TRAF5, a novel tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor family protein, mediates CD40 signaling

Signals emanating from CD40 play crucial roles in B-cell function. To identify molecules that transduce CD40 signalings, we have used the yeast two-hybrid system to done cDNAs encoding proteins that bind the cytoplasmic tail of CD40. A cDNA encoding a putative signal transducer protein, designated TRAF5, has been molecularly cloned. TRAF5 has a tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) domain in its carboxyl terminus and is most homologous to TRAF3, also known as CRAF1, CD40bp, or LAP-1, a previously identified CD40-associated factor. The amino terminus has a RING finger domain, a cluster of zinc fingers and a coiled-coil domain, which are also present in other members of the TRAF family protein except for TRAF1. In vitro binding assays revealed that TRAF5 associates with the cytoplasmic tail of CD40, but not with the cytoplasmic tail of tumor receptor factor receptor type 2, which associates with TRAF2. Based on analysis of the association between TRAF5 and various CD40 mutants, residues 230-269 of CD40 are required for the association with TRAF5. In contrast to TRAF3, overexpression of TRAF5 activates transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B. Furthermore, amino-terminally truncated forms of TRAF5 suppress the CD40-mediated induction of CD23 expression, as is the case with TRAF3. These results suggest that TRAF5 and TRAF3 could be involved in both common and distinct signaling pathways emanating from CD40.

[A patient with HCC successfully treated by ethanol injection therapy with etoposide]

A patient with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent successfully percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) with etoposide was reported. A 72-year-old Japanese man with positive HCV-Ab developed multiple tumors of HCC. He underwent transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) four times and PEIT three times, but the growth of tumors (particularly, S8) could not be controlled by these modalities. Then, the mixture of etoposide (20 mg), ethanol (8.5 ml) and lipiodol (1.5 ml) was injected into S6 tumors. Consistent with the normalization of serum AFP level, CT scan revealed the marked remaining lipiodol in these tumors. PEIT with etoposide is the treatment of choice in patients with HCC refractory to treatment by conventional TAE or PEIT.

Asymmetric line shapes of the instrumental function found in two-étalon systems with a finite field of view

The instrumental functions of the two-étalon system with a finite field of view have been examined in cases in which both étalons are inclined against the optical axis. The average transmittances of the rays in the finite field of view are obtained by numerical integration. It is shown that the line shape of the instrumental function becomes asymmetric, varying not only with the zenith angles of the symmetry axes of the two étalons but also with their azimuth angles. Experimental measurements of line shapes with the He-Ne laser show the asymmetric feature predicted by the calculation. The simulation calculations for the two-pass étalon system are also carried out and show a drastic discrepancy in transmittances between azimuth angle differences of 0° and 180°.

[Locoregional injection of OK-432/fibrinogen/thrombin for unresectable metastatic liver tumors]

We performed the locoregional injection of OK-432/fibrinogen/thrombin to unresectable hepatic tumors metastasized from colorectal cancers, which were hardly controlled by arterial infusion chemotherapy. CEA was markedly decreased following this treatment, although abdominal CT did not show a significant reduction of tumor mass. This immuno-injection therapy may be a choice of treatment for metastatic liver tumors, refractory to treatment by conventional chemotherapy.

[A patient with hepatocellular carcinoma originating from the caudate lobe, who underwent hepatectomy following microwave coagulation therapy]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) originating from the caudate lobe is rare (about 2%), and prognosis is poor due to difficulties in early diagnosis, transarterial chemoembolization (TAE), and surgical resection. Distant metastasis is also likely to develop. To prevent metastasis during surgical manipulations, we performed microwave coagulation therapy before caudate lobectomy in one patient. Although the efficacy of this procedure remains to be elucidated, the multidisciplinary treatment described in this study is essential for the improvement of prognosis in patients with HCC developing from caudate lobe.

