Activation of protein kinase C pathway by phorbol ester results in a proteoglycan synthesis increase in peritubular cells from immature rat testis.

In cultured peritubular cells (PT) from rat testis, protein kinase C (PKC) was activated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). PMA enhanced the synthesis of proteoglycans (PG) and to a lesser extent their catabolism; the stimulation of the synthesis appeared to be due to an increase in PG protein moiety production and, at the same time, to an increase in the glycanation process as revealed by the use of an exogenous acceptor, p-nitrophenyl-beta-d-xyloside. In the presence of PMA, the molecular weight of neosynthesized PG and the length of their constitutive glycosaminoglycan chains were not modified. Moreover, the distribution of proteochondroitin sulfate and proteoheparan sulfate in medium and in cell layer remained unchanged. However, PMA reduced the sulfation level of chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate chains, suggesting that PKC activation resulted in an independent modulation of the sugar chain formation and of the sulfate residue transfer. PMA effect on the synthesis of hyaluronan was also determined: PMA dramatically enhanced its production by PT cells.

IGF-1 stimulates synthesis of undersulfated proteoglycans and of hyaluronic acid by peritubular cells from immature rat testis.

The exposure of confluent peritubular (PT) cells from immature rat testis to insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) induced a time and dose-dependent increase of [35S]-sulfate and [3H]-D-glucosamine incorporations in newly synthesized proteoglycans (PG). This increased content of PG was the result of an enhancement of PG synthesis rather than a decreased rate of degradation. IGF-1 had no effect on the molecular weight of synthesized PG nor on the nature and distribution of the constitutive glycosaminoglycan chains, both in medium and in cell layer. The stimulation of PG synthesis by IGF-1 appeared to be due, at least partially, to an increase of glycosylation processes. IGF-1 effect was mediated by the classical tyrosine kinase signalling process, since IGF-1 action on PG synthesis was abolished by genistein and tyrphostin A9, two well known tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The increase of PG synthesis was accompanied with an undersulfation of constitutive glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains (chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate chains) since the [35S]/[3H] ratio was reduced by about 20-25% in presence of IGF-1. Although the mechanism of hyaluronic acid synthesis was completely different from those of other GAG, IGF-1 also dramatically enhanced its production by PT cells.

Potential role of cattle egrets, Bubulcus ibis (Ciconiformes: Ardeidae), in the dissemination of Amblyomma variegatum (Acari: Ixodidae) in the eastern Caribbean.

The potential role of cattle egrets, Bubulcus ibis (L.), in the dissemination of Amblyomma variegatum (F.) in the eastern Caribbean was evaluated. The status of cattle egrets as hosts for A. variegatum in Antigua was determined during seven survey periods between September 1988 and May 1991. The mean prevalences of infestation by larvae and nymphs were 2.3 and 0.5%, respectively. The mean intensity and relative density of infestation by larvae were 8.8 (SD = 9.80) and 0.2 (SD = 0.28), respectively. Cattle egrets examined in Guadeloupe during February-March 1991 were not infested but 5.9% were infested by larvae during June-July 1991. Interisland movement of cattle egrets was evaluated relative to emigration of birds captured and marked in Antigua and Guadeloupe. During this aspect of the study, 1,129 cattle egrets were captured, marked, and released. Of 195 sighting reports received, 56 were determined to be independent sightings. Emigration of cattle egrets included movement of birds marked in Antigua or Guadeloupe to 14 Caribbean islands and the Florida Keys. Interisland movement occurred in each of the discrete observation periods during the 3-yr study period. The rate of emigration per period ranged from 1.2 to 12.9%. That cattle egrets served as hosts for immature A. variegatum in the eastern Caribbean and moved between islands in the region demonstrates that these birds could serve as disseminators of the tick. Estimates of the numbers of infested cattle egrets emigrating from Antigua and Guadeloupe ranged from 0 to 0.24% of the current populations.

[Neurotrophic ulcerations in the area of the trigeminal nerve in Wallenberg's syndrome]. / Ulcérations neurotrophiques dans le territoire du trijumeau au cours du syndrome de Wallenberg.

We report two new cases of neurotrophic ulceration of the trigeminal nerve associated with Wallenberg syndrome, and we present the six cases published since the first description of the neurologic syndrome, in 1895. This peculiar etiology supports the argument for the dominant physiopathologic hypothesis: ulcerations due to multiple microtraumatisms caused by the thermoalgic anesthesia.

[Evaluation of the diagnosis of pigmented tumors of the skin and factors leading to a decision to excise. Dermatologists of the Postgraduate Association of Haute-Normandie]. / Evaluation du diagnostic des tumeurs pigmentées de la peau et des éléments conduisant à une décision d'exérèse. Dermatologues de l'Association de FMC de Haute-Normandie.

