T cell-mediated antitumor immune response eliminates skin tumors induced by mouse papillomavirus, MmuPV1.

Previous studies of naturally occurring mouse papillomavirus (PV) MmuPV1-induced tumors in B6.Cg-Foxn1 mice suggest that T cell deficiency is necessary and sufficient for the development of such tumors. To confirm this, MmuPV1-induced tumors were transplanted from T cell-deficient mice into immunocompetent congenic mice.

MmuPV1 infection and tumor development of T cell-deficient mice is prevented by passively transferred hyperimmune sera from normal congenic mice immunized with MmuPV1 virus-like particles (VLPs).

Infection by mouse papillomavirus (PV), MmuPV1, of T cell-deficient, B6.Cg-Foxn1(nu)/J nude mice revealed that four, distinct squamous papilloma phenotypes developed simultaneously after infection of experimental mice. Papillomas appeared on the muzzle, vagina, and tail at or about day 42days post-inoculation.

Vagotomy attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.

The progression of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) entails a complex network of interactions between multiple classes of molecules and cells, which are closely related to the vagus nerve. Stimulation of the vagus nerve increases fibrogenic cytokines in humans, therefore, activation of the nerve may promote PF. The hypothesis was tested by comparing the extent and severity of fibrosis in lungs with and without vagal innervation in unilaterally vagotomized mice.

Right and left vagus nerves regulate breathing by multiplicative interaction.

Although it has been recognized for more than a century, we still do not know how the two vagus nerves interact to produce Hering-Breuer reflex. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that the vagus nerves interact via a multiplicative effect. We examined the Hering-Breuer reflex before and after unilateral (first) and then bilateral (second) vagotomies in the mouse.

Humic acid and glucan: protection against liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride.

Humic acids (HAs) have a rather pleiotropic presence, however, their biological effects are still unclear. In this study, we focused on possible hepatoprotective effects of either HA alone or in combination with β-glucan. Using a model of experimental hepatotoxicity caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCL4), we showed that both HA and the glucan-HA combination offered significant protection against hepatotoxicity, with the combination offering superior effects.

Immune status, strain background, and anatomic site of inoculation affect mouse papillomavirus (MmuPV1) induction of exophytic papillomas or endophytic trichoblastomas.

Papillomaviruses (PVs) induce papillomas, premalignant lesions, and carcinomas in a wide variety of species. PVs are classified first based on their host and tissue tropism and then their genomic diversities. A laboratory mouse papillomavirus, MmuPV1 (formerly MusPV), was horizontally transmitted within an inbred colony of NMRI-Foxn1(nu)/Foxn1nu (nude; T cell deficient) mice of an unknown period of time.

Epidemiological and phylogenetic analysis of institutional mouse parvoviruses.

Mouse parvoviruses (MPVs) are small, single-stranded, 5 kb DNA viruses that are subclinical and endemic in many laboratory mouse colonies. MPVs cause more distinctive deleterious effects in immune-compromised or genetically-engineered mice than immuno-competent mice. At the University of Louisville (U of L), there was an unexpected increase of MPV sero-positivity for MPV infections in mouse colonies between January 2006 and February 2007, resulting in strategic husbandry changes aimed at controlling MPV spread throughout the animal facility.

Ferret thoracic anatomy by 2-deoxy-2-(18F)fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) imaging.

The domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) has been a long-standing animal model used in the evaluation and treatment of human diseases. Molecular imaging techniques such as 2-deoxy-2-((18)F)fluoro-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) would be an invaluable method of tracking disease in vivo, but this technique has not been reported in the literature. Thus, the aim of this study was to establish baseline imaging characteristics of PET/computed tomography (CT) with (18)F-FDG in the ferret model.

Molecular imaging reveals a progressive pulmonary inflammation in lower airways in ferrets infected with 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus.

Molecular imaging has gained attention as a possible approach for the study of the progression of inflammation and disease dynamics. Herein we used [(18)F]-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose ([(18)F]-FDG) as a radiotracer for PET imaging coupled with CT (FDG-PET/CT) to gain insight into the spatiotemporal progression of the inflammatory response of ferrets infected with a clinical isolate of a pandemic influenza virus, H1N1 (H1N1pdm). The thoracic regions of mock- and H1N1pdm-infected ferrets were imaged prior to infection and at 1, 2, 3 and 6 days post-infection (DPI).

Host gene expression signatures discriminate between ferrets infected with genetically similar H1N1 strains.

Different respiratory viruses induce virus-specific gene expression in the host. Recent evidence, including those presented here, suggests that genetically related isolates of influenza virus induce strain-specific host gene regulation in several animal models. Here, we identified systemic strain-specific gene expression signatures in ferrets infected with pandemic influenza A/California/07/2009, A/Mexico/4482/2009 or seasonal influenza A/Brisbane/59/2007.

Molecular diagnosis of a laboratory mouse papillomavirus (MusPV).

