[Early effects of intravenous steroid therapy on cell recruitment in sputum of chronic asthmatics]

Steroid is the key drug in the asthma therapy but not well known to play the role on the airway inflammatory cells. We examined sputum cells of acute excerbated 11 chronic adult asthmatics before and 2-3 hours after intravenous steroid and aminophylline therapy. There was no changes in the percent count of living cell, epithelial cell, metachlomatic cell, macrophage and neutrophil before and after treatment. Lymphocyte was 3.3 +/- 6.5% before and 2.6 +/- 2.0% after treatment. CD4 and CD25 double positive cell (CD4+/CD25+) was 0.7 +/- 0.5 and 1.2 +/- 0.9% and CD8+/CD25+ cell was 0.4 +/- 0.4 and 0.6 +/- 0.5% before and after treatment respectively. These changes were not significant. Eosinophil percent count did not decrease significantly but EG1+/EG2+ cell decreased from 6.7 +/- 7.8 to 4.3 +/- 5.2% significantly (p < 0.05). In the light of no decrease of activated T lymphocytes (CD25+ cells), we concluded that failure of tissue eosinophil response to lymphokines might result in a decrease in activated eosinophil count.

Effects of dibutyryl guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate and sodium nitroprusside in pepsinogen secretion from guinea pig chief cells with respect to intracellular Ca2+

Both Ca2+ and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate act as intracellular second messengers in pepsinogen secretion from chief cells. However, the role of intracellular guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) in this process has not been defined. Although dibutyryl cGMP (dbcGMP), a membrane-permeable derivative of cGMP, has been shown to inhibit pepsinogen secretion only stimulated by cholecystokinin (CCK), the intracellular mechanism of this effect remains unclear. We evaluated the role of intracellular cGMP in pepsinogen secretion from monolayer cultured guinea pig chief cells using dbcGMP and sodium nitroprusside, both of which increase intracellular cGMP. Dibutyryl cGMP and sodium nitroprusside have now been shown to inhibit pepsinogen secretion induced by not only CCK octapeptide but also carbamylcholine chloride and ionomycin in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, dbcGMP reduced the increase in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration induced by carbamylcholine chloride, CCK octapeptide, and ionomycin. These results suggest that intracellular cGMP may inhibit pepsinogen secretion by reducing the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration.

Mediation of pepsinogen secretion from guinea pig chief cells by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II

In the presence of Ca2+ bound to calmodulin, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) exhibits an intramolecular autophosphorylation and modulates many cell functions. In this study, the role of CaMK II in pepsinogen secretion was investigated in cultured guinea pig chief cells by using a specific CaMK II inhibitor, 1-[N,O-Bis(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-N-methyl-L-tyrosyl]-4-phenylpipera zin e (KN-62), and an antibody for the Thr-286-autophosphorylated alpha subunit of CaMK II which specifically recognized the autophosphorylated form of CaMK II. KN-62 inhibited the pepsinogen secretion stimulated by carbamylcholine chloride, cholecystokinin octapeptide, and ionomycin in a dose-dependent manner without affecting intracellular Ca2+ concentrations, but had no effect on the secretion by 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and forskolin. Heavy staining with the antibody for autophosphorylated CaMK II was observed in the cytoplasm of chief cells treated with carbamylcholine chloride or ionomycin, but only light staining was seen in cells treated with TPA or forskolin. Thus, CaMK II and its autophosphorylation may be a critical step in the intracellular pathway in which Ca2+ causes pepsinogen secretion from guinea pig chief cells.

