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Transplantable tumor (KE) and clone cell (KE-F11) lines were established from a spontaneous malignant schwannoma found in an aged F344 rat. The primary tumor and KE tumors consisted of oval or spindle cells arranged in ill-defined bundles. Cultured KE-F11 cells exhibited polygonal or spindle configurations. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells in KE and KE-F11 reacted to vimentin, S-100 protein, neuron-specific enolase, myelin basic protein, and glial fibrillary acidic protein in varying degrees, indicating neurogenic features; occasional cells reacted to α-smooth muscle actin. Cells positive for lysosomal enzymes (acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase), and ED1 (rat macrophage specific) were observed in KE-F11, and electron microscopically, cells with many lysosomes were frequently present, indicating expression of macrophage-like phenotypes. Bioassay analysis revealed that KE-F11 cells produced high levels of nerve growth factor. DNA synthesis was inhibited by addition of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and Northern blot analysis revealed that expression of c-myc, a cell cycle-related immediate early gene, was depressed by TGF-β1. Likely, TGF-β1 is a factor capable of inhibiting cellular growth of Schwann cells. mRNA expression of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) was seen in KE-F11 cells by Northern blot analysis, and the level was decreased by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. LRP may be attributable to regulation of Schwann cell functions. KE-F11 cells seeded on laminin-coated dishes exhibited more extended cytoplasmic projections than on collagen type I-coated dishes. The present study provides evidence that biological properties of malignant schwannoma-derived cells might be affected by exogenous factors such as TGF-β1, LPS and laminin. These tumor lines may be useful for studies on pathobiological characteristics of Schwann cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heparin-binding growth factor midkine (MK) is the product of a retinoic acid-responsive gene, and is implicated in neuronal survival and differentiation, and carcinogenesis. We previously reported that MK mRNA expression is elevated in neuroblastoma specimens at all stages, whereas pleiotrophin, the other member of the MK family, is expressed at high levels in favourable neuroblastomas. As MK is a secretory protein, it can be detected in the blood. Here, we show a significant correlation of the plasma MK level with prognostic factors of neuroblastomas. The plasma MK level was determined in 220 patients with neuroblastomas, and compared with that in children without malignant tumors (n=17, <500 pg ml(-1)). The plasma MK level became significantly elevated with advancing stages (stage 1: 445 pg ml(-1) (median), n=73; stage 2: 589, n=39; stage 3: 864, n=40; stage 4: 1445, n=56; and stage 4S: 2439, n=12). More importantly, a higher MK level was strongly correlated with poor prognostic factors: over 1 year of age (P=0.0299), MYCN amplification (P<0.0001), low TrkA expression (P=0.0005), nonmass screening, sporadic neuroblastomas (P<0.0001), and diploidy/tetraploidy (P=0.0007). Thus, these results demonstrate that the plasma MK level is a good marker for evaluating the progression of neuroblastomas. Moreover, considering the ability of antisense MK oligodeoxyribonucleotide to suppress tumour growth of colorectal carcinoma cells in nude mice, as recently reported, the present study suggests that MK is a possible candidate molecular target for therapy for neuroblastomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective and design: The anti-arthritic properties of FK506 were compared with methotrexate (MTX) in established adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats.¶ Material: Female Lewis rats.¶ Treatment: Arthritic rats were orally administered with FK506 (1-5.6 mg/kg) and MTX (0.1-1 mg/kg) from days 15-24.¶ Methods: Arthritis was induced by injection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the right hind footpad on day 0. Efficacy was determined on the basis of paw inflammation measured by paw volume and histological change, hyperalgesia and grip strength. Grip strength measurement was employed as an indication of function of paws in arthritic rats. Peripheral white blood cell (WBC) counts and thymus weights were measured, mainly as indicators of toxic side effects.¶ Results: FK506 suppressed paw inflammation and hyperalgesia without toxic effects on WBC and thymus in established AIA. MTX slightly suppressed paw inflammation and hyperalgesia at the highest dose (1 mg/kg). Toxic effects were observed at lower doses than the effective treatment dose with MTX. Grip strength was found to decrease during development of AIA. FK506, but not MTX, treated rats recovered grip strength loss.