Human space experiments in SL-J: preparation and conducted

This experiment investigated how human beings achieve visual stability during body movements, including fine motion on the ground. When humans are exposed to an environment with different gravity vectors, the programmed behavior on the ground must be changed, that is, it is reprogrammed. This is called habituation or familiarization. This experiment focuses on visual, vestibular and somatosensory perception coordination and how it changes in microgravity as compared to a 1-G environment. We examined these issues under microgravity during the mission Spacelab Japan [correction of Japane] (SL-J) mission with the cooperation of the Japanese Payload Specialist (PS), Dr. Mohri. In this paper we describe how the first human life science experiments were conducted and how the data processed is being.

Role of cytosolic Ca2+ in impaired sensitivity to glucose of rat pancreatic islets exposed to high glucose in vitro

Sustained exposure to high concentrations of glucose selectively impairs the ability of pancreatic islets to secrete insulin in acute glucose stimulation. In order to evaluate the interrelationship between impaired insulin secretion and the dynamics of the cytosolic free Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i), we have investigated the effect of high glucose exposure on both [Ca2+]i dynamics in single rat beta-cells and insulin release from rat pancreatic islets. Islets cultured at a high glucose concentration (16.7 mM) for 24 h showed significant reductions of the 16.7 mM GSIR compared with islets cultured at a normal glucose concentration (5.5 mM) (3.38 +/- 0.24 vs. 4.26 +/- 0.34%, respectively, P < 0.05). The capacity of glucose to raise the [Ca2+]i level also was significantly reduced in the beta-cells maintained for 24 h at 16.7 mM glucose (P < 0.001). An additional culture in the medium with 5.5 mM glucose for 16 h restored both the GSIR and the [Ca2+]i response of islets cultured at high glucose. On the other hand, insulin release and [Ca2+]i rise in response to 20 mM L-Arg were well preserved. These observations confirm that exposure of pancreatic beta-cells to high glucose concentrations induces a selective reduction of the GSIR and, further, shows that this impaired response is reversibly restored by an additional culture with normal glucose. We also suggest that the inability of glucose to provoke a [Ca2+]i rise, which is observed in the beta-cells exposed to high glucose, may be responsible for the selective impairment of the GSIR.

Natural killer (NK) cell stimulatory factor or IL-12 has differential effects on the proliferation of TCR-alpha beta+, TCR-gamma delta+ T lymphocytes, and NK cells

We have analyzed the effects of NK cell stimulatory factor/IL-12, on proliferation of PBL and their subsets. IL-12 synergizes with lectins and phorbol diesters to induce proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral blood T lymphocytes. In the case of phorbol-diester-induced proliferation, the effect of IL-12 is in part mediated by induced IL-2 production, as suggested by the observation that IL-12 enhances IL-2 production in these cultures and that anti-IL-2 antibodies inhibit proliferation. IL-12 synergizes also with anti-CD3 antibodies and with allogeneic stimulation in MLC in inducing T cell proliferation. IL-12 alone is mitogenic for preactivated T and NK lymphoblasts. This mitogenic effect is observed with similar doses of IL-12 on NK lymphoblasts as well as on CD4+ and CD8+ TCR-alpha beta+ and on TCR-gamma delta+ lymphoblasts. On TCR-alpha beta+ T lymphocytes the effect of IL-12 is always additive to that of IL-2 over a wide dose range. The same effect is observed on highly activated, actively proliferating NK cells. However, on NK and TCR-gamma delta+ lymphoblasts reverting to a resting state after stimulation and on a TCR-gamma delta+ acute leukemia-derived T cell line, IL-12 inhibits significantly the proliferation induced by moderate to high doses (10 to 100 U/ml) of IL-2. This inhibitory effect is, at least in part, indirect, and depends on IL-12-induced production of TNF. Neutralizing anti-TNF antibodies, but not anti-IFN-gamma and anti-transforming growth factor antibodies, restore by more than 70% the inhibition of proliferation induced by IL-12 in these cultures. However, TNF alone cannot mimic the inhibitory effect of IL-12 on the IL-2-induced proliferation of NK and TCR-gamma delta+ lymphoblasts, suggesting the involvement of additional mechanisms. The relevance of these findings for the biology of lymphocyte subsets mediating MHC nonrestricted cytotoxicity is discussed.

