Suppression of genetic resistance to bone marrow grafts and natural killer activity by administration of fat emulsion

Graft rejection is one of the major obstacles to successful bone marrow transplantation (BMT). If resistance to marrow grafting could be avoided, BMT could be used widely in treatment of hematological and immunological disorders. There has been evidence that natural killer (NK) cells play a major role in genetic resistance to BMT and that macrophages are also involved in genetic resistance. Agents toxic to macrophages such as silica and carrageenan have been found to have a suppressive effect on genetic resistance to BMT. Parenteral fat emulsions are known to accumulate in macrophages and to impair various functions of macrophages and those of the reticuloendothelial system. We show here that the administration of a fat emulsion, Intralipos 20%, to recipient mice can suppress genetic resistance to bone marrow grafts and NK cell activity probably through the impairment of the macrophage function. The administration of the fat emulsion might be a new tactic in conditioning protocols for human BMT in the future.

Stromal cell-dependent growth of leukemic cells from murine erythroblastic leukemia

Transplantable erythroblastic leukemia was induced by 300-rad irradiation of C3H mice. Conditions for in vitro growth of the leukemic cells were studied. None of interleukin-3, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor and erythropoietin could support the growth of the cells in vitro. In contrast, the leukemic cells grew into a stroma-dependent cell line, ELM-D, in close contact with the stromal cell layer of 900-rad-irradiated long-term bone marrow culture. A stroma-independent cell line, termed ELM-I-1, was further established from the non-adherent population in the co-culture of the leukemic cells, ELM-D, with stromal cells. Reverse transcriptase activity was not detectable in ELM-D or ELM-I-1 cells. Studies on binding and cross-linking of 125I-erythropoietin showed that ELM-I-1 cells had erythropoietin receptors, and two major radiolabeled protein products with molecular weights of 120 kDa and 140 kDa were detected on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions.

Refractory myelodysplastic anaemias with hypocellular bone marrow

Thirty three patients with refractory myelodysplastic anaemias (RMDA) with marrow hypocellularity were reviewed to see whether they differed from those with normocellular or hypercellular marrows. The median age was 65 years with a male:female ratio of 26:7. There were 11 cases of refractory anaemia (RA), four of refractory anaemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS), and 18 of refractory anaemia with excess of blasts (RAEB). All presented with peripheral cytopenias, mostly pancytopenia or bicytopenia dysplasia in one or more cell lineages, and a marrow biopsy specimen with less than normal numbers of nucleated cells for the age. Twenty four patients died, including 14 of the 16 who developed acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia (ANLL). The results suggest that patients with hypocellular RMDA have a similar prognosis to those with normocellular or hypercellular marrows at presentation.

Characteristics of the IL-2 receptor expressed on large granular lymphocytes from patients with abnormally expanded large granular lymphocytes. Implication of a non-Tac IL-2-binding peptide

Large granular lymphocytes (LGL) from four patients with abnormally expanded LGL in the peripheral blood were studied regarding their receptor for IL-2. LGL from none of the cases examined expressed Tac Ag, an Il-2R glycoprotein recognized by anti-Tac mAb. However, 125I-labeled IL-2 binding experiments demonstrated that 1400 to 2800/cell IL-2 binding sites with a single affinity (K: 0.46-1.4 nM) were expressed on LGL from the four patients. The affinity was not high but about 10-fold higher than that of the low affinity IL-2R expressed on activated normal T lymphocytes. Furthermore, LGL from the four patients proliferated in response to higher concentrations of IL-2 and these responses were not inhibited by an excess amount of anti-Tac antibody. 125I-Labeled IL-2 cross-linking studies performed in two cases revealed the predominant expression of an IL-2 binding molecule with an estimated Mr of 70,000 to 75,000. After the culture with IL-2 for 48 h, expression of a small amount of Tac Ag (p55) was induced on LGL in at least three cases. These data strongly suggested that the IL-2R expressed on LGL is functional and identical to the p70, a novel IL-2 binding peptide that has been recently identified and speculated to form the high affinity IL-2R in association with the p55.

