Induction of ADF/TRX by oxidative stress in keratinocytes and lymphoid cells

Adult T-cell leukemia-derived factor (ADF)/human thioredoxin (TRX) has thiol-dependent reducing activities and is known to have regulatory roles on the DNA-protein interaction and cell activation. Inducive effect of ultraviolet (UV) has been indicated because of the enhanced expression of ADF/TRX in epidermal cells of sun-exposed skin, as determined by immunohistochemical staining with antibody against recombinant ADF (rADF). We studied the effect of UVB irradiation and other oxidative stress on the expression of ADF/TRX in epithelial cells as well as lymphoid cells, as HTLV-1 and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoid cells constitutively produce ADF/TRX. Using immunohistochemical staining anti-ADF antibody, the enhancement of ADF/TRX expression on primary culture of human keratinocytes was demonstrated, 12 h after 20 mJ/cm2 UVB irradiation. Western blot analysis of the ADF/TRX protein in the cell lysates also showed the significant induction. In in situ hybridization, induction of ADF/TRX mRNA was detected after 4 h of UV exposure. ADF/TRX was also induced in a HTLV-1 (+) T-cell line, MT-1, by UVB or H2O2 dose dependently. The augmentation of ADF/TRX was observed 6 h after treatment of H2O2.

Biochemical and cellular properties of three immortalized Schwann cell lines expressing different levels of the myelin-associated glycoprotein

Biochemical and cellular properties of three immortalized Schwann cell lines expressing different levels of the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) were compared. The S16 line generated by repetitive passaging was described previously and expresses a level of MAG comparable to that in adult sciatic nerve. The S42 line was generated independently by the same procedure, divides more slowly than the S16 line, and expresses an even higher level of MAG. The S16Y line arose spontaneously from a passage of the S16 cells, divides much more rapidly, and does not express MAG. The levels of MAG expression in the three lines are inversely related to their rates of proliferation, and MAG mRNA levels parallel the amounts of MAG. The S16 and S42 lines consist mainly of flat cells at low density and develop many processes at high density, whereas most of the S16Y cells are spindle-shaped, resembling primary Schwann cells in appearance. Surface immunostaining with the O4 antibody was positive for the S16 and S42 cells and negative for the S16Y cells, but all three lines were negative for surface staining with the O1 antibody. The overall protein compositions of the three lines are very similar, but the S16 and S42 cells express larger amounts of several glycoproteins than the S16Y cells, including the adhesion proteins, neural cell adhesion molecule, L1, and laminin. S16 and S42 cells (but not S16Y cells) also express P0 glycoprotein, galactocerebroside, and sulfatide, but, unlike MAG, these other myelin-related components were present at much lower levels than in adult nerve. Myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein were not detected in any of the lines, although all three lines contained proteolipid protein mRNA. 2',3'-Cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase and glial fibrillary acidic protein were present in all three lines. Conditions have not yet been found in which any of the lines will myelinate dorsal root ganglion neurons in vitro, but the S16 and S42 cells differ from the S16Y cells by clustering around neurons after 1 week in coculture. In many respects, the S16 and S42 cells biochemically resemble Schwann cells at an early stage in their preparation to myelinate and should be useful for investigating the cell biology of MAG and other myelin-related components.

The treatment of multiple angiolipomas by liposuction surgery

BACKGROUND

Recently, liposuction surgery has been widely accepted for body contouring or other noncosmetic applications, including lipoma and angiolipomatosis.

OBJECTIVE

We treated a case of multiple angiolipomas at 49 years of age to confirm the utility of liposuction.

METHODS

Liposuction under general anesthesia was performed for angiolipomas distributed over the trunk.

RESULTS

The patient has been followed for 2 years without recurrence.

CONCLUSION

We believe that liposuction is a safe and easy method of removing multiple angiolipomas.

