Draining lymph node cells of contact-sensitized mice induce suppression of contact sensitivity

The application of hapten to the skin of mice can induce contact sensitivity (CS). It has also been well established that draining lymph node (DLN) cells can induce CS to the hapten used for skin painting when injected into naive mice. This is true for DLN cells recovered about 24 h after skin painting with hapten. It is unclear, however, whether DLN cells recovered shortly after hapten application have the same ability. By using an adoptive transfer assay system, we examined the ability of DLN cells recovered from mice at various times after skin painting with hapten to induce CS. DLN cells harvested 18-24 h after the application of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) or 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) induced strong CS when injected into naive mice. DLN cells harvested 3-6 h after the application of FITC or DNFB induced either only weak or no CS but induced suppression of the subsequent immunization to the two haptens. The suppression was hapten-specific, MHC restricted, and associated with the appearance of splenic suppressor T lymphocytes. Analyses with antibodies and ultraviolet (UV) B radiation demonstrated that suppression-inducing cells in DLNs were Ia+, Thy-1(-), and functionally UV-sensitive. These data suggest that epicutaneous sensitization with hapten first induces immunologically specific suppressor activity in the draining lymph nodes, whereas immunogenic activity becomes predominant later.

The transcription of human alpha 1(I) procollagen gene (COL1A1) is suppressed by tumour necrosis factor-alpha through proximal short promoter elements: evidence for suppression mechanisms mediated by two nuclear-factorbinding sites

Recent studies have demonstrated that tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) decreases alpha 1(I) procollagen gene (COL1A1) expression in cultured human dermal fibroblasts. The purpose of this study was to analyse the transcriptional control of COL1A1 by TNF-alpha. Cultured human dermal fibroblasts were transiently transfected with plasmids containing 5' flanking sequences of COL1A1 fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene, and were incubated for 48 h in medium with or without TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha inhibited the CAT activity of fibroblasts transfected with plasmids containing 2.3 kb of 5' flanking sequences of COL1A1, whereas the activity of control plasmids containing the herpes simplex thymidine kinase promoter gene (pBLCAT) was unaltered. A series of deletion constructs of various small substitution mutations of the COL1A1 5' flanking region fused to the CAT gene were also transfected, and CAT activity was measured after incubation with TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha suppressed COL1A1 promoter activity through proximal short promoter elements containing only 107 bp. Short substitution mutations between -101 and -97 bp or between -46 and -38 bp abolished TNF-alpha suppression of COL1A1 promoter activity. DNA-protein complex formation was observed involving both sites in gel retardation assays. These results suggest that TNF-alpha suppressed COL1A1 promoter activity through elements located between -101 and -97 bp and between -46 and -38 bp of the COL1A1 promoter, and that the suppression involved DNA-protein interactions.

Involvement of the rapid increase in cAMP content in the vanadate-stimulated release of lipoprotein lipase activity from rat fat pads

Mechanisms of the stimulatory release of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity from isolated rat fat pads by sodium orthovanadate (vanadate) were studied through a cAMP-dependent process. A potent inhibitor of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase, quercetin, inhibited the vanadate-increasing effect on the LPL activity in fat pads, but did not inhibit the vanadate-stimulated release of LPL activity from the fat pads. Propranolol and N-[2-(methylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H-8) decreased the vanadate-stimulated release in a dose-dependent manner. Isoproterenol and dibutyryl cAMP (Bt2cAMP) stimulated the release of LPL activity from fat pads. Vanadate, as well as isoproterenol, rapidly increased the cAMP content in fat pads, and this increase was almost completely inhibited by propranolol. Vanadate increased the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity ratios calculated from the measurement in the presence or absence of cAMP or PKa inhibitor. These results suggest that the vanadate-stimulated release of LPL activity is associated with a process involving a rapid increase in the cAMP content accompanied by the activation of PKA.

Stimulation of nitric oxide-cyclic GMP pathway by L-arginine increases the release of hepatic lipase from cultured rat hepatocytes

The nitric oxide-cyclic GMP pathway is still undefined regarding regulation of the release of hepatic lipase (HTGL). It was found that L-arginine (Arg) stimulated the release of HTGL activity from rat hepatocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner. L-Arg-stimulated release of HTGL activity was inhibited by N-monomethyl-L-Arg, which is a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. L-Arg markedly increased the cyclic GMP content of hepatocytes in the presence of a cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Zaprinast. The release of the enzyme activity was also suppressed by methylene blue (a guanyl cyclase inhibitor) and KT5823 (a cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor). These results suggest that the stimulation of nitric oxide synthesis by L-Arg increases the release of HTGL activity due to processes associated with the elevation of cyclic GMP level, probably through an activation of protein kinase.

