In vitro cellular interactions among thyrocytes, T cells and monocytes from patients with Graves' disease

In order to investigate the cellular interactions among thyrocytes, T cells and monocytes in thyroid glands from patients with Graves' disease, we determined alterations of HLA-DR antigen expression on thyrocytes and T cells, and the production of interferon-gamma during coculture of thyrocytes, T cells and monocytes obtained from patients with Graves' disease. Thyroid glands were obtained at operation from 17 patients with Graves' disease. When thyrocytes and autologous peripheral blood T cells were cocultured for 7 days, the percentage of HLA-DR antigen expression on thyrocytes was significantly increased by T cells and that on T cells was also significantly increased by thyrocytes. Addition of autologous monocytes to the mixtures of thyrocytes and T cells significantly increased the expression of HLA-DR antigens on both thyrocytes and T cells compared with mixtures without monocytes. In culture supernatants, interferon-gamma was detected in 4 of 14 cocultures of thyrocytes and T cells, in 5 of 10 cocultures of thyrocytes, T cells and monocytes, but not in any cultures of thyrocytes alone, T cells alone and T cells and monocytes. Induction of HLA-DR antigen expression on thyrocytes and T cells was blocked by addition of anti-interferon-gamma monoclonal antibody to the mixture. These results suggest that HLA-DR antigen positive thyrocytes are able to induce the HLA-DR antigen expression of T cells in the presence of monocytes, and the activated T cells are capable of producing interferon-gamma which acts on thyrocytes to induce and maintain the expression of HLA-DR antigens.

Protection against Campylobacter jejuni infection in suckling mice by anti-flagellar antibody

We obtained two monoclonal antibodies of IgM class and IgA class of immunoglobulin prepared from mouse spleen cells immunized with crude flagellar preparation, and a polyclonal antibody raised against purified flagellin monomer of Campylobacter jejuni in a rabbit. The specificity of the reaction of these antibodies for flagellar filament was confirmed by Western blotting and by immunoelectron microscopy. These antibodies caused agglutination of the bacteria and inhibited the motility of the bacteria. When a strain of C. jejuni was treated with IgM class monoclonal antibody before being inoculated into suckling mice, it reduced colonization of the intestinal tract by this bacteria. Inhibition of the colonization by IgA class monoclonal antibody was less effective than that of IgM class, and the polyclonal antibody consisting mostly of IgG class immunoglobulin was without effect.

The remarkable proliferation of helper T cell subset in response to autologous thyrocytes and intrathyroidal T cells from patients with Graves' disease

We have studied cellular interactions among thyrocytes, intrathyroidal T cells and peripheral blood T cells from Graves' patients. In the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction of Graves' patients, CD4+ cells were able to proliferate vigorously against autologous non-T cells, whereas CD8+ cells responded weakly to non-T cell stimulators. Furthermore, the proliferative response of the CD4+ 2H4+ suppressor-inducer T cell subset was increased like that of the CD4+ 2H4- helper T cell subset. In contrast to peripheral blood non-T cell stimulators, thyrocytes and intrathyroidal T cells had the ability to activate the CD4+ 2H4- helper T cell subset but were not able to cause proliferation both of CD4+ 2H4+ suppressor-inducer T cell and CD8+ suppressor/cytotoxic T cell subsets. The marked reduction in proliferative responses of CD4+ 2H4+ cells and CD8+ cells could not be attributed to a difference in kinetics or altered response to variable number of stimulator cells. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that the concentration of the helper T cell subset may be progressively increased and suppressor circuits may be unable to be activated in thyroid tissues. These abnormalities in cellular interactions may induce the excessive production of autoantibodies.

Dysfunction of suppressor T cells in thyroid glands from patients with Graves' disease

