Importance of coronary collaterals for restoration of left ventricular function after intracoronary thrombolysis

In an evaluation of the role of coronary collaterals in the early period of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 30 patients with acute total coronary occlusion treated with intracoronary thrombolysis 2 to 8 hours after the onset of symptoms were studied. Only 13 patients with well-developed collaterals in the early period of AMI and successful thrombolysis showed improvement of global and regional ejection fraction (EF) from the acute phase to the chronic phase (global EF from 50% to 71%, p less than 0.001; regional EF from 25.4% to 49.2%, p less than 0.001). In patients with no or less well-developed collaterals and successful thrombolysis, global and regional EF were similar to those in patients in whom thrombolysis was unsuccessful. Among the 19 patients with successful thrombolysis, there was no significant correlation between the duration of ischemia and the improvement of regional EF (r = -0.03, difference not significant). These data suggest that the extent of coronary collateral vessels in the early period of AMI is an important determinant of restoration of left ventricular function after intracoronary thrombolysis.

In vitro production of B cell growth factor and B cell differentiation factor by peripheral blood mononuclear cells and bronchoalveolar lavage T lymphocytes from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

The activation of B lymphocytes and formation of immune complexes have been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). To investigate the mechanisms of activation of B lymphocytes, we studied the production of B cell growth factor (BCGF) and B cell differentiation factor (BCDF) in patients with IPF and those with interstitial pneumonia associated with collagen vascular diseases (IP-CVD), in comparison with healthy controls. Culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with IPF induced more IgM and IgA production by B lymphocytes than those from healthy controls, indicating a higher production of BCDF in the patients. Culture supernatants of T lymphocytes obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) of patients with IPF induced higher proliferation of B lymphocytes than those from healthy controls, indicating a higher production of BCGF. An increase in production of BCGF and BCDF was not observed in patients with IP-CVD. In the light of these results, it was suggested that there may be an imbalance in T lymphocyte subsets that release lymphokines like BCGF and BCDF in patients with IPF, and that the subsets may differ between blood and BALF. It remains to be elucidated whether the activation of B lymphocytes depending on T lymphocytes determines the development of disease in IPF.

A fetal respiratory epithelial cell line for studying some problems of transplacental carcinogenesis in Syrian golden hamsters

Using repeated cloning and treatment with cis-HPL (200 micrograms/ml), an analogue of a procollagen precursor inhibitory to the growth of collagen-synthesizing cells of mesenchymal origin, clonally premature epithelial cell lines were isolated from fetal SGH lungs cultured on the 15th day of gestation. One of the cell lines, M3E3/C3, which has been extensively studied for biological characterization, developed poorly differentiated carcinomas in injected hamsters after transformation by MNNG. Moreover, when grown on collagen gel, this cell line indicated an obvious potency for in vitro differentiation in response to vitamin A by developing activated Golgi regions, well developed rER and a number of mucus-like granules. Since such a differentiative responses is expected to be definable in the light of respiratory epithelium developing in utero, this cell line may be useful for studying mechanisms of differentiation-dependent sensitivity of fetal organs to transplacental carcinogen exposure.

Clinical thermofiltration: initial application

The first clinical thermofiltration procedures (plasma filtration near or above normal physiologic temperature) were performed on a secondary hypercholesterolemia patient. The intent of this filtration scheme is the selective removal of low density lipoproteins (LDL) and maintenance of high density lipoproteins (HDL) and other essential plasma proteins including albumin. The EVAL 4A filter, at a filtration temperature of 37 degrees C, was selected for on-line thermofiltration. The sieving coefficients of LDL + very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and albumin were 0.02, 0.75, and 0.78, respectively. These results are comparable to in vitro filtration tests using the plasma of the same patient. This system is simple to apply and does not require replacement solution. Compared with plasma exchange, a high return of HDL and other essential plasma solutes can be returned to the patient by this method.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of the mantle cell lymphoma cell line GRANTA-519

