[Adhesion molecular and markers on endothelial cells]

Leukocyte endothelial cell interactions are mediated by adhesion molecules expressed on leukocytes and endothelial cells, resulting in extravasation of leukocytes and activation of the immune system. On the basis of the experiment using a murine endothelial cell line, F-2, the authors will review two issues; 1) the adhesion systems applied for endothelial cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes, and 2) production of cytokines in endothelial cells.

[A case of systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with myelofibrosis as a cause of pancytopenia]

A 54 year-old woman who had a 6 month history of polyarthralgias, oral ulcers, weight loss and fatigue was admitted to the Urawa Municipal Hospital. She developed high fever, dyspnea and thrombocytopenia. Chest radiograph revealed massive right pleural effusion. At this time, laboratory investigations gave the following results: hemoglobin 12.7 g/dl, WBC 7700/microliters and platelet count 9.2 x 10(4)/microliters. Antibody to DNA was negative. Antinuclear antibody was positive at a titer of 320x in a centromere pattern; Anti-RNP and anti-Sm antibodies were negative. CH50 was 18.6 u/ml. C3 was 42.9 mg/dl. C4 was 11.5 mg/dl. Circulating immune complex (Clq) was 30.5 micrograms/ml. Circulating lupus anti-coagulant and anticardiolipine antibodies were positive. Thoracocentesis was performed; the material was a straw-colored exudate with over two thousands white cell per ul and showed marked reduction of complement titiers and elevated immune complex levels. She was then diagnosis as having SLE. Two weeks after admission, progressive leukopenia and anemia succeedingly occurred and resulted in severe pancytopenia. Bone marrow biopsy demonstrated marked marrow fibrosis and increased reticulin content with no evidence of malignancy. Steroid pulse therapy for 3 days started, and subsequently she was treated with 60 mg/day of prednisolone. Three weeks after starting on steroids, the massive pleural effusion was completely disappeared and complement titiers were normalized. Circulating immune complex has not been detected any more. After 8 weeks, the peripheral blood count was normalized. The dose of prednisolone was reduced progressively. On this occasion, the biopsy showed normocullular marrow with a marked reduction in the amount of reticulin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Changes in neuropeptide-containing nerves in human colonic mucosa with inflammatory bowel disease

The distribution abnormality of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing nerves (VIP-nerves) and substance P-containing nerves (SP-nerves) was immunohistochemically investigated in the colonic mucosa with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in relation to colonic glands and blood vessels in the lamina propria. In active ulcerative colitis (UC), VIP- and SP-nerves decreased in severe inflammatory lesions. VIP-nerves were almost absent particularly around crypt abscesses. Even in resolving and quiescent UC, VIP-nerves still decreased, depending on the decrease of glands and blood vessels. On the other hand, both nerves increased in some hypervascular lesions. In the uninvolved mucosa of UC, they did not change their distribution. In Crohn's disease, the distribution abnormality of both nerves resembled that of UC. These results suggest that the changes in VIP- and SP-nerve distributions in the mucosa with IBD are subsequent to mucosal inflammation and damage. However, these peptides are known to be immunoregulators, and their distribution abnormalities may induce the disorder of immunoregulation in the IBD mucosa and cause the mucosal damage and/or chronicity.

[Urachal cyst with stone: a case report]

A 52-year-old woman complained of persistent discharge from an umbilicus which she had for 18 years. Abdominal X-ray showed a stone-like shadow measuring 5 x 3 cm at the 5th lumbar spine. Cystoscopic examination revealed a hole at the dome of the bladder and a ureteral catheter was inserted approximately 3 cm through the hole. Computerized tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a cyst communicating to the umbilicus and bladder. The preoperative diagnosis was a patient urachus associated with stone. Urachal cyst containing a stone was removed and partial cystectomy was performed. The stone was a mixture of magnesium ammonium phosphate and calcium phosphate. Pathological examination showed no evidence of malignancy. More than 210 cases of urachal cyst have been reported in Japan. About 10% of the cases were associated with stones.

Electrophysiological and behavioral studies of taste discrimination in the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)

Electrophysiological and behavioral experiments were performed to determine whether the taste system of the aquatic salamander, axolotl, discriminates taste stimuli. Taste responses were recorded extracellularly from the glossopharyngeal nerve bundle. The behavioral responses of axolotls towards various concentrations of NaCl, KCl, citric acid, quinine-hydrochloride, and sucrose were quantified by measuring the ratio of rejection towards gel pellets, each containing either unitary stimuli or binary mixtures of these chemicals. Rejection ratios [rejection/(rejection+swallowing)] towards the unitary stimuli except sucrose increased with concentration, but were not a single function of the magnitude of neural response induced by the stimuli. Degree of rejection was different depending on the quality of taste stimuli, suggesting that information processing of taste quality occurs in axolotls. The potential of NaCl to induce positive feeding behavior (swallowing) was suggested by a reduction in the rejection ratio of quinine-tainted pellets when they were mixed with 100 mM NaCl. Differential behavioral responses to quinine and NaCl show that axolotls have the ability to discriminate the taste quality of these stimuli.

