Flow cytometric analysis of phenotypes of canine red blood cells with FITC-labeled Clerodendron trichotomum lectin

Canine red blood cells were divided into a positive type (C type) and a negative type (c type) by a agglutination test with Clerodendron trichotomum lectin (CTL). Blood cells changed from c to C type after suffering from mammary tumor were named cm. The c type blood cells treated with neuraminidase were named cn. These red blood cells were studied with flow cytometry using a directly fluoresceinated CTL. Positive percents of C type, cm type, and cn type were 49.3%, 43.8% and 81.0% respectively. While C showed one peak in histogram, cm showed two peaks. The positive peak in the cm blood cells suggested an appearance of a new blood cell population with a novel sugar chain structure after suffering from the tumor.

Criteria for differentiation of normal and abnormal uroflowmetrograms in adult men

OBJECTIVE

To study parameters which serve as criteria for differentiation of normal and abnormal uroflowmetrograms.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A total of 105 subjects were investigated, 43 of whom had no symptoms of dysuria, 57 of whom had dysuria demonstrated as an abnormal uroflowmetrogram, subjective symptoms and a small residual urine volume, and five patients who were about to undergo transurethral resection of the prostate. The three parameters used to specify the shapes of the uroflowmetrogram curves were: (i) the ratio of the maximum flow rate (Qmax) and the voiding time (T100), Qmax/T100; (ii) the ratio of the time to peak flow (TQmax) and the voiding time, TQmax/T100; and (iii) the newly introduced voiding efficiency (epsilon), measured by the ratio of the voided volume (VV) and T100 x Qmax, epsilon = VV/(T100 x Qmax), were taken for each patient.

RESULTS

The criteria for normal uroflowmetrograms were: Qmax/T100 > or = 0.78, 0.32 < or = TQmax/T100 < or = 0.54, 0.63 < or = epsilon < 1, respectively. In the patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate the values of all three parameters improved and returned almost to normal after operation.

CONCLUSION

Using these three parameters the micturition pattern can be expressed quantitatively.

The relationship between self-stimulation and sniffing in rats: does a common brain system mediate these behaviors?

The relationship between brain self-stimulation and brain-stimulation induced sniffing behavior was examined at three brain sites (frontal cortex, hypothalamus and lower brain stem). In the first experiment, sniffing was elicited in the prefrontal cortex and pontine reticular formation (PRF) of anesthetized rats. These sites corresponded to reported self-stimulation sites. In non-anesthetized animals (Expt. 2), all self-stimulation sites in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPC) and lateral hypothalamic-medial forebrain bundle (LH-MFB) also supported sniffing. In the PRF, this was also the case except for one subject which exhibited self-stimulation and jaw movements without sniffing. After unilateral lesions either in the MPC or PRF, stimulation-induced sniffing from the ipsilateral LH-MFB was not influenced. While MPC lesions did not affect self-stimulation either, medial PRF lesions disrupted ipsilateral self-stimulation. In summary, stimulation-induced sniffing and self-stimulation behavior appear to share strikingly similar anatomical loci, but the PRF appears to be differentially involved in these behaviors. The results were discussed from an appetitive motivational hypothesis of self-stimulation.

A new genomic polymorphism of Rh-polypeptide genes

To determine which Rh-polypeptide genes are related to which Rh (rhesus) antigens, genomic DNAs prepared from donors of ten kinds of different Rh phenotypes were analysed by Southern hybridization method using two probes for the 5' moiety and 3' moiety of an Rh-polypeptide cDNA. A polymorphism for the Rh blood-group system was observed with BamHI, HindIII, PstI and EcoRI restriction endonucleases between genomic DNAs from the RhD-positive and RhD-negative individuals as has previously been reported. Further study showed an additional genomic polymorphism. The new polymorphism was detected between the RhC/c phenotypes unrelated to the RhD/d phenotypes with RsaI restriction endonuclease using the probe for the 5' moiety of Rh polypeptide cDNA. A 1.9 kb RasI restriction fragment was missing in the genomes from individuals with the RhC phenotypes. However, this fragment was present in the genomes of Rhc phenotypes and in its half dose in the genomes of RhCc phenotypes. These results clearly demonstrate a new polymorphism between the RhC/c phenotypes regardless of the RhD-positive and RhD-negative phenotypes, and it is predicted that the Rh polypeptide genes encoding RhD, RhC/c and RhE/e antigens are different.

