Antibody against T lymphoblastic leukemia-associated antigen (3-40) identifies vimentin and keratin intermediate filaments in normal cells

Antibody 3-40 defines a 35- to 40-kd surface antigen present on T lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells that is absent on normal hematopoietic cells (Naito et al, Blood 62:852, 1983). Using immunoblot analysis of cytoskeletal proteins and indirect immunofluorescence of cell lines treated with various cytoskeletal inhibitors, in this report we have demonstrated that antibody 3-40 also identifies vimentin intermediate filaments (IMF) within the HSB-2 (T-ALL) cell line as well as in normal thymocytes, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and human and rodent fibroblast cell lines. Cross-reactivity with several keratin subclasses was demonstrated in both human and rodent epithelial cell lines, human thymus, and skin. In addition, we have shown that antibody 3-40 defined a 39-kd intracellular IMF-associated protein in HSB-2 cells, epithelial and fibroblast cell lines. This IMF-associated protein may be selectively expressed on the surface of human T cells during malignant transformation.

Human T cell antigen expression during the early stages of fetal thymic maturation

Human thymus tissue was examined from 7 wk of gestation through birth for the expression of antigens reacting with a panel of anti-T cell monoclonal antibodies. Additionally, the reactivities of reagents against the transferrin receptor, against leukocytes, against low m. w. keratins, and against major histocompatibility complex antigens were studied on human fetal thymic tissue. Frozen tissue sections were evaluated by using indirect immunofluorescence assays. At 7 wk of gestation, no lymphoid cells were identified within the epithelial thymic rudiment; however, lymphoid cells reacting with both antibody 3A1, a pan T cell marker, and antibody T200, a pan leukocyte reagent, were identified in perithymic mesenchyme. After lymphoid colonization of the thymic rudiment at 10 wk of fetal gestation, fetal thymic tissue reacted with antibodies T1, T4, and T8. At 12 wk of gestation, antibodies T3, T6, A1G3 (anti-p80, a marker of mature thymocytes), and 35.1 (anti-E rosette receptor) all reacted with thymic tissue. Our findings indicate that T cell antigens were acquired sequentially on thymocytes at discrete stages during the first trimester of human fetal development. The 3A1 antigen was present on fetal lymphocytes before lymphoid cell colonization of thymic epithelium, suggesting that passage through the thymus was not required for the expression of the 3A1 antigen by T cell precursors. The appearance of mature T cell antigens, T3 and p80, on thymocytes by 12 wk of gestation implies that the T cell antigen repertoire may be established in the thymus during the first trimester. Thus, a critical period of T cell maturation appears to occur between 7 and 12 wk of human fetal gestation.

Human T cell antigen expression during the early stages of fetal thymic maturation

Human thymus tissue was examined from 7 wk of gestation through birth for the expression of antigens reacting with a panel of anti-T cell monoclonal antibodies. Additionally, the reactivities of reagents against the transferrin receptor, against leukocytes, against low m. w. keratins, and against major histocompatibility complex antigens were studied on human fetal thymic tissue. Frozen tissue sections were evaluated by using indirect immunofluorescence assays. At 7 wk of gestation, no lymphoid cells were identified within the epithelial thymic rudiment; however, lymphoid cells reacting with both antibody 3A1, a pan T cell marker, and antibody T200, a pan leukocyte reagent, were identified in perithymic mesenchyme. After lymphoid colonization of the thymic rudiment at 10 wk of fetal gestation, fetal thymic tissue reacted with antibodies T1, T4, and T8. At 12 wk of gestation, antibodies T3, T6, A1G3 (anti-p80, a marker of mature thymocytes), and 35.1 (anti-E rosette receptor) all reacted with thymic tissue. Our findings indicate that T cell antigens were acquired sequentially on thymocytes at discrete stages during the first trimester of human fetal development. The 3A1 antigen was present on fetal lymphocytes before lymphoid cell colonization of thymic epithelium, suggesting that passage through the thymus was not required for the expression of the 3A1 antigen by T cell precursors. The appearance of mature T cell antigens, T3 and p80, on thymocytes by 12 wk of gestation implies that the T cell antigen repertoire may be established in the thymus during the first trimester. Thus, a critical period of T cell maturation appears to occur between 7 and 12 wk of human fetal gestation.

