Penner's serotype 4 of Campylobacter jejuni has a lipopolysaccharide that bears a GM1 ganglioside epitope as well as one that bears a GD1 a epitope

The carbohydrate structures of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of Campylobacter jejuni strains belonging to Penner's serotypes (PEN) 1, 2, 4, 19, 23, and 36 were studied by thin-layer chromatography and immunostaining with several monoclonal antiganglioside antibodies. Anti-GM1 and anti-GD1a antibodies reacted with the LPSs of PEN 1, 4, and 19. Aspinall et al. (G. O. Aspinall, A. G. McDonald, T. S. Raju, H. Pang, A. P. Moran, and J. L. Penner. Eur. J. Biochem. 213:1017-1027, 1993) recently reported that the LPS of PEN 4 has a GD1a ganglioside-like structure rather than a GM1-like structure. We found that the LPS fraction of C. jejuni (PEN 4) has an LPS that bears a GM1 epitope as well as an LPS that bears a GD1a epitope.

[A study of prostatic tissue levels of cefodizime (CDZM)]

Twenty-four patients suffering from prostate hyperplasia were given venous injections of CDZM of either 1 or 2 g at specific intervals (30 min, 1, 2 and 4 hr) before surgery. Blood samples from the injected vein and tissue samples from the prostate were subsequently taken. In this study, the concentrations of CDZM in the prostate tissue (P) and in serum (S), as well as the ratio of the tissue to serum concentrations (P/S) were determined. In patients given 1 g injections, P ranged from 5.26-48.10 micrograms/g, while S ranged from 25.40-130.00 micrograms/ml and P/S ranged from 12.6-37.0%. In the patients given 2 g injections, P ranged from 9.40-49.20 micrograms/g, S ranged from 62.30-234.00 micrograms/ml and P/S ranged from 9.3-29.1%. CDZM exhibited excellent transmigration to the prostate tissue. Inflammatory bacteria present in prostatitis and urinary tract infections are generally those of E. coli, Proteus sp., but because the P range was much higher than the ratio of MIC, CDZM is expected to be useful against infections in the field of urology.

Sulfate- and sialic acid-containing glycolipids inhibit DNA polymerase alpha activity

The effects of various glycolipids on the activity of immunoaffinity-purified calf thymus DNA polymerase alpha were studied in vitro. Preincubation with sialic acid-containing glycolipids, such as sialosylparagloboside (SPG), GM3, GM1, and GD1a, and sulfatide (cerebroside sulfate ester, CSE) dose-dependently inhibited the activity of DNA polymerase alpha, while other glycolipids, as well as free sphingosine and ceramide did not. About 50% inhibition was achieved by preincubating the enzyme with 2.5 microM of CSE, 50 microM of SPG or GM3, and 80 microM of GM1. Inhibition was noncompetitive with both the DNA template and the substrate dTTP, as well as with the other dNTPs. Since the inhibition was largely reversed by the addition of 0.05% Nonidet P40, these glycolipids may interact with the hydrophobic region of the enzyme protein. Apparently, the sulfate moiety in CSE and the sialic acid moiety in gangliosides were essential for the inhibition since neither neutral glycolipids (i.e., glucosylceramide, galactosylceramide, lactosylceramide) nor asialo-gangliosides (GA1 and GA2) showed any inhibitory effect. Furthermore, the ceramide backbone was also found to be necessary for maximal inhibition since the inhibition was largely abolished by substituting the lipid backbone with cholesterol. Increasing the number of sialic acid moieties per molecule further enhanced the inhibition, while elongating the sugar chain diminished it. It was clearly shown that the N-acetyl residue of the sialic acid moiety is particularly essential for inhibition by both SPG and GM3 because the loss of this residue or substitution with a glycolyl residue completely negated their inhibitory effect on DNA polymerase alpha activity.

Anti-proliferative effects of TNP-470 on human malignant glioma in vivo: potent inhibition of tumor angiogenesis

A novel angiogenesis inhibitor TNP-470 was investigated for its anti-tumor activity against malignant gliomas both in vitro and in vivo. TNP-470 cytostatically inhibited the growth in all of the seven glioma cell lines in culture including anticancer drug resistant cells. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of these glioma cell lines were 10 to 30 micrograms/ml and they were 10 to 20 times higher than IC50 of normal endothelial cells. TNP-470 (30 mg/kg, i.p., every other day) also significantly inhibited the tumor growth of T98G-transplanted nude mice. Microscopically, tumor vessels after the treatment of the tumor-bearing mice with TNP-470 became fewer in number and smaller in diameter than those without treatment. Furthermore, there appeared extensive necrotic areas in the tumor with TNP-470. These results indicate that TNP-470 is a potent angiogenesis inhibitor for malignant gliomas. In addition, the studies of labeling index of BrdU and Ki67 suggest that TNP-470 may act mainly on tumor endothelial cells, thus resulting in reduction of the tumor growth.

A bacterium lipopolysaccharide that elicits Guillain-Barré syndrome has a GM1 ganglioside-like structure

There is a strong association between Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and Penner's serotype 19 (PEN 19) of Campylobacter jejuni. Sera from patients with GBS after C. jejuni infection have autoantibodies to GM1 ganglioside in the acute phase of the illness. Our previous work has suggested that GBS results from an immune response to cross-reactive antigen between lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the Gram-negative bacterium and membrane components of peripheral nerves. To clarify the pathogenesis of GBS, we have investigated whether GM1-oligosaccharide structure is present in the LPS of C. jejuni (PEN 19) that was isolated from a GBS patient. After extraction of the LPS, the LPS showing the binding activity of cholera toxin, that specifically recognizes the GM1-oligosaccharide was purified by a silica bead column chromatography. Gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis has shown that the purified LPS contained Gal, GalNAc, and NeuAc, which are sugar components of GM1 ganglioside. 1H NMR methods [Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG), total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY), and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY)] have revealed that the oligosaccharide structure [Gal beta 1-3 GalNAc beta 1-4(NeuAc alpha 2-3)Gal beta] protrude from the LPS core. This terminal structure [Gal beta 1-3GalNAc beta 1-4(NeuAc alpha 2-3)Gal beta] is identical to the terminal tetrasaccharide of the GM1 ganglioside. This is the first study to demonstrate the existence of molecular mimicry between nerve tissue and the infectious agent that elicits GBS.

Measurements and analyses of electrophoretic mobilities of RAW117 lymphosarcoma cells and their variant cells

The electrophoretic mobilities of the cells of malignant lymphosarcoma cell line RAW117-P and its variant H10 with a highly metastatic property to the liver have been measured at various ionic strengths. The cells of parental cell line (RAW117-P) show higher mobility values in magnitude than those of its variant line (RAW117-H10) in the whole range of electrolyte concentration measured. We have also measured the sialic acid amount carried by cells of both lines. The content of sialic acids in RAW117-H10 cells is observed to be about 27% less than that in RAW117-P cells. The mobility data obtained have been analyzed by a novel mobility formula for colloidal particles with ion-penetrable surface charge layers. The observed mobility difference between RAW117-P cells and RAW117-H10 cells is found to be due to the difference in friction exerted by the cell surface layers on the liquid flow around the cells between these two types of cells and to the difference in fixed-charge density in their surface layers, which is caused by the 27% decrease in sialic acid content. A possible explanation for this mobility difference between these two types of cells is given.

