Incidental maternal findings on fetal MRI

AIM

To evaluate the type and frequency of maternal findings incidentally identified during fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective single-centre study was undertaken which included all consecutive fetal MRI studies performed between July 2017 and May 2021 at a tertiary institution. Two fellowship-trained radiologists reviewed the studies independently to determine the type and frequency of incidental maternal findings of both no clinical significance (requiring no further follow-up) and of clinical significance (requiring further follow-up, work-up, and/or management). Differences in acquisition were resolved by two-reader consensus. Non-diagnostic MRI examinations or abdominal MRI examinations indicated for maternal complications were excluded from review.

RESULTS

A total of 455 consecutive fetal MRI examinations performed in 429 women were included. Mean age was 30 years (SD 5.5 years). At least one incidental maternal finding was identified in 58% (265/455) of studies. Umbilical hernias (35%), maternal hydronephrosis (19%), and maternal hydro-ureter (15%) were the most common. Only two studies (0.5%) showed clinically significant incidental maternal findings (pancreatic pseudocyst and ovarian cyst).

CONCLUSIONS

Incidental maternal findings are common on fetal MRI but rarely require further follow-up, work-up, and/or management.

Specificities of Meningitis and Meningo-Encephalitis After Kidney Transplantation: A French Retrospective Cohort Study

Kidney transplant recipients develop atypical infections in their epidemiology, presentation and outcome. Among these, meningitis and meningoencephalitis require urgent and adapted anti-infectious therapy, but published data is scarce in KTRs. The aim of this study was to describe their epidemiology, presentation and outcome, in order to improve their diagnostic and management. We performed a retrospective, multicentric cohort study in 15 French hospitals that included all 199 cases of M/ME in KTRs between 2007 and 2018 (0.9 case per 1,000 KTRs annually). Epidemiology was different from that in the general population: 20% were due to Cryptococcus neoformans, 13.5% to varicella-zoster virus, 5.5% to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and 4.5% to Enterobacteria (half of which produced extended spectrum beta-lactamases), and 5% were Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders. Microorganisms causing M/ME in the general population were infrequent (2%, for Streptococcus pneumoniae) or absent (Neisseria meningitidis). M/ME caused by Enterobacteria, Staphylococci or filamentous fungi were associated with high and early mortality (50%-70% at 1 year). Graft survival was not associated with the etiology of M/ME, nor was impacted by immunosuppression reduction. Based on these results, we suggest international studies to adapt guidelines in order to improve the diagnosis and the probabilistic treatment of M/ME in SOTRs.

OP0285 VOCLOSPORIN IS EFFECTIVE IN ACHIEVING PROTEINURIA TREATMENT TARGETS IN LUPUS NEPHRITIS DEFINED BY EULAR/ERA RECOMMENDATIONS

Background

The novel calcineurin inhibitor voclosporin was approved in 2021 for the treatment of adult patients with active lupus nephritis (LN) in combination with background immunotherapy. Voclosporin has a favorable metabolic profile and a consistent dose-concentration relationship, eliminating the need for therapeutic drug monitoring.

The Phase 2 AURA-LV and Phase 3 AURORA 1 studies demonstrated that the addition of voclosporin to mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and low-dose steroids led to significantly higher complete renal response rates in AURA-LV at 24 weeks (32.6% vs 19.3%; odds ratio [OR] 2.03; p=0.046) and in AURORA 1 at 52 weeks (40.8% vs 22.5%; OR 2.65; p<0.0001) of treatment in patients with LN.

Objectives

The European League Against Rheumatism and European Renal Association (EULAR/ERA) published updated treatment recommendations for LN with targeted reductions in proteinuria over the course of the first year of therapeutic intervention.1 Here we report on a post-hoc analysis of pooled data from the similarly designed 48-week AURA-LV and 52-week AURORA 1 studies based on these updated response criteria.

