Production of biologically active recombinant bovine interferon-gamma by two different baculovirus gene expression systems using insect cells and silkworm larvae

The full-length bovine interferon-gamma (bIFN-gamma) cDNA, including the secretion signal peptide coding region was recloned into baculovirus transfer vectors pAcYM1 and pBm050. These vectors were co-transfected with Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) or Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) DNA into Spodoptera frugiperda cells (SF21AE) and Bombyx mori cells (BmN), respectively. The recombinant viruses, named AcBIFN-gamma and BmBIFN-gamma, were then recovered. Recombinant bIFN-gamma (rbIFN-gamma) was accumulated in the culture fluid of AcBIFN-gamma-infected Trichoplusia ni cells and BmBIFN-gamma-infected silkworm larvae. These rbIFN-gamma forms were shown to be glycosylated 20 and 22 kDa proteins as confirmed by SDS-PAGE and tunicamycin treatment. These products were sensitive to cystein proteinase. Both rbIFN-gamma proteins, showed high-level biological activities by plaque reduction assay using vesicular stomatitis virus, and MHC class II antigen induction on bovine macrophage cells.

Orbital tumor in acute myeloid leukemia associated with karyotype 46,XX,t(8;21)(q22;q22): a case report

Orbital tumor formation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is rare as an initial symptom. Furthermore, orbital granulocytic sarcoma (myeloid sarcoma) in pediatric patients is uncommon. We describe a 5-year-old Japanese girl with a left orbital mass as an initial symptom of AML, the mass revealed by computed tomography. Peripheral blood and bone marrow pictures and a chromosomal analysis disclosing 46,XX,t(8;21)(q22;q22) showed AML (M2 according to the French-American-British classification). She was treated with antileukemic chemotherapy systemically. Three weeks after the initiation of chemotherapy, the orbital tumor regressed markedly. AML as an initial symptom of the orbital mass should be fully considered in a differential diagnosis, even in the absence of typical leukemic symptoms, and chromosomal analysis and immunophenotypical analysis may explain the pathogenesis of the extramedullary leukemic tumor.

[Aggressive transformation and extramedullary tumor formation in IgA-lambda multiple myeloma]

A 52-year-old woman complained of lower back pain and gluteal pain in April 1997, and was found to have anemia, hypercalcemia and renal disorder. In September of the same year, she was diagnosed as having IgA-lambda myeloma (stage IIIA). VMMD-IFN therapy was started in November, 1997, and this resulted in improvement of the M-protein level, and relief of the pain in the lower back and gluteal region. A second course of VMMD-IFN therapy was also effective. In April 1998, however, the back pain worsened, and in July the patient suffered a fall and fractured her left femur. Upon readmission to our hospital, the level of M-protein was lower, and high fever, hypercalcemia, renal disorder, elevation of the LDH level, anemia and thrombocytopenia were observed. Bone marrow examination revealed 30% atypical large-sized CD19-, CD38+, CD56+ myeloma cells and chromosomal abnormalities. Although the symptoms were improved temporarily after a third course of VMMD therapy, disease aggravation occurred again, and extramedullary masses appeared on the head, face and pelvis. VAD therapy was performed without effect, and the patient died about 2 months after recurrence. This was a comparatively rare case of fulminant multiple myeloma occurring in the terminal stage.

Murine cytomegalovirus infection causes apoptosis of uninfected retinal cells

PURPOSE

To determine the role of apoptosis in prevention and/or exacerbation of retinal disease in a mouse model of cytomegalovirus retinitis.

METHODS

Immunocompetent or T-cell- depleted BALB/c mice were injected with murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) by supraciliary injection. On sequential days after infection, mice were killed, and eyes were harvested for cryosectioning or for DNA extraction. Ocular sections were stained with monoclonal antibodies specific for MCMV or for T cells or used in the TdT-dUTP terminal nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay to detect apoptotic cells.

