Degradation of apple cell wall material by commercial enzyme preparations

The action of commercial enzyme preparations on the release of cell wall constituents from alcohol-insoluble substance prepared from apples without skins and cores as well as their influence on the water binding of remaining residues is described as a model for the enzymatic cell wall destruction during production of liquid fruit products. Besides 'normal' enzyme concentrations adapted from the usual industrial dosage, 'tenfold' enzyme concentrations were applied. Dependent on enzyme spectrum and activities, concentrations of dietary fibre, e.g., pectin, increased in the soluble fractions using conditions of enzymatic 'mash treatment'. A further release of these cell wall constituents occurred when cellulase containing enzyme preparations were used under conditions of 'pomace treatment', especially with the 'tenfold' enzyme dosage. The partial enzymatic degradation of the cell wall material is connected with a decrease in water binding of the remaining residues during both simulated mash treatment of pomace treatment. Alcohol-insoluble substance from apples is a suitable model for the determination of complex enzymatic actions of enzyme preparations containing pectolytic, hemicellulolytic, and/or cellulolytic activities under standardised conditions.

Ludwig Rehn (1849-1930)--pioneering findings on the aetiology of bladder tumours

One hundred and six years ago, the surgeon Ludwig Rehn from Frankfurt am Main held a pioneering lecture in Berlin about the possible origins of bladder tumours. He thereby gave the decisive impulse for cancer research in general and specifically for the investigation of aetiological factors involved in the development of urogenital tract tumours. Thereafter, this resulted in an intensified scientific discussion addressing this issue. Although the detailed evaluation of the causes finally contributing to tumour growth is still ongoing, the work of Ludwig Rehn on bladder tumours among aniline workers considerably promoted the establishment of urology as a specialised field within German clinical medicine and is therefore a milestone in the history of medicine.

Prenatal diagnosis and fetal pathology in a Turkish family harboring a novel nonsense mutation in the lysosomal alpha-N-acetyl-neuraminidase (sialidase) gene

We report a Turkish family with parental consanguinity and at risk for sialidosis type II, an inherited autosomal recessive disorder caused by lysosomal alpha-N-acetyl-neuraminidase (sialidase, NEU1) deficiency. The proband was a premature male infant that presented with hydrops, hepatomegaly, respiratory distress syndrome, and anemia and that died of respiratory insufficiency 2 months after birth despite intensive care. An abnormally increased [14C]methylamine incorporation and an isolated deficiency of lysosomal alpha-N-acetyl-neuraminidase were found in cultured skin fibroblasts. A previous pregnancy of the mother terminated in a spontaneous abortion in the 13th week of gestation. A successive pregnancy showed hydrops fetalis, and an enzymatic assay of cultured amniotic fluid cells indicated a deficiency of alpha-N-acetyl-neuraminidase. Following pregnancy termination at 20 weeks gestation, light microscopy of fetal tissues revealed classic vacuolation not only in liver, bone marrow, brain, and kidney, but also in endocrine organs such as the thyroid gland, adrenal gland, hypophysis, and testes, and in the thymus. DNA analysis of the family showed that both the proband and the third sibling had a novel homozygous nonsense point mutation at nucleotide 87 in exon 1 of the alpha-N-acetyl-neuraminidase (neu1) gene causing a substitution of tryptophan at codon 29 by a termination codon (W29X). DNA sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products identified the parents as heterozygous carriers. To detect neu1 mRNA expression, a real-time reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction was performed, and similar rates of neu1 mRNA expression were found in the fibroblasts of the fetus, the 2nd sibling, and in controls. The very early termination codon with complete loss of neuraminidase activity is probably the molecular basis of the unusually severe vacuolation pattern in this form of congenital sialidosis.

CD4(+)CD8(+)TCR(low) thymocytes express low levels of glucocorticoid receptors while being sensitive to glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis

While signaling by either the TCR or glucocorticoid receptor (GR) can induce apoptosis in thymocytes, recent studies have shown that combining these signals results in survival of CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes. Although glucocorticoids (GC) in this way may directly affect T cell selection, no data are available addressing GR expression in thymocyte subsets and in individual cells within subsets. We studied GR expression by combining immunofluorescence cell surface staining for CD4, CD8 and TCR with intracellular staining of GR in four-color cytometry. Significant differences of GR expression were observed in various thymocyte subsets, although a homogeneous distribution of GR expression in individual thymocyte subsets emerged. The highest GR expression was found in CD4(-)CD8(-)TCR(-) thymocytes, and decreased during development via the CD4(-)CD8(+)TCR(-) subpopulation into the CD4(+)CD8(+)TCR(low) subset. Interestingly, the latter population, although expressing less than half the GR density of CD4(-)CD8(-)TCR(-) cells, is the most sensitive subset to GC-induced apoptosis. Up-regulation of TCR expression by the CD4(+)CD8(+)TCR(low) subset to CD4(+)CD8(+)TCR(high) cells was accompanied by a parallel increase in GR expression. The latter finding and the presence of a homogeneous distribution of GR in each thymocyte subset provides an experimental basis for the concept that GR can antagonize TCR-mediated signals at a constant rate relative to TCR expression.

Glucocorticoid production in the chicken bursa and thymus

Glucocorticoid (GC) hormones play an important role in thymic T cell selection and in the development of autoimmune diseases. Previous studies have shown that the mammalian thymus itself is able to produce GC. In order to assess the importance of these findings in terms of the evolutionary development of the immune system, we investigated the functional presence of steroidogenic enzymes in primary lymphoid organs of chickens, which represent one of the best studied non-mammalian species. To this end, we attempted to demonstrate enzyme activities of the whole set of steroidogenic enzymes for the synthesis of GC in the bursa of Fabricius and the thymus. We isolated steroidogenic organelles from primary lymphoid tissues, incubated these with radioactive (precursor) steroids in vitro and visualized the resulting products by thin-layer chromatography. Our results show that the chicken bursa as well as the chicken thymus possesses all enzymes and cofactors required for GC production. The observation of GC production in an organ responsible for B cell selection and maturation is a further step in uncovering the yet ill-defined mechanism of B cell selection. These results provide the biochemical basis for the in situ hormonal effects, and underline the general importance of GC hormones on T and B lymphocyte development and selection.