Methods

AURA-LV and AURORA 1 enrolled patients with biopsy-proven active lupus nephritis (Class III, IV, or V ± III/IV) and proteinuria ≥1.5 mg/mg (≥2 mg/mg for Class V). Pooled data included 268 patients in the voclosporin (23.7 mg BID) group and 266 patients in the control group, with all patients receiving MMF (target dose 1 g BID) and low-dose steroids (target dose 2.5 mg/day by week 16 according to protocol-defined steroid taper). We assessed the following EULAR/ERA treatment targets: ≥25% reduction in urine protein creatinine ratio (UPCR) by 3 months, ≥50% reduction in UPCR by 6 months, UPCR ≤0.7 mg/mg by 12 months, and steroid dose ≤7.5 mg/day by 3, 6, and 12 months.

Results

Within the first 3 months of treatment, 78.4% of patients in the voclosporin group and 62.4% of patients in the control group achieved ≥25% reduction in UPCR (odds ratio [OR] 2.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.52, 3.33; p<0.0001). The percentage of patients achieving a reduction of ≥50% in UPCR by 6 months was also significantly greater in the voclosporin group compared to control (66.0% vs 47.0%, respectively; OR 2.24; CI 1.57, 3.21; p<0.0001). After 12 months of treatment, 52.6% and 33.1% of patients receiving voclosporin and control, respectively, had achieved a UPCR ≤0.7 mg/mg (OR 2.52; CI 1.75, 3.63; p<0.0001). Given the protocol-defined steroid taper, at both 3 and 6 months, a similar proportion (>90%) of patients in both groups had achieved the recommended steroid dose, with 89.6% and 82.8% in the voclosporin and control groups, respectively, on the recommended dose at 12 months. The proportion of patients meeting all three UPCR targets during the one-year study period and having a steroid dose ≤7.5 mg/day at 12 months was 37.3% in the voclosporin group and 23.3% in the control group (OR 2.11; CI 1.43, 3.10; p=0.0001).

Conclusion

The addition of voclosporin to a background regimen of MMF and low-dose steroids in patients with LN significantly increased the likelihood of achieving the 3-, 6-, and 12-month UPCR targets of therapy recommended by EULAR/ERA.

References

[1]Fanouriakis, A. et al. 2019 Update of the Joint European League Against Rheumatism and European Renal Association–European Dialysis and Transplant Association (EULAR/ERA–EDTA) recommendations for the management of lupus nephritis. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 79, 713–723 (2020).

Figure 1.

Integrated AURA-LV and AURORA 1 Analysis on the Achievement of UPCR Treatment Targets and Use of Low-Dose Steroids per EULAR/ERA Lupus Nephritis Recommendations

Disclosure of Interests

Hans-Joachim Anders: None declared, Ray Federico Shareholder of: Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc., Employee of: Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc., Simrat Randhawa Shareholder of: Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc., Employee of: Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc., Henry Leher Shareholder of: Aurinia Pharmaceutical Inc., Employee of: Aurinia Pharmaceutical Inc.

OP0277 AURORA PHASE 3 STUDY DEMONSTRATES VOCLOSPORIN STATISTICAL SUPERIORITY OVER STANDARD OF CARE IN LUPUS NEPHRITIS (LN)

Background:

Voclosporin (VCS) is a novel high potency calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) with a favorable metabolic profile and a consistent predictable dose response potentially eliminating the need for therapeutic drug monitoring. LN occurs more frequently and is more severe in Hispanic/Latino ethnicity SLE patients. The recently completed phase 3 AURORA study builds on the favorable efficacy seen in the Phase IIb AURA-LV study in patients with active LN.

Objectives:

Document efficacy and safety of VCS vs placebo over one year when used with 2 grams of MMF daily and a rapid steroid taper in patients with active LN.

Methods:

AURORA is a Phase III multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 52-week study of active LN patients. Patients were randomized 1:1 to VCS (23.7 mg BID) or placebo in combination with mycophenolate (MMF, 1 g BID) and rapidly tapered oral steroids. The primary endpoint was renal response (RR) at 52 weeks, defined as UPCR of ≤ 0.5 mg/mg, eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min, or no confirmed decrease from baseline in eGFR of > 20%, presence of sustained, low dose steroids and no administration of rescue medication. Ethnicity subgroup analyses of RR was also undertaken given the higher severity of disease in the Hispanic/Latino LN patients.

