BMY-14802 reversed the sigma receptor agonist-induced neck dystonia in rats

To clarify clinical roles of sigma receptor binding affinity of neuroleptics, neck dystonia induced by microinjection of sigma receptor ligands and neuroleptics into rat red nucleus was investigated. DTG and (+)-3-PPP, putative sigma receptor agonists, induced neck dystonia in dose-dependent and reversible manner. Haloperidol and perphenazine induced dystonia in the same way as sigma receptor agonists, whereas zotepine and (-)-sulpiride did not. The rank order of potency in induction of dystonia and sigma receptor affinity of these compounds showed positive correlation. Although BMY-14802 has a high affinity for sigma receptors, it never produced dystonia by itself. On the other hand, combined injection of BMY-14802 with DTG attenuated DTG-induced dystonia. Therefore, it is suggested that typical neuroleptics such as haloperidol act agonistic and atypical neuroleptics such as BMY-14802 act antagonistic at rubral sigma receptors in the induction of neck dystonia.

Enhancing effects of epidermal growth factor on human squamous cell carcinoma motility and matrix degradation but not growth

In order to ascertain the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on human cancer invasion abilities, three cell lines of human oral squamous cell carcinoma were studied using a phagokinetic track assay and zymography. EGF (1-100 ng/ml) was found to inhibit the growth but enhance the random motility of all three cell lines in a concentration-dependent fashion. Exposure to EGF, dose-dependently, led to an increased production of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and M(r) 92 kD matrix metalloproteinase by the same cells. These results strongly suggest that EGF may promote human squamous cell carcinoma invasion and metastasis.

Specific acceptance of fetal bowel allograft in mice after combined treatment with anti-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 antibodies

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to see whether tolerance could be induced by simultaneous administration of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) after transplantation of fetal small bowel between fully incompatible mice strains.

METHODS

Fetal small bowel from either BALB/c (H-2d) or C3H/He (H-2k) mice was transplanted into the space between the peritoneum and rectus abdominis of adult C3H/He recipient mice. Syngeneic (n = 6) and two allogeneic transplant groups were made. In one of the allogeneic groups (n = 8), no immunosuppressant was given. In the other allogeneic group (n = 13), both anti-LFA-1 and anti-ICAM-1 MoAbs (50 micrograms each/mouse/day) were given intraperitoneally after transplantation for the first 4 weeks. In the syngeneic and untreated allogeneic groups, all mice were killed 4 weeks after transplantation. In the treated allogeneic group, eight mice were killed 6 weeks after cessation of the MoAb treatment. At the time the mice were killed, the bowel graft as well as the recipient spleen were taken for histologic analysis and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) assay, respectively. Each mouse in the remaining treated five mice was transplanted with BALB/c and C57BL/6 (as third-party) full-thickness skin simultaneously 8 weeks after cessation of the MoAb treatment.

RESULTS

All grafts in the syngeneic group survived with normally developing villi, whereas all grafts in the untreated allogeneic group disappeared. In the treated allogeneic group, all allografts developed normal mucosa without any sign of rejection. Splenocytes from the recipient mice in the untreated allogeneic group showed increased CTL induction against donor-type alloantigen (p < 0.005), compared with that in the syngeneic group. Suppressed CTL induction against donor-type alloantigen was observed in the treated allografted recipient (p < 0.001), whereas CTL induction against third-party alloantigen was intact (p = NS). Third-party skin graft was normally rejected within 10 days, whereas donor-type skin graft was accepted in all mice tested.

CONCLUSIONS

Specific tolerance for fetal bowel allografts could be induced by a relatively short-term treatment with anti-ICAM-1 and anti-LFA-1 MoAbs. This mode of immunointervention could perhaps be applied to humans undergoing small-bowel transplantation.