Molecular analysis of Rh polypeptides in a family with RhD-positive and RhD-negative phenotypes

To investigate the genetic basis of the Rh polypeptide gene, we attempted the isolation of cDNA clones for Rh polypeptide from a family with the RhD-positive and RhD-negative phenotypes using the reverse transcription (RT)-PCR method for each reticulocyte RNAs followed by subcloning. The isolated cDNAs showed the existence of another Rh-related clone (RhPII-1 cDNA, tentative designation) besides the RhPI and RhPII cDNA clones reported previously by us. The RhPII-1 cDNA had a single nucleotide substitution with one amino acid substitution compared with the RhPII cDNA:substitution C-->T in nucleotide 380, changing codon 127 from GCG to GTG (Ala-->Val). The RhPI, RhPII, and RhPII-1 cDNA clones were detected in all individuals by the PCR experiment. This suggests that the Rh polypeptide genes have been inherited from parents and might be highly polymorphic. The PCR amplification of an RhPII-specific region from reticulocyte RNA and genomic DNA in all the family proved that the RhPII gene exists in both RhD-positive and RhD-negative individuals. By Southern-blot analysis of the DNAs from the family, two independent polymorphisms concerning the RhC/c and RhD/d phenotypes were observed. These results demonstrate that the RhPI and RhPII genes are also present in the RhD-negative donors, and the RhPII-related cDNAs encode not the RhD, but the RhC/c and/or E/e, polypeptides.

[A new approach for diagnosis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia]

Sixty four cases of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) referred to our laboratory from 1985 to 1993 consisted of 51 warm type AIHA, 9 cold agglutinin disease (CAD), one paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, and 3 mixed type AIHA. There were 5 patients who had all clinical features of AIHA except for a positive direct-antiglobulin test (DAT). These patients were diagnosed as DAT-negative AIHA because of the elevation of red blood cell-associated IgG (RBC-IgG). The mean RBC-IgG of 100 healthy individuals was 33 +/- 13 (SD) molecules per one RBC. On the other hand, the RBC-IgG of patients with DAT-positive and with DAT-negative warm type AIHA were ranged from 257 to 12,421 and from 126 to 256 molecules per one RBC, respectively. One of 9 patients with CAD had a hemolytic anemia associated with only a cold agglutinin titer of 32 using saline-suspended RBCs, but a titer of 4,096 in the presence of bovine albumin. This case was diagnosed as low titer CAD. All of patients with DAT-negative AIHA or low titer CAD showed a good response to corticosteroid treatment.

[A case report of ureteral stump metastasis from renal-cell carcinoma]

This is a case report of the 21st documented case of ureteral metastasis from renal cell carcinoma. A 75-year-old woman was admitted because of asymptomatic gross hematuria. Right radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma had been performed 2 years and 9 months prior to admission. Cystoscopy revealed efflux of blood from right ureteral orifice. Right retrograde ureterogram revealed a filling defect at the upper end of the stump, where a soft tissue mass was observed by computerized tomographic scan. She underwent right ureteral stump excision with a bladder-cuff. Pathological study was consistent with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The literature on ureteral metastasis from renal cell carcinoma is briefly reviewed and a mechanism for the metastasis is proposed.

Molecular analysis of esterase D polymorphism

We have analyzed the esterase D (EsD) polymorphism at the nucleic acid level. Two common alleles, EsD1 and EsD2, are characterized by the substitution of one amino acid (Gly-to-Glu), which is caused by the point mutation of one nucleotide (G-to-A). Individuals exhibiting the EsD1 and EsD 2 phenotypes are homozygotes for EsD 1 and EsD 2 cDNAs, respectively. Individuals showing the EsD 2-1 phenotype have two kinds of cDNAs, viz., EsD 1 and EsD 2. The point mutation difference between the cDNAs of the EsD1 and EsD2 alleles results in a different SspI digestion site. A restriction fragment length polymorphism caused by this difference with respect to the SspI digestion site makes it possible to determine the EsD phenotype using DNA samples extracted from forensic materials with no EsD enzymatic activity.

