Francesco Bianchi

Immunohistochemical localization of the epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor α, and their receptor in the human mesonephros and metanephros

The distribution of epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor α (TGFα), and EGF/TGFα receptor were studied by means of immunohistochemical methods starting from the very early stages of human embryonic kidney development. Mesonephros and metanephros were examined in order to detect immunoreactive staining in serial sectioned embryos and fetal kidneys. Anti‐EGF immunoprecipitates were found in the S‐shaped mesonephric vesicles of 6‐week old embryos as well as in the mesonephric duct albeit with a lower degree of reactivity. Intense reactivity was observed in the metanephros within the blastemic caps of the same gestational period; the reaction was weaker within the ureteric bud branches. Bowmans capsule, proximal tubules, and collecting ducts were also reactive in the fetal kidney to varying degrees. The distribution of TGFα reactivity in the mesonephros was similar to that observed for EGF but with a lower intensity. In contrast, there was no reactivity in the metanephros, at least during the embryonic periods examined. By the 11th week of gestation, an intense reactivity for TGFα polipeptide was shown in the fetal kidney at the level of the proximal tubules and Bowmans capsule; distal tubules as well as all urinary structures from the collecting ducts to the pelvis were less reactive. Finally, EGF/TGFα receptor reactivity was identified by the 6th week of development, being more intense in the mesonephros at the level of the mesonephric duct cells. In the metanephros, the ureteric bud‐derived branches were reactive, whereas most of the blastemic tissue did not stain. By the 11th week, only the collecting ducts and the remaining urinary structures contained reaction products: Reactivity was distributed to the tissues originating from the ureteric bud branching. Taking into account recent advances in knowledge about the biology of growth factors, the hypothesis is proposed that the secretory components (vesicles, glomerulus, and tubules) of renal anlagen might release the growth factors while the cells of the urinary tract (i.e., collecting duct, pelvis, etc.) may be their targets.

Laminin and β1 Integrin Distribution in the Early Stages of Human Kidney Development

Laminin, an extracellular matrix molecule (EMM) widely expressed in the basal laminae, interacts with specific membrane receptors among which the integrin molecules are the best known. During embryo development laminin is the first synthesized EMM and plays a significant role in the morphogenesis of organs in which epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and branching take place. The present study describes the distribution of laminin and of β1 integrin receptors during the very early stages of human kidney development. The observations were carried out on paraffin sections of human embryos ranging between the 4th and the 7th gestational week. Laminin was detected within the basement membranes of mesonephric duct, vesicles, glomerular vessels and celomic epithelium. The metanephric anlage reacted with anti-laminin immunoglobulins in the basement membrane underlying the ampullae and in few blastemic cap cells. Low levels of β1 integrin reactivity were found in both the mesonephric and metanephric structures. This study provides for the first time data about the distribution of laminin and β1 integrin in the early stages of human renal organogenesis suggesting a key role for these molecules in the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions necessary for kidney development.

TGF-alpha mRNA expression in renal organogenesis: a study in rat and human embryos.

The peptides belonging to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family play a significant role in kidney development by binding the EGF receptor. Transforming growth factor-α (TGFα), a member of this family, is thought to be the fetal ligand of the EGF receptor. The present study aims to localize the TGFα transcripts in rat and human embryonic kidneys using a nonradioactive in situ hybridization method on paraffin-embedded embryonic samples. The results obtained in this study, beside demonstrating the usefulness of the nonradioactive technique for the detection of TGFα mRNA in paraffin sections, allowed TGFα-producing cells to be seen in developing kidneys. TGFα mRNA and its respective peptide were found in the primitive mesonephric structures and within metanephric blastema and ureteric bud cells. The presence of the TGFα gene transcript in the developing rat and human kidney suggests that the TGFα peptide is of embryonic origin and that it may contribute to renal organogenetic processes together with other growth factors.

