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Biomedical subjects

O Tanizawa

Publications and source records attributed to O Tanizawa.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Inhibitory effects of estrogen, progesterone, androgen and glucocorticoid on death of neonatal mouse uterine epithelial cells induced to proliferate by estrogen.

Female newborn mice were given daily injections of estradiol-17 beta (E2; 25 micrograms/mouse/day) for 4 days from the day of birth, and uterine cell death after this E2 priming was investigated by examining the apoptotic index (percentage of apoptotic cells), and the retention of 3H-radioactivity incorporated into epithelial or stromal DNAs after injection of [3H]thymidine into the mice on the day after birth. With injections of vehicle only after E2 priming, the apoptotic index of the uterine epithelium increased markedly, being maximal on day 4 of injections, and the 3H-radioactivity retained in the epithelium decreased rapidly. Agarose gel electrophoresis of uterine epithelial DNAs on day 4 of injections showed a ladder pattern, characteristic of apoptotic cell death. However, daily injections of E2 (7.2 micrograms/g body wt) completely inhibited the increase in the apoptotic index and the loss of 3H-radioactivity in the epithelium. Daily injections of progesterone (80 micrograms/g body wt), 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 8 micrograms/g body wt), and dexamethasone (2 micrograms/g body wt) also inhibited both parameters, although not completely. The inhibitory effects of DHT and progesterone were abolished by the antiandrogen, flutamide and antiprogesterone, RU 486, respectively. In contrast, no apoptotic cells and no loss of 3H-radioactivity were found in the stroma for any treatment after E2 priming. The present results suggest that discontinuation of estrogen stimulation results in apoptotic cell death in the uterine epithelium of neonatal mice, but not in the stroma, and that estrogen, progesterone, DHT and dexamethasone inhibit cell death of uterine epithelium.

Animals↗

Placental interleukin-6 production is enhanced in intrauterine infection but not in labor.

OBJECTIVE: Because interleukin-6 is an important mediator in the host defense mechanism against infection and tissue damage, we studied the capacity of placentas with or without either labor or chorioamnionitis in the third trimester to produce interleukin-6. STUDY DESIGN: The placental blocks were cultured, and their interleukin-6 titers were measured by a bioassay. RESULTS: Placentas with labor produced a similar amount of interleukin-6 to placentas without labor. In contrast, placentas with chorioamnionitis produced much more interleukin-6 than the placentas with or without labor (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Placental interleukin-6 is thus surmised to participate in potentiation of the placental and fetomaternal defense mechanisms together with placental interleukin-1 during chorioamnionitis.

Chorioamnionitis↗

Crucial role of serum human chorionic gonadotropin for the aggravation of thyrotoxicosis in early pregnancy in Graves' disease.

Thyrotoxicosis in Graves' disease is often aggravated in early pregnancy and is closely associated with postpartum recurrence of stimulative thyrotoxicosis. To examine whether thyroid-stimulating TSH receptor antibody (TSAb) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which also has thyroid-stimulating activity (TSA), was responsible for this early aggravation, the respective TSA due to TSAb or hCG was evaluated by a highly sensitive cAMP accumulation assay using FRTL-5 cells. TSA was detectable in all of 11 women in normal early pregnancy, correlated positively with serum hCG concentration, and was abolished completely by the pretreatment of serum sample with the solid-phase hCG antibody coupled with Sepharose 4B. The model serum samples of Graves' disease with pregnancy were made by the mixture of normal pregnant and Graves' sera, and their TSA were reduced by the pretreatment with the solid-phase hCG antibody, just corresponding with the reduction in hCG-induced TSA. TSA of early pregnant sera in 20 patients with Graves' disease decreased significantly but were still positive even after the pretreatment with the hCG antibody. Serial changes in TSAb and hCG-induced TSA were measured in 5 of these 20 pregnant patients. hCG-induced TSA increased associated with the increase in free thyroxine, while TSAb did not show striking change in early pregnancy. These data indicate that (1) respective TSA due to TSAb or hCG can be measured distinctively by using the solid-phase hCG antibody and (2) hCG plays a crucial role in the aggravation of Graves' thyrotoxicosis in early pregnancy.

Autoantibodies↗

Gestational thyrotoxicosis and hyperemesis gravidarum: possible role of hCG with higher stimulating activity.

