Lymphokine-activated killer cytotoxicity against pancreas adenocarcinoma cell lines and vascular endothelial cells

Eight pancreas carcinoma cell lines of duct cell origin (PCI-6, 10, 19, 24, 35, 43, 55, and 64) were established. Using one of these lines, PCI-24, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and several recombinant cytokines, conditions and specificity of anti-PCI LAK induction were investigated, with the focus on a search for lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity that differentiates neoplastic (PCI) from non-neoplastic (HUVEC) cells. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), IFN-alpha, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-7, but not tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or IL-1 beta, induced a weak LAK activity against PCI-24, whereas IL-2-induced (1000 U/mL) LAK exhibited a far more potent cytotoxicity. When these cytokines were added at the suboptimal dose IL-2 (100 U/mL), no significant augmentation in LAK activity was induced. Staphylococcal protein A (SpA) induced LAK activity as potent as that seen with IL-2 (1000 U/mL). Both IL-2-induced and SpA-induced LAK had a potent, dose-dependent cytotoxicity against HUVEC. HUVEC inhibited both IL-2- and SpA-induced LAK cytotoxicity against PCI-24 to almost the same extent as seen with PCI-24. Thus, two potent LAK-inducers did not generate LAK activity that differentiates neoplastic from non-neoplastic cells. Thus, in vitro cytotoxicity of LAK against non-neoplastic endothelial cells is unavoidable when handling cytokines in LAK induction.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Epidemiologic approaches to occupational exposure

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) risk-related factors were epidemiologically investigated on the basis of 1,311 Japanese IPF autopsy cases selected from the annual complications of autopsy data records in Japan during a 12-yr period. Age and sex distribution of the subjects revealed a high peak in their seventh decade with males predominating. The IPF rate was more than two times higher (p < 0.01) among subjects engaged in occupations that exposed them to dust or organic solvents compared with those in other jobs. To ascertain job characteristics, an autopsy-case control study was conducted using other annual volumes of the autopsy data records and a similar tendency was observed. Then, a live-case control study was undertaken of 86 subjects with IPF. A significantly higher odds ratio was noted among metal production workers and miners compared with healthy and hospital control subjects (1.37 and 1.34, respectively, p < 0.01), and also a significantly lower odds ratio among subjects who frequently eat fish. Taken together with results of recent in vitro studies, the intrapulmonary deposition of hazardous dusts, especially metallic dusts, appears to play at least a partial role in initiating IPF.

Differential expression of bcl-2 and susceptibility to anti-Fas-mediated cell death in peripheral blood lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils

The recently identified Fas antigen (Ag) is a cell surface molecule that can mediate apoptosis. The cytoplasmic product of proto-oncogene bcl-2 has been shown to prolong the cellular survival by inhibiting apoptosis. To elucidate the physiologic significance of expression of both molecules, we examined the expression of Fas Ag and bcl-2 on blood leukocyte populations and evaluated their sensitivity to the cytolytic action of anti-Fas antibody. Although Fas Ag was expressed on a fraction of lymphocytes, both neutrophils and monocytes expressed Fas Ag constitutively. In contrast, there was marked difference among these leukocytes regarding bcl-2 expression. Lymphocytes expressed bcl-2 intensely, but monocytes showed weaker bcl-2 expression, and neutrophils were essentially absent for bcl-2 expression. Seemingly reflecting this lack of bcl-2-expression, neutrophils more easily underwent apoptotic cell death in vitro as compared with monocytes and lymphocytes. We showed that anti-Fas antibody affectively accelerated apoptotic cell death in neutrophils. However, the apoptosis-inducing effect of anti-Fas antibody was minimal on monocytes, and lymphocytes were resistant to this antibody. These results suggest that anti-Fas-mediated cell death may, in part, be determined by bcl-2 expression status in Fas+ lymphoid and hematopoietic cells.

Acute thrombocytopenic purpura associated with primary Epstein-Barr virus infection

Acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) often appears to be related to the sensitization by some viral infections. However, the causative viral agents are not identified in most cases. Although the primary infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) occurs during early childhood in Japan, the majority of cases are usually asymptomatic. A minority are associated with acute infectious mononucleosis (IM), which is characterized by fever, tonsillitis, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly and liver dysfunction. In this report, three cases are described of children with EBV-induced ITP who clinically had atypical findings of IM. Their primary EBV infections were confirmed by serological test and, in addition, were verified by the enhanced expression of activation antigens (HLA-DR and CD45RO) on T cells as well as the inverted ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ subsets. These observations imply that ITP can occur as one of the host responses during primary EBV infections, irrespective of clinical manifestations. Evaluation of lymphocyte subpopulations may be useful for the assessment of primary EBV infection in ITP.

Beta-adrenergic stimulation disassembles microtubules in neonatal rat cultured cardiomyocytes through intracellular Ca2+ overload

Catecholamine cardiotoxicity is attributable in part to Ca2+ overload. To test whether the cytoskeletal structures of microtubules in cardiomyocytes are reversibly injured by catecholamine through excessive Ca2+ influx, morphological changes in the microtubules of neonatal rat myocytes were studied by immunohistochemical technique during exposure to norepinephrine (NE). In intact myocytes, microtubules appeared as a filamentous network throughout the cytoplasm and around the nucleus. NE exposure (10 mumol/L) for > 30 minutes elicited microtubular disassembly in a duration-dependent fashion without any irreversible change in sarcomere structure, and this abnormality recovered within 24 hours after cessation of stimulation. Microtubular disruption scores obtained by semiquantitative assessment were significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner (10.8 +/- 4.0 in the control condition, 23.4 +/- 4.7 at 60 minutes with 10 mumol/L NE), whereas they were significantly attenuated by pretreatment with propranolol (100 mumol/L; score, 11.8 +/- 3.3) but not with phentolamine (100 mumol/L; score, 26.4 +/- 4.8). Isoproterenol (1 mumol/L) and denopamine (10 mumol/L) mimicked the effects of NE, but phenylephrine did not, indicating that NE-induced microtubular disassembly is mediated by beta 1-adrenergic receptor stimulation. This beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated insult was significantly attenuated by a decrease in Ca2+ concentration in the medium from 2 to 0.5 mmol/L and by pretreatment with diltiazem (1 mumol/L). In contrast, microtubular disassembly was induced by an increase in Ca2+ concentration in the medium and an administration of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, even without beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation. Involvement of intracellular hypoxia and activation of Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent kinase or Ca(2+)-dependent neutral protease were excluded from possible mechanisms; however, inhibition of tubulin polymerization by excessive Ca2+ influx during beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation may be primarily involved. We conclude that microtubular structures that support cellular integrity are reversibly injured by beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation through excessive Ca2+ influx.

[Clinical and autopsy studies on prognosis of sarcoidosis]

Prognosis of 435 sarcoidosis patients and epidemiologic features were studied in 320 autopsy cases. About 80-90% of Stage I or II patients showed spontaneous remission. The prognosis of Stage III patient was poor and corticosteroid therapy seemed to be rather ineffective. The proportion of sarcoidosis autopsy, relative to total autopsy cases, appears to be increasing. The number of female cases was about 2 times larger than that of males. Only 43.4% of the total autopsy cases had been diagnosed clinical sarcoidosis. Over 5 times more sarcoidosis patients than clinically diagnosed were estimated to exist. Approximately one half of the sarcoidosis autopsy cases were related to cardiac sarcoidosis.

Efficient induction of immunoglobulin production in neonatal naive B cells by memory CD4+ T cell subset expressing homing receptor L-selectin

The humoral response in newborns is mainly restricted to IgM production, which may be attributable to the naive nature of both B and T cells at birth. In light of the current evidence that memory (CD45RO+) CD4+ T cells help B cell differentiation, the present study was undertaken to examine whether a specified population within memory CD4+ T cells could induce the maturation of neonatal naive B cells. In the conventional PWM-stimulated cultures, the generation of IgG- and IgA-producing cells in addition to IgM production by neonatal B cells was significantly enhanced by co-cultures with memory, but not naive, CD4+ T cells. Memory CD4+ T cells were further divided into two populations based on expression of homing receptor L-selectin. These memory CD4+ T cell subpopulations appeared to behave in different fashions concerning help for Ig production by naive (sIgD+) and mature (sIgD-) B cells. L-selectin-negative memory CD4+ T cells exhibited helper function for Ig secretion by mature B cells. Intriguingly, Ig production by neonatal B cells as well as adult naive B cells, although less than that by mature B cells, was efficiently promoted by L-selectin-positive memory CD4+ T cells rather than L-selectin-negative ones. The results suggest that the capability of neonatal naive B cells to secrete IgG and IgA can be elicited by appropriate T-cell signals, especially from the L-selectin-positive population within memory CD4+ T cells, seemingly indicating its possible role for isotype switching in B cells.

Efficient induction of immunoglobulin production in neonatal naive B cells by memory CD4+ T cell subset expressing homing receptor L-selectin

The humoral response in newborns is mainly restricted to IgM production, which may be attributable to the naive nature of both B and T cells at birth. In light of the current evidence that memory (CD45RO+) CD4+ T cells help B cell differentiation, the present study was undertaken to examine whether a specified population within memory CD4+ T cells could induce the maturation of neonatal naive B cells. In the conventional PWM-stimulated cultures, the generation of IgG- and IgA-producing cells in addition to IgM production by neonatal B cells was significantly enhanced by co-cultures with memory, but not naive, CD4+ T cells. Memory CD4+ T cells were further divided into two populations based on expression of homing receptor L-selectin. These memory CD4+ T cell subpopulations appeared to behave in different fashions concerning help for Ig production by naive (sIgD+) and mature (sIgD-) B cells. L-selectin-negative memory CD4+ T cells exhibited helper function for Ig secretion by mature B cells. Intriguingly, Ig production by neonatal B cells as well as adult naive B cells, although less than that by mature B cells, was efficiently promoted by L-selectin-positive memory CD4+ T cells rather than L-selectin-negative ones. The results suggest that the capability of neonatal naive B cells to secrete IgG and IgA can be elicited by appropriate T-cell signals, especially from the L-selectin-positive population within memory CD4+ T cells, seemingly indicating its possible role for isotype switching in B cells.

[Immunohistochemical studies on mycobacteria in tuberculous necrotizing granulomas]

For the purpose to know the pathogenesis of caseous necrosis in tuberculous lesion, authors compared the presence and the number of mycobacteria in the pulmonary tubercles of various histological types. Forty pulmonary tubercles obtained from 16 patients (9 males, 7 females; mean age 51) were examined. By Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) method, acid-fast bacilli were detected in 40% of 5 proliferative, in 12.5% of 24 productive and none of 11 sclerotic granulomas. By immunohistological staining with anti-BCG antiserum, positive staining was observed in 60%, 87.5% and 91% of each type of granuloma, respectively. Types of necrosis were classified by silver-staining as necrosis after exudative reactions (EN), necrosis after productive reactions (PN) and filled materials after softening and liquification of necrotic lesions (LN). EN was observed in 24 tubercles, and mycobacteria were stained in 8% of EN by ZN method and in 75% by immunohistological method. PN was observed in 21 tubercles, and mycobacteria were detected in none and 5% of such type of necrosis by respective method. LN was observed in 28 tubercles, and mycobacteria were detected in 11% and 71% of these lesions by respective method. So, positive ratio by immunochemical method was significantly higher in EN and LN than in PN. Further, mycobacteria were stained with anti-BCG antiserum as granules and the number of such granules were much more numerous in EN and LN than in PN (p < 0.01). From these results, it was suggested that necrosis might occur by different mechanisms in exudative reactions and in productive reactions.

Racial difference in cardiac sarcoidosis incidence observed at autopsy

The most commonly involved organ in sarcoid related death has been reported to be the lung in western countries, while it was the heart in the Japanese autopsy series. In order to verify this different pattern of death, autopsy records were reviewed in two United States institutions and in Japanese nation-wide data. In Japanese, male to female ratio was 1:2 and a high frequency of sarcoidosis in females over 50 years of age was observed. Male to female ratio in Caucasian sarcoidosis autopsy was nearly 1:1. In Afroamericans, it was nearly 1:2, and the age distribution showed that this female predominance was due to a high number of sarcoidosis in females over 40 years of age. The frequency of sarcoidosis in Caucasian autopsies was higher than in Japanese autopsies. The number of involved organs was smaller in Caucasians than in Afroamericans or in Japanese. The incidence of cardiac sarcoid granuloma in Japanese was significantly higher than that seen in Caucasians and Afroamericans. The commonest cause of death in sarcoidosis of Caucasians and Afroamericans was from non-sarcoid diseases, while the major cause of sarcoid-attributed death was pulmonary sarcoidosis in Afroamericans. Japanese showed the highest rate of cardiac sarcoid-attributed death. Possible factors relating to this high incidence of sarcoidosis in elderly females and the racial difference in cardiac sarcoidosis were discussed.

[Clinical study of primary hyperparathyroidism--diagnosis, parathyroidectomy and late result of operation]

We retrospectively studied clinical problems for 55 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who were operated on at our hospital. The chance to discovery of primary hyperparathyroidism and its accompanied symptoms were various. Other than classical symptoms, hypertension was noted in 12 patients and malignant tumors in 9. Forty-four percent of patients who had no bone related symptoms were found to have decreased bone mineral density (BMD). Even the patients with normal BMD were seen to increase the BMD, postoperatively. We thought that the parathyroidectomy was indicated for the asymptomatic patients with normal BMD. Biochemical investigation showed that positive rate were 50% for PTH-C, 94% for PTH-HS, 78% for intact PTH, 87% for serum total calcium and 98% for serum ionized calcium. Serum ionized calcium and intact PTH were useful for the diagnosis of patients who had normocalcemia or slight elevation of serum calcium. The sensitivity was 61% for ultrasound sonography (US) and 49% for computer tomography (CT) and scintigram, respectively. The detection rate of US and CT was positively related to the size of the parathyroid glands, but scintigram was not. The rate with which the parathyroid glands can be recognized during operation increased from 30% in the former group to 52% in the later group. As a result, 11% of the patients with adenoma had too much surgery and 29% of the patients with hyperplasia had too little surgery.

Mature helper T cell requirement for immunoglobulin production by neonatal native B cells injected intraperitoneally into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice

It is accepted that human neonatal naive B cells produce mainly IgM in vivo as well as in vitro. Our previous work has demonstrated that i.p. injection of neonatal B cells together with adult mature T cells induces substantial levels of human IgG in the serum of SCID recipient mice. The present study was further attempted to determine the cellular components required for immunoglobulin production by neonatal B cells in SCID mice. When neonatal B and adult T cells were transferred into the SCID mice, human immunoglobulins, largely of IgG, were maximally detected in the serum around 6 weeks after a cell transfer. Depletion of CD4+ T cells from adult T cells resulted in undetectable levels of human immunoglobulin in the serum. By contrast, CD4+ T cell-enriched populations exhibited an enhancing effect on immunoglobulin production by neonatal B cells. Higher levels of immunoglobulin, including IgA and IgM, were detected in the peritoneal fluid than in the serum as early as 2 weeks after the cell transfer. Human T cells expressing activation antigens such as CD45RO and HLA-DR antigens were identified in the peritoneal lavages. These results suggest that neonatal naive B cells are able to differentiate into cells producing all classes of immunoglobulin in the presence of mature CD4+ T cells in a SCID mouse environment. The peritoneal cavity of SCID mice appears to provide a suitable place for immune responses by human cells, possibly in association with a certain xenogeneic reaction.

Effects of capsaicin analogs on adrenal catecholamine secretion in rats

To assess the relationship among the structure, pungency and thermogenic action, a series of capsaicin analogs with saturated acyl moieties (heptanoyl to eicosanoyl vanillylamide) were synthesized. Pungency of the compounds and the thermogenic action, which was examined by the potential of the compounds (655 nmol/kg, i.v.) to enhance adrenal catecholamine secretion for 15 min in anesthetized rats, were compared. On the chain length of the acyl moieties of the analogs, nonanoyl to octadecanoyl vanillylamide caused strong adrenal catecholamine secretion, but heptanoyl vanillylamide and eicosanoyl vanillylamide caused weak or no response. Pungent analogs except heptanoyl vanillylamide and non-pungent analogs except eicosanoyl vanillylamide had strong potency to secrete adrenal catecholamine.

Genomic characterization of the human DNA excision repair-controlling gene XPAC

We have characterized the human DNA excision repair gene, XPAC (xeroderma pigmentosum group A complementing). This gene of approximately 25 kb consists of six exons. The 5'-flanking region of the gene has a CAAT box, but no TATA box. The region upstream from the coding sequence of exon 1 is G + C rich (73%), and has a GC box. Transcriptional mapping analysis suggested that there is one major transcription start point (tsp). The presence of two polyadenylation signals suggests that the two XPAC mRNAs with different 3' untranslated regions in normal human cells are due to alternative polyadenylations. The promoter activity, measured by transient expression of the cat gene with the 5' flanking regions, indicated the presence of a functional promoter.

[Pathogenesis of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia: epidemiological approach from dust theory]

In order to elucidate the factors relating to the pathogenesis of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP), an epidemiological analysis was carried out on 1880 autopsy cases of acute and chronic froms of IIP which were included in the Japanese Pathological Autopsy Records. The disease was found in a high frequency in high age groups, especially in males, and was more prevalent in agricultural than in urbanized districts of Japan. Studies on the occupational distribution demonstrated a significantly higher rate of the disease in the occupations in which workers might have been exposed to harmful dusts or fumes. Other studies on autopsy cases also reported a high incidence of IIP in occupationally exposed groups, and a clinical case control study again reported a high incidence of IIP in the occupational group including production metal workers. Together with the previous studies on element analysis of IIP tissue, exposure to harmful dusts including metallic compounds is a possible trigger, at least partly, for idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.

Importance of E-selectin (ELAM-1) and sialyl Lewis(a) in the adhesion of pancreatic carcinoma cells to activated endothelium

Adhesion molecules involved in attachment between human pancreatic carcinoma and activated endothelial cells in vitro were investigated. Basal adhesion occurred between 6 pancreatic carcinoma cell lines and unstimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and augmented basal adhesion to activated HUVEC was only seen when pancreatic cancer cells expressed sialyl Lewisa (SLea) and sialyl Lewisx (SLex). Activation of HUVEC with interleukin 1-beta (IL-1 beta) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), but not with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), generated the augmentative basal adhesion. Dose dependence and additive effect were observed in augmentation of the basal adhesion induced by IL-1 beta and/or TNF-alpha. Increase in adhesion correlated with up-regulation of the surface E-selectin (or ELAM-1) on HUVEC, and was evident at both 25 degrees C and 4 degrees C. Anti-E-selectin and anti-SLea blocked the augmented attachment, whereas anti-SLex, an antibody against another known ligand for E-selectin, did not. The collective evidence indicates that attachment between pancreas carcinoma cells and activated endothelial cells is regulated by cytokines such as IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha, and is mediated by SLea on pancreas carcinoma and E-selectin on endothelial cells. These molecules may be of significant importance in blood-borne metastasis of pancreatic carcinoma cells to inflamed sites.

Absence of bcl-2 expression by activated CD45RO+ T lymphocytes in acute infectious mononucleosis supporting their susceptibility to programmed cell death

bcl-2 proto-oncogene encodes an inner mitochondrial membrane protein that blocks programmed cell death (apoptosis). There is now increasing evidence that regulation of bcl-2 expression is a determinant of life or death in normal lymphocytes. We have recently described that activated (CD45RO+) CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in acute infectious mononucleosis (IM) undergo apoptotic cell death on culturing, indicating an activation-driven cell death of mature T cells. In this work, we examine bcl-2 expression by activated T cells in acute IM using a flow-cytometric analysis with an anti-bcl-2 monoclonal antibody (MoAb). It was consistently observed that most T cells from acute IM patients displayed only much less bcl-2, while normal T cells expressed bcl-2 relatively strongly. Multicolor analysis showed that bcl-2-lacking T cells in acute IM were restricted to the CD45RO+ (activated) populations of CD4+, as well as CD8+ T cells. In contrast, the relatively intense levels of bcl-2 were expressed in both CD45RO+ and CD45RO- T-cell populations from normal subjects. This marked difference in bcl-2 expression of CD45RO+ T cells between acute IM and normal controls was also confirmed by Western blot analysis. Activated (CD45RO+) T cells with low bcl-2 expression, but not bcl-2-expressing CD45RO- T cells, in acute IM patients were found to die easily when cultured without added growth factors. However, in normal individuals, both CD45RO+ and CD45RO- T cells were relatively stable on culturing. These findings suggest that lack of bcl-2 expression by activated (CD45RO+) T cells in acute IM might be associated with their susceptibility to programmed cell death.

Pathological studies on sarcoidosis autopsy. II. Early change, mode of progression and death pattern

Three hundred and twenty autopsy cases of sarcoidosis in Japan were analyzed to determine the pathological changes in the early stage, the mode of progression in each organ and the changes in the final stage of the disease. The lung and the mediastinal lymph nodes were affected in most of the cases, while the lesions were limited to the lung and intrathoracic nodes in some of the cases. It was suspected that early changes developed in the lung and in the hilar, and then in the mediastinal lymph nodes. The progression of sarcoid granulomas in the lung was classified into three patterns: (i) probably of a disseminated hematogenous nature; (ii) of an interstitial lymphogenous nature; and (iii) of a local expansive nature. These three patterns were observed also in the heart. In the brain, perivascular granuloma formation was a prominent feature. In the other organs in which sarcoid lesions were not malignant nor disseminated and conglomerated, no interstitial patterns were observed. In chronic cases, repeated dissemination and particularly the interstitial spread of granulomatous changes led to a prominent interstitial fibrosis and dysfunction of the organs, finally resulting in death of the individual. In such long-standing cases, the mediastinal nodes deteriorated by hyalinous degeneration of the granulomas, and many active granulomas were formed in the intra-abdominal or body surface lymph nodes. These lymph nodes were likely to continue supplying sensitized lymphocytes to the whole body. A persistence of active change in the lymph nodes and the lymphogenous spread of granulomas in organs would appear to be key factors in the prognosis of sarcoidosis.

Pathological studies on sarcoidosis autopsy. I. Epidemiological features of 320 cases in Japan

Three hundred and twenty autopsy cases of sarcoidosis during a 32 year period were collected from the Annuals of the Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan, published yearly since 1958, and from a literature survey. A statistical analysis of these reviewed autopsy cases was carried out on the epidemiological features of the disease and on the causes of death. The proportion of sarcoidosis autopsy cases relative to the total autopsy cases had increased during this 32 year period. The increase of sarcoidosis autopsies during this period was chiefly due to the increase in aged females; the total number of female cases was approximately two times more than that of males. As over half of the total cases had only a pathological diagnosis and not a clinical diagnosis for sarcoidosis, the actual morbidity from sarcoidosis that was estimated from the autopsy data and corrected by autopsy rate was over five times higher than that of the clinically recognized cases. Age and sex distribution of these cases peaked in the thirties for both sexes, while another very high peak was noted in females over 50 years of age. In approximately 60% of the sarcoidosis autopsies, the cause of death related to sarcoid lesions in the heart, lung or nervous system, the majority of which involved cardiac sarcoidosis. In the remaining 40% of the cases, the cause of death was from non-sarcoidosis diseases.

A case of AFP-positive pancreas papillary carcinoma suggestive of a primitive endoderm phenotype

In a 70 year old woman with a tumor in the head of the pancreas, the lesion was predominantly composed of papillary adenocarcinoma protruding into the main pancreatic duct, with periductal invasion. The major portion of the adenocarcinoma was intraductal and was composed of tall columnar epithelial cells with pseudostratified nuclei, had the appearance of primitive endodermal epithelium and was positive for carcino-embryonic antigen. In contrast, in the other portion of the adenocarcinoma which had the predominant component of periductal invasion, neoplastic cells had an irregular, eosinophilic cytoplasm, resembled ordinary pancreas adenocarcinoma of ductal origin and was positive for CA19-9. Neuro-endocrine and alpha-fetoprotein-positive cells with a primitive appearance were scattered among the neoplastic epithelial linings. In addition, a vimentin-positive sarcomatoid component intermingled with the adenocarcinoma. These findings suggest that the adenocarcinoma observed in this tumor with the primitive appearance also had a primitive phenotype. This was evidenced by immunohistochemistry and the divergent directions of differentiation. This particular case illustrates that pancreas adenocarcinoma of the ordinary histologic type can arise secondarily from the more primitive neoplastic cells during carcinogenesis within the pancreatic duct.

Involvement of IL-7 in the development of gamma delta T cells in the thymus

The effect of IL-7 on the growth of thymic T lymphocytes was investigated by adding recombinant IL-7 into cell suspension cultures and submersion organ cultures (SOC) of murine fetal thymuses (FT) and newborn thymuses (NBT). FT and NBT were obtained from C57BL/6 mice at day 15 of gestational age and at day 3 after birth, respectively. In both cell suspension cultures and SOC, addition of IL-7 highly improved the cell recovery. In cell suspension cultures, addition of IL-7 resulted in the growth of gamma delta T-cells from FT-cells, whereas the same cytokine promoted the growth of both alpha beta and gamma delta T-cells from NBT-cells. These results may indicate that this cytokine is able to support the proliferation of T-cells of both alpha beta and gamma delta lineages. In marked contrast, in SOC, addition of IL-7 resulted in the growth of gamma delta T-cells not only in FT but also in NBT, despite the fact that the SOC of NBT without exogenous cytokine exclusively promoted the growth of alpha beta T-cells. A similar effect was also seen when IL-2 was added to NBT-SOC, though the skewing to gamma delta lineage was not so strong as in the case of IL-7. In addition, we found that IL-7 mRNA is expressed in the day 15 FT at a much higher level than in the adult thymus. These results strongly suggested that the production of a large amount of IL-7 synthesized in the FT is one of the major factors leading to the generation of gamma delta T-cells in FT.

Reperfusion after brief ischemia disrupts the microtubule network in canine hearts

Histological changes in the stunned myocardium are believed to be minimal. This study examined whether cytoskeletal structures of microtubules are disrupted in the stunned myocardium. In 38 dogs, the left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded for 15 minutes and reperfused to produce the stunned myocardium. Microtubules were stained immunohistochemically. In intact myocardium, microtubules appeared as a filamentous network throughout the cytoplasm and encircled the nucleus. This pattern was not affected by 15 minutes of ischemia. One hour of reperfusion, however, disrupted microtubular structure substantially (disruption score in the endocardium, 53.4 +/- 6.0%) although actin filaments remained intact. Microtubular structures were reconstituted 1-3 days after reperfusion, showing supernormal immunoreactivity. Five days after reperfusion, the pattern of microtubular staining was normal. In another protocol, the role of Ca2+ during reperfusion in microtubular disruption was examined. When intracoronary infusion of EDTA (1.67 mumol/kg body wt per minute) was performed during the initial 10 minutes of reperfusion, myocardial stunning was attenuated. The fractional shortening in the perfused area after 1 hour of reperfusion was 20.1 +/- 1.2% versus 11.5 +/- 0.5% in the control condition (p < 0.05), and the microtubular disruption score was lower (12.6 +/- 1.4%). Although intracoronary infusion of calcium chloride (9 mumol/kg body wt per minute) for 10 minutes in nonischemic hearts increased contractile function (fractional shortening, 25.3 +/- 2.0%), it severely disrupted microtubular networks (microtubular disruption score, 64.0 +/- 10.6%). We conclude that microtubules supporting the structural integrity of myofibrils and other organelles are reversibly disrupted by reperfusion after brief ischemia probably through calcium overload.

Physiological characteristics related to endurance running performance in female distance runners

The purpose of the present study was to determine the relationships between running velocity (v) in a 3000-m race and various physiological parameters. The parameters measured among 57 female distance runners during a treadmill running test were v at the lactate threshold (v-Tlac), oxygen uptake (VO2) at the lactate threshold (VO2 at Tlac), v at the onset of blood lactate accumulation (v-OBLA), VO2 at OBLA, running economy (steady-state VO2 at a standard v of 4 m s-1), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and v at VO2 max (v-VO2 max). The v-OBLA was the blood lactate variable with the strongest correlation with v in a 3000-m race (r = 0.78, P < 0.001). The second strongest correlation was with v-Tlac (r = 0.77, P < 0.001). Although v-VO2 max was strongly correlated with v over 3000 m (r = 0.75, P < 0.001), further analysis by stepwise multiple regression indicated that a combination of v-OBLA, VO2 at Tlac and v-Tlac could account for 73.2% of the variability in v over 3000 m, whereas v-OBLA on its own explained 61.5%. Blood lactate variables can account for a reasonably large part of the variance in v over 3000 m. Also, v-VO2 max can be used as a non-invasive predictor of distance running performance.

Cytokine regulation of cell-to-cell interactions in lymphokine-activated killer cell cytotoxicity in vitro

The permanent pancreas carcinoma cell line, PCI-24, was developed in order to analyse cytokine regulation on pancreas carcinoma and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell interaction. PCI cells expressed ICAM-1 and HLA-ABC, but not HLA-DR antigens. PCI cells showed augmented ICAM-1 and HLA-ABC expression when incubated with interferon gamma (IFN gamma) and tumour necrosis factor alpha. A similar but weak augmentary effect on the HLA-ABC and ICAM-1 surface expression was seen with interleukin-1 beta treatment. Natural attachment of LAK to PCI cells was augmented by recombinant IFN gamma in close association with ICAM-1 up-regulation on PCI cells. In addition, natural attachment was significantly inhibited by anti-LFA-1 and anti-ICAM-1 antibody treatments. Cytotoxicity of the LAK cells against PCI cells was also significantly inhibited with the same treatment. Thus, the attachment of LAK cells to PCI cells through LFA-1/ICAM-1 molecules appeared to be essential for the cytotoxicity for PCI cells. Pretreatment of PCI cells, but not of LAK cells, with IFN gamma or other cytokines resulted in a decrease of susceptibility for LAK cell cytotoxicity. The decreased susceptibility inversely correlated with HLA-ABC expression on the PCI cells. The collective evidence indicates that, although LAK cell attachment to pancreas carcinoma cells through the LFA-1/ICAM-1 molecule is augmented by IFN gamma, IFN gamma treatment of pancreas carcinoma cells reduces LAK cell cytotoxicity possibly through an increase in HLA-ABC or a regulation of molecules closely associated to HLA-ABC expression.