Anatomy of the hominoid wrist joint: Its evolutionary and functional implications

Observations on the behavior of living hominoids show generic differences in the use and posture of the wrist joint. Both orang-utans and hylobatids usually use the wrist in suspensory behaviors. However, orang-utans emphasize markedly adducted and flexed wrist postures, while hylobatids emphasize violent forearm and wrist rotation. African apes, especially the gorilla, use the wrist more frequently than other hominoids for terrestrial quadrupedal weight-bearing. Humans use the wrist less frequently for supportive purposes than do other hominoids. These behavioral differences correspond to structural specializations in the proximal carpal joint of each of the hominoid genera. Although each of the hominoid genera has apparently modified its proximal carpal joint best to serve its characteristic behaviors, all hominoids share a unique proximal carpal joint that permits approximately 160ℴ of forearm rotation. The hylobatid proximal carpal joint is specialized in exhibiting a marked development of those structures limiting forearm rotation, but it is in most respects the least derived— that is, closest to the nonhominoid anthropoids. Chimpanzees show a proximal carpal joint that is more generalized than those of the other great apes but more derived than that of hylobatids. The human and gorilla proximal wrist joints, on the other hand, show marked modifications for weight-bearing in terrestrial behaviors. Orang-utans have the most derived proximal carpal joint, which in many respects parallels that of the slow-climbing nonhominoid primates. The comparative anatomy and structural specializations of the wrist joint support (a) an early divergence of hylobatids from the common hominoid stock, (b) a common ancestry for gorillas and humans separate from the other hominoids, and (c) a long independent evolutionary period for orang-utans since their divergence from the common hominoid stock, or one that was marked by strong selection pressures for wrist specializations. Unfortunately, the generalized condition of the chimpanzee’s wrist joint and the very derived condition of the orang-utan wrist provide uncertain evidence as to which of the two was first to diverge from the common hominoid stock. Identification of hominoid wrist specializations as reflecting real phylogenetic relationships or parallelisms depends on how well the phytogeny inferred from wrist morphology accords with those arrived at from the study of other systems.     

The expression of PS integrins in Drosophila melanogaster imaginal disc cell lines

Summary Drosophila imaginal disc cell lines show a characteristic pattern of aggregation in culture, which appears to be due to cell-cell rather than cell-substrate interactions. We have examined the distribution of PS integrins in wing and leg cell lines, and find that these integrin homologues are expressed preferentially in aggregates. Cell sheets, small cell clumps and chains of cells express antigen at points of cell-cell contact only.     

Cell lines from imaginal discs ofDrosophila melanogaster

Summary New cell lines, designated as ML-DmDl≈10, were established from dissociated imaginal discs ofDrosophila melanogaster. The culture medium was prepared by mixing in a 1:1 ratio Cross and Sang’s M3(BF) medium, supplemented with 10% heat inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS), with the supernatant of a primary embryonic cell culture made in the M3(BF) medium and supplementing this mixture with insulin. One cell line was established in the medium containing larval hemolymph instead of the primary culture supernatan, and another was established in fresh M3(BF) medium supplemented with insulin and FBS. In these mediums, imaginal disc cells first formed aggregates and cellular vesicles within a few weeks followed by the proliferation of thin-layered cells around them after about 1 mo. Ten cell lines have so far been established from two kinds of imaginal discs and disc mixtures. The ploidy of these cell lines was predominantly diploid. Population doubling time was about 50 to 70 h at 3 to 10 mo. after initiation of the culture. When the cell aggregates formed in vitro were implanted in metamorphosing larvae, they differentiated at high frequency into adult cuticular strutures in the early phase of the primary culture. This differentiation of aggregates was also observed, though at low frequency, in a culture maintained by dilution-transfer for 6 to 15 mo. in vitro.     

