Characterization of the major bacterial-fungal populations colonizing dandruff scalps in Shanghai, China, shows microbial disequilibrium

Dandruff is a scalp disorder characterized by the formation of flaky white-yellowish scales due to an altered proliferation and differentiation status; a disrupted barrier function; a decrease in the level of hydration and of natural moisturizing factors (NMF) in the scalp, with a persistent and relapsing inflammatory condition. It was recently reported that an imbalance between bacterial and fungal species colonizing the scalp of French volunteers was associated with dandruff condition. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the major bacterial and fungal species present on the scalp surface of Chinese volunteers and to investigate possible region-related variation in the microbiota linked to dandruff condition. The data obtained from the Chinese populations were highly similar to those obtained in France, confirming that dandruff scalps are associated with a higher incidence of Malassezia restricta and Staphylococcal sp. The ratios of Malassezia to Propionibacterium and Propionibacterium to Staphylococcus were also significantly higher in the dandruff volunteers as compared to normal volunteers, suggesting that equilibrium between the major bacterial and fungal taxa found on the normal scalps is perturbed in the dandruff scalps. The main difference between the French and Shanghai subjects was in their Staphylococcal biota. The results obtained in China and in France suggest that targeting one particular Malassezia sp. by antifungals instead of using large spectrum antifungals and rebalancing the dandruff scalp microbiota could be common approach to improve dandruff condition in the two countries.

Phase II study of the immune-checkpoint inhibitor ipilimumab plus dacarbazine in Japanese patients with previously untreated, unresectable or metastatic melanoma

PURPOSE

Ipilimumab (IPI), a monoclonal antibody against immune-checkpoint receptor cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4, is designed to enhance antitumor T cell function. IPI 10 mg/kg plus dacarbazine (DTIC) significantly improved overall survival in a phase 3 study involving predominantly Caucasian patients, with an adverse event (AE) profile similar to that of IPI monotherapy. We conducted a single-arm, phase 2 study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of IPI plus DTIC in Japanese patients.

METHODS

Previously untreated patients with unresectable stage III or IV melanoma received IPI 10 mg/kg plus DTIC 850 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks for four doses (q3w × 4), followed by DTIC q3w × 4 and then IPI every 12 weeks until disease progression or intolerable toxicity.

RESULTS

All 15 treated patients reported drug-related AEs, the most common of which were increases in alanine aminotransferase (n = 12, 80 %) and aspartate aminotransferase (n = 11, 73 %). Treatment-related serious AEs were reported in 11 (73 %) patients. Nine patients (60 %) discontinued treatment due to drug-related toxicities. Immune-related AEs (irAEs) were reported in 14 patients (93 %). The most frequent irAEs were liver (n = 12, 80 %) and skin (n = 10, 67 %) toxicities. Five deaths were reported; all were caused by progressive disease. Efficacy evaluation showed one complete response, one partial response and four patients with stable disease. Best overall response rate was 13 % (2/15), and the disease control rate was 40 % (6/15). The study was terminated early due to frequent, high-grade liver toxicities.

CONCLUSIONS

IPI 10 mg/kg plus DTIC 850 mg/m(2) was not considered tolerable in the Japanese patient population. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01681212.

The Selaginella genome identifies genetic changes associated with the evolution of vascular plants

Vascular plants appeared ~410 million years ago, then diverged into several lineages of which only two survive: the euphyllophytes (ferns and seed plants) and the lycophytes. We report here the genome sequence of the lycophyte Selaginella moellendorffii (Selaginella), the first nonseed vascular plant genome reported. By comparing gene content in evolutionarily diverse taxa, we found that the transition from a gametophyte- to a sporophyte-dominated life cycle required far fewer new genes than the transition from a nonseed vascular to a flowering plant, whereas secondary metabolic genes expanded extensively and in parallel in the lycophyte and angiosperm lineages. Selaginella differs in posttranscriptional gene regulation, including small RNA regulation of repetitive elements, an absence of the trans-acting small interfering RNA pathway, and extensive RNA editing of organellar genes.

