High-precision iron isotope analysis of whole blood,erythrocytes, and serum in adults

BackgroundIron isotopic composition serves as a biological indicator of Fe metabolism in humans. In the process of Fe metabolism, essential carriers of Fe circulate in the blood and pass through storage organs and intestinal absorptive tissues. This study aimed to establish an analytical method for high-precision Fe isotopic measurement, investigate Fe concentration and isotopic composition in different parts of whole blood, and explore the potential of Fe isotopic composition as an indicator for Fe status within individuals.Analytical methodsA total of 23 clinically healthy Taiwanese adults of Han descent were enrolled randomly and Fe isotopic compositions of their whole blood, erythrocytes, and serum were measured. The Fe isotopic analysis was performed by Neptune Plus multiple-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with double-spike technique. The precision and reproducibility of the Fe isotopic analysis were monitored by international biological and geological reference materials.Main findingsHigh-precision Fe isotopic measurements were achieved alongside with high consistency in the isotopic data for well-characterized reference materials. The Fe isotopic signatures of whole blood and erythrocytes were resolvable from that of serum, where both whole blood and erythrocytes contained significantly lighter Fe isotopic compositions compared to the case of serum (P = 0.0296 and P = 0.0004, respectively). The δ^56/54Fe value of the serum sample was 0.2‰ heavier on an average than those of whole blood or erythrocytes. This isotopic fractionation observed in different parts of whole blood may indicate redox processes involved in Fe cycling, e.g. erythrocyte production and Fe transportation. Moreover, the δ^56/54Fe values of whole blood and serum significantly correlated with the hemoglobin level (P = 0.0126 and P = 0.0020, respectively), erythrocyte count (P = 0.0014 and P = 0.0005, respectively), and Mentzer index (P = 0.0055 and P = 0.0011, respectively), suggesting the Fe isotopic composition as an indicator of functional Fe status in healthy adults. The relationships between blood Fe isotopic compositions and relevant biodemographic variables were also examined. While the average Fe concentration of whole blood was significantly higher in males than in females (P = 0.0028), females exhibited a heavier Fe isotopic composition compared to that of males in whole blood (P = 0.0010) and serum (P < 0.0001). A significantly inverse correlation of the whole blood δ^56/54Fe value with body mass index of individuals (P = 0.0095) was also observed.ConclusionThe results presented herein reveal that blood Fe isotopic signature is consequentially linked to baseline erythrocyte parameters in individuals and is significantly affected by the gender and body mass index in the adult population. These findings support the role of Fe isotopic composition as an indicator for the variance of Fe metabolism among adult individuals and populations and warrant further study to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.     

Multidimensional flow-cytometric analysis of dendritic cells in peripheral blood of normal donors and cancer patients

 We studied the potential of multidimensional flow cytometry to evaluate the frequency and maturation/activation status of dendritic cells in minimally manipulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell preparations (i.e., only separated on Ficoll-Hypaque) of normal donors and cancer patients. A rare subset of HLA-DR⁺ leukocytes (less than 1% mononuclear cells) was detected in blood of normal donors that displayed all the features of dendritic cells: these cells had high forward-light-scatter characteristics and coexpressed CD4, CD86 and CD54 surface antigens, but lacked the lineage-associated surface markers of T cells, B cells, monocytes, granulocytes or NK i.e. they were CD3^–, CD19^–, CD20^–, CD14^–, CD11b^–, CD16^–, CD56^–). These physical and phenotypic properties were virtually identical to those of immunomagnetically sorted leukocytes characterized as dendritic-cells on the basis of morphology, phenotype and high stimulatory activity in allogeneic mixed-lymphocyte cultures. Using this flow-cytometric approach we observed that the frequency of dendritic cell-like cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cell specimens of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy alone or those recovering from stem cell transplantation was significantly lower than that of normal individuals (mean ± SE: 0.36 ± 0.05%, 0.14 ± 0.06%, and 0.75 ± 0.04% respectively). Multidimensional flow-cytometric analysis of dendritic cells might represent an important new tool for assessing immunocompetence, and for monitoring the effects of therapeutic regimens on the immune system. Received: 20 June 1997 / Accepted: 14 August 1997     