Results:

There were 357 patients enrolled, 88% female, median age of 31 and 33% of Hispanic/Latino ethnicity. Renal response by intention to treat analysis at 52 weeks was 40.8% for the voclosporin arm and 22.5% for the control arm (OR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.64, 4.27; p< 0.001); therefore, AURORA met its primary endpoint. These findings were consistent with those observed in the previously completed pivotal AURA-LV study. Ethnicity subgroup analysis of RR at 52 weeks noted benefit of VCS in both Hispanic/Latino (VCS 38.6% and control 18.6%, p=0.0062, OR 3.45) and non-Hispanic/Latino patients (VCS 41.8% and control 24.6%, p=0.0045, OR 2.29). The benefits of VCS were also seen for all pre-specified hierarchical secondary endpoints: RR at 24 weeks, partial renal response (PRR) at 24 and 52 weeks, time to achieve UPCR ≤ 0.5, and time to 50% reduction in UPCR. Furthermore, all pre-specified subgroup analyses (age, sex, race, biopsy class, region, and prior MMF use) favored VCS. VCS was well tolerated with no unexpected safety signals. The overall incidence of SAEs were similar in both groups (VCS 20.8% and control 21.3%); with infection most commonly reported (VCS 10.1% and control 11.2%). Overall mortality in the trial was low, with one death in the voclosporin arm and five in the control arm. Additionally, the VCS arm showed no significant decrease at week 52 in eGFR or increase in BP, lipids, or glucose.

Conclusion:

The AURORA study met its primary endpoint and VCS was efficacious in Hispanic/Latino ethnicity patients, a difficult to treat group.

Disclosure of Interests:

Cristina Arriens Grant/research support from: - BMS: Investigator Initiated Trial Research Funding, GSK: Investigator Initiated Trial Research Funding, Exagen: Research Grant, Consultant of: AstraZeneca (Sci Ad Board Dec 2017), GSK (Sci Ad Board Oct 2018), BMS (Sci Ad Board April 2019), Svetlana Polyakova: None declared, Igor Adzerikho: None declared, Simrat Randhawa Shareholder of: Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. stock, Employee of: Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Neil Solomons Shareholder of: Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. stock, Employee of: Aurinia Pharmaceuticals.

Fingolimod first-dose effects in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis concomitantly receiving selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors

Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), commonly administered for depression and anxiety in patients with multiple sclerosis, are associated with QT interval prolongation. Fingolimod (FTY720; Gilenya(®), Novartis Pharma AG) is a first-in-class sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator approved for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Fingolimod first-dose administration is associated with a transient, generally asymptomatic, slowing of heart rate, which may also prolong QT interval. This posthoc analysis compared cardiac outcomes in over 3300 patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis who were or were not receiving SSRIs during fingolimod treatment initiation, including a subset of patients receiving citalopram or escitalopram. Vital signs were recorded hourly for 6h, and electrocardiograms were obtained pre-dose and 6 h post-dose. Changes in mean hourly heart rate from baseline (pre-dose) to 6 h post-dose were similar among patients not receiving SSRIs (fingolimod 0.5 mg, -7.5 bpm; placebo, 0.0 bpm) and those receiving SSRIs (fingolimod 0.5 mg, -6.6 bpm; placebo, 0.3 bpm). In patients treated with fingolimod 0.5 mg, the mean change in corrected QT interval from baseline to 6 h after treatment initiation was under 10 ms, and few patients had absolute corrected QT intervals of over 450 ms (men) or 470 ms (women), calculated according to Bazett׳s or Fridericia׳s correction methods, irrespective of whether or not they were receiving an SSRI; similar findings were reported in the placebo group. Co-administration of SSRIs and fingolimod was not associated with an increased incidence of any electrocardiogram findings compared with fingolimod therapy alone, and the majority of patients receiving fingolimod (83-86%) were discharged from first-dose monitoring at 6 h irrespective of whether they were also receiving SSRIs. These analyses provide reassurance that concomitant use of SSRIs does not affect cardiac outcomes associated with fingolimod treatment initiation.

