Fatty acid profiles of the total lipids and lipid oxidation in pork muscles as affected by canola oil in the animal diet and muscle location

Twelve pigs at about 35 days of age were fed a control diet or test diets containing either 10% or 20% canola oil (CO) for 100 days. Four different muscles were excised from each carcass at 24 h post-mortem for analyses. Inclusion of 10% and 20% CO in the animal diet increased (P < 0·05) the relative amount (weight per cent) of unsaturated fatty acids in the total lipids (lipids extracted by 2:1 chloroform-methanol) by 6·7 and 15·8 percentage points, respectively, from 57·8% for the control and also increased (P < 0·05) that of polyunsaturated fatty acids by 5·5 and 9·7 percentage points, respectively, from 19·4% for the control. The 20% CO treatment increased (P < 0·05) the relative amount of monounsaturated fatty acids (primarily C18:1) by 6·1 percentage points from 38·4% for the control, while the 10% CO treatment had no significant effect. The 10% or 20% CO treatment had no significant effect on microsomal enzymic lipid peroxidation activity, heme pigment content, nonheme iron content and total lipid concentration. Overall lipid oxidation in ground muscle samples stored at 4°C tended to be higher for the 10% and 20% CO treatment groups than for the control. The tendency of increased lipid oxidation by the CO treatments apparently resulted from the increased percentages of polyunsaturated fatty acids, rather than from changes in catalytic constituents.

Search for lepton flavour violation in the eμ continuum with the ATLAS detector in [Formula: see text]pp collisions at the LHC

This paper presents a search for the t-channel exchange of an R-parity violating scalar top quark ([Formula: see text]) in the e±μ∓ continuum using 2.1 fb-1 of data collected by the ATLAS detector in [Formula: see text]pp collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. Data are found to be consistent with the expectation from the Standard Model backgrounds. Limits on R-parity-violating couplings at 95 % C.L. are calculated as a function of the scalar top mass ([Formula: see text]). The upper limits on the production cross section for pp→eμX, through the t-channel exchange of a scalar top quark, ranges from 170 fb for [Formula: see text] to 30 fb for [Formula: see text].

Exact Markovian kinetic equation for a quantum Brownian oscillator

We derive an exact Markovian kinetic equation for an oscillator linearly coupled to a heat bath, describing quantum Brownian motion. Our work is based on the subdynamics formulation developed by Prigogine and collaborators. The space of distribution functions is decomposed into independent subspaces that remain invariant under Liouville dynamics. For integrable systems in Poincaré's sense the invariant subspaces follow the dynamics of uncoupled, renormalized particles. In contrast, for nonintegrable systems, the invariant subspaces follow a dynamics with broken time symmetry, involving generalized functions. This result indicates that irreversibility and stochasticity are exact properties of dynamics in generalized function spaces. We comment on the relation between our Markovian kinetic equation and the Hu-Paz-Zhang equation.

Growth-inhibitory effects of CD40 ligand (CD154) and its endogenous expression in human breast cancer

