Acceptance of skin allografts in pigs by portal venous injection of donor bone marrow cells

OBJECTIVE

To confirm in pigs whether a new method for organ allografts, originally established in mice by the authors, might be applicable to humans.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The authors recently established a new method for organ allografts in mice that includes the injection of donor bone marrow cells (BMCs) using the portal vein (PV), followed by the administration of cyclosporin A (CsA) on days 2 and 5, and the intravenous injection of BMCs on day 5. In the present study, they modify this method (a single-day protocol) and apply it to pigs.

METHODS

Allogeneic BMCs of donor pigs were injected using the PV (a superior mesenteric vein). The skin grafting was carried out on the day of the PV injection. The recipient pigs received donor grafts, autologous grafts, and third-party grafts at the same time. In addition, an open wound was made as the epithelized control. Full-thickness skin grafts were harvested from the dorsal wall of the donors. CsA (10 mg/kg) was injected intramuscularly into recipient pigs on days 2 and 5 after the PV injection.

RESULTS

One hundred percent of skin grafts survived for >300 days when donor BMCs were injected using the PV (n = 6). However, the skin grafts of the three pigs that had received BMCs using the intravenous route were rejected within 3 to 4 weeks after transplantation. The third-party skin grafts showed necrotic changes on day 21 after transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

One hundred percent of skin allografts can be obtained, even in pigs, by injecting donor BMCs using the PV, carrying out skin allografts, and administering CsA on days 2 and 5. This single-day protocol would be of great advantage for human organ transplantation.

Nutritional intake of elite Japanese track-and-field athletes

Mean daily intakes of energy and nutrients were surveyed from 3-day food records for 62 elite Japanese track-and-field athletes (28 males and 34 females) selected to participate in the 1994 Asian Championship games held in Hiroshima, Japan. Mean energy intakes of male and female athletes were 3,141 kcal (+/-592) and 2,508 kcal (+/-537), respectively. Based on the Japanese Recommended Dietary Allowances (JRDAs), long-distance and middle-distance runners had significantly higher energy and macronutrient intakes than did sprinters, jumpers, and throwers. There was no significant difference in micronutrient intake among the different types of athletes. However, of the sprinters, jumpers, and throwers, 15 males (54%) and 22 females (65%) consumed less than the JRDA for at least one micronutrient (i.e., vitamin or mineral). For some athletes, nutritional counseling that provides strategies for increasing food intake is recommended to optimize nutrient intake.

Persistent tolerance induced after portal venous injection of allogeneic cells plus cyclophosphamide treatment

The injection of allogeneic cells via the portal vein (p.v.) is known to reduce responses to donor-alloantigens. In the present study, we have obtained persistent tolerance across Mls and multiple minor histocompatibility complexes by p.v. preimmunization followed by the administration of cyclophosphamide (CY). A hundred percent survival of (BALB/c x DBA/2)F1 (CDF1) skin grafts for more than 200 days was observed when BALB/c mice were preimmunized with spleen cells of CDF1 (3 x 10(7)) via the p.v. and administered 300 mg/Kg CY 2 days after the p.v. injection. Comparable survival of the skin graft was observed when bone marrow cells instead of spleen cells were p.v. preimmunized. However, the survival rate was significantly decreased when LPS-stimulated blastic cells were p.v. preimmunized. Microchimerism has been observed in the liver, thymus, bone marrow and peripheral blood of recipients. V beta 6+ cells decreased in CD4+ cells of recipients of the p.v. preimmunization plus CY treatment. However, there was no difference in the decrease in V beta 6+ cells between recipients accepting the CDF1 skin grafts and recipients that had rejected the skin grafts. Furthermore, no intrathymic depletion of the V beta 6+ cells was observed. From these results, it is suggested that, rather than clonal deletion, other mechanisms such as clonal anergy or suppression may be involved in the induction of persistent tolerance after the p.v. preimmunization plus CY treatment.