[Aspiration cytology of salivary gland lesions--analysis of 55 cases]

Aspiration cytology of 55 salivary gland lesions (10 cases of non-neoplastic lesions, 36 cases of benign tumors and 9 cases of malignant tumors) were reviewed with histologic examination. Accuracy of benign and malignancy was 91.8% (benign lesion 97.6%, malignant tumor 57.1%), accuracy rates was almost of satisfactory for benign lesions, but not for malignant tumors. Agreement rate with histological type was 73.5%. One case (1.8%) was false positive, basal cell adenoma with adenoid cystic like pattern was falsely taken for adenoid cystic carcinoma. Three false negative cases (5.5%) consist of 1 acinic cell carcinoma, 1 adenoid cystic carcinoma with minimum cellular atypia and 1 partial malignant change (minor area) in pleomorphic adenoma. Six cases (10.9%) belong to group of insufficient material. Technical improvement of cell sampling is expected.

Failure to detect brown adipose tissue uncoupling protein mRNA in benign symmetric lipomatosis (Madelung's disease)

We report a case of benign symmetric lipomatosis with hypothyroidism. Functional abnormalities and distribution of lipomas in benign symmetric lipomatosis suggest that the lipomas in this disorder may represent brown adipose tissue. In conditions where mRNAs of uncoupling protein, which is believed to be unique for brown adipose tissue mitochondria, were detected in one microgram of poly (A+) rat brown fat RNA, no signal at all was found in the lipomatous tissue, suggesting that the masses of benign symmetric lipomatosis are not functional brown adipose tissue.

Establishment of a human T-cell line with deficient surface expression of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins from a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria

A novel interleukin-2 dependent T-cell line, PMT-2Y, was established from the peripheral blood of a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) by human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-mediated transformation. PMT-2Y cells are positive for CD2, CD3, CD4, CD25, T cell receptor alpha beta and HLA-DR, but negative for CD1, CD7, CD8, CD19 and CD20, indicating that the clone belongs to a helper/inducer subset of T cells. PMT-2Y cells have the monoclonal integration of HTLV-I proviral DNA, suggesting that they derived from a single clone. Moreover, they lack surface expression of complement regulatory proteins such as DAF (CD55) and CD59, that are the most important glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored membrane proteins defective in haemopoietic cells of patients with PNH. Northern blot analysis, however, revealed the production of normal levels of DAF mRNAs. Thus, PMT-2Y is derived from a PNH T cell clone and may be a useful model to study PNH.

Acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) associated with extreme infiltration of eosinophils

A remarkable infiltration of eosinophils was observed in skin biopsy specimens in two cases of Sweet's syndrome. One patient was a 29-year-old woman, whose clinical and histological features included associated asthma, a prior respiratory tract infection, red plaques, blood eosinophilia, and a dense dermal infiltrate of neutrophils and eosinophils, without evidence of vasculitis. The other patient was a 61-year-old man characterized by a fever, red plaques, erythema nodosum-like lesions, hepatic dysfunction, a dermal infiltrate of neutrophils accompanied by eosinophils, and a subcutaneous prominent infiltrate of eosinophils. Clinical and histological evidence supported the diagnosis of Sweet's syndrome in both of these patients. While the literature describes eosinophil infiltration in this disease, extreme eosinophil infiltration could be misleading in the diagnosis.

Cytostatin, a novel inhibitor of cell adhesion to components of extracellular matrix produced by Streptomyces sp. MJ654-NF4. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological activities

Cytostatin has been identified as a novel inhibitor of cell adhesion to components of extracellular matrix (ECM) in cultured broth of Streptomyces sp. MJ654-NF4. Though cytostatin did not inhibit EL-4 cell adhesion to ECM components such as laminin and fibronectin; it inhibited the adhesion of B16 melanoma cells to laminin and collagen type IV but not to fibronectin. It exhibited antimetastatic activity on B16 melanoma cells in mice. The cytotoxicity of cytostatin are also reported.

Inhibition of murine AIDS (MAIDS), development by the transplantation of bone marrow cells carrying the Fv-4 resistance gene to MAIDS virus-infected mice

To examine whether the resistance allele of the Fv-4 gene (the Fv-4r gene) is a dominant inhibitory-product-encoding gene which an be used to prevent the development of murine AIDS (MAIDS), bone marrow cells from BALB/c-Fv-4wr mice were transplanted into BALB/c mice and C57BL/6 mice infected with MAIDS virus. Almost all of the virus-infected BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice developed MAIDS within 4 months and died 2 or 3 months later. However, when the virus-infected mice were subjected to cobalt irradiation and then given an intravenous injection of 10(7) BALB/c-Fv-4wr mouse bone marrow cells, the recipient mice survived much longer than the untreated mice, which suggests that the Fv-4 gene is a dominant inhibitory gene that is potentially useful in gene therapy of MAIDS.