Effects of sodium nitroprusside-induced hypotension on the cerebral and hindlimb blood flow in dogs

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) has been commonly used as a vasodilator agent for deliberate hypotension with general anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to observe whether cerebral blood flow (CBF) was significantly reduced when SNP infusion was accomplished to decrease peripheral blood flows with systemic hypotension. We conducted the experiments in 15 pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. CBF was measured in 7 dogs using a venous outflow method. Hindlimb blood flow (HBF) serving as a representative of the peripheral circulations was obtained by flow measurement in the femoral artery in 8 dogs. The systemic arteral pressure (SAP) was decreased stepwise (approximately 5 mmHg for each step) by adjusting the SNP infusion rate. During the systemic hypotension, the CBF remained fairly constant despite a marked decline in the mean SAP to 40 mmHg. The calculated cerebral vascular resistance was progressively decreased with the systemic hypotension. On the contrary, a reduction in the HBF was observed accompanying the fall in SAP. When the mean SAP was decreased to 50 mmHg, the HBF was only 46.3 +/- 7.6% of the control value. The calculated hindlimb vascular resistance was slightly elevated during the whole course of SNP-induced hypotension. The results reveal the disparity between the brain and hindlimb in the resistance and flow responses to SNP-induced hypotension. The constancy of CBF subserves adequate brain perfusion when deliberate hypotension is conducted for surgery in the peripheral organs.

Monoclonal antibodies reactive with human T cell lymphotropic virusI (HTLVI) p19 internal core protein: cross-reactivity with normal tissues and differential reactivity with HTLV types I and II

Three monoclonal antibodies to human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLVI) p19 internal core protein, designated as alpha HTLV-2, 3, and 4, have been developed. In indirect immunofluorescence (IF) assays, these antibodies reacted with acetone-fixed cytocentrifuge preparations of culture HTLVI-infected peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) from a patient (SD) with Japanese adult T cell leukemia and with infected HUT-102 T cells but not with cultured normal PBL. Anti-p19 antibodies alpha HTLV-2, 3, and 4 all reacted with the same HTLVI p19 identified both by antibodies in HTLVI+ patient sera and by antisera raised against two synthetic peptides encoded by the p19 gag region of HTLVI. Partial proteolytic cleavage of p19 immunoprecipitates obtained with antibodies alpha HTLV-2, 3, and 4 produced a 17,000-dalton cleavage product, in agreement with the size of the fragment predicted from the nucleic acid sequence of the HTLVI p19 gag region. Antibodies alpha HTLV-3 and 4 reacted with HTLVI but not HTLVII proteins and were useful diagnostic probes in identifying HTLVI- but not HTLVII-infected lymphoid cells in immunofluorescence assays. In addition to reacting with HTLVI p19, antibodies 2 and 4 also cross-reacted with a wide variety of HTLV-uninfected normal and neoplastic cells and tissues. In addition, HTLVI+ patient sera contained antibodies that competed for binding to the antigenic site on p19 recognized by antibody 4. Thus, anti-p19 monoclonal antibodies alpha HTLV-2 and 4 reacted with a 19,000-dalton viral-encoded protein of HTLVI and cross-reacted with normal host tissues, while anti-p19 antibody alpha HTLV-3 was specific for HTLVI p19 core protein.

Monoclonal antibodies reactive with human T cell lymphotropic virusI (HTLVI) p19 internal core protein: cross-reactivity with normal tissues and differential reactivity with HTLV types I and II

Three monoclonal antibodies to human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLVI) p19 internal core protein, designated as alpha HTLV-2, 3, and 4, have been developed. In indirect immunofluorescence (IF) assays, these antibodies reacted with acetone-fixed cytocentrifuge preparations of culture HTLVI-infected peripheral blood leukocyte (PBL) from a patient (SD) with Japanese adult T cell leukemia and with infected HUT-102 T cells but not with cultured normal PBL. Anti-p19 antibodies alpha HTLV-2, 3, and 4 all reacted with the same HTLVI p19 identified both by antibodies in HTLVI+ patient sera and by antisera raised against two synthetic peptides encoded by the p19 gag region of HTLVI. Partial proteolytic cleavage of p19 immunoprecipitates obtained with antibodies alpha HTLV-2, 3, and 4 produced a 17,000-dalton cleavage product, in agreement with the size of the fragment predicted from the nucleic acid sequence of the HTLVI p19 gag region. Antibodies alpha HTLV-3 and 4 reacted with HTLVI but not HTLVII proteins and were useful diagnostic probes in identifying HTLVI- but not HTLVII-infected lymphoid cells in immunofluorescence assays. In addition to reacting with HTLVI p19, antibodies 2 and 4 also cross-reacted with a wide variety of HTLV-uninfected normal and neoplastic cells and tissues. In addition, HTLVI+ patient sera contained antibodies that competed for binding to the antigenic site on p19 recognized by antibody 4. Thus, anti-p19 monoclonal antibodies alpha HTLV-2 and 4 reacted with a 19,000-dalton viral-encoded protein of HTLVI and cross-reacted with normal host tissues, while anti-p19 antibody alpha HTLV-3 was specific for HTLVI p19 core protein.

