Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Yata

Publications and source records attributed to J Yata.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Decreased alpha/beta heterodimer among CD8 molecules of peripheral blood T cells in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

Cell surface CD8 molecules exist as either alpha/alpha homodimers or alpha/beta heterodimers, and most CD8+ T cells that undergo differentiation in the thymus express alpha/beta heterodimers. CD8 molecules on peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS), an X-linked immunodeficiency disease, have now been shown to be composed mostly of alpha/alpha homodimers, while the total number of lymphocytes was maintained. This observation may indicate aberrant differentiation of CD8+ T cells in the thymus of WAS. Decreased CD8alpha/beta heterodimer expression, and the relative increase of CD8+ T cells expressing CD8alpha/alpha homodimer, may explain a part of the defective lymphocyte functions in WAS patients.

Aging↗

Induction of the high-affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RI) on human mast cells by IL-4.

The high-affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RI) is necessary for the induction of IgE-mediated allergic reactions. Cross-linking of Fc epsilon RI expressed on mast cells causes the release of various inflammatory mediators, which trigger allergic reactions. Recently, mast cells lacking Fc epsilon RI have been observed in vivo and in vitro, suggesting the presence of regulational mechanisms in the induction of Fc epsilon RI. In this report, we demonstrate that IL-4 up-regulates Fc epsilon RI in cultured human mast cells, which are grown from cord blood mononuclear cells in the presence of stem cell factor and IL-6, and usually lack Fc epsilon RI expression. At the protein level, the induction of Fc epsilon RI was observed by flow cytometric analysis and the induced Fc epsilon RI expression was stable for at least 23 days in the presence of IL-4. Consistently, Northern blot analysis demonstrated the increase of alpha chain mRNA of Fc epsilon RI and revealed that the up-regulation of Fc epsilon RI occurred at the transcriptional level. Fc epsilon RI induced by IL-4 was functional and caused histamine and beta-hexosaminidase release from mast cells upon cross-linking. Taken together, these results indicate a new role of IL-4 in allergic reactions, besides the stimulation of IgE production.

Cells, Cultured↗

Urinary pregnanetriol-3-glucuronide in children: age-related change and application to the management of 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

Urinary concentrations of pregnanetriol-3-glucuronide (PT-3-G) were determined in 485 normal Japanese subjects (277 males and 208 females), aged 5 days to 20 years, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The usefulness of urinary PT-3-G concentrations before giving the morning dose of medications in monitoring the adequacy of glucocorticoid treatment was assessed in eight patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). The ratio of PT-3-G to excreted creatinine (PT-3-G/Cre ratio) increased significantly during the first month and did not change from age 1 month to 1 year of life. The ratio decreased to a nadir at age 3 or 4 years followed by continuous, significant increase until late adolescence. In the subjects treated with corticosteroids for 21-OHD, PT-3-G/Cre ratios at the 50th percentile or below suggested a risk of excessive treatment, as judged by the patients' growth. Measurement of the PT-3-G/Cre ratio enabled recognition of corticosteroid overtreatment, which was not demonstrated by determining the serum concentrations of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP). On the other hand, ratios at the upper 95-99% tolerance limits seemed to be required for optimal control. The present study revealed the normal age-related changes in urinary excretion of PT-3-G and showed it to be a reliable marker for evaluating glucocorticoid treatment in young children with 21-OHD.

Adolescent↗

[Correlation of interleukin-2 (IL-2) responsiveness by egg white-stimulated lymphocytes with hen egg oral provocation test in atopic children].

One hundred and twenty five cases of atopic children such as atopic dermatitis and bronchial asthma were orally provocated with rare hen egg every 20 minutes one by one upto the whole amount. In one week observation 75 cases showed any symptoms of allergy including eruption and exacerbation of atopic eczema in an immediate, late, and/or delayed responses. Frequency of positive egg white-induce IL-2 responsiveness test in patients with positive oral provocation was 90.7% (68 out of 75 cases; sensitivity). That of negative test in patients with negative provocation was 84.0% (42 out of 50 cases; specificity). In contrast, specificity of IgE RAST for egg white were 88.0% comparable to the value of antigen-specific IL-2 responsiveness (AIR) test, but the specificity was lower value (37.3%) for screening the etiological antigens as compared to that of AIR test. High frequency of positive egg white-induced IL-2 responsiveness test was observed over an immediate, late and delayed responses, while low frequency of positive IgE RAST for hen egg was observed largely in patients showing delayed but not immediate response. The results indicate that IgE RAST in this study reflects IgE-mediated immediate type hypersensitivity, whereas AIR test reflects, in addition to immediate responses, late and delayed type hypersensitivity. The combined results suggest that AIR test in hen egg allergy is a useful method in vitro for both screening and determining etiological allergens, and might be able to substitute for provocation test in vivo for which many times, labours, expenses, and patients' risks are required, and to cover IgE RAST which fails to determine etiological allergens in 62.7% of patients with positive oral provocation.

