Search

The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is a family of cell surface sialoglycoproteins mediating homotypic and heterotypic cell-cell adhesion. In tumors, NCAM is supposed to be involved with the malignant features characterized by invasive growth and metastasis. In the present study, we evaluated the correlation between NCAM expression of tumors obtained from small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients and the clinical outcome. NCAM expression was determined semi-quantitatively by an immunogold-silver staining method using the SCLC cluster 1 monoclonal antibody NCC-LU-243. Of 20 SCLC patients studied, six patients with tumors with high NCAM expression had a poor response to chemotherapy, and a short disease-free (p = 0.011) and overall (p = 0.003) survival as compared with 14 patients having tumors with low NCAM expression. These findings indicate that the therapeutic outcome of SCLC may be partly predicted by determining the NCAM expression of the tumor.

We report a preliminary study to determine whether MDR1 gene expression level in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) tumors is a useful predictor of tumor response to chemotherapy and patient survival in association with myc amplification in the tumor. We analyzed 18 patients with SCLC receiving adriamycin and etoposide combination chemotherapy between August 1989 and November 1991; 16 males and 2 females, median age of 68 years, and 7 with limited disease and 11 with extensive disease. MDR1 mRNA expression level and myc family gene amplification were simultaneously determined by polymerase chain reaction using transbronchial biopsy specimens which were obtained at diagnosis. Patients with tumors expressing low MDR1 mRNA responded more favorably to chemotherapy than those with tumors expressing high MDRI mRNA, however, the difference in tumor response was statistically not significant (84.6% versus 40%). The overall survival was significantly shorter in the latter than in the former (7.2 months versus 11.7 months; p = 0.023). The survival of the 4 patients with tumor showing myc family gene amplification was almost identical to that of patients with tumors showing no amplification of the gene (8.2 months versus 8.8 months; p = 0.73). Multivariate Cox's regression analysis supports the notion that MDR1 may be a useful independent prognostic factor.

Antitumor activities of five platinum analogs, including cisplatin, carboplatin, 254-S, DWA2114R, and NK121, were compared using five human lung cancer cell lines and 19 tumor specimens obtained from lung cancer patients. The antitumor activity was evaluated by determining the ratio of the maximum tolerated dose of each drug to the 70% tumor growth inhibitory concentration in a colony assay. Cisplatin was the most potent agent, followed by 254-S and carboplatin. DWA2114R and NK121 were less potent than cisplatin and 254-S. Cross-resistance to adriamycin was also investigated using an adriamycin-resistant small cell lung cancer subline, SBC -3/ADM30. SBC-3/ADM30 was 1.7- to 4.0-fold more resistant to cisplatin, carboplatin, NK121, and DWA2114R, than was the parent line, SBC-3, and the subline was 2.0-fold more sensitive to 254-S. Using SBC-3, in vitro combination effects of etoposide and cisplatin, carboplatin, or 254-S were evaluated by the median-effect principle. Synergism was noted when cisplatin and etoposide were combined at a fixed molar ratio of 1:1. Combination of carboplatin and etoposide showed an additive effect. The combination of 254-S and etoposide was antagonistic at low concentrations, but was markedly synergistic at higher concentrations. These data suggested the efficacy of 254-S in the treatment of lung cancer.

Cellular immunocompetence was investigated in 17 cases of aortitis syndrome (3 active, 14 inactive stage). Both the active and inactive groups demonstrated significantly lower interleukin-2 (IL-2) production than healthy volunteers. The active aortitis syndrome group produced significantly more interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) than the inactive group. The proportion of CD11b+ CD8+ cells was significantly lower in the active aortitis syndrome group. Further, the proportions of CD11b- CD8+ cells and CD57+ CD16- cells in the aortitis syndrome patients were significantly higher than the healthy volunteers. These results suggest that there are intrinsic qualitative abnormalities in the T cells that produce IL-2 in aortitis syndrome. Pathogenesis of aortitis syndrome is considered as follows: during the active stage, diminished IL-2 production impairs differentiation and proliferation of suppressor T cells, thus creating abnormalities in the inhibitory functions of immunoregulation and promoting the proliferation of cytotoxic T and natural killer (NK) cells. This presumably initiates inflammation of the aorta and/or artery.