Small-vessel radiography in situ with monochromatic synchrotron radiation

PURPOSE

To evaluate the usefulness of a radiographic system with monochromatic synchrotron radiation to depict small vessels and peripheral secretory ducts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Radiography of various organs was tested in 14 anesthetized dogs and pancreatography was performed in an excised human pancreas by using the following system: monochromatic synchrotron radiation with an energy level just above the k absorption edge of iodine as an x-ray source and a high-definition TV system with a high-light-sensitivity image pick-up tube camera coupled with a fluorescent screen as a detector.

RESULTS

This system allowed depiction of small vessels (diameter < 50-100 microns) of the heart (penetrating transmural artery), brain (perforating arteries that arise directly in the circle of Willis), and intestinal organs (vasa recta and their submucosal communications) and of small branches (down to the fifth order) of the pancreatic duct.

CONCLUSION

The synchrotron radiation system may be useful for evaluating microcirculatory disorders and early-stage malignant tumors in various human organs.

Epidemiological analysis of prognosis of 496 Japanese patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (SSc). Scleroderma Research Committee Japan

For the first time, we performed an epidemiological study of SSc in Japan to study the factors influencing prognosis, survival rate and cause of death of Japanese SSc patients and to compare our data with those from foreign countries. Prognosis of 496 Japanese patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (SSc) was analyzed based on clinical data described in case cards provided by the members of the Scleroderma Research Committee of the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare. The essential observation period was from 5 to 20 years, at ending in 1994. Ninety patients died (males 11, females 79). The age of onset of the deceased patients was significantly higher than that of surviving patients (deceased, 45.6 yrs, surviving 41.3 yrs). Statistically significant factors for a poor prognosis were as follows: Barnett type III > type II > type I, positive for anti-Scl-70 antibody, negative for anti-centromere antibody. The survival rate at 5 years after the onset of the disease was 0.937, followed by 0.82 at 10 years, 0.567 at 20 years and 0.40 at 30 years after the onset. Sex was not a predictor for prognosis, although male patients died at an earlier stage of the disease. The most common causes of death were heart failure, pulmonary insufficiency, lung fibrosis, and renal failure. Twenty-four patients had cancer of which 13 were lung cancers. The current status of the survival rate and prognostic factors of 496 Japanese SSc patients is summarized. In future, more well-controlled studies using the same criteria should be performed for the better understanding and management of SSc.

Three-dimensional optical bit-memory recording and reading with a photorefractive crystal: analysis and experiment

We analyze the three-dimensional refractive-index distribution that is induced locally when a laser beam is focused onto a very small region in a photorefractive crystal. The formation of the index distribution is deduced from the temporal behavior of the electron density distribution in the crystal under non-steady-state conditions. The density distribution is computed by the use of a set of the recurrence relations that was derived from Kukhtarev's equations, which describe the transport of electrons in time. In particular, we calculated the index distribution formed in Fe-doped LiNbO(3) crystals. To verify the validity of our analysis, we read, by using a phase-contrast microscope, refractive-index dots that were recorded in Fe-doped LiNbO(3) crystals. A good agreement was obtained between experimental results and the calculated phase-contrast images when the characteristics of the imaging system are taken into account. We also found that the induced index change is largest when the c axis of the LiNbO(3) crystal is oriented parallel to the polarization direction of the reading beam. Under this optimal condition, we succeeded in recording up to 10 layers of readable data in a LiNbO(3) crystal.

High-Spatial-Resolution Medical-Imaging System Using a HARPICON Camera Coupled with a Fluorescent Screen

A high-sensitivity HARPICON camera was developed for medical X-ray imaging using a fluorescent screen. It is an avalanche-multiplication-type image pick-up tube and is 32 times more sensitive than conventional tubes. The camera also has a wider dynamic range than conventional medical-imaging cameras because a maximum output signal current of 2.3 muA is obtained and, in high-illumination-intensity regions, photocurrent is not proportional to illumination intensity. The fluorescent screen is an intensifying screen of the type used for radiographic screen-film combinations in medical examination. An X-ray image on the screen is focused on the photoconductive layer of the pick-up tube using a coupling lens with f/0.65. Experiments were performed using monochromated X-rays at the Photon Factory. An image of a spatial resolution test chart was taken in a 525 scanning-line mode of the camera. The chart pattern of 5 line-pairs mm(-1 )(spatial resolution of 100 mum) was observed at an X-ray input field of 50 x 50 mm. Real-time digital images of the heart of a 12 kg dog were obtained at a frame rate of 60 images s(-1) after injection of a contrast medium into an artery. The images were stored in digital format at 512 x 480 pixels with 12 bits pixel(-1). High-spatial-resolution and high-contrast images of coronary arteries were obtained in aortography using X-rays with energy above that of the iodine K edge; the image quality was comparable with that of conventional selective coronary angiography.

