Enhanced cocaine responsiveness and impaired motor coordination in metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 2 knockout mice

Extensive pharmacological studies have recently emerged indicating that group 2 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) comprising mGluR2 and mGluR3 subtypes are associated with several neurological and psychiatric disorders. mGluR2 is widely distributed both presynaptically and postsynaptically in a variety of neuronal cells, but the physiological role of mGluR2 in brain function is poorly understood. This investigation involves a comprehensive behavioral analysis of mGluR2-/- knockout (KO) mice to explore the physiological role of mGluR2 in brain function. Although, under general observation, mGluR2-/- KO mice appeared to have no behavioral abnormalities, they exhibited several lines of behavioral alterations in the enforcing and defined behavioral tests. They showed a significant increase in locomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference in association with repeated cocaine administration, indicating that mGluR2 contributes to behavioral responses implicated in reinforcement and addiction of cocaine. Upon in vivo microdialysis analysis after cocaine administration, not only did extracellular levels of dopamine increase but also the response pattern of glutamate release markedly changed in the nucleus accumbens of mGluR2-/- KO mice. The mGluR2-/- KO mice also showed significant impairment in motor coordination in the accelerating rota-rod test and exhibited hyperlocomotion in novel environmental and stressful conditions, when assessed by the open-field and forced-swim tests. These results indicate that the inhibitory mGluR2 plays a pivotal role in synaptic regulation of glutamatergic transmission in the neural network.

Association of polymorphic MHC microsatellites with GVHD, survival, and leukemia relapse in unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplant donor/recipient pairs matched at five HLA loci

In order to determine whether matching/mismatching for microsatellite polymorphism provides useful information on acute graft-vs-host disease (GVHD), survival, and leukemia relapse in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation, we genotyped for polymorphisms at 13 microsatellite loci within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of 100 unrelated HSC transplant donor-recipient pairs who were matched at five classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci. A high percentage of allele matching was obtained for five microsatellite loci, DQCARII (96%), MICA (93%), MIB (89%), C1-3-1 (93%), and D6S510 (97%), that are localized within 100 kb of the HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, HLA-B, HLA-C, or HLA-A locus. In contrast, the other eight microsatellites are located farther away from the HLA classical loci and have much lower percentages of allele matching [e.g. tumor necrosis factor a (TNFa) (73%), TNFd (74%), D6S273 (64%), C3-2-11 (46%), C5-3-1 (50%), C5-4-5 (63%), C5-2-7 (68%), and D6S265 (81%)]. Therefore, there were at least eight microsatellite markers with relatively high percentages of mismatches in the donor/recipient pairs with acute or chronic GVHD, poor graft survival, and leukemia relapse. However, there were no statistically significant associations between mismatched donor-recipient pairs at the 13 microsatellite loci and acute or chronic GVHD, graft survival, and leukemia relapse. Nevertheless, allele matching at the microsatellite TNFd locus near the TNFa gene was found by the Fisher's exact double-sided test to be significantly associated with decreased survival in the grade III/IV acute GVHD group. Overall, these results suggest that the matching of microsatellite polymorphisms within the HLA region, especially the ones farthest from the classical HLA loci, was not useful indicator for the outcome of HSC transplantation from unrelated donors. In this regard, the future determination of the genome-wide microsatellite genotypes in HLA-matched donor-recipient pairs, outside the MHC, may be a better possibility for identifying minor histocompatibility genes in linkage disequilibria with microsatellites as potential predictive markers for the occurrence of acute GVHD and survival rate in HSC transplantation.