Platelet-activating factor and its structural analogues in the earthworm Eisenia foetida

The earthworm Eisenia foetida was shown to contain large amounts of ether-containing phospholipids such as alkylacylglycerophosphocholine (61.3% of choline glycerophospholipids) and alkenylacylglycerophosphoethanolamine (66.0% of ethanolamine glycerophospholipids). We also found a substantial amount of ether-containing PAF-like lipid in this animal, its level being increased after the animal is injured. We showed evidence that this PAF-like lipid consists of PAF and PAF analogues containing short chain fatty acids other than acetic acid. Notably, a propionic acid-containing species but not PAF itself, is the most predominant species in this animal. We also confirmed that the earthworms contain enzyme activities involved in the synthesis of PAF and short chain fatty acid-containing PAF analogues. Interestingly, the acetyltransferase activity in earthworms is resistant to high concentrations of the substrate lysophospholipid. Thus, both the structure of the PAF-like lipid and the properties of the enzymes involved in the PAF-like lipid metabolism in the earthworms are somewhat different from those in mammalian tissues.

Quantitative measurement of canine renal arterial blood flow using Doppler ultrasonography

The aim of this study was to estimate the accuracy of the quantitative measurement of renal blood flow using the non-invasive method, Doppler ultrasonography. First, we determined a method of approach to the renal artery in order to detect the rate and pattern of flow, using 8 adult beagles under general anesthesia. Secondly, we examined the renal arterial blood flow using the Doppler method and electromagnetic flowmeter using 7 mongrel dogs. A significant correlation (r = 0.879; p < 0.01) was found between two methods, though the Doppler system tended to indicate high values than the electromagnetic flowmeter. Our study suggests that the Doppler method is a useful non-invasive technique of measuring renal blood flow in the dog.

Functional expression of Fas antigen (CD95) on hematopoietic progenitor cells

We investigated the expression of an apoptosis-associated antigen (Fas) (CD95) on hematopoietic progenitor cells in the presence or absence of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and/or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). CD34+ cells freshly isolated from bone marrow did not express Fas. However, IFN-gamma and/or TNF-alpha induced the expression of both the mRNA of Fas and Fas itself in a dose-dependent fashion on the surface of CD34+ cells after 48 hours of serum-free culture. IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha had a synergistic effect on the induction of Fas, when both cytokines were added to the culture. The TNF-alpha-induced Fas expression is mediated by p55 TNF-alpha receptor. CD34+ cells cultured in medium alone or with stem cell factor (SCF) showed some slight expression of Fas. When anti-Fas antibody (IgM) was added to CD34+ cells after the induction of Fas expression, CD34+ cells underwent apoptosis, as shown by a decrease in the number of viable cells, morphologic changes, the induction of DNA fragmentation, and a decrease in the number of colony-forming cells (CFC) including colony-forming unit granulocytes/macrophages (CFU-GM) and burst-forming unit erythroids (BFU-E). These observations indicate that IFN-gamma and/or TNF-alpha, well known as negative hematopoietic regulators, induce functional Fas on hematopoietic progenitor cells. The suppression of hematopoiesis by negative hematopoietic regulators may be mediated in part by Fas induction.

Late appearance of the Philadelphia chromosome with monosomy 7 in a patient with de novo AML with trilineage myelodysplasia

We report here a patient with de novo acute myelocytic leukemia with trilineage myelodysplasia (AML/TMDS) in whom cytogenetic analysis was normal at diagnosis and in whom Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1) with monosomy 7 emerged at the terminal stage of the disease. Reverse transcription polymerse chain reaction (RT-PCTR) on the Ph1 positive specimen detected the mRNA encoding p190bcr/abl but did not detect mRNA encoding p210bcr/abl. However, mRNA encoding p190bcr/abl was not detected at diagnosis and or at relapse. These observations support the hypothesis that late-appearing Ph1 and monosomy 7 might be the result of clonal evolution during the course of leukemia, and p190bcr/abl might play a role in the terminal transformation or progression of leukemia.

[Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia associated with low dose methotrexate treatment for malignant rheumatoid arthritis]

Low dose pulse methotrexate (MTX) has become a widely used therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because of its good response rate profile. With the increased use of MTX, reports of opportunistic infections associated with MTX therapy have appeared. Fourteen cases of pneumocystis carinii (PC) pneumonia in patients receiving low dose MTX have been previously reported. Yet, no case of PC pneumonia associated with low dose MTX has so far been reported in Japan. We report the first case in Japan of PC pneumonia occurring in a patient with rheumatoid vasculitis who was receiving low dose MTX. A 70-year old woman with 13 year history of RA presented with 3-day history of rapidly aggravating dyspnea, dry cough and fever. She had been receiving MTX 7.5 mg/week for 2.5 months because of her vasculitis symptoms. She had also been receiving prednisolone 7.5 mg/day which had been successfully tapered from an initial dose of 15 mg/day. At the time of her presentation with respiratory symptoms, all of her vasculitis symptoms had been alleviated. A chest radiograph revealed diffuse interstitial shadowing bilaterally and bilateral hilar and right lower lung field infiltrates. Her arterial blood gas showed severe hypoxemia (PaO2 27.7 torr). Polymerase chain reaction assay of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed PC. Although the patient required ventilatory support for 9 days, she was successfully treated with trimethoprime-sulphamethoxazole and methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Eight months later, the patient was well with no evidence of vasculitis or respiratory symptoms.

Primary cutaneous meningioma on the scalp: report of two siblings

Primary cutaneous meningioma (PCM) is a rare tumor whose pathogenesis is quite obscure. We reported PCMs occurring on almost the same occipital region of two siblings studied by histology, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. Both lesions were attached to duras, but extracranial. One lesion was histologically diagnosed as meningothelial meningioma; its tumor cells showed electron microscopically interdigitating cytoplasmic processes with junctional complexes. The other was interpreted as fibroblastic meningioma; its tumor cells were arranged linearly in a stepping-stone arrangement and had small dense bodies in the cytoplasm. The tumor cells stained positively with anti-vimentin antibody. Both lesions had adenomatous hyperplasia of the eccrine glands. Although the histologic and electron microscopic features of these two lesions slightly differed from each other, their pathogenesis was essentially considered to be acoelic or rudimentary meningocele.

Comparison of extravascular lung water volume with radiographic findings in dogs with experimentally increased permeability pulmonary edema

The relationship between extravascular lung water volume (ELWV) and chest radiographical findings was studied in general-anesthetized beagles. The dogs were experimentally injected with oleic acid to increase pulmonary vascular permeability. When the ELWV value in the dogs increased more than approximately 37% from the control value, their chest radiographs began to show signs of pulmonary edema. At this time, the chest X-ray density increased to 10% above the control level. PaO2 decreased, and PaCO2 increased after the administration of oleic acid. This clearly showed that the pulmonary gas exchange function was reduced following increasing ELWV. This comparison showed that probably the thermal-sodium double indicator dilution measurement of ELWV can detect slight hyperpermeability pulmonary edema that does not show on chest radiographs. The chest radiograph was therefore not suitable for the detection of slight pulmonary edema, because it did not show any changes in the early stages in hyperpermeability pulmonary edema.

Molecular mechanisms of gustatory transduction in frog taste cells

In this review, we focussed on gustatory transduction mechanisms in frog taste cells on the basis of our research data. The frog taste cells were stimulated with four basic taste stimuli and pure water, and the receptor potentials and currents were recorded with microelectrode and patch pipette techniques. The taste cell membrane is divided into the apical receptive and basolateral membranes. It is concluded that receptor potentials in frog taste cells evoked by salt, acid, bitter, sugar and water stimuli are generated by currents through various types of ionic channels and pumps in the apical receptive and basolateral membranes.

