Involvement of thrombospondin in the adherence of human breast-adenocarcinoma cells: a possible role in the metastatic process

The attachment of cancer cells to adhesive molecules, such as laminin (LN) and fibronectin (FN) in the extracellular matrix is a critical step in tumor invasion and metastasis. Recent data have suggested a potential role for thrombospondin (TSP), a 420-kDa cyto-adhesive glycoprotein, in the growth and spread of breast cancer. In this study, we have measured the ability of the human breast adenocarcinoma cell line, MDA-MB-231, to synthesize TSP and to use this molecule as an adhesion factor. The level of TSP in cells and secreted into the culture medium were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). At pre-confluence, MDA-MB-231 cells were shown to produce a high level of TSP, most of which was retained within the cells. In comparison, FN was almost entirely secreted into the culture medium. An increased secretion of TSP was however measured at low cell density, suggesting that TSP might be required for cell/substratum or cell/cell interactions. As shown by flow cytometry, the cells expressed membrane-bound TSP as well as unoccupied TSP receptors. 125I-TSP bound saturably to 1.2 x 10(6) sites per cell with an apparent dissociation constant of 23 nM. The binding was inhibited by an excess of unlabeled TSP and by heparin, suggesting that the receptor could be a heparan-sulfate proteoglycan or a sulfatide. TSP promoted attachment but not spreading of MDA-MB-231 cells which attached and spread on FN and LN substrates. These results suggest that endogenously synthesized TSP may have a role in the cyto-adherence of tumor cells during the spread of breast cancer.

MVM(p) NS-2 protein expression is required with NS-1 for maximal cytotoxicity in human transformed cells

The parvovirus-encoded nonstructural (NS) proteins have been implicated in the cytopathogenicity of these agents. Although protein NS-1 of minute virus of mice (MVM) has been shown to be toxic, little is known about the role of NS-2 in this process. In order to determine the contribution of NS-1 and NS-2 to cytotoxicity, we took advantage of an expression system controlled by the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter which responds to glucocorticoid stimulation and which controls the expression of both MVM(p) NS proteins. Different mutations were introduced in NS genes so as to affect the NS-1 or NS-2 protein. Neoplastic human cell lines expressing only NS-1 protein after induction by dexamethasone undergo a smaller lethality compared to lines expressing both wild-type proteins. Mutations that were introduced in NS-1 coding sequence and did not affect NS-2 were found to drastically suppress the cytotoxic effect. It is concluded that the NS-2 protein has little cytotoxic activity by itself but is required for the full expression of the viral cytopathic effect on transformed human cells. Furthermore these results lead us to suggest that the NS-2 cytotoxic domain is localized in the amino-terminal portion of the protein.

Heterogeneity of alpha-2 adrenoceptors in pregnant rat uterus: identification of subtypes and autoradiographic distribution

Pharmacological characterization of alpha-2 adrenoceptors of the pregnant rat myometrium was assessed using the ability of various alpha adrenoceptor agonists and antagonists to inhibit [3H]rauwolscine or [3H]idazoxan binding to myometrial 50,000 x g fraction or to slide-mounted sections of the whole pregnant uterus. Saturation binding studies with both radioligands showed that the number of myometrial alpha-2 adrenoceptors is greatly increased on days 10 to 12 of pregnancy vs. cyclic rats. It then decreased from midpregnancy to term (about -75%; P < .01) with no change of the equilibrium dissociation constant (between 7-11 nM). Chemical sympathectomy by 6-hydroxydopamine significantly decreased (P < .01) the density of alpha-2 adrenoceptors at days 8 and 12 of pregnancy. Later, 6-hydroxydopamine administration did not alter Bmax or Kd values suggesting that the pregnancy decrease of alpha-2 adrenoceptors may be related to a loss of presynaptic receptors. In order to identify myometrial postsynaptic alpha-2 adrenoceptor subtypes, the inhibition of [3H]rauwolscine or [3H]idazoxan binding by oxymetazoline, prazosin and chlorpromazine was studied on days 20 and 21 of pregnancy. All inhibition curves were consistent with a model of two classes of binding sites: about 55% of the myometrial alpha-2 adrenoceptors, which had a higher affinity for oxymetazoline, may represent the alpha-2A subtype whereas the other 45% of the sites, which had a higher affinity for prazosin and chlorpromazine, may represent the alpha-2B subtype. Autoradiographic studies using [3H]rauwolscine revealed that both subtypes are colocalized in the longitudinal muscle. A high density of alpha-2A and alpha-2B subtypes was also detected in the chorioallantoic and yolk sac placenta and in the embryonic nervous system.

