Effect of various implant materials on cementogenesis

Various implant materials have been used to stimulate the regeneration of supporting bone lost from periodontal disease. In addition, the histologic features of bone regeneration associated with their implantation have been evaluated. Very little, however, seems to be known about the effect of implant materials on cementum formation. The aim of this study was to determine whether implant materials stimulate the cementogenesis on adjacent planed root surfaces. Twelve monkeys with healthy gingivae were used in this experiment. Following mucoperiosteal flap elevation, "windows" were chiseled in the bone to the proximal root dentin surfaces and adjacent root surfaces were planed. Each of the three implant materials [tricalcium phosphate (TCP), decalcified bone matrix (DBM) and hydroxyapatite (HA)] were then placed in the cuspid and incisor root "windows" before the flap was sutured back into the previous position. Windows with no implantation served as a control. Animals were sacrificed 2, 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively. Biopsy specimens including the tooth and surrounding bone were examined by light and electron microscopy. At 2 weeks, all implant particles were surrounded by fibrous tissue. On the other hand, fibrous tissues filled the control defect. On the planed root surfaces after the implantation of TCP and DBM, furthermore, cementoid tissue appeared. At 4 weeks, a considerable amount of new cementum was deposited on the root surfaces except in the implantation of HA. It was especially pronounced after implantation of TCP and DBM which promoted bone regeneration after resorption. These results suggest that resorbable implant materials such as TCP and DBM not only facilitate the formation of new bone, but also of new cementum.     

Immunogenetic analysis of gastric MALT lymphoma-like lesions induced by Helicobacter pylori infection in neonatally thymectomized mice

Most gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas are caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. We previously reported that acquired lymphoid follicles with germinal centers were induced by H. pylori infection in neonatally thymectomized (nTx) mice. In the present study, we developed gastric MALT lymphoma-like lesions in nTx mice by long-term H. pylori infection, and performed immunogenetic analyses. BALB/c mice were thymectomized on the 3rd day after birth. At 6 weeks of age, mice were orally infected with 10(8) H. pylori and serially killed 2, 4, 6, and 12 months later. Normal BALB/c and noninfected nTx mice served as controls. Follicle formation occurred after 2 months of H. pylori infection in the nTx mice. Follicle formation and infiltration of intraepithelial lymphocytes progressed in a time-dependent manner. Lymphoepithelial lesions, a characteristic feature of MALT lymphoma, also occurred in a time-dependent manner (100% at 12 months). Serum immunoelectrophoresis revealed a monoclonal band (M-protein) in 30% (3/10) of mice 6 months after infection. M-protein-positive mice had amplification of one or two IgM and/or IgG heavy-chain genes in the gastric B lymphocytes, as determined with polymerase chain reaction, suggesting mono- or oligoclonality. Overexpression of Bcl-X(L) protein was immunohistologically observed in the infiltrating B lymphocytes and in some follicular B lymphocytes in 80% (8/10) of the cases at 12 months. Thus, H. pylori infection is involved in the development of gastric MALT lymphoma-like lesions in nTx mice. Our mouse model is useful for clarifying the pathogenetic mechanism of gastric MALT lymphoma by H. pylori infection.     

Notch-RBP-J signaling is involved in cell fate determination of marginal zone B cells

RBP-J is a key mediator of Notch signaling that regulates cell fate determination in various lineages. To investigate the function of Notch-RBP-J in mature B cell differentiation, we generated mice that selectively lacked B cell RBP-J expression using conditional mutagenesis. Absence of RBP-J led to the loss of marginal zone B (MZB) cells with a concomitant increase in follicular B cells; in contrast, B1 cells in the peritoneal cavity were unaffected. Lack of RBP-J caused no defects in B cells maintenance, survival, plasma cell differentiation or activation. It is therefore likely that Notch-RBP-J signaling regulates the lineage commitment of mature B cells into follicular versus MZB cells. In addition, in mice with RBP-J-deficient B cells, had no obvious changes in immunoglobulin production in response to Ficoll, lipopolysaccharide or chicken gammaglobulin. In contrast, these mice exhibited increased mortality rates after blood-borne bacterial infection, which indicates that MZB cells play pivotal roles in the clearance of these bacteria.     

