The early postnatal development of the primary immune response in rat popliteal lymph node,stimulated with thymus-independent type-1 and type-2 antigens

Summary To examine the development of the postnatal immune response to thymus-independent type-1 (TI-type 1) and TI type-2 antigens, respectively, trinitrophenyl-lipopolysaccharide (TNP-LPS) or TNP-Ficoll was injected subcutaneously into the hind footpads of young rats of various ages. After 5 days the popliteal lymph nodes (PLNs) were removed and the localization pattern of specific anti-TNP antibody-containing cells was studied. The first specific antibody-containing cells elicited in rats by TNP-LPS appeared in animals at day 19 after birth. The results suggest that the development of these cells from lymphocyte to plasma cell occurs while they migrate from cortex to medulla. An unexpected finding was the low response to TNP-Ficoll in PLN; from 6 weeks after birth only very few specific antibody-containing cells were found. However, in the spleen numerous anti-TNP antibody-containing cells were found in the periarteriolar lymphocyte sheaths. To test the exclusive role of the spleen in the appearance of anti-TNP antibody-containing cells in lymph node after subcutaneous administration of TNP-Ficoll, the experiment was repeated in rats that had been splenectomized. Evidence from these experiments suggests that the spleen plays a major role in the appearance of the above-mentioned cells in lymph nodes.Abbreviations KLH keyhole-limpet haemocyanin - LPS lipopolysaccharide - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - PLN popliteal lymph node - TD thymus-dependent - TI thymus-independent - TNP trinitrophenyl     

Tumor-associated antigenic differences between the primary and the descendant metastatic tumor cell populations

The existence of antigenic differences between cell populations in the local growth of the 3LL tumor (L-3LL) and its lung metastases (M-3LL) was studied. Normal C57BL/6 spleen cells sensitized in vitro for 5 days against L-3LL monolayers lysed preferentially L-3LL targets but not M-3LL tumor cell targets. Conversely, anti-M-3LL-sensitized lymphocytes killed M-3LL targets more efficiently than they killed L-3LL targets. Furthermore, spleen cells from mice bearing subcutaneous L-3LL tumors were significantly more cytotoxic to L-3LL targets than to M-3LL targets and vice versa. M-3LL cells were found also to be more resistant in vitro and in vivo to natural killer cells than were L-3LL tumor cells. M-3LL cells were more resistant than L-3LL cells to hybrid resistant mechanisms when they were inoculated into F₁ (C3Heb X C57BL/6) or F₁ (BALB/c X C57BL/6) mice. Anti-M-3LL lymphocytes generated both in vitro and in vivo, but not anti-L-3LL lymphocytes, admixed with L-3LL or M-3LL tumor cells and inoculated into footpads of syngeneic recipients suppressed the development of lung metastases. These results suggest that metastatic cells are indeed phenotypic variants of the local growing tumor cell populations. Presumably, these variants are selected for their capacity to home to and grow in the lungs, and for their resistance to specific immune effects initially evoked against the local tumor and to nonspecific natural killer cells. These data may prove to be of importance with respect to any rational approach to the problem of immunotherapy.     

In vitro characteristics of metastatic variant subclones of restricted genetic origin

We have studied several metastatic variant cell lines derived from a common clonal origin and their transformed and untransformed parental cell lines. A number of in vitro characteristics were examined for each tumor line and these properties were correlated with the ability of the tumor cells to form pulmonary nodules in an experimental metastasis assay. Direct correlations with metastatic behavior in the lung colony assay were found to exist with the amount of cell-bound Concanavalin A and the procoagulant activities of cell lysates. In vitro parameters that did not correlate with the metastatic phenotype were: population doubling times in culture, saturation density achieved in culture, the number of colony-forming cells shed from confluent cultures, rates of cellular attachment to homotypic or heterotypic cell monolayers, plasminogen-activator production and procoagulant activity produced in serum-free conditioned medium.     

Relations between vulnerability to xylem embolism and xylem conduit dimensions in young trees of Quercus corris

Measurements of xylem conduit length and width and the distribution of xylem conduit ends were made in inter-nodes (I), nodes (N) and twig junctions (J) of 1-, 2- and 3-year-old twigs of plants of Quercus cerris L. Parallel measurements were also made of the loss of hydraulic conductivity of twigs subjected to pressure differentials across conduit pit membranes, equalling the leaf water potential at the turgor loss point. The loss of theoretical hydraulic conductivity was calculated as the ratio of i esivr⁴ (where r is the conduit radius) of the non-conducting conduits to that of all the conduits in the outermost wood ring of I, N and J. Stem zones such as 1-year-old nodes and junctions were localized with narrower and shorter xylem conduits and with higher percentages of conduit ends than internodes. Such ‘constricted zonesrsquo; were less vulnerable to embolism than internodes. Latewood conduits were consistently narrower, shorter and less vulnerable to embolism than earlywood ones. A positive relation therefore existed between conduit diameter and length and vulnerability to embolism. The overall vulnerability to embolism of Q. cerris plants is discussed in terms of xylem conduit width and length and of the distribution of conduit ends.     