OFF-cholinergic-pathway-selective localization of P2X2 purinoceptors in the mouse retina

It is known that, in the retina, extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) inhibits acetylcholine (ACh) release from cholinergic neurons, but the types of purinoceptors on cholinergic neurons have not been examined. In the present work, we immunohistochemically examined the distribution of the purinoceptors P2X1, P2X2, P2X4, and P2X7 in relation to the cholinergic system of the retina in wild-type mice and transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP). Immunoreactivity for P2X2 was very strong in sublamina a of the inner plexiform layer but very weak in sublamina b of the inner plexiform layer of the retina. Immunoreactivity for P2X2 was colocalized with that for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). When transgenic mice were treated with the immunotoxin-mediated cell-targeting technology to ablate cholinergic amacrine cells selectively, immunoreactivity for P2X2 and the signals for GFP disappeared in parallel and selectively in the OFF pathway. The distribution of immunoreactivity for P2X1, P2X4, and P2X7 differed from that of ChAT immunoreactivity. The selective distribution of P2X2 purinergic receptors in OFF-type cholinergic amacrine cells indicates that the P2X2 purinergic signaling systems in the ON and OFF pathways of the inner plexiform layer of the mouse retina are functionally different. The distribution of P2X2 purinoceptors may be responsible for the selective regulation of ACh release in the OFF pathway.

Cytomegalovirus antigenemia and outcome of patients treated with pre-emptive ganciclovir: retrospective analysis of 241 consecutive patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

CMV disease remains a major infectious complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). To investigate the relationship between CMV antigenemia, treatment with ganciclovir (GCV), and outcome, we retrospectively analyzed 241 consecutive patients at risk for CMV infection who underwent allogeneic HSCT. Antigenemia-guided pre-emptive strategy with GCV was used for all patients. CMV antigenemia developed in 169 patients (70.1%), and CMV disease in 18 patients (7.5%). Multivariate analysis showed that acute GVHD (grades II-IV) was the only risk factor for developing antigenemia, and acute GVHD and advanced age for CMV disease. GCV use, as well as acute GVHD and advanced age, significantly increased the risk for bacterial and fungal infection after engraftment. Those who developed CMV antigenemia had a poorer outcome than those who did not (log-rank, P=0.0269), although the development of CMV disease worsened the outcome with only borderline significance (log-rank, P=0.0526). In conclusion, detection of antigenemia proved to be a poor prognostic factor for HSCT patients, which may be attributed to a combination of factors, including CMV disease itself, the effect of treatment, and a host status that allows for reactivation of CMV. Optimal pre-emptive strategy needs to be determined.

Randomized phase II study of biweekly CHOP and dose-escalated CHOP with prophylactic use of lenograstim (glycosylated G-CSF) in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study 9505

BACKGROUND

CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) is accepted as the best available standard treatment for first-line chemotherapy in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). However, the therapeutic efficacy of CHOP remains unsatisfactory, particularly in high-intermediate risk and high risk patients, and a new strategy is warranted in this patient population. The aim of the present study was to explore a suitable therapeutic-intensified regimen for the treatment of aggressive NHL.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between May 1995 and July 1998, a total of 70 patients with high-intermediate risk or high risk aggressive NHL, according to the International Prognostic Index, were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either eight cycles of standard CHOP (cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m(2), doxorubicin 50 mg/m(2), vincristine 1.4 mg/m(2) and prednisolone 100 mg for 5 days) every 2 weeks, or six cycles of dose-escalated CHOP (cyclophosphamide 1500 mg/m(2), doxorubicin 70 mg/m(2), vincristine 1.4 mg/m(2) and prednisolone 100 mg for 5 days) every 3 weeks. Lenograstim (glycosylated rHuG-CSF), at a dose of 2 micro g/kg/day s.c., was administered daily from day 3 until day 13 with biweekly CHOP and until day 20 with the dose-escalated CHOP. The primary endpoint was complete response rate.

RESULTS

The complete response rate was 60% [21 of 35; 95% confidence interval (CI) 42% to 76%] with biweekly CHOP and 51% (18 of 35; 95% CI 34% to 69%) with dose-escalated CHOP. The major toxicity was grade 4 neutropenia and was more frequent in the dose-escalated CHOP arm (86%) than in the biweekly CHOP arm (50%). Grade 4 thrombocytopenia was also more frequent in the dose-escalated CHOP arm (20%) than the biweekly CHOP arm (3%). Non-hematological toxicities were acceptable in both arms. One treatment-related death (due to cardiac arrhythmia) was observed in a dose-escalated CHOP patient. Progression-free survival at 3 years was 43% (95% CI 27% to 59%) in the biweekly CHOP arm and 31% (95% CI 16% to 47%) in the dose-escalated CHOP arm. Although seven patients were deemed ineligible by central review of the pathological diagnosis, the results for both eligible and all enrolled patients were similar.

