In vivo and in vitro transcription of small mRNAs containing a leader sequence from mouse hepatitis virus strain JHM

Two additional small RNAs, named mRNA8 and 9, are transcribed from mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) in virus-infected mouse DBT cells. This report shows that the small mRNAs (mRNA8 and 9) were observed at 3 hr post infection (p.i.) in DBT cells infected with the JHM strain of MHV. This result suggested that products from mRNA8 and 9 may play a role in the early stage of the viral replication cycle in the infected DBT cells. The mRNA8 is initiated from a perfectly conserved intergenic site, but mRNA9 is from an imperfectly conserved intergenic sequence. Since mRNA8 and 9 were found in the liver and brain of an infected mouse, it was suggested that the imperfect intergenic sequence of MHV may serve as an initiation site for leader-primed transcription in vivo.

[Efficacy and endocrinological analysis of combined buserelin-pure FSH-hCG therapy in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome]

The study was designed to investigate the efficacy of combined buserelin-pure FSH-hCG therapy in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO) and to analyse its underlying hormonal changes. Buserelin was intranasally administered daily to 13 patients (35 cycles) for 4-10 weeks with a mean week of 5.4 +/- 1.6 (SD), followed by concomitant pure FSH administration. Out of the 13 patients, 8 were the ones who had experienced ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) using pure FSH alone. Hormonal analyses were performed on these 8 patients. This combined regimen resulted in a 97.1% ovulation rate (34/35) and a 37.1% incidence rate of OHSS (13/35). In 4 out of the 8 patients who had experienced OHSS, no OHSS was observed in the first cycle of the therapy. Eight patients became pregnant with the therapy. Excluding one patient whose husband had oligozoospermia, 7 patients conceived at the first cycle of the therapy and the pregnancy rate per cycle was 25.0% (7/28). No abortion or multiple pregnancy was observed in any of the 8 cases. Pretreatment with buserelin resulted in significantly decreased serum LH, FSH, LH/FSH ratio, estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), and androstenedione (ASD). Serum E2, T and ASD levels at both preovulatory and midluteal phases were significantly lower with the combined regimen than with pure FSH alone. These results indicate that this combined regimen improves the characteristic endocrine profile of PCO and enables pure FSH to achieve ovulation regularly with a high pregnancy rate, although it does not always inhibit OHSS.

Effects of surfactants and protease inhibitors on nasal absorption of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) in rats

The effects of various surfactants and protease inhibitors on the nasal absorption of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) were examined in rats. No effects of bile salts and acids such as sodium glycocholate or taurocholic acid, amphoteric surfactants such as lauryldimethyl betaine, or anionic surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate on the absorption were found at a concentration of 1%. But non-ionic surfactants with hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB) of 13 to 18 increased the total leukocyte numbers maximally by about 250% as a relative increase ratio to the control without surfactants. The increase in the plasma rhG-CSF concentration was obviously observed only in the presence of non-ionic surfactants, and in particular, the effects of Laureth-9 on the increase in total leukocyte numbers and plasma rhG-CSF concentration were maximal. In the presence of various kinds of protease inhibitors, the increasing effect of rhG-CSF on the total leukocyte numbers was not changed. Consequently, it is considered that the permeation of rhG-CSF through the nasal epithelium can be improved by non-ionic surfactants, but the effect of a protease inhibitor is smaller than that of the surfactant.

Expression and purification of recombinant Marek's disease virus serotype 1 specific phosphorylated protein pp38 in E. coli

Phosphorylated protein pp38 is the only protein that is detected in the Marek's disease (MD) lymphoma caused by MD virus serotype 1 (MDV-1) and lymphoblastoid cell lines. In this study, a recombinant protein coded for by the almost entire open reading frame of the MDV-1 pp38 cDNA was produced in E. coli and purified by affinity chromatography. Prior to the expression and purification of the protein, cDNA containing the entire coding region for pp38 was cloned and its nucleotide sequence was determined. Immunoblot analysis indicated that the expressed recombinant protein electrophoresed close to that of the pp38 in infected cells. The difference in mobility of the purified recombinant and the pp38 in infected cells corresponded to a fusion peptide. The recombinant pp38 may be of interest for function analyses and the diagnotic use of pp38.