P3-07-33: Are Single Node Metastases More Common in Patients with Breast Cancer in the Sentinel Node Era?

Background: The axillary recurrence rate after axillary lymph node dissection has been reported as approximately 3%. Since the introduction of sentinel node biopsy (SNB), it has become apparent that, there is a significant decrease in axillary recurrence, ranging from 0.26% to 0.9% in published literature. One of the concerns that arises from this data is that, the sentinel node may have been missed when routine axillary node clearance were being performed. The aim of this study was to compare the results of a cohort of patients who had an axillary staging procedure prior to the introduction of SNB (axillary clearance) with patients after the introduction of SNB in relation to the number who had only one positive node in the axilla.

Methods: From June 2003 to November 2010 data was collected on demographics, histopathology and procedure performed. All patients with invasive breast cancer prior to April 2005 had an axillary node clearance (ANC) with either wide local excision or mastectomy. Since April 2005 all patients with invasive breast cancer had a SNB and patients with a positive sentinel node (SN) underwent ANC. Patients with a negative SNB had no further axillary surgery.

Results: 702 patients had axillary node surgery between June 2003 and November 2010. 251 patients had axillary node clearance (pre SN period) and 451 had SNB (SN period). Average age was 57 years. 509 patients (156 in pre SNB period and 353 in post SNB period) had no nodal metastases. Amongst the 193 node positive patients, 100 had single node involvement. In the pre SNB period 33 (34.7%) patients had single node involvement, compared to 67 (68.3%) in SNB period. The histopathological type of cancer did not vary significantly between the one node positive, multiple node positive and node negative groups.

Conclusion: Our study confirms a significant rise in patients with a single node positive in the sentinel node period. This could be due to the SLN being “missed” during surgery when an axillary node clearance was performed, which would explain the reported higher axillary recurrence rates in the pre sentinel node period compared to the sentinel node period. Another possibility is that the SN is undergoing more detailed histopathological assessment as there are fewer number of lymph nodes to be examined.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-07-33.

P3-07-31: Intra-Operative Assessment of Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Breast Cancer with Touch Imprint Cytology (TIC) in 460 Consecutive Patients

Background

Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) accurately predicts the axillary lymph node status in patients with breast cancer. The sentinel lymph node (SLN) is evaluated by routine histology, requiring 3–5 days for the results and a second operation if the SLN is positive. However a second operation can be avoided if a reliable intraoperative assessment of the SLN was available. The techniques used for intra-operative assessment of the SLN include frozen section, touch imprint cytology (TIC) and more recently molecular biology assays. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of TIC in the assessment of the SLN.

Methods: A prospective study to include 460 patients with breast cancer who underwent SNB and had the sentinel node assessed intra-operatively with TIC. The SLN was bisected and a touch imprint was made on to a slide. The imprint was stained with Giemsa stain. Permanent sections were evaluated with H&E and immunohistochemical staining. The TIC results were compared with the final histology of the SLN.

Results: 766 SLN's were harvested from 460 patients (Mean - 1.66). Of the 460 patients, TIC was falsely negative in 50(24%) patients. No patients had false positive results. Negative predictive value was 87%. The accuracy rate was 89%. 94 patients were positive on histology. TIC was positive in 44 patients and negative in 50. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of TIC was 47%, 100% and 100% respectively. By acting on the results of TIC, 44 patients (47%) had an axillary clearance at the primary operation and were thus spared a second operation.

Conclusion: TIC in our cohort of 460 patients and 766 sentinel lymph nodes had an accuracy rate of 89% and specificity of 100%. Our study compares favourably with published literature, confirming that TIC is a simple, quick, reliable and reproducible technique that can be used for intra operative assessment of the SLN. A sensitivity of 47% means that about half of the SLN positive patients were spared a second operation. We had hoped that with more experience, our sensitivity would improve but since this has not been the case we are now moving towards molecular biology assays (OSNA) to assess the SN intra-operatively.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-07-31.