The mechanisms of iron isotope fractionation produced during dissimilatory Fe(III) reduction by Shewanella putrefaciens and Geobacter sulfurreducens

Microbial dissimilatory iron reduction (DIR) is widespread in anaerobic sediments and is a key producer of aqueous Fe(II) in suboxic sediments that contain reactive ferric oxides. Previous studies have shown that DIR produces some of the largest natural fractionations of stable Fe isotopes, although the mechanism of this isotopic fractionation is not yet well understood. Here we compare Fe isotope fractionations produced by similar cultures of Geobacter sulfurreducens strain PCA and Shewanella putrefaciens strain CN32 during reduction of hematite and goethite. Both species produce aqueous Fe(II) that is depleted in the heavy Fe isotopes, as expressed by a decrease in ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe ratios or δ⁵⁶Fe values. The low δ⁵⁶Fe values for aqueous Fe(II) produced by DIR reflect isotopic exchange among three Fe inventories: aqueous Fe(II) (Fe(II)_aq), sorbed Fe(II) (Fe(II)_sorb), and a reactive Fe(III) component on the ferric oxide surface (Fe(III)_reac). The fractionation in ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe ratios between Fe(II)_aq and Fe(III)_reac was –2.95‰, and this remained constant over the timescales of the experiments (280 d). The Fe(II)_aq – Fe(III)_reac fractionation was independent of the ferric Fe substrate (hematite or goethite) and bacterial species, indicating a common mechanism for Fe isotope fractionation during DIR. Moreover, the Fe(II)_aq – Fe(III)_reac fractionation in ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe ratios during DIR is identical within error of the equilibrium Fe(II)_aq – ferric oxide fractionation in abiological systems at room temperatures. This suggests that the role of bacteria in producing Fe isotope fractionations during DIR lies in catalyzing coupled atom and electron exchange between Fe(II)_aq and Fe(III)_reac so that equilibrium Fe isotope partitioning occurs. Although Fe isotope fractionation between Fe(II)_aq and Fe(III)_reac remained constant, the absolute δ⁵⁶Fe values for Fe(II)_aq varied as a function of the relative proportions of Fe(II)_aq, Fe(II)_sorb, and Fe(III)_reac during reduction. The temporal variations in these proportions were unique to hematite or goethite but independent of bacterial species. In the case of hematite reduction, the small measured Fe(II)_aq – Fe(II)_sorb fractionation of −0.30‰ in ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe ratios, combined with the small proportion of Fe(II)_sorb, produced insignificant (<0.05‰) isotopic effects due to sorption of Fe(II). Sorption of Fe(II) produced small, but significant effects during reduction of goethite, reflecting the higher proportion of Fe(II)_sorb and larger measured Fe(II)_aq – Fe(II)_sorb fractionation of –0.87‰ in ⁵⁶Fe/⁵⁴Fe ratios for goethite. The isotopic effects of sorption on the δ⁵⁶Fe values for Fe(II)_aq were largest during the initial stages of reduction when Fe(II)_sorb was the major ferrous Fe species during goethite reduction, on the order of 0.3 to 0.4‰. With continued reduction, however, the isotopic effects of sorption decreased to <0.2‰. These results provide insight into the mechanisms that produce Fe isotope fractionation during DIR, and form the basis for interpretation of Fe isotope variations in modern and ancient natural systems where DIR may have driven Fe cycling.     

