Morphological differences in innervation between mucous glands and serous glands: a quantitative histological study using the sublingual glands of elderly humans.

CONCLUSION: In the sublingual gland, the serous lobule usually carried a higher density of NSE-positive nerve elements than the mucous lobule, whereas the mucous acinus in the mucous lobule was larger than the serous acinus in the serous lobule. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate quantitative differences in nerve elements between the mucous and serous lobules of sublingual glands. METHODS: This study investigated using specimens from 14 donated cadavers (mean age = 78 years). Since immunohistochemistry for neuron-specific enolase (NSE) stains all nerves in addition to other mesenchymal cells possibly of nerve origin, the present quantitative evaluation was based on NSE-positive areas per visual field under a ×20 objective lens (0.6 × 0.45 mm when printed). RESULTS: In mucous lobules, the areas occupied by NSE-positive nerve elements ranged from 5798-16,541 µm(2) (mean ± SD = 9280 ± 2584 µm(2)). In contrast, the corresponding areas in serous lobules ranged from 7853-23,540 µm(2) (mean ± SD = 13,520 ± 4351 µm(2)). The difference in NSE-positive areas was statistically significant (p = 0.0022). However, the mucous acinus in the mucous lobule was 2-times larger than the serous acinus in the serous lobule (2474 ± 1477 µm(2) vs 1119 ± 632 µm(2)).

Expression of two drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450-enzymes in human salivary glands.

OBJECTIVE: The oral cavity is constantly lubricated by saliva and even small amounts of xenobiotics and / or their metabolites in the saliva may affect the oral mucosa. Our aim was therefore to clarify if xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 are expressed in salivary glands. METHODS: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens from parotid (10), submandibular (7) and labial (10) salivary glands were examined immunohistochemically and by in situ hybridization for expression of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 protein and mRNA. RESULTS: CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 protein and mRNA were detected in ductal and seromucous / serous acinar cells in all gland types although to a varying degree and intensity. Mucous acinar cells were positive to a lesser extent. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a xenobiotic metabolizing capability of salivary glands. This may have implications for development of oral mucosal disease as a result of mucosal exposure to metabolites originating from internal sources (blood) as well as from saliva.

Peritoneal cell-derived mast cells: an in vitro model of mature serosal-type mouse mast cells.

Bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) have been used extensively as a mast cell model. BMMC, however, are immature cells that have no known physiological equivalent in tissues. They do not respond to IgG immune complexes. They may therefore not be appropriate for studying the physiopathology of IgE-induced allergies or IgG-induced tissue-specific inflammatory diseases which both depend on mature mast cells. Resident peritoneal mast cells are a minor population of differentiated cells that are not readily purified. They, however, can be expanded in culture to generate large numbers of homogeneous cells. We show here that these peritoneal cell-derived mast cells (PCMC) are mature serosal-type mouse mast cells which retain most morphological, phenotypic, and functional features of peritoneal mast cells. Like peritoneal mast cells, PCMC respond to IgG Abs. IgG immune complex-induced responses depended on FcgammaRIIIA and were negatively regulated by FcgammaRIIB. We found that a moderate FcgammaRIIB-dependent negative regulation, due not to a higher FcgammaRIIIA/FcgammaRIIB ratio, but to a relatively inefficient use of the lipid phosphatase SHIP1, determines this property of PCMC. PCMC also respond to IgE Abs. IgE-induced PCMC responses, however, differed quantitatively and qualitatively from BMMC responses. PCMC secreted no or much lower amounts of lipid mediators, chemokines, and cytokines, but they contained and released much higher amounts of preformed granular mediators. PCMC, but not BMMC, also contained and, upon degranulation, released molecules with a potent proteolytic activity. These properties make PCMC a useful new model for understanding the physiopathology of mast cells in IgE- and IgG-dependent tissue inflammation.

nm23 is expressed in reactive mesothelium and is not useful for detection of malignant cells in serous effusions.

