Sulfidoleukotriene release test (CAST) in hypersensitivity to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

There is a great need to develop a method for making an accurate and reliable in vitro diagnosis of adverse hypersensitivity reactions to drugs. We measured the amount of sulfidoleukotriene (sLT) released from the peripheral blood leukocytes obtained from 25 patients who developed hypersensitivity reactions following the administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); 12 patients demonstrated reactions to Voltaren, 8 patients to Bufferin, and 5 patients to Sedes G. The stimulation index, the ratio of the amounts of sLT (pg/ml) incubated with and without drugs, was considerably higher in the patients than in the controls, which consisted of 5 nonallergic healthy subjects. The sensitivity of the CAST (cellular antigen stimulation test) was evaluated to range from 62.5 to 80%, while the specificity was 70-100%. The CAST may thus be useful as a novel in vitro test system in order to screen for possible hypersensitive reactions to NSAIDs with both reliability and safety.

Down regulation of a harmful variant protein by replacement of its normal protein

To compensate for the hypoprotein and hypoalbuminemia of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) patients, 800 ml of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) was intravenously administered and change in total and variant transthyretin (TTR) levels were measured in the plasma. After injection of FFP, total plasma TTR levels were elevated and variant TTR levels decreased from 24 to 48 h, accompanied by an elevation of plasma total protein, albumin levels and TTR levels. To elucidate the mechanism of this phenomenon, a large amount of purified normal TTR from normal human plasma was intravenously injected in mice and FAP patients. By intravenous injection of 3 mg of the purified TTR to C57Black6, the expression of TTR mRNA decreased from 6 to 24 h post injection, and gradually increased up to 48 h post injection. After injecting 400 mg of normal TTR in each of 3 FAP patients, total plasma TTR levels were elevated and variant TTR levels decreased significantly from 24 to 48 h. These results suggested that down regulation of the harmful protein by replacement of its normal form of the protein occurred by this method. This phenomenon should be applied as the basis for one of the useful methods for decreasing the harmful proteins in the circulation.

Synergistic effect of MNU and DMBA in mammary carcinogenesis and H-ras activation in female Sprague-Dawley rats

The combined application of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and 7,12-dimethylbenz[alpha]anthracene (DMBA) was compared with the administration of each carcinogen alone as to the effectiveness of the induction of mammary carcinomas and the influence of H-ras oncogene activation in female Sprague-Dawley rats. At 50 days of age, group 1 received 30 mg/kg MNU intraperitoneally (i.p.), group 2 received 30 mg/kg DMBA i.p., group 3 received 60 mg/kg MNU i.p., group 4 received 60 mg/ kg DMBA i.p., group 5 received 30 mg/kg MNU followed by 30 mg/kg DMBA i.p., group 6 received 30 mg/kg MNU i.p. and then 30 mg/kg DMBA intravenously (i.v.) and group 7 remained untreated. Animals were killed when the largest mammary tumor reached 1-2 cm in diameter or were necropsied when they were 30 weeks of age. MNU i.p. produced no deaths (groups 1 and 3), however, the i.p. administration of DMBA induced death due to peritonitis (groups 2, 4 and 5), whereas the i.v. administration of DMBA suppressed the death (group 6). All of the tumors produced by MNU were adenocarcinomas of mammary origin. In contrast, DMBA produced tumors of other than mammary origin. The combined treatment with DMBA and MNU increased the mammary carcinogenic effect; it significantly increased the mean number of mammary cancers per rat. With either carcinogen alone and in combination, the mammary carcinomas produced identical adenocarcinoma histology. Of the mammary carcinomas induced by the combined application of MNU and DMBA (group 6), all 11 tumors from five rats showed the GGA to GAA transitional mutation in H-ras codon 12 (38%) and all 18 tumors from the other 10 rats remained as wild-type. An H-ras point mutation at codon 61 was not detected.

