Sequence analysis of the MAGE gene family encoding human tumor-rejection antigens

The MAGE multigene family, which includes the MAGE-1 and -3 genes that encode tumor-rejection antigens on HLA-A1 recognized by cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL), is preferentially expressed at the mRNA level on human malignant cells, but not on normal cells. However, little is known about the MAGE-4, -41 and -6 genes. In this study, we have amplified 1040 bp (MAGE-1), 1061 bp (MAGE-3 and -6) and 1064 bp (MAGE-4 and -41) cDNA fragments, including the entire coding sequences (927-951 bp), using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method followed by nucleotide (nt) sequencing. One member had greater than 80 or 66% homology with the other members at the nt or deduced amino acid (aa) levels, respectively. Higher homology was found between MAGE-3 and -6 (98% at the nt level) and also between MAGE-4 and -41 (98%). The results of this investigation demonstrated high homology, as well as the clear differences between the members of the MAGE family at the coding sequence level.

A novel missense mutation (C522Y) is present in the beta-hexosaminidase beta-subunit gene of a Japanese patient with infantile Sandhoff disease

A novel missense mutation (1565G-->A) was identified in the cDNA and genomic DNA coding for the beta-hexosaminidase beta-subunit of a Japanese patient with infantile Sandhoff disease. The patient was homozygous for this mutation, which should result in a cysteine-to-tyrosine substitution at codon 522. Computer-assisted analysis of this amino acid substitution predicted alteration in the secondary structure in the region of a highly conserved sequence. An immunofluorescence study revealed the accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in cultured fibroblasts from the patient with this mutation.

[Experimental infection of infant rabbits with verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli of bovine origin]

Infant rabbits were used as a model to study the diarrhogenicity of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) isolated from bovine. Infant rabbits aged 6 days were inoculated intragastrically with 10(9) viable bacteria of four VTEC or three non-VTEC strains. Of these strains, three strains (VT+, eaeA+), one strain (VT+, eaeA-) and one strain (VT-, eaeA+) caused diarrhea in rabbits 48 to 60 hr after inoculation. None of the two strains (VT-, eaeA-) caused symptoms. Based on these results, it is suggested that the 6-day-old infant rabbit is a suitable animal for studying diarrhea caused by VTEC or eaeA-positive E. coli strains of bovine origin.

Development of intestinal flora of human-flora-associated (HFA) mice in the intestine of their offspring

Development of intestinal flora in newborn human-flora-associated (HFA) mice was compared with that in newborn conventional (CV) mice. Facultative anaerobes were detected from the first day after birth in both CV and HFA mice but anaerobes were not detected in the first week. Anaerobes rapidly increased from the 2nd week after birth and became predominant in newborn intestine. Most of the intestinal bacteria in adult CV and HFA mice were colonized in the intestine of CV and HFA mice, respectively, within 3 weeks after birth. The human intestinal flora established in the intestine of HFA mice finally reproduced without any remarkable change in composition in the intestine of newborn HFA mice. The development of intestinal flora in HFA mice was similar to that in CV mice but not that in human infants. These results indicated that human flora associated in HFA mice could be transferred from mothers to their offspring although HFA mice could not simulate the development of intestinal flora of the human infant.

[Serum 1-methyladenosine and pseudouridine as tumor markers in tumor-bearing mice]

It is known that in cancer patients elevated levels of modified nucleosides originated from RNA are excreted in the urine. Modified nucleosides in the serum are thought to be more useful than those in the urine as tumor markers because they are not influenced by other factors. However the determination of these nucleosides is difficult because of their low amounts. To examine the efficacy of the modified nucleosides in the serum as tumor markers, ascites and solid tumor mouse models were prepared, and the amounts of 1-methyladenosine and pseudouridine in the serum were determined. Along with the growth of ascites tumor, the amounts of 1-methyladenosine and pseudouridine in the serum increased. The modified nucleosides in the serum in a solid tumor model also increased. This is the first report on the variation in the amount of 1-methyladenosine in the serum of tumor models, and the results suggest the usefulness of measuring the amounts of 1-methyladenosine and pseudouridine in the serum as tumor markers.

