Pyrrolomycin group antibiotics inhibit substance P-induced release of myeloperoxidase from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

In order to search for microbial modulators of the activity of neuropeptide, we established a screen based on substance P (SP)-induced myeloperoxidase (MPO) release from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). SP induced MPO release in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations ranging from 1 approximately 10 x 10(-4) M. In comparison at 1 x 10(-4) M, induction was also observed with SP derivatives but not with other neuropeptides such as neurokinin and enkephalin. Based on this, we searched for microbial inhibitors against SP-induced MPO release. An actinomycete metabolite designated HS3, which turned out to be identical with dioxapyrrolomycin or A1-R2081, and structurally related pyrrolomycins were found to inhibit SP-induced MPO release. In addition, these compounds inhibited the f-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP)-induced MPO release from PMN. Pyrrolomycin derivatives with an N-methylated pyrrole ring showed, however, a selective inhibition of the SP-induced MPO release. This was in contrast to results with aseanostatin P5 which selectively inhibited FMLP-induced MPO release.

[Intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and its regulation in platelet activation]

It has been generally accepted that platelets play etiological roles for the development of atherosclerosis and arterial thrombosis. Platelet activation may be dependent upon the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), and regulated by PGI2 and endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) released by vascular endothelium. We have studied here the effect of endothelial cells (EC) on platelet activation and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. Effluent of non-stimulated EC column inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. An addition of this effluent to platelet suspension leaded to increase in intraplatelet cyclic AMP (cAMP) which was inhibited by the treatment of indomethacin to EC, suggesting that this effect was involved in PGI2 released by EC. On the other hand, effluent of thimerosal-stimulated EC column inhibited platelet aggregation and increase in [Ca2+]i stimulated with thrombin, and leaded to increase in intraplatelet cyclic GMP (cGMP). But the treatment of indomethacin to EC had no effect of this inhibition. The effect of thimerosal-stimulated EC was inhibited by the addition of 1-NG-monomethylarginine (NMA), EDRF/NO inhibitor, suggesting that EDRF released by thimerosal-stimulated EC produced an increase in cGMP and inhibited platelet activation. Although forskolin-induced in cAMP caused a marked prevention of inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3) production stimulated with thrombin, 8-bromo cGMP and EDRF-induced increase in cGMP had no effect of IP3 production. An increase in cAMP and cGMP was considered to inhibit intracellular Ca2+ mobilization by different mechanisms in platelets.

Probabilistic assessment of the HLA sharing of recurrent spontaneous abortion couples in the Japanese population

In spite of a number of investigations, the concept of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) sharing in recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) couples remains controversial. We introduced the basal antigen sharing rate (BSR) by the original mathematical approach using the gene frequency of all HLA specificities derived from our regional control population and applied this parameter for the comparison with RSA couples. RSA couples were classified into three subgroups; primary (3 or more consecutive abortions), secondary (3 or more consecutive abortions after 1 live birth), and potential (2 consecutive abortions) aborters. No significant differences between the HLA class I sharing rates (one or more antigens shared on a single locus) of the all RSA subgroups and the calculated BSRs were observed. In the HLA-DR and DQ loci, on the other hand, the antigen sharing rates of primary aborters were significantly higher than BSRs (p less than 0.01/DR, p less than 0.05/DQ). While potential aborters showed a result similar to that of the primary aborters, no significant antigen sharing of HLA class II was observed in secondary aborters. Our data suggest that BSR is a useful parameter for detection of significant HLA sharing in regional populations and the consecutive abortions that occurred primarily are certainly relevant to HLA class II sharing.

Localization of three subtypes of Fc gamma receptors in human placenta by immunohistochemical analysis

We investigated the localization of the three subtypes of (Fc gamma R) in the normal human placenta using immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical techniques with specific monoclonal antibodies. The analysis revealed that Fc gamma RI was expressed on Hofbauer cells, that Fc gamma RII was expressed on Hofbauer cells and endothelial cells of fetal vessels, while Fc gamma RIII was expressed on trophoblasts, especially syncytiotrophoblasts. Moreover, we demonstrated that the expression of Fc gamma RI and Fc gamma RII on Hofbauer cells and endothelial cells of the fetal vessels in the 1st trimester placenta was different from that in the 3rd trimester placenta. These results, therefore, indicate that the three subtypes of Fc gamma R in the human placenta may contribute to maintenance of placental functions, because each Fc gamma R molecule displays unique biological functions similar to those on leukocytes.

