EBV-associated primary CNS lymphoma occurring after immunosuppression is a distinct immunobiological entity.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is confined to the brain, eyes, and cerebrospinal fluid without evidence of systemic spread. Rarely, PCNSL occurs in the context of immunosuppression (eg, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders or HIV [AIDS-related PCNSL]). These cases are poorly characterized, have dismal outcome, and are typically Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated (ie, tissue-positive). We used targeted sequencing and digital multiplex gene expression to compare the genetic landscape and tumor microenvironment (TME) of 91 PCNSL tissues all with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma histology. Forty-seven were EBV tissue-negative: 45 EBV- HIV- PCNSL and 2 EBV- HIV+ PCNSL; and 44 were EBV tissue-positive: 23 EBV+ HIV+ PCNSL and 21 EBV+ HIV- PCNSL. As with prior studies, EBV- HIV- PCNSL had frequent MYD88, CD79B, and PIM1 mutations, and enrichment for the activated B-cell (ABC) cell-of-origin subtype. In contrast, these mutations were absent in all EBV tissue-positive cases and ABC frequency was low. Furthermore, copy number loss in HLA class I/II and antigen-presenting/processing genes were rarely observed, indicating retained antigen presentation. To counter this, EBV+ HIV- PCNSL had a tolerogenic TME with elevated macrophage and immune-checkpoint gene expression, whereas AIDS-related PCNSL had low CD4 gene counts. EBV-associated PCNSL in the immunosuppressed is immunobiologically distinct from EBV- HIV- PCNSL, and, despite expressing an immunogenic virus, retains the ability to present EBV antigens. Results provide a framework for targeted treatment.

A multicentre retrospective comparison of central nervous system prophylaxis strategies among patients with high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Central nervous system (CNS) relapse in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a devastating complication; the optimal prophylactic strategy remains unclear. METHODS: We performed a multicentre, retrospective analysis of patients with DLBCL with high risk for CNS relapse as defined by two or more of: multiple extranodal sites, elevated serum LDH and B symptoms or involvement of specific high-risk anatomical sites. We compared three different strategies of CNS-directed therapy: intrathecal (IT) methotrexate (MTX) with (R)-CHOP 'group 1'; R-CHOP with IT MTX and two cycles of high-dose intravenous (IV) MTX 'group 2'; dose-intensive systemic antimetabolite-containing chemotherapy (Hyper-CVAD or CODOXM/IVAC) with IT/IV MTX 'group 3'. RESULTS: Overall, 217 patients were identified (49, 125 and 43 in groups 1-3, respectively). With median follow-up of 3.4 (range 0.2-18.6) years, 23 CNS relapses occurred (12, 10 and 1 in groups 1-3 respectively). The 3-year actuarial rates (95% CI) of CNS relapse were 18.4% (9.5-33.1%), 6.9% (3.5-13.4%) and 2.3% (0.4-15.4%) in groups 1-3, respectively (P=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of high-dose IV MTX and/or cytarabine was associated with lower incidence of CNS relapse compared with IT chemotherapy alone. However, these data are limited by their retrospective nature and warrant confirmation in prospective randomised studies.

'Sink or swim': an evaluation of the clinical characteristics of individuals with high bone mass.

