Secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor from human luteinized granulosa cells is human chorionic gonadotrophin dependent

Vascularization is a prominent event during corpus luteum formation, providing low density lipoproteins for steroid biosynthesis and enabling transport of secreted steroids. The process of vascularization is controlled by specific regulators. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), otherwise named vascular permeability factor (VPF), induces endothelial cell proliferation as well as angiogenesis in vivo and increases capillary permeability. Here we report the expression of VEGF/VPF mRNA by cultured human luteinized granulosa cells (GC) for at least 10 days. Without HCG VEGF/VPF expression declined after day 4 and by day 10 was reduced to approximately 30% of the value at day 4. However, after culture in the presence of 1 U/ml human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), expression of VEGF/VPF mRNA by GC was four times greater than control experiments by day 10, and increased 100% from day 4 to day 10. Simultaneously, HCG supplementation increased VEGF/VPF secretion by GC. Medium VEGF/VPF on day 3 was 13 pM without and 11 pM with HCG. Medium VEGF/VPF on day 10 was 6 pM without HCG and 29 pM with HCG. These results suggest that vascularization of the corpus luteum is induced by HCG-mediated effects of VEGF/VPF.      

Monocytoid B cell lymphoma.

The clinical, light microscopic, ultrastructural, immunocytochemical and cytogenetic features of a case of monocytoid B cell lymphoma were investigated. The tumour initially affected the cervical and supraclavicular nodes, but 33 months later affected the left parotid salivary gland. The patient had subclinical Sjögren''s syndrome. The neoplastic cells showed characteristic morphological features and had peri- and interfollicular distribution in the node. Immunocytochemically the tumour cells were L26, 4KB5, MB2, CD19, CD20, CD22 and IgM/kappa positive. Prominent plasmablastic plasmacytoid differentiation was present in the recurrent tumour, suggesting an origin from post-follicular B cells. The lymphoma cells showed unusual cytogenetic abnormalities.     

The antibody-independent cytotoxic activity of normal circulating human leucocytes. II. Failure to demonstrate effector cell-target cell interaction and target cell specificity of the circulating cytotoxic-enhancing factor.

The naturally-occurring antibody-independent cellular cytotoxic activity (NOCC) of normal circulating human monocytes and neutrophils was investigated employing a number of erythrocytes and the K-562 cell line as target cells simultaneously. The identity of the effector cell(s) was shown to be dependent upon or be a function of the type of target cell selected for the assay system. A number of erythrocyte targets (rabbit, horse, sheep and ox erythrocytes) were lysed to varying degrees by neutrophils and monocytes and not by lymphocytes. Irrespective of the red blood cell (RBC) target, the effector monocyte invariably possessed receptors for both C'3 and the Fc of IgG. In contrast, the cytotoxic cells using the K-562 target cell were lymphocytes. Monocytes and neutrophils were inactive. The cytotoxic-enhancing activity in normal human serum exhibits specific and non-specific properties which suggests that more than one factor is involved. With respect to the monocyte cytotoxic cells, only the rabbit erythrocytes could totally absorb the serum factor in a specific fashion. Absorption of the serum with horse, sheep or ox erythrocytes resulted in a significant loss of potentiating activity with respect to all of the erythrocyte targets but a more marked loss of activity using the absorbing erythrocytes as targets. With respect to the polymorphonuclear leucocyte effector cells, only the rabbit RBC were capable of specifically absorbing out the cytotoxic-enhancing factor present in the normal human serum. Absorption of the serum with sheep, horse or ox RBC resulted in total cross-absorption of the enhancing factor. Chicken and human RBC, which do not serve as targets for the NOCC assay, could not absorb out the cytotoxic-enhancing factor with respect to any of the target erythrocytes. The composition of the soluble serum factor(s) is under current investigation but it is not an immunoglobulin since pure serum albumin can substitute for normal serum in the NOCC assay. The mechanism of erythrocyte lysis by the cytotoxic monocyte was investigated. Mononuclear cells were incubated with target cell monolayers and with target cells under optimal rosetting conditions. No interaction between the effector and target cells could be detected. The monocytes did not adhere to the target cell monolayer nor did they form rosettes with the target cells. Thus, the results fail to corroborate or support the assumption that the cytotoxic activity of the monocyte is dependent upon conventionally-detectable receptors. Erythrophagocytosis was not observed to any significant degree under the assay conditions used. Therefore, the nature of the interaction between the cytotoxic monocyte and the erythroid target cell which results in lysis of the target cell remains to be elucidated.     