Gene expression of macrophage colony-stimulating factor and its receptor in human placenta and decidua

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) induces proliferation of monocyte/macrophage progenitor cells and can also activate some functions of mature cells including fetally derived placental cells. To study the role of M-CSF in the pregnant female reproductive tract, the expression of M-CSF mRNA and its receptor, c-fms proto-oncogene, in human placenta and decidua was identified. M-CSF and c-fms mRNAs, 4.7Kb and 3.9Kb respectively, were detected by Northern blotting in the early stage placenta and subsequently increased during pregnancy. These mRNAs were not detected in the nonpregnant endometrium but were strongly induced in maternal decidua with the same mRNA size as in the placenta. Northern blot hybridization on the endometrium of a pseudopregnant uterus revealed that the expression of endometrial M-CSF and c-fms mRNAs is regulated by synergistic action of female sex steroid hormones. These findings indicate that, in an autocrine and/or paracrine manner, M-CSF is deeply involved in the local proliferation and differentiation of cells at the materno-fetal interface, and support the placental immunotrophism hypothesis.

[Establishment and characterization of NMSG10 cells from malignant fibrous histiocytoma in human bones]

A cell line (NMSG10) was established from malignant fibrous histiocytoma in human tibial bone. The cells revealed polymorphism at the primary culture stage, but they gradually became monotonous fibroblastic cells during transfer. On light microscopic examination, the features of these transformed cells were shown to be positive for alcian blue, oil red 0 and acid phosphatase stain. In an immunohistochemical test, the cells were shown to be positive for anti-proteoglycans, S-100, alpha 1-antitrypsin, vimentin and actin. An electron microscopic examination, revealed multiple irregular long microvilli extending from the cell surface. Also noted were microvesicles and lipid vacuoles in the cytoplasm. There was also a collagenous microfilament in the extracellular matrix. Furthermore, we found a lot of mucous substance which was able to be stained with alcian blue and to be digested by hyaluronidase in the cultured medium. This mucous substance was identified through two dimensional electrophoresis as being mainly hyaluronic acid with a macromolecular weight, a small amount of heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. Additionally, chromosomal analysis was performed at the 7th passage, revealing aneuploidy with a modal number of 46. The primary cells and NMSG10 cells were not transferable to nude mice.

A silicon diode in a thimble-type mount for measurement of diagnostic x-ray spectra

A silicon detector which can be used like a thimble chamber has been constructed. The silicon diode chip used here is very small (1.7 x 1.7 x 0.1 mm3), and the construction materials of the detector mount are thin and have low atomic numbers. Thus, the characteristic x-rays from the mount give no distortion on the obtained spectra, and the photons incident on the back surface of the silicon chip can be measured. Furthermore, the perturbation of the x-ray field is small. The energy resolution of the detector is 2.0 keV (full width at half maximum) for 59.5 keV photons at room temperature. Bremsstrahlung spectra (60-100 kV, 1-2 mA) have been measured without using a pinhole collimator; the obtained spectra are in good agreement with those obtained with a Ge detector. The spectrum of the radiation in a water phantom irradiated with 90 kV x-rays has also been measured by inserting the detector in the phantom; the obtained scattered spectrum has been corrected for the angular dependence of detector efficiency. The increase in total photon number due to this correction has been found to be below 2%.

Site-specific mutagenesis of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)-beta subunit: influence of mutation on hCG production

The heterodimeric glycoprotein hormones, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), LH, TSH and FSH, consist of two non-covalently linked subunits, the alpha and beta subunits. The beta subunit is specific for each hormone and is responsible for the biological specificity, but the beta subunits of different hormones show some degree of structural homology. The CAGY (cysteine-alanine-glycine-tyrosine) region is one of the amino acid sequences that is homologous in different beta subunits and is highly conserved between species. In the present study, site-specific in-vitro mutagenesis was used to change three individual nucleotides in the centre of the CAGY region of the hCG-beta subunit, and the effects of these mutations on hCG production was determined by in-vitro transcription and then translation in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The results indicate that the CAGY region, particularly the glycine residue at position 36 in the beta subunit, is essential for the production of hCG. This finding is consistent with previous studies showing that this region is necessary for the biological activity of human TSH.

