Molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the complementary DNA for penicillolysin gene, plnC, and 18 kDa metalloendopeptidase gene from Penicillium citrinum

A full-length cDNA encoding the penicillolysin, an 18 kDa metalloendopeptidase from Penicillium citrinum, was cloned. Analysis of the 1284 base pair nucleotide sequence of the cDNA revealed a single open reading frame coding for 351 amino acid residues. The coding region of penicillolysin gene, plnC, occupies 1053 base pairs of the cDNA. The sequence consists of a putative 19-residue signal sequence, a 155-residue propeptide segment, and the 177-residues of penicillolysin with a molecular weight of 18,529. The deduced primary structure of penicillolysin is unique and the enzyme is a member of a new metalloendopeptidase family. Two histidine residues, His-128 and His-132, and glutamic acid residue, Glu-65 in penicillolysin were assumed to correspond to zinc ligands in the homologous thermolysin.

Recombination in the class III region of the mouse major histocompatibility complex

The sites of meiotic recombination in the class II region of the mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are clustered at hotspots. To search for hotspots in the class III region, we mapped recombinational breakpoints of 79 Ab:H2-D recombinants with 11 DNA markers; these included Tnx, the gene for an extracellular matrix protein, tenascin X, the Notch-related Int3 gene, and a microsatellite marker, D17Mit13, none of which had previously been mapped precisely. The results gave the gene order of Eb-61.1-Int3-Tnx-Cyp21/C4-Bf-Hsp68c-D17Mit13+ ++-Tnfa/Tnfb-D. The crossover sites in 40 of the 79 recombinants were confined within the Eb/Int3:Tnx/Cyp21 interval. The result demonstrated that an unequal distribution of recombination is a general feature of the mouse MHC, suggesting the presence of a recombinational hotspot within the Int3:Tnx interval.

Human biliary epithelial cells secrete and respond to cytokines and hepatocyte growth factors in vitro: interleukin-6, hepatocyte growth factor and epidermal growth factor promote DNA synthesis in vitro

Recombinant growth factors and proinflammatory cytokines were added to primary cultures of human intrahepatic biliary duct epithelia to test for their ability to stimulate DNA synthesis and elicit cytokine production. Interleukin-6 and hepatocyte and epidermal growth factors were found to increase the DNA labeling index of biliary duct epithelium from fourfold to sixfold 24 hr after their addition to primary biliary duct epithelium cultures maintained in serum-free medium. The proliferative responses to all three biliary duct epithelium mitogens peaked within 24 hr, and hepatocyte growth factor was effective over a concentration range of 1.0 to 50 ng/ml, whereas interleukin-6 was effective from 1 to 1,000 U/ml. Insulin-like growth factor, phorbol myristate acetate, interleukin-1 beta and platelet-derived growth factor BB showed mild stimulatory effects, whereas interleukin-4, gamma-interferon, phytohemagglutinin and platelet-derived growth factors AA and AB did not increase DNA synthesis in biliary duct epithelium. Interleukin-1 beta and phorbol myristate acetate were also shown to induce in a dose-dependent fashion a threefold to fivefold increase of interleukin-6 production as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in human primary biliary duct epithelium cultures, when compared with hepatocyte growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, phytohemagglutinin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha or platelet-derived growth factor. These results show that interleukin-6 participates in growth regulation of human biliary duct epithelium. This could be exerted in a paracrine or autocrine manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Therapeutic intervention with chicken egg white ovomacroglobulin and a new quinolone on experimental Pseudomonas keratitis

BACKGROUND

Chicken egg white ovomacroglobulin (ovoM) is a potent protease inhibitor with broad-spectrum activity against various proteases. The combined effects of ovoM and the new quinolone, ofloxacin (OFLX) on experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis were investigated.

METHODS

The in vitro inhibitory effects of ovoM on protease activity in culture fluid of clinically isolated P. aeruginosa and on activity of human neutrophil elastase and cathepsin G were assayed using azo-casein as substrate. Albino rabbits received intrastromal injection of the isolated Pseudomonas strain (1 x 10(5) colony-forming units). At 16 h after inoculation, three treatment groups--0.1% ovoM alone, 0.3% OFLX alone, and a combination of both--and a non-treatment control group were tested.

