Tissue Expression of Aquaporin 2 Is Correlated to Urine Output and Allograft Function in Sensitized Kidney Transplant Patients.

BACKGROUND: Salt and water disturbances often occur during acute kidney allograft dysfunction that contribute to graft failure, but this condition has been poorly investigated in the alloreactivity setting. We evaluated the tissue expression of aquaporins (AQP1 and AQP2) and the epithelial sodium channel (ENAC) in kidney biopsy specimens from sensitized kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: Eighty-six biopsy specimens from 33 sensitized patients were divided into 3 groups according to clinical context: time-zero (n = 9), protocol (n = 9), and indication (n = 68). The indication biopsy specimens were further divided into 3 subgroups according to the presence of acute tubular necrosis or rejection. Normal kidney tissue samples (n = 6) served as the control specimens. Immmunohistochemical expression of AQP1, AQP2, and ENAC was determined by using image analyzing software. RESULTS: Significantly lower AQP1 expression was observed in the time-zero and indication biopsy specimens with rejection compared with control specimens (P = .03 and P = .04, respectively). AQP2 expression was significantly lower in patients with an indication biopsy specimen compared with control and protocol biopsy specimens (P = .05 and P = .005). For ENAC, a lower expression was noted in the indication biopsy specimens compared with the control specimens (P = .04). Both AQP1 and AQP2 tissue expressions were significantly correlated to urine output (r = 0.45 and r = 0.32; P = .001 and P = .02), and AQP2 was correlated with the glomerular filtration rate estimated by using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation at biopsy (r = 0.23; P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings partially confirm previous experimental data showing downregulation of AQP1 expression after ischemia/reperfusion injury and during rejection. AQP2 downregulation seems to be rejection-independent, occurring during deteriorating or poor kidney graft function.

Pre-transplant soluble CD30 in combination with total DSA but not pre-transplant C1q-DSA predicts antibody-mediated graft loss in presensitized high-risk kidney transplant recipients.

Presensitized kidney transplant recipients are at high-risk for early antibody-mediated rejection. We studied the impact of pre- and post-transplant donor-specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies (DSA) and T-cell-activation on the occurrence of antibody-mediated rejection episodes (AMR) and graft loss (AMR-GL) in a unique cohort of 80 desensitized high-risk kidney transplant recipients. Patients with pre-transplant DSA demonstrated more AMR episodes than patients without DSA, but did not show a significantly increased rate of AMR-GL. The rates of AMR and AMR-GL were not significantly increased in patients with complement split product (C1q)-binding pre-transplant DSA. Pre-transplant C1q-DSA became undetectable post-transplant in 11 of 13 (85%) patients; 2 (18%) of these 11 patients showed AMR but no AMR-GL. In contrast, the post-transplant presence of C1q-DSA was associated with significantly higher rates of AMR (86 vs 33 vs 0%; P < 0.001) and AMR-GL (86 vs 0 vs 0%; log-rank P < 0.001) compared with post-transplant DSA without C1q-binding or the absence of DSA. Patients with both pre-transplant DSA and evidence of pre-transplant T-cell-activation as indicated by soluble CD30-positivity showed a significantly increased risk for AMR-GL [HR = 11.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.68-73.4; log-rank P = 0.013]. In these high-risk patients, AMR-GL was associated with total DSA in combination with T-cell-activation pre-transplant, and de novo or persistent C1q-binding DSA post-transplant.

