Human pregnancy serum suppresses the proliferative response of lymphocytes to autologous PHA-activated T lymphoblasts

PROBLEM

We have previously demonstrated that human serum can suppress the proliferative response in autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) in which phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated T lymphoblasts act as stimulators (T-TPHA AMLR). The aim of the present work was to determine whether pregnancy serum (PS) possesses an inhibitory capacity similar or different in magnitude.

METHODS

Sixteen PS were added to T-TPHA AMLR cultures and the proliferative response was compared with that in the presence of human serum. The effect of PS on the IL-2 dependent proliferation of PHA-activated T Lymphoblasts was examined as well.

RESULTS

PS induced a significantly more pronounced suppression of T-TPHA AMLR than human serum (P < 0.05). One PS tested was not inhibitory but rather stimulatory. This PS was obtained from a woman who subsequently had IUGR. The inhibition is related to the existence of a serum inhibitory factor and not to the lack of a serum supporting factor. PS inhibited not only T-TPHA AMLR of the same woman but also T-TPHA AMLR of other individuals as well, implying that the inhibitor is a non-MHC restricted factor. IL-2 dependent cell proliferation was not inhibited by PS, implying that the inhibitor detected in T-TPHA AMLR is not a general cell proliferation inhibitor.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that a non-MHC restricted inhibitory factor present in PS may play an important biological role in regulating local immune responses in the fetal-placental unit mediated by autoreactive T cells restricted to autologous activated T lymphocytes.

[Phase II study of paclitaxel (BMS-181339) in patients with ovarian cancer by 3-hour intravenous infusion]

A phase II study of Paclitaxel in patients with ovarian cancer by 3-hour intravenous infusion was undertaken by a cooperative study group of 30 institutes. Of 66 cases enrolled, 57 cases were evaluable for efficacy, and 63 cases were evaluable for safety. In spite of the fact that all cases for efficacy evaluation were previously treated with chemotherapy including platinum-based drugs, 2 cases of complete response (CR) and 15 cases of partial response (PR) were observed, with a response rate of 29.8% (The 95% confidence interval of response rate was 18.4-43.4%). Paclitaxel also showed 28.2% (11/39) response rate in patients refractory to treatment by platinum-based drugs. Histologically, the response rates were 28.9% (11/38) in serous adenocarcinoma, 40.0% (2/5) in clear cell adenocarcinoma and 25.0% (1/4) in mucinous adenocarcinoma. As the major laboratory abnormalities, leukopenia, neutropenia and decrease in hemoglobin were observed with incidence rates of 98.4% (62/63), 95.2% (59/62) and 85.7% (54/63), respectively. However, these abnormalities were clinically manageable by either withdrawal of medication, administration of antibiotics, G-CSF or metachysis etc. In addition, thrombocytopenia, elevation in GOT and GPT were seen with moderate incidence. Peripheral neuropathy was a major adverse symptom with an incidence of 79.4% (50/63), followed by alopecia, myalgia, arthralgia and fever. However, the majority of these adverse reactions were less than grade 3. From these findings, we confirmed that 3-hour intravenous infusion of Paclitaxel was a clinically useful chemotherapeutic agent in patients with ovarian cancer.

Establishment of a human DAF/HRF20 double transgenic mouse line is not sufficient to suppress hyperacute rejection

To solve the chronic donor organ shortage, the pig is considered to be a possible donor candidate for human transplantation. However, hyperacute rejection occurs due to the activation of the complement cascade. Therefore, the introduction of human complement inhibitors into animal cells has been proposed as a means to prevent such exologous complement activation. To investigate the extent to which complement inhibitors are resistant to human sera in discordant animals, we established transgenic mice lines which expressed either human decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and/or homologous restriction factor 20 (HRF20) using microinjection methods. Human sera were injected into (a) 10 control mice, (b) 10 DAF-transgenic mice, (c) 10 HRF20-transgenic mice, and (d) 10 DAF and HRF20-transgenic mice. The results showed that all the mice in groups a, b, and c died immediately after injection. Three of the mice in group d died, while seven survived but showed hyperpnea and low activity. The pathological findings of groups a, b, and c included severe coagulation; however, the survivors of group d showed less severe symptoms. The above findings thus suggest that both DAF and HRF20 tend to prevent complement activation to some extent; however, its effectiveness is not considered to be sufficient for clinical use in transplantation.

