Lipoxygenase may be involved in cationic liposome-induced macrophage apoptosis

The purpose of this study was to determine the source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the contribution of ROS to the apoptosis of RAW264.7 cells induced by cationic liposomes. Cationic liposome-induced apoptosis was inhibited by lipoxygenase inhibitors, but not inhibitors of NADPH-oxidase, xanthine oxidase or cyclooxygenase. ROS generation induced by cationic liposomes was also inhibited by the lipoxygenase inhibitor NDGA. Furthermore, lipid peroxidation was observed following liposome treatment, but the apoptosis was not inhibited by the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol. These findings suggested that lipoxygenase is responsible for ROS generation, and ROS but not lipid peroxidation acts as a key mediator in the progress of apoptosis induced by cationic liposomes.

Stimulatory effect of centrally injected capsaicin, an agonist of vanilloid receptors, on gastric acid secretion in rats

Capsaicin, the main pungent ingredient in chilli peppers, acts through specific vanilloid receptors on sensory neurons. The vanilloid receptors have been localized in the brain. We describe here a stimulatory effect of centrally injected capsaicin on gastric acid secretion in urethane-anesthetized rats. Injection of capsaicin (10-30 nmol per rat) into the lateral cerebroventricle markedly stimulated the secretion. Injection of capsazepine (30 nmol) or ruthenium red (30 nmol), antagonists for vanilloid receptors, into the lateral cerebroventricle inhibited the secretion induced by capsaicin, although these antagonists alone significantly stimulated the secretion. Injection of capsaicin into the fourth cerebroventricle also stimulated gastric acid secretion. The effects of centrally injected capsaicin into the lateral and fourth cerebroventricle were mediated via the vagus cholinergic nerve, because the effects were abolished by bilateral vagotomy at the cervical level. The present findings showed that central injection of capsaicin stimulated gastric acid secretion, via vanilloid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS), and through vagus nerve mechanisms in the perfused stomach of urethane-anesthetized rats.

Improved survival of children with advanced neuroblastoma treated by intensified therapy including myeloablative chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation: a retrospective analysis from the Tohoku Neuroblastoma Study Group

In the hospitals of the Tohoku Neuroblastoma Study Group (TNBSG), treatment for children with advanced neuroblastoma (NB) was intensified in the mid-1990's with the introduction of myeloablative therapy (MT) with stem cell transplantation (SCT) including the use of autologous peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) and bone marrow transplantation (BMT). In this report, we examined whether the intensified therapy improved the outcome of children with advanced NB (age> 12 months) who were diagnosed between 1991 and 1997. Patients were 36 children (23 boys and 13 girls) with an average age of 3.4 years (range; 1 to 14 years). Six of them had stage III disease, and the other 30 had stage IV. They were treated initially with induction chemotherapy, surgery, and post-operative chemoradiotherapy, after which 17 of them continued further chemotherapy and the other 19 received MT/SCT (18 with PBSCT and 1 with BMT). Progression-free survival (PFS) rate at seven years from diagnosis was 43.5% for all patients, 66.7% for stage III patients and 38.2% for stage IV patients. The difference between stage III and IV patients was not significant. Among the 30 patients with stage IV disease, PFS at seven years was significantly higher in the 19 patients who received MT/SCT (55.6%) than in the 11 patients who did not receive it (12.5%). There was no difference in clinical and biological risk factors between these two groups, except for the proportion of patients with favorable response to initial therapy (36% and 80% for patients without and with MT/SCT, respectively). Furthermore, the proportion of patients with N-myc amplification was significantly higher in patients with progressive disease (PD) after MT/SCT than in those in CR after MT/SCT. The results of this retrospective study of children with advanced NB suggest that therapy intensification involving MT/SCT might result in lengthened survival time for patients with stage IV disease, and that post-transplant PD remains a risk for patients with high levels of N-myc amplification.

Randomized phase I study of standard-fractionated or accelerated-hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin and vindesine for unresectable non-small cell lung cancer: a report of Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study (JCOG 9601)

BACKGROUND

We attempted dose escalation of standard-fractionated and accelerated-hyperfractionated radiotherapy combined with concurrent cisplatin and vindesine to improve local control and survival in unresectable non-small cell lung cancer.

