CD9-positive cells in the intermediate lobe migrate into the anterior lobe to supply endocrine cells.

The adenohypophysis is composed of the anterior and intermediate lobes (AL and IL), and secretes important hormones for growth, sexual development, metabolism, and reproduction. In the marginal cell layer (MCL) facing Rathke's cleft between the IL and AL, cluster of differentiation (CD) 9-, CD81-, S100ß-, and SOX2-quadruple positive (CD9/CD81/S100ß/SOX2-positive) cells in the adult IL are settled as tissue-resident stem/progenitor cells supplying hormone-producing cells to the AL. However, it is unclear how CD9/CD81/S100ß/SOX2-positive cells in the IL-side MCL migrate into the AL across Rathke's cleft. In the present study, we performed chimeric pituitary tissue culture using S100ß/GFP-transgenic rats and Wistar rats, and traced the footprint of S100ß/GFP-expressing cells. We detected IL-side S100ß/GFP-expressing cells in the AL tissue, demonstrating that these cells migrate from the IL to the AL. However, the cells failed to migrate in the opposite direction. Consistently, scanning electron microscopic analysis revealed well-developed cytoplasmic protrusions in the IL-side MCL, but not in the AL-side MCL, suggesting that IL-side CD9/CD81/S100ß/SOX2-positive cells had higher migratory activity. We also searched for a specific marker for IL-side CD9/CD81/S100ß/SOX2-positive cells and identified tetraspanin 1 (TSPAN1) from microarray analysis. Downregulation of Tspan1 by specific siRNA impaired cell migration and significantly reduced expression of snail family transcriptional repressor 2 (Slug), a marker of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Therefore, CD9/CD81/S100ß/SOX2-positive cells in the IL-side MCL can be stem/progenitor cells that provide stem/progenitor cells to the AL-side MCL via SLUG-mediated EMT and cell migration.

MEFV gene polymorphisms and TNFRSF1A mutation in patients with inflammatory myopathy with abundant macrophages.

Inflammatory myopathy with abundant macrophages (IMAM) has recently been proposed as a new clinical condition. Although IMAM shares certain similarities with other inflammatory myopathies, the mechanisms responsible for this condition remain unknown. Patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) also often develop myalgia. We therefore investigated the polymorphisms or mutations of MEFV and TNFRSF1A genes in patients with IMAM to identify their potential role in this condition. We analysed the clinical features of nine patients with IMAM and sequenced exons of the MEFV and TNFRSF1A genes. The patients with IMAM had clinical symptoms such as myalgia, muscle weakness, erythema, fever and arthralgia. Although none of the patients were diagnosed with FMF or TRAPS, seven demonstrated MEFV polymorphisms (G304R, R202R, E148Q, E148Q-L110P and P369S-R408Q), and one demonstrated a TNFRSF1A mutation (C43R). These results suggest that MEFV gene polymorphisms and TNFRSF1A mutation are susceptibility and modifier genes in IMAM.

Thoracoscopic esophagectomy with extended lymph node dissection in the left lateral position: technical feasibility and oncologic outcomes.