Adult T cell leukemia-derived factor/human thioredoxin protects endothelial F-2 cell injury caused by activated neutrophils or hydrogen peroxide

Adult T cell leukemia-derived factor (ADF), originally defined as an interleukin 2 receptor/alpha (alpha) chain inducer produced by human T-lymphotropic virus type-I transformed cells, is identical to human thioredoxin (TRX). In this study, the protective effect of ADF/TRX on the cytotoxicity of endothelial cells caused by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-activated neutrophils or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was examined. When murine endothelial F-2 cells established from an ultraviolet light-induced tumor on a nude mouse were incubated with PMA-activated neutrophils or with 1 mM H2O2 for 6 hours, the cytotoxicity of F-2 cells was respectively 51 +/- 4% or 40 +/- 8% by the 51Cr releasing assay. Recombinant ADF/TRX (rADF/TRX) inhibited this cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner, although mutant ADF/TRX (cysteine 31 to serine), 2-mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol did not. On a molar basis, rADF/TRX was more effective than glutathione but less effective than catalase. Immunoblotting analysis showed that treatment with 0.1 mM H2O2 induced murine TRX on F-2 cells. These findings indicate that ADF/TRX is an oxidative stress-inducible endogenous protein and rADF/TRX plays a protective role against activated neutrophils- or H2O2-induced endothelial cytotoxicity.

Primary plasmacytoma of the thyroid: a case report and comparative literature study between Western nations and Japan

A 52 year old man presented with primary thyroid plasmacytoma. The patient was initially followed up for thyroid dysfunction. The histological examination of the removed thyroid revealed a proliferation of mature and immature plasma cells indicative of plasmacytoma with Hashimoto's disease. After radiotherapy (40 Gy) to the neck following right hemi-thyroidectomy, the patient is currently alive and well 3 years after diagnosis without any evidence of tumor. The immunohistological examination of the removed thyroid showed monoclonality for immunoglobulin G-Kappa light chains. Sixty-six literature cases of primary thyroid plasmacytoma were reviewed and comparison of the clinical and histological characteristics between Japanese and Western cases noted. The incidence of the patients with antithyroid antibody was significantly lower (P < 0.01) in Western patients (42.9%) than in Japanese patients (87.5%). The higher incidence of thyroid dysfunction and Hashimoto's disease in Japan in comparison with Western nations was well reflected in the incidence of antithyroid antibody.

Cloning and structural characterization of the human endothelial nitric-oxide-synthase gene

Nitric oxide accounts for the activity of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, which seems to have an important role in vasodilation and inhibition of platelet aggregation. In endothelial cells, one isoform of nitric-oxide synthase is constitutively expressed. Analysis of the cDNA encoding the human endothelial nitric-oxide synthase revealed that the mRNA is 4.1 kb in size and that the translated protein consists of 1203 amino acids. We have cloned a genomic DNA encoding the human endothelial nitric-oxide synthase and analyzed the entire nucleotide sequence of the gene. The gene consists of 26 exons with a total size of 21 kb. The 5' flanking region of the gene lacks TATA boxes, but it contains putative Sp1-binding sites in (G+C)-rich regions. Of particular interest is the fact that a shear-stress-responsive element is located at position -985, which probably regulates the nitric-oxide-synthase gene in response to fluid mechanical forces at the transcriptional level in the vascular endothelium. Two minisatellite sequences are detectable in introns 2 and 8; a 32-bp consensus sequence repeats 38 times and a 57-bp consensus sequence repeats ten times. We found polymorphisms of the BamHI fragment containing the former minisatellite sequence in genomic DNA from pedigree family members. Furthermore, five tandem repeats of a 27-bp core consensus sequence and 35 repeats of a dinucleotide (CA) are located in introns 4 and 13, respectively. These repeat sequences will probably provide genetic markers for gene mapping and linkage analysis of inherited diseases including cardiovascular diseases.

Visualization of DNA double strand breaks in the gerbil hippocampal CA1 following transient ischemia

To clarify the relationship between delayed neuronal death and apoptosis, we made an attempt to detect DNA strand breaks in the gerbil hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons following transient ischemia by an in situ DNA double strand breaks staining. The condensed nuclei of neurons in CA1 were occasionally seen and positively stained 3 days after ischemia. The degenerating dark neurons with condensed nuclei in CA1 markedly increased in number and were clearly stained for DNA strand breaks 5 days after ischemia, whereas normal-looking nuclei remained unstained. No neurons were stained in other hippocampal subfields and dentate gyrus. The present study strongly indicates that the CA1 pyramidal neurons die through an apoptotic process.

