Modification of an <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> Lung Metastasis Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Low Dose N-nitrosomorpholine and Diethylnitrosamine

Previously, we established the in vivo lung metastasis model of rat HCC induced by two hepatocarcinogens, diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) at a dose of 120 ppm. This model allows us to investigate modifying factors leading to the inhibition of metastasis formation. However, low survival rates made the evaluation of metastasis formation difficult. The current experiments were conducted to modify the experimental protocol to improve survival and to establish a better animal metastasis model. Lower doses of NMOR (80 or 40 ppm in drinking water) were given to F344 rats for 14 weeks after DEN treatment. Survival rates in the 80 ppm group and in the 40 ppm group were 57% and 81%, respectively and these values were significantly higher than that in 120 ppm. Incidences of lung metastasis in the 40 ppm group steadily increased up to 67% by week 36 while that in the 80 ppm increased sharply up to 86% by week 24. Severity of lung metastases in the 40 ppm group at week 36 was mild compared with the 80 ppm group at week 24. In the second experiment, in order to characterize HCC development and lung metastasis in the 40 ppm group, rats given DEN and then followed with 40 ppm NMOR were killed sequentially. Development of HCC was observed at week 14 and reached 100% incidence at week 20. First lung metastatic lesions were evident at week 22, and incidence of lung metastasis reached 100%. Tumor cells were identified in the blood at week 20 by RT-PCR. The current study revealed that 40 ppm NMOR for 14 weeks after DEN treatment developed HCC without lung metastases at week 22, then HCC with a frequent lung metastasis at week 40. Thus, it can be said that this system is a more appropriate model for elucidation of mechanisms of metastasis and also for analysis of factors to inhibit natural metastasis.     

Elevated expression of E-cadherin and α-, β-, and γ-catenins in metastatic lesions compared with primary epithelial ovarian carcinomas

E-cadherin and catenins play key roles in cell adhesion and motility. Little is known about the changes in expression of these molecules in the progression of ovarian carcinomas. In the present study, the immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin and α-, β-, and γ-catenins was examined in 77 cases of ovarian carcinoma. In addition, the expression of these molecules was evaluated in 26 matched pairs of primary and metastatic lesions of advanced ovarian carcinomas. Of the 77 primary lesions, positive staining for E-cadherin and α-, β-, and γ-catenin was observed in 75 (97%), 63 (82%), 71 (92%) and 57 (74%) cases, respectively. Positivity for E-cadherin and α-, β-, and γ-catenin was significantly decreased in stage III and IV tumors compared with stage I and II tumors, suggesting that expression of the cadherin-catenin complex is reduced with the advancing stages of a tumor. Interestingly, expression of E-cadherin and α-, β-, and γ-catenin in the lesions of peritoneal dissemination was significantly increased compared with the primary lesions. These findings suggest that expression of the cadherin-catenin complex changes markedly and that reexpression may occur during the peritoneal dissemination of ovarian carcinoma cells.     

Significance of aberrant (cytoplasmic/nuclear) expression of beta-catenin in pancreatoblastoma

This study concerns the significance of aberrant (nuclear/cytoplasmic) expression of beta-catenin in pancreatoblastoma (PBL). On immunohistochemistry, all seven PBLs examined showed nuclear/cytoplasmic expression of beta-catenin, predominantly in the squamoid corpuscles (SCs). In areas with acinar/ductular differentiation, few tumour cells displayed nuclear/cytoplasmic expression of beta-catenin and more than half of the tumour cells showed membranous expression. Two out of five (40%) tumours examined showed missense mutations in codons 33 and 37 of exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene. No mutation of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene was detected in two of the remaining three tumours. Amplifiable DNA for APC analysis was not obtained from the one other tumour. Immunoreactivity for cyclin D1, one of the nuclear targets of beta-catenin, was found predominantly in the SCs of the seven tumours. In contrast, the Ki-67 labelling index was 2-4% (median 3%) in the SCs and 8-18% (median 12%) in the other areas, indicating a negative correlation with nuclear cyclin D1 reactivity. These results imply that in PBLs, nuclear/cytoplasmic accumulation of beta-catenin and overexpression of its target gene cyclin D1 are not associated with the induction of tumour cell proliferation. Nuclear/cytoplasmic accumulation of beta-catenin may be related to the morphogenesis of the SCs that are considered most characteristic for PBL.     