CD40 binding produces multifaceted growth signals in normal and malignant B cells, whereas its physiological role is less well characterized in epithelial cancers. We examined the growth outcome of CD40 ligation in human breast cancer cells, using CD40+ (T47D and BT-20) and CD40-negative (MCF-7, ZR-75-1) cell lines as defined by flow cytometric analysis, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcription-PCR. Treatment with the soluble recombinant CD40 ligand (CD40L) molecules gp39 or CD40L-trimer significantly reduced [3H]thymidine uptake in BT-20 and T47D cells by up to 40%, but did not affect the growth of CD40-negative MCF-7 or ZR-75-1 cells. Similarly, significant growth inhibition was observed after co-incubation with CD40L-transfected murine L cells (55.0 +/- 8.9%, P < 0.001) that express membrane CD40L constitutively, or with paraformaldehyde-fixed, CD3+ CD40L+ PBLs from three different HLA-mismatched donors (39.7 +/- 3.7%, P < 0.01). Untransfected L cells and non-CD40L-expressing lymphocytes did not produce significant growth inhibition. The in vivo antitumorigenic effects of CD40L were examined using a s.c. severe combined immunodeficient-hu xenograft model. Pretreatment with two different soluble recombinant CD40L constructs (CD40L and gp39) produced similar xenograft growth-inhibitory effects [67 +/- 24% (n = 4), and 65 +/- 14% (n = 8) inhibition, respectively], which were reversed by co-treatment with the CD40L-neutralizing antibody LL48. In vitro analysis indicated that CD40L-induced growth inhibition was accompanied by apoptotic events including cell shrinkage, rounding, and detachment from the adherent T47D culture monolayer. Thirty-one and 27% of gp39-treated T47D and BT-20 cells underwent apoptosis, respectively, as compared with 56 and 65% from the same cell lines after treatment with the Fas agonistic antibody CH-11. An up-regulation of the proapoptotic protein Bax in T47D and BT-20 cells was observed, which indicated that this Bcl-2 family member may contribute to this growth-inhibitory effect. To explore the clinical relevance of CD40L-CD40 interaction, retrospective immunohistochemical analysis was carried to characterize in situ CD40- and CD40L-expression in breast cancer patient biopsies. All of the infiltrating ductal (5 of 5 cases tested) and lobular (4 of 4 cases) breast carcinomas, carcinomas in situ (6 of 6 cases), and mucinous carcinoma tested (1 case) expressed CD40. Varying proportions of tumor cells also expressed CD40L in the majority of infiltrating ductal (3 of 5 cases) and lobular (3 of 4 cases) carcinomas, and carcinomas in situ (4 of 6 cases), as determined by immunohistochemistry and validated by RT-PCR detection of the CD40L message in only CD40L positive-staining cases. Tumor infiltrating mononuclear cells from infiltrating carcinomas and carcinomas in situ expressed CD40 (10 of 10 cases), but less commonly CD40L (1 case of infiltrating lobular carcinoma, 2 cases of carcinoma in situ). Our findings indicate that the CD40 signaling pathway is active in human breast carcinoma cells. However, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from primary tumor tissues may be limited in their capacity to directly modulate tumor growth through the CD40L-CD40 loop.

Cellular immune profile of patients with advanced cancer before and after taxane treatment

The purpose of this study is to determine immune recovery and function after treatment with docetaxel or paclitaxel. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were harvested before chemotherapy and at weekly times afterwards for cycle 1. Leukocyte subsets ICD45hiCD14lo polymorphonuclear neutrophils, CD45hiCD14hi monocytes, CD45hiCD14- lymphocytes, CD3+CD4/CD8+ T cells, CD3-CD19+ B cells, CD3-CD16/CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells], and circulating cytokine levels [tumor necrosis factor-alpha, gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN), and interleukins (IL-2, IL-10, IL-12)] were followed. In addition, T-cell mitogenic function, NK function, and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) function was assessed. Ten patients were entered in the trial. T-cell frequency, B-cell frequency, and CD4/CD8 ratio did not change. IL-10 serum levels significantly decreased in paclitaxel-treated patients (4.4+/-1.3 pg/ml at week 4 versus 7.8+/-2.1 pg/ml at baseline; p < 0.05). IL-2, IL-12, and gamma-IFN levels were not detectable. NK cytotoxic activity decreased in docetaxel-treated patients. LAK cell activity was not altered. Four patients achieved a partial or complete response. They demonstrated higher than normal CD4:CD8 T-cell ratios and an improved phytohemagglutinin stimulation index (SI = 2.5). In conclusion, our findings suggest that immune function was affected more significantly after docetaxel treatment. Investigational approaches, which enhance cellular immunity, may be of greater relevance after treatment with docetaxel. Additional studies monitoring NK function after chemotherapy are recommended.