Transplantation of IL-2-transduced murine bone marrow is associated with dose-dependent toxicity

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene-transduced hematopoietic progenitor cells or cytotoxic function and systemic toxicity following syngeneic bone marrow transplantation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Marrow of 5-fluorouracil pretreated donor mice were transfected with a retroviral vector containing the murine IL-2 gene and transplanted into lethally irradiated syngeneic hosts.

RESULTS

Productive insertion of the IL-2 gene could be demonstrated at various intervals post-transplant without impairment of hematopoietic engraftment. Endogenously augmented IL-2 release resulted in a selective increase in CD4(+), CD8(+), and NK1.1(+) population in spleen and bone marrow, as well as significant cytolytic activity against syngeneic leukemia cells in vitro. Our results also illustrate the interdependence among the magnitude of systemic IL-2 levels, the number of IL-2-transduced cells in the transplant inoculum, and the appearance of systemic toxicity. Infusion of marrow transduced with high-titer, high-expressing IL-2 retrovirus resulted in significant morbidity and mortality in the recipients. Our studies demonstrate that mortality was secondary to severe lymphocytic infiltration of liver and lung, which was associated with increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular adhesion molecule-1. Reducing the number of IL-2-transduced cells in the bone marrow inoculum, however, resulted in significantly improved survival with no adverse events being evident during the post-transplant period.

CONCLUSION

Delivery of IL-2 to the bone marrow can be achieved by transplantation of genetically modified hematopoietic cells, however, the overall feasibility is strongly influenced by the number of transduced cells in the bone marrow inocolum and/or the expression pattern of IL-2 in vivo.

Rapid development of vein graft atheroma in ApoE-deficient mice

Several animal models manifesting lesions resembling neointimal hyperplasia of human vein grafts have been developed, but no spontaneous atheromatous lesions in their vein grafts have been observed. We developed and here characterize a new animal model of vein graft atheroma, a maturated atherosclerotic plaque, in apoE-deficient mice. The lesion displayed classical complex morphological features and heterogeneous cellular compositions and consisted of a fibrous cap, infiltrated mononuclear cells, foam cells, cholesterol crystal structure, necrotic core with calcification, and neovasculature. Cell component analysis revealed smooth muscle cells (SMCs) localized in the cap region, macrophages which made up a large portion of the lesions, and CD4+ T cells scattered under the cap. Importantly, apoptotic/necrotic cells determined by TUNEL assay in vein grafts into apoE-/- mice were significantly higher than wild-type mice, although a similar number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells in both types of lesions was found. Interestingly, vascular SMCs cultivated from aortas of apoE-deficient mice showed a high rate of spontaneous apoptosis/necrosis and a higher rate of cell death stimulated by a nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprusside, H(2)O(2), and oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL), although no difference in proliferation of both SMCs incubated with platelet-derived growth factor, angiotensin II, LDL, and oxidized LDL was seen. Thus, the pathogenic mechanisms of vein graft atheroma involve increased intimal cell death initiated by biomechanical stress and amplified by hypercholesterolemia, which leads to continuous recruitment of blood mononuclear cells to constitute atheromatous lesions. This mouse model resembling human vein graft disease has many advantages over other animal models.

Prolonged survival of heart allografts from p53-deficient mice

BACKGROUND

Acute rejection of the heart allograft is the major cause of heart failure in the first month after transplantation. Most studies on the prevention of acute rejection have concentrated on immune suppression of the recipients, whereas little is known about the effects of genetically manipulated donor organs on heart allograft survival. Herein, we describe a mouse model of heart allografts donated by p53-/- mice that can prolong the survival time of the grafts.

METHODS

Hearts of p53-/- or p53+/+ C57BL/6J mice were grafted to the neck carotid artery and jugular vein of BALB/c mice using a cuff technique. The graft survival was observed daily. The hearts were analyzed using several techniques, including histology, immunofluorescence, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL), and Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

p53+/+ allografts ceased beating at 7.6+/-0.5 days, whereas p53-/- hearts were beating at 10.5+/-1.1 days after transplantation (P<0.01). Mean histological rejection scores were significantly lower in allografts donated by p53-deficient mice. Furthermore, apoptotic cells, determined by TUNEL and a reagent kit for detection of cardiac apoptosis, were of high numbers in the allograft sections from wild-type hearts but rare in p53-/- allografts (4.2+/-1.3 vs. 0.7+/-0.5/250x field). Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis revealed that high levels of p53 and proapoptotic protein Bax were expressed in wild-type grafts but not p53-/- allografts. Interestingly, Bcl-2, an antiapoptotic protein, was abundant in cardiac allografts from p53-/- mice and almost undetectable in grafts from wild-type mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, p53 is involved in cardiac apoptosis induced by alloimmune reaction, and prolonged survival of heart allografts can be achieved when p53 is lacking.

Increased expression and activation of stress-activated protein kinases/c-Jun NH(2)-terminal protein kinases in atherosclerotic lesions coincide with p53

Hyperlipidemia alters gene expression of arterial endothelial and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and induces atherosclerotic lesions, in which cell proliferation and apoptosis co-exist. The signal transduction pathways that mediate these responses in the vessel wall in vivo have yet to be identified. Stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs) or c-Jun NH(2)-terminal protein kinases (JNKs) are thought to be crucial in transmitting transmembrane signals required for cell differentiation and apoptosis in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the localization and activity of SAPK/JNK in atherosclerotic lesions of cholesterol-fed rabbits. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed abundant and heterogeneous distribution of pan-SAPK/JNK and phosphorylated SAPK/JNK, which were mainly localized in cell nuclei of the lesional cap and basal regions. Double staining of the lesions demonstrated that a portion of alpha-actin(+) SMCs and RAM11(+) macrophages contained abundant phosphorylated SAPK/JNK proteins. SAPK/JNK protein levels in protein extracts from atherosclerotic lesions were two- to threefold higher than the vessels of chow-fed rabbits. SAPK/JNK activities were elevated three- to fivefold higher than the normal vessels. Interestingly, increased SAPK/JNK in lesions was co-localized or coincided with high levels of transcription factor p53 as identified by double labeling and immunoprecipitation. Abundant pro-apoptotic protein BAX and BCL-X(S) were also observed. Furthermore, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidized LDL stimulated SAPK/JNK activation in cultured SMCs in a time- and dose-dependent manner. LDL also induced SAPK/JNK activation in vascular SMCs derived from LDL-receptor-deficient Watanabe rabbits, indicating a LDL-receptor-independent process. Thus, SAPK/JNK persistently hyperexpressed and activated in lesions may play a key role in mediating cell differentiation and apoptosis during the development of atherosclerosis via activation of transcription factor p53.

