Comparative activities of glutathione-S-transferase and dialdehyde reductase toward aflatoxin B1 in livers of experimental and farm animals

In order to gain a better understanding of the relative activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and aldehyde reductase toward aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in relation to the variation of species susceptibilities, we studied the in vitro cytosolic GST and reductase activities in liver tissues from male Fischer rats, ICR mice and golden hamsters, adult male rainbow trouts and female piglets. The GST activity was determined by incubating the liver cytosol with glutathione (GSH) and AFB1 in the presence of the hamster liver microsomes to metabolize AFB1 to AFB1-8, 9-epoxide. The reaction product, AFB1 and GSH conjugate (AFB1-GSH), was quantified with HPLC. The reductase activity was determined by incubating liver cytosol with AFB1-dialdehyde, followed by the quantification of the metabolic product, AFB1-dialcohol, with HPLC. All the animal species possessed the GST activities, and AFB1-GSH formed increasingly with the increase of the AFB1 concentration according to the model of first-order enzyme reaction kinetics. The V(max) and K(m) values of the GST activities in rodent species were higher and lower, respectively, than those in the trout and pig, being consistent with the relative susceptibilities to AFB1 of these animal species. However, no relationship was noted between the reductase activity and species susceptibility. Thus, the result of this study shows that GST toward AFB1, but not aldehyde reductase, is a determinant of the variation of species susceptibilities.

A novel polymorphism of the SSA1 gene is associated with anti-SS-A/Ro52 autoantibody in Japanese patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of polymorphisms of the SSA1 gene (OMIM 109092) with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and anti-SS-A/Ro52 antibody production.

METHODS

Polymorphisms of SSA1 gene in 111 Japanese SS patients and in 97 healthy controls were analyzed with polymerase chain reaction and automated DNA sequencing.

RESULTS

A new single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was identified in intron 1 at position 7216. The allele frequency and genotype of 7216A/G were not significantly different between SS patients and control subjects. However, the allele frequency and genotype of 7216A/G were associated with the presence of anti-SS-A/Ro52 antibody among primary SS patients. The association was not found in patients with SLE, suggesting the limited role for the SNP in anti-SS-A/Ro52 antibody production. The 9571C/T polymorphism, which has been shown to associate with anti-SS-A/Ro52 antibody in Caucasian patients, was not associated with the presence of anti-SS-A/Ro52 antibody in Japanese patients.

CONCLUSIONS

7216A/G polymorphism of SSA1 gene may be one of the genetic factors that determine the presence of anti-SS-A/Ro52 antibody in patients with primary SS.

Differences in heat resistance among pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica depended on growth temperature and serotype

To gain a better understanding about the effect of growth temperature on heat resistance of Yersinia enterocolitica, we determined decimal reduction times at 60 degrees C (D60-values) for O:3; O:5,27; O:8; and O:9 strains harboring virulence plasmid coding for Yersinia outer membrane protein and experimentally virulence plasmid-deleted strains after they were grown to stationary phase at 7, 25, or 37 degrees C. Bacteria were inoculated into Trypticase soy broth and were incubated at several temperatures. D60-values of O:3; O:5,27; and O:8 strains were larger when they were grown at 37 degrees C than at 7 or 25 degrees C, despite the presence or absence of virulence plasmids. However, similar D60-values were observed in O:9 strains, despite growth at 7, 25, or 37 degrees C. The results indicate two types of Y. enterocolitica strains, growth temperature-dependent and -independent, and a Yersinia outer membrane protein that is not directly involved in growth temperature-dependent heat resistance.

Modification of cytokine milieu by A2A adenosine receptor signaling--possible application for inflammatory diseases

Pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha (TNF) production from in vitro lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human peripheral blood CD14+ cells (PB-CD14) was inhibited by A2A adenosine receptor (AdoR) (A2AR) or beta2 adrenergic receptor (ADR) (beta2R) signaling in a concentration-dependent manner. These inhibitory effects were presumably mediated by the increase in intracellular cAMP. Furthermore A2AR agonist and beta2R agonist synergistically inhibited the TNF production of LPS-stimulated PB-CD14 cells. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of extracellular adenosine is, at least in part, due to the modification of the cytokine milieu via A2A signaling, and that the targeting of both A2AR and beta2R may have strong therapeutic potential for the inflammatory diseases.

