Dynamic magnetic resonance sialography as a new diagnostic technique for patients with Sjogren's syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical utility of dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) sialographic images as a diagnostic tool for patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

METHODS

The morphological findings and various kinds of functional parameters in volunteers on dynamic MR sialographic images were compared with those in five patients with definite Sjögren's syndrome.

RESULTS

On the MR sialographs of all five patients with Sjögren's syndrome, the so-called 'apple-tree appearance' was seen. The difference in two functional parameters using the dynamic MR sialographic data was elucidated between the two groups. The maximum area of the detectable ducts in the group of patients was significantly smaller (P < 0.001) than that in the group of volunteers. The ratio of change in the detectable ducts in the group of patients was significantly lower (P = 0.011) than that in the group of volunteers.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that dynamic MR sialographic data in addition to MR sialographic images might be useful for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.

A simple method for bone positioning of mandibular segments

A simple bone-positioning technique is reported, using a combination of bone plates and a flexible tube filled with acrylic polymer. The flexible tube is solidified by injection of acrylic monomer. This technique is applicable for bone positioning after mandibular resection as well as positioning of the proximal segment after sagittal split ramus osteotomy. This technique has the advantages of greater simplicity and flexibility compared to previously reported methods of bone positioning.

Urinary trypsin inhibitor suppresses surgical stress-facilitated lung metastasis of murine colon 26-L5 carcinoma cells

Recently, we have reported that surgical stress promoted the metastasis of murine colon carcinoma cells to the lung by inducing the expression of proteases such as matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) in lung tissue. Urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) is a serine protease inhibitor frequently used to treat pancreatitis and to improve the microcirculatory environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-metastatic properties of UTI in an animal model of surgical stress-induced cancer metastasis. The intraperitoneal administration of UTI after the intravenous injection of colon 26-L5 carcinoma (colon 26-L5) cells into mice subjected to surgical stress suppressed the enhancement of lung metastasis (p<0.05). Furthermore, we investigated the effect of UTI on tumor growth, adhesion to fibronectin, migration, invasion and enzymatic degradation in colon 26-L5. UTI reduced the invasive ability and the degradation by MMP-9 of gelatin substrate in colon 26-L5 cells. UTI may improve therapeutic efficacy in cancer patients after major surgery.

Utility of three dimension fast asymmetric spin-echo (3D-FASE) sequences in MR sialographic sequences: model and volunteer studies

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the utility of 3D-FASE for the visualization of salivary gland ducts for use in MR sialographic sequences.

METHODS

We compared MR sialographic images and virtual endoscopic views from 3D-FASE with those from three kinds of sequences described by previous reports in a 3D parotid gland duct model and volunteer. The four sequences were two-dimension fast spin-echo (2D-FSE), three-dimension fast spin-echo (3D-FSE), two-dimension fast asymmetric spin-echo (2D-FASE), and three-dimension fast asymmetric spin-echo (3D-FASE).

RESULTS

In the 3D parotid gland duct model, image visibility on visual score was clearest with 3D-FSE, followed by 3D-FASE (P = 0.028). In the volunteers, the visualization of images improved in the following order: 3D-FASE > 3D-FSE > 2D-FSE > 2D-FASE.

CONCLUSIONS

The technique of 3D-FASE sequencing is more suitable and useful for MR sialography with an appropriate acquisition time.

Instability of background fat intensity suppression using fat-saturated (FS) MR imaging techniques according to region and reconstruction procedure in patients with oral cancer

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the background fat intensity suppression instability of each area in the head and neck region, and in the post-reconstruction with metal plate and myocutaneous flap, of patients with oral cancer using fat-saturated (FS) images. STIR and FS T2-weighted images at pre- and post-surgery in 59 patients with oral cancer were scored for uniformity of fat suppression and tissue conspicuity in each region of the head and neck. The scores of FS on uniformity of fat suppression pre-operatively were worse than those of STIR in the mandibular level, but not lesion and tissue conspicuity. However, the deterioration both of scores between pre- and post-surgery using FS was worse than that using STIR using metal plate and/or myocutaneous flap. At diagnosis, we should recognize on MR images using FS that instability of the status of fat suppression might be brought about by respective area and reconstruction with metal plate and myocutaneous flap of patients with oral cancer.