RESULTS

In immunocompetent BALB/c mice, TUNEL assays revealed that a large area of the retina was apoptotic in relation to the relatively small number of MCMV-infected cells that were observed in the subjacent choroid and/or retinal pigment epithelium. In infected eyes from T-cell- depleted mice, there were more TUNEL-positive cells, and the areas of apoptosis were more extensive than in immunocompetent mice. These observations correlated with the increased extent of MCMV infection that is observed in the eyes of T-cell- depleted mice. However, irrespective of immune status, TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells were present mainly in areas of the retina overlying areas of MCMV-infected choroid and/or retinal pigment epithelium. More intense DNA laddering, indicative of increased apoptosis, was observed in the posterior segments of the eyes of T-cell- depleted mice after supraciliary inoculation with murine cytomegalovirus compared with less intense DNA laddering in the posterior segments of eyes of immunocompetent MCMV-infected mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The ability of the mouse's immune system to control MCMV infections in some tissues depends on induction of apoptosis in virus-infected cells. However, in the retina, cells undergoing apoptosis were not virus-infected, a finding that suggests that apoptosis of uninfected retinal cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of MCMV retinitis.

Detection and mapping of mismatched base pairs in DNA molecules by atomic force microscopy

Attempts were made to apply atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging to the detection and mapping of the sites of base substitutions in DNA molecules. In essence, DNA fragments to be examined for possible base substitutions were mixed with an equal amount of a corresponding DNA standard and subjected to heat denaturation and subsequent annealing. The reassociated DNA was incubated with MutS protein, a protein that recognizes and binds to mismatched base pairs in duplex DNA. Bound MutS protein molecules were then detected by AFM and their positions along the DNA molecules were determined by calculating the distance from one of the DNA termini, which had been tagged with a biotin-avidin complex. Base substitutions present in DNA molecules >1 kb were effectively detected by this procedure, and the positions determined were in good agreement with the actual mutation sites. This method is quite simple, has virtually no limitations on the size of DNA fragments to be examined and requires only a very small amount of DNA sample.

HTLV-1 unrelated adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma with unique phenotype and karyotype

We describe a unique case of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). The patient had typical clinicohematological features as ATL, but showed a lack of antibody to human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) and was negative for HTLV-1 proviral DNA in the peripheral mononuclear cells by means of polymerase chain reaction. The phenotype of tumor cells revealed CD7+, CD5+, CD2+, CD3+, WT31-, TcR delta 1-, CD4-, CD8-, CD25-, and the karyotype showed a 5q-, t(12;18). HTLV-1 unrelated ATL is very rare, and the karyotype as in our case has not been reported previously.

Natural killer cells prevent direct anterior-to-posterior spread of herpes simplex virus type 1 in the eye

PURPOSE

Anterior chamber (AC) inoculation of the KOS strain of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) results in morphologic sparing of the ipsilateral retina, whereas the retina of the uninoculated contralateral eye becomes infected and undergoes acute retinal necrosis. Natural killer (NK) cells are an important component of the primary immune response to most virus infections. The purpose of this study was to determine whether NK cells are involved in preventing early direct anterior-to-posterior spread of HSV-1 after AC inoculation.

METHODS

Normal BALB/c mice were inoculated with 4 X 10(4) plaque-forming units (PFU) of the KOS strain of HSV-1 using the AC route. NK activity was measured in the spleen, the superficial cervical and submandibular lymph nodes, and the inoculated eye by lysis of chromium-labeled, NK-sensitive YAC-1 target cells. Histopathologic scoring and immunohistochemical staining for HSV-1 were performed in NK-depleted (injected intravenously with anti-asialo GM1) or mock-depleted (injected intravenously with normal rabbit serum) mice.

RESULTS

In mock-depleted mice, NK activity in the spleens, superficial cervical and submandibular lymph nodes, and inoculated eyes peaked at postinoculation (pi) day 5 and declined by pi day 7. Treatment with anti-asialo GM1 eliminated NK activity in the eye and at nonocular sites. The histopathologic scores at pi day 5 indicated more damage to the retinas of NK-depleted mice than to those of mock-depleted mice, and immunohistochemical staining for HSV-1 showed spread of the virus to the sensory retina only in NK-depleted mice.

