[Study of anti-tumor action and influence on immune function of Allium stativum]

Applying mice test on cancer model of S180 and Lewis cancer by using method clystered stomach(oral), observs the Anti-tumor function. Experiments showed that Allium sativum can inhibit tumor growth and Lengthen lift duration of mice, the rate of inhibiting tumor was 74.35% and life lengthening rate were 42.4%, with control grou comparison. There was profund difference between them. Besides, we discoved Allium sativum can raise immune function of mice.

[Research on effects of taurine on the transplanted tumor of mice]

With the same forage to the mice, three experiments were done. The control group took water and experimental group took 1% taurine. 1. After the mice were vaccinated with S180 sarcoma, every group was further divided into two groups, one treated with cytoxan (CTX), another one treated with nothing. The survival period, weight of the tumor and the tumor inhibition rate were investigated. The result shows: The survival period of the group fed with taurine was (35.75 +/- 23.7) days longer than that of the control group (18.7 +/- 5.6) days, and the tumor inhibition rate was 42.26%. The mice fed with taurine and treated with CTX survived to 61 days with no death, and no tumor could be seen grossly, so the tumor inhibition rate is 100%. The survival period and weight of the tumor were not different between the CTX treated and control groups. 2. Tumor cell membrane fluidity was observed after the mice were vaccinated with Erlish ascitic tumor. The result shows: in the taurine group, the fluorescence polarization (p) is 0.108 +/- 0.020, the viscosity (eta) is 0.618 +/- 0.140 and in the control group p is 0.139 +/- 0.20, eta is 0.874 +/- 0.150, respectively. Thus the cell membrane fluidity of the taurine group is also obviously better than that of the control group (P < 0.01). 3. The immune functions of the two groups were determined by carbon clearance test and capacity of serum hemolysin. The immune function of the taurine group is also obviously higher than that of control group (P < 0.01). All the results described above show:taurine is functioning for tumor inhibition, and has obvious synergic effect while treated with CTX as chemotherophy. It is considered that the tumor inhibit function of taurine may be related to its effects of immune enhancing and membrane profecting.

Actions of lectins from the mushroom Tricholoma mongolicum on macrophages, splenocytes and life-span in sarcoma-bearing mice

Two lectins isolated from the mushroom Tricholoma mongolicum stimulated the production of nitrite ions by macrophages in normal and tumor-bearing mice. Both lectins exhibited negligible mitogenic activity toward T-cells or splenocytes from normal mice in vitro when compared with Con A. Similarly, T-cells from sarcoma-bearing mice treated with the lectins did not exhibit a mitogenic response different from that of the control. However, T-cells from normal lectin-treated mice demonstrated a reduced mitogenic response when compared with the control. In mice the growth of sarcoma 180 cells in the peritoneal cavity was inhibited and the life-span was prolonged by the two lectins.

Antitumor and antitumor-promoting actions of macrophages and their relationship with estrogen

Silica provides, in fact, a remarkable example of selective toxicity for macrophage by a substance of simple chemical composition and low chemical reactivity. Intraperitoneal injection of silica resulted in an increase of growth rate of subcutaneously implanted mouse sarcoma 180 (S180) in female BALB/c mice and of tumor incidence of two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis in female ICR mice, but did not show any significant effects on tumor growth and carcinogenesis in male mice. In contrast, local administration of homologous macrophages led to the decrease of growth rate of subcutaneously implanted mouse S180 in female BALB/c mice and of tumor incidence of two-stage mouse skin carcinogenesis in female ICR mice. On the other hand, estradiol, estradiol plus macrophages or a large number of macrophages alone inhibited the tumor growth in male mice. It should be noted that estradiol plus macrophages had the most potent antitumor action among them. These results suggest that macrophages, especially estrogen-activated macrophages, may play an important role in antitumor and antitumor-promoting actions of organisms.

Tumor-specific transplantation resistance in mice after treatment of initial tumors with Streptococcus thermophilus

Antitumor activity observed by treatment with Streptococcus thermophilus was further investigated. The mice cured from fibrosarcoma by treatment with heat-killed preparation of S. thermophilus, when challenged with fibrosarcoma failed to take up the tumor. However, these cured mice when challenged with sarcoma-180 or Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, did not show significant changes in tumor take and/or survival compared to their respective controls. Similarly, mice cured from sarcoma-180 were challenged with fibrosarcoma, sarcoma-180 or Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. Though there was no change in the mean survival time (MST) of the dying mice regarding sarcoma-180 or Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, there was 50 and 30% increase in the number of mice that showed total regression respectively over controls. However, there was no difference in the growth rate of fibrosarcoma. Similar observations were made with mice cured from Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, challenged with these tumors. These findings thus suggest that the antitumor response was tumor-specific and that tumor-associated antigens may have a role in imparting this specificity. Bacterial treatment non-specifically augmented this primary response.

Effects of Rehmannia glutinosa polysaccharide b on T-lymphocytes in mice bearing sarcoma 180

AIM

To study immuno-antitumor action mechanism of RGP-b. RGP-b (Rehmannia glutinosa polysaccaride b) is a new component isolated from the herb, had an average molecular mass of 160 kDa and 5 kinds of monosaccharides as acid-splitting products. Its HPLC showed a main sharp peak at 162 kDa.

METHODS

The kinetic effects of RGP-b on IL-2 secretion, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activities and L3T4+, lyt-2+ T-lymphocyte subset in mice bearing S180 were observed.

