In vitro and in vivo interaction of nuclear antibodies with corresponding antigens

Zusammenfassung Es wird mit indirekter Immunofluoreszenz gezeigt, dass Leberzellkerne mit Antikörpern bedeckt werden können, wenn sie systemischemLupus erythromatosus-Serum (SLE) für weniger als 2 sec ausgesetzt werden, und dass die Färbungsintensität vom Titer des Antikörpers abhängt.Diese Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass das in SLE-Geweben durch direkte Immunofluoreszenz nachgewiesene nukleare-Globulin hauptsächlich nukleare post-Biopsiereaktionen wiederspiegelt und weniger in vivo-Reaktionen, und dass in beiden Fällen nur abgestorbene oder nicht intakte Zellen vom Antikörper durchdrungen werden.

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This investigation was supported in part by a training grant (2E-130) from the U.S. Public Health Service. Taken in part from thesis (G.W.B.) submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of the University of Buffalo (N.Y., USA) in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (1962). Present address (G.W.B.): Department of Pathology, State University of New York at Buffalo.     

A progeroid syndrome in mice is caused by defects in A-type lamins

Numerous studies of the underlying causes of ageing have been attempted by examining diseases associated with premature ageing, such as Werner's syndrome and Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS). HGPS is a rare genetic disorder resulting in phenotypes suggestive of accelerated ageing, including shortened stature, craniofacial disproportion, very thin skin, alopecia and osteoporosis, with death in the early teens predominantly due to atherosclerosis. However, recent reports suggest that developmental abnormalities may also be important in HGPS. Here we describe the derivation of mice carrying an autosomal recessive mutation in the lamin A gene (Lmna) encoding A-type lamins, major components of the nuclear lamina. Homozygous mice display defects consistent with HGPS, including a marked reduction in growth rate and death by 4 weeks of age. Pathologies in bone, muscle and skin are also consistent with progeria. The Lmna mutation resulted in nuclear morphology defects and decreased lifespan of homozygous fibroblasts, suggesting premature cell death. Here we present a mouse model for progeria that may elucidate mechanisms of ageing and development in certain tissue types, especially those developing from the mesenchymal cell lineage.     

Effects of stress and adrenocorticotrophin administration on plasma corticosterone levels at different stages of pregnancy in the mouse

Summary Stress or administration of ACTH to pregnant mice gave rise to much higher plasma corticosterone levels in the second half of pregnancy than in the first half, suggesting that there may be increased adrenal sensitivity to ACTH or decreased metabolism of corticosterone during the second half of pregnancy.     

Mutations in a new photoreceptor-pineal gene on 17p cause Leber congenital amaurosis

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA, MIM 204000) accounts for at least 5% of all inherited retinal disease and is the most severe inherited retinopathy with the earliest age of onset. Individuals affected with LCA are diagnosed at birth or in the first few months of life with severely impaired vision or blindness, nystagmus and an abnormal or flat electroretinogram (ERG). Mutations in GUCY2D (ref. 3), RPE65 (ref. 4) and CRX (ref. 5) are known to cause LCA, but one study identified disease-causing GUCY2D mutations in only 8 of 15 families whose LCA locus maps to 17p13.1 (ref. 3), suggesting another LCA locus might be located on 17p13.1. Confirming this prediction, the LCA in one Pakistani family mapped to 17p13.1, between D17S849 and D17S960-a region that excludes GUCY2D. The LCA in this family has been designated LCA4 (ref. 6). We describe here a new photoreceptor/pineal-expressed gene, AIPL1 (encoding aryl-hydrocarbon interacting protein-like 1), that maps within the LCA4 candidate region and whose protein contains three tetratricopeptide (TPR) motifs, consistent with nuclear transport or chaperone activity. A homozygous nonsense mutation at codon 278 is present in all affected members of the original LCA4 family. AIPL1 mutations may cause approximately 20% of recessive LCA, as disease-causing mutations were identified in 3 of 14 LCA families not tested previously for linkage.     

