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Biomedical subjects

A Modesti

Publications and source records attributed to A Modesti.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Zinc uptake in human seminal spermatozoa: characterization and effects on cell membranes.

Human ejaculated spermatozoa take up zinc in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The kinetics of 65Zn2+ uptake is suggestive of an at least partly carrier-mediated transport. The lack of effect of the respiratory chain inhibitor antimycin A could mean that mitochondrial ATP is not required as an energy source for the uptake. The failure of nonpermeant SH reagent mersalyl to modify zinc uptake indicates that functional membrane sulfhydryl groups are not involved in the process. A dose-dependent inhibition of 65Zn2+ uptake was induced by the "anticalmodulin" drug trifluoperazine, suggesting that the calcium-binding protein calmodulin could have a role in zinc transport. In in vitro experiments this cation brought about a powerful effect in protecting the spermatozoa from being damaged by hypo-osmosis.

Antimycin A↗

[Diagnostic use of the cell culture technique in a case of postoperative saccate lymphorrhea].

The Authors demonstrated the presence of tumour cells by an in vitro culture of the cells from the pellet of a postoperative saccate effusion, when no tumor cells were evident by the cytologic examination of the effusion. The ultrastructural features and the immunocytochemical characteristics of the cell line were analyzed and these data confirmed its malignant nature. It allowed a firm diagnosis, a correct therapy and prognosis.

Breast Neoplasms↗

[Ultrastructural and immunoelectron microscopic study of the desmoplastic stroma in carcinoma of the breast].

Different collagen types (I, III, IV, V) were identified in breast carcinoma desmoplastic tissue by ultrastructural analysis and immunoelectronmicroscopy. Type V collagen is present as a 12 nm. fibril in the stroma, either adjacent to the basement membrane or concentrated around the thicker fibers. Myofibroblasts, fibroblasts and tumor cells can be its major producers. Its possible function as a bridge between different collagens can be utilized, with different finality, by the same cells that have produced it. Furthermore, type V collagen can be involved in tumor invasion of the stroma and in all directional movements of tumor cells, as already demonstrated for other extracellular matrix components.

Breast Neoplasms↗

[Ultrastructural aspects of the submandibular gland].

The structure of normal human submandibular glands has been studied with the electron microscope. Secretory cells are arranged around a central lumen, and are surrounded by numerous myoepithelial cells, showing tapering process. Intercalated and striated ducts follow secretory units. Striated ducts' cells are characterized by extensive infoldings of the basal plasma membrane, among which numerous mitochondria are aligned. Furthermore, the Authors examine the submandibular gland's innervation.

Humans↗

A new childhood T-cell lymphoma established in nude mice and in vitro.

A T-lymphoma cell line was established from a lymph node biopsy of a boy currently alive in complete remission. Neoplastic cells from this biopsy did not grow in vitro, whereas they formed a progressively growing s.c. tumor in splenectomized and sublethally irradiated nude mice and became serially transplantable in splenectomized and sublethally irradiated nude mice with a stable latency time. After the fourth transplant, cells were stored in liquid nitrogen and referred to as ST-4 cells. ST-4 cells display a membrane phenotype and a karyotype similar to that of the biopsy cells. After thawing, ST-4 cells grow both in splenectomized and sublethally irradiated nude mice and in vitro. They do not secrete interferon or interleukin 2, do not have natural killer activity, and do not respond to mitogen or alloantigen stimulation. The stable features of these T-lymphoma cells and the availability of normal autologous lymphocytes from the patient make this in vivo system quite unique and of importance for studies in tumor immunotherapy.

Animals↗

Letterer-Siwe disease: immunohistochemical evidence for a proliferative disorder involving immature cells of Langerhans lineage.

The morphological, ultrastructural and immunophenotypic properties of Histiocytosis-X (H-X) cells were investigated in a lymph node involved by Letterer-Siwe (L-S) disease. H-X cells were T6+ (CD1a), S-100+, T4+ (CD4) and HLA-DR+; in addition they were consistently T11+ (CD2) and were stained by antibodies directed against receptors for transferrin (T9), C3bi (OKM-1/CD11b), IgG-Fc (Leu-11/CD16) and Interleukin-2 (IL-2R/CD25). On immunostained cytosmears, T6+ cells were highly polymorphic and a prominent fraction (45%) showed immature morphology, characterized by lymphoid appearance. Cells expressing macrophage markers (ANAE, AACT, Leu-M3/CD14, PAM-1) were 10-fold fewer than T6+ cells and did not show a lymphoid morphology. At TEM level, H-X cells were characterized by poor content of LC granules and by the presence of myelin-like laminated bodies and of lysosome-like dense bodies. The immunophenotypic properties of H-X cells were compared to those of epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) and of LCs present in lymph nodes of three cases of dermatophatic lymphadenitis. Epidermal LCs were T6+/HLA-DR+, and sometimes faintly T4+. Lymph node LCs were T6+, S-100+, T4+, HLA-DR+, and showed the same variety of surface receptors detected in H-X cells; furthermore, in a case with massive infiltration of the paracortex by T6+ cells, lymph node LCs were faintly T11+ and some of the T6+ cells had lymphoid aspect. Our findings suggest that the H-X cell population of L-S disease is not homogeneous, but is composed of discrete cell subsets with distinctive antigenic and morphological traits closely resembling those of cells of LC lineage at different maturational stages.