Inhibition of viral multiplication by hammerhead ribozymes targeted against the polymerase gene of mouse hepatitis virus

We designed and constructed two hammerhead ribozymes targeted against the polymerase gene of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV). They consisted of a 22-nucleotide (nt) ribozyme core sequence and antisense sequences of different lengths, 243-nt (S-ribozyme) and 926-nt (L-ribozyme). In cell-free reactions, the constructed ribozymes cleaved the target RNA at a specific site. Vectors that directed the expression of ribozymes by a promoter of human elongation factor 1 alpha were introduced into DBT cells, and the resulting several cell lines constitutively expressing the ribozymes were selected by Northern blot analysis and examined for intracellular multiplication of MHV. The production of infectious progeny virus particles was significantly reduced in the transfected cell lines expressing either S-ribozyme or L-ribozyme. Although the in vitro cleavage process of L-ribozyme was slower than that of S-ribozyme, no difference was observed in inhibitory effects on MHV multiplication between S- and L-ribozymes in the transfected cells.

[Experience of extravesical dismembered antireflux surgery]

Thirty-eight patients (61 ureters) with primary vesicoureteral reflux who underwent extravesical antireflux surgery between Jan. 1975 and March 1989 were retrospectively analyzed. The overall postoperative vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) disappeared in 81.6% (31/38) of the patients, 86.9% (53/61) of the ureters. Among patients under 8 years old, VUR disappeared in all but one ureter. The postoperative VUR the disappeared in 95.7% (22/23) of the patients, 97.2% (35/36) of the ureters. Early postoperative early complications, including macrohematuria and bladder irritation were significantly fewer than those occurring in patients treated by the intravesical method. There were no serious late complications. Under restricted indications for patients under 8 years old, extravesical antireflux surgery might be clinically useful for treatment of VUR. Through the re-evaluation of length of submucosal tunnel, surgical outcome of this procedure might be improved.

Dysautonomia with acute sensory motor neuropathy. A new classification of acute autonomic neuropathy

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the dysautonomia associated with acute sensory motor neuropathy and to discuss the classification of acute autonomic neuropathy.

DESIGN

Case series.

METHODS

Sympathetic skin response. Local sweat response to acetylcholine. Norepinephrine infusion test and acetylcholinesterase histochemistry of sural nerve biopsy specimens in addition to making conventional analyses of myelinated and unmyelinated fibers.

RESULTS

In 12 patients with chronic neuropathy, acetylcholinesterase-positive fiber density and plantar sympathetic skin response size were well correlated, but in the two patients with acute autonomic sensory and motor neuropathy, there were discrepancies, acetylcholinesterase-positive fiber density being well preserved and sympathetic skin responses being absent. Histologic and electrophysiologic results indicated primary demyelination of the myelinated fibers. In contrast, previous studies of acute autonomic sensory and motor neuropathy reported dysfunction of the sympathetic postganglionic fibers and axonopathic change in myelinated fibers, poor recovery from dysautonomia.

CONCLUSIONS

Dysautonomia with acute idiopathic neuropathy can be divided into two categories--postganglionic axonopathic and preganglionic demyelinating types of the sympathetic efferent pathways. The recovery from dysautonomia produced by the former lesion is poor, but recovery is better for that produced by the latter lesion.

