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Biomedical subjects

M Yasuda

Publications and source records attributed to M Yasuda.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 and the pattern of regional brain atrophy in Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Although the APOE epsilon 4 allele increases the risk of developing AD, the effects of the epsilon 4 allele on brain atrophy in clinical AD patients are controversial. OBJECTIVE: To investigate a possible relationship between the genetic variants of APOE and brain atrophy in patients with AD. METHODS: Using MRI-based volumetry techniques, the authors compared the volumes of the hippocampal formation, amygdaloid complex, and whole brain in probable AD patients (based on criteria of the National Institute for Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke/Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association) with different APOE alleles. One group (n = 46) had the epsilon 3/3 allele, one group (n = 46) had the epsilon 3/4 allele, and one group (n = 46) had the epsilon 4/4 allele. The three groups were matched for age, sex, disease duration, education level, and severity of dementia represented by their score of the Mini-Mental State Examination. A possible difference in pattern of cognitive deficits with dose of the APOE epsilon 4 allele was also examined. RESULTS: The normalized hippocampal volume was correlated with the number of APOE epsilon 4 alleles (r = -0.285, p = 0.0007). The amygdalar volume was also correlated with the number of APOE epsilon 4 alleles (r = -0.178, p = 0.037). The number of APOE epsilon 4 alleles was positively correlated with the whole-brain volume (r = 0.185, p = 0.030). It was also correlated with Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised performance IQ (r = 0.203, p = 0.017) and with Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised attention/concentration score (r = 0.191, p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Different patterns of regional brain atrophy were found among patients of different APOE genotypes. The effect of APOE epsilon 4 allele on the brains of AD patients may have regional specificity.

Aged↗

Molecular cloning of POEM: a novel adhesion molecule that interacts with alpha8beta1 integrin.

Cell adhesion molecules are involved in a number of biological functions, such as cell survival, cell differentiation, tissue repair, and development. A novel molecule, POEM (preosteoblast epidermal growth factor-like repeat protein with meprin, A5 protein, and receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase mu domain), was isolated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using a set of degenerate primers designed after other known epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like motifs. From its structure, POEM was suggested to be a novel adhesion molecule with five EGF-like domains, an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) cell binding motif, and a meprin, A5 protein, and receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase mu (MAM) domain. By in situ hybridization using embryonic day 16.5 (E16.5) mouse embryos, strong expression of POEM mRNA was observed in developing kidney renal tubules, parathyroid and thyroid glands, developing bone, tooth germ, and endocrine organs of the brain. The inner ear, skeletal muscle, smooth muscle (except for the vascular system), and skin were also positive for POEM expression. Bacterial recombinant POEM protein containing the RGD sequence and MAM domain showed strong cell adhesion, spreading, and survival-promoting activities. By mutating the RGD sequence to RGE, the cell spreading and survival activities were significantly decreased, but the MAM domain was shown to contribute only to cell adhesion and not to cell spreading and survival-promoting activities. The distribution of POEM in several tissues was close to that of alpha(8)beta(1) integrin. Therefore, we conducted cell adhesion assays using KA8 cells, a K562 leukemia clone stably expressing alpha(8) integrin. Parental K562 cells, which expressed alpha(5)beta(1) integrin, bound to fibronectin but not to POEM. On the other hand, KA8 cells showed strong binding and spreading on both fibronectin and POEM. These results suggest that POEM is a novel ligand for alpha(8)beta(1) integrin and that POEM may be involved in the development and function of various tissues, such as kidney, bone, muscles, and endocrine organs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Computer-assisted complete three-dimensional reconstruction of the mammary ductal/lobular systems: implications of ductal anastomoses for breast-conserving surgery.

