Production of a human monoclonal antibody to a synthetic peptide by active in vivo immunization using a SCID mouse grafted with human lymphocytes

In order to meet the present increased demands, we have tried to improve the methods to produce human monoclonal antibodies by using a SCID mouse grafted with human mononuclear cells. Initially, we gave an anti-asialo GM1 antibody to a SCID mouse to suppress the NK activity, as a pretreatment. Then, fifty million human mononuclear cells (MNC) from a healthy volunteer were injected intraperitoneally to the SCID mouse so as to construct a human immune system in the mouse (PBL-SCID mouse). We immunized the mouse with a synthetic peptide (pep 190) conjugated with KLH four times. The spleen cells taken from the immunized PBL-SCID mouse were fused with (mouse x human) heteromyeloma cells. The hybridoma cells were selected in GIT medium containing HAT and IL-6. Among 68 hybridoma-growing wells, we obtained one hybridoma clone (#41-1-4) which secreted a specific antibody to pep 190. The reactivity of this monoclonal antibody was tested by ELISA and the specificity of this antibody was confirmed by an absorption test with different kinds of proteins. This paper is the first report of the successful production of peptide-specific human monoclonal antibody by active in vivo immunization using a PBL-SCID mouse. By this active in vivo immunization system using a PBL-SCID mouse, human monoclonal antibodies for any sort of peptide antigens may easily be made available.

The change of membrane complement regulatory protein in chorion of early pregnancy

Research on membrane complement inhibitors (DAF, MCP, and CD59) has led to understanding of the regulation of complement system; however, their precise role and distribution remain speculative. In this study, we used an indirect fluorescent immunostaining to investigate the distribution of complements, MCP, DAF, and CD59, in the villi before the 10th week of pregnancy in 18 women. DAF and MCP were observed at the surface of syncytiotrophoblasts (ST) and extravillous trophoblast (EVT) in all subjects. They were observed in villous cytotrophoblast (VCT) in the subjects before the 8th week of pregnancy but were not observed in any subject after the 9th week. However, CD59 appeared in ST but never in VCT. MCP, DAF, and CD59 were observed in EVT. These findings indicated that these complement inhibitors played an important role in early pregnancy, and that CD59 continued to appear in early pregnancy, whereas the expression of MCP and DAF depended on the stage of pregnancy.

Alpha (1,3/1,4)fucosyltransferase (FucT-III) gene is inactivated by a single amino acid substitution in Lewis histo-blood type negative individuals

Human alpha (1,3/1,4)fucosyltransferase (FucT-III) genes were cloned from genomic DNAs of seven Lewis negative (Le(a- b-)) individuals. Restriction mapping analyses revealed that an additional Pvu II site was created in the FucT-III genes from Lewis negative individuals. Four of these individuals were shown to be heterozygous for the Pvu II site and three were homozygous for it. The Pvu II site was produced by a single base substitution at the 508 nucleotide of coding sequence, G to A, resulting in the amino acid substitution, Gly to Ser at position 170. Another single base substitution, resulting in the change of Asp to Ala at position 336, was observed in the Lewis negative FucT-III gene which did not have the Pvu II site. The FucT-III enzyme was inactivated by these two mutations resulting in a single amino acid substitution in the catalytic region. All FucT-III genes, regardless of the Pvu II site, from Lewis negative individuals had a single base substitution, the T at position 59 to G, resulting in the change of Leu to Arg at position 20. This mutation, however, was not responsible for FucT-III gene inactivation.

Quantitative analysis of herpes simplex virus DNA in cerebrospinal fluid of children with herpes simplex encephalitis

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) was quantified and typed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. During the acute phase, HSV-DNA was detected in the CSF of 13 patients with HSE, including 5 neonates. A restriction profile of the PCR products cleaved with the restriction enzymes XhoI and BglII showed that 2 neonatal samples were HSV-2, and the remainder were HSV-1. The amount of HSV-DNA in the initial CSF ranged from 10(2)-10(5) copies/ml. A significantly greater number of HSV-DNA copies was detected in neonates than in older children (mean 3.9 vs. 2.5, log 10 copies/ml p < .05). Except for one patient, the amount of HSV-DNA decreased gradually with acyclovir therapy. These results show that a quantitative PCR assay is applicable not only to the diagnosis of HSE but also for monitoring the response to antiviral drugs.