Sequence analysis of the genome of an oil-bearing tree, Jatropha curcas L

The whole genome of Jatropha curcas was sequenced, using a combination of the conventional Sanger method and new-generation multiplex sequencing methods. Total length of the non-redundant sequences thus obtained was 285 858 490 bp consisting of 120 586 contigs and 29 831 singlets. They accounted for ~95% of the gene-containing regions with the average G + C content was 34.3%. A total of 40 929 complete and partial structures of protein encoding genes have been deduced. Comparison with genes of other plant species indicated that 1529 (4%) of the putative protein-encoding genes are specific to the Euphorbiaceae family. A high degree of microsynteny was observed with the genome of castor bean and, to a lesser extent, with those of soybean and Arabidopsis thaliana. In parallel with genome sequencing, cDNAs derived from leaf and callus tissues were subjected to pyrosequencing, and a total of 21 225 unigene data have been generated. Polymorphism analysis using microsatellite markers developed from the genomic sequence data obtained was performed with 12 J. curcas lines collected from various parts of the world to estimate their genetic diversity. The genomic sequence and accompanying information presented here are expected to serve as valuable resources for the acceleration of fundamental and applied research with J. curcas, especially in the fields of environment-related research such as biofuel production. Further information on the genomic sequences and DNA markers is available at http://www.kazusa.or.jp/jatropha/.

Binding of cysteine synthase to the STAS domain of sulfate transporter and its regulatory consequences

The sulfate ion (SO(4)(2-)) is transported into plant root cells by SO(4)(2-) transporters and then mostly reduced to sulfide (S(2-)). The S(2-) is then bonded to O-acetylserine through the activity of cysteine synthase (O-acetylserine (thiol)lyase or OASTL) to form cysteine, the first organic molecule of the SO(4)(2-) assimilation pathway. Here, we show that a root plasma membrane SO(4)(2-) transporter of Arabidopsis, SULTR1;2, physically interacts with OASTL. The interaction was initially demonstrated using a yeast two-hybrid system and corroborated by both in vivo and in vitro binding assays. The domain of SULTR1;2 shown to be important for association with OASTL is called the STAS domain. This domain is at the C terminus of the transporter and extends from the plasma membrane into the cytoplasm. The functional relevance of the OASTL-STAS interaction was investigated using yeast mutant cells devoid of endogenous SO(4)(2-) uptake activity but co-expressing SULTR1;2 and OASTL. The analysis of SO(4)(2-) transport in these cells suggests that the binding of OASTL to the STAS domain in this heterologous system negatively impacts transporter activity. In contrast, the activity of purified OASTL measured in vitro was enhanced by co-incubation with the STAS domain of SULTR1;2 but not with the analogous domain of the SO(4)(2-) transporter isoform SULTR1;1, even though the SULTR1;1 STAS peptide also interacts with OASTL based on the yeast two-hybrid system and in vitro binding assays. These observations suggest a regulatory model in which interactions between SULTR1;2 and OASTL coordinate internalization of SO(4)(2-) with the energetic/metabolic state of plant root cells.

A clinical study of Henoch-Schönlein Purpura associated with malignancy

BACKGROUND

Malignancy has been reported as a causative factor of cutaneous vasculitis, although only two retrospective epidemiological studies have analysed the association between Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) and malignancy to date.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the association between adult HSP and malignancy.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients and found 103 cases of HSP over the past 20 years. Fifty-three cases (aged > or = 41 years) were categorized to two groups including 'with malignancy' or 'without malignancy', so that we could analyse the differences of clinical features between them. We also compared our study to previous reports.

RESULTS

Twenty-three cases out of 53 patients exhibited underlying malignant tumours. We focused on nine patients in which malignant tumours were thought to be strongly associated. Seven of nine patients exhibited new metastatic lesions or died due to underlying cancer within 1-32 months.

CONCLUSIONS

An association between HSP and malignant disease might have important diagnostic and pathophysiologic implications.