OBJECTIVE: The thyroid gland is physiologically stimulated in normal early pregnancy. However, clinical thyrotoxicosis in normal pregnancy has not been well described. In order to clarify this we examined thyroid function and thyrotoxic symptoms in relation to emesis in normal pregnancy. We also investigated the possible mechanism of gestational thyrotoxicosis. DESIGN: Thyroid function was evaluated in view of the clinical thyrotoxic symptoms and the severity of gestational emesis in early pregnancy of 51 normal women. Two pregnant women who showed clinical thyrotoxicosis were followed serially during and after pregnancy. MEASUREMENTS: Serum free T4, free T3 and TSH were measured by radioimmunoassay and hCG by fluoroimmunoassay. Thyroid-stimulating activity of pregnancy sera was measured by cAMP increase in cultured FRTL-5 cells. RESULTS: Fifty-one pregnant women were divided into three groups: those without emesis (n = 24), with emesis (n = 19) and with hyperemesis (n = 8). Serum free T4 and free T3 were higher in the hyperemesis group (P < 0.01) and the emesis group (P < 0.01), and serum TSH was suppressed to less than 0.1 mU/l in both groups, while serum hCG was not significantly different among these three groups. However, serum thyroid-stimulating activity was remarkably high in the hyperemesis group (P < 0.01). Thus the ratio of thyroid-stimulating activity to hCG was higher in the hyperemesis group (P < 0.05) and the emesis group (P < 0.05) compared with that in the group without emesis. These thyroid-stimulating activities were abolished by treatment of the serum with anti-hCG antibody. Two of eight women with hyperemesis, who had the highest free T4 and thyroid-stimulating activity/hCG ratio, showed overt clinical symptoms of thyrotoxicosis; all the symptoms disappeared in association with a fall in thyroid-stimulating activity and free T4. CONCLUSION: Clinical thyrotoxicosis is caused by circulating hCG with higher biological activity in pregnant women with hyperemesis. A new clinical entity of 'gestational thyrotoxicosis' is proposed and tentative characteristics are discussed.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

Membrane-spanning Fc gamma receptor III isoform expressed on human placental trophoblasts.

PROBLEM: Fc receptor for immunoglobulin (Fc gamma R) is an important mediator of immunological functions in the feto-maternal relationship. We have demonstrated by immunohistochemical means that three distinct classes of Fc gamma Rs are expressed in the different cell components of the human placenta. METHOD: In this study, Fc gamma RIII isoform expressed on placental trophoblasts (PTs) was investigated by indirect immunofluorescence and cDNA cloning. PTs, isolated from human term placenta by digestion with proteolytic enzyme, were reacted with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against the Fc gamma Rs and other surface markers of leukocytes and subjected to flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS: PTs were positively stained with 3G8 and Leu1 1b against Fc gamma RIII, partially stained with MAb against MHC class I, but not with 32.2 (Fc gamma RI), IV3 (Fc gamma RII), or MAbs against CD4, CD19, or CD56, indicating that only low affinity receptor, Fc gamma RIII, is expressed on PTs. The DNA sequence of cloned Fc gamma RIII CDNA from PTs by PCR was identical to that of natural killer (NK) cell isoform, including the position of the stop codon that differs from the granulocyte isoform by several nucleotide substitutions. We further analyzed the susceptibility of PTs against phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) to determine the structural topology of PT isoform. While the reactivity with 3G8 on PTs was not influenced by treatment with PI-PLC, that on granulocytes was significantly diminished with PI-PLC. CONCLUSIONS: This result confirmed that Fc gamma RIII on PTs is a membrane-spanning molecule, and that it is distinctive from PI anchoring Fc gamma RIII on granulocytes.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

NF-IL6 represses early gene expression of human papillomavirus type 16 through binding to the noncoding region.