Characteristics of the IL-2 receptor expressed on large granular lymphocytes from patients with abnormally expanded large granular lymphocytes. Implication of a non-Tac IL-2-binding peptide

Large granular lymphocytes (LGL) from four patients with abnormally expanded LGL in the peripheral blood were studied regarding their receptor for IL-2. LGL from none of the cases examined expressed Tac Ag, an Il-2R glycoprotein recognized by anti-Tac mAb. However, 125I-labeled IL-2 binding experiments demonstrated that 1400 to 2800/cell IL-2 binding sites with a single affinity (K: 0.46-1.4 nM) were expressed on LGL from the four patients. The affinity was not high but about 10-fold higher than that of the low affinity IL-2R expressed on activated normal T lymphocytes. Furthermore, LGL from the four patients proliferated in response to higher concentrations of IL-2 and these responses were not inhibited by an excess amount of anti-Tac antibody. 125I-Labeled IL-2 cross-linking studies performed in two cases revealed the predominant expression of an IL-2 binding molecule with an estimated Mr of 70,000 to 75,000. After the culture with IL-2 for 48 h, expression of a small amount of Tac Ag (p55) was induced on LGL in at least three cases. These data strongly suggested that the IL-2R expressed on LGL is functional and identical to the p70, a novel IL-2 binding peptide that has been recently identified and speculated to form the high affinity IL-2R in association with the p55.

DNA-binding characteristics of aclarubicin as compared with daunorubicin and doxorubicin

The effect of ionic strength on aclarubicin - DNA complexes was studied in comparison with its effect on daunorubicin - or doxorubicin - DNA complexes, using the spectrophotometric method. The hypochromic shift of aclarubicin, induced by its binding to native DNA, decreased to a lesser extent by the addition of Na+ than those of daunorubicin and doxorubicin, which suggests that aclarubicin-native DNA complexes are the most stable at high ionic strength. Similar examinations were made with heat-denatured DNA and polyvinyl sulfate (PVS). Aclarubicin-denatured DNA complexes showed a greater decrease in the hypochromic shift by the addition of Na+ than the corresponding complexes with native DNA. However, for daunorubicin and doxorubicin, there were no significant differences between the complexes of anthracyclines with native and denatured DNAs. In addition, the hypochromic shift of aclarubicin-PVS complexes decreased more prominently by the addition of Na+ than those of daunorubicin - and doxorubicin - PVS complexes. These results suggest that the electrostatic interaction of aclarubicin with DNA is more labile than that of daunorubicin and doxorubicin, since anthracyclines bind to single-stranded DNA and polyelectrolytes primarily by electrostatic interaction. Therefore, the other types of interaction, which may be stronger than that of daunorubicin and doxorubicin, seem to be associated with the higher stability of aclarubicin-native DNA complexes at high ionic strength. The structural differences between aclarubicin and daunorubicin or doxorubicin are considered to contribute to the differences in DNA-binding characteristics observed in this study.

[A cancer of unknown primary site with diffuse metastasis to the bone marrow treated effectively with FAM combination chemotherapy]

A patient with cancer of unknown primary site suffering from diffuse bone marrow metastasis and DIC, was treated with FAM (5-fluorouracil, adriamycin and mitomycin C) combination chemotherapy. She was a 58-year-old housewife. Bone marrow biopsy revealed that her marrow tissue was completely replaced by cancer cells, and bone scintigraphy showed diffuse bone marrow metastasis in all the vertebrae, sternum, pelvic bones and skull. After 5 months administration of 3 courses of FAM therapy, the cancer cells were completely eradicated in the bone marrow upon biopsy taken at almost the same position as the previous one. The values of CEA, CA 19-9 and CA 125 were normalized, suggesting that this therapy was very effective.

Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in patients with adult T-cell leukemia and human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type-I seropositive healthy carriers

Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique, we measured the soluble interleukin 2 receptor (s-IL-2R) levels in the sera of patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) in Japan. The s-IL-2R levels in the sera of the ATL patients were markedly higher (range 540-310, 400 U/ml, mean +/- SD = 62,800 +/- 81,000 U/ml, n = 42) than those in normal individuals (range 42-950 U/ml, mean +/- SD = 322 +/- 198 U/ml, n = 35, P less than 0.01). The patients with acute-type or lymphoma-type ATL had high s-IL-2R levels (range 11,900-310,400 U/ml, mean +/- SD = 110,340 +/- 370 U/ml, n = 15; range 26,400-214,400 U/ml, mean +/- SD = 90,170 +/- 59,040 U/ml, n = 7, respectively). All of the patients with hypercalcemia (Ca greater than 10 mg/dl) or elevated serum LDH levels (LDH greater than 500 IU/liter) also had s-IL-2R levels above 10,000 U/ml. The high s-IL-2R levels in the sera of ATL patients indicate abnormal IL-2 receptor production and its release from the leukemic cells in vivo. Thus, the serum s-IL-2R level may be a sensitive and useful marker to monitor the total amount of tumor cells in ATL, especially in the lymphoma type. We next examined the serum s-IL-2R levels in human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type-I (HTLV-I) seropositive healthy carriers to investigate whether there might be abnormal IL-2 receptor expression in such individuals. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the s-IL-2R level of 71 HTLV-I seropositive healthy carriers (range 65-880 U/ml, mean +/- SD = 394 +/- 212 U/ml) and that of 71 age- and sex-matched normal individuals (range 33-950 U/ml, mean +/- SD = 357 +/- 224 U/ml) who lived in Okinawa Prefecture.