Role of thrombospondin in the adhesion of human endothelial cells in primary culture

The role of thrombospondin on the adhesion of endothelial cells in primary culture was studied using a serum-free defined medium or thrombospondin-depleted fetal bovine serum. Under these conditions, only 6% of the cells adhered to gelatin-coated dishes, whereas cells adhering to gelatin in the presence of normal fetal bovine serum were considered as 100% adhesion. The percentage of cells attached to fibronectin or thrombospondin-coated dishes in thrombospondin-depleted serum was 66 and 32%, respectively. The addition of purified platelet thrombospondin to thrombospondin-depleted serum increased the adhesion of endothelial cells to gelatin and to thrombospondin, up to 32 and 59%, respectively, and restored the attachment to fibronectin to the same extent as that observed in the presence of normal serum. In contrast to the attachment, the spreading of the adhering cells was not further influenced by the addition of soluble thrombospondin. Subcultured cells did not require any protein for adhering to gelatin substrata. These observations indicate that thrombospondin plays a major role in the adhesion of endothelial cells in primary culture.

The expression of tropomyosin genes in pure cultures of rat neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes is highly cell-type specific and strongly regulated during development

Transcripts from the alpha-, beta- and delta-tropomyosin genes were studied during development of pure cultures of rat neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. The three cell types contained five alpha-tropomyosin messengers, produced using both alternative promoters and splicing; one was specific for mature neurons. The beta-tropomyosin gene is expressed only in astrocytes and the delta-tropomyosin gene in all three cell types, especially in immature cells. Most of the tropomyosin isoforms are highly cell-specific. Their developmental regulation involves either differential expression of genes, in neurons and oligodendrocytes, and/or changes in alternative splicing, in astrocytes, delta-Tropomyosin (TM-4) may be important during the growth of neuronal and glial cell processes, while specialized isoforms such as the neuron-specific alpha-tropomyosin TMBr-3 may be involved in the function or plasticity of the mature cells.

Molecular basis for fibrinogen Dusart (A alpha 554 Arg-->Cys) and its association with abnormal fibrin polymerization and thrombophilia

The molecular defect in the abnormal fibrinogen Dusart (Paris V) that is associated with thrombophilia was determined by sequence analysis of genomic DNA that had been amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. The propositus was heterozygous for a single base change (C-->T) in the A alpha-chain gene, resulting in the amino acid substitution A alpha 554 Arg-->Cys. Restriction analysis of the amplified DNA derived from the family members showed that his father and his two sons were also heterozygous. Electron microscopic studies on fibrin formed from purified fibrinogen Dusart demonstrated fibers that were much thinner than in normal fibrin. In contrast to the previously observed defective binding of plasminogen, the binding of thrombospondin to immobilized fibrinogen Dusart was similar to that of normal fibrinogen. Immunoblot analysis of plasma fibrinogen demonstrated that a substantial part of the fibrinogen Dusart molecules were disulfide-linked to albumin. The plasma of the affected family members also contained fibrinogen-albumin complexes. Furthermore, small amounts of high molecular weight complexes containing fibrinogen were detected in all the heterozygous individuals. These data indicate that the molecular abnormality in fibrinogen Dusart (A alpha 554 Arg-->Cys) results in defective lateral association of the fibrin fibers and disulfide-linked complex formation with albumin, and is associated with a family history of recurrent thrombosis in the affected individuals.