The expression of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) early genes, including E6 and E7 transforming genes, is regulated by several cellular factors binding to the noncoding region (NCR), such as the glucocorticoid receptor, NF-I, and AP1, all of which are positive regulators. We demonstrated that the nuclear factor for interleukin 6 expression (NF-IL6) specifically binds to the HPV16 NCR ranging from nucleotides 7007 to 7766 and represses the early gene expression of HPV16. The responsive element in HPV16 NCR was determined within the region ranging from nucleotides 7454 to 7766. In this region, many binding sites for other cellular transactivators, such as NF-I and AP1, have been detected. Interestingly, three of seven binding sites for NF-I and two of two binding sites for AP1 in this region overlap with the putative NF-IL6 binding sites identified by computer analysis. Competition experiments with the oligonucleotides containing such NF-I or AP1 sites indicated that NF-IL6 certainly binds to them. Furthermore, in a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay using mutant NF-IL6 expression vectors, the DNA binding domain of NF-IL6 was shown to be necessary for repression, whereas the functional domain was not. These findings indicate that repression may be caused by competition with other transcriptional activators, such as NF-I and AP1. Thus, NF-IL6 may play a significant role in the regulation of viral transcription as a part of the host's resistance to viral infection.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

Intraventricular administration of histidyl-proline-diketopiperazine [Cyclo(His-Pro)] suppresses prolactin secretion and synthesis: a possible role of Cyclo(His-Pro) as dopamine uptake blocker in rat hypothalamus.

Histidyl-proline-diketopiperazine [Cyclo (His-Pro) (CHP)] was discovered to be one of the metabolites of TRH. To understand the specific role of CHP in rat hypothalamic dopamine neurons, we examined the in vivo effects of intraventricular (icv) infusion of CHP on the release and synthesis of PRL in the rat pituitary and the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC)/dopamine ratio in the rat hypothalamus. We also examined the in vitro effects of CHP on the release of [3H]dopamine from dispersed tuberoinfundibular dopamine neurons, [3H]dopamine reuptake in hypothalamic membrane fractions, and PRL release from rat pituitary cultured cells. Female rats were treated by icv infusion of 1 microM CHP daily for 1, 3, and 7 days, using Alzet osmotic pumps. After 1 day of treatment, the serum PRL concentration was significantly decreased. Northern blot analysis of the total RNA isolated from the pituitary glands of control animals using 32P-labeled PRL cDNA as a probe indicated the presence of PRL gene transcript, 1.0 kilobase in size, and its amount was decreased by CHP treatment. CHP did not affect [3H]dopamine release from dispersed tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons at any concentration up to 1 microM. CHP did not inhibit PRL release from cultured pituitary cells at low concentrations (1-100 nM), but it stimulated PRL release at high concentrations (1 and 10 microM). We also examined the concentrations of dopamine and DOPAC in the rat hypothalamus when CHP was administered icv for 1 or 7 days. There was a significant decrease in the DOPAC/dopamine ratio after CHP treatment for 1 day. Furthermore, CHP caused dose-dependent inhibition of [3H]dopamine uptake by the rat hypothalamus similar to other dopamine uptake blockers, such as benztropine and GBR12909. These data suggest that icv administration of CHP might decrease both PRL secretion and accumulation of PRL gene transcripts in the pituitary by decreasing the DOPAC/dopamine ratio and inhibiting dopamine reuptake in the rat hypothalamus.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Expression and localization of oxytocin receptor gene in human uterine endometrium in relation to the menstrual cycle.

The expression of oxytocin receptor mRNA in the human uterus was investigated by polymerase chain reaction after mRNA reverse transcription; in addition, the mRNA was localized by means of in situ hybridization histochemistry. Strong positive signals were observed in myometrial cells at parturition. In nonpregnant human uterine endometrium, oxytocin receptor mRNA was expressed in glandular epithelial cells, but was not observed in stromal cells. The signal in the epithelial cells was stronger at the time of ovulation than during any other phase. The sequential changes in oxytocin receptor mRNA expression in nonpregnant endometrium suggest some alternative biological function of oxytocin in endometrium during the menstrual cycle.

Base Sequence↗

Menstrual stage-specific expression of epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha in human oviduct epithelium and their role in early embryogenesis.