CONCLUSIONS

Similar complete response rates and progression-free survival rates, but lower toxicity, indicated that biweekly CHOP was superior to dose-escalated CHOP in the treatment of aggressive NHL. Based on these results, the Lymphoma Study Group of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group is conducting a randomized phase III study comparing biweekly CHOP with standard CHOP in newly diagnosed patients with advanced-stage aggressive NHL.

Potential remedy against Echinococcus multilocularis in wild red foxes using baits with anthelmintic distributed around fox breeding dens in Hokkaido, Japan

The effect of bait-delivered anthelmintic to reduce the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in wild red foxes was evaluated in Koshimizu, in the eastern part of Hokkaido, Japan. The study area (200 km2) was divided into baited and non-baited sections. The anthelmintic baits were distributed around fox den sites in the baited section every month for 13 months. After 1 year of the anthelmintic bait distribution, the prevalence of E. multilocularis in foxes, evaluated either by the parasite egg examination (from 27.1 to 5.6%) or coproantigen ELISA (from 59.6 to 29.7%), decreased in the baited section contrasting to that in the non-baited section (parasite egg: from 18.8 to 24.2%; ELISA: from 41.9 to 45.8%). The prevalence of E. multilocularis in grey red-backed vole Clethrionomys rufocanus, caught around fox dens, born after bait distribution also decreased and was significantly lower than that in non-baited section. However, within the study periods, the coproantigen-positive rate in fox faeces sporadically increased, while egg-positive rate constantly decreased. Since coproantigen ELISA can detect pre-patent infection, this observation indicates that reinfection pressure in the baited section was still high even after the 13 months of anthelmintic bait distribution. Therefore, the bait distribution longer than our study period is required for the efficient control of E. multilocularis in wild red fox population.

Conserved CDR 3 region of T cell receptor BV gene in lymphocytes from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an inflammatory lung disease characterized by the accumulation of inflammatory cells and deposition of collagen, resulting in lung remodelling. High numbers of T cells are present in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of IPF patients, although the characteristics of these cells are yet to be determined. To elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of IPF, we analysed the T cell receptor (TCR) of BALF lymphocytes in three patients with IPF and three healthy subjects as control. TCR repertoire of BALF lymphocytes and T cell clonality were examined by family PCR and Southern blot analysis, and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), respectively. We observed that the TCR repertoire in the lung was heterogeneous, both in the control subjects and three patients with IPF. SSCP analysis demonstrated an increase in the number of accumulated T cell clones in BALF of two of the three patients, but not in the healthy subject. Furthermore, junctional sequence analysis showed the presence of conserved amino acid motifs (ETGRSG, LAxG, QGQ, GxQP, GRxG, VAR, PGT, GTI, GGT, TGR, LxLxQ, SGQ) in the TCR-CDR 3 region of BAL lymphocytes in patients with IPF, whereas only two amino acid motifs (VTTG, GGE) were found in the control. Our findings suggest that T cells in BALF of patients with IPF expand oligoclonally in the lung, suggesting antigen stimulation of these cells.

Factors affecting toxicity, response and progression-free survival in relapsed patients with indolent B-cell lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma treated with rituximab: a Japanese phase II study

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to determine factors affecting the toxicity and efficacy of rituximab monotherapy in relapsed patients with indolent B-cell lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 90 patients were enrolled and treated with rituximab infusions at 375 mg/m2 once weekly for 4 weeks. Central pathology review revealed that histologically, 81 patients had indolent B-cell lymphoma or MCL: 59 with follicular lymphoma, 17 with MCL, four with marginal zone lymphoma and one with lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma. Of these, four were ineligible due to violation of other eligibility criteria. Pre-treatment variables affecting toxicities were analyzed for all 90 patients, and those affecting response and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed for 77 eligible patients with confirmed indolent B-cell lymphoma or MCL. The relationship between serum rituximab levels and efficacy was also analyzed for 66 eligible patients.

