Increased expression of a Myc target gene Mina53 in human colon cancer.

Mina53 is a novel Myc target gene that we previously demonstrated to be involved in cell proliferation. We studied, here, the expression of Mina53 in colon cancer to examine its possible role in carcinogenesis. We generated a specific monoclonal anti-human Mina53 antibody and found that colon tumor cell lines expressed Mina53 highly.

Overexpression of p21Waf1 induces apoptosis in immortalized human vascular smooth muscle cells.

To understand the role of the cell cycle regulatory protein in the control of smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, we tested the overexpression of p21Waf1, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, in human normal (MS9) and immortalized SMCs (ISS10) transfected with ori-minus simian virus 40 DNA, using an adenovirus-mediated system. In MS9, overexpression of p21Waf1 resulted in the inhibition of cell cycle progression at the G1/S boundary without apoptosis. On the other hand, in ISS10, overexpression of p21Waf1 induced marked apoptosis.

Pulse-wave velocity and cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with Helicobacter pylori infection.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection has been reported to correlate with the onset of cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between H. pylori infection and the development of arteriosclerosis has not been fully investigated.

Extragastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma showing the regression by Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.

A 69-year-old man presented with right neck tumour. Primary thyroid MALT lymphoma occurring in Hasimoto's thyroiditis was diagnosed. He was also diagnosed to have gastric cancer with Helicobacter pylori infection.

Mutational analysis of IkappaBalpha in hematologic malignancies.

The activation of the NF-kappaB family of transcription factors plays a crucial role in oncogenesis. The IkappaB family has the ability to retain the NF-kappaB in an inactive complex in the cytoplasm. Recently, mutations of the IkappaBalpha gene were found in Hodgkin's lymphoma, which allows NF-kappaB proteins to translocate into the nucleus in an active form.

Autocrine and/or paracrine growth of adult T-cell leukaemia tumour cells by interleukin 15.

We previously demonstrated that interleukin 2 (IL-2) autocrine/paracrine growth in adult T-cell leukaemia (ATL) cells was closely correlated with clinical aggressiveness. In the present study, we compared the significance of IL-15 and IL-2 in growth of ATL cells and clinical aggressiveness. Thirty-seven patients with ATL were examined: 19 acute and 18 chronic.

Clinical significance of serum neuron-specific enolase in patients with adult T-cell leukemia.

The present study examines the clinical significance of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in patients with adult T cell-leukemia (ATL). Serum NSE values were measured using a radioimmunoassay in 35 patients (acute type, n = 15; lymphoma type, n = 10; chronic type, n = 10) and in 7 controls carrying T lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1). Serum NSE values >10 ng/mL were detected in 9 of 15 patients with acute type (60%), 5 of 10 with lymphoma type (50%), and in one of 10 patients with chronic type (10%) ATL, but in none of the HTLV-1 carriers.

Poor response to prednisolone of idiopathic thrombocytopenia with human T-lymphotropic virus type I infection.

We describe the unique clinical characteristics of patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) who are infected by human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). Thirty-seven patients with ITP were examined in the present study: 10 patients had HTLV-I infection, and the remaining 27 did not. The mean age of the group with HTLV-I infection was significantly older than that of the group without infection (57.

Interferon-alpha therapy following autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma.

In the present report, we describe a case of adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), a 58-year-old woman, successfully treated with interferon (IFN)-alpha following autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT). The patient remains in remission with full performance status for more than 12 months. Auto-PBSCT reduced the abdominal lymphoma mass and IFN-alpha eliminated residual tumor cells, possibly through the induction of specific T-cell subsets expressing CD3, CD8 on their surfaces and either IFN-gamma or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in cytoplasm.

[Significance of soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain in the management of patients with malignant lymphoma: a multi-center study].

A multi-center series of 117 patients with malignant lymphoma were analyzed to evaluate the clinical significance of soluble interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (sIL-2R alpha). The initial levels of sIL-2R alpha ranged from 277 U/ml to 22,800 U/ml with a mean level of 3,451 +/- 4,268 U/ml and a median level of 1,600 U/ml. The sIL-2R alpha levels of the diffuse lymphoma/intermediate-grade subtypes defined by the LSG classification/Working Formulation were higher than those of the follicular lymphoma/low-grade subtypes.

Pharmacokinetics and cell trafficking dynamics of 2-amino-2-[2-(4-octylphenyl)ethyl]propane-1,3-diol hydrochloride (FTY720) in cynomolgus monkeys after single oral and intravenous doses.

The pharmacokinetics and cell trafficking dynamics of 2-amino-2-[2-(4-octylphenyl)ethyl]propane-1,3-diol hydrochloride (FTY720), a novel immunosuppressive agent, were examined in cynomolgus monkeys (three males and three females). After single doses of 0.1 mg/kg p.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I Tax activates lung resistance-related protein expression in leukemic clones established from an adult T-cell leukemia patient.

Objective: We examined the significance of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) Tax protein-induced resistance to anticancer drugs and the relationship between Tax and multidrug resistance proteins.

Materials And Methods: S1T cell, a leukemic non-Tax-producing T-cell clone established from an adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) patient, S1TcTax05 and S1TcTax10 clones, transfected with Tax stably expressing cDNA, and S1Tneo, transfected with a neomycin-resistant gene, were examined for Tax-related anticancer drug resistance. Resistance of those cells to the anticancer drugs doxorubicin, etoposide, cisplatin, and vindesine was tested with the MTT method.

