The expression of platelet-derived growth factor and connective tissue growth factor in different types of abdominal aortic aneurysms

AIM

An atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAA) differ from inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysms (IAAA), which are characterized by a non specific inflammatory reaction leading to considerable aneurysmal wall thickness from the media to adventitia and retroperitoneal fibrosis in the surrounding tissue. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and its receptor have been localized to specific cell types within atherosclerotic plaques. Human connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a cysteine rich polypeptide that has similar structures to PDGF and has been implicated in connective tissue formation. PDGF and CTGF may play a role in the development of aneurysmal walls in both AAAA and IAAA.

METHODS

Using in situ hybridization technique with DIG-labeled RNA probes and immunostaining, we investigated CTGF gene expression, and expression of PDGF and its receptor protein, in human aneurysmal walls.

RESULTS

Expression of CTGF mRNA was found on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in specimens from AAAA and IAAA. Strong CTGF expression was localized in VSMC around calcification in AAAA. In IAAA, strong expression of CTGF was observed around inflammatory cells. In the aneurysmal walls of AAAA, PDGF A and B chains were strongly stained on small vessels, and the PDGF beta receptor was also strongly stained on VSMC around calcification. In the aneurysmal wall of IAAA, weak expressions of PDGF A and B chains were observed in endothelial cells of vessel walls around the inflammatory cells, but the intensity of expression was much weaker than that on the vessel walls in AAAA.

CONCLUSIONS

Such differences in fibrogenic cytokine expression may be involved in characteristic aneurysmal formation.

Light effects on cell development and secondary metabolism in Monascus

In nature, light is one of most crucial environmental signals for developmental and physiological processes in various organisms, including filamentous fungi. We have found that both red light and blue light affect development in Monascus, influencing the processes of mycelium and spore formation, and the production of secondary metabolites such as gamma-aminobutyric acid, red pigments, monacolin K and citrinin. Additionally, we observed that the wavelength of light affects these developmental and physiological processes in different ways. These findings suggest that Monascus possesses a system for differential light response and regulation.

Comparison of ABF1 and RAP1 in chromatin opening and transactivator potentiation in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Autonomously replicating sequence binding factor 1 (ABF1) and repressor/activator protein 1 (RAP1) from budding yeast are multifunctional, site-specific DNA-binding proteins, with roles in gene activation and repression, replication, and telomere structure and function. Previously we have shown that RAP1 can prevent nucleosome positioning in the vicinity of its binding site and have provided evidence that this ability to create a local region of "open" chromatin contributes to RAP1 function at the HIS4 promoter by facilitating binding and activation by GCN4. Here we examine and directly compare to that of RAP1 the ability of ABF1 to create a region of open chromatin near its binding site and to contribute to activated transcription at the HIS4, ADE5,7, and HIS7 promoters. ABF1 behaves similarly to RAP1 in these assays, but it shows some subtle differences from RAP1 in the character of the open chromatin region near its binding site. Furthermore, although the two factors can similarly enhance activated transcription at the promoters tested, RAP1 binding is continuously required for this enhancement, but ABF1 binding is not. These results indicate that ABF1 and RAP1 achieve functional similarity in part via mechanistically distinct pathways.

Barrett's oesophagus with predominant intestinal metaplasia correlates with superficial cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression, increased proliferation and reduced apoptosis: changes that are partially reversed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs usage

BACKGROUND

Cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression has been reported to play an important role in the metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence in Barrett's oesophagus. However, the existence of cyclo-oxygenase-2 expressing cells in Barrett's epithelium is still uncertain.

AIM

To identify the cells that express cyclo-oxygenase-2 protein and to investigate the relationship between cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression and mucin-phenotype of Barrett's epithelium.

METHODS

Sections from 466 biopsy samples of Barrett's epithelium from 358 non-medicated patients were immunohistochemically examined for the cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression, mucin-phenotype, cell proliferation and apoptosis.

