Heterogeneity of macrophage populations and expression of galectin-3 in cutaneous wound healing in rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the properties of macrophages that infiltrated the sites of cutaneous wound healing in rats between 1 and 26 days post wounding (dpw). During the inflammation phase (1-3 dpw), ED1(+) (CD68(+)) macrophages with enhanced lysosomal activity dominated. From 5 to 7 dpw there was formation of granulation tissue as indicated by the presence of myofibroblasts expressing α-smooth muscle actin. At this stage, ED2(+) (CD163(+)) macrophages, capable of producing inflammatory factors, were dominant. The majority of ED1(+) macrophages expressed galectin-3, a regulator of fibrosis. Corresponding to the increased numbers of ED1(+) and ED2(+) macrophages at 3-9 dpw, there was increased expression of genes encoding transforming growth factor-ß1 (a major fibrogenic factor), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and colony stimulating factor-1. These macrophage-related factors might contribute to inflammation and formation of granulation tissue. OX6(+) macrophages expressing class II molecules of the major histocompatibility complex became predominant in the healing stages (15-26 dpw), indicating important roles for antigen-presenting cells in tissue remodelling. The OX6(+) macrophages were most likely derived from ED1(+) macrophages. The results of this study show that infiltration of phenotypically- and functionally-distinct macrophage populations characterizes different stages of the wound healing process.

Late onset cerebellar cortical degeneration in a koala.

A 10-year-old male koala started to fall from the tree while sleeping. Subsequently, the koala often fell down while walking and showed a gait abnormality, abnormal nystagmus and hypersalivation. At 12 years of age, the koala became ataxic and seemed blind. At 13 years of age, the koala exhibited signs of dysstasia and was euthanased. Necropsy revealed marked symmetrical atrophy of the cerebellum. Histopathologically, a severe loss of Purkinje and granule cells was evident in the cerebellum, while the molecular layer was more cellular than normal with cells resembling small neurons, which were positively stained with parvalbumin immunohistochemistry. Reactive Bergmann glial cells (astrocytes) were present adjacent to the depleted Purkinje cell zone. The very late onset and slow progression of the cerebellar cortical degeneration in this case is particularly interesting and appears to be the first report in the koala.

Absolute configuration of (6S,9S)-roseoside from Polygonum hydropiper.

From Polygonum hydropiper L., a C13-norisoprenoid glucoside was isolated and its absolute configuration was established to be (6S,9S)-roseoside (1) by spectroscopic evidence and X-ray crystallographic analysis of its acetate derivative (2). In addition, the stereostructure of roseoside from Canthium subcordatum was revised to the (6S,9S) configuration.

Association of murine leukemia virus pol with virions, independent of Gag-Pol expression.

During the replication cycle of murine leukemia virus (MLV), Pol is normally synthesized as part of a Gag-Pol fusion protein. In this study, the ability of free MLV Pol to be incorporated into virions was examined. When MLV Gag and MLV Pol were coexpressed from separate plasmids in cells, reverse transcriptase (RT) activity associated with Gag core particles at a slightly lower level than did RT activity generated from wild-type Gag-Pol expression. Particles produced in this manner were somewhat less infectious than those produced with wild-type Gag-Pol. A smaller amount of MLV Pol also associated with heterologous human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag cores.

Noninfectious virus-like particles produced by Moloney murine leukemia virus-based retrovirus packaging cells deficient in viral envelope become infectious in the presence of lipofection reagents.

Retrovirus packaging cell lines expressing the Moloney murine leukemia virus gag and pol genes but lacking virus envelope genes produce virus-like particles constitutively, whether or not they express a transcript from an integrated retroviral provirus. In the absence of a proviral transcript, the assembled particles contain processed gag and reverse transcriptase, and particles made by cells expressing an integrated lacZ provirus also contain viral RNA. The virus-like particles from both cell types are enveloped and are secreted/budded into the extracellular space but are noninfectious. Their physicochemical properties are similar to those of mature retroviral particles. The noninfectious gag pol RNA particles can readily be made infectious by the addition of lipofection reagents to produce preparations with titers of up to 10(5) colony-forming units per ml.

Micropropagation ofCroton sublyratus Kurz -a tropical tree of medicinal importance.

A shoot tip culture procedure has been developed for the rapid multiplication ofCroton sublyratus Kurz, a tropical plant species cultivated in Thailand for the production of an anti-ulcer medicine, plaunotol. Optimum conditions were established : (1) for the regeneration of shoots from shoot tips: (2) for axillary shoot formation and rooting and (3) for adaptation of regenerated plants to the open ground. The results demonstrate the feasibility of applying the shoot tip culture technique for enhancing production of plaunotol by cultivating uniform populations ofC. sublyratus with higher plaunotol levels.

The effect of gelling agents on plaunotol accumulation in callus cultures ofCroton sublyratus Kurz.

Callus cultures established from the leaves ofCroton sublyratus Kurz (Euphorbiaceae) contained little or no plaunotol on various media with different hormone combinations. Plaunotol accumulation was observed in calli which were cultured in media with increasing concentrations of gelling agents, especially gellan gum and agarose. The accumulation was observed within three weeks after transfer to the medium and was accompanied by chlorophyll increase, tracheid development and slow growth. Light and increasing concentration of gelling agents were observed to be indispensable for plaunotol accumulation in the callus.

5-epideoxyloganic acid from Nepeta cataria.

On the basis of exhaustive (1)H- and (13)C-NMR spectral studies and chemical transformations, the structure of nepetolglucosylester isolated from Nepeta cataria L. was revised as (5R, 8S, 9R)-7-deoxyloganic acid, which was renamed 5-epideoxyloganic acid.

8-Epi-iridodial glucoside from Boschniakia rossica.

Boschnaside, 8-epi-iridodial glucoside a new iridoid glucoside was isolated from Boschniakia rossica Hult., and its absolute structure was determined by chemical correlation of boschnaloside tetraacetate with boschnaside tetraacetate.