Morphometric analysis of the immunohistochemical expression of Clara cell 10-kDa protein and surfactant apoproteins A and B in the developing bronchi and bronchioles of human fetuses and neonates

 Morphometric analyses of the immunohistochemical expression of the Clara cell secretory 10-kDa protein (CC10) and surfactant apoproteins A and B (SP-A and -B) were carried out on the developing bronchi and bronchioles of human fetuses and neonates. We analysed the ratio of the number of CC10-positive cells per subepithelial length of the bronchial or bronchiolar basement membrane and found that both the bronchial and the bronchiolar population of CC10-positive cells was significantly higher than that of either SP-A or SP-B. In addition, CC10 was found to be distributed mainly in the bronchiole. CC10-positive cells began to be recognized in the late pseudoglandular phase (15 weeks of gestation) and thereafter gradually increased in the canalicular and terminal sac phases, which correspond to the active development period of the acini or peripheral airways. The earliest expression of SP-A was also noted at 15 weeks of gestation, but its positive epithelial cells were present mainly in the larger bronchi. Double immunohistochemical staining for CC10 and SP-A revealed that the CC10-positive cells lining both the bronchi and bronchioles were different from the SP-A-positive cells. This finding suggests that CC10-positive cells are functionally and developmentally heterogeneous in both fetal and neonatal lungs in humans Received: 22 May 1997 / Accepted: 21 July 1997     

Immature dendritic cells (CD11c+ CD3- B220- cells) present in mouse peripheral blood

It is well known that dendritic cells (DCs) are developed from the peripheral blood of mice when peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are cultured with GM-CSF. We have previously found that immature DCs are present in the blood even in humans. In the present study, we show that CD11c+ CD3- B220- cells in the mouse peripheral blood are immature DCs. The percentage of CD11c+ CD3- B220- cells in the (PBMCs) of normal mice ranges from 0.5 to 2.5%. The CD11c+ CD3- B220- cells in the PBMCs show dendrites, similar in shape to the CD11c+ CD3- B220- cells in the spleen, which are thought to be DCs definitely. However, they have practically no capacity to stimulate the proliferation of allogeneic T cells, and show a lower expression of MHC class II, B7-1 and B7-2 than CD11c+ CD3- B220- cells in the spleen. When the CD11c+ CD3- B220- cells in the PBMCs are cultured with GM-CSF, they show not only the potent ability to stimulate the proliferation of allogeneic T cells but also a higher expression of MHC class II, B7-1 and B7-2. Moreover, they migrate into the spleen when they are injected intravenously. These results suggest that CD11c+ CD3- B220- cells in the PBMCs are immature DCs, and that they migrate into the spleen, where they mature.     

Electron-transfer reaction of a copper(II) complex bound to an amphiphilic block copolymer: A plastocyanin model

A water-soluble tri-block copolymer ( 1 ) composed of hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) and hydrophobic poly(styrene-co-1-vinylimidazole) was synthesized as a model compound of the apoenzyme of plastocyanin. Visible and electron spin resonance spectra of the Cu complex bound to the imidazole residue of 1 showed that the Cu complex is surrounded by a hydrophobic domain even in aqueous medium. The outer-sphere electron-transfer reaction of Cu(II) with Fe(II) (phenanthroline)₃ proceeded faster (with a large activation entropy) for the polymeric Cu/ 1 complex than for the monomeric Cu/1-ethylimidazole complex, while the reduction with ascorbic acid was slower for the polymeric complex.     

CD45 expression by murine B cells and T cells: Alteration of CD45 isoforms in subpopulations of activated B cells

The CD45 family of high molecular weight cell surface glycoproteins is abundantly expressed by virtually all hematopoietic cells. CD45 molecules exist as multiple isoforms whose extracellular portions vary in protein structure and carbohydrate content but whose intracellular portions are highly conserved and possess tyrosine phosphatase activity. In this review we summarize current studies describing CD45 isoform expression on peripheral and thymic lymphocytes. Further, we analyze changes in CD45 isoform expression by selective populations of activated B cells.     

Blood flow velocity in the common carotid artery in humans during graded exercise on a treadmill

Cerebral blood volume flow and flow velocity have been reported to increase during dynamic exercise, but whether the two increase in parallel and whether both increases occur as functions of exercise intensity remain unsettled. In this study, blood flow velocity in the common carotid artery was measured using the Doppler ultrasound method in eight healthy male students during graded treadmill exercise. The exercise consisted of stepwise progressive increases and decreases in exercise intensity. The peak intensity corresponded to approximately 85% of maximal oxygen consumption. During this exercise, the heart rate (f _c), mean blood pressure (BP) in the brachial artery and mean blood flow velocity (_cc) in the common carotid artery increased as functions of exercise intensity. At the peak exercise intensity, (f _c), BP and _cc increased by 134.5%, 20.5% and 51.8% over the control levels before exercise (P < 0.01), respectively. The resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were determined from the velocity profile and were expected to reflect the distal cerebral blood flow resistance. The RI and PI increased during the graded exercise, but tended to decrease at the highest levels of exercise intensity. As _cc increased with increases in exercise intensity it would be expected that cerebral blood flow would also increase at these higher intensities. It is also suggested that blood flow velocity in the cerebral artery does not proportionately reflect the cerebral blood flow during dynamic exercise, since the cerebral blood flow resistance changes.     

