Allergen-specific human IgE helper T cell lines derived from patients allergic to Japanese cedar pollen

To study the regulatory mechanism of allergen-dependent human IgE synthesis, Cry j I-specific and interleukin 4 (IL-4)-producing CD4+ T cell lines (SN-4 and SS-12) were established from 2 patients allergic to Japanese cedar pollen who highly expressed IL-4 mRNA in T cells in response to Cry j I stimulation. Upon stimulation of SN-4 and SS-12 cells with Cry j I, IL-4 production, which was observed at the protein and the mRNA levels, was induced in an HLA-DR-restricted manner, using autologous and allogeneic antigen-presenting cells. In addition to IL-4, not only considerable amounts of IL-5 and IL-6 but also very small amounts of IL-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were secreted by SN-4 and SS-12 cells, indicating that they fit into the Th2-like phenotype. The culture supernatant from Cry j I-activated SN-4 cells had the ability to induce IL-4-dependent IgE synthesis, CD23 expression and soluble CD23 release. Moreover, Cry j I-dependent IgE synthesis medated by SN-4 cells derived from 1 patient expressing HLA-DRw8, w9 could be specifically induced in both autologous and HLA-DRw9-matched allogeneic B cell cultures. This IgE induction was inhibited by neutralizing antibodies to IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6, but was not enhanced by anti-IFN-gamma antibody. On the other hand, neither IL-4 production nor IgE synthesis was induced when SN-4 cells were cocultured in the presence of Cry j I with HLA-DRw8-matched or histoincompatible allogeneic cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Possible role of tyrosine kinase activity in interleukin 4-induced expression of germ-line C epsilon transcripts in a human Burkitt lymphoma B-cell line, DND39

Despite the recent advances in knowledge of the molecular mechanism by which interleukin-4 (IL-4) induces IgE production, little is known about the signal transduction pathway that leads to this event. This study investigated the signal transduction mechanism responsible for IL-4-induced expression of germ-line C epsilon transcripts with use of a human Burkitt lymphoma B-cell line, DND39, which is known to express germ-line C epsilon transcripts in response to IL-4. On stimulation with IL-4, the generation of inositol triphosphate was observed in the cells. In addition, this generation was associated with activation of phospholipase C-gamma 1 (PLC-gamma 1). Although herbimycin A, a potent inhibitor of tryosine kinase, inhibited IL-4-induced activation of PLC-gamma 1 and generation of inositol triphosphate, direct phosphorylation of PCL-gamma 1 was not determined. Nevertheless, IL-4 stimulation could induce activation of FYN but not LYN kinase, suggesting that additional molecule(s) might link FYN kinase to PLC-gamma 1. Interestingly, herbimycin A almost completely inhibited IL-4-induced expression of germ-line C epsilon transcripts when present during the entire culture period. These results indicate that the induction of germ-line C epsilon transcripts in IL-4-stimulated DND39 cells is essentially dependent on the activation of tyrosine kinase, possibly FYN kinase.

Nature of protein adsorption in artificial tear solution on plasma-irradiated polymethylmethacrylate surface

To evaluate the effect of plasma treatment on protein adsorption onto a polymer surface, we carried out Ar plasma irradiation on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) plate and examined the adsorption behavior of protein after immersion of plasma treated PMMA plate in the artificial tear solution containing lysozyme, albumin and gamma-globulin. It was found that the total adsorption of protein in the artificial tear solution to PMMA is suppressed by the Ar plasma treatment. But the adsorption of each component protein differs according to the surface condition of polymers and obviously corresponds to the change with time in the surface wettability. It is concluded that introduction of a hydrophilic group into the PMMA surface by plasma treatment and coming off of it are associated with the adsorption behavior of proteins. Since the adsorption of protein to the plasma-treated PMMA surface changes over time, care should be exercised in determining it, when an attempt is made to clarify the effect of plasma irradiation on the adsorption to the plasma-irradiated polymer surface.

Biological activities of chemically synthesized N-acylated serine-linked lipid A analog in mice

The mitogenicity, lethal toxicity and antitumor activity against Meth A fibrosarcoma and the induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) of chemically synthesized N-acylated serine-linked nonphosphorylated acylglucosamine-derived lipid A analog (A-601, A-602 and A-603) were determined. Compounds A-603 (with (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl at the C-2 position) and A-103 (2,3-acyloxyacylglucosamine-4-phosphate) induced significant incorporations of [3H]thymidine into splenocytes of C3H/He mice at concentrations ranging from 6.25 to 100 microM. The mitogenicity of A-601 and A-602 (with tetradecanoyl at the C-2 position) exhibited a lower activity than of A-603. Compounds A-601 and A-603 showed almost the same lethality at doses from 1 to 50 nmol/mouse in C57BL/6 mice loaded with D-galactosamine, whereas A-103 caused the death of two out of six mice at a dose of 25 nmol/mouse. A-601 and A-603 showed weak antitumor activity against Meth A fibrosarcoma in BALB/c mice, but there was no enhancement of antitumor activity by a combination of A-603 with muramyl dipeptide. Peritoneal macrophages, stimulated with A-601, A-602 or A-603, caused production of TNF which induces L929 cell lysis in vitro. But the activity of A-603 among the compounds on TNF-production was the highest. These findings indicate that the linkage of nonphosphorylated acylglucosamine and N-acylated serine affects the expression of the biological activity.

Polymerase chain reaction analysis of Borrelia species isolated in Japan

Primer reactivities of 25 Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolates from the ticks, Ixodes persulcatus and I. ovatus, in Japan and 10 isolates in Europe and North America were investigated. The methods used in this study were the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the flagellin structural gene (fla), the outer surface protein A gene (osp A) and the outer surface protein B gene (osp B), and the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of PCR products from osp A and osp B. The flagellin PCR primer set reacted with all the Borrelia strains tested. Four genospecies, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii, B. afzelii and B. japonica, were differentiated by PCR using osp A and osp B primers combined with RFLP analysis. Some Japanese isolates from I. persulcatus were identified as B. garinii or B. afzelii. The other isolates from I. persulcatus did not fit in any of the 4 genospecies. These results suggested that Japanese isolates from I. persulcatus are highly heterogeneous in their osp A and osp B structures. Furthermore, PCR primers targeting fla are applicable to the gene diagnosis for Lyme disease in Japan, and osp A and osp B primers can be used to classify B. burgdorferi sensu lato isolates into genospecies by PCR and RFLP analyses.

