Immunogenetic background of hepatitis B virus infection and autoimmune hepatitis in Japan

Human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-typing was studied in 82 hepatitis B carriers and 15 cases of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) to elucidate the genetic factors which may associated with the etio-pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis in Japan. There were two types of HLA phenotypes: HLA A2 was associated with the progression of the disease induced by HBV infection, and HLA A26 and DR5 were related to the retardation of the disease. A family study confirmed the strong association of these HLA phenotypes with the disease induced by HBV infection. In the analysis of AIH, HLA DR4 is a risk factor related to susceptibility of Japanese AIH which shows different clinical manifestations compared to HLA-DR3-positive AIH, dominantly observed in Western countries. These results suggest that genetic background as expressed by HLA, is an important factor in restricting the development of type B hepatitis and AIH, and can explain racial differences of disease susceptibility.

[Association of pre-core defective HBV mutant with anti-HBe positive chronic hepatitis]

Precore defective HBV mutant has been suggested to be responsible for the pathogenesis of fulminant hepatitis. This variant is unable to produce HBeAg because of the presence of a novel translational stop codon at the end of the precore region of the genome. We examined the precore region of the HBV nucleotide sequence in 12 Japanese anti-HBe positive chronic hepatitis patients in order to ascertain whether the genome has stop-codon mutation in the precore region. Precore defective HBV mutant was found in most of the examined cases. A few cases had a mixture of strains, wild type and precore defective HBV mutant. The variety of precore genome concerned with the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis still needs to be clarified.

Establishment of the human BSMZ breast cancer cell line, which overexpresses the erbB-2 and c-myc genes

A new cell line, designated BSMZ, was established from a malignant pleural effusion from a woman with breast cancer. This line has a doubling time of 27 h and has now been cultured for over 120 passages. The large, rounded BSMZ cells grow as both a monolayer and as aggregations in suspension. Intracytoplasmic lumen, a finding consistent with results from cells derived from mammary tissue, was detected on ultrastructural analysis. Injection of BSMZ cells into nude mice resulted in the growth of solid tumors 4 weeks after inoculation. The solid tumor was identical to the original BSMZ cells in microscopic and electron microscopic studies. These cells possess an average of 80 chromosomes. Expression of erbB-2 and c-myc genes was increased by 10-fold, while there was no detectable overexpression of the N-ras and c-myb genes. Southern analysis has revealed amplification of the erbB-2 and c-myc loci. The BSMZ cell line may therefore provide a useful model for the study of human breast cancer and overexpression of the erbB-2 gene.

The effects of recombinant interleukin 2 on HBe antigen positive chronic hepatitis B

Recombinant interleukin (IL-2) was administered to 16 patients with HBe antigen-positive chronic active hepatitis in which the diagnosis was ascertained histologically. In 7 of the 16 patients, a decrement of the serum HBe antigen value was observed (Group A). In group A, the findings showed an increment of peripheral Leu 11-positive cells and NK and LAK cell activity, an acute exacerbation during and after IL-2 administration, disappearance of HBc antigen observed in liver biopsy histology, and decrement of serum DNA-p activity. However, seroconversion of HBs antigen was not observed and no case showed the elimination status of continuous HB virus infection. On the other hand, in the other 9 patients (Group B), these changes were not observed and the existence of a HLA type difference between Group A and B was shown by HLA analysis. These results indicated that the immune responses mediated by IL-2 may play an important role in the development of chronic hepatitis B, and these results may be regulated genetically.

Ultrastructure of IL2-stimulated tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes showing cytolytic activity against tumor cells

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) obtained from tumor tissue and pleural effusion of breast carcinoma were cultured with interleukin-2 (IL2) and thus activated. The ultrastructure of TIL stimulated by IL2 to kill various breast carcinoma cells was then investigated. Freshly isolated TIL cultured with autologous tumor cells for 48 h without IL2 were small, round and showed neither binding to nor killing of tumor cells. TIL stimulated to proliferate by IL2 became effector cells and showed cytotoxicity against tumor cells. Ultrastructurally, the effector TIL resembled large granular lymphocytes, and adhered to tumor cells through interdigitation or close apposition of the two plasma membranes accompanied by spot-like close membrane contacts. At the site of each spot-like contact, there was a 5-nm intercellular space. The morphology of the TIL processes did not differ from those of LAK and other CTL or NK cell processes during contact, invagination or the killing of target cells. The granules in TIL were considered to participate in the cytotoxic effect. Phenotypically heterogeneous TIL, CD8+/CD57- and CD8+/CD57+, adhered to autologous tumor cells and MCF7 (human breast carcinoma cell line). However, it was unclear which cell or cells acted as the effector for tumor-cell killing.

