The structure and expression of the guinea pig Fc receptor for IgG1 and IgG2 (Fc gamma 1/gamma 2R)

A cDNA clone encoding the receptor for guinea pig immunoglobulin G was isolated from a guinea pig peritoneal macrophage cDNA library. The cloned cDNA encoded 271 amino acids containing an N-terminal signal sequence. The deduced amino acid sequence is most homologous to murine Fc gamma RII beta 2. The receptor protein could be expressed in COS-7 and L cells transfected with the cDNA, suggesting that the expression of this receptor does not require the co-expression of a second chain such as gamma chain of Fc epsilon RI or CD3 zeta chain. The transformant L cells showed the binding to both the guinea pig IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies complexed with antigen, indicating that the cDNA we cloned was the one for guinea pig Fc gamma 1/gamma 2R.

Somatostatin decreases the calcium inward current in guinea-pig atria

1. The effects of somatostatin on mechanical and electrophysiological responses were studied in guinea-pig atrial muscle preparations and single cells. 2. Somatostatin (greater than or equal to 10(-8) M) decreased the twitch contraction in a concentration-dependent manner in electrically driven left atria and spontaneously beating right atria. However, the beating rate was not affected. 3. The negative inotropic effect of somatostatin was transient. Desensitization to this agent developed slowly during continuous exposure to the peptide. 4. In single atrial cells, somatostatin significantly shortened the action potential duration, but the resting potential and action potential amplitude were not affected. 5. Under whole cell voltage-clamp conditions, somatostatin decreased the calcium inward current without affecting the sodium and potassium currents. 6. These results suggest that somatostatin selectively acts on the calcium channel of guinea-pig atrial cells to reduce the calcium inward current, which in turn gives rise to the negative inotropic effect.

Stability of IL-2 mRNA in T lymphocytes is controlled by a protein kinase C-regulated mechanism

The rate of the degradation of interleukin 2 (IL-2) mRNA produced in stimulated human tonsillar lymphocytes was found to be significantly decreased in cells continuously stimulated with a calcium ionophore, A23187, and a phorbol ester, phorbol 12, 13-dibutylate (PDB) as compared with that in unstimulated cells. When the lymphocytes were stimulated with A23187 and PDB, IL-2 mRNA reached a maximum level at 8 h and gradually decreased to almost the base line by 27 h. IL-2 mRNA produced was rapidly degraded when the stimulants were washed out at 12 h and the cells further cultured in the presence of actinomycin D, which stops mRNA synthesis. However, the stability of IL-2 mRNA was increased by the addition of PDB or A23187. A maximal effect was observed when both were added. The effect of PDB was dose-dependent and inhibited by the inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), staurosporine, and K252a, suggesting the involvement of PKC in the control of IL-2 mRNA stability. The involvement of protein phosphorylation in the regulating mechanism of IL-2 mRNA stability was supported by the fact that the addition of okadaic acid, which inhibits serine/threonine protein phosphatases, resulted in an increase in the stability of IL-2 mRNA. Further study demonstrated that the rate of degradation of 32P-labeled IL-2 mRNA, which was prepared by cell-free transcription of IL-2 cDNA, in the polysomal fraction obtained from PDB-stimulated lymphocytes was decreased compared with that obtained from unstimulated lymphocytes. These results indicate the presence of a mechanism controlling the stability of IL-2 mRNA that is regulated by PKC.

Pharmacological subclassification of alpha 1-adrenoceptors in vascular smooth muscle

1. We examined whether alpha 1-adrenoceptors in various blood vessels can be divided into subtypes by antagonist affinity or by susceptibility to chloroethylclonidine or nifedipine. 2. Noradrenaline or phenylephrine produced concentration-dependent contractions in all the tissues tested, which were competitively inhibited by phentolamine, yohimbine, prazosin, WB4101 and HV723. However, there were large differences between the tissues in the pA2 values for all the antagonists except phentolamine. 3. The blood vessels could be classified into three groups (I, II and III) on the basis of their affinity variation. In group I (dog mesenteric artery and vein, saphenous vein), the pA2 values for HV723 were greater than 9, and those for HV723 and WB4101 were approximately 1 log unit higher than for prazosin. This rank order of affinity reversed in group II (dog carotid artery and rat thoracic aorta), where prazosin was more potent (pA2 values greater than 9.5) than HV723 or WB4101. In group III (rabbit mesenteric artery, thoracic aorta and carotid artery and guinea-pig thoracic aorta), on the other hand, prazosin, HV723 and WB4101 inhibited the noradrenaline response with a similar affinity (pA2 values ranging from 8 to 9). 4. Yohimbine inhibited the responses to noradrenaline and phenylephrine with a lower affinity than prazosin, HV723 or WB4101. The pA2 values for yohimbine were similar in groups I and II (the values greater than 6.5), which were greater than those in group III (values less than 6.4). 5. The alpha l-adrenoceptors in group II were selectively affected by chlorethylclonidine, resulting in an irreversible attenuation of noradrenaline responses in the dog carotid artery and a persistent contraction in the rat thoracic aorta. 6. Nifedipine either produced no effect or a slight inhibition of alpha l-adrenoceptor-mediated contractions in all the blood vessels; these effects were not correlated to the above groups. 7. These results suggest that alpha,-adrenoceptors of blood vessels can be divided into three subtypes (designated as alpha 1H, alpha4L and alpha 1N) by antagonist affinity and their susceptibility to chloroethylclonidine but not to nifedipine: the characteristics of each subtype are summarized in Table 3. Subtypes alpha lH, alpha 1L and alpha lN may be predominantly involved in the contractile responses to noradrenaline or phenylephrine of the blood vessels in groups II, III and I, respectively.