Development and evaluation of components for a totally implantable artificial heart system

The authors have been developing an electrohydraulic (EH) artificial heart system for total implantation. This system consists of intrathoracic ventricles, an abdominally placed EH actuator, flexible silicone oil conduits, externally coupled transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) system, transcutaneous optical telemetry (TOT) system, internal battery, and internal control drive unit. Fitting was evaluated in chronic animal experiments as a pneumatic system in 11 goats weighing 55.2 +/- 4.2 kg and 3 calves of 52.3 +/- 1.2 kg. The longest survival time in calves was 111 days, and that in goats was 51 days. The assembled EH pump was implanted in two goats of 49 and 50 kg as an acute experiment, and 4.2-6.7 L/min of cardiac output was maintained. For the TET system, an internal coil 3 cm in diameter was implanted to make an arch covered by skin. Electric energy was transmitted from the external to the internal coil, and energy of about 20 W was carried through wires to an external load. The DC-to-DC efficiency of the system was 76-83% for 40 days. The TOT system with internal light emitting diodes and external photodiodes also was evaluated in a goat. Disalignment of up to 12 mm was tolerated. Although more improvement is necessary, most of the components showed characteristics desirable for a totally implantable system.

[The significance of intra-arterial infusion therapy for neoadjuvant chemotherapy]

Arterial infusion therapy with anticancer drugs is now attracting attention as a valuable modality for locally advanced breast cancer. Since 1977, we have used this therapy in 122 patients with primary breast cancer. The present report mainly discusses the clinical and histological response as well as the prognosis. The anticancer drugs were mainly given by two routes, infusion into the internal mammary artery and the subclavian artery. Continuous infusion of 5-FU and intermittent injections of MMC, ADR, 4'-epi-ADR and THP-ADR were jointly or individually made in each artery. Clinical response, defined as CR + PR, was noted in 48.4% of 5-FU group and 72.7% of ADR-MMC group. Histological response according to Shimosato Criteria, defined as grade IIb or better, appeared in 45.2% of main tumors and 25.4% of metastatic lymph nodes in the 5-FU group, and 70.9% main tumors and 46.3% of metastatic lymph nodes in the ADR-MMC group. The non-infusion group contained 27.7% of stage IIIb, against 72.2% in the infusion group. The 5-year overall survival rates were non-infusion group 62%, 5-FU group 34.1% and ADR-MMC group 66.2%. A significant difference was seen between the 5-FU infusion group and the ADR-MMC group (p = 0.03). Administration of high dose medroxy progesterone acetate for two weeks and 4'-epi-ADR infusion chemotherapy resulted in an excellent histological response. This combination therapy is a promising neoadjuvant chemo-endocrine therapy for advanced breast cancer.

[Towards eradication of poliomyelitis in Vietnam and the western Pacific region, 1993]

In 1988, the World Health Assembly established the goal of global eradication of poliomyelitis by the year 2000, and the Western Pacific Region (WPR) of WHO established the goal of regional eradication by 1995. Countries in the WPR with endemic poliomyelitis include China, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines. Each country has a national plan of action for eradication, based on three main strategies: maintenance of high coverage with three doses of OPV through routine immunization; supplemental immunization with OPV, including annual National Immunization Days (NIDs); and surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis cases, including isolation of polioviruses in stool specimens. The number of confirmed poliomyelitis cases reported to WHO decreased from 2,635 cases in 1991 to 1,226 cases in 1993, mostly reflecting the decrease in China where supplemental immunization started in 1990 in high-incidence provinces. In six provinces in Viet Nam where immunization days took place in 1992, confirmed cases dropped from 168 in 1992 to 42 in 1993. China, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Laos have conducted NIDs in 1993-1994, with two doses of OPV administered to more than 100 millions children under 5 years of age. NIDs will be repeated in 1994 and 1995, and are planned in Cambodia in January-February 1995. NIDs receive strong support from national governments, and financial assistance from Rotary International, Unicef, the governments of Australia, Japan and Canada, and the US CDC. The apparent elimination of wild polioviruses from the Americas, and the substantial progress already made in the WPR, demonstrate the feasibility of eradicating polio in the WPR and other regions of the world.

A case of fibrous histiocytoma associated with xanthogranulomatous alteration

We report here an unusual case of fibrous histiocytoma in which an area of xanthogranuloma was observed histologically. Our case suggests that adult xanthogranuloma is a variant of fibrous histiocytoma.