The aim of this study was to estimate the technical and oncologic feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic radical esophagectomy (VATS) in the left lateral position. From January 2003 to December 2011, 132 patients with esophageal cancer underwent VATS. The mean duration of the thoracic procedure and the entire procedure was 294 ± 88 and 623 ± 123 minutes, respectively. Mean blood loss during the thoracic procedure and the entire procedure was 313 ± 577 and 657 ± 719 g, respectively. The mean number of dissected thoracic lymph nodes was 32.6 ± 12.9. There were four in-hospital deaths (3.0%); two patients (1.5%) died of acute respiratory distress syndrome and two patients (1.5%) died of tumor progression. Postoperative unilateral or bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy, or pneumonia was found in 33 (25.0%), 21 (15.9%), and 27(20.5%) patients, respectively. The patients were divided into the first 66 patients who underwent VATS (Group 1) and the subsequent 66 patients (Group 2). The numbers of cases who underwent neoadjuvant or induction chemotherapy for T4 tumor and intrathoracic anastomosis were higher in Group 2 than in Group 1. The duration of the procedure, amount of blood loss, and the number of dissected thoracic lymph nodes were not different between the two groups. The total number of dissected lymph nodes was higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (72.6 ± 27.8 vs. 62.6 ± 21.6, P = 0.023). The rate of bilateral RLN palsy was less in Group 2 than in Group 1 (7.6% vs. 24.2%, P = 0.042). The mean follow-up period was 38.7 months. Primary recurrence consisted of hematogenous, lymphatic, peritoneal dissemination, pleural dissemination, and locoregional in 15 (11.3%), 20 (15.1%), 3 (2.3%), 4 (3.0%), and 5 patients (3.8%), respectively. The rate of regional lymph node recurrence within the dissection field was only 4.5%. The prognosis of patients with lymph node metastasis was significantly poorer than that of patients without lymph node metastasis. However, the prognosis of the 11 cases that had metastasis only around RLNs was similar to that of node-negative cases. Thirteen patients with pathological remnant tumor (R1 or R2) did not survive longer than 5 years at present. The overall 5-year survival rate of stage I, II, and III disease after curative VATS was 82.2%, 77.0%, and 52.3%, respectively. Expansion of VATS criteria for patients after induction chemotherapy for T4 tumor or thoracoscopic anastomosis did not adversely affect the surgical results by experience. Although the VATS procedure is accompanied by a certain degree of morbidity including RLN palsy and pulmonary complications, VATS has an excellent locoregional control effect. In addition, the favorable survival after VATS shows that the procedure is oncologically feasible.

FK506 augments activation-induced programmed cell death of T lymphocytes in vivo.

FK506 is an immunosuppressive drug that inhibits T cell receptor-mediated signal transduction. This drug can induce immunological tolerance in allograft recipients. In this study, we investigated the in vivo effects of FK506 on T cell receptor-mediated apoptosis induction. Injection of anti-CD3 antibody (Ab) in mice resulted in the elimination of CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes by DNA fragmentation. FK506 treatment significantly augmented thymic apoptosis induced by in vivo anti-CD3 Ab administration. Increased thymic apoptosis resulted in the disappearance of CD4+ CD8+ thymocytes after anti-CD3 Ab/FK506 treatment. DNA fragmentation triggered by FK506 was induced exclusively in antigen-stimulated T cells, since enhanced DNA fragmentation induced by in vivo staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) injection was confirmed in SEB-reactive V beta 8+ thymocytes but not in SEB-nonreactive V beta 6+ thymocytes. In addition to thymocytes, mature peripheral T cells also die by activation-induced programmed cell death. A similar effect of FK506 on activation-induced programmed cell death was observed in SEB-activated peripheral spleen T cells. In contrast, cyclosporin A treatment did not enhance activation-induced programmed cell death of thymocytes and peripheral T cells. Apoptosis is required for the generation and maintenance of self-tolerance in the immune system. Our findings suggest that FK506-triggered apoptosis after elimination of antigen-activated T cells may represent a potential mechanism of the immunological tolerance achieved by FK506 treatment.

Apolipoprotein E prevents the progression of atherosclerosis in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits.

Apo E plays an important role in plasma lipoprotein metabolism through its high affinity binding to cell surface LDL receptor. In the present study, we studied the effects of apo E on the atherogenic process in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits which are deficient in LDL receptor and an animal model for familial hypercholesterolemia. We isolated apo E from plasma of 1% cholesterol-fed rabbits and administered 10 mg of purified apo E intravenously into five Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits three times a week from their age of 2.5 months to 11 months for 8.5 months. After sustained administration to apo E, we found a significant reduction in the accumulation of cholesterol ester in aortae (1.55 +/- 0.07 mg/g tissue) as compared to control rabbits (4.32 +/- 0.61 mg/g tissue). Supporting this, the percentage of the surface area of the aorta with macroscopic plaque was remarkably decreased in apo E-treated animals (18.8 +/- 5.1% vs. 38.8 +/- 8.0% in control). Thus, apo E definitely prevented the progression of atherosclerosis in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits.

