Overexpression of human thioredoxin in transgenic mice controls oxidative stress and life span

Transgenic (Tg) mice overexpressing human thioredoxin (TRX), a small redox-active protein, were produced to investigate the role of the protein in a variety of stresses. Bone marrow cells from TRX-Tg mice were more resistant to ultraviolet C-induced cytocide compared with those from wild type (WT) C57BL/6 mice. TRX-Tg mice exhibited extended median and maximum life spans compared with WT mice. Telomerase activity in spleen tissues in TRX-Tg mice was higher than that in WT mice. These results suggest that overexpression of TRX results in resistance against oxidative stress and a possible extension of life span without apparent abnormality in mammals.     

Conduction pattern of excitation in the amphibian atrium assessed by multiple-site optical recording of action potentials

Spontaneous action potentials were monitored from multiple sites in the bullfrog atrium using a voltage-sensitive merocyanine-rhodanine dye together with a 100-element photodiode matrix array, and we have assessed the spread of the excitation from the pacemaker. Isochrone curves of conduction were obtained by timing the initiation of the action potential-related optical signals: we constructed maps of the spread. Excitatory waves appeared to conduct radially from the pacemaking area over the atrium, and the conduction velocity in the left atrium exceeded that in the right atrium.     

Appearance of prolactin-releasing peptide-producing neurons in the area postrema of adrenalectomized rats

Prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP) was found to be a novel hypothalamic peptide that stimulates prolactin release in vitro and in vivo. In the normal adult rat brain, PrRP neurons are known to be located in only three areas, i.e. the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, ventrolateral reticular formation; and nucleus of the tractus solitarius in the medulla oblongata. These PrRP neurons project neurites into various brain areas, including regions such as the paraventricular nucleus, supraoptic nucleus, and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Both PrRP nerve fibers and a high level of PrRP receptor, UHR-1, mRNA are observed in the area postrema (AP),but no PrRP neurons are detected in the AP of normal rats. In this study, we clearly demonstrated that PrRP-producing cells newly appeared in the AP of adrenalectomized rats by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. Our results suggest that PrRP may have some important roles in the AP of adrenalectomized rats. This is the first report demonstrating the appearance of PrRP-positive cells in the AP.     

Expression of E-cadherin in bone and soft tissue sarcomas: a possible role in epithelial differentiation

The cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion system is now known to play a critical role in both the morphogenesis of cancer cells and suppression of their invasion. However, the pattern of expression of E-cadherin, the major cadherin of epithelial cells in bone and soft tissue sarcomas, remains unclear. This prompted us to study E-cadherin expression in a variety of bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Using the monoclonal antibody HECD-1, raised against the extracellular domain of E-cadherin, we observed immunoreactivity in 1 pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma, 2 of 5 diffuse mesotheliomas, 4 of 5 clear cell sarcomas, 1 of 5 epithelioid sarcomas, and 10 synovial sarcomas. Other types of bone and soft tissue sarcoma (4 osteosarcomas, 4 chondrosarcomas, 3 primitive neuroectodermal tumors, 1 fibrosarcoma, 4 malignant fibrous histiocytomas, 5 liposarcomas, 4 leiomyosarcomas, 6 alveolar and 5 embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas, 4 angiosarcomas, 4 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, 2 extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcomas, 2 extraskeletal osteosarcomas, and 3 alveolar soft part sarcomas) were completely negative for E-cadherin. Our findings indicate that E-cadherin is expressed in certain kinds of soft tissue sarcomas, especially those with epithelioid features, suggesting that E-cadherin plays a role in the constitution of their architecture.     

An improved fixation method for transmission electron microscopy for the histological study of the lens.

An improved fixation technique for transmission electron microscopic observation that enables good fixation of all areas of the rat lens was devised. Immersion fixation with 0.1 M phosphate-buffered 1.25% glutaraldehyde at 4 degrees C for 12 hours followed by postosmication produced good results for all areas of the lens--anterior, equatorial, and posterior zones. The technique was particularly suitable for maintenance of the shape of the lens since practically no irregularity, vacuolar degeneration, or expansion of the intercellular spaces was noted. This technique, which requires only a relatively short time, was also useful for the detection of early ultrastructural changes associated with cataract in spontaneously diabetic WBN/Kob rats. We anticipate that our procedure will be widely applied.     

