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Y Niho

Publications and source records attributed to Y Niho.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

[Cytomegalovirus disease after hematopoietic recovery in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

We report a case of marked cytomegalovirus (CMV)-antigenemia determined by direct immunoperoxidase staining using a peroxidase-labeled monoclonal antibody HRP-C7, after conventional chemotherapy for malignant lymphoma. A 65-year-old Japanese man suffered from unexplained fever, mild liver dysfunction and an abnormal shadow in the lung after hematopoietic recovery from intensive chemotherapy for T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the leukemic phase. The assay for CMV-antigenemia revealed that he had an active CMV infection. After treatment with ganciclovir and gamma-globulin, his symptoms and signs improved with the decrease of CMV antigen-positive leukocytes. CMV disease should be considered in these situations, and the CMV antigen-detection assay is useful for rapid diagnosis of CMV infection.

Aged↗

Inhibition by 5-fluorouracil of ERCC1 and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase messenger RNA expression in a cisplatin-resistant HST-1 human squamous carcinoma cell line.

Pretreatment of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), but not posttreatment, has been shown to augment the cytotoxicity of cisplatin (CDDP) or even circumvent CDDP resistance by inhibiting repair of platinum-DNA interstrand crosslinks as well as by reducing the cellular glutathione (GSH) contents in CDDP-resistant HST-1/CP0.2 human squamous carcinoma cells. Because exogenous thymidine, which compensates for 5-FU-mediated inhibition of de novo DNA synthesis via salvage pathway, did not affect this schedule-dependent synergism, the modulatory effect of 5-FU on CDDP resistance would be attributed to the 5-FU-induced RNA damage. We therefore examined the effect of 5-FU on the steady-state levels of messenger RNA (mRNA) of a human excision repair gene ERCC1 and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS) gene coding for a rate-limiting enzyme for GSH synthesis. The HST-1/ CP0.2 cells were found to have significantly more mRNA expression of these respective genes than do parental HST-1 cells. In these cells, 5-FU pretreatment progressively inhibited mRNA expression of both ERCC1 and gamma-GCS after removal of 5-FU, without affecting glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA. A maximal mRNA suppression was observed at 48 h posttreatment. Such 5-FU-induced suppression of mRNA transcripts of these genes seems to be consistent with its inhibitory activity on DNA repair capacity and cellular GSH contents. In contrast, 5-FU did not reduce the level of glutathione-S-transferase-pi (GST-pi) or DNA topoisomerase 1 mRNA. Although not convinced, our data suggest that 5-FU, when incorporated into RNA, may inhibit both GSH synthesis and repair of platinum-DNA adducts by downregulating the ERCC1 and gamma-GCS genes, thereby enhancing antitumor activity of CDDP and reversing resistance to CDDP in HST-1/CP0.2 cells.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗

In vitro expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells induces functional expression of Fas antigen (CD95).

Fas antigen (Fas Ag; CD95) is a cell surface molecule that can mediate apoptosis. Bcl-2 is a cytoplasmic molecule that prolongs cellular survival by inhibiting apoptosis. To investigate the role of both molecules in hematopoiesis, we evaluated the expression of Fas Ag and Bcl-2 on CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells expanded in vitro. CD34+ cells isolated from bone marrow were cultured in iscove's modified Dulbecco's medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, 1% bovine serum albumin, 50 ng/mL stem cell factor, 50 ng/mL interleukin-3 (IL-3), 50 ng/mL IL-6, 100 ng/mL granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and 3 U/mL erythropoietin for 7 days. Colony-forming unit of granulocytes/macrophages (CFU-GM) and burst-forming unit of erythroids (BFU-E) were expanded 6.9-fold and 8.8-fold in number at day 5 of culture, respectively. Freshly isolated CD34+ cells did not express Fas Ag, whereas approximately half of them expressed Bcl-2. CD34+ cells cultured with hematopoietic growth factors gradually became positive for Fas Ag and rapidly lost Bcl-2 expression. Furthermore, apoptosis was induced in the cultured CD34+ population when anti-Fan antibody (IgM; 1 microgram/mL) was added, as shown by significant decrease in the number of viable cells, morphologic changes, induction of DNA fragmentation, and significant decrease in the number of clonogenic progenitor cells including CFU. GM and BFU-E. These results indicate that functional expression of Fas Ag is induced on CD34+ cells expanded in vitro in the presence of hematopoietic growth factors. Induction of Fas Ag and downregulation of Bcl-2 may be expressed as part of the differentiation program of hematopoietic cells and may be involved in the regulation of hematopoiesis.