A follistatin-like gene, mac25, may act as a growth suppressor of osteosarcoma cells.

mac25, a retinoic acid-inducible gene that is expressed at high levels in senescent epithelial cells, was initially cloned as a gene that is differentially expressed in meningioma. Although the homology of its product with members of family of insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins was suggested, the product also exhibits strong homology to follistatin, an activin-binding protein. However, a domain corresponding to the carboxyl terminus of follistatin is not found in mac25. The carboxyl-terminally truncated form of follistatin, generated by alternative splicing, has stronger activin-binding activity than the complete form. This result suggests that mac25 might act as an activated follistatin. Clonal growth of a p53-deficient osteosarcoma cell line was strongly inhibited when the murine mac25 gene, as well as the p53 gene, was introduced. Resembling activins that belong to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily, mac25 and p53 might associate with similar but distinct targets, namely cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. However, there is no evidence for compensation of p53 function by mac25 in the development of p53-deficient mice, as judged from the pattern of expression of mac25 in mice. mac25 might act as a tumor suppressor, modulating signaling of the TGF-beta family, as does alpha-inhibin.

Activation of c-mos oncogene by integration of an endogenous long terminal repeat element during transfection of genomic DNA from mouse skin tumor cells.

An activated c-mos oncogene was identified in a transformed clone of golden hamster embryo cells transfected with DNA extracted from cells cultured from a UV-induced mouse skin tumor. Southern blot hybridization with a v-mos oncogene probe showed that the mos oncogene was amplified in the primary and secondary transformed cells but not in the original tumor cells. Expression of the mos oncogene was very high in the primary and secondary transformants, but mos mRNA was undetectable in the original tumor cells. A genomic DNA fragment containing the activated mos oncogene was cloned and sequenced. The upstream mouse sequence of the mos oncogene, which functions as the transcription terminator, was lost and replaced by a mouse endogenous long terminal repeat (LTR) element that provides the promoter sequence, resulting in high expression of the gene. The rearrangement apparently occurred during transfection, since the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product encompassing the junction region was present in the primary and secondary transformants but not in the original tumor cells. The LTR element is likely to have been amplified during the skin tumor development caused by UV irradiation. Southern blot hybridization showed that the copy number of LTR in the tumor cells was significantly higher than that in normal skin cells. The amplification of the LTR in the cells may have increased the chance of recombination between the LTR and c-mos gene during the DNA transfection.

Enhanced proliferative potential in culture of cells from p53-deficient mice.

Normal somatic cells are endowed with limited doubling potential in culture, and the process of immortalization is an inevitable step in neoplastic transformation of the cells. To examine the roles of p53 in this process, the cells of p53-deficient mice were examined for doubling potential. Fibroblast-like cells from a variety of tissues of these mice proliferated continuously without showing aging or crisis. The aneuploid cells overcome the population with passage, but cloning experiment indicated that chromosomal changes were not essential to this process. The enhanced proliferative potential in culture of cells from the p53-deficient mice was also observed in epithelial cells of lens, mammary glands and seminal vesicles and in neural precursor cells. Proliferation of bone marrow cells in response to stem cell factor was enhanced in long term culture, but not in in vitro colony assay; no permanent cell lines could be obtained. No effects of p53-deficiency were found in proliferation of cardiac muscle cells or hepatocytes.

Induction of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase in needle-punctured rat lens as a model of traumatic cataract.

Isolated rat lens was punctured with a needle at a single point in the equatorial region and was incubated at 37 degrees C. Spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase activity was increased about 5-fold at 8 h after the puncture. Concomitantly, putrescine content in the lens increased markedly at 8-16 h after the puncture, while spermidine levels were slightly depressed. Pretreatment of the lens with actinomycin D or cycloheximide blocked the increases of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase activity and putrescine content. Ornithine decarboxylase, on the other hand, was not induced to a detectable degree by this stimulus and 5 mM difluoromethylornithine could not block the increase of putrescine content. Polyamine oxidase showed a relatively constant activity that was sufficient for the metabolism of newly formed N1-acetylspermidine. These results suggested that, in the punctured lens, the polyamine levels were regulated predominantly by the activity of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase, but not by the induction of ornithine decarboxylase.

Structure, mapping and expression of a human NOR-1 gene, the third member of the Nur77/NGFI-B family.