[Causative agent of the so-called "light disease of shrimps" is luminescent Vibrio cholerae non-O1]

A number of luminous fresh-water shrimps were found in a fish preserve in Lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture, in the middle of July, 1994, and most of them died within several hours after collection (the so-called "light disease of shrimp"). Four luminous organisms were isolated from a dead shrimp. Although the phenotypic properties of these strains were similar to those of V. cholerae or V. mimicus, a representative strain, 838-94, was shown to have a high level (79%) of DNA homology with V. cholerae type strain, ATCC 14035 and a low level (45%) of relatedness to V. mimicus type strain, ATCC 33653. Therefore, these isolates were identified as V. cholerae. The four strains fell into serogroup O28 of V. cholerae. On the other hand, none of the isolates had CT nor NAG-ST genes. The results obtained herein clearly demonstrate that these organisms isolated from luminous shrimps are luminescent V. cholerae serogroup O28.

The role of cardiac output response in blood flow distribution during exercise in patients with chronic heart failure

The relationship between blood flow in the working leg and cardiac output (Q) response was determined for patients with chronic heart failure. The ratio of leg blood flow (LBF) to Q (LBF/Q) at the same workload during submaximal exercise was significantly different in three groups of patients classified by peak cardiac index: it was 0.22 +/- 0.08 in the 'satisfactory' Q group vs 0.33 +/- 0.09 in the moderate Q group, and 0.38 +/- 0.08 in the poor Q group (P < 0.01) in the first stage of exercise. delta LBF/delta Q, the slope of change in leg blood flow to Q from rest to peak exercise, was significantly larger in the poor Q group than in the satisfactory Q group (P < 0.01). The intergroup arteriovenous oxygen difference (AVO2D) in organs other than the leg was large, while that in the working leg was small. Leg vascular resistance at submaximal workload was similar in the three groups, but vascular resistance in other organs was significantly higher in the poor Q group than in the satisfactory Q group (P < 0.001). These findings suggested that metabolic vasodilating stimuli in the working leg attenuated excessive vasoconstriction and caused a shift in blood flow from other organs to the working leg under conditions of severely reduced Q response.

Closure of oroantral communications using a pedicled buccal fat pad graft

PURPOSE

This report evaluates the use of a pedicled buccal fat pad graft for closure of oroantral fistulae.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fourteen patients with oroantral communications, ranging from 8 to 20 mm in diameter, were treated by the use of a pedicled buccal fat pad graft.

RESULTS

The procedure was successful in 13 of 14 patients. Postoperatively, the orally exposed fat gradually was transformed into a granulation-like tissue and epithelization developed within 3 weeks.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that the procedure has wide application and a high degree of success.

Detection of MAGE-4 protein in lung cancers

Expression of genes of the MAGE family, which encode tumor-rejection antigens recognized on HLA-AI and -Cw1601 by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), was investigated in lung cancers at the mRNA [MAGE-1, -2, -3/-6, and -4 (4a and/or 4b)] and protein (MAGE-4) levels. MAGE-1, -2, -3/-6 and -4 genes were expressed, respectively, at the mRNA level in 6, 7, 20 and 7 of 53 lung cancers (50 non-small-cell lung cancers and 3 small-cell lung cancers) by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Polyclonal antibody (Ab) and monoclonal antibody (MAb) against recombinant MAGE-4b protein were developed to detect MAGE-4 protein. Both the polyclonal Ab and the R5 MAb recognized a 45-kDa protein in extracts of MAGE-4 mRNA-positive lung cancers, and showed no apparent cross-reactivity with the other MAGE gene products except with MAGE-4a by immunoblot analyses and transfection experiments. MAGE-4 protein was detected on 13 of 44 (30%) lung cancers (18 to 55,989 pg/mg) by ELISA with the polyclonal Ab and R5 MAb. These 13 lung cancers consisted of 6 of 6 MAGE-4 mRNA-detectable and 7 of 38 MAGE-4 mRNA-undetectable lung cancers. Histologically, these comprised 7 of 10 squamous-cell carcinomas, 4 of 30 adenocarcinomas and 2 of 3 small-cell lung cancers. The proportions of MAGE gene-positive samples, at both the mRNA and protein levels, correlated with the size of the primary tumors and with regional node involvement. These results should provide important information on specific immunotherapy of lung cancers using MAGE gene products.