BACKGROUND: The intraductal spread of breast carcinoma can occur along the mammary ductal/lobular systems (MDLS) with no invasion of tissues. Because ductal anastomoses in the MDLS are considered to be a possible risk factor for extensive intraductal spread of breast carcinoma, the architecture of the MDLS has important therapeutic implications for patients treated with breast-conserving surgery. METHODS: An entire breast resected by subcutaneous mastectomy from a 69-year-old woman with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was examined in submacroscopic sections by stereomicroscopic and histologic techniques. Serial 2-mm sections underwent computer-assisted complete three-dimensional reconstruction of all MDLS. RESULTS: The entire breast that was studied contained 16 MDLS that were arranged radially, with the nipple at the center. Of these 16 MDLS, 4 (25.0%) had ductal anastomoses whereas the remaining 12 MDLS had no ductal anastomoses and completely independent regional anatomy. Ductal anastomoses were observed at 11 sites in the 4 MDLS. The 2 of 11 ductal anastomoses that connected different MDLS (18.2%) were situated > 4 cm from the nipple. The remaining nine ductal anastomoses connected ducts within the same MDLS; their location varied from near the nipple to the peripheral region. In the specimen examined, DCIS extended only within a single MDLS and did not spread between different MDLS via ductal anastomoses. CONCLUSIONS: To the authors' knowledge, the current study is the first time the complete architecture of all MDLS in an entire breast has been studied three-dimensionally. The risk of promoting the intraductal spread of disease during surgery may be greater when intraductal lesions extend more peripherally than centrally. The features of ductal anastomoses may provide a significant anatomic clue regarding negative surgical margins in breast-conserving surgery.

Aged↗

Squeezed states in a Bose-Einstein condensate.

We report manipulation of the atom number statistics associated with Bose-Einstein condensed atoms confined in an array of weakly linked mesoscopic traps. We used the interference of atoms released from the traps as a sensitive probe of these statistics. By controlling relative strengths of the tunneling rate between traps and atom-atom interactions within each trap, we observed trap states characterized by sub-Poissonian number fluctuations and adiabatic transitions between these number-squeezed states and coherent states of the atom field. The quantum states produced in this work may enable substantial gains in sensitivity for atom interference-based instruments as well as fundamental studies of quantum phase transitions.

Journal Article↗

Stimulation of beta1 integrin down-regulates ICAM-1 expression and ICAM-1-dependent adhesion of lung cancer cells through focal adhesion kinase.

Adhesion molecules are involved in intracellular signaling in various physiological and pathological processes including metastasis and growth of tumor cells. Tumor cells interact with various host cells as well as with extracellular matrices through certain adhesion molecules such as integrins. We here propose that stimulation of beta1 integrin reduces intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1-mediated interaction of lung cancer cells with CTLs. This concept is based on the following findings: (a) engagement of beta1 integrins on certain lung cancer cells by a specific antibody or by ligand matrices such as fibronectin and collagen markedly reduced ICAM-1 expression on the cell surface and induced sICAM-1; (b) down-regulation of ICAM-1 by stimulation of beta1 integrins was abrogated by tyrosine kinase inhibitors or by transfection of dominant negative truncations of focal adhesion kinase (FAK); (c) engagement of beta1 integrins also reduced ICAM-1-dependent adhesion of lung cancer cells to T cells, a process completely inhibited by tyrosine kinase inhibitors and by transfection of dominant negative forms of FAK; and (d) stimulation of beta1 integrins prevented killing of lung cancer cells by autologous CTLs. In malignant tumors, cancer cells, including lung cancer cells, are surrounded by extracellular matrix proteins such as fibronectin and collagen. This suggests that the engagement of beta1 integrins by matrix proteins potentially occurs in cancer cells in vivo and that continuous stimulation via beta1 integrins reduces ICAM-1-expression, ICAM-1-mediated adhesion of cancer cells to CTLs and their killing by CTLs. Our results suggest that such processes can lead to the escape of lung cancer cells in vivo from immunological surveillance.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Quantitative determination of marine toxins associated with diarrhetic shellfish poisoning by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.

