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Biomedical subjects

M Hagihara

Publications and source records attributed to M Hagihara.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Serum soluble human leucocyte antigen class I in paediatric liver transplantation with live, related donors.

Serum soluble human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class-I is a useful marker for predicting immunological events in organ transplantation. In cadaver liver transplant cases it is especially the case that high amounts of soluble HLA-I are excreted from the grafts. In Japan, almost all liver transplants have been performed from living parent donors to their children. Therefore, it is interesting to know how soluble HLA-I changes in relation to clinical course. As part of this study we first examined serum concentrations of soluble HLA-I in 33 paediatric patients using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Soluble HLA-I is composed of three different sized molecules (45, 39 and 34-36 kDa); then the change of distribution of these three molecules was demonstrated by Western blot analysis. When donor and recipient have different soluble HLA-I band patterns, the origin of the antigen can be assumed by this method. We found that in a comparison between pre- and post-transplants, the six out of eight (75%) patients that suffered episodes of acute rejection showed a significant elevation of soluble HLA-I, and all patients with infectious episodes had an elevated soluble HLA-I. Meanwhile, 10 out of 22 (45%) patients without any clinical complications still showed increased soluble HLA-I. The Western blot analysis showed that the soluble HLA-I molecules were considerably derived from the grafted liver, from one week to 24 months after grafting. In acute rejection, the band signals of donor origin were significantly increased. These signals were attenuated after immunosuppressive therapy. The grafted liver appears to contribute to the increase of soluble HLA-I following liver transplantation, and this increase is greater with the effects of the host immune system.

Adolescent↗

Midkine induces the transformation of NIH3T3 cells.

Midkine (MK) is a heparin-binding growth factor and is frequently expressed at high levels in many human carcinomas. To investigate further the roles of MK in the regulation of cell growth, we introduced MK expression in NIH3T3 cells. A mixture of transfectants of an MK expression vector, but not a control vector, formed colonies in soft agar, showed an elevated cell number at confluence, and formed tumours in nude mice. An interesting characteristic of the transformed cells was that they became spontaneously detached from the culture dish substratum. In the transformed cells, MK was not only secreted, but also localized, in the perinuclear region as spots. The present data indicate that MK has the potential to transform NIH3T3 cells and suggest that overexpression of the MK gene may promote unregulated cell growth in vivo.

3T3 Cells↗

Molecular analysis of HLA polymorphism in Khoton-Mongolians.

We have investigated polymorphism of the HLA class I and class II genes in Mongolians for the first time using PCR-based techniques. A minor population of Khoton-Mongolians was studied and compared to the major Khalkh-Mongolian population. Eighty-five Khoton- and 41 Khalkh-Mongolian samples were analyzed for polymorphism in HLA-A, -B, -DRB1, -DRB3, -DRB5, -DQA1, -DQB1, -DPA1, and -DPB1 loci using PCR-SSOP and PCR-RFLP methods. Allele and haplotype frequencies were calculated. The results were then compared to those obtained from other human populations. In Khoton-Mongolians, the frequency of HLA-B38, DRB1*0301, DQA1*0502, DQB1*0201 and DPB1*0401 were significantly higher than those in other Mongoloid populations including Khalkh-Mongolians, Buryat, Chinese, Northern Han, Southern Han, Koreans and Japanese. In contrast, the frequency of HLA-A2, DQA1*0102, DPB1*0201 and DPB1*0501 were significantly lower in Khoton-Mongolians. Haplotype frequency analysis revealed that Khoton-Mongolians shared the same haplotypes specific to Mongoloids as well as to Caucasoids. On the other hand, several haplotypes were found to be specific for the Khoton. The phylogenetic tree analysis constructed by the NJ method based on allele frequencies of HLA-A, -B, -DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 genes revealed that the Khoton belong to the Northeast Asian cluster and are most closely related to the Khalkh, Inner Mongolian, Uygur and Buryat populations. These data suggest a unique genetic background for Khoton-Mongolians. Furthermore, they are closely related genetically to both Mongoloids and Caucasoids.

