Zinc inhibits pokeweed mitogen-induced development of immunoglobulin-secreting cells through augmentation of both CD4 and CD8 cells

The mechanism whereby zinc regulates the in vitro antibody synthesis of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells was investigated. In a serum-free culture, zinc inhibited the pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-induced generation of immunoglobulin secreting cells (ISC) through an apparent non-specific augmentation of T-cells, which included CD4 and CD8 cells, as well as both CD8-Leu8+ and CD8-Leu8- cells. It was noted that CD4 cells were more stimulated than CD8 cells, and that CD8-Leu8- cells were more stimulated than CD8 Leu8+ cells. CD8-Leu8- cells inhibited the development of ISC. These findings indicate that, although zinc stimulates all T-cells, the relative potency of zinc differs among T-cell subsets; helper inducer T-cells appear to be most strongly stimulated.

Radioimmunoassay of circulating alpha-interferon with reference to aging and osteoporosis

Circulating immunoreactive alpha-interferon in elderly individuals was 0.139 +/- 0.042 ng/ml in males and 0.111 +/- 0.033 ng/ml in females at ages 70-79, and 0.120 +/- 0.045 ng/ml in males and 0.105 +/- 0.039 ng/ml in females at ages 80-89. These values were significantly lower than those in young adults (p less than 0.01), but higher compared with the values found in disease states including rheumatoid arthritis (p less than 0.0025). There was no correlation between circulating alpha-interferon and bone mass indices, such as bone mineral content or quantitative computed tomography values, in these elderly individuals. Circulating alpha-interferon was, however, significantly increased in senile osteoporotic patients after 2 months of treatment with 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 or calcitonin, whereas it was unaltered in patients receiving ipriflavone or in nonosteoporotic individuals without medication. These findings indicate that circulating alpha-interferon, which is highest in young adults, declines with aging. It appears that circulating alpha-interferon is maintained at a certain steady-state level in healthy elderly individuals. Although there was no apparent relationship between bone mass indices and circulating alpha-interferon, it is possible that bone and cellular metabolism related to vitamin D3 may be contributing factors for the maintenance of circulating alpha-interferon.

A sensitive radioimmunoassay for circulating alpha-interferon in the plasma of healthy children and patients with measles virus infection

The mean circulating alpha-interferon of healthy children aged 2 to 13.5 yrs as measured by a radioimmunoassay was 0.119 +/- 0.031 ng/ml, which was significantly lower than that of young adults. Circulating alpha-interferon of children with measles virus infection aged 1 to 11 yrs, on their first visit to the hospital when they were fully symptomatic, was 0.095 +/- 0.035 ng/ml (n = 39). It was 0.105 +/- 0.070 ng/ml (n = 21) on their second visit, 7 to 10 days after their first visit when the patients were convalescent. The difference was statistically insignificant. It is concluded that immunoreactive circulating alpha-interferon is low in children and reaches maximum level in young adults, subsequently declining gradually with age. Immunoreactive circulating alpha-interferon, a possible reflection of endogenous alpha-interferon, does not change significantly by the infection of measles virus.

Alpha-interferon treatment for adult T cell leukemia: low levels of circulating alpha-interferon and it's clinical effectiveness

We describe a patient with adult T cell Leukemia to whom alpha-interferon therapy was highly effective. Although a combination chemotherapy (ACVP) first introduced was effective in reducing total leukocyte counts, the percentage of leukemic cells relative to total leukocyte counts was decreased first after the institution of alpha-interferon therapy. The patient is now under complete remission for four years. It was noted in this patient that circulating alpha-interferon, measured by a sensitive radioimmunoassay, was consistently low as compared with the value found in the age-, sex-matched healthy control (p less than 0.001). Since adult T cell leukemia is pathogenetically related to the retrovirus infection, low levels of circulating alpha-interferon of the patient may be important from both pathogenetic and therapeutic standpoints. Alpha-interferon therapy may be an useful additive for the chemotherapy of adult T cell leukemia.

