Induction of Suppressor T Cells by Anti-Globoside Antibodies in Cancer Sera

T cells treated with cancer sera frequently suppressed immunoglobulinproduction by autologous lymphocytes stimulated with pokeweedmitogen. Sera from healthy individuals did not induce suppressoractivity. This suppression is not caused by T_G cells (T cellsbearing receptors for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G [IgG])interacting with immune complexes, because we used T cells depletedof T_G cells. The suppressor-inducing factors were separatedinto an IgG-containing fraction and a fraction with a smallermolecular weight. IgG fractions from all sera that were positivefor anti-globoside antibody induced suppressor T cells, andelimination of the anti-globoside antibody from these IgG fractionsreduced the ability to induce suppressor T cells. T cells treatedwith rabbit anti-globoside antiserum also activated suppressorT cells. These observations indicate that the antibodies directedto the globoside antigen on suppressor T cells stimulate thesuppressor T cells, and that anti-globoside antibody in cancersera may play a role in causing immunodeficiency in cancer patients.     

CASE REPORT: Insulin - like growth factor II expression in hepatocellular carcinoma with alcoholic liver fibrosis accompanied by hypoglycaemia

This case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with alcoholic liver fibrosis, which was not associated with hepatitis viruses, was accompanied by hypoglycaemia. The immunoreactive insulin level was low and other hormonal examinations were almost normal. Immunohistochemical studies showed a high level of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF2) peptide in the HCC section and the size heterogeneity of serum IGF2 investigated by western blot revealed a large form at approximately 15 kDa. These results suggest that the HCC with alcoholic liver fibrosis produced IGF2 and that the hypoglycaemia was caused by tumour-associated IGF2.     

Responses of B16 melanoma cell lines, F1 and F10, to hyperthermia, lymphokine-activated killer cells and a combination of both in vitro

The cytolytic and/or cytostatic effects of hyperthermia, lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAK cells) and the combination of both were assayed using F1 and F10 B16 melanoma cell lines. F10 cells with a high metastatic potential showed a greater sensitivity to hyperthermia than F1 cells which have low metastatic potential. The F10 cells were lysed to a lesser extent by LAK cells than the F1-B16 cells. When the cell lines were subjected to hyperthermia at 43 degrees C for 3 h and then interacted with LAK cells, the maximum cytolysis reached almost 100%. When the interaction with LAK cells was followed by hyperthermia at 43 degrees C, the total release of 51Cr from the cell lines was 75-85%. The extent of 51Cr release from the B16 melanoma cell lines was inversely correlated with the survival rate as calculated by the plating efficiency of the incubated cells. The survival rate of mice intravenously injected with B16-F10 cells and subjected to hyperthermia at 41 degrees C for 3 h in vitro increased compared to that of controls. This was further increased by the simultaneous administration of LAK cells.     

Preliminary Phase II Study of Adriamycin (ADM) in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

A phase II study of adriamycin (ADM) (60 mg/m² was performedin 22 patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Therewere no responders in the 19 evaluable patients (16 with adenocarcinoma,two with squamous cell carcinoma and one with large cell carcinoma).The major side effects were alopecia (89%), leukocytopenia (73%),thrombocytopenia (58%) and upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Although ADM at 60 mg/m² did not appear to have sufficient antitumoractivity against NSCLC in this study, it is necessary to evaluatefurther the efficacy of ADM against NSCLC with another treatmentschedule.     

Abnormalities of Immunologic Response of Lymphocytes in Patients With Cancer of the Digestive Organs