Anticataract action of vitamin E: its estimation using an in vitro steroid cataract model

The aim of this study was to estimate the anticataract action of vitamin E using an in vitro methylprednisolone (MP)-induced cataract model. The same severity of early cortical cataract was induced in lenses isolated from male Wistar rats aged 6 weeks by incubation with MP (1.5 mg/ml) in TC-199 medium. The cataractous lenses showed slight increases in lipid peroxide (LPO) content and Na+/K+ ratio and slight decreases in reduced glutathione (GSH) content and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAP-DH), a sensitive index of oxidative stress, and Na+,K(+)-ATPase activities. When the cataractous lenses were further incubated in TC-199 medium with and without vitamin E (250 micrograms/ml) for 48 h, the progression of cataract was prevented in the vitamin E-treated lenses, but not in the vitamin E-untreated lenses. The vitamin E-untreated lenses showed a decrease in vitamin E content and an increase in water content in addition to further increases in LPO content and Na+/K+ ratio and further decreases in GSH content and GAP-DH and Na+,K(+)-ATPase activities. In contrast, the changes of these components and enzymes except for GSH were attenuated in the vitamin E-treated lenses. From these results, it can be estimated that vitamin E prevents in vitro cataractogenesis in rat lenses treated with MP by protecting the lenses against oxidative damage and loss of membrane function.

Involvement of oxidative stress in D-xylose-induced cataractogenesis in cultured rat lenses

In order to clarify the involvement of oxidative stress in in vitro sugar-induced cataractogenesis, we examined changes in lipid peroxide, reduced glutathione, vitamin E, and water contents following cataractogenesis in rat lenses cultured with 20 mM D-xylose over a period of 24 h. In D-xylose-treated lenses, an apparent opacity appeared at the equator after 6 h of D-xylose treatment, increases in lipid peroxide and water contents and decreases in reduced glutathione and vitamin E contents occurred with the appearance of opacity. We further examined the effect of the treatment of vitamin E in a liposomal form on cataractogenesis and the changes of lipid peroxide, reduced glutathione, vitamin E, water, and xylitol contents in rat lenses cultured with 20 mM D-xylose for 24 h. This vitamin E treatment significantly prevented not only cataractogenesis, but also an increase in lipid peroxide content and a decrease in vitamin E content in the D-xylose-treated lenses. However, the vitamin E treatment had no effect not only on a decrease in reduced glutathione content, but also on increases in water and xylitol contents, which are known to be induced via aldose reductase, in the D-xylose-treated lenses. These results indicate that not only osmotic stress but also oxidative stress should be involved in cataractogenesis in rat lenses cultured with D-xylose and support the involvement of oxidative stress in in vitro sugar-induced cataractogenesis.

The induction of cytotoxicity by a bispecific antibody against CEA positive cell line, in vitro

A mouse anti-human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) x anti-human CD3 bispecific antibody, AB5C10*UCHT1, was developed. This antibody-heteroconjugate was chemically prepared by cross-linking the AB5C10 monoclonal antibody reactive with human CEA with the monoclonal antibody, UCHT1, which binds to CD3 on human T-lymphocytes. The AB5C10*UCHT1 recognized both CEA expressed on the KATOIII cell line and CD3 expressed on T-lymphocytes, as determined using flowcytometry. Next, AB5C10*UCHT1-mediated cytolysis was analyzed by 51Cr-release assay. When 51Cr-labeled target KATOIII cells were incubated for 6 h with effector cells that had been pretreated with AB5C10*UCHT1 for 60 min at 4 degrees C, the percentage specific lysis was significantly increased compared to that of untreated effector cells. Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells pretreated with AB5C10*UCHT1 for effector cells, the percentage specific lysis was determined to be 16.3% and 57.4% at effector: target (E:T) ratios of 100:1 and 12.5:1, respectively. On the other hand, the percentage specific lysis of untreated PBMC and LAK cells determined to be 3.0% and 35.8% at E:T ratios of 100:1 and 12.5:1, respectively. The minimum effective dose of AB5C10*UCHT1 required for antibody-mediated cytotoxicity was 0.1 mu g/ml. The results of this study suggest that AB5C10*UCHT1 could be useful for augmenting the cytotoxicity of CD3-positive T-cells against CEA-positive target cells in vitro.