Unequal functional redundancy between the two Arabidopsis thaliana high-affinity sulphate transporters SULTR1;1 and SULTR1;2

* In Arabidopsis, SULTR1;1 and SULTR1;2 are two genes proposed to be involved in high-affinity sulphate uptake from the soil solution. We address here the specific issue of their functional redundancy for the uptake of sulphate and for the accumulation of its toxic analogue selenate with regard to plant growth and selenate tolerance. * Using the complete set of genotypes, including the wild-type, each one of the single sultr1;1 and sultr1;2 mutants and the resulting double sultr1;1-sultr1;2 mutant, we performed a detailed phenotypic analysis of root length, shoot biomass, sulphate uptake, sulphate and selenate accumulation and selenate tolerance. * The results all ordered the four different genotypes according to the same functional hierarchy. Wild-type and sultr1;1 mutant plants displayed similar phenotypes. By contrast, sultr1;1-sultr1;2 double-mutant plants showed the most extreme phenotype and the sultr1;2 mutant displayed intermediate performances. Additionally, the degree of selenate tolerance was directly related to the seedling selenate content according to a single sigmoid regression curve common to all the genotypes. * The SULTR1;1 and SULTR1;2 genes display unequal functional redundancy, which leaves open for SULTR1;1 the possibility of displaying an additional function besides its role in sulphate membrane transport.

An Arabidopsis thaliana high-affinity molybdate transporter required for efficient uptake of molybdate from soil

Molybdenum (Mo) is a trace element essential for living organisms, however no molybdate transporter has been identified in eukaryotes. Here, we report the identification of a molybdate transporter, MOT1, from Arabidopsis thaliana. MOT1 is expressed in both roots and shoots, and the MOT1 protein is localized, in part, to plasma membranes and to vesicles. MOT1 is required for efficient uptake and translocation of molybdate and for normal growth under conditions of limited molybdate supply. Kinetics studies in yeast revealed that the K(m) value of MOT1 for molybdate is approximately 20 nM. Furthermore, Mo uptake by MOT1 in yeast was not affected by coexistent sulfate, and MOT1 did not complement a sulfate transporter-deficient yeast mutant strain. These data confirmed that MOT1 is specific for molybdate and that the high affinity of MOT1 allows plants to obtain scarce Mo from soil.

An essential role for 14-3-3 proteins in brassinosteroid signal transduction in Arabidopsis

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are essential hormones for plant growth and development. BRs regulate gene expression by inducing dephosphorylation of two key transcription factors, BZR1 and BZR2/BES1, through a signal transduction pathway that involves cell-surface receptors (BRI1 and BAK1) and a GSK3 kinase (BIN2). How BR-regulated phosphorylation controls the activities of BZR1/BZR2 is not fully understood. Here, we show that BIN2-catalyzed phosphorylation of BZR1/BZR2 not only inhibits DNA binding, but also promotes binding to the 14-3-3 proteins. Mutations of a BIN2-phosphorylation site in BZR1 abolish 14-3-3 binding and lead to increased nuclear localization of BZR1 protein and enhanced BR responses in transgenic plants. Further, BR deficiency increases cytoplasmic localization, and BR treatment induces rapid nuclear localization of BZR1/BZR2. Thus, 14-3-3 binding is required for efficient inhibition of phosphorylated BR transcription factors, largely through cytoplasmic retention. This study demonstrates that multiple mechanisms are required for BR regulation of gene expression and plant growth.

CD4+CD25high Regulatory T Cells Are Markedly Decreased in Blood of Patients with Pemphigus Vulgaris

BACKGROUND

It remains to be determined whether pemphigus vulgaris (PV), an autoimmune blistering disease, has a reduction and/or dysfunction of CD4(+)CD25(high) regulatory T (Treg) cells.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the frequency and phenotypes of Treg cells in blood of patients with PV.

METHODS

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were prepared from PV patients as well as normal and disease control volunteers, and the frequency and phenotypes of Treg cells were determined by flow cytometry. CD4(+)CD25(+) and CD4(+)CD25(-) T cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of PV patients and normal controls were subjected to real-time semiquantitative RT-PCR for the expression of Foxp3 gene.

