Escherichia coli pyomyositis in a patient with Down syndrome: A case report

Pyomyositis is an infection of the skeletal muscle that involves intramuscular abscess formation. It is typically caused by gram-positive bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus. Few cases of Escherichia coli pyomyositis have been reported in immunocompromised adult patients, while none have been reported in children.

We present a case of a 4-year-old boy with Down syndrome who developed Escherichia coli pyomyositis. The patient presented to our hospital with a fever and right forearm swelling. The magnetic resonance imaging findings suggested pyomyositis of the right forearm muscle and osteomyelitis of the distal radius. Both the blood and puncture fluid cultures were negative. Cefazolin and vancomycin were administered, and his blood examination results and right forearm swelling improved; however, a slight fever persisted. The multiplex polymerase chain reaction isolated the chuA gene but not the YjaA gene; thus the patient was diagnosed with pyomyositis and osteomyelitis caused by Escherichia coli group D. The cefazolin was substituted with meropenem, and the vancomycin was discontinued. Thereafter, his fever promptly improved, which indicated that the cause of persistent fever was vancomycin drug fever. The patient was discharged after receiving 3 weeks of intravenous antimicrobial therapy, and recovered fully with no long-term sequelae.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Escherichia coli pyomyositis in a child. The findings in this case suggest that Escherichia coli should be considered when choosing initial empiric therapy for pyomyositis, especially in children with underlying conditions.

Unstable rocker shoes promote recovery from marathon-induced muscle damage in novice runners

We recently reported that wearing unstable rocker shoes (Masai Barefoot Technology: MBT) may enhance recovery from marathon race-induced fatigue. However, this earlier study only utilized a questionnaire. In this study, we evaluated MBT utilizing objective physiological measures of recovery from marathon-induced muscle damages. Twenty-five university student novice runners were divided into two groups. After running a full marathon, one group wore MBT shoes (MBT group), and the control group (CON) wore ordinary shoes daily for 1 week following the race. We measured maximal isometric joint torque, muscle hardness (real time tissue elastography of the strain ratio) in the lower limb muscles before, immediately after, and 1, 3, and 8 days following the marathon. We calculated the magnitude of recovery by observing the difference in each value between the first measurement and the latter measurements. Results showed that isometric torques in knee flexion recovered at the first day after the race in the MBT group while it did not recover even at the eighth day in the CON group. Muscle hardness in the gastrocnemius and vastus lateralis showed enhanced recovery in the MBT group in comparison with the CON group. Also for muscle hardness in the tibialis anterior and biceps femoris, the timing of recovery was delayed in the CON group. In conclusion, wearing MBT shoes enhanced recovery in lower leg and thigh muscles from muscle damage induced by marathon running.

Lower expression of activating transcription factors 3 and 4 correlates with shorter progression-free survival in multiple myeloma patients receiving bortezomib plus dexamethasone therapy

Bortezomib (BTZ), a proteasome inhibitor, is widely used in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), but a fraction of patients respond poorly to this agent. To identify factors predicting the duration of progression-free survival (PFS) of MM patients on BTZ treatment, the expression of proteasome and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes was quantified in primary samples from patients receiving a combination of BTZ and dexamethasone (BD). Fifty-six MM patients were stratified into a group with PFS<6 months (n=33) and a second group with PFS⩾6 months (n=23). Of the 15 genes analyzed, the expression of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) and ATF4 was significantly lower in patients with shorter PFS (P=0.0157 and P=0.0085, respectively). Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that these ATFs bind each other and transactivate genes encoding the pro-apoptotic transcription factors, CHOP and Noxa, which promote ER stress-associated apoptosis. When either ATF3 or ATF4 expression was silenced, MM cells partially lost sensitivity to BTZ treatment. This was accompanied by lower levels of Noxa, CHOP and DR5. Thus low basal expression of ATF3 and ATF4 may attenuate BTZ-induced apoptosis. Hence, ATF3 and ATF4 could potentially be used as biomarkers to predict efficacy of BD therapy in patients with MM.

Increased apoptosis and hypomyelination in cerebral white matter of macular mutant mouse brain

Hypomyelination in developing brain is often accompanied by congenital metabolic disorders. Menkes kinky hair disease is an X-linked neurodegenerative disease of impaired copper transport, resulting from a mutation of the Menkes disease gene, a transmembrane copper-transporting p-type ATPase gene (ATP7A). In a macular mutant mouse model, the murine ortholog of Menkes gene (mottled gene) is mutated, and widespread neurodegeneration and subsequent death are observed. Although some biochemical analysis of myelin protein in macular mouse has been reported, detailed histological study of myelination in this mouse model is currently lacking. Since myelin abnormality is one of the neuropathologic findings of human Menkes disease, in this study early myelination in macular mouse brain was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Two-week-old macular mice and normal littermates were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde. Immunohistochemical staining of paraffin embedded and vibratome sections was performed using antibodies against either CNPase, cleaved caspase-3 or O4 (marker of immature oligodendrocytes). This staining showed that cerebral myelination in macular mouse was generally hypoplastic and that hypomyelination was remarkable in internal capsule, corpus callosum, and cingulate cortex. In addition, an increased number of cleaved caspase-3 positive cells were observed in corpus callosum and internal capsule. Copper deficiency induced by low copper diet has been reported to induce oligodendrocyte dysfunction and leads to hypomyelination in this mouse model. Taken together, hypomyelination observed in this study in a mouse model of Menkes disease is assumed to be induced by increased apoptosis of immature oligodendrocytes in developing cerebrum, through deficient intracellular copper metabolism.