Female↗

Guinea pig acylphosphatase: the amino acid sequence.

We determined the primary structure of guinea pig skeletal muscle acylphosphatase, using the high degree of homology with several vertebrate acylphosphatases to obtain correct alignment of the complete series of tryptic peptides. Their sequences were obtained mainly by Edman degradation; FAB mass spectrometry was used to identify the acyl group blocking the NH2-terminal residue and to elucidate the structure of the NH2-terminal tryptic peptide. The comparison among acylphosphatase sequences from skeletal muscle of several vertebrate species is presented and discussed.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Expression and synthesis of fibronectin and laminin by an intestinal epithelial cell line.

An intestinal epithelial cell line (IEC-17), undergoing a process of progressive morphological differentiation, was analysed for expression and synthesis of the extracellular matrix glycoproteins, fibronectin (FN) and laminin (LM). FN and LM cell surface expression was detected by immunoelectron microscopy, while intracytoplasmic accumulation was shown by immunofluorescence. 35S-methionine metabolic labelling was also performed to demonstrate FN and LM synthesis by IEC-17. We have compared two different maturation stages of the cell culture and have found that either early epithelial monolayer cells or later multistratified organoid structure cells expressed and produced large amounts of both proteins. These results indicate that FN and LM are constantly present during the process of IEC-17 organoid maturation: we can hypothesize that the two proteins act as mediators of cell to cell and cell to substrate adhesion interactions and, probably, have an active regulatory role in the process of intestinal epithelial cell differentiation.

Animals↗

Immunohistochemical characterization of a B-cell signet ring cell lymphoma. Report of a case.

Signet ring cell lymphoma is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, characterized by neoplastic lymphoid signet ring cells very similar to epithelial mucin producing cells. We describe here a case of signet ring cell lymphoma in which the immunophenotypic markers of signet ring cells parallel those of plasma cells, being intensively T10+ (CD 38), weakly HLA-DR+, and To15 (CD 22) and T200 (CD 45) negative. The morphologic and immunohistochemical features of the case and the main differential diagnosis are preceded by a review of the literature.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Small cell lung cancer cell lines: pure and variant types can be distinguished by their extracellular matrix synthesis.

Variant subclasses of cell lines derived from small cell lung cancers have previously been characterized, having distinctive biochemical, morphological and growth properties compared to the classic lines. Both types of small cell lung cancer express features suggesting that they are derived from neuroectodermal cells. We compared the capacity of these two types of lung cancer cell lines to synthesize the extracellular matrix glycoproteins, fibronectin and laminin, and also analysed a few other non-small cell lung cancer lines, as controls. We found that the cell lines of the pure type did not produce laminin or fibronectin, whereas the cell lines of the variant type synthesized laminin, and the non-small cell lung cancer lines produced either laminin or fibronectin. These findings suggest that the variant form of small cell lung cancer may be derived from a primitive neuroectodermal cell, with both neural and epithelial features, whereas the classic type is derived from a more mature cell with predominantly neuronal features. The differences in extracellular matrix synthesis, and laminin in particular, may explain some of the in vitro and in vivo characteristics of the tumour.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗

HTLV-V: a new human retrovirus isolated in a Tac-negative T cell lymphoma/leukemia.

A new human retrovirus was isolated from a continuous cell line derived from a patient with CD4+ Tac- cutaneous T cell lymphoma/leukemia. This virus is related to but distinct from human T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus types I and II (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). With the use of a fragment of provirus cloned from one patient with T cell leukemia, closely related sequences were found in DNA of the cell line and of tumor cells from seven other patients with the same disease; these sequences were only distantly related to HTLV-I. The phenotype of the cells and the clinical course of the disease were clearly distinguishable from leukemia associated with HTLV-I. All patients and the wife of one patient showed a weak serological cross-reactivity with both HTLV-I and HIV-1 antigens. None of the patients proved to be at any apparent risk for HIV-1 infection. The name proposed for this virus is HTLV-V, and the date indicate that it may be a primary etiological factor in the major group of cutaneous T cell lymphomas/leukemias, including the sporadic lymphomas known as mycoses fungoides.

Antigens, Viral↗

Interleukin 2 activated tumor inhibition in vivo depends on the systemic involvement of host immunoreactivity.

