[Initial experience with partial left ventriculectomy as a treatment for end-stage heart failure]

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of left ventriculectomy, on a short term basis, as a treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure.

METHODS

From February to June 1995, 7 patients with end-stage heart failure underwent partial left ventriculectomy. Before the surgical procedure, 7 (100%) patients were in functional class IV. Three (42%) patients needed inotropic support for hemodynamic stability. The mean daily dose of furosemide was l48.67 +/- 128.27 mg, of captopril 87.50 +/- 95.20 mg and of digoxin 0.23 +/- 0.04. Mean left ventricular diastolic dimension determined by 2-D echocardiography was 78.29 +/- 12.63 mm, mean left ventricular ejection fraction, determined by radionuclide ventriculography, was 0.15 +/- 0.05 whereas mean transpulmonary gradient and pulmonary vascular resistance in Wood units, determined by right heart catheterization, were 16.80 +/- 8.80 and 6.57 +/- 3.22, respectively.

RESULTS

Sixty days after the surgery, the mean functional class was 1.71 +/- 0.48 (p = 0.009), the mean left ventricular diastolic dimension 64.67 +/- 11.41 mm (p = 0.02) and the mean left ventricular ejection fraction 0.22 +/- 0.04 (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

The left ventriculectomy is a promising treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure.

A new and potent calmodulin antagonist, HF-2035, which inhibits vascular relaxation induced by nitric oxide synthase

HF-2035, 2-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2,4,5-trichlorobenzenesulfonyl)] amino-N-(4-chlorocinnamyl)-N-methylbenzylamine, was synthesized and its effects on calmodulin-dependent enzymes were investigated. HF-2035 inhibited calmodulin kinase I, calmodulin kinase II and myosin light-chain kinase with IC50 values of 1.3 microM, 1.6 microM and 68 microM, respectively. HF-2035 also inhibited the activity of recombinant rat neuronal nitric oxide synthase, one of the calmodulin-dependent enzymes, with a Ki of 0.78 microM. Partially purified nitric oxide synthase of rat brain was also inhibited by HF-2035 with an IC50 of 3.2 microM. Kinetic analysis indicated that this inhibitory effect of HF-2035 was competitive with respect to calmodulin. We examined the effects of HF-2035 on constitutive nitric oxide synthase in a bioassay using vascular strips of rabbit carotid artery with and without endothelium. HF-2035 inhibited acetylcholine- and calcium ionophore, A23187 (6S-[6 alpha (2S*,3S*),8 beta (R*),9 beta, 11 alpha]-5- (methylamino)-2-[[3,9,11-trimethyl-8-[1-methyl-2-oxo-2-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)- ethyl]-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undec-2-yl]methyl]-4-benzoxazol ecarboxylic acid)-induced relaxation of endothelium-intact strips with an ED50 of 1.5 +/- 0.5 microM and 2.8 +/- 1 microM, respectively. This compound, however, did not inhibit N-nitroso-N-morpholinoaminoacetonitrile (SIN-1A), an exogenous nitric oxide donor, -induced relaxation of endothelium-denuded strips. W-7 (N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1- naphthalenesulfonamide) inhibited acetylcholine-induced relaxation with an ED50 of 46 +/- 7 microM, which was 30-fold less potent than HF-2035. HF-2035 was unable to inhibit the activity of the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase in isolated thoracic aorta of rat treated with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. These findings suggest that HF-2035 is a new and potent calmodulin antagonist, and may be used as a mother compound to develop more selective inhibitors of constitutive nitric oxide synthase.

Contribution of sustained Ca2+ elevation for nitric oxide production in endothelial cells and subsequent modulation of Ca2+ transient in vascular smooth muscle cells in coculture