Neuronal cell expression of inserted isoforms of vertebrate nonmuscle myosin heavy chain II-B

Previous work has demonstrated that unique isoforms of nonmuscle myosin heavy chain II-B (MHC-B) are expressed in chicken and human neuronal cells (Takahashi, M., Kawamoto, S., and Adelstein, R. S. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 17864-17871). These isoforms, which appear to be generated by alternative splicing of pre-mRNA, differ from the MHC-B isoform present in a large number of nonmuscle cells in that they contain inserted cassettes of amino acids near the ATP binding region and/or near the actin binding region. The insert near the ATP binding region begins after amino acid 211 and consists of either 10 or 16 amino acids. The insert near the actin binding region begins after amino acid 621 and consists of 21 amino acids. Using a variety of techniques, we have studied the distribution and expression of the inserted MHC-B isoforms. In the developing chicken brain, mRNA encoding the 10-amino acid insert gradually increases after embryonic day 4, peaks in the 10-14-day embryo, and then declines. In contrast, the mRNA encoding the 21-amino acid insert appears just before birth and is abundantly expressed in the adult chicken cerebellum. There is a marked species difference between the distribution of the inserted isoforms in adult tissues. The mRNA encoding MHC-B containing the 10-amino acid insert near the ATP binding region is expressed at low levels in the adult chicken brain, but makes up most of the MHC-B mRNA expressed in the human cerebrum and approximately 90% of MHC-B in the human retina. It is also expressed in neuronal cell lines. The mRNA encoding MHC-B containing the 21-amino acid insert is abundantly expressed in the chicken cerebellum and human cerebrum, but is absent from the retina and cell lines. Employing human retinoblastoma (Y-79) and neuroblastoma (SK-N-SH) cell lines, an increase in expression of mRNA encoding the 10-amino acid inserted isoform was seen following treatment by a number of agonists or by serum deprivation. In each case, expression of the inserted MHC-B isoform correlated with cell differentiation (neuronal phenotype) and inhibition of cell division. Using a rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC12), we found that prior to treatment with nerve growth factor (NGF), there was no evidence for either inserted isoform, although noninserted MHC-B was present. NGF treatment resulted in the appearance of mRNA encoding MHC-B containing the 10-amino acid insert, concomitant with neurite outgrowth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dorsalizing and neuralizing properties of Xdsh, a maternally expressed Xenopus homolog of dishevelled

Signaling factors of the Wnt proto-oncogene family are implicated in dorsal axis formation during vertebrate development, but the molecular mechanism of this process is not known. Studies in Drosophila have indicated that the dishevelled gene product is required for wingless (Wnt1 homolog) signal transduction. We demonstrate that injection of mRNA encoding a Xenopus homolog of dishevelled (Xdsh) into prospective ventral mesodermal cells triggers a complete dorsal axis formation in Xenopus embryos. Lineage tracing experiments show that cells derived from the injected blastomere contribute to anterior and dorsal structures of the induced axis. In contrast to its effect on mesoderm, overexpression of Xdsh mRNA in prospective ectodermal cells triggers anterior neural tissue differentiation. These studies suggest that Wnt signal transduction pathway is conserved between Drosophila and vertebrates and point to a role for maternal Xdsh product in dorsal axis formation and in neural induction.

Expressing kidney uptake during 99Tcm-MAG3 renography in terms of administered activity

In a study of gamma-camera renography, a digitized time-activity curve, or renogram, was standardized in terms of absolute renal uptake. The algorithm for standardization of the renogram was based on a gamma-camera uptake method employed by Gates and Schlegel et al. All count rates for the background-corrected renograms were converted to percent renal uptake per injected dose per minute (%RU). The maximum value for the scale on the y-axis was set at 20% RU. The renograms were generated from 66 kidneys in 35 patients (27 males, 8 females) aged 19-80 years. Using the newly developed computer program, the shape of the renograms was considered abnormal between 8/52 (15%) and 10/53 (19%) kidneys, depending on the observer, all of which were classified as normal when displayed conventionally. All the renograms for 4 patients with one poorly functioning kidney, and between 8 (28%) and 10 (32%) renograms for 31 patients with two poorly performing kidneys, exceeded the maximum g-axis value of 20% RU. Expression of the renograms based on absolute uptake is helpful in avoiding the potential problem of two poorly functioning kidneys, which may be considered near-normal in terms of count rate. The maximum value on the y-axis in 99Tcm-MAG3 renography should be fixed between 25 and 30% RU, while the actual amplitude of the standardized renogram may depend on the method used for quantification.

