Patterns of phenotypic expression of human junctional, gingival and reduced enamel epithelia in vivo and in vitro

Epithelia differ regionally in their patterns of phenotypic expression. The junctional epithelium (JE) that attaches the oral mucosa to the teeth is a unique tissue that shows a pattern of differentiation unlike other oral epithelia and forms basal lamina against the non-vital tooth surface. The mechanisms that establish this unusual phenotype and the developmental origin of this epithelium are both uncertain. The formation of JE by downgrowth of the oral gingival epithelium (OGE) during tooth eruption has been suggested but morphological studies indicate that it may be derived from the reduced enamel epithelium (REE) that covers the crown of the unerupted tooth. These epithelia of potential origin differ in their developmental histories: intrinsic differences between them could thus significantly influence the phenotype of an epithelium formed from them. The patterns of phenotypic expression of specimens of dissected JE, OGE and REE, and of cell cultures of these epithelia grown under standardized conditions, were examined (1) by immunocytochemistry using monoclonal antibodies with specificity for individual cytokeratins, vimentin and ICAM-1, and (2) by two-dimensional SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. The results indicated that, in vivo, OGE expressed keratin markers typical of differentiating mucosal epithelium; JE and REE, in contrast, lacked expression of most such markers but expressed keratins typical of simple epithelia together with some undefined keratin peptides. All epithelia showed changes in vitro but OGE remained different from JE and REE. OGE lost expression of the differentiation markers K1, K10 and K13; it acquired some expression of K19, but less than JE and REE. Cultures of JE and REE retained some expression of ICAM-1 and K8 and K18, and consistently acquired high levels of vimentin expression. These findings indicate that differences persist in standardized culture conditions and that these are apparently of an intrinsic nature. They support a concept of the origins of JE from REE and suggest that the unusual in vivo phenotype of JE results partly from intrinsic differences acquired during its development.

Nude mouse interim host model for human parathyroid grafts. I. Structure and secretory function

Human parathyroid (PTG) tissues from cadaver (C-PTG), fetus (F-PTG) and PTG adenoma (A-PTG) were transplanted into the kidney subcapsule of Balb/C nude mice as interim host. The structure and secretory function of the tissues were checked 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 days after operation. The results showed that PTG tissues from all three donors could retain their structure and secretory function for more than 100 days in the nude mice. The growth and function of PTG tissues from the three donors in nude mice were compared.

Nude mouse interim host model for human parathyroid grafts. II. Alteration of MHC antigens in human PTG grafts in the nude mouse

Human parathyroid (PTG) tissues from cadaver (C-PTG), 5-month fetus (F-PTG) and PTG adenoma (A-PTG) were transplanted into the kidney subcapsular areas of Balb/C nude mice as interim host. Dynamic changes in the amount of tissue major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen present within the transplantation period were observed. The results showed that during 100 days of interim hosting, no obvious changes in the expression of tissue MHC class I antigens were seen, but the expression of tissue MHC class II antigens was significantly reduced. The changes of MHC antigens in different donor human PTG tissues were compared.

Patterns of cytokeratin expression in human gingival epithelia

Specimens of human gingiva were collected from teenage and adult subjects and frozen sections were stained with an extensive panel of monoclonal antibodies with defined specificities for individual cytokeratins. The results indicated different and distinctive patterns of keratin expression by the oral gingival, oral sulcular and the junctional epithelia. It was observed that epithelium with staining characteristics of sulcular epithelium extended over the gingival crest onto the oral surface of the gingiva. Junctional epithelium showed the unusual pattern of co-expression of keratins typical of the stratifying and of the simple epithelial phenotypes. The patterns of gingival keratin expression are compared with those of other mucosal epithelia. The findings are discussed in relation to mechanisms that may determine or influence the junctional epithelial phenotype.

