Arthritis in a human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) carrier

The case is described of a 57 year old woman with polyarthritis fulfilling the 1987 revised criteria of the American Rheumatism Association for rheumatoid arthritis, accompanied by clinical carrier state infection of HTLV-I. Anti-HTLV-I IgM antibodies were detected by western blot analysis in her synovial fluid and serum. Atypical lymphocytes with nuclear convolutions were found in synovial fluid and synovial tissue obtained from the affected knee joint, suggesting in situ activation of HTLV-I infected lymphocytes in the affected synovial compartment. The HTLV-I antigens were detected (1.2%) in short term cultured synovial fluid lymphocytes, by indirect immunofluorescence. These findings supported the possibility that HTLV-I has a role in triggering or modifying inflammation in the synovial compartment.

Human pancreatic adenocarcinoma-associated antigens defined by novel murine monoclonal antibodies Pak-1 and Pak-2

Two murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) Pak-1 and Pak-2 were established by immunizing Balb/c mice with human pancreatic adenocarcinoma xenografts, previously established in mice. Pak-1 showed a strong positive immunostaining to well- and moderately-differentiated tubular duct cell carcinoma of the pancreas but neither to poorly-differentiated nor to other non-tubular pancreatic carcinomas. Pak-2 showed a wide spectrum of immunostaining to ductal and islet cell carcinomas of the pancreas, revealing less reactivity to well-differentiated tubular duct cell carcinomas than Pak-1. The broad specificity of Pak-2 was similarly observed with extrapancreatic tumor tissues. Neither normal pancreatic tissues nor those with chronic pancreatitis were stained with Pak-1 and Pak-2, whereas the islet cells of normal pancreas were stained by both of them. Western blot analysis revealed that Pak-1 recognized two distinct glycoprotein molecules of ductal adenocarcinoma, 100K dalton molecular weight (MW) and pH6-7 isoelectric points (IP) on two dimensional electrophoresis, and that Pak-2 recognized three glycoprotein molecules, 35K dalton MW and pH7-10 IP. The treatment with periodic acid, neraminidase, trypsin and pronase revealed that antigenic epitopes of Pak-1 and Pak-2 may be composed of complex polysaccharide structure rather than terminal sialic acid residues.

A sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that activates fushi tarazu segmentation gene expression

The Drosophila segmentation gene fushi tarazu (ftz) is expressed at the cellular blastoderm stage in a pattern of seven transverse stripes; the stripes lie out of register with the segmental primordia, spanning alternate segmental boundaries. The zebra element, a 740-bp DNA sequence upstream of the ftz translational start, directs striped expression of lacZ when introduced into the fly genome. We have purified to homogeneity a sequence-specific DNA-binding factor, FTZ-F1, that binds to two sites located within the zebra element and to two sites within the ftz protein-coding sequence. FTZ-F1 DNA-binding activity is first detected in extracts of 1.5- to 4-hr embryos, coincident with the time of ftz expression in stripes; the activity then diminishes before reappearing during late embryo, larval, and adult stages. When one of the FTZ-F1-binding sequences in the zebra element is mutated by 2- or 4-base substitutions, the binding to FTZ-F1 is disrupted in vitro, and the intensity of lacZ expression is reduced in transformed embryos, especially in stripes 1, 2, 3, and 6. The results suggest that FTZ-F1 is a transcriptional activator necessary for the proper expression of the ftz gene.

Activated T lymphocytes in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP)

In order to detect activated T lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), we studied CSF lymphocytes in untreated patients with HAM/TSP and other neurological diseases (OND). Dual-immunofluorescence staining technique was performed using fluorescence microscopy. No significant difference in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio of CSF lymphocytes was observed between HAM/TSP patients and patients with OND. However, both CD4+ and CD8+ CSF lymphocytes of HAM/TSP patients contained higher percentages of HLA-DR-positive cells than those of patients with OND (P less than 0.05), suggesting that the activated CSF T lymphocytes were composed of both CD4+ and CD8+ subsets in patients with HAM/TSP.