Physiological role of Ca2+-permeable nonselective cation channel in endothelin-1-induced contraction of rabbit aorta

We previously showed a role for a nonselective cation channel (NSCC) in the ETA-dependent action of endothelin-1 in mouse fibroblast and rabbit aortic smooth-muscle cell. To clarify the physiological significance of NSCCs in endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced vasocontraction, we examined the effects of NSCC blockers such as mefenamic acid and SK&F 96365 on the contractions of deendothelialized rabbit aortic rings induced by a low (10[-10] M) or high (10[-8] M) concentration of ET-1. Mefenamic acid (< or =10[-3] M) had little effect on the contraction induced by 45 x 10(-3) M K+ or 1 x 10(-6) M Bay K-8644 in combination with 15 x 10(-3) M K+, indicating that it does not affect voltage-operated calcium channels (VOCs) and contractile mechanisms. The contraction by a low concentration of ET-1 was abolished after removal of extracellular Ca2+, but it was reduced only to 50% by a maximally effective concentration (10[-5] M) of nifedipine, an inhibitor of L-type VOCs (L-VOC). Mefenamic acid and SK&F 96365 inhibited the ET-1-induced contraction with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 10(-4) M and 2 x 10(-5) M, respectively, and abolished it at 10(-3) M and 10(-4) M. By contrast, nifedipine, mefenamic acid, or SK&F 96365 had little effect on the contraction by a high concentration of ET-1. The contraction induced by a low or high concentration of ET-1 was abolished by an ETA antagonist, BQ-123, but not by an ETB antagonist, BQ-788. These results demonstrate that the contraction induced by ET-1 is totally mediated exclusively by ETA, but that Ca2+ entry through NSCCs in addition to L-VOCs plays an important role in contractions induced by low concentrations of ET-1, whereas it plays only a minor role in contractions induced by high concentrations of ET-1.

Endotoxin contamination in fetal bovine serum and its influence on tumor necrosis factor production by macrophage-like cells J774.1 cultured in the presence of the serum

Trace amounts of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide: LPS) are assumed to contaminate commercially available fetal bovine serum (FBS) for tissue or cell culture during the manufacturing process. We examined how cultured cells were affected by the endotoxin and how much endotoxin was in the FBS. Macrophage-like J774.1 cells maintained in RPMI1640 medium supplemented with FBS containing low doses of LPS for 15 or 21 days showed less TNF production in response to LPS than the cells maintained under LPS-free conditions, and the affected responses of the cells were not recovered by an additional 21 day culture in medium with LPS-free FBS. Concentrations of LPS in 40 lots of FBS obtained from 13 international manufacturers were measured by a highly sensitive and LPS-specific chromogenic limulus assay. The median of endotoxin levels in these lots was 46 ng/ml and the maximum was 38.8 ng/ml. Relatively higher concentrations of LPS (> 1 ng/ml) or lower levels (< 10 pg/ml) were found in 9 and 6 lots, respectively. The majority of the FBS lots contained various levels of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, and all lots contained high-density lipoprotein (HDL). However, no correlation was found between LPS and (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan or HDL level in the lots. Each FBS was added to macrophage-like J774.1 cells which had been maintained in LPS-free medium. Five lots of FBS induced significant TNF production by the cells without addition of any stimulant. These active 5 FBS contained relatively higher levels of LPS and pretreatment of the FBS with polymyxin B eliminated their ability to induce TNF production. No correlation was found between (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan levels in FBS and the TNF-inducing capability of FBS. These results show that considerable lots of FBS contain significant levels of LPS, which must affect cell culture.

Elastin-derived peptide induces monocyte chemotaxis by increasing intracellular cyclic GMP level and activating cyclic GMP dependent protein kinase

An elastin-derived peptide with an average molecular mass of 25 kDa was shown to induce monocyte chemotaxis at the optimal concentration of 10(-1) micrograms/ml. Homologous deactivation test showed that monocytes exposed to the elastin-derived peptide at 10(-1) micrograms/ml lost their chemotactic responsiveness when reexposed to the same stimulus. In conjunction with chemotactic response to the elastin-derived peptide, intracellular guanosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cGMP) levels were enhanced but intracellular adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels were not. The monocyte migration induced by the elastin-derived peptide was inhibited by cGMP dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitor, but not by cAMP dependent protein kinase inhibitor and protein kinase C inhibitor. These results suggest that the elastin-derived peptide induces monocyte chemotaxis by increasing the level of cGMP, followed by activating PKG.

