Mutations in the transcription factor FOXO1 mimic positive selection signals to promote germinal center B cell expansion and lymphomagenesis

1. Download : Download high-res image (163KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Lineage tracing suggests that ovarian endosalpingiosis does not result from escape of oviductal epithelium

Most high-grade serous carcinomas are thought to arise from Fallopian tube epithelium (FTE), but some likely arise outside of the tube, perhaps from ectopic tubal-type epithelium known as endosalpingiosis. Importantly, the origin of endosalpingiosis is poorly understood. The proximity of the tubal fimbriae to the ovaries has led to the proposal that disruptions in the ovarian surface that occur during ovulation may allow detached FTE to implant in the ovary and form tubal-type glands and cysts. An alternative model suggests that cells present in ectopic locations outside the Müllerian tract retain the capacity for multi-lineage differentiation and can form glands with tubal-type epithelium. We used double transgenic Ovgp1-iCreER^T2;R26R^LSL-eYFP mice, which express an eYFP reporter protein in OVGP1-positive tissues following transient tamoxifen (TAM) treatment, to track the fate of oviductal epithelial cells. Cohorts of adult mice were given TAM to activate eYFP expression in oviductal epithelium, and ovaries were examined at time points ranging from 2 days to 12 months post-TAM. To test whether superovulation might increase acquisition of endosalpingiosis, additional cohorts of TAM-treated mice underwent up to five cycles of superovulation and ovaries were examined at 1, 6, and 12 months post-TAM. Ovaries were sectioned in their entirety to identify endosalpingiosis. Immunohistochemical staining for PAX8, tubulin, OVGP1, and eYFP was employed to study endosalpingiosis lesions. Ovarian endosalpingiosis was identified in 14.2% of TAM-treated adult mice. The endosalpingiotic inclusion glands and cysts were lined by secretory and ciliated cells and expressed PAX8, tubulin, OVGP1, and eYFP. Neither age nor superovulation was associated with a significant increase in endosalpingiosis. Endosalpingiosis was also occasionally present in the ovaries of pre-pubertal mice. The findings imply that ovarian endosalpingiosis in the mouse does not likely arise as a consequence of detachment and implantation of tubal epithelium and other mechanisms may be relevant. © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Subicular hypotrophy in fetuses with Down syndrome and in the Ts65Dn model of Down syndrome

Intellectual disability in Down syndrome (DS) has been attributed to neurogenesis impairment during fetal brain development. Consistently with explicit memory alterations observed in children with DS, fetuses with DS exhibit neurogenesis impairment in the hippocampus, a key region involved in memory formation and consolidation. Recent evidence suggests that the subiculum plays a unique role in memory retrieval, a process that is also altered in DS. While much attention has been devoted to the hippocampus, there is a striking lack of information regarding the subiculum of individuals with DS and DS models. In order to fill this gap, in the current study, we examined the subiculum of fetuses with DS and of the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS. We found that in fetuses with DS (gestational week: 17–21), the subiculum had a reduced thickness, a reduced cell density, a reduced density of progenitor cells in the ventricular zone, a reduced percentage of neurons, and an increased percentage of astrocytes and of cells immunopositive for calretinin—a protein expressed by inhibitory interneurons. Similarly to fetuses with DS, the subiculum of neonate Ts65Dn mice was reduced in size, had a reduced number of neurons and a reduced number of proliferating cells. Results suggest that the developmental defects in the subiculum of fetuses with DS may underlie impairment in recall memory and possibly other functions played by the subiculum. The finding that the subiculum of the Ts65Dn mouse exhibits neuroanatomical defects resembling those seen in fetuses with DS further validates the use of this model for preclinical studies.     

Prion neurotoxicity

Although the mechanisms underlying prion propagation and infectivity are now well established, the processes accounting for prion toxicity and pathogenesis have remained mysterious. These processes are of enormous clinical relevance as they hold the key to identification of new molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. In this review, we will discuss two broad areas of investigation relevant to understanding prion neurotoxicity. The first is the use of in vitro experimental systems that model key events in prion pathogenesis. In this context, we will describe a hippocampal neuronal culture system we developed that reproduces the earliest pathological alterations in synaptic morphology and function in response to PrP^Sc. This system has allowed us to define a core synaptotoxic signaling pathway involving the activation of NMDA and AMPA receptors, stimulation of p38 MAPK phosphorylation and collapse of the actin cytoskeleton in dendritic spines. The second area concerns a striking and unexpected phenomenon in which certain structural manipulations of the PrP^C molecule itself, including introduction of N‐terminal deletion mutations or binding of antibodies to C‐terminal epitopes, unleash powerful toxic effects in cultured cells and transgenic mice. We will describe our studies of this phenomenon, which led to the recognition that it is related to the induction of large, abnormal ionic currents by the structurally altered PrP molecules. Our results suggest a model in which the flexible N‐terminal domain of PrP^C serves as a toxic effector which is regulated by intramolecular interactions with the globular C‐terminal domain. Taken together, these two areas of study have provided important clues to underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of prion neurotoxicity. Nevertheless, much remains to be done on this next frontier of prion science.     