Cloning and characterization of the cDNA encoding the HA protein of a hemagglutination-defective measles virus strain

cDNA clones corresponding to the mRNA for the hemagglutinin of the hemagglutination-defective strain AK-1 of measles virus were isolated and characterized. Compared with the prototype Edmonstron strain, 60 nucleotide substitutions that resulted in 18 amino acid changes were detected. An additional potential N-linked glycosylation site was added by point mutation, which was supported by the observation that the hemagglutinin of the AK-1 strain was stained more heavily after NaDodSO₄PAGE and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining than the Edmonston strain. Computer-assisted analysis revealed that three reverse turns in the secondary structure had disappeared in the hemagglutinin of the AK-1 strain. Moreover, one of these structural changes occurred in the closely glycosylated region at amino acid residues 168–240, which appeared to be a biologically important functional domain. The isoelectric point calculated from the predicted amino acid sequence became about 1 pH unit more basic in the AK-1 strain than the Edmonston strain. This present study is the first sequence analysis of the hemagglutinin gene in a hemagglutination-defective strain of the measles virus.     

Ultrastructural,immunohistochemical and biochemical studies on amylase and ACTH producing lung cancer

Summary Tumour tissue from a lung cancer patient who showed elevated serum amylase and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) was studied ultrastructurally, immunohistochemically and biochemically. Histologically the tumour was a small cell carcinoma. On electron microscopic examination the tumour cells contained large zymogen-like granules within the cytoplasm. Furthermore, cells which possessed many small dense core granules of the endocrine type were also observed. It was of interest that the large zymogen-like granule-containing tumour cells had microvilli at the apical border, connected by desmosomes and forming lumina showing adenocarcinomatous differentiation. Electrophoretic analysis of the serum revealed that the major elevated amylase was of the salivary type with minor components. Immunostaining clearly demonstrated that most of the tumour cells possessed immunoreactive ACTH, whereas salivary amylase was only found in occasional clusters of the tumour cells. The results seem to indicate that the tumour showed both endocrine and exocrine characteristics - an amphicrine carcinoma, expressing amylase and ACTH simultaneously.     

Membrane Fusion In Mitochondria Ii. An Ultrastructural Interpretation Of Cristae-Enriched Megamitochondria Induced By Cuprizone

Ultrastructure of megamitochondria in mouse hepatocytes induced by cuprizone was analyzed in the light of the fusion of inner mitochondrial membranes. Hepatic parenchymal cells of mice fed with a 0.5% cuprizone-diet for 7–8 days were characterized by megamitochondria with numerous cristae including disoriented, shorter ones than those of the control and those in vesicular configuration. After feeding the animals with cuprizone for 15–16 days, megamitochondria increased their sizes further and the number of cristae decreased drastically. Numbers of cristae based on a unit-mitochondrial area were 41.3$pL10.8 for the former type of cristae-enriched megamitochondria and 3.8 $pL 1.8 for the latter type of megamitochondria with the value of 23.9 $pL 6.2 for the control. Considering the content of cytochromes in megamitochondria previously reported, these results might suggest that the fusion and defusion of inner mitochondrial membrane take place along with the fusion of outer membranes during the megamitochondrial formation. ACTA PATHOL. JPN. 34: 481–488, 1984.     

ISOLATED ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE (ACTH) DEFICIENCY

The case to be reported is that of a 72-year-old woman with isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency, who complained of anorexia and generalized malaise. The secretions of human growth hormone(HGH), prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were all within normal limit. In spite of the extremely low level of Cortisol, the plasma level of AGTH would not rise sufficiently, but a marked response of Cortisol to AGTH stimulation was recognizaed. The postmortem examination revealed a decrease In basophilic or PAS-positive cells of the anterior pituitary gland which also showed a selective loss of AGTH-secreting cells over immunohistochemical study. Electron microscope could easily visualize somatotroph, mammotroph, thyrotroph, FSH- and LH-gonadtroph, but corticotroph was difficult to be discerned. Adrenocortical cells demonstrated atrophy and degeneration, for which the zona fasciculata and zona reticularis were narrowed. The zona glomerulosa was slightly enlarged In width.     

Adjuvant Activity of 6-Amino-6-Deoxy-Muramyldipeptides and Their Acylamino Derivatives on the Induction of Delayed Hypersensitivity to Azobenzenearsonate-N-Acetyl-l-Tyrosine in Guinea Pigs

The 6-amino-6-deoxy-N-acetylmuramyldipeptides and their 6-acylamino derivatives were shown to be active as adjuvants on the induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity to azobenzenearsonate-N-acetyl-l-tyrosine in guinea pigs. However, 6-acylamino-6-deoxy-N-(acyl)muramyldipeptides were inactive as adjuvants.