The role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the antitumor effect of intrapleural injection of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota in mice

The involvement of several cytokines in the antitumor effect induced by intrapleural (i.pl.) injection of heat-killed cells of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LC 9018) in mice was investigated. Injection of LC 9018 i.pl. into Meth A fibrosarcoma (Meth A)-bearing mice not only significantly prolonged the survival of the mice, but also effectively inhibited the accumulation of malignant pleural fluid in the thoracic cavity. In the thoracic cavity of tumor-bearing mice treated with LC 9018, we observed large amounts of several cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Both anti-IFN-γ and anti-IL-12 monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatments partially diminished the antitumor activity of LC 9018 in vivo, while the treatment of anti-IL-1β mAb did not influence the survival of the mice. However, anti-TNF-α mAb treatment completely abolished the antitumor effect of LC 9018 in vivo, suggesting that in this model LC 9018 has a survival-prolonging effect involving certain cytokines. Moreover, i.pl. injection of mouse recombinant TNF-α into Meth A-bearing mice pretreated with anti-TNF-α mAb partially restored the survival-enhancing effect of LC 9018. These results led us to conclude that TNF-α induced by i.pl. injection of LC 9018 plays an important role in the antitumor effect of LC 9018 in vivo. Received: 22 February 1999     

Effects of sedative odorant inhalation on patients with atopic dermatitis]

Atopic dermatitis (AD) has been clinically well-known to be frequently exacerbated by psychological and physiological stress. In this study, we examined effects of sedative odorant (modified valerian oil) inhalation on patients with AD. We investigated clinical scores, skin physiological parameters and psychological questionnaire (POMS) every 2 weeks. For first 2 weeks, we arranged non-inhalation period. Results for non-inhalation period were compared with these of 2- or 4-week inhalation. As results, sum of skin clinical scores significantly improved after odorant inhalation. Some patients improved for non-inhalation period, too. However, patients that had not improved for non-inhalation period significantly improved after odorant inhalation. Skin conductance and skin dryness/scaling score also improved after odorant inhalation without improving for non-inhalation period. Psychological parameter (POMS) also tended to improve after odorant inhalation. These results suggest that sedative odorants may be useful as a complementary therapy for AD through psychosomatic stress care.     

Monoclonal antibodies to monkey brain choline acetyltransferase: production and immunohistochemistry

Two monoclonal antibodies to monkey brain choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) were obtained. Immunoblot analysis indicated that both antibodies revealed two adjacent protein bands on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. ChAT was demonstrated immunohistochemically by one of the antibodies in the motoneurons in the monkey brainstem and spinal cord. This antibody also revealed ChAT-positive terminal-like structures in the neuropils of lamina IX of the cervical spinal cord and interpeduncular nucleus.     

The evolutionary origin of the major histocompatibility complex: Polymorphism of class II α chain genes in the cartilaginous fish

T cells recognize antigen (Ag) in the form of peptides bound to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule. One of the important issues in evolutionary immunology is to identify the stage in phylogeny when this mode of Ag recognition emerged. At present, there is a considerable controversy as to whether the cartilaginous fish have the bona fide MHC. In our previous study, we showed that the nurse shark, a member of the cartilaginous fish, has (a) gene(s) capable of encoding MHC class II a chains. In the present study, we examined the polymorphism of nurse shark MHC class II a chain genes designated Gici-DAA and Gici-DBA using the polymerase chain reaction. The Gici-DAA and Gici-DBA genes had six and five alleles, respectively, and individual alleles usually differed by multiple nucleotides. In addition, most of the nucleotide substitutions were located at the putative Ag-binding sites, where non-synonymous substitutions occurred more frequently than synonymous substitutions. The fact that the Gici-DAA and Gici-DBA genes display a polymorphism pattern essentially similar to that of mammalian MHC genes playing a major role in Ag presentation suggests that the cartilaginous fish have the bona fide MHC. Thus, the MHC-peptide-based T cell recognition system appears to have arisen at or before the emergence of the cartilaginous fish.     

