Decrease in circulating hematopoietic progenitor cells by trapping in the pulmonary circulation

BACKGROUND

When stem-cell grafts are infused into the venous circulation and stem/progenitor cells egress from BM, pulmonary capillary beds are the first microcirculation site that they encounter. This provides the potential for circulating progenitor cells to be trapped in the pulmonary circulation.

METHODS

We compared the number of progenitor cells [CD34(+) cells, colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM), CD34(+) CD41(+) cells and CFU-megakaryocyte (CFU-meg)] and their expression of cell-adhesion molecules (CAM) in samples taken simultaneously from radial arteries and central veins of 21 patients following PBSC mobilization.

RESULTS

The mean (+/- SD) frequency of progenitor cells in the radial arteries was reduced to 79% +/- 25% for CD34(+) cells, 73% +/- 27% for CFU-GM, 77% +/- 25% for CD34(+) CD41(+) cells and 70% +/- 29% for CFU-meg of the number in the central veins. This suggests that some progenitor cells might be trapped in the lung. No association between progenitor-cell expression of CAM and pulmonary trapping was observed.

DISCUSSION

Our data demonstrate pulmonary trapping of PBSC during mobilization, suggesting a potential inhibitory effect on PBSC harvest and medullary trafficking following graft infusion. However, the impact associated with pulmonary PBSC trapping may be negligible in the clinical setting if sufficient cells are infused.

Variation in MT expression in early-stage depressed-type and polypoid-type colorectal tumours

Metallothionein (MT) expression is observed in various carcinomas, but its role is not fully understood. To clarify the clinicopathological significance of MT, 87 colorectal adenomas and 128 early-stage carcinomas were immunohistochemically analysed for MT expression. The degree of MT immunostaining of a specimen was graded according to the proportion of MT-positive cells; negative (<5%) and positive (focally 5-50%, diffusely >50%). MT expression significantly decreased with tumour development. For carcinomas, MT-positivity was significantly associated with depth of invasion (T1 60% versus T2 33%; P<0.01), vascular involvement (positive 35% versus negative 61%; P<0.01) and morphology (polypoid 62% versus depressed 26%; P<0.01). Regarding MT-positive distribution, the diffuse-positive rate in MT-positive polypoid lesions was 28%, while MT-positive depressed lesions were all diffusely stained (P<0.01). In conclusion, our results suggested that decreasing MT expression is an early event in colorectal carcinogenesis and may reflect local invasion. Furthermore, MT-positive distribution may reflect genetic differences between the polypoid and depressed-type.

Cytokines and neurotrophic factors fail to affect Nogo-A mRNA expression in differentiated human neurones: implications for inflammation-related axonal regeneration in the central nervous system

Nogo is a novel myelin-associated inhibitor of neurite outgrowth which regulates stable neuronal connections during axonal regeneration following injury in the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Because cytokines and neurotrophic factors play a key role in inflammation-related axonal regeneration, we investigated: (i) the constitutive expression of Nogo and the Nogo receptor (NgR) mRNA in human neural cell lines; (ii) Nogo and NgR mRNA levels in the NTera2 human teratocarcinoma cell line during retinoic acid (RA)-induced neuronal differentiation; and (iii) their regulation in NTera2-derived differentiated neurones (NTera2-N) after exposure to a battery of cytokines and growth factors potentially produced by activated glial cells at post-traumatic inflammatory lesions in the CNS. By reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis, the constitutive expression of Nogo-A, the longest isoform of three distinct Nogo transcripts and NgR mRNA was identified in a wide variety of human neural and non-neural cell lines. By Northern blot analysis, the levels of Nogo-A mRNA were elevated markedly in NTera2 cells following RA-induced neuronal differentiation, accompanied by an increased expression of the neurite growth-associated protein GAP-43 mRNA. In contrast, Nogo-A, Nogo-B, NgR and GAP-43 mRNA levels were unaltered in NTera2-N cells by exposure to basic fibroblast growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glia-derived neurotrophic factor, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, dibutyryl cyclic AMP or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. These results indicate that both Nogo-A and NgR mRNA are coexpressed in various human cell types, including differentiated neurones, where their expression is unaffected by exposure to a panel of cytokines and neurotrophic factors which might be involved in inflammation-related axonal regeneration in the CNS.

