Anti-Allergic Activity of Fucoidan Can Be Enhanced by Coexistence with Quercetin

In recent years, the incidence of type I hypersensitivity including hay fever has been increasing year by year in Japan. Our previous study using mice showed that only oral, but not intraperitoneal, administration of fucoidan extracted from seaweed (Saccharina japonica) suppressed type I hypersensitivity by secretion of galectin-9, which has a high affinity for IgE in the blood. However, the amount of seaweed required to achieve this activity is quite high (12 g dry weight per person per day). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to search for food ingredients in vegetables that enhance type I hypersensitivity suppression effect when consumed together with fucoidan. As a result, the enhanced effect was observed in extracts from Welsh onions and onions among vegetables. When we compared the polyphenols in the vegetables that showed activity with those that did not, flavonols such as quercetin and kaempferol were found as candidates. When quercetin or kaempferol (100 μg each) were orally administered at the same time, even at amounts where fucoidan alone showed no anti-allergic activity, anti-allergic effects were observed. More interestingly, when both flavonols were combined and administered simultaneously at half the amount of each of the above flavonols (50 μg), while the fucoidan amount remained the same, a similar effect was observed as when each flavonol (100 μg) was administered alone. The simultaneous intake of fucoidan and vegetables containing high contents of quercetin or kaempferol may reduce fucoidan intake while maintaining the allergy suppression effect, suggesting the importance of food combination.

Enhancing 5-fluorouracil cytotoxicity by inhibiting dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase activity with uracil in human tumor cells

We analyzed dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) activity (radioenzymatic assay) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) cytotoxicity (MTT test) in the absence or presence of uracil in two human cancer cell lines, MIAPaCa-2 (pancreas tumor) and HuTu80 (duodenum tumor). Basal DPD activities in both were comparatively high; MIAPaCa-2, 101 and HuTu80, 153 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. Twenty mu g/ml of uracil, a dose which did not influence cell proliferation, enhanced 5-FU cytotoxicity; MIAPaCa-2, 2.0-fold and HuTu80, 1.5-fold, respectively. Uracil inhibited both DPD activity and cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner, and exhibited maximum effect at molar ratios to 5-FU of more than 10 (DPD activity, almost complete inhibition; growth-inhibitory effect, about a 30% increase). In addition, the cytosolic DPD activity of OCC-1 human head and neck tumors, collected following the oral administration of ss mg/kg of uracil to tumor-bearing nude mice, decreased to about 50% of that of OCC-1 tumors not treated with uracil. These findings suggested that combined fluoropyrimidine and uracil treatment of tumors with high basal DPD, elicits a greater antitumor effect than fluoropyrimidines alone, since uracil could inhibit the degradation of 5-FU in the tumor. UFT, an oral fluoropyrimidine combined with uracil, is expected to be more effective in such tumors.

Association of genetic variants for susceptibility to obesity with type 2 diabetes in Japanese individuals

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

In populations of East Asian descent, we performed a replication study of loci previously identified in populations of European descent as being associated with obesity measures such as BMI and type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We genotyped 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 13 candidate loci that had previously been identified by genome-wide association meta-analyses for obesity measures in Europeans. Genotyping was done in 18,264 participants from two general Japanese populations. For SNPs showing an obesity association in Japanese individuals, we further examined diabetes associations in up to 6,781 cases and 7,307 controls from a subset of the original, as well as from additional populations.

RESULTS

Significant obesity associations (p < 0.1 two-tailed, concordant direction with previous reports) were replicated for 11 SNPs from the following ten loci in Japanese participants: SEC16B, TMEM18, GNPDA2, BDNF, MTCH2, BCDIN3D-FAIM2, SH2B1-ATP2A1, FTO, MC4R and KCTD15. The strongest effect was observed at TMEM18 rs4854344 (p = 7.1 × 10(-7) for BMI). Among the 11 SNPs showing significant obesity association, six were also associated with diabetes (OR 1.05-1.17; p = 0.04-2.4 × 10(-7)) after adjustment for BMI in the Japanese. When meta-analysed with data from the previous reports, the BMI-adjusted diabetes association was found to be highly significant for the FTO locus in East Asians (OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.09-1.18; p = 7.8 × 10(-10)) with substantial inter-ethnic heterogeneity (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

We confirmed that ten candidate loci are associated with obesity measures in the general Japanese populations. Six (of ten) loci exert diabetogenic effects in the Japanese, although relatively modest in size, and independently of increased adiposity.

Common variants at the GCK, GCKR, G6PC2-ABCB11 and MTNR1B loci are associated with fasting glucose in two Asian populations

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

To test fasting glucose association at four loci recently identified or verified by genome-wide association (GWA) studies of European populations, we performed a replication study in two Asian populations.

METHODS

We genotyped five common variants previously reported in Europeans: rs1799884 (GCK), rs780094 (GCKR), rs560887 (G6PC2-ABCB11) and both rs1387153 and rs10830963 (MTNR1B) in the general Japanese (n = 4,813) and Sri Lankan (n = 2,319) populations. To identify novel variants, we further examined genetic associations near each locus by using GWA scan data on 776 non-diabetic Japanese samples.

RESULTS

Fasting glucose association was replicated for the five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at p < 0.05 (one-tailed test) in South Asians (Sri Lankan) as well as in East Asians (Japanese). In fine-mapping by GWA scan data, we identified in the G6PC2-ABCB11 region a novel SNP, rs3755157, with significant association in Japanese (p = 2.6 x 10(-8)) and Sri Lankan (p = 0.001) populations. The strength of association was more prominent at rs3755157 than that of the original SNP rs560887, with allelic heterogeneity detected between the SNPs. On analysing the cumulative effect of associated SNPs, we found the per-allele gradients (beta = 0.055 and 0.069 mmol/l in Japanese and Sri Lankans, respectively) to be almost equivalent to those reported in Europeans.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Fasting glucose association at four tested loci was proven to be replicable across ethnic groups. Despite this overall consistency, ethnic diversity in the pattern and strength of linkage disequilibrium certainly exists and can help to appreciably reduce potential causal variants after GWA studies.

