Angiolipoma of the buccal mucosa: a possible role of mast cell-derived VEGF in its enhanced vascularity

A case of angiolipoma occurring in the buccal mucosa of a 69-year-old male is described. The patient had noticed a painless mass in his buccal mucosa for 2 years. The surgically removed tumor, measuring 9 mm in diameter, was mainly located in the submucosal layer with focal expansion into the muscle layer. Histologically, the tumor was well-demarcated and composed of proliferations of mature fat cells and fibrous connective tissue containing many small blood vessels, which were evenly distributed. There was diffuse infiltration of a large number of mast cells, which were immunopositive for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) especially around blood vessels, suggesting that VEGF produced by mast cells in angiolipomas plays an important role in the vascular proliferation in this particular tumor.     

Morphology of corticotectal cells in the primary visual cortex of hooded rats

In primary visual cortex of hooded rats, pyramidal cells in layer V may be classified as long, medium, or short, on the basis of the layer in which the apical dendrite terminates. The present study determines which of these types of pyramidal cells project to the superior colliculus. Two different strategies were used to label corticotectal cells with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). In the first set of experiments, a large number of corticotectal cells were labeled by retrograde transport following injection of HRP into the superior colliculus. In the second set of experiments, single unit recording was used to identify corticotectal cells physiologically by antidromic activation from the superior colliculus. These cells were then impaled and labeled by intracellular iontophoresis of HRP. The results from both techniques suggest that only long pyramidal cells send an axon to the superior colliculus. These cells are distinguished by an apical dendrite that extends into layer I. We conclude that in hooded rats corticotectal cells in primary visual cortex are the long pyramids in layer V.     

Golgi study on brain of macular mutant mouse as a model of Menkes kinky hair disease

Summary This study was undertaken to elucidate, using the Golgi method, the neuropathological change in the brain of the macular mutant mouse, whose hemizygote (Ml/y) is considered to be a model of Menkes kinky hair disease (MKHD). The hemizygote mice gradually lost weight after 10 days of age and died with emaciation and seizure around day 15. The normal littermate (+/y) was well developed. In the cerebrum, the arborization of pyramidal neurons in the layer V of the Ml/y was the same as that in the +/y on day 10. However, development of arborization in the Ml/y was delayed in comparison with that in the +/y on days 12 and 14. Purkinje cells with several somal sprouts were observed in the cerebellum in both the Ml/y and +/y on day 7. The somal sprouts in the +/y had regressed gradually by day 12, while they were still in the anterior and middle lobes of the Ml/y on day 14. Additionally, the trunks of Ml/y stem dendrites became thicker and a cactus formation was recognized on the branching portion of the dendrites on day 14. Arborization of these abnormal Purkinje cells was distinctly poor compared with that in the +/y. These results suggest that the growth of the neurons is delayed in the Ml/y and simultaneously their cytoskeletal developments are disturbed, especially in the Purkinje cells. There is a close similarity in many respects to the neuropathological change in MKHD.     

Alternaria alternata NADP-dependent mannitol dehydrogenase is an important fungal allergen.

BACKGROUND: Alternaria alternata is one of the most important allergenic fungi worldwide. Mannitol dehydrogenase (MtDH) has previously been shown to be a major allergen of Cladosporium herbarum and cross-reactivity has been demonstrated for several fungal allergens. OBJECTIVE: The present study's objective was to clone the MtDH from an A. alternata cDNA library, express and purify the recombinant non-fusion protein and test its IgE-binding properties. Methods A cDNA library prepared from A. alternata hyphae and spores was screened for mannitol dehydrogenase by DNA hybridization with the radioactively labelled C. herbarum homologue as a probe. The resulting clone was sequenced and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli as a recombinant non-fusion protein, which was purified to homogeneity and analysed for its IgE-binding capacity. RESULTS: The coding sequence of the full-length cDNA clone comprises 798 bp encoding a protein with a molecular mass of 28.6 kDa and a predicted pI of 5.88. Protein sequence analysis revealed an identity of 75% and a homology of 86% between the MtDHs of A. alternata and C. herbarum. The functional mannitol dehydrogenase was expressed in the E. coli strain BL21(DE3) transformed with the vector pMW172 and purified to homogeneity. The enzyme catalyses the NADPH-dependent conversion of d-fructose to d-mannitol. In IgE-ELISA and immunoblots, MtDH is recognized by 41% of A. alternata-allergic patients. In vivo immunoreactivity of the recombinant MtDH was verified by skin prick testing. Finally, inhibition-ELISA experiments confirmed cross-reactivity between the MtDHs of A. alternata and C. herbarum. CONCLUSION: Mannitol dehydrogenase (Alt a 8) represents an important new allergen of the ascomycete A. alternata that might be suitable for improving diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.     

Multi-parameter prediction of HLA class Ⅰ restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes for human proliferating cell nuclear antigen

Objective To predict the HLA class Ⅰ restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes for human proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Methods By using 3 epitope prediction databases which including MHC binder ( BIMAS and SYFPEITHI databases) and proteasome cutting site ( PAProC databases), the epitopes of PCNA were predicted by analyzing several parameters and methods. Results After comprehensive analysis,we have obtained two possible HLA-A0201 restricted CTL epitopes SMSAD-VPLV (228-236, score 447 633. 595 ) and LINEACWDI ( 22-28, score 127 966.779);two HLA-A24 re-stricted CTL epitopos DYEMKLMDL ( 113-121, score 563 994.9 ) and EFARICRDL ( 143-151, score 40 540.7);two HLA-A1101 restricted CTL epitopes LTSMSKILK (72-80, score 1334. 2680 ) and DVPLV-VEYK (232-240,score 736.9236). Conclusion The multi-parameter epitope prediction method is feasi-ble for cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope prediction.     

阴道粘膜上皮细胞的分离培养和鉴定

目的 初步建立阴道粘膜上皮细胞体外培养方法,为阴道粘膜上皮研究提供实验模型.方法 取雌性新西兰大白兔阴道粘膜组织小块,胶原酶Ⅳ和胰蛋白酶联合消化分离法收集上皮细胞,接种于角朊细胞无血清培养液中静置培养、传代.动态观察细胞生长增殖情况,扫描和透射电镜观察超微结构,流式细胞仪测定细胞增殖周期,并进行免疫组织化学鉴定.结果 体外培养的阴道粘膜上皮细胞为二倍体细胞,增殖状态良好,细胞间可见桥粒连接,免疫组化角蛋白染色阳性.细胞的超微结构和免疫组化染色均具有上皮细胞特征.结论 在本实验条件下,体外培养的阴道粘膜上皮细胞具有较好的增殖能力,可作为阴道粘膜上皮研究的理想实验模型.     

CD44分子与乳腺癌

CD44分子属于黏附分子家族中的一员，其CD44的异常表达与乳腺癌的发生、发展和转移密切相关。近年来研究表明乳腺癌干细胞表面高度表达CD44分子，针对CD44分子与乳腺癌干细胞关系的研究，将为乳腺癌的临床治疗提供新的靶点。