Serial changes of plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor activity in acute myocardial infarction: difference between thrombolytic therapy and direct coronary angioplasty

The fibrinolytic system is impaired in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The primary regulatory element of fibrinolytic activity is plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI). There are no reports, however, on the serial changes of PAI activity after thrombolysis or coronary angioplasty in patients with AMI undergoing emergency coronary angiography. This study was designed to examine the difference in the change of fibrinolytic activity between patients with AMI who underwent thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (rTPA) and those who underwent direct percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA). We measured the serial changes of PAI activity and tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) antigen after rTPA therapy or direct PTCA. Twenty-two patients received emergency coronary angiography and were treated with rTPA intravenously. Twenty patients underwent direct PTCA. Plasma PAI activity levels were increased on admission and further increased within 24 hours in patients treated with rTPA and in those treated with direct PTCA. In the thrombolysis group, there were two peaks in plasma PAI activity levels (IU/ml) at 4 hours (27.0 +/- 2.9) and at 16 hours (25.6 +/- 2.5) after the initiation of rTPA infusion. However, in the direct PTCA group, there was one peak of PAI activity (IU/ml) at 16 hours (23.9 +/- 2.7) after the initiation of direct PTCA. In conclusion, the PAI activity has two peaks in the thrombolysis group and one peak in the direct PTCA group.

Establishment and characterization of a novel human immature megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line, M-MOK, dependent on fibroblasts for its viability

A novel fibroblast-dependent human immature megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line (M-MOK) was established from the bone marrow of a girl with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, and its growth was determined to be completely dependent on the presence of human embryonic lung-derived fibroblasts, HEL-O. Adhesive interaction between M-MOK and HEL-O was crucial for viability; once HEL-O was removed from the culture, mortality was total within a few days. On HEL-O cells, M-MOK could be passaged for more than 2 years. With regard to surface marker profile, the established cells were positive for CD11a, CD13, CD18, CD33, CD34, CD41b, CD42b, CD54, and c-kit antigens, but negative for HLA class II antigen and glycophorin. Histochemically, the cells were negative for myeloperoxidase, nonspecific esterase, and naphthol ASD chloroacetate esterase staining. Electron-microscope examination revealed the cells to be negative for platelet peroxidase (PPO). After induction of differentiation by a phorbol ester, however, the cells were demonstrated to be positive for PPO with a morphological change to megakaryocytes. From these results, M-MOK was considered to represent an immature cell line of megakaryocyte lineage. Studies of the mechanisms sustaining the HEL-O-dependent continuous in vitro growth of M-MOK cells revealed the following results: (1) M-MOK could grow even when separated from HEL-O by a nucleopore membrane; (2) conditioned medium (CM) from HEL-O supported the growth of M-MOK for more than 1 month without feeder cells; (3) the growth of M-MOK on HEL-O or CM supplement was nearly entirely inhibited by anti-GM-CSF (1 microgram/mL); (4) GM-CSF mRNA was detected in HEL-O cells; and (5) HEL-O was found to secrete GM-CSF into the culture medium. Taken together, the growth of M-MOK might therefore be driven by a soluble factor, that is, GM-CSF secreted from HEL-O cells. The presence of HEL-O, however, inhibited anti-GM-CSF-induced M-MOK death. Co-culture of M-MOK and HEL-O cells thus offers a useful experimental model for analysis of interactions between hematopoietic stem cells and stromal cells.

Cloning, subcellular localization and expression of CHL1, a subunit of magnesium-chelatase in soybean

Mg-insertion is the first committed step in chlorophyll synthesis and is catalyzed by Mg-chelatase. In photosynthetic bacteria, bchI gene product was suggested to be a subunit of Mg-chelatase. We isolated a bchI homolog from a soybean cDNA library and designated it as chlI. CHLI consisted of 421 amino acid residues and the sequence exhibited a high similarity to other BchI homologs. CHLI contained an ATP-binding motif found in other BchI homologs. CHLI was localized in the soluble fraction in soybean chloroplasts, suggesting that it was a stromal subunit of Mg-chelatase. chlI mRNA in cell culture (SB-P) of soybean was reversibly induced by light.

