Establishment and characterization of a new human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line

Summary A human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (FOCUS—Friendship of China and United States) was derived from a patient with primary hepatocellular carcinoma. This cell line has been in continuous culture over an 18-mo period. The morphological and ultrastructural features of FOCUS are consistent with its neoplastic hepatocellular orgin. FOCUS cells contain aspartate aminotransferase and glucose-6-phosphatase activity. In addition, α₁-antitrypsin, fibrinogen, alpha fetoprotein, and carcinoembryonic antigens were detectble in the cytoplasm of the cultured cells by immunochemical staining techniques. The karyotype of the FOCUS cell is human in origin and it contains human DNA sequences as detected by molecular hybridization analysis. The FOCUS cells do not show evidence of density-dependent inhibition of growth under confluent conditions. Repeated growth curves over an 18-mo period were identical, revealing a doubling time of 42 to 48 h. The malignant potential of FOCUS cells was further demonstrated by their ability to lead to gross tumor formation after subcutaneous infection into nude mice. From one of the solid tumors grown in nude mice, recultured cell lines have been established and found to have properties identical to the original FOCUS cell line. This FOCUS cell line represents an additional model for further investigation of tumor specific antigens and the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatocellular carcinoma. Preliminary molecular characterization has indicated the existence of integrated HBV sequences within the FOCUS genome.     

Met-enkephalin immunoreactivity in blood platelets

Picogram amounts (50–150 pg/mg protein) of immunoreactive met-enkephalin material (met-enkephalin in IR) were detected by radioimmunoassay in human, rat and rabbit platelets. Characterization of this material by thin-layer chromatography, gel filtration chromatography and high-pressure liquid chromatography indicated that it behaves identically with synthetic met-enkephalin. No high molecular weight met-enkephalin IR could be detected in the platelet extracts, even after trypsin hydrolysis, using two antisera which are able to recognize some of the putative met-enkephalin precursors present in the adrenal gland or striatum. $\text{In vitro}$, thrombin released platelet met-enkephalin in IR concomitantly with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), suggesting a common subcellular localization, i.e. the 5-HT storing organelles, for met-enkephalin IR and the amine. $\text{In vivo}$, platelet met-enkephalin IR in the Sprague-Dawley rat was affected neither by adrenalectomy nor by hypophysectomy. Thirteen- and 18-week-old spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) had lower platelet concentrations of met-enkephalin in IR than age matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats.     

Side branch formation and orientation in the caulonema of the moss,Funaria hygrometrica: Experiments with inhibitors and with centrifugation

Summary Colchicine treatment ofFunaria caulonemata, usually does not inhibit initiation of a side branch or its incipient elongation but does prevent movement of chloroplasts and the nucleus into the outgrowth. After colchicine and after cytochalasin B treatment side branches are formed about at the normal age of the cells; because of the inhibition of the apical cell they arise at an abnormal position,i.e., not in the third but in the second cell of a filament. After D₂O treatment the organelles are dislocated toward the basal cross wall. The site of side branch formation is then obviously determined by the position of the nucleus. Cells with an irreversibly reversed longitudinal polar axis can be found; by centrifugation in proximal direction the sites of side branch initiation likewise are displaced into the proximal region of the cell, especially if the remigration of the nucleus is inhibited by colchicine. High concentrations of Ca²⁺ ions induce the formation of side branch cells, without any outgrowth. The calcium ionophore A 23 187 influences the position of the nucleus and of the side branch only slightly. After these various treatments intercalary divisions frequently occur. The role and interrelationship of the nucleus and peripheral cytoplasm in establishing and maintaining the polar axes, and the role of microtubules are discussed.     

Side branch formation and orientation in the caulonema of the moss,Funaria hygrometrica: Normal development and fine structure

Summary The regular branching of theFunaria caulonema filaments is partly related to rhythms in nuclear and cell division. The formation and development of the branches were studied by light and electron microscopy with particular attention directed to the distribution of microtubules and the polar organization of the cytoplasm. The new side branch breaks through the wall of the mother cell. The site of branch development is determined by the position of the nucleus of the mother cell. In protonemata which grow in vertically placed Petri dishes gravity influences the position of nuclei and side branches, and also the direction of oblique cross walls in the caulonema filaments to a certain extent.     