Daily local administration at the tumor challenge site of 10 injections of 10 U of recombinant interleukin 2 (IL 2) obtained from different factories induces a consistent, though limited inhibition of the growth of CE-2, a poorly immunogenic methylcholanthrene-induced tumor. By contrast, almost complete tumor inhibition is observed when these injections are performed in mice challenged with tumor cells admixed at 1:5 cell ration with nylon wool column purified lymphocytes obtained from tumor-bearing animals. The host immune system plays a fundamental role in this lymphokine-activated tumor inhibition (LATI), which is derived from the local combination of IL 2 and nonreactive lymphocytes. When the host is sublethally irradiated, or the reactivity of L3T4 and Asialo GM1 lymphocytes is suppressed by in vivo antibody treatment, in fact, LATI no longer takes place. Daily injections of antibody to murine interferon-gamma or cyclosporin A have the same effect, indicating that lymphokine release plays an important role in the recruitment of host reactivity. The morphological data show that when LATI is taking place the tumor challenge area becomes infiltrated by mononuclear cells and granulocytes (mostly eosinophils), which establish close contacts with each other and with tumor cells as determined at ultrastructural analysis. Tumor draining lymph nodes display marked expansion of cortical and paracortical areas. Lymphocyte proliferation, interferon-gamma release and cytotoxicity against CE-2 and YAC-1 target cells are greatly enhanced during LATI. Contralateral lymph nodes and the spleen also show a slight increment of these functions. In mice challenged with CE-2 tumor cells only and receiving daily IL 2 injections, these reaction functions (with the exception of interferon-gamma secretion) are also enhanced, though to a lesser extent than during LATI and only in tumor-draining lymph nodes. Last, the growth of a second contralateral tumor challenge is significantly impaired during or after LATI, showing that a persistent and effective systemic reactivity can be quickly induced in this way.

Animals↗

Ewing's sarcoma lines synthesize laminin and fibronectin.

Immunoelectron microscopy was employed to detect laminin and fibronectin cell surface expression on five Ewing's sarcoma lines plus a normal fibroblast line as control. Monospecific antibodies to both glycoproteins were detected on tumour cell and fibroblast layers with colloidal gold--protein A conjugates. All five tumour lines were positive for fibronectin and/or laminin, whereas the fibroblast line expressed fibronectin only, as expected. Fibronectin displayed a dense granular pattern, typically in the cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion areas; laminin displayed a punctate pattern. 3H-leucine metabolical labelling was also used to demonstrate laminin and fibronectin synthesis. The labelled proteins released in the culture media were separated by molecular weight on SDS-PAGE and identified by immunoprecipitation with the monospecific antibodies. The results substantiated the immunoelectron microscopy data. These findings indicate that Ewing's sarcoma lines produce a complex extracellular matrix including fibronectin and laminin, in addition to the collagens described by other workers. Histogenetic classification of this tumour in terms of extracellular matrix proteins synthesis is thus more difficult than has been supposed. The same complexity must also be borne in mind when using the matrix components as an aid to Ewing's sarcoma differentiation from other childhood tumours.

Cell Line↗

Immunohistology of adenolymphoma (Warthin's tumour): evidence for a role of vascularization in the organization of the lympho-epithelial structure.

The epithelial, vascular and lymphoid components present in two cases of adenolymphoma (Warthin's tumour) were characterized by immunohistochemistry on frozen sections. Epithelial cells were positive for cytokeratin and keratin and were in close contact with numerous factor VIII related antigen-positive capillary vessels, running parallel to the epithelial basement membrane. The capillary vessels were in communication with high endothelial post-capillary venules which were often lined by HLA-DR-positive endothelial cells. The lymphoid tissue was organized in B-cell and T-cell areas. The B-cell areas consisted of B4+/To15+ B-lymphocytes admixed with DRC-1-positive follicular dendritic reticulum cells. The T-cell areas were mainly populated by T11+/T3+/T4+ lymphocytes admixed with some S-100+/HLA-DR+ interdigitating reticulum cells. Plasma cells and T8+ lymphocytes were more numerous in the proximity of the epithelium. Leu-M3+/PAM-1+ macrophages were scattered singly in the T-cell areas or were arranged in sinus-like structures around the epithelial cysts. The epithelial basement membrane, the vascular membrane and the fibrillar reticular stroma of the lymphoid tissue were immunoreactive for laminin and type IV collagen. The possibility is discussed that the accumulation of lymphoid tissue in Warthin's tumour is modulated by the epithelial cells, perhaps through their ability to organize a peculiar pattern of vascularization.

Adenolymphoma↗

Extracellular matrix synthesis by undifferentiated childhood tumor cell lines.

The authors have examined extracellular matrix (ECM) biosynthesis by small round cell tumors of childhood. Basal lamina (laminin and Type IV collagen) and stroma (collagens I, III, and V and fibronectin) constituents were studied. It was found that these tumors synthesize ECM in characteristic patterns. Five Ewing's sarcomas variably synthesized small amounts of all ECM constituents except Type V collagen. All eight neural tumors (neuroblastoma and primitive neural tumors) synthesized fibronectin (unlike some Ewing's sarcomas), as well as laminin and Type IV collagen (2 cases lacked Type IV collagen synthesis). No stromal (I/III) collagen synthesis was observed by neural tumors. All soft tissue sarcomas except an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma synthesized stromal collagens and often laminin or fibronectin as well. Lymphomas synthesized no ECM of any kind. The synthesis of stromal collagens by sarcomas but not neural tumors serves to distinguish these two tumor types, especially Ewing's sarcoma from neuroblastoma. The presence of any ECM synthesis excludes lymphoma from diagnostic consideration.

Child↗