Ex vivo expansion with stem cell factor and interleukin-11 augments both short-term recovery posttransplant and the ability to serially transplant marrow

The characterization of many cytokines involved in the control of hematopoiesis has led to intense investigation into their potential use in ex vivo culture to expand progenitor numbers. We have established the optimum ex vivo culture conditions that allow substantial amplification of transient engrafting murine stem cells and which, simultaneously, augment the ability to sustain serial bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Short-term incubation of unfractionated BM cells in liquid culture with stem cell factor (SCF) and interleukin-11 (IL-11) produced a 50-fold amplification of clonogenic multipotential progenitors (CFU-A). Following such ex vivo expansion, substantially fewer cells were required to rescue lethally irradiated mice. When transplanted in cell doses above threshold for engraftment, BM cells expanded ex vivo resulted in significantly more rapid hematopoietic recovery. In a serial transplantation model, unmanipulated BM was only able to consistently sustain secondary BMT recipients, but BM expanded ex vivo has sustained quaternary BMT recipients that remain alive and well more than 140 days after 4th degree BMT. These results show augmentation of both short-term recovery posttransplant and the ability to serially transplant marrow by preincubation in culture with SCF and IL-11.     

Common region of ALL-1 gene disrupted in epipodophyllotoxin-related secondary acute myeloid leukemia

Translocations at chromosomal band 11q23 characterize most de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) of infants, acute myeloid leukemias (AML) of infants and young children, and secondary AMLs following epipodophyllotoxin exposure. The chromosomal breakpoints at 11q23 have been cloned from isolated cases of de novo ALL and AML. Using an 859-base pair BamHI fragment of human ALL-1 complementary DNA that recognizes the genomic breakpoint region for de novo ALL and AML, we investigated two cases of secondary AML that followed etoposide-treated primary B-lineage ALL. In the first case, the translocation occurred between chromosomes 9 and 11 and the breakpoint at 11q23 localized to the same 9-kilobase region of the ALL-1 gene that is disrupted in most of the de novo leukemias. In the second case the translocation was between chromosomes 11 and 19. The breakpoint occurred outside of the ALL-1 breakpoint cluster region.     

Occupational medicine in Canada and Poland in the 1990s

The protocol describes (i) methods for the investigation of neuropeptide catabolism in the central nervous system (CNS), (ii) the identification of the neuropeptidases involved, and (iii) methods for the determination of neuropeptide stability in vitro. These methods are applicable also to study the degradation of peptide hormones by peripheral cells or tissues. To identify peptide degradation products, nanomolar amounts (micromolar concentrations) of peptides are incubated in synthetic media with cell or tissue cultures. Aliquots of the supernatants are withdrawn after different times, peptide fragments separated and fractionated by reversed-phase HPLC, and identified by peptide chemical methods. The peptidases responsible for this degradation can be identified by the use of specific inhibitors listed in the protocol. For receptor binding assays or the study of peptide effects in physiological, nanomolar concentrations the stability of the peptides in an in vitro system should be checked by addition of radiolabeled peptides (femtomolar or nanomolar concentrations) and monitoring the peptide degradation by a procedure analogous to that established for unlabeled peptides. The addition of more or less specific peptidase inhibitors enhances peptide stability in vitro, and thus it can be assured that a given peptide concentration is maintained during biological assays.     

Studies of bioaccumulation and biotransformation of PCBs in mustelids based on concentration and congener patterns in predators and preys

Bioaccumulation of non-, mono-, and di-ortho-substituted chlorobiphenyls (CBs) was investigated in four species of mustelids (weasel, stoat, polecat, and otter) and their preys, from a restricted area in the northern part of The Netherlands. Diets of these mustelids ranged from terrestrial (weasel, stoat, and polecat) to aquatic (otter). Diet-specific biomagnification factors (BMFs), CB in diet relative to CB in mustelids, were calculated for the sum of 28 congeners (SigmaCB), for the sum of the toxic equivalent concentration (SigmaTEQ) and on an individual congener basis. Biotransformation was studied in relation to structural CB properties (vicinal H-atom substitution). In addition, the methylsulphonyl CB-metabolites were determined. The concentration of SigmaCB on lipid weight basis increased in the order weasel < stoat < polecat < otter. On the basis of SigmaTEQ, the order changed to weasel < polecat < stoat < otter. Most of the differences in BMFs between the CBs could be explained by the vicinal H-atom structure-activity rules. For all mustelids, the lowest BMFs were found for congeners with vicinal H-atoms in the meta, para position. Indications were found that all mustelid species can metabolize these congeners. For some of the CBs, their methylsulphonyl-CB metabolites were determined and found to be present in concentrations up to 350-fold higher than those of the parent compounds. In addition, the non-ortho CBs 126 and 169 are selectively retained in the liver of weasel, stoat, and otter. These CBs had the highest BMFs of all congeners. However, rather surprisingly, in polecat the highest BMFs were found for di-ortho-substituted CBs. This animal was able to metabolize all congeners with vicinal H-atoms in the ortho and meta position (non- and mono-ortho CBs). The information concerning the differences in bioaccumulation of CBs for closely related mustelid species increased the understanding of reported differences in PCB toxicity between mink and ferrets, and suggest that weasel, stoat, and otter are at least as sensitive to CBs as are mink, while polecats are less sensitive. As otter is exposed to much higher concentrations of CBs trough their diet than weasel and stoat, the toxic threat of CBs will be the greatest for this animal.     

Cryptococcosis in tree shrews (Tupaia tana and Tupaia minor) and elephant shrews (Macroscelides proboscides)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relation between metabolic and anthropometric parameters and circulating leptin concentrations in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Correlation of fasting serum leptin concentrations with anthropometric measures and multiple metabolic parameters including insulin and glucose responses to a 2-hour 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in 85 women with PCOS (17-36 years, body mass index (BMI) 29.9 +/- 0.9 kg/m2, mean +/- SD) and 18 control women (25-47 years, BMI 25 +/- 1.7 kg/m2). Diagnostic criteria for PCOS: characteristic ovarian morphology on ultrasound plus at least two of (1) elevated serum testosterone; (2) elevated serum androstenedione; and (3) reduced serum SHBG concentrations. MEASUREMENTS: Concentrations of androgens, lipids, PRL, gonadotrophins, and leptin were measured in the baseline fasting blood sample from an OGTT. Insulin and glucose were measured throughout OGTT. Serum leptin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Log leptin levels in the PCOS group correlated significantly with BMI (r = 0.85, P < 0.0001) and with 8 other parameters including waist/hip ratio (r = 0.51, P = 0.0005). By stepwise regression analysis, only BMI (P < 0.0001) and plasma high density lipoprotein concentration (P = 0.02) were independently correlated with log leptin levels, both positively. There was no effect of fat distribution, as measured by waist/ hip ratio, on leptin concentrations. Comparison of control subjects to a BMI-matched subgroup of 55 PCOS subjects revealed significantly higher circulating concentrations of LH, testosterone, DHEAS, progesterone and androstenedione, and higher glucose and insulin responses to OGTT in the PCOS group. Leptin levels were not different between the PCOS subgroup and control group (14.8 +/- 1.3 vs 12.1 +/- 2.3 micrograms/l, mean +/- SE, P = 0.26) and the relation of BMI to leptin levels determined by linear regression analysis also did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that circulating leptin concentrations in women with PCOS, a condition characterized by hyperandrogenaemia, increased LH concentrations and insulin resistance, are strongly related to BMI and not independently affected by circulating levels of insulin, gonadotrophins or sex hormones.