Differential effects of prenatal stress on the morphological maturation of hippocampal neurons

The present study was designed to clarify an intensity-dependent effect of prenatal stress on the morphological development of hippocampal neurons in rats. In addition, the involvement of receptors for glucocorticoids, i.e. mineralocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoid receptors, in stress-induced changes in the morphology of hippocampal neurons was examined by an in vitro pharmacological approach. The effects of mild prenatal stress on neurogenesis and long-term potentiation in the hippocampus were also investigated in adult offspring. Prenatal stress affected the morphological development of the hippocampus in an intensity-dependent manner. Short-lasting, mild prenatal stress enhanced neonatal neurogenesis and differentiation of processes of hippocampal neurons, whereas long-lasting, severe stress impaired their morphology. Mineralocorticoid receptor was found to mediate enhancement of neurogenesis and differentiation of processes of cultured hippocampal neurons. In contrast, glucocorticoid receptor was involved in the suppression of their morphology. Short-lasting, mild prenatal stress, which has previously been shown to enhance learning performance in adult offspring, facilitated neurogenesis and long-term potentiation in the adult hippocampus. These findings suggest that prenatal stress has enhancing and suppressing effects on the development of hippocampal neurons depending on intensity, and that mineralocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoid receptors contribute to stress-induced morphological changes.

The effect of intrathecal fentanyl added to hyperbaric bupivacaine on maternal respiratory function during Cesarean section

BACKGROUND

Subarachnoid blockade with local anesthetics induces respiratory depression. Although the addition of fentanyl to bupivacaine has become popular in subarachnoid blockade for Cesarean section, there is no information on the effect of intrathecal fentanyl on maternal spirometric respiratory function in parturients undergoing Cesarean section.

METHODS

We tested the effect of the addition of intrathecal fentanyl to hyperbaric bupivacaine on maternal spirometric performance in 40 consenting parturients undergoing Cesarean section. The parturients were randomized into two groups: those receiving 2.0 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% and 0.4 ml of saline intrathecally and those receiving 2.0 ml of hyperbaric bupivacaine and 0.4 ml of fentanyl (20 microg) intrathecally. We performed spirometry on arriving at the operation room and 15 min after subarachnoid blockade.

RESULTS

Subarachnoid blockade with bupivacaine significantly decreased the peak expiratory flow rate, but did not induce significant changes in vital capacity and forced vital capacity. The addition of intrathecal fentanyl to bupivacaine improved the quality of subarachnoid blockade, but did not lead to a deterioration in respiratory function compared with intrathecal bupivacaine alone.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of intrathecal fentanyl to hyperbaric bupivacaine did not lead to a deterioration in maternal spirometric respiratory function in parturients undergoing Cesarean section.

Materno-fetal coordination of stress-induced Fos expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus during pregnancy

This study investigates whether maternal stress during pregnancy induces maternal and fetal hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neuronal activation and the effects of maternal stress on fetal hypothalamic and PVN brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. Pregnant rats were exposed to three types of maternal stress with varying severity (restraint, forced walking and immobilization) for 30 min on gestational day 21. Severity of stress was assessed by measurement of maternal plasma corticosterone 30 min following the stimulus. Maternal plasma corticosterone increased in each stress response group (immobilization>forced walking>restraint). Further, the expression of Fos protein, a marker of neuronal activation, increased in the fetal and maternal PVN in direct relation to the severity of stress treatments. Forced walking and immobilized stress, but not restraint stress, significantly increased BDNF expression in the fetal hypothalamus.These findings suggest that the fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) response following maternal stress mirrors maternal HPA activation. In addition, BDNF may play a role in protecting fetal brain neurons from damage caused by severe stress.

Enhancement of the antitumour activity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by inhibiting dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase activity (DPD) using 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine (CDHP) in human tumour cells

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine (CDHP), a potent inhibitor of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), to enhance the antitumour activity of the fluoropyrimidines. In an in vitro study, CDHP did not influence cell proliferation by itself. However, CDHP did inhibit 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) degradation and enhanced 5-FU cytotoxicity in a concentration-dependent manner in two human tumour cell lines (MIAPaCa-2 and HuTu80) with relatively high basal DPD activity. CDHP exhibited a maximum effect at a molar ratio (CDHP:5-FU) of more than 0.2. However, CDHP did not have any effect on 5-FU cytotoxicity in the CAL27 tumour cell line, which has a relatively low basal DPD activity, even at concentrations where the DPD activity is almost completely inhibited. In an in vivo study, the maximal tolerable doses (MTD) of tegafur (FT) and a combination of FT and CDHP at a molar ratio of 1:0.4 (FT/CDHP) for nude mice were determined by oral administration for 14 consecutive days. After a single oral administration of either FT or FT/CDHP at the MTD, the 5-FU serum concentration-time profiles were almost the same for both treatment strategies. When nude mice bearing subcutaneous (s.c.) MIAPaCa-2 cells were treated with either FT or FT/CDHP at the MTD, the FT/CDHP treatment showed a significantly higher antitumour effect than the FT treatment (tumour growth inhibition: FT/CDHP, 51+/-12%; FT, 21+/-25%; P<0.05). However, the host-body weight suppression induced by FT/CDHP and FT was equivalent. These findings suggest that the combination of fluoropyrimidine and CDHP for the treatment of tumours with a high basal DPD elicits a greater antitumour effect than treatment with fluoropyrimidines alone and we suggest that CDHP inhibits the degradation of 5-FU in the tumour.

Thymidylate synthase (TS) and ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) may be involved in acquired resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in human cancer xenografts in vivo

A human tumour sub-line resistant to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was established by once a day and every 5, with at least 50 administrations of 5-FU to KM12C human colorectal xenografts in nude mice. KM12C tumours treated with 5-FU showed less sensitivity to 5-FU with an inhibition rate (IR) of 7.9%, while non-treated tumours were highly sensitive to 5-FU with an IR of 81.8%. To clarify the mechanism of 5-FU-resistance, the activities of various enzymes and gene expressions involved in the metabolism of 5-FU in both parental and 5-FU-treated KM12C tumours were measured. A 2- to 3-fold increase in thymidylate synthase (TS) activity and 4- to 5-fold decrease in ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) activity were observed in 5-FU-resistant KM12C tumours, while the activities of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) thymidine and uridine phosphorylases (TP,UP) and thymidine kinase (TK) were not markedly changed as a consequence of repeated treatment of KM12C tumours with 5-FU. The expression of TS mRNA was also amplified in accordance with the increased TS activity in a 5-FU-treated tumour sub-line (KM12C/5-FU) compared with that in parental tumours, but changed expressions of both RNR-R1 and RNA-R2 mRNA could not be detected in the 5-FU-resistant tumour sub-line compared with the parental tumours, suggesting possible post-transcriptional regulation of RNR. Moreover, RNR, in addition to TS and OPRT, seemed to be related to the inherent insensitivity to 5-FU in human cancer xenografts. From these results, it may be concluded that RNR activity is one of the acquired or inherent resistant factors, including TS, to 5-FU in human cancer xenografts in vivo.