CONCLUSIONS

NK cells were activated within 5 days after AC inoculation of the KOS strain of HSV-1. Activation of NK cells appears to play a role in preventing direct anterior-to-posterior spread of the virus in the inoculated eye which, in turn, protects the retina of this eye and helps to explain why the architecture of the retina of this eye is spared.

Allelic diversity at class II DRB1 and DQB loci of the pig MHC (SLA)

The loci encoding the beta chain of the pig major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens, SLA-DR and -DQ, have been known to exhibit a remarkable degree of allelic polymorphism. Here, to understand the generation of SLA class II polymorphism, 25 SLA-DRB1 and 24 SLA-DQB genes including newly identified 12 SLA-DRB1 and 7 SLA-DQB genes obtained from miniature pigs were analyzed based on the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences. Most of the allelic diversity was attributed to the variable sequences which encode a beta1 domain consisting of a beta-pleated sheet followed by an a helix. In the beta1 domain coding region, there were four GC-rich sequences, which have been considered to involve the intra-exon sequence exchange also in other gene evolutions. The first and second GC-rich sequences were alpha-like sequences, which have been shown to be a putative recombination signal, and were stably conserved among SLA-DRB1 and DQB genes. These alpha-like sequences identified in SLA-DRB1 and SLA-DQB were found to encode the first turning point of the beta-pleated sheet and the boundary between the beta-pleated sheet and the alpha helix. Analysis of clustered sequence variation also suggested intra-exon gene conversions in which the alpha-like sequences act as putative breakpoints. In addition to point mutations and selection mechanism, intra-exon gene conversions must be an important mechanism in the generation of allelic polymorphism at the SLA-DRB1 and SLA-DQB.

Protection against murine cytomegalovirus retinitis by adoptive transfer of virus-specific CD8+ T cells

PURPOSE

Human cytomegalovirus retinitis, the most common ophthalmic infection of AIDS patients, has been modeled in BALB/c mice infected with murine cytomegalovirus by the supraciliary route. A series of depletion and adoptive transfer studies was performed to determine whether adoptive transfer of T cells protects mice from retinitis caused by murine cytomegalovirus infection after supraciliary inoculation and to determine which subset of T cells is responsible for protection.

METHODS

BALB/c mice were thymectomized and T cell-depleted by injection of monoclonal antibodies to CD4, CD8, or both. Murine cytomegalovirus (9 x 10(2) plaque forming units [pfu]) was injected into the supraciliary space. Experimental animals received murine cytomegalovirus-specific T cells or subsets of T cells 2 hours before virus injection, whereas control animals received herpes simplex virus type 1-specific T cells by tail vein injection. Eight days after virus injection, retinal pathology was scored by histopathologic examination of hematoxylin and eosin-stained ocular sections.

RESULTS

CD8+ T cell depletion was sufficient for development of retinitis after supraciliary injection of murine cytomegalovirus. Adoptive transfer of murine cytomegalovirus-specific T cells, but not herpes simplex virus type 1-specific T cells, provided protection from retinitis. Additionally, separation of the murine cytomegalovirus-specific T cells into CD8+ and CD4+ subsets before adoptive transfer showed that the CD8+ fraction of the adoptive T cells was responsible for protection.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that adoptive transfer of cytomegalovirus-specific T cells or T cell subsets might be used to treat or prevent cytomegalovirus retinitis in immunosuppressed human patients.

Diurnal variations and effects of fasting on blood constituents in minipigs

We examined the diurnal variations and the effects of 48-hour fasting on hematological and serum biochemical values to obtain basic physiological data on ten male and seven female Göttingen minipigs 6 to 16 months of age. For all hematological parameters examined (RBC, HCT, HGB, WBC and PLT), there was no diurnal variation in either sex, but red blood cell parameters were affected by fasting, with an increase in males and a decrease in females. Three serum biochemical parameters (GOT, UN and i.p.) for males and four (GOT, UN, Ca and i.p.) for females exhibited diurnal variation. These variations were eliminated by fasting. The BIL level in males was increased by fasting, and the color of serum was yellowish. Fe concentration in both sexes and CRE and Mg levels in males were decreased by fasting. These findings are basic data for various experiments on minipigs, and indicate that great care is required in establishing feeding times and fasting intervals and in the analysis of results of experiments on minipigs.

