Interleukin-12 as an inducer of cytotoxic effectors in anti-tumor immunity.
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Power spectral analysis of RR intervals (PSA) of 94 vertiginous patients with associated autonomic nervous dysfunction (AND group), 31 patients with vertebro-basilar insufficiency (VBI group) and 25 controls were analyzed in supine and upright positions. In addition static function, variation from the supine to the upright position and dynamic change in autonomic nervous function (ANF) from the supine to the upright position were examined. Heart rate was recorded for 120 seconds in the supine and 40 seconds in the upright position. RR intervals for each 20-second period were computed using FFT (Fast Fourier Transformation), and the ratio of low frequency power (0.05-0.15 Hz) to high frequency power (0.15-0.4 Hz) (L/H) of PSA were analyzed as an index of sympathetic activity. The PSA was examined by the following three parameters; L/H at rest during the 80-second period from 20 to 100 seconds (static function), the L/H variation between each 20-second period from 0 to 160 seconds (variation) and the ratio of L/H to that in the upright position (dynamic change). The results of PSA were compared with those of pulse wave velocity (PWV) and the coefficient of variation of the RR interval (CVRR), and association between attacks of vertigo and ANF was determined. The results of static function of PSA and the results of PWV and CVRR were very similar, indicating that both methods are useful for evaluating ANF in vertiginous patients. In the AND group the variation in sympathetic activity tended to be larger in patients with sympathetic hyperfunction and parasympathetic hypofunction and in the patients with sympathetic hypofunction and parasympathetic hyperfunction resulting from PWV and CVRR, than in the controls. The dynamic change in patients with sympathetic hyperfunction and parasympathetic hypofunction resulting from PWV and CVRR was also significantly lower than that in the controls (p < 0.01). Some patients in the AND group already showed excessive sympathetic hyperfunction at rest, and changing the position from supine to upright might trigger sympathetic hypofunction, causing an attack of vertigo. The PSA results in the VBI group were similar to those in the controls, suggesting that sympathetic dysfunction did not affect VBI induced vertigo.
The effects of amezinium metilsulfate (Risumic) were studied in patients with sick sinus syndrome. Four males and 11 females with clinical symptoms were treated with 0.5 mg/kg for 1 to 40 weeks. In all patients, the length of sinus pause observed during 24-hour Holter monitoring was longer than 2.0 sec, and/or the sinus node recovery time in the electrophysiologic study was longer than 2.0 sec. The effects were evaluated by Holter monitoring and standard electrocardiography. The total number of heart beats every 24 hours by Holter monitoring were significantly increased from 78,917 +/- 15,983 (mean +/- SD) to 85,753 +/- 17,849 beats after the treatment. The length of the sinus pause was significantly decreased from 3.89 +/- 1.24 to 2.36 +/- 1.45 sec. Patients with sinus node recovery time of less than 5.0 sec showed the effects especially clearly. The total number of premature ventricular contractions was decreased from 530 +/- 767 to 123 +/- 182 beats. The PQ, QRS and QTc intervals did not change. Only diastolic pressure was slightly increased. Clinical symptoms disappeared in almost all patients and the clinical courses were favorable. Amezinium metilsulfate, which stimulates the intrinsic sympathetic nervous system, increased total heart beat and shortened sinus pause in patients with sick sinus syndrome. Few side effects, such as arrhythmogenecity or increase of blood pressure were observed. These results show that amezinium metilsulfate is useful in the treatment of patients with sick sinus syndrome, if the disease is not so severe as to require implantation of a cardiac pacemaker.
Populations of cytotoxic CD3+CD56+ cells were selectively expanded when monocyte-depleted human PBL (M(-) PBL) were cultured with 20 U/ml IL-12 and 100 U/ml IL-2. In a majority of cases, CD4-CD8- as well as CD8+ gammadelta T cells with CD56 Ag were induced, but in some cases CD4+CD56+ alphabeta T cells were selectively increased. Determination of which will increase, gammadelta or alphabeta T cells, apparently is dependent upon individuals. When M(-) PBL were stimulated with IL-12 and IL-2 in the presence of immobilized anti-CD3 Ab, CD8+CD56+ alphabeta T cells increased exclusively. When M(-) PBL were cultured by IL-2 alone, CD3+CD56- cell expansion was predominant while CD3+CD56+ cells remained a minor population. Cytotoxic activity of M(-) PBL cultured with a combination of IL-12 and IL-2 is much greater than when cultured with IL-2 alone. The cytotoxicity of activated M(-) PBL was abrogated by the depletion of either CD3+ or CD56+ cells irrespective of their gammadelta or alphabeta phenotypes. These types of cells are preferentially present in the livers of humans. The results revealed that, under certain conditions, IL-12 synergizes with IL-2 to induce potent cytotoxic T cells with CD56 Ag of humans, and suggest that these cells in the human liver are functionally similar to NK1+ alphabeta T cells in murine liver.
