A,B and H isoantigens in atypical oral epithelium

Summary The red cell adherence (RCA) test was used for demonstration of blood group isoantigens A, B and H in epithelial lesions of the oral cavity. Study of normal squamous epithelium of the oral cavity with immunofluorescence showed the possible association of blood group isoantigens with the intercellular substance and their probable accumulation in spaces between desmosomes. In 31 cases of malignant tumors, a complete absence of isoantigens was found in 27 (87%), and partial loss in 2 (6.5%); in 2 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, the epithelial cells retained the isoantigen (6.5%). The second group of 34 cases included non-neoplastic changes such as leukoplakia, hyperkeratosis, dyskeratosis, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, or ballooning degeneration. A complete absence of isoantigens was found in 16 cases (47%), patchy distribution in 9 cases (26.5%); the remaining 9 cases (26.5%) retained the antigens. No correlation was found between the type and degree of epithelial atypia in non-neoplastic lesions and the absence of blood group substances. The loss of isoantigens A, B and H in neoplastic, pre-neoplastic, or even some regenerative or degenerative epithelial lesions suggests an aberration in their synthesis under abnormal conditions.     

Histochemical demonstration of sugar residues by lectin and immunocytochemical techniques for blood group antigens in human colon

Summary Goblet cell mucin in 39 human colons was studied by methods specific for various sugar residues, including staining with three lectins,Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA, specific for blood group A antigen),Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-I (GSA-I, B) and peanut agglutinin (PNA, T antigen), and immunostaining for A, B, H and T. Isoantigens A, B or H were found only in the right colon. GSA-I reactive goblet cells occurred in the right colon of both blood group A and B patients and possibly contained isoantigens. However DBA reactive cells were found in all cases. Prior neuraminidase digestion imparted anti-A, GSA-I and DBA reactivities to the cells lining the lower crypts in all cases. This pretreatment also imparted PNA and anti-T reactivities to goblet cells, only the latter reactivity being eliminated by galactose oxidase. Goblet cell mucin in transitional mucosa revealed decreased A and B, and increased H antigens. Enhanced galactose oxidase—Schiff (GOS) and anti-T reactivities were also noted. The present results revealed that some lectin reactions of goblet cells might be related to blood group antigens but others were not, and that different techniques for demonstrating reputedly the same sugar residues produced different results, indicating a need for proper evaluation of their specificity.     

An immunohistochemical study of the distribution of ABH antigens in human submandibular glands at the light and electron microscopic levels.

The distribution of blood group antigens ABH in submandibular glands was studied at light and electron microscopy levels by applying ImmunoGold Silver Staining (IGSS) and post-embedding ImmunoGold (IGS) methods, respectively. In IGSS treated samples, a cytoplasmic and a surface form of antigen localization were discernible in the glandular parenchyma. The former was restricted to most mucous cells and to scattered serous cells: A and B antigens were demonstrated in mucous cells of A and B type glands, while H antigen appeared in most mucous and occasional serous elements regardless of the blood type of donors. The latter appeared as a strong H reactivity on cell surfaces of serous acini and ducts regardless of the patient blood type. The IGS method was applied both on non-osmicated samples embedded in LR White resin and on osmicated, Epon embedded samples. In non-osmicated tissues, antigen labelling was revealed in secretory granules and cell surfaces. Positive secretory granules were found in most mucous cells and occasional serous, intercalated, and striated duct cells. A and B antigens weakly reacted in mucous cells of A and B type glands, respectively, while strong H reactivity was seen in mucous, serous, intercalated and striated duct cells of glands of all types. Surfaces labelled with H antigen were found on both lumenal and basolateral membranes of striated ducts in glands of all types. IGS method applied on osmicated, Epon embedded samples, selectively revealed blood group antigens in secretory granules of serous cells but not in the apical vesicles of striated ductal cells. Cell surfaces were completely unreactive.     

Expression of blood group A and B antigens in nuclear heterochromatin in mucous cells of human cervical glands.

