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Biomedical subjects

K P Dingemans

Publications and source records attributed to K P Dingemans.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Depletion of mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid in a family with fatal neonatal liver disease.

We describe a family in which three children of consanguineous parents died of hepatic failure before the age of 3 months. The first child had clinical symptoms of liver disease with hypoglycemia that were evident at birth. The second child was healthy and has normal development. The third child had severe liver dysfunction noted a few days after birth. Liver failure also developed in the fourth child soon after birth. Recently a mitochondrial disorder was considered as a possible cause. Deficiency of respiratory chain enzymes that contain polypeptides encoded by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and depletion of mtDNA were found in the liver of the fourth child, but mitochondrial abnormalities were absent in muscle of the third child. The similarities in clinical presentation suggest that liver-specific depletion of mtDNA was the cause of the hepatic failure in all three children. We conclude that liver dysfunction with onset in the perinatal period can be caused by depletion of mtDNA.

Autoradiography

Effects of Ursodeoxycholate and cholate feeding on liver disease in FVB mice with a disrupted mdr2 P-glycoprotein gene.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The mouse mdr2 gene encodes a P-glycoprotein expressed in the hepatocanalicular membrane. Inactivation of this gene causes lack of biliary phospholipid and cholesterol secretion and non-suppurative cholangitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of bile salt hydrophobicity in induction of liver pathology in mdr2 (-/-) mice. METHODS: Mice (+/+) wild type or (-/-) knockout for the mdr2 gene were fed with either purified control diet or this diet supplemented with cholate (0.1%) or ursodeoxycholate (0.5%) for 3, 6, or 22 weeks after weaning. Liver histology was semiquantitatively scored. RESULTS: Each mouse fed bile acid became the major constituent of the bile salt pool. The cholate diet during 22 weeks induced only very mild liver pathology in (+/+) mice. By contrast, lever histology had already deteriorated after 3 weeks in the (-/-) mice and caused pronounced inflammatory nonsuppurative cholangitis and fibrosis in the 75% of mice that survived. Dietary ursodeoxycholate had no effect on histology in (+/+) mice but improved liver pathology significantly in (-/-) mice compared with purified control diet; the decrease of ductular proliferation and portal inflammation was most prominent after 22 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The cholangiolitis and its sequelae in the mdr2 knockout mice depend on bile salt hydrophobicity.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B

Developmental stages in experimental liver metastases: relation to invasiveness.

We have previously reported that an invasive morphotype can be evoked in a rat colon carcinoma by transplanting it into pre-induced subcutaneous granulation tissue. We have now studied the interaction of the same tumor with liver tissue, which is extremely poor in connective tissue in comparison with the subcutaneous site. Tumor cells were injected into the portal system and the resulting experimental liver metastases were examined by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Early metastases consisted of well-differentiated acini, fully surrounded by connective tissue that was derived from the periportal stroma. In a later stage, this connective tissue was overgrown by tumor cells and, almost immediately, acinar differentiation was lost. Most metastases eventually reached the liver capsule, which reacted by forming a layer of granulation tissue. Only in this layer, we observed invasion by thin tumor cell strands, which were often intimately associated with fibroblasts or with blood capillaries. The tumor cells remained smooth and rounded during this process. After fully penetrating the granulation tissue, the tumor cell strands reached the liver surface, where they formed poorly structured papillary masses that were nearly devoid of stroma. Our observations indicate that, even in a relatively homogeneous organ like the liver, the tumor-host interaction is highly complex and dynamic. They also confirm the notion that granulation tissue stimulates tumor invasiveness. Finally, they show that tumor cells can actively invade host tissues without exhibiting a "fibroblastic" morphology.

Animals

Cerebellar astrocytoma with extensive lipidization mimicking adipose tissue.

We report the case of an elderly woman with a history of headache, vomiting and dizziness while walking. On CT scans a mass was identified in the right cerebellar hemisphere exhibiting radiological characteristics of lipomatous tissue. Surgery revealed a compact lesion consisting of whitish-yellow tissue with a fatty aspect and texture. Smears of tissue samples and paraffin sections showed features suggestive of tissue mainly composed of fully differentiated lipocytes. Lipid-specific stainings on fresh frozen material confirmed univacuolar intracytoplasmic fat accumulation. However, immunohistochemistry for glial fibrillary acidic protein and electron microscopy clearly demonstrated the glial lineage of these lipid-laden cells. Therefore, the tumor was diagnosed as a highly lipidized astrocytoma. In our view, this case represents a variant of lipidized gliomas that has not been described previously and that differs phenotypically from the entities documented earlier.

Adipose Tissue

Organotypic culture of human skin to study melanocyte migration.