SUMMARY: High bone mineral density on routine dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) may indicate an underlying skeletal dysplasia. Two hundred fifty-eight individuals with unexplained high bone mass (HBM), 236 relatives (41% with HBM) and 58 spouses were studied. Cases could not float, had mandible enlargement, extra bone, broad frames, larger shoe sizes and increased body mass index (BMI). HBM cases may harbour an underlying genetic disorder. INTRODUCTION: High bone mineral density is a sporadic incidental finding on routine DXA scanning of apparently asymptomatic individuals. Such individuals may have an underlying skeletal dysplasia, as seen in LRP5 mutations. We aimed to characterize unexplained HBM and determine the potential for an underlying skeletal dysplasia. METHODS: Two hundred fifty-eight individuals with unexplained HBM (defined as L1 Z-score ≥ +3.2 plus total hip Z-score ≥ +1.2, or total hip Z-score ≥ +3.2) were recruited from 15 UK centres, by screening 335,115 DXA scans. Unexplained HBM affected 0.181% of DXA scans. Next 236 relatives were recruited of whom 94 (41%) had HBM (defined as L1 Z-score + total hip Z-score ≥ +3.2). Fifty-eight spouses were also recruited together with the unaffected relatives as controls. Phenotypes of cases and controls, obtained from clinical assessment, were compared using random-effects linear and logistic regression models, clustered by family, adjusted for confounders, including age and sex. RESULTS: Individuals with unexplained HBM had an excess of sinking when swimming (7.11 [3.65, 13.84], p < 0.001; adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval shown), mandible enlargement (4.16 [2.34, 7.39], p < 0.001), extra bone at tendon/ligament insertions (2.07 [1.13, 3.78], p = 0.018) and broad frame (3.55 [2.12, 5.95], p < 0.001). HBM cases also had a larger shoe size (mean difference 0.4 [0.1, 0.7] UK sizes, p = 0.009) and increased BMI (mean difference 2.2 [1.3, 3.1] kg/m(2), p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Individuals with unexplained HBM have an excess of clinical characteristics associated with skeletal dysplasia and their relatives are commonly affected, suggesting many may harbour an underlying genetic disorder affecting bone mass.

The role of a movement disorders clinic.

Ireland's ageing population will result in a substantial increase in neurodegenerative disease with a projected increase in prevalence of Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) to 9,000 by 2021. There are few published audits of neurology services to assist care planning. As a first step towards evaluating future service needs for this group of patients, we audited a single tertiary referral IPD and Other Movement Disorders clinic for 2006. A total of 497 patients from all counties in Ireland were seen; 225 (59%) of patients had IPD, 32 (8.2%) had atypical parkinsonism, and 22 (5.8%) dystonia. In a subset of 275 patients, 151 (55%) were referred by GPs, 74 (27%) by other consultants, and 49 (18%) by other consultant neurologists. Diagnosis was changed in 22 (38%) and medication was adjusted in 203 (74%). A telephone survey of 50 patients demonstrated 100% satisfaction with the improved access to the clinical nurse specialist, telephone support and improved continuity of care. The IPD and Other Movement Disorders clinic provides an important local, regional, and national diagnostic and therapeutic service for complex movement disorders. It is proposed that a national registry of IPD and audit of the delivery of care to patients with movement disorders is needed.

Malignancy in scleroderma patients from south west England: a population-based cohort study.

The pathophysiological relationship between scleroderma and malignancy remains poorly understood. Although some previous studies have demonstrated an increased malignancy risk in patients with scleroderma, others have been inconclusive. We aimed to determine if patients with scleroderma had an increased risk of malignancy compared to an age- and sex-matched local South West England population, and if there were any important differences between scleroderma patients with and without malignancy. Methods of this study are as follows. Notes were obtained on all local scleroderma patients (n = 68) locally, and those diagnosed with malignancy verified by contacting each patient's general practitioner. Expected malignancy figures were obtained from age- and sex-stratified regional prevalence data provided by the South West Cancer Intelligence Service registry. Among the patients, 22.1% with scleroderma were identified with concurrent malignancy. Affected sites were of the breast (n = 5), haematological system (n = 5), skin (n = 4), and unknown primary (n = 1). Overall, malignancy risk was found to be increased in scleroderma (RR = 3.15, 95% CI 1.77-5.20, p = 0.01). In particular, this risk was the highest for haematological malignancies (RR = 18.5, 95% CI 6-43, p = 0.03), especially for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (RR = 25.8, 95% CI 5-75, p = 0.10). The majority of patients (86.7%) developed malignancy after the onset of scleroderma (mean = 6.9 years). Age of >70 and patients with limited scleroderma were significant risk factors for a patient with scleroderma to have a concurrent malignancy; however, no increased risk was found in patients with any particular pattern of organ involvement, cytotoxic usage or serology. To conclude, in this small patient cohort, we have found that scleroderma is associated with an increased risk of malignancy. This risk is statistically significant in patients with limited scleroderma. Patients who are elderly and those with limited disease should be closely scrutinized at follow-up appointments.