CD40 ligand-induced apoptosis is Fas-independent in human multiple myeloma cells

We and others previously demonstrated that human multiple myeloma (MM) cells express CD40 and have an active CD40-growth regulatory pathway. This study characterizes the growth outcome of soluble (gp39) or membrane-bound recombinant human CD40-ligand (rCD40L) and its relationship with Fas-dependent apoptosis. Contrary to the moderate growth-stimulatory effect of the CD40-MAb G28.5, gp39 inhibited 3H-thymidine uptake of the plasma dyscrasia lines ARH-77, U266, and HS-Sultan in a dose-dependent fashion by up to 82%. By comparison, RPMI 8226 cells were resistant to CD40L-growth modulation, which may be attributable to a single base substitution (TCA-->TTA, serine-->leucine) at the 3rd cysteine-rich extramembrane region of CD40. Gp39 similarly reduced myeloma clonogenic colony (MCC) formation in patient primary bone marrow cultures by 50% (40-76%; n=6). Studies using transfectant L cells that constitutively expressed CD40L showed that membrane-bound CD40L inhibited the growth of ARH-77, U266, and HS-Sultan cells (66%, 63%, and 32%, respectively), whereas untransfected L cells did not. Growth inhibition by gp39 or CD40L+ L cells was neutralized by coincubation with the CD40L antibodies 5c8 or LL48. CD40L-treatment increased apoptotic activity of MM cells, as defined by oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation and an increased binding to annexin V (16-28%). All three untreated CD40-responsive MM lines expressed the Fas/Apo-1/CD95 antigen (65-92% CD95+). However, only ARH-77 cells responded to the growth inhibitory effect of the CD95-agonistic antibody CH-11. CD95 expression was not affected significantly by gp39 treatment, and growth inhibition by CH-11 was additive to gp39 (from 42% to 64% decrease in 3H-thmidine uptake). Conversely, the CD95 antagonist antibody ZB4 reversed the Fas-dependent growth inhibitory process but did not significantly alter gp39-mediated growth outcome. Gp39 treatment lowered the expression of TNFR-associated factors TRAF4 and TRAF6 by 38% and 32%, respectively, whereas detectable levels of TRAF1,2,3, and 5 levels remained unchanged. Our observations indicate that the CD40L-binding inhibits human MM cell growth and increases its apoptotic activity. This growth inhibitory effect corresponds to lower levels of cytoplasmic TRAF signaling elements, and appears independent of the Fas-signaling pathway. CD40 receptor mutation may lead to unresponsiveness to CD40 growth modulation in multiple myeloma cells.

Evidence of rickettsial spotted fever and ehrlichial infections in a subtropical territory of Jujuy, Argentina

Between November 1993 and March 1994, a cluster 6 pediatric patients with acute febrile illnesses associated with rashes was identified in Jujuy Province, Argentina. Immunohistochemical staining of tissues confirmed spotted fever group rickettsial infection in a patient with fatal disease, and testing of serum of a patient convalescing from the illness by using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) demonstrated antibodies reactive with spotted fever group rickettsiae. A serosurvey was conducted among 16 households in proximity to the index case. Of 105 healthy subjects evaluated by IFA, 19 (18%) demonstrated antibodies reactive with rickettsiae or ehrlichiae: 4 had antibodies reactive with Rickettsia rickettsii, 15 with Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and 1 with R. typhi. Amblyomma cajennense, a known vector of R. rickettsii in South America, was collected from pets and horses in the area. These results are the first to document rickettsial spotted fever and ehrlichial infections in Argentina.

In vitro alteration of macrophage phenotype and function by serum lipids

Diabetes (type I and type II) affects approximately 13 million people in the United States. Delayed and incomplete healing of wounds can be a major problem for diabetic patients. Macrophages are an important cell in the complex process of wound repair representing the major source of cytokines throughout the wound-healing process. Cytokines mediate many of the cellular responses critical to timely wound repair. It has been suggested that diabetes impairs wound healing through disruption of local cytokine production. Our previous in vivo studies in rats demonstrated that diabetes-induced and diet-induced hyperlipidemia cause changes in macrophage phenotype and function (Iacopino 1995; Doxey et al. 1998), suggesting that alterations in macrophage cytokine profiles represent the cellular/molecular mechanism responsible for delayed wound healing. The purpose of this study was to investigate how monocyte maturation/differentiation and cytokine production were altered by serum lipids in an in vitro system using human cells. Commercially prepared purified human monocytes were cultured and exposed to serum lipids. Phenotypic analysis of differentiated macrophages was then performed by flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy using surface antigens specific for various macrophage subsets. Selected cytokines in conditioned medium were assayed using commercial human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. We demonstrate that serum lipids cause an increase in monocytic differentiation leading to an inflammatory macrophage phenotype rather than a reparative/proliferative phenotype. We also show that serum lipids cause a generalized decrease in macrophage cytokine production using interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) as marker cytokines. Our present in vitro results using human cells confirm our previous in vivo studies in the rat and support the hypothesis that diabetes-induced hyperlipidemia alters the monocyte differentiation process resulting in changes of macrophage subsets and cytokine release at the wound site, ultimately impairing the wound-healing process.