Natural killer (NK) cell stimulatory factor or IL-12 has differential effects on the proliferation of TCR-alpha beta+, TCR-gamma delta+ T lymphocytes, and NK cells

We have analyzed the effects of NK cell stimulatory factor/IL-12, on proliferation of PBL and their subsets. IL-12 synergizes with lectins and phorbol diesters to induce proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ peripheral blood T lymphocytes. In the case of phorbol-diester-induced proliferation, the effect of IL-12 is in part mediated by induced IL-2 production, as suggested by the observation that IL-12 enhances IL-2 production in these cultures and that anti-IL-2 antibodies inhibit proliferation. IL-12 synergizes also with anti-CD3 antibodies and with allogeneic stimulation in MLC in inducing T cell proliferation. IL-12 alone is mitogenic for preactivated T and NK lymphoblasts. This mitogenic effect is observed with similar doses of IL-12 on NK lymphoblasts as well as on CD4+ and CD8+ TCR-alpha beta+ and on TCR-gamma delta+ lymphoblasts. On TCR-alpha beta+ T lymphocytes the effect of IL-12 is always additive to that of IL-2 over a wide dose range. The same effect is observed on highly activated, actively proliferating NK cells. However, on NK and TCR-gamma delta+ lymphoblasts reverting to a resting state after stimulation and on a TCR-gamma delta+ acute leukemia-derived T cell line, IL-12 inhibits significantly the proliferation induced by moderate to high doses (10 to 100 U/ml) of IL-2. This inhibitory effect is, at least in part, indirect, and depends on IL-12-induced production of TNF. Neutralizing anti-TNF antibodies, but not anti-IFN-gamma and anti-transforming growth factor antibodies, restore by more than 70% the inhibition of proliferation induced by IL-12 in these cultures. However, TNF alone cannot mimic the inhibitory effect of IL-12 on the IL-2-induced proliferation of NK and TCR-gamma delta+ lymphoblasts, suggesting the involvement of additional mechanisms. The relevance of these findings for the biology of lymphocyte subsets mediating MHC nonrestricted cytotoxicity is discussed.

Expression of perforin and cytolytic potential of human peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations

To verify the physiological role of the pore-forming protein perforin in vivo, its expression in subpopulations of human peripheral blood lymphocytes was examined by immunocytochemical staining and their cytolytic potentials compared. In addition to NK cells and gamma delta T cells, which uniformly expressed abundant perforin in their cytoplasmic granules, only a small subpopulation of CD8+ alpha beta T cells contained perforin, namely the CD11b+ subset. However, in vitro activation with an anti-CD3 antibody and IL-2 induced perforin expression in approximately 50% of the CD8+CD11b- T cells and also in a small subset of CD4+ T cells. A distribution of perforin in CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, similar to in vitro activated T cells, was observed in fresh peripheral blood lymphocytes from infectious mononucleosis patients. In all instances, the expression of perforin correlated with the cytolytic potential of these subpopulations. The results strongly suggest that perforin plays a role in the manifestation of cytotoxic activity in vivo.

Medial longitudinal fasciculus syndrome associated with a subdural hygroma and an arachnoid cyst in the middle cranial fossa

A 60-year-old man complaining of diplopia and vertigo showed bilateral medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) syndrome. The CT scan revealed a space-occupying lesion with watery fluid in the left cranial fossa, which was divided into two parts by a thin septum. Surgical trepanation was performed followed by 4 weeks of prednisolone therapy. He was completely cured 5 months later. The plausible causes of MLF syndrome relevant to preexisting space-occupying lesions are discussed.

