[Detection of numerical chromosomal aberrations in hematopoietic malignancy by in situ hybridization on bone marrow aspirate paraffin sections]

We evaluated the usefulness of in situ hybridization (ISH) with chromosome specific DNA probe on paraffin sections of bone marrow aspirates. Twenty cases of hematopoietic malignancy and eight control cases of non-hematopoietic malignancy were examined with centromere-specific probes for chromosomes 8 and 17. In the eight control cases, the mean rates of cells with more than three hybridization signals were 1.13 (2SD = 1.90) for chromosome 8, and 0.88 (2SD = 2.25) for chromosome 17. The mean rates plus 2SD were 3.03 for chromosome 8, and 3.19 for chromosome 17. Therefore, we defined cases of more than 4.0% of cells showing more than three hybridization signals per nuclei as having a numerical abnormality (trisomy). We compared these results with conventional cytogenetic results by karyotype analysis. In twenty hematopoietic malignancy cases, three cases demonstrated trisomy 8 by ISH. Two cases also demonstrated this abnormality by karyotype analysis, but one case showed no abnormality by karyotype analysis. While trisomy 17 detected in one case that did not demonstrate numerical abnormality, only structural abnormality by karyotype analysis. The rate of discrepancy between results of ISH analysis and those of karyotype analysis was only 5% (2/40) for both chromosomes. In five cases, re-examinations were performed within three months. In one case, we could not obtain adequate material for karyotype analysis. However, this case showed trisomy 8 by ISH. Structural chromosomal abnormalities such as translocation or deletion could not be detected by this ISH analysis with centromere-specific probes. However, this method has the advantage result that we can perform retrospective assessments, do not need to culture cell, and can compare with pathological findings. Thus, we conclude that ISH analysis with paraffin sections of bone marrow aspirates will provide more useful information by combining ISH analysis and karyotype analysis.

Retardation of the age-associated decline of immune functions in aging rats under dietary restriction and daily physical exercise

Wistar rats were subjected to dietary restriction and daily physical exercise for 21 months, starting from 2 months of age. At the age of 23 months, the rats were sacrificed and examined for various indices including immunological functions. Body weight was almost the same between rats fed ad libitum (Group A) and those (Group B) fed 80% of the diet consumed by Group A. The body weights of Groups A and B were significantly heavier than that of rats (Group C) fed 60% of the diet consumed by Group A and those (Group D) which were subjected to physical exercise and fed 80% of the diet consumed by Group A. Highly proliferative response of T cells to mitogens was observed in 5 out of 13 rats in group D. Some enhancement of B cell proliferation was also observed in the same rats. Present results suggested that enduring physical exercise together with dietary restriction can retard the age-related decrement of immunological functions.

Antibody response in Lewis rats injected with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein derived peptides

Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated a predominant response to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and showed that this molecule is able to induce in Lewis rats a chronic relapsing MS-like disease with extensive demyelination. To further study the possibility that MOG is a primary target antigen in MS, we have begun to investigate the encephalitogenicity and antibody response of different sequences of the extracellular domains of MOG in Lewis rats. We report that none of the synthetic peptides encompassing the MOG amino acid sequences 1-21, 67-87, 104-117 and 202-218 were encephalitogenic. In contrast, a single injection of MOG35-55 was able to induce severe neurological signs associated with inflammation and demyelination. All rats injected with MOG peptides 1-21, 35-55, 67-87 and 202-218 developed a high level of antibodies to their respective immunizing peptides as detected by ELISA and immunoblotting. Although all MOG peptide antisera reacted with immunoblots of native MOG separated under reducing conditions, only anti-MOG35-55 and anti-MOG202-218 antibodies reacted to native MOG, when tested under nonreducing conditions. These results indicate that the MOG35-55 peptide, which is found in the extracellular Ig V-like domain of MOG, is not only an encephalitogenic epitope but could also be an important determinant for initiating antibody-mediated demyelination. As indicated by the absence of reactivity to the other MOG peptides tested, as well as other central nervous system myelin proteins including myelin basic protein and proteolipid protein, the antibody response produced by MOG peptides is highly restricted.

