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J Dufer

Publications and source records attributed to J Dufer.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Adriamycin resistance is characterized by ultrastructural changes in human leukaemic K562 cells in vitro.

Ultrastructural changes associated with adriamycin (ADM) resistance have been investigated in the human K562 leukaemic cell line: sensitive K562 cells, a resistant subline cultured in the continuous presence of ADM and resistant cells without ADM Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study revealed that K562-resistant cells displayed ultrastructural modifications of the cell surface, chromatin and nucleolus conformation. Alterations were not directly related to the presence of adriamycin as deprivated cells exhibited modificated characters through a slow progressive recovery phenomenon.

Acetylation↗

Thyroid neoplasms. Can we do any better with quantitative cytology?

The differential diagnosis of thyroid neoplasms by routine cytology presents major difficulties. We therefore looked for measurable nuclear parameters that could be generated from Feulgen-stained smears obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). These parameters would then be used to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions. Seventy-six patients whose cold thyroid nodule was surgically excised after FNAB and examined by a pathologist were used in this study: 56 benign, 18 malignant and 2 atypical adenomas. A set of 3,662 cells from the 33 benign cases was compared with the set of 1,712 cells from the 11 malignant nodules. Discrimination between the two populations was based on four nuclear features ranked according to their discriminating power. The first ranked was a textural parameter, followed by a densitometric and finally two other textural parameters. The rate of nuclei that could be regarded as benign was computed for each case using the ranked parameters. The average rate for the 33 benign cases was 85% (50.2 = 100%, set at the 95% confidence interval). In a prospective study of the 32 remaining patients, sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 92% and 88%, which were higher than those obtained by conventional cytology.

Adenoma↗

Can chromatin texture predict structural karyotypic changes in diploid cells from thyroid cold nodules?

To assess the effect of a single chromosomal translocation on the nuclear phenotype of human cells, seven diploid adenomas and five diploid carcinomas of the thyroid gland were studied using quantitative nuclear morphometry. Four adenomas and three carcinomas were cytogenetically normal, whereas three adenomas and two carcinomas had a unique chromosomal translocation. A densitometric parameter discriminated adenomas from carcinomas (skewness of the optical density histogram, SODH), and tumours with and without chromosomal translocation (standard deviation of the optical density, SDODH). These results demonstrate that single chromosomal structural rearrangements produce quantifiable alterations of nuclear organisation, but that other nuclear features which do not express an aneuploid DNA content or an abnormal karyotype differentially characterise benign and malignant conditions.

Adenoma↗

Adhesion of human neutrophils to and activation by type-I collagen involving a beta 2 integrin.

We previously demonstrated that the alpha 1(I) polypeptide chain of collagen can bind and activate polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). In the present experiments, performed in culture grade 96-well plastic plates coated with collagen, fibronectin, or other proteins, adhesion was assessed by staining the adhering cells after 30 min with crystal violet and measuring absorbance at 560 nm, and activation of PMNs was assessed by measuring the amount of O2-formed. Adhesion occurred at 17 and 37 degrees C but activation at 37 degrees C only. Monoclonal antibody anti-CD 18 inhibited adhesion, showing that the receptor of collagen I on PMNs is a beta 2 integrin. On the other hand, adhesion of PMNs to fibronectin was inhibited by monoclonal antibodies to CD18 and to CD11b.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Activation of human neutrophils by type I collagen. Requirement of two different sequences.

Contact between type I collagen purified from several species and human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) triggers the production of O2.- by these cells. The activity of collagen is located in the alpha 1(I)-CB6 cyanogen bromide-cleaved (CB)-peptide, which is the C-terminal CB-peptide of the alpha 1(I) chain. Experiments based on the competitive inhibition of O2.- production by simultaneous incubation of PMNs with type I collagen and synthetic peptides identical to the conserved sequences of this collagen demonstrated that the binding of collagen to PMNs and the subsequent activation of these cells depend on the simultaneous presence of two sequences: Arg-Gly-Asp [residues 915, 916 and 917 of the complete alpha 1(I) chain, located in the helical part] Asp-Gly-Gly-Arg-Tyr-Tyr (residues 1034-1039, located in the C-terminal non-helical telopeptide).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chromosomal changes in thyroid tumors. Relation with DNA content, karyotypic features, and clinical data.

