Quantitative trait loci for leg weakness traits in a Landrace purebred population.

Leg weakness in pigs is a serious problem in the pig industry. We performed a whole genome quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis to find QTLs affecting leg weakness traits in the Landrace population. Half-sib progeny (n = 522) with five sires were measured for leg weakness traits.

Macrophages that have phagocytosed particles are capable of differentiating into functional osteoclasts.

The aim of the current study was to determine whether human macrophages that have phagocytosed particles are capable of differentiating into osteoclastic bone-resorbing cells. Macrophages isolated from human peripheral blood were cultured with latex particles in the presence of receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) on dentine slices and coverslips. After 24 h incubation, particles that had not yet been phagocytosed were removed by washing the slices.

Arthroplasty membrane-derived fibroblasts directly induce osteoclast formation and osteolysis in aseptic loosening.

Purpose: Both macrophages and fibroblasts are the main cell types found in periprosthetic tissues surrounding failed joint arthroplasties. These fibroblasts are known to express RANKL and to produce TNFalpha, factors which promote osteoclast formation and bone resorption. In this study we have analysed the role that arthroplasty membrane-derived fibroblasts (AFb) play in inducing the generation of bone resorbing osteoclasts.

Transforming growth factor-beta induces osteoclast formation in the absence of RANKL.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) is a multifunctional growth factor that is produced by many cells in bone and is abundant in the bone matrix. TGFbeta is known to regulate RANKL-induced osteoclast formation and bone resorbing activity. In this study we sought to determine whether TGFbeta could directly induce osteoclast formation by a RANKL-independent mechanism.

Menatetrenone (vitamin K2) acts directly on circulating human osteoclast precursors.

It is still not certain what the direct effect of menatetrenone is on osteoclast precursors. In the present study, we investigated whether menatetrenone has a direct effect on circulating osteoclast precursors to influence osteoclast differentiation. Monocytes isolated from human peripheral blood were cultured with receptor-activated NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF).

Successful multilineage engraftment of human cord blood cells in pigs after in utero transplantation.

Background: Successful engraftment of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in a large animal may serve not only as a model to study human hematopoiesis but also as a bioreactor to expand human HSPCs in vivo. The aim of this study was to accomplish xenotransplantation of human HSPCs into pig.

Methods: Total mononuclear or CD34-positive HSPCs obtained from human cord blood were xenotransplanted percutaneously under an ultrasonographic guidance into preimmune pig fetuses.

Cellular mechanisms of osteoclast formation and lacunar resorption in giant cell granuloma of the jaw.

Background: Giant cell granuloma (GCG) is an osteolytic tumour of the jaw which is characterised by the presence of both mononuclear and multinucleated (osteoclast-like) giant cell components. The nature of these component cells and the pathogenesis of the extensive osteolysis associated with this lesion is uncertain.

Methods: Using cell culture techniques and immunohistochemistry, we defined the phenotypic characteristics of the mononuclear and multinucleated cells present in four cases of GCG of the jaw.

Interleukin-6 and interleukin-11 support human osteoclast formation by a RANKL-independent mechanism.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-11 (IL-11) are known to influence osteoclast formation and bone resorption. In order to determine whether IL-6 and IL-11 could independently support human osteoclast formation, these factors were added to cultures of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the monocyte (CD14(+)) fraction in the presence of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Under these conditions, IL-6 and IL-11 induced the formation of multinucleated cells which were positive for TRAP, VNR, and calcitonin receptor and capable of lacunar resorption.

Two distinct cellular mechanisms of osteoclast formation and bone resorption in periprosthetic osteolysis.

Purpose: TNFalpha and IL-1alpha are proinflammatory cytokines that are abundant in periprosthetic tissues. These cytokines stimulate bone resorption and have recently been shown to directly induce osteoclast formation in mouse marrow cultures. We examined whether TNFalpha and IL-1alpha can directly induce osteoclast formation from human arthroplasty-derived (CD14(+)) macrophages by a mechanism independent of RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis.

Proinflammatory cytokine (TNFalpha/IL-1alpha) induction of human osteoclast formation.

TNFalpha and IL-1alpha are potent stimulators of bone resorption in vivo and in vitro. Recently, it has been demonstrated that these two cytokines directly induce osteoclastogenesis in mouse marrow cultures. This study determined whether TNFalpha (+/- IL-1alpha) is also capable of inducing human osteoclastogenesis.

Isolation of human osteoclasts formed in vitro: hormonal effects on the bone-resorbing activity of human osteoclasts.

Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells that carry out bone resorption. Analysis of the direct effect of hormones on the bone-resorbing activity of human osteoclasts has been limited by difficulties in isolating these cells from the human skeleton. In this study, human osteoclasts formed from cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear precursors (PBMCs) on a Type-I collagen gel were isolated by collagenase treatment for investigating their resorptive activity.

Osteoclast differentiation factor induces synovial macrophage-osteoclast differentiation in rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract The aim of this study was to clarify the role of osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in synovial macrophage-osteoclast differentiation. Synovial macrophages were cultured in the presence of macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and/or ODF. OPG was added to cocultures of synovial macrophages and UMR106.

Identification of 142 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 41 candidate genes for rheumatoid arthritis in the Japanese population.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can make an important contribution to our understanding of genetic backgrounds that may influence medical conditions and ethnic diversity. We undertook a systematic survey of genomic DNA for SNPs located not only in coding sequences but also in non-coding regions (e.g.

[Two cases of Buschke-Löwenstein tumor].

We report two cases of Buschke-Löwenstein Tumor on 39- and 55-year-old males. Both patients presented with mass and pain of glans penis. Pathological diagnosis of biopsy specimens were condyloma acuminatum in both cases.