Detection of interleukin-6 and interleukin-1 production in human thyroid epithelial cells by non-radioactive in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical methods.

Human endocrine thyroid epithelial cells have been described to produce cytokines in vitro. In order to determine whether they do so in vivo during thyroiditis, parallel studies on mRNA expression with a non-radioactive in situ hybridization technique and immunohistochemical detection for the protein were performed on frozen sections of thyroid samples from autoimmune thyroiditis (Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis), non-toxic goitre and normal thyroid tissue. cDNA probes were sulphonated and their hybridization with mRNA was detected with a sulphonyl-specific monoclonal antibody. This signal was amplified and visualized with the alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) system. The protein products were detected with immuno-purified rabbit F(ab')2 antibody fragments recognizing recombinant human cytokines, visualized by the immunoperoxidase technique. Each sample was studied at the two levels. Both interleukin-6 mRNA and protein were found in the endocrine cells. There was no obvious difference between autoimmune thyroiditis and non-toxic goitre. However, normal thyroid epithelial cells produced less interleukin-6. Interleukin-1 alpha mRNA and its protein were found in epithelial cells from Hashimoto's thyroiditis samples, but not in the others, except one Graves' disease sample, in which only mRNA was detected. Interleukin-1 beta was not detected in these cells, its mRNA was only found in one of the Graves' disease samples. These cytokines were also detected in some infiltrating cells.     

In situ hybridization analysis of isodicentric X-chromosomes with short arm fusion

We present here an alternative approach to the study of mosaic cell lines containing dicentric chromosomes. The approach is based on chromosome-specific non-radioactive in situ hybridization with centromere (alpha satellite DNA) probes. The hybridization analysis may be used as an alternative to the C-band analysis, while at the same time to some extent replacing the Q-band analysis as well. The advantage of using in situ hybridization is mainly that it allows the very fast screening of a large number of metaphases. We illustrate this new application of the technique by using it for the analysis of two cases of isodicentric X-chromosomes. The approach is expected to be generally applicable, so that it may be applied to the scoring of other types of chromosomal mosaicism as well.     

Distribution of basement membrane laminin and type IV collagen in human reactive lymph nodes

The location of two basement membrane components, laminin and the 7-S domain of type IV collagen, was studied in human lymph nodes using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. Basement membrane antigens were present on the walls of blood vessels and of marginal, trabecular and medullary sinuses. Thin, fragmented fibre-like staining was present also in parenchyma outside the germinal centres, in a pattern overlapping with reticular fibres as seen on conventional reticulin stains. This finding suggests that basement membrane components are a part of the reticular fibres of lymph nodes, or are closely associated with them.     

Immunoreactivity for laminin and type IV collagen in malignant and benign fibrous histiocytoma

Sixteen malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFH) and ten benign fibrous histiocytomas of the skin were studied immunohistochemically for the distribution of two basement membrane (BM) proteins, laminin and type IV collagen, in order to evaluate their cellular nature. Linear staining for both proteins was present in the vascular BMs. Intracytoplasmic laminin was observed in the neoplastic fibroblast-like and pleomorphic giant cells in 11 MFHs. Two MFHs also showed similar staining for type IV collagen. In the giant cell subtype of MFH, the reactive giant cells were totally negative whereas the neoplastic cells were strongly positive for laminin. Extracellular fibres staining positively for both BM proteins were seen in two MFHs. Except for the capillary network, the benign fibrous histiocytomas were negative for laminin and type IV collagen. On the basis of the present results, we favour the concept that MFHs are primitive mesenchymal tumours, some of which may show histogenetic relationships with tumours of BM forming mesenchymal cells.     

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and type III collagen abnormalities: a variable clinical

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) comprises ten types. EDS IV is the most severe type because of its often lethal complications, such as arterial rupture. EDS IV is caused by an abnormality of collagen type III as a result of mutations in the corresponding gene COL3A1. A collagen type III abnormality is also seen in patients with EDS without the classical severe EDS IV phenotype. We report on 11 patients with type III collagen abnormality and normal collagen V in whom clinically EDS II, III, and IV were diagnosed. There is no correlation between the type of collagen III anomaly and the clinical phenotype. It is concluded that type III collagen abnormality may lead to a phenotypic spectrum and that it does not predict the severity and course of the disease.     

