Evans' syndrome associated with Graves' disease

A 36-year-old woman who had had Graves' disease for 6 years was admitted with severe thrombocytopenia. Evans' syndrome was diagnosed. The patient's family history showed multiple cases of Graves' disease but no cases of Evans' syndrome. Both conditions in this patient improved with corticosteroid and thiamazole therapy. Several autoimmune antibodies were found, but a common autoimmune mechanism was not clearly shown. Although the combination of Graves' disease and Evans' syndrome had not occurred previously in her family, genetic factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of both conditions.

[Specific inhibitory effect of hybrid liposomes on the growth of hybridoma cells in vitro]

Remarkably high inhibitory effects of the hybrid liposomes composed of L-alpha-dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and polyoxyethylenealkyl ether (C14(EO)n, n = 6-8 and C12(EO)n, n = 8-12)) on the growth of human lymphoma-human B-lymphocyte hybridoma (HF) cells in vitro were obtained. The hybrid liposomes composed of 90 mol% DMPC/10 mol% C14(EO)n (n = 6-8) or C12(EO)n (n = 8-12) were more fluid as compared with 90 mol% DMPC/10 mol% C14(EO)4 or C12(EO)n (n = 4, 23) hybrid liposomes on the basis of fluorescence polarization measurements. These results suggest that the inhibitory effects of the hybrid liposomes on the growth of HF cells should be related to the membrane fluidity. No toxicity to normal rats in vivo was observed in the experiment using 90 mol% DMPC/10 mol% C14(EO)7 or 90 mol% DMPC/10 mol% C12(EO)12 hybrid liposomes.

Analysis of shape and retractability of the prepuce in 603 Japanese boys

PURPOSE

We evaluated preputial development in Japanese boys.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Preputial retractability and formation of a tight ring were evaluated in 603 Japanese boys 0 to 15 years old.

RESULTS

The incidence of a completely retractable prepuce gradually increased from 0% at age 6 months to 62.9% by 11 to 15 years, while that of a tight ring decreased with age from 84.3 to 8.6%. Nine boys had balanoposthitis but none had a symptomatic urinary tract infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Incomplete separation of the prepuce is common and normal in neonates and infants, and preputial separation progresses until adolescence. Awareness of these findings will eliminate unnecessary circumcision in boys.

[A 52-week oral toxicity study of a new antineoplastic agent S-1 in dogs]

52-week oral repeated-dose S-1 toxicity studies were conducted. Male and female dogs were orally treated with 0, 0.1, 0.5 or 2.5 mg/kg/day for 52 weeks and permitted to recover for 13 weeks. Furthermore, to estimate the no-toxic dose, male and female dogs were given S-1 orally for 52 weeks at doses of 0, 0.004 and 0.02 mg/kg/day. The 2.5 mg/kg/day regimen produced one dead or moribund dog of each sex; black-brown patch (melanin deposition) and inflammatory changes in the eyes and skin; decreased in body weight gains; increases in MCV, MCH, monocyte ratio, and serum protein and uric acid; decreases in lymphocyte ratio and erythrocyte count, hematocrit, hemoglobin, albumin, A/G ratio, cholesterol (esterified, total and free), phospholipids, triglycerides, cholinesterase activity and creatinine; increases in relative liver and adrenal weights. Histopathological examinations revealed melanin deposits in superficial lymph nodes, increases in macrophage and plasma cell accumulation, and corneal atrophy accompanied by melanin deposits and capillary proliferation. A slight black-brown patch (melanin deposition) in the conjunctiva and skin was observed in the 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg/day groups. No drug-related changes were observed in groups that received 0.02 and 0.004 mg/kg/day. All changes observed during the treatment period disappeared during recovery except for melanin deposits in the conjunctiva and superficial lymph nodes, corneal opacity, and a few hematological and blood chemistry parameters. In conclusion, the no-toxic dose in these 52-week studies was estimated to be 0.02 mg/kg/day.

Analysis of shape and retractability of the prepuce in 603 Japanese boys

PURPOSE

We evaluated preputial development in Japanese boys.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Preputial retractability and formation of a tight ring were evaluated in 603 Japanese boys 0 to 15 years old.