A cytogenetic study was performed in 63 thyroid tumors after a monolayer short-term culture. Clonal chromosomal changes were found in 47% of carcinomas and 31% of adenomas. Chromosome 7 was altered in 40% of cytogenetically abnormal tumors. The modal DNA index measured in 26 tumors was consistent with the chromosomal mode in 88% of cases. A quantitative morphometric analysis of nuclear features differentiated between diploid thyroid adenomas with or without a single translocation, which suggests that they have different biological properties. Clonal chromosomal changes were observed in 78% of carcinomas with an aggressive behavior, but only 28% of those had no risk factors. The two patients who died early had abnormalities of chromosome 7.

Adenoma↗

Tetraploid cycle in ageing solid tumours.

When the mouse mammary adenocarcinoma 755 (Ca-755) reaches the plateau phase of growth, non-cycling cells with a G2-DNA content can be observed. They may belong to the diploid cell cycle but they could also be blocked in G0 or G1 of a tetraploid cycle. This hypothesis was tested in three ways: (1) non-cycling G2 nuclei were stained with a combination of Feulgen and naphthol yellow which revealed two populations, one with a low protein content and the other with a high protein content--the latter may represent nuclei ready to begin a new phase of DNA synthesis; (2) Feulgen staining and autoradiography were performed after tritiated thymidine had been administered to mice continuously: this showed that there were cells synthesizing DNA with a DNA index above 2; and (3) cells having 80 chromosomes, corresponding to the tetraploid cycle, were found almost exclusively in the plateau phase tumours. On the other hand, the use of texture and DNA parameters of the Feulgen stained nuclei showed that they were concentrated in a diploid cycle for tumours in the exponential phase of growth and were divided between a diploid and tetraploid cycle for 'plateau' cells. Neither the cause for, nor the role played by, polyploid cells is known.

Animals↗

Nuclear textural changes preceding endotoxin mediated enhancement of thromboplastin synthesis in human endothelial cells in vitro.

Human vascular endothelium plays a major role in hemostatic processes. Human venous endothelial cells (HEC) may promote coagulation by generation of thromboplastin. This tissue factor production is enhanced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, the mechanisms of this enhancement remain unclear. In order to quantify by image analysis the nuclear modifications induced by LPS on HEC, umbilical cord vein HEC were cultured in vitro with or without E. coli LPS (10 micrograms/ml) for 0 to 6 h. At the end of culture, tissue factor expression was evaluated by the ability of a cellular extract to shorten the coagulation time of human citrated plasma. Simultaneously, the morphology of LPS treated and control HEC was analysed using a SAMBA 200 cell image processor after Feulgen staining. This analysis indicates that LPS treatment induces nuclear modifications as early as 1 h after culture onset, before any tissue factor expression. This activity appears only between 2 and 4 h of culture with LPS. Our data show that image analysis permits the detection of very early nuclear events in HEC and that these events precede the expression of functional properties which may be implicated in thrombotic processes.

Cell Nucleus↗

Quantitative morphological analysis of adriamycin-resistant human K562 leukemic cells.

The morphological changes associated with Adriamycin resistance in a human leukemic cell line have been investigated by image analysis. An Adriamycin-resistant subline of the human erythroleukemic K562 cell line has been established. Three sets of cells have been analysed: sensitive cells, resistant cells cultured in the continuous presence of Adriamycin, and resistant cells cultured without the drug. Image analysis shows that Adriamycin-resistant K562 cells display significant morphological changes as compared with sensitive cells, at both the nuclear and cytoplasmic levels. These changes make it possible to separate sensitive and resistant cells automatically and with a classification accuracy of 76% and only four cytological parameters. Image analysis may therefore offer an interesting tool for studying drug resistance in leukemic cells, from both an experimental and a clinical point of view.