Adult↗

Persistence of multipotent progenitors expressing AML1/ETO transcripts in long-term remission patients with t(8;21) acute myelogenous leukemia.

The leukemia-specific AML1/ETO fusion gene has been shown to be detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis in patients with t(8;21) acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in long-term remission. In the present study, the AML1/ETO mRNA could be detected by RT-PCR in bone marrow (BM) and/or peripheral blood (PB) samples from all 18 patients who had been maintaining complete remission for 12 to 150 months (median, 45 months) following chemotherapy or PB stem cell transplantation (PBSCT), whereas it could not be detected in four patients who had been maintaining remission for more than 30 months following allogeneic BM transplantation (BMT). We surveyed the expression of AML1/ETO mRNA in clonogenic progenitors from BM in these cases. Notably, 51 of 2,469 colonies from clonogenic progenitors (2.1%) expressed the AML1/ETO mRNA in 18 cases who were RT-PCR+ in BM and/or PB samples. Expression was observed in various clonogenic progenitors, including granulocyte-macrophage colonies, mixed colonies, erythroid colonies, and megakaryocyte colonies. Furthermore, we analyzed the clonality of these progenitors by X-chromosome inactivation patterns of the phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) gene in four female patients. The AML1/ETO mRNA+ progenitors showed the PGK allele identical to that detected in the leukemic blasts from the time of initial diagnosis. Normal constitutive hematopoiesis was sustained by polyclonal BM reconstitution in these patients. Accordingly, these committed progenitor cells that express AML1/ETO mRNA during remission likely have arisen from common t(8;21)+ pluripotent progenitor cells with at least trilineage differentiation potential. These data strongly suggest that the origin of the clonogenic leukemic progenitors of t(8;21) AML may be multipotent hematopoietic progenitors that acquired the t(8;21) chromosomal abnormality.

Adult↗

Molecular bases for inherited human complement component C6 deficiency in two unrelated individuals.

Deficiency of the sixth component of complement (C6D) is frequently associated with recurrent neisserial infections, especially meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis. We here report the molecular bases of C6D in two unrelated subjects, one African American (case 1) and the other Japanese (case 2). Screening all 17 exons of the C6 gene and their boundaries by exon-specific PCR/single strand conformation polymorphism demonstrated aberrant single stranded DNA fragments in exon 12 of case 1 and exon 2 of case 2. Nucleotide sequencing of the amplified DNA fragments revealed a homozygous single-base deletion (G1936) in exon 12 case 1 and a heterozygous single base deletion (C291/C292/C293/C294) in exon 2 of case 2. Both mutations resulted in frame shifts and premature termination of the C6 polypeptide. Sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe hybridization and direct sequencing of exon 12 amplified from genomic DNA further supported the homozygosity of the mutation in case 1. Case 2 is apparently compound heterozygote, but the putative mutation in the other allele of the C6 gene remains unknown. Both case 1 and case 2 were homozygous for the C6A allotype. These data indicate that at least three distinct mutational events can cause C6D, single nucleotide deletions in exons 2 and 12, and a mutation yet unidentified. Thus, similar to other complement protein deficiencies, the pathogenesis of C6D appears to be heterogeneous.

Adult↗

Schedule-dependent reversion of acquired cisplatin resistance by 5-fluorouracil in a newly established cisplatin-resistant HST-1 human squamous carcinoma cell line.