Glycosphingolipids of human peripheral nervous system myelins isolated from cauda equina

Compositions of neutral and sulfated glucuronyl glycosphingolipids purified from human motor and sensory nerves and myelins were studied. Higher neutral glycosphingolipids (fraction B), which were separated from GalCer (fraction A), were analyzed by TLC and TLC-immunostaining. Both nerve myelins contained paragloboside (nLc4Cer) and nLc6Cer dominantly as major higher glycosphingolipids and very little globoside (Gb4Cer), whereas both nerves contained Gb4Cer and nLc4Cer. Besides these major glycosphingolipids, a neutral glycolipid containing asialoGM1 (Gg4Cer) epitope and other minor components such as ceramide trihexoside and ceramide dihexoside were detected in both nerves and their myelins. Furthermore, sulfated glucuronyl nLc4Cer and nLc6Cer, which were monoclonal antibody HNK-1 reactive glycolipids, were detected in both nerves and myelins.

Human blood group B-active ganglio-glycosphingolipid in rat glioma

A human blood group B-active glycosphingolipid, belonging to the ganglio-series, was isolated from rat glioma cell line RG2 subcutaneous isografts. The oligosaccharide structure of the glycosphingolipid was completely characterized as Gal alpha 1-3(Fuc alpha 1-2)Gal beta 1-3GalNAc beta 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1- 1'ceramide by NMR spectrometry, negative fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry, sequential degradation by glycosidases and methylation analysis. Human blood group B antigenicity and the activity of this glycosphingolipid were confirmed by immunostaining on thin-layer chromatography and the inhibition of hemagglutination, respectively. Although the lipid has been detected in rat granuloma, bone marrow cells, spleen, thymus, ascites hepatoma cells and gastric mucosa, this is the first report of the occurrence of the B-active lipid in glioma.

[Pharmacokinetics of MX2, a new morpholino anthracycline, in CSF following intravenous injection]

MX2 x HCl is a new morpholino anthracycline derivative with molecular weight 622.07, and highly lipophilic. In the animal experiments, MX2 was found to cross the blood brain barrier after i.v. injection. Its distribution into the brain was increased by intracarotid injection. In the present study, we examined the distribution of MX2 into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after i.v. administration (5 mg/kg) in normal rabbits. Five min after injection, plasma concentration of MX2 reached to the maximum level (4344.5 ng/ml). CSF concentration of MX2 was at the highest level (75.8 ng/ml) 10 min after injection, and thereafter decreased gradually in parallel with plasma concentration. At 5 hrs after injection, CSF concentration became 26.7 ng/ml, AUC half time of elimination, and mean residence time were 3093.8 ng.hr/ml, 4.57 hrs and 5.10 hrs in plasma and 212.3 ng.h/ml, 5.23 hrs and 7.14 hrs in CSF, respectively. These results indicate that MX2 is able to distribute into CSF after i.v. injection, and expected to be a new anticancer drug for brain and leptomeningeal tumors.

Glycosphingolipid compositions of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected cell lines

Glycolipid compositions of cells infected by human retroviruses (human immunodeficiency virus, HIV and/or human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I, HTLV-I) have been studied. Eight cell lines, comprising two HTLV-I-infected T-cell lines (MT-2 and MT-4), two HTLV-I-negative T-cell lines (Jurkat and MF), a macrophage cell line (U937), and three HIV-infected counterpart cell lines (MT-4/HIV, Jurkat/HIV and U937/HIV) were used. The neutral glycolipids and gangliosides isolated from these cell lines were compared. Among them, the HTLV-I-infected T-cell lines, MT-2 and MT-4, showed similar patterns for both neutral glycolipids and gangliosides. Neutral glycolipids (GlcCer and LacCer) of MT-2 and MT-4 cells were markedly decreased, and a ganglioside, GM3, of theirs was decreased to only a trace amount compared to that in other cell lines. Gangliosides of MT-4 and MT-4/HIV were further separated on an Iatrobeads column, and were identified as GM2, GM1a and GD1a by methylation and liquid secondary ion mass spectrometric analyses. Since the patterns of neutral glycolipids and gangliosides of MT-2 and MT-4 are unique, as compared to those of HTLV-I-negative cells, it is suggested that these changes are related to HTLV-1 infection. No prominent differences in the ganglioside compositions between HIV-infected and non-infected cell lines could be observed. But it is noteworthy that the contents of asialo-GM2 in Jurkat/HIV and MT-4/HIV cells were increased as compared to those in the parental cell lines.

Effect of T-cell receptor V beta-specific monoclonal antibodies on cyclophosphamide-induced diabetes mellitus in non-obese diabetic mice

The expression of specific T-cell receptor gene segments by T lymphocytes appears to be critically important for the induction of several experimental autoimmune diseases mediated by these cells. We examined whether this situation also applied to non-obese diabetic mice by using various T-cell receptor V beta-specific monoclonal antibodies. No significant age- or sex-related differences were observed in V beta usage by peripheral and splenic T lymphocytes. CD8+ T lymphocytes among the islet-derived mononuclear cells isolated from 20-week-old female non-obese diabetic mice showed heterogeneity of their V beta gene usage. In order to examine the role of T lymphocyte subsets expressing specific T-cell receptor V beta segments in the development of diabetes mellitus, T-cell receptor V beta-specific monoclonal antibodies were administered to 10-week-old male non-obese diabetic mice treated with cyclophosphamide. None of the antibodies used could significantly diminish the incidence of cyclophosphamide-induced diabetes and the severity of insulitis [anti-V beta 3 (11 of 22 mice became diabetic, 50%), anti-V beta 5 (9 of 14, 64%), anti-V beta 8 (9 of 21, 43%), anti-V beta 11 (12 of 23, 52%), anti-V beta 14 (7 of 12, 58%), and anti-V beta 5 + anti-V beta 11 (6 of 12, 50%)] when compared with control mice (12 of 21, 57%). In addition, there were no significant differences in T-cell receptor V beta usage between diabetic and non-diabetic cyclophosphamide-treated mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Studies on the differentiation inducers of myeloid leukemic cells from Citrus species

An attempt was made to isolate differentiation inducers from Aurantii Nobilis Pericarpium and the fruit peel of Citrus reticulata Blanco (Rutaceae). Twenty-seven kinds of flavones, including five new flavones, were isolated after repeated chromatography from methanol extracts of these plants and their structures were established, from their physicochemical data, to be highly methoxylated flavones. Each compound, except for two flavone glucosides, showed the differentiation inducing activity toward mouse myeloid leukemia cells (M1), and the cells came to have phagocytic activity. Furthermore, differentiation inducing activity was tested using human acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60).