[Effect of vesnarinone on the myocardial force-length relationship in the in situ canine left ventricle]

The left ventricular (LV) end-systolic force-diameter (Fes-Des) relationship was used to examine the effect of a new positive inotropic agent (vesnarinone) on the contractility of the beta-blocked canine left ventricle. Seven adult mongrel dogs were implanted with ultrasonic crystals to measure the LV diameter and a micromanometer to measure LV pressure. Beta-adrenergic and vagal blockades were induced with intravenous propranolol (2 mg/kg) and atropine (0.2 mg/kg), respectively, and preload was decreased by inferior vena caval occlusion. The slope (Ec) and extrapolated diameter intercept (Do) of the LV Fes-Des relationship were derived from the end-systolic data obtained in the control, beta-blocked state, after sulfolane infusion, and after infusion of vesnarinone (3 mg/kg) dissolved in sulfolane. Ec was used as a new index of LV myocardial contractility. After vesarinone infusion, the LV Fes-Des relationship seemed to be nearly linear, and its Ec value was significantly increased by 18% (68.4 +/- 15.4 vs 80.4 +/- 21.8 g/cm, p < 0.05) without changes in heart rate, whereas Do did not change (1.74 +/- 0.44 vs. 1.70 +/- 0.42 cm). These results indicate that vesnarinone significantly enhances myocardial contractility in the beta-blocked canine left ventricle.

Circadian variation in fibrinolytic activity in patients with variant angina

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery spasm induces activation of the coagulation system. Turnover and maintenance of thrombus depend not only on formation but also on lysis. The relation between coronary spasm and fibrinolytic system has not been elucidated.

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether there is impairment of or a circadian variation in fibrinolytic activity in patients with variant angina.

METHODS

Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity and concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen were measured in venous plasma samples taken at 2200, 0600, and 1400 and 24 h Holter tapes were recorded in 15 patients with variant angina, 12 patients with stable exertional angina, and 12 controls.

RESULTS

There were significant circadian variations in PAI activity and t-PA antigen with peak values at 0600 in all three groups. Mean (SEM) PAI activity (IU/ml) at 2200, 0600, and 1400 was 6.1 (1.1), 11.0 (1.3), and 4.4 (0.6) in the variant angina group; 1.8 (0.7), 5.6 (1.1), and 1.2 (0.3) in the stable exertional angina group; and 1.1 (0.5), 4.5 (0.8), and 0.7 (0.3) in the control group. Furthermore, both plasma PAI activity and t-PA antigen concentrations were significantly higher in the variant angina group than in the stable exertional angina group and the control group at each sampling time.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with variant angina there was a circadian variation in fibrinolytic activity, which was lowest in the early morning, and impaired fibrinolytic activity particularly in the early morning, when attacks of angina occur most frequently.

Generation and characterization of a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) mutant resistant to an HIV-1 protease inhibitor

A synthetic peptide, RPI 312, that specifically inhibits the protease of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) showed a potent inhibition on virus production, maturation, and infectivity. Treatment with this agent prevented the cleavage of Gag protein at the site between p17 and p24 in HIV-1 chronically infected MOLT-4 cells as well as in the released virus. Passage of HIV-1 in the presence of gradually increasing concentrations of this protease inhibitor resulted in emergence of a variant that could evade the drug effects. In the resistant variant the maturation of Gag proteins appeared normal, but its infectivity was reduced compared with that of the parent virus. The nucleotides coding the amino acids at and around the cleavage site between Gag proteins p17 and p24 were not changed. One point mutation (A-->G) at site 2082 of the pol gene that resulted in one amino acid change at site 84 of the protease from isoleucine to valine (I-84-->V) could be detected in the resistant variant. An HIV-1 infectious DNA clone with the I-84-->V mutation also showed reduced sensitivity to this protease inhibitor. The findings that the resistant variant had lower infectivity and was still affected by higher doses of the drug support the speculation that resistance to protease inhibitors may not be as problematic as other drug resistance.

Concurrent development of hemiplegia and angina pectoris in a 46-year-old man with familial hypercholesterolemia and elevated serum Lp(a) concentrations

We report a 46-year-old man with familial hypercholesterolemia who simultaneously developed angina pectoris and left hemiplegia. Angiography revealed complete tapering occlusion of the right internal carotid artery and a 75% stenosis of the right coronary artery. In addition to hypercholesterolemia, his serum Lp(a) levels were very high, with a mean (+/- SE) of 62 +/- 2 mg/dl.

