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125I-labeled insulin binding to peripheral human erythrocytes was studied in patients with chronic liver disease. The maximum specific 125I-labeled insulin binding was 12.10 +/- 1.13 %/4 x 10(9) cells (mean +/- SD, n = 10) in normal subjects, and significantly higher in cirrhotic patients (15.32 +/- 1.73 %, n = 11, P less than 0.01) but not in patients with acute and chronic hepatitis (11.44 +/- 2.10 %, n = 3 and 13.2 +/- 1.87 %, n = 7 respectively). The complication of diabetes mellitus significantly increased (P less than 0.05) the maximum insulin binding in chronic hepatitis. Scatchard analysis and average affinity analysis of the binding data suggest that increased insulin binding in cirrhotic patients is due to an increase in the number of insulin binding sites per erythrocytes. The complication of diabetes in chronic liver diseases results in an increase in affinity of insulin binding sites.

The distribution of 2,4-dinitrophenyl (DNP) groups in the draining lymph nodes of guinea pigs 12 h after painting the skin with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was examined by a peroxidase labelled antibody method using antibody against DNP groups. DNP groups were detected on cells that were found mainly in the subcapsular sinus of the lymph nodes. Electron microscopic examination showed DNP groups distributed on the surface of lymphocytes. The significance of these findings is discussed.

The integrated proviral DNA of avian sarcoma virus (ASV) in host cell chromosomes has been isolated and stored in saline sodium citrate (SSC) solution or in 70% ethanol at 4 degrees C in a refrigerator over 4 years. This DNA was assayed by transfection of chick embryo cells(CEC). The biological activity of cellular transformation by the stored DNA was compared with that of a fresh isolate of the proviral DNA. The efficiency of the transfection by each DNA was almost the same.

Drug effects were studied on anaphylactic histamine release from rat mast cells sensitized in vitro with mouse IgE antibody. When histamine release was elicited by adding Ca-++ at various times after antigen-stimulation of sensitized cells in Ca++-free medium, the drugs to be tested were added shortly before each Ca++ addition. Quercetin was effective only when added before or immediately after antigen. Theophylline and disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) were active irrespective of the time interval between antigen and Ca++ addition. Verapamil was more effective when added before or simultaneously with antigen than when added later. When tested in the two-stage experiments, quercetin showed inhibition only in Stage 1 and verapamil was inhibitive primarily in Stage 1, while theophylline and DSCG wee only inhibitive in Stage 2. It seems that quercetin selectively and verapamil primarily act to block calcium-gate opening resulting from antigen-antibody interaction on the mast cell membrane, while theophylline and DSCG selectively inhibit the passage of calcium through open calcium channels.

The antimycotic action of 1, 4-bis-(m, m'-amidinophenoxymethyl)-cyclohexane dilactate (MAC), a synthetic diamidine compound, on Candida albicans was studied. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 3.31 to 6.25 micrograms/ml against both standard and clinically isolated strains. MAC was fungistatic at MIC and weakly fungicidal at the concentration of 100 micrograms/ml. MAC did not affect the cell wall or cause cell lysis. Intracellular constituents, such as 260 nm and 280 nm absorbing materials, were released from the cells by treatment with MAC indicating that MAC affected membrane permeability. The release of 260 nm absorbing material was inhibited by the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+. Acidic phospholipids such as cardiolipin and phosphatidylglycerol inhibited the anti-Candida activity of MAC, but sterols and lecithin were not inhibitory, indicating that MAC interacted with acidic phospholipids of the cell membrane. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy showed that MAC caused aggregation of membrane particles and patch formation on the P face, which may indicate that MAC is a membrane disrupting agent. It appeared that MAC affected C. albicans at the cell membrane by interacting with acidic phospholipids and caused disorganization of the membrane structure resulting in the release of intracellular constituents without lysis.

Simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA was microinjected into cultured mammalian cells by means of electrophoresis (iontophoresis). Successful transfer of DNA into cells was confirmed by detecting SV40 T antigen using the indirect immunofluorescent technique.

To investigate cellular interactions between human T and B lymphocytes in various diseases, we established a technique to prove terminal differentiation of B lymphocytes into immunoglobulin synthesizing and secreting cells. We also established a double antibody radioimmunoassay to measure the amount of IgG, IgA and IgM synthesized and secreted in culture supernatants. Purified immunoglobulins were obtained from sera of patients with myeloma or macroglobulinemia. The peripheral blood lymphocytes from 25 normal individuals had the geometric mean synthetic rates of 1886 ng for IgG, 1607 ng for IgA and 1173 ng for IgM per 1 X 10(6) cells when cultured for nine days in the presence of pokeweed mitogen. The method is simple and sensitive, and is thought to be useful for examining human lymphocyte function in vitro.