Distribution of cocaine recognition sites in rat brain: In vitro and ex vivo autoradiography with [I]RTI-55

The distribution of binding sites of [¹²⁵I]RTI-55 (3β-(4-iodophenyl)tropan-2β-carboxylic acid methyl ester), a phenyl tropane analog of cocaine, and the selective labelling of the dopamine transporter (DAT) were studied by in vitro and ex vivo autoradiography in the rat whole brain. Recent evidence has shown that RTI-55 binds to not only DAT but also serotonin transporter (5HTT). In the present study, in vitro autoradiography revealed that [¹²⁵I]RTI-55 bound to the olfactory tubercle, the caudate putamen, the accumbens nucleus, the midline and lateral geniculate nuclei of the thalamus, the hypothalamic nuclei, the substantia nigra compact part, the subthalamic nucleus, the ventral tegmental area, the superior colliculus, the dorsal raphe nucleus, and the facial nucleus. Further, in the presence of clomipramine, a selective ligand for 5HTT, [¹²⁵I]RTI-55 binding was remarkably inhibited in the midline and lateral geniculate nuclei of the thalamus, the hypothalamic nuclei, the superior colliculus, the dorsal raphe nucleus, and the facial nucleus, while [¹²⁵I]RTI-55 binding remained in the olfactory tubercle, the caudate putamen, the accumbens nucleus, the substantia nigra compact part, the subthalamic nucleus, and the ventral tegmental area. These findings suggest that [¹²⁵I]RTI-55 binds to 5HTT in the former areas and to DAT in the latter areas. It is therefore concluded that RTI-55 is a suitable ligand for studying the action of cocaine in whole brain regions, including the thalamus, the hypothalamus and the dorsal raphe nucleus, regions in which cocaine is thought to act evoking several neurological effects, e.g., analgesia and elevation of adrenocorticotropic hormone. DAT was also labelled selectively both in vitro and in vivo using [¹²⁵I]RTI-55 combined with clomipramine. Therefore, radiolabelled RTI-55, combined with unlabelled clomipramine, which displaces its binding to 5HTT, also appears to be suitable for the selective imaging of DAT in vivo.     

Enhancement of lymphocyte response to PHA by lysosomal enzymes from polymorphonuclear leukocytes of RA joint fluid

The effect of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) granule lysates obtained from joint fluid of RA an the in vitro DNA synthesis of PHA-stimulated autologous lymphocytes from joint fluid was studied. Lymphocytes were cultured for 3 days with or without PMN lysates in 2 ml of RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum (FCS). The lymphocytes were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA-M). The DNA synthesis was measured by counting the [³H]thymidine incorporation. Lymphocytes from RA joint fluid stimulated with PHA-M showed 19,466±987 cpm (mean±SE per 10⁶ cells in the absence of PMN lysates. Upon addition PMN lysates to the PHA-stimulated lymphocytes, the maximum in vitro DNA synthesis increased to 44,877±1338 cpm. The enhancing effect of PMN lysates was abolished by plasma inhibitors or by passage through a column of protease inhibitor (Trasylol). It was concluded, therefore, that the enhancing effect of PMN lysates on PHA-stimulated lymphocytes may be associated with lysosomal proteases. Based on experiments using separated T and B lymphocytes, the enhancing effect of PMN lysates was considered to result from the activation of T lymphocytes. The results obtained in the present study suggest an important role for lysosomal proteases in the perpetuation of rheumatoid synovitis.     

Cartilage regeneration using slow release of bone morphogenetic protein-2 from a gelatin sponge to treat experimental canine tracheomalacia: a preliminary report

We investigated whether saber sheath-type tracheomalacia could be treated by the slow release of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 from a gelatin sponge. A 1 cm gap was made in the middle portion of each of 10 consecutive tracheal cartilage rings in the canine cervix (control group, n = 3), then a gelatin sponge containing 12 microg of BMP-2 solution was implanted in the gap (12 microg group, n = 3). In another group (120 microg + P group, n = 3), the implanted gelatin sponge contained 120 microg of BMP-2 solution, and the gap was covered with periosteum. All of the control dogs developed saber sheath-type tracheomalacia, whereas tracheomalacia was not observed in the 12 microg and 120 microg + P groups. In the 12 microg group, fibrous cartilage was observed at the ends of the cartilage stumps. In the 120 microg + P group, newly formed bone and cartilage were observed to form a bridge between the cartilage stumps. The regeneration of cartilage or bone induced by the slow release of BMP-2 from a gelatin sponge might be useful for treatment of tracheomalacia.     

Twenty-six-Week carcinogenicity study of chloroform in CB6F1 rasH2-transgenic mice

The carcinogenic potential of chloroform was evaluated in a short-term carcinogenicity testing system using CB6F1 rasH2-Tg (rasH2-Tg) mice. Chloroform was administered to rasH2-Tg males at doses of 28, 90, or 140 mg/kg and rasH2-Tg females at 24, 90, or 240 mg/kg by oral gavage for 26 weeks. Wild-type (non-Tg) male and female mice received doses of 140 mg/kg and 240 mg/kg, respectively. N-methyl-N-nitrosourea was administered to rasH2-Tg mice by single intraperitoneal injection (75 mg/kg) as a positive control. In both the rasH2-Tg and non-Tg mice, there was no significant increase in the incidence of neoplastic lesions by chloroform treatment. The incidence of hepatocellular foci in the rasH2- and non-Tg females receiving 240 mg/kg was increased. Forestomach tumors and malignant tumors occurred in most of the rasH2-mice in the positive control group. Swelling or vacuolation of hepatocytes, a toxic change induced by chloroform, occurred in both the rasH2-Tg and non-Tg mice. It is concluded that chloroform, a putative human noncarcinogen, did not show evidence of carcinogenic potential in the present study using rasH2-Tg mice. This study suggests that the rasH2-Tg mouse model may not be appropriate for detecting nongenotoxic carcinogens. However, the sensitivity of rasH2-Tg mice to nongenotoxic carcinogens should be assessed with consideration of the results from the other ILSI-HESI project studies.     