INTRODUCTION: The necessity of excising melanomas characterized by a slight thickness at an early stage, leads dermatologists to remove pigmented lesions which do not correspond to melanomas. The aims of this study were: a) to prospectively assess the accuracy of melanoma diagnosis, b) to quantify the number of excisions performed according to the degree of melanoma suspicion, c) to determine the specific clinical sign or signs of relevant diagnostic value. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted prospectively from January 1996 to August 1997 by dermatologists in private practice and dermatologists from a University Hospital staff. When it was decided to excise a pigmented lesion, a form was filled out choosing the most appropriate clinical diagnosis, the degree of melanoma suspicion, and clinical signs which lead to surgery. Based on histological findings as the reference, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy of melanoma diagnosis and the kappa test that evaluates the concordance between clinical and histological diagnosis, were performed. The diagnostic value of clinical signs was assessed by variance analysis. RESULTS: Of the 353 excised lesions, 38 (10.7 p. 100) were identified as melanoma on histologic examination. The sensitivity, the specificity and diagnostic accuracy were: 79 p. 100, 94 p. 100 and 53 p. 100 respectively. The kappa test concordance between clinical and histological diagnosis was 0.66. Two hundred and two lesions (57 p. 100) were excised even though the clinical suspicion of melanoma was poorly considered. Only one of these 202 lesions was identified histologically as a true melanoma. Thirty seven (24.5 p. 100) of the 151 remaining excised lesions with an "average" or "strong" suspicion were true melanomas. The clinical signs considered, alone or associated, had a poor predictive positive value (< 38 p. 100). An analytical approach performed with a logistic model permitted the identification of two associated signs suggesting a best diagnostic value. DISCUSSION: This is the only study, to our knowledge, reported in the literature which prospectively assesses the sensitivity, specificity and concordance between clinical and histological diagnosis of melanoma. Results were considered from average to good. The originality of this study was to assess the number of pigmented lesions excised according to the degree of melanoma suspicion, suggesting the possibility of reducing the number of nevi removed when the melanoma risk was considered clinically poor. Finally, this study emphasizes the limits of clinical semiology and the need for future diagnostic methods in the assessment of melanoma.

Regulation of proteoglycan and hyaluronan synthesis by elevated level of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate in peritubular cells from immature rat testis.

The effects of an increase in intracellular cAMP concentration on proteoglycan (PG) synthesis by peritubular (PT) cells from immature rat testis were investigated. In the presence of dBcAMP for 72 h, the [3H]-hexosamine incorporation in secreted PG and in cell-associated PG was reduced, whereas [35S]-sulfate radioactivity was enhanced in secreted PG and not affected in cell-associated PG. Cholera toxin and IBMX, known to generate high intracellular cAMP levels, induced similar changes. Cyclic AMP did not alter PG protein moiety synthesis but enhanced PG turnover. Cholera toxin and dBcAMP profoundly modified PG characteristics: (1) Apparent molecular weight of PG was increased. (2) This was due to an increase in glycosaminoglycans (heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS)) length. (3) The number of glycosaminoglycan chains was presumably reduced. (4) Heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate chains of medium and cell layer-associated PG appeared oversulfated. (5) The pattern of cell layer associated PG was modified with a decrease in HSPG and a correlative increase in CSPG. Cholera toxin and dBcAMP also dramatically stimulated hyaluronan synthesis by possible phosphorylation induced activation of hyaluronan synthase(s).

Effects of transforming growth factor-beta 1, interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-6 on rat Sertoli cell proteoglycan synthesis.

In the testis, growth factors and cytokines are synthesized by Sertoli cells and peritubular cells. In different cell types, these mediators are known to regulate the metabolism of extracellular matrix molecules, such as proteoglycans. In this study, we have tested the action of three of these mediators (IL-1 alpha, IL-6 and TGF-beta 1) on the proteoglycan synthesis of rat Sertoli cells. The proteoglycan synthesis was unchanged by IL-1 alpha, nor by IL-6 up to 20 ng/ml, during any maturation stage (14, 21 and 35 days). By contrast, Transforming Growth Factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) enhanced Sertoli cell proteoglycan production from 21 day-old rats, with an optimal response at 1 ng/ml. Kinetic studies showed that the effect of TGF-beta 1 (1ng/ml) was higher after 24 hours of incubation. In presence or in absence of TGF-beta 1, a proteoglycan accumulation was observed in the extracellular compartment between 12 and 48 hours, but this factor did not modify the proteoglycan distribution between cell layer and medium. Furthermore, TGF-beta 1 increased proteoglycan anabolism at all Sertoli cell maturation stages studied but this stimulation was greater for the early maturation stages (14 and 21 days). On the other hand, proteoglycan catabolism was not modified by TGF-beta 1. In conclusion, TGF-beta 1 secreted by rat Sertoli and peritubular cells could modulate, in an autocrine/paracrine way the synthesis of one of the main extracellular matrix components.