[A patient with unresectable cancer of pancreas head, effectively treated by a local injection of the mixture of OK-432, fibrinogen and thrombin]

The effective treatment of unresectable pancreatic cancer remains to be elucidated. We report herein a patient who underwent a local injection of a mixture of OK-432, fibrinogen and thrombin. Tumor size and tumor markers significantly decreased following this procedure. Local injection therapy with OK-432, fibrinogen and thrombin may be a promising treatment for unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Cloning and detection of the hemolysin gene of Vibrio anguillarum

A 5 kb DNA fragment encoding a hemolysin was cloned from the fish pathogenic bacterium Vibrio anguillarum using the cosmid vector charomid9-36. An open reading frame of the hemolysin gene (VAH1) was 2253 bp and corresponded to a protein of 751 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence of the VAH1 gene and the previously reported Vibrio cholerae EI Tor hemolysin, V. vulnificus cytolysin-hemolysin, Aeromonas hydrophila AHH1 hemolysin, and A. salmonicida ASH4 hemolysin showed a significant degree of sequence homology, and the overall amino acid identities were 57.3%, 25.8%, 46.2%, and 43.7%, respectively. DNA hybridization analysis under high-stringent conditions using VAH1 as a probe, demonstrated that VAH1 hybridized with 25 out of 28 strains of V. anguillarum including serotypes A to I, but did not hybridize with other species of Vibrio, A. hydrophila or A. salmonicida. The targeted DNA fragment of VAH1 was successfully amplified from V. anguillarum-infected fish tissues by PCR.

Sequence analysis of the florfenicol resistance gene encoded in the transferable R-plasmid of a fish pathogen, Pasteurella piscicida

The florfenicol resistance gene (pp-flo) derived from a transferable R-plasmid of Pasteurella piscicida consisted of 1,122 nucleotides, and the predicted amino acid sequence showed 47.4% identity to that of a non-enzymatic chloramphenicol resistance gene (cmlA). The pp-flo gene was located in the downstream region of the sulfonamide resistance gene of the transferable R-plasmid.

Modulation of ICAM-1 expression by extracellular glutathione in hyperoxia-exposed human pulmonary artery endothelial cells

To investigate the mechanisms regulating hyperoxia-induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression, we studied the effects of antioxidants on ICAM-1 expression, and the relationship between ICAM-1 expression and extracellular glutathione levels in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAEC) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Cells were cultured to confluence and exposed to hyperoxia (90% O2) for 48 h with or without various antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and glutathione. The levels of ICAM-1 expression in the endothelial cells and the concentrations of reduced (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) in the media were examined by flow cytometry and spectrophotometry, respectively. After exposure to hyperoxia, ICAM-1 expression was increased, and the supernatant total glutathione was decreased as compared with those at normoxia. SOD did not change ICAM-1 expression. The hyperoxia-induced increase in ICAM-1 expression was even greater with the addition of catalase. The ICAM-1 expression was decreased and the GSH concentration was increased with the addition of NAC. There were negative relationships between the level of ICAM-1 expression and the supernatant total glutathione concentration in catalase-treated HPAEC (R = 0.822, P < 0.0005) and HUVEC (R = 0.567, P < 0.01). Negative relationships were also demonstrated between the level of ICAM-1 expression and the total extracellular glutathione concentrations in NAC-treated HPAEC (R = 0.877, P < 0.0005) and HUVEC (R = 0.727, P < 0.0005). Exogenous GSH decreased ICAM-1 expression in both hyperoxia-exposed HPAEC and HUVEC, while exogenous GSSG did not. These results suggest that extracellular GSH plays a role in regulating hyperoxia-induced ICAM-1 expression in HPAEC and HUVEC.

[A patient with pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma, effectively treated by the infusion chemotherapy through hepatic artery using 5-FU, CDDP and MMC]

Chemotherapy for pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma has not been well studied. We report herein one patient, in whom arterial chemotherapy with 5-FU, CDDP and MMC was extremely effective. He underwent distal pancreatectomy associated with partial resection of transverse colon. Hepatic recurrence was detected by MRI 8 months after the surgery. 5-FU (250 mg/day), CDDP (20 mg/day), and MMC (10 mg) was injected through a catheter introduced into the proper hepatic artery. His tumor became hardly detectable by MRI, and he was discharged about 1 month after admission. 5-FU (250 mg) and CDDP (20 mg) were injected every two weeks, and recurrence was not observed for 5 months.