Plasma levels of natriuretic peptide and echocardiographic parameters in patients with Duchenne's progressive muscular dystrophy

We investigated the relationship between plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and systolic and diastolic cardiac function, determined by echocardiography, in 63 patients with Duchenne's progressive muscular dystrophy (DMD) (age range 8-21 years). The relationship between shortening fraction of the left ventricle and ANP and BNP levels was curvilinear rather than linear: When the shortening fraction was >15%, increases in ANP and BNP levels were minimal. However, if the shortening fraction was <15%, both natriuretic peptide levels increased dramatically. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that only the deceleration time of the early diastolic filling wave predicted plasma BNP concentration among various diastolic echocardiographic parameters determined by mitral flow. Three patients died of cardiac dysfunction during a 2-year follow-up period. These patients had a severely decreased deceleration time (<65% of normal) in association with increases in both natriuretic peptide levels. In conclusion, plasma ANP and BNP levels are not sensitive markers for the early detection of cardiac systolic dysfunction in patients with DMD. However, in patients with systolic dysfunction, an increase in the concentrations of these peptides, associated with a decrease in the deceleration time of early diastolic filling, suggests poor prognosis.

Absence of Z-chromosome inactivation for five genes in male chickens

In order to examine if Z-chromosome inactivation, which is analogous to X-chromosome inactivation in mammals, takes place in male birds having ZZ sex chromosomes, five Z-linked genes of chickens which are expressed in both sexes in certain tissues were selected: i.e. genes for growth hormone receptor, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor beta3, aldolase B, beta1,4-galactosyltransferase I, and iron-responsive element-binding protein (also known as cytosolic aconitase). Antisense or sense riboprobe was prepared from an intronic sequence of each gene and subjected to fluorescence in situ hybridization to nascent transcripts of each gene in a nucleus. Each antisense riboprobe hyridized to two spots of nascent RNA which corresponded to its gene loci on the two Z chromosomes in a majority of nuclei in a tissue of the male. The efficiency of detection of two spots per nucleus was comparable to that for the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene, an autosomal housekeeping gene. These results suggest strongly that Z-chromosome inactivation, i.e. virtual silence of transcription at one of the alleles, does not take place for these five Z-linked genes in male chickens.

Type II citrullinaemia (citrin deficiency) in a neonate with hypergalactosaemia detected by mass screening

Type II citrullinaemia (CTLN2) is an adult- or late childhood-onset liver disease characterized by a liver-specific defect in argininosuccinate synthetase protein. The enzyme abnormality is caused by deficiency of the protein citrin, which is encoded by the SLC25A 13 gene. Until now, however, few cases with SLC25A13 mutations have been reported in children with liver disease. We describe an infant who presented with neonatal hepatitis in association with hypergalactosaemia detected by neonatal mass screening. DNA analysis of SLC25A13 revealed that the patient was homozygous for a IVS11+1G>A mutation. This case suggests that SLC25A13 mutant should be suspected in neonatal patients with hypergalactosaemia of unknown cause.

Technetium-99m-ECD SPECT in antiphospholipid antibody syndrome: a drastic improvement in brain perfusion by antiplatelet therapy

We present a case of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) with repeated transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple cerebral infarcts and ischemic changes in the cerebral white matter. Cerebral angiographies showed no abnormalities. Technetium-99m-ethyl cysteinate dimer (Tc-99m-ECD) brain SPECT showed multiple decreased perfusion areas, which were more extensive than the lesions demonstrated on MRI. After treatment with an antiplatelet agent, the patient subsequently recovered from the TIAs. Although no interval changes were observed by MRI after therapy, follow-up Tc-99m-ECD SPECT revealed a marked improvement in brain perfusion. This is the first imaging report of remarkable post-therapy improvement in brain perfusion in APS cases.