Assessment of right-to-left shunt flow in atrial septal defect by transesophageal color and pulsed Doppler echocardiography

To investigate the clinical significance and problems of right-to-left (R-L) shunt flow dynamics in atrial septal defects, we performed transesophageal color and pulsed Doppler echocardiography in 30 patients with atrial septal defects of the ostium secundum type. The 30 patients consisted of 20 with a pulmonary artery systolic pressure of less than 40 mm Hg, four with a pressure of 40 to 60 mm Hg, three with a pressure of 90 mm Hg or more, two patients with pulmonic stenosis, and one patient with Ebstein's anomaly. R-L shunting was determined by the presence of a shunt flow signal across the defect during each cardiac cycle. The time of R-L shunt flow was compared with the various parameters obtained by echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. R-L shunt flow signals were detected at the following times: (1) at the onset of ventricular contraction or the closing phase of the tricuspid valve in five patients with isolated atrial septal defect. These patients showed an increase of mean right atrial pressure but had no severe pulmonary hypertension; (2) during ventricular systole in five of 26 patients with tricuspid regurgitation and one patient with Ebstein's anomaly. The tricuspid regurgitant signal was directed toward the ostium of the defect in three patients and was massive in the other patients; (3) during middiastole in three patients without pulmonary hypertension. These patients showed massive left-to-right shunt flow from end systole to early diastole; and (4) during atrial systole in three patients with severe pulmonary hypertension and two patients with pulmonic stenosis. The former, in particular, showed the aliasing signal as a high-speed shunt flow. In two of the three patients with severe pulmonary hypertension, R-L shunting continued from atrial systole to early ventricular systole and was also observed in early diastole. R-L shunt flow was detected in patients with atrial septal defects not only with pulmonary hypertension but also without pulmonary hypertension and was influenced by the right atrial pressure in the phase of tricuspid valve closing, the volume or direction of tricuspid regurgitation, rebound flow caused by massive left-to-right shunt flow, the grade of right ventricular distensibility or the complication of pulmonary hypertension, and complications with other cardiac anomalies. Thus R-L shunt flow in patients with atrial septal defects was detected easily by transesophageal color and pulsed Doppler echocardiography because of the high efficiency of this method for its detection.

Subcellular distribution of calpain and calpastatin immunoreactivity and fodrin proteolysis in rabbit hippocampus after hypoxia and glucocorticoid treatment

Rabbits were subjected to hypoxia (5% O2) for up to 90 min and allowed to recover for a maximum of 4 days. Hippocampus homogenate was assayed for fodrin breakdown product (BDP). After separation into a nuclear and mitochondrial fraction (NMF), a membrane and microsomal fraction (MMF), and a cytosolic fraction (CF), samples were assayed for mu-calpain, m-calpain, and calpastatin immunoreactivity. Calpain and calpastatin immunoreactivity decreased in the NMF and CF but increased in the MMF during hypoxia and short-term recovery. This translocation occurred in parallel with the increase in fodrin BDP. Because the increase in the MMF was not large enough to explain the decrease in the other two fractions, it was assumed that the translocation and activation was accompanied by a reduction in the total amounts of calpains and calpastatin. Glucocorticoid pretreatment (beta-methasone, 0.4 mg x kg-1 x day-1) for 7 days produced a decrease in the ratio of activated mu-calpain in all three fractions in nearly all samples before, during, and after hypoxia, compared with untreated animals. Glucocorticoid pretreatment also prevented the increase in fodrin BDP that occurred in untreated animals during hypoxia and short-term recovery, indicating impairment of calpain activation.

Nitrogen dioxide-induced eosinophilia and mucosal injury in the nose of the guinea pig

Nitrogen dioxide exposure-induced mucosal pathology of the guinea pig nose was studied. Guinea pigs were exposed to 3 ppm or 9 ppm of nitrogen dioxide for 6 h a day, 6 times weekly for 2 weeks, and sacrificed 24 h after the final exposure. Exposure to 3 ppm of nitrogen dioxide resulted in decreased ciliary activity and slight eosinophil accumulation on the epithelium and submucosal layer. More serious pathologies were observed in the nose of guinea pigs exposed to 9 ppm of nitrogen dioxide, including a more prominent eosinophil influx to the epithelium and epithelial injury due to activation of eosinophils. Epithelial damage induced by nitrogen dioxide could lead to hyperresponsiveness and may result in a prolonged allergic inflammation. Our study suggests that environmental nitrogen dioxide may contribute to hyperresponsiveness and thus be involved in the increased morbidity of allergic rhinitis.

