Angiolipoma of the buccal mucosa: a possible role of mast cell-derived VEGF in its enhanced vascularity

A case of angiolipoma occurring in the buccal mucosa of a 69-year-old male is described. The patient had noticed a painless mass in his buccal mucosa for 2 years. The surgically removed tumor, measuring 9 mm in diameter, was mainly located in the submucosal layer with focal expansion into the muscle layer. Histologically, the tumor was well-demarcated and composed of proliferations of mature fat cells and fibrous connective tissue containing many small blood vessels, which were evenly distributed. There was diffuse infiltration of a large number of mast cells, which were immunopositive for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) especially around blood vessels, suggesting that VEGF produced by mast cells in angiolipomas plays an important role in the vascular proliferation in this particular tumor.     

A case of drug-induced hematotoxicity: from in vivo to in vitro assessment

As part of the early preclinical development of a new antipsychotic compound, Wistar rats of both sexes were dosed orally for upto 7 days. At high doses, expected changes in appearance and behavior, decreases in bodyweight gain and feed intake but also a fluid and pale bone marrow (BM) were observed. Blood cell counts were normal as were clinical chemical values. BM sections showed a red cell hypoplasia. Circulating reticulocytes and erythroblasts on BM smears were decreased suggesting that the compound might have a selective toxicity for the erythroid lineage. In a mechanistic experiment, rats were dosed for 9 days and phlebotomized after 7 days of exposure to stimulate erythroid regeneration. Red-blood cell mass, reticulocytes and erythropoietin (EPO) levels were monitored before and upto 48 h after bleeding. Results showed that an EPO-mediated pathogenesis could be excluded. The effect of the drug on the formation of Colony-forming units (CFU)-E and CFU-GM was then quantitatively measured in vitro after direct exposure to the compound. In two successive assays, rat or human BM cells were incubated with the drug dissolved in the collection medium at final concentrations of 0.3×10^–7 –3×10^–5 M. In the presence of adequate growth factors, CFU-E and CFU-GM were cultured and cell proliferation was compared between treated and control groups. Our results showed an expected inhibition by the drug of the growth of erythroid progenitors associated to a similar effect on myeloid progenitors. The CFU-E and CFU-GM of both human and rat sources were totally inhibited from the concentration of 3×10^–5 M. The IC₅₀ values were consistent with rat peak plasma levels reached in vivo by the drug. Therefore, the short-term cloning assays performed on rat BM cells were sensitive indicators of the hematotoxicity of the compound and were considered as predictive for human toxicity.     

Morphology of corticotectal cells in the primary visual cortex of hooded rats

In primary visual cortex of hooded rats, pyramidal cells in layer V may be classified as long, medium, or short, on the basis of the layer in which the apical dendrite terminates. The present study determines which of these types of pyramidal cells project to the superior colliculus. Two different strategies were used to label corticotectal cells with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). In the first set of experiments, a large number of corticotectal cells were labeled by retrograde transport following injection of HRP into the superior colliculus. In the second set of experiments, single unit recording was used to identify corticotectal cells physiologically by antidromic activation from the superior colliculus. These cells were then impaled and labeled by intracellular iontophoresis of HRP. The results from both techniques suggest that only long pyramidal cells send an axon to the superior colliculus. These cells are distinguished by an apical dendrite that extends into layer I. We conclude that in hooded rats corticotectal cells in primary visual cortex are the long pyramids in layer V.     

Golgi study on brain of macular mutant mouse as a model of Menkes kinky hair disease

Summary This study was undertaken to elucidate, using the Golgi method, the neuropathological change in the brain of the macular mutant mouse, whose hemizygote (Ml/y) is considered to be a model of Menkes kinky hair disease (MKHD). The hemizygote mice gradually lost weight after 10 days of age and died with emaciation and seizure around day 15. The normal littermate (+/y) was well developed. In the cerebrum, the arborization of pyramidal neurons in the layer V of the Ml/y was the same as that in the +/y on day 10. However, development of arborization in the Ml/y was delayed in comparison with that in the +/y on days 12 and 14. Purkinje cells with several somal sprouts were observed in the cerebellum in both the Ml/y and +/y on day 7. The somal sprouts in the +/y had regressed gradually by day 12, while they were still in the anterior and middle lobes of the Ml/y on day 14. Additionally, the trunks of Ml/y stem dendrites became thicker and a cactus formation was recognized on the branching portion of the dendrites on day 14. Arborization of these abnormal Purkinje cells was distinctly poor compared with that in the +/y. These results suggest that the growth of the neurons is delayed in the Ml/y and simultaneously their cytoskeletal developments are disturbed, especially in the Purkinje cells. There is a close similarity in many respects to the neuropathological change in MKHD.     