[The effect of local administration of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) on metastatic gastric tumor: report of an autopsy case]

The case is reported in which local administration of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) was successfully performed. A 54 year-old female who was operated on for advanced gastric cancer 15 years ago suffered from dyspnea and swelling of left anterior cervical lymph nodes. The histological examination of the cervical lymph node biopsied and cytological finding of pleural effusion confirmed the metastasis of adenocarcinoma. 11 x 10(6) unit of rIL-2 (S6820, Shionogi) per day was administered into the pleural cavity 8 times per month and this therapy was successful in decreasing a amount of pleural effusion. Simultaneously the number of tumor cells in pleural effusion was diminished, the CEA level in pleural effusion were also decreased and the LAK activities of prepared lymphocyte from pleural effusion were augmented. 6.5 x 10(6) unit of rIL-2 was also administered per day locally into the left anterior cervical lymph nodes 13 times per month and induced the decrease of lymph node swelling. A slight fever which can be controlled with antipyretic agent easily was only symptom after local administration of rIL-2. Besides the success of these treatment, the general condition gradually deteriorated. She died 6 month after admission. The autopsy revealed that only one anterior cervical lymph node was slightly enlarged and there is a few tumor cells in the lymphatic sinus. No other lymph node was found around the cervical area. There are a prominent pleural fibrous adhesion including only a few tumor cells infiltrated. These findings strongly indicated the clinical usefulness of local administration of rIL-2.

The effect of bilirubin on biliary lipid secretion: analysis by horseradish peroxidase associated intrahepatic vesicular transport system

The mechanism of biliary lipid secretion is still controversial and there is no definite information regarding how bilirubin inhibits biliary phospholipid and cholesterol secretions without affecting bile salt secretion. In this study, the effects of bilirubin on intrahepatic vesicular transport and biliary lipid secretion were examined using bile-fistula rats. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used as a tracer of intrahepatic vesicular transport. Bilirubin (5 mg/100 g BW) and/or HRP (5 mg/100 gBW) were injected through the mesenteric vein. Bile flow, biliary bile acid, biliary phospholipid and cholesterol outputs were examined in saline, HRP and HRP + bilirubin groups, respectively. Bile flow and biliary bile acid output were not affected by bilirubin administration. Biliary phospholipid and cholesterol as well as biliary HRP outputs were inhibited just after bilirubin administration, 42.8 +/- 6.1 SD% 47.7 +/- 5.1 SD%, and 33.4 +/- 3.8 SD%, respectively. These results suggested the participation of intrahepatic vesicular transport system in the inhibition of biliary lipid secretion by bilirubin and in its secretory mechanism.

Triton WR-1339-induced changes in serum lipids and biliary lipid secretion

Biliary lipid secretion rates were measured in fed rats after an intravenous injection of Triton WR-1339 (TWR, 60 mg/100 g body wt), an agent that inhibits lipoprotein removal from the circulation. Serum triglyceride, phospholipid (PL), and cholesterol (CH) concentrations rose within 3 h of TWR to 45, 6.6, and 10 times control values, respectively, at 24-36 h. Serum lipids fell rapidly at 48 h and were normal by 72-96 h after TWR. TWR did not alter bile flow, hepatic bile acid transport, or biliary bile acid output. Within 0.5 h of TWR, biliary PL and CH outputs fell greater than 70%, and taurocholate-stimulated biliary PL secretion was markedly reduced. Biliary PL and CH secretion rates were approximately 30 and approximately 40% suppressed, respectively, 24 h after TWR, 160 and 330% elevated, respectively, at 48 h, and normally by 72 h, despite normal taurocholate-stimulated biliary PL secretion. Biliary beta-glucuronidase secretion (a lysosomal enzyme) was unchanged for 3 h after TWR but was increased at 24, 48, and 72 h, independent of biliary lipid secretion. Thus TWR acutely dissociates bile acid from lipid secretion without impairing bile acid transport or biliary lysosomal discharge. Late changes in biliary lipid secretion relate closely to TWR-induced change in serum lipid metabolism but not to stimulation of biliary lysosomal discharge.