Increased replication of HTLV-I in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy

To estimate the replication of the human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) in patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM), or tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP), HTLV-I DNA integrated into lymphocyte genomes was analyzed by Southern blot hybridization. HTLV-I DNA was detected in 125 (82%) of 153 patients and most showed random integration. This incidence was much higher than the 29% found in asymptomatic carriers. Therefore, HAM/TSP development is associated with a high level of HTLV-I replication. In addition, lymphocytes from 3 patients with HAM/TSP showed monoclonal integration of HTLV-I DNA, indicating adult T-cell leukemia.

Proliferative potential of degranulated murine peritoneal mast cells

The fate of mast cells after degranulation was investigated. Purified peritoneal mast cells of WBB6F1-+/+ mice were sensitized with monoclonal anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) IgE antibodies and stimulated with DNP conjugated with human serum albumin. Mast cells were vitally stained with neutral red, and highly degranulated mast cells were identified under a phase-contrast microscope and individually picked up with the micromanipulator. When these highly degranulated mast cells were individually plated in methylcellulose, their potential to produce a cluster or a colony was comparable to that of morphologically intact mast cells. Moreover, when highly degranulated mast cells were injected into the skin of genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/Wv mice, the proportion of injection sites at which mast cell clusters appeared was comparable to the value observed when morphologically intact mast cells were injected. The present result indicates that proliferative potential of mast cells is not reduced by their degranulation.

In vitro modulation of lymphocyte proliferation by prednisolone and interferon-alpha in patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM)

One of the hallmarks of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection is the proliferation in vitro of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in the absence of growth factors. This phenomenon, the autologous proliferative response (APR), involves spontaneous growth of HTLV-I-infected T-cells and proliferation of T-cells in response to the infected cells. We studied the modulating effect of prednisolone (PSL) and interferon-alpha (IFN) on APR of PBLs obtained from five patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM). APR was significantly inhibited by PSL and IFN suggesting that APR is important in the pathogenesis of HAM.

Predominant CD4 T-lymphocyte tropism of human herpesvirus 6-related virus

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6)-related virus was isolated from CD4+ CD8- and CD3+ CD4+ mature T lymphocytes but could not be isolated from CD4- CD8+, CD4- CD8-, and CD3- T cells in the peripheral blood of exanthem subitum patients. HHV-6-related virus predominantly infected CD4+ CD8+, CD4+ CD8-, and CD3+ CD4+ cells with mature phenotypes and rarely infected CD4- CD8+ cells from cord blood mononuclear cells, which suggested predominant CD4 mature T-lymphocyte tropism of HHV-6-related virus.

[Graft versus host disease in a human T cell leukemia virus-I carrier]

A 24 year-old woman developed severe congestive heart failure due to combined aortic and mitral valve failures associated with infectious endocarditis. She was operated on double valve replacement. At the open heart surgery, 7 units of blood were transfused. Her postoperative course was complicated with LOS and renal failure. She recovered gradually with assistance of intraaortic balloon pumping and hemodialysis. High fever, diarrhea, skin rash and impaired liver function appeared on the 10th postoperative day. Neither leukocytopenia or pancytopenia was seen. In blood cultures, organism was negative and endotoxemia was also negated after operation. Erythroderma developed rapidly after desquamation of skin rash. The skin sample showed the typical features which were observed in a graft-versus-host (GVH) disease. The patient died of cerebral bleeding on the 32nd postoperative day. In the HLA typing, two unmatched antigens of class II were exhibited in her lymphocyte sample but all of class I were matched. Y-chromatin was not detected in her lymphocytes. Anti-nuclear antibody was positive. The fact is noteworthy that she and her parents were human T lymphotropic virus-I (HTLV-I) carriers. In the literature, HTLV-I is activated in the immunocompromised state and yields alien antigens of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in T cells, then the reaction is very similar to it in autoimmune disease. That mechanism may be involved in the cause of GVH reaction in our case. These results suggested that the GVH reaction in our case.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Immunogenetic heterogeneity in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes among Japanese HLA antigens and organ-specific autoantibodies