METHODS

Twenty-one patients were enrolled between June 1996 and August 1997. There were 19 males and two females and their median age was 65 years (range 45-74 years). Performance status was 0 in 10 cases and 1 in 11 cases. Disease stage was IIIA in three cases and IIIB in 18 cases. The cases were randomized to a standard-fractionated arm (n = 10) or an accelerated-hyperfractionated radiotherapy arm (n = 11) with two or three cycles of concomitant cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) on day 1 and vindesine 3 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 every 4 weeks in both arms. Dose escalation from 60 Gy/30 fractions/6 weeks to 70 Gy/35 fractions/7 weeks was planned in the standard-fractionated radiotherapy group and from 54 Gy/36 fractions/3.6 weeks to 60 Gy/40 fractions/4 weeks and then 66 Gy/44 fractions/4.4 weeks in the accelerated-hyperfractionated radiotherapy group.

RESULTS

Grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicities were observed as follows: in the standard-fractionated/accelerated-hyperfractionated radiotherapy group, leukocytopenia 9/10, anemia 2/3 and thrombocytopenia 0/2. Grade 3 non-hematological toxicity consisted of esophagitis 0/3, increased serum total bilirubin 2/0 and hypoxia 0/1. Two patients died of radiation pneumonitis in the standard-fractionated radiotherapy group. Dose-limiting toxicity was observed in four of the 10 and seven of the 11 patients at initial dose level of standard-fractionated radiotherapy, 60 Gy/30 fractions/6 weeks, and of accelerated-hyperfractionated radiotherapy, 54 Gy/36 fractions/3.6 weeks, respectively. Thus, we failed to escalate the dose of radiotherapy in both arms. The overall response rate in the standard-fractionated group and the accelerated-hyperfractionated radiotherapy group was 70 and 73% and the 1-year survival rate was 70 and 64%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that these schedules of radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin and vindesine were unacceptable for use in patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer. Further modifications of the schedule for radiotherapy and evaluation of combination with new chemotherapy are warranted.

Stimulatory effects of centrally injected kainate and N-methyl-D-aspartate on gastric acid secretion in anesthetized rats

The effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), kainate and (+/-)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA), ionotropic glutamate agonists, on gastric acid secretion were investigated in the continuously perfused stomach of anesthetized rats. The lateral ventricular (LV) injection of kainate (0.01-1 microg) or NMDA (0.3-3 microg) dose-dependently stimulated gastric acid secretion. AMPA (3-10 microg) also stimulated gastric acid secretion but the effect was very weak. Repeated injections of kainate (0.1 microg) or NMDA (1 microg), at least twice, stimulated gastric acid secretion to a similar degree. The effect of kainate (0.1 microg) was blocked by the kainate receptor antagonists, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione disodium (3 microg, LV) and D-gamma-glutamylaminomethanesulfonic acid (30 microg, LV), but not by NMDA receptor antagonists. The effect of NMDA (10 microg) was blocked by (+/-)-3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-1-propylphosphonic acid (10 microg, LV), a competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, and (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzocyclo-hepten-5,10-imine hydrogen maleate (10 microg, LV), a non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, but not by kainate receptor antagonists. Moreover, the gastric acid secretion stimulated by kainate and NMDA were completely blocked by systemic atropine injection (1 mg/kg, i.v.) and vagotomy. These findings suggest that kainate and NMDA receptor mechanisms are independently involved in the central nervous system to control gastric acid secretion through vagus cholinergic activation.