The presence of costimulatory molecules CD86 and CD28 in rheumatoid arthritis synovium

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expressions of co-stimulatory molecules CD86 (B7-2, B70) and CD28 by cells obtained from the synovial tissues (ST) and synovial fluids (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against CD86 and CD28 were used for immunochemical study of synovia from 18 RA patients, 4 osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and 4 normal subjects. These MAb were also used for flow cytometry of isolated ST cells from 8 RA and 5 OA patients and of SF mononuclear cells from 5 RA and 5 OA patients.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical examination revealed that CD86+ cells occurred in 11 of the 18 RA synovia, but in none of the 4 OA or 4 normal synovia. Most of the positive cells had macrophage-like morphology, and surrounded lymphoid aggregates. Most cells within lymphoid aggregates were stained positively for CD28. Flow cytometry showed that CD86+ cells comprised 2.9-33.4% (average 14.3%) of the total ST cells and 2.1-14.9% (average 6.1%) of the total SF mononuclear cells from RA patients. Approximately 40% of the CD86+ cells expressed CD14. A majority (mean 72%, range 57-89%) of the T cells in ST and SF expressed CD28. RA synovia expressed more CD86 molecules than did OA synovia (mean frequency of positive cells 14.3% versus 2.8%; mean fluorescence intensity 104.6 versus 40.9).

Human pseudoautosomal boundary-like sequences: expression and involvement in evolutionary formation of the present-day pseudoautosomal boundary of human sex chromosomes

The human genome is composed of long-range mosaic structures of G+C% (GC%), which are thought to be related to chromosome bands. We previously identified a boundary of Mb-level domains of GC% mosaic structures in the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and found in the domain boundary a sequence very similar to pseudoautosomal boundary (PAB) sequences of human sex chromosomes. We designated it 'PABL' and found many PABLs in the human genome. By analysis of six genomic and six transcribed PABLs, a core and consensus sequence of about 650 nt was defined; the 3'- and 5'-edges of the PABLs were strictly conserved. Northern blot analysis showed sizes of PABL transcripts to be 5-10 kb in length. Divergence time of PABLs was estimated to be 60-120 million years ago by analysis of human PABLs and PABXY1 of seven primates, and the evolutionary rates deduced showed PABLs to have been under selective constraints. A model for evolutionary formation of the present pseudoautosomal boundary was proposed by postulation of illegitimate recombination between two PABLs.

Superoxide dismutase in SAS human tongue carcinoma cell line is a factor defining invasiveness and cell motility

This article describes an apparent inverse relationship between cell motility and intracellular Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of two human squamous carcinoma-derived clones, SAS-H1 with high invasiveness and SAS-L1 with low invasiveness. Clone SAS-H1 exhibited significantly greater motility than SAS-L1 but had significantly lower levels of intracellular Cu-ZnSOD than SAS-L1 cells. We then transfected Cu-ZnSOD antisense cDNA into SAS-L1 to reduce the intracellular Cu-ZnSOD activity. Antisense cDNA transfected SAS-L-AS clones had lower Cu-ZnSOD activity than control vector-transfected SAS-L-Neo clones, and this was associated with increased motility. Invasiveness of SAS-H1 and SAS-L-AS1 was enhanced by superoxide treatment, while the invasiveness of SAS-L1 was unaffected. These findings indicate that intracellular SOD is involved in cell motility by virtue of its action in scavenging superoxide in the cells.

Human glioma-derived interleukin-10 inhibits antitumor immune responses in vitro

Intracranial malignant gliomas are sequestered from the immune system yet are associated with broad suppression of host immunocompetence. Immune system dysfunction in patients with gliomas seems to be related to inhibitory mediators produced by glioma cells. We investigated the physiological roles of glioma-derived interleukin (IL)-10 in Class II expression of monocytes, cytokine secretion from lymphocytes, and T cell proliferation in vitro. We could detect the messenger ribonucleic acid transcript of IL-10 in four gliomas by the reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction. Glioma-derived IL-10 greatly down-regulated human lymphocyte antigens-DR expression on monocytes. The inhibitory effect of IL-10 on interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha was neutralized by the anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibody; however, the inhibitory effect on IL-2 was not neutralized. Next, supernatants of glioma cells remarkably suppressed T cell proliferation in a dose-dependent fashion; however, this inhibitory effect was not restored by adding anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibodies. The supernatant also inhibited the allocytolytic activity of lymphocytes that were not neutralized by anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibody. IL-10 plays an important role in cytokine synthesis; nevertheless, impaired T cell responsiveness cannot be solely explained by glioma-derived IL-10.