HLA phenotypes and haplotypes in relation to organ-specific autoantibody responses were studied in 82 Japanese patients with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. HLA-DRw9 antigen and HLA phenotype of DRw9/X (X:not DR4) were increased in patients with organ-specific autoantibodies other than islet cell antibody (CP less than 0.02, RR = 4.02 and p less than 0.05 RR = 2.30, respectively); whereas HLA-DR4 antigen and HLA phenotype of DR4/X (X: not DRw9) were increased in those without the autoantibodies (CP less than 0.001, RR = 3.95 and p less than 0.01, RR = 2.46, respectively). HLA haplotype of Bw61-DRw9 was increased in patients with the autoantibodies (p less than 0.005, RR = 4.94), and HLA haplotype of Bw54-DR4 was increased in those without the autoantibodies (p less than 0.001, RR = 5.52). The relative risk of HLA-DR4/DRw9 was the highest among all HLA-DR phenotypes or genotypes in patients either with or without the autoantibodies. No association was, however, found between the incidence of islet cell antibody and HLA-DR phenotypes. These findings suggest that Type 1 diabetes among Japanese is immunogenetically heterogeneous as is Type 1 diabetes among Caucasians; and the differences in HLA-association of Type 1 diabetes among ethnic groups might give a clue to understanding of a role of HLA-antigens in the development of Type 1 diabetes.

HTLV-I-associated myelopathy and adult T-cell leukemia cases in a family

Familial cases of HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM) and adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), developing in a daughter and father, respectively, are reported. The coexistence of both diseases in a family has not been reported before. This supports the recent findings that ATL and HAM may be brought about by an identical virus on an apparently different immunogenetic background.

Hybrid resistance to parental bone marrow-derived cultured mast cells in the skin but not in the peritoneal cavity of (WB X C57BL/6)F1-W/Wv mice

When cultured mast cells of (WB X C57BL/6)F1-+/+(WBB6F1-+/+) and WB-+/+(WB) mice were directly injected into the skin of genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/Wv mice, mast cell clusters appeared at the injection sites. Although in vitro colony-forming ability is comparable between cultured mast cells of WB mice and those of WBB6F1-+/+ mice, the number of WB mast cells necessary for the appearance of mast cell clusters in the skin of WBB6F1-W/Wv mice was significantly larger than the number of WBB6F1-+/+ mast cells. In spite of the presence of such an apparent hybrid resistance in the skin of WBB6F1-W/Wv mice to mast cells of the WB parent, both WB and WBB6F1-+/+ mast cells grow in the peritoneal cavity of WBB6F1-W/Wv mice with comparable efficiency. This is a demonstration of the tissue-related (nonrecirculating) expression of hybrid resistance against nonmalignant hematopoietic cells.

Involvement of HLA in clinical courses of myasthenia gravis

The relationship between the histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA) phenotypes and the clinical course of myasthenia gravis (MG) was studied in 53 Japanese patients with MG. The frequency of HLA-DRw9 antigen was high in the MG patients who did not need immunosuppressive therapy but only anticholinesterase agents (RR = 4.52; CP less than 0.02), who achieved remission of the disease (RR = 2.98; CP less than 0.05) or who showed a decrease in AChR antibody (Ab) titer (RR = 6.32; CP less than 0.0002), whereas the frequency of HLA-DRw8 antigen was increased in MG patients who underwent immunosuppressive therapy (RR = 4.03; CP less than 0.01), who did not have remission (RR = 4.75; CP less than 0.1) or who showed an increase in AChR Ab titer (RR = 6.48; CP less than 0.01). These data suggest that immunogenetic heterogeneity in MG might be reflected in its clinical course.

HLA haplotype-linked high immune responsiveness against HTLV-I in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy: comparison with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma

HLA haplotypes of 27 patients with human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy (HAM) and 12 patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) were examined by analyzing HLA types of the patients and their family members. Either A11Bw54Cw1DR4DQw3, A24Bw54Cw1DR4DQ-, A24B7Cw7DR1DQw1, or A24Bw52Cw-DR2DQw1 and the related haplotypes were found in 70% of cases with HAM. None of these "HAM-associated" haplotypes was found in patients with ATLL. HLA haplotypes made up of HLA components of A26Bw62Cw3DR5DQw3 and one particular haplotype of Aw33B44Cw-DRw6DQw1 were associated with the ATLL haplotypes. These "ATLL-associated" haplotypes were also found in the patients with HAM who had no previous history of blood transfusion. The in vitro cultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes with HTLV-I virion antigens revealed that the response with HAM peripheral blood lymphocytes was remarkably higher than that with ATLL peripheral blood lymphocytes. Based on this HTLV-I-specific immune responsiveness, we can segregate the high responders in HAM (14 of 16 cases) and the low responders in ATLL (6 of 7 cases). The existence of high and low responders was also confirmed by the normal healthy individuals, whose responses were segregated with HAM-associated and ATLL-associated haplotypes. These results suggested that two ethnic groups in southern Kyushu may get the two different diseases, HAM and ATLL, because of their different immunogenetic backgrounds. The high immune response to HTLV-I seems to be an important genetic factor in the development of HAM.

Mother-to-child transmission of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I): a fifteen-year follow-up study in Okinawa, Japan

Okinawa prefecture is one of the endemic areas for adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) in Japan. In this study, 2,013 serum specimens drawn serially over a period of 15 years (1968-1983) from 311 mother/child pairs in Okinawa were tested for antibodies to human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and by indirect immunofluorescence. The prevalence rate of HTLV-I antibodies was 20.9% (65 cases) in the mothers and 3.2% (10 cases) in the children. Of the 65 seropositive mothers, 10 (15.4%) had seropositive children. This study revealed a significant difference between the prevalence rates of HTLV-I antibodies in mothers and children. In addition, children born to seropositive mothers had acquired their HTLV-I antibodies by the age of 3 years, and were still seropositive at the age of 18 years. No initially seronegative child was found to have seroconverted during the period investigated.

Altered HLA antigens expressed on T and B lymphocytes of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma patients and their relatives

The HLA types of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 36 adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) patients were examined and compared with those of 45 healthy relatives of these patients, and with those of 10 non-ATLL families including 80 healthy members. Thirty-one percent of ATLL patients showed either a gain or a loss of HLA antigens determined by the presence of alien HLA antigens or the absence of inherent HLA antigens deduced from familial haplotype analysis. The antigen specificity of HLA gained or lost was variable and differed from case to case among ATLL patients. Although the gain of HLA was detected only in ATLL patients, the loss of HLA was found both in ATLL patients and in asymptomatic healthy relatives. The rate of HLA loss in ATLL patients (8.4%) and their relatives (17.8%) was much higher than in relatives of non-ATLL patients (1.1%). The HLA gain and loss revealed in the PBL of ATLL patients were confirmed by altered HLA phenotypes in the cloned T and B cells established from ATLL patients. Our results suggest that latently infecting HTLV-I may induce altered HLA phenotypes in T and B cells, primarily with loss of HLA antigens in a population of asymptomatic virus carriers, and secondarily with a gain of HLA antigens after the development of ATLL.

Formation of mast-cell colonies in methylcellulose by mouse skin cells and development of mucosal-like mast cells from the cloned cells in the gastric mucosa of W/Wv mice

Connective tissue-type mast cells, other than those located in the serosal cavity, are fixed in the tissues. For study of the differentiation processes of mast cells in connective tissue, an in vitro method for producing mast-cell colonies is required. The authors enzymatically dispersed the cells from the skin of either neonatal or adult mice and plated them in methylcellulose containing pokeweed mitogen-stimulated spleen cell-conditioned medium (PWM-SCM). More than 97% of the colonies that developed consisted of mast cells alone. The clonal nature of the mast-cell colonies was determined by using the giant granules of C57BL/6-bgJ/bgJ mice as a marker: even when a mixture of skin cells from C57BL/6-bgJ/bgJ and C57BL/6-+/+ mice was plated, most of the resulting colonies consisted of either bgJ/bgJ-type mast cells alone or +/+-type mast cells alone. In spite of depletion of T-cell-derived factors, concentrations of mast cells and mast cell colony-forming units (CFU-Mast) in the skin of nude athymic mice are normal. However, PWM-SCM was necessary for in vitro development of mast-cell colonies from the skin of nude mice. The concentration of CFU-Mast in the skin of genetically mast-cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/Wv mice was negligible when compared with the value observed in the skin of control WBB6F1-+/+ mice. Individual mast-cell colonies derived from the skin of neonatal WBB6F1-+/+ mice were lifted from the methylcellulose, and cells from each colony were injected into the wall of the glandular stomach and the skin of WBB6F1-W/Wv mice. Most of the mast cell that appeared at the skin injection sites of the WBB6F1-W/Wv mice stained with berberine sulfate, indicating that they contained heparin. In contrast, the mast cells that appeared in the stomach mucosa of the recipient WBB6F1-W/Wv mice did not stain. This suggests that CFU-Mast located in the skin have not been committed to the connective tissue type. The present method may be useful for investigation of the mechanisms of mast-cell differentiation in connective tissue other than the serosal cavity.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I infection in neonates