[MR imaging of mucocutaneous malignant melanoma in the head and neck]

MR imaging was performed in three patients with mucocutaneous malignant melanoma of the head and neck, and surgical specimens were investigated in MR-pathological correlation. Two of 3 cases were revealed to be melanotic melanoma; one arose in the maxillary sinus, and another in the bulbar conjunctiva. The remaining case was amelanotic melanoma originating in the nasal cavity. Two cases of melanotic melanoma showed different intensity on T1WI according to the melanin concentration; the more the melanin-producing process existed, the higher intensity in the tumor was shown. On T2WI there were also some differences in signal intensity; the case having more concentration of melanin changed lower partially in the areas where very high intensity was noted on T1WI, while another case remained unchanged. These findings are based on the inherent paramagnetic effect mostly compatible with the previous reports. On the other hand, the amelanotic melanoma was demonstrated as an intermediate intensity both on T1- and T2WI. Because of the higher incidence of hemorrhage in/around the tumor, it is an important diagnostic clue to this tumor, as in our case of amelanotic type. On reviewing the three cases, we consider that MR imaging offers a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of malignant melanoma.

Synthesis of fluorine analogues of protoporphyrin potentially useful for diagnosis and therapy of tumors

With the aim of obtaining a porphyrin derivative useful for diagnosis and therapy of cancer, fluorine analogues of protoporphyrin, in which the vinyl group(s) were replaced by difluorovinyl group(s), were synthesized by the reaction of the formylporphyrins with sodium chlorodifluoroacetate in the presence of triphenylphosphine. Some improvements in the reported procedures for the synthesis of formylporphyrins are also described. Preliminary results of biological tests of the products showed that 8(2),8(2)-difluoroprotoporphyrin accumulates to gastric cancer more selectively than other fluorine analogues and that 3(2),3(2),8(2),8(2)-tetrafluoroprotoporphyrin is taken up by rat hepatoma cells more readily than the others.

Acute retinal necrosis as a novel complication of chickenpox in adults

Three patients in their 20s suffered from chickenpox while in an immunocompromised state: one in pregnancy, one during a long course of corticosteroid for severe nephrotic syndrome, and the third with repeated upper airway infection due to bronchiectasis. They developed acute retinal necrosis about three weeks after the onset of chickenpox. Since acute retinal necrosis threatens sight, this unusual complication of chickenpox in adults needs serious consideration.

[MR imaging of compressive cervical myelopathy after surgery--high signal intensity of the spinal cord on T2 weighted images]

We reviewed the MR images of 32 patients with cervical myelopathy, showing lesions of high signal intensity in the spinal cord on the sagittal T2 weighted images (T2WI) after surgery: 16 with OPLL; 9 with spondylosis; 4 with disc herniation and 3 with trauma. All images were obtained on a superconducting 1.5 Tesla system. The lesions were classified into five groups, according to the shape and grade of signal intensity on the sagittal T2WI: (I) oval-shaped lesion of signal intensity less brighter than CSF with blurred margin, (II) longitudinal linear-shaped lesion of signal intensity similar to CSF, (III) spindle-shaped lesion of signal intensity similar to CSF, (IV) round-shaped lesion of signal intensity similar to CSF and (V) mixed-types lesions which consisted of group I and II. The present study was summarized as follows: 1) Oval-shaped lesions were seen in the cases of disc herniation and spondylosis with relatively short duration of the symptom, presumptively with relatively short duration of the symptom, presumptively indicative of edema. 2) Most cases of OPLL and spondylosis showed linear-shaped lesions, suggesting necrosis and/or cavitations of the central gray matter. 3) One case of spondylosis developed a spindle-shaped lesion, implicating syringomyelia. 4) Round-shaped lesions were seen in the cases of spinal trauma, suggesting posttraumatic cyst. 5) In a case of mixed-typed lesion examined pre- and postoperatively, only an oval-shaped lesion decreased in size after surgery.