An aged male patient with autoimmune hepatitis complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma

An 82-year-old male patient was admitted for liver dysfunction. Laboratory test showed the following data; aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 79 IU/l, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 28 IU/l, total bilirubin (T. Bil) 0.9 U, zinc sulfate turbidity test (ZTT) 48.9 U, gamma-globulin 4.9 g/dl, immunoglobulin G (IgG) 5,046 mg/dl, anti-nuclear antibodies x 320, anti-mitochondrial antibodies (-), hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) (-), HBcAb (-), anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) (-), hepatitis C virus (HCV-RNA) (-), anti-hepatitis G virus (anti-HGV) (-), alpha-fetoprotein 306.8 ng/ml, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) 2.3 ng/ml, carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 77.2 U/ml. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography showed a large mass occupying most of the right lobe and portal thrombosis in the liver. Liver biopsy revealed cirrhosis with inactive hepatitis in the nontumorous lesion and well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma in the tumorous lesion. We report a rare case of an aged male patient with autoimmune hepatitis complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma.

c-kit<low Pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells form CFU-S on day 16

Using Ly5 congenic mice, we characterized the early differentiation step of pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells. Lineage- (Lin-)/CD71- cells in the bone marrow cells were separated into major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I(high)/c-kit(low) and MHC class I(high)/c-kit<low populations from C57BL/6 Ly5.1 male mice. These two populations (1,000 cells) were transplanted into lethally irradiated (5.5 Gy x 2) C57BL/6 Ly5.2 female mice. Colony-forming unit in spleen (CFU-S) assays were carried out on days 10, 12, 14, 16, and 20. In the mice that received c-kit(low) cells, CFU-S were first detected on day 12, and the CFU-S counts gradually increased. In contrast, no visible colony was detected until day 14 in the mice that received c-kit<low cells; CFU-S were first observed on day 16. Donor-derived (Ly5.1+) cells, such as B cells, T cells, and myeloid cells, were detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analyses, and donor-derived erythroid cells were detected by polymerase chain reaction analyses using Y-chromosome-specific primers. Donor-derived cells in the recipients of c-kit(low) cells were detected in the spleen, bone marrow, and peripheral blood on day 12 after transplantation, while they were detected on day 16 in the mice that received c-kit<low cells. Therefore, c-kit<low cells have the capacity not only to form CFU-S on day 16 but also to reconstitute the recipients with donor-derived hematolymphoid cells 16 days after transplantation.

Mapping and characterization of quantitative trait loci for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with an improved genetic map in the Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty rat

The Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat is an animal model for obese-type, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in humans. We have previously reported four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for NIDDM on Chromosomes (Chrs) 7, 14, 8, and 11 (Nidd1-4/of for Non-insulin-dependent diabetes1-4/oletf) by a whole-genome search in 160 F2 progenies obtained by mating the OLETF and the Fischer-344 (F344) rats. Our present investigation was designed to identify and characterize novel QTLs affecting NIDDM by performing a genome-wide linkage analysis of genes for glucose levels and body weight and analysis for gene-to-gene and gene-to-body-weight interactions on an improved genetic map with a set of 382 informative markers in the 160 F2 progenies. We have identified seven novel QTLs on rat Chrs 1 (Nidd5 and 6/of), 5 (Nidd7/of), 9 (Nidd8/of), 12 (Nidd9/of), 14 (Nidd10/of) and 16 (Nidd11/of) which, together with the Nidd1-4/of, account for a total of approximately 60% and approximately 75% of the genetic variance of the fasting and postprandial glucose levels, respectively, in the F2. While the OLETF allele corresponds with increased glucose levels as expected for the novel QTLs except Nidd8 and 9/of, the Nidd8 and 9/of exhibit heterosis: heterozygotes showing significantly higher glucose levels than OLETF or F344 homozygotes. There are epistatic interactions between Nidd1 and 10/of and between Nidd2 and 8/of. Additionally, our results indicated that the Nidd6 and 11/of could also contribute to an increase of body weight, and that the other five QTLs could show no linkage with body weight, but Nidd8,9, and 10/of have an interaction with body weight.

Levodopa effective parkinsonism associated with aqueductal stenosis: a case report and review of the literature

A case of aqueductal stenosis (AS) associated with marked parkinsonism is described. A ventriculoperitoneal (V-P) shunt was performed in an 18-year-old female because of hydrocephalus associated with non-neoplastic aqueductal stenosis. The patient developed acute parkinsonism with Parinaud's sign after the shunt revision. She had a marked response to levodopa and the parkinsonism improved. Subsequently, levodopa therapy was gradually discontinued without any manifestation of parkinsonism. The pathophysiology of this type of parkinsonism probably involved presynaptic dopaminergic dysfunction. However, the etiology of this complication has not been confirmed.