RESULTS

Protease activity in the culture solution and human neutrophil elastase was inhibited by ovoM, whereas cathepsin G was not inhibited effectively. In vivo additive therapeutic effects of ovoM and OFLX were observed at 96 h (P < 0.05 compared with OFLX alone).

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that inhibition of proteolytic activity with ovoM is useful in preventing stromal degradation in P. aeruginosa keratitis.

[Bone marrow transplantation from donors other than HLA matched siblings for hematological malignancies. Nagoya Bone Marrow Transplantation Group and Tokai Marrow Donor Bank]

One hundred and fourteen patients with hematological malignancies received bone marrow transplantation from donors other than HLA-identical siblings. Sixty-three patients received transplantations from related donors; 20 were phenotypically identical for HLA-A, B, D/DR (RM0). 32 differed at one locus (RM1) and 11 differed at more than one loci (RM2). Fifty-one transplantations were from unrelated donors; 37 were phenotypically identical and mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) negative (UR0) and 14 were MLC positive (UR1). One hundred and four patients had durable engraftment. Four (RM1(1), RM2(2), UR0(1)) failed to achieve engraftment. In terms of the probability of > or = Grade II acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), there was no significant difference among the groups according to HLA disparity (RM0:25%, UR0:33%, UR1:39%, RM1:47%, and RM2:50%). The probability of chronic GVHD was significantly higher in UR0 and UR1 than RM0 (71%, 75% vs 28%, p < 0.05). The disease-free survival at 3 years was 45% (RM0), 50% (RM1) and 42% (UR0). More than 50% of patients other than RM0 died of fatal complications including GVHD within 60 days after grafting. In conclusion, unrelated donor and related donor mismatched at one locus could be selected for marrow graft in the case of the absence of an HLA-matched related donor. However, more advances in post-transplant management and in histocompatibility testing should be required.

Assessment of testicular biopsy after cessation of maintenance chemotherapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a report from the Children's Cancer and Leukemia Study Group

Among 484 male patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) registered into the protocols CCLSG 811, 841 and 874, from 1981 through 1990, 246 patients completed their protocols and were in continuous complete remission (CCR) for more than 3 years. One hundred and seven patients received bilateral testicular biopsies at the time of cessation of maintenance chemotherapy. Eight patients (7.5%) were found to have occult testicular leukemia (TL). Three of them did not receive any additional therapy and all suffered subsequent relapses; one bone marrow relapse and two testicular relapses. The other 3 patients received testicular radiation combined with an additional 2 years of chemotherapy, resulting in CCR for more than 6 years 10 months, 7 years 6 months, and 8 years 6 months. One with chemotherapy alone and another with radiation alone showed subsequent relapse. Overt TL after negative initial biopsy was developed in 3 (3.0%) of the 99 patients. All of them received testicular radiation with chemotherapy, resulting again in CCR for more than 1 year 0 months and 5 years 3 months; one patient showed relapse in testes and bone marrow after 3 years 8 months of CCR. These studies suggested that occult TL has an adverse prognostic significance unless retrieval chemotherapy is given and that performance of testicular biopsy at completion of maintenance chemotherapy is not contributory to prolongation of disease-free survival for males with ALL because the treatment employing testicular radiation plus retrieval chemotherapy for both occult TL and isolated overt TL after off-therapy is similarly very effective.

The role of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) adherence and colonization in the upper respiratory tract of geriatric patients in nosocomial pulmonary infections