Increased surgical stress promotes tumor metastasis

BACKGROUND

Although it is well-known that excessive surgical stress augments the growth of residual cancer and metastasis, whether surgical stress is increased according to the degree of surgical manipulation and can consequently lead to the enhancement of cancer metastasis has not been thoroughly examined. Moreover, the molecules associated with response for stress-enhanced metastasis have not been well-analyzed. The aim of this study was to examine whether cancer metastasis is enhanced with an increase of surgical stress with an experimental lung metastasis model and to analyze the related molecules responsible for stress-enhanced metastasis.

METHODS

Colon 26-L5 carcinoma cells (1.5 x 10(4)/mouse) were injected intravenously into 6-week-old female BALB/c mice (Japan SLC, Hamamatsu, Japan). Two hours later, the mice were divided into 5 groups: untreated controls (the C group); mice given anesthesia only (the A group); mice given anesthesia and laparotomy (the AL group); mice given anesthesia, laparotomy, and appendectomy (the ALAp group); and mice given anesthesia, laparotomy, appendectomy, and left hepatic lobectomy (the ALApH group). The anesthesia procedures were the same in all groups (intraperitoneal administration of 0.8 mg/mouse sodium pentobarbital). In the AL, ALAp, and ALApH groups, a 3-cm long laparotomy was performed, and the time of the whole operation was just 5 minutes. All mice were killed 14 days after the procedures, and the number of lung metastases on the lung surface was counted manually. At the same time, BALB/c mice without tumor burden were given the same 5 kinds of surgical stress, and the messenger RNA expression of various metastasis-related molecules in the lung was measured with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction at 6, 24, and 48 hours after surgical stress. We also examined the effect of ONO-4817 (an inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases ([MPs]) on lung metastasis in the mice with the 5 kinds of surgical stress.

RESULTS

The numbers of lung metastases on the lung surface and the messenger RNA expression of MMP-9, membrane type IBMMP, and urokinase-type plasminogen activator at 24 hours after surgery were enhanced in proportion to the degree of surgical stress. Moreover, ONO-4817 significantly inhibited lung metastasis.

CONCLUSION

These results strongly suggest that increased surgical stress augments cancer metastasis via surgical stress-induced expression of proteinases in the target organ of metastasis.

Effects of latency period in a rabbit mandibular distraction osteogenesis

Recently, distraction osteogenesis has been widely used in the craniomaxillofacial skeleton. There are varying views, however, about the need for a latency period for mandibular distraction, which has been reported from 0 to 14 days. We used a rabbit model to determine the ideal latency period for mandibular distraction osteogenesis. We performed a subperiosteal corticotomy of the bilateral mandible and then applied an external device. We used 0-, 2-, 5-, and 10-day latency periods. Distraction was done at a rate of 0.5 mm per day (0.25 mm every 12 h) to elongate by 5 mm after each latency period. Hematoxylin-eosin stain was used for histologic observation, and bone labelling was observed with a fluorescence microscope. In the 0-day latency, the lengthened region was filled with fibrous tissue. Cartilage formed like isles along the lengthened edge. In the 10-day latency, the lengthened region was almost completely filled with woven bone. In the 2- and 5-day latency, there were mineralization zones at the periphery of this fibrous interzone. The primary osteon remodelling zones were located at both ends of the zones of mineralization zones. In the 5-day latency, new bone formation was observed around the periosteum.