Importance of 3' non-coding sequences for efficient retrovirus-mediated gene transfer in avian cells revealed by self-inactivating vectors

Avian leukosis virus-derived vectors were constructed with an internal transcriptional promoter and various 3' non-coding sequences. Deletions were introduced into the downstream U3 long terminal repeat (LTR) to obtain self-inactivation of LTR-mediated transcription after one round of replication. However, 3' non-coding sequences appeared to determine not only self-inactivation of the vectors but also gene transfer efficiency. Further analysis revealed the influence of these sequences on both internal gene expression and RNA packaging. One construct permitted gene transfer while inactivating 5' LTR-promoted transcription.

Studies on fibronectin and its domains. I. Novel recombinant cell-binding domain of fibronectin--a modulator of human platelet functions

The DNA sequences encoding for two proteins of the cell-binding domain (CBD) of human fibronectin (FN), namely a 33-kDa protein (aa 1329-1722) and a 40-kDa (aa 1380-1851) protein, were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The interactions of the resulting rCBD proteins, refolded and purified to homogeneity, with human platelets were studied in comparison with those of the pentapeptide GRGDS. The binding of both the 33-kDa and the 40-kDa proteins to washed platelets appeared to be dependent upon platelet activation. In the case of the 33-kDa protein, binding to stimulated platelets was shown to be saturable, with Kd = 2 microM (thrombin as agonist). Moreover, both the 33-kDa and the 40-kDa proteins inhibited fibrinogen binding (at 0.1 microM) to ADP- or thrombin-stimulated platelets with IC50 values in the same concentration range. Binding seemed therefore to occur mainly at the GPIIb/IIIa receptor, and accordingly monoclonal antibodies against this receptor prevented up to 85% of the binding of the 33-kDa protein to platelets. With most stimuli the 33-kDa and the 40-kDa proteins inhibited platelet aggregation at concentrations 15- to 25-fold lower than those required by GRGDS and, in the case of the 33-kDa protein, this was shown to occur in either platelet-rich plasma, washed platelets, or whole blood. The 33-kDa protein also inhibited platelet aggregation and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) generation on the subendothelial extracellular matrix, whereas the GRGDS peptide inhibited only matrix-induced platelet aggregation, but not TXA2 formation. Furthermore, the 33-kDa protein, which is derived from the human FN CBD, seemed to be highly selective, since it inhibited the aggregation of platelets from primates only, and not from other animals tested. Finally, the 33-kDa protein did not promote fibroblast cell attachment, as was observed for both whole FN and the 40-kDa protein, thus displaying a selectivity toward platelets. In conclusion, the unique properties of the 33-kDa protein, and, in particular, its special affinity directed only toward activated primate platelets, seem to hold a promising potential for the further development of an antithrombotic agent.

Quantitation of platelet glycoprotein IV (CD36) in healthy subjects and in patients with essential thrombocythemia using an immunocapture assay

