Changes in the immunoreactivity for inhibin in mouse retina during development of photoreceptor cells

Inhibin, a widely distributed, multifunctional member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily, was originally isolated from ovarian follicular fluid. This molecule was recently localized in bovine and rat retina by immunohistochemistry and the mRNA encoding the alpha-subunit of inhibin was detected in the retina by in situ hybridization and the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In this study we have examined, by immunohistochemical methods, the distribution pattern of inhibin in developing mouse eyes on days 10, 11, 14, 16, 18 of gestation (E0 = coitus) and postnatal days 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 18 of age (P0 = day of birth). Immunoreactivity for inhibin appeared on E10 (the earliest day of gestation examined) in the lens and in migrating large cells between the lens and the inner layer of the optic cup (future neurons of retina). On E16, cells located in the neuroblastic layer were stained. At birth (P0), the ganglion cells were heavily stained and some amacrine cells were weakly stained. By P4, the amacrine and bipolar cells were positively stained. The inner plexiform layer was heavily stained and the outer plexiform layer and horizontal cells were also apparent and stained. From P6 on, inhibin-immunoreactive staining was localized at the inner segment of the photoreceptor layer, and to ganglion cells in the inner nuclear layer (INL). By P12, ganglion cells, INL, and inner segments of the photoreceptor layer were heavily stained. The outer segments of the photoreceptor layer, presumably the interphotoreceptor matrix, were strongly stained with antibodies against the alpha-subunit, whereas the outer and inner plexiform layers were also moderately stained. The staining in the INL generally decreased with progressing age. We conclude that inhibin is expressed in the eye cup as early as day 10 of gestation, migrates toward the direction of pigmented epithelial layers and is concentrated in the interphotoreceptor matrix by P12, which showed a distribution pattern similar to that of the adult mouse. These findings suggest that inhibin may play a role in the development of the eye cup and the retina.

The Rel subunit of NF-kappaB-like transcription factors is a positive and negative regulator of macrophage gene expression: distinct roles for Rel in different macrophage populations

The role of Rel in the monocyte/macrophage lineage was examined in mice with an inactivated c-rel gene. Although the frequency of monocytic cells was normal in Rel-/- mice, we show that Rel serves distinct roles in regulating gene expression and immune effector function in different mature macrophage populations. Stimulated Rel-/- resident peritoneal macrophages produced higher than normal levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), but tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production was not induced. Diminished cytotoxic activity exhibited by resident Rel-/- macrophages was consistent with reduced nitric oxide production resulting from impaired up-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. While a similar altered pattern of IL-6 and TNF-alpha expression was observed in stimulated Rel-/- peritoneal effusion macrophages, cytotoxic activity, nitric oxide, GM-CSF and G-CSF production by these cells was normal. The alternate regulation of certain genes in the two macrophage populations coincided with different patterns of nuclear Rel/NF-kappaB complexes expressed in normal resident and elicited cells. Collectively, these results establish that Rel is a positive or negative regulator of transcription in macrophages and that Rel has distinct roles in different macrophage populations.

Either B7-1 or B7-2 is required for Listeria monocytogenes-specific production of gamma interferon and interleukin-2

Listeria infection results in the induction of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-producing T lymphocytes. Blocking of the costimulatory molecule B7 in vivo led to a marked decrease in antigen-specific production of IFN-gamma and interleukin-2 by lymphocytes. Blocking of both B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) was required in order to inhibit cytokine production, indicating that either molecule could act alone. Although IFN-gamma production by cultured spleen cells was significantly suppressed by B7 blocking, mice cleared primary and secondary Listeria infection as effectively as control mice.

How do macrophages distinguish the living from the dead?

Injection of live but not dead bacteria induces a wave of IL-12 and subsequently, IFN-gamma production. Surprisingly, in vitro, both live and dead bacteria elicit IL-12 from macrophages. Better understanding of how macrophages distinguish live from dead bacteria would help explain this difference and possibly bypass the need for live vaccines against intracellular bacteria.