Altered circadian rhythms of the stress hormone and melatonin response in lupus-prone MRL/MP-fas(Ipr) mice

The immune system interacts with the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis via so-called glucocorticoid increasing factors, which are produced by the immune system during immune reactions, causing an elevation of systemic glucocorticoid levels that contribute to preservation of the immune reactions specificities. Previous results from our laboratory had already shown an altered immuno-neuroendocrine dialogue via the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in autoimmune disease-prone chicken and mouse strains. In the present study, we further investigated the altered glucocorticoid response via the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in murine lupus. We established the circadian rhythms of corticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, adrenocorticotropic hormone and melatonin, as well as the time response curves after injection of interleukin-1 of the first three parameters in normal SWISS and lupus-prone MRL/MP-fas(Ipr) mice. The results show that lupus-prone MRL/ MP-fas(Ipr) mice do not react appropriately to changes of the light/dark cycle, circadian melatonin rhythms seem to uncouple from the light/dark cycle, and plasma corticosterone levels are elevated during the resting phase. Diurnal changes of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate and adrenocorticotropic hormone were normal compared to healthy controls. These data indicate that MRL/ MP-fas(Ipr) mice not only show an altered glucocorticoid response mediated via the hypothalamo pituitary adrenal axis to IL-1, but are also affected by disturbances of corticosterone and melatonin circadian rhythms. Our findings may have implications for intrathymic T cell development and the emergence of autoimmune disease.

Reduced neointima hyperplasia of vein bypass grafts in intercellular adhesion molecule-1-deficient mice

Recently, we established a new mouse model of vein graft arteriosclerosis through the grafting of vena cava to carotid arteries. In many respects, the morphological features of this murine vascular graft model resemble those of human venous bypass graft disease. With this model, we studied the role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the development of vein graft arteriosclerosis in ICAM-1-deficient mice. Neointimal hyperplasia of vein grafts in ICAM-1 -/- mice was reduced 30% to 50% compared with that of wild-type control animals. Immmunofluorescent analysis revealed that increased ICAM-1 expression was observed on the endothelium and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of the grafted veins in wild-type, but not ICAM-1 -/-, mice. MAC-1 (CD11b/18)-positive cells that adhered to the surface of vein grafts in ICAM-1 -/- mice were significantly less as identified with en face immunofluorescence, and these positive cells were more abundant in the intimal lesions of vein grafts in wild-type mice. Furthermore, aortic SMCs cultivated from wild-type mice exhibited high ICAM-1 expression in response to tumor necrosis factor-alpha. When tumor necrosis factor-alpha-stimulated SMCs were incubated with mouse spleen leukocytes, the number of cells that adhered to ICAM-1 -/- SMCs was significantly lower than the number that adhered to ICAM-1 +/+ SMCs, which was markedly blocked through pretreatment of leukocytes with the anti-MAC-1 antibody. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that ICAM-1 is critical in the development of venous bypass graft arteriosclerosis, which provides essential information for therapeutic intervention for vein graft disease in patients undergoing bypass surgery.

The effects of Valette on skin and hair: a post-marketing surveillance study

The effects of Valette--an oral contraceptive containing ethinyloestradiol 0.03 mg and the antiandrogenic progestogen dienogest 2.0 mg--on the skin and hair were surveyed over 63,474 cycles in 10,718 women in routine gynaecological practice. Improvements were greatest in women with severe or moderate androgen-related symptoms. After six cycles, < 1% of women had severely greasy hair and 6% had moderate greasiness, compared with 11% and 27% at baseline; fewer hair washes were needed per week. The incidence of severe and moderately greasy skin disorders fell from 16% to < 1%, and from 39% to 7.5%, respectively. Self-assessments indicated less greasy hair and improved greasy skin disorders in 70% and 81% of women, respectively. The overall effect of Valette on the skin and hair was rated very good or good by 87.5% of women. These results confirm previous observations of a beneficial effect of Valette on androgen-related skin and hair conditions.

Endothelial injury in internal organs of University of California at Davis line 200 (UCD 200) chickens, an animal model for systemic sclerosis (Scleroderma)

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem disorder characterized by mononuclear cell infiltration and fibrosis. Using skin samples from human SSc and UCD 200 chickens, which spontaneously develop a hereditary disease closely resembling human SSc, we have shown previously that endothelial cell apoptosis is a primary event in the pathogenesis of SSc. The aim of the present study was to investigate the initial disease stage in visceral organs of UCD 200 chickens with special emphasis on endothelial apoptosis, mononuclear cell infiltration and collagen deposition using tissue samples from oesophagus, lung, heart, kidney and liver. Apoptotic endothelial cells were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated FITC-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), mononuclear cell infiltrates were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and increased collagen deposition was demonstrated by Goldner staining. Apoptotic endothelial cells were detected in oesophagus, lung and kidney of UCD 200 chickens at the initial stage of the disease. No apoptotic endothelial cells were found in heart or liver of UCD 200 or in visceral organs of healthy normal UCD 058 control chickens. Oesophagus of UCD 200 chickens, which was the most affected internal organ, showed mononuclear cell infiltrations and increased deposition of collagen. Perivascular inflammatory infiltrates and collagen deposition appeared later than endothelial cell apoptosis. These data support the hypothesis that endothelial cell apoptosis initiates the disease process, followed by mononuclear cell infiltration and fibrosis.