Biochemical analysis of inhibitory effects of a lymphokine suppressive B-cell factor on the activation process of resting B cells

Suppressive B-cell factor (SBF) is elaborated by FcR gamma (Fc receptor for IgG)-bearing small, resting B cells after the stimulation of immune complexes and is known to inhibit humoral immune responses by acting on resting B cells. In order to elucidate where and how SBF interferes with B-cell activation in the course of transmembrane signaling, we examined the effect of SBF on the several sequential events which B cells undergo after crosslinking surface immunoglobulin (sIg). Hyper-Ia expression, plasma membrane depolarization, and activation of phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis of resting B cells, all of which were induced by the stimulation with anti-mu antibody, were significantly suppressed by the pretreatment of cells with SBF. However, SBF had no effect on the intracytoplasmic cyclic AMP level of either activated or resting B cells. Another inhibitory effect of SBF on the activation process of resting B cells by anti-mu antibody was to suppress the transient elevation of intracytoplasmic free Ca2+ only in the initial phase after triggering with anti-mu antibody. This seems to be due to a decrease in the release of inositol triphosphate into the cytoplasm by suppressing the activation of PI hydrolysis. Considering all the data, the suppressive effect of SBF on the transmembrane signaling by sIg crosslinking is ascribed to the selective suppression of the activation of PI hydrolysis. This provides a concept on a molecular basis that feedback regulation of humoral immune response is, at least partly, regulated by SBF.

Lipoxygenase activities of human platelets and their subcellular fractions: comparison between lipoxygenase-deficient platelets and normal platelets

Lipoxygenase activities were estimated in washed platelets (intact platelets) and their subcellular fractions obtained from 7 patients with deficient platelet lipoxygenase activities and 9 normal subjects. From sonicated platelet preparations, 12,000 g supernatant (F-I), cytosol (F-II) and microsomal fractions (F-III) were prepared by differential centrifugation. When 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) produced by the incubation of arachidonic acid with intact platelets or each of their subcellular fractions from normal subjects was measured by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, the lipoxygenase activities of F-I, F-II and F-III were 87%, 31% and 17%, respectively, of the enzyme activity of intact platelets. One of the patients showed no detectable lipoxygenase activity in any preparation, while the other patients showed reduced enzyme activities in all preparations. The addition of CaCl2 significantly increased 12-HETE synthesis solely by F-I from these patients. In most of these patients, contrary to normal subjects, it appeared that the lipoxygenase activity was not fully expressed in intact platelets, since the F-I produced more 12-HETE than the intact platelets.

Immunologic and clinical studies on murine experimental autoimmune gastritis induced by neonatal thymectomy

Experimental autoimmune gastritis (AIG), defined by the appearance of auto antibodies to parietal cells, was induced by neonatal thymectomy in BALB/c nu/+mice 3 days after birth. Vitamin B12 absorption and intrinsic factor in the stomach extract decreased compared with those in AIG-negative control groups. No decrease of the serum A/G ratio in AIG-bearing mice was observed. Although development of anemia, as evaluated by a decrease in hematocrit value, was poor until 12 mo of age and the gastric mucosa was hypertrophic, the AIG resembled human pernicious anemia rather than Ménétrier's disease. Adoptive transfer of spleen cells, but not sera, of AIG-bearing nu/+ into BALB/c nu/nu mice caused AIG in all animals 1 mo later, indicating the involvement of lymphocytes in the induction mechanism of AIG. Cytofluorometric and immunohistochemical analysis of lymphocytes in the gastric mucosa revealed T-cell infiltration at an early stage (1.5-3 mo) followed by B cell infiltration (6 mo). When the fraction enriched with parietal cells, which were intensively stained with sera of AIG-bearing mice and fluorescent antibody to mouse immunoglobulin G, was injected into the foot pads of AIG-bearing nude mice, typical delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction was observed in all animals. This was not seen in the mice injected with the cell fraction enriched with chief cells, although a few of them were stained by the immunofluorescent technique. Thus, the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction seems to be directly involved in the mechanism of tissue damage.