[Double cancers: a clinical analysis of 156 cases]

In order to study the causes of multiple primary carcinomas (MPC), and to give proper treatment, 156 patients with double cancers were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were admitted to the hospital from 1982 to 1987, accounting 0.47% of all hospitalized patients with malignant tumors in the same period. Out of them 86 patients were male, 70 patients were female. The age ranged from 17 to 80 old-year, the median 50 old-year. In 34 cases, the two cancers were synchronous in occurrence while in 122 cases were metachronous. The nasopharynx, lungs, large bowel and mammary gland were the most common sites of the MPC. The principle of treatment of the MPC was the same as that for ordinary primary carcinoma. The total 5-year survival rate was 34.6%.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-12 contribute to resistance to the intracellular bacterium Brucella abortus by different mechanisms

Both interleukin-12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) are produced early in intracellular bacterial infection. Depletion of either IL-12 or TNF-alpha by a single injection of specific antibody 4 h before the injection of Brucella abortus 19 led to the exacerbation of infection 2 weeks later. Whereas the effect of IL-12 depletion on resistance was persistent and exacerbation was still significant 6 weeks later, the bacterial numbers in mice depleted of TNF-alpha were similar to the bacterial numbers in control infected mice by 6 weeks postinfection. Massive splenomegaly, which is often seen in 2-week Brucella-infected mice, was not observed in IL-12- or TNF-alpha-depleted mice. Both IL-12- and TNF-alpha-depleted mice showed reduced cell accumulation in the spleen compared with the massive cell accumulation in control infected mice. Granuloma formation in livers was much reduced in IL-12-depleted mice but not in TNF-alpha-depleted mice. Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production by cells from TNF-alpha-depleted mice was not significantly different from that of cells from control infected mice. In contrast, the production of IFN-gamma by both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from IL-12-depleted mice was greatly reduced, compared with that from control infected mice. This effect was still observed when the antibody injection was delayed for up to 7 days postinfection, but injections of anti-IL-12 antibody into mice with established Brucella infection had no significant effect on IFN-gamma production by T cells. Taken together, these results suggested that IL-12 contributed to resistance mainly via an IFN-gamma-dependent pathway and had a profound effect on the induction of acquired cellular resistance. In contrast, TNF-alpha was involved in resistance possibly via direct action on effector cells and may not be essential for the induction of acquired cellular resistance.

[Active antisenile constituents in Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma]

From the dry bulbs of Cistanche deserticola a branch of orobahchacease plant growing in Inner Mongolia two active antisenile constituents (D-mannitol and polysaccharide) were isolated and identified. Chemical analysis and spectroscopic tests show that D-mannitol corresponds to the authentic standard, and polysaccharide is condensed from rhamnose, xylose, arabinose and galactose.

Endogenous interleukin-12 is involved in resistance of mice to Mycobacterium avium complex infection

Acquired cellular resistance against Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections involves the induction of Th1 type gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-producing T cells. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a cytokine involved in the control of IFN-gamma production by T cells and NK cells. The role of IL-12 in the response to MAC infection was investigated. Depletion of endogenous IL-12 by injection of monoclonal antibody prior to and during intranasal infection with MAC resulted in an 150- to 550-fold increase in bacterial load in lung, spleen, and liver homogenates by 10 weeks postinfection. Depletion of IL-12 abrogated the ability of spleen cell cultures to produce IFN-gamma in response to stimulus with live MAC. IL-12-depleted mice showed a 75% decrease in the number of inflammatory cells entering the lungs following intranasal infection with MAC, with significant reductions in cytotoxic activity and nitric oxide production by lung cells. This work suggests that IL-12 plays a major role in the activation of IFN-gamma-producing cells during MAC infection.

[Tissue culture and rapid propagation of Pinellia ternata (Thunb) Breit]

In this papar, selection of the explaints and morphogenesis of the plantlet involved in the tissue culture of Pinellia ternata have been investigated, the effect of different combinations of growth-regulating substances on the morphogenesis has been studied, and the result of the establishment of clonal rapid propagation system and the transplanting of test-tube Pinellia seedlings has also been reported.