Adolescent↗

Two sisters with clinical diagnosis of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: is the condition in the family autosomal recessive?

We report two sisters in a family representing manifestations of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS), an X-linked immunodeficiency disorder. An elder sister had suffered from recurrent infections, small thrombocytopenic petechiae, purpura, and eczema for 7 years. The younger sister had the same manifestations as the elder sister's for a 2-year period, and died of intracranial bleeding at age 2 years. All the laboratory data of the two patients were compatible with WAS, although they were females. Sialophorin analysis with the selective radioactive labeling method of this protein revealed that in the elder sister a 115-KD band that should be specific for sialophorin was reduced in quantity, and instead an additional 135-KD fragment was present as a main band. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the sialophorin gene and single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of the PCR product demonstrated that there were no detectable size-change nor electrophoretic mobility change in the DNA from both patients. The results indicated that their sialophorin gene structure might be normal. Studies on the mother-daughter transmission of X chromosome using a pERT84-MaeIII polymorphic marker mapped at Xp21 and HPRT gene polymorphism at Xq26 suggested that each sister had inherited a different X chromosome from the mother. Two explanations are plausible for the occurrence of the WAS in our patients: the WAS in the patients is attributable to an autosomal gene mutation which may regulate the sialophorin gene expression through the WAS gene, or, alternatively, the condition in this family is an autosomal recessive disorder separated etiologically from the X-linked WAS.

Antigens, CD↗

Pattern of cytokine production by T cells from adolescents with asthma in remission, after stimulation with Dermatophagoides farinae antigen.

Children with asthma usually become asymptomatic by the time they reach age 20 y. To clarify the immunologic mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon, we studied patients in remission and others who still had frequent asthma attacks. Patients were grouped by clinical status, and three variables were measured: serum levels of IgE, production of IL4 and interferon (IFN)-gamma, and the activation of T cells induced by Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) antigen. Df-induced activation of T cells (as measured by antigen-induced IL2 responsiveness) or IL2 synthesis itself was induced in patients with active asthma but not in normal subjects. These responses were much weaker in patients in remission. When stimulated by Df antigen in vitro, lymphocytes from patients with active asthma produced much more IL4 than did the cells from normal subjects, and cells from patients in remission produced only a small amount. In contrast, under similar conditions lymphocytes from patients with active asthma produced less IFN-gamma than did the cells from normal subjects. Production of IFN-gamma stimulated by Df antigen was high in patients in remission but not in normal subjects. Thus, upregulated IFN-gamma production after exposure to Df antigen might reduce IL4 secretion, which would suppress IgE production and would improve clinical status. Df antigen may suppress Df-induced allergic responses in patients with asthma in remission.

Adolescent↗

Regulation of human IgG subclass production by cytokines: human IgG subclass production enhanced differentially by interleukin-6.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) produced increased IgG when cultured with interleukin-6 (IL-6). IgG subclass analysis showed that the presence of IL-6 during the last half of the culture period enhanced IgG1 and IgG4 production. Enhancement of IgG2 synthesis required the presence of IL-6 solely during the last half of the culture period, whereas enhancement paradoxically was blocked by its presence during the first half. The IgG3-enhancing effect of IL-6 was observed only when IL-6 was present throughout the culture period. The critical role of IL-6 was supported by the inhibition of IgG subclass synthesis by anti-IL-6 antibody. PBMC depleted of cells bearing surface IgG of a particular subclass did not synthesize that subclass. This non-responsiveness, which was not reversed even by an addition of IL-6, indicates that the main action of IL-6 is on the differentiation of committed B cells. In addition, IL-6 triggered T cells to produce significant helper activity. These results indicate that IL-6 enhances IgG subclass production differentially and that its critical role in IgG subclass synthesis is in part mediated by T cells, as well as by its direct action on B cells. These findings should be useful for analysing such immune disorders as IgG subclass deficiencies and autoimmune diseases.

Adult↗

T cell reconstitution by haploidentical BMT does not restore the diversification of the Ig heavy chain gene in patients with X-linked SCID.

We previously examined the Ig heavy (H) chain gene of pretransplant patients with X-linked SCID (XSCID), having defects in the gene of the IL-2 receptor (R) gamma chain. In the present study, we analyzed two post-transplant XSCID patients, in whom T cell-depleted haploidentical BMT resulted in lymphoid split chimeras, i.e., donor functional T cells coexisting with recipient B cells. Although the recipient B cells produced IgM, no isohemagglutinin or Ag-specific Ab was detected. To investigate the cause of failure to produce Ab in the patients, we sequenced the complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) and adjacent region of Ig H chain gene, which govern Ab specificity. Among the 64 post-transplant CDR3 junctional sequences, combinatorial and junctional diversity were normal compared with those in age-matched controls. All of the post-transplant joining regions except one clone were equal to germline and the frequency of somatic mutation was significantly lower than that in age-matched controls. The results indicated that T cell reconstitution by BMT does not restore diversification of the Ig gene in the IL-2R gamma chain-deficient B cells, which might be associated with the defect in the Ag-specific Ab production.