Mild prenatal stress enhances learning performance in the non-adopted rat offspring

The present study was designed to investigate whether mild stress during pregnancy affects offspring behaviors, including learning performance. Prenatal stress was induced by short-lasting, mild restraint stress, which had previously been shown to facilitate the morphological development of fetal brain neurons. Adult offspring whose dams had been restrained in a small cage for 30min daily from gestation day 15 to 17 showed enhanced active avoidance and radial maze learning performance. In addition, the prenatally stressed rats showed weaker emotional responses than unstressed control, as indicated by decreases both in ambulation upon initial exposure to an open field and in Fos expression in the amygdala induced by physical stress. The observed effects of prenatal stress on learning performance and emotional behavior were attenuated by foster rearing by unstressed dams. Fos expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus following physical stress and corticosterone secretion during physical and psychological stress did not differ between the prenatally stressed and unstressed control rats. From these results we suggest that mild prenatal stress facilitates learning performance in the adult offspring. The enhancement of learning performance appears to be accompanied by reduced emotionality, but not by any apparent alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal responses. In addition, the observation of differential behaviors in the adopted and non-adopted animals supports the notion that the postnatal environment modifies the behavioral effects of prenatal stress.

Antitumor activity and pharmacokinetics of TAS-106, 1-(3-C-ethynyl-beta-D-ribo-pentofuranosyl)cytosine

We examined the effects of dosage schedule on antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo to determine the optimal administration schedule for a new nucleoside antimetabolite 1-(3-C-ethynyl-beta-D-ribo-pentofuranosyl)cytosine (ECyd, TAS-106). The cytotoxicity of TAS-106 in vitro against human tumors was evaluated at three drug exposure periods. TAS-106 exhibited fairly potent cytotoxicity even with 4 h exposure, and nearly equivalent and sufficiently potent cytotoxicity with 24 and 72 h exposures. These results suggest that long-term exposure to TAS-106 will not be required to achieve maximal cytotoxicity. The antitumor activity of TAS-106 in vivo was compared in nude rat models bearing human tumors on three administration schedules, once weekly, 3 times weekly, and 5 times weekly for 2 or 4 consecutive weeks. TAS-106 showed strong antitumor activity without serious toxicity on all three schedules, but the antitumor activity showed no obvious schedule-dependency in these models. When tumor-bearing nude rats were given a single i.v. dose of [(3)H]TAS-106, tumor tissue radioactivity tended to remain high for longer periods of time as compared to the radioactivity in various normal tissues. Furthermore, when the metabolism of TAS-106 in the tumor was examined, it was found that TAS-106 nucleotides (including the active metabolite, the triphosphate of TAS-106) were retained at high concentrations for prolonged periods. These pharmacodynamic features of TAS-106 may explain the strong antitumor activity without serious toxicity, observed on intermittent administration schedules, in nude rat models with human tumors. We therefore consider TAS-106 to be a promising compound which merits further investigation in patients with solid tumors.

Elafin is induced in epidermis in skin disorders with dermal neutrophilic infiltration: interleukin-1 beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha stimulate its secretion in vitro

BACKGROUND

Elafin, an elastase inhibitor produced by keratinocytes, is overexpressed in the subcorneal region of skin affected by psoriasis, a major feature of which is epidermal infiltration by neutrophil leucocytes.

OBJECTIVES

We studied the expression of elafin in the epidermis in other skin disorders characterized by dermal neutrophil infiltration and in skin disorders with dermal lymphocyte infiltration.

PATIENTS/METHODS

We examined biopsies from the lesional skin of patients with Behçet's syndrome, Sweet's syndrome, pyoderma gangrenosum, cutaneous allergic vasculitis and acute bacterial infection (cellulitis), and from the skin of patients with chronic prurigo, discoid lupus erythematosus and psoriasis. We performed in vitro experiments using cultured keratinocytes treated with mediators such as interleukin (IL)-1 beta, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-6, neutrophil elastase and interferon (IFN)-gamma.

RESULTS

Anti-elafin antibody showed a strong reaction with the subcorneal region of the epidermis in patients with Behçet's syndrome, Sweet's syndrome, pyoderma gangrenosum, cutaneous allergic vasculitis and acute bacterial infection (cellulitis), but showed no reaction in skin from patients with dermal lymphocyte infiltration such as is seen in chronic prurigo and discoid lupus erythematosus. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that treatment with IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha resulted in 2.6-fold and 4-fold stimulation of elafin secretion, respectively, whereas IL-6, neutrophil elastase and IFN-gamma caused no significant changes in elafin release.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that inflammatory mediators such as IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha secreted by dermal neutrophils may be involved in overexpression of elafin in keratinocytes; this could protect the epidermis from degradation by dermal neutrophil infiltration.

Spitz nevus on the palmar surface

Relatively little is known about the incidence of Spitz nevus on palmar surfaces. This report places a case study in the context of the Japanese literature regarding the occurrence of Spitz nevus on palmar surfaces. Although the proportion of palms and soles in relation to the body surface is about 5%, the incidence of the Spitz nevus was 2%. The mean age at onset was 17.8 years, and all 4 cases were women. The clinical features were a black macule or flatly elevated small modules. The size of the lesions was relatively small, extending from 3.5 mm to 8.0 mm. Although the backs of the hands and insteps have almost the same area as the palms and soles, the incidence of onset in these regions was 6.3% (13 cases). We thus concluded that Spitz nevus tends to be rare on palms and soles.

Experimental postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy by UFT using primary tumor amputation model

We evaluated the postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy by UFT using the primary tumor amputation-pulmonary metastasis model. When Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) primary tumors on the hind foot pad grew palpable, they were amputated on two different days. In experiment (A) (earlier amputation model), micrometastases were detected on the day of amputation only by the histopathological examination. In the experiment (B) (later amputation model), nodules could be determined even by necropsy. Long-term (60-day) consecutive administration of UFT (22 mg/kg/day), which produced no body weight loss, markedly prolonged the survival period in experiment (A) (ILS: over 118%), 1 of the 15 mice being cured. UFT had a relatively weak but significant effect (67% of ILS) in schedule (B). Using the same model, we examined the inhibitory effect of UFT (2-week administration) on the number of metastatic nodules. A significant decrease of metastatic nodules was observed by UFT with both amputation schedules, but its effect was superior with schedule (A). In the same model using Colon 26 PMF-15, UFT markedly prolonged the survival period of mice (150% of ILS) and significantly decreased the metastatic nodules (86% inhibition). The dose of UFT used was relatively low, and did not significantly inhibit the growth of large tumors. However, the sensitivity to the micrometastases was high. These findings suggest that the postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy by the long-term consecutive administration of UFT would be effective for clinical cancer especially in curatively resected cases.

