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Biomedical subjects

G M Hodges

Publications and source records attributed to G M Hodges.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Radiation effects in the small bowel of the diabetic mouse.

PURPOSE: Irradiation of the small intestine in the mouse induces damaging structural alterations to the architecture of the enteric mucosa. There is growing interest in the possible relevance of underlying additional pathology when appreciating the total response of tissues to irradiation. The possibility that small intestinal mucosal abnormalities in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse may exacerbate radiation-induced injury was tested by examining the combined effects of the two treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Streptozotocin-diabetic and -non-diabetic mice were exposed to 10 Gy abdominal X-radiation. Profiles of mucosal epithelial cell populations were quantified and comparisons with corresponding groups of unirradiated mice made on the third day post-irradiation. RESULTS: The histological appearances of the small intestinal mucosa were similar in both groups of irradiated mice, but the numbers of profiles of crypts and of columnar, goblet, Paneth and entero-endocrine cells were depressed in these groups when compared with values in corresponding groups of unirradiated mice. However, the expression of radiation damage in the diabetic mouse was less severe than in the non-diabetic mouse, particularly in the jejunum where the changes attendant on the onset of diabetes were most marked. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the response of mouse to radiation may be moderated by the presence of this type of pathophysiology. However, there is no evidence that the damage produced by streptozotocin-induced diabetes and radiation is additive.

Animals↗

The effect of size on uptake of orally administered latex microparticles in the small intestine and transport to mesenteric lymph nodes.

PURPOSE: The present study examines the relationship between size and particle transit across the mucosal barrier of the gastrointestinal tract to other sites of the body. The extent of particle uptake with increasing size, the tissue distribution and cut-off points for 2-20 microns particles is investigated. METHODS: An established fluorescent latex particle-young adult rat model is used and particle numbers in small intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes, 0.5 h post administration, counted by fluorescence microscopy in bulk tissue specimens and cryosections. RESULTS: Bulk tissue analysis provides evidence for the presence of particles of all sizes in the Peyer's patch regions, but only for 2 microns particles in the nodal tissues. Microscopy establishes uptake of both 2 and 6 microns particles in most intestinal and nodal tissue sites and compartments. By contrast, uptake of the larger particles is much reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Although more of the smaller (2 microns) particles are taken up, particularly by epithelial tissues, the 6 microns size appears more efficient in terms of volume translocated to lymph nodes. This could have implications in the therapeutic use of particles for drug and vaccine delivery and for radiation safety.

Animals↗

Early intestinal microparticle uptake in the rat.

This time-course study investigates the early uptake and passage of microparticles across the intestinal mucosa. Single intraoral doses of fluorescent latex particles, 1.82 microns in diameter, were administered to young adult male, nonfasted rats at a dose of 1.88 x 10(9) particles. Peyer's patch regions and mesenteric lymph nodes were collected at 5, 15 and 30 min time points for both bulk tissue and morphological analyses. Particles were found at all experimental time points in macerated intestinal and nodal specimens: particle numbers were higher in proximal than in distal intestine at all time points despite the fact that particle numbers in distal Peyer's patch regions increased with time. Particle numbers in mesenteric lymph nodes also increased with time after administration. Detailed morphological data for several intestinal and nodal tissue compartments showed substantial early uptake of particles by villous epithelium, including goblet cells, but low involvement of follicle-associated cells. The distribution of particles in the lymph nodes confirmed that translocation occurred to all nodal compartments. These studies give confirmatory evidence that uptake and translocation of microparticles may take place as early as 5 min after administration and suggest that intestinal region may influence uptake.

Animals↗

Gastrointestinal uptake and translocation of microparticles in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat.

Uptake and translocation of particulates across the mucosal barrier of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is now generally recognised but the effect of pathophysiologically induced changes on this process is less well established. This study evaluated the effect of diabetes mellitus on GI absorption of particles, comparing particle localisation and particle loading in different microanatomical sites of the primary organ (small intestine) and possible particle translocation pathways to selected secondary organs (mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, spleen) in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals. Fluorescent polystyrene latex particles (approximately 2 microns diameter) were fed orally to young adult Sprague-Dawley rats and quantitative bulk tissue and morphological techniques used to chart particle transit across the small intestine to secondary organs 0.5 h postadministration. In the normal animal, epifluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy provided confirmatory evidence for particle absorption within the primary organ and transport to other sites in the body. By contrast, in the diabetic animal, particle translocation and peripheral distribution were reduced with approximately 30% decrease in particle loading in the epithelial/nonepithelial tissue compartments. This could be a consequence of gastric retention and altered intestinal motility and permeability which are known to be associated with diabetes.