North-south geological differences between the residual polar caps on Mars

Polar processes can be sensitive indicators of global climate, and the geological features associated with polar ice caps can therefore indicate evolution of climate with time. The polar regions on Mars have distinctive morphologic and climatologic features: thick layered deposits, seasonal CO2 frost caps extending to mid latitudes, and near-polar residual frost deposits that survive the summer. The relationship of the seasonal and residual frost caps to the layered deposits has been poorly constrained, mainly by the limited spatial resolution of the available data. In particular, it has not been known if the residual caps represent simple thin frost cover or substantial geologic features. Here we show that the residual cap on the south pole is a distinct geologic unit with striking collapse and erosional topography; this is very different from the residual cap on the north pole, which grades into the underlying layered materials. These findings indicate that the differences between the caps are substantial (rather than reflecting short-lived differences in frost cover), and so support the idea of long-term asymmetry in the polar climates of Mars.     

Development of a preventive vaccine for Ebola virus infection in primates

Outbreaks of haemorrhagic fever caused by the Ebola virus are associated with high mortality rates that are a distinguishing feature of this human pathogen. The highest lethality is associated with the Zaire subtype, one of four strains identified to date. Its rapid progression allows little opportunity to develop natural immunity, and there is currently no effective anti-viral therapy. Therefore, vaccination offers a promising intervention to prevent infection and limit spread. Here we describe a highly effective vaccine strategy for Ebola virus infection in non-human primates. A combination of DNA immunization and boosting with adenoviral vectors that encode viral proteins generated cellular and humoral immunity in cynomolgus macaques. Challenge with a lethal dose of the highly pathogenic, wild-type, 1976 Mayinga strain of Ebola Zaire virus resulted in uniform infection in controls, who progressed to a moribund state and death in less than one week. In contrast, all vaccinated animals were asymptomatic for more than six months, with no detectable virus after the initial challenge. These findings demonstrate that it is possible to develop a preventive vaccine against Ebola virus infection in primates.     

Common genetic variants at the CRAC1 (HMPS) locus on chromosome 15q13.3 influence colorectal cancer risk

We mapped a high-penetrance gene (CRAC1; also known as HMPS) associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) in the Ashkenazi population to a 0.6-Mb region on chromosome 15 containing SCG5 (also known as SGNE1), GREM1 and FMN1. We hypothesized that the CRAC1 locus harbored low-penetrance variants that increased CRC risk in the general population. In a large series of colorectal cancer cases and controls, SNPs near GREM1 and SCG5 were strongly associated with increased CRC risk (for rs4779584, P = 4.44 x 10(-14)).     

施加岩粉对水稻生态系统植硅体碳的增汇作用(英文)

植硅体态碳(Phyt OC)在植硅体的"保护"作用下,可以长时间地保存在土壤中,是一种长期有效的生物固碳机制.本文通过在盆栽水稻中施加不同水平的岩粉来探讨其对植硅体态碳增汇的影响.通过微波消解法提取植硅体和氢氟酸溶解生物硅测定其植硅体封存的碳含量.结果表明,施加岩粉显著地提高了水稻各器官中植硅体和植硅体态碳含量及其植硅体碳的产生通量.因此,硅营养调控机制(外施硅肥)是一种提高农田生态系统(尤其是稻田)植硅体封存有机碳的潜力、增加土壤中Phyt OC积累速率的有效措施.     

Does vagal stimulation liberate secretin and/or cholecystokinin in pigs?

Zusammenfassung Beim Schwein wird mittels Parameter des Pankreas nachgewiesen, dass Sekretin- oder auch Cholecystokinin-Sekretion vom Vagus reguliert wird.

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Supported by funds from National Science Foundation, Industria Distillers, and Veterans Administration Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

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Acknowledgement: We are grateful for the help of R. Pfahler, G. Rice and R. Williams.