Evidence of redox-linked signaling for producing a giant signal complex

Previously we showed that a thiol-reactive heavy metal, HgCl2, crosslinked multiple cell surface receptors through a ligand-independent pathway, which produced massive aggregates of phosphotyrosine (PTYR)-containing proteins beneath plasma membrane [Nakashima et al. (1994): J Immunol 152: 1064-1071]. In this study we characterized these unique aggregates at the molecular level. The lysates in Brij 96 of thymocytes treated with HgCl2 were separated into the supernatant and pellet fractions by simple centrifugation. Selected PTYR-containing proteins and p56lck appeared in the pellet fraction as quickly as 5 s after exposure to HgCl2, and were further increased in amount by 5 min. Although the mechanism of triggering these events was redox-linked, the majority of proteins in the Brij 96-insoluble aggregates were dissociated in SDS-PAGE under nonreducing condition. This suggested that PTYR-containing proteins and p56lck themselves do not form dimer or polymer directly by thiol-mediated bond. The pellet fraction was further found to include some other signal delivery elements, such as GTPase activating protein, phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase, and mitogen-activated protein kinase. Finally, all of these signal elements and selected PTYR-containing proteins were collected in the same fraction by the sucrose density gradient centrifugation. These results suggest a unique redox-linked pathway of formation of a giant signal complex.

Enhancement of nitric oxide production from activated macrophages by a purified form of ginsenoside (Rg1)

We studied the actions of purified ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 on nitric oxide production from macrophages and a macrophage cell line RAW264-7. Although neither Rg1 nor Rb1 induced nitric oxide from resting macrophages, Rg1 enhanced the production of nitric oxide from IFN-gamma activated-macrophages or RAW cells. Rg1 also enhanced the production of nitric oxide from macrophages cocultured with nonadherent spleen cells stimulated by conA, LPS or anti-CD3. Rb1, however, did not significantly enhance nitric oxide production from stimulated macrophages or RAW cells. Rg1 enhanced the tumor cell killing by nitric oxide produced from IFN-gamma-activated macrophages.

Promotion of cytotoxic T-cell generation in mixed leukocyte culture by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Bacillus thuringiensis

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIPLC) from Bacillus thuringiensis, which cleaves phosphatidylinositol or glycosylphosphatidylinositol on the external cell surface to generate a second messenger for intracellular signal transduction (S. Rahman et al., FEBS Lett. 303:193-196, 1992), was found to preferentially promote the generation of alloantigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in mixed leukocyte culture. PIPLC affected an early stage of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activation in culture, and there was no evidence of any soluble cellular mediators of this PIPLC action. PIPLC neither enhanced overall cell proliferation nor noticeably promoted interleukin-2 and -4 production in mixed leukocyte culture. The relative population size of Ly-2+ T cells was increased, however, in a late mixed leukocyte culture with PIPLC. In addition, PIPLC enhanced an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody-induced early increase in [Ca2+]i. These results suggest a new parasite (bacterium)-oriented mechanism for enhancing antigen-driven host cytotoxic T-lymphocyte immunity which does not include promotion of interleukin-2 production.

Characterization of the immunoregulatory action of saikosaponin-d

The immunoregulatory action of saikosaponin-d (SSd), which was isolated from the root of Bupleurum falcatum L. and has a steroid-like structure, was examined on splenic T lymphocytes of C57BL/6 mice. SSd displayed a definite action in vitro to bidirectionally control the growth response of T lymphocytes stimulated by concanavalin A, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, and calcium ionophore A23187 plus phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Low concentrations (1-3 micrograms/ml) of SSd upregulated the responses to suboptimum stimuli of agonists, particularly during the relatively late stage of the responses, whereas it downregulated the responses to supraoptimal stimuli. Under appropriate experimental conditions, SSd promoted interleukin-2 (IL-2) production and IL-2 receptor expression. It also accelerated c-fos gene transcription, but it did not modulate the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins. We concluded from these results that SSd uniquely modulates T lymphocyte function and that at least one target of the action of SSd is located at or before the step of c-fos gene transcription and after T-cell receptor/CD3-mediated protein tyrosine kinase activation.