In vitro continuous stepwise exposure of HST-1 human squamous carcinoma cell line to cisplatin (CDDP) for 12 months resulted in a 3.5-fold stably resistant subline designated HST-1/CP0.2. Compared with parental cells, this cell line showed a 1.8-fold increase in cellular glutathione (GSH) and a 50% reduction in initial numbers of DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs), despite similar levels of intracellular platinum accumulation. Evaluation of the kinetics of DNA ICL removal at nearly equivalent levels of DNA ICL formation indicated that HST-1/CP0.2 cells appeared to remove DNA ICLs more rapidly than do HST-1 parental cells. Thus, both elevated cellular GSH and increased DNA repair capacity would be the major factors contributing to CDDP resistance. Pretreatment of HST-1/CP0.2 cells with 5-FU, with drug-free intervals of 24 to 48 hr before exposure to CDDP, completely reversed CDDP resistance, or even increased the sensitivity to a level greater than that of parental cells, whereas the opposite sequence had no effect on resistance. In parallel with augmentation of the cytotoxicity, the levels of cellular GSH were significantly reduced over 48 hr by 5-FU pretreatment. However, depletion of cellular GSH using buthionine sulfoximine resulted in partial reversal of CDDP resistance, indicating that reduction of cellular GSH alone is not sufficient for complete reversal of CDDP resistance. Our data, together with evidence that 5-FU modulates the repair of platinum-DNA cross-links, suggest that schedule-dependent, complete reversal of CDDP resistance by 5-FU might be attributed to its inhibitory effects on both GSH levels and the repair of platinum-DNA adducts. Thus, optimization for the drug administration schedule is important when aiming at therapeutic synergy and circumvention of acquired CDDP resistance.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Signal transduction pathway of interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 in human B cells derived from X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency patients.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13 are functionally similar cytokines. The functional IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) consists of the IL-4R alpha chain (IL-4R alpha) and the IL-2R gamma chain (gamma c), which is shared by the IL-2, IL-7, IL-9, and IL-15 receptors. The functional IL-13R is thought to involve the IL-4R alpha but not gamma c. In this study, we have analyzed activation of members of the Janus tyrosine kinase (Jak) family and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) 6 induced by IL-4 and IL-13 in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells derived from two patients of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency, who have mutations of the gamma c gene in the extracellular and intracellular domains. In these B cells, IL-4 failed to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of Jak3 and activation of STAT6, or activation of these molecules was significantly decreased compared with Epstein-Barr virus-transformed normal B cells. In contrast, IL-13 activated STAT6 in these cells as well as normal B cells. However, Jak3 was not activated by IL-13, even in normal B cells. These results clearly indicated that gamma c is essential for activation of Jak3 and STAT6 in the signal transduction pathway of IL-4 in human B cells and that IL-13 does not utilize gamma c but activates STAT6 through an alternative pathway, which is not impaired in B cells of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency patients.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Effect of IL-10 on collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

In the present study we investigated the effect of a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin (IL)-10, on the development of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. Each DBA1/J mouse was immunized with 200 micrograms of native collagen and followed by booster injections at 3 weeks. rmIL-10 was injected i.p. daily at a dose of 100 ng/mouse. Mice were divided into four groups according to the administration period of rmIL-10. As a result, a 48-day course of IL-10 treatment significantly suppressed the severity of arthritis. Among the 4 groups, the most pronounced suppression was observed in the group in which IL-10 was given from day 0 to 21. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the serum IgG anti-type II collagen (CII) titers between the four groups. Moreover, the production of cytokines (IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)) and other mediators (prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO)) by peritoneal macrophages seemed to show no clear correlation with the severity of arthritis in mice. These results raise the possibility that IL-10 might be a useful agent for suppressing the progression and the development of CIA in mice.

Analysis of Variance↗

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-induced mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells for autologous and allogeneic transplantation. Fukuoka Bone Marrow Transplantation Group.

Peripheral blood stem and progenitor cells (PBSC and PBPC), which circulate at very low levels during steady-state hematopoiesis, show a transient but marked increase during hematologic recovery from marrow-suppressive chemotherapy. To ensure rapid and sustained hematologic engraftment after autologous PBSC transplantation, sufficient PBSC or PBPC must be infused. To confirm the utility of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in chemotherapy-induced PBSC mobilization, we investigated the effect of G-CSF on PBSC mobilization in leukemia and lymphoma patients. The study design was such that PBSC mobilization with and without G-CSF was assessed in the same patients. The results indicate that PBSC mobilization can be enhanced significantly when G-CSF is given during the recovery phase postchemotherapy. Interestingly, progenitor cells of different lineages could be mobilized by G-CSF. We subsequently investigated the effect of increasing G-CSF dose on PBSC mobilization during steady-state hematopoiesis in healthy adult donors. The results indicate that not only committed but also primitive progenitor cells are mobilized into the circulation in a dose-and time-dependent manner when G-CSF at 5, 10, or 15 micrograms/kg was given on each of 5 days and leukapheresis was performed on day 6. From our data we estimate that sufficient PBSC for engraftment after allogeneic PBSC transplantation can be collected on day 5 of administration of G-CSF at 10 micrograms/kg and by 10-1 leukapheresis on days 5 and 6. Furthermore, we found that some G-CSF-mobilized PBSC retained their self-renewal capability. These observations suggest that hematopoietic stem cells for allogeneic PBSC transplantation can be mobilized by short-term administration of relatively high-dose G-CSF.

