Expression of the mouse interleukin-2 receptor gamma chain in various cell populations of the thymus and spleen

Expression of the gamma chain, which is shared among functional receptor complexes for interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 and IL-7, was examined with hematopoietic cells in mouse thymus and spleen by flow cytometry. The gamma chain was expressed in cell populations from the spleen. Stimulation with concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide caused fluctuation in expression of the gamma chain in T and B cells, respectively. T lineage cells developing in the adult thymus expressed the gamma chain. Fetal thymus at day 15 contained mostly immature thymocytes, which also expressed the gamma chain. These results demonstrate that the gamma chains is widely expressed in T lineage cells, probably indicating that the gamma chain plays a role not only in the proliferation of mature hematopoietic cells but also in the development of immature cells through signal transduction as a common receptor subunit for multiple cytokines.

Recurrence of cystic adventitial disease in an interposed vein graft

A case of cystic adventitial disease (CAD) of the popliteal artery with intermittent claudication in the left calf is reported. This patient was first treated by total excision of the cyst and the involved artery followed by graft interposition with an autogenous saphenous vein. Recurrence of CAD in the interposed vein graft was noted after 6 months, and excision of the cyst with the involved graft and graft interposition with an autogenous saphenous vein was again required. We consider that the definitive evidence from early recurrence in the interposed vein graft shown in this case will close the discussion of the cause of CAD. The cystic lesion is thought by some to originate from the adventitia; traumatic, embryologic, or systemic abnormality theories were proposed. We assume that the mucin-secreting synovial cells originating from the neighboring joint capsule, tendon sheath, or, in some cases, from the ganglion itself, directly invade the adventitia through any rough or injured crack caused by trauma to the adventitia or simply attach to and encircle the adventitia. Total resection of the lesion with grafting is the recommended treatment for CAD because of the excellent results. However, as shown in our case, complete removal of the synovial cells even by resection technique may be difficult; therefore intensive follow-up is fundamentally necessary in this disease.

Safety evaluation of lipase G from Penicillium camembertii

Lipase G, a partial glycerides eliminating enzyme produced by Penicillium camembertii, was subjected to safety evaluation studies to establish its safety when used as a processing aid in the food industry. The toxicological studies on the enzyme included a 90-day gavage study with rats, a mutagenicity study using bacteria, and a pathogenicity study using mice. The no-adverse-effect level from the 90-day gavage toxicity study was 2000 mg/kg body weight/day for rats. There was no evidence of mutagenic potential. The micro-organism was evaluated for pathogenicity using mice and classified as a non-pathogen. Results indicate that the production and use of lipase G may be regarded as safe for the enzyme production worker and the consumer.

Expression of the IL-2 receptor gamma chain on various populations in human peripheral blood

We have established two rat mAbs, TUGh4 and TUGh5, specific for the human gamma chain of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R), which is known to be shared among receptors for IL-2, IL-4 and IL-7. The antibodies bound to cell lines transfected with the human gamma chain gene but not to their parental cell lines, and precipitated 65-70 and 80-90 kDa cell surface molecules from lysates of human T cells surface-labeled with Na125I and chemically cross-linked with [125I]IL-2 respectively. Flow cytometry with TUGh4 and TUGh5 detected the gamma chain in a wide variety of peripheral blood cell populations including CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD20+ B cells, CD56+ natural killer cells, CD14+ monocytes and granulocytes, contrasting with expression of the alpha and beta chains of IL-2R.

The effects of growth-inhibiting treatments on photorepair in cultured fish cells

Goldfish cells (RBCF-1) cultured at different cell densities were harvested and their photorepair (PR) abilities were examined in terms of survival. Photorepair ability gradually increased during the phase of logarithmic growth, reaching a maximum in cells at the confluent state. This enhancement of PR ability disappeared 12 h after replating of cells in fresh medium. A number of growth-inhibiting treatments (serum depletion, UVC, hydroxyurea [HU], change in incubation temperature) were tested for their ability to induce PR. The treatment of cells with HU and serum depletion induced PR while the other treatments did not. The increase in the ability to perform PR after treatment with HU or serum depletion returned to normal levels more rapidly than that after fluorescent light treatment.