[In vitro ENU-induced carcinogenesis of rat fetal astroglia--biological character of mutant glial cell]

To investigate glial carcinogenesis in vitro, fetal rat brain cells were cultured and exposed to ENU (approximately 200 micrograms/ml). The cells were passaged weekly thereafter. Morphological changes were observed under the phase contrast microscope. When mutant colonies where the cells lost contact inhibition and grew in a multilayer fashion appeared, the cells were cloned. To assess the biological characters of cells, expression of GFAP, vimentin, A2B5 and p53 product were determined by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Tumor forming ability of the cells was evaluated by both colony forming efficiency in low serum medium (LSM; 2% FBS, 300 cells/100 mm dish) and transplantability to nude mice. Both primary cultured and ENU-treated cells were positive for GFAP and vimentin, but population of A2B5 positive cells was less than 5%, thus indicating that these cells were astroglial in origin. The mutant colonies appeared 7 weeks after ENU treatment. These cells grew rapidly with cell doubling time ranging between 18 to 26 hours, while non-ENU-treated astroglias had a longer cell doubling time (48 to 55 hours). The cloned mutant glial cell lines formed large colonies in LSM (efficiency 20-40%), but astroglial cells did not. The mutant astroglial cells also developed tumors in nude mice. p53 protein was never detected in normal astroglia, however, some glial cells treated by ENU abruptly became p53 positive after several passages. These p53 positive cells formed stratified colonies thereafter. These results indicate that mutant astroglial cells can be induced by a single dose of ENU in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Clinical experience with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy using Dornier MFL 5000-(U) for urinary stone]

Our hospital recently installed one of the newest types of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripters, a Dornier MFL 5000-(U). We conducted preliminary clinical trials with the apparatus from April to June 1991. In this report we discuss our experience with the first 40 patients (52 stones) treated in a total of 52 extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) sessions. Follow up observation was conducted for three months. Except in one case, invasive anesthesia was not used. A double J-catheter was inserted in 13 cases, a ureteral catheter in 7 cases, and percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PNL) was used after ESWL in one case. After one month of follow-up, 27 patients (67.5%) were completely free from stone fragments, while at 3 months after treatment, 34 patients (85.0%) were free from stone fragments. No serious complications were observed after ESWL. We concluded that the Dornier MFL-5000-(U) apparatus is effective for renal and ureteral stones and generates no serious complications.

[Annual changes of bacteria isolated from urinary tract infections and their susceptibility to new quinolone agents]

Statistical analyses were conducted on bacterial strains isolated from the urine of patients with urinary tract infections (UTI) in the Department of Urology at Aichi Medical University from January 1988 through December 1991. The drug sensitivity of the bacterial strains isolated from patients with complicated UTI between 1988 and 1991 was analyzed and compared. Among the outpatients with uncomplicated UTI, a total of 352 strains were isolated. E. coli was isolated the most frequently (90.1%). Among the outpatients with complicated UTI, a total of 829 strains were isolated. Enterococcus sp. was isolated the most frequently (21.2%). P. aeruginosa and S. aureus showed a tendency to increase. Among the inpatients with complicated UTI, a total of 671 strains were isolated. Enterococcus sp. was isolated the most frequently (22.5%). P. aeruginosa and S. aureus showed a tendency to increase, while E. coli and Enterobacter sp. showed a tendency to decrease. E. coli was highly sensitive to all drugs except ampicillin (ABPC). Proteus sp. and Klebsiella sp. were highly sensitive to norfloxacin (NFLX). P. aeruginosa was highly sensitive to gentamicin (GM). The frequency of NFLX-sensitive P. aeruginosa significantly dropped from 84.6% to 40.9% among the outpatients (P < 0.01), and from 75.0% to 44.4% among inpatients (P < 0.05). S. aureus was highly sensitive only to minocycline (MINO). The frequency of NFLX-sensitive S. aureus significantly dropped from 66.6% to 23.3% among inpatients (P < 0.05). Enterococcus sp. was highly sensitive to ABPC and MINO. Of the new quinolones, tosufloxacin (TFLX) had the strongest antimicrobial activity followed by (ciprofloxacin) CPFX on all the bacterial strains tested.

Human hepatoma gangliosides: occurrence of a novel I-type glycolipid with NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal structure

Gangliosides with NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal structure have been studied in human hepatocellular carcinoma. The gangliosides were purified to homogeneity by a DEAE-Sephadex A-25 column chromatography and by repeated silica beads column chromatography. Three gangliosides containing NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal structure were isolated and were structurally characterized by using monoclonal antibodies, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, methylation analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and exoglycosidase treatments. The first compound was identified as NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer. The structures of 2 other components were concluded to be as follows: [formula: see text] The first compound is a ganglioside that is characteristic of human meconium. The second compound has the same structure as a ganglioside recently found by us (Taki, T., Rokukawa, C., Kasama, T., Kon, K., Ando, S., Abe, T., and Handa, S., J. Biol. Chem., 267: 11811-11817, 1992) in meconium. The third compound is a novel type of ganglioside having blood group I-type structure as the core sequence. In addition to these gangliosides, 5 others were detected, and all except for GM3 were glycolipids with neolacto-series core structure. These results suggest that enzymes for the synthesis of neolacto type and NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal structure of glycolipids are activated in hepatoma.

Correlation of expression of H/Le(y)/Le(b) antigens with survival in patients with carcinoma of the lung

BACKGROUND

The level of expression of H/Le(y)/Le(b) antigens is high in various histologic types of lung cancer, a feature that may be related to deletion of A and B blood-group antigens. We evaluated the possibility that expression of this antigen, which can be defined by the monoclonal antibody MIA-15-5, might be of prognostic value, as suggested by our previous observation that MIA-15-5 inhibits tumor-cell motility and metastasis.

METHODS

We used MIA-15-5 to stain tissue sections from 149 patients with primary lung cancer whose clinico-pathological histories were well documented. The survival curves for patients whose tumors stained positively were compared with the curves for those whose tumors stained negatively. Multivariate analyses were performed with a Cox proportional-hazards regression model.

RESULTS

Among the 149 patients studied, five-year survival in the 91 patients with MIA-positive tumors was significantly lower than survival in the 58 with MIA-negative tumors (20.9 percent vs. 58.6 percent, P less than 0.001). Among the 67 patients with squamous-cell carcinoma, the rates also differed significantly (10.5 percent vs. 62.1 percent, P less than 0.001). The difference in survival between patients with MIA-positive tumors and those with MIA-negative tumors was significant among patients with blood groups A and AB (P less than 0.001), but not among those with blood group B or O (P = 0.071 and 0.068, respectively). Multivariate analysis with the Cox regression model indicated that positivity best correlated with five-year mortality, followed by lymph-node status (N stage) and tumor size status (T stage), whereas sex, age, and blood group did not correlate with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Positivity for MIA (i.e., immunohistologic staining by MIA-15-5, which defines H/Le(y)/Le(b) antigens) is inversely correlated with survival among patients with primary lung cancer and may be of prognostic value.

Human meconium gangliosides. Characterization of a novel I-type ganglioside with the NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal structure

Three monosialogangliosides containing the NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal structure have been detected in human meconium by immunological analysis using a monoclonal antibody, MSG-15, and purified by repeated silica beads column chromatography. One was previously shown to be NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer. The remaining two were characterized by proton NMR, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, methylation analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and immunological studies, and their structures were concluded to be as follows. [formula: see text] The second ganglioside has the same structure that was isolated from bovine buttermilk (Takamizawa, K., Iwamori, M., Mutai, M., and Nagai, Y. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 5625-5630), and this is the first description of the occurrence of the ganglioside with the branched structure with two N-acetyllactosamines linked to lactosylceramide via beta 1-6 and beta 1-3 in human linked to lactosylceramide via beta 1-6 and beta 1-3 in human tissues. The third ganglioside is a novel ganglioside with blood group I-type and a NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal structure.

13C-nuclear magnetic resonance of glycosphingolipids

Spectra of 125 MHz 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of glycosphingolipids, GlcCer, GalCer, sulfatide, LacCer, and nLc4Cer have been studied, and the following results were obtained. (i) Signals of ring carbons of each sugar component are distributed in a wide field (50-110 ppm) and clearly separated. (ii) Chemical shifts of anomeric carbon (C1) and methylene carbon (C6) of sugars are far from those of other methine carbons of sugars and characteristic of sugar components, which makes it possible to identify each sugar component and its molar raito. (iii) The downfield shifts (about 6-9 ppm) of alpha-carbon signals involved in the glycosidic linkages and upfield shifts (about 1.5-2 ppm) of the neighboring beta-carbons, which are known as glycosylation shifts, could be observed. (iv) Characteristic shifts of aglycon signals caused by the presence of an OH group at the alpha-position of fatty acid were assigned. These observations are useful for the characterization of glycosphingolipid structures.