Metalloproteinase-mediated release of human Fas ligand

Fas ligand (FasL) is a type II integral membrane protein homologous with tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Recent studies indicate that TNF is processed to yield the soluble cytokine by metalloproteinases at the cell surface of activated macrophages and T cells. In the present study, we investigated whether FasL is also released by metalloproteinases. Treatment with hydroxamic acid inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases specifically led to accumulation of membrane-type FasL (p40) on the surface of human FasL cDNA transfectants and activated human T cells, as estimated by surface immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation with newly established anti-human FasL monoclonal antibodies. This surface accumulation of mFasL was associated with the decrease of soluble FasL (p27) in the supernatant as estimated by quantitative ELISA and immunoprecipitation with anti-human FasL monoclonal antibodies. These results indicate that human FasL is efficiently released from the cell surface by metalloproteinases like TNF.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia with a right bundle branch block pattern and left axis deviation

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) with right bundle branch block QRS morphology and left axis deviation originating in the inferolateral apical segment of the left ventricle was found in a 24-year-old man without overt structural heart disease. Intracardiac recordings during VT showed atrioventricular dissociation with the earliest activation at an apical inferolateral site in the left ventricle, where Purkinje fiber potentials were recorded fusing in the ventricular electrogram. Ventricular pacing was performed at this site, and yielded a QRS morphology identical to the VT. Radiofrequency current was applied and resulted in the complete elimination of VT.

Increased constrictor response to acetylcholine of the isolated coronary arteries from patients with variant angina

The aim of this study was to determine whether isolated coronary arteries from patients with variant angina show hyperreactivity and/or supersensitivity to acetylcholine in vitro. Coronary arterial rings were obtained at autopsy within 3 h after death from six coronary arteries having spasm in four patients with variant angina and from 22 coronary arteries in 14 control patients with non-cardiac death. The coronary rings were suspended in the organ chamber filled with Krebs Henseleit solution bubbled with 95% O2 + 5% CO2, and their isometric tensions were monitored. Arterial rings isolated from both the patients with variant angina and the controls contracted dose-dependently in response to acetylcholine (10(-9)-10(-5) mol/l). EC50 of acetylcholine (i.e. concentration producing 50% of maximum contraction) was not significantly different between the coronary arteries from patients with variant angina and those from controls, but maximum contraction elicited by acetylcholine (expressed as a percentage of the contraction elicited by 60 mmol/l KCl) was significantly greater in the coronary arteries from patients with variant angina than those from controls. In conclusion, the isolated coronary arteries from patients with variant angina have hypercontractile reactivity to acetylcholine. This intrinsic alteration of the coronary reactivity to acetylcholine may play a role in the genesis of coronary spasm occurring in the situations of enhanced parasympathetic nervous discharge.