A review of the histopathological evidence on the pathogenesis of cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis

These are three ways of cartilage destruction as summarized in Fig. 1. The relative significance of the contribution among them to the pathogenesis of cartilage destruction varies individually. It appears important here to note that chondrocytes themselves are not actively involved in the pannus formation. Chondrocytes only provide a basis for extension of the pannus by proteolytic digestion of cartilage matrix. It is however possible in some individuals that the digestion of cartilage by chondrocytes plays the predominant role in their cartilage destruction. Besides the autonomous proliferative potential of pannus tissue, it seems evident that active synovitis is the main cause of cartilage loss. This is quite important from the therapeutic view point, because we can expect to halt the disease process causing joint deformities by controlling the active synovitis.

The restoration of proliferation and differentiation of peripheral blood mononuclear non-adherent cells into immunoglobulin-secreting cells by autologous synovial adherent cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The ability of enzyme-dissociated synovial adherent cells (SAC) obtained from patients with active rheumatoid arthritis to restore the proliferation and differention of peripheral blood mononuclear non-adherent cells (NAC) into immunoglobulin-secreting cells (ISC) was investigated. Autologous combinations of cells were used in this study to eliminate allogeneic reactions. Peripheral blood NAC, prepared by glass adherence and leucine methylester treatment to remove monocytes, almost completely lost their capacity to proliferate and differentiate into ISC in response to pokeweed mitogen. The response of NAC was restored by adding 12.5% of 'fresh SAC', which was obtained by glass-adherence after an overnight culture of non-rosette forming, enzyme-dissociated rheumatoid synovial cells. Although the response was also restorable by adding more than 25% fresh SAC, this was less satisfactory than adding 12.5% SAC. 'Old SAC', obtained by glass-adherence after 7 days culture of enzyme-dissociated synovial cells, did not restore the response of NAC. Immunohistochemical studies showed that 55% of fresh SAC and 3% of old SAC expressed HLA-DR antigens. When 100 units/ml of interferon gamma was present, 25% of old SAC remained HLA-DR-positive and some of these cells retained a dendritic morphology after 7 days culture. The results indicate that rheumatoid synovia contain macrophage-like cells that can effectively support the ultimate differentiation of lymphocytes to ISC.

Clinical studies of renal disease in Sjögren's syndrome

When 17 patients with Sjögren's syndrome, without apparent clinical manifestations of renal disease, were examined renal function studies frequently indicated abnormalities in their renal phosphate handling. The percentage tubular reabsorption of phosphate (%TRP) was decreased in six (35.3%), and maximal tubular reabsorption rate for phosphate (TmPO4/GFR) was low in eight (47.1%). In contrast, indices of renal calcium handling and serum parathyroid hormone levels were normal, suggesting that the abnormalities of phosphate metabolism were due not to extrinsic, but rather to intrinsic disease processes occurring in the kidney in Sjögren's syndrome. When the patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of a renal tubular acidification defect (RTAD), patients with RTAD were younger (p less than 0.005), had longer disease duration (p less than 0.01), lower creatinine clearance (p less than 0.05), and higher incidence of low %TRP (p less than 0.05). Thus the patients with lower creatinine clearance generally had disease of longer duration at diagnosis and tended also to have defects in concentrating and acidifying the urine.

1 alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibits proliferative response of T- and B-lymphocytes in a serum-free culture

The contribution of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 to the proliferative response of human B- and T-lymphocytes was examined in a serum-free culture, in which B-cells were stimulated with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I, and T-cells with phytohemagglutinin, respectively. 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibited mitogen-induced B-cell proliferation at a dose of 10(-7) M (P less than 0.01). T-cell proliferation was inhibited at the lower dose range between 10(-9) M and 10(-7) M. Thus, although 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 acts directly on B-cells, it appears that, under physiological circumstance, 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 regulates human B-cell growth indirectly through the effect on T-cells.