One hundred twenty-eight serum samples, collected from infants transfused at the neonatal care unit of Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan, were tested for the presence of antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the indirect immunofluorescence test. Three of 128 were positive for anti-HTLV-I antibody. The three seropositive patients had received 62, 82, and 1160 mL of transfused blood. These patients did not receive any transfusion thereafter. In addition, no anti-HTLV-I antibodies were detected in the sera of their mothers and siblings. These data suggested that HTLV-I infection is one of the transfusion-associated complications in neonates.

Heterogeneity in myasthenia gravis: HLA phenotypes and autoantibody responses in ocular and generalized types

HLA phenotypes and autoantibody responses were studied in 71 Japanese patients with myasthenia gravis. HLA-A2, Bw61, and DRw9 were associated with ocular myasthenia gravis (corrected p [CP] less than 0.05 relative risk [RR] = 2.88; CP less than 0.02, RR = 3.60; and CP less than 0.001, RR = 4.63, respectively) and HLA-DRw8 was associated with generalized myasthenia gravis (CP less than 0.001, RR = 5.40). Neither HLA-B8 nor DR3 was found in Japanese patients. The titer of antiacetylcholine receptor antibody (AChR Ab) and the incidence of autoantibodies other than AChR Ab were higher in patients with generalized myasthenia gravis than in those with the ocular type (2.77 +/- 0.62 versus 0.17 +/- 0.03 pmol/ml, p less than 0.001; and 60.6 versus 29.0%, p less than 0.02, respectively). Patients with a high titer of AChR Ab or with autoantibodies had an increased frequency of HLA-DRw8 (CP less than 0.02, RR = 4.61, and CP less than 0.005, RR = 4.53, respectively); whereas patients with a low titer of AChR Ab or without autoantibodies had an increased frequency of HLA-DRw9 (CP less than 0.001, RR = 8.26, and CP less than 0.005, RR = 4.08, respectively). These findings suggest that ocular and generalized myasthenia gravis might have different immunogenetic backgrounds.

Mutual phenotypic changes between connective tissue type and mucosal mast cells

Connective tissue mast cells (CTMC) and mucosal mast cells (MMC) are apparently different, but the ontologic relationship between these two types of mast cells was unclear. We investigated the relationship by combining in vivo and in vitro techniques. Although bone marrow-derived mast cells developed in suspension culture resemble MMC, they acquired histochemical, electron microscopical, biochemical and immunological characteristics of CTMC after the transfer into the peritoneal cavity of genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/Wv mice. On the other hand, when single peritoneal mast cells (typical CTMC) of WBB6F1-+/+ mice were injected into the stomach wall of WBB6F1-W/Wv mice, CTMC appeared in the muscularis propria and MMC in the mucosa. These results suggest that CTMC and MMC may interchange and that their phenotypes are determined by the anatomical microenvironment in which the final differentiation occurs.