Evaluation of in-vivo transdermal absorption of cyclosporin with absorption enhancer using intradermal microdialysis in rats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of absorption enhancer on in-vivo transdermal absorption of cyclosporin using intradermal microdialysis in rats. Cyclosporin oily solutions (0.5, 2, 8% w/v) were prepared from Sandimmun (10% w/v oily oral preparation of cyclosporin) by diluting with olive oil. 1-[2-(Decylthio)ethyl] azacyclopentan-2-one (HPE-101) and glycerin were added to the cyclosporin formulation as an absorption enhancer at various concentrations between 1 and 20%. These formulations were applied to the shaved abdomen of rats treated with intradermal microdialysis at a flow rate of 2.5 microL min-1 for 6 h. Cyclosporin was immediately detected and attained a plateau in the dermal dialysate after topical application of cyclosporin oily solution alone. Cyclosporin levels in the dialysate increased with increasing cyclosporin concentrations in the formulation from 0.5 to 8% (w/v). HPE-101 did not influence cyclosporin absorption at concentrations less than 6% (w/v). Addition of 10% (w/v) HPE-101 significantly enhanced an apparent absorption rate of cyclosporin by 4.9 times. However, 20% (w/v) HPE-101 did not show the enhancing activity. On the other hand, addition of glycerin at concentrations of 6, 10, and 20% (v/v) significantly enhanced an apparent absorption rate of cyclosporin by 3.0, 6.4, and 6.9 times, respectively. The time lag for cyclosporin absorption was less than 0.21 h in all tested cases. This microdialysis study shows that glycerin is a suitable enhancer for improving the in-vivo cyclosporin absorption from the skin.

Morphology of environmentally induced synaptic plasticity in vomeronasal system

Adult male hamsters and rats were reared for 2 months in either an isolated condition (IC) or a social condition (SC). The lengths of synaptic active zones (SAZ) of synapses in the granule cell layer of the accessory olfactory bulb were measured as an indicator of synaptic size in perforated and non-perforated synapses. In the hamster, the SAZ of both perforated and non-perforated synapses were larger in animals reared in the SC, compared to those of animals reared in the IC. In the rat, only the SAZ of non-perforated synapses was larger in the SC animals, compared with those reared in IC. These results indicate that rearing conditions affect synaptic structure, with the morphological change being more pronounced in hamsters than in rats.

[The clinical significance of glitter-cells in the urine during urinary tract infection]

To clarify the relationship between glitter-cells and urine osmotic pressure, neutrophils were isolated from venous blood of 4 normal volunteers and incubated in urine specimens with different osmotic pressures. Glitter-cells were detected in the urine with 100-400 mOsm/l. The rate of glitter-cells in neutrophils incubated for 4 hours were significantly less than those incubated for 0 minute (p < 0.05). We clinically investigated the relationship between the presence of glitter-cells in fresh urine and the site of urinary tract infection (UTI) or organisms isolated from urine. Fresh urine samples were obtained from 95 patients (55 male and 40 female). Urine samples were examined for bacteriuria by the quantitative culture method, and significant bacteriuria was defined as more than 10(5)/ml of bacilli for midstream urine or as more than 10(4)/ml for urine collected by catheterization. Leukocytes and glitter-cells in the unspun and unstained urine were counted on a disposable slide using a counting chamber. Patients with upper UTI showed a significantly higher incidence of glitter-cells than patients with lower UTI (p < 0.05). Patients with glitter-cells had a significantly higher incidence of polymicrobial infections than those without glitter-cell (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that patients with glitter-cells in the urine show upper UTI (pyelonephritis) and polymicrobial infections.

Enhanced fast synaptic transmission and a delayed depolarization induced by transient potassium current blockade in rat hippocampal slice as studied by optical recording

In hippocampal neurons, a slowly inactivating aminopyridine-sensitive transient potassium current, D-current, influences the time course of action potential repolarization and therefore activity-dependent Ca2+ entry. We used high-speed optical recording techniques to study the effects of selectively inhibiting D-current with 4-AP (40 microM) on transmission at the Schaffer collateral (CA3)-CA1 synapse in rat hippocampal slices stained with the voltage-sensitive dye RH-155. We observed that addition of 4-AP to the bathing solution resulted in (1) augmentation of a fast component of the optical signal corresponding to the postsynaptic EPSP and action potential, and (2) the appearance of a delayed depolarization of CA1 neurons and other adjacent cells. 4-AP appeared to alter the presynaptic action potential and the dynamics of synaptic transmission to both reduce the sensitivity of the postsynaptic EPSP and action potential to omega-toxin calcium channel blockers (omega-conotoxin GVIA and omega-agatoxin IVA) and the Ca(2+)-dependent potassium channel blocker charybdotoxin, and to increase sensitivity to the dihydropyridine nifedipine, the NMDA receptor blocker aminophosphonopentanoic acid, and the intracellular Ca2+ release inhibitor thapsigargin. The delayed depolarization induced by 4-AP was inhibited in hyperosmotic extracellular solution, suggesting that enhanced transmitter release resulted in increased accumulation of K+ in the extracellular space. Because 4-AP is a convulsant at concentrations similar to those used here, we suggest that the 4-AP-targeted channel(s) carrying D-current may contribute to the hyperexcitability associated with epilepsy.