To investigate the suppressor function of intrathyroidal (TG) T cells in Graves' disease, the percentage of suppressor T cell subsets and the suppressor function of TG and peripheral blood (PB) lymphocytes in Graves' disease were compared by determining the in vitro production of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in reconstituted mixtures of separated B, CD4+ (helper/suppressor-inducer T), and CD8+ (suppressor/cytotoxic T) cells. TG lymphocytes were obtained by gradient centrifugation of the supernatants of minced thyroid tissues. T Cells were separated by E-rosette formation, and CD4+ and CD8+ cell-rich populations were separated by a panning method using monoclonal anti-CD8 antibody. Mixtures of 5 X 10(4) B (PB1 or TG) cells, 2 X 10(4) CD4+ (PB or TG) cells, and 5 X 10(3) macrophages (PB or TG) were cultured with various numbers of CD8+ (PB) or CD8+ (TG) cells for 7 days with pokeweed mitogen, and IgG synthesis was determined by solid phase RIA. T cell subpopulations were quantitated by a direct immunofluorescence method using monoclonal anti-CD3, anti-CD4, and anti-CD8 antibodies. There was no difference in the percentages of CD8+ cells among total T cells between thyroid glands and peripheral blood from Graves' disease patients [mean PB, 39.8 +/- 9.8% (+/- SD); TG, 42.5 +/- 13.8%; n = 10]. IgG production by mixtures of B and CD4+ cells isolated from peripheral blood was not different from that by cells isolated from thyroid glands [mean PB, 1635 +/- 248 (+/- SE) ng/mL; TG, 1081 +/- 128 ng/mL; n = 19; P = NS]. The nonspecific suppressor activity of thyroid gland CD8+ cells was less than that of CD8+ (PB) cells [percent suppression of IgG production by mixtures of B (PB) and CD4+ (PB) cells, 12.5% vs. 57.0% (P less than 0.01); by mixtures of B (TG) and CD4+ (TG) cells, 5.8% vs. 38.9% (P less than 0.01)]. The suppressor-inducer function of CD4+ (TG) cells was also decreased compared with that of CD4+ (PB) cells. These results suggest that the impairment of suppressor cell activity may lead to excessive production of autoantibody in thyroid glands from patients with Graves' disease.

Reduction in the suppressor-inducer T cell subset and increase in the helper T cell subset in thyroid tissue from patients with Graves' disease

The expression of surface markers associated with activation and characterization was compared among T cells in thyroid glands and peripheral blood of 10 patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism receiving chronic antithyroid drug therapy, in peripheral blood of 15 patients with untreated hyperthyroid Graves' disease, and in peripheral blood of 21 normal subjects using two-color flow cytometry. In the chronically treated Graves' disease patients, the percentage of activated T cells (HLA-DR+ T cells) among total T cells was significantly higher in thyroid tissue than in peripheral blood, and the increase in percent activated T cells was also significant among both helper/inducer T cell (CD4+ cell) and suppressor/cytotoxic T cell (CD8+ cell) subsets. The percentage of activated T cells in peripheral blood was not significantly different between chronically treated hyperthyroid Graves' patients and normal subjects, whereas the percentage of activated T cells in the peripheral blood from untreated hyperthyroid Graves' disease patients was significantly higher than that in normal subjects or chronically treated hyperthyroid Graves' patients. The percentages of CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells among total T cells were not different between thyroid tissues and peripheral blood in patients with chronically treated hyperthyroid Graves' disease. When CD4+ were further divided into helper T cells (CD4+2H4- cells) and suppressor-inducer T cells (CD4+2H4+ cells) using two-color flow cytometry, the percentage of helper T cells among CD4+ cells was significantly higher in thyroid tissue than in peripheral blood, resulting in an increased ratio of CD4+2H4- cells to CD4+2H4+ cells. The percentage of CD4+2H4+ cells in peripheral blood, however, was not significantly different among untreated and chronically treated Graves' disease patients and normal subjects. From the findings of abnormalities in intrathyroidal T cell subsets, we suggest that the decrease in the function of suppressor T cells within the thyroids of Graves' disease patients may be due to a decrease in CD4+2H4+ cells within thyroid tissue.

Structure of the Staphylococcus aureus cell wall determined by the freeze-substitution method

The fine structure of the Staphylococcus aureus cell wall was determined by electron microscopy with the new technique of rapid freezing and substitution fixation. The surface of the cell wall was covered with a fuzzy coat which consisted of fine fibers or an electron-dense mass. Morphological examination of the cell wall, which was treated sequentially with sodium dodecyl sulfate, trypsin, and trichloroacetic acid, revealed that this coat was partially removed by trypsin digestion and was completely removed by trichloroacetic acid extraction but was not affected by sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment, suggesting that the fuzzy coat consists mostly of a complex of teichoic acids and proteins. This was confirmed by the application of the concanavalin A-ferritin technique for teichoic acid and antiferritin immunoglobulin G technique for protein A.