Animals↗

Uptake and translocation of microparticles in small intestine. Morphology and quantification of particle distribution.

The intestinal transit of large (micro-) particles to other sites of the body remains a controversial issue of relevance in various fields of study. In this report fluorescent polystyrene latex microparticles in the size range of 2 microns were used as models for nonspecifically absorbed nonbiodegradable particulates. They were administered to young adult rats as a single oral dose of 1.65 x 10(9) particles; Peyer's patches and surrounding normal absorptive small intestinal tissue were collected at various time points. Quantification of solubilized tissue samples and fluorescence (epi- and confocal) qualitative and quantitative microscopy showed uptake of latex microparticles in all parts of the intestine sampled, but with the proximal segment the preferential site of absorption. The maximum uptake of particles occurred 0.5 hr after dosing in all three segments of the small intestine; there were progressively smaller numbers with distance from the pylorus and with time. Translocation of small numbers of particles to the mesenteric lymph nodes was also detected at 0.5 hr. Transmucosal passage of particles occurred primarily in the villous tissues adjacent to the Peyer's patch regions. These studies give confirmatory evidence for the uptake and translocation of microparticulates across the mucosal barrier and provide new information regarding site- and time-related effects on particle uptake and the involvement of the villous epithelium in particle translocation.

Animals↗

A commentary on morphological and quantitative aspects of microparticle translocation across the gastrointestinal mucosa.

It is now generally accepted that particulates in the nano-range (< 1 micron) can and do cross the intestinal mucosa. However, the issue is less well resolved for particles in the micro-range (> 1 micron) and this is discussed in relation to the variety of experimental designs present in the literature. Emphasis is placed on the relative contributions of quantitative bulk tissue analysis with respect to qualitative and quantitative morphological analysis. The discussion is extended to observations on factors influencing the particle translocation process including variation in particle uptake in relation to intestinal region and time post-dose administration based on data for uptake of -2 microns latex particles by rat Peyer's patch tissue. Although a significant body of data now identifies the intestinal processus of particle translocation it is underlined that discrepancies may arise as a consequence of different analytical approaches and that this is an issue to be addressed for valid comparisons of data.

Animals↗

A morphological and microanalytical investigation into the uptake of particulate iron across the gastrointestinal tract of rats.

The uptake and translocation of particulate iron across the gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa of young adult rats has been investigated using a range of morphological techniques and X-ray microanalysis (XRMA). In animals fed a suspension of iron powder constituted of metallic iron particles ranging in size from 6-9 microns down to 5-30 nm, light microscopic histochemistry has clearly revealed iron deposits within the tissues of the duodenum. Scanning electron microscopy of the duodenal tissue by back-scattered electron imaging has complemented the light microscopic observations and revealed a selective localization of iron in the villi with variation in levels of iron uptake by the mucosal cells. Ultrastructural and XRMA analysis of duodenum has established the presence of metallic iron nanoparticles within the brush border, lateral intercellular spaces of the mucosal cells, mitochondrial cristae and cytoplasm of both mucosal and stromal cells. The observations indicate that metallic iron particles, in the nano-size range, may be taken up by the GI mucosa and that the passage of such particles across the epithelial barrier may take place through both a paracellular as well as a transcytotic process.

Animals↗

Characterization of the P-glycoprotein over-expressing drug resistance phenotype exhibited by Chinese hamster ovary cells following their in-vitro exposure to fractionated X-irradiation.

Exposure of the Chinese hamster ovarian AuxB1 cell line in vitro to fractionated X-irradiation generated sublines designated DXR-10, which proved resistant to multiple drugs and overexpressed P-glycoprotein (Pgp), as judged by Western blotting using the C219 monoclonal antibody. Further characterization of these irradiated DXR-10 sublines has provided evidence for: (i) the expression of cross-resistance to gramacidin D, taxol, puromycin and Navelbine, but not to daunomycin or mitoxantrone; (ii) overexpression of the class I Pgp, as judged by Western blotting using the C494 monoclonal antibody; (iii) decreased accumulation of 3H-vincristine, which could be enhanced by verapamil addition; (iv) unaltered accumulation and subcellular distribution of adriamycin; (v) significantly increased rhodamine 123 accumulation in the presence of verapamil; (vi) plasma-membrane ultrastructural modifications resulting in a significantly increased surface area; (vii) numerous clonal karyotypic alterations, with abnormalities involving the long arm of chromosome 1 being consistently identified; (viii) a lack of overexpression of sorcin; (ix) increased total glutathione levels and overexpression of glutathione S-transferase pi. The fact that only certain of these features are considered characteristic of the 'classic' multidrug-resistant CHRC5 cell line supports our earlier proposal that exposure to fractionated X-irradiation results in the expression of a unique drug-resistance phenotype.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

On the molecular profiling of cell surfaces by SEM.