Identification and characterization of cis-acting regulatory elements for the expression of the human aromatase cytochrome P-450 gene

CYP19, the human aromatase cytochrome P-450 (P450arom) gene, encodes an enzyme which converts androgens to estrogens by three successive hydroxylation reactions by coupling with NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. In the present study, we have characterized two cis-acting transcriptional regulatory elements of CYP19, termed as hATRE-1 (human aromatase cytochrome P-450 gene transcriptional regulatory element-1) ([sequence: see text]) and hATRE-2 ([sequence: see text]). These sequences are located between -2238 and -2214, and between -2141 and -2098 relative to the major cap site of the gene, respectively. Transient expression analysis in human BeWo choriocarcinoma cells, in which CYP19 is expressed, shows that hATRE-1 represses the expression of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene driven by the promoter of CYP19, whereas hATRE-2 enhances the reporter gene expression in response to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis indicates that nuclear binding factors specific to hATRE-1 are present in BeWo cells, but not in HeLa cells nor in TYK-nu cells that lack the expression of CYP19. In contrast, nuclear binding factors to hATRE-2 are present not only in BeWo cells but also in the latter two types of cells. Nevertheless, hATRE-2 does not affect the reporter gene expression in HeLa cells and TYK-nu cells. These results indicate that hATRE-1 and hATRE-2 are cis-acting transcriptional regulatory elements involving in the regulation of the cell type-specific expression of CYP19.

A new skin equivalent: keratinocytes proliferated and differentiated on collagen sponge containing fibroblasts

Three types of artificial skin containing keratinocytic components were prepared and tested for comparison. Keratinocytes were cultured on the artificial skin dermis (collagen sponge) by the air-liquid interface culture method. In order to create continuous keratinocytic layers on the artificial skin dermis, pores of its uppermost layer were filled beforehand with type I collagen gel, Matrigel, or fibroblasts. A band of keratinocytes consisting of two to six cell layers was formed on collagen gel-coated artificial skin dermis. On Matrigel-coated artificial skin dermis, keratinocytes were piled up into about 20 cell layers, but cell differentiation was incomplete; cornified material was not fully developed, and the proportion of cuboidal cells was very high compared with normal epidermis. Keratinocytes formed continuous layers on the fibroblasts-artificial skin dermis complex without gel coating. Keratinocytes proliferated well and differentiated properly on this matrix, and their histologic appearance was similar to that of normal epidermis. Thus keratinocytes cultured on the fibroblast-artificial skin dermis complex seem to be a good skin equivalent.

Expression of the gene encoding aromatase cytochrome P450 (CYP19) in fetal tissues

The formation of estrogens from C19 steroids is catalyzed by a specific form of cytochrome P450, aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450arom; the product of the CYP19 gene). In previous studies we have demonstrated that in adult human tissues and placenta, expression of the CYP19 gene is regulated in part by means of tissue-specific promoters through the use of alternative splicing mechanisms. In addition to placenta, a number of fetal tissues express aromatase, including liver, intestine, skin, and brain. To characterize the CYP19 transcripts present in these and other fetal tissues, we have used reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction to amplify sequences corresponding to the various untranslated exons from RNA extracted from these tissues. In addition, we have prepared cDNA libraries using RNA from these tissues by the method of rapid amplification of cDNA ends. Sequencing of clones derived from these libraries has been employed to confirm the presence of sequence corresponding to untranslated exons at the 5'-ends of P450arom transcripts. Based on these findings, we conclude that in fetal tissues other than placenta, transcripts containing sequence found in the exon we have previously named I.4 appear to be the most common. Such sequences have been found in cells in which P450arom expression is stimulated by glucocorticoids. Thus, the presence of such transcripts in fetal liver RNA is consistent with our previous observations that aromatase activity in fetal hepatocytes is stimulated by glucocorticoids. Secondly, transcripts are present in the fetal adrenal, although no aromatase activity has ever been detected in this tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoprecipitation studies on anti-goblet cell antibody using a mucin producing cell line in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Circulating anti-goblet cell antibody and its corresponding antigen in patients with inflammatory bowel disease were investigated. Anti-goblet cell antibody in the serum was examined by immunocytochemistry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using a colonic cancer cell line, HT29-18-N2, which differentiates into intestinal goblet cells. The frequencies of anti-goblet cell antibody detected by immunocytochemistry were 14 in 48 patients with ulcerative colitis (29%) and five in 15 patients with Crohn's disease (33%). By ELISA, the frequencies of anti-goblet cell antibody were 38% in ulcerative colitis and 33% in Crohn's disease. This antibody did not relate directly to anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), although the serum samples positive for anti-goblet cell antibody were commonly positive for ANCA in ulcerative colitis. Immunoprecipitation and SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) study showed that the antibody in the ELISA positive serum samples recognised a > 200 kD goblet cell antigen, which remained unchanged after reduction, indicating that it consists of single chain polypeptides. These results suggest that there is a subgroup of inflammatory bowel disease that has circulating anti-goblet cell antibody reactive with a > 200 kD antigen. The antibody detected by newly established ELISA will be a disease marker for this group and the identification of the corresponding antigens may be important for the understanding of the underlying immune abnormalities.