A sensitive radioimmunoassay for alpha-interferon: circulating alpha-interferon-like substance in the plasma of healthy individuals and rheumatoid arthritis patients

A radioimmunoassay for circulating alpha-interferon (IFN alpha) has been developed using lymphoblastoid IFN alpha. The assay was specific for IFN alpha, and did not cross-react with IFN beta, IFN gamma, or ACTH, while it was specifically inhibited by recombinant IFN alpha. The radioimmunoassay (y) correlated linearly with the virus inhibition assay (x), with a regression line of y on x of y = 0.659x + 245 (u) (P less than 0.01). alpha-Interferon-like substance (IFN alpha-LS) was extracted and concentrated from plasma either by silicic acid or by antibody immunoadsorption. Serial dilutions of plasma and extracted samples of plasma showed dilution curves identical to those of standard IFN alpha, suggesting the presence of endogenous IFN alpha in human plasma. The circulating IFN alpha-LS of healthy individuals aged 20 to 45 was 0.207 +/- 0.055 ng/ml in males (n = 48) and 0.172 +/- 0.076 ng/ml in females (n = 34). Gel filtration studies on a Sephadex G-75 column suggested that circulating IFN alpha-LS exists in a fragmented form, inactive in virus inhibition assays, in the plasma of healthy individuals. The finding may help explain why biological IFN alpha is often undetectable in the plasma of healthy donors, yet is detectable by radioimmunoassay. Circulating IFN alpha-LS in the plasma of healthy individuals declined gradually with age. IFN alpha-LS was significantly decreased in the plasma of rheumatoid arthritis patients, when compared with the value found in the age and sex-matched healthy controls and in osteoarthritis patients (P less than 0.0001). The decrease was related neither to treatment nor to disease activity. IFN alpha-LS was, however, not decreased in the plasma of vasculitis patients. Decreased IFN alpha-LS in rheumatoid arthritis may be important from pathogenetic and therapeutic standpoints.

Quantitative histologic studies on the pathogenesis of periarticular osteoporosis in rheumatoid arthritis

The pathogenesis of periarticular osteopenia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was investigated by histomorphometry on juxtaarticular bone removed during joint surgery. Twenty areas from 12 RA patients were compared with 14 areas from 6 osteoarthritis (OA) patients. There was no difference between the 2 groups in the percent of total bone volume. However, increased bone formation was suggested by an increase in the percent of active osteoid surface in RA compared with that in OA. Bone resorption was also increased in RA, as evidenced by increases versus OA in percent total resorptive surface, percent active resorptive surface, and number of osteoclasts. These results demonstrate increased turnover of bone in RA, especially in the resorptive phase of the periarticular trabecular bone. It is proposed that soluble factor(s) synthesized in the contiguous rheumatoid synovium may be transferred to the periarticular bone space, stimulating osteoclasts to resorb bone.

Detection of human T-cell leukemia virus antibodies in a Japanese T-cell leukemia patient with hypercalcemia

A T-cell (KH-2) from a Japanese T-cell leukemia patient with hypercalcemia has been characterized and shown to be similar in its properties to Human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV)-positive T-cell lines from T-cell leukemia patients from different parts of the world. The HTLV isolated from the Japanese T-cell leukemia patient with hypercalcemia belongs to the HTLV family and has properties similar to HTLV from T-cell leukemia patients from the United States, Israel, and the Caribbean.