Explosive Deep Water Basalt in the Sumisu Backarc Rift

Eruption of 1-million-year-old tholeiitic basalt >1800 meters below sea level (>18 megapascals) in a backarc rift behind the Bonin arc produced a scoriaceous breccia similar in some respects to that formed during subaerial eruptions. Explosion of the magma is thought to have produced frothy agglutinate which welded either on the sea floor or in a submarine eruption column. The resulting 135-meter-thick pyroclastic deposit has paleomagnetic inclinations that are random at a scale of <2.5 meters. High magmatic water content, which is about 1.3 percent by weight after vesiculation, contributed to the explosivity.

Expression of new members of the prolactin growth hormone gene family in bovine placenta. Isolation and characterization of two prolactin-like cDNA clones

Two prolactin-like proteins (bPLP-I and bPLP-II) were deduced from the nucleotide sequence analyses of the cDNA clones derived from a bovine (Bos taurus) term placenta. These proteins resembled bovine prolactin but were different from the reported bovine placental lactogens or prolactin-related proteins. The predicted amino acid sequences of these clones showed 45-51% identity with bovine prolactin and 23-24% with bovine growth hormone. The two new clones show 62 and 39% overall homology with each other at the levels of nucleotide and amino acid sequences, respectively. bPLP-I, bPLP-II, placental lactogens, prolactins (PRLs), and other prolactin-like proteins isolated from cow, mouse, and rat share 7 common amino acid residues. Five of the 7 residues are conserved by other members of the family such as growth hormones, suggesting that they may be essential for the common structural features of the gene family. The other 2 residues are uniquely conserved in bovine, mouse, and rat placental lactogens, PRLs, and PRL-like proteins, predicting their indispensable roles in binding to the specific receptors. bPLP-I and bPLP-II, as well as bPLP-III, are shown to be expressed stage specifically and predominantly in full-term bovine placentas.

Studies on the pathogenesis of choriocarcinoma by analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms

The association of complete hydatidiform mole with choriocarcinoma has long been recognized, but it is unknown whether the pathogenesis of the two are identical. We investigated the pathogenesis of these trophoblastic tumors by analyzing restriction fragment length polymorphisms using a minisatellite DNA probe to choriocarcinoma, the complete mole, and normal trophoblasts as well as the parental cells. The polymorphic fragments of the complete mole were all transmitted from the paternal DNA, but some polymorphic fragments of the paternal DNA were not recognized in the complete mole. This confirms at a molecular level the androgenetic origin of the complete mole. In some cases of choriocarcinoma, the pattern of inheritance of restriction fragment length polymorphisms was the same as that in the complete mole, whereas in others all the polymorphic fragments in tumor tissues were identical to those in the host DNA. These results suggest that the pathogenesis of choriocarcinoma varies, being completely different from that of the complete hydatidiform mole in some cases.

The effect of human thrombomodulin on the inactivation of thrombin by human antithrombin III

The effect of human thrombomodulin (TM) on the inactivation of thrombin by human antithrombin III (ATIII) was evaluated in comparison with that produced from rabbits. Human TM did not accelerate the thrombin inhibition by ATIII but rabbit TM enhanced the activity of ATIII. Also inclusion of human TM at increasing concentration suppressed the thrombin inhibitory activity of ATIII. The intensity of ATIII activity in the presence of heparin (0.01U/ml) was also diminished by the human TM. However, this ATIII- heparin cofactor activity recovered with the addition of a 10-fold amount of heparin (0.1U/ml). In SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting analysis, we found a complex formation of ATIII with both human and rabbit TM (and further confirmed their presence with isoelectrofocusing electrophoresis- data not shown). These results indicate that human TM is substantially different from rabbit TM. Our results suggest that human TM show the crucial role on protein C activation system via thrombin.

