The Japanese journal of experimental medicine最新文献

The effects of heating on the morphology and cell cycle of ascites hepatoma AH-100B cells were investigated. Five rats with AH-100B ascites cells were warmed in a water bath at 39 degrees C, 41 degrees C, or 43 degrees C, respectively. After heating, changes in the morphology of tumor cells were observed every day over a 3-day period under a light microscope and changes in the nuclear DNA content were measured by microspectrophotometry. Morphologic changes in AH-100B cells, which included swelling and vacuolization of the cytoplasm and constriction, vacuolization and destruction of nuclei, were observed. Multinucleated giant cells were characteristically observed in the cells from rats heated to 43 degrees C. In the case of rats heated to 43 degrees C, an increase was seen in the number of cells with a DNA content of 8C to 10C, and some of the cells exhibited polyploidy with a DNA content greater than 10C. It appears that one of the mechanisms of the antitumor effect of hyperthermia in vivo involves changes in the cell cycle of cancer cells and the accumulation of polyploid cells.

The present investigation confirms the possibility that the etiological agent of enterically-transmitted non-A, non-B (ET-NANB) hepatitis (type E hepatitis), multiplied in hepatocytes, is excreted into the feces via bile. The fecal extract was inoculated into 7 cynomolgus monkeys. Bile juice was collected directly from the gallbladder by needle puncture after abdominal operation 3 to 6 times during the experimental course. All 7 monkeys developed elevated serum aminotransferases, which began gradually approximately 2 weeks postinoculation and reached a peak at 3 to 5 weeks. In parallel with this elevation, both in time and magnitude, necroinflammation was observed in the livers. The virus-like particles (VLPs) were found in the bile juice of all 7 monkeys and the serial occurrence of VLPs was typified as follows: the VLPs were negative on day 7, appeared on day 10 after inoculation, and were present until the 3rd week when the subjects were sacrificed. While the particles were individually dispersed on day 10, they started to exhibit spontaneous aggregation on and after week 2. Also, empty particles were very rare at first, but increased in ratio compared to full ones over time. Thus, the putative causative virus of ET-NANB hepatitis was demonstrated to be excreted through bile. The spontaneous aggregation of VLPs might be due to the specific antibody secreted into the bile juice and was closely correlated with hepatitis activity. The increase in empty particles might indicate an increase in disorganized assembly of the nucleic acid and protein during virus proliferation.

We reported previously that footpad reaction (FPR) of BALB/c mice against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was suppressed by the percutaneal administration of 12-tetradecanoyl 13-acetate (TPA), a tumor promoter, following that of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), a tumor initiator. This effect could be transferred with Thy-1(+) and Lyt-2(+) spleen cells. These findings suggested that this effect was caused by induction of the antigen nonspecific T-suppressor cells and that the process of the induction consisted of two steps. In the present report, we studied the cells related to the first step of this process. The spleen cells from the donor mice on which 400 nmol of DMBA was painted were transferred to the recipient mice which had been immunized 1 hr before the transfer. Then, 8 nmol of TPA was painted on the recipient mice every day for a week. Nine days after the transfer, FR against SRBC was measured. FPR in the recipient mice was suppressed compared to the control, showing that the effect of DMBA can be transferred with the spleen cells. The results of the treatment of the cells to be transferred with monoclonal antibodies and complement show that the cells which is responsible for the transfer of the effect are Mac-1(+), Thy-1(-), Lyt-2(-) and Ia(-). Also the effect of DMBA could be transferred with peritoneal macrophages from the donor mice on which DMBA was painted and anti Ia antibody treatment of the macrophages did not abrogate the effect of transfer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The effect of serum fractions precipitated by a saturated ammonium sulfate solution on viability of Schistosoma japonicum schistosomula was investigated. Axenized cercariae were incubated for 10 days at 37 degrees C in NCTC 109 supplemented with the 34%, 40%, 50%, 62% and 68% fractions of human or rabbit serum in an equivalent concentration to 10% serum. Only larvae cultured in media with the 68% fraction of human or rabbit serum retained the transparent feature and active motility, while the larvae cultured in other media became opaque and immotile. This was also true in media with human serum albumin or fatty acid-free human serum albumin at concentrations of 1.0 and 10.0 mg/ml of NCTC 109. On 10-day culture a part of larvae in the medium with the 68% fraction of human serum began to feed on red blood cells and the intestine was nearly closed by 21 days. These results suggest that serum fraction of 68% ammonium sulfate consisting of albumin is an important constituent in supporting the further growth of schistosomula in vitro.