Quantitative determination by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) was achieved for the following 10 toxins found in association with diarrhetic shellfish poisoning: okadaic acid (OA), dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1), 7-O-palmitoylokadaic acid (palOA), 7-O-palmitoyldinophysistoxin-1 (pa1DTX1), pectenotoxin-1 (PTX1), pectenotoxin-2 (PTX2), pectenotoxin-2 seco acid (PTX2SA), pectenotoxin-6 (PTX6), yessotoxin (YTX), and 45-hydroxyyessotoxin (YTXOH). Toxins in 2 g of the adductor muscle or the digestive glands of scallops, Patinopecten yessoensis, were extracted with 18 ml of methanol-water (9:1, v/v), freed of polar contaminants by partition between chloroform and water, and treated by solid-phase extraction on a silica cartridge column. Samples containing YTXOH were purified separately on a buffered reversed-phase column. Chromatographic separation was achieved by the following combinations of columns and mobile phases: a Symmetry C18 column with acetonitrile-0.05% acetic acid (7:3, v/v) for OA, DTX1, PTX6 and PTX2SA; a Develosil ODS column with the same mobile phase for PTX1 and PTX2; a Capcellpak column with methanol-2.5% acetic acid (98:2, v/v) for palOA and palDTX1; and an Inertsil ODS column with methanol-0.2 M ammonium acetate (8:2, v/v) for YTX and YTXOH. Carboxylic acid toxins were selectively monitored on [M-H]- ions, sulfated toxins on [M-Na]-ions, and neutral toxins on [M+NH4]+ ions. Average recoveries of the toxins spiked to tissue homogenates ranged from 70 to 134%. Detection limits in the muscle ranged from 5 to 40 ng/g and those in the digestive glands from 10 to 80 ng/g.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated induction of xanthine oxidase/xanthine dehydrogenase activity by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), an environmental contaminant, induced xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase (XO/XDH) activities, in addition to ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase and methoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase activities in liver of mice. When TCDD was given to mice as a single oral dose of 40 microg/kg, the activities of XO and XDH increased about threefold within 3 days and the increased levels were maintained for 4 weeks. The treatment of mice with 3-methylcholanthrene also induced XO/XDH activities, but phenobarbital and dexamethasone had no effect. The level of aldehyde oxidase, a molybdenum flavoenzyme related to XO/XDH, in mouse liver was also enhanced about 1.5-fold by TCDD treatment. The inducing effect of TCDD and 3-methylcholanthrene was not observed in null mice (AhR(-/-)), which lack the AhR gene. XO and XDH activities were induced by TCDD in heterozygous mice (AhR(+/-)). The lipid peroxidation in liver was stimulated by TCDD. The induction of XO and XDH, which produces reactive oxygen species, may contribute to the various toxicities of TCDD.

Animals↗

Analysis of MAGE-3 derived synthetic peptide as a human lung cancer antigen recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

BACKGROUND: The human MAGE-3 gene was originally discovered in melanoma cells that encode tumor antigens, and has been reported to be expressed in various types of tumors, including lung cancer, but not in normal tissues other than testis or placenta. Our aim in this study was to clarify whether HLA-A2 restricted MAGE-3 peptide (FLWGPRALV) could be a lung cancer antigen recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). METHODS: MAGE-3-derived peptide-specific CTL were induced from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of HLA-A0201-positive healthy donors and the regional lymph node lymphocytes (RLNL) of HLA-A2-positive patients with lung cancer by multiple stimulations with peptide-pulsed HLA-A0201-positive antigen-presenting cells. RESULTS: Lymphocytes stimulated with MAGE-3 peptide exhibited specific lysis of Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells (EBV-B) pulsed with MAGE-3 peptide, but not with control peptide derived from influenza matrix protein, erbB-2, or wild type p53. Specific activity for MAGE-3-presenting targets was found after the second stimulation, and increased depending on the number of stimulations. The peptide-specific activity was inhibited by the addition of monoclonal antibodies against MHC class I and HLA-A2. Such CTL also recognized tumor cell lines expressing both HLA-A2 and MAGE-3 in an MHC class I-restricted manner, but did not recognize tumor cell lines that did not express HLA-A2 or MAGE-3. CONCLUSION: These results suggested the MAGE-3 peptide could be a potential target of specific immunotherapy for HLA-A2 patients with lung cancer.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Fabry disease: twenty novel alpha-galactosidase A mutations causing the classical phenotype.