Alleles↗

Stable clonal expansion of T cells induced by bone marrow transplantation.

The immune mechanisms of T cells regeneration after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and the factors maintaining allogeneic marrow graft in the host are still unknown. To pursue this issue, we analyzed T-cell clonality of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in BMT recipients, using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with T-cell receptor (TCR) V beta gene segment-specific primers and single-strand conformation polymorphism. PBLs from patients and donors showed a heterogeneous T-cell population with oligoclonal accumulations of CD8+ T cells. When PBLs were cultured in HLA-matched mixed lymphocytes reaction in vitro, no distinct clonal expansion was observed. However, after BMT, oligoclonal expansions were induced in the recipients in vivo, without a restriction of TCR V beta gene usage. Although part of the expansion was transient, the majority was repeatedly detected even several months later. Our results suggested that certain in vivo mechanisms maintain a stable clonal expansion of distinct T cells in marrow recipients. We also found in a single patient with graft-versus-host disease a replacement of expanded clones by other clones during follow-up. Diminishing numbers of accumulation clones were found in long-term marrow recipients, indicating a general tendency for clonal expansion to subside progressively. Considered together, our data suggest the involvement of clonally expanded T cells in lymphoid regeneration and in acute and chronic immune responses after BMT.

Adolescent↗

Xenogeneic iso-skin graft and mixed lymphocyte reaction studies using HLA-DP transgenic mice.

To elucidate the cellular responses against xeno-MHC antigens, in vitro mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) and in vivo skin grafting (SG) studies were conducted using HLA-DP transgenic mice (B6-DP mice). Xenogenic iso-(B6-DP to B6 mice) MLC showed positive but much lower responses compared to allo-MLC responses. Nevertheless, B6-DP skin grafts were rejected in a similar time course as allo-skin grafts. To examine mechanisms underlining skin graft rejection, both in vitro cytotoxic lymphocyte (CTL) responses and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions were tested. The studies showed that DTH but not CTL reactions were involved for the graft rejection. SG was again conducted after the administration of anti-CD4 and/or CD8 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Mice treated with both CD4 and CD8 mAb accepted B6-DP SG for as long as up to 60 days and those treated with either CD4 or CD8 mAb alone rejected skin grafts on its own most of the time (75% in anti-CD4 mAb treated mice, 88.9% in anti-CD8 mAb treated mice), which suggests that the strict T cell restrictions for xeno-DP antigens do not exist. Even in these finally rejected cases, longer median survival time and final rejection time were observed, and in the other mice (25% in anti-CD4 mAb treated, and 11.1% in anti-CD8 mAb treated mice), graft acceptance was found. Therefore, it was suggested that the immunological reactions leading to the graft rejection occurs most efficiently when both T cell subsets are present. The above results indicate that xenogeneic HLA-DP antigens could act as significant transplantation antigens equivalent to alloantigens despite their lower stimulative activity in vitro, and also support the interpretation that DP antigens act like a minor histocompatibility antigen beyond the difference of species. Monomorphic anti-HLA class II antibodies were detected in recipients' sera as early as 2 weeks and even at 6 months, indicating that xeno-MHC antigens are prone to be memorized to B cells. It was concluded that HLA transgenic mice are useful for the investigation of cellular responses across xeno-MHC barriers.