RESULTS

Cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression was detected in 71.0% of Barrett's epithelium biopsy samples. In Barrett's epithelium with the gastric predominant mucin-phenotype, cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression was mainly found in stromal and deep epithelial cells, whereas in intestinal predominant mucin-phenotype, it was mostly in superficial epithelial cell. A significant elevation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen index and suppression of apoptotic index was observed in Barrett's epithelium with superficial epithelial cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression. Neither such elevation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen index nor the suppression of apoptotic index could be found in chronic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs users.

CONCLUSIONS

Barrett's epithelium with intestinal mucin and superficial epithelial cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression possess a higher proliferation potential, but this risk may be thwarted by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs administration.

Functional and Physical Interactions between Autonomously Replicating Sequence-Binding Factor 1 and the Nuclear Transport Machinery

Autonomously replicating sequence-binding factor 1 (Abf1p) is a site-specific DNA binding protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that functions to regulate multiple nuclear events including DNA replication, transcriptional activation, and gene silencing. Previous work indicates that the multiple functions of Abf1p are conferred by the carboxy-terminus of the protein, which can be further dissected into two important clusters of amino acid residues (CS1 and CS2). Here we present genetic and cell biological evidence for a critical role of CS1 in proper nuclear localization of Abf1p. Mutations in CS1 cause severe defects in cell growth, nuclear translocation, and Abf1p-mediated gene regulation, which can be rescued by a heterologous nuclear localization sequence (NLS). In addition, the CS1-domain can mediate the import of a CS1-GFP fusion protein. Importantly, the CS1-mediated nuclear import depends on the Ran guanine nucleotide exchange factor Prp20p. Interestingly, a single amino acid change in CS1 (K625I) also causes the protein to be exported out of the nucleus via the Crm1p-dependent pathway. The temperature-sensitive growth phenotype of this particular mutant can be overcome by overexpression of Kap121p/Pse1p, a well-established nuclear transport receptor. Biochemical studies indicate that Pse1p binds to a region of Abf1p upstream of CS1 in a RanGTP-sensitive manner, suggesting that Abf1p has a second distinct NLS and can be imported into the nucleus by several overlapping pathways. We propose that the link between Abf1p and the nuclear transport machinery may also be important for partitioning multiple Abf1p-mediated nuclear processes.

Genome-wide Analysis of ARS (Autonomously Replicating Sequence) Binding Factor 1 (Abf1p)-mediated Transcriptional Regulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Autonomously replicating sequence-binding factor-1 (Abf1p) is an essential sequence-specific transcription factor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that participates in multiple nuclear events including DNA replication, transcription activation, and gene silencing. Numerous gene-specific analyses have implicated Abf1p in the transcriptional control of genes involved in a diverse range of cellular functions, leading to the notion that Abf1p acts as a global transcriptional regulator. Here we report findings from a genome-wide comparison of the gene expression profiles in the wild-type and abf1-1 temperature-sensitive mutant. The study identifies a total of 86 Abf1p-regulated genes (1.4% of the genome) of which 50 are activated and 36 are repressed by Abf1p. Interestingly, Abf1p binds to its own promoter in vivo and strongly represses its own transcription, suggesting a potential negative regulatory loop in Abf1p-mediated gene regulation. A comparison of our microarray data with the available databases reveals a significant overlap of genes regulated by Abf1p and those by several general transcription factors such as Mot1p and TAFs (TATA-binding protein-associated factors). Different mutant alleles of abf1 affect Abf1p-mediated transcription in a gene-dependent manner. Furthermore, Abf1p in vivo is associated with the promoter region of most Abf1p-activated but not with that of most Abf1p-repressed genes. Taken together, these results strongly suggest distinct underlying mechanisms by which Abf1p regulates gene expression.

Aneurysm of the ventricular membranous septum: serial echocardiographic studies

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this article is to examine the frequency, timing of formation of aneurysm of the ventricular membranous septum (AVMS), and prognosis in patients with a perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD).