Eosinophil cationic protein and prophylactic treatment in pollinosis in natural allergen provocation

In this study, prophylactic treatment with ketotifen and examination of subjective symptoms, blood eosinophil count and serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) values were carried out from the pre- to postpollinosis season to evaluate the effects of ECP and characterise the effects of prophylactic treatment on the appearance of these mediators in relation to clinical symptoms. We found that: serum ECP values during the season and post-season were significantly higher than those during the pre-season; there was a significant correlation between serum ECP value and blood eosinophil count during the season; and the levels for all three of the above parameters in the prophylactic treatment group were significantly lower than those in the no-treatment group during the season.

Retrovirus-mediated gene-transfer of tnf receptor for treatment of cancer

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor cDNA (TNFR-1 or TNFR-2) was inserted into a retrovirus derived vector. Recombinant vector was transfected into packaging cell line. The transfectants producing high titer of virus containing TNFR-1 or TNFR-2 cDNA were obtained. Human stomach cancer cells that poorly expressed TNFR-1 or TNFR-2 were infected with this virus as an in vitro model experiment of gene therapy. The stomach cancer cells that were infected with recombinant virus expressed TNFR-1 or TNFR-2 and were effectively killed by recombinant TNF.

Recombinant ret oncogene products induce T-lymphocyte proliferation, and suppress lymphoma derived from ret transgenic mice

3Recombinant ret oncogene products in complete Freund's adjuvant were injected into normal mice and ret oncogene transgenic mice. Spleen cells from the mice immunized with ret proteins were highly proliferated in vitro by the stimulation of ret proteins. The proliferating T cells have CD4(+) phenotype and secreated CTLL-2 reactive interleukins. The peritoneal exudate cells from ret protein-immunized mice suppressed ret-2 lymphoma, which was derived from ret lymphoma transgenic mice. The peritoneal exudate cells from ret melanoma transgenic mice did not suppress ret-2 lymphoma, when they were immunized with ret proteins.

Gene transfer of TNF receptor for treatment of cancer by TNF

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptors (TNFR-55 and TNFR-75) were inserted into retrovirus derived vector. They were transfected into a packaging cell line. The high titer of transfectants, which produced virus containing TNFR-55 or TNFR-75, was obtained. TNFR-55 and TNFR-75 negative human colon cancer cells were infected with this virus as a model experiment of gene therapy. Although the original colon cancer cell line did not express TNFR-55 or TNFR-75, the colon cancer cells, which were infected by recombinant virus, expressed a high level of TNFR-55 or TNFR-75. TNFR-55 or TNFR-75 transformed colon cancer cells were killed by recombinant TNF.

Kupffer cells cytotoxicity against hepatoma cells is related to nitric oxide

We have previously demonstrated that rat resting macrophages have cytotoxicity against tumor cells. In the current study we have performed an in vitro experiment to explore the mechanism of Kupffer cells-mediated cytotoxicity against hepatomas. The coculture of tumor cells with Kupffer cells (derived from rat livers) stimulated syngeneic and allogeneic Kupffer cells to produce nitric oxide. Kupffer cell-mediated cytotoxicity was paralleled to the amount of nitric oxide and was abolished by the addition of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. The ability to stimulate Kupffer cells to produce nitric oxide resided on the membranous fragment of tumor cells.

Evidence for posttranscriptional regulation of transgenic protein kinase C-alpha in T cells

Recently, we succeeded in establishing a transgenic mouse line which expressed high levels of protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha in thymocytes at the mRNA level with disproportionately small increases at the protein level. The transgenic PKC-alpha was nevertheless functionally active for inducing accelerated cell growth and IL-2 production by stimulation with anti-receptor (CD3) antibody or phorbol 12-myristate 14-acetate (PMA) in vitro. Study of the dynamics of transgenic PKC-alpha in the cells in vitro showed that the amount of PKC-alpha protein increased in the cells remarkably at > or = 5 h after stimulation, whereas the level of PKC-alpha mRNA did not change significantly or changed slightly. This suggested that cell activation breaks the posttranscriptional regulation of the transgenic PKC-alpha in resting cells. The increase in PKC-alpha protein accompanied a prolonged membrane translocation of PKC-alpha and enhanced cell proliferation. Such a transgenic effect was inhibited completely by a PKC inhibitor, H-7, added during 0-6 h after the stimulation. These results show formally that the transgenic PKC-alpha whose production was accelerated through cell activation plays a key role in the late (for > or = 5 h) signal delivery for disregulated cell growth.