RESULTS

The incidence of a completely retractable prepuce gradually increased from 0% at age 6 months to 62.9% by 11 to 15 years, while that of a tight ring decreased with age from 84.3 to 8.6%. Nine boys had balanoposthitis but none had a symptomatic urinary tract infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Incomplete separation of the prepuce is common and normal in neonates and infants, and preputial separation progresses until adolescence. Awareness of these findings will eliminate unnecessary circumcision in boys.

Quantitative analyses of lesion areas of coronary atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits

A simple method to quantitatively evaluate atherosclerosis in the rabbit coronary arteries by measuring macroscopic lesion areas (%) was attempted in the present study. Sixteen rabbits were fed a 0.5% cholesterol diet for 15 weeks and then 9 rabbits were sacrificed whereas the remaining 7 rabbits were maintained for further 9 weeks on a normal chow (at week 24). The left circumflex coronary arteries (LCX) were excised from the rabbit hearts under stereoscopic observation. The prepared arterial strips of LCX were 38.7 +/- 7.1 mm long and all of them reached the cardiac apex from the orifice. At week 15, the lesion area in LCX was negligible (3.2 +/- 0.4%) whereas the aortic lesions significantly developed (50.0 +/- 7.6%). At week 24, atherosclerotic lesions in both LCX and aortas increased to 32.8 +/- 9.2% and 85.9 +/- 5.6%, respectively. This is the first report that determined the luminal surface areas of atherosclerotic lesions in rabbit coronary arteries. This method may be more practical and useful for quantitative evaluation of coronary atherosclerosis in a large number of rabbits than histological observations of serial sections of rabbit hearts.

Effects of hydroquinone-type and phenolic antioxidants on calcium signals and degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells

We previously reported that a hydroquinone-type antioxidant, 2,5-di(tert-butyl)-1,4-hydroquinone (DTBHQ), increases intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), causes degranulation together with a protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA), and increases antigen-induced degranulation in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. In this study, the effects of five-hydroquinone-type and phenolic antioxidants (2,5-di(tert-amyl)-1,4-hydroquinone [DTAHQ], 2-tert-butyl-1,4-hydroquinone [MTBHQ], 3,5-di(tert-butyl)-4-hydroxytoluene [BHT], 3,5-di(tert-butyl)-4-hydroxyanisole [DTBHA], and 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole [MTBHA]) on [ca2+]i and degranulation (beta-hexosaminidase release) were examined and compared with that of DTBHQ. DTAHQ (> or = 3 microM) showed effects similar to those of DTBHQ (10 microM) on [Ca2+]i elevation, induction of degranulation with TPA, and increase of antigen-induced degranulation. BHT (50 microM) and DTBHA (50 microM) caused [Ca2+]i elevation and increased degranulation in the presence of TPA or antigen, but their effects were less than those of DTBHQ and DTAHQ. MTBHQ and MTBHA had no effect on [Ca2+]i and degranulation, even at 50 microM. The degree of Ca2+ response caused by the compounds correlated well with the increase in degranulation, but not with their antioxidant activity estimated with the first oxidation potential. From these results, it is suggested that the increasing effects of six antioxidants on degranulation in the presence of TPA or antigen were dependent on [Ca2+]i increase caused by the compounds, probably through their ability to inhibit endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase.

Dissociation of P2 purinoceptor-mediated increase in intracellular Ca2+ level from myosin light chain phosphorylation and contraction in rat aorta