Cell Line↗

Comparative effects of fagaronine, adriamycin and aclacinomycin on K562 cell sensitivity to natural-killer-mediated lysis. Lack of agreement between alteration of transferrin receptor and CD15 antigen expressions and induction of resistance to natural killer.

Little is known about membrane target antigens for natural killer (NK) cells. Transferrin receptor and CD15 antigen might be two of these target structures. A novel antileukemic alkaloid, fagaronine, is able to induce hemoglobin synthesis in the K562 cell line. Numerous reports suggest relations between the expression of natural killer target structures and the differentiation stage of malignant cells. Effects of fagaronine on the expression of glycophorin A, transferrin receptor and CD15 antigen and susceptibility to NK-mediated lysis have been investigated in K562 cells and compared to those of two anthracyclines (Adriamycin and aclacinomycin A) known to be erythroid-differentiation inducers. When comparing the balance of differentiating effect and toxicity, the dose and time-dependent effects of the drugs, fagaronine and aclacinomycin, are equivalent on K562 cells. In experimental conditions where fagaronine (3500 nM), Adriamycin (40 nM) and aclacinomycin (15 nM) recruit the same percentage of hemoglobin-containing cells (40%-50%), glycophorin A expression increases and transferrin receptor expression decreases. Only Adriamycin treatment decreases CD15 antigen expression. In addition, Adriamycin and aclacinomycin, but not fagaronine, induce resistance to NK-mediated lysis. These data suggest that (a) it is unlikely that CD15 antigen and transferrin receptor, separately considered, can be unique target structures for NK cells; and (b) fagaronine is a potent erythroid inducer which, in our system, has similar effects to aclacinomycin without induced resistance to NK attack.

Aclarubicin↗

Quantitative morphological aspects of granulocytic differentiation induced in HL-60 cells by dimethylsulfoxide and retinoic acid.

HL-60 cells differentiate to mature granulocytes when cultured with DMSO or retinoic acid. These two drugs can induce different expression of phenotypic or functional properties in these cells. The morphological characteristics of the differentiation sequences elicited by these two drugs have been therefore evaluated by a quantitative cytological analysis technique using a SAMBA 200 cell image processor. The maturation sequences induced by DMSO or retinoic acid differed mainly in nuclear geometry and cytoplasmic granules expression. Multivariate statistical analyses of data reveal that DMSO and retinoic acid elicited granulocytic maturation through two separate morphological pathways which can be individualized as early as 24 hr after differentiation induction. Image processing may therefore offer an interesting tool for studying new drugs with differentiation potential in chemotherapy.

Analysis of Variance↗

Collagen activates superoxide anion production by human polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

Human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), purified on Ficoll-Hypaque cushions, were incubated for 5 min with calf skin acid-soluble collagen and the released superoxide anions (O2-) measured spectrophotometrically by reduction of ferricytochrome c or by chemiluminescence analysis. This collagen stimulated the release of O2- unless it had been treated with pepsin. The stimulatory activity remained in denatured collagen, was contained only in the alpha 1(I) chain and was present in the alpha 1(I)-CB 6 (CNBr-cleaved) peptide, which is C-terminal. The activity was linearly dependent on the collagen concentration up to about 200 micrograms/ml. In addition, this collagen induced a release of beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase from PMNs.

Calcium↗

Age related differences in immunocompetence and incidence of mammary adenocarcinoma in murine mammary tumor virus-infected C3H/Bi mice.