Comparative analysis of lymphocyte phenotypes between carriers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and adult patients with primary immunodeficiency using two-color immunofluorescence flow cytometry

A variety of phenotypic abnormalities of peripheral blood lymphocytes from 8 HIV-carriers (HIVC), 6 patients with common variable immunodeficiency disease (CVID), and 13 patients with selective immunoglobulin deficiency (SIgD) were compared using two-color flow cytometry. There was a close resemblance in phenotypic abnormalities between HIVC and the patients with CVID; i.e., increases in CD8+CD11-, Leu7+CD16- and CD3+DR+ cells, and decreases in CD4+Leu8+, CD4+Leu8-, Leu7+CD16+ and Leu7-CD16+ cells. The increase in CD3+DR+ cells was due to an increase in CD8+DR+ cells. The CD4/CD8 ratio was inverted in both groups. A strong correlation coefficient (CC) was found only between the CD4/CD8 ratio and CD4+Leu8+ cells in HIVC, while CC was also high between the CD4/CD8 ratio and CD8+CD11- cells in CVID. The phenotypic abnormalities of the patients with SIgD were various and no significant difference was found against the control, except for an increase in CD4+Leu8+ cells and a decrease in CD4+Leu8- cells, which suggests heterogeneity of immunological deficits in this group. In severe immunodeficiency, ineffective killer cells appeared to be induced as a result of an adaptive change involved in recurrent or persistent viral infections, and Leu8 molecule may be concerned in the susceptibility of CD4+ cells to HIV.

Evidence of intracellular and trans-acting differentiation-inducing activity in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells: its possible involvement in process of cell differentiation from a commitment step to a phenotype-expression step

We previously reported that human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells, when treated with various inducers in magnesium-deficient medium, became committed to differentiate but did not express the differentiation-related phenotypes (Okazaki et al., J. Cell. Physiol., 131:50-57, 1987). In the present study we demonstrated the existence of an intracellular differentiation-inducing activity (int-DIA) in differentiation-committed phenotype-nonexpressing HL-60 cells by using cybrid formation between untreated HL-60 cells and cytoplasts from HL-60 cells treated in magnesium-deficient medium with 100 nM 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3). Cell extracts from similarly treated HL-60 cells also showed int-DIA, which when added (10 mg total protein/ml) to culture of untreated HL-60 cells, could increase the percentages of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT)- and nonspecific esterase (NSE)-positive cells from 1% to 53%, and from 0 to 32%, respectively. They also induced differentiation of human monoblastic leukemia U-937 cells and of human myeloblastic leukemia KG-1 cells but not of erythroleukemia K-562 cells. These results suggested that the int-DIA had a common effect on differentiation induction in several human myeloid cell lines and may be involved in inducing cells to proceed from a commitment to a phenotype-expression step during human myeloid cell differentiation.

A case of liver cirrhosis with large portacaval shunt from the superior mesenteric vein: normalization of reversed portal blood flow with medical treatment

A case of liver cirrhosis with large portacaval shunt from the superior mesenteric vein is reported. The portal blood flow was diagnosed as reversed on admission, but normalized with treatment. Blood flow was measured noninvasively and repeatedly using an ultrasonic Doppler duplex system. The reversed portal flow led to the superior mesenteric vein, right (and some left) internal inguinal vein, and inferior vena cava. This rare collateral pathway was clearly demonstrated by percutaneous transhepatic portalgraphy. A link between shunt and an appendectomy carried out 22 yr ago is considered, and the possibility of the temporarily reversed portal blood flow on admission being due to deteriorated hepatic hemodynamic conditions is discussed.