Distribution, development and proliferation of interstitial cells of Cajal in murine colon: an immunohistochemical study from neonatal to adult life

This paper aimed at investigating the alterations in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the proximal, middle and distal colon of mice from 0-day to 56-day post-partum (P0–P56) by immunohistochemistry. The Kit⁺ ICC, which situated around myenteric nerve plexus (ICC–MY) were prominent at birth, meanwhile those cells within the smooth muscle layers (ICC–IM) and in the connective tissue beneath serosa (ICC–SS) began to appear. ICC–SM, which located at the submucosal border of circular muscle layer emerged at P6 in the proximal colon and subsequently in the distal colon at P8, and ICC in the oral side of colon revealed an earlier development in morphology and a higher density than that in the anal side. The density of ICC altered obviously during postnatal period, and the estimated total amount of ICC increased ~30 folds at P56 than that at P0. Some Kit⁺/Ki67⁺ and Kit⁺/BrdU⁺ cells were observed in ICC–MY, ICC–IM and ICC–SS, but not in ICC–SM from P0 to P24. Our result indicates a proximal to distal and transmural gradient development of ICC in the postnatal colon along with a dramatic increase of ICC cell number from neonatal to adult life, and an age-dependent proliferation of ICC is also involved.     

Mobilization of storage iron is reflected in the iron isotopic composition of blood in humans

We recently showed in an animal model that iron isotopic composition varies substantially between different organs. For instance, iron in ferritin-rich organs—such as the major storage tissues liver, spleen, and bone marrow—contain a larger fraction of the heavy iron isotopes compared with other tissues, including blood. As a consequence, partitioning of body iron into red blood cells and storage compartments should be reflected in the isotopic pattern of blood iron. To confirm this hypothesis, we monitored blood iron isotope patterns in iron-overloaded subjects undergoing phlebotomy treatment by multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We found that bloodletting and consequential replacement of lost blood iron by storage iron led to a substantial increase of the heavy isotope fraction in the blood. The progress of iron depletion therapy and blood loss was quantitatively traceable by isotopic shifts of as much as +1‰ in δ(⁵⁶Fe). These results show that—together with iron absorption efficiency—partitioning of iron between blood and iron storage tissues is an important determinant of blood iron isotopic patterns, which could make blood iron isotopic composition the first composite measure of iron metabolism in humans.     

Assessing Nitrification and Denitrification in the Seine River and Estuary Using Chemical and Isotopic Techniques

Downstream from metropolitan Paris (France), a large amount of ammonium is discharged into the Seine River by the effluents of the wastewater treatment plant at Achères. To assess the extent of nitrification and denitrification in the water column, concentrations and isotopic compositions of ammonium (δ¹⁵N–NH₄⁺) and nitrate (δ¹⁵N–NO₃⁻, δ¹⁸O–NO₃⁻) were measured during summer low-flow conditions along the lower Seine and its estuary. The results indicated that most of the ammonium released from the wastewater treatment plant is nitrified in the lower Seine River and its upper estuary, but there was no evidence for water-column denitrification. In the lower part of the estuary, however, concentration and isotopic data for nitrate were not consistent with simple mixing between riverine and marine nitrate. A significant departure of the nitrate isotopic composition from what would be expected from simple mixing of freshwater and marine nitrates suggested coupled nitrification and denitrification in the water, in spite of the apparent conservative behavior of nitrate. Denitrification rates of approximately 0.02 mg N/L/h were estimated for this part of the estuary.     

Communities of neutrophilic iron-oxidizing microorganisms of ferruginous springs of various types and their involvement in fractionation of stable iron isotopes