An ex vivo model system was developed to investigate melanocyte migration. Within this model system, melanocytes migrate among other epidermal cells in the epibolic outgrowth of skin explants. This process is initiated by loss of contact inhibition of epidermal cells at the rim of the explants and by locally produced chemotactic factors. Punch biopsies provided explants of reproducible diameter. Optimal culture conditions include medium consisting of Dulbecco's Minimal Essential Medium containing 10% inactivated normal human serum and placement of explants epidermal side up at the air-liquid interphase. Within 7 days, epidermal cells completely surround the explant. Approximately 3 days after the onset of keratinocyte migration, melanocytes distribute themselves within the newly formed epidermis. Throughout the 7-day culture period, melanocytes and keratinocytes show maintenance of subcellular morphology, and the dermo-epidermal junction remains intact. Melanocyte migration was quantified using immunoperoxidase staining in combination with light microscopy and computer-aided image analysis. Preliminary results using the model system to compare migration in control and nonlesional vitiligo skin indicate that no inherent migration defect is responsible for impaired repigmentation of vitiligo lesions. The organotypic culture model system allows for investigations on melanocytes within their environment of autologous epidermal and dermal components, closely resembling in vivo circumstances in human skin.

Adult

Mice with homozygous disruption of the mdr2 P-glycoprotein gene. A novel animal model for studies of nonsuppurative inflammatory cholangitis and hepatocarcinogenesis.

The mouse mdr2 gene (and its human homologue MDR3, also called MDR2) encodes a P-glycoprotein that is present in high concentration in the bile canalicular membrane of hepatocytes. The 129/OlaHsd mice with a homozygous disruption of the mdr2 gene (-/- mice) lack this P-glycoprotein in the canalicular membrane. These mice are unable to secrete phospholipids into bile, showing an essential role for the mdr2 P-glycoprotein in the transport of phosphatidylcholine across the canalicular membrane. The complete absence of phospholipids from bile leads to a hepatic disease, which becomes manifest shortly after birth and shows progression to an end stage in the course of 3 months. The liver pathology is that of a nonsuppurative inflammatory cholangitis with portal inflammation and ductular proliferation, consistent with toxic injury of the biliary system from bile salts unaccompanied by phospholipids. Thus, the mdr2 (-/-) mice can serve as an animal model for studying mechanisms and potential interventions in nonsuppurative inflammatory cholangitis (in a generic sense) in human disease, be it congenital or acquired. When the mice are 4 to 6 months of age, preneoplastic lesions develop in the liver, progressing to metastatic liver cancer in the terminal phase. The mdr2 (-/-) mice therefore also provide a tumor progression model of value for the study of hepatic carcinogenesis. Interestingly, also in this regard, the model mimicks human disease, because chronic inflammation of the biliary system in humans may similarly carry increased cancer risk.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem

Transplantation of colon carcinoma into granulation tissue induces an invasive morphotype.

The stroma surrounding many malignant tumors resembles granulation tissue. To test the hypothesis that such stroma stimulates tumor invasiveness, we compared, by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry, the growth patterns of CC531 rat colon adenocarcinoma in 2 experimental situations: (i) after transplantation into the undisturbed subcutaneous connective tissue of rats, and (ii) after transplantation into experimentally induced subcutaneous granulation tissue in rats. For the latter experimental situation, a subcutaneous "tissue chamber" was designed allowing fragments of tumor tissue to be transplanted into the very center of developing granulation tissue. In the undisturbed subcutaneous tissue, the whole tumor was generally encapsulated, and the tumor cells were arranged in compact groups with a strong tendency to form acini. In the pre-formed granulation tissue, on the other hand, the tumor tissue closely matched descriptions of invasive colon carcinomas in the literature and met the criteria for the "invasive morphotype". In this situation, the tumor consisted of thin, unorganized, widely dispersed strands of irregular tumor cells with numerous protrusions that deeply penetrated the surrounding matrix. Our results show that an invasive morphotype can be evoked by pre-inducing granulation tissue at the transplantation site.

Adenocarcinoma

Phagocytosis by normal human melanocytes in vitro.

Phagocytosis is an important first step in processing of antigens ultimately to be presented in the context of MHC class II molecules on the cell surface. Degradation of internalized antigens can then proceed by fusion of the phagosome with organelles containing lysosomal enzymes. Evidence for the phagocytic capacity of cultured normal human skin melanocytes is provided, both by electron microscopy and by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The phagocytic capacity of melanocytes is approximately 5% of that found for cultured human dermal skin fibroblasts. However, in a mixed culture of keratinocytes and melanocytes, uptake of 1 micron latex beads in 72 h was found to be comparable for both epidermal cell types, implicating in vivo significance for phagocytosis by melanocytes. Furthermore, it is shown that phagosomes containing latex beads will fuse with melanosomes, indicating that melanosomes can function as specialized lysosomal organelles within normal human skin melanocytes. The present investigation indicates that melanocytes are equipped with the phagocytic machinery important for the processing of antigens and thus may function as accessory cells within the skin immune system.