[Assessment of Hasegawa's dementia scale for screening and diagnosis of dementia in the elderly]

A sample of 2573 older inhabitants living in Shanghai was investigated on the spot for screening dementia by HDS. Their scale scores on HDS ranged from 3 to 32.5, and the mean score 25.4; according to the 4-grad classification on HDS, 35.3% were classified as normal, 46.3% as borderline, 16.1% as predementia, and 2.3% as definitive of dementia. The assessment by HDS corresponded well with clinical diagnosis of dementia according to DSM-III based on clinical symptoms in 96.3% of 2573 aged. Assessment by HDS was applied to 100 older patients with clinical diagnosis of psychiatric disorders. The scale scores in 76 cases with functional psychiatric disorders and in 24 cases with organic psychosis ranged from 16 to 32.5 and 1 to 28, respectively, and the mean scale score 28.1 and 17.2, respectively. The mean scale score of those with schizophrenia was 29.9, neurosis 30, depression 28.3, SDAT 9.1, MID 15.1, and other dementia 23.6. These results demonstrate that HDS is a practical and valuable tool of assessment for epidemiological, clinical diagnosis and research work to evaluable dementing states of Chinese elderly.

Epithelial lining of sinus tracts associated with periapical disease: an immunocytochemical study using monoclonal antibodies to keratins

We examined 30 specimens of mucosal sinus tracts arising in association with periapical inflammation. Immunocytochemistry and a panel of monoclonal antibodies to keratins were used to demonstrate the epithelial lining and its pattern of keratin expression. Half of the specimens were found to have an epithelial lining that was continuous with the mucosal epithelium and showed various degrees of extension into the sinus. The presence of an epithelial lining appeared to correlate with the duration of the sinus tracts. The immunostaining patterns of the epithelial linings were similar to those of the mucosal epithelium near the sinus opening although some differences were found. Proliferating strands of epithelium, presumably derived from the rest of Malassez, were observed deep in the tissues but were not continuous with the epithelial lining. The results suggest that the epithelial lining of sinus tracts is derived not from epithelial rests in the periapical region but from the mucosal epithelium adjacent to the opening of the sinus tract and that the observed changes in the pattern of keratinization are due to the influence of inflammation or of the connective tissue substrate.

[Pharmacognostical study on the Chinese drug nanshashen]

The Chinese drug nanshashen is taken from a variety of plants. In this paper, 11 kinds of nanshashen derived from 11 plants of Adenophora have been studied in their pharmacognostical characters and microproperties. A key has been compiled based on the experimental results.

[Application of facial nerve ENoG and MEP in the diagnosis and prognosis of facial nerve palsy]

Electroneurography (ENoG), an objective electrophysiologic measurement of compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs), is used to assess the integrity of a peripheral motor nerve. This method has been used for many years. In our study using an electrophysiologic instrument (Medelec MS6), the stimulating electrode was placed over the facial nerve anterior to the tip of the mastoid process and was manipulated to obtain the maximum CMAPs amplitude from the frontal muscle. With 30 normal subjects and 20 patients with facial nerve palsy, the results showed that the latencies and amplitudes were different between the two groups. Motor evoked potential (MEP) is a new method. Ipsilateral facial muscles are excited by magnetic stimulation over the scalp when the coil is placed over the parieto-occipital region. Using a magnetic stimulator and EMG instrument (1500C4 DISA), CMAPs from the orbicularis oris and frontal muscle were measured. In 30 normal subjects, the CMAPs were similar in form but of longer latency than those obtained with electrical stimulation (ENoG). In 20 patients with lateral facial nerve palsy due to Bell's palsy, Hunt's syndrome or trauma, the latencies on the lesion sides were apparently longer and the amplitudes much lower than in the normals. Our studies suggest that magnetic stimulation will detect facial nerves in the region inside the temporal bone where they cannot be touched by electrical stimulation from in front of mastoid process. The use of both ENoG and MEP methods together allows for accurate measurement of proximal facial nerve conduction and also provides some quantitative measurement: thus, we can detect conduction block or axonal degeneration early.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[On the skinning of radix Adenophorae]

Traditional experience calls for the skinning of Radix Adenophorae. Depending on the chemical compositions, this paper presents a comparative study on the skin, the radix with skin and the skinned radix. The experimental results show that the contents of beta-sitosterol, saponins, amino acids and trace elements are highest in the radix with skin, and that the radix with skin and the skinned radix are similar in the contents of polysaccharides.