RESULTS

RGP-b 10 or 20 mg kg-1 ip obviously attenuated the decrease of CTL cytotoxity caused by excessive tumor growth on d 9 after the administration, but only partly ameliorated the descent of IL-2. Its effect on lyt-2+ subset was quite parallel with that on CTL cytotoxity. RGP-b kept the ratio of L3T4+ to lyt-2+ subset lower than that of control.

CONCLUSION

Improving the production of lyt-2+ CTL and its cytotoxity were an essential immuno-antitumor mechanisms of RGP-b.

[Effect of Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides (ABP) on antitumor activity and immune function of S180-bearing mice]

Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides (ABP), extracted from the root of Achyranthes bidentata Blume, 25-100mg.kg-1.d-1 x 7 could inhibit tumor growth by 31%-40%. Combination of cyclophosphamide (Cy) and ABP increased the rate of tumor growth inhibition to 58%. ABP 50 and 100% mg/kg ip could potentiate LAK cell activity and increase the Con A (5 micrograms/ml)-induced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-beta) from murine splenocytes. The optimal time for TNF production was on d 8. We also found that ABP 1-2 micrograms/ml strongly inhibited the proliferation of S180 and K562 cells in vitro. The S180 cell membrane content of sialic acid was increased and phospholipid decreased after ABP acting on cells for 24 hours. The changes were significantly different from the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but the membrane cholesterol content and membrane mobility indices (Ch/PI) were not affected. The results suggest that the antitumor mechanism of ABP may be related to potentiation of the host immunosurveillance mechanism and the changes in cell membrane features.

Antitumor resistance induced by zinostatin stimalamer (ZSS), a polymer-conjugated neocarzinostatin (NCS) derivative. I. Meth A tumor eradication and tumor-neutralizing activity in mice pretreated with ZSS or NCS

Zinostatin stimalamer (ZSS) is a new anticancer agent derived from neocarzinostatin (NCS), which is synthesized by conjugation of one molecule of NCS and two molecules of poly(styrene-co-maleic acid). ZSS exhibited potent in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity in preclinical experiments, and a clinical trial of the intra-arterial administration of ZSS with iodized oil on hepatocellular carcinoma showed potent antitumor activity. We investigated the effect of ZSS and NCS on antitumor resistance and found that pretreatment with either drug suppressed the growth of MethA tumors in Balb/c mice and induced tumor eradication when given separately by single administration at therapeutic doses between 1 day and 4 weeks before tumor transplantation. The findings that the cytocidal activity of these drugs was not detected in vivo at the time of tumor transplantation and that tumor regression was preceded by a period of transient growth suggested that tumor regression was due to host-mediated antitumor activity induced by these drugs. Pretreatment with ZSS or NCS also suppressed the growth of Colon 26 carcinoma and Sarcoma 180. The finding that NCS showed the same effect as ZSS suggests that poly(styrene-comaleic acid) is not essential for the induction of host-mediated antitumor activity. Furthermore, apo-ZSS, which lacks cytocidal activity, did not induce antitumor activity. From this, it is suggested that the cytocidal effect of ZSS involves the induction of host-mediated antitumor resistance. In athymic Balb/c nu/nu mice, pretreatment with ZSS or NCS did not induce tumor eradication, suggesting that mature T lymphocytes play an important role in tumor eradication. Challenging MethA was rejected without transient growth in mice that had been cured of MethA, but challenging Colon 26 was not, showing that anti-MethA resistance was augmented selectively in the MethA-eradicated mice. Splenocytes from MethA-bearing mice pretreated with the drug showed tumor-neutralizing activity beginning 14 days after tumor transplantation. Tumor-neutralizing activity was only induced after MethA transplantation. The effector cells of this tumor-neutralizing activity were Thy1.2+ T lymphocytes that had been passed through a nylon-wool column, but no significant augmentation of cell-mediated cytotoxic activity of splenocytes from MethA-eradicated mice was observed in vitro.

[Experimental study on the pharmacologic effects of zeng sheng pin pian]

Zeng Sheng Pin Pian (ZSPP) is a mixture of medicinal herbs which has been shown to be effective in the secondary prevention of esophageal cancer in a high-risk area among a population with severe esophageal dysplasia. This study in mice aimed at elucidating the possible mechanism of the cancer-preventing activity of ZSPP. The results indicate that ZSPP is a good biologic response modifier (BRM) as shown by its enhancing effects on lymphocyte blastogenesis, IL-2 secretion, NK cell activity, delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to DNCB, hemolysin response to SRBC and the phagocytic function of the reticulo-endothelial system. While ZSPP did not inhibit the growth of S-180 in mice, it exhibited significant inhibitory effect on ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity induced by the application of croton oil to the skin. Taken together, the immune enhancing activity and the anti-tumor-promoting activity of ZSPP could explain, at least in part, its efficacy in the prevention of esophageal cancer among high-risk people with precursor dysplastic lesions.