Effects of TYB-3823, a new antiarrhythmic drug, on the electrophysiological properties of guinea-pig ventricular muscles

1. The effects of TYB-3823 (B-GYKI 38233), a new antiarrhythmic drug, were electrophysiologically examined in the guinea-pig ventricular muscles. 2. TYB-3823 at concentrations of 1-3 x 10(-7) M significantly prolonged the action potential duration (APD) of the papillary muscle. However, the resting potential, action potential amplitude and maximum rate of depolarization (Vmax) were unaffected by the drug at such concentrations. At a higher concentration (1 x 10(-4) M) TYB-3823 reduced Vmax. 3. Voltage clamp experiments with single ventricular cells revealed that TYB-3823 at concentrations higher than 1 x 10(-7) M reduced the outward potassium currents, especially the time-dependent outward current, but that TYB-3823 failed to affect the calcium current. 4. These results suggested that TYB-3823 at low concentrations reduces the outward potassium current to give rise to a prolongation of APD and that at higher concentrations it additionally inhibits the sodium channels; both the effects may be related to the antiarrhythmic action of this drug.

An assessment of the mucous component in carcinoma of the colon and rectum

It has been said that the prognosis of mucinous carcinoma of the colon and rectum is unfavorable. To determine the clinicopathologic significance of carcinomatous lesions with marked mucous production, the ratio of the area where there was significant mucous production (mucous component [MC]) to the area of the whole tumor on a tissue slice (area ratio) was determine by measurement with a digitizer in 281 patients with carcinoma of the colon and rectum. The MC was observed in the largest cross-section of the tumor in 85 patients (30.2%). Of these 85 patients the MC area ratio was less than 10% in 42. In the 43 patients with an area ratio of 10% or more, no particular relationship was observed between the area ratio and the frequency of cases. If no MC was observed in the largest cross section of the tumor, the MC ratio in other regions of the tumor was almost 0. In the patients in whom the MC area ratio in the largest cross-section was less than 10%, the MC area ratios in other sites of the tumor showed only a small variance, but in the patients with an MC area ratio of 10% or more, a large variance was observed according to the site. The prognosis for patients with an area ratio of 10% or more was less favorable than that for patients with no MC and with an MC area ratio of less than 10% (P less than 0.05). These results suggest that it is reasonable to handle the patients with an MC area ratio of 10% or more as a group.

Incidence and prognosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage in a Japanese rural community

Twenty-six first episodes of subarachnoid hemorrhage occurred among 1,621 Hisayama residents aged greater than or equal to 40 years during the 22-year follow-up of a prospective study. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was confirmed by both clinical and autopsy findings. The average annual incidence (96.1/100,000 population) was 3-13 times higher than any previously reported and steeply increased with age in both sexes, being 2.3 times higher for women than for men after adjusting for age. Nine patients (35%) died less than or equal to 8 hours after the onset of subarachnoid hemorrhage. None was correctly diagnosed on the death certificates, and four of the nine (44%) were misdiagnosed as intracerebral hemorrhage. We found the survival rate of patients suffering subarachnoid hemorrhage to be much lower than previously reported because we detected a large number of sudden deaths due to subarachnoid hemorrhage through the high rate of autopsy in our cohort (81.4%).

