Meningeal carcinomatosis in the VX2 rabbit tumor model: detection with Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging

Meningeal carcinomatosis developed in 14 of 14 New Zealand White rabbits after infusion of a VX2 tumor cell suspension into the cisterna magna. All died or were killed 7-15 days after inoculation. Within days of the tumor infusion, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) at 0.5 or 1.5 T demonstrated enhancement of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) secondary to disruption of the blood-CSF barrier by plaquelike lesions along the meninges. Eventually, meningeal enhancement was observed along the base of the brain and cervical spine. Quantitative assessment of the contrast enhancement on T1-weighted images revealed an increase in mean signal intensity of 213% +/- 130%. Contrast enhancement was not observed in four control animals who received an infusion of cell culture medium. These results demonstrate in an animal model that contrast material-enhanced MR imaging can be used to detect meningeal carcinomatosis by revealing breakdown of the blood-CSF barrier.     

Role of the major histocompatibility complex in T cell activation of B cell subpopulations. lyb-5(+) and lyb-5(-) B cell subpopulations differ in their requirement for major histocompatibility complex-restricted T cell recognition

This report has examined the requirements for T helper (T(H)) cell recognition of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determinants expressed by B cells for the activation of unprimed Lyb-5(+) and Lyb-5(-) B cell subpopulations . The generation of primary T(H) cell-dependent plaque-forming cell responses in vitro microculture required the presence of Lyb-5(+) B cells because B cell populations that were deprived, either genetically or serologically, of the Lyb-5(+) subpopulation were not activated in these responses. Cell-mixing experiments in which A X B {arrow} A chimeric T(H) cells were mixed with purified populations of parental accessory cells and parental B cells demonstrated that the in vitro activation of Lyb-5(+) B cells did not require T(H) cell recognition of B cell MHC determinants, although it did require T(H) cell recognition of accessory cell MHC determinants . In contrast to the failure of Lyb-5(-) B cells to be activated in primary T(H) cell-dependent responses in vitro microculture, isolated populations of Lyb-5(-) B cells were triggered by T(H) cells in vivo in short-term adoptive transfer experiments . By the use of A X B {arrow} A chimeric T(H) cells and parental strain B adoptive hosts, it was possible in vivo to distinguish genetically restricted T(H) cell recognition of B cells from genetically restricted T(H) cell recognition of accessory cells. Similar to the results obtained in vitro, the activation in vivo of unfractionated (Lyb-5(+) plus Lyb-5(-)) B cell populations did not require T(H) cell recognition of B cell MHC determinants . In contrast, in the same in vivo responses activation of isolated populations of Lyb-5(-) B cells did require T(H) cell recognition of B cell MHC determinants. The most straightforward interpretation of these experiments is that T(H) cell recognition of B cell MHC determinants is required for the activation of Lyb-5(-) B cells but is not required for the activation of Lyb-5(+) B cells . To better understand why T(H) cell activation of one B cell subpopulation is genetically restricted, whereas activation of another subpopulation is not, the response of Lyb-5(+) and Lyb-5(-) B cells to the soluble activating factors present in concanavalin A-induced spleen cell supernates (Con A SN) was examined. It was observed that Lyb-5(-) B cells, as opposed to Lyb-5(+) B cells, were unable to respond in microculture to the nonspecific T(H) cell- activating factors present in Con A SN, even though they were able to nonspecifically respond under the same conditions to trinitrophenyllipopolysaccharide. It was observed that the ability of B cell subpopulations to respond to nonspecific soluble T cell factors paralleled their ability to be activated by T(H) cells in a genetically unrestricted manner. Thus, the present experiments demonstrate that activation by T(H) cells of Lyb-5(-) B cells is MHC restricted, whereas activation of Lyb-5(+) B cells is not. These experiments suggest that one possible explanation for such differences is that activation of Lyb-5(+) B cells does not require direct interaction with T(H) cells because they can be activated by soluble activation signals that T(H) cells secrete.     