Hybrid resistance to parental mast cell precursors in the skin of (WB X C57BL/6)F1-W/Wv mice

When bone marrow cells of (WB X C57BL/6)F1-+/+ (WBB6F1-+/+) and WB-+/+ (WB) mice were directly injected into the skin of genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/Wv mice, mast cell clusters appeared at the injection sites. However, the number of WB bone marrow cells necessary for appearance of mast cell clusters was significantly larger than when bone marrow cells of WBB6F1-+/+ mice were used. When WB bone marrow cells were mixed either with WB thymus cells or with silica particles, the proportion of injection sites at which mast cell clusters appeared increased to the level that was observed after the injection of the same number of WBB6F1-+/+ bone marrow cells. When suckling WBB6F1-W/Wv mice of less than or equal to 18 days of age were used as recipients, bone marrow cells of WBB6F1-+/+ and WB mice produced mast cell clusters with a comparable efficiency. Both syngeneic thymus cells and silica particles are known to abrogate the hybrid resistance that is observed in the spleen against parental hematopoietic stem cells. The hybrid resistance in the spleen is not detectable in suckling mice, either. Thus, the poor growth of mast cell precursors in the skin and the poor growth of hematopoietic stem cells in the spleen seem to be regulated by the same mechanism.

Hybrid resistance to parental mast cell precursors in the skin of (WB X C57BL/6)F1-W/Wv mice

When bone marrow cells of (WB X C57BL/6)F1-+/+ (WBB6F1-+/+) and WB-+/+ (WB) mice were directly injected into the skin of genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/Wv mice, mast cell clusters appeared at the injection sites. However, the number of WB bone marrow cells necessary for appearance of mast cell clusters was significantly larger than when bone marrow cells of WBB6F1-+/+ mice were used. When WB bone marrow cells were mixed either with WB thymus cells or with silica particles, the proportion of injection sites at which mast cell clusters appeared increased to the level that was observed after the injection of the same number of WBB6F1-+/+ bone marrow cells. When suckling WBB6F1-W/Wv mice of less than or equal to 18 days of age were used as recipients, bone marrow cells of WBB6F1-+/+ and WB mice produced mast cell clusters with a comparable efficiency. Both syngeneic thymus cells and silica particles are known to abrogate the hybrid resistance that is observed in the spleen against parental hematopoietic stem cells. The hybrid resistance in the spleen is not detectable in suckling mice, either. Thus, the poor growth of mast cell precursors in the skin and the poor growth of hematopoietic stem cells in the spleen seem to be regulated by the same mechanism.

Development of mucosal mast cells after injection of a single connective tissue-type mast cell in the stomach mucosa of genetically mast cell-deficient W/Wv mice

Mast cells may be classified into at least two phenotypically distinct populations: connective tissue-type mast cells (CTMC) and mucosal mast cells (MMC). Mast cells in the peritoneal cavity of mice are typical CTMC, whereas mast cells in the mucosa of the stomach show morphologic characteristics of MMC. We investigated whether CTMC may change to MMC. A single peritoneal mast cell of WBB6F1-+/+ mice was identified under the phase-contrast microscope, picked up with the micromanipulator, and injected into the stomach wall of genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/Wv mice. The cells with histochemical and electron microscopical features of MMC developed in the mucosa, and those with histochemical features of CTMC in the muscularis propria. This directly demonstrates that a certain proportion of CTMC may function as a bipotent precursor for both MMC and CTMC.

Development of mucosal mast cells after injection of a single connective tissue-type mast cell in the stomach mucosa of genetically mast cell-deficient W/Wv mice

Mast cells may be classified into at least two phenotypically distinct populations: connective tissue-type mast cells (CTMC) and mucosal mast cells (MMC). Mast cells in the peritoneal cavity of mice are typical CTMC, whereas mast cells in the mucosa of the stomach show morphologic characteristics of MMC. We investigated whether CTMC may change to MMC. A single peritoneal mast cell of WBB6F1-+/+ mice was identified under the phase-contrast microscope, picked up with the micromanipulator, and injected into the stomach wall of genetically mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/Wv mice. The cells with histochemical and electron microscopical features of MMC developed in the mucosa, and those with histochemical features of CTMC in the muscularis propria. This directly demonstrates that a certain proportion of CTMC may function as a bipotent precursor for both MMC and CTMC.

