The effects of ultrarapid freezing on meiotic and mitotic spindles of mouse oocytes and embryos

Preovulatory mouse oocytes and 2-cell embryos were frozen with dimethyl sulfoxide and propanediol by an ultrarapid method. The survival of frozen oocytes was low (33–34%) compared to that of 2-cell embryos (78–79%) with either cryoprotectant. Development to blastocysts after postthaw culture was about 7–15% for oocytes and 79–80% for the embryos. Ultrarapid freezing preserves cell structure quite well as revealed by electron microscopy, but meiotic oocytes and late 2-cell embryos undergoing mitosis showed evidence of spindle disorganization involving loss or clumping of microtubules resulting in some scattering of chromosomes. Embryos developed from frozen eggs showed clear evidence of micronuclear formation and incomplete incorporation of chromosomal material into main nuclei. These experiments confirm our observations on freezing of human oocytes and show that spindle microtubules are sensitive to freeze-thawing and that cryopreservation could cause chromosomal aberrations during early development. A cautious approach to the introduction of oocyte freezing in human in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs is advocated.     

Apolipoprotein B-100 is the major form of this apolipoprotein secreted by human intestinal Caco-2 cells

Although the discovery of stop codon has explained the mechanism for the formation of the intestinal marker, apolipoprotein B-48, the dispute regarding the presence of apolipoprotein B-100 in the intestine is still unsettled. To further investigate the characteristics of intestinal apolipoprotein B, the newly developed human colonic adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells which express functional properties of the differentiated enterocytes, were used. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analyses of the intact culture medium or its lipoproteins of d less than 1.23 g/ml showed the presence of only a single protein band of apolipoprotein B-100 with no detectable apolipoprotein B-48. After immunoblotting with oligoclonal antibodies to the amino-terminal peptide of apolipoprotein B, a trace amount of apolipoprotein B-48 was observed in the isolated lipoproteins, but not in the intact culture medium. These results suggest that apolipoprotein B-100 is the major form of apolipoprotein B secreted by human intestinal cells.     

The selection of effector T cell phenotype by contrasuppression modulates susceptibility to autoimmune injury

The genetic susceptibility to murine alpha TBM disease is a dominant trait that maps to H-2K. In previous studies we have shown that the critical difference between susceptible (SJL) and nonsusceptible (B10.S(8R] mice is the phenotype of the tubular Ag-specific effector T cells (TDTH). In SJL mice, these TDTH are Lyt-2+, whereas in B10.S(8R) mice the TDTH are L3T4+. These phenotypic differences have an important functional correlate: Lyt-2+ TDTH are nephritogenic, whereas L3T4+ TDTH are typically not nephritogenic. Both mouse strains have the potential to differentiate both L3T4+ and Lyt-2+ TDTH. The preferential selection of a single TDTH phenotype in each is the result of differential T cell regulation. In the present studies, we have examined the contribution of suppressor and contrasuppressor T cells in the regulation of TDTH phenotype selection. Our studies show that in both SJL and B10.(8R) mice, after exposure to Ag, a suppressor T cell subpopulation functions to inhibit the nephritogenic Lyt-2+ TDTH. In SJL, but not B10.S(8R) mice, this suppression is counterbalanced by Lyt-2+, Vicia Villosa lectin-adherent T cells. Such contrasuppressor function is mediated through a T cell-derived soluble protein (TcsF), which is Ag-binding and recognized by alpha I-JS antisera. This functional TcsF activity maps, as does susceptibility to disease, to H-2K. In the presence of genetically compatible TcsF, the TDTH phenotype in nonsusceptible mice switches to that of susceptible mice. These Lyt-2+ TDTH from nonsusceptible mice are fully capable of inducing tubulointerstitial nephritis following adoptive transfer. Our studies describe a new role for Tcs cells and augment our understanding of their etiopathogenetic role in autoimmunity.     

Identification of Dirofilaria immitis larval antigens with immunoprophylactic potential using sera from immune dogs.

Previous research has demonstrated that dogs that received chemically abbreviated Dirofilaria immitis larval infections were significantly immune to challenge infections. Sera from those immune animals have been effective in passively transferring larval killing and stunting. In the present study, sera from immune and control animals were used to screen various Ag subsets for unique Ag. Through Western blot analysis of larval extracts and excretory-secretory products, and immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled proteins and larval surface Ag, it was determined that as many as 12 molecules were uniquely recognized by protective immune sera. A 39-kDa molecule was present in both soluble lysates of third- and fourth-stage larvae and larval excretory-secretory products; it was recognized by each of the immune dogs and by none of the infected or uninfected control animals. The 39-kDa molecule appeared to be absent from adults and microfilariae of the parasite. In addition to the unique recognition by immune dog sera, larval stage specificity of this molecule suggests that it may be useful as a vaccine candidate.     

