A novel function for SMN, the spinal muscular atrophy disease gene product, in pre-mRNA splicing

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common motor neuron degenerative disease that results from reduced levels of, or mutations in, the Survival of Motor Neurons (SMN) protein. SMN is found in the cytoplasm and the nucleus where it is concentrated in gems. SMN interacts with spliceosomal snRNP proteins and is critical for snRNP assembly in the cytoplasm. We show that a dominant-negative mutant SMN (SMNdeltaN27) causes a dramatic reorganization of snRNPs in the nucleus. Furthermore, SMNdeltaN27 inhibits pre-mRNA splicing in vitro, while wild-type SMN stimulates splicing. SMN mutants found in SMA patients cannot stimulate splicing. These findings demonstrate that SMN plays a crucial role in the generation of the pre-mRNA splicing machinery and thus in mRNA biogenesis, and they link the function of SMN in this pathway to SMA.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulate progesterone production by luteal cells derived from pregnant and non-pregnant women: possible involvement of interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 in corpus luteum function and differentiation

Human luteal cells have been reported to express human leukocyte antigen-DR and lymphocyte functional antigen-3 on the cell surface, suggesting physiological interaction between luteal cells and T-lymphocytes through the menstrual cycle into early pregnancy. To elucidate the role of peripheral lymphocytes on corpus luteum differentiation, the effect of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) on steroidogenesis by luteal cells was investigated. The production of Th-2 cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 by the co-cultured cells was also examined, and the effects of these cytokines on progesterone production by luteal cells were investigated. Corpora lutea were obtained from eight non-pregnant women in the luteal phase and five women in early pregnancy for luteal cell culture. PBMC were isolated from unrelated women in the follicular phase, secretory phase, and early pregnancy. After coculture with allogenic PBMC for 48 h, progesterone production was significantly enhanced by PBMC from the secretory phase and early pregnancy in the non-pregnant luteal cell culture. In the pregnant luteal cell culture, a significant increase in progesterone production was also observed by the co-culture with PBMC from women in early pregnancy, showing that PBMC have a luteotrophic effect. The stimulatory effects of PBMC were also observed in co-culture conditions which prevented direct cell-to-cell interaction with luteal cells, showing the minor influence of mixed lymphocyte reaction. By co-culture with PBMC, the production of IL-10, but not IL-4, was significantly augmented in luteal cell culture derived from non-pregnant women, whereas the production of both IL-4 and IL-10 was significantly enhanced in the luteal cell culture derived from pregnant women. Moreover, IL-4 and IL-10 promoted progesterone production by cultured luteal cells, especially in the luteal cell culture derived from corpora lutea of early pregnancy. These findings indicate that PBMC stimulate progesterone production by luteal cells and suggest the involvement of PBMC in corpus luteum function and differentiation probably via the Th-2-type lymphocytes.

Tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy correlates with the expression of P-glycoprotein and PCNA but not GST-pi in the tumor cells of cervical carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To identify the clinicopathological and chemoresistant factors predicting the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the patient prognosis in high-risk cervical carcinomas.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 47 patients with locally advanced or bulky cervical carcinoma treated with two courses of intraarterial infusion of cisplatin, doxorubicin, mitomycin C, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), followed by radical hysterectomy at our hospital between 1988 and 1995. Expressions of the chemoresistance-related proteins, such as P-glycoprotein, glutathione S-transferase pi (GST-pi), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the tumor cells, were examined by immunohistochemistry using pretreatment biopsy specimens. These results were compared with the chemotherapeutic response, which was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histopathology. Outcome of the patients was also studied.

RESULTS

Chemotherapeutic effect of either complete (CR) or partial (PR) response on MRI was obtained in 36 of the 47 (86%) patients. Poor response to chemotherapy was significantly correlated with P-glycoprotein expression (P < 0.005) and low PCNA labeling (P < 0. 05), but not GST-pi expression in the tumor cells. Independent prognostic factors for patient survival were parametrial involvement and lymph node metastasis. Neither the expression of GST-pi nor PCNA was correlated with the patient survival.

CONCLUSION

Assessment of the expression of P-glycoprotein and PCNA is potentially useful for the prediction of tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for cervical carcinomas.

MRI of adenomyotic cyst of the uterus

The radiologic and pathologic features of three cases of adenomyotic cysts are presented. Two cases were subserosal and one was intramyometrial. All three cases had cystic spaces filled with hyperintense fluid on T1-weighted images, which were surrounded by hypointense tissue on T2-weighted images.

[Possibility of prevention of herpes zoster by use of varicella vaccine]

It has been considered that a decline in specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) for the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) could be responsible for a high incidence of herpes zoster in the elderly. If the strength of CMI for VZV could be increased by immunization of the elderly with a varicella vaccine, herpes zoster might be preventable. We compared the CMI for VZV (using a lymphoproliferative assay and a varicella skin test) and VZV-IgG antibodies in serum before and after 2-3 months of vaccination in 15 subjects more than 40 years old. When the CMI for VZV was measured by the lymphoproliferative assay, a stimulation index (SI) of more than 2.0 was estimated to be positive in this study. The SIs (mean +/- SD) before and after the vaccination were 2.7 +/- 1.8 and 2.7 +/- 1.9, respectively, and no significant difference was noted. On the other hand, the diameter of erythema in the varicella skin test after the vaccination became larger than that before the vaccination in the 10 of 13 subjects. In addition, serum VZV-IgG antibodies increased after vaccination in 6 of 14 subjects. There were no obvious reasons for the discrepancy in the results of the lymphoproliferative assay and the varicella skin test. However, because of the poor response indicated by the assay, only one vaccination for the elderly might not be enough to increase the CMI for VZV. The appropriate age for vaccination should also be considered. Lastly, further investigation of the CMI for VZV before and after vaccination on larger scale is required.

Specific cellular immunity in immunocompetent children with herpes zoster

We investigated whether specific immunity is low in immunocompetent children with zoster. Specific cellular immunity was found to be significantly lower in 13 otherwise normal children with zoster than it was in 8 matched controls by a lymphoproliferative assay. However, there was no significant difference between them with regard to the antibody response. Therefore, even in the immunocompetent children, decreased specific cellular immunity may play an important role in the mechanism of virus reactivation.

Molecular genetic and immunohistochemical study of autosomal recessive Alport's syndrome

A DNA analysis of autosomal type IV collagen alpha3 and alpha4 chain genes (COL4A3 and COL4A4) and an immunohistochemical study of type IV collagen alpha1 to alpha6 chains were performed in an inbred family with autosomal recessive Alport's syndrome (AS). A linkage study using polymorphic markers around the COL4A3/COL4A4 genes clearly differentiated the affected patients from healthy individuals. These patients were homozygous for all markers analyzed, whereas their parents were heterozygotes. Because of the large size of both the genes and the heterogeneous range of the mutations of these genes, linkage analysis by using highly polymorphic markers is still the method of choice in genetic counseling for autosomal recessive AS, as well as for the X-linked form. Although the distribution of alpha1 and alpha2 chains in the index patient and her affected sister were normal, the alpha3 and alpha4 chains were completely defective in the renal basement membrane (BM). The alpha5 chain could be found in Bowman's capsular basement membrane (BCBM) but not in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). In addition, our study showed, for the first time, that the alpha6 chain in BCBM is spared in this form of AS. This abnormal pattern of type IV collagen could be a useful tool for differentiation of the autosomal recessive type from the X-linked type of AS.

Stage-specific uptake of apolipoprotein-B in ovarian follicles and corpora lutea of the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy

A monoclonal antibody (mAb), HCL-2, was raised which reacts with apolipoprotein-B, and it was shown by immunohistology that HCL-2 can be used to analyse the uptake of apolipoprotein-B by steroid-producing cells in vivo. In this study we have investigated the dynamic utilization of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in human ovary by immunohistological localization of apolipoprotein-B and LDL receptors using HCL-2 and anti-LDL receptor mAb. In antral follicles, including those of <1 mm in diameter, both apolipoprotein-B and LDL receptors were localized to theca interna cells, but not granulosa cells. In pre-ovulatory follicles, the LDL receptor was expressed on all granulosa cells. Apolipoprotein-B was also detected in granulosa cells located at the basal layer, suggesting that they utilize LDL through the basal lamina before ovulation. In mid-luteal phase, large luteal cells seemed to stain more intensely for apolipoprotein-B than did small luteal cells, suggesting that large lutal cells are the main sites of LDL utilization. In regressing corpora lutea, the expression of LDL receptor was weak, and apolipoprotein-B was rarely detected. In corpora lutea of early pregnancy, LDL receptor and apolipoprotein-B were localized to both luteal cells. These findings show the precise dynamic changes in LDL uptake by human ovarian cells during their differentiation in vivo.

Isolation and characterization of an active mannanase-producing anaerobic bacterium, Clostridium tertium KT-5A, from lotus soil

Of 10 strains of mannanase-producing anaerobic bacteria isolated from soils and methanogenic sludges, Clostridium tertium KT-5A, which was isolated from lotus soil, produced high amounts of extracellular beta-1,4-mannanase. The isolate was an aerotolerant anaerobe without quinon systems; the cell growth cultivated with no addition of reducing agents was also stable. High yields of mannanase were obtained by inducing enzyme production with galactomannan guar gum and beef extract/peptone as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Fermentation end products on galactomannan fermentation were formate, acetate, lactate, butyrate, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The extracellular mannanase displayed high activity on galactomannans of locust bean gum galactose/mannose (G/M) ratio 1:4 and spino gum (G/M 1:3), but weak activity on guar gum galactomannan (G/M 1:2) and konjac glucomannan. As far as is known, this is the first report on the isolation of an active mannanase-producing anaerobic bacterium from natural environments.

Hemolytic anemia associated with cold agglutinin during chickenpox and a review of the literature

PURPOSE

To describe the findings and cause of anemia and jaundice in a 2-year-old boy.

PATIENT AND METHODS

This boy was admitted with a hemoglobin of 7.8 g/dL, a bilirubin of 1.8 mg/dL, and increased urobilinogen.

RESULTS

On the second day after admission, hemolytic anemia associated with an anti-I cold agglutinin was diagnosed, which was transient and recovered without any treatment.

CONCLUSION

This is a very rare complication of chickenpox; only five cases have been previously reported and these were all characterized by anti-Pr cold agglutinin with hemolytic anemia after the onset of chickenpox. We report the first case of hemolytic anemia associated with an anti-I cold agglutinin during the incubation period of chickenpox.

Effect of flow direction on the morphological responses of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells

The effect of flow direction on the morphology of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells is studied. Fully confluent endothelial cells cultured on glass were subjected to a fluid-imposed shear stress of 2 Pa for 20 min and 24 h using a parallel plate flow chamber. Experiments on shear flow exposure were performed for (i) one-way flow, (ii) reciprocating flow with a 30 min interval and (iii) alternating orthogonal flows with a 30 min interval. After flow exposure, the endothelial cells were fixed and F-actin filaments were stained with rhodamine phalloidin. Endothelial cells were observed and photographed by means of a microscope equipped with epifluorescence optics. The shape index (SI) and angle of cell orientation were measured, and F-actin distributions in the cells were statistically studied. Endothelial cells under the one-way flow condition showed marked elongation (SI = 0.39 +/- 0.16, mean +/- S.D.) and aligned with the flow direction. In the case of the reciprocating (SI = 0.63 +/- 0.14) and the alternating orthogonal flows (0.64 +/- 0.14), cells did not elongate so strongly as in the case of one-way flow. Although most cells in the reciprocating flow aligned with the flow direction, the cell axes in the alternate orthogonal flow distributed around a mean value of -45.1 degrees with a large S.D. value. Endothelial cells can be expected to recognise the flow direction, and change their shape and F-actin structure.

Transportin-mediated nuclear import of heterogeneous nuclear RNP proteins

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A1 is an abundant nuclear protein that plays an important role in pre-mRNA processing and mRNA export from the nucleus. A1 shuttles rapidly between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, and a 38-amino acid domain, M9, serves as the bidirectional transport signal of A1. Recently, a 90-kD protein, transportin, was identified as the mediator of A1 nuclear import. In this study, we show that transportin mediates the nuclear import of additional hnRNP proteins, including hnRNP F. We have also isolated and sequenced a novel transportin homolog, transportin2, which may differ from transportin1 in its substrate specificity. Immunostaining shows that transportin1 is localized both in the cytoplasm and the nucleoplasm, and nuclear rim staining is also observed. The nuclear localization of A1 is dependent on ongoing RNA polymerase II transcription. Interestingly, a pyruvate kinase-M9 fusion, which normally localizes in the nucleus, also accumulates in the cytoplasm when RNA polymerase II is inhibited. Thus, M9 itself is a specific sensor for transcription-dependent nuclear transport. Transportin1-A1 complexes can be isolated from the cytoplasm and the nucleoplasm, but transportin1 is not detectable in hnRNP complexes. RanGTP causes dissociation of A1-transportin1 complexes in vitro. Thus, it is likely that after nuclear import, A1 dissociates from transportin1 by RanGTP and becomes incorporated into hnRNP complexes, where A1 functions in pre-mRNA processing.