[Autologous pulmonary arterial flap for repair of truncus arteriosus in neonate and small infants]

Complete correction without external conduit repair by autologous pulmonary arterial flap was performed for the truncus arteriosus in one neonate and two small infants. In this study, we investigated advantages of postoperative hemodynamics and pulmonary artery growth from the data on truncus arteriosus repaired by the autologous flap technique. Patient in this study was classified as type I or II truncus arteriosus and age ranged from 19 days to 95 days after birth. One of the patients died of unexpected gastric bleeding 25 days after surgery. However, all showed excellent hemodynamics in the early postoperative period. The reconstructed pulmonary tract positioned rather left ward and posterior to the level of the systemic root than the technique with extra cardiac conduit repair. Compression did not occur at the created pulmonary tract and hemodynamics was fairly stable after closure of the chest. The postoperative RVP/LVP ratio ranged among 0.45 to 0.65 and the pressure gradient across the right ventricular out flow tract demonstrated only 10-15 mmHg. The size of the pulmonary arterial flap was sufficient even in type II truncus arteriosus to create right ventricle-to-pulmonary tract. However, the first patient underwent subsequent surgery 20 months after the initial surgery, because of left pulmonary artery stenosis due to intimal tissue overgrowth distal to the outflow patch. Surgical findings revealed that the posterior wall of the pulmonary tract was smooth and well developed. Traction of pulmonary arterial flap toward the right ventricular outflow tract shortens the distance between monocusp and left pulmonary arterial orifice than expected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Abdominal sonography for the diagnosis of large bowel obstruction

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of abdominal sonography in the diagnosis of large bowel obstruction, the sonographic findings of 39 patients with a large bowel obstruction, in the form of a simple obstruction in 36 patients and a sigmoid volvulus in 3, were reviewed in comparison with their plain X-ray findings. Abdominal sonography showed a large bowel obstruction in 33 patients, and an obstructing lesion in 14 of these patients. However, in the other 6 patients, including the 3 with a sigmoid volvulus, the image was disturbed by extensive colonic gas. Although the plain abdominal X-ray films showed no gaseous colonic dilatation, isolated small bowel dilatation was seen in six patients with a large bowel obstruction proximal to the splenic flexure. In five of these six patients, abdominal sonography revealed a dilated colon filled with fluid and feculent contents which was difficult to evaluate on the plain X-ray films. Consequently, abdominal sonography was proven to be useful, especially for detecting X-ray-negative colonic dilatation.

[Prevalence estimation of urinary incontinence among non-institutionalized persons aged 60 and over in Japan]

In order to estimate the total number and the prevalence rate of persons experiencing urinary incontinence among the non-instutionalized, aged 60 and over in Japan, a questionnaire survey was conducted in 16 prefectures in December 1991. The questionnaires were distributed and collected by public health nurses in Health Centers. A total of 12,180 questionnaires were administered. There were 11,528 responses (response rate of 94.6%), of which 11,142 were analysed. The main results were follows; 1) Daily urinary incontinence occurred in approximately 4.1% of the men and 5.3% of the women living at home. 2) 6.2% of the men and 8.9% of the women living at home had regular urinary incontinence with at least one episode of leakage per month in the preceding 12 months. 3) The prevalence of urinary incontinence increased with age for both sexes. 4) The 95% confidence interval estimate for the number of non-institutionalized persons over 60 years old suffering from urinary incontinent incidents nearly daily was estimated to be from 305,000 to 351,000 in men and from 554,000 to 675,000 in woman. 5) The 95% confidence interval estimate for the number of non-institutionalized persons over 60 years old with urinary incontinence of at least one episode of leakage per 5 months was from 3,507,000 to 3,889,000 for both sexes. 6) In order to determine age-specific prevalence for urinary incontinence for all age groups, a sampling survey is needed. 7) Research emphasizing the assessment of preventive interventions necessary since incontinence is preventable and medical and surgical treatment options are available.