Levels of proelafin peptides in the sera of the patients with generalized pustular psoriasis and pustulosis palmoplantaris

The levels of proelafin peptides in the sera of patients with pustulosis palmoplantaris, a unique type of localized pustular psoriasis, and generalized pustular psoriasis were determined by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using antibodies against synthetic proelafin polypeptides corresponding to the elastase inhibitor (elafin) and transglutaminase substrate domains. The sera of patients with pustulosis palmoplantaris (9 cases) exhibited a normal range of proelafin peptide levels. The sera of patients with generalized pustular psoriasis (3 cases) showed high titres of proelafin peptide. There were no large differences in the titres between the 2 antibodies. The antibodies for 2 different domains of proelafin showed a similar immunoreactivity for the non-pustular region of the epidermis in all pustulosis palmoplantaris tested. The results indicate that serum proelafin peptides in pustular psoriasis may depend on the extent of the involved area, and that proelafin peptide level in pustulosis palmoplantaris remains normal despite enhanced local expression in the lesional skin. Since the skin lesions of patients with pustulosis palmoplantaris are limited to the palms and soles, enhanced expression of proelafin in the lesional skin may not lead to elevation of proelafin peptides in the serum.

Estrogen agonistic/antagonistic effects of miproxifene phosphate (TAT-59)

PURPOSE

We evaluated miproxifene phosphate (TAT-59) to elucidate its efficacy in antiestrogen therapy for breast cancer patients and to assess its tissue-selective estrogenic/antiestrogenic activity.

METHODS

Using DP-TAT-59, a major and active metabolite of TAT-59, an in vitro cell growth inhibition test was performed. Antitumor activity was determined using TAT-59 against human tumor xenografts of the MCF-7 and the Br-10 cell lines and MCF-7-derived tamoxifen-resistant cell lines, R-27 and FST-1. The antitumor activity of DP-TAT-59 and DM-DP-TAT-59, major metabolites of TAT-59 found in human blood following a TAT-59 dose, was also examined after intravenous administration to experimental animals. The residual estrogenic activity of TAT-59, evaluated in terms of bone and lipid metabolism in ovariectomized rats, was then compared with that of tamoxifen.

RESULTS

DP-TAT-59 significantly inhibited the proliferation of estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 and T-47D tumor cells in the presence of 1 nM estradiol. TAT-59, given to mice bearing MCF-7 or Br-10 xenografts, at the dose level of 5 mg/kg, exerted a significant growth inhibitory effect that was stronger than that of tamoxifen. Moreover, R-27 and FST-1 tumors, which show a resistance to tamoxifen, responded strongly to TAT-59, suggesting that TAT-59 might be effective against tumors resistant to tamoxifen. The metabolites of TAT-59, DP-TAT-59 and DM-DP-TAT-59, showed similar antitumor activity. Both TAT-59 and tamoxifen suppressed the decrease in bone density and reduced the blood cholesterol levels in ovariectomized rats, suggesting that the estrogenic activity of TAT-59 is comparable to that of tamoxifen.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of the above results, one may expect TAT-59 to become an effective drug in patients with tumors less sensitive to tamoxifen, while its estrogenic activity as determined by bone and lipid metabolism is similar to that of tamoxifen.

Hyperpigmentation caused by hyperthyroidism: differences from the pigmentation of Addison's disease

Two cases of hyperthyroidism with hyperpigmentation are presented. In both cases, hyperpigmentation was seen on the lower extremities, most strikingly on the shins, backs of the feet and the nail bed. Histology of the pigmented skin showed basal melanosis and heavy deposition of haemosiderin around dermal capillaries and sweat glands. Treatment with mercazol in both cases resulted in no significant waning of pigmentation. Distribution of hyperpigmentation, haemosiderin deposition and poor response to the treatment may be characteristic features of the pigmentation caused by hyperthyroidism, and may represent differences from the pigmentation seen in Addison's disease.

Regulation of PiT-1, a sodium-dependent phosphate co-transporter in rat parathyroid glands

A cDNA encoding an Na+-Pi co-transporter, termed rat PiT-1, has now been isolated from rat parathyroid. Expression of rat PiT-1 in Xenopus oocytes revealed that it possesses Na+-dependent Pi co-transport activity. The amount of PiT-1 mRNA in the parathyroid of vitamin D-deficient rats was reduced compared with that in normal animals, and increased markedly after administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Furthermore, the abundance of PiT-1 mRNA in the parathyroid was much greater in rats fed a low-Pi diet than in those fed a high-Pi diet. Thus, rat PiT-1 may contribute to the effects of Pi and vitamin D on parathyroid function.

Effect of TPA on aquaporin 4 mRNA expression in cultured rat astrocytes

Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) is a predominant water channel protein in mammalian brains, localized in the astrocyte plasma membrane. The regulation of AQP4 is believed to be important for the homeostasis of water in the brain, but the AQP4 regulatory mechanisms are not yet known. In this study, we investigated the effect of a protein kinase C (PKC) activator on the expression of AQP4 mRNA in cultured rat astrocytes. Cultured rat astrocytes constitutively expressed AQP4 mRNA. Treatment of the cells with 0.1 microM of phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), an activator of PKC, caused a rapid decrease in AQP4 mRNA. This effect was time- and dose-dependent. The TPA-induced decrease in AQP4 mRNA was inhibited by a relatively specific PKC inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinoline sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7) in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, prolonged treatment of the cells with TPA eliminated the subsequent decrease in AQP4 mRNA by TPA. These results strongly suggest that the TPA-induced decrease in AQP4 mRNA is mediated by PKC activation. To test whether the effect of TPA requires protein synthesis, astrocytes were pretreated with cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis. Pretreatment of the cells with cycloheximide did not inhibit the decrease in AQP4 mRNA induced by TPA. To test whether the TPA-induced decrease in AQP4 was due to a decrease in the mRNA stability, we examined the effect of actinomycin D, an inhibitor of transcription, on TPA-treated cells. The stability of AQP4 mRNA was not decreased by the pretreatment of the cells with actinomycin D. The results suggest that AQP4 mRNA is inhibited by TPA via PKC activation without de novo protein synthesis, and that the inhibition of AQP4 mRNA could be at the transcriptional level.