Virtual endoscopic view of salivary gland ducts using MR sialography data from three dimension fast asymmetric spin-echo (3D-FASE) sequences: a preliminary study

OBJECTIVES

We performed magnetic resonance (MR) sialography of parotid gland and/or submandibular gland ducts using three-dimensional fast asymmetric spin-echo (3D-FASE) sequencing. The objective was to make three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction images and virtual endoscopic views of the parotid gland ducts using MR sialography data sets of 3D-FASE sequences.

METHODS

We reviewed the MR sialography data sets with 3D-FASE sequencing of 10 control volunteers and six patients. Three-dimensional reconstruction images and virtual endoscopic views of the parotid gland and/or submandibular gland ducts were generated with maximum intensity projection (MIP), shaded surface display (SSD), and volume rendering techniques (VRT).

RESULTS

The main parotid gland and/or submandibular gland ducts, large branches within the glands, and small branches were fairly well defined in a very short acquisition time on MR sialographic images with 3D-FASE sequencing in nine of the 10 healthy volunteers. The 3D-reconstruction images of the parotid gland ducts and/or submandibular gland ducts showed the entire length of the branch paths and complete images from all angles, and the virtual endoscopic views showed the endoluminal tracts of the main ducts and the large branches in nine. In the patient with Sjogren's syndrome, chronic sialoadenitis, and salivary calculi in the Wharton ducts, the MR sialographic images showed diffuse areas of punctate high signal intensity, dilatation of Stensen's duct, or stones of Wharton's duct, respectively. Furthermore, the 3D-reconstruction images of the salivary gland ducts showed the stenoses and stones in the branch paths and complete images from all angles, and the virtual endoscopic views showed the stenoses and stones in the endoluminal tracts of the main and large branches.

CONCLUSIONS

Our initial experience showed that virtual MR endoscopy could be performed to observe the endoluminal tracts of parotid and submandibular glands. The clinical use of the virtual MR endoscopy for salivary gland ducts has not been established yet. Future applications of the 3D-reconstruction images and virtual endoscopic views using MR sialography data sets of 3D-FASE sequences are very attractive and further expansion of this field is expected.

[A patient with advanced gastric cancer in the gastric tube whose QOL was improved by TS-1]

We present the case of a 72-year-old man with gastric tube cancer accompanied by multiple liver metastases, after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, whose quality of life (QOL) was improved with a small dosage of TS-1. The patient's high serum AFP level suggested alpha-fetoprotein-producing gastric cancer. He was treated with half the standard dose of TS-1, because the patient's poor general condition necessitated chemotherapy with low toxicity and high efficacy. The daily dose was 40 mg for the first three courses and 50 mg for the last two. Each treatment course consisted of a four-week administration followed by two drug-free weeks. The patient received five courses of chemotherapy at our outpatient clinic before his death from re-progression of liver metastasis. No serious side effect except temporary stomatitis was observed. A decrease in tumor markers, alpha-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen, was obtained after 4 weeks. After 2 cycles, computed tomography and endoscopy examinations showed regression of the primary tumor and liver metastases, and tumor markers were decreased remarkably. The patient's QOL improved gradually after the treatment. His performance status before the chemotherapy was 3, and improved to 1 after two cycles. The small dosage of TS-1 was effective without any adverse effects, and improved the patient's QOL, for 6 months.

Increasing the thermostability of Flavobacterium meningosepticum glycerol kinase by changing Ser329 to Asp in the subunit interface region

The thermostability enhancement of Flavobacterium meningosepticum glycerol kinase (FGK) by random mutagenesis in the subunit interface region was investigated. A single Escherichia coli transformant, which produced a more thermostable glycerol kinase than the parent enzyme, was obtained. The nucleotide sequence of the gene of the mutant enzyme (FGK2615) was determined, and the four amino acid replacements were identified as Glu327 to Asp, Ser329 to Asp, Thr330 to Ala and Ser334 to Lys. Although the properties of FGK2615 were fundamentally similar to those of the parent enzyme, the thermostability and Km for ATP had changed. The thermostability of FGK2615 was apparently increased; the temperature at which the enzyme activity is inactivated by 50% for a 30-min incubation of FGK2615 was determined to be 72.1 degrees C which was 3.1 degrees C higher than that of the parent FGK. Four additional mutants each having a single amino acid replacement (Glu327 to Asp, Ser329 to Asp, Thr330 to Ala and Ser334 to Lys) were prepared and their thermostability and Km for substrates were evaluated. The effect of the substitution of Ser329 to Asp is discussed.