Gastric acid secretion by central injection of dynorphin A-(1-17), an endogenous ligand of kappa-opioid receptor, in urethane-anesthetized rats

Gastric acid secretion has been proposed to be regulated by opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS). Previously, we reported that central injection of synthetic agonists of kappa-opioid receptors stimulated gastric acid secretion in rats, and the secretion by the agonists was inhibited by norbinaltorphimine (an antagonist of kappa-opioid receptor). In the present study, we investigated the effect of dynorphin A-(1-17), an endogenous ligand of kappa-opioid receptor on the gastric acid secretion in the perfused stomach of urethane-anesthetized rats. Injection of dynorphin A-(1-17) (0.1-1 microg per rat) into the lateral cerebroventricle (LV) stimulated the secretion in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of dynorphin A-(1-17) was almost completely inhibited by the LV injection of norbinaltorphimine (10 microg) and in vagotomized rats. Although some studies of dynorphin A-(1-17) after central injection showed non-opioid effects such as the involvement of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, the effect of dynorphin A-(1-17) was not inhibited by a selective antagonist of the NMDA receptor ((+/-)-3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-1-propylphosphonic acid, 10 microg). The LV injection of naloxone benzoylhydrazone (a kappa3-opioid receptor agonist, 100 microg) also stimulated the secretion in norbinaltorphimine-sensitive manner. These findings showed that both an endogenous ligand dynorphin A-(1-17) and a synthetic kappa3-opioid receptor agonist stimulated gastric acid secretion via kappa-opioid receptors in the CNS of rats in vivo.

Identification of anti-herpes simplex virus antibody-producing B cells in a patient with an atypical RAG1 immunodeficiency

Mutations of the RAG1 or RAG2 protein that eliminate their recombination activity result in T-B-severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), whereas mutations retaining partial recombination activity lead to Omenn syndrome, a peculiar SCID characterized by increased host T cells and absence of circulating B cells. The prognosis of this disease is fatal, unless hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is performed. This study reports a case of atypical SCID, carrying RAG1 mutations. The patient survived for 6 years without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The missense mutation, tested by in vivo recombination assay, revealed residual recombination activity. By the age of 5 years, the patient developed host B cells, but not T cells, possibly due to engrafted maternal T cells. In addition, the host B cells were able to produce antibodies, including anti-herpes simplex virus-antibodies. The fact that host B cells could produce antibodies in this patient could explain not only the mild phenotype observed but also, at least in part, how patients with Omenn syndrome produce immunoglobulin E and sometimes immunoglobulin M, as the same missense mutation of RAG1 gene has been reported in a patient with Omenn syndrome.

Cationic liposomes induce macrophage apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway

To clarify the mechanism of apoptosis of the macrophage-like cell line RAW264.7 induced by cationic liposomes, we focused on the mitochondria and investigated the changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and the release of cytochrome c following treatment of cationic liposomes composed of stearylamine (SA-liposomes). SA-liposomes induced mitochondrial membrane depolarization and also the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. Caspase-3 was also activated by SA-liposome treatment. Pretreatment of cells with N-acetylcysteine, a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), conferred resistance to the induction of the membrane depolarization, cytochrome c release, and caspase-3 activation by SA-liposomes. These results indicated that SA-liposomes caused the apoptosis in RAW264.7 cells through the mitochondrial pathway, and ROS generation was required for this phenomenon.

A phase I study of weekly docetaxel and cisplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

This phase I study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and toxicity of a weekly docetaxel (TXT) and cisplatin (CDDP) combination regimen in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC who were previously untreated were eligible. Docetaxel, at a starting dose of 20 mg m(-2) per week on days 1, 8 and 15, was combined with a fixed dose of cisplatin 80 mg m(-2) on day 1. Docetaxel was increased in 5 mg m(-2) per week steps. Chemotherapy was given in a 4-weeks cycle. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were defined as grade 3-4 leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, fever with grade 4 neutropenia and more than grade 2 non-hematologic toxicity, with the exception of nausea, vomiting, and alopecia. Omission of chemotherapy on day 8 and/or 15 was also considered DLT. Eighteen patients were enrolled in this study. Leukopenia, anemia and fatigue were the DLTs. No grade 4 toxicities were seen in any patients. The overall response rate was 44.4% (95% confidence interval, 21.5-67.4%). The recommended dose of TXT to be combined with CDDP 80 mg m(-2) on day 1 is 35 mg m(-2) per week on days 1, 8 and 15. This is a promising regimen, therefore a multicenter phase II study is now under way.