RESULTS

The proportion of Treg cells in all PV patients was severely reduced, approximately ten times less than controls. These observations were further confirmed by both diminished gene and protein expression of Foxp3 in the CD4(+)CD25(+) T cell population in PV patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Numerical impairment of Treg cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of PV.

The role of the STAS domain in the function and biogenesis of a sulfate transporter as probed by random mutagenesis

Sulfate transporters in plants represent a family of proteins containing transmembrane domains that constitute the catalytic part of the protein and a short linking region that joins this catalytic moiety with a C-terminal STAS domain. The STAS domain resembles an anti-sigma factor antagonist of Bacillus subtilis, which is one distinguishing feature of the SLC26 transporter family; this family includes transporters for sulfate and other anions such as iodide and carbonate. Recent work has demonstrated that this domain is critical for the activity of Arabidopsis thaliana sulfate transporters, and specific lesions in this domain, or the exchange of STAS domains between different sulfate transporters, can severely impair transport activity. In this work we generated a Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression library of the A. thaliana Sultr1;2 gene with random mutations in the linking region-STAS domain and identified STAS domain lesions that altered Sultr1;2 biogenesis and/or function. A number of mutations in the beta-sheet that forms the core of the STAS domain prevented intracellular accumulation of Sultr1;2. In contrast, the linking region and one surface of the STAS domain containing N termini of the first and second alpha-helices have a number of amino acids critical for the function of the protein; mutations in these regions still allow protein accumulation in the plasma membrane, but the protein is no longer capable of efficiently transporting sulfate into cells. These results suggest that the STAS domain is critical for both the activity and biosynthesis/stability of the transporter, and that STAS sub-domains correlate with these specific functions.

Insights into the acclimation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to sulfur deprivation

During sulfur deprivation, the photosynthetic green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii develops a high-affinity sulfate uptake system and increases the expression of genes encoding proteins involved in sulfur assimilation. Although two regulatory elements, SAC1 and SAC3, have been shown to be required for normal acclimation of C. reinhardtii to sulfur deprivation, a number of other regulatory elements appear to also be involved. The molecular mechanisms by which these regulatory elements function are largely unknown. This manuscript presents our current knowledge of sulfur deprivation responses and the regulation of these responses in C. reinhardtii. In addition, we present preliminary results of a sub-saturation screen for novel sulfur acclimation mutants of C. reinhardtii. A speculative model, incorporating the activities of established regulatory elements with putative novel components of the signal transduction pathway(s) is discussed.

Probing the function of STAS domains of the Arabidopsis sulfate transporters

Sulfate transporters in plants and animals are structurally conserved and have an amino-terminal domain that functions in transport and a carboxyl-terminal region that has been designated the STAS domain. The STAS domain in sulfate transporters has significant similarity to bacterial anti-sigma factor antagonists. To determine if the STAS domain has a role in controlling the activity of sulfate transporters, their stability, or their localization to the plasma membrane, we examined the effect of deleting or modifying the STAS domain of dominant sulfate transporters in roots of Arabidopsis thaliana. The A. thaliana Sultr1;2 and Sultr1;1 sulfate transporters rescue the methionine-dependent growth phenotype of the yeast sulfate transporter mutant strain CP154-7B. Constructs of Sultr1;2 in which the STAS domain was deleted (DeltaSTAS) resulted in synthesis of a truncated polypeptide that was unable to rescue the CP154-7B phenotype. The inability of these constructs to rescue the mutant phenotype probably reflected both low level cellular accumulation of the transporter and the inability of the truncated protein to localize to the plasma membrane. Fusing the STAS domain from other sulfate transporters to Sultr1;2 DeltaSTAS constructs restored elevated accumulation and plasma membrane localization, although the kinetics of sulfate uptake in the transformants were markedly altered with respect to transformants synthesizing wild-type Sultr1;2 protein. These results suggest that the STAS domain is essential, either directly or indirectly, for facilitating localization of the transporters to the plasma membrane, but it also appears to influence the kinetic properties of the catalytic domain of transporters.