[Chemical constituents of Adenophora stricta Miq]

Four compounds were isolated from the roots of Adenophora stricta. On the basis of spectrometric analysis and physicochemical constants, they were identified as beta-sitosterol, beta-sitosterol-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, taraxerone and octacasanoic acid respectively. Taraxerone and octacasanoic acid were isolated from the plants of Adenophora for the first time.

[Preliminary study of motor evoked potential (MEP) on facial nerve palsy]

Motor evoked potential (MEP) examination is a new method. Ipsilateral facial muscles are excited by magnetic stimulation over the scalp when the coil is placed on the parieto-occipital region. Using magnetic stimulator and EMG instrument (1500C4 DISA), one can measure the CMAPs from orbicularis oris and frontal muscle. In 30 normal subjects, the CMAPs were found to be similar in form but of longer latency than those obtained with electrical stimulation (ENoG). In 20 patients with facial nerve paralysis due to Bell's palsy, Hunt's syndrome or trauma, the latencies on the affected sides were apparently longer and the amplitudes much lower than those in normal ones. Our studies imply that magnetic stimulation can be used to detect facial nerve in the region inside the temporal bone which is not accessible by electrical stimulation. Using ENoG and MEP methods, the proximal facial nerve conduction can be measured somewhat quantitatively, thus one can detect conduction block or axonal degeneration early. It is important not only for the diagnosis but also for the treatment and evaluation of prognosis.

Basal-body-associated disks are additional structural elements of the flagellar apparatus isolated from Wolinella succinogenes

The intact flagella of Wolinella succinogenes, a gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium with a single polar flagellum, were obtained by an improved procedure, introduced recently by Aizawa et al. (S.-J. Aizawa, G. E. Dean, C. J. Jones, R. M. Macnab, and S. Yamaguchi, J. Bacteriol. 161:836-849, 1985) for the flagellum of Salmonella typhimurium. Disks with a diameter of 130 +/- 30 nm, which were attached to the basal body of the isolated intact flagella, could be identified by electron microscopy as additional structural elements of the bacterial flagellar apparatus. In freeze-dried and metal-shadowed samples, two rings of the basal body were detected on one side and a terminal knob was located on the other side of the disks. Suspension of the flagellar apparatus in acidic solution dissociated the flagellar filaments, yielding hook-basal body complexes with and without the associated disks. If whole cells were subjected to low pH, double disks of the same diameter and with a central hole of about 13 nm could be isolated. Similar parallel disks could be seen also in negatively stained whole cells. When uranyl acetate was used for negative staining of the intact flagella, concentric rings were detected on the disks, similar to the concentric membrane rings found by Coulton and Murray (J. W. Coulton and R. G. E. Murray, J. Bacteriol. 136:1037-1049, 1978) on platelike arrays of proteins in outer membrane preparations of Aquaspirillum serpens. Because the disks of W. succinogenes can be isolated together with the flagellar hook-basal body complex, they appear to be basal-body-rather than secondary membrane-associated structures. It is possible that these disks are the bearing or stator of this rotary device.

Cytokeratin expression of the odontogenic epithelia in dental follicles and developmental cysts

The patterns of cytokeratin expression in the epithelium of 5 dental follicles, 7 dentigerous cysts, 5 odontogenic keratocysts, 3 nasopalatine cysts and an epidermoid cyst have been studies using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. The epithelium of dental follicles and of developmental odontogenic cysts strongly expressed keratins 5 and 19 and showed weaker expression of keratins typical of stratified non-cornified and of simple epithelia. Staining with mAbs against the latter keratins varied with the degree of epithelial differentiation. Nasopalatine cysts strongly expressed simple epithelial keratins and the epidermoid cyst strongly expressed a marker of cornification. Odontogenic cysts thus appear to differ in their pattern of keratin expression from other oral developmental cysts and all derivatives of odontogenic epithelia appear to share similar basic patterns of cytokeratin expression.

