Regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced calcium mobilization by cAMP-elevating agents in cultured canine tracheal smooth muscle cells

The effects of increases in cellular adenosine 3′5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) on 5-hydroxytryptamine-(5-HT-) induced generation of inositol phosphates (IPs) and increases in intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) were investigated using canine cultured tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMCs). Cholera toxin and forskolin induced concentration- and time-dependent cAMP formation with half-maximal effects (−logEC₅₀) produced at concentrations of 7.0 ± 0.5 and 4.9 ± 0.4  respectively. Pretreatment of TSMCs with either forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP inhibited 5-HT-stimulated responses. Even after treatment for 24h, these agents still inhibited the 5-HT-induced Ca²⁺ mobilization. The inhibitory effects of these agents produced both depression of the maximal response and a shift to the right of the concentration response curves of 5-HT. The water-soluble forskolin analogue L-858051 [7-deacetyl-7β-(γ-N-methylpiperazino)-butyryl forskolin] significantly inhibited the 5-HT-stimulated accumulation of IPs. In contrast, the addition of 1,9-dideoxy forskolin, an inactive forskolin analogue, had little effect on this response. Moreover, SQ-22536 [9-(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)-9-H-purin-6-amine], an inhibitor of adenylate cyclase, and both H-89 [N-(2-aminoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide] and HA-1004[N-(2-guanidinoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide], inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), attenuated the ability of forskolin to inhibit the 5-HT-stimulated accumulation of IPs. These results suggest that activation of cAMP/PKA was involved in these inhibitory effects of forskolin. The AlF₄ ⁻-induced accumulation of IPs was inhibited by forskolin, suggesting that G protein(s) are directly activated by AlF₄ ⁻- and uncoupled from phospholipase C by forskolin treatment. These results suggest that activation of cAMP/PKA might inhibit the 5-HT-stimulated phosphoinositide breakdown and consequently reduce the [Ca²⁺]_i increase or inhibit both responses independently. Received: 14 March 1996/Accepted: 10 April 1996     

Malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney--a case report.

Malignant rhabdoid tumor is a distinct renal tumor in children. It had been regarded as a rhabdomyosarcomatoid variant of Wilms' tumor, but it is now thought as a separate entity. We report a case of malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney in a 26-month-old girl who presented with a left abdominal mass. Grossly, a large mass in the lower pole of the left kidney was well encapsulated and measured 4 x 4 x 3.5cm. On cross section, it was soft and yellowish white and showed multifocal necroses. The mass was mainly located in the medial medullary portion and compressed the renal pelvis laterally. Microscopically, the tumor masses were hypercellular and anaplastic without definite blastematous elements. In larger portion, the tumor cells had abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and hyaline globules. In addition to the classic "rhabdoid" feature, alveolar, sclerosing, and lymphomatous patterns were seen. Ultrastructurally, tumor cells with abundant cytoplasm contained tangles of intermediate filament corresponding to vimentin in immunostaining.     

Loss-of-function mutations in caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 14 (CARD14) are associated with a severe variant of atopic dermatitis

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大剂量胸腺肽对肿瘤放疗病人T细胞亚群的影响

观察４６例肿瘤病人，分析疗加胸腺和药组和单纯放疗组（对照组）。用药组每日静点胸腺肽１６０ｍｇ，连续１０ｄ后用流式细胞仪检测外周血Ｔ细胞亚群的变化。结果表明，用药组放疗后ＣＤ４／ＣＤ８比值、ＣＤ４、ＣＤ２５（ＩＬ－２Ｒ）和ＣＤ５６（ＮＫ）阳性百分率均明显高于本组放疗前及单纯放疗组放疗后水平。提示，大剂量胸腺肽可在短期内提高肿瘤放疗病人机体的免疫功能。     

人胚胎海马发育的形态学研究 Ⅴ.室管膜的发生

运用HE和Nissl染色、免疫组织化学法、透射电镜及扫描电镜，对60例6周至足月的人胚胎海马室管膜上皮变化进行了观察。发现胚胎发育过程中室管膜发生了剧烈变化。最早室管层神经上皮细胞为假复层柱状，随着未分化细胞向外迁徙，海马室管膜层神经上皮细胞迅速增殖，形成复层上皮。当室管膜层细胞停止迁徙时，室管膜开始向假复层柱状及单层柱状上皮转变。电镜观察，胚胎早期神经上皮细胞由未分化细胞构成；其特点是，细胞质内各种特化细胞器匮乏，但糖原丰富。15周左右未分化细胞开始向长突细胞及室管膜细胞分化。长突细胞电子密度高，底部有细长突起，表面有微绒毛，胞质内微丝丰富；而室管膜细胞电子密度低，底部无突起，但表面有丰富的纤毛。对长突细胞及免疫组化染色的GFAP阳性细胞进行形态和发育特征的比较，提示两者属同一类细胞。扫描电镜下，15周前室管膜表面微绒毛较多，以后纤毛逐步发育，大量密集纤毛布满于室管膜表面。此外，还能见到一类接触脑脊液神经元，这类神经元可为多极或双极，并有突起伸入室管膜上皮内。     