Preparation of membrane fraction from herpes simplex virus-infected cells which induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes

The immunogenic capacity of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected cells and their subcellular membrane fractions was investigated by assessing the anti-HSV cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response in cultures of spleen lymphocytes from HSV-primed BALB/c mice. Methylchloranthrane-induced fibrosarcoma (Meth A) cells infected with HSV (HSV-Meth A) were fixed either with glutaraldehyde or by heating at 56 C to preserve their immunogenic competence and then used as a stimulator. Microsomes and plasma membranes were prepared from HSV-Meth A and their immunogenic activities were determined. Through the recovery of stimulatory activity in the plasma membrane fraction was half of that in the microsome fraction, the activity in the former was much more stable than in the latter and the plasma membrane fraction proved to be well qualified as an immunogen for anti-HSV CTL induction. Upon purification, the specific activity of the membrane fraction, on the basis of protein concentration, increased 43-fold.

Surveillance for typhoid fever in Matsuyama city during 1974-1981 and detection of Salmonella typhi in sewage and river waters

Eighty-two cases of typhoid fever were found in Matsuyama city in the period from 1974 to 1981. Seventy-six cases were found to be infected with Salmonella typhi other three with Salmonella paratyphi A, and the remaining three were diagnosed only clinically. The strains of S. typhi isolated from these patients showed such a variety of Vi-phage types as D1, D2, E1, M1, 53 and degraded Vi-positive strain (DVS). The concurrent survey of the city sewage and river waters for typhoid bacilli was conducted with total 578 samples taken therefrom. S. typhi was isolated from 120 of those samples. The Vi-phage types of the isolates were closely related with those of the isolates from the patients. The periodical examinations of the city sewage and the draining river may serve as a useful means for the controlling typhoid fever epidemics.

Inhibition of phagocytosis by erythrocyte membrane sialoglycoprotein on target liposomes

Sialoglycoprotein (GP) of human erythrocytes was incorporated into liposomes and its effect on the Fc receptor-mediated phagocytic reaction of human PMN cells was examined. Whereas liposomes carrying 2,4-dinitrophenylated lipid were, upon opsonization with rabbit anti-DNP, readily ingested by PMN cells and induced the NBT-reducing reaction, these reactions were markedly suppressed when GP was incorporated into the target liposomes. The inhibitory activity was found in the glycophorin A and B fractions, but the latter was more active than the former on a weight basis. It was estimated that incorporation of only a single molecule of GP per vesicle of 6000 lipid molecules may be sufficient to protect the particle from phagocytosis, but there was an apparent antagonism between the suppressive GP and opsonizing antibody as, with more antibody, more GP became necessary to inhibit phagocytosis. The effect of GP was largely abolished by trypsin treatment of GP-bearing liposomes or by the addition of F(ab')2 of anti-GP.

Is the major Drosophila heat shock protein present in cells that have not been heat shocked?

When eukaryotic cells are exposed to elevated temperatures they respond by vigorously synthesizing a small group of proteins called the heat shock proteins. An essential element in defining the role of these proteins is determining whether they are unique to a stressed state or are also found in healthy, rapidly growing cells at normal temperatures. To date, there have been conflicting reports concerning the major heat-induced protein of Drosophila cells, HSP 70. We report the development of monoclonal antibodies specific for this protein. These antibodies were used to assay HSP 70 in cells incubated under different culture conditions. The protein was detectable in cells maintained at normal temperatures, but only when immunological techniques were pushed to the limits of their sensitivity. To test for the possibility that these cells contain a reservoir of protein in a cryptic antigenic state (i.e., waiting posttranslational modification for use at high temperature), we treated cells with cycloheximide or actinomycin D immediately before heat shock. HSP 70 was not detected in these cells. Finally, we tested for the presence of a reservoir of inactive messages by using a high stringency hybridization of 32P-labeled cloned gene sequences to electrophoretically separated RNAs. Although HSP 70 mRNA was detectable in rapidly growing cells, it was present at less than 1/1,000th the level achieved after induction.