Base Sequence↗

Regulation of human IgG subclass production by cytokines. IFN-gamma and IL-6 act antagonistically in the induction of human IgG1 but additively in the induction of IgG2.

In this study, we investigated the roles of IFN-gamma and IL-6 in the induction of IgG subclasses from PBMC stimulated with PWM. The presence of IFN-gamma in the first half of the culture period dramatically suppressed the production of IgG1, whereas spontaneous IgG2 secretion was sharply enhanced by IFN-gamma when the latter was present throughout the culture period. Endogenous IFN-gamma was shown to be effective in IgG1 and IgG2 production because IgG1 production was enhanced and IgG2 production was inhibited by the addition of anti-IFN-gamma Ab. Because IFN-gamma did not act on the PBMC depleted of surface IgG2-bearing cells to enhance IgG2, IFN-gamma is unlikely to act as a switching factor. Differing from IFN-gamma, IL-6 enhanced every IgG subclass production as a nonswitching factor, although each of IgG subclasses required IL-6 differentially; maximal IgG1 responses and IgG4 responses occurred when IL-6 was present for the entire culture period or the last half of the culture period, whereas maximal IgG3 responses required the presence of IL-6 for the entire culture period and maximal IgG2 responses were seen when IL-6 was present solely during the last half of the culture period. IFN-gamma antagonized the synthesis of IgG1 by IL-6 and cooperated with IL-6 to produce IgG2. This observation was further supported by the fact that the IL-6-induced IgG1 and IgG2 enhancement were respectively up-regulated and down-regulated by anti-IFN-gamma. Altogether, the critical roles of IFN-gamma and IL-6 were implicated.

Humans↗

Isolation and characterization of human antigen-specific B lymphocytes.

Antigen-specific B cells from the peripheral blood of immunized donors were isolated following rosette formation with antigen-coated immunomagnetic beads and were phenotypically and functionally characterized. B cells separated with tetanus toxin (TT)- or keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)-coated beads produced significant amounts of specific IgM and IgG antibodies when they were transformed with Epstein-Barr virus or cultured with autologous T cells in the presence of a specific antigen. Cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with TT-coated beads consisted mostly of B cells (88.7% CD20+). B cells detected among the rosetting cells were predominantly sIgM+ with low percentages of the other isotype-expressing B cells. The mean percentage of TT-specific B cells among adult donors was 0.34% of PBMC, and increased to up to 2% following a booster immunization with antigen. A similar increase in the number of rosetting B cells was also observed following in vitro culture of PBMC with antigen. These findings demonstrate that immunomagnetic bead selection serves as a specific and reliable approach in identifying and isolating antigen-specific B cells from human PBMC and provides a valuable method for studying T-B interactions in antigen-specific immune responses.

Adult↗

Monoclonal proliferation of Epstein-Barr virus-infected T-cells in a patient with virus-associated haemophagocytic syndrome.

Virus-associated haemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) is a non-neoplastic, generalized histiocytic proliferation disorder showing marked haemophagocytosis associated with systemic viral infection. We describe the case of a 1-year-old girl with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related VAHS, in whom Southern blot analysis showed monoclonal proliferation of bone marrow cells with the EBV genome; detected with the Xho-1 fragment of the latent infection membrane protein genome. EBV serology showed anti-Epstein-Barr virus nuclear associated antigen (EBNA), anti-viral capsid antigen (VCA)-IgG, anti-VCA-IgA elevation and positive EBNA of Sheep red blood cells (SRBC)-rosette-forming bone marrow cells in the late period of her clinical course, indicative of EBV infection. DNA analysis of her bone marrow cells showed monoclonal rearrangement of the T-cell receptor-beta and -gamma chain genes but not of the immunoglobulin heavy chain genes. Those results suggest that EBV may infect T-cells, after which the cells proliferate monoclonally. Repeated administration of epipodophyllotoxin VP-16-213 induced remission, but adrenocortical steroid, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide had no effect on the patient's condition. Ours is a first case report of VAHS showing monoclonal proliferation of EBV-infected T-cells.

Clone Cells↗

Association of increased numbers of peripheral blood double-negative T-lymphocytes with elevated serum IgG levels in severely handicapped children.