Combining fluorescence R-banding, fluorescence in situ hybridization and spectral karyotyping allowed us to precisely define chromosomal breakpoints, gains, losses and a newly detected amplification in the human mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cell line GRANTA-519. GRANTA-519 is characterized by the t(11;14)(q13;q32) resulting in overexpression of cyclin D1, a key player in cell cycle control. Hitherto unresolved complex rearrangements involve 1p, 1q, 3cen, 9p, 11q, 12p, 12q, 16p, 17p, and 18cen. Moreover, a 4- to 6-fold gain of sequences on 18q leads to a low-level amplification of the BCL2 gene and to an overexpression of the BCL2 protein. These results provide the basis for the identification of not only candidate oncogenes responsible for MCL in gained regions, but also for the identification of putative tumor suppressor genes in commonly deleted regions like 1p22, which would eventually enable functional studies of these genes.

New functional cell-culture approach to pulmonary carcinogenesis and toxicology

Modern pulmonary toxicology (including lung carcinogenesis) has, to assist its rapid development, constantly incorporated the knowledge obtained through cell and tissue-culture studies. While this has been carried out in rather a passive manner until quite recently, the currently necessary multi-disciplinary approach increasingly requires more active involvement of cell/tissue-culture techniques in this area. Our understanding in this regard is that one of such requirements is to establish a cell-culture system consisting of a single population of possible target cells for certain classes of hazardous inhalants. In addition, such target cells in culture should be able to function in a manner as closely resembling the situation in vivo as possible. In view of the culture techniques presently available, this requirement is probably too ideal to be met immediately. Nevertheless, efforts have been made in the last decade to achieve functioning cultures of Clara cells, type II pneumocytes or small mucus granule cells (SMGC), using undifferentiated cells obtained from animal and human fetuses. This attempt forms a sharp contrast to the usual approach, in that while the latter tries to keep the functions of adult cells in an already differentiated state, the former aims at inducing functional differentiation in undifferentiated cells by manipulating culture conditions. In carrying out these efforts, we have shown clear evidence that the type II pneumocytes and Clara cells induced in vitro are closely cognate and share a common precursor cell in culture, and that SMGC are at a pre-stage of differentiation to Clara cells. We have also shown an induced capacity for xenobiotic activation and conjugation in SMGC in culture. Our next plan is to prove similar activity (of mixed-function oxidase) in Clara cells and type II pneumocytes induced to differentiate in culture.

Respiratory sensitization to diphenyl-methane-4,4'-diisocyanate (MDI) in guinea pigs: impact of particle size on induction and elicitation of response

The impact of particle size of aerosolized polymeric diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate (MDI) for the induction and elicitation of respiratory sensitization was evaluated. Four groups of 16 female guinea pigs each received either the vehicle, repeated intradermal (id) injections (3 x 0.3% MDI), one high-level inhalation exposure of 15 min to 135 mg MDI/m(3) air using a small aerosol (MMAD approximately 1.7 microm) or large aerosol (MMAD approximately 3.8 microm). Three weeks later, animals were challenged subsequently with two ramped concentrations of MDI aerosol (average concentrations 16 and 49 mg/m(3) air, each for 15 min) and two different particle sizes, i.e., the MMAD was either approximately 1.6 microm or approximately 5.1 microm for the small- and large-size aerosol, respectively. Respiratory sensitization was assessed by two endpoints: the measurement of respiratory rate, and examination of influx of eosinophilic granulocytes into the mucosa and submucosa of the trachea, bronchi, and lung-associated lymph nodes (LALN). The recruitment of eosinophilic granulocytes into bronchial tissues was subdivided as follows: muscularis mucosae, submucosa, and perivascular. From measurements of respiratory rate, it would appear that guinea pigs sensitized by id injections or by inhalation exposure with the large aerosol tended to display a higher responsiveness than naive controls when challenged with the small aerosol. The recruitment of eosinophilic granulocytes in the bronchial tissue was greater in both inhalation induction groups as compared to the vehicle control. It appears that there was a somewhat greater response in animals sensitized by id injections or by inhalation exposure with the large aerosol and challenged with the small aerosol. Topographically, this difference was apparent only at the bronchial perivascular level and lung-associated lymph nodes (LALN), whereas at the submucosal and muscularis mucosae level the impact on particle size tended to be less pronounced. In summary, this study suggests that a brief, high-level inhalation exposure of MDI aerosol caused a sensitization of bronchial tissues in guinea pigs. The higher sensitization potency of the large aerosol may possibly be related to a dosimetric phenomenon because of the greater fraction of deposition of large particles within the upper respiratory tract. Overall, challenge exposures with this type of irritant aerosol appear to evoke more consistent effects when the MMAD is in the range of approximately 2 rather than approximately 5 microm.