PATIENTS

One hundred forty-eight patients were diagnosed with a perimembranous VSD within 90 days after birth. They were classified into three groups: Group I, spontaneous closure; Group II, open; Group III, surgical closure. They were also divided into two further groups: 75 patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and 73 patients without that.

METHODS

An AVMS was observed by two-dimensional echocardiography, and spontaneous closure of the VSD was confirmed by color Doppler.

RESULTS

An AVMS was formed in 69 (47%) of 148 patients: 50% in Group I, 66% in Group II, 15% in Group III. The timing of AVMS formation was at a median age of 6 months. In 14% of patients, AVMS was formed within 3 months of age. The frequency of AVMS at the time of the initial echocardiogram was low in patients with CHF (odds ratio, 3.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-8.79 p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

We believe that AVMS formation is related to avoidance of surgical closure during early infancy in patients with a perimembranous VSD, because the frequency of AVMS during early infancy is low in patients with CHF.

Involvement of the VDE homing endonuclease and rapamycin in regulation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GSH11 gene encoding the high affinity glutathione transporter

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene HGT1/GSH11 encodes the high affinity glutathione transporter and is repressed by cysteine added to the culture medium. It has been found previously that a 5'-upstream cis-element, CCGCCACAC, is responsible for regulating GSH11 expression and that several proteins bind to this element (Miyake, T., Kanayama, M., Sammoto, H., and Ono, B. (2002) Mol. Genet. Genomics 266, 1004-1011). In this report we present evidence that the most prominent of these proteins is VDE, known previously as the homing endonuclease encoded by VMA1. We show also that GSH11 is not expressed in a VDE-deleted strain and that inability to express the GSH11 of this strain is overcome by introduction of the coding region of VDE or the entire VMA1 gene. It is also found that VDE does not cut DNA in the vicinity of the GSH11 cis-element. Rapamycin, an inhibitor of the target of rapamycin (TOR) signal-transduction system, is found to enhance expression of GSH11 in a VDE-dependent manner under conditions of sulfur starvation. These results indicate that GSH11 is regulated by a system sensitive to sulfur starvation (presumably via cysteine depletion) and a more general system involving the nutritional starvation signal mediated by the TOR system. Both systems need to be operational (inhibition of TOR and sulfur starvation) for full expression of GSH11.

[Pulmonary adenocarcinoma of the fetal lung type; report of a case]

An asynptomatic 58-year-old male was admitted to the hospital because of an abnormal nodule in the left lung field on screening chest X-ray. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a tumor shadow mass in the left lower lobe. Open biopsy was performed to diagnose the mass. The cytological diagnosis was low-grade malignant adenocarcinoma, underwent left lower lobectomy. The histological diagnosis was pulmonary adenocarcinoma of the fetal lung type which was one of pulmonary blastoma (PB). Recently, the concept of pulmonary blastoma has changed. It will be useful to investigate the old PB's case reports to classify new concept.

Prenatal diagnosis of sustained bradycardia with 1 : 1 atrioventricular conduction

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to elucidate the clinical course of fetal bradycardia with 1 : 1 atrioventricular conduction, and to discuss the optimal management of affected fetuses in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

METHODS

The hospital records of five fetuses with the diagnosis of bradycardia (100 bpm) with 1 : 1 atrioventricular conduction between 1981 and 2000 in our institution were reviewed. Atrioventricular conduction was evaluated by simultaneous M-mode echocardiographic tracing of the atria and the ventricles.

RESULTS

The gestational ages at referral ranged from 19 to 36 (median, 25) weeks, and fetal heart rates ranged from 60 to 80 (median, 80) bpm. Postnatal electrocardiography revealed sinus bradycardia in four (two of which were siblings) of the five cases, and junctional rhythm in the remaining case. Two fetuses with congenital heart defects (CHDs) were delivered by Cesarean section but died postnatally. The three fetuses without CHDs were delivered vaginally and have survived to date for 6, 8 and 15 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Fetal bradycardia with 1 : 1 atrioventricular conduction caused by sustained sinus bradycardia or wandering pacemaker is an important type of fetal arrhythmia. Further investigations with a larger number of cases are required to determine the risk factors for predicting the outcome of affected fetuses.