Interleukin-13 expression in the nasal mucosa of perennial allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is an IgE mediated atopic disease characterized by elevated levels of allergen specific IgE antibodies that play a central role in mediating allergic reactions. Interleukin 13 (IL-13) is a novel T-cell-derived cytokine that shares several functional properties with IL-4 and has been demonstrated to be capable of inducing IgE synthesis. The present study was designed to investigate the expression of IL-13 gene in the epithelial compartment of the nasal mucosa of patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) to house dust mite, comparing it with that in the nasal epithelial compartment of chronic infectious rhinitis (CIR) patients and normal volunteers (NV). We also investigated the IL-13 gene expression in the peripheral blood of PAR patients. Nasal scrapings were collected from the inferior turbinate of patients undergoing conchotomy surgery and from outpatients, and the mRNA expression of IL-13 was analyzed by the RT-PCR method. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated by density-gradient centrifugation and the expression of IL-13 gene was examined by the RT-PCR method. IL-13 expression at protein level and its cell source were analyzed by immunohistochemistry of inferior turbinate biopsies. The levels of total serum IgE and allergen-specific IgE antibodies in the serum were estimated by the PRIST and CAP RAST method, respectively. IL-13 gene expression was detected in the epithelial compartment of the nasal mucosa of 18/19 PAR patients but was undetected in normal volunteers and CIR patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Physical association of Fc receptor gamma chain homodimer with IgA receptor

The receptor for IgA, Fc alpha R, consists of one IgA-binding alpha chain and a signal-transducing dimeric FcR gamma chain. Immunoprecipitation with an anti-Fc alpha R alpha chain monoclonal antibody from the lysates of U937 cells (human monocytic cell line) revealed an association of 20 kd (unreduced) and 10 kd (reduced) molecules to Fc alpha R alpha chain on sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). These molecules were confirmed to be FcR gamma chain by immunoblotting probed with anti-FcR gamma chain antibody. A serial immunoprecipitation with both antibodies further ascertained the FcR gamma association with Fc alpha R alpha. The lysates precleared with anti-FcR gamma antibody were subjected to the second immunoprecipitation with an anti-Fc alpha R alpha monoclonal antibody. By this preclearance, FcR gamma disappeared, and the Fc alpha R alpha appeared to be significantly decreased on SDS-PAGE, suggesting that a part of Fc alpha R alpha was co-absorbed with FcR gamma. Therefore, it may be likely that Fc alpha R is expressed in two forms, namely, with or without FcR gamma. We next reconstituted the Fc alpha R alpha-FcR gamma association by introducing both chains into host cells. The expression of Fc alpha R alpha was achieved by introducing Fc alpha R alpha alone, and the cointroduction of FcR gamma did not enhance Fc alpha R alpha expression on the cell surface, suggesting again the occurrence of the two forms of FC alpha R.

Population pharmacokinetics of theophylline. III. Premarketing study for a once-daily administered preparation

The population pharmacokinetic parameters for a once-daily administered preparation, Uniphyl were estimated from data collected in the premarketing clinical trial. Altogether, 2772 serum theophylline concentrations were obtained from 131 normal subjects and 306 patients suffering from chronic asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who participated in the phase I, II, and III clinical trials in Japan. The serum concentration profile was described by a linear one-compartment model with first-order absorption. The factors affecting the pharmacokinetics of this drug were examined by the likelihood ratio test using a nonlinear mixed effect model (NONMEM). The first-order absorption rate constant (Ka) for a 200-mg tablet in a fasting condition was obtained as 0.0773 (1/h), which was smaller than the elimination rate constant (0.168 1/h), indicating the flip-flop characteristic of this preparation. Food indigestion increased the Ka by 17% and the absorption lag time by 5-fold but did not affect the extent of absorption. The 400-mg tablet showed a Ka value 19%, smaller than the 200-mg tablet. Children not older than 15 years showed 58% longer absorption lag time. The inter-individual variability in Ka was 19%, suggesting small variability in the vivo release process. The total body clearance was related to hepatic function, smoking habits, and age. Furthermore, clearance decreased in association with the severity of illness. The findings obtained here are useful not only for the initial dosage adjustment for patients with a variety of backgrounds but also for doses individualization based on serum concentration monitoring with or without the Bayesian feedback method.

Contribution of parenchymal and non-parenchymal liver cells to the clearance of hepatocyte growth factor from the circulation in rats

PURPOSE

The distribution of 125I-hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to either liver parenchymal cells (PC) or non-parenchymal cells (NPC) was investigated in rats.

