Inhibition of rat alveolar macrophage phagocytic function by a Pseudomonas cepacia lipase. The effects of purified Pseudomonas cepacia lipase on rat pulmonary alveolar function and morphology were examined. Lipase (2.5-20 micrograms/ml) adversely effected the phagocytic function of rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. The lipase itself was not directly cytotoxic to these cells. Alveolar macrophages, in the absence of lipase, phagocytosed c. 35% of a given population of opsonised P. cepacia in 30 min when the ratio of bacteria:phagocyte was 10:1. Phagocytosis of P. cepacia by rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages was significantly reduced when the cells were either pre-incubated with the lipase or when phagocytosis occurred in the presence of the lipase. This was confirmed by transmission electronmicroscopy. These functional changes were associated with marked alterations of the macrophage morphology. Scanning electronmicroscopy showed that macrophages exposed to the P. cepacia lipase had fewer specialised surface structures and did not spread on plastic surfaces as well as untreated macrophages. The effects of the lipase were lost after heat inactivation, which indicates that the effects of the P. cepacia lipase were due to its enzymic activity. These results suggest that, if sufficient quantities of the enzyme are produced in vivo, lipase may be an important virulence factor for P. cepacia, allowing the organism to evade phagocytic cells.


Reconstitution of channels from preparations enriched in lens gap junction protein MP70. Detergent-solubilized ovine lens membrane proteins, enriched in the 70-kDa gap junction component (MP70), were reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers and analyzed for channel activities. Three distinct activities were found. Those showing conductance steps of 290 pS (symmetrical 150-mM KCl solutions) had properties similar to those reported earlier for MIP26 (Ehring, G.R., Zampighi, G., Horwitz, J., Bok, D., Hall, J.E. 1990. J. Gen. Physiol. 96:631-664.) of which minor amounts were normally present in the detergent-solubilized preparations. Two novel channel activities had unitary conductances of 90 and 45 pS, were halothane sensitive and did not discriminate between sodium and potassium ions. The 90-pS channel was asymmetrically voltage dependent, and its properties would be consistent with the expected properties of junctional hemichannels.


Model ion channels: gramicidin and alamethicin. We have discussed in some detail a variety of experimental studies which were designed to elucidate the conformational and dynamic properties of gramicidin and alamethicin. Although the behavior of these peptides is by no means fully characterized, these studies have already permitted aspects of ion channel activity to be understood in molecular terms. Studies with gramicidin in a variety of organic solutions have revealed conformational heterogeneity of this peptide; at least five major isomers exist, several of which have been characterized in detail using NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. When added to lipid membranes gramicidin undergoes a further conformational conversion. Although the conformation of gramicidin in membranes is not as well characterized as the solution conformation(s) and an X-ray structure is not yet available, detailed data, particularly from solid-state NMR studies, continue to become available and a right-handed beta 6.3 helical conformation of the peptide backbone is now generally accepted. Two of these beta 6.3 helices joined at their N-termini are believed to form the conducting channel. The conformational behavior of the side-chains of gramicidin in the membrane-bound form is not well established and several NMR, CD, fluorescence and theoretical studies are now focussed on this. Although the side-chains do not directly contact the permeating ions, they can have distinct effects on conductance and selectivity by altering the electrostatic environment sensed by the ion. The dynamics of both side-chain and backbone conformations of gramicidin appear critical to a detailed understanding of the ion transport process in this channel. As the description of the membrane-bound conformation of gramicidin becomes more detailed, simulations of ion transport using computational methods are likely to improve and will further our understanding of the processes of ion transport. As well as internal motion of the backbone and side-chains, gramicidin undergoes rotational and translational motion in the plane of the membrane. These motions do not appear to be essential for the process of ion transport but can affect channel lifetime since lifetime is determined by the rate of association and dissociation of gramicidin monomers. Gramicidin-membrane interactions are also likely to be involved in the frequency of occurrence of channel subconductance states, the frequency of channel flickering and fundamentally in the stability of the membrane-bound gramicidin conformation. Alamethicin forms channels in membranes which are strongly voltage-dependent. The molecular origin of voltage-dependent conductances has been a fundamental problem in biophysics for many years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Several regions of a tRNA precursor determine the Escherichia coli RNase P cleavage site. The RNase P cleavage reaction was studied as a function of the number of base-pairs in the acceptor-stem and/or T-stem of a natural tRNA precursor, the tRNA(Tyr)Su3 precursor. Our data suggest that the location of the Escherichia coli RNase P cleavage site does not depend merely on the lengths of the acceptor-stem and T-stem as previously suggested. Surprisingly, we find that precursors with only four base-pairs in the acceptor-stem are cleaved by M1 RNA and by holoenzyme. Furthermore, we show that both disruption of base-pairing, and alteration of the nucleotide sequence (without disruption of base-pairing) proximal to the cleavage site result in aberrant cleavage. Thus, the identity of the nucleotides near the cleavage site is important for recognition of the cleavage site rather than base-pairing. The important nucleotides are those at positions -2, -1, +1, +72, +73 and +74. We propose that the nucleotide at position +1 functions as a guiding nucleotide. These results raise the possibility that Mg2+ binding near the cleavage site is dependent on the identity of the nucleotides at these positions. In addition, we show that disruption of base-pairing in the acceptor-stem affects both Michaelis-Menten constants, Km and kcat.


Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance as a probe of the solution structure of mutants of 5-fluorouracil-substituted Escherichia coli valine tRNA. In order to utilize 19F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to probe the solution structure of Escherichia coli tRNAVal labeled by incorporation of 5-fluorouracil, we have assigned its 19F spectrum. We describe here assignments made by examining the spectra of a series of tRNAVal mutants with nucleotide substitutions for individual 5-fluorouracil residues. The result of base replacements on the structure and function of the tRNA are also characterized. Mutants were prepared by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis of a cloned tRNAVal gene, and the tRNAs transcribed in vitro by bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase. By identifying the missing peak in the 19F NMR spectrum of each tRNA variant we were able to assign resonances from fluorouracil residues in loop and stem regions of the tRNA. As a result of the assignment of FU33, FU34 and FU29, temperature-dependent spectral shifts could be attributed to changes in anticodon loop and stem conformation. Observation of a magnesium ion-dependent splitting of the resonance assigned to FU64 suggested that the T-arm of tRNAVal can exist in two conformations in slow exchange on the NMR time scale. Replacement of most 5-fluorouracil residues in loops and stems had little effect on the structure of tRNAVal; few shifts in the 19F NMR spectrum of the mutant tRNAs were noted. However, replacing the FU29.A41 base-pair in the anticodon stem with C29.G41 induced conformational changes in the anticodon loop as well as in the P-10 loop. Effects of nucleotide substitution on aminoacylation were determined by comparing the Vmax and Km values of tRNAVal mutants with those of the wild-type tRNA. Nucleotide substitution at the 3' end of the anticodon (position 36) reduced the aminoacylation efficiency (Vmax/Km) of tRNAVal by three orders of magnitude. Base replacement at the 5' end of the anticodon (position 34) had only a small negative effect on the aminoacylation efficiency. Substitution of the FU29.A41 base-pair increased the Km value 20-fold, while Vmax remained almost unchanged. The FU4.A69 base-pair in the acceptor stem, could readily be replaced with little effect on the aminoacylation efficiency of E. coli tRNAVal, indicating that this base-pair is not an identity element of the tRNA, as suggested by others.


Correlations between fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift and the secondary and tertiary structure of 5-fluorouracil-substituted tRNA. To complete assignment of the 19F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum of 5-fluorouracil-substituted Escherichia coli tRNA(Val), resonances from 5-fluorouracil residues involved in tertiary interactions have been identified. Because these assignments could not be made directly by the base-replacement method used to assign 5-fluorouracil residues in loop and stem regions of the tRNA, alternative assignment strategies were employed. FU54 and FU55 were identified by 19F homonuclear Overhauser experiments and were then assigned by comparison of their 19F NMR spectra with those of 5-fluorouracil-labeled yeast tRNA(Phe) mutants having FU54 replaced by adenine and FU55 replaced by cytosine. FU8 and FU12, were assigned from the 19F NMR spectrum of the tRNA(Val) mutant in which the base triple G9-C23-G12 substituted for the wild-type A9-A23-FU12. Although replacement of the conserved U8 (FU8) with A or C disrupts the tertiary structure of tRNA(Val), it has only a small effect on the catalytic turnover number of valyl-tRNA synthetase, while reducing the affinity of the tRNA for enzyme. Analysis of the 19F chemical shift assignments of all 14 resonances in the spectrum of 5-fluorouracil-substituted tRNAVal indicated a strong correlation to tRNA secondary and tertiary structure. 5-Fluorouracil residues in loop regions gave rise to peaks in the central region of the spectrum, 4.4 to 4.9 parts per million (p.p.m.) downfield from free 5-fluorouracil. However, the signal from FU59, in the T-loop of tRNA(Val), was shifted more than 1 p.p.m. downfield, to 5.9 p.p.m., presumably because of the involvement of this fluorouracil in the tertiary interactions between the T and D-loops. The 19F chemical shift moved upfield, to the 2.0 to 2.8 p.p.m. range, when fluorouracil was base-paired with adenine in helical stems. This upfield shift was less pronounced for the fluorine of the FU7.A66 base-pair, located at the base of the acceptor stem, an indication that FU7 is only partially stacked on the adjacent G49 in the continuous acceptor stem/T-stem helix. An unanticipated finding was that the 19F resonances of 5-fluorouracil residues wobble base-paired with guanine were shifted 4 to 5 p.p.m. downfield of those from fluorouracil residues paired with A. In the 19F NMR spectra of all fluorinated tRNAs studied, the farthest downfield peak corresponded to FU55, which replaced the conserved pseudouridine normally found at this position.


Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia. Large crystals of lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia have been grown at room temperature from solutions containing 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol and sodium citrate. They grow within two weeks to typical dimensions of 1.0 mm x 0.5 mm x 0.3 mm. The crystals belong to the monoclinic space group P2(1), with unit cell parameters a = 84.91 A, b = 47.33 A, c = 86.00 A, and beta = 116.09 degrees. And they diffract to about 1.6 A upon exposure to synchroton X-rays. X-ray data have been collected to 2.2 A Bragg spacing from a native crystal.


