Microorganisms seen by scanning and transmission electron microscopy in Legionnaires' disease from human lung.

In addition to several anomalous structures, other general forms of definitely rod-shaped microorganisms have been found by scanning and transmission electron microscopy in the lung tissue taken at autopsy from a patient who succumbed to confirmed Legionnaires' disease with extensive necrotizing lobar pneumonia. The microorganisms were greatly varied in size and shape. They were micrographed in the act of fission. These forms have been found to some extent throughout the tissue. No nickel was demonstrated, either in the lung tissue or in the microorganisms.     

Adrenal dopamine-β-hydroxylase activity: 24-hour rhythmicity and evidence for pineal control

Summary Adrenal medullary dopamine--hydroxylase activity was found in male rats to have a 24-hour rhythm, with an approximately 6-fold increase at about the time of the onset of darkness. This nocturnal rise in enzyme activity did not occur when lights were kept on, nor did it occur in animals that had been pinealectomized.Supported in part by grants from the Ford Foundation (No. 630-05050A), National Institutes of Health (No. HD-03352) and National Institute of Mental Health (No. MH-25019) USPHS.     

Behavioural consequences of vasectomy in the mouse

Summary Vasectomy was found to have no influence on the sexual activity of male mice. Testis and seminal vesicle weights were similary not influenced by this operation although a significant increase in epididymus weight was observed.J. C. is grateful to the Ford Foundation for financial support.     

Glycine-rich proteins as structural components of plant cell walls

Glycine-rich proteins (GRPs) have been found in the cell walls of many higher plants and form a third group of structural protein components of the wall in addition to extensins and proline-rich proteins. The primary sequences of GRPs contain more than 60% glycine. GRPs are localized mainly in the vascular tissue of the plant, and their coding genes provide an excellent system to analyze the molecular basis of vascular-specific gene expression. In French bean, the major cell wall GRP has been localized at the ultrastructural level in the modified primary cell wall of protoxylem. Immunological studies showed that it forms a major part of these highly extensible and specialized cell walls. Specific digestion of GRP1.8 from bean by collagenase suggests that it shares structural similarities with collagen. The protein is synthesized by living protoxylem cells as well as xylem parenchyma cells. After cell death, GRPs are exported from neighboring xylem parenchyma cells to the protoxylem wall, a rare example of protein transport between cells in plants. We propose that GRPs are part of a repair system of the plant during the stretching phase of protoxylem.     

Seasonal changes in the uptake capacity of the suprachiasmatic nucleus for3H-serotonin

Summary The suprachiasmatic nucleus, a hypothalamic center important in mediation of circadian and estrous cycles, is shown in adult rats to have seasonal changes in its uptake capacity in vitro for³H-serotonin.Supported in part by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (MH-25091), the National Institute of Health (HD-10263, HD-03352, 5-T01-HD00104-10), USPHS, and the Ford Foundation (grant No. 630-0505 B, C).     

Die antibakterielle Wirkung der Usninsäure auf Mykobakterien und andere Mikroorganismen

Summary Usnic acid has already been found in optically active forms in very different quantities in a large number of species of lichens. We have been able to demonstrate the presence of the racemic form of usnic acid as a naturally occuring product in Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica Ach.). The bacteriological examination of the three forms of usnic acid led to the result that, besides an effect uponStaphylococcus aureus, they exert also a very remarkable action againstMycobacteria. The action ofl-usnic acid on different strains ofMycobacteria and other microorganisms is shown in table II. According to the results so far obtained by us, other acids of lichens behave in a similar manner.     

Developmental forms of human skeletal muscle AMP-deaminase

Chromatography on phosphocellulose revealed the existence of two well-separable forms of skeletal muscle AMP-deaminase in the tissue extracts of 11- and 16-week-old human fetuses. One of these forms elutes from the column at the same salt concentration as the muscle isozyme found in the skeletal muscle extract from adult man, and seems to have similar kinetic properties. The second form, which was found only in vestigial amounts in adult human tissue extract, represents different kinetic properties and seems to be a form characteristic for the fetal period of ontogenesis.     

Microbiology of subteranean waste sites

Summary Excavated repositories for radioactive waste in deep and shallow geological formations will be subject to microbial contamination; therefore, a number of groundwater environments have been examined in Europe for the presence and activity of microorganisms. Common soil bacterial isolates were found to predominate in the groundwaters. Their activity is curtailed by the oligotrophic conditions encountered. It still remains to be demonstrated whether waste and waste isolation materials such as cellulose and bitumen will provide an exogenous nutrient source for the microorganisms and whether microbial activity will compromise nuclear waste immobilisation. A further constraint to the microorganisms is the high pH near-field environment generated by cement/concrete barriers.     