The effects of several nucleotides on the molecular state and catalytic activity of Thiobacillus novellus cytochrome c oxidase. ATP affects the oxidase uniquely

The catalytic activity and molecular aspects of Thiobacillus novellus cytpchrome c oxidase were affected by ATP. The steady-state kinetics in the oxidation of ferrocytochrome c by the oxidase varied with the presence or absence of ATP; the [S]-v curve of the reaction was sigmoid in the absence of ATP whereas it was a Michaelis-Menten-type hyperbola in the presence of 700 microM ATP. The oxidase was a dimer of the minimal structural subunit consisting of one molecule each of two subunits in the presence of Tween 20 and in the absence of ATP. The dimer dissociated into monomers in the presence of 700 microM ATP. The trough at 452 nm seen in the second derivative absorption spectrum of the CO compound of the oxidase in the absence of ATP, a characteristic of the cytochrome a component of cytochrome aa3, dissappeared in the presence of 700 microM ATP. However, ADP, AMP, GTP, CTP and UTP had little affect on both the [S]-v curve and the molecular mass of the oxidase when used in place of ATP.

Simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of propentofylline and its main metabolites in serum using a direct injection technique

A rapid, simple and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column-switching method with UV detection (270 nm) for the simultaneous determination of propentofylline and its metabolites in human and rat sera was developed. The method involves direct injection of serum onto an HPLC column, which contains a shielded hydrophobic stationary phase for the separation of analytes from proteins in serum, and then loading the analytes onto a short octadecylsilylated silica gel (ODS) column using a switching valve. Propentofylline and its three metabolites in serum were separated from the serum components within 30 min after the injection. The detection limits (S/N = 3) of analytes spiked in human and rat sera ranged from 0.08 to 0.57 nmol/mL, and the net volume of serum used was 20 microL. The relative standard deviations for within- and between-day variations using rat serum were less than 4.3 and 5.6%, respectively. The method was used to determine propentofylline and its main metabolites in rat serum after a single intravenous dose of propentofylline (5 mg/kg).

Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability for assessment of diurnal variation of autonomic nervous activity in miniature swine

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSES

The purpose of the study was to document diurnal variation of autonomic nervous functions by use of power spectral analysis of heart rate (HR) variability.

METHODS

To clarify characteristics of power spectral analysis of HR variability, electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure (BP), and respiratory (Resp) waveform simultaneously were recorded.

RESULTS

Two major spectral components were examined at low (LF)- and high (HF)-frequency bands for HR variability. Coherence between HR and Resp variabilities and HR and BP variabilities was maximal at approximately 0.14 and 0.03 Hz, respectively. On the basis of these data, two frequency bands of interest--LF (0.01 to 0.07 Hz) and HF (0.07 to 1.0 Hz)--were defined. Autonomic blockade studies indicated that the parasympathetic system mediated the HF and LF components, whereas the sympathetic system mediated only the LF component; HR had a diurnal pattern. The LF and HF bands in the dark phase tended to be higher than those in the light phase. The LF-to-HF ratio had a diurnal pattern similar to that of the HR.

CONCLUSION

Parasympathetic nervous activity in miniature swine may be predominant in the dark phase. The characteristics of power spectra and diurnal variations of autonomic nervous functions are almost the same as those of humans. Therefore, miniature swine may be a useful animal model for future biobehavioral and pharmacotoxicologic studies.