A Single-center Experience on the Value of Pancreas Graft Biopsies and HLA Antibody Monitoring After Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: In simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPKT), monitoring of the pancreas allograft is more complex than the kidney allograft due to difficulties in obtaining pancreas histology and weak clinical evidence supporting the role of donor-specific antibodies (DSA). METHODS: We performed a single-center retrospective analysis of all 17 SPKT recipients who underwent a total of 22 pancreas allograft indication biopsies from October 2009 to September 2012. Fifteen patients had at least 2 DSA measurements: pretransplantation and at the time of biopsy. RESULTS: All 7 patients (100%) with post-transplantation DSA-positivity (de novo: n = 6; persistent: n = 1) at biopsy had at least 1 rejection episode either of the pancreas (n = 4) or the kidney (n = 3), with 3 antibody-mediated rejections (AMR). In contrast, only 4 of 8 patients (50%) without post-transplantation DSA had evidence of rejection, with 1 AMR. Findings during pancreas allograft biopsy procedures led to a change of immunosuppressive therapy in 11 of 15 (73%) patients. Patient survival, graft survival, and function were not adversely affected by the presence of post-transplantation DSA. One major and 2 minor procedure-related complications occurred during the pancreas biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: In this small retrospective analysis, pancreas allograft histology provided the most therapeutically relevant information, rather than the kidney histology or DSA monitoring.

No induction versus anti-IL2R induction therapy in simultaneous kidney pancreas transplantation: a comparative analysis.

UNLABELLED: The optimal immunosuppressive regimen for simultaneous kidney pancreas transplantation (SKPT) is still not established. We conducted a study to compare the safety and efficacy of no induction versus anti-IL-2 receptor induction protocols in SKPT recipients receiving the same maintenance regimen. METHODS: Sixty-three SKPT recipients were divided into two groups: no induction group (n = 42) and anti-IL-2 receptor induction group (n = 21). All patients were maintained on tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone. Primary endpoints were 1-year acute rejection incidence and patient and graft survivals. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics were similar between the groups. Acute rejection incidence at 1 year was equal in both groups (28.6%). Kidney and pancreas allograft survival in the no induction group were 78.6% and 76.2%, and in the anti-IL-2R induction group, 81% and 71.4%, respectively (P = NS). Patient survival was also similar: 83.3% in the no induction versus 85.7% in the anti-IL-2R induction group. Deaths due to sepsis were higher in the anti-IL-2R induction group, albeit not significantly. CONCLUSION: The use of a no-induction protocol in SKPT is safe and effective immunosuppression that also reduces transplantation costs.

Muscle weakness in critically ill children.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the incidence of muscle weakness in critically ill children. METHODS: Neuromuscular examinations were performed in 830 children without identified antecedent or acute neuromuscular disease (age 3 months to 17 years 11 months) admitted for >24 hours to a pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) over a 1-year period. RESULTS: Fourteen of 830 (1.7%) patients had generalized weakness. Four failed repeated attempts to extubate. Multiple organ dysfunction occurred in 11 patients and sepsis in 9. Most children received corticosteroids, neuromuscular blocking agents, or aminoglycoside antibiotics. Eight of the 14 children were solid organ or bone marrow transplant recipients. Muscle biopsy showed evidence of acute quadriplegic myopathy in all three patients in whom biopsy was performed. Three patients died. In survivors, significant weakness persisted for 3 to 12 months following ICU discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Muscle weakness is an infrequent but significant feature of critical illness in children. Transplant recipients seem to be at particular risk.

Malformations of cortical development with balloon cells: clinical and radiologic correlates.

BACKGROUND: Balloon cells are a key feature of tuberous sclerosis (TS) but are also seen in focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). The authors compare the clinical and MRI characteristics in children with medically refractory localization-related epilepsy who were found to have balloon cells on histology after cortical resections. METHODS: A retrospective review of clinical and MRI data in cases ascertained from a search of pathology records from 1990 until 2000 for those with a diagnosis of FCD or TS. Seventeen patients were identified with malformations of cortical development with balloon cells on histology. Seven had clinical diagnosis of TS and the remaining 10, FCD with balloon cells (FCDBC). RESULTS: Seventy percent of patients with FCDBC (mean follow-up 3.3 years) and 33% of patients with TS (mean follow-up 5.1 years) are seizure free after surgery. There was agreement between the diagnosis based on preoperative MR imaging and on histology in 60% of patients with FCDBC and 71% of patients with TS. Myelin depletion and calcification were noted more frequently in patients with TS. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were noted between patients with refractory epilepsy caused by TS or FCDBC. There was a trend toward better postoperative seizure control in the FCDBC group. These two conditions are difficult to distinguish on the basis of MR and histologic appearances. The authors conclude that FCDBC likely represents a phenotypic variation of TS, and as such, all patients with balloon cell dysplasias should be carefully screened for other features of TS to enable appropriate genetic counseling.