Structural basis for the ADP-specificity of a novel glucokinase from a hyperthermophilic archaeon

BACKGROUND

ATP is the most common phosphoryl group donor for kinases. However, certain hyperthermophilic archaea such as Thermococcus litoralis and Pyrococcus furiosus utilize unusual ADP-dependent glucokinases and phosphofructokinases in their glycolytic pathways. These ADP-dependent kinases are homologous to each other but show no sequence similarity to any of the hitherto known ATP-dependent enzymes.

RESULTS

We solved the crystal structure at 2.3 A resolution of an ADP-dependent glucokinase from T. litoralis (tlGK) complexed with ADP. The overall structure can be divided into large and small alpha/beta domains, and the ADP molecule is buried in a shallow pocket in the large domain. Unexpectedly, the structure was similar to those of two ATP-dependent kinases, ribokinase and adenosine kinase. Comparison based on three-dimensional structure revealed that several motifs important both in structure and function are conserved, and the recognition of the alpha- and beta-phosphate of the ADP in the tlGK was almost identical with the recognition of the beta- and gamma-phosphate of ATP in these ATP-dependent kinases.

CONCLUSIONS

Noticeable points of our study are the first structure of ADP-dependent kinase, the structural similarity to members of the ATP-dependent ribokinase family, its rare nucleotide specificity caused by a shift in nucleotide binding position by one phosphate unit, and identification of the residues that discriminate ADP- and ATP-dependence. The strict conservation of the binding site for the terminal and adjacent phosphate moieties suggests a common ancestral origin of both the ATP- and ADP-dependent kinases.

Biochemical characterization, cloning, and sequencing of ADP-dependent (AMP-forming) glucokinase from two hyperthermophilic archaea, Pyrococcus furiosus and Thermococcus litoralis

The ADP-dependent (AMP-forming) glucokinases from the hyperthermophilic archaea Pyrococcus furiosus and Thermococcus litoralis catalyze the phosphorylation of glucose using ADP as the essential phosphoryl group donor. Both enzymes were purified to homogeneity and characterized with regard to each other. The enzymes had similar enzymological properties as to substrate specificity, coenzyme specificity, optimum pH, and thermostability. However, a difference was observed in the subunit composition; while the T. litoralis enzyme is a monomer with a molecular mass of 52 kDa, the P. furiosus enzyme has a molecular mass of about 100 kDa and consists of two subunits with identical molecular masses of 47 kDa. The genes encoding these enzymes were cloned and sequenced. The gene for the P. furiosus enzyme contains an open reading frame for 455 amino acids with a molecular weight of 51,265, and that for the T. litoralis enzyme contains an open reading frame for 467 amino acids with a molecular weight of 53,621. About 59% similarity in amino acid sequence was observed between these two enzymes, whereas they did not show similarity with any ATP-dependent kinases that have been reported so far. In addition, two phosphate binding domains, and adenosine and glucose binding motifs commonly conserved in the eukaryotic hexokinase family were not observed.

A novel glycerol kinase from Flavobacterium meningosepticum: characterization, gene cloning and primary structure

A thermostable glycerol kinase (FGK) was purified 34-fold to homogeneity from Flavobacterium meningosepticum. The molecular masses of the enzyme were 200 kDa by gel filtration and 50 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The Km for glycerol and ATP were 0.088 and 0.030 mM, respectively. The enzyme was stable at 65 degrees C for 10 min and at 37 degrees C for two weeks. The enzyme gene was cloned into Escherichia coli and its complete DNA was sequenced. The FGK gene consists of an open reading frame of 1494-bp encoding a protein of 498 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the gene had 40-60% similarity to those of glycerol kinases from other origins and the amino acid sequence of the putative active site residue reported for E. coli GK is identical to the corresponding sequence of FGK except for one amino acid residue.

