Dose response relationships for radiation induced chromosome aberrations in human lymphocytes in vivo and in vitro

Chromosome aberrations have been analysed in cultured lymphocytes from a patient undergoing whole-body treatment with split doses of gamma-rays up to a cumulative dose of 1.4 Gy. The dependence on dose of the yield of dicentrics was best fitted to the linear-quadratic relationship with a linear component predominating in the low dose range (below 0.56 Gy). These observations were compared with the data obtained when blood samples were exposed in vitro to low acute doses of gamma-rays (from 0.05 up to 2.0 Gy). The frequencies of induced chromosome aberrations were similar in both cases and little deviation was found between the dose response curves (a/b ratio equal to 0.56 and 0.69 Gy, respectively in vivo and in vitro). These results confirm that in vitro calibration curves can be utilized confidently for the biological estimate of an in vivo absorbed dose.     

Demonstration of endothelial adhesion of sickle cells in vivo: a distinct role for deformable sickle cell discocytes.

Different morphologic and density classes of sickle cells (SS) may play distinct roles in the generation of vasoocclusion, explaining the complexity of this phenomena. The densest SS red blood cells (RBCs) (SS4) can induce vasoocculsion in ex vivo microcirculatory preparations as well as in an intact animal model. Previous studies of the interaction of SS deformable discocytes with endothelial monolayers or the rat ex vivo mesocecum preparation have shown adhesion that is desmopressin (dDAVP)-stimulated, von Willebrand factor (vWF)-mediated, and limited to the small venules. However, in vivo adhesion of SS RBCs to the endothelium has neither been demonstrated nor characterized; and, in particular, the relation of adhesion to vasoocclusion is unknown. Using an intact animal model that involves injecting saline-washed, density-defined SS RBCs into the femoral artery of a rat, we find that: (1) Quantitative studies of RBCs retained in the rat thigh using 99mTc-labeled RBCs and gamma camera imaging showed that dDAVP induces a threefold increase in retention of normal (AA) cells and deformable SS discocytes (SS2). (2) electron microscopy and Microfil injection show that the retention of SS2 cells is due to adhesion to the vascular endothelium with no evidence of obstruction. (3) H-1 magnetic resonance imaging showed that retention of SS4 cells induced a dose-dependent increase in tissue edema (presumable secondary to tissue hypoxia), while retention of AA or SS2 cells produced no change. We conclude that endothelial adhesion of deformable SS discocytes can be demonstrated in an in vivo animal model, that this adhesion is enhanced by dDAVP (presumably related to, but not necessarily limited to the release of vWF), and that this phenomenon per se does not lead to vasoocclusion. Nevertheless, adhesion of deformable SS discocytes may have consequences. We hypothesize that adhesion of SS discocytes could narrow the lumen of postcapillary venules and facilitate secondary trapping of SS4 cells and lead to subsequent vasoocclusion.     

Retinal and choroidal neovascularization in a transgenic mouse model of sickle cell disease.

A complication of sickle cell disease is proliferative retinopathy. We investigated the eyes from a transgenic mouse model of sickle cell disease (alpha H beta S[beta MDD] type) to determine if pathological changes occurred in their retinas and choroids. One retina from each animal was processed by flat-embedding adenosine diphosphatase-reacted retinas in glycol methacrylate. The fellow eye from each animal was embedded whole in glycol methacrylate for histopathological analysis of all ocular structures. Retinal vascular occlusions resulted in nonperfused areas of retina and arterio-venous anastomoses. Intra- and extraretinal neovascularization was observed adjacent to nonperfused areas. Retinal pigmented lesions were formed by the migration of retinal pigment epithelial cells into sensory retina, often ensheathing choroidal neovascularization. The incidence of this bilateral chorioretinopathy was 30% in animals older than 15 months of age. The ocular histopathological changes we observed in the mouse model mimicked many aspects of human proliferative sickle cell retinopathy. Furthermore, this is the first genetically derived animal model for chorio-retinal neovascularization.     

Brain microvascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells produce granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and support colony formation of granulocyte-macrophage-like cells.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a potent stimulator of macrophages and neutrophils and plays a role in inflammatory diseases. In this article, we report that mouse brain-derived microvascular smooth muscle cells (SM) and endothelial cells (En) in coculture with splenocytes support the colony proliferation of immature granulocyte-macrophage-like (GM) cells. Unstimulated SM and En cells release GM-CSF as shown by ELISA assay and SM expresses mRNA for GM-CSF by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Stimulation of SM and En by a nonspecific activator (lipopolysaccharide) results in upregulation of GM-CSF production. GM colonies cannot be grown on cultured astrocytes or on extracellular matrix alone prepared from smooth muscle or endothelium. However, colonies form on the extracellular matrix and on astrocytes, either in the presence of SM- or En-conditioned medium or after the addition of recombinant GM-CSF. The GM cells are positive for nonspecific esterase, peroxidase, and MAC-1 markers but are negative for FC gamma receptors and for Thy 1.2, CD8, CD4, MHC class II, and Asialo GM1 markers. These observations emphasize the possibility for active participation of brain microvasculature SM and En in acute inflammatory reactions of the central nervous system.     