Fibronectin on the surface of articular cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis

The presence of fibronectin on the surface of articular cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was investigated. Cartilage samples were stained by the immunoperoxidase method using anti-human fibronectin antibody, and observed under light and electron microscopy. Fibronectin was present on the articular surface in 7 of 8 RA patients. The degree of staining varied greatly among the patients. Five of 8 patients were positive for fibronectin in 50% or more of the cartilage areas studied. In total, fibronectin was observed in RA. Fibronectin was not observed in cartilage samples of osteoarthritic joints or joints which were not diseased but had undergone trauma. Ultrastructurally, it was observed to be associated with collagen fibrils and amorphous substance in the matrix. The fibronectin-negative surface of the rheumatoid cartilage was usually thick ultrastructurally, compared with the fibronectin-positive surface, and the staining for fibronectin roughly correlated with decreased proteoglycans on the surface. The presence of fibronectin in the matrix appeared to be revealed by partial degradation of proteoglycans with proteolytic enzymes in the synovial fluid, as well as by the deposition of fibronectin onto the surface of rheumatoid cartilage. Fibronectin on the articular surface may play an important role in promoting pannus extension onto the articular surface in RA.

Presence of HLA-DR antigen on synovial type A and B cells: an immunoelectron microscopic study in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and normal traumatic joints

The HLA-DR antigen was investigated in synovial epithelia of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and normal traumatic joints, using monoclonal anti-human HLA-DR antibody and horseradish peroxidase-conjugated antibody. The HLA-DR staining was observed in an electron microscope. HLA-DR antigen was observed to be present on the surface of both macrophage-like (type A) and fibroblast-like (type B) cells in synovial epithelia in all rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and normal joints. Since type A and B cells are ultrastructurally considered to be of synovial origin, the findings suggest that the expression of HLA-DR antigen on the surface is one of the common attributes of type A and B cells in synovial epithelia, even before cellular infiltration of chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. These cells may play an important role in the initiation of rheumatoid inflammation, since HLA-DR antigen is considered equivalent to murine Ia antigen.

Immunoelectron microscopic demonstration of fibronectin in rheumatoid pannus and at the cartilage-pannus junction

The presence of fibronectin (Fn) in rheumatoid pannus was investigated by an immunoelectron microscopic method using horseradish peroxidase-conjugated antibody to stain Fn. Large amounts of Fn were demonstrated in the interstitial collagenous tissue of invasive rheumatoid pannus. Fn was also observed on the surface of both fibroblast-like and macrophage-like pannus cells, suggesting that it was secreted by these cells and that the secreted Fn might facilitate the spreading of the pannus cells over the cartilage matrix. However, decreased amounts of Fn were observed in areas of contact between pannus cells and the cartilage matrix. The reduction in the amount of Fn demonstrable at the cartilage-pannus junction may be a consequence either of proteolysis of Fn by enzymes secreted at the junction, inhibition of Fn synthesis in cells in contact with cartilage matrix, or transfer of Fn from the pannus cell surface to collagen of the cartilage matrix.

Morphologic observations in the early phase of the cartilage-pannus junction. Light and electron microscopic studies of active cellular pannus

The early phase of cartilage destruction by active cellular pannus in rheumatoid joints was observed under light and electron microscopy. In the early phase of pannus formation, cartilage was covered by several layers of fibroblast-like cells. This was also the case at the advancing edge of the pannus. Invasion of the cartilage by macrophage-like cells has been observed to start beneath this layer. Observations under electron microscope demonstrated that the main cells participating in the cartilage destruction at the cartilage-pannus junction were either fibroblast-like or macrophage-like cells, and suggested the possibility that these two types of cells were derived from synovial type A and type B cells. Morphologic observations also suggested a possibility of transformation of the fibroblast-like cell into the macrophage-like cell at the cartilage-pannus junction.

Phenotypic changes induced in the human thymic ALL cell line HPB-ALL by an ingenol ester, milliamin

An ingenol ester, milliamin, induced phenotypic changes in human thymic ALL cell line HPB-ALL. These alterations included morphological changes, increased sRBC-rosetting, the induction of phenotypic changes of differentiation antigens, i.e. a decrease in OKT4-, OKT6-, OKT9-, OKT10- and Leu3a-positive cells and an increase in Leu2a-positive cells, growth inhibition and decreased DNA synthesis. These phenotypic changes were qualitatively and quantitatively similar to those induced by other polyol diterpens with tigliane and daphnane hydrocarbon skeletons such as TPA and mezereine, respectively.