Expression of BRCA1 protein in benign, borderline, and malignant epithelial ovarian neoplasms and its relationship to methylation and allelic loss of the BRCA1 gene

BRCA1 is a putative tumour suppressor gene responsible for a hereditary ovarian cancer syndrome. To clarify the possible involvement of BRCA1 in the development of sporadic ovarian neoplasms, this study analysed the immunohistochemical expression of BRCA1 protein in normal ovarian surface epithelium and 119 epithelial ovarian tumours (19 benign, 24 borderline, and 76 malignant tumours). Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of BRCA1 was examined using three microsatellite markers to analyse the relationship between BRCA1 expression and alterations of the BRCA1 gene. Methylation of the BRCA1 promoter was also analysed by methylation-specific PCR. In ovarian carcinomas showing heterogeneous expression of BRCA1 protein in the same tumour, LOH and methylation status were analysed using microdissection techniques. Finally, the relationship of BRCA1 expression or its genetic alteration to clinicopathological parameters and patient survival was analysed. Ovarian surface epithelial cells expressed BRCA1 protein. Decreased expression of BRCA1 was found in 16% of benign tumours, 38% of borderline tumours, and 72% of carcinomas. LOH of BRCA1 was demonstrated in no benign tumours, 15% of borderline tumours, and 66% of carcinomas. Methylation of BRCA1 was not detected in benign or borderline tumours, but was present in 31% of carcinomas. Reduced expression of BRCA1 correlated with the presence of gene methylation. The frequency of BRCA1 methylation and LOH was higher in serous carcinomas than in other types. In one of the three serous carcinomas that showed heterogeneous expression of BRCA1, BRCA1-positive borderline-like tumour cells were LOH-positive and methylation-negative, whereas adjacent BRCA1-negative carcinoma cells were LOH-positive and methylation-positive. The prognosis of carcinoma patients did not correlate with BRCA1 expression or genetic status. These findings suggest that reduced expression of BRCA1 protein along with genetic and epigenetic changes of the BRCA1 gene play an important role in the development of sporadic ovarian carcinomas, particularly those of serous histology.     

Evidence that action potential generation is not the exclusive determinant to trigger spontaneous myogenic contraction of guinea-pig urinary bladder smooth muscle

Urinary bladder smooth muscle (UBSM) exhibits spontaneous contraction. This spontaneous mechanical activity is myogenic and can be closely related to the UBSM cell action potential to facilitate Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. In the present study, to know whether this membrane electrical event is the exclusive mechanism to trigger spontaneous smooth muscle contraction, we compared the inhibitory effects of Ca2+ channel blockers on the spontaneous action potential and mechanical activity in the isolated guinea-pig UBSM. Both action potential and rhythmic contraction were generated spontaneously in the presence of atropine (1 microM), phentolamine (1 microM), propranolol (1 microM), suramin (10 microM) and tetrodotoxin (1 microM), which suggest that both phenomena were myogenic in origin. Nisoldipine (100 nM) and diltiazem (10 microM) completely eliminated the generation of action potential whereas its frequency was dramatically increased by a dihydropyridine Ca2+ agonist, BayK 8644 (1 microM). In contrast to disappearance of action potential in the presence of Ca2+ channel blockers, spontaneous contraction of UBSM was inhibited only partly by nisoldipine or diltiazem and most of the mechanical components persisted in these channel blockers. These results indicate that spontaneous action potential in UBSM cell is generated through the activation of L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. The subsequent elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations during a burst of action potentials can be partly responsible for the induction of UBSM mechanical activity. In addition, the present study provides evidence that UBSM spontaneous mechanical activity is also attributable to the mechanism(s) other than the generation of Ca2+ spike.     

EBI1-ligand chemokine (ELC) attracts a broad spectrum of lymphocytes: activated T cells strongly up-regulate CCR7 and efficiently migrate toward ELC

EBI1-ligand chemokine (ELC) is a CC chemokine constitutively expressed in various lymphoid tissues and a high-affinity functional ligand for EBI1/CCR7, a seven transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptor originally identified as an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-inducible gene. Here we examined chemotactic activity of ELC on peripheral blood leukocytes. ELC attracted both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, particularly efficiently after activation with IL-2 or with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) plus IL-2, as well as CD19+ B cells, but not CD16+ NK cells, CD14+ monocytes or neutrophils. Among CD3+ T cells, ELC attracted both CD45RO- naive and CD45RO+ memory subsets. ELC also induced vigorous calcium mobilization in T cells stimulated with IL-2 with an ED50 of 3 nM. ELC fused with the secreted form of alkaline phosphatase (ELC-SEAP) specifically bound to lymphocytes and this binding was blocked only by ELC among 10 CC chemokines so far tested. Notably, lymphocytes stimulated with IL-2 or T cells expanded by PHA plus IL-2 showed much higher levels of binding than fresh lymphocytes. Consistently, CCR7 mRNA was detected in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells as well as B cells, but not in NK cells, monocytes or neutrophils, and was dramatically increased in T cells upon treatment with IL-2 or with PHA plus IL-2. Like ELC mRNA, CCR7 mRNA was expressed in various lymphoid tissues. By in situ hybridization, ELC and CCR7 mRNA were detected in the parafollicular and inner cortical regions of a lymph node, and in the parafollicular regions of an appendix. Collectively, ELC and CCR7 may be involved in the trafficking of a broad spectrum of lymphocytes, especially activated T cells, into and within various lymphoid tissues.      