Cell-mediated immunity was examined in 45 patients with bronchial asthma by observing the delayed cutaneous reaction to purified protein derivative (PPD) and Candida albicans (C. albicans). The delayed skin reaction to PPD showed a decrease with age starting between 50 and 59 years old. The delayed reaction to PPD decreased more prominently with aging, being significantly depressed in the patients aged over 70 years than in those aged between 30 and 49 years (induration, p < 0.02; flare, p < 0.01). The C. albicans-induced skin reaction was significantly lower in the patients aged over 70 years than in those between 60 and 69 years old (induration, p < 0.01; flare, p < 0.05). The delayed skin reaction to PPD and C. albicans was significantly depressed in the patients with a serum IgE level over 1001 IU/ml. Delayed skin reaction to PPD and C. albicans was more depressed with aging and an elevated serum IgE, and the age (50-59 years) at the initiation of depression in the PPD-induced delayed skin reaction was younger than that (over 70 years) in the C. albicans-induced reaction.

To study the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis, the cross reactivity between anti-DNA antibody and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) was investigated. Monoclonal anti-DNA antibodies were obtained from hybridomas by the fusion of MRL/lpr/lpr splenocytes with murine myeloma cells. Some of these monoclonal anti-DNA antibodies showed cross reactivity with GAGs, such as hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate. To elucidate the mechanism of cross reactivity, inhibition assays with propanol and polyethylenimine (PEI), a cationic agent, were carried out. Increase of the concentration of PEI (0.6-2.0% vol/vol) resulted in a dose dependent decrease in the binding ability of anti-DNA antibody to GAGs. Propanol, an organic reagent which disrupts the van der Waals bonds between epitopes and paratopes, showed little inhibitory effect on the binding activity of monoclonal anti-DNA antibody to GAGs. These results indicate that the binding of anti-DNA antibody to GAGs is due to a charge interaction rather than van der Waals forces. Anti-DNA antibody which can react with GAGs in the glomerular basement membrane seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis.

We investigated the antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of lymphocytes and monocytes toward human O+ red cells coated with anti-D antibody using a 51Cr release assay. Lysis of sensitized red cells by lymphocytes occurred rapidly, but monocyte-mediated lysis occurred slowly. This difference might be due to postphagocytic 51Cr release by monocytes. ADCC of lymphocytes increased in proportion to the effector cell number, but large amounts of antibodies were required. In contrast, ADCC of monocytes was independent of the effector/target ratio and very small amounts of antibodies could produce red cell lysis. Large amounts of fluid phase IgG were required to inhibit the lymphocyte ADCC, whereas the monocyte ADCC was markedly inhibited by small amounts of IgG. Monocyte-mediated lysis was completely inhibited by the addition of 10% human AB serum, but lymphocyte-mediated lysis was only slightly inhibited. Purified IgG1 and IgG3 were much more inhibitory to the lysis by both effectors than IgG2 and IgG4 (IgG2 greater than IgG4). Erythrophagocytosis also was inhibited by IgG1 and IgG3. These studies demonstrate that lymphocytes as well as monocytes can cause the lysis of antibody sensitized red cells, and IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses are more important than IgG2 and IgG4 in causing lysis of anti-D coated red cells.

Polyamines are closely related to many aspects of cell growth. Since increased amounts of polyamines in the urine of human cancer patients were reported in 1971, polyamines have been studied from the standpoint of tumor markers. In this study, polyamines in erythrocytes, plasma and urine were determined in 42 controls and 105 patients with gynecologic malignant tumors. The changes in polyamine levels were investigated before and after treatment. With advances in the stage of uterine cervical cancer, the frequency of abnormal levels of polyamines (concentrations greater than two standard deviations above the mean control level) became greater, and reached nearly 80% in recurrent and ovarian cancer. In the early stage of cancer, the diagnostic value was low. Comparison with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was also performed. The polyamines lack specificity for malignant diseases, but they can be used to some extent as a tumor marker in the gynecologic field.

Under various conditions of culture and carcinogen treatment, the transformation of liver cells by 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-Me-DAB) was studied. Primary liver cell (PLC) cultures from adult male rats and co-cultures with PLCs of ARL-D8 cells of a liver epithelial-like clear cell line from adult female rats were treated with 0.24 mM 3'-Me-DAB for 6 days. Four of 8 carcinogen-treated PLC cultures contained cells with marker chromosomes, and 3 of the 8 cultures contained gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT)-positive cells. Three of 5 carcinogen-treated co-cultures contained cells with marker chromosomes, and 2 of the 5 co-cultures contained GGT-positive cells. Pure cultures of ARL-D8 cells were treated for 6 or 12 days with 3'-Me-DAB (0.24 mM)-containing-medium perfused through the liver of adult male rats in situ. In the 6-day treatment, none of 5 carcinogen-treated cultures showed chromosomal abnormality or cytochemically exhibited GGT activity. However, in the 12-day treatment, 2 of the 5 carcinogen-treated cultures contained cells with marker chromosomes, and 2 of the 5 cultures contained GGT-positive cells. None of the control cultures exhibited chromosomal abnormality or GGT-positive cells. In summary, transformation markers increased in ARL-D8 cells when they were co-cultured with PLCs.