Radiologic-pathologic correlation in focal cortical dysplasia and hemimegalencephaly in 18 children.

To describe the radiologic-pathologic correlation in children who underwent epilepsy surgery for medically intractable epilepsy with pathologically confirmed focal cortical dysplasia and hemimegalencephaly, we conducted a retrospective review on the magnetic resonance imaging and pathology of 18 children (10 boys and 8 girls). The preoperative MRIs were reviewed by one neuroradiologist who did not know the radiologic diagnosis and the pathology reports. MRI revealed focal cortical dysplasia (10), hemimegalencephaly (3), hamartomas (2), polymicrogyria (1), pial hemosiderosis (1), and no abnormality (1). Pathologic examination revealed focal cortical dysplasia (9), forme fruste of tuberous sclerosis (5), hemimegalencephaly (3), and focal cortical dysplasia with mesial temporal sclerosis (1). MRI was accurate in making the preoperative diagnosis in 16 out of 18 patients. On MRI, 12 patients had abnormal gyral formation and 12 had abnormal cortical thickness. Eleven patients manifested loss of gray-white differentiation, and 11 patients had abnormal signal on T(2)-weighted image. Pathologically, 15 patients had neuronal heterotopia, 12 had misalignment or disorientation of neurons, 11 had large neurons, and 10 had abnormal cortical lamination. The presence of ectopic and large neurons and abnormal cortical lamination may be responsible for the MRI characteristics.

Instability of elastic filaments in shear flow yields first-normal-stress differences.

Using slender-body hydrodynamics, we study the flow-induced deformation of a high-aspect-ratio elastic filament. For a filament of zero rest curvature rotating in a viscous linear shear flow, our model predicts a bifurcation to shape instabilities due to compression by the flow, in agreement with experimental observations. Further, nonlinear simulations of this shape instability show that in dilute solutions, flexibility of the fibers causes both increased shear thinning as well as significant nonzero first-normal-stress differences. These stress differences are positive for small-to-moderate deformations, but negative for large-amplitude flexing of the fibers.

Developmental changes of synaptojanin expression in the human cerebrum and cerebellum.

Synaptojanin is a highly abundant polyphosphoinositide phosphatase in nerve terminals, and has been thought to play roles in clathrin-mediated synaptic vesicle endocytosis and signaling. In order to determine the broader role of synaptojanin in the central nervous system, we examined synaptojanin expression in the cerebrum and cerebellum from the fetal to the adult period by means of immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses. Immunohistochemistry consistently revealed the localization of synaptojanin in Cajal--Retzius cells, cortical plate neurons, subplate neurons, intermediate neurons, germinal matrix cells and the ventricular neuroepithelium of the fetal cerebrum. In the fetal cerebellum, synaptojanin immunoreactivity was localized in the external granular cell layer, Purkinje cell layer neuropil, cytoplasm of Purkinje cells and internal granular cells. The immunoreactivity in these structures was decreased around birth. After birth, the synaptojanin immunoreactivity of cortical neurons in the cerebrum, Purkinje cell layer neuropil, and internal granular cells and Purkinje cells in the cerebellum increased and reached a plateau after 11 years of age. These results were consistent with the intensity observed on Western blot analysis. These developmental changes of synaptojanin suggest a broader role in not only synaptic vesicle recycling, but also the regulation of neuronal migration and synaptogenesis in the fetal cerebrum and cerebellum.

Up-regulation of E2F-1 in Down's syndrome brain exhibiting neuropathological features of Alzheimer-type dementia.

We studied the expression of the apoptosis-related protein, E2F-1, in Down's syndrome (DS) brains. The immunoreactivity for E2F-1 was detected in the pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex from DS brains exhibiting the neuropathological features of dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT), in accordance with the amyloid beta protein (A beta) deposition in the neuron. Therefore, the implication is that A beta deposition may trigger E2F-1-mediated neuronal apoptosis in DS brains with DAT.