Glycoprotein IV (GPIIb, CD36) is a major platelet membrane glycoprotein which is thought to participate in a number of adhesive reactions and to mediate signal transduction. In order to measure the total content of GPIV in human platelets, we have developed a simple and sensitive solid-phase radioimmunoassay based on the immunocapture of GPIV from Triton X-100-solubilized platelets. FA6-152, a monoclonal antibody to GPIV was coated on microtiter plates and bound antigen was quantified with a radiolabeled polyclonal antibody to GPIV. Using purified GPIV as a standard, the coefficients of variation of the assay were found to be less than 10% at concentrations of GPIV ranging from 0.15 to 0.75 micrograms/ml. The assay was validated by the parallelism obtained between purified GPIV dose-response curves and those obtained with platelet lysates, indicating a similar antigenic activity for GPIV in both samples. The level of GPIV in platelets from healthy donors was 0.23 +/- 0.05 (mean +/- SD, n = 15) micrograms per 100 micrograms of platelet proteins and a mean value of 27,440 +/- 6,200 (SD) molecules per platelet was calculated. The radioimmunoassay could be used to discriminate between the high level of platelet GPIV in patients with essential thrombocythemia (mean +/- SD = 81,850 +/- 27,780 molecules/platelet; n = 8) and the normal GPIV level in patients with secondary thrombocytosis (mean +/- SD = 26,810 +/- 4,030 molecules/platelet; n = 5), thereby demonstrating the clinical usefulness of the assay. The specific increase in platelet GPIV in patients with essential thrombocythemia was confirmed by immunoblot analysis whereas no increase in platelet GPIb or GPIIb-IIIa was observed by this technique.

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity of the cultured eukaryotic cells as marker of the number of dead cells in the medium [corrected]

One significant problem in monitoring a culture's evolution is to assess change in cell viability. We have demonstrated that LDH release could be a good indicator of cellular damage of many cell lines, especially during shear stress or sonication. Moreover, we have found a significant correlation between the number of dead cells, determined by Trypan Blue staining, and LDH activity measurements in the supernatant of hybridoma strains, whatever the culture conditions. We have also shown that when viability is still near 100% no LDH is released even at high cell concentrations. Therefore, LDH should serve as a potential marker of cell injury and death.

Cooperation of oncogenes in cell transformation and sensitization to killing by the parvovirus minute virus of mice

The established line of normal Fisher rat fibroblasts (FR3T3) is naturally resistant to the parvovirus minute virus of mice (MVM), and was used as a model system to study the influence of stepwise transformation on the susceptibility of cells to this virus. When transformed with genes encoding the class I nuclear oncoproteins large T antigen of polyomavirus (PyLT) or v-myc, cells retained a normal appearance, but acquired some ability to form colonies in soft agar. On the other hand, the class II transforming oncogenes encoding the middle T antigen of polyomavirus (PyMT) and c-Ha-ras-1 induced both morphological alterations and a high capacity for anchorage-independent growth in transfected cells. The concomitant expression of oncogenes from both classes (PyLT-(+)PyMT; v-myc+c-Ha-ras-1) induced a supertransformed phenotype characterized by the piling-up of cells into poorly adherent foci, even in low density cultures. The progressive transformation of this cellular system was found to coincide with a gradual increase in its susceptibility to MVMp (MVM prototype strain) infection. Compared to parental cells, class I, class II and double transformants proved to be sensitized to killing by MVMp to a low, moderate and large extent, respectively. Thus, oncogenes from different functional classes appeared to cooperate in the responsiveness of cells to parvovirus attack. Interestingly, this cooperation exacerbated both the killing of infected cells and their capacity to produce viral non-structural (NS) proteins, in agreement with the reported cytotoxic activity of NS polypeptides. Therefore, in this system, parameters of the parvovirus life cycle may serve as indications of the overall progression of the transformation process.

A defect of platelet aggregation associated with an abnormal distribution of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complexes within the platelet: the cause of a lifelong bleeding disorder