Usefulness of a stature-based standard of skinfold thickness,especially for short children

Skinfold thicknessess (SFT) were measured at ulnar, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac sites in 730 boys and 724 girls (age 3–12 years) whose stature ranged from 100 to 150 cm and whose weight was within ±20% of the average. Means and standard deviation (SD) were calculated after logarithmic transformation of the original skinfold readings to demonstrate stature-based standards of SFT in Japanese children. The means of SFT exhibited nadirs (boys/ girls: ulnar 5.1/5.9 mm, triceps 7.9/9.5 mm, subscapular 4.9/6.1 mm, suprailiac 4.5/6.2 mm) in subjects 110–115 cm tall except for ulnar SFT in girls. SFT values increased as children increased in stature. Standard deviations of SFT at the four sites in short children (staturte < mean ?1 SD) were estimated using the stature-based standard as well as an age-based standard. Susms of the SDs assessed by the age-based standard were significantly smaller than those assessed by the stature-based standard in boys (P < 0.05) and girls (P < 0.01) with short stature, suggesting that SFT in short children was falsely understimated by the age-based standard. Thus, the stature-based standard is beneficial for the assessment of SFT, especially in children whose stature is below the mean ?-1 SD. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Controlled release by biodegradable hydrogels enhances the ectopic bone formation of bone morphogenetic protein

The objective of this study is to develop a carrier for the controlled release of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) suitable for enhancement of the bone regeneration activity. Hydrogels with different water contents were prepared through glutaraldehyde crosslinking of gelatin with an isoelectric point of 9.0 under varied reaction conditions. Following subcutaneous implantation of the gelatin hydrogels incorporating 125I-labeled BMP-2 into the back of mice, the in vivo retention period of BMP-2 prolonged with a decrease in the water content of hydrogels used, although every time period was much longer than that of BMP-2 solution injection. Ectopic bone formation studies demonstrated that the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteocalcin content around the implanted site of BMP-2-incorporated gelatin hydrogels were significantly high compared with those around the injected site of BMP-2 solution. The values became maximum for the gelatin hydrogel incorporating BMP-2 with a middle period of BMP-2 retention, while bone formation was histologically observed around the hydrogel incorporating BMP-2. The ALP activity was significantly higher than that of the collagen sponge incorporating BMP-2. We concluded that the controlled release technology of BMP-2 for a certain time period was essential to induce the potential activity for bone formation.     

Use of collagen sponge incorporating transforming growth factor-beta1 to promote bone repair in skull defects in rabbits.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of collagen sponge incorporating transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) to enhance bone repair. The collagen sponge was prepared by freeze-drying aqueous foamed collagen solution. Thermal cross-linking was performed in a vacuum at 140 degrees C for periods ranging from 1 to 48 h to prepare a number of fine collagen sponges. When collagen sponges incorporating 125I-labeled TGF-beta1 were placed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution at 37 degrees C, a small amount of TGF-beta1 was released for the first hour, but no further release was observed thereafter, irrespective of the amount of cross-linking time the sponges had received. Collagen sponges incorporating 125I-labeled TGF-beta1 or simply labeled with 125I were implanted into the skin on the backs of mice. The radioactivity of the 125I-labeled TGF-beta1 in the collagen sponges decreased with time; the amount of TGF-beta1 remaining dependent on the cross-linking time. The in vivo retention of TGF-beta1 was longer in those sponges that had been subjected to longer cross-linking times. The in vivo release profile of the TGF-beta1 was matched with the degradation profile of the sponges. Scanning electron microscopic observation revealed no difference in structure among sponges subjected to different cross-linking times. The TGF-beta1 immobilized in the sponges was probably released in vivo as a result of sponge biodegradation because TGF-beta1 release did not occur in in vitro conditions in which sponges did not degrade. We applied collagen sponges incorporating 0.1 microg of TGF-beta1 to skull defects in rabbits in stress-unloaded bone situations. Six weeks later, the skull defects were covered by newly formed bone, in marked contrast to the results obtained with a TGF-beta1 free empty collagen sponge and 0.1 microg of free TGF-beta1. We concluded that the collagen sponges were able to release biologically active TGF-beta1 and were a promising material for bone repair.