Quantitative nested reverse transcriptase PCR vs. real-time PCR for measuring AML1/ETO (MTG8) transcripts

A quantitative nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (QN-RT-PCR) method was developed using a plasmid cDNA containing the AML1/ETO (MTG8) fusion transcript from Kasumi-1 cells, an acute-myelogenous leukemia cell line with the t(8;21) translocation. In this method, the plasmid was detectable at a concentration of 10(-17) m. The fusion transcript in a mixture of 10(7) Rice94 (Burkitt lymphoma cell line) cells containing two Kasumi-1 cells was detectable at 10(-17) m. In a previously published real-time PCR method, the plasmid containing the fusion transcript was detectable at 10(-16) m or higher, and 20 or more Kasumi-1 cells were detectable in 10(7) Rice94 cells. Thus, this QN-RT-PCR method is more sensitive than the real-time PCR. When the same samples were examined by real-time PCR and our QN-RT-PCR method, in one patient in clinical remission after chemotherapy and allogeneic-bone marrow transplantation (BMT), the transcript was detected by QN-RT-PCR 60 days prior to hematological relapse, in contrast to 10 days before hematological relapse by real-time PCR. The transcript level was below 10(-17) m (undetectable) with this QN-RT-PCR in patients in clinical remission after chemotherapy and BMT, while it was 10(-15)-10(-16) m in patients in clinical remission after chemotherapy alone. The quantitative difference of the transcript level in minimal residual disease (MRD) between these two different types of clinical remission was estimated to be at least 10(2)-fold. This QN-RT-PCR method is useful for predicting hematological relapse and for quantitatively estimating MRD in different types of clinical remission.

The contribution of cardiorespiratory fitness and visceral fat to risk factors in Japanese patients with impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus

It is still unclear as to how cardiorespiratory fitness and visceral fat accumulation contribute to coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in patients with diabetes mellitus. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether cardiorespiratory fitness contributes to such risk factors independently of visceral fat accumulation. Two hundred Japanese patients (137 men and 63 women, aged 22 to 81 years) with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM) without any intervention and pharmacological therapy participated in a cross-sectional study. The levels of fasting insulin, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and resting blood pressure were assessed. Maximal oxygen uptake (V.o(2max)), an index of cardiorespiratory fitness, was predicted by a graded exercise test using a cycle ergometer. Visceral fat area (VFA) was measured by computed tomography scan. The criteria for abnormalities of the risk factors were determined according to the standard values for Japanese. All subjects were divided equally into the following 3 groups according to their fitness level: low-fit (V.o(2max) < 32 mL/kg/min in men, V.o(2max) < 26 mL/kg/min in women), mid-fit (32 < or = V.o(2max) < 36 in men, 26 < or = V.o(2max) < 30 in women), and high-fit (V.o(2max) > or = 36 in men, V.o(2max) > or = 30 in women). The association between fitness level and the prevalence of abnormal values for these parameters was analyzed by a multiple logistic regression model adjusted for age and VFA. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the prevalence of hyperinsulinemia were significantly lower in the mid-fit (OR = 0.35, 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.78) and in the high-fit groups (OR = 0.40, 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.98) compared with the low-fit group. In addition, ORs for the prevalence of low HDL-C in the mid-fit and high-fit groups were significantly lower (OR = 0.35, 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.86; and OR = 0.19; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.60, respectively) than in the low-fit group. These results suggested that cardiorespiratory fitness might be one of the predictors of metabolic abnormalities, especially in patients with hyperinsulinemia and low HDL-C, independent of visceral fat accumulation in Japanese patients with IGT and type 2 DM.