A putative polymorphic Val44Ala variation in the synphilin-1 gene is undetectable in Japanese sporadic Parkinson's disease patients

Recently, a novel protein-interaction partner of alpha-synuclein, designated synphilin-1, is identified as a constituent of Lewy bodies (LB) in Parkinson's disease (PD) brains. To investigate an involvement of genetic variations of synphilin-1 in development of sporadic PD, a possible single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of T131C corresponding to a valine (Val) to alanine (Ala) substitution at codon 44 in exon 3 of the synphilin-1 gene was studied in a Japanese population of 55 patients with sporadic PD and 61 patients with non-PD by direct sequencing analysis. All 116 subjects showed a homozygosity of Val at codon 44 in the synphilin-1 gene, suggesting that this SNP is unlikely to affect genetic susceptibility to sporadic PD in the Japanese population.

Preoperative hepatic venous embolization for partial hepatectomy combined with segmental resection of major hepatic vein

BACKGROUND

Liver resection of segments VII and/or VIII sometimes requires segmental resection of the right hepatic vein in patients with liver tumours invading or located close to the hepatic vein. In this situation, hepatic vein reconstruction is thought to have an important role in the postoperative function of segment VI. This study investigated whether preoperative embolization of the major hepatic vein could obviate the need for hepatic vein reconstruction after cranial partial resection of the liver including the major hepatic vein trunk in a preclinical model.

METHODS

Sixteen beagles were divided into two groups of eight: control group (hepatectomy alone) and hepatic venous embolization (HVE) group (hepatectomy after HVE). HVE was performed 2 weeks before hepatectomy. All dogs underwent resection of the cranial third of the left lateral liver lobe together with the major trunk of the left hepatic vein. Following hepatectomy, survival, histological features, portal venous pressure and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were determined.

RESULTS

Six control animals and seven in the HVE group were alive 1 week after hepatectomy. Immediately after hepatectomy, portal venous pressure was significantly higher in the control group compared with the HVE group (mean(s.d.) 14.0(1.1) versus 8.1(1.0) mmHg; P < 0.01). Histological examination of the remnant left lateral lobe demonstrated patchy parenchymal haemorrhage in the control group and normal parenchymal architecture in the HVE group. Peak AST levels were observed on day 1 in both groups and were significantly higher in the control group (mean(s.d.) 182(42) versus 67(40) units/l; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

In this model, preoperative HVE facilitated interlobar venous collateral formation and minimized the untoward effects of segmental hepatic vein resection. This procedure may obviate the need for hepatic vein reconstruction after cranial partial liver resection including the major hepatic vein.

Gender-specific occurrence of West syndrome in patients with pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) deficiency, a major cause of congenital lactic acidemia in children, usually is complicated by seizures, and, in some patients, West syndrome has occurred. We diagnosed 60 patients with PDHC deficiency, including equal numbers of affected males and females. We studied the clinical features in 10 patients with West syndrome caused by PDHC deficiency, and examined the relation to the mutation of the E(1)alpha subunit, representing the great majority of PDHC deficiencies. Among 30 boys and 30 girls with PDHC deficiency,1 boy and 9 girls had West syndrome, even though overall West syndrome shows a slight male preponderance. Therefore, West syndrome associated with PDHC deficiency occurred in 9 of 30 female patients (33%), but in only 1 of 30 male patients (3%). The frequency of West syndrome in patients with PDHC deficiency was significantly higher in females than in males(p<0.05). Lactate concentrations in blood and CSF should be measured in female patients with West syndrome as a screening test for PDHC deficiency, because of gender-specific occurrence of West syndrome caused by PDHC deficiency.