Multi-parameter prediction of HLA class Ⅰ restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes for human proliferating cell nuclear antigen

Objective To predict the HLA class Ⅰ restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes for human proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Methods By using 3 epitope prediction databases which including MHC binder ( BIMAS and SYFPEITHI databases) and proteasome cutting site ( PAProC databases), the epitopes of PCNA were predicted by analyzing several parameters and methods. Results After comprehensive analysis,we have obtained two possible HLA-A0201 restricted CTL epitopes SMSAD-VPLV (228-236, score 447 633. 595 ) and LINEACWDI ( 22-28, score 127 966.779);two HLA-A24 re-stricted CTL epitopos DYEMKLMDL ( 113-121, score 563 994.9 ) and EFARICRDL ( 143-151, score 40 540.7);two HLA-A1101 restricted CTL epitopes LTSMSKILK (72-80, score 1334. 2680 ) and DVPLV-VEYK (232-240,score 736.9236). Conclusion The multi-parameter epitope prediction method is feasi-ble for cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope prediction.     

脂肪来源间充质干细胞对大鼠肝移植的免疫调节作用

目的探讨大鼠脂肪来源间充质干细胞(MSC)对大鼠肝移植术后急性排斥反应的作用。方法分离、培养SD大鼠MSC,体外混合淋巴细胞培养(MLC)体系中,研究MSC对Wistar大鼠T细胞增殖的抑制作用。以SD与Wistar大鼠为供受体建立肝移植模型。随机分为MSC处理组与空白对照组,术后第7天检测肝功能、血清白细胞介素(IL)-2和白细胞介素(IL)-10水平、肝组织病理形态及肝细胞凋亡。结果体外MLC中,Wistar大鼠T细胞增殖明显受抑,抑制率为48.44%。实验组血清丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、天冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)、总胆红素(TBIL)、IL-2、IL-10分别为(134.2±45.0)、(162.5±30.5)U/L、(30.6±5.4)μmol/L、(187.35±18.26)、(193.95±37.62)μg/L;对照组上述指标分别为(355.6±54.3)、(296.4±71.2)U/L、(145.7±28.6)μmoL/L、(295.73±57.15)、(75.12±11.23)μg/L,两组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);病检提示实验组排斥反应较对照组明显减轻;脱氧脲核苷酸缺口末端标记(TUNEL)检测提示实验组肝细胞凋亡程度明显低于对照组(P<0.05)。结论供体来源MSC能明显抑制MLC体系中受体源T细胞的增殖,并能显著减轻大鼠肝移植术后急性排斥反应。     

阴道粘膜上皮细胞的分离培养和鉴定

目的 初步建立阴道粘膜上皮细胞体外培养方法,为阴道粘膜上皮研究提供实验模型.方法 取雌性新西兰大白兔阴道粘膜组织小块,胶原酶Ⅳ和胰蛋白酶联合消化分离法收集上皮细胞,接种于角朊细胞无血清培养液中静置培养、传代.动态观察细胞生长增殖情况,扫描和透射电镜观察超微结构,流式细胞仪测定细胞增殖周期,并进行免疫组织化学鉴定.结果 体外培养的阴道粘膜上皮细胞为二倍体细胞,增殖状态良好,细胞间可见桥粒连接,免疫组化角蛋白染色阳性.细胞的超微结构和免疫组化染色均具有上皮细胞特征.结论 在本实验条件下,体外培养的阴道粘膜上皮细胞具有较好的增殖能力,可作为阴道粘膜上皮研究的理想实验模型.     

复合干细胞生物陶瓷在裸鼠异位成骨中的评价

目的 研究h-BMP-2基因转染骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSCs)在复合煅烧骨、β-TCP或直接植入裸鼠股部后的成骨能力。方法 通过影像学、组织学和形态计量学等方法,观察未经诱导、OS液诱导和h-BMP-2基因转染BMSCs在复合煅烧骨,或多孔β-TCP后植入裸鼠皮下,或直接制成细胞悬液注入,在4、8、12周诱导成骨和材料降解情况。结果 在裸鼠皮下,单纯生物陶瓷不能诱导成骨,而复合了未诱导、OS液诱导和h-BMP-2基因转染BMSCs的生物陶瓷均能成骨,成骨量为h-BMP-2基因转染组>OS液诱导组>未经诱导组(P<0.05),B-TCP可随骨长入而降解;注入裸鼠肌肉的OS液诱导的和h-BMP-2转染的BMSCs均能诱导成骨,而未经诱导MSCs则不能成骨。结论 复合人BMP基因转染BMSCs的β-TCP是一种理想的骨修复材料。