[Abnormal expression of carbohydrate chain and its mechanism in endometrial cancer]

An increased rate of expression of Lewis group antigens, particularly Lewisb antigen, was observed in endometrial cancers compared with its expression in normal endometria. In order to elucidate the expression mechanism of Lewisb antigen in endometrial cancer, the level of fucosyltransferase (FT) was examined. The levels of alpha 1-2FT alpha 1-3FT and alpha 1-4FT were higher in endometrial cancer than those in normal endometrium. Endometrial cancer with a poor prognosis tended to react poorly to anti-endometrial cancer monoclonal antibody designated MSN-1, suggesting the possibility that the reactivity to MSN-1 is useful as a new prognostic factor for endometrial cancer. Cells of uterine endometrial cancer cell line SNG-II were classified into two groups according to their reactivity with MSN-1, whose antigen recognized is mainly Lewisb antigen. Using these classified cells of endometrial cancer cell line, it has revealed that the cells which strongly express H type antigen have more tendency to attach to endothelial cells and to cause metastasis than the cells which strongly express Lewisb antigen.

Evaluation of the radiologic findings on hysterosalpingography by selective hydrotubation with flexible hysterofiberscope

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to assess further the significance and accuracy of hysterosalpingography (HSG) by comparing the radiologic findings on HSG to selective hydrotubation (SHT) using a hysterofiberscope in 106 women with tubal occlusion.

RESULTS

Patency was successfully observed by SHT in 72 of 134 tubes and 62 of 106 patients. Proximal obstruction was divided into three groups according to the shape of cornual obstruction (sharp, dull, defect) on HSG. The success rate for SHT in unilateral obstruction (64%) were significantly higher than those in bilateral obstruction (39%). In the three groups of proximal obstruction, the success rates for SHT were 24, 75, and 30% in sharp, dull, and defect, respectively. The group of dull had significantly higher success rate than the groups of sharp and defect. Thirteen of 62 patients who successfully recanalized became pregnant at 9-month follow-up interval.

CONCLUSION

Careful evaluation of the cornual obstruction in radiologic findings on HSG may be important for the decision on further treatment. Furthermore, SHT using a hysterofiberscope is an effective method for evaluating tubal obstruction and for managing it in a selected group of patients with tubal obstruction.

Functional CD4+ T cell subsets defined by expression of CD45RC and NTA260 antigens and age-associated polarization in murine lupus

Using two mAb, one specific to the alternative exon 6-dependent epitope of CD45 molecules (JH6.2) and one a natural thymocytotoxic autoantibody (NTA) with an unknown reactive epitope (NTA260), we subdivided splenic CD4+ T cells from 2-month-old BALB/c mice into five phenotypically distinct subsets. CD45RC+NTA260- (S I) cells were phenotypically analogous to CD4+ T cells predominating in newborn mice and produced a significant amount of IL-2, but not so IL-4, IL-10 or IFN-gamma when stimulated with immobilized anti-CD3 mAb in vitro. They appeared to consist mainly of naive ThP cells. The CD45RC+NTA260+ (S II) subset also produced IL-2, but not other cytokines; however, the IL-2 levels produced were much higher than seen with the S I subset, thereby suggesting the predominance of further maturated ThP cells. The CD45RC-NTA260+ (S III) subset mainly produced IL-4, IL-10, IFN-gamma and less IL-2, and contained memory cells that helped the secondary antibody response to a recall antigen, and hence contained Th2 and probably a mixture of Th0 and Th1 cells. The CD45RC-NTA260- (S IV) subset was a poor responder to the immobilized anti-CD3 mAb. The CD45RCbrightNTA260dull (S V) subset consisted of a small number of cells that were phenotypically analogous to activated CD4+ T cells. While an age-associated decrease in the proportion of S I and less markedly in S II and in turn increase in S III subsets of CD4+ T cells occurred in normal BALB/c mice, autoimmune disease-prone (NZB x NZW)F1 mice showed a marked age-associated decrease in the proportion of not only S I, II but also III subsets. As aged (NZB x NZW)F1 mice carry CD4+ T helper cells for IgG anti-DNA antibody production, such age-associated polarization to the S IV subset appears to be critical in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease in these mice.