The cytological dilemma of distinguishing malignant cells from proliferating mesothelium has generated volumes of research but no clear consensus regarding an optimal staining panel. nm23 has been frequently described in malignant cells as a metastasis suppressor, but its mechanism of action and the relationship between nm23 expression, metastases, and prognosis is controversial. This is the first study to apply nm23 immunostaining in the setting of effusion cytology. One hundred samples of effusions (56 malignant and 44 benign) were immunostained with nm23 using the biotin-avidin technique and diaminobenzidine as a chromogen. Additionally, a mucicarmine stain was performed on most samples, all of which were evaluated for nm23 expression and mucin in a blinded fashion. After all the samples were reviewed, the diagnoses were disclosed and staining patterns evaluated. From the malignant cases, 51 of 56 cases were positive for nm23 in at least 5% of malignant cells, while 27 of 44 reactive mesothelium cases were also positive in at least 5% of cells. Of the malignant cases, all non-adenocarcinomas expressed nm23. We conclude that nm23 is a highly sensitive marker for detecting malignant cells. Its relatively high rate of expression in reactive mesothelium supports previous studies that suggest nm23 is expressed in proliferating cells.

Expression of membrane-type 1, 2, and 3 matrix metalloproteinases messenger RNA in ovarian carcinoma cells in serous effusions.

We studied the levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, membrane-type (MT)1-MMP, MT2-MMP, and MT3-MMP in 43 malignant pleural and peritoneal effusions using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cellular localization of MT1-MMP in 66 effusion specimens and 85 corresponding primary and metastatic tumors using messenger RNA (mRNA) in situ hybridization (ISH). In 43 effusions, MMP-2 mRNA was detected in 37, MT1-MMP in 25, and MT2-MMP in 32. Expression of MT1-MMP and MT2-MMP was found in 21 specimens; in 16 MT-MMP-positive specimens, mRNA for only 1 of 2 enzymes was expressed. MT3-MMP mRNA was not detected. High levels of MMP-2 mRNA were detected more often in effusions with high MT1-MMP and/or MT2-MMP mRNA expression. Using ISH, MT1-MMP mRNA was localized to cancer cells in 27 of 58 malignant effusions; focal signals were detected in mesothelial cells in 7 of 42. MT1-MMP was localized to tumor cells in 32 of 85 primary and metastatic solid lesions, and stromal cells expressed MT1-MMP in 3. Tumor cell MT1-MMP expression in effusion specimens did not differ from primary or metastatic lesions. MT-MMP expression in tumor cells in effusions showed no association with effusion site or tumor type using ISH and RT-PCR.

The serous demilune of rat sublingual gland is an artificial structure produced by conventional fixation.

The ultrastructure of the secretory end-piece of the rat sublingual gland was examined in samples prepared by rapid freezing and freeze-substitution method, and results were analyzed in combination with 3-D images reconstructed by computer graphics from light micrographs of serial sections. Fixation by rapid freezing followed by freeze-substitution preserved cellular ultrastructures, especially the membrane structure, in perfect condition, and demonstrated the terminal portion of the sublingual gland to be a compound branched tubulo-alveolar gland with serous cells distributed throughout the end-pieces. All the serous cells aligned with mucous cells to surround a common lumen, leaving no demilune structure. In contrast, samples fixed by the conventional immersion method showed distended mucous cells displacing the serous cells toward the basal portion of the acinus to form the demilune structure. The luminal space was also compressed and appeared disconnected from the serous cells. From these observations, the serous demilune that for more than 130 years has been believed to be an actual histological entity was proved to be an artificial structure produced through compression by the hydrated and expanded mucous cells during immersion fixation.

Purification, characterization, and localization of a novel trypsin-like protease found in the human airway.

A novel trypsin-like protease was purified to homogeneity from the sputum of patients with chronic airway diseases, by sequential chromatographic procedures. The enzyme migrated on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to a position corresponding to a molecular weight of 28 kDa under both reducing and non-reducing conditions, and showed an apparent molecular weight of 27 kDa by gel filtration, indicating that it exists as a monomer. It had an NH2-terminal sequence of Ile-Leu-Gly-Gly-Thr-Glu-Ala-Glu-Glu-Gly-Ser-Trp-Pro-Trp-Gln-Val-Ser-Leu- Arg-Leu, which differed from that of any known protease. Studies with model peptide substrates showed that the enzyme preferentially cleaves the COOH-terminal side of arginine residues at the P1 position of certain peptides, cleaving Boc-Phe-Ser-Arg-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide most efficiently and having an optimum pH of 8.6 with this substrate. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by diisopropyl fluorophosphate, leupeptin, antipain, aprotinin, and soybean trypsin inhibitor, but hardly inhibited by secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor at 10 microM. An immunohistochemical study indicated that the enzyme is located in the cells of the submucosal serous glands of the bronchi and trachea. These results suggest that the enzyme is secreted from submucosal serous glands onto the mucous membrane in patients with chronic airway diseases.

