A novel shuttle vector for Streptomyces spp. and Escherichia coli as a tool in site-directed mutagenesis

This paper describes the construction and utilization of a novel shuttle vector for Streptomyces spp. and Escherichia coli as a useful vector in site-directed mutagenesis. The shuttle vector pIAFS20 (6.7 kb) has the following features: a replicon for Streptomyces spp., isolated from plasmid pIJ702; the thiostrepton-resistance gene as a selective marker in Streptomyces; the ColE1 origin, allowing replication in E. coli; and the ampicillin-resistance gene as a selective marker in E. coli. Vector pIAFS20 also contains the phage f1 intergenic region, which permits production of single-stranded DNA in E. coli after superinfection with helper phage M13K07. Moreover, the lac promoter is located in front of the multiple cloning sites cassette, allowing eventual expression of the cloned genes in E. coli. After mutagenesis and screening of the mutants in E. coli, the plasmids can be readily used to transform Streptomyces spp. As a demonstration, a 3.2-kb DNA fragment containing the gene encoding the xylanase A from Streptomyces lividans 1326 was inserted into pIAFS20, and the promoter region of this gene served as a target for site-directed mutagenesis. The two deletions reported here confirm the efficiency of this new vector as a tool in mutagenesis.

Immunohistochemical detection of cells positive for colony-stimulating factor 1 in lymph nodes from reactive lymphadenitis, and Hodgkin's disease

Colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) is a cytokine involved in hematopoiesis and perhaps more importantly in the early stages of immunological defense mechanisms. Although numerous studies of in vitro CSF-1-producing cells have been published, in vivo data is totally lacking. According, we performed immunohistochemical detection of CSF-1-positive cells on frozen sections of reactive lymphadenitis (three cases) and Hodgkin's disease (13 cases) lymph node biopsies, using as antibody a highly specific polyclonal rabbit antiserum prepared in our laboratory. Endothelial cells from high endothelial venules and most fibroblasts were positive in all cases (reactive lymphadenitis and Hodgkin's samples), and most lymphocytes in interfollicular T cell areas showed faint granular positivity in reactive lymphadenitis lymph nodes. Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells were positive in all cases tested, although staining intensity was highly variable and the percentage of positive cells differed from case to case. These data from in vivo biopsies confirm previous results for in vitro CSF-1 production by endothelial cells, fibroblasts, T lymphocytes, and Hodgkin cell lines. They are consistent with the role of this cytokine in immune response and raise the question of its significance in Hodgkin's disease.

Drug-induced prolonged cholestasis in adults: a histological semiquantitative study demonstrating progressive ductopenia

Drug-induced acute hepatitis may be followed by prolonged cholestasis despite the withdrawal of the drug. Eight patients suffering from prolonged cholestasis caused by several drugs were investigated with sequential liver biopsies. At the early stage, lesions of acute cholangitis were observed in most patients; at the chronic phase, ductopenia, defined by the absence of interlobular bile ducts in at least 50% of small portal tracts, was demonstrated in all patients. Ductopenia might be the consequence of acute cholangitis; the degree of ductopenia and the chronicity of the disease might be directly related to the severity of the early acute damage of bile ducts. Consequently, in patients with severe cholestasis related to drugs, research of early morphological signs of acute cholangitis and then of ductopenia seems to be important.

Progress in outgrowth culture from rabbit tracheal explants: balance between proliferation and maintenance of differentiated state in epithelial cells

Primary cultures of rabbit tracheal cells were obtained as outgrowths from explants of tracheal mucosa. A 30% collagen substratum containing serum and minimal essential medium was required for obtaining an outgrowth of epithelial cells keeping their differentiated characteristics. The tracheal epithelial cells obtained near the explant in the first days of culture presented morphologic similarities with normal tracheal epithelium. Cultures contained basal cells and epithelial polarized cells that exhibited apical tight junctions and desmosomes. Ciliated cells stayed functional during all time culture. Their number slightly increased at the beginning of the culture and then stayed constant when the total number of cells increased. Development of the outgrowth was rapid and significant inasmuch as the outgrowth surface reached 30 times that of the explant after less than 8 days. This was linked to cellular proliferation, as demonstrated by the incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) in phase-S nuclei and the revelation of BrdU using an immunofluorescence technique. The epithelial nature of the outgrowth cells and the absence of contamination with fibroblasts were established by positive staining with anti-keratin antibody and by negative staining with anti-vimentin antibody, respectively.