Multi-institutional Outcomes and Associations After Excision and Primary Anastomosis for Radiotherapy-associated Bulbomembranous Urethral Stenoses Following Prostate Cancer Treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes of excision and primary anastomosis (EPA) for radiation-associated bulbomembranous stenoses using a multi-institutional analysis. The treatment of radiation-associated urethral stenosis is typically complex owing to the adverse impact of radiation on adjacent tissue. METHODS: An IRB-approved multi-institutional retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent EPA for bulbomembranous urethral stenosis following prostate radiotherapy. Preoperative patient demographics, operative technique, and postoperative outcomes were abstracted from 1/2007-6/2018. Success was defined as voiding per urethra without the need for endoscopic treatment and a minimum follow-up of 12 months. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-seven patients from 10 centers met study criteria with a mean age of 69.3 years (50-86), stenosis length of 2.3 cm (1-5) and an 86.9% (119/137) success rate at a mean follow-up 32.3 months (12-118). Univariate Cox regression analysis identified increasing patient age (P = .02), stricture length (P <.0001) and combined modality radiotherapy (P = .004) as factors associated with stricture recurrence while body mass index (P = .79), diabetes (P = .93), smoking (P = .62), failed endoscopic treatment (P = .08) and gracilis muscle use (P = .25) were not. On multivariate analysis, increasing patient age (H.R.1.09, 95%CI 1.01-1.16; P = .02) and stenosis length (H.R.2.62, 95%CI 1.49-4.60; P = .001) remained associated with recurrence. Subsequent artificial urinary sphincter was performed in 30 men (21.9%), of which 25 required a transcorporal cuff and 5 developed cuff erosion. CONCLUSIONS: EPA for radiation-associated urethral stenosis effectively provides unobstructed instrumentation-free voiding. However, increasing stenosis length and age are independently associated with surgical failure. Patients should be counseled that further surgery for incontinence may be necessary.

Impact of stroke units on mortality: a Bayesian analysis.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies of the impact of care delivered in stroke units on mortality after acute stroke have been difficult to interpret because of bias. METHODS: This study used Bayesian methodology to (i) sequentially update current knowledge based on a systematic review of observational studies, (ii) adjust for the likely effect of observational bias in a conservative, scenario-based approach and (iii) evaluate the likely impact of further studies. The data were interpreted both unmodified and adjusted for bias by explicitly correcting for point estimate and precision bias. RESULTS: As of 2007, the total evidence base was almost 47 000 patients. The unadjusted data yielded a current 95% posterior credible interval (Cr.I.) for the odds ratio of death within 1 year after stroke unit versus alternative models of stroke care of (0.77, 0.85). Given the adjusted data, the current 95% Cr. I. is (0.79, 0.93). CONCLUSIONS: The current estimates are robust, with demonstrable stability despite the addition of recent large studies. Further studies are very unlikely to alter current knowledge but may have a role in ensuring regional stability of outcome.

Cloning, comparative sequence analysis and mRNA expression of calcium-transporting genes in horses.