Soluble polysialylated NCAM: a novel player of the innate immune system in the lung

Posttranslational modification of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) by polysialic acid (polySia) is well studied in the nervous system and described as a dynamic modulator of plastic processes like precursor cell migration, axon fasciculation, and synaptic plasticity. Here, we describe a novel function of polysialylated NCAM (polySia-NCAM) in innate immunity of the lung. In mature lung tissue of healthy donors, polySia was exclusively attached to the transmembrane isoform NCAM-140 and located to intracellular compartments of epithelial cells. In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, however, increased polySia levels and processing of the NCAM carrier were observed. Processing of polysialylated NCAM was reproduced in a mouse model by bleomycin administration leading to an activation of the inflammasome and secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β. As shown in a cell culture model, polySia-NCAM-140 was kept in the late trans-Golgi apparatus of lung epithelial cells and stimulation by IL-1β or lipopolysaccharide induced metalloprotease-mediated ectodomain shedding, resulting in the secretion of soluble polySia-NCAM. Interestingly, polySia chains of secreted NCAM neutralized the cytotoxic activity of extracellular histones as well as DNA/histone-network-containing “neutrophil extracellular traps”, which are formed during invasion of microorganisms. Thus, shedding of polySia-NCAM by lung epithelial cells may provide a host-protective mechanism to reduce tissue damage during inflammatory processes.     

CTGF在肺癌中的研究进展

结缔组织生长因子（CTGF／CCN2）属于即刻早期基因编码的CCN家族中的一员,参与正常细胞增殖、黏附、迁移、凋亡及新生血管形成,在创伤修复、纤维化疾病和肿瘤形成中也具有重要的作用。新近研究发现,CTGF在肺癌组织中表达较正常肺组织降低,与肺癌的发生、发展密切相关,被视为肺癌转移和预后的评价指标。本文简要介绍了CTGF的结构、功能及在其肺癌中的研究进展,以期为肺癌的临床治疗提供新的思路。     

Epithelial antimicrobial peptides: innate local host response elements

Multicellular organisms have to survive in an environment laden with numerous microorganisms, which represent a potential hazard to life. Different strategies have been developed to ward off infections by preventing microorganisms from entering surfaces and by preventing the attack of microorganisms that have already entered the epithelia. Therefore, it is not surprising that epithelia are equipped with various antimicrobial substances that act rapidly to kill a broad range of microorganisms. This review summarizes our present knowledge about epithelial peptide antibiotics produced in plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates including humans. There is now strong evidence that in addition to constitutively secreted peptide antibiotics, others are induced upon contact with microorganisms or by proinflammatory cytokines. beta-Defensins represent one family of vertebrate antimicrobial peptides, members of which are inducible and have recently been identified in humans. The defensin-characteristic local expression pattern may indicate that specialized surfaces express a characteristic surface antimicrobial peptide pattern that might define the characteristic microflora as well as the density of microorganisms present on the surface.     

Isolation of type II epithelial cells from rabbit fetal lungs by adherence on an IgG-coated surface

The lung is comprised of about 40 different cell types, of which only 15% are type II cells. These are the major, if not the sole, source of synthesis and secretion of lung surfactant. To date a large number of methods have been described for the isolation of pure populations of type II cells using a wide variety of techniques, but most of these have employed differential centrifugation methods and have used adult rodents. The present study reports the isolation of type II cells from fetal rabbit lungs by the immunoglobin G plating method. Pure populations of fetal type II cells in high yield and with good viability were obtained by the procedure for the first time from rabbit fetal tissue.     

Structural differences between somatic H2B and testis-specific TH2B histones of the rat

Summary Testis-specific histone TH2B from rat testis showed a very similar tryptic peptide map to somatic H2B from rat liver, indicating a common evolutionary origin. However, 5 peptide differences were detected between the 2 proteins, and the amino acid compositions of these distinctive peptides were determined.Supported by Grant 780-0609 from the Ford Foundation.     

Biotin-binding proteins in eggs of oviparous vertebrates

Summary Biotin-binding was found in the egg whites and yolks of all 23 avian species studied, and in a turtle, but the amount varied considerably even in related species. There was no clear correlation in biotin-binding between egg white and yolk in various species. Antigenic determinants of avidin in different species have changed in the course of evolution as compared with those of chicken egg white avidin.We thank Mr Jukka Peltonen and Mr Antti Karlin for the collection of the avian eggs with permission obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, and Mr Reino Saarinen for the turtle eggs. The authors are indebted to Mrs Outi Kurronen Miss Riitta Mero and Miss Tiina-Maija Mattila for technical assistance. This work was supported by the Ford Foundation Grants No. 760-0526 and No. 790-0665.     

