A macrocircular ellagitannin, oenothein B, suppresses mouse mammary tumor gene expression via inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase

Oenothein B, a macrocircular dimeric ellagitannin, was found to be a potent and specific inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase. Oenothein B suppressed glucocorticoid-sensitive mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) transcription in 34I cells. This suppression was accompanied by inhibition of glucocorticoid-induced endogeneous de-poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of high mobility group (HMG) 14 and 17 proteins. These results suggest that de-poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of these proteins may be closely connected with the events initiating glucocorticoid-sensitive MMTV gene transcription.

[Clinical study of photodynamic therapy for laryngeal cancer]

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an innovative treatment involving the use of a photosensitizer and low powered laser to selectively destroy tumor cells. In the head and neck, its application to laryngeal papilloma, metastatic tumor and oral cancer have been reported but our report on PDT for laryngeal cancer is the only clinical report in Japan. At present, we treat laryngeal cancer by PDT using argon and excimer dye lasers such as the HpD. In the present study, we assessed the utility and safety of PDT and investigated long-term prognosis after this therapy. The subjects were 12 patients with laryngeal cancer who underwent PDT between February 1988 and October 1993. Among them, ten with cancer of the vocal cords underwent PDT as the primary treatment and two underwent PDT because of recurrence after radiotherapy. Under local anesthesia, PDT was performed using a video endoscope (Pentax EB2000). The optimal dose from an argon dye laser was set at 200-500 mW/cm2 of continuous waves for 20 minutes and that from the excimer dye laser was set at 200 J/cm2 of pulse waves (3-4 mJ/pulse, 30-40 Hz). The argon dye laser used was the Fujinon PDT developed by Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd. The excimer dye laser used was a product of Hamamatsu Photonics Co., Ltd. 1) Effect of PDT The effect of PDT as a primary treatment for ten patients was classified as CR in eight and PR in two cases, the CR rate being 80.0%. When evaluated only for T1 patients, the results were classified as CR in eight and PR in one. The patient whose response was classified as PR had refused repeated PDT. CR was maintained for five and 13 months in the two patients who underwent PDT as a secondary treatment after radiotherapy. CR was obtained in 83.3% of all patients studied. 2) Duration of the effect of PDT and long-term prognosis The patients were followed up for 14 to 71 months. The longest duration of CR achieved by PDT monotherapy was 65 months. Among the patients who underwent PDT as a primary treatment, one developed local recurrence and underwent radiotherapy. However, the prognosis was uneventful in all other patients. CR after PDT monotherapy was maintained for 42 months in one T3 patient. Two patients with a history of previous treatment thereafter relapsed and underwent total laryngectomy. The larynx could be conserved in 83.3% of all patients. However, it could be conserved in 100% of patients who underwent PDT as a primary treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Tissue distribution of fusion regulatory protein-1 and fusion regulatory protein-2

OBJECTIVE

To show which organs (tissues or cells) express fusion regulatory protein-1 and -2.

DESIGN

Tissue distribution of fusion regulatory protein-1 and -2 was investigated by indirect immunofluorescence and indirect immunoperoxidase techniques on cryostat tissue sections, using anti-fusion regulatory protein-1 and -2 monoclonal antibodies.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical analysis of human tissue sections revealed the expression of fusion regulatory protein-1 on hair follicle epithelium, skeletal muscle sarcolemma, some bone marrow stem cells, stomach surface and glandular epithelia, pancreatic islets, kidney proximal tubules, testicular seminiferous tubules, follicular epithelium and ova in the ovary, and parathyroid gland. Fusion regulatory protein-2 was expressed on kidney glomerular basement membrane and many glandular epithelia, such as the skin, stomach, thyroid gland, and lung.

CONCLUSIONS

The distribution suggested that the expression of fusion regulatory protein-1 might be related to proliferation, peptide or protein secretion, and cell fusion. The distribution of fusion regulatory protein-2 was identical to that of the alpha 3 subunit of integrin.