Cutting edge: the common gamma-chain is an indispensable subunit of the IL-21 receptor complex

The common gamma-chain (gamma(c)) is an indispensable subunit of the functional receptor complexes for IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-15 as well as IL-2. Here we show that the gamma(c) is also shared with the IL-21R complex. Although IL-21 binds to the IL-21R expressed on gamma(c)-deficient ED40515(-) cells, IL-21 is unable to transduce any intracytoplasmic signals. However, in EDgamma-16 cells, a gamma(c)-transfected ED40515(-) cell line, IL-21 binds to the IL-21R and can activate Janus kinase (JAK)1, JAK3, STAT1, and STAT3. The chemical cross-linking study reveals the direct binding of IL-21 to the gamma(c). These data clearly demonstrate that the gamma(c) is an indispensable subunit of the functional IL-21R complex.

Deficient activity of von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease in patients with Upshaw-Schulman syndrome

We identified unusually large von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers caused by deficient activity of vWF-cleaving protease in 2 patients with Upshaw-Schulman syndrome. The autoantibodies that inhibited the protease activity were not detected in the plasma of either patient. Periodic fresh-frozen plasma transfusion was effective for management of the hemolysis and thrombocytopenia. We detected enriched enzyme activity in a particular plasma fraction, although molecular cloning of this specific protease is needed to determine a more detailed pathogenesis and to develop new therapeutic approaches.

Enhancement of phenylephrine-induced contraction in the isolated rat aorta with endothelium by H2O-extract from an Oriental medicinal plant Leonuri herba

Leonuri herba (I-mu-ts'ao, the Chinese motherwort) is an ancient Chinese traditional herb. Although the pharmacological effects of extracts of Leonuri herba have been shown in platelets and uteri, the effect on the vascular system has not been determined. In the present study, we investigated the effects of extracts of Leonuri herba on the contraction of the isolated rat aorta. Although the H20-extract (0.3-3 mg/ml) by itself showed a limited effect, the extract enhanced phenylephrine-induced contraction of the aorta with endothelium, but not without endothelium. The H20-extract, like N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase), significantly inhibited the relaxation induced by acetylcholine in the aorta with endothelium. The inhibitory effect of H20-extract on the relaxation decreased by co-addition with 1 mM L-arginine. The vasoconstrictive effect of H20-extract was not due to leonurine, which is a constituent in Leonuri herba and shows uterotonic activity. Intravenous injection of the H20-extract (1.5 mg/kg) to rats caused an increase in blood pressure for 5 min, like L-NAME (1.35 mg/kg). These findings suggest that there is a component(s) in Leonuri herba, which shows a vasoconstrictive activity in rat aorta in vitro and in vivo and has similar pharmacological profile to that of L-NAME.

Stimulatory effects of centrally injected kappa-opioid receptor agonists on gastric acid secretion in urethane-anesthetized rats

Gastric acid secretion has been proposed to be regulated by opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS). However, whether the effect of morphine is stimulatory or inhibitory, and the role of type specificity of opioid receptors have not been established. We investigated the effects of centrally injected opioid receptor agonists on gastric acid secretion in the perfused stomach of urethane-anesthetized rats. Injection of morphine (1-30 microg/rat, mu-opioid receptor agonist) into the fourth cerebroventricle inhibited the secretion stimulated by i.v. injection of 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Morphine itself did not show an inhibitory effect. In contrast, injection of kappa(1)-opioid receptor agonists such as (5alpha,7alpha,8beta)-(+)-N-methyl-N-(7-[1-pyrrolidinyl]-1-oxaspiro[4.5]dec-8-yl)benzeneacetamide (U59593, 0.3-3 microg) and (trans)-(+/-)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-[1-pyrrolidinyl]cyclohexyl) benzeneacetamide hydrochloride (U50488H, 10 microg) and the kappa(2)-opioid receptor agonist, bremazocine (3 microg), into the lateral cerebroventricle markedly stimulated secretion. The effect of U59593 was inhibited by naloxone and norbinaltorphimine (an antagonist of kappa-opioid receptors) and in vagotomized rats. [D-Pen(2)-D-Pen(5)]enkephalin (10microg, delta-opioid receptor agonist) had no effect on secretion. The dual roles of the opioid system in the CNS in gastric acid secretion are discussed.