Structure of medaka transferrin gene and its 5'-flanking region

Transferrin is a monomeric iron-binding glycoprotein. To investigate the structure of the transferrin gene in teleosts, we prepared a genomic DNA library from the medaka (Oryzias latipes). The medaka transferrin gene was isolated, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The full length of this gene is approximately 8.5 kb, and it is organized into 17 exons separated by 16 introns. The exons are similar in size to those in the genes for human transferrin, chicken ovotransferrin, and mouse and bovine lactoferrin. However, the introns are smaller than those previously reported in the transferrin family of genes. The 5'-flanking region of the medaka transferrin gene contains an estrogen-responsive element, glucocorticoid-responsive elements, an iron-responsive element, metal-responsive elements, and Sp1 binding sites. The transcription start point is located 35 bp upstream of the start codon.

A highly repetitive sequence isolated from genomic DNA of the medaka (Oryzias latipes)

A highly repetitive interspersed DNA sequence (MRE) was isolated from the genome of medaka, Oryzias latipes, and characterized. Three distinct sequences of MRE were cloned and compared. The conserved sequences of MRE were approximately 220 bp in length. On average, one copy of MRE was present in every 153 kb, and the number of copies of MRE in the genome was calculated to be approximately 9800. MRE constituted approximately 0.14% of the genome. MRE-related sequences were not detected in carp (Cyprinus carpio) red-spot masu trout (Oncorhynchus masou macrostomus), masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou masou), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), eel (Anguilla japonica), Arctic lamprey (Lampetera japonica), or yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata). MRE was randomly distributed in the medaka genome, indicating a high incidence of polymorphism in the five medaka inbred lines.

[A nation-wide survey for neurologic and hepato-neurologic type of Wilson disease: clinical features and hepatic copper content]

A nation-wide survey for Wilson disease was performed from 1990 to 1991. We studied clinical features and copper content in liver for the neurologic and hepato-neurologic types. A questionnaire was sent to more than five thousand hospitals in Japan. Thirty-three percent of physicians completed the questionnaire. Four hundred and twenty-five cases were studied for the onset age, primary symptoms, prognosis and hepatic copper content. The onset age of neurologic and hepato-neurologic type of Wilson disease was usually 6 years or older. The most common initial symptom was dysarthria. Gait disturbance, flapping tremor and Kayser-Fleischer rings were also very common symptoms. We conclude that in patients with dysarthria and/ or extra pyramidal symptoms over 6 years of age, Wilson disease should be considered. The prognosis quod vitam of patients with neurologic and hepato-neurologic Wilson disease is not always fatal. However, many patients required prolonged treatment at either a hospital, sanatorium or at home due to irreversibility of their severe neurological defects. This result shows that early detection is the most important factor for a promising prognosis. Copper content in liver was examined for each type of Wilson disease. Neurologic type of Wilson disease had the highest copper content, followed by hepato-neurologic type. Hepatic type had the lowest copper level out of these three forms of the disease. The mechanism of onset for each type of Wilson disease should be studied using these results.

Cloning of a cDNA encoding the small subunit of cytochrome b558 (cybS) of mitochondrial fumarate reductase (complex II) from adult Ascaris suum

Complex II in the mitochondria of the adult parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum, exhibits high fumarate reductase activity in addition to succinate dehydrogenase activity and plays a key role in the anaerobic energy metabolism of the worm. In this study, the amino acid sequence of the small subunit of cytochrome b558 (cybS) in adult complex II was deduced from the cDNA isolated by immunoscreening an A. suum muscle cDNA library. Histidine residues, which are possible heme axial ligands in cytochrome b558, were found in the second transmembrane segment of the subunit. This is the first report of the primary structure of the small subunit in the two-subunit cytochrome b in mitochondrial complex II from a multicellular eukaryote.