MIB-1 staining index of pediatric meningiomas.

OBJECTIVE: For adult meningiomas, the staining index (SI) for the anti-Ki-67 monoclonal antibody MIB-1 is well correlated with histological atypia and tumor recurrence. MIB-1 SIs for meningiomas in the pediatric population have not been previously reported. Meningiomas tend to be more histologically aggressive and to recur more frequently in children, compared with adults. The objectives of this study were to determine whether MIB-1 SIs are correlated with pathological atypia and recurrence among pediatric meningiomas and to compare the MIB-1 SIs of pediatric meningiomas with those of adult meningiomas. METHODS: MIB-1 SIs were assessed on paraffin-embedded sections of 14 pediatric meningiomas (patient age, 2-17 yr), 5 of which contained atypical or malignant features. For comparison with benign pediatric meningiomas, MIB-1 SIs were also assessed on paraffin-embedded sections of 14 adult meningiomas (patient age, 38-90 yr), none of which displayed atypical or malignant features or recurred within a 5-month median follow-up period. RESULTS: MIB-1 SIs of pediatric meningiomas ranged from 1.2 to 31.6% (median, 9.1%). Significant differences were observed between the MIB-1 SIs for tumors with atypical or malignant features (median, 12.3%; range, 7.0-31.6%) and those for tumors without atypia (median, 7.0%; range, 1.2-12.6%; P = 0.045). There were six recurrences after gross total resection, during a 36.5-month median follow-up period. All five of the tumors with pathological atypia recurred; one tumor without atypia recurred. Significant differences were observed between MIB-1 SIs for nonrecurrent tumors (median, 6.6%; range, 1.2-12.2%) and those for recurrent tumors (median, 12.5%; range, 7.0-31.6%; P = 0.012). The median MIB-1 SI for adult control specimens was 8.8% (range, 1.2-19.3%), which did not differ significantly from that for pediatric meningiomas without atypia (P = 0.68). CONCLUSION: For this cohort of pediatric meningiomas, pathological atypia and the tendency to recur were correlated with elevated MIB-1 SIs. The median MIB-1 SI for pediatric meningiomas without histological atypia did not differ significantly from that for adult meningiomas without atypia, suggesting that the more aggressive clinical features of meningiomas in children may be attributable to factors other than the rate of cellular proliferation.

Tracking the invasiveness of human astrocytoma cells by using green fluorescent protein in an organotypical brain slice model.

OBJECT: Although it is known that malignant astrocytomas infiltrate diffusely into regions of normal brain, it is frequently difficult to identify unequivocally the solitary, invading astrocytoma cell in histopathological preparations or experimental astrocytoma models. The authors describe an experimental system that facilitates the tracking of astrocytoma cells by using nonneoplastic cerebral tissue as the substrate for invasion. METHODS: Cerebral tissue was cut into 1-mm-thick slices and cultured in the upper chamber of a Transwell culture dish on top of a polyester membrane (0.4-mm pore size) that was bathed in medium supplied by the lower chamber. Two astrocytoma cell lines, U-87 MG (U87) and U343 MG-A (U343), were selected because of their differing basal cell motilities in monolayer cultures. The astrocytoma cells were stably transfected with vectors that expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP), either alone or as a fusion protein with the receptor for hyaluronic acid-mediated motility (RHAMM) in either sense or antisense orientations. Stably transfected clones that had high levels of GFP expression were selected using the direct visualization provided by fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence-activated cell-sorter analysis. The GFP-expressing astrocytoma cell clones were implanted into the center of the brain slice and the degree of astrocytoma invasion into brain tissue was measured at different time points by using the optical sectioning provided by the confocal laser microscope. The authors observed that GFP-expressing astrocytoma cells could be readily tracked and followed in this model system. Individual astrocytoma cells that exhibited green fluorescence could be readily identified following their migration through the brain slices. The GFP-labeled U87 astrocytoma cells migrated farther into the brain slice than the U343 astrocytoma cells. The RHAMM-transfected GFP-labeled astrocytoma cells also infiltrated farther than the GFP-labeled astrocytoma cells themselves. The expression of antisense RHAMM virtually abrogated the invasion of the brain slices by both astrocytoma cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: The authors believe that this organotypical culture system may be of considerable utility in studying the process of astrocytoma invasion, not only because it provides a better representation of the extracellular matrix molecules normally encountered by invading astrocytoma cells, but also because the GFP tag enables tracking of highly migratory and invasive astrocytoma cells under direct vision.