To elucidate the intracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+i ) transient responsible for nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial cells (ECs) and the subsequent Ca2+i reduction in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), we administrated four agonists with different Ca2+i-mobilizing mechanisms for both cells in iso- or coculture. We monitored the Ca2+i of both cells by two-dimensional fura-2 imaging, simultaneously measuring NO production as NO2-. The order of potency of the agonists in terms of the peak Ca2+i in ECs was bradykinin (100 nM) > ATP (10 microM) > ionomycin (50 nM) > thapsigargin (1 microM). In contrast, the order in reference to both the extent of Ca2+i reduction in cocultured VSMCs and the elevation in NO production over the level of basal release in ECs completely matched and was ranked as thapsigargin > ionomycin > ATP > bradykinin. Treatment by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine monoacetate but not indomethacin or glybenclamide restored the Ca2+i response in cocultured VSMCs to the isoculture level. In ECs, when the Ca2+ influx was blocked by Ni2+ or by chelating extracellular Ca2+, all four agonists markedly decreased NO production, the half decay time of the Ca2+i degenerating phase, and the area under the Ca2+i curve. The amount of produced NO hyperbolically correlated to the half decay time and the area under the Ca2+i curve but not to the Ca2+i peak level. Thus, the sustained elevation of Ca2+i in ECs, mainly a result of Ca2+ influx, determines the active NO production and subsequent Ca2+i reduction in adjacent VSMCs. Furthermore, L-arginine but not D-arginine or L-lysine at high dose (5 mM) without agonist enhanced the NO production, weakly reduced the Ca2+i in ECs, and markedly decreased the Ca2+i in VSMCs, demonstrating the autocrine and paracrine effects of NO (Shin, W. S., Sasaki, T., Kato, M., Hara, K., Seko, A., Yang, W. D., Shimamoto, N., Sugimoto, T., and Toyo-oka, T. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 20377-20382).

Differences in the reduced 18F-Dopa uptakes of the caudate and the putamen in Parkinson's disease: correlations with the three main symptoms

It has been reported that the F-Dopa (FD) uptake in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) decreased significantly in the caudate and putamen when compared to controls. The FD uptake severely decreased in the putamen, while it was relatively spared in the caudate nucleus. We also previously reported that atypical parkinsonism with no or little tremor showed a homogeneously reduced FD uptake in both the caudate and the putamen. In this study we evaluated the caudate and the putaminal FD uptakes in relation to the three main symptoms in PD. The FD uptake was measured by PET with 6-L-[18F]fluorodopa in 17 patients with PD. The caudate and the putaminal FD uptake ratios to the cerebellum at 120 min were evaluated. The caudate and the putaminal FD uptake ratios in the patients with PD decreased as their clinical stages advanced. These decreases also correlated with the degree of rigidity and bradykinesia. However, such decreases did not correlate with the degree of tremor. The caudate-putamen index (CPI)(%), which was calculated by a formula based on the difference in the uptakes of the caudate and putamen divided by the caudate uptake, indicated 11.6 +/- 3.6, 16.5 +/- 5.5 and 18.3 +/- 4.1 in the group of no, mild and moderate tremor, respectively, and increased as the degree of tremor advanced. The CPI in the group of moderate tremor significantly increased from that in the group of no tremor (P < 0.04). However, the CPI did not correlate with the clinical stage, the degree of rigidity or the degree of bradykinesia. The FD/PET study therefore effectively demonstrated the severity of the clinical symptoms of rigidity and bradykinesia in patients with PD in correlation with a decrease in the FD uptakes in the caudate and the putamen, and it also demonstrated that the severity of tremor might have a different mechanism from that of such other symptoms as rigidity and bradykinesia.

Effects of bradykinin on the intracellular calcium concentration of pancreatic acinar AR42J cells

We examined the effects of bradykinin (BK) on the intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in rat pancreatic acinar AR42J cells. BK induced a dose-dependent rise in [Ca+2]i in AR42J cells between the concentrations of 10(-12)M and 10(-7)M. The BK-evoked response was not affected by the presence of Co2+ or the absence of extracellular calcium. This response was suppressed by neomycin or the B2 antagonist, but not by the B1 antagonist. The response was also attenuated by treatment with dexamethasone. These results suggest that BK increases [Ca2+]i through the B2 receptors by promoting the phosphatidyl inositol turn-over and that, in the process of azaserine-induced undifferentiation, the pancreatic acinar cells strongly express the BK receptors.