Antitumor activity and immuno-potentiating actions of Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides

Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides (ABP), isolated from the root of Achyranthes bidentata Blume, 50 mg.kg-1 ip or 250 mg.kg-1 to ICR mice inhibited the growth of sarcoma 180. ABP 50 and 100 mg.kg-1 ip prolongated the survival days of mice bearing Ehrlich carcinoma. ABP 50-800 micrograms.ml-1 did not exert direct cytotoxic effect in vitro on S180 cells, but enhanced the cytotoxicity of peritoneal macrophages against S180 cells. ABP 50 mg.kg-1 ip x 17 d or 250 mg.kg-1 ig x 16 d promoted the plaque forming cells (PFC) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and serum IgG level as well as splenocyte proliferation induced by mitogen Con A or LPS in tumor-induced immunodeficient mice. ABP also elevated the NK cell activity and serum TNF content in mice bearing S180. These results indicated that the antitumor effect of ABP may be related to its potentiating effect on both specific and nonspecific host immunological responses.

A modified method for obtaining large amounts of high titer polyclonal ascites fluid

When limited amounts of antigens are available, it is often difficult to obtain large quantities of polyclonal antisera. Although antisera can be raised in small rodents, yields are usually small. To circumvent these problems, we have designed a modified method for generating polyclonal ascites fluid (AF). Using the appropriate strain of mice and adjuvant, we generated high serum titers by injection of 1-100 micrograms of protein. Following i.p. injection of compatible sarcoma cells, 13-19 ml of high titer (1:1000-1:20,000), polyclonal ascites fluid were obtained from each mouse. Similar results were obtained using nine different antigens.

Agglutinins from aquatic insects--tumor cell agglutination activity

Agglutinins were identified in whole body extracts of aquatic insects by means of murine tumor cell agglutination, using sarcoma 180 ascites, Ehrlich, and MM-46 cells. Screening revealed agglutinins in 5 of 10 of the larvae tested, and in 2 of 6 of the water-dwelling adult insects; Gerris paludum insularis and Gyrinus japonicus. Only the agglutinin from adult G. paludum also agglutinated human erythrocytes. An ascites tumor was converted into a solid form in vivo after administration of G. paludum agglutinin. The observation that these aquatic insect agglutinins preferentially agglutinate tumor cells has considerable implications in terms of anti-tumor effects such as inhibition of cell proliferation and metastasis.

Phagocytosis of Mycobacterium bovis BCG organisms by murine S180 sarcoma cells

Instillation of BCG vaccine directly into the bladder of patients suffering from superficial bladder tumours represents the major clinical application of this material. The mode of action is by no means clearly defined but it is known that the BCG cells need to be in close proximity to the tumours and may be capable of directly targeting the tumour cells through a fibronectin/fibronectin receptor interaction. In addition to cellular adherence there is a local stimulation of macrophages which is known to phagocytose mycobacteria. Use of a murine S180 sarcoma model facilitated the quantitative measurement of antitumour activity of BCG and BCG isolates. Ultrastructural examination of the BCG/sarcoma interaction confirmed that, in fact, these tumour cells do phagocytose and subsequently kill the BCG cells. The relationship between this phenomenon and the subsequent tumour cell death is not currently clear, although a strong tumoricidal agent has recently been isolated from BCG cells.

[Research on liu wei Rehmannia oral liquid against side-effect of drugs of anti-tumor chemotherapy]

Using tumor-bearing mice as experimental animals, the survival rate, hematopoietic, heart, liver, kidney and immunological functions as indexes, Liu Wei Rehmannia Oral Liquid against the side-effect of drugs of anti-tumor chemotherapy (ADM, CTX, DDP, VCR and 5FU) were observed. The results showed that the survival rate in the treated group was significantly higher than that in control, the survival days were highly different (P < 0.01); the hemopoietic functions (HB, WBC, PL) in the treated group were higher also (P < 0.05 & P < 0.01); in the functions of heart, liver and kidney the treated group could protect the above-mentioned three organs (P < 0.01); in immune functions, the oral liquid could protect the NK and T-, B-Lymphocyte transformation, being inhibited by drugs of chemotherapy. In comparing with control group NK and T lymphocyte transformation were all significantly different (P < 0.01 & P < 0.05), while only 3 chemotherapy drugs were markedly different in B lymphocyte transformation (P < 0.05 & P < 0.01). The discussion indicated that Liu Wei Rehmannia Oral Liquid is effective in protecting the functions of hematopoiesis, immunity, heart, liver and kidney during chemotherapy, which provides an objective data for the clinical application.

Augmentation of host resistance to Candida albicans infection in ascites tumor-bearing mice

We found that the number of peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) dramatically increased in both sarcoma 180 (S-180) and MM-46 mammary carcinoma (MM-46) ascites tumor-bearing mice, and mice required a remarkable resistance to Candida albicans infection via intravenous route. When the resistance was determined by number of cells of C. albicans in the kidney, a significant decrease in the number of fungal cells was observed in the kidneys of infected ascites tumor-bearing mice. An increase of active oxygen levels of PMN from ascites tumor-bearing mice was observed, suggesting that this factor is important in developing of resistance in ascites tumor-bearing mice. Additionally, a culture supernatant of tumor cells co-cultivated with bone-marrow cells in vitro increased the number of granulocytes and macrophages differentiated from the bone-marrow cells.

[Study on the granule of shencao fuzheng kangai]

The clinical effect of the granule of Shencao Fuzheng Kangai had been proved and the animal experiment was carried out. The results showed that: (1) No toxic response was found in acute toxicity test. (2) The granule could prevent WBC from decreasing severely in chemotherapy experiment (P less than 0.01). (3) It was indicated that the granule could improve the phagocytic function of macrophage in carbon clearance experiment (P less than 0.01). (4) It was meant that the granule could inhibit the growing of some solid carcinoma in inoculation experiments.