Amniotic fluid enhances allogeneic cytotoxic T cell responses, whereas it suppresses mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation

Mouse amniotic fluid has been shown to suppress T lymphocyte proliferation and suggested to be important in regulating immunity during pregnancy. In allogeneic pregnancy, cytotoxic T cells in pregnant lymphocytes against paternal transplantation antigen are impaired. We examined the effect of amniotic fluid to the alloreactive CTL responses. Although the amniotic fluid suppressed Con A or LPS stimulated lymphocyte proliferation as previously reported, the amniotic fluid taken from syngeneic C57BL/6 pregnant mice or allogeneic C57BL/6 x BALB/c pregnant mice enhanced the anti-H-2d or anti-H-2k CTL responses dose-dependently. We speculate that amniotic fluid contains not only immunosuppressive factors but also immunoenhancing factors which upregulate the allogeneic CTL responses.

Redox mechanism as alternative to ligand binding for receptor activation delivering disregulated cellular signals

Cross-linking with specific ligand is a general requirement for ordered activation of cell surface receptors. In this study we demonstrated a novel pathway for disregulated receptor activation through a redox mechanism. Treatment of murine thymocytes or spleen cells with thiol-reactive HgCl2, a known inducer of autoimmune proliferative lymphocyte disorders in rodents, was found to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of several cellular proteins, which was up to 100 times as extensive as that triggered by stimulation with antireceptor antibody or mitogen. Through the cross-linkage by thiol-reactive bivalent mercury, transmembrane CD4, CD3, and CD45 and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored Thy-1 were aggregated together on thymocytes or T lymphocytes. Along with the aggregation of Thy-1 and CD4, nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase p56lck was aggregated and activated. These events were linked to extensive protein tyrosine phosphorylation, which was visualized as a well localized spot beneath the membrane. Under appropriate conditions, this novel pathway of multiple receptor aggregation delivered a disregulated signal into T lymphocytes, which cross-talked to the antireceptor antibody-induced signal, for prolonged cell proliferation and IL-2 production. These results suggest a novel mechanism of disregulation of the ligand-dependent receptor function.

Predominant activation of extrathymic T cells during melanoma development of metallothionein/ret transgenic mice

Transgenic mice that carried a metallothionein/ret fusion gene (Tg.MT/ret mice) exhibited severe pigmentation in their skin after birth and developed melanomas at adult ages. To learn how the immune system was modulated during melanoma development in these mice, lymphocytes in various organs were examined. An immunofluorescence cell analysis was focused on the simultaneous characterization of T cells of extrathymic and thymic origins and performed at three time points: 6 weeks of age (before melanoma development), 20 weeks (after melanoma development), and 30 weeks (end stage). The number and proportion of extrathymic T cells with TCR of intermediate intensity (i.e., intermediate TCR cells) were markedly increased in the liver over entire periods of life. These intermediate TCR cells constitutively expressed IL-2R beta, contained double-negative CD4-8- cells, and predominated V beta 8+ cells. Such intermediate TCR cells were also abundant among tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. In contrast, an increase in the number and proportion of regular T cells with TCR of bright intensity (i.e., bright TCR cells of thymic origin) was seen at only a limited period in various organs. Rather, at the late phase, thymic atrophy was induced and accompanied with the decrease in the proportion of bright TCR cells in the periphery. These results suggested that extrathymic T cells generated in the liver might play important roles in tumor immunity.

Redox mechanism as alternative to ligand binding for receptor activation delivering disregulated cellular signals

Cross-linking with specific ligand is a general requirement for ordered activation of cell surface receptors. In this study we demonstrated a novel pathway for disregulated receptor activation through a redox mechanism. Treatment of murine thymocytes or spleen cells with thiol-reactive HgCl2, a known inducer of autoimmune proliferative lymphocyte disorders in rodents, was found to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of several cellular proteins, which was up to 100 times as extensive as that triggered by stimulation with antireceptor antibody or mitogen. Through the cross-linkage by thiol-reactive bivalent mercury, transmembrane CD4, CD3, and CD45 and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored Thy-1 were aggregated together on thymocytes or T lymphocytes. Along with the aggregation of Thy-1 and CD4, nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase p56lck was aggregated and activated. These events were linked to extensive protein tyrosine phosphorylation, which was visualized as a well localized spot beneath the membrane. Under appropriate conditions, this novel pathway of multiple receptor aggregation delivered a disregulated signal into T lymphocytes, which cross-talked to the antireceptor antibody-induced signal, for prolonged cell proliferation and IL-2 production. These results suggest a novel mechanism of disregulation of the ligand-dependent receptor function.

