Isolation of cell death-associated cDNAs from involuting mouse mammary epithelium

Although apoptosis is important in determining cell fate and maintaining tissue homeostasis, the initiation and control of apoptotic cell death in epithelium is not well understood. Post-lactationai involution of the mammary gland provides both an important developmental process and a normal physiological setting for studying apoptosis of epithelium. We used a differential screening strategy, based on previous studies correlating morphology with gene expression and nucleic acid integrity during mammary gland involution, to isolate genes involved in the regulation and execution of apoptotic cell death in regressing mammary epithelium. This screening strategy yielded a large number of genes the expression of which is significantly altered during mammary gland involution. These include genes associated with cell death processes, tissue remodelling and mesenchymal differentiation. In addition, a number of novel genes have been isolated. We have used Northern analysis and in situ hybridisation to study the expression of a selection of these putative death-associated genes during post-lactational mouse mammary gland involution.

Identification of a 40-kDa human protein that cross-reacts with prokaryotic hsp60/chaperonins

Cross-reactivity between the immunodominant bacterial hsp60 proteins and heterologous human target proteins has led to numerous hypotheses on the role of hsp60 in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. In this work, we describe a novel 40-kDa human protein that cross-reacts with bacterial hsp60 proteins. CCP40 (chaperone cross-reacting protein, 40-kDa) was identified in extracts from HL-60 (human promyelocytic leukemia) cells on Western blots probed with A57-E4, a monoclonal antibody specifying a linear polypeptide epitope common among the bacterial hsp60 proteins (Yuan et. al. (1992) Inf. Immun. 60, 2288-2296). CCP40 was detected in other human hematopoietic cell lines, but could not be detected in mature peripheral blood leukocytes. CCP40 was also expressed in human CD34+ peripheral blood progenitor cells, disappearing with cytokine-induced cellular maturation.

Endolymphatic stromal myosis of the uterus. Clinicopathological analysis of five cases

Five cases of endolymphatic stromal myosis (ELSM) were studied using histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. ELSM is a well-differentiated tumor resembling the normal endometrial stoma, with a low mitotic activity. So ELSM is considered as a kind of potentially malignant tumor different from endometrial stomal sarcoma and benign stromal nodules as well, though it can metastasize to the outside of uterus. ELSM may be derived from the stem cells that are normally present in the stroma of uterus, and can manifest multidifferentiation.

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 mediates rolling of human neutrophils on P-selectin

Neutrophils roll on P-selectin expressed by activated platelets or endothelial cells under the shear stresses in the microcirculation. P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is a high affinity ligand for P-selectin on myeloid cells. However, it has not been demonstrated that PSGL-1 contributes to the rolling of neutrophils on P-selectin. We developed two IgG mAbs, PL1 and PL2, that appear to recognize protein-dependent epitopes on human PSGL-1. The mAbs bound to PSGL-1 on all leukocytes as well as on heterologous cells transfected with PSGL-1 cDNA. PL1, but not PL2, blocked binding of 125-I-PSGL-1 to immobilized P-selectin, binding of fluid-phase P-selectin to myeloid and lymphoid leukocytes, adhesion of neutrophils to immobilized P-selectin under static conditions, and rolling of neutrophils on P-selectin-expressing CHO cells under a range of shear stresses. PSGL-1 was localized to microvilli on neutrophils, a topography that may facilitate its adhesive function. These data indicate that (a) PSGL-1 accounts for the high affinity binding sites for P-selectin on leukocytes, and (b) PSGL-1 must interact with P-selectin in order for neutrophils to roll on P-selectin at physiological shear stresses.

[Clinical analysis of 20 cases of idiopathic interstitial pulmonary fibrosis]

This paper describes 20 cases of idiopathic diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. The clinical manifestations are dry cough, chronic progressive dyspnea, clubbed fingers and velcros rales. CT (HRCT) scanning were performed in 8 patients and the results were compared with the common X-ray chest films, the images of HRCT were more clearer than common chest films, the fine grain shadows, which can not be shown on the common X-ray chest films, were shown on HRCT. The final diagnosis is based on the transbronchial lung biopsy or open lung biopsy.

Excited-state enhancement of the third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of nonether polyphenylquinoxaline

The microscopic third-order nonlinear-optical susceptibility gamma(-omega; omega, omega, -omega) of a conjugated polymer, nonether polyphenylquinoxaline, was observed to be enhanced by two times from 355-nm optically pumped excited-state populations under the condition of unsaturated pumping. We studied the time evolution of the enhancement and verified by a fluorescence measurement that the excited-state enhancement of gamma(-omega; omega, omega, -omega) is proportional to the population of the excited state.