N-oxygenation of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine by the rat liver flavin-containing monooxygenase expressed in yeast cells

N-oxygenation of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), a dopaminergic neurotoxin, was studied using recombinant rat liver flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO), FMO1A1, expressed in yeast cells. The mean (+/- S.D.) kinetic parameters of MPTP N-oxygenation were: Km = 1.8 +/- 0.5 microM, Vmax = 9.5 +/- 1.6 nmol/mg per min, and Vmax/Km = 4.6 +/- 0.5 ml/mg per min. n-Octylamine, an activator of FMO, enhanced the MPTP N-oxygenation activity by 51%, while methimazole, thiobenzamide and alpha-naphthylthiourea, alternate substrates of FMO, inhibited it by 27.4, 68.0 and 59.2%, respectively. The results indicate that MPTP is efficiently N-oxygenated by the recombinant rat liver FMO1A1, and that the responses to the modulators of FMO activity found in the recombinant rat liver FMO1A1 resemble those of mouse and rat liver microsomes as reported previously. The findings suggest that the recombinant FMO expressed in yeast cells is considered as a useful tool to study an involvement of FMO in the metabolism of environmental toxins or chemicals. In addition, FMO1A1 appears to be one of the predominant enzymes responsible for the N-oxygenation of MPTP at least in rat liver.

The role of IL-10 in human B cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation

Recent studies have disclosed variable effects of IL-10 on viabilities of human B lineage cells. Thus, IL-10 has been shown to prevent apoptosis of germinal center B cells, whereas IL-10 has been found to induce apoptosis of B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells, suggesting the possibility that the effects of IL-10 might be different depending on the state of activation of B cells. The current studies therefore examined in detail the regulation of the survival of human peripheral blood B cells by IL-10 and its relevance to Ig production. Highly purified B cells from healthy adult individuals were cultured with Staphylococcus aureus (SA) Cowan I in the presence or absence of IL-10. When IL-10 was present during the initial activation of B cells with SA, IL-10 facilitated the apoptosis of SA-activated B cells, as determined by staining with propidium iodide, followed by analysis with flow cytometry, thus resulting in very modest IgM production. IL-2 prevented the IL-10-mediated progression of the apoptosis of SA-activated B cells during the initial activation, and thus restored the further differentiation of these B cells into Ig secreting cells. By contrast, IL-10 rather rescued SA-activated B cells from apoptosis and thus supported the differentiation of these B cells without any influences of IL-2, when it was added after 72 h of culture. Of note, cyclosporin A prevented the IL-10-mediated promotion of the apoptosis of SA-activated B cells, thus resulting in the marked enhancement of IgM production of B cells stimulated with SA + IL-10. Finally, the promotion or prevention of the IL-10-mediated apoptosis was correlated with the expression of Bcl-2 oncoprotein in SA-activated B cells. These results indicate that the effects of IL-10 are different depending on the state of activation of B cells after ligation of Ag receptors. Thus, the data have demonstrated that IL-10 during the initial activation delivers negative signals that promote the apoptosis of B cells, whereas IL-10 supports the differentiation of B cells in the complete absence of IL-2 during the subsequent responses following activation. These results therefore emphasize unique biphasic effects of IL-10 on human B cell responsiveness in determining the outcome of humoral immune responses.

[Clinical application of digital TV tomosynthesis to disorders of the wrist and their post-operative evaluation]

The clinical utility of digital TV tomosynthesis was assessed in 13 patients with chronic disorders of the wrist and the first carpometacarpal joints, and a post-operative evaluation was carried out. The disorders included nonunion of the scaphoid in five patients, Kienböck's disease in four, subluxation of the distal radioulnar joint in two, and osteoarthrosis of the first carpometacarpal joint in two. The total time needed to obtain two sets of tomographs of a wrist by digital TV tomosynthesis was about 10 minutes, or approximately one third of the time required with conventional methods. The total radiation exposure in obtaining all tomographs of one direction with digital TV tomosynthesis was less than that in obtaining only one tomograph with conventional methods. Digital TV tomosynthetic images were judged superior to conventional tomographs by four orthopedic surgeons and four radiologists, because tomographic blur was reduced in part by a spatial frequency filter processing. Clinically, digital TV tomosynthesis was very helpful in evaluating nonunion of the scaphoid and Kienböck's disease, especially in their post-operative conditions with metallic fixative devices. Digital TV tomosynthesis was found to be a fast, feasible and inexpensive method with low radiation exposure for evaluating disorders of the wrist.