Relationship between protein levels and gene expression of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase in human tumor cells during growth in culture and in nude mice

Protein levels and gene expression of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), the rate-limiting enzyme for degradation of 5-fluorouracil, were studied in two human tumor cell lines (fibrosarcoma HT-1080 and pancreatic carcinoma MIAPaCa-2) in various growth phases of the cultured cells and of tumor xenografts implanted into nude mice. DPD catalytic activity and DPD protein content in cytosolic preparations were determined by means of radioenzymatic assay and western blot analysis, respectively. Relative DPD mRNA expression was determined by using a semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in which glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA was used as an internal standard. DPD activity and protein content in cultures of both cell lines increased in proportion to cell density (DPD activities ranged from undetectable to 84 pmol/min/mg protein in the HT-1080 cells and from undetectable to 335 pmol/min/mg protein in the MIAPaCa-2 cells). DPD mRNA levels, on the other hand, tended to decrease slightly during cell growth. DPD activity and protein content in HT-1080 tumor xenografts increased during growth in proportion to tumor weight (DPD activities ranged from 7 to 131 pmol/min/mg protein), but DPD mRNA levels did not correlate with tumor weight. DPD activity and protein content in MIAPaCa-2 tumor xenografts did not change much, and seemed to have already plateaued, since the tumors were small (weighing about 30 mg). These findings suggest that DPD protein expression during tumor growth is controlled at the post-transcriptional level.

Preclinical antitumor efficacy of S-1: a new oral formulation of 5-fluorouracil on human tumor xenografts

S-1 is a new oral formulation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) consisted of 1M tegafur, 0.4M 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine that inhibits a degradation of 5-FU, and 1M potassium oxonate that regulates the phosphorylation of 5-FU in the gastrointestinal tract, and has shown excellent antitumor efficacy against various murine tumors in rodents, compared to the oral tegafur-based antitumor drug, UFT (1M tegafur plus 4M uracil), which is used clinically in Japan. To assess the possibility of clinically using S-1, we investigated the antitumor effect of S-1 on various human solid tumor xenografts in athymic rats and mice. In the nude rat system, S-1 was significantly effective against all 12 tumor xenografts tested when its minimum toxic dose (15 mg/kg) was administered for 14 days. Three tumors, stomach (H-81), colon (KM12C) and breast (H-31) markedly regressed in response to treatment with S-1 but not with UFT. The antitumor potency of S-1 was weak against human tumors xenografted into nude mice and likely similar to that of UFT. The reason of the discrepancy in the efficacy of S-1 between rats and mice was found to be that the 5-FU levels in the blood and tumor tissue of rats after oral administration of S-1 persisted much longer than in mice, and this prolonged maintenance of plasma 5-FU levels was significantly related to the potent antitumor activity of S-1. In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that based on its biological and pharmacokinetic characteristics, oral S-1 should be active against various human cancers.

Effects of dietary Pi on the renal Na+-dependent Pi transporter NaPi-2 in thyroparathyroidectomized rats

Dietary Pi and parathyroid hormone (PTH) are two most important physiological and pathophysiological regulators of Pi re-absorption in the renal proximal tubule. Effects of dietary Pi on Na+/Pi co-transporter NaPi-2 were investigated in thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) rats. NaPi-2 protein and mRNA in the kidney cortex of TPTX rats were increased approximately 3.8- and 2.4-fold in amount respectively compared with those in the sham-operated animals. Administration of PTH to the TPTX rats resulted in a decrease in the amount of NaPi-2 protein, but not in the abundance of NaPi-2 mRNA. Deprivation of dietary Pi in the TPTX rats did not affect the amount of NaPi-2 mRNA and protein. In the Pi-deprived TPTX rats, feeding of a high-Pi diet resulted in marked decreases in Pi transport activity and the amount of NaPi-2 protein in the superficial nephrons. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that administration of PTH to TPTX rats resulted in a decrease in NaPi-2 immunoreactivity from both superficial and juxtamedullary nephrons within 4 h. Switching TPTX animals from a low-Pi diet to the high-Pi diet decreased NaPi-2 immunoreactivity from superficial nephrons, but not from juxtamedullary nephrons, within 4 h. These results suggest that dietary Pi could regulate the amount of NaPi-2 protein in the superficial nephrons in a PTH-independent manner.

A pediatric case of atypical Mycobacterium avium infection of the skin

We report a case of cutaneous atypical mycobacteriosis in a 12-year-old healthy girl due to Mycobacterium avium. The cutaneous symptoms were three well-defined subcutaneous nodules on both buttocks and on the posterior surface of the left thigh. One had a fistulous opening on the skin surface. Histopathological examination revealed epithelioid cell granulomas surrounded by dense lymphocytic infiltration and acid-fast bacteria were seen with modified periodic acid-carbol fuchsin staining. Using Ogawa's medium at 37 degrees C, acid-fast bacteria were isolated from the biopsied specimen and identified by the DNA-DNA hybridization method as Mycobacterium avium. In drug susceptibility test, these were resistant to all antituberculous drugs. Oral administration of minocycline 100 mg/day for two months had little effect on the two remaining lesions, which were therefore excised. Based upon reported cases of Mycobacterium avium complex, we considered that our pediatric patient with multiple intradermal or subcutaneous nodules on the buttocks and the thigh exhibited the characteristic symptoms of M. avium infection.

[Antitumor activity of miproxifene phosphate (TAT-59) against human mammary carcinoma]

DP-TAT-59, an active metabolite of miproxifene phosphate (TAT-59), showed a strong anti-proliferating activity against ER-positive human mammary carcinoma cell lines, MCF-7 and T-47D, in the presence of 1 nM of estradiol. The ED50 value of DP-TAT-59 for each cell line was 30-fold lower than that of tamoxifen. TAT-59 suppressed the growth of mammary carcinoma, MCF-7 and Br-10, xenografted into nude mouse at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day, which is equivalent to 20 mg/body of daily dose to the patients. TAT-59 inhibited the growth of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell lines, R-27 and FST-1, but not tamoxifen, suggesting the possible efficacy of TAT-59 for tamoxifen-refractory patients. DP-TAT-59 and DM-DP-TAT-59, major metabolites of TAT-59 detected in blood after oral administration in the patients, exhibited equal growth-inhibitory activity against human mammary tumor xenograft, meaning the antitumor activity of TAT-59 may equally depend on these two metabolites. In uterotrophic testing using both immature mice and ovariectomized rats, while the effective dose of TAT-59 was lower than that of tamoxifen, TAT-59 showed dose-dependent estrogenic activity against their uteri, similar to tamoxifen. These results suggested that TAT-59 had a stronger antagonistic activity against estrogen-dependent mammary tumor than tamoxifen. We expect that TAT-59 will become an effective therapeutic agent for patients with high estrogen levels in their blood, such as premenopausal women, and the patients with whom the tamoxifen modality failed.

