A study of surface markers in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by using anti-T and anti-B lymphocyte sera

Cell surface markers of 44 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were studied with various surface markers, especially by using antihuman B lymphocyte serum (ABS), antihuman thymocyte serum (ATS-T), and antihuman peripheral T lymphocyte serum (ALS-T), which were rendered specific for human B lymphocytes, human thymocytes, and human peripheral T lymphocytes, respectively. An immunofluorescent study with ABS, ATS-T, and ALS-T enabled us to demonstrate the histologic localization of normal or neoplastic B and T cells in preserving the original structure of lymphoid organs or tumor tissues. The proportion of cell types in NHL was B cell type 59%, T1 (ATS-T reactive) type 7%, T2 (ALS-T reactive) type 23%, and Null (non T, non B) type 11%. The relationships among cell types, histologic findings, and clinical characteristics were also investigated. Patients with T1-NHL had mediastinal tumors, which were histologically classified into "Lymphoblastic lymphoma." These facts suggest that T1-NHL may have originated in the thymus. Patients with T2-NHL showed a high incidence of skin lesions. Median survival of ten patients with T1- and T2-NHL was seven months, which was much shorter than that of B- or Null-NHL.

Lipid analysis of isolated plasma membranes of lymphoid cells in benign thymomas of Buffalo/Mna rats

Plasma membranes were isolated from lymphoid cells of benign thymomas obtained from inbred BUF/Mna rats (21 mo old) and from normal thymocytes obtained from young rats (7 wk old) of the same strain. The isolated plasma membranes were electron microscopically pure, and the specific activities of Na+, K+-ATPase, and 5'-nucleotidase were enhanced. The lipid compositions of the plasma membranes from these two sources were analyzed and compared. The cholesterol and plasmalogen contents of membranes from both sources were similar, but the phospholipid content of the benign thymoma lymphoid cell membranes was slightly lower than that of the normal thymocytes, resulting in a somewhat higher molar ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid. The plasma membranes of the thymoma lymphoid cells also exhibited a slightly higher microviscosity as measured with fluorescence polarization. No significant differences were observed in the phospholipid compositions of the two membrane preparations.

A study of surface markers in gastrointestinal lymphoma

Five cases of gastrointestinal lymphomas were studied in relation to their surface antigenic markers by using specific antisera against human B cells or T cells. Frozen sections of the tumor tissues stained by immunofluorescence with these antisera were utilized for the detection of surface antigens on the lymphoma cells. The lymphomas reported included two nodular and three diffuse lymphocytic tumors. Their cellular morphology varied, ranging from well-differentiated to undifferentiated. Despite such a variability, all cases showed positive fluorescence with antihuman B-lymphocyte serum while being negative with antihuman T-lymphocyte serum. Four cases were further tested for their surface immunoglobulin classes, and it was found that all of the cases possessed IgM on their cell surface. They carried only one type of light-chain class, either kappa (3 cases) or lambda (1 case). These data suggest that the gastrointestional lymphomas presented here are derived from monoclonal proliferation of malignant B lymphocytes in the digestive tract.

Lipids of plasma membranes from rat thymic lymphoid cells: deficiency of sphingomyelin

Plasma membranes were isolated from normal thymocytes of Wistar-King-A rats and from Moloney virus-induced rat thymic leukemias (RML11 and RML30 cells) using a simplified method developed by us. All the isolated plasma membranes were electron-microscopically pure and enriched in the specific activities of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase in comparison with those of the corresponding whole cell homogenates. These plasma membranes as well as the original cells were analyzed for phopholipid composition and contents of phospholipid, cholesterol and plasmalogen. There was no difference in the phospholipid composition among the three plasma membranes. However, all the plasma membranes were deficient in sphingomyelin, namely, 1.8% for the normal thymocytes, 2.2% for the RML11 cells and 1.9% for the RML30 cells as percentage of the total phospholipid phosphorus. The contents of phospholipid (mumol per mg protein), cholesterol (mumol per mg protein) and plasmalogen (mol% to phospholipid) of the plasma membranes from both lines of malignant cells were lower than those of the normal thymocyte membranes. The molar ratio of cholesterol to phospholipid of the malignant cell membranes was also lower than that of the normal membranes, because in the former membranes the degree of decrease in the cholesterol content was higher than that in phospholipid content.