Successful pregnancy in renal transplant recipients

Three cases of successful pregnancies in renal transplant recipients who had undergone transplantation in the Okayama University Medical School Hospital are reported. Two of the women had received an organ from a living relative and one woman received a cadaveric organ graft. These patients, aged 28-37 at the time of the delivery, had received their transplants 2-5 years prior to their conception. The periods of gestation ranged between 35 and 40 weeks. The weight of the babies at birth ranged from 2,380g to 2,500g and the apgar score at 1 min was 8 or 9. None of the infants showed any congenital abnormalities. Lower-segment cesarean section was performed in all of three cases. Serum creatinine levels, an indicator of renal graft function, did not deteriorate during the pregnancy or after delivery. Although further work is needed to solve problems regarding pregnancy in renal transplant recipients, these results encouraged us to meet their hope for a baby.

[Effects of sevoflurane anesthesia on serotonin metabolism in rat brain]

To elucidate the mechanism of general anesthesia, effects of sevoflurane anesthesia on serotonin metabolism in rat brain were studied. Three percent sevoflurane was administered for twenty minutes to Wistar male rats weighing 230-270g under spontaneous respiration. The rats were sacrificed by decapitation and the brains were rapidly removed. They were dissected into nine discrete regions, locus coeruleus, pons plus medulla oblongata, hypothalamus, thalamus, basal ganglia, midbrain, hippocampus, amygdala and cerebral cortex. The contents of serotonin (5-HT) and one of its major metabolites, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography with the dual-cell coulometric detector before anesthesia, 20 minutes after the start of anesthesia and at the recovery from anesthesia. Significant increases in 5-HT levels were observed in the pons, hypothalamus, midbrain, amygdala and cerebral cortex by sevoflurane anesthesia as compared with the control group. 5-HIAA levels decreased significantly in the thalamus by sevoflurane anesthesia, while an appreciable increase in 5-HIAA levels was observed in the basal ganglia at the recovery from anesthesia. It is concluded that 5-HT metabolism is significantly suppressed in the pons, hypothalamus, thalamus, midbrain, amygdala and cerebral cortex during sevoflurane anesthesia and this change in 5-HT metabolism may be associated with a mechanism of sevoflurane anesthesia.

Intrapleural adaptive immunotherapy for breast cancer patients with cytologically-confirmed malignant pleural effusions: an analysis of 67 patients in Kyoto and Shiga Prefecture, Japan

Sixty-seven breast cancer patients with cytologically-confirmed malignant pleural effusion, who required intrapleural treatment, were analyzed retrospectively. The patients received their first thoracentesis between 1980 and 1990. Among them, 29 patients received intrapleural administration of OK-432, a streptococcal preparation, followed by the transfer of autologous pleural effusion lymphocytes cultured with interleukin-2. Other intrapleural treatments consisted of OK-432 alone (12 patients), chemotherapeutic agents alone (n = 9), a combination of OK-432 and chemotherapy (n = 16), or others (n = 1). Twenty-six of the 29 patients given OK-432 plus cultured effusion lymphocytes responded, while only 15 of the 38 patients who received other treatments did (p < 0.01). Median survival time and 5-year survival rate of patients who received OK-432 and cultured lymphocytes was 12 months and 36%, while those of the patients who received other treatments was 3 months and 0%, a significant (p < 0.001) difference in survival. Multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazard model revealed that the treatment (adoptive immunotherapy) was the most significant (p < 0.005) factor to prolong the survival of the patients among several prognostic factors. Thus, OK-432 and adoptive immunotherapy is a promising therapy that should be further evaluated in a prospective study.