Immunohistological localization of the novel epitope related to type IV collagen in normal and diseased renal tissues

Type IV collagen is a major component of the renal glomerular extracellular matrix. A recently characterized monoclonal antibody, JK 132, which was originally produced by immunization with human placental type IV collagen, recognizes a new epitope which is different from α1–α6 chains of type IV collagen. Using immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy, the distribution of the epitope of JK132 has been compared with the distribution of α1, α2, α3 and α4 chains of type IV collagen in normal human kidney and in the renal tissues of patients with various types of glomerulonephritis. In normal human kidney, JK132 reacted with mesangial matrix, Bowman's capsular basement membrane (BCBM), tubular basement membrane, and vessel walls, but did not react with glomerular basement membrane (GBM). This distribution is different from the distribution of α1–α4(IV) chains. In IgA nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, the staining intensity for JK132 was increased in expanded mesangial matrix. In glomeruli with severe mesangial proliferation, the epitope of JK132 extended to the endothelial side of the GBM. In membranous nephropathy, staining for JK132 was virtually unchanged from normal. This study suggests that the epitope of JK132 increases in amount during the process of mesangial proliferation and could serve as a marker for mesangial matrix expansion in glomerulonephritis.     

Increased serum levels of type IV collagen and laminin in a patient with a giant retroperitoneal schwannoma

A 63 year old woman presented with a giant abdominal tumor. Ultrasonography, computerized tomography and drop infused pyelography revealed a suspected retroperitoneal tumor. The tumor was removed surgically and weighed 2800g. The pathological diagnosis of the tumor was schwannoma. Strong immunohistochemical staining specific for type IV collagen and laminin was observed in the tumor, and these components were localized in the pericellular region of Schwann cells. The serum levels of these antigens, as determined by radio-immunoassay, were very high before the operation but decreased rapidly thereafter.     

Basement membrane deposition in benign and malignant naevo-melanocytic lesions: an immunohistochemical study with antibodies to type IV collagen and laminin

Patterns of basement membrane deposition were investigated in benign and malignant naevo-melanocytic lesions using antibodies to type IV collagen and laminin. Paraffin sections required pretreatment with 6 M guanidine-HCl in addition to pepsin pretreatment. Basement membrane deposition was found around clusters as well as individual naevo-melanocytic cells in contact with dermal stroma. However, between keratinocytes and intra-epidermally located naevo-melanocytic cells, basement membrane immunostaining could not be detected. Tumour cell-stromal interaction is apparently a prerequisite for basement membrane deposition in naevo-melanocytic lesions. Basement membrane discontinuities, in the absence of inflammatory infiltrate, appeared, in doubtful cases, to be evidence in favour of malignant melanoma. The general pattern of basement membrane deposition in benign and malignant lesions was found to be similar and therefore of no help in differential diagnosis. Identification of hyaline bodies, which show immunoreactivity with antibodies to basement membrane components, may be helpful in distinguishing between Spitz naevi and malignant melanomas. Detection of vascular invasion, a prognostic indicator in malignant melanoma, is facilitated by basement membrane immunostaining.     

黄芪甲苷对糖尿病肾病大鼠肾脏的保护作用及其机制

 目的:观察黄芪甲苷 (AS-IV)对糖尿病肾病(DN)肾脏的保护作用及其机制。方法:38只清洁级雄性SD 大鼠分成正常组（10只）、模型组（14只）和AS-IV 干预组（14只）,用链脲佐菌素造模,成功后1 周开始治疗,期间每 4周动态观测血糖及尿微量白蛋白,治疗12周后处死大鼠取材及采血,取肾皮质行 HE 和Masson染色观察,并检测β 1整合素、整合素连接激酶(ILK)和α-actinin-4的蛋白表达水平。结果:干预8周末AS-IV 组血糖水平较模型组明显降低（P<0.01）。干预12周末AS-IV 组与模型组相比,尿微量白蛋白明显下降（P<001）,并使因造模引起的β 1整合素、ILK 和α-actinin-4 表达水平的变化产生逆变（P<0.05）。与正常组比较,模型组的β 1整合素、ILK 和α-actinin-4 表达水平均有明显差异（P<0.05）。结论:AS-IV 对DN 肾脏有明显保护作用,能降低血糖和尿白蛋白排泄量,改善足细胞黏附功能,从而延缓DN 的进展。     

Detection and localization of human papillomavirus DNA in human genital condylomas by in situ hybridization with biotinylated probes

We have examined the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in paraffin sections of humans warts by in situ hybridization with biotin-labeled DNA probes. Recombinant plasmid DNAs (HPV-1, -6, -11, -16) were labeled by nick translation with biotinylated deoxyuridine triphosphate. Paraffin sections were hybridized with the probes for 18 h in stringent or non-stringent conditions, and DNA-DNA hybrids were detected by immunocytochemistry. Paraffin sections of warts were also examined for the presence of HPV capsid antigen with the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method for immunocytochemistry. HPV DNA was detected and localized in paraffin sections from a plantar wart, a laryngeal papilloma, and seven anogenital condylomas. The specific HPV type present in each lesion was determined by hybridization under stringent conditions with the homologous DNA probe. The papillomas were found to contain many more cells with replicating virus DNA, as demonstrated by in situ hybridization, than was apparent from the number of cells containing detectable virus antigen. In situ hybridization with biotin-labeled probes is an effective technique for the identification of HPV infection in routinely collected and processed tissue specimens.     