Concluding remarks of Autonomous Biological Systems (ABS) experiments

Team efforts for analysis on the Autonomous Biological Systems (ABS) space experiments are summarized here to conclude scientific findings, and to scope the extended studies in future. From the three experiments on Space Shuttle and Space Station Mir, a closed ecological system modeled by the ABS was verified to be capable of sustaining its members of animals and plants under space environment for a period of several months. The animals successfully completed their life cycle in space during the course of these experiments, this was the first time that the life cycle of higher organisms had been completed in space and ecological system. Importance of gravity for ecology was proven at the same time. Gravity is a dominant factor for ecology by formulating spatial patterns and distribution of members of ecological system. Under microgravity, the fate of ecological system was found highly sensitive against the variation of environmental factor, such as light illumination cycle.

Performance of a digital video camcorder for the Autonomous Biological System experiment onboard Space Station Mir

A video imaging and recording system was utilized in the Autonomous Biological System experiment onboard the space station Mir. Video image of the mini-ecological system was successfully recorded. The whole system was retrieved to the ground after its operation in orbit for four months. Performance of the video system is summarized here together with technical problems encountered. Defects of pixel had been developed in the imaging device. Cause of these defects could be attributed to its exposure against space radiation. Auto white balance was another function of the camcorder that was deviated from normal range of its performance once in orbit but recovered to normal after a while. Possible use of imaging devices for dosimetry is proposed to record space radiation environment at the site close to the experiment.

Analysis of water in Autonomous Biological Systems (ABS) samples

Several soluble components, peptidase and amino acids, and carbon isotopic ratio in the water retrieved from flight experiments of Autonomous Biological Systems (ABS) as well as ground control samples are analyzed to interpret the condition, dynamics, material balance of the ABS ecosystems. Organic carbons in flight samples were found to be more abundant compared with the control ones, which suggested the uniform ecosystems in low gravity might easily dissolve more soluble components. The Mir-1997 flight sample showed higher C/N ratio probably because of the dissolution of carbon-rich plant materials.

Microorganisms and plant of Autonomous Biological Systems (ABS) samples

Distribution of microorganisms and cellular structure of an Autonomous Biological Systems (ABS) were studied with a special attention to the effect of space environments. Viable cell densities measured by the direct fluorescence microscopic method were in the order of 10(5) cells/ml for fractions 1 (upper suspension) and 2 (lower suspension), and 10(6) cells/ml for fraction 3 (sediments). These values were 10 to 100 times larger than the values obtained by the classical colony forming unit method. No difference between flight and ground samples was observed in the vertical distribution of viable microorganisms when fractionation and analysis were carried out after recovery. Intracellular distribution of chloroplasts in higher green plants, Ceratophyllum demersum, of flight samples was disturbed after 10 days of flight (24hrs/day light on). After 4 months of flight (Mir/STS-79/81) with 24 hrs light on, Ceratophyllum demersum was completely disintegrated. On the other hand, in the second 4-months-flight experiment with 16 hrs/day light on, Ceratophyllum demersum was only slightly deteriorated.

Effect of carbohydrate ingestion on sprint performance following continuous and intermittent exercise

PURPOSE

This investigation was conducted to study the effects on sprint performance of glucose and fructose ingestion during a 15-min rest period half way through 90 min of continuous and intermittent exercise. On three occasions, eight subjects cycled at 76 +/- 2% VO2max for 90 min (continuous trials: CON trials) with a 15-min half-time break.

METHODS

On another three occasions, they cycled for 90 min between moderate (65% VO2max) and high (100% VO2max) intensity (intermittent trials: INT trials) with the same half-time. In both trials, 90-min exercise was followed by a 40-s Wingate test to evaluate remaining sprint capacity. During half-time, they consumed either 20% glucose polymer (G), 20% fructose (F) or sweet placebo (P). Ingestion of G maintained plasma glucose levels, carbohydrate oxidation rate and lower value of ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) in both trials and indicated higher sprint performance compared with P (mean power of CON trials: 614.3 +/- 23.3 W vs 574.0 +/- 22.7 W, P < 0.001, INT trials: 629.5 +/- 27.6 W vs 596.3 +/- 25.5 W, P < 0.01).

RESULTS

Ingestion of F showed similar effect in CON trials (603.8 +/- 26.1 W vs 574.0 +/- 22.7 W, P < 0.01) but had no positive effect in INT trials. Additionally, mean power of G was higher than F (629.5 +/- 27.6 W vs 598.4 +/- 34.2 W, P < 0.01) in INT trials.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicated that ingestion of G during half-time of 90-min exercise could maintain carbohydrate utilization and improve sprint performance in both CON and INT trials.