A novel human monoclonal antibody directed to a tumor-associated antigen

Twelve human monoclonal antibodies (HuMAb) were established by the fusion of (mouse x human) heteromyeloma cells with B-lymphoblastoid cells derived from the regional lymph nodes of three patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. They were tested for reactivity to two kinds of proteins (purified protein derivatives and bovine serum albumin) by ELISA, Sq-19 (squamous cell carcinoma) culture cells by indirect membrane immunofluorescence tests, and Sq-19 tumor xenograft by immunohistological study. Among them, one HuMAb 904F (IgM, lambda) was selected. In indirect membrane immunofluorescence tests, this 904F antibody reacted with various kinds of cell lines, e.g. lung cancer, esophageal cancer, endometrial cancer, and stomach cancer. It did not react with malignant hematopoietic and diploid fibroblast cell lines. Immunohistologically, it stained the tumor nests of squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma of the lung. It also stained those of esophagus and colon, but not those of small cell carcinoma of lung, or stomach. On frozen-section specimens of normal tissues from various organs, it showed only limited areas of positive staining. Limited positive findings were observed at a reticular zone of the adrenal gland, at the esophagus as weak staining, and at islets of the pancreas as very weak staining. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that it recognized a 54 kDa trypsin-sensitive molecule which is expressed on the surface of tumor cells. These results suggest the 904F monoclonal antibody detects a novel tumor-associated antigen which is recognized by the human immune system.

Human papillomavirus type 18 DNA in so-called HEP-2, KB and FL cells--further evidence that these cells are HeLa cell derivatives

The contamination of HeLa cells into many culture cells has been suspected. We detected HPV type 18 DNA in two HeLa cell sublines, Hep-2 laryngeal cancer and KB oral cancer cell lines as well as FL cell line derived from normal amniotic membrane which have been extensively used so far in experimental virology. On the other hand, we detected HPV type 18 DNA neither in other epithelial cell lines nor in fibroblastic human embryonic cells. The digestion analysis with several restriction enzymes of the HPV type 18 DNA in HeLa, Hep-2, KB and FL cell lines were almost the same. The molecular size of episomal DNA could not be demonstrated by digestion of these DNAs with XhoI, a non-cut enzyme for HPV type 18 DNA, suggesting all HPV types 18 DNA were integrated. Interestingly enough, the HPV type 18 specific DNA in these cells was cleaved into two fragments with another non-cut enzymes, B g/II and HindIII, suggesting the presence of a single cutting site for each enzymes presumably generated by rearrangements or mutations. These results provide further evidence that the so-called Hep-2, KB and FL cells are all HeLa cell derivatives.

Effects of epidermal growth factor on mouse fetal growth

The effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on fetal growth were examined in mice. EGF is synthesized in large amounts by the mouse submandibular glands. On the 18th day of gestation, the body weight of fetuses whose mothers had undergone sialoadenectomy (excision of the submandibular glands) was significantly lower than that of controls. However, the maternal-plasma EGF concentration was not significantly affected by sialoadenectomy. The body weight of fetuses whose mothers were injected with EGF for 7 days during pregnancy was significantly higher than that of controls. Sialoadenectomy altered the blood amino acid concentrations in adult female animals, especially the levels of leucine and isoleucine. These results suggest that EGF influences fetal growth mainly by regulating maternal nutrition.

Respinomycins A1, A2 B, C and D, a novel group of anthracycline antibiotics. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological activities

Respinomycins are a novel group of anthracycline antibiotics produced by Streptomyces xanthocidicus. Respinomycins A1, A2, B, C and D were isolated by EtOAc extraction, silica gel column chromatography, centrifugal partition chromatography and preparative silica gel thin layer chromatography. Respinomycins A1 and A2 induced the terminal differentiation of human leukemia K-562 cells.

[Antinuclear antibody measurement as a screening test for sterile and infertile women with immunological abnormality]

The efficacy of examining antinuclear antibody (ANA) was investigated as a screening test detecting subclinical immune disorders in infertility and sterility. ANA was measured in 116 unexplained infertile or sterile patients. The ANA positive rate was 43.5% in group A (habitual abortion, n = 23), 38.1% in group B (consecutive miscarriages, n = 21), 30.0% in group C (one miscarriage, n = 10), 16.7% in group D (one or more deliveries n = 12) 22.0% in group E (primary sterility, n = 50), and 22.4% in the control group (n = 54). The positive rate for all the infertile patients (group A+B) was 40.9% and significantly higher than that in for the control group (p < 0.05). Ten patients with positive ANA had 12 deliveries and 20 patients with negative ANA had 23 deliveries. The frequency of preeclampsia in the patients with positive ANA was higher than in those with negative ANA (41.7% versus 4.3%, p < 0.05). A higher incidence of premature deliveries was recognized in the patients with positive ANA than in those with negative ANA (41.7% versus 8.7%, p < 0.1). Average birth weight (> 35 week) for patients with and without positive ANA was 2,976g (n = 8) and 3,122g (n = 19) respectively. The former tends to be smaller than the latter (p < 0.1).