[A case of hemolytic uremic syndrome documented co-infection of vertoxin producing Escherichia coli O157 and other pathogens]

We reported a case of a 3-year-old girl with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which showed hemolytic anemia (Hemoglobin 8.2 g/dl, lactate dehydrogenase 1277 IU/l and total bilirubin 0.6 mg/dl), small purpura on the skin (platelet 7.3 x 10(4)/microliter) and slightly decreased output of urine (creatinine 0.4 mg/dl and blood urea nitrogen 27.2 mg/dl). Verotoxin producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157 was not isolated, but Salmonella agona and E. coli O125, which is one of the enteropathogenic E. coli, were detected from her stool culture. However, the IgM antibody against verotoxin producing E. coli (VTEC) O157 lipopolysaccharide was detected in both serum of the acute and convalescent phase by immunoblot assay. In addition verotoxin DNA was demonstrated in the stool by PCR method. Therefore, we think this HUS might be due to VTEC O157, which must have been co-infected with Salmonella agona and E. coli O125. There have been four cases including the present case of co-infection with VTEC O157 so far, and the other three cases were of the Salmonella species. Although the reason of co-infection was unknown, we may infer that food might be contaminated with some pathogens including Salmonella species or that these patients might be already infected with Salmonella species prior to VTEC infection. Even when some other pathogens were detected by a stool culture from a patient with HUS, we should pay attention to demonstrate associated of VTEC and HUS by the specific antibodies and PCR for verotoxin DNA.

Integrin alpha6 is involved in follicular growth in mice

We previously reported that integrin alpha6 is expressed on granulosa cells in the inner layers of the human and porcine ovarian follicles, where granulosa cells have no direct contact with basal lamina. In this study, we examined the physiological role of integrin alpha6 on follicular growth with an immature superovulated mice model using the anti-integrin alpha6 monoclonal antibody, GoH3. In the ovaries of 9- to 20-day-old mice, integrin alpha6 was detected on all the layers of granulosa cells in the primordial, primary, and secondary follicles by immunohistochemistry. The 13-day-old female mice were superovulated by pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin with the treatment of intraperitoneal administration of GoH3, or a control antibody, or PBS. In the group of GoH3 treatment, successful ovulation was observed in 57+/-25.7% of the animals, whereas no ovulation was observed in the control groups (p<0.01). These findings indicate that integrin alpha6 is involved in gonadotropin-induced follicular growth.

Extraovarian sex cord-stromal tumor: case report and review of the literature

A 45-year-old woman was found at laparotomy to have a multinodular solid tumor within the broad ligament, which was removed by total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Both ovaries were unremarkable. Three years after the operation, retroperitoneal tumor was detected, which was associated with clinical evidence of estrogen production. Histological examination of the primary and retroperitoneal tumors showed histological features that resembled those of granulosa cell tumors. Previously reported sex cord-stromal tumors arising in extraovarian sites were reviewed with respect to the histogenesis of these tumors.

[Double infection of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children]

There have been fewer reports on Chlamydia pneumoniae infection during childhood than those in adults, although many of the C. pneumoniae infections occurred during childhood based on prevalence of the antibody. And there have been no reports concerning the double infection of C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae. We reported three cases of children with the double infection. We diagnosed this from significant alteration of these antibodies from the acute to convalescent phases. We omitted the cases without significant alteration of the antibodies, even diagnosed from isolation or detection of the antigens in the samples by direct fluorescent antibody. Case 1 was an 8-year-old-boy who was admitted to our hospital because of fever, cough with vomiting and erythema multiforme. The symptoms did not subside after administration of clindamycin but subsided after minocycline. Case 2 was an 1-year-old-boy who was admitted because of fever, cough, rhinorrhea and vomiting. C. pneumoniae organisms were isolated from the pharyngeal swab specimen, the symptoms subsided after administration of clindamycin. Case 3 was a 9-year-old boy who was admitted because of fever and a cough followed by erythema multiforme. The symptoms did not decrease after administration of clindamycin but after minocycline. The characteristic of these cases are a strong cough with vomiting, weak response of acute reactants on the laboratory data, and skin eruption similar with that due to M. mycoplasmae in two of the three cases. We suspect that these double infections may induce the eruption, about which there have been no previous reports.