Trophinin and tastin, a novel cell adhesion molecule complex with potential involvement in embryo implantation

Two human epithelial cell lines, trophoblastic teratocarcinoma HT-H and endometrial adenocarcinoma SNG-M cells, adhere to each other at their respective apical cell surfaces in a divalent cation-independent manner. Two novel molecules responsible for the adhesion between these two cell types were identified by expression cDNA cloning. One, named trophinin, is an intrinsic membrane protein and mediates homophilic self-binding. Another, named tastin, is a cytoplasmic protein and is necessary for trophinin to function as a cell adhesion molecule. Trophinin and tastin appear to be associated with the cytoskeleton in HT-H and SNG-M cells. These molecules are normally not expressed in various types of human cells in tissues, with the exception of macrophages. Strong expression of these molecules was detected in the trophectoderm surface of monkey blastocyst. These molecules are also expressed in human endometrial surface epithelium on day 16/17 at the early secretory phase of human endometrium, the time consistent with that expected for the "implantation window."

Enzymatic basis for the accumulation of Lewis(b) antigen in uterine endometrial cancer

In order to clarify the mechanism of the abnormal expression of Lewis(b) antigen, which was specific for uterine endometrial cancer tissue, the activities of alpha 1-->2fucosyltransferase, alpha 1-->3fucosyltransferase, and alpha 1-->4fucosyltransferase in normal endometrial tissues and uterine endometrial cancer tissues were determined. Further, an immunocytochemical study of the expression of blood group-related carbohydrate antigens in 6 cultured cell lines derived from various gynecologic malignant tumors was performed and the alpha 1-->2fucosyltransferase, alpha 1-->3fucosyltransferase, and alpha 1-->4fucosyltransferase activities of these cell lines were determined. Compared with normal endometrium, uterine endometrial cancer tissues showed significantly higher values of alpha 1-->2fucosyltransferase, alpha 1-->3fucosyltransferase, and alpha 1-->4fucosyltransferase activities. The specifically strong expression of type I carbohydrate chains, particularly the Lewis(b) antigen, was recognized in cultured cell lines derived from uterine endometrial cancer. Compared with those cell lines derived from uterine cervical cancer and ovarian cancer, the cultured cell lines derived from uterine endometrial cancer showed higher activities of alpha 1-->2fucosyltransferase and alpha 1-->4fucosyltransferase, which are enzymes related to the synthesis of Lewis(b) antigen. The cell lines derived from uterine endometrial cancer showed specifically high values of alpha 1-->4fucosyltransferase activity. These results suggest that the alpha 1-->2fucosyltransferase and alpha 1-->4fucosyltransferase activities, especially the alpha 1-->4fucosyltransferase activity, contribute to the abnormal expression of the Lewisb antigen in uterine endometrial cancer.

Leukocyte subpopulation changes in rats with autotransplanted endometrium and the effect of danazol

PROBLEM

This study examines immune cell populations in rats with autotransplanted endometrium and determines the effect of danazol on leukocyte subsets.

METHODS

As an experimental model of endometriosis, an autologous endometrial segment was implanted in the rat peritoneum. We used flow cytometry to analyze lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood (PB) and peritoneal fluid (PF) of the following groups of rats: no treatment, sham operation, endometrial implantation, endometrial implantation treated with danazol, and normal rats treated with danazol.

RESULTS

The natural killer (NK) cell population was decreased in both the PB and PF of rats with autotransplanted endometrium. Moreover, NK cells increased in a dose-dependent manner following danazol administration. Surgery itself increased the number of peritoneal macrophages as compared with the untreated group. This elevation was suppressed partially by endometrium-implantation and was attenuated by subsequent administration of danazol in a dose-dependent fashion.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that ectopic endometrial cells may release immunosuppressive factors. This is the first documentation that rats with autotransplanted endometrium show the same immunologic changes as humans with endometriosis, and establishes the utility of this model for the study of endometriosis.