METHODS

After injection of a trace amount of 125I-HGF, the distribution of radioactivity determined by microautoradiography closely resembled that of 125I-epidermal growth factor which distributes mainly to PC.

RESULTS

The uptake clearance of 125I-HGF estimated by determining the radioactivity of isolated liver cells was three times higher for PC than for NPC. This suggests that HGF distributes mainly to PC at relatively low doses. On the other hand, the uptake clearance by PC fell on coadministering an excess (80 micrograms/kg) of unlabeled HGF, while no change was observed for NPC, indicating that a saturable process for the hepatic handling of HGF exists only in PC where the HGF receptor is expressed.

CONCLUSIONS

At such a dose the uptake clearance was comparable for both PC and NPC showing that HGF distributes to both cell types although NPC have few HGF receptors. Since the distribution to NPC was relatively non-specific and heparin-sensitive, it may be that heparin-like substances, which are believed to exist on PC and/or the extracellular matrix, also exist on NPC.

Preferential dependence of autoantibody production in murine lupus on CD86 costimulatory molecule

Blockade of the interactions between CD28/CTLA-4 and their ligands, CD80 (B7, B7.1)/CD86 (B70, B7.2), seems an attractive means to induce antigen-specific peripheral tolerance in organ transplantation and autoimmune disease. Recently, diversities between CD80 and CD86 in expression, regulation, and function have been reported in certain cell populations and murine experimental disease models. To investigate the possible differential role of CD80 and CD86 in the development of lupus, we treated lupus-prone NZB/W F1 mice with specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against CD80, CD86, or both. The treatment with a combination of anti-CD80 and CD86 mAb before the onset of lupus completely prevented autoantibody production and nephritis, and prolonged survival. Interestingly, we found that anti-CD86 mAb alone, but not anti-CD80 mAb, efficiently inhibited autoantibody production. Subclass study on IgG anti-double-stranded (ds) DNA antibody revealed that the treatment with anti-CD86 mAb almost completely inhibited both IgG1 and IgG2b, but not IgG2a production. The incomplete reduction of IgG2a anti-dsDNA antibody by anti-CD86 mAb was compensated by the addition of anti-CD80 mAb. A significant reduction of mRNA for interleukin (IL)-2, interferon-gamma, IL-4 and IL-6 was observed in mice treated with a combination of anti-CD80 and CD86 mAb or anti-CD86 mAb alone. Treatment with both mAb after the onset of lupus resulted in a significantly prolonged survival with reduction of autoantibody production. These results suggest that CD86 plays a more critical role in autoantibody production, and CD86, but not CD80, contributes to Th2-mediated Ig production. However, the blockade of both CD80 and CD86 are required for preventing the development and progression of lupus.

Soluble P-selectin is released into the coronary circulation after coronary spasm

BACKGROUND

The glycoprotein P-selectin is an adhesion molecule involved in the property change of leukocytes at the initiation of the inflammatory process. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether acute myocardial ischemia induced by coronary spasm causes an acute inflammatory response in the coronary circulation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We examined plasma soluble P-selectin levels in the coronary sinus and the aortic root simultaneously in 16 patients with coronary spastic angina before and after left coronary artery spasm induced by intracoronary injection of acetylcholine and in 15 patients with stable exertional angina before and after acute myocardial ischemia induced by rapid atrial pacing. Ten control patients with chest pain but normal coronary arteries and no coronary spasm also received intracoronary acetylcholine. Plasma soluble P-selectin levels were increased significantly in the coronary sinus (32.8 +/- 3.6 to 52.8 +/- 5.9 ng/mL, P < .001) and in the aortic root (34.6 +/- 3.7 to 41.9 +/- 4.4 ng/mL, P < .05) after the attacks in the coronary spastic angina group but remained unchanged in the stable exertional angina group after the attacks and in the control group after the administration of acetylcholine. Furthermore, the coronary sinus-arterial difference of soluble P-selectin increased significantly after the attacks in the coronary spastic angina group (-1.8 +/- 2.2 to 10.9 +/- 2.7 ng/mL, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that soluble P-selectin is released into the coronary circulation after coronary artery spasm. We conclude that coronary artery spasm may induce the leukocyte adhesion in the coronary circulation and may lead to myocardial damage.