Reduced collagenase gene expression in fibroblasts from hypertrophic scar tissue

The major histopathological feature of hypertrophic scar lesions is fibrosis, characterized by excessive accumulation of collagen. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is not only increased expression of collagen but also decreased expression of collagenase in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts. We compared the expression of mRNA for alpha 1 (I) and alpha 1 (III) collagen, and collagenase in cultured fibroblasts from different portions of hypertrophic scars and normal dermis. In hypertrophic scar fibroblasts, increased levels of alpha 1 (I) and alpha 1 (III) collagen mRNAs were observed in fibroblasts from the edge and outside of scar tissue, while normal levels were noted in fibroblasts from the centre of this tissue. In contrast, decreased levels of collagenase mRNA were found in the hypertrophic scar fibroblasts. The reductions were: centre (25% of the control) greater than the edge (43% of the control) greater than the outside (84% of the control). The changes in the collagenase mRNA levels of the hypertrophic scar fibroblasts correlated well with decreased collagenolytic activity as determined by the degradation rate of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled type I collagen in fibroblast culture supernatant. These results suggest that decreased expression of collagenase in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts may be one possible cause for the excessive accumulation of collagen in the skin lesions of hypertrophic scars.

Collagenase gene expression in cutis laxa fibroblasts is upregulated by transcriptional activation of the promoter gene through a 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-responsive element

Our previous work demonstrated that collagenase mRNA levels are increased in fibroblasts derived from patients with cutis laxa (CL). To pursue the mechanism of the upregulation of collagenase expression, we investigated transcriptional levels of the collagenase gene in CL fibroblasts. Fibroblasts cultured from the skin of three congenital CL patients were studied. Northern blot hybridization revealed 2.8- to 7.3-fold increases in collagenase mRNA levels in CL fibroblasts compared with normal cells. Nuclear run-off experiments demonstrated that the transcription rate of the collagenase gene in nuclei isolated from the same cells was 5.1- to 10.2-fold higher in the CL fibroblasts than in the controls. Transient transfection of a normal collagenase promoter-CAT construct into the cells further showed significantly enhanced transcriptional activity in CL but not in normal fibroblasts. Experiments of transient transfection of deleted or small substituted collagenase promoter-CAT constructs indicated that collagenase transcription in CL fibroblasts was activated the TPA-responsive element site of the collagenase promoter gene. Although the levels of Jun and Fos gene expression did not differ from those observed in normal fibroblasts, AP-1-binding activity, as measured by the ability to bind to an oligonucleotide containing a TPA-responsive element, was significantly elevated in CL fibroblasts as compared with normal fibroblasts. These data suggest that collagenase expression is upregulated at the transcriptional level by endogenous activation of DNA binding of AP-1 in CL fibroblasts [corrected].

Increased expression of type VI collagen genes in cutis laxa fibroblasts

Type VI collagen gene expression in cutis laxa was studied by measuring messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein production levels in four fibroblast strains from patients with congenital cutis laxa and comparing them with those in fibroblasts obtained from age-matched healthy subjects. Levels of type VI collagen mRNA were increased in all cutis laxa fibroblast strains and the levels of alpha 1 (VI) and alpha 3 (VI) chain mRNAs increased in parallel. Increases in type VI collagen mRNAs correlated well with production levels of the corresponding proteins, as determined by immunological assay. These results suggest that increased type VI collagen gene expression is one of the characteristics of cutis laxa dermal fibroblasts and that this abnormality may be related to the skin changes in cutis laxa.

Congenital psoriasiform erythrokeratodermia with cleidocranial dysplasia, urogenital anomalies and atresia ani

We describe two siblings with unique psoriasiform erythrokeratodermia associated with cleidocranial dysplasia, urogenital anomalies and atresia ani. The skin lesions were characterized by demarcated psoriasiform erythema with scaling. A skin biopsy revealed small abscesses containing polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the parakeratotic horny layer, elongation of the rete ridges and dermal papillae, and other findings consistent with psoriasis. A reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis disclosed increased expression of transforming growth factor alpha in the affected skin lesion of one of the siblings as well as in the skin of a patient with psoriasis. It is suggested that these cases are a variant of a congenital form of psoriasiform erythrokeratodermia.

Three-dimensional optical memory with a photorefractive crystal

We propose a three-dimensional optical-memory device in which refractive dot data are recorded directly into a photorefractive crystal. To record a single bit of datum, one focuses a laser beam with an objective lens onto a specific spot in a crystal, thereby changing its refractive index locally as a result of photorefraction. To record in three dimensions, one keeps the objective lens stationary while the crystal is translated. The beam-spot intensity is modulated with a beam shutter according to the logic state of the data point. The recorded data points are read with a phase-contrast microscope objective lens. We present experimental results of three-dimensional recording and reading with a LiNbO(3) crystal. The distribution of the refractive index formed by a focused beam is also analyzed with the charge-transport model.