Pathogenicity: animal models

Animal models offer the opportunity to study the interaction of the virus and the host and to unravel the mechanism in processes such as persistence of the virus and virus-induced pathology. Primary infection results in a generalized infection as shown by the presence of virus in many organs. During viraemia the virus is present in mononuclear cells by which it is transported through the body. In neonates and in immuno-suppressed animals the infection results in multiorgan failure, leading to death. Recent data have shown that infection of endothelial cells in the microvasculature and mononuclear cells seems to be important in the pathogenesis of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-induced disease. After primary infection the virus persists in the body. Although the exact localization of the latent virus is unknown it is clear that during latency viral DNA is present in many organs. By immune suppression the virus can reactivate from its latent state. In addition to the direct complications attributable to the virus itself, CMV has modulating effects on the immune response. Although in some instances the infection leads to immune suppression, the virus infection can also accelerate inflammatory and immune responses. Studies in mice have shown that CMV infection can exacerbate graft-versus-host reactions, and experiments in rats using allogeneic transplants indicate that CMV infection results in enhanced chronic rejection in which acceleration of the immune response is involved. Although the exact mechanism is not clear, recent data indicate that cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha are involved in these processes.

Mapping of human inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor family heavy chain-related protein gene (ITIHL1) to human chromosome 3p21-->p14

Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor family heavy chain-related protein (IHRP) is a novel glycoprotein isolated from human plasma. The cDNA encoding IHRP has recently been cloned from human liver cDNA libraries. We report the mapping of this gene (ITIHL1) by fluorescence in situ hybridization using a 2.5-kb cDNA fragment as a probe. ITIHL1 was localized to chromosome region 3p21-->p14 where the genes of heavy chain 1 and 3 of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor are located. This result, together with significant homology between the nucleotide sequences of ITIHL1 and the heavy chain genes, supports ITIHL1 as being a member of an evolutionary related gene family of ITI heavy chains. Northern blot analysis indicated that IHRP was predominantly synthesized in liver. From Southern blot analysis, it was tentatively concluded that ITIHL1 is a single copy gene.

Functional effects of mutations in the putative agonist binding region of recombinant alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors

Structural correlates of ligand binding to alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl- 4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors were examined by altering conserved lysine residues to either glutamate or glutamate at position 445 of the GluR-A subunit and position 449 of the GluR-B subunit. Receptors were expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells and in Xenopus oocytes as homomeric GluR-A or heteromeric combinations of GluR-A/B. The functional properties of the resulting receptors were measured with patch-clamp and voltage-clamp electrophysiology. These mutations, which reduced the total positive charge at the lysine 445 position, selectively altered the affinity of some ligands and had no obvious effect on receptor desensitization properties. The L-glutamate EC50 was 10.2 microM when wild-type GluR-A was coexpressed with GluR-B (GluR-A/B) and 38.9 microM when GluR-A445Q/B449Q receptors were tested. The AMPA EC50 was similarly reduced (wild-type, 3.71 microM; GluR-A445Q/B449Q, 21.4 microM). Receptors containing a glutamate residue at this position were even less sensitive to L-glutamate and AMPA. Whereas the apparent potency of L-glutamate varied inversely with the total positive charge regardless of the subunit, the affinity of AMPA was more sensitive to mutations in GluR-A than to those in GluR-B. Interestingly, the EC50 of kainate was unaffected by most of these mutations and actually increased slightly with GluR-A445E/B449E receptors. The affinity of 6-cyano-2,3-dihydroxy-7- nitroquinoxaline (CNQX) was slightly reduced with GluR-A445E/B449E receptors, whereas the apparent affinity of GYKI52466 was unchanged. These data confirm that structural correlates of binding to AMPA receptors vary among different ligands.