Inhibitory activity in saliva of cell-to-cell transmission of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 in vitro: evaluation of saliva as an alternative source of transmission

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is known to be transmitted vertically through breastfeeding and horizontally by blood transfusion and sexual contact. Our intervention study has suggested the presence of additional alternative maternal transmission pathways. To explore the possibility of transmission through saliva, we used PCR to quantify the HTLV-1 provirus in saliva samples from 18 carrier mothers and 10 patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. The provirus was detected in 60 and 90%, respectively, of the samples, with estimated copy numbers in the range of 10 to 10(4)/ml. However, the saliva, regardless of the presence or absence of antibodies to the virus, showed a strong tendency to inhibit the cell-to-cell transmission of HTLV-1 in vitro, as examined by a syncytium inhibition assay. The natural inhibitory activity in saliva of seronegative volunteers was heat sensitive, and most of the activity was recovered by ultrafiltration in the fraction of macromolecules with a molecular weight of more than 100,000. In addition to this natural activity, saliva of HTLV-1-infected individuals contained immunoglobulin G molecules capable of neutralizing syncytium formation. These results strongly suggested that HTLV-1-infected cells in the carriers' saliva, which contains neutralizing antibodies in addition to the natural activity inhibiting cell-to-cell viral infection, barely transmit the virus. Transmission of HTLV-1 through the saliva would thus seem to be rare, if it occurs at all.

Bioactive diterpenoids from Octocorallia, 2. Deoxyxeniolide B, a novel ichthyotoxic diterpenoid from the soft coral Xenia elongata

An ichthyotoxic diterpenoid, deoxyxeniolide B [1], was isolated from the soft coral Xenia elongata. It has also been shown that deoxyxeniolide B [1] is gradually oxidized in solution to give the oxidation products 2 and 3. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis.

Dependency of antibody titer on provirus load in human T lymphotropic virus type I carriers: an interpretation for the minor population of seronegative carriers

To evaluate the prevalence of seronegative carriers of human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I), buffy coat samples from 1015 Okinawan high school students were tested by immunoassays and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among 17 HTLV-I carriers, 1 person who was seronegative and 1 who was PCR-negative were identified. gag and tax/rex PCR titers correlated with each other (r = .92; P < .001). Of the 17 carriers, 14 (82%) had high virus loads (geometric averages, 522 gag and 703 tax/rex copies/micrograms of DNA; 95% confidence intervals, 38-7260 and 75-6594, respectively). Carriers with low virus loads had < or = 2.2 gag copies. In the high-virus-load group, the gag PCR titers correlated with the antibody titers (r = 0.88; P < .001). The regression line intersected the minimum antibody detection level at 35 gag copies/micrograms of DNA. These results suggest that a small percentage of carriers may be seronegative.

Membranous outgrowth suggesting lens epithelial cell proliferation in pseudophakic eyes

PURPOSE

We sought to determine the incidence and structure of membranous outgrowth, which extends from the anterior capsular opening onto the intraocular lens surface in pseudophakic eyes.

METHODS

Thirty-four eyes of 31 patients with age-related cataract were prospectively studied. No patient had any abnormality other than cataract. Each patient underwent continuous circular capsulorhexis, phacoemulsification, and implantation within the capsule of a three-piece posterior chamber lens. A slit lamp and specular microscope were used to observe and photograph the intraocular lens surface and anterior capsular opening every day for the first postoperative week, and at days 14, 21, and 28. We counted the number of eyes with the membranous outgrowth and graded the outgrowth according to its shape and length at each postoperative period.

RESULTS

In total, 27 of 34 (79%) eyes had the membranous outgrowth from the anterior capsular opening onto the intraocular lens surface. The membrane was first observed on day 3. Three of 34 eyes had the dendritic or fan-shaped structure, which extended less than 0.5 mm from the capsular edge. The membranes were most frequently found on day 7. Twenty-five of 34 eyes had the outgrowth in various grades. After four weeks, no membranes were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The time course and structure of the membranous outgrowth we observed were comparable to those of the outgrowth of lens epithelial cells under tissue culture conditions. The membranous outgrowth may be the result of a transient but active proliferation of human lens epithelial cells onto the intraocular lens surface.