Expression of nm23 H-1 RNA levels in human gastric cancer tissues. A negative correlation with nodal metastasis

BACKGROUND

Gene expression of nm23 has been investigated in number of tumors, including breast cancer, colon cancer, malignant melanoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Its down-regulation has been shown to be associated with metastasis or disease progression in some of the tumors.

METHODS

nm23 H-1 mRNA levels were investigated in 31 surgically resected specimens of gastric cancer by Northern blot analysis, and association with clinical stages was determined.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in nm23 expression between tumor and matching normal mucosa. There was a significant down-regulation of the nm23 gene in gastric cancer with serosal invasion (T3 and T4 by the TNM classification) and nodal metastasis (pN1 and pN2), although the association of the down-regulation with clinically manifest hepatic or peritoneal metastasis was not significant. The tumors with low nm23 expression were associated with a poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

It was suggested that the down-regulation of nm23 gene might have a role in metastasis and invasion in gastric cancer, possibly leading to a poor prognosis.

Expression of glutathione-S-transferases alpha and pi in gastric cancer: a correlation with cisplatin resistance

Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in one of several factors that are proposed to affect tumor sensitivity to anticancer drugs, including cisplatin (CDDP). Attempts are made herein to evaluate the significance of the enzymes in resistance to CDDP in clinical samples of gastric cancer. A total of 22 gastric cancer specimens, 16 of which were obtained with matching normal mucosae, underwent immunoblotting with polyclonal antibodies against GST-alpha and GST-pi. At the same time, the chemosensitivity of 15 gastric cancer specimens to CDDP was evaluated by the succinic dehydrogenase inhibition (SDI) test. The expression of GST-pi was detected in all the specimens, and its content in the neoplasms exhibited a significant positive correlation with that in the matched normal mucosae. The expression of GST-alpha was detected in 18 of 22 cancer specimens (82%), but its content in the neoplasms did not correlate with that in the matched mucosae. A comparison of the drug-sensitivity findings with the results of immunoblotting revealed a weak but interesting correlation between the protein levels of GST-alpha and CDDP resistance. The cellular content of GST-alpha correlated weakly with CDDP resistance in gastric cancer, and its quantification could contribute to prediction of the clinical effects of CDDP in patients with gastric cancer.

The effects of nitric oxide on chondrocytes and lymphocytes

ConcanavalinA (ConA)-activated lymphocytes markedly induced the production of nitric oxide from chondrocytes. The nitric oxide significantly inhibited the proliferation of both the chondrocytes themselves and the lymphocytes. When culture supernatant from ConA-activated lymphocytes was added to culture of chondrocytes, a large amount of nitric oxide was produced. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (MMA) significantly eliminated both the production of nitric oxide and the inhibition of chondrocyte and lymphocyte proliferation. Furthermore, when MMA was added to the mixed culture of chondrocytes and lymphocytes with ConA, their proliferation was markedly enhanced compared with individual summation. These results indicate that chondrocytes produce not only nitric oxide but also a lymphocyte stimulating factor, the effects of which are, however, usually masked by the nitric oxide.

A murine model of experimental autoimmune lens-induced uveitis using Klebsiella O3 lipopolysaccharide as a potent immunological adjuvant

Experimental autoimmune uveitis and finally panophthalmitis could be produced in mice by repeated immunization of syngeneic eyeball extract mixed with Klebsiella O3 lipopolysaccharide (KO3 LPS) as a powerful immunological adjuvant. No ocular lesions were produced in mice given eyeball extract emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), KO3 LPS alone or eyeball extract alone. Histopathological changes in the ocular lesions at the early stage after the second or tertiary immunization were characterized by infiltration with inflammatory cells in the ciliary body and iris. The iridocyclitis was followed by extensive infiltration of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) into the cornea, lens and the surrounding tissues after repeated immunization. Finally, these areas were replaced by granulomatous tissues infiltrated with mononuclear cells. On the other hand, the structure of the retina and sclera was partially preserved. Those mice exhibited production of autoantibodies and development of the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to syngeneic eyeball extract. Moreover, ocular lesions could be produced in normal recipient mice by transfer of sensitized lymphocytes from hyperimmunized mice. Therefore, it was suggested that the ocular lesions produced by repeated immunization with the mixture of eyeball extract and KO3 LPS were due to the autoimmune mechanism. This might be useful to model immunological phenomena in the pathogenesis of human phacoantigenic uveitis.