Cell migration within the embryonic limb primordium of Drosophila as revealed by a novel fluorescence method to visualize mRNA and protein

 We report a new technique using fluorescent probes to detect a mRNA and a protein simultaneously in the Drosophila embryo. For in situ hybridization, 3-hydroxy-N-2′-biphenyl-2-naphthalenecarboxamide phosphate ester (HNPP)/Fast Red TR was used as a fluorescent substrate for alkaline phosphatase. It was possible to compare protein and mRNA expression on a cell by cell basis with a laser scanning confocal microscope. We applied this technique to analyse the dynamics of Distal-less (Dll) enhancer activity in the thoracic limb primordium in the early Drosophila embryo. We stained embryos bearing the Dll early enhancer (Dll-304) fused to the Escherichia coli lacZ gene. LacZ mRNA was detectable in the ventral region of the limb primordium, and β-galactosidase protein in the dorsal region. In the middle, both mRNA and protein were detectable. These results suggest that the Dll enhancer is activated in the ventral region of the limb primordium and that Dll-positive cells migrate from a ventral position to a dorsal one within a single limb primordium. Received: 7 April 1997 / Accepted: 15 May 1997     

Developmental profiles of wing imaginal discs of flügellos(fl), a wingless mutant of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

 Mutations at the flügellos (fl) locus in Bombyx mori give rise to wingless pupae and moths. To understand the developmental steps responsible for the fl wing defect, we compared the morphological changes and protein synthesis profiles between fl and wild-type (WT) wing discs during larval development. Morphologically, the four wing discs in the fl homozygote larva developed normally at least until the fourth instar, but they were slightly smaller than those of the WT. After the last larval ecdysis, wing epithelial invagination and tracheal migration into the lacunar spaces evidently occurred in the WT wing discs. However, there was no apparent morphological change in fl discs through the fifth instar. The fl wing discs cultured in medium containing 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) did not grow and develop, although the WT wing discs extended and differentiated under the same conditions. A comparison of protein synthesis in the wing discs revealed that several bands were differentially expressed between the fl and WT. A 41-kDa band expressed abundantly from larval to pharate pupal stages in the WT wing discs was rarely observed in fl discs. Furthermore, in vitro culture studies showed that the 41-kDa protein was induced by 20E and specifically synthesized in WT wing discs after the wandering stage, but not in fl discs. The wing-specific protein synthesis and morphogenesis in fl wing discs may be blocked due to aberrant expression of the fl gene. Received: 6 November 1996 / Accepted: 5 February 1997     

Cell interactions during the fusionin vitro ofDrosophila eye-antennal imaginal discs

Summary The fusion of the eye-antennal discs during culturein vitro has been investigated, and the complex morphogenetic movements which occur during the formation of the head capsule of the insect are described. The initial contact between the eye anlagen is by means of cell processes spanning the gap between the two discs. Subsequently the two epithelia become firmly apposed, and then the integrity of the epithelium in the region of fusion breaks down, cells appearing to move to new positions in order to form an epithelium which unites the two discs. The epithelium eventually secretes a pattern of cuticular structures which is continuous between the derivatives of the two discs. Bristles on either side of the line of fusion are perfectly aligned, and structures such as the median ocellus, which are formed jointly by the cells of the two discs, differentiate normally. This is also found when left and right eye-antennal discs of different genotypes are placed side-by-side, indicating that processes of pattern regulation can occur in culture.     

Positional information in imaginal discs transformed by homoeotic mutations

Summary Mutations of the bithorax complex result in segmental transformations in the thorax and abdomen ofDrosophila. The haltere discs from larvae homozygous forbx ³ orpbx are transformed so that the discs contain cells that will produce wing cuticle as well as cells that produce haltere cuticle. The pattern regulation behavior of these discs has been examined. The fate maps of the two discs were established, and then the regulative behavior of a number of fragments from both types of mutant discs was established by culturing the fragments in vivo prior to metamorphosis. The most important conclusion from this work is that the cells producing, haltere cuticle and wing cuticle within the same disc share the same positional information and that they communicate during pattern regulation.     