Physical exercise may improve macrophage phagocytic activity of tumor bearing mice

The influence of an endurance training on the phagocytic activity of macrophages from tumor bearing mice was studied. Female NMRI mice were trained on a treadmill. The training period differed from 3 to 6 weeks for different experimental groups and was performed either before or after tumor inoculation, or both. Either L-1210 or S-180 tumor cells were inoculated into the peritoneal cavity or the interscapular region, respectively. The phagocytic activity of peritoneal and spleen macrophages was estimated at different intervals. The trained animals' macrophages showed increased phagocytic activity especially evident in the group that had been trained before and after tumor inoculation. It was concluded that physical exercise might enhance phagocytosis of macrophages in tumor bearing animals and that this effect strongly depends on the duration and onset of the training program.

[Effect of Chinese tea extract on the immune function of mice bearing tumor and their antitumor activity]

The dynamic changes of cellular immune function and antitumor effect of GTE (green tea extract) in the BALB/c mice bearing EAC, HAC and S-180 tumor were investigated. Results showed that intraperitoneal injection GTE daily dose of 80mg/kg stimulate the proliferation of T-Lymphocyte S-180 tumor bearing mice, the 125-IudR incorporation value (cpm) of control group was 932 and that of GTE treated group increased to 2988. The Natural Killer cell's activity (cpm) of treated group was raised from 10.7% of control group to 41%. Daily dose 50mg/kg inhibited the EAC, HAC and the life span of GTE mice bearing EAC ascites tumor prolonged 128%. The GTE were effective on growth activity against mouse Ehrlich tumor at a dose of 500mg/kg by oral administration (P less than 0.05), the inhibition ratio being about 32%. The authors suggested the mechanism of antitumor effects of GTE possible included both cellular immune function and the inhibition of tumor growth.

The antitumor effects of qigong-emitted external Qi and its influence on the immunologic functions of tumor-bearing mice

By utilizing murine tumor models bearing Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and ascitic Sarcoma-180 (S-180), we investigated the in vivo antitumor effects of QEQ or/and the chemotherapeutic agent cyclophosphamide (CY) and their influence on the splenic natural killer (NK) activity, macrophage-mediated tumor cytolysis (MTC) activity and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production level of different groups of TBM. The results demonstrate that Qigong-emitted external Qi (QEQ) has inhibitory effects on tumor growth of tumor-bearing mice (TBM) and enhancing effects on antitumor immunologic functions of the tumor host simultaneously. Moreover, when used in combination with CY, QEQ can not only significantly increase the antitumor efficacy, but also markedly improve the compromised antitumor immunologic functions of the tumor host. Therefore, our findings suggest that in clinical practice of cancer treatment Qigong therapy in combination with conventional therapy (such as chemotherapy) is a treatment regimen worth recommending.

Immunostimulatory effect of Rothia dentocariosa in mice

In mice killed Rothia dentocariosa cells in doses of about 1.5 mg dry weight activated anti-infection immunity to Listeria antigens and anti-tumour immunity to the ascitic form of mouse sarcoma S-180. Their probable target site is the macrophage. The Rothia-activated macrophages in human gingiva may take part in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. Three models were employed to verify the immunostimulating properties of preventively administered Rothia dentocariosa bacterin-1) a spleen macrophage migration test, using mice immunized with Listeria innocua, with the soluble listeria Ei antigen as the antigenic signal, 2) determination of the increase in the Listeria monocytogenes LD50 for mice and 3) the prolongation of survival of mice carrying the S-180 tumour. In all three cases, the administration of Rothia bacterin stimulated the immune response to the later administration of other antigens. Furthermore, in the macrophage migration inhibition test, the chemotaxis of non-immune mouse macrophages was found to be stimulated. This gives evidence of the fact that Rothia bacterin has an activating effect on these macrophages.

Differential function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes between in vivo and in vitro in tumor-bearing mice

In the present report, we compared activities of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) such as phagocytosis and bactericidal activity in vivo with those in vitro in sarcoma 180 (S 180)-bearing mice. Mice showed a remarkable leukocytosis and in increase in PMN fraction of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) after intraperitoneal injection of S 180 cells. Tumor-bearing mice infected with Escherichia coli (E. coli) intravenously and intraperitoneally showed an apparent delay in the clearance of bacteria compared to the non-tumor-bearing control mice. However, PBL of tumor-bearing mice showed a high phagocytic activity against beads and a high chemiluminescence (CL) activity. Dichlorofluorescein (DCFH) oxidation capacity of peripheral blood PMN in S 180-bearing mice after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was about the same or a little stronger than that in control mice. On the contrary, serum and ascites of tumor-bearing mice strongly suppressed the phagocytic and bactericidal activities of casein-induced PMN against E. coli. During the early phase of E. coli infection, serum level of complement (C3) was not depressed in tumor-bearing hosts. From these results, it is concluded that leukocytosis and activation of functions of PMN in tumor-bearing mice were observed in vitro but they were not effective for the protection in the early phase of actual E. coli infection in vivo. The delay of in vivo clearance may be accounted for by a suppressive effect of serum components in tumor-bearing mice.