Effects of Müller cell disruption on mouse photoreceptor cell development

Müller cells have been proposed to play an important role in photoreceptor cell development during the final stages of retinal maturation. The effect of disrupting Müller cells during mouse retinal development was investigated using the specific glial cell toxin, DL-alpha-aminoadipic acid (AAA). By giving multiple systemic injections over several days, impairment of Müller cell function was maintained during the period of photoreceptor migration and differentiation. Following three consecutive days of AAA treatment [commencing on post-natal (P) day 3, 5, 7 or 9, and examined at P8-P14], clumps of photoreceptor nuclei were displaced through the inner segments, lying immediately beneath the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Apart from the scalloped appearance of the outer retina, the overall lamination pattern of the retina was relatively well preserved. Even when AAA treatment commenced as early as P3, several days prior to the formation of the outer nuclear layer, the majority of photoreceptors migrated to their correct position and formed inner and outer segments. Therefore, the signals for photoreceptor migration are either provided by the Müller cells prior to P3, or, alternatively, are derived from different intrinsic or extrinsic cues. Disruption of Müller cell function was evidenced by decreased glutamine synthetase activity as well as by increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and decreased cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP) immunoreactivity. Immunocytochemistry with an antibody to CD44, which labels the microvilli of Müller cells at the outer limiting membrane, coupled with electron microscopic analysis, demonstrated that the zonulae adherentes between Müller cells and photoreceptors were either irregular or absent in areas adjacent to displaced clumps of photoreceptors. Thus AAA treatment of early post-natal mice results in localized disruption of the contacts between Müller cells and photoreceptors. These pathologic changes persist into adulthood since at P28, while short stretches of photoreceptors appeared relatively normal with fully developed outer segments, periodic clumps of displaced photoreceptor nuclei were still present adjacent to the RPE. In conclusion, Müller cell processes at the outer limiting membrane appear to play a critical role in providing a barrier to aberrant photoreceptor migration into the subretinal space.

[Proton spin tomography of the orbit in post-traumatic motility disorders]

AIM

To analyse the value of MRI for the assessment of posttraumatic disturbances of eye motility.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analysed retrospectively the results of 38 MR examinations of the orbit in 31 patients with posttraumatic motility impairment with preserved visus. 18 patients underwent MRI preoperatively. From this group 5 patients were additionally examined postoperatively. Another 5 patients who had not been examined prior to surgery were controlled postoperatively. Hence, a total of 10 patients with persisting disturbances was examined postoperatively. 8 patients who underwent MRI were not treated by surgery because of only minor disturbances. In all patients conventional radiography of the orbit was performed prior to MRI. Additional CT imaging was carried out in 12 patients.

RESULTS

In 18 patients examined preoperatively we found displacement of orbital fat tissue, displacement and entrapment of orbital muscles, swelling of muscles and oedema in retrobulbar fat tissue. 10 patients from the postoperative group exhibited remaining prolapsed fat tissue, oedema in fat tissue and/or swelling of muscles. 8 patients had only small soft tissue changes which did not require surgery.

CONCLUSION

Since it can image soft tissue precisely, MRI provides the decisive information in the assessment of motility impairment of the eye. In case of isolated orbital fracture with motility impairment, CT is not absolutely necessary for surgical therapy.

Endogenous interleukin-12 is involved in resistance to Brucella abortus infection

Protective immunity against Brucella abortus is mediated by acquired cellular resistance, with gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-producing T cells playing a key role. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a cytokine that has a profound effect on the induction of IFN-gamma-producing Th1 and NK cells. Here we report that depletion of endogenous IL-12 before infection of mice significantly exacerbated brucella infection. IL-12-depleted mice also had reduced splenomegaly resulting from infection and showed a decrease in percentage and absolute numbers of macrophages compared with those in control infected mice. Furthermore, spleen cells from IL-12-depleted mice had a reduced ability to produce nitrite, a product of activated macrophages. This could be the result of the low production of IFN-gamma by splenic T cells observed in the IL-12-depleted mice. The mechanism whereby IL-12 controls antibacterial resistance is discussed.

Differential activation of Brucella-reactive CD4+ T cells by Brucella infection or immunization with antigenic extracts

In order to induce acquired cellular resistance to facultative bacterial pathogens, infection with live organisms is required. We have previously demonstrated that spleen cells from Brucella-infected mice produced gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) in response to Brucella antigens in vitro, while spleen cells from mice immunized with soluble Brucella proteins (SBP) produced substantial amounts of IL-2 but no detectable amount of IFN-gamma. In this study, we further analyzed the response of T cells from Brucella-infected mice and SBP-immunized mice and demonstrated that CD4(+)-enriched cells from SBP-immunized mice also produced significant amounts of IL-4, which was not detected in bulk cultures of spleen cells from infected mice. Limiting dilution analysis showed that infection resulted in a higher precursor frequency of IFN-gamma-producing CD4+ T cells and a lower precursor frequency of IL-4-producing CD4+ T cells, while immunization with SBP resulted in a higher precursor frequency of IL-4-producing cells and a very low frequency of IFN-gamma-producing cells. The precursor frequencies of IL-2-producing cells for the two groups were similar. Furthermore, IFN-gamma-producing CD4+ T cells from infected donor mice were capable of mediating resistance against challenge infection in recipient mice, but IL-4-producing CD4+ T cells from immunized mice failed to do so. These results indicate that the form of antigen has a profound influence on the outcome of the immune response. The results are discussed in light of the supposed dichotomy between Th1 and Th2 cytokine responses.