1. The effects of P2 agonists, adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP), alpha, beta-methylene-adenosine-5'-triphosphate (alpha, beta-me-ATP) and adenosine 5-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP gamma S), on the intracellular free Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i), myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation and force of contraction were examined in vascular smooth muscle of rat aorta. 2. ATP (0.1 microM-1 mM), alpha, beta-me-ATP (0.1-100 microM) and ATP gamma S (1-100 microM) induced transient increases followed by sustained increase in [Ca2+]i. The effects of these agonists were concentration-dependent. Compared with the effects of a high concentration of KCl (17.5-72.4 mM), the contractions induced by these P2 purinoceptor agonists were smaller at a given [Ca2+]i. 3. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+ (with 0.5 mM EGTA), ATP gamma S (10 microM) induced large transient increase in [Ca2+]i with only small contraction in Ca(2+)-free solution. In contrast, alpha, beta-me-ATP (10 microM) induced only a very small increase in [Ca2+]i and contraction. 4. ATP (1 mM), alpha, beta-me-ATP (10 microM) and ATP gamma S (10 microM), added during stimulation with 0.1 microM noradrenaline, induced additional and transient increases in [Ca2+]i which were also not associated with contraction. 5. High K+ (72.4 mM) increased MLC phosphorylation with a similar time course to that of the increase in [Ca2+]i (peak phosphorylation was 56% when [Ca2+]i increased to 100%). In contrast, the time course of the increase in MLC phosphorylation due to ATP (1 mM) did not coincide with that of the large increases in [Ca2+]i; MLC phosphorylation increased to only 31% when [Ca2+]i increased to 163%. The MLC phosphorylation due to alpha, beta-me-ATP (10 microM) and ATP gamma S (10 microM), measured at peak [Ca2+]i, were only 19% and 14%, respectively, irrespective of a large increase in [Ca2+]i (138% and 188%, respectively). 6. The absence of a clear relationship between P2-purinoceptor-mediated increase in [Ca2+]i (either by Ca2+ influx or Ca2+ release) and MLC phosphorylation or force generation appears to imply that elevation in [Ca2+]i does not contribute to these responses.

Ethylene-induced gene expression of osmotin-like protein, a neutral isoform of tobacco PR-5, is mediated by the AGCCGCC cis-sequence

Osmotin-like protein (OLP) is a neutral isoform in the group 5 pathogenesis-related (PR) tobacco proteins. The OLP gene, like the basic PR protein genes, is constitutively expressed in tobacco roots and cultured cells. OLP is not naturally present in intact healthy leaves, but ethylene treatment induces a high accumulation there. To study the mechanism of OLP gene expression as induced by ethylene, we cloned the gene from Nicotiana sylvestris, an ancestor of N. tabacum. Sequence analysis showed that it has no intron and that its promoter region contains two AGCCGCC sequences that are conserved in most basic PR-protein genes. The function of the AGCCGCC sequences in transgenic tobacco plants that harbor the wild and mutated OLP promoter::GUS fusion genes was analyzed. Mutation in the AGCCGCC sequences clearly inhibited the GUS expression induced by ethylene, indicative that the AGCCGCC sequence(s) is a DNA element(s) responsive to ethylene. An EREBP2 protein, isolated as one of the proteins binding to the AGCCGCC sequence of the tobacco beta-1,3-glucanase gene, also was found to bind to the AGCCGCC sequence(s) of OLP gene. These results suggest that the ethylene-induced expression of OLP is regulated by a trans-acting factor(s) common to basic PR-proteins.

[Study on the lower urinary tract function in experimental diabetic rats]

BACKGROUND

Diabetic lower urinary tract disfunction is well known, however, precise mechanism of the lower urinary tract disfunction remains to be solved. The present study is to clarify the lower urinary tract disfunction of diabetic rats by simultaneously measuring bladder and urethral pressures.

METHODS

Female wistar rats were administered with streptozotocin (STZ 65 mg/kg, i.p.) to induce diabetes mellitus. Bladder and urethral pressures during rhythmic bladder contractions were compared under urethane anesthesia (1.0 g/kg, i.v.) between the control rats, diabetic rats, and diuretic rats.

RESULTS

The bladder contraction pressures of diabetic rats were decreased initially, but returned to the control values at 8 weeks. Atropine (2.5 mg/kg, i.a.) produced a marked reduction of bladder contraction pressure in the 8 weeks diabetic rats. The diabetic rats showed an increase of urethral pressure simultaneously with an increase of bladder pressure in the initial phase of rhythmic bladder contraction which is totally blocked by striated muscle relaxant. This phenomenon was not observed in the control or diuretic rats. Both group showed an initial decrease of urethral pressure followed by bladder contraction and rhythmic contractions of the urethra.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that bladder muscarinic receptors of the 8 weeks diabetic rats are more dominant than those of the other groups, and Mahoney's 4th reflex (urethrosphincteric guarding reflex) is facilitated but Mahoney's 6th reflex (detruthodetrusor facilitative reflex) is suppressed in the diabetic rats. We think that in the diabetic rats, sensory inputs by bladder distension were weak and could not induce Mahoney's 6th reflex until certain threshold values. Diabetic rats might develop changes in the mode of spinal neuronal transmission.

Sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for adult T-cell leukemia-derived factor and normal value measurement

Four different monoclonal antibodies against recombinant adult T-cell leukemia-derived factor (ADF), identical to thioredoxin, were established and used for the determination of ADF concentration in serum. Using two of the monoclonal antibodies, we developed a two-step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for ADF. This ELISA showed a highly specific reactivity on ADF with no cross-reactivity to several proteins with homologue sequence on the active center. The detection limit of the assay was 2.0 ng/ml (mean +/- 2 SD). The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation (CV) were 0.81-3.74% (n = 8) and 4.78-6.97% (n = 7), respectively. The normal value of ADF mean concentration from 145 healthy donors was 40.8 ng/ml.

Cell cycle-dependent regulation of RNA polymerase II basal transcription activity

Regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II (pol II) in eukaryotic cells requires both basal and regulatory transcription factors. In this report we have investigated in vitro pol II basal transcription activity during the cell cycle by using nuclear extracts from synchronized HeLa cells. It is shown that pol II basal transcription activity is low in the S and G2 phases and high in early G1 phase and TFIID is the rate limiting component of pol II basal transcription activity during the cell cycle. Further analyses reveal that TFIID exists as a less active form in the S and G2 phases and nuclear extracts from S and G2 phase cells contain a heat-sensitive repressor(s) of TATA box binding protein (TBP). These results suggest that pol II basal transcription activity is regulated by a qualitative change in the TFIID complex, which could involve repression of TBP, during the cell cycle.

Effects of 2,5-di(tert-butyl)-1,4-hydroquinone on intracellular free Ca2+ levels and histamine secretion in RBL-2H3 cells

The effects of 2,5-di(tert-butyl)-1,4-hydroquinone (DTBHQ) on the intracellular free Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) and histamine secretion of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells were examined. DTBHQ (0.1-10 mumol/l) alone induced rapid and sustained increases in [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. In cells sensitized with anti-dinitrophenyl IgE, DTBHQ (10 mumol/l) further increased the antigen (dinitrophenylated BSA)-induced Ca2+ response. In the absence of external Ca2+ with addition of 1 mmol/l EGTA, both DTBHQ (10 mumol/l) and the antigen (10 microgram/ml) induced transient increase in [Ca2+]i. In sensitized cells, both DTBHQ (10 mumol/l) and antigen (10 micrograms/ml) elicited histamine secretion, although the response was far stronger in the latter case. The DTBHQ-induced histamine secretion was markedly enhanced by addition of the protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA) (10 ng/ml) whereas TPA alone did not cause any increase. Moreover, DTBHQ enhanced the antigen-induced histamine secretion. The results suggest that DTBHQ increases [Ca2+]i and enhances antigen-induced histamine secretion while DTBHQ alone does not cause as much histamine secretion as antigen, which support the idea that calcium signals are necessary but are not sufficient for maximum histamine secretion in RBL-2H3 cells.

Lipopolysaccharide-associated elevation of serum and urinary nitrite/nitrate levels and hematological changes in rats

The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced elevation of nitric oxide (NO) levels and hematological changes. Twenty-four h following i.p. treatment of LPS (1 mg/kg body wt.), nitrite/nitrate (NO2-/NO3-) levels in the serum and urine of rats were, respectively, increased to 11 and 50 times those of control. Time-dependent decrease of white blood cells (80% of control), lymphocytes (40% of control), and platelets (35% of control) was also observed, while a significant increase of neutrophils (330% of control) and monocytes (650% of control) occurred during the 24-h post-treatment period. These results suggest that LPS-induced increase of NO2-/NO3- levels and coincident hematological changes may compromise immune functions.

Inhibition by interleukin-10 of inducible cyclooxygenase expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes: its underlying mechanism in comparison with interleukin-4