In situ ocular absorption of tilisolol through ocular membranes in albino rabbits

The purpose of this study is to characterize the in situ absorption properties of ocular membranes using a cylindrical cell. Drug disappearance in the cell was determined as in situ absorption after an application of drug solution into the cell on the comea, sclera (bulbar conjunctiva and sclera layer), or palpebral conjunctiva. Tilisolol was used as a model of an ophthalmic beta-blocker. Tilisolol disappeared from the conjunctival and scleral surfaces although hardly any disappearance of tilisolol from the corneal surface was observed. Depletion of drug from the precorneal space was much faster in situ than extrapolated from permeability measurements (in vitro) of the separate tissues. This may arise from an influence of blood flow. The in situ apparent permeability coefficient of tilisolol through the conjunctiva was almost constant at various concentrations of drug (5-100 mM), suggesting a passive diffusion of tilisolol that was affected by medium pH. A high concentration of tilisolol in the aqueous humor was observed in the corneal application although the scleral and conjunctival applications showed a slight concentration of tilisolol. The corneal route was a dominant route of access to the aqueous humor. Access to the vitreous body for tilisolol was 4 times more effective through the sclera than through the cornea. On the other hand, the corneal application showed an extremely low concentration of tilisolol in plasma compared to the scleral and conjunctival applications. Thus, the in situ method using a cylindrical cell is a useful method for investigation of the ocular absorption of ophthalmic drugs.

Drug interaction between simvastatin and cholestyramine in vitro and in vivo

The interaction between simvastatin (SV), a prodrug lactone, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor which converts to the active hydroxy acid form (SVH) in vivo, and cholestyramine (CT), an anionic exchange resin, was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. In an in vitro SV-stability study, it was shown that SV degraded gradually to SVH in an aqueous solution at pH 2 and 7. To evaluate the binding ability of SV or SVH to CT, the incubation of 5 micrograms/ml of SV or SVH solution with 200 mg of CT in various pH (2.0, 5.0 and 7.0) solutions was performed at 37 degrees C for 10 min. After incubation, the concentration of SV decreased by 59.02% (pH 2), 63.90% (pH 5) and 67.36% (pH 7), respectively, and an interaction between SV and CT was suggested. The values were much larger than those expected from the stability test of SV in the absence of CT. SVH was found to bind more strongly to CT. The binding ability of SVH to CT was 66.71% (pH 2), 87.44% (pH 5) and 92.11% (pH 7), respectively. Judging from these results, SV was considered to interact with CT by the following procedure: SV underwent hydrolysis to SVH in aqueous solution, then CT activated the hydrolysis by binding the formed SVH, resulting in a significant reduction in concentration of SV. On the other hand, an in vivo animal experiment also demonstrated a significant reduction (about 50% with AUC) in the concentration of SVH in plasma following the coadministration of SV (500 mg/kg p.o.) and CT (600 mg/kg p.o.), compared with the administration of SV alone. This phenomenon suggested that a combination therapy using SV and CT might result in a smaller cholesterol-lowering effect of SV.

[Bone marrow transplantation from an unrelated donor in patient with congenital heart diseases]

A 9-year-old with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who received bone marrow transplantation from an unrelated donor (UBMT), is reported. He also suffered from congenital heart disease (CHD) consisting of corrected transposition of the great arteries and dextrocardia. The cardiac output was within normal limits. The conditioning regimen included busulfan, melphalan, ALG and TLI. Cyclophosphamide was not used because of it cardiotoxicity. The HLA-phenotype of the donor was identical with that of the patient. DNA typing showed was haplodentical DRB1. The patient is alive 18 months after the UBMT. This case showed that UBMT was possible in a CML patient with CHD, without congestive heart failure.