Cell surfaces interface with a variety of environments and, as a consequence, cell surface properties are of considerable functional importance to the biological organism. SEM immunocytochemistry (SEM-IC) is one of a range of techniques used to analyse cell surface properties. A major goal of SEM-IC centres on extended survey or high-magnification morphological analysis of cell and tissue surfaces combined with molecular profiles of these surfaces as established by gold-labelling. The properties of colloidal gold make it the marker of choice for SEM-IC and a representative gold-labelling protocol is outlined. The SEM-IC gold-labelling technique has been applied advantageously to the analysis both of cell surfaces and cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix elements: a tabulation of the main SEM-IC biomedical applications is given. Illustrated examples demonstrate how SEM-IC provides a highly effective approach for analysis both of cell and tissue differentiation-maturation sequences, and of pathological change involving not only the entire tissue or cell surface but also minute changes in microdomain characteristics of the individual cell surface. Steps in exploiting the technique of colloidal gold SEM-IC have been several-fold and include: use of backscattered electron imaging; accurate localization of gold particles by superimposition on topographical maps of the cell surface; and use of small (1-10 nm) gold probes followed by silver enhancement in order to minimize steric hindrance. Factors under assessment include: use of low voltage SEM; BE imaging of samples coated with ultrathin metal films; and use of gold-labelled SEM-IC for direct quantification of the numbers of target molecules exposed on cell surfaces by automated image analysis of the digitized BE image.

Animals↗

Comparison of 15 monoclonal antibodies against tumor-associated antigens of transitional cell carcinoma of the human bladder.

Quantitative urinary immunocytology with our monoclonal antibody (mab) 486p 3/12 proved to be valuable for diagnostic use in bladder-cancer patients' urine, especially in the followup of patients with superficial bladder carcinoma. To evaluate the use of other monoclonal antibodies in bladder cancer, we compared 15 mabs directed against bladder-tumor-associated antigens from seven research groups in a broad panel of cellular and tissue specimens (bladder tumor, prostatic adenoma, and kidney stone). Quantitative evaluation was done in cytocentrifuged preparations and tissue specimens. None of the 15 mabs was bladder-tumor-specific. All 15 stained normal urothelium to some extent and six stained granulocytes. Each of the 15 seemed to identify a different cellular antigen, as can be clearly demonstrated by the staining pattern of different regions in the normal kidney. The sensitivity of quantitative urinary immunocytology in bladder-tumor patients can be improved by using a panel, rather than one mab in bladder-tumor patients, but specificity decreases simultaneously. A main reason for the poor specificity of quantitative urinary immunocytology with all 15 mabs is that false-positive results are obtained with all mabs in kidney-stone patients. Our quantitative urinary immunocytology method is a general tool for the diagnostic use of all mabs in bladder-tumor patients. Mabs that have a high sensitivity might be useful in the followup of patients with superficial bladder carcinoma. None of the 15 mabs (because of their poor specificity) seems to be helpful in quantitative urinary immunocytology for screening a population for bladder carcinoma.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Primary culture of human oral epithelial cells. Growth requirements and expression of differentiated characteristics.

Epithelial cell cultures were initiated from explants of normal human oral mucosa. Growth parameters, cell type, and degree of maturation/cytodifferentiation were assessed by morphological and surface topographical criteria (light and scanning electron microscopy) together with immunofluorescence studies with a panel of antibodies to cytokeratins and extracellular matrix components. The effects of different media formulations were compared. Whereas stromal cell over-growth soon became apparent in media containing 10% serum, in low serum (0.5%) media containing insulin, hydrocortisone, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and/or cholera toxin (CT), epithelial growth was maintained with minimal or absent stromal cell contamination. Cell proliferation, maturation, and differentiation were modulated by EGF and CT: cultures maintained on EGF showed optimal growth but cells typically displayed only limited differentiation. By contrast, CT promoted considerably more cytodifferentiation but at the expense of proliferative capacity. Both factors together were complementary, resulting in maintenance of cells of a more mature phenotype of high proliferative capacity. Cytokeratins of normal oral epithelium in situ demonstrated characteristic changes in patterns of expression associated with differentiation. In culture, proliferative epithelial cells expressed keratins typical of the basal layer, whereas the most differentiated cells were identified by their strong reactivity with antibodies to epidermal keratins. Less mature cells showed expression of keratins associated with nonstratified epithelia. In cultures maintained with CT but no EGF, there was a tendency for weaker expression of basal type keratins, further suggesting that these cells were maintaining a more differentiated phenotype. Extracellular matrix components (fibronectin, laminin, collagen type IV) were not expressed by any epithelial cells in culture. Irrespective of medium composition, cultures did not survive beyond 100 days (5 or 6 subcultivations) before undergoing an irreversible 'crisis' of growth arrest and onset of degenerative changes.