Role of the SIKVAV site of laminin in promotion of angiogenesis and tumor growth: an in vivo Matrigel model. Angiogenesis (vascularization) has a critical role in tumor growth and metastasis, and peptides containing the SIKVAV amino acid sequence (Ser-Ile-Lys-Val-Ala-Val) have been shown to stimulate many angiogenic activities in vitro. The use of model systems to identify agents that stimulate or inhibit angiogenesis may lead to the development of new antitumor strategies. Our purpose was to use an in vivo murine model system to study the angiogenic activity of a synthetic peptide derived from the laminin A protein chain and containing the SIKVAV amino acid sequence. We also examined the ability of the peptide to enhance tumor growth in vivo. The SIKVAV-containing peptide was mixed with Matrigel, a reconstituted basement membrane extract used to assay stimulation of angiogenesis. The mixture was subcutaneously injected into C57BL/6 mice. At various times after injection, the Matrigel plug was excised, and angiogenic activity was assessed by histologic examination and immunohistochemical staining with an antibody to the von Willebrand factor (vWF), an endothelium-specific antigen. In other experiments, the mixture of peptide and Matrigel was co-injected with B16F10 murine melanoma cells into C57BL/6 mice, and the resultant tumors were assessed for size and vascularization. When co-injected with Matrigel at doses as low as 10 micrograms, the SIKVAV-containing peptide stimulated angiogenesis fourfold greater than that seen in controls, and maximum angiogenic activity was observed 2 weeks after injection. This peptide was angiogenic in a dose-dependent manner up to a 100-micrograms dose. When co-injected with Matrigel and B16F10 melanoma cells, the peptide enhanced tumor growth by approximately 2.5-fold, and tumor vascularization was significantly increased (P = .027) over that observed after injection with melanoma cells and Matrigel alone. These data demonstrate that the laminin-derived SIKVAV-containing peptide is angiogenic in a new in vivo model system and can enhance tumor vascularization and growth.


Mutations of p53 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma: roles of hepatitis B virus and aflatoxin contamination in the diet. Mutations of the p53 tumor suppressor gene have been reported in 50% of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from China and South Africa. These reports suggested an association of p53 mutations with high levels of aflatoxin in the diet. Most studies of p53 and HCC, however, have not fully evaluated the possible role of the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Aflatoxin is a substance produced by food mold that is known to cause HCC in experimental animals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of p53 gene mutation to high or low levels of aflatoxin in the diet and to HBV infection. p53 protein and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase system in paraffin-embedded specimens of HCC and of adjacent nontumorous liver tissue from 43 patients. Tissue specimens from three normal human livers were also evaluated. HCCs and adjacent nontumorous liver tissues were obtained from 23 patients from Qidong, China, where aflatoxin levels in the diet are high, and from 20 patients from two regions in the United States (patients from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., and Kuakini Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii), where aflatoxin levels in the diet are low. Mutant p53 protein was detected in the nuclei of HCCs from 14 (61%) of 23 patients from China and from three (30%) of 10 patients and six (60%) of 10 patients, respectively, from the two regions of the United States. A statistically significant association between detection of mutant p53 protein in HCC cells and the detection of HBsAg in hepatocytes of the adjacent nontumorous liver tissue was observed in patients from China and the United States considered together. Mutations of the tumor suppressor gene p53 in hepatocellular carcinomas are not limited to patients from geographic regions where the ingestion of aflatoxin is high. In many patients, these mutations may be associated with HBV infection. The possible interaction of chronic HBV infection and p53 gene mutation, suggested by these data, indicates a mechanism by which HBV infection beginning early in life could contribute to the subsequent development of HCC.


Inhibition by pentosan polysulfate (PPS) of heparin-binding growth factors released from tumor cells and blockage by PPS of tumor growth in animals. In a proliferating tumor, locally secreted polypeptide growth factors, which have autocrine and paracrine functions, induce vascularization essential for tumor growth and metastasis. These growth factors may serve as targets for tumor therapy. We have shown that the heparinoid pentosan polysulfate (PPS) can block growth of subcutaneous human tumor xenografts in nude mice and angiogenesis induced by the heparin-binding, Kaposi's sarcoma-derived fibroblast growth factor (K-FGF). The purpose of this study was to determine whether PPS might also interfere with stimulation of endothelial cells by other growth factors released from tumor cells and whether the promising antitumor effects of PPS extend to other human tumor cell lines. We studied the effects of PPS on stimulation by heparin-binding growth factors released from seven human tumor cell lines in vitro and on tumors growing from these cell lines in athymic nude mice. Seven human cell lines established from breast, prostate, epidermoid, and lung carcinomas and rhabdomyosarcoma were used in in vivo as well as in vitro studies of the effects of PPS. We also studied in vitro the effects of PPS on growth factor-induced colony formation of normal rat kidney fibroblasts and human adrenal carcinoma cells. The tumor cell lines released growth factors into their media that stimulated growth of endothelial and epithelial cells as well as fibroblasts. Heparin-affinity chromatography showed that heparin-binding growth factors contributed substantially to this paracrine activity and that PPS inhibited this stimulus. Six of the seven tumor cell lines were resistant to PPS in soft-agar cloning assays and hence did not appear to depend on autocrine stimulation by the heparin-binding growth factors. In contrast to this in vitro resistance, subcutaneous growth of tumors from all cell lines in athymic nude mice was inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by daily intraperitoneal injections of PPS. We conclude that heparin-binding growth factors contribute substantially to tumor growth in vivo and that PPS acts by blocking the paracrine effects of heparin-binding growth factors released from the tumor cells. PPS could become a novel treatment tool targeting tumor growth factors.


Growth inhibition with reversible cell cycle arrest of carcinoma cells by flavone L86-8275. Previous studies have shown that polyhydroxylated flavonoids such as quercetin and genistein can inhibit tumor cell growth in vitro, and preliminary in vivo studies of the flavone L86-8275 have shown growth inhibition of LX529 and A549 lung carcinomas. L86-8275 [(-)cis-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(2-chlorophenyl)-8[4-(3-hydroxy-1-methyl)- piperidinyl]-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one] is a flavone of novel structure. The purpose of this study was to determine in vitro whether L86-8275 is a more potent inhibitor of growth in breast carcinoma and lung carcinoma cells than quercetin or genistein. We studied the effects of L86-8275 on cell growth in seven breast carcinoma cell lines and five lung carcinoma cell lines. MDA468 breast carcinoma was then selected for further study. Cell proliferation was measured by a colorimetric dye reduction assay; synthesis of DNA, RNA, and protein by incorporation of the radioactive metabolic precursors thymidine, uridine, or leucine, respectively; adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content by a luciferase-mediated bioluminescence reaction; and cell cycle progression by the use of cell-synchronizing drugs (aphidicolin and nocodazole) and flow cytometry. L86-8275 was not cytotoxic to stationary-phase cells but reversibly inhibited the growth of cells in exponential growth phase. At concentrations of 25-160 nM, L86-8275 inhibited growth of human breast and lung carcinoma cell lines by 50%. MDA468 breast carcinoma cells were 60-fold and 400-fold more sensitive to L86-8275 than to quercetin and genistein, respectively. By 24 hours after addition of L86-8275, DNA synthesis in MDA468 cells was inhibited by greater than 95%, protein synthesis by 80%, and RNA synthesis by 40%-60%, under conditions that preserved cellular ATP levels at approximately 80%-90% of control values. When MDA468 cells released from aphidicolin-induced cell cycle arrest were exposed to 200 nM L86-8275, they completed the S phase but arrested in G2. When cells released from nocodazole-induced cell cycle arrest were exposed to 200 nM L86-8275, they completed mitosis but arrested in G1. L86-8275 is a potent, yet reversible, growth-inhibitory flavone that can selectively block cell cycle progression in vitro at more than one point in the cell cycle. These findings suggest that L86-8275 is a candidate for further preclinical development, as well as a model for the synthesis of other flavonoids that might potently delay cell cycle progression to achieve inhibition of tumor growth. Future studies need to address optimal schedules for antiproliferative activity in vivo and inhibition of clonogenic activity.


Basic fibroblast growth factor in the hypoglossal system: specific retrograde transport, trophic, and lesion-related responses. To further clarify the function of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the nervous system, we have examined its distribution, lesion-dependent regulation, retrograde transport, and trophic roles on rat hypoglossal neurons. In adult rats, bFGF-like immunoreactivity is localized in hypoglossal motoneurons, drastically reduced 2 days after axotomy, and re-expressed by 11 days. Neuron numbers and morphology assessed by Nissl staining are not affected by the lesion. 125J bFGF is specifically retrogradely transported by hypoglossal motoneurons from their peripheral nerve terminals. Moreover, bFGF stimulates the in vitro survival of hypoglossal neurons (ED50 2 ng/ml). In vivo administration of bFGF prevents lesion-induced motoneuron death to 14% in 7 day old rats and to 60% in 18 day old rats, but not the axotomy-induced decrease of choline acetyltransferase activity in the hypoglossal nucleus of adult rats. These results are consistent with a neurotrophic role of bFGF in the hypoglossal system.


Expression of p75NGFR TrkA, and TrkB mRNA in rat C6 glioma and type I astrocyte cultures. Using a quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) we have investigated the expression of the neurotrophin receptors p75NGFR, trkA, and trkB mRNAs in cultures of rat pup type I astrocytes and in the C6 rat glioma cell line. All three neurotrophin receptor mRNAs are expressed in both C6 cells and in type I astrocytic cultures. p75NGFR mRNA levels are increased by either cycloheximide or nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment of C6 cells as measured using RT-PCR. Type I astrocyte cultures also expressed p75NGFR mRNA and NGF treatment increased p75NGFR mRNA levels in these cultures. TrkB mRNA levels were increased by cycloheximide treatment of type I astrocyte cultures but not by NGF treatment. Using RT-PCR, trkA mRNA was detected in astrocytic cultures as well as in the rat C6 and PC-12 cell lines. We conclude that cultures of type I astrocytes express active NGF receptors and that glia can elicit a response to NGF as seen by an increase in p75NGFR mRNA levels following exposure to NGF.


Differential expression of cytochrome oxidase (COX) genes in different regions of monkey brain. A frontal pole cDNA library from monkey (Macaca mulatta) brain was screened to identify mRNAs that are expressed more in frontal pole as compared to primary visual cortex. Three cDNA clones, whose greater expression was confirmed by Northern blot analysis, were identified as cytochrome oxidase (COX) subunits I, II, and III (COX I, II, and III). Each clone showed higher levels of mRNA in the frontal pole, dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus than in the primary visual or somatosensory cortices. COX histochemistry of prefrontal, visual, and somatosensory cortical regions demonstrated heterogeneous distributions, with highest activity in dendrite-rich neuropil of the cortex. A laminar distribution of COX mRNA expression also was demonstrated with in situ hybridization. mRNA was detected in cell bodies and in apical dendrites. These results indicate region specific differences in the distribution of COX activity and in the corresponding mRNA for three of its subunits within the monkey brain. Such differences may be related to differences in the distribution of neuropil as compared with cell bodies among the brain regions studied, and may be relevant to selective vulnerability in Alzheimer's disease.