Detection of a glycosphingolipid antigen in bladder cancer cells with monoclonal antibody MRG-1

The monoclonal antibody MRG-1 has been evaluated for the immunohistochemical detection of the type 3 chain of blood group A in human normal bladder epithelium and bladder tumours. Light microscope examination of paraffin sections demonstrated that this antigen was present in normal epithelium and superficial bladder tumour in patients with blood group A or AB, but was absent in the invasive type of bladder tumour. In normal epithelium, the plasma membrane was positive for this antigen, and the cytoplasm was diffusely stained. In superficial transitional cell carcinoma, the plasma membrane was negative, whereas the cytoplasm was intensely stained in the perinuclear region. This pattern was different from that observed for type 1 and 2 group A antigen, which was recognized mainly at the plasma membrane. However, in superficial transitional cell carcinoma, the staining was also seen on the plasma membrane. The pattern of the localization of this antigen in this carcinoma was influenced by the treatment of organic solvents. Electron microscopical observations confirmed that this antigen was localized on the plasma membrane and also in the Golgi apparatus of the superficial tumour. These results proved that the type 3 chain of blood group A is present in human bladder epithelium and low grade tumours in correspondence with the blood type, but disappears in tumours with high malignant potential. However, its expression is independent of the expressions of the other subtypes which have been studied. Furthermore, the changes in the staining pattern caused by pretreatment with organic solvents suggested possible differences in the microenvironment of the glycolipids containing this type of sugar chain.

A monoclonal antibody that specifically reacts with human embryonal carcinomas, spermatogonia and oocytes is able to induce human EC cell death

We developed a mouse monoclonal antibody, 6E2 (IgG3), against a human embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell line, NCR-G3, that possesses totipotent differentiation capabilities. Culturing human EC cells in the presence of 6E2 causes their death. It has been shown that 6E2 kills EC cells dose dependently. In immunohistochemical examination with normal human germ cells, 6E2 reacted specifically with spermatogonia and oocytes. Among human germ cell tumor tissues on aceton-fixed frozen sections, 6E2 reacted with embryonal carcinomas, seminomas and dysgerminomas, but it did not react with choriocarcinomas or with yolk sac tumors. Consistently, in flow cytometric analysis of cultured human germ cell tumor cell lines, 6E2 reacted exclusively with EC cells including NCR-G3 cells. It was revealed, by preserving its antigenicity after treatment with periodic acid and tunicamycin and by radiolabeling cells followed by immunoprecipitation, that the molecule defined by 6E2 is a cell surface protein having a molecular weight of approximately 80 kDa. These data illustrate that the molecule defined by 6E2 links human germ cell tumors, especially embryonal carcinoma, seminoma and dysgerminoma, to their normal counterparts and that it may play a role in survival and proliferation of human EC cells.

[Screening for adverse perinatal outcome by biomarkers in maternal serum; a comparison of elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein versus human chorionic gonadotropin]

We conducted a cohort analytic study to determine whether an unexplained increase in maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) or human chorionic gonadotropin (MShCG) is effective in screening for adverse perinatal outcomes. MSAFP and MShCG levels were measured in 1,097 consecutive pregnant women in whom gestation was dated by ultrasonography and who later delivered a single infant. Patients with high MSAFP or MShCG had a much higher risk of low birth weight, intrauterine growth retardation and fetal death. But a screening test with MShCG for predicting preterm birth, low birth weight and intrauterine growth retardation had an approximately twice higher sensitivity than that with MSAFP. A combination of MSAFP and MShCG had little effect on the sensitivity. We concluded that a screening test with MShCG alone might be useful in predicting adverse perinatal outcomes.

Experimental growth retardation produced by transient period of uteroplacental ischemia in pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats

OBJECTIVE

Introduction of experimental growth retardation, which was based on the hypothesis of uteroplacental postischemic hypoperfusion, was attempted by a transient period of uteroplacental ischemia in dated-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats.

STUDY DESIGN

On day 17 of gestation right uterine horn circulation was occluded for 5 to 60 minutes in 35 dams. The fetuses were delivered by cesarean section and studied on day 21 of gestation. For each experiment the fetuses in the right horn served as the ischemia group and those in the left horn were used as the control group.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis by Wilcoxon signed-rank test demonstrated a significant decrease in the fetal weights and in the liver-to-body weight ratios, in contrast to an increase in the brain-to-body weight ratios in the 60-minute ischemia group, compared with those in the control group. This ischemia resulted in a 14% incidence of fetal deaths.