We studied the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha in human oviduct epithelium at various menstrual stages. Immunohistochemical stainings using anti-EGF and anti-TGF alpha antibodies showed a specific staining in ampullary oviduct epithelium at late follicular and luteal stages, but the stainings were very weak at early follicular stage. Quantitative reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction, using beta-actin messenger RNA as an internal standard, revealed the menstrual stage-specific expression of EGF and TGF alpha gene transcripts: relative amounts of EGF and TGF alpha messenger RNA to those of beta-actin were 1.5 +/- 1.9% (mean +/- SD) and 1.4 +/- 0.6% (n = 3) at early follicular, 16.5 +/- 4.9% and 12.6 +/- 2.6% (n = 3) at late follicular, and 18.9 +/- 2.2% and 13.8 +/- 3.2% (n = 3) at luteal stages, respectively. The expression of these growth factors was in proportion to the increase in serum estradiol but not to progesterone levels. To clarify the biological significance of these growth factors, mouse two-cell embryos were cocultured with human oviduct epithelial cells with or without blocking the action of these growth factors. Cocultures significantly promoted blastocyst formation, but this promotive effect of the oviduct epithelial cells was completely abolished by the addition of anti-EGF and/or anti-TGF alpha monoclonal neutralizing antibodies to the coculture system. All these results showed that EGF and TGF alpha were synthesized and expressed in human oviduct epithelium specifically to menstrual stages, and that these growth factors may be involved in early embryonic development.

Actins↗

Localization of oxytocin receptor messenger ribonucleic acid in the rat brain.

The expression of oxytocin receptor (OT-R) mRNA in the rat central nervous system was examined by in situ hybridization histochemistry using cRNA probe. Wide distribution of cells expressing OT-R mRNA was observed not only in the hypothalamus, but also in other regions. There were high levels of OT-R mRNA in the anterior olfactory nuclei, tenia tecta, olfactory tubercle, rostral most region of the frontal cortex, piriform cortex, layers 2 and 3 of the neocortex, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, anterior medial preoptic nucleus (AV3V region), magnocellular preoptic nucleus, supraoptic nucleus, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, retrochiasmatic nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, paraventricular thalamic nucleus, central amygdaloid nucleus, medial amygdaloid nucleus, posterior cortical amygdaloid nucleus, amygdalohippocampal area, subiculum, prepositus hypoglossal nucleus, and dorsal motor nucleus of vagus. In most regions of the brain, our findings concurred with those obtained by receptor binding autoradiography using a ligand specific to OT. However, in the inferior olive nucleus, OT-R mRNA was not detected despite an abundance of binding sites showed by receptor binding autography. Despite this discrepancy OT appears to have central nervous system functions in addition to its hormonal functions.

Animals↗

The interleukin-6 (IL-6)/IL-6-receptor system induces human chorionic gonadotropin production by activating tyrosine kinase-dependent signal transduction pathway different from pathways triggered by protein kinase activators including gonadotropin releasing hormone.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) may play an important role in human CG (hCG) production by activating the IL-6-receptor (-R) system on human trophoblasts. Trophoblasts produced hCG in response to rIL-6 as well as to 8-bromo cAMP (8-Br-cAMP), 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), and calcium ionophore A23187. To determine whether the signal transduction pathway activated by the IL-6-R system depends on protein kinases such as protein kinase A, protein kinase C, and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase, trophoblasts were stimulated with recombinant (r-) IL-6 in the presence or absence of protein kinase inhibitors such as N(2-methyl-aminoethyl)-5-isoquinoline sulfonamide dihydrochloride (H8), and 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfomyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7) and a calmodulin antagonist, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1- napthalenesulfonamide (W7), H8, H7, and W7 failed to suppress rIL-6-induced hCG production but completely inhibited hCG production induced by 8-Br-cAMP, TPA, and the GnRH agonist (GnRHa), respectively. In contrast, genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, completely suppressed rIL-6-induced hCG production but failed to inhibit hCG production induced by 8-Br-cAMP, TPA, and A23187. Genistein also did not suppress GnRH-induced hCG production. The addition of genistein to rIL-1- and rTNF-alpha-stimulated trophoblasts inhibited rIL-1-induced and rTNF-alpha induced hCG production but maintained rIL-1- and rTNF-alpha-induced IL-6 production. These results show that the IL-6/IL-6-R system-induced signal transduction pathway in the placenta probably stimulates hCG production by activating a tyrosine kinase pathway. The experiment with genistein shows that the GnRH/GnRH-R system activates a signal transduction pathway distinct from that activated by the IL-6/IL-6-R system.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Prolactin stimulates [3H]dopamine release from dispersed rat tubero-infundibular dopaminergic neurons and dopamine decreases gonadotropin-releasing hormone release induced by calcium ionophore.