Fabry disease, an X-linked inborn error of glycosphingolipid catabolism, results from the deficient activity of the lysosomal exoglycohydrolase, alpha-galactosidase A (EC 3.2.1.22; alpha-Gal A). The nature of the molecular lesions in the alpha-Gal A gene in 40 unrelated families with the classical phenotype (absent alpha-Gal A activity) was determined in order to provide precise heterozygote detection and prenatal diagnosis, and to explore possible genotype/phenotype correlations. Genomic DNA was isolated from unrelated affected males, and the entire alpha-Gal A coding region and flanking intronic sequences were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and automated sequencing. Twenty new mutations were identified: M51K, D92N, D136H, F169S, C172F, L191Q, S247P, Q250X, P259R, G261D, T282N, R301P, W349X, T410K, 124delAT, 842delTAA, 1033delTC, 82insG, 893insG, and 903insG. In the remaining 20 unrelated Fabry families, 17 previously reported mutations were detected. These studies further define the heterogeneity of mutations in the alpha-Gal A gene causing the classic Fabry disease phenotype, and permit precise heterozygote detection and prenatal diagnosis.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗

nm23-H1 suppresses invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma-derived cell lines without modifying matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression.

nm23-H1 is a candidate gene for the suppression of cancer metastasis. Several studies on human breast, hepatocellular, gastric, ovarian, and colon carcinomas and melanomas have shown that reduced nm23-H1 expression was closely related to metastatic progression with poor prognosis. However, the biochemical mechanism by which nm23-H1 suppresses the metastasis has yet to be elucidated. In this study, we analyzed the correlation between nm23 expression, cell motility, and the invasive abilities of six different oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (HSC2, HSC3, HSC4, KB, OSC19, and OSC20). Reduced mRNA/protein expression of the nm23-H1 was observed in three cell lines (HSC2, HSC3, and HSC4). These cell lines exhibited increased cell motility and an invasive character on organotypic raft culture. On the other hand, the cell lines (KB, OSC19, and OSC20) that showed a higher expression of nm23-H1 exhibited a threefold to fivefold reduced motility and also reflected fewer invasions compared to the former three cell lines. Because the HSC3 cells demonstrated the lowest nm23-H1 expression with the highest cell motility and invasive character, we established nm23-H1-transfected HSC3 cell lines to investigate whether exogenous nm23-H1 protein could inhibit cell migration and invasive activity. These transfectants showed a significant reduction in cell motility with exogenous nm23-H1 in a dose-dependent manner, and exhibited a noninvasive character. An immunofluorescence study demonstrated a distinct stress-fiber distribution at peripheral region of these transfectants. However, no significant difference of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 expression was observed between mock transfectant and nm23-H1-transfected cells. These findings suggest that nm23-H1 inhibits the invasive activity of oral squamous cell carcinoma by suppression of cell motility without altering the MMP-2 and MMP-9 status.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

In vivo selection of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa with decreased susceptibilities to fluoroquinolones during fluoroquinolone treatment of urinary tract infection.

OBJECTIVES: To present a case of fluoroquinolone treatment failure in urinary tract infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, accompanied by in vivo selection of the post-treatment isolate that showed decreased susceptibilities to fluoroquinolones, and to report fluoroquinolone resistance mechanisms in the post-treatment isolate. METHODS: A patient with urinary tract infection was treated with a suboptimal dose of a fluorinated quinolone, gatifloxacin. P. aeruginosa strains were isolated before and after fluoroquinolone treatment. The pretreatment and post-treatment isolates were examined for relatedness by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction. For these isolates, the minimum inhibitory concentration of antimicrobial agents was determined and mutations in the target genes (gyrA and parC) and regulatory genes (mexR and nfxB) for drug efflux pumps were analyzed. RESULTS: Failure of fluoroquinolone treatment of urinary tract infection was observed. The post-treatment isolate, which was assumed to be isogenic to the pretreatment isolate, exhibited fourfold to 16-fold increases in the MIC of fluoroquinolones. In this isolate, a new mutation, not observed in the pretreatment isolate, was found only in the gyrA gene, resulting in an amino acid change of aspartic acid to asparagine in codon 87 of GyrA. CONCLUSIONS: The P. aeruginosa isolate that was initially susceptible to fluoroquinolones showed decreased susceptibility to fluoroquinolones after treatment with a suboptimal dose of one fluoroquinolone. In the post-treatment isolate, the alteration of GyrA would be responsible for the decreased susceptibility to fluoroquinolones. We should be aware that inappropriate use of fluoroquinolones could select such a strain harboring a quinolone resistance-associated alteration of DNA gyrase.

Aged↗

Unfavorable prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma associated with HLA-A2.