Selenate-resistant mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana identify Sultr1;2, a sulfate transporter required for efficient transport of sulfate into roots

To investigate how plants acquire and assimilate sulfur from their environment, we isolated and characterized two mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana deficient in sulfate transport. The mutants are resistant to selenate, a toxic analogue of sulfate. They are allelic to each other and to the previously isolated sel1 (selenate-resistant) mutants, and have been designated sel1-8 and sel1-9. Root elongation in these mutants is less sensitive to selenate than in wild-type plants. Sulfate uptake into the roots is impaired in the mutants under both sulfur-sufficient and sulfur-deficient conditions, but transport of sulfate to the shoot is not affected. The sel1 mutants contain lesions in the sulfate transporter gene Sultr1;2 located on the lower arm of chromosome 1. The sel1-1, sel1-3 and sel1-8 mutants contain point mutations in the coding sequences of Sultr1;2, while the sel1-9 mutant has a T-DNA insertion in the Sultr1;2 promoter. The Sultr1;2 cDNA derived from wild-type plants is able to complement Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants defective in sulfate transport, but the Sultr1;2 cDNA from sel1-8 is not. The Sultr1;2 gene is expressed mainly in roots, and accumulation of transcripts increases during sulfate deprivation. Examination of transgenic plants containing the Sultr1;2 promoter fused to the GUS-reporter gene indicates that Sultr1;2 is expressed mainly in the root cortex, the root tip and lateral roots. Weaker expression of the reporter gene was observed in hydathodes, guard cells and auxiliary buds of leaves, and in anthers and the basal parts of flowers. The results indicate that Sultr1;2 is primarily involved in importing sulfate from the environment into the root.

Overexpression of CD82 on human T cells enhances LFA-1 / ICAM-1-mediated cell-cell adhesion: functional association between CD82 and LFA-1 in T cell activation

We previously demonstrated that CD82, expressed on both T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APC), plays an important role as a co-stimulatory molecule especially in the early phase of T cell activation. We also showed that the CD82 expression level is up-regulated on activated T cells and memory T cells. This up-regulation enhances both T cell-T cell and T cell-APC interactions. In this study, we further investigated the mechanism of CD82-mediated cell-cell adhesion. The enhanced adhesion between CD82-overexpressing Jurkat cells was completely blocked by anti-ICAM-1 / LFA-1 monoclonal antibodies. Increased interaction of LFA-1 with ICAM-1 was further confirmed by enhanced adhesion of CD82-overexpressing Jurkat cells to immobilized ICAM-1-Ig. CD82 co-immunoprecipitated with LFA-1 from Jurkat cells and CD82 and LFA-1 colocalized at an adhesion foci. These results suggest that the T cell stimulation via anti-CD3 cross-linking or phorbol myristate acetate treatment up-regulates CD82 expression, leading to the colocalization of CD82 and LFA-1, and results in enhanced interaction between LFA-1 and ICAM-1. In addition, a blocking experiment using monoclonal antibodies suggested that CD82 and LFA-1 molecules on APC are also important for the optimal activation of T cells. This is the first report that describes the enhancement of cell-cell interaction through LFA-1 and ICAM-1 by the overexpression of another cell surface molecule, CD82.

Overexpression of CD82 on human T cells enhances LFA-1 / ICAM-1-mediated cell-cell adhesion: functional association between CD82 and LFA-1 in T cell activation