Classification criteria for polymyositis and dermatomyositis

OBJECTIVE

The establishment of classification criteria for polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM).

METHODS

Questionnaires inquiring about patients with DM, PM, systemic lupus erythematosus, progressive systemic sclerosis and noninflammatory neuromuscular diseases were distributed to the main medical institutes in Japan. Data were collected and analyzed by computer.

RESULTS

Among skin lesions of DM, heliotrope rash, Gottron's sign and erythema or purpura on the extensor surfaces of the extremity joints were shown to be distinguishing criteria. In both DM and PM, proximal muscle weakness, muscle grasping and spontaneous pain, nondestructive arthritis or arthralgia, elevated CK or aldolase level, presence of systemic inflammatory signs, myogenic changes on EMG, positive and anti Jo-1 antibody and pathologic findings compatible with inflammatory myositis were distinguishing criteria items.

CONCLUSION

When a patient satisfies one of 3 skin lesion items and at least 4 other items, he or she shall be classified as having DM, sensitivity 94.1%. When a patient satisfies at least 4 items other than skin lesion items, he or she shall be classified as having PM, sensitivity 98.9%. Specificity of DM and PM is 95.2%.

Regulation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity by particulate protein tyrosine kinase and phosphotyrosine phosphatase activities sensitive to sodium orthovanadate

Sodium orthovanadate (vanadate) stimulated cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activities and inhibited the phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) activity in the particulate of isolated rat fat pads. Okadaic acid never showed any increase in the PDE activity up to 1 microM. Amiloride inhibited in part both stimulations of PDE and PTK activities by vanadate. The particulate PTK activity had an optimal divalent ion requirement of 15 mM Mg+2+2 mM Mn+2 in the assay medium and was not inhibited by 1 mM N-ethylmaleimide, suggesting it to be a different type from the insulin receptor and cytosolic PTK activities. The PDE, PTK, and PTPase active fractions were separated from the solubilized particulate fraction on a DEAE-Sephacel column. PDE activity was increased by the addition of the PTK active fraction. A further increase was observed by using the PTK active fraction pretreated with 1 mM vanadate. In contrast, the addition of PTPase active fraction decreased the PDE activity. This decrease disappeared by using the PTPase active fraction pretreated with 1 mM vanadate. These results suggest that the PDE activity is in part regulated through a process involving the particulate PTK and PTPase activities sensitive to vanadate.

Sodium orthovanadate increases phospholipase A2 activity in isolated rat fat pads: a role of phospholipase A2 in the vanadate-stimulated release of lipoprotein lipase activity

Phospholipase (PL) A2 activity prepared from isolated rat fat pads incubated with sodium orthovanadate (vanadate) was increased in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The increasing effect of vanadate was reduced in the presence of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Under the inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide, vanadate still showed a full effect on the increase in PL A2 activity. Various PL A2 inhibitors, such as manoalide, quinacrine and p-bromophenacyl bromide, suppressed the stimulatory release of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity from the fat pads by vanadate. Moreover, the vanadate-stimulated release of LPL activity was decreased by the cyclooxygenase and thromboxane synthetase inhibitors, and a thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist, but was never suppressed by a lipooxygenase inhibitor. The stimulatory release of LPL activity by vanadate was also decreased in the presence of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. These results suggest that vanadate increases PL A2 activity, and the increase in PL A2 activity is partly involved in the vanadate-stimulated release of LPL activity with an association to the membrane tyrosine kinase.

Effects of tretinoin tocoferil on gene expression of the extracellular matrix components in human dermal fibroblasts in vitro

Recently, it has been reported that tretinoin tocoferil (TT), a synthesized ester-bond compound of all-trans-retinoic acid and alpha-tocopherol, accelerates the formation of granuloma and is effective in promoting experimental open skin wound healing. To investigate whether TT affects the gene expression of extracellular matrix components of human dermal fibroblasts, we measured the mRNA levels of various extracellular matrix components of fibroblasts incubated with TT using specific cDNA probes. The mRNA levels of elastin increased up to 30% of the controls and those of collagen III and VI up to 60%. The mRNA levels of collagen I and fibronectin remarkably increased up to 90% of the controls. These results suggest that the stimulatory effect of TT on the gene expression of many extracellular matrix components might be one of the mechanisms of its promotion of wound healing.