Stereoselective metabolism of the monoterpene carvone by rat and human liver microsomes

The large amounts of carvone enantiomers consumed as food additives and in dental formulations justifies the evaluation of their biotransformation pathway. The in-vitro metabolism of R-(-)- and S-(+)-carvone was studied in rat and human liver microsomes using chiral gas chromatography. Stereoselective biotransformation was observed when each enantiomer was incubated separately with liver microsomes. 4R, 6S-(-)-Carveol was NADPH-dependently formed from R-(-)-carvone, whereas 4S, 6S-(+)-carveol was produced from S-(+)-carvone. Metabolite formation followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics exhibiting a significant lower apparent Km (Michaelis-Menten Constant) for 4R, 6S-(-)-carveol compared with 4S, 6S-(+)-carveol in rat and human liver microsomes (28.4+/-10.6 microM and 69.4+/-10.3 microM vs 33.6+/-8-55 microM and 98.3+/-22.4 microM). The maximal formation rate (Vmax) determined in the same microsomal preparations yielded 30.2+/-5.0 and 32.3+/-3.9 pmol (mg protein)(-1) min(-1) in rat liver and 55.3+/-5.7 and 65.2+/-4.3 pmol (mg protein)(-1) min(-1) in human liver microsomes. Phase II conjugation of the carveol isomers by rat and human liver microsomes in the presence of UDPGA (uridine S'-diphosphogluaronic acid) only revealed glucuronidation of 4R, 6S-(-)-carveol. Vmax for glucuronide formation was more than 4-fold higher in the rat liver compared with human liver preparations (185.9+/-34.5 and 42.6+/-7.1 pmol (mg protein)(-1) min(-1), respectively). Km values, however, showed no species-related difference (13.9+/-4.1 microM and 10.2+/-2.2 microM). This study demonstrated stereoselectivity in phase-I and phase-II metabolism for R-(-)- and S-(+)-carvone and might be predictive for carvone biotransformation in man.

Glucocorticoid production in the murine thymus

Glucocorticoid hormones are known to act as important modulatory factors in the development of autoimmune diseases, and to play an important role in thymic T-cell selection. There seems to be a finely balanced equilibrium between the apoptosis-inducing effects of glucocorticoid and T cell receptor ligand binding. Here we are investigating whether glucocorticoid-induced T cell apoptosis is mainly dependent on circulating glucocorticoid levels or if the thymus itself is able to produce glucocorticoids. To this end, we attempted to demonstrate enzyme activities of the whole set of steroidogenic enzymes for the synthesis of glucocorticoids in murine thymic tissue. We isolated steroidogenic organelles from thymic tissue, incubated these with radioactive (precursor) steroids in vitro, and visualized the resulting products by thin-layer chromatography. Our results show that the thymus possesses all enzymes and cofactors required for glucocorticoid production. However, an intact thymic architecture is necessary for glucocorticoid production, since 11beta-hydroxylase was not detected in irradiated thymi or in a thymic epithelial cell line. The results of these experiments show that the whole glucocorticoid metabolism takes place within the thymus. This finding provides the biochemical basis for the in situ effects of glucocorticoid hormones on thymocyte development and selection.

Mouse model of transplant arteriosclerosis: role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1

Transplant-accelerated arteriosclerosis in coronary arteries is the major limitation to long-term survival of patients with heart transplantation. The pathogenesis of this disease is not fully understood. Herein, we describe a simplified model of artery allografts in the mouse that allows us to take advantage of transgenic, knockout, or mutant animals. Common carotid arteries or aortic vessels were end-to-end allografted into carotid arteries between C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice. Neointimal lesions were observed as early as 2 weeks after surgery and had progressed at 4 and 6 weeks postoperatively. The lumen of grafted arteries was significantly narrowed due to neointima hyperplasia 4 weeks after transplantation. Using this model, we studied the role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the development of transplant arteriosclerosis in ICAM-1-deficient mice. Neointimal lesions of artery grafts from ICAM-1 -/- C57BL/6J to BALB/c mice were reduced up to 60% compared with wild-type controls. MAC-1 (CD11b/18)-positive cells adhering to the surface of ICAM-1 -/- artery grafts were significantly less as identified by en face immunofluorescence, and these positive cells were more abundant in intimal lesions of artery grafts in wild-type mice. Furthermore, the major cell component of neointimal lesions 4 weeks after surgery was found to be alpha-actin-positive smooth muscle cells, which were significantly reduced in lesions of ICAM-1 -/- artery grafts. Thus, this model has been proven to be useful for understanding the mechanism of transplant arteriosclerosis. Our findings demonstrate that ICAM-1 is critical in the development of allograft arteriosclerosis via mediation of leukocyte adhesion to, and infiltration into, the vessel wall.

Hyperexpression and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) in atherosclerotic lesions of cholesterol-fed rabbits

A hallmark of hyperlipidemia-induced atherosclerosis is altered gene expression that initiates cell proliferation and (de)differentiation in the intima of the arterial wall. The molecular signaling that mediates this process in vivo has yet to be identified. Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) are thought to play a pivotal role in transmitting transmembrane signals required for cell proliferation in vitro. The present studies were designed to investigate the activity, abundance, and localization of ERK1/2 in atherosclerotic lesions of cholesterol-fed rabbits. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed abundant and heterogeneous distribution of ERK1/2, mainly localized in the cap and basal regions of atheromas. A population of ERK-enriched cells was identified as alpha-actin-positive smooth muscle cells (SMCs). ERK1 and 2 were heavily phosphorylated on tyrosyl residues and coexpressed with proliferating cell nuclear antigen in atherosclerotic lesions. ERK1/2 protein levels in protein extracts from atherosclerotic lesions were 2- to 3-fold higher than the vessels of chow-fed rabbits, and their activities were elevated 3- to 5-fold over those of the normal vessel. SMCs derived from atherosclerotic lesions had increased migratory/proliferative ability and higher ERK activity in response to LDL stimulation compared with cells from the normal vessel. Inhibition of ERK activation by PD98059, a specific inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MEK1/2), abrogated LDL-induced SMC proliferation in vitro. Taken together, our findings support the proposition that persistent activation and hyperexpression of ERK1/2 may be a critical element to initiate and perpetuate cell proliferation during the development of atherosclerosis.