Growth inhibition and transformation of a human fetal tracheal epithelial cell line by long-term exposure to diethylnitrosamine

In order to obtain more information on the in vitro transformation of human cells, a human fetal tracheal epithelial cell line (FHET16/5) was exposed for a long time to diethylnitrosamine (DEN). In 20 passages, this cell line (diploid, male) maintained strong immunohistochemical reactivity for carcino-embryonic antigen and wool merokeratin; it was negative for vimentin. The cells contained PAS-positive mucous substances and ultrastructurally were found to have desmosome-like attachments. Treatment of the cells was with 0.3% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), or DMSO with 150, 450, 1000 or 2000 micrograms/ml of DEN. It was started at the ninth passage and continued for six passages over 9 weeks for the control (DMSO) and the three lowest control doses of DEN, and for three passages over 9 weeks for the 2000 micrograms/ml DEN group. Cells grown for 13 days after the end of treatment were plated in soft agar and injected subcutaneously in nude mice. The frequency of anchorage-independent colonies grown in soft agar was directly related to DEN dose. Colony-forming efficiency, as an expression of toxic effect, was also dose dependent. Autoradiographically detected unscheduled DNA synthesis indicated an association between anchorage-independent transformation and DNA alterations induced by DEN. Cells injected into nude mice did not produce tumours during a 6-month period, but invasiveness was observed when cells from the 2000 micrograms/ml DEN group were transplanted on the dermis of cultured chick embryo skin. The results indicate that DEN causes anchorage-independent transformation accompanied by unscheduled DNA synthesis in a fetal human tracheal epithelial cell line.

Stem cells of the respiratory epithelium and their in vitro cultivation

Parenchymal (epithelial or mesenchyma) stem cells are rapidly drawing both scientific and clinical attention in solid organs like the liver, skin, intestine and abdominal mesothelium, just as has been the case in the hematopoietic system. For the stem cells of these organs various definitions, markers for identification, methods of isolation and in vitro cultivation, and lineage mechanisms have been proposed and some of them are now proven to be valid and useful. In this article attempts will be made to explore whether there are stem cells in the lower respiratory system (from the trachea to the lung periphery) and what they look like. Because of its anatomical and functional complexity the stem cell concept for the respiratory system has been developing rather slowly. Nevertheless, the data available seem to indicate that in analogy to the above mentioned organs there is only one type of epithelial stem cells throughout all sections of the lower respiratory system during fetal through adult stages. They are multipotent for cell differentiation and able to yield lineage progenitors for ciliated, goblet, basal. Clara neuroendocrine, alveolar type 1 and alveolar type 2 cells.