A case of primary hyperparathyroidism that had been treated under a diagnosis of depression for 10 years

A 66 year old man who had been treated under a diagnosis of depression for 10 years was referred to the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto because of general fatigue and appetite loss. The patient was diagnosed as having primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) based on the increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum calcium levels. Computed tomography revealed solitary adenoma of parathyroid gland. The resection of this solitary adenoma improved the PTH and serum calcium concentrations to normal ranges, which resulted in an improvement in his depressive state. This case suggests that ionic calcium levels contribute to the mental symptoms associated with PHPT. As PHPT is curable, the possibility of PHPT should be taken into account when patients have depressive symptoms.

Age-related changes in ConA-induced cytokine production by splenocytes from senescence accelerated mice SAMP8

In vitro production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-5 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) by splenocytes stimulated with concanavalin A (ConA) was studied in senescence-accelerated mice (SAMP8; 2-14.5 months old) by employing AKR (2-9 months old), origin of SAM strain, as controls. Male and female SAMP8 mice showed an age-related decrease in IL-2 production from the age of 9 months and the phenomena were accompanied by an increase in IFN-gamma production with a large increment. AKR mice showed no decrease in IL-2 production even at 9 months of age, but there was an increase in IFN-gamma production showing levels lower than those in SAMP8 mice. Between IL-2 and IFN-gamma production during the ages of 2-9 months, there were negative correlations in male and female SAMP8 mice and a positive correlation in female AKR mice. The levels of IL-4 production were lower in SAMP8 than in AKR mice, although there was no difference in IL-5 production between SAMP8 and AKR mice. Male and female SAMP8 mice showed a positive correlation between IL-5 and IFN-gamma production. Only in SAMP8 females was an increase in IFN-gamma accompanied by an increase in IL-4. From these changes in the cytokine production profile was it concluded that SAMP8 mice were senescence-accelerated in immuno-responses in comparison with AKR mice and had some functional deficiency with respect to IL-4 production, a part of which resulted from over-production of IFN-gamma.

Fascia-vascularized vs. muscle-vascularized prefabricated flaps using tissue expanders: an experimental study in a rat model

The aim of this study was to compare the applicability and viability of a fascia-vascularized pedicle (FVP) with those of a muscle-vascularized pedicle (MVP) in the prefabrication of a secondary vascularized pedicle flap using a tissue expander. Experiments were carried out in 32 male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into two groups--Group 1 (n = 10), using a skeletonized pedicle of the right saphenous artery, vein, and nerve with a segment of 8 x 10 mm fascia on its distal end (FVP group); and Group 2 (n = 10), using a 3-mm perivascular cuff of muscle with a segment of 8 x 10 mm fascia and gracilis muscle on its distal end (MVP group). The experiments demonstrated that there was a larger area of flap survival in the expanded muscle-vascularized pedicle flaps (96.6 +/- 3.6 percent) than that found in the expanded fascia-vascularized pedicle flaps (83.0 +/- 14.4 percent) in this rat model (p < 0.005). The microangiography of the flaps showed increased vascularity of the muscle cuff at the end of the vascular pedicle in Group 2.

Mesenteric flap in free jejunal transfers: a versatile technique for head and neck reconstruction

BACKGROUND

The technique of free jejunal transfers has been widely used for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction. However, secondary infectious and fistulous complications may develop in extensive and preoperatively high-dose irradiated cases.

METHODS

A generous jejunomesenteric composite graft was harvested and the mesenterium was effectively applied for head and neck reconstruction.

RESULTS

The mesenteric flap connected with the revascularized jejunum was used as means for obliterating dead space in the head and neck region, as a cover for the cover for the cervical vessels, as a vascularized bolstering for the vascular and enteral anastomoses, or as a vascularized bed for skin grafting when the skin flaps are deficient. Only one small fistula occurred in 10 patients who underwent the mesenteric flap.

CONCLUSIONS

This versatile technique is expected to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications in pharyngoesophageal reconstruction using free jejunal transfers.

