Accelerated declining tendency of human T-cell leukemia virus type I carrier rates among younger blood donors in Kumamoto, Japan.

The annual age- and sex-specific human T-cell leukemia virus type I carrier rate of blood donors in Kumamoto, Kyushu, Japan from 1986 to 1990 revealed that the carrier rates of all the age groups below 50 years declined linearly in both sexes (P less than 0.005). Furthermore, the annual declining rates relative to the carrier rates of 16-19-year-old and 20-29-year-old males were higher than those of all of the older males (P less than 0.

Human T-cell leukemia virus-1-positive cell line established from a patient with small cell lung cancer.

A stable cell line, KHM-3S, was established from a patient with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), who had a high serum level of soluble interleukin 2 receptors (sIL2-R) and was seropositive for human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV)-1. KHM-3S cells were positive for IL2-R (Tac) and NKH-1, but negative for other lymphocytic markers such as OKT 11, OKT 4, OKT 8, T cell receptor (WT 31), B 1, and B 4. Moreover, the KHM-3S cells were negative for leukocyte common antigen and strongly positive for neuron-specific enolase (NSE).

[Münchhausen syndrome with severe iron deficiency anemia].

A patient with Münchhausen syndrome who had severe iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is reported. A 31 year-old female presented with irregular genital bleeding. However, gynecological examination disclosed no evidence of specific disorders causing bleeding.

Possible mechanisms for the elevation of serum beta 2-microglobulin levels in adult T-cell leukemia.

In our previous study, we found that serum beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) levels were elevated in the active, but not in the inactive, phase of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), suggesting a correlation between the beta 2M level and the clinical severity of this disease. In this study we examined the mechanisms underlying the elevation of serum beta 2M levels in ATL. First, the production of beta 2M by ATL cells was investigated in vitro.

Identification and characterization of specific receptors for the LD78 cytokine.

LD78 is a small secreted protein that has a sequence similar to a number of other polypeptides, including murine macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), interleukin 8 (IL-8), Act-2, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and others. These polypeptides are members of a novel cytokine superfamily that is involved in the inflammatory response, wound healing, hematopoiesis, and tumorigenesis. Specific receptors for purified clonal LD78 protein were measured using four cell lines (HL-60, U937, Jurkat, and MJ).

Increased plasma decay-accelerating factor levels in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) is a complement regulatory membrane protein that is often absent from the cell surface of blood cells in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). DAF has also recently been found in the body fluids of healthy individuals. However, its precise structure and biological significance are not yet clear.

Human myeloma cell line (KHM-4) established from a patient with multiple myeloma associated with hyperammonemia.

A cell line of plasma cells with high ammonia (NH3) production (KHM-4) was established from a patient with multiple myeloma complicated by hyperammonemia and abnormal serum concentrations of amino acids. Surface marker studies of KHM-4 cells showed that the cells were positive for cytoplasmic immunoglobulins (IgA kappa), HLA-DR, and T 10. Secretion of ammonia by the KHM-4 cells was detected by the addition of L-glutamine and L-arginine into the culture medium of amino acid-free RPMI 1640.

HTLV-I uveitis: a distinct clinical entity caused by HTLV-I.

Seroepidemiological, clinical and virological studies were carried out in an HTLV-I endemic area to find out if HTLV-I caused an intraocular inflammatory disorder, uveitis. The seroprevalence in patients with uveitis without defined etiologies (62/175, 35.4%) was significantly higher than that in patients with non-uveitic ocular diseases (42/261, 16.

Mutations of the p53 gene in adult T-cell leukemia.

The p53 tumor suppressor gene was examined by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA from fresh tumor cells of 10 patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). Samples included nine patients with acute or lymphomatous ATL, and one patient in whom samples were examined in both his acute and chronic stages of ATL. Four missense mutations and one silent point mutation in the coding region of the p53 gene were found in cells from five patients with either acute or lymphomatous ATL.

Neutrophil chemotactic factors produced by a cell line from thyroid carcinoma.