Evidence for the involvement of vasopressin in the pathophysiology of adriamycin-induced nephropathy in rats

The effect of orally available, nonpeptide vasopressin V1 and V2 receptor antagonists on chronic progressive glomerular disease was investigated in Wistar rats with Adriamycin-induced nephropathy. At weeks 0 and 3, Adriamycin was injected twice, and at week 3 drugs started to be given as follows: groups 2 and 3 were treated with V1 and V2 antagonists, respectively, while the untreated group 1 served as control. To block the effects of vasopressin totally, both V1 and V2 antagonists were simultaneously administered (group 4). At weeks 8 and 10, V1 and V2 antagonists given either alone or combined significantly reduced the urinary protein excretion to the same levels. Urinary volume increased in groups 3 and 4 from week 4. Systolic blood pressure did not significantly increase in all groups during the study. Histological alterations in the kidney of groups 2, 3 and 4 were significantly attenuated compared to the control. These results suggest that both vasopressin V1 and V2 agonism plays a role in the pathophysiology of Adriamycin-induced nephropathy despite plasma levels of vasopressin within the normal range. These findings also lead to the notion that in some types of nephrotic patients these orally available V1 and/or V2 receptor antagonists may be effective for reduction of proteinuria and for retardation of progression of renal failure.

Calcium channel blockers versus ACE inhibitors as antihypertensives in polycystic kidney disease

The effects of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors on blood pressure and the progression of renal dysfunction were compared in hypertensive patients with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Twenty-six patients with PKD and hypertension who had been treated with other antihypertensive agents, such as diuretics, beta-blockers, or alpha-methyldopa, were followed up for two years, during which their blood pressure and renal function were monitored. Patients were divided into two groups classified according to the type of antihypertensive agents given. Group 1 (n = 14) received CCBs, while group 2 (n = 12) received ACE inhibitors. No significant differences were found in their blood pressure control and serum creatinine levels throughout the study. The creatinine clearances were decreased in both groups. However, the decreases in creatinine clearance were smaller (p < 0.05) in the group treated with CCBs. In addition, two patients in group 2 showed rapid increases in serum creatinine. Our data suggest that CCBs reduced blood pressure effectively and preserved renal function in PKD patients at least as well as ACE inhibitors.

IgM natural antibody against an asialo-oligosaccharide, gangliotetraose (Gg4), sensitizes HIV-I infected cells for cytolysis by homologous complement

Although cells are usually resistant to homologous complement, the IgM antibody against gangliotetraose (Gg4), an asialo-oligosaccharide of GM1, was found to cause cytolysis of HIV-1 infected cells by homologous complement. Due to its size, IgM might enable the initiation of the complement cascade away from membrane complement inhibitors such as decay accelerating factor and membrane cofactor protein. Furthermore, HRF20 (CD59), which restricts formation of membrane attack complexes (MAC) of complement on homologous cell membranes, was significantly decreased on HIV-infected cells and therefore formation of MAC on cell membranes would be facilitated. IgM antibodies reactive with HIV-infected cells could result in the elimination of infected cells via complement-mediated cytolysis in HIV-infected patients, since all tested sera from HIV-positive hemophilia patients who have survived for >12 years contained IgM antibody activity against HIV-infected MOLT4 cells in a preliminary experiment. Therefore, administration of IgM antibodies reactive with HIV-infected cells may be effective in the treatment of HIV carriers.