Polyamines have a close relationship with rapid cell proliferation. We measured polyamine levels in amniotic fluid, maternal plasma and urine during normal pregnancy. Plasma putrescine, spermidine and spermine gradually increased in the third trimester and reached the highest concentration at the end of pregnancy. There was a significant correlation between the level of these polyamines and the level of plasma estradiol and progesterone. In urine, putrescine and spermine increased with the progress of gestation and reached the highest level during the 8th to 10th months of gestation. In amniotic fluid, putrescine and spermidine concentrations were significantly high in the first trimester and decreased in the other trimesters, whereas spermine showed no significant change. Polyamine concentrations in maternal plasma and urine appear to reflect not only fetal metabolic changes but also the metabolic changes of the pregnant women, and to be influenced by several hormones which increase during pregnancy. Polyamines in amniotic fluid mainly reflect activated fetal metabolism and may be useful as biochemical indicators of fetal growth.

We examined the activity of peripheral blood monocytes in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) using an in vitro assay of monocyte-macrophage interaction with erythrocytes and an antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) assay. The monocytes of AIHA patients in the hemolyzing period phagocytized autologous sensitized red cells and anti-D coated red cells more avidly than normal control monocytes. There was no significant relationship between phagocytic activity and ADCC activity. The activated monocytes phagocytized autologous sensitized red cells, but had no ADCC activity in a short time 51Cr release assay. Phagocytic activity of the patients' monocytes against autologous erythrocytes rapidly decreased after treatment with prednisolone even though the red cell sensitization with antibody remained almost the same as during the hemolyzing period. We postulated that the activation of monocytes in AIHA was due to the "arming" effect of anti-erythrocyte antibody, but we think that other mechanisms may also be involved in the activation of monocytes.

The effect of a lymphotoxin-like substance, OH-1, released by human acute lymphatic leukemia BALL-1 cells, on metastatic tumor proliferation was investigated in BDF1 mice with transplanted Lewis lung carcinoma cells. Mitomycin-C, cyclophosphamide and adriamycin were used as control agents. The effect of OH-1 on metastases, as determined by comparison of the numbers of pulmonary nodules and by 3H-thymidine labeling indices, was significant. Also, investigation of the effect of OH-1 on host immunity showed that, while the control preparations had considerable side effects, immunodepression and emaciation were not noted with OH-1. As to direct cytotoxicity, OH-1 is principally cytostatic in activity and effects cell progression delay in both the G1 and G2 phases.

The distribution of ferritin has been studied in many tissues, but has not yet been established on the cellular level. We investigated the cellular distribution of ferritin in the liver, spleen and bone marrow using the immunoperoxidase method, and compared it with that of hemosiderin. We also examined changes in the distribution of these proteins after phlebotomy and iron overload. In normal rats, ferritin was seen in centrilobular hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, macrophages in the red and white pulp of the spleen and central macrophages in bone marrow. Hemosiderin was observed almost exclusively in the red pulp and partly in tangible body macrophages of the white pulp. After phlebotomy, neither ferritin nor hemosiderin were detectable in these cells except for ferritin-positive cells in the white pulp, which showed little change after either phlebotomy or iron overload. In iron overloaded rats, both ferritin and hemosiderin increased in hepatocytes and reticulo-endothelial (RE) cells. Ferritin-positive cells in the liver were mainly located in the periportal area. These results indicated that hepatocytes and RE cells except for those in the white pulp may play an important role in iron storage, and that ferritin-positive cells in the white pulp may have a function other than iron reserve. They also suggested that the zonal distribution of ferritin-positive hepatocytes may be due to microcirculation in the hepatic lobules.

Co-cultivation of human thymus and spleen lymphocytes, which were obtained from 26-week and 27-week fetuses, with a lethally-irradiated human cord T-cell line harboring human T-cell leukemia virus type Ι(HTLV-Ι) resultes in the establishment of T-cell lines positive for adult T-cell leukemia-associated antigens and producing HTLV-Ι. These cell lines had the phenotype of a helper/inducer subset of peripheral T-cells as evidenced by the reactivity with monoclonal antibodies to human T-cells.