Multiple intracellular signaling pathways of the neuropeptide substance P receptor. The rat substance P (SP) receptor cDNA has been transfected into cultured rat KNRK cells, and a stable cell line expressing functional SP receptors established. Upon stimulation with SP, these cells responded by simultaneously activating two signaling pathways: the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ and the raising of cyclic adenosine triphosphate (cAMP) levels. Both Ca2+ and cAMP responses were elicited in a similar dose-dependent manner with half maximal concentrations of approximately 5 x 10(-10) M. Following ionomycin treatment SP-dependent Ca2+ responses were abolished, whereas cAMP responses were preserved. Forskolin eliminated the SP-dependent cAMP elevation, however, the SP-induced Ca2+ mobilization remained unchanged. Furthermore, treatment with phorbol esters had no significant effect on either of the two SP-induced responses. Thus it appears that the SP receptor is capable of independently activating Ca2+ mobilization and cAMP pathways. These results may provide new insights for further understanding the diverse activities of SP in various systems in vitro and in vivo.


Studies on monoclonal anti-isotypic and anti-idiotypic antibodies against leukemia and myeloma: IV. Modulation of membrane fluidity of leukemic cell lines and tonsillar cell stimulated with McAbs. In this study the technique of labelling the cell membrane with DPH fluorescence polarization was used to observe the membrane fluidity of B lymphocytic cell lines and tonsillar cells from healthy persons; the modulation effect on membrane fluidity induced by McAbs against isotypic and idiotypic determinants of IgM from patients with leukemia was studied as well. The expression of the corresponding isotypic and idiotypic determinants of IgM on the cell membrane was determined. The results show that the membrane fluidity of leukemic cell lines is remarkably higher than that of tonsillar cells from healthy persons, and McAbs against isotypic determinants of leukemic IgM can enhance the membrane fluidity of all kinds of cells mentioned above. However, the anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody increased only the membrane fluidity of leukemic cell lines. These results indicated that there was a close relationship between the effect of McAbs on cell membrane fluidity and the expression of corresponding isotypic and idiotypic determinants of IgM on the cell membrane.


Enhancement of B cell responses by the interaction of CD2 with LFA-3. Potential effect of the interaction of CD2 with its ligand LFA-3 on B cell responses in vitro was studied to evaluate the action of CD2-LFA-3 in immune responses. It was found that: 1) addition of autologous erythrocytes to unfractional mononuclear cells resulted in enhancement of PWM-induced lymphocyte proliferation, and had no significant influence on non-mitogen stimulation; 2) autologous erythrocytes potentiated the synthesis of immunoglobulins; and 3) costimulating effects of autologous RBC can be depressed by preincubation of PBMNC with anti-CD2 monoclonal antibody (WuTll). The results suggest that preincubation of mononuclear cells with anti-CD2 McAb has a down-regulating effects on B cell responses and the interaction of CD2 with its ligand LFA-3 expressed by RBC is closely related to immune responses.


The receptor for mouse hepatitis virus in the resistant mouse strain SJL is functional: implications for the requirement of a second factor for viral infection. The SJL mouse strain is resistant to infection by some strains of the murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), such as JHM and A59. The block to virus infection has been variously attributed to defects in virus receptors or virus spread. Since the cellular receptors for MHV, mmCGM1 and mmCGM2, have recently been identified as members of the carcinoembryonic antigen family, we reexamined the possible defectiveness of the MHV receptors in SJL mouse strain. Cloning and sequencing of the cDNAs of both mmCGMs RNAs from SJL mice revealed that they were identical in size to those of the susceptible C57BL/6 (B6) mouse. There was some sequence divergence in the N terminus of the mmCGM molecules between the two mouse strains, resulting in a different number of potential glycosylation sites. This was confirmed by in vitro translation of the mmCGM RNAs, which showed that the glycosylated mmCGM2 of SJL was smaller than that of B6 mice. However, transfection of either mmCGM1 or mmCGM2 from SJL mice into MHV-resistant Cos 7 cells rendered the cells susceptible to MHV infection. The ability of the SJL mmCGM molecules to serve as MHV receptors was comparable to that of those from B6. These molecules are expressed in SJL mouse brain and liver in a similar ratio and in amounts equivalent to those in the B6 mouse. Furthermore, we demonstrated that an SJL-derived cell line was susceptible to A59 but resistant to JHM infection. We concluded that the MHV receptor molecules in the SJL mouse are functional and that the resistance of SJL mice to infection by some MHV strains most likely results from some other factor(s) required for virus entry or some other step(s) in virus replication.


Relationship of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 third variable loop to a component of the CD4 binding site in the fourth conserved region. Neutralizing antibodies that recognize the human immunodeficiency virus gp120 exterior envelope glycoprotein and are directed against either the third variable (V3) loop or conserved, discontinuous epitopes overlapping the CD4 binding region have been described. Here we report several observations that suggest a structural relationship between the V3 loop and amino acids in the fourth conserved (C4) gp120 region that constitute part of the CD4 binding site and the conserved neutralization epitopes. Treatment of the gp120 glycoprotein with ionic detergents resulted in a V3 loop-dependent masking of both linear C4 epitopes and discontinuous neutralization epitopes overlapping the CD4 binding site. Increased recognition of the native gp120 glycoprotein by an anti-V3 loop monoclonal antibody, 9284, resulted from from single amino acid changes either in the base of the V3 loop or in the gp120 C4 region. These amino acid changes also resulted in increased exposure of conserved epitopes overlapping the CD4 binding region. The replication-competent subset of these mutants exhibited increased sensitivity to neutralization by antibody 9284 and anti-CD4 binding site antibodies. The implied relationship of the V3 loop, which mediates post-receptor binding steps in virus entry, and components of the CD4 binding region may be important for the interaction of these functional gp120 domains and for the observed cooperativity of neutralizing antibodies directed against these regions.


Antigenic sequences of poliovirus recognized by T cells: serotype-specific epitopes on VP1 and VP3 and cross-reactive epitopes on VP4 defined by using CD4+ T-cell clones. A panel of poliovirus-specific murine CD4+ T-cell clones has been established from both BALB/c (H-2d) and CBA (H-2k) mice immunized with Sabin vaccine strains of poliovirus serotype 1, 2, or 3. T-cell clones were found to be either serotype specific or cross-reactive between two or all three serotypes. Specificity analysis against purified poliovirus proteins demonstrated that T-cell clones recognized determinants on the surface capsid proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3 and the internal capsid protein VP4. Panels of overlapping synthetic peptides were used to identify eight distinct T-cell epitopes. One type 3-specific T-cell clone recognized an epitope within amino acids 257 and 264 of VP1. Three T-cell epitopes corresponding to residues 14 to 28, 189 to 203, and 196 to 210 were identified on VP3 of poliovirus type 2. The remaining four T-cell epitopes were mapped to an immunodominant region of VP4, encompassed within residues 6 and 35 and recognized by both H-2d and H-2k mice. The epitopes on VP4 were conserved between serotypes, and this may account for the predominantly cross-reactive poliovirus-specific T-cell response observed with polyclonal T-cell populations. In contrast, T-cell clones that recognize epitopes on VP1 or VP3 were largely serotype specific; single or multiple amino acid substitutions were found to be critical for T-cell recognition.


Mutational analysis of the major homology region of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus by use of saturation mutagenesis. The major capsid (CA) protein of retroviruses possesses a stretch of 20 amino acids, called the major homology region (MHR), which is evolutionarily conserved and invariant in location within the primary sequence of the protein. The function of this region was investigated by examining the effect of random single-amino-acid substitutions within the central 13 positions of the MHR on the life cycle of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV), an immunosuppressive D-type retrovirus. When these mutants were subcloned into an M-PMV proviral vector and expressed in COS cells, one of two major phenotypes was observed. The first group, containing three mutants bearing drastic amino acid substitutions, was unable to assemble capsids in the cytoplasm of the host cell. The second and more common group of mutants was able to assemble and release virions, but these either displayed greatly reduced levels of infectivity or were completely noninfectious. Included within this second group were two mutants with unusual phenotypes; mutant D158Y exhibited a novel cleavage site for the viral protease that resulted in cleavage of the major capsid protein, p27 (CA), within the MHR, whereas mutant F156L appeared to have lost a major site for antibody recognition within the mature CA protein. The results of this mutagenic analysis suggest that changes in the MHR sequence can interfere with the assembly of viral capsids and block an early stage of the infection cycle of M-PMV.


Novel mutation in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase gene that encodes cross-resistance to 2',3'-dideoxyinosine and 2',3'-dideoxycytidine. We have used the technique of in vitro selection to generate variants of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) that are resistant to 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI) and cross-resistant to 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC). The complete reverse transcriptase (RT)-coding regions, plus portions of flanking sequences, of viruses possessing a ddI-resistant phenotype were cloned and sequenced by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods. We observed that several of these viruses possessed mutations at amino acid sites 184 (Met-->Val; ATG-->GTG) and 294 (Pro-->Ser; CCA-->TCA). These mutations were introduced in the pol gene of infectious, cloned HXB2-D DNA by site-directed mutagenesis. Viral replication assays confirmed the importance of site 184 with regard to resistance to ddI. The recombinant viruses thus generated displayed more than fivefold-greater resistance to ddI than parental HXB2-D did. Moreover, more than fivefold-greater resistance to ddC was also documented; however, the recombinant viruses continued to be inhibited by zidovudine (AZT). No resistance to ddI, ddC, or AZT was introduced by inclusion of mutation site 294 in the pol gene of HXB2-D. PCR analysis performed on viral samples obtained from patients receiving long-term ddI therapy confirmed the presence of mutation site 184 in five of seven cases tested. In three of these five positive cases, the wild-type codon was also detected, indicating that mixtures of viral quasispecies were apparently present. Viruses possessing a ddI resistance phenotype were isolated from both subjects whose viruses contained only the mutated rather than wild-type codon at position 184 as well as from a third individual, whose viruses appeared to be mostly of the mutated variety.