Immunohistochemical demonstration of glycoconjugates bearing the type 2 chain-backbone structure in human fetal, normal and neoplastic gastrointestinal tract

Immunohistochemical distributions of carbohydrate antigens based on the type 2 chain in normal as well as fetal and neoplastic tissues of human gastrointestinal tract were investigated with a monoclonal antibody (MAb) H11 (specific for type 2 chain) alone and in combination with the two MAbs MSG15 (for alpha 2----6 sialylated type 2 chain) and IB9 (for the alpha 2----6 sialylated type 2 chain and glycoproteins having NeuAc alpha 2----6Gal-NAc), and 188C1 (for short- and long-chain Lex antigens) and FH2 (for the long-chain Lex antigen). In the pyloric mucosa of secretors, the type 2 chain is oncodevelopmentally expressed, but in non-secretors it is detected in surface mucous cells of normal gastric mucosa. The alpha 2----6 sialylation, which is confined to endocrine cells of normal pyloric mucosa, occurs in fetal and carcinoma tissues. Irrespective of the secretor status, the short- and the long-chain Lex antigens can be detected in mature and immature glandular mucous cells of normal gastric mucosa, respectively; both antigens are also expressed in fetal and carcinoma tissues. In the colon, the type 2 chain and its alpha 2----6 sialylated counterpart are expressed in an oncodevelopmental manner. The short- and the long-chain Lex antigens are significantly enhanced in colonic carcinoma. The glycoproteins with NeuAc alpha 2----6GalNAc residues appear in gastric and colonic carcinoma as well as intestinalized gastric mucosa and transitional mucosa. Thus, some of these antigens were distinctively expressed in certain epithelial cells lining the normal gastrointestinal tract depending on maturation and patients' secretor status, and some were oncodevelopmental or carcinoma-associated antigens of the human gastrointestinal tract.

First establishment of a human monoclonal antibody directed to sulfated glycosphingolipids SM4s-Gal and SM4g, from a patient with lung cancer

Several human monoclonal antibodies directed to tumor-associated glycolipid antigens have been established, but more than one-half of them react with gangliosides and the others react with neutral glycolipids. We report here the first establishment of a human IgM monoclonal antibody directed to the sulfated glycolipid. This monoclonal antibody, M14-376, did not react with SM3 and SB1a which have a terminal HSO3----3Gal beta 1----R1, but with the simple sulfolipids SM4s-Gal and SM4g which contain a terminal HSO3----3Gal beta 1----O----CH2----R2; however, lyso-SM4s-Gal and lyso-SM4g did not bind M14-376. These results suggest that terminal HSO3----3Gal and part of the hydrophobic region of the glycolipid are recognized by M14-376. Directly biotinylated M14-376 was used for immunohistochemical staining of 140 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lung cancer tissue sections to study the distribution of the antigen. A high incidence of positive staining was found in adenocarcinoma (39.5%, 17 of 43), followed by large cell carcinoma (20.0%, 5 of 25), while this antigen was rarely detected in small cell carcinoma (4.7%, 1 of 21) and squamous cell carcinoma (3.9%, 2 of 51). Thin layer chromatography immunostaining of glycolipids extracted from lung cancer tissues showed the presence of only SM4s-Gal in adenocarcinoma, but SM4g was not found in any subtype of lung cancer. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that this antigen was expressed in normal kidney, testis, and brain, but erythrocytes, granulocytes, and lymphocytes were negative in cytofluorometric analysis.

Elevation of 4 beta-galactosyltransferase activity for paragloboside synthesis in sera of patients with cancer

Galactosyltransferase activities in sera of cancer patients were determined by assaying the formation of paragloboside from UDP-galactose and lactotriaosylceramide immobilized on microtiter plates by means of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a monoclonal antibody, H-11, directed to paragloboside. Enzyme properties were as follows. Optimum pH was 6.8 in cacodylate buffer, and Km values were 2 microM for lactotriaosylceramide and 29 microM for UDP-galactose. The enzyme activity was inhibited by the addition of alpha-lactalbumin. Glucose (20 mM) inhibited the enzyme activity in the presence of alpha-lactalbumin (0.1 mg/ml) but not in its absence. These enzyme properties are similar to those of bovine milk galactosyltransferase, indicating that the enzyme in the sera might be lactose synthetase. The enzyme activities in sera from patients with cancer, patients with benign disease, or a reference sample group were assayed. The activity was below the limit of detection (5.5 pmol/25 microliters serum/2 h) in the reference sample group. Remarkable elevations of the enzyme activity were observed with high incidence in patients with cancer, especially those with blood cancer (100%). A high incidence was observed in the progressive stage, and the enzyme activity was detected at stage 1 in lung, esophagus, stomach, colorectal, and testis cancer. The enzyme activity in sera from patients with benign disease was elevated in 22% of the patients. After effective therapies, the enzyme activity decreased to below the limit of detection. Release of the galactosyltransferase into culture medium of cancer cells could be demonstrated. These observations suggest that the galactosyltransferase is released from cancer tissue into the circulation. The present method for the assay of galactosyltransferase may be useful for the detection of patients with cancer and for monitoring neoplastic recurrence after therapy.

Studies on differentiation-inducing activities of triterpenes

Differentiation-inducing activity of over 180 extracts of crude drugs and plants was tested using mouse myeloid leukemia cell line (M1). The methanol extracts of clove (Syzygium aromaticum Merrill et Perry, Myrtaceae) showed remarkable induction of differentiation of M1 cells into macrophage-like cells. From the extract, oleanolic acid (1) and crategolic acid (2) were isolated as the active components. We also tested other triterpenes, such as oleananes, ursanes and dammaranes, to investigate the structure-activity relationship. Some triterpene aglycones showed differentiation-inducing activity, but triterpene glycosides showed little activity. Furthermore, the differentiation-inducing activity of these triterpene compounds was tested against human acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line (HL-60).

[Treatment of malignant gliomas by selective intraarterial infusion chemotherapy with high-dose ACNU and autologous bone marrow transplantation--preliminary report]

Six patients with malignant gliomas were treated by selective intracarotid infusion of ACNU at 15 mg/kg (about 600 mg per m2) or 10 mg/kg with or without radiotherapy and rescue of autologous bone marrow transplantation after surgery. These high doses of ACNU were well tolerated if bone marrow rescue was performed and granulocyte colony stimulating factor was used. With the development of microcatheters for use in selective intraarterial infusion, it has become possible to cannulate the major artery and infuse drugs at high dose into the artery feeding the tumor. The complication of ocular toxicity can be avoided by using the Tracker-18 or Balt (Magic) angiographic catheter. On the other hand, drug dosage and infusion rate must be chosen carefully, because of the increased likelihood of local arteritis and local necrosis caused by high dosage of ACNU. In the present study, local arteritis or cerebral infarction in the area of the middle cerebral artery was considered to have been prevented by extending the infusion time to 80 minutes. When combined with radiotherapy, 10 mg/kg of ACNU and 80 min. of infusion time were found to be optimal in relation to brain tolerance.