Regulation of growth and differentiation by vitamin A in a cloned fetal lung epithelial cell line cultured on collagen gel in hormone-supplemented medium

Proliferative and differentiative responses to various doses of vitamin A (VA) were studied in the predifferentiated cells of a fetal Syrian hamster pulmonary epithelial line (M3E3/C3), which were cultured on a collagen gel in a hormone-supplemented medium. These predifferentiated cells possessed well-developed endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus. At VA doses higher than 8 micrograms/ml, periodic acid Schiff and slightly alcian blue positive mucuslike granules were produced, which were also detectable electron microscopically. These mucuslike products were rich in sialic acid and resembled quite well those from primary cultures of tracheal epithelial cells of Syrian hamster sucklings when analyzed by column chromatography on various types of gel. At all VA doses studied (2.4, 8, 24 micrograms/ml), cells grew exponentially with an average population doubling time of around 74 h, whereas in the absence of VA they had a linear growth rate and a population doubling time of 158 h between Days 4 and 11. The uptake of [3H]glucosamine into the whole cell homogenates showed a peak at Day 8, irrespective of VA doses (0 to 24 micrograms/ml), and at the highest VA dose (24 micrograms/ml) it exceeded by twofold the control (0 microgram/ml) level. At the same time, [14C]thymidine demonstrated a high peak of uptake on Day 8 at 8 and 24 micrograms/ml VA. There was virtually no difference between 0 and 2.4 micrograms/ml VA, with both doses yielding much lower peaks. Based on the results currently presented and previously reported, three successive stages were hypothesized for the mucous differentiation processes in M3E3/C3. The process from the first undifferentiated stage to the second predifferentiated stage with well-developed ER and Golgi apparatus requires both collagen gels and hormones. Differentiation from the second stage to the third secretory stage with mucous granules is stimulated by VA. These observations indicate that the cell line M3E3/C3 could provide a new system for investigating the mechanisms of mucus differentiation by VA.

A vibrational circular dichroism approach to the determination of the absolute configurations of flavorous 5-substituted-2(5H)-furanones

Sotolon (1) and maple furanone (2) are naturally occurring chiral furanones. These 5-substituted-2(5H)-furanones are industrially significant aroma compounds due to their characteristic organoleptic properties and extraordinarily low odor thresholds. Each enantiomer of 1 and 2 was successfully obtained by preparative enantioselective supercritical fluid chromatography. The absolute configuration of 1 was confirmed as (R)-(-)-1 and (S)-(+)-1 by adopting the vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) approach. The absolute configuration of 2, which has remained ambiguous since its discovery in 1957, was determined as (R)-(+)-2 and (S)-(-)-2 for the first time by the VCD technique. Surprisingly, the signs of the optical rotation of 2 are opposite of those of 1 regardless of their identical absolute configurations. This observation emphasizes the risk in absolute configurational assignments based on comparison of optical rotation signs of similar structures. Odor evaluation of the enantiomers of 2 revealed different odor intensities.

Comparison of chrysene metabolism in epithelial human bronchial and Syrian hamster lung cells

Chrysene is metabolized to 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-hydroxychrysene and trans-1,2- as well as trans-3,4-dihydroxydihydrochrysene in human and Syrian hamster epithelial lung cells as indicated by GC/MS analysis, whereas K-region oxidation is at most a very minor pathway. Cells of a permanent clonal line of fetal hamster lung metabolized 97% of the chrysene whereas fetal human bronchial epithelial cells converted 24% of the substrate within 8 days incubation. In human cells oxidation at the 3,4-position predominates, whereas oxidation at the 1,2-position is the major pathway in hamster cells. Indication for a bay-region oxidation of chrysene in hamster cells has been obtained.

Two-week inhalation toxicity of polymeric diphenylmethane-4, 4'-diisocyanate (PMDI) in rats: analysis of biochemical and morphological markers of early pulmonary response