A young Italian man (A.P.) has a lifelong history of bleeding from gums and mucocutaneous tissue. Electron microscopy showed a wide diversity of platelet size including giant forms. In citrated platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and other agonists was much reduced. Both secretion and clot retraction were normal. The aggregation of washed platelets with ADP was improved but remained subnormal, as was aggregation with collagen and thrombin. Fibrinogen-binding was analyzed by flow cytometry using platelets in whole blood or PRP and was markedly decreased. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis of Triton X-100 extracts of (A.P.) platelets showed that GP IIb-IIIa levels were 40% to 50% of normal. Glycoprotein (GP) IIb and GP IIIa were of usual migration in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but their labeling was much reduced during lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination. Binding to (A.P.) platelets of four different 125I-labeled monoclonal antibodies to GP IIb-IIIa complexes was reduced to 12% to 20% of normal levels. However, when the patient's platelets were stimulated with alpha-thrombin, monoclonal antibody binding showed the same increase (approximately 20,000 sites) as normal platelets. Both flow cytometry and immunocytochemical studies showed that the distribution of residual surface GP IIb-IIIa within the total (A.P.) platelet population was heterogeneous and not related to platelet size. Staining of ultrathin sections confirmed the presence of an internal pool of GP IIb-IIIa. Monoclonal antibodies to other membrane glycoproteins bound normally to (A.P.) platelets. The patient has a selective deficiency of the surface pool of GP IIb-IIIa complexes that is manifested clinically by a mild Glanzmann's thrombasthenia-like syndrome.

Lack of activity of amphotericin B in systemic murine fusarial infection

Systemic fusarial infections have emerged as a significant cause of mortality in cancer patients. Yet, little is known about the management of these infections. The in vivo antifungal activity of amphotericin B in CF1 mice with disseminated fusarial infections was studied. Two pathogenic strains of Fusarium solani were used. Intraperitoneal administration of amphotericin B in daily doses of 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/kg for less than or equal to 10 days did not prolong survival of treated animals. Clearance of F. solani from kidneys was similar in mice treated with 1 mg/kg per day of amphotericin B and in untreated animals. These results are in agreement with the known in vitro and in vivo resistance of Fusarium species to amphotericin B.

Progesterone transcriptionally regulates the beta 2-adrenergic receptor gene in pregnant rat myometrium

Administration of 5 mg of progesterone to late pregnant rats induced an increase in myometrial beta-adrenergic receptors density detected by 125I-cyanopindolol binding. This increase was significant after 24 h (1.4-fold; p less than 0.05) and reached 1.6-fold (p less than 0.05) after 36 h. The antiprogestin RU 486 or cycloheximide completely suppressed the effect of progesterone injection. Quantification of the beta 1- and beta 2-receptor subtypes revealed that progesterone selectively up-regulated the beta 2-subtype. The increase in beta 2-adrenoreceptors was preceded by an elevation of their mRNA (2.3 kilobases) levels as determined by Northern blot hybridization with a rat heart beta 2-adrenoreceptor cDNA probe. This increase was significant after 18 h of exposure to progesterone (2.1-fold; p less than 0.05) and reached a maximum after 24 h (3.4-fold; p less than 0.01). The rate of beta 2-adrenergic gene transcription evaluated by nuclear run-on transcription assays, increased by 2.5-fold in myometria exposed for 4 h to progesterone. This study indicates that progesterone regulates myometrial beta 2-adrenergic receptor expression by controlling the rate of transcription of the gene.

Molecular requirements for the interaction of thrombospondin with thrombin-activated human platelets: modulation of platelet aggregation

We have investigated the molecular requirements for thrombospondin (TSP) to bind to the platelet surface and to support the subsequent secretion-dependent platelet aggregation. For this, we used two distinct murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), designated MAI and MAII, raised against human platelet TSP, and three polyclonal antibodies, designated R3, R6, and R5, directed against fusion proteins containing the type 1 (Gly 385-Ile 522), type 2 (Pro 559-Ile 669), and type 3 (Asp 784-Val 932) repeating sequences, respectively. Among them, R5 and R6, but not R3, inhibited thrombin-induced aggregation of washed platelets and the concomitant secretion of serotonin. These antibodies, however, did not inhibit the expression of TSP on thrombin-activated platelets, as measured by the binding of a radiolabeled MoAb to TSP, suggesting that they may inhibit platelet aggregation by interfering with a physiologic event subsequent to TSP binding. In contrast, MoAb MAII, which reacts with an epitope located within the heparin-binding domain of TSP, inhibited both TSP surface expression and platelet aggregation/secretion induced by thrombin. In addition, this MoAb inhibited in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 approximately 0.5 mumol/L) the interaction of 125I-TSP with immobilized fibrinogen and platelet glycoprotein IV, both potential physiologic receptors for TSP on thrombin-activated platelets. These results indicate that the interaction of TSP with the surface of activated platelets can be modulated at the level of a specific epitope located within the amino terminal heparin-binding domain of the molecule. Thus, selective inhibition of the platelet/TSP interaction may represent an alternative approach to the inhibition of platelet aggregation.