BACKGROUND: HLA class I molecules present antigenic peptides to cytotoxic T lymphocytes and, thus, play an important role in immune surveillance. Since 1970s there have been many reports of an increased frequency of one or more HLA haplotype in association with autoimmune disease, and malignancy. We studied types of HLA class I antigens in 204 resected non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients and also examined its correlation with clinicopathologic features and prognosis. METHOD: Serological typing for HLA class I antigens was performed using a microcytotoxicity test. The disease-free survival curves were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and then compared using the Logrank test. Multivariate analysis was carried out by Cox's proportional hazard method. RESULTS: The difference in disease-free survival time between the HLA-A2 present group and A2 absent group was significant (P = 0.040). The 3-year disease-free survival rate of all patients was 44% in HLA-A2 present group and 66% in A2 absent group. When a comparison was made within the group with stage I, expression of HLA-A2 was the only independent factor that affected survival time by multivariate analysis (P = 0.0457). CONCLUSIONS: Expression of HLA-A2 was considered as one of the unfavorable prognostic factors in NSCLC patients. Our results suggested expression of HLA-A2 in NSCLC patients was one of the mechanisms of escape from immune surveillance.

Adult↗

Pretreatment apoptotic scores do not predict response to radiation therapy in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

The prognostic value of tumor apoptosis was studied in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with radical radiotherapy. Forty-eight patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who received radical radiotherapy between 1990 and 1995 were enrolled in the study. The radiation treatment for all patients involved the administration of 65 Gy in 26 fractions over a 6.5-week period. The apoptotic index (AI; the apoptotic cell count per 1000 tumor cells ) was distributed from 0 to 10 with a median at 2 and a mode of 1. There was a significant linear correlation between the AI and mitotic index (MI) (r=0.393, 95% confidence interval: 0.129-0.605). The cause-specific 5-year survival for patients with AI greater than the median was 46% and for the counterpart was 41%. There was no difference in cause-specific survival between AI/MI greater than the median (50%) and AI/MI smaller than the median (36%). The number of patients was too small to draw definite conclusions, but the AI and the AI/MI before treatment were not shown to have a prognostic value for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in our study. The primary sites and treatment methods may influence the prognostic value of AI even for the same histological types.

Adult↗

Expression of interleukin-6, interleukin-6 receptor (gp80), and the receptor's signal-transducing subunit (gp130) in human normal pituitary glands and pituitary adenomas.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important cytokine in cell proliferation and differentiation in several organs. It has also been reported that IL-6 plays a role in secretion or release of pituitary hormones in pituitary hormone-secreting cells and pituitary adenomas, but convincing data in situ have not yet been reported. In this study, we examined the participation of IL-6 in the production of pituitary hormones and the differences between human normal pituitary glands and pituitary adenomas by determination of the localization or expression of IL-6, IL-6 receptor (IL-6R, gp80), and the signal-transducing subunit (gp130) of the receptor using immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR. IL-6 was mainly expressed in ACTH- and FSH/LH-secreting cells in normal pituitary glands, as shown by double staining. gp 80 and gp130 were coexpressed in almost all GH- and PRL-secreting cells and in approximately 30% of FSH/LH-secreting cells. RT-PCR showed that IL-6 mRNA was expressed in only one of all the pituitary adenomas examined, whereas gp 80 and gp 130 mRNAs were detected in all these pituitary adenomas. In conclusion, IL-6 was mainly expressed in ACTH- and FSH/LH-secreting cells, and the receptors were expressed in GH-, PRL- and FSH/LH-secreting cells in human normal pituitary glands. Furthermore, our data emphasized that the mechanism of IL-6 function in human pituitary adenoma cells is distinct from that in normal pituitary cells.

Adenoma↗

Lunotriquetral arthrodesis using cancellous bone graft.

Previous reports of lunotriquetral arthrodesis suggest relatively low rates of primary fusion without the use of permanent fixation and/or prolonged immobilization. We performed 26 lunotriquetral arthrodeses in 24 patients with a technique using cancellous bone graft to fill a biconcave space created in the adjoining bones with parallel K-wire fixation. The indications included symptomatic lunotriquetral instability and degenerative arthritis. All patients received conservative treatment before surgery. Primary fusion was achieved in all wrists in an average of 50 days. Postoperative wrist flexion/extension averaged 77%/80% of unaffected sides. Radial/ulnar deviation averaged 95%/91% of unaffected sides. Pain relief was good or very good in 83%. Eight-eight percent returned to the workforce. This study shows reliable, effective results with a technique that adheres to the principles of intercarpal arthrodesis and avoids permanent internal fixation.