A new method of determining the solute permeability of hollow-fiber dialysis membranes by means of laser lights traveling along optic fibers

To develop a new method of determining solute permeability more simply and accurately, the authors employed light from a laser traveling along quartz optic fibers. Dialysis experiments at 310 K were made with a single hollow fiber containing aqueous test solutes. A membrane tube was sealed at either end with quartz optic fibers. Helium-neon and helium-cadmium laser lights emitted from one of these optic fibers into the test solution at wavelengths of 543 and 442 nm for vitamin B12 and cytochrome-C, respectively, were caught by the other optic fiber and detected with a silicon photodiode. The solute permeability for cytochrome-C obtained by this method was almost in agreement with that for beta-2-microglobulin by the radioisotope method. This study demonstrates the usefulness of light from a laser traveling along quartz optic fibers in determining the solute permeability of hollow-fiber dialysis membranes.

Comparison between sympathetic adrenergic and purinergic transmission in the dog mesenteric artery

1. Electrical transmural stimulation evoked a sympathetic contraction in the isolated dog mesenteric artery. This contraction consisted of adrenergic and purinergic components, which were separately observed under conditions where postjunctional P2 purinoceptors were desensitized with alpha, beta-methylene ATP or postjunctional alpha 1 adrenoceptors were blocked by prazosin, respectively. 2. The purinergic component was transient and developed immediately after the start of stimulation and declined rapidly after a peak. In contrast, the adrenergic contraction slowly developed and lasted longer than the purinergic component. Thus, the purinergic and adrenergic components predominantly contributed to the early and later phases of the total sympathetic response, respectively. 3. The peak amplitudes of contraction of both components were similar at 1 Hz, but the adrenergic component occurred more dominantly in the responses to higher frequency stimulation. 4. Cocaine, a neuronal uptake inhibitor of noradrenaline, potentiated the adrenergic component but attenuated the purinergic component. This attenuation was reversed by DG-5128, a prejunctional alpha 2 adrenoceptor antagonist. Treatment with DG-5128 alone augmented both adrenergic and purinergic components. 5. 8-Phenyltheophylline, a P1 purinoceptor antagonist, potentiated the purinergic component without affecting the adrenergic component. 6. Exogenous noradrenaline produced a sustained contraction, which was potentiated by cocaine and was competitively inhibited by prazosin. alpha, beta-Methylene ATP and 8-phenyltheophylline had no effect on the response to noradrenaline. Exogenous ATP produced a transient contraction, which was abolished under conditions where postjunctional P2 purinoceptors were desensitized with alpha, beta-methylene ATP. 8-Phenyltheophylline potentiated but cocaine or prazosin did not affect the ATP response. 7. Electrical stimulation produced an increase in 3H efflux from the sympathetic nerve terminals in the mesenteric arteries pre-incubated with [3H]noradrenaline. The evoked efflux was significantly augmented by cocaine or DG-5128 and was inhibited by guanethidine or tetrodotoxin. alpha, beta-Methylene ATP and 8-phenyltheophylline were without effect. Adenosine reduced the 3H efflux and the inhibition was suppressed by 8-phenyltheophylline. 8. These results suggest that sympathetic contraction of the dog mesenteric artery is caused through not only adrenergic but also purinergic mechanisms, and that both the sympathetic transmissions are predominantly modulated through prejunctional adrenergic mechanisms.

[Pleuroperitoneal shunt for malignant pleural effusions]

The malignant pleural effusion was introduced into the abdominal cavity by the manual compression of a pleuroperitoneal shunt tube, which was indwelt in the subcutaneous tissue of the lateral chest under local anesthesia. Seven patients having malignant pleural effusion, due to lung cancer in 4 and breast cancer in 3, were used as subjects. This technique caused no serious complications. Retention of pleural effusion was markedly reduced in all of the 7 patients. Three patients, whose performance status (P.S.) was preoperatively determined to be 3 or 2, could be discharged during early periods. This technique seemed to be highly feasible in these patients, but not in those having P.S. of 4. Since peritoneal dissemination of the tumor was seen in 1 of 3 patients examined by autopsy, there is a possibility that this technique might have contributed to spread and scattering of tumor cells in the peritoneal cavity. These results suggested that this technique is useful therapeutic means for the treatment of patients in whom hospitalization is necessary due to the presence of malignant pleural effusion, while this technique involves the risk of artificial induction of peritoneal dissemination of tumor cells. Therefore, the application of this technique should be decided based on the prognosis of each patient.

Use of silicone elastomer for improvement of intestinal clamp

An intestinal clamp was improved by application of a silicone elastomer measuring 3, 4 and 5 millimeters in thickness to the nip surfaces to reduce nip force or to make pressure distribution more uniform. For the 1 kilogram weight, the output from the pressure sensor, which was placed on the blade, was decreased as the thickness of the silicone elastomer was increased. Pressures loaded on central and marginal regions of the large intestine were more than seven times greater than that on the mesenteric region with use of a conventional clamp. In contrast, pressures on all of the mesenteric, central and marginal regions were relatively low and uniform with use of clamps equipped with silicone elastomer. These results indicate that the clamp equipped with the silicone elastomer damages tissues only to a small extent because of the dispersion effect of the pressure and the uniformity of the pressure distribution.