托吡酯对癫痫持续状态大鼠海马神经元损伤的保护作用

为探讨托吡酯(topiramate,TPM)对癫痫持续状态(status epilepticus,SE)大鼠海马神经元损伤的保护作用,将大鼠随机分为正常对照组、海人酸(kanic acid,KA)组和TPM预处理组,观察海马神经元超微结构和bcl-2表达的变化。先将TPM组大鼠用TPM预处理,然后采用KA(10mg/kg)腹膜腔注射制作SE模型,在痫性发作终止后6、24和48h取海马进行研究。结果显示:KA组神经元呈凋亡特征;TPM组神经元结构大致正常,但出现核仁边聚和细胞器增多现象,亦观察到少量凋亡神经元。KA组于SE后6h观察到bcl-2表达增高,与对照组相比差异显著,(P<0.05);24h时开始减弱,48h仅有微弱表达;TPM组在24h时bcl-2呈强表达(P<0.001),并持续至48h。以上结果提示:托吡酯预处理能减轻癫痫大鼠神经元的损伤,其机制可能与上调bcl-2的表达有关。     

hTERT gene amplification and increased mRNA expression in central nervous system embryonal tumors

High-level gains at 5p15, a chromosomal region including the human telomerase catalytic protein subunit (hTERT) gene, have been documented in several medulloblastomas. We therefore analyzed hTERT gene dosage in a group of medulloblastomas and other embryonal brain tumors using differential PCR. Amplification of the hTERT locus was detected in 15 of 36 (42%) tumors examined. To correlate gene amplification with message level, we used real-time quantitative PCR to measure hTERT mRNA in 50 embryonal brain tumors. hTERT mRNA was detected in all but one of these cases, and mRNA level correlated significantly with gene dosage (r = 0.82). Log-rank analysis of survival data revealed a trend toward poor clinical outcomes in patients with medulloblastomas containing high hTERT mRNA levels, but clinical follow-up was relatively short and the association was not statistically significant (P = 0.078). Comparative genomic hybridization was used to further analyze the tumor with the greatest hTERT gene dosage and mRNA level, a recurrent medulloepithelioma. hTERT was amplified in the recurrent tumor but not in the primary lesion, suggesting this locus can be involved in tumor progression. Our data indicate that hTERT gene amplification is relatively common in embryonal brain tumors, and that increased expression of hTERT mRNA may be associated with biologically aggressive tumor behavior.     

Packing and Uniaxial Alignment of Liquid Crystalline Oligofluorenes

Summary: Liquid crystalline oligomers of 9,9‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl)fluorene of defined degree of polymerization 4, 5, 6, and 7 were investigated by X‐ray diffraction in the non‐oriented and in the aligned state. The diffraction data give evidence for a smectic B type phase for all of the oligomers. Quenching below the glass transition does not change the structure of the liquid crystalline phase. This allows to align spin‐coated films of these oligomers on rubbed polyimide substrates to give monodomain films. These are stable against thermal disordering below T_g, e.g. at room temperature. The degree of alignment is characterized by the dichroic spectra and polarized fluorescence spectra. Dichroic ratios and polarization ratios increase substantially with the chain length and values as high as D = 23 and P = 41 are obtained for the heptamer. The type of packing of the oligomers in the LC phase is discussed based on the X‐ray single crystal structure of models. In one such model the packing of the 2‐ethylhexyl side chains could be fully resolved, while the other model reveals the torsional angle between adjacent fluorene units in the same molecule as 144.2° which corroborates earlier work based on fiber diffraction of corresponding polyfluorenes.

     

Size fractions of ambient particulate matter induce granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor in human bronchial epithelial cells by mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways

Environmental pollutants, including ambient particulate matter (PM), increase respiratory morbidity. Studies of model PM particles, including residual oil fly ash and freshly generated diesel exhaust particles, have demonstrated that PM affects inflammatory airway responses. Neither of these particles completely represents ambient PM, and therefore questions remain about ambient particulates. We hypothesized that ambient PM of different size fractions collected from an urban environment (New York City air), would activate primary culture human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs). Because of the importance of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on inflammatory and immunomodulatory processes, we focused our studies on this cytokine. We demonstrated that the smallest size fraction (ultrafine/fine; < 0.18 micro m) of ambient PM (11 micro g/cm(2)), upregulated GM-CSF production (2-fold increase). The absence of effect of carbon particles of similar size, and the day-to-day variation in response, suggested that the chemical composition, but not the particle itself, was necessary for GM-CSF induction. Activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase was associated with, and necessary for, GM-CSF release. These studies serve to corroborate and extend those on model particles. Moreover, they emphasize the role of the smallest size ambient particles in airway epithelial cell responses.