Liquid chromatographic-atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometric analysis of toremifene metabolites in human urine

A liquid chromatographic-atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometric method has been developed for the analysis of toremifene metabolites in human urine after oral administration. This ionization source is a useful device for studying metabolites of toremifene because the total effluent from high-performance liquid chromatography is fed through an interface with a direct heating nebulizer and vaporizer at atmospheric pressure. To obtain good sensitivity the use of the right mobile phase is very important: ammonium acetate in methanol in the case of toremifene and its metabolites. Four unconjugated and three glucuronide-conjugated metabolites were detected in human urine. The majority of these were new and distinguishable from known metabolites.

Rapid homogeneous enzyme immunoassay of plasma protein C

A homogeneous EIA (H-EIA) technique for plasma protein C antigen using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was developed. This technique, which avoids the bound/free separation and washing procedures and shortens the assay time to 30 min, has several advantages over the conventional EIA technique. The measurement was valid for 1.0% to 200% of the plasma protein C level and had intraassay coefficients of variation of 2.3-11.0%. The results of this assay correlated well with those of conventional sandwich EIA (x) with a regression equation of y = 0.782x + 6.637, r = 0.911 (n = 59). This method, which may also be applicable to automatic assay systems, is considered to be suited for clinical laboratory use.

Measurement of diagnostic x-ray spectra using a silicon photodiode

Diagnostic x-ray spectra (66-103 kV, 1-2 mA) were measured without pinhole collimator or liquid nitrogen cooling by using a silicon p-i-n photodiode. An x-ray count rate was low (approximately 400 photons/s) at distances of 2-3 m away from an x-ray target, because the i layer of the photodiode was very small (1.5 mm2 in area and 75 microns in thickness). The junction reverse current of the photodiode was 50-70 pA at room temperature and energy resolution for 59.5-keV gamma rays was 2.0 keV (full width at half-maximum), which was limited by the electric noise of a preamplifier. Measured spectra were corrected for detector distortion. The corrected spectra were similar to those determined with a Ge detector. The i-layer thickness of the photodiode was an important parameter for the correction. In particular, when the thickness was thin, the fraction of photoelectron escape became large; this fraction was estimated analytically for various i-layer thicknesses. The angular dependence of the full-energy peak efficiency was measured; for the photons whose energies were above 17.8 keV the angular dependence was isotropic except for angles greater than 60 degrees off the photodiode axis. This method is therefore applicable to the measurement of scattered x rays.

Intercalating agents with covalent bond forming capability. A novel type of potential anticancer agents. 2. Derivatives of chrysophanol and emodin

Fifty-one new C-methyl-modified derivatives of the anthraquinones chrysophanol and emodin or their various methyl ethers were prepared for structure-activity relationship studies of anticancer activity against mouse leukemia L1210 and human leukemia HL-60 cells. Representative compounds were spectrophotometrically studied for their capacity to interact with natural and denatured DNA. In general, those anthraquinones bearing an amino function interact with DNA. 1,8-Dimethoxyanthraquinones are incapable of intercalating into DNA. 1- or 8-Monohydroxymono-methoxyanthraquinones, however, interact with DNA to some extent. No straightforward correlation is apparent between the DNA-affinity data of the compounds studied spectrophotometrically and their cytotoxic effects. Cytotoxic potencies of these compounds on cell growth inhibition during a 72-h period are inversely correlated to their potencies when inhibiting [3H]TdR incorporation into DNA during the initial 30 min of exposure. Surprisingly, some compounds that showed more cytotoxicity did not inhibit initial TdR incorporation (0-30 min), while some others that strongly inhibited TdR incorporation initially did not exhibit cytotoxicity in 72 h. The results suggest that the cytotoxicity produced by these compounds is time dependent and is not a direct result of initial inhibition of DNA replication.

[Low sensitivity of choriocarcinoma cell lines to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha]

Sensitivity of cultured choriocarcinoma cell lines to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma was examined and compared with that of other cultured tumor cell lines. Tumor cells were cultured with 1,000 mu/ml of TNF-alpha and/or 100 mu/ml of IFN-gamma for 24hr. Antitumor effects of the lymphokines were measured by 3H-thymidine uptake and tetrazolium salt (MTT) colorimetric assay. The results revealed that TNF-alpha and/or IFN-gamma had little anti-tumor effect on the choriocarcinoma cell lines tested, while they had cytostatic and cytotoxic effects on other cultured tumor cell lines including Panc-1 (pancreatic carcinoma cell line), Lovo (colon carcinoma cell line) and Ishikawa (uterine endometrial carcinoma cell line). We also examined the effect of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma on the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens in these tumor cell lines by means of cellular binding radioimmunoassay. No enhancing effect was observed on choriocarcinoma cell lines after the treatment with TNF-alpha and/or IFN-gamma. These results suggested the existence of a unique property of choriocarcinoma cells which results in the resistance to host immune attacks.