Characterization of skin-infiltrating cells during acute graft-versus-host disease following bone marrow transplantation using unrelated marrow donors

To characterize skin-infiltrating T lymphocytes during acute GVHD, skin biopsies were obtained from two patients who received unrelated marrow matched for HLA-A, -B, -DR, and -DQ but mismatched for -DP. A total of 120 T-cell clones were generated. Phenotype analysis of the clones showed that the majority of cells were CD4+ and expressed alpha/beta TCR. HLA-DP oligonucleotide genotyping of the clones revealed the presence of lymphoid chimerism. PLT assay showed the lack of HLA specificity, including mismatched HLA-DP. However, mAb to HLA antigens blocked proliferation of the majority of the clones, indicating that the clones recognized HLA-associated molecules. Interestingly, proliferation of two CD4+ T-cell clones was inhibited by class I mAb. A few of the clones revealed augmented proliferation in the presence of CMV antigens and a few revealed cytolytic activity. The above study suggests that (a) CD4+ helper T cells may be primarily responsible for immunopathogenesis of skin manifestations during acute GVHD, (b) there is a mixed lymphoid chimerism in skin during acute GVHD, (c) HLA-DP may not be a factor contributing to the development of acute GVHD, (d) the peptide of the HLA groove or superantigen associated with HLA molecules may be the stimulatory antigen, and (e) CMV antigens appear to stimulate some of the skin-infiltrating T lymphocytes.

Characterization of T-cell clones generated from skin of patients with psoriasis

BACKGROUND

The infiltrating cells in psoriasis include a subpopulation of autoreactive T cells.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to further characterize skin-infiltrating T lymphocytes in patients with psoriasis.

METHODS

Forty-five T-cell clones were generated from skin biopsy specimens from two patients.

RESULTS

Phenotypic studies on 25 of 45 clones revealed that 19 (76%) of the clones were CD4+, 5 (20%) were CD8+, and 1 (4%) clone was CD4- and CD8-. Twenty-three clones were stained for identification of T-cell receptors. Twenty-two clones expressed alpha/beta T-cell receptors and one clone (CD4-/CD8-) expressed no T-cell receptor. Nineteen clones (42%) were autoreactive with no restriction to class I or class II HLA antigens. By contrast, proliferation of two of the seven clones was inhibited by class I monoclonal antibody, whereas proliferation of four of seven clones was inhibited by class II monoclonal antibody.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that skin-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with psoriasis may recognize HLA-associated molecules, perhaps the peptide of the HLA groove. The recognition of the peptide is presumably inhibited when monoclonal antibody is bound to the HLA molecule.

Augmentation of lymphokine-activated killer cell cytotoxicity by monoclonal antibodies against human small cell lung carcinoma

This study examined the lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell cytotoxicity on monoclonal antibody (MoAb)-bound tumor cells from the human small cell lung carcinoma cell lines H69 and H128. LAK cells were generated from normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells by incubation with interleukin 2 for 3 or more days. Cells from the LAK culture were cytotoxic to natural killer-sensitive (K562, 84% cytotoxicity) and natural killer-resistant (Daudi, 85%; H69 and H128, 69% and 97%, respectively) cell lines, and to freshly excised human lung (49%) and breast (57%) tumors. LAK cytotoxicity to H69 or H128 cells was significantly augmented by target cell preincubation with the small cell lung carcinoma-reactive MoAbs 1096 (increases of up to 271%) or 5023 (up to 223%). SCLC 5023 or 1096 did not enhance LAK cytotoxicity to Daudi cells of lymphoblastoid origin. Pretreatment of LAK cells with an anti-Fc receptor antibody blocked MoAb augmentation by 1096 or 5023 (but not LAK cytotoxicity), suggesting that LAK-MoAb interaction may be mediated by Fc binding. LAK activity coincided with emergence of a large cell [interleukin 2-stimulated large mononuclear leukocyte (LML)] subset expressing the CD16 and NKH-1 surface determinants. Serial immunophenotyping of the LAK cell culture harvested at Days 3, 5, and 7 indicated that the level of LAK cytotoxicity, with or without MoAb augmentation, correlated with frequency of NKH-1-reactive LMLs. These observations support the hypothesis that LAK cytotoxicity is mediated by a NKH-1-reactive LML subpopulation. Antitumor cytotoxicity may be augmented by tumor-reactive MoAbs through Fc binding to this LML subset.