A cell culture model of chemically and spontaneously derived mouse lung alveologenic carcinoma

Malignant cell lines related to mouse lung alveologenic carcinoma have been established from urethane-induced tumors and after in vitro spontaneous transformation of preneoplastic cell lines. Both the chemically and spontaneously transformed cell lines formed invasive, poorly differentiated carcinomas with secondary lung deposits when implanted subcutaneously in immune-suppressed mice. They differed from the related preneoplastic cell line in coordinately exhibiting anchorage-independent growth, reduced epidermal growth factor receptor activity and absence of pericellular fibronectin. These data suggest that similar molecular events may occur in type 2 pneumocyte-related cells in order to generate mouse lung alveologenic adenomas and carcinomas by both spontaneous and chemical carcinogen induction mechanisms. A reduced level of pericellular fibronectin was also demonstrated in an in situ compressive urethane-induced mouse lung adenoma. Loss of pericellular fibronectin may therefore be an early and persistent phenotypic alteration during transformation to the alveologenic adenoma and carcinoma.

Expression of fibronectin on clonally related transformed and control sublines from an epithelial cell strain and a tumor line of mouse alveolus

The cellular expression of fibronectin and the importance of fibronectin for the morphology of cultured cells were studied in a lung epithelial cell system. The cells used were clonally related control NAL1A, spontaneously transformed NAL1AS cells of the NAL1A cell strain, and transformed clonal sublines of the cell line NAL1AM and the tumor cell line NUL1. Fibronectin was detected on the surface of NAL1A cells by surface iodination; fibronectin synthesis, secretion, and pericellular accumulation were detected in each of the control sublines by immunoblot assay, immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled cell extracts and conditioned medium, and was confirmed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Fibronectin synthesis, secretion, or accumulation could not be detected by these methods in NAL1AS and NAL1AM sublines, or the sublines of NUL1. The control NAL1A cells showed enhanced cell spreading on culture substrata of fibronectin or extracellular matrix from bovine endothelial cells, as compared to plastic. The transformed NAL1AS and NAL1AM cells had the same cell shape when cultured on the three different substrata. For these cultured epithelial cells, cellular fibronectin expression and sensitivity to the presence of adhesive glycoproteins in the culture substrata are seen in the control, anchorage-dependent cells, but the transformed cells appear not to express fibronectin and to have a cell shape that is unaffected by the nature of the culture substratum.

Post-diction of suicide in a group of depressive patients

Prediction of suicides was made on the basis of 99 psychiatric patients included in a study of anti-depressive therapy during 1961-63. These patients were followed up until 31 December 1984. Eight of them committed suicide. The prediction was based on two test methods, the Serial Colour-Word Test (CWT), which registers style of adaptation to a conflicting situation, and the Meta-Contrast Technique (MCT), where incongruous or threatening stimulation is introduced by degrees into neutral pictures and various defense misrepresentations of the threat are spotted. Both tests could predict suicide, but MCT was most successful. The sensitivity of the test was 0.80 and the specificity 0.75. The main risk symptom appeared to be depressive retardation together with lack of functional defensive structures.

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA ploidy in lymphomas of the thyroid

Four cases of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the thyroid were studied using flow cytometric (FCM) DNA analysis of propidium iodide-stained nuclei retrieved from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Two of the four cases were aneuploid and two were euploid. In the two euploid cases, both patients are alive and without evidence of recurrent disease after an average of 4 years follow-up. Of the two aneuploid cases, one patient is alive and free of recurrent disease after 1 year. In the other aneuploid case, the patient died of disseminated disease 8 months after presentation despite having a low-grade (follicular, predominantly small cleaved cell type) and low-stage (tumor confined to thyroid at presentation) lymphoma. These data suggest that the DNA ploidy of primary NHL of the thyroid can be determined using fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Our results also suggest that a large study to assess the prognostic value of this technique is warranted.