[Epilepsia partialis continua with an epileptic focus demonstrated by PET and unique MRI findings: report of a case]

We reported a 31-year-old woman with epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) whose epileptic focus was delineated by PET. Neurologic examination revealed EPC in the face around the corner of her mouth, her thumb and forefinger on the left, slight exaggeration in the left biceps brachii reflex, and the digiti quiniti sign on the left. Laboratory tests showed pancytopenia, positive anti-nuclear and anti-DNA antibodies and decreased levels of serum complements, being consistent with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Electroencephalogram showed paroxysmal discharges over the right frontoparietal region. PET with 2-18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D glucose (FDG) clearly demonstrated a hypermetabolic area in the right frontoparietal cortex. T2-weighted images in MRI revealed reversible high signal intensity area in the right insula, postcentral gyrus and angular gyrus, while there were no abnormal findings in T1-weighted images with or without Gd-DTPA. There are only a few reports of EPC with the epileptic focus delineated by PET. Since a focal increase in glucose metabolism observed in them as well as in the present patient is a consistent indicator of the epileptic focus, the PET study is likely to provide significant information available not only for the diagnosis but also for the treatment of the condition. Finally, to our knowledge, this is the first patient with SLE presenting EPC. It is important to realize that vasculopathy associated with SLE may cause EPC and brain lesions with reversible high signal intensities shown by MRI.

Structural characteristic of splenic sinuses in idiopathic portal hypertension

Splenic sinuses in idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH; 8 patients), liver cirrhosis (LC; 14 patients) and in regenerating autotransplanted spleens from 25 rats were compared with each other by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and immunohistochemistry using antibodies against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Spleens obtained from six patients with gastric carcinoma and from five untreated adult rats were examined as controls. SEM of the sinuses showed that in IPH endothelial cells became irregular in shape, and the interendothelial slits of sinuses were irregularly enlarged. Sinus endothelial processes traversing the sinusal lumen were also found. The same changes were observed in the proliferating sinuses during regeneration of splenic tissue after autotransplantation in rats, but disappeared when the regeneration was completed. Irregular endothelial cells were few in LC. PCNA-positive sinus endothelial cells were increased in number in IPH as compared with those in LC; the mean number of PCNA-positive ones per cm2 was 45.4 in IPH and 8.2 in LC. It was suggested that, from SEM observation of sinus endothelial cells and counting PCNA-positive sinus endothelial cells, the sinuses of the spleen in IPH consist of proliferating endothelial cells or are in the state of increased proliferation. In conclusion, splenomegaly in IPH was presumed to be caused by proliferation of sinus endothelial cells, and by the increased splenic blood flow in the irregularly widened interendothelial slits of the sinuses.

Fate of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 provirus in infected cells: a role for vpr

We investigated the fate of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viral DNA in infected peripheral blood lymphocytes and immortalized T-cell lines by using a replication-defective HIV-1. We observed that integrated HIV-1 DNA and viral gene expression decrease over time. A frameshift mutation in vpr resulted in maintenance of the HIV-1 provirus and stable persistence of viral expression. Transfection of vpr together with the neomycin resistance gene in the absence of other viral genes decreased the formation of geneticin-resistant colonies, indicating either a cytotoxic or a cytostatic effect upon cells. Therefore, maintenance of HIV-1 infection within an infected proliferating population is due to two competing processes, the rate of viral spread and the degree of cell growth inhibition and/or death induced by Vpr.

Production of trehalose phosphorylase by Catellatospora ferruginea

A range of microorganisms was screened for new and high producer strains of trehalose phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.64). Trehalose phosphorylase activity was found in cells of actinomyctes of the genera Actinomadura, Amycolata, Catellatospora, Kineosporia, and Nocardia. Among them, Catellatospora ferruginea showed the highest enzyme activity. Trehalose phosphorylase from C. ferruginea was able to catalyse both the phosphorolysis of trehalose into beta-glucose 1-phosphate and D-glucose and the synthesis of trehalose from beta-glucose 1-phosphate and D-glucose.

Cross-bridge activation rate constant determined from systolic time intervals in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Cardiac adrenergic activity was investigated in 38 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who were not receiving cardiovascular agents using a new index of the adrenergic tone of the working left ventricular (LV) myocardium and using the heart rate to represent sinus node adrenergic tone. According to the active cross-bridge model employed in this study, the cross-bridge activation rate constant (Ka) of the LV myocardium, corresponding to the rate constant for the binding of Ca2+ to troponin C, can be approximately expressed as Ka = 3/electromechanical systole (sec-1). The Ka value corrected for heart rate (Kac) remains nearly constant in normal individuals, but is increased without change of the heart rate by dobutamine infusion. Fifty patients who fulfilled the American Rheumatism Association criteria for SLE underwent echocardiography, as well as simultaneous recording of the electrocardiogram, phonocardiogram, and carotid pulse wave tracing. Kac was calculated from the interval between the onset of the QRS complex to the second heart sound (QS2 interval) and the heart rate (HR) as follows: Kac = 3/QS2 + 0.0249 (66-HR). The 38 SLE patients were divided into a normal Kac group (n = 26, 6.9 < Kac < 8.3 sec-1) and a high Kac group (n = 12, Kac > or = 8.3 sec-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Eosinophil penetration through cultured human airway epithelial cell layer

We investigated the mechanisms of eosinophil penetration and mannitol permeability through a multilayer of cultured human tracheal epithelial cells. Wells of tissue culture plates were separated into the upper and the lower chambers by the cultured epithelial cell layer. 51Cr-labeled eosinophils or 3H-mannitol were put into the lower chamber. To stimulate the epithelial cells, platelet-activating factor (PAF) and/or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) were added to the upper chamber. After 4 h of incubation, the eosinophil penetration rate was determined as a percentage of the total count added to the lower chamber. PMA significantly increased the eosinophil penetration rate in a dose-dependent manner (4.0% at 10(-5) M), compared with control (0.67%), whereas PAF itself did not. Activation of eosinophils by the addition of PAF to the lower chamber produced a significant increase in the eosinophil penetration (6.5% at 10(-6) M), which was inhibited by staurosporine. For determining the mannitol permeability, PMA, PAF, and/or supernatant from eosinophils were added to both upper and lower chambers and incubated for 30 min. PMA induced a significant increase in the mannitol permeability (175% of controls at 10(-5) M), whereas PAF itself did not alter it. Supernatant from eosinophils activated by PAF (10(-6) M) significantly increased the permeability (451% of controls), which was blocked by staurosporine. Supernatants from AA861 (a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor)-treated or phenidon (a phospholipase A2 inhibitor)-treated eosinophils activated by PAF failed to alter the supernatant-induced increases in mannitol permeability.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Breakdown of self-tolerance by intrathymic injection of a T-cell line inducing autoimmune gastritis in mice

Autoimmune gastritis (AIG) develops spontaneously in BALB/c mice thymectomized 3 days after birth (3d-Tx). We first confirmed our previous observations that CD4+ splenic T cells in AIG mice induced AIG in nu/nu mice, while those in normal mice suppressed the development of the disease. In addition, we found that a quantitative balance between these effector (Te) and suppressor (Ts) T cells determined either onset or prevention of the disease. Peripheralization of Ts seemed to begin around 3 days after birth, since the incidence of AIG in mice that underwent Tx 6 days after birth (6d-Tx) decreased markedly, compared with that of 3d-Tx mice; 12% in the former, while 79% in the latter. Notably, Ts existed in the 6d-Tx mice that escaped AIG. We next examined the target specificity of such Ts using syngeneic parietal cells known as autoantigens and two kinds of T-cell lines established from an AIG mouse; one is gastritis inducible in vivo, termed A-II, while another is not, named AC-II. Intrathymic injection of parietal cells into mice 3 days after birth followed by 6d-Tx completely prevented the development of AIG. In contrast, injection of irradiated A-II, but not AC-II cells resulted in AIG in 67% of the mice. No autoimmune oophoritis (AIO) was induced in female mice, implying that the breakdown of tolerance is organ specific. Taken together, peripheral tolerance for organ-specific autoantigens seems to be maintained by CD4+ Ts responding to Te, which induces the disease.

