Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: EC:3.1.3.1 (alkaline phosphatase)
47,916 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

This report illustrates a calcified leiomyoma of deep soft tissue in the left leg of a 6-year-old boy. The tumour was composed of spindle cells arranged in interlacing bundles, between which were multiple small and large areas of calcification. Tumour cells were positive for vimentin, desmin and smooth muscle actin. Ultrastructurally, the cells showed numerous pinocytotic vesicles and bundles of intracytoplasmic filaments with smooth muscle dense bodies. Only four calcified leiomyomas have been previously reported in the deep soft tissues of limbs. Here we report a new case and suggest a new pathogenetic scheme involving alkaline phosphatase in the origin of these calcifications.
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PMID:Calcified leiomyoma of deep soft tissue. Report of a case in childhood. 795 7

The modulation of transferrin secretion by FSH and epidermal growth factor (EGF) was studied in highly pure, primary cultures of immature rat Sertoli cells grown on a reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel) in bicameral chambers. Sertoli cell purity was assessed by (1) morphometry, (2) alkaline phosphatase cytochemistry (a specific marker enzyme for peritubular cells) and (3) immunocytochemistry for the alpha-isoform of smooth muscle actin in contaminating peritubular cells. Results revealed a less than 0.5% peritubular cell contamination. During initial periods of culture with EGF or FSH alone or in combination, both EGF and FSH alone maintained transferrin secretion over basal values and their effects were additive. At subsequent times, EGF alone maintained transferrin secretion, but to less extent than did FSH alone, and inhibited significantly the ability of FSH to maintain transferrin secretion. The ratio of polarized transferrin secretion in response to FSH, EGF, or in combination was also examined. FSH significantly reversed the polarity of transferrin secretion, whereas EGF, although significantly reducing the ratio of apical to basal transferrin secretion, did not lead to a preferential basal secretion of transferrin. The change in the apical:basal transferrin secretion ratio, however, was not due to a reversal of the apically secreted transferrin towards a basal direction, but rather to an increase in the total basally secreted transferrin. The effects of cell density effects on transferrin secretion were then examined. At low cell density, the relative ability of EGF and FSH together to maintain transferrin secretion was greater than at high cell density, but overall transferrin secretion was greater as cell density increased. The inhibition of FSH by EGF on transferrin secretion was also density dependent: EGF significantly inhibited FSH effects at low cell density, but failed to do so at high cell density. These results suggest that regulation of transferrin secretion by Sertoli cells appears to be under dual control, involving both FSH and EGF and may provide an explanation for the mechanism by which EGF exerts a regulatory role in spermatogenesis.
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PMID:Modulation of transferrin secretion by epidermal growth factor in immature rat Sertoli cells in vitro. 802 75

A new methodological approach using immunohistochemical markers for Sertoli cells (alpha inhibin), peritubular cells (alpha smooth muscle actin), and S-phase cells (bromodeoxyuridine; BrdU) is presented that allows an accurate and simultaneous analysis of morphogenetic and mitogenic changes occurring in vitro. Sertoli cells and peritubular cells were isolated by sequential enzymatic digestion from 7-day-old rats. Laminin, as a major component of the extracellular matrix of the seminiferous tubule, and FSH, as a hormone stimulating Sertoli cell proliferation, were tested for their ability to influence the morphology or mitotic activity of the cultured cells. After fixation, the coverslips were stained for these antigens with use of specific primary antibodies and horseradish peroxidase- or alkaline phosphatase-labeled secondary antibodies for visualization of the respective antigens with different-colored precipitates. This approach allowed us to distinguish the two cell populations, which could not be done unequivocally without the antibody staining. We scored striking changes in cell densities and cell ratios during the culture period. Peritubular cells showed a consistently higher BrdU-labeling index than Sertoli cells. While Sertoli cells were not labeled until Day 7, peritubular cells proliferated as soon as on Day 3, and their density doubled from Day 3 to Day 7. A linear negative correlation was established for Sertoli cell proliferation in response to their local density on the coverslip, indicating contact inhibition as a signal for cessation of mitosis. At high cell densities, this inhibition was partially overcome in the presence of FSH. The presence of laminin had striking effects on the morphogenetic response but only a minor influence on mitogenesis.
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PMID:Discriminative analysis of rat Sertoli and peritubular cells and their proliferation in vitro: evidence for follicle-stimulating hormone-mediated contact inhibition of Sertoli cell mitosis. 882 24