Role of cytokines in controlling connective tissue gene expression

Recently, the role of cytokines in controlling gene expression of connective tissue components has been increasingly emphasized. Many cytokines have been shown to have specific effects on gene expression of connective tissue components, and the roles of cytokines in controlling connective tissue metabolism during wound healing and in fibrosis have increasingly been discussed. In this article, the effects of cytokines on regulation of gene expression of connective tissue components, especially of type I collagen were described. We analysed transcriptional control of the alpha 1(I) collagen gene by TNF-alpha by means of DNA mediated transfection experiments using recombinant plasmids in which the promoter region of the human alpha 1(I) collagen had been fused to the chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase (CAT) gene, in human dermal fibroblasts. It was found that TNF-alpha reduced alpha 1(I) collagen transcription through at least up to -107 bp upstream of the human alpha 1(I) collagen promoter gene in dermal fibroblasts.

Significance of tubuloreticular structures forming in Daudi cells cultured with sera from mothers bearing infants with neonatal lupus erythematosus

It is known that infants with neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) may be born to mothers whose sera are positive for the anti-Ro/SSA antibody. However, women who have this antibody do not always give birth to children with NLE. We have demonstrated tubuloreticular structures in vascular endothelial cells in the skin lesions of infants with NLE. Tubuloreticular structures could no longer be detected at the site of the lesions once the annular erythema had resolved, and the anti-Ro/SSA antibody test had become negative. The probability of a child being born with NLE was assessed by observing whether tubuloreticular structures were formed in Daudi cells cultured with sera from eight mothers who were anti-Ro/SSA antibody positive. Tubuloreticular structures formed in Daudi cells cultured with sera from four mothers who bore infants with NLE, but not in Daudi cells cultured with sera from four other mothers who bore normal infants. These results suggest that women who are positive for the anti-Ro/SSA antibody have a higher risk of bearing infants with NLE if tubuloreticular structures are formed in Daudi cells cultured with sera from these women, whereas this risk is lower if tubuloreticular structures do not develop in Daudi cells.

Decreased collagenase expression in cultured systemic sclerosis fibroblasts

One cause of the excessive deposition of collagen in systemic sclerosis is thought to be abnormal functioning of fibroblasts. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is decreased expression of collagenase in systemic sclerosis fibroblasts. In this study, we analyzed collagen and collagenase expression in dermal fibroblasts derived from eight patients with systemic sclerosis and compared the findings with those from nine sex- and age-matched healthy subjects. Increased collagen synthesis accompanying enhanced mRNA levels was observed in two of eight strains, whereas all eight strains showed remarkable decreases in collagenase activity and production. There were no differences in the levels of collagenase mRNA between the systemic sclerosis strains and the normal strains. Results suggest that decreased collagenase expression is a characteristic of systemic sclerosis fibroblasts, and both increased collagen expression and decreased collagenase expression in systemic sclerosis fibroblasts may result in the excessive accumulation of collagen in patients with systemic sclerosis. It is also suggested that decreased collagenase expression is altered at translational and/or post-translational levels.

Polyclonal human T-cell activation by silicate in vitro

Silica (SiO2) or related substances such as silicone ([-R2Si-O-]n), which is used in plastic surgery, or asbestos (e.g. chrysotile; 3MgO.2SiO2.H2O) have 'adjuvant effects'. In a study of scleroderma patients in Germany more than 78% had experienced exposure to silicate dust. T-cell receptor (TcR) V beta gene analysis on CD4- CD8- double-negative alpha beta T cells from scleroderma patients, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), showed that certain V beta genes, V beta 5, V beta 7 and V beta 17, were predominantly expressed in the cells. We found that certain V beta repertoires, V beta 5.3 and V beta 6.7, were predominantly expressed on fractionated T cells with a high Ca2+ level that had been stimulated by chrysotile in vitro. The intracellular Ca2+ level in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) increased after incubation with silica or chrysotile. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) release from PMBC also rose significantly with chrysotile stimulation, but no change was observed when major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II DP/DR positive cells were depleted. Therefore, our results support the possibility that silicate acts as a superantigen.

Activation of fibroblast proliferation by Werner's syndrome fibroblast-conditioned medium

The effects of Werner's syndrome (WS) fibroblast-conditioned medium on cell proliferation and collagen production of normal fibroblasts were studied using four WS fibroblast strains. The conditioned medium from the WS fibroblasts brought about activation of normal fibroblast proliferation, whereas, that from late passage normal fibroblasts and fibroblasts from aged donors' skin did not. Collagen and non-collagenous protein synthesis in normal fibroblasts were increased by the addition of conditioned medium from the WS fibroblasts, but the relative rates of collagen synthesis and non-collagenous protein synthesis were unaltered. These results suggest that activation of fibroblast proliferation by conditioned medium is one of the characteristics of WS fibroblasts.