[Brief report of the working group OPD-CA (children and adolescents) Axis III: conflict]

Conflict according to the OPD is understood as a lasting and unconscious inner conflict, which should be described on the background of the child's or adolescent's developmental state. In accordance with the adult OPD the following seven conflicts can be differentiated: Dependence versus autonomy, submission versus control, desire for care versus autarchy, conflicts of self-value (narcissistic conflicts, self-value versus object-value), conflicts of loyalty (guilt conflicts, egoistic versus pro-social tendencies), oedipal sexual conflicts, identity conflicts (identity versus dissonance). These conflicts have been operationalized for 6 domain of daily living--family, peers, kindergarten/school, property, play and illness--for the developmental phases (2-5, 6-11, and older than 12 years) separately.

The efficacy and tolerability of Valette: a postmarketing surveillance study

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS

A postmarketing survey was carried out to determine the efficacy and tolerability of Valette (dienogest 2.0 mg and ethinylestradiol 0.03 mg) in routine gynecological practice.

RESULTS

Valette had excellent contraceptive efficacy (unadjusted Pearl index 0.14), with 11 unplanned pregnancies from a total of 92 146 cycles of exposure, of which at least four were attributable to user failure. Cycle control was good, with spotting and breakthrough bleeding, which affected 5.0% and 3.4% of women, respectively, during the first cycle, becoming less frequent thereafter. Silent menstruation, i.e. the absence of withdrawal bleeding, affected on average 2.0% of women per cycle and 5.9% within the observation period. Valette was well tolerated. The most common adverse drug reactions were mastalgia (1.46% of all users), weight gain (1.11%), headache (0.98%), nausea/vomiting (0.96%), dysmenorrhea (0.35%), decreased libido (0.31%) and depressive moods (0.28%). The dropout rate due to adverse drug reactions was only 3.2%. Only six of the 16 267 women reported events which were considered to be serious adverse drug reactions; all recovered with appropriate treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

These results confirm those from previous clinical trials, and demonstrate that Valette is highly effective, very well tolerated and produces excellent cycle control in routine practice.

Inhibition of neointima hyperplasia of mouse vein grafts by locally applied suramin

BACKGROUND

Saphenous vein grafts are widely used for aortocoronary bypass surgery as treatment for severe atherosclerosis and often are complicated by subsequent occlusion of the graft vessel.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We described a mouse model of venous bypass graft arteriosclerosis that can be effectively retarded by locally applied suramin, a growth factor receptor antagonist. Mouse isogeneic vessels of the vena cava veins pretreated with suramin were grafted end to end into the carotid arteries and enveloped with a mixture of suramin (1 mmol/L) and pluronic-127 gel. In the untreated group, vessel wall thickening was observed as early as 1 week after surgery and progressed to 4-fold and 10-fold the original thickness in grafted veins at 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. Pluronic-127 gel alone did not influence neointima formation. Suramin treatment reduced the neointima hyperplasia 50% to 70% compared with untreated controls. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that a significant proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) constituted neointimal lesions between 4 and 8 weeks. The majority of SMCs expressed platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptors-alpha and -beta, which were significantly reduced by suramin treatment. In vitro studies indicated that suramin completely blocked PDGF receptor activation or phosphorylation stimulated by PDGF-AB, inhibited activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK) kinases (MEK1/2) and ERK1/2, and abrogated transcription factor AP-1 DNA-binding activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Suramin inhibited SMC migration and proliferation in vivo and in vitro by blocking PDGF-initiated PDGF receptor and MAPK-AP-1 signaling. These findings indicate that locally applied suramin is effective in a mouse model of venous bypass graft arteriosclerosis.

Inhibition of arteriosclerosis by T-cell depletion in normocholesterolemic rabbits immunized with heat shock protein 65

Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that arteriosclerotic changes can be induced in normocholesterolemic rabbits by immunization with mycobacterial heat shock protein (hsp) 65. To further investigate the immunologic mechanisms underlying such vascular lesions, 39 male New Zealand White rabbits were treated by triple immunization with fortified Freund's complete adjuvant containing 5 mg/mL Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a source of hsp65 and simultaneous immunosuppressive therapy twice per week with either anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (1 mg/kg) and prednisolone (1 mg/kg) or prednisolone (1 mg/kg) alone. Sixteen weeks after the first immunization the animals were killed, and as expected, severe arteriosclerotic lesions in the intima of the aortic arch were found in 9 of 10 immunized rabbits. However, only 1 of 10 rabbits immunized and immunosuppressed with the combined anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody and prednisolone treatment showed a single moderate lesion in the aorta, whereas 5 of 9 rabbits immunized and immunosuppressed by prednisolone treatment alone showed lesions, albeit mild. In conclusion, the early inflammatory stages of arteriosclerotic lesions induced by immunization with hsp65 can be inhibited by immunosuppressive therapy with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody.

Detection and quantitation of genetically marked acute myeloid leukemia by competitive polymerase chain reaction after autologous bone marrow transplantation: a preclinical model for minimal residual disease

Preclinical models and methods aimed at detecting and quantitating minimal residual disease (MRD) after autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) could facilitate assessment of innovative therapeutic strategies for their antileukemic potential. Among the various techniques exploited to identify MRD, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) proved to be a valuable tool in instances in which clonogeneic markers are involved during the evolution of disease. In human AML, however, detection of MRD by PCR is limited to a minority of subgroups, as clonospecific markers are absent or presently unknown. Although gene labeling has proved to be efficient in detecting marker-devoid leukemia cells in preclinical models, detection and quantitation by PCR have not yet been considered. We therefore developed an experimental model in which detection and quantitation of genetically marked murine AML cells are based on a highly sensitive two-step nested PCR and competitive PCR protocol, respectively. We further demonstrated its applicability to a murine syngeneic BMT model that was designed to monitor minimal numbers of gene-tagged AML cells at various time intervals after transplantation. Our results showed that detection and quantitation could reproducibly be achieved at levels as low as one in 10(6) and 10(5) cells, respectively.