¶ Conclusions: The results show that FK506 is more effective and less toxic than MTX in treating established AIA in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level of expression of midkine (MK), a heparin-binding growth factor, is increased in many types of human carcinomas. An enzyme-linked immunoassay, which utilizes a combination of rabbit and chicken antibodies revealed that serum MK level in the controls (n = 135) was 0.154 ± 0.076 (mean ± SD) ng ml[SUP-1] with an apparent cut-off value as 0.5 ng ml[SUP-1]. Serum MK level was significantly elevated in the cancer patients (n = 150) (P < 0.001); 87% of the patients showed levels of more than 0.5 ng ml[SUP-1]. All ten types of cancer examined showed a similar profile of serum MK level. There was no or weak correlation between C-reactive protein level, a marker of inflammation, and serum MK level. Furthermore, in case of gastric carcinoma and lung carcinoma, patients with stage I carcinoma already showed elevated serum MK levels. The present results indicated that serum MK could serve as a general tumour marker with a good potential for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 26-week-old female cerebellar vermis defect (CVD) rat, a mutant with cerebellar vermis defect and cerebellar dysplasia, developed a brain tumor about 10 mm in diameter. Histopathologically, the tumor consisted of diffuse proliferation of small round to ovoid cells with hyperchromatic nuclei, occasionally containing round to strap-shaped myoblastic cells. Immunohistochemically, the small round cells expressed neuron-specific enolase and synaptophysin, indicating neuronal differentiation; myoblastic components reacted to desmin, myoglobin, and vimentin. Based on these findings, the case was diagnosed as a medullomyoblastoma (MMB). Furthermore, two cerebella tumors in CVD rats, which were induced by transplacental application of ethyl-nitrosourea, showed histopathology similar to the aforementioned case. MMB is a very rare tumor in humans and animals; thus, it is noteworthy that MMBs developed in CVD rats, involving the dysplastic cerebellum with abnormal migration of external granule cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cerebellar vermis defect (CVD) rat is a new neurological mutant characterized by a cerebellar vermis defect and dysplasia in the cerebellum, especially at the cerebellopontine junctions. In this study, the cytokinetics of glia in terms of the development of cerebellar dysplasia in the CVD rat was investigated using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin immunohistochemistry. In the cerebellar hemispheres, dislocation of the Bergmann glia was observed from postnatal day 5 (P5) in lesions with abnormally aggregated external granule cells (EGCs). Rearranging Bergmann glia were often seen around the EGCs penetrating into the white matter. In the cerebellopontine junctional areas, Bergmann glia were induced after penetration of the Purkinje cells, identified with calbindin immunohistochemistry, and EGCs into the pons from P10. Bergmann fibers were frequently arranged perivascularly. In the clusters of Purkinje cells without EGC settlement in the pons, a small number of Bergmann fibers were observed and their alignment was completely disturbed. These findings suggest that morphological changes in the Bergmann glia depend on their contact with Purkinje cells, but that the orientation of their processes may be influenced by EGC settlement. These glial fibers in the CVD rat may play an important role in the aberrant migration of EGCs, resulting in the development of cerebellar dysplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the relationship between regenerating renal tubular epithelial cells and myofibroblast development in chronic progressive nephropathy (CPN) of aged male F344 rats. We used established criteria to classify disease in rats with CPN as grade 1 (n=9), grade 2 (n=10), grade 3 (n=7) and grade 4 (n=4). Five young rats served as controls (grade 0). The ratio of fibrotic tissues per unit area, assessed in collagen type III-immunostained sections by morphometric analysis, increased significantly with advancing grade of CPN. Vimentin-expressing, regenerating renal tubules were found from grade 1 and continued to increase in number up to grade 3, decreasing slightly, however, in grade 4. Similar kinetics were seen for the number of alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive myofibroblasts, and there was a significant correlation between the number of regenerating renal tubules and myofibroblast development (correlation coefficient=0.83, P<0.01). The myofibroblasts developed in close association with the fibrotic areas seen in grades 1-4; the cells also reacted to desmin or vimentin, indicating the activated state. Immunohistochemistry for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta revealed that vimentin-positive renal tubules were positive for PDGF-BB, but negative for TGF-beta, and that interstitial reactive cells showed no positive reactions for both