Immunophenotypic and cell cycle analysis of lymph node cells from dimethylbenzanthracene-treated mice

The chemical carcinogen 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) depletes Langerhans cells from murine epidermis. Application of contact sensitizers to DMBA-treated skin induces specific immunological tolerance due to a DMBA-resistant epidermal antigen presenting cell (APC) migrating to local lymph nodes where it presents antigen in a way which activates suppressor cells. As alterations in local lymph node lymphocytes may enhance the ability of the DMBA-resistant APC to activate suppressor cells, these cells were examined in DMBA-treated mice. Lymph nodes in DMBA-treated mice had normal morphology but were larger and contained increased numbers of lymphocytes. Cell cycle analysis revealed that these lymphocytes did not arise from division within the lymph node, suggesting alterations in homing properties of lymphocytes. Contact sensitizer applied to DMBA-treated skin did not increase lymphocyte division, possibly due to suppressor cell inhibition of the development of effector lymphocytes. DMBA treatment had no effect on B cells or Ia expression, but decreased levels of the T lymphocyte cell surface molecule Thy-1, and increased L3T4 and Lyt-2 as quantitated by flow cytofluorimetry. These changes could influence the development of immune responses as these T cell molecules are receptors involved in lymphocyte interactions.     

An Experience With Ultrasonically Guided Liver Aspirates From South India

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) was performed on 102 hepatic lesions under ultrasound control. Eighty-eight lesions were solid and 14 were cystic. Ninety aspirates provided adequate material for cytodiagnosis. Aspirates from the solid lesions were assessed for the presence or absence of 20 cytological features. It was found that on a univariate statistical analysis, 11 of the features were significantly associated with hepatocellular carcinomas. Five of these 11 were considered diagnostic of the lesion on a step-wise multiple linear regression analysis. Two other features (not included among the 11) were found to be significantly associated with metastatic neoplasms. Cystic lesions were diagnosed as being either abscesses, hydatid cysts or congenital cysts. the physical appearance of the cyst fluid proved to be of diagnostic value in many cases.     

抗转移癌基因在乳腺癌中的表达及其与淋巴结转移和预后的关系

观察 nm2 3 在乳腺癌中的表达与淋巴结转移和预后的关系。方法 :应用免疫组化 L SAB法检测 15 2例乳腺癌 nm2 3、ER、 PR、 P5 3和 PCNA的表达水平 ,比较 nm2 3 的表达对淋巴结转移和预后的影响。结果 :(1)在淋巴结转移组 nm2 3表达例数 32例 (4 5 .7% ) ,无转移组表达 40例 (4 8.8% ) ,两者差异无显著性 (P>0 .0 5 ) ;(2 )在 PCNA高指数表达组 nm2 3 阳性 42例 (6 0 .9% ) ,低指数表达组 nm2 3阳性 30例 (36 .1% ) ,前者明显高于后者 (χ2 =9.2 39,P<0 .0 1) ,且 PCNA与nm2 3 两因素呈正相关关系 (γs=0 .30 4,P<0 .0 1) ;(3)临床病理多因素比例风险回归分析显示淋巴结转移是影响患者生存的主要因素 ,而 nm2 3 对患者生存期无影响。结论 :nm2 3在乳腺癌中的表达既不能预测淋巴结转移 ,也不能提示较长的生存期 ,可能与肿瘤细胞的活跃增生有关。     

Role of CD10 immunochemistry in differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma from metastatic carcinoma of the liver

Background:  Differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from metastatic carcinoma in liver may be difficult on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), especially when both appear as moderate to poorly differentiated tumours. A panel of immunocytochemical stains is frequently used in case of diagnostic difficulty. Recently, CD10 immunostain with a canalicular staining pattern has been shown to be a specific marker for hepatocytic differentiation.
Objective:  The present study was designed to assess the value of CD10 immunostain in distinguishing HCC from metastatic carcinoma in material obtained by FNAC of liver masses.
Materials and methods:  Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cell blocks of 22 cases (7 cases of HCC and 15 cases of metastatic carcinoma), direct acetone-fixed smears and destained smears of 28 cases (18 cases of HCC and 10 cases of metastatic carcinoma) prepared from FNAC of the liver were immunostained using monoclonal antibody against CD10.
Results:  Seventeen (68%) of twenty-five cases of HCC were positive for CD10 with a canalicular staining pattern. Among them 7 (70%) of 10 cases were well-differentiated HCC and 10 (66%) of 15 cases were moderate to poorly differentiated HCC. Of 25 cases of metastatic carcinoma, four (16%) were positive for CD10 with a cytoplasmic (three cases) and membranous staining (one case) pattern.
Conclusion:  CD10 immunostaining is useful in discriminating HCC and metastatic carcinoma of the liver and is easily applied on cell blocks as well as FNAC smears.     

黄瓜离体子叶节花芽和营养芽分化中CFL基因的表达

CFL基因是从黄瓜中克隆到的拟南芥LEAFY(LFY)同源基因.以离体黄瓜子叶培养物成花为实验体系,利用mRNA原位杂交技术对CFL基因在花芽和营养芽分化过程中的时空表达进行了分析.结果如下:在花芽分化过程中,CFL基因在花原基形成、花器官原基分化及各轮花器官形成之初强表达,在花器官形成以后表达减弱或不表达;在营养芽分化过程中,CFL基因在分生组织、叶原基和幼叶中有明显表达,在成熟组织中不表达.结果说明CFL基因的表达在黄瓜子叶节花芽和营养芽分化中原基的分化形成是必需的.结果提示CFL基因可能参与细胞分裂调控和启动、营养性分生组织向花分生组织转变等过程.