Preparation of stable target cells for anti-herpes simplex virus cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Using an avirulent strain of herpes simplex virus (HSV), SKa, and a methylcholanthrene induced sarcoma cell line, Meth A cells, we have developed a reliable target cell system for detection of cell-mediated cytotoxicity directed against HSV-infected cells. SKa-infection in Meth A produced no progeny virus but induced HSV-specific surface antigens as revealed by radioimmunoassay using 125I-labeled HSV antibody. Spontaneous release of 51Cr from the SKa-infected Meth A cells was no more than that from uninfected control cells but a strong spontaneous 51Cr release was produced in Meth A cells infected with KOS, a virulent strain which produced a progeny virus in Meth A and was lytic for the cells. When used as a target, SKa-infected Meth A cells could detect HSV-specific cytotoxicity by spleen and lymph node lymphocytes of mice immunized with SKa and KOS. This system also detected effector cytotoxic lymphocytes stimulated in vitro by mixed cultures of immune spleen cells and KOS-infected Meth A cells. Thus, the system should be valuable in studies of cell-mediated cytotoxicity directed against HSV-infected cells.

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte-inhibitory factor of Bordetella pertussis. III. Inhibition of Arthus reaction and peritoneal infiltration of PMN

In vivo biologic effects of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte-inhibitory factor (PIF) of Bordetella pertussis were tested by using two experimentally induced inflammatory processes in mice. The intravenous injection of a partially purified extract from phase I bacteria strongly inhibited the glycogen-induced peritoneal infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and the Arthus reactions, whereas little inhibitory activity was found in the extract from phase III bacteria. The activity was localized in the outer membrane of phase I bacteria, as was the in vitro PIF activity, and the two activities gave the same behavior in DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Therefore the observed suppression of inflammatory processes in mice is probably due to the inhibitory action of PIF on the function of PMN in vivo.

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte-inhibitory factor of Bordetella pertussis. II. Localization in the outer membrane

The outer and inner membranes and cytoplasm of spheroplasts of a strain of phase I B. pertussis were fractionated by density gradient centrifugation. The high density vesicles of the outer membranes isolated had the "Pili" characteristic of the bacteria and the same antigenicty as the bacterial surface. Activities for inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocytes were also almost exclusively localized in this outer membrane fraction. The histamine-sensitizing activity was more dispersed, but its specific activity was also highest in the outer membrane fraction. These results suggest that molecules carrying these activities, which are probably different entities together with the tissue-adhesive pili, form a virulence complex on the surface of phase I organisms of B. pertussis.

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte-inhibitory factor of Bordetella pertussis. I. Extraction and partial purification of phagocytosis- and chemotaxis-inhibitory activities

A new factor that inhibited phagocytosis to opsonized targets and chemotaxis of PMN was extracted from B. pertussis cells, and named PMN-inhibitory factor (PIF). Cells in phase I produced 10 times more PIF than those in phase III, and like other phase I-associated components--the hemagglutinin, the histamine-sensitizing factor and agglutinogens--PIF showed degenerative, phenotypic variation during in vitro culture of phase I bacteria. PIF was partially purified by four steps, including adsorption chromatography on Dansyl-aminononamethylene Sepharose. The resulting fraction was heterogeneous but showed little histamine-sensitizing and cytotoxic activities and was free from LPS, the hemagglutinin and a leukocyte agglutinin. The inherent resistance of B. pertussis cells, in either phase I or III, as demonstrated also in the present study, and PIF-mediated defiance against immunological defense mechanism may constitute a complex host-parasite relation in experimental infections with B. pertussis.

Binding and Vesiculation of Rabbit IgG by Rabbit Yolk Sac Membrane

Studies are described which establish the glycocalyx as the morphologic site for the binding of IgG to the membrane of the rabbit yolk sac and which indicate that micropinocytotic vesiculation is the mechanism for its cellular uptake.

Yolk sac membranes were exposed in vivo and in vitro to rabbit antihorse ferritin antibody. The membranes were then treated with ferritin and examined by electron microscopy for deposition of ferritin. Deposits of IgG-bound ferritin were found localized at the glycocalyx coat of the microvilli, intermicrovillar pits, and incipient micropinocytotic vesicles.

Stages in the micropinocytotic process are shown, depicting internalization of microvillial membrane surfaces, indicating that this is the mechanism by which IgG is taken up by the fetal yolk sac from the maternal uterine lumen for transfer to the fetus.

These findings are discussed in the context of the specificity and kinetic characteristics of the transfer process.