Membrane associated proteoglycans in rat testicular peritubular cells.

Confluent testicular peritubular cells derived from immature rats were used to study membrane associated proteoglycans (PG). Peripheral material (heparin releasable), membrane and intracellular material (Triton X-100 releasable) were collected, purified by anion exchange chromatography then characterized by gel filtration and by hydrophobic interaction chromatography, followed by enzymatic digestion and chemical treatment. The peripheral material was constituted of two populations of PG (Kav = 0 and 0.10 on Superose 6 column), each containing both heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) and chondroitin proteoglycans (CSPG) and perhaps a hybrid PG (HSCSPG). These PG being not retained on an octyl Sepharose column, they were devoided of hydrophobic properties. The integral membrane proteoglycans isolated on the basis of their hydrophobic properties represented 20% of the Triton X-100 releasable material, and were exclusively constituted of proteoheparan sulfate. There were no relationships between this membrane HSPG and the peripheral HSPG as evidenced by pulse chase experiments. The mode of intercalation of the hydrophobic HSPG in the cell membrane was studied. The majority of these macromolecules (80%) were sensitive to trypsin and only a minor proportion (20%) were sensitive to phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase C. Thus, about 80% of the hydrophobic HSPG were intercalated in the cell membrane by a hydrophobic segment of the core protein whereas about 20% were associated with the cell membrane via a phosphatidylinositol residue covalently bound to the core protein of the PG.

Drug-induced alterations in rat peritubular cell cytoskeleton result in proteoglycan synthesis modifications. Comparison with some intracellular signaling pathways.

The influence of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), dibutyryl cAMP and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) as well as cytoskeletal disrupting drugs on morphological changes has been studied in peritubular cells isolated from immature rat testis. Morphological studies were combined with immunofluorescence investigations of cytoskeletal elements and their rearrangements by various agents. The results were correlated with modulation of proteoglycan synthesis. Peritubular cells exposed to dibutyryl cAMP or cytochalasin D were transformed from flattened, fibroblast-like into neuronal-like morphology. In such cells, destruction of actin filaments was accompanied with a 50% decrease in cell-associated proteoglycan synthesis as well as with oversulfation of total proteoglycans. On the contrary, peritubular cell shape has been slightly altered after addition of PMA, IGF-1, vinblastine or colchicine. After these treatments, destruction or rearrangement of cytoskeletal elements was observed; cell-layer proteoglycan synthesis remained either unchanged or increased while total proteoglycans were always undersulfated. IGF-1, PMA and dibutyryl cAMP modified the peritubular cell morphology, cytoskeletal organization and proteoglycan production; the cytoskeleton disrupting drugs such as vinblastine, colchicine and cytochalasin D mimicked some of these effects. These observations suggest that alterations in proteoglycan biosynthesis, after activation of tyrosine kinase, protein kinase C and protein kinase A pathways might be mediated, at least in part, by the disorganization of the cytoskeleton structure.

In Vitro Synthesis of Proteoglycans and Collagen in Primary Cultures of Mantle Cells from the Nacreous Mollusk, Haliotis tuberculata: A New Model for Study of Molluscan Extracellular Matrix.

In Mollusca, the mantle produces an organic matrix that mineralizes in time to make shell. Primary mantle cell cultures from the nacreous gastropod Haliotis tuberculata have been established as useful experimental model to investigate in vitro synthesis of both proteoglycans/glycosaminoglycans (PGs/GAGs) and collagen. First, we tested different enzymatic digestion procedures to find the method that gives the highest percentage of viable and adherent cultured cells. Enzymatic digestion with 0.1% pronase plus 0.1% collagenase was routinely used. Six days after the initiation of culture, about 80% of cells were viable, among which 20% were adherent as quantified by the MTT reduction assay. In addition, the protein synthesis estimated by [(3)H]leucine incorporation remained constant during this period. For the first time, we demonstrated a de novo synthesis of PGs/GAGs and collagen in primary cultures of mantle cells. After 48 hours of labeling, among the [(3)H]-d-glucosamine macromolecules synthesized, [(3)H]PGs/GAGs represented 43%, divided into 45% heparan sulfate, 37% chondroitin/dermatan sulfate, and 6% hyaluronic acid. Early elution on anion-exchange chromatography of these PGs/GAGs indicated that most of them appeared as undersulfated GAG molecules. De novo synthesis of collagen represents 4.52% +/- 0.84% (SD) with respect to the total protein synthesis. Such a model will facilitate studies on the synthesis of PGs/GAGs and collagen as components of the extracellular matrix and its regulation in Mollusca. Both PGs/GAGs and collagen participate in molecular events that regulate cell adhesion, migration, and proliferation. Further studies with this type of in vitro model should provide knowledge about novel aspects of molluscan cell signaling, in relation to extracellular matrix components.