Mutations in the histone fold domain of the TAF12 gene show synthetic lethality with the TAF1 gene lacking the TAF N-terminal domain (TAND) by different mechanisms from those in the SPT15 gene encoding the TATA box-binding protein (TBP)

The general transcription factor TFIID, composed of the TATA box-binding protein (TBP) and 14 TBP-associated factors (TAFs), is important for both basal and regulated transcription by RNA polymerase II. Although it is well known that the TAF N-terminal domain (TAND) at the amino-terminus of the TAF1 protein binds to TBP and thereby inhibits TBP function in vitro, the physiological role of this domain remains obscure. In our previous study, we screened for mutations that cause lethality when co-expressed with the TAF1 gene lacking TAND (taf1-DeltaTAND) and identified two DeltaTAND synthetic lethal (nsl) mutations as those in the SPT15 gene encoding TBP. In this study we isolated another nsl mutation in the same screen and identified it to be a mutation in the histone fold domain (HFD) of the TAF12 gene. Several other HFD mutations of this gene also exhibit nsl phenotypes, and all of them are more or less impaired in transcriptional activation in vivo. Interestingly, a set of genes affected in the taf1-DeltaTAND mutant is similarly affected in the taf12 HFD mutants but not in the nsl mutants of TBP. Therefore, we discovered that the nsl mutations of these two genes cause lethality in the taf1-DeltaTAND mutant by different mechanisms.

General regulatory factors (GRFs) as genome partitioners

Insulators are sequences that uncouple adjacent chromosome domains. Here we have shown that Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rap1p and Abf1p proteins are endowed with a potent insulating capacity. Insulating domains in Rap1p coincide with previously described transcription activation domains, whereas four adjacent subdomains spanning the whole of the Abf1p C terminus (440-731) were found to display autonomous insulating capacity. That both Rap1p and Abf1p silencing domains either contain or largely overlap with an insulating domain suggests that insulation conveys some undefined chromosome organization capacity that also contributes a function in silencing. Together with Reb1p and Tbf1p, previously involved in the activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae subtelomeric insulators, insulating potential emerges as a supplementary common property of General Regulatory Factors (GRFs). Thus GRFs, which bind to sites scattered throughout the genome within promoters, would not only play a key role in regulating gene expression but also partition the genome in functionally independent domains.

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration supplied by multiple anomalous arteries: report of a case

Pulmonary sequestration is abnormal pulmonary tissue that has separated from the normal pulmonary parenchyma, is not connected to the tracheobronchial tree, and is supplied by a systemic artery. We describe herein a case of intralobar pulmonary sequestration found in a 66-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital with hemoptysis, coughing, and fever. Angiography showed that the branches of the 11th left intercostal artery and a bronchial artery had formed a hypervascular area in the lower part of the left lung. Bronchial artery embolization and subsequent embolization of the left 11th intercostal artery were performed in an attempt to control the recurrent hemoptysis. These treatments were unsuccessful, and he was transferred to our department of surgery after coughing up about 400 ml of fresh blood. A left lower lobectomy was performed. The resected lung contained a large feeding artery, some acute and partly organizing inflammatory lesions within collapsed lung parenchyma, and massive intra-alveolar hemorrhage in the peripheral area. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged 22 days after his operation.