Involvement of intracellular cyclic GMP and cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase in alpha-elastin-induced macrophage chemotaxis

alpha-Elastin with an average molecular mass of 70 kDa, an oxalic acid fragmentation product of highly purified insoluble elastin, induced the migration of macrophages, with maximum activity at 10(-1) microg/ml. Relative to the positive control of 10(-8) M N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), the responsiveness of macrophages to alpha-elastin was nearly the same. Checkerboard analysis demonstrated that the cell movement is chemotaxis and not chemokinesis. A homologous deactivation test showed the possibility of the existence of alpha-elastin-recognizing sites on macrophages. In connection with macrophage chemotaxis in response to alpha-elastin, the intracellular signaling pathway was examined. The guanosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) level was enhanced in macrophages stimulated by alpha-elastin, whereas the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) level was not. Chemotaxis assaying of macrophages treated with 8-Br cGMP- and dibutyryl cAMP-loaded macrophages indicated that cGMP promotes cell movement and cAMP suppresses cell locomotion. The possible involvement of protein kinases in the alpha-elastin signaling pathway was explored by use of inhibitors specific for cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC), and tyrosine kinase. The macrophage chemotactic response to alpha-elastin was inhibited by the PKG inhibitor, but not by the PKA, PKC, or tyrosine kinase inhibitor. These results suggested that the increase in the cGMP level and the activation of PKG in macrophages are involved in alpha-elastin induced macrophage chemotaxis.

Long-lasting muscle relaxant activity of eperisone hydrochloride after percutaneous administration in rats

Potency and duration of muscle relaxant activity of eperisone hydrochloride were examined after percutaneous administration in the intercollicular decerebrated rat rigidity model and compared to those of eperisone after intravenous injection. A continuous movement was loaded on the hindlimb of the rat model to maintain stable rigidity. The tonus of the hindlimb was recorded by EMG from the triceps surae and was quantified by using the public domain NIH Image program. Eperisone ointment administered percutaneously showed significant muscle relaxant activity at 8.4 cm2 (4.2 mg of eperisone)/rat. The effect was dose-dependent and lasted over 60 min. Intravenously injected eperisone showed significant activity at 1.25 mg/kg, but the decrease of tone was lost within 30 min after injection. Plasma eperisone levels were monitored in the same model, and they were well correlated to the dosage. These results suggest that percutaneously administered eperisone is absorbed efficiently and shows potent and long-lasting muscle relaxant activity.

The involvement of a novel mechanism distinct from the thrombin receptor in the vasocontraction induced by trypsin

1. The vasocontracting effect of a serine protease trypsin and its mechanisms were investigated by monitoring the isometric tension in endothelium-denuded rings of rabbit thoracic aortae and its effects on intracellular free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in dispersed rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells with a Ca2+ indicator fura-2. The actions of trypsin were compared with those of thrombin. 2. Both thrombin and trypsin reversibly contracted aortic rings without endothelium in a concentration-dependent manner. The vasocontraction induced by trypsin was well correlated with the protease activity of trypsin actually added to the tissue baths containing the aortic rings and was completely blocked by soybean trypsin inhibitor and phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF), a serine protease inhibitor. 3. The trypsin-induced contractions of the aortic rings were not the result of irreversible damage to vascular smooth muscle cells, since the contractile responses induced by noradrenaline or 30 mM KCl were unaffected by pretreatment with trypsin. 4. The contractions induced by either thrombin or trypsin were reduced to about 30% of control responses after removal of extracellular Ca2+, indicating that most of the contraction is dependent on extracellular Ca2+. By contrast, the contractions induced by either of the proteases were reduced by an antagonist of L-type voltage-operated Ca2+ channels, nifedipine, to about 70% of control responses, indicating that both nifedipine-sensitive and -resistant Ca2+ channels are involved in these contractions. 5. In the aortic rings precontracted by a maximally effective concentration of thrombin, the second application of thrombin virtually failed to induce contractions but trypsin could still induce contractions amounting to 10% of control values by it's protease activity. 6. After the first application of a maximal concentration of thrombin, the second application of thrombin could not induce an increase in [Ca2+]i, but an application of trypsin could still induce an increase in [Ca2+]i in dispersed rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells. 7. These data suggest that in addition to activation of a thrombin receptor, trypsin can contract rabbit aortae by a proteinase-activated receptor 2 or a novel mechanism.

PTHrP-mediated hypercalcaemia in a case of CML blast crisis

We report a 52-year-old man with chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) who developed hypercalcaemia in blast crisis. There was a high serum level of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP). The leukaemia cells secreted PTHrP into culture medium when cultured in vitro and were shown to express PTHrP mRNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Transplantation of the leukaemia cells into nude mice resulted in the production of Ph1 chromosome-positive tumours which caused increased levels of calcium and PTHrP in the blood. These results indicated that the hypercalcaemic event in the patient was induced by PTHrP of CML cell origin.