Infectivity and early antibody response to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolated in Japan in outbred mice

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolated from Ixodes ovatus (B. japonica), I. persulcatus and patients with erythema migrans (EM) in Japan were determined on infectivity and arthritis induction-activity in outbred mice. Infectivity of B. japonica was weak and did not induce the development of footpad swelling by subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation into the footpad. Challenged strain, NO129-M of B. japonica, to ddY mice were reinoculated to the mice at various cell numbers (1 x 10-1 x 10(6) cells/mouse). The strain isolated from the mouse did not reinfect ddY mice and did not induce the production of specific antibody to the homologous strain. On the other hand, strains from I. persulcatus and patients with EM in Japan infected the mice and induced a serious inflammatory response in Borrelia-inoculated footpad as well as strains belonging to the three genospecies, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii, and B. afzelii, related to Lyme disease, from North America and Europe. The mice were infected with 10 cells of strain HP1 isolated from I. persulcatus in Hokkaido and of strain 297 isolated from a patient in the U.S.A. by subcutaneous inoculation into the hind footpad, or by intradermal inoculation into the back. Antigens of ca. 20, 23-24 (Osp C), 29, 39, 41 (flagellin) and 45 kDa reacted with the pooled sera from mice inoculated with strains HP1 and 297, but Osp A and Osp B did not.

Mitogenic activity and the induction of tumor necrosis factor by lipopeptide analogs of the N-terminal part of lipoprotein in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli

Mitogenicity and the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by a chemically synthesized lipotetrapeptide analog (KAB-8), S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-2R-propyl]-N-[(2,2,2)-trichloro- ethoxycarbonyl: Troc group]-(R)-cysteinyl-(S)-seryl-(S)-seryl-(S)-asparagine, the amino acid sequence of which corresponds to that of the lipopeptide part of lipoprotein in Escherichia coli, and several derivatives (KAB-30-41), which possessed the altered glycerocysteine moiety, were examined. A 1-cysteinyl glycerol skeleton-type compound (KAB-8), a propane-type compound (KAB-31), a homoglycerol-type (KAB-39 and 40) and a 2-cysteinyl glycerol-type (KAB-41) exhibited mitogenic activity on splenocytes from C3H/He mice at various concentrations ranging from 0.4 to 100 micrograms/ml. However, propane-type compounds, except KAB-31, and ethane-type compounds showed lower mitogenic activity than other types of compounds. Compounds KAB-8, 31, 40 and 41 induced the production of TNF in peritoneal exudated macrophages from C3H/He mice at concentrations of 25 and 50 micrograms/ml. The results indicate that the structural differences of the glycerol moiety in the synthetic lipopeptides affect the potency of its biological activities.

Lyme disease spirochetes in a wild fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki) and in ticks

Lyme disease spirochetes were demonstrated in a wild female fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki) and in Ixodes persulcatus ticks collected from the fox on Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Spirochetes were detected in I. persulcatus, as well as skin lesions, brain, heart, kidney, and liver of the fox. Five of seven isolates reacted with a monoclonal antibody against Borrelia afzelii specific Osp B. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) relatedness of a brain isolate was 89% to B. afzelii, and ranged from 50 to 67% to three other species. Immunoglobulin G antibodies to B. afzelii, B. garinii and B. burgdorferi sensulato, when tested in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), were negative in the fox. There were no antibodies against seven serovars of Leptospira interrogans.

Estimation of 2-D blood flow velocity map from cine-angiograms: algorithm using overlapping block set and illustration of vortex flow in abdominal aneurysm

To derive blood flow dynamics from cine-angiograms (CAGs), we have developed an image-processing algorithm to determine a two-dimensional blood flow velocity map projected on CAGs. Each image data of CAG is divided into a set of overlapping blocks, and it is assumed that the contrast medium in each block moves only to its 'adjacent blocks' between two serial frames. Based on this assumption, a 'fundamental equation' and the 'maximum flow constraints' are derived. These equations state the relationship between the volume of contrast medium in each block and the volume of contrast medium flowing from/to its 'adjacent blocks'. The volume of the flowing contrast medium is calculated using these relationships, boundary conditions and an additional 'smoothness constraint'. The blood flow velocities are estimated from the volume of the flowing contrast medium and are illustrated with a needle diagram. We applied our algorithm to an abdominal CAG (clinical data). The result showed a vortex flow in the abdominal aneurysm, which was consistent with visual inspection of the CAG movie and with the existence of thrombus in the aneurysm. Our algorithm may be a useful diagnostic tool to assess vascular disease.

Biological activities of lipopolysaccharide isolated from Vibrio cholerae O139, a new epidemic strain for recent cholera in Indian subcontinent

Biological activities of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from Vibrio cholerae O139, a new causative agent for recent cholera epidemic in Indian subcontinent, were investigated in comparison with those of LPS from O1 V. cholerae. V. cholerae O139 LPS exerted mitogenic activity, lethal toxicity and Shwartzman reaction to the same extent as those observed for O1 V. cholerae LPS, although these activities except for lethal toxicity were obviously lower than those of Salmonella typhimurium LT-2 LPS used as a reference. It was, therefore, suggested that O139 LPS does not contribute to the high infective and pathogenic potentials of the V. cholerae O139 strain as in the case of O1 V. cholerae.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies for identification of Borrelia japonica, isolates from Ixodes ovatus

Monoclonal antibodies for identification of Borrelia japonica isolated from tick, Ixodes ovatus and long-tailed shrew, Sorex unguiculatus in Japan and Borrelia related to Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato) were prepared and characterized. All isolates belonging to B. japonica and isolates from I. dentatus and cottontail rabbit in North America reacted with MAb O1441b against flagellin which was prepared from immunized mice with strain HO14, type strain of B. japonica, but isolates from I. persulcatus, patient, and wood mouse, Apodemus speciosus ainu, in Japan, and isolates belonging to B. burgdorferi, B. garinii and B. afzelii from North America and Europe did not. Strains used in this study reacted with MAb P62 against common antigen which was prepared from immunized mice with strain NT24 isolated from I. persulcatus in Japan, but B. japonica did not. These MAbs are useful for identification and differentiation of B. japonica and B. burgdorferi sensu lato in Japan.

In vitro antibiotic susceptibilities of Borrelia isolates from erythema migrans lesion of Lyme disease patients in Japan

Antibiotic susceptibilities of twelve borrelial isolates from skin of patients with erythema migrans (EM) and ticks (Ixodes persulcatus and I. ovatus) in Japan were examined by in vitro microdilution MIC method and macrodilution MBC method. Nine EM isolates and 3 tick isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin, erythromycin, and minocycline. MICs for Japanese isolates were 0.038-0.30 microgram/ml, < 0.012 microgram/ml, and < 0.012-0.05 microgram/ml, respectively. MBCs were as follows: 0.038-0.88 microgram/ml, < 0.012-0.10 microgram/ml, and < 0.025-0.78 microgram/ml, respectively. These antibiotics could be recommended for treatment of patients in early stage of Lyme disease in Japan.

DNA strand-breaking activities of quinolone antimicrobial agents under visible light irradiation

The DNA strand-breaking activities of 9 quinolones, widely used as antimicrobial agents and suspected to induce photo-dermatological disorders in humans, were examined under irradiation using standard domestic fluorescent lamps. Two quinolones, tosufloxacin and enoxacin, converted the supercoiled covalently closed circular plasmid DNA to the open circular form under visible light irradiation. The maximum of photodynamic single strand-breaking activity for tosufloxacin was found to be 12% at 50 microM and that of enoxacin was 33% at a concentration of 2 mM. The DNA strand-breaking activities of photoirradiated tosufloxacin and enoxacin were markedly inhibited by NaN3 but only partially by D-mannitol, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase did not inhibit these activities. These results suggest that some quinolone antimicrobial agents can be activated by visible light and induce phototoxic DNA damage in various organisms. We should carefully investigate such phototoxic activities during the development of new quinolones to avoid producing phototoxic disorders in man.

