Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in northern Sweden: Clinical characteristics and practical guidance

Conclusion: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) patients with high surgical treatment frequency (≥ 1/year, HF) were significantly younger and had a more widespread laryngeal disease compared to a low frequency treated group (< 1 treatment/year, LF). This study confirms the existence of a clinical RRP group, not primarily related to HPV sub-type, but more care-intensive and in need of more vigilant follow-up. Objectives: RRP is associated with high morbidity due to its influence on breathing and voice. The purpose of this study was to characterize RRP patients in northern Sweden and investigate possible predictor factors affecting therapeutic needs. Method: Patients from the regional referral area (northern Sweden) were categorized for age, disease duration, juvenile or adult onset, profile of disease development, number of surgical sessions in relation to disease duration, laryngeal deposition of papilloma, gender, and HPV sub-types, in order to identify patients with increased need for frequent surgical treatment. Results: The median age of the RRP patients (n = 48) was 44.5 years; 34 (71%) were males and 14 (29%) females, most were infected with HPV 6. Patients with high surgical treatment frequency/year were significantly younger and showed more widespread papillomatous vegetation in the larynx, compared to the low frequency treated group.     

Lectin-induced increase in clonogenic growth of haematopoietic progenitor cells

Abstract: The galactoside-specific plant lectin, Viscum album agglutinin (VAA-I) increases cellular parameters of natural host defence. It also binds to a variety of haematopoietic cells, including progenitors. We investigated whether VAA-I has a stimulatory effect on haematopoietic progenitor cells. Peripheral blood progenitor cells from 7 healthy volunteers were cultured in a colony assay with VAA-I plus erythropoietin (EPO) and stem cell factor (SCF). At 50 pg/ml VAA-I induced a significant increase in the cytokine-dependent clonogenic growth (52% in median, p<0.05). In another set of experiments purified CD34+ cells were isolated from the bone marrow aspirate of 4 patients with non-metastatic breast cancer using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Binding to CD34+ cells was demonstrated by using directly fluorescence-conjugated VAA-I. Co-incubation with d -galactose significantly abrogated this effect. CD34+ cells were cultured in the presence of EPO, SCF, interleukin-3, granulocyte/monocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. VAA-I alone had no measurable effect on the clonogenic growth of the isolated cells. However, at concentrations of 100 and 250 pg/ml VAA-I increased the cytokine-dependent proliferation and differentiation of CD34+ cells by a median of 75 and 85%, respectively. The results show that VAA-I binds to haematopoietic progenitor cells and has a co-stimulatory effect on their proliferation.     

Interleukin-1beta and TNF-alpha act in synergy to inhibit longitudinal growth in fetal rat metatarsal bones.

We hypothesized that pro-inflammatory cytokines can act locally in the growth plate to impair longitudinal growth. In a model of cultured fetal rat metatarsal bones, we found that IL-1beta and TNF-alpha act in synergy to inhibit longitudinal growth, an effect linked to decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of growth plate chondrocytes. IGF-I could partially reverse all these effects. INTRODUCTION: Children with chronic inflammatory conditions, such as Crohn's disease or rheumatoid arthritis, experience impaired longitudinal growth. The inflammatory process itself, which includes upregulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, is believed to be at least partly responsible for the poor growth in these patients. This study aimed to clarify whether these cytokines can act locally in the growth plate to suppress longitudinal growth and whether any negative effects can be reversed by insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effects of cytokines on longitudinal bone growth were studied in fetal (day E20) rat metatarsal bones kept in culture. After a 7-day culture, the bones were sectioned, and chondrocyte proliferation was assessed by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and apoptosis by TUNEL. RESULTS: When added separately, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha impaired longitudinal bone growth only at a high concentration (100 ng/ml each; p < 0.05 versus control). In contrast, when added in combination, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha potently inhibited growth at far lower concentrations (from 3 ng/ml each; p < 0.001 versus control) and also decreased chondrocyte proliferation and increased apoptosis. Growth failure induced by the combination of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml each) could be counteracted by anti-IL-1beta (100 ng/ml; p < 0.001), anti-TNF-alpha (100 ng/ml; p < 0.001), or IGF-I (100 ng/ml; p < 0.01). IL-6 did not affect longitudinal growth even when added in combination with IL-1beta or TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml each). CONCLUSIONS: We show that IL-1beta and TNF-alpha act in synergy to locally suppress longitudinal growth, an effect that can be partially reversed by IGF-I. Although growth hormone (GH)/IGF-I may improve longitudinal growth in children with chronic inflammatory diseases, our results suggest that the inflammatory process itself must be targeted to achieve normal growth.     

