Tumour-cell-induced production of tumour necrosis factor by monocytes of gastric cancer patients receiving BCG immunotherapy.

Human peripheral blood monocytes cocultured with tumour cells were used as an in vitro model of in situ interactions between tumour-infiltrating macrophages and the tumour. Tumour cells stimulated de novo expression of the human tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF) gene in monocytes and caused the release of TNF into the culture supernatant. A group of 14 patients with stage IVA gastric cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (5-FU, Adriamycin, mitomycin C: FAM) or immunochemotherapy (BCG+FAM) was investigated for the ability of monocytes to produce TNF in vitro upon stimulation with tumour cells or purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD).

Treatment of chronic viral hepatitis type B with oral mucosal administration of natural human interferon alpha lozenges.

Results of the administration of natural human interferon alpha (nIFN-alpha) into the oral cavity of 28 patients with chronic aggressive viral hepatitis type B are shown. Diagnosis of chronic aggressive viral hepatitis type B was based on clinical symptoms of disease, histopathological changes as evidenced by liver biopsy and persistence of HBV markers in patient sera. The daily dose of nIFN-alpha ranged from 75-200 IU/day.

Augmentation of monocyte-mediated cytocidal activity by a low dose tumour necrosis factor measured by the kinetic colorimetric microplate assay.

This paper describes a simple kinetic colorimetric assay for the quantitation of human peripheral blood monocyte-mediated cytotoxic activity against tumour cells. Isolated effector monocytes were cultured overnight with an increasing number of target cells in 96-well microplates. Cytotoxic activity of monocytes was determined by modified nitroblue tetrazolium (MTT) dye assay using standard ELISA reader offering possible automation.

Regulation of contact sensitivity reaction: contrasuppressor T cells and contrasuppressor factor downregulate efferent T suppressor cells.

Contact sensitivity (CS) reaction mediated by CD 4+8- Th 1 cells is under the control of several antigen-specific regulatory lymphocytes. Reaction is downregulated at the induction stage by T afferent suppressor T cells (Ts-aff) that prevent immunization and at the effector stage by efferent T suppressor cells (Ts-eff) that made immune Th 1 cells inoperative. Both suppressor cells are CD 4-8+ Th 1 effector cells and are protected against the suppressive action of Ts-eff cells by CD 4+8- contrasuppressor T cells (Tcs).

FcR+ and FcR- monocytes differentially secrete monokines during pokeweed mitogen-induced T-cell-monocyte interactions.

Monocyte subpopulations which differ in the expression of Fc receptor for human IgG (FcRI) differentially regulate the T-cell-dependent, pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-induced, polyclonal B-cell response. We, thus, studied the cytokine production in human peripheral blood monocyte and T-lymphocyte cultures activated with this lectin. Monocytes or their FcR+ and FcR- subpopulations stimulated with PWM were cultured with or without T lymphocytes or their CD4+ and CD8+ subsets.

Influence of verapamil on the coronary arteriovenous difference in long chain free fatty acids in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The percentage composition of free fatty acids in the coronary circulation has been studied during the passage of blood through the heart in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Under basal conditions the percentages of palmitic and stearic acid decreased significantly. Verapamil i.

Immunoregulation of lymphoproliferation in vitro by monocytes and their subpopulations. II. Phenotypic changes of T cells in cultures activated with antigen and mitogen.

The aim of this study was to analyze phenotypes of T cells activated by mitogen (PWM) and antigen (PPD) in the presence of FcR+ or FcR- monocytes. It was found that CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes are preferentially activated in the presence of different monocyte subpopulations. Expression of HLA-DR and CD25 on CD4+ lymphocytes was greater in cultures activated in the presence of FcR-.

Regulatory responses in contact sensitivity: afferent suppressor T cells inhibit the activation of efferent suppressor T cells.

Two types of suppressor cells regulate the contact sensitivity (CS) response to picryl chloride (PCL). Afferent suppressor T cells (Ts-aff) inhibit the generation of CS responses to PCL, while efferent suppressor T cells (Ts-eff) inhibit the activity of Th 1 cells that mediate CS reaction. Intravenous injection of mice with TNP-substituted peritoneal exudate cells (TNP-PEC) induces Ts-eff cells that block the adoptive transfer of contact sensitivity.