Experimental induction of Lyme arthritis in outbred mice

Outbred ddY mice inoculated with live cells of Borrelia burgdorferi strain 297 into hind footpad displayed swelling of the footpad at days 7 to 11 after inoculation. Marked neutrophilic infiltration was observed in the subcutaneous tissue and the part of bone tissue which was partially destroyed, and synovial layer of articular capsule was thickened and protruded into the joint space in the histopathological examination of footpad inoculated with live Borrelia cells. The inflammation peaked at day 7 and B. burgdorferi was cultured from bladder and heart of the mice at day 14 after inoculation. The mice inoculated with heat-inactivated cells at 56 C for 30 min did not show any significant histopathological change. In this mice model, nontreated littermates were not infected in contact with infected littermates for 14 days of experimental period. The outbred ddY mice model is useful for evaluating the effectiveness of vaccination against Lyme disease.

Algorithm effects on computerized vessel analysis from digitized cine film and a new method of generating the centerline of a vessel

This study concerns methods of accurately measuring vessel diameters using coronary cineangiograms. Various edge detection filters are compared and a new method for determining the centerline of a vessel is developed. Vessel phantoms of different sizes are used to evaluate the precision and accuracy of an entropy filter, a combined first and second derivative filter, a Laplace-Gaussian filter, a first derivative filter and a second derivative filter. The entropy filter is found to yield the most reliable, precise and accurate data. For use in a clinical case with an irregular arterial wall, a new method of determining the centerline is delineated in which the centerline of a vessel (which we define as a set of points having equal distance to each of any two opposite edge lines) is calculated with images called distance maps. We find that this method of detecting the centerline provides an acceptable assessment of the centerline on visual evaluation.

Limitation of detection and evaluation of coronary arterial stenosis by densitometry

In coronary cineangiography, both X-ray absorption and light scatter in the image intensifier tend to degrade image quality, and so affect the accuracy of densitometric measurement of vessel diameter. To investigate this problem, we compared the accuracy and precision of the densitometric method and the edge detection method in the automated detection of stenosis in both vessel phantom and clinical studies. In the phantom study, the X-ray penetration was varied by altering the thickness of the model, and the change in the measured diameter obtained by each of the two methods was evaluated simultaneously. A difference of 5 mm in the thickness of the model was found to alter significantly (P < 0.01) measurement of the diameter obtained using the densitometric method, but not that obtained by the edge detection method. In the clinical part of the study, the accuracy of each method in the automated detection of coronary stenosis was evaluated. With respect to the detection of stenosis, the level of disagreement between the assessment of the 3 observers and what was detected by densitometry (22.8%) was 2.9 times higher than the disagreement between the observers' assessment and what was detected using the edge detection method (7.9%). When the background density of the coronary cineangiogram along the axis of the vessel was uneven, many vessel segments which had been evaluated as normal when edge-detection was used were evaluated as stenosed when densitometry was used. This study, then, demonstrates that the Lambert-Beer law does not apply in cases where the thickness of the subject varies in different locations along the axis of the same vessel. We therefore conclude that densitometry is not a reliable means of assessing coronary stenosis in such cases, due to veiling-glare and scatter, and recommend that it not be routinely used in the automated detection of coronary arterial stenosis.

Column-switching liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of iothalamic acid and creatinine in biological fluids

A column-switching liquid chromatographic method for simultaneous determination of iothalamate and creatinine in human serum and urine was developed. Iothalamate and creatinine were separated on a weakly acidic ion-exchange column (C1) by ion-exclusion chromatography and iothalamate excluded from the column was purified by gel chromatography on a hydrophilic gel column (C2) and then by ion-exchange chromatography on a weakly basic ion-exchange column (C3). Creatinine that was eluted from C1 after iothalamate was transferred to a hydrophilic gel column (C4) and then to a strongly acidic ion-exchange column (C5). The mobile phase for C1-C4 was a pH 3.8 propionate buffer (propionic acid-NaOH = 0.35 + 0.035 mol/kg in water) and a pH 5.6 propionate buffer (propionic acid-NaOH = 0.04 + 0.035 mol/kg in water) was used for C5. Diluted serum and urine samples could be injected directly on to C1, as the matrix of C1 is hydrophilic and C1 is backflushed after the transfer of the creatinine fraction from C1 to C4. Iothalamate and creatinine in the eluates were determined by measuring their ultraviolet absorption at 245 and 234 nm, respectively. The precision (R.S.D.) of the chromatographic method was 1.6% (n = 7) and 0.36% (n = 6) for diluted serum and urine with iothalamate concentrations of 1.0 and 10.0 mumol/l, respectively, and 0.85% (n = 7) and 0.55% (n = 7) for diluted serum and urine with creatinine concentrations of 5.77 and 272 mumol/l, respectively.

3-Cyano-2,6-dihydroxypyridine (CNDP), a new potent inhibitor of dihydrouracil dehydrogenase

3-Cyano-2,6-dihydroxypyridine (CNDP) was identified as a potent inhibitor (IC50 value, 4.4 nM) of dihydrouracil dehydrogenase (DHUDase) [EC 1.3.1.2], a rate-limiting enzyme in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) degradation. The inhibitory activity of CNDP was about 2,000 times that of uracil under our assay conditions. Kinetic analyses with partially purified enzyme from rat liver revealed that the mechanism of inhibition of DHUDase by CNDP was of mixed type with an inhibition constant (Ki) of 1.51 nM. CNDP had less effect on 5-FU phosphorylation than on 5-FU degradation. The inhibitory effect of CNDP on ribosylation of 5-FU was 600 to 1,000 times less than that on DHUDase. Moreover, CNDP did not inhibit uridine kinase, thymidine kinase, or pyrimidine phosphoribosyltransferase. Coadministration of CNDP with 1-ethoxymethyl-5-fluorouracil (EM-FU) to rats with Yoshida sarcoma elevated the level of 5-FU in both the blood and the tumor and enhanced the antitumor effect of EM-FU. These findings indicated that CNDP would be a useful chemical modulator in chemotherapy with 5-FU or its prodrugs.

Photodynamic DNA strand breaking activities of acridine compounds

Induction of single strand breaks in DNA was assessed by the conversion of supercoiled closed circular plasmid DNA into the open circular form. Euflavine produced single-strand breaks following irradiation but not in the control maintained in the dark. The single strand breaking activity of photoactivated euflavine was found to be dose-dependent. The effective dose conversion 50% (ED50) of the closed circular DNA to the open circular form was 0.53 microM. A comparison of 8 acridine compounds revealed that the ED50 of diaminoacridines such as euflavine, proflavine and acridine yellow or the 3,6-dimethylamino-derivative (acridine orange) was less than 1 microM while the ED50 values of the other acridines were greater than 80 microM. Euflavine was markedly inhibited by singlet oxygen scavengers such as NaN3, histidine, alpha-tocopherol or beta-carotene and partly inhibited by superoxide dismutase, mannitol or catalase. These results suggest that enflavine induces single strand breaks in DNA mainly by a type II photodynamic mechanism. Photodynamic single strand breaking activities appeared related to their mutagenic activities on yeast. This experimental system described here is useful for the quantitative assessment of the single strand breaking activities of various photosensitizers in vitro and for the determination of active oxygen species involved in those processes.

