Novel pluripotential neural progenitor lines exhibiting rapid controlled differentiation to neurotransmitter receptor‐expressing neurons and glia

The immortalization of progenitor cells from embryonic murine hippocampus using oncogene‐carrying retroviral vectors is described. Use of a vector encoding the oncogene v‐myc results in lines of nestin‐positive progenitor cells. Limited differentiation ensues if the cells are cultured in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate. In contrast, use of a vector in which the extracellular portion of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is fused to the neu tyrosine kinase generates lines of pluripotential nestin‐positive progenitor cells, which differentiate upon withdrawal of EGF into neurons and glia. Differentiated neurons expressing action potentials and neurotransmitter receptors make up a high proportion of the cells. These cell lines are useful tools to investigate the characteristics of differentiating neurons and glia, as well as to screen neuroactive drugs. This work has been reported in preliminary form as an abstract (1996 Society for Neuroscience Abstract, #606.20, p. 1537).     

Comparative study on healing process between vascularized and non-vascularized autogenous bone grafts]

This study made a histological comparison (light microscope and transmission electron microscope) between vascularized bone graft (VBG) and non-vascularized bone graft (NVBG) in mandible of dog.The study showed:the healing process of VBG was the same as that of bone fracture.The "creeping substitution" process of NVBG was imbued with the inflammation induced by dead bone.There was no significat difference on the bone union between VBG and NVBG perhaps for the recipient region was better vascularized.     

"Schnyder's rule" of heritability of skin tumors and its extension to cases of segmental presentation

"Schnyder's rule" states that multiple tumours of the skin are dominantly inherited, whereas solitary tumours of the same histological type are noninherited. This rule may be extended to cover segmental cases representing somatic mutations.     

二氧化硅活化巨噬细胞中早期生长反应因子-1及其信号转导通路的研究

目的 探讨早期生长反应因子(Egr-1)及其信号转导在矽肺发生发展中的作用。方法用细胞免疫荧光、原位杂交方法检测二氧化硅(SiO2)刺激后Egr-1的表达定位,用报道质粒及EMSA检测其活性改变;用激酶活性分析法检测si0：刺激巨噬细胞后ERK1／2活性改变,进一步用激酶抑制剂初步探讨SiO2活化Egr-1的信号转导通路。结果SiO2刺激RAW264．7细胞短时间Egr-1核蛋白表达及转录因子明显增加;且在处理后30～60min,Egr-1核蛋白结合活性明显升高(为未处理组的20倍);在刺激后15min ERK1／2活性开始升高,30min达高峰(活性为对照组的29倍)而后渐降至基础水平;进一步用激酶阻断发现,Egr-1 mRNA及蛋白表达均减少。结论SiO2能激活巨噬细胞中Egr-1,且此过程可能由ERK1／2、p38介导,提示SiO2-ERK1／2、p38-Egr-1通路可能在矽肺发生发展过程中起重要作用。     

Comparative analysis of NK/T-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma in Korea: Clinicopathological correlations and analysis of EBV strain type and 30-bp deletion variant LMP1

Natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) and peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) are prevalent in the Asian population and exhibit a high association with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Moreover, differentiation of these two groups is often difficult and problematic. We investigated 35 cases of NKTL (22 nasal cases and 13 extranasal cases) and 30 cases of PTCL in terms of their clinical features, immunohistology, EBV positivity, EBV strain-type polymorphism and latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) deletion variant distribution. Eighteen cases (82%) of nasal NKTL and seven (54%) of extranasal NKTL showed EBV positivity by EBV in situ hybridization. Fifteen cases (50%) of PTCL revealed EBV positivity. EBV strain type A was predominant in NKTL (18:5), and EBV strain types A and B were distributed evenly in PTCL (6:6). EBV-positive patients had significantly shorter survival than EBV-negative patients (P < 0.05), and EBV positivity correlated with advanced clinical stage (P < 0.05). Patients harboring type A EBV showed slightly poorer prognoses than those having type B, though it was not obviously statistically different (P = 0.07). The LMP1 deletion variant was prevalent in both NKTL (three wild-type LMP1, 15 deletion variants) and PTCL (three wild-type LMP1, eight deletion variants, two coexistent forms) patients, but did not have prognostic impact. Our results indicate that EBV acts as a negative prognostic factor in NKTL and PTCL, and that the intrinsic properties of a specific viral strain might influence the clinical behavior of these diseases.     

Unusual cardiac papillary fibroelastoma in the right ventricular outflow tract.

Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma (CPF) is the second most common benign neoplasm of the heart. This study describes the case of an 81-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital for severe vertigo and in whom a tumor at the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) was identified incidentally during echocardiography. The CPF was excised smoothly following the confirmation of its position by computed tomography. The comprehensive pathologic findings of CPF were reviewed. Detailed immunohistochemical analyses of CD34 and factor VIII-related antigen were performed on the covering endocardial cells. The unique chondroid metaplasia of fibrous tissue in this CPF has never been reported. This work is the first to present an unusual CPF at the RVOT with reactive process of fibrous connective tissue.     