We identified a human homologue of NOR-1 (neuron-derived orphan receptor) from the fetal brain. There are two transcripts for human NOR-1, encoding 626 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 68 kDa. The high homology between hNOR-1, mNur77/rNGFI-B/hTR3, and mNurr1/rRNR-1/hNOT indicated that these three orphan receptors form a distinct subfamily within the steroid/thyroid receptor superfamily. Human NOR-1 mRNA was detected in the adult heart and skeletal muscle as well as in the fetal brain, indicating that its expression is not restricted to events that occur during neural development. The hNOR-1 gene is more than 35 kilobases long and interrupted by seven introns. The exon-intron structure of the gene is generally conserved when compared with the steroid/thyroid receptor superfamily and is remarkably similar to that of the Nur77/NGFI-B genes. This suggests that the Nur77/NGFI-B family has evolved from a common ancestral gene. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that the gene is located on chromosome 9q.

Activation of phospholipases in platelets by polyclonal antibodies against a surface membrane protein.

In a previous paper we demonstrated using immunochemical techniques that propolypeptide of von Willebrand factor was present on the surface of resting platelets. In the present paper we show that polyclonal antibodies against propolypeptide of von Willebrand factor induce activation of phospholipase(s) in platelets and lead to platelet aggregation. The antibody-stimulation of platelets induced the synthesis of thromboxane A2 (TXA2). Furthermore, the aggregation was inhibited by aspirin and an antagonist of TXA2. Aspirin inhibited not only the aggregation but also the activation of arachidonic acid liberation from phospholipids, but the effect of aspirin on arachidonic acid liberation was cancelled by the combined effect of the antibodies and a TXA2 mimetic agonist, which itself did not activate arachidonic acid liberation. The antibody-induced activation of arachidonic acid liberation and the aggregation were blocked by cytochalasin B. All these results obtained with antibodies were quite similar to the results obtained with collagen.

An isoform of Nurr1 functions as a negative inhibitor of the NGFI-B family signaling.

NGFI-B, Nurr1 and NOR-1 constitute a distinct subfamily within the nuclear receptor superfamily. To clarify the transcriptional regulation by the NGFI-B family, we searched for other components that can bind to the NBRE response element, a known target sequence for these transcription factors. By low stringency hybridization using the DNA binding domain of NOR-1 as a probe, a C-terminal truncated Nurr1 isoform, named Nurr2, was isolated from a mouse MC3T3-E1 cell cDNA library. Nurr2 had a novel cryptic exon located upstream in the Nurr1 promoter region, and was generated by alternative splicing at exons 1, 2 and 6. The C-terminal region was encoded by frame-shifted exon 6, and so Nurr2 lacked the C-terminal sequences corresponding to the putative ligand binding domain or dimerization domain. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR experiments confirmed the presence of the Nurr2 isoform in mouse, rat and human. It was, like Nurr1, highly expressed in the pituitary and the cerebral cortex. Nurr2 and Nurr1 were also concomitantly induced by forskolin in NIH3T3 cells. Functional analysis using a reporter gene, containing NBRE response elements, indicated that while the isoform was inactive by itself, it could inhibit transactivation by the members of the NGFI-B family. These results indicate that the C-terminal truncated isoform, Nurr2, may act as a negative regulator of the NGFI-B family signaling.

Mechanical agitation induces gene expression of NOR-1 and its closely related orphan nuclear receptors in leukemic cell lines.

NOR-1, NGFI-B and Nurr1 are closely related transcription factors that constitute a distinct subfamily within the nuclear receptor superfamily. Genes for these proteins are immediate-early genes, and are inducible in diverse cell types by various stimuli. In the present study, we investigated the effect of mechanical agitation on the gene expression of these transcription factors in cultured suspension cells by the quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. We found that mechanical agitation transiently induced NOR-1, NGFI-B and Nurr1 mRNAs in several leukemic cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. This induction was most pronounced in the HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cell line, but also occurred to a lesser extent in other cell lines including KG-1, THP-1 and U937 cells. The induction was attenuated by serum or albumin, which are shear stress protectants for suspension culture cells. These reagents did not suppress forskolin-induced NOR-1 gene expression. These findings suggest the involvement of fluid shear stress in agitation-induced immediate-early gene expression. Since even moderate agitation could cause the induction, investigators should be cautious when evaluating the expression of immediate-early genes in some leukemic cell lines.