Animals↗

Expression of CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase IV in adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL).

The association of CD26/dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) and human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) was studied by two approaches. First, we examined the expression of CD26 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from the patients with adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), an HTLV-I-related malignancy. The expression of CD26 on the surface of PBMC was decreased in all 20 patients with ATLL compared with those from normal individuals (P < 0.01) and the expression of the CD26 gene transcript was not detectable in seven out of eight patients with ATLL. Then we compared the quantity of viral DNA in CD26-negative (CD26-) and CD26-positive (CD26+) cells obtained from 17 HTLV-I healthy carries by using a polymerase chain reaction method. The CD26-cells had a higher copy number of viral DNA than CD26+ cells. These findings indicate that HTLV-I has in vivo tropism to CD26- cells, suggesting that some phenotypes of ATLL cells reflect the in vivo cellular tropism of HTLV-I.

Adult↗

Effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on the hemostatic system in healthy volunteers.

We previously identified a receptor for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSFR) on platelet membranes, and reported that G-CSF enhanced ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Here, we investigated the priming effect of G-CSF on the hemostatic system in healthy volunteers given G-CSF. Following the administration of rhG-CSF (10 micrograms/kg for 30 min div) to 10 healthy volunteers, we found a significant elevation in the maximum platelet aggregation rate induced by ADP or collagen, thromboxane B2 level and amount of thrombin-antithrombin III complex. The D-D dimer and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 showed no significant changes. These observations indicate that G-CSF administration may induce hypercoagulability in susceptible subjects. Therefore, patients or donors at risk of thrombosis or hypercoagulable state should be followed carefully after G-CSF administration.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

A sequence analysis of von Willebrand factor mRNA, gene, and pseudogene in two patients with von Willebrand disease type 2B, and an investigation of gene conversion in its gene.

We identified the point mutations in two unrelated patients with von Willebrand disease (vWD) type 2B using sequence analyses of the gene, pseudogene and messenger RNA of vWF. Both patients were determined to be heterozygotes with amino acid transitions of 1308 Arg-->Cys in Case 1 and 1316 Val-->Met in Case 2. Moreover, we also found single base transitions 7541 A-->G in intron 27 of the active gene, and 7642 A-->G, which thus destroyed the Kpn 1 site, in its pseudogene in both cases. Since these mutations represented changes in the base between the gene and its pseudogene, we studied the presence of gene conversion in exon 28 of vWF gene to clarify its pathological role. Using RT-PCR and an allele-specific restriction enzyme analysis, we identified no gene conversions in this region in four other patients with vWD, 25 normal subjects and one cell line, MEG01. Based on these findings, gene conversion in the vWF gene is not considered to be a frequent phenomenon in either vWD patients or normal subjects.

Adult↗

A comparison of glandular involvement between chronic graft-versus-host disease and Sjögren's syndrome.

Patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) occasionally suffer from symptoms of xerostomia and xerophthalmia, which are also features of Sjógren's syndrome (SS). To identify differences in the glandular involvement between cGVHD and SS, we measured the proportions of infiltrating lymphocyte subsets and the expression of HLA-DR antigen and cell adhesion molecules in labial salivary glands (LSG). In cGVHD, more than 90% of the infiltrating lymphocytes were T cells with a slight predominance of CD8+ over CD4+ cells. In SS, CD4+ cells were predominant, and B cells accounted for 10-30% of the infiltrating lymphocytes. Ductal epithelial cell associated with lymphocytic infiltration expressed HLA-DR antigen in both cGVHD and SS. In SS alone, HLA-DR antigen expression also occurred without associated lymphocytic infiltration. The expression of adhesion molecules on ductal epithelial cells, especially vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, was more intense in SS than in cGVHD, while that on endothelial cell was similar in cGVHD and SS. These data suggest that the pathogenesis of glandular involvement of cGVHD is different from that of SS.

