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bcl-x is a member of the bcl-2 gene family, which may regulate programmed cell death. Mice were generated that lacked Bcl-x. The Bcl-x-deficient mice died around embryonic day 13. Extensive apoptotic cell death was evident in postmitotic immature neurons of the developing brain, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia. Hematopoietic cells in the liver were also apoptotic. Analyses of bcl-x double-knockout chimeric mice showed that the maturation of Bcl-x-deficient lymphocytes was diminished. The life-span of immature lymphocytes, but not mature lymphocytes, was shortened. Thus, Bcl-x functions to support the viability of immature cells during the development of the nervous and hematopoietic systems.

Helicobacter pylori is associated with development of gastritis, gastric ulcers, and adenocarcinomas in humans. The Lewis(b) (Le(b)) blood group antigen mediates H. pylori attachment to human gastric mucosa. Soluble glycoproteins presenting the Leb antigen or antibodies to the Leb antigen inhibited bacterial binding. Gastric tissue lacking Leb expression did not bind H. pylori. Bacteria did not bind to Leb antigen substituted with a terminal GalNAc alpha 1-3 residue (blood group A determinant), suggesting that the availability of H. pylori receptors might be reduced in individuals of blood group A and B phenotypes, as compared with blood group O individuals.

Activation of caspase-3 requires proteolytic processing of the inactive zymogen into p18 and p12 subunits. We generated a rabbit polyclonal antiserum, CM1, which recognizes the p18 subunit of cleaved caspase-3 but not the zymogen. CM1 demonstrated an apparent specificity for activated caspase-3 by specifically immunolabeling only apoptotic but not necrotic cortical neurons in vitro. In the embryonic mouse nervous system, CM1 immunoreactivity was detected in neurons undergoing programmed cell death and was markedly increased in Bcl-x L -deficient embryos and decreased in Bax-deficient embryos. CM1 immunoreactivity was absent in the nervous system of caspase-3-deficient mouse embryos and in neurons cultured from caspase-3-deficient mice. Along with neuronal somata, extensive neuritic staining was seen in apoptotic neurons. These studies indicate that caspase-3 is activated during apoptosis in the developing nervous system in vivo and that CM1 is a useful reagent for its in situ detection.

α-synuclein (α-syn) is a main component of Lewy bodies (LB) that occur in many neurodegenerative diseases, includingParkinson's disease (PD), dementia with LB (DLB) and multi-system atrophy. α-syn mutations or amplifications are responsible for a subset of autosomal dominant familial PD cases, and overexpression causes neurodegeneration and motor disturbances in animals. To investigate mechanisms for α-syn accumulation and toxicity, we studied a mouse model of lysosomal enzyme cathepsin D (CD) deficiency, and found extensive accumulation of endogenous α-syn in neurons without overabundance of α-syn mRNA. In addition to impaired macroautophagy, CD deficiency reduced proteasome activity, suggesting an essential role for lysosomal CD function in regulating multiple proteolytic pathways that are important for α-syn metabolism. Conversely, CD overexpression reduces α-syn aggregation and is neuroprotective against α-syn overexpression-induced cell death in vitro. In a C. elegans model, CD deficiency exacerbates α-syn accumulation while its overexpression is protective against α-syn-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Mutated CD with diminished enzymatic activity or overexpression of cathepsins B (CB) or L (CL) is not protective in the worm model, indicating a unique requirement for enzymatically active CD. Our data identify a conserved CD function in α-syn degradation and identify CD as a novel target for LB disease therapeutics.

Although 1p/19q codeletions define "genetically favorable" oligodendrogliomas, eventual tumor progression and patient death remain constant. Genetic testing is often performed at the time of recurrence, though it is unclear whether these or other genetic alterations provide useful prognostic information. We characterized 138 of 189 (73%) available primary and recurrent oligodendroglial neoplasms from 80 patients, utilizing paired FISH probes for 1p32/1q42, 19p13/19q13, CEP7/EGFR, CEP9/p16, and PTEN/DMBT1. Patients were followed until death (49%), or a median follow-up of 8.9 years. Patients with 1p/19q codeleted tumors (71%) had an estimated overall median survival of 14.9 years with an estimated 3.9 years from first recurrence. In contrast, those lacking deletions had significantly lower estimated overall median survivals of 4.7 years and 1.0 year after first recurrence (both p < 0.001). This increased survival in patients with 1p/19q codeleted tumors remained significant when adjustments were made for age, tumor grade, type of surgical procedure, and treatment with radiation or chemotherapy. Only 1 recurrence showed focal EGFR amplification, while 5 developed 10q deletions, mostly in high-grade mixed oligoastrocytomas lacking 1p/19q deletions. In contrast, p16 (9p21) deletions were common and associated with both high grade (p < 0.001) and recurrence (p = 0.002). Our data suggest that in classic oligodendrogliomas: 1) 1p/19q tumor status is a powerful predictor of patient survival, even after recurrence; 2) p16 deletions are common progression-associated alterations; and 3) 10q deletions and EGFR amplifications are sufficiently rare to suggest the possibility of alternate diagnoses.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) capable of recognizing developmental stage-specific neuronal epitopes are becoming increasingly available. Because most of these MAbs are raised in a single species (mouse), simultaneous immunofluorescent detection of multiple epitopes has been diflticult. We have taken advantage of the high sensitivity of tyramide signal amplification to develop a protocol that permits simultaneous detection of two antibodies raised in the same species. One primary antibody was applied at a concentration below the detection limit of fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies, yet sufftcient for detection with the tyramide system. This first primary antibody was then efkively neglected during application of a second primary antibody that was detected by conventional fluorescently labeled sec-