1H-NMR studies on nucleotide binding to the catalytic sites of bovine mitochondrial F1-ATPase

The conformation of adenine nucleotides bound to bovine mitochondrial F1-ATPase was investigated using transfer nuclear Overhauser enhancement measurements. It is shown that all nucleotides investigated adopt a predominantly anti conformation when bound to the catalytic sites. Furthermore, the experiment suggests that 8-azido-ADP and 8-azido-ATP, which are predominantly in the syn conformation in solution, are in the anti conformation when bound to F1 catalytic sites.

Interaction of botulinum and tetanus toxins with the lipid bilayer surface

The interaction of botulinum neurotoxins serotypes A, B and E (from Clostridium botulinum) and of tetanus neurotoxin (from Clostridium tetani) with the surface of liposomes made of different lipid compositions was studied by photolabelling with a radioiodinated photoactive phosphatidylethanolamine analogue [125I-dipalmitoyl (3,4-azidosalicylamido)phosphatidylethanolamine]. When the vesicles were made of negatively charged lipids (asolectin), each of these neurotoxic proteins was radioiodinated, thus providing evidence for their attachment to the membrane surface. The presence of gangliosides on liposome membranes enhanced fixation of the neurotoxic proteins to the lipid vesicle surface. Both the heavy and light chains of the clostridial neurotoxins were involved in the attachment to the lipid bilayer surface. Each of the toxins tested here attached poorly to liposomes made of zwitterionic lipids (egg phosphatidylcholine), even when polysialogangliosides were present. The data suggest that the binding of botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins to their target neuronal cells involves negatively charged lipids and polysialogangliosides on the cell membrane.

Patterns of keratin-expression in rests of Malassez and periapical lesions

Using immunocytochemistry and a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against various keratin polypeptides we examined specimens of normal periodontal ligament, periapical granulomas and inflammatory dental cysts. Epithelial elements with the appearance of rests of Malassez were identified in 6 specimens of normal periodontium and 10 periapical granulomas. Altered epithelium was present in 16 periapical granulomas and a lining epithelium in 10 inflammatory dental cysts. The patterns of binding of antibodies by these epithelia indicated that (a) keratin 19 was expressed by all epithelia, and (b) rests of Malassez also expressed keratin 5 but not large amounts of other keratins and (c) epithelial proliferation in periapical lesions was associated with increased expression of keratin 14, a marker of stratifying epithelia, new expression of keratins 4 and 13, differentiation markers for non-cornifying epithelia and variable, low levels of keratins 8 and 18, markers of simple epithelia. Proliferation of the epithelial rests of Malassez to form the lining of inflammatory dental cysts thus appears to be associated with a change from an unusual epithelial phenotype to that of a stratified non-cornifying epithelium in which some simple epithelial keratins are coexpressed.

Immunocytochemical examination of immune cells in periapical granulomata and odontogenic cysts

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were used to determine the presence and distribution of immune cells including lymphocytes, macrophages and Langerhans cells, in normal periodontal ligament, periapical granulomata, periapical cysts and dental developmental cysts. Isolated T-lymphocytes, but not B-lymphocytes, were detected in specimens of non-inflamed periodontal ligament. Increased numbers of T and B lymphocytes were found in all of the lesions examined. Monocytes/macrophages were associated with most periapical granulomata, dental developmental cysts and all periapical cysts. Langerhans cells, intraepithelial lymphocytes, and monocytes/macrophages were not detected in the rests of Malassez but were found in some epithelia within periapical granulomata and in most epithelial linings of odontogenic cysts. Increased numbers of immune cells were seen around proliferative epithelia and adjacent to the epithelial linings of cysts. Epithelium, particularly that of odontogenic cysts, showed positive reactions for HLA-Dr, lysozyme and for alpha-1 antitrypsin. The presence of immune cells in periapical granulomata and odontogenic cysts, suggests that cell-mediated and humoral immunoreactions occur in these lesions and may be associated with the epithelial proliferation within the periapical lesions.