Cytosol and serum concentration of cytokeratin subunit-19 fragment (cyfra-21-1) in breast-cancer

Cytokeratin 19 is a subunit of cytokeratin intermediate filament. CYFRA 21-1 is a new tumor marker using monoclonal antibodies which recognize a fragment of cytokeratin 19. CYFRA 21-1 was measured in cytosol of breast cancer tissues or in sera of patients with breast cancer or benign breast diseases to study the significance of this protein as a tumor marker. The cytosol concentration of CYFRA 21-1 was elevated in cancerous tissue compared to that in adjacent noncancerous tissue, and correlated with the tumor stage or the estrogen receptor status. In the serum, the mean value and positive rate for CYFRA 21-1 (assuming 2.2 ng/ml as the cut-off value) were 0.61 ng/ml (0%) in benign breast diseases, 0.98 ng/ml (6.7%) in stage I/II primary breast cancer, 75.67 ng/ml (60.0%) in stage III/IV primary breast cancer, 45.28 ng/ml (60.0%) in recurrent breast cancer, and 0.64 ng/ml (2.6%) in those with no evidence of recurrence. From the above, we concluded that CYFRA 21-1 could be a tumor marker with high specificity in breast cancer.

Interaction between human cancer cells and cultured murine endothelial cells, and its relationship with metastatic potential

The hematogenous metastasis of cancer consists of a multistep process. It is surmised that a number of interactions between cancer and endothelial cells occur, with cell adhesion molecules playing certain roles in this process. The authors conducted an investigation on the interaction between human cancer cells and cultured murine endothelial cells (F-2 cells) in vitro, and on its relationship with the metastatic activity of cancer cells in vivo. A correlation was found between the degree of expression of carbohydrate antigens on the cell surface and adhesion of cancer cells to F-2 cells. Five of 13 examined cell lines showed liver metastasis after inoculation to the spleen of nude mice. These cell lines showed not only a strong binding activity to F-2 cells but implantation in F-2 cells in vitro was also observed. These findings suggest that adhesion to, and implantation in endothelial cells are necessary for the induction of distant metastasis. Treatment with antibodies against carbohydrate antigens inhibited the formation of liver metastasis in nude mice. It is possible that strategies to interfere with the function of cell adhesion molecules may be formulated to result in the decreased distant metastasis of cancer.

Comparisons of the effects of 12-week administration of miglitol and voglibose on the responses of plasma incretins after a mixed meal in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients

To compare the effects of miglitol [an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor (AGI) absorbed in the intestine] and voglibose (an AGI not absorbed) on plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) levels, 26 and 24 Japanese type 2 diabetic patients were randomly assigned to receive miglitol or voglibose, respectively. After 12-week administration of both drugs, during 2-h meal tolerance test, plasma glucose, serum insulin and total GIP were significantly decreased and active GLP-1 was significantly increased. Miglitol group showed a significantly lower total GIP level than voglibose group. Miglitol, but not voglibose, significantly reduced body weight (BW). In all participants, the relative change in BW was positively correlated with that of insulin significantly and of GIP with a weak tendency, but not of GLP-1. In conclusion, both drugs can enhance postprandial GLP-1 responses and reduce GIP responses. The significant BW reduction by miglitol might be attributable to its strong GIP-reducing efficacy.

Aliskiren inhibits intracellular angiotensin II levels without affecting (pro)renin receptor signals in human podocytes

BACKGROUND

A direct renin inhibitor (DRI) had a benefit in decreasing albuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients having already been treated with angiotensin (Ang) II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB), suggesting that aliskiren may have another effect other than blockade of the traditional renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Recently, prorenin bound to (pro)renin receptor ((P)RR) was found and shown to evoke two pathways; the generation of Ang peptides and the receptor-dependent activation of extracellular signal-related protein kinase (ERK). Because (P)RR is present in the podocytes, a central component of the glomerular filtration barrier, we hypothesized that aliskiren influences the (P)RR-induced two pathways in human podocytes.

METHODS

Human podocytes were treated with 2 nmol/l prorenin in the presence and absence of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) imidaprilat, an ARB candesartan, a DRI aliskiren, or the siRNA knocking down the (P)RR mRNA and the intracellular AngII levels and the phosphorylation of ERK were determined.

RESULTS

The expression of (P)RR mRNA of human podocytes was unaffected by the treatment with RAS inhibitors, but decreased by 69% with the siRNA treatment. The basal levels of intracellular AngII and the prorenin-induced increase in intracellular AngII were significantly reduced by aliskiren and siRNA treatment, compared with imidaprilat and candesartan. The prorenin-induced ERK activation was reduced to control level by the siRNA treatment, but it was unaffected by imidaprilat, candesartan, or aliskiren.

CONCLUSIONS

Aliskiren is the most potent inhibitor of intracellular AngII levels of human podocytes among RAS inhibitors, although it is incapable of inhibiting the (P)RR-dependent ERK phosphorylation.

Diurnal changes in urinary excretion of IgG, transferrin, and ceruloplasmin depend on diurnal changes in systemic blood pressure in normotensive, normoalbuminuric type 2 diabetic patients

Previous studies of diabetic patients indicate that increased urinary excretion of certain plasma proteins (molecular radii <55 A), such as IgG, transferrin, and ceruloplasmin, precede the development of microalbuminuria. Moreover, increases in these urinary proteins predict future development of microalbuminuria. To clarify whether blood pressure changes influence urinary excretion of these proteins, we examined relationships between diurnal blood pressure changes measured by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and urinary excretion of IgG, transferrin, ceruloplasmin, alpha2-macroglobulin (88 A) and albumin (36 A) measured separately during the day and night in 20 healthy controls and 26 normotensive, normoalbuminuric diabetic patients. Diurnal change in systolic blood pressure was not correlated to urinary excretion of either albumin or alpha2-macroglobulin in either diabetic patients or controls. However, statistically significant correlations between diurnal changes in systolic blood pressure and those of urinary excretion of IgG, transferrin and ceruloplasmin were found in diabetic patients but not in controls. The present findings suggest that urinary excretion of IgG, transferrin, and ceruloplasmin are more easily affected than albuminuria by systemic blood pressure changes in normoalbuminuric diabetic patients. This is supported by our previous finding that urinary excretion of IgG, transferrin and ceruloplasmin increased while albuminuria did not following enhanced glomerular filtration rate after acute protein loading, which causes increased glomerular capillary pressure due to afferent arterioles dilation, mimicking diabetic intra-renal hemodynamics. Taken together, these findings suggest that urinary excretion of IgG, transferrin, and ceruloplasmin may be more sensitive indicators of glomerular capillary pressure change than albuminuria in normoalbuminuric diabetic patients.

Expression of pericyte, mesangium and muscle markers in malignant rhabdoid tumor cell lines: differentiation-induction using 5-azacytidine

Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) has been considered to have multiphenotypic diversity characteristics. Some MRTs exhibit a neural phenotype. However, it is still unclear whether MRT cells can display a skeletal muscle, smooth muscle or smooth muscle-like cell phenotype, like those of pericytes and mesangial cells. To determine if MRTs exhibit skeletal muscle cell or smooth muscle-like cell phenotypes, six MRT cell lines (TM87-16, STM91-01, TTC549, TTC642, YAM-RTK1 and TTC1240) were examined for markers of skeletal muscle (MyoD, myogenin, myf-5, myf-6, acetylcholine receptor-alpha, -beta and -gamma), smooth muscle (alpha-smooth muscle actin, SM-1 and SM22), and smooth muscle-like cells, such as pericytes (angiopoietin-1 and -2) and mesangial cells (megsin), using conventional RT-PCR, semi-quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunocytochemistry before and after differentiation-induction with 5-azacytidine. alpha-Smooth muscle actin and SM22 were detected in all six MRT cell lines, while MyoD and myf-5, crucial markers for skeletal myogenic determination, were not. The TM87-16 cell line expressed SM-1 and angiopoietin-1. TTC1240 also expressed angiopoietin-1. Interestingly, STM91-01 expressed megsin, a novel marker for mesangial cells, in addition to angiopoietin-1. Our results indicated that some MRTs exhibited smooth muscle and/or smooth muscle-like cell phenotypes and some renal MRTs might be of mesangial origin. Recently, smooth muscle and also smooth muscle-like cells have been considered to be of neuroectodermal origin. MRT can thus considered to belong to the category of primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) in the broad sense.

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Lactococcus lactis from milk and plants

AIMS

The aim of this study was to obtain new Lactococcus lactis strains from nondairy materials for use as milk fermentation starters. The genetic and phenotypic traits of the obtained strains were characterized and compared with those of L. lactis strains derived from milk. It was confirmed that the plant-derived bacteria could be used as milk fermentation starters.

METHODS AND RESULTS

About 2600 lactic acid bacteria were subjected to screening for L. lactis with species-specific PCR. Specific DNA amplification was observed in 106 isolates. Forty-one strains were selected, including 30 strains of milk-derived and 11 of plant-derived, and their phenotypic traits and genetic profiles were determined. The plant-derived strains showed tolerance for high salt concentration and high pH value, and fermented many more kinds of carbohydrates than the milk-derived strains. There were no remarkable differences in the profiles of enzymes, such as lipases, peptidases and phosphatases. Isolates were investigated by cluster analysis based on randomly amplified polymorphic DNA profiles. There were no significant differences between isolates from milk and those from plant. The L. lactis subsp. cremoris strains were clustered into two distinct groups, one composed of the strains having the typical cremoris phenotype and the other composed of strains having a phenotype similar to subsp. lactis. Fermented milk manufactured using the plant-derived strains were not inferior in flavour to that manufactured using the milk-derived strains.