factors. The present studies on rat CPN showed that regenerating renal tubules may be a major source of a fibrogenic growth factor, PDGF-BB, and that the PDGF-BB might induce the development of fibrogenic cells, myofibroblasts, culminating in progressive interstitial fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring the transduction efficiency is of paramount importance in gene therapy. To monitor adenovirus-mediated wild-type p53 gene transfer, we have used a quantitative assay which tests the ability of human p53 to activate transcription in yeast. Selective amplification of cellular and viral p53 transcripts followed by quantitative assessment of mutant p53 content with the assay permits measurement of the wild-type p53 transduction efficiency into SF-188, U251MG and HUG31 glioblastoma cells. One reverse transcription primer tracks the wild-type/mutant ratio of endogenous p53 mRNA (P2), and the other the wild-type/mutant ratio of both endogenous and exogenous p53 mRNA (P1). Following infection of cell lines homozygous for mutant p53, the apparent transduction efficiency calculated (τ0 = [P1 - P2]/[1 + P2]) correlated with the level of p21 expression. Transduction efficiency in heterozygous wild-type/mutant HUG31 cells increased linearly with multiplicity of infection (MOI) for τ0 values between 0.5 and 5.9, and admixture of normal cell-derived RNA produced only a modest reduction in τ0 value, in keeping with theoretical predictions. These results suggest that the yeast p53 functional assay may be a useful tool for monitoring p53 gene therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraperitoneal inoculation of neonate Sprague Dawley rats with cell-free extracts containing retrovirus-like particles from DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors resulted in a fivefold increase of benign mammary neoplasias in the survivor animals, in comparison to the spontaneous tumor incidence rate. In addition, four animals developed metastasizing abdominal adenocarcinomas. The ascitic cells of one of the abdominal tumors were established as a permanent tissue culture line (HH-1). After subsequent animal passage, cells of the permanent line HH-9 clone 14 showed increased malignancy manifested by the number of takes per animals injected, and by the number of remote metastases observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new technique, the Double Fracture Method of in situ stress measurement, is described with regard to its theoretical principles and field instrumentation. The method differs from the hydraulic fracture method in that the loading fluid is prevented from penetrating into the induced fractures. In the new method, the loading pressure is raised to create a set of two mutually perpendicular microfractures on the borehole boundary. The principal stresses and their orientation in the plane normal to the borehole can be deduced from the diametral deformation of the borehole. Laboratory and field measurements validating the method are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To clarify the relation between macrophage and myofibroblast involvement in various myocardial diseases, the authors investigated the kinetics of these cells in the healing (scar tissue formation) following isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury in rats. Alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expressing myofibroblasts were seen at the border of the affected area and appeared in the greatest numbers on days 3-7 post-injection, followed by a gradual decrease by day 35. The peak on day 3 was consistent with the timing of the highest proliferative activity of myofibroblasts. The number of ED1-positive macrophages began to increase as early as day 1, reaching a peak on day 3 within the injured myocardium. The expansion of ED1-positive macrophages preceded an increased number of alpha-SMA-positive myofibroblasts suggesting that myofibroblast proliferation and activation may be mediated by factors released by ED1-positive macrophages in response to myocardial injury. The number of ED2-positive tissue-fixed, resident macrophages gradually, increased from day 3 post-injection, and peaked on day 14, but the number of ED2-positive macrophages was consistently fewer than that of ED1-positive macrophages during the 35 day-observation period after the injection. The labelling index of the ED2-positive cells was maximal on day 14, indicative of local proliferation of resident macrophages. In the healing process after myocardial injury, ED1-positive macrophages increase markedly in the early stages: ED2-positive macrophages appear later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human cytomegalovirus (strain Towne) temperature-sensitive mutant ts 256 exhibits a virus specific DNA polymerase-negative phenotype. The position of the mutation of ts 256 was determined by three step marker-rescue assays to be within a 5.1 kb XbaI- BamHI fragment between map unit 0.33 