[First successful clinical application of tissue engineered blood vessel]

With this tissue engineering (TE) technique, the peripheral pulmonary artery was successfully reconstructed, using the patient's own venous cells in a 4-year-old girl, 2 years after Fontan procedure. A 4-year-old girl was given a diagnosis of single right ventricle, double-outlet right ventricle and pulmonary atresia. She underwent left modified Blalock-Taussig shunt at a month old, pulmonary artery angioplasty at a year and 3 months old, and bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt at 2 years and a month old. She underwent again pulmonary artery angioplasty and Fontan operation at 3 years and 3 months. An angiographical examination 7 months after the operation revealed total occlusion of the right intermediate pulmonary artery. TE technique using autologous cells was indicated. The application of this procedure was approved by the ethical committee in Tokyo Women's Medical University. The patient's parents were thoroughly informed and signed a consent form. Approximately 2 cm of the peripheral vein was explanted under sterile conditions. The tissue was minced, placed in tissue culture dishes and cultured at 37 degrees C, 100% humidity and a 5% CO2 atmosphere for almost a month. The number of cells substantially increased to reach 12 millions for almost a month. The culture medium was changed every 3 days. The polymer tube that served as a scaffold for cells was composed of the copolymer of PCL-PLA (50:50) with reinforcement by woven PGA. The polymer conduit, 10 mm in diameter, 20 mm in length and 1 mm in thickness, was designated to biodegradate within 8 weeks. The number of seeded cells was approximately a million/cm2. The graft transplantation was performed 10 days after seeding cells. The occlusive right intermediate pulmonary artery was reconstructed with the TE vessel graft under extracorporeal circulation with a pump-oxygenator. The patient followed a satisfactory postoperative course. The postoperative angiography demonstrated that the graft was not constricted and dilated but that it preserved good patency. Long-term follow-up are necessary. We plan to continue to use the TE technique using autologous cells in the low pressure system like venous or pulmonary circulation. Because our results even in early experimental phase were valuable and promising, we believe that the TE approach may play an important role in the near future as an another alternative, together with transplantation and artificial organ, especially in the field of cardiovascular surgery that mostly needs replants.

Total energy method from many-body formulation

The fruitfulness of traditional many-body Green's function theory for calculating the total energy of real systems is demonstrated using the random phase approximation in the Luttinger-Ward formulation. As the first application to a real system, the total energy of H2 is calculated as a function of nuclear separation and compared with the configuration interaction and the local density approximation results. While the local density result is in large error for large separations, the present approach gives satisfactory agreement with the configuration interaction results. The method is promising as an alternative to the quantum Monte Carlo technique.

A novel cis-acting cysteine-responsive regulatory element of the gene for the high-affinity glutathione transporter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We cloned a DNA fragment from Saccharomyces cerevisiae that complemented the deficiency in high-affinity glutathione transport activity conferred by a gsh11 mutation, and found that the ORF responsible was YJL212c, which had already been designated as OPT1 and HGT1 by others. Northern analysis clearly demonstrated that this ORF, now referred to as OPT1/ HGT1/ GSH11, was induced by sulfur starvation and repressed by adding cysteine to the growth medium. Reporter gene assays showed that a segment spanning the region between positions -371 and -355 was essential for the regulation of this gene. A sequence of 9 nt, CCGCCACAC (from -364 to -356), in this region was shown to be required for protein binding, using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Based on these results, we propose that CCGCCACAC comprises the core of a cis-acting element involved in cysteine-responsive gene regulation in S. cerevisiae.

Dissociation of epistatic effects involved in fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia

The Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rat is an animal model for obese-type non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in humans. Our previous study has identified four epistatic interactions between Niddel (chromosome 7) and 2/of (chromosome 14), Niddel and 3/of (chromosome 15), Nidde2 and 4/of (chromosome 15), and Nidde2 and 5/of (chromosome 17), which exerted effects on NIDDM, by performing least squares analysis of variance of all pairs of informative markers in 160 F2 progenies bred from the OLETF rat. In the present study, we found that the four interactions affect postprandial glucose metabolism, but not glucose levels during fasting states. In addition, we identified novel interactions between Nidde6 (chromosome 1) and 7/of (chromosome 13), and Nidde8 (chromosome 5) and 9/of (chromosome 19), which is involved in fasting glucose levels but not postprandial glucose levels. These findings demonstrate that distinction between genetic bases of fasting hyperglycemia and postprandial hyperglycemia is made by not only single main effect but also epistatic interaction effect of NIDDM loci.

