Multifocal epithelial tumors and field cancerization from loss of mesenchymal CSL signaling

It is currently unclear whether tissue changes surrounding multifocal epithelial tumors are a cause or consequence of cancer. Here, we provide evidence that loss of mesenchymal Notch/CSL signaling causes tissue alterations, including stromal atrophy and inflammation, which precede and are potent triggers for epithelial tumors. Mice carrying a mesenchymal-specific deletion of CSL/RBP-Jκ, a key Notch effector, exhibit spontaneous multifocal keratinocyte tumors that develop after dermal atrophy and inflammation. CSL-deficient dermal fibroblasts promote increased tumor cell proliferation through upregulation of c-Jun and c-Fos expression and consequently higher levels of diffusible growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, and matrix-remodeling enzymes. In human skin samples, stromal fields adjacent to multifocal premalignant actinic keratosis lesions exhibit decreased Notch/CSL signaling and associated molecular changes. Importantly, these changes in gene expression are also induced by UVA, a known environmental cause of cutaneous field cancerization and skin cancer.     

The prevalence of familial hyperaldosteronism in apparently sporadic primary aldosteronism in Germany: a single center experience

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most frequent cause of secondary arterial hypertension. To date 3 forms of familial hyperaldosteronism (FH) have been described accounting for a small percentage of all PA cases. In Germany, the prevalence of FH is currently unknown. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of familiarity in a large cohort of patients with PA. A total of 166 patients with apparently sporadic PA in Munich were investigated. FH types I, II, and III were identified using established clinical, biochemical, and molecular criteria. Among the 166 patients with PA, 2 patients (1.2%) reported a family history suggestive of FH. None of the 166 patients showed clinical, endocrine, or genetic evidence of FH type I. The 2 families had characteristic features of FH type II. Family A had 3 subjects affected out of 11 evaluated family members. Family B had 3 out of 4. Bilateral adrenal hyperplasia and unilateral adrenal adenoma were found within the same family. FH type I and FH type III are rare in Germany. With a prevalence of 1.2%, FH type II seems to be more common in apparently sporadic PA than had been assumed so far.     

Expression of adrenomedullin in hypoxic and ischemic rat kidneys and human kidneys with arterial stenosis

To investigate regional aspects of hypoxic regulation of adrenomedullin (AM) in kidneys, we mapped the distribution of AM in the rat kidney after hypoxia (normobaric hypoxic hypoxia, carbon monoxide, and CoCl(2) for 6 h), anemia (hematocrit lowered by bleeding) and after global transient ischemia for 1 h (unilateral renal artery occlusion and reperfusion for 6 and 24 h) and segmental infarct (6 and 24 h). AM expression and localization was determined in normal human kidneys and in kidneys with arterial stenosis. Hypoxia stimulated AM mRNA expression significantly in rat inner medulla (CO 13 times, 8% O(2) 6 times, and CoCl(2) 8 times), followed by the outer medulla and cortex. AM mRNA level was significantly elevated in response to anemia and occlusion-reperfusion. Immunoreactive AM was associated with the thin limbs of Henle's loop, distal convoluted tubule, collecting ducts, papilla surface epithelium, and urothelium. AM labeling was prominent in the inner medulla after CO and in the outer medulla after occlusion-reperfusion. The infarct border zone was strongly labeled for AM. In cultured inner medullary collecting duct cells, AM mRNA was significantly increased by hypoxia. AM mRNA was equally distributed in human kidney and AM was localized as in the rat kidney. In human kidneys with artery stenosis, AM mRNA was not significantly enhanced compared with controls, but AM immunoreactivity was observed in tubules, vessels, and glomerular cells. In summary, AM expression was increased in the rat kidney in response to hypoxic and ischemic hypoxia in keeping with oxygen gradients. AM was widely distributed in the human kidney with arterial stenosis. AM may play a significant role to counteract hypoxia in the kidney.     

