SURFACE MARKERS ON HUMAN B AND T LYMPHOCYTES : II. PRESENCE OF EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS RECEPTORS ON B LYMPHOCYTES

Human peripheral lymphocytes were investigated for receptors binding Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) because of the regular association of this virus with infectious mononucleosis and Burkitt's lymphoma. This was done by a cytoadherence technique where virus-producing cells, displaying fresh viral determinants in their cytoplasmatic membrane, were mixed with lymphocytes. Unfractionated lymphocytes were found to adhere to these cells in contrast to column-purified T lymphocytes. The specificity of the binding was confirmed by blocking experiments that showed that sera containing high titers of antibodies directed against the virus could partially inhibit the adherence in contrast to low-titer sera. It is concluded that B lymphocytes, in contrast to T lymphocytes, have receptors for EBV. In a second line of experiments it was found that established human lymphoblastoid lines that carry the EBV genome had receptors characteristic for B lymphocytes and did not form T-lymphocyte rosettes. In contrast, a line of known T-lymphocyte origin that did not carry the EBV genome had receptors characteristic for T lymphocytes. EBV-transformed simian lymphoblastoid lines had surface markers indicating a B-lymphocyte origin in contrast to HVS-transformed simian lines that lacked surface immunoglobulin but carried receptors for sheep red blood cells.     

Conditional expression of a glucocorticoid receptor transgene in thymocytes reveals a role for thymic-derived glucocorticoids in thymopoiesis in vivo

We and others have previously reported that thymic epithelial cells produce glucocorticoids (GCs). In vitro studies have also suggested that thymic-derived GCs play a role in the development of thymocytes. However, until now it has not yet been established whether thymic-derived GCs play a role in thymopoiesis in vivo. To investigate this, we conditionally overexpressed the GC receptor (GR) in thymocytes using transgenic mice with a tetracycline-inducible expression system. The influence of systemic GCs was excluded by adrenalectomizing the transgenic mice before the GR induction. Conditional expression of transgenic GR in the thymocytes of adrenalectomized transgenic mice led to a decrease in the thymocyte number. This was associated with increased thymocyte apoptosis. The effect of thymic-derived GCs on the thymocytes was confirmed after transgenic GR induction in a thymic organ culture system. Finally, the GR antagonist RU486 increased thymocyte number in adrenalectomized mice in vivo and prevented a reduction in thymocyte number in thymic organ culture after transgenic GR induction. These observations further confirmed a role for the thymic-derived GCs in regulating thymocyte homeostasis in vivo.     

Herpesvirus ateles and herpesvirus saimiri transform marmoset T cells into continuously proliferating cell lines that can mediate natural killer cell-like cytotoxicity.

Herpesvirus ateles (HVA) and herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) have the capacity to transform cotton-topped marmoset T lymphocytes into continuously proliferating cell lines that retain some functions associated with cell-mediated immunity. In the present paper, we demonstrate that HVA/HVS-transformed T cell lines are cytotoxic in a short-term 51Cr release assay and that this killing resembles killing by marmoset natural killer (NK) cells. The relationship between NK cells and HVA/HVS-transformed killer cell lines is discussed in view of present knowledge of the origin and function of the NK system. It is suggested that the described cytotoxic cell lines may be useful for further defining cellular cytotoxicity with regard to cell surface recognition, regulatory events, and lytic mechanisms.     

Chronic Arsenic Poisoning From Burning High-Arsenic-Containing Coal In Guizhou, China

Optimization of a previously disclosed sorbitol dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDI, II) for potency and duration of action was achieved by replacing the metabolically labile N,N-dimethylsulfamoyl group with a variety of heterocycles. Specifically, this effort led to a series of novel, in vitro potent SDIs with longer serum half-lives and acceptable in vivo activity in acutely diabetic rats (e.g., 62, 67, and 69). However, the desired in vivo potency in chronically diabetic rats, ED90 less than or equal to 5 mg/kg/day, was achieved only through further modification of the piperazine linker. Several members of this family, including 86, showed better than the targeted potency with ED90 values of 1-2 mg/kg/day. Compound 86 was further profiled and found to be a selective inhibitor of sorbitol dehydrogenase, with excellent pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic properties, demonstrating normalization of sciatic nerve fructose in a chronically diabetic rat model for approximately 17 h, when administered orally at a single dose of 2 mg/kg/day.     

Precise intraoperative location of gastrointestinal bleeding with a hand-held counter. Work in progress

The nuclear medicine bleeding scan is frequently insufficient to locate sites of bleeding precisely, in spite of its great sensitivity. A small, hand-held Geiger-Müller counter, placed directly on exposed intestine in the operating room, enables precise location of the probable bleeding site. In three patients, the technique allowed a minimal amount of intestine to be resected, distinguished between large- and small-intestinal hemorrhage, and eliminated other foci as sites of bleeding.