Frequent expression of the multi-drug resistance-associated protein BCRP/MXR/ABCP/ABCG2 in human tumours detected by the BXP-21 monoclonal antibody in paraffin-embedded material

The expression and cellular localization of angiotensin II (Ang II) and AT(1) receptor proteins were examined in the normal human prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by immunohistochemistry. In the normal prostate, Ang II immunoreactivity was localized to the basal layer of the epithelium and AT(1) receptor immunostaining was found predominantly on stromal smooth muscle and also on vascular smooth muscle of prostatic blood vessels. Ang II immunoreactivity was markedly increased in hyperplastic acini in BPH compared with acini in the normal prostate (normal: 7.4+/-0.2%, n=5 vs. BPH: 22.7+/-1.9%, n=5, p<0.001). However, AT(1) receptor immunoreactivity was significantly decreased in BPH compared with the normal prostate [normal: 16.4+/-2.2%, n=4 vs. BPH: 9.4+/-1.3%, n=5, p<0.05 (p=0.025)]. The present study demonstrates the presence of Ang II peptide in the basal layer of the epithelium and AT(1) receptors on stromal smooth muscle, suggesting that Ang II may mediate paracrine functions on cellular growth and smooth muscle tone in the human prostate. Furthermore, AT(1) receptor down-regulation in BPH may be due to receptor hyperstimulation by increased local levels of Ang II in BPH. These data extend previous findings in support of the novel concept that overactivity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may be involved in the pathophysiology of BPH.     

Mutation analysis of PEX7 in 60 probands with rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata and functional correlations of genotype with phenotype

PEX7 encodes the cytosolic receptor for the set of peroxisomal matrix enzymes targeted to the organelle by the peroxisome targeting signal 2 (PTS2). Mutations in PEX7 cause rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP), a distinct peroxisome biogenesis disorder. In previous work we described three novel PEX7 mutant alleles, including one, L292X, with a high frequency due to a founder effect. We have now extended our analysis to 60 RCDP probands and identified a total of 24 PEX7 alleles, accounting for 95% of the mutant PEX7 genes in our sample. Of these, 50% are L292X, 13% are IVS9+1G>C, and the remainder are mostly private. IVS9+1G>C occurs on at least three different haplotypes and thus appears to result from recurrent mutation. The phenotypic spectrum of RCDP is broader than commonly recognized and includes minimally affected individuals at the mild end of the spectrum. To relate PEX7 genotype and phenotype, we evaluated the consequence of the disease mutation on PEX7 RNA by Northern analysis and RT/PCR. We evaluated the function of the encoded Pex7 protein (Pex7p) by expressing selected alleles in fibroblasts from RCDP patients and assaying their ability to restore import of a PTS2 marker protein. We find that residual activity of mutant Pex7p and reduced amounts of normal Pex7p are associated with milder and variant phenotypes.     

Craniosynostosis in Twist heterozygous mice: A model for Saethre‐Chotzen syndrome

Saethre‐Chotzen syndrome is a common autosomal dominant form of craniosynostosis, the premature fusion of the sutures of the calvarial bones of the skull. Most Saethre‐Chotzen syndrome cases are caused by haploinsufficiency for the TWIST gene. Mice heterozygous for a null mutation of the Twist gene replicate certain features of Saethre‐Chotzen syndrome, but have not been reported to exhibit craniosynostosis. We demonstrate that Twist heterozygous mice exhibit fusions of the coronal suture and other cranial suture abnormalities, indicating that Twist heterozygous mice constitute a better animal model for Saethre‐Chotzen syndrome than was previously appreciated. Anat Rec 268:90–92, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Presence of antibodies to replication protein A in some patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Presence of antibodies directed against replication protein A (RPA), a DNA binding protein complex composed of three subunits (RPA-70, RPA-32 and RPA-14) was investigated among patients with SLE and other autoimmune diseases using immunoblot analysis to RPA-70 and RPA-32 recombinant proteins. Anti-RPA antibodies were found in two out of 108 sera from SLE patients, one of them showing reactivity against RPA-32 and RPA-70 and the other reacting only against RPA-32. Sera from 108 patients with other autoimmune disorders as well as from 42 healthy control individuals were negative. Thus, the frequency of these antibodies in SLE is estimated to be 2–3%. The study demonstrates that RPA is one target more of the wide array of autoantigens that elicit an immune response in SLE. The presence of anti-RPA autoantibodies seems to be circumscribed to a small number of patients with SLE.     

Gastric mucosal lesions caused in rats of different strains by emotional stress,and the protective effect of interleukin 1β

Acute emotional stress results in damage to gastric mucous membranes in August, Wag, and particularly Wistar rats. The damage is less severe in rats preinjected with inter-leukin 1β into a lateral ventricle of the cerebrum. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 3, pp. 238–239, March, 1994     

Amelioration of established murine collagen-induced arthritis with anti-IL-1 treatment.

Inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. To validate a key role for IL-1 in arthritic processes we have studied the protective effect of neutralizing antimurine IL-1 antibodies in the murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. Combination of anti-IL-1 alpha and anti-IL-1 beta given before onset of arthritis was shown to prevent disease completely. Remarkably, a single treatment was also highly effective in the established phase of arthritis, reducing both inflammation as well as cartilage destruction. Suppression was most pronounced with the combination, but anti-IL-1 beta alone also induced significant relief. Finally, we studied the protective effect of IL-1 neutralization on cartilage metabolism in a unilateral expression model of collagen arthritis. To this end zymosan was injected in one knee joint before onset of disease, resulting in accelerated expression in that particular joint and the draining paw. Anti-IL-1 treatment started after accelerated expression of arthritis was able to fully normalize chondrocyte synthetic function, which was highly suppressed in the control group. It is concluded that IL-1 is an important determinant in both inflammation and cartilage destruction in collagen arthritis, and this may have implications for therapy in human arthritis.     