Both interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-4 inhibited the prostanoid synthesis of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human monocytes, and their inhibition was shown to be based on a common mechanism to suppress the gene expression of inducible cyclooxygenase (COX). COX has been shown to exist in at least two distinct isoforms, designated COX-1 and COX-2, and their gene expressions exhibit different profiles. At both the protein and mRNA levels, the expression of COX-1 was constitutive and was not modulated by treatments with LPS, IL-10, or IL-4. In contrast, the expression of COX-2 was observed only after stimulation with LPS. IL-10 and IL-4 significantly inhibited LPS-induced COX-2 expression. Kinetic studies showed that they inhibited COX-2 mRNA expression within 1 hour after stimulation and that maximal inhibition was consistently observed at 5 hours. Moreover, the addition of cycloheximide (CHX) to LPS-stimulated monocytes resulted in a superinduction of COX-2 mRNA, whereas CHX almost abrogated the abilities of IL-10 and IL-4 to inhibit this gene expression. Experiments with actinomycin D showed that both cytokines accelerated the degradation of COX-2 mRNA. Furthermore, nuclear run-on experiments showed that both cytokines modestly inhibited LPS-induced COX-2 gene transcription. Thus, both cytokines seemed to regulate the COX-related pathway in a similar manner, although their receptor systems did not show any structural similarities. Considering recent findings showing that the drugs that exhibit a selective effect on COX-2 may be more preferable in inflammatory conditions, such biologic activities of IL-10 and IL-4 described above may offer useful tools in controlling inflammatory disorders in the future.

Neuropathological analysis of dementia in a Japanese leprosarium

In a neuropathological study of consecutive autopsies, prevalence and cause of dementia in a Japanese leprosarium were investigated, where more than 95% of inpatients with a mean age of 70 years are now free from active leprosy. In 10 years (1983-1992), clinically overt dementia at death was 35/136 (25.7%) in the age group over 65 years (mean age 79.4). Autopsy was performed in 85 cases (mean age 81 years), and clinically overt dementia was seen in 25 subjects (29.4%). Neuropathologically, Alzheimer's disease (AD) was seen in 9 cases (10.6%), vascular dementia (VD) in 9 cases (10.6%), mixed type in 3 cases (3.5%) and unclassified in 4 cases (4.7%). In the age group of 65-84 years, AD was 5/58 (8.6%), VD was 4/58 (6.9%), mixed type was 2/58 (3.4%), and unclassified was 1/58 (1.7%). Compared with previous Japanese general population-based data, where VD was more frequent than AD, the rate of dementia in our leprosarium was high, and pathologically confirmed AD was as common as VD. Recently, a prophylactic effect of the antileprosy and anti-inflammatory drug DDS (dapsone, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone) has been suggested. Lepromatous patients take more DDS (51.9%) than tuberculoid patients (11.5%), however, as the dementia rate of tuberculoid leprosy (17.9%) in those 65-84 years old is similar to lepromatous leprosy (15.9%) in our study, we do not support their viewpoint.

[Twenty-eight days repeated dose toxicity test of N-(fluorodichloromethylthio)phthalimide in rats]

N-(Fluorodichloromethylthio)phthalimide (Fluor-folpet) has been widely used as an anti-mold and anti-bacterial agent. In this study, 28 days repeated-dose oral toxicity study of fluor-folpet was carried out in Slc:Wistar rats. An oral toxicity study for fluor-folpet, the twenty-eight days test, repeated-dose, oral administration, was performed as follows: Five week-old rats, male and female, 10 rats, each/group, were treated with intragastric administration of fluor-folpet with a dose of 0 (1% Sodium CMC, control), 20, 80 and 320 mg/kg, body weight. Recovery test, for 14 days after the last treatment, was examined for the control and the 320 mg/kg groups. The 320 mg/kg groups, both males and females, showed significantly reduced their body-weight gain compared with the control group. In the 320 mg/kg group, five out of 20 male rats and four out of 20 female rats died from dyspnea during the treatment period. In the female rats in the 320 mg/kg group, serum ChE level was decreased to 50% of control level and gamma-GT was increased in a dose-dependent manner, but these serum levels recovered after 14 days non-treatment period. No histopathological change, relating to the treatment, in liver was observed. Increased weight of the kidney and vacuolation in renal tubules were found in both sexes of 320 mg/kg group. Hyperkeratosis and hyperplasia of the stomach epithelium were observed at the dose more than 80 mg/kg in male, and more than 20 mg/kg in female. A supplemental study, repeated-dose, oral administration in rats carried out to examine the dyspnea revealed that severe acute toxic damages in epithelium of nasal cavity and meatus nasopharyngeus were induced by intragastric administration of fluor-folpet. Fluor-folpet is shown to be cytotoxic. In conclusion, the no-observed-effect level (NOEL) for fluor-folpet was not found under the experimental conditions employed in this repeated-dose toxicity study.