Engraftment of human tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and the production of anti-tumor antibodies in SCID mice

We report here the placement of nondisrupted 1-mm3 pieces of fresh human lung tumor biopsy tissue into the subcutis of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice results in the engraftment of tumor-infiltrating leukocytes (TIL) in all but 5 of 148 mice inoculated with 39 different biopsy tissue specimens. In mice coengrafted with tumor and TIL the normal histologic architecture of the tumor and TIL interface was maintained for up to 22 wk. The TIL in the xenograft were shown to divide and were maintained exclusively at the site of tumor inoculation. It is established here that plasma cells in the TIL population produce Abs that react in western blots with tumor cell lysates. These Abs were shown to react with high and low m.w. proteins derived from both the membrane and cytosolic fractions of tumor cell lysates. The production of human Ig was found to be T cell dependent, and immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization of DNA, using a human-specific cDNA probe, established the human identity of the tumor and TIL. High levels of human Ig in the sera of mice inoculated with tumor biopsy tissue are associated with the growth arrest of adenocarcinoma xenografts. Our results establish the co-engraftment of human tumors and TIL into SCID mice as new animal model with which to evaluate TIL function and novel therapeutic strategies that are designed to augment TIL anti-tumor activity.

Engraftment of human tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and the production of anti-tumor antibodies in SCID mice

We report here the placement of nondisrupted 1-mm3 pieces of fresh human lung tumor biopsy tissue into the subcutis of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice results in the engraftment of tumor-infiltrating leukocytes (TIL) in all but 5 of 148 mice inoculated with 39 different biopsy tissue specimens. In mice coengrafted with tumor and TIL the normal histologic architecture of the tumor and TIL interface was maintained for up to 22 wk. The TIL in the xenograft were shown to divide and were maintained exclusively at the site of tumor inoculation. It is established here that plasma cells in the TIL population produce Abs that react in western blots with tumor cell lysates. These Abs were shown to react with high and low m.w. proteins derived from both the membrane and cytosolic fractions of tumor cell lysates. The production of human Ig was found to be T cell dependent, and immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization of DNA, using a human-specific cDNA probe, established the human identity of the tumor and TIL. High levels of human Ig in the sera of mice inoculated with tumor biopsy tissue are associated with the growth arrest of adenocarcinoma xenografts. Our results establish the co-engraftment of human tumors and TIL into SCID mice as new animal model with which to evaluate TIL function and novel therapeutic strategies that are designed to augment TIL anti-tumor activity.

Bone morphogenetic protein type IB receptor is progressively expressed in malignant glioma tumours

The distribution of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type I receptors and the activin type I receptor (ActR-I) was investigated in 16 cases of human glioma and five cases of non-tumourous gliosis tissue by immunohistochemical technique. Both BMP type IA (BMPR-IA) and the type IB (BMPR-IB) receptors were detected in human glioma cells. A significant increase in BMPR-IB in tumour cells was observed in malignant glioma compared with both low-grade astrocytomas (n=16, P<0.005) and gliosis (n=13, P<0.001). However, enhancement of BMPR-IA staining was moderate and ActR-I staining was only weakly expressed in the malignant glioma tumours. Osteogenic protein (OP)-1/BMP-7, which is known to bind BMPR-IA, BMPR-IB and ActR-I, was expressed in nervous tissue and was also detected in anaplastic areas of malignant glioma. In contrast to the tissue materials, BMPR-IA was expressed to a stronger degree than BMPR-IB in human glioma cell lines; the growth of these cells was suppressed by OP-1. These results suggest the presence of BMP receptors and a functional role for BMPs in malignant glioma.

Expression of TGF-beta type I and type II receptors in rat eyes

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) transduces signals through mediation of type I and type II serine/threonine kinase receptors. The expression of TGF-beta type I (T beta R-I) and II (T beta R-II) receptors in rat eyes was investigated immunohistochemically. T beta R-I and T beta R-II immunoreactivity was detected in corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells, corneal endothelial cells, ciliary epithelial cells, lens epithelial cells, retinal pigment epithelial cells, and choroidal vessels. This co-expression of T beta R-I and T beta R-II indicates that the above cells respond to TGF-beta and, because TGF-beta is reported to be produced in ocular tissues, that it may have important autocrine and/or paracrine roles in the growth and metabolism of ocular tissues in situ.