Epithelial calcium transport occurs by paracellular and transcellular mechanisms. Transcellular transport in intestinal and renal epithelia involves several transport proteins, including transient receptor potential vanilloid member 5 (TRPV5), member 6 (TRPV6), calbindin D9k (CB9), calbindin D28k (CB28), sodium calcium exchanger 1 (NCX1), plasma membrane calcium ATPase 1 (PMCA1), and the vitamin D receptor (VDR). We are interested in the horse because of its unique calcium physiology (high blood calcium, high intestinal calcium absorption, high renal excretion of calcium, low vitamin D concentrations), and because horses often have dysregulated calcium balance with various diseases. We cloned the mRNA for equine TRPV5, TRPV6, CB9, CB28, NCX1, PMCA1, and VDR, performed comparative mRNA and protein sequence analysis, and quantified their mRNA expression in the kidney and gastrointestinal tract. Sequence homology for the mRNAs and proteins was high among mammals (>75%), with fish having the lowest homology (<75%). TRPV5, TRPV6, and CB9 expression was higher in the duodenum and proximal jejunum and followed a similar expression pattern. CB28 expression was greatest in the kidney. PMCA1 and NCX1 expression was similar throughout the intestine, but in the kidney PMCA1 expression was higher. Based on our findings, the proximal small intestine is the main site for transcellular calcium transport, with TRPV6 and CB9 serving as the main transport proteins. In the kidney, TRPV6, CB28, and PMCA1 are likely more important. The low VDR expression in the equine small intestine and kidney relative to the large intestine, together with the reported high intestinal absorption and renal excretion of calcium, and low vitamin D concentrations suggests that epithelial calcium transport in horses is not as dependent on vitamin D as in other species.

Detection of the abnormal isoform of the prion protein associated with chronic wasting disease in the optic pathways of the brain and retina of Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni).

Eyes and nuclei of the visual pathways in the brain were examined in 30 Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) representing 3 genotypes of the prion protein gene PRNP (codon 132: MM, ML, or LL). Tissues were examined for the presence of the abnormal isoform of the prion protein associated with chronic wasting disease (PrP(CWD)). Nuclei and axonal tracts from a single section of brain stem at the level of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve were scored for intensity and distribution of PrP(CWD) immunoreactivity and degree of spongiform degeneration. This obex scoring ranged from 0 (elk with no PrP(CWD) in the brain stem) to 10 (representing elk in terminal stage of disease). PrP(CWD) was detected in the retina of 16 of 18 (89%) elk with an obex score of > 7. PrP(CWD) was not detected in the retina of the 3 chronic wasting disease-negative elk and 9 elk with an obex score of < 6. PrP(CWD) was found in the nuclei of the visual pathways in the brain before it was found in the retina. Within the retina, PrP(CWD) was first found in the inner plexiform layer, followed by the outer plexiform layer. Intracytoplasmic accumulation of PrP(CWD) was found in a few neurons in the ganglion cell layer in the PRNP 132ML elk but was a prominent feature in the PRNP 132LL elk. Small aggregates of PrP(CWD) were present on the inner surface of the outer limiting membrane in PRNP 132LL elk but not in PRNP 132MM or 132ML elk. This study demonstrates PrP(CWD) accumulation in nuclei of the visual pathways of the brain, followed by PrP(CWD) in the retina.

Age-specific incidence of hip fracture in the elderly: a healthy decline.

Hip fractures in the elderly are an important source of morbidity and mortality. The predicted increase in the number of hip fractures due to the increasing elderly population has not been universally observed. The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of hip fractures over a twenty year period to determine if this rise is occurring in our region. All hip fractures from the unit over 20 years were identified. Population data for those over 65 in the catchment area of our hospital was acquired. The rate of fractures occurring each year relative to the population was determined. The results were split into age groups. There was a strong correlation between the population rise and number of fractures (p = 0.77). But there was no significant difference in the rate of fracture over time (p = 0.41). However, the average age at which fracture occurred increased by two years. In addition we show the overall trend in the rate of fractures decreases in the younger age groups and increases in the older age groups. Therefore, the predicted rapid increase in rate is not occurring. This probably reflects the strengthening of the economy in Ireland from the 1930's onwards, leading to a healthier population.