Townes-Brocks syndrome

Townes-Brocks syndrome (TBS) is an autosomal dominant disorder with multiple malformations and variable expression. Major findings include external ear anomalies, hearing loss, preaxial polydactyly and triphalangeal thumbs, imperforate anus, and renal malformations. Most patients with Townes-Brocks syndrome have normal intelligence, although mental retardation has been noted in a few.     

Prostaglandin E1 suppresses macrophage infiltration and ameliorates injury in an experimental model of macrophage-dependent glomerulonephritis.

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) suppresses macrophage infiltration and ameliorates injury in an experimental model of macrophage dependent glomerulonephritis. Macrophages are mediators of glomerular injury in models of proliferative glomerulonephritis. We have recently shown that macrophages in glomerulonephritis have low prostaglandin E2 (PGE) generation, and other evidence implicates eicosanoids as regulators of macrophage activation. Here we have studied in rats the effect of 15(s)-15-methyl PGE1 (M-PGE1) on accelerated nephrotoxic nephritis, a model of acute macrophage-dependent glomerular injury. M-PGE1 ameliorated proteinuria (day 4; 61 +/- 13 mg/24 h, n = 9; vehicle treated, 164 +/- 17 mg/24 h, n = 11; P less than 0.002) and glomerular hypercellularity; quantification of infiltrating macrophages by isolating glomerular cells showed reduction in the numbers of macrophages (44 +/- 9/glomerulus; vehicle treated, 119 +/- 15/glomerulus; P less than 0.02) with inhibition of Ia antigen expression on infiltrating macrophages (8 +/- 5%; vehicle treated 25 +/- 4% P less than 0.05). Glomerular binding of nephrotoxic globulin and levels of autologous antibodies were not affected by M-PGE1. Thus the mechanism of suppression involves inhibition of macrophage accumulation and activation. M-PGE1 administered to normal rats did not affect numbers of resident leucocytes (12.6 +/- 1.5/glomerulus; vehicle treated, 13.2 +/- 1.3/glomerulus) or alter Ia antigen expression (4.1 +/- 0.2 Ia + cells/glomerulus; vehicle treated, 3.9 +/- 0.6/glomerulus). This study suggests a therapeutic role for PGE1 in this type of glomerulonephritis, and has implications for the pathophysiology of macrophage-mediated inflammation.     

Angiotensin-(1-7)对血管平滑肌细胞钙化的影响及信号转导通路

目的:在钙化大鼠主动脉血管平滑肌细胞上观察血管紧张素-(1-7)[Angiotensin-(1-7)]对钙化的影响及其信号通道。方法:用β-磷酸甘油制备钙化的大鼠血管平滑肌细胞,再以血管紧张素-(1-7)、血管紧张素Ⅱ、血管紧张素Ⅱ 血管紧张素-(1-7)、选择性蛋白激酶A(PKA)或蛋白激酶C(PKC)抑制剂等干预,通过Von Kossa染色及检测钙含量、碱性磷酸酶活性、骨钙素浓度和Cbfa1 mRNA表达来探讨血管紧张素Ⅱ对钙化的影响及其信号通道。结果:血管紧张素-(1-7)抑制钙化大鼠血管平滑肌细胞的钙含量、碱性磷酸酶活性(P>0.05)、骨钙素浓度和Cbfa1 mRNA表达(P<0.05),也抑制血管紧张素Ⅱ对血管平滑肌细胞的钙含量、碱性磷酸酶活性、骨钙素浓度和Cbfa1 mRNA表达的促进作用(P<0.05);血管紧张素-(1-7)提高血管平滑肌细胞内cAMP浓度(P<0.05),PKA抑制剂可阻断血管紧张素-(1-7)对钙化血管平滑肌细胞的钙含量、碱性磷酸酶活性、骨钙素浓度和Cbfa1 mRNA表达的抑制作用(P<0.05)。结论:血管紧张素-(1-7)可抑制β-磷酸甘油诱导的血管平滑肌细胞钙化,并拮抗血管紧张素Ⅱ促进的血管平滑肌细胞钙化;这些效应与cAMP-PKA-Cbfa1信号途径有关。     

人参皂苷Rg1与Rh1对树突状细胞表达HLA-DR、CD25、CD44、CD54、CD11c及E-selectin的影响

目的：观察人参皂苷Rg1和Rh1对树突状细胞（Dendritic cell，DC）表面分子CD25、HLA-DR、CD44、ICAM-1、CD11c及E-sclectin表达的影响。方法：用不同浓度的Rg1和Rh1分别加入成熟DC中，刺激一定时间后，用免疫组化法观察，并用图像分析法分析结果。结果：除E-selectin外，Rg1和Rh1均可不同程度地促进HLA—DR、CD25、CD11c、CD44和ICAM-1的表达。结论：Rg1、Rh1可增强DC表面促进T细胞活化的第一、二类信号系统分子的表达，提高其抗原递呈能力，并促进DC—T细胞簇的形成而活化初始T细胞。