In order to investigate the involvement of prolactin-dopamine and dopamine-gonadotropin interactions in the hypothalamo-pituitary axis of hyperprolactinemia, in vitro studies were performed using primary cultures of dispersed rat hypothalamic heterogeneous cells containing tubero-infundibular dopaminergic neurons or gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons. We observed that prolactin caused dose-dependent stimulation of [3H]dopamine release after a 16-h incubation. Staurosporin (10 nmol/l), an inhibitor of protein kinase C, significantly reduced the [3H]dopamine release induced by prolactin (1 mg/l). Incubation of tubero-infundibular dopaminergic neurons with prolactin (1 mg/l) had no effect on intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate accumulation. Dopamine (1 mumol/l) significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the release of GnRH induced by 50 mumol/l calcium ionophore from dispersed hypothalamic cells from the preoptic area, while prolactin had no effect on GnRH release. These data support the hypothesis that the antigonadotropic effect of prolactin on the hypothalamus is mediated by an inhibitory effect of dopamine on GnRH release.

Animals↗

Imaging of peritoneal pseudocysts: value of MR imaging compared with sonography and CT.

OBJECTIVE: Peritoneal pseudocysts are created when fluid arising from the ovary is trapped by peritoneal adhesions. We studied the value of MR imaging, compared with sonography and CT, for detecting these abnormalities. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Nine women, 27 to 49 years old, who had surgically proved peritoneal pseudocysts were included in the study. All nine patients were premenopausal, and eight had a history of pelvic surgery. All patients were examined with MR imaging and sonography, and five were also examined with CT. Imaging findings were analyzed and compared with the surgical findings. RESULTS: Sonograms in all nine patients showed a thick-walled cyst that contained focal echoes indicating nodules, making it difficult to differentiate these lesions from cystic ovarian tumors. In eight of the nine patients, the fluid in the pseudocysts had low signal intensity on T1-weighted MR images and high signal intensity on T2-weighted spin-echo MR images, suggesting that the fluid was serous. The pseudocyst had an irregular shape on MR images in seven patients and on CT scans in three patients. However, MR provided more information than CT did about the nature of the fluid within the pseudocyst. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that MR imaging is more useful than sonography and CT for determining the characteristic findings of peritoneal pseudocysts.

Adult↗

Detection of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in seminal plasma and elevated IL-8 in seminal plasma of infertile patients with leukospermia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a normal constituent of seminal plasma and if leukospermia is a factor determining its elevation. DESIGN: Seminal plasma from 58 men obtained by masturbation was examined for the presence of IL-8 using an IL-8 specific sandwich ELISA. Semen samples were obtained from 34 infertile men without leukospermia, 10 infertile men with leukospermia, and 14 proven fertile men. The correlation of amount of IL-8 in seminal plasma with some spermiogram parameters and the amount of polymorphonuclear (PMN) elastase was statistically evaluated. RESULTS: Immunoreactive IL-8 was observed in the seminal plasma of all 58 subjects. The IL-8 titer in seminal plasma of patients with leukospermia (6.16 +/- 0.82 micrograms/L) was significantly higher than that in seminal plasma of patients without leukospermia (2.35 +/- 0.34 micrograms/L) and fertile men (1.64 +/- 0.29 micrograms/L). There was a high degree of correlation between PMN elastase and IL-8 levels in seminal plasma. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate IL-8 to be in seminal plasma and elevated IL-8 levels in infertile patients with leukospermia.

Humans↗

Histogenetic analysis of ovarian germ cell tumors by DNA fingerprinting.