Removal of beta-2-microglobulin by diffusion alone is feasible using highly permeable dialysis membranes

Techniques of filtration with high flux dialysis membranes are capable of easily removing beta-2-microglobulin (beta-2-M) (MW: 11,800) from renal failure patients. However, hemodialysis is preferred as a method of removing beta-2-M in terms of cost and operation. The present study elucidates the permeability characteristics for beta-2-M of newly developed cellulosic and synthetic polymer membranes for hemodialysis to determine the diffusive clearance for beta-2-M. The authors did dialysis experiments with 3H-labeled water and 125I-labeled beta-2-M to obtain the solute permeability of cellulosic and synthetic polymer membranes. Radioactivity of a single hollow fiber after dialysis experiments for predetermined periods was measured in a gamma counter. Through analysis of radioactivity data, they obtained solute permeability data, from which diffusive clearance for beta-2-M was calculated. With wet cellulose triacetate membranes, values for inside diameter, wall thickness, and water content were 205 +/- 10 microns (N = 100), 12.4 +/- 1.5 microns (N = 200), and 78 vol%, respectively. The cellulose triacetate membranes had a solute permeability for beta-2-M of (4.12 +/- 1.83) x 10(-5) cm/sec (N = 25) and a pure water permeability of 60 ml/m2/hr/mmHg. Diffusive clearance for beta-2-M was calculated to be 39 ml/min at a plasma flow rate of 160 ml/min and a dialysate flow rate of 500 ml/min. The diffuse clearance of capillary dialyzers composed of regenerated cellulose and synthetic polymer membranes ranged from 23 to 19 ml/min.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical study of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine

The efficacy and safety of a recombinant yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine were evaluated in 209 subjects after three administrations at 0, 4 and 20 weeks. Subjects were divided into four groups given 5 micrograms vaccine subcutaneously, 10 micrograms subcutaneously, 10 micrograms intramuscularly and 20 micrograms subcutaneously to define the effective dose and to compare the effect of administration. Seroconversion of the antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen after the third vaccination reached 96.6% in the group given 5 micrograms vaccine subcutaneously and 100% in the other groups. The final geometric mean antibody titres were 700 IU/l in subjects given 5 micrograms subcutaneously, 2004 IU/l in those given 10 micrograms subcutaneously, 4674 IU/l in those given 10 micrograms intramuscularly and 3342 IU/l in those given 20 micrograms subcutaneously. In the groups given 10 micrograms, the early seroconversion rate of the antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen and the geometric mean antibody titres after the third vaccination were significantly higher in subjects administered intramuscularly than subcutaneously (P less than 0.05). No major adverse effects were observed and minor reactions were the same as, or less than, those reported for the plasma-derived vaccine. Before and after administration, no significant fluctuation in the yeast antibody titre was observed. These results demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the yeast-derived vaccine, and show that 10 micrograms was the effective dose.

Accumulation of iodine-131 and technetium-99m pertechnetate in thyroid carcinoma

Carcinoma of the thyroid is usually delineated as a cold defect on images with radioiodine and Tc-99m per-technetate. However, several cases that showed an accumulation of Tc-99m pertechnetate in thyroid carcinoma or in their metastases, but did not show any accumulation of radioiodine, have been reported. This paper presents a rare case of an advanced follicular adenocarcinoma of the thyroid that accumulated both Tc-99m pertechnetate and I-131. In this 41-year-old male patient, there were two primary foci in the thyroid; one occupied the whole left lobe with extension to the mediastinum and the other located in the lower part of the right lobe. In addition, there was a lymph node metastasis in the upper mediastinum adjacent to the left lobe. On images with both I-131 and Tc-99m pertechnetate, the tumor in the left lobe and the metastatic lymph node were delineated, but the tumor in the right lobe was not. Accumulation of Tc-99m pertechnetate in the lower part of the tumor of the left lobe was more distinct than that of I-131. Therefore, it is considered that despite similar histologic findings the trapping ability of the cancerous tissue differed from area to area.