Production and characterization of a novel tissue-type plasminogen activator derivative in Escherichia coli

We have created a novel thrombolytic agent by the combination of mutation with partial deletion of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). We constructed Escherichia coli expression vectors for (i) native t-PA (nt-PA) and its derivatives; (ii) K1K2P, consisting of kringle 1 (K1), kringle 2 (K2), and protease (P) domains; (iii) K2P, consisting of K2 and P domains; (iv) D-nt-PA; (v) D-K1K2P; and (vi) D-K2P. The latter three are point mutants of nt-PA, K1K2P, and K2P, respectively, in which Arg275 (number corresponds to that of nt-PA) has been mutated to Asp. The production of nt-PA and its derivatives was remarkably improved by (i) removal of the 3' noncoding region of nt-PA cDNA from expression vectors and (ii) expression in mutant E. coli derived from E. coli HB101, which is insensitive to heat-shock inductions. The proteins produced were precipitated as insoluble aggregates in the cells and were renatured to active forms by extraction with 8 M urea followed by dialysis against a redox buffer containing GSH and GSSG. The renaturation yield depended on the pH of the buffer and the number of disulfide bonds of the proteins (nt-PA << K1K2P < K2P). The mutation of Arg275 (the plasmin cleavage site) caused an increase in the catalytic enhancement by fibrin and a decrease of the interaction with plasminogen activator inhibitors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tissue distribution of ERp61 and association of its increased expression with IgG production in hybridoma cells

A protein of molecular weight 60 kDa was purified from the culture medium of a murine colon carcinoma cell line, colon26, and its partial amino-acid sequence determined. Extremely high homology was found with the deduced sequence from cDNA of rat ERp61, earlier found to be an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein with redox activity and a similar structure to protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). Western blotting analysis showed that colon26 cells secrete a significant amount of ERp61 into culture medium, although most remains intracellular. The thiol:protein disulfide oxidoreductase activity of the purified mouse ERp61 was demonstrated by insulin-reduction assay. The ER location of the protein in fibroblasts was immunocytochemically confirmed by double staining for ERp61 and another ER-resident protein, PDI or Hsp47. Immunohistochemical studies of murine tissues showed a ubiquitous distribution of ERp61 in a wide variety of cell types. However, it was particularly abundant in plasma cells, mucus-secreting cells in various tissues, neuroendocrine cells including neurons, and follicular epithelia of thyroid gland that actively synthesize and secrete proteins containing cysteine residues. Furthermore, a high correlation was observed between intracellular amounts of ERp61 and immunoglobulin production by hybridoma cells. These results indicate that ERp61 may be involved in disulfide bond formation for such proteins.

[Differences in inpatient medical costs for the aged within one prefecture]