The extent of homology between two protein fractions was compared by simple electrophoretic analysis. Nuclear proteins of several rodent cells of different origins were fractionated into acid-soluble and acid-insoluble fractions. The two protein fractions were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in separate gel systems, and protein bands with identical mobilities were sought either in all possible combinational pairs of cell types or in all cell types. The paired and overall homology indices calculated from these data and chi-square testing of the results indicated that acid-soluble nuclear nonhistone proteins are more homologous than acid-insoluble nuclear proteins. Several factors which might have affected the results were discussed.

The anti-tumor effect of immunization with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Tbc) and Tuberculin (PPD)-coupled syngeneic tumor cells was examined in vivo. Three tumor cell lines were employed. Immunization of Tbc-primed BALB/c mice with PPD-coupled syngeneic Meth-A tumor cells displayed a potent anti-tumor effect on viable Meth-A cells inoculated subcutaneously. Neither PPD-coupled LLC (Lewis Lung Carcinoma) cells nor sonicated PPD-coupled Meth-A cells were capable of immunizing these mice. PPD-coupled syngeneic whole tumor cells were indispensable for induction of this tumor-specific resistance. Immunization of Tbc-primed C3H/He mice with PPD-coupled syngeneic MH134 tumor cells did not elicit anti-tumor activity against MH134, but additional pretreatment of mice with cyclophosphamide brought on an anti-tumor effect. Antimetastatic reactivity was investigated in C57BL/6 mice bearing LLC, with a reduction in metastases noted. This antimetastatic effect was observed even when the mice were immunized with PPD-coupled LLC cells three days after removal of the initial tumor. Immunization with Tbc and PPD-coupled Meth-A cells together with intraperitoneal administration of murine or rat interleukin 2 (IL 2) further augmented anti-Meth-A resistance. Murine IL 2 further inhibited tumor growth during the early stage, while rat IL 2 showed an anti-tumor effect throughout the course of tumor growth.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was purified from human spinal cord and cerebral white matter. GFAP was localized by an immuno-peroxidase method in normal adult and fetal human brains, rat brains, and 152 central nervous system (CNS) tumors. GFAP was found in reactive and normal astrocytes, immature cells of fetal brain at the 18th to 21st gestational weeks, and normal rat astrocytes. This GFAP staining was quite specific for glial tumors, including astrocytomas, glioblastomas, astroblastomas, and ependymomas. GFAP-positive cells were also found in oligodendrogliomas and choroid plexus papillomas, and they were interpreted as being astroglial or ependymal differentiations. Stromal cells in cerebellar hemangioblastomas were negative. However, engulfed astrocytes were found at the periphery of such tumors and often adjacent to the proliferate blood vessels. In meningiomas, neurinomas, metastatic carcinomas, pituitary adenomas and other non-glial tumors, GFAP-positive cells were not identified.

Basophil histamine release induced by allergens (house dust and Candida albicans) and anti-IgE was examined in 31 patients with bronchial asthma in relation to patient age, age at onset of the disease and serum IgE levels. Basophils from patients under 40 years of age generally released a significantly large amount of histamine by stimulation with house dust and anti-IgE. On the other hand, histamine release from patients over 41 years of age was generally not marked when the cells were incubated with house dust and anti-IgE, although, in some cases, the release induced by C. albicans was fairly marked. Basophils from patients under 30 years of age at onset were reactive to house dust and anti-IgE, while the cells from patients over 41 years of age at onset tended to be reactive only to C. albicans. Basophils from patients with low serum IgE levels were less reactive than the cells from patients with high levels of IgE to house dust and anti-IgE. C. albicans-induced release of histamine did not correlate with serum IgE levels.

Red blood cell and plasma polyamines in umbilical and maternal blood at delivery were measured using high performance liquid chromatography. The concentration of each polyamine in red blood cells and plasma of umbilical blood was significantly higher than in maternal blood. Spermidine and spermine concentrations in fetal red blood cells decreased markedly with the progress of pregnancy. In addition, younger red blood cells contained more polyamines than older cells. Red blood cell polyamines are closely associated with the cell membrane. Plasma polyamine in umbilical blood reflect active fetal metabolism, whereas red blood cell polyamines mainly reflect alterations in erythropoiesis in bone marrow and may indicate the proliferation of the bone marrow.

A 76-year old farmer ingested 100 g of chlorphenamidine (Galectron), a plant acaricle, for the purpose of suicide. Gastric lavage was performed and the patient survived. Methemoglobinemia was noted after emergency treatment and was still present at 20 hours after ingestion of the compound. The patient was lethargic for at least 50 hours. Moderate neutrophilic leukocytosis and kidney injury were observed.