The histogenesis of ovarian germ cell tumors (11 mature teratomas, three malignant transformations of mature teratomas, two immature teratomas, and four dysgerminomas) was investigated genetically using minisatellite DNA probes 33.15 and 33.6 for person-specific restriction fragment length polymorphism (DNA fingerprint) analysis. The DNA fingerprints of six ovarian teratomas were identical with those of mononuclear cells from each host, while some polymorphic bands observed in the host mononuclear cells were lost in the DNA fingerprints of the other five cases. The cases of malignant transformation of mature teratoma and immature teratoma showed that some polymorphic bands of DNA fingerprints from the host mononuclear cells were absent in the tumor tissues. In four cases with dysgerminomas, the DNA fingerprints of tumors were completely identical with those of the respective host mononuclear cells. The present results suggest that mature cystic teratomas of the ovary arise from germ cells arrested at various stages of meiosis, while immature teratomas are derived from postmeiotic germ cells. Malignant transformation may occur exclusively in the mature teratomas arising from postmeiotic germ cells. Dysgerminomas develop from premeiotic oogonia (primordial germ cells). Thus, DNA fingerprints are a useful and sensitive tool for identifying the pathogenesis of germ cell tumours.

Adolescent↗

Alterations of the p53 gene in human primary cervical carcinoma with and without human papillomavirus infection.

A previous report using cervical carcinoma cell lines suggests that the inactivation of two tumor suppressor gene products, p53 and pRB, either by complex formation with the E6 and E7 proteins of oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) or by mutation, may be an important step in cervical carcinogenesis (M. Scheffner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88: 5523-5527, 1991). The present study was designed to clarify the association between p53 inactivation and infection with oncogenic HPVs in primary carcinomas of human uterine cervix. We examined 36 primary cervical carcinomas for the presence of HPV DNAs by Southern blot analysis with probes specific for HPV-16, -18, -31, -33, -52, -56, and -58. HPV DNA sequences were detected in 19 of 36 tumors: 10 cases with HPV-16; 3 cases with -18; 3 cases with -58; 2 cases with -56; and one case with -52. The presence of HPV-16 and -18 in cervical carcinomas was further reexamined using polymerase chain reaction. HPV DNA sequences were detected in an additional 10 cases: 9 cases with -16 and one case with -18. The inactivation of the p53 gene by allelic loss or by point mutation was also examined. No allelic loss at the polymorphic site in codon 72 of the p53 gene was detected in any of 10 informative cases. Missense point mutations in the highly conserved regions of the p53 gene were demonstrable as single-stranded conformational polymorphisms of polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA fragments and subsequently identified by direct DNA sequencing. Point mutations were detected in only two cases: one with an ATG----CTG transversion in codon 133 of exon 5, resulting in a Met----Leu substitution, and another with a CGG----TGG transition in codon 248 of exon 7, resulting in an Arg----Trp substitution. Both tumors with point mutations in p53 genes were among 10 tumors which contained a small copy number of HPV-16 DNA sequences (1 copy of HPV/10(1) to 10(5) cells) detectable by polymerase chain reaction amplification but not by Southern blot analysis of genomic DNAs derived from the tumors. None of 19 tumors with a large copy number of HPV DNA sequences detectable by Southern blot analysis (more than 1 copy of HPV/2 to 10 cells) nor any of 7 tumors with undetectable HPV DNA sequences contained p53 gene mutations in the regions examined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma↗

Establishment and characterization of human uterine leiomyosarcoma heterotransplanted into nude mice.

Human uterine leiomyosarcoma is a rare gynecological malignancy with a generally poor prognosis. We have established a human uterine leiomyosarcoma tumor line in nude mice, designated UTS-1, and describe the characteristics of this tumor. The UTS-1 tumor doubled in 12.1 days and retained the histological characteristics of leiomyosarcoma, even after 14 serial generations. Ultrastructurally, the tumor is characterized by nuclear pleomorphism typical of smooth muscle, intracytoplasmic filaments with dense bodies, a relative paucity of micropinocytotic vesicles, and an incomplete external lamina. Immunohistochemically, the UTS-1 cells reacted with antibodies against vimentin, desmin, smooth-muscle actin and myosin, but not with antibodies against keratin, CEA and S-100 protein. Serum levels of AFP, CA125, CEA and SCC ranged within normal limits in tumor-bearing mice. The serum level of immunosuppressive acidic protein correlated well with an activity of the tumor. Estrogen and progesterone receptors were not detected in the tumor. Chromosomal analysis showed a human karyotype with some marker chromosomes and a modal number of 85 chromosomes. The UTS-1 tumor should prove a useful model to explore the biological characteristics and treatment of human uterine leiomyosarcoma.

Animals↗