Analysis of the RNA species isolated from defective particles of vesicular stomatitis virus.

Serial high multiplicity passage of a cloned stock of vesicular stomatitis virus was found to generate defective interfering particles containing three size classes of RNA, with sedimentaiton coefficients of 31 S, 23 S and 19 S. The 31 S and 23 S RNA species were found to be complementary to both the 12 to 18 S and 31 S size classes of VSV mRNAs. The 19 S class of RNA was found to be partially base-paired. All three RNA species were found to contain ppAp at their 5' termini.     

Differential effects of (S)- and (R)-enantiomers of albuterol in a mouse asthma model

BACKGROUND: (R)- and (S)-Enantiomers of albuterol likely exert differential effects in patients with asthma. The (R)-enantiomer binds to the beta2-adrenergic receptor with greater affinity than the (S)-enantiomer and is responsible for albuterol's bronchodilating activity. (S)-Albuterol augments bronchospasm and has proinflammatory actions. OBJECTIVE: The study aim was to determine whether the (S)-enantiomer, in contrast to the (R)-enantiomer, has adverse effects on allergic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in a mouse asthma model. METHODS: Mice sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) intraperitoneally on days 0 and 14 were challenged with OVA intranasally on days 14, 25, and 35. On day 36, 24 hours after the final allergen challenge, the effect of the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of albuterol (1 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) administered by means of a miniosmotic pump from days 13-36) on airway inflammation and hyperreactivity was determined. RESULTS: In OVA-sensitized/OVA-challenged mice, (R)-albuterol significantly reduced the influx of eosinophils into the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and airway tissue. (R)-Albuterol also significantly decreased airway goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus occlusion and levels of IL-4 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and OVA-specific IgE in plasma. Although (S)-albuterol significantly reduced airway eosinophil infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, and mucus occlusion, it increased airway edema and responsiveness to methacholine in OVA-sensitized/OVA-challenged mice. Allergen-induced airway edema and pulmonary mechanics were unaffected by (R)-albuterol. CONCLUSION: Both (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of albuterol reduce airway eosinophil trafficking and mucus hypersecretion in a mouse model of asthma. However, (S)-albuterol increases allergen-induced airway edema and hyperresponsiveness. These adverse effects of the (S)-enantiomer on lung function might limit the clinical efficacy of racemic albuterol.     

Primary low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type arising in the urinary bladder: report of 4 cases with molecular genetic analysis

CONTEXT: Primary lymphoma of the urinary bladder is rare. Only 84 cases have been reported in the English literature to date, and none of these cases has had molecular confirmation of clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangement. OBJECTIVES: To review all cases with primary urinary bladder lymphoma in our records, to classify them using the REAL classification, to confirm their immunophenotype and genotype, and to determine their outcome. DESIGN: We identified 4 cases of primary urinary bladder lymphoma in our medical records from a 30-year period. Immunohistochemical detection of immunoglobulin light chains and molecular analysis of immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes using the polymerase chain reaction were performed on paraffin-embedded material. RESULTS: All patients were older than 60 years. The male-female ratio was 1:3. All patients had a history of chronic cystitis. Histologic features of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma with centrocyte-like cells, plasmacytoid B cells, or both were observed in all cases. Monoclonality of B cells was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction, or both methods in every case. All patients presented with stage IAE disease, were treated with radiotherapy alone, and have been in continuous complete remission for 2 to 13 years. CONCLUSIONS: Primary bladder lymphomas are usually of low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type. They are more common in females and are associated with a history of chronic cystitis. Lymphoepithelial lesions are seen only in association with areas of cystitis glandularis. B-cell clonality is readily demonstrable by immunohistochemistry and/or polymerase chain reaction analysis. Local radiotherapy appears to confer long-term control.