Masugi nephritis was induced in rats by a single intravenous injection of rabbit anti-rat kidney serum, and studied with a scanning electron microscope. A characteristic finding was the presence of white cells, probably polymorphonuclear leukocytes, with many microspikes which penetrated through degenerated glomerular endothelial cells to be in direct contact with the glomerular basement membrane. This finding confirms the pathogenic role of leukocytes in glomerulonephritis induced by anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody.

Insulin and human erythrocyte cell membrane interactions were studied with respect to binding and dissociation. The per cent of specific binding of 125I-labeled insulin to erythrocytes was directly proportional to the cell concentration. The optimum pH for binding was 8.1. The initial binding rate was directly proportional to, and the steady state insulin binding was reversely proportional to, the incubation temperature. The per cent of specific binding of 125I-labeled insulin was 12.10 +/- 1.13 per cent (mean +/- SD)/4 X 10(9) cells (n = 10) at 0.8 ng/ml insulin. Native insulin competed with 125I-labeled insulin for binding and showed almost complete inhibition at 10(4) ng/ml. The Scatchard plots were upward concave. Maximum binding capacity was 230 binding sites per cell. The average affinity constant decreased as the per cent of fractional occupancy increased. Affinity constants for the empty and filled sites were 1.49 and 0.16 X 10(8) M-1 respectively. Bound insulin was displaced by native insulin. The dissociation rate by "dilution + native insulin" was higher than that by "dilution only". The dissociation rate was accelerated even by the physiological concentration of insulin and maximum at 100 ng/ml. It is concluded that human erythrocytes have insulin binding sites which are indistinguishable from insulin receptors on the target tissues for insulin.

A permeable cell system has been developed by treatment with saponin for studying in vitro replication of DNA and chromatin. DNA replication of simian virus 40 nucleoprotein complexes (SV40 chromatin) in saponin-treated permeable cells was found to be more efficient than that in digitonin-treated permeable cells. Autoradiography of the agarose-gel revealed that [alpha-32P]dCTP was incorporated into SV40 DNA I, II and replicating intermediates. The time course of the incorporation indicated complete replication of SV40 DNA and chromatin with a full number of nucleosomes. The saponin-treated permeable cell system will serve as a useful system for studying in vitro replication of DNA and chromatin in eukaryotic cells.

<p>A female patient who died of apparent postradiation sarcoma in the inguinal region after irradiating a metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the same site was reported. For approximately 20 months, the patient had received a total of 6,600 and 9,600 Roentgen to the right para-aortic and inguinal areas, respectively. About 10 years later, she developed a sarcoma, namely a malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Sputum cytology demonstrated numerous giant cells with bizarre nuclei; subsequent chest films also presented apparent metastatic tumor shadows. The cellular characteristics and also rather low incidence of detection of nonepithelial malignant tumor by sputum cytology were briefly discussed, and ways of enhancing cytodiagnostic accuracy were proposed.</p>

Using a direct immunofluorescent method, histological locations of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA and IgD of heavy chain, and kappa and lambda of light chain) and complement components (C3 and C4) were studied in 78 brain tumors, which included 24 astrocytomas, 6 metastatic tumors, 5 medulloblastomas, 4 malignant lymphomas, 15 meningiomas, 8 schwannomas, 8 pituitary adenomas, and 8 other miscellaneous brain tumors. IgG-positive cells were observed in the perivascular regions of astrocytomas, but were more marked in those of high grade, metastatic tumors and meningiomas. Malignant lymphomas demonstrated IgG and IgM-positive cells accompanied by either kappa of lambda light chains. C3 and C4 were much less evident in these tumors. Pituitary adenomas showed slight positive stains for both immunoglobulins and complement components on the blood vessel walls, Immune reactions against brain tumors were discussed including the clinical application of autologous lymphocyte infusion in malignant gliomas and combination chemotherapy in intracranial malignant lymphomas.

<p>The kinetics in tumor cells and various factors affecting the tumor accumulation of 67Ga-citrate and 201Tl-chloride were studied in vitro. 67Ga was taken up gradually by tumor cells and its excretion from the cells decreased with time. 201Tl was taken up rapidly by tumor cells. Its excretion was very rapid, indicating that the two nuclides had entirely different kinetics in tumor cells. The uptake of 201Tl by culture cells correlated with that of 42KCl and was inhibited by Ouabain. 201Tl was hardly taken up by nonviable tumor cells. These facts indicate that active transport involving Na-K ATPase is involved in the tumor accumulation of 201Tl. The uptake of 67Ga and 201Tl by tumor cells was not affected by the administration of anticancer agents. The uptake of 67Ga by tumor cells was dependent upon the concentration of transferrin in the medium, which apparently plays a role as one of the pathways of tumor accumulation of 67Ga.</p>

Effect of nicomol on high density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions, HDL2e and HDL3e, separated by electrophoresis.