The rapid increase in the proportion of the elderly population has made the problem of medical costs increasingly important. This problem, however, is not uniform over all regions in Japan. In order to determine what factors are associated with per capita medical care expenditure of inpatients aged 70 years and over, in fiscal 1991, correlation analyses were performed using several indices of medical services, socioeconomic factors and medical supplies among 208 municipalities in one prefecture. Data from a survey in 1992 conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare was used in the analysis. Requests were sent to all 218 municipalities in one prefecture, and 208 responses were received a response rate of 95.4%. The main findings were as follows: 1) There were large differences in per capita medical care expenditure for those aged 70 years and over among the secondary medical areas in the prefecture. 2) Both the inpatient expenditures per person per year and bed-days in hospitals per person per year were positively correlated with number of hospital beds per 1,000, the aging population rate and death rate of those aged 70 years and over; but correlated negatively with the primary industry population rate for both sexes. 3) Inpatient expenditure per person per day was negatively correlated with the aging population rate, especially for men. 4) Three major factors that correlated significantly and positively with per capita medical care expenditure for those aged 70 years and over were bed days of inpatients per receipt, the total receipts per inpatient per year, and the number of the admission days of inpatients per year. These three major factors were negatively correlated but not significantly, with the per capita medical care expenditure per day. 5) Multiple regression analyses indicate that the aging population rate, the number of hospital beds per 1,000 of those aged 70 years and over, and death rate of those aged 70 years and over were independently correlated with the inpatient expenditure per person per year for both sexes. 6) Results of this analysis indicate that data from secondary medical regions within the prefecture rather than the municipalities yield a stronger possibility of clarifying those factors contributing to differences in per capita medical care expenditure.

A high frequency of induction of chromosome aberrations in the bone marrow cells of LEC strain rats by X-irradiation

LEC strain rats, which have been known to develop hereditarily spontaneous fulminant hepatitis 4 to 5 months after birth, are highly sensitive to whole-body X-irradiation when compared to WKAH strain rats. The present results showed that the frequencies of all types of chromosome aberrations induced by X-irradiation in the bone marrow cells of LEC rats were approximately 2- to 3-fold higher than those of WKAH rats, though no significant difference was observed in the frequency of spontaneous chromosome aberrations between LEC and WKAH rats.

[Effect of traditional Chinese medicine (dai-saiko-to) on experimental calcinosis]

To clarify the anti-calcinosis actions of traditional Chinese medicine (Dai: Dai-saiko-to) and estradiol benzoate (E2), 7-week or retired (about 6-months-old) female rats were treated with Vit. D2 (1.75 x 10(5) I.U./kg b.w./day) for 4 days, and then were fed a basal diet containing Dai (at ten times the medical dose in humans) or were injected i.p. with E2 (at the medical dose in humans) for 6 weeks. The following results were obtained: 1) Dai did not improve Ca and P metabolism in experimental calcinosis of 7-week female rats; 2) in retired female rats, Dai decreased both P in the heart and the ratio of Ca to P in bone, similar to the treatment with E2. Dai, as well as E2, seemed to nomalize Ca and P metabolism disturbed by Vit. D2 treatment.

The inhibitory effects of MgSO4 on the multiplication and transcription of mouse hepatitis virus

The multiplication of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) was inhibited by the treatment of infected cells with MgSO4 at concentrations higher than 50 mM. The inhibition of viral multiplication was more effective with the treatment of cells at the early stage of infection using MgSO4 than at the late stage. Viral adsorption to the cells was not inhibited by MgSO4 and pretreatment of the cells with MgSO4 did not show an inhibitory effect on the RNA synthesis of MHV. The synthesis of viral RNA was inhibited more effectively by the treatment of infected cells with MgSO4 at 0-2 and 2-4 h postinfection (p.i.) than at 4-6 h p.i. The present study suggests that the stage at which viral multiplication is susceptible to MgSO4 may be the early stage of viral transcription and that Mg2+ may be a useful tool for the analysis of the early stage of MHV infection.

Effects of nicotinamide and niacin on bleomycin-induced acute injury and subsequent fibrosis in hamster lungs