Prevention of cyclophosphamide-induced and spontaneous diabetes in NOD/Shi/Kbe mice by anti-MHC class I Kd monoclonal antibody

The immune mechanisms directly responsible for beta-cell destruction in insulin-dependent diabetes are undefined. We studied the role of MHC class I-restricted T lymphocytes in the development of diabetes in cyclophosphamide (CY)-treated male and untreated female NOD mice (H-2Kd,Db). After administration of CY to 10-wk-old male NOD/Shi/Kbe mice, 37 of 64 (58%) phosphate-buffered saline-injected control mice and 13 of 22 (59%) anti-Kb and 12 of 27 (44%) anti-Db monoclonal antibody (MoAb)-injected mice became diabetic by 14 wk of age, whereas only 3 of 38 (8%) anti-Kd and 2 of 13 (15%) anti-Lyt-2 MoAb-injected mice did. In untreated female NOD/Shi/Kbe mice, 30 of 46 (65%) mice developed spontaneous diabetes by 30 wk of age, whereas none of 9 anti-Kd MoAb-injected mice became diabetic. Immunohistochemical studies showed that islet-infiltrating cells in CY-treated control mice were composed mainly of both L3T4+ and Lyt-2+ T lymphocytes, whereas many L3T4+ and very few Lyt-2+ lymphocytes infiltrated within the islets in anti-Kd MoAb-injected mice. Administration of anti-Lyt-2 MoAb induced the absence of Lyt-2+ T lymphocytes in the islet and spleen. However, anti-Kd MoAb did not change the number of spleen cells or the T-lymphocyte subset and response to concanavalin A. These results suggest that MHC class I Kd-restricted Lyt-2+ T lymphocytes play an important role as direct effector cells in destruction of beta-cells in NOD/Shi/Kbe mice.

[Monoclonal antibody MIA15-5, which inhibits cell motility and metastatic potential, has a great effect on the prognosis of the post-surgical patients with lung cancer]

The functional monoclonal antibody, selected based on the inhibition of cell motility, was found to be directed to specific carbohydrate structure Fuc alpha 1----2 Gal beta 1----R. This monoclonal antibody, MIA15-5 was established after immunization of mice with adenocarcinoma line of the lung PC7, and selected based on inhibition of U937, HEL, and MAC10 cell migration due to the transwell assay. MIA15-5 reacted with 30-40% of high metastatic variant BL6 of mouse melanoma B16 line and metastatic deposition to lung after injection of BL6 cells was strongly inhibited if MIA15-5 was injected within 3 hours, but was not inhibited by injection of other anti-H antibodies under the same conditions. Injection of MIA15-5 had much less inhibitory effect if administered 1 day after BL-6 injection, and no effect at 3 days. In immunohistochemical staining of 149 formalin fixed specimens of patients with lung cancer, especially adenocarcinoma has the highly frequency of MIA15-5 (65.4%, 49 of 75 cases) and the five year survival rate of the patients with negative staining of MIA15-5 was 58.6% and much better than one with positive staining, 20.9%.

Physical dependence liability of dynorphin A analogs in rodents

To assess the physical dependence liability of dynorphin A analogs, mice were given repeated injections of various dynorphin A analogs twice daily for 5 days, and rats were given repeated administration of [N-methyl-Tyr1,N-methyl-Arg7,D-Leu8]dynorphin-A-(1-8) ethylamide (E-2078) twice daily for up to 7 weeks. Mice that had received repeated [D-Cys2,Cys5,N-methyl-Arg7,D-Leu8]dynorphin-A-(1-9) amide displayed jumping behavior after subcutaneous injection of naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist. In contrast, the animals that had received repeated E-2078 or [N-methyl-Tyr1,Phe4(p-NO2),N-methyl-Arg7,D-Leu8]dynorphin-A-(1-8) ethylamide displayed very few jumps after naloxone administration. Rats that had received repeated E-2078 administration did not display withdrawal signs, such as weight loss, after either abrupt withdrawal or naloxone administration. These results indicate that E-2078 and [N-methyl-Tyr1,Phe4(p-NO2),N-methyl-Arg7,D-Leu8]dynorphin-A-(1-8) ethylamide may have little dependence liability and that [D-Cys2,Cys5,N-methyl-Arg7,D-Leu8]dynorphin-A-(1-9) amide can cause physical dependence.

Conformational structure of a monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody to the monoclonal anti-adenocarcinoma-associated carbohydrate antibody YH206

The mAb AI206 (IgG1) is an anti-Id antibody of mAb YH206 (IgM) to adenocarcinoma-associated carbohydrate Ag and inhibits the reaction of mAb YH206 to YH206 Ag at low concentrations. By Western blot analysis, mAb AI206 only reacted with unreduced mAb YH206, whereas it did not react with reduced mAb YH206. Furthermore, mAb AI206 reacted with IgM subunit (180 kDa), F(ab')2 (110 kDa), and F(ab) (50 kDa) of pepsin-treated unreduced mAb YH206. Thus, mAb AI206 recognized the structure of F(ab) of mAb YH206. The mAb YH206 reacted with unreduced mAb AI206, F(ab')2 (110 kDa), and F(ab) (50 kDa) of pepsin-treated unreduced mAb AI206. It is presumed that mAb YH206 and mAb AI206 recognize each other in an unreduced condition but not a reduced condition. The recognition of such a conformational Id on F(ab) is important. Because mAb YH206 recognized the carbohydrate on YH206 Ag as well as the peptide on mAb AI206, the conformation on F(ab) of mAb AI206 may mimic the carbohydrate structure on YH206 Ag. In fact, YH206 antibody activity was induced in syngeneic mouse serum immunized with mAb AI206. These observations suggest that the internal image of YH206 carbohydrate Ag is preserved within the conformational Id on F(ab) of mAb AI206.

Conformational structure of a monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibody to the monoclonal anti-adenocarcinoma-associated carbohydrate antibody YH206

The mAb AI206 (IgG1) is an anti-Id antibody of mAb YH206 (IgM) to adenocarcinoma-associated carbohydrate Ag and inhibits the reaction of mAb YH206 to YH206 Ag at low concentrations. By Western blot analysis, mAb AI206 only reacted with unreduced mAb YH206, whereas it did not react with reduced mAb YH206. Furthermore, mAb AI206 reacted with IgM subunit (180 kDa), F(ab')2 (110 kDa), and F(ab) (50 kDa) of pepsin-treated unreduced mAb YH206. Thus, mAb AI206 recognized the structure of F(ab) of mAb YH206. The mAb YH206 reacted with unreduced mAb AI206, F(ab')2 (110 kDa), and F(ab) (50 kDa) of pepsin-treated unreduced mAb AI206. It is presumed that mAb YH206 and mAb AI206 recognize each other in an unreduced condition but not a reduced condition. The recognition of such a conformational Id on F(ab) is important. Because mAb YH206 recognized the carbohydrate on YH206 Ag as well as the peptide on mAb AI206, the conformation on F(ab) of mAb AI206 may mimic the carbohydrate structure on YH206 Ag. In fact, YH206 antibody activity was induced in syngeneic mouse serum immunized with mAb AI206. These observations suggest that the internal image of YH206 carbohydrate Ag is preserved within the conformational Id on F(ab) of mAb AI206.