Increase of antitumor effect on bleomycin by reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and microsomes in vitro and in vivo

The DNA chain breakage effect of bleomycin A2 on isolated nuclei was enhanced over 150-fold by the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent electron transport system of isolated microsomes. The enhancement of bleomycin A2-induced DNA chain breakage by NADPH was also shown at the level of the intact AH66 cells. Furthermore, it was found that the simultaneous administration of bleomycin and NADPH apparently inhibited the growth of Erhlich tumors in mice compared with the administration of bleomycin alone. These results indicate that the action of bleomycin on DNA is stimulated by the microsomal NADPH-dependent electron transport system not only in vitro but also in vivo.

Studies on the bacterial spore coat. (7) Properties of alkali-soluble components from spore coat of Bacillus megaterium

Properties of alkali-soluble components from the spore coat of Bacillus megaterium were examined by physicochemical methods. They were composed of acidic polypeptides of various molecular weights with small amounts of phosphorus and sugar. They were allowed to dissociate to unit components by incubation with SDS. The major component was partially purified by gel filtration, and shown to have a mean molecular weight of about 11,000.

Elevation of serum lipid peroxide level associated with doxorubicin toxicity and its amelioration by [dl]-alpha-tocopheryl acetate or coenzyme Q10 in mouse (doxorubicin, toxicity, lipid peroxide, tocopherol, coenzyme Q10)

Elevations of serum lipid peroxide levels were demonstrated in mice after an equitoxic dose of doxorubicin. When BDF1 mice were injected with doxorubicin (20 mg/kg body weight, IP), lipid peroxide levels in sera were elevated 1 day after the injection and the levels declined on subsequent days. 5-Fluorouracil (400 mg/kg body weight, IP) never changed the peroxide levels in serum. Furthermore, it was found that the co-administration of [dl]-alpha-tocopheryl acetate or coenzyme Q10 IM strongly inhibited the doxorubicin-induced elevation of lipid peroxides in serum. The effectiveness of [dl]-alpha-tocopheryl acetate or coenzyme Q10 in reducing the lethality of doxorubicin in mice was also confirmed. These results indicate that the measurement of serum 2-thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances provided a useful measurement of lipid peroxide levels, which may be involved in some way with doxorubicin toxicity, and that the administration of antioxidants provide protection against some of the side effects of doxorubicin.

Detection of human B cells and chronic myelocytic leukemic cells by rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes and fresh human sera

A new method of detecting the C3b receptor is reported. A particular merit of this method is that anti-RBC rabbit antiserum is not required. Rosettes were formed with human B lymphocytes, B lymphoblasts and granulocytes, using sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) sensitized with fresh human serum (FHS). T lymphocytes and T lymphoblasts did not form rosettes. The percentage of cells forming rosettes with this method approximated the percentage of rosettes formed with EACm. However, FHS coated SRBC did not react with most cells of B cell type chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), whereas EACm rosette formations showed a definite reaction. On the other hand, 34--58% of cells of chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) bound with the indicator red cells. SRBC sensitized with fresh rabbit or guinea pig serum formed rosettes with PBL, tonsil cells, B lymphoblasts and granulocytes. Complement and IgM antibody were required for this reaction, as in EAC rosette formation.

A study of surface markers in acute lymphocytic leukemia by using anti-T and anti-B lymphocyte sera

Cell surface markers of 21 cases of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) were studied with various surface markers, especially by using anti-human B lymphocyte serum (ABS), anti-human thymocyte serum (ATS-T) and anti-human peripheral T lymphocyte serum (ALS-T) which were rendered specific for human B lymphocytes, human thymocytes and human peripheral T lymphocytes. The proportion of cell types in ALL was null cell leukemia 38%, B cell leukemia 38% and T cell leukemia 24%, respectively. T-ALL cells were reactive to ATS-T but not to ALS-T, a fact which suggests their thymic origin. It should be noted that these anti-lymphocyte sera detected T or B marker antigens, even when other markers showed negative. Twelve patients with ALL were also investigated from their clinical pictures. Patients with B cell leukemia had severe signs of anemia and a higher grade of hepato-splenomegalies than other types in ALL. Patients with T cell leukemia were in older age levels and had a poorer prognosis.

Enhancement of DNA chain breakage by bleomycin A2 in the presence of microsomes and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

Chain breakage in DNA induced by bleomycin A2 (BLM) was enhanced more than 150-fold by the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent electron transport system of rat liver microsomes. However, the enhancement effect on DNA was partially reduced by the preincubation of BLM with the microsomal systems. BLM-Cu2+ was found to stimulate considerably microsomal reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent oxygen consumption and malondialdehyde formation, whereas BLM inhibited both of the effects. These findings suggest that the pharmacological action of BLM is strongly affected by a membrane system, such as microsomes, that produces free radicals.