Magnetic resonance, pathology and physiology of the BA1112 rhabdomyosarcoma in vivo

We studied histology, findings on H-1 magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and correlations of P-31 MR spectroscopy with microelectrode pH and pO2 measurements in the BA1112 rhabdomyosarcoma in WAG/Rij/Y rats. Intratumoral hemorrhage was a prominent feature on MR images and pathologic specimens. Eosinophilic necrosis could be seen microscopically but was not discernible on images. The peaks seen on P-31 MR spectra were similar to those reported in other tumors. The intratumoral pH was neutral despite low pO2 values and P-31 MR evidence for impaired metabolic status.

Mutagenic potency at the Na+/K+ ATPase locus correlates with cycle-dependent killing of 10T1/2 cells

Perturbation of DNA replication by chemical-DNA adducts produced by exposure to mutagenic/carcinogenic chemicals results in mutagenic or cytotoxic damage in the DNA. Demonstration of a correlation between cell cycle dependency of cytotoxicity and point mutation at the Na+/K+ ATPase gene could suggest that the two consequences of chemical exposure are caused by the same damage in the template DNA and that both are mediated through DNA replication-associated mechanisms. N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide, and benzo(a)pyrene-trans-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide demonstrated cell cycle-related patterns of cytotoxicity in 10T1/2 cells, with maximal cell killing produced by exposure in early S phase, and were highly efficient mutagens of the Na+/K+ ATPase gene relative to their cytotoxic potential. In contrast, methyl methanesulfonate and N-acetoxy-N-2-fluorenylacetamide were maximally cytotoxic in cell populations exposed in early G1 phase and were weak mutagens of the Na+/K+ ATPase gene at comparable levels of cytotoxicity. These data suggest that mutagenic/carcinogenic chemicals that are effective at producing mutations by misreplication kill cells by a related mechanism that may be associated with the perturbation of DNA replication.

Evaluation of the developmental toxicity of nicotine and cotinine with frog embryo teratogenesis assay: Xenopus

The teratogenic potential of nicotine and a primary metabolite, cotinine, was examined with FETAX (Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay: Xenopus). Early embryos of Xenopus laevis were exposed for 96 hr to nicotine or cotinine in two separate static renewal tests of each compound without addition of the metabolic activation system (MAS). Two static renewal tests of nicotine with the MAS were also conducted. Addition of the MAS to nicotine reduced the LC50 from an average of 136 to 20 mg/L. However, the EC50 (malformation) was increased from 0.4 to 5.8 mg/L upon activation. The LC50 and EC50 values for cotinine averaged 4,340 and 720 mg/L, respectively. Based on mortality/malformation index values, growth end points, and the types and severity of the induced malformations, nicotine and cotinine scored as potential teratogens. Metabolism of nicotine to more polar metabolites increased the nicotine concentration required to induce terata. The results are indicative of the versatility of FETAX in developmental toxicity testing.

Description and rationale of a new operation for chronic pancreatitis

An operation is described that is useful in the management of patients with chronic pancreatitis and its complications. The operation features duodenal-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas combined with longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy of the body and tail of the pancreas. The operation has application to patients with pain or complications of chronic pancreatitis with dilated ducts in the body and tail of the pancreas who have small strictured ducts and/or small pseudocysts or ducts impacted with calculi in a markedly enlarged fibrotic pancreatic head. It also has application to patients with chronic pancreatitis complicated by common duct obstruction from small pseudocysts, fibrosis, or inflammation in the head of the pancreas. With this procedure, the common duct can often be freed up from the structures compressing it within the substance of the pancreas doing away with the necessity of a separate biliary bypass. The operation also has application to patients with a previous longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy who have recurrent or persistent pain associated with small strictured ducts in an enlarged fibrotic pancreatic head with or without common bile duct obstruction.

