Autophagia in Myeloid Precursors

Neutropenia is an almost constant feature of Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS). There is evidence for a central mechanism of neutropenia. Ultrastructural studies of the bone marrow from a child with CHS showed marked autophagia phenomena within myeloid precursor cells and mature neutrophils. Autophagic vacuoles were randomly distributed in the cytoplasm of the cells from the granulocytic series and some of them contained giant granules which thus appeared particularly resistant to the autophagic process. The vital cellular damage through endophagocytosis suggests the possibility of intramedullary destruction as an explanation for neutropenia.     

In vitro reactions of human osteoblasts in culture with zirconia and alumina ceramics.

The biocompatibility of two implantable materials, zirconia and alumina ceramics, was investigated in vitro using human osteoblast cell cultures. The viability of osteoblast cells with the materials was evaluated by the methylthiazole sulfate test that revealed an absence of any cytostatic or cytotoxic effect. Cell proliferation kinetic and total protein synthesis in osteoblasts with zirconia or alumina were similar to that observed in control cells cultured on glass coverslips. Light and scanning electron microscopic examinations showed an intimate contact between osteoblasts and the substrates; well-spread cells were observed on the surfaces of both materials. Adhesion ability and morphological characteristics were preserved in osteoblast cultures with these substrates. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining in osteoblasts with zirconia and alumina showed the capacity of these cells to elaborate the extracellular matrix composed of types I and V collagen, osteocalcin, osteonectin, bone sialoprotein, and cellular fibronectin. Finally, DNA image cytometry and interphase silver-nucleolar organizer regions quantification were applied as complementary biocompatibility tests to detect any changes in DNA synthesis and cell proliferation, respectively. The results showed that neither material altered cell ploidy or cell growth rate in accordance with the absence of any inducing effect on DNA synthesis or proliferation.     

Prevention of new sensitizations in asthmatic children monosensitized to house dust mite by specific immunotherapy. A six-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Specific immunotherapy (SIT) is a recognized way of treating IgE-mediated respiratory diseases. The clinical outcome is usually better in allergic children than in adults. OBJECTIVE: To increase our knowledge of the ability of SIT to prevent the onset of new sensitizations in monosensitized subjects, so far poorly documented. METHODS: 134 children (age range 5-8 years), who had intermittent asthma with or without rhinitis, with single sensitization to mite allergen (skin prick test and serum-specific IgE), were enrolled. SIT was proposed to all the children's parents, but was accepted by only 75 of them (SIT Group). The remaining 63 children were treated with medication only, and were considered the Control Group. Injective SIT with mite mix was administered to the SIT Group during the first three years and all patients were followed for a total of 6 years. All patients were checked for allergic sensitization(s) by skin prick test and serum-specific IgE every year until the end of the follow-up period. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable in terms of age, sex and disease characteristics. 123 children completed the follow-up study. At the end of the study, 52 out of 69 children (75.4%) in the SIT Group showed no new sensitization, compared to 18 out of 54 children (33.3%) in the Control Group (P < 0.0002). Parietaria, Gramineae and Olea were the most common allergens responsible for the new sensitization(s). CONCLUSIONS: According to our data, SIT may prevent the onset of new sensitizations in children with respiratory symptoms monosensitized to house dust mite (HDM).     

A cancer-predisposing "hot spot" mutation of the fumarase gene creates a dominant negative protein

The Fumarase (Fumarate Hydratase, FH) is a tumor suppressor gene whose germline heterozygous mutations predispose to hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC). The FH gene encodes an enzyme of the Krebs cycle, functioning as a homotetramer and catalyzing the hydration of fumarate to malate. Among the numerous FH mutations reported so far, the R190H missense mutation is the most frequent in HLRCC patients. Here we show the functional analyses of the R190H, in comparison to the better characterized E319Q mutation. We first expressed wild-type and mutated proteins in FH deficient human skin fibroblasts, using lentiviral vectors. The wild-type transgene was able to restore the FH enzymatic activity in cells, while the R190H- and E319Q-FH were not. More interestingly, when the same transgenes were expressed in normal, FH-proficient cells, only the R190H-FH reduced the endogenous FH enzymatic activity. By enforcing the expression of equal amount of wild-type and R190H-FH in the same cell, we showed that the mutated FH protein directly inhibited enzymatic activity by nearly abrogating the FH homotetramer formation. These data demonstrate the dominant negative effect of the R190H missense mutation in the FH gene and suggest that the FH tumor-suppressing activity might be impaired in cells carrying a heterozygous mutation.