Genomic analysis of Borrelia japonica sp. nov. isolated from Ixodes ovatus in Japan

Genetic characteristics of 12 Borrelia isolates from the tick, Ixodes ovatus, I. persulcatus, and the rodent, Apodemus speciosus ainu, in Japan were compared to members of the three genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato; B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii and group VS461. The methods used in this study were the quantitative microplate DNA hybridization assay and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses of the flagellin structural genes and the 16S rRNA genes. The six isolates from I. persulcatus and A. speciosus ainu were identified as genospecies B. garinii using RFLP analysis of the flagellin and 16S rRNA genes. In contrast, RFLP analysis of the six isolates from I. ovatus indicated that they were different from the three reported genospecies. DNA homology studies confirmed the RFLP results. The six isolates from I. ovatus had DNA homologies ranging from 85 to 99%, whereas DNA relatedness of the I. ovatus isolate with strains belonging to the three genospecies was 50 to 64%. These results suggest that the strains isolated from I. ovatus in Japan differ from the three genospecies and should be classified as a new genospecies of B. burgdorferi sensu lato. We propose that strains isolated from I. ovatus should be classified as B. japonica sp. nov.

[The allergic reaction to acid protease released by Candida albicans]

The species of Candida albicans (C. albicans) are known to colonize mucocutaneous regions as part of the endogenous flora. C. albicans is also known as an important allergen in human allergic diseases. However, the major allergen of C. albicans has not been identified yet. Acid protease released from C. albicans (CAAP) cleaves IgA or the secretory component to enable C. albicans to colonize on the mucous membrane. In this study, using CAAP and crude Candida antigen as challenging antigens, we carried out conjunctival provocation tests (CPT) on 68 adult bronchial asthmatic patients who showed immediate positive skin reactions to crude Candida antigen. In several patients we performed serum IgE antibody (RAST), histamine release from peripheral leukocytes (HRT) and bronchial provocation tests (BPT) to CAAP. Six of the 8 patients who showed positive CPT to crude Candida antigen (75%) showed positive CPT responses to CAAP. On the other hand, only 1 of the 59 patients who showed negative CPT to crude Candida antigen (1.7%) showed positive CPT reactions to CAAP. Two female patients showed positive RAST and HRT to both crude Candida and CAAP. They also showed positive CPT and BPT. One patient had positive RAST results but negative HRT, CPT and BPT results. These results show that CAAP is an important allergen for atopic patients allergic to C. albicans.

Time-course detection of HIV-1 proviral DNA and genomic RNA by polymerase chain reaction in sera from seropositive and seronegative hemophiliacs treated with clotting factor concentrates

The detection of HIV-1 proviral DNA and genomic RNA was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in hemophiliacs treated with non-heated clotting factor concentrates. Reamplification with double PCR was performed on those samples that were negative for single PCR. Primer pairs of the gag, env, and pol regions were used for the amplification of HIV-1 proviral DNA sequences. Amplification of the gag region by the SK38/SK39 primer pair was useful for the detection of proviral DNA sequences. With double PCR, 44 of 47 seropositive samples (93.6%) were PCR-positive. All 23 seronegative samples were PCR-negative. Reverse transcription and PCR amplification (RT-PCR) according to the primer pair of the gag region were performed to detect HIV-1 genomic RNA sequences. Double RT-PCR analysis of the HIV-1 RNA sequence in frozen-preserved sera revealed that 49 of 55 seropositive sera (89.1%) were PCR-positive. Although quantification of the PCR method was not performed in this study, we concluded that, in patients in whom proviral DNA or genomic RNA sequences are detected with difficulty with PCR, the onset and progression of HIV-1 infection is delayed.

Mitogenic activity and lethal toxicity of lipid A analogs, glucosamine-phosphate carrying aromatic alkyl groups, in mice

The mitogenicity and lethal toxicity of four synthetic lipid A analogs, glucosamine-4-phosphate with a 7-hydroxy-heptanoyl group (A-166), with a 7-phenyl-heptanoyl group (A-167), or with a 8-(1-phenyl-hexanoyl)-nonanoyl group (A-168), at the C-2 and C-3 positions, and glucosamine-6-phosphate with the same substituents as A-168 at C-2 and C-3 (A-169), were compared. The compound A-166 exhibited no mitogenic activity at various concentrations ranging from 3.13 to 50 micrograms/ml in the splenocytes of BALB/c mice, but A-167 exhibited weak mitogenic activity at concentrations of 12.5 and 25 micrograms/ml. A-168 and A-169, as well as A-103, glucosamine-4-phosphate carrying (R)-3-tetradecanoyl-oxytetradecanoyl groups, have remarkable mitogenic activity at concentrations ranging from 12.5 to 100 micrograms/ml; the activity of A-169 (6-phosphate) was stronger than that of A-168 (4-phosphate). Compound A-167 failed to cause death at doses of 25 and 50 micrograms/mouse in galactosamine-loaded C57BL/6 mice while A-166 and A-169 were toxic to 2 out of 6 mice at 50 micrograms/mouse; no deaths were observed at 25 micrograms/mouse. A-168 showed the highest toxicity of any of the compounds tested at 25 and 50 micrograms/mouse. The lethal effect of A-103 appeared to be somewhere between that of A-168 and A-169. These findings indicate that lipid A analogs, carrying an aromatic alkyl group as well as a hydroxyacyl group, are mitogenic and lethal when given to mice.

Effect of TYB-2285 on antigen-induced histamine release from mouse bone marrow-derived persisting cells (P-cells) primed with interleukin-3-containing conditioned medium (IL3-CM)

1. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of TYB-2285 [3,5-bis(acetoxyacethylamino)-4-chlorobenzonitrile] on histamine release from persisting cells (P-cells) primed with interleukin-3-containing conditioned medium (IL3-CM). 2. IL3-CM enhanced antigen-induced histamine release from P-cells, although IL3-CM did not affect spontaneous histamine release. 3. TYB-2285 inhibited antigen-induced histamine release in the presence of IL3-CM, although it did not inhibit histamine release in the absence of IL3-CM. 4. The enhancement of histamine release by IL3-CM was reproduced by recombinant IL-3 (1-100 U/ml). 5. These results demonstrate that TYB-2285 inhibits the histamine release primed with IL-3 and also suggests that TYB-2285 might regulate allergic inflammation in vivo by the suppression of mediator release primed with IL-3.