Pulmonary tumor embolism: a critical review of clinical, imaging, and hemodynamic features

Pulmonary tumor embolism is a common finding at autopsy but is generally perceived as a difficult diagnosis to make ante mortem. After a retrospective review of 164 reported cases of pulmonary tumor embolism, we identified a typical profile of clinical, laboratory, and imaging features that may permit confident clinical diagnosis in most patients with this condition. The clinical features include a documented or suspected underlying malignancy, acute to subacute onset of dyspnea, and signs of cor pulmonale. Supportive laboratory features are hypoxemia or increased alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient, and invasive or noninvasive evidence of pulmonary artery hypertension. Typical imaging findings are normal chest radiographs; multiple, subsegmental, peripheral perfusion defects on ventilation-perfusion lung scans; and delayed filling with or without subsegmental filling defects but without a thrombus on pulmonary angiogram. Radiolabeled monoclonal antibody imaging and pulmonary microvascular cytology sampling techniques are promising diagnostic tests for early diagnosis of pulmonary tumor embolism.

Activation of the Ha-ras gene in C3H 10T1/2 cells transformed by exposure to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

A transfectable, presumably mutationally activated, c-Ha-ras gene was identified in a clonal population of 10T1/2 cells established from a Type II focus induced by exposure of a parental, wild-type population to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG).

Malignant epithelial cell strains cultured from BALB/c mouse lung adenoma

Urethane-induced lung adenomas from adult BALB/c mice were explanted onto a plastic substratum and cultured in order to establish the epithelial cell strain NUL1. The cell strain exhibited a polygonal morphology with high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio and osmiophilic lamellar bodies characteristic of lung adenoma cells. A reproducible large and small cell heterogeneity was preserved despite multiple cell cloning. NUL1 was malignant at all passage numbers tested exhibiting anchorage-independent growth and subcutaneous formation of carcinomas in immune-suppressed mice. The cell strain was diploid at low passage numbers and became pseudo-diploid with increasing passages.

Lymphokine-induced phenotypic changes in cells of a type 2 pneumocyte-related strain: characterization of activity in mitogen-stimulated spleen cell supernatants

Supernatants from concanavalin A-stimulated spleen cells contain a factor which induces morphological alterations, inhibition of replication, and altered phospholipid biosynthesis in cells of a type 2 pneumocyte-related strain designated NAL 1A. This study has demonstrated that the active factor is generated by nonadherent spleen cells in the presence of supernatants from cultures of stimulated adherent cells. The active factor inhibits proliferation of NAL 1A cells in a dose-dependent fashion, exerts an irreversible effect following overnight exposure of these cells to stimulated supernatants, and appears to be continuously synthesized by stimulated spleen cells in culture. It is stable at pH 2 for 4 hours, does not bind to Blue Sepharose CL-6B, and exhibits molecular heterogeneity on gel filtration chromatography, with maximal activity recovered in fractions of molecular size 34,000 and 43,000. Comparable inhibition of growth was induced by exposure of NAL 1A cells to recombinant murine and human interleukin 2, as well as by recombinant murine interferon-gamma. These findings provide evidence for an interaction between type 2 pneumocytes and lymphokines such as interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma. The possible implications of a similar interaction occurring in vivo and its effects on type 2 pneumocyte morphology and function are discussed in the context of chronic interstitial inflammatory lung disease.

Characterization of an alveolyn-like protein associated with mouse type 2 pneumocytes using immunochemical methods

Delipidated proteins from a fraction of mouse lung homogenate enriched for lamellar bodies of type 2 pneumocytes were characterized by a combination of gel filtration and enzyme immunoassay for the presence of a surfactant-associated antigen. Immunoreactivity was associated with a protein of Mr 250-270,000 as well as its multimers and proteolytic fragments. The characteristics of the antigenic protein closely resembled those of a surfactant-associated protein termed alveolyn which is reported to be secreted by type 2 pneumocytes of various other species. Surfactant-associated proteins of M 32-38,000 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid may be derived from this molecule by proteolysis.