Atrophic changes of gastric mucosa are caused by Helicobacter pylori infection rather than aging: studies in asymptomatic Japanese adults

BACKGROUND

The current study was designed to evaluate the effect of aging and Helicobacter pylori infection on the gastric mucosa in asymptomatic Japanese adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-five asymptomatic healthy adults were recruited from a health-screening center in Sapporo. All subjects underwent endoscopy and gastric biopsy, and serum was obtained for IgG antibodies to H. pylori, serum gastrin, and pepsinogen levels.

RESULTS

The prevalence of atrophic change of the gastric mucosa assessed by pathological findings increased with age (49% in the 30- to 39-year-old group compared to 89% in those 60 years and older, p < .001). The frequency of intestinal metaplasia also increased with age (38% in the 30- to 39-year-old group compared to 82% in those 60 years and older, p < .001). In contrast, the frequency of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia was extremely low in the H. pylori seronegative group regardless of age. Mean serum gastrin level in H. pylori-positive adults was significantly greater than in those who were H. pylori-negative (114.3 +/- 11.2 compared to 65.8 +/- 6.5 pg/ml, p < .03). The serum pepsinogen I-II ratio was significantly lower in those with H. pylori infection than in those without (3.1 compared to 6.6, p < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the chronological changes in the gastric mucosa in Japanese individuals are either entirely related to H. pylori infection or the process is greatly accelerated by H. pylori infection.

Postprandial responses of liver blood flow prior to and following hepatectomy in conscious dogs

The responses of the portal and hepatic arterial blood flows to various diets and nutrients were measured simultaneously in conscious dogs prior to and following hepatic resection. Prior to hepatectomy, the increase in the portal blood flow was significantly larger in response to an elemental diet, fats, or amino acids than to glucose or water. The peak increase was 60.2 +/- 14.4 ml for water, 144.7 +/- 22.1 ml for a 150-cal elemental diet, 168.5 +/- 16.1 ml for a 300-cal elemental diet, 86.7 +/- 14.0 ml for a glucose solution, 159.3 +/- 16.7 ml for an amino acid meal, and 188.5 +/- 25.3 ml for a fat meal. Following partial hepatectomy, fats and amino acids induced an increase in the portal blood flow similar to that prior to hepatectomy. Glucose and the elemental diet, on the other hand, induced a significantly larger increase in portal blood flow following the surgery although water did not. The peak increase was 144.4 +/- 27.8 ml for glucose (166% of the peak increase prior to hepatectomy) and 221.8 +/- 32.5 ml for the 300-cal elemental diet (132%). The postprandial response of the hepatic artery to every diet was quite different among the dogs and there were no significant changes both prior to and following surgery. The different response of the portal flow to intraluminal glucose following partial hepatectomy may be due to alterations in glucose metabolism following hepatectomy. We have shown that the postprandial response of the portal blood flow varies with the type of nutrient, and it can be altered by hepatectomy.

[Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis with tuberous sclerosis and endolymphatic stromal myosis of the uterus]

Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis is a rare disorder that affects only women of reproductive age. The lung shows numerous cystic changes and striking proliferation of smooth muscle around the airways, blood vessels, and lymphatic channels. We encountered a patient with pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis who had repeated pneumothorax and bloody sputum over 10 years. The patient also had other lesions, including intracranial calcification, renal angiomyolipoma and endolymphatic stromal myosis of the uterus. The first two findings are known as tuberous sclerosis, and lymphangiomyomatosis is considered to be a form fruste of tuberous sclerosis. However, we know of no previous reports of uterine lesions in this disease. Lymphangiomyomatosis may be a systemic disorder of smooth muscle.

Cloning of cDNA encoding for a novel isozyme of fructose 6-phosphate, 2-kinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase from human placenta

Two independent cDNA clones encoding fructose 6-phosphate, 2-kinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase were isolated from a human placental cDNA library. The deduced amino acid sequences showed that one of the clones, 2K-1, was almost identical to the rat testis isozyme and the other, 2K-3, was different from any known isozymes expressed in mammalian tissues. The results of Southern blot analysis suggested that clones 2K-1 and 2K-3 were encoded as single copy genes and located in different parts of the genome. Since open reading frames of the cDNA clones were not complete, we obtained the 5'-end of the clone 2K-3 cDNA using the 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA end method. The entire cDNA (HP; 1,756 bp) had a coding capacity of 519 amino acids (M(r) = 59,410), and putative phosphorylation sites for protein kinases A and C on the C terminus. Northern blot analysis using a fragment of the HP as a probe showed that a major band of 5.4 kb, significantly different in size from known isozyme mRNAs such as liver (2.1 kb), muscle (1.9 kb), heart (4.0 kb), and testis (2.0 kb), was present in poly(A)+RNA preparations of human first trimester and term placentae. These results strongly suggested that this 5.4 kb mRNA codes a novel isozyme of fructose 6-phosphate,2-kinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase.