Decreased CD4+CD45RA+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus can recover after separation from patient's sera

Decrease in CD4+CD45RA+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients has been reported. In this study, mononuclear cells were separated from peripheral blood of SLE patients, and the CD4+CD45RA+ cells were counted by flow cytometry just after separation and also 1 week after incubation in vitro. Furthermore, healthy lymphocytes were incubated with SLE patient's sera, and the Ca2+ level was measured to investigate the interaction of patient's sera with healthy lymphocytes. The CD4+CD45RA+ lymphocytes were found to be decreased in number on the first day just after separation of lymphocytes, but recovered to normal levels after 1 week culture without patient's sera. The intracellular Ca2+ level in normal lymphocytes increased 1 min after incubation with patient's sera, but not with healthy control sera. These results suggest that CD4+CD45RA+ cells are persistently activated in the peripheral blood of SLE patients, and that their sera contain some extrinsic factors which could activate the lymphocytes.

[Psychological test as a mass-screening system for depression]

A mass-screening system for depression is aimed at calculation of the prevalence rate, or at mental health checks in employees. But with the recent increased interest in mental health and QOL, depression has become an important issue at every stage of the life cycle. In this paper, we review psychological screening tests for child, adult and aged from the viewpoint of life cycle. Some tests, especially for children and the aged need further tests regarding reliability and validity. What is clarified and which approach in mental health is indicated by the screening test must be further examined. Further development of screening tests, appropriate to each life cycle, is needed.

Stimulatory release of lipoprotein lipase activity with activation of protein tyrosine kinase produced by low molecular weight dextran sulfate in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which is responsible for the hydrolysis of lipoprotein triacylglyceride, has been examined in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Low molecular weight dextran sulfate (DXS, M.W. 3.2 kDa) stimulates the release of the enzyme activity from the tumor cells into the incubation medium in a time-dependent manner. The stimulatory effect of DXS was markedly decreased by incubation with protein tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitors, such as ST 638, biochanin A and amiloride. The activity of the partially purified TK preparation from the tumor cells was found to be increased following incubation with DXS in a manner which was both time- and dose-dependent. These results suggest that the stimulatory release of LPL activity by DXS is associated with the activation of TK in the tumor cells.

Stimulatory release of hepatic lipase activity from cultured rat hepatocytes by sodium orthovanadate: rapid increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate content

The release of hepatic triacylglyceride lipase [EC 3.1.1.3] has been examined in isolated hepatocytes in primary culture. The stimulatory release of activity from the hepatocytes into the medium by sodium orthovanadate (vanadate) was observed in a time- and dose-dependent manner. However, insulin failed to have this stimulatory action. Moreover, vanadate rapidly increased the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) content in hepatocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The treatment of hepatocytes with H-89, which is a potent cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, decreased the stimulatory release of hepatic lipase activity by vanadate. The vanadate-stimulated release of the enzyme activity was suppressed by uncouplers. In addition, the incorporation of [3H]leucine into protein was increased in the presence of vanadate. Under the marked inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide, vanadate still showed a full effect on the release of the enzyme activity. These results suggest that the vanadate-stimulated release of hepatic lipase activity from the cultured hepatocytes is associated with a rapid increase in intracellular cyclic AMP content, probably due to an activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase which requires a metabolic energy process rather than an elevation in enzyme molecule synthesis.

Spectral analysis of intraluminal pressure in the anastomosed ileal segment of the rat in vitro

Spectral analysis of the spontaneous intraluminal pressure of the isolated ileal segments in vitro was performed (1) before transection and soon after union (acute model) and (2) until 67 days after anastomosis (chronic model). A single peak was found in the spectral arrays of the acute model before transection. However, more than two peaks were clearly found in spectral arrays of both acutely or chronically anastomosed models. Motor activities of both oral and anal part of the anastomosis seem to be reflected in the spectral analysis of the intraluminal pressure of the isolated segments in vitro. More than two peaks in spectral arrays suggest that the synchronized and coordinated motor activity was not recovered, at least, until 67 days after anastomosis.

[Köbner phenomenon in lupus erythematosus]

In several cases of lupus erythematosus (SLE, SCLE, DLE), the Koebner phenomenon could be seen in the apparently normal skin of patients following traumas, scratching effects, operation scars, contact dermatitis, pressure from sock tops, application of liquid nitrogen, exposure to strong sun light, etc. The interval between exposure to such provocation factors and appearance of the isomorphic reactions varied from case to case. In SLE patients receiving systemic treatment with glucocorticosteroids, the Koebner phenomenon could not be found, while it was detected in patients with generalized DLE who had never received any systemic glucocorticoid hormones. It was not seen in patients with localized DLE. There was no direct relationship between the appearance of humoral autoantibodies and onset of the Koebner phenomenon. With regard to the histopathogenesis of the Koebner phenomenon, it is thought that disturbances of the local cellular repair processes and of the cytokine network, with expression of adhesion molecules, might be involved. The Koebner phenomenon may be a valuable model for the investigation of lupus erythematosus.

