HLA and Thyrotoxicosis (Graves' Disease) in Chinese

HLA locus A and B typing was performed on 86 Chinese thyrotoxicosis (Graves' Disease) patients and 238 normal Chinese subjects. The frequency of HLA-Bw46 (Sin 2) was found to be significantly higher among the patients than controls (X²= 26.15, corrected P <.003, relative risk = 3.74). The risk associated with Bw46 was reflected in the Bw46 heterozygotes. The relative risks of the joint occurrence of Bw46/B40 and Bw46/B13 were 8.74 and 5.88 respectively.     

Galactosylated PVDF membrane promotes hepatocyte attachment and functional maintenance

One of the major challenges in BLAD design is to develop functional substrates suitable for hepatocyte attachment and functional maintenance. In the present study, we designed a poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) surface coated with galactose-tethered Pluronic polymer. The galactose-derived Pluronic F68 (F68-Gal) was adsorbed on PVDF membrane through hydrophobic-hydrophobic interaction between PVDF and the polypropylene oxide segment in Pluronic. The galactose density on the modified PVDF surface increased with the concentration of the F68-Gal solution, reaching 15.4 nmol galactosyl groups per cm2 when a 1 mg/ml of F68-Gal solution was used. The adsorbed F68-Gal remained relatively stable in culture medium. Rat hepatocytes attachment efficiency on F68-Gal modified PVDF membrane was similar to that on collagen-coated surface. The attached hepatocytes on PVDF/F68-Gal membrane self-assembled into multi-cellular spheroids after 1 day of culture. These attached hepatocytes in spheroids exhibited higher cell functions such as albumin synthesis and P450 1A1 detoxification function compared to unmodified PVDF membrane and collagen-coated surface. These results suggest the potential of this galactose-immobilized PVDF membrane as a suitable substrate for hepatocyte culture.     

Monoclonal antibodies against transferrin. Precipitating mixtures and lack of inter-species cross-reactivity

Five stable hybridoma lines were prepared using the myeloma cell line P3-X63-Ag.653 and spleen cells of mice hyperimmunized by pig transferrin. All hybridomas grew well in mouse peritoneal cavity and produced antibodies of the IgG₁ subclass. Antibody preparations obtained from ascitic fluids tested for their capacity of antigen precipitation. No precipitation was obtained with single antibodies and with pairs of antibodies. Three out of 10 possible triads gave clear and sharp precipitation zones and rings in immunodiffusion tests performed in agar gel. All 5 antibodies were shown by quantitative enzyme-immunoassay to be specific for pig transferrin: no cross-reaction was obtained with mouse, human, horse and sheep transferrins.     

Polymers containing enzymatically degradable bonds. VI.Hydrophilic gels cleavable by chymotrypsin

New types of hydrophilic gels based on N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide which contain oligopeptide sequences in the crosslinks were prepared. These gels are enzymatically degradable by chymotrypsin. The rate of their degradation may be varied within a broad range by changes in the length and detailestructure of the oligopeptide sequence in the crosslinks and by changing their network density.     

Stimulation of human monocytes by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody: Induction of inflammatory mediator release via immobilization of Fc receptor by adsorbed immunoglobulin and T-lymphocytes

Human monocytes released superoxide anion, prostaglandin E₂, leukotriene B₄, IL-1, and TNF when exposed to plastic surfaces coated with murine anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, OKT 3. Stimulation of mediator release by OKT 3 was dependent on the amount of antibody immobilized onto wells of plastic tissue culture plates. Soluble antibody or antibody adsorbed to monocytes and reacted with an aggregating (cross-linking) second antibody failed to induce mediator release. Monocytes armed with OKT 3 formed rosettes with T cells in a fashion indistinguishable from that seen between monocytes and T cells sensitized with OKT 3. Monocytes with adsorbed OKT 3 antibodies released IL-1 and TNF- when exposed to unsensitized T cells, although increased superoxide release could not be detected. OKT 4a, a murine IgG_2a antibody that reacts with a different T cell epitope (CD4), failed to induce cytokine release from monocytes when cross-linked by T cells or a CD4+ T cell line, even in the presence of IL-2 or IFN-. These data indicate that certain antibodies bound to Fc receptors (FcR) of monocytes may trigger monocyte function when reacting with cells bearing the appropriate target antigens. FcR-mediated signaling resulting in mediator release may be involved in initiating or regulating the immune response. Furthermore, systemically administered monoclonal antibodies may induce inflammatory responses and their attendant symptomatologies via their interaction with FcR-bearing inflammatory cells.     

Syndrome of partial aniridia, cerebellar ataxia, and mental retardation--Gillespie syndrome

Here we describe a 5-year-old girl with Gillespie syndrome of cerebellar ataxia, partial aniridia, and mental retardation. The Gillespie syndrome probably is an autosomal recessive trait.     

Amanita virosa induced toxic hepatitis: report of three cases

We report here three cases of Amanita virosa induced toxic hepatitis. Two of the three cases recovered but the other died 10 days after mushroom ingestion. Since the mortality of Amanita mushroom induced toxic hepatitis is very high, prompt diagnosis and aggressive therapeutic measures should be initiated as soon as possible. Our cases showed that the initial serum aminotransferase levels might not predict the clinical outcome of the patient, but that the prothrombin time (PT) seemed to be a more useful prognostic marker. Close monitoring of aminotransferase levels and PT as well as appropriate therapy are recommended. All three cases showed signs of proteinuria and we were able to characterize mixed tubular and glomerular type proteinuria at 3 or 4 days after ingestion in two cases. Among the previously reported Korean cases of suspected Amanita induced toxic hepatitis, most species could not be identified except for four cases of Amanita virosa. No cases of Amanita phalloides induced toxic hepatitis have been identified in Korea so far.     

Autoimmunity to Polymorphonuclears: Functional Consequences of the Binding of Antibodies to Membrane and Cytoplasmic Target Antigens of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Antineutrophil autoantibodies reacting with cytoplasmic antigens are associated with various types of vasculitides, whereas antibodies reacting with neutrophil membrane antigens are mostly related to autoimmune neutropenias. The aim of this study was the investigation of the effect of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) reacting with surface and cytoplasmic antigens of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) known to be targets for autoantibodies in human diseases. Blood of healthy volunteers was tested for several phagocytic functions in the presence of MoAbs against surface (CD16, GD11b, CD18, NB1) and cytoplasmic (proteinase 3; PR3) molecules. Candidacidal activity was significantly inhibited in the presence of all MoAbs but isotypic control. Phagocytic activity was inhibited by anti-CD11b and/or anti-CD18 MoAbs. Zymosan-induced chemiluminescence was reduced by MoAbs anti-CD16, CD18, and NB1, enhanced by anti-PR3 MoAb, and less enhanced by anti-CD11b. In conclusion, antimembrane antibodies diminished phagocytic functions at multiple steps; in contrast, anticytoplasmic MoAb promoted activation of oxidative burst in addition to impairment of microbicidal activity. This fact may be related to different pathogenic aspects of diseases associated with antimembrane and anticytoplasmic antibodies.