Livers of the adult mice contain c-kit+ stem cells that can reconstitute thymocytes, multiple lineage cells, and bone marrow (BM) stem cells. Transfer of 1 x 10(7) hepatic mononuclear cells (MNC) and 5 x 10(4) hepatic c-kit+ cells of BALB/c mice induced DP thymocytes within a week in four Gy-irradiated CB17/-SCID mice, but 2 wk were required for BM cells or BM c-kit+ cells to produce DP thymocytes. Moreover, B cell-depleted BM cells or liver MNC of SCID mice that had been rescued by hepatic MNC of BALB/c mice again reconstituted thymus and B cells of other irradiated SCID mice. CD3- IL-2R beta- populations of both BM cells and hepatic MNC of C57BL/6 (B6) mice could generate T cells with intermediate TCR (mostly NK1.1-) in the liver of irradiated B6 SCID mice before thymic reconstitution (extrathymic T cells). Furthermore, transfer of liver c-kit+ cells of B6-Ly 5.1 mice into irradiated B6 SCID (Ly5.2) mice revealed that liver c-kit+ cells can reconstitute myeloid and erythroid lineage cells. These results strongly suggest that the liver contains pluripotent stem cells and serves an important hematopoietic organ even into adulthood.
Using the matrix attachment region (MAR) derived from Ig kappa gene intron, we assessed the importance of internal subregions required for the specific binding to the nuclear matrix. Relative affinities of MAR subfragments were compared in an in vitro binding reaction with isolated matrix. Cleavage at the near-centric MboII site generated two subfragments retaining a significant binding affinity. Dimerization of these subfragments greatly increased the affinity. Only a partial segment (130 bp) of the 3' fragment was necessary to restore the binding. The dimerization effect was lost when the monomer units were separated by nonMAR spacers of 500 bp <. This bipartite organization of Ig kappa MAR could be a general feature of AT-rich MARs, regardless of their genomic locations.
We demonstrate herein evidence that IL-12-activated alpha beta T cells with intermediate TCR (NK1+ TCRint cells) in the liver inhibit metastases in the lung as well as in the liver metastases of i-v. injected tumors. IL-12 administration enhanced NK1 expression of NK1+ TCRint cells (NK1high) and increased CD4 weakly positive (CD4low) TCRint cells, while both CD4+ TCRint cells and double-negative TCRint cells were proportionally diminished. Accordingly, the major parts of NK1high TCRint cells are CD4low cells, and most of these cells are V beta 8+ cells. The cytotoxic assays of IL-12-stimulated hepatic mononuclear cells after treatment with respective Abs and complement in vitro and after sorting revealed that CD4low NK1high TCRint cells are cytotoxic effectors. When IL-12-stimulated hepatic mononuclear cells (but not splenocytes) were transferred into tumor-preinjected mice, EL-4 cell metastases in the liver as well as 3LL cell metastases in the lung were inhibited. The antimetastasis of hepatic mononuclear cells transfer was abrogated by the depletion of NK1+ cells, CD3+ cells, or CD4+ cells but not CD8+ cells before transfer. Moreover, transfer of these cells of nude mice into tumor-preinjected mice also inhibited metastases in both organs. Although NK1+ TCRint cells are nearly absent in the hepatic vein blood, a significant proportion of NK1high TCRint cells appeared by IL-12 administration. These results demonstrate that IL-12-stimulated liver NK1high TCRint cells, including extrathymic ones, are major effectors against tumor metastasis and suggest that the cells migrate and inhibit lung metastases.