A neutrophil chemotactic factor (human interleukin 8, human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor)-producing cell line, named KHM-5M, was established from a patient with an undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma, neutrophilia, and malignant pleurisy with many neutrophils and a few malignant cells. The cell line was transplanted into nude rats, and the infiltration of neutrophils was observed in and around the transplanted tumor tissue. Neutrophil chemotactic activity was predicted from the clinical features and pathological findings in this case.

Effects of short-term administration of recombinant human erythropoietin on rat megakaryopoiesis.

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) was tested for its ability to stimulate rat megakaryopoiesis in vivo. Groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with rHuEpo at a daily dose of 20, 80, or 200 U for 5 days. Significant thrombocytosis (a 30 to 40% increase over the control level) was found only in the rats that received 200 U/day, but some changes in the megakaryopoietic parameters were observed not only in the rats given 200 U/day, but also in those receiving 80 or 20 U/day.

Ganglioside-induced inhibition of in vivo immune response in mice.

In vitro immunomodulatory properties of gangliosides have been well characterized such as the ganglioside-induced modulation of CD4 on T lymphocytes and inhibition of lectin-induced proliferative response of lymphocytes. These findings have led to an interesting suggestion that gangliosides play a role as in vivo immune modulators, although this possibility is not clearly defined yet. We then first confirmed in vitro effects of gangliosides on murine immunocytes and examined in vivo effects of gangliosides on immune response in mice.

[Seropositivity of anti-HTLV-II antibodies in patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy and adult T-cell leukemia].

Dr Kira et al. (Lancet 1991, 338: 64-65) stress the high incidence of the co-infection with HTLV-I and HTLV-II in the HTLV-I associated myelopathy or tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) detected by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). They showed that 67% of HAM/TSP patients and 6% of healthy carriers had the co-infection.

Hemolysis of human erythrocytes is a new bioactivity of gangliosides.

Using sheep erythrocytes and liposomes, an inhibitory effect of gangliosides has been shown on the activation of the alternative pathway of complement. However, in studies using human erythrocytes, we found that gangliosides had hemolytic activity that was possibly mediated through activation of the alternative pathway. Pretreatment of human erythrocytes obtained from healthy volunteers or paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) patients with a ganglioside mixture purified from human erythrocytes enhanced their susceptibility to homologous human complement, and resulted in dose-dependent hemolysis.

Discordant gene and surface expression of the T-cell receptor/CD3 complex in adult T-cell leukemia cells.

Cell surface expression of the T-cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex on the cells from 11 acute type adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and 4 lymphoma type ATL patients was examined by flow cytometry. Cells from 10 of 11 acute ATL patients were TCR alpha beta+ and CD3+, and their mean fluorescence intensities were low (TCR alpha beta, 25.3-84.

A principal neutralizing domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 interacts with proteinase-like molecule(s) at the surface of Molt-4 clone 8 cells.

A principal neutralizing domain (PND) of the major envelope glycoprotein (gp120) of the HTLV-III BH10 strain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has significant amino acid similarities to a reactive site of Kunitz-type basic proteinase inhibitors. We therefore thought that the PND may interact with cellular proteinase-like molecule(s) upon HIV-1 infection and measured the cellular proteolytic activities at the surface of intact Molt-4 clone 8 cells, which are highly susceptible to HIV-1 infection. The cells preferentially cleaved succinyl-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide, a good substrate of chymotrypsin, and the activity was strongly inhibited by N-tosyl-L-phenylalanyl chloromethyl ketone (IC50 = 11.

Serological discrimination between HTLV-I and HTLV-II antibodies by ELISA using synthetic peptides as antigens.

Using the peptides from amino acids 100-130 of the HTLV-I gag protein, 175-199 of the HTLV-I env protein and the corresponding peptides of HTLV-II (amino acids 106 to 135 of the gag protein and 171 to 196 of the env protein), we tested for reactivity against antibodies by enzyme immunoassay in sera from HTLV-I and HTLV-II carriers. The peptides derived from the env proteins have high specificity for antibody binding. The peptide based on amino acids 175-199 of HTLV-I reacted with antibodies in sera from all HTLV-I carriers, and the peptide composed of amino acids 171-196 of HTLV-II reacted with antibodies in sera from all HTLV-II carriers.