CONCLUSION

Ischemia of a single uterine horn circulation in pregnant rat for 60 minutes should readily serve as a suitable model for asymmetric intrauterine growth retardation.

The effect of interleukin-2 on the release of gonadotropin and prolactin in vivo and in vitro

To evaluate a possible physiological role of Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the control of Luteinizing hormone (LH), Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Prolactin (PRL) release, conscious, ovariectomized (OVX) rats were given injections of IL-2 into the third ventricle. The third ventricular injection of IL-2 induced a significant decrease in plasma LH levels when compared to values in control animals (P < 0.05). Plasma LH concentrations were significantly decreased within 5 min after the injection of IL-2 and remained decreased for 1 h. In contrast, injections of IL-2 had no effect on plasma FSH or PRL levels. To evaluate a possible direct action of IL-2 on LH, FSH and PRL release from the anterior pituitary gland, the cytokine was incubated with dispersed anterior pituitary cells for 4 h. IL-2 in the dose range between 10(-1) and 10(-3) unit stimulated the release of LH and FSH into the culture medium (P < 0.05, P < 0.025 vs. control, respectively). The release of PRL from incubated anterior pituitary cells was not affected at any dose of IL-2 tested. These results indicate that IL-2 possibly plays an inhibitory role in the control of gonadotropin secretion, via hypothalamic action, although it acts directly to stimulate the release of the gonadotropins at the level of the anterior pituitary gland.

Genetic origin analysis of hydatidiform mole and non-molar abortion using the polymerase chain reaction method

OBJECTIVES

The study attempts to determine the genetic origin of hydatidiform mole and non-molar abortion using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, and reevaluates this method as a possible diagnostic tool for hydatidiform mole.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 71 cases which consists of 21 complete hydatidiform moles, three partial hydatidiform moles, and 47 non-molar abortions were investigated. The genetic origin was analyzed by the PCR method applied to the variable number of tandem repeat regions of the Apolipoprotein B gene, the human type-II collagen gene, and the probe YNZ22. Chromosomal analysis was also performed.

RESULTS

Genetic origin was determined in 58 out of 71 cases (83.1%). All of the complete hydatidiform moles were androgenic, having only paternal alleles. On the other hand, all the partial hydatidiform moles and non-molar abortions revealed clear biparental contribution. Besides triploid partial hydatidiform moles, one non-molar abortion showed two paternal and one maternal complements.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results were compatible with the classical theory of androgenic origin of complete hydatidiform mole; only complete hydatidiform mole is caused by androgenesis. We also found no complete hydatidiform mole of biparental origin. In conclusion, this PCR method brings a new aspect of genetic origin in the diagnosis of trophoblastic disease. It would be interesting to explore how morphologic subgrouping and genetic origin relate to the prognosis of trophoblastic disease.

[A phase II study of BMS-181339 in patients with ovarian cancer. BMS-181339 Ovarian Cancer Study Group]

We conducted a multicenter Phase II study of BMS-181339 in patients with ovarian cancer. The facilities participating were 23 in number. The total number of cases registered for the study were 62; 57 of them entered for evaluation in drug efficacy, and 58 cases were evaluable in drug safety. All the cases were previously treated with chemotherapy including platinum-based drugs. The clinical responses of BMS-181339 were as follows: CR, 1 case; PR, 13 cases; MR, 3 cases; NC, 13 cases and PD, 27 cases. The response rate was 24.6% (95% CI: 14.1-37.8%). Histologically, the drug showed its efficacy on serous adenocarcinoma 28.2% (11/39), mucinous adenocarcinoma 20.0% (1/5) and clear cell adenocarcinoma 20.0% (1/5). In regional evaluation, the drug demonstrated its efficacy not only on endopelvic lesions 19.0% (4/21) and abdominal lesions 14.3% (2/14), but also on remote metastatic lesions such as hepatic metastasis 30.8% (4/13) and lung/pleura 33.3% (2/6). The drug also showed its efficacy on the cases 22.9% (8/35) refractory to the platinum-based drugs. Major adverse reactions were fever 63.8% (37/58), alopecia 59.3% (32/54), peripheral nerve disorders 28.1% (16/57) such as numbness of the extremities, nausea/vomiting 24.1% (14/58), arthralgia 20.7% (12/58) and diarrhea 20.7% (12/58) etc.. Abnormal alterations in laboratory test values were an incidence rates of 100% for both leukopenia and neutropenia. However, these symptoms were clinically manageable by transient withdrawal of medication, dose reduction and administration of antibiotics and G-CSF. In addition, decrease in hemoglobin 93.1% (54/58), decrease in platelet counts 31.0% (18/58), elevation in GOT 27.6% (16/58), in GPT 31.0% (18/58) and in LDH 20.7% (12/58) were seen, but no serious organopathy was observed. Thus, we confirmed that BMS-181339 was a clinically useful chemotherapeutic agent in patients with ovarian cancer.