In breeder C3H/Bi female mice, infected neonatally by murine mammary tumor virus (MTV), the incidence of spontaneous mammary tumors is greater than 95% between 5 and 9 months of age. In young (2-3 months) female the probability for developing a tumor in the next month is negligible, higher than 80% in mice of middle age (5-6 months) but lower than 4% in aged (10-12 months) females. The age-related changes of some immune functions of spleen cells from these tumor free female mice have been evaluated. While the proliferative capacity of cells to Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) increases, the T cell-dependent antibody response against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) are significantly decreased in 5-6-month-old mice as compared to the young (2-3 months) female mice. The antibody response against SRBC and the mitogenic response to PHA decline markedly in 10-12-month-old mice but the ADCC increases in this group of mice. In addition, assays with monoclonal anti-Lyt-1 and anti-Lyt-2 antibodies indicate that percentage of Lyt 1- 2+ cells (suppressor and cytotoxic T cells) is lower in 10-12-month-old female as compared to 5-6-month-old animals. These results show that the immune alterations observed in 10-12-month-old C3H/Bi mice are not closely associated with an increase in incidence of spontaneous tumors and suggest that a high non-T killer cell activity could protect some of these older C3H/Bi female mice against mammary tumor development.

Aging↗

Dipeptidyl-amino-peptidase IV activity in stored buffy coat smears from human blood.

The stability of dipeptidyl-amino-peptidase IV (DAP IV) activity in lymphoid cells of buffy coat smears from human blood was studied during storage for 40 days. Fixed or unfixed smears may be stored at 20 C for up to 24 hr before a decrease in activity occurs. Storage of either fixed or unfixed smears at 4 C, -10 C and -80 C results in a significant loss of activity within 24 hr. However, the cells retain more than 85% of their DAP IV activity for up to 10 days when stored fixed at -80 C. These data underscore the importance of proper processing of slides for DAP IV staining to avoid misinterpretation of results.

Adult↗

An improved cytochemical method for the evaluation of eosinophil colonies in soft-agar cultures from human blood or bone marrow.

A simple peroxidase staining method specific for eosinophils using 4-chloro-1-naphthol as substrate and 1,2,4-benzene triol as selective inhibitor is applied to the analysis of eosinophil colonies grown in soft-agar cultures form human blood or bone marrow. Eosinophil colonies appear strongly stained in black whereas other types of colonies (neutrophils and macrophages) remain colourless. The proposed method is easy to be performed, quick, reliable, may be associated without major problems to many other cytochemical stains and promises to be of value in hemopoiesis studies.

Adult↗

Cytochemical analysis of acid hydrolases expression during phorbol diester (TPA)-driven differentiation of B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells in vitro.

Four acid hydrolases, acid phosphatase (AP), alpha-naphthyl acetate acid esterase (ANAE), beta-glucuronidase (BG) and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NABG) were determined cytochemically in B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) cells exposed in vitro to the tumor promoter 12-0-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13 acetate (TPA). TPA, which has been previously shown to induce B-CLL cells to mature towards plasmacytoid cells, results in the progressive expression of the enzymes tested in the cytoplasm of malignant cells, in particular AP and ANAE. Furthermore, the sensitivity to inhibitors and the pattern of reactivity of ANAE provide evidence for an enzyme subtype normally restricted to plasma cells. Thus, acid hydrolases--some of which showing plasma cell type of activity--are expressed during B-CLL cells differentiation induced in vitro. These results confirm the value of cytochemistry in subtyping B-cell malignancies.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Differential effect of the serine protease inhibitor phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride on cytochemically detectable esterases in human leucocytes and platelets.

Esterases of human leucocytes and platelets were studied by cytochemical methods. The aim of the study was to clarify the cellular distribution and possible nature of esterases types differing in their substrate specificity and/or their inhibitor sensitivity. 3 substrates (alpha-naphthyl acetate: ANA; naphthol AS-D chloroacetate: NASDCA; and N-acetyl DL-alanine alpha-naphthyl ester: NACALA) were used and the effects of 2 inhibitors (sodium fluoride and the serine protease inhibitor phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride: PMSF) were evaluated. 4 enzyme types were described: Type I, present in granulocytes, was detected using NASDCA and NACALA and was resistant to fluoride but sensitive to PMSF. Other types were detected using ANA as substrate. Type II, present in monocytes, was inhibited by both fluoride and PMSF. Type III, present in platelets and plasma cells, was inhibited by fluoride but resistant to PMSF. Type IV, present in lymphocytes, was resistant to both fluoride and PMSF. The specific aims and possible areas for application of these results are discussed.

Adult↗