CD3+4-8- double negative cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes were examined in 21 severely handicapped children divided into two groups according to serum IgG level. All children were bedridden and were taking multiple anticonvulsants and there were no apparent clinical differences between these two groups. Serum levels of IgG correlated well with percentages of CD3+4-8- double negative lymphocytes in patients of both groups. In comparisons between the two groups, the high IgG group had higher counts of CD3+4-8- double negative lymphocytes in peripheral blood than the normal IgG group. Two distinct types of double negative cells were identified in the patients with high IgG: one had T-cell antigen receptors of gamma delta heterodimers, the other had receptors of alpha beta chains on their surface. As double negative T-cells are reported to have an important role in defence against bacterial infections, the increased numbers of CD3+4-8- T-cells of both phenotypes in the high IgG patients may reflect exposure to repetitive bacterial stimuli or persistent subclinical infection which in many cases, may be undetectable clinically. Moreover, the hyperimmune states shown by the high serum IgG of these patients may result from the appearance of these unique lymphocytes because they are reported to have a helper function for IgG synthesis in vitro. Taken together, the increased numbers of double negative cells in patients with high IgG may reflect activated defence mechanisms and the development of hyperimmune status.

Adolescent↗

Preferential utilization of the immature JH segment and absence of somatic mutation in the CDR3 junction of the Ig H chain gene in three X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency patients.

Human severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) includes an X-linked SCID (XSCID) characterized by a complete absence of mature T cells, hypogammaglobulinemia and a normal or elevated number of B cells. XSCID results from mutation in the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) gamma chain gene, which is thought to be involved in not only IL-2R but also IL-4R and IL-7R mediated signals. To investigate the VDJ recombination and Ig repertoire development in the absence of the IL-2R gamma chain, we intended to study the CDR3 junction in peripheral blood B cells of three XSCID patients. A total of 101 different CDR3 junctions were cloned following polymerase chain reaction amplification of polyclonal peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA. Sequence analysis of CDR3 junctions revealed that the primary antibody repertoire of the Ig H chain gene was assembled in a normal fashion. Among the JH segments, overexpression of JH3 segments was significant in XSCID patients compared with age-matched controls. D segment usage in XSCID was very similar to that in age-matched controls. All of the XSCID JH regions except for two clones were equal to germline JH genes, showing little or no evidence of somatic mutation. The results indicate that the immature JH segment is preferentially utilized and somatic mutation is absent in the CDR3 junction of the Ig H chain gene of XSCID patients.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Differences of LAK-activity and IL-2 responsiveness between alpha/beta and gamma/delta T cells which developed after thymus transplantation.

A patient with severe combined immunodeficiency was transplanted with T cell depleted haploidentical bone marrow from his father and was later given a thymic graft from an unrelated donor. alpha/beta and gamma/delta T cells of bone marrow donor origin appeared only after the thymus transplantation procedure. Among the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), gamma/delta T cells comprised 10-20% and most of them were delta TCS1+. The alpha/beta T cells were single positive cells, either CD4+ or CD8+. Expression of CD5, CD7 and CD8 alpha,beta molecules on alpha/beta T cells was reduced. Functional studies showed that gamma/delta T cells proliferated slightly in response to anti-CD3 stimulation, and proliferated well with exogenous IL-2 stimulation, while alpha/beta T cells did not proliferate following mitogenic stimulation even in the presence of IL-2. gamma/delta T cells but not alpha/beta T cells exhibited some LAK activity after culturing with IL-2. Since alpha/beta T cells expressed IL-2R alpha and beta chains after mitogenic stimulation and bound IL-2, the deficit(s) in these cells was considered to occur after IL-2 binding to the IL-2R. These results indicate thymic dependency of both types of T cells and that two types of T cells differed in the acquisition of IL-2 responsiveness during development.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

Heterogeneity of the breakpoint in the ABL gene in cases with BCR/ABL transcript lacking ABL exon a2.

We report cases with a variant BCR/ABL mRNA expression lacking ABL exon a2 sequences. Two of these cases showed major breakpoint cluster region (BCR) exon 3 (b3) and ABL exon 3 (a3) junction (b3/a3), while the other case showed minor BCR exon 1 (e1) and a3 junction (e1/a3). One of the two cases with b3/a3 junction and the case with e1/a3 junction were diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and the remaining case with b3/a3 junction was chronic myeloid leukemia. Two of these cases, however, were found to have a breakpoint in the ABL gene outside of the intron between exons a2 and a3, probably 5' upstream of exon a2, suggesting that the BCR exon was spliced to ABL exon a3. These findings differ from those previously reported, in which the breakpoints in the ABL gene were between exons a2 and a3, and indicate a novel mechanism for the deletion of ABL exon a2 sequences in the formation of a variant BCR/ABL fusion transcript. The significance of the finding that a part of the SH3 region of ABL protein is missing in some Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemias is discussed in reference to the cases reported previously.

Adult↗