[Effects of smoking on pulmonary function: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study]

Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies were done to investigate the influence that a change in smoking habit can have on the pulmonary function. Seventeen hundred and thirty nine people (698 men, 1,041 women), 39 years of age or older, from the population of a farming village located in the central part of Miyazaki Prefecture were examined. A population-based cohort study with a 4-time observation was done over an interval of 12 years. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1.0) were used as the index of respiratory function, and adjusted annual change of FVC and adjusted annual change of FEV1.0 were used as a pulmonary function inspection index. There was a statistical significance in both %FVC and %FEV1.0 to the predicted values between smokers and non-smokers at the beginning of observation. The adjusted annual change of FVC both of male- and female-smokers and the adjusted annual change of FEV1.0 of male-smokers was higher than those of non-smokers in the longitudinal study. Percent FVC, %FEV1.0 and the adjusted FEV1.0 change of former male-smokers were lower than those of continuing smokers. In addition to %FVC and %FEV1.0, annual change of FVC and annual change of FEV1.0 were important predictors of pulmonary function related to cigarette smoking.

Abnormal IgG galactosylation in MRL-lpr/lpr mice: pathogenic role in the development of arthritis

MRL-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mice spontaneously develop arthritis by an increase in the incidence of agalactosylated oligosaccharides in serum IgG, similar to rheumatoid arthritis patients. However, whether this association has a pathogenic significance is still unknown. In this study, we analyzed the oligosaccharide structure of serum IgG in various MRL mice with or without arthritis, to clarify the relationship between the oligosaccharide abnormality and the development of arthritis. The level of agalactosylation in serum IgG was comparable in both arthritis-free MRL/lpr and MRL-+/+ (MRL/+) mice at 6 weeks of age. In contrast, the incidence of IgG lacking galactose markedly increased in MRL/lpr mice at 6 months of age (the age at which arthritis occurred), compared with that from age-matched MRL/+ mice without arthritis. However, the proportion of agalactosylated IgG increased similarly in anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody-treated MRL/lpr mice at 6 months of age, despite the absence of the development of arthritis, because of depletion of CD4+ T cells. These results suggest that the abnormality in IgG galactosylation of MRL/lpr mice developed in an age-dependent manner, but it did so independently of CD4+ T cell-dependent B-cell activation and is not a consequence of the development of arthritis.

Histological study of PIVKA-II expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and adenomatous hyperplasia

Although serum concentration of protein induced vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II) has been widely used for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), little information is available concerning tissue PIVKA-II as an immunohistochemical marker for liver histology. In this study, we examined the expression of PIVKA-II in precancerous nodules (adenomatous hyperplasia) and various differentiation grades of HCC by immunohistochemical study using the monoclonal anti-PIVKA-II antibody (MU-3). We examined the relationship between tissue PIVKA-II staining and serum PIVKA-II level, tumor histology and tumor size. PIVKA-II was mainly detected in the cytoplasm of the HCC cells. The positive rates of PIVKA-II were as follows: adenomatous hyperplasia (AH), 0% (0/9); well-differentiated HCC, 65% (15/23); moderately differentiated HCC, 85% (22/26); poorly differentiated HCC, 54% (7/13). The expression of tissue PIVKA-II staining in moderately differentiated HCC was significantly higher than in well- or poorly differentiated HCC, whereas the serum PIVKA-II level in poorly differentiated HCC was higher than well- or moderately differentiated HCC. There was no relationship between the expression of PIVKA-II in cancer tissues and serum levels of PIVKA-II. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that PIVKA-II was expressed even in small-sized or well-differentiated HCC cells, but expression was not detected in AH. It was concluded that PIVKA-II is a useful immunohistochemical marker, even in small-sized or well-differentiated HCC.

Helix-stabilizing effects of the pentapeptide KIFMK and its related peptides on the sodium channel inactivation gate peptides

We have previously found by NMR and CD spectroscopic studies that the helical content of the sodium channel inactivation gate-related peptide (Ac-GGQDIFMTEEQK-NH2; MP-1A) in 80% trifluoroethanol solutions was increased by adding a pentapeptide, KIFMK. In order to study in further detail whether the presence of the IFM motif and the two lysine residues is a prerequisite for stabilizing the helical conformation, we examined interactions between various oligopeptides (RIFMR, KIFMTK, KIQMK, KAFAK, KIIIK) and MP-1A and its related peptides; that is, MP-2A in which Phe was replaced by Gln, MP-1MMA in which Thr was replaced by Met, MP-1TA in which Thr was removed from MP-1A, and MP-1A' in which L-Phe was replaced by D-Phe. It was found that the IFM motif was absolutely necessary in both the oligopeptide and the inactivation gate peptide. This finding means that hydrophobic interactions are operative between KIFMK and MP-1A. In contrast, KIFMK destabilized the helical structure of MP-1MMA, MP-1TA, and MP-1A', showing that the conformation around the IFM motif in the inactivation gate peptides is an important factor. It was concluded that the IFM motif and the two Lys residues are a prerequisite for effectively stabilizing the alpha-helix of MP-1A.