Assignment by in situ hybridization of a fibroblast growth factor receptor gene to human chromosome band 10q26

A 2.3-kb cDNA probe for the human bek fibroblast growth factor receptor was used to determine the chromosomal localization of the corresponding gene by in situ hybridization. The results show that this gene, a form of which is amplified in some poorly differentiated stomach cancers, is localized on chromosome region 10q26. The two previously identified fibroblast growth factor receptor genes are thus not on the same chromosome, as the related flg ("fms-like gene") fibroblast growth factor receptor gene has previously been mapped to human chromosome region 8p12.

Intralymphnode injection of human monocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (CSF-1) as a method of obtaining high titer anti-CSF-1 antibodies

We describe a rabbit intralymphnode immunization technique for obtaining a high titer antihuman CSF-1 antiserum with small amounts of antigen. This procedure provided a rapid (42 days after primo-injection), stable maximum immune response with a high titer antiserum precipitating 30% of 125I CSF-1 at a 1:25.000 dilution. The specificity of the immune serum was assessed by competitive binding experiments in RIA and neutralization of the CSF-1 biological activity in culture. The antiserum was also tested for its ability to detect CSF-1 in Western blotting, immunocytochemistry and immunohisto-chemistry. The results show that the immune serum specifically recognizes the biological active domain of human CSF-1 molecules from different origins and only detects dimeric forms. The potential uses of this anti CSF-1 antiserum are discussed.

Detection of a biliary cell membrane glycoprotein in the serum of cholangiocarcinoma-bearing rats. Possible relevance to the membrane proteins used as serum tumor markers in humans

Certain markers used in the diagnosis and monitoring of human adenocarcinomas, such as carcinoembryonic antigen are membrane glycoproteins normally absent from the serum. How those proteins may reach the blood after the neoplastic transformation remains debated. In this work, we show that cholangiocarcinoma induced by 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in the rat provides some insight into the mechanisms implicated in this process. We observed that the extracellular matrix of all cholangiocarcinomas tested contained large amounts of a glycoprotein identified by a monoclonal antibody termed B10, and previously characterized as an integral membrane protein normally restricted to the apical domain of epithelial cell plasma membrane. The extracellular deposition of the B10-binding glycoprotein in cholangiocarcinomas was associated with the appearance of detectable levels of the protein in the serum, and an abnormal membrane expression of the protein, which was detected on both apical and basal plasma membrane domains of neoplastic biliary cells. We postulate that neoplastic transformation of biliary cells leads to an inappropriate membrane expression of the B10-binding protein, which in turn, results in the extracellular release of the protein and in its diffusion into the blood. The characteristic desmoplastic stroma of cholangiocarcinoma offers the opportunity to easily visualize the release process. A comparable mechanism is likely to explain how certain membrane glycoproteins used as serum markers in human malignancy may reach the blood.

Rapid detection of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 in weaned pigs

A survey to detect Streptococcus suis serotype 2 in 1,716 weaned pigs was done in Quebec. Forty-nine sow herds were included in this survey: in 26 herds, S suis serotype 2 had been isolated during the preceding 12 months and in 23 herds (control), the organism had not been detected during a previous study. Swab specimens of the nasal cavity and tonsils of pigs were obtained for bacteriologic culture, and S suis serotype 2 was easily detected by the use of brain-heart infusion agar containing a Streptococcus-selective supplement and 5% goat antiserum raised against S suis serotype 2. After measurement of the diameter of the precipitation zone of 539 isolates, a slide agglutination test was performed to identify the S suis serotype 2 isolates. The mean precipitation zone diameter obtained for group S suis serotype 2 was larger (P less than 0.001) than that for the group designated as "others". With slide agglutination test results as reference and on the basis of discriminant analysis to stimulate detection of S suis serotype 2, 93.1% of all isolates were correctly classified, using the precipitation zone diameter as unique classification criterion. Relative specificity was 94.5% and relative sensitivity was 88.7%. Use of the precipitation zone diameter on a quantitative basis led to the proposal of a simple and reliable technique to screen swine herds for S suis serotype 2 in weaned pigs. Nasal and tonsillar swab specimens were obtained and analyzed concurrently for S suis serotype 2. The organism was found in both sites in only 20.4% of 103 carrier pigs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cigarette smoking-induced changes in the number and differentiated state of pulmonary dendritic cells/Langerhans cells

To evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on the number, distribution, and differentiated state of dendritic cells (DC) and Langerhans cells (LC) in the human lung, we have quantitated the number of these cells present in the bronchioles and alveolar parenchyma of lung tissue from nonsmokers and cigarette smokers using anti-CD1 monoclonal antibodies which react preferentially with DC (M241) and LC (T6). M241+ DC were found in the bronchiolar submucosa and alveolar parenchyma of nonsmokers; T6+ LC were present within the bronchiolar epithelium. Cigarette smoking was associated with a twofold increase in the total number of cells of DC/LC lineage and a 30-fold increase in the number of T6+ cells, many of which contained Birbeck granules (LC), present in the alveolar parenchyma. Most LC found in the parenchyma of smokers were observed in close association with areas of alveolar type II pneumocyte hyperplasia. Cigarette smoking did not change the number of differentiated state of cells of DC/LC lineage within the bronchioles. Both DC and LC are present in the human lung. Cigarette smoking has an important effect on the number, distribution, and differentiated state of these cells, which may explain why most adult patients who develop Langerhans cell granulomatosis are smokers.

Cellular expression of alpha-fetoprotein gene and its relation to albumin gene expression during rat azo-dye hepatocarcinogenesis

During hepatocarcinogenesis, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) synthesis may be dramatically increased while albumin synthesis is frequently decreased. Therefore, a reciprocal modulation between both gene expressions has been hypothesized. In this work, we combined in situ hybridization and immunoperoxidase on parallel liver tissue sections in order to analyze at the cellular level, AFP gene expression and its relation to ALB gene expression in both early and neoplastic lesions induced by 3MeDAB in the rat. In early lesions, cell populations were heterogenous as regards AFP expression. High levels of AFP transcripts were detected both in oval type cells and in a subset of basophilic hepatocytes within preneoplastic lesions. In these two highly AFP-expressing cell populations, significant levels of ALB transcripts were concomitantly detected. In the majority of altered hepatocytes, no AFP expression was detected while the level of ALB expression was decreased. In neoplastic lesions, AFP expression was strikingly heterogenous and independent from the degree of morphological differentiation. No evidence of reciprocal modulation with ALB gene expression could be assessed. In both preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions, a few altered hepatocytes displayed significant levels of AFP transcripts while no corresponding protein could be detected; such a discrepancy was not observed for ALB. This work shows that during 3MeDAB hepatocarcinogenesis, AFP gene activation occurs in heterogenous cell populations and according to different cellular patterns. Our observations lend no support to the hypothesis of a reciprocal modulation between AFP and ALB gene expressions during rat azo-dye hepatocarcinogenesis.

Analysis of hepatocyte plasma membrane polarity during rat azo dye hepatocarcinogenesis using monoclonal antibodies directed against domain-associated antigens

While carcinogenesis is known to induce various alterations in epithelial cell polarity, little information is available about the fate of plasma membrane polarity during the neoplastic process. Using three monoclonal antibody-defined antigens as markers of the three plasma membrane domains of rat hepatocytes, the sinusoidal, the lateral, and the canalicular, we demonstrated by immunohistochemical techniques that changes in hepatocyte plasma membrane polarity occur at every stage of 3'-methyldimethylaminoazobenzene-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. At the preneoplastic stage, the division of hepatocyte plasma membrane into three distinct domains was retained despite rearrangements in hepatocytic architecture, characterized by the disorganization of hepatocytic plates and the formation of pseudoacinar structures. The most striking change was the distribution of the canalicular-associated antigen over the entire plasma membrane in disorganized plates. At the neoplastic stage, changes in plasma membrane polarity depended on the degree of morphological differentiation of neoplastic cells. Poorly differentiated cells inconstantly expressed the monoclonal antibody-defined antigens and showed no evidence of plasma membrane polarization. Differentiated cells constantly expressed the three antigens, and their plasma membrane was divided into antigenically distinct domains. The changes in hepatocyte plasma membrane polarity demonstrated in situ during 3'-methyldimethylaminoazobenzene hepatocarcinogenesis may therefore be compared with situations known to occur in vitro, in cultured epithelial cells presenting varying degrees of polarization. Our observations suggest that these alterations are of relevance to the in vivo biology of cancer.