Elevated plasma interleukin-6 levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a key role in the synthesis of human acute-phase protein and several acute-phase responses occur in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We examined the plasma levels of IL-6 in 23 consecutive patients with AMI over the course of 4 weeks and in 30 control subjects. In patients with AMI, the plasma IL-6 levels (in picograms per milliliter) were increased at all sampling points from admission to discharge (ranging from 28.5 +/- 6.6 to 46.5 +/- 7.8) compared with levels in control subjects (11.4 +/- 2.9; p < 0.01). Cardiac catheterization did not influence plasma IL-6 levels. The plasma IL-6 level reached its peak approximately 3 days (46.5 +/- 7.8) and approximately 1 week after admission in patients with AMI. There was a significant positive linear correlation between the peak level of plasma IL-6 minus the level on admission and the peak level of plasma C-reactive protein in patients with AMI. The peak IL-6 level did not correlate with the peak levels of creatine kinase, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, or left ventricular ejection fraction at 4 weeks. We conclude that the plasma IL-6 level is increased over a time course of 4 weeks in patients with AMI.

Prevention of type I diabetes with lymphotoxin in BB rats

We previously reported that nonspecific immunomodulations with a streptococcal preparation (OK-432), an inducer of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), or with recombinant TNF prevented development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in animal models (NOD mice and BB rats). Recently we have further reported that lymphotoxin (LT), a cytokine with functional and structural characteristics similar to those of TNF, also protected NOD mice from diabetes. In this study, we have extended our observation on the LT to BB rats. Male and female BB/Wor rats were treated intraperitoneally with recombinant human LT three times a week from 4 to 11 weeks of age. The cumulative incidence of diabetes by 14 weeks of age was 24/30 (80.0%) in nontreated control rats, whereas it was 10/26 (38.5% vs control, P < 0.01) and 4/29 (13.8% vs control, P < 0.0001) in the rats treated with 1 x 10(3) and 1 x 10(4) of LT, respectively. There was no significant difference in nonfasting blood glucose levels and body weights between nontreated control and LT-treated rats, which were nondiabetic. In the LT-treated rats, intensity of insulitis was significantly reduced in comparison with the nontreated rats. Concanavalin A-stimulated TNF/LT productivity of spleen cells was significantly lower in BB/Wor and BB/Sendai rats than in Wistar rats or other normal rat strains. On the other hand, there was no difference between BB/Sendai and Wistar rats in the in vivo TNF/LT productivity induced with LPS or with IFN-gamma plus LPS, and the TNF/LT productivity of these rats was lower on stimulation with LPS alone, but higher with IFN-gamma plus LPS than the other normal rats. These results indicate that treatment with LT, as well as TNF, modulated autoimmunity and prevented development of IDDM in BB/Wor rats which may be low producers of TNF/LT.

Expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in adult periodontal disease: increased monocyte chemotactic activity in crevicular fluids and induction of MCP-1 expression in gingival tissues

The present study shows that monocyte chemotactic activity in crevicular fluids increases with severity of the disease and that a monocyte chemoattractant, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), is expressed as the predominant cytokine of gingival tissues and their fibroblasts treated with Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (P-LPS). High monocyte chemotactic activity in the crevicular fluids was neutralized significantly by antiserum specific for the JE/MCP-1 protein. Marked expression of the MCP-1 gene was observed in the gingival tissues of all adult periodontal patients tested, but not in those of healthy subjects. Monocyte chemotactic activity was observed in culture supernatants of human normal gingival tissues treated with P-LPS, and the chemotactic activity increased in a dose-related manner. Expression of MCP-1 in P-LPS-treated human gingival fibroblasts was further examined. P-LPS induced the MCP-1 gene expression in a dose- and treatment time-dependent manner. The MCP-1 gene product in the culture supernatant was detected as two forms with molecular masses of 11,000 and 15,000 Da by immunoprecipitation with the specific antiserum. The MCP-1 gene expression was induced in the fibroblasts treated with interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha, but not with interleukin-6. These results suggest that gingival fibroblasts can participate in monocyte recruitment in gingival tissues of adult periodontal patients via the MCP-1 gene product and that MCP-1 plays an important role in the inflammatory reaction in the disease.

Quantitative measurement of hemosiderin deposition in tissue sections of the liver by image analysis

Hemosiderin has been quantitated in tissue sections by image analysis employing Perls' Berlin blue reaction. A linear correlation was observed between the mean optical density of the tissue section measured with a commercial image analyzer and the iron concentration measured with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The correlation coefficient of .945 (P < .001) indicated that a linear correlation existed between these measurements. Thus, the hemosiderin volume in tissue sections can be measured quantitatively by image analysis.