Using a post-embedding immunogold labeling procedure, we found that monoclonal antibody against A (MAb-A) or B antigen (MAb-B) reacted with nuclear heterochromatin regions, as well as secretory granules, in mucous cells of human cervical glands. Systematic and critical observation of specimens from 24 individuals of different blood groups revealed that the labeling pattern with MAb with strictly dependent on the blood group (A,B, or O) of the donors, i.e., MAb-A reacted with the heterochromatin from blood group A and AB but not with B and O individuals. Labeling with MAb-B was also specific for the heterochromatin from blood group B donors. On the other hand, MAb against H antigen did not react with the heterochromatin from any individuals examined, despite the fact that H antigens were detected by the MAb in secretory granules. Such specific reactions provide evidence that certain types of blood group-related antigens exist in the nuclear heterochromatin in mucous cells of human cervical glands. In contrast to the secretory granules in which ABH antigens were recognized by blood group-specific lectin, heterochromatin regions had little or no affinity for these lectins. Furthermore, the secretory status of individuals affected the staining intensity with MAb in secretory granules but not in the heterochromatin. These results suggest that the blood group substances found in the heterochromatin may have different molecular properties from those in the secretory granules, although both have the same determinant structures of ABH antigens.     

Subcellular localization of blood group substances ABH in human salivary glands

We investigated the subcellular localization of ABH antigens in human submandibular, sublingual, and buccal glands by applying a post-embedding immunogold method using monoclonal antibodies specific for A, B, and H antigens. In most glands the immunoreactivity was usually restricted to mucous cells, in which only secretory granules and sometimes Golgi cisternae were specifically labeled. A and B antigens were demonstrated only in the glands of type A, B, and AB subjects, while H antigen was visualized in glands from individuals of all blood types. Moreover, differences were observed in the relative distribution of ABH antigens, depending on the type of gland.     

Cytochemical localization of blood group substances in human salivary glands using lectin-gold complexes

We investigated localization of blood group antigens and their related substances in human labial salivary and submandibular glands by application of a post-embedding cytochemical staining procedure using lectin- or glycoprotein-gold complexes. Surgical tissue was obtained from 10 patients. Blood group-specific lectins, such as Dolichos biflorus agglutinin or Helix pomatia agglutinin (group A-specific), Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-I B4 (group B-specific), and Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (group H-specific) could recognize A, B, and H antigens, respectively, only in mature secretory granules (mature SG), which were found preferentially in cells in the late phase of the maturation cycle. In immature secretory granules (immature SG), which were found in cells in the early or middle phase of the maturation cycle, no binding with these lectins was observed. The Golgi complexes and endoplasmic reticula also were not labeled with these lectins. In blood group O and B secretors, blood group antigens were uniformly distributed throughout all the mature SG examined. However, in blood group A secretors, the distribution was heterogeneous, i.e., in some granules only H antigen was demonstrated, whereas in others both A antigens and a small amount of H antigens were detected. Among the blood group-nonspecific lectins, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) was found to bind more preferentially to immature SG than to mature SG. This was demonstrated irrespective of the blood group and secretor status of the tissue donor, except that in blood group A secretors WGA bound strongly to some mature SG which possessed A antigen. We discuss the significance of cellular and subcellular mosaic distribution of blood group antigens in connection with morphological differences of secretory granules and the maturation cycle of mucous cells.     

Nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions affect in utero developmental capacity, phenotype, and cellular metabolism of bovine nuclear transfer fetuses

We generated a clone of bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos using oocyte pools from defined maternal sources to study nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions. Nucleocytoplasmic hybrids were reconstructed with Bos taurus (Brown Swiss) granulosa cells and oocytes that contained B. taurus A (Simmental), B. taurus B (Simmental), or Bos indicus (Dwarf Zebu) cytoplasm. Another set of embryos was reconstructed with randomly selected Brown Swiss (B. taurus R) oocytes. Embryo transfer resulted in nine (12.5%), nine (13.8%), three (50%), and 11 (16.7%) Day 80 fetuses, of which eight (11.1%), three (4.6%), three (50%), and 10 (15.2%) were viable, respectively. The proportion of viable fetuses was affected by cytoplasm (likelihood ratio test, P < 0.02) and was higher for embryos with B. indicus cytoplasm than for the B. taurus A (P < 0.05) and B (P < 0.01) groups. Furthermore, the proportion of surviving Day 80 fetuses was reduced for B. taurus B as compared with B. taurus A and B. taurus R cytoplasm (P < 0.05 and P < 0.02). Body weight of nucleocytoplasmic hybrid fetuses was not significantly different from Brown Swiss control fetuses produced by artificial insemination (AI), but fetuses reconstructed with random cytoplasts of the same breed as the nuclear donor exhibited overgrowth (P < 0.01) and a higher coefficient of variation in weight. Furthermore, body weight, crown rump length, thorax circumference (P < 0.05), and femur length (P < 0.01) of fetuses with B. taurus A cytoplasm differed from fetuses with B. taurus R cytoplasms. Fetal skin, heart, and liver cells with B. indicus cytoplasm showed a greater increase in number per time period (P < 0.001) and oxygen consumption rate per cell (skin and liver, P < 0.001; heart, P < 0.08) in comparison with their counterparts with B. taurus A cytoplasm. These data point to complex oocyte cytoplasm-dependent epigenetic modifications and/or nuclear DNA-mitochondrial DNA interactions with relevance to nuclear transfer and other reproductive technologies such as ooplasmic transfer in human assisted reproduction.     