Mouse model of venous bypass graft arteriosclerosis

Saphenous vein grafts are widely used for treatment of severe atherosclerosis via aortocoronary bypass surgery, a procedure often complicated by later occlusion of the graft vessel. Because the molecular mechanisms of this process remain largely unknown, quantitative models of venous bypass graft arteriosclerosis in transgenic mice could be useful to study this process at the genetic level. We describe herein a new model of vein grafts in the mouse that allows us to take advantage of transgenic, knockout, or mutant animals. Autologous or isogeneic vessels of the external jugular or vena cava veins were end-to-end grafted into carotid arteries of C57BL/6J mice. Vessel wall thickening was observed as early as 1 week after surgery and progressed to 4-, 10-, 15-, and 18-fold original thickness in grafted veins at age 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks, respectively. The lumen of grafted veins was significantly narrowed because of neointima hyperplasia. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed three lesion processes: marked loss of smooth muscle cells in vein segments 1 and 2 weeks after grafting, massive infiltration of mononuclear cells (CD11b/18+) in the vessel wall between 2 and 4 weeks, and a significant proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (alpha-actin+) to constitute neointimal lesions between 4 and 16 weeks. Similar vein graft lesions were obtained when external jugular veins or vena cava were isografted into carotid arteries of C57BL/6J mice. Moreover, no significant intima hyperplasia in vein-to-vein isografts was found, although there was leukocyte infiltration in the vessel wall. Thus, this model, which reproduces many of the features of human vein graft arteriosclerosis, should prove useful for our understanding of the mechanism of vein graft disease and to evaluate the effects of drugs and gene therapy on vascular diseases.

Environmental influence on age-related changes of human lymphocyte membrane viscosity using severe combined immunodeficiency mice as an in vivo model

Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of healthy elderly people show increased plasma membrane viscosity compared to young subjects, that inversely correlates with lymphocyte proliferation after mitogen stimulation in vitro. Maintenance of a constant membrane viscosity, which is necessary for proper cell function, is crucially dependent on the membrane lipid composition. The cellular lipid metabolism, and thus lymphocyte function, may be subject to modulation by diet or drugs. To study the susceptibility of membrane viscosity to environmental conditions, we established an in vivo model using severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice: human peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy young and old subjects were engrafted for three days intraperitoneally into SCID mice to offer identical environmental conditions. First, we demonstrate that human lymphocytes can take up and utilize murine lipoproteins: engrafted human PBL can participate in the mouse lipid metabolism, and an exchange of membrane lipids in vivo is, therefore, possible. Second, plasma membrane viscosity was determined before and after engraftment: before engraftment, PBL from the elderly showed a significantly higher membrane viscosity than that from young controls, but this difference vanished during engraftment into SCID mice, wherein cells from both age groups exhibited nearly identical values. It was, therefore, concluded that lymphocyte membrane viscosity is influenced by environmental factors, and that the age-related increase is, in principle, reversible.

[Mesoblastic nephroma in adulthood]

We report a 44-year-old female patient who underwent surgery because of a suspected primary tumor of the renal pelvis in imaging procedures. Histology revealed the diagnosis of mesoblastic nephroma. This tumor represents a special entity of nephroblastoma that rarely occurs in adults. There is no unanimous opinion on the biological behavior of mesoblastic nephroma because the tumor behaves differently. The question of whether nephrectomy is indicated if there are no malignant features is also open. The decision depends on the given case. Nephrectomy can only be avoided if the intraoperative situation allows the tumor to be removed with an adequate distance from healthy tissue. The safety margin is necessary because mesoblastic nephroma shows fingerlike spread into the surrounding tissue.

Ocular pharmacokinetics of verapamil in rabbits

Previously, it had been demonstrated that cataract in diabetic rats can be prevented by systemical administration of the calcium channel blocker verapamil. In addition to that, 0.125% verapamil eye drops were found to significantly reduce the intraocular pressure in ocular hypertensive human subjects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ocular penetration and elimination of verapamil after topical administration of the drug in rabbits. Two drops of a 0.125% aqueous solution of RS-verapamil hydrochloride (corresponding to a total dose of 125 microg RS-verapamil hydrochloride) were administered into the conjunctival sac. Aqueous humor and blood samples were taken at different times after administration and analysed for drug concentration by combined gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Following the instillation of 0.125% verapamil eye drops in a total dose of 125 microg RS-verapamil, mean (+/- SEM) aqueous humor peak levels of 1607 +/- 272 ng/ml were achieved after 20 min. Mean half-life for the elimination from the aqueous humor was 33 min. Topical application of verapamil produced very low serum peak concentrations (10.5 +/- 1.3 ng/ml). The results of our study demonstrate that topically administered verapamil readily penetrates into the anterior chamber leading to aqueous humor drug levels in the microM range without producing serum levels that are high enough to cause cardiovascular side effects.

Abundance of platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs), PDGF receptors and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in brain decline with age

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) specifically bind to PDGF receptors (PDGFRs), resulting in their activation via autophosphorylation and subsequent triggering of a cascade of phosphorylation events that include mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. Most of our knowledge concerning MAP kinase activation comes from studies of cultured cells in vitro, and little is known about their activation in vivo. In the present study, we determined PDGF and PDGFR levels and MAP kinase activities, including extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK) and c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinases (JNK) or stress-activated protein kinases (SAPK) in brain of young and older mice. Both PDGF and PDGFR proteins were most abundant in protein extracts from brain (cerebral cortex) among tissues of heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney, as determined by Western blot analysis. PDGFR proteins in brain differed significantly between young (1 or 8 weeks) and older (14 months) mice and PDGFR phosphorylation was seen in all age groups examined by a specific antibody against phosphotyrosine. The highest activity ERK2 was also observed in brain tissues, and this activity declined with age, although ERK1 and ERK2 protein levels were not significantly altered during development and aging. Furthermore, the activity and amount of JNK/SAPK proteins were the most abundant in brain tissues and did not change with age. Thus, our findings demonstrate that the highest levels of PDGFs and PDGFRs existed in brain, and constitutive activation of MAP kinases declined with age, suggesting that signal pathways mediated by PDGF-MAP kinase cascades are important components in coordinating growth and differentiation of neurone and glial cells during development and aging.

Altered procollagen mRNA expression during the progression of avian scleroderma

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous animal models of human autoimmune diseases provide the means to study the very first pathogenetic events, which is not possible in their human counterparts. This is particularly true for connective tissue diseases in which clinical symptoms become manifest only after a long and still obscure course of immunologic, inflammatory, and fibrotic processes. University of California at Davis line 200 chickens (UCD-200) develop a hereditary scleroderma-like disease resembling the entire spectrum of human systemic sclerosis, such as early endothelial cell damage, severe lymphocytic infiltration, and accumulation of collagen in skin and internal organs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, we investigated mRNA levels of alpha 1(I), alpha 2(I), alpha 1(II), alpha 1(III), alpha 1(VI), alpha 2(VI), and alpha 3(VI) procollagen and GAPDH using digoxigenin-labeled antisense probes in a nonradioactive ribonuclease protection assay (RPA). We analyzed tissue samples from comb, esophagus, heart, lung, and liver of UCD-200 chickens at different stages of the disease, and healthy UCD-058 chickens.

