Generation of Mouse Small Intestinal Epithelial Cell Lines That Allow the Analysis of Specific Innate Immune Functions

Cell lines derived from the small intestine that reflect authentic properties of the originating intestinal epithelium are of high value for studies on mucosal immunology and host microbial homeostasis. A novel immortalization procedure was applied to generate continuously proliferating cell lines from murine E19 embryonic small intestinal tissue. The obtained cell lines form a tight and polarized epithelial cell layer, display characteristic tight junction, microvilli and surface protein expression and generate increasing transepithelial electrical resistance during in vitro culture. Significant up-regulation of Cxcl2 and Cxcl5 chemokine expression upon exposure to defined microbial innate immune stimuli and endogenous cytokines is observed. Cell lines were also generated from a transgenic interferon reporter (Mx2-Luciferase) mouse, allowing reporter technology-based quantification of the cellular response to type I and III interferon. Thus, the newly created cell lines mimic properties of the natural epithelium and can be used for diverse studies including testing of the absorption of drug candidates. The reproducibility of the method to create such cell lines from wild type and transgenic mice provides a new tool to study molecular and cellular processes of the epithelial barrier.     

Personality,Relationship Conflict,and Teamwork-Related Mental Models

This study seeks to explore whether neuroticism, agreeableness, and conscientiousness moderate the influence of relationship conflict experienced in groups on changes in group members'' evaluative cognitions related to teamwork quality (teamwork-related mental models). Data from 216 students, nested in 48 groups were analyzed using a multilevel modeling approach. Our results show that the experience of relationship conflict leads to a negative shift from the pre-task to the post-task teamwork-related mental models. Moreover, the results indicate that conscientiousness buffered the negative association between relationship conflict and the change in teamwork-related mental models. Our results did not support the hypothesized moderating effect of agreeableness and show that the detrimental effect of relationship conflict on the shift in teamwork-related mental models is accentuated for group members scoring low rather than high on neuroticism. These findings open new research venues for exploring the association between personality, coping styles and change in teamwork-related mental models.     

Isolation of isoflavones from soy-based fermentations of the erythromycin-producing bacterium Saccharopolyspora erythraea

A search for an abundant and economical source of isoflavones, particularly genistein, led to the discovery that the erythromycin-producing organism Saccharopolyspora erythraea also produces this promising new cancer-prevention agent. Erythromycin fermentation is a large-scale, soybean-based process used world-wide for the commercial production of this medically important antibiotic. Results from this study indicate that genistin (the glucoside form of genistein), which is added to the fermentation in the soybean media, was converted to genistein through the action of a β-glucosidase produced by the organism. Genistein was co-extracted with erythromycin from the fermentation broth, then separated from erythromycin during the second step of the purification process for the production of erythromycin. Received 10 September 1996 / Received revision: 22 November 1996 / Accepted: 7 December 1996     

Keratin-positive reticulum cells in fine needle aspirates and touch imprints of hyperplastic lymph nodes. A possible pitfall in the immunocytochemical diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma.

Fine needle aspirates and touch imprints of 36 hyperplastic (reactive) lymph nodes were tested for the presence of keratin and desmin. Keratin-positive cells with morphologic characteristics corresponding to extrafollicular (fibroblastic) reticulum cells were found in 18% of the fine needle aspirates and 42% of the touch imprints. The number of keratin-positive reticulum cells varied from 1 to greater than 30 per slide. Desmin-positive cells with similar morphology were found in 23% of fine needle aspirates and 37% of touch imprints, and the number of such cells per slide ranged from 2 to greater than 70. The relatively frequent occurrence of keratin-positive reticulum cells in these preparations from hyperplastic lymph nodes should be taken into account if keratin antibodies are used to search for carcinoma micrometastases.     

Continuous coenzyme dependent stereoselective synthesis of sulcatol by alcohol dehydrogenase

Summary 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one was reduced to sulcatol ((+)-6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol) by using alcohol dehydrogenase fromThermoanaerobium brockii in a continuous process. The cofactor NADP(H) was retained by a charged UF-membrane and regenerated by oxidation of isopropanol to acetone. Use of native NADP in a charged UF-membrane reactor proved to be superior to use of PEG coupled NADP in a uncharged UF-membrane reactor.     

Immunohistological detection of Saruplase (recombinant single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator) in normal rat tissue

Summary Saruplase — a recombinant single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator was identified immunohistochemically in normal rat tissue after intravenous administration by means of a polyclonal antibody. For this purpose, rat tissues were fixed in various ways (liquid nitrogen, ethanol, formaldehyd solution). Saruplase could be detected by the PAP method, streptavidinbiotin system and indirect immunofluorescence in the kidney (proximal tubule), liver (hepatocytes, Kupffer cells) and spleen (reticular cells). Saruplase was not localized in the rat endothelium. It is discussed that the ratspecific receptors for urokinase-type plasminogen activator on endothelial cells cannot bind Saruplase due to the extreme species specificity.