The pulmonary response of Wistar rats to respirable polymeric diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate (PMDI) aerosol was examined in a 2-wk repeated nose-only inhalation exposure study. Exposure concentrations were 1.1, 3.3, and 13.7 mg PMDI/m(3) (6 h/day, 15 exposures). The level of 13.7 mg/m(3) was actually a combination of an initial target concentration of 10 mg/m(3) in wk 1, which was raised to 16 mg/m(3) in wk 2, due to a lack of signs suggestive of pulmonary irritation. An acute sensory irritation study on rats served as basis for selection of these concentrations. Shortly after the 2-wk exposure period, rats were subjected to pulmonary function and arterial blood gas measurements. Lungs were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy, and labeling indices in terminal bronchioles were measured. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to assess various indicators of pulmonary inflammation, including neutrophil and macrophage numbers, protein, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT), alkaline phosphatase (APh), acid phosphatase (ACPh), and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (beta-NAG). Phosphatidylcholine in BAL fluid and BAL cells was determined as aggregated endpoint suggestive of changes in pulmonary surfactant. Rats exposed to 3.3 and 13.7 mg/m(3) experienced concentration-dependent signs of respiratory tract irritation. Determination of arterial blood gases, lung mechanics, and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity did not demonstrate specific effects. Analysis of BAL fluid and BAL cells revealed changes indicative of marked inflammatory response and/or cytotoxicity in rats exposed to 13.7 mg/m(3), and the changes were characterized by statistically significantly increased activities of LDH, beta-NAG, and protein. Phospholipid concentrations were increased in rats exposed to 1.1 mg/m(3) and above (elevated levels of lipid material in alveolar macrophages demonstrated by polychrome stain) and 3.3 mg/m(3) and above (increased intracellular ACPh activity and intracellular phospholipids). In these groups, gamma-GT was statistically significantly increased. These findings suggest that changes in phospholipid homeostasis appear to occur at lower levels than those eliciting inflammation and cytotoxicity. Light and transmission electron microscopy suggest that exposure to 3.3 and 13. 7 mg/m(3) resulted in focal inflammatory lesions and an accumulation of refractile, yellowish-brownish material in alveolar macrophages with concomitant activation of type II pneumocytes. In the terminal bronchioles a concentration-dependent increase of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-labeled epithelial cells was observed in all PMDI exposure groups. In summary, it appears that respirable PMDI aerosol interacts with pulmonary surfactant, which, in turn, may stimulate type II pneumocytes to increase their production of surfactant and to proliferate.

Secretory differentiation and cell type identification of a human fetal bronchial epithelial cell line (HFBE)

A human fetal bronchial epithelial cell line (HFBE) grew in an undifferentiated pattern under conventional culture conditions. Despite a somewhat fibroblastic shape the cells maintained immunoreactivity to cytokeratin, carcinoembryonic antigen and epithelial membrane antigen. When grown on a collagen gel in a growth-hormone-supplemented medium, their spindle shape became more conspicuous. With an additional supplement of vitamin A (6 micrograms/ml), most of the cells underwent differentiation by producing many bright inclusion bodies which proved to be strongly positive with periodic acid-Schiff and weakly positive with alcian blue staining. Electron microscopy revealed a well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, an enlarged Golgi apparatus and many highly electron-dense secretory granules resembling those of Clara cells. Biochemical analysis demonstrated that HFBE cells cultured on collagen gel with vitamin A secreted hyaluronic acid and neutral glycoproteins containing mainly N-linked glycoproteins whose glycans were of a complex type. A monoclonal antibody (SEC-41) generated against the neutral glycoproteins detected a glycoprotein of approximately 52 kDa in the spent culture medium of differentiated HFBE cells. This antibody also reacted with the intracytoplasmic secretory granules in these cells. When tested on frozen sections of lung tissue, the immunohistochemical reactivity of the SEC-41 antibody was confined to Clara cells, some type II pneumocytes in the adult lung, and respiratory epithelial cells in the fetal lung. Moreover, this antibody could detect secretory glycoprotein in broncho-alveolar lavages from two patients. This paper clearly demonstrates that cells derived from human fetal bronchial epithelium can be cultivated in an undifferentiated precursor state and, under appropriate culture conditions, can be stimulated to undergo differentiation into a Clara cell type.