Regional metabolite profiles in early stages of global ischemia in the gerbil

The present experiments were designed to determine the short-term regional changes in the cyclic nucleotides, certain glucose metabolites, high-energy phosphates, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, and glutamine in the gerbil brain following bilateral ligation of the common carotid arteries. The brains of the animals were microwaved at 20, 40, 60, 90, 120, and 300 sec of ischemia and the metabolites were measured in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. There were significant decreases in ATP, P-creatine, and glucose within the first 20 sec of ischemia in all three regions examined, whereas the increases in phosphate and lactate, as well as the loss of glycogen, were evident only after 40 sec of ischemia. The high-energy phosphates were essentially depleted (less than 15% of control values) in all three regions by 2 min of ischemia, indicating that the energy imbalance elicited by ischemia was comparable in the three regions. In contrast, the magnitude of the changes in the cyclic nucleotides was greater in the hippocampus than in the cerebral cortex or striatum. In addition, the decrease in cyclic GMP levels at 20 sec of ischemia preceded the increases in cyclic AMP observed at 40 sec in all three regions. The use of microwave irradiation to fix the gerbil brains not only provides a more accurate assessment of the time course of the metabolite changes but also permits studies on the deeper regions of the brain than is possible with freezing techniques.

CT enhancement after prolonged high-dose contrast infusion in the early stage of cerebral infarction

To demonstrate the BBB break-down on the CT image in the acute stage of cerebral infarction, a 3 hour continuous drip infusion of 200 ml of meglumine amidotrizoate, rather than the conventional bolus injection, was used. In this study, 22 examinations were carried out in 18 patients in whom cerebral infarction due to temporary or permanent obstruction of the cerebral artery was diagnosed by CT and angiography on admission. With each examination, the first CT was obtained prior to contrast infusion, and second immediately after the end of 3 hours of continuous contrast infusion. The EMI number was calculated at 3 regions of interest in the infarction. Within 3 days after stroke episode, 4 out of 5 patients with temporary vascular obstruction demonstrated enhancement, as well as 6 out of 9 patients with permanent vascular obstruction. Between 4 and 14 days after the stroke episode, all of 8 patients showed enhancement. To further clarify the extravasation of the contrast medium during the first 3 days of a cerebral infarction, a third CT scan was performed 3-hrs after finishing the contrast infusion in 4 patients. In these latter patients, blood was sampled at the time of each of the 3 CT series. The EMI number of the blood samples was also measured. In all 4 patients, the Gado's tissue-blood ratio (the EMI number of the CT lesion divided by that of the blood sample) was higher than 17.2% in the second, and higher than 54.7% in the third CT scan. Thus break-down of the BBB which was demonstrated by prolonged contrast infusion is an earlier event in human cerebral infarction than is usually accepted.

Glucocorticoid-suppressible hyperaldosteronism. Ultrastructural observation of a case

A 56-year-old woman presented with intracranial hemorrhage. Laboratory examinations revealed severe hypertension, hypokalemia, elevated aldosterone excretion, and suppressed plasma renin activity. Left adrenocortical tumor was suspected and adrenalectomy was performed. The laboratory data after operation, however, showed no significant difference from the preoperative data. On the basis of further examinations, dexamethasone was administered and returned blood pressure to normal, and also normalized serum potassium, plasma aldosterone, and renin activity. The patient's illness was diagnosed as glucocorticoid-suppressible hyperaldosteronism. Light microscopically, the zona glomerulosa was hypertrophic and the outer zona fasciculata decreased in lipid droplets and was centrifugally arranged in small alveoli. Electronmicroscopically, the cells of the outer zona fasciculata had several lipid droplets and well-developed sER. Mitochondria were round to oval with lamellar or lamellovesicular cristae. These findings were evidence of hyperfunction. The cytoplasm of the cells also contained spironolactone bodies. Therefore, it is assumed that the aldosterone, which induced the disorder, was produced mainly in the outer zona fasciculata.

Composite technique for regional neurochemical studies: measurement of energy and neurotransmitter metabolites in single tissue sample

A combined method is described for the determination of various metabolites from a single tissue sample of the brain. It comprises a quick inactivation of cerebral enzymes by microwave irradiation, easy separation of the desired brain regions, and perchloric acid extraction of tissue substances, which are assayed either by specific enzymatic techniques or by HPLC with electrochemical detection. The obtained values of most energy and neurotransmitter metabolites in the brain are in agreement with those reported using other methods. However, this technique, in contrast to the brain freezing in vitro or freeze-blowing, provides a more efficient procedure for rapid arrest of cerebral metabolism even in the deep brain structures and is therefore suitable for detection of early changes particularly those occurring in experimental pathological conditions such as ischemia.

Menkes disease: is vitamin C treatment effective?