Impaired susceptibility of human trophoblast to MHC nonrestricted killer cells: implication in the maternal-fetal relationship

Mammalian pregnancy has frequently been termed "Nature's allograft," and there is developing evidence that the placental trophoblast cells in their key position at the maternal fetal interface are responsible for escape mechanisms to the maternal immune system. In this paper, we show impaired susceptibility of human trophoblastic tumor cells to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) nonrestricted cytotoxicity systems such as natural killer (NK) cells and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. LAK cells were induced by the culture of peripheral blood mononuclear lymphocytes (PBL) in recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). Among 21 cultured cell lines derived from various tissues and organs tested, five choriocarcinoma-derived cell lines gave decreased levels of LAK lysis. Cold-target inhibition study and trinitrophenyl (TNP) modification experiment clearly indicated that the impaired sensitivity of trophoblast cells to LAK lysis is due to the decrease of a common target molecule recognized by LAK effector cells. It is suggested that the impaired susceptibilty of trophoblast to MHC nonrestricted killer cells should be functional for the survival of the semiallogeneic fetus.

[Brain metastasis of ovarian cancer treated by chemotherapy including cis-platin: a case report]

A 57-year-old woman was admitted to our department with headache and dizziness. About 8 months ago, she suffered from ovarian cancer disseminated in pleura and peritoneum, and was treated successfully with CAP therapy only (Cis-platin, Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide). Intracerebellar metastasis of ovarian cancer was suspected on CT scan, and CAP therapy was employed again. She was relieved from all symptoms a week after starting the therapy. Follow up CT scan showed complete remission of the lesion. She was well for about 3 months, but was admitted again because of consciousness disturbance and headache with multiple brain metastasis. PVB therapy (Cis-platin, Vinblastine and Pepleomycin) was employed this time, and complete remission was seen again. But regrowth of intraabdominal mass lesion appeared, and she died from multiple organ failure 5 months after PVB therapy. Autopsy was not permitted, but CT scan 3 days before death revealed no intracranial lesion. Distant metastasis of ovarian cancer may become more prevalent with the development of combination chemotherapy, but no case of brain metastasis has been reported to have been treated with chemotherapy only. The authors suggest the possibility of successful treatment of such a lesion with chemotherapy including Cis-platin.

[Low susceptibility of choriocarcinoma cell lines to lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells]

We investigated the anti-tumor effect of lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells on various carcinoma cell lines as it may play an important role in the immunotherapy of gynecologic cancers. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were cultured in 10 U/ml of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). The cytotoxic action of LAK and natural killer (NK) on carcinoma cell lines was measured by a standard 4-hr 51Cr-releasing assay. Daudi and RPMI 1788, NK resistant B cell lines were lysed by rIL-2 activated PBL although they were not killed by human fresh PBL. LAK cells thus induced were markedly cytotoxic to sixteen carcinoma cell lines. However, five choriocarcinoma cell lines were resistant to LAK action because specific action was less than 30% at effector/target ratio of 20. The cold target competitive inhibition experiments showed that the choriocarcinoma cell line GCH-1 induced much lower inhibition than Daudi cells. These results indicate that the low susceptibility of the choriocarcinoma cell lines to LAK cells could be due to the lack of the effector molecules recognized by killer cells.