Occurrence of aflatoxin M1in domestic milk in Japan during the winter season

A total of 208 samples of commercial pasteurized milk gathered from retail outlets across Japan during the winter season were analysed for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). Japan was divided into 11 regions from north to south, and nine to 45 milk samples from each region were randomly purchased between December 2001 and February 2002. Each milk sample was cleaned up by an immunoaffinity column, and AFM1 was quantified by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection in four independent laboratories. The limit of detection of the method was 0.001 microg kg(-1). The identity of the putative AFM1 in milk sample was confirmed by the formation of AFM1 hemi-acetal with trifluoroacetic acid. Based on the results obtained with spiked samples (0.05 microg AFM1 kg(-1)), the mean recovery was 91.4%, the relative standard deviation for repeatability was 4.6%, and the relative standard deviation for reproducibility was 8.0% among four independent laboratories. AFM1 was detected in 207 (99.5%) of 208 milk samples at 0.001-0.029 microg kg(-1), with a mean of 0.009 microg kg(-1) and a 90th percentile of 0.014 microg kg(-1). No significant difference of the level of AFM1 contamination was observed among the regions.

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase expression in follicular lymphoma: association between AID expression and ongoing mutation in FL

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is required for somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switch recombination (CSR) of the immunoglobulin (Ig) gene. AID has been reported to be specifically expressed in the germinal center (GC). Follicular lymphoma (FL) cells are known to be exposed to GC reaction, as characterized by a high degree of SHM with some heterogeneity in terms of intraclonal microheterogeneity and antigen selection. The heterogeneity of SHM pattern in FL intrigued us to investigate the AID expression. AID expression was investigated in 19 FL materials consisting of 15 cases of FL fresh cells and four cell lines. In all, 10 fresh cells and three cell lines expressed AID, but the others did not. SHM was investigated in 12 fresh cells and four cell lines. The ongoing mutation was significantly different between AID-positive and AID-negative FL fresh cells (unpaired Student's t-test, P=0.047). Ongoing mutation was not seen in any of the cell lines. AID expression was associated with the ongoing mutation in FL fresh cells (two-tailed Pearson's coefficient correlation, r=0.899, P=0.01). The switch off of AID expression may start in the B-lineage differentiation stage counterpart of FL after optimizing SHM, indicated by the cessation of the ongoing mutation in AID-negative FL fresh cells.

Effect of mutated transporters associated with antigen-processing 2 on characteristic major histocompatibility complex binding peptides: analysis using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A novel allele of transporters associated with the antigen-processing (TAP) 2 gene, TAP2*Bky2 (Val(577)), is significantly increased in Japanese patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and has a strong association with SS-A/Ro autoantibody production in SS and autoantibody including anti-SS-A/Ro and anti-U1 RNP antibody in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To determine the influence of this natural mutated TAP on peptides loaded onto MHC class I, we analyzed the repertoire of peptides loaded onto MHC class I on transfectants with TAP1 and TAP2 or mutated TAP2 by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). After comparison of the peptide profiles we identified three peptides from only mutated TAP transfectants. Moreover, one of these peptides is derived from snRNP A, which is a target for anti-U1 RNP antibody. To our knowledge this is the first report to show that the natural mutation of TAP2 changes the peptide profile loaded onto MHC class I molecules.

A model to assess the risk of the introduction into Japan of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent through imported animals, meat and meat-and-bone meal

The authors developed a mathematical model to assess the release risk of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent into a country through the importation of live cattle, bone-in bovine meat and meat-and-bone meal (MBM) from the United Kingdom and other countries with BSE. Monte Carlo simulation was attempted using this model and input variables. The release risk in Japan, expressed as the weight of infected MBM released in Japan between 1993 and 2000, was estimated to be 23.4 kg to 53.8 kg. The simulation also indicated that imported MBM represented the most important risk factor for releasing the BSE agent into Japan. This paper also provides details of the first five cases of BSE detected in Japan between September 2001 and the end of 2002. In addition, the results of the investigation conducted to determine the source of infection and the measures taken by the Government of Japan to prevent the BSE agent from entering the food and feed chains are also outlined.