A fraction unresponsive to growth inhibition by TGF-beta among the high-proliferative potential progenitor cells in bone marrow of p53-deficient mice.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been found to block the progression of the cell-cycle by up-regulating a Cdk inhibitor, p15, only in epithelial cells; on the other hand, wild-type p53 was shown to activate transcriptionally the gene for another Cdk inhibitor, p21. The regulatory effects of TGF-beta on hematopoietic tissues is poorly understood. Hence, we investigated the effect of TGF-beta on hematopoietic progenitor cells in p53-deficient mice to determine whether an inhibitory signal from TGF-beta is linked to p53 in hematopoietic regulation. We found that the proliferation of megakaryocyte-progenitors (CFU-Mk) in our wild-type mice was markedly inhibited by TGF-beta. Contrary to an earlier report, an erythroid and a granulocyte-macrophage progenitor, stimulated by IL-3, were not significantly inhibited, whereas TGF-beta also completely inhibited the growth of high-proliferative potential progenitor cells (HPP-CFC) in the marrow of mice with 5-fluorouracil (5FU), as reported. It is interesting that in the p53-deficient mice, the inhibitory action of TGF-beta on the HPP-CFC was incompletely abolished. The response curve we obtained for graded doses of TGF-beta suggests that there is, at least, a subpopulation of HPP-CFC which is less sensitive to the regulation by TGF-beta. In contrast to HPP-CFC, the CFU-Mk, which TGF-beta inhibited only in wild-type mice not treated with 5FU, remained inhibited in the p53-deficient strain. Thus, HPP-CFC might be regulated by TGF-beta through their signal pathways which are linked to p53.

Expression of adrenocorticotropin-releasing hormone precursor gene in placenta and other nonhypothalamic tissues in man.

Adrenocorticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a peptide originally isolated from the hypothalamus. Immunocytochemical and RIA studies have revealed that CRH-like peptide is also localized in human nonhypothalamic tissues and some tumors. To see if CRH is synthesized in these nonhypothalamic tissues and tumors, we examined preproCRH mRNA in these tissues by Northern blot analysis using a cloned human preproCRH gene as a probe. PreproCRH mRNA was detected in human hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, adrenal gland, placenta, pheochromocytoma, and thymic carcinoid. The content of preproCRH mRNA in placenta was apparently greater than that in the whole hypothalamus.

Efficacy of conversion gastrectomy following docetaxel, cisplatin, and S-1 therapy in potentially resectable stage IV gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in gastric cancer chemotherapy have made macroscopic complete resection possible in some patients with stage IV disease. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated the efficacy of multimodal therapy with combined docetaxel, cisplatin, and S-1 (DCS) and conversion gastrectomy in 57 patients with stage IV gastric cancer. RESULTS: Of the 57 patients, 15 patients were categorized into potentially resectable case, which is defined as patients with single incurable factor including the upper abdominal para-aortic lymph node metastasis (16a2b1 PAN metastasis) or fewer than three peripheral liver metastases. The other 42 were categorized as initially unresectable. All of patients underwent DCS therapy, and then 34 patients underwent conversion gastrectomy. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate among the patients who underwent conversion gastrectomy was 50.1% with MST of 29.9 months. They had significantly longer OS than patients who underwent DCS therapy alone (p < 0.01). Univariate analysis among the patents with conversion gastrectomy identified 16a2b1PAN metastasis, peritoneal metastasis, potential resectable case, R0 resection as significant prognostic factors. A 3-year OS in potential resectable cases was 92.9%. Multivariate analysis identified potential resectability as the only independent prognostic factor contributing to OS (HR 0.133, 95%CI 0.024-0. 744, p = 0.021). In contrast, clinical response was selected as the only independent prognostic factor in the subgroup of initially unresectable cases (HR 0.354, 95%CI 0.151-0.783, p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Patients with potentially resectable disease had a remarkably good prognosis among stage IV gastric cancer patients, and might be ideal candidates for conversion gastrectomy following DCS therapy.

Spatiotemporal changes of fibronectin, tenascin-C, fibulin-1, and fibulin-2 in the skin during the development of chronic contact dermatitis.