RESULTS

During the early inflammatory stage of the disease, the ratios of procollagen types VI/I and types VI/III increased 7-fold in comb tissue, followed by a 3-fold elevation in type I procollagen transcripts in the late acute stage. In the chronic stage, alpha 1(III) procollagen message was increased 2-fold. Additionally, hybridization with the 180 bp alpha 2(I) antisense probe resulted in two bands of 180 bp and 115 bp, respectively, in the RPA. The ratio of these two previously undescribed bands changes in the early stage of the disease both in comb and esophagus.

CONCLUSIONS

In an animal model with a spontaneous scleroderma-like disease we found a characteristic, sequential increase in type VI, type I, and type III procollagen transcripts, and we found evidence for the presence and altered ratio of two mRNA variants of alpha 2(I) procollagen, possibly caused by alternative splicing. Comparative analysis of alpha 2(I) procollagen variants in early stages of avian scleroderma and human SSc might provide answers to unresolved questions concerning the molecular basis for generalized fibrosis in scleroderma.

Influence of the antacid Maalox and the H2-antagonist cimetidine on the pharmacokinetics of cerivastatin

The possible influence of Maalox 70, an antacid based on magnesium-aluminum hydroxide, and the H2-antagonist cimetidine, both commonly prescribed in hypercholesterolemic patients, on the pharmacokinetics of the new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor cerivastatin was investigated in 2 separate studies in 8 healthy young male subjects each. Cerivastatin plasma concentration/time profiles were assessed by a specific HPLC assay; in addition, total immunoreactive drug (cerivastatin plus metabolites) was determined by RIA. Single oral doses of 200 micrograms cerivastatin were administered under fasting conditions without or with 10 ml Maalox 70 suspension. The mean AUC and Cmax ratios (combined dosing/monodosing) including 90% confidence intervals were 0.92 (0.73-1.15) and 0.89 (0.72-1.10) for the HPLC data, and 0.99 (0.85-1.14) and 1.03 (0.82-1.30) for the RIA data, respectively. Thus, no interaction of the simultaneous administration of Maalox 70 on the pharmacokinetics of cerivastatin was observed. In a similar controlled, randomized nonblind 2-way crossover design the influence of the H2- antagonist and well-known cytochrome P450 enzyme inhibitor cimetidine was investigated. Eight healthy young male volunteers received single oral doses of 200 micrograms cerivastatin alone or on the fourth day of a 4-day cimetidine 400 mg b.i.d. pretreatment. The mean AUC and Cmax ratios (combined dosing/monodosing) including 90% confidence intervals were 0.98 (0.90-1.08) and 0.91 (0.78-1.07) for the RIA data, and 0.89 (0.82-0.96) and 0.93 (0.80-1.09) for the HPLC data, respectively, clearly indicating that cimetidine and cerivastatin did not interact pharmacokinetically. These results do not only reflect the apparent insensitivity of cerivastatin absorption to possible changes in gastric pH, but demonstrate that the metabolic pathways of cerivastatin, involved in its first-pass metabolism and elimination, are rather insensitive to cytochrome P450 enzyme inhibition induced by cimetidine.

Disturbed immunoendocrine communication via the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in murine lupus

Immune reactions and mitogen stimulation of mammals and chickens lead to an increase of glucocorticoid (GC) plasma levels concomitant with the immune response. Interleukin (IL) 1, one of the most important glucocorticoid increasing factors produced by cells of the immune system, acts via the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This pattern of immunoendocrine feedback communication is altered in autoimmune disease (AID) and represents a possible site of action for GC therapy. In the present study we investigated the role and possible underlying mechanisms of a disturbed immunoendocrine communication via the HPA axis in murine lupus. We analyzed the response to recombinant human (rhu) IL-1alpha in AID-prone mice [NZB, NZW, (NZB/NZW)F1, MRL/MP-lpr] in comparison to nonautoimmune, normal control mice (Swiss, C3H/HeJ, MRL/MP-+/+) at different levels of the HPA axis. To this end, we quantified the plasma levels of ACTH, corticosterone, and corticosterone-binding globulin (CBG) and determined various pathology parameters for autoimmunity. AID-prone mice produced nearly the same levels of plasma corticosterone after injection of rhu IL-1alpha as normal mice, but had baseline corticosterone levels consistently higher, thus resulting in significantly lower corticosterone increasing ratios. ACTH levels increased after rhu IL-1alpha injection, but there was no clearcut difference in the increasing ratios of AID-prone and normal strains. CBG levels showed no difference. As expected, there was a correlation of pathology parameters for autoimmunity and the altered immunomodulatory response to rhu IL-1alpha per group. On an individual basis, there was no such correlation. In conclusion, our results confirm the existence of a disturbed immunoendocrine communication in AID-prone mice. This disturbance clearly differs from individual to individual and also among different types of AID.

Endothelial cell apoptosis is a primary pathogenetic event underlying skin lesions in avian and human scleroderma

The mechanism that may cause degenerative fibrotic skin lesions was studied in situ using skin biopsies from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), localized scleroderma, or keloids, and at the initial disease stage in the University of California at Davis (UCD) lines 200/206 chickens, which develop a hereditary systemic connective tissue disease resembling human SSc and permit study of disease stages not accessible in humans. Frozen skin sections were analyzed simultaneously for apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated FITC-dUTP nick end labeling and indirect immunofluorescence staining of cell markers with tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate conjugates. The results showed that endothelial cells are clearly the first cells to undergo apoptosis in the skin of UCD-200/206 chickens, a process that seems to be induced by anti-endothelial cell antibodies. In human fibrotic skin diseases, apoptotic endothelial cells could only be detected in early inflammatory disease stages of SSc and localized scleroderma.