Detection of melanoma cells in peripheral blood and sentinel lymph nodes by RT-PCR analysis: A comparative study with immunohistochemistry

The presence of lymph node metastases is the best prognostic factor for predicting relapse or survival in melanoma patients. It has been demonstrated that melanoma metastases spread through the first lymph node(s) draining the tumor (sentinel lymph node, SN) to the lymphatic system and that detection of melanoma cells in peripheral blood directly correlates with prognosis in melanoma. To identify lymph node metastases and circulating melanocytes, we developed a single-step reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR) for detection of two melanoma-specific markers: the tyrosinase gene, which encodes an enzyme associated with melanin synthesis, and melanoma antigen-related T-cells, which are present in tumor infiltrating T-lymphocytes. This method detects two tumor cells in a background of 107 lymphocytes. Thirty patients with stage I–IV cutaneous melanoma entered the study. Blood samples were taken preoperatively, one month after excision of the primary melanoma lesion and the SN or total lymphadenectomy, and before the start of chemotherapy and every three months thereafter in metastatic patients. SNs were collected from 22 patients, bisected and analyzed by RT-PCR and routine pathological and immunohistochemical tests. The preliminary results indicate that RT-PCR for melanoma markers is a sensitive and valuable method for the detection of micrometastases and for early diagnosis and staging of melanoma.

THE LOCATION AND THE REGULATION OF THE TYPE I-IODOTHYRONINE 5'-MONODEIODINASE (TYPE I-MD) IN THE RAT THYROID : STUDIES USING A SPECIFIC ANTI-TYPE I-MD ANTIBODY

Type I-iodothyronine monodeiodinase (type I-MD) is abundant in thyroid tissue and contributes to the generation of T3 secreted by the gland. The availability of a specific antibody against rat type I-MD (type I-MD Ab) allowed us to directly identify this enzyme in rat thyroid glands, and in a differentiated strain of rat thyroid cells maintained in continuous culture (FRTL-5 cells). FRTL-5 cells maintain many differentiated functions of thyroid cells, including the expression of TSH receptor and thyroid peroxidase. Using an immunohistochemical technique on rat thyroid sections, a clear staining for type I-MD was demonstrated in follicular cells. The degree of immunoreactivity was greater in small follicles containing little amounts of colloid compared to large follicles lined by functionally inactive cells. Using immunofluorescence (IFL), a strong staining for type I-MD was observed in FRTL-5 cells grown in medium containing TSH. Both in vivo and in culture the staining for type I-MD was localised in the cytoplasm of thyroid cells, while nuclei were negative. Interestingly, no surface staining was shown when viable FRTL-5 cells were submitted to the same IFL procedure. TSH deprivation for 7 days was followed by the disappearance of type I-MD. Immunoreactivity for type I-MD was recovered by addition of TSH, forskolin or thyroid stimulating antibody (TSAb) to TSH-deprived FRTL-5 cells. The effect of TSH was prevented by cycloheximide. There was no induction of type I-MD when IGF-I was added to FRTL-5 cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In vitro morpho-functional analysis of pancreatic islets isolated from the domestic chicken

The technique whereby islets were isolated from the pancreas of chicken and their in vitro histological and functional characterization are described in this paper. Our isolation procedure consisted of two steps: initially the pancreas removed from the chicken was perfused with a 2% solution of collagenase and enzymatic digestion was then carried out using the same solution. After this, density gradient separation was performed on the digested tissue, by means of differing Histopaque solutions: at the end of the separation, the islets were studied by light microscopy after treatment with diphenylthiocarbazone, which selectively stains beta-cells, and by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The results reported here show the pattern closely resembled that encountered when islets were studied in situ. The beta-cells of the islets proved in vitro to preserve their functional capability of producing insulin even after stimulation with glucose or arginine.

COMPARATIVE ACTIVITY OF DOXORUBICIN AND ITS MAJOR METABOLITE, DOXORUBICINOL, ON V79/AP4 FIBROBLASTS - A MORPHOFUNCTIONAL STUDY

Doxorubicin (DXR), an anthracycline antineoplastic drug, is mainly metabolized to the C-13 dihydroderivative doxorubicinol (DXR-ol), which displays cytotoxic activity on various cell lines. To better characterize the cytotoxic activity of this metabolite, we have studied the effect of DXR (0.1-10 micrograms/ml) or DXR-ol (1-100 micrograms/ml) on the transformed fibroblast cell line V79/AP4 by means of the clonogenic assay, cytofluorescence, and light and electron microscopy. Both DXR and DXR-ol displayed a dose-dependent inhibition of colony formation with an IC50 factor DXR-ol/DXR of 19.5. A striking nuclear fluorescence was observed after DXR but not after DXR-ol. A low number of mitoses and a decrease in nucleoli staining affinity were the most evident alterations induced by DXR. Electron microscopy showed both nuclear and cytoplasmic changes in DXR treated cells: nucleolar segregation, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and mitochondrial swelling with dense needle-shaped material were observed. Exposure to formic acid confirmed the calcific nature of the mitochondrial bodies. Only the highest dose of DXR-ol brought about nuclear and cytoplasmic ultrastructural changes similar to those induced by DXR. Our data describe new in vitro findings on the cytotoxicity and morphological alterations induced by both DXR and DXR-ol, with a lower activity of DXR-ol against V79/AP4 fibroblasts.