Anti-obesity effect of CL 316,243, a highly specific beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist, in mice with monosodium-L-glutamate-induced obesity

The effects of CL 316,243, a highly specific beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist (relative selectivities of 0, 1 and 100,000 for beta 1-, beta 2- and beta 3-receptors, respectively), were evaluated in mice with monosodium L-glutamate (MSG)-induced obesity as well as in control mice injected with physiological saline instead of MSG. Both MSG- and saline-treated mice were divided into three groups and at 8 weeks of age received either CL 316,243 (0.1 or 1.0 mg/kg) or distilled water through a gastric tube for 2 weeks. CL 316,243 not only reduced white adipose tissue mass but also activated brown adipose tissue and systemic metabolism, and hence reduced body mass without affecting food intake. Furthermore, CL 316,243 decreased hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia in MSG-treated mice. However, at the higher dose, CL 316,243 also increased liver triglyceride in MSG-treated mice. These observations suggest that CL 316,243 exerts an anti-obesity effect in mice with MSG-induced obesity and consequently may prove efficacious in the treatment of human obesity.

[Investigation of AZT susceptibility of sequential HIV-1 isolates from patients treated with ddI after long-term therapy with AZT]

AZT susceptibility of sequential 12 HIV-1 isolates was investigated by culture method. These isolate were obtained from three patients who had received AZT for at least 12 months and switched to ddI after they appeared to deteriorate clinically. Cultures of isolate from a patient before therapy with AZT or ddI did not show cytopathic effect (CPE) in the presence of 0.1 microM or 1.0 microM AZT. Culture of 2 isolates from two patients treated with AZT more than 6 months before switched to ddI therapy showed CPE in the presence of AZT and HIV-1 p24 antigen was detected by ELISA in the supernatants. Culture of 6 of 7 isolates from three patients treated with ddI after long-term therapy with AZT also showed CPE in the presence of 1.0 microM AZT and HIV-1 p24 antigen was detected. These results demonstrated that AZT-resistant variant was still a dominant population in the isolate from patients after 11 to 13 months of discontinuing AZT therapy.

[Laboratory and clinical studies on biapenem (L-627) in the field of pediatrics]

Laboratory and clinical studies on biapenem (L-627), a new carbapenem antibiotic, were carried out in the field of pediatrics. 1. Antibacterial activities of L-627 against clinically isolated organisms in our department were generally high. 2. After 30 minutes intravenous infusion of L-627 at a dose of 10 mg/kg in 3 and of 12 mg/kg in 2 children, peak plasma levels of L-627 ranged from 25.6 to 44.6 micrograms/ml at the end of the infusion. The half-lives were from 0.68 to 0.94 hours. The cumulative urinary recovery rates in the first 6 hours after the start of drip infusion ranged from 11.4 to 47.5%. 3. 14 patients with various bacterial infections were treated with L-627. The clinical efficacy rate was also 92.9% and the bacteriological efficacy rate was also 92.9%. 4. No side effects were observed. A few abnormal laboratory test results were obtained, but they were mild with slight elevation of GOT/GPT and platelets in 1 each.

[A case of herpes zoster meningoencephalitis followed by involvement of cranial nerves IX, X, XI]

The patient is a 64-year-old woman with herpes zoster meningo-encephalitis followed by involvement of cranial nerves IX, X, XI. On admission, she had severe neck pain on the left side and mild nuchal rigidity. Three days later, herpetic vesicles on the left side of her neck (C2, C3, area). Herpes zoster meningoencephalitis was diagnosed based on CSF pleocytosis, high serum and CSF titers of herpes zoster antibody, and EEG abnormality. During hospitalization, paralysis of the left vocal cord, rightward deviation of the uvula, and gradual paralysis of the left sternocleidomastoideus and trapezius muscles developed. On cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), T2-weighted image clearly revealed a high-signal lesion in left dorsal part of the medulla oblongata. This area appeared to correspond to the nucleus ambiguous and vagal nucleus. In this case, we believe that the inflammation originated in the C2, C3 posterior ganglion cells, extended to the IX, X, XI cranial nerves and to the part of the medulla oblongata. It is likely that the number of patients in whom a lesion of the cranial nucleus is revealed by MRI will increase in the future.