Estrogen deficiency stimulates B lymphopoiesis in mouse bone marrow

We have found that an estrogen deficiency causes a marked increase in bone marrow cells. To examine the effect of estrogen on hemopoiesis, we characterized the increased population of bone marrow cells after ovariectomy (OVX). In OVX mice, the percentage of myeloid cells and granulocytes was decreased, whereas that of B220-positive B lymphocytes was selectively increased 2-4 wk after surgery. The total number of myeloid cells and granulocytes did not change appreciably, but that of B220-positive cells was greatly increased by OVX. When OVX mice were treated with estrogen, the increased B lymphopoiesis returned to normal. B220-positive cells were classified into two subpopulations, B220low and B220high. The majority of the B220low cells were negative for the IgM mu chain, whereas most of the B220high cells were mu-positive. OVX selectively increased the precursors of B lymphocytes identified by B220low. mu-negative phenotype, suggesting that an estrogen deficiency stimulates accumulation of B lymphocyte precursors. When bone marrow-derived stromal cells (ST2) were pretreated with estrogen then co-cultured with bone marrow cells in the presence of estrogen, the stromal cell-dependent B lymphopoiesis was greatly inhibited. The present study suggests that estrogen plays an important role in the regulation of B lymphocyte development in mouse bone marrow.

[Osteoporosis after menopause and oophorectomy]

Characteristics of osteoporosis occurring after menopause and oophorectomy are described. Changes in hormone dynamics induced by menopause or oophorectomy lead to high metabolic turnover of bone, characterized by increased bone formation and resorption. The increase in bone resorption surpasses that of bone formation, resulting in decreased bone mineral density (BMD). Even before the onset of menopause, a transient decrease in estrogen concentrations can produce decreases in BMD that are comparable to those occurring after menopause or oophorectomy. Long-term observation of women undergoing premature menopause indicates that BMD progressively continues to decline in association with high bone metabolic turnover. There was no significant difference between BMD, 3 years after menopause, compared with that 3 years after oophorectomy, a time when the effect on BMD are fully evident. These findings indicate that osteoporosis, associated with either menopause or oophorectomy, can be managed in the same manner in a clinical setting.

Sperm-immobilizing antibodies in women undergoing artificial insemination with donor sperm

Forty-nine female partners of infertile couples undergoing AID (1 to 44 times) were tested for the presence of sperm-immobilizing antibodies in their serum. One hundred fifty-one infertile women undergoing ART treatment other than AID were enrolled as a control group. One of the 49 AID patients and 3 of the 151 women of the control group were positive for sperm-immobilizing antibodies. The sperm-immobilizing antibodies incidence in AID patients did not differ significantly from that in the control group. This suggests that multiple exposures to semen from different donors do not increase the possibility of inducing sperm-immobilizing antibodies in AID patients.

Effect of GnRH antagonists on phorbol ester-induced LH release from rat pituitary gonadotrophs

We previously reported that a blockade of GnRH receptor activation inhibited the already-initiated C-kinase pathway(s). We tried to investigate whether this finding is a general phenomenon or not. In this study, we employed three GnRH antagonists, [D-Phe2,Pro3,D-Phe6]-GnRH, [Ac-D-Nal-Ala1,D-pCl-Phe2,D-Ser(Rha)6]-GnRH, and [Ac-D-p-Cl-Phe1,2,D-Trp3,D-Lys6,D-Ala10]-GnRH (referred to as #1-, #2-, #3-GnRH antag., respectively). Each antagonist was examined for its potency against GnRH by analyzing its inhibitory effect on LH release from pituitary gonadotrophs as well as on the increase in the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. As a result, the #1-GnRH antag. was found to be weaker than the other two compounds. Consistent with a previous study, the #3-GnRH antag. inhibited the action of TPA on LH release. However, independently of their potency as GnRH-antagonists, the two other antagonists had no inhibitory effect on TPA-induced LH release. While it is generally accepted that the C kinase pathway plays a major role in the GnRH-induced LH release, not all GnRH antagonists can inhibit LH release by blocking the already-activated C kinase system.