An exon 28 mutation resulting in alternative splicing of the glycoprotein IIb transcript and Glanzmann's thrombasthenia

The alternatively spliced from mRNA of platelet glycoprotein IIb (GPIIb) with a deletion of exon 28 (GPIIb-28) has been isolated from the HEL cell cDNA library. The defective expression on the surface of DNA cotransfected COS-1 cells with GPIIb-28 and GPIIIa cDNAs was described in an earlier report. We studied siblings with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia who expressed only the GPIIb-28 mRNA in their platelets. Flow cytometry showed that the patients' platelets failed to bind GPIIb/IIIa complex-specific and GPIIb-specific monoclonal antibody. Western blotting showed that the patients' platelets had defective GPIIb and have trace amounts of GPIIIa. Sequence analysis was performed after polymerase chain amplification of the patients' GPIIb and GPIIIa mRNAs. The patients' GPIIb cDNA had a deletion of the exon 28 nucleotides. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from exon 27 to 29 showed that the GPIIb-28 mRNA was 3% +/- 1.6% of the normally, spliced form in control platelets, and 61% in the megakaryoblastic cell line UT-7. The patients' platelets showed only the GPIIb-28. Family study and quantitative PCR studies showed that these patients were compound heterozygotes of two GPIIb gene defects. The father's allele is described in this report and involves skipping exon 28 secondary to a base substitution at codon Gln948, CAG-->TAG. The mother's allele appears to involve decreasing GPIIb mRNA levels in platelets. Our results indicate that the GPIIb-28 is not expressed on platelet membranes as a stable GPIIb/IIIa heterodimer or left as a monomer in platelets. Our studies confirm the previous data observed in COS-1 cells expressing recombinant GPIIb-28.

Identification of two Rh mRNA isoforms expressed in immature erythroblasts

Two isoforms of RhPI cDNA encoding an Rh polypeptide, RhPI-alpha and RhPI-beta, were isolated from mRNAs of immature erythroblasts cultured in a selective two-phase liquid culture system for human erythroid progenitors in peripheral blood. The RhPI-alpha and RhPI-beta cDNA clones encoded the hydrophobic membrane polypeptides of 242 and 244 amino acids which were missing in amino acid residues 227 to 383 and 212 to 384 of RhPI polypeptide, respectively. These peptide deletions produce unexpected structural properties resulting in the generation of a new open reading frame with a new stop codon caused by frameshift translations in RhPI-alpha cDNA and in the reverse orientation of topology in RhPI-beta cDNA. Both isoforms are abundantly present in immature erythroblasts, but not in mature erythroblasts. These results indicate that the two Rh-related mRNAs identified are expressed at the immature erythroblast stage on the development of erythroid series.

A patient with Tn syndrome associated with myelodysplastic syndrome showed abnormal glycophorin B

A Japanese male patient with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) was shown to have associated Tn syndrome; the first report of Tn syndrome with MDS. The Tn expression was demonstrated on erythrocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, platelets, and lymphocytes by flow cytometric analysis using a lectin and an antibody. Electrophoresis of erythrocyte membrane proteins revealed slower mobility of glycophorin B from the patient than that from normal individuals, suggesting a glycophorin B molecular abnormality.

Rapid detection of mitochondrial DNA polymorphism by photoactivatable biotin

A new method for the detection of mitochondrial (mt)DNA polymorphism by agarose gel electrophoresis is presented. In this method, after mtDNA digestions with endonucleases, the mtDNA fragments are labeled directly with photoactivatable biotin in the digestion buffer, separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, transferred to a nylon membrane and detected enzymatically using streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase, Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) and 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolylphosphate (BCIP). This method is useful for the detection of mtDNA digestion patterns by agarose gel electrophoresis, especially when enough purified mtDNA cannot be obtained and the radioisotope cannot be handled because of several restrictions.

Genetic Polymorphisms of Human Parotid Saliva and Their Application to Forensic Science

Human saliva is one of the valuable resources for the identification of genetic markers. A number of polymorphisms are found in salivary proteins and enzymes. They could provide the important information for genetic studies and forensic science. Polymorphic proteins in saliva show very unique composition of amino acids, which are named proline-rich proteins (PRPs). Proline-rich proteins have some biochemical and immunological similarities and linkage has been shown to occur among them. Recent deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis suggests that PRP genes have to be reconsidered on the gene structure. This review includes the polymorphisms of salivary proteins and enzymes and their application for human genetics and forensic science. Recent DNA studies that suggest the reorganization of the loci controlling the production of PRPs are also discussed.