Effect of rush immunotherapy in house-dust-mite (HDM)-sensitive adult bronchial asthma: changes in in vivo and in vitro responses to HDM

An open study was conducted to evaluate the changes in in vivo and in vitro responses to house-dust-mite (HDM) after rush immunotherapy (RI). A 7-day RI protocol using an extract containing HDM allergen was administered to 12 subjects with HDM-sensitive asthma, and the effects on bronchial responsiveness and serum antibody levels were evaluated up to 16 or 20 weeks after RI. The levels of HDM-specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies were significantly elevated from 4 or 8 weeks after RI. Provocative doses causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PD20) by allergen inhalation were elevated in all subjects at 16 to 20 weeks after RI. There was a high correlation between the increase in log-PD20 and the increase in the ratio of HDM-specific IgG4 to IgG1 (r = 0.68, p < 0.05). The results suggest that RI elicits the improvement of allergen-specific bronchial responsiveness and the increase in serum antibody levels within a relatively short period.

[Changes in antigen-specific IgG, IgG4, and IgE antibodies in patients receiving immunotherapy with house-dust extract]

We measured allergen-specific IgG, IgG4, IgE antibodies and total IgE in sera from 64 patients who were receiving conventional immunotherapy (IT) with house dust (HD) extract. The sera were taken before and after IT. To measure allergen-specific antibodies, we used crude DF antigen, Der f I and Der f II for IgG and IgG4 antibodies, and crude DF antigen for IgE antibodies. The patients were divided into 3 groups: very short term group (IT period < 2 years, n = 9); short term group (2 < = IT period < 7 years, n = 25); long term group (7 years < = IT period, n = 30). The specific IgG antibodies for DF crude antigen did not change in any group. The specific IgG antibodies for Der f I and Der f II increased in the short term group and in the long term group. The specific IgG4 antibodies for all three antigens increased remarkably in the short term group and in the long term group. In the very short term group, however, the specific IgG4 antibodies did not increase for any antigen. Total IgE and the specific IgG antibodies did not change through IT. The specific IgG4 antibodies increased significantly through IT, but the time course of the increment of the IgG4 antibodies was not parallel with the clinical course of IT.

Analysis of Borrelia species associated with Lyme disease by rRNA gene restriction fragment length polymorphism

We investigated the usefulness of rRNA gene restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for grouping of the Borrelia isolates associated with Lyme disease or from ixodid ticks. Genomic DNA was digested with a restriction enzyme, blotted and hybridized with an rrl (23S rRNA) gene probe. The sizes of the restriction bands showed a good correlation with the genotypes recently proposed, and Borrelia isolates of diverse geographic origin formed four distinct DNA groups. Group I included all of the USA isolates and some European isolates; group II contained European isolates and Asian isolates; group III comprised European and Asian isolates; group IV included Japanese isolates and an eastern Russian isolate. Groups I, II and III corresponded to Borrelia burgdorferi, B. garinii and group VS461, respectively. The RFLPs of Japanese isolates were rather divergent and some of the isolates were quite distinct from the USA and European isolates. RFLP analysis of the rRNA genes and flanking regions, using rrl gene probes as we reported here, may be useful in the taxonomic study of Borrelia.

Effect of TYB-2285 on histamine release from human basophils in the presence/absence of IL-3

1. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of TYB-2285 (3,5-bis(acetoxyacetylamino)-4-chlorobenzonitrile) on histamine release from human basophils upon stimulation with anti-IgE in the presence/absence of recombinant interleukin 3 (rIL-3). 2. Histamine release was enhanced by the pretreatment of basophils with rIL-3 (0.3-10 U/ml) in 18 out of 22 subjects. 3. Histamine release in the presence of rIL-3 was inhibited by TYB-2285 and disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) in a dose-dependent manner (1-100 microM). 4. Histamine release in the absence of rIL-3 was not inhibited by TYB-2285 or DSCG at concentrations less than 1 mM. 5. From these results, it is suggested that TYB-2285 and DSCG might regulate allergic inflammation by the suppression of mediator release enhanced by IL-3.

Low mitogenic activity of synthetic lipid A analog, 2,3-acyloxyacylgalactosamine-4-phosphate, in cultured murine splenocytes

The mitogenicity of chemically synthesized lipid A analogs, 2,3-acyloxyacylglucosamine-4-phosphate (A-103) and 2,3-acyloxyacylgalactosamine-4-phosphate (A-113), was compared. Synthetic lipid A analogs of the disaccharide-type (506), the monosaccharide-type (A-103) suspended in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with triethylamine, and Salmonella typhimurium LT-2 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were capable of increasing the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into splenocytes of C57BL/6 mice at various doses ranging from 1.0 to 100 micrograms/ml. However, the mitogenic activity of A-113 at these doses was markedly weaker than the activity of the above materials. When the A-103 and A-113 were suspended in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with ethanol, the mitogenic activity of A-113 also showed lower activity than that of A-103 in the splenocytes of C57BL/6 mice. These findings indicate that the mitogenic activity of synthetic lipid A of the monosaccharide-type is affected by a kind of composed sugar.

Platelet-activating-factor-induced augmentation of production of eosinophil-lineage cells in hematopoietic precursor cells obtained from human umbilical cord blood

Platelet-activating factor (PAF)-induced augmentation of spontaneous differentiation into eosinophil-lineage cells from hematopoietic precursor cells was found among human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs). This ability of PAF to augment eosinophil production was significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited by the addition of the anti-PAF agent WEB 2086. This enhancing effect of PAF was significantly (p < 0.01) diminished by the presence of antibodies to interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, -beta and IL-3, whereas antibodies to IL-5 or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) did not diminish it. IL-1 beta, IL-3 or IL-5 gene expression was detected in cellular RNA isolated from both medium- and PAF-stimulated CBMCs using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method; however, no expression of GM-CSF was detected. Moreover, 5 times as much IL-3 was detected in the PAF-stimulated CBMC culture supernatant than in that of cells treated with the medium. In the case of IL-1 beta, there was no difference between the 2 cell preparations. On the other hand, no IL-5 or GM-CSF was detected in the supernatant after stimulation with medium or PAF. Depletion of CD2+, CD16+ or CD19+ cells, but not CD14+ cells, from CBMCs resulted in a marked decrease in PAF-induced augmentation of eosinophil production. These results suggest that PAF induces the augmentation of IL-3 production in CBMCs which in turn enhances differentiation into eosinophil-lineage cells.

Protective activity of antisera against isolates of Borrelia burgdorferi from various geographical origins

Antisera from rabbits immunized with two Japanese strains of Borrelia burgdorferi, HP3 an isolate from Ixodes persulcatus and HO14 an isolate from I. ovatus, or the European strain P/Bi isolated from human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) did not passively protect hamsters from challenge with the infectious strain 297, a North American isolate from patient CSF. Antisera to strains 297 and B31, a North American isolate from I. dammini, however, provided protective effect to challenge with strain 297. Immune mice sera in the presence of homologous B. burgdorferi antigen induced the production of oxygen intermediates from mouse peritoneal exudate cells. Heterologous B. burgdorferi antigen had no effect. These results suggest that antigenic properties of Japanese strains are different from those of North American and European isolates.