Transcriptional regulation of the lysozyme gene in airway gland serous cells.

Lysozyme is expressed in serous, but not mucous, cells of the tracheobronchial glands and thereby constitutes a marker of the serous cell lineage in these glands. To identify DNA regulatory elements and transcription factors mediating the commitment of progenitor cells to the serous cell lineage, we have characterized the regulatory activity and DNA-protein interactions of the 5'-flanking region of the bovine lysozyme gene lys 5a. Results obtained from these studies indicate that although approximately 94 bp of 5'flanking DNA are necessary for high level expression in transient transfection assays, an evolutionarily conserved promoter within 66 bp of the transcription start site is sufficient to confer serous cell-specific expression. Farther upstream, within 6.1 kb of the 5' flanking region, are 4 silencers. Analysis of the serous cell-specific lysozyme promoter by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) revealed the presence of binding sites for 3 serous cell nuclear proteins, designated LSF1, LSF2 and LSF3. Binding of LSF2 and LSF3 was localized to a 20-mer subdomain (-50/-30) of the cell-specific promoter using binding competition assays. More accurate identification of the protein binding site(s) was achieved through the use of mutagenesis, which implicated the motif 5' AAGGAAT 3' (-46/-40) in both protein binding and serous cell-specific transcriptional activity. This motif has previously been identified as a binding site for ets protein transcription factors, suggesting that serous cell-specific regulation of lys 5a transcription is partly controlled by the binding of ets-like protein(s) to the motif 5'AGGAAGT3'.

Expression of gelatinase A, a mediator of extracellular matrix remodeling, by tracheal gland serous cells in culture and in vivo.

Tracheal gland morphogenesis and gland hypertrophy in disease involve the penetration of epithelial cells into the submucosa, a process that requires digestion of the basal lamina and the surrounding extracellular matrix. We observed that bovine tracheal gland cells invaded collagen substrates and were inhibited from doing so in the presence of a metalloproteinase inhibitor GM6001. The gland cells, but not bovine tracheal surface epithelial cells, secreted a 72-kDa metalloproteinase. The purified enzyme could be activated with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate and converted to an active 65-kDa form that was far more effective in degrading denatured collagen (gelatin) than nondenatured type I and IV collagens and was ineffective in degrading intact interstitial collagen fibers. At 25 degrees C, the initial rate of degradation of acid-solubilized type I collagen was approximately 50 mg of type I collagen cleaved per min per mg of enzyme, whereas acid-solubilized type IV collagen was degraded at approximately 250 mg cleaved per min per mg of enzyme. In contrast, at the same temperature, heat-denatured type I collagen was degraded 1000-fold more rapidly, while heat-denatured type IV collagen was cleaved 50-fold more rapidly. The activity of the enzyme was maximal at pH 7-8 and was completely abolished by the metalloproteinase inhibitors EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline. In immunoblots, the enzyme was recognized by an antibody directed against human gelatinase A, the 72-kDa gelatinase. The purified enzyme disrupted the distribution pattern of type IV collagen in the gland basal lamina, as well as of interstitial collagen in the underlying stromal tissue, as shown in tissue sections by immunocytochemistry. Using an antibody directed against the purified enzyme, we also showed by immunocytochemistry that the gelatinase was present in tracheal tissue and was specifically located at the periphery of some tracheal gland acini. Northern blots showed higher concentrations of gelatinase A mRNA in glands than in epithelium microdissected from adult cow tracheas. These data indicate that gelatinase A is a specialized product of the tracheal gland epithelial cell, a cell type normally invasive as part of its developmental program; the enzyme may play an important role in normal gland development and disease-associated hypertrophy.