[Study of biochemical gene markers in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)]

The present study was conducted to analyze biochemical marker genes and to clarify genetic variation in 4 Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) strains (MGS/Sea, MON/Jms Gbs, Kwl: Mongolian Gerbil and Hos: Mongolian gerbil) maintained in Japan. Cellulose acetate, starch gel or agar gel electrophoresis was used. Of the 23 kinds of proteins detected, variation was found only in liver acid phosphatase (Acp2); no variation in other proteins was found within or among strains. The results suggest that these 4 Mongolian gerbil strains are genetically similar. A strain difference was found in the Acp2 locus of liver acid phosphatase. The Kwl: Mongolian Gerbil strain had a band of Acp2 locus, whereas MGS/Sea, MON/Jms and Hos: Mongolian gerbil strains did not.

Finding of a homarine-synthesizing enzyme in turban shell and some properties of the enzyme

A homarine-synthesizing enzyme was found for the first time in cell-free extract from turban shell (Batillus cornutus) and the enzyme was purified 36.2-fold and characterized. Properties of the enzyme were as follows: substrates were picolinic acid (pyridine-2-carboxylic acid) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine; optimum temperature for the enzymic reaction was 25 degrees C; optimum pH for the enzymic reaction was 6.3; and the Km values for picolinic acid and S-adenosyl-L-methionine were calculated at 317 and 14.5 microM, respectively. Among pyridine carboxylic acids, only picolinic acid was methylated with S-adenosyl-L-methionine by this enzyme. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 70,800. The enzyme activity was inhibited by heavy metal ions, S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine, adenosine, homocysteine, and sinefungin. Homarine, which is an osmotic pressure regulator, morphogen, etc.; is enzymatically synthesized by the methylation of picolinic acid with S-adenosyl-L-methionine and the enzyme activity may be controlled by S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (reaction product) and its related compounds.

A YAC-based contig of 1.5 Mb spanning the human multidrug resistance gene region and delineating the amplification unit in three human multidrug-resistant cell lines

A contig of 21 nonchimeric yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) has been assembled across 1.5 Mb of the multidrug resistance (MDR) gene region located at 7q21, and formatted with four previously reported probes, six newly isolated probes, and three sequence-tagged sites (STSs) from internal and end fragments of YACs. A physical map of rare cutter restriction enzyme sites across the region was also constructed by pulsed-field gel electrophoretic (PFGE) analysis of four overlapping YAC clones. The amplification unit of this region in different cell lines was then determined by Southern blot analysis on the basis of the physical map and probes. Amplified DNA was located in extrachromosomal elements in human MDR cell lines studied here, and the size of the amplification unit was determined to be discrete in one MDR amplification but variable in others.

Functional expression of yeast artificial chromosome-human multidrug resistance genes in mouse cells