Increased sensitivity in PCR detection of tdh-positive Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafood with purified template DNA

PCR is an important method for the detection of thermostable direct hemolysin gene (tdh)-positive (pathogenic hemolysin-producing) strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafood because tdh-negative (nonpathogenic) V. parahaemolyticus strains often contaminate seafood and interfere with the direct isolation of tdh-positive V. parahaemolyticus. In this study, the use of PCR to detect the tdh gene of V. parahaemolyticus in various seafoods artificially contaminated with tdh-positive V. parahaemolyticus was examined. PCR was inhibited by substances in oysters, squid, mackerel, and yellowtail but not by cod, sea bream, scallop, short-necked clam, and shrimp. To improve detection, DNA was purified by either the silica membrane method, the glass fiber method, or the magnetic separation method, and the purified DNA was used as the PCR primer template. For all samples, the use of the silica membrane method and the glass fiber method increased detection sensitivity. The results of this study demonstrate that the use of properly purified template DNA for PCR markedly increases the effectiveness of the method in detecting pathogenic tdh-positive V. parahaemolyticus in contaminated seafood.

Phase I clinical and pharmacological study of intraperitoneal cis-bis-neodecanoato( trans- R, R-1, 2-diaminocyclohexane)-platinum II entrapped in multilamellar liposome vesicles

PURPOSE

To perform a phase I study of intraperitoneal cis-bis-neodecanoato ( trans- R, R-1, 2-diaminocyclohexane)-platinum II entrapped in multilamellar vesicles (L-NDDP) for peritoneal carcinomatosis or sarcomatosis.

METHODS

Eligible patients had normal renal, hematologic, and liver functions. Laparoscopy was performed on the first two courses for evaluation, adhesiolysis, and chemotherapy administration. Afterwards, chemotherapy was administered through a peritoneal catheter. Up to six courses were allowed. Peritoneal imaging with technetium-labeled sulfur colloid was used to determine adequate distribution prior to each course. Volunteering patients underwent pharmacokinetics studies during the second course.

RESULTS

Fifteen of 16 registered patients, seven women and eight men (median age 53 years (range 26-76) and median performance status of 1) were assessable. Diagnoses were: malignant mesothelioma (six patients), signet ring cell (three), colon adenocarcinoma, pseudomyxoma peritonei, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (two each), and ovarian carcinoma (one). Median number of courses was two (range, one to six) Dose-limiting toxicity symptoms were fatigue and abdominal pain. Hematologic toxicities were minimal. Peri-operative complications included one colonic perforation requiring primary closure, a peritoneal catheter malfunction, a port site hematoma, and an ascites leak requiring re-suture. Five patients survived at least 3 years. Pharmacokinetics studies indicated a rapid but low absorption of drug into the systemic circulation, with a prolonged retention of platinum in the plasma compartment. Peritoneal L-NDDP exposure was 17 to 49-times greater than in the plasma compartment.

CONCLUSIONS

Peritoneal cavity exposure to L-NDDP is prolonged, and systemic absorption is limited, yielding a high peritoneal/plasmatic ratio. The recommended dose for phase II studies is 400 mg/m2 every 28 days.

Association of the TAP2*Bky2 allele with presence of SS-A/Ro and other autoantibodies in Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

We previously reported that a new allele of transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) 2 gene, TAP2*Bky2 (Val577), was significantly increased in Japanese patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and had a strong association with SS-A/Ro antibody production. In the present study, it was investigated whether the association of TAP2*Bky2 with SS-A/Ro antibody production was also found in Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Polymorphisms of the TAP1 and TAP2 genes were determined in 114 Japanese SLE patients by the polymerase chain reaction-single-stranded conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method. The allele frequencies of the TAP1 and TAP2 genes in SLE patients were not significantly different from those in controls, although the allele frequency of TAP2*Bky2 was slightly higher in SLE patients than in healthy control subjects (9.2% vs 5.5%, P = 0.126). The allele frequency of TAP2*Bky2 was significantly higher in SLE patients with oral ulcers than in those without. It was noteworthy that TAP2*Bky2 was significantly associated with the appearance of not only SS-A/Ro antibody but also SS-B/La, nRNP, and Sm antibodies in the patients. The association of TAP2*Bky2 was found with the antibody production to both 60 and 52kDa SS-A/Ro antigens. As TAP2*Bky2 had a strong linkage disequilibrium with DRB1*08032, TAP2*Bky2 or its haplotype with DRB1*08032 may be involved in SS-A/Ro antibody production not only in SS but also SLE patients, indicating that TAP2*Bky2 may be a susceptible gene not only to the disease of SS but also to the SS-A/Ro autoantibody production.