RESULTS

Hematological toxicities (grade > or =3) occurred more frequently in females (P <0.05), and thrombocytopenia and leukopenia were more frequent in patients with high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (P <0.05). Non-hematological toxicities (grade > or =2) were more frequent in patients with extranodal disease or bone marrow involvement. The overall response rate (ORR) in patients receiving one prior chemotherapy regimen was higher than those receiving two or more regimens (P <0.05). The median PFS was shorter in MCL patients, in those with extranodal disease, or in those receiving two or more prior chemotherapy regimens (P <0.01). The PFS intervals of patients with higher serum rituximab levels (> or =70 microg/ml) immediately before the third infusion were longer than in other patients (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Several prognostic factors and serum rituximab levels are useful for predicting the toxicity and efficacy of rituximab monotherapy.

Increases in collagen type I synthesis in asthma: the role of eosinophils and transforming growth factor-beta

BACKGROUND

Collagen type I is one of the major deposits in thickening of the reticular basement membrane of asthma.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS

In this study, we assessed turnover of collagen type I in asthma by measuring procollagen type I C-terminal peptide (PICP) and collagen type I C-terminal telopeptide (ICTP) in induced sputum.

RESULTS

PICP but not ICTP was found to be significantly higher in asthma subjects than in normal volunteers (P < 0.05). In asthma, PICP was inversely correlated with %FEV(1.0) (r = -0.539), and its levels significantly increased upon exacerbation (P < 0.05), indicating that collagen synthesis increases during asthma exacerbation. Additionally, PICP was found to significantly correlate with eosinophil counts in sputum (r = 0.539), indicating that eosinophils stimulate collagen turnover. Because eosinophils can produce TGF-beta, a potent stimulator of collagen synthesis, we immunocytochemically examined TGF-beta-positive cells in sputum. TGF-beta-positive cells significantly correlated with eosinophil counts (r = 0.811) and PICP (r = 0.569), suggesting that TGF-beta released from eosinophils is involved in collagen synthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study suggest that collagen synthesis is stimulated in asthmatic airways by eosinophils through TGF-beta, while collagen degradation is not, and that PICP in sputum can act as a new marker for airway inflammation in asthma.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular discrimination between Paragonimus westermani and P. miyazakii at the metacercarial stage

The metacercariae of the lung flukes, Paragonimus westermani and P. miyazakii, are of known medical importance as the pathogens causing human paragonimiasis. They are both found in the same freshwater crab species in Japan and are morphologically quite similar. The aim of the present study was to establish molecular methods for accurate discrimination between individual metacercariae of the two species. In the first step, we amplified and sequenced the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region of ribosomal DNA. Searches of nucleotide databases revealed that the ITS2 sequences generated from the metacercarial DNA were identical to those previously reported for the adults of the respective species. Utilizing a nucleotide difference between the two species, we have established two PCR-based techniques; PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and direct PCR-amplification using species-specific primers. Both techniques showed that the individual metacercariae of the two species could be unequivocally discriminated from one another. The present results suggest that the ITS2 region is useful for species discrimination irrespective of the life cycle stages of the lung flukes. Established techniques can thus be used for epidemiological investigations of the prevalence of human lung fluke metacercariae.

Efficient cloning and expression of HLA class I cDNA in human B-lymphoblastoid cell lines

Analysis of HLA restriction specificity is one of the important steps in characterizing T cell clones. This usually requires either a panel of HLA-typed cells or HLA cDNA transfectants. Although preparation of HLA cDNA transfectants is laborious, utilization of transfectants is advantageous when a suitable panel is not available due to linkage disequilibrium or rarity of the HLA allele of interest. In this report, we describe an efficient and rapid HLA cloning and expression system. Three sets of PCR primers specific for HLA-A, B and C loci were designed by extensively sequencing 5'- and 3'- untranslated regions of HLA class I genes. The PCR-amplified products were introduced into modified Phoenix retrovirus vectors containing a puromycin resistant gene under the control of a LTR promotor. Gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV)-pseudotyped retrovirus was produced and infected into B-lymphoid cell lines. Following expansion in selection media, more than 80% of cells expressed transduced HLA at a comparable level to that normally expressed. These results indicate that locus-specific PCR cloning and utilization of GALV-pseudotyped retroviral vector can be an effective and relatively efficient tool for constructing a panel of different HLA transfectants.