Natural killer (NK) cell activity of mice treated with herpes simplex virus type-2, sarcoma-180 cells, cyclosporine and cimetidine

NK cell activity in beige mice was compared with that in control BALB/c mice and BALB/c mice treated with HSV-2, sarcoma-180 cells, cimetidine and cyclosporine. The NK cell activity in five week-old beige mice was lower than in three week-old BALB/c mice. The NK cell activity in eight week-old BALB/c mice was four to eleven times the activity in BALB/c mice that were three weeks of age. BALB/c mice, injected with 2 mg cyclosporine or 10(7) plaque forming units (PFU) of HSV-2, had decreased NK cell activity. BALB/c mice, injected with 2 mg cimetidine, 10(6) sarcoma-180 cells and 6.0 x 10(5) PFU of HSV-2, had high NK cell activities compared with the control mice. Cimetidine further increased the effect of HSV-2 or sarcoma-180 on NK activity. BALB/c mice that received a transfer of less than 10(7) NK cells developed a high resistance against viral infections, but mice that received more than 10(7) transferred NK cells had a lower resistance to viral infections than the control mice or mice receiving less than 10(7) NK cells.

[Studies on the possible causes of decreasing NK cell activity in tumor-bearing mice. I. The number of NK cells in the spleens of tumor-bearing mice is higher than that in normal mice]

In studies of viral immunotherapy of cancer, we found that NK cell activity in tumor-bearing mice was usually below the normal level, a universal phenomenon in tumor-bearing animals and patients. Our data show that the depressed NK cell activity in tumor-bearing mice was not due to a decrease of NK cell number. The percentage of NK cells in the spleens of tumor-bearing mice was much higher than that in normal mice. Using morphological and 3H-TdR uptake methods, we found that there were many NK blast cells in the spleens of tumor-bearing mice, and blastogenesis was sustained up to the day of death.

[Studies on the possible causes of decreasing NK cell activity in tumor-bearing mice. II. Serum and peritoneal exudate from ascitic tumor-bearing mice suppress NK cell activity]

Previous studies showed that the depressed NK cell activity in tumor-bearing mice was not due to the decrease of NK cell number. The results of this report indicate that the depressed NK cell activity in tumor-bearing mice might be due to an inhibitory factor, which probably was secreted by tumor-cells. We found that sera and peritoneal exudates from S180 or P388 tumor-bearing mice were able to inhibit the normal NK cell activity. Spleen cells incubated with the peritoneal exudate for 24 hours before assay demonstrated significantly depressed NK activity. Treatment of peritoneal exudate with a large number of spleen cells did not alter the inhibitory effect of peritoneal fluid, indicating that the inhibitory factor might not be membrane antigen shedding from the tumor cells, but may be actively secreted by them.

Mitogenic activity of pine cone extracts against cultured splenocytes from normal and tumor-bearing animals

An acidic pine cone extract, Fr. V. of Pinus parviflora Sieb. et Zucc. significantly stimulated DNA synthesis of isolated splenocytes from both mice and rats, but only marginally affected the DNA synthesis of leukemic cell lines. The maximum stimulation level attained by Fr. V slightly exceeded that of plant lectins, whereas much weaker stimulating activity was found in natural and chemically modified antitumor polysaccharides, sialic acid-rich glycoproteins, and polyphenolic compounds such as lignin and tannic acid. In mice with subcutaneously transplanted sarcoma-180, responses of splenocytes against Con A declines in the terminal stage of tumor development, whereas responses against Fr. V remained relatively constant throughout all periods of tumor progression. The suppression of Fr. V activity by acetylation or methylation suggests the importance of the hydroxyl group in the expression of its stimulation activity.

[Controlled prospective trial to evaluate Syosakiko-to in preventing hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis of the liver]

A controlled prospective study was conducted to evaluate the potential of Syo-saiko-to (Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang) for the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Pairs of patients were matched for age, sex, presence of HBs antigen and the scores of the severity of liver dysfunction from 260 cirrhotic subjects. We randomly assigned each patient to receive either a conventional medicine (control group), or 7.5 g/day of Syo-saiko-to (trial group). The patients were monitored during 34 months of treatment, and the incidence of HCC in the two groups were compared. Seventeen patients were found to have HCC in the control group, and nine were found to have HCC in the trial group. The incidence of HCC was significantly lower in the trial group. The results of this study suggested that Syo-saiko-to may prevent or delay the emergence of latent HCC in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

Natural cytotoxicity of human serum. A natural IgM 'antibody' sensitizes transformed murine cells to the lytic action of complement

The natural cytotoxicity of human serum on murine L cells, EA and Sa 180 cells is expressed as a rapid cytolysis at 37 degrees C. This cytotoxic system is analyzed as to its active constituents and their functional relationships. Ultrastructural studies indicate that cell injury and death are initiated within 10 min by membrane disruption. A trypan blue assay for cell death was used to study serum toxicity in individual normal healthy adults, pregnant females and newborn infants. Pregnancy sera, particularly in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, were consistently more toxic than male serum or nonpregnant females. Cord serum was typically nontoxic. Pools of normal fresh pregnancy serum were used for immunochemical analysis of the cytotoxic activity. By a variety of immunologic and immunochemical techniques it was shown that the cytotoxicity was, in part, due to the combined action of alternative and classical pathways of complement, the former being more prominent. The lytic action of complement was shown to be greatly amplified by the prior adsorption of IgM on the target cells' surface. This IgM is a critical determinant of the cytotoxic reaction. It probably contains a natural 'antibody' to cell surface antigen(s), whose combination activates both pathways of C.