[Relation of gestational age, maternal body weight and age or serum alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin at second-trimester]

Serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were measured in serum samples of 1,964 pregnant Japanese women whose gestational age and singleton pregnancy were confirmed by ultrasound examination during the first trimester of pregnancy. Statistical analysis of log-linear regression to calculate multiples of the median (MoM) was accomplished by the SAS statistical method. The levels of the two analytes noticeably decreased as maternal body weight increased. However, maternal age did not have a significant effect on either of them. The MoM formulae were as follows: MSAFPMoM = AFP/exp(0.861 + 0.0685 x gestational age(weeks) - 0.00572 x body weight(kg)). MShCGMoM = hCG/exp(6.12 - 0.787 x gestational age(weeks) - 0.00613 x body weight(kg)). Gestational age and maternal body weight should be considered as regression functions for the adjustment of serum levels in risk estimation of fetal anomalies and fetal demise in Japan.

[Studies on clinical usefulness of new tumor markers of ovarian cancer, CA54/61 and CA602--III. Measurement of serum samples from patients with various benign or malignant diseases]

Serum samples from patients with benign or malignant diseases were measured for the newly developed tumor markers CA54/61 and CA602 with the respective EIA kits for assessment of their utility as tumor markers. A total of 5236 patients were entered into the study, consisting of ovarian cancer patients, those with other cancers, pregnant women, and healthy volunteers. The CA54/61-positive rate with a cut-off value of 12 U/ml was 61.2% for ovarian cancers (50.4% with a cut-off value of 20 U/ml). A positive rate of 75.0% (64.4%) was achieved for mucinous cystadenocarcinoma, which was high, compared with that for CA125. On the other hand, the false-positive rate was 12.2%(5.9%) for benign ovarian tumors, and as low as 18.5%(8.7%) for endometriosis. The CA602-positive rate with a cut-off value of 63 U/ml was as high as 76.0% for ovarian cancers (69.8% with a cut-off value of 90 U/ml). On the other hand, the false-positive rate was relatively high at 21.9% (12.6%) for benign ovarian tumors, and 56.7% (40.0%) for endometriosis. These positive rates were therefore similar to those for CA 125. The levels of both CA54/61 and CA602 antigens well reflected the postoperative prognosis. These results suggest the utility of CA54/61 and CA 602 as tumor markers of ovarian cancers.

A unique murine CD43 epitope Lp-3: distinct distribution from another CD43 epitope S7

In foregoing studies, we found a unique B cell differentiation antigen Lp-3 which is expressed on pre-B and premature B cells in the bone marrow, but is negative on bone marrow mature B cells and peripheral resting B cells. Nonetheless, Lp-3 was clearly positive on the majority of CD5 B(B1) cells. When we examined the biochemical nature and partial amino acid sequences of purified 132-kDa Lp-3 molecules and the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA clones, we found that Lp-3 is an epitope of CD43. Thus, the monoclonal antibody (mAb) Lp-3 may be the first mAb to murine CD43 defined by primary target structure analysis. Comparison of tissue distribution of Lp-3 and S7, an epitope previously suggested to associate with murine CD43, showed that they were similarly distributed on thymocytes, peripheral B and T cells, granulocytes, and platelets. In the bone marrow, while both Lp-3 and S7 were negative on mature B cells, the former was positive on all B lineage cells at an early ontogeny and the latter was positive only on the minor population of pre-B cells and pro-B cells. Lp-3 and S7 epitopes also showed different distributions on basement membranes of renal glomerulus, bronchus, and endometrium, lining cells of choroid plexus and muscular cells of arterioles in a variety of tissues. As CD43 has various isoforms generated by different degrees of glycosylation of the common core peptide, it is likely that Lp-3 and S7 are associated with different CD43 isoforms.