Differential interleukin 12 responsiveness for interferon gamma production in advanced stages of cancer patients correlates with performance status

Interleukin 12 (IL-12) has been shown to exhibit potent antitumor activity in murine tumor models through various mechanisms including the capacity to stimulate IFN-gamma production by T cells and natural killer cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the efficacy of IL-12 in inducing IFN-gamma secretion in cancer patients. A comparison was made between healthy individuals who served as controls and cancer patients for IFN-gamma production induced after the stimulation of whole blood samples with 1000 pg/ml IL-12. Samples from all healthy individuals showed positive IL-12 responsiveness. Approximately half of the samples from patients displayed levels of IFN-gamma production comparable to those observed for controls, whereas the rest of the samples exhibited almost-null responses. The incidences for reduced capacity of IFN-gamma production and null IL-12 responsiveness in cancer patients at all cancer stages or at a given advanced stage (stage IV) increased along with performance status. However, these correlated with neither the number of lymphocytes contained in the blood samples nor the tumor types. When peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from patient blood samples showing null/marginal responses, and their responsiveness was examined, 7 of 13 samples exhibited positive responses. Whereas enhanced tumor necrosis factor alpha production was also observed in some patients after IL-12 stimulation, the elevation of tumor necrosis factor alpha was induced only in blood samples that showed IL-12-stimulated IFN-gamma production. These observations indicate that a remarkable difference exists in IL-12 reactivity among cancer patients, and that differential IL-12 responsiveness depends largely on performance status.

Computed tomographic findings in non-specific interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis

The entity of non-specific interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis (NIP) has recently been recognized as an addition to the current classification of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, which includes usual interstitial pneumonia, desquamative interstitial pneumonia, diffuse alveolar damage, and bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia. We studied the computed tomographic (CT) findings of nine NIP patients who were diagnosed pathologically. The main findings were ground glass opacities (66.7%), airspace consolidation (88.9%) and reticular opacities (89.7%), distributed predominantly in the bilateral and lower lung. In all cases, the clinical and abnormal opacification observed on the chest CT was improved by the administration of corticosteroid. Both the subpleural and patchy distributed opacifications predominantly in the bilateral and lower lung, and the good response to treatment may help to differentiate non-specific interstitial pneumonia from other types of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.

Cloning and characterization of a new swine MHC (SLA) class II DQB allele

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of pigs is known as swine leukocyte antigen (SLA). The cDNA encoding a new allele of SLA class II DQ beta-chain was successfully isolated from a CSK miniature pig (derived from Göttingen strain) and characterized by sequence analyses. SLA-DQB cDNA fragment encoding beta 2-domain was amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction using the sequences preserved in a various vertebrates as primers. Using non-radioisotope technique with the PCR product as a probe, cDNA clone G01 was isolated from a spleen cDNA library, and nucleotide sequence of this clone was determined. This clone encompassed a whole SLA-DQ beta-chain coding region, containing a total length of 1161 nucleotides with an open reading frame (ORF) of 786 nucleotides, 5' untranslated region of 15 nucleotides, and 3' untranslated region of 360 nucleotides ending with a canonical polyadenylation signal, followed by a poly A tail. Sequence comparisons of the ORF of this clone with those of known SLA-DQB genes confirmed that this clone is a new allele (SLA-DQB*G01). Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of swine, human, and murine MHC class II genes indicated that SLA-DQB was more similar to HLA-DQB1 than H-2A beta. Comparison of the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences among SLA-DQB alleles showed that the SLA-DQ beta-chain polymorphism was found almost in beta 1-domain which contains the antigenic peptide binding sites.

Complete amino acid sequence of chitinase-A from leaves of pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

The complete amino acid sequence of pokeweed leaf chitinase-A was determined. First all 11 tryptic peptides from the reduced and S-carboxymethylated form of the enzyme were sequenced. Then the same form of the enzyme was cleaved with cyanogen bromide, giving three fragments. The fragments were digested with chymotrypsin or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. Last, the 11 tryptic peptides were put in order. Of seven cysteine residues, six were linked by disulfide bonds (between Cys25 and Cys74, Cys89 and Cys98, and Cys195 and Cys208); Cys176 was free. The enzyme consisted of 208 amino acid residues and had a molecular weight of 22,391. It consisted of only one polypeptide chain without a chitin-binding domain. The length of the chain was almost the same as that of the catalytic domains of class IL chitinases. These findings suggested that this enzyme is a new kind of class IIL chitinase, although its sequence resembles that of catalytic domains of class IL chitinases more than that of the class IIL chitinases reported so far. Discussion on the involvement of specific tryptophan residue in the active site of PLC-A is also given based on the sequence similarity with rye seed chitinase-c.