We previously demonstrated that CD82, expressed on both T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APC), plays an important role as a co-stimulatory molecule especially in the early phase of T cell activation. We also showed that the CD82 expression level is up-regulated on activated T cells and memory T cells. This up-regulation enhances both T cell-T cell and T cell-APC interactions. In this study, we further investigated the mechanism of CD82-mediated cell-cell adhesion. The enhanced adhesion between CD82-overexpressing Jurkat cells was completely blocked by anti-ICAM-1 / LFA-1 monoclonal antibodies. Increased interaction of LFA-1 with ICAM-1 was further confirmed by enhanced adhesion of CD82-overexpressing Jurkat cells to immobilized ICAM-1-Ig. CD82 co-immunoprecipitated with LFA-1 from Jurkat cells and CD82 and LFA-1 colocalized at an adhesion foci. These results suggest that the T cell stimulation via anti-CD3 cross-linking or phorbol myristate acetate treatment up-regulates CD82 expression, leading to the colocalization of CD82 and LFA-1, and results in enhanced interaction between LFA-1 and ICAM-1. In addition, a blocking experiment using monoclonal antibodies suggested that CD82 and LFA-1 molecules on APC are also important for the optimal activation of T cells. This is the first report that describes the enhancement of cell-cell interaction through LFA-1 and ICAM-1 by the overexpression of another cell surface molecule, CD82.

Functional analysis of CD82 in the early phase of T cell activation: roles in cell adhesion and signal transduction

To define T cell co-stimulatory molecules that work in the early phase of T cell activation, we established monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that inhibit or enhance T cell activation by the histiocytic leukemia cell line U937. One of the mAb, 53H5, which recognized both T cells and U937, was identified to bind to CD82 by expression cloning. Functional analyses of CD82 revealed that 1) CD82 needs to exist on both T cells and U937 for the full activation of T cells; 2) CD82 expression is up-regulated on both T cells and U937 by stimulation such as CD3 ligation or treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; 3) overexpression of CD82 enhances both homotypic and heterotypic cell adhesion between T cells and U937; 4) CD82 signal co-stimulates T cells and the signal works synergistically with the CD28-mediated T cell co-stimulation signal; 5) in mixed leukocyte reactions using U937 as stimulator cells, CD82 overexpression on U937 correlates with the higher allogeneicity of U937 cells. These results indicate that CD82 co-stimulates T cells not only by sending intra-T cell signals that work synergistically with CD28 signals but also by inducing enhanced T cell-antigen-presenting cell interaction.

Flanking sequences for the human intercellular adhesion molecule-1 NF-kappaB response element are necessary for tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced gene expression

The regulated expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) plays an important role in inflammation and immune responses. Induction of ICAM-1 gene transcription by TNF-alpha has previously been shown to be dependent upon a region of the ICAM-1 5'-flanking sequences that contains a modified kappaB site. We demonstrate here that this modified kappaB site alone is insufficient for induction of transcription by TNF-alpha. Site-directed mutagenesis of both the kappaB site and specific flanking nucleotides demonstrates that both the specific 5'- and 3'-flanking sequences and the modified kappaB site are necessary for TNF-alpha induction. Further, site-directed mutagenesis of this modified kappaB site to a consensus kappaB site allows it to mediate transcriptional activation in response to TNF-alpha, even in the absence of specific flanking sequences. Transcription through this minimal ICAM-1 TNF-alpha-responsive region can be driven by co-expression of p65, and the minimal response element interacts with p65 and p50 in supershift mobility shift assays. However, when in vitro transcription/translation products for the Rel proteins are used in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, only p65 is capable of binding the minimal response element while both p50 and p65 bind a consensus kappaB oligonucleotide. Additionally, in the absence of the specific flanking nucleotides, the ICAM-1 kappaB site is incapable of DNA-protein complex formation in both electrophoretic mobility shift assay and UV cross-linking/SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. These results demonstrate the requirement for specific flanking sequences surrounding a kappaB binding site for functional transcription factor binding and transactivation and TNF-alpha-mediated induction of ICAM-1.