Adolescent↗

Effects of treatment with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, artificial sweeteners, and cyclophosphamide on adult rat urinary bladder in vitro.

The effect of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU), sodium saccharin, sodium cyclamate and cyclophosphamide on rat bladder explants in vitro was studied. MNU administered as a single dose or in multiple treatments induced concentration-dependent changes in urothelial ultrastructure and cell surface topography. In a single treatment protocol, extensive cytotoxicity was observed in both the urothelium and stroma at concentrations of 500 to 1000 micrograms/ml, establishing a toxic threshold within this range. In a multiple treatment protocol, repeated doses of low concentrations of carcinogen (7 or 8 x 50 micrograms/ml, 6 x 100 micrograms/ml) induced hyperplastic and dysplastic changes in the urothelium with no cytotoxicity, but cytotoxic effects were observed following treatments of 4 x 200 micrograms/ml or 2 x 400 micrograms/ml. Sodium saccharin, sodium cyclamate, and cyclophosphamide induced changes in urothelial cell surface topography consistent with hyperplasia and preneoplasia. Prolonged exposure to saccharin or cyclamate followed by a single dose of MNU elicited more extensive abnormalities in the urothelium than either saccharin or cyclamate alone, suggesting that these artificial sweeteners have initiating activity in a multistage process. The ultrastructural changes induced by in vitro treatment showed a good correlation with the pathological changes observed in vivo in rats treated with MNU or fed either with saccharin or cyclamate.

Animals↗

Colloidal gold--a powerful tool in scanning electron microscope immunocytochemistry: an overview of bioapplications.

Colloidal gold may be conjugated to a wide variety of macromolecules, provides a versatile system for immunocytochemical studies by various types of microscopy (light and fluorescent microscopy, scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy), and is significantly contributing to the development of SEM immunocytochemistry as a routine analytical procedure. A comprehensive overview has been compiled of the literature on SEM bioapplications of colloidal gold. This is illustrated through a selected series of studies focussing on a) cell surface receptor-ligand interactions; b) expression of cell surface lectin-binding sites; c) surface distribution of extracellular matrix components; and d) visualization of gold-labelled cytoskeletal elements with emphasis on the use of backscattered electron imaging as a powerful analytical adjunct in the development of SEM immunocytochemistry.

Animals↗

Epithelial-stromal interactions in the adult bladder: urothelial growth, differentiation, and maturation on culture facsimiles of bladder stroma.

Analysis of the responsiveness of isolated adult urothelium to a series of different stromal cell-extracellular matrix combinations demonstrated the capacity of stromal cells to induce and maintain normal patterns of urothelial growth, differentiation, and maturation in vitro. By incorporating embryonic mesenchymal derived (Swiss 3T3) cells into type I collagen matrices, simplified three-dimensional tissue-like facsimiles of bladder stroma were derived. When recombined with sheets of isolated urothelium these facsimiles could approximately reproduce the capacity of natural stromal tissue to support the expression of normal urothelial tissue specific characteristics. In contrast cocultures between urothelia and monolayers of 3T3 cells, applied to the surface of planar collagen substrata could only permit urothelial cell attachment but not growth or differentiation whereas lethally irradiated 3T3 (feeder) cells, under similar experimental conditions, could support the maintenance of an immature or incompletely differentiated urothelium. Conditioned medium elaborated by cultured 3T3 cells could not stimulate further differentiation in urothelia cultured alone on planar collagen substrata. These studies indicate that a significant portion of the regulatory capacity of the stroma in stromal-urothelial interactions can be accounted for by the activities of a closely applied population of stromal cells, provided the cells are viable and presented to the urothelium in a three-dimensional context in combination with collagen. The capacity of embryonic mesenchymal cells to express properties appropriate to the development of a multilayered terminally differentiated urothelium suggests that normal interactions between adult urothelium and stroma are of limited specificity with the urothelium requiring an essential input of permissive signals only.