Glucagon, insulin and somatostatin secretion in response to sympathetic neural activation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. A study with the isolated perfused rat pancreas in vitro

Changes in glucagon, insulin and somatostatin secretion induced by electrical splanchnic nerve stimulation were examined in rats treated with streptozotocin as neonates and as adults. In order to study the direct neural effects we used the isolated perfused rat pancreas with intact left splanchnic nerve in vitro. In normal rats splanchnic nerve stimulation causes significant decreases in insulin (30-40%) and somatostatin (30-50%) secretion at both 16.7 mmol/l and 1 mmol/l glucose concentrations. In the neonatal streptozotocin-diabetic rat splanchnic nerve stimulation at 16.7 mmol/l glucose decreased insulin secretion (14%) further than in the control rats (30%), however, somatostatin secretion did not decrease to the same extent. Similar results were also observed at the low (1 mmol/l) glucose concentration. On the other hand, percent decreases of insulin and somatostatin secretion induced by splanchnic nerve stimulation in the streptozocin-diabetic rats were similar to the values observed in the normal control rats. The glucagon secretion in response to splanchnic nerve stimulation at 16.7 mmol/l glucose from pancreatic Alpha cells in both types of induced diabetes is exaggerated, and the degree of exaggeration seems to parallel the severity of the hyperglycaemia. However, the splanchnic nerve stimulation-induced glucagon secretion at 1 mmol/l glucose was impaired in the streptozotocin-diabetic rats, but not in the neonatal streptozotocin-diabetic rats. These data suggest that the sensitivity of diabetic Alpha and Delta cells to sympathetic neural activation are blunted, whereas the sensitivity of Beta cells is enhanced in the diabetic animal model.

Species and sex differences of aflatoxin B1-induced glutathione S-transferase placental form in single hepatocytes

Species and sex differences of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) positive single hepatocytes have been investigated 48 h after an intraperitoneal injection of AFB1 to young male and female Fischer rats (2 mg AFB1/kg body wt) and male Syrian golden hamsters (6 mg AFB1/kg body wt). The presence of GST-P positive hepatocytes was examined by the immunohistochemical method. Male rats formed three times as many AFB1-induced GST-P positive hepatocytes as females. Pretreatment of both male and female rats with an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) (4 mmol/kg body wt), 2 h and 4 h before AFB1 injection increased AFB1-induced GST-P positive hepatocytes by about 120% above the controls. Male hamsters formed several-fold less AFB1-induced GST-P positive hepatocytes than male rats. Pretreatment with BSO did not increase AFB1-induced GST-P positive hepatocytes in hamsters even though it produced an increase in hepatic necrosis. It appears that GSH and GSH S-transferases play an important role in modulating hepatic AFB1-DNA binding and AFB1-induced GST-P positive hepatocytes in rats and hamsters.

RFLP analysis in the TNF-beta gene and the susceptibility to alloreactive NK cells in Behçet's disease

Behçet's disease is known to be associated with HLA-B51. To address the possibility that a non-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene closely linked to the HLA-B gene, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, TNF-beta, or ECl (the locus that determines the susceptibility to alloreactive natural killer [NK] cells), is involved in the susceptibility to Behçet's disease, NcoI and EcoRI restriction fragment length polymorphisms in the TNF-beta gene and the susceptibility to lysis by alloreactive NK cells were investigated in Behçet's patients. In our NcoI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in the TNF-beta gene, the frequency of the NcoI 5.5 kb homozygote was decreased considerably in the patients, especially those with the ocular lesions, in relation to the healthy controls. However, no significant difference was observed between these groups in the EcoRI RFLP band distribution in this gene or the in susceptibility to lysis by alloreactive NK cells. These results indicated that a non-HLA gene located around the TNF gene region centromic of the HLA-B gene was a candidate to control the genetic susceptibility to Behçet's disease.

Case of ovarian dysgenesis and dilated cardiomyopathy supports existence of Malouf syndrome

We describe an 18-year-old girl with ovarian dysgenesis, dilated cardiomyopathy, mild mental retardation, broad nasal base, blepharoptosis, and minor skeletal abnormalities. This unusual association of manifestations was first reported by Malouf et al. [1985]. Our patient, although a sporadic case, supports the existence of Malouf syndrome.

[Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-I levels in sera of patients with Kawasaki disease]

We investigated whether serum levels of soluble ICAM-1 antigens increases during acute Kawasaki disease (KD). We also compared levels in acute KD with those in anaphylactoid purpura (AP) and in measles. Serum soluble ICAM-1 levels were measured by a double determinant immunoassay using two monoclonal antibodies in the FAST system. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured by a specific and sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Patients with KD, but not with AP or measles, had increased ICAM-1 levels in serum during the acute stage. In addition, during the acute stage, KD patients with coronary-artery lesions (CAL) were found to have increased ICAM-1 levels in serum compared to patients without CAL. We found a positive correlation between serum levels of ICAM-1 and levels of TNF-alpha during acute KD. Our results suggest that the serum level of soluble ICAM-1 is an important immunologic parameter for determining the severity of vascular damage during acute KD.

HLA class II molecules and autoimmune hepatitis susceptibility in Japanese patients

To investigate the association between autoimmune hepatitis and HLA alleles in Japanese patients, serological typing and class II genotyping were performed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) method. Serological typing showed that HLA-B54, -DR4, -DR53, and -DQ4 were significantly more frequent in patients with autoimmune hepatitis than in controls. HLA-DR4 was most frequently associated with autoimmune hepatitis (88.7%). In PCR-RFLP typing, the frequency of DRB1*0405 was significantly higher in autoimmune hepatitis than in controls. However, there was no significant difference in the frequency of Dw between the patients and the controls who were DR4-positive. The significant increase observed in DQA1*0301 and DQB1*0401 was explained by a linkage disequilibrium with DR4. Six DR4-negative patients had DR2, but there was no significant difference in the frequency of the DR2-associated Dw-alleles compared with the DR2-positive controls. No DPB1 allele was significantly associated with autoimmune hepatitis. These findings suggest that the basic amino acid at position 13, which is present only on the DR2 and DR4 B1 molecules (Arg on DR2 and His on DR4), contributes to the susceptibility to autoimmune hepatitis among the Japanese.

A simple useful method for the determination of hepatic function in patients with liver cirrhosis using caffeine and its three major dimethylmetabolites

Serum concentrations of caffeine (CA) and its three major dimethylmetabolites (theobromine; TB: paraxanthine; PX: theophylline; TP) were measured in fifteen patients with cholelithiasis, in ten patients with cirrhosis and in ten healthy subjects after the oral CA (2 mg/kg) loading. The correlations of total body clearance (CL) between three-point study (sampling times 1, 2 and 4 h) and nine-point study (sampling times 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 24 h) were highly significantly correlated (r = 0.988, p less than 0.001). The elimination half-life (t1/2) of CA was significantly longer in cirrhotic patients than in the other two groups. Cirrhosis had no effect on the apparent volume of distribution (Vd) of CA, but CL of CA was substantially reduced in these patients. Production of the three metabolites of CA, but mainly PX, was reduced in patients with cirrhosis. There were significant correlations between the serum PX/CA (r = 0.911, p less than 0.001) and (PX + TB + TP)/CA (r = 0.905, p less than 0.001) ratios and CL of CA at 4 h after CA administration in the three groups. These findings suggest that CA pharmacokinetic parameters can be estimated using a simplified three-point blood sampling procedure following a single oral load and that the serum PX/CA or (PX + TB + TP)/CA ratio in a single blood sample taken 2 or 4 h after dosing provides a useful indicator for the assessment of hepatic drug-oxidizing capacity, N-demethylation, in decompensated liver cirrhosis. However, CA test was unable to distinguish the difference of liver function between the control subjects and in patients with cholelithiasis.