Abundance and structure of the communities of neutrophilic lithotrophic iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) inhabiting four low-mineralized ferruginous springs of the Marcial Waters Resort (South Karelia, Russia) and the brackish chalybeate spring of the Staraya Russa Resort (Novgorod region, Russia), were investigated, as well as the physicochemical conditions of these environments. In fresh iron-containing precipitates collected near the spring outlets and within the spring-discharge areas, as well as along the spring watercourses, the numbers of unicellular FeOB enumerated on nutrient media ranged from 10⁵ to 10⁷ cells per 1 mL of sediments irrespective of the initial Fe(II) concentration (11–126 mg L⁻¹). In the spring waters and along the spring watercourses inhabited by iron-oxidizing bacteria, the concentration of dissolved oxygen did not exceed 0.05–0.1 mg L⁻¹. Unicellular FeOB were predominant in three springs, while in the springs with relatively low Fe(II) concentrations (11–22 mg L⁻¹), various morphological forms of Gallionella and uncultured forms of the iron-oxidizing bacterium Toxothrix trichogenes prevailed. In the model experiments with the water samples collected in the ferruginous springs and bogs under controlled conditions, the fractionation of stable iron isotopes and the rate of iron oxidation were found to depend on the oxygen regime and, to a lesser extent, on the initial Fe(II) concentration. The maximum enrichment of the iron oxides formed during the simulation experiments with the light ⁵⁴Fe isotope was observed during bacterial oxidation under microaerobic conditions at O₂ concentrations of 0.1–0.3 mg L⁻¹ and in the cultures of iron-oxidizing bacteria. During the abiogenic oxidation of Fe(II), the extent of stable isotope fractionation was 1.5–2 times lower. Enrichment of Fe(III) oxides with the light ⁵⁴Fe isotope (3- to 5-fold) was considerably lower at high rates of both the biogenic and abiogenic processes of iron oxidation under aerobic conditions; however, it was more intense during the bacterial processes. Comparison of the rates of enrichment of Fe(III) oxides with the light isotope during the model experiments with pure and enrichment cultures of iron-oxidizing bacteria from the sediments of ferruginous springs and bogs revealed that the biogenic factor plays a key role in the oxidation processes of the iron cycle, as well as in the differentiation of the composition of stable iron isotopes in the studied ecosystems.     

Menopause effect on blood Fe and Cu isotope compositions

Iron (δ⁵⁶Fe) and copper (δ⁶⁵Cu) stable isotope compositions in blood of adult human include a sex effect, which still awaits a biological explanation. Here, we investigate the effect of menopause by measuring blood δ⁵⁶Fe and δ⁶⁵Cu values of aging men and women. The results show that, while the Fe and Cu isotope compositions of blood of men are steady throughout their lifetime, postmenopausal women exhibit blood δ⁶⁵Cu values similar to men, and δ⁵⁶Fe values intermediate between men and premenopausal women. The residence time of Cu and Fe in the body likely explains why the blood δ⁶⁵Cu values, but not the δ⁵⁶Fe values, of postmenopausal women resemble that of men. We suggest that the Cu and Fe isotopic fractionation between blood and liver resides in the redox reaction occurring during hepatic solicitation of Fe stores. This reaction affects the Cu speciation, which explains why blood Cu isotope composition is impacted by the cessation of menstruations. Considering that Fe and Cu sex differences are recorded in bones, we believe this work has important implications for their use as a proxy of sex or age at menopause in past populations. Am J Phys Anthropol 153:280–285, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

CD58/LFA-3 and IL-12 provided by activated monocytes are critical in the in vitro expansion of CD56+ T cells

A small proportion of human CD3⁺ T lymphocytes are known to co-express CD56, an antigen usually restricted in its expression to natural killer (NK) cells. Whereas the in vivo function of CD3⁺ CD56⁺ T cells remains unknown, we and others have previously shown that both in vitro and in vivo, these cells can mediate a significantly greater degree of MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity against a variety of human tumor cells when compared to either CD3⁺ CD56⁻ T cells or lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells. While the mechanisms regulating the in vivo expansion of CD56⁺ T cells are not known, here we demonstrate the importance of CD2-mediated IL-12-dependent signals in the in vitro expansion of CD56⁺ T cells. Specifically, we show that activated monocytes provide a contact dependent factor (CD58/LFA-3) and a soluble factor (IL-12), both critical for the in vitro expansion of CD56⁺ T cells. The biological and therapeutic implications of these findings are discussed. Received: 4 May 2000 / Accepted: 25 August 2000     