Had-1, a uridine 5'-diphosphogalactose transport-defective mutant of mouse mammary tumor cell FM3A: composition of glycolipids, cell growth inhibition by lactosylceramide, and loss of tumorigenicity

Glycolipid compositions of mouse mammary tumor cell FM3A and its Newcastle disease virus-resistant mutant cell, Had-1, which was also characterized as a defective mutant of UDP-galactose transport to Golgi apparatus, have been studied. The major neutral glycolipid in FM3A was Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer (LacCer) (95%) and the rest was Glc beta 1-1Cer. The concentration of neutral glycolipids in Had-1 was only about one-fifth of that in FM3A. GlcB1-1Cer in Had-1 accounted for 79% of neutral glycolipids and the rest was LacCer, the content of which was decreased to 4% of that in FM3A. Ganglioside patterns of the two cell lines were similar, although gangliosides with N-glycolylneuraminic acid were increased in Had-1 cells compared with that in FM3A cells. The presence of NeuAc alpha 2-3-Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer, NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-2Cer, GM3, and GD3 was demonstrated by thin-layer chromatography immunostaining. 125I-Labeled Newcastle disease virus bound only poorly to gangliosides extracted from either FM3A or Had-1 cells on a high performance thin-layer chromatography plate. The effects of glycolipids on the growth of the two cell lines were also studied. Had-1 cells were more sensitive to glycolipids added exogenously than FM3A cells. Addition of GM3 had a stimulative effect on cell growth of Had-1. LacCer, Gal beta 1-3GalNAc beta 1-4Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 4-1Cer, and Glc beta 1-1Cer inhibited the growth of Had-1 cells. LacCer was the most potent inhibitor. LacCer immobilized on the culture plate also inhibited the growth of Had-1 cells. The inhibitory effect was recovered completely overcome by transferring the cells to LacCer-free medium. Had-1 cells were not tumorigenic in C3H/He mice, and furthermore the tumorigenic activity of FM3A cells was suppressed by the prior administration of Had-1 cells.

[Distribution and acute toxicity of a new morpholinoanthracycline, MX2, in normal rat brain after intra-arterial injection]

Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy has been applied for the treatment of malignant brain tumors to increase the distribution of the drug into the tumor. MX2, a new morpholinoanthracycline, is a lipophilic compound, and has a strong antineoplastic effect against human and rat glioma cells. In this report, the acute toxicity and distribution of MX2 after intracarotid injection were studied using female Wistar rats weighing 150 g. To test the acute toxicity, various doses ranging 1.5 to 6 mg/kg was administered. All rats died within 4 days when received more than 3 mg/kg of intra-arterial or intravenous MX2. No rats died if the dose was reduced to less than 2 mg/kg. For the purpose to examine distribution in the brain, rats which received 2 mg/kg of intra-carotid MX2 were killed 5 to 120 min. after injection. The level of MX2 in the ipsilateral brain tissue reached to the maximum 5 min. after injection, and then rapidly decreased. The maximum concentration of MX2 in the ipsilateral brain was 25-fold higher than that in the contralateral brain, and 20-fold higher than that after intravenous injection of the same dose. The AUC (area under the curve) in the ipsilateral brain after intra-carotid injection was 8.0-fold higher than that in the contralateral brain, and 7.3-fold higher than that after intravenous injection of the same dose. These results indicate that intra-carotid administration can increase the distribution of MX2 in the normal brain.

Motility factor produced by malignant glioma cells: role in tumor invasion

To better understand the cellular mechanism of tumor invasion, the production of a cell motility-stimulating factor by malignant glioma cells was studied in vitro. Serum-free conditioned media from cultures of rat C6 and human T98G cell lines contained a factor that stimulated the locomotion of the producer cells. This factor was termed the "glioma-derived motility factor." The glioma-derived motility factor is a heat-labile protein with a molecular weight greater than 10 kD and has relative stability to acid. The factor showed not only chemotactic activity but also chemokinetic (stimulated random locomotion) activity in the two types of glioma cells studied. Although glioma-derived motility factors in conditioned media obtained from two different cell origins are likely to be the same, chemokinetic migration of T98G cells to their conditioned medium was much stronger than that of C6 cells to theirs. Coincubation of cells with cytochalasin B, which disrupts the assembly of cellular actin microfilaments, almost completely inhibited the cell migration stimulated by glioma-derived motility factor. Cytochalasin B also induced marked alterations in cell morphology, including cell retraction and arborization, while the drug did not affect cell attachment to culture dishes. These results indicate that glioma cells produce a motility factor which may play a role particularly when tumor cells are detached and migrate away from the original tumor mass, thus promoting tumor invasion. Also, glioma cell migration stimulated by the motility factor requires the normal organization of cytoskeletons such as actin microfilaments.

Infantile osteopetrosis complicating neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis

An autopsy case of infantile osteopetrosis complicating neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis is reported. Autopsy revealed generalized sclerosis and thickening of cortical and spongy bones, formation of mineralized cartilagenous tissues, and narrowing of the marrow cavities associated with decreased hematopoietic cell components. Around the thickened bone trabecles, osteoclasts lacked a ruffled border and clear zone along the cell membrane facing the bone matrix surface. The brain was markedly atrophic with neuronal cell loss and focal gliosis, and the remaining neuronal cells accumulated brown granular pigments, which were confirmed histochemically and electron-microscopically to be ceroid and lipofuscin. In the cerebral medulla, the development of myelin sheaths was extremely poor. Also, the occurrence of Lex type glycolipids and GM3 and the apparent absence of cerebroside and cerebroside sulfate were proved by biochemical analysis, suggesting that the brain was still in a stage of embryonic development or still in the process of differentiation. Except for one suggestive case, this is the first case of complicating neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis in infantile osteopetrosis.

Glycolipid composition of a mutant cell line of mouse FM3A cells, and the effect of exogenous glycolipids on cell growth

Had-1 isolated from mouse mammary tumour FM3A cells as a non-permissive cell line to Newcastle disease virus infection is deficient in NDV receptors, and galactosylation of the complex type sugar chains of the glycoproteins is extensively reduced compared to FM3A cells. It is also deficient in UDP-galactose transport into Golgi vesicles. The major neutral glycolipids in FM3A is Lac-Cer, whereas, in Had-1 cell, Glc-Cer is the major glycolipid and the concentration of neutral glycolipids is one-tenth as low as that in FM3A. GM3, GD3 and sialyl i- and I-type lactosaminylceramide are the gangliosides present in both FM3A and Had-1, although their presence in both cells is only in traces. Had-1 contains relatively high N-glycolyl-neuraminic acid. Among the several glycolipids tested, Lac-Cer, Gg-4-Cer and Glc-Cer showed inhibitory effect on proliferation of Had-1 cells, but did not show any appreciable effect on that of FM3A cells. Lac-Cer had the most potent inhibitory effect and this inhibitory effect was completely reversible. While mice injected with 5 x 10(6) cells of FM3A died in one month, those injected of Had-1 cells at the same dose survived for more than 6 months. Thus glycolipids on the cell surface play an essential role during cell growth both in vivo and in vitro.

Factor VII deficiency first observed at preoperative routine clotting test

Factor VII deficiency was first observed in a 24-year-old female in the routine clotting test for tooth extraction. Her factor VII was 22%, mildly below normal limits. Factor IX complex was not administered as replacement therapy when her impacted tooth was extracted. There was no sign of abnormal postoperative bleeding. As this disease was a rare disorder, the minimum safe level of factor VII for tooth extraction was unknown. We had a opportunity to study a patient with this disorder observed in the preoperative routine clotting test for tooth extractions.