In order to elucidate how chronic inflammation affects the organization of the extracellular matrix in the skin, a prolonged allergic contact dermatitis was induced in a mouse by repeated application to the ear of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene every 3 d for 66 d. Subsequently, the spatiotemporal changes of fibronectin, tenascin-C, fibulin-1, and fibulin-2 in the skin were examined. In the acute phase of inflammation (day 3-day 12), the amount of fibronectin and tenascin-C increased markedly and were degraded, whereas the amount of fibulin-2 changed slightly. Abundant deposition of tenascin-C was observed in the connective tissue. Fibulin-1 and fibulin-2 distributed as fine fibrils. In contrast, the amounts of fibronectin and tenascin-C decreased and their degradation was suppressed in the chronic phase (day 15-day 66), but the amount of fibulin-2 increased. Tenascin-C was observed mainly at and underneath the epidermal basement membrane. In the subepidermal region, many fibulin-2-positive microfibrils were distributed. The amount and distribution of fibulin-1 did not change markedly in either phase. MMP-like enzymes of 62 kDa, probably activated MMP-2, were upregulated in the chronic phase, whereas components of 92, 85, or 67 kDa were highly induced in the acute phase. These results suggest that chronic inflammation in allergic contact dermatitis is associated with temporal changes in the expression, deposition, and degradation of inducible extracellular matrix components.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of interleukin-6 messenger ribonucleic acid in the rat hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal gland, and spleen.

Whereas the stimulatory effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is well established, its mode of action in this axis has yet to be fully elucidated. To further study the role of IL-6 in the HPA axis, we compared the expression of IL-6 messenger RNA (mRNA) in the rat hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal gland with that in the spleen after ip or intracerebroventricular (icv) administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After either ip or icv administration, LPS induced the expression of IL-6 mRNA, which consists of 1.2 kilobases (kb) and 2.4 kb subclasses, in all these tissues of the HPA axis as well as in the spleen. Although we used 100 times less amount of LPS for the icv administration than that used for ip LPS, plasma ACTH levels in both the conditions rapidly reached comparable levels. This icv dose induced IL-6 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus faster than ip dose but also stimulated IL-6 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal gland more effectively and smoothly than the ip LPS dose did. Northern blot analysis revealed that in the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenals, the predominant subclass of IL-6 mRNA was not 1.2 kb but 2.4 kb. In contrast, this subclass was the minor component in the spleen induced under the same circumstances. These findings indicate that IL-6-synthesizing cells in the HPA axis differ in character from those in the spleen, and that LPS applied in vivo may modulate IL-6 expression in these cells directly and/or indirectly through secondarily activated functions in the neuronal or endocrine systems.

An androgen receptor mutation causing androgen resistance in undervirilized male syndrome.

The molecular basis of androgen resistance was investigated in a patient with undervirilized male syndrome. Binding studies of the androgen receptors in the patient's genital skin fibroblasts revealed a normal binding capacity of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, although the affinity to androgen was slightly lower than the normal control value. The androgen binding of the patient's receptor showed a moderate thermal instability when the assay temperature was raised from 30 to 41 C. Nucleotide sequencing analysis of the androgen receptor gene revealed a single nucleotide substitution in exon F, resulting in an amino acid alteration from leucine (CTC) to phenylalanine (TTC) at position 789 within the steroid-binding domain of androgen receptor. When expressed in COS-7 cells, the mutant androgen receptor harboring phenylalanine at position 789 showed thermolabile androgen-binding properties similar to those observed in the patient's genital skin fibroblasts. Cotransfection experiments with an androgen-inducible reporter gene demonstrated a decreased transactivational capability of the mutant receptor. These results indicate that this point mutation modified the receptor function and caused androgen resistance in this patient. This mutation caused the mildest form of all androgen insensitivity syndromes ever examined for mutations in the androgen receptor gene.

Plasma adrenocorticotropin and cortisol responses to intravenous injection of corticotropin-releasing factor in the morning and evening.

Plasma ACTH and cortisol responses to corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) were determined in the morning and evening in seven normal men. Either 100 micrograms synthetic ovine CRF or saline was given intravenously at 0900 h and at 2200 h. Blood samples were collected before and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after CRF or saline injection. Plasma ACTH concentrations before and after CRF injection in the morning were significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than those in the evening at all times except 45 min after injection. Plasma cortisol concentrations before and at all times after CRF injection in the morning were also significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than those in the evening. However, neither the maximum increments in plasma ACTH and cortisol above the control levels nor increments at each time point following CRF injection in the morning differed significantly from those in the evening. Increments in the area under the ACTH and cortisol concentration curves after CRF injection in the morning also did not differ significantly from those in the evening. These results suggest that the responsiveness of the pituitary to CRF in the morning and in the evening does not differ significantly, although actual values of plasma ACTH and cortisol are higher in the morning.