[A study on human dental embryology in an endemic high fluorosis region]

In a high endemic fluorosis area in Guizhou, China, 40 human fetuses delivered by induced abortion during the 5th-8th month of gestation were utilized to study dental embryonic samples under transmission electron microscope (TEM). Compared with normal controls, ultrastructure findings in the ameloblast cell organs include swelling of mitochondria, enlargement of SER, increase in RNA granules and RER. This study suggests that the irregularities of the collagenous fibers and crystallites are due to the maldevelopment of the ameloblast Tome's processes, which explains the mechanism of motteled enamel.

Differential induction of macrophage-derived cytokines by live and dead intracellular bacteria in vitro

Marked differences in the abilities of living and heat-killed Brucella abortus and Listeria monocytogenes organisms to induce production of tumor necrosis factor alpha by in vitro-cultured macrophages were observed. Interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 appeared to be under different control. The results are discussed in relation to the induction of gamma interferon-producing Th1 cells and acquired cellular resistance to infection by living vaccines but not killed vaccines.

Signalling the molecular stress response to nephrotoxic and mutagenic cysteine conjugates: differential roles for protein synthesis and calcium in the induction of c-fos and c-myc mRNA in LLC-PK1 cells

Nephrotoxic and mutagenic cysteine conjugates (NCC) are activated by the enzyme cysteine conjugate, beta-lyase, to reactive acylating species which bind covalently to cellular macromolecules. We now show that an early event after treatment of LLC-PK1 cells with NCC is the induction of mRNA for both c-fos and c-myc. Treatment with S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC) induced c-fos (53-fold) and c-myc mRNA (20-fold) and increased transcription about 3-fold for both genes. Covalent binding was required for induction of both mRNAs. Dithiothreitol partially prevented induction of both c-fos and c-myc RNA. Buffering the DCVC-induced increase in cytosolic free calcium had no effect on c-fos mRNA, but partially blocked c-myc mRNA induction. Cycloheximide blocked the induction of c-myc mRNA in the absence of an effect on c-fos induction. The data suggest that the increase in c-fos mRNA is a primary response to DCVC toxicity and occurs without a requirement for protein synthesis or an increase in intracellular free calcium. In contrast, c-myc induction requires protein synthesis, suggesting that the presence of another primary response factor may regulate induction either transcriptionally or posttranscriptionally. The data suggest that different signalling pathways regulate induction of c-fos and c-myc mRNA in response to stress caused by reactive acylating species.

[Protective effects of ginsenoside on myocardiac ischemic and reperfusion injuries]

Thirty mitral valvular surgical patients were randomly divided into three groups for study of protective effects of Ginsenoside on myocardiac ischemic and reperfusion injuries. In GI, 11 patients (controls), no Ginsenoside was used, in GII, 11, Ginsenoside in total was added into the cardioplegic solusion made in our hospital, and in GIII, 8, instead of Ginsenoside in total Ginsenoside Rb was added. During operation comparative studies were made of pre- and postoperative cardiac functions with intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography and ultrastructures of myocardiac cells with electromicroscopy. We conclude that both Ginsenoside in total and Ginsenoside Rb have protective effects on myocardiac ischemic and reperfusion injuries in open heart surgery, and the effect of Ginsenoside in total is even better than that of Ginsenoside Rb.

Analysis on the distribution of bases in 1487 human protein coding sequences

The occurrence frequencies of bases A, C, G and T, denoted by a, c, g and t, respectively, in 1487 human protein coding sequences have been calculated and analyzed. The analysis has been performed by a diagrammatic method presented recently, in which each coding sequence is represented by a point in 3-D space. The distribution of points gives the observer an overall and intuitive picture of the base frequencies. The distance between a point and the origin of the co-ordinate, which corresponds to the case of a = c = g = t = 1/4, is called the radical distance. The radical distribution of 1487 points in 3-D space has been found to be normal, with the center basically coinciding with the origin of the co-ordinate. We have found that among 1487 coding sequences, an empirical rule a2 + c2 + g2 + t2 < 1/3 holds for 1486 sequences. The only sequence in which the above rule does not hold is the one coding for the human parathymosin protein. The composition of amino acids and the structural class of this protein has been studied in some detail.