Studies on antiinflammatory agents. I. Synthesis and pharmacological properties of 2'-phenoxymethanesulfonanilide derivatives

Various 2'-phenoxymethanesulfonanilide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antiinflammatory and analgesic activities. Some compounds bearing an electron-attracting substituent at the 4'-position strongly inhibited adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats and acetic acid-induced writhing syndrome in mice without causing gastro-intestinal irritation. Among them, 4'-cyano-(FK867) and 4'-acetyl-(FK3311) 2'-(2,4-difluorophenoxy)methanesulfonanilides were selected as the candidates for further development.

Autosomal dominant congenital cataract and microphthalmia associated with a familial t(2;16) translocation

We describe a family in which autosomal dominant congenital cataract and microphthalmia were segregating together with a reciprocal translocation t(2;16) (p22.3;p13.3) through three generations. This family included four individuals with balanced translocations, three with partial trisomy 2p derived from this translocation, and two with a normal karyotype. All of the subjects with balanced and unbalanced translocations had congenital cataract and microphthalmia, whereas the two individuals with normal karyotypes did not show any ocular anomalies. These observations suggest that the altered function of a gene that lies on the 16p13.3 band and that has an important role in the development of the eye is responsible for this disorder.

Capillary electrophoresis-electrospray mass spectrometry for the analysis of recombinant bovine and porcine somatotropins

A Beckman P/ACE 2050 high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) instrument has been interfaced with a Vestec electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometer for the analysis of recombinant proteins. Peak resolution is not compromised by coupling HPCE to an ESI mass spectrometer. Recombinant bovine and porcine somatotropins (rbSt and rpSt) were used as model proteins. The standard curve of the capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method with UV detection for the determination of rpSt is linear in the range of 7-300 fmol with theoretical plates of approximately 410,000 m-1. The relative standard deviation for the rpSt peak migration time is less than 1%. The multiply-charged ion clusters obtained in the CZE-ESI mass spectrum for a sample of rpSt ranged from mlz 1363.2 (the cluster with 16 charges) to 1982.5 (the cluster with 11 charges). The average molecular weights of 21,812.6 and 21,798.3 for a sample of rbSt and rpSt determined in this study were nearly identical to the theoretical values of 21,812.0 and 21,797.9, respectively. Detection limit of the CZE-ESI mass spectrometer is approximately 100 fmol. The CZE method separated mono- and dideamidated species and monoacetylated compounds while the ESI mass spectrometer detected an analogue and a truncated homologue of rpSt comigrating with the major peak. The presence of mono- and dioxidized homologues was also detected in the major peak of some rbSt and rpSt samples. These data clearly indicated that, individually, both CZE and ESI mass spectrometric methods could not detect all impurities. Coupling of the HPCE Instrument and the ESI mass spectrometer enhances analytical capabilities of both tools for rapid characterization of recombinant proteins.

[Effect of potassium canrenoate on serum magnesium levels after extracorporeal circulation]

Serum magnesium (Mg) levels were measured before and after operations involving extracorporeal circulation in thirty-five patients. Twenty patients were administered potassium canrenoate 200 mg/day from 2 days before operation to the 3rd postoperative day. Another 15 patients to whom there had been no administration of potassium canrenoate served as controls. We investigated the difference of serum Mg levels between the two groups. The serum Mg levels significantly decreased immediately after operations as compared to the values before surgery as from 1.9 +/- 0.2 to 1.5 +/- 0.2mEq/l (p less than 0.001) and from 1.8 +/- 0.2 to 1.4 +/- 0.2mEq/l (p less than 0.001) in the medicated and control groups, respectively. Serum Mg levels on the 2nd postoperative day recovered to within the normal range and it was significantly higher in the medicated group (1.7 +/- 0.2mEq/l versus 1.5 +/- 0.3mEq/l; p less than 0.05). Hypomagnesemia (Mg less than or equal to 1.2mEq/l) was found in seven patients (46.7%) in the control group and in two patients (10.0%) in the medicated group. Thus, there was a significant difference in the incidence of hypomagnesemia between the two groups (p less than 0.05). These results suggested that administration of potassium canrenoate is useful for keeping and improving serum Mg levels after extracorporeal circulation.