Expression of stromelysin-1 and TIMP-1 in the involuting mammary gland and in early invasive tumors of the mouse

The mammary gland, during post-lactational involution, is subjected to extensive tissue reconstruction. This process is governed by the concerted expression of extracellular-matrix-degrading enzymes and their inhibitors. During carcinogenesis, the invasive growth of tumor cells is characterized by the penetration of the basement membrane and stromal invasion. We compared the expression of the tissue-remodeling enzymes stromelysin-1, a matrix metalloproteinase, and its inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), during mammary gland involution and carcinogenesis in mouse. In involuting mammary glands, stromelysin-1 was expressed in myoepithelial cells, whereas TIMP-1 was confined to the stromal tissue. To analyze the involvement of these tissue-remodeling genes in tumor development, we examined mammary tumors of transgenic mice expressing either the activated Ha-ras or c-myc oncogene under the control of a milk-protein gene promoter. In the undifferentiated and metastasizing Ha-ras-induced tumors, stromelysin-1 expression was comparable to that seen in involution, whereas TIMP-1 expression was greatly elevated. During Ha-ras-induced carcinogenesis, stromelysin-1 expression was first detected in the myo-epithelial cells surrounding preneoplastic lesions. In contrast, in the well-differentiated and non-metastatic mammary tumors induced by c-myc, no expression of either gene was observed. Thus, expression of stromelysin-1 and TIMP-1 is confined to the aggressively growing tumors and is induced in the earliest stages of carcinogenesis.

Abnormal class I assembly and peptide presentation in the nonobese diabetic mouse

Presentation of self-antigens by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules requires the function of the MHC class II-linked genes Tap-1 and Tap-2. Evidence suggests that interruption of self-peptide presentation results in reduced cell surface expression of MHC class I molecules and the interruption correlates with progression to diabetic autoimmunity in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice and humans. NOD mice possess a rare Tap-1 allele (Tap-1b); this is associated with reduced Tap-1 mRNA abundance in lymphocytes from diabetes-prone females and decreased conformationally correct class I molecules on the cell surface. In this study, we demonstrate that, similar to lymphoma cell lines with mutations in Tap-1 or Tap-2, the reduced expression of class I molecules on the surface of lymphocytes from diabetes-prone female NOD mice was normalized by incubation at low temperatures or by exposure to class I allele-specific peptides. As would be expected for cells that express surface class I molecules not associated with peptide, female NOD lymphocytes were resistant to lysis by class I-restricted, peptide-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Furthermore, the rate of class I exit from the endoplasmic reticulum of lymphocytes from female NOD mice was delayed as demonstrated by delayed glycosylation. Male NOD mice, which are not prone to diabetes, lacked these functional defects in class I assembly and had near-normal levels of Tap-1 mRNA and exhibited normal density of class I epitopes that were peptide filled. These results are consistent with the possibility that the rare Tap-1b allele is associated with a quantitative defect in Tap-1 expression that influences disease course.

Determination of the enantiomers of bunolol in human urine by high-performance liquid chromatography on a chiral AGP stationary phase and identification of their metabolites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method using a chiral AGP column was developed to screen and determine the enantiomers of bunolol in human urine. The recovery of (+)- and (-)-bunolol from urine was 91.79-95.23% at different concentrations. The coefficients of variation (C.V.) were less than 2.1 and 2.3% for intra- and inter-assays, respectively. Urinary metabolites were detected using GC-MS after derivatization with N-methyl(trimethylsilyl)trifluroacetamide. The influences of pH and modifier on a chiral AGP column were studied.

Persistent and transient antibody responses to hepatitis E virus detected by western immunoblot using open reading frame 2 and 3 and glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins

Recombinant proteins containing amino acid sequences from open reading frame (ORF) 2 and ORF3 of a Chinese strain of hepatitis E virus (HEV) were constructed as fusions with glutathione S-transferase (GST). Stable fusion proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the proteins were transferred to nitrocellulose membranes, and the immobilized proteins were probed with sera from hepatitis E patients from various regions or from rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) experimentally infected with the Chinese strain of HEV. Immunoglobulin G-class antibodies were detected with chemiluminescence and anti-human immunoglobulin G conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. Anti-ORF3 antibodies were detected in most patients and monkeys within 17 days of exposure, but this humoral response declined with time and was usually undetectable by approximately 100 days. Anti-ORF2.1 antibody was usually detected as early as anti-ORF3 but persisted in all animals and many patients, whereas reactivity to the larger GST-ORF2.2 fusion protein was more transient, even though all sequences present in GST-ORF2.1 are present in GST-ORF2.2. Rechallenge of these monkeys with HEV suggested that immunity to reinfection was incomplete, as levels of anti-ORF2.1 (but not anti-ORF2.2) were boosted after each rechallenge. The results demonstrate that the carboxy-terminal region of HEV ORF2 contains epitopes which are recognized by convalescent-phase antibody and are likely to be associated with limited immunity to infection, but these epitopes may be masked when larger portions of ORF2 are expressed as recombinant proteins.