Inhibition of human complement-dependent cell lysis by bovine aortic endothelial cells transfected with membrane-bound complement-regulatory factor (DAF and HRF20) gene using a retroviral vector

The endothelial cells (EC) of xenografts are the target of hyperacute rejection induced by complement activation via the classical and/or the alternative pathway. To protect these cells from the attack of human complement, decay-accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) and homologous restriction factor 20 (HRF20, CD59), which belong to human complement regulatory factors, were transfected into bovine aortic EC (BAEC) using retroviral vector. Cell surface expression of DAF and HRF20 on BAEC transfectants (BAEC/DAF, BAEC/HRF20) is comparable to that on human umbilical vein EC. Phosphatidyl inositol-phospholipase C treatment diminished or abolished cell surface expression of DAF and HRF20 on BAEC. The addition of human serum to BAEC led to complement-dependent cell lysis, whereas practically no lysis was observed after addition of human serum to BAEC/DAF and BAEC/HRF20. The addition of human serum plus rabbit complement to BAEC/DAF and BAEC/HRF20 caused complement-dependent cell lysis that was comparable to that observed for BAEC. These data demonstrate that xenograft EC transfected with DAF or HRF20 cDNA using retroviral vector are protected from complement-dependent cell lysis.

Human nasal mucosal carboxypeptidase: activity, location, and release

BACKGROUND

Carboxypeptidases (CPs), such as carboxypeptidase N (CPN) (kininase I, E.C.3.4.17.3), may regulate peptide-mediated vasodilation and vascular permeability in respiratory mucosa by degrading proinflammatory peptides such as bradykinin, anaphylatoxins, and neuropeptides during allergic and nonallergic inflammation. The sources of CP activity in human nasal secretions were investigated.

METHODS

Well-characterized human nasal provocation and secretion analysis methods were used. Potential sources of CPN in human nasal mucosa were identified by immunohistochemistry. CP activity was defined as DL-2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidinoethylthiopropanoic acid inhibitable Bz-Gly-Lys degradation. CP activity was measured in nasal mucosal homogenates and nasal lavage fluids induced by methacholine, histamine, and allergen nasal provocation.

RESULTS

CPN-immunoreactive material was localized to the glycocalyx of the epithelium, some vessels, and gland ducts near the epithelial basement membrane but not to submucosal gland cells. CP activity in human nasal lavage fluid after saline nasal provocation was 0.10 +/- 0.04 U/L. Histamine provoked secretion of significantly more CP activity (3.84 +/- 0.99 U/L; p < 0.01 vs saline). Methacholine did not significantly increase secretion (0.54 +/- 0.22 U/L). After nasal allergen challenge, CP activity was at a maximum between 11 and 20 minutes, and CP activity correlated with IgG concentration (r = 0.91, p < 0.01), a marker for proteins of plasma origin, suggesting that CP activity originated in plasma.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that plasma is the predominant source of CP activity secreted from human nasal mucosa and that plasma extravasation and interstitial fluid exudation across the epithelium are the primary processes regulating its appearance in nasal secretions.

Role of a rat membrane inhibitor of complement in anti-basement membrane antibody-induced renal injury

In the kidneys of anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibody disease, binding of antibodies to tubular basement membrane (TBM) is often observed. The present work was performed to explore the mechanisms of binding of anti-GBM antibodies to TBM in vivo with special reference to 5I2Ag, a rat membrane inhibitor of complement which regulates complement activation at C3 convertase level. To suppress functions of renal 5I2Ag, F(ab')2 fragment of 5I2 (a neutralizing mAb against 5I2Ag) was perfused in the left kidney and then blood circulation was restored. Mild proteinuria ( < 10 mg/16 hr) was observed during first several days. Five days later, there were tubulointerstitial injuries defined by tubular vimentin staining and leukocyte infiltration. Significant deposition of C3 was observed in the capillaries and in TBM. In rats intravenously injected with rabbit anti-rat GBM antibodies five minutes after kidney perfusion with 5I2, strong binding of rabbit IgG to TBM was observed at one and five days after injection. Although these rats showed mild proteinuria comparable to those perfused with 5I2 and those injected with normal rabbit serum, tubulointerstitial injury was significantly enhanced at Day 5. In contrast, rats perfused with irrelevant mAb and injected with anti-GBM antibodies did not show any significant binding of antibodies to TBM nor tubulointerstitial injury. Furthermore, rats which were made proteinuric by puromycin aminonucleoside and injected with anti-GBM antibodies did not show any significant binding of rabbit IgG to TBM. These results indicate that 5I2Ag, a rat membrane inhibitor of complement at the C3 convertase level, regulates vascular permeability in the living kidney, and that dysfunction or decreased expression of this molecule leads to increased accessibility of anti-GBM antibodies to TBM.