Kinetics of cell death induced in 10T1/2 cells by methyl methanesulfonate and the effects of extracellular calcium on cell death

The cytotoxic effect of methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) on C3H 10T1/2 cells is characterized by a complex pattern of changes in the permeability of the cell membrane to trypan blue and, therefore, presumably to extracellular calcium. 10T1/2 cells are temporarily, and reversibly, permeable to trypan blue during the initial 30 minutes following exposure to MMS when incubated in the presence of extracellular calcium. By 90-120 minutes after the exposure, the MMS treated cells have restored control of the membrane permeability, and for the next 6-7 hours they exhibit a level of trypan blue uptake comparable to that observed in the untreated cohort population. Between 9 and 15 hours after exposure to MMS the fraction of the population permeable to trypan blue increases rapidly, ultimately approximating the level of cell killing measured concurrently in a colony formation assay. Transient culture in calcium-free medium immediately after exposure to MMS does not protect 10T1/2 cells from cytotoxicity, but incubation in the calcium-free medium does prevent the initial transient episode of permeability to trypan blue observed when the 10T1/2 cells are incubated in calcium-containing medium. These observations suggest that MMS-induced cytotoxicity results from a complex course of events, possibly from damage to an intracellular target rather than from damage to the plasma membrane.

Altered morphology, growth, and biosynthetic activity of a type 2 pneumocyte-related cell strain induced by lymphokine-enriched supernatants of mitogen-stimulated spleen cells

Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of type 2 pneumocytes during the evolution of subacute and chronic pulmonary injury cannot always be satisfactorily explained in terms of reparative responses to type 1 pneumocyte injury. We hypothesized that immunocompetent cells, evoked as part of the interstitial inflammatory response, may be secreting factors which affect proliferation and surfactant biosynthesis by type 2 pneumocytes. To evaluate this hypothesis in vitro, we tested the effects of lymphokine-enriched supernatants, from serum-free cultures of concanavalin A-stimulated spleen cells, upon the type 2 pneumocyte-related cell strain NAL 1A. Addition of these supernatants in culture induced irreversible morphologic and ultrastructural alterations in the NAL 1A cells, inhibited cell replication, and evoked increased and apparently abnormal surfactant phospholipid biosynthesis. Supernatants from unstimulated spleen cells had no effect. There was no evidence of toxic injury to the cells in culture, and an immunologically specific cytoplasmic protein continued to be expressed. The active factor(s) appeared to be a protein or peptide of greater than 10,000 molecular weight. A specific soluble factor such as is present in the mitogen-stimulated lymphoid cell supernatants may be capable of mediating a similar interaction with type 2 pneumocytes in vivo.

Onset of neoplastic phenotype in an epithelial cell strain from adult BALB/c mouse lung alveolus

Prolonged culture of NAL1A in 1 microM dexamethasone (CAS: 50-02-2) at low passage numbers resulted in the emergence of a morphologically altered and malignant cell strain, NAL1AM. (NAL1A was derived from lungs of normal adult female inbred BALB/c mice and exhibits several characteristics of epithelial cells.) A clone of NAL1A, B5, was shown to undergo a spontaneous morphologic alteration during culture in normal medium to resemble NAL1AM and cells of NUL1, a strain cultured directly from urethane (CAS: 51-79-6)-induced adenomas of mouse lung. Whereas NAL1A did not form colonies in soft agar, the clone B5 of NAL1A as well as NAL1AM and NUL1 showed quite high anchorage-independent growth (colony-forming efficiency, 6.3-7.8%). Compared with NAL1A cells, clone B5, NAL1AM, and NUL1 each exhibited a ninefold-reduced level of cellular binding of epidermal growth factor.

