Accuracy of in vivo carotid B-mode ultrasound compared with pathological analysis: intima-media thickening, lumen diameter, and cross-sectional area.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the correlation of in vivo ultrasound measurements of intima-media thickening (IMT), lumen diameter, and cross-sectional area of the common carotid artery (CCA) with corresponding measurements obtained by gross pathology and histology. METHODS: Sixty-six moribund neurological patients (mean age 71 years) underwent B-mode ultrasound of the CCA a few days before death. During autopsy, carotid specimens were removed in toto. Carotid arteries were ligated and cannulated for injection of a hydrophilic embedding material under standardized conditions. The carotid bifurcation was frozen and cut manually in 3-mm cross slices. Digital image analysis was carried out to determine the diameter and the cross-sectional area of the frozen slices of the CCA. IMT was assessed by light microscope. Ultrasonic and planimetric data were compared. RESULTS: Mean measurements of lumen diameter and cross-sectional area were 7.13+/-1.27 mm and 0.496+/-0.167 cm(2), respectively, by ultrasound, and 7.81+/-1.45 mm and 0.516+/-0.194 cm(2), respectively, by planimetric analysis of the unfixed redistended carotid arteries (R(2)=0.389 and 0.497). The mean IMT was 1.005+/-0.267 mm by ultrasound and 0.67+/-0.141 mm histologically, resulting in a mean difference of -31%. CONCLUSIONS: Transcutaneous B-mode ultrasound provides a reliable approach for in vivo measurements of the cross-sectional area and, less exactly, of the lumen diameter of the CCA. Compared with histological results, in vivo ultrasound measurements of the IMT are systematically larger.

Okadaic acid-induced inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A enhances chondrogenesis in chicken limb bud micromass cell cultures.

The role of major cellular serine/threonine-specific protein phosphatases, protein phosphatase 1 and 2A, was investigated during chicken cartilage differentiation under in vitro conditions. Activity of protein phosphatase 2A decreased parallel to differentiation of chondrogenic cells, whereas activity of protein phosphatase 1 remained unchanged as assayed in the supernatants of the homogenised chicken limb bud micromass cell cultures. When okadaic acid, a potent inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1 and 2A was applied in 20 nM concentration for 4 h during the second and third culturing days, it significantly increased the size of metachromatic cartilage areas measured in 6-day-old colonies. Following okadaic acid treatments, a significant inhibition in the activity of protein phosphatase 2A was found, while the activity of protein phosphatase 1 was unaffected as measured an days 2 and 3. TRITC-phalloidin labelling demonstrated that okadaic acid disorganised actin filaments and induced rounding of chondrogenic cells. This deterioration of actin filaments was reversible. Electron microscopy and biochemical analysis of colonies revealed that the ultrastructure and major components of cartilage matrix remained unchanged under the effect of okadaic acid. Okadaic acid-treatment applied to cultures containing predominantly differentiated chondrocytes (after day 4) did not influence the cartilage formation. 3H-thymidine and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation-assays demonstrated enhanced cell proliferation in the okadaic acid-treated colonies compared to that of the untreated ones. Our results indicate, for the first time, that protein phosphatase 2A is involved in the regulation of chondrogenesis. Inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A with okadaic acid may result in increased chondrogenesis via modulation of proliferation and cytoskeletal organisation, as well as via alteration of protein kinase A-signaling pathway of the chondrogenic cells.

The distribution pattern of the hyaluronan receptor CD44 during human tooth development.

The aim was to investigate the expression pattern of the major cell-surface hyaluronan receptor CD44, as there are no existing data on its presence or absence in human dental structures at different developmental stages. Immunohistochemical localization of CD44 was studied using a monoclonal antibody, H3, that specifically recognizes an epitope in the common backbone of all CD44 isoforms. The dental lamina displayed a strong CD44 signal; the external enamel epithelium was negative. In the coronal region of the tooth germ the presecretory ameloblasts showed an intense reaction whereas the less differentiated inner enamel epithelial cells showed no signal at the cervical loop where they meet the external enamel epithelium. In the stellate reticulum a moderate reaction was detected. The secretory ameloblasts and the stratum intermedium showed a strong cell-surface CD44 signal. A strong signal was also observed on the odontoblasts and their processes. In the pulp, close to the odontoblastic layer, weak labelling was seen in the walls of capillary vessels. The distribution of CD44 in the human tooth germ corresponds to that of hyaluronan in most locations, suggesting that during tooth development this transmembrane protein plays an important part in hyaluronan-mediated events.

Expression of aquaporin isoforms during human and mouse tooth development.

Previously, we described the development of hyaluronan (HA) deposition in human tooth germ tissues that are consistent with water transport in different stages of tooth development. The aquaporins (AQP) constitute a family of membrane water channels that are expressed in many organs. However, there are no data available about the expression pattern of aquaporin water channels in dental structures. In the present study we have characterised the expression of six different aquaporin isoforms (AQP1-5, AQP-9) in developing human and mouse tooth germs by immunohistochemistry using isoform specific antibodies. In the "bell stage" AQP1 was expressed in endothelial cells of small vessels whereas no other structures of the tooth primordial were labeled. AQP2, AQP3 and AQP9 immunoreactivity was not observed in tooth germs, whereas strong AQP4 and AQP5 expression was observed in dental lamina, inner enamel epithelium, stratum intermedium, stellate reticulum and the outer enamel epithelium. Oral epithelium also exhibited AQP4 and AQP5 immunolabeling. During development of the matrices of the dental hard tissues AQP4 and AQP5 immunostaining was observed in the odontoblasts and their processes, as well as in the secretory ameloblast and their apical processes. Immunolabeling controls were negative. In conclusion, AQP4 and AQP5 are expressed in tooth germ tissues in early development in cells that previously have been shown to express HA and/or CD44, indicating that AQP water channels may play a role for ECM hydration during tooth development.