Cloning of a thermostable ascorbate oxidase gene from Acremonium sp. HI-25 and modification of the azide sensitivity of the enzyme by site-directed mutagenesis

A gene encoding a thermostable ascorbate oxidase (ASOM) was cloned from Acremonium sp. HI-25 and sequenced. The gene comprised 1709 bp and was interrupted by a single intron of 57 bp. ASOM consisted of 551 amino acids including a signal peptide with a molecular mass of 61200, and contained four histidine-rich regions with high sequence homology to the corresponding regions of other multicopper oxidases. The ASOM gene was expressed in Aspergillus nidulans under the Aspergillus oryzae Taka-amylase A gene promoter. The recombinant enzyme (An-ASOM) exhibited almost the same enzymatic properties as ASOM. The ASOM gene was mutated by site-directed mutagenesis with reference to the amino acid sequences of plant enzymes to generate enzymes with altered azide sensitivity. Site-directed mutagenesis at the trinuclear active copper site resulted in an increase in azide resistance; the Ala465Leu and Phe463Trp/Ala465Leu mutants exhibited approximately 10 and 20% increases in azide resistance, respectively.

Molecular cloning and expression of a gene encoding a novel sorbitol oxidase from Streptomyces sp. H-7775

A gene encoding a novel intracellular sorbitol oxidase of a soil bacterium, Streptomyces sp. H-7775, was cloned and sequenced. The gene consists of an open reading frame of 1,260-bp encoding a protein of 420 amino acids with a molecular weight of 45,148. Deduced amino acid sequence of the gene has 25.3% identity and 68.1% similarity to that of rat L-gulonolactone oxidase at the overall amino acids. Nucleotide-binding motifs were not found in the deduced amino acid sequence of SOX protein. We succeeded in expressing recombinant sorbitol oxidase with covalently bound FAD in E. coli at about a 4,000-fold higher total enzyme activity than that of the Streptomyces sp. H-7775. The enzymatic properties of the recombinant SOX were similar to those of the enzyme from Streptomyces sp. H-7775. This is the first report of the cloning and expression of a newly categorized enzyme, sorbitol oxidase, from Streptomyces sp.

Effect of Radiotherapy on the Levels of Secretory Immunoglobulin A Against Indigenous and Virulent Streptococci

If is well known that the frequency of upper respiratory infection is clinically increased after radiotherapy of the head and neck region. This study found higher antibacterial secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) activity against three indigenous streptococci ( Streptococcus mitis, S. salivarius, and S. sanguis I) and S. pneumoniae in patients who had undergone radiation therapy of the head and neck region than in control subjects. This showed no relation to the extent of the radiation field. Compared with before radiotherapy, the S-IgA titer against S. pneumoniae and its ratio to the activities against the indigenous streptococci were significantly higher in patients with fully irradiated major salivary glands. These results indicated that the radiotherapy promoted the antigen-specific S-IgA production of virulent streptococci in most patients with head and neck cancer, even more than 6 months after radiotherapy. The resulting altered balance in the S-IgA system of normal indigenous streptococci may also impair the ability to maintain the stable bacterial interference between normal indigenous and virulent streptococci in the oropharyngeal cavity.