Nitric oxide production from a macrophage cell line: interaction with autologous and allogeneic lymphocytes

The indirect stimulation of macrophages to produce nitrite was examined by using the macrophage cell line J774.J774 spontaneously produced nitrite, when cultured at high concentration. J774 cultured in low concentration (< 10(4) cells in 100 microliters) barely produced nitrite. J774 cultured in low concentration produced a large amount of nitrite by the co-culture of nonadherent spleen cells or nonadherent peritoneal exudate cells, which were stimulated with con A, anti-CD3, or staphylococcal enterotoxin A. J774 (BALB/c derived: H-2d) cultured with either syngeneic (BALB/c) or allogeneic (B6; H-2b B10BR; H-2k) nonadherent lymphocytes, which were stimulated with conA or anti-CD3, produced nitric oxide. However, J774 produced nitric oxide by stimulation with SEA only when co-cultured with SEA-reactive T lymphocytes. Peritoneal exudate cells from mice, which did not proliferate by the stimulation of conA or anti-CD3, proliferated well by the addition of L-arginine homologue, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine. The proliferation of nonadherent peritoneal exudate cells stimulated with conA or anti-CD3 was suppressed by the addition of peritoneal macrophages. This suppression was abolished by the addition of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine.

Pathway of signal delivery to murine thymocytes triggered by co-crosslinking CD3 and Thy-1 for cellular DNA fragmentation and growth inhibition

The signal delivery pathway triggered by crosslinking CD3 and Thy-1 together (CD3/Thy-1 crosslinkage) on murine thymocytes for cellular DNA fragmentation/growth inhibition was analyzed. The treatment of thymocytes with herbimycin A as a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor under suboptimum conditions before the CD3/Thy-1 crosslinkage partially but preferentially inhibited the otherwise promoted tyrosine phosphorylation of p40 and p56. Evidence was then provided that acceleration of the kinase activity of p56lck was involved in the CD3/Thy-1 crosslinkage-triggered signal. Partial characterization of p40 distinguished it from the p43 and p41 MAP kinases, the tyrosine phosphorylation of which was only marginally accelerated. Promotion of DNA fragmentation by the CD3/Thy-1 crosslinkage-triggered signal was actually ablated by the treatment with herbimycin, suggesting the obligatory involvement of the herbimycin highly sensitive kinase activity in the signal pathway. The signal induced by co-crosslinkage of CD3 and Thy-1 was also shown to be negatively biased against mature T lymphocytes, suppressing their CD3-mediated growth response. The negative signal was then found to partially attack the process of c-fos transcription as an earlier nuclear event. Interestingly, this c-fos suppression was prevented by the treatment of thymocytes with herbimycin before stimulation, for accelerated expression of c-fos. It is suggested from these results that the CD3/Thy-1 crosslinkage delivers protein tyrosine kinase-dependent negative signaling for inhibition of early and late nuclear events of both immature thymocytes and mature T lymphocytes.

Pathway of signal delivery to murine thymocytes triggered by co-crosslinking CD3 and Thy-1 for cellular DNA fragmentation and growth inhibition

The signal delivery pathway triggered by crosslinking CD3 and Thy-1 together (CD3/Thy-1 crosslinkage) on murine thymocytes for cellular DNA fragmentation/growth inhibition was analyzed. The treatment of thymocytes with herbimycin A as a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor under suboptimum conditions before the CD3/Thy-1 crosslinkage partially but preferentially inhibited the otherwise promoted tyrosine phosphorylation of p40 and p56. Evidence was then provided that acceleration of the kinase activity of p56lck was involved in the CD3/Thy-1 crosslinkage-triggered signal. Partial characterization of p40 distinguished it from the p43 and p41 MAP kinases, the tyrosine phosphorylation of which was only marginally accelerated. Promotion of DNA fragmentation by the CD3/Thy-1 crosslinkage-triggered signal was actually ablated by the treatment with herbimycin, suggesting the obligatory involvement of the herbimycin highly sensitive kinase activity in the signal pathway. The signal induced by co-crosslinkage of CD3 and Thy-1 was also shown to be negatively biased against mature T lymphocytes, suppressing their CD3-mediated growth response. The negative signal was then found to partially attack the process of c-fos transcription as an earlier nuclear event. Interestingly, this c-fos suppression was prevented by the treatment of thymocytes with herbimycin before stimulation, for accelerated expression of c-fos. It is suggested from these results that the CD3/Thy-1 crosslinkage delivers protein tyrosine kinase-dependent negative signaling for inhibition of early and late nuclear events of both immature thymocytes and mature T lymphocytes.