Quantitative determination of hyaluronan content in cerebral aneurysms by digital densitometry.

OBJECT: Hyaluronan (HA) is a highly hydrated macromolecule; it is one of the essential components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the arteries and plays an important role in maintaining the biomechanical features of blood vessels. Although the potential contribution of HA in aneurysms of different vessels has been studied intensively, no data are available about the alteration of the HA content in the extracellular matrix of intracranial aneurysms. The aim of the study was to determine the hyaluronan content in the wall of human cerebral arteries. METHODS: A biotinylated aggrecan fragment that binds specifically to HA was used to stain samples from cerebral aneurysms (n = 11) to compare the HA content to non-aneurysmal arteries of patients who had intracranial aneurysm (n = 11), and to histologically normal arteries of patients who had expired from non-vascular diseases (n = 14). Digital microscopic densitometry was used for the quantitative analysis of the hyaluronan content in these samples. RESULTS: The highest level (169.5 +/- 7.9) was detected in aneurysms, while the HA-level of non-aneurysmal vessels was lower (130.2 +/- 16.8). Both vessel groups contained significantly higher HA than the normal cerebral arteries (32.9 +/- 2.1). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that an elevated hyaluronan level in the extracellular matrix may affect the cerebral arterial wall architecture. It is reasonable to suppose that the increased hyaluronan content creates a viscoelastic ECM which might improve the biomechanical resistance of the thinned vessel wall.

Type X collagen in human enamel development: a possible role in mineralization.

Although type X collagen is one of the key molecules in endochondral ossification, no data are available on whether it is present in dental structures when mineralization is proceeding. We therefore monitored the appearance of type X collagen in tooth germs of human samples ranging in gestational age from 17-week-old fetuses to 9-week-old newborn. Using immunohistochemistry, ELISA techniques, and Western blotting, we show that type X collagen is present in human tooth germ during enamel maturation. Intense immunohistochemical staining for collagen type X was observed in the enamel and in the apical parts of secretory ameloblast at the bell stage when the dentine and enamel matrix were already under formation. The odontoblasts, the dentine, and the pulp were not stained. In the early (9-week) postnatal stage, the staining for collagen type X in the enamel matrix was diminished, and only a very weak signal could be detected in the secretory ameloblasts. A positive reaction for collagen type X was also observed in ELISA assay of extracts obtained from human embryonic enamel and hypertrophic cartilage samples. The Western blot analysis of the enamel demonstrated that size of the molecule detected by MoAb X53 is characteristic of the type X collagen. This correlates well with our immunohistochemical findings. Based on these data, we propose that type X collagen is one of the candidate molecules present in the enamel matrix that might be involved in mineralization of the enamel.

Quantitative image analysis of hyaluronan expression in human tooth germs.

The expression of hyaluronan in human tooth germs was studied by using a biotinylated hyaluronan-binding complex and quantitative digital image analysis. At the cap stage, dental papilla exhibited a moderate staining, while intense reaction was observed in the apical portion of presecretory ameloblasts, stellate reticulum, and in dental basement membrane. When the enamel and dentine matrices started to develop, a strong hyaluronan reaction was evident in the young enamel and the apical portion of secretory ameloblasts. No hyaluronan could be detected in the secretory ameloblasts and enamel matrix of the early (9-wk-old) post-natal stage. It is concluded that hyaluronan may play a transitory role in the early phase of the development of the enamel matrix organization. A very weak signal was observed in the wall of dentin tubules, whereas the rest of the dentine matrix was not stained. The odontoblasts and the pulp were also moderately stained, and these reactions gradually decreased with age, suggesting that hyaluronan may also contribute to the development of dentine matrix and pulp.

Lifelong voluntary joint loading increases osteoarthritis in mice housing a deletion mutation in type II procollagen gene, and slightly also in non-transgenic mice.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of voluntary running on the incidence and severity of osteoarthritis (OA) and associated changes in cartilage matrix and subchondral bone in a transgenic Del1 mouse model for OA. METHODS: Del1 mice and their non-transgenic littermate controls were housed from the age of 5-6 weeks to 15 months in individual cages with running wheels. The running activity of each mouse was monitored for the entire 12 month period. Additional Del1 and control mice were housed in individual cages without running wheels. At the end of the experiment the severity of OA was evaluated by light microscopy, and the articular cartilage matrix changes by digital densitometry and quantitative polarised light microscopy. RESULTS: Lifelong voluntary running increased the incidence and severity of OA significantly in Del1 mice (transgenic runners), and slightly also in non-transgenic runners. Severe OA changes increased from 39% in transgenic non-runners to 90% in transgenic runners (p=0.006) in lateral tibial condyles, and from 24% to 80% (p=0.013) in lateral femoral condyles, respectively. The proteoglycan content of articular cartilage was reduced in transgenic runners in comparison with transgenic non-runners (p=0.0167), but a similar effect was not seen in non-transgenic runners compared with non-transgenic non-runners. No attributable differences were seen in the collagen network of articular cartilage or in the subchondral bone between any of the groups. CONCLUSION: The Del1 mutation has earlier been shown to disturb the assembly of the cartilage collagen network and thereby increase the incidence and severity of OA with age. In this study, voluntary running was shown to increase further cartilage damage in the lateral compartments of the knee. This suggests that articular cartilage in Del1 mice is less resistant to physical loading than in control mice. Despite severe OA lesions in the knee joint at the age of 15 months, Del1 mice continued to run voluntarily 2-3 km every night.