Surgical strategy of cochlear implantation in patients with chronic middle ear disease

We report 10 postlingually deafened adults in whom the electrophysical criteria for cochlear implant were fulfilled, except that they showed the following unfavorable middle ear lesions: otitis media with effusion, chronic perforative otitis media, cholesteatoma and previous radical ear operation. Staged operations for cochlear implant were performed in 8 cases, and 2 patients who had undergone radical ear operation had a single-stage operation. As a first step, one of the following was performed in each patient as surgically indicated: myringoplasty with or without mastoidectomy, mastoidectomy with reconstruction of the posterior wall of the external canal, mastoidectomy with the insertion of a ventilation tube, radical mastoidectomy or surgical cleansing of the radical cavity. From 6 months to 2.5 years after the first operation, the actual cochlear implant was performed in the second or third stage. There was no major complication as a result of electrode insertion into the cochlea and the results of speech perception in these cases were not different from those in patients with normal middle ears. In our experience, it was considered that the staged operations would enable successful cochlear implants in selected patients with pathological middle ear lesions even if they had previously been diagnosed as contraindicated for this procedure. In a case with radical ear cavity a single-stage operation could be performed when there was no cavity problem.

Effect of radiotherapy on the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A against indigenous and virulent streptococci

It is well known that the frequency of upper respiratory infection is clinically increased after radiotherapy of the head and neck region. This study found higher antibacterial secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) activity against three indigenous streptococci (Streptococcus mitis, S. salivarius, and S. sanguis I) and S. pneumoniae in patients who had undergone radiation therapy of the head and neck region than in control subjects. This showed no relation to the extent of the radiation field. Compared with before radiotherapy, the S-IgA titer against S. pneumoniae and its ratio to the activities against the indigenous streptococci were significantly higher in patients with fully irradiated major salivary glands. These results indicated that the radiotherapy promoted the antigen-specific S-IgA production of virulent streptococci in most patients with head and neck cancer, even more than 6 months after radiotherapy. The resulting altered balance in the S-IgA system of normal indigenous streptococci may also impair the ability to maintain the stable bacterial interference between normal indigenous and virulent streptococci in the oropharyngeal cavity.

In vivo induction and regulation of interleukin-8-like chemokine GRO/CINC-1 in rat middle ear

Interleukin-8 possesses chemotactic-activating properties toward neutrophils, and may contribute to the pathogenesis of middle ear inflammation. GRO/CINC-1 is a rat chemokine with structural and functional homology to human interleukin-8, the induction and regulation of which in the middle ear cavity in vivo remains to be established. The production of GRO/CINC-1 in middle ear lavage and gene expression in the middle mucosa was investigated using topical inoculation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the rat in vivo model. GRO/CINC-1 in middle ear lavage showed time- and dose-dependent production under LPS stimulation. The peak of the GRO/CINC-1 production was reached by 4 h after LPS 1 h exposure, whereas the level of production subsequently returned to the level without LPS stimulation at 8 h after LPS stimulation. The topical corticosteroid perfusion in the middle ear after LPS stimulation significantly reduced the production of GRO/CINC-1 in the middle ear cavity compared with that without corticosteroid. At the time of peak production, the expression of GRO/CINC-1 mRNA, evaluated using the polymerase chain reaction, was considerable in the middle ear mucosa. This investigation of the characteristics of interleukin-8-like cytokine in the middle ear cavity using a rat in vivo model has extended the functional concept of chemokines at the initial stage in otitis media.

Relation between vestibular function and speech recognition in postlingually deafened adults with cochlear implantation

Thirty-one postlingually deafened adults with 22-channel cochlear implants were evaluated preoperatively using vestibular function tests, the caloric test and stabilometry. The results of caloric response were classified into two diagnostic groups: normo- or hyporeflexia and areflexia. Stabilometric recordings were made using a computerized static posturographic platform. Between the two categories of caloric response, there was a significant difference in consonant recognition, but the recognition of vowels showed no significant difference. The results of the distance of body sway in stabilometry, but not of the area, correlated to the results of consonant recognition in speech perception tests. The degree of residual vestibular function seems to be one of the indicators influencing postoperative speech recognition by cochlear implant patients.