Experimental murine hyalohyphomycosis with soil-derived isolates of Fusarium solani

Two strains of soil-borne Fusarium solani, both characterized for their ability to produce cyclosporin A and C, were examined for their pathogenicity in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and BALB/c male mice. Intravenous (i.v.) infections with F. solani conidia were performed. No mortality was observed after infection with 0.3-1.6 x 10(7) cfu per mouse in SCID and BALB/c mice. When mice were infected with 0.8-1.5 x 10(6) cfu per mouse and 2 days later with 1.2-1.9 x 10(6) cfu per mouse, 28.6-85.7% survival occurred over a 25-day period, depending on the F. solani strain and the inbred mouse line used. Death was preceded by renal insufficiency affecting both kidneys. Furthermore, i.v. injection with heat-killed conidia followed 2 days later by injecting viable conidia resulted in renal infection in both breeds of mice. F. solani isolated from infected organs was more virulent than the original isolate, and 3/8 (37.5%) of BALB/c and 4/7 (57.1%) of SCID mice died after receiving a single dose. Dissemination to the brain was found only in SCID mice, but torticollis was observed in both mouse breeds. Soil-borne F. solani isolates possess poor pathogenic potential for mice, but either two successive infective doses or a primary injection with heat-killed conidia followed by a single infective dose breaks through host defenses in normal and immunoincompetent mice. Mouse passage increased the pathogenicity of two soil-derived F. solani strains.

Aflatoxin contamination in shrimp feed and effects of aflatoxin addition to feed on shrimp production

One hundred fifty samples of shrimp feed were collected from the eastern and southern regions of Thailand, and aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2) in them were analyzed. AFB1 contamination ranged from a nondetectable level (< 0.003 ppb) to 0.651 ppb. Metabolites of AFB1 were less abundant than AFB1. To study the effects of aflatoxin in feed on shrimp production, black tiger shrimp were divided into four groups of 30 shrimp per group, tested in triplicate, and fed diets containing 0 (control), 5, 10, or 20 ppb of AFB1 for 10 consecutive days. After 7 or 10 days of consumption on each diet, the shrimp were weighed and sacrificed for laboratory examination. AFB1 and its metabolites were not detected in shrimp muscle. The mortality rate was slightly higher in the AFB1-treated groups than in the control group. The body weight of the surviving shrimp was decreased to 46 to 59% of the initial body weight in the AFB1-treated groups but not in the control group. Histopathological findings indicated hepatopancreatic damage by AFB1 with biochemical changes of the hemolymph. These results show that aflatoxin contamination in shrimp feed may cause economic losses by lowering the production of shrimp. Feed contaminated at the level of 20 ppb or lower (i.e., at the observed natural contamination level) may pose a very low risk, if any, to human health.

Usefulness of automatic detection of fragmented red cells using a hematology analyzer for diagnosis of thrombotic microangiopathy

We previously reported an automatic method for quantitative analysis of schistocytes or fragmented red cells using an automatic hematology analyzer, XE-2100. In the study reported here, we evaluated the accuracy of this detection method in patients with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). A follow-up study was performed on 14 patients with two types of TMA, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura or hemolytic uremic syndrome. Schistocyte percent was evaluated both with an automatic counter and by means of microscopic observation. Total activity and isoenzyme pattern of lactate dehydrogenase (LD) were also determined. In these patients, schistocyte percent determined by automatic counting correlated highly with that determined by manual counting under microscopic observation (r = 0.852, P < 0.0001). Schistocyte percent was shown to correlate significantly with isoenzyme fractions 1 and 2 of LD (r = 0.732, P < 0.02), reflecting hemolysis. Nine of 11 patients tested had high concentrations of LD isoenzyme five without distinct liver damage, and schistocyte percent did not relate to fraction 5 of LD. Automatic detection of schistocyte percent using a hematology analyzer was useful for an accurate diagnosis and follow-up of thrombotic microangiopathy. The origin of LD fraction 5 remains to be determined.