Establishment of a 24-hour electrocardiogram recording system using a Holter recorder for miniature swine

A Holter recording system was established for the Göttingen miniature swine. For this purpose, we first developed a jacket to hold a Holter recording set, and subsequently determined a bipolar lead suitable for obtaining stable electrocardiogram (ECG) recording without artifacts. To make the jacket, we measured the lengths of eight sites of the body of 14 miniature swine. Several types of jackets were made and tested. We observed the behaviour of animals with these jackets by videotape recorder (VTR) recording. These observations permitted development of a jacket suitable for Holter recording. The jacket permits easy placement of the recorder, and long-term ECG recording can be performed without difficulty. In order to determine a suitable lead for long-term recording, we recorded ECGs from six adult miniature swine using three types of leads, the M-X, R-L and A-B leads. The R-L lead frequently exhibited baseline drift, and QRS complexes often disappeared in this lead due to low amplitude. ECG recording with the M-X and A-B leads was of sufficient quality to permit analysis. This system is expected to be useful for further cardiovascular research in miniature swine.

Motion assimilation for expansion/contraction and rotation and its spatial properties

In a two-frame apparent motion display, a test grating was displaced horizontally or vertically in the presence of an inducer of which component gratings made up expanding/contracting or rotational motion as a whole. In the first experiment, we demonstrated that motion assimilation did occur for the test accompanied by the two-dimensional motion of the inducer. In the second experiment, we showed that the spatial limit of motion assimilation for expansion/contraction or rotation was large, extending over at least a visual angle of 14-21 deg in diameter, but spatial summation did not occur within the limit. The results were discussed in terms of the interaction between local motion detectors and higher-order detectors which monitor global motion of the whole stimulus pattern.

Increased tissue factor pathway inhibitor in patients with acute myocardial infarction

We examined hemostatic abnormalities in 23 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 10 with pulmonary embolism (PE), and 10 with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). At the onset of AMI, plasma levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), PA inhibitor-I (PAI-I), fibrin-D-dimer, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), and plasmin-plasmin inhibitor complex (PPIC) were significantly increased. Both the plasma total TFPI and free-TFPI levels in the AMI patients were significantly higher than those in the healthy volunteers, PE patients, and DVT patients. There was no significant difference in total TFPI or free-TFPI among patients with PE, those with DVT, and healthy volunteers. One hour after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in the AMI group, the total TFPI level was further increased, and it was significantly reduced 24 hr after PTCA, to a level similar to that in healthy volunteers. Free-TFPI showed a pattern similar to that of total TFPI. The ratio of free-TFPI/total TFPI was highest 1 hr after PTCA. Increased TFPI in AMI patients might be released from ischemic tissues.

Pure amnesia caused by bilateral temporal lobe astrocytoma--case report

A 32-year-old male presented with progressive pure amnesia caused by astrocytoma invading the bilateral medial temporal lobes. Methionine positron emission tomography demonstrated the extent of tumor invasion well. His memory impairment was partially improved by treatment for the astrocytoma. Lesion of the bilateral hippocampus causes memory impairment, but pure memory loss without other associated neurological sign or deterioration of consciousness is rare in a case of cerebral neoplasm.

In vivo effect of recombinant human leukemia inhibitory factor in primates

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is known to be a causative factor for cachexia and thrombocytosis in nude mice bearing human cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated whether recombinant human (rh) LIF can induce these biological activities in a primate model. rhLIF was synthesized by the expression of LIF protein in Escherichia coli. rhLIF (5, 20, or 80 micrograms/kg) was administered subcutaneously twice daily to cynomolgus monkeys for 14 consecutive days. A remarkable decrease of body weight (10%) was observed in the 80 micrograms/kg/day group. Approximately two-fold increases in platelet counts were observed at doses higher than 5 micrograms/kg/day when compared with control counts. These biological effects disappeared soon after the cessation of rhLIF treatment. Macroscopically, a remarkable reduction in subcutaneous fatty tissues and severe splenomegaly were observed. The results of this study demonstrate that rhLIF induces weight loss and thrombocytosis in a primate model.