[A cohort study on the relationship between the mortality of cerebro-vascular diseases and farmer smokers]

The relationship between the mortality of cerebro-vascular diseases and farmer smokers in Shifang County was studied. The results indicated that the mortality of cerebro-vascular diseases in the male groups of cigarette-smokers older than 65 and cigar-smokers older than 55 was significantly higher than that of the nonsmokers (P < 0.05), the RR being 1.68-3.22. Also, the mortality in the female groups of cigarette-smokers older than 55 and cigar-smokers older than 65 was significantly higher than that of the non-smokers (P < 0.05), the RR being 1.99-3.19. The sex-specific mortalities of the other age groups revealed no significant differences in spite of some inequalities in smoking (P < 0.05). Age should be one of the risk factors for the death of cerebro-vascular diseases regardless of the sex. The mortality rose with the increasing accumulated amount of smoking. The relationship was not significant between the mortality of cerebro-vascular diseases and short-term smokers with small dose (P > 0.05). However, when the accumulated amount reached certain degree, i.e. the smoker consumed cigar more than 270 kg or consumed cigarette more than 10,000 packs, the relationship between the behavior of cigar-smoking and cigarette-smoking and the mortality became apparent, the RR being 2.53-3.91 (P < 0.01).

[Electrophysiological investigation on decussate communication of bulbospinal inspiratory neurons with phrenic nucleus at level of spinal cord]

The experiments were carried out on anesthetized, vagotomized, immobilized and artificially ventilated cats, rabbits and rats. The rhythmic respiratory activities on both sides of the phrenic nerves existed after a hemisection between the 2nd and 3rd cervical cord, while the activities of the phrenic nerve ipsilateral to the hemisection disappeared following a subsequent mid-sagittal section from the 3rd to 5th cervical cord. The amplitude of the phrenic activities on either side was lowered, more remarkably on the ipsilateral side, by the hemisection. These results indicate that there exists a decussate communication of the bulbospinal inspiratory neurons with the phrenic nucleus at the level of spinal cord. In other words, the phrenic nucleus receives inspiratory drives via descending pathways on both sides of the cervical cord, mainly on the ipsilateral side.

[Clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical studies of midline malignant reticulosis in palate]

Fourteen patients (10 males and 4 females) with midline malignant reticulosis (MMR) in palate were studied. The symptoms were most commonly swelling and ulceration. In some cases, the lesion involved nasal, maxillary sinus and facial skin, but no regional lymph nodes were involved. A necrotizing infiltration of atypical lymphoid cells (ALCs) mixed with inflammatory cells was confirmed as the histopathologic feature of MMR. In 2 of 14 cases, ALCs formed a continuous sheet in several high-power fields with a few inflammatory cells. This overlapping feature may be a transitional form between MMR and malignant lymphoma. Immunohistochemical staining results indicated that in 10 of 14 cases, ALCs were CD3 positive; in 7 of 14 cases, ALCs were UCHL1 positive; and in all 14 cases, ALCs were L26 negative. We deem MMR a T-cell lymphoma in substance, but it should be treated as a histopathologic entity distinct from malignant lymphoma.

The mitochondrial DNA mutation at position 11778 in Chinese families with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy

We amplified the 340 bp of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) by PCR including the recognized sequence of restriction enzyme of SfaN I. After amplification and digestion of SfaN I, two bands of 190 bp and 150 bp appeared in the mtDNA of four normal individuals but only one band of 340 bp appeared in the mtDNA with the mutation of G to A at the site of the nucleotide 11778 because such mutation destroyed the recognized sequence of SfaN I. We studied the mtDNAs of the patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy from 19 Chinese families and their maternal relatives as well as the normal individuals i. e. the husbands of the female members of the pedigrees. The results show that 66.7% of the patients (30/45) and 54.7% of the maternal relatives (29/53) have such a mutation, while no such a mutation exists in the four normal individuals. So, we conclude that the mutation of mitochondrial DNA at position 11,778 is also a major cause of LHON in China.

[Anti-virus effect of aralosides]

The result showed that the anti-virus effect of aralosides on infections with poliovirus II, ECHO delta virus, adenovirus II, herpes simplex virus I, coxsackie B3 virus and coxsackie A16 virus was remarkable. Aralosides could inhibit the development of cytopathic effect (CPE) and protect cultural cells from being infected with the above viruses.