Partial excess of chromosome 1 (q25-q32) was noted in malignant cells from all of 10 patients who had disorders such as non-African Burkitt's lymphoma, adult T-cell leukemia, myelofibrosis, malignant lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia or chronic myelocytic leukemia in blast crisis. The break points on chromosome 1 were at centromere, q12, q21, q23, q25 and q32. Variations in the specific region of the long arm of chromosome 1, q25-q32, were thought to be important in the evolution of malignant cell proliferation.

In order to get precise information about the movement of plasma membrane proteins in cap formation, cyto- and bio-chemical analyses were made of the plasma membranes from non-capped areas of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATCs) exposed to concanavalin A (Con A). Blebs formed by treatment with cytochalasin B (CB) of the non-capped areas of cells having a cap were isolated and used as the plasma membranes from non-capped areas (ConA-CB-bleb fraction). This bleb fraction was compared with a bleb fraction prepared from cells without ConA-treatment (CB-bleb fraction). Cytochemical analysis of ConA-CB-bleb fraction revealed a decreased in conA binding sites (ConA-BS) compared to the CB-bleb fraction. SDS polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis also revealed a decrease in the major components of ConA-BS of the ConA-CB-bleb fraction. The minor components of ConA-BS showed no distinct quantitative difference between the ConA-CB-bleb and CB-bleb fractions. NA+ K+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), 5' nucleotidase (5'ND) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) did not show any decrease in activity in the ConA-CB-bleb fraction, but the activity of D+-stimulated phosphatase (K-Pase) was decreased. The findings indicate that there are two types of plasma membrane glycoproteins in EATCs; one includes those participating in cap formation due to ConA, e.g. the major components of ConA-BS and K-Pase, and the other, those not participating in such cap formation, e.g. some minor components of ConA-BS, ATPase, 5'ND and gamma-GTP, which keep their places without moving.

A 63-year-old man developed generalized lymphadenopathy with skin rashes, fever, hepatomegaly and polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, twice, in February 1972 and in June 1979, after taking allopurinol for gout. Cervical lymph node biopsy, performed each time, showed the presence of immunoblasts and plasma cells, effaced nodal structure with involvement of the pericapsular tissue, rich vascularity and numerous mitoses, indicative of angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (Frizzera, Moran and Rappaport). The existence of hypersensitivity to drugs, in particular, allopurinol in certain patients was emphasized, and induction of immunoblastic lymphadenopathy with various other therapeutic agents was briefly discussed.

In order to investigate the immunological responsiveness of tumor-bearing hosts to tumor cells, splenic suppressor cells from Ehrlich tumor-bearing mice that inhibited anti-tumor effector cell activity were characterized. In vitro cell-mediated cytoxicity and cytostasis assays were performed to test for the existence of anti-tumor immunity. suppressive activity assayed by cell mixture experiments became apparent with decline of anti-tumor immunity and progressive tumor growth. The cells mediating the suppression were found to be nylon wool column adherent T cells and inhibited T cell dependent cytotoxicity rather than non-T cell dependent cytostasis. In vivo cell transfer experiments demonstrated that intravenous injection of suppressor cells to a host already inoculated with tumor cells mixed with antitumor effector cells resulted in significant enhancement of tumor growth. This inhibition of in vivo neutralization assay be suppressor cells was found in not only allogeneic but also syngeneic tumor system. Splenectomy at the time of tumor resection endowed the host with stronger resistance against subsequent reinoculated tumor than sham-splenectomy did, reflected by prolonged survival times. These results suggest that splenectomy combined with surgical removal of the tumor is a useful treatment of clinical malignancies.

Marked IgE-mediated histamine release from rat mast cells sensitized in vitro with mouse antiserum occurs in the presence of added Ca++ and phosphatidylserine (PS), although a considerable degree of antigen-induced histamine release which may utilize intracellular or cell-bound calcium is also observed. The decay in the responsiveness to Ca++ of the sensitized cells stimulated by antigen in Ca++-free medium in the presence of PS is relatively slow, and maximum release is produced by Ca++ added 1 min after antigen. Histamine release also occurs when Ca++ is added after PS in the absence of antigen to the sensitized cells suspended in Ca++-free medium. Unlike the antigen-induced release, the intensity of this non-antigen-induced release varies depending on both mast-cell and antiserum pools. A heat-labile factor(s), which is different from antigen-specific IgE antibody and is also contained in normal mouse serum, is involved in this reaction. In the antigen-nondependent (PS + Ca++)-induced release, no decay in the responsiveness to Ca++ is observed after PS addition. Both the antigen-induced and non-antigen-induced release are completed fairly rapidly and are dependent of temperature, pH and energy.

Chromosome analysis was performed on cells from a patient of null cell lymphoma, well-differentiated type. A 14q12 translocation was observed in all the banded cells. In addition, there were multiple chromosome abnormalities. This case will be useful in considering the significance of the 14q1(1-3) translocation in malignant lymphoma disease.