Association between maternal antibodies to the external envelope glycoprotein and vertical transmission of human T-lymphotropic virus type I. Maternal anti-env antibodies correlate with protection in non-breast-fed children

Vertical transmission of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) depends primarily on breast-feeding; substitution of bottle-feeding has reduced the transmission rate from 20% in breast-fed children to 3% among bottle-fed. To determine the correlates of transmission for long breast-feeding (> or = 6 mo), short breast-feeding (< 6 mo), and bottle-feeding mothers, the antibody titers of transmitter (T) mothers and non-transmitter (nT) mothers were analyzed by using synthetic and recombinant epitopes representing the immunodominant epitopes of gag (Gag1a, r24), env (Env1/5, MTA1, RE3), and tax (Tax8/22-24) proteins. Seroreactivity to gag and tax epitopes was not significantly different except for anti-r24 antibody titer, which was significantly higher among T-mothers (geometric mean 134) when compared with nT-mothers (62) in the long-feeding group (P < 0.001). Profiles of antibody titers against env epitopes were different. Within the long-feeding group, Env1/5, MTA1, and RE3 titers were significantly higher among T-mothers (258, 1,476, and 738, respectively) when compared with nT-mothers (106, 279, and 320, respectively) (P < 0.01 for all three epitopes). In contrast, within the bottle-feeding group, antibody titers to Env1/5 (269) and RE3 (418) among nT-mothers were significantly higher than those among T-mothers (80 and 113, respectively) (P < 0.01). These data confirm that high-titered anti-HTLV-I antibodies in the long-feeding group correlate with milk-borne transmission of HTLV-I and, more importantly, imply that maternal anti-env antibodies may reduce the risk of non-milkborne infection.

[A case of sarcoidosis with right pneumothorax and multiple cavities in both lung fields]

A 26-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of cavitary lesions on his chest X-ray film. Chest CT and conventional tomograms showed multiple cavities in both lung fields, as well as hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. He had uveitis and the laboratory data showed a high level of angiotensin converting enzyme in the serum. Histological findings of the specimen obtained by transbronchial lung biopsy showed non-caseating epithelioid cell granuloma, consistent with sarcoidosis. Corticosteroid therapy (prednisolone 40 mg/day) resulted in reduction of the cavitary lesions and the lymphadenopathy. Negative bacteriological studies and the clinical course strongly suggested primary cavitation, a relatively rare form of pulmonary parenchymal involvement in sarcoidosis.

Evaluation of metastatic ability at specific times during primary tumor growth: a novel spontaneous metastasis assay

A transformed NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell line, Cl-e, normally does not produce spontaneous metastasis from subcutaneous or footpad tumors in nude mice. However, pulmonary tumor nodules are formed when more than 1 x 10(3) cells are injected intravenously into nude mice. Co-injection of 1 x 10(6) heavily irradiated and inactivated cells increases the clonogenic ability of the viable cells in that tumor colonies then occur with as few as 1 x 10(2) viable cells. Utilizing the action of these inactivated cells to enhance the lung colonizing ability of a relatively small number of viable tumor cells, we have developed a novel experimental model of spontaneous metastasis. In this model, a footpad tumor of the nude mouse metastasizes to the lungs following intravenous injection of 1 x 10(6) inactivated cells at a specific time of tumor growth and following tumor foot amputation, whereas no spontaneous metastasis develops without injection of inactivated cells. This model enables us to detect metastatic ability which would otherwise be too low to detect using other assays. In addition, it allows us to evaluate metastatic ability at a specific time point during primary tumor growth, since no metastases can develop during the periods before inactivated cell injection and after tumor amputation. Using this model, we have determined that the metastatic ability of Cl-e tumors in the footpad is constant throughout the exponential and stationary growth phases, even though cells isolated from exponentially growing tumors possess a 3.3-fold greater lung colonizing ability following intravenous injection than those from stationary tumors. This new experimental model may be applicable to other tumor cell lines and to other analyses where metastatic ability during a defined interval of tumor growth is of importance.

