Placental syncytium forms a biophysical barrier against pathogen invasion

Fetal syncytiotrophoblasts form a unique fused multinuclear surface that is bathed in maternal blood, and constitutes the main interface between fetus and mother. Syncytiotrophoblasts are exposed to pathogens circulating in maternal blood, and appear to have unique resistance mechanisms against microbial invasion. These are due in part to the lack of intercellular junctions and their receptors, the Achilles heel of polarized mononuclear epithelia. However, the syncytium is immune to receptor-independent invasion as well, suggesting additional general defense mechanisms against infection. The difficulty of maintaining and manipulating primary human syncytiotrophoblasts in culture makes it challenging to investigate the cellular and molecular basis of host defenses in this unique tissue. Here we present a novel system to study placental pathogenesis using murine trophoblast stem cells (mTSC) that can be differentiated into syncytiotrophoblasts and recapitulate human placental syncytium. Consistent with previous results in primary human organ cultures, murine syncytiotrophoblasts were found to be resistant to infection with Listeria monocytogenes via direct invasion and cell-to-cell spread. Atomic force microscopy of murine syncytiotrophoblasts demonstrated that these cells have a greater elastic modulus than mononuclear trophoblasts. Disruption of the unusually dense actin structure--a diffuse meshwork of microfilaments--with Cytochalasin D led to a decrease in its elastic modulus by 25%. This correlated with a small but significant increase in invasion of L. monocytogenes into murine and human syncytium. These results suggest that the syncytial actin cytoskeleton may form a general barrier against pathogen entry in humans and mice. Moreover, murine TSCs are a genetically tractable model system for the investigation of specific pathways in syncytial host defenses.

Loss of intestinal core 1-derived O-glycans causes spontaneous colitis in mice

Mucin-type O-linked oligosaccharides (O-glycans) are primary components of the intestinal mucins that form the mucus gel layer overlying the gut epithelium. Impaired expression of intestinal O-glycans has been observed in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), but its role in the etiology of this disease is unknown. Here, we report that mice with intestinal epithelial cell-specific deficiency of core 1-derived O-glycans, the predominant form of O-glycans, developed spontaneous colitis that resembled human UC, including massive myeloid infiltrates and crypt abscesses. The colitis manifested in these mice was also characterized by TNF-producing myeloid infiltrates in colon mucosa in the absence of lymphocytes, supporting an essential role for myeloid cells in colitis initiation. Furthermore, induced deletion of intestinal core 1-derived O-glycans caused spontaneous colitis in adult mice. These data indicate a causal role for the loss of core 1-derived O-glycans in colitis. Finally, we detected a biosynthetic intermediate typically exposed in the absence of core 1 O-glycan, Tn antigen, in the colon epithelium of a subset of UC patients. Somatic mutations in the X-linked gene that encodes core 1 β1,3-galactosyltransferase-specific chaperone 1 (C1GALT1C1, also known as Cosmc), which is essential for core 1 O-glycosylation, were found in Tn-positive epithelia. These data suggest what we believe to be a new molecular mechanism for the pathogenesis of UC.

Redistribution of the tight junction protein ZO-1 during physiological shedding of mouse intestinal epithelial cells

We questioned how tight junctions contribute to intestinal barrier function during the cell shedding that is part of physiological cell renewal. Intravital confocal microscopy studied the jejunal villus epithelium of mice expressing a fluorescent zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) fusion protein. Vital staining also visualized the cell nucleus (Hoechst staining) or local permeability to luminal constituents (Lucifer Yellow; LY). In a cell fated to be shed, ZO-1 redistributes from the tight junction toward the apical and then basolateral cell region. ZO-1 rearrangement occurs 15 ± 6 min (n = 28) before movement of the cell nucleus from the epithelial layer. During cell extrusion, permeation of luminal LY extends along the lateral intercellular spaces of the shedding cell only as far as the location of ZO-1. Within 3 min after detachment from the epithelial layer, nuclear chromatin condenses. After cell loss, a residual patch of ZO-1 remains in the space previously occupied by the departed cell, and the size of the patch shrinks to 14 ± 2% (n = 15) of the original cell space over 20 min. The duration of cell shedding measured by nucleus movement (14 ± 1 min) is much less than the total duration of ZO-1 redistribution at the same sites (45 ± 2 min). In about 15% of cell shedding cases, neighboring epithelial cells also undergo extrusion with a delay of 5-10 min. With the use of normal mice, ZO-1 immunofluorescent staining of fixed tissue confirmed ZO-1 redistribution and the presence of ZO-1 patches beneath shedding cells. Immunostaining also showed that redistribution of ZO-1 occurred without corresponding mixing of apical and basolateral membrane domains as marked by ezrin or E-cadherin. ZO-1 redistribution is the earliest cellular event yet identified as a herald of physiological cell shedding, and redistribution of tight junction function along the lateral plasma membrane sustains epithelial barrier during cell shedding.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: unusual MR findings

A case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) with a classic clinical presentation but with unusual pathological and radiographic findings is reported. The pathology revealed evidence of prior hemorrhage, and imaging studies revealed focal cerebral atrophy as well as contrast enhancement on MR scans. The contrast enhancement was visible only by utilizing magnetization transfer pulses on T1-weighted scans. The case report indicates that image criteria for PML may need to be redefined in the future.

Evaluation of Australian merino and U.S. sheep breeds for growth and carcass traits

One hundred twenty 4-mo-old wether lambs born to Targhee ewes and sired by six rams each from Merino (Finewool, FM and Strongwool, SM), Rambouillet (Dubois, DR and Texas, TR), and Targhee (T) breeds were randomly assigned to predetermined slaughter weight groups of 43, 48, 52, and 57 kg and evaluated for growth and carcass traits. Overall mean ADG and feed conversion rate (FC, kilograms of feed/kilogram of gain) were .28 and 6.4 kg, respectively; T grew the fastest (.31 kg) and FM grew the slowest (.23 kg). Targhee and SM had the best FC (6.2), whereas FM (6.8) had the poorest FC (P < .05). Overall mean backfat thickness (BT) and carcass fat (CF) were 4.8 mm and 25.6%, respectively. Targhee had the lowest (24%) and FM the highest (27.8%) CF percentage (P < .05). Differences (P < .05) were observed for BT and CF among slaughter weight groups; overall means for both traits gradually increased from the 43- to the 57-kg groups. Separate analysis of the 43- and the 48-kg groups indicated nonsignificant breed differences for feed traits, whereas significant differences still existed for CF. It was concluded that Merino strains grew more slowly, were less efficient in postweaning growth, and had higher carcass fat content than U.S. breeds at a constant slaughter weight; SM were more comparable to U.S. breeds than were FM. Merino-cross lambs should be slaughtered at lighter BW to avoid excessive carcass fat.