Effects of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Tat protein on the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Increased levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-6, have been detected in specimens from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals. Here we demonstrate that HIV-1 activates the expression of TNF but not of IL-1 and IL-6 in acutely and chronically infected T cells. The increase in TNF gene expression is due to activation of the TNF promoter by the viral gene product Tat. Transactivation of TNF gene expression requires the product of the first exon of the tat gene and is cell type independent. T cells chronically infected with pol-defective HIV-1 provirus constitutively express both Tat and TNF at levels significantly higher (fivefold) than those seen in control cells, and treatment with phorbol myristate acetate greatly enhances Tat expression and TNF production. As TNF can increase the production of IL-1 and IL-6 and these inflammatory cytokines all enhance HIV-1 gene expression and affect the immune, vascular, and central nervous systems, the activation of TNF by Tat may be part of a complex pathway in which HIV-1 uses viral products and host factors to increase its own expression and infectivity and to induce disease.


Characterization of reticuloendotheliosis virus-transformed avian T-lymphoblastoid cell lines infected with Marek's disease virus. The expression of Marek's disease virus (MDV) transcripts and protein products was investigated in reticuloendotheliosis virus-transformed avian T-lymphoblastoid cell line RECC-CU91, which was superinfected with MDV. The presence of MDV in the superinfected cell line, renamed RECC-CU210, was demonstrated by Southern hybridization with 32P-labeled BamHI-H and -B fragments of the BamHI MDV DNA library. Examination of RECC-CU210 for the expression of MDV-specific RNA transcripts encoded by the internal repeat long (IRL), internal repeat short (IRS), and unique short (US) regions of the MDV genome revealed two small transcripts of 0.6 and 0.7 kb. These transcripts were mapped to the IRL and IRS regions, respectively. In contrast, RECC-CU211, which was developed through transfection of CU210 with the BamHI-A fragment of MDV, expressed an additional nine transcripts from the IRL, IRS, and US regions. CU211 but not CU210 also expressed a complex of polypeptides of 40, 38, and 24 kDa, identified by monoclonal antibodies as MDV-specific phosphoproteins. The 38-kDa phosphoprotein is likely to be pp38, an early viral protein that maps within the IRL region of the MDV genome. These findings suggest that genes located within the transfected BamHI-A fragment transactivated a number of genes located in the IRL region of the MDV genome.


Isolation and characterization of cDNAs from BamHI-H gene family RNAs associated with the tumorigenicity of Marek's disease virus. It has been reported that loss of the tumorigenic potential of attenuated Marek's disease virus (MDV) is strongly associated with amplification of the 132-bp repeat sequences found within the BamHI-D and BamHI-H fragments contained within the long terminal repeat and the long internal repeat, respectively. The expansion of this region results in loss of transcripts that are 3.8, 3.0, and 1.8 kbp long that are produced by tumorigenic strains of MDV. This evidence suggests that production of one or more of these three RNAs is strongly associated with the tumorigenic potential of the virus. In this study, we have cloned and sequenced 1.69-, 1.5-, 1.9-, and 2.2-kbp cDNAs from the BamHI-H gene family RNAs associated with tumorigenicity. The 1.69- and 2.2-kbp cDNAs are derived from nonspliced transcripts, whereas the 1.5- and 1.9-kbp cDNAs are from single spliced mRNAs spanning the BamHI-H and BamHI-I2 fragments of MDV DNA. Sequence analysis has shown two potential open reading frames in each of the cDNAs. The putative 63-amino-acid protein encoded by the first open reading frame in the 1.69-kbp cDNA and a putative 75-amino-acid protein encoded by the first open reading frame in the 1.5-kbp cDNA showed limited homology with the mouse T-cell lymphoma oncogene and the fes/fps family of kinase-related transforming proteins.


Creation and characterization of temperature-sensitive mutants of the lck tyrosine protein kinase. Temperature-sensitive mutants of the lck tyrosine protein kinase were created by the introduction of mutations known to cause temperature sensitivity of the v-src tyrosine protein kinase of Rous sarcoma virus. p56lck activated by mutation of the regulatory site of tyrosine phosphorylation, Tyr-505, to Phe transforms fibroblasts in culture. Mutations identical to those responsible for the temperature-sensitive phenotypes of the tsNY68 and tsNY72-4 v-src mutants rendered this activated lck gene temperature sensitive for both morphological transformation and induction of growth in soft agar. The mutant proteins were incapable of cellular transformation at the nonpermissive temperature in part because of failure of the lck protein to accumulate to normal levels. Morphological transformation of fibroblasts was detectable within 24 h of a shift of cells to the permissive temperature and was essentially complete in 48 to 72 h. These mutants should prove useful for the study of the function of the lck kinase in hematopoietic cells.


Coronavirus species specificity: murine coronavirus binds to a mouse-specific epitope on its carcinoembryonic antigen-related receptor glycoprotein. Like most coronaviruses, the coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) exhibits strong species specificity, causing natural infection only in mice. MHV-A59 virions use as a receptor a 110- to 120-kDa glycoprotein (MHVR) in the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family of glycoproteins (G. S. Dveksler, M. N. Pensiero, C. B. Cardellichio, R. K. Williams, G. S. Jiang, K. V. Holmes, and C. W. Dieffenbach, J. Virol. 65:6881-6891, 1991; and R. K. Williams, G. S. Jiang, and K. V. Holmes, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:5533-5536, 1991). The role of virus-receptor interactions in determining the species specificity of MHV-A59 was examined by comparing the binding of virus and antireceptor antibodies to cell lines and intestinal brush border membranes (BBM) from many species. Polyclonal antireceptor antiserum (anti-MHVR) raised by immunization of SJL/J mice with BALB/c BBM recognized MHVR specifically in immunoblots of BALB/c BBM but not in BBM from adult SJL/J mice that are resistant to infection with MHV-A59, indicating a major difference in epitopes between MHVR and its SJL/J homolog which does not bind MHV (7). Anti-MHVR bound to plasma membranes of MHV-susceptible murine cell lines but not to membranes of human, cat, dog, monkey, or hamster cell lines. Cell lines from these species were resistant to MHV-A59 infection, and only the murine cell lines tested were susceptible. Pretreatment of murine fibroblasts with anti-MHVR prevented binding of radiolabeled virions to murine cells and prevented virus infection. Solid-phase virus-binding assays and virus overlay protein blot assays showed that MHV-A59 virions bound to MHVR on intestinal BBM from MHV-susceptible mouse strains but not to proteins on intestinal BBM from humans, cats, dogs, pigs, cows, rabbits, rats, cotton rats, or chickens. In immunoblots of BBM from these species, both polyclonal and monoclonal antireceptor antibodies that block MHV-A59 infection of murine cells recognized only the murine CEA-related glycoprotein and not homologous CEA-related glycoproteins of other species. These results suggest that MHV-A59 binds to a mouse-specific epitope of MHVR, and they support the hypothesis that the species specificity of MHV-A59 infection may be due to the specificity of the virus-receptor interaction.


Distribution of conserved and specific epitopes on the VP8 subunit of rotavirus VP4. Three cDNA clones comprising the VP8 subunit of the VP4 of human rotavirus strain KU (VP7 serotype G1; VP4 serotype P1A) G1 were constructed. The corresponding encoded peptides were designated according to their locations in the VP8 subunit as A (amino acids 1 to 102), B (amino acids 84 to 180), and C (amino acids 150 to 246 plus amino acids 247 to 251 from VP5). In addition, cDNA clones encoding peptide B of the VP8 subunit of the VP4 gene from human rotavirus strains DS-1 (G2; P1B) and 1076 (G2; P2) were also constructed. These DNA fragments were inserted into plasmid pGEMEX-1 and expressed in Escherichia coli. Western immunoblot analysis using antisera to rotavirus strains KU (P1A), Wa (P1A), DS-1 (P1B), 1076 (P2), and M37 (P2) demonstrated that peptides A and C cross-reacted with heterotypic human rotavirus VP4 antisera, suggesting that these two peptides represent conserved epitopes in the VP8 subunit. In contrast, peptide B appears to be involved in the VP4 serotype and subtype specificities, because it reacted only with the corresponding serotype- and subtype-specific antiserum. Antiserum raised against peptide A, B, or C of strain KU contained a lower level of neutralizing activity than did that induced by the entire VP8 subunit. In addition, the serotype-specific neutralizing activity of anti-KU VP8 serum was ablated after adsorption with the KU VP8 protein but not with a mixture of peptides A, B, and C of strain KU, suggesting that most of the serotype-specific epitopes in the VP8 subunit are conformational and are dependent on the entire amino acid sequence of VP8.


Mutational analysis of the fingers domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase. Using BspMI cassette vectors, we have constructed a series of mutations in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) that cause specific amino acid substitutions within the polymerase domain. The RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, DNA-dependent DNA polymerase, and RNase H activities of the mutant RTs were assayed. The elucidation of the structure of HIV-1 RT makes it possible to determine the locations of specific mutations in the three-dimensional structure of HIV-1 RT [E. Arnold, A. Jacobo-Molina, R. G. Nanni, R. L. Williams, X. Lu, J. Ding, A. D. Clark, Jr., A. Zhang, A. L. Ferris, P. Clark, A. Hizi, and S. H. Hughes, Nature (London) 357:85-89, 1992; L. A. Kohlstaedt, J. Wang, J. M. Friedman, P. A. Rice, and T. A. Steitz, Science 256:1783-1790, 1992]. The mutations described in this report are between amino acids 25 and 81, within the "fingers" domain of RT (Kohlstaedt et al., Science 256:1783-1790, 1992). It has been suggested that this domain may play a role in positioning the template. Although the fingers domain does not contain the active site for polymerization, several of the mutations within this domain disrupt polymerase activity without significantly affecting RNase H activity.


Loss of infectivity by progeny virus from alpha interferon-treated human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected T cells is associated with defective assembly of envelope gp120. Levels of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) DNA, RNA, or p24 antigen and reverse transcriptase activity in T-cell cultures treated with 500 IU of recombinant alpha interferon (rIFN alpha) per ml were comparable to those in control cultures. Radioimmunoprecipitation analysis of proteins in lysates of IFN-treated T cells documented a marked accumulation of HIV proteins. Localization of gp120 by immunofluorescence showed a diffuse pattern in IFN-treated cells quite distinct from the ring pattern in untreated control cells. That large quantities of gp120 in aberrant cell compartments might affect HIV morphogenesis was confirmed in infectivity studies: virions from IFN-treated cells were 100- to 1,000-fold less infectious than an equal number of virions from control cells. Direct examination of IFN-treated and control HIV-infected cells by transmission electron microscopy showed little difference in the number or distribution of viral particles. However, quantitation of gp120 by immunogold particle analysis revealed a marked depletion of envelope glycoprotein in virions released from IFN-treated cells. This defect in gp120 assembly onto mature viral particles provides a molecular basis for this loss of infectivity.