Does microhistology improve the cytological diagnosis of liver and pancreatic tumours?

Guided percutaneous fine needle aspiration cytodiagnosis of the liver, retroperitoneum and pancreas was performed in 197 patients. In 42 cases, material left after the smears were prepared was embedded in paraffin wax for histological examination. Six liver tumours and seven pancreatic tumours were identified in this material.

The role of tumor necrosis factor in the regulation of antigen presentation by human monocytes.

Human peripheral blood monocytes pretreated with human recombinant tumour necrosis factor alpha (rTNF) showed an enhanced ability to present a soluble antigen, a purified protein derivate of tuberculin, to autologous T lymphocytes as assessed by their increased proliferation in vitro. This enhancing activity was due to TNF and not impurities in TNF preparations as anti-TNF antibodies abolished this phenomenon. The rTNF-treated monocytes showed an increased expression of HLA-DR molecules and enhanced co-stimulatory activity in the murine thymocyte assay.

Chronic granulomatous disease of childhood: gastric manifestation and response to salazosulfapyridine therapy.

The case history of a 10-year-old boy with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and gastric obstruction is presented. First abdominal symptoms occurred at 4 years of age when antral narrowing was detected. Due to unresponsiveness to antibiotic and steroid treatment, salazosulfapyridine therapy was initiated.

The T cell receptor in the mouse.

In the eighties the genes of the T lymphocyte antigen receptor (TcR) have been cloned. The search for the elusive and controversial TcR is over. It is clear that genes for TcR are distinct from those of Ig genes although these genes belong to the immunoglobulin supergene family.

Trisomy 8 mosaicism syndrome. Two cases demonstrating variability in phenotype.

The paper presents clinical manifestations and results of cytogenetic examination of two patients with trisomy 8 mosaicism syndrome. The findings confirm the extreme phenotype variability of this syndrome. Both the first patient, a mentally retarded child with multiple dysmorphic changes, and the second, a 31-year-old woman with normal IQ and hypogammaglobulinemia as a predominant sign, revealed osteoarticular anomalies.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Monocyte dysfunction in selected patients.

The in vitro parameters of cell-mediated immunity were studied in 20 children with an established diagnosis of Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) (age range 4-15 years) and 23 age- and sex-matched healthy children. (No attempt was made to correlate the observed changes with clinical course or treatment). We are not certain, at this time, of clinical relevancy or the generalizability of the findings.

T suppressor efferent circuit which affects contact sensitivity to picryl chloride: the late-acting, second nonspecific T suppressor factor bears I-A determinants which are responsible for the I-A genetic restriction in its interaction with its target cell.

The T suppressor efferent circuit in the picryl (TNP) system, which inhibits the passive transfer of contact sensitivity, involves at least two antigen-nonspecific factors. The second nonspecific T suppressor factor (ns-2) bears I-A determinants of both the alpha and the beta chain as shown by affinity chromatography on immobilized anti-I-A monoclonal antibodies. Sequential absorption shows that the determinants of the alpha and beta chain occur on the same molecular complex.

Unique Ia epitopes of T cells (Iat) are involved in the recognition of stimulator cells in the allo-MLR.

Anti-Iat monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were found to block the recognition phase of allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (allo-MLR) by reacting with responder T cells but not stimulators. The inhibitory pattern was dependent on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of both the responder and stimulator cells. Certain molecules, including IgVH and I-J of stimulator cells were also important.

Cytology of solid and papillary epithelial neoplasms of the pancreas: a case report.

A case of rare pancreatic tumor in a 39-yr-old woman is reported. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed; frozen sections later allowed definite diagnosis. Cytologic features of the tumor are described, and histogenesis is discussed.

Iat epitopes on T cell receptor for self MHC class II determinants.

Anti-Iatk monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were found to inhibit syngeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (SMLR) of mice with k and a haplotypes (H-2k and H-2a) of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) by acting on responder T cells but not stimulator cells. Only the early phase of SMLR was inhibited by anti-Iat mAbs. The inhibitory effect was due to the blocking of autoreactive T cells but not induction of suppressor lymphocytes.