Establishment of a new human cell line, LI90, exhibiting characteristics of hepatic Ito (fat-storing) cells

BACKGROUND

Thus far, human hepatic Ito (fat-storing) cell lines have not been established. Therefore, functional characteristics of Ito cells have not been fully investigated.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We established a new cell line, LI90, that exhibited characteristics compatible with those of Ito cells from a human hepatic mesenchymal tumor. LI90 cells were examined with phase-contrast microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and cytogenetics, and their vitamin A-storing activity was analyzed. To obtain a marker specific for Ito cells for immunohistochemical analyses, we raised mAb against LI90 cells and clarified the molecular nature of the Ag recognized with the new Ab using an expression cloning approach.

RESULTS

LI90 cells showed polygonal shape and had well developed alpha-smooth muscle actin filaments in their cytoplasm. In an overconfluent culture condition, LI90 cells aggregated to form a typical hills-and-valleys structure, LI90 cells produced various connective tissue components, such as collagen types I, III, IV, V, and VI, laminin, and fibronectin. In culture media containing vitamin A, LI90 cells formed many fat droplets in their cytoplasm, and fluorescence characteristic of vitamin A was observed in the droplets. By immunizing mice with LI90 cells, three separate mAb specifically reacting with Ito cells in human liver sections were established, and the Ag recognized with all three Ab were identified as extracellular matrix tenascin.

CONCLUSIONS

The above-described morphologic and functional characteristics, including vitamin A-storage and biosynthesis of tenascin, are compatible with those of Ito cells. Therefore, LI90 cells will be useful for in vitro studies of functions of human Ito cells.

Light-enhanced gene expression of NADPH-protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase in cucumber

The NADPH-protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (NPR) is a well known enzyme catalyzing photoconversion of protochlorophyllide to chlorophyllide a and its expression is negatively regulated by light. We cloned a NPR cDNA from cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). The cDNA contained an open reading frame encoding 398 amino acids and amino acid sequence showed high similarity to those of NPR from other plants. Contrasting with most other plants, the levels of the NPR mRNA increased in etiolated cotyledons of cucumber when they were illuminated with continuous light, suggesting that the expression of this NPR gene was strongly related to chlorophyll synthesis in green leaves.

Hepatitis C virus core region: helper T cell epitopes recognized by BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice

In this study, we characterized the B cell and T cell responses to the hydrophilic portion of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein in two strains of mice and identified the respective antigen determinants. BALB/c (H-2d) and C57BL/6 (B6:H-2b) mice were immunized by a subcutaneous injection of recombinant HCV core protein together with Freund's complete adjuvant. The level of antibody production, as determined by ELISA, was consistently higher in BALB/c than in B6 mice. However, antibodies in sera from each strain bound to the N-terminal region of the core protein within amino acids 1 to 28 (MSTNPKPQRKIKRNTNRRPQDVKFPGGG), according to an experiment using non-overlapping peptides that covered the hydrophilic portion of HCV core protein. The T cell responses were also higher in BALB/c than in B6 mice with respect to the proliferative responses of the draining lymph node cells in vitro. By limiting dilution cultures of the draining lymph node cells in vitro repetitively stimulated with recombinant core protein, T cell clones were established from both strains of mice and characterized. The surface markers of these clones were Thy-1.2+, CD3+, TCR alpha beta+, CD4+ and CD8+. The proliferative responses were inhibited in the presence of anti-CD4 or anti-MHC class II monoclonal antibodies. The T cell lines in BALB/c mice recognized an epitope in HCV core at amino acids 72 to 91 (EGRAWAQPGYPWPLYGNEGL). The T cell lines in B6 mice recognized an epitope at amino acids 55 to 74 (RPQPRGRRQPIPKARQPEGR). Thus, mice with different MHC haplotypes recognized different non-overlapping T cell antigenic determinants of HCV core proteins.