Influence of age on the production of interleukin-8-like chemokine (GRO/CINC-1) in rat nasal mucosa

The ability of the nasal mucosa to produce various cytokines has been shown to correlate closely with the capacity to regulate an inflammatory condition in the nasal cavity. Immune senescence is characterized by a dysregulation of the immune system. This change is reflected by the altered production of cytokines during aging. We measured the in vivo production and gene expression of IL-8-like cytokines (GRO/CINC-1) in nasal lavages and mucosa from young (2- to 4-week-old and 11- to 15-week-old) and older (81-to 98-week-old) rats by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions. Significant increases of GRO/CINC-1 levels were found in unstimulated nasal lavages of the older rats compared to that of the 2- to 4-week-old animals. GRO/CINC-1 showed time-dependent production with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in nasal lavages. The GRO/CINC-1 production reached a plateau by 4 h with LPS in any group. However, the manner of the initial time course showed no significant differences among these three groups. At the time of peak production of GRO/CINC-1, messenger RNA for the GRO/CINC-1 was found to be induced in the nasal mucosa. These findings may be important for understanding the mechanisms of the altered immune response and inflammation in the nasal cavity associated with aging.

Production and gene expression of IL-8-like cytokine GRO/CINC-1 in rat nasal mucosa

Growth-regulated gene product/cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (GRO/CINC)-1 is a rat chemokine with structural and functional homology to human IL-8. Chemokines are a family of cytokines whose participation in nasal inflammation in vivo remains to be established. Using ELISA and RT-PCR, we investigated the production and gene expression of GRO/CINC-1 in rat nasal lavage and mucosa in vivo. GRO/CINC-1 in nasal lavage was produced by stimulation of LPS, ConA and IL1-beta. GRO/CINC-1 showed time- and dose-dependent production under all stimulants, but was more slowly induced by IL-1 beta. The steady-peak of the GRO/CINC-1 production remained at 3 h with LPS or ConA exposure, whereas it lasted 4 h or more after IL-1 beta exposure. At the time of peak production of GRO/CINC-1, we found that mRNA for the GRO/CINC-1 was induced in the nasal mucosa. The mRNA of the related inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma were also expressed in nasal mucosa with stimulation of these reagents. Thus, this study revealed that exposure to bacterial endotoxin, mitogenic reagent and also IL-1 beta induced the production and gene expression of the neutrophil chemoattractant GRO/CINC-1 in rat nasal mucosa in vivo. This investigation of the characteristics of IL-8 family in nasal mucosa using rat models has extended the functional concept of cytokines in the inflammatory condition of nasal cavity in humans.

Cytokine expression and production by tonsillar lymphocytes

Expression of various cytokines in the tonsillar compartments, and in vitro cytokine production and cytokine mRNA expression by tonsillar lymphocytes (TL), were investigated. In immunohistological analysis, a wide variety of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 was expressed intensively in the lymphoepithelial symbiosis (LES). A certain number of cells producing IL-6, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was distributed not only in the LES but also in the extrafollicular area. A significant amount of IL-6, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the culture supernatants of TL cultured with streptococcal antigen, even without any mitogens. Furthermore, mRNA of IL-6, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction on the TL freshly isolated and with streptococcal stimulated antigen, whereas, production of IL-1 alpha, IL-4, and IL-5, and expression of their mRNA were not found on TL with or without streptococcal stimulation. These data indicate that tonsils are highly active immunological organs containing a wide variety of cytokine-producing cells, and suggest that IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 may play an important role on the immune response to bacteria in the tonsil.

Cloning and sequence analysis of the gene for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from an extreme thermophile, Thermus sp

The ppc gene, which encodes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) of an extreme thermophile, Thermus sp., was cloned and sequenced. The ppc gene had a high G+C content (69.2%). An open reading frame for a 857-amino-acid polypeptide was found in the gene. The calculated molecular mass was 95,632. The amino acid sequence of Thermus PEPC was 31-37% identical and 52-57% similar to those of 17 PEPCs from mesophilic organisms. No Cys residue was found in the polypeptide, demonstrating that this residue is not essential for the catalytic activity of PEPC. The cloned gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and thermostable PEPC was obtained.