Possible role of heat shock protein 60 in reducing ischemic-reperfusion injury in canine pancreas grafts after preservation by the two-layer method

INTRODUCTION

Recently, results of the clinical application of the two-layer method have shown the morphologic quality of the human pancreas grafts after reperfusion to be excellent, although ischemia-reperfusion injury is related to early graft loss in pancreas transplantation. However, some reports have indicated that heat shock proteins (HSPs) have important functions in response to the stress-related events.

AIM

To examine whether the two-layer method reduced ischemia-reperfusion injury in a canine pancreas autotransplantation model by investigating the expression of HSPs.

METHODOLOGY

There were three experimental groups in which dogs received segmental autografts after preservation by the two-layer method using University of Wisconsin solution (UW) (group 1), simple storage in UW (group 2) for 24 hours, or no preservation (group 3).

RESULTS

In group 1, pancreatic tissue perfusions were high, and pancreatic exocrine functions were well preserved after 1, 2, and 4 hours of reperfusion with low incidence of graft pancreatitis or vessel thrombosis compared with that in group 2. Moreover, ATP rapidly recovered, and HSP 60 was strongly enhanced after reperfusion in group 1. On the other hand, ATP recovery and the enhancement of HSP 60 were weak after reperfusion in group 2.

CONCLUSION

The two-layer method reduced ischemia-reperfusion injury compared with UW simple storage in canine pancreas autotransplantation with a strong expression of HSP 60.

Differential expression of RAGE in human pancreatic carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Amphoterin is a key protein in normal neurite outgrowth and that its receptor on the cell surface, RAGE, is an important molecule for invasion. RAGE induces neurite outgrowth and regulate gene expression through NF-kappa B. Because the pancreatic cancer shows the constitutively activated NF-kappa B, the involvement of RAGE could be possible as a determinant for the metastatic ability.

METHODOLOGY

To see the involvement of RAGE in pancreatic cancer, three representative human pancreatic carcinoma cells were rendered for the study which have different metastatic potential, PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2 as the cells with high ability, BxPC-3 as those with low. The expression of RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end-products) was examined by Western blot.

RESULTS

The expression of RAGe was strong in MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 that have high metastatic ability. On the contrary, RAGE is expressed little in BxPC-3 whose ability is low.

CONCLUSIONS

RAGE is expressed in concordant to the metastatic ability of the human pancreatic cancer cells. Control of this molecule could be a key to regulate the metastatic ability of pancreatic cancer.

Abnormal IgG galactosylation and arthritis in MRL-Fas(lpr) or MRL-FasL(gld) mice are under the control of the MRL genetic background

MRL mice bearing the lpr (Fas) or gld (Fas ligand) mutation, MRL-Fas(lpr) or MRL-FasL(gld), respectively, develop arthritis similar to rheumatoid arthritis, but C3H and C57BL/6 mice bearing such mutations do not. In MRL-Fas(lpr) mice, agalactosylated oligosaccharides in serum IgG increase significantly in comparison to MRL-+/+ mice without arthritis. In this study, an increased level of agalactosylation in IgG, as compared to MRL-+/+, was found in both MRL-Fas(lpr) and MRL-FasL(gld) mice. In contrast, the incidence of IgG without galactose was comparable among C3H-Fas(lpr), C3H-FasL(gld), and C3H-+/+ mice as well as between C57BL/6-Fas(lpr) and C57BL/6-+/+ mice. These results suggest that the increase in agalactosylated IgG and the development of arthritis in MRL-Fas(lpr) and MRL-FasL(gld) mice are controlled by the MRL genetic background.