Pathology of brucellosis in bison from Yellowstone National Park

Between February 1995 and June 1999, specimens from seven aborted bison (Bison bison) fetuses or stillborn calves and their placentas, two additional placentas, three dead neonates, one 2-wk-old calf, and 35 juvenile and adult female bison from Yellowstone National Park (USA) were submitted for bacteriologic and histopathologic examination. One adult animal with a retained placenta had recently aborted. Serum samples from the 35 juvenile and adult bison were tested for Brucella spp. antibodies. Twenty-six bison, including the cow with the retained placenta, were seropositive, one was suspect, and eight were seronegative. Brucella abortus biovar 1 was isolated from three aborted fetuses and associated placentas, an additional placenta, the 2-wk-old calf, and 11 of the seropositive female bison including the animal that had recently aborted. Brucella abortus biovar 2 was isolated from one additional seropositive adult female bison. Brucella abortus was recovered from numerous tissue sites from the aborted fetuses, placentas and 2-wk-old calf. In the juvenile and adult bison, the organism was more frequently isolated from supramammary (83%), retropharyngeal (67%), and iliac (58%) lymph nodes than from other tissues cultured. Cultures from the seronegative and suspect bison were negative for B. abortus. Lesions in the B. abortus-infected, aborted placentas and fetuses consisted of necropurulent placentitis and mild bronchointerstitial pneumonia. The infected 2-wk-old calf had bronchointerstitial pneumonia, focal splenic infarction, and purulent nephritis. The recently-aborting bison cow had purulent endometritis and necropurulent placentitis. Immunohistochemical staining of tissues from the culture-positive aborted fetuses, placentas, 2-wk-old calf, and recently-aborting cow disclosed large numbers of B. abortus in placental trophoblasts and exudate, and fetal and calf lung. A similar study with the same tissue collection and culture protocol was done using six seropositive cattle from a B. abortus-infected herd in July and August, 1997. Results of the bison and cattle studies were similar.     

Changes in the expression of blood-group carbohydrates during oral mucosal development in human fetuses

Abstract. The distribution of blood group carbohydrate chains with antigen A, B, H type 2 chain (A and B precursor), and N-acetyllactosamine (H type 2 precursor) specificity was studied in human oral epithelium from different anatomical regions. These represented various epithelial differentiation patterns such as non-keratinized, parakeratinized, and orthokeratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The material included buccal and palatal epithelium from 20 persons with blood group A or O, gingival, and alveolar epithelium from 10 persons with blood group A or B, and buccal metaplastically keratinized epithelium from nine blood group A, two blood group B, and nine blood group O individuals. The blood group carbohydrate chains were examined in tissue sections by immunofluorescence microscopy. The A and B blood group antigens were detected by human blood group sera, and antigen H type 2 chains and N-acetyllactosamine by murine monoclonal antibodies. Each antigen showed a similar staining pattern in buccal and alveolar epithelium (non-keratinized) which differed considerably from that seen in palatal and gingival epithelium (ortho- and parakeratinized). The expression of blood group antigens A or B and the precursor antigen H type 2 chains in metaplastically keratinized buccal epithelium was found to differ significantly from that seen in normal non-keratinized buccal epithelium. The regional variations demonstrated in cell surface carbohydrates are suggested to reflect differences in tissue differentiation.     

Regional variations of cell surface carbohydrates in human oral stratified epithelium

The distribution of blood group carbohydrate chains with antigen A, B, H type 2 chain (A and B precursor), and N-acetyllactosamine (H type 2 precursor) specificity was studied in human oral epithelium from different anatomical regions. These represented various epithelial differentiation patterns such as non-keratinized, parakeratinized, and orthokeratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The material included buccal and palatal epithelium from 20 persons with blood group A or O, gingival, and alveolar epithelium from 10 persons with blood group A or B, and buccal metaplastically keratinized epithelium from nine blood group A, two blood group B, and nine blood group O individuals. The blood group carbohydrate chains were examined in tissue sections by immunofluorescence microscopy. The A and B blood group antigens were detected by human blood group sera, and antigen H type 2 chains and N-acetyllactosamine by murine monoclonal antibodies. Each antigen showed a similar staining pattern in buccal and alveolar epithelium (non-keratinized) which differed considerably from that seen in palatal and gingival epithelium (ortho- and parakeratinized). The expression of blood group antigens A or B and the precursor antigen H type 2 chains in metaplastically keratinized buccal epithelium was found to differ significantly from that seen in normal non-keratinized buccal epithelium. The regional variations demonstrated in cell surface carbohydrates are suggested to reflect differences in tissue differentiation.     