[Function, molecular structure and gene expression regulation of interleukin-10 (IL-10)]

Interleukin-10 has a variety of biological activities. Murine interleukin-10 inhibits cytokine production by Th2 cells in the presence of macrophages, enhances T cell proliferation, sustains the viability of B cells in vitro, induces class II MHC antigen expression on B cells, enhances mast cell proliferation in the presence of IL-3 and/or IL-4, and inhibits cytokine production by macrophages. Human interleukin-10 inhibits cytokine production by human T cells and reduces antigen-specific human T cell proliferation by downregulation of class II MHC antigen expression on monocytes. cDNA clones encoding murine and human interleukin-10 exhibit a strong homology to BCRFI in Epstein-Barr virus. BCRFI conserves only a part of interleukin-10 activities.

[Studies on pseudo-Chediak-Higashi granules formation in acute promyelocytic leukemia]

Leukemic cells from acute promyelocytic leukemia containing pseudo-Chediak-Higashi (P-CH) granules in a 38-year-woman were studied with ultrastructural and cytochemical techniques to evaluate the origin and nature of the granules. Wright-Giemsa stain revealed giant granules to be azurophilic. Cytochemical stain revealed p-CH granules ot the basic of their peroxidase and glycoprotein content. Electron microscopy revealed numerous giant granules formed by fusion of azurophilic granules these morphological, different type granules were classified into four types, 1) circular granule with homogeneous matrix, 2) circular granule with heterogeneous change by autolysis, 3) Auer body-like granule with crystalline arrangement, 4) vacuolar formation. The results demonstrate that the Auer body-like granule of P-CH granules in leukemic cells is a morphologically variant type of the classical Auer body observed in common acute myeloid leukemia.

Changes in cell surface antigen expressions during proliferation and differentiation of human erythroid progenitors

Cell surface antigen expression during proliferation and differentiation of human erythroid progenitors was examined using a combination of sequential micromanipulations of paired daughter cells derived from erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) and immuno-staining with a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Single hematopoietic progenitors were identified in methylcellulose cultures containing human cord blood mononuclear cells and micromanipulated individually to secondary culture. Paired daughter cells, granddaughter cells, and subsequent generations, whose counterparts produced erythroid bursts, were stained with various cytochemical and immuno-alkaline phosphatase stainings. Most paired daughter cells of BFU-E immunostained positively with anti-platelet glycoprotein(GP) IIb, antiplatelet GPIIb/IIIa, anti-HLA-DR, and antitransferrin receptor antibodies. Acid phosphatase staining was also positive. Neither CD34 nor CD33 antigens were identified on the cells. CD36 and blood group A antigens were first identified on cells from aggregates containing 32 to 64 cells after 4 days of secondary culture and preceded the expression of glycophorin A and hemoglobin alpha. These results indicate that various cell surface antigens were sequentially expressed during the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitors, and that our procedure may be useful for clarifying the morphologic and immunologic properties of hematopoietic stem cells.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HLA-DRB1 MATCHING IN CLINICAL RENAL TRANSPLANTATION

We analyzed the genotype for HLA-DRB1 alleles by digestion of polymerase chain reaction-amplified genes with the restriction endonucleases (PCR-RFLP) method to investigate the influence of HLA-DR antigen "splits" at the DRB1 gene level on the incidence of acute graft rejection in the renal transplant. For all patients, the incidence of acute rejection was proportional to the number of the serological HLA mismatch (0% in patients with two-haplotype match; 18% with HLA-A, -B, and -DR zero mismatch; 33% with HLA-DR zero mismatch; and 48% with HLA-DR one mismatch). For the patients with serological HLA-DR zero mismatch, the incidence of acute rejection in patients with HLA-DRB1 one mismatch (10/13: 77%) was significantly higher than that in those with zero mismatch (2/27: 7%). It was concluded that genotyping for HLA-DRB1 alleles would be beneficial in predicting acute rejection in patients with serological HLA-DR zero mismatch, although no difference was noted in the graft survivals.