[Effect of human serum albumin on transport of drugs through human erythrocyte membranes]

The binding properties to human serum albumin (HSA) and the transport of drugs through human erythrocyte membranes were examined with benzoic acid or its twenty-five derivatives (o-, m-, or p-hydroxybenzoic acid, o-, m-, or p-aminobenzoic acid, o-, m-, or p-nitrobenzoic acid, o-, m-, or p-toluic acid, o-, m-, or p-fluorobenzoic acid, o-, m-, or p-chlorobenzoic acid, o-, m-, or p-bromobenzoic acid, aspirin, salicyluric acid, alpha-resorcylic acid and gamma-resorcylic acid) and with glycosides (arbutin, salicin, glycyrrhizin and four p-nitrophenylglycosides) or their aglycons (hydroquinone, saligenin, glycyrretinic acid and p-nitrophenol). The drugs having hydroxyl group and amino group to o-site and those having nitro group, methyl group and halogen group to m- or p-site showed higher affinity with HSA and the plasma hindered the permeability of these drugs. The glycosides bind to each site (1, 2, and 3) of HSA more weakly than do their aglycons and they were difficult for plasma to hinder membrane permeation. The binding constants of each drug to HSA (Kb-site 1, Kb-site 2, Kb-site 3 and Kb-total) and the inhibition ratio (IR) related to the partition coefficient (P): Kb-site 1 (M-1) = 2.1479 x 10(3).square root of P - 5.2824.P + 2.0985 x 10(3) (R = 0.9371), Kb-site 2 (M-1) = 4.3741 x 10(3).square root of P - 15.2068.P + 6.5660 x 10(3) (R = 0.6788), Kb-site 3 (M-1) = 2.2176 x 10(4).log P + 1.2022 x 10(4) (R = 0.5227), Kb-total (M-1) = 1.0214 x 10(4).square root of P - 33.3721.P + 1.6919 x 10(4) (R = 0.7413), IR (%) = 19.885.log P + 17.916 (R = 0.8605). IR obtained from predictive equations (IR = 17.837.log P - 13.286. log Kb-site 1 + 0.175.square root of Kb-site 2 + 0.074.square root of K b-site 3 + 37.355, R = 0.9642, F = 71.4937***, ***; p < 0.001) by multiple regression analysis was compatible with experimental IR.

[The usefulness of percutaneous transhepatic cholecyst puncture (PTCCP) with ultrasoundimage control for acute cholecystitis]

Percutaneous transhepatic cholecyst puncture (PTCCP) is a unique treatment for acute cholecystitis by using of 21 gauge PTC needle with ultrasoundimage control. The procedure is as follows. A percutaneous transhepatic puncture of the gallbladder is made with ultrasonic guidance. After suction removal of the contents of the gallbladder, saline with antibiotics is injected. Finally PTC needle is removed after removal of the injected saline. We carried out PTCCP in 35 patients with acute cholecystitis, and compared its clinical effect with those of PTCCD (46 cases) or conservative treatment of antibiotics administration (38 cases). The treatment of PTCCP removed the clinical symptoms of acute cholecystitis rapidly compared with the conservative treatment and it made the hospitalization shorter compared with the treatment of PTCCD. PTCCP was also performed without any severe complications for patients with underlying diseases. The curative rate of PTCCP was the same as those of other former treatments. It was concluded that PTCCP is a safe, convenient, and useful treatment of acute cholecystitis.

Glycogen depletion of the intrafusal fibers in a mouse muscle spindle during prolonged swimming

This study investigated the recruitment of different types of intrafusal fibers during prolonged swimming at 60-75% of VO2max. We used 56 male adult mice and examined depletion of glycogen in soleus (Sol) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle spindles by visual inspection and a newly developed optical scanning method. More than 80% of all spindles from six mice consisted of four fibers: one type I nuclear bag (bag1) fiber, one type II nuclear bag (bag2) fiber, and two nuclear chain fibers. Glycogen content was estimated in muscle fibers from groups of six mice that had rested or swum for either 0.5, 1, 2, 4, or 8 h. The optical scanning intensity of periodic acid Schiff (PAS)-stained sections was correlated with their biochemically determined glycogen content (r = 0.93). Both methods showed fundamentally the same result: each type of intrafusal fiber has its own typical recruitment pattern during exercise. In the initial phase (0-0.5 h), glycogen depletion was largest in nuclear bag1 fibers and insignificant in the bag2 and chain fibers. With the bag1 fibers having become fatigued, nuclear bag2 fibers mainly took over during the middle phase (2-4 h). During the last phase (4-8 h), only the glycogen content of chain fibers decreased significantly (4-8 h). There were significant correlations between the recruitment pattern of bag1 and extrafusal type I fibers in both Sol and EDL, between nuclear bag2 and type IIa fibers in Sol, and between nuclear chain and type IIb fibers in EDL. This suggests that, during moderately intense exercise, glycogen depletion occurs first in the slow, then the intermediate, and, finally, the fast intrafusal fibers.