Suppression of IgE production by IPD-1151T (suplatast tosilate), a new dimethylsulfonium agent: (1). Regulation of murine IgE response

The effect of IPD-1151T, a new dimethylsulfonium compound, on the IgE response was investigated in the mouse system. The oral administration of IPD-1151T to immunized BALB/c mice suppressed the primary IgE antibody response and depressed the elevation of serum IgE levels, whereas the same treatment did not affect the IgG antibody response. The enhanced expression of low-affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RII/CD23) on the spleen cells of immunized mice was also inhibited by IPD-1151T administration. It was further demonstrated from the adoptive transfer experiment that IPD-1151T, administered to hapten-primed B cell donors, but not to carrier-primed T cell donors, exerted its suppressive influence on the hapten-specific secondary IgE antibody response in irradiated syngeneic recipients. Interestingly, IPD-1151T concentration-dependently inhibited the production of interleukin 4 (IL-4) by D10G4.1, known to be a typical Th2 clone. However, IPD-1151T did not suppress the production of IgE and IgG1 by normal splenic B cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and IL-4. Moreover, IL-4-induced expression of Fc epsilon RII on normal spleen cells was not inhibited by the agent. These results strongly suggest that the IgE-suppressive activity of IPD-1151T is most likely due to the inhibition of IL-4 production at the T cell level.

Suppression of IgE production by IPD-1151T (suplatast tosilate), a new dimethylsulfonium agent: (2). Regulation of human IgE response

The ability of IPD-1151T to suppress the induction of human IgE synthesis was investigated with an in vitro model of IgE production mediated by an allergen-specific helper T cell line (SN-4) from a patient allergic to Japanese cedar pollen. IPD-1151T induced a concentration-dependent suppression of purified allergen (Cry j 1)-dependent IgE synthesis in autologous B cell cultures mediated by SN-4, without significantly affecting the IgG synthesis. In addition, the production of interleukin 4 (IL-4) by Cry j 1-activated SN-4 as well as that by phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of normal donors was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by the agent. Interestingly, IPD-1151T clearly depressed PHA-induced expression of IL-4 mRNA in normal PBMC, indicating that this agent inhibits IL-4 gene transcription. However, IPD-1151T had no antagonistic action on IL-4, since neither IL-4-induced expression of low-affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RII/CD23) on normal B cells nor soluble Fc epsilon RII release from IL-4-stimulated B cells was affected by the agent. On the other hand, IPD-1151T had no effect on the production of interferon-gamma by both Cry j 1-stimulated SN-4 and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody-activated T cells of normal donors. These results suggest that the selective suppression of IgE synthesis by IPD-1151T results from the inhibition of IL-4 production by T cells at the gene level.

Possible role of CD5+ B cells expressing CD23 in mediating the elevation of serum-soluble CD23 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Since increased levels of serum soluble CD23/Fc epsilon RII (sCD23) were evidently demonstrated in patients with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the possible mechanisms responsible for the elevation of serum sCD23 were investigated in RA patients. In keeping with increased serum sCD23, high proportion of CD23+ B cells was detected in the patients; this was associated with the enhanced expression of only Fc epsilon RIIa mRNA. Upon incubation at 37 degrees C, peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patients spontaneously released high levels of sCD23 into the culture supernatant, while the CD23 expression on their B cells was considerably maintained even after the culture. Dot blot analysis further revealed that in contrast to normal subjects, RA patients showed no complete disappearance of Fc epsilon RIIa mRNA after the spontaneous culture. In addition, sCD23 release was significantly reduced in the patients by the addition of cycloheximide. It was also found that cycloheximide exerted the inhibitory influence on the spontaneous culture-mediated expression of CD23 on CD5+ but not CD5- B cells of the patients. However, the disappearance of CD23 from CD5+ as well as CD5- B cells of cord blood samples was unaffected by the agent. These results strongly suggest that CD5+ B cells of RA patients may be specifically activated by some mechanisms responsible for the persistent expression of Fc epsilon RIIa mRNA leading to the accelerated turnover of CD23 and in turn the increased release of sCD23.

Relation between the biologic activities and chemical structures of synthetic microbial lipopeptide analogs in mice

Mitogenicity, lethal toxicity, and antitumor activity against Meth A fibrosarcoma of chemically synthesized lipopeptide analogs, S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-2R-propyl]-N-[(2,2,2)-tri- chloroethoxycarbonyl: Troc group]-cysteinyl-seryl-seryl-asparaginyl-alanine (compound KAB-2), which contain the amino acid sequence of lipopeptide in Escherichia coli, S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)- 2R-propyl]-N-(Troc- or amino-group)-cysteinyl-asparaginyl-seryl-glycyl-glycine (compound KAB-14 or -20), which is found in the amino acid sequence of lipopeptide in Streptomyces, and the compounds binding one to six amino acids, were examined. The analogs showed the mitogenic activity toward splenocytes of C3H/He mice. Low concentrations (0.4 and 2.0 micrograms/ml) of compounds KAB-20 and -21, which have five and six amino acids, respectively, increased the incorporation of [3H]thymidine better than a high concentration (50 micrograms/ml), suggesting that KAB compounds carrying amino groups exert better mitogenicity than KAB compounds carrying Troc group. The decrease of amino acid number in lipopeptide analogs appears to result in a lowering of mitogenicity at low concentrations. KAB-14 and KAB-2 did not exhibit the lethality at a high dose of 50 micrograms/mouse in galactosamine-loaded C57BL/6 mice. By twice intravenous injections of 50 micrograms against Meth A fibrosarcoma in BALB/c mice, KAB-2 showed a higher inhibitory effect than KAB-14. Based on these results, we concluded that the difference of amino acid sequence in the synthetic lipopeptides affects the potency of biologic activities.

Visual interpretation compared with caliper and computerized measurements in experimental vessel stenosis

To explain visual interpretation errors on angiograms, visual interpretation, caliper measurement, and computerized measurement of cine film were compared using each of 10 graphic models and 10 acrylic models with "stenotic vessels". Stenosis > 40% was overestimated and stenosis < 40% underestimated by visual interpretation. In caliper measurement, stenosis > 40% at exposure of 90 kV was greatly overestimated by a degree similar to the estimation by visual interpretation, and stenosis > 40% at exposures of 74 kV and 58 kV was slightly overestimated. In computerized measurement, the estimation was consistent with the actual degree of stenosis. Therefore, visual interpretation was not reliable for estimation, and computerized measurement was indispensable for estimation of vessel stenosis. Moreover, we consider the most common cause of error in visual interpretation to be optical illusions.