Using the dual isotope method to assess cecal amino acid absorption of goat whey protein in rats,a pilot study

Measurement of ileal amino acids (AA) bioavailability is recommended to evaluate protein quality. A dual isotope tracer method, based on plasma isotopic enrichment ratios, has been proposed to determine true digestibility in humans. In a pilot study, we aimed to evaluate whether this method could be implemented in rats to determine AA bioavailability based on isotopic enrichment ratios measured in cecal digesta or plasma samples. Goat milk proteins were intrinsically labeled with ¹⁵N and ²H. Wistar rats were fed a meal containing the doubly labeled goat whey proteins and a tracer dose of ¹³C-spirulina. Blood samples were collected 0, 1 h and 3 h after meal ingestion from the tail vein. The rats were euthanized 4 h (n?=?6) or 6 h (n?=?6) after meal to collect plasma and intestinal contents. True orocecal protein digestibility and AA bioavailability were assessed by means of ¹⁵N and ²H enrichment in cecum content and compared with absorption indexes determined at the plasma or cecum level using isotopic ratios. Plasma kinetics of isotopic enrichment could not be completed due to the limited quantity of plasma obtained with sequential blood collection. However, the absorption indexes determined from cecal ¹⁵N or ²H/¹³C ratios gave coherent values with true orocecal AA bioavailability. This dual isotope approach with measurements of isotopic ratios in digestive content could be an interesting strategy to determine true AA bioavailability in ileal digesta of rats.

     

Copper,Chromium, Manganese,Iron, Nickel,and Zinc Levels in Biological Samples of Diabetes Mellitus Patients

There is accumulating evidence that the metabolism of several trace elements is altered in diabetes mellitus and that these nutrients might have specific roles in the pathogenesis and progress of this disease. The aim of present study was to compare the level of essential trace elements, chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) in biological samples (whole blood, urine, and scalp hair) of patients who have diabetes mellitus type 2 (n = 257), with those of nondiabetic control subjects (n = 166), age ranged (45–75) of both genders. The element concentrations were measured by means of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer after microwave-induced acid digestion. The validity and accuracy was checked by conventional wet-acid-digestion method and using certified reference materials. The overall recoveries of all elements were found in the range of (97.60–99.49%) of certified values. The results of this study showed that the mean values of Zn, Mn, and Cr were significantly reduced in blood and scalp-hair samples of diabetic patients as compared to control subjects of both genders (p < 0.001). The urinary levels of these elements were found to be higher in the diabetic patients than in the age-matched healthy controls. In contrast, high mean values of Cu and Fe were detected in scalp hair and blood from patients versus the nondiabetic subjects, but the differences found in blood samples was not significant (p < 0.05). These results are consistent with those obtained in other studies, confirming that deficiency and efficiency of some essential trace metals may play a role in the development of diabetes mellitus.     

Therapeutic window of an EpCAM/CD3-specific BiTE antibody in mice is determined by a subpopulation of EpCAM-expressing lymphocytes that is absent in humans