Can WHO therapy failure criteria for non-severe pneumonia be improved in children aged 2-59 months?

SETTING

In the recent past, there have been reports of rising treatment failure rates for non-severe pneumonia. It is felt that World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for therapy failure are too sensitive and that many children are unnecessarily classified as failures. We studied alternative, less sensitive therapy failure criteria.

METHODS

In this nested study we followed the clinical course of non-severe pneumonia in children aged 2-59 months using alternative therapy failure criteria. All children received amoxicillin and were followed up on days 3, 5 and 14 after enrollment. On day 3, children were labelled as therapy failure only if their condition had deteriorated. These failure rates were compared with those using WHO definitions.

RESULTS

During the study period, 876 children with non-severe pneumonia were followed up until day 14. On day 3, using alternative therapy failure criteria, 31 (3.5%) children were labelled as therapy failure compared to 95 (10.8%) using current WHO criteria. The difference was statistically significant (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The alternative therapy failure criteria work reasonably well, without causing any higher risk to children with non-severe pneumonia. Antibiotics should be changed only in those children who show signs of deterioration on day 3. This would prevent unnecessary changes in antibiotic treatment in many children.

Comparison of clinical outcome with oral and inhaled bronchodilators in the management of wheezy children aged 1-59 months in the community: a randomised trial in Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Wheeze is a significant problem in children. There is a gradual trend of switching from oral to inhaled bronchodilator therapy. No randomised trials have been carried out in the community to compare the clinical outcome of two modes of therapy. If outcome with oral and inhaled bronchodilators is the same in young wheezers in developing countries, it will be easier to manage them.

METHODS

In a randomised multicentre trial, wheezy children aged 1-59 months with fast breathing and/or lower chest indrawing received oral or inhaled salbutamol at home after responding to up to three cycles of inhaled bronchodilators. They were re-assessed on days 3 and 5 for clinical outcome.

RESULTS

From May 2001 to August 2002, 780 children were enrolled; 390 each were randomised to oral and inhaled salbutamol. On day 5, 324 (83.1%) children in the oral and 328 (84.1%) in the inhaled group were completely well. There were no differences in clinical outcome of both modes of therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical outcome of children aged 1-59 months with wheeze is similar when treated with oral or inhaled salbutamol. Acute respiratory infection control programmes in developing countries should continue to use oral bronchodilators for the management of wheeze to save both time and money.

Assessment and management of children aged 1-59 months presenting with wheeze, fast breathing, and/or lower chest indrawing; results of a multicentre descriptive study in Pakistan

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Using current WHO guidelines, children with wheezing are being over prescribed antibiotics and bronchodilators are underutilised. To improve the WHO case management guidelines, more data is needed about the clinical outcome in children with wheezing/pneumonia overlap.

METHODOLOGY

In a multicentre prospective study, children aged 1-59 months with auscultatory/audible wheeze and fast breathing and/or lower chest indrawing were screened. Response to up to three cycles of inhaled salbutamol was recorded. The responders were enrolled and sent home on inhaled bronchodilators, and followed up on days 3 and 5.

RESULTS

A total of 1622 children with wheeze were screened from May 2001 to April 2002, of which 1004 (61.8%) had WHO defined non-severe and 618 (38.2%) severe pneumonia. Wheeze was audible in only 595 (36.7%) of children. Of 1004 non-severe pneumonia children, 621 (61.8%) responded to up to three cycles of bronchodilator. Of 618 severe pneumonia children, only 166 (26.8%) responded. Among responders, 93 (14.9%) in the non-severe and 63 (37.9%) children in the severe pneumonia group showed subsequent deterioration on follow ups. No family history of wheeze, temperature >100 degrees F, and lower chest indrawing were identified as predictors of subsequent deterioration.