Adolescent↗

CD44 stimulation down-regulates Fas expression and Fas-mediated apoptosis of lung cancer cells.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) play a major role in the rejection of tumor cells, but tumor rejection does not always occur in vivo, indicating that defects in anti-tumor immune responses may be common. We here document a novel function for CD44--using lung cancer cells, we showed that stimulation of CD44 reduced Fas expression and Fas-mediated apoptosis: (i) lung cancer cells expressed high levels of CD44; (ii) engagement of CD44 on the cells by a specific antibody or fragmented hyaluronan reduced Fas expression; (iii) CD44 cross-linking reduced Fas-mediated apoptosis; (iv) stimulation of CD44 on lung cancer cells decreased IFN-gamma production by autologous CTL; and (v) CD44 stimulation prevented killing of lung cancer cells by autologous CTL. Based on these findings, we postulate a new concept--that interaction of CD44 on lung cancer cells with fragments of extracellular hyaluronan present in the surrounding extracellular matrix reduces Fas expression as well as Fas-mediated apoptosis of cancer cells. This leads to reduced susceptibility of the cells to CTL-mediated cytotoxicity through the Fas-Fas ligand pathway.

Apoptosis↗

Generation of autologous tumor-specific T cell clones from a patient with adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung.

BACKGROUND: Adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung is not a common cancer, but its prognosis is worse than that of adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies need to be developed to treat this type of lung cancer. Recently, vaccination using tumor antigens which are recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) has been applied mainly to melanoma patients. We therefore attempted to establish T cell clones specific for autologous tumor cells (AT) from a patient with adenosquamous carcinoma in order to analyze the specific immune responses against AT. METHODS: A lung adenosquamous carcinoma cell line was established from a resected tumor obtained from a 72-year-old patient. Regional lymph node lymphocytes were stimulated weekly with CD80-transfected AT to induce CTL. The CTL activities were assessed by a standard (51)Cr release assay and by cytokine release. RESULTS: We succeeded in inducing an AT-specific CTL line. Using a limiting dilution method, eight T cell clones were established. AT-specific activity was observed in three CD8(+) T cell clones and one CD4(+) T cell clone out of the eight clones tested. Anti-HLA class I and anti-HLA-B/C mAbs inhibited IFN-gamma production from the AT-specific CD8(+) clones co-cultured with AT, thus indicating the restriction element to be HLA-B*5201 or HLA-Cw*1202. In contrast, the CD4(+) T cell clone recognized AT in an HLA class II-restricted manner. CONCLUSIONS: These results are the first demonstration of a successful induction of AT-specific T cell clones from a patient with lung adenosquamous carcinoma. It may therefore supply a possible way to apply specific immunotherapy to this type of lung cancer.

Aged↗

Susceptibility of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite-collagen composite to irradiation.

The ESR spectrum of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (DAp) has the peaks assigned to the hyperfine structure of dangling H+ (hyperfine coupling constant = 50.8 mT, I = 1/2) due to the HPO(4)2- ion which captured the hole released by X ray irradiation. This ESR peak intensity in DAp with collagen (c-DAp) decreased in an increase in the amount of collagen added into Ca(H2PO4)2H2O (MCP) electrolytic solution, because dangling H+ of HPO(4)2- binds to the carboxyl group of collagen due to the hydrogen bond. The ESR signal intensities at near g = 2 in DAp, c-DAp, and stoichiometric hydroxyapatite (HAp) after X ray irradiation, were proportional to the absorbed dose in the range from 6 to 380 Gy. These ESR signal intensities decreased when the X ray-irradiated DAp, c-DAp, and HAp was suspended in the simulated body fluid. This fact suggests that the surface layer contained high density of ESR active species in DAp, c-DAp, and HAp dissolved in the simulated body fluid. Therefore, with the dosemeter utilising such biomaterials as tooth and bone, sufficient care must be paid to the effect of body fluid.

Collagen↗