A new immunomodulator, FR-900490

FR-900490 is a new type of immunoactive substance produced by a fungus Discosia sp. F-11809. The colony forming units in culture (cfu-c) in bone marrow cells, which were suppressed by immunosuppressive factor obtained from the serum of sarcoma 180 tumor bearing mouse, was restored to normal level by the addition of FR-900490 in vitro. Furthermore, in mitomycin C (MMC)-treated mice the subsequent administration of FR-900490 caused a significant increase of cfu-c in bone marrow cells depressed by MMC.

Tumor and tissue distribution of 125I-labeled natural and antitumor antibodies in murine experimental tumor systems

The binding and tissue distribution of 125I-labeled rabbit anti-sarcoma 180 (S-180) immunoglobulin G (IgG) (RAS-180G), normal rabbit IgG (NRG) and ICR mouse IgGs from normal (NMG) and S-180-bearing ICR mice (AS-180G) were studied in ICR mice bearing S-180. 125I-labelled IgGs preparted from normal (NC57G) or Adenocarconoma 755 (Ca 755)-bearing C57BL/6 mice (A755G) were also examined in C57BL/6 mice bearing ca755. Not only RAS-180G and AS-180G but also NRG and NMG persisted in the tumor site. This result suggests that allogeneic natural IgG could be used as a carrier protein for antitumor agents.

Combined effects of host antitumor immune responses and chemotherapy. Studies with hexamethylmelamine

The antitumor activity of hexamethylmelamine (HMM) was tested in various mouse tumor models in the presence or absence of host-vs-tumor graft responses. The drug was moderately active against Sarcoma-180 growing in different strains of non-sensitized mice. Strong protection was afforded when recipients were preimmunized with irradiated tumor cells 15 days before tumor challenge followed by HMM treatment. The drug did not show antitumor activity against two radiation-induced lymphomas of congenic mice of B10 background, inoculated into H-2 compatible hosts, or into mice incompatible for subregions of H-2. In this model HMM increased mortality of allogeneic mice presumably through impairment of host-vs-lymphoma graft resistance. In conclusion this study shows that synergistic or antagonistic effects can be obtained by combining chemotherapy with antitumor immune responses.

[Age-dependent anti-tumor activity of lentinan in mice]

During the course of aging, the weight percentage of organs such as kidney to body weight remain almost unchanged, whereas the weight of the thymus decreases significantly. The antitumor activity of Lentinan is constant in mice younger than 1 year (52 weeks). From 52 weeks, aging has a suppressive effect on antitumor activity. Even in aged mice, administration of Lentinan was shown to be effective, and better results were obtained through chronic administration, even with a smaller dose. Lentinan enhanced delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity in aged mice similarly to that in young mice. Thymus homogenate showed synergism with Lentinan in 2-year-old mice for suppression of tumor growth, although thymus homogenate alone showed no effect. These results show that Lentinan is effective as an anticancer immunopotentiator in aged animals in a similar way to young animals.

[Effect of the tumor-bearing host serum on the leukocyte adherence inhibition reaction mediated by immune RNA]

51Cr-labelled leucocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) assay was used as an index to study the activity of xenogenic immune RNA (iRNA) in inducing normal LACA mouse spleen lymphocytes to mediate tumor specific response in vitro. RNA was extracted from the spleen and lymph nodes of the guinea pigs immunized by S180 or H22 ascitic tumor cells and from those of the normal guinea pigs. Extracts of S180 or H22 tumor cells and that of normal LACA mouse livers were prepared by PBS method respectively. Three kinds of RNA and three kinds of cell (tissue) extracts were grouped into nine combinations. A defined number of 51Cr-labelled lymphocytes was added to each group. The results showed that only in the combination of two kinds of iRNA and the corresponding tumor cell extract, adherence of normal lymphocyte was significantly inhibited. Serum from tumor bearing host inhibited LAI reaction mediated by iRNA. The "blocking" effect was specific since it occurred only when the serum and tumor extract in the reaction system were taken from the same tumor-bearing donor.

Participation of tumor killing factor in the antitumor effect of Sarcophaga lectin

Antibody against tumor-killing factor inhibited cytotoxic activities produced in vitro by mouse peritoneal macrophages and in vivo in the serum of tumor-bearing mice in response to Sarcophaga lectin. These results suggest that tumor-killing factor participates in the antitumor effect of Sarcophaga lectin.

Effects of the antitumor agents from various natural sources on drug-metabolizing system, phagocytic activity and complement system in sarcoma 180-bearing mice

Correlation between antitumor activity and effects on some biological properties, such as phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system, the third component of complement (C3) activation, hepatic drug-metabolizing activities and pentobarbital-induced narcosis, of antitumor agents from various natural sources such as B B (Broncasma Berna), GU-P (Grifora umbellata polysaccharide), OK-432, PS-K (Polysaccharide Kureha), and RA-P (Rumex acetosa polysaccharide) were studied with female ICR mice implanted with Sarcoma 180 solid tumor. All of these agents depressed aniline hydroxylase and aminopyrine demethylase activities, prolonged the duration of pentobarbital-induced narcosis, and significantly enhanced the phagocytic activity and C3 activity. Especially, RA-P which has the strongest antitumor activity was the most effective in changing these activities. The biological activities of GU-P at a dose of 10 mg/kg reached the same level as that found with PS-K at a dose of 100 mg/kg. a possible mechanism of inhibition of Sarcoma 180 solid tumor growth by the treatment with the antitumor agents could be interpreted as due to the C3 activation, the stimulation of phagocytic activity and depression of the hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing system in tumor-bearing mice.