CONCLUSIONS

Plant-derived L. lactis strains are genetically close to milk-derived strains but have various additional capabilities, such as the ability to ferment many additional kinds of carbohydrates and greater stress-tolerance compared with the milk-derived strains.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The lactic acid bacteria obtained from plants in this study may be applicable for use in the dairy product industry.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs induce hypermotilinemia and disturbance of interdigestive migrating contractions in instrumented dogs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) induce gastric ulcers due to inhibition of prostaglandin production. Prostaglandins have an influence on physiological gastrointestinal motility, but the relationships between NSAID-induced gastric ulcer, gastrointestinal motility and motilin are unknown. Fifteen dogs were allocated randomly to three groups in which either gelatin, meloxicam or indomethacin was administered. Fecal occult blood and gastrointestinal motility were monitored continuously for 6 days. In addition, analyses of the plasma motilin concentration, gastrointestinal endoscopy and gastric emptying, and detection of motilin cells were performed. Gastrointestinal motility was disturbed in the indomethacin group, presenting as disappearance of interdigestive migrating contractions (IMCs) 3 days before gastric ulcers were detected. Delayed gastric emptying and hypermotilinemia were observed significantly more often in the indomethacin group compared with the other groups. Motilin cell-crypt/villi ratio in the indomethacin group significantly decreased in the duodenum and jejunum, compared with the other groups. No significant changes in any tests were observed in the meloxicam group, when compared with the gelatin group. These findings suggest that the disturbance of IMCs caused by hypermotilinemia, with changes in motilin cell distribution, and delayed gastric emptying induced by indomethacin may contribute to the development of gastric ulcers.

The Effect of Perfusion Prior to Cold Preservation and Addition of Biliverdin on the Liver Graft from Non-Heart-Beating Donors

AIM

Our aim was to improve the energy status and viability of a liver graft from a non-heart-beating donor (NHBD), we investigated the effects of perfusion prior to cold preservation and the addition of an antioxidant, biliverdin.

METHODS

Rats were divided into five groups: group 1: without 30 minutes warm ischemia (WI) and cold preservation (control group); group 2 without WI and with 6 hours of cold preservation in UW solution (HBD group); group 3 with WI and cold preservation (NHBD group); group 4 with 30 minutes perfusion prior to cold preservation (PRE group); and group 5 with addition of biliverdin to precold preservation perfusion (BV group). Oxygenated Klebs-Henseleit solution was used as the perfusate prior to and after preservation. Portal flow and bile production during reperfusion, energy charge (EC), ATP level, GOT, and TNF-alpha were measured as well as a histological evaluation.

RESULTS

Portal flow of the PRE and BV groups during 1 hour of reperfusion was higher than of that the NHBD group. Bile production of the PRE group was also higher than that of the NHBD group, but bile production in the BV group was comparable to the NHBD group. EC of the PRE group was higher than that of the NHBD group prior to and after reperfusion. The EC and ATP levels of the BV group after reperfusion were higher than those of the NHBD and PRE groups. The GOT and TNF-alpha were reduced in the BV group.

CONCLUSIONS

Precold preservation perfusion improves the viability of grafts from NHBDs. Furthermore, biliverdin exerted an additive effect to ameliorate energy status.

Gene expression profile in rat pancreatic islet and RINm5F cells

To clarify tissue-specificity of pancreatic beta cells, comparison of mRNA expression in various conditions of the tissue of multiple organisms is important. Although the developed methodologies for mRNA monitoring such as microarray, rely on the growth of dbEST (database of expressed sequence tag), a large number of unknown genes in the genome, especially in the rat, have not been shown to be expressed. In this study, we have established the first database of ESTs from rat pancreatic islet and RINm5F cells. Two cDNA libraries were constructed using mRNAs from rat pancreatic islet and RINm5F cells to cover a wider spectrum of expressed genes. Over 40,000 clones were randomly selected from the two libraries and partially sequenced. The sequences obtained were subjected to BLAST database analyses. This large-scale sequencing generated 40,710 3'-ESTs. Clustering analysis and homology search of nucleotide and peptide databases using both 3'- and 5'-ESTs revealed 10,406 non-redundant transcripts representing 4078 known genes or homologs and 6328 unknown genes. To confirm actual expression, the unknown sequences were further subjected to dbEST search, resulting in the identification of 5432 significant matches to those from other sources. Interestingly, of the remaining sequences showing no match, 779 were found to be encoded by exon-intron organization in the corresponding genomic sequences, suggesting that these are newly found as actually expressed in this study. Since many genes are up- or down-regulated in differing conditions, applications of the expression profile should facilitate identification of the genes involved in cell-specific functions in normal and disease states.

Effects of the rate of evaporation and film thickness on nonuniform drying of film-forming concentrated colloidal suspensions

In this paper, we report on nonuniform distribution of film-forming waterborne colloidal suspensions above the critical concentration phi(c) of the colloidal glass transition during drying. We found that colloidal suspension films dry nonuniformly when the initial rate of evaporation E and/or the initial thickness l(0) are high. We found that a Peclet number Pe, defined as Pe = El(0)/D, where D is the diffusion coefficient of the colloids in the diluted suspensions, does not predict uniformity of drying of the concentrated suspensions, contrary to the reported work on drying of diluted suspensions. Since the colloidal particles are crowded and their diffusive motion is restricted in concentrated suspensions, we assumed that above phi(c) water is transported to the drying surface by hydrodynamic flow along the osmotic pressure gradient. The permeability of water through channels between deforming particles is estimated by adapting the theory of foam drainage. We defined a new Peclet number Pe' by substituting the transport coefficient of flow (defined as the permeability divided by the viscosity, multiplied by the osmotic pressure gradient) for the diffusion coefficient. This extended Peclet number predicted the nonuniform drying with a criterion of Pe' > 1. These results indicate that the mechanism of water transport to the drying surface in concentrated suspensions is water permeation by osmotic pressure, which is faster than mutual diffusion between water and particles --that has been observed in diluted suspensions and discussed by Routh and Russel. The theory fits well the experimental drying curves for various thicknesses and rates of evaporation. The particle distribution in the drying films is also estimated and it is indicated that the latex distribution is nonuniform when Pe' > 1.