Mutagenesis of the Glu-89 residue in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2 reverse transcriptases: effects on nucleoside analog resistance. A Glu-89-->Gly alteration in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (RT) was previously shown to result in resistance to several dideoxynucleoside analogs and to phosphonoformic acid (PFA; foscarnet). This residue was altered to Ala, Val, Ser, Thr, Gln, Asp, Asn, or Lys, and the ddGTP and PFA sensitivities of the mutant RTs were measured. Replacements with Ala, Gly, Val, and Thr led to resistance to inhibition by ddGTP, while mutants with amino acid Ser, Gln, Asn, Asp, or Lys displayed only moderate or no resistance. A similar result was obtained with inhibition by PFA, except that the Asp-89 mutant also displayed resistance. Furthermore, the introduction of Glu-89-->Gly alteration into the RT of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 likewise rendered it resistant to both ddGTP and PFA.


Transfection-mediated recombination of influenza A virus. Several mechanisms, including a high mutation rate and reassortment of genes, have been found to be responsible for the variability of influenza A viruses. RNA recombination would be another mechanism leading to genetic variation; however, recombination has only rarely been reported to occur in influenza viruses. During ribonucleoprotein transfection experiments designed to generate viable influenza viruses from in vitro-synthesized RNA, we discovered several viruses which must have originated from recombination events. The ribonucleoprotein transfection system may enhance the formation of viruses which result from jumping of the viral polymerase between RNAs or from ligation of different viral RNAs. Five different recombinant viruses are described. Two of these, REC1 and REC2, contain a neuraminidase (NA) gene whose defective polyadenylation signal has been repaired via intergenic recombination; 124 and 95 nucleotides have been added, respectively. Another virus, REC5, must have originated by multiple recombination events since it contains a mosaic gene with sequences derived from the NA gene of influenza A/WSN/33 virus and the matrix, polymerase protein PB1, and NA genes of influenza A/PR/8/34 virus.


Upstream sequences and cap proximity in the regulation of polyadenylation in ground squirrel hepatitis virus. The polyadenylation signal of mammalian hepadnaviruses is unusual in that its hexanucleotide element is the variant UAUAAA rather than AAUAAA. This signal functions inefficiently and must be augmented by multiple activator elements located in the upstream 400 nucleotides (nt) to promote efficient processing. Here we characterize one of these upstream elements, termed PS2, in the ground squirrel hepatitis virus. PS2 is located within the 107 nt 5' to the UAUAAA and raises the efficiency of polyadenylation by this signal from < 10% to 50 to 60%. It can function independently of the more 5' activator elements and conversely is not required for their function. Its action is orientation dependent, and a predicted stem-loop structure within the element is not necessary for its activity. PS2 is the sole upstream element that maps within the terminal redundancy of viral genomic RNA. Thus, it is present, together with the UAUAAA, at both the 5' and 3' ends of this RNA. During genomic RNA synthesis, the poly(A) signals in the 5' repeat are bypassed, while those in the 3' copy are used. The ability of PS2 to function independently of the other, more upstream activators suggests that the absence of the latter elements from the 5' redundancy is insufficient to account for bypass of the 5' poly(A) site, as we had earlier proposed. Rather, the short distance from the cap site to the UAUAAA at the 5' end of genomic RNA actively suppresses its use, as this suppression can be experimentally relieved by increasing this distance to 230 to 400 nt.


Crystallization of biologically active hemagglutinin-neuraminidase glycoprotein dimers proteolytically cleaved from human parainfluenza virus type 1. We isolated, purified, and characterized the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) of human parainfluenza virus type 1, with the ultimate goal of producing crystals suitable for three-dimensional X-ray structure analysis. Pronase was used to cleave the globular head of the HN molecule directly from virus particles, forming HN monomers and dimers. The purified dimers retained neuraminidase and hemadsorption activity and were recognized by 14 anti-HN monoclonal antibodies, demonstrating intact HN antigenic structure and function. N-terminal sequence analysis of the dimers showed that cleavage had occurred at amino acid 136 or 137, freeing the C-terminal 438 or 439 amino acids. On electron micrography, the dimer appeared as two box-shaped structures, each approximately 5 by 5 nm. When the purified HN dimers were crystallized in hanging drops by vapor diffusion against 20% polyethylene glycol 3350, they formed both rectangular plates and needlelike crystals. The rectangular crystals diffracted X-rays, indicating an ordered atomic structure. However, the resolution was approximately 10 A (1 nm), insufficient for three-dimensional structural analysis. Experiments to improve the resolution by increasing the size and quality of the crystals are in progress.


Pilot study to evaluate impact of a policy of adjuvant chemotherapy for high risk stage 1 malignant teratoma on overall relapse rate of stage 1 cancer patients. A total of 41 patients with stage 1 malignant teratoma of the testis treated from January 1986 to June 1990 was entered into a pilot study of 2 courses of adjuvant cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. Of the patients 22 had a high or intermediate risk of relapse according to the Medical Research Council (United Kingdom) prognostic factor analysis and surveillance was instituted for 19 patients with a low relapse risk. The overall relapse rate in this group of patients (median followup 2 years) was 9.7% (5% in the adjuvant group and 16% in the surveillance group), which was significantly better than the 35% rate in the historical series treated by surveillance from 1980 to 1985 and equaled or was possibly better than that reported from adjuvant retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Justification for consideration of 1 course of adjuvant treatment for such cases is reviewed, and the need for examination of such an approach in a neoadjuvant setting with either lymph node dissection or surveillance is examined.


Quantitative measurements of prostatic blood flow and blood volume by positron emission tomography. Prostatic blood flow was measured with 15oxygen-water by positron emission tomography using a 1-compartment model. A dynamic study method was applied to 9 normal subjects, 6 with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and 11 with advanced stages C to D2 prostatic adenocarcinoma. Prostatic blood flow was 15.7 +/- 7.5 ml. per minute per 100 gm. in normal controls, 17.7 +/- 5.2 ml. per minute per 100 gm. in BPH patients and 29.4 +/- 7.8 ml. per minute per 100 gm. in prostatic cancer patients. Prostatic blood flow negatively correlated well with age in the normal subjects. Prostatic blood volume was also estimated by the steady state method using 15oxygen-carbon monoxide. Prostatic blood volume was 8.1 +/- 2.6% in normal controls, 8.9 +/- 1.1% in BPH patients and 6.1 +/- 2.1% in prostatic cancer patients. Blood flow in the prostatic cancer tissue was higher than that in the normal (p < 0.001) or BPH (p < 0.01) tissue. A significant difference in prostatic blood volume was also observed between BPH and cancer tissues (p < 0.02).


The characterization of nonbacterial prostatitis: search for an etiology. Nonbacterial prostatitis is often difficult to differentiate from other prostatic complaints and remains a vaguely characterized syndrome. Prostatic fluid inflammatory cells and elevated immunoglobulins raise the suspicion that this syndrome is caused by some undetected infection. Prostatic fluid antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, staphylococcus, Staphylococcus faecalis, Bacteroides fragilis and Clostridium perfringens were measured in men with nonbacterial and bacterial prostatitis, and men without urinary symptoms by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Prostate specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase were measured in the prostatic fluid as indirect measures of secretory activity. Of 44 men with nonbacterial prostatitis 9 (20%) had detectable prostatic fluid antichlamydial antibody titers, compared with 3 of 25 control men (12%) and 2 of 13 (15%) with bacterial prostatitis--no evidence for a higher prevalence of prostatic fluid antichlamydial antibody in men with nonbacterial prostatitis. Prostatic antibodies to the other organisms were rarely detected. When compared with unaffected men the low levels of prostate specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase, and more alkaline prostatic fluid in men with bacterial and nonbacterial prostatitis suggest that secretory dysfunction accompanies the inflammation. These data show that none of the organisms studied caused the majority of the cases of nonbacterial prostatitis and that either an agent as yet unidentified or multiple agents may be involved in the etiology of nonbacterial prostatitis.


A randomized, placebo-controlled multicenter study of the efficacy and safety of terazosin in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The clinical manifestations of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are related primarily to bladder outlet obstruction resulting from enlargement of the prostate gland. Transurethral prostatectomy is the most common treatment currently offered for BPH in the United States. The primary objective of the present randomized placebo controlled multicenter study was to determine the efficacy and safety of terazosin, a selective long-acting alpha 1-blocker, for the treatment of symptomatic BPH. A total of 285 men with symptomatic BPH was randomly assigned in equal proportions to receive placebo, or 2, 5 or 10 mg. terazosin administered once daily. Of the patients 237 completed the 4-week single-blind placebo lead-in and 12-week double-blind treatment periods. The primary outcome parameters were changes in peak and mean urinary flow rates, and changes in the Boyarsky symptom scores. All terazosin treatment groups exhibited significantly greater decreases in total Boyarsky symptom score than the placebo group. The 10 mg. terazosin group exhibited significantly greater increases in peak and mean urinary flow rates than the placebo group. The improvements in symptom scores and urinary flow rates did not reach a plateau within the dose range evaluated, suggesting that further efficacy may be achieved with doses of terazosin exceeding 10 mg. This study unequivocally demonstrates the safety and efficacy of terazosin for the treatment of BPH. Selective alpha 1-blockade is likely to gain widespread acceptance for the treatment of BPH due to its safety and efficacy.


Recurrent prostate cancer despite undetectable prostate specific antigen. Serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a sensitive tumor marker following definitive therapy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Detectable levels of PSA after radical prostatectomy indicate residual and/or recurrent cancer. Therefore, we were surprised to document recurrent cancer following radical retropubic prostatectomy in a man who had undetectable serum PSA levels. This observation suggests that careful clinical monitoring remains essential after definitive therapy, since rare patients may have recurrent and/or residual carcinoma despite undetectable levels of PSA.


Hard measures of subjective outcomes: validating symptom indexes in urology. Scientifically validated (accurate), and reproducible (precise) methods of assessing the frequency and severity of patient symptoms are becoming more widely used in medicine. Such a symptom index has been developed for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, and may find use in clinical practice and research. The criteria for developing and validating such indexes are presented, using the new benign prostatic hyperplasia symptom index as an example. The same approach can be applied to many other disease entities in urology that demand a quantitation of the illness experience from the perspective of the patients.