Analysis of the fine B cell specificity during the chronic/relapsing course of a multiple sclerosis-like disease in Lewis rats injected with the encephalitogenic myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide 35-55

We have recently shown that a single injection of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), or the MOG35-55 peptide, produces a relapsing-remitting neurologic disease with extensive plaque-like demyelination. Given the features that this new autoimmune demyelinating model has in common with the clinicopathologic manifestations of multiple sclerosis, we have examined the Ab reactivity to native MOG and MOG35-55 peptide during the course of the disease in Lewis rats. Following immunization with MOG35-55, varied clinical symptoms were observed; these included hind and foreleg paralysis and various degrees of balance impairment. Disease progression also varied: 3 out of 21 animals had a single mild disease episode; 4 out of 21 had a mild relapsing-remitting disease; and 14 out of 21 had severe relapsing-remitting disease. Ab reactivity to MOG35-55 and native MOG was first detected in all rats 4 wk postimmunization and persisted throughout the 12 wk of observation. The Ab response was highly restricted with no reactivity to other peptides encompassing different extracellular segments of MOG. Fine epitope mapping showed that Ab from serum and cerebrospinal fluid of injected rats reacted strongly to MOG37-46 and to a lesser extent to MOG43-50. Although significant levels of anti-MOG Abs appeared necessary for the development of demyelinating lesions, their presence in blood and cerebrospinal fluid alone was not sufficient to produce severe clinical symptoms. These results demonstrate that the MOG35-55 peptide is highly encephalitogenic and can induce strong T and B cell responses. It is probably the complex interaction between these T and B cells that determines the severity of disease in individual rats.

Analysis of the fine B cell specificity during the chronic/relapsing course of a multiple sclerosis-like disease in Lewis rats injected with the encephalitogenic myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide 35-55

We have recently shown that a single injection of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), or the MOG35-55 peptide, produces a relapsing-remitting neurologic disease with extensive plaque-like demyelination. Given the features that this new autoimmune demyelinating model has in common with the clinicopathologic manifestations of multiple sclerosis, we have examined the Ab reactivity to native MOG and MOG35-55 peptide during the course of the disease in Lewis rats. Following immunization with MOG35-55, varied clinical symptoms were observed; these included hind and foreleg paralysis and various degrees of balance impairment. Disease progression also varied: 3 out of 21 animals had a single mild disease episode; 4 out of 21 had a mild relapsing-remitting disease; and 14 out of 21 had severe relapsing-remitting disease. Ab reactivity to MOG35-55 and native MOG was first detected in all rats 4 wk postimmunization and persisted throughout the 12 wk of observation. The Ab response was highly restricted with no reactivity to other peptides encompassing different extracellular segments of MOG. Fine epitope mapping showed that Ab from serum and cerebrospinal fluid of injected rats reacted strongly to MOG37-46 and to a lesser extent to MOG43-50. Although significant levels of anti-MOG Abs appeared necessary for the development of demyelinating lesions, their presence in blood and cerebrospinal fluid alone was not sufficient to produce severe clinical symptoms. These results demonstrate that the MOG35-55 peptide is highly encephalitogenic and can induce strong T and B cell responses. It is probably the complex interaction between these T and B cells that determines the severity of disease in individual rats.