A prospective study of peri-diagnostic and surgical wait times for patients with presumptive colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer.

The objective of this study was to prospectively measure peri-diagnostic and surgical time intervals for patients with suspected colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer. Prospective eligible patients were referred to a regional hospital in Ottawa, Canada between February 2004 and February 2005 for diagnostic assessment of presumptive colorectal, lung, or prostate cancer. Chart abstractions were used to measure nine time intervals; the primary interval was the date of referral for diagnostic assessment to the date the patient was informed of the diagnosis. Health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) was assessed 5 days following the patient being informed of their diagnosis. The median (IQR) time for the primary interval was 71 (30-110), 37 (29-49), and 81 (56-100) days for colorectal, lung, and prostate patients, respectively (Kruskal-Wallis P=0.0001). This interval was significantly less for colorectal patients diagnosed with cancer than for those without cancer (median difference=59.0 days; Wilcoxon P=0.003). No differences in HRQL existed for patients with cancer and those without. Colorectal and prostate patients wait longer between referral for suspected cancer and being informed of their diagnosis than current recommendations. The shorter diagnostic intervals for colorectal patients with cancer suggest clinicians have an effective process for triaging patients referred for diagnostic assessment.

Scrapie resistance in ARQ sheep.

Variation in the ovine prion protein amino acid sequence influences scrapie progression, with sheep homozygous for A(136)R(154)Q(171) considered susceptible. This study examined the association of survival time of scrapie-exposed ARQ sheep with variation elsewhere in the ovine prion gene. Four single nucleotide polymorphism alleles were associated with prolonged survival. One nonsynonymous allele (T112) was associated with an additional 687 days of survival for scrapie-exposed sheep compared to M112 sheep (odds ratio, 42.5; P = 0.00014). The only two sheep homozygous for T112 (TARQ) did not develop scrapie, suggesting that the allelic effect may be additive. These results provide evidence that TARQ sheep are genetically resistant to development of classical scrapie.

Trends in Chlamydia positivity over time among women in Melbourne Australia, 2003 to 2007.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to determine whether the proportion of women testing positive for chlamydia had changed over time after adjusting for demographic, clinical, and sexual risk factors. METHODS: Computerized records for all heterosexual women attending a large urban sexual health clinic for the first time between 2003 and 2007 and were tested for chlamydia, were included. Chlamydia positivity and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and logistic regression was used to assess any possible change in chlamydia positivity over time after adjusting for demographic, clinical, and sexual risk factors. National chlamydia surveillance and testing data and data of the use of antibiotics effective against chlamydia were analyzed and trends over time evaluated using linear regression. RESULTS: There were 10,498 chlamydia tests conducted among female clients presenting to the clinic for their first time over the 5 years (2003-2007). Chlamydia positivity was 5.9% (95% CI: 5.5%-6.4%). Chlamydia positivity increased each year from 4.2% in 2003 to 6.7% in 2007 (P <0.01). After adjusting for other factors, chlamydia positivity increased on average 12% per year (OR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.05-1.20). The average daily defined dose of antibiotics effective against chlamydia prescribed in Australia declined significantly between 1992 and 2002 (from 20.2 to 12.6 per 1000 population; P <0.01) at a time when chlamydia positivity across Australia was increasing (from 9.4% to 10.7%; P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the true prevalence of chlamydia in Australia is rising. One biologically plausible explanation that requires further study is that fewer antibiotics are being prescribed that would inadvertently also treat chlamydia infection.

Expression and analysis of COOH-terminal deletions of the human thrombospondin molecule.