[Intravesical instillation of pirarubicin for a patient with bladder cancer and chronic renal failure: a case report]

The patient was a 71-year-old woman. Two years ago right nephrectomy was performed by a general surgeon at the diagnosis of right renal cell carcinoma. However, the pathological report was transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the right renal pelvis, Grade II. She developed chronic renal failure and received hemodialysis once a week. The recurrence of bladder tumor was recognized and she was transferred to our hospital. Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-Bt) and right ureterectomy with a bladder cuff were performed. Also intravesical instillation of pirarubicin was done after the operation. No side effects or elevation of serum pirarubicin level were observed.

[The effects of low dose clonidine on perioperative hemodynamics and anesthetic requirements in elderly patients]

The effects of clonidine, alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist, on perioperative hemodynamics and anesthetic requirements were studied in randomized 20 elderly patients without hypertension (ASA I-II) scheduled for elective abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. The control group (n = 10) was premedicated with oral diazepam 0.1 mg.kg-1 90 min prior to arrival in the operating room. The clonidine group (n = 10), in addition, received clonidine approximately 2.5 micrograms.kg-1 orally at the same time. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl 2 micrograms.kg-1 and thiamylal 4 mg.kg-1. Vecuronium 0.15 mg.kg-1 following 0.01 mg.kg-1 priming dose was used to facilitate endotracheal intubation. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in 50% nitrous oxide-oxygen and supplementary fentanyl. Clonidine effectively attenuated the cardiovascular response associated with laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. Intraoperative variability of heart rate was significantly lower in patients receiving clonidine compared with controls. No significant differences in the requirements of either isoflurane or narcotic supplementation were observed between the two groups. We conclude that a low dose clonidine is a useful adjunct in the management of elderly patients without producing side effects.

Modulation of macrophage activity in tumor bearing mice by cytogenin

Cytogenin recovered the reduced mitogenic response to Con A of spleen cells of tumor bearing mice in vitro. The suppressive factor(s) was detected in adherent cell population in spleen cells. The reduced antitumor effector activity of spleen cells taken from tumor bearing mice was also augmented by the treatment with cytogenin in vitro. The effect of cytogenin was neutralized by the treatment with anti-Mac 1 serum. Administration of cytogenin inhibited the production of nitric oxide by macrophages which is known as one of suppressor factors. Results indicate that one possible action of cytogenin exhibiting antitumor activity in tumor bearing mice may be due to modulation of Mac 1 positive cells.

Protein kinase Byr2 is a target of Ras1 in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Conservation of the structure and function of Ras proteins has been observed in a variety of eukaryotic organisms. However, the nature of their downstream effectors appears to be quite divergent; adenylyl cyclase and a protein kinase Raf-1, which do not share any structural homology with each other, are effectors of Ras in the budding yeast and in higher organisms, respectively. We show here that a protein kinase Byr2, which has been known to act downstream of Ras1 in a mating pheromone signal transduction system of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, binds directly to Ras proteins in a GTP-dependent manner. The region of Byr2 responsible for the Ras binding was mapped by a gene deletion analysis to its N-terminal segment of 206 amino acid residues, which does not possess any significant homology with the other effectors of Ras. The affinity of the Byr2 N terminus for Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ras2 was determined by measuring its activity to competitively inhibit Ras-dependent adenylyl cyclase activity and found to be comparable with those of yeast adenylyl cyclase and human Raf-1, with a dissociation constant (Kd) of about 1 nM. Furthermore, Byr2 inhibited a Ras GTPase-activating activity of Ira2, a S. cerevisiae homologue of neurofibromin. These results indicate that Byr2 is an immediate downstream target of Ras1 in S. pombe.