The expression of Forssman glycolipid antigen in human gastric cancers was investigated by thin-layer chromatogram immunostaining of glycolipid fractions. Incompatible blood group A antigen, Le(x) and Le(y) antigen were also studied in comparison with Forssman antigen. Forssman glycolipid as the pentaglycosylceramide was demonstrated in nine out of 12 gastric cancers, and in three out of 10 adjacent uninvolved tissues. In most cases the content of Forssman glycolipid was increased in the cancers compared with that in the uninvolved counterparts. Forssman pentaglycosylceramide was also detected in some normal gastric mucosae (two out of four), and in a fetal gastrointestinal tract tissue. In immunohistochemical examination of gastric cancer tissues, sialidase treatment revealed a positive staining with anti-Forssman antibody. Some cancer tissues from patients with blood group O were found to contain blood group A-active glycolipids, which could be distinguished from Forssman glycolipid by thin-layer chromatogram immunostaining. The incidence of incompatible A-active glycolipids was two out of 10 cancers from patients with blood group O or B. Le(x)- and Le(y)-active glycolipids were detected in most of the preparations and were not accumulated consistently in the cancers.

A murine monoclonal antibody designated 1G12 has been produced by immunizing mice with A549 human lung adenocarcinoma. Using radiolabeled monoclonal antibody 1G12, a sensitive radioimmunoassay to detect 1G12 antigen has been developed. The antigen was detected on the surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). A study was performed to examine the frequency of distribution of this antigen on the surface of PBMC from healthy donors and patients with cancer. An antigen level of above 30 units per 1 x 10(6) PBMC was considered positive. None of 41 healthy donors (0%) and 16 of 96 patients (16.7%) with benign diseases of the lung, ovary, and uterus were positive. In contrast, 27 of 41 patients (65.8%) with lung cancer, 14 of 18 patients (77.8%) with ovarian cancer, and 16 of 27 patients (59.2%) with uterine cervical cancer had elevated levels of 1G12 antigen. When patients were grouped by stages of cancer, PBMC from patients in relatively early stages (stages I and II) also gave positive results, i.e., 9 of 17 patients (59.2%) with lung cancer, 6 of 10 patients (60%) with ovarian cancer, and 11 of 22 patients (50%) with uterine cervical cancer of these stages were positive. These results suggest that the detection of 1G12 antigen on PBMC of patients may be useful for early diagnosis of cancers.

We have analyzed 53 varicella-zoster virus (VZV) strains isolated in Japan for the presence of a PstI cleavage site in a middle portion of the long unique region of VZV genome. About 25% of the strains examined did not have this PstI cleavage site, although the majority of strains retained this site. For several VZV strains lacking this PstI cleavage site, we sequenced a recombinant DNA-derived short segment containing the mutation. In all strains analyzed, we identified a base replacement from A to G within the PstI recognition sequence. Because no wild-type VZV strain carrying this mutation has been found so far in other countries, it is very likely that the mutation once occurred in the past and has been conserved in some strains in Japan. We have concluded that the PstI-site-less mutation is reliable marker for discrimination of VZV strains in Japan.

Changes in serum lipids and lipoproteins and progression of atherosclerosis with age were examined in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits with or without treatment with sulfatide. The injection of sulfatide solution caused a reduction of serum triacylglycerols for five months including the period of treatment, but afterwards, failed to lower the level of total cholesterol, triacylglycerols and phospholipids, and to suppress the progression of atherosclerosis. Concentrations of LDL as a major serum lipoprotein in WHHL rabbits with or without the treatment with sulfatide were found to be about 64-fold those of normal rabbits by immunological assay using anti-LDL antiserum, whereas the contents of total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and phospholipids in WHHL rabbit sera were found to be about 10-fold those of normal rabbits. All WHHL rabbits with or without the treatment with sulfatide contained very small amounts of HDL. Types of apoproteins of isolated LDL and VLDL fractions suggested that the former seemed to be derived from VLDL remnant, and the latter to be derived from chylomicron remnant. It was noted that all WHHL rabbit sera had a significant increased amount of lysophosphatidylcholine, and that the fatty acid composition of total serum lipids had almost no change except for slight decrease in arachidonic acid with age. Pathological examination showed that severe atherosclerotic lesions were not so different between WHHL rabbits with or without treatment with sulfatide at age over 22 months.