Interferon gamma-dependent induction of human intercellular adhesion molecule-1 gene expression involves activation of a distinct STAT protein complex

In response to interferon gamma (IFNgamma), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is expressed on human keratinocytes, a cell type that is critically involved in cutaneous inflammation. An ICAM-1 5' regulatory region palindromic response element, pIgammaRE, has been shown to confer IFNgamma-dependent transcription enhancement. By electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA), pIgammaRE forms a distinct complex with proteins from IFNgamma-treated human keratinocytes, termed gamma response factor (GRF). Binding of GRF is tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent, and mutations of pIgammaRE that disrupt the palindromic sequence or alter its spatial relationship abrogate GRF binding. Supershift EMSAs using antibodies to characterized STAT proteins suggest that GRF contains a Stat1alpha-like protein; however, non-ICAM-1 IFNgamma-responsive elements (REs) known to bind Stat1alpha homodimers fail to compete for GRF binding in EMSA, and pIgammaRE does not cross-compete with these REs that complex with homodimeric stat1alpha. The pIgammaRE x GRF complex also displays a distinctly different electrophoretic mobility compared to that of IFNgammaREs complexed to homodimeric Stat1alpha. These findings indicate that a distinct complex containing a Stat1alpha-like protein mediates IFNgamma-induced ICAM-1 gene transcription and identifies a subset of IFNgamma-responsive genes that appear to be regulated by this complex.

Transcriptional regulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1: PMA-induction is mediated by NF kappa B

The surface glycoprotein intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mediates important immunologic cell interactions during cutaneous inflammatory processes by binding to the leukocyte integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1. The expression of ICAM-1 is induced in epidermal keratinocytes by certain pro-inflammatory stimuli, and this modulation is transcriptionally regulated. To identify the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of ICAM-1 gene expression, we have previously cloned the transcriptional regulatory region of the human ICAM-1-gene and have characterized a functional promoter. Here we have used the phorbol ester phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) to further evaluate the transcriptional mechanisms of ICAM-1 gene induction in A431 cells. Exposure to PMA induced ICAM-1 both at the mRNA and cell surface level. Promoter activity and PMA-enhanced effects were assessed by transiently transfecting A431 cells with chloramphenicol acetyl transferase reporter gene constructs containing a series of sequential ICAM-1 5' deletions. Constructs containing ICAM-1 5' fragments from -1162/+1 (relative to the transcription start site) to -277/+1 displayed a threefold increase in promoter activity when cells were stimulated with PMA. Inducibility dropped below 1.5-fold in chloramphenicol acetyl transferase construct -182/+1. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, a PMA-inducible binding site was identified for an NF kappa B-like complex within positions -186/-177. A -199/-170 fragment containing this NF kappa B-like element conferred PMA responsiveness when cloned into a thymidine kinase-driven chloramphenicol acetyl transferase vector, indicating that the region containing this NF kappa B-like element is not only necessary but also sufficient for PMA induction of ICAM-1.

Primary cutaneous CD30(Ki-1)-positive lymphoma of non-T, non-B origin

A 71-year-old Japanese woman had two dome-shaped tumors on her right buttock with several surrounding papules. Histological examination revealed that large anaplastic cells and atypical lymphoid cells densely infiltrated the entire dermis. On immunohistochemical examination, Ki-1, HLA-DR, CD25 (IL-2 receptor alpha), CD122 (IL-2 receptor beta), CD4, CD11c and CD68 were all positive in the tumor cells, whereas CD1a, CD3, CD5, CD8 and CD19 were negative. Neither rearrangement of the T-cell receptor beta, T-cell receptor gamma nor the immunoglobulin heavy-chain was seen. Ultrastructurally, most of the tumor cells contained thick bundles of intermediate filaments in the perinuclear cytoplasm. Thus, this patient was diagnosed as having Ki-1-positive lymphoma of non-T, non-B origin. No recurrence or metastasis of the tumor has been observed in the last 2 years, although surgical resection was required 3 times before control was achieved.

Investigation of new low-loss and high-power SAW filters for reverse-frequency-allocated cellular radios

Japanese cellular radios employ reverse frequency-allocations of the transmitter and receiver frequency bands. A rather narrowband surface acoustic wave (SAW) transmitter prefilter and a new type of SAW low-loss and high-power transmitter final stage filter-dual configurations to previously developed US cellular radio system filter-have been developed. The dual configurations provide the stopbands for the filter at the lower side of the pass bands, which is a requirement for reverse frequency-allocation systems. Design procedures, including those for the piezoelectric substrates and the experimental results obtained for the filters of 1.5 dB low insertion-loss and over 30 dB stop band rejection at 920 MHz, are also presented. In addition, the frequency characteristics of the SAW antenna duplexer module used in Japanese new common carrier (NCC) systems are discussed.