RENAL CELL CULTURES FOR THE STUDY OF GROWTH FACTOR INTERACTIONS UNDERLYING KIDNEY ORGANOGENESIS

SummaryThe present study was performed in four renal cell lines to evaluate their capability to: (1) produce and express transforming growth factor α (TGFα), its respective receptor, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) and the small G protein, RhoA, and (2) exhibit morphogenetic properties when grown on Matri-cell substrates. The cell lines were derived from normal (Madin-Darby canine kidney cells), embryonic (SK-NEP-1 and 293 cells), and cancerous (human renal adenocarcinoma cells) kidneys. TGFα messenger ribonucleic acid evaluated by a nonradioactive in situ hybridization technique, was found to be expressed in all the cell lines. Large amounts of TGFα peptide were observed in all four cell lines, while EGFr was highly expressed only in cancerous ACHN and embryonic-tumor SK-NEP-1 cells. RhoA peptide was found in appreciable amounts in SK-NEP-1 and 293 cells (compared to the other two cell lines). The morphogenetic properties of the four cell lines were assessed, by culturing them on Matri-cell dishes: SK-NEP-1 cells alone were found to grow in three-dimensional structures forming clusters and worm-like cellular aggregates. This feature was displayed by SK-NEP-1 cells but not by the other three cell lines, and may be connected with the contemporary presence of RhoA, EGFr, and TGFα found in significant amounts only in the SK-NEP-1 cell line.

Questioning the role of adenosine deaminase in the development of B lymphocytes in chicken bursa.

Adenosine deaminase, a purine metabolic enzyme, was studied in lymphoid tissues of the developing chicken in order to evaluate whether enzyme activity is related to development of the immune system in birds in the same way as for mammals, in which adenosine deaminase is essential for lymphocyte differentiation, especially for the T-cell lineage. Enzyme activity was assayed in thymocytes and bursal lymphocytes at different times during chicken development ranging from the 17th day of embryonic life up to the 50th day after hatching. Adenosine deaminase activity was significantly higher in the bursa than in the thymus, regardless of whether such an activity was expressed per mg protein or per 10(8) cells; moreover, no substantial difference in the relative levels of adenosine deaminase was observed in thymocytes at the various stages of thymus development studied. Significant changes in enzyme activity, however, were found in bursal lymphocytes in which different amounts of adenosine deaminase appeared to be related to definite stages of bursal development and to specific immunological responsiveness of B lymphocytes to intravenously injected antigens. Therefore, if adenosine deaminase does play a role in the functional maturation of the immune system in birds, such a role appears to be related to the differentiation of the B- rather than the T-cell lineage.

Altered expression of connexin 43 and related molecular partners in a pig model of left ventricular dysfunction with and without dipyrydamole therapy.

Gap junctions (GJ) mediate electrical coupling between cardiac myocytes, allowing the spreading of the electrical wave responsible for synchronized contraction. GJ function can be regulated by modulation of connexon densities on membranes, connexin (Cx) phosphorylation, trafficking and degradation. Recent studies have shown that adenosine (A) involves Cx43 turnover in A1 receptor-dependent manner, and dipyridamole increases GJ coupling and amount of Cx43 in endothelial cells. As the abnormalities in GJ organization and regulation have been described in diseased myocardium, the aim of the present study was to assess the regional expression of molecules involved in GJ regulation in a model of left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). For this purpose the distribution and quantitative expression of Cx43, its phosphorylated form pS368-Cx43, PKC phosphorylated substrates, RhoA and A receptors, were investigated in experimental models of right ventricular-pacing induced LVD, undergoing concomitant dipyridamole therapy or placebo, and compared with those obtained in the myocardium from sham-operated minipigs. Results demonstrate that an altered pattern of factors involved in Cx43-made GJ regulation is present in myocardium of a dysfunctioning left ventricle. Furthermore, dipyridamole treatment, which shows a mild protective role on left ventricular function, seems to act through modulating the expression and activation of these factors as confirmed by in vitro experiments on cardiomyoblastic cell line H9c2 cells.