Retrospective molecular detection of transhyretin Met 111 mutation in a Danish kindred with familial amyloid cardiomyopathy,using DNA from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues

Severe familial amyloid cardiomyopathy (FAC) in a Danish kindred is associated with a specific mutation (Met for Leu 111) in the transthyretin (TTR) gene. The mutation causes the loss of a DdeI restriction site in the gene, allowing molecular diagnostic studies. We studied formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, up to 39 years old, from 29 family members of this kindred. DNA was partially purified from deparaffinized tissue sections and a DNA sequence of the TTR gene flanking the mutation site was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by restriction enzyme analysis. Amplified DNA was obtained from tissues representing 23 of the 29 persons. Ten out of the 23 family members were found to carry the TTR Met 111 mutation, whereas 13 were not affected. The results were consistent with known clinical data and with corresponding serum TTR examinations. This retrospective study shows that archival tissues can be used to confirm the diagnosis and disease pattern in members of families affected by hereditary diseases.     

Direct PCR of washed blood cells.

We report a simple and rapid method for direct DNA amplification of washed blood cells by PCR. Small samples (2-100 microliters) of blood were washed, the cells resuspended in a buffer and used directly for PCR after boiling. Amplification of a specific DNA sequence of the human transthyretin gene, directed by the primers, was successfully performed. The method gives comparable results to amplifications made by purified DNA from blood.     

Machinery Risk Assessment for Risk Reduction

New avenues are reviewed and discussed for preventing industrial machine-related injury by means of realistic risk evaluation and reduction processes at the design and application stages of machinery development and use. U.S. guidelines and European standards on machinery risk assessment procedures are described. Applications of risk assessment for machine-related injury risk management and teaching machine-risk control are discussed.     

Hydrodynamic-based delivery of an interleukin-22-Ig fusion gene ameliorates experimental autoimmune myocarditis in rats

IL-22 is one of several cytokines with limited homology to IL-10. However, the biological activities of IL-22 are mostly unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of IL-22 on rat experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) and elucidate an aspect of the biological activities of IL-22. Rats were immunized on day 0; IL-22-Ig-treated rats were injected with pCAGGS-IL-22-Ig and control rats with pCAGGS-Ig using hydrodynamics-based gene delivery on day 1 or day 6. IL-22-Ig gene therapy administered on day 1 or day 6 after immunization was effective in controlling EAM as monitored by the heart weight to body weight ratio, and the myocarditis area in rats was sacrificed on day 17. Examination of the expression of IL-22-related genes in purified cells from EAM hearts suggested that IL-22-Ig acting target cells were noncardiomyocytic (NC) noninflammatory cells such as fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells. Therefore, we examined the effect of rIL-22 or serum containing IL-22-Ig on the expression of immune-relevant genes in IL-1-stimulated NC cells cultured from EAM hearts. Results showed that the expression of immunologic molecules (PGE synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, MIP-2, MCP-1, IL-6, and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-2) in IL-1-stimulated NC cells was significantly decreased by rIL-22 or serum containing IL-22-Ig. EAM was suppressed by hydrodynamics-based delivery of plasmid DNA encoding IL-22-Ig, and the reason for this effectiveness may be that IL-22 suppressed gene expression of PG synthases, IL-6, and chemokines in activated NC noninflammatory cells.     

Effects of Age and Parity on Mammary Gland Lesions and Progenitor Cells in the FVB/N-RC Mice

The FVB/N mouse strain is extensively used in the development of animal models for breast cancer research. Recently it has been reported that the aging FVB/N mice develop spontaneous mammary lesions and tumors accompanied with abnormalities in the pituitary glands. These observations have a great impact on the mouse models of human breast cancer. We have developed a population of inbred FVB/N mice (designated FVB/N-RC) that have been genetically isolated for 20 years. To study the effects of age and parity on abnormalities of the mammary glands of FVB/N-RC mice, twenty-five nulliparous and multiparous (3-4 pregnancies) females were euthanized at 16-22 months of age. Examination of the mammary glands did not reveal macroscopic evidence of mammary gland tumors in either aged-nulliparous or multiparous FVB/N-RC mice (0/25). However, histological analysis of the mammary glands showed rare focal nodules of squamous changes in 2 of the aged multiparous mice. Mammary gland hyperplasia was detected in 8% and 71% of the aged-nulliparous and aged-multiparous mice, respectively. Epithelial contents and serum levels of triiodothyronine were significantly higher in the experimental groups than the 14-wk-old control mice. Immuno-histochemical staining of the pituitary gland pars distalis showed no difference in prolactin staining between the control and the aged mice. Tissue transplant and dilution studies showed no effect of age and/or parity on the ability of putative progenitor cells present among the injected mammary cells to repopulate a cleared fat pad and develop a full mammary gland outgrowth. This FVB/N-RC mouse substrain is suitable to develop mouse models for breast cancer.     

Novel marine alkaloids from the tunicate Eudistoma sp. are potent regulators of cellular growth and differentiation and affect cAMP-mediated processes

Six novel alkaloids that contain a fused tetracyclic pyrido[2,3,4-kl]acridine ring system were purified recently from the Red Sea purple tunicate Eudistoma sp. Evaluation of the effects of these alkaloids on cultured neuroblastoma and fibroblast cells revealed that they possess potent growth regulatory properties, and affect cell shape and adhesion. In mouse neuroblastoma cells, the Eudistoma alkaloids inhibited cell proliferation and induced a process of differentiation during which the cels flattened onto the surface, increased considerably in size, and extended long neurites. In hamster fibroblasts the alkaloids slowed down cell multiplication, and caused an exceptional cell flattening or elongation. In a virustransformed derivative of the hamster fibroblasts the alkaloids restored many aspects of normal cell growth and morphology. In addition, several of the alkaloids mimicked the effects of cAMP analogs on two well-characterized cAMP-mediated processes involved in hepatic glucose metabolism–inhibition of pyruvate kinase (PK) activity and induction of mRNA for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). All these effects suggest that the Eudistoma alkaloids may act on the cAMP signaling system. However, a single application of these compounds was sufficient to completely block cell multiplication and to induce and sustain differentiation and “reverse transformation”. Furthermore, these effects were not readily reversible following removal of the drugs. In contrast, a single application of agents that mimic or elevate cAMP induced a transient response that waned with time in culture, and the effects induced by constant elevation of cAMP reverse rapidly following drug removal. We propose that the Eudistoma alkaloids cause growth inhibition, differentiation, and reverse transformation by modifying the activity state of proteins that are involved in the regulation of cell shape and adhesion and serve as a target for the cAMP and/or other second messenger systems. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.