In vivo microdialysis to determine the relative pharmacokinetics of drugs

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a simultaneous microdialysis method in blood and brain striatum to determine the relative pharmacokinetics and metabolism of L-3,4-dihydroxypenylalanine (L-dopa). L-Dopa (250 mumol/kg) was administered to rats with or without the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) inhibitor carbidopa (25 mumol/kg) or benserazide (25 or 62.5 mumol/kg). L-Dopa, its metabolites, and AADC inhibitors in dialysates were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with an electrochemical detector. A moment analysis was also made to obtain pharmacokinetic parameters. After administration of L-dopa alone, it and its related metabolites were detected in both dialysates of blood and brain striatum. Coadministration of carbidopa (25 mumol/kg) or benserazide (62.5 mumol/kg) significantly enhanced the striatal amount of L-dopa by 8.0 and 6.1 times, respectively. Carbidopa and benserazide also increased striatal amounts of L-dopa metabolites, such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid, and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol. Inhibition effect of benserazide on an extracerebral decarboxylation of L-dopa to dopamine (DA) was stronger than that of carbidopa. Carbidopa showed a higher striatal level of DA than benserazide. These results suggest a different effect of the two inhibitors on the DA formations in blood and brain striatum, and on the L-dopa transport through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Thus, microdialysis is an easy and available method for simultaneously assessing the in vivo relative pharmacokinetics and metabolism of drugs in systemic circulation and a target organ.

Entorhinal-hippocampal interactions revealed by real-time imaging

The entorhinal cortex provides the major cortical input to the hippocampus, and both structures have been implicated in memory processes. The dynamics of neuronal circuits in the entorhinal-hippocampal system were studied in slices by optical imaging with high spatial and temporal resolution. Reverberation of neural activity was detected in the entorhinal cortex and was more prominent when the inhibition due to gamma-aminobutyric acid was slightly suppressed. Neural activity was transferred in a frequency-dependent way from the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus. The entorhinal neuronal circuit could contribute to memory processes by holding information and selectively gating the entry of information into the hippocampus.

A lysosomal cysteine proteinase from Dictyostelium discoideum contains N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate bound to serine but not mannose-6-phosphate on N-linked oligosaccharides

Previous studies showed that vegetative Dictyostelium discoideum cells make a lysosomal proteinase, proteinase-1, that contains multiple GlcNAc-alpha-1-P residues in phosphodiester linkage to serine. We extended these studies and, in contrast to earlier reports, found that proteinase-1 contains 7.5 mol of Fuc, 8 mol of Man, 2 mol of Xyl, and 30 mol of GlcNAc per calculated mol of protein but no Man-6-P residues. The protein binds to concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin lectin affinity columns, and PNGase-F digestion released most of the mannose and xylose but little of the GlcNAc. beta-Elimination under reducing conditions released only GlcNAc-alpha-1-P. There was no evidence for the release of disaccharides or of fucitol. A rabbit antiserum and monoclonal antibodies prepared against proteinase-1 recognize GlcNAc-alpha-1-P residues in immunoblots and are specifically competed by UDP-GlcNAc or GlcNAc-alpha-1-P. Use of other monoclonal antibodies showed the presence of mannose-6-sulfate on N-linked sugar chains, and alpha-fucose residues on the protein. Thus, proteinase-1 has at least two types of modifications: Glc NAc-alpha-1-P-Ser, which we call phosphoglycosylation, and N-linked oligosaccharides. This is the first purified lysosomal enzyme in Dictyostelium that does not contain Man-6-P residues. The GlcNAc-alpha-1-P-specific antibodies also recognize a group of developmentally regulated proteins, especially enriched in vegetative cells. Some of them are also lysosomal cysteine proteinases, and all bind to the GlcNAc-alpha-1-P-specific monoclonal antibody but not to the mammalian CI-Man-6-P receptor. Conversely, lysosomal enzymes that have Man-6-P do not bind to the GlcNAc-alpha-1-P-specific antibody. An exception to this is beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, where 15% of the activity binds to this antibody. Thus, there appear to be two sets of lysosomal enzymes with distinct post-translational modifications.

[Bronchiolitis obliterans in a patient with chronic graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplantation]

A 25-year-old with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (FAB:L2) received an allogeneic bone marrow transplant from an HLA-identical sibling during the first remission. Despite administration of adequate immunosuppressant drugs, active chronic graft-versus-host disease developed and continued. The patient complained of progressive dry coughing and breathlessness on exertion 18 months after the transplant and severe hyperlucency and multiple bullae were observed on a chest X-ray film. Three years after the transplant, recurrent bilateral pneumothorax developed and lung cysts were resected twice. Histological examination revealed bronchiolitis obliterans. We speculate that post-transplant bronchiolitis obliterans caused multiple bullae to form by a check-valve mechanism, which then led to recurrent bilateral pneumothorax.