Multidrug resistance (MDR) genes, which are ATP-binding cassette family genes, encode the cell surface glycoprotein, P-glycoprotein, which functions as an energy-dependent drug efflux pump. Two relevant human genes, PGY1 and PGY3, are located on human chromosome 7, and three relevant mouse genes, mdr1a, mdr1b, and mdr2, are located on mouse chromosome 5. An LMD1 cell line was established after the transfer of a 580-kb yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clone carrying the human MDR locus into mouse L cells; the cell line was shown to have stably integrated YAC DNA in an apparent intact form. Using LMD1 cells as the parental cell line, five vincristine-resistant sublines, designated LMD1-V50, LMD1-V100, LMD1-V200, LMD1-V500, and LMD1-V1000, were isolated by exposure to increasing concentrations of the drug. LMD1-V50, LMD1-V100, LMD1-V200, LMD1-V500, and LMD1-V1000 showed 3-, 7-, 13-, 45-, and 110-fold higher resistance to the cytotoxic effects of vincristine, respectively, than their parental counterpart, LMD1. Immunofluorescence, Western blot, and Northern blot analyses revealed that the human PGY1 gene or its product was overexpressed, accompanied by gene amplification. The human PGY3 gene was also overexpressed in the LMD1-V20, LMD1-V100, and LMD1-V1000 cell lines. Southern blot and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses demonstrated that although essentially the entire YAC DNA was integrated in mouse genome and amplified, the endogenous mouse mdr genes were not amplified in these drug-resistant cell lines. Similar results were obtained by the analyses of vincristine-resistant cell lines isolated from four independent subclones of LMD1 cells. Thus, in contrast to their mouse counterparts, the integrated human MDR genes retained susceptibility to both gene activation and amplification, during the selection of drug-resistant mouse cell lines. The possibility that transferred YACs may retain regulatory properties observed in the cells of origin, and may have a chromatin structure that favors augmented expression, is discussed.

Soluble CD23 antigen in Kawasaki disease and other acute febrile illnesses

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile illness of early childhood. Although the epidemiology of KD suggests an infectious agent, the cause still remains unknown. Intense immune activation during the acute disease has been well documented. Quantitative determination of soluble CD23 in serum can serve as an index of macrophage/monocyte or B-cell activation. To further characterize the immunological profile in KD, we investigated whether soluble CD23 levels in serum increase during the acute disease. In addition, we compared soluble CD23 levels in 33 patients with acute KD with levels in ten patients each with measles, rubella, infectious mononucleosis, and scarlet fever to determine if marked elevations in soluble CD23 were unique to acute KD. Patients with KD, rubella and infectious mononucleosis, but not patients with measles or scarlet fever, had increased soluble CD23 levels in serum during the acute stage, as compared to age-matched control subjects (P < 0.01). These data suggest infection with Epstein-Barr virus and rubella and acute KD are all characterized by B-cell and macrophage/monocyte activation.

Phenotypical and functional analyses of natural killer cells from low NK activity individuals among healthy and patient populations

We investigated the deficiency of natural killer (NK) activity by contrasting healthy individuals with patients. Human NK activities of 125 individuals consisting of 68 healthy donors and 57 patients (36 autoimmune disease and 21 cancer patients) were measured by Eu-DTPA release assay in which the target cells were labeled by nonradioactive materials-Eu-DTPA, and they were phenotypically analyzed with three-color flow cytometry. Furthermore, a part of these donors was functionally studied on NK cells sorted out from PBL. 23.3% of healthy donors and approximately 70% of patients had low NK activity (LNK). In these healthy LNK and patient LNK, the population of CD3-CD16+CD56+ subset in PBL was significantly lower than that of the same subset in healthy individuals with high and medium NK activity (HMNK). The cytotoxicity of CD3-CD16+CD56+ cells sorted out from PBL in healthy LNK and patient LNK were approximately the same with or higher than that in healthy HMNK. No differences were found either in the expression of CD2 and LFA-1 antigens on the CD3-CD56+ NK cells or in the amount of granulous proteins such as perforin and granzyme A in these cells among healthy HMNK, healthy LNK and patient LNK. These results suggested that low NK activity of healthy LNK and patient LNK was more reflected by the diminution of the population of CD3-CD16+CD56+ subset in PBL rather than the functional defects of NK cells. A phenotypical and functional study on healthy LNK has not been reported extensively, and we found several differences between healthy LNK and patient LNK in this study. By stimulation with IL-2, the cytotoxicity of healthy LNK increased more rapidly than that of patient LNK, and at high effector:target cell ratio (> or = 40) it was significantly higher than that of patient LNK. The population of CD3+CD16+/CD56+ subset in PBL of healthy LNK was higher than that of patient LNK, but on the other hand it was about the same as that of healthy HMNK.