The pathogenesis of Menkes disease seems to be linked to metallothionein which binds to copper trapped within cells in some tissues. The only known therapy for this disease is parenteral administration of copper, but the effects are equivocal. We treated a patient with Menkes disease by giving vitamin C orally. The clinical manifestation and bone changes improved and the plasma copper and ceruloplasmin levels gradually increased. Vitamin C may prevent the binding of copper and metallothionein by its reducing effect, and excess copper would be released from the cells. Vitamin C treatment is a simple and physiological method, and should aid in clarifying the pathogenesis of the disease.

Release of pentobarbital-induced depression of metabolic rate during bilateral ischemia in the gerbil brain

Treatment of gerbils with 40 mg/kg of pentobarbital (i.p.) reduced the metabolic rate in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex by approximately 60%. However, the depression of metabolic rate was lost within 40 s of ischemia and further, pentobarbital delayed but did not prevent the depletion of energy metabolites observed in the ischemic brain.

Cerebrovascular endothelial cell culture: metabolism and synthesis of 5-hydroxytryptamine

The presence of 5-hydroxytryptamine was investigated in cultured and propagated cerebrovascular endothelium using immunohistochemistry and high pressure liquid chromatography. These studies demonstrate that the endothelium has the ability to take up and metabolize 5-hydroxytryptamine as well as to synthesize this amine from its precursor L-tryptophan, thus providing evidence for extraneural synthesis of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the central nervous system.

New antibiotics, carbazomycins A and B. III. Taxonomy and biosynthesis

The carbazomycin-producing microorganism, strain H 1051-MY 10, was determined to a strain of Streptoverticillium ehimense. Biosynthesis of carbazomycin B was studied using 14C-labeled and 13C-enriched precursors in combination with 13C NMR spectroscopy. The C-2 carbon of [2-13C]trytophan was shown to be involved at the C-3 carbon in carbazomycin B and both carbons of [1,2-13C]acetate at the C-1 and C-10 moiety of the antibiotic. [CH3-13C]Methionine was involved at the methoxyl group but not at the methyl group on the C-2 carbon of the antibiotic. Neither of the labeled carbons, [1-14C]tryptophan nor [2,3-13C]propionic acid, was detected in the antibiotic, and a progenitor of the C-2 and C-11 moiety of the antibiotic has not been determined.

Purification and characterization of spirosomes in Lactobacillus brevis

Spirosomes, very find spiral particles, were isolated from a protoplastlysate of Lactobacillus brevis ATCC 8287 by differential centrifugation and purified further by potassium tartrate density gradient centrifugation. The purified spirosome preparation showed a maximum peak around 275 nm on the ultraviolet absorption spectrum and it consisted of about 94.5% protein. The buoyant density in CsCl of the spirosomes was 1.320 g/cm3. The spirosomes were composed mainly of a single protein (spirosin with an apparent molecular weight of about 95,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein of the spirosomes was found to be composed predominantly of neutral amino acids accompanied by approximately equal amounts of acidic and basic amino acids. The spirosomes showed one antigenic determinant in the immunodiffusion test. The spirosomes were readily degraded by the action or proteolytic enzymes and lost their antigenicity, but they were not affected by treatment with either deoxyribonuclease or ribonuclease. The spiral structure of the spirosome was also found to be disintegrated by treatment with 1 M guanidine hydrochloride, 4 M urea or 0.1% SDS, but not by the action of deoxycholate, nonionic detergents or mercaptoethanol, as observed in the electron microscope.

Effect of bleomycin, neocarzinostatin, and hydroxyurea on the preformed carrageenin granuloma in rats: mechanism of hyaluronic acid accumulation by bleomycin

In order to elucidate whether the effects of bleomycin on the production or accumulation of intercellular substances by rat carrageenin granuloma are specific to bleomycin or a general response of the granulomatous tissue to the substances interfering with DNA synthesis, we examined the wet (or dry) weight and various components (DNA and glycosaminoglycans) in the granulomatous tissue of rats treated with bleomycin, neocarzinostatin, or hydroxyurea. The changes in various parameters of the granuloma after withdrawal of the inhibitors of DNA synthesis were different with different inhibitors tested. The highest recovery rate of DNA contents in the granulomatous tissue observed after withdrawal of bleomycin. It was also found that bleomycin caused much higher accumulation of hyaluronic acid in rat carrageenin granuloma than neocarzinostatin or hydroxyurea. This accumulation mechanism was indicated to be the results of the inhibition of mucopolysaccharidase activities via cells rather than those of the stimulation of glycosaminoglycan synthesis. These findings obtained in our experimental granuloma-system are of particular importance in considering the mechanism of the side effects of bleomycin.