Non-A, non-B hepatitis related AN6520 Ag is a normal cellular protein mainly expressed in liver. II

Detection of AN6520 Ag/Ab in human sera had indicated a close association with non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH). In this study, we investigated the immunochemical nature of AN6520 Ag and measured the amounts in various human and chimpanzee organs in order to clarify the association with NANBH. AN6520 Ag was found to be composed of polypeptide(s) with an apparent molecular weight of 45,000 daltons (45 kD), which are noncovalently linked together. Human antibodies in convalescent sera from NANBH patients as well as monoclonal antibodies were found to recognize only the high-order structure of the antigen, whereas rabbit antibody recognized both the high-order structure and the reduced form of 45 kD polypeptide(s). AN6520 Ag could be detected in most of the livers tested including those without any liver damage and fetal livers; their amounts varied considerably from each other. The antigen could be detected also in organs other than liver, but in contrast to liver, the amounts were small and did not vary as much between individuals. From the data of immunoblotting using rabbit antibody, our observed variation of antigen content in liver was considered to be due to the difference in expression of 45 kD polypeptide(s). Although no specific relationship was found between the amount of the antigen in liver and NANBH, the antigen was found to increase several times in livers of chimpanzees after the inoculation of NANBH virus. These data suggest that AN6520 Ag is a normal cellular protein existing mainly in liver and that its quantity may vary under some conditions such as NANBH.     

异基因造血干细胞移植后肺部并发症的发生和危险因素分析

目的探讨治疗恶性血液病异基因造血干细胞移植（allo—HSCT）后肺部并发症与相关危险因素的关系。方法回顾性分析1991年8月至2004年6月157例allo—HSCT患者的临床资料。结果71例患者发生87例次肺部并发症，其中15例患者发生2次以上肺部并发症，总发生率为45.2％。直接死于肺部并发症者37例（23．6％），发生中位时间103d（1～886d）。其中细菌性肺炎32例，间质性肺炎8例，肺真菌病3例，肺水肿3例，肺结核2例，肺栓塞1例，2种或2种以上病原所致的肺部并发症38例次。单因素分析显示：患者年龄、疾病状态、供受者关系、HLA配型相合程度及广泛型慢性移植物抗宿主病（cGVHD）是影响移植后肺部并发症的危险因素。多因素分析显示：疾病状态和广泛型cGVHD与肺部并发症的发生显著相关（P＜0．01）。结论肺部并发症是allo—HSCT后常见的并发症之一。患者移植时疾病状态和广泛型cGVHD是与allo—HSCT后肺部并发症发生相关的危险因素。     

肝再生过程中肝和脑垂体纤维粘连蛋白表达的变化

目的；探讨大鼠肝大部分切除再生过程中肝和垂体内纤维粘连蛋白变化变化，方法：用免疫组织化学法观察鼠肝大部切除术０．５天，１天，１．５天，２天，３天，７天时，肝内和垂体远侧部滤泡状细胞细胞纤维粘连蛋白的变化，并用图像分析仪进行定量测定，结果：肝大部切除术后１．５天，肝内纤维粘连蛋白阳性染色增强，基平均光密度高于对照组（Ｐ〈０．０５）；术后２～３天，镜下可见纤维粘连蛋白染色呈强阳性，尤其在肝组织增生部位     

Assessment of HBV persistent infection in an adult population in Taiwan

In order to study the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the adult population of Taiwan, we screened for the presence of HBV DNA in 205 blood samples from adult (20-59-year-old) volunteers. According to the serological markers of HBV, samples were divided into three groups: group I (173 subjects) was negative for both HBsAg and HBeAg; group II (14 subjects) was positive for both HBsAg and HBeAg; and group III consisted of 18 subjects who were HBsAg-positive but HBeAg-negative. Plasma HBV DNA was not detected in group I, but it was found in 85.7% and 11.8% of samples in group II and group III, respectively. A free-form HBV DNA was found in 14.3% of the leukocyte samples in group II. Furthermore, an integrated form of HBV DNA was detected in the leukocytes of two cases of group I who remained healthy based on clinical data. HBV DNA was also detected in the spermatozoa and liver cells of one of the cases.     

Increase in the proportion of granulated CD56+ T cells in patients with malignancy.

Evidence is presented for the existence of a unique T cell population which expressed one of the natural killer (NK) markers, CD56 antigen, in humans. Although such CD56+ T cells were a minor population in the peripheral blood (< 10%), they were abundant in the liver (up to 50%), which was recently demonstrated to be a major organ for extrathymic T cell differentiation in mice. As in the case of extrathymic T cells in mice, these CD56+ T cells in humans contained a higher proportion of gamma delta T cells than did CD56- T cells, contained double-negative CD4-8- cells, and had the morphology of large granular lymphocytes. This unique population of CD56+ T cells tended to be elevated in the blood and among tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with colorectal cancer, especially in advanced cases. These results raise the possibility that, as in mice, CD56+ T cells with extrathymic T cell properties may also be associated with tumour immunity in humans.     