Comparison between bone marrow transplantation and antithymocyte globulin in treatment of young patients with severe aplastic anemia

Fifty-seven patients younger than 25 years with severe aplastic anemia underwent either bone marrow transplantation or antithymocyte globulin therapy (ATG) to ascertain which approach should be used in young patients. Thirty-five patients who had an HLA-identical sibling donor underwent bone marrow transplantation after conditioning with cyclophosphamide and low-dose total-body radiation. Twenty-two patients who did not have an HLA-identical donor received ATG. The 2-year actuarial survival of patients after transplant is 72% (95%, CI 64% to 80%), versus 45% (95%, CI 29% to 61%) in those given ATG therapy (P = 0.18). In those patients surviving 6 months after treatment, return of peripheral blood counts to normal values was more common in patients who received marrow transplant compared with those given ATG therapy (P less than 0.001). Furthermore, 24 of 26 transplant survivors had Karnofsky performance scores greater than 90%, compared with only five of 13 ATG survivors. These data suggest that bone marrow transplantation is the preferred therapy for severe aplastic anemia in young patients who have an HLA-identical sibling donor. ATG should be reversed for those young patients with severe aplastic anemia who do not have a histocompatible marrow donor.

Identification of 2-tetradecylglycidyl coenzyme A as the active form of methyl 2-tetradecylglycidate (methyl palmoxirate) and its characterization as an irreversible, active site-directed inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyltransferase A in isolated rat liver mitochondria

Methyl-2-tetradecylglycidic acid (MeTDGA) has been hypothesized to inhibit fatty acid oxidation by irreversible, active site-directed inactivation of carnitine palmitoyltransferase A after being converted to TDGA-CoA. Using synthetic TDGA-CoA, this hypothesis has been confirmed. Assessing enzyme inhibition in an isolated rat liver mitochondrial system, TDGA-CoA (synthetic or enzyme prepared) was more potent than TDGA or MeTDGA and retained activity in the absence of CoA or Mg2+-ATP. It inhibited palmitoyl-CoA but not palmitoyl carnitine oxidation. Enzyme inactivation was exponential, stereospecific, and fast (t0.5 = 38.5 s with 100 nM (R)-TDGA-CoA). TDGA-CoA was identified as a complexing type irreversible inhibitor (Ki approximately 0.27 microM) by the double reciprocal relationship between the pseudo-first order inactivation rate and its concentration, by the inverse dependence of the second order rate constant on its concentration, and by the independence of the first order rate from the enzyme concentration. Palmitoyl-CoA, CoA, and malonyl-CoA protected the enzyme, while L-carnitine and palmitoyl-L-carnitine were without effect. [3-14C] TDGA-CoA labeled a protein, Mr = 90,000, with a time course which paralleled that of enzyme inhibition; maximum specific binding was 16 pmol/mg of mitochondrial protein.

Improved survival following bone marrow transplantation for aplastic anaemia

We transplanted 46 patients with severe aplastic anaemia with a new pretransplant immunosuppressive regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg) and low-dose total body irradiation (3 Gy). This regimen (CY-TBI-2) was designed to decrease the high risk of graft rejection associated with the use of cyclophosphamide alone, without increasing the incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GHVD) or interstitial pneumonia (IPn). Two-year actuarial disease-free survival of patients conditioned with CY-TBI-2 was 62% (95% CI: 47-77%). Only one patient rejected her graft and the incidence and severity of GVHD and IPn were not increased compared to previous studies. Patients less than 25 years of age had excellent 2-year survival of 82% (95% CI: 69-95%). These data indicate that CY-TBI-2 is an effective means of preventing graft-rejection and achieving long-term disease-free survival in multiply transfused patients with severe aplastic anaemia.