The expression of prostaglandin E receptors EP2 and EP4 and their different regulation by lipopolysaccharide in C3H/HeN peritoneal macrophages

The expression and regulation of the PGE receptors, EP(2) and EP(4), both of which are coupled to the stimulation of adenylate cyclase, were examined in peritoneal resident macrophages from C3H/HeN mice. mRNA expression of EP(4) but not EP(2) was found in nonstimulated cells, but the latter was induced by medium change alone, and this induction was augmented by LPS. mRNA expression of EP(4) was down-regulated by LPS but not by medium change. PGE(2) increased the cAMP content of both LPS-treated and nontreated cells. ONO-604, an EP(4) agonist, also increased cAMP content in nonstimulated cells and in cells treated with LPS for 3 h, but not for 6 h. Butaprost, an EP(2) agonist, was effective only in the cells treated with LPS for 6 h. The inhibitory effects of ONO-604 on TNF-alpha and IL-12 production were equipotent with PGE(2) at any time point, but the inhibitory effects of butaprost were only seen from 14 h after stimulation. PGE(2) or dibutyryl cAMP alone, but not butaprost, reduced EP(4) expression, and indomethacin reversed the LPS-induced down-regulation of EP(4), indicating that the down-regulation of EP(4) is mediated by LPS-induced PG synthesis and EP(4) activation. Indeed, when we used C3H/HeJ (LPS-hyporesponsive) macrophages, such reduction in EP(4) expression was found in the cells treated with PGE(2) alone, but not in LPS-treated cells. In contrast, up-regulation of EP(2) expression was again observed in LPS-treated C3H/HeJ macrophages. These results suggest that EP(4) is involved mainly in the inhibition of cytokine release, and that the gene expression of EP(2) and EP(4) is differentially regulated during macrophage activation.

Successful umbilical cord blood transplantation from an unrelated donor for a patient with Epstein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

We report a case of a 5-year-old girl with EBV-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) who underwent cord blood (CB) stem cell transplantation (CBSCT) from an unrelated donor. The patient presented with persistent high-grade fever and hepatosplenomegaly. Because the disease was refractory to immunochemotherapy according to the HLH94 protocol, she received 2.0 x 10(7) CB nucleated cells/kg body weight (BW) after conditioning with BU/CY/etoposide. No acute GVHD developed, using FK506 for prophylaxis. The neutrophil count reached >0.5 x 10(9)/l by day 21 and the platelet count reached >50 x 10(9)/l by day 84. The patient recovered well with sequelae of neurological deficits more than 10 months after receiving CBSCT, without showing evidence of HLH or chronic GVHD. Real-time PCR proved applicable for estimation of the EBV load in PBMC of the patient. We conclude that CBSCT may be indicated for some cases of refractory EBV-HLH, who have no HLA-matched siblings and are therefore dependent on unrelated marrow donors.

Involvement of TGF-beta in inhibitory effects of negatively charged liposomes on nitric oxide production by macrophages stimulated with lps

We examined the role of TGF-beta in the inhibitory effects of negatively charged liposomes composed of phosphatidylserine (PS-liposomes) on nitric oxide (NO) production by macrophages stimulated with LPS. The expression of TGF-beta mRNA increased when mouse peritoneal macrophages were treated with PS-liposomes. The inhibitory effect of PS-liposomes on NO production was restored by treatment with anti-TGF-beta antibody. Furthermore, NO production, iNOS mRNA expression, and iNOS protein induction by LPS were inhibited by treatment of macrophages with TGF-beta as well as PS-liposomes. These results indicated that PS-liposomes down-regulate NO production by macrophages through the induction of TGF-beta and suggested that TGF-beta may suppress NO production upstream of the transcription of iNOS mRNA.