Pharmacokinetics of bestatin and oral activity for treatment of experimental metastases

Bestatin is a low molecular weight aminopeptidase inhibitor originally isolated from culture filtrates of Streptomyces olivoreticuli. The serum pharmacokinetics in mice are dependent on route of administration, with a short t1/2 (1.69 min t1/2 alpha and 12.8 min t1/2 beta), but a high initial serum level following i.v. administration. When administered via the i.p., s.c., i.m., or p.o. routes of administration, bestatin had serum t1/2 beta s of 8.56, 16.91, 19.25, or 15.4 min, respectively. The maximum area under the curve (concentration X time) occurred following i.v. and i.m. administration, with a lower level following p.o. or i.p. administration. Bestatin had therapeutic activity for experimental metastases, not only following i.v., i.p., and i.m. routes of administration but also following oral administration. Because of its brief serum t1/2, bestatin's therapeutic activity depends on aggressive (either daily or twice daily injection, especially following p.o. administration) and high-dose administration. Thus, the rate-limiting aspect of bestatin's therapeutic activity appears to be associated with its pharmacokinetics.

Antihypertensive compounds with potent protein kinases inhibitory activity

A new indorocarbazole antibiotic SF2370 has been found in the culture broth of Actinomadura sp.; it has also been found to have the activities of antihypertension and diuresis. Derivatives of SF2370, NA0344, NA0345 and NA0346, when injected (0.1-1 mg/kg i.v.) significantly lowered the blood pressure of anesthetized normotensive rats and showed a long lasting antihypertensive action. In the case of p.o. administration to conscious restrained SHRs, measurement of blood pressure by the plethysmographic method indicated that 10 mg/kg of the compounds was enough to lower the blood pressure; the antihypertensive activities were found to remain more than 12 hrs after oral administration. By studying of the mode of antihypertensive action, these compounds dose dependently relaxed the isolated aortic preparation contracted by norepinephrine. In addition, it was found that protein kinase C activity of mice brain was inhibited by the compounds; the IC50 values were in the range of 0.062-0.20 microM. Moreover, a superprecipitation of actomyosin from smooth muscle of chicken gizzard was inhibited by the compounds, having an IC50 values of 0.31-0.72 microM.

DNA polymorphism in the human Thy-1 gene

Thy-1 is a membrane glycoprotein expressed predominantly in brain tissue and occasionally in lymphoid tissue. The human Thy-1 gene is located on chromosome 11q22.3. Although two allelic forms of Thy-1 exist in mice (Thy-1.1 and Thy-1.2), no allelic forms have been described for the human Thy-1 gene. We describe a polymorphic MspI site within the human Thy-1 gene that distinguishes two alleles, 8 and 9, which are represented in a northern European population at frequencies of 0.7 and 0.3, respectively. Thy-1, therefore, provides a potentially useful marker to identify linkages with human disease genes located near 11q22.

A proposed mild type of acute retinal necrosis syndrome

Six patients had peripheral to midperipheral pale yellow retinal exudates typical of acute retinal necrosis syndrome but which extended gradually to the posterior pole and remained isolated without becoming confluent. These exudates resulted in localized retinochoroidal degeneration without retinal detachment, in contrast to acute retinal necrosis syndrome. Antibody titers in aqueous humor were increased to varicella-zoster virus in some of the patients examined. The findings led us to hypothesize that this mild, self-limiting course is one of the natural developments of acute retinal necrosis syndrome, although somewhat modified by corticosteroid or acyclovir therapy, and that acute retinal necrosis syndrome consists of varying degrees of severity from mild to fulminant types.

[ELISA for antisperm antibodies in unexplained infertile women]

It is commonly believed that autoimmune or isoimmune responses to human sperm antigens are associated with human infertility. We examined an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit used in the detection of antisperm antibodies in the sera of women with unexplained infertility. 1) For the ELISA assay, an absorbance at 405nm greater than 0.300 was considered positive. Of the 83 sera of infertile women studied, 20(24.1%) were positive. This value was significantly higher than that of the control group: 10% of pregnant women, 11.1% of unmarried women and 10% of healthy men (p less than 0.05). 2) The results obtained with ELISA were compared with those of the sperm immobilization test. Comparison of the results of ELISA with those of the sperm immobilization test indicated that these methods detect a different, though often overlapping, spectrum of antibody activity. 3) The results obtained with ELISA did not always correlate with those of the Huhner test. However the ELISA method may be useful in the clinical screening of antisperm antibodies because of its simplicity and rapidity.

