Mouse B1 cell line responds to lipopolysaccharide via membrane-bound CD14

The role of membrane-bound CD14 in the response of mouse B1 cell lines to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was studied. The surface profile of mouse TH2.52 B cells was positive for CD5, IgM, B220, CD11b and F4/80, suggesting that TH2.52 cells carried the typical phenotype of B1 cells. Furthermore, TH2.52 B1 cells were found to express membrane-bound CD14, which plays a critical role in LPS recognition. TH2.52 B1 cells responded to a very low concentration of LPS and exhibited: (i) augmentation of DNA synthesis; (ii) activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB; and (iii) phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2). They were markedly inhibited by anti-CD14 antibody. Therefore, the expression of membrane-bound CD14 was suggested to provide high sensitivity to LPS for TH2.52 B1 cells.     

Juvenile parkinsonism: a case with first clinical manifestation at the age of six years and with neuropathological findings suggesting a new pathogenesis

A clinico-pathological study of a 39-year-old female with Juvenile parkinsonism was carried out. Although the clinical manifestations were consistent with parkinsonism, the pathological findings were significantly different. Pathological examination showed the lesion to be localized to the substantia nigra, the number of neurons to be abnormally low, the proportion of melanin-containing cells to be reduced, and a large number of immature cells to be present. No neuronal degeneration associated with gliosis or release of melanin granules, such as seen in Parkinson's disease, was observed. Neuropathological studies, including cytometry and comparison against normal controls in the distribution of melanin granules, suggested hypoplasia and poor neuronal maturation of the substantia nigra. Since neuromelanin is thought to be the result of normal dopamine metabolism, reduction of melanin-containing cells in this case suggests inadequate or abnormal dopamine metabolism. Thus, the clinical manifestation of parkinsonism in this case seems to be related to the small number of melanin-containing cells which implies the dopamine deficiency state.     

Pharmacological studies on experimental nephritic rats (13). The development and aggravation of nephritis due to the repeated administration of liquoid (author's transl)

In order to elucidate the role of blood coagulation system in the development and aggravation of glomerulonephritis, liquoid (Liq) was repeatedly administered to normal or nephritic rats. When Liq 10 mg/kg was given i.v. daily X 22 to normal rats (group I), the urinary excretions of protein and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and urea nitrogen content did not significantly change as compared with those in the normal control group. In rats given Liq 10 mg/kg i.v. either every 3 days X 8 (group III) or every day X 22 (group IV) from the 15th day after the i.v. administration of anti-rat glomerular basement membrane rabbit serum (AGS) [0.5 ml/150g body weight], these biochemical parameters were not significantly different from those of nephritic control rats given AGS only (group II). The deposits of fibrin or fibrinoids in glomeruli of groups I, II, III and IV, examined by a fluorescence antibody technique were evident in 2, 2, 8 and 10, respectively, out of 10 rats in each group, although the degree of deposition was slight. Under light microscopy, the adhesion between the glomerular capillary wall and Bowman's capsule, hypercellularity, crescent formation and hyalinization were demonstrated in a part of glomeruli, even in group I. concerning the influence of Liq in nephritic rats, the most prominent glomerular change was hyalinization. While in group II the hyalinization was evident in only 17% of glomeruli, in groups III and IV the hyalinization was 41 and 55%, respectively. Although no significant difference was seen between groups II and III regarding other glomerular changes except for hypercellularity, these changes in group IV increased as compared with those in group II. However, hypercellularity was less in groups III and IV than in group II. A slight occlusion of the glomerular capillary lumen was observed, even in group I. In nephritic groups, the degree of the capillary lumen occlusion in group IV was greater than that in group II. From these results, the acceleration of intraglomerular blood coagulation is considered to be a major factor in the development and aggravation of glomerulonephritis.     

Hemodynamic effects of prostaglandin E1 during cardiopulmonary bypass in infants and children

Effects of prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁) and phenoxybenzamine (POB) on the hemodynamics during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were studied in 30 infants and children. Patients were grouped into three; PGE₁ was given to ten patients, POB to another ten, and the other ten patients served as the control. Vasodilative drugs were witheld. PGE₁ was infused at 0.01 to 0.02 μg/kg/min during CPB, and POB at 1.0 mg/kg within the initial 10 minutes of bypass. There was a significant drop in arterial and venous pressure at the time of initiation of bypass in both the PGE₁ and POB groups. In the PGE₁ group in particular, such a stable hemodynamic condition of over 60 mm Hg in mean arterial pressure, 7.5 to 12.5 cmH₂O in central venous pressure, 1300 to 1700 dynes·sec·cm⁻⁵ in systemic vascular resistance was maintained throughout CPB, as compared with the other two groups. PGE₁ contributed to an adequate diuresis and the preservation of platelets. Our findings indicate that PGE₁ has potential clinical advantages for application during CPB.