Immunohistochemical localization of laminin and type IV collagen in human cutaneous sensory nerve formations

We used immunohistochemical techniques and monoclonal antibodies to localize two basement membrane components (laminin and type IV collagen) in the nerves and sensory nerve formations, or corpuscles, supplying human digital skin. Furthermore, neurofilament proteins, S-100 protein and epithelial membrane antigen were studied in parallel. In dermal nerve trunks, immunostaining for laminin and type IV collagen was found to be co-localized in the perineurium and the Schwann cells, the stronger immunoreactivity being at the external surface of the cells. In the Meissner digital corpuscles, the immunoreactivity for laminin and type IV collagen was mainly observed underlying the cell surface of lamellar cells, while the cytoplasm was weakly immunolabelled or unlabelled. Finally, within Pacinian corpuscles co-localization of the two basement membrane molecules was encountered in the inner core, intermediate layer, outer core and capsule. Laminin and type IV collagen immunoreactivities were also found in blood vessels and sweat glands, apparently labelling basement membrane structures. The present results provide evidence for the presence of basement membrane in all periaxonic cells forming human cutaneous sensory nerve formations, and suggest that all of them are able to synthesize and release some basement membrane components, such as laminin and type IV collagen. The possible role of laminin in sensory nerve formations is discussed.     

Immunohistochemical localization of interstitial collagens in bone tissue from patients with various forms of osteogenesis imperfecta

Immunohistochemical studies of bone from individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type II, OI type III, or OI type IV demonstrate a similar pattern, but varying extent, of the abnormal presence of interstitial collagens in bone matrix. OI type II bone had nests of cartilage with type II collagen, and significant type III collagen in the bone matrix. In OI types III and IV, type II collagen was present only in epiphyseal cartilage but bone still contained type III collagen. These findings resembled those in developing fetal bone indicating the “immature” nature of OI bone.     

Studies of early invasive and intraepithelial squamous cell carcinomas using an antibody to type IV collagen

Using a monoclonal antibody that is specific for type IV collagen we have examined examples of actinically damaged skin, intraepithelial carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas of varying degrees of differentiation for abnormalities in the basement membrane. In examples of intraepithelial carcinoma and the occasional early invasive carcinoma a residual type IV collagen framework is suggestive of tumour regression. Production of type IV collagen by some tumours supports the view that squamous cell carcinomas do not apparently require to destroy this basement membrane component in order to invade or to metastasize.     

A comparison of antibodies to type VII and type IV collagen laminin and amnion as epidermal basement membrane markers

We have compared four monoclonal antibodies which label basement membrane components using an indirect immunoperoxidase method in frozen sections of skin biopsies. The antibodies LH 7.2 and GB3 showed expression limited to epidermal and adnexal basement membrane. Antibodies to laminin and type IV collagen also decorated dermal blood vessels and stromal components. The antibodies LH 7.2 and GB3 are more suitable for labelling epidermal basement membrane in the study of cutaneous lesions.     

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV D: an autosomal recessive disorder

Two siblings born to consanguineous parents are reported with typical clinical features of the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV. However, their cultured skin fibroblasts synthesize and secrete procollagen type III in normal amounts and proportions. This is probably a new form of the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome with autosomal recessive inheritance classified as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV D.     

Ultrastructural localization of type IV collagen and laminin in the seven-day-old mouse embryo

Summary The localization of the basement membrane components type IV collagen and laminin was investigated in seven-day-old mouse embryos (NMRI) fixed with formaldehyde, using an immunoperoxidase technique. Posttreatment of the embryos with TBS (trishydroxymethylaminomethane buffered saline) buffer was prerequisite for restoration of the antigenicity after fixation. The localization of the peroxidase (PO) positive reaction after treatment with anti-type IV collagen and anti-laminin antibodies in the embryos has been compared with results obtained after fixating embryos with the addition of tannic acid. Tannic acid stained the basement membrane of the ectodermal cell layer, in particular the lamina densa. After immunostaining for type IV collagen and laminin, a strong PO-positive reaction in the lamina densa of the ectodermal basement membrane was observed.A basement membrane of the endodermal cell layer had not yet been formed at this developmental stage. In this region, which is where a basement membrane was to develop in later stages, a tannic acid positive material consisting of granules with a diameter of about 25 nm was found near the surface of the endoderm. Moreover, PO-positive patches were seen in this part of the embryo after staining for laminin as well as after staining for type IV collagen. These PO-positive patches were mainly localized in areas where mesodermal cells lay adjacent to the surface of the endodermal cell layer. No positive staining for type IV collagen and laminin was found in the cytoplasm of either cetodermal or endodermal cells.     