Successful Treatment of Transient Acantholytic Dermatosis with Systemic Steroids

A sixty-year-old man, developed 2–5 mm sized, hyperemic, itchy papules, vesicles, erosions and crusts on hyperemic base on his chest, abdomen, back, gluteal region, and proximal sites of his upper and lower extremities. The direct and indirect immunoflurescence tests were negative. Histology revealed extensive acantholysis in the epidermis in the following forms: pemphigus vulgaris-like suprabasal acantholysis, Darier-like acantholytic dyskeratosis with corps ronds, Hailey-Hailey-like suprabasal clefts, and pemphigus foliaceus-like superficial acantholysis with spongiosis. Using systemic steroids, topical drying, and reepithelising therapy, the patient was cured. He was symptom-free the first, fourth, and thirteenth months after finishing steroid therapy. We review the literature and the new subdivision of the disease according to the histological and clinical features.     

Autoantibodies to vascular smooth muscle are pathogenic for vasculitis

We have previously shown that microvascular smooth muscle activates CD4+ T lymphocytes in sterile co-culture, presents antigen, and produces inflammatory cytokines. Adoptive transfer of lymphocytes co-cultured with syngeneic smooth muscle cells to healthy recipient mice results in vasculitic lesions predominantly in postcapillary venules. The present study assessed the pathogenic role of immunoglobulin and B cells in a murine model of vasculitis. Here, we show that transferred B cells, including plasmablast cells, accumulated, persisted, and proliferated in lung and secondary lymphoid organs of recipient mice. The induction of vasculitis was accompanied by production of IgM and IgG2a autoantibodies specific for vascular smooth muscle intracellular antigens. Circulating immunoglobulin had a pathogenic role in this vasculitis model, because the disease could be induced by transfer of serum from vasculitic mice to untreated animals but not by transfer of serum depleted of anti-smooth muscle autoantibodies. Additionally, the pathogenic mechanisms triggered by the transfer of vasculitogenic serum were dependent on T lymphocytes because both wild-type and B cell-deficient mice developed the disease after serum transfer, whereas RAG2-deficient mice did not. Thus, immunoglobulin and cell-mediated pathways work in concert to produce vasculitis in this model.     

Alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome in a 45,X male

An unbalanced Y;autosome translocation leading to a male with a 45,X karyotype is rare with about 30 published cases. A male with a 45,X karyotype as a result of a unique, submicroscopic, unbalanced Y;16 translocation is presented with alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome.     

DNA damage and apoptosis in mononuclear cells from glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient patients (G6PD Aachen variant) after UV irradiation

Patients affected with X chromosome-linked, hereditary glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency suffer from life-threatening hemolytic crises after intake of certain drugs or foods. G6PD deficiency is associated with low levels of reduced glutathione. We analyzed mononuclear white blood cells (MNC) of three males suffering from the German G6PD Aachen variant, four heterozygote females of this family, one G6PD-deficient male from another family coming from Iran, and six healthy male volunteers with respect to their DNA damage in two different genes (G6PD and T-cell receptor-delta) and their propensity to enter apoptosis after UV illumination (0.08-5.28 J/cm2). As determined by PCR stop assays, there was more UV-induced DNA damage in MNC of G6PD-deficient male patients than in those of healthy subjects. MNC of G6PD-deficient patients showed a higher rate of apoptosis after UV irradiation than MNC of healthy donors. MNC of heterozygote females showed intermediate rates of DNA damage and apoptosis. It is concluded that increased DNA damage may be a result of deficient detoxification of reactive oxygen species by glutathione and may ultimately account for the higher rate of apoptosis in G6PD-deficient MNC.     

Isolated mesomelic shortening of the forearm in father and daughter: a new entity in the group of mesomelic dysplasias

In this report we describe the occurrence of severe mesomelic shortening of the forearms due to hypoplasia of the ulnae with severe radial bowing. In contrast to the mesomelic dysplasias, i.e. Langer type of mesomelic dwarfism, this apparently autosomal dominantly inherited skeletal anomaly occurred as an isolated anomaly without concomitant involvement of shanks or other parts of the skeleton, and did not influence final adult height.