Suppression of gastric ulcer induced by stress and HCL-ethanol by intravenously administered metallothionein-II

A metallothionein isoform metallothionein-II was isolated from the livers of zinc acetate-treated rats. Metallothionein-II, which showed a single band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was subjected to two kinds of anti-ulcer screening systems. It was shown that intravenously administered metallothionein-II suppressed the formation of rat water-immersion stress- and HCl-ethanol-induced gastric ulcer significantly. The effect may partly be derived from the zinc contained in the metallothionein-II. However, the effect of metallothionein-II was much stronger than that of an equivalent mole of zinc. Apparently, metallothionein-II had an anti-ulcerogenic activity not based on the effect of intrinsic zinc.

Positive ion fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of reductively pyridylaminated maltooligosaccharides and its application to alpha-amylase assay

Positive ion fast atom bombardment mass spectra of maltooligosaccharides reductively aminated with 2-aminopyridine (Gn-AP) contain abundant [M + H]+ ions. Determination of G2-AP and G3-AP produced from G5-AP by the action of alpha-amylases, based on the abundance of their [M + H]+ ions relative to that of cellobiose reductively aminated with 2-amino-6-methylpyridine as the internal standard, allowed rapid and reproducible assay of these enzymes. It was advantageous for clinical investigation that the proportion of pancreatic and salivary alpha-amylase activities could be determined.

Properties of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine

A large-scale purification method for hepatitis B surface antigen produced in a recombinant yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was established. The resulting HBsAg was greater than 99% pure and suitable for vaccine use. The yeast-derived HBsAg was structurally and biochemically similar to plasma-derived HBsAg. The anti-HBs antibody producing potency of the yeast-derived vaccine in mice was significantly higher than that of the plasma-derived vaccine. The yeast-derived vaccine induced protective antibody against hepatitis B virus of either adr or ayw subtype in a chimpanzee efficacy study. These observations demonstrate the usefulness of the yeast-derived vaccine as a second-generation hepatitis B vaccine.

Liquid chromatographic assay of the relative activities of serum pancreatic and salivary alpha-amylase using reductively pyridylaminated maltopentaose as a fluorescent substrate

A method for the high-performance liquid chromatographic assay of the relative activities of serum pancreatic and salivary alpha-amylase has been developed, using maltopentaose reductively aminated with 2-aminopyridine as a fluorescent substrate. Both enzymes showed similar modes of action, cleaving the second and the third (from the non-reducing terminal) interglycosidic linkages of this substrate. However, the relative ease of cleavage of these two sites by the pancreatic enzyme was significantly different from that by the salivary enzyme. Therefore, determination of the molar ratio of the cleavage products by HPLC could lead to estimation of the activity ratio of these enzymes. The optimum chromatographic conditions for HPLC were as follows: column, LiChrosorb RP-18 (Merck, 7 microns, 250 X 4 mm I.D.); column temperature, ambient; eluent, 0.01% orthophosphoric acid-acetonitrile (4:1, v/v) containing 2.4 mM sodium laurylsulphate; flow-rate, 1.0 ml/min; wavelengths for fluorimetric detection, 320 nm (excitation)/400 nm (emission). The problem of interference by serum alpha-glucosidase was solved by specific inhibition with tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane and erythritol. The data obtained by the proposed method correlated well with those produced by the conventional method based on electrophoresis.

Urethral obstruction owing to retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma

We report a case of cystic lymphangioma arising from retroperitoneal tissues of the pelvis, which caused urethral obstruction and eventual urinary retention. Sonography and computerized tomography demonstrated a retroperitoneal cystic mass in the pelvis. A preoperative diagnosis of retroperitoneal cystic lymphangioma was suggested by typical computerized and sonographic features.

Induction and regulation of human interleukin 2 gene expression: significance of protein kinase C activation

Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and a tumor-promoting phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) act synergistically to induce interleukin 2 (IL2) mRNA in human lymphocytes in vitro. The induction was inhibited by a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C (C-kinase), 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7) at less than 10 microM. H-7 inhibited C-kinase activity itself in lymphocytes at the same range of the concentration but did not interfere with the translocation of C-kinase from the cytosol to the membrane fraction of the lymphocytes induced by TPA. H-7 is also known to inhibit cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (G-kinase). However, the lymphocytes cultured with dibutyryl cAMP or dibutyryl cGMP could not be activated to produce IL2 mRNA. These results show that activation of C-kinase but not A-kinase and G-kinase is necessary in signal transduction for IL2 gene expression. Prostaglandin E2, which is known to elevate intracellular cAMP level, also inhibited IL2 mRNA induction in the lymphocytes stimulated with PHA and TPA. Addition of alpha-methylornithine and methylglyoxal bis (guanyl hydrazone), which inhibit polyamine synthesis, did not affect the induction of IL2 mRNA in the lymphocytes stimulated with PHA and TPA, indicating that polyamine synthesis is not necessary for IL2 mRNA induction.