Activated microglia cause superoxide-mediated release of iron from ferritin

Ferritin contains the greatest part of the iron found in the brain, and the release of iron stores from ferritin has an essential role in iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. We examined the effect of cultured microglia on iron mobilization from ferritin. Microglia stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate caused the release of iron from ferritin, which was detected by monitoring iron-ferrozine complex formation. This iron mobilization was mediated by microglial superoxide production, as evidenced by the significant inhibitory effect of superoxide dismutase. The role of superoxide was also supported by the close correspondence of cumulative microglial superoxide production, as demonstrated by the MCLA (Cypridina luciferin analogue)-dependent chemiluminescence assay, to the time course of iron release from ferritin. Iron release induced by activated microglia may be partly responsible for the oxidative damage that is thought to occur in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Curative treatments of murine Colon26 solid tumors by immunochemotherapy with G-CSF and OK-432

In order to study the clinical usefulness of biological response modifiers (BRMs) in eliminating malignant solid tumors, we have investigated the effect of various combination therapies on the murine Colon26 solid tumor model. When the tumor-bearing mice were treated with chemotherapeutics, G-CSF and OK-432 (streptococcal preparation), the tumors completely disappeared from all of the treated mice. When these survivors were rechallenged with Colon26 tumor cells on Day 120, all of them survived without showing any sign of recurrence or metastases. The results indicate that mice with malignant solid tumors, which can not be cured using chemotherapeutics alone, may be completely healed with a combination immuno-chemotherapy. During the course of this combination therapy, study, it was found that there was a clear positive correlation between immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) levels and tumor sizes. Suppressor macrophages (sM phi) which produce IAP were found to be decreased in bone marrow and spleen of treated mice. This suggests that the combination therapy may make the mice recover from a suppressed immune state caused by sM phi. In conclusion, the combination therapy with chemotherapeutics and BRMs could cure the solid tumor-bearing mice very effectively through not only synergistic direct tumor cell destruction but also indirect immunomodulation of the host.

Role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity

Liver and kidney injury following acute or chronic exposure to cadmium is well characterized. While hepatocytes and endothelial cells of the sinusoids are thought to be the primary cellular targets in the liver, ultrastructural changes may vary depending upon the exposure regimen and the time following administration. Since acute and chronic liver disease is often associated with the presence of cytokines, we investigated the role of proinflammatory cytokines in cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity. Supernatants from cultured liver slices obtained from acute or subchronic cadmium-exposed rats and mice were collected and cytokine secretion was examined. In addition, mRNA transcripts for IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, MIP-2, IFN-gamma, and ICAM-1 from livers of treated mice were quantitated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Modest increases in secretion of TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha, and IL-6 were observed in response to cadmium which were enhanced in LPS-primed mice. Additionally, cadmium exposure increased IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, MIP-2, IL-6, and ICAM-1 mRNA transcripts in the liver. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that TNF-alpha was associated with nonparenchymal cells in livers of cadmium-treated mice. Cadmium exposure produced a marked increase in plasma hepatocellular enzyme levels (i.e., AST, LDH, SDH), acute phase proteins (i.e., serum amyloid A), and foci formation in the liver, while focal inflammation and serum amyloid A (SAA) secretion, but not plasma enzymes, were further increased in cadmium-exposed mice primed with LPS. SAA secretion and focal inflammation were prevented by pretreatment with antibodies to TNF-alpha, indicating that these pathological manifestations are cytokine dependent. These data indicate that TNF-alpha, released from nonparenchymal cells as well as associated cytokines, are responsible for certain manifestations observed with cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity.

The Pringle maneuver induces only partial ischemia of the liver

It has been questioned whether the Pringle maneuver induces complete ischemia of the liver. We examined changes in liver blood flow (LBF) in sixty patients who underwent liver resection, under conditions of prolonged inflow occlusion. The ischemia period ranged from 30 to 75 minutes. All patients tolerated the procedure. To better understand the metabolic consequences of ischemia, 10 female mongrel pigs were divided into two groups treated with hepatic inflow occlusion or total vascular exclusion for one hour (n = 5, each). Clinical and experimental data showed approximately 10% of residual LBF under the Pringle maneuver. Only one out of five animals tolerated complete ischemia (total vascular exclusion) in terms of 7-day survival while all pigs treated with the Pringle method survived. This was attributed to the lower serum transaminase levels and attenuation of liver adenosine triphosphate (ATP) decline in the inflow-occluded group. Our data indicate that the Pringle maneuver induces partial rather than full ischemia of the liver and hepatic vein "back flow" is likely to be the cause. The clinical implications of hepatic inflow occlusion for liver surgery are discussed.