[Growth of squamous cells lung cancer between alveolar basement membrane and alveolar epithelium]

We examined patterns of growth of cancer cells in specimens of alveoli taken from 41 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (36 men and 5 women, mean age 65 years). For comparison, 8 samples from patients with small cell carcinoma (6 men and 2 women, mean age 64) and 71 samples from patients with adenocarcinoma (48 men and 23 women, mean age 62) were also studied. The samples were fixed in formalin, embedded in paraffin, and then subjected to immunostaining. Glandular structures composed of non-atypical cuboidal cells with negative p53 staining and scanty positive PCNA staining were found in 90% of the samples of squamous cell carcinoma. In small cell carcinoma, 25% of the samples had small numbers of no-atypical glandular structures. In adenocarcinoma, no non-atypical glandular structures were seen. Glandular structures were observed in the periphery of the cancerous tissue. Some of these non-atypical cells were attached to the alveolar basement membranes. We conclude that squamous cell carcinoma grows between the basement membrane and the alveolar epithelium, and leaves noncancerous epithelium with glandular structure.

[Postoperative early complication of primary lung cancer]

We analyzed postoperative early complications of primary lung cancer in 321 cases during 1982 to 1993 in our hospital, and assessed the prevention and the treatment against these complications. In order of frequency the complications are, paroxymal supraventricular tachcarida (10.6%), atelectasis due to sputum (6.9%), pulmonary fistula for more than seven days (4.7%), hoarseness of voice due to recurrent nerve palsy (4.0%), chylothorax (2.5%), gastrointestinal tract complications (2.2%), reoperation due to massive bleeding (1.2%), wound dehiscence (0.9%), bronchial fistula (0.6%), rupture of ascending aorta (0.3%) and myocardial infarction (0.3%). The two cases of bronchial fistula after pneumonectomy, and one of myocardial infarction after lobectomy through the median approach died of early complications. The operative indication for primary lung cancer is extended to the patients with higher age and lower pulmonary function; so we should be careful for the pre and postoperative prevention and the rapid and appropriate treatment against these postoperative early complications.

Apoptosis induced by selenium in human glioma cell lines

Several studies have shown that selenium can inhibit tumorigenesis in tissues. However, little is known about the mechanism and the effect of selenium on DNA, especially in brain tumor cells. In this study we examined the biological effect of selenium on human glioma cell lines (A172 and T98G). Selenium exhibited an antiproliferative effect on these cell lines (and induced the typical ladder pattern of DNA fragmentation commonly found in apoptosis), which were prevented by catalase. Few effects of selenium on NT14 fibroblasts were found. These findings demonstrate that selenium may induce, by apoptosis, cell death of human glioma cell lines, which are resulting from free radical oxygen forming.

[Abnormalitis in the distributions of ventilation-perfusion ratios and diffusing capacity-perfusion ratios in three types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]

To assess whether diffusion-limited gas exchange plays a significant role in hypoxemia in various types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), we analyzed the distribution of ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) ratios and of diffusing capacity-perfusion (G/Q) ratios. We compared VA/Q and G/Q distribution in patients with three basic types of COPD: emphysematous changes, bronchiolar involvement, and airway hypersecretion, which were classified based on symptoms and on findings of high-resolution CT. The results were that 1) hypoxemia was not caused by diffusion-limited gas exchange with low G/Q regions in any type of COPD, that 2) hypoxemia was not caused by inhomogeneities in VA/Q distribution, that 3) emphysematous changes and bronchiolar involvement were associated with high and low VA/Q regions, respectively, and that 4) either hypersecretion itself or related airway abnormalities may cause low VA/Q regions to form.

Purification of pepsinogens from human urine and electrophoretic analysis by caseogram print

Pepsinogen (PG) A and C were purified from human urine, and analyzed by a highly sensitive detection method, "caseogram print". Purification was achieved by a series of conventional chromatographies and FPLC. A relatively large amount (13.2 mg) of PGA was purified from about 20 liters of urine. Purified PGA was separated by a Mono-Q column into each of its isozymogens. The elution order (PGA-5, 4+3, 2) corresponded to the order of electrophoretic migration. Although the concentration of urinary PGC was very low, a trace amount was purified and visualized by electrophoresis. The urinary and mucosal PGCs migrated at the same position, and urinary PGC was detected as two isozymogens similarly to mucosal PGC, suggesting that urinary and mucosal PGCs may be essentially identical.