[Risk factors of prostate cancer--a matched case-control study]

A 1:2 matched case-control study was used to determine the risk factors of prostate cancer. Twenty-seven cases of prostate cancer were matched with an equal number of other malignant tumor cases (non-urological tumor) and other urological cases (non-malignant tumor). Both study and control groups were the same in age, sex, race, and day of admission. All of these patients were treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of West China University of Medical Sciences. The questionnaire was used to survey the both groups of patients. Such data as diet, lifestyle, marital status and past history of other prostate diseases were obtained. Single factor analysis and multiple conditional logistic regression analysis were used to estimate the relative risk (RR), 95% confidence interval (95% CI) and P values. Statistical analysis was performed using the Egret, Epilog soft ware. The results were as follows: 1. Increasing dietary vitamin A was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of prostate cancer (RR = 0.948, 95% CI = 0.9309-0.9947, P = 0.029). This factor also showed dose response gradients. The relative risk was decreasing with exposure dose increasing. 2. The positive previous prostate history, such as prostatitis and benign prostate hyperplasia, increased the risk of prostate cancer (RR = 6.385, 95% CI = 1.046-38.97, P = 0.045). 3. Another finding in the widower, divorce and remarried men (RR = 4.312, 95% CI = 1.367-13.6, P = 0.013). And 4. There was no relationship between the risk of prostate cancer and dietary fat intake, vasectomy, socioeconomic status, familial malignant tumor history, smoking and alcohol consumption.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Endogenous gamma interferon mediates resistance to Brucella abortus infection

Depletion of endogenous gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) with anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody resulted in increased numbers of Brucella abortus in the spleen and liver of infected CBA mice. This increase was accompanied by a decrease in splenomegaly and a lower proportion of macrophages in the spleen. Furthermore, treatment of recipient mice with anti-IFN-gamma antibody blocked the adoptive transfer of resistance with immune T cells. Together, the results indicated that endogenous IFN-gamma plays an important role in mediating resistance to primary and secondary Brucella infection.

Cytokine production in the murine response to brucella infection or immunization with antigenic extracts

In order to induce acquired cellular resistance (ACR) to facultative intracellular bacterial pathogens, infection with live organisms is required. It is possible that different cytokine responses to live bacteria or their extracted antigens could account for their different abilities to induce ACR. Therefore, mice were infected with live attenuated Brucella abortus vaccine strain 19, and their ability to produce cytokines, both in vivo and in vitro, was investigated over 12 weeks of infection. This was compared with the response to injection of soluble brucella proteins (SBP). During infection, serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) were markedly increased over a period of 4 weeks during the peak of infection. SBP plus adjuvant induced a transient increase in serum IL-6. IL-1 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) remained undetectable in both instances. Spleen cells taken at intervals after infection and cultured with brucella antigens produced high titres of IL-6, IL-1 and TNF-alpha. Immunization with SBP was less efficient than live infection at inducing these cytokines. Of the characteristically T-cell-derived lymphokines, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production rose 2 weeks after infection, peaking at 6 weeks, while IL-2 was not detected until 6 weeks post-infection. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was produced in substantial amounts, but IL-3 production was minimal. In contrast, spleen cells from mice immunized with SBP produced IL-2 but failed to produce IFN-gamma. The implications of these results for the induction of ACR are discussed.

Interleukin-6 production during chronic experimental infection

The appearance of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum of mice was monitored during the course of chronic infection with either Brucella abortus vaccine strain 19 or a virulent Mycobacterium avium Complex (MAC) isolate. Serum IL-6 during brucella infection was higher than during infection with MAC, despite similar numbers of bacteria. Furthermore, IL-6 titres decreased after the peak of infection, falling to baseline levels before these chronic infections were eradicated. The ability of peritoneal cells or spleen cell suspensions to produce IL-6 under either specific or non-specific stimulus was greatly enhanced by infection. While production of IL-6 by these cultures was apparently mostly independent of T cells, T cells from infected mice could produce an IL-6 response. Thus CD4+ T lymphocytes prepared from mice which had recovered from B. abortus infection, cultured with antigen and antigen presenting cells, resulted in IL-6 production, which was not observed in similarly cultured CD8+ T cells, indicating a role for T cells.