A simple method is described for obtaining a large number of single smooth muscle cells by enzymatic digestion of heparin-perfused human umbilical cord arteries. The smooth muscle cell cultures exhibited the characteristic "hill and valley" growth pattern as seen by phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy. By using indirect immunofluorescence or alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase techniques the cells were identified as smooth muscle cells by the presence of alpha smooth muscle actin and vimentin. The cultures were not contaminated by endothelial cells as demonstrated by the lack of von Willebrand factor immunoreactivity. This method makes it possible to study smooth muscle cells in primary cultures.
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PMID:A new method for isolation of smooth muscle cells from human umbilical cord arteries. 912 54

Mucin-producing Cowper's glands, which are situated in the urogenital diaphragm, can be sampled inadvertently by transurethral resection of the prostate and rarely by needle biopsy. Because they are small, closely packed glandular units, Cowper's glands can be misinterpreted as prostatic adenocarcinoma. A panel of immunoperoxidase and mucin stains performed on 10 Cowper's glands showed negative immunoreactivity for prostatic-specific antigen, prostatic alkaline phosphatase, S-100 protein, and carcinoembryonic antigen. Acini in nine of the 10 Cowper's glands were negative for high-molecular-weight cytokeratin K-903 (34beta E12). One case showed faint focal staining of cells around the periphery of acinar units. Smooth muscle actin consistently stained the periphery of acini in all cases. Ultrastructural examination of one Cowper's gland showed the presence of myoepithelial cells at the periphery of the acini. Contrary to previous reports, the acini were lined by a prominent secretory cell layer underlain by an attenuated myoepithelial cell layer. A negative stain for K-903. without additional immunohistochemical study on Cowper's glands taken during transurethral resection or needle biopsy, may substantiate an erroneous diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma. This potential misdiagnosis of carcinoma can be averted if samples stain positive for mucin and smooth muscle actin and negative for prostate-specific antigen and prostatic alkaline phosphatase.
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PMID:Distinguishing Cowper's glands from neoplastic and pseudoneoplastic lesions of prostate: immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies. 929 83

The authors describe a primary sarcoma of the brain with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features of leiomyosarcoma as well as epithelioid hemangiosarcoma. The leiomyosarcomatous component consisted of spindle cells with well-developed external lamina, subsarcolemmal densities composed of microfilaments, pinocytic vesicles, and abundant intermediate filaments, and showed immunohistochemical reactions for smooth muscle actin. The epithelioid part of the tumor contained scattered cells reactive for alkaline phosphatase as well as CD31 and factor VIII. Many epithelioid cells were lipidized and remarkably similar to "stromal cells" of a hemangioblastoma. Occasional Weibel-Palade bodies, indicating endothelial differentiation, were present in scattered neoplastic cells. There were also cells with features intermediate between endothelium, pericytes and smooth muscle cells, and undifferentiated mesenchymal cells. The brain at the periphery of sarcoma showed conglomerates of well-differentiated capillaries, telangiectasias and small dysplastic arteries, features that raise the possibility of origin of this tumor from a preexisting vascular developmental abnormality.
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PMID:Primary composite angiogenic leiomyosarcoma-epithelioid angiosarcoma of the brain. 1107 73