Thrombospondin (TSP) is a homotrimeric extracellular glycoprotein with a subunit molecular mass of 140 kD. The subunits have a modular or domain-like structure and are held together by interchain disulphide bonds. A number of domains have been identified including those for the binding of collagen, fibrinogen, and heparin. Due to the trimeric form of the TSP molecule, the various domains are trivalent in nature and this contributes to the ability of TSP to mediate cell-substrate interactions. Indeed, TSP has recently been shown not only to promote cell adhesion but also to be intimately involved in cell growth and migration. The adhesive function of TSP is attributable to the "solid-phase" or matrix-bound form of the molecule. There is some evidence that the heparin-binding domain mediates incorporation of soluble TSP into the insoluble matrix form. The heparin-binding domain of TSP is a compact globular amino-terminal moiety that contains two clusters of basic amino acids and a single intrachain disulphide bond. To delineate the role of the heparin-binding domain in matrix assembly and to define further the precise region of interchain disulphide bonding that results in trimer formation, we have expressed deleted forms of the cDNA encoding TSP in SV-40-transformed. African green monkey kidney cells. The proteins synthesized from the various deleted TSP cDNAs were examined for (a) secretion into the culture medium and incorporation into the extracellular matrix; (b) binding to heparin-Sepharose; (c) immunoprecipitability by a conformation-specific monoclonal antibody; and (d) ability to form trimers. This analysis allowed us to draw the following conclusions. (a) A 218 amino acid NH2-terminal protein that preserves the intrachain disulphide bridge of the heparin-binding domain is capable of binding to heparin-Sepharose and incorporating into the extracellular matrix. (b) A shorter 164 amino acid NH2-terminal peptide that does not contain the intrachain disulphide bridge of the heparin-binding domain is neither able to bind to heparin-Sepharose nor able to incorporate into the extracellular matrix. (c) The region of interchain disulphide bridging necessary for trimer assembly resides within a cluster of seven cysteine residues immediately adjacent to the heparin-binding domain.

Mapping of epitopes for monoclonal antibodies against human platelet thrombospondin with electron microscopy and high sensitivity amino acid sequencing.

A panel of monoclonal antibodies (Mab's) has been raised against human platelet thrombospondin (TSP). One Mab, designated A2.5, inhibits the hemagglutinating activity of TSP and immunoprecipitates the NH2 terminal 25 kD heparin binding domain of TSP (Dixit, V.M., D. M. Haverstick, K. M. O'Rourke, S. W. Hennessy, G. A. Grant, S. A. Santoro, and W. A. Frazier, 1985, Biochemistry, in press). Another Mab, C6.7, blocks the thrombin-stimulated aggregation of live platelets and immunoprecipitates an 18-kD fragment distinct from the heparin binding domain (Dixit, V. M., D. M. Haverstick, K. M. O'Rourke, S. W. Hennessy, G. A. Grant, S. A. Santoro, and W. A. Frazier, 1985, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 82: 3472-3476). To determine the relative locations of the epitopes for these Mabs in the three-dimensional structure of TSP, we have examined TSP-Mab complexes by electron microscopy of rotary-shadowed proteins. The TSP molecule is composed of three 180-kD subunits, each of which consists of a small globular domain (approximately 8 nm diam) and a larger globular domain (approximately 16 nm diam) connected by a thin, flexible strand. The subunit interaction site is on the thin connecting strands, nearer the small globular domains. Mab A2.5 binds to the cluster of three small domains, indicating that this region contains the heparin binding domain and thus represents the NH2 termini of the TSP peptide chains. Mab C6.7 binds to the large globular domains on the side opposite the point at which the connecting strand enters the domain, essentially the maximum possible distance from the A2.5 epitope. Using high sensitivity automated NH2 terminal sequencing of TSP chymotryptic peptides we have ordered these fragments within the TSP peptide chain and have confirmed that the epitope for C6.7 in fact lies near the extreme COOH terminus of the peptide chain. In combination with other data, we have been able to construct a map of the linear order of the identified domains of TSP that indicates that to a large extent, the domains are arranged co-linearly with the peptide chain.

Interaction of CED-4 with CED-3 and CED-9: a molecular framework for cell death.