Seroepidemiology of five major zoonotic parasite infections in inhabitants of Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia

We conducted a seroepidemiological survey of zoonotic parasite infection in inhabitants of East Java, Indonesia. The subjects of the survey were 244 persons selected from visitors to Sidoarjo City Hospital in East Java between May 1992 and October 1993. Ninety-seven had diarrhea and the rest came to the hospital for routine check-ups. All serum samples were tested for antibodies against five zoonotic parasites: Toxoplasma gondii, Entamoeba histolytica, Toxocara canis. Angiostrongylus cantonensis, and Anisakis species. Tests used were enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), latex agglutination (LA) test, indirect fluorescence antibody (IFA) test, hemagglutination (HA) test, and gel diffusion precipitation (GDP) test. Some 64% of the subjects had antibodies to T. gondii. The prevalence of antibodies to E. histolytica varied from 2 to 15% depending on the test, but the true rate was probably the 7% or 8% obtained by the HA and IFA tests. The proportions of subjects with positive results were 63% for T. canis, 17% for A. cantonensis, and 11% for the Anisakis spp. The prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii and T. canis was lower in subjects aged 1 to 9 years than in older subjects, probably because the persons in this group had less time to be infected. Antibody titers to A. cantonensis and the Anisakis spp. were high in the juvenile group, perhaps because recent changes in eating habits have increased opportunities for infection.

[A case with petechiae due to human parvovirus B19]

We reported a case of 10-year-old girl with petechiae mainly on the truncus, although who had more than 10 x 10(4)/microliter of platelets. Smears of her bone marrow demonstrated extreme reduction of erythroblasts with giant proerythroblast like cells, which does not consist with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Human parvovirus B19 (B19) DNA was detected in her serum and throat swab using PCR and significant alterations of B19 specific IgM and IgG antibody titers were demonstrated. The petechiae subsided on the 8th day after her admission. She had not shown anemia less than Hb 10 g/dl, but her reticulocytes counts had increased up to 3.5% on the 11th day after her admission. Smears of her bone marrow on the 17th day became normal with moderate erythroblasts. It is demonstrated that the cellular receptor of this virus is an antigen of the blood group P recently. P antigen is presented not only on erythrocytes and on erythroblasts but also on megakaryocytes and endotherial cells. Therefore, it is suggested that direct injury by B19 to endothelial cells could cause petechiae in this case.

A case of male-limited precocious puberty caused by a point mutation in the second transmembrane domain of the luteinizing hormone choriogonadotropin receptor gene

We describe a Japanese patient with male-limited precocious puberty who has a heterozygous thymine to cytosine (T to C) transition at nucleotide 1193; the mutation encodes a methionine to threonine substitution in residue 398 (M398T) of transmembrane helix 2 of the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor. Transfected into COS-7 cells, M398T exhibited constitutively high basal cAMP levels but retained an agonist-induced cAMP response. The constitutively higher cAMP levels caused by M398T are consistent with Leydig cell activation and precocious puberty in the patient. By comparison to wild type receptor, M398T transfectants have significantly lower agonist-induced inositol phosphate (IP) levels at > 10(-10) M hCG concentrations and a higher apparent affinity for binding hCG. These data suggest that the M398T substitution alters Gq coupling and phospholipase-C activation, as well as Gs, coupling and adenylyl cyclase activity, and changes the conformation of the extracellular domain of the receptor.

Alteration of T cells and natural killer cells during chickenpox in infancy

To determine the reasons for the low immune response and the mild morbidity of chickenpox in infancy, we investigated alteration of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells during chickenpox in children < 1 year and > or = 2 years old using flow cytometry. The CD4/CD8 ratio decreased only in the < 1-year-old group from the acute to the convalescent phase (P < 0.05). The CD3-CD16+CD56+ and CD57-CD16+ counts increased in the < 1-year-old group, but those in the > or = 2-year-old group did not increase from the acute to the convalescent phase. The CD3-CD16+CD56+ counts and the CD57-CD16+ counts and percentage were larger in the < 1-year-old group than those in the > or = 2-year-old group (P = 0.001, P = 0.002, and P < 0.05) in the convalescent phase. These results seem to indicate that the low immune response in infancy after chickenpox are related to the small number of CD8 in contrast with CD4 and that increased subsets of NK cells during chickenpox may correlate to the mild morbidity of chickenpox in infancy.