猫运动皮层内篮状细胞的立体重构,递质性质及突触分布

用细胞内HRP染色的方法显示该神经元位于猫运动皮层十字沟后,在第Ⅱ/Ⅲ层之间(软膜以下438μm处),胞体截面积为15.6×28.1μm~2,呈多极形,树突呈串珠状,向四周扩展,无侧棘,轴突由胞体下方伸出,返折向上,包绕胞体周围,以软膜平行的吻尾方向行走为主,有一分枝向白质方向延伸.从立体重构图的不同角度观察,其形态不对称,如沿X轴方向旋转60°后,其形态呈扁平形,用胶体金免疫电镜观察,该神经元的递质性质为GABA能的.胞体及树突上分布有非对称型和对称型的突触,对称型的突触中有的是GABA能的,有的是非GABA能的.其轴突有髓鞘包绕,末梢与其它神经元的胞体形成一处以上相连或不相连的对称型突触,也可与其它树突形成对称型的突触.根据该神经元的形态,递质性质及突触分布的特征,可确认它是篮状细胞.     

Morphine prevents glutamate-induced death of primary rat neonatal astrocytes through modulation of intracellular redox

This study is designed to investigate the effect of morphine on glutamate-induced toxicity of primary rat neonatal astrocytes. Glutamate decreases the intracellular GSH level, and thereby induces cytolysis of astrocytes and C6 glial cells accompanied by apoptotic features. Glutamate-induced cytotoxicity is protected by morphine and antioxidants such as GSH and NAC, whereas MK-801, an antagonist of glutamate receptor NMDA does not protect astrocytes against glutamate toxicity. Also, morphine antagonist, naloxone, as well as selective ligands for opioid receptor subtypes, including DAMGO, DPDPE, and U69593, do not inhibit the protective effect of morphine on glutamate-induced cytotoxicity. Morphine significantly prevents the depletion of GSH by glutamate and thereby inhibits the generation of H2O2 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, morphine prevents the change of mitochondrial permeability transition by glutamate. Taken together, we suggest that morphine protects the primary rat neonatal astrocytes from glutamate toxicity via modulation of intracellular redox status.     

The effect of alphaMSH analogues on rat bones

Melanocortin is the downstream mediator of leptin signaling and absence of leptin signaling in ob/ob and db/db mice revealed the enhancement of bone formation through the central regulation. While alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alphaMSH) inhibits the secretion of interleukin-1alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha from the inflammatory cells, alphaMSH can also enhance clonal expansion of pro B cells linked to stimulation of osteoclastogenesis. Therefore, we tested the effect of melanocortin on bones. alphaMSH analogues [(6)His]alphaMSH-ND and [(6)Asn]alphaMSH-ND were synthesized and the radio-ligand receptor binding- and cyclic AMP generating activity were analyzed in China Hamster Ovary cell line over- expressing melanocortin receptors. The EC(50) of [(6)His]alphaMSH-ND measured from melanocortin-1, 3, 4 and 5 receptors were 0.008 +/- 0.0045, 1.523 +/- 0.707, 0.780 +/- 0.405, and 250.320 +/- 42.234 nM, respectively, and the EC(50) of [(6)Asn]alphaMSH-ND were 16.8 +/- 6.94, 271.8 +/- 21.95, 8.0 +/- 1.21, and 1132.5 +/- 635.46 nM, respectively. Four weeks after the subcutaneous injection of the analogues, the body weights in the [(6)His]alphaMSH-ND and the [(6)Asn]alphaMSH-ND treated groups (346.0 +/- 20.63 g vs. 350.0 +/- 13.57 g) were lower than that of the vehicle treated group (375.8 +/- 17.31 g, p < 0.05). There was no difference in the total femoral BMD measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry among the three groups. Among the three groups, there were no differences in the total numbers of crystal violet positive- or alkaline phosphatase positive colonies, in the expression of Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B ligand on the tibia and the total number of multinucleated osteoclast-like cells differentiated from primary cultured bone marrow cells. From the above results, no evidence of bone gain or loss was found after treatment of the alphaMSH analogues peripherally.     

Peptide motifs of closely related HLA class I molecules encompass substantial differences.

The peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex class I molecules adhere to strict rules concerning peptide length and occupancy by certain amino acid residues at anchor positions. Peptides presented by HLA-A*0201 molecules, for example, are generally nonapeptides requiring Leu or Met at position 2 and an aliphatic residue, predominantly Val, at position 9. A closely related molecule, HLA-A*0205, differing from the former at four amino acid residues, has a related but substantially different peptide motif. A*0205-presented peptides are still nonapeptides, and position 9 is still aliphatic, although it is preferentially occupied by Leu instead of Val. Position 2 not only allows aliphatic residues but also polar ones. Occupancy at position 6, considered as an auxiliary anchor in A*0201, as well as non-anchor residues at positions 3, 4, and 8 are relatively well conserved between the two peptide motifs. Thus, although a number of the T cell epitopes presented by the two HLA-A2 forms is expected to be identical, a considerable number of epitopes should be different.