Neurotransmitter release evoked by α-latrotoxin in the smooth muscle of the female pig urethra

Neuronal regulation of smooth muscle tone in the female pig urethra has mainly been studied in vitro using electrical field stimulation (EFS) of nerves. Excitatory control is considered to be exerted by released noradrenaline, whereas inhibitory control is non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC), and mediated by nitric oxide (NO), and an as yet unidentified agent. We investigated the functional and morphological effects of α-latrotoxin (αLTX), a spider neurotoxin believed to cause massive release of vesicle-stored neurotransmitters, on spontaneously developed urethral smooth muscle tone. The effects were compared to those of EFS and high potassium. In the presence of the NO-synthesis inhibitor N^ω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG: 0.3 mM) both αLTX and EFS evoked contractions. After treatment with scopolamine and phentolamine, no contraction was observed, and under these conditions αLTX and EFS induced relaxation. At low frequencies (<12 Hz), the EFS-induced relaxations were rapid, whereas at higher frequencies (>12 Hz), they were biphasic, consisting of a rapid first phase followed by a more long-lasting second phase. L-NOARG abolished the relaxations at low frequencies, as well as the first phase of the biphasic relaxation. The second phase was not affected by treatment with L-NOARG, but 0.1 μM ω-conotoxin GVIA, blocker of N-type voltage-operated calcium- channels (VOCCs), markedly reduced or abolished the response. In the presence of L-NOARG or ω-conotoxin GVIA, the αLTX-induced relaxation was significantly decreased, and the combination of L-NOARG and ω-conotoxin GVIA further reduced or abolished the relaxation. In preparationstreated with tetrodotoxin or scorpion venom, believed to inactivate nerves by acting on sodium channels, αLTX and EFS had no effects. αLTX-induced relaxation was not associated with changes in cyclic GMP or cyclic AMP content. High (80 mM) potassium solution induced a triphasic response of the preparation. A transient relaxation was followed by a restoration of tone, and then by a persistent relaxation. The persistent relaxation was slightly reduced by scorpion venom or L-NOARG, but reduced by 50% by a combination of L-NOARG and ω-conotoxin GVIA. Ultrastructural analysis of the urethral circular smooth muscle layer revealed a moderate amount of nerve profiles supplying the smooth muscle. In control preparations, the nerve profiles contained both small synaptic vesicles and large dense core vesicles. αLTX caused a major loss of both types of vesicle. The present data suggest that αLTX has the ability to release not only adrenergic and cholinergic transmitters, but also NANC mediators of relaxation, including NO, from nerve terminals in the urethra. Received: 13 January 1997 / Accepted: 17 April 1997     

Identification of a naturally processed cyclin D1 T-helper epitope by a novel combination of HLA class II targeting and differential mass spectrometry

T-helper (Th) cells play an important role in orchestrating the effector function of CTL in anti-tumor immunity. However, only a limited number of Th cell epitopes has been characterized. Here we describe a novel approach for identifying naturally processed and presented peptides derived from chosen antigens. This method combines a transfection step of antigen-presenting cells with a vector encoding a fusion protein between the Ii chain and the antigen of interest, elution of the HLA-bound peptides and identification of the antigen-derived peptides by mass spectrometric comparison to the non-transfected cells. In vitro-stimulated Th cells against the identified peptide of interest specifically recognize transfectants overexpressing the cognate antigen. Using this approach, we were able to identify the HLA-DR4-restricted Th cell epitope NPPSMVAAGSVVAAV derived from cyclin D1, which is frequently overexpressed in tumors. This method will help in identifying peptide candidates for vaccination studies for tumor immunotherapy.     