Distribution of blood-group-related carbohydrate antigens on oral endothelial cells

Summary Recent studies indicate that carbohydrate structures are involved in various endothelial functions such as inflammatory processes, adhesion of metastatic cells to endothelium and endothelial differentiation. In this paper we report the endothelial expression of various blood-group-related carbohydrate structures in normal oral mucosa using 15 different monoclonal antibodies reacting with type 1, 2 or 3 carbohydrate chains. Twenty biopsies, including normal oral mucosa, from secretor individuals comprised nine blood group O, nine A, one B and one AB. Endothelial staining was compared with epithelial staining in the same biopsies. Five blood-group-related carbohydrate antigens were detected on endothelial cells. The H type 2 antigen, which is the precursor of A, B and AB antigens, has previously been believed to be a universal marker for endothelial cells. All blood group O individuals (n = 9) showed strong H antigen staining in the endothelium of most vessels. However, of blood group A, B and AB individuals (n = 11), four showed heterogenous H antigen staining. In addition, we found that six out of ten blood group A or AB individuals, who expressed A or A and B antigens on spinous squamous cells and glandular epithelium, showed either heterogenous or no staining for these structures on their endothelial cells. It is concluded that there are differences between the biosynthesis of blood-group-related carbohydrate antigens in oral endothelium and epithelium.     

Ultrastructural immunocytochemical studies of blood group substances in human eccrine glands

We investigated the ultrastructure of blood group antigens A, B, and H in human eccrine glands by means of the immunogold labeling technique. Blood group antigens A, B, and H were found in the Golgi apparatus, secretory granules, and over the apical and basolateral cell membranes of dark cells of eccrine glands depending on the blood group phenotype of the donors. Both A and B antigens were found in the dark cells of AB donors. The labeling pattern of the Golgi stacks seemed to have a polarity whereby the anti-blood group A antibody labeled all the stacks, whereas anti-blood groups B and H bound to the trans side of the Golgi complex. These observations suggest that the blood group substances are secreted into the lumen after being processed through the Golgi apparatus and the immature and mature granules in the dark cells of human eccrine glands.     

Immunological and chemical studies on porcine submaxillary mucins

Porcine submaxillary mucins (PSM) were classified as A, H, AH, and — types according to their ability to inhibit the hemagglutination of human blood group systems. Of 210 glands examined, the following blood group distribution was observed: 35% A, 35% H, 1% AH, and 29%—. The A-type mucin was an effective inhibitor at microgram concentrations, whereas the H-types showed considerably weaker hemagglutination inhibition.
Rabbit antisera to the A and H mucins could be used for typing of human blood groups A and H; no cross-reactivity was observed with the other types. The A-type PSM antisera were adsorbed by human red blood cells of the A type only. Immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoretic studies of rabbit antisera to crude mucins revealed many antigenic components, but antisera to purified mucin preparations usually developed only two precipitin bands, one of which showed up only after staining for proteins.
PSM was prepared from individual glands of known blood group types by a slight modification of a previously described method. Chemical analyses showed that the variation in composition of individual glands within a given blood group type was larger than could be attributable to experimental error. In addition, chemical variations were also observed among mucins of A, H, and — blood group types.     

CUDC-101, a histone deacetylase inhibitor,improves the in vitro and in vivo developmental competence of somatic cell nuclear transfer pig embryos

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of CUDC-101, a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, on the in vitro development and expression of the epigenetic marker histone H3 at lysine 9 (AcH3K9) in pig SCNT embryos. We found that treatment with 1 μmol/L CUDC-101 for 24 hours significantly improved the development of pig SCNT embryos. Compared with the control group, the blastocyst rate was higher (18.5% vs. 10.3%; P < 0.05). To assess in vivo developmental potency, CUDC-101–treated SCNT embryos were transferred into two surrogate mothers, resulting in one pregnancy with six fetuses. We then investigated the acetylation level of histone H3K9 in SCNT embryos treated with CUDC-101 and compared them only against untreated embryos. The acetylation level of control SCNT embryos was lower than that of CUDC-101–treated embryos at pseudo-pronuclear stages, and immunofluorescent signal for H3K9ac in CUDC-101–treated embryos in a pattern similar to that of control group. In conclusion, we demonstrated that CUDC-101 can significantly improve in vitro and in vivo developmental competence and enhance the nuclear reprogramming of pig SCNT embryos.     