The mechanism of nosocomial respiratory infections caused by MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in geriatric patients was investigated. Seriously ill patients (SIP) undergoing naso-gastric tube feeding or intravenous hyperalimentation and moderately ill patients (MIP) who were orally fed, were examined for their colonization and infection by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in the respiratory tract. Colonization of MRSA in the upper respiratory tract in SIP was from six to ten times higher than that in MIP and was associated with a high incidence of MRSA pulmonary infections. In vitro S. aureus adherence to nasal or oropharyngeal cells demonstrated that bacteria binding to nasal cells was higher, which probably can be interpreted as an elevated occurrence of S. aureus colonization in the nasal cavity than in the throat. The binding activity of MRSA was not superior to that of MSSA (methicillin-sensitive S. aureus). Though MRSA binding to the nasal cells from SIP was not higher than those from MIP, MRSA colonization in the upper respiratory tract was more frequently seen in SIP (P < 0.01). A higher incidence of total infectious episodes (P < 0.02-0.001) and more frequent use of antibiotics (P < 0.02-0.001), which were potent against MSSA might be the basis for selection of MRSA in these patients. In fact, the rate of MRSA colonization on the skin (pressure sores) was also higher in SIP (P < 0.01). A low nutritional state in SIP (P < 0.01-0.02) might also be associated with MRSA colonization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[CT and MR imaging findings of sphenoidal masses]

CT and MR imaging findings of 57 sphenoidal masses were retrospectively reviewed to assess the possibility of differential diagnosis between them. Various kinds of masses such as pituitary adenoma, epipharyngeal cancer, mucocele, chordoma, chondroma, chondrosarcoma, distant metastasis, multiple myeloma, fibrous dysplasia, craniopharyngioma, hemangiopericytoma, giant cell tumor, primary sphenoidal cancer, malignant melanoma, leukemia, histiocytosis X, and giant cell tumor were included in this series. CT scanning was performed in all cases, while MR images were obtained in 48 cases using a spin-echo pulse sequence. The relative density of the masses, bony changes and calcification were evaluated on CT, and on MR images, signal intensity of the masses relative to the normal gray matter, contrast enhancement and extension/contour were evaluated. Although no single feature appeared to be specific to the masses, detection of calcification on CT, identification of the normal pituitary gland as deformed or displaced on T1-weighted images, signal intensity on T2-weighted images, and extension of the masses seemed to be useful and should be examined in terms of their ability to assist in differential diagnosis. Finally, accommodative classification of sphenoidal masses primarily based on presumed origin or mode of extension was attempted.

Intestinal intra-epithelial lymphocytes in LEC mutant rats

LEC rat is a novel strain showing a maturational arrest from CD4+8+ to CD4+8- cells but not to CD4-8+ cells in the thymus. In this study, we examined if this mutation affects the differentiation of intestinal intra-epithelial lymphocytes (IEL) in LEC rats. In normal rat IEL, all 4 subsets with respect to the CD4/CD8 expression were observed. The CD4-8+ population was dominant and a unique population, CD4+8+, was observed as already shown in previous papers. Both CD4+8- and CD4+8+ cells were CD3+, TCR-alpha/beta +, CD45RC-, and CD5+, whereas CD4-8+ cells consisted of a heterogeneous population, being CD3+, TCR-alpha/beta +/-, CD45RC+/-, and CD5-. In LEC rat IEL, CD4+8- and CD4+8+ cells existed normally and distribution of CD4/CD8 subsets was not different from that of normal rat IEL. Furthermore, the expression pattern of CD3, TCR-alpha/beta, CD45RC and CD5 was not different from that of normal rat IEL in each subset. These results suggest that maturational arrest of CD4+8- thymocytes does not affect IEL maturation, especially maturation of CD4+8- IEL, suggesting that the IEL maturation mechanism for CD4+8- cells is independent of that of thymocytes.

Airway epithelial cells modulate cholinergic neurotransmission in dog trachea

We investigated the effects of epithelial cells on excitatory cholinergic neurotransmission in dog trachea, to shed more light on the role of airway epithelial cells in regulating airway responsiveness. Airway epithelial cells were prepared by an enzymatic dissociation of the tracheal mucosa using protease-free collagenase. Tracheal smooth muscle contractions evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS) or acetylcholine (ACh) were measured before and after the application of epithelial cells. Isolated and dispersed epithelial cells (3 x 10(5) cells/ml) suppressed the amplitude of the twitch-like contractions evoked by EFS in the combined presence of guanethidine sulfate (10(-6) M) and indomethacin (10(-5) M). In contrast, epithelial cells did not affect the contraction evoked by exogenously applied ACh. Atropine (10(-6) M) or tetrodotoxin (10(-7) M) abolished the contraction evoked by electrical field stimulation. These findings indicate that airway epithelial cells inhibit the excitatory neurotransmission of the vagus nerve, presumably by suppressing the release of ACh. Airway epithelial cells may therefore play an important role in regulating the response of smooth muscle.