Humans

Experimentally induced colon cancer metastases in rat liver increase the proliferation rate and capacity for purine catabolism in liver cells.

Metastases in rat liver were generated experimentally by intraportal injection of colon cancer cells to investigate the effects of cancerous growth on the metabolism of surrounding liver tissue. Maximum activities (capacity) of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase, xanthine oxidoreductase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase and adenosine triphosphatase have been determined. Two types of metastases were found, a small type surrounded by stroma and a larger type in direct contact with hepatocytes. Both types affected the adjacent tissue in a similar way suggesting that the interactions were not mediated by stroma. High capacity of the degradation pathway of extracellular purines released from dead cells of either tumours or host tissue was found in stroma and sinusoidal cells. Metastases induced both an increase in the number of Kupffer cells and proliferation of hepatocytes. The distribution pattern in the liver lobulus of most enzymes investigated did not change distinctly. However, activity of alkaline phosphatase, succinate dehydrogenase and phosphogluconate dehydrogenase was increased in hepatocytes directly surrounding metastases. These data imply that the overall metabolic zonation in liver lobuli is not dramatically disturbed by the presence of cancer cells despite the fact that various metabolic processes in liver cells are affected.

5'-Nucleotidase

Is the Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbit a suitable experimental model for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in humans? A light microscopic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess an experimental model for the study of mechanisms that underlie restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. BACKGROUND: The Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbit lacks the receptor for low density lipoproteins, produces atherosclerotic lesions very similar to those in humans and, therefore, could serve as a suitable model. METHODS: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed on the left subclavian artery of 10 homozygous rabbits. The animals were killed at a few hours or 3, 7, 14 or 28 days after the procedure. The artery was fixed by perfusion, and the site of angioplasty was examined by both light and electron microscopy with the use of conventional and immunohistochemical staining techniques. RESULTS: Angioplasty had caused a flap-like or dissecting tear into the media. At day 3, cells within the preexisting media adjacent to the injury had the ultrastructural characteristics of synthetic smooth muscle cells. At day 7, spindle cells at the site of injury stained either negative or very weakly positive with a marker for actin; ultrastructurally, these cells had the synthetic phenotype. At day 14, the spindle cells showed a mix of contractile and synthetic phenotypes. The surface was partially covered by endothelial cells. At day 28, the dominant cell type was the contractile smooth muscle cell and the surface was completely covered by endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: Both the injury and the response to injury after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty were almost identical to that seen in humans after coronary angioplasty. Thus, the WHHL rabbit appears to be an appropriate experimental model for use in further studies.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary

A family with severe X-linked arthrogryposis.

Five males are reported with severe X-linked arthrogryposis. Main findings are marked respiratory insufficiency and feeding problems, multiple contractures, deformities of chest and vertebral column, and typical facies. Most of these findings can be explained by a pronounced prenatal and postnatal muscle weakness. The sole living child has severe psychomotor retardation. Several female carriers show mild features (clubfeet, contractures, hyperkyphosis, and slight muscle weakness). One manifesting carrier is affected more severely (multiple contractures, mental retardation, and various dysmorphic features). Additional investigations including muscle biopsy revealed none of the usual signs of denervation, and pointed to the presence of a degenerative muscle disorder.

Arthrogryposis

Neural cell adhesion molecule expression, neuroendocrine differentiation and prognosis in lung carcinoma.

We investigated the expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) in a series of surgically resected lung carcinomas of various histological subtypes by means of a panel of monoclonal antibodies recognising different N-CAM epitopes. In a subgroup of 56 tumours, the results of immunostaining with MAb 123C3--the antibody studied most extensively in our material--were compared to the ultrastructure, and in 231 radically resected non-small cell carcinomas, with histological tumour type and with clinical follow-up data. N-CAM expression was not limited to neuroendocrine tumours, as assessed ultrastructurally. Non-small cell lung carcinomas positive for MAb 123C3 showed post-operative overall and disease-free survival times significantly shorter than 123C3-negative non-small cell carcinomas.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Suppression of vascular injury at the Arthus reaction site by a complement inhibitor, 5,5',5''-(1,3,6-naphthalene-triyl-tris[sulfonylimino])-tris (1,3-benzene disulfonic acid) hexasodium salt.