Teratoid carcinosarcoma of the ovary with prominent neuroectodermal differentiation.

We present what we believe to be only the second report of ovarian teratoid carcinosarcoma. The patient, a 59-year-old woman, was admitted to hospital complaining of a pelvic mass and of abdominal fullness. Advanced ovarian cancer was diagnosed, and a tumorectomy was done.

Mechanism of intramedullary high intensity area on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in osteoid osteoma: a possible role of COX-2 expression.

To study the mechanism and pathophysiology of the development of intramedullary high intensity areas on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI) in cases of osteoid osteoma, we examined the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the nidus and surrounding bone tissues. In all six cases showing a marked intramedullary high intensity area adjacent to the nidus before surgery, neoplastic osteoblasts inside the nidus showed strong and diffuse COX-2 immunoreactivity. On the other hand, the osteoblasts rimming the surrounding reactive bone were COX-2 negative.

Histamine increases the expression of LOX-1 via H2 receptor in human monocytic THP-1 cells.

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a member of the scavenger receptor family, and is known to be expressed in monocytes/macrophages. We investigated the effect of histamine on the expression of LOX-1 in cells of the human monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1. Histamine as well as forskolin and dibutyryl cyclic AMP (Bt2-cAMP) stimulated the THP-1 monocytes to express the LOX-1 gene at the transcription level.

Effects of histamine and interleukin-4 synthesized in arterial intima on phagocytosis by monocytes/macrophages in relation to atherosclerosis.

We investigated the localization of histidine decarboxylase (HDC), which is the rate-limiting enzyme that generates histamine from histidine, in human aorta/coronary artery. RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining revealed that the HDC gene was expressed in monocytes/macrophages and T cells in the arterial intima but not in smooth muscle cells in either the arterial intima or the media. A luciferase promoter assay with U937 and Jurkat cells demonstrated that interleukin-4 (IL-4) inhibited the expression of the HDC gene.

[Complete cytogenetic response to interferon-alpha in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia undergoing hemodialysis].

We describe a complete cytogenetic response to interferon-alpha in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia undergoing chronic hemodialysis. Although IFN-alpha therapy has been applied to patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving hemodialysis, the pharmacokinetics of IFN-alpha in patients with poor renal function still remain unclear. In the present patient, the serum IFN-alpha concentration remained high even 48 hours after injection (42.

HLA-A*26, HLA-B*4002, HLA-B*4006, and HLA-B*4801 alleles predispose to adult T cell leukemia: the limited recognition of HTLV type 1 tax peptide anchor motifs and epitopes to generate anti-HTLV type 1 tax CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Genetic risk for adult T cell leukemia (ATL) has been implicated by ethnic and familial segregation of ATL patients from HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). To clarify the genetic risk for ATL, we characterized HLA class I alleles of ATL patients and analyzed the anchor motifs of HTLV-1 peptides binding to HLA class I molecules, using 291 lines of anti-HTLV-1 CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) generated in vitro with a total of 165 synthetic peptides for HTLV-1 Tax and Env proteins. Allele frequencies of HLA-A*26, B*4002, B*4006, and B*4801 were significantly higher in ATL patients than in HAM/TSP patients and asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers in southern Japan.

HTLV-I Tax related dysfunction of cell cycle regulators and oncogenesis of adult T cell leukemia.

HTLV-I is causually related to the oncogenesis of adult T cell leukemia (ATL). However, the precise mechanism of HTLV-I oncogenesis is unclear. HTLV-I Tax protein functions as an activator of various cellular genes, including IL-2, IL-2 receptor-alpha, and c-fos through the activation of nuclear transfer factors such as NF-kappaB and SRF, and also potently activates trascription of viral genes through CREB/ATF sites in the viral LTR.

Adult T-cell leukemia with anti-HTLV-I antibody but no HTLV-I DNA in tumor cells.

Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is usually defined as a malignant disease of T cells infected by human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). In the present study, we describe a 49-year-old woman with an acute type ATL, whose leukemic cells do not contain the HTLV-I genome. Laboratory tests revealed an increase in abnormal lymphocytes with convoluted nuclei, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase levels, increased thymidine kinase activity and soluble interleukin-2 receptor-alpha levels.

[High-dose therapy and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma remaining in initial remission: results of a feasibility study].

High-dose therapy with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (HDT/PBSCT) was performed as one aspect of front-line therapy in patients with poor-risk aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (high-intermediate/high risk) according to the age-adjusted international prognostic index (aaIPI). Twenty-nine patients were enrolled in this study between November 1994 and March 1999. CHOP + etoposide (CHOP-E) was used as an initial chemotherapy and as a chemotherapy agent for the purpose of cell harvesting.

Modulation of cell growth by the hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein NS5A.

Hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein, NS5A, is a phosphoprotein produced from the processing of the viral polyprotein precursor. NS5A associates with several cellular proteins in mammalian cells, and the biological consequences of this interaction are currently unknown. To this end, five stable NS5A-expressing murine and human cell lines were established.

The significance of cytomegalovirus infection over the clinical course of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

The significance of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections developed over the clinical course of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) were evaluated in relation to the patient survival rate, ATL activity and immunocompetent cells. ATLL patients with CMV infections on admission exhibited a poor survival rate, while patients with CMV infections at any time after admission survived longer than those not infected with this virus. ATLL patients who exhibited a numbers of CMV infection on admission showed higher ATL activity and had lower numbers of CD8-positive and CD56-positive cells than those who developed CMV infections at any time after admission.