Regression of arteriosclerotic lesions induced by immunization with heat shock protein 65-containing material in normocholesterolemic, but not hypercholesterolemic, rabbits

Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that arteriosclerotic changes can be induced in normocholesterolemic rabbits by immunization with mycobacterial heat shock protein 65 (hsp 65). To investigate the possible regression of such vascular lesions, 63 male New Zealand White rabbits were treated either by triple immunization with fortified Freund's complete adjuvant containing 5 mg/ml Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a hsp 65-rich material, by administration of a 0.2% cholesterol-rich diet only or by a combination of both immunization and cholesterol-rich diet. Sixteen weeks after the first immunization, half of the animals of each group were sacrificed, and as expected arteriosclerotic lesions in the intima of the aortic arch were found in 8 of 10 immunized animals. The remaining animals were sacrificed 16 weeks thereafter, having been maintained on a normal, non-cholesterol-enriched diet from week 16 to 32. Only 3 of 10 rabbits immunized showed moderate lesions in their aortae 32 weeks after the first immunization. On the other hand, atherosclerotic lesions induced by cholesterol-rich diet, or by immunization plus cholesterol-rich diet, showed no significant regression between 16 and 32 weeks. In conclusion, the early inflammatory stages of arteriosclerotic lesions induced by immunization with hsp 65 can regress in the absence of additional risk factors for atherosclerosis, such as a cholesterol rich diet.

Analysis of the initiation period of spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis (SAT) in obese strain (OS) of chickens

The early, predictable, onset of spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis (SAT) in Obese strain (OS) chickens provides a unique opportunity to analyse the mechanisms initiating autoimmunity which is virtually impossible to obtain in humans. In this study we focused on the respective roles of viruses and macrophages in the initiation of SAT. To analyse viruses, leukosis virus-free OS chickens were bred over three generations and reared under gnotobiotic conditions. By 2 weeks of age there were no differences in the levels of thyroid mononuclear cell infiltration between these and control animals. The role of mononuclear phagocytes in SAT was determined by their depletion via injecting newborn OS chicks with silica or carrageenan and dichloro-methylene diphosphonate encapsulated into liposomes. Although this treatment did not substantially change the amount of macrophages in primary lymphoid organs or blood, there was destruction of splenic architecture and, most importantly, mononuclear cell infiltration of the thyroids was significantly lower compared to controls. The role of activated macrophages in SAT is discussed.

Atherosclerosis as an autoimmune condition

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial vascular disorder responsible for the highest rate of mortality in the western world. During the last decades, research on this disease has primarily focused on the role of lipids, which are essential to the formation of lesions in the vascular intima that ultimately leads to clinically apparent atherosclerotic plaques. More recently, several anecdotal findings have indicated the possible involvement of the immune system in the process of atherogenesis. In particular, the appearance of immunocompetent cells as well as humoral antibodies in the intima in the early stages of disease development supports the view of an inflammatory component in this disorder. In addition to the search for lipid-associated antigens that might entail full-blown atherosclerosis, other candidate antigens capable of inducing an immune response in the vascular wall have also been explored. Within the probable group of antigens for immune responsiveness, heat shock protein (hsp) 60/65 became a serious candidate, upon observation that immunization of rabbits with this protein led to arteriosclerotic changes of the aortic intima. In the last few years we have established this rabbit model for immunologic investigations of atherosclerosis and, in parallel, examined the pathogenesis of human atherosclerosis with regard to hsp 60/65 immune reactivity. Currently available data point to an autoimmune induction of early inflammatory arteriosclerotic changes triggered by a cellular and humoral immune reaction to stress-induced hsp 60-expressing areas of the endothelial cells.

Genomic analysis of collagen and endogenous virus loci in the UCD-200 and 206 lines of chickens, animal models for scleroderma

University of California at Davis (UCD) lines 200 and 206 chickens develop a hereditary systemic scleroderma-like connective tissue disease characterized by severe lymphocytic infiltration and excessive accumulation of collagen in skin and internal organs. The immune system seems to play an important role in the development and/or perpetuation of this condition. The main goal of our work with this strain is the investigation of interactions between endothelial cells, lymphocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts leading to the proliferation of the latter and to excessive collagen synthesis and/or deposition. One aim of the present study was to clarify whether UCD-200 and 206 chickens have a defect of collagen genes at the genomic level by means of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis using non-radioactively labelled cDNA probes specific for chicken alpha 1(I), alpha 2(I), alpha 1(II), alpha 1(III), alpha 1(VI), alpha 2(VI), and alpha 3(VI) (pro) collagens. As in the human disease, no gross alteration at the genomic level of collagen genes has been found, thus providing the UCD-200/206 model to be appropriate for studying the altered collagen metabolism in systemic sclerosis (SSc). In addition to the RFLP analysis of procollagen genes, we investigated the endogenous avian leukosis virus loci (ev) of UCD-200 and 206 chickens by means of Southern blot analysis of Sac I and BamH I digested DNA samples using pRAV-2, a Rous sarcoma virus specific probe, for hybridization. Most UCD-200 and 206 chickens harbour evs 1, 3 and 10 similar to the healthy control UCD-058, but they also contain a novel ev characterized by a 4.2 kb Sac I fragment and a 6.1 kb BamH I fragment, which we would like to designate ev 23. So far, the role of ev 23 in the development of avian scleroderma is unclear; for further analysis classical crossbreeding experiments are necessary and are underway.

Allogeneic liver transplantation for hepatic veno-occlusive disease after bone marrow transplantation--clinical and immunological considerations

Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is a frequent complication early after bone marrow transplantation. In cases of severe liver failure treatment by allogeneic liver transplantation is possible. We report the clinical and immunological course of a patient after bone marrow transplantation for AML and subsequent allogeneic liver transplantation for severe hepatic VOD. After liver transplantation the patient recovered well clinically. Early after liver transplantation he had large numbers of liver donor T and NK lymphocytes in his circulation. He had no liver graft rejection, but he developed mild acute GVHD which was caused by liver graft-derived T lymphocytes. Two years after transplantation he had persistent microchimerism with donor liver cells detectable in his bone marrow. Now 36 months after transplantation, the patient has no evidence of recurrent leukemia, stable liver function, and no signs of graft-versus-host disease or bone marrow dysfunction.