Enhanced therapeutic effect on murine melanoma and angiosarcoma cells by boron neutron capture therapy using a boronated metalloporphyrin

We have already achieved successful treatment of several human patients with malignant melanoma by boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) using 10B1-paraboronophenylalanine (10B1-BPA). In this communication we used a new compound, a manganese boronated protoporphyrin (Mn-10BOPP), and compared it to 10B1-BPA.HCl with respect to uptake in murine melanoma and angiosarcoma cells as well as to their respective cell killing effects using BNCT. Mn-10BOPP was found to be 3 to 10 times more effectively taken up by melanoma cells and angiosarcoma cells than 10B1-BPA.HCl when the content of 10B was measured by the new method, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In addition, melanoma cells and angiosarcoma cells preincubated with Mn-10BOPP were 15 to 20 times more efficiently killed by BNCT than cells preincubated with 10B1-BPA.HCl. These results suggest that Mn-10BOPP is a suitable compound for BNCT of not only malignant melanoma but also angiosarcoma.

Effect of interstimulus interval on perceived sensation and intradental nerve activity during thermal tooth stimulation in man

The effect of interstimulus interval on nerve responses and subjective sensory ratings evoked by thermal stimulation of the teeth were studied in man. A total of 30 unitary discharges during heat stimulation of the lower incisor teeth were recorded from the inferior alveolar nerves using microneurographic technique. Fifteen of them had threshold sensory ratings above 3 (pain related-units) and 15 had ratings of less than 2 (non-pain-related units). Repetitive heat stimulation was applied to the teeth with interstimulus intervals of 180 s (ISI 180) and 30 s (ISI 30). Repetitive (ISI 180 and ISI 30) non-painful heat stimulation of the teeth did not alter either the intensity ratings or unitary discharge activities of non-pain-related units (P > 0.05). Repetitive painful heat stimulation of the teeth with ISI 180 did not alter the intensity ratings of pain-related units (P > 0.05), whereas that with ISI 30 significantly reduced the intensity ratings of pain-related units during a second session of heat trials (P < 0.05). On the other hand, repetitive heat stimulation of the teeth with ISI 180 caused a slight reduction in the firing frequency of pain-related units (P > 0.05). Repetitive painful heat stimulation with ISI 30 significantly reduced the firing frequency of pain-related units (P < 0.05).

Effect of propentofylline and pentoxifylline on cerebral blood flow using 123I-IMP SPECT in patients with cerebral arteriosclerosis

Propentofylline and pentoxifylline were administered to patients age 65 years or older who were suffering from chronic cerebrocirculatory insufficiency. Changes in clinical symptoms and the level of cerebral blood flow before and after drug administration were compared. 123I-IMP single photon emission computed tomography was used to compare cerebral blood flow before treatment with that 3 months after initiation of therapy. Focal regions of interest were established in the cerebellum, the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes, and the thalamus. Comparisons were made between patients age 75 years or older (very old age group) (n = 5) and those age 65 to 74 years (old age group) (n = 7). Complaints of dizziness and slight headache disappeared by the eighth week after the start of therapy in both age groups. Two of the five patients in the very old age group showed elimination of memory disturbance symptoms at the 12th week of treatment. Six of the seven patients in the old age group had no memory disturbance symptoms by the eighth week of treatment, which indicates a high therapeutic effect in this group. In the cerebral blood flow studies, no increases in blood flow after drug administration were observed in the very old age group. This finding is probably related to the poor level of recovery achieved in disturbances in memory in this group. In contrast, improvements in blood flow were observed for all regions of the brain monitored in the old age group, which is consistent with the amelioration of clinical symptoms observed in these patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pineocytoma with intratumoral hemorrhage following ventriculoperitoneal shunt--case report

A 58-year-old female with pineocytoma developed intratumoral hemorrhage after ventriculoperitoneal shunting for hydrocephalus. Neurological examination revealed Parinaud's sign and papilledema. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed a pineal neoplasm and obstructive hydrocephalus. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels of human chorionic gonadotropin, alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, and placental alkaline phosphatase were negative or within normal limits. MR images after the ventriculoperitoneal shunting disclosed intratumoral hemorrhage and markedly smaller ventricles. The tumor was totally removed via the occipital transtentorial approach and was diagnosed histologically as a pineocytoma with astrocytic differentiation. The tumor probably shifted away from the surrounding structures following the marked reduction in ventricular size after ventriculoperitoneal shunting, resulting in changed venous circulation in the tumor and the formation of intratumoral hematoma.

