Bladder acellular matrix as a substrate for studying in vitro bladder smooth muscle-urothelial cell interactions

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of bladder acellular matrix (BAM) to support the individual and combined growth of primary porcine bladder smooth muscle (SMC) and urothelial (UEC) cells. An in vitro co-culture system was devised to evaluate the effect of UEC on (i) SMC-mediated contraction of BAM discs, and (ii) SMC invasiveness into BAM. Cells were seeded onto BAM discs under 4 different culture conditions. Constructs were incubated for 1, 7, 14 and 28 days. Samples were then harvested for evaluation of matrix contraction. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was utilized to examine cellular organization within the samples and conditioned media supernatants analyzed for net gelatinase activity. BAM contraction was significantly increased with co-culture. The same side co-culture configuration lead to a greater reduction in surface area than opposite side co-culture. IHC revealed enhanced SMC infiltration into BAM when co-culture was utilized. A significant increase in net gelatinase activity was also observed with the co-culture configuration. Enhanced infiltration and contractile ability of bladder SMCs with UEC co-culture may, in part, be due to an increase in gelatinase activity. The influence of bladder UECs on SMC behaviour in vitro indicates that BAM may contain some key inductive factors that serve to promote important bladder cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions.     

The Personality Assessment Inventory in individuals with traumatic brain injury.

This study examined the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) in 95 individuals who had suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Participants were recruited from a rehabilitation hospital (n=60) and a military hospital (n=35); despite differences in demographics and injury characteristics groups did not differ on any of the clinical scales and were thus combined. In the combined group, the highest mean clinical scale elevations were on Somatic Complaints, Depression, and Borderline Features and the most common configural profiles, based on cluster analysis, were Cluster 1 (no prominent elevations), Cluster 6 (social isolation and confused thinking), and Cluster 2 (depression and withdrawal). Factor analysis indicated a robust three-factor solution that accounted for 74.86 percent of the variance and was similar to findings from the psychiatric and non-psychiatric populations in the standardization sample. The above findings are compared with the previous literature on psychopathology in TBI, particularly in regards to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), as well as previous psychometric research on the PAI.     

In vivo clearance of an intracellular bacterium, Francisella tularensis LVS, is dependent on the p40 subunit of interleukin-12 (IL-12) but not on IL-12 p70

To determine the role of interleukin-12 (IL-12) in primary and secondary immunity to a model intracellular bacterium, we have comprehensively evaluated infection with Francisella tularensis LVS in three murine models of IL-12 deficiency. Mice lacking the p40 protein of IL-12 (p40 knockout [KO] mice) and mice treated in vivo with neutralizing anti-IL-12 antibodies survived large doses of primary and secondary LVS infection but never cleared bacteria and exhibited a chronic infection. In dramatic contrast, mice lacking the p35 protein (p35 KO mice) of heterodimeric IL-12 readily survived large doses of primary sublethal LVS infection as well as maximal secondary lethal challenge, with only a slight delay in clearance of bacteria. LVS-immune wild-type (WT) lymphocytes produced large amounts of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), but p35 KO and p40 KO lymphocytes produced much less; nonetheless, similar amounts of NO were found in all cultures containing immune lymphocytes, and all immune lymphocytes were equally capable of controlling intracellular growth of LVS in vitro. Purified CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells from both WT and p40 KO mice controlled intracellular growth, even though T cells from WT mice produced much more IFN-gamma than those from p40 KO mice, and p40 KO T cells did not adopt a Th2 phenotype. Thus, while IL-12 p70 stimulation of IFN-gamma production may be important for bacteriostasis, IL-12 p70 is not necessary for appropriate development of LVS-immune T cells that are capable of controlling intracellular bacterial growth and for clearance of primary or secondary LVS infection. Instead, an additional mechanism dependent on the IL-12 p40 protein, either alone or in another complex such as the newly discovered heterodimer IL-23, appears to be responsible for actual clearance of this intracellular bacterium.     

Mechanical and Cellular Changes During Compaction of a Collagen-Sponge-Based Corneal Stromal Equivalent

The need for corneas suitable for transplantation, combined with the decreasing supply, has fueled interest in the development of a corneal replacement. In this study, a collagen-sponge-based stromal equivalent, consisting of human corneal fibroblasts cultured on a type I collagen sponge, was maintained in culture for up to 21 days and characterized with respect to mechanical properties and cellular behavior. The Young's modulus of the stromal equivalent varied from 95 to 370 Pa, and its permeability varied from 5.3 x 10(-8) - 4.2 x 10(-7) m4 N(-1) s(-1). The greatest changes occurred during the first few days in culture, but the mechanical properties continued to change during the entire 21 days. Cell traction stress, determined from sponge compaction and DNA count, decreased during the compaction process with the maximum traction value the initial value of 6.6 +/- 2.9 x 10(-3) Pacm3 cell(-1). Microarray data showed that the expression level of fibronectin, decorin sulfate, collagenase, and gelatinase A was upregulated at day 14 in the sponge. This suggested that the repair fibroblast phenotype was being expressed by the fibroblasts. Additional analysis suggested that a subpopulation of cells expressed the myofibroblast phenotype.     