Characterization and in vitro selection for iron efficiency inPyrus andCydonia

Summary Responses to low Fe were characterized in tissue cultures ofPyrus amygdaliformis andCydonia oblonga (quince), two species used as rootstocks for pear. Cultured shoots and plantlets ofP. amygdaliformis had a higher chlorophyll concentration and Fe²⁺/total Fe ratio than those ofC. oblonga when grown under low Fe conditions. This tolerance to low Fe was correlated with high Fe³⁺-reducing ability and medium acidification. The adaptive responses were manifested in roots of plantlets, shoot bases, root cultures, and cell suspension cultures. Shoots were regenerated from leaves of quince and subjected to Fe-deficient conditions. Two somaclonal variants (IE-1 and IE-2) were recovered; each displayed higher ability to reduce Fe³⁺ and acidify the medium. These variants may be useful as rootstocks for regions with calcareous soils, which limit Fe availability.     

Evaluation of the Enhanced Antioxidant Activity of Curcumin within Exosomes by Fluorescence Monitoring

In this study, we compared the antioxidant activities of curcumin (Cur) and a Cur formulation using a fluorescence analysis assay. The Cur formulation was prepared by a simple incorporation of Cur into exosomes (EXO) to produce Cur/EXOs. Free Cur had a low fluorescence intensity in aqueous solution because of its poor stability as a result of its autoxidation, whereas a significantly higher fluorescence intensity was observed for Cur/EXOs. Compared to free Cur, the increased level of intact Cur in EXOs allowed for enhanced antioxidant activity in H₂O₂ scavenging activity and DPPH assays. Compared to Cur at high concentration (200 μM), Cur/ EXOs were significantly less cytotoxic. The antioxidant activity of Cur or Cur/EXOs in cells could be easily demonstrated by monitoring decreases in their fluorescence intensity. Following subcutaneous injection, the fluorescence intensities of Cur/EXOs were much higher than that of Cur, suggesting that Cur/EXOs improve Cur stability in vivo. Taken together, we have demonstrated the superiority of Cur/EXOs over free Cur in terms of aqueous stability and antioxidant activity using fluorescence monitoring both in vitro and in vivo.     

The D253N Mutation in the Polymerase Basic 2 Gene in Avian Influenza (H9N2) Virus Contributes to the Pathogenesis of the Virus in Mammalian Hosts

Mutations in the polymerase basic 2 (PB2) gene of avian influenza viruses are important signatures for their adaptation to mammalian hosts. Various adaptive mutations have been identified around the 627 and nuclear localization sequence (NLS) domains of PB2 protein, and these mutations contribute to the replicative ability of avian influenza viruses. However, few studies have focused on adaptive mutations in other regions of PB2. In this study, we investigated the functional roles of the D253N mutation in PB2 in an H9N2 virus. This mutation was found to affect an amino acid residue in the middle domain of the PB2 protein. The virus with the D253N mutation showed higher polymerase activity and transiently increased viral replication in human cells. However, the mutant did not show significant differences in viral replication in the respiratory tract of mice upon infection. Our results supported that the D253N mutation in the middle domain of PB2, similar to mutations at the 627 and NLS domains, specifically contributed to the replication of avian influenza viruses in human cells.     

Development of Electrochemiluminescent Serology Assays to Measure the Humoral Response to Antigens of Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Sensitive and precise serology assays are needed to measure the humoral response to antigens of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) following natural infection or vaccination. We developed and evaluated a collection of electrochemiluminescent (ECL) serology assays using four RSV antigens (F, N, Ga and Gb). To assess the merits of ECL technology, the four ECL serology assays were evaluated using a well-characterized “gold standard” panel of acute and convalescent serum samples from fifty-nine RSV-positive and thirty RSV-negative elderly subjects (≥65 years old). The combined results from the four ECL assays demonstrated good concordance to the “gold standard” diagnosis, reaching 95% diagnostic sensitivity and 100% diagnostic specificity. Additionally, a combination of ECL assays provided higher diagnostic sensitivity than a commercially available diagnostic ELISA or cell-based microneutralization assay. In summary, these data demonstrate the advantages of using ECL-based serology assays and highlight their use as a sensitive diagnostic approach to detect recent RSV infection in an elderly population.     

Examination of the potential role of the glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC) pathway in the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine by liver and lung

The potential involvement of the glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC) pathway for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) has been examined in rat liver and lung and in a human line, the A549 cell which possesses characteristics representative of mature alveolar type II epithelial cells. Although mitochondrial and microsomal fractions from the above sources readily incorporated radioactive glycerophosphate into lipids, the only incorporation observed with radioactive GPC was a small variable labelling with the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions from rat lung. Even with these fractions, no radioactivity from GPC was incorporated into PC or lysoPC. Attempts to increase the incorporation of GPC into lipids by manipulating the incubation conditions were unsuccessful. It was concluded that the occurrence of the GPC pathway in liver and lung is unlikely.