Characterization of very virulent Marek's disease viruses isolated in Japan

Pathogenicity of two isolates of Marek's disease virus (MDV), MS1 and MS2, from chickens was examined in two genetically different strains of chickens, MD-susceptible P-2 chickens and less susceptible PDL-1 chickens. The isolates induced an early mortality syndrome unassociated with lymphoproliferative lesions in P-2 chickens. There were no significant differences in pathogenicity between our isolates and the Md/5 strain of very virulent MDV (vvMDV) in both P-2 and PDL-1 chickens. Protective indices of turkey herpes virus (HVT) vaccine against challenge with MS1 or MS2 in P-2 chickens were 54% and 28%, respectively, whereas HVT gave more than 80% protection in PDL-1 chickens. These results indicate that the two isolates could be classified as vvMDV. In contrast, a bivalent vaccine composed of HVT and serotype 2 MDV, and CVI988 vaccine gave good protection against challenge with the isolates in P-2 chickens; however, the best protection was given by the CBI988 vaccine. This is the first report of isolation of vvMDV in Japan.     

Tissue-engineered vascular autograft: inferior vena cava replacement in a dog model

Tissue-engineered vascular autografts (TEVAs) were made by seeding 4-6 x 10(6) of mixed cells obtained from femoral veins of mongrel dogs onto tube-shaped biodegradable polymer scaffolds composed of a polyglycolid acid (PGA) nonwoven fabric sheet and a copolymer of L-lactide and caprolactone (n = 4). After 7 days, the inferior vena cavas (IVCs) of the same dogs were replaced with TEVAs. After 3, 4, 5, and 6 months, angiographies were performed, and the dogs were sacrificed. The implanted TEVAs were examined both grossly and immunohistologically. The implanted TEVAs showed no evidence of stenosis or dilatation. No thrombus was found inside the TEVAs, even without any anticoagulation therapy. Remnants of the polymer scaffolds were not observed in all specimens, and the overall gross appearance similar to that of native IVCs. Immunohistological staining revealed the presence of factor VIII positive nucleated cells at the luminal surface of the TEVAs. In addition, lesions were observed where alpha-smooth muscle actin and desmin positive cells existed. Implanted TEVAs contained a sufficient amount of extracellular matrix, and showed neither occlusion nor aneurysmal formation. In addition, endothelial cells were found to line the luminal surface of each TEVA. These results strongly suggest that "ideal" venous grafts with antithrombogenicity can be produced.     

Usefulness of skin prick test using bifurcated needle for the diagnosis of food allergy among infantile atopic dermatitis--1st report. In the case of egg allergy

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the usefulness of skin prick test (SPT) for the diagnosis of egg white (EW) allergy in infants with atopic dermatitis who showed negative to EW CAPRAST, and followed up the EW-CAPRAST in this study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data of negative SPT using Bifurcated needle (BN) were analyzed from the data of 202 atopic dermatitis infants, who had received SPT from January in 2001 to April in 2005. From the negative SPT value (average and standard deviation) positive SPT value was obtained. Among 202 cases, 89 suspected-egg allergy infants with negative IgE CAPRAST against EW at the time of first visit were recruited to examine the usefulness of SPT. Positive conversion of EW-CAPRAST was checked in 78 cases (65: egg allergy+, 13: egg allergy(-)) who had been followed up in our outpatient clinic. RESULTS: Range of negative SPT control value (mean+2SD) using BF among infants could be set as less than 2 mm for wheal and/or 5 mm for erythema. Among 89 suspected-egg allergy infants with negative EW-CAPRAST, 72 infants (80.9%) were diagnosed as egg allergy by the combination of elimination and provocation test, interestingly 39 infants (54.2%) showed positive SPT results. In the follow up study of 78 negative EW-CAPRAST cases, 47 EW-CAPRAST out of 65 egg-allergy cases turned positive later infantile period (mean EW-CAPRAST: 9.6+/-16.7 Ua/ml at 9.9+/-5.6 months old). EW-CAPRAST of 7 cases in 13 non-egg allergies also turned positive in the follow up, however EW-CAPRAST titer was relatively lower compared to that of egg allergies (1.1+/-1.5 Ua/ml at 13.3+/-2.6 months old). CONCLUSIONS: We experienced fairly number of atopic infants with negative EW-CAPRAST at the first outpatient visit, who were later diagnosed as egg allergy. In about half of these cases, SPT egg-allergy infants, three quarter of EW-CAPRAST turned positive around 10 months old. EW-CAPRAST of atopic infants without egg allergy also turned transiently and slightly positive. In the conclusions, SPT seemed to be more useful than EW-CAPRAST for the diagnosis of egg allergy in early infantile period, however provocation test should be required for the definitive diagnosis in suspected-egg allergy infants without any proof of egg-sensitization.