Effect of menthol on cytosolic Ca2+ levels in canine airway epithelium in culture

Intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in canine cultured tracheal epithelium in response to cyclic alcohols was measured by a fura-2 method. Menthol rapidly increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent fashion, the maximal increase from the baseline levels and the concentration of menthol required to produce a half-maximal effect (EC50) being 148 +/- 23 nM (mean +/- SE, p < 0.001) and 0.3 mM, respectively, whereas other cyclic alcohols including menthone and cyclohexanol had no effect. The menthol-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was not affected by verapamil but partially inhibited by low Ca2+ medium in the presence of EGTA. These results indicate that menthol specifically increases cytosolic Ca2+ in airway epithelium, which may be derived from intracellular Ca2+ stores.

Spinal cord tumor appearing as unusual pain

STUDY DESIGN

The authors report two cases of spinal cord tumors characterized by unusual pain, which is recurrent abdominal pain or cervical angina.

METHODS

These unusual pains were improved after removal of tumors in the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors conclude that the pain was caused by vascular compression, bleeding in the tumor, or incomplete block of the cerebrospinal fluid flow. They recommend the use of osteoplastic laminectomy, because anatomic structure and spinal function should be preserved in young patients.

[Recombinant human erythropoietin (KRN5702) therapy for autologous blood transfusion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing joint replacement surgery--a multicenter phase II clinical trial]

In order to evaluate the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on autologous blood transfusion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we performed a phase II clinical trial in 65 RA patients undergoing elective surgery. rHuEPO was administered subcutaneously once a week and after observing erythropoiesis, autologous blood was collected. Fifty-seven of the 58 patients who completed treatment responded to rHuEPO and could donate more than 400 ml of autologous blood. Among them, 23 out of 28 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, 27 out of 28 undergoing total knee arthroplasty and 1 out of 1 undergoing spinal surgery did not need homologous blood transfusion perioperatively. During rHuEPO treatment, no significant changes of clinical parameters of RA activity were observed. Two patients discontinued the treatment because of mild and transient side effects. These results indicate that subcutaneous rHuEPO is safe and effective in eliminate the need for homologous blood transfusion, even in anemic RA patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery.

Stimulation by menthol of Cl secretion via a Ca(2+)-dependent mechanism in canine airway epithelium

1. To investigate the effect of menthol on airway epithelial ion transport function, we studied the bioelectrical properties of canine cultured tracheal epithelium by Ussing's short-circuit technique in vitro. 2. Addition of menthol (10(-3) M) to the mucosal but not the submucosal solution increased the short-circuit current (Isc) from 6.2 +/- 0.9 to 14.0 +/- 2.2 microA cm-2 (P < 0.001), and this effect was accompanied by increases in transepithelial potential difference and conductance. The response was dose-dependent, with the maximal increase from the baseline value and the concentration required to produce a half-maximal effect (EC50) being 6.4 +/- 0.9 microA cm-2 (P < 0.001) and 40 microM, respectively. 3. Other cyclic alcohols, including menthone and cyclohexanol, had no effect on the electrical properties. 4. The menthol-induced increase in Isc was not altered by pretreatment of the cells with amiloride, indomethacin, or propranolol but was abolished by diphenylamine-2-carboxylate, furosemide or substitution of Cl with iodide in the medium. 5. Menthol (10(-3) M) increased cytosolic levels of free calcium ([Ca2+]i) from 98 +/- 12 to 340 +/- 49 nM (P < 0.01) in fura-2-loaded tracheal epithelium but did not affect the intracellular adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate content. 6. These results suggest that menthol stimulates Cl secretion across airway epithelium, probably through a Ca(2+)-dependent mechanism, and might thus influence mucociliary transport in the respiratory tract.

Relationship between basal metabolic rate, thermogenic response to caffeine, and body weight loss following combined low calorie and exercise treatment in obese women

To clarify whether there were any differences in basal metabolic rate (BMR) and thermogenic response to caffeine in individual obese women, and if so, whether such differences affected weight loss, the basal and resting metabolic rates at 30 min after a caffeine loading test (4 mg/kg ideal body weight, per os) were measured in 136 obese women and ten lean age-matched controls. The obese subjects were then asked to follow a combined low calorie diet and exercise regimen. There were no differences in the BMR and thermogenic responses to caffeine between the obese and lean groups. However, the BMR and the thermogenic responses to caffeine varied widely in obese subjects. After two months of treatment, body weight and percentage body fat in obese women were significantly (P < 0.001) reduced. There were significant correlations between the BMR and body weight loss (r = 0.3621, P < 0.001), between BMR/lean body mass and body weight loss (r = 0.3196, P < 0.001) and between the thermogenic response to caffeine and body weight loss (r = 0.6943, P < 0.001). When the criterion of a BMR less than 3.10 kJ/min (less than two standard deviations below the mean of the age-matched lean control) was used to define an obese group with reduced BMR, there were 30 obese subjects in this group, and their body weight was significantly decreased by treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The alpha/beta-adrenergic receptor blocker arotinolol activates the thermogenesis of brown adipose tissue in monosodium-L-glutamate-induced obese mice