Identification of a multifunctional domain in autonomously replicating sequence-binding factor 1 required for transcriptional activation, DNA replication, and gene silencing

Autonomously replicating sequence-binding factor 1 (ABF1) is a multifunctional, site-specific DNA binding protein that is essential for cell viability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. ABF1 plays a direct role in transcriptional activation, stimulation of DNA replication, and gene silencing at the mating-type loci. Here we demonstrate that all three activities of ABF1 are conferred by the C terminus of the protein (amino acids [aa] 604 to 731). Furthermore, a detailed mutational analysis has revealed two important clusters of amino acid residues in the C terminus (C-terminal sequence 1 [CS1], aa 624 to 628; and CS2, aa 639 to 662). While both regions play a pivotal role in supporting cell viability, they make distinct contributions to ABF1 functions in various nuclear processes. CS1 specifically participates in transcriptional silencing and/or repression in a context-dependent manner, whereas CS2 is universally required for all three functions of ABF1. When tethered to specific regions of the genome, a 30-aa fragment that contains CS2 alone is sufficient for activation of transcription and chromosomal replication. In addition, CS2 is responsible for ABF1-mediated chromatin remodeling. Based on these results, we suggest that ABF1 may function as a chromatin-reorganizing factor to increase accessibility of the local chromatin structure, which in turn facilitates the action of additional factors to establish either an active or repressed chromatin state.

Variation in CO2 assimilation rate induced by simulated dew waters with different sources of hydroxyl radical (*OH) on the needle surfaces of Japanese red pine (Pinus densifora Sieb. et Zucc.)

The hydroxyl radical (*OH) is generated in polluted dew on the needle surfaces of Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.). This free radical, which is a potent oxidant, is assumed to be a cause of ecophysiological disorders of declining trees on the urban-facing side of Mt. Gokurakuji, western Japan. Mists of *OH-generating N(III) (HNO2 and NO2-) and HOOH + Fe + oxalate solutions (50 and 100 microM, pH 5.1-5.4) simulating the dew water were applied to the foliage of pine seedlings grown in open-top chambers in the early morning. Needles treated with 100 microM N(III) tended to have a greater maximum CO2 assimilation rate (Amax), a greater stomatal conductance (g(s)) and a greater needle nitrogen content (Nneedle), suggesting that N(III) mist acts as a fertilizer rather than as a phytotoxin. On the other hand, needles treated with 100 microM HOOH + Fe + oxalate solution showed the smallest Amax, g(s), and Nneedle, suggesting that the combination of HOOH + Fe + oxalate caused a decrease in needle productivity. The effects of HOOH + Fe + oxalate mist on pine needles were very similar to the symptoms of declining trees at Mt. Gokurakuji.

Frequent beta-catenin mutation and cytoplasmic/nuclear accumulation in pancreatic solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm

Significance of Wnt signaling with beta-catenin mutations on solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas was studied by immunohistochemistry and molecular analysis. On immunohistochemistry, all 18 SPNs tested showed diffuse cytoplasmic/nuclear positivity for beta-catenin. Upon direct DNA sequencing of exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene, 15 (83%) of the 18 SPNs showed 1-bp missense mutation in codons 32 (5 cases), 33 (3 cases), 34 (3 cases), 37 (3 cases), and 41 (1 case). Immunoreactivity for cyclin D1, one of the intranuclear targets of beta-catenin complexes, was found in tumor cells of more than half the tumor cells of all of the 18 SPNs. The present study strongly suggested a significant role of Wnt signaling, mostly associated with beta-catenin mutations in the tumorigenesis of SPN.