Rapidly progressive hepatitis C in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency

A 15-year-old girl with common variable immunodeficiency contracted hepatitis C, which progressed to liver cirrhosis and finally to hepatic failure 5 years later. Since she was agammaglobulinaemic, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was diagnosed on the basis of HCV-RNA detection. Quantification of her sera showed high levels of HCV-RNA (more than 10(7) copies of RNA/mL), which implied active viral replication. There were no other hepatotoxic factors except HCV infection. The initial liver biopsy at 16 years of age and the autopsy confirmed a rapid progression in liver histopathological change over 4 years.

CONCLUSION

Contrary to the widely held view of a benign short-term prognosis in paediatric hepatitis C, progressive fatal liver disease can develop in some patients with HCV infection. Such a rapid progression of liver injury provides the rationale for antiviral therapy in at least certain high risk groups of these children. Hepatitis C may progress rapidly in an immune deficiency condition.

MRI in the mild type of mucopolysaccharidosis II (Hunter's syndrome)

We report imaging findings in a 3-year-old boy with the typical mild type of Hunter's disease. MRI revealed multifocal large cyst- or spindle-like areas of increased and decreased signal in the white matter, including the corpus callosum on T1- and T2-weighted images. The white matter showed high signal on T2-weighted images, isointense with cerebrospinal fluid on all other pulse sequences. To our knowledge, these appearances have not been reported in this disorder. Deposition of mucopolysaccharide and/or glycolipid and increase in fluid content seem to be responsible.

Molecular and functional properties of cytochrome c from adult Ascaris suum muscle

Mitochondrial cytochrome c was isolated at high purity from adult Ascaris suum muscle and its molecular properties were investigated. The molecular weight of A. suum cytochrome c was determined to be 13,119 by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The oxidation-reduction potential of nematode cytochrome c was measured to be +248 mV; this value is comparable to those for cytochrome c from mammalian sources. The A. suum cytochrome c, like bovine heart cytochrome c, showed biphasic kinetics against bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase. Comparative kinetic studies revealed species-specificity in the reaction between cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase from A. suum and bovine sources. The cytochrome c content in mitochondria was highest at the second larval stage, in which the respiratory chain is the most aerobic among various developmental stages of A. suum. These data clearly show that adult A. suum cytochrome c, as isolated, is a bona fide substrate for cytochrome c oxidase in the aerobic respiratory chain of second-stage larvae.

Hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach: a case report

A patient with primary gastric carcinoma showing a high level of serum a-fetoprotein (AFP) (368 ng/ml) is described. Subtotal gastrectomy was performed, and a month after surgery the level of serum AFP fell rapidly to within normal limits. Histologically, two types of cells coexisted in the tumor: medullary-type cells resembling trabecular-type hepatocellular carcinoma, and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma cells. The cells of the former type were arranged mostly in a trabecular pattern with bile granules, but also showed a scirrhous pattern in a restricted area. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that both types of tumor cells stained positively for AFP. This tumor, which should be classified as a hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach, is of interest because of its rarity, bile secretion (indicating marked differentiation toward a hepatocyte form), and two cellular arrangements-trabecular and scirrhous.

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the rapid and simultaneous determination of sulfamonomethoxine, miloxacin and oxolinic acid in serum and muscle of cultured fish

A rapid method for the simultaneous determination of sulfamonomethoxine (SMM), miloxacin (MLX) and oxolinic acid (OA) in serum and muscle of cultured fish by high-performance liquid chromatography has been developed. A Hisep shielded hydrophobic phase column (15 cm x 4.6 mm I.D.) and a mobile phase of 0.05 M citric acid-0.2 M disodium hydrogenphosphate buffer, pH 2.5 in 10 mM tetra-n-butyl ammonium bromide-acetonitrile (85:15) with ultraviolet detection at 265 nm were used. The recoveries of SMM, MLX and OA from serum and muscle samples were 72-101%. The detection limits of the three drugs were 0.05-0.1 microgram/ml or g of sample.