A novel polyanionic complement inhibitor 5,5,5''-(1,3,6-naphthalene-triyl-tris[sulfonylimino])-tris(1 ,3-benzene- disulfonic acid) hexasodium salt (compound IIb) was tested for its ability to suppress vascular injury at the site of the Arthus reaction (AR). In control animals in which AR was evoked without drug treatment, venules at AR sites ranged from normal (arbitrarily defined as stage I) to destroyed (stage V). Between these two ends of the spectrum were venules with an accumulation of cells and deposits of electron dense material (stage II), accumulations of cells and deposits and small endothelial gappings (stage III), and accumulations of cells and depositions which had spread into perivascular tissue and small gappings (stage IV). In animals treated with compound IIb, the AR stopped at stage III or IV depending on the dose, it never reached stage V. In other words compound IIb treatment resulted in protection of endothelium, basal lamina and other structures from the destruction which is characteristically observed in the AR. The effect of high doses of compound IIb was similar to that described before for suramin.

Animals

Cerebral medulloepithelioma--electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry.

A case is reported of a boy, 3 years of age, with a large medulloepithelioma in the left cerebral hemisphere. Medulloepitheliomas are rare tumors of the primitive medullar epithelium. Histological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopical findings are presented. We discuss previously reported cases, the ontogeny of this type of tumor and the relation to the so-called primitive neuro-ectodermal tumors (PNET).

Brain Neoplasms

Polar spongioblastoma: an immunohistochemical and electron microscopical study.

A case is reported of a 9-year-old boy with a cerebral polar spongioblastoma. This neoplasm, first described by Russell and Cairns in 1947, is morphologically a distinct entity characterized by bipolar tumor cells with palisading nuclei. In the case under study immunoreactivity for neuron-specific enolase was found and ultrastructural features of developing neuronal elements were present. A neuro-endocrine nature was suggested by de Chadarévian et al. (1984) in a morphologically similar case. These findings are in contrast with the long-held view that the polar spongioblastoma is cytogenetically related to the embryonal radial glial cells.

Astrocytoma

Ultrastructural heterogeneity of lung carcinomas: representativity of samples for electron microscopy in tumor classification.

Histologic heterogeneity of tumors is a well-known phenomenon, which has been repeated studied at the light microscopic level. Electron microscopy has been advocated as an adjunct in classification of tumors which pose difficulties on light microscopic classification. However, in view of tumor heterogeneity, it might be anticipated that the problem of sample error could detract from the usefulness of electron microscopy in tumor typing. Ultrastructural heterogeneity of tumors has thus far not been systematically investigated. We performed an ultrastructural randomized and blinded study of superficial and deep samples of 44 resected lung carcinomas, tumors which are notorious for their histologic heterogeneity. Neuroendocrine and squamous differentiation, as well as adenodifferentiation, were assessed separately and semiquantitatively in each sample. Twenty-six tumors showed more than one type of differentiation in at least one sample. However, in only two cases did the main type of differentiation differ between the two samples. A further nine cases showed one predominant differentiation type in both samples, but a similarly pronounced second differentiation type in one of the samples. Thus, in terms of ultrastructural diagnosis, the two samples showed a major discrepancy in two of 44 cases, and a minor discrepancy in nine of 44 cases. We conclude that ultrastructural heterogeneity of lung tumors is a common occurrence, but that it only rarely leads to totally different ultrastructural diagnoses.

Carcinoma

Multifocal rhabdomyoma of the neck. Report of a case studied by fine-needle aspiration, light and electron microscopy, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry.

A 32-year-old Caucasian man presented with a tumor in the right side of the neck. Preoperative fine-needle aspiration showed large multinucleated cells with abundant granular cytoplasm that were consonant with the features of a granular cell tumor. At surgery, two separate tumors were found. Histologically, the tumor proved to be an adult rhabdomyoma, the 11th such multifocal case reported. The striated muscle origin of this benign tumor was confirmed by immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies. The tumor cells were desmin-, myoglobin-, and actin-positive. They showed variable numbers of thick and thin filaments, as well as hypertrophic Z-band material. Histochemical studies showed the presence of basophilic muscle cells, vesicular nuclei, ragged red fibers, and diffuse acid phosphatase positivity. These features, together with the absence of actual muscle cell proliferation and the assumption that the mass of the tumor could be explained by the enormous swelling of the muscle cells, lead us to conclude that an adult rhabodomyoma is merely the result of a process of disorderly degeneration and regeneration rather than a real neoplasm or a hamartomatous lesion.

Acid Phosphatase