Progressive decrease in heteronymous monosynaptic Ia facilitation with human ageing

To evaluate functional change in the spinal reflex pathway with ageing, we studied heteronymous Ia facilitation from the quadriceps to soleus muscle in 30 normal volunteers (aged 24-68 years). The size of the test H-reflex of the soleus muscle was adjusted to 25% that of the maximal M-response. The conditioning stimulus was adjusted to 1.5-fold the motor threshold to stimulate all the Ia fibres in the femoral nerve. Facilitation was quantified as the slope of the very early part of facilitation, within 0.8 ms of onset. This procedure enabled us to evaluate the extent of monosynaptic Ia facilitation without contamination by other effects. The extent of facilitation decreased linearly with age. This decrease in facilitation could reflect a decrease in the number of Ia fibres and in their conduction velocities, and an increase in presynaptic inhibition on Ia terminals. The increase in presynaptic inhibition may be an adaptive phenomenon in the ageing of the neuromuscular system or, alternatively, a deteriorating process with decreasing flexible supraspinal modulation.

Detoxification of paraquat poisoning: effects of alkylsulfates and alkylsulfonates on paraquat poisoning in mice and rats

The study revealed that high molecular polyvinyl sulfate (PVP) or sulfonate (PVS), and low molecular alkyldisulfonates (NaO3S(CH2)nSO3Na, n = 2--5: EDS, TDS, BDS and PDS) can alleviate acute toxicity of the herbicide, paraquat dichloride (PQ) in mice. Their activity as antidotes and the mode of the action varied depending on molecular size. The survival rate for mice receiving PQ at 200 mg/kg alone was increasingly improved when the dose of antidotes was increased from 8 to 10 times the dose of PQ; all the test compounds, except EDS (70% survival), achieved a survival rate of 100%. When test compounds were orally dosed to mice in a mixture with PQ, they improved LD50 of PQ alone. With the low molecular compounds EDS, TDS, BDS and PDS, the value increased to about 2 to 3 times (300-458 mg/kg) over that of PQ alone (140 mg/kg). With high molecular PVS and PVP, the combination reached about a 7 fold (900-1000 mg/kg) increase in LD50 value. The formation of lipid peroxide in lungs of rats due to PQ tended to be suppressed by concomitant administration of carbohydrate sulfate (DS and GS). PVP, BDS and TDS were more effective in depressing synthesis of lipid peroxide than DS or GS in the lungs, although BDS and TDS were less effective in suppressing PQ absorption from the rat small intestine than DS, GS or PVP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Non-secretory alpha chain disease involving stomach, small intestine and colon

A case of alpha chain disease, involving stomach, small and large intestine, and caecum with poor prognosis is reported. Endoscopic examination revealed gastric erosion, edematous mucosa with enlarged villi of duodenum and jejunum, multiple hyperplastic lymph follicles of terminal ileum and thickening mucosa of caecum. Light microscopy revealed a conspicuous infiltration of plasma cells and lymphocytes in gastric, duodenal, jejunal and caecal lamina propria. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated alpha heavy chain protein devoid of light chain in these plasma cells. The patient developed paralytic ileus and died of septic shock on the 179th hospital day.

Changes in IgA and metals in serum and urine of human volume hypertension

In this study, disturbance of immune response as a pathogenic mechanism for human volume hypertension was investigated and compared to nephritis in its correlation with the metals such as zinc, iron and aluminum as environmental factors. Urinary gamma-GTP excretions in patients with nephritis or hypertension were higher than in healthy people, whereas the plasma renin activity in these patients were lower on the average than in healthy individuals. Hypertensive patients participating in this study were diagnosed as the volume hypertension type from our clinical and other results. The serum IgM and IgA levels in renal patients showed a tendency to be lower than in the healthy people used as control. Urinary IgA excretion in hypertensive patients was increased in association with increasing excretions of aluminum and/or iron into urine. The values of regression coefficients in the urine samples for aluminum and iron vs. IgA, respectively, were very high at r = 0.900 (n = 9, p < 0.05) and 0.736 (n = 9, p < 0.05). These correlations were shown to be very useful indicators in diagnosing volume hypertension. Moreover, hypertensive patients in this study were demonstrated to have a high regression coefficient (r = -0.702, n = 7; p < 0.05) for calcium vs. renin in the serum. In the hypertension, augmentation of serum calcium significantly decreased plasma renin activity.