Antitumor activity of cytogenin

Antitumor effect of cytogenin against IMC carcinoma in mice was investigated. Since cytogenin did not show cytotoxicity against tumor cells in vitro at 50 micrograms/ml and toxicity at more than 2,000 mg/kg i.p., it was considered that the antitumor effect is due to host mediated events. Cytogenin showed antitumor activity against a syngeneic murine transplantable tumor, IMC carcinoma by oral administration depending upon schedule of administration. The optimum effect was observed by the administration starting day 8 after transplantation of tumor cells, every other day for 10 times or every 2nd day for 7 times. The antitumor effect was reduced in immunosuppressed mice given anti-asialo GM1 serum and in athymic mice, but not in mice irradiated with X ray. The antitumor effector cells activated by cytogenin were determined to be macrophages and T cells.

Treatment of brachymetatarsia using a semicircular lengthener. 1-3 years results in 6 patients

6 women with brachymetatarsia involving 9 bones were treated by the use of the Ilizarov semicircular lengthener. The affected bones were the second, third and fourth metatarsals. Ilizarov half-rings were applied on the foot with 5 or 6 half-pins (3 mm in diameter) and a percutaneous osteotomy was done. The short metatarsals were lengthened 0.25 mm twice a day by the patient. The lengthened distance was 15 (10-22) mm and the overall treatment time was 15 (12-25) weeks. The postoperative course was uneventful, with smooth bone regeneration. No bone-grafting was needed. During treatment, the patients could bear full weight and tolerated the fixators well. We conclude that this technique is useful in the treatment of brachymetatarsia.

Reduction of androgen receptor mRNA concentration by testosterone in mouse submandibular gland

In this study, we examine the effect of testosterone on the steady-state concentration of androgen receptor (AR) mRNA of mouse submandibular gland. Northern blot analysis showed the expression of an AR-specific 10-kb transcript in the submandibular glands of both sexes. Quantitative analysis was done by means of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with a non-radioactive label of digoxigenin. The RT-PCR demonstrated that the steady-state of AR mRNA concentration was less in males than in females. Moreover, AR mRNA increased in the castrated male mice, while the administration of testosterone reduced the AR mRNA in female mice. In conclusion, the amount of AR mRNA in mouse submandibular gland is reduced by androgen.

Oxidants affect permeability and repair of the cultured human tracheal epithelium

To examine the effects of oxidants on the airway epithelial barrier functions, human tracheal epithelial cells were cultured on porous filter membrane. Glucose oxidase (GO; 10 U/ml), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2; 4 x 10(-3) M), and xanthine (5 x 10(-4) M) plus xanthine oxidase (20 mU/ml) (X-XO) significantly increased electrical conductance across epithelial membrane (G), short-circuit current (Isc) measured with Ussing's chamber methods, and [3H]mannitol flux through the cultured epithelium. Increases in G and Isc induced by oxidants were significantly inhibited by catalase (1,000 U/ml) and the protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine (10(-7) M), but superoxide dismutase (SOD; 100 U/ml) was without effect. GO, H2O2, and X-XO inhibited the epithelial cell growth, [3H]thymidine incorporation by the cells, and epithelial repair of artificially produced focal epithelial defects (1-2 mm diam) on plastic vessels. Catalase also inhibited effects induced by oxidants on cell growth and proliferation. These results suggest that oxidants reduce tracheal epithelial barrier functions by damaging tight junctions and inhibiting cell proliferation, and these effects of oxidants on epithelial cells may be mediated by H2O2 rather than superoxide anion and by activation of protein kinase C.