Regenerative dental pulp strategies require the identification of precursors able to differentiate into odontoblast-like cells that secrete reparative dentin after injury. Pericytes have the ability to give rise to osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes, a feature that has led to the suggestion that odontoblast-like cells could derive from these perivascular cells. In order to gain new insights into this hypothesis, we investigated the effects of dexamethasone (Dex), a synthetic glucocorticoid employed to induce osteogenic differentiation in vitro, in a previously reported model of human dental pulp cultures containing pericytes as identified by their expression of smooth muscle actin (SMA) and their specific ultrastructural morphology. Our data indicated that Dex (10(-8) M) significantly inhibited cell proliferation and markedly reduced the proportion of SMA-positive cells. Conversely, Dex strongly stimulated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and induced the expression of the transcript encoding the major odontoblastic marker, dentin sialophosphoprotein. Nevertheless, parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone-related peptide receptor, core-binding factor a1/osf 2, osteonectin, and lipoprotein lipase mRNA levels were not modified by Dex treatment. Dex also increased the proportion of cells expressing STRO-1, a marker of multipotential mesenchymal progenitor cells. These observations indicate that glucocorticoids regulate the commitment of progenitors derived from dental pulp cells to form odontoblast-like cells, while reducing the proportion of SMA-positive cells. These results provide new perspectives in deciphering the cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to reparative dentinogenesis.
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PMID:Dexamethasone stimulates differentiation of odontoblast-like cells in human dental pulp cultures. 1598 17

Fibroblasts and cementoblasts in the periodontal ligament (PDL) of equine cheek teeth were harvested, and monocultures were obtained by means of a "selective detachment" procedure. Cells were characterized by morphological criteria and by immunostaining for vimentin, FVIII, pan-cytokeratin, smooth muscle actin, and pro-collagen. Cementogenic potential of the cells was determined by immunostaining for osteopontin and by histochemical detection of alkaline phosphatase. Equine periodontal fibroblasts (EPF) were spindle-shaped and polygonal. Equine dental cementoblasts (EDC) grew in cobblestone-like clusters. Both EPF and EDC stained positive for vimentin. Only EPF contained smooth muscle actin, pro-collagen, and alkaline phosphatase. Few EDC stained positive for osteopontin. The phenotypes of EPF and EDC and their specific expression of proteins corresponded to PDL fibroblasts and dental cementoblasts of other species. These results indicate the potential use of EPF and EDC in an adequate in vitro model of equine cementogenesis and equine periodontal remodeling.
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PMID:Primary culture of fibroblasts and cementoblasts of the equine periodontium. 1699 36

Vascular adventitia is thought to change functions and contribute to diseases such as atherosclerosis, vascular restenosis, and fibrosis. To determine whether the adventitia contains mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MPCs), we cultured human vascular adventitial fibroblasts (hVAFs) from pulmonary arteries and analyzed their characteristics. The doubling time of the hVAFs was 1.5days, and the average number of passage was 11, which was independent of age and sex. The hVAFs were positive for vimentin, collagen type-1, CD29, CD44, and CD105, but negative for hematopoietic and endothelial cell markers. When hVAFs were cultured in appropriate media, they showed osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation by von Kossa, alkaline phosphatase, and oil red O staining. Myogenic differentiation was identified by increased expression of smooth muscle actin and calponin. These findings demonstrate that human vascular adventitia contains MPCs, and that hVAFs may be an ideal source for further experiments on stem cell biology and tissue engineering.
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PMID:Human vascular adventitial fibroblasts contain mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells. 1823 Mar 45

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for regenerative medicine. For the application of iPSCs to forms of autologous cell therapy, suitable animal models are required. Among species that could potentially be used for this purpose, nonhuman primates are particularly important, and among these the marmoset offers significant advantages. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of the application of iPSC technology to this species, here we derived lines of marmoset iPSCs. Using retroviral transduction with human Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc, we derived clones that fulfil critical criteria for successful reprogramming: they exhibit typical iPSC morphology; they are alkaline phosphatase positive; they express high levels of NANOG, OCT4 and SOX2 mRNAs, while the corresponding vector genes are silenced; they are immunoreactive for Oct4, TRA-1-81 and SSEA-4; and when implanted into immunodeficient mice they produce teratomas that have derivatives of all three germ layers (endoderm, alpha-fetoprotein; ectoderm, betaIII-tubulin; mesoderm, smooth muscle actin). Starting with a population of 4 x 10(5) newborn marmoset skin fibroblasts, we obtained approximately 100 colonies with iPSC-like morphology. Of these, 30 were expanded sufficiently to be cryopreserved, and, of those, 8 were characterized in more detail. These experiments provide proof of principle that iPSC technology can be adapted for use in the marmoset, as a future model of autologous cell therapy.
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PMID:Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from newborn marmoset skin fibroblasts. 2036 1


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