Dissection of the role of macrophages in triggering T lymphocytes for interleukin 2 production by monoclonal antibody OKT3

Unfractionated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells produce a small amount of interleukin 2 (IL 2) by stimulation with a monoclonal anti-T3 antibody (OKT3) in vitro. The IL 2 production could be greatly augmented by the addition of a phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). In the presence of TPA, the T cell enriched fraction deprived of macrophages did not produce IL 2, but the T cells pulse-incubated with OKT3 and reconstituted with macrophages efficiently produced IL 2 in subsequent culture in the presence of TPA as did T cells reconstituted with OKT3-pulse-incubated macrophages. The stimulating effect of OKT3 in the presence of macrophages was inhibited dose-dependently by the addition of immunoglobulins, particularly by mouse IgG2a which is the same isotype as that of the OKT3 antibody, showing that it inhibits by blocking the binding of OKT3 to Fc receptors on macrophages. The same extent of IL 2 production was induced in T cells when paraformaldehyde-fixed macrophages were substituted for intact macrophages. Remarkable IL 2 production was also induced by OKT3 when latex beads coated with rabbit anti-mouse IgG2a antibody and TPA were added to the culture. It was confirmed that the production induced by these stimulations was due to an increase of IL 2 mRNA. These results show that effective signals for IL 2 production are generated by efficient crosslinking of T3 molecules which results from multi-interaction of T3 molecules on the T cell membrane and anti-T3 antibody molecules on macrophage membrane or on the surface of the latex particle.

Interleukin 2 mRNA induction in human lymphocytes: analysis of the synergistic effect of a calcium ionophore A23187 and a phorbol ester

Induction of interleukin 2 (IL2) mRNA in human tonsillar lymphocytes under various conditions was examined by cytoplasmic dot hybridization using a 32P-labeled IL2 cDNA probe to study the signal transduction mechanisms which lead to IL2 gene expression. A tumor-promoting phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), acted synergistically with a Ca2+ ionophore A23187 or phytohemagglutinin (PHA) to induce a high level of IL2 mRNA in lymphocytes, whereas each of them by itself could not induce the mRNA production. In two-step culture experiments the lymphocytes pulse-incubated with TPA for 1 h (the first culture) could efficiently initiate IL2 mRNA production by subsequent culture with A23187 or PHA (the second culture). Results obtained by removal of extracellular Ca2+ from either the first or second culture revealed that Ca2+ was not necessarily required during the first culture with TPA, but it is essential in the second culture with A23187 or PHA, regardless of the presence or absence of Ca2+ in the first culture. A reagent known to be a calmodulin antagonist, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7), almost completely inhibited the IL2 mRNA induction in A23187-TPA-stimulated lymphocytes at a concentration of 25 microM, whereas N-(6-aminohexyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide that has much lower affinity for calmodulin than W-7 did not inhibit at this concentration. The IL2 mRNA induction was also blocked by the addition of 50 microM of 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate hydrochloride which is known to block the release of Ca2+ from intracellular storage sites. These results show that mobilization of Ca2+ and the calmodulin-dependent regulatory system appear to work synergistically with TPA which probably activates protein kinase C in the pathway to IL2 gene expression.

Ca2+-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase is activated by poly(L-aspartic acid)

Ca2+-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (Ca2+-PDE) activity was stimulated by poly(L-aspartic acid) but not by poly(L-glutamic acid), poly(L-arginine), poly(L-lysine), and poly(L-proline). This activation was Ca2+ independent and did not further enhance the activation of Ca2+-PDE by Ca2+-calmodulin (CaM). Poly(L-aspartic acid) produced an increase in the Vmax of the phosphodiesterase, associated with a decrease in the apparent Km for the substrate, such being similar to results obtained with Ca2+-CaM. Poly(L-aspartic acid) did not significantly stimulate myosin light chain kinase and other types of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. CaM antagonists such as N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7), trifluoperazine, and chlorpromazine selectively antagonized activation of the enzyme by poly(L-aspartic acid). Kinetic analysis of W-7-induced inhibition of activation of phosphodiesterase by poly(L-aspartic acid) was in a competitive fashion, and the Ki value was 0.19 mM. On the other hand, prenylamine, another type of calmodulin antagonist that binds to CaM at sites different from the W-7 binding sites, did not inhibit the poly(L-aspartic acid)-induced activation of Ca2+-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. These results imply that poly(L-aspartic acid) is a calcium-independent activator of Ca2+-dependent phosphodiesterase and that aspartic acids in the CaM molecule may play an important role in the activation of Ca2+-PDE.