The salicylate metabolite gentisic acid, but not the parent drug, inhibits glucose autoxidation-mediated atherogenic modification of low density lipoprotein

Oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) by glucose-derived radicals may play a role in the aetiology of atherosclerosis in diabetes. Salicylate was shown to scavenge certain radicals. In the present study, aspirin, salicylate and its metabolites 2,5- and 2, 3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) were tested for their ability to impair LDL oxidation by glucose. Only the DHBA derivatives, when present during LDL modification, inhibited LDL oxidation and the increase in endothelial tissue factor synthesis induced by glucose oxidised LDL. The LDL glycation reaction was not affected by DHBA. The antioxidative action of DHBA may be attributed to free radical scavenging and/or chelation of transition metal ions catalysing glucose autoxidation.     

Tissue hypoxygenation activates the adrenomedullin system in vivo

Our study aimed to investigate the influence of tissue hypo-oxygenation on the adrenomedullin (ADM) system in vivo. For this purpose, male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to normobaric hypoxia (8% oxygen) or to functional anemia [0.1% carbon monoxide (CO)] or to cobalt chloride (60 mg/kg) for 6 h. Messenger RNA levels for ADM and its receptor (ADM-R) were assessed in diverse organs by RNase protection assay. Additionally, ADM protein concentrations in these organs, as in plasma, were determined by a RIA. We found that ADM mRNA abundance increased in response to hypoxia and to CO inhalation up to 15-fold in all organs examined. Similarly, ADM-R mRNA abundance increased during hypoxia and CO inhalation in all organs examined with exception of the liver. The effects of hypoxia and of CO inhalation on ADM and ADM-R mRNAs were mimicked by injection of cobaltous chloride. Hypoxia also significantly increased ADM protein content in all organs, and plasma levels of ADM rose twofold in response to hypoxia and CO inhalation. These findings indicate that tissue hypoxia leads to a widespread activation of the ADM system, which comprises a parallel stimulation of ADM and ADM receptor mRNA as enhanced ADM protein synthesis and secretion. The ADM system may, therefore, play a significant role in the physiological response to tissue hypoxia. It appears that ADM and ADM-R belong to the family of classic oxygen-regulated genes, which are activated by a decrease of the pericellular oxygen tension through the same intracellular signaling cascade.     

Differential screening of a cDNA library with cDNA probes amplified in a heterologous host: isolation of murine GRP78 (BiP) and other serum-regulated low-abundance mRNAs

A novel method was used to screen differentially a cDNA library for clones representing serum-regulated mRNA species of low abundance. To increase the amount of probe available for screening, the cDNA probe was cloned and amplified. Two separate cDNA 'probe' libraries were constructed in the Escherichia coli plasmid vector pDE613, using poly(A)+mRNA from murine cells at 0 and 16 h after stimulation of a G0 population. Radiolabelled plasmid DNA from each library was hybridized sequentially to colony blots of the third 'target' library, constructed with mRNA from serum-stimulated cells in the Bacillus subtilis vector pBD214. Differential screening of the target cDNA library with the two probe libraries identified novel murine cDNA clones, some representing cytoplasmic poly(A)+RNA species of low (0.01%) abundance, accumulating after serum stimulation of a quiescent mouse embryo fibroblast population. One cDNA clone was found to correspond to mitochondrial 16S rRNA and a second was identified as the murine equivalent of previously described cDNA clones for the hamster 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) and the rat immunoglobulin heavy-chain-binding protein. GRP78 mRNA has not previously been recognized as a serum-inducible message.     