Close association between interleukin 2 receptor mRNA expression and human T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type I viral RNA expression in short-term cultured leukemic cells from adult T cell leukemia patients

Human T cell leukemia/lymphoma (T-lymphotropic) virus type I (HTLV-I) infection has been considered to be closely associated with the leukemogenesis of adult T cell leukemia (ATL), in which interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptors are abnormally expressed. In this study, however, Southern blot analysis revealed no gross rearrangement or obvious amplification of the IL-2 receptor gene in ATL leukemic cells, indicating that abnormal IL-2 receptor expression in ATL is not due to the structural change of its gene. Hence, we studied the expression of the IL-2 receptor and HTLV-I at the RNA level during short-term cultures of leukemic cells from 9 ATL patients. Cytoplasmic dot hybridization and Northern hybridization revealed that fresh leukemic cells from seven of nine patients expressed a small amount of IL-2 receptor mRNA but HTLV-I RNA was undetectable in all cases. After cultures for up to 7 d, both IL-2 receptor mRNA and HTLV-I RNA (including pX message) expression concomitantly increased, whereas the amounts of other cellular genes, except for beta-actin, did not. The increases in their RNA expression were inhibited by early addition (within 12 h after the beginning of the culture) of cycloheximide, indicating that these increases are mediated by newly synthesized protein(s). These results strongly suggested that IL-2 receptor expression is closely associated with HTLV-I expression in leukemic cells from ATL patients.

Establishment of a hemopoietic stimulating factor producing murine leukemia cell lines: pathogenesis of granulocytosis in L8313 bearing mice

Thy 1.2+ cells of L8313 leukemia bearing mice were previously shown to produce granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating activity (GM-CSA) and interleukin-3 (IL-3). Cell lines with the Thy 1.2+ phenotype were established from spleen cells of the leukemic mice, and were designated STIL-3 C5 and STIL-3 D10. They produced and released GM-CSA and IL-3 activities in culture supernatant. C5 cells were phenotypically Thy 1.2+ and Lyt 2.1+ with rearrangement of the T-cell receptor beta chain gene also being identified. D10 was Thy 1.2+ and L3T4+ with T-cell receptor beta chain gene rearrangement not detectable. Since the same sized rearranged bands were observed between C5 and L8313 leukemic mouse spleen cells, it is indicated that C5 cells are derived from the leukemic cells. Inoculation of these cells into mice induced granulocytosis. These results indicated that L8313, which was thought to be a "granulocytic leukemia", is actually a T-cell leukemia, whose granulocytosis is a leukemoid reaction induced by normal hemopoietic cells responding to the hemopoietic stimulating factors, GM-CSA and IL-3, produced by the leukemic T cells. Thus, L8313 should be known as a T-cell leukemia associated with granulocytosis.

Increase in cytoplasmic free calcium concentration initiated by T3 antigen stimulation is imparied in adult T-cell leukemia cells

We studied the change in cytoplasmic free calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) in the peripheral blood leukemic cells from adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) patients stimulated by anti-T3 (CD3) or anti-T11 (CD2) antibodies in order to see whether there is an abnormal response in the early activation processes following T3 or T11 antigen stimulation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from four T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (T-CLL) patients showed a rapid and clear increase in [Ca2+]i (from 165 +/- 26 nM to more than 299 nM) when stimulated by OKT3 antibody and anti-mouse IgG antibody. This response was comparable to that of PBMC from 10 normal individuals (from 151 +/- 20 nM to 252 +/- 34 nM). In contrast, PBMC from 10 ATL patients showed only a slight increase in [Ca2+]i (from 137 +/- 21 nM to 176 +/- 32 nM) following T3 stimulation. The experiments with higher concentrations of OKT3 antibody suggested that this attenuated increase in [Ca2+]i in ATL cells was not exclusively due to impaired expression of T3 antigen. The [Ca2+]i increase in ATL cells induced by the stimulation with two anti-T11 antibodies recognizing different epitopes of the T11 antigen, however, was comparable to that of normal PBMC. The abnormal response of [Ca2+]i to the T-cell receptor/T3 antigen stimulation in ATL may be related to dysfunction or leukemogenesis of HTLV-I-infected cells.

Establishment and characterization of a transplantable erythroblastic leukemia in C3H mice

A disease with the characteristics of an erythroblastic leukemia was induced by X-ray irradiation of 300 Rads in C3H mice. The leukemia is transplantable in syngeneic mice by i.v. injection of the spleen cells. The mice show almost pure erythroid cells of various differentiation stages in peripheral blood. The number of total nucleated cells in the peripheral blood increased, but hematocrit and platelet number decreased. Reverse transcriptase activities were measured in spleen and liver of the mice and the data suggested that the leukemia was not induced by retrovirus infection. This leukemia is distinguishable, in this respect, from diseases reported by Friend or Rauscher. The leukemia will offer a good animal model for the studies on non-viral leukemogenesis and disorders of erythropoiesis.

