GM-CSF expression by tumor cells correlates with aggressivity and with stroma reaction formation.

Granulation tissue involved in tissue repair and in the stroma reaction to epithelial tumors is characterized by the presence of myofibroblastic cells. It has been previously reported that granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) induces a fibrotic reaction containing numerous myofibroblasts. This reaction results from a cascade of events, including stimulation of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) production by macrophages which, in turn, promotes alpha-smooth muscle actin and collagen synthesis by fibroblasts.

Cellular retinol-binding protein-1 is expressed by distinct subsets of rat arterial smooth muscle cells in vitro and in vivo.

Previous work (M.-L. Bochaton-Piallat, P.

Autoimmune syndrome after neonatal induction of tolerance to alloantigens: analysis of the specificity and of the cellular and genetic origin of autoantibodies.

BALB/c mice neonatally injected with 10(8) semiallogeneic (C57BL/6 x BALB/c)F1 spleen cells become tolerant to the H-2b alloantigens, but also develop a wide range of autoimmune manifestations characteristic of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Indeed, in these mice, the presence of a hypergammaglobulinaemia, autoantibodies--including anti-ssDNA, anti-platelet, thymocytotoxic and rheumatoid factor antibodies--circulating immune complexes, cryoglobulins as well as renal glomerular deposition of immunoglobulins have been observed. In this study, we have shown that the allogenic effect and B cell chimaerism which characterize these F1 cell-injected mice is associated with the expression of a large spectrum of autoantibodies, including anti-ssDNA and anti-cytoskeleton antibodies, and that these autoantibodies are not multispecific.

Correlation between the distribution of smooth muscle or non muscle myosins and alpha-smooth muscle actin in normal and pathological soft tissues.

The distribution of smooth muscle (SM) and non muscle myosins was compared with that of alpha-SM actin in various normal and pathological tissues and in cultured cells by means of indirect immunofluorescence using a monoclonal antibody specific for alpha-SM actin [anti-alpha sm-1, Skalli et al., 1986b] and two polyclonal antibodies raised against bovine aortic myosin (ABAM) and human platelet myosin (AHPM), respectively. In normal tissues ABAM stained vascular and parenchymal smooth muscle cells (SMC), myoepithelial cells and myoid cells of the testis in a pattern similar to that reported by other authors with antisera raised against non vascular SM myosin.

A monoclonal antibody against alpha-smooth muscle actin: a new probe for smooth muscle differentiation.

A monoclonal antibody (anti-alpha sm-1) recognizing exclusively alpha-smooth muscle actin was selected and characterized after immunization of BALB/c mice with the NH2-terminal synthetic decapeptide of alpha-smooth muscle actin coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Anti-alpha sm-1 helped in distinguishing smooth muscle cells from fibroblasts in mixed cultures such as rat dermal fibroblasts and chicken embryo fibroblasts. In the aortic media, it recognized a hitherto unknown population of cells negative for alpha-smooth muscle actin and for desmin.

Circulating immune complexes in regularly dialyzed patients with chronic renal failure.

The prevalence of circulating immune complexes (CIC) was investigated using the C1q binding assay (C1q BA) and the conglutinin binding assay (Kg BA) in 200 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Increased C1q binding was found in 45% (87 of 194) of the patients, and the modified Kg BA gave elevated values in 31% (20 of 65). The prevalence of CIC was similar in American and Swiss patients, and in patients undergoing hemodialysis, self-dialysis or peritoneal dialysis.

HLA antigens in Bali (Indonesia) with a special reference to an isolated community.

One hundred eighty-two Balinese were typed for HLA-A and -B locus antigens. From these, 103 were also typed for HLA-C, 51 for HLA-DR, 172 for Bf and 173 for GLO. These results and the significant phenotypic associations are situated with respect to other South-East Asian populations.

Association of a better kidney graft survival with the presence of circulating immune complexes before transplantation.

The presence of circulating immune complexes was investigated using the C1q-binding assay before and after kidney transplantation in 48 patients with renal failure. Circulating immune complexes were found in 54% of the patients. The presence of circulating immune complexes prior to grafting was associated with a better renal graft survival.

Donor-specific B and T lymphocyte antibodies and kidney graft survival.

The prognostic significance of a positive B and/or T cell crossmatch test before transplantation was analysed in 174 cadaver kidney transplants. Thirty-one B cell-positive crossmatches were observed. In 15 of these cases, T cell crossmatches were also found to be positive retrospectively (long incubation assays).

Increased frequency of HLA-DRw3 in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The distribution of HLA antigens was studied in 40 patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus. For loci A and B, increased frequencies of A1, B8 and the presence of only one B antigen were found. Nevertheless, in relation to the number of antigens tested, this increase was not significant.

Actin is unevenly distributed in the pituitary gland.

In view of the suggestion that actin-like proteins might be involved in the final steps leading to hormone secretion, the actin content of pituitary glands of adult rats was determined by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (for total actin), by the DNAse method (which measures predominantly monomeric actin) and by immunocytochemistry. The amount of actin present in the neural lobe, expressed per mg total protein, was found to be comparable to that of other neural tissues. In contrast, in the anterior lobe, the ratio was significantly lower.

Supercontraction in crayfish muscle: correlation with a peculiar actin localization.

Crayfish muscle, like muscles from some other invertebrates, can supercontract. This muscle shortening is characterized by an overlap of thin filaments with crossing of thick filaments through the Z discs. In intact muscle cells, supercontraction does not seem to induce irreversible structural modifications in the tissue.

Immunofluorescent subcellular localization of some muscle proteins: a comparison between tissue sections and isolated myofibrils.

The localization of parvalbumin in fish white muscle and of the calcium binding protein, of arginine kinase and of glycogen phosphorylase in crayfish tail muscle have been investigated by immunofluorescence using isolated myofibrils and muscle sections as starting materials. It is shown that the four proteins appear to be localized on the thin filaments when myofibrils are used as starting material. This result contrasts with previous observations where it appeared that parvalbumin in fish muscle and arginine kinase in crayfish muscle were distributed uniformly within the cell.

Cellular distribution of sarcoplasmic calcium-binding proteins by immunofluorescence.

Specific antibodies against carp paravalbumin, crayfish calcium binding protein and crayfish arginine kinase were used for indirect immunofluorescence localization of the respective proteins. Simultaneous staining of the same muscle sections with human serum containing anti-actin autoantibodies served as a probe to identify the isotropic band. Parvalbumin appears to be evenly distributed in carp white muscle.