Identification of a mouse serum protein increased by administration of an antitumor polysaccharide, PSK, as a variant of mouse transferrin and some of its biological activities

One of the so-called LC components, the content of which is increased in the serum of PSK (antitumor polysaccharide) treated mice, was purified by repeated ion-exchange column chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50. The purified protein, designated as LC-2, was identified as a variant of mouse transferrin, which is a serum beta 1-globulin having an iron-binding capacity. The absorption spectrum and ultraviolet circular dichroism (CD) curve of LC-2 were identical with those of mouse transferrin. The molecular weight, isoelectric point and amino acid composition of LC-2 were in good agreement with the results obtained previously for mouse transferrin. However, the carbohydrate content of LC-2 was different from that of mouse transferrin. This protein restored the depressed spleen cell response of tumor-bearing mice to concanavalin A (Con A) and promoted the metabolism of proteose-peptone induced peritoneal macrophages obtained from tumor-bearing mice. Furthermore, it had weak but definite antitumor activity against Sarcoma 180 cells in vivo.

Rapid tumor regression and induction of tumor-regressing activity in serum by various immune-modulating agents

A rapid decrease in the number of tumor cells from S180 tumors was caused by several antitumor polysaccharides including the beta (1-3)glucans lentinan and TAK-N and a mannoglucan MGA, but not by those lacking antitumor activity. MGA was demonstrated to induce potent tumor-regressing activity in the serum of tumor-bearing mice similar to that reported previously to be induced after an injection of CM-TAK, a carboxymethylated beta (1-3)glucan. It is probable that the induction of rapid regression of established tumors is a phenomenon common to antitumor polysaccharides and some microbiological products and that the tumor-regressing factor in the serum underlies a common mechanism.

Cytotoxicity of cortisone-resistant lymphocytes from mice treated with a group A streptococcus or Freund's complete adjuvant against tumor cells

The cortisone-resistant lymphocytes (CR lymphocytes) of mice treated with a group A streptococcus, Su strain, or Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) were examined for their cytotoxicity on Ehrlich carcinoma cells and sarcoma-180 cells. Female mice of the ddY strain, 7-8 weeks of age, were injected subcutaneously with streptococci or FCA in emulsion, and they were killed 14 days later. To obtain CR lymphocytes, mice treated with and without agents were injected intraperitoneally with hydrocortisone acetate (125 mg/kg) 2 days before killing. Tumor cells and CR lymphocytes from thymus, spleen or mesenteric lymph node were suspended in Hanks balanced salt solution supplemented with 2% bovine albumin. The cytotoxicity of CR lymphocytes on tumor cells was examined by the Winn test: Tumor growth was observed in mice inoculated s.c. with the mixture of tumor cells (T) and CR lymphocytes (L) at a T/L ratio of 1/10 (10(6) tumor cells/mouse). The mesenteric and thymic CR lymphocytes of mice treated with streptococci or FCA were more effective than the corresponding lymphocytes of untreated mice in suppressing the tumor growth in animals given the cell mixture. This suggests that the treatment of mice with streptococci or FCA results in an enhancement in the cytotoxicity of mesenteric and thymic CR lymphocytes against the tumor cells.

Studies of an immunomodulator, swainsonine. I. Enhancement of immune response by swainsonine in vitro

Swainsonine isolated from Metarhizium sp., was found to enhance the activities of the mouse immune system in vitro. Concanavalin A stimulated lymphocyte proliferation and proliferative response in mixed lymphocytes culture, which were suppressed by immunosuppressive factor obtained from serum of sarcoma 180 tumor bearing mouse, were restored to normal levels by the addition of swainsonine. Furthermore, the concanavalin A induced incorporation of [3H]thymidine into mouse spleen cells was remarkably increased by treatment with swainsonine over a wide dose range, From studies using fluorescence activated cell sorting, swainsonine was shown to enhance the expression of concanavalin A receptors of spleen cells.

Increased translocation of bacteria from the gastrointestinal tracts of tumor-bearing mice

Aerobic gram-negative bacilli and other indigenous gastrointestinal (GI) bacteria are important opportunistic pathogens in immunosuppressed cancer patients. These same bacteria frequently translocate from the GI tracts of mice immunosuppressed by single injections of certain anticancer drugs or by T-lymphocyte impairments. Since similar cellular and humoral immune deficiencies may be present in the tumor-bearing host, we sought to determine if progressive growth of a tumor alone would be sufficient to enhance the translocation of indigenous bacteria from the murine GI tract. Pathogen-free DBA/2 mice were injected intraperitoneally with 10(6) viable sarcoma 180 (S-180) cells or 0.5 ml of sterile buffer. Mesenteric lymph nodes, livers, spleens, and kidneys were tested for the presence of translocated aerobic GI bacteria on various days after tumor injection. Immunity was assessed by measuring footpad delayed-type hypersensitivity and serum hemagglutinins to sheep erythrocytes. Overall, translocated aerobic GI bacteria infected 33 of 92 S-180-bearing mice (36%) and only 9 of 99 control mice (9%) (P less than 10(-6)). Cumulatively, 50 of 460 sites (10.9%) in S-180-bearing mice were infected with translocated GI bacteria as opposed to only 9 of 485 sites (1.9%) in control animals (P less than 10(-7)). GI bacteria often translocated to infect more than one site in tumor-bearing mice, but not in controls. Aerobic gram-negative bacilli translocated 11 times in tumor-bearing mice, but only once in controls, even though the mean cecal population levels of these bacteria were relatively low (range, 4.33 to 5.28 log10 bacteria per g). The population levels of cecal aerobic bacteria were similar in S-180 and control mice throughout the period of observation. S-180 mice had significantly suppressed (P less than 0.04) delayed-type hypersensitivity and serum hemagglutinin responses when sensitized 4 or 8 days after S-180 injection. S-180 growth was associated with a neutrophilic leukocytosis and a slight drop in platelet counts; no bleeding was detected. Thus, the translocation of gram-negative bacilli and other indigenous aerobic bacteria from the GI tract to the mesenteric lymph nodes and other organs was increased in immunosuppressed S-180-bearing mice, and this increase was not caused by bacterial overgrowth in the intestines or by neutropenia.