独活寄生汤加减治疗对风寒湿痹型腰椎间盘突出症患者生活质量、自由基代谢及睡眠质量的影响

目的:探讨独活寄生汤加减治疗对风寒湿痹型腰椎间盘突出症(LIDP)患者生活质量、自由基代谢及睡眠质量的影响。方法:选取2012年1月～2017年12月期间海南省中医院骨一科收治的风寒湿痹型LIDP患者286例。采用随机数字表法将患者分为对照组(n=143)和研究组(n=143),对照组给予常规治疗,研究组在对照组基础上联合独活寄生汤加减治疗,比较两组临床疗效,比较两组治疗前、治疗30 d后生活质量、自由基代谢及睡眠质量情况,记录两组治疗期间不良反应情况。结果:研究组临床总有效率为93.71%,显著高于对照组的66.43%(P0.05)。治疗30 d后,两组患者超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)水平升高,且研究组高于对照组(P0.05),丙二醛(MDA)水平降低,且研究组低于对照组(P0.05)。两组患者治疗前、治疗30d后活力(VT)、社会功能(SF)评分比较无差异(P0.05),两组患者治疗30d后躯体功能(PF)、躯体疼痛(BP)、躯体角色(RP)、心理健康(MH)、总体健康(GH)以及情感角色(RE)评分均较治疗前升高,且研究组较对照组升高(P0.05)。两组患者治疗30 d后匹兹堡睡眠质量指数(PSQI)评分均较治疗前降低,且研究组低于对照组(P0.05)。两组患者治疗期间不良反应发生率比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:独活寄生汤加减治疗风寒湿痹型LIDP患者疗效确切,其可有效改善患者生活质量、自由基代谢及睡眠质量,且安全性较好,具有一定的临床应用价值。     

Adipose-Derived Stromal Cells Protect Intervertebral Disc Cells in Compression: Implications for Stem Cell Regenerative Disc Therapy

Introduction: Abnormal biomechanics plays a role in intervertebral disc degeneration. Adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) have been implicated in disc integrity; however, their role in the setting of mechanical stimuli upon the disc''s nucleus pulposus (NP) remains unknown. As such, the present study aimed to evaluate the influence of ADSCs upon NP cells in compressive load culture.Methods: Human NP cells were cultured in compressive load at 3.0MPa for 48 hours with or without ADSCs co-culture (the ratio was 50:50). We used flow cytometry, live/dead staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate cell death, and determined the expression of specific apoptotic pathways by characterizing the expression of activated caspases-3, -8 and -9. We further used real-time (RT-) PCR and immunostaining to determine the expression of the extracellular matrix (ECM), mediators of matrix degradation (e.g. MMPs, TIMPs and ADAMTSs), pro-inflammatory factors and NP cell phenotype markers.Results: ADSCs inhibited human NP cell apoptosis via suppression of activated caspase-9 and caspase-3. Furthermore, ADSCs protected NP cells from the degradative effects of compressive load by significantly up-regulating the expression of ECM genes (SOX9, COL2A1 and ACAN), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) genes (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) and cytokeratin 8 (CK8) protein expression. Alternatively, ADSCs showed protective effect by inhibiting compressive load mediated increase of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs; MMP-3 and MMP-13), disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTSs; ADAMTS-1 and 5), and pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1beta, IL-6, TGF-beta1 and TNF-alpha).Conclusions: Our study is the first in vitro study assessing the impact of ADSCs on NP cells in an un-physiological mechanical stimulation culture environment. Our study noted that ADSCs protect compressive load induced NP cell death and degradation by inhibition of activated caspase-9 and -3 activity; regulating ECM and modulator genes, suppressing pro-inflammatory factors and preserving CK8. Consequently, the protective impact of ADSCs found in this study provides an essential understanding and expands our knowledge as to the utility of ADSCs therapy for intervertebral disc regeneration.