Identification of quantitative trait loci for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus that interact with body weight in the Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rat

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is a prototypical multifactorial disease. Genetic predisposition and obesity are major risk factors for NIDDM development and the interactions between these factors are likely to be important in the etiology of this disease. The Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat is one of the best animal models of NIDDM, since the OLETF rat develops NIDDM with mild obesity that is very similar to human NIDDM. Therefore, the OLETF rat is a powerful model for investigating the interaction between genetic susceptibility to NIDDM and obesity. In this study, our goal was to clarify the relationship between an individual NIDDM susceptibility locus and obesity in the OLETF using a molecular genetics approach. We identified four novel quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that contribute to the susceptibility to NIDDM, none of which shows significant linkage with body weight. However, Nidd1/of on chromosome 7 and Nidd2/of on chromosome 14 have an interaction with body weight. In contrast, one locus was mapped to chromosome 10 for body weight, but not to fasting or postprandial glucose levels. These data illustrate that NIDDM and body weight are under separate genetic control in the OLETF yet interact to yield the final disease phenotype in the two Nidd/of loci. In addition, body weight could be used in place of body mass index as an indicator of obesity in our experimental system of genetic study. This study will facilitate the understanding of the complex interaction between genetic susceptibility to NIDDM and obesity.

Herbicide-resistant transgenic creeping bentgrass plants obtained by electroporation using an altered buffer

Modification of an electroporation buffer using Ca(NO₃)₂ and elevated pH (9-10) appeared to have a favorable effect on gene transfer to creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) Penncross protoplasts, resulting in an increase in the transformation frequency of about twofold. Following electroporation with the plasmid pARK22 containing the bar gene, a total of 278 bialaphos-resistant cell colonies were obtained from four experiments. The bialaphos-resistant regenerants proved to be transgenic by Southern hybridization of the amplified DNA. All the tested transgenic plants showed herbicide (HERBIE) resistance at the field rate of 0.5-1% (vol/vol). Ammonia contents in leaves after spraying with the herbicide increased less in transgenic plants than in untransformed control plants.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor expressed in T cells mediates immunity against herpes simplex virus type 1 encephalitis

A model of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection was developed in rats to study systemic immune responses elicited by intravitreous inoculation of the virus. HSV-1 inoculation led to distinct granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-producing memory T cells, which did not develop in rats inoculated with either HSV-1 intraperitoneally or inactivated HSV-1 intravitreously. On subsequent intraperitoneal viral boosting, systemic GM-CSF production was elicited as a secondary immune response that caused neutroeosinophilia. To examine the role of GM-CSF in anti-herpetic immunity, cytokine-producing and -nonproducing rats were intravitreously challenged with HSV-1, which causes lethal encephalitis. Only intravitreously primed rats were protected upon production of GM-CSF. Furthermore, pretreatment with recombinant GM-CSF protected unimmunized rats against the encephalitis. It is thus strongly suggested that the production of GM-CSF leads to anti-HSV-1 immunity against the transneuronal spread of challenged HSV-1 within the visual system.

A strategy for organ allografts without using immunosuppressants or irradiation

A strategy to achieve regular and long lasting organ and tissue allografts without using immunosuppressants and/or irradiation has been established for mice. One hundred percent of skin allografts can be induced to survive >350 days after transplantation if spleen cells from the same donors are first injected into the portal vein of the recipients. The mechanisms underlying this long-term tolerance induction can be described as follows: (i) donor T cells from the spleen of the donor facilitate the acceptance of the allogeneic engraftment, (ii) donor-specific anergy is induced in the cytotoxic T-lymphocytes of the recipients, (iii) T helper type 2 cells become the dominant T cells in the recipients that are accepting the skin transplants, and (iv) a lasting chimerism (microchimerism) is established in these recipients. This strategy, perhaps with minor modifications, might permit one also to overcome major barriers to organ allografting in humans. If this were the case, it could represent production of long lasting immunologic tolerance without need for irradiation or cytotoxic chemo-preparative regimen and as such could greatly facilitate allotransplantation free of episodes of chronic or acute rejection or toxic and damaging preparatory regimens.

Ecological cultivation ark (ECA) project--mutation and evolution of micro-organisms in space

Ecological cultivation capsules (ECC), that is a materially sealed microcosm. composed of primary producers, consumers and bacteria as a decomposer were developed in order to cultivate bacteria without any artificial operation for long duration more than 10 years in space. It is planned to be left on the space station to study the process that bacteria in MIR space station had acquired their resistance to cosmic ray radiation as well as ultra-violet light. As contrasted with the space experiment, bacteria are cultivating in the ECC on the ground to trace the changes of bacteria under the simulated radiation dose in Earth orbit.