A classical strain of Vibrio cholerae with diminished ability to process the proteolytically sensitive site in the A subunit of cholera toxin

Vibrio cholerae O1, No. 31, a strain isolated from a patient with mild diarrhea, produced mainly the unnicked cholera toxin. The amount of toxin that had accumulated in the cells was approximately 200 times lower than that secreted into the culture medium. When the unnicked toxin was purified by three successive column chromatographies and then extracted from the polyacrylamide gel, the unnicked toxin showed two bands corresponding to the A and B subunits by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the A1 fragment was detected by trypsinization. Biological and enzymatic activities of the purified toxin with trypsinization were identical to those of cholera toxin from V. cholerae 569B as seen in the rabbit skin permeability test and the NAD:agmatine ADP-ribosyltransferase assay. DNA sequences of the A and B subunits were identical to those of the A- and B-subunit genes from the El Tor 2125 and classical 0395 strains, respectively. These data suggest that the wild V. cholerae strain, No. 31, produces a toxin identical to toxins previously reported in the literature and secretes it without accumulation in the cell, as is the case with other strains. However, strain No. 31's ability to nick the toxin is diminished compared with such abilities of other strains.

Human VEPs to isoluminant chromatic and achromatic sinusoidal gratings: separation of parvocellular components

To extract the responses specific to the parvocellular system (color vision and form perception) in humans, visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in response to the onset of isoluminant chromatic (red-green) and achromatic (black-white) sinusoidal gratings were recorded in 15 young adults. Chromatic stimulation evoked a characteristic negative wave (N1) with peak latencies around 120 msec. The amplitude resembled an inverse U-shaped function against the spatial frequency with a peak at 2 c/deg. In contrast, VEPs to achromatic gratings showed different spatial frequency characteristics with a peak at 5.3 c/deg. With variations in the luminous intensity ratio between the red and green gratings, N1 was seen to respond maximally to isoluminant stimulation. These results indicate that the combined use of isoluminant chromatic and achromatic patterns could stimulate the parvocellular system selectively in humans.

Improvement of hemolysis in muscle phosphofructokinase deficiency by restriction of exercise

A 29-year-old woman with muscle phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiency had exercise intolerance, painful cramps, elevation of muscle enzyme levels in the serum and compensated hemolysis. After the restriction of exercise, the creatine kinase level and indirect bilirubin level decreased, and the reticulocyte count and haptoglobin level were normalized. It is suggested that the hemolysis which was accelerated by exercise was improved by restriction of exercise.

Value of three-dimensional spiral CT hepatic angiography

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare with conventional angiography images the diagnostic utility of three-dimensional CT hepatic angiography (CTHA) images reconstructed from spiral CT images obtained during direct injection of contrast material into hepatic arteries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three-dimensional CTHA images were reconstructed from spiral CTHA images obtained during direct hepatic arterial contrast material injection in 22 patients. We used maximum-intensity-projection (MIP) and shaded-surface-display (SSD) techniques. We compared matched pairs of MIP CTHA images and SSD CTHA images with conventional angiograms for depiction of peripheral (segmental to subsegmental order branches) and proximal (common to proper) hepatic arteries as well as for conspicuity of the entire hepatic arterial tree in 22 patients and for conspicuity of tumors, recognition of tumor sites, and depiction of tumor-feeding arteries in 21 patients with malignant liver tumors. Our evaluations were performed in a blinded fashion by two experienced radiologists, who reached a consensus. (These radiologists also counted the number of tumors depicted by each method in the 21 patients with malignant liver tumors.)