Polymorphisms in TNFA and TNFR2 affect outcome of unrelated bone marrow transplantation

Effects of polymorphisms in TNFA and TNFR2 on the outcome of 462 cases of unrelated bone marrow transplantation (uBMT) were studied retrospectively. Four alleles of TNFA (U01-U04) distinguished by polymorphism in the upstream region, -1031 (T/C), -863 (C/A) and -857 (C/T), and two alleles of TNFR2 (196M/196R) distinguished by polymorphism at codon 196 were determined. Transplantation involving TNFA-U02- and/or U03-positive donors and/or recipients resulted in a higher incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of grade III-IV (P < 0.05 for donor type, P < 0.01 for recipient type) and a lower relapse rate than that involving TNFA-U01 homozygous recipients and/or donors (P < 0.025 for donor type, P < 0.01 for recipient type). These results include the HLA mismatching effect due to linkage disequilibirium of TNFA with HLA loci. However, the effects were also observed in HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 allele-matched transplantation. Transplantation from TNFR2-196R-positive donors exhibited a higher incidence of severe GVHD (P < 0.05) and tendency for a lower relapse rate than that from TNFR2-196M homozygous donors. TNFR2-196R of recipient origin had no effect on GVHD but increased the relapse rate (P < 0.025). These results suggest that TNFA and TNFR2 typings are helpful for predicting uBMT outcome and for preventing severe complications at an early stage.

Hip-shelf procedure in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the transpositioned acetabulum after rotational acetabular osteotomy

Necrosis of the transpositioned acetabulum after rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO) is a major complication characteristic of this procedure. This complication, although rare, has been thought difficult to treat. We report a patient with acetabular osteonecrosis and subsequent collapse after RAO that was effectively treated with a shelf operation, providing satisfactory remodeling of the hip joint. A 16-year-old female had undergone RAO for the treatment of developmental acetabular dysplasia. Postoperative radiography showed that the osteotomized acetabular fragment was unusually thin, and that the osteotome entered the hip joint during the surgery. Five months after the RAO, X-rays revealed significant collapse of the transpositioned acetabulum, and femoral head subluxation caused by postoperative osteonecrosis. Seven months after the RAO, the patient underwent a hip-shelf procedure. The remaining acetabular fragment was used in this procedure, according to the Spitzy method. Seven years after the second operation, favorable remodeling of the hip joint was observed; however, early osteoarthritic changes, including slight joint space narrowing, bone sclerosis of the new acetabulum, and bone cysts within the femoral head, were seen.

Maintenance of the differentiated type II cell characteristics by culture on an acellular human amnion membrane

We have developed a Culture system for guinea pig alveolar type II cells using an epithelium-denuded human amnion membrane as a substratum. The differentiated morphology was maintained for 3 wk by both air-interface feeding and immersion feeding when type II cells were cultured on the basement membrane side of the amnion with fibroblasts on the opposite side (coculture). Functionally high levels of surfactant protein B (SP-B) and C (SP-C) messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) were expressed even after the 3-wk cultivation and surfactant protein A mRNA was detected on day 10 of the culture. The differentiation was also maintained when fibroblasts were cultured on lower chambers of the culture plates (separate culture). In contrast, culture of type II cells without fibroblasts (monoculture) could not preserve the mature morphology. When the monoculture was supplemented with keratinocyte growth factor or hepatocyte growth factor, a monolayer of rather cuboidal type II cells with apical microvilli was maintained. However, the percent area of lamellar bodies in these cells was significantly less than that in freshly isolated type II cells, and mRNA expressions of SP-B and SP-C were also considerably suppressed. These findings suggest that other growth factors or combinations of these factors are necessary for the maintenance of the differentiated phenotype. As substratum, a permeable collagen membrane or a thin gel layer of Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm mouse sarcoma extracts did not preserve the mature characteristics. This culture system using an acellular human amnion membrane may provide novel models for research in type II cells.