Autonomously replicating plasmids carrying theAMA1 region inPenicillium chrysogenum

Plasmid vectors containing theAMA1 sequence transformed with high efficiency and replicated autonomously inPenicillium chrysogenum. The efficiency of transformation ofP. chrysogenum was related to the length of theAMA1 fragment used for constructing the different autonomously replicating plasmids. One of the two palindromic inverted repeats ofAMA1 (the 2.2-kbSalI-HindIII fragment) is sufficient to confer autonomous replication and a high transformation efficiency. Deletion of the 0.6-kb central fragment located between the inverted repeats did not affect either the ability of the plasmids to replicate autonomously or the efficiency of transformation, but did alter the mitotic stability and the plasmid copy number. Deletion of any fragment of the 2.2-kb repeat caused the loss of the ability to replicate autonomously and reduced the transformation efficiency. Most of the transformants retained the original plasmid configuration, as multimers and without reorganization, after several rounds of autonomous replication. TheAMA1 region works as an origin of replication inP. chrysogenum andA. nidulans but not apparently inAcremonium chrysogenum.     

Model for Intravital Microscopic Evaluation of the Effects of Arterial Occlusion-caused Ischemia in Bone

An in vivo model has been developed for chronic observation of the effects of ischemia on cortical bone remodeling and perfused vascularity. Diaphragm occluders were implanted around the right common iliac artery of four rabbits and inflated to produce 10 h of ischemia to the limb. Microcirculation was monitored with intravital microscopy of injected fluorescent microspheres and FITC-Dextran 70 through a bone window, the tibial bone chamber implant (BCI). Bone resorption and apposition in the BCI were indicated with mineralization dyes. Between 2 and 12 h following release of the occluder, secondary ischemia/no-reflow and other evidence of reperfusion injury were observed. Vessel damage was suggested by abnormally high leakage of FITC-D70 from the few vessels perfused during secondary ischemia. In the weeks following occluder release perfused vasculature increased beyond pre-occlusion levels. Net bone resorption reached a maximum when vascularity passed normal levels. In order to further validate the arterial occlusion model for osteonecrosis, techniques for (1) confirming bone death and (2) detecting increased leukocyte adherence to endothelial cells were added. The dead cell stain Ethidium homodimer-1 was used to tag dead osteocytes immediately after occlusion and produced a measure designated osteonecrosis index. To detect leukocytes adhering to vessel walls, carboxyfluorescein diacetate, succinimidyl ester was injected at occluder release. An increase in the number of adherent leukocytes was detected. © 1999 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC99: 8764Rr, 8717-d, 8719Tt     

Chromosomal integrity maintained in five human embryonic stem cell lines after prolonged in vitro culture

There have been recent reports of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines developing chromosomal aberrations after long-term culture, indicating an unstable genomic status due to the in vitro milieu. This raises concern, since it would limit their use in therapeutics. In this study the chromosomal status of five well-characterized hESC lines, SA002, SA002.5, AS034.1.1, SA121 and SA461, was monitored during long-term in vitro culture. The criteria of defined hESCs were met by all of the five hESC lines (four diploid and one trisomic for chromosome 13). The genomes were screened for chromosomal aberrations and rearrangements using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and traditional karyotyping on several occasions while in culture. The genomic integrity was shown to be maintained after repeated freeze-thaw procedures and continuous culture in vitro for up to 22 months (148 passages). We discuss the most common de novo chromosomal aberrations reported in hESCs, as well as their possible origin.