Animals↗

Phenotypic analysis of cultured melanoma cells. Expression of cytokeratin-type intermediate filaments by the M5 human melanoma cell line.

Expression of intermediate filament (IF) isotypes was studied in six human and two murine melanoma cell lines. With one exception, these lines expressed IFs only of the vimentin type; neurofilament peptides, desmin and GFAP were not detected. However, the M5 human melanoma line also expressed extensive cytokeratin tonofilament arrays, as visualized by immunofluorescence with a panel of eleven monoclonal antibodies and hetero-antisera to cytokeratins; only the keratin 19-specific antibody BA16 did not react. By 2 D gel electrophoresis, five major keratin peptides were detected (keratins 7, 8, 13, 17 and 18), and an additional 57 kD peptide was detected on immunoblots with several antikeratin antibodies. Also observed in M5 cells was focal collapse of tonofilament arrays in mitotic cells. All the melanoma lines tested were positive for S100; M5 and two other cell lines were also positive for the 220-240 kD neuroectoderm-associated cell-surface differentiation antigen defined by monoclonal antibody UJ 127:11. In all the melanoma cell lines, secretion of extracellular matrix proteins (fibronectin, laminin and collagen type IV) was sparse or absent, and all were negative for the epithelial cell markers HMG-1 and HMG-2. Co-expression of keratin and vimentin by a melanoma cell line is discussed in the light of recent controversy concerning expression of cytokeratins by other neoplasms of putative neuroectodermal origins.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Micro-heterogenous expression of peanut agglutinin-binding sites in the extracellular matrix of cultured cells.

Using double-label techniques with fluorochrome-conjugated peanut agglutinin (PNA) and indirect immunofluorescence with rabbit species-specific anti-fibronectin antibodies and a mouse monoclonal anti-fibronectin, the extracellular matrix (ECM) of cultured human and mouse fibroblasts (Hell7 and 3T3K) and human bladder epithelial cells (T24) was studied. The antibodies and PNA co-localized extensively. However, a small but consistent degree of micro-heterogeneity was revealed insofar as both PNA-positive fibronectin-negative fibrils as well as PNA-negative fibronectin-positive fibrils were observed. Fibronectin production by T24 cells (but not fibroblasts) was influenced by the growth medium, but this did not affect the heterogeneity. Trypsin removed most cell-surface fibronectin and all PNA-binding sites, but did not account for the observed phenomenon. Intracellular fibronectin, whether present naturally or induced to accumulate by culture in presence of Monensin, was PNA-negative. These data suggest that PNA-binding sites appear on fibronectin as a consequence of incorporation into the extracellular matrix, and that the resultant heterogeneity of spatial expression of beta-galactose-like residues may offer a mechanism whereby mesenchymal cells could modulate the behaviour of overlying cell-types.

Animals↗

Monoclonal antibodies to human urothelial cell lines and hybrids: production and characterization.

Eleven independent monoclonal antibodies, the LBS series, were isolated after immunization of mice with RT112 cells, a continuous cell line derived from a transitional cell carcinoma of the human bladder. These antibodies were tested by indirect immunofluorescence on a panel of 28 human cell lines, of which 17 were urothelial carcinoma-derived, 4 of non-urothelial carcinoma origin, 3 fibroblast cell lines, 4 lymphoblastoid lines and 7 murine cell lines. Also tested were 7 somatic cell hybrid clones derived by fusion of human RT112 cells with murine bladder carcinoma MB63T/H cells. None of the LBS antibodies reacted with mesenchyme-derived cells, although all reacted with RT112 cells. On the basis of reactivity with the cell line panel, the antibodies were divided into 3 groups. Group I (LBS-1 and 19) reacted with all human epithelium-derived cell lines. Group II (LBS-2, 8, 15 and 17) reacted only with human urothelium-derived cells, tending to recognise the least anaplastic types. Group III antibodies (LBS-10, 20A, 20B, 21 and 34) were urothelium-specific on the human continuous cell line panel, but additionally reacted with murine urothelial and epithelial cell lines. The 6 human-specific antibodies (Group I and II) were used for preliminary analysis of human gene expression in a series of 7 mouse X human urothelial somatic cell hybrids. Each hybrid reacted with at least 1 LBS antibody, although there were changes in gene expression with time in culture, indicating both loss and unmasking of human genes. These data suggest the LBS-series antibodies recognise different determinants associated with epithelial and urothelial cell differentiation, and thus may be valuable probes in the study of normal differentiation and malignant transformation in human urothelial cells.

Animals↗