The responsiveness to (1-24) ACTH of Mongolian gerbil adrenals superfused in vitro as a function of basal secretion

Wide variations have been found in the responsiveness to (1-24)ACTH of Mongolian gerbil adrenal glands superfused in vitro. These variations were not correlated to corticosteroid plasma levels or to adrenal weights. In contrast, (1-24)ACTH-stimulated secretion greatly depended on basal in vitro secretion (quarters: r = 0.97, p less than 0.01; slices: r = 0.90, p less than 0.001) indicating that the fine adjustment of basal corticosteroidogenesis forms an important part of the regulatory mechanisms modulating (1-24)ACTH-stimulated corticosteroid secretion in vitro.     

The concentration of high molecular weight kininogen antigen in homogenates of various human tissues

Summary The concentration of high molecular weight kininogen, measured in human tissue homogenates, was 2–3 times higher in kidneys, adrenals and thyroid than in homogenates of lung, heart, liver and spleen. No measurable quantities of this protein were found in homogenates of brain and skeletal muscles.This work was supported by a grant from the Department of Medical Sciences of Polish Academy of Sciences.     

Notch and cancer: a double-edged sword

The highly conserved Notch signaling pathway plays pleiotropic roles during embryonic development and is important for the regulation of selfrenewing tissues. The physiological functions of this signaling cascade range from stem cell maintenance and influencing cell fate decisions of barely differentiated progenitor cells, to the induction of terminal differentiation processes, all of which have been found to be recapitulated in different forms of cancers. Although Notch signaling has mostly been associated with oncogenic and growth-promoting roles, depending on the tissue type it can also function as a tumor suppressor. Here we describe recent findings on Notch signaling in cancer and tumor angiogenesis, and highlight some of the therapeutic approaches that are currently being developed to interfere with tumor growth and progression. Received 2 April 2007; received after revision 29 June 2007; accepted 2 July 2007     

The modulus of elasticity of lobster aorta microfibrils

The presence of elastic fibres in the extracellular matrix (ECM) provides physiologically important elastic properties for many tissues. Until recently, microfibrils, one component of the ECM, were thought primarily to serve as a scaffolding on which elastin is deposited during development to form elaunin fibres [1]. The most prominent protein that forms mammalian microfibrils is fibrillin. It is known that mutations in the fibrillin gene cause a heterogenous connective tissue disease called marfan syndrome [2], so information on mechanical properties of microfibrils or their role in tissue function would be useful. Microfibrils are also found in the ECM of some invertebrate tissues, and there is growing evidence that the protein forming the structure is homologous to mammalian fibrillin [3, 4]. It has been shown that the microfibril-based arterial wall of the lobster has viscoelastic properties [5], and we have now utilized this primitive artery to measure the modulus of elasticity of microfibrils. It is similar to that of the rubber-like protein elastin.     

The attenuation of prostaglandin-induced luteolysis in decidual tissue-bearing pseudopregnant rats

Summary Decidual tissue (DT)-bearing pseudopregnant (PSP) rats, in contrast to hysterectomized PSP rats, were resistant to a luteolytic regimen of either PGF₂ or PGE₂ when examined for the duration of PSP diestrus. The PG treatments, however, caused a marked fall in the serum progesterone levels on days 10 and 12, although the levels in DT-bearing rats on day 10 were significantly higher than in the hysterectomized rats.Acknowledgment. The authors wish to thank Helen Wilk and Edward Butler for their help in animal care; Ellen O'Laughlin-Phillips for the progesterone assays; Rosa Garnett, Jo Fletcher, and Aileen Svaty for editorial and secretarial help; Dr John E. Pike of the Upjohn Company for the gifts of PGE₂ and PGF₂; and Dr G. N. Niswender for the gift of antiserum GDN-337 used in the RIA for progesterone.Aided in part by NIH Training Grant HD-00024, Ford Foundation Grant 670-0135A, and NIH Program Project HD-07640.     

Genetic variability in 3 co-occurring forms of the starfish genusOthilia (=Echinaster)

Summary High levels of genetic variability have been found in 3 (grey, brown, orange) co-occurring forms of the starfishOthilia. These high levels appear to correspond to the generalistic habit of this starfish. The biochemical data, coupled with morphological observations, indicate that the grey and orange forms are morphs of the same species and that the brown form is a species separate from the grey and orange forms.