Detection of AP12-MALT1 chimaeric gene in extranodal and nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genomic long and accurate PCR analyses

t(11;18)(q21;q21) has been recognized as a characteristic chromosomal translocation in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type lymphoma, and recent studies have demonstrated that this translocation results in the chimaeric transcript of API2 (apoptosis inhibitor 2)-MALT1 (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation gene 1). In this study, we used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to analyse the incidence of this fusion product in a large series of MALT lymphoma, nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (nMZBCL) and extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL) cases. RT-PCR analysis revealed that 17 of the 95 (17.9%) MALT lymphomas but none of the nine nMZBCLs or 16 DLBLs had API2-MALT1 fusion transcripts. The incidence of API2-MALT1 varied among MALT lymphomas arising from different sites and was highest for pulmonary MALT lymphomas (10 out of 16 cases, 62.5%). The presence of the API2-MALT1 fusion gene was also confirmed by long and accurate (LA)-PCR with genomic DNA, and the result correlated well with that obtained with the RT-PCR assay, thus demonstrating the usefulness of LA-PCR for the detection of the API2-MALT1 fusion gene.

Exposure to diesel exhaust exacerbates allergen-induced airway responses in guinea pigs

Diesel exhaust (DE) is a major air pollutant in urban areas. To clarify the effects of DE on the exacerbation of asthma, guinea pigs were exposed 12 h daily to 3 mg/m(3) DE or air for 8 wk with or without sensitization to ovalbumin (OVA). In the DE-exposed sensitized animals, both immediate (IAR) and late (LAR) airway responses were enhanced after the inhalation challenge by OVA, compared with the DE-unexposed sensitized animals. Mucus was greatly accumulated in the airways of DE-exposed sensitized animals during IAR. The number of eosinophils and level of sialic acid concentration in bronchial lavage fluids were also significantly higher in the DE-exposed sensitized animals than in the DE-unexposed control animals. During LAR, intercellular spaces of the bronchial epithelium became enlarged in the DE-exposed sensitized animals, showing infiltration by numerous eosinophils. Albumin concentration was significantly higher in the bronchial lavage fluids from the DE-exposed sensitized animals than in those from the DE-unexposed control animals. These results suggest that exposure to DE enhances mucus hypersecretion and eosinophilic inflammation during IAR. DE exposure also increases airway permeability and airway inflammation during LAR. Thus, DE exposure exacerbates allergen-induced airway responses in guinea pigs.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 gene polymorphisms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Proteinase/antiproteinase imbalance is the most widely accepted theory for development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mutations of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) that downregulate its activity may increase the activities of matrix metalloproteinases and result in the degradation of the lung matrix. Polymorphisms of the TIMP-2 gene were investigated in 88 COPD patients and 40 control subjects. The variations were examined by single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis followed by sequencing. Two polymorphisms were identified, +853 GIA and -418 G/C nucleotide substitutions. There was a significant deviation in the genotypic frequencies at +853 and the allele frequencies for G were significantly higher in the COPD patient group than in the control group. For locus -418, the allele frequencies for C in the COPD patient group also tended to be higher than those in the control group. The +853 G/A nucleotide substitution was a silent variant. The -418 G/C substitution was located in the consensus sequence for the Sp1 binding site. These polymorphisms may be associated with the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, decreasing the transcription and stability of the messenger ribonucleic acid, and available as genetic markers of susceptibility to the disease.