Telescience testbed experiments for biomedical studies: fertilization potential recording of amphibian eggs using tele-manipulation under stereoscopic vision

The telescience testbed experiments were carried out to test and investigate the tele-manipulation techniques in the intracellular potential recording of amphibian eggs. Implementation of telescience testbed was set up in the two separated laboratories of the Tsukuba Space center of NASDA, which were connected by tele-communication links. Manipulators respective for a microelectrode and a sample stage of microscope were moved by computers, of which command signals were transmitted from a computer in a remote control room. The computer in the control room was operated by an investigator (PI) who controlled the movement of each manipulator remotely. A stereoscopic vision of the microscope image were prepared by using a head mounted display (HMD) and were indispensable to the intracellular single cell recording. The fertilization potential of amphibian eggs was successfully obtained through the remote operating system.

Arachidonic acid metabolism by nuclei of a retinoic acid--or vitamin D3-differentiated human leukemia cell line HL-60

Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in nuclei of human pro-myelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells was investigated during retinoic acid (RA)-induced granulocytic differentiation and 1 alpha, 25 dihydroxy-vitamin D3-induced monocytic differentiation. The whole control HL-60 cells and their nuclei hardly converted [1-14C]-AA to any metabolites comigrating with authentic prostaglandins (PGs). On the other hand, RA-treated HL-60 cells acquired the ability to convert [1-14C]-AA to PGE2 predominantly and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) to a small degree, whereas the nuclei of the differentiated cells acquired the ability to convert predominantly to TXB2. In contrast, 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3-treated HL-60 cells acquired the ability to convert [1-14C]-AA to PGE2, PGF2 alpha, TXB2 and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT), whereas the nuclei of the differentiated cells acquired the ability to convert to PGF2 alpha, TXB2 and HHT. The significance of the acquisition of cyclooxygenase and TX synthetase by the nucleus is unclear, but there may be a specific relationship between the specific PGs formed by the nuclear membrane and nuclear events during HL-60 cell differentiation.

Increased insulin responsiveness after CS-045 treatment in diabetes associated with Werner's syndrome

Werner's syndrome is a rare inheritated disorder characterized by accelerated aging and is often accompanied by diabetes mellitus or impaired glucose tolerance. Previous reports suggest that insulin resistance is involved in the development of diabetes associated with Werner's syndrome. In the present study, CS-045((+/-)-5-[4-(6-Hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-ylmet hoxy)benzyl] - 2,4-thiazolidinedione, a new oral hypoglycemic agent which reportedly reduces insulin resistance, was administered to 2 Werner's syndrome patients. The patients were hospitalized for the duration of the study. During a pretreatment period lasting 8 weeks the patients received a controlled diet, however, their previous treatment was unchanged. Throughout the 4-week treatment period, each subject's blood glucose level was measured 7 times each day (07:30, 10:00, 11:30, 14:00, 17:30, 20:00, 22:00) for 1 week at 8, 4, and 1 week before treatment and at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. To assess insulin action, the euglycemic glucose clamp technique was performed in these subjects at insulin infusion rates of 20, 120 and 400 mU/kg/min before and after 4 weeks of treatment. After 4 weeks of treatment with CS-045, the mean blood glucose level at each time point measured in this study was markedly lower compared to the corresponding pretreatment level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[A case of pineal region germinoma treated by interstitial brachytherapy]