Effect of a polysaccharide fraction from Grifola frondosa on immune response in mice

The biological and immunomodulating activities of polysaccharide fraction (GF-1), an antitumor poysaccharide fraction from cultured fruiting bodies of Grifola frondosa, was examined in mice. GF-1 showed no cytocidal effect on culturing tumor cells. However, GF-1 induced resistance against Sarcoma 180 in ICR mice which had completely regressed from the tumor by the effect of GF-1. The administration of GF-1 into mice increased the weights or cell numbers of spleen, and peritoneal cavity. GF-1 enhanced the antigen specific antibody response and carbon clearance activity, whereas GF-1 did not show polyclonal B cell activation and mitogenic activities, and the effect on delayed type hypersensitivity.

[Antitumor activity of Lactobacillus casei YIT 9018 (LC 9018)--effect of administration route]

Antitumor activity of lactobacilli on Sarcoma 180 was investigated and was shown to be different from strain to strain. In general, Lactobacillus casei had higher antitumor activity compared with other species of lactobacilli. Among these, L. casei YIT 9018 (LC 9018) had significant antitumor activity against Meth A fibrosarcoma when administered into BALB/c mice intravenously, intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, intratumorally or orally. LC 9018 showed antitumor activity against rat ascites hepatoma by intravenous or oral administration, but this activity was lower than that against Meth A in mice.

Depression of resistance against Salmonella infection in sarcoma 180-bearing mice and its restoration by Salmonella mini-cells

The reduction of resistance against Salmonella infection was resulted from the reduction of macrophage activities in Sarcoma 180-bearing mice. Mean survival day of S180-bearing mice was markedly reduced to 1.4 +/- 0.5 days after the challenge with 1 X 10(8) of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 cells in contrast with 6.8 +/- 1.9 days of normal mice. Eighty percent of S180-bearing mice died within 14 days after the challenge with 1 X 10(6) of LT2 cells, whereas all of normal mice survived more than 30 days after the challenge with 3 X 10(6) or less of LT2 cells. Chemotactic and O2- producing activities of macrophages collected from S180-bearing mice which were treated with Salmonella mini-cells restored to normal level. Bactericidal activity of macrophages was also restored by the mini-cell treatment. The restoration of the resistance to Salmonella was accompanied with increases of macrophage activities.

Studies on the mechanisms of action of the immunomodulator Bestatin in various screening test systems

The effects of Bestatin, a low molecular weight metabolite of Streptomyces olivoreticuli on the human and mouse/rat immune system, have been studied in detail. To describe the activity of the immunomodulating dipeptide, it has been tested in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo in various experimental models. Bestatin simultaneously applied with selected antigens to mice was able to enhance the DTH response against a challenge injection of the respective antigen given into the footpad. Serum antibody levels against those antigens were uneffected. However, an increase of PFC could be found in those mice given high doses of Bestatin. On natural killer cell activity against Yac-1 tumor cells the dipeptide had no effect in low responder (DBA2/J) mice. In high responder mice (CBA/JCr), however, a significant increase of NK cell activity of spleen cells could be found, when the drug was given on day 0 or on days 0 to 3 and the test was performed on day 4. Bestatin had no effect on the generation of allogeneic cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in vivo or in vitro and even a suppressive effect on the induction of syngeneic antitumor CTL. Contrary to this suppressive effect, Bestatin increases in the popliteal lymph node assay the weights in a dose-dependent way. When mouse macrophages or human monocytes were either incubated in vitro with Bestatin or mice were treated with the dipeptide parenterally or orally and the macrophages from those mice were investigated, Bestatin induced in vitro and in vivo a dose-dependent increase in pinocytic uptake of radioactive colloidal gold. Also the oxidative metabolism was dose-dependently augmented as measured by chemiluminescence. Bestatin modulates the macrophage mediated cytotoxicity. In vitro or in vivo activated mononuclear phagocytes exhibited a dose-dependent increase in cytotoxic activity for several tumor target cells. A minimum ratio of 50:1 effector to target cells was necessary for this cytotoxic effect. A similar degree of activation was observed in macrophages from athymic nu/nu-mice or from endotoxin resistant C3H/HeJ-mice. Other parameters of macrophage activation were determined by measuring secretion of lysosomal enzymes and liberation of prostaglandins. Bestatin interacts with macrophages in vivo and in vitro by increasing their secretory activity of acid hydrolases (beta-glucuronidase, beta-galactosidase, and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase). This release was dose- and time-dependent and not associated with any sign of cell death. Another class of mediators produced by macrophages after stimulation with Bestatin were the prostaglandins E2 and F2a.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)