The American Urological Association symptom index for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The Measurement Committee of the American Urological Association. A symptom index for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was developed and validated by a multidisciplinary measurement committee of the American Urological Association (AUA). Validation studies were conducted involving a total of 210 BPH patients and 108 control subjects. The final AUA symptom index includes 7 questions covering frequency, nocturia, weak urinary stream, hesitancy, intermittence, incomplete emptying and urgency. On revalidation, the index was internally consistent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86) and the score generated had excellent test-retest reliability (r = 0.92). Scores were highly correlated with subjects' global ratings of the magnitude of their urinary problem (r = 0.65 to 0.72) and powerfully discriminated between BPH and control subjects (receiver operating characteristic area 0.85). Finally, the index was sensitive to change, with preoperative scores decreasing from a mean of 17.6 to 7.1 by 4 weeks after prostatectomy (p < 0.001). The AUA symptom index is clinically sensible, reliable, valid and responsive. It is practical for use in practice and for inclusion in research protocols.


Correlation of the American Urological Association symptom index with self-administered versions of the Madsen-Iversen, Boyarsky and Maine Medical Assessment Program symptom indexes. Measurement Committee of the American Urological Association. We correlated the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index with other indexes that have been used to measure symptoms for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and compared their psychometric properties. A self-administered questionnaire that allowed derivation of AUA, Maine Medical Assessment Program, Madsen-Iversen and Boyarsky symptom scores was completed by 76 men with clinically defined BPH, 59 younger control subjects, and 27 men before and after prostatectomy. The scores from the 4 indexes were strongly correlated (r = 0.77 to 0.93). All 4 indexes had good internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities. All indexes were predictive of patient global ratings of the degree of bother from the urinary condition. The AUA index discriminated BPH patients from controls significantly better than the Maine Medical Assessment Program index, and equivalently to the Madsen-Iversen and Boyarsky indexes (despite having fewer items). All 4 indexes were responsive when BPH patients underwent prostatectomy, although the AUA and Madsen-Iversen indexes were significantly more sensitive.


Establishment and characterization of a human primary prostatic adenocarcinoma cell line (ND-1). A human primary prostatic adenocarcinoma cell line named ND-1 has been established in long term tissue culture. The cultured cells show growth in both monolayers and in soft agar suspension and produce subcutaneous tumors in nude mice. Cytogenetic analysis by G-banding demonstrated an aneuploid karyotype with a modal chromosome number of 62, and multiple marker chromosomes with 25-30% structural abnormalities. Ploidy analysis revealed that the majority of ND-1 cells (67%) had a DNA mass of 10.1 picogram and DNA index of 1.41. Nineteen percent of cells had a DNA mass of 21.3 picogram and DNA index of 3.0. Electron microscopic studies revealed common features of neoplastic epithelial cells such as numerous microvilli, junctional complexes, abnormal nuclei, nucleoli, and mitochondria. Due to the absence of a structurally normal Y chromosome, confirmation of the presence of a derived Y chromosome was achieved through the use of C-banding and through fluorescent in situ hybridization with a Y chromosome repeat probe. Tandem E PSA immunoenzymatic assay revealed that these ND-1 cells secrete small amounts of prostate specific antigen.


In vitro studies on the effect of cofactors on the 5 alpha-reductase and 3 alpha- and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid reductase activities in the hyperplastic human prostate. Many studies have intimated that the accumulation and hence elevation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the human prostate may be the primary factor in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This accumulation has been explained in terms of an increase in the 5 alpha-reductase enzymatic activity which converts testosterone to DHT and a decrease in the relative activities of the 3 alpha-HSORred and 3 beta-HSORred enzymes. To investigate this hypothesis further, the activities of these two enzymes were studied in the presence and absence of NADPH in benign hyperplastic tissue and in normal peripheral (NPR) and benign hyperplastic periurethral (BPH) tissue taken from the same prostate. The results of these studies demonstrate a several fold increase in the activities of 3 alpha-HSORred and 3 beta-HSORred in the presence of NADPH in the hyperplastic human prostate. This increase in the activities of these two enzymes is found to the same degree in normal peripheral and benign hyperplastic periurethral tissue taken from the same prostate. There was no difference in percent increase in 3 alpha- and 3 beta-diol formation from DHT with NADPH in normal peripheral versus benign hyperplastic periurethral prostatic tissue. In subsequent experiments, Vmax/Km, as an index of the enzymatic capacity of the 3 alpha-HSORred and 3 beta-HSORred enzymes, was determined in both NPR and BPH tissue in media fortified with one mM NADPH. This quotient was found to be essentially the same in NPR and BPH tissue for both the 3 alpha-HSORred and the 3 beta-HSORred. Subsequently, the Vmax/Km value for the 5 alpha-reductase in BPH tissue was found to be equal to the combined Vmax/Km values of the 3 alpha-HSORred and 3 beta-HSORred. The reverse reaction or the conversion of 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol and 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta,17 beta-diol is completely blocked in a medium containing one mM NADPH. These studies suggest that the concentration of DHT in prostatic tissue is dependent on the level of NADPH necessary for the 3 alpha-HSORred and 3 beta-HSORred enzymes to convert DHT to its respective diols.


Epidemiology of bladder emptying symptoms in elderly men. We provide estimates of the prevalence, incidence and remission of difficult bladder emptying symptoms (prostatism) among noninstitutionalized men 60 years old and older living in a community in the United States. The prevalence of 1 or more symptoms of prostatism (hesitancy, straining, weak stream, intermittency or use of a catheter) among men who never had prostatic surgery is 35%. The annual incidence rates during years 1 and 2 of followup were 16.4% and 16.1%, respectively. Remission of symptoms of prostatism also was observed. Of the respondents with severe symptoms at baseline 22.9% were asymptomatic 1 year later. The prevalence of prostatic surgery in this population was 20%. The annual incidence rates during years 1 and 2 of followup were 2.6% and 3.3%, respectively. Urological and nonurological correlates of prostatism are identified. The irritative bladder symptoms are all significantly associated with moderate to severe bladder emptying symptoms (p < 0.0005). Nonurological conditions that also are associated with moderate to severe symptoms of prostatism include use of sedatives or tranquilizers, arthritis, poor health status and transient ischemic attacks. These observations are the initial step in documenting and understanding the various symptoms of prostatism, and its application in clinical practice.


Detection of human papillomavirus in the prostate by polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. Human papillomavirus is associated with a variety of anogenital lesions, including genital warts, precancers and cancers. In male patients human papillomavirus has been identified in proliferative lesions ranging from penile and urethral warts to penile and prostatic cancers. We examined the association of human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in 84 prostate tissue specimens. Specimens were selected from radical prostatectomy, transurethral resection or transrectal biopsy procedures. A total of 60 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues (24 prostate cancer specimens, 16 benign prostatic hyperplasia specimens and 20 normal specimens) was examined by polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. Also, 24 gelatin-embedded frozen prostate cancer specimens were examined for human papillomavirus DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Of the specimens 69 were deemed adequate for polymerase chain reaction analysis, whereas all 60 paraffin-embedded tissues were sufficient for in situ hybridization. Human papillomavirus DNA was detected in 2 normal tissues and 6 prostate cancers using polymerase chain reaction. None of the benign prostatic hyperplasia specimens was positive for human papillomavirus. Human papillomavirus typing results indicated that virus type 16 was present in each of the 8 positive specimens. Confirmation of the presence of human papillomavirus was obtained for 1 of the prostate cancers by nonisotopic in situ hybridization with biotinylated human papillomavirus genomic probes. The low prevalence of human papillomavirus in this study population does not strongly support an etiological role for the virus in prostate cancer.


Diagnostic methods in the detection of prostate cancer: a study of a randomly selected population of 2,400 men. We investigated the value of digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasonography and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) analysis as aids in general clinical practice and in the early detection of prostate cancer. Of a randomly selected population of 2,400 men 55 to 70 years old who were offered examination with digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasound and PSA analysis, 1,782 (74%) accepted and prostate cancer was detected in 65 (3.6%). When the transrectal ultrasound results were also considered the detection rate of digital rectal examination (2.3%) was increased by 50% and the number of stage T2A or less tumors was doubled. At reexamination due to markedly high PSA values (7 micrograms/l. or more) only a few additional cancers (5%) were detected. However, it is noteworthy that 80% of the detected cancers were found among the subgroup with abnormal PSA values (4 micrograms/l. or more) and comprising 17% of the study population, which suggests the possibility of selecting a risk group at mass screening. Moreover, the positive predictive value increased from 4% (when only digital rectal examination was positive) to 71% for the combination of positive digital rectal examination, positive transrectal ultrasound and an increased PSA concentration (that is 7 micrograms/l. or greater).


The value of serum enzymatic acid phosphatase in the staging of localized prostate cancer. With the development of reliable assays for the measurement of prostate specific antigen (PSA), the use of serum enzymatic acid phosphatase in the staging of disease before radical prostatectomy has been called into question. We evaluated 460 consecutive men who were referred to our institution as candidates for radical prostatectomy. Staging evaluation included digital rectal examination, serum measurements of enzymatic acid phosphatase and PSA, bone scans and, in patients in whom advanced clinical stage was anticipated, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or transrectal ultrasonography. Of the 460 men 21 (4.6%) had elevations of serum enzymatic acid phosphatase. All 19 men with elevations who were fully evaluated proved to have either positive bone scans, extraprostatic extension of disease, PSA greater than 100 ng./ml., positive lymph nodes or positive seminal vesicles. However, in 17 of the 21 men (81%) with elevated serum enzymatic acid phosphatase advanced disease was detected by either abnormal digital rectal examination or PSA alone. Thus, serum enzymatic acid phosphatase provided unique information in only 4 of the entire study population (0.9%). Recognizing this low yield of unique information, we believe that measurements of serum enzymatic acid phosphatase are no longer mandatory before radical prostatectomy but may provide important confirmatory information in patients in whom advanced disease is suspected.


[The clinical effect of intravenous regional sympathectomy with guanethidine in the management of sympathetically maintained pain]. We treated 25 patients suffering from sympathetically maintained pain with intravenous regional sympathectomy with guanethidine. Of these patients, 18 had reflex sympathetic dystrophy; 5 had causalgia; and 2 had shoulder hand syndrome. The visual analog scale before IRS therapy was 6.1 +/- 0.3, and after therapy, it was 2.3 +/- 0.4. The mean rate of improvement was 54.2% in reflex sympathetic dystrophy and 81.0% in causalgia. The therapy was particularly effective in patients with shoulder hand syndrome. These results suggest that intravenous regional sympathectomy with guanethidine could be effective for sympathetically maintained pain.