Decreased sensitivity of human platelets to PGI2 during long-term intraarterial prostacyclin infusion in patients with peripheral vascular disease — A rebound phenomenon?

During successful treatment of peripheral vascular disease with synthetic prostacyclin no alteration in platelet function was reported (1).In 8 patients infused with synthetic prostacyclin continuously for 7 days intraarterially, the platelet function was monitored. Special attention was drawn to the platelet sensitivity in vitro for PGI₂, which is discussed as an important factor maintaining the hemostatic balance.In all the patients with peripheral vascular disease between 24 and 48 hours after the beginning of the infusion a sudden decrease in platelet sensitivity accompanied by an increase in platelet count could be seen.These dramatic alterations representing probably a rebound phenomenon occurring during long-term PGI₂-treatment might be an explanation for a non-beneficial effect of the treatment and in some cases a limiting factor for the continuation of the infusion itself. It is not clear, if this rebound phenomenon is due to a stimulation of an endogenous inhibitor, lowering the synthesis of a naturally occurring substance acting against this inhibitor or tachyphylaxia.     

The flagellar root apparatus,the microtubular system and associated organelles in the chrysophycean flagellate,Poterioochromonas malhamensis Peterfi (syn.Poteriochromonas stipitata Scherffel andOchromonas malhamensis pringsheim)

Summary The two flagella ofPoterioochromonas are inserted in an apical platform which is shaped by six long flagellar root fibres. The arrangement and structure of these root fibres are described in detail. One of these fibres is the single nucleating site for cytoplasmic interphase microtubules which extend peripherally down to the cytoplasmic tail. Another fibre proceeds toward the centre of the cell and passes the nucleus but is different in structure, position and function from the striated rhizoplast found in many chrysophycean flagellates which is observed but vestigial inPoterioochromonas.A specific kinetosomal mitochondrion has a threefold attachment to the flagellar root apparatus. The chloroplast is also bound to the root system. It has no stigma, but a special continuation of the periplastidial cisterna is developed instead. Another cisterna extends from the nuclear envelope-dictyosome interspace to the kinetosome of the long flagellum. The functional and taxonomic meanings of these structures and of their mutual arrangement are discussed. It is concluded that the present strain (no. 933-1 a of the Collection of Algal Cultures at the Institute of Plant Physiology, Göttingen) has to be excluded from the genusOchromonas.     

Enhanced erythroid burst formation in mice after testosterone treatment

A single administration of testosterone propionate (TP) in ex-hypoxic polycythemic mice induces, at 24 hr after androgen, an amplification of the erythroid burst-forming unit (BFU-E or B) pool in marrow. This phenomenon is not associated with an amplification of the erythroid colony-forming unit (CFU-E or E) compartment and is followed by its depletion. In the other hand, the 36–49 hr rise of erythropoietin (Ep) levels in serum is followed by a 60-hr amplification of the E pool. It is suggested that the latter phenomenon is mediated by enhanced Ep production, whereas the early amplification of the B compartment may derive from a direct influence of TP at the stem cell level.     

Langzeittelemetrie der K?rpertemperatur mit synchroner Bestimmung des Energiestoffwechsels beim Blaunackenmausvogel (Urocolius macrourus) unter Normal- und Lethargiebedingungen (Torpor)

Ohne Zusammenfassung

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Long-term telemetry of body temperature with synchronous measurement of metabolic rate in torpid and non-torpid Blue-naped Mousebirds (Urocolius macrourus)

     

Metabolism of naphthalene by the biphenyl-degrading bacterium Pseudomonas paucimobilis Q1

Pseudomonas paucimobilis Q1 originally isolated as biphenyl degrading organism (Furukawa et al. 1983), was shown to grow with naphthalene. After growth with biphenyl or naphthalene the strain synthesized the same enzyme for the ring cleavage of 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl or 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene. The enzyme, although characterized as 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase (Taira et al. 1988), exhibited considerably higher relative activity with 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene. These results demonstrate that this enzyme can function both in the naphthalene and biphenyl degradative pathway.Abbreviations DHBP dihydroxybiphenyl - DHBPDO 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase - DHDHNDH 1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene dehydrogenase - DHN 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene - DHNDO 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene dioxygenase - HBP cis-2-hydroxybenzalpyruvate - HOPDA 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoate - PCB polychlorinated biphenyl - 2NS naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid