Local immune system in the developing fetal larynx

Using histopathological and immunofluorescent techniques, we investigated the development of the glandular system of the larynx from 12 human fetuses. Glandular buds were first observed at the fourth month of gestation and glandular distribution became evident from the fifth month in the larynx. Ciliated or nonciliated epithelium covered the cavity of the larynx, with the exception of the true vocal cord. Immunofluorescent examination revealed the presence of IgG in the fetal larynx, but there was little fluorescence for IgA, IgM and IgE. Secretory component (SC) synthesis, on the other hand, was found in each serous-type glandular epithelium or acinus from the fourth month on. Our observations suggest that the local immune system by SC, which binds to IgA as SIgA in human laryngeal mucosa, is inherently acquired in the fetal larynx.

Classification of polyene antibiotics according to their synergistic effect in combination with bleomycin A2 or fusidic acid

Five polyene antibiotics were compared for their effects on colony formation of either Chinese hamster V79 or Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. A 10 to 40 times higher concentration of amphotericin B (heptaene) or nystatin (degenerated heptaene) was necessary to inhibit colony formation of hamster cells than that needed to inhibit colony formation of yeast cells. In contrast, colony formation of both hamster and yeast cells was inhibited to the same extent by similar concentrations of filipin (pentaene), pentamycin (pentaene), or pimaricin (tetraene). The five polyene antibiotics were also compared for their effects on colony formation of either V79 or S. cerevisiae cells when combined with a nonpolyene antibiotic, fusidic acid or bleomycin A2. Amphotericin B or nystatin could augment the cytocidal effect of fusidic acid but not that of bleomycin A2, whereas pentamycin or pimaricin could augment the cytocidal effect of both fusidic acid and bleomycin A2 against hamster and yeast cells. Filipin was found to enhance the action of fusidic acid and bleomycin upon growth of mammalian cells, whereas the pentaene polyene significantly potentiated the action of fusidic acid, but not that of bleomycin A2, against S. cerevisiae. It was therefore suggested that these polyene antibiotics be classified into two groups: group 1 (pimaricin, pentamycin, and filipin) and group 2 (amphotericin B and nystatin).

Immunopathological study of the larynx. IgA distribution and secretory activity

Using immunofluorescent and histopathological techniques, we studied the distribution and secretory activity of the glands of the larynx from 55 humans. The cavity of the larynx was covered with secretory glandular cells with the exception of the true vocal cords, aryepiglottic folds and upper part of the laryngeal surface of the epiglottis. Immunofluorescent study revealed the presence of IgG and other immunoglobulins throughout the connective tissue ground in each laryngeal mucosa. The most striking was seen in the staining pattern of IgA. Diffuse fluorescence for IgA was observed not only in the submucosal or periglandular connective tissue area but also in the intraeptithelial or submucosa glands. Secretory component synthesis was found mainly in each serous-type glandular epithelium or acinus. In the submucosa or periglandular area, IgA producing plasma cells were numerous. Our observations suggest that IgA, produced locally, is secreted via the glandular cells as secretory component--SIgA. Secretory activity of SIgA in these glandular tissues indicates that the larynx is possibly an immunologically active organ in the upper respiratory tract.

Antitumor effect of a combination of 6-methylthioinosine and amphotericin B on mouse leukemia L1210

Antileukemic activity of 5 kinds of sulfur-containing purine ribonucleosides were examined in the presence and absence of amphotericin B against L1210 in mice. Among these compounds, 6-methylthioninosine was potentiated by amphotericin B. 6-Methylthioinosine in combination with amphotericin B produced a 75% increase in the lifespans, which was greater than the increase in lifespans by 6-methylthioinosine (38%) or amphotericin B alone (2%). Antitumor effects of other sulfur-containing ribonucleosides, such as 6-thiocyanatoguanine, 6-thiocyanatopurine, 6-thiocyanatoinosine, and 6-methylthiopurine, were not augmented by amphotericin B.

Control of permeation of bleomycin A2 by polyene antibiotics in cultured Chinese hamster cells

Control of permeation of bleomycin A2, a well-known antitumor antibiotic, in combination with various polyene macrolide antibiotics was analyzed in cultured Chinese hamster cells in vitro. Three polyene antibiotics, filipin, pentamycin, and pimaricin, were found to enhance the action of bleomycin A2 remarkably, while amphotericin B or nystatin could not. Although DNA synthesis and colony-forming activity of polyene-sensitive Chinese hamster V79 cells were synergistically inhibited by the combination of filipin and bleomycin A2, in a polyene-resistant subline (AMBR-1) derived from V79, they were only slightly affected in the presence of both drugs. The cellular uptake of [14C]bleomycin A2 by V79 was enhanced 2- to 4-fold in the presence of increasing doses of filipin or pentamycin, but not in the presence of amphotericin B. The treatment of V79 cells with filipin for 20 to 30 min was enought to block DNA synthesis almost completely when combined with 20 microgram belomycin A2 per ml. The pretreatment of the hamster cells with 6 microgram filipin per ml for 60 min continued to enhance the inhibitory action by bleomycin A2 of DNA synthesis up to 5 hr after the removal of filipin from the cultured medium.

Synergistic effect of vitamin A and fusidic acid on Hela cells in vitro

Examinations were made to see if various vitamin A compounds, including retinol, retinal, retinol palmitate, retinol acetate, and retinoic acid, enhance the action of fusidic acid, an antibiotic and inhibitor of protein synthesis, on human carcinoma HeLa cells in vitro. Among these vitamins, retinal and retinol were found to potentiate strongly the effect of fusidic acid on HeLa cells. In this system, however, retinol palmitate, retinoic acid, and retinol acetate in 10 approximately 20 microgram/ml concentration were not found to enhance the effect of fusidic acid significantly.

Synergistic combination therapy of 5-fluorouracil, vitamin A and cobalt-60 radiation upon head and neck tumors

We have applied a triple combination of 5-fluorouracil (5FU), vitamin A and cobalt-60 radiation (FAR therapy) to clinical treatment of head and neck tumors since 1972. The treatment of 33 patients with cancer of larynx and 15 patients with hypopharyngeal or cervical esophageal cancer with FAR therapy during three years from 1972 to 1974 resulted in highly effective synergism in vivo, and the improved points of this therapy were presented.

Potentiation of cytostatic effect of sulfur- or chlorine-containing purines and related ribonucleosides by amphotericin-B on cultured mouse leukemia cells

Synergistic effects of sulfur-containing purines and related ribonucleosides (6-thioinosine, 6-thioguanine, 6-thiocyanatopurine, 6-methylthioinosine, 6-thiocyanatoguanine, 6-thiocyanatoguanosine, 6-phenacylthioinosine, 6-nitrobenzlythioinosine, 6-(p-chlorobenzyl)thioinosine, 6-(p-nitrobenzyl)thioguanosine, 6-benzylthioinosine, 6-ethylthioinosine, 6-benzylthioguanine, 6-benzylthiopurine, 6-methylthiopurine, and 6-thiocyanatoinosine) and chlorine-containing purine and its ribonucleoside, (6-chloropuine and 6-chloropurine riboside), in combination with the polyene antibiotic, Amphotericin-B, on cell survival and synthesis of DNA were examined in mouse leukemia L5178Y cells. 6-Methylthioinosine, 6-thiocyanatopurine, 6-thiocyanatoinsoine, 6-methylthiopurine, and 6-thiocyanatoguanine (or -guanosine) among sulfur-containing compounds were strongly potentiated by Amphotericin-B, and 6-chloropurine riboside, which is electronically analogous to methylthioinosine, was also enhanced by the polyene. Thiocyanoto or methylthio group at position 6 of the purine ring seems to be important for the polyene-mediated potentiation. 6-Methylthioinosine alone had much greater effect on DNA synthesis of HeLa cells than on L5178Y cells, and Amphotericin-B failed to potentiate the action of 6-methylthioinosine in HeLa cells.

Potentiation of 5-fluorouracil, chromomycin A3, and bleomycin by amphotericin B or polymyxin B in transformed fibroblastic cells

By using cultured, transformed fibroblastic cells, antitumor agents including cytosine arabinoside, thio-tepa, nitrogen mustard N-oxide, mitomycin C, chromomycin A3, 5-fluorouracil, daunomycin, vinblastine, vincristine, and bleomycin A2 were screened for the potentiation of their activity by amphotericin B or polymyxin B. Among them, the action of 5-fluorouracil and chromomycin A3 on ribonucleic acid synthesis was potentiated in their action by amphotericin B, not by polymyxin B. Bleomycin A2 was potentiated in its action on deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid synthesis only by polymyxin B.