Experimental Borrelia burgdorferi infection of outbred mice

Infectivity of Borrelia burgdorferi strain 297 in normal outbred ddY mice was examined. Strain 297 was inoculated intraperitoneally in 3-week-old outbred ddY mice. B. burgdorferi was routinely cultured from the heart and urinary bladder 5 to 84 days postinoculation. The combined isolation rate from both heart and urinary bladder was significantly higher than the rate from spleen, kidney, liver, urine, and blood samples. Three- and 10-week-old mice were infected with inocula of 10(4) and 10(5) or more, respectively. Passive transfer of undiluted and 10-fold-diluted anti-297 rabbit serum and active immunization of 50 to 100 micrograms of lyophilized whole cells completely protected mice from infection with B. burgdorferi. These results suggest that the outbred mouse is a convenient model for experimental infection with B. burgdorferi.

Combined effects of synthetic lipid A analogs or bacterial lipopolysaccharide with glucosaminylmuramyl dipeptide on antitumor activity against Meth A fibrosarcoma in mice

The combined effects of the synthetic glucosaminylmuramyl dipeptide (GMDP) on the antitumor activity of chemically synthesized lipid A analogs, compound A-103 (glucosamine-4-phosphate with (R)-3-tetradecanoyloxytetradecanoyl group at the C-2 and C-3 positions), Escherichia coli-type lipid A (506), Salmonella typhimurium LT-2 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) against Meth A fibrosarcoma in mice were examined. Meth A fibrosarcoma cells (5 x 10(5) were inoculated intradermally into BALB/c mice on day 0, and compound A-103 and/or GMDP was administered intravenously (i.v.) on days 7 and 9. Two i.v. injections of A-103 (50 micrograms) alone or GMDP (10 micrograms) alone induced 42.8 or 51.8% inhibition of the rate of tumor growth, however, A-103 (100 micrograms) with GMDP (10 micrograms) exhibited a high 68.7% inhibition rate 19 days after tumor inoculation. The inhibition of the tumor growth rate by the combination A-103 (100 micrograms) or 506 (50 micrograms) with GMDP (10 micrograms) was stronger than that of A-103 or 506 with MDP (10 micrograms). The combination of LPS (1 or 10 micrograms) with GMDP (10 micrograms) exhibited a higher inhibition rate than that of LPS with MDP, and three or four tumor-free mice out of five mice were observed, suggesting that the combined effect of GMDP is more potent than that of MDP. With the addition of GMDP, A-103 did not enhance the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on the basis of L929 cell lysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Seroepidemiological survey for antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi in cows

Antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi was examined in 380 healthy and 38 clinical cases of cows from Hokkaido and Shizuoka in Japan. In healthy animals, IgG and IgM antibody to B. burgdorferi HO14 strain were found in 44 cows (14.6%) and 24 cows (8.0%) from Hokkaido. In contrast, antibody-positive case was not observed except for only 1 case which was IgM positive (1/79: 1.3%) in cows from Shizuoka. Mean antibody levels of healthy animals in Hokkaido and Shizuoka were 0.651 and 0.263 (IgG antibody to HO14 strain), 0.642 and 0.169 (IgG to HP3 strain), 0.613 and 0.367 (IgM to HO14 strain) and 0.582 and 0.286 (IgM to HP3 strain). The differences of the antibody levels between cows from Hokkaido and Shizuoka were significant. Seasonal difference was found in seropositive cows from Hokkaido. The rate of seropositive cows was high in summer (23.4% in June and 11.8% in July) but low in winter (0% in January and February). The pattern was discussed to be associated with activation of ticks. One of 4 cows with arthritis showed significantly higher IgG antibody level than that of healthy cows and cows with some disease, although the serum was collected from Shizuoka where antibody-positive animals for B. burgdorferi were rare among healthy cows. This high IgG antibody may suggest that the arthritis of such cows was caused by infection with B. burgdorferi. Two of 7 cows with unclassified abortion showed positive antibody reaction in Hokkaido. These cases, however, may not be related to the B. burgdorferi infection because the positive rate was similar to those of healthy cows in the same season.

[Effect of tazanolast on platelet activating factor-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in guinea pigs]

To determine whether tazanolast inhibits airway hyperresponsiveness, we studied the effect of this drug on platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in guinea pigs. Inhalation of PAF (1 microgram/ml) caused significant airway hyperresponsiveness to acetylcholine (p < 0.01) or histamine (p < 0.05). Pretreatment with tazanolast (30-300 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent inhibition of airway hyperresponsiveness induced by PAF inhalation, and significant inhibition (p < 0.05) was obtained with the drug (300 mg/kg). Aspirin also inhibited PAF-induced airway hyperresponsiveness, while tranilast produced hardly any inhibition. From these results, it is suggested that tazanolast is effective in inhibiting airway hyperresponsiveness.

The 23S/5S ribosomal RNA genes (rrl/rrf) are separate from the 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rrs) in Borrelia burgdorferi, the aetiological agent of Lyme disease

DNA fragments containing the rRNA genes for Borrelia burgdorferi strain B31 were cloned in bacteriophage lambda EMBL3. A restriction map of the fragments was constructed and the organization of the rRNA genes was determined by Southern hybridization. One genomic DNA fragment contained a single copy of the rrs sequence and another cloned fragment contained both rrl and rrf sequences. The results revealed that the rrs gene is located separately from the set of rrl/rrf genes, suggesting that these rRNA genes are expressed independently in B. burgdorferi.

Inhibition of radiolabeled leukotriene-binding by AS-35 in guinea pig lung membrane fraction

The inhibitory effects of 9-[(4-acetyl-3-hydroxy-2-n-propylphenoxy) methyl]-3-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-one (AS-35), a peptide leukotriene (LT) antagonist, on specific bindings of radiolabeled LTC4 and LTD4 in guinea pig lung membrane were investigated to clarify the mechanism by which this agent inhibited LT-induced physiological responses. Binding assays were performed at 20 degrees C in 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.4) containing 10 mM CaCl2, 10 mM MgCl2 and 10 mM cysteine in the absence (LTD4 binding assay) or presence (LTC4 binding assay) of 80 mM L-serine borate. Scatchard analysis of each LT specific binding indicated a single and high affinity binding site with a Kd of 0.21 +/- 0.05 nM and Bmax of 808 +/- 71 fmol/mg protein for [3H]-LTD4, and with a Kd of 21.6 +/- 3.8 nM and Bmax of 74.9 +/- 2.6 pmol/mg protein for [3H]-LTC4. Competition binding studies showed that AS-35 antagonized [3H]-LTD4 specific binding with a Ki value of 92.7 nM. In contrast, AS-35 was 100 times less effective in inhibiting [3H]-LTC4 specific binding, compared with [3H]-LTD4 specific binding. These results indicate that AS-35 interacts directly with peptide LTs receptors, especially the LTD4 specific binding site to produce its pharmacological effects.