Transcriptional regulation of human thyroid hormone receptor beta 1 gene expression: effect of human retinoid X receptor and identification of a transcriptional silencer region

Effects of human retinoid X receptor alpha (hRXR alpha) and its ligand, 9-cis-retinoic acid, on T3-mediated auto-regulation of hTR beta 1 gene expression were examined using a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter system, and a deletional analysis of the promoter. hRXR alpha enhanced T3-dependent CAT induction mediated through the proximal (p) TRE in a ligand (9-cis-retinoic acid) independent manner. In a gel mobility shift assay, hRXR alpha enhanced the binding of hTR beta 1 to the pTRE by the formation of hRXR alpha-hTR beta 1 heterodimers. On the other hand, hRXR alpha and 9-cis-retinoic acid did not show any effects on T3-dependent CAT induction mediated through the distal (d) TRE or the binding of hTR beta 1 to the dTRE. A four hundred-base pair (bp) fragment adjacent upstream of the dTRE showed a T3 independent suppressor effect on the function of the pTRE and dTRE. Thus, this region may be an important regulator of the T3 dependent up-regulation of the TR beta 1 gene expression which is observed only under specific conditions.

T cell autoreactivity against a 28 kD biliary protein (B1-p28) in primary biliary cirrhosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Cellular immune responses against biliary epithelial cells are important in understanding the pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis. We previously reported a biliary antigen B1 which stimulated peripheral T lymphocytes of primary biliary cirrhosis as a possible, non-mitochondrial target of biliary epithelial cells. Further characterization of B1 was performed.

METHODS

To confirm localization of B1 in biliary epithelial cells, a mouse monoclonal antibody was raised against B1. As B1 could be separated into two main components by SDS-PAGE under reducing condition, these components were individually cut out from Western blots and converted into antigen-bearing particles for a proliferation assay to detect the antigenic component responsible for stimulating lymphocytes. The relation of this proliferation to HLA DR antigens was also analyzed.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemically, B1 was shown to be specifically expressed on biliary epithelial cells of human liver tissue. Of two components from B1 under reducing condition, prominent proliferation against B1-p28, a 28 kD component of B1 was detected in primary biliary cirrhosis. The reactivities were significantly higher than chronic liver diseases (p < 0.001) or normal controls (p < 0.001). Furthermore, high responders to B1-p28 were observed frequently in primary biliary cirrhosis patients with HLA DR8 (p < 0.02), which was susceptible to the development of primary biliary cirrhosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest B1-p28 expressed on biliary epithelial cells is a candidate for the target antigen of primary biliary cirrhosis in addition to mitochondrial autoantigens. Further characterization of B1-p28 may provide new insight into the autoimmune mechanisms of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Transmigration of fluid rapidly infused into dogs with renal blood vessels ligation and increased pulmonary capillary permeability

To study the transmigration of fluid rapidly infused intravenously, lactated-Ringer's solution was infused at the rate of 90 ml/kg/hr for 30 min into generally anesthetized dogs. Four groups were made; group C with no fluid infusion as the control, group F with rapid fluid infusion only, group LF with renal blood vessels ligation and rapid fluid infusion, and group OF with increased pulmonary capillary permeability experimentally induced by oleic acid and rapid fluid infusion. The extravascular lung water volume (ELWV) was measured by the thermal-sodium double indicator dilution method, and the amounts of ascites and urine, and other clinical parameters were monitored before and after fluid infusion. The results show that in the dogs without increased pulmonary capillary permeability excessive fluid is mainly excreted as urine (group F) or transudates into the abdominal cavity (group LF). But in the dogs with increased pulmonary capillary permeability (group OF) excessive fluid easily and rapidly transudated into the pulmonary interstitium, resulting in pulmonary edema.