Antithymocyte globulin treatment in patients with aplastic anemia: a prospective randomized trial

We evaluated the efficacy of antithymocyte globulin for the treatment of moderate to severe aplastic anemia in a randomized controlled study. Eleven of 21 patients initially randomized to receive antithymocyte globulin (given intravenously on eight consecutive days) had sustained improvement in hematopoiesis within three months of treatment; none of 21 control patients who received supportive care alone improved (P = 0.0005). Six of 12 control patients who subsequently received antithymocyte globulin improved. Responders had gradual improvement in hematopoiesis, but none recovered completely normal peripheral-blood counts. The severity of bone-marrow failure, age, cause of aplastic anemia, and transfusion history had no apparent bearing on treatment outcome. The interval from diagnosis to antithymocyte globulin treatment correlated inversely with the chance of a treatment response, although this correlation was not statistically significant. These data indicate that antithymocyte globulin is effective in improving hematopoiesis in some patients with aplastic anemia.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic or accelerated phase

Eight patients with Ph1-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic or accelerated phase received high-dose cyclophosphamide, total body irradiation, and bone marrow transplantation from an HLA-identical sibling donor. All patients had prompt engraftment and achieved complete hematologic remission. Six patients remain alive and in continuous remission with a normal bone marrow karyotype 3-20+ mo posttransplant. One patient died from cytomegalovirus interstitial pneumonitis. Only one patient who was transplanted in accelerated phase relapsed 6.5 mo posttransplant and died in blast crisis. High-dose combined modality therapy is capable of producing sustained complete remissions in patients with CML treated during chronic or accelerated phase.

Immunologic and clinical effects of repeated blood exchange in familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Depressed cellular immune function and increased susceptibility to infection characterize familial erythrophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FEL), a usually fatal autosomal recessive disease. One component of the immunodeficiency is plasma-mediated inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation. We have tested whether repeated plasma or blood exchange would decrease plasma inhibitory activity and improve cellular immune function in FEL. Following this treatment, reduction in plasma inhibitory activity, reversal of depressed antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferative responses and monocyte antibody-dependent cytotoxic function in vitro, and clinical improvement were complete in two and partial in one of three patients studied. Relapse, which was ultimately fatal, was associated with recurrence of the immune defects. These findings suggest that cellular immunodeficiency in FEL is acquired and possibly related to circulating immunosuppressive activity, the removal of which is associated with transient immunologic and clinical recovery.

A controlled trial of prophylactic granulocyte transfusions during initial induction chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia

To evaluate the role of prophylactic granulocyte transfusions during remission-induction chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) we randomized 102 infected patients either to receive daily granulocyte transfusions when blood granulocytes fell below 0.5 x 10(9) per liter (54 patients) or not to receive them (48). Although the percentage of patients acquiring any infection was similar in the transfusion and control groups (46 and 42 per cent, respectively), granulocyte transfusions decreased the proportion of patients with bacterial septicemia (9 per cent of those with transfusions vs. 27 per cent of the controls; P = 0.01). Granulocyte transfusions did not reduce the incidence of other infections or improve bone-marrow recovery, remission rate and duration, or survival. Seventy-two per cent of the patients given transfusions had transfusion reactions. Pulmonary infiltrates were more common in the transfusion group than in the control group (57 per cent vs. 27 per cent; P = 0.002). Thirty-five per cent of the patients with pulmonary filtrates died, as compared with 5 per cent of those without filtrates. We conclude that prophylactic granulocyte transfusions should not be used during remission-induction chemotherapy in AML because the risks outweigh the benefits.

Direct effects of nitroglycerin on the resistance, exchange and capacitance functions of the canine intestinal vasculature

In the isolated dog ileum perfused with constant flow, nitroglycerin (NTG) produced dose-dependent arteriolar and venous dilatation. Experiments were performed in 22 ileum preparations to advance the study on the pre- and postcapillary resistances, functional capillary pressure, capillary filtration coefficient (CFC) and vascular compliance. At venous pressure (Pv) of 0, 10 and 20 mm Hg, and intra-arterial infusion of NTG in a submaximal dose (30 microgram/min) reduced the total and precapillary resistances, but did not change the postcapillary resistance and functional capillary pressure. This agent slightly increased the CFC calculated from a Pv range of 0 to 10 mm Hg and significantly increased the CFC value calculated from a Pv change of 0 to 20 mm Hg. At Pv = 0 mm Hg, NTG infusion caused a regional volume pooling by 1.2 +/- 0.4 mg/100 g. The vascular compliance in terms of delta blood volume/delta Pv was also significantly increased after NTG. The myogenic responses (reduction in CFC and increase in precapillary resistance) to an elevation of Pv were essentially identical before and after NTG infusion. The results suggest the NTG at the dose used acts primarily on the arterioles, precapillary sphincters and postcapillary capacitance vessels. The postcapillary resistance vessels (mainly the venules) are little affected. Although the resistance and exchange vessels are dilated by NTG, the myogenic constriction of these vessels upon Pv rises is not significantly altered.