Phase unwrapping in the three-point Dixon method for fat suppression MR imaging

PURPOSE

TO present an algorithm for performing phase unwrapping for fat and water signal separation in the three-point Dixon (3PD) method of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The algorithm is based on a two-dimensional region-growing approach, which tracks phase evolution in 3PD images and unwraps the phase when a 2 pi jump is detected. The unwrapped phase data are consecutively used to calculate fat and water signal components on a per-pixel basis. The method was tested in eight volunteers.

RESULTS

The algorithm creates four output images: standard spin-echo, fat suppression, water suppression, and phase map images. This method corrects for the effects of magnetic field inhomogeneities and provides spatially uniform fat signal suppression superior to that achievable with the standard method.

CONCLUSION

This method of 3PD data reconstruction appears to be promising for routine application of fat suppression MR imaging in a clinical setting.

A behavioural training programme for chronic schizophrenic patients. A three-month randomised controlled trial in Beijing

This paper discusses the effectiveness of an in-patient rehabilitation programme administered by nurses that combines life skills training, active encouragement, and a token economy. Fifty-two chronic schizophrenic patients with prominent negative symptoms who had been continuously in hospital for at least a year were randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. The training and associated reinforcement schedule were administered daily to experimental subjects by two specially trained rehabilitation nurses. Control subjects did not receive training or reinforcement but were individually asked to perform the same daily tasks and participate in the same activities as the experimental-group subjects. Patients in both groups received their previous dosage of medication throughout the trial. After three months the severity of negative symptoms, as assessed by blind evaluators, decreased in both groups of subjects, but the improvement in the experimental group was much greater than that in the control group. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of behavioural interventions for chronic schizophrenic in-patients in China and highlight the importance of changing the role of Chinese psychiatric nurses from that of custodians who control patients' behaviour to that of therapists who provide psychological and behavioural treatment.

Carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen in osteomalacia

Carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP) was measured in sera from 25 patients with osteomalacia due to privational vitamin D deficiency. The mean value of serum PICP was significantly raised in patients with osteomalacia compared with 40 normal subjects (mean +/- SD, 161 +/- 82 ng/ml and 113 +/- 31 ng/ml, respectively; P = 0.01). The raised serum PICP reflected the accelerated bone turnover in this condition as did the elevated serum total alkaline phosphatase (ALP), but the variation in values of serum PICP noted in individual patients may reflect the different stages of osteomalacia. The normalization of serum PICP and ALP, indicating a healing process of the bone disorder, needed longer time of vitamin D and calcium therapy. In contrast, adjusted serum calcium and inorganic phosphate (IP) responded and normalized rapidly. Serum PICP and total ALP appeared to behave differently in the disease and in its response to vitamin D therapy suggesting that these two markers may represent different functions of osteoblasts in osteomalacia.

CD34+ peripheral blood progenitors as a target for genetic correction of the two flavocytochrome b558 defective forms of chronic granulomatous disease

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) can result from any of four single gene defects involving components of the superoxide (O2-.)-generating phagocyte NADPH oxidase (phox). The phox transmembrane flavocytochrome b558 is composed of two peptides, gp91phox and p22phox. Mutations of gp91phox cause X-linked CGD, whereas mutations of p22phox cause one of the three autosomal recessive forms of CGD. We used the Maloney leukemia virus-based MFG retrovirus vector to produce replication defective retroviruses encoding gp91phox or p22phox. To maximize viral titer MFG retroviruses do not contain internal promoter or resistance elements. Epstein-Barr virus transformed B-lymphocyte cell lines (EBV-B) derived from normal individuals contain phox components and produce O2-., whereas those derived from CGD patients show the CGD defect. Transduction of gp91phox or p22phox-deficient CGD EBV-B lines resulted in correction of O2-. production from a barely detectable baseline to an average 7.2% and 13.8% of normal control, respectively, without any selective regimen to enrich for transduced cells. CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells, the therapeutic target for gene therapy of CGD, were isolated from peripheral blood of CGD patients, transduced with MFG-phox retroviruses, and differentiated in culture to mature phagocytes. Transduction of progenitors corrected the gp91phox (seven patients) and p22phox (two patients) CGD phagocyte oxidase defect to 2.5% and 4.9% of normal O2-. production, respectively, representing an 87-fold and 161-fold increase. These studies show correction of flavocytochrome b558-deficient CGD in primary hematopoietic progenitors, providing a basis for development of gene therapy for the X-linked gp91phox and autosomal p22phox-deficient forms of CGD.