Although radiation therapy has been universally accepted as treatment for primary intracranial germinomas, the optimal technique for both diagnosis and treatment continues to be a matter of controversy. We report a case of germinoma in the pineal region treated by interstitial brachytherapy. A 23-year-old female was admitted with diplopia and consciousness disturbance. Magnetic resonance imagings (MRI) revealed an enhanced tumor of the pineal region and hydrocephalus. No serum and CSF tumor markers such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) were detectable. Stereotactic needle biopsy was performed using BRW MRI-guided stereotactic apparatus. After the histological diagnosis confirmed the presence of germinoma, three catheters for interstitial brachytherapy were implanted into the tumor through the biopsy tract, and iridium-192 seeds were inserted into the catheters and kept there for 5 days to give 35 Gy of irradiation at the tumor periphery. Subsequent MRI showed marked tumor regression and the clinical symptoms were gradually improved, and Gd-enhanced tumor on MRI completely disappeared 2 months after brachytherapy. Histological diagnosis is essential before initiation of treatment because a germinoma is commonly thought to be radiosensitive. However, pineal region tumor is dangerous to remove surgically because of high morbidity and mortality rates. Image-guided stereotactic technique provides a safe method to obtain an accurate diagnosis, and subsequent interstitial brachytherapy enables selective irradiation of the tumor, and does not give rise to complications caused by external irradiation such as mental disturbance, hypopituitarism, visual disturbance and brain necrosis. Interstitial brachytherapy following image-guided biopsy can be a useful tool for patients with germinoma.

Single-stranded-DNA-binding protein-dependent DNA unwinding of the yeast ARS1 region

DNA unwinding of autonomously replicating sequence 1 (ARS1) from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. When a negatively supercoiled plasmid DNA containing ARS1 was digested with single-strand-specific mung bean nuclease, a discrete region in the vector DNA was preferentially digested. The regions containing the core consensus A domain and the 3'-flanking B domain of ARS1 were weakly digested. When the DNA was incubated with the multisubunit single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB, also called RPA [replication protein A]) from human and yeast cells prior to mung bean nuclease digestion, the cleavage in the A and B domains was greatly increased. Furthermore, a region corresponding to the 5'-flanking C domain of ARS1 was digested. These results indicate that three domains of ARS1, each of which is important for replication in yeast cells, closely correspond to the regions where the DNA duplex is easily unwound by torsional stress. SSB may stimulate the unwinding of the ARS1 region by its preferential binding to the destabilized three domains. Mung bean nuclease digestion of the substitution mutants with mutations of ARS1 (Y. Marahrens and B. Stillman, Science 255:817-823, 1992) revealed that the sequences in the B2 and A elements are responsible for the unwinding of the B domain and the region containing the A domain, respectively.

Signals transduced via insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF(R)) mediate resistance to retinoic acid-induced cell growth arrest in a human neuroblastoma cell line

Retinoic Acid (RA) has been shown to control growth and induce differentiation in a number of human neuroblastoma (NB) cell lines. However, a number of NB cell lines may be termed resistant to RA as they fail to growth arrest and differentiate. In studying the mechanism mediating RA-resistance, we noted that invariably RA-resistant NB cell lines constitutively express Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 (IGF2) (Gaetano, 1991b). The NB cell line LAN-1-15N (15N) represented an interesting model in which to study the development of RA-resistance as initially 15N cells are growth arrested by RA, however with prolonged culture (8-10 days) cells begin to proliferate. Coincidentally, RA induces IGF2 mRNA and protein secretion in 15N NB cells (Matsumoto, 1992). In this study we isolated RA-resistant 15N cell lines and analyzed their growth properties and changes in cell cycle related (cdc2, cdk2, cyclins A, B, D and E) and early response (fos and jun) gene expression to evaluate the role IGF2 may play in mediating RA resistance. We found that exogenous IGF2 stimulates growth in 15N and is capable of altering RA induced inhibition of NB cell growth. Finally we show that by blocking the Insulin-like Growth Factor Receptor (IGF1(R)) with a monoclonal antibody (alpha-IR3) in the presence of RA the growth of RAR cell lines could be completely blocked. These data are consistent with the concept that signals by IGF2 and transduced via the IGF1(R) can mediate resistance to the growth inhibiting properties of RA.