An Autopsy Case of Metastatic Foci of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Adenomatous Hyperplasias of the Liver

Adenomatous hyperplasia of the liver is known as a preneoplastic or early developmental stage of hepatocellular carcinoma, in which overt malignant foci occasionally develop. We have recently experienced an autopsy case (a 70-year-old male) of liver cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma and two nodules of adenomatous hyperplasia. The latter two nodules contained several microscopic foci of moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. There were a number of tumor microemboli in portal vein branches within areas of adenomatous hyperplasia in addition to areas surrounding cirrhotic liver, some of which grew into the parenchyma of adenomatous hyperplasia and cirrhotic regenerative nodules. These findings and the fact that adenomatous hyperplasia contained portal tracts including portal venous branches, suggest that malignant foci in adenomatous hyperplasia of the liver in this case might represent metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma in other parts of the liver via the intrahepatic portal venous system. Acta Pathol Jpn 41: 911 915, 1991.     

环孢菌素A抑制小鼠同种心脏移植急性排斥反应中Lymphotactin表达的研究

目的：研究小鼠同种心脏移植急性排斥反应中淋巴细胞趋化因子（lptn）的表达情况及环孢菌素A（cyclosporine A, CsA）的抑制作用。 方法： 改良Banff评分系统判断同种小鼠移植心急性排斥反应程度，RT-PCR检测移植心组织内淋巴细胞趋化因子表达水平，ELISA方法检测心脏移植小鼠脾细胞活化T细胞核因子(NFAT)活性。 结果： C57BL/6-Balb/c急性排斥组小鼠移植术3 d后脾脏显著增大。术后第5、7 d移植心肌间淋巴细胞浸润程度评分分别为2.667±0.577和2.333±0.577。C57BL/6-Balb/c+CsA组小鼠移植术后脾脏肿大明显减轻，术后第5、7 d心肌间淋巴细胞浸润程度评分分别为1.000±0.000和1.333±0.577。急性排斥组和CsA处理组小鼠移植心脏在术后第5 d和第7 d都可检测到Lptn mRNA阳性表达，但CsA处理组Lptn mRNA的表达明显弱于急性排斥组。治疗剂量的CsA可以完全抑制NFATc1活性。 结论： Lptn在早期移植免疫事件中具有重要的作用，CsA仅能部分抑制Lptn mRNA的表达。活化T细胞Lptn的表达调控存在NFAT以外的途径。     

雌激素处理DCs在诱导小鼠同种皮肤移植免疫耐受中的作用

目的：研究雌二醇（17β-estradiol, E₂）处理的供体骨髓来源树突细胞（dendritic cells, DCs）在诱导小鼠同种异基因皮肤移植免疫耐受中的作用。方法：体外培养小鼠骨髓来源DCs，然后用E₂处理。受体小鼠在皮肤移植前经尾静脉分别输注经E₂处理的供体小鼠DCs、供体小鼠成熟DCs以及不成熟DCs，输注PBS为对照组。1周后对受体小鼠进行同种异基因皮肤移植，手术后观察皮肤存活情况，应用流式细胞术检测手术前后受体小鼠外周血中CD4+CD25+调节性T细胞百分率的变化。结果：在同种异基因皮肤移植中，受体小鼠尾静脉输注经E2处理的DCs组与对照组和不成熟DCs组比较，移植皮肤存活时间显著延长，较不成熟DCs组存活时间平均延长10.6 d（P<0.01）；与对照组和不成熟DCs组比较，E₂处理组外周血中CD4+CD25+ 调节性T细胞百分率明显升高（P<0.01）。结论：在同种异基因小鼠皮肤移植模型中，E₂处理的供体小鼠DCs可以延长移植皮肤存活时间。     

Glomerular changes in BK virus nephropathy

This study seeks to define the glomerular changes that are associated with human BK virus nephropathy (BKVN). It is based on histopathologic review of 124 biopsies showing light-microscopic changes of viral nephropathy. The diagnosis of BKVN was confirmed by immunohistochemistry or by in situ hybridization. Histological lesions were scored by the Banff 97 criteria for renal allograft pathology and were correlated with clinical parameters. Viral cytopathic effect in the parietal Bowman's capsular epithelium was seen in 21/124 (17%) biopsies. Immunohistochemistry showed infection of Bowman's capsular epithelium in an additional 15/124 (12%) biopsies. Crescents were found in 15/124 (12%) samples. Glomerulitis exceeding grade Banff g1 was only occasionally shown (4/124=3% biopsies). Other pathologic lesions documented include mild increase in mesangial matrix in 23% biopsies, aneurysmal dilatation of glomerular capillaries in 28%, ischemic glomerulopathy in 62%, and chronic transplant glomerulopathy graded as mild (cg1) in 62% of biopsies and as moderate (cg2) in 2/124 (1.9%) biopsies. These findings show that infection of the glomerular epithelium cells can occur in a subset of patients with BKVN, most often in biopsies with high viral load in the tubular epithelium. Isolated crescents can occur in BKVN biopsies, but rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis is not observed. Two biopsies showed electron-dense deposits on ultrastructural examination, but a cause and effect relationship to BK virus infection could not be established.