Virulence of a polymicrobic complex,Treponema denticola and Porphyromonas gingivalis,in a murine model

The effect of a polymierobic infection employing Treponema denticola and Porphyromonas gingivalis in the murine lesion model was used to determine the synergistic virulence of these two periodontopathic bacteria. At high doses of P. gingivalis W50, addition of T. denticola in the infection mixture had no effect on the formation and size of the spreading lesion caused by this microorganism. However, at low P. gingivalis challenge doses, T. denticola significantly enhanced the virulence of P. gingivalis compared with monoinfection of this microorganism. A potential role of the trypsin-like protease enzyme activity of P. gingivalis in this synergistic virulence was tested using P. gingivalis mutants deficient (i.e., BEI) or devoid (i.e., NG4B19) of this protease activity. These findings demonstrated that T. denticola—P. gingivalis complexes exhibit enhanced virulence in this model and that even using a polymicrobic challenge infection, the trypsin-like protease activity was important to P. gingivalis virulence expression.     

In vivo and in vitro study of the effects of chlorpromazine on tooth mineralization in rats and mice

The effects of chlorpromazine (CPZ) on tooth mineralization were examined using incisor dentine in adult rats and cultured tooth germs of mandibular first molars dissected from mouse embryos. CPZ (10, 50 and 250 mg/kg, s.c.) substantially inhibited dentine mineralization as evaluated by contact microradiographs. Plasma calcium and phosphorus concentrations were not decreased by CPZ (10 and 50 mg/kg). Physicochemical effects were not involved in the action of CPZ on the mineralization. In vitro experiments showed that CPZ (1 and 10 μM) inhibited mineralization and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in the tooth germs. As CPZ has the properties of a calmodulin antagonist, the calmodulin antagonists W-7 and W-5 were also examined. Both inhibited mineralization and ALP activity in tooth germs; W-5 had less effect than W-7. These in vivo and in vitro findings suggest that CPZ inhibited cell-mediated mineralization in dentine without affecting the calciumdashregulating system and physicochemical mineral deposition. In addition, calmodulin could be involved in cell-mediated mineralization.     

Role of gene E2f1 in susceptibility to bacterial adherence of oral streptococci to tooth surfaces in mice

Dental plaque is composed of a biofilm community of microorganisms on teeth that coats the oral cavity, including attaching to the teeth, and provides a protective reservoir for oral microbial pathogens, which are the primary cause of persistent and chronic infectious diseases. Oral streptococci are pioneering organisms that play an important role in biofilm formation on tooth surfaces as well as being primary causative agents of dental caries. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of the E2f1 gene in susceptibility to dry mouth and bacterial adherence of oral streptococci to tooth surfaces in animal model experiments. A mutation of the E2f1 gene in mice is known to cause enhanced T-lymphocyte proliferation, leading to testicular atrophy, splenomegaly, salivary gland dysplasia, and other systemic and organ-specific autoimmunity. We found a decreased volume of saliva production and protein production rate, along with increased amylase activity, IgA concentration, and mucin 1 concentration in E2F-1(-/-) mice as compared with the control C57BL/6 mice. Further, we quantified the recolonization of oral streptococci in E2F-1(-/-) mice and found that a higher number of some oral streptococci were colonized on the teeth of these mice. In particular, following oral ingestion of 1% sucrose in water, the colonization of Streptococcus mutans increased in comparison with other streptococci. Our results suggest that the E2f1 gene may affect susceptibility for oral biofilm formation by streptococci in humans with dry mouth.     

Differences in mouse strain influence leukocyte and immunoglobulin phenotype response to Porphyromonas gingivalis

This study examined the nature of the infiltrating cells in Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced lesions and immunoglobulins in the serum samples of BALB/c (H-2^d), C57BL6 (H-2^b), DBA/2J (H-2^d) and CBA/CaH (H-2^k) mice. Mice were immunized intraperitoneally with P. gingivalis outer membrane antigens or sham-immunized with phosphate-buffered saline followed by subcutaneous challenge with live organisms 1 week after the final immunization. The resulting skin abscesses were excised 7 days later, cryostat sections cut and an immunoperoxidase method used to detect the presence of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell subsets, CD14⁺ macrophages and CD19⁺ B cells. Peroxidase positive neutrophils and IgG1- and IgG2a-producing plasma cells were also identified. Anti P. gingivalis IgG1 and IgG2a subclass antibodies were determined in serum obtained by cardiac puncture. Very few CD8⁺ T cells and CD19⁺ B cells were found in any of the lesions. The percentages of CD4⁺ cells, CD14⁺ cells and neutrophils were similar in lesions of immunized BALB/c and C57BL6 mice, with a trend towards a higher percentage of CD14⁺ cells in sham-immunized mice. The percentage of CD14⁺ cells was higher than that of CD4⁺ cells in immunized compared with sham-immunized DBA/2J mice. The percentages of CD4⁺ and CD14⁺ cells predominated in immunized CBA/CaH mice and CD4⁺ cells in sham-immunized CBA/CaH mice. The percentage of neutrophils in immunized CBA/CaH mice was significantly lower than that of CD14⁺ cells and CD4⁺ cells in sham-immunized mice. IgG1⁺ plasma cells were more dominant than IgG2a⁺ cells in immunized BALB/c, C57BL6 and DBA/2J mice, whereas IgG2a⁺ plasma cells were more obvious in sham-immunized mice. IgG2a⁺ plasma cells were predominant in immunized and sham-immunized CBA/CaH mice. In the serum, specific anti-P. gingivalis IgG2a antibody levels (Th1 response) were higher than IgG1 levels (Th2 response) in sham-immunized CBA/CaH and DBA/2J mice. In immunized BALB/c mice, IgG2a levels were lower than IgG1 levels, while IgG2a levels were higher in immunized C57BL6 mice. In conclusion, this study has shown differences in the proportion of infiltrating leukocytes and in the subclasses of immunoglobulin produced locally and systemically in response to P. gingivalis in different strains of mice, suggesting a degree of genetic control over the response to P. gingivalis.