Age-related differences in human skin collagen: solubility in solvent, susceptibility to pepsin digestion, and the spectrum of the solubilized polymeric collagen molecules

Age-related differences of human skin collagen in solubility, susceptibility to pepsin digestion, and the spectrum of collagen molecules were systematically examined. Less than .5% of the skin collagen were solubilized in a neutral salt solution. The solubility in acetic acid decreased rapidly during maturation and then slowly with age. Insoluble collagen from an infant was almost completely solubilized by pepsin digestion, whereas most of that from the elderly individuals remained insoluble even after four repeated times of pepsin digestion. The solubilized collagen was considered to contain a considerable amount of polymeric molecules. Characteristically, the amount of the Millipore-retained fraction of pepsin-solubilized collagen was prominent at the fourth decade. These differences represent the aging process of collagen.

Absence of immunoglobulins in rheumatoid cartilage-pannus junctions

Immune complexes (IC) present in the superficial region of rheumatoid articular cartilage may be an important factor in the invasion of the cartilage by pannus. The presence of such IC at the cartilage-pannus junction in rheumatoid articular cartilage invaded by pannus was investigated by using immunoelectron microscopy with horseradish peroxidase anti-human immunoglobulin (Ig). It was observed that, although the pannus-free surface of the cartilage contained easily detectable deposits of Ig, the areas covered by pannus failed to show any Ig in the 5 5 patients studied. This was true even in areas immediately adjacent to the advancing edge of the pannus which presumably had only recently been invaded by the granulation tissue. These results were confirmed by fluorescent antibody ultraviolet microscopy. It was concluded that rheumatoid pannus invasion of the free cartilage surface containing trapped IC results in the disappearance of such complexes.

Age-related change in the reducible cross-link of human skin and aorta collagens

Age-related changes in the reducible cross-links of soluble and insoluble collagens from the human skin and aorta were evaluated. Histidinohydroxymerodemosine decreased with age up to the fifth decade and then remained constant in the insoluble skin collagen but could not be detected in the insoluble aorta collagen. Dihydroxylysinonorleucine could be observed, if in a small amount, in the insoluble aorta collagen but not in both the soluble and insoluble skin collagens. Hydroxylysinonorleucine seemed to be present in only a small amount, although coeluting unknown substances made it difficult to evaluate correctly. Two unknown components decreasing with age were found; the one in the insoluble skin collagen and the other in the insoluble aorta collagen. Difference in reducible cross-link was indicated between the skin and aorta collagens.

The effect of age on amino acid composition of human skin collagen

To study the effect of age on amino acid composition of human skin collagen, skins from 8 women aged 0 to 93 were extracted with acetone and EDTA and then gelatinized. Gelatin was purified by extraction with chloroform-methanol and DEAE cellulose chromatography. Hydroxyproline was spectrophotometrically determined and its contents were essentially the same (12.6%). Amino acid analysis indicated no significant age-related variations in the contents of proline, hydroxyproline, lysine, and hydroxylysine over the range of 0 to 93 years of age. The content of cysteine was reasonably low (0.4 to 0.6 per 1,000 amino acid residues) except in the cases of those 0 and 93 years of age. Aldehyde content was slightly lower in young cases than in infant and old cases. These results indicate that the changes in cross-links derived from aldehyde may be responsible for the effect of age.

Age-related variations in glycosylation of hydroxylysine in human and rat skin collagens

The extent of glycosylation of hydroxylysine in human skin collagen rapidly decreased during maturation and then gradually increased in proportion to the age. This decrease of glycosylation observed during maturation was also confirmed in whole, soluble and insoluble collagens from rat skin. These findings may contribute to the investigations on the functional role of glycosylation and also on the mechanism of maturational as well as senile processes.