[Detection and identification of pathogenic bacteria by polymerase chain reaction with primers from DNA sequence of ribosomal RNA]. Applicability of the polymerase chain reaction method for identification of pathogenic bacteria was examined with the primers synthesized from the ribosomal RNA gene sequence containing both homologous and species-specific regions of bacterial species from Mycoplasma to Mycobacteria. Two out of the nine sets of promoters prepared, each covering about 650 nucleotides spanning from 16S RNA to 23S RNA regions, produced the corresponding DNA fragments from all the strains tested, and another set did so from all species but Mycoplasma. This method enabled one to detect and identify E. coli in a sample containing 2 x 10(2) CFU. The restriction enzyme patterns of the PCR products obtained with Hae-III, Hha-I, Mbo-I, Msp-I, Rsa-I and Taq-I were so characteristic as to differentiate one species from another. Ten strains of E. coli showed identical restriction patterns and 10 of S. aureus also showed identical patterns indicating that the restriction pattern is species-specific. The method may be applicable to detection and identification of a certain species bacteria which are suspected to be consealed in water or food samples, or clinical specimens, especially when the consealed bacterial genus or species can not be predicted.


[Frequency of the development of RNA-rich reticulocytes in allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients]. We measured appearance rates of RNA-rich reticulocytes in 8 patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, using a Sysmex R-1000 reticulocyte counter which utilizes laser flow cytometry. The changes in proportion of RNA-rich reticulocytes (high fluorescence ratio: HFR) and maturation index (MI: HFR + middle fluorescence ratio/low fluorescence ratio) were compared with those of WBC, neutrophil or reticulocyte counts. Engraftment was defined as an HFR of greater than or equal to 5% or a MI of greater than or equal to 15%. Engraftment was confirmed significantly earlier by HFR (13.5 +/- 2.4 days) and MI (13.1 +/- 2.9 days) than by neutrophils (17.1 +/- 3.2 days) or reticulocytes (20.4 +/- 6.2 days). The maturation of reticulocytes would be a useful indicator for engraftment or recovery from marrow aplasia in cases of bone marrow transplantation.


[Aplastic anemia successfully treated with erythropoietin and rhG-CSF]. A 32 year-old female admitted to our hospital with pancytopenia. The hematological data on admission were: RBC: 247 x 10(4)/microliters, Hb: 8.8 g/dl, Plts: 13,000/microliters, WBC: 2,500/microliters. Bone marrow aspirate and biopsied specimen showed marked hypocellularity without infiltration of abnormal cells. A diagnosis of aplastic anemia was made. Neither high-dose methyl-prednisolone pulse therapy nor anti-lymphocyte globulin were effective. With combination of oxymetholone (30 mg/day), recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEpo; 12,000 U/day, three times a week) and recombinant granulocyte-colony simulating factor (rHuG-CSF; 33 micrograms/day) for 3 months, remarkable improvements of hematological data were obtained. Her hemoglobin level reached 11.4 g/dl, and platelets count 49,000/microliters. However, 4 weeks after the withdrawal of erythropoietin and G-CSF administrations, her platelet count fell to 12,000/microliters. It was suggested that combination therapy with erythropoietin and G-CSF were effective for aplastic anemia.


[Steroid and gamma globulin therapy against virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome]. A 21-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of high fever, cough, and headache. Other clinical manifestations included hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, leukopenia, and mild liver dysfunction. As she had been diagnosed to have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) previously, we first suspected that this disease had become exacerbated. However, the titers of anti-EB virus (VCA-IgG) and some other viruses were high on admission, and hemophagocytosis by macrophages was observed on bone marrow examination. Therefore, she was diagnosed to have virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS). Prednisolone therapy was then initiated, but the patient responded poorly. We next tried gamma globulin, and the clinical findings and laboratory data were improved. Our patient showed a very favourable clinical course following gamma globulin therapy, suggesting that steroid and gamma globulin should be considered as a treatment even in the early stages of this syndrome in adults.


[Function, molecular structure and gene expression of interferons]. Interferon is a key substance of the cytokine network, and is functioning not only as the virus inhibitory factor, but also as the factor for differentiation, development, and homeostasis of animals, including man. The molecular structure, induction mechanisms, interaction with receptor, and antiviral action mechanisms of IFN were reviewed. 1. Molecular structure of IFN IFNs are now divided into 4 types--alpha, beta, gamma, omega--according to antigenicities of IFN proteins, and to base sequence of their genes. The omega type was established officially on 1990 by the Nomenclature Committee of International Society for Interferon Research (ISIR). Also, the genes for HuIFNs were named as follows; HuIFN-A for HuIFN-alpha, HuIFN-B for HuIFN-beta, HuIFN-G for HuIFN-gamma, and HuIFN-W for HuIFN-omega. Nevertheless, the names of Type I IFN and Type II IFN are still valuable, since members of Type I IFN, alpha, beta, and omega, are similar in their molecular structures, and they share the common receptor (Type I IFN receptor), on the other hand, HuIFN-gamma (the only one member of Type II IFN) has different characteristics from the other IFNs, and binds to its specific receptor (Type II IFN receptor). However, it has been reported that both N-terminal and C-terminal of IFN protein of all types, participate in the binding of IFN to its receptor. 2. Induction mechanism of IFN. The factors, IRF-1 and IRF-2, were found to play an important role in IFN induction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


[Function, molecular structure and gene expression of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor]. Human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, a 19KD glycoprotein consisting of 174 amino acids, is one of the physiological regulators mainly produced by monocytes-macrophages, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, under various stimulations such as neutropenias and infections. The molecule specifically and markedly stimulates the production of neutrophils associated with an expansion of the hemopoietic stem cells/progenitor cells, proliferates myeloid leukemia cells, releases these cells into blood, and elevates the functional activities of neutrophils. Under the favor of the activities, recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor has now become an epoch-making agents for the treatment of various disorders.


[Function, molecular structure and gene expression of stem cell factor (SCF)]. Mice of genotype W/Wv and Sl/Sld have been considered as a model of instinct hemopoietic disorders. W/Wv mice have a defect in hemopoietic stem cells and Sl/Sld mice have a defect in the microenvironment. The W locus in murine chromosome 5 encodes the c-kit proto-oncogene and the Sl locus in chromosome 10 encodes the ligand for c-kit, which has been named stem cell factor (SCF), mast cell growth factor (MGF), kit ligand (KL) and steel factor (SL). The cDNA sequence of SCF suggest that it is synthesized as an integral transmembrane protein and that it has common tertiary structure with M-CSF. SCF enhances the proliferation of hemopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells as well as mast cell in combination with other growth factors. Furthermore, it plays an important role in the proliferation and migration of embryonic stem cell, primordial germ cell and melanocyte.


[Clinical application of hematopoietic growth factor (IL-3, G-CSF, GM-CSF, and EPO)]. Hematopoietic growth factors were found as factors stimulating hematopoietic colony formation in in vitro culture system using bone marrow cells as a source of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Erythropoietin, a growth factor stimulating erythroid lineage has now been clinically used as an therapeutic agent for anemia of chronic renal failure. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), a growth factor stimulating the production of leukocytes including monocytes and neutrophils has been clinically used as an agent for leukopenic patients after anti-cancer therapy. M-CSF improves a survival rate after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) through the reduction of mortality rate associated with BMT such as bleeding, engraftment failure and GVHD. M-CSF accelerated platelet production when injected to thrombopenic patients with solid tumor after anticancer therapy. Granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) is a most powerful agent for various kinds of neutropenia such as neutropenia after anti cancer therapy, neutropenia after BMT, aplastic anemia, chronic neutropenia of children and myelodysplastic syndrome. However, since G-CSF stimulates growth of leukemic cells in vitro, careful observations should be required when clinically used on leukemic patients. Clinical studies of granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF) and interleukin 3 (IL-3) are now in progress, in which a promoting activity of leukocyte production of these factors is evaluated.


[Clinical application of anticancer cytokines]. The clinical application of anticancer cytokines (interferons, interleukin-1, interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor) are reviewed. Although anticancer cytokines have confirmed its usefulness against some tumors which are refractory to the treatment using anticancer drugs, the results of clinical trials have generally been disappointing because the target spectrum and efficiency is somewhat limited. Recently, combined efficacy between interferon and anticancer drugs was reported in some malignancies such as multiple myeloma and colorectal carcinoma. For the development of effective combination treatment, we need more basic and clinical information on dose, schedule and sequence of drug administration.


[Interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis]. The current state of interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis B and C in Japan is reviewed. The administration of IFN results in induction of 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5AS). 2-5AS produces 2-5A capable of activating a latent RNAase that degrades viral RNA. In patient with chronic hepatitis B, prominent reduction of HBV DNA, HBe antigen and HBs antigens is observed, when IFN is administered. However, the replication of HBV starts again after stopping of IFN administration, because the effects of IFN do not affect HBV DNA which is the origin of replication. On the other hand, HCV is a RNA virus IFN not only suppresses the production of HCV proteins and its pregenome, but also eradicate HCV RNA that is the origin of replication. In around 40% of the patients with chronic hepatitis C, sustained normalization of ALT and negativity of HCV RNA was obtained after IFN therapy under the most satisfactory regimen.


[Cytokine therapy of immunodeficiency].

[Cytokine therapy of immunodeficiency]. The cellular immunodeficiency diseases especially those with impaired IL-2 production are successfully treated by every day injection of rhIL-2. IL-2 is also effective on some patients with antibody deficiency probably caused by the lack of T cell help for B cells. Prolonged infection of EB-virus, human immunodeficiency virus, fungi and mycobacteria can be ameliorated by IL-2 treatment. Superoxide production and bacteriocidal activity of the leukocytes from some cases of chronic granulomatous disease are improved by injection of interferon gamma. Succeeding injection of G-CSF is effective to maintain the leukocyte count of congenital neutropenia to the level competent to protect bacterial infections.