Adolescent↗

Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia in congenital platelet dysfunction.

We herein report three cases of repeated massive bleeding from the stomach and small bowel. One patient suffered from both thrombasthenia (type II) and von Willebrand disease (type 1) simultaneously. Two others had Bernard-Soulier's syndrome (BSS). One patient with BSS had bleeding from gastric angiodysplasia and was treated endoscopically by clipping. The other patients had massive bleeding from the small intestine, and had partial resection of the affected small intestine. Histologically, irregular dilatation and proliferation of the blood vessels were demonstrated in the submucosa in bleeding spots from a resected small intestine, and these findings were consistent with the features of acquired angiodysplasia. The development of gastrointestinal angiodysplasia may not only be associated with a dysfunction of von Willebrand factor but also with that of platelets.

Adult↗

Oral involvement in chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

We examined 37 patients who had undergone an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and compared their oral findings to their systemic involvement with chronic graft-versus-host disease. Among the clinical signs and symptoms in their oral region, only the presence of oral lichenoid lesions had a statistically significant relationship to the diagnosis of chronic graft-versus-host disease. The histologic findings in the labial salivary glands and buccal mucosa closely reflected the status of chronic graft-versus-host disease. Statistically, the presence of diffuse and periductal lymphocytic infiltration in labial salivary glands, subepithelial lymphocytic infiltration and epithelial changes in buccal mucosa also showed a significant relationship to the diagnosis of chronic graft-versus-host disease. The present study suggests that a systematic oral examination, especially pathologic examination of the labial salivary glands and buccal mucosa, is useful in evaluating the status of chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Adolescent↗

Generation of human natural killer cells from peripheral blood CD34+ cells mobilized by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

We studied the generation of human natural killer (NK) cells from CD34+ cells that were isolated from peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) mobilized by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (g-CSF). The isolated CD34+ cells were cultured in the presence of a combination of interleukin-1 (IL-1alpha), IL-2, and stem cell factor for 5 weeks without marrow stroma. We found that the CD34+ cells isolated from G-CSF-mobilized PBSC (G-CSF/PBSC) could differentiate into a population of NK cells which were CD56+(bright)/CD3- and showed morphologic characteristics of large granular lymphocytes. Immunophenotypic analysis of the NK cells thus generated showed that a small proportion of them expressed CD2, CD8 and CD16 surface markers and approximately half of them coexpressed CD7. This NK population exhibited cytotoxic activity against a NK-sensitive cell line, K562. These observations suggest that CD34+ cells from G-CSF/PBSC contain precursors of NK cells that can differentiate into functional NK cells.

Adult↗

Immunophenotyping of peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected by cytotoxic and cytotoxic/G-CSF mobilization.

We investigated surface immunophenotypes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) collected by cytotoxic and cytotoxic/G-CSF mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) from 38 patients with haematological malignancies in complete remission who underwent consolidation chemotherapy. PBMC were collected by leucapheresis during the haematopoietic recovery phase after intensive chemotherapy. G-CSF was used for mobilization of PBSC in 19 cases. Surface immunophenotyping of frozen-thawed PBMC was performed by flow cytometry. Our findings showed that monocytes and T cells were the two major cell components of PBMC. There were very few B cells in PBMC. Expression of CD45RO and HLA-DR was elevated in lymphocytes, suggesting that T cells in PBMC were activated. The percentage of CD34 positive cells were significantly increased in PBMC collected by cytotoxic/G-CSF mobilization (group 1) compared with PBMC collected by cytotoxic mobilization (group 2). There were significantly higher percentages of CD14 and CD33 positive cells in group 1 than in group 2. The percentage of CD4 positive lymphocytes positive for HLA-DR was significantly higher in group 1 compared with group 2. These observations indicated that PBMC contained a large number of monocytes and activated T cells, especially in cytotoxic/G-CSF mobilization.

Adolescent↗