Stereochemical study of a novel tautomeric furanone, homofuraneol

A mixture of tautomers with unique keto-enol structures, 5-ethyl-4-hydroxy-2-methylfuran-3(2H)-one and 2-ethyl-4-hydroxy-5-methylfuran-3(2H)-one (EHMF, homofuraneol, 1a and 1b), comprises four structural isomers including their enantiomers. The four isomers were successfully separated by chromatographic optical resolution, and their odor evaluation was performed. Determination of the absolute chemistry of 1a and 1b were accomplished for the first time by direct measurement of the VCD spectra of their methyl ether derivatives 4a and 4b compared with the calculated ones as well as chemical relay reaction. The relationship between odor characteristics and stereochemistry was also examined.

Comparison of biological effects of different polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in lung cells of hamster and rat in vitro

The cytotoxicity and frequencies of transformation induced by 5 environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in hamster (M3E3/C3) and rat (WRB K3) lung cells were compared. Both cell strains investigated here retain major metabolic characteristics of the target cells in vivo and are thus able to effectively metabolize, i.e. activate, PAH. Cytotoxic effects of the carcinogen were determined in colony-forming assays and the PAH tested induced dose-dependent cytotoxic responses in the M3E3/C3 and WRB cells. They could then be classified into strong and weak cytotoxicity. Compared to the hamster cell system, the WRB cells were generally shown to be more sensitive. The transforming capacity of the compounds was determined by a soft agar colony formation assay detecting cells with anchorage independency (AI). All PAH investigated induced transformation to AI growth in both cell systems. The transforming activity of the PAH, relative to benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) as a reference substance, was determined to facilitate their ranking. This order of transforming potency appears to be similar to that observed in animal studies.

In vitro induction of type II pneumocyte-related differentiation in a clonal fetal bronchiolo-alveolar epithelial cell line (M3E3/C3)

The aim of the present study is to investigate the differentiation of a cloned fetal Syrian hamster lung epithelial cell line, M3E3/C3, to assume morphological and biochemical features of Type II pneumocytes (phospholipid synthesis). The use of a soft agar overlay and a differentiation medium, based on RPMI 1640 combined with hormone supplements, increased the cellular content of phosphatidylcholine (PC) from 48.6% in the conventional culture without any of these factors (referred to as 'control') to 64.7% (p < 0.02). The other cell membrane-associated components, phosphatidylethanolamine (p < 0.05), sphingomyelin (p < 0.001), phosphatidylserine (n. s.), phosphatidic acid (p < 0.02) and phosphatidylinositol (p < 0.02) decreased. The content of phosphatidylglycerol showed no essential change (from 11.2% to 8.4%) and the content of disaturated phospholipids decreased from 32.0 to 23.4 micrograms/10(6) cells (p < 0.002). The phospholipid pattern of these differentiated cells is in rough accordance with that of primary isolated Type II pneumocytes. They incorporated 3H-choline over a period of four hours at a higher rate in the Type II pneumocyte-specific phospholipids, PC and dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), than the undifferentiated control. The radiolabelling of PC and DPPC in the differentiated cells, after 3 hours of incubation with 3H-choline, was about 3.2-fold and 2.2-fold, respectively, higher than that in the control cells (p < 0.001). Intracytoplasmatic phospholipid granules were evident in the differentiated cells by light and fluorescence microscopy (modified Papanicolaou stain, Phosphin 3 R fluorescence). Furthermore, the differentiated cells had a high activity of alkaline phosphatase, whereas the control cells showed only little activity of this enzyme. Ultrastructurally, many concentric multilayered osmiophilic bodies, well developed Golgi apparatuses and many cytoplasmic protrusions comparable to microvilli, were detectable in the cuboidal shaped differentiated cells. The control cells remained wide and flattened on the plastic surface and produced a fibrillar extracellular matrix. In the simultaneously studied fetal lung fibroblasts none of these specific features were noted. These results indicate a specific differentiation capacity of the clonal fetal cell line, M3E3/C3, by closely resembling Type II pneumocytes.