Relationships of the systolic blood pressure response during exercise with insulin resistance, obesity, and endurance fitness in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationships among the resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) or SBP response during exercise with insulin resistance evaluated by a homeostasis model (HOMA-IR), abdominal fat accumulation (visceral fat area [VFA], subcutaneous fat area [SFA]) by computed tomography (CT), and an estimation of the maximal oxygen uptake (V*O2max) in 63 Japanese middle-aged male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM). Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in type 2 DM subjects were significantly higher than in age-matched healthy male control subjects (n = 135) with normal glucose tolerance. Resting SBP (127.7 +/- 16.2 mm Hg v 119.4 +/- 13.0 mm Hg) and DBP (82.2 +/- 11.9mmHg v 76.8 +/- 9.4 mm Hg) levels, and the percentage of hypertension (20.6% v 1.5%) in type 2 DM subjects were significantly higher than in the control subjects (P <.05). According to a multiple regression analysis for resting blood pressure in type 2 DM, VFA was found to be an independent predictor of SBP, while V*O2max and HOMA-IR were independent predictors of DBP. In the controls, however, HOMA-IR was not found to be a significantly independent predictor for either resting SBP or resting DBP. Measurement of the SBP response during graded exercise using a ramp test was performed by an electrical braked cycle ergometer in 54 patients with type 2 DM only. The SBP was measured at 15-second intervals during exercise. The exercise intensity at the double product breaking point (DPBP), which strongly correlated with the exercise intensity at the lactate threshold, was used as an index for the SBP response to standardized exercise intensity. The SBP corresponding to exercise intensity at DPBP (SBP@DPBP) was evaluated as an index of the SBP response to standardized exercise intensity. The change in SBP (deltaSBP = SBP@DPBP - resting SBP) was significantly and positively associated with log area under the curve for glucose (log AUCPG) during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). In addition, deltaSBP significantly and negatively correlated with the log area under the curve for insulin (log AUCIRI) and log AUCIRI/log AUCPG. Based on these results, insulin resistance was suggested to be independently associated with the resting DBP and SBP response to standardized exercise intensity in type 2 DM patients.

Gold sodium thiomalate suppresses the differentiation and function of human dendritic cells from peripheral blood monocytes

OBJECTIVE

Gold sodium thiomalate (GST) is a drug commonly used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To clarify the mechanism of therapeutic effects of GST on RA, we investigated if GST affects the differentiation of dendritic cells (DC), which are thought to play a pivotal role in RA pathogenesis.

METHODS

We generated immature DC (iDC) in vitro from PB monocytes during the 5 to 7-day culture in the presence of IL-4 and GM-CSF. Mature DC (mDC) were induced by adding TNF alpha on day 5 of the 7-day culture with GM-CSF and IL-4. DC capacity of stimulating T cells was examined in allogenic MLR using generated DC as stimulators. IL-12 production from DC was assayed with ELISA.

RESULTS

We found that: 1) mDC generated in the presence of GST showed lower expression of CD1a, CD83, CD80, CD86, HLA-ABC and HLA-DR compared to control mDC on FACS analysis. 2) GST-treated mDC showed reduced capacity of stimulating allogenic T cells in mixed leukocyte reaction. 3) IL-12p70 production after stimulation with SAC or LPS plus IFN gamma was markedly reduced in GST-treated mDC.

CONCLUSION

GST suppresses the differentiation and function of DC generated from peripheral blood monocytes. This previously unknown action may explain the in vivo effects of GST in the treatment of RA.