Regulation of the PepT1 peptide transporter in the rat small intestine in response to 5-fluorouracil-induced injury

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The oligopeptide transport system of the small intestine is resistant to mucosal injury. The mechanism of this resistance was investigated by examining the activity level and expression of the peptide transporter PepT1 in the intestine of rats treated with 5-fluorouracil.

METHODS

The expression and localization of PepT1 were examined by immunoblot analysis of brush border membrane vesicles and immunohistochemical analysis of intestinal sections with PepT1-specific rabbit polyclonal antibodies. Also, Northern blot analysis was used for the expression of PepT1 messenger RNA (mRNA).

RESULTS

Although the amounts of sucrase and an Na+-dependent glucose transporter protein in intestinal vesicles decreased markedly after 5-fluorouracil treatment, the amount of PepT1 protein remained largely unaffected. Immunohistochemical analysis also showed that the PepT1 immunoreactivity level was preserved in the brush border membrane of the remaining villi of 5-fluorouracil-treated rats. Levels of amino acid, glucose, and phosphate transporter mRNAs were profoundly depressed in 5-fluorouracil-treated animals, whereas the level of PepT1 mRNA conversely increased.

CONCLUSIONS

The resistance of intestinal peptide transport to tissue injury may be attributable to increased synthesis of PepT1 rather than to a change in the kinetic properties of the residual absorbing cells.

The analysis of mRNA expression of cytokines from skin lesions in Churg-Strauss syndrome

We report our recent clinical experience with a patient suffering from Churg-Strauss syndrome and the results of our investigation into the mRNA expression of cytokines in the patient's lesions as well as in the frozen sections from a previous patient. In both cases, blood IgG was at a high level. Cytokine mRNA expression differed according to the degree of cellular infiltration. In the presence of marked infiltration, counteracting Th1 and Th2 cytokines were simultaneously detected; the former included IL-12 and IFN-gamma, and the latter, IL-6 and IL-10. The concurrence of both types of cytokine could be attributed to several factors. For example, IL-6 is involved through some mechanism in the formation of immune complexes by IgG, and IL-12 and IFN-gamma appeared to participate in the development of granuloma. These suppositions support the suggested immunological etiology of the disease. It is also inferred that the dominance of one of the two types of cytokines depends on the clinical phase of the disease.

Postsurgical oral administration of uracil and tegafur inhibits progression of micrometastasis of human breast cancer cells in nude mice

We recently established a metastasis model in nude mice using the MKL-4 cell line, a contransfectant of the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line with fgf-4 and lacZ in which micrometastases in several organs can be quantitatively observed. First, to develop a new postsurgical metastasis model, we investigated the timing of occurrence of micrometastasis and the influence of tumor removal on the progression of micrometastasis in this model. Micrometastases into lymph nodes and lungs were detected 3 weeks after the cell injections. Tumor removal 3 weeks after the injections significantly enhanced the progression of micrometastasis into lymph nodes and bone. Second, to study the effect of a mixed compound, UFT (a molar ratio of uracil:tegafur of 4:1), which has been widely used in the postsurgical adjuvant setting in Japan, 15 or 20 mg/kg UFT were administered p.o. for 4 weeks to tumor-bearing mice or to mice in which transplanted tumors were resected 3 weeks after the injections. Either dose of UFT significantly inhibited the tumor growth as well as the progression of micrometastasis into lymph nodes, lungs, liver, and brain. In addition, enhanced progression of micrometastasis in all explored organs by the tumor removal was significantly inhibited by the administration of either dose of UFT. In conclusion, this new postsurgical metastasis model may be useful for evaluating the efficacy of agents used in the postoperative adjuvant setting. UFT may be an effective drug for inhibiting the progression of micrometastasis after surgery.

Effect of combination therapy with UFT plus cisplatin (UFTP) on the survival of mice in the experimental model for wide-spread metastasis in the peritoneal cavity of gastrointestinal cancer using colon 26 PMF-15 cells

The prognosis of unresectable advanced gastric cancer patients, especially with wide-spread metastasis in the peritoneal cavity, is very poor. In such cases, only a few treatment methods are available, and chemotherapy as a systemic therapy is often selected. We recently devised an experimental model for wide-spread metastasis in the peritoneal cavity of gastrointestinal cancer, by intraperitoneally implanting colon 26 murine carcinoma PMF-15 cells. When the control mice were autopsied, a number of tumor nodules were formed in their mesenterium, pancreas, liver, etc. and pools of ascites were also occasionally seen. Using this model, oral UFT (combining tegafur and uracil at a molar ratio of 1:4) plus cisplatin (UFTP regimen) prolonged the survival of mice and maintained these mice in relatively better condition than with continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil plus cisplatin (FP regimen). Since UFT can be used orally, patients receiving UFTP therapy are not required to stay in a hospital for long periods, but rather, are intermittently hospitalized for short periods of time. Better QOL and prolonged survival highlight the potential clinical usefulness of the UFTP therapy.

Augmentation of the chemotherapeutic effectiveness of UFT, a combination of tegafur [1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil] with uracil, by oral l-leucovorin

UFT, combination of tegafur [1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil] with uracil, is widely-used as an anti-neoplastic agent in Japan. We evaluated the anti-tumor efficacy of the combined modality of UFT with oral l-leucovorin. The augmentation of anti-tumor activity of UFT by co-administration of l-leucovorin was observed over a dose of 1.85 mg/kg (5.55 mg/m2) and was significant at a dose of 5.56 mg/kg (16.7 mg/m2). Using ten human tumor xenografts, l-leucovorin significantly enhanced the growth-suppressive ability of UFT against colon carcinoma (KM20C, Col-1) and mammary carcinoma (H-31, MX-1). Among various 5-fluorouracil (FUra) derivatives, such as UFT, 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) and FUra, l-leucovorin gave the maximum augmentation to the anti-tumor activity of UFT, due to the prolonged half-life of FUra in plasma. Enhancement of the cytotoxic activity of FUra by l-leucovorin against KM20C colon carcinoma cell line was observed in a time-dependent manner at a concentration of 0.01 microM l-leucovorin. Based on these results, we conclude that the combination of UFT with oral l-leucovorin has significant antitumor activity and represents an interesting regimen to be evaluated in the clinical setting.