Contamination of soil with parasite eggs in Surabaya, Indonesia

Soil was examined for contamination by parasite eggs in Surabaya Indonesia. Surveys were carried out on three occassion; July, 1993 (dry season), March, 1994 (rainy season), and August, 1994 (dry season). Throughout the study, five species of nematode eggs (Ascaris lumbricoides, Toxocara cati, Trichuris trichiura, Physaloptera sp, Capillaria sp), two species of cestode eggs (Hymenolepis diminuta, Spirometra erinacei), and one species of protozoa oocyst (Isospora felis) were detected. The contamination rate and number of species found from the soil were significantly different in the dry and rainy seasons. In the dry season, the prevalence was 8-20%, with two to four species detected. During the rainy season, this rate was 83% with eight species, suggesting parasite infection to possibly occur mainly in this season. The reason for this seasonal difference may be that, in spite of constant temperature around 27 to 29 degrees C throughout the year, rainfall in the dry season in only a few percent of that of the rainy season. We concluded that parasite eggs die during the dry season owing to dryness of the soil. Contamination of soil with parasite eggs and the number of species found were greater in alley-ways and at communal water supply sites around residential areas than in open-air parks or sandy beaches. The method used in the present study proved extremely effective for ascertaining the actual dynamics of parasite infection in a certain region.

[Effects of a prosthetic dental device used to treat obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and compliance of patients using the device]

We studied the short-term effects and complications of the use of a dental device (prosthetic mandibular advancement: PMA) in 72 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), and the compliance of these patients with this treatment. In 61 (84.5%) of the 72 patients, the apnea index decreased by more than 50%. The lowest SaO2 and symptom scores also improved significantly. The severity of OSAS was not related to the percent reduction in apnea index. Complications of PMA use were observed in 22 patients (30.6%), but no severe adverse effects were observed. Sixty-two of the 72 patients continued using the PMA throughout the entire study period (overall compliance rate, 86.1%). In addition, the long-term compliance rate (more than 5 years) was 61.5%. We conclude that the effects of PMA in patients with OSAS are clinically significant, that there are no severe complications, and that compliance with treatment is good.

Identification of the factors that interact with NCBP, an 80 kDa nuclear cap binding protein

It has been shown that the monomethylated cap structure plays important roles in pre-mRNA splicing and nuclear export of RNA. As a candidate for the factor involved in these nuclear events we have previously purified an 80 kDa nuclear cap binding protein (NCBP) from a HeLa cell nuclear extract and isolated its full-length cDNA. In this report, in order to obtain a clue to the cellular functions of NCBP, we attempted to identify a factor(s) that interacts with NCBP. Using the yeast two-hybrid system we isolated three clones from a HeLa cell cDNA library. We designated the proteins encoded by these clones NIPs (NCBP interacting proteins). NIP1 and NIP2 have an RNP consensus-type RNA binding domain, whereas NIP3 contains a unique domain of Arg-Glu or Lys-Glu dipeptide repeats. We also show that NCBP requires NIP1 for binding to the cap structure. Possible roles of NIPs in cap-dependent nuclear processes are discussed.

[Incidence of herpes zoster in pediatricians and history of reexposure to varicella-zoster virus in patients with herpes zoster]

We found that pediatricians have enhanced specific cellular immunity to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) compared with the general population, which may be due to reexposure to VZV from children with chickenpox. There have been some reported that the varicella vaccine enhance the specific cellular immunity. To estimate the efficacy of varicella vaccine for protection against herpes zoster in the elderly, we investigated the incidence of herpes zoster in 500 pediatricians and family practitioners with their fifties and sixties, and history of reexposure to VZV in 61 patients with herpes zoster by questionnaires retrospectively. Thirty-four of 352 pediatricians had a past history of herpes zoster. The incidence per 100,000 person-years of herpes zoster was 65.2 in those in their fifties and 158.2 in those in their sixties, which are 1/2 to 1/8 of other reports regarding the general population. Among 61 immunocompetent patients with herpes zoster, only 4 patients (6.6%) had the chance for reexpose to VZV before their herpes zoster. Only 7 (17.5%) of the 40 patients older than 50 years of age lived with their children less than 14 years of age. Twenty-three (57.5%) of them lived without their children and grandchildren. They are thought to be less chance to reexpose to VZV through children. We may think that the booster effect by reexposure to VZV plays an important role to prevent herpes zoster. Therefore, we can speculate that the varicella vaccine may protect against herpes zoster in the elderly by the enhanced specific cellular immunity due to the booster effect.