Excessive portal flow causes graft nonfunction in small size liver transplantation: An experimental study in pigs

We investigated the effects of portocaval shunt (PCS) on excessive portal flow in producing sinusoidal microcirculatory injury in small-for-size liver transplants in pigs. The posterior segment of a whole liver (25%) was transplanted orthotopically. The pigs were divided two groups: group A, graft with PCS (n = 11), and group B, graft without PCS (n = 11). The PCS was a side-to-side anastomosis of the portal vein and the inferior vena cava. In group A, eight pigs survived for more than 4 days; all pigs except for one died of graft nonfunction within 24 hours in group B. The portal flow after reperfusion decreased in group A, but increased about three times greater in group B than that before the operation (P < .01). In group B, destruction of the sinusoidal lining and bleeding in the periportal areas were observed after reperfusion, findings that were not recognized in group A. These results suggest that graft nonfunction after small-for-size liver transplantation may be attributable to excessive portal flow producing sinusoidal microcirculatory injury.

Teratogenic effects of bis-diamine on the developing myocardium

BACKGROUND

Bis-diamine induces conotruncal anomalies and disproportional ventricular development in rat embryos when administered to the mother. To evaluate the mechanisms of disproportional ventricular development in the anomalous heart, we analyzed the morphology of the embryonic heart and investigated cardiomyocytic DNA synthesis and apoptosis.

METHODS

A single dose of 200 mg of bis-diamine was administered to pregnant rats Wistar on day 9.5 of pregnancy. The embryos were removed on each embryonic day from 10.5 to 18.5. Expression of cardiotrophin-1 and hepatocyte growth factor was investigated on the sections, and cardiotrophin-1, hepatocyte growth factor and myocyte enhancer factor 2 mRNA expression was examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Myocardial DNA synthesis was investigated using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine and the labeling index was calculated for each heart. Apoptosis was also analyzed using TUNEL reaction and electrophoresis of DNA fragmentation.

RESULTS

The embryos treated with bis-diamine had conotruncal anomalies associated with thin left ventricular wall in the later stage. The labeling index on embryonic day 15.5 and 16.5 was significantly lower than those in the controls. Hepatocyte growth factor and cardiotrophin-1 mRNA expression was upregulated on embryonic day 12.5 and 15.5 in bis-diamine-treated hearts. Fewer apoptotic cells were detected in the hearts of bis-diamine-treated embryos than in control hearts from embryonic day 14.5 to 16.5.

CONCLUSIONS

The ventricular disproportion in the bis-diamine-treated heart may be caused by the early myocardial differentiation delay and poor proliferation and reduced apoptosis associated with anomalous circulatory condition in the later stage.

Detection of tryptase-, chymase+ cells in human CD34+ bone marrow progenitors

BACKGROUND

Mast cells (MCs) arise from haematopoietic stem cells. We have recently reported that CD34(+) progenitors derived from human bone marrow (BM) develop into tryptase+, chymase+ MCs when cultured in the presence of recombinant human stem cell factor (rhSCF) and recombinant human IL-6 (rhIL-6). In an experiment for the expression of chymase during differentiation, chymase+ cells were detected in human BM, but tryptase+ cells were not found.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to show the appearance of chymase+ cells in CD34(+) cells with an origin different from MC differentiation.

METHODS

CD34(+) cells from human BM were sorted with anti-CD117 monoclonal antibody (mAb), and cytospins of CD34(+), CD34(+)CD117(+), or CD34(+)CD117(-) were prepared. These cells were cultured with rhSCF+rhIL-6 for 12 weeks. Some of the cells were subjected to either histological stain with Wright-Giemsa or immunocytochemistry with anti-chymase mAb. Real-time RT-PCR was also performed to compare the transcriptional level of chymase from each cell preparation.

RESULTS

Chymase was expressed in CD34(+) cells as well as human MCs by immunocytochemistry. Substantial CD34(+)CD117(-) cells, but not CD34(+)CD117(+) cells, were stained immunocytochemically with anti-chymase mAb. For 1 week culture with rhSCF+rhIL-6, no cells expressed chymase in any preparation. Real-time RT-PCR revealed positivity for chymase mRNA in CD34(+) cells, but it reduced at 1 week of culture, and increased as cells developed into MCs. Chymase mRNA in CD34(+)CD117(+) cells was negligible compared with that in CD34(+)CD117(-). Tryptase mRNA was below the detectable level in CD34(+) cells, and increased along with MC differentiation. After 12 weeks of culture, CD34(+)CD117(+) developed predominantly into MCs, whereas CD34(+)CD117(-) developed into monocytes/macrophages.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggested that chymase is present not only in MCs but also in CD34(+)CD117(-) BM progenitors, but that its origin is different from the MC lineage.