Elastin-derived peptide induces monocyte chemotaxis by increasing intracellular cyclic GMP level and activating cyclic GMP dependent protein kinase

An elastin-derived peptide with an average molecular mass of 25 kDa was shown to induce monocyte chemotaxis at the optimal concentration of 10(-1) micrograms/ml. Homologous deactivation test showed that monocytes exposed to the elastin-derived peptide at 10(-1) micrograms/ml lost their chemotactic responsiveness when reexposed to the same stimulus. In conjunction with chemotactic response to the elastin-derived peptide, intracellular guanosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cGMP) levels were enhanced but intracellular adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP) levels were not. The monocyte migration induced by the elastin-derived peptide was inhibited by cGMP dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitor, but not by cAMP dependent protein kinase inhibitor and protein kinase C inhibitor. These results suggest that the elastin-derived peptide induces monocyte chemotaxis by increasing the level of cGMP, followed by activating PKG.

Polymerase chain reaction amplification of Asp f I and alkaline protease genes from fungus balls: clinical application in pulmonary aspergillosis

Asp fI(18 kDa) and alkaline protease (33 kDa) are the 2 major antigens which are derived from Aspergillus (A.) fumigatus and have been implicated as possible virulence factors in the pathogenesis of Aspergillus-induced diseases. We attempted to detect fragments of genes encoding both proteins from fungus balls obtained at surgery or autopsy by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and then used PCR to test clinical samples. Frozen-stored fungus ball samples from a patient with acute myeloid leukemia complicated by Aspergillus pneumonia and from a patient with pulmonary aspergilloma were studied. We successfully amplified a 315 bp PCR product, the target sequence for Asp f I, and a 747 bp PCR product as a target sequence for alkaline protease (ALP) in both cases. In addition, 13 clinical samples including sputum specimens from patients with pulmonary aspergillosis were also examined. PCR analysis for the Asp f I (ALP) gene in clinical samples showed positive results in 5/10 (6/10) patients with pulmonary aspergilloma and in 3/3 (1/ 3) patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Culture data on A. fumigatus revealed positive results in 3/9 patients with pulmonary aspergilloma and in 2/3 patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. This method can be used to recognize the involvement of A. fumigatus in various clinical settings where conventional culture results are not readily available.

Successful treatment of an esophageal hemangioma by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy: report of a case

We report herein the case of a 46-year-old man in whom an esophageal hemangioma was successfully treated by endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS). The patient was admitted to hospital after a routine upper gastrointestinal series demonstrated a filling defect in the esophagus. Endoscopy, computed tomography (CT) images, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) subsequently revealed a hemangioma in the middle esophagus. EIS was performed using 99% ethanol and 1% polydocanol, and 4 weeks later, the tumor had almost disappeared. This patient has since been followed up carefully with periodic endoscopy and barium studies and additional sclerotherapy will be performed if necessary.

Expression of interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme gene family and bcl-2 gene family in the rat brain following permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery

Recent investigations have been suggesting that some neuronal subpopulations may die via programmed cell death after focal ischemic injury. To clarify the possible roles of the genes involved in the cell-death program, this study examined the expression of three members of the interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme (Ice) gene family (Ice, Nedd2, and Yama/CPP32) and two members of the bcl-2 gene family (bcl-2 and bcl-x) in the rat brain after permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Northern blot analysis revealed a transient induction of Nedd2 mRNA 8 h after the ischemic insult (3.8-fold) and an increase in Yama/CPP32 mRNA 16 to 24 h after the insult (5.8-fold at 24 h), whereas the expression of Ice remained constant. The expression of bcl-2 and bcl-x remained constant after the ischemic insult. Taking into account the key role of the Ice gene family in the execution of programmed cell death, the induction of Ice gene family might play a causative role in apoptotic cell death.

Keratin expression in normal uterine cervical epithelium and carcinomas of cervical origin