Activation of the carcinogens N-hydroxy-N-2-fluorenylbenzamide and N-hydroxy-N-2-fluorenylacetamide via deacylations and acetyl transfers by rat peritoneal serosa and liver.

Intraperitoneally administered N-hydroxy-N-2-fluorenylbenzamide (N-OH-2-FBA) and N-hydroxy-N-2-fluorenylacetamide (N-OH-2-FAA) are carcinogenic for rat peritoneum. The potential of peritoneal serosa to activate these compounds via deacylations and acyl transfers was compared to that of liver. N-Deacylations of N-OH-2-FBA and N-OH-2-FAA to N-2-fluorenylhydroxylamine (N-OH-2-FA) were faster by liver than serosa and by microsomes than cytosols. N-Debenzoylations of N-OH-2-FBA were 73- to 123-fold faster than N-deacetylations of N-OH-2-FAA. The esters, N-benzoyloxy-2-FBA and N-acetoxy-2-FAA, were O- and N-deacylated to N-OH-2-FA by liver, and the benzoate by serosa. Inhibition by paraoxon of the above deacylations implicated a serine carboxylesterase. Liver and serosa cytosols catalyzed acetyl CoA-, but not benzoyl CoA-, dependent and iodoacetamide (IAA)-sensitive N-acylation of N-2-fluorenamine (2-FA), implicating an acetyltransferase. In hepatic microsomes this activity was IAA-insensitive and partially inhibited by paraoxon. Liver cytosol, but not microsomes, used N-OH-2-FAA as an acyl donor and neither used N-OH-2-FBA. Liver and serosa catalyzed binding to DNA of N-OH-2-[ring-3H]FBA which was paraoxon-sensitive and increased by acetyl CoA, but not benzoyl CoA. Binding to DNA of N-OH-2-[ring-3H]FAA catalyzed by cytosols was approximately 22-fold greater in liver than in serosa and was IAA-sensitive. Microsome-catalyzed binding of this compound in both tissues was increased approximately 2-fold by acetyl CoA. The results support a two-step activation of N-OH-2-FBA in the liver consisting of esterase-catalyzed N-debenzoylation to N-OH-2-FA and an acyltransferase-catalyzed O-acetylation to the putative electrophile N-acetoxy-2-FA. In the serosa, binding to DNA appears to be due to rapid N-debenzoylation to N-OH-2-FA, a fraction of which is O-acetylated. Whereas activation of N-OH-2-FAA by liver and serosa microsomes may also involve N-OH-2-FA and/or its O-acetate, activation by the cytosols is consistent with N,O-acetyltransfer of N-OH-2-FAA to yield N-acetoxy-2-FA. The study provides first evidence for activation of N-OH-2-FBA by rat liver and of both compounds by peritoneum in vitro.

[The enzymatic barrier of the small intestine]. / Enzimaticheskii bar'er tonkoi kishki.

The small intestine's barrier functions are reviewed. The data on mechanical (passive) and active protective systems of the organism against various antigens, toxic substances and proteins, is presented. An important role of these protective systems as an enzyme apparatus of epithelial and postepithelial layers of the small intestine's mucose, is shown.

[Cytochemical study of alkaline phosphatase activity as a cancer cell marker in exudates from serous-membrane lined cavities]. / Tsitokhimicheskoe issledovanie aktivnosti shchelochnoi fosfatazy kak marker rakovykh kletok v ékssudatakh iz polostei, vystlannykh seroznoi obolochkoi.

Cytochemical demonstration of levamisole-sensitive alkaline phosphatase (AP) have been used for the identification of tumor cells in serous effusions. AP-activity is not demonstrable in mesothelial cells and histiocytes-macrophages in serous effusions in 18 noncancer patients. Enzyme activity is detected in cancer cells in serous effusions in 19 from 52 cancer patients. Oncoassociated antigens are detected on the membranes of AP-positive cancer cells more rare that AP-negative cancer cells.

Mast cell chymase. A potent secretagogue for airway gland serous cells.