Large-scale isolation of ESTs from medaka embryos and its application to medaka developmental genetics

The medaka is becoming an attractive model organism for the study of vertebrate early development and organogenesis and large-scale mutagenesis projects that are aimed at creating developmentally defective mutants are now being conducted by several groups in Japan. To strengthen the study of medaka developmental genetics, we have conducted a large-scale isolation of ESTs from medaka embryos and developed tools that facilitate mutant analysis. In this study, we have characterized a total of 132,082 sequences from both ends of cloned insert cDNAs from libraries generated at different stages of medaka embryo development. Clustering analysis with 3-prime sequences finally identified a total of 12,429 clusters. As a pilot analysis, 924 clusters were subjected to in situ hybridization to determine the spatial localization of their transcripts. Using EST sequence data generated in the present study, a 60-mer oligonucleotide microarray with 8,091 unigenes (Medaka Microarray 8K) was constructed and tested for its usefulness in expression profiling. Furthermore, we have developed a rapid and reliable mutant mapping system using a set of mapped EST markers (M-marker 2003) that covers the entire medaka genome. These resources will accelerate medaka mutant analyses and make an important contribution to the medaka genome project.

Dynamics of concentrated colloidal suspensions during drying--aging, rejuvenation and overaging

We report on the slow dynamics of concentrated colloidal suspensions during drying and rewetting under conditions of reversible concentration changes without coalescence or aggregation. We used multispeckle diffusing-wave spectroscopy to monitor the slow dynamics of particles. We found that the alpha relaxation of the suspensions exhibits successively slowing-down, acceleration and a stationary regime during drying at constant rates. Under rewetting conditions, we observed slowing-down and a stationary regime. The characteristic time of the stationary regime is inversely proportional to the rate of concentration change and identical for both drying and rewetting. We explain these regimes as aging (overaging), rejuvenation and plastic flow of the suspensions induced by a deviatoric stress (a combination of compressive and elongational stresses) which is induced by the uniaxial compressive strain generated by evaporation.

Functional expression of high-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin E on mast cells precedes that of tryptase during differentiation from human bone marrow-derived CD34 progenitors cultured in the presence of stem cell factor and interleukin-6

BACKGROUND

CD34(+) progenitor cells develop into tryptase(+), CD117(+) mast cells when cultured in the presence of recombinant human stem cell factor (rhSCF). However, spontaneous IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI) expression during human mast cell development is not well examined.

OBJECTIVE

Here, the expression and function of FcepsilonRI in and on human bone marrow-derived mast cells (HBMMCs) during development were investigated.

METHODS AND RESULTS

At 4 weeks of culture, predominant cells expressed high-affinity IgE receptor alpha chain (FcepsilonRIalpha) on the cell surface determined by flow cytometry, but CD117 was less expressed. Immunocytochemistry with antitryptase mAb and anti-FcepsilonRIalpha mAb revealed intracellular and surface expression of FcepsilonRIalpha at 2 weeks of culture, but tryptase was less expressed. FcepsilonRIalpha mRNA transcript preceded that of tryptase mRNA at 2 weeks of culture determined by real-time RT-PCR, and FcepsilonRIalpha, FcepsilonRIbeta, FcepsilonRIgamma, and tryptase mRNA increased along with differentiation. FcepsilonRIalpha cross-link on HBMMC and 4-week-old mast cells/mast cell precursors induced the release of IL-5 and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, which was enhanced by rhSCF.

CONCLUSION

These data indicated that HBMMC constitutively and spontaneously expressed functional FcepsilonRI subunits at the early stage of differentiation, probably because of the differences in the ability and functional property of progenitors.

Expression profile of mRNAs from human pancreatic islet tumors

In order to understand the tIssue specificity of the endocrine pancreas, it is important to clarify the expression profile of mRNAs in various states of the tIssue. A total of approximately 9000 non-redundant expressed genes from human pancreatic islets and insulinoma have so far been determined as expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and deposited in public databases. In the present study towards the identification of a complete set of genes expressed in human pancreatic islets, we have determined 3'-ESTs of 21267 clones randomly selected from a cDNA library of human pancreatic islet tumors. Clustering analysis generated 6157 non-redundant sequences comprising 2323 groups and 3834 singletons. Nucleotide and peptide database searches show that 3103 of them represent known human sequences or homologs of genes identified in other species and 58 are new members of structurally related families. The sequences were classified on the basis of the putative protein functions encoded, and were assigned to the respective chromosome by database analysis. The sequences were also compared with the EST databases (dbEST and EPConDB) including ESTs from normal pancreatic islet, insulinoma, and fetal pancreas. Since 3384 genes were newly found to be expressed in human pancreatic islets and 587 of them were unique to the islets, this study has considerably expanded the catalog of genes expressed in the endocrine pancreas. The larger collection of pancreatic islet-related ESTs should provide a better genome source for molecular studies of differentiation, tIssue-specific functions, and tumorigenesis of the endocrine pancreas as well as for genetic studies of diabetes mellitus.