Point mutation in the band 4.2 gene associated with autosomal recessively inherited erythrocyte band 4.2 deficiency

A patient who represented acute hemolytic crisis was studied. Analysis of the erythrocyte membrane proteins by SDS-PAGE revealed a deficiency of band 4.2. In the family, the sister of the patient who had been clinically normal was also shown to be deficient in band 4.2. Binding studies showed that the propositus' membranes were able to bind normal band 4.2 protein as much as control. It was suggested that the binding sites for the protein were prepared on the membrane. We analyzed the band 4.2 cDNA of the propositus and detected a mutation that changes a codon for alanine to one for threonine at residue 142. Band 4.2 exon III of genomic DNA which included the mutation site was amplified and sequenced directly in the family members, and it was revealed that only the homozygotes of the mutation allele manifested band 4.2 deficiency and the parents, who were heterozygotes, showed normal amounts of band 4.2. Recently, the same mutation was reported as Protein 4.2NIPPON in another 4 cases (Bouhassira et al. Blood 1992: 79: 1846-1854). This study supports the hypothesis that this mutation is the pathogenetic cause of band 4.2 deficiency and not a polymorphism.

Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism in Jindo dogs

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphism was studied in 21 Jindo dogs inhabiting Jin Island off the Korean peninsula. The polymorphism was analyzed with 10 restriction endonucleases that recognize six base pairs. The sizes of the mtDNA fragments produced by digestion using each endonucleases were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, and the polymorphisms were detected with Japanese mongrel dog mtDNA as a probe. The mtDNA polymorphism in Jindo dogs was observed with four restriction endonucleases, Apa I, EcoR V, Hinc II, and Sty I. However, no polymorphism was detected with BamH I, Bgl II, EcoR I, Hind III, Pst I, or Xba I. The observed restriction endonuclease morphs were classified into 4 types of distinct cleavage patterns. The average number of nucleotide substitutions per nucleotide site in Jindodogs was estimated to be 0.0086. By UPG phylogenetic analysis, the 4 mtDNA types showed only one cluster. This suggests that Jindo dogs have not diverged from the other cluster up to the present and the species is considerably pure.

Isolation of a new cDNA clone encoding an Rh polypeptide associated with the Rh blood group system

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify Rh-related cDNAs from erythroid cells cultured by the selective two-phase liquid culture system for human erythroid progenitors in peripheral blood. Direct sequencing based on PCR presents heterozygous bands. Two Rh polypeptide cDNAs have been isolated from the PCR products and tentatively designated RhPI cDNA and RhPII cDNA. Both cDNA clones have an open reading frame composed of 1251 nucleotides. The RhPI cDNA clone shows a single nucleotide substitution with no amino acid substitution compared with the published sequence. The RhPII cDNA clone, on the other hand, differs from the above by 41 nucleotide substitutions with the open reading frame, resulting in 31 amino acid substitutions.

Two cases of urothelial tumor with high serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen and TA-4

Two rare cases of urothelial tumor with high serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and TA-4 levels are presented. One is a case of lymph node metastasis due to bladder tumor: pathological diagnosis revealed mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The other is a case of left renal pelvic tumor: pathological diagnosis revealed transitional cell carcinoma with glandular and squamous differentiation. The serum CEA and TA-4 levels, high before surgery, decreased after surgery.

Expression of the Tn antigen on erythroid cells from a patient with Tn syndrome

In order to examine expression of the Tn antigen on erythroid cells from a patient with Tn syndrome, we applied a selective two phase liquid culture system for human erythroid progenitors in peripheral blood. The cells were analyzed with flow cytometry employing an anti-Tn antibody and a lectin of Vicia villosa which recognizes only the Tn determinant. In the second phase, the Tn antigen was expressed on the cultured cells from the patient on day 3 and Tn-positive cells reached 62.7% on day 9. On the other hand, Tn-positive cells were not detected in the volunteer's cultured cells. When the patient's cells were co-cultured with the cells from a healthy volunteer, the percentage of Tn-positive cells was much lower than the expected value, suggesting that the normal cells suppressed the expression of Tn antigen on the patient's cells.

Combined effect of interleukin 2 and cyclophosphamide in therapy of mice with transitional cell carcinoma

We investigated the effect of combination therapy with interleukin 2 (IL-2) and cyclophosphamide (CPM) in C3H/HeN mice implanted with mouse bladder tumor cells (MBT2). MBT2-bearing mice were treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of 120 mg/kg CPM on day 10 and/or subcutaneous administration of 5 x 10(4) units IL-2/day from day 11 to day 20. As a result, the growth of tumor in mice treated with IL-2 alone was slightly suppressed. On the other hand, regression was observed in all mice treated with CPM alone, although regrowth of tumor was seen in all of them. However, when IL-2 was administered with CPM, regrowth of tumor was completely suppressed. An immunologic study was done that showed cytotoxicity against YAC-1 and P815 in the spleen cells was suppressed in mice treated with CPM alone, but that both recovered to control levels when IL-2 was administered with CPM. Cytotoxicity against MBT2 in the spleen cells was most elevated in mice treated with both IL-2 and CPM. These findings suggested that clinical evaluation of combination therapy with IL-2 and CPM may be worthwhile.