T98G glioma cells have nicks in DNA in quiescent phase

Human glioblastoma-derived cell line, T98G, is arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle when serum is deprived. Using this cell line, we investigated the relation between the cell cycle and DNA single-stranded breaks, "nicks," by an in situ nick-translation method. When T98G cells were cultured without serum for 60 h, many small cells with condensed chromatin and scanty cytoplasm appeared. These small cells that were immunohistochemically considered to be in the G0 or early G1 phase had many nicks in DNA. When serum was added, these small cells with nicks disappeared within 1 to 4 h. VP-16, a DNA topoisomerase II inhibitor, delayed the disappearance of these small cells with nicks. This indicated that the action of DNA topoisomerase II on the chromatin is required to repair nicks in T98G glioma cells and to promote the progression from the quiescent to the proliferating phase.

Multiple intracerebral arteriovenous malformations in deep structure--case report

The authors describe a case of multiple intracerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in a 23-year-old male with two distinct, deep-seated AVMs. One was located in the left basal ganglia, which had bled twice, and the other in the splenium. They were removed separately. He recovered satisfactorily with only a mild dysphasia. The authors emphasize that the therapeutic principle for multiple AVMs is the same as that for a solitary AVM. Multiplicity alone does not dictate the operability. Dissection just adjacent to the nidus and direct coagulation of an AVM are the indicated techniques, especially in cases of deep-seated AVMs in order to reduce postoperative neurological deficit.

Anti-interleukin 2 receptor antibody attenuates low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice

Recent evidence indicates that activated T cells and macrophages play an important role in the induction of insulitis and diabetes in certain strains of mice treated with multiple subdiabetogenic doses of streptozotocin. In the present study, we treated C57BL/6J mice with five daily doses of 40 mg/ml streptozotocin and examined the prophylactic effect of an anti-interleukin 2 receptor monoclonal antibody (PC61). In mice treated with streptozotocin, interleukin 2 receptor-positive mononuclear cells were shown to infiltrate into the islets and soluble interleukin 2 receptors in the sera were significantly increased compared with control mice. The administration of PC61 to the mice attenuated the insulitis, and diminished interleukin 2 receptor-positive cells from islets and soluble interleukin 2 receptors in the sera. Moreover, the administration of PC61 significantly reduced the development of hyperglycaemia shown in these mice (12.8 +/- 1.1 mmol/l vs 18.5 +/- 0.7 mmol/l, p less than 0.005). As judged by flow cytometric analysis, this antibody did not cause any changes in either spleen cell counts or T cell subsets. Interleukin 2 receptors were expressed on a minor population of spleen cells regardless of treatment with PC61 (STZ + normal rat IgG: 2.1 +/- 0.3%, STZ + PC61: 2.4 +/- 0.3%). Even after stimulation of spleen cells with concanavalin A or alloantigen, interleukin 2 receptor expression was not significantly different between the two groups. Our studies suggest that interleukin 2 receptor-positive activated T cells or macrophages are important in the development of multi-low-dose streptozotocin diabetes and that an anti-interleukin 2 receptor antibody can attenuate this process.

Effect of MX2, a new morpholino anthracycline, against experimental brain tumors

A new lipophilic morpholino anthracycline derivative, MX2, has an antitumor activity against a wide spectrum of experimental tumors. We examined the effect of MX2 against experimental brain tumors. At a low dose, MX2 exhibited strong growth inhibitory activity against human and rat glioma cells. The survival time of rats with meningeal carcinomatosis induced by intracisternal inoculation of Walker 256 carcinosarcoma cells was significantly prolonged by intravenous MX2. The growth of subcutaneously implanted glioma in rats was significantly retarded by intravenous MX2. These results suggest that MX2 warrants further experimental evaluation of its efficacy against malignant brain tumors including gliomas.

A simple and specific assay of glycosyltransferase and glycosidase activities by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, and its application to assay of galactosyltransferase activity in sera from patients with cancer

A simple, sensitive, and specific assay method for glycosyltransferase and glycosidase activities has been established by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using monoclonal antibody, H-11 directed to lactoneotetraosylceramide (nLc4Cer). Enzyme activity was determined by assaying the amount of reaction product, nLc4Cer with the ELISA method. For the assay of galactosyltransferase activity, lactotriaosylceramide (Lc3Cer) immobilized on a 96-well microtiter plate was incubated with bovine milk galactosyltransferase in cacodylate buffer (pH 6.8) containing Triton CF-54, Mn2+, and UDP-galactose. Optimum incubation conditions for the enzyme were determined. Glycosidase activity was also assayed by the ELISA method by using Clostridium perfringens sialidase and neolacto-series gangliosides as substrates, and the substrate specificities towards the gangliosides were examined. By this method, 3-100 pmol of reaction product could be determined. The assay method has several advantages as follows: 1, the method is simple; 2, separation of the reaction product is not required; 3, quantification and identification of the reaction product were done simultaneously; 4, naturally occurring substrates are available (especially for glycosidase); 5, many samples can be assayed in one microplate; 6, sensitivity is very high. The present method was applied for the detection of galactosyltransferase in human sera. Significant elevations of the galactosyltransferase levels were observed in the sera from cancer patients. The formation of nLc4Cer was confirmed by employing the TLC-immunostaining method for bands of Lc3Cer after incubation of the bands with serum and cofactors on an HPTLC plate.

Accumulation of gangliosides with N-acetylneuraminosyl(alpha 2-6)lactosamine structure in primary human hepatoma

Gangliosides of hepatomas have been analyzed by using a monoclonal antibody directed to N-acetylneuraminosyl(alpha 2-6)lactoneotetraosylceramide (sialyl(alpha 2-6)paragloboside), which was prepared by injecting the monosialoganglioside fraction of human meconium into BALB/c mice. The monoclonal antibody, named MSG-15, was found to bind sialyl(alpha 2-6)paragloboside, but it failed to react with other gangliosides, including N-acetylneuraminosyl(alpha 2-3)lactoneotetraosylceramide (sialyl (alpha 2-3)paragloboside) and "Ii"-type gangliosides. MSG-15 was found to recognize NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal beta structure of the ganglioside. Gangliosides obtained from human hepatomas were analyzed by immunostaining on high-performance thin-layer chromatography plates using the monoclonal antibody MSG-15. All primary hepatoma samples used in this study (nine samples) were found to contain sialyl(alpha 2-6)paragloboside, which accounted for 13-31% of the monosialoganglioside fractions in the hepatomas. Furthermore, MSG-15 recognized several monosialogangliosides in addition to sialyl(alpha 2-6)paragloboside. These gangliosides apparently also contain a terminal NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal beta structure. Other ganglioside fractions obtained from hepatoma and meconium were immunostained on thin layer chromatography plates with MSG-15. Additionally, another monoclonal antibody (H-11), which recognizes terminal lactosamine structure, was used to immunostain these fractions after sialidase treatment. Bands stained with both monoclonal antibodies showed similar mobilities to each other in the di- and trisialoganglioside fractions as well as monosialoganglioside fraction. In control liver, GM3 ganglioside accounted for 92% of monosialoganglioside fraction, and sialyl(alpha 2-6)paragloboside accounted for less than 1% of the fraction. Immunohistochemical study by using MSG-15 in tissue sections from hepatocellular carcinoma and normal liver tissues demonstrated that only hepatocellular carcinoma cells gave a positive reaction. These results suggest that the biosynthetic pathway of gangliosides containing NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta structure is activated in hepatoma cells.