Glomerular expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin reflects disease activity of IgA nephropathy

To elucidate the relationship between histological disease states and clinicopathological features in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), 90 needle-biopsy specimens diagnosed as IgAN were analyzed. The specimens were divided into four groups according to histological grade and stage index. Immunohistochemical features of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), macrophages positive for myeloid/histiocyte antigen (MAC387), and expression of type I, III and IV collagens were all examined. Glomerular expression scores of alpha-SMA and the degree of intraglomerular macrophage infiltration were highest in the active and non-sclerotic groups. Type I and IV collagens were significantly more abundant in the sclerotic groups than in the active groups. Type III collagen was strongly expressed in both the active and sclerotic groups. Double immunolabeling of alpha-SMA and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 revealed that ICAM-1 was expressed around the alpha-SMA-positive mesangial area. In multivariate analysis, the glomerular expression score of alpha-SMA was mostly correlated with histological grading in the 10 clinicopathological parameters. Type IV collagen score was mostly correlated with histological staging. These results suggest that glomerular alpha-SMA expression reflects the histological activity of IgAN. Immunohistological staining of alpha-SMA is valuable to estimate the degree of disease activity in IgAN.     

Differential distribution of basement membrane type IV collagen alpha1(IV), alpha2(IV), alpha5(IV) and alpha6(IV) chains in colorectal epithelial tumors

In this study, we examined the relationship between the histopathological grade and immunohistochemical localization of six genetically distinct type IV collagen alpha chains, the major component of basement membrane (BM), in normal and neoplastic colorectal tissues. In the normal colorectal mucosa, alpha1/alpha2(IV) and alpha5/alpha6(IV) chains were stained in all epithelial BM. However, alpha3/alpha4(IV) chains were restrictively immunostained in the BM of the apical surface epithelium. Similar immunostaining profiles for alpha1/alpha2(IV) and alpha5/alpha6(IV) chains were observed in tubular adenomas with mild/moderate atypia. However, in intramucosal carcinomas, both alpha1/alpha2(IV) chains were linearly stained in the BM of cancer cell nests, while the assembly of alpha5/alpha6(IV) chains into the BM was inhibited in a discontinuous or negatively stained pattern. The normal colorectal mucosa forms a second network of BM composed of alpha5/alpha6(IV), partly alpha3/alpha4(IV) chains, in addition to the classic network of alpha1/alpha2(IV) chains. The differential immunohistochemical localization of the type IV collagen alpha5/alpha6 chains could be one diagnostic marker for the invasiveness of colorectal cancer.     

Detection and localization of an extra HLA locus in a karyotypically normal male by chromosomal in situ hybridization

The codominant expression of three HLA haplotypes was found in a healthy 21-year-old Black male, whose prometaphase karyotype was normal by light microscopy. He was the sibling of an antenatally diagnosed female fetus with a partial duplication of 6p. The duplication arose from a complex presumably balanced maternal chromosome rearrangement: 46,XX,dir ins(14;6)(14pter----14p11::6p22----6p21.1::14 p11----14qter; 6pter----6p22::6p21.1----6qter). Chromosomal in situ hybridization using a tritium-labeled genomic clone corresponding to a class I HLA gene revealed two sites of hybridization: at 6p21.3, the band to which this probe has been assigned in normal individuals (Morton et al. 1984a) and a second site at 6p11. We postulate that a recombinational event during meiotic pairing in the mother led to the reintroduction into the normal chromosome 6 homolog of a small segment of the original insertion in chromosome 14 which contained the HLA-A and -B determinants.     

Quantitative assessment of basement membranes in soft tissue tumours. Computerized image analysis of laminin and type IV collagen

Basement membranes (BMs) in 201 soft tissue tumours were quantified using computerized image analysis of tissues immunostained for laminin and type IV collagen. The purpose of the study was to compare and quantify the extent of BM deposition in a large and varied group of benign and malignant tumours. Laminin and type IV collagen gave similar results. The difference between benign and malignant was statistically highly significant (P=0·0001), with greater deposition in benign tumours. BM deposition was homogeneous in benign tumours and heterogeneous in sarcomas and appeared to correlate with the degree of differentiation. Some poorly differentiated sarcomas showed cytoplasmic laminin staining but little or no extracellular BM. Immunohistochemical evaluation of BM has some advantages over electron microscopy; specialized equipment is not needed and since large samples can be studied with little sampling error, heterogeneity can be studied more readily. Subjective visual assessment gives a good overall indication of the extent of BM deposition and in many situations is likely to be a suitable alternative to image analysis. Because of staining heterogeneity, BM immunohistochemistry is unlikely to be of significant value in the diagnosis of specific types of sarcoma. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.