Nicotinamide (500 or 250 mg/kg body wt) or niacin (100 or 50 mg/kg body wt) was administered to hamsters given an intratracheal injection of bleomycin (BLM). At 7 days after the BLM injection, when compared with BLM-control animals, both nicotinamide- and niacin-treated animals showed similar acute lung injury, recognized as increases in the wet-to-dry lung weight ratio, intraalveolar albumin concentration, inflammatory cell number, and elastase activity. At 30 days after the BLM injection, both nicotinamide and niacin attenuated the development of pulmonary fibrosis, as indicated by fewer fibrotic changes and a decreased amount of lung hydroxyproline. Histologic examination revealed that, compared with nicotinamide, niacin had more potent antifibrotic effects. Lung nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide (NAD) was less depleted in nicotinamide-treated animals than in BLM-control animals. Nicotinamide- and niacin-treated animals had more intraalveolar cells than the BLM-control animals. These findings suggest that the development of pulmonary fibrosis induced by BLM was prevented through maintaining NAD by the administration of nicotinamide or niacin. Since neither nicotinamide nor niacin attenuated the inflammatory response to acute lung injury, the amelioration of fibrosis by these treatments appears to be independent of the early events.

Presence of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid necessary for platelet activating factor-induced ciliary depression

Many different mediators have been implicated in allergic responses and allergic diseases of the respiratory tract. The influence of several allergic inflammatory mediators on the ciliary activity has been well studied. However, ciliary responsiveness to platelet-activating factor (PAF) is yet to be established conclusively. Our study concerns the response of normal tracheal cilia from the guinea pig during an in vitro contact with PAF. PAF at concentrations between 10(-10) and 10(-8) M never affected the ciliary activity. On the other hand, such concentrations of PAF inhibited the ciliary activity in a dose-response fashion within 5 min in the presence of alveolar macrophages. Such a ciliary dysfunction should allow allergens and other molecules to easily invade epithelium and submucosa of the airway, resulting in an increased epithelial permeability which might be a mild manifestation of airway hyperresponsiveness and make a significant contribution to further airway hyperresponsiveness.

Gene encoding a novel murine tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP), TIMP-3, is expressed in developing mouse epithelia, cartilage, and muscle, and is located on mouse chromosome 10

Remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential component of normal development and is also involved in the pathogenesis of arthritis and the spread of cancer. The matrix metalloproteinases and their natural inhibitors, the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), play an important role in this context. We have isolated mouse cDNA clones encoding a novel member of the TIMP family, designated TIMP-3. We have assigned the Timp-3 locus to the [C1-D1] region of mouse chromosome 10 using both genetic and cytogenetic methods. The conceptual translation product of the Timp-3 cDNA shows a high degree of similarity with ChIMP-3, a recently cloned chicken metalloproteinase inhibitor, as well as significant structural similarity with the amino acid sequences of the previously isolated members of this family, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. The pattern of expression of Timp-3 in the developing mouse embryo is distinct from that previously reported for Timp-1. Timp-3 is expressed in cartilage and skeletal muscle, in myocardium, in the skin, oral and nasal epithelium, in the newborn mouse liver, in the epithelium of some tubular structures such as the developing bronchial tree, oesophagus, colon, urogenital sinus, bile duct, in the kidney, salivary glands, and in the choroid plexus of the brain. The patterns of Timp-3 expression in surface epithelia and in the epithelial lining of many tubular organs suggests that TIMP-3 may be involved in regulating ECM remodeling during the folding of epithelia and during the formation, branching, and expansion of epithelial tubes. In the mouse placenta, expression is seen in the trophoblast, raising the possibility that TIMP-3 may be involved in regulating trophoblastic invasion of the uterus. We propose a role for TIMP-3 in musculoskeletal and cardiac development, in the morphogenesis of certain epithelial structures, and placental implantation.