Tenascin in breast cancer development--is epithelial tenascin a marker for poor prognosis?

(1) In mouse mammary gland development, immunoreactive tenascin (TN) is expressed in the dense mesenchyme surrounding the epithelial component of 14-day embryos, endbuds at puberty, and tumors. (2) Cells that produce TN are myofibroblastic and are characterized by nuclear invaginations, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and pinocytotic vesicles. These cells are not normally present in the stroma of mammary glands but present in cancer stroma, originating probably from fibroblasts differentiated under the influence of TGF-beta 1 stimulation. (3) Breast cancer cells are capable of synthesing TN under certain conditions. TN-non-producing MCF7 cells can produce TN when co-cultured with embryonic fibroblasts or with their conditioned medium. (4) Nine primary human breast cancers were examined for TN expression by in situ hybridization. TN mRNA was expressed in all nine cases in the stroma and in four cases in carcinoma cells as well. (5) Immunohistochemistry for TN was performed in human breast cancers, and it was found that the five-year survival after surgery was markedly lower in the group whose cancer cells were positive [corrected] for TN. TN expression in cancer cells appears to indicate poor prognosis.

Heme oxygenase-2. Properties of the heme complex of the purified tryptic fragment of recombinant human heme oxygenase-2

Recombinant human microsomal heme oxygenase-2 was expressed in Escherichia coli. Tryptic digestion of the membrane fraction, in which the wild-type enzyme was localized, yielded a soluble tryptic peptide of 28 kDa, which retained the ability to accept electrons from NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and the enzymatic activity for conversion of heme to biliverdin. The tryptic fragment, when purified to apparent homogeneity, bound one equivalent of heme to form a substrate-enzyme complex that had spectroscopic properties characteristic of heme proteins, such as myoglobin and hemoglobin. Optical absorption, Raman scattering, and EPR studies of the heme-tryptic fragment complex revealed that the ferric heme was six coordinate high spin at neutral pH and six coordinate low spin at alkaline pH, with a pK alpha value of 8.5. EPR and Raman scattering studies indicated that a neutral imidazole of a histidine residue served as the proximal ligand in the heme-heme oxygenase-2 fragment complex. The reaction with hydrogen peroxide converted the heme of the heme oxygenase-2 fragment complex into a verdoheme-like intermediate, while the reaction with m-chloroperbenzoic acid yielded a oxoferryl species. These spectroscopic properties are similar to those obtained for heme oxygenase-1, and thus the catalytic mechanism of heme oxygenase-2 appears to be similar to that of heme oxygenase-1.

Genetically modified fibroblasts producing NGF protect hippocampal neurons after ischemia in the rat

The neuroprotective effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on the pyramidal cells in the vulnerable CA1-CA2 sectors of the hippocampus was investigated in a rat model of transient forebrain ischemia. A genetically modified fibroblast line that secretes high levels of NGF was implanted 7 days before induction of ischemia between the hippocampal CA1-CA2 subfields in the right hemisphere. Rats were then subjected to 10 min of cerebral ischemia in a four vessel occlusion model. Morphological changes in the CA1 and CA2 subfields were evaluated 7 days after ischemia. Animals in the NGF-protected group had significantly higher numbers of normal appearing neurons in the right CA1 and CA2 regions, compared with their non-implanted left hemispheres, to non-implanted animals or to animals implanted with non-modified cells. The data confirmed that NGF can protect CA1-CA2 hippocampal neurons from ischemic damage by implantation of genetically engineered cells producing NGF.