Bacteremia due to Achromobacter xylosoxidans in patients with cancer

Bacteremia due to Achromobacter xylosoxidans is rare, and little information on treatment is available. Between 1983 and 1988, A. xylosoxidans was recovered from 26 cultures of blood from 10 patients with cancer and clinical signs of infection, including one patient with septic shock and two with pneumonia. Neutropenia did not seem to be a predisposing factor. The infection may have been catheter related in four patients and associated with gastrointestinal pathology in four others. Probable cause was not determined in the remaining two. In vitro studies of susceptibility showed that the isolates were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ), the antipseudomonal penicillins, ceftazidime, cefoperazone, and imipenem; moderately susceptible to ciprofloxacin; and resistant to ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefoxitin, ceftizoxime, aztreonam, and amikacin. All patients receiving therapy recovered, including those six who received TMP-SMZ or a beta-lactam antibiotic as a single agent. A. xylosoxidans bacteremia is a significant infection and may be catheter related or associated with gastrointestinal pathology. The infection usually responds to therapy with TMP-SMZ or an appropriate beta-lactam antibiotic.

Platelet thrombospondin and glycoprotein IV abnormalities in patients with essential thrombocythemia: effect of alpha-interferon treatment

Platelet aggregability and some biochemical parameters were evaluated in seven patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) compared with seven patients with secondary thrombocytosis (ST). Defective platelet aggregation with one or more agonists was seen in five patients with ET whereas aggregation was increased in two other patients. In addition, three patients with ET demonstrated spontaneous platelet aggregation in citrated plasma. This was associated with increased level of thrombospondin (TSP) in the plasma membrane. Interestingly, the presence of a proteolyzed 160 kDa form of TSP was detected in all patients with ET, whereas it was never found in patients with ST. Furthermore, three patients with ET demonstrated increased levels of platelet surface glycoprotein IV (GP IV), the putative receptor for TSP in the plasma membrane. In two of these patients, this correlated with increased surface expression of TSP and spontaneous platelet aggregation. The results suggest a possible link between the increased number of plasma membrane GP IV molecules, the spontaneous expression of TSP on the platelet surface and platelet hyperaggregability in some ET patients. The levels of plasma membrane GP IV and platelet surface-associated TSP tended to be normalized during alpha-interferon treatment, whereas the presence of an altered form of TSP persisted. This last parameter might be of practical usefulness in the characterization of the disease, permitting a clear distinction from ST.

A novel mechanism of action for v-ErbA: abrogation of the inactivation of transcription factor AP-1 by retinoic acid and thyroid hormone receptors

Ligand-activated retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR alpha) and c-ErbA alpha repress the AP-1-mediated transcriptional activation of the interstitial collagenase gene promoter by specifically decreasing the activity of the AP-1 transcription factor. On the other hand, the v-ErbA oncoprotein fails to repress the AP-1 activity and acts as a dominant negative oncoprotein by overcoming the repression of the AP-1 activity induced by RAR alpha and c-ErbA alpha. This maintenance by v-ErbA of a fully active AP-1 complex is correlated with the abrogation by this same oncogene product of the growth-inhibitory response of chicken embryo fibroblasts to retinoic acid treatment. This new mechanism of action of v-ErbA together with its previously discovered dominant repressor effect on transcription of thyroid hormone-activated target genes may explain the contribution of the v-erbA oncogene to sarcomatogenic and leukemogenic transformation.

