The altered expression of MHC-class II determinants on monocytes of cancer patients

Summary The expression of MHC class II determinants Ia.7 (detected by cross reactive mouse anti-Ia^k antibody) and HLA-DR on monocytes (MO) of gastric and colorectal cancer patients was examined. An increased proportion of MO bearing the Ia.7 determinant was found, while the number of MO expressing DR was not elevated. In gastric cancer patients the increased expression of the Ia.7 determinant was most pronounced in advanced cancer (stage IVA and IVB). The increased expression of this determinant was related to the presence of the tumour as the number of MO expressing Ia.7 decreased 6 months following surgical resection of the tumour. Further, the increased expression of Ia.7 on MO correlated with the tumour infiltration of the serosa. The Ia.7 determinants were mainly expressed on MO which also expressed the receptor for the Fc part of immunoglobulin. Immunostaining in cellular infiltrates surrounding the tumour revealed that Ia.7⁺ macrophages (MØ) were more numerous than in normal gastric mucosa and severe chronic gastritis and were mostly present in close proximity to tumour cells, while DR⁺ MØ were mainly localized within the stromal tissue of the tumour and their number was not increased in cancer infiltrates. These observations indicate that the Ia.7⁺ subpopulation of MØ may be involved in the anti-tumour response of the host.     

Haemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes by a lectin from the seeds of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Croton tiglium</Emphasis>

The kinetics of haemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes byCroton tiglium lectin was studied as a function of concentration of the lectin and erythrocytes. The length of the prelytic period decreased with increasing lectin concentrations, indicating that the secondary events at the membrane which follow the binding of the lectin to cell surface carbohydrate receptors are accelerated at higher surface concentrations of the lectin. The rate or extent of haemolysis was not affected by the inclusion of ions like K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in the medium or by the substitution of ionic medium by a non-ionic medium. The inhibition of haemagglutination and haemolysis of rabbit red cells byCroton tiglium lectin by antilectin rabbit serum was observed. A possible mechanism of haemolysis by the lectin is discussed.     

Plant lectins specific for N-acetyl-β-D-galactosamine

N-Acetyl-D-galactosamine in β-linkage being ubiquitous in cell surface glycoproteins, their interaction with lectins specific for this sugar moiety may be a significant event in cell adhesion phenomena. This article discusses the common β-N-acetyl galactosamine-specific lectins, with particular stress on the lectin from winged beans (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus).     

Demonstration of an “Excitation-Contraction Recoupling” Mechanism in Mammalian Ventricular Myocardium

A PROCESS called “excitation-contraction coupling” has been generally accepted to take place only in the direction of excitation to contraction. Through this mechanism a propagated action potential initiates an active state in skeletal or cardiac muscle and the muscle contracts. We propose that, in the mammalian ventricular myocardium at least, the process is not unidirectional and an important reverse coupling between the contractile system and the excitable plasma membrane has been overlooked. Through this feedback interaction the mode of contraction (that is, isotonic or isometric) not only determines the instantaneous electrical state of the plasma membrane, but also influences the mechanical events of the subsequent beats. Thus when Kaufmann et al.¹ recorded intracellular action potentials from cat papillary muscle, the time course of the repolarization was altered depending on the mode of contraction. Some kind of contraction-excitation feedback has also been suggested by Stauch² and Lab^3,4. They showed a difference in the shape of the monophasic action potential, as recorded by a suction electrode, when comparing isotonic and isovolumic contraction of the intact ventricle. But their experimental conditions did not allow satisfactory analysis of the phenomenon.     

Role of the Galactose Binding Protein in Chemotaxis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> toward Galactose

The galactose binding protein is the part of the galactose chemoreceptor which recognizes the attractants galactose, glucose and a number of structurally related chemicals.     

Ribosomes,G-factor and Siomycin

G-factor interacts with the 50S ribo-somal subunit at a site which is distinct from the peptidyl transferase centre and which is inactivated by siomycin.     

Failure of Neuraminidase to unmask Histocompatibility Antigens on Trophoblast

DURING outbred pregnancy the mother is exposed to genetically foreign tissue because the offspring inherits transplantation antigens from the father. The survival of the foetus is ensured by the intervention of the trophoblast which does not express transplantation antigens between mother and foetus: mouse trophoblast is not rejected even when transplanted into immune recipients^1,3. The mechanism of this failure to express histocompatibility antigens is not understood^1–4, but Kirby et al. have suggested that the extracellular fibrinoid surrounding trophoblast cells is involved^5,6. Currie has suggested that the thick sialomucinous glycocalyx of the trophoblast cell might “mask” the histocompatibility antigens on the trophoblast^7,8 and has demonstrated that neuraminidase unmasked these antigens⁸. Our experiments, however, show that trophoblast incubated with neuraminidase cannot sensitize allogeneic mice to donor histocompatibility antigens. Furthermore, pretreatment of trophoblastic implants with neuraminidase did not interfere with their proliferation and growth in highly immune allogeneic recipients.