Surgical treatment for sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is recognized as a serious complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). To date, in our hospital, 12 cases of SEP have been successfully treated by active intervention. The development of SEP was observed in these patients after removal of a peritoneal catheter. SEP was relieved by steroid administration in 3 of these patients, and by total parenteral nutrition (TPN) performed after exploratory laparotomy in 1 patient. In the remaining 8 patients, SEP was relieved by total intestinal enterolysis. In patients who underwent total intestinal enterolysis, the severity of encapsulation and adhesion varied. White, rigid encapsulation was observed in 4 patients who had been treated by peritoneal dialysis (PD) for less than 10 years. Seemingly normal serosae were observed under the capsules, and total intestinal enterolysis was easily performed in these patients. In the patient who underwent renal transplantation, more severe intestinal adhesion was observed, although the duration of PD was limited to 70 months and the intestinal serosae were seemingly normal. These findings were considered specific to SEP developing after immunosuppressant administration. In 3 patients who had undergone PD for more than 10 years, degeneration of the visceral peritoneum was observed, together with an ill-defined boundary between the capsules and the serosae. Therefore, total enterolysis was performed in these patients, including a wide area of the muscular layer. Furthermore, calcification was observed in several regions, where the capsules were severely adherent to the parietal peritoneum. The post-operative course for all 8 patients was satisfactory, and these patients finally returned to their previous social activities. We conclude that when SEP symptoms are not improved by steroid administration or TPN, active total intestinal enterolysis should be performed. However, it is absolutely important to avoid inducing anastomosis or impairing the intestine.

Necessity of correcting cancer antigen 125 appearance rates by body surface area

Attention has been focused on cancer antigen 125 (CA125) levels in dialysate as an index for evaluating the severity of peritoneal mesothelial cell impairment. However, the method of evaluating CA125 levels in the dialysate has not been standardized. We determined that CA125 levels in the dialysate should be corrected by body surface area (BSA). Using 51 patients who had been undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD), CA125 levels in the dialysate were measured to evaluate the appearance rate of CA125 (CA125AR). Because only 18 of the 51 patients (35%) had a BSA greater than 1.73 m2, CA125 levels in the dialysate might be underestimated in other patients when absolute values of CA125 are not corrected by BSA. When correlations between corrected CA125AR and various parameters were evaluated, corrected CA125AR positively correlated with age, but negatively correlated with serum creatinine and albumin levels. Moreover, no positive correlation was seen between corrected CA125AR and the duration of PD or the peritoneal permeability test. However, in 5 patients with ultrafiltration loss after prolonged PD, the values of CA125AR persistently or rapidly decreased before transfer to hemodialysis. Although CA125 can be used as an index of peritoneal deterioration, the absolute value of CA125 should be corrected by BSA. However, it is most important to evaluate changes in CA125 in individual patients.

Mesenchymal transcription factor Fkh6 is essential for the development and differentiation of parietal cells

The role of transcription factor forkhead homologue 6 (Fkh6) gene expressed only in gastrointestinal mesenchymes on the differentiation of gastric epithelia was analyzed by inactivating the gene by targeting disruption. Gastric mucosa exhibited hyperplasias with disordered glandular structures in the absence of gene. Measurement of acid secretion in the isolated whole stomach demonstrated that both basal and stimulated secretions were severely suppressed in the Fkh6-/- stomach, while immunohistochemical studies showed that comparable numbers of parietal cells were differentiated in both wild-type and Fkh6-/- stomachs. Ultrastructurally Fkh6-/- parietal cells were furnished with developed intracellular canaliculi and many mitochondria, but their canaluculi were not enlarged nor fully connected to the luminal surface even when animals were treated with histamine, suggesting that Fkh6-/- parietal cells were far less responsive to acid secretion-inducing stimulations. Some parietal cells contained secretory granules positively stained with anti-pepsinogen antibodies, indicating that they retained characteristics of oxynticopeptic cells found in lower vertebrates. We thus concluded that Fkh6 plays essential roles for the development and differentiation of parietal cells via epithelial-mesenchymal interactions.