Haemostatic and fibrinolytic parameters in septic patients with leukopenia or leukocytosis

Induction of leukocytopenia by cytotoxic drugs protects against the generalized Shwartzman reaction induced by endotoxin. To elucidate the relationship between leukocyte number and in haemostatic and fibrinolytic disturbances in human sepsis, we studied 32 septic patients with abnormal leukocyte counts. Twenty patients had sepsis in the setting of leukopenia after chemotherapy for haematological malignancies. Twelve patients with leukocytosis developed sepsis associated with benign disorders. Concentrations of thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and plasma thrombomodulin (TM) in the leukocytosis group of (12.0 +/- 11.0, 40.2 +/- 27.0 and 5.5 +/- 2.3 ng/ml, respectively) were significantly elevated compared to the leukopenia group of (3.8 +/- 2.3, 18.0 +/- 15.0 and 3.1 +/- 1.0 ng/ml, respectively) and controls (3.3 +/- 0.4, 10.5 +/- 5.3, 3.0 +/- 0.5 ng/ml, respectively). On the other hand, there were no significant differences in these values between leukopenia group and controls. Thus leucocytes may play important roles in thrombin generation, PAI-1 release and injury to endothelial cells.

Differential effects of 3 dipyridyl isomers on hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 and heme oxygenase in rats

We compared the effects of 3 dipyridyl isomers, 2,2'-dipyridyl, 2,4'-dipyridyl and 4,4'-dipyridyl, on hepatic microsomal heme oxygenase and drug-metabolizing enzyme activities in male rats. 2,2'-Dipyridyl increased cytochrome P450 (P450) content at lower doses, but decreased with increasing dose levels. Immunoblot analysis revealed that 2,2'-dipyridyl did not induce both P450 1A1/2 and P450 2B1/2, in contrast to 2,4'- and 4,4'-dipyridyls, both of which were inducers of either P450 1A1/2 and/or P450 2B1/2. Some drug-metabolizing enzyme activities gradually declined with the increasing dose level of 2,2'-dipyridyl. 2,2'-Dipyridyl was able to induce hepatic microsomal heme oxygenase in a dose-dependent manner, but 2,4'- and 4,4'-dipyridyls did not, even at the highest dose (0.80 mmol/kg) examined. Treatment of rats with 2,2'-dipyridyl resulted in the increase of glutathione (GSH) content in a dose-dependent manner, but not 4-substituted isomers. A time course study with 2,2'-dipyridyl revealed that it produced a significant decrease in hepatic GSH content at early time periods (2-6 h) after its administration with an inverse increase in heme oxygenase activity. The present investigation has revealed that in contrast to the induction of P450 by 4-substituted dipyridyl compounds, 2,2'-dipyridyl is a novel inducer of hepatic microsomal heme oxygenase, together with the change in hepatic GSH content. This study would provide information on the differential effects of simple dipyridyl isomers on hepatic enzymes involved in heme and drug metabolism.

Limited TCR V beta usage of infiltrating T cells in synovial tissues from patients with HTLV-I associated arthropathy

Human T cell lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I) is the etiologic agent of adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma and recently has also been suggested to be involved in chronic arthritis. The synovia of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) contains activated T lymphocytes, with a restricted expression of T cell receptor (TCR) variable (V) beta gene segments. To characterize the T-cell populations of RA among HTLV-I carriers and noncarriers, we performed the immunohistochemical staining of CD4 and CDB, as well as a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to estimate the proportion of TCR beta RNA containing any particular V elements on the synovial specimens. In all but one HTLV-I carrier, the proviral DNA and/or RNA expression of HTLV-I was detected in the synovium. The CD4-positive cells proliferated markedly in the HTLV-I carriers compared with the noncarriers. In contrast to mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood, synovial T cells expressed only a few V beta transcripts, and no definite difference was observed between the carriers and the noncarriers. These results suggest that a common major antigen associated with the pathogenesis of RA may thus selectively interact with the V beta component of the TCR. Using RT-PCR, we studied the expression of the recombination-activating gene-1 (RAG-1), which was used in the V(D)J recombination of immunoglobulin and TCR genes. In all cases, RAG-1 was transcripted. The results supported the possibility that the extrathymic development of the selected TCR V beta T cells occurred in the synovia.