Phosphatidylinositol metabolism in hypertrophic rat heart

The accumulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) after hormonal stimulation has a physiological role, possibly by alteration of Ca2+ levels in cardiac myocyte. However, this accumulation has not been studied under pathophysiological conditions. In this report, we examine phosphatidylinositol metabolism during cellular response to norepinephrine in pressure-overloaded hypertrophic rat heart. After stimulation with norepinephrine, the accumulations of IP3 and diacylglyceride significantly increased in isolated myocytes from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) heart, indicating phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C activity increased in SHRSP heart cells. Protein kinase C activity was also enhanced in SHRSP, with a marked increase in particulate activity. We determined the intracellular calcium concentration and found it to be higher in SHRSP than in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats at 30-40 weeks of age. Ca2+ influx was also elevated in SHRSP stimulated by norepinephrine. In SHRSP heart, cytosolic Ca2+ concentration may rise quickly in response to some stimuli, such as alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation, which is shown to be one of the pathways that increases cytosolic Ca2+ levels in hypertrophied rat heart. These data suggest that a part of the phosphatidylinositol-turnover pathway, such as the phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-IP3-Ca2+ pathway or the diacylglyceride-protein kinase C pathway, may play an important role in the development of hypertrophy in SHRSP heart.

Effects of interferon-alpha on serum hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Interferon is beneficial in some patients with chronic hepatitis C. To assess the efficacy of interferon, we used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to measure HCV RNA in serial serum samples from 13 chronic hepatitis C patients who were treated with interferon-alpha. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values normalized in association with the disappearance of serum HCV RNA in nine cases during the therapy. Serum HCV remained negative after the therapy in the three patients who had no relapse, while serum HCV RNA reappeared in the six patients with elevation of ALT values. The persistence of normal ALT levels appears to be correlated with the clearance of the serum HCV. There were two patients whose ALT became normal immediately after the cessation of interferon. Serum HCV was detectable at the end of treatment when serum ALT was elevated, and thereafter serum HCV disappeared. This result suggests an immunomodulatory effect of interferon in the clearance of HCV in some cases. Furthermore, the semiquantitative PCR assay showed that all five patients in whom ALT values were normal at the end of follow-up without detectable serum HCV genome had lower HCV titers in the pretreatment sera than the other eight patients. The detection of HCV RNA by the PCR assay is useful in determining the efficacy of interferon and its mechanisms.

[Effects of ketamine on pituitary-adrenal axis in rats]

We examined the effects of ketamine (20 mg.kg-1) on plasma ACTH, Comp. B, aldosterone and ir-ANP levels in unstrained rats. We divided rats into two groups, saline group as control (saline group) and ketamine group (ketamine treated rats). Plasma samples were taken before ketamine or saline infusion to determine a pre-treatment value, and samples were also taken at 15, 30, 60 minutes after the infusion. ACTH, aldosterone and ir-ANP were measured by radioimmunoassay. Comp. B was determined by a fluorometric method. We obtained the following results: 1) Plasma ACTH levels increased significantly in the ketamine group, while there was no such a marked increase in the saline group. The slight increase in ACTH in the saline group could have resulted from handling during i.v. infusion or psychic stress; 2) Plasma corticosterone and aldosterone levels increased markedly in both groups. However, the magnitude of the adrenocortical response was significantly greater than in the saline group; 3) Plasma ir-ANP showed no significant change in both groups. These results suggest that ketamine stimulated pituitary-adrenal axis, and the adrenal stimulation produced by ketamine are greater than those induced by the stress of handling or psychic stress.