Characterization of the binding of thrombospondin to human platelets and its association with the platelet cytoskeleton

To characterize the interaction between thrombospondin and human platelets, thrombospondin was purified from the supernatant of thrombin-activated human platelets, labeled with iodine 125, and allowed to interact with the washed platelets. With concentrations of 10 to 50 micrograms/ml, only minute amounts of 125I-labeled thrombospondin bound to resting platelets or to platelets activated by adenosine diphosphate. In contrast, when platelets were stimulated with thrombin, binding increased fivefold to sixfold in a time-dependent and 125I-labeled thrombospondin concentration-dependent manner. Binding of 125I-labeled thrombospondin to thrombin-activated platelets required the presence of divalent cations, proceeded concomitantly with platelet release, and at a concentration of 1 nmol/L thrombin, reached a maximum of 2200 +/- 260 molecules of 125I-labeled thrombospondin bound per platelet. After its binding to platelets, 125I-labeled thrombospondin was not internalized, because up to 85% of the 125I-labeled thrombospondin was dissociated from the cell surface by adding ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Using various experimental approaches, including studies with severe type I thrombasthenic platelets, we further demonstrated that the interaction of 125I-labeled thrombospondin with thrombin-stimulated platelets occurred as a fibrinogen- and fibrin-independent process, and that the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex did not function as a physiologic plasma membrane receptor for 125I-labeled thrombospondin. Last, about 60% of the 125I-labeled thrombospondin molecules bound to the platelet surface were found to be associated with the platelet cytoskeleton recovered from platelets solubilized with Triton X-100. On Western blot analysis, this cytoskeletal fraction lacked detectable glycoprotein IV, the putative platelet receptor for thrombospondin. These results suggest that on the surface of thrombin-activated platelets, a fraction of 125I-labeled thrombospondin does not associate with glycoprotein IV but instead with other plasma membrane components that have yet to be identified.

Experimental fusarial hyalohyphomycosis in a murine model

The pathogenicity of two clinical strains of Fusarium solani was studied in normal and transiently neutropenic outbred CF1 and CD1 male mice. Three inocula (5 x 10(5), 1 x 10(6), and 5 x 10(6) spores/animal) were tested. Groups of 10 mice each were injected with a single intravenous dose of one inoculum. Mortality correlated with the dose of inoculum, as survival was significantly shorter in mice injected with 5 x 10(6) cfu/mouse than in mice that received 1 x 10(6) or 5 x 10(5) cfu/mouse (P less than .001). Necrotizing abscesses with acute branching septate hyphae, neutrophil and macrophage infiltration, and hemorrhage were observed. The median survival of neutropenic mice was shorter than that of normal mice (P less than .001). Neutropenic mice did not show evidence of an inflammatory cellular reaction and exhibited significantly higher numbers of fungi per gram of infected tissue (P less than .001). Intact host defenses in normal mice were able to confine the infection to the kidneys after initial dissemination. In contrast, disseminated infection persisted in most organs in immunosuppressed animals.

Distribution of gelsolin in the retina of the developing rabbit

The distribution of gelsolin, a calcium-dependent actin-severing and capping protein, in the retina of the developing and adult rabbit was studied. Gelsolin immunoreactivity was found in the photoreceptors and ganglion cells, where it may have a role in neuronal morphogenesis. Only the inner segment of the photoreceptors retained a high gelsolin content in the adult retina, perhaps because the attached outer segment is continuously renewed throughout life. Gelsolin, which is a major component of the rabbit brain oligodendrocytes, was also found in the myelin of the medullary ray region of the rabbit retina. Müller cells in all regions of the rabbit retina also contain gelsolin from early in development to adulthood. Since one of the functions of these cells is to ensheath neuronal elements in the inner plexiform and optic fiber layers, we suggest that gelsolin may play the same role in Müller cells as it does in oligodendrocytes, i.e., sheath formation via its calcium-dependent action on the actin microfilament networks.