Animals↗

10.5-kb homozygote of tumor necrosis factor-beta gene is associated with a better prognosis in gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: In NcoI restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-beta) gene, the frequency of 10.5-kb homozygote is low in patients with lung cancer and is associated with a better prognosis. These results should be examined in other malignancies. METHODS: Using polymerase chain reaction, the authors performed NcoI restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 152 patients with gastric cancer, in 69 patients with benign gastric lesion, and in 141 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: In 3-year survival, the 10.5-kb homozygote showed a better prognosis (87.1%) than other alleles (5.5-kb homozygote, 52.5%; heterozygote, 79.1%), and there was a statistically significant difference between the 10.5-kb homozygote and the 5.5-kb homozygote. In 3-year survival for Stages III and IV, the 10.5-kb homozygote also showed a better prognosis (64.9%) than other alleles (5.5-kb homozygote, 16.7%; heterozygote, 41.4%). There were statistically significant differences (10.5-kb homozygote vs. 5.5-kb homozygote, P < 0.01; heterozygote vs. 5.5-kb homozygote, P < 0.05). There was a statistical difference between all patients and Stages III and IV (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The 10.5-kb homozygote of TNF-beta gene is associated with a prolonged survival in patients with gastric cancer, as has been shown in the patients with lung cancer.

Aged↗

HLA and tumor necrosis factor beta gene polymorphisms in Okinawa lung cancer patients: comparative study with mainland Japan lung cancer patients.

The frequencies of HLA class I and II antigens and TNF-beta polymorphism in lung cancer patients were investigated in two areas with different immunogenetic backgrounds, in Okinawa and in mainland Japan (Honshu). In Okinawa frequencies of HLA-Cw3 in squamous cell lung carcinoma patients were higher and those of HLA-DR, both in all lung cancer and in adeno lung carcinoma patients, were lower compared to those of normal controls. Among serologic HLA-DR4-positive individuals, no difference of DRB1*04 gene allele frequency was shown between patients and controls. In Honshu no statistically significant difference of HLA-class I and II alleles frequencies was found; however, the frequency of TNF-beta 10.5-kb homozygote in lung cancer patients was lower than that of controls. For 2-year survival, there was no difference between DR4-positive and -negative individuals and also between each TNF-beta type in Okinawa. In contrast, Honshu patients with 10.5-kb homozygote showed an improved 5-year survival ratio compared to those with heterozygote. We postulate that different immunogenetic backgrounds or environments might have caused the varying HLA or TNF-beta association in the predisposition to or prognosis of lung cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Analysis of survival of allogeneic fetal liver fragments in rats.

The survival of allogeneic fetal liver fragments in the omentum was analyzed in rats. The lymphocyte subsets of the spleen and peripheral blood were also examined. When the fetal liver fragments were transplanted into the omentum, they survived for 2 wk, whereas adult liver fragments survived only 1 wk. In fetal liver fragments transplantation, the CD8 positive lymphocyte percentage in peripheral blood decreased significantly 3 wk after transplantation in comparison with that in adult liver fragment transplantation. The skin graft of the donor party showed a longer median survival time in rats receiving fetal liver fragment transplants than that in recipients of adult liver fragments. Although further study is needed, allogeneic fetal liver fragments survived longer in the omentum than reported elsewhere, and the decrease of CD8 positive peripheral blood lymphocytes may have been the reason for this.

Animals↗

[Usefulness of the DNA-HLA class II typing in corneal transplantation].

DNA-HLA (human leukocyte antigen) typing was performed for ocular tissues in order to determine the usefulness of the method in corneal transplantation. Each type of ocular tissue was dissected from eye bank eyes (n = 3). DNA was extracted, and HLA-DRB1, DQB1, and DPB1 genes were amplified using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method. DNA can be extracted and amplified from each ocular tissue except for the crystalline lens, but DNA from iris and choroid can be amplified only after diluting the samples 10 to 100 times. HLA class II antigens were successfully determined in these ocular tissues by the RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) method. The method was applied to the corneal tissues of donor and recipient used for the corneal transplantation (n = 7). HLA class II antigens can be determined in both the donor and recipient corneal samples, and the results of recipients' HLA typing were the same as those determined using the blood samples. These results indicate that the DNA-HLA typing can be used for ocular tissues. Since DNA-HLA typing is more accurate than the conventional serological typing, the method is promising for the study of HLA class II typing in corneal transplantation.

Aged↗