Analysis of hepatocyte plasma membrane domains during rat development using monoclonal antibodies

The plasma membrane of adult rat hepatocyte consists of three domains, which have been identified by the monoclonal antibodies A39 and A59 as markers of the sinusoidal domain, B1 of the lateral, and B10 of the canalicular domains (Eur J Cell Biol 39:122, 1985). These monoclonal antibodies were used to study, by indirect immunocytochemistry, formation of the hepatocyte plasma membrane domains during development, from day 15 of gestation to day 35 post partum. The antigens defined by A39, B1, and B10 were detected, from day 15, over the major part of the hepatocyte plasma membrane except for the membranes of newly formed bile canaliculi, which were not labeled by B1 and only poorly labeled, if at all, by A39 and B10. As soon as fetuses were 16 days old, B1 labeled predominantly the lateral domain, as in the adult. Labeling with B10 progressively intensified on the membranes of bile canaliculi, but localization was not exclusively canalicular until day 21 post partum. A39 intensely labeled the canalicular membranes at 19-21 days of gestation, while at 35 days post partum it exhibited the predominantly sinusoidal labeling observed in adult hepatocytes. The antigen defined by A59 was not detected before birth and was found exclusively on the sinusoidal domain, as in the adult. These results show that the patterns of antigen distribution on different plasma membrane domains establish themselves at different rates. The marked differences observed between fetal or neonatal and adult hepatocytes might be responsible for immaturity of liver functions in the neonate.

Chronic central anticholinergic toxicity in manic depressive illness mimicking dementia

Acute anticholinergic delirium has been reported to occur following ingestion of antidepressants, neuroleptics and antiparkinsonian drugs in toxic and therapeutic doses. A case is described of a chronic central anticholinergic syndrome in a patient receiving a combination of such drugs. This chronic anticholinergic toxicity was superimposed on manic depressive illness which resulted in incorrect diagnoses including schizophrenia and dementia and, accordingly, improper management. Diagnosis of central anticholinergic toxicity may be overlooked in psychiatric patients because the symptoms of toxicity can be incorrectly ascribed to psychiatric illness. It may also be overlooked in elderly patients who are prone to demonstrate confusion and problems with memory. The recognition of this syndrome in the patient reported, at least nine years after it developed, led to appropriate management which ultimately resulted in a dramatic change in her ability to function.

Inhibitory effect of the acute inflammatory reaction on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in the rat

We evaluated the influence of an acute inflammatory reaction that triggers the synthesis of exportable proteins by hepatocytes on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy, which induces the synthesis of proteins necessary for liver cell proliferation. In hepatectomized rats with a turpentine-induced acute inflammatory reaction, the first peaks of hepatic DNA synthesis and mitosis were significantly inhibited compared with pair-fed controls subjected to partial hepatectomy only, and the liver DNA concentration at various times after partial hepatectomy was significantly lower in the former than in the latter. Inhibition was not obtained when the acute inflammatory reaction was induced 12 h or more before partial hepatectomy, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of turpentine administration depended on early events in the acute inflammatory reaction. These data suggest that one possible mechanism responsible for inhibition of regeneration might be competition at the transcriptional or the translational level between liver syntheses of various proteins, and that, under certain conditions, liver-specific functions might take precedence over regenerative functions.

Liver perisinusoidal fibrosis in BB rats with or without overt diabetes

Perisinusoidal fibrosis is a vascular lesion observed in the liver of type I diabetic patients. To investigate whether this liver lesion is secondary to hyperglycemia or whether it represents a separate collagen vascular disorder, the authors studied the structure of liver sinusoids in genetically susceptible BB rats in which a spontaneous diabetes develops similar to human type I diabetes. Seven diabetic insulin-treated BB rats, 7 nondiabetic BB rats, and 6 control non-BB rats were studied. Histologic abnormalities of the collagen network were detected on trichrome-stained sections. Perisinusoidal collagen fibers were quantified ultrastructurally by the point-counting method. All control non-BB rats had normal livers; 86% of the diabetic as well as 71% of the nondiabetic BB rats displayed localized sinusoidal thickening corresponding ultrastructurally to perisinusoidal fibrosis; in these abnormal rats the percentage of collagen fibers per sinusoid unit was significantly higher than that in controls. Fibrous septa (2 diabetic and 5 nondiabetic BB rats) and liver nodulation (3 diabetic and 1 nondiabetic BB rats) were also observed. Perisinusoidal fibrosis is a frequent liver vascular abnormality in a strain of rats genetically predisposed to the development of type I diabetes. The lesion is independent of the presence of diabetes. These observations suggest that liver perisinusoidal fibrosis in patients with type I diabetes might be linked to a genetic abnormality rather than to hyperglycemia per se.

[Test of differential anti-T and anti-B lymphocyte compatibility in renal transplantation. A partial solution to the problem of hyperimmune patients]

In view of their beneficial effect on the functional survival of transplanted kidneys, pretransplantation blood transfusions of haemodialysed patients have become routine procedure. At the same time, the number of hyperimmune patients awaiting transplantation has been increasing, as these are often excluded on account of positive cross-match. Cross-matching is usually done by testing recipients' sera against total donor's lymphocytes, so that positive cross-match due to specific anti-T cell cytotoxic antibodies cannot be differentiated from that due to anti-B cell antibodies. Differential anti-T cell and anti-B cell cross-matching showed no significant difference between the survival of 34 transplants with B cell-positive cross-match and that of 126 transplants with B cell-negative cross-match (67% and 60% respectively at 12 months). It also showed that anti-B cell antibodies had no adverse effect on the survival of transplants. The presence of antibodies or auto-antibodies with optimal cytotoxicity at 4 degrees C did not appear to correlate with a significantly longer transplant survival as compared to other transplanted patients. Finally, a high degree of a anti-T cell immunization or a strongly positive B cell cross-match on transplantation day did not seem to jeopardize transplant survival in a B-cell-positive cross-match population of transplanted patients. The differential cross-matching method has made it possible to successfully transplant a substantial number of hyperimmune patients: at least 62% of patients with B cell-positive cross-match also had positive total lymphocyte cross-match which would have precluded renal transplantation.

[Paracrystalline inclusions of nutritive cells of galls induced by Diplolepis rosae L. on Rosa canina L]

Numerous crystalline inclusions are found in the nutritive cells lining the larval cavities of the galls induced by Diplolepis rosae L. on Rosa canina L. Electron microscopic investigations show that these intracytoplasmic inclusions consist of staggered, closely parallel, and slightly wavy filaments. In each filament three fibrils can be distinguished inside a less electron-dense matrix. The different aspects that the filaments may present according to the section plans are studied with an electron microscope equipped with a goniometric stage. Enzymatic digestion of ultrathin sections show that the paracrystals are essentially composed of proteins. This conclusion is sustained by the results of an ultrastructural autoradiographic study using tritiated aminoacids. The physiological significance of these paracrystals is discussed: their presence is probably related to a larval action which stimulates proteosynthesis in the cells surrounding the consumed ones.

[Gestalt therapy, extension of psychoanalysis (author's transl)]

Gestalt therapy extends considerably psychoanalysis. 1. Transfer in psychoanalysis allows to work on the disturbed relations which the patient transfers onto his analyst, relations created by the parents and repeated now. The extended transfer in a therapeutic group of life allows to work on the fact that the patient recreates here and now the difficulties he encounters in life. 2. The game of the analyst and the encounter show that beyond transfer and projection, a real encounter may take place, a precious means to create life here and now. 3. The difference between individual therapy and group-therapy is about this: the former is centered on illness, the latter on life; the former helps to understand, the latter to live; the individual talks about facts from the past and from elsewhere and the group lives "here and now", which allows to test feelings, a powerful source of life. 4. A session of group-therapy, as developed here, allows to see how one can find a response to a need or avoid to find a response to it. 5. A comparison-table between psycho-analysis and gestalt shows the difference of method, diagnosis, therapeutic process, therapeutist's attitude and of the position of the patient. 6. Psycho-analysis is perhaps a relay after religion? Several elements make us believe this: tension in contacts, ritual, authority, protection, neutrality, guilty making. 7. To contest or contest one-self has helped me to compare the contester with the psycho-analyst: both contest society, but they don't change their behavior. The gestalt-therapeutist is in a way like a hippie: though contesting society, he brings a change to his way of life, while being closer to life.

[Hypoxemia and aging (author's transl)]

Hypoxemia during rest reveals the aging of the respiratory tract. The evolution curve of the PaO2 related to age is parallel to that of static elastic recoil pressure. This hypoxemia is moderate and without any serious functional consequences in a healthy subject. Abnormalities of the ventilation-perfusion ratio are the main causes. The increase of the anatomical dead space and the increase of the right-left shunt only play a moderate part. On the other hand the increase of closing volume seems the major factor. Thus the ventilation distribution becomes dependent on the amplitude of the tidal volume. The response of the aged subject to hypoxia is lessened for mechanical and neurological reasons explaining why a respiratory distress can appear rapidely and sometimes unexpectedly.

[A kibbutz group]

Kibbouts-group: three therapeutic or growth factors together: manual work, community life and group technics (group dynamic, Gestalt, psychodrama, bio-energetic) during two weeks. The work of growing and therapy is becoming more concrete and facilitated by the absence of difference between members and leader who share the work and the community life. Important and rapid changes are frequent: a particular attention is given to the "unmedicalisation" of symptoms (fatigue) and to the "unpsychiatrisation" of conflicts. A sample and authentical life style, together with a high degree of communication, favor the desinhibition of attitudes, the clarification of conflicts and the reenforcement of the personality.