Use of oligonucleotide hybridization in the characterization of a beta zero-thalassemia gene (beta 37 TGG----TGA) in a Saudi Arabian family [published erratum appears in Blood 1986 Jul;68(1):323]

Analysis of restriction site polymorphisms in the beta-globin gene cluster of a Saudi Arabian female with beta zero-thalassemia demonstrated that both of her beta-globin genes were missing a nonpolymorphic AvaII site in exon 2. Examination of the normal nucleotide sequence surrounding this AvaII site revealed that either of two nucleotide substitutions, TGG----TAG or TGG----TGA, could produce a nonsense codon at codon 37 and eliminate the AvaII site. Consequently, two oligonucleotides (19-mers spanning codons 36 through 41 and containing either TAG or TGA at codon 37) were synthesized and hybridized against genomic DNA of the proband and her family. Specific hybridization with one of the oligomers demonstrated that the patient's beta o-thalassemia was the result of homozygosity for the TGG----TGA mutation at codon 37. In certain cases, oligonucleotide hybridization using genomic DNA may obviate the need for gene cloning and sequencing in the characterization of point mutations.     

Human platelet aggregation by murine monoclonal antiplatelet antibodies is subtype-dependent

Twenty murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) generated against different human platelet antigens induced clumping of human platelets in plasma and buffer. Whereas one MoAb could agglutinate platelets, clumping for 19 MoAbs was blocked by metabolic inhibitors, indicating that these induce platelet activation. Fifteen MoAbs were of IgG1, two of IgG2a, and two of IgG2b subtype. F(ab')2 fragments of these did not evoke an aggregatory response, but specifically inhibited aggregations by and binding of their respective intact MoAbs to platelets. Single-platelet counting technology indicated that the MoAbs bind through their antigen- binding and Fc domains mainly to the surface of the same platelet, rather than cause interplatelet-binding. Despite these similarities, the mechanism of action was nevertheless subtype-dependent. Aggregation induced by all IgG1 antibodies could consistently be prevented by blocking the Fc gamma II-receptor, whereas aggregations induced by all IgG2 antibodies still occurred with blocked Fc-receptor, provided functional complement was present. We therefore conclude that platelet activation by MoAb-binding is initiated by antigen recognition followed by an Fc domain-dependent step, which involves the Fc gamma II-receptor for IgG1-type MoAbs and complement-binding for IgG2-type MoAbs. Thus, antibodies of different subtypes can aggregate platelets via different pathways.     

Metastatic C-cell carcinoma: Calcitonin and CEA production in monolayer culture

Mechanically dissociated cells from a surgically removed mediastinal C-cell carcinoma (MTC) were cultured over a period of 4 months. The cells of the monolayer culture consisted of clusters of small epithelial-like cells. Using semithin and ultrathin sections, two different types of cells could be characterized by shape of nucleus and by content and distribution of secretory granules. One type of cell showed a more irregularly shaped nucleus, the other contained a large oval nucleus, similar to the normal C-cell of the human thyroid. Calcitonin (CT) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were measured in supernatants in duplicate by radioimmunoassays. Radioimmuno-detectable CT levels in the supernatant of culture medium varied between 0.8 and 1.6 ng/ml and CEA levels between 5 and 27 ng/ml during a 2-month period. The present study proves that in monolayer-cultured cells of a MTC, metastases continue to produce radioimmuno-detectable CT and CEA. Whether the two different cell types in culture are relevant for carcinoma needs further investigation.     

Oxygen tension in human tumors: in vivo mapping using CT-guided probes

The role of oxygen in tumor response to therapy has been studied for several decades. We describe a technique that allows in vivo measurement of oxygen in tumors using computed tomography to guide probes. In the evaluation of 16 tumors, oxygen tensions were found to be substantially lower than surrounding tissue and varied nonrandomly. This technique has allowed construction of detailed tumor oxygen level maps.