MusPV, a novel papillomavirus (PV) that naturally infects laboratory mice, was isolated and characterized from a colony of NMRI-Foxn1(nu)/Foxn1(nu) (nude) mice in India. Because MusPV may have been missed during routine pathogen screening of mice in colonies worldwide, a variety of detection methods are described to detect MusPV. The clinical and histologic lesions of productive MusPV infections fit PV-associated features, including papillomas, koilocytes within the stratum granulosum of the hyperplastic/acanthotic papillomatous epithelium, and the presence of intranuclear virus particles in koilocytotic cells visualized by electron microscopy.

Genomic analysis of the first laboratory-mouse papillomavirus.

A papillomavirus (PV) that naturally infects laboratory mice will provide an extremely valuable tool for PV research. We describe here the isolation, cloning and molecular analysis of the first novel laboratory-mouse PV, designated MusPV. This agent, recently identified in the tissues from florid and asymmetrical papillomas on the face of nude mice (NMRI-Foxn1(nu)/Foxn1(nu)), was demonstrated to be transmissible to immunocompetent mice (Ingle et al.

Form and function of vena cava filters: how do optional filters measure up?

The function of vena cava filters, preventing pulmonary embolism while maintaining caval patency, is associated with the design. Several characteristics have been reported. This report evaluates retrievable filter designs in comparison with previously marketed designs with respect to efficacy and safety.

The propeptide of cathepsin D increases proliferation, invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells.

Expression and secretion of procathepsin D (pCD) increases proliferation, metastasis and progression of breast cancer but the structural moiety by which pCD exerts these effects is still ambiguous. Here, we present data on a series of pCD stable mutants to identify the pCD region that mediates this mitogenic effect. Mutations affecting the region of the activation peptide (AP) were studied together with catalytic and glycosylation mutants.

Neuroimmune interaction in inflammatory diseases.

The inflammatory response is modulated through interactions among the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Intercommunication between immune cells and the autonomic nervous system is a growing area of interest. Spatial and temporal information about inflammatory processes is relayed to the central nervous system (CNS) where neuroimmune modulation serves to control the extent and intensity of the inflammation.

Depletion of procathepsin D gene expression by RNA interference: a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.

Elevated level of procathepsin D (pCD), a zymogen of lysosomal aspartic proteinase cathepsin D, is associated with highly invasive neoplasms that include breast cancer. Independent studies have established that secreted pCD functions as a growth factor acting both in an autocrine and paracrine manner. Therefore, to explore whether pCD can be employed as a therapeutic target, the present study evaluates the impact of pCD knockdown using RNA interference technology.

Development of cystic glandular hyperplasia of the endometrium in Mullerian inhibitory substance type II receptor-pituitary tumor transforming gene transgenic mice.

The pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG)/securin is an oncogene that is involved in cell cycle regulation and sister chromatid separation. PTTG is highly expressed in various tumors including ovarian tumors, suggesting that PTTG may play a role in ovarian tumorigenesis. Overexpression of PTTG resulted in induction of cellular transformation in vitro and tumor formation in nude mice.

Ribozyme-targeting procathepsin D and its effect on invasion and growth of breast cancer cells: an implication in breast cancer therapy.

Procathepsin D (pCD), a zymogen of lysosomal aspartic peptidase cathepsin D, overexpression is correlated with highly invasive malignancies, including breast cancer. Recently, different studies have shown the role of secreted pCD as mitogen acting both in an autocrine and a paracrine manner. The aim of the present study is to examine the anti-tumor effects elicited by a decrease in the protein level of pCD by ribozyme and to explore the therapeutic potential of this specific targeting.

Role of activation peptide of procathepsin D in proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells.

Background: Procathepsin D (pCD) secreted by cancer cells, increases proliferation, metastasis and progression of breast cancer, however its role in lung cancer is still unclear. The purified pCD and its synthetic activation peptide (AP) have shown similar proliferative effect on various cancer cell lines. The aim of this study is to clarify the role ofpCD and its AP in lung cancer by stable expression of pCD and pCD lacking its AP, in NCI-H23 lung cancer cells.

Long-term results from a 12-year experience with endovascular therapy for thoracic aortic disease.

Background: Endovascular approaches promise to revolutionize therapy for thoracic aortic disease. This study describes a long-term analysis of endovascular thoracic aortic repair.

Methods: Seventy-three patients (mean age, 67.

Acute limb ischemia associated with type B aortic dissection: clinical relevance and therapy.

Background: The goal of the current study is to characterize the presentation, therapy, and outcomes of acute limb ischemia (ALI) associated with type B aortic dissection (AoD).

Methods: The prospective/retrospective International Registry for Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) database and a single institutional database were queried for all patients with type B AoD from 1996 to 2002. Univariate and multivariate statistics were used to delineate factors associated with morbidity and mortality outcomes.

Resection of the descending thoracic aorta: outcomes after use of hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Background: Use of hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) for operations on the descending thoracic aorta is controversial. While deep hypothermia may provide better end-organ and spinal cord function, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest may increase morbidity. This study assessed outcomes after use of HCA for descending thoracic aortic resection in a large cohort of consecutive patients.