Previous genetic studies of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans identified three important components of the cell death machinery. CED-3 and CED-4 function to kill cells, whereas CED-9 protects cells from death. Here CED-9 and its mammalian homolog Bcl-xL (a member of the Bcl-2 family of cell death regulators) were both found to interact with and inhibit the function of CED-4. In addition, analysis revealed that CED-4 can simultaneously interact with CED-3 and its mammalian counterparts interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme (ICE) and FLICE. Thus, CED-4 plays a central role in the cell death pathway, biochemically linking CED-9 and the Bcl-2 family to CED-3 and the ICE family of pro-apoptotic cysteine proteases.

The receptor for the cytotoxic ligand TRAIL.

TRAIL (also known as Apo-2L) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand family that rapidly induces apoptosis in a variety of transformed cell lines. The human receptor for TRAIL was found to be an undescribed member of the TNF-receptor family (designated death receptor-4, DR4) that contains a cytoplasmic "death domain" capable of engaging the cell suicide apparatus but not the nuclear factor kappa B pathway in the system studied. Unlike Fas, TNFR-1, and DR3, DR4 could not use FADD to transmit the death signal, suggesting the use of distinct proximal signaling machinery. Thus, the DR4-TRAIL axis defines another receptor-ligand pair involved in regulating cell suicide and tissue homeostasis.

Signal transduction by DR3, a death domain-containing receptor related to TNFR-1 and CD95.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNFR-1) and CD95 (also called Fas or APO-1) are cytokine receptors that engage the apoptosis pathway through a region of intracellular homology, designated the "death domain." Another death domain-containing member of the TNFR family, death receptor 3 (DR3), was identified and was shown to induce both apoptosis and activation of nuclear factor kappaB. Expression of DR3 appears to be restricted to tissues enriched in lymphocytes. DR3 signal transduction is mediated by a complex of intracellular signaling molecules including TRADD, TRAF2, FADD, and FLICE. Thus, DR3 likely plays a role in regulating lymphocyte homeostasis.

Effects of nutrition and genotype on prion protein (PrPC) gene expression in the fetal and maternal sheep placenta.

For placental transmission of scrapie to occur, the normal cellular prion protein (PrPC) must be converted to an abnormal infectious form known as PrPSc. PrPC genotype influences susceptibility to contracting scrapie, but we still do not understand whether genotype or expression levels of PrPC are important in transmission of scrapie. Some evidence exists that nutrition affects expression levels of PrPC. Thus, we evaluated the effects of genotype and nutrition on PrPC mRNA and protein expression in adolescent ewes fed at control (100% of National Research Council [NRC] requirements) or restricted (60% of NRC) levels of diet intake during two periods of pregnancy (days 50-90 and days 90-130)]. Gravid uteri (n=50) from singleton pregnancies were collected at day 130, and placentomes were either separated into caruncular (CAR; maternal) or cotyledonary (COT; fetal) placenta and snap-frozen for PrPC mRNA expression or perfusion fixed for PrPC protein expression. PrPC genotypes were determined (codons 136 and 171) using SNP assay. There were no genotype effects on PrPC mRNA expression in CAR or on PrPC protein expression in either CAR or COT, but PrPC mRNA expression in COT was greater (P<0.02) when codon 136 was homozygous for alanine. Some PrPC protein-positive cells were found in the epithelium of CAR, but most were found in trophoblast binucleate and mononucleate cells of COT. In CAR, from days 90 to 130, PrPC protein abundance was greater (P=0.003) in diet-restricted ewes than in control ewes, but was less uniformly distributed (P<0.007). Additionally, in COT, from days 90 to 130, PrPC protein was less uniformly distributed (P<0.01) in diet-restricted ewes. The localized increase in PrPC protein expression, found in ewes diet-restricted late in pregnancy, may suggest a protective role for PrPC in placental biology. Further study is needed to evaluate whether nutrition, PrPC genotype, and PrPC expression levels influence placental transmission of scrapie.