Immunocytochemical observation of paraquat-induced alveolitis with special reference to class II MHC antigens.

The expression of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens on alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages was investigated immunocytochemically in paraquat-induced alveolitis in the rat lung. Until 2 days after paraquat injection, class II MHC antigens were expressed on the type II alveolar epithelium without any inflammatory cellular infiltration. From the 4th to the 7th day after paraquat injection, class II MHC antigen-positive macrophages increased in the alveolar spaces, whereas the expression on the type II alveolar epithelium became obscure. Over 10 days after the injection, interstitial fibrosis progressed and the intra-alveolar inflammatory infiltrates decreased. Epithelial cells lining the thickened fibrous septa no longer expressed class II MHC antigens. These results suggest that chemical stimuli can induce class II MHC antigen expression on the type II alveolar epithelium in the early stage of cellular injury, followed by inflammatory infiltration and interstitial fibrosis.     

Combination therapy of radiation and Sizofiran (SPG) on the tumor growth and metastasis on squamous-cell carcinoma NR-S1 in syngeneic C3H/He mice

The efficacy of Sizofiran(SPG), a highly purified -1,3-D-glucan from the culture broth of a basidiomycetesSchizophyllum commune Fries, in combination with local irradiation was investigated using squamous-cell carcinoma NR-S1 and syngeneic hosts of OH/He mice. NR-S1 tumor was implanted sc in the thigh of C3H/He mice. When tumor grew to 4 mm in diameter, the local irradiation of 55 Gy was delivered. SPG was injected im at a dose of 5 mg/kg. When SPG was administered after irradiation, remarkable inhibition of tumor growth was observed in comparison with the radiation alone group. Furthermore, the combination effect of radiation and active immunotherapy using mitomycin C-treated NR-S1 cells as vaccine was examined. When radiotherapy and active immunotherapy were combined with SPG, suppression of tumor growth was observed from an early stage in comparison with the group which was not administered SPG. SPG also inhibited the pulmonary metastasis of NR-S1 tumor after radiotherapy.     

Augmentation rhinoplasty: observations on 1200 cases

Over the past 14 years, from January of 1975 to December of 1988, we have done 1263 aesthetic rhinoplasties using ear cartilage. In the field of augmentation rhinoplasty, many kinds of materials, such as bone, septal cartilage, ear cartilage, and prostheses, were used. In this paper, we limit discussion to our experience with the technique for the augmentation of the nasal dorsum using the ear cartilage and compare this with other materials. Patient ages ranged from 15 to 72 years, with an average of 24 years. Some 95 percent of patients (1199) were female, and only 5 percent (64) were male. Patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 20 months, with average follow-up only 8 months. Of course, we know that this is a very short follow-up period, but we could not follow patients longer because if they had no complaint about the results at the 6-month visit, they never returned, despite our efforts. Five-hundred and ten of the 1263 patients (40 percent) had been augmented elsewhere, and the silicone prosthesis was already in place. However, 753 patients (60 percent) had no previous operation. For the 510 patients (secondary rhinoplasty patients), too-high or too-large a prosthesis was the largest complaint in number, totaling 378 cases (74 percent), and psychological dissatisfaction, such as pain or an uncomfortable sensation, was the second largest in number, totaling 104 cases (20 percent). For the 753 patients (primary rhinoplasty patients), the main complaint was too-short or too-flat a nose (100 percent).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Use of mammalian cell expression cloning systems to identify genes for cytokines, receptors, and regulatory proteins.

Mammalian cell expression cloning has become a standard technique for the isolation of mammalian genes or cDNAs. Its advantage is that the biological functions of the gene of interest are used for cloning. Therefore, the identified cDNAs or genes should be functional in vivo, and there is no need for physical or chemical information about the gene products, so that protein purification in sufficient quantity to raise antibodies or to obtain amino acid sequences is not necessary. Here, we summarize recent progress in mammalian cell cloning systems, and discuss the possible directions in which this technique will lead.     

Subcellular distribution and properties of carbonyl reductase in guinea pig lung

On subcellular fractionation, carbonyl reductase (EC 1.1.1.184) activity in guinea pig lung was found in the mitochondrial, microsomal, and cytosolic fractions; the specific activity in the mitochondrial fraction was more than five times higher than those in the microsomal and cytosolic fractions. Further separation of the mitochondrial fraction on a sucrose gradient revealed that about half of the reductase activity is localized in mitochondria and one-third in a peroxidase-rich fraction. Although carbonyl reductase in both the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions was solubilized effectively by mixing with 1% Triton X-100 and 1 M KCl, the enzyme activity in the mitochondrial fraction was more highly enhanced by the solubilization than was that in the microsomal fraction. Carbonyl reductases were purified to homogeneity from the mitochondrial, microsomal, and cytosolic fractions. The three enzymes were almost identical in catalytic, structural, and immunological properties. Carbonyl reductase, synthesized in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate cell-free system, was apparently the same in molecular size as the subunit of the mature enzyme purified from cytosol. These results indicate that the same enzyme species is localized in the three different subcellular compartments of lung.     

Differences in the release of cholesterol from taurocholate versus taurochenodeoxycholate micellar solutions

The maximal micellar solubility, distribution and apparent monomer activity of cholesterol in taurine-conjugated cholate and chenodeoxycholate micellar solutions were studied to clarify the different modulating effect of these bile salt species on cholesterol uptake in an intestinal lumen. The maximal micellar solubility was significantly greater in taurochenodeoxycholate. The intermicellar cholesterol monomer concentration was not significantly different between the two kinds of micellar solution. However, the apparent cholesterol monomer activity determined using an artificial organic phase (polyethylene disc) was significantly higher in taurocholate than that in taurochenodeoxycholate. A linear relationship between the intermicellar cholesterol concentration and the apparent cholesterol monomer activity was found, with the slope depending upon the bile salt species. It is concluded that the difference in partitioning of cholesterol from taurocholate and taurochenodeoxycholate micelles into a fixed organic phase may contribute in part to the different regulating effects of these bile salts on the uptake of cholesterol in the intraluminal phase.