Activity of menogaril against various malignant lymphoma cell lines and a human lymphoma xenograft in mice

Menogaril is an antitumor agent different from other anthracyclines in that it is active after oral administration; therefore, extravasation is not a side effect. In this basic study, we examined the antitumor activity of menogaril against malignant lymphoma. We compared its activity towards experimental malignant lymphoma with that of Adriamycin, epirubicin, pirarubicin, vincristine, and etoposide, treating mice with each drug at the dose schedule usually used for patients. Menogaril rapidly penetrated lymphoma cells and remained there at least 3 hours after the drug was washed out. Menogaril cleaved more double-stranded DNA in lymphoma cells than Adriamycin, epirubicin, pirarubicin, or etoposide. Menogaril had stronger antitumor activity against experimental malignant lymphoma in mice than Adriamycin, epirubicin, vincristine, and etoposide. Menogaril significantly lengthened the life span of mice bearing one of three lymphoma cell lines resistant to cisplatin, vincristine, or cyclophosphamide. Menogaril had stronger antitumor activity against the human malignant lymphoma xenograft LM-3 than Adriamycin. The strength of the cytotoxic activity of Menogaril might arise from its ready penetration into cells and its cleavage of double-stranded DNA. Therefore, Menogaril might become a useful drug for the treatment of patients with malignant lymphoma by oral administration; 7 days of administration was effective in the in vivo experiments.

[Inhibition of prostate cancer growth in nude mice by hormone and chemotherapy]

The combined effect of hormone and cytotoxic therapy on the growth of prostate cancer PC-3 in nude mice was investigated. PC-3 cell was derived from the bone metastasis of a hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Each group consisted of seven animals. After the inoculation of cancer cells, diethylstilbestrol (DES: 20 mg/kg) and futraful with uracil (UFT: 20 mg/kg) were administered for 25 days. DES and UFT synergically inhibited the growth. DES had no effect as a single agent on the growth of a hormone-independent cell line (KM20C) derived from human colon cancer. It also had no additive effect when given with UFT.

Prolongation of survival period and improvement of cancer cachexia by long-term administration of UFT

We assayed the antitumoral and anticachectic activity of an oral fluoropyrimidine, UFT using the Colon-26-bearing murine cachexia model in terms of the survival period and parameters corresponding to clinical symptoms. Tumor growth was inhibited by UFT dose-dependently at the dose range of 12.5-25.0 mg/kg per day. Although UFT did not show significant growth inhibition at 15.0 and 12.5 mg/kg to which UFT gave little toxicity, the survival period was shown to be superior to the case of maximum tolerated dose (25.0 mg/kg per day). Next, we compared the maximum increase of life span (ILS) value for an administration schedule of continuous 9 days and 5 weeks which mimics the clinical schedule and found that the ILS value in the latter group was superior to the former and UFT improved cachexia, in the same manner. In the following experiments, we have clarified that UFT decreased the level of both plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumorous prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and it highly accelerated IL-6 production from Colon-26. These findings suggest that UFT therapy, in low-toxic dose, could be useful to cachectic patients with poor performance status.

Antitumor activity of 1 M tegafur-0.4 M 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine-1 M potassium oxonate (S-1) against human colon carcinoma orthotopically implanted into nude rats

The purpose of this study was to establish a nude rat orthotopic (organ-specific) human colorectal cancer model as an in vivo secondary screen for general evaluation of new anticancer agents against colorectal cancer and to evaluate practically the antitumor activity of 1 M tegafur-0.4 M 5-chloro-2,4-dihydroxypyridine-1 M potassium oxonate (S-1), a new p.o. fluoropyrimidine, in comparison to 1 M tegafur-4 M uracil [(UFT) effective on colorectal tumor in clinical]. After implantation of KM12C, a human colorectal cancer cell line, into the subserosal layer of the colon as a single-cell suspension, extensive local tumor growth and invasion to both the mucosal and the serosal sides were observed in all rats. Metastatic foci were also formed in both lymph nodes and lungs following local tumor growth in all of them. Using this method, an equitoxic dose of S-1 (15 mg/kg/day) and UFT (30 mg/kg/day) was administered p.o. for 14 consecutive days from 7 days after tumor cell implantation. S-1 showed a higher tumor growth inhibition than UFT did [S-1, 57% (significantly different from the tumor weight of the untreated group at P < 0.05) and UFT, 18% (P > 0.05)]. When both drugs were administered to nude rats bearing KM12C injected into the cecal wall for 28 consecutive days at equitoxic doses, the mean survival in the S-1 group was 16 days longer than that in the untreated group (P < 0.01) but that in the UFT group was only 8 days longer (P > 0.05). After the administration of an equitoxic dose of both drugs, S-1 gave the higher levels than UFT in various pharmacokinetic parameters as follows: area under the curve 0-24 h of 5-fluorouracil in plasma (3.5-fold), area under the curve 0-24 h of 5-fluorouracil incorporated into RNA in the tumor (1.3-fold), and thymidylate synthase inhibition rate (percentage) in the tumor (about 20%). Collectively, these findings suggested that this orthotopic human colorectal tumor model in nude rats is useful to evaluate the clinical therapeutic efficacy of drugs or therapies for colorectal cancer, and that S-1 had a higher therapeutic effect on human colorectal tumor than UFT did.

[Prolongation of survival and antitumor activity of antitumor drugs in murine cancer cachexia model]

We examined the activity of UFT, ADM and MMC, which are used for colon tumors, in terms of their prolongation of the survival period, growth inhibition of the primary tumor and improvement of cachexia in murine cancer cachexia model. The mean survival period of Colon 26, mouse adenocarcinoma bearing mice was 25.0 +/- 4.9 days. The maximal ILS value of the UFT administered group was 103.2%, against 7.2 and 26.0%, respectively, ADM and MMC maximal ILS value. For therapeutic activity of hypercalcemia, UFT was superior to other drugs, although all drugs showed equivalent tumor growth inhibitory activity. These findings indicate that UFT can prolong the survival period due to improvement of cancer cachexia. Therefore, we measured plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and found that UFT-administration lowered the plasma IL-6 level more than other drugs. Moreover, the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) level in the tumor was significantly decreased only by UFT-administration. Since PGE2 has been shown to enhance IL-6 production from Colon 26 in vitro, it was speculated that UFT improve cachexia and prolongs life by decreased IL-6 resulting from decreased PGE2.