and 0.35 in a HindIII-D fragment located in a long unique region. Nucleotide sequencing showed that the 5.1 kb fragment contained three open reading frames corresponding to those of the genes for UL52, UL53 and UL54 (DNA polymerase gene), respectively, of strain AD169. The functions of UL52 and UL53 are unknown. Comparison of the DNA sequences of the 5.1 kb fragments of the wild-type and ts 256 mutant revealed two base changes within UL53 and UL54, respectively, which result in amino acid substitutions. The mutation in the UL54 gene was located within a distinct conserved region VI common to α-like DNA polymerases, suggesting that this base change would be responsible for DNA negative phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently three strains of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which did not react with MicroTrak Herpes (Syva Co.), were isolated by us from a patient with recurrent herpetic keratitis. In this study we characterized these strains of HSV-1 and found them to be HSV-1 gC mutants which are very rare isolates from humans. The properties of the HSV-1 strains regarding plaque morphology on Vero cells and chick embryo fibroblasts and viral DNA analysis were the same as those of the usual HSV-1 strains. An immunofluorescence study using anti-gC-1 monoclonal antibody and SDS-PAGE analysis of radiolabeled viral glycoproteins showed that these strains are deficient in gC-1. They were virulent for mice and sensitive to acyclovir and bromovinyldeoxyuridine. Furthermore the infectivity of the strains was inactivated by complement though the phenomenon was not observed in the usual HSV-1 strains. This finding suggests that protection from damages by complement is an important function of gC. In keratitis the effects of complement are thought to be minimal because of the scanty blood supply and this may be the reason why these strains were isolated from the cornea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection in mutant mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID mice), i.e., mice in which the differentiation of both T and B lymphocytes is severely impaired, was studied. All control (infected and not treated with antibodies or with immune spleen cells) SCID mice were dead by 17 days after intracutaneous injection in the right midflank with 1 × 10 PFU of a virulent HSV-1 strain, Hayashida. Immunization with an avirulent strain of HSV-1 (SKa) did not protect them from death or prolong the survival time. Tissue virus titration of infected mice killed at various times after inoculation detected infectious virus in various organs, dorsal root ganglia, spinal cord, brain, kidney and adrenal gland in addition to the inoculation site of the skin in SCID mice, whereas virus could be detected only in the inoculation site and the nervous tissues in euthymic BALB/c mice, and in the adrenal gland from only one out of 17 nude mice. Human gamma globulin containing neutralizing antibody against HSV-1 prolonged the survival time but did not protect SCID mice from death. Transfer of spleen cells from immunized BALB/c mice protected the infected SCID mice from death. Treatment of spleen cells with anti-Thy 1.2 monoclonal antibody and complement abolished the protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apoptosis, a mechanism for removal of genetically damaged cells and for maintenance of desired size of cell populations, has been implicated in tumor development. Previously, we defined polymorphic loci for susceptibility to apoptosis of thymocytes Rapop1, Rapop2, and Rapop3 on mouse Chromosomes 16, 9, and 3, respectively, using recombinant congenic CcS/Dem strains, each of which contains a random set of 12.5% STS/A genome in the genetic background of BALB/cHeA. The STS/A alleles at these loci confer lower susceptibility to radiation-induced apoptosis of thymocytes than the BALB/cHeA. In the present study, we tested susceptibility of colon crypt cells to radiationinduced apoptosis. In contrast to apoptosis in thymus, the STS/A mice were more susceptible to apoptosis in colon than the BALB/ cHeA. Among the CcS/Dem strains, CcS-4, CcS-7, and CcS-16 were more susceptible to apoptosis in colon than the BALB/cHeA; in thymus, the CcS-7 mice are less susceptible, and the CcS-4 and CcS-16 are not different from the BALB/cHeA. Thus, individual CcS/Dem strains showed different apoptosis susceptibility in the two organs. Analysis of (CcS-7 × BALB/cHeA)F2 hybrids revealed linkage of susceptibility to radiation-induced apoptosis of colon crypt cells to two loci on Chrs 9 and 16, to which Rapop2 and Rapop1 are mapped. The STS/A allele at the locus on chromosome 9 results in high susceptibility to apoptosis of colon crypt cells in mice homozygous for the BALB/cHeA allele at the locus on Chr 16. Although these two loci may be identical to Rapop1 and Rapop2, they affect apoptosis in colon in a way different from that in thymus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]