RESULTS

Depiction of peripheral and proximal hepatic arteries and conspicuity of the entire hepatic arterial tree were significantly better on conventional angiograms than on MIP CTHA images and SSD CTHA images. Conspicuity of tumors and recognition of tumor sites were significantly better on MIP CTHA images and SSD CTHA images than on conventional angiograms. Depiction of tumor-feeding arteries was significantly better on MIP CTHA images than on SSD CTHA images and conventional angiograms. For 47 malignant liver tumors, MIP CTHA images showed 40 (85%), SSD CTHA images showed 34 (72%), and conventional angiograms showed 20 (43%).

CONCLUSION

MIP CTHA images showed liver tumors, tumor sites, and tumor-feeding arteries better than conventional angiograms. MIP was the preferred method for three-dimensional CTHA analysis.

Distribution of transforming growth factor-beta and its receptors in gastric carcinoma tissue

The distribution of the three mammalian isoforms of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta (TGF-beta 1, -beta 2, and -beta 3) as well as their signaling receptors, TGF-beta type I and type II receptors (T beta R-I and T beta R-II, respectively), in gastric carcinoma tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies. Tissue specimens were obtained from 25 cases of gastric carcinoma, which were classified into two groups according to Lauren's classification, i.e. 15 cases of diffuse carcinoma and 10 cases of intestinal carcinoma. In normal gastric mucosa apart from carcinoma nests, all of TGF-beta 1, -beta 2, -beta 3, T beta R-I and T beta R-II were clearly demonstrated in fundic glands. In sharp contrast, none of them was detectable in surface mucous cells. In carcinoma cells, strong staining for TGF-beta 1, -beta 2 and -beta 3 was obtained only in diffuse-type carcinoma. In particular, carcinoma cells scattered as single cells or small nests had a tendency to show strong staining for TGF-betas. The receptors tended to be distributed concomitantly with the ligands, and diffuse-type carcinoma showed stronger receptor staining than intestinal-type carcinoma. In cancer stroma, TGF-betas and receptors were detected in both diffuse and intestinal types, but the area with positive staining was wider and more dispersed in diffuse-type carcinoma than in intestinal carcinoma. These results suggest that TGF-beta may contribute in part to the variety of histogenesis and mode of progression of gastric carcinoma.

Purification and characterization of new trehalose-producing enzymes isolated from the hyperthermophilic archae, Sulfolobus solfataricus KM1

Amylolytic activity that converts soluble starch to alpha, alpha-trehalose (trehalose), was found in the cell homogenate of the hyperthermophilic acidophilic archae, Sulfolobus solfataricus KM1. DEAE chromatography of the homogenate as well as other new reliable assay methods showed two enzymes to be essential for this activity. These enzymes, a glycosyltransferase and an amylase, were purified to homogeneity and characterized. Their molecular masses were 76 kDa and 61 kDa and activities were maximal at 70-80 degrees C and 70-85 degrees C, respectively. High thermostability was noted for each. The reaction products by the two enzymes on maltooligosaccharides were identified by 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra and HPLC analysis. The cooperative mechanism of the two enzymes was used in a new enzymatic pathway for trehalose synthesis from starch.

Differential localization of TGF-beta-precursor isotypes in psoriatic human skin

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) can act as a multi-functional regulator of both cell growth and differentiation. Three isoforms of TGF-betas, namely TGF-beta 1 TGF-beta 2 and TGF-beta 3, have been identified in human tissues. Previously we reported the expression of TGF-beta isoforms in normal human skin. However little is known about the role of TGF-beta isoforms in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Using the TGF-beta precursor-specific antibodies to strengthen the specificity, we studied the immunohistochemical distribution of TGF-betas 1-3 in psoriatic skin. TGF-beta 2, which was found in the intercellular space of all the layers of the epidermis in normal human skin, was decreased in the psoriatic epidermis. The intensity of immunoreactivity has the tendency to decrease in the lower epidermis rather than in the upper epidermis of the transitional lesion. In contrast, TGF-beta 3 was present in the subepidermal area of the psoriatic skin as in the normal human skin. TGF-beta 1 was observed in neither epidermis nor dermis in both normal and psoriatic skin. Since TGF-beta is a potent growth inhibitor for human keratinocytes, the decrease of TGF-beta 2 in the epidermis of psoriatic skin may contribute to epidermal hyperplasia, a hallmark of psoriasis.