CONCLUSIONS

Two third of children with wheeze are not identified by current WHO ARI (acute respiratory infections) guidelines. Antibiotics are over prescribed and bronchodilators under utilised in children with wheeze. Children with wheeze constitute a special ARI group requiring a separate management algorithm. In countries where wheeze is common it would be worthwhile to train health workers in use of the stethoscope to identify wheeze.

CD40 activation-induced, Fas-dependent apoptosis and NF-kappaB/AP-1 signaling in human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells

Fas-mediated mechanisms of apoptosis are thought to be involved in the bile duct loss that characterizes diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). We have previously shown that activation of CD40 on hepatocytes can amplify Fas-mediated apoptosis; in the present study, we investigated interactions between CD40 and Fas in biliary epithelial cells (BEC). We report that the bile ducts in PBC liver tissue frequently express increased levels of Fas, Fas ligand (FasL), and CD40 associated with apoptotic BEC. The portal mononuclear infiltrate contains CD40L+ve T cells and macrophages, thereby demonstrating a potential mechanism for CD40 engagement in vivo. Primary cultures of human BEC also expressed Fas, FasL, and CD40 but not CD40L protein or mRNA. Activation of CD40 on BEC using recombinant CD40L increased transcriptional expression of FasL and induced apoptosis, which was inhibited by neutralizing antibodies to either Fas or FasL. Thus, CD40-induced apoptosis of BEC is mediated through Fas/FasL. We then investigated the intracellular signals and transcription factors activated in BEC and found that NF-kappaB and AP-1 were both activated after CD40 ligation. Increased functional NF-kappaB was seen early after CD40 ligation, but returned to baseline levels after 4 h. In contrast, the rapid up-regulation of AP-1 was sustained over 24 h. This study provides further functional evidence of the ability of CD40 to induce Fas/FasL-dependent apoptosis of liver epithelial cells supporting the importance of cross-talk between tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family members as an amplification step in apoptosis induction. Sustained activation of AP-1 in the absence of NF-kappaB signaling may be a critical factor in determining the outcome of CD40 engagement.

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is the genetically regulated form of cell death that permits the safe disposal of cells at the point in time when they have fulfilled their intended biological function. Examples of apoptosis can be cited throughout the whole of the animal and plant kingdoms. It is a vitally important process during normal development and the adult life of many living organisms. In humans, dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inflammatory, malignant, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, infectious agents, including viruses, exploit cellular apoptosis in the host to evade the immune system. This review gives a brief historical perspective of some of the landmark discoveries in apoptosis research. The morphological and biochemical stages of apoptosis are then covered, followed by an overview of how it can be studied in the laboratory. Finally, the implications for therapeutic intervention in disease treatment are discussed.

Fas/Fas ligand interaction in human colorectal hepatic metastases: A mechanism of hepatocyte destruction to facilitate local tumor invasion

This study demonstrates a novel role for the Fas pathway in the promotion of local tumor growth by inducing apoptotic cell death in normal hepatocytes at the tumor margin in colorectal hepatic metastases. Our results show that >85% of lymphocytes infiltrating colorectal liver cancer express high levels of Fas-ligand (Fas-L) by flow cytometry. Using immunohistochemistry of tumor tissue we showed strong Fas expression in noninvolved hepatocytes, whereas Fas-L expression was restricted to tumor cells and infiltrating lymphocytes at the tumor margin. Apoptosis was observed in 45 +/- 13% of the Fas(high) hepatocytes at the tumor margin whereas only 7 +/- 3% tumor cells were apoptotic (n = 10). In vitro, primary human hepatocytes expressed Fas receptor and crosslinking with anti-Fas antibody induced apoptosis in 44 +/- 5% of the cells compared with 4. 6 +/- 1.0% in untreated controls (P = 0.004). Both tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and human metastatic colon cancer cells cells are able to induce Fas-mediated apoptosis of primary human hepatocytes in coculture cytotoxic assays. TIL induced apoptosis in 47 +/- 9% hepatocytes compared with control 4.3 +/- 1. 0% (P = 0.009) and this effect was reduced by anti-human Fas-L mAb (18.7 +/- 1.3%, P = 0.009). SW620 cells induced apoptosis in 26 +/- 2% hepatocytes compared with control 5.6 +/- 1.7% (P = 0.004) and this was reduced to 11.2 +/- 1.8% (P = 0.004) in the presence of anti-human Fas-L mAb. These data suggest that the inflammatory response at the margin of colorectal liver metastases induces Fas expression in surrounding hepatocytes, allowing them to be killed by Fas-L-bearing TIL or tumor cells and facilitating the invasion of the tumor into surrounding liver tissue.