Mutagenic activation of aflatoxin B1 by pulmonary, renal, and hepatic cytochrome P450s from rats

The genotoxic and mutagenic activation of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) by hepatic, renal, and pulmonary microsomes and purified cytochrome P450s was investigated in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 cells in which an umu response shows DNA damage. The activity of the hepatic microsomes was greatest. Pulmonary microsomes had moderate activity and renal microsomes had low activity. P450 2C11, 2B1, 3A2, 4A2, 4B1, K-2, and K-4 were assayed in a reconstituted system with dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC). P450 2C11 (a major hepatic cytochrome P450 in male rats) had high activity. P450 2B1 (a major form as well as P450 4B1 in pulmonary microsomes) and K-2 (a minor form in renal microsomes) had moderate activity. P450 4A2 (a major form in renal microsomes), P450 K-4 (a renal form), and P450 4B1 had low activity. P450 3A2 did not have high activity in these conditions but it had high activity toward AFB1 in a modified reconstituted system with a lipid mixture and sodium cholate instead of DLPC only. The activities of other forms were not enhanced by the modification of reconstituted system. Anti-P450 2C11 or 3A2 antibodies inhibited the bioactivation of AFB1 by hepatic microsomes to 50%. These results suggest that the greater ability of hepatic microsomes as compared with pulmonary and renal microsomes to metabolize AFB1 to mutagenic products is a function of the relative proportions of the highly active cytochrome P450s, P450 2C11 and 3A2, in the liver.

Expression of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450s as altered by uremia

The proportions of different hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450s expressed in uremic rats were studied with specific antibodies and with a steroid hydroxylase assay. In male uremic rats, the hepatic levels of P450 2C11, a male-specific form, and 3A2, a male-dominant form, were decreased to about 30% at 5 weeks after the induction of uremia. These changes were paralleled by decreases in the activities of testosterone 2 alpha-, 16 alpha-, and 6 beta-hydroxylation. The level of P450 2A1, abundant in immature rats, was increased 2-fold by uremia and accompanied by an increase in testosterone 7 alpha-hydroxylation activity. The levels of P450 2C6 and 2E1 were not changed by uremia. The levels of male-specific and male-dominant forms such as P450 2C11 and 3A2 are affected by the serum level of testosterone, which was decreased in the male rats with uremia. Therefore, castrated rats were prepared to compare the effects of testosterone on hepatic cytochrome P450s in uremic rats with those in castrated rats. When testosterone was administered to the castrated rats, the decreased levels of both P450 2C11 and 3A2 returned to normal. However, the administration of testosterone to the uremic rats did not prevent the decrease in the levels of these P450s. In female rats, changes in the levels of cytochrome P450s were not as great during uremia as those in male uremic rats. The level of P450 2C12, a female-specific form, was not changed; the level of P450 2A1 was increased by 50%, that of 3A2 which is barely detected in female rats was increased by 60%, and that of 2E1 was increased by 25%. These results suggested that the changes in the hepatic levels of cytochrome P450s were affected by factors other than testosterone in uremic rats.

Further study of human salivary alpha-amylase polymorphism

Genetic variants of salivary alpha-amylase were studied using isoelectric focusing in a pH gradient of 6-8 and silver staining methods. Five phenotypes which were tentatively named Amy1 N, Amy1 SN, Amy1 V1N, Amy1 V2SN and Amy1 V3N were detected. The phenotype frequencies in 371 unrelated Japanese were: Amy1 N = 94.33, Amy1 SN = 2.43, Amy1 V1N = 0.54, Amy1 V2SN = 0.27 and Amy1 V3N = 2.43%, respectively. Although variant bands of Amy1 V1N were detected by immunoblotting method using anti-human salivary amylase, those bands were not stained by starch-iodine method for the detection of amylase activity. This suggested that a mutation was occurred in the region of amylase molecule which showed the activity. Amy1 V2SN comprised the production of three Amy1 genes and indicated the duplication of Amy1 gene. The individuals showing Amy1 V3N phenotype accorded with those showing amylase variant by PAGE.