MuS110 is a BiTE antibody bispecific for murine EpCAM (CD326) and murine CD3. A recent study has shown that muS110 has significant anti tumor activity at well-tolerated doses as low as 5 μg/kg in orthotopic breast and lung cancer models (Amann et al. in Cancer Res 68:143–151, 2008). Here, we have explored the safety profile of muS110 at higher doses. Escalation to 50 μg/kg muS110 caused in mice transient loss of body weight, and transient piloerection, hypomotility, hypothermia and diarrhoea. These clinical signs coincided with serum peaks of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-4, and an increase of surface markers for T cell activation. Because activation of T cells in response to BiTE antibodies is typically dependent on target cells, we analyzed mouse blood for the presence of EpCAM⁺ cells. Various mouse strains presented with a subpopulation of 2–3% EpCAM⁺ blood cells, mostly B and T lymphocytes, which was not detected in human blood samples. In vitro experiments in which the number of EpCAM⁺ cells in blood samples was either reduced or increased suggested that both T cell activation and cytokine release in response to muS110 was dependent on the number of target-expressing cells. In support for a role of EpCAM⁺ lymphocytes in the observed side effects, reduction of EpCAM⁺ blood cells in mice via a low-dose pre treatment with muS110 dramatically increased the tolerability of animals up to at least 500 μg/kg of the BiTE antibody. This high tolerability to muS110 occurred in the presence of non-compromised T cells. No damage to EpCAM⁺ epithelial tissues was evident from histopathological examination of animals daily injected with 100 μg/kg muS110 for 28 days. In summary, these observations suggest that side effects of muS110 in mice were largely caused by an acute T cell activation that was triggered by a subpopulation of EpCAM⁺ lymphocytes. Because humans have extremely low numbers of EpCAM⁺ cells in blood, this toxicity of an EpCAM-specific BiTE may be specific for mice. M. Amann and M. Friedrich contributed equally to this work.     

Peculiarities of osmoregulation of circulating red blood cells in steno-and euryhaline marine fish species under hypoosmotic conditions

The peculiarities of osmoregulation of circulating red blood cells of the stenohaline giant gobyGobius cobitis and the euryhaline toad gobyGobius batrachocephalus have been studied under experimental conditions. In the giant goby, volume of the red blood cells increased steadily by 10.6–18.1% (p < 0.05) after reduction of the medium salinity from 15–17 to 6.0–6.8‰ and this volume increase remained during the entire experimental period (40–45 days). Lysis of red blood cells was noticed in some cases, which was indicated by a decrease of the number of red blood cells and an increase of concentration of free hemoglobin in the blood plasma. No similar reactions were observed in the euryhaline toad goby; the mean cell volume did not change statistically significantly. The volume regulation resulted in K⁺ efflux from red blood cells. The blood red cells of the toad goby had a high resistance to osmotic stress. The Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity in the red blood cell membranes of the toad goby was higher by 18.8% (p < 0.001) than in the giant goby.     

Peculiarities of osmoregulation of circulating red blood cells in steno- and euryhaline marine fish species under hypoosmotic conditions

The peculiarities of osmoregulation of circulating red blood cells of the stenohaline giant gobyGobius cobitis and the euryhaline toad gobyGobius batrachocephalus have been studied under experimental conditions. In the giant goby, volume of the red blood cells increased steadily by 10.6–18.1% (p (WENA) 0.05) after reduction of the medium salinity from 15–17 to 6.0–6.8‰ and this volume increase remained during the entire experimental period (40–45 days). Lysis of red blood cells was noticed in some cases, which was indicated by a decrease of the number of red blood cells and an increase of concentration of free hemoglobin in the blood plasma. No similar reactions were observed in the euryhaline toad goby; the mean cell volume did not change statistically significantly. The volume regulation resulted in K⁺ efflux from red blood cells. The blood red cells of the toad goby had a high resistance to osmotic stress. The Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity in the red blood cell membranes of the toad goby was higher by 18.8% (p (WENA) 0.001) than in the giant goby.     

The immunologic aspects in advanced ovarian cancer patients treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy

Till now, little is known about the effects of chemotherapy on the immunity of cancer patients and the ideal timing (“window” period) for immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. In this study, we addressed the immunogenicity of apoptotic ovarian cancer cells induced by paclitaxel and carboplatin, the immunologic aspects in ovarian cancer patients under chemotherapy, and the CTL response when CD8⁺ T cells were stimulated with tumor antigen in the “window” period. The immunogenicity of apoptotic ovarian cancer cells was detected first. Then, blood samples from each ovarian cancer patient were obtained before (S₀) and at days 5–7 (S₁), days 12–14 (S₂) and days 25–28 (S₃) after chemotherapy. The proportions of immunocyte subsets and the function of NK cells were studied. We found that apoptotic ovarian cancer cells elicited a powerful CTL response with antitumor activity in vitro. The proportions of CD3⁺ T cells, CD4⁺ T cells and the ratio of CD4⁺ to CD8⁺ cells did not change significantly on S₁, S₂ and S₃, compared to S₀, whereas the percentage of Treg cells decreased remarkably on S₂. The proportions of Th1, Tc1, CD45RO memory T, NKT cells and the ratio of Tc1 to Tc2 cells increased significantly on S₂. IFN-γ secreting CD8⁺ T cells also increased remarkably on S₂, especially when CD8⁺ T cells were stimulated with autologous tumor antigen. From our point of view, chemotherapy induces temporary immune reconstitution and augments anti-tumor immune response. It is probable that the “window” period of days 12–14 after chemotherapy provides the best opportunity for immunotherapy.     

Decrease of CD4+ T-lymphocytes in children exposed to environmental lead

The effects of environmental lead on the immune system of young children were assessed by determining the peripheral blood lymphocytes CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺, B(CD19⁺) counts, and natural killer (CD16⁺ CD56⁺) cells in 35 preschool children whose mean blood lead level was 140.6 μg/L. The results were compared to an age- and sex-matched control group with a mean blood lead level of 64.3 μg/L. Compared to the controls, a significant reduction in the percentage of CD4⁺ cells and a significant increase of CD8⁺ cells were seen in the high-lead group. The negative correlation between the percentage of CD4⁺ cells and blood lead levels was found to be significant (p<0.01). These results suggest that exposure to environmental lead might result in alterations in the immune function of young children.     

Dietary lipid composition affects the gene expression of gill Na+/K+-ATPase α1b but not the α1a isoform in juvenile fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

We assessed the effects of dietary fatty acid composition on sodium–potassium ATPase (Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase) activity and isoform expression in the gills of juvenile fall chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha by supplementing diets with either anchovy oil (AO) or AO blended with canola oil (CO) so that CO comprised 0% (0CO), 11% (11CO), 22% (22CO), 33% (33CO), 43% (43CO), or 54% (54CO) of the measured dietary lipid content. The effects of diet were assessed in freshwater (FW) following 104 days of diet manipulation, in response to 24-h seawater (SW) transfer at this time, and following an additional 35 days of SW acclimation. Gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity was not significantly affected by diet at any sampling time, and there were no consistent effects of diet on the expression of the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase α1a isoform. As dietary CO increased, Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase α1b mRNA decreased in fish held in FW, with the 43CO and 54CO diet groups having significantly lower levels than fish fed the 0CO and 11CO diets. Twenty-four-hour SW challenge did not affect the expression of the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase α1a isoform in any diet group, but this isoform was down-regulated in all diet groups following 35 days of SW acclimation. Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase α1b expression levels increased in response to 24-h SW transfer and SW acclimation only in fish fed the 54CO diet. The effects of the two extreme diets (0CO and 54CO) were also assessed at various time points during 104 days of rearing in FW. Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase α1b mRNA levels were greater in fish fed diet 0CO versus those fed diet 54CO at all times during the FW culture period. These data demonstrate that dietary fatty acid composition can influence the gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase isoform physiology of juvenile fall-run chinook salmon prior to SW transfer.     