Small round and spindle cell sarcoma with neuronal differentiation and oncocyte-like features of the thoracic wall: a case report with histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural examinations

A case of small round and spindle cell sarcoma with neuronal differentiation and oncocyte-like features is presented. The tumor was encountered in a 32 year old Japanese woman with an initial presentation of palpable tumor in the left lateral region of the thorax. The resected tumor was a partially well encapsulated whitish medullary one and consisted of small round and spindle tumor cells, together with so-called rhabdoid cells in the small round cell area. Although pseudorosettes were often observed, true rosette formation could not be detected anywhere. Ultrastructurally, despite a histologic variety of tumor cells, most tumor cells possessed numerous mitochondria, some of which occasionally contained abnormal filamentous or crystalloid structures. Various amounts of microfilaments were present in most tumor cells and microtubules were present in a few. A minority of small round cells possessed a small number of neurosecretory granules, especially in short cytoplasmic processes. A positive immunoreaction for neuron specific enolase was found by immunohistochemical examination in several small round tumor cells and for neurofilaments in lesser numbers. Despite the lack of S-100 protein, MB2 was detected in both small round and spindle cells. On the basis of these findings, the tumor of the present case corresponds to malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with neuronal differentiation and oncocytic features.

Decreased type VI collagen gene expression in cultured Werner's syndrome fibroblasts

Gene expression of collagens VI, I, and III in Werner's syndrome was studied by measuring messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein production levels in four fibroblast strains from patients with Werner's syndrome and comparing them with age-matched healthy subjects. Levels of type VI collagen mRNA were decreased in all Werner's syndrome fibroblast strains and the decreases were in parallel in all three chains (alpha 1, alpha 2, and alpha 3) of type VI collagen. A coordinate increase of the alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) collagen mRNA levels was observed in three of the four Werner's syndrome fibroblast strains. However, no qualitative abnormality of these mRNA transcripts in Werner's syndrome fibroblasts were found by Northern blot analysis. Changes in type VI and type I collagen mRNA correlated well with production levels of corresponding proteins, as determined by immunologic assays. These data suggest that there are changes in expression of multiple connective tissue constituents in Werner's syndrome fibroblasts.

Stimulatory release of hepatic lipase activity from liver by epidermal growth factor

We have found that release of hepatic lipase activity is stimulated from liver slices by epidermal growth factor (EGF) into the medium in a time-dependent manner. This novel effect of EGF was markedly decreased by various tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as alpha-cyano-3-ethoxy-4-hydroxy-5-phenyl-thiomethyl cinnamamide, amiloride and biochanin A. The stimulation by EGF was also suppressed, however, by dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate, and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, a cyclic nucleotide dependent phosphodiesterase inhibitor. These findings show that the stimulatory release of the enzyme activity by EGF is associated with the activation of tyrosine kinase activity and with the intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate level.

Effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on connective tissue metabolism in normal and scleroderma fibroblast cultures

Recent studies have demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) selectively decreases production of collagens I and III, the major types of collagen in the dermis, and increases production of collagenase in cultured dermal fibroblasts. The effects of TNF-alpha on collagens I, III and VI, fibronectin and collagenase gene expression by fibroblasts derived from normal individuals and patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) were studied. SSc is characterized by excessive accumulation of collagen in the skin and in certain organs. TNF-alpha inhibited collagen production and mRNA levels of collagens I and III and of fibronectin, and stimulated collagenase activity and collagenase mRNA levels in SSs fibroblasts. Levels of mRNA for alpha 1 (VI) and alpha 3 (VI) collagen and for beta-actin were unaltered in SSc fibroblasts incubated with TNF-alpha. Similar results were observed for mRNA levels in normal fibroblasts incubated with TNF-alpha. These results suggest that TNF-alpha could be expected to be beneficial in the treatment of SSc. In addition, our results indicated that collagen-VI expression is regulated independently from expression of collagens I and III, and expression of fibronectin and collagens I and III are regulated in parallel in fibroblasts treated with TNF-alpha.