Immunogold labeling of blood-group antigens in human salivary glands using monoclonal antibodies and the streptavidin-biotin technique

Summary We investigated the localization of blood-group antigens A, B, and H in human labial salivary and submandibular glands by applying a postembedding immunogold method using monoclonal antibodies in combination with the streptavidin-biotin bridge technique. The H, A, and B antigens were only detected in mature secretory granules (SGs), which were mainly found in cells in the late phase of the maturation cycle. In immature SGs, which were present in cells in the early or middle phases of the maturation cycle, these antigens were not detected. All other cytoplasmic organelles were not labeled by the monoclonal antibodies used. In blood-group-O secretors, H antigen was present in almost all of the mature SGs. In blood-group-A secretors, the labelling for H antigen exhibited a mosaic-like pattern, i.e. only some of the mature SGs contained H antigen. With respect to the A and B antigens, a similar mosaic-like pattern of staining was observed in blood-group-A and-B secretors, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the distribution of blood-group antigens A, B, and H in human tissues has been demonstrated at the electron-microscope-level using monoclonal antibodies.     

Culture of zygotes increases TRP53 [corrected] expression in B6 mouse embryos, which reduces embryo viability

The expression of TRP53 in blastocysts that had been cultured from the zygote stage in vitro for 90 h was compared with that in blastocysts collected from the uterus in C57BL6 (B6) and in F1 hybrid (B6CBF1) strain mice. In both strains, there was little TRP53 detected in blastocysts collected from the uterus. There was some increased expression in cultured embryos from B6CBF1 mice and marked increased expression in cultured B6 blastocysts. In cultured B6 embryos, there was obvious accumulation of TRP53 within the nuclear region of embryonic cells. Cultured B6 zygotes had significantly poorer rates of blastocyst formation and of capacity to undergo implantation or form viable fetuses than cultured zygotes from B6CBF1 mice or B6 blastocysts collected from the uterus. Trp53-/- zygotes (B6 background) were significantly more likely to form blastocysts than sibling wild-type embryos, with Trp53+/- embryos having an intermediate level of viability (P<0.01). On transfer of blastocysts to recipient females, Trp53-/- blastocysts were more likely to form viable fetuses than wild-type or heterozygous sibling blastocysts when the embryos resulted from culture of zygotes (P<0.001). This shift in viability did not occur when embryos were only subjected to 24 h of culture from the compacted embryo stage. Culture in vitro in the B6 strain caused a marked increase in the expression and nuclear accumulation of TRP53. This expression was a significant cause of the loss of viability that occurs on culture of zygotes from this strain in vitro.     

Histochemical analysis of the chemical structure of blood group-related carbohydrate chains in serous cells of human submandibular glands using lectin staining and glycosidase digestion

Using lectin staining methods in combination with exo- and endo-glycosidase digestion procedures, we analyzed the chemical structure of different types of blood group-related substances in serous cells of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human submandibular glands. Serous cells produced only H antigen; A and B antigens were not present, and the expression of H antigen is dependent on the secretor status of the tissue donor. Although reactivity with Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA-I) was not markedly reduced by alpha-L-fucosidase digestion, an affinity for peanut agglutinin (PNA) was seen after fucosidase digestion in the cells from secretors. In those from nonsecretors, no PNA reactivity appeared after enzyme digestion. On the other hand, sialidase digestion elicited PNA reactivity in serous cells irrespective of the donor's secretor status. PNA reactivity observed after fucosidase or sialidase digestion was susceptible to endo-alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (endo-GalNAc-dase) digestion. SBA reactivity in UEA-I-negative cells from secretors, or in cells from fetuses and newborn infants, was markedly reduced by beta-galactosidase digestion. After galactosidase digestion, reactivity with Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin II (GSA-II) appeared in the corresponding cells. This GSA-II reactivity was almost completely eliminated by subsequent beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase digestion. Whereas PNA reactivity in these cells was not reduced by beta-galactosidase treatment, it was significantly diminished by endo-GalNAc-dase digestion. These results suggest that at least two kinds of precursor disaccharides are produced in submandibular serous cells, i.e., SBA-reactive D-galactose-(beta 1-3,4)-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and PNA-reactive D-galactose-(beta 1-3)-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine alpha 1-serine or threonine (O-glycosidically linked Type 3 chain or T antigen). Final fucosylation and synthesis of these two types of precursor chain appear to be under the control of the secretor gene.