CD40 activation induces apoptosis in cultured human hepatocytes via induction of cell surface fas ligand expression and amplifies fas-mediated hepatocyte death during allograft rejection

We propose that a novel mechanism of hepatocyte apoptosis, involving a cooperative interaction between CD40 and Fas, is involved in the hepatocyte loss of chronic liver allograft rejection. We detected increased hepatocyte expression of Fas, Fas ligand (FasL), and CD40 associated with dropout of centrilobular (acinar zone 3) hepatocytes in chronic allograft rejection. Expression of CD40 ligand (CD40L) was also increased but was largely restricted to CD68(+) macrophages. A functional role for CD40 and Fas in hepatocyte apoptosis was demonstrated in vitro using primary human hepatocytes and the HepG2 cell line in both of which apoptosis was induced, not only by cross-linking Fas directly but also via CD40 activation. Our data suggest that CD40 activation induces apoptosis via Fas because (a) ligation of CD40 upregulated hepatocyte FasL expression, and (b) apoptosis induced via activation of CD40 was prevented by a neutralizing monoclonal antibody to FasL. Thus, CD40 engagement triggers apoptosis of human hepatocytes and might amplify Fas-dependent hepatocyte apoptosis in chronic rejection and other inflammatory liver diseases in which Fas-mediated apoptosis is involved.

The influence of human endotoxemia on CD95-induced apoptosis

BACKGROUND

The responses of monocyte and neutrophil tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1 (TNFR-1) and TNFR-2 during systemic inflammation have been described previously. Several other members of the TNFR superfamily also appear to have regulatory roles in immunocyte function, including apoptosis. However, the response of these other receptor members, such as CD95, to systemic inflammation is unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the response of CD95 with that of TNFR during systemic inflammation and to assess the influence of the inflammatory milieu on CD95 function.

SETTING

Adult clinical research center of a university hospital.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Five healthy male subjects were administered intravenous endotoxin (2 ng/kg), and systemic response was measured by cytokine analysis and receptor expression assays during a 48-hour period. CD95 function during systemic inflammation was assessed using a Jurkat cell bioassay for degree of apoptosis.

RESULTS

Monocyte and neutrophil CD95 expression exhibited changes parallel to that of TNFR following endotoxin injection. In contrast to soluble TNFR, which was transiently elevated during endotoxemia, soluble CD95 levels remained unchanged from baseline. Jurkat cells incubated in normal and post-endotoxin serum samples equally exhibited less than 10% spontaneous apoptosis. No soluble CD95 ligand was detectable in experimental human endotoxemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Cell-associated CD95 exhibited changes parallel to its receptor family member TNFR following endotoxin administration. Soluble CD95 is present in human serum samples, but the levels remained unchanged following endotoxin administration. No soluble CD95 ligand activity was detectable by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or by functional assay. The potential protective role of soluble CD95 in human serum samples against CD95 ligand-induced apoptosis remains to be defined.

The enteric neural network and three dimensional computer modelling of intestinal peristalsis

A computer model of the enteric nervous system has been developed using MATLAB in order to determine the extent to which the nature of intestinal activity can be explained by our current understanding of the projections and connectivity of enteric neurons. The model is based on repeated, identical overlapping modules, each of which contains the same number of neurones and circular muscle. The connections between modules were derived from microanatomical data. This simple model explains some characteristic features of the generation of an intestinal motor pattern.