Increase in lipoprotein lipase activity in isolated rat adipose tissue by selenate

Sodium selenate (selenate), as well as insulin, increased the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in isolated rat fat pads in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The increase effect of selenate was not additive to that of insulin. The action of selenate and insulin was decreased by amiloride and disappeared when Ca2+ was omitted from the incubation medium. Loading of a chelator of intracellular Ca2+ to the fat pads also greatly inhibited the action of selenate. The maximal increase in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) content was observed with a 30-s incubation of the fat pads with selenate. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, tunicamycin, and monensin all inhibited the increase effect of selenate on the LPL activity to various extents. These results suggest that selenate increases the LPL activity via amiloride- and monensin-sensitive processes, involving the Ca2+ mobilization linked to a rapid increase in the IP3 content in fat pads.

Stimulatory effect of vanadate on 3',5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate-inhibited low Michaelis-Menten constant 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase activity in isolated rat fat pads

When isolated rat fat pads were incubated with vanadate, the low Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity in the microsomal fraction was increased in a time- and dose-dependent manner with vanadate. 3',5'-Cyclic GMP inhibited the vanadate-stimulated PDE activity with similar profile to the insulin-stimulated one. The stimulatory effect of vanadate was inhibited by inhibitors of tyrosine kinases such as amiloride, biochanin A, and genistein to various extents. Vanadate and insulin both showed the full effect in the absence of either K+, N+, or Ca2+ in the medium, while preincubation of the fat pads with a chelator of intracellular Ca2+ inhibited the vanadate action in a dose-dependent manner. The insulin action was not inhibited by it at tested concentrations. These results suggest that the vanadate action, in contrast to the insulin one, is dependent on the intracellular level of Ca2+. Preincubation of the fat pads with inhibitors of protein kinase C such as 1-(5-isoquinoline sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) and staurosporine inhibited, in part, the vanadate action but did not inhibit the insulin one. Furthermore, vanadate increased the protein kinase C activity in fat pads but insulin did not increase. H-7 and amiloride showed a significant inhibition of stimulation of protein kinase C activity by vanadate. These results suggest that vanadate stimulates, in part, the 3',5'-cyclic GMP-inhibited low Km cAMP PDE activity in the microsomal fraction of fat pads through the activation of tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C-mediated processes.

Analysis of collagen gene expression by cultured fibroblasts in morphoea

Collagen gene expression was studied in dermal fibroblasts derived from the inflammatory and sclerotic skin lesions of patients with localized or generalized morphoea. The levels of mRNA for type I collagen in early-passage fibroblasts derived from inflammatory lesions were higher than those obtained from the uninvolved skin, whereas those fibroblasts obtained from sclerotic lesions were unaltered. No alteration in type I collagen mRNA levels was observed in late-passage fibroblasts derived from the inflammatory lesions. The relative rate of collagen to total protein synthesis in early-passage fibroblasts derived from inflammatory lesions was higher than that of fibroblasts from uninvolved skin, while no alteration or a slight decrease was observed in fibroblasts from the sclerotic lesions. The data suggest that the inflammatory reactions induce increased collagen synthesis by fibroblasts in the skin in scleroderma.

Inhibition of increasing effect of vanadate on glycogen content and lipoprotein lipase activity in fat pads by 5-N,N-hexamethylene amiloride

Sodium orthovanadate (vanadate) increased the glycogen content in isolated rat fat pads in a dose-dependent manner up to 2 mM. Biochanin A, a specific inhibitor of tyrosine kinases, inhibited the increasing effect of vanadate or insulin on both glycogen content and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in fat pads. The increasing effect of vanadate on glycogen content was not decreased by the replacement of Na+ with choline ion in the incubation medium. 5-N,N-Hexamethylene amiloride, a potent inhibitor of the Na+/H+ exchange system, showed a 50%-inhibition of the vanadate-increased LPL activity and glycogen content at 25 and 80 microM, respectively, suggesting that mechanisms of the inhibition differ in part between the vanadate actions. Furthermore, a similar inhibitory profile of the vanadate-increased glycogen content was observed with incubation in the presence of absence of Na+ in the medium. These results suggest that the activation of the Na+/H+ exchange system by vanadate is not involved in an increase in the glycogen content in fat pads.

Anticoagulant action of vanadate

Sodium orthovanadate (vanadate) prolonged the clotting time of normal human plasma in a dose-dependent manner. The prolongation of clotting time by vanadate linearly decreased with an increase in the concentration of amiloride. Vanadate also was completely additive to prolongation by heparin. When factor Xa or thrombin was incubated with vanadate, the amidolytic activity of each decreased in a dose-dependent manner with vanadate. Amiloride protected the decrease of amidolytic activity of both factor Xa and thrombin by vanadate. The amidolytic activity of trypsin also was inhibited by vanadate, but that of alpha-chymotrypsin was not inhibited, suggesting that vanadate preferentially inhibits the amidolytic activity of trypsin and trypsin-like enzymes. These results show that vanadate prolongs the clotting time of plasma through mechanisms involving in part the inhibition of the activity of both factor Xa and thrombin.