A novel method for biodosimetry

Accurate methods for measuring the biological effects of radiation are critical for estimating an individual’s health risk from radiation exposure. We investigated the feasibility of using radiation-induced mutations in repetitive DNA sequences to measure genetic damage caused by radiation exposure. Most repetitive sequences are in non-coding regions of the genome and alterations in these loci are usually not deleterious. Thus, mutations in non-coding repetitive sequences might accumulate, providing a stable molecular record of DNA damage caused by all past exposures. To test this hypothesis, we screened repetitive DNA sequences to identify the loci most sensitive to radiation-induced mutations and then investigated whether these mutations were stable in vivo over time and after multiple exposures. Microsatellite repeat markers were identified that exhibited a linear dose response up to 1 Gy of 1 GeV/nucleon ⁵⁶Fe ions and ¹³⁷Cs gamma rays in mouse and human cells. Short tandem repeats on the Y chromosome and mononucleotide repeats on autosomal chromosomes exhibited significant increases in mutations at ≥ 0.5 Gy of ⁵⁶Fe ions with frequencies averaging 4.3–10.3 × 10⁻³ mutations/locus/Gy/cell, high enough for direct detection of mutations in irradiated cells. A significant increase in radiation-induced mutations in extended mononucleotide repeats was detectible in vivo in mouse blood and cheek samples 10 and 26 weeks after radiation exposure and these mutations were additive over multiple exposures. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a novel method for biodosimetry that is applicable to humans and other species. This new approach should complement existing methods of biodosimetry and might be useful for measuring radiation exposure in circumstances that are not amenable to current methods.     

Iron interference in the quantification of nitrate in soil extracts and its effect on hypothesized abiotic immobilization of nitrate

Human alteration of the nitrogen cycle has stimulated research on nitrogen cycling in many aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, where analyses of nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) by standard laboratory methods are common. A recent study by Colman et al. (Biogeochemistry 84:161–169, 2007) identified a potential analytical interference of soluble iron (Fe) with NO₃ ⁻ quantification by standard flow-injection analysis of soil extracts, and suggested that this interference may have led Dail et al. (Biogeochemistry 54:131–146, 2001) to make an erroneous assessment of abiotic nitrate immobilization in prior ¹⁵N pool dilution studies of Harvard Forest soils. In this paper, we reproduce the Fe interference problem systematically and show that it is likely related to dissolved, complexed-Fe interfering with the colorimetric analysis of NO₂ ⁻. We also show how standard additions of NO₃ ⁻ and NO₂ ⁻ to soil extracts at native dissolved Fe concentrations reveal when the Fe interference problem occurs, and permit the assessment of its significance for past, present, and future analyses. We demonstrate low soluble Fe concentrations and good recovery of standard additions of NO₃ ⁻ and NO₂ ⁻ in extracts of sterilized Harvard Forest soils. Hence, we maintain that rapid NO₃ ⁻ immobilization occurred in sterilized samples of the Harvard Forest O horizon in the study by Dail et al. (2001). Furthermore, additional evidence is accumulating in the literature for rapid disappearance of NO₃ ⁻ added to soils, suggesting that our observations were not the result of an isolated analytical artifact. The conditions for NO₃ ⁻ reduction are likely to be highly dependent on microsite properties, both in situ and in the laboratory. The so-called “ferrous wheel hypothesis” (Davidson et al., Glob Chang Biol 9:228–236, 2003) remains an unproven, viable explanation for published observations.     

Cytokine effect on ex vivo expansion of haemopoietic stem cells from different human sources

Human pluripotential stem cells (PSC) are currently the target for transplantation attempts and genetic manipulation. We have therefore investigated the frequency and the expansion potential of PSC’s in different types of blood samples. CD 34⁺ cells were thus obtained from human bone marrow (BM), as well as from peripheral blood (PB) and cord blood (CB) samples. After immuno-magnetic separation the highest yields of CD 34⁺ cells were from BM (1.08–2.25%) and CB (0.42–1.32%) while PB samples gave much lower values. Suspension cultures of PSC’s from the three sources were then set up, in the presence of combinations of haemopoietic growth factors. A remarkable amplification of the nucleated cell pool was observed reaching a maximum between 10 and 15 days of culture; earliest and maximum expansion (up to 220-fold) was achieved when Erythropoietin (Epo) was added to the culture medium, but this resulted in reduction of colony-forming cells and differentiation into erythroid progenitors. Clonogenic tests for BFU-E’s derived colonies showed a peak value at 5 days of liquid culture. Further studies are advisable to establish the best cytokine combination for a valuableex vivo expansion, coupled with preservation of stem cell properties.