Peptide leukotriene antagonistic activity of AS-35, a new antiallergic drug

The effects of 9-[(4-acetyl-3-hydroxy-2-n-propylphenoxy) methyl]-3-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-one (AS-35), a newly synthesized compound, on leukotrienes (LTs) antagonistic activities were investigated in vitro and in vivo. In isolated guinea pig preparations, AS-35 antagonized LTC4-, LTD4- and LTE4-induced contractions of the ileum with IC50 values of 8 nM, 4 nM and 3 nM, respectively. In the trachea, the agent also antagonized LTD4- and LTE4-induced contractions with IC50 values of 10 nM and 20 nM, respectively. However, LTC4-induced tracheal contraction in the presence of L-serine borate was not antagonized by AS-35. Histamine-, acetylcholine-, serotonin- and bradykinin-induced contractions of the ileum, carbachol-, prostaglandin D2-, prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced contractions of the trachea and LTB4-induced chemotaxis of rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes were not inhibited by AS-35. As to the in vivo models, AS-35 (i.v.) dose-dependently antagonized bronchoconstriction induced by i.v.-injection of LTC4 and LTD4 in anesthetized guinea pigs, but did not inhibit histamine-induced bronchoconstriction. Oral administration of AS-35 also antagonized LTD4- as well as antigen-induced LT-mediated bronchoconstriction. In addition, LTD4-induced increase in the cutaneous vascular permeability of guinea pig was inhibited by the drug (p.o.). These results indicate that AS-35 is an orally effective, potent and selective peptide LT antagonist.

Biological activity of chemically synthesized core sugar linked lipid A analog, heptose-(alpha 1----5)-2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid-(alpha 2----6)-2,3-diacyloxyacylglucosamine-4-phosphate

The mitogenicity, lethal toxicity and antitumor activity against Meth A fibrosarcoma and the induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) of chemically synthesized compounds designated as A-103, 2,3-diacyloxyacylglucosamine-4-phosphate (GlcN-4-P), and A-503), heptose-(alpha 1----5)-2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid (KDO)-linked GlcN-4-P (A-103), were determined. Compound A-103 induced significant incorporation of [3H]thymidine of C57BL/6 mice at 25-100 micrograms/ml, and A-503 showed the highest incorporation of [3H]thymidine at 100 micrograms/ml. The mitogenicity of A-503 exhibited a lower activity than of A-103. Compound A-503 showed no lethality at high doses of 25 and 50 micrograms/mouse in C57BL/6 mice loaded with D-galactosamine, whereas A-103 caused the death of one of three mice at a dose of 50 micrograms/mouse. Although, the two compounds with or without muramyl dipeptide showed weak antitumor activity against Meth A fibrosarcoma in BALB/c mice, but there were no remarkable differences between the compounds on antitumor activity. Peritoneal macrophages, stimulated with A-103 or A-503 caused no production of TNF which induces L929 cell lysis in vitro. These findings indicate that the addition of heptose and KDO to GlcN-4-P seems not to affect mitogenic activity, lethal toxicity, antitumor activity and TNF-production of the GlcN-4-P compound (A-103).

Comparison of flanking regions of the 5S ribosomal ribonucleic acid genes in Leptospira biflexa and Leptospira interrogans

One of the genes encoding the 5S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) for the Leptospira biflexa strain Patoc I was isolated and sequenced. The physical maps of the 5S rRNA genes in Leptospira were constructed. The strains of Leptospira biflexa had two genes on their chromosome; these two 5S rRNA genes were located several kb apart and sequences flanking these genes were divergent. In contrast to saprophytic leptospires, maps in parasitic leptospires that had only one gene for 5S rRNA on their genome were highly conserved and the physical maps of the genes in almost all strains were similar.

Establishment of a sensitive radioimmunoassay for the detection of human IgE-binding factor (soluble CD23)

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific to low-affinity receptor for IgE (FceRII/CD23) was established by the fusion of spleen cells of BALB/c mice immunized with the FceRII+ human B lymphoblastoid cell line (RPMI 8866) with mouse myeloma P3U1. Four mAbs, 10/3 (IgG1), 11/4 (IgG1), 12/2 (IgG2b) and 15/6 (IgM), almost completely inhibited the IgE binding to FceRII+ cells but not to FceRII- cells. More directly, they were demonstrated to react only with 43-kD component/FceRII of the cell lysate of RPMI 8866 cells by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis. Since they have a different epitope specificity, a solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the measurement of IgE-binding factor (IgE-BF) was established. It was found that the RIA with the use of 10/3 and 125I-labeled 11/4 or 12/2 gave good results in the detection of IgE-BF derived from B cells and monocytes as well as of T-cell-derived IgE-BF. More importantly, serum IgE-BF was also quantitatively measured by this RIA. Although increased serum levels of IgE-BF were observed in atopic patients, serum IgE-BF was decreased rather than increased in patients with very high serum IgE. This phenomenon may be explained by the decreased ability of the patients' B cells to spontaneously release IgE-BF in vitro.

Effect of NZ-107, a newly synthesized pyridazinone derivative, on antigen-induced contraction of human bronchial strips and histamine release from human lung fragments or leukocytes

The effects of a newly synthesized pyridazinone derivative, NZ-107, 4-bromo-5-(3-ethoxy-4-methoxybenzylamino)-3(2H)-pyridazinone, and two well-known antiasthmatic drugs, amlexanox (orally active disodium cromoglycate-like drug) and disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) on antigen-, histamine- and leukotriene C4 (LTC4)-induced constriction of isolated human tracheal muscle, and histamine release from human lung tissues and leukocytes were investigated in vitro. In some experiments, salbutamol was used as a reference drug. NZ-107 inhibited antigen-, histamine- and LTC4-induced contraction of tracheal muscle. Amlexanox and DSCG did not affect the contractile response of tracheal muscle caused by each stimulant. Salbutamol inhibited antigen-induced contraction of tracheal muscle. NZ-107, amlexanox, DSCG and salbutamol clearly inhibited the antigen-induced release of histamine and LTC4 from human lung tissue. The antigen-induced histamine release from atopic human leukocytes was inhibited by NZ-107 and amlexanox, but not by DSCG. Pretreatment with IL-3 did not alter antigen-induced contraction of tracheal muscle and histamine release from lung tissue, but antigen- or calcium ionophore A 23187-induced histamine release from leukocytes was clearly enhanced. Amlexanox inhibited the IL-3-induced enhancement of histamine release from leukocytes in the case of both stimuli, but NZ-107 and DSCG had no effect. These data suggest that NZ-107 has potent anti-allergic actions based on the inhibition of antigen-induced contraction of human tracheal muscle and mediator release from human lung tissue and leukocytes.

Effects of anti-CD11a, anti-CD11b and anti-CD18 on histamine release from human basophils primed with IL-3

This study was carried out to investigate the possible role of adhesion molecules in the histamine release from human basophils primed with recombinant IL-3 (rIL-3). Anti-IgE monoclonal antibody (0.1 microgram/ml) did not induce apparent histamine release by itself, however, remarkable histamine release was induced from rIL-3-primed human basophils triggered by anti-IgE. Bear-1 (anti-CD11b monoclonal antibody) inhibited the histamine release enhanced by rIL-3, however SPV-L7 (anti-CD11a monoclonal antibody) or CLB-LFA1/1 (anti-CD18 monoclonal antibody) did not inhibit the histamine release enhanced by rIL-3 at all. The present study suggests that alpha-chain of Mac-1 is involved in the priming effect of IL-3 to increase histamine release from human basophils.