Expression of human basic fibroblast growth factor cDNA in baby hamster kidney-derived cells results in autonomous cell growth

Growth factor over-production by responsive cells might contribute to their autonomous proliferation as well as their acquisition of a transformed phenotype in culture. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been shown to induce transient changes in cell behavior that resemble those encountered in transformed cells. In addition, several types of human tumor cells have been shown to produce bFGF. To determine directly the role that bFGF might play in the induction of the transformed phenotype, we have introduced a human bFGF cDNA expression vector into baby hamster kidney-derived (BHK-21) fibroblasts. One of the BHK transfectants, termed clone 19, expresses the bFGF mRNA and produces biologically active bFGF that accumulates to a high concentration inside the cells. These properties correlate with the ability of the cells to grow in serum-free medium without the addition of exogenous bFGF. Clone 19 cells also proliferated in soft agar, indicating that constitutive expression of the bFGF gene results in a loss of anchorage-dependent growth.     

Cerebral and ocular abnormalities with anterior pituitary insufficiency of familial nature

Three families presenting one or several cases of brain or ophthalmic abnormalities and an hypopituitarism at least by one of the members have been observed. In the first family, the mother and one of her sons present bilateral choroidoretineal coloboma with amblyopia; one of these two suffers as well from panhypopituitarism. In the second family two premature twins, a brother and his sister, present a syndrome with hypophyseal dwarfism and ophthalmic abnormalities, consisting in the boy's case in an peripapillary depigmentation with no visible sight trouble whereas girl's is showing an extreme microphthalmia with major mental retardation. In the third family two 2nd degree cousins present a panhypopituitarism but only one of the two reveals through neuroradiological investigations corpus callosum and septum lucidum agenesia. The karyotype is normal in all the cases. An hereditary mechanism appears clearly in the first family. It is possible in the second, probable in the third one.     

l-[3H]lysine binding to rat retinal membrane: I. Quantitative determination and characterization of the binding sites

A saturable reversible binding to membranes from rat retina has been found forl-[³H]lysine. Specific binding is time, temperature and protein concentration-dependent, and shows stereospecificity. The best computer fits of the experimental data are obtalned with a receptor medel based on two independent binding sites, of which only one site with a K_d value of 229.4±14.23 nM and a B_max of 2.04 ±0.11 pmol/mg protein could be characterized satisfactorily. Several compounds included putative neurotransmitters have moderate or no affinity forl-lysine binding sites. A different pattern of distribution ofl-[³H]lysine binding sites is observed among various regions of the brain, with the highest density in the occipital cortex, and the lowest density in ponsmedulla.The existence of binding sites in rat retinal membranes forl-lysine, as well as in the areas involved in the visual pathway, suggests a role for this amino acid in the physiological mechanism of the visual function.     

Lipase catalyzed esterification of glycidol in organic solvents

We studied the resolution of racemic glycidol through esterification with butyric acid catalyzed by porcine pancreatic lipase in organic media. A screening of seven solvents (log P values between 0.49 and 3.0, P being the n-octanol-water partition coefficient of the solvent) showed that neither log P nor the logarithm of the molar solubility of water in the solvent provides good correlations between enantioselectivity and the properties of the organic media. Chloroform was one of the best solvents as regards the enantiomeric purity (e. p.) of the ester produced. In this solvent, the optimum temperature for the reaction was determined to be 35 degrees C. The enzyme exhibited maximum activity at a water content of 13 +/- 2% (w/w). The enantiomeric purity obtained was 83 +/- 2% of (S)-glycidyl butyrate and did not depend on the alcohol concentration or the enzyme water content for values of these parameters up to 200 mM and 25% (w/w), respectively. The reaction was found to follow a BiBi mechanism. (c) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Detection of oligoclonal T lymphocytes in lymph nodes draining from advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Despite the combined use of surgery and chemoradiotherapy, the poor prognosis of advanced non-smallcell lung cancer (NSCLC) requires the definition of new therapeutic approaches. The presence of T lymphocytes, with peculiar phenotypic, functional and molecular characteristics within the tumour, suggested the possible use of these cells, expanded in vitro, in protocols of adoptive immunotherapy. We have described how a population of oligoclonal T lymphocytes, derived from advanced NSCLC, can be expanded in vitro and has the capability of lysing autologous cancer cells. What is more important, we observed that patients with advanced NSCLC, treated with TIL expanded in vitro and recombinant interleukin-2, seemed to have a disease-free period longer than that of patients treated with conventional chemoradiotherapy. in an attempt to find new sources of specific lymphocytes for immunotherapy, we describe the analysis of the phenotypic, functional and molecular characteristics of T lymphocytes, derived from lymph nodes draining advanced NSCLC. In this paper we show that these cells, have restriction patterns of T cell receptor chain similar to those detectable in the population of infiltrating T lymphocytes. This finding suggests that T cells derived from draining lymph nodes of advanced NSCLC have peculiar characteristics and can be a suitable source of effector cells for protocols of adoptive immunotherapy in lung cancer treatment.     

Circannual rhythm of insulin release and hypoglycemic effect of tolbutamide stimulus in healthy man

Four healthy non obese young volunteers were observed for a 24-hr period, every other month, over the course of one year. Tolbutamide was injected i.v. each day of the experiment every four hours. Tolbutamide-induced insulin secretion (T.I.I.S.) was evaluated by planimetrically measuring insulin areas above basal levels. Tolbutamide-induced hypoglycemic effect was evaluated by measuring the blood glucose difference between the 5th and 25th minute after the drug injection (delta G5'-25'). The macroscopic evaluation of T.I.I.S. and delta G5'-25' (mean chronograms) permitted the detection of the existence of a circannual variation of both variables. In particular the maximum level of the blood glucose drop (delta G5'-25') was registered in February. Subsequently the quantification of the rhythm of T.I.I.S. was obtained by fitting a sine curve, according to the Cosinor method. The highest insulin release was confirmed in winter. As previously documented, the existence of a statistically significant circadian rhythm of T.I.I.S. was confirmed in the morning, i.e. the same period of the day in which insulin-induced hypoglycemia occurs.     

Muscular microcirculation in diabetic microangiopathy (histangiopathy): new morphohistochemical aspects

The A.A. describe the pathological alterations of the blood flow regulatory mechanisms (blocking devices, "Sperrarterien"), systematically found in muscle biopsies of diabetic patients. The functional significance of these structure in normal and pathological conditions, as microangiopathic diabetics, is emphasized.