Higher expression of topoisomerase II in lung cancers than normal lung tissues: different expression pattern from topoisomerase I

To examine the expression of topoisomerase I and topoisomerase II in primary lung cancer specimens at mRNA level, we carried out Northern blot analysis. As for topoisomerase I expression, there was no remarkable difference between lung cancer specimens and non-cancerous lung tissues. On the other hand, we could detect topoisomerase II mRNA in almost all lung cancer specimens, but not in non-cancerous tissues. By Southern blot analysis, we could not detect large deletion nor rearrangement in DNA level. These results suggest that the expression of topoisomerase II is highly increased in lung cancer at mRNA level and drugs against topoisomerase II might be more tumor-specific than those against topoisomerase I.

Glycyrrhizin as a promoter of the late signal transduction for interleukin-2 production by splenic lymphocytes

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of the immunomodulatory action of glycyrrhizin (GL) were studied. We demonstrated that GL displays a unique action to prolong the duration of the T-cell receptor-mediated in vitro splenic T-lymphocyte growth response to anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) or concanavalin A (Con A) through enhancement of interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion and IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression. The augmentation by GL of IL-2 production was also found in spleen cells stimulated with A23187 plus phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), suggesting that GL primarily affects some post-receptor stage of the signal transduction. We also found that the time of GL action for promoting IL-2 production and growth response was 2 hr or more after receptor activation. Correspondingly, GL did not augment the anti-CD3 mAb or Con A-mediated protein tyrosine phosphorylation and c-fos transcription. We concluded from these results that GL acts as a promoter of the late signal transduction of T lymphocytes for IL-2 production.

Weight gain attitudes among pregnant adolescents

Maternal weight gain is the most important, manageable determinant of infant birth weight among adolescents. Negative attitudes toward weight gain may adversely affect maternal weight gain. We hypothesized that (a) negative attitudes toward pregnancy weight gain are more common among younger pregnant adolescents, and (b) negative attitudes toward pregnancy weight gain adversely affect adolescent maternal weight gain. The study subjects, 99, radially diverse, pregnant 13 through 18 year olds, completed the 18-item, Likert-format, Pregnancy and Weight Gain Attitude Scale. Responses to the questionnaire indicated that most (83.8%) of the adolescents we interviewed had a positive attitude toward pregnancy weight gain when they entered prenatal care. Univariate analyses revealed that attitudes toward weight gain were unrelated to the respondents' ages but inversely related to their prepregnant weights (-0.16; p = 0.06) and the severity of their symptoms of depression (r = -0.26; p = 0.004). Attitudes toward weight gain were also directly related to their family support (r = 0.17; p = 0.06). Weight gain was significantly related to 4 of the 18 scale items but not to the total attitude scale score. We conclude that (a) the developmental task of formulating a positive body image does not foster more negative attitudes toward pregnancy weight gain among younger adolescents; (b) negative weight gain attitudes are most common among heavier adolescents, depressed adolescents, and adolescents who do not perceive their families as supportive; and (c) negative weight gain attitudes could adversely affect pregnancy weight gain.

Expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and nonspecific crossreacting antigen (NCA) in gastrointestinal cancer; the correlation with degree of differentiation

In spite of its reputation as a tumour marker, little is known about the function of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). We examined the mRNA expression of CEA and NCA in 26 gastric and 14 colorectal cancers together with adjacent morphologically normal mucosae. There was no significant difference between the CEA mRNA levels of colorectal cancer and adjacent mucosa, whereas the CEA mRNA levels were significantly elevated in gastric cancer compared with normal gastric mucosa. The expression of NCA, on the other hand, was more cancer-specific and was significantly up-regulated in both gastric and colorectal cancers compared with the corresponding normal mucosae. No correlation was found between the mRNA level and plasma CEA value. No significant up-regulation was recognised in the node positive cancer, cancer with distant metastasis, or the metastatic tissues themselves. Marked diversity in the degree of differentiation in gastric cancer tissues, however, resulted in varied expression of the CEA gene family, compared with the constantly high expression found in colorectal cancer. Further analysis revealed significant up-regulation of NCA in well and moderately differentiated gastric cancers over poorly differentiated cancers, suggesting that NCA might have roles in differentiation.