Interleukin 2 mRNA induction in human lymphocytes: analysis of the synergistic effect of a phorbol ester and phytohemagglutinin

Induction of interleukin 2 (IL2) mRNA synthesis in human tonsillar lymphocytes was studied by quantifying the relative levels of IL2 mRNA in the lymphocytes stimulated under various conditions by the dot hybridization method. A remarkable increase of IL2 mRNA was induced by stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in the presence of 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). The kinetic study revealed that the IL2 mRNA level of the lymphocytes increased from 2 h of culture, reached a maximal level at 12 h, maintained a relatively high level until 48 h and then sharply decreased by 72 h after the stimulation. Inhibition experiments with actinomycin D showed that the increase was due to a transient synthesis of the mRNA after the stimulation, which almost stopped by 12-16 h. DNA synthesis and cell division were not necessary for the induction of IL2 mRNA production but the induction was inhibited by dexamethasone, showing that the production was mainly associated with the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Two-step culture experiments showed that prior exposure of the lymphocytes to TPA for 1 h at 37 degrees C resulted in a remarkable increase of IL2 mRNA on subsequent stimulation with PHA. This suggests that TPA induces certain changes in the biochemical pathway of signal transduction so that the cells can be triggered to express IL2 gene by subsequent stimulation with mitogen.

Calcium-dependent hydrophobic chromatography of calmodulin, S-100 protein and troponin-C

We have demonstrated calcium-dependent hydrophobic interactions among calmodulin, S-100 protein and troponin-C and a homologous series of omega-aminoalkyl-agaroses. The three Ca2+-binding proteins were retained on the column of agarose substituted with omega- aminooctyl or even longer with alkylamine, in the presence of Ca2+ and 0.15 M NaCl. As these proteins were not retained on the column with shorter alkylamine 'arms' (N = 2, 4), they are probably successively absorbed with a higher affinity to the hydrophobic agarose column. Calmodulin and S-100 protein were eluted from the aminoocytl -agarose column with 1 mM EGTA in the presence of 0.15 M NaCl and the elution of troponin-C was Ca2+-independently carried out with 0.3 M NaCl. On the other hand, S-100 and troponin-C were eluted Ca2+-dependently from aminodecyl -agarose in the presence of 1 M NaCl and half the amount of the calmodulin applied was eluted with 1 M NaCl. As there are obvious differences among the three Ca2+-binding proteins with regard to chromatographic behavior on omega-aminoalkyl-agarose columns, our results suggest that these three proteins expose different hydrophobic regions following Ca2+-induced conformational changes and, if so, such would explain the interaction with aminoalkyl-agaroses.

[HBs antigen-positive adult type liver cancer in a child with sustained remission induced by infusion of antineoplastic agents into the hepatic artery]

A 9-year-old boy with non-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma was treated with irradiation and intra-hepatic arterial infusion of antitumor agents. His blood was positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag), but negative for hepatitis B e antigen (HBe Ag). Maternal transmission was suspected, because his mother's blood was positive for HBs Ag and his grand mother died from hepatic cirrhosis. The patient received a total dose of 4000 rad in 30 fractions. A chemotherapy cycle consisted of 5-FU (6 mg/M2/day, given continuously), EX (300 mg/M2, given on 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th week), VCR (1.5 mg/M2, on 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th week), and ADM (30 mg/M2, on 13th and 16th week). Since 6 months after the initiation of the chemotherapy, alpha-fetoprotein has become negative (less than or equal to 100n g/ml), and now, 2 years and 11 months after the diagnosis was settled, the patient remains a disease free state. His blood continues to be positive for HBs Ag.

[Ifosfamide in the treatment of small cell carcinoma of the lung]

A total of 36 cases with small cell carcinoma of the lung were treated with Ifosfamide. Fourteen cases (38.9%) out of 36 cases showed good or marked clinical response, and 120 mg/kg of Ifosfamide was necessary as a minimum dose to obtain effective response. As side effects of Ifosfamide, gastrointestinal disturbance (66.7%), depilation (66.7%), leukopenia (38.9%) and hematuria (36.1%) were observed. Mean survival time (M.S.T.) was prolonged by using Ifosfamide, comparing with the groups treated by with other anticancer drugs. Ifosfamide, therefore, should be used for the treatment of small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Calmodulin antagonists' binding sites on calmodulin

Troponin I inhibited, concentration-dependently, [3H]-N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7) and [3H]-trifluoperazine (TFP) binding to purified bovine brain calmodulin (CaM). Selective oxidation of methionine residues of CaM by N-chlorosuccinimide resulted in a rapid decrease in [3H]-W-7, [3H]-TFP and [14C]-chlorpromazine binding concomitant with the loss of CaM activity. Carbethoxylation of histidine residues, nitration of tyrosine residues and chemical modification of arginine residues with 1,2-cyclohexanedione produced no significant changes either in [3H]-W-7 binding to CaM or in the ability of CaM to stimulate phosphodiesterase. Our results suggest that the binding sites of these CaM antagonists on CaM may be located between the second and third Ca2+-binding loops.