We recently reported that systemic administration of IL-12 into mice activates NK1.1+ alpha beta T cells with intermediate TCR (NK1+TCRint) and induces strong MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity in C57BL/6 mice. In the present report, we examined the effect of LPS on Kupffer cells and NK1+TCRint, cells in C57BL/6 mice. Administration of LPS, as well as synthetic lipid A analogue (ONO-4007), but not detoxified LPS, induces the increase of NK1 expression of NK1+TCRint cells (NKlhighTCRint) and the acquisition of strong MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity of these cells against NK-sensitive and NK-resistant targets as does IL-12 administration. LPS as well as ONO-4007 induced IL-12 mRNA in hepatic mononuclear cells, mainly in plastic-adherent Kupffer cells. LPS-induced cytotoxicity of hepatic mononuclear cells was greatly reduced by in vivo injections of anti-IL-12 Ab, to a lesser extent by anti-IFN-gamma Ab, but not by anti-IL-1 nor anti-TNF-alpha Ab. Pretreatment of mice with LPS induced inhibition of hepatic metastases of i.v. injected EL4 cells in C57BL/6 euthymic and athymic mice and this antimetastasis was inhibited by injection of anti-IL-12 Ab. This antimetastatic effect of LPS in the liver was also observed in different strains of mice and tumors, In contrast to IL-12, however, LPS was not so effective when administered after tumor inoculation. These results revealed that LPS (lipid A) stimulates NK1+TCRint cells through IL-12 production from Kupffer cells and suggest that bacterial components, probably including those from intestine, are activators of Kupffer cells and NK1+TCRint, cells in the liver. It is also suggested that the host condition as well as LPS-induced cytokines other than IL-12 may affect antitumor effect induced by LPS in the liver.
Mice carrying the lpr gene, SCG and MRL-lpr/lpr mice, were used to characterize the phenotype and lpr gene of abnormally proliferating T cells in these mice. A major population which expanded in these mice were T cells expressing intermediate (int) levels of T cell receptor (TCR) (and CD3) and the phenotype of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) beta lo alpha- (possibly abnormal TCRint cells). The levels of TCRhi cells of thymic origin (generated through the mainstream of T cell differentiation in the thymus) profoundly decreased after the onset of disease. However, a small population of normal TCRint cells (i.e. IL-2R beta hi alpha-) were also found to exist in all tested organs. For example, the majority of abnormal IL-2R beta lo TCRint cells were CD4-8- CD2-, while normal IL-2R beta hi TCRint cells were a mixture of single-positive cells (mainly CD8+), CD4-8- cells and CD2+ cells. Moreover, normal TCRint cells preferentially produced normal Fas mRNA and Fas molecules from the lpr gene. This phenomenon explains the leaky appearance of normal Fas mRNA and Fas molecules in mice carrying the lpr gene. It is suggested that a small population of IL-2R beta hi TCRint cells are resistant to the lpr genetic abnormality.
The initial injury in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is the destruction of portal bile ducts. Little information is available on apoptosis and cell proliferation in such bile ducts, so we used immunohistochemical techniques to locate molecules related to apoptosis [Fas antigen, Lewis Y antigen (BM1/JIMRO), and bcl-2 protein] and to cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA) in 21 patients with PBC. In addition, nick-end labelling was done to locate DNA fragmentation. The expression of these molecules in chronic nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis (CNSDC) was examined. Cell death and PCNA expression were both found in portal bile ducts affected by CNSDC in 7 of the 13 CNSDC patients examined. Fas antigen was found on the plasma membrane and rough endoplasmic reticulum of bile-duct cells with CNSDC in the frozen sections of all 6 patients with CNSDC out of the 9 patients inspected, and this antigen was found also in bile-duct cells without CNSDC in 2 of these 9 patients. It was not found in anatomically normal liver (from 2 patients with Gilbert's disease). The Lewis Y antigen was found in bile ducts with CNSDC and in proliferated ductules in all 16 patients examined. No bcl-2 protein was found in any bile-duct or ductule cells, but it was found in the cytoplasm of lymphocytes surrounding or invading CNSDC. DNA fragmentation was found in the nuclei of bile-duct cells with CNSDC by nick-end labelling. Our study indicated that Fas-mediated apoptosis might be involved in CNSDC, but that bcl-2 protein seems to participate less than Fas. Although the Lewis Y antigen was found in many bile ducts, the relationship between the antigen and apoptosis remains unknown because there was no evidence that this antigen mediates apoptosis.
Idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) is a condition marked by unexplained portal hypertension. Although a number of immunological abnormalities occur in patients with IPH, liver function is usually normal. We experienced an unusual case of IPH in a 49-year-old woman, who had pronounced splenomegaly. Laboratory data revealed pancytopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and liver dysfunction. Antinuclear antibodies were positive, with high titer at 1280 dilutions of sera. LE cell phenomena were also positive. Histological examination of biopsied liver showed only mild changes, but portal venous pressure was markedly elevated, at 38 cm H2O. This case was thus characterized by both a high serum titer of autoantibodies and liver dysfunction.