TRAIL/Apo2L ligands induce apoptosis in malignant rhabdoid tumor cell lines

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL/Apo2L) is a potent inducer of apoptosis in various cancer cells, whereas normal cells are not sensitive to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Four TRAIL/Apo2L receptors (DR4, DR5, DcR1, and DcR2) have been identified. DR4 and DR5 have a death domain, whereas DcR1 and DcR2 are called decoy receptors because of their incomplete or lack of a death domain. Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is an aggressive neoplasm showing a poor prognosis because of its resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we examined whether TRAIL could induce apoptotic cell death in MRT cell lines. We found that although half of the MRT cell lines examined were sensitive to TRAIL/Apo2L, Western blot analysis revealed that the expression of DcR2 was low in TRAIL-sensitive MRT cells. We examined the effect of doxorubicin on the expression levels of TRAIL receptors and its enhancement on the susceptibility of MRT cell lines to TRAIL. Western blot and flow cytometric analyses revealed that doxorubicin significantly increased the expression of DR5, and somewhat up-regulated the expression of DR4 and DcR2. Moreover, doxorubicin, NF-kappaB inhibitor (SN50), and PI3-kinase/Akt inhibitor (wortmannin, LY294002) enhanced the susceptibility of MRT cell lines to TRAIL/Apo2L-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that TRAIL/Apo2L may provide the basis for clinical trials of TRAIL-based treatment to improve the outcome of MRT patients.

Partial rejuvenation of a colloidal glass

We study the effect of shear on the aging dynamics of a colloidal suspension of synthetic clay particles. We find that a shear of amplitude gamma reduces the relaxation time measured just after the cessation of shear by a factor exp(-gamma/gamma(c)), with gamma(c) approximately 5%, and is independent of the duration and the frequency of the shear. This simple law for the rejuvenation effect shows that the energy involved in colloidal rearrangements is proportional to the shear amplitude gamma rather than gamma(2), leading to an Eyring-like description of the dynamics of our system.

Circadian variation of basal total vascular tone and chronotherapy in patients with vasospastic angina pectoris

Vasospastic angina pectoris (VSA) is an anginal attack which occurs characteristically between night and early morning. The aim of this study was to clarify the cause of VSA. The subjects consisted of 16 patients with VSA, 18 patients with effort angina (EAP) and 15 healthy individuals, who were used as the control group. Subjects were attached to an ambulatory blood pressure monitor and a non-invasive continuous cardiac output monitor concurrently, over a 24-hour period. Mean blood pressure (MBP), and cardiac index (CI) were measured. Then basal total vascular tone (TVT) was calculated as follows: basal TVT = (MBP/CI) x 1,332 dyne/sec/cm5. The decrement of CO was greater during sleeping hours as compared with the decrement of the MBP in the VSA group. Nocturnal basal TVT was significantly greater in the VSA group than in the EAP group or the control group. The increased nocturnal basal TVT was significantly suppressed by long acting calcium antagonists to the level of the EAP and the control groups. The treatment also decreased the frequency of ischemic attacks.

Malignant rhabdoid tumor shows a unique neural differentiation as distinct from neuroblastoma

Malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRT) show a multiphenotypic diversity, including a neural phenotype. To elucidate the difference in neural characteristics between MRT and neuroblastoma, we examined the expression of synapsin I, neuron-restrictive silencer factor (NRSF), neurofilament medium-size (NF-M) and chromogranin A (CGA) in five MRT cell lines (TM87-16, STM91-01, TTC549, TTC642 and YAM-RTK1) and five neuroblastoma cell lines under differentiation-induction with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Our results showed TM87-16 and TTC642 cells, expressed synapsin I and NF-M before TPA induction, had a neural phenotype. After differentiation-induction, only TM87-16 cells expressed CGA. Among all neuroblastoma cells, expression of NF-M and CGA was stable at a high level throughout TPA-induced differentiation. In TM87-16 and TTC642 MRT cells, synapsin I mRNA promptly increased after TPA differentiation, with the peak level at 6 h, and thereafter, synapsin I mRNA rapidly decreased in a time-dependent manner. The decreased expression of synapsin I correlated with an increased expression of NRSF during differentiation-induction. In contrast, in some neuroblastoma cells, a significant up-regulation of synapsin I was observed concurrently with a down-regulation of NRSF. The inverse relationship between NRSF and synapsin I expression in TM87-16 and TTC642 MRT cells was opposite to that of neuroblastoma cells. Our results showed that the neural characteristics of these MRT cells are fairly distinct from those of neuroblastoma cells. These MRT cells appeared to have only limited capability for neural differentiation, and were still in an extremely early stage of neural differentiation.

Estrogen receptor expression and estrogen receptor-independent cytotoxic effects of tamoxifen on malignant rhabdoid tumor cells in vitro

Recent studies have shown that the antiestrogen tamoxifen (TAM) can be used in the treatment of malignant neoplasms other than breast cancer. In the present study, we investigated the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) in six malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) cell lines. Alterations in MRT cell growth in response to estrogen or antiestrogens (4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT), TAM, and ICI 182 780) were also investigated. RT-PCR and western blotting showed that ER-alpha was expressed in three of the six MRT cell lines. While 17-beta-estradiol (E2) did not significantly alter MRT cell line proliferation, the hydroxylated tamoxifen metabolite 4-OHT significantly inhibited the growth of all 6 MRT cell lines. However, the steroidal antiestrogen ICI 182 780 did not alter the proliferation of any of the MRT cell lines. 4-OHT induced apoptosis in both ER-alpha-negative and ER-alpha-positive MRT cell lines, as assessed by nuclear morphology and DNA fragmentation. Neither growth inhibition nor induction of apoptosis due to 4-OHT was blocked by the addition of excess E2. Our data suggested that 4-OHT induced cytotoxic effects against MRT cells, and that these effects were independent of ER expression.