Calcium currents in embryonic and neonatal mammalian skeletal muscle

The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to study the properties of inward ionic currents found in primary cultures of rat and mouse skeletal myotubes and in freshly dissociated fibers of the flexor digitorum brevis muscle of rats. In each of these cell types, test depolarizations from the holding potential (-80 or -90 mV) elicited three distinct inward currents: a sodium current (INa) and two calcium currents. INa was the dominant inward current: under physiological conditions, the maximum inward INa was estimated to be at least 30-fold larger than either of the calcium currents. The two calcium currents have been termed Ifast and Islow, corresponding to their relative rates of activation. Ifast was activated by test depolarizations to around -40 mV and above, peaked in 10-20 ms, and decayed to baseline in 50-100 ms. Islow was activated by depolarizations to approximately 0 mV and above, peaked in 50-150 ms, and decayed little during a 200-ms test pulse. Ifast was inactivated by brief, moderate depolarizations; for a 1-s change in holding potential, half-inactivation occurred at -55 to -45 mV and complete inactivation occurred at -40 to -30 mV. Similar changes in holding potential had no effect on Islow. Islow was, however, inactivated by brief, strong depolarizations (e.g., 0 mV for 2 s) or maintained, moderate depolarizations (e.g., -40 mV for 60 s). Substitution of barium for calcium had little effect on the magnitude or time course of either Ifast or Islow. The same substitution shifted the activation curve for Islow approximately 10 mV in the hyperpolarizing direction without affecting the activation of Ifast. At low concentrations (50 microM), cadmium preferentially blocked Islow compared with Ifast, while at high concentrations (1 mM), it blocked both Ifast and Islow completely. The dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist (+)-PN 200-110 (1 microM) caused a nearly complete block of Islow without affecting Ifast. At a holding potential of -80 mV, the half-maximal blocking concentration (K0.5) for the block of Islow by (+)-PN 200-110 was 182 nM. At depolarized holding potentials that inactivated Islow by 35-65%, K0.5 decreased to 5.5 nM.     

Histamine is a major mechanosensory neurotransmitter candidate in Drosophila melanogaster

Histamine is known to be the neurotransmitter of insect photoreceptors. Histamine-like immunoreactivity is also found in a number of interneurons in the central nervous system of various insects. Here, we demonstrate by immunohistochemical techniques that, in Drosophila melanogaster (Acalypterae), most or all mechanosensory neurons of imaginal hair sensilla selectively bind antibodies directed against histamine. The histamine-like staining includes the cell bodies of these neurons as well as their axons, which form prominent fibre bundles in peripheral nerves, and their terminal projections in the central neuropil of head and thoracic ganglia. The specificity of the immunostaining is demonstrated by investigating a Drosophila mutant unable to synthesize histamine. Other mechanosensory organs, such as campaniform sensilla or scolopidial organs, do not stain. In the calypteran flies, Musca and Calliphora, we find no comparable immunoreactivity associated with either hair sensilla or the nerves entering the central nervous system, observations in agreement with earlier studies on Calliphora. Thus, histamine seems to be a major mechanosensory transmitter candidate of the adult nervous system of Drosophila, but apparently not of Musca or Calliphora.     

Analysis of immunocytochemical staining patterns in the antennal system of Drosophila melanogaster

By immunizing mice with homogenized brains, heads, or a mixture of heads and antennae of D. melanogaster, we obtained six monoclonal antibodies (mabs) that bind to the olfactory system of Drosophila with various degrees of specificity. They can be divided into three groups with respect to their staining pattern: (1) The antibodies ca51/2, na21/2, and nb230 label both in the third (olfactory) antennal segment and in the visual ganglia. All of them bind to antennal structures that can be correlated with basiconic sensilla. The antibody ca51/2 labels sensory neurons of these sensilla. In the antenna of the lozenge ³ mutant, which lacks basiconic sensilla, no labeling is present. In Western blots ca51/2 recognizes in the antenna an antigen of 43.5 kDa, which is expressed in the antenna only in the presence of basiconic sensilla. The antibody na21/2 binds to basiconic and coeloconic sensilla, most likely to the apical part of sheath cells. In immunoblots it recognizes in the antenna two antigens of 42.2 kDa and 46.7 kDa. The latter appears to be correlated in the antenna with the presence of basiconic sensilla. (2) The staining pattern of antibody nc10 is associated with the sheath cells of basiconic and coeloconic sensilla. Moreover, nc10 binds to a subset of glomeruli in the antennal lobe. (3) The staining pattern of the antibodies VG2 and I24B5 is restricted to the antenna. I24B5 recognizes coeloconic sensilla and VG2 recognizes both coeloconic and basiconic sensilla. Staining patterns in both cases include sheath cells.     

Multiple limit cycles for predator-prey models

We construct a Gause-type predator-prey model with concave prey isocline and (at least) two limit cycles. This serves as a counter-example to the global stability criterion of Hsu [Math. Biosci. 39:1-10 (1978)].