Occurrence of vanadium ion in serum albumins

Vanadium was shown to be a contaminant in Sigma-grade serum albumins, fraction V. The levels of vanadium detected by neutron activation analysis were: bovine 16.7, ovine 10.0, rabbit 9.1, porcine 3.9, and human 0.19 micrograms/g protein. According to the ESR spectra, the vanadate form (+5 oxidation state) was strongly suggested as a chemical form present in albumins. Dialysis against a chelating agent was quite effective for removal of the metal ion.

Effect of a soluble factor secreted from cultured human trophoblast cells on in vitro lymphocyte reactions

The immunoregulatory role of trophoblast cells in cell-mediated immunity was investigated. Trophoblast cells were obtained from 8-10-week human placentae by treatment with collagenase followed by differential centrifugation. The cells were cultured for 48 hr, and the culture supernatant was examined for immunosuppressive activity in vitro. The supernatant when added to cultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy donors suppressed both their reactivity to different lectins (PHA and PWM) and their activity in one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction. The degree of suppression was dose-dependent. Furthermore, the supernatant was able to reduce the natural killer cell activity against K562 target cells. On the other hand, the supernatant had no inhibitory effect on the effector phase of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity activity against tumor cell lines RPMI 8866 and Daudi. In all cases, the suppression observed was not due to lymphocytotoxicity or tumor cell mortality. The results indicate that trophoblast cells release a soluble suppressive factor that is a potent inhibitor of cell-mediated immunity.

Synthesis and quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis of N-triiodoallyl- and N-iodopropargylazoles. New antifungal agents

New series of N-(2,3,3-triiodoallyl) and N-(3-iodopropargyl) azole derivatives (100 compounds) involving pyrrole, pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, and tetrazole nuclei were synthesized successively with the aid of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis to obtain potent antifungal agents. Starting from the derivatives of nitropyrrole-containing antibiotics, the QSAR analysis of the pyrrole derivatives against Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes strains indicated the positive contribution of the nitro group and negative effect of the size of molecule. Further application of the QSAR analysis on the multi-azole derivatives revealed the importance of hydrophobicity and electronegativity as well as steric effect to the activities and led to the synthesis of one of the most potent iodo compounds, 2-(2,3,3-triiodoallyl)tetrazole (67, ME1401).

[Clinical phase I study of T-2588]

A clinical phase I study for T-2588 was carried out in 25 healthy male volunteers. Each volunteer received T-2588 in one of the following doses: 100 mg capsule or tablet as a single oral administration in fasting or non-fasting state, 200 or 400 mg capsule as a single oral administration in non-fasting state or 300 or 600 mg daily for 14 approximately 15 days as a repeated administration in non-fasting state. The results are summarized below. No subjective or objective adverse effects were noted after a single oral administration. But repeated dose of 300 mg daily for 15 days and 600 mg daily for 14 days brought about abdominal distension in 1 case and soft stool in 1 case, respectively. As an abnormal change in clinical laboratory findings, 1 case with slight increase in transaminase after a single administration and 3 cases with slight increases in transaminase after repeated doses were observed. Time to reach a maximum concentration of T-2525 in blood (Tmax) was longer in subjects at non-fasting states than subjects in fasting states. Maximum blood concentration was lower in the latter than in the former. Urinary excretion rate in 8 hours after an oral administration was 19 approximately 28% and it was higher in non-fasting subject than in fasting subject. No accumulation of T-2588 was noted after repeated doses.

An improved colorimetric assay for interleukin 2

Mosmann's method for measuring the number of viable cells with a tetrazolium salt, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-di-phenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), was modified to make it possible to measure a large number of interleukin 2 (IL-2) samples at one time with less labor and more accuracy. Each step of the method was examined in detail and modified (the modified MTT method). An IL-2-dependent mouse natural killer cell line, NKC3, was used as an indicator cell line. The incubation period before adding MTT was reduced to 24 h, A solution of 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate-0.01 N HCl was used to dissolve the MTT formazan produced. We have compared the values obtained by the modified MTT method and the conventional [3H]thymidine method (3H-TdR method), and confirmed that the estimates of IL-2 content were almost equal. The variation of IL-2 content measured by both methods was within 5% in terms of the standard error.