Acta Medica Okayama volume30 issue3

In order to approach human cancer immunotherapy, the author carried out the immunotherapy with BCG on mice having homotransplanted cancer, observed the posttransplantation results with lapse of time, conduced daily macrophage inhibition test (MI test) and found the immunotherapy to be effective. At the same time the MI test proved to be a useful criterion in determining the course of cancer progress and effectiveness of the immunotherapy.

Phosphate-binding protein(s) was found in the inner mitochondrial membrane of calf heart by Sephadex G-200 and G-25 gel filtration. The binding activity was inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide and competed by a large amount of cold phosphate. The amount of phosphate bound to the fraction was 29 nmoles per mg of protein. Affinity chromatography with phosphate-bound Sepharose 4B confirmed the presence of phosphate-binding protein(s) in the active fraction of mitochondrial membrane fractionated by gel filtration.

In order to formulate an early diagnostic method for acute rejection after kidney transplantation, macrophage migration inhibition test (MIT) was carried out with lapse of time after inbred rat kidney allotransplantation. The mean survival time of rat kidney allograft was found to be 7.07 +/- 1.34 days. On the other hand, in the group treated with rabbit anti-rat lymphocyte serum (ALS) the mean survival time was lengthened to 14.15 +/- 2.14 days (p less than 0.05). The corresponding antigen used for MIT was prepared with donor kidney by ultrasonication, and its protein concentration at 180 mug/ml was the most optimal as not to elicit non-specific inhibition of macrophages. In the control group, activity of macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF activity) turned positive 3 days after the transplantation, and it became strongly positive by 5 or 7 dyas at the period when rejection crisis appeared frequently. ALS-treated group showed a lower MIF activity than the control group (p less than 0.05) and on 7-12 dyas before rejection crisis appeared frequently, MIF activity became strongly positive. These findings suggest that this MIT is simple and will be proved to be useful in predicting the acute rejection as well as in controlling the immunosuppression.

Human adenovirus type 12 (Ad 12) was inoculated through subtentorial route into inbred newborn mice (C3H/BifB/Ki), and sequential changes of the brain and tumor induction were examined by histological and immunofluorescent methods. Two days after virus inoculation, Ad 12 specific tumor antigen (fluorescent T-antigen) appeared in the cells of ependymal and subventricular matrix layers, choroid plexuses and leptomeninges in the subtentorial as well as the supratentorial brains. After 10 days, these fluorescent positive cells decreased gradually in number but still remained focally beneath the ependyma. Sixty days later, early tumor nodules were detected in the same regions in which remained the fluorescent cells. After 107 days, neurological signs and well-developed tumors were noted in 25 of 63 (30.1%) mice examined. In the cerebellum, both of T-antigens and tumors were limited around the IVth ventricle, but not in the granular layers. Histomorphologically, the tumors were of primitive neuroectodermal origin and consisted of the cells resembling immature matrix cells in the subventricular zone. These findings strongly suggest that the virus has a selective affinity to the remaining matrix cells, but not to cerebellar granular cells, at least, in newborn mice.

Heterokaryon formation and Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-induction were studied by fusion of RSV-transformed human embryonic cells with chick embryo fibroblasts in the presence of lysolecithin. Heterokaryon formation was observed by autoradiography. RSV-induction was identified by focus formation, electron microscopy and density gradient centrifugation of 3H-uridine-labeled particles. The most effective concentration of lysolecithin for virus induction was 10 mug/10(6) cells/0.1 ml. Efficiency of lysolecithin in virus induction was not less than that of ultraviolet-inactivated Sendai virus (UV-HVJ).

A cell line (HGC-27) was established by culture of the metastatic lymph node from a gastric cancer patient diagnosed histologically as undifferentiated carcinoma. HGC-27 cells were polygonal or short spindle-shaped and adhered to glass surfaces as a monolayer. The cells were probably derived from gastric cancer cells, as their origin from mesenchymal tissues can be excluded morphologically and enzyme-histochemically. Enzyme activities were generally negative or low, except for adenosine triphosphatase, lactic dehydrogenase and leucine aminopeptidase. These scanty findings might reflect the undifferentiated character of the original tumor cells. The cloning efficiency was 5.3% in liquid medium and 1.0% in soft agar. The doubling time was about 17 hr. Chromosomal analysis revealed a mode of 109 and 110 chromosomes.

A case with prolonged bacterial infection accompanied by an abnormal serum protein which migrated in the post-gamma region on electrophoresis is presented. The abnormal protein was identified as IgG with gamma-type light chain moiety. The patient suffered from prolonged pneumonia and cholecystitis, Bone marrow aspiration and skeletal x-rays did not indicate multiple myeloma.