Pharmacologic reversal of acute changes in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in focal cerebral ischemia

Recently, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) has been shown to visualize acute ischemic lesions in the brain before changes are observable with conventional magnetic resonance imaging. However, the underlying mechanisms of these acute DWI changes are unclear and may include both reversible and irreversible damage. In this study, we demonstrate that acute DWI lesions may be reversed with MK801 therapy postischemia. Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 12) were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion and DWI scans were obtained beginning 60 min postocclusion. Distinct regions of hyperintensity were observed in the basal ganglia and cortex, corresponding with the expected distribution of ischemia in this model. After the first scan, animals were treated with MK801 (0.5 mg/kg i.v.) or normal saline and subsequently scanned again 30 and 60 min after treatment. In the control group, the area of hyperintense lesions continued to increase, by 55% in the cortex and 57% in the basal ganglia. MK801 therapy significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the area of damage by the third DWI scan at 60 min posttreatment (-50% cortex, -22% basal ganglia, -41% total hemisphere) compared to pretreatment scans. Tetrazolium (TTC) stains at 24 h confirmed that MK801 significantly reduced the volumes of infarction (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that significant portions of the acute ischemic lesion on DWI are reversible with pharmacologic intervention.

[A chronic case of summer type hypersensitivity pneumonitis]

A 59-year-old woman complaining of progressive dyspnea on exertion was admitted to our hospital in August 1992. In 1983 she had experienced exertional dyspnea from August to November, then improved spontaneously. In August 1984, she was admitted to our hospital due to the recurrence of the symptom. She was diagnosed as summer type hypersensitivity pneumonitis based on the following findings, 1) detection of non-caseous granuloma by transbronchial lung biopsy, 2) detection of precipitating antibody to Trichosporon cutaneum in the serum, 3) induction of the symptom by provocation test with the fungi, 4) isolation of the fungi from her house. In spite of moving from her house after discharge, she continued to visit her former house once a week to clean it. During the period, fibrotic changes on the chest roentgenogram were slowly progressive. In August 1992, ten years after the onset, she was re-admitted to our hospital with a complaint of exacerbated dyspnea on exertion. Open lung biopsy revealed granulomatous lesions with fibrotic changes, which was compatible with chronic type hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This patient was diagnosed as a chronic case of summer type hypersensitivity pneumonitis because of the clinical course and findings of open lung biopsy as well as laboratory data at the first admission. We consider that this case offer various information in considering the mechanism of chronic progress of summer type hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

[Outcome of treatment protocol 8704T for childhood T cell leukemia and lymphoma]

We reported the treatment outcome of Protocol 8704T, which included repeated L-asparaginase, for childhood T cell malignancies. Fifteen cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and 11 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (T-NHL), aged 3 to 14 yrs (median 6 yrs), were enrolled. Twelve T-ALL had mediastinal mass. Murphy's stages of T-NHL were 6 with III and 5 with IV. Types of histology consisted of 8 lymphoblastic and 3 large cell. Treatment was performed for 2 years. Observation periods were from 14 months to 78 months (median 42 months). Twenty-three achieved remission and 6 of them were transplanted with bone marrow or peripheral stem cells in the first remission. The protocol was continued in 17 cases. Fourteen of them remain in first remission, but one died of measles and 2 died of relapse. The 5-year event-free survival was 76.1% for ALL and 65.5% for NHL. In terms of histology, it was 87.5% for lymphoblastic NHL and 33.3% for large cell NHL (p = 0.19). In terms of phenotypes in ALL, it was 88.7% for ALL positive to CD2, 5 and 7, while 2 ALL positive to CD7 alone both failed. Therefore, it was shown that this treatment protocol is very effective for T-lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma.

[Changes in immunological function of spleen in rats implanted with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced gastric cancer]

We evaluated killer cell activity and suppressor cell activity as the indicators of immunological function of spleen cells in rats implanted with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced cancer. The effect of splenectomy on tumor growth was also investigated. Splenectomy was performed 2 (early stage of tumor growth), 5 (intermediate stage), or 8 weeks (late stage) after tumor implantation. The mean survival time of rats splenectomized at the early or intermediate stage of tumor growth was shorter than that of sham-operated rats, while that of rats splenectomized at the late stage was longer than controls. Natural killer (NK) and Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity of spleen lymphocytes of tumor-bearing rats were increased during the intermediate stage of tumor growth and then were declined during the late stage, while suppressor cell activity showed progressive increase after tumor implantation. The results of Winn assay showed that most of the splenic effector cells during the intermediate stage were T-lymphocytes, and some were NK cells. Furthermore suppressor macrophages and suppressor T-lymphocytes were increased in spleen lymphocytes of rats in the late stage of tumor growth. These results suggest that preservation of the spleen may be beneficial in the treatment of gastric cancer at the early and intermediate stage but that splenectomy is necessary for the advanced stage of cancer.