The developmental and aging changes of Down's syndrome cell adhesion molecule expression in normal and Down's syndrome brains.

We studied the expression of Down's syndrome cell adhesion molecule (DSCAM) in Down's syndrome (DS) and control brains, using antisera against peptide fragments of DSCAM. On Western blots of human, mouse and rat brain homogenates, the antisera recognized a product at approximately 200 kDa. In the brain of a 2-year-old patient with DS, Western blotting revealed an overexpression of DSCAM compared to an age-matched control. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated DSCAM in the cerebral and cerebellar white matter of both control and DS subjects, in accordance with the temporal and spatial sequence of myelination. In DS brains, immunoreactivity for DSCAM, compared to that for controls, was enhanced in the Purkinje cells at all ages, and in the cortical neurons during adulthood. In demented DS patients, DSCAM immunoreactivity was observed in the core and periphery of senile plaques. The pattern of DSCAM expression suggests that it may play a role as an adhesion molecule regulating myelination. The overexpression of DSCAM may also play a role in the mental retardation and the precocious dementia of DS patients, although the mechanism of neuronal dysfunction is undetermined.

Downregulation of glutamate receptor subunit 2(3) in subependymal giant-cell tumor.

Immunohistochemical techniques were used to investigate the expression of glutamate receptor (GluR) subunits in samples of brain resected from children with and without tuberous sclerosis, using antibody to an epitope common to GluR subunits 2 and 3 [2(3)]. Our purpose was to characterize the phenotype of balloon cells in cortical tubers and tumor cells in subependymal giant-cell tumors. In cortical tubers, GluR 2(3) was expressed in the processes and cell bodies of balloon cells, demonstrating consistent immunoreactivity to vimentin. In subependymal giant-cell tumors, tumor cells also exhibited consistent immunoreactivity to vimentin but only faint immunoreactivity to GluR 2(3). The reason for the expression of subunit 2(3) in tubers but not in subependymal giant-cell tumors remains unknown. However, if one assumes that the presence of subunit 2 substantially reduces calcium conductance through alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid channel and maintains intracellular calcium homeostasis, one could speculate that downregulation of subunit 2(3) in tumor cells could result in increased calcium flux into these cells, causing tumorigenesis. Another explanation may be that receptor subunits cannot be produced sufficiently in tumor cells. Moreover, the pathogenetic pathways between balloon and giant-cells are distinctly different, despite the similarity in their phenotypical pathologic features.

Enhanced GAP-43 gene expression in cortical dysplasia.

Growth-associated protein GAP-43, a phosphoprotein enriched at presynaptic nerve terminals, is thought to be involved in axonal outgrowth and plasticity in synaptic connections. To explore the synaptic remodeling under the epileptic conditions, we examined GAP-43 expression in brain specimens surgically resected as epileptogenic foci from 17 patients with cortical dysplasia. In situ hybridization with GAP-43 antisense riboprobe showed significantly increased signals in the dysplastic large neurons of cortical dysplasia. Specific distribution with increased immunoreactivity for GAP-43 was not shown in the dysplastic cortex. These results suggest that GAP-43 gene expression is over-expressed in the dysplastic large neurons, reflecting activated synaptic remodeling in the epileptic condition of cortical dysplasia, although the precise site of accelerated synaptic rearrangement remains unknown.

CD44 expression in tuberous sclerosis.