Diagnosis of post-transfusion graft-versus-host disease after formalin-fixation

A 72-year-old woman with multiple recurrence of gallbladder cancer was treated by intrahepatic-arterial infusion of doxorubicin using an extracorporeal system of direct hemoperfusion with venovenous bypass. During this treatment, the patient received 600 ml of fresh whole blood and 30 units of platelet concentrate from five unrelated donors. Thereafter, high fever, skin rash over the whole body, and watery diarrhea developed, followed by leukopenia progressing to a fatal sepsis. Post-transfusion graft-versus-host disease (PT-GVHD) was suspected by the clinical manifestations and postmortem pathologic findings. To establish the diagnosis of PT-GVHD, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA polymorphism associated with length variation in dinucleotide or trinucleotide microsatellite repeats at the loci of D6S89, int-2 protooncogene, and human growth factor with each of the different primer sets was performed using DNA from blood drawn from the patient with clinically established PT-GVHD of a donor origin and formalin-fixed pancreas of recipient origin. Genetic analysis revealed the changes in the patient's lymphocytes from that of the patient to that of donor origin. The present finding that formalin-fixed tissues can be used as a material of patient origin may contribute to accurate diagnosis of PT-GVHD after autopsy.

Initial experiences and future directions for transgenic mouse mutation assays

Transgenic mice have introduced new possibilities in the field of mutation research and safety testing. Using lacZ transgenic mice (Muta Mouse), we have combined the peripheral blood micronucleus assay with the transgenic mouse mutation assay, enabling the concomitant detection of gene mutations and micronucleus induction in vivo in the same animals (Suzuki et al., 1993). Several mutagens, i.e., mitomycin C (MMC), ethyl nitrosourea (ENU), ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) and diethyl nitrosamine (DEN), were tested in this combined assay. All of them increased the lacZ mutant frequency in bone marrow or liver, and all except DEN induced micronuclei in peripheral blood. These initial studies demonstrated that genotoxicity in vivo could be detected with these two endpoints and, more importantly, that some specificity exists among these tissues analyzed. Although transgenic mouse mutation assays have many potential applications in in vivo mutation research, several problems stand in the way of wider use. Paramount among these are cost and labor intensiveness. The color screening systems for lacZ or lacI mutation detection require large numbers of plates and tedious scoring processes. In order to make significant advances in this field, it will be necessary to use positive selection for induced mutants, such as has been described recently for the lacZ and lacI transgenic mouse models.

Report from the working group on the in vivo mammalian bone marrow chromosomal aberration test

The following summary represents a consensus of the working group, except where noted. The goal of this working group was to identify the minimal requirements needed to conduct a scientifically valid and practical in vivo chromosomal aberration assay. For easy reference, the items discussed are listed in the order in which they appear in OECD guideline 475. Specific disagreement with the current and/or proposed OECD guideline is presented in the text. Introduction, purpose, scope, relevance, application, and limits of test: This test would not be appropriate in situations where there was sufficient evidence to indicate that the test article or reactive metabolites could not reach the bone marrow. Test substances: Solid and liquid test substances should be dissolved, if possible, in water or isotonic saline. If insoluble in water/saline, the test substance should be dissolved or homogeneously suspended in an appropriate vehicle (e.g., vegetable oil). A suspension was not considered suitable for an intravenous injection. The use of dimethyl sulfoxide as an organic solvent was not recommended. The use of any uncommonly used solvent/vehicle should be justified. Freshly prepared solutions or suspensions of the test substance should be employed unless stability data demonstrate the acceptability of storage. Selection of species: Any commonly used rodent species was deemed acceptable but rats or mice were preferred, with no strain preference. Number and sex: A consensus could not be reached as to the requirement for both sexes versus one sex in this assay. It was suggested that a single sex should be used unless pharmacokinetic and/or toxicity data indicated a difference in metabolism and/or sensitivity between males and females. The size of the experiment (i.e., number of cells per animal, number of animals per treatment group) should be based on statistical considerations. Lacking a formal analysis, it was agreed that at least 100 metaphase cells should be scored per animal while at least five animals of any one sex should be evaluated per treatment group. Recently, a formal analysis of the numbers of cells to score per animal and numbers of animals to score per treatment group was conducted at a workshop on statistics for in vivo mutagenicity tests (Adler et al., 1994). The conclusion of this workshop was that, based on a type I error of 0.05 and a power of 80% to detect at least a doubling in the control frequency, the minimal number of cells to score per animal was 200 and the minimal number of animals to score per sex per treatment group was four.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)