Expression of a type 2 pneumocyte-specific antigen by a cell strain from normal adult mouse lung

The mouse lung epithelial cell strain NAL 1A has been confirmed as type 2 pneumocyte-related by immunostaining with a type 2 pneumocyte-specific antiserum. Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity with the antiserum paralleled the appearance of phospholipid-containing osmiophilic cytoplasmic inclusions, which were much more abundant in confluent cell cultures at low passage number than in exponentially growing cultures. However, phospholipid analysis indicated that NAL 1A cells were impoverished in phosphatidylglycerol as compared to lung type 2 pneumocytes. Confluent cultures of the neoplastic cell lines NAL 1AM and NUL 1 did not reveal any reactivity with the specific antiserum.

A comparison of several hypertonic solutions for resuscitation of bled sheep

Small volumes (4 ml/kg) of 2400 mOsm NaCl restore cardiac output and mean arterial pressure to 80% of baseline after hemorrhage (65% of blood volume) in unanesthetized sheep. An equal volume of normal saline is less effective. To identify an optimal hypertonic solution, we screened six 2400 mOsm solutions in 18 randomized experiments in 8 sheep: NaCl, NaHCO3, NaCl/sodium acetate, NaCl/mannitol, NaCl/6% Dextran 70, and glucose. Cardiovascular function, as determined by cardiac output and mean arterial pressure, was restored best with NaCl, NaCl/NaAc, and NaCl/Dex. These three solutions were then evaluated using 18 sheep in 36 experiments. Following a 1-hr baseline period, the sheep were bled to a mean arterial pressure of 50 mm Hg for 2 hr. One of the solutions was then given in a volume of 4 ml/kg over 2 min and the sheep were monitored for 3 hr. Within 3 min of the infusion, cardiac output increased to greater than 100% of baseline for all three solutions. The NaCl-Dex solution sustained a significantly higher cardiac output over the 3-hr observation period than the other solutions. Plasma volume increased for all solutions following infusion. NaCl-Dex maintained plasma volume significantly better than the other solutions. As a further control, an isotonic solution of 6% Dextran 70 in normal saline was studied. It was not as effective as the hypertonic NaCl-Dex in maintaining cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, or plasma volume. Osmolality increased 10% (309 to 326 mOsm/kg H2O), plasma [NA] increased 7% (151 to 161 meq/liter), and plasma [K] decreased from 3.9 to 2.6 meq/liter following the hypertonic infusions. The sheep appeared to tolerate these electrolyte changes well. We conclude that a single bolus infusion of 2400 mOsm NaCl with 6% Dextran 70 best resuscitates sheep that have been subjected to a moderate degree of hemorrhagic shock compared to several other solutions. Its beneficial effects are caused in part by a sustained reestablishment of plasma volume. More studies are needed to document the safety of dextran in the clinical setting of hemorrhagic shock. Small volumes of hypertonic solutions may be valuable in the initial fluid resuscitation of patients in hemorrhagic shock.

Characterization of a neoplastic epithelial cell strain derived by dexamethasone treatment of cultured normal mouse type 2 pneumocytes

The epithelial cell strain NAL1A cultured from normal adult mouse lung has been transformed by culturing in dexamethasone into an invasive neoplastic cell strain. The criteria for neoplastic transformation include the capacity for anchorage independent growth in soft agar as well as the formation of invasive neoplastic nodules after subcutaneous transplantation in thymectomized irradiated newborn mice. The cells of the invasive neoplastic nodules induced by dexamethasone culturing of NAL1A were indistinguishable histopathologically and by electron microscopy from invasive nodules evoked by the subcutaneous inoculation of CMT64, a cell line cultured from a metastasizing mouse lung tumour and cell strain NUL1 derived from mouse pulmonary adenomata induced by urethane. Cells of the nodules derived from all three cultured strains possessed desmosomes, surface microvilli and phospholipid lamellar bodies characteristic of the type 2 pneumocyte. It is concluded that cultured cell strains NAL1A, cultured in dexamethasone, NUL1 and CMT64 evoke invasive subcutaneous neoplasms derived from a common ancestor, presumably a type 2 pneumocyte related stem cell.