Involvement of p38 MAP Kinase in the inhibitory effects of phosphatidylserine liposomes on nitric oxide production from macrophages stimulated with LPS

The mechanism by which liposomes composed of phosphatidylserine (PS-liposomes) inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production was investigated in vitro using mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with LPS. The expression of inducible NO synthase (i-NOS) mRNA was completely inhibited by PS-liposomes. PS-liposomes inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase, which is required for the activation of p38 MAP kinase. NO production was also inhibited by SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase. However, there was no effect on the activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB, a primary transcription factor involved in induction of i-NOS. These results suggested that PS-liposomes inhibit NO production up stream of the transcription of i-NOS mRNA, and that the inhibition of p38 MAP kinase is crucial for this effect.

Effect of physical activity during teenage years, based on type of sport and duration of exercise, on bone mineral density of young, premenopausal Japanese women

In this cross-sectional study, 91 healthy premenopausal women aged 20-39 years were investigated to determine the effect of physical activities during their teenage years on their current bone mineral densities (BMD). We measured whole-body BMD (WBMD), lumbar BMD (LBMD), and radial BMD (RBMD) with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Using a questionnaire, we asked the women about their physical activities during junior and senior high school and at present. We also asked about their current nutritional status and past and current milk intake. After adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), current total calorie and calcium (Ca) intake, and milk intake when they were teenagers and at present, we determined that subjects who exercised during extracurricular activities at each of the three periods (during junior and senior high school and at present) had significantly higher WBMD and LBMD (P <0.01, respectively) than did those who did not exercise at those times. Subjects who played high-impact sports at each period had significantly higher WBMD and LBMD than did subjects who played low-impact sports (P <0.05, respectively). Subjects who had exercised regularly from their teenage years to the present had significantly higher BMD at all sites than BMD in other subjects after adjusting for the potential confounders described above (P <0.05, respectively). Our data suggest that continuous exercise beginning in junior high school, especially high-impact sports, may be associated with greater current bone mass. It is important to incorporate adequate exercise beginning in the teenage years to lower one's future risk for osteoporosis.

Reduced HIC-1 gene expression in non-small cell lung cancer and its clinical significance

BACKGROUND

HIC-1 (hypermethylated in cancer-1) is a candidate tumor suppressor gene, identified in a region of frequent loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 17p13.3, which is telomeric from TP53 and often deleted in surgically resected lung cancers. To determine the significance of HIC-1 in lung cancer, we assessed its expression status and prognostic association in 47 adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RNA was extracted from tumors and corresponding normal tissues of surgically resected lungs, and the amount of HIC-1 mRNA was determined by means of semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

HIC-1 expression in tumors was less than that in normal lung tissues in 40 of 47 patients (85%), indicating frequent partial silencing. Median tumor/normal lung tissue (T/L) ratios for HIC-1 expression were 0.51 and 0.75 for adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, respectively. No significant difference of median T/L ratio was observed between the two histological types, or among clinical stages of the patients. However, the reduced expression of HIC-1 gene in the tumor had a direct link with the clinical outcome: lower T/L ratios (< 0.5) were significantly associated with short survival (P = 0.034), an association also observed in cases restricted to stage I (P = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that low HIC-1 expression is involved in malignant progression of non-small cell lung cancer.

Metabolism of chiral ionylideneacetic acids on the abscisic acid biosynthetic pathway in Cercospora

A Chiralcel OJ column was used to determine the absolute configuration of naturally occurring alpha-ionylideneacetic acid from Cercospora rosicola and gamma-ionylideneacetic acid from C. cruenta as (R) enantiomers in accordance with their biosynthetic product, (S)-ABA. Both enantiomers of [1, 2-(13)C2]-alpha and gamma-ionylideneacetic acids were prepared and fed to C. rosicola and C. cruenta. Six combinations of feeding experiments comparatively and unequivocally demonstrated stereoselectivity in the biosynthetic conversions, including stepwise hydroxylation at C-1' and 4'. Enzymatic isomerization from the gamma to alpha-intermediate was suggested not to be involved in ABA biosynthesis in C. rosicola.