We report eight cases of amebic liver abscess. All patients were men, and four were homosexual. Five of the eight patients had syphilis, but the four homosexual patients who were tested for HIV infection were negative. Ultrasonography (US), with or without needle aspiration, is the best method for diagnosing amebic liver abscess, and the treatment of choice is US-guided needle aspiration of the abscess followed by metronidazole therapy. Complication by other sexually transmitted diseases is another important factor affecting the treatment of this disease.
Neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) is distributed in most nerve cells and some non-neural tissues. The present immunohistochemical study has revealed, for the first time, the expression of N-CAM in perisinusoidal stellate cells of the human liver. Liver specimens were stained with monoclonal antibody against human Leu19 (N-CAM) by a streptoavidin-biotin-peroxidase-complex method. Light- and electron-microscopic analyses have shown that N-CAM-positive nerve fibers are distributed in the periportal and intermediate zones of the liver lobule. Perisinusoidal stellate cells in these zones are also positive for N-CAM. N-CAM is expressed on the surface of the cell, including cytoplasmic projections. Close contact of N-CAM-positive nerve endings with N-CAM-positive stellate cells has been observed. On the other hand, stellate cells in the centrilobular zone exhibit weak or no reaction for N-CAM. Perivascular smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts in the portal area and myofibroblasts around the central veins are negative for N-CAM. The present results indicate that the perisinusoidal stellate cells in the periportal and intermediate zones of the liver lobule characteristically express N-CAM, unlike other related mesenchymal cells, and suggest that the intralobular heterogeneity of N-CAM expression by stellate cells is related to the different maturational stages of these cells.
We recently reported that interleukin-12 (IL-12) stimulated hepatic NK1.1 Ag+ alpha beta T cells with intermediate T-cell receptor (TCR; NK1+ TCRint cells) and enhanced their NK1 expression (NK1high TCRint), and that these cells acquire strong major histocompatibility complex (MHC) unrestricted cytotoxicity in C57BL/6 mice, both +/+ and nu/nu. In the present study, we find that although murine lung normally has few NK1+ TCRint cells, NK1high TCRint cells are induced in+/+ and nu/nu mice after systemic administration of IL-12; these cells exhibit strong MHC unrestricted cytotoxicity against NK-sensitive and -resistant targets. A small number of NK1high TCRint cells was also found in peripheral blood after increased amounts of IL-12 were administered. Cytotoxicity tests in vitro revealed that the cytotoxic activity of the lung mononuclear cells (MNC) of C57BL/6 mice induced by IL-12 was abrogated by the depletion of either NK1+ or CD3+ cells, but not of CD8+ cells, as reportedly was the case of hepatic MNC, suggesting that NK1high TCRint cells are an antimetastatic population not only in the liver but also in the lung of mice. IL-12 injection into mice markedly elevates serum interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels. However, although IL-12-induced cytotoxicity of NK1high TCRint cells was significantly reduced by anti-IFN-gamma antibody injection (which decreased serum IFN-gamma to an undetectable level), the appearance of NK1high TCRint cells in the lung and liver was not so affected. These results suggest that IFN-gamma is an important mediator of the cytotoxicity of NK1high TCRint cells but is not an essential factor for induction of these cells. We also added data showing that IL-12 has a broad antimetastatic effect against various liver and lung metastatic tumours intravenously injected into several strains of mice, including NK-deficient bg/bg mice. It can be considered that, in addition to NK cells, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and gamma delta T cells, NK1+ TCRint cells can be categorized as one of the cytotoxic effector populations. These novel type cells distinct from regular T cells may play an important role in monitoring intra- and perivascular areas.
Morphological and phenotypic characterization in previous studies has indicated that intermediate (int) T-cell receptor (TCR) cells or T natural killer (TNK) cells may stand at an intermediate position between NK cells and high TCR cells of thymic origin in phylogenetic development. In this study, a functional study on cytotoxic activity against various tumour targets was performed in each purified subset. When a negative selection method entailing in vivo injection of anti-asialo GM, antibody or anti-interleukin (IL)-2R beta monoclonal antibody (mAb) was applied, IL-2R beta 1 CD3 NK cells were found to have the highest NK activity while IL-2R beta 1 int CD3 (or TCR) cells had a lower level of the NK activity. High CD3 cells (freshly isolated) did not have any such activity. Sorting experiments further revealed that the NK function mediated by int CD3 cells was augmented when they were exposed to anti-CD3 mAb. anti-TCR alpha beta, or anti-TCR-delta mAb. This phenomenon was not observed in NK cells and high CD3 cells. More importantly, when anti-CD3 mAb (or anti-TCR mAb) was added to the assay culture, int CD3 cells became cytotoxic against even NK-resistant tumour (Fc gamma R-. Fas+) targets. Liver mononuclear cells or int CD3 cells exposed to anti-CD3 mAb for 6 hr showed an elevated level of perforin in their cytoplasms. The present results suggest that int CD3 cells are usually non-cytotoxic against various tumours but become functional after being stimulated via the TCR CD3 complex.