Staurosporine, a novel protein kinase inhibitor, enhances HL-60-cell differentiation induced by various compounds

The effect of staurosporine, a novel calcium/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) inhibitor, on differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemic HL-60 cells, was investigated. Staurosporine inhibited HL-60-cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner, but did not induce HL-60-cell differentiation by itself. When staurosporine was added to HL-60 cells treated with a suboptimal concentration (1 nM) of 1 alpha,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), cell differentiation was enhanced in a concentration-dependent manner and the percentages of nitro blue tetrazolium reducing ability and nonspecific esterase activity-positive cells increased from 6% to 51% and from 8% to 54%, respectively, on day 4 at a concentration of 5 nM. Staurosporine (5 nM) achieved almost the same enhancement effect in cultures treated with suboptimal concentrations of 1 nM all-trans-beta-retinoic acid (RA), 3 ng/ml actinomycin D (Act D), 100 microM dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (dbc AMP), and 50 microM prostaglandin E1 (PG E1). These results suggest that the inhibition of protein kinase C activity by staurosporine exerts an important role in HL-60-cell differentiation induced by various compounds. Moreover, staurosporine (5 nM) completely inhibited optimal concentrations (50 nM) of [12-o-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)]-induced cell differentiation, but enhanced optimal concentrations of dbc AMP (1 mM)-induced cell differentiation. On the other hand, 1-(5-isoquinolinyl-sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine, which has been reported to inhibit cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A) as much as protein kinase C, completely inhibited both cell differentiations induced by optimal concentrations of TPA (50 nM) and induced by optimal concentrations of dbc AMP (1 mM), and did not significantly enhance HL-60-cell differentiation induced by suboptimal concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3, RA, and dbc AMP. Therefore, these results suggest that the inhibition of protein kinase C, which is not accompanied by that of protein kinase A, is concerned with the induction of HL-60-cell differentiation.

Selective deficiency in IL-2 production and refractoriness to extrinsic IL-2 in immunodeficiency with hyper-IgM

Various lymphokines are inducible by the stimulation of T-cell mitogens, phytohemagglutinin, and concanavalin A. A 32-year-old female with an atypical type of immunodeficiency with hyper-IgM was evaluated for possible defects in the production of several immunoregulatory lymphokines. Although the mitogens appeared to bind effectively to the specific surface receptors of patient peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL), the proliferative responses were significantly decreased. The culture supernatant of patient PBL stimulated by the mitogens contained only a trace amount of interleukin 2 (IL-2) activity. Addition of recombinant IL-2 to the cultures concomitantly with the mitogens could not restore the decreased responses of patient PBL. Tac antigen expression of patient PBL induced by the mitogens was moderately impaired. These data suggest that there is a defect in both IL-2-producing and IL-2-responding cells. In contrast, the culture supernatant of mitogen-stimulated patient PBL contained B-cell growth and differentiation factors as well as interferon-gamma activities equal to those of the control. These results suggest that there are independent regulatory pathways for the production of IL-2 and other T-cell-derived lymphokines.

Oxygen radical generation by polymorphonuclear leucocytes of beige mice

Oxygen radical generation was measured using peritoneal exudate polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) from a strain of beige mice, an animal model of the Chediak-Higashi syndrome. These PMN have been shown to exhibit delayed microbial killing and impaired phagosome-lysosome fusion. The amount of superoxide anion released by the PMN of the beige mice was similar to that released by the PMN of the control mice. The PMN of beige mice generated slightly less hydrogen peroxide than the control. Hydroxyl radical (.OH) generation and luminol-dependent chemiluminescence were significantly lowered in beige PMN stimulated with opsonized zymosan (OZ) or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Cytochalasin B-treated beige PMN showed a decreased ability to degranulate myeloperoxidase in response to OZ or PMA. We demonstrated the significant decrease in .OH generation and chemiluminescence in beige PMN, which might be one of the reasons to explain delayed microbial killing.

Hemodynamic analysis of postsplenectomy portal thrombosis using ultrasonic Doppler duplex system

Using an ultrasonic Doppler duplex system, we investigated the portal hemodynamics of two patients with portal thrombosis after splenectomy and esophageal transection for portal hypertension accompanied by liver cirrhosis. In both cases, the preoperative blood flow volumes of the splenic and portal veins were especially high, but were markedly lower--even than normal--after the operation. However, the results of pre- and postoperative peripheral platelet counts and coagulation function tests did not differ remarkably. The dramatic change in portal hemodynamics caused by the splenectomy was thought to be the main factor in the formation of the portal thrombi.