Hydrophobic interaction of the Ca2+-calmodulin complex with calmodulin antagonists. Naphthalenesulfonamide derivatives

Calmodulin antagonists such as N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7), which bind to calmodulin (CaM) in the presence of Ca2+ and selectively inhibit CaM-induced enzyme activation, contain a hydrophobic moiety. In this study, the naphthalenesulfonamide derivatives that lacked the chlorine molecule were less hydrophobic than those with chlorine. The chlorine-deficient derivatives also were less able to suppress the fluorescence of the hydrophobic probe (2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate) in the presence of the Ca2+-CaM complex. The affinity of naphthalenesulfonamides for Ca2+-CaM correlated well with their hydrophobicity and their potency in inhibiting Ca2+-CaM-dependent enzymes such as Ca2+-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. The correlation between their hydrophobicity and affinity for the Ca2+-CaM complex also was observed when derivatives with various lengths of alkyl chain were used and when bromine, fluorine, or cyanogen was substituted for chlorine. Our observations suggest that these CaM antagonists may bind to the Ca2+-CaM complex through a hydrophobic interaction.

Two types of calcium-dependent protein phosphorylations modulated by calmodulin antagonists. Naphthalenesulfonamide derivatives

Ca2-dependent protein phosphorylations activated by calmodulin or phospholipid were studied using selective inhibitors. Both protein phosphorylations were inhibited by N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7) and its derivatives. Kinetic analysis indicated that the primary effect of these agents was mediated through a competitive inhibition of enzyme activation by interaction with calmodulin or phospholipid, and Ki values of W-7 for calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase were 12 microM and 110 microM, respectively. The addition of Ca2+ inhibited the binding of [3H]W-7 to phosphatidylserine but not the binding to calmodulin. The potencies of naphthalenesulfonamide derivatives as derivatives as inhibitors of Ca2+, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase were dependent on the length of the alkyl chain (C2-C10) but not on Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase. These results suggest that naphthalenesulfonamide derivatives may be more selective inhibitors of Ca2+, calmodulin-dependent protein phosphorylation than is Ca2+-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase and that the mechanism of interaction between W-7 and phosphatidylserine differs from the interaction between W-7 and calmodulin. These agents are useful tools for elucidating the physiological role of Ca2+-dependent protein phosphorylation.

Diagnostic and prognostic significance of chromosome abnormalities in marrow and mitogen response of lymphocytes of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia

Chromosomes of bone marrow from 28 patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) (26 with AML, 2 with AMMoL), 19 of whom had chromosome abnormalities, were studied; 11 cases exhibited previously unreported karyotypic abnormalities. The marrows of two cases had 8-21 translocations associated with an iso-X chromosome in the female patient and with 9q13- and a missing Y in the male patient. Usually, AML patients with a 8-21 translocation have been considered to have a good prognosis; however, our cases had rather short survival times. Therefore, the prognosis of AML with an 8-21 translocation but associated with other abnormalities is still not clear. Centromere spreading (CS), which was originally reported in marrow cells of megaloblastic anemia (B12 and folic acid deficiency), was detected in leukemic cells, disappeared during remission, and reappeared on relapse. These findings suggest that CS may be a new type of abnormality in AML. In two patients with atypical hypoplastic anemia and hemolytic anemia, chromosome abnormalities were detected at the anemic stage. One case with CS was associated with atypical hypoplastic anemia and developed AML after 1 year; the other with 48,XY,+i(1q),+3,/12 and -14 had hemolytic anemia and developed AMMoL 3 weeks later. Interestingly, identical clones were detected both before and after the clinical diagnosis of leukemia. These cases strongly support the concept that some chromosome abnormalities precede the clinical manifestations of leukemia. The present study also revealed that lymphocytes in ANLL respond poorly to PHA in the presence of high numbers of blasts but do respond well to mitogens during remission. Therefore, the response of lymphocytes to PHA may serve as one criterion for determining remission.

Relation of the gastric mucosal boundary between fundic gland and pyloric gland areas to the development of anastomotic ulcers. Experimental and clinical studies

Images