Suppression of allergic inflammation by the prostaglandin E receptor subtype EP3

Prostaglandins, including PGD(2) and PGE(2), are produced during allergic reactions. Although PGD(2) is an important mediator of allergic responses, aspirin-like drugs that inhibit prostaglandin synthesis are generally ineffective in allergic disorders, suggesting that another prostaglandin-mediated pathway prevents the development of allergic reactions. Here we show that such a pathway may be mediated by PGE(2) acting at the prostaglandin E receptor EP3. Mice lacking EP3 developed allergic inflammation that was much more pronounced than that in wild-type mice or mice deficient in other prostaglandin E receptor subtypes. Conversely, an EP3-selective agonist suppressed the inflammation. This suppression was effective when the agonist was administered 3 h after antigen challenge and was associated with inhibition of allergy-related gene expression. Thus, the PGE(2)-EP3 pathway is an important negative modulator of allergic reactions.     

Age-related changes of J-chain-positive cells in chickens

Localizations of J-chain-positive cells (JPC) were examined in chicken lymphatic tissues before and after hatching. The cells containing J chain were first detected in medullary areas of the bursa of FABRICIUS during the embryonic stage. These positive cells were partly detected in the developing small lymphatic follicles: perhaps on newly differentiating precursor B-cells. In addition to these lymphatic follicles, connective tissue of bursal fold were also detected as J-chain positive. Although similar localizations of JPC were again observed in hatched chickens, positive areas of follicular medulla were strongly stained for fluorescence with corresponding antisera than that of embryonic ones. These data may reflect differences in the physiology of lymphocytes in respect to functional development. JPC localizations were next compared between the B-cell subpopulations, mu-(microPC) and alpha-chain-positive cells (alpha PC). The J-chains detectable in the IgM molecules were also found in follicular medulla. However, these follicles were almost found to be negative for J-chains detectable in the alpha PC before hatching. Any strong stainings for J-chain in the alpha PC were, moreover, not be observed in bursa after hatching. The microPC localizations in hatched chickens were roughly equal with the pattern of JPC localization. These analyses revealed the presence of the cells having the chains of both mu and J. The results together with other recent studies further shown that bursal J-chain can be partly detected in newly differentiated lymphatic follicles lacking IgM-producing and suggest the possible presence of B-cell-differentiation sequence of Ig-J+----IgM+J+----IgA+J+.     

Three-dimensional distribution patterns of PRL,GH and ACTH cells in the house musk shrew ( Suncus murinus)

Despite a multitude of reports on the classification and distribution of anterior pituitary cells, no previous study has attempted to obtain the three-dimensional (3D) and computer-graphic distribution pattern of each cell type in the whole pituitary. Therefore, we mapped the anterior pituitary cells of the house musk shrew ( Suncus murinus) and found a distinct cellular distribution pattern. Serial horizontal sections of whole shrew pituitaries were stained immunohistochemically for prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) cells. The contours of positive cells and the anterior, intermediate, and posterior lobes in each section were digitized for 3D visualization by a volume rendering method. The reconstructed images and virtual frontal and sagittal slices were examined in detail. On the 3D reconstructed images, the PRL and GH cells had similar distribution patterns, although the former were concentrated in the dorsolateral and ventrocentral portions, and the latter in the dorsocentral portions of the anterior lobe. On both sides of the pituitary stalk, there lay portions that were conspicuous by scarcity of PRL and GH cells. ACTH cells were widely scattered throughout the whole anterior lobe, but they were very few in the above portions and the dorsocentral portions where GH cells were concentrated. No sex difference in the distribution patterns of each cell type was observed. However, PRL cells in females were more numerous than in males, whereas the opposite was true for GH and ACTH cells. We discuss the relationship between the formation of the spatial distribution patterns and anterior pituitary ontogeny.     

A digest of the Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline for Nephrotic Syndrome 2020

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology -     

Adjuvant heparinization before manipulation of artery reduces early failure in primary arteriovenous fistula for end-stage renal disease patients

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the most preferred vascular access for hemodialysis patients, and early failure of AVF is one of the most avoidable...     

Aversive taste stimuli increase CGRP levels in the gustatory insular cortex of the rat

Calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity (CGRP-IR) was surveyed immunohistochemically in the insular cortex of the rat, and the levels of insular cortical CGRP-IR were measured with the radioimmunoassay method following intraoral stimulation with various taste stimuli. CGRP-IR was localized in nerve fibers within the agranular and dysgranular insular cortices. The CGRP-IR levels in the rostral (gustatory) part of the insular cortex were increased significantly by strongly aversive taste stimuli such as quinine hydrochloride and conditioned taste stimuli (NaCl and sucrose) which animals had been taught to avoid. The results suggest that CGRP in the gustatory insular cortex is concerned with rejection or avoidance behaviors to aversive taste stimuli.