Establishment of an interleukin 2-dependent human T cell line from a patient with T cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia who is not infected with human T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus

We established an interleukin 2 (IL-2)-dependent human T cell line, Kit 225, from a patient with T cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (T-CLL) with OKT3+, -T4+, -T8- phenotype. Southern blot analysis showed that Kit 225 is not infected with human T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV) type I or II, and is probably derived from the major clone in the fresh leukemic cells. Kit 225 cells express a large amount of IL 2 receptors constitutively and their growth is absolutely dependent on IL 2. No other stimuli, such as lectins or antigens, are required for maintaining the responsiveness to IL 2. As abnormal IL 2 receptor expression was also seen originally in the fresh leukemic cells, the establishment of this cell line with IL 2 suggests that IL 2-mediated T cell proliferation is involved in the leukemogenesis of some cases of HTLV-negative T-CLL.

Combined method of PAP immunocytochemistry and autoradiography: application to cell kinetic study in plasma cell dyscrasias

The plasma cell labeling index (LI), in spite of being a reliable indicator for diagnosis and prognosis of multiple myeloma, has been measured in a limited number of laboratories because of technical difficulties. We have developed a new combined technique, using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method and autoradiography, which has several advantages over previously described methods. The primary advantages of our method in the determination of lymphoid-plasma cell LI% are: (a) no damage to slides during storage of more than 1 year; (b) an exact LI measurement in each morphological variety of pleomorphic immunoglobulin-containing cells; (c) no problem in differentiation of lymphoid plasma cells from early red cell precursors; and (d) a separate LI measurement for those lymphoid-plasma cells composed chiefly, if not exclusively, of monoclonal or neoplastic cells. Because of these advantages, this accurate and less difficult technique will facilitate performance of lymphoid plasma cell LI in a number of laboratories.

Multicentric giant lymph node hyperplasia, plasma cell type, with monoclonal gammopathy

The association of multicentric giant lymph node hyperplasia (MGLH) of plasma cell type with monoclonal gammopathy was observed in a 37-year-old man. The present case provides an additional new piece of evidence that MGLH is by no means a benign disorder but can transform into plasma cell dyscrasia or B-cell lymphoma.

Transport defect of IgM into luminal space in selective IgA deficiency

This study explored the pathogenesis of a transport defect of IgM into the lumen in a patient with selective IgA deficiency. In addition to the absence of IgM in the saliva, no IgM was localized on the luminal surface of colonic mucosa from the patient despite the presence of J chain-positive IgM cells. On tissue sections, IgM cells did not bind secretory component. The serum IgM also showed a negligible capacity to bind secretory component in vitro. Such abnormalities of IgM molecules as stated above seem to be clinicopathologically linked with IgA deficiency or its associated Sjögren's syndrome.

The absorption of free vitamin B12 and R protein-bound vitamin B12 in the diagnosis of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in rats

Vitamin B12 (B12) absorption was studied in rats following biliopancreatic duct ligation. The absorption of free B12, as well as of hog R protein-bound B12, was markedly impaired after both intragastric and intraduodenal administration in these rats. The intraduodenal administration of a mixture of pancreatic extract and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) improved the absorption of both free and R protein-bound B12. However, pancreatic extract without NaHCO3 was ineffective in this respect. Intraduodenal administration of NaHCO3 without pancreatic extract worsened the R protein-bound B12 absorption. This finding would indicate that the degradation of R protein by proteolytic enzymes, in the intestine of rats with pancreatic juice exclusion, is inhibited by NaHCO3.

Immunoglobulin-producing cells in secretory immune system in patients with selective IgA deficiency

This study evaluated the class distribution and J chain-positivity of immunoglobulin-producing cells (Ig-PCs) in gastrointestinal mucosa and salivary glands of Japanese patients with selective IgA deficiency. The proportional patterns of gland-associated Ig-PCs showed an increase in not only IgM cells but also IgG cells, most of which were J chain-positive. This may represent a maturation arrest at B cell differentiation, rather than a compensatory phenomenon. No patients showed an increase of IgD cells in salivary glands. This behavior of IgD cells in Japanese patients may reflect associated diseases or ethnic difference in B cell differentiation.