Identification of human peripheral T cell antigens

A new type of differentiation antigens on human T cells was demonstrated by using a heterologous anti-human T cell serum (ATS). This type of antigen, referred to as human peripheral T cell antigen (HPTA), was found on peripheral T cells and medullary thymocytes, but not on cortical thymocytes and B cells. The percentage of ATS-reactive lymphocytes in human peripheral lymphoid organs was correlated with that of cells rosetting with sheep erythrocytes, but contrasted with the number of B cells defined by the presence of a complement (C) receptor or by rabbit anti-human B cell serum (ABS). ATS also reacted with T cells purified by nylon fiber column filtration but ABS did not. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells rosetted with either sheep erythrocytes or erythrocyte-antibody-complement complexes were lysed by ATS and ABS, respectively. Mitogenic responses of blood lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin-A (Con A) were abrogated by treating them with ATS and C, whereas ABS suppressed only their response to Con A. Although numerous thymus cells rosetted with SRBC, only 14% were reactive with ATS. Quantitative absorption studies demonstrated that HPTA content of the thymus cells was much lower than that of lymph node cells. Anatomical localization of ATS-reactive lymphocytes in human lymphoid organs studied by immunofluorescence indicated that they were present in the thymus-dependent paracortical areas of lymph node and in the medullary region of thymus. ABS, on the other hand, did not stain thymocytes but reacted selectively with the cells located in the lymphoid follicles of lymph node. These data, together with that from cell suspension studies, confirmed that HPTA were shared between medullary thymocytes and peripheral T cells.

Labelling of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes with 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulfonyl chloride

1. Sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes were labelled with 1-dimethylaminonaphtalene-5-sulfonyl chloride (DnsCl). Analyses of the dansylated membranes demonstrated that the most of the dye was associated with ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) and phosphatidylethanolamine in the membranes. 2. Dansylation of the membranes could be performed without significant decrease in the ATPase activity. 3. Partial differentiation of fluorescence of Dns-phosphatidylethanolamine from that of Dns-ATPase could be achieved by changing excitation wavelength; Dns-ATPase emmitted in the shorter wavelength region, while Dns-phosphatidylethanolamine emmitted in the longer wavelength region. 4. Fluorescence polarization of the dye bound to the membranes indicated that both the ATPase and phosphatidylethanolamine were strongly immobilized in the membranes, while the ratio of freely rotating dye to the "frozen" dye bound to the ATPase was larger than that bound to the phosphatide.

Effect of lead on glycine cleavage activity in rat liver mitochondria

Change of glycine cleavage activity in liver mitochondria of lead-intoxicated rats was studied in this paper. The following results were obtained: (1) The activity in hepatic mitochondria of rats was decreased by a single administration of lead (4 mg/100 g body weight); (2) in vitro the activity in the normal rat liver mitochondria was markedly inhibited by addition of lead acetate (4mM).

Protease digestion of membranes. Ultrastructural and biochemical effects

(1) Nagarse, a bacterial protease, was permitted to react with sarcoplasmic reticulum, submitochondrial and plasma membranes. Gel electrophoresis indicated that all polypeptides were labile to the enzyme, and therefore must be at least partially exposed at membrane surfaces. However, hydrolysis did not proceed to completion, and in each membrane 30-50% of the original protein mass remained after extensive digestion. Gel patterns showed that remaining polypeptide fragments were in the range of 10000 molecular weight. (2) Amino acid analysis of the original protein and membrane-bound digestion product was performed. Only minor changes were observed following digestion, suggesting that the peptide fragments remaining with the membrane did not have specialized amino acid compositions. (3) freeze-fracture analysis of Nagarse-treated sarcoplasmic and plasma membranes showed that particulate structures were present, although particle density and asymmetry of fistribution between fracture faces were decreased. In submitochondrial membranes, digested membranes were indistinguishable from the original membranes in particle density and distribution. We conclude that high molecular weight polypeptides are not required for the production particulate structures in freeze-fracture images of membranes.

Lysine malabsorption syndrome: a new type of transport defect

A 21-month-old girl with physical and mental retardation is described. She excreted an increased amount of lysine in urine but no excessive quantities of arginine, ornithine, or cystine. Serum level of lysine was found to be low but the levels of the other amino acids were within normal limits. The endogenous renal clearance rates of amino acids showed a marked high value of lysine and normal values of the other dibasic amino acids. Oral loading test of amino acids revealed an imparied absorption of lysine and normal absorption of arginine, ornithine, and cystine in the intestine. These results indicate a specific defect in transport of lysine in the intestine as well as in the renal tubule.