CD44, a cell adhesion molecule, mediates cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. In the central nervous system, CD44 is expressed in astrocytic processes, predominantly in white matter and subpial regions, suggesting its involvement in the maintenance of a stable central nervous system cytoarchitecture. In this study, we investigated immunohistochemically the expression of CD44 and glial fibrillary acidic protein in neurosurgically resected specimens of patients with or without tuberous sclerosis. In controls, CD44 immunoreactivity was noted in the processes of astrocytes close to blood vessels and subpial cortex. Glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity was noted in both cell bodies and cytoplasmic processes of astrocytes in white matter. In tubers, CD44 antigen was also noted in the processes of astrocytes close to blood vessels and pial surface, and in abundance in the network of astrocyte processes. Moreover, CD44 antigen showed immunoreactive halos around balloon cells in tubers and around tumor cells in subependymal lesions. Glial fibrillary acidic protein antigen was noted in both cell bodies and cytoplasmic processes of some balloon cells in tubers, but not in tumor cells. In Western blot analyses, the CD44 immunoreactive band was more intense in tubers or subependymal giant-cell tumors than in control tissue. This increase in CD44 antigen seemed to correlate with the degree of astrogliosis. Immunoreactivity surrounding the cell surfaces of balloon or tumor cells suggests that the clustering of these cells may be due to the expression of CD44. Glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactive band was detected in tubers, but not in subependymal giant cell tumors.

Enhanced calcium transients in glial cells in neonatal cerebellar cultures derived from S100B null mice.

S100B is the major low-affinity Ca(2+)-binding protein in astrocytes. In order to study the role of S100B in the maintenance of Ca(2+) homeostasis, we generated S100B null mice by a targeted inactivation of the S100B gene. Absence of S100B expression was demonstrated by Northern and Western blotting for S100B mRNA and protein, respectively, and immunoperoxidase staining of sections of various brain regions. S100B null mice were viable, fertile, and exhibited no overt behavioral abnormalities up to 12 months of age. On the basis of light microscopy and immunohistochemical staining, there were no discernable alterations in the distribution and morphology of astrocytes or neurons in sections of adult brains of these mice. Astrocytes in cerebellar cultures derived from 6-day-old S100B null mice exhibited enhanced Ca(2+) transients in response to treatment with KCl or caffeine. On the other hand, granule neurons, in the same cultures, exhibited normal Ca(2+) transients in response to treatment with KCl, caffeine, or N-methyl-d-aspartate. These results demonstrate a specific decrease in Ca(2+)-handling capacity in astrocytes derived from S100B null mice and suggest that S100B plays a role in the maintenance of Ca(2+) homeostasis in astrocytes.

Tuberin expression in ganglioglioma.

The expression of tuberin in neurosurgically resected gangliogliomas was investigated. Neither neoplastic astrocytes nor abnormal, multipolar large neurons showed immunoreactivity for tuberin. The reduced immuno-histochemical staining for tuberin was consistent with the reduction observed in Western blot analysis. Eosinophilic granular bodies and Rosenthal fibers were strongly immunoreactive for tuberin. The accumulation of tuberin in astrocytes with intracellular degenerative changes suggests increased expression in reactive cells, and perhaps a broader role for tuberin in central nervous system disease.

Regulation of AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission by clathrin-dependent receptor internalization.

Redistribution of postsynaptic AMPA- (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid-) subtype glutamate receptors may regulate synaptic strength at glutamatergic synapses, but the mediation of the redistribution is poorly understood. We show that AMPA receptors underwent clathrin-dependent endocytosis, which was accelerated by insulin in a GluR2 subunit-dependent manner. Insulin-stimulated endocytosis rapidly decreased AMPA receptor numbers in the plasma membrane, resulting in long-term depression (LTD) of AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in hippocampal CA1 neurons. Moreover, insulin-induced LTD and low-frequency stimulation-(LFS-) induced homosynaptic CA1 LTD were found to be mutually occlusive and were both blocked by inhibiting postsynaptic clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Thus, controlling postsynaptic receptor numbers through endocytosis may be an important mechanism underlying synaptic plasticity in the mammalian CNS.