[Quantitative determination of lipoprotein by agarose gel electrophoresis and enzymatic staining of cholesterol and triglyceride: effects of age and gender]

290 normal duplicate samples (152 males and 138 females), were subjected to lipoprotein analysis by agarose gel electrophoresis to yield HDL, VLDL and LDL fractions which were respectively stained with Cholesterol and Triglyceride reagents. HDL-Cholesterol were significantly higher in female than male, and VLDL-TG were significantly higher in male than female. Assay C.V.'s varied from 0.96 to 5.75 for cholesterol fractions and 2.00 to 4.34 for triglyceride fractions. Comparison of electrophoretic HDL-Cholesterol and LDL-Cholesterol concentrations with the results of a direct method (HDL-EX and LDL-EX, Denka Seiken) gave correlation coefficients of 0.967 and 0.952 respectively. This method is simple, rapid and can provide the simultaneous assessment of the cholesterol and triglyceride component in each Lipoprotein fraction. Additionally, the method is useful for evaluating lipoprotein assays.

Morphological spectrum of cyclin D1-positive mantle cell lymphoma: study of 168 cases

Immunostaining for cyclin D1 is essential for reliable diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). However, a small number of cyclin D1-positive lymphomas other than MCL have been encountered. Our goal was to investigate the morphological spectrum of MCL as a disease entity, based on cyclin D1 overexpression. We reviewed 181 biopsy specimens obtained from 168 cases of cyclin D1-positive MCL. Typical findings were the presence of nodular (53.9% of cases) or diffuse (46.1%) histological patterns, containing mantle zone patterns (16.8%), naked germinal centers (33.5%) and perivascular hyaline deposition (83.2%). Unusual findings of residual germinal centers with a mantle cuff (four cases) and follicular colonization (two cases) were seen. High magnification showed a monotonous proliferation of tumor cells with cytological diversity including small (3.0%), intermediate (43.1%), medium (34.1%), medium-large (13.2%) and large (6.6%) cells. Pleomorphic and blastic/blastoid variants were encountered in 9.6 and 7.2% of cases, respectively. Three cases had foci of cells of considerable size, with a moderately abundant pale cytoplasm resembling marginal zone B cells. Two cases showed an admixture of cells which appeared transformed and mimicked the histology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic leukemia. In one, neoplastic mantle zones were surrounded by sheets of mature plasma cells, resembling the plasma cell type of Castleman's disease. An admixture of areas characteristic of MCL and of other larger cells, indicating histological progression or a composite lymphoma, were observed in seven cases. In high-grade lesions of five cases, nuclear staining of cyclin D1 was rarely detected. In our experience, cyclin D1 expression was also found in nine lymphomas other than MCL (five plasma cell myelomas, three Hodgkin's disease and one anaplastic large cell lymphoma). The application of cyclin D1 staining prompted us to recognize the broad morphological spectrum of MCL. MCL can be diagnosed with the application of cyclin D1 immunostaining, if careful attention is given to architectural and cytological features.

Beta-amyloid induces neuronal apoptosis via a mechanism that involves the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway and the induction of Fas ligand

Elevated levels of beta-Amyloid (Abeta) are present in the brains of individuals with either the sporadic or familial form of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the deposition of Abeta within the senile plaques that are a hallmark of AD is thought to be a primary cause of the cognitive dysfunction that occurs in AD. Recent evidence suggests that Abeta induces neuronal apoptosis in the brain and in primary neuronal cultures, and that this Abeta-induced neuronal death may be responsible in part for the cognitive decline found in AD patients. In this study we have characterized one mechanism by which Abeta induces neuronal death. We found that in cortical neurons exposed to Abeta, activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is required for the phosphorylation and activation of the c-Jun transcription factor, which in turn stimulates the transcription of several key target genes, including the death inducer Fas ligand. The binding of Fas ligand to its receptor Fas then induces a cascade of events that lead to caspase activation and ultimately cell death. By analyzing the effects of mutations in each of the components of the JNK-c-Jun-Fas ligand-Fas pathway, we demonstrate that this pathway plays a critical role in mediating Abeta-induced death of cultured neurons. These findings raise the possibility that the JNK pathway may also contribute to Abeta-dependent death in AD patients.