Effect of epidermal growth factor on mouse sperm acrosome reaction induced by zona pellucida

PROBLEM

The effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the acid-solubilized zona pellucida (ZP)-induced acrosome reaction was investigated in mouse sperm.

METHOD

Mouse epididymal sperm were capacitated in modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer (m-KRB) for 120 min and further treated with acid-solubilized ZP(4 zona/microliters) for an additional 60 min to induce the acrosome reaction. The chlortetracycline fluorescence assay was used to monitor the acrosome reaction. The acrosome reacted sperm featured the acrosome reacted (AR) pattern, which demonstrates the lack of fluorescence on the head and bright midpiece.

RESULTS

EGF caused an early increase in the AR pattern in response to the acid-solubilized ZP in a dose-dependent manner. The EGF-dependent stimulation of the ZP-induced acrosome reaction was inhibited by an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinases, genistein or activators of Ca++ and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C). Furthermore, the stimulatory effect of EGF was not attenuated when sperm were capacitated in the presence of islet-activating protein, an inactivator of inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (Gi protein).

CONCLUSION

EGF stimulates the ZP-induced acrosome reaction in a manner that is independent of the Gi protein. The EGF action is regulated by protein tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C.

[Clinical significance of galactosyltransferase associated with tumor (GAT), a new tumor marker for ovarian cancer--with special reference to the discrimination between ovarian cancer and endometriosis]

We examined GAT, a newly developed tumor marker, in serum samples collected from 1,503 females in six institutions: 387 healthy females, 1,052 patients with gynecological diseases including 311 ovarian cancers, and 64 with nongynecological diseases. Based on the mean value + 2 SD for the healthy females, the cut-off value was set at 16 U/ml. The positive rate of GAT was 2.6% for the healthy females, 7.1% for patients with benign ovarian tumor, 5.6% for those with endometriosis, 47.9% for those with ovarian cancers, 9.3% for those with cervical cancer, and 13.3% for those with endometrial cancer. The false-positive rate of GAT for endometriosis was very low compared with that of the other markers such as CA 125, CA 602, CA 54/61, CA 72-4, STN, SLX examined in this study. The positive predictive value between ovarian cancer and endometriosis was the highest with GAT among the evaluated markers. In the cases in which the CA 125 (CA 602) value is relatively low, discrimination between ovarian cancer and endometriosis is difficult, because these cases include many patients with endometriosis. GAT showed the highest positive predictive value in such cases, so GAT proved to play a complementary role with CA 125 (CA 602). Combination assay with GAT and CA 54/61/CA 72-4/STN or SLX showed higher diagnostic efficiency between ovarian cancer and endometriosis. These results suggest the usefulness of GAT for discrimination between ovarian cancer and endometriosis.

[Characterization of anti human uterine endometrial cancer antibody (MSN-1) and its usefulness in clinical application]

We have produced a monoclonal antibody (MSN-1), by using our endometrial cancer-cultured cell line (SNG-II) as an immunogen. MSN-1 belongs to the IgM immunoglobulin class and mainly recognized the Lewis carbohydrate moiety. It seldom, reacted immunohistochemically with normal endometrium but with about 90% of endometrial cancer cases. So, we evaluated the effectiveness of its use in clinical application. We studied the relationship between the stage of cancer and reactivity to MSN-1, and that between the reactivity of moderately differentiated endometrial cancer to MSN-1 and a 5-year survival rate. Endometrial cancer with a poor prognosis tended to react poorly to MSN-1, suggesting the possibility that the reactivity to MSN-1 is useful as a new prognostic factor. A study of endometrial hyperplasia revealed that the reactivity to MSN-1 was high in the high risk group (individuals diagnosed as endometrial cancer later). This suggested that the analysis of the expression of the antigen recognized by MSN-1 is useful in selecting the high risk group out of patients with endometrial hyperplasia. Furthermore, we indicated that abnormal expression of the antigen recognized by MSN-1 associated with neoplasia of endometrial cells is useful in developing a new diagnostic method for example our endometrial cell enzyme immunoassay (EmC-EIA) and will be helpful in developing diagnostic approaches, such as missile therapy with a complex of MSN-1 and adriamycin for endometrial cancer.