Selective expression of L-serine synthetic enzyme 3PGDH in schwann cells, perineuronal glia, and endoneurial fibroblasts along rat sciatic nerves and its upregulation after crush injury

Non-essential amino acid L-serine functions as a highly potent, glia-derived neurotrophic factor, because it is a precursor for syntheses of proteins, other amino acids, membrane lipids, and nucleotides, and also because its biosynthetic enzyme 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (3PGDH) is preferentially expressed in particular glial cells within the brain. Here we pursued 3PGDH expression in peripheral nerves and its change after crush injury. In the pathway of rat sciatic nerves, 3PGDH was selectively expressed in non-neuronal elements: Schwann sheaths and endoneurial fibroblasts in sciatic nerves, satellite cells in dorsal root ganglia, and astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the spinal ventral horn. In contrast, 3PGDH was immunonegative in axons, somata of spinal motoneurons and ganglion cells, and endoneurial macrophages. One week after crush injury, 3PGDH was upregulated in the distal segment of injured nerves, where 3PGDH was intensified in activated Schwann cells and fibroblasts. 3PGDH was still negative in activated macrophages, which were instead associated or surrounded by activated Schwann cells with intensified 3PGDH. These results suggest that in the peripheral nervous system, these non-neuronal cells synthesize and may supply L-serine to satisfy metabolic demands for maintenance and regeneration of peripheral nerves and for proliferation and activation of macrophages upon nerve injury.     

Synthesis of polyaminoquinones by vinylogous nucleophilic substitution polymerization of 2,5-disubstituted p-benzoquinones with diamines

Vinylogous nucleophilic substitution polymerization of 2,5-dihydroxy-p-benzoquinone and 2,5-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone with various diamines in m-cresol afforded polyaminoquinones with inherent viscosities as high as 0,5 dl.g^?1 in quantitative yields. The polyaminoquinones, except for the polymer derived from 1,3-bis(aminomethyl)benzene, were partially soluble or practically insoluble in organic solvents, but were solubilized by alkaline hydrosulfite reduction. Thermal analyses showed an initial weight loss at around 200°C in both air and nitrogen atmospheres, followed by gradual decomposition.     

Treatment with cathepsin L inhibitor potentiates Th2-type immune response in Leishmania major-infected BALB/c mice

Prior to the activation of CD4 (+) T cells, exogenous proteins must be digested by endo/lysosomal enzymes in antigen-presenting cells (APC) to produce antigenic peptides that are able to be presented on class II molecules of the MHC. Studies described here inspect the functional significance of cathepsin L inhibition for antigen processing and T (h) 1/T (h) 2 differentiation in experimental leishmaniasis. We first demonstrated using in vitro systems that cathepsin L is one of the candidate endo/lysosomal enzymes in processing of soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA) and that its specific inhibitor, CLIK148, modulated the processing of SLA. BALB/c mice are known to be susceptible to infection with Leishmania major. Interestingly, treatment of BALB/c mice with CLIK148 exacerbated the infection by enhancing the development of SLA-specific T (h) 2-type response such as production of IL-4 and generation of T (h) 2-dependent specific IgE/IgG1 antibodies. Moreover, addition of CLIK148 in incubation of a SLA-specific CD4 (+) T cell line with APC up-regulated the production of IL-4. However, CLIK148 did not exert any direct influence on the function of T cells themselves. Taken together, these findings suggest that treatment of host mice with CLIK148 affects the processing of SLA in APC, resulting in the potentiation of T (h) 2-type immune responses and thus leading to exacerbation of the infection. Furthermore, endo/lysosomal cathepsin L was found to be functionally distinct from previously described cathepsins B and D.     

Immunopathological similarities between IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schoenlein purpura (HSP) nephritis

A study on the immunopathological similarities between IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schoenlein purpura (HSP) nephritis is described. Various examinations were performed as follows. (1) Pathological studies: light microscopic findings and immunofluorescent staining; (2) Measurement of the levels of IgA in pharyngeal washings and sera, and those of IgA quantitated by radial immunodiffusion; (3) Elution studies: renal biopsy specimens obtained from patients with IgA nephropathy and HSP nephritis were treated with citrate buffer (pH 3.2) and the "eluate" was neutralized by sodium hydroxide. The "eluate" was then applied to the acid-treated sections obtained from the same and other patients with IgA nephropathy as well as sections from patients with HSP nephritis and other glomerular diseases. The sections were stained with FITC-conjugated heavy chain specific antihuman IgA antisera and then examined with a fluorescent microscope. There were no differences in pathological findings of IgA nephropathy and HSP nephritis in the light microscopic and immunofluorescent examinations. The levels of IgA in pharyngeal washings and sera were significantly increased in patients with both diseases. IgA antibodies deposited in kidneys from patients with HSP nephritis crossreacted with kidneys from some patients with IgA nephropathy, and vice versa. However, antibodies from patients with IgA nephropathy and HSP nephritis did not react with normal glomeruli or other nephritic glomeruli. It is concluded that there are some immunopathological similarities between IgA nephropathy and HSP nephritis.