A rapid increase in isoflurane or desflurane concentration induces tachycardia and hypertension and increases-plasma catecholamine concentration. Little information is available as to whether sevoflurane, halothane, and enflurane induce similar responses during anesthesia induction via mask. Fifty ASA physical status I patients, aged 20-40 yr, and scheduled for elective minor surgery, received one of four volatile anesthetics: sevoflurane, isoflurane, halothane, or enflurane. Anesthesia was induced with thiamylal, followed by inhalation of 0.9 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC) of the anesthetic in 100% oxygen via mask. The inspired concentration of anesthetic was increased by 0.9 MAC every 5 min to a maximum of 2.7 MAC. Heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were measured before and every minute for 15 min during anesthetic inhalation. In the sevoflurane and isoflurane groups, venous blood samples were drawn to determine the concentrations of plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine 3 min after each increase in anesthetic concentration. Sustained increments in HR were observed after increases in inspired isoflurane concentration to 1.8 MAC and 2.7 MAC (peak changes of 15 +/- 3 and 17 +/- 3 bpm, respectively). Isoflurane also increased SBP transiently after the inspired concentration was increased to 2.7 MAC (peak change of 10 +/- 4 mm Hg). Enflurane increased HR after the inspired concentration was increased to 2.7 MAC (peak change of 9 +/- 2 bpm). In contrast, changes in sevoflurane and halothane concentrations did not induce hyperdynamic responses. Plasma norepinephrine concentration in the isoflurane group was significantly higher than that in the sevoflurane group during 2.7 MAC (P = 0.022). We propose that there is a direct relationship between airway irritation of the anesthetic and immediate cardiovascular change during an inhaled induction of anesthesia.
Within the framework of an international project for the sequencing of the entire Bacillus subtilis genome, this paper communicates the sequencing of a chromosome region containing the lic and cel loci (65 kb), which creates a 177 kb contig covering the region from gnt to sacXY. This 65 kb region contains 64 ORFs (62 complete and two partial genes). The 14th, 15th and 17th genes correspond to licT, licS and katE, encoding the antiterminator for licS transcription, beta-glucanase (lichenase) and catalase 2, respectively. The 11th, 30th, 36th, 39th, 41st, 45th-48th, 51st and 58th genes are designated deaD, pepT, galE, aldY, msmX, cydABCD, sigY and katX because their products probably encode ATP-dependent RNA helicase, tripeptidase, UDP-glucose 4-epimerase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, multiple sugar-binding transport ATP-binding protein, the respective components of cytochrome d ubiquinol oxidase and ATP-binding cassette transporter, sigma-factor of RNA polymerase and catalase, respectively. The 60th-64th genes are celRABCD, which are probably involved in cellobiose utilization. Gene organization and gene features in the gnt-sacXY region are discussed.
We designed a unique anticoagulant decapeptide, which possesses two O-sulfated tyrosine residues, based on the structure of hirudin's C-terminal functional domain. We first prepared a series of octa-, nona- and decapeptides with no sulfation, Suc-Phe-Glu-Pro-Ile-Pro-Glu-Tyr-Tyr-X-OH [X = bond, Leu or Leu-Gln], by a solution phase method and measured their thrombin times (TT) using human thrombin and rabbit plasma. The shortest octapeptide (3a) showed full antithrombin activity comparable to that of the lead compound hirudin (54-65), and the longest decapeptide (3c) prolonged TT most potently with an IC50 value of 5.8 microM. We consequently converted 3c to a disulfated decapeptide (NF-22) with SO3.pyridine complex and compared its antithrombin activity with that of known hirudin-related peptides: hirugen, MDL28050 and hirulog-1. NF-22 showed potent antithrombin activity with an IC50 value of 0.3 microM, being more potent than hirugen and MDL28050 (IC50 values of 4.0 microM and 1.1 microM, respectively). NF-22 was as potent as hirulog-1. NF-22 showed no change in activity in aqueous solution for 10 d at 60 degrees C, and remained about 90% unchanged in rat plasma on incubation for 24h at 37 degrees C, whereas the corresponding unsulfated peptide (3c) was completely digested under the same condition. NF-22 appears to be one of the most potent and stable peptide anticoagulants among the hirudin analogs.