The lymphocyte functions of 174 patients with cancer of thedigestive organs were studied, with particular reference tothe percentage of T cells bearing receptors for the Fc portionof IgG (T_G cells), phytohemagglutinin (PHA) response of thelymphocytes and the helper activity of T cells. The percentageof T_G cells was 12.18±6.91% (mean±SD) before treatment,exceeding the upper limit of the normal value (8%) in 49.4%of the patients. However, it decreased significantly to 7.98±6.3%after surgical removal of the tumors (r=0.746, P<0.001).The possible correlations of this parameter with two otherswere investigated in order to find a more reasonable parameterfor tumor immunology. An increased percentage of T_G cells anda decreased PHA response of the lymphocytes were found in 5.8%of the cases of stage I, 42.8% of the cases of stage II, 33.3%of the cases of stage III and 48.9% of the cases of stage IVcancer. An increased percentage of T_G cells and a decreasedhelper activity of T cells were found in 20% of the cases ofstage I, 20% of the cases of stage II, 25% of the cases of stageIII and 33.3% of the cases of stage IV. When only gastric cancerpatients were considered, a decreased PHA response of the lymphocytesand an increased percentage of T_G cells were found in 12.5%of the patients with early stages. while this profile was observedin 25.5% of the patients with advanced stages of the disease.An increased percentage of T_G cells and a decreased helper activityof T cells were found in 18.7% of the patients with early stagesand 37.9% of the patients with advanced stages. These findingssuggest that if the three immunological parameters were usedin the above combinations, they might more accurately reflectchanges in immunity with the progress of cancer.     

Assessment of Angiographic Coronary Calcification and Plaque Composition in Virtual Histology Intravascular Ultrasound

Objectives

We assessed the relation between coronary plaque composition and angiographic calcification by using virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH‐IVUS).

Background

The plaque vulnerability according to angiographic calcification is unclear.

Methods

Subjects were 140 consecutive patients (145 lesions) undergoing VH‐IVUS before percutaneous coronary intervention. Subjects were divided into 4 groups: no calcification group (n = 27), spotty group (n = 65) that had calcium deposits under 90° in grayscale IVUS, intermediate group (n = 37) had calcium deposits with 90° or more and under 180°, and extensive group (n = 16) had calcium deposits with 180° or more.

Results

The number of VH thin‐cap fibroatheromas in spotty group was significantly larger than no calcification group, intermediate group, and extensive group (0.66 ± 0.71 vs 0.22 ± 0.42 [P < 0.01], 0.32 ± 0.48 [P < 0.05], 0.13 ± 0.34 [P < 0.01], respectively). Spotty group without angiographic calcification had significantly larger %necrotic core than with angiographic calcification (24.5 ± 6.7% vs 19.9 ± 7.2%, P < 0.05). Intermediate group without angiographic calcification had significantly larger necrotic core area than with angiographic calcification (2.5 ± 0.9 mm² vs 1.7 ± 0.9 mm², P < 0.05). Extensive group with angiographic calcification had significantly larger %dense calcium than without angiographic calcification (18.3 ± 4.0% vs 13.4 ± 4.4%, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Lesions with spotty calcification was highly vulnerable in VH‐IVUS. Spotty or intermediate plaque calcification without angiographic calcification was more vulnerable than those with angiographic calcification. Extensive plaque calcification with angiographic calcification had more dense calcium than those without angiographic calcification.

     

An Approach to the Detection of Autonomic Neuropathy hy Use of Signal-Averaged Electrocardiography

The beat-to-beat variation of PR interval, which is thought to be a reflection of autonomic nervous system, is difficult to measure with accuracy because the variation is too subtle. However, R wave amplitude in the P wave triggered SAECG is easily attenuated in comparison to that in the R wave triggered SAECG, which might he due to PR interval fluctuation. To determine whether autonomic neuropathy could be detected by use of SAECG, two types of SAECGs triggered by P and R waves were recorded in 23 diabetics with autonomic neuropathy and 41 age matched controls. The peak voltage of filtered QRS complex was measured in the R wave and P wave triggered SAECGs. Percent attenuation of the filtered QRS voltage was calculated by dividing the difference between the voltages in the R wave and P wave triggered SAECGs by the voltage in R wave triggered SAECG. The percent attenuation of filtered QRS voltage was significantly smaller in diabetics with autonomic neuropathy than controls (4.6%± 4.9% vs 16.3%± 15.0%; P < 0.001). These results suggest that the degree of attenuation of filtered QRS voltage in the P wave triggered SAECG would be useful for the detection of autonomic neuropathy.