The immunohistochemical expression of keratins 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18 and 19 was examined in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of normal uterine cervical epithelium and carcinomas of cervical origin (4 squamous cell carcinoma in situ, 17 squamous cell carcinoma, 9 adenocarcinoma, and 1 adenoid basal carcinoma). A panel of 8 monoclonal antibodies capable of recognizing 8 individual keratin subtypes was employed using microwave oven heating and a labeled streptavidin biotin method. Ectocervical squamous epithelium expressed keratins 14 and 19 in the basal cell layer, and keratins 10 and 13 in the suprabasal cell layer. Endocervical columnar cells were found to express keratins 7, 8, 18 and 19, whereas the reserve cells expressed keratins 7, 8, 14, 17, 18 and 19. Most of the squamous cell carcinomas, both keratinizing and non-keratinizing, as well as the carcinoma in situ revealed a keratin phenotype detected in normal ectocervical squamous cells (keratins 10, 13, 14 and 19) and endocervical subcolumnar reserve cells (keratins 7, 17 and 18). The adenocarcinomas, both endocervical and endometrial type, were positive for keratins 7, 8, 17, 18 and 19. The adenoid basal carcinoma expressed all the keratins examined including the expression of reserve cell keratin. Reserve cell keratins were found mostly in squamous cell carcinomas, adenocarcinomas and adenoid basal carcinoma of cervical origin. Therefore, the keratin expression pattern indicates the origin of a variety of carcinomas of the uterine cervix from a common progenitor, endocervical reserve cells.

Purification and characterization of a (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan-binding protein from horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) amoebocytes

A novel (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan-binding protein (T-GBP) has been purified from the amoebocyte lysate of the Japanese horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus. It is a basic protein (pI 9.2) which appears to be a homotetramer composed of subunits with an apparent mol wt of 168000 and with an amino-terminal sequence (20 residues) KSGFILTAPKSLTLGRNNRL. T-GBP exerted an inhibitory effect on the (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan-initiated coagulation cascade reconstituted with purified preparations of factor G and the proclotting enzyme from the lysate. The binding of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans to T-GBP was evaluated by measuring the residual amidolytic activity of the clotting enzyme, the product of the coagulation cascade, using Boc-Leu-Gly-Arg-4-nitroanilide as the chromogenic substrate. The binding specificity of a wide range of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans and other polysaccharides towards T-GBP was expressed by the relative inhibition (%) of the activation of factor G, the first protease zymogen in the pathway, which is activated by binding to (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans. T-GBP was found to have a high affinity for linear (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans, e.g. pachyman, curdlan, and paramylon. It was able to bind to (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans with side-chain branches and mixed linkage such as schizophyllan, lentinan, laminarins, yeast beta-D-glucan, and (1-->3),(1-->4)-beta-D-glucans such as lichenin and barley beta-D-glucan. Binding of pachyman to T-GBP was demonstrated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a specific antibody (rabbit IgG) raised against T-GBP.

Simple detection of the 5S ribosomal RNA of Pneumocystis carinii using in situ hybridisation

AIMS

To investigate the effectiveness of digoxigenin incorporated double stranded DNA probes produced by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for the detection of Pneumocystis carinii, using in situ hybridisation (ISH).

METHODS

Formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded sections of 26 human lung samples from 11 patients with P carinii pneumonia (PCP), and 15 with various types of fungal and viral pneumonia, were obtained during necropsy or transbronchial lung biopsy. Three additional PCP induced rat lung samples were also tested. PCR probes were prepared using the digoxigenin labelling mixture, and they were amplified from the DNA of a PCP induced rat lung after administration of dexamethasone, on the basis that 5S ribosomal RNA sequences are identical in human and rat P carinii. ISH was performed using this probe, and visualised using the digoxigenin nucleic acid detection kit. An immunohistochemical study using anti-human Pneumocystis monoclonal antibody was also carried out in parallel.

RESULTS

ISH positively stained eight (of eight) lung necropsy specimens from patients with PCP, three (of three) transbronchial lung biopsy specimens from patients with PCP, and none of the three PCP induced rat lung specimens. In contrast, none of the specimens from patients with pneumonia caused by Aspergillus sp (n = 5), Candida sp (n = 4), Cryptococcus sp (n = 2), mucormycosis (n = 2), or cytomegalovirus (n = 2) were positive on ISH or immunohistochemistry.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a digoxigenin labelled PCR probe for the entire 5S rRNA sequence in conjunction with conventional staining, ISH is highly reactive and specific for the diagnosis of PCP.