Submucosal glands are the major sources of airway secretions in most mammals. Mast cells are abundant in the environment of airway submucosal glands and are rich sources of secreted proteases. To investigate the hypothesis that mast cell proteases stimulate airway gland secretion, we studied the ability of the two major mast cell granule proteases, chymase and tryptase, to cause secretion of 35S-labeled macromolecules from a line of cultured bovine airway gland serous cells. Mast cell chymase and tryptase were purified from dog mastocytoma cells. Chymase markedly stimulated serous cell secretion in a concentration-dependent fashion with a threshold of 10(-10) M, whereas tryptase had no effect. The response to 10(-8) M chymase (1530 +/- 80% over base line) was approximately 10-fold higher than that evoked by other agonists such as histamine and isoproterenol. The predominant 35S-labeled macromolecule released by chymase was chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, the glycoconjugate present in serous cell secretory granules. The response to chymase was non-cytotoxic and was blocked by active site inhibitors of chymase (soybean trypsin inhibitor and chymostatin) and by inhibitors of cellular energy metabolism (azide,2,4-dinitrophenol, dicumarol). Supernatant obtained by degranulation of mastocytoma cells caused a secretory response of comparable magnitude to that caused by chymase. These findings demonstrate that chymase, but not tryptase, is a potent secretagogue for airway gland serous cells, and they suggest a possible role for chymase-containing mast cells in the pathogenesis of airway hypersecretion.

Activation- and phorbol ester-stimulated phosphorylation of a plasma membrane glycoprotein antigen expressed on mouse IL-3-dependent mast cells and serosal mast cells.

As assessed by immunoprecipitation analyses, expression of the epitope recognized by the rat mAb B23.1 is approximately sevenfold greater on the surface of mouse IL-3-dependent bone marrow culture-derived mast cells (BMMC) than on serosal mast cells (SMC) obtained directly from the peritoneal cavity. Immunoprecipitation of B23.1 antibody-binding molecules from Na[125I] surface-labeled BMMC and SMC followed by sizing on SDS-polyacrylamide gels under reducing conditions demonstrated that the epitope is located on molecules of 49,000 and 47,500 Mr, respectively. An additional immunoprecipitated molecule of 42,000 Mr was detected from BMMC intrinsically radiolabeled with [35S]methionine, and pulse-chase analyses revealed that this species was a biosynthetic precursor of the 49,000 Mr cell surface form of the Ag. Treatment of the immunoprecipitated 42,000 and 49,000 Mr forms with endoglycosidase F reduced the Mr of both to 37,000, as did intrinsic radiolabeling of BMMC in the presence of tunicamycin, indicating that both the 42,000 Mr precursor form and the 49,000 Mr cell surface molecule (gp49) contained N-linked carbohydrate. Activation of [32P]orthophosphate-labeled BMMC by sensitization with mouse monoclonal IgE anti-TNP and challenge with TNP-BSA or by exposure to the calcium ionophore A23187 elicited the rapid phosphorylation of gp49 but not of its precursor forms, as did treatment of the cells with PMA. Elution of phosphorylated and immunoprecipitated gp49 from SDS-polyacrylamide gels followed by partial acid hydrolysis of the protein and phosphoamino acid analysis by high voltage thin-layer electrophoresis on cellulose plates indicated that serine, but not threonine or tyrosine, was phosphorylated upon stimulation of BMMC with IgE/Ag, calcium ionophore, or PMA. Cholera toxin did not elicit phosphorylation of gp49. These data suggest that gp49, a plasma membrane glycoprotein preferentially expressed by mouse BMMC, may be either directly or indirectly phosphorylated via protein kinase C during mast cell activation-secretion.

Secretion of lingual lipase and amylase from rat lingual serous glands.