Antitumor activity of menogaril alone, and in combination against human mammary cancer models in mice and rats

Menogaril is an antitumor agent different from other anthracyclines in being active after oral administration. To predict its clinical effectiveness by this route against human breast cancer, we compared its antitumor activity against breast cancer in experimental animals with that of injected Adriamycin. Menogaril had half the much antitumor activity of Adriamycin against human mammary cancer cell lines. Menogaril given orally also had a antitumor activity against mammary cancer caused by 7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene in rats comparable with that of Adriamycin. The high concentration of menogaril in tumor tissue seemed to contribute to its effectiveness. Of several combinations of cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, menogaril, and 5-fluorouracil, the combination of cyclophosphamide, menogaril, and 5-fluorouracil was most effective against mouse leukemia L1210 and human breast cancer xenografts in mice. This combination might have antitumor activity against breast cancer superior to that of the therapy currently of first choice (cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, and 5-fluorouracil) in the clinic.

Oncocytic hepatocellular carcinoma with numerous globular hyaline bodies

Two well circumscribed tumors, oncocytic and non-oncocytic, were removed from the non-cirrhotic liver of a 67 year old male. The large oncocytic tumor (OCT), occupying the entire left lobe, was multilobulated with focal coagulation necrosis and areas of hemorrhage. Light microscopy revealed that it consisted of exclusively large, granular oxyphilic cells with moderate nuclear atypia and occasional mitotic figures, which were trabecular and/or pseudoglandular in structure, but no lamellar fibrosis was seen. Characteristically, the OCT cells included numerous globular hyaline bodies (GHB) of various sizes which were stained red with acid fuchsin and deep blue or magenta with phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin (PTAH), but negative for periodic acid Schiff (PAS), orcein, rhodamine and Grimelius methods. Immunohistochemically, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), alpha-1-antitrypsin, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, fibrinogen and ferritin were all negative. On ultrastructural examination, tumor cells were mitochondria-rich, including electron dense, ovoid or polyhedral inclusions, with the delineated membrane identical with that of the GHB. In contrast, the small tumor in the right lobe (Segment 7) was a solid adenoma with no oncocytic transition. Based on these findings, it was postulated that OCT consists of heterogenous proliferation of mitochondria-rich hepatocytes which tend to induce lysosomal GHB closely associated with mitochondrial abnormalities.

Effects of extracellular matrix macromolecules on the differentiation of plasma membrane structure in cultured astrocytes

Orthogonal aggregates of small intramembrane particles, termed "assemblies," are concentrated especially in the cell membranes of astrocytic processes that form the glia limitans at the outer surface of the brain and the perivascular sheath surrounding the parenchymal blood vessels. As an initial step to clarifying the totally unknown biochemical nature of this intramembrane structure, we have devised a culture system which enhances the differentiation of assemblies in secondary cultures of astrocytes derived from neonatal mouse neopallium. Since assemblies are most concentrated in the plasma membranes attaching to the basement membrane, we expected that extracellular matrix molecules constituting the basement membrane would be suitable candidates for our aim. We report here that a mixture of type IV collagen, laminin, and fibronectin, major components of the extracellular matrix, has the potency to increase assembly density in cultured astrocytes. We also report that, in freeze-fracture electron microscopy of cultured cells, one can satisfactorily preserve membrane structure and reliably obtain large replicas by inoculating cells on aluminium foil and peeling it from the cells in a freeze-fracture apparatus.

[Augmentation of chemotherapeutic efficaciousness of UFT by oral l-leucovorin--growth-inhibitory activity of combination against human tumor xenograft]

Combination chemotherapy with FUra and LV has been reported as a useful treatment for patients suffering from colon carcinoma. Usually, both FUra and LV are administered by intravenous infusion, but not orally. UFT, an anti-neoplastic agent consisting of FT and uracil, is widely used for oral administration in Japan. Using human tumor xenografts of 10 cell lines, we evaluated the efficacy of UFT combined with l-LV, which is the active form of LV, by oral administration. Combined treatment of UFT with l-LV was more effective than UFT alone on the growth suppression of colon carcinoma (KM 20 C, Col-1) and mammary carcinoma (H-31, MX-1). When 1.85 mg/kg (5.55 mg/m2) of LV was given to tumor bearing mice, the antitumor activity of UFT was augmented and at a dose of 5.56 mg/kg (16.7 mg/m2) of LV, it was significantly augmented. Among various 5-FU derivatives, such as UFT, 5'-DFUR or FUra, combined treatment using UFT with l-LV was the most effective by oral administration. l-LV did not improve the anti-tumor efficacy or toxicity of 5'-DFUR. l-LV seemed to augment the anti-tumor activity of FUra, but not significantly. These results suggest that combination chemotherapy of UFT with LV is a promising approach for the clinical treatment of human colon cancer.

[Antitumor and anticachectic activity of UFT in BALB/c mice bearing colon 26 adenocarcinoma]

We established a cancer cachexia model in BALB/c mice bearing Colon 26 and examined antitumor and anticachectic activity of UFT. The mice bearing Colon 26 showed a progressive loss of body weight, loss of lipid, and hypalbuminosis associated with the change of tumor size and these symptoms were improved by removal of cancer. In this model UFT extended life span significantly at 15mg/kg/day though showed a little growth inhibitory activity. UFT showed a significant tumor growth inhibitory activity and extended life span at 20mg/kg/day and could reverse all biological parameters mentioned above. Since the intratumor and plasma contents of IL-6 were significantly lowered in the UFT administered group, it is estimated that the anticachectic activity of UFT originates from reduction of interleukin-6 in tumor.

[Polyneuropathy with IgM-antibody to myelin-associated glycoprotein without detectable M-protein by conventional analysis--report of a case]

A 56-year-old man gradually developed paresthesia and muscular weakness of the left hand and feet for two years. On admission, neurological examination showed predominantly sensory polyneuropathy. Electrophysiological study and sural nerve biopsy demonstrated segmental demyelination, but any underlying congenital, toxic, metabolic or neoplastic cause was failed to reveal. The serum IgM level was 576 mg/dl, while IgG and IgA were normal. An immunoblot analysis and ELISA showed serum IgM antibody that reacted with human MAG. Serum IgM M-protein, however, was detectable not by conventional serum protein electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis, but by immunofixation. Anti-MAG antibodies should be evaluated in the patients with slowly progressive demyelinating polyneuropathy of unknown etiology, even if no serum M-protein is detected by conventional methods. Serum M-protein may play a role of pathogenesis of demyelination, and immunofixation method could be beneficial to detect small amount of M-protein.