Identification of an equivalent to murine Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells in the rat epidermis

In the murine epidermis, there exist Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells (Thy-1+DEC). These cells are Thy-1+, CD45+, CD3+ and asialo GM1+ but CD5-, CD4-, CD8-, or Ia-1-, and express T cell receptor (TCR) gamma delta. Recently, most of these TCR gamma delta of Thy-1 DEC are shown to consist of a V gamma 3-V delta 1 combination. There has been no evidence that the same type of cell population exists in other species except mice. In this study, we investigated the existence of a Thy-1+DEC equivalent in the rat epidermis. The epidermal sheets obtained from rats were stained with various monoclonal antibodies to rat lymphocytes. We developed a monoclonal antibody (1F4) to rat CD3 complex. 1F4 stained thymocytes and peripheral T cells and also immunoprecipitated T cell receptor with CD3 complex. Using 1F4 and a recently developed monoclonal antibody to rat TCR alpha beta, we could identify dendritic CD4-, CD8-, CD5-, CD3+, TCR alpha beta- cells in the rat epidermis. These CD3+, TCR alpha beta- cells are strong candidates as an equivalent to TCR gamma delta + murine Thy-1+ DEC.

In-vivo administration of recombinant IL-2 increases the number of Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells

The number, morphology and response of Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells to recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) were investigated in young and aged mice. The Thy-1+ dendritic cells in the aged mice continued to express T-cell receptor (TCR) gamma/delta but differed morphologically from those of the young mice. The aged mice had 50% fewer cells than the young ones. In the rIL-2 treated mice all the Thy-1+ cells were expressed as TCR gamma/delta and exposure to rIL-2 increased the number of these cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner when given systemically and locally. In the aged mice daily injection of rIL-2 increased the number of Thy-1+ dendritic cells within 2 weeks to almost that of young mice, however they had a lower response in the earlier stage. Nude mice showed no response to rIL-2.

[T cell receptor gamma delta expression of Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells--an update]

Thy-1+ dendritic epidermal cells (Thy-1+DEC) are present in the murine epidermis. They are morphologically dendritic and express Thy-1, CD3 and asialoGM1, but not CD4 or CD8. T cell receptor (TCR) of Thy-1+DEC is TCR gamma delta. Allison et al and Tonegawa et al recently found that TCR of Thy-1+DEC is V gamma 5 J gamma C gamma -V delta 1D2J2C delta and has no junctional diversity. This TCR gamma delta of Thy-1+DEC is identical to TCR expressed on the earliest fetal thymocytes. It is distinct from that of other epithelial associated lymphocytes or other thymocytes. The ligand of Thy-1+DEC is not known, although TCR gamma delta of adult type could recognize allogenic major histocompatibility complex(MHC) class I or class II and mycobacterium antigen, especially heat shock protein. The TCR of Thy-1+DEC may not be the homing receptor to epidermis. The further studies are needed to elucidate the ligands or functions of Thy-1+DEC.

Effect of benzodiazepine derivatives on amygdaloid-kindled convulsion

An evaluation of the anticonvulsant effect of five kinds of benzodiazepine derivatives using amygdaloid-kindled rats yielded the following pharmacological properties of benzodiazepine derivatives: (1) Bromazepam, lorazepam and nitrazepam block the behavioral seizure response and also shorten the after-discharge duration simultaneously in both primary and secondary epileptogenic foci. (2) Diazepam has little effect on shortening the after-discharge duration at least in the primary epileptogenic focus though it blocks the behavioral seizure response. (3) Although clonazepam can block the behavioral seizure response and shorten the after-discharge duration, further investigations are necessary to define its efficacy.