The effects of various secretagogues on the release of lingual lipase and amylase from rat lingual serous glands was examined in vitro and in vivo. After incubation, the media and tissues were assayed for lingual lipase and amylase activity to determine percent of secretion. In vitro secretion of lingual lipase and amylase stimulated by the cholinergic agonist, carbamylcholine chloride (carbachol), was 28.3 +/- 1.7, 48.0 +/- 3.2, and 55.9 +/- 2.4% and 18.1 +/- 1.7, 26.4 +/- 3.0, and 28.0 +/- 2.5%, respectively, for 30-, 60-, and 90-min incubations. The beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, and the adenylate cyclase activator, forskolin, elicited very little secretion in vitro; the 90-min values with isoproterenol were 16.8 +/- 7.1% lingual lipase and 6.0 +/- 2.6% amylase. The alpha-adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine, did not stimulate enzyme secretion. Morphological assessment of incubated tissues revealed that carbachol induced a rapid and extensive degranulation of the acinar cells, while isoproterenol caused only minimal exocytosis. In vivo stimulation by the cholinergic agonist, pilocarpine, caused rapid secretion, with maximal secretion occurring by 1 h. In vivo secretion stimulated by isoproterenol was slow, but by 4 h secretion was comparable to that induced by pilocarpine. In vitro, there was a significant difference between the percentages of lingual lipase and amylase secreted, which could not be accounted for by the presence of proteases or microbial products or the lack of stability of the enzymes during the incubation period. Neurotransmitter regulation of protein secretion by the lingual serous (minor salivary) glands appears to be principally cholinergic in contrast to the beta-adrenergic stimulation of protein secretion by the parotid (major salivary) gland.

Increased plasminogen activator enzymes of the tunica vaginalis in long-standing idiopathic hydrocele.

Previous research has shown increased fibrinolytic activity of the serous membranes as a reaction to stimuli that did not destroy their mesothelium. Large amounts of fluid remarkably stretch and chronically stimulate the tunica vaginalis in long-standing idiopathic hydrocele. For these reasons, a prospective controlled study was carried out in 30 male patients in order to investigate the possible alterations of the fibrinolytic capacity of this serosa by a method suitable for measuring plasminogen activator content of a single layer of cells. A possible role of plasminogen activator enzymes as a protective barrier against incidental absorption of fibrin/fibrinogen from the hydrocele fluid into vaginal tissues is considered.

The mesothelium: a histochemical study of resting mesothelial cells.

Cytochemical investigations of the resting mesothelial cells of rats are reported. The study was performed on imprint monolayers obtained from various serosal surfaces by using 3% gelatin and 1% agar-coated microscopic slides. We found only a small amount of reaction product in mesothelial cells after cytochemical demonstration of those enzymes associated with oxidative respiration; however, abundant reaction product was found when the enzymes associated with the pentose phosphate path were sought. These findings suggest that this latter respiratory mechanism may play an active role in resting mesothelial cell respiration. Enzymes associated with cell membranes such as sodium and potassium dependent ATPase and 5' nucleotidase were readily found. The "resting" mesothelial cell also had demonstrable amounts of glycogen and RNA. It is concluded that despite the morphological suggestions that the resting mesothelium is not very active metabolically (Cascarano, 1964), its histochemical profile provides good evidence of a diverse range of functional and metabolic processes. The finding of similar cytochemical profiles, irrespective of the anatomical site of the mesothelial cell sample, is considered to give credence to the concept of the mesothelium as an entity.

Cholinesterases of the gall bladder.

Cholinesterase histochemistry of the human gall bladder was studied using two specific methods. Distribution of acetylcholinesterase: In the mucosa, nerve fascicles consisting of densely packed parallel single nerve fibres, small ganglia and "spot"- and "glomerule"- like concentrations of acetylcholinesterase activity were observed. In the muscle layer, a wide-meshed network of delicate nerves, with occational areas of very dense innervation, and small ganglia were seen. In the serosa, "glomerule"- like structures surrounded by dense "baskets" of delicate nerves were observed.-- The general scheme of distribution of non-specific cholinesterases was similar to that of acetylcholinesterase. It seems that the cholinergic innervation of the gall bladder is related to both secretion and absorption and contractility. Some cholinergic nerves are probably sensory, especially because acetylcholinesterase-positive structures, possibly pressure of stretch receptors, supplied with nerves were observed in the mucosa and the serosa. The cholinergic innervation of the gall bladder muscle was scarce except occasional areas of very dense innervation. It may thus be concluded that the intermuscle spread of excitation plays an important role, the majority of the smooth muscle cells receiving their nervous influence via electrotonic coupling.