[Experimental study of cisplatin microspheres incorporated in polylactic acid and polyethylene glycol acid on peritoneal carcinomatosis in rats]

Cisplatin incorporated into polylactic acid/polyethylene glycol acid blend polymeric microspheres was prepared as a dosage (CDDP-MS) by solvent evaporation method in oil-in-oil emulsion system. CDDP-MS and CDDP aqueous solutions (CDDP-SOL) were intraperitoneally administered to compare the tissue distribution of CDDP in 72 rats each. On 0.5, 1, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days, the omentum, lung, liver and kidney were removed, and the CDDP concentration was measured. The CDDP concentration of CDDP-MS group was maintained at a high level in the omentum for a long time. On the other hand, the CDDP level of the CDDP-MS group was low in the lung, liver and kidney, compared with the CDDP-SOL group. Additionally, acute toxicity of anticancer drug in CDDP-MS group was reduced, compared with CDDP-SOL. The effects of CDDP-MS, CDDP-SOL, empty-MS and non-therapy group on survival time were compared using intraperitoneally administered Yoshida sarcoma. The survival time in CDDP-MS, CDDP-SOL, non-therapy and empty-MS group were 43 +/- 24, 11.7 +/- 4.7, 9.8 +/- 1.1, and 7.8 +/- 1.1 days each. Consequently, it was suggested that CDDP-MS is useful as a tool in loco-regional chemotherapy using drug delivery system.

Characteristic interaction of Ca2+ ions with elastin coacervate: ion transport study across coacervate layers of alpha-elastin and elastin model polypeptide, (Val-Pro-Gly-Val-Gly)n

Ion transport characteristics across a macrocoacervate layer membrane composed of aqueous elastin model polypeptides with a specific repeating pentapeptide sequence, H-(Val-Pro-Gly-Val-Gly)n-Val-OMe (n > or = 40), were investigated. Transmembrane potential responses for NaCl. MgCl2, and CaCl2 concentration-cell systems were measured and examined systematically by comparing with those across a coacervate membrane composed of bovine neck ligamental alpha-elastin. In the case of the NaCl and MgCl2 systems, potential responses across these protein liquid membranes were different noticeably from each other depending upon the molecular structure with and without charged peptide side chains, whereas in the CaCl2 systems the transmembrane potential responses across the noncharged polypentapeptide coacervate membrane were comparable with those across the alpha-elastin coacervate membrane carrying both the positively and negatively charged amino acid residues as an amphoteric ion-exchange membrane. These results indicated that mechanisms of major Ca2+ ion transport are based on the specific and selective interactions with electrically neutral sites of elastin, such as the polypentapeptide backbone chain.

Immunohistochemical profile of phyllodes tumors of the breast

The immunohistochemical profiles of 16 cases of phyllodes tumor of the breast (9 benign and 7 malignant) from 15 patients were examined by the labeled streptavidin biotin method. The expression of Ki-67, p53, bcl-2, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), desmin, S-100 protein, estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PgR) was analyzed. The number of Ki-67-positive stromal cell nuclei of malignant phyllodes tumor were significantly more prominent than the benign tumors. The p53 expression on the stromal cell nuclei showed a significant difference between malignant and benign cases (86% vs 22%; p<0.05). bcl-2 was regularly seen on the luminal cell cytoplasm and stromal cell labeling showed no significant difference between malignant and benign cases (29% vs 33%). Stromal cells were alpha-SMA positive but refractory among cases, and desmin and S-100 protein were negative. PgR was expressed in all 16 cases and ER in most cases (12/16) the expression of which was restricted to luminal epithelial cell nuclei. These findings indicate that the Ki-67 labeling index and p53 expression in the stroma would be a good diagnostic parameter distinguishing benign tumors from malignant tumors. However, the absence of steroid receptor expression in stromal cells suggests the ineffectiveness of hormonal therapy for phyllodes tumor of the breast.

Angiosarcoma of the Breast: Immunohistochemical Demonstration of Steroid Receptors and Literature Review

A 44-year-old female with bilateral angiosarcoma of the breast with multiple skin metastases is reported. She presented with a 6x8 cm and 1x1 cm mass in her left and right breasts, respectively, and multiple skin lesions around the chest. Histologically, the excised tumor was diagnosed as angiosarcoma of the breast with skin metastasis. Tumor cells were immunohistochemically positive with factor VIII-related antigen, CD34, alpha-smooth muscle actin and vimentin, and positive with UEA-I lectin. The majority of tumor cell nuclei expressed progesterone receptor (PgR) protein but estrogen receptro (ER) protein and androgen receptor (AR) protein were nagative. According to the literature, angiosarcoma of the breast mostly affects females in their fourth (33%) and fifth (40%) decades (mean age, 39.5 +/- 10.7 years). The survival rate depends on tumor size and tumor differentiation. The 3-year survival rate is 86% in patients with a tumor size less than 5 cm, and 90% in well-differentiated group I lesions.