Efficacy of gas purging for titanium casting

Oxygen density in the melting atmosphere, oxygen uptake, hardness and castability of pure titanium castings were examined to evaluate the efficacy of gas purging in reducing contamination from the melting atmosphere and mold, using a newly developed titanium casting machine in which the double purging process is systematized. The adoption of a double purging operation resulted in an extremely low oxygen density in the melting atmosphere, followed by extremely low oxygen uptake in the casting when compared with the conventional titanium casting machine. When the purging operation was used, the surface hardness was markedly reduced, although there was no difference in castability. From these results, it was suggested that the newly developed titanium casting machine with the double purging operation could produce better titanium castings with less contamination due to the mold and gas impurities in melting atmosphere.

Regulation of the human general transcription initiation factor TFIIF by phosphorylation

The transcription initiation factor, TFIIF, is essential not only for the initiation of transcription but also for efficient elongation of mRNA synthesis by mammalian RNA polymerase II and is extensively phosphorylated in vivo. The possible regulation of TFIIF activity by protein phosphorylation was investigated by comparing the biochemical properties of alkaline phosphatase-treated HeLa TFIIF with those of native or bacterially expressed factor. Alkaline phosphatase treatment decreased the size of the large subunit (RAP74) of TFIIF to that of the recombinant protein but did not change the size of the small subunit (RAP30). Both the transcription initiation and elongation stimulating activities of the alkaline phosphatase-treated TFIIF decreased to 15-20% of the native form under conditions in which the amount of TFIIF was rate-limiting for transcription. Furthermore, phosphatase-treated TFIIF assembled the DBPolF complex and bound to RNA polymerase II less efficiently than the native protein. When hybrid TFIIFs were reconstituted using native or recombinant subunits, a native form of RAP74 stimulated both transcription and DBPolF complex formation activity regardless of whether native or recombinant RAP30 was used. We propose that TFIIF activity is regulated by protein phosphorylation, particularly of the RAP74 subunit. The functional role of RAP74 in assembling the preinitiation complex and modulating TFIIF activity is discussed.

Enhancement of bacterial transcription initiation in vitro by the 74 kDa subunit of human general transcription factor IIF (RAP74)

The human general transcription factor IIF (TFIIF) is required for an accurate transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II and shares some analogous features with the sigma subunit of bacterial RNA polymerase. As an attempt to analyze the function of TFIIF, we examined its effect on bacterial transcription in vitro. TFIIF significantly enhanced the initiation of transcription by the bacterial RNA polymerase while other general transcription factors, TATA-binding protein, TFIIB, and TFIIE, did not. The enhancement of the bacterial transcription was ascribed to the 74 kDa subunit of TFIIF (RAP74). RAP74 had an activity of enhancing the binding of the bacterial RNA polymerase to the promoter. The enhancing activity of RAP74 depended on a low molar ratio of the RNA polymerase to the template DNA. The action of RAP74 in the bacterial transcription may be related to a possible regulatory role of RAP74 in the eukaryotic transcription initiation.

Monoclonal antibody HML-1 reactivity with adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma and other lymphomas

Human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus type 1 (HTLV-1), a causative virus of adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL), is known to be transmitted by breast-feeding. Using a monoclonal antibody HML-1 which labels human intestinal intra-epithelial T lymphocytes, we have immunohistochemically examined ATLL tissues in order to evaluate the possibility that HTLV-1 infected intestinal T cells are the origin of ATLL cells. Previously this antibody was reported to react with intestinal T-cell malignant lymphomas but not with peripheral tumours, or any B-cell lymphomas. We investigated 181 patients with malignant lymphomas and found that 19 out of 113 ATLLs were positive for HML-1. T-cell malignant lymphomas excluding ATLL also reacted with HML-1 (7/24), but all the B-cell lymphomas 0/33) and non-neoplastic lymph node and skin lesions (0/10) were negative for HML-1. In patients with ATLL and other T-cell malignant lymphomas, the positivity level of HML-1 was relatively higher in stomach (3/7) and tonsil (2/6) than that in lymph nodes (15/100) and skin (8/47). We observed one HML-1 positive ATLL patient with tumour formation in the skin and lymphadenopathy and marked infiltration of the large intestine but minimal involvement of other organs. Although HML-1 was frequently expressed in gastric infiltration of ATLL, the level of positivity was too low in lymph nodes to support the hypothesis that HTLV-1 infected intestinal T cells are the origin of ATLL cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)