Inhibition of cisplatin-mediated DNA damage in vitro by ribonucleotides

Effects of ribonucleotides on cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin)-mediated DNA damage were studied by incubating pUC18 DNA with cisplatin in the presence of nucleotide, and by monitoring conformational change and sensitivity change to restriction enzyme HpaII of the DNA due to the platinum-DNA adduct formation. The cisplatin-mediated DNA damage was inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by ATP or GTP, substantially at their physiological intracellular concentrations, and almost completely by 5 mM ATP or 2 mM GTP. The inhibitory effect of nucleotide on the platination of DNA was in the order of GTP > ATP >> CTP > UTP, and of nucleoside triphosphate > nucleoside diphosphate > nucleoside monophosphate. Nucleoside did not show any significant effect on platination of DNA. To elucidate the mechanism of the nucleotide effects on platination of DNA, interaction between ATP or GTP and cisplatin was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The results suggested that ATP inhibits cisplatin-mediated DNA damage both by forming a platinum-ATP adduct and by non-covalent ionic interaction with cisplatin, while GTP acts largely by forming platinum-GTP adducts.

Experimental chemonucleolysis with chymopapain in canine intervertebral disks

The present study describes the radiological and histological changes in the canine intervertebral disk after the experimental injection of chymopapain as the chemical reagent, and determines the appropriate dose of the enzyme for treatment of herniated disks. By radiography, narrowing of the disk space was observed within 2 weeks after the injection of chymopapain, and recovered to 74.1% in the 0.1 mg group, 61.1% in the 1.0 mg group and 71.7% in the 10.0 mg group at 12 weeks. The disk space recovery showed a tendency to delay with aging. Microscopically, proteoglycan positive matrix appeared and the nuclear space was reduced in each disk at 2 weeks after chymopapain injection. The nucleus pulposus contained an irregularly-defined mass consisting of clusters of degenerated notochordal cells surrounded by proliferated chondrocytes and collagen matrix. In each disk at 12 weeks after chymopapain injection, the center of the nucleus pulposus was replaced by fibrocartilage tissue. In the disk into which 10.0 mg chymopapain was injected, the nuclear space filled with dense fibrocartilage tissue without a regenerated matrix component and narrowing of the disk were maintained. It is suggested that canine chemonucleolysis with 10.0 mg of chymopapain reduces the interdiskal pressure. This treatment may therefore relieve the signs and symptoms of herniation of the nucleus pulposus, and may effect chemical disk decompression.

A partial physical map for the chromosome of alkalophilic Bacillus sp. strain C-125

Bacillus sp. strain C-125 has been chosen as a model alkalophilic bacterium to understand how adaptation to growth at high pH is achieved. To aid genetic analysis, we have started characterization of its genome. By using the two infrequently-cutting restriction endonucleases, AscI and Sse8387I, in conjunction with pulsed-field electrophoretic techniques, the size of the genome was found to be 3.7 Mb. Southern blot analysis of single, double and partial digests of Bacillus sp. strain C-125 DNA, using AscI-linking clones, gene probes and purified Bacillus sp. strain C-125 restriction fragments, allowed a putative chromosome map to be constructed.

Herbidospora gen. nov., a new genus of the family Streptosporangiaceae Goodfellow et al. 1990

Eight actinomycete strains originally isolated from soil and plant samples were studied to determine their taxonomic status. All isolates produced branching substrate mycelia, but no distinct aerial hyphae. Relatively short chains of nonmotile spores (10 to 30 spores per chain) were borne on the tips of sporophores arising directly from the agar surface. The chemotaxonomic characteristics of the isolates, with the exception of the menaquinone profile, coincided with those of members of the family Streptosporangiaceae Goodfellow, Stanton, Simpson, and Minnikin 1990. Furthermore, the results of a phylogenetic analysis performed with 5S rRNA support the conclusion that the isolates should be classified in this family. The isolates differed from members of the constituent genera of the Streptosporangiaceae in morphological characteristics and menaquinone composition. Therefore, we propose a new genus for the strains, Herbidospora. The type species and type strain are Herbidospora cretacea sp. nov. and strain K-319 (= JCM 8553), respectively.

[Clinical evaluation of the long-term treatment with chlormadinone acetate in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy]

Fifty patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy were treated with chlormadinone acetate (CMA) at the dose of 50 mg/day for 12 months. Subjective symptoms and objective findings were evaluated before, and after 4 and 12 months of treatment. Better improvement was observed in all of the subjective symptoms and in almost all the parameters of objective findings, in proportion to the period of CMA treatment. Generally speaking, 12 months of treatment was more effective than 4 months of treatment. Two patients had impotence (4.0%). Both of them complained of side effects within 4 months after treatment, but they were not severe. In conclusion, long-term treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy with CMA was useful.