Malignant rhabdoid tumor shows incomplete neural characteristics as revealed by expression of SNARE complex

To elucidate the biological differences in neural phenotype between malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) and neuroblastoma cell lines, we examined the expression of solube N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex proteins in MRT cell lines under differentiation induction with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Six MRT cell lines (TM87-16, STM91-01, TTC642, TTC549, YAM-RTK1, and TTC1240) and six neuroblastoma cell lines (IMR-32, NH12, SCCH26, TGW, NB-1, and NB-NR) were used in this study. Expression of SNAREs: the vesicle SNARE (synaptotagmin, synaptophysin, and synaptobrevin-2) and the target SNARE (syntaxin 1A, SNAP-25A/B) was examined. Our results showed that in MRT cells, only two cell lines (TM87-16, TTC642) expressed the vesicle SNARE and the target SNARE with the exception of SNAP-25B, while all neuroblastoma cells expressed the entire SNARE complex. During differentiation, synaptotagmin was upregulated in these two MRT cell lines. Interestingly, synaptophysin was downregulated in these MRT cell lines in contrast with the neuroblastoma cell lines. SNAP-25B was not expressed in MRT cells after differentiation with TPA. MRT cells having a neural phenotype morphologically looked like neuroblastoma cells after treatment with TPA. However, the expression of SNARE complex was incomplete in MRT cells. Our results suggest that the biological characteristics of MRT cells with neural phenotype are distinct from those of neuroblastoma cells.

The effect of colonisation by Helicobacter pylori in Praomys (Mastomys) natalensis on the incidence of carcinoids

An animal model of experimental gastric Helicobacter pylori infection has been developed in the Z strain of Praomys (Mastomys) natalensis; this animal has been reported to develop gastric carcinoids and adenocarcinoma spontaneously. In the present study, male and female Mastomys were killed at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks after H. pylori inoculation. Colonisation of H. pylori was maintained in the stomachs of all animals for up to 16 weeks. H. pylori were mainly found in the antrum. Lymphoid infiltration appeared in the antral lamina propria and submucosa in all male and female animals from 4 to 16 weeks after inoculation. On microscopic examination after immunostaining for H. pylori, the organisms were detected in the antral mucus layer of the gastric epithelium. Serum immunoglobulin G specific for H. pylori could be detected 2 weeks after inoculation in female and 4 weeks after inoculation in male Mastomys, and persisted throughout the 16-week study period. At 18 months after inoculation, H. pylori positive rates for male and female Mastomys were 15 of 21 and 7 of 27, respectively. Carcinoids developed in 27 of 100 inoculated and in 49 of 100 uninoculated male, and in 5 of 100 inoculated and in 21 of 100 uninoculated female animals at 18 months after inoculation. Adenocarcinoma developed in 1 of 100 male Mastomys in both the inoculated and uninoculated groups, but in none of the female animals in either the inoculated or uninoculated groups. These results indicate that antrum-predominant colonisation by H. pylori caused the decrease in incidence of carcinoid formation in Mastomys.

Characterization of 'adult-type' mast cells derived from human bone marrow CD34(+) cells cultured in the presence of stem cell factor and interleukin-6. Interleukin-4 is not required for constitutive expression of CD54, Fc epsilon RI alpha and chymase, and CD13 expression is reduced during differentiation

BACKGROUND

In vitro-derived human mast cells exhibit different properties, depending in part on the source of progenitor cells. Most investigations have used fetal liver, cord blood or peripheral blood. Few have used adult bone marrow.

OBJECTIVE

Human mast cells derived in vitro from the CD34(+) progenitors in bone marrow and cord blood that had been cultured with recombinant human stem cell factor (rhSCF) and recombinant human interleukin-6 (rhIL-6) were compared.

METHODS AND RESULTS

After 12 weeks of culture, nearly all of the cells were mast cells, and nearly all of these had cytoplasmic granules containing both tryptase and chymase (MCTC type), stained metachromatically with acidic toluidine blue, and expressed CD117 on the cell surface. Both tryptase protein and mRNA were detected by two weeks of culture. Chymase mRNA and protein were detected at 4 weeks but not at 2 weeks of culture. By 12 weeks, chymase content per cell, measured by ELISA, was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in human bone marrow-derived mast cells (HBMMC) (5.6 +/- 0.9 pg) than in cord blood-derived mast cells (CBMC) (2.4 +/- 0.9 pg), whereas histamine and tryptase levels were not significantly different. Of the cluster designations tested, CD29, CD49d, CD51 and CD61 were strongly expressed on HBMMC. CD54 and Fc epsilon RI alpha also were expressed constitutively. Approximately half of CD34-sorted cells at day 0 were CD13(+) and this diminished as mast cell maturation occurred. Electron microscopy revealed that 12-week-old HBMMC had many secretory granules that contained spherical electron dense cores surrounded by electron lucent space, consistent with previous reports of immature MCTC cells developing in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

CD34(+) progenitors of human bone marrow are a rich source of mast cell progenitors capable of expressing granule and surface markers of mature mast cells in the presence of rhSCF and rhIL-6.