Induction of specific and flavivirus--Cross-reactive CTLs by immunization with a single dengue virus-derived CTL epitope peptide.

Specificities of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) effector cells induced in BALB/c mouse by immunization with the single modified CTL epitope peptide derived from NS3 of dengue virus types 1 and 3, or that of dengue virus types 2 and 4 were examined. The effector cells included CTLs specific for the epitope peptide used for immunization and those cross-reactive to epitope peptides of other flaviviruses. A CTL clone, 2F7, was established from the effector cells.

Diethyldithiocarbamate can induce two different type of death: apoptosis and necrosis mediating the differential MAP kinase activation and redox regulation in HL60 cells.

Although apoptosis and necrosis have been considered different pathways to cell death, only one compound induces both types of cell death. Diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) has been shown to have antioxidant or prooxidant effects in several different systems. We observed in our present study that DDC induced not only apoptosis but also necrosis depending on its dosage in HL60 premyelocytic leukemia cells.

Pretreatment with PKC inhibitor triggers TNF-alpha induced apoptosis in TNF-alpha-resistant B16 melanoma BL6 cells.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) modulates various events through several different pathways. Many tumor cells are resistant to this cytokine. Pretreatment of these cells with actinomycin D enhances TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis.

Type IV collagen, type IV collagenase activity and ability of cell proliferation in human thyroid tumours.

Background: The processes of malignant tumour invasion and metastasis are known to include the destruction of cell stroma and vascular basement membrane. It has been suggested that type IV collagenase degrades type IV collagen, a main component of the basement membrane.

Methods: In our study, type IV collagenase activity in human thyroid tumours was measured by the Liotta method.

Histopathological findings of human thyroid tumors and dynamic MRI.

Objective: Time intensity curves for gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaceticacid (Gd-DTPA) enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), namely dynamic MRI, were determined for thyroid diseases, and compared with findings of histopathologic examination.

Methods: Time intensity curves for the thyroid tumors were determined. Three different patterns of time intensity curves were observed: a rapid washout pattern, a delayed washout pattern and no change.

Change of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase activity of guinea pig lung in experimental asthma.

Correlation between the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by airway inflammatory cells and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of pulmonary tissue during an asthma attach was investigated in a guinea pig model of allergic asthma. In addition, the influence of SOD inhibition by diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC, Cu-chelating agent) on the airway was investigated in terms of pulmonary function during an asthma attach. Relative to controls, the capacity of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) cells to release ROS was significantly increased in guinea pigs sensitized with ovalbumin (OA) as the antigen, and significantly increased in guinea pigs with an asthma attack provoked by the inhalation of OA.

Correlation between morphology of colonies formed by human thyroid tumor cells in collagen gel culture and invasive ability.

Two different types of colonies from human thyroid papillary carcinomas were observed in collagen gel culture. One was a branching type, with many three-dimensional outgrowths. The other was a spherical type, with no outgrowths.