Use of the Bo-RBC-SCID mouse model for isolation of a Babesia parasite from grazing calves in Japan

SCID mice with circulating bovine red blood cells (Bo-RBC-SCID mice) were used to isolate Babesia parasites from grazing calves in Japan. Although the initial blood samples obtained from the calves contained both Babesia and Theileria parasites, we were able to isolate only the Babesia parasites by repeated blood passages in Bo-RBC-SCID mice, taking advantage of the much more rapid growth of Babesia than of Theileria. The parasites isolated had characteristics of large-type Babesia, showing typical paired pyriform morphology. The Bo-RBC-SCID mice infected with the Babesia parasites developed a high level of parasitemia, showing severe clinical symptoms characterized by hemoglobinuria, jaundice, and hemolytic anemia. In addition, some mice exhibited nervous symptoms, particularly paralysis of both posterior limbs. The results demonstrated that the Bo-RBC-SCID mouse model was useful not only for isolating Babesia from cattle but also for studying the disease caused by the Babesia infection.

Inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) in a patient with pleurisy related to adult onset Still's disease

The syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or SIADH has been so far reported in various disorders. However, to our knowledge, no case of SIADH associated with adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) has been described in the literature. We report on a patient who developed inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) during the course of adult onset Still's disease (AOSD). The patient developed SIADH associated with pleuritis and improved when pleuritis subsided during the course of steroid therapy. Thus, it seems suggest that SIADH was induced by AOSD which is considered to be related with vasculitis.

[Influence of cardiopulmonary bypass on biological response]

To investigate the influence of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on biological response, we measured the serum level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), and granulocyte elastase (GEL) in 24 patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery and 32 patients who underwent elective gastroenterological surgery. All patients were alive. The serum level of GEL in cardiac patients was significantly higher than that in gastroenterological patients on the 1st and the 3rd postoperative day (P = 0.00008, P = 0.00097 respectively). In addition. there was a significant relationship between CPB time and the serum level of GEL immediately after CPB (r = 0.53, P = 0. 007). That is a reason why higher level of serum GEL in cardiac surgery is due to the bacterial translocation. TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were detected in only :3 patients who underwent over 250 minutes CPB. It is most important to shorten the CPB time in order to decrease the serum GEL and lessen the biological response surgery.

Malignant lymphomas in elderly patients. Four cases studied by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy

Four cases of malignant lymphomas in elderly patients are reported, along with the results of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Light microscopy revealed that three cases consisted of diffuse neoplastic proliferation of medium-sized lymphocytes (diffuse) lymphoma, medium-sized cell type), while the remaining one showed follicular neoplastic proliferation of medium-sized lymphocytes (follicular lymphoma, medium-sized cell type). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that most of the tumor cells in three cases had weak to moderate immunoreactivity for L26 and weak reactivity for IgM. Most of the tumor cells in one case showed weak reactivity for IgG. Some tumor cells in three cases had weak reactivity for vimentin, and some in two cases showed weak positivity for KP1 and PG-M1. Ultrastructural examination revealed that tumor cells in all four cases contained large nuclei with clear nucleoli and scant cytoplasm. Most of the intercellular junctions were smooth, but in one case, some areas exhibited desmosomes.

C-cell distribution in ovine thyroid gland

The number and percentage of C-cells per unit area were investigated in 2-3-year-old sheep by an immunoperoxidase technique, using a digital-image analysis. C-cells were distributed throughout the thyroid lobes but were not present in either the isthmus or the superior and inferior poles of the thyroid. C-cells were more concentrated in the deep central region of the lobes and decreased gradually toward the periphery. There was a high correlation between the number and the percentage of C-cells per unit area of thyroid gland in sheep. Significant differences were not present between male and female sheep of 2-3 years of age.