[Production of transgenic mice from in vitro fertilized eggs cryopreserved by ultrarapid freezing]

In vitro fertilized mouse eggs (C57BL/6N), followed by ultrarapid freezing were used for production of transgenic mice by microinjection of the chicken beta-actin promoter-driven the firefly luciferase cDNA (beta act-Luc). Following micromanipulation, the survival rates of the cryopreserved eggs and of the fresh in vitro fertilized eggs (control) were 70.8% (131/185) and 71.9% (159/221), respectively. After transferring them into oviducts of psudopregnant recipients on Day 1, 13.6% (17/125) of the cryopreserved eggs developed to live offspring and 14.1% (21/149) of fresh eggs did so. It was confirmed by Southern blotting analysis that each two transgenic mice were produced from the cryopreserved eggs (12%, 2/17) and the fresh eggs (10%, 2/21). All of transgenic mice produced from both eggs showed the expression of the luciferase gene. These results indicate that the in vitro fertilized eggs cryopreserved by ultrarapid freezing, can be, easily and conveniently, used for generation of transgenic mice.

The anterior choroidal artery syndrome. II. CT and/or MR in angiographically verified cases

We reviewed 12 cases of infarcts in the territory of the anterior choroidal artery (AChA) on CT and/or MRI. In each case vascular occlusion in the region was verified angiographically. Although the extent of the lesion on CT/MR images was variable, all were located on the axial images within an arcuate zone between the striatum anterolaterally and the thalamus posteromedially. The distribution of the lesions on mutiplanar MRI conformed well to the territory of the AChA demonstrated microangiographically. The variability of the extent of the infarcts may be explained by variations in the degree of occlusive changes in the AChA or the development of collateral circulation through anastomoses between the AChA and the posterior communicating and posterior cerebral arteries. The extent of the lesion appeared to be closely related to the degree of neurological deficit.

[Age-associated changes in interleukin-1 receptors on bone marrow macrophages in ICR mouse and Wistar rat]

Receptor levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1) on bone marrow macrophages in ICR mouse and Wistar rat were measured chronologically using europium-labeled ligand assay. The IL-1 alpha bound to high and low affinity sites but IL-1 beta bound only to low affinity site on the macrophages in both mouse and rat. The Kd values of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta were gradually increased with age in both species, although the binding capacities (receptor number) of IL-1 alpha were low in young and aged mice. Binding capability of IL-1 beta decreased age-dependently. These results suggested that receptors of IL-1 on bone marrow macrophages of these species might decrease with age in both quality and quantity.

Mitogenic, dedifferentiating, and scattering effects of hepatocyte growth factor on dog thyroid cells

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/scatter factor (SF) is a potent mitogenic factor or motility factor in different cells, acting through the tyrosine kinase receptor encoded by the met protooncogene. In the present work, we demonstrate the powerful mitogenic activity of this growth factor on dog thyroid cells in primary culture. This effect, maximal at 50 ng/ml, was superior to those of other thyroid mitogenic agents, such as TSH, forskolin, and epidermal growth factor (EGF). HGF inhibited both TSH- and forskolin-stimulated iodide uptake (a thyroid-specific differentiation marker) in the same way as EGF. However, as with basic fibroblast growth factor, this dedifferentiating action appeared only during the growing phase concomitantly with the enhanced proliferation. HGF treatment also markedly decreased TSH receptor and thyroglobulin messenger RNA levels, two other markers of differentiated thyrocytes. Besides its proliferative and dedifferentiating effects, HGF enhanced the motility of the cultured thyroid cells. Concerning the mechanism of its action, we showed that HGF had no effect on basal cAMP levels, but like EGF and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate, it induced the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases p42 and p44. These data establish HGF as the strongest mitogenic agent for dog thyroid cells and may explain the important role of met oncogene expression in human thyroid tumors.