Recovery of Valpha24+ NKT cells after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Human Valpha24+ natural killer T (NKT) cells have an invariant T-cell receptor-alpha chain and are activated in a CD1d-restricted manner. Valpha24+ NKT cells are thought to regulate immune responses and to play important roles in the induction of allograft tolerance. In this report, we analyzed the recovery of Valpha24+ NKT cells after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and its correlation with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Patients who received a dose-reduced conditioning regimen, antithymocyte globulin- or CAMPATH-1H-containing conditioning regimen were excluded. NKT cells were reconstituted within 1 month after transplantation in peripheral blood stem cell transplantation recipients, while their numbers remained low for more than 1 year in bone marrow transplantation (BMT) recipients. The number of Valpha24+ NKT cells in BMT recipients with acute GVHD was lower than that in patients without acute GVHD, and both the CD4+ and CD4- Valpha24+ NKT subsets were significantly reduced. With regard to chronic GVHD, BMT recipients with extensive GVHD had significantly fewer Valpha24+ NKT cells than other patients. Furthermore, the number of CD4+ Valpha24+ NKT cells was also significantly reduced in patients with chronic extensive GVHD. Our results raise the possibility that the number of Valpha24+ NKT cells could be related to the development of GVHD.     

Heterogeneity of Glycosylation of Circulating Active and Inactive Renin

ABSTRACT

Concanavalin A chromatography was used to examine rat plasma and the incubation medium of rat renal cortical slices, the objective being to assess the heterogeneity of glycosylation of active and inactive renin. Inactive renin was measured by activation with trypsin. Concanavalin A chromatography could separate both active and inactive renin in the plasma into three forms, including the unbound form, the loosely-bound form and the tightly-bound form, thereby suggesting the presence of differently glycosylated forms of active and inactive renin in the plasma. Rat renal cortical slices secreted all these three forms of active and inactive renin, hence these forms are mainly of renal origin. These results suggest that differently glycosylated forms of active and inactive renin are released from the kidney into the blood circulation.     

A 13-week oral dose subchronic toxicity study of gardenia yellow containing geniposide in rats.

Gardenia yellow powders A, B and C, containing geniposide at 0.284%, 0.938% and 2.783%, respectively, were administered orally to male and female SD rats as 3% feed admixtures for 13-weeks to evaluate any potential toxicity. Mean geniposide intake values were 5.72, 18.9 and 56.3mg/kg/day in groups receiving these feed admixtures, respectively. All animals survived the duration of the study. The following findings were evident in the gardenia yellow C group: chromatouria, slightly increased plasma total bilirubin, blackish brown discoloration of the kidneys and liver, brown pigments in the proximal tubular epithelium of the kidneys. Slightly increased plasma total bilirubin was considered to be due to interference of metabolite of geniposide with the system of measurement and not to be a toxic effect since there were no related changes in histopathology of the liver or in any blood chemistry parameters. Other findings were limited to pigmentations or discolorations attributable to metabolites of geniposide. No treatment-related effects were evident on body weight, food consumption, ophthalmology, hematology or organ weights in any group. Therefore, it was concluded that 3-month ingestion of the gardenia yellow powder containing geniposide at 2.783% (approximately 60 mg/kg/day as geniposide intake) does not cause any severe toxic effects.     

A Pediatric Case of Atypical Mycobacterium avium Infection of the Skin

We report a case of cutaneous atypical mycobacteriosis in a 12-year-old healthy girl due to Mycobacterium avium. The cutaneous symptoms were three well-defined subcutaneous nodules on both buttocks and on the posterior surface of the left thigh. One had a fistulous opening on the skin surface. Histopathological examination revealed epithelioid cell granulomas surrounded by dense lymphocytic infiltration and acid-fast bacteria were seen with modified periodic acid-carbol fuchsin staining. Using Ogawa's medium at 37°C, acid-fast bacteria were isolated from the biopsied specimen and identified by the DNA-DNA hybridization method as Mycobacterium avium. In drug susceptibility test, these were resistant to all antituberculous drugs. Oral administration of minocycline 100 mg/day for two months had little effect on the two remaining lesions, which were therefore excised. Based upon reported cases of Mycobacterium avium complex, we considered that our pediatric patient with multiple intradermal or subcutaneous nodules on the buttocks and the thigh exhibited the characteristic symptoms of M. avium infection.     

Biocompatible inkjet printing technique for designed seeding of individual living cells

Inkjet printers are capable of printing at high resolution by ejecting extremely small ink drops. Established printing technology will be able to seed living cells, at micrometer resolution, in arrangements similar to biological tissues. We describe the use of a biocompatible inkjet head and our investigation of the feasibility of microseeding with living cells. Living cells are easily damaged by heat; therefore, we used an electrostatically driven inkjet system that was able to eject ink without generating significant heat. Bovine vascular endothelial cells were prepared and suspended in culture medium, and the cell suspension was used as "ink" and ejected onto culture disks. Microscopic observation showed that the endothelial cells were situated in the ejected dots in the medium, and that the number of cells in each dot was dependent on the concentration of the cell suspension and ejection frequency chosen. After the ejected cells were incubated for a few hours, they adhered to the culture disks. Using our non-heat-generating, electrostatically driven inkjet system, living cells were safely ejected onto culture disks. This microseeding technique with living cells has the potential to advance the field of tissue engineering.