A nonsense mutation (TGG [Trp116]-->TAG [Stop]) in CYP11B1 causes steroid 11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency

Steroid 11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency (11 beta OHD), an autosomal recessive hereditary disease, accounts for 5-8% of cases of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In this study, we carried out a molecular genetic analysis of CYP11B1 encoding steroid 11 beta-hydroxylase (P450c11) from a Japanese patient affected with this disease. Nucleotide sequence analysis of polymerase chain reaction-amplified products of the patient's genome revealed the occurrence of a stop codon in exon 2 due to a point mutation, TGG-->TAG (Trp116-->Stop). To further analyze the role of CYP11B2 encoding steroid 18-hydroxylase (P450c18) in the 11 beta OHD patient, CYP11B2 of the patient was also amplified and sequenced. In contrast to CYP11B1, there was no mutation in CYP11B2. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis indicated that the 11 beta OHD patient is homozygous and his unaffected parents are heterozygous for the mutation. When a cDNA corresponding to CYP11B1 of the 11 beta OHD patient was transfected into COS-7 cells, steroid 11 beta-hydroxylase activity was not detectable in mitochondria of the cells. These results demonstrate that intact P450c11 was not produced at all due to the nonsense mutation in CYP11B1 of the patient without any mutation in CYP11B2.

Influence of fatty acid absorption on bidirectional release of immunoglobulin A into intestinal lumen and intestinal lymph in rats

Effects of absorption of long and middle chain fatty acids on IgA secretion into the intestinal lumen and intestinal lymph and the factors which evoke changes in IgA secretion during the absorptive process were examined in rat small intestine. Bidirectional secretion of IgA from the intestinal mucosa into the intestinal lumen and intestinal lymph was continuously observed in the control condition. Perfusion of oleic acid (a long-chain fatty acid) micelle into the jejunal loop induced a significant increase in IgA output into the intestinal lymph. In contrast, lymphatic output of IgA was significantly decreased when oleic acid micelle was administered intraduodenally. Absorption of octanoic acid, a middle-chain fatty acid, did not produce any significant changes in IgA output into either direction. CR1505, a CCK-receptor antagonist, significantly attenuated the oleic acid-induced increase in IgA secretion into the intestinal lumen, but did not affect the oleic acid-induced decrease in lymphatic IgA secretion. Pluronic L-81, an inhibitor of chylomicron formation and secretion, significantly attenuated the decrease in IgA output into the intestinal lymph during oleic acid absorption without affecting the luminal IgA output. The rate of release of IgA into the intestinal lumen is stimulated by absorption of long-chain fatty acids possibly through the influence of locally released CCK, while the transport process of IgA into lymphatics is controlled by a different mechanism which is closely correlated with the intracellular formation and secretion of chylomicron.

Murine endothelial cell line cells, F-2: interaction with leukocytes and cytokines production

Flowcytometry demonstrated that murine endothelial cell line F-2 expresses MHC class I antigen, FcR II, Mac-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), but not intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and class II antigen. However, co-culturing with TNF-alpha for 24 hr resulted in the increased expression of ICAM-1, and the decreased expression of VCAM-1. IL-1 alpha and IFN-gamma exerted this regulatory effect on VCAM-1 but not on ICAM-1. T (Con A blast) and B (LPS blast) cells adhered to F-2 cells at almost equal levels, and the adhesion was enhanced 20 to 50% when the cells were precultured with TNF-alpha for 24 hr. The inhibition assay using either (anti-ICAM-1 + anti-LFA-1, lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1) or (anti-VCAM-1 + anti-VLA-4, very late antigen-4) mAbs demonstrated that the ICAM-1 system was utilized more preferentially by T than B blasts when F-2 cells were stimulated with TNF-alpha, and the VCAM-1 system was vice versa under the unstimulated and stimulated conditions. Granulocytes also adhered to F-2 cells, but no mAbs could inhibit the adhesion. Although F-2 cells produced a considerable amount of IL-6, GM-CSF and neutrophil chemotactic activity, a 24 hr incubation with TNF-alpha resulted in an increase of 12 fold in IL-6 and 3 fold in neutrophil chemotactic activity production.