MFG-E8, a clearance glycoprotein of apoptotic cells, as a new marker of disease severity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) is an opsonin involved in the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), apoptotic cell clearance is defective. However, whether aberrant MFG-E8 expression is involved in this defect is unknown. In this study, we examined the expression of MFG-E8 in COPD patients. MFG-E8, interleukin (IL)-1β and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β levels were measured in the plasma of 96 COPD patients (93 males, 3 females; age range: 62.12±10.39) and 87 age-matched healthy controls (85 males, 2 females; age range: 64.81±10.11 years) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Compared with controls, COPD patients had a significantly lower plasma MFG-E8 levels (P<0.01) and significantly higher plasma TGF-β levels (P=0.002), whereas there was no difference in plasma IL-1β levels between the two groups. Moreover, plasma MFG-E8 levels decreased progressively between Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) I and GOLD IV stage COPD. Multiple regression analysis showed that the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 % predicted) and smoking habit were powerful predictors of MFG-E8 in COPD (P<0.01 and P=0.026, respectively). MFG-E8 was positively associated with the FEV1 % predicted and negatively associated with smoking habit. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.874 (95% confidence interval: 0.798-0.95; P<0.01). Our findings demonstrated the utility of MFG-E8 as a marker of disease severity in COPD and that cigarette smoke impaired MFG-E8 expression in these patients.

MFG-E8, a clearance glycoprotein of apoptotic cells, as a new marker of disease severity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) is an opsonin involved in the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), apoptotic cell clearance is defective. However, whether aberrant MFG-E8 expression is involved in this defect is unknown. In this study, we examined the expression of MFG-E8 in COPD patients. MFG-E8, interleukin (IL)-1ß and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß levels were measured in the plasma of 96 COPD patients (93 males, 3 females; age range: 62.12±10.39) and 87 age-matched healthy controls (85 males, 2 females; age range: 64.81±10.11 years) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Compared with controls, COPD patients had a significantly lower plasma MFG-E8 levels (P<0.01) and significantly higher plasma TGF-ß levels (P=0.002), whereas there was no difference in plasma IL-1ß levels between the two groups. Moreover, plasma MFG-E8 levels decreased progressively between Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) I and GOLD IV stage COPD. Multiple regression analysis showed that the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 % predicted) and smoking habit were powerful predictors of MFG-E8 in COPD (P<0.01 and P=0.026, respectively). MFG-E8 was positively associated with the FEV1 % predicted and negatively associated with smoking habit. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.874 (95% confidence interval: 0.798-0.95; P<0.01). Our findings demonstrated the utility of MFG-E8 as a marker of disease severity in COPD and that cigarette smoke impaired MFG-E8 expression in these patients.

Is the testis intraperitoneal?

The relationship of the testis to the peritoneal cavity, and hence its position as an intraperitoneal or extraperitoneal organ, remains controversial. Adult anatomy texts favour an extraperitoneal position during and after testicular descent, whereas journal articles favour an intraperitoneal position. Interestingly, there is no similar debate around the position of the ovary despite the common origin of each as indifferent gonads. Through direct observation and the literature review, we aimed to determine whether the testis should be considered an intraperitoneal or an extraperitoneal organ. The anatomical and embryological literature relevant to human and animal models was reviewed. Direct dissections were made in rats (n=8) during foetal development, postnatally, and in mature animals, allowing comparison of foetus with adult and male with female. The position of the human testis was also recorded in various pathological states. Direct dissection in rats reveals an intraperitoneal testis on a mesorchium during both foetal and postnatal life. Intraperitoneal testes are demonstrated in humans in cases of gastroschisis (where the testis may protrude through the periumbilical defect with the bowel), testicular torsion (where the testis is mobile within the peritoneum), and bell clapper testis (where the testes are identifiable as intraperitoneal). We conclude that the foetal testis is an intraperitoneal organ. In the adult rat the testis remains intraperitoneal. The postnatal human testis is intraperitoneal. The adult human testis is intraperitoneal but may appear extraperitoneal. The apparent discrepancy between the adult testis being intraperitoneal or extraperitoneal is likely to result from differences in the relative size of the tunica vaginalis between infant boys and elderly men.

The effects of suppressive activities mediated by cells on the protection of fetus against maternal immune rejection.

Using both mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) assays, investigations have been made on 60 multiparous mice of late pregnancy, derived from C57BL mating with SWI as well as C57BL mating with BGI. The results demonstrate the presence of suppressor cells both in uterus-draining-lymphnodes (DLN) and in spleen of allogeneic pregnant mice. The suppressive immune regulatory activity mediated by these cells might play an important role in the successful maintenance of fetus allograft. The possible mechanisms about the inducing of the changes in lymphocyte subpopulation are also studied in this paper.

Haptoglobin typing and quantitation in normal Chinese females and gynecologic cancer patients.

Haptoglobin typing with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and guaiacol staining was performed in 1028 sera, including 215 cases of various gynecologic malignancies, 45 of benign gynecologic tumors, 99 of pregnancy, 2 of infection, and 667 of healthy subjects as controls. In the control group, excluding 9 cases of hypohaptoglobinemia, the incidences of haptoglobin type 1-1, 2-1, and 2-2 were 12.00%, 41.03%, and 46.96% respectively. The Hp alpha 1 gene frequency was 0.3251. In cervical cancer and ovarian cancer, the incidence of type 1-1 was lower, while in corpus cancer, it was remarkably elevated. The frequency of Hp alpha 1 gene decreased in cervical cancer but increased in corpus cancer and other miscellaneous gynecologic cancer patients. However, the type distribution of gynecologic malignancy as a group was almost the same as that in the control group. The association of malignancy and haptoglobin types awaits further study. With single radial immunodiffusion technic, haptoglobin quantitation was also performed in 655 cases. In 331 nonpregnant healthy subjects, the mean levels in type 1-1, 2-1, and 2-2 were 118.4, 180.9, and 137.9 mg% respectively. While the haptoglobin level during pregnancy and in most benign gynecologic tumors remained the same as in normal controls, it was significantly elevated in corpus cancer, ovarian cancer and advanced cervical cancers. A close association between malignancy and elevated haptoglobin levels was evident.