redistribution induced by the ligands. The findings are discussed with relation to the natural distribution of other surface antigens.

Binding of soluble immune complexes to Fc receptors on human neutrophils--detection by double-coating indirect rosette formation

By using double-coating indirect rosette formation (DIRF), which is a modification of Coomb's mixed antiglobulin reaction, soluble immune complexes of ferritin (Fer) and rabbit anti-Fer in 40- to 120-fold antigen excess are shown to bind to the Fc receptor (FcR) on human neutrophils and lymphocytes. The molar ratios of anti-Fer antibody and Fer in these immune complexes are determined, at least, 1:7 and 1:21 respectively. These immune complexes have the same capabilities in detecting FcR-bearing neutrophils and lymphocytes, which is dependent upon the amounts of anti-Fer antibody present in the complexes. 81% on average of human neutrophils bear FcR which is trypsin resistant. The FcR on neutrophils is partially sensitive to pronase and completely inactivated after short glutaraldehyde fixation at 0 degrees C of the cells. Our findings strongly suggest that the weak binding of soluble immune complexes in antigen excess in some studies reflected the limitation of techniques employed to detect the binding rather than the nature of FcR on phagocytes.

Electron microscopy of Fc receptors on human lymphocytes

The membrane receptor for Fc portions of IgG (FcR) was localized on the cell surface of humans lymphocytes by electron microscopy. The electron microscopic markers for FcR were soluble ferritin 7S anti-ferritin immune complexes prepared in forty times antigen excess than needed at equivalence. Fc receptors on the lymphocytes labelled at 0 degree in the presence of sodium azide were seen as discontinuous patches on the cell surface. In control experiments, no labelling was observed, which included lymphocytes treated with ferritin only or with F(ab')2 immune complexes as well as glutaraldehyde-fixed lymphocytes treated with 7S anti-ferritin immune complexes. The findings are discussed with relation to the widely accepted membrane fluidity model.

Fc receptors on human lymphocytes detected with double-coating indirect rosette formation

The Fc receptor (FcR) on human lymphocytes is studied by using soluble immune complexes in antigen excess, prepared between ferritin and rabbit anti-ferritin, and a modification of Coombs' antigolbulin reaction (double-coating indirect rosette formation). 12% of human blood lymphocytes are shown to have Fc receptors. The FcR on lymphocytes is sensitive to pronase treatment, partially sensitive to trypsin digestion, and is inactivated after short glutaraldehyde fixation of lymphocytes. By cell fractionation experiments, FcR-positive lymphocytes were enriched in cell populations enriched with B cells.

Postirradiation sarcoma (malignant fibrous histiocytoma) of axilla

A case is reported of a patient who developed a histologically unusual sarcoma in the axilla and chest wall 8 years after receiving radiation therapy (6500 rad) for carcinoma of the breast. This sarcoma showed light- and electron-microscopic features of a malignant fibrous histiocytoma, a tumor not documented among 24 previously reported cases of postirradiation sarcoma following the diagnosis of breast carcinoma. In addition, the literature is reviewed and discussed regarding postirradiation sarcoma in general following breast carcinoma.

Amyloid formation in insulinoma

Local amyloid depositions were investigated with electron microscopy in a functioning beta cell adenoma of the pancreas. Beta granule-containing neoplastic cells adjoining small amyloid depositions were shown to have cellular invaginations containing radiating amyloid bundles, indicating the neoplastic cells were involved in the formation of amyloid. Seen in the larger mayloid depositions were attenuated, thin, cellular processes of the neoplastic cells, separating the amyloid stroma into globules. The globular separations of the amyloid correlated well with the light-microscopic globular appearance of amyloid stroma. Possible mechanisms are discussed for the amyloid deposition of insulinoma with relation to amyloidogenesis of other types of amyloidosis.

Increased numbers of rabbit blood lymphocytes with allotypic determinants demonstrated by double-coating indirect rosette formation

Using single-coating indirect rosette formation (SIRF), a modification of the mixed antiglobulin reaction, the percentage of rabbit peripheral blood lymphocytes with demonstrable a1 immunoglobulin allotypic determinants is far smaller than the percentage with b4 or b5 allotypic determinants. The number of lymphocytes with a1 determinants, which are located on the Fd portion of the immunoglobulin molecule, is consistently increased (two to eight-fold) using double-coating indirect rosette formation (DIRF). In contrast, the percentage of lymphocytes with b4 or b5 determinants, which are located on the immunoglobulin light chains, remains the same or is only slightly increased, so that the lymphocytes from four a1a1 b5b5 rabbits, when tested separately for a1 and b5 by DIRF, have similar percentages of a1 and b5 containing cells.

SIRF lymphocytes are formed by coating lymphocytes with antiallotypic antibody which will bind to erythrocytes coated with subagglutinating doses of anti-RBC antibody which carries the same allotypic specificity as the lymphocyte donor. DIRF lymphocytes are formed by interposing two antiallotypic molecules between the lymphocyte and the indicator red cell. For example, b4 lymphocytes coated with b5 anti-b4 molecules are double coated by the addition of anti-b5 made in a b6 rabbit and rosettes formed by the addition of sheep red cells coated with b5 anti-RBC.

The consistent increase in the numbers of lymphocytes with a1 allotypic determinants by DIRF as compared to b group (b4 or b5) determinants suggests that the Fd portion of lymphocyte surface immunoglobulins is less exposed than light chains or the Fc piece.