We have found previously that arotinolol, an alpha/beta-adrenergic blocker, increases blood flow in brown adipose tissue (BAT) in a similar extent as BRL 26830A, a beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist. We tested the hypothesis that arotinolol activates thermogenesis in BAT, leading to weight loss in monosodium-L-glutamate-induced (MSG-induced) obese mice and saline-treated controls. Six weeks of standard animal feed (CE-2) containing arotinolol hydrochloride (350 mg/kg CE-2), which reduced mean blood pressure in MSG-treated mice, significantly increased the mitochondrial protein content in BAT, and activated the specific and total binding of guanosine-5'-diphosphate (GDP) in BAT mitochondria, leading to a reduction of obesity in both MSG- and saline-treated mice vs. the control groups fed with CE-2 diet alone. However, six weeks of CE-2 diet containing propranolol hydrochloride (525 mg/kg CE-2) a non-selective beta-blocker, markedly reduced the specific and total binding of GDP in BAT mitochondria, leading to weight gain in both MSG- and saline-treated mice. These findings support the hypothesis, that arotinolol activates BAT thermogenesis, leading to weight loss.

Local secretion of corticotropin-releasing hormone by enterochromaffin cells in human colon

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and a coordinator of the gastrointestinal response to stress. In addition to its central effects, CRH has peripheral effects on the immune system. CRH is present in several human tissues, such as the brain, spinal cord, adrenal medulla, lung, liver, peripheral blood leukocytes, as well as the gastrointestinal tract. The current study examined the local production of CRH in the normal human colon.

METHODS

Normal human colonic tissues obtained by endoscopic biopsy were immunostained with anti-CRH and anti-5-hydroxytryptamine antibody and analyzed for CRH messenger (m)RNA by a reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction method and by in situ hybridization.

RESULTS

Immunoreactive CRH and CRH mRNA were detected in the colonic mucosal cells in the neighborhood of the base of the crypts. The mucosal cells that expressed CRH mRNA also immunostained with anti-5-hydroxytryptamine antibody.

CONCLUSIONS

Normal human colonic mucosal enterochromaffin cells produce CRH. CRH in the colonic mucosa may play a role in the modulation of the intestinal immune system and/or other gastrointestinal functions basally during stressful conditions.

Movement of carboxyfluorescein across the isolated rabbit iris-ciliary body

The movement of carboxyfluorescein across the isolated iris-ciliary body of the albino rabbit was analyzed using an Ussing chamber under short-circuit conditions with carboxyfluorescein concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 microM. At a concentration of 50 microM, the outward permeability (from the aqueous to the stromal side) was 4.0 +/- 0.2 x 10(-6) cm/sec and the inward permeability (from the stromal to the aqueous side) was 1.3 +/- 0.2 x 10(-6) cm/sec (Mean +/- SE, N = 6). The former was significantly greater than the latter (P < 0.001). Inward movement of carboxyfluorescein showed a linear increase in relation to the concentrations tested. Neither ouabain (100 microM), 2,4-dinitrophenol (10 microM) nor probenecid (100 microM) significantly inhibited the inward movement of carboxyfluorescein. The net outward movement of carboxy-fluorescein became saturated, as concentration was increased, and a Lineweaver--Burke plot gave an apparent Km of 28 microM and Vmax of 0.67 x 10(-9) mole/hr/cm2. In addition, outward carboxyfluorescein movement was significantly inhibited by ouabain (100 microM), 2,4-dinitrophenol (10 microM), probenecid (100 microM), iodipamide (1.0 mM), hippurate (1.0 mM), low temperature or low external Na+ concentration. These results suggest that outward carboxyfluorescein movement across the tissue largely depends on carrier-mediated active transport, while inward movement occurs by passive diffusion.