Estimating the relative frequency of leukodystrophies and recommendations for carrier screening in the era of next‐generation sequencing

Leukodystrophies are a heterogeneous group of heritable disorders characterized by abnormal brain white matter signal on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and primary involvement of the cellular components of myelin. Previous estimates suggest the incidence of leukodystrophies as a whole to be 1 in 7,000 individuals, however the frequency of specific diagnoses relative to others has not been described. Next generation sequencing approaches offer the opportunity to redefine our understanding of the relative frequency of different leukodystrophies. We assessed the relative frequency of all 30 leukodystrophies (associated with 55 genes) in more than 49,000 exomes. We identified a relatively high frequency of disorders previously thought of as very rare, including Aicardi Goutières Syndrome, TUBB4A‐related leukodystrophy, Peroxisomal biogenesis disorders, POLR3‐related Leukodystrophy, Vanishing White Matter, and Pelizaeus‐Merzbacher Disease. Despite the relative frequency of these conditions, carrier‐screening laboratories regularly test only 20 of the 55 leukodystrophy‐related genes, and do not test at all, or test only one or a few, genes for some of the higher frequency disorders. Relative frequency of leukodystrophies previously considered very rare suggests these disorders may benefit from expanded carrier screening.     

Pharmacokinetics of rhuMAb CD18, a Recombinant Humanised Monoclonal Antibody Fragment to CD18, in Normal Healthy Human Volunteers

Background and Objectives: Leucocyte β2 integrin adhesion receptors are hypothesised as a therapeutic target to modify immune responses to ischaemia-reperfusion injury that may be detrimental to recovery in a variety of disease states. Two phase I studies were designed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity and safety of rhuMAb CD18, ahumanised monoclonal antibody F(ab’)₂ fragment to the CD18 receptor, in normal healthy human volunteers. Study Design and Methods: The first study evaluated six escalating doses of rhuMAb CD18 (0.06, 0.12, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg) in 36 subjects given two intravenous (IV) bolus injections 12 hours apart. In the second study, 16 subjects received IV doses of 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg as a single dose or as two doses given 12 hours apart. Study endpoints were rhuMAb CD18 serum pharmacokinetics, change in white blood cell (WBC) count, and safety and tolerability. The two studies enrolled a total of 53 subjects. Results: Serum concentration-time profiles demonstrated a monophasic decline and were best characterised by a one-compartment pharmacokinetic model. At the doses administered, the volume of distribution approximated the serum volume (range of means: 42 to 58 ml/kg). The serum clearance decreased with increasing dose until becoming consistent at doses of 0.5 to 2.0 mg/kg (range of means: 3.1 to 5.0 ml/h/kg). At doses of 0.5 to 2.0 mg/kg, the mean elimination half-life ranged from 7.0 to 9.6 hours. WBC counts increased at doses of above 0.06 mg/kg, returning to within 20% of predose values by day 7. Antibodies to rhuMAb CD18 were not detected at day 28. Mild-to-moderate adverse events were observed in both the placebo and treated groups, and were limited to flu-like symptoms. One subject experienced a serious adverse event (febrile reaction) and recovered with minimal intervention. There was no evidence of an increase in infection in subjects who received rhuMAb CD18. Conclusions: Upon IV bolus administration, rhuMAb CD18 serum concentration-time data fit a one-compartment pharmacokinetic model. At doses of 0.5 to 2.0 mg/kg, the pharmacokinetics were linear and the half-life ranged from 7.0 to 9.6 hours with a volume of distribution that approximated the serum volume. No antibodies to rhuMAb CD18 were detected. A transient, dose-dependent increase in the WBC count was observed, consistent with the expected effect of rhuMAb CD18 on leucocyte demargination. No increase in infection was observed. rhuMAb CD18 administered by IV bolus was well tolerated, with the exception of one febrile reaction.     

Immunological adjuvants: desirable properties and side-effects

Adjuvants can be used with recombinant antigens to elicit cell-mediated immunity and antibodies of protective isotypes (IgG2a in the mouse and IgG1 in primates). Adjuvants should not produce reactions at injection sites, be pyrogenic or induce anterior uveitis or arthritis. Among 130 analogs of muramyl dipeptides tested, N-acetylmuramyl-L-threonyl-D-isoglutamine showed the greatest separation of potency as an adjuvant from potency in the production of side-effects. A stable emulsion of squalane and the Pluronic polymer L-121 provides a versatile vehicle for targeting of antigens to antigen-presenting cells. The combination of this emulsion with the threonyl analog of MDP is termed Syntex Adjuvant Formulation. This formulation increases the efficacy of influenza, hepatitis B virus, herpes simplex virus, lentivirus and tumor vaccines in experimental animals.     

Viral load,CD4 percentage,and delayed-type hypersensitivity in subjects receiving the HIY-1 Immunogen and antiviral drug therapy

Two trials of subjects inoculated with the inactivated, gp120-depleted HIV-1 Immunogen are reported. In one study, in which 19 subjects received ZDV and 8 subjects received ddI, treatment with the HIV-1 Immunogen did not affect the pharmacokinetic parameters of the antiviral drugs. In another study, 65 subjects who were previously immunized with the HIV-1 Immunogen over a mean period of 4.0 years (range, 1.2–5.4 years) received inoculations at 0 and 6 months. At some point during this 48-week study, 72% of the subjects (47/65) were receiving antiviral drug therapy. The HIV-1 DNA load in CD4 cells and CD4 percentage were found to be stable over the 48-week period. Delayed-type hypersensitivity to HIV-1 antigens increased after two inoculations with the HIV-1 Immunogen. In these two trials, no serious treatment-related adverse events were documented in the subjects. The two studies presented herein are the first to suggest that an immune-based therapy such as the HIV-1 Immunogen can be combined safely with antiviral drugs, supporting further study to evaluate the clinical utility of this approach.