[In situ nick translation for detection of DNA damages in glioma cells]

DNA damaging agents such as nitrosoureas are widely used for the treatment of malignant gliomas. Therefore, quantitative measurement of DNA damages induced by antineoplastic drugs is useful to judge the efficacy of the drug and understand the pharmacological action of the drug. We have utilized in situ nick translation method to demonstrate "nicks" in DNA of glioma cells treated by various antineoplastic agents. Exponentially growing rat 9 L glioma cells (4 x 10(4] were seeded in the chamber slide. After fourty eight hours, the medium was changed to that containing various concentration of the drug (ACNU, cis-DDP, BLM, ADM and VP-16) and the cell was treated for 1 hour. Then, the cell was fixed for 10 minutes in methanol-acetic acid (v/v 3:1). Following fixation, the cell was incubated in the nick translation mixture containing E. coli DNA polymerase I, 3H-TTP, and 4 dNTP's (ATP, GTP, CTP, CTP and TTP) for 10 minutes at room temperature. The slide was dipped in the autoradiographic emulsion, exposed for 4 days at 4 degrees C, and then developed, the number of the silver grains over nuclei was counted under the microscope. For comparison of the effect of the drug to glioma cells, IC50 (inhibitory concentration of the drug for 50% cell kill) of each drug was determined by treating the cell for 48 hours at the various concentration of the drug. Small number of the silver grains was noted in cells with no treatment. Over IC50 as the concentration of the drug increased, the number of the nick increased in cells treated with bleomycin or adriamycin which are known to produce single strand breaks in DNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Epidermal growth factor receptor in human glioma

Distribution of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in the surgical specimen of the human glioma was studied by immunohistochemical techniques using a monoclonal anti-EGF receptor antibody. Of 11 gliomas examined, EGF receptors were detected in nine glioblastomas and in one fibrillary astrocytoma. In the majority of cells, staining was observed over the cell membrane. Nuclear and cytoplasmic staining was also seen. In four glioblastomas, EGF receptor-positive cells were diffusely distributed in the tumor tissue. In one glioblastoma and one fibrillary astrocytoma, only a few positive cells were observed. These results imply the possible role of EGF receptors in the cellular proliferation of the human glioma.

Gangliosides modulate Schwann cell proliferation and morphology

We examined the effect of gangliosides on Schwann cell cultures isolated from neonatal rat sciatic nerves. Addition of gangliosides (GM1, GM3, and ganglioside mixture) at concentrations between 0.25 and 2 mg/ml significantly diminished both the baseline rate of proliferation of the Schwann cells and their response to two types of mitogens, the axolemmal fragments and derivatives of adenosine 3'-5'-monophosphate (cAMP). Gangliosides, the sialic acid residue of which had been removed, were highly toxic to the Schwann cells, which went to indicate that sialic acid is necessary to produce the inhibitory effects. Gangliosides also produced prominent changes in the morphological appearance of the Schwann cells. Most of the Schwann cells treated with gangliosides had an elongated shape with long processes and an alignment of end-to-end or side-by-side cell adhesion. These effects of gangliosides apparently were not mediated by cAMP, since intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) of Schwann cells at a basal- and forskolin-stimulated level was not altered by the exogenous gangliosides. These findings indicate that the direct effect of gangliosides on Schwann cells should also be considered as a background mechanism of ganglioside-induced facilitation of neuronal regeneration.

[Treatment of malignant gliomas with high-dose ACNU and autologous bone marrow transplantation]

Two patients with malignant gliomas located in the frontal lobe were treated by supraophthalmic intracarotid infusion of high-dose ACNU 15 mg/kg (ca. 600 mg/m2) combined with a total 60 Gy of irradiation after surgery. Irradiation therapy was started 13 days (case 1) and 10 days (case 2) after surgery, and single chemotherapy with ACNU 1,020 mg (case 1) and 1,100 mg (case 2) was performed when 36 Gy of whole brain irradiation was done. Chemotherapy was followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation containing 6.8 X 10(9) and 8.9 X 10(8) nucleated cells, respectively. Nadirs of white cell counts on 9 days in case 1 and 14 days in case 2 after chemotherapy were 280 cells and 240 cells/mm3, respectively, and the white cell counts less than 1,000/mm3 continued for 7 and 12 days, respectively. Local irradiation was started again when the number of white cells became more than 1,000/mm3 and 24 Gy was completed in each case. CT scanning carried out on discharge demonstrated no apparent abnormal high density area by contrast medium in both cases. These two patients did not show severe side effects at 10 months in case 1 and at 3 months in case 2 after high dose ACNU therapy, and remained progression-free at that time. Dose 15 mg/kg of ACNU may be the maximum tolerable dose patients can recover from severe myelosuppression, caused by high dose ACNU therapy combined with irradiation therapy, by marrow rescue.

Generation of two murine monoclonal antibodies that can discriminate N-glycolyl and N-acetyl neuraminic acid residues of GM2 gangliosides

Since the preliminary analyses of the glycolipids of small cell carcinomas of the lung showed an increase of GM2 ganglioside, we generated new murine monoclonal antibodies directed to GM2 to identify the molecular species of the glycolipid. The monoclonal antibodies MK2-34 and MK1-16 (both IgM), which specifically detect N-glycolyl GM2 and N-acetyl GM2, respectively, were generated by immunizing mice with liposomes containing monophosphoryl lipid A, trehalose dimycolate, and the antigenic ganglioside. Among the glycolipid preparations extracted from the cancer tissues of 39 patients with lung cancer, a significant amount of N-acetyl GM2 was detected with MK1-16 antibody in 70% of the squamous cell carcinoma cases, 50% of the lung adenocarcinoma cases, 33% of the large cell carcinoma cases, and 100% of the cases of small cell carcinoma of the lung. On the other hand, N-glycolyl GM2 which was defined by the monoclonal MK2-34 was not found in any of the glycolipid fractions prepared from the lung cancer tissues examined in this study. Immunohistochemical studies of the lung cancer tissues with the MK1-16 antibody showed that the N-acetyl GM2 was present not only in small cell carcinoma tissues as one of the antigens related to tumors of neuroectodermal origin, but also in the squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung with a comparable frequency. The appearance of the N-acetyl GM2 antigen correlated well with the degree of differentiation of the cancer cells in patients with squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung.

[Successful treatment of cerebral cysticercosis with praziquantel]

A case of a 56-year-old Korean man with cerebral cysticercosis was reported. This case demonstrated the first successful treatment with praziquantel in Japan and also the usefulness of a low-dose regime in the treatment of cerebral cysticercosis. The patient was admitted to our hospital with a 7 years history of generalized seizure and a 6 months history of gait disturbance. He had 6 subcutaneous nodules. A CT scan of the brain showed multiple cysts containing a small calcification and the largest lesion measured 5 cm in diameter in the cerebellar vermis. Posterior fossa craniectomy was performed and the cyst was pathologically confirmed as cysticercosis. A month postoperatively the patient was given praziquantel 50 mg/kg body weight in 3 divided doses per day. But medication with praziquantel was stopped on the 5th day because of severe headache, nausea and vomiting. He was readmitted 6 months later with appearance of gait disturbance, left facial paresis and dysphagia. A CT scan revealed enlargement of some of the residual cysts. The patient was then given smaller doses of praziquantel 8 mg/kg body weight in 3 divided doses with steroid cover for 48 days. He experienced no side effect during the therapy and became free from the neurological symptoms. A CT scan showed complete disappearance and only numerous small calcifications of the cysts.