The role of IL-10 in human B cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation

Recent studies have disclosed variable effects of IL-10 on viabilities of human B lineage cells. Thus, IL-10 has been shown to prevent apoptosis of germinal center B cells, whereas IL-10 has been found to induce apoptosis of B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells, suggesting the possibility that the effects of IL-10 might be different depending on the state of activation of B cells. The current studies therefore examined in detail the regulation of the survival of human peripheral blood B cells by IL-10 and its relevance to Ig production. Highly purified B cells from healthy adult individuals were cultured with Staphylococcus aureus (SA) Cowan I in the presence or absence of IL-10. When IL-10 was present during the initial activation of B cells with SA, IL-10 facilitated the apoptosis of SA-activated B cells, as determined by staining with propidium iodide, followed by analysis with flow cytometry, thus resulting in very modest IgM production. IL-2 prevented the IL-10-mediated progression of the apoptosis of SA-activated B cells during the initial activation, and thus restored the further differentiation of these B cells into Ig secreting cells. By contrast, IL-10 rather rescued SA-activated B cells from apoptosis and thus supported the differentiation of these B cells without any influences of IL-2, when it was added after 72 h of culture. Of note, cyclosporin A prevented the IL-10-mediated promotion of the apoptosis of SA-activated B cells, thus resulting in the marked enhancement of IgM production of B cells stimulated with SA + IL-10. Finally, the promotion or prevention of the IL-10-mediated apoptosis was correlated with the expression of Bcl-2 oncoprotein in SA-activated B cells. These results indicate that the effects of IL-10 are different depending on the state of activation of B cells after ligation of Ag receptors. Thus, the data have demonstrated that IL-10 during the initial activation delivers negative signals that promote the apoptosis of B cells, whereas IL-10 supports the differentiation of B cells in the complete absence of IL-2 during the subsequent responses following activation. These results therefore emphasize unique biphasic effects of IL-10 on human B cell responsiveness in determining the outcome of humoral immune responses.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs differentially regulate cytokine production in human lymphocytes: up-regulation of TNF, IFN-gamma and IL-2, in contrast to down-regulation of IL-6 production

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are well known as immunoregulators, but the mechanisms of their action are not fully explained by the inhibition of PG synthesis. We have investigated the effect of NSAIDs on cytokine production in human PBMC and T cell clones (TCC). NSAIDs up-regulated TNF, IFN-gamma and IL-2 production at both the mRNA and protein levels, and IL-12 expression at the mRNA level. In contrast, NSAIDs down-regulated IL-6 production both at the mRNA and protein levels, and down-regulated IL-4 mRNA expression. The modulation at the mRNA level became detectable 1 h after culture. This modulation was also observed at the level of TCC. Indomethacin (IM) enhanced TNF production in all the eight TCC that were established from a patient with human T lymphotrophic virus type 1 uveitis or pulmonary sarcoidosis, and suppressed IL-6 production in six of the eight TCC, without affecting their low levels of PGE2 production. IM also enhanced TNF and suppressed IL-6 production, respectively, in both IL-2-activated PBMC and IL-2-dependent NK cell line, with the inhibition of their high levels of PGE2 production. Culture with PGE2 alone suppressed TNF production by three of the six TCC and NK cell lines, which was neutralized by addition of IM. It had, however, no effect on TNF production by the remaining three TCC or IL-2-activated PBMC. The effects of PGE2 on IL-6 production also varied among TCC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of serum and urinary levels of modified nucleoside, 1-methyladenosine, in cancer patients using a monoclonal antibody-based inhibition ELISA

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of serum 1-methyladenosine, several modifications have been made in our previously established inhibition ELISA system. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labeled anti-mouse IgG and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMBZ) were used as a secondary antibody and a substrate, respectively. The second blocking was done just before the addition of the secondary antibody. The standard curve of the modified ELISA system showed good linearity between 1 and 1,000 ng/ml, and the detection limit was 50 pg/well. Using the ultrafiltrated-serum samples, serum 1-methyladenosine levels in healthy individuals and cancer patients were determined. The mean level of 1-methyladenosine in 31 healthy individuals was 28.3 +/- 7.9 ng/ml, and cut off value was set at 44.1 ng/ml (Mean+ 2SD). In cancer patients, elevated levels of serum 1-methyladenosine above the cut off value were detected in 4 out of 25 cases tested, though 11 cases had elevated urinary 1-methyladenosine levels above the cut off value (3.23 nmol/mumol creatinine). Since 1-methyladenosine has no interaction with serum proteins and its molecular weight is quite low, it might be rapidly excreted into the urine.

[Renovascular hypertension and captopril-enhanced renal scintigraphy]

Renovascular hypertension (RVH) is a secondary hypertension that is caused by the renal artery stenosis and is curable by surgical treatment. Sensitivity and specificity of CRS for RVH have been reported to be in exceed of 90%. Captopril-enhanced renal scintigraphy (CRS) has become an important tool in the diagnosis of RVH. In addition, the recent reports indicate that CRS is a promising means of prognostic evaluation in re-vascularization of RVH. In this report, pathophysiological considerations, methods, diagnostic criteria, diagnostic efficacy and consideration for clinical application are reviewed.