High incidence of nuclear accumulation of p53 protein in gastric cancer. The accumulation of p53 protein in the nuclei of cancer cells is known to correlate well with the presence of mutations in the p53 gene. We therefore investigated the immunohistochemical reactivity of the anti-p53 antibody, PAb1801, in specimens taken from 149 cases of primary gastric cancer and processed by acetone fixation, in order to elucidate the incidence and clinicopathological significance of p53 alterations in gastric cancer. Thirty-four out of 99 (34%) advanced gastric cancers and 11 out of 50 (22%) early gastric cancers showed positive reactions in the nuclei. The nuclei of non-cancerous cells, including gastric glandular epithelial cells, however, were not stained. Histopathologically, a nuclear accumulation of p53 protein was seen frequently in papillary adenocarcinoma, well- to moderately-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma and poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma with solid nests or focal tubular structures (43/101, 43%), but was rarely seen in signet-ring cell carcinoma, mucinous adenocarcinoma or poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma growing in a scattered manner (2/48, 4%). There was no correlation between stainability of p53 protein and clinicopathological features such as depth of tumor invasion, microscopic lymphatic invasion, microscopic venous invasion, nodal involvement and clinicopathological stage in papillary adenocarcinoma, well- to moderately-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma and poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma with solid nests or focal tubular structures. The results suggest papillary adenocarcinoma, well- to moderately-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma and poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma with solid nests or focal tubular structures to share a common carcinogenetic pathway in which mutation of the p53 gene has an important role to play at a relatively early stage. Additionally, we showed the applicability of immunohistochemical detection of p53 protein in endoscopic biopsy material routinely formalin-fixed. The current method may be of some help in routine practice in discriminating between normal, precancerous and cancer cells in the stomach.


The risk and predictive factors for developing liver cancer among patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. Patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (n 1441) and those with post-transfusion hepatitis (n 343), whose medical expenses were subsidized by the Aichi Prefectural Government, were followed up for three years by record linkage with the Aichi Cancer Registry. During the follow-up period, 122 incident cases of liver cancer were identified. Compared with the general population, patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis were at a 64.9 times greater risk (50.5 times in males and 100.4 times in females) and those with post-transfusion hepatitis were at a 9.4 times greater risk (8.9 times in males and 13.7 times in females) of developing liver cancer. Information on prognostic factors for 1,068 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis was also collected in a questionnaire survey by the physicians in charge. Patients positive to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) and those positive to HBe Ag had a significantly increased risk of subsequent liver cancer. The risk of developing liver cancer was positively associated with base-line levels of GPT and AFP and age and, inversely associated with total alcohol intake and female sex. In multivariate analyses, the associations with HBe Ag, AFP, sex and age remained statistically significant, whereas the associations with GPT, total alcohol intake and HBs Ag were of borderline significance.


[Current status of anti-HCV screening and posttransfusion hepatitis]. The value of screening blood donors for non-A, non-B Hepatitis using GPT as the surrogate marker has been debated for long time. Since January 1990, Japanese Red Cross Blood Centers have introduced anti-HCV screening with EIA. Approximately 1.1 percent of blood donors screened was anti-HCV positive in Kyushu district. Studies comparing with seroconversion rates showed discrepancy between anti-HCV and anti-HTLV-1 in some regions [Kagoshima: 0.9% (anti-HCV)/5.7% (anti-HTLV-1), Okinawa: 0.7%/5.2%, Nagasaki: 1.0%/3.7%]. Seropositivity of anti-HCV progressively increased with the age and GPT value in both male and female. In blood donors having history of transfusion, anti-HCV reactive rate was more than 10%. Results of Japanese Red Cross Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis Research Group show the effectiveness of implementation of anti-HCV screening to prevent posttransfusion hepatitis.


[Clinical study on relationship between hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis C virus infection in patients with chronic liver disease]. The relationship between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was investigated. Antibody to hepatitis C virus was detected in 88.8% and 87.0% of 240 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis, respectively. A history of blood transfusion was shown in only 21.8% (21/96) of the HCV antibody positive HCC patients. Of 196 patients with chronic hepatitis type C and the HCV antibody positive liver cirrhosis, 10 developed HCC during the follow-up period of two years. A high prevalence of HCV antibody was also shown among 83 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and HCC associated with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. HCV-RNA was detected in all patients with alcoholic HCC. These data support a causal association between hepatitis C virus and hepatocellular carcinoma.


[Diagnosis of hepatitis C and its future]. Several epitopes of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been identified, but the biological and clinical significance of antibodies to each protein is not well understood. Core antigens include C-22, JCC, P 0 and CP-9. Among epitopes in the non structural (NS) regions, C-33C is in the NS3, C100-3 in the NS3/4, 511 in the NS4 and C825 in the NS5 regions. First generation anti-HCV has C100-3 epitope and second generation anti-HCV consists of three epitopes which are C-22, C-33C and C100-3. In order to analyse the clinical significance of the various HCV epitopes, We compared the results of these 9 different HCV specific assays with HCV-RNA, as determined in serum by RT-PCR method using primers to the 5' untranslated region of HCV-RNA. Among 73 patients with chronic NANB liver disease, 94% were positive for C-22, 94% for JCC, 91% for P 0, 89% for CP-9, 97% for C-33C, 84% for C100-3, 65% for 511, 55% for C825, 58% for GOR and 91% for RT-PCR. Positive rates for Core region epitopes were very similar to each other and to the presence of HCV-RNA. Antibodies to NS region epitopes were more variable, with those to NS4 and NS5 region being less sensitive than HCV-RNA. Positivity rates for 537 healthy subjects were 1.1% for C100-3, 2.7% for JCC. 6 persons who were positive for C100-3 were also positive for JCC and 4 of those were positive for HCV-RNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Anti-hypotensive effects of M6434, an orally active alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, in rats. The anti-hypotensive effects of M6434 were evaluated and compared with those of other orally active sympathomimetics in rats. Oral administration of M6434 (0.5-2.0 mg/kg) and midodrine (1.0-5.0 mg/kg) also produced a dose-related increase in mean arterial pressure in normotensive rats. The pressor effect of M6434 was about 4 times more potent than that of midodrine. Both M6434 and midodrine caused a dose-dependent decrease in heart rate. The pressor effect of M6434 (1.0 mg/kg) did not diminish after its repeated administration for 7 days. The pretreatment with M6434 (0.5-1.0 mg/kg) and midodrine (2.0-5.0 mg/kg) improved the orthostatic index in the experimental model of postural hypotension in rats. The effect of M6434 on postural hypotension was about 5 times more potent than that of midodrine. Intravenously injected M6434 (3-300 micrograms/kg) produced a dose-dependent increase in the blood pressure of pithed rats. These results suggest that M6434 possesses a potent antihypotensive activity which is superior to that of midodrine, and M6434 may be useful in the treatment of essential and postural hypotension.


Ganoderma tsugae mycelium enhances splenic natural killer cell activity and serum interferon production in mice. Effects of the water-soluble extract of Ganoderma tsugae mycelium (GT), its alcohol-insoluble subfraction (GTI), and its alcohol-soluble subfraction (GTS) on splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity and serum interferon (IFN) production were assessed in mice. Intraperitoneal administration of GT (4-200 mg/kg) or GTI (1-50 mg/kg), but not GTS, augmented the NK cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner in C3H/HeN mice. This augmentation of splenic NK cytolytic activity was not mouse-strain-dependent. The serum IFN titers of mice were also elevated after i.p.-doses of GTI. The GTI-induced serum IFN was reduced by either IFN-(alpha+beta) antiserum or IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody in vitro. The treatment with antiserum neutralizing IFN-(alpha+beta) resulted in a 70% reduction of GTI-induced IFN, while monoclonal antibody against mouse IFN-gamma, moderately neutralized the GTI-induced IFN (50%). These results demonstrated that both the splenic NK activity and serum IFN [IFN-(alpha+beta) and IFN-gamma] titers are elevated by Ganoderma tsugae mycelium extracts in mice.


Neurokinin A-stimulated phosphoinositide breakdown in rabbit iris sphincter muscle. Specific [3H]-substance P binding was saturable and of high affinity (KD = 2.5 nM) with a Bmax of 725 fmol/mg protein in the isolated rabbit iris sphincter muscle. The competition for [3H]-substance P binding was in the order of eledoisin greater than substance P greater than kassinin greater than neurokinin B greater than neurokinin A greater than physalaemin. In the same preparation, neurokinin A, as well as substance P induced a concentration-related accumulation of [3H]-inositol phosphates (IPs), and the maximum increase was about 200% of the control at 10(-4) M. [D-Arg1, D-Trp7,9, Leu11]-substance P (SP) and [D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9]-SP (10(-3) M) inhibited substance P or neurokinin A (10(-4) M)-induced phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) hydrolysis significantly. [D-Arg1, D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9, Leu11]-SP (10(-3) M) also inhibited neurokinin A (10(-4) M)-induced PIP2 hydrolysis significantly. Neurokinin A and substance P produced concentration-related contractions in normal Ca(2+)-containing medium. The contractile response was weaker in Ca(2+)-free medium, and there was no response in 0.2 mM EGTA medium. In Ca(2+)-free medium, the basal level of [3H]-IPs accumulation was smaller than that in normal medium, and neurokinin A and substance P significantly increased PIP2 hydrolysis. In the 0.2 mM EGTA containing medium, neurokinin A and substance P did not stimulate the PIP2 hydrolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Effect of AS-35 on agonist-induced contractions and the resting tonus of airway smooth muscles and the in vitro release of chemical mediators from passively sensitized lung fragments from humans and guinea pigs. Effects of 9-[(4-acetyl-3-hydroxy-2-n-propylphenoxy)methyl]-3-(1H-tetrazol -5-yl)-4H-pyrido[1,2-alpha]pyrimidin-4-one (AS-35) on the resting tonus or contractions induced by agonists, such as leukotriene (LT) D4 and specific antigen of isolated guinea pig tracheas or human bronchi, and the in vitro anaphylactic release of histamine and LTs from human lung fragments were investigated and compared with the effects of FPL 55712 and disodium cromoglycate. AS-35 as well as FPL 55712 did not affect the contractions induced by acetylcholine and histamine of the isolated guinea pig trachea. However, the compound at relatively low concentrations obviously inhibited contractions induced by LTD4, and the antagonistic activity was stronger than that of FPL 55712. Treatment of the isolated human bronchus with AS-35 tended to induce the inhibition of both LTD4- and antigen-induced contractions and the relaxation of the resting tonus in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory potency at 10(-6) g/ml was slightly stronger than that of FPL 55712, but this was not statistically significant. The anaphylactic